South Africa: Provincial governments urged to maintain roads Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga has stressed the importance of provinces using their allocated funds to maintain roads. This was after she noted that the North Wests Roads Maintenance Grant (PRMG) analysis from 2013/14 to 2022/23 financial years indicated that the province consistently rolled over funds. The consistent rollover of significant amounts indicated a need for greater fiscal responsibility and effective resource allocation. This discrepancy underscored the importance of enhancing spending efficiency to meet critical road infrastructure demands, the Minister said. In light of these findings, the Minister reiterated the importance of prudent financial management and effective utilisation of resources to ensure maximum impact on road maintenance and development. Collaborative efforts with the national government and relevant stakeholders were vital in optimising spending and achieving efficient road networks for the benefit of all citizens, she said. Chikunga made these remarks on Tuesday during her oversight visit to the North West, which was intended to address concerns surrounding the state of roads and road infrastructure in the province. Following productive discussions, the ministry, in collaboration with the North West government, reached pivotal resolutions aimed at elevating the quality of roads for the benefit of citizens. The key agreements included: Implementation of the national pothole initiative: The ministry will intensify the rollout of Operation Valazonke, the national pothole initiative. The public is urged to utilise the national app to report potholes efficiently. Transfer of strategic roads to the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL): The North West will furnish a comprehensive list of strategic roads marked for transfer to SANRAL. These roads will be officially gazetted as national roads and effectively maintained by SANRAL. Additionally, the list will include rural roads intended for block paving, providing cost estimates and indicating funding availability. Piloting nano-technology on rural roads: In a ground-breaking step, the ministry committed to pilot the application of Nano-technology on rural roads. This innovative technique reinforces road surfaces, significantly reducing water seepage. The province will identify suitable roads to commence this pilot programme. Private sector involvement: To ensure enhanced road maintenance, the ministry will foster collaboration with the private sector. Through a structured process, private companies will have the opportunity to adopt and maintain specific roads. The vested interest of mining and logistics companies in preserving the roads they utilise was recognised. Ongoing discussions with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) are underway to enable tax deductions in accordance with section 18A of the Income Tax Act, rewarding companies investing in road maintenance. Mobilisation of yellow plant machinery: To bolster local municipalities in pothole repairs and preventative maintenance, the ministry will mobilise yellow plant machinery. The province is committed to procuring the necessary yellow plant equipment. Training and skills development: Prioritising the training of yellow plant fleet operators is paramount to ensure a pool of qualified professionals. The ministry will explore collaboration between the department, the province, and SANRAL to address capacity constraints and promote skills sharing relevant to road maintenance. Employment and professional development: Addressing unemployment is a core focus. The ministry will offer opportunities to unemployed graduates, particularly those with engineering qualifications, and actively recruit artisans. Through partnerships with esteemed bodies, like the Engineering Council of South Africa and the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA), they seek to expand training opportunities and deploy a greater number of professionals. Assistance to municipalities: All stakeholders are fully committed to intensifying efforts to support municipalities in identifying unproclaimed roads and ensuring uniform road classification procedures across the province. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-07-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Music festival energizes small town at foot of Mount Qomolangma Xinhua) 17:00, July 25, 2023 LHASA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Applause resounded through an open space in Zhaxizom Township, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on Sunday night. The air was filled with excitement as performers presented enchanting songs and dances to the delighted crowd. The performance marked the beginning of a monthlong music and food festival in the township. Zhaxizom is situated approximately 4,200 meters above sea level at the foot of Mount Qomolangma, the world's highest peak. It is under the jurisdiction of Tingri County and is located about 49 kilometers from Mount Qomolangma's Base Camp, making it a frequent stop for people traveling to the mountain. "I planned to head straight to Mount Qomolangma Base Camp, but when I arrived in the small town, the amazing festival caught my attention. I decided to stay in the town for several more days to enjoy the music and cuisine here before continuing my journey," said a traveler surnamed Zhang, who is from northeast China's Liaoning Province. "The festival can help people learn more about our town. It not only enriches our lives but will also become a new attraction for tourists," said Migmar Lhamo, a college student residing in the town. Migmar Lhamo believes the festival will play a positive role in promoting the development of local culture and tourism. According to the county government, more events such as live music shows, fireworks displays, special delicacy fairs and bonfire parties will be held during the festival to provide both residents and tourists with an impressive experience of local culture. Almost three decades ago, China's central government made a major decision to rally support for Tibet's development. A pairing assistance policy was established in 1994 to link specific areas of Tibet with central state organizations, provincial-level regions and state-owned enterprises. Tingri County official Zhu Dongfeng said that in recent years, Tingri has been working with a pairing-policy group from Shanghai to boost the town's development, with the goal of achieving rural revitalization. "The music and food festival will contribute to boosting the local economy further," Zhu said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) 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. Dubai, United Arab Emirates Eight people, most from one family, were killed when an unexploded projectile from Yemens years-long war detonated inside a house, while seven soldiers were killed in two separate attacks with IEDs, government officials said Wednesday. A government security official told AFP on condition of anonymity that an arms dealer was killed along with his wife and five of his children () and another eighth person inside the familys home while dismantling a projectile left over from the war. Another security official confirmed the death toll of the incident, which took place on Tuesday in Marib, northern Yemen. The conflict in Yemen has rumbled on since 2014, when Iran-backed Huthi rebels seized the capital Sanaa. A Saudi-led military coalition intervened the following year on the side of the countrys internationally recognised government. Hundreds of thousands of people have died in the fighting or from indirect causes such as lack of food in what the United Nations has called one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises. A six-month truce brokered by the United Nations expired in October last year, but fighting has largely remained on hold. In a separate incident, an official in the government forces reported that four Yemeni soldiers were killed Tuesday evening when two IEDs planted by the Huthis on the main road exploded and hit a number of military vehicles on their way back from one of the fronts near Taiz. The government military official said the Huthis infiltrated the road and planted four explosive devices and were able to detonate two of them as the military vehicles passed by. And in Abyan, southern Yemen, two officers and a soldier in the government forces were killed Tuesday evening by an IED planted by unknown gunmen, believed to be from al-Qaeda, according to a military official. According to the official, Abyan has been witnessing security operations and confrontations between al-Qaeda members and security forces for weeks. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co. (GNPD) signed a three-year agreement worth P4.3M last July 25, 2023, with the Provincial Government of Bataan, PGENRO, and the Sagip Pawikan Foundation to adopt the local pawikan hatchery at Sitio Fuerte, Brgy. Poblacion, Morong, Bataan. Symbolically held at the heart of the province, The Bunker at Balanga, Bataan, the memorandum of agreement marked the beginning of the companys flagship program of nurturing the pawikans in the province, which serves as the home to three out of five identified species in the country: olive ridley, hawksbill, and green turtles. This was further emphasized by Arcel Madrid, AVP for Community Relations, in his opening remarks, Now more than ever, we need to strengthen our commitment to protecting the magnificent pawikans to ensure their longevity. As the largest coal-fired power plant in the Philippines, we are also eager to participate in environmental programs like this hatchery adoption, so we can not only prevent the extinction of pawikans, but to also teach the community about their importance, Madrid added. Meanwhile, Gov. Jose Enrique S. Garcia III shared how pawikans contribute to our seas. Ang pagkakaroon ng mga pawikan ay senyales ng magandang estado ng karagatan [in the province of Bataan]. Furthermore, he also mentioned how the species booststhe economy, as it has now become a tourist attraction in the province. Garcia also pondered on why the pawikans became endangered in the past, citing poaching and smuggling as one of the main reasons. As such, these conservation projects that aim to restore their population are highly essential. We would also like to extend our gratitude to GNPower Dinginin, for the partnership, opportunity, technical assistance, resources, and financial support to make the project possible, Garcia concluded. Also present at the event was Dennis B. Jordan, president and CEO of GNPD, who expressed his appreciation to GNPD, Sitio Fuerte Sagip Pawikan Association, and the Provincial Government of Bataan for their efforts to preserve the pawikans. Its both an honor and a marvel to be on the frontlines of a company that is passionate, committed, and proactive in maintaining and protecting the hatchery areas of our pawikans, Jordan expressed. GNPD is very serious in these matters, especially those that fall into the letter P of their PROGRESS Project: Protect Marine Life. These programs display our unfaltering dedication in helping the province of Bataan, and its rewarding to see it all bear fruit, Jordan added. This project brings to life one of GNPDs focuses under the P.R.O.G.R.E.S.S. Project to Protect Marine Life. Research affirms that pawikans play a vital role in keeping the oceans healthy and safe for other species. They feed seagrass beds and coral reefs that serve as a natural habitat for many marine species and transport nutrients and energy within and between these habitats. GNPD is committed to continuously creating sustainable and reliable environmental and social development programs relevant to nurturing and supporting our community and environment to co create positive change and empower progress. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Jan Ellaine Bitara The mother of a Filipina exchange student in Japan has thanked the University of Manila for providing her with a quality education and sponsoring the continuation of her studies in Tokyo. Mayeth Bitara said in a social media post that her daughter Jan Ellaine Bitara has done her alma mater and the country proud by excelling academically and in pitching how good Filipino students can be when given a solid educational foundation. The younger Bitara aced her Japanese Language Proficiency Test jointly administered by the Japan Foundation and Japan Exchanges and Services, with a final score of 99.5 percent. Studying in Japan is a great opportunity for her to learn more about Japanese language, culture, and cuisine, Mayeth posted on Facebook this week. And we are also proud to share that she was one of students chosen to represent and promote our country, the Philippines, in another school at Okinawa, Japan. She was able to provide insight about how wonderful our country is from afar, she added. The mother thanked UM president Dr. Emily De Leon and the schools exchange program for giving Jan Ellaine the opportunity to study abroad. She also thanked her daughters professors, Marjorie Borces and Rochelle Anne Fallorina, for their guidance, untiring support, and assistance prior to our daughters trip to Japan. Mayeth said their guidance allowed her daughter to pass the JLPT-N5 with flying colors with a score of 118 over 120. We are also grateful to all the people who work with Heiwa Nakajima Foundation and MEIO University to make this experience possible, she said. In response, Dr. De Leon said that University of Manila prides itself on its successful graduates and board passers who, through sheer educational hard work, later on, have become successful in life. She said that since its founding in 1913, the university has maintained a high standard if only so its graduates would be fully equipped to stand out in the respective fields they have chosen when they have already joined the labor pool or have become entrepreneurs, or employers themselves. While a private school, we offer probably the lowest tuition and so, in effect, our students are subsidized by the school. They are our scholars, so to speak, Dr. De Leon said. As scholars, UM students know they have to work hard for their grades. Later in life, they come back to thank us, but our happiness comes from seeing that the school has given them the foundation to fly high, she added. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Morocco on Tuesday offered condolences to the victims of Algerias wildfires that have left many dead and injured. This came in a statement by Moroccos foreign ministry which is in line with the countrys stand in favor of an integrated Maghreb, where brotherliness and solidarity prevail. Morocco is following with deep sorrow and regret the wildfires that have broken out in certain regions of Algeria, reads the statement, adding, on this painful occasion, the Kingdom of Morocco expresses heartfelt condolences after the human losses due to the fires and wishes prompt recovery to the injured. Sonangol, the Angolan state oil company said Tuesday July 25 that the countrys oil production has been stable and without sharp declines in recent times, as a result of ongoing actions that have slowed the decline. A series of actions have been taken that have been stabilising the progress of the decline, so if they have been following, there is no decline today that brings production levels below about one million barrels/day, said the chairman of the executive committee of Sonangols Trading Shipping Business Unit, Luis Manuel. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the ceremony to present the results of Angolan oil exports in the second quarter of 2023, he informed that oil production has been stationary for some time. Therefore, we should not say at this moment that it is a decline that has been in proportion, for example, to the variation in the price of Brent and that impacts the results we have been reporting, he stressed. Angola exported a total of 94 million barrels of oil in the second quarter of 2023, valued at a weighted average price of $76 (68), and collected $7.1 billion (6.5 billion). The Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the main opposition party, on Tuesday July 25 expressed openness to a coalition with other political formations for the local elections on 11 October, but said that there were still no formal contacts in this regard. We are open to a coalition with other parties, Renamo spokesman Jose Manteiga declared. Manteiga said that the hypothesis [of a coalition] is abstract, because there has not yet been a formal approach between Renamo and other political parties, but the possibility of a coalition is not ruled out. One thing is certain, alone or in coalition, we will move forward, we will run, we have already registered to run in the 65 municipalities, added Jose Manteiga. Manteiga pointed to the collaboration that took place between Renamo and the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM), the third largest party, in the inspection of the voter registration as proof that the opposition political forces can cooperate. He pointed out that the National Council of the main opposition party will meet soon and may discuss the scenario of a possible coalition for the October municipal elections. More than 8.7 million Mozambican voters are registered to vote in the ballot. Mozambican voters will choose 65 new mayors on 11 October, including 12 new municipalities, which join 53 existing ones. Former Guinea-Bissau Justice Minister Carmelita Pires has called for the immediate departure of military personnel from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) deployed in the country, in a decision to be taken by the new Guinean parliament. In an opinion piece published on a social media page, entitled Prior Issues, Carmelita Pires, a master of constitutional law, trained in Portugal, listed what she considers to be the immediate tasks of the parliament to be invested this Thursday July 27. Immediately after the installation, Carmelita Pires argues that the new parliament should convene an urgent debate to discuss and decide several issues, including the departure of the approximately 700 ECOWAS military personnel deployed in Bissau since May 2022. The leaders of the West African community decided to install a force in Guinea-Bissau, initially composed of 631 military personnel from Ghana, Nigeria, Togo and Senegal, with the mission of helping to stabilize and secure the country, with a focus on the Guinean head of state. The measure was taken following an attempted coup dEtat on 1 February of the same year. At the last ECOWAS Summit held in Bissau on the 9th July, it was decided to send a contingent of Nigerian police to Guinea-Bissau to join the stabilization mission, whose mandate was extended for another 12 months. A trader kidnapped last Thursday in Maputo was released on Monday July 24 by police, who detained three men suspected of involvement in the case, a spokesman for the corporation told media on Tuesday July 25. Mendes said the trader was in a house that served as a captive in Boane district, Maputo province. Three individuals were arrested in possession of a firearm and the vehicle allegedly used to transport the victim. We are working to find out if these individuals are not involved in other criminal activities, said Mr Mendes. Earlier this month, Mozambican police arrested two South African nationals on suspicion of involvement in an attempted kidnapping of a Mozambican businessman. Mozambiques Prime Minister Adriano Maleiane told parliament in May that officers have already been selected to work in the unit that will combat kidnappings affecting the countrys main cities. The first phase, already finalized, of the creation of the anti-kidnapping unit, consisted of the selection of agents and the next step will be the specialization of the staff and will have the support of cooperation partners, he continued. At the time, Maleiane said that since 2021, 28 cases of kidnapping have been registered in Mozambique, of which 15 have been fully clarified. Kenyan President William Ruto said on Tuesday 25 July that he was ready to meet opposition leader Raila Odinga at any time. My friend Raila Odinga, I am leaving for Tanzania for a meeting on human capital to harmonise the expansion of employment opportunities on our continent. I will be back tomorrow evening and, as you have always known, I am available to meet with you at any time, at your convenience, wrote the Kenyan head of state on Twitter, addressing the opponent directly, who has called for demonstrations. Anti-government demonstrations in Kenya have left several people dead and prompted the international community to call for dialogue. 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 Despite similar rates of bystander CPR after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, Asian adults in the U.S. have lower rates of survival than white adults, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association. In the study, believed to be the first research comparing bystander CPR and survival rates between Asian and white adults in the U.S., researchers reviewed data for nearly 279,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. The analysis found: Asian and white adults who had a cardiac arrest at home or in public (not at a hospital) had similar rates (about 42%) of receiving potentially lifesaving CPR from a bystander. However, after adjustments for factors such as age, sex and the cause of the cardiac arrest, Asian adults were 8% less likely to survive to hospital discharge and 15% less likely to have favorable neurological outcomes compared to white adults. "We were surprised that rates of bystander CPR in Asian adults were the same as white adults, as we have previously found that Black and Hispanic persons with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have much lower rates of bystander CPR than white persons," said Paul Chan, M.D., senior author of the study and a professor of medicine at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. "The Asian community in the U.S. is economically and culturally diverse and not monolithic, and skin color of Asian persons also varies widely. Because of this, we had expected to see lower rates of bystander CPR in Asian versus white adults. "Subsequently, since Asian individuals had similar rates of bystander CPR as white individuals, we didn't expect them to have lower survival rates. Receiving bystander CPR is usually a very strong predictor of survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, therefore, it is not entirely clear what may be driving the lower survival rate among Asian adults," he said. Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart malfunctions and abruptly stops beating. According to a 2023 Scientific Statement co-authored by the American Heart Association, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death worldwide, and bystander CPR rates varies between countries, averaging about 20% worldwide. In addition, global survival rates among all adults range between 2% to 20% and are particularly low without an immediate bystander response. Study details and background: The study used data for 2013-2021 from the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES), a multicenter registry across the U.S. for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Emory University in Atlanta. CARES data from other racial/ethnic groups, children and cardiac arrests that occurred in nursing homes or were witnessed by first responders were excluded from this analysis. CARES defines "Asian" as a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand and Vietnam. The research compared rates of bystander CPR, survival to discharge and favorable neurological survival (defined as survival to discharge without severe neurological impairment or disability) between Asian and white individuals. Among the cardiac arrest data analyzed, 5% occurred in Asian individuals and nearly 95% occurred in white adults. Asian adults with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest had several different markers in comparison to white peers: they were older (average age of 67 years compared to 62 years, respectively); more likely to be women (36% vs. 34%, respectively); less likely to have drug overdose as the cause of the cardiac arrest (1.3% vs.6.6%, respectively); and less likely to have an arrest rhythm that would benefit from the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) (19% vs. 22%, respectively). Rates of witnessed cardiac arrest and location of arrestat home or in publicwere similar in both groups. "It is quite encouraging that bystander CPR rates for Asian adults were comparable to white adults; however, the overall analysis indicates additional research is needed to better understand the gap in CPR survival and neurological outcomes among Asian adults after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest," said Joseph C. Wu, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute and the Simon H. Stertzer Professor of Medicine and Radiology at Stanford School of Medicine. "The results here call for us to investigate the biological and physiological factors, as well as socioeconomic determinants of health and outcomes, and how they may impact people in various Asian subgroups." Among the study's limitations: the CARES registry did not include Asian subgroups, such as South Asian, East Asian and Southeast Asian, therefore, the findings are for Asian adults, in general as one group. In addition, the results may not be applicable to people living in rural U.S. regions because those communities are underrepresented in the CARES registry, and there was a lack of information about other health conditions in addition to cardiac arrest. More information: Comparison of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Outcomes Between Asian and White Individuals in the United States, Journal of the American Heart Association (2023). DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.123.030087 Journal information: Journal of the American Heart Association Photo: The Canadian Press Federal Crown prosecutor Marc Cigana speaks with the media at the courthouse in Longueuil, Que., on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Former RCMP officer William Majcher appeared in court by video conference after he was arrested in Vancouver on charges of conducting foreign interference for China. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi A former RCMP officer charged with helping China conduct foreign interference was granted bail on Tuesday with conditions that forbid him from leaving the country. William Majcher is charged under the Security of Information Act with conspiracy and with committing preparatory acts for the benefit of a foreign entity. Majcher, 60, was arrested Thursday in Vancouver and released from detention in British Columbia after Quebec court Judge Ann-Mary Beauchemin signed off on his bail conditions in a courtroom in Longueuil, Que., on Montreal's South Shore. Majcher was ordered to make a $50,000 cash deposit with the court, surrender his passport and report to RCMP every week. Two sureties have also agreed to deposit an additional $200,000 as a guarantee that Majcher respects his conditions. After the hearing, federal prosecutor Marc Cigana told reporters the conditions "were negotiated by the defence and the Crown, and we thought they were able to address whatever concerns of a flight risk there is." Police allege Majcher, a resident of Hong Kong, used his network of Canadian contacts to obtain intelligence or services that benefited the People's Republic of China. The alleged target of the campaign is not identified in the charging documents. While he has not yet formally entered a plea, his lawyer, Ian Donaldson, told the court Tuesday Majcher intends to plead not guilty to both charges. A charge sheet filed in Quebec court alleges the offences happened between 2014 and 2019 in Canada, Hong Kong and China, and that authorities allege he conspired with others, including a man named Kenneth Ingram Marsh. Among Majcher's bail conditions is that he is prohibited from speaking without his lawyer present to Marsh and another man, Ross Gaffney. Cigana would not say how Marsh and Gaffney are connected to the case. Majcher was employed by the RCMP from 1985 until 2007. A LinkedIn profile for Majcher says he is working in investment banking in Hong Kong at EMIDR Limited, a company he co-founded, providing expertise on money laundering and financial crime risk. The profile says he worked undercover in "the largest money laundering and securities fraud investigation in North America.'' Majcher was the lead investigator in the case of B.C. lawyer Martin Chambers, who was sentenced to 15 years in jail in the United States in 2003 for money laundering. Majcher's LinkedIn profile also says he helped train Canada's national security enforcement team. The RCMP, meanwhile, have said a Quebec branch of that team had been investigating Majcher since the fall of 2021. There is a publication ban on testimony and evidence heard thus far in the case, requested by the defence during an arraignment last Friday. Tuesday's appearance was beset with technological delays that made it impossible for Majcher to appear by video as intended because the two provinces don't have compatible IT systems. Eventually, Majcher was able to address the court through the Crown's cellphone speaker. Even though Majcher will live in Vancouver and his lawyer also appeared from that city, the case will be heard in Quebec, where the RCMP investigation was co-ordinated and where the federal prosecution team resides. Cigana told reporters that a prosecution under the Security of Information Act can take place anywhere in the country. The case will return to court at the Longueuil courthouse on Aug. 29. 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: Concepts from Traditional Chinese medicine such as yi'an can be integrated into other practices, including narrative medicine, for a more holistic and humanized patient care approach. Credit: Chinese Medicine and Culture The practice of medicine goes beyond diagnosing and treating illnesses. It involves understanding patients' stories and experiences to provide holistic care with compassion. Narrative medicine (NM), introduced by Rita Charon in 2001, emphasizes the competence of physicians to comprehend and respond to patients' stories. NM uses tools like close reading and reflective writing to help doctors connect with patients' illness narratives. When NM was introduced in China, it generated significant interest and discussions among Chinese medical professionals. TCM scholars recognized that many core concepts of NM align with the practice of yi'an, which is a type of medical case record or clinical case study used in TCM. Yi'an documents the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of patients, often in the form of written narratives. This led to discussions about integrating NM with TCM, although the precise implementation process remains unclear. To address this, Professor Ting Gui from Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, set out to investigate the similarities between NM and yi'an, as well as explore methods for the effective integration of NM into TCM. Her article was published in Chinese Medicine and Culture. NM aims to correct the limitations of biomedicine by emphasizing the humanistic aspects of medicine and understanding illness as a cultural and symbolic reality. "TCM has been traditionally seen as an ideal 'other' to biomedicine due to its emphasis on a compassionate, holistic approach to medicine. This approach values the well-being of patients, which is why there is a strong resonance between TCM and NM," explains Prof. Gui. Yi'an is equivalent to the case history in Western medicine while maintaining a rich narrative tradition in TCM, influenced by both historical and literary factors. It serves as a means of transmitting medical knowledge and is a valuable resource for both learning and research purposes. "In this comparative study between NM and yi'an, it becomes evident that NM is searching for a lost tradition of narrative case histories, while yi'an functions as a living tradition within TCM," observes Prof. Gui. Case histories and yi'an share common features, including their close relationship to history, the mixed influence they gain from literature and medicine, their use of narratives to transmit medical knowledge, and their evolution driven by legal cases and the biomedicine model. Yi'an can serve as a tool for promoting humanitarian reading and writing as a habitual practice for doctors in NM. To facilitate the integration of the two practices, it is crucial to encourage a more detailed description of yi'an, capturing its intricate details, cultural codes, and interpretations. The findings of this study significantly enhance our comprehension of the applications of NM both within China and internationally, with a specific focus on its connection to TCM. In contemporary China, read and written case histories and yi'an coexist in medical teaching and practices. NM provides an opportunity to celebrate the similarities between these two genres and gain insights into their differences. In the West, NM has brought changes in the way medical cases are written and published, encouraging the dissemination of more comprehensive case reports that allow for nuanced descriptions and thoughtful reflections. By integrating ancient wisdom with modern medical approaches, we can pave way for a more compassionate, patient-centered, and holistic health care system. More information: Ting GUI, Rethinking Yi'an (Medical Cases) as a Tool for Narrative Medicine in China, Chinese Medicine and Culture (2023). DOI: 10.1097/MC9.0000000000000063 Provided by Cactus Communications 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: Caenorhabditis hermaphrodites exhibit yolk venting and a shorter lifespan. a Phylogenetic tree showing androdioecious and gonochoristic Caenorhabditis sibling species76. Estimate of the time since the origin of selfing in hermaphrodites: C. elegans, 0.357.2 MYA; C. briggsae, 0.23.5 MYA (ref. 77); C. tropicalis, still unknown. b Yolk venting present in hermaphrodites but not in females (n = 100 per trial). Top: major YP at the peak of venting. Bottom: Quantitative data normalized to total yolk on d4-6 in C. elegans. M = Marker. For full gel see Source Data. c Unfertilised oocytes are laid by hermaphrodites but not females (3 trials; n = 10 per trial). d Greater internal levels of major YP in Caenorhabditis hermaphrodites and P. pacificus hermaphrodites. YP bands normalized to myosin to adjust for species differences in body size. One-way ANCOVA (n = 10). For all internal YPs and gel image see Supplementary Fig. 1c, d. b, d Protein gel electrophoresis data with colloidal Coomassie blue staining. b-e Animals are unmated. b,c,d Mean s.e.m. of 3 trials with each dot representing one trial. b, c One-way ANOVA (Bonferroni correction) or two-tailed unpaired t-test. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.0001, **** p < 0.00001 (p value from left to right = b: 0.0014, 0.0145, 0.0012, 0.0070; c: 0.0010, 0.0033, 0.0080, 0.0087; d: 0.0000, 0.0133, 0.0133, 0.0000). Credit: Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40088-1 The lifespan of a small roundworm that has been used as a key model organism in aging research is limited by how it self-sacrifices to feed its young, finds a new study led by UCL researchers. The authors of the new Nature Communications paper say their findings raise questions about how well insights from the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) worm can be translated to human aging advances. C. elegans is widely used as a laboratory animal, and has been central to aging research for 40 years thanks to discoveries of genes that can be suppressed to produce up to a tenfold increase in the worm's lifespan. The UCL research team investigated what drives the lifespan of C. elegans, to see if the determining factors are markedly different from the aging processes of higher (larger, more complex) organisms. In a previous study, they had already identified an unusual reproductive trait in the worm, called yolk venting, which is a self-destructive process whereby the worm secretes a milk-like fluid through its vulva that is consumed by its offspring to support its grown. By comparing the worm to other related Caenorhabditis species, the researchers have now found that yolk venting only occurs in Caenorhabditis species that are hermaphroditic (producing both male and female reproductive cells), while such species are also shorter-lived, as reproductive self-destructive processes were linked to shorter lifespan. The researchers say their findings suggest that C. elegans is one of small number of animals known to have a single act of reproduction which is facilitated by self-destruction (another such species is the Pacific salmon, which swims upstream to spawn and dies soon after). Blocking reproduction, and so blocking self-destruction, is what leads to the huge extension of lifespan in such animals. Because of this, the aging mechanism in C. elegans is not directly comparable to that of humans. Corresponding and co-lead author Professor David Gems (UCL Institute of Healthy Aging, UCL Biosciences) said, "This discovery is groundbreaking because it calls into question 40 years of orthodoxy in the field. The discovery suggests the dream of single gene mutations having a huge impact on human aging, as in the case of laboratory animals, is more fantasy than reality." Yet the researchers say there is still more to learn about human aging from C. elegans. In an article accompanying the study, the authors present evidence that suicidal reproduction has evolved from more general mechanisms of aging, that are applicable to humans. This can explain why targeting such mechanisms therapeutically can lead to more modest lifespan extensions in larger animals such as mice. First and co-lead author Dr. Carina Kern (UCL Institute of Healthy Aging, UCL Biosciences) said, "While we can't just switch off a troublesome gene to extend human life, we are now starting to understand a whole new suite of mechanisms that lie at the root of diseases of later life." "What we need critically to move the dial in the aging space is to understand the mechanisms that cause the process of aging in animal models and explain the causes of age-related disease more generally. We don't yet understand this fully for any organism. But for C. elegans we are getting there, and the discovery of suicidal reproduction in the worm gets us another step closer." "Aging theory has also so far been obsessed with single causal explanations of aging, partially stemming from the discovery of these fountain of youth genes. Instead, what we need is an approach that is more holistic and accounts for the multiple biological mechanisms at playa molecular pathway map, if you will." More information: Carina C. Kern et al, C. elegans ageing is accelerated by a self-destructive reproductive programme, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40088-1 Journal information: Nature Communications 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 Biden administration on Monday awarded $58 million in grants to help schools and daycare centers remove lead from drinking water. The announcement came during an event in Boston. "I am excited to join local leaders in Boston to announce $58 million in grant funding that can be used to test for lead in drinking water, identify potential sources, and remove those sources to better protect our nation's children," EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox said in an agency news release. "Reducing lead in drinking water is a top priority for the Biden-Harris Administration and EPA is taking a holistic approachharmonizing drinking water standards with historic infrastructure investments under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law while providing technical assistance to disadvantaged communities to protect all our children from lead in drinking water." The grants will help test for lead in drinking water, identify sources of contamination, and help fix the problem, Fox said. "During his first year in office, President Biden announced a bold plan to replace every lead pipe in America. Today's announcement is another step toward making that vision a reality," House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark said in the EPA news release. "Schools and child care centers across the country will have the resources to ensure students are safe to learn, play, and grow alongside their friends." Lead in water is a serious problem throughout the United States. According to the EPA, lead can cause brain damage, and no amount of lead is safe for children. The Biden administration's goal is to remove all of the nation's lead water pipes. The $15 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for lead pipe removal will help, but it is not enough, the Associated Press reported. This includes installing and replacing lead pipes or connectors in faucets, water fountains, and water stations with lead-free parts. Copyright 2023 HealthDay. All rights reserved. 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 y-axis shows how easy it is to predict whether an object is currently present in the environment, based on neural population activity ("decoding accuracy"). If the score is 1, we can always predict whether the object is present or not; if the score is 0.5, our prediction is not better than tossing a coin. The x-axis shows the animal's distance from the object. Near the object, prediction accuracy is high; further away from the object, prediction accuracy is low. This shows that patterns in neural population activity are determined by how far the animal is from the object. Credit: Nagelhus, Andersson et al. The CA1 is a region of the hippocampus known to support the formation, consolidation and retrieval of memories. In recent years, neuroscientists have been trying to better understand how populations of neurons in the CA1 hippocampus encode places and objects. Researchers at the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience in Norway recently carried out a study exploring how this CA1 area encodes objects and landmarks. Their findings, published in Neuron, show that object-related information is represented in the collective activity of CA1 neurons, rather than by individual brain cells. "Objects can act as landmarks and be crucial for guiding spatial navigation, but what are the mechanisms, in the brain, for object representation during navigation?" Soledad Gonzalo Cogno, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Medical Xpress. "To answer this question, a few years ago, people from our lab, the Moser lab at Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, discovered that cells in the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) of mice responded in a very specific manner to the presence of an object in the environment." In this previous study, researchers at the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience found that cells in the MEC (i.e., a brain region known to support spatial navigation) of mice became active in a location that was linked to a specific object placed in the mice's environment. This location had a fixed distance and orientation relative to the object in question. "Inspired by this finding, we wondered whether similar responses would be found in the hippocampus, a brain area involved in the formation of memories and that communicates to the medial entorhinal cortex via direct connections," Gonzalo Cogno said. "The original goal of our study was to determine how individual hippocampal neurons responded to the presence of an object. Recent and exciting technological developments, however, allowed us to also address the more ambitious question of whether, and how, objects are represented in the hippocampal neuronal population (and not only in a few individual neurons)." To test their hypothesis, Gonzalo Cogno and her colleagues carried out a series of experiments involving adult rats. These rats were individually placed in an arena environment, where they completed four different tasks or trials. "First, a rat ran in an empty box (which we usually call 'open field arena'), while foraging for cookie crumbles (which they love)," Gonzalo Cogno explained. "In a second trial, we inserted an object in the center of the boxthe object was a tall and colorful Duplo towerand let the rat run in the box once again. The third trial was very similar to the second, but we moved the Duplo tower to another location in the box. In the fourth and last trial, we took the Duplo tower out of the box and let the rat run in it." Same as Figure 1, but using different population sizes (ranging from 1 neuron to 500 neurons). The distance-dependent organization of neural population activity (seen as a curve with negative slope) becomes more and more evident with larger population sizes. Credit: Nagelhus, Andersson et al. Between each of these four trials, the rats were given some time to rest, and throughout the experiment the team recorded neural activity in the hippocampus. Leveraging recent technological advances, they were able to simultaneously record the activity of tens to hundreds of cells, for a maximum of 620 neurons. The recordings they collected showed that neurons in the hippocampus appeared to organize their activity in unique patterns that varied depending on where the rat was located in space relative to the object. "Individual cells didn't show a very clear response to the presence of objects, and those that did so were not abundant in number," Gonzalo Cogno said. "However, information about the presence of the object in the arena, and about the animal distance with respect to the object, were clearly present in the recorded neuronal population. This means that when an object was introduced, the collective activity of the neural population reorganized in a distance-dependent manner." Interestingly, Gonzalo Cogno and her colleagues found that the reorganization of CA1 neurons could also be observed when neurons that showed a specific selectivity to the object were excluded from their analysis. Overall, their work suggests that information about the presence of an object is distributed across the hippocampal neuronal population. "Our findings are very much aligned with recent paradigm shifts in the field of neuroscience," Gonzalo Cogno said. "While in the past much attention was put on how single neurons represent, or encode, aspects of the environment and the external world, with the development of new technologies we are now equipped to address the question of how this representation is happening at the neural population level, in which thousands to millions of cells intervene. Can we learn something about the brain by studying neuronal populations, that we could not learn by studying single cells? The answer is yes, and our study is one example of this." Recent efforts by this team of researchers greatly contribute to the overall understanding of the CA1 hippocampus and how it encodes salient object-related information. In the future, Gonzalo Cogno and her colleagues hope to build on these findings to make exciting new discoveries. "One interesting question that we could explore in our next studies is how neural representations in general are transformed from the MEC to the hippocampus," Gonzalo Cogno added. "I think this question can be addressed from multiple angles, ranging from pure modeling to pure experimental work. I hope we will be able to address it in the context of object representation, and by adopting an interdisciplinary approach." More information: Anne Nagelhus et al, Object-centered population coding in CA1 of the hippocampus, Neuron (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.04.008 Journal information: Neuron 2023 Science X Network 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 iMPI scanner is so small and light that you can take it with you and use it almost anywhere. This is a first important step toward radiation-free intervention. Credit: Patrick Vogel / Stefan Herz Imaging techniques such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography and ultrasound have become indispensable in the medical world. Each method not only opens unique insights into people's insides, but also allows physicians to draw conclusions about defects or functional processes in the human body. A team of physicists and medical doctors from the Julius-Maximilians-Universitat Wurzburg (JMU) has now succeeded in making anotherand radiation-freeimaging technology ready for use on humans. It's called magnetic particle imaging (MPI). With the portable scanner they developed, it is possible, among other things, to visualize dynamic processes in the human body, such as blood flow. Professor Volker Behr and Dr. Patrick Vogel from the University's Institute of Physics are responsible for this study, and they have now published their results in the journal Scientific Reports. A sensitive and fast alternative Magnetic particle imaging is a technique based, as the name suggests, on the direct visualization of magnetic nanoparticles. Such nanoparticles do not occur naturally in the human body and must be administered as markers. "As with positron emission tomography, which relies on the administration of radioactive substances as markers, this method has the great advantage of being sensitive and fast without 'seeing' interfering background signals from tissue or bone," explains Volker Behr. MPI is not based on the detection of gamma rays from a radioactive marker like positron emission tomography, but on the response signal of the magnetic nanoparticles to magnetic fields that change over time. "In this process, the magnetization of nanoparticles is specifically manipulated with the help of external magnetic fields, whereby not only their presence but also their spatial position in the human body can be detected," says physicist Patrick Vogel, first author of the publication. The iMPI scanner (left) provides new insights into the human body. Here you can see a constriction in a blood vesselrecorded with conventional X-rays (b), with the scanner (c) and in a combination of both techniques (d). Credit: Patrick Vogel / Stefan Herz A small scanner for big insights The MPI idea is not new. As early as 2005, the Philips company was able to show the first images of this novel approach in a small demonstrator, which, however, could only take samples a few centimeters in size. And the development of devices suitable for examining humans proved more difficult than expected, leading to large, heavy and expensive constructions. In 2018, the team led by Professor Volker Behr and Patrick Vogel found a new way to implement the complex magnetic fields required for imaging in a much smaller design. In a multi-year research project, the scientists succeeded in implementing the novel concept in an MPI scanner (interventional Magnetic Particle ImagingiMPI) specifically designed for intervention. "Our iMPI scanner is so small and light that you can take it almost anywhere," Vogel explains. The authors impressively demonstrate this mobility of the scanner in a simultaneous real-time measurement in comparison with a special X-ray device, which is the standard device in angiography in university hospitals. The team led by Professor Thorsten Bley and Dr. Stefan Herz of the Interventional Radiology Department of the Wurzburg University Hospital, which accompanied this project from the beginning, carried out the measurements on a realistic vascular phantom and evaluated the first images. "This is a first important step towards radiation-free intervention. MPI has the potential to change this field for good," said Dr. Stefan Herz, senior author of the publication. In addition to further measurements with the iMPI device, the two physicists are now working to further develop their scanner. The main goal is to improve the image quality. More information: P. Vogel et al, iMPI: portable human-sized magnetic particle imaging scanner for real-time endovascular interventions, Scientific Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37351-2 Journal information: Scientific Reports This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Before 2001, neither commercial health insurance companies nor Medicaid covered services for people with autism. By 2015, thanks in large part to the advocacy of thousands of parents, all but seven states had mandates requiring commercial health plans to provide coverage for autism, with the remainder covered by 2019. According to research by Professor Rosemary Batt at Cornell University, the flood of insurance and taxpayer money that followed quickly flowed into the pockets of private equity firms. Between 2017 and 2022, private equity firms completed 85% of all mergers and acquisitions in autism services. It is the highest rate among health care segments. "Parents who fought for health insurance coverage for their autistic kids expected the funds to be used to expand access to high-quality treatment. They didn't expect firms to move in, skim reimbursements to pay high salaries to executives, and deliver millions to private equity partners," said Batt, the Alice Hanson Cook Professor of Women and Work. Batt's policy paper, "Pocketing Money Meant for Special Needs Kids: Private Equity in Autism Services," is co-authored by her longtime collaborator, Eileen Appelbaum of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, while Quynh Trang Nguyen, MILR '23 contributed substantial research assistance. It was published by the Center for Economic and Policy Research. In their research, the team focused on 12 leading autism service providers that were owned by private equity firms. The private equity firms were large, owned many companies across a wide range of industries, and had virtually no knowledge or experience in providing services to autistic children. They bought out each autism services provider using substantial debt, which was loaded on the provider and then sold them at a higher price to other private equity firms on average every four years. "The ongoing churn in ownership led to high staff turnover rates, disrupting the relationships of trust that autistic children depend on to improve over time," Batt said. "Private equity owners also reduced levels of staffing, training, and supervision, which undermined job and care quality." In addition, Batt and Appelbaum found that some private equity owners prioritized patients who garnered higher billing rates or lived in states with higher reimbursement rates, worsening inequality in access to care. "The autism community should push for state and federal legislation to establish minimum care standards for provider organizations," Appelbaum said. "These should include rules for minimum staff-client ratios and the mix of skills and qualifications needed to provide appropriate care. Legislation should include annual reporting requirements and monitoring and oversight that currently do not exist." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain High summer is here, but many heading to forests and fields reach not for shorts and a T-shirt, but long sleeves, pants, and a shot of bug spray, hoping to keep a threat at bay: the deer ticks that carry Lyme disease. Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease-causing bacterium transmitted by tick bites, has been found in increasing numbers around the country, particularly in the Northeast. Early symptoms may include an expanding skin lesion at the site of the bite, often accompanied by fever, headache, and fatigue. Left untreated, it may attack the joints, heart, and nervous system with potentially long-lasting impacts, including arthritis, heart palpitations, dizziness, or shooting pains. Though the threat has grown and become more well-known, there are currently no vaccines for humans, although there are three for dogs. One had been developed in the late 1990s and was pulled off the market in 2002, in part due to a vigorous anti-vaccination movement. The Gazette spoke with Allen Steere, a professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and a discoverer of Lyme disease, about the prospects for a new vaccine being developed by Pfizer and Valneva, currently in Phase 3 trials. GAZETTE: There are Lyme disease vaccines available for dogs but none for people, even though a human vaccine was developed decades ago. What happened to it? Steere: I had a role in evaluating that. I was principal investigator of the Phase 3 trial of the SmithKline Beecham vaccine, the first commercially available vaccine for Lyme disease. That trial involved 10,000 people, 5,000 of whomI'm giving rough numbers nowreceived the vaccine and 5,000 of whom received placebo. The single most important factor leading to the withdrawal of the vaccine was a strong anti-vaccine movement. Some people felt that the vaccine made their post-treatment symptomatology worse. This was 20 to 25 years ago, and we did not know as much about Lyme disease as we know now. Studies that had been done of patients with Lyme arthritis showed an association between having an antibody response to the bacteria's outer surface protein A, used in the vaccine, and developing what we call today post-infectious Lyme arthritis. But association does not prove causation, and the reason for the association was not altogether clear. Studies suggested that there was molecular mimicrypartial sequence homologybetween outer surface protein A (OspA) of the spirochete and a host protein called LFA-1, and it was proposed that this was perhaps the reason for post-infectious antibiotic refractory Lyme arthritis. The article suggesting that came out in Science the same week that the New England Journal of Medicine article was published with the results of the Phase 3 vaccine trial. This became a justification for the idea that the vaccine could make your Lyme disease worse. However, that was shown not to be the mechanism. The reason for the association is that an immune response to OspA in the infection can be a part of an excessive inflammatory response that may set the stage for the development of autoimmune phenomena. However, vaccination alone to a single proteinOspAdoes not induce this response. In other words, vaccination was not shown to be a problem. GAZETTE: Is that why we've had to wait decades? There's a candidate in Phase 3 trials now? Steere: The vaccine that is being tested now is very similar to the one that was commercially available 20 to 25 years ago. However, the particular sequence that had partial sequence homology with LFA-1 has been removed from the recombinant protein in the current vaccine. GAZETTE: So, the mechanism in that original vaccine that supposedly caused problems is not in this new vaccine? Steere: That is true. Still, it remains a question how well the new vaccine will be accepted. There are many more cases of Lyme disease, and many more people are aware of the risk of this infection. There are many more places that have become hyperendemic in New England and in the mid-Atlantic states. So, the need for a vaccine has increased a great deal. There's a better understanding of the infection than 20 and 30 years ago. Thus, I expect that the vaccine will be better accepted now. However, other factors are important. We saw with COVID that acceptance of vaccination is problematic and could be better understood in sociopolitical terms. With an infection that is transmitted person to person, one needs to induce "herd immunity." That is not the case with a tick-borne infection. It doesn't matter whether your neighbor has been vaccinated. What matters is whether you are bitten by an infected tick. If one is worried about that and lives in a hyperendemic area, you can choose vaccination. If you don't want to, you don't have to, and it doesn't impact your neighbor's risk. The medical community doesn't have to push vaccination for Lyme disease in the same way as with a person-to-person infection. But it's important for people to know what the risk is in their area, and it's important to understand that the vaccine is safe and efficacious. GAZETTE: Is there any reason to think that this new version will be better or worse, from an effectiveness standpoint, than the earlier vaccine? Steere: I'm not expecting that. It is very similar to previous vaccines so you have a good idea that it will be a safe and effective vaccine. GAZETTE: Are there any potentially problematic aspects surrounding this new vaccine that stand out to you? Steere: One thing that did not get worked out, because the old vaccine was removed from the market, was what's needed in terms of boosters. This is not a vaccine that you take once and that's all you need. It requires having high antibody titers [concentrations] to the spirochete's (a spiral shaped bacteria) outer surface protein A. Antibody levels have to be high for it to be effective and antibody titers decline after vaccination. This will require boosters, but how often is not known. Also, there is strain variation with Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease agent. There are strains that are more inflammatory and cause more severe disease. We happen to have such a strain in New England, so the risk from that standpoint is particularly great where we are. GAZETTE: There's also an mRNA vaccine in the works? Steere: Things have changed since 25 and 30 years ago. Lyme disease is not the only tick-borne infection that is a risk factor now. We're aware of six infectious agents transmitted by the same tick. They're not as common as the Lyme disease agent, but it's becoming more so. Anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Borrelia miyamotoi, and particularly problematic is the Powassan (deer tick) encephalitis virus: These are potential infections as well and vaccination for Lyme disease does not protect against them. Dr. Tony Fauci, formerly director of the NIH's Institute for Infectious and Allergic Diseases, has called for the development of vaccines against all of these agents. Erol Fikrig at Yale is trying to understand tick immunity as well as immunity to an infectious agent. What is observed in animals, and in humans to some degree, is that if they're bitten by the same type of tick multiple times, they will eventually develop an inflammatory response to a tick proteinor proteinsthat will interfere with the tick being able to feed. And it will fall off. That's nature's way of protecting against ticks. It's been a difficult problem to figure out but may be an important advance that's in the pipeline. It could potentially protect against all of these tick-borne diseases as opposed to just Lyme disease. And yes, there have already been animal studies published of an mRNA vaccine for Lyme disease, which would be a different way of going about this. GAZETTE: Looking ahead, might the past debate about vaccines for COVID help the introduction of this new Lyme vaccine? Steere: I would think so. COVID has certainly brought to the fore the problem of post-infectious syndromes. They are real. We don't understand them well. We don't have good treatments for them. So that is better understood now. It's certainly understood that the infection is spreading a great deal and the need for the vaccine is more evident now. And with COVID, there has been a regular message to the population that vaccination is a good thing. This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu. 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 The World Meteorological Organization says it expects temperatures to stay above 40C in North America, Asia, North Africa and the Mediterranean as heat waves globally intensify into August. And with the sweltering heat comes renewed warnings of health problems and the risk of early death from too much exposure to the excessive temperatures, with everyone from infants to the elderly affected. We asked Daniel Gagnon, associate professor at Universite de Montreal's School of Kinesiology and Exercise Science, what people can do to cope. The media are full of news this summer of unprecedented heat waves around the world: in North America, in North Africa, in Asia and the Mediterranean. Climate crisis aside, what can you tell us about the human cost of these heat waves? Heat waves are associated with increased hospitalization and mortality. In 2003, a European heat wave killed 70,000 people. In 2021, the heat dome that hovered over the west coast of North America caused the death of more than 600 people in British Columbia. In 2022, the hottest summer on record in Europe killed more than 60,000 people. These examples demonstrate the potential danger of extreme heat to human health. From a physiological point of view, heat waves are dangerous for three reasons. First, internal body temperature rises when exposed to heat, which can lead to heat exhaustion (dizziness, nausea) or, in the worst case, heat stroke, which is fatal if not recognized and treated immediately. Second, perspiration is our body's primary means of cooling itself. However, sweating causes a loss of body water and can therefore lead to dehydration if our fluid intake is insufficient. Dehydration increases the workload on the kidneys, which can lead to electrolyte imbalance and kidney failure. Third, the heart works harder when we're exposed to heat to send blood to the surface of the skin to promote heat loss to the environment. However, the heart's workload can exceed its capacity to supply itself with oxygen and nutrients. In this case, cardiac events can occur, such as a heart attack. Heat waves at night can be very hard for people to get through, too, as temperatures barely dip after dark in many places, especially cities. Does the body at rest or in sleep deal differently from excessive heat than when it is active? The body reacts in the same way to heat during the day as it does at night. However, one important difference is the absence of physical activity for most people at night (apart from night-shift workers), which minimizes the body's heat production. Night or day, the best way to cope with the heat is to avoid exposure. The most effective way of doing this is, of course, to use air conditioning. If air conditioning is not available, an electric fan can be used at night to cool you down, as long as the temperature of the room in which you sleep is below 38 degrees Celsius and you feel the air circulation created by the fan. It's also important to go to bed well-hydrated. Finally, what about maintaining physical fitness? Should people still be exercising when the mercury continues to climb? Ideally, yes, because adopting and maintaining an active lifestyle probably confers protection against the health effects of heat. People who are active are generally healthier and therefore less predisposed to the risks posed by heat. What's more, physically active people are generally more tolerant of heat, and their bodies can lose more heat. However, caution is called for when it comes to being physically active in hot weather. If it's not possible to move our physical activity indoors in an air-conditioned environment, it would be wise to train at cooler times of the day, such as early in the morning or later in the evening. We should also avoid exercising in direct sunlight to prevent heat gain through radiation. For the same intensity of exercise, you'll sweat more in hot weather, so it's important to make sure you're well hydrated before, during and after your physical activity. A final tip would be to reduce the intensity of physical activity in hot weather to minimize the amount of heat produced by the body, while still retaining the health benefits of physical activity. 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 team led by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has discovered a protein that plays critical roles in alerting the body to a bacterial infection and initiating an effective immune response to fight back against the invasion. They found that when certain bacteria are ingested by human immune cells, the protein, called NLRP11, can recognize these bacteria through a portion of their outer coat, filling a previous gap in this recognition pathway. NLRP11 is present in humans but not in mice, which are the most common laboratory model for human infection. The group's discovery, which is published in Science Immunology, may therefore help investigators develop improved "humanized" mouse models of infections and diseases involving the immune system. For the study, the researchers focused on macrophages, which are immune cells that ingest and degrade microorganisms (such as bacteria) and stimulate the action of other immune cells. A genetic screen revealed that macrophages require the NLRP11 gene to become fully activated after ingesting certain bacteria. Mechanistically, the team found that the NLRP11 protein that's produced from the gene enables a macrophage to sense the presence of bacterial lipopolysaccharide molecules within its interior. Upon sensing bacterial lipopolysaccharide molecules, NLRP11 triggers an inflammasome, an intracellular multimeric protein complex that turns on a pathway that activates inflammatory responses to control infection. In this case, NLRP11 leads to activation of an enzyme called caspase-4 that is a component of this inflammasome. These actions by NLRP11 result in an effective defense by the immune system that kills invading bacterial cells and prevents widespread infection in the body. "NLRP11 is present in humans and other primates but absent in mice, likely explaining why it has been missed previously, as most screens looking for innate immune signaling molecules have been carried out in mice," says senior author Marcia B. Goldberg, MD, an investigator in the Division of Infectious Diseases at MGH and a professor in the Departments of Medicine and Microbiology at Harvard Medical School. "Our results demonstrate that NLRP11 is a previously missing link and a component of the human caspase-4 inflammasome activation pathway." Goldberg and her colleagues are conducting even more thorough studies of NLRP11's functions in human macrophages, and they are comparing the differences that result from the presence of NLRP11 in human macrophages and its absence in mouse macrophages. "This may enable the development of mouse macrophages (and mice) that are more similar to human macrophages (and humans) for bacterial infection experiments," she says. Additional co-authors include Maricarmen Rojas-Lopez, Maria Luisa Gil-Marques, Vritti Kharbanda, Amanda S. Zajac, Kelly A. Miller, Thomas E. Wood, Austin C. Hachey, and Keith T. Egger. More information: Maricarmen Rojas-Lopez et al, NLRP11 is a pattern recognition receptor for bacterial lipopolysaccharide in the cytosol of human macrophages, Science Immunology (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abo4767 Journal information: Science Immunology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain When it comes to thinking about lipids and heart health, cholesterol often comes to mind. Along with age, blood pressure, and underlying conditions, cholesterola fat that circulates in the bloodstreamis one of many indicators of cardiovascular health that physicians look at through routine medical check-ins. It's also used in 10-year risk predictions for atherosclerosis, a narrowing or hardening of the arteries caused by the accumulation of a substance called plaque, which can rupture or block blood flow and increase the odds for having a heart attack or stroke. If a person has increased risk factors for developing atherosclerosis, they may be prescribed statins, a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs, which have been shown to lower risks for cardiovascular events by about one-third. In recent years, researchers have also been studying if measuring components of triglyceridestiny fat particles that support the structure of cells and metabolismin low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol could improve risk predictions for cardiovascular disease and lead to new treatments. "For many years, people ignored triglycerides," said Alan T. Remaley, M.D., Ph.D., a senior investigator in the Lipoprotein Metabolism Laboratory, located within NHLBI's Division of Intramural Research. "The world is changing a little bit from both a diagnostic standpoint as well as new therapies. It's kind of a new era." As investigators from Remaley's lab have studied ways to improve both predictions and treatment, they see emerging opportunities. This could potentially benefit one in four American adults who has elevated triglycerides and provide novel therapies for people with inherited metabolic disorders. Familial hyperchylomicronemia, for example, affects about one or two in a million people, due to a mutation in the LPL gene, which breaks fat into triglycerides. Due to this mutation, people living with this rare condition could have triglyceride levels five times higher than normal. As a first step to exploring therapies to lower dangerously high triglyceride levels, Anna Wolska, Ph.D., a scientist in the Lipoprotein Metabolism Laboratory, developed a peptide, or tiny molecule, that could lower triglyceride levels in mice by more than 80% within a few hours. "This peptide is unlike any molecule I've seen before," said Matt Devalaraja, Ph.D., founder of Protean Bio. "If it behaves anything close to what it does in mice, we have a drug in here." Devalaraja has now launched studies to investigate how the peptide could treat acute pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas that can result from high triglyceride levels. In about four years, Devalaraja envisions the therapy will be ready to test in a small phase 2 study with patients. In the meantime, the team will continue to study the peptide in the lab and through a preliminary, phase 1 "proof-of-concept" study. "We are not stopping," said Wolska. "We are still trying to improve the peptide so it's better and suited for the comfort of patients." Their hope is that people living with conditions like familial hyperchylomicronemia could take the therapy as an oral pill and see their triglyceride levels fall within hours. For instances when a person needs hospital care, this type of treatment could be lifesaving. When a person with familial hyperchylomicronemia has a severe case of acute pancreatitis and arrives at the hospital, their triglyceride levels could be at least 10 times higher than normal. Triglyceride levels also help physicians predict which patients with acute pancreatitis will experience multi-organ failure and require intensive care. Due to extreme triglyceride levels, the pancreas starts to shut down and sets off a series of inflammatory responses. For every 10 patients with severe acute pancreatitis, about four experience organ failure. Among these patients, one may die. "You just instantly make very high triglyceride levels that are blocking the pancreatic vascular system disappear," Devalaraja said about the best outcome for the therapy. "And then the patient survives." Devalaraja explained that while basic scientific discoveries like these unite researchers, their real joy comes from thinking about how findings from the lab could be translated into therapies to help patients. Especially those, like people with severe acute pancreatitis, who have limited treatment options. While larger phase 3 trials for this treatment are still years away, the researchers remain optimistic about the peptide and molecules like it. "Our long-term goal is to make the peptide even better," said Remaley. Looking to future translational opportunities, he shared that there may even be opportunities to develop an oral peptide pill for chronic therapy, such as cardiovascular disease. As a precursor to this research, Remaley and Wolska have been studying ways triglyceride levels could potentially improve cardiovascular disease risk predictions. At the American Association for Clinical Chemistry's annual conference on July 25, Wolska presented findings about using a new equation that the team developed, based on the standard lipid panel, for estimating LDL triglyceride content. The equation didn't improve cardiovascular risk predictions when added to current 10-year risk calculations, which includes factors, like age, sex, and blood pressure. However, estimated LDL triglycerides improved predictions compared to estimated or measured LDL cholesterol levels and other lipids tested. Statins, the go-to treatment for improving cholesterol, have been shown to reduce LDL triglyceride levels by about 30%. However, almost one-third of people who take statins still have elevated triglycerides. Additionally, some people may not be able to take statins or they could experience side effects, such as muscle cramps. This is where researchers see triglyceride-targeted therapies providing another option for treatment or serving as an adjunct therapy. Yet, the group's immediate focus remains on studying how the peptide could help patients who currently need it the most. "We aren't at the end of the journey," said Remaley. He explained false peaks or summits can often appear in research. "We can see the top of the mountainwe think." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Royal colleges in the UK have received more than 9 million in marketing payments from drug and medical devices companies since 2015, but do not always disclose the payments publicly, finds an investigation published by The BMJ today. Investigative journalist Hristio Boytchev asked the colleges to disclose all payments from industry, campaign groups or patient associations, including the specific amount received from each donor, but they all refused to do so. Instead, data was compiled from Disclosure UK, a website run by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and Transparent MedTech, run by MedTech Europe, the European trade association for medical device firms. This showed that pharmaceutical companies contributed 7.5 million in the years 20152022, with more than half going to the Royal College of Physicians (2.8 million) and the Royal College of GPs (2.4 million), mainly for sponsorship of events, donations and grants, and joint ventures. The biggest donor overall was Pfizer, with 1.8 million, followed by Novo Nordisk with 730,000 and Daiichi Sankyo with 478,000. Medical devices companies declared a total of 1.7 million of payments to royal colleges for the years 2017 to 2021 for "educational grants" and "support to educational events." The top recipient was the Royal College of GPs, with 674,000, followed by the Royal College Surgeons (England) with 414,000 and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh with 227,000. More than 90% of the money came from just two donors, Johnson & Johnson and Thermo Fisher Scientific, who donated 905,000 and 644,000 respectively. The colleges are not obliged to disclose these payments; they are not included in their annual reports and are only available through voluntary industry transparency initiatives. The colleges told The BMJ that pharmaceutical and medical device company payments make up a fraction of their overall budgets and that there are clear governance rules around industry payments, while the companies said that all payments to royal colleges were disclosed transparently and were given with the goal of improving patient care. Industry transparency initiatives are the only way the public can see payments from individual companies to the colleges, but experts say they have severe limitations. The ABPI, for example, only saves the data on payments for the most recent three years and deletes historical data. "I can see no justification for anything but full and mandatory disclosure," said Emma Hardy, Labor MP and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Surgical Mesh Implants. "Medicine is literally a matter of life and death, and patients must be confident they are receiving the best treatment available for the right reasons." "Even if we are told the information is independent, funding skews the types of education or information that gets made," says Margaret McCartney, a general practitioner and former Royal College of General Practitioners trustee and council member. "It means that we become less independent, because we are not setting our own priorities, and that's bad for the profession." Recently, the UK Department of Health announced a public consultation on mandatory disclosure of industry payments to the health care sectora system that already exists in the US as the Physician Payments Sunshine Act. "It is deeply disappointing that so many Royal Colleges negotiate these payments and don't even tell the full and detailed truth about them," says Susan Bewley, honorary professor emeritus in Obstetrics and Women's Health at King's College London and former chair of the transparency initiative Healthsense-UK. "Patients need to trust medical institutions that educate, or create and implement guidelines which should be based on best available evidence, not lobbying. (...) sunshine, and full transparency are the very least," she says. Although welcome, is transparency enough to reduce the impact of bias on patients, asks Margaret McCartney in a linked feature. She examines the situation in the UK and finds that declaring and managing conflicts is a complex business that can lead to enormous disparities in the quality of reporting of individual health care professionals' declarations of interests. A consistent approach is needed, she says, but unless new systems of declarations can actually reduce the negative impacts of conflicts, they will be wasted. In a linked study published by BMJ Open, researchers set out to test whether professionals and laypeople can find and interpret declarations of interest made by professionals in the UK. They found that declarations of interest are important and conflicts of interest concern patients and professionals, particularly in regard to trust in decision-making. However, if declarations, as currently made, are intended to improve transparency, they do not achieve this, due to difficulties in locating and interpreting them. The authors say clarity about the purposes of transparency is needed and that future policies "may be more successful if focused on reducing the potential for negative impacts of conflicts of interest, rather than relying on individuals to locate declarations and interpret them." More information: Medical royal colleges receive millions from drug and medical devices companies, The BMJ (2023). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.p1658 You feel like you've been duped': is the current system for health professionals declaring potential conflicts of interest in the UK fit for purpose? A mixed methods study BMJ Open (2023). DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072996 Margaret McCartney, "You have to be above reproach": why doctors need to get better at managing their conflicts of interest, BMJ (2023). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.p1646 Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ) , BMJ Open This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The most effective treatment to care for people with opioid use disorder are opioid agonist therapies (OAT), including medications like methadone or buprenorphine. But interrupting this therapy may result in severe symptoms of withdrawal, relapse to injected opioids, overdose, and death. Unfortunately, many Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war have encountered obstacles when seeking these therapies in European Union countries, a new Yale-led study finds. The study examines the barriers to opioid agonist therapies and providers' responses to increased demand in OAT enrollment after the Ukrainian refugee crisis. An estimated 360,000 people who inject drugs reside in Ukraine, and 20% of them have HIV. Ukraine's intertwined opioid and HIV epidemics are among the most severe in Europe. "Ukraine has the second highest HIV prevalence in all of Europe, concentrated in people with opioid use disorder," said Yale undergraduate researcher Benjamin Nikitin, first author of the new publication in PLOS Global Public Health. "Opioid agonist therapies are critical to eliminating that risk of HIV transmission, as they can be taken orally rather than through injection." Nikitin, a first-generation Ukrainian American, traveled to Poland with Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) doctoral candidate Daniel Bromberg, where they interviewed Ukrainian refugees with opioid use disorder to uncover the barriers to accessing treatment while displaced. The two researchers also completed interviews with refugees and OAT providers in Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Romania, and Hungary. In the study, researchers found that networks among OAT providers were not effectively leveraged to respond to the emergent refugee crisis. "We wanted to see if providers were communicating with one another or if they were 'reinventing the wheel' in isolation from feedback and problem-solving with their colleagues," said Nikitin. The study suggests that collaborative learning between providers, facilitated through an easily adaptable framework like the Network for the Improvement of Addiction Treatment (NIATx), could be used in EU countries to overcome barriers observed early in the conflict. Senior author Frederick Altice, MD, professor of medicine, Yale School of Medicine, and of epidemiology, YSPH, said, "NIATx is an implementation tool that aims to increase quality performance and create rapid-cycle changes so that behavioral health care settings can respond to emergencies and increase access to treatment. It helps them assess emerging barriers immediately and respond to the most important ones. NIATx might be successfully leveraged to address other emerging crises, similar to what was done within Ukraine and reported in another publication." More information: Benjamin M. Nikitin et al, Leveraging existing provider networks in Europe to eliminate barriers to accessing opioid agonist maintenance therapies for Ukrainian refugees, PLOS Global Public Health (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002168 Journal information: PLOS Global Public Health A CIMP is handling the Colt fire. What is that? When Northern Rockies Team 1 took command of the Colt fire Sunday morning, the national-level interagency team came in as a complex incident management team, or CIMP. In any previous year, fire managers might describe their command structure as a Type-1 team, the most robust configuration of such teams, or a trimmed-down yet still burly Type-2 team. But this year many of the nations Geographic Area Coordination Centers, including Northern Rockies, have moved away from type classifications for national-level incident management teams. Quinn Carver, the Lolo National Forests Seeley District ranger, and Mark Vosburgh, a public information officer with Northern Rockies Team 1, explained that such teams are now all referred to simply as complex incident management teams. Its a transition year, Vosburgh noted Monday, explaining that the change was tested in the Rocky Mountain Area last year. The move provides greater flexibility for assembling teams and dispatching them as needed around regions and the nation, he said. No longer will upper-level officials have to choose between checking all the boxes to build a full-fledged Type-1 team, or stepping down to a Type-2 team. He also said that the shift was driven at least in part by staffing shortages. Nonetheless, the team overseeing firefighting efforts on the Colt fire happens to be staffed almost entirely by Type-1 qualified personnel, Vosburgh noted, even though its not being referred to as a Type-1 team anymore. The practical implication for this team at this time is that we still have a lot of Type-1 qualified people, he said. When Missoula Rep. Zooey Zephyr and her fiancee, activist Erin Reed, visited Glacier National Park this summer, the couple was approached by a group of burly flannel-clad residents in a Dodge Ram with Flathead plates. Im a Courtenay Sprunger Republican, one of the men said to Zephyr and Reed, referencing the conservative Kalispell legislator, but Id sit on that bench for you. Reed remembers feeling amazed by the broad swath of support her partner has garnered from Montanans of all stripes in the wake of the tumultuous 2023 legislative session. People might see these laws and form this impression (of Montanans) thats not borne out by seeing the people here, said Reed. Its been a beautiful experience. Since the session ended in the spring, Zephyr has proposed to Reed, traveled the world and continued to participate in LGBTQ+ advocacy in Montana and across the country. But shes insistent Missoula remains her home base because of the deep connections shes formed with the community here. When I transitioned, Zephyr recalled, Missoula took care of me in a way that I cannot articulate how much I needed at the start of my transition. That support gave special resonance to her proposal to her then-girlfriend at Missoulas Queer Prom in May. It was really special to me personally, said Zephyr, and it felt like in a year with so many attacks on queer people, it felt like a moment of planting the flag of trans joy and I couldnt be happier. Both Zephyr and her fiancee are transgender women. According to Reed, the pair is planning a wedding for 2024 and, in the meantime, jetting across the country to support the fight for LGBTQ+ rights writ large. In June alone, Zephyr spoke at Pride events in Florida, New York, California, Ohio and other states, meeting prominent legislators, attending the GLAAD Media Awards and visiting the White House for its Pride event. But despite the illustrious elbows shes rubbed up against, Zephyr maintains some of the most impactful experiences have been with everyday LGBTQ+ community members, from a San Francisco eighth grader who organized a youth rally, to a Florida 40-year-old who is pushing back against some of the most far-reaching anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the country. Every step, she said, at every age across the fight, people are willing to put in the work to make sure LGBTQ people dont have to go back in the closet. To her friend and Democratic organizer Andy Nelson, who also heads up The Center in Missoula, Zephyr is a shining example of using ones voice to make a difference. Representative Zephyr had an incredible session as a first-time legislator, said Nelson, who chairs the Missoula County Democrats. Nelson, who has been involved in LGBTQ+ advocacy for years, said Zephyrs presence in the Montana Legislature made a difference from day one, because anti-LGBTQ+ efforts have morphed from attacks on gay rights, particularly marriage, to other issues. The main target is trans people, he said. Thats why her voice is so important right now. And although he acknowledged many of the bills Zephyr fought against were eventually signed by Gov. Greg Gianforte, Nelson was confident legal challenges will finish the work the legislator started on the House floor. Eventually they will be found unconstitutional in a court of law, Nelson said. Its a process so its going to take time. We are fighting tooth and nail to shut it down. Zephyr hopes her presence and her resistance against the censure on the House floor lends hope to the many allies fighting alongside her. She underlined the sign-off that marks all of her official communications: with pride and determination. She said she feels those notions more strongly now than ever, and she wants to inspire others to feel pride and determination in their own fights, whether they are for LGBTQ+ rights, renters protections, environmental causes or other progressive issues. Zephyrs primary motivation outside her legislative work is to support other activists to find the avenues through which they can effect the most change. More fundamentally, she said, its about finding the space where your voice can make a difference. That was my driving principle when I got elected. Mineral County officials pulled a body from the Clark Fork River on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased is believed to be a man who went missing in the river near Alberton over the weekend. He was identified as David Zlomke from Porter, Texas, according to a social media post from the Mineral County Sheriff's Office. A "concerned citizen" and a drone pilot from Montana Highway Patrol found him in the river not far from where he was last seen, near Triple Bridges and Purple Cliffs, the post stated. An initial report from the sheriff said Zlomke went under the river's surface and didn't reemerge on Sunday evening. According to the sheriff, he was found not far from where he was last seen. Montana River Guides, the Mineral County Sheriff's Office and the Montana Highway Patrol assisted in recovering him from the river. The sheriff's office described the area where Zlomke went into the water as roughly 45 feet deep with currents and rocks, making the water dicey. Montana health officials in the coming weeks expect to ink a contract with a private firm to help engineer the state's generational overhaul of its behavioral health care system. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services last week closed its request for proposals seeking bids on a contractor officials hope will augment the state's research and expertise in its $300 million effort to shore up a crumbling behavioral health and developmental disability care system. The contract comes with an immediate start date and will run until Dec. 31, 2025, with between $5 million and $10 million in funding planned for the contractor's work, according to a DPHHS spokesperson. That funding is allocated from the $300 million bill lawmakers passed to overhaul the system. In a meeting last week of the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission, DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton described the request for proposals as something the department has been advancing for some time. "The department has been extremely busy behind the scenes gearing up for this commission process. In fact, even before House Bill 872 was enacted we started putting our heads together and working towards the sort of thinking about the resources that would be required to ensure that this is a successful commission," Brereton said. " We are seeking support from a contractor to ultimately provide support to the agency and to the department in designing and implementing a cohesive behavioral health system and developmental disability service strategy that meets the needs of Montana with excellence." He said the contractor will work alongside both the department and the commission. "We as a commission and we as a department will be working with this contractor to develop a behavioral health system for future generations strategic plan that will guide the work of this commission," Brereton said, adding that would also include the developmental disability system. The commissions recommendations are due by July 2024, and Brereton said he expected the commission and contractor would work together to develop those. Rep. Bob Keenan, the Bigfork Republican who carried the legislation to put the overhaul in motion and sits on the commission, in a phone interview Wednesday said he has known for months about the department's search for a private firm. Rather than duplicating the commission's work, Keenan said the selected contractor will be able to commit to the behavioral health initiative that could prove challenging for citizen lawmakers. "Everybody has lives to live," Keenan said. "The contractor will do extensive research and an assessment of the system now." Similarly significant public behavioral health system remodels are underway with private contractors in Virginia, Texas, Colorado and North Dakota, Keenan said. Montana last year contracted with Alvarez and Marsal, a private firm hired to review and stabilize the state-run health care facilities in Montana, particularly the beleaguered Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs. That firm and DPHHS officials in January delivered findings and recommendations to lawmakers. The state also recently contracted with Guidehouse, another firm, to survey reasonableness of the state's Medicaid reimbursement rates, which were slashed as part of Montana's efforts to overcome an expected budget shortfall in 2017. The request for proposals (RFP) for work on the broader behavioral health care and developmental disabilities services closed last week and a committee to evaluate applications has been established, Brereton said. We expect to move through that RFP scoring process, select a vendor or contractor, enter into contract negotiations and then award and execute a contract by the end of August or early September, Brereton said. The contractor is expected to produce an analysis of the current behavioral health and developmental disabilities systems operations and financing strategies in effect across Montana. It's also expected to identify and recommend ways to close gaps in state and local planning and collaboration, Brereton said. They will also analyze things like Medicaid data or other information to see what outcomes for people seeking care have been. The contractor will also work to gather feedback from people involved in the system, hosting things like listening sessions and more around the state. These are documents or plans that the department will use hopefully over the course of many years regardless of what happens with this commission, whether or not it's reauthorized and extended, Brereton said. Officials expect to exhaust the $300 million over the next five or six years, but House Bill 872, Keenan's bill that carried the project, slated to disband the commission on July 1, 2025. That date can be adjusted when the Legislature assembles earlier that year. Montanans recently received an unpleasant reminder of the perils of bad tax policy in their mail. Spending significant amounts of time in Granite County, I had the displeasure of seeing friends and family face average reappraisals topping 60 percent. Suppose we dive into tax policy developed by the Montana Republican Party and Gov. Greg Gianforte. Well discover a distressing pattern: Working-class homeowners are subjected to massive permanent tax increases, while large corporations enjoy tax relief offset by the aforementioned workers. It parallels actions by the Public Service Commission which recently suggested that residential energy customers and small businesses be subjected to higher rate increases than large out-of-state corporate clients. This shift in the tax burden, coupled with the permanent nature of property tax hikes, exemplifies conservative leaderships failure to launch since obtaining a super-majority. Montanas conservative super-majority convened the Legislature in January with an unprecedented surplus, courtesy of federal government assistance. Yet, instead of prioritizing meaningful relief for the people of Montana, the focus turned to tax cuts that predominantly benefit well-heeled corporations and owners of luxury homes. Of note, the average Montanan doesnt enjoy substantial capital gains, or own expensive business equipment, rendering such tax cuts irrelevant to their daily lives. While tax reductions were promised for everyone, the reality is that the burden of permanent property tax increases weighs heavily on homeowners. Any rebates proposed by the majority are more than canceled by these permanent tax increases. And they knew this was coming. The most troubling aspect of our situation is how well aware Gov. Gianforte and the Legislature were of the pending damage. In November 2022, the Montana Department of Revenue released its official warning, recommending that the Legislature drop the tax rate to 0.94 percent. It was a clear and unmistakable message that Montanans needed assistance going into a reappraisal during the most significant short-term property value increase in state history. That warning was ignored. Many Montanans are ill-equipped to overcome this burden, due to age and a lack of resources. Unlike tax rebates seen under prior governors, like Brian Schweitzer, Montanas modern majority chose to force Montanans through the existing labyrinthian maze of government bureaucracy rather than simplify the process, stalling would-be recipients. While the GOP screamed for red-tape reduction for corporations, they replaced it with duct tape for homeowners. The distribution of the tax burden reveals a flawed approach from Montanas super-majority. Champions of tax reductions, in reality, Republican legislators shifted the tax burden to working-class personal residences. Large corporations are enjoying decreases in their tax obligations. This regressive tax policy disproportionately affects lower-income individuals and exacerbates existing inequalities. Concrete figures paint a stark picture of the impact on Montana homeowners. In 2022, residential property owners paid approximately 52 percent of the total property taxes in Montana, amounting to more than $1 billion. However, now homeowners will bear an additional 5-6 percent of the total tax burden. Remarkably, large corporate and industrial entities will witness a reduction in their property taxes from $601 million to $556 million. These ill-conceived policies extend beyond figures. They undermine the principles of fairness and equity that allowed Montanas middle class to thrive. Hardworking Montanans, including retirees, are put at a disadvantage, while large, frequently out-of-state corporations emerge as the winners in an unbalanced equation. Gov. Gianforte and the Montana Republican Party super-majority are in desperate need of a reevaluation of priorities. Montanans demand accountability from our elected officials and we urge policymakers to rectify the mistakes they made by returning to Helena for a special session and finishing the job they should have finished months ago. A prosperous Montana is built by creating policies that prioritize the interests of all citizens. Crumbling to pressure from a governor intent on enriching a small class of corporate exploiters will only push our state further from its reputation for cooperative fairness and fiscal responsibility. Who exactly does Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks serve? Presumably, the entirety of the Montana public, with decisions presumably reflecting scientific management of all of Montana's 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 FWP. Not for lack of invitation. Wolves of the Rockies asked FWP more than 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 MT 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. Samsung has finally announced its next generation of foldable smartphones, and a whole lot more. The company hosted its first ever Galaxy Unpacked event from its hometown of Seoul, South Korea overnight, and, in addition to the Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5, we also saw a new Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Tab Ultra. Engadget's Richard Lai was on the ground in South Korea, supported by Mat Smith from a satellite event in London, England. The show's over now, but you can relive their liveblog here, or check out our first hands-on previews and comparison posts below. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2023 in-depth coverage The town of Mooresville will hold a drop-in open house event for the new Building Permitting and Inspections Department on Aug. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at One Mooresville Center, 750 W. Iredell Ave. The event is open to the public, especially contractors, developers, and designers. Attendees can meet the staff, see software demonstrations, and tour the new facility. Starting Sept. 5, Mooresvilles Building Permitting and Inspections Department will be responsible for administering and enforcing the North Carolina State Building Codes to provide a reasonable level of safety, public health, and general welfare through plan review, issuance of permits and inspections. This will eliminate the need for residents to travel to Statesville to get permits from the Iredell County Building Standards Division. Iredell County will issue permits until close of business on Sept. 1. Permits issued by Iredell County will remain with Iredell County to enforce and conduct inspections until projects are completed. The new Building Permitting and Inspections Department is located in One Mooresville Center (OMC) at 750 W. Iredell Ave. OMC will become a one-stop shop for residents and contractors with Planning & Community Development, Building Permitting & Inspections Department, and the Mooresville Fire Marshal Office all housed within the building. While the towns Building Permitting and Inspections software is different than Iredell Countys, it will seamlessly integrate with the software used by other town departments that are part of the review and permitting process. As previously announced, Tommy Rowland is the director of the department. Rowland has more than 22 years of building inspection experience in North Carolina. He most recently served as the mechanical/plumbing code administrator for Mecklenburg County. For more information about the Building Permitting and Inspections Department, visit MooresvilleNC.gov. Photo: The Canadian Press Officials are seen outside the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building ahead of a court appearance scheduled for President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Wilmington, Del. President Joe Bidens son Hunter arrived Wednesday at a federal court where he is expected to plead guilty to two tax crimes and admit possessing a gun as a drug user in a deal with the Justice Department that's likely to spare him time behind bars. U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed by then-President Donald Trump, will preside over the hearing and must sign off on the deal, in which prosecutors are recommending two years of probation. Hunter Biden is not expected to be sentenced on Wednesday. The deal, announced last month, comes after a yearslong Justice Department investigation into the taxes and foreign business dealings of the Democratic president's second son, who has acknowledged struggling with addiction following the 2015 death of his brother, Beau Biden. While legally this will clear the air for Hunter Biden and avert a trial that would have generated weeks or months of distracting headlines, the politics remain as messy as ever, with Republicans insisting he got a sweetheart deal and the Justice Department pressing ahead on investigations into Trump, the GOP's 2024 presidential primary front-runner. Trump is already facing a state criminal case in New York and a federal indictment in Florida. But last week, a target letter was sent to Trump from special counsel Jack Smith that suggests the former president may soon be indicted on new federal charges, this time involving his struggle to cling to power after his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. Republicans claim a double standard, in which the president's son got off easy while the president's rival has been unfairly castigated. Congressional Republicans are pursuing their own investigations into nearly every facet of Hunter Biden's dealings, including foreign payments. On Tuesday, a dustup arose after Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee filed court documents urging Noreika to consider testimony from IRS whistleblowers who alleged Justice Department interference in the investigation. Shortly after their motion was filed, a court clerk received a call requesting that sensitive grand jury, taxpayer and Social Security information be kept under seal, according to an oral order from the judge. The clerk said the lawyer gave her name and said she worked with an attorney from the Ways and Means Committee but was in fact a lawyer with the defense team. Noreika demanded the defense team show why she should not consider sanctioning them for misrepresentations to the court. Defense attorneys responded that their lawyer had represented herself truthfully from the start and called the matter a misunderstanding. President Biden, meanwhile, has said very little publicly, except to note, "I'm very proud of my son." Under the terms announced last month, Hunter Biden will plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges of failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes from over $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018. The back taxes have since been paid, according to a person familiar with the investigation who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The maximum penalty for the charges would be a year in prison. Hunter Biden also was charged with possession of a firearm by a person who is a known drug user: He had a Colt Cobra .38 Special for 11 days in October 2018. According to the pre-trial agreement, he agreed to enter into a diversion agreement, which means that he won't technically plead guilty to the crime, but if he adheres to the terms of his agreement the case will be wiped from his record. If not, the deal is withdrawn. This type of agreement is an option usually for nonviolent offenders with substance abuse issues. Otherwise, the charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Christopher Clark, a lawyer for Hunter Biden, said in a statement last month when the deal was announced that it was his understanding that the five-year investigation had now been resolved. I know Hunter believes it is important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of turmoil and addiction in his life, Clark said then. He looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving forward. Dr. Brian S. Merritt, president at McDowell Technical Community College, has been named senior vice-president and chief academic officer of programs and student services for the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) following a vote of the State Board of Community Colleges on Friday, July 21 and approval by the Executive Committee of the McDowell Technical Community College Board of Trustees on Tuesday afternoon. He was released by the Trustees Executive Committee from his contract with McDowell Tech effective Aug. 31 and will assume his new role at NCCCS effective September 1st. According to a release from NCCCS, Merritt, who has led McDowell Tech in Marion since January 2021, will be responsible for providing a strategic vision and senior leadership to the Programs and Student Services division within the System Office, in addition to the 58 community colleges across the state. He also will help lead the development of new and innovative programs that address the states educational and workforce development needs. Merritt shared the news of his offer with McDowell Tech faculty and staff over the weekend. This is not the message I expected to be writing today, he wrote in the colleges monthly newsletter. This is not a decision Jessi and I have taken lightly. Tears have been cried, and the word gratitude has been uttered in our home numerous times this week as we discussed the offer. We are full of gratitude for the entire MTCC family and McDowell County for welcoming us with open arms. We have a solid team with strong momentum, and I know I will depart MTCC in great hands. Dr. Merritt has done an exceptional job for McDowell Tech, and we hate to lose him, but we are honored that someone of his caliber has been tapped to be Chief Academic Officer for all 58 community colleges, said Gary Stroud, chair of the MTCC Board of Trustees and member of the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Association of Community College Trustees for Region 1. His leadership, vision and ability to assemble partnerships with local and professional organizations are really paying off for our students and have pulled in a number of new grants that have allowed us to begin new programs and expand others. I look forward to seeing that same kind of leadership from Dr. Merritt in his new role at the System Office. Stroud highlighted just a few of Merritts accomplishments at McDowell Tech: Led efforts to create the Vision 2025 Strategic Plan and related Facilities Master Plan that reflected internal and external stakeholders needs and aligned with various community partners, including McDowell County Public Schools, McDowell Economic Development Association and the McDowell Chamber of Commerce. Led the college to significantly grow state-funded FTE in two consecutive years after the college had experienced over a decade of declines in enrollment funding. Significantly increased fundraising efforts, including growing the colleges grants portfolio to over $8 million in just over two and a half years. Worked with the Board and employees to create advanced plans for a new Health Sciences & Public Safety Building (invest.mcdowelltech.edu), reflective of both internal and external needs. Secured external funds to begin renovations of the One Stop Student Center and the Old Fort Workforce Education Center. Both projects are currently underway and will open in 2024. Improvements to public relations at the college, including development and launching a new college website and additional positions to boost the colleges community and digital presence. Created local and regional partnerships to maximize effectiveness with programming and training that better meets workforce needs, including bilingual instruction and addition of new curriculum programs that meet local demand. Dr. Merritt has a strong reputation for success and will have an immediate connection with our System Chief Academic Officers, Presidents and System Office team, said System President Jeff Cox. Beyond the stellar experience Dr. Merritt brings to this role, he is just an outstanding person. He is a collaborative leader who works well in a team environment. He listens to others and seeks out the wisdom of the group before making key decisions. This kind of thoughtful, collaborative leadership is exactly what I am looking for on our Senior Team. Besides his senior leadership role at McDowell Tech, Merritt brings a wealth of experience in higher education at other colleges and universities across North Carolina to his new role at NCCCS. Prior to becoming president at McDowell Tech in January 2021, Merritt was vice-president at Central Carolina Community College. He also served at North Carolina Central University, Louisburg College, and Appalachian State University. In 2020, Merritt was one of 40 leaders chosen for the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship, a highly selective, national leadership program that prepares the next generation of community college presidents to transform institutions to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success. Merritt received his bachelors degree in secondary social sciences education and a masters degree in higher education administration from Appalachian State University. He also earned a Doctorate of Higher Education Administration from Walden University. Joining NCCCS under Dr. Coxs leadership is a tremendous opportunity to serve and help strengthen the Great 58, Merritt said. This position directly aligns with my background and experience in academic affairs, workforce development, student services, and institutional advancement. This System has given so much to me, and I am excited about the opportunity to give back to it. Ive seen first-hand the positive difference that a strong strategic plan can make, especially when it is aligned with the right stakeholders. The new NCCCS strategic plan is aligned with myFutureNCs attainment goals, among other key partners, and has a set of ambitious objectives that can help our 58 colleges collectively develop a competitive and agile workforce. My time as president at McDowell Tech taught me that intentional alignment of our work with the strategic plan can inspire our faculty and staff to drive new, innovative workforce solutions for our communities. We know North Carolina recently repeated as Top State in the U.S. for Business. My top priority will be to leverage the strengths of our team at the System Office and to work closely with our 58 colleges to serve our workforce and help develop talent solutions that serve our state well. I am a collaborator at heart, and I look forward to helping our System find the right balance between serving local workforce needs while also collaborating regionally and statewide to boost economic and social mobility for more North Carolinians. Wells Fargo & Co. has informed its federal regulator the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency of plans to close another 18 branches nationwide, though none in North Carolina. The latest closing notifications were posted Friday by the OCC. There have been at least 65 Wells Fargo branch closings in North Carolina, including three in Winston-Salem and nine in the Triad, since July 2020. Overall, Wells Fargo has dropped from more than 6,600 branches in 2009, when it acquired a collapsing Wachovia Corp. and gained an East Coast presence. The branch count was at 4,445 as of June 30, down from 4,525 on March 31 and from 4,660 on June 30, 2022. Men behaving badly Stacy A. Gangewer, 52, of Butte was lying in the middle of East Second Street late Tuesday afternoon near Koprivica Park and reportedly yelling profanities. When officers arrived, a neighbor reported that Gangewer had previously been in his yard, doing basically the same thing. As he was being arrested, he again allegedly threw himself on the ground, while also attempting to lunge at officers and spit at them. Because of his unruly behavior, he had to be put in a restraint chair at the jail, which reportedly didnt stop him from kicking a detention officers head and kicking him in the left leg, too. He was eventually jailed for resisting arrest and assaulting a peace officer causing bodily injury. Also on Tuesday, that same detention officer was injured by another inmate. Alex S. Hemphill, 25, of Butte, who has been in jail since May 14, reportedly got upset after a phone call he took in the visiting area and when officers tried to calm him down, he kicked the detention officer and bit anothers thumb, all while being handcuffed and in leg irons. He was returned to the jail on charges of assault and assault on a peace officer causing bodily injury. Man with a gun A call came into the detention center Tuesday about an ongoing disturbance between a man and woman at the Silver Bow Homes. The man was believed to be armed. Officers responded to the apartment complex and knocked on the apartment door. A woman answered, whispering the man had a gun and was making threats. The officers could see the man, identified as Kelly M. Sexton, 29, of Butte, standing inside with a rifle slung on his shoulder. Sexton was asked to put down the gun and step outside. He complied. Once outside, he was arrested for allegedly tampering with a communication device, partner or family member assault, three counts of assault with a weapon, and intimidation Alley fight On Monday, Dennis A. White, 51, of Butte got into a fight in the alley behind the Town Pump at 531 S. Montana St. When officers arrived and learned of Whites identity, he was arrested on warrants for partner or family member assault, resisting arrest, and obstructing a peace officer. Not wanted Genevieve N. Sam, 31, of Butte went to an apartment at Silver Bow Homes Monday, where she was told she was not wanted. Sam refused to leave and did some damage before officers arrived to arrest her on charges of partner or family member assault, resisting arrest, and pecuniary loss of less than $1,500. Several counts Anthony R. Magallon, 31, of Butte was arrested Tuesday by a Montana Highway Patrol trooper on charges of use or possession of property subject to criminal forfeiture, criminal possession of drugs with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a firearm, and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. It was standing-room only Monday evening when entrepreneur and GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy visited the Geneva Country Club with U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks. While considered a long shot candidate, Ramaswamy is now sitting in third place nationally among the Republican hopefuls for the 2024 Iowa Caucus nod, according to poll tracking from FiveThirtyEight. He follows a distance behind Ron DeSantis, who is trailing former President Donald Trump. Ramaswamy is unconcerned. The hedge fund and biotech multimillionaire and self-proclaimed anti-woke crusader said November, 2024, is only the starting point of a national revival. If we do our jobs right that is the start line for reviving a national character that we are at risk of losing, he said. It is not just the election that is the most important in our lifetime, it is the next 10 years that I think may be the most important for the continued existence of this nation. Ramaswamy has qualified for the first Republican debate in August. At age 37, he says he is the first Millennial to seek the presidency as a Republican. During his speech to the packed ballroom in the Muscatine club, Ramaswamy criticized left-wing positions and condemned identity politics. He also said if elected he plans to fire 75% of federal employees from agencies such as the FBI, IRS and Department of Education. I have focused a lot on the isms, he said. Wokeism, transgenderism, climatism, COVIDism, globalism, we can go on. I think there is a time and place for seeing a problem with clear eyes. Ramaswamy commented on his generation, saying many members are hungry for a cause. He explained people wanted purpose, meaning and identity at a time when things that supplied that in the past faith, patriotism, hard work and family have disappeared. He said America is in the middle of a national identity crisis. He spoke of a vision of American national identity that is so strong it dilutes the woke poison to irrelevance. He said that to him the meaning of being an American is to believe in the ideals that set the country into motion 250 years ago. He promised such things as eliminating racially-based quotas, securing the borders using the military, and having elected officials run the government rather than a managerial bureaucratic deep state. Ramaswamy is also scheduled to speak at the Republican Party of Iowas 2023 Lincoln Dinner on Friday. He will also be interviewed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds during the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 15. Vivek Ramaswamy visits Davenport to speak with business owners on his campaign SIOUX CITY A Sioux City family is awaiting the return of a loved one's remains while authorities in Oklahoma continue to investigate the death of a man believed to have been shot before his body was burned and his bones dumped in a ditch. Two people with Sioux City ties who are suspected of killing Brian Corey are being held in an Oklahoma jail. Clyde Clayton booking photo Clyde Clayton, of Sioux City, has been charged in connection with the death of former Sioux City resident Brian Corey in Oklahoma. In a July 12 post on his Facebook page, Nick Corey said his family had been informed that his son Brian Corey had been killed in Oklahoma. The family had previously contacted Oklahoma authorities after having not heard from Brian for a week since June 5. The family sought to report Brian as missing because he usually contacted at least one family member almost daily. "That's way too long for him not to talk to one of us," Nick Corey said. "We're a close family." Brian Corey had moved around after leaving Sioux City a couple years ago, his father said, and had settled in Carney, Oklahoma, where he was living with Janelle Brown, a woman from Sioux City whom Nick Corey said his son had introduced to him previously. Corey and Brown's relationship had apparently ended, Nick Corey said, and his son was in the process of moving out of their home. Brown, whose address is in Wellston, Oklahoma, and Clyde Clayton, of Sioux City, are accused of killing 52-year-old Brian Corey sometime between June 2 and July 7, then burning his body. Authorities found burnt human bones in a ditch and more burnt human bones, in addition to a metal knee implant similar to one Corey had, in a burn pile at his home. Brown and Clayton were arrested July 7. Clayton, 42, has been charged with accessory to first-degree murder, unlawful removal of a dead body and desecration of a human corpse. Brown, 39, is charged with accessory to first-degree murder and unlawful removal of a dead body. Both are scheduled for court appearances Thursday in Lincoln County, Oklahoma. Janelle Brown booking photo Janelle Brown, who at one time lived in Sioux City, has been charged in connection with the death of former Sioux City resident Brian Corey in Clayton and Brown, who according to court documents were involved in a sexual relationship, both claim the other shot Corey. When first contacted on June 12 by a sheriff's deputy responding to the Corey family's request for a welfare check on Brian Corey, Brown said she hadn't seen him for a week and that he would sometimes leave for weeks at a time before reappearing. On July 7, investigators detained Brown after she arrived at a meeting with her probation and parole officer. She was driven there by Clayton, who was stopped by authorities after he had driven away and detained. Brown gave the following account to authorities, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in court: On June 5, she and Corey returned to their home. Clayton had been staying with them, waiting for Corey to drive him to Texas, but Corey had been putting it off. Brown said she and Corey got into an argument and she went outside. Corey and Clayton remained inside and were doing methamphetamine. When she returned inside, Brown said she found Corey slumped in his recliner in the living room, shot in the neck and not breathing. The next day, Brown said, she helped Clayton take the body outside, and Clayton burned it, then scooped up the ashes and the two drove away and threw the ashes in a ditch. Brown said she cleaned up blood in the living room and helped Clayton burn the recliner in a pit in the front yard. After her interview, Brown led a deputy to a site about half a mile from Corey's home, where the deputy found burnt bones and empty bags that had held the ashes. Brown then showed the deputy the burn pit, where parts of the burnt recliner were observed. Clayton gave different versions of what happened, according to an affidavit filed in his case: Clayton first told investigators Corey had left at the end of June and he hadn't seen him since. He then said he was at Corey's home on June 5 and had stepped outside when Brown and Corey were arguing and then heard a gunshot. Clayton said he stayed in a nearby abandoned house that night before returning the following morning and seeing Brown burning Corey's body in a brush pile. Clayton said he didn't say anything to Brown, but thought to himself "this is how she is." Clayton said he didn't help burn the body, but then said he added brush to the fire. Clayton was booked into jail, and on the following day, investigators searching Corey's property found burnt bones and the knee implant in the burn pile. In a new interview, Clayton changed his story, telling an investigator he was in the house with Corey on June 5 and Brown was outside. Corey was in his recliner when, Clayton said, he heard a gunshot outside and was hit in the face with a piece of glass from the door. He said he saw Corey slumped in the chair and bleeding from his neck. Clayton said Brown was trying to open the door and said something like, "did I hit him?" Clayton said he "freaked out" and went outside. When he returned inside, the back door was open, the chair was tipped over and Corey's body was outside on the ground. Clayton said he removed the door and took it to a neighbor's home. Investigators found the door, which had been burned, on the neighbor's metal pile. Nick Corey said he had never met Clayton, who has been identified as a person interest in a missing person case involving Peyton Heintzelman, of Sioux City. Heintzelman, a transient who also went by the name Sioux Walker or Sue Walker, was last seen on the city's west side in February, and her social media was last used on Feb. 10. Corey said an Oklahoma medical examiner is attempting to identify the remains that have been recovered. Once the remains are released, Corey said the family will have them returned to Sioux City for a funeral and burial. "It's pretty horrific when a parent has to bury their son, no matter how old he is," Corey said. Counties with the most farmland in Iowa Counties with the most farmland in Iowa #25. O'Brien #24. Lyon #23. Calhoun #22. Pocahontas #21. Buena Vista #20. Wright #19. Greene #18. Grundy #17. Monona #16. Carroll #15. Ringgold #14. Shelby #13. Winneshiek #12. Clinton #11. Harrison #10. Jasper #9. Fayette #8. Tama #7. Webster #6. Benton #5. Crawford #4. Sioux #3. Woodbury #2. Plymouth #1. Kossuth More than a dozen Republican presidential contenders will converge in Des Moines on Friday for the Republican Party of Iowas annual Lincoln Dinner, the biggest gathering of the 2024 field in Iowa so far. The event will feature 13 candidates who are looking for the support of Iowa Republicans in the 2024 presidential precinct caucuses. Who is speaking? Beginning at 6 p.m., each candidate will get 10 minutes to speak to the crowd of 1,200 in the Iowa Events Center. The speaking order is as follows: Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott Michigan businessman Perry Johnson North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum Former Vice President Mike Pence Former Texas U.S. Rep. Will Hurd Miami Mayor Francis Suarez Texas pastor and businessman Ryan Binkley California talk show host Larry Elder Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy Former President Donald Trump The only major candidate missing from the lineup is former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has not campaigned in Iowa, instead focusing efforts on New Hampshire, the first primary state which will hold its primary shortly after Iowas caucuses. The annual event is a major fundraiser for the Iowa GOP, and in presidential election years regularly draws candidates hoping to secure support in the first-in-the-nation caucus state. Tickets, which cost at least $150, are sold out, according to the events webpage. With over 1,200 guests and 13 presidential candidates in attendance, this years Lincoln Dinner is going to be historic by marking the official kickoff for the 2024 caucus cycle to begin in earnest, Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann said in a statement. Iowa Democrats said the event would showcase candidates embracing far-right policies in desperate attempts to win over the MAGA base within their party. As Democrats focus on strengthening the middle-class and protecting Americans freedoms, this field is busy fighting over who can propose the most extreme agenda of abortion bans and handouts to the ultra-wealthy, said Iowa Democratic Party Rapid Response Director Dawson McNamara-Bloom in a statement. The after-parties Following the main program, several candidates will host individual reception suites where attendees can mingle with other supporters and meet with the candidates. Iowa voters can expect to see Nikki at our suite and enjoy our campaigns Southern hospitality when they get there, said Haley spokesperson Ken Farnaso. Ryan Binkley will offer food and drinks in his suite, and will give further remarks and host a Q&A later in the evening, a campaign spokesperson said. Other candidates hosting suites include Trump, Burgum, Johnson, Pence, Ramaswamy, Scott and Suarez. Voters get access, party gets dollars The event will give Republican voters a chance to hear the pitch from nearly every major Republican candidate as they weigh who to support in the caucuses, said Polk County GOP Chair Gloria Mazza. To have them all together gives voters a chance to see them all at one time, without going to lots of events all over to find them, she said. They can do one-on-ones, but these are nice also. Its just another way, and its what Iowa does best. The event is also a major revenue driver for the state party as it prepares to conduct the hundreds of precinct caucuses across 99 counties in January, Mazza said. Vice President Kamala Harris to hold dueling event Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Iowa on Friday as well to hold an event focused on abortion rights, the Des Moines Register first reported. She will highlight the effects of a six-week abortion ban Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law this month, which is blocked from taking effect by a district court. The Iowa Supreme Court on Tuesday granted a request to review the temporary injunction on the law. The event will be held in her official capacity as vice president, but Democratic National Committee spokesperson Ammar Moussa said it will offer a contrast to the messages offered at the Republican fundraiser. Its a pretty stark split-screen, Moussa said. The vice president is coming to Iowa to speak to providers and highlight the huge ramifications of Iowas abortion ban, while Republicans are going to be gathering later that night to, essentially, celebrate the abortion bans made possible by Donald Trump. Candidates hold events around Lincoln Dinner Republican candidates also plan to hold events around the state in the days before and after the Lincoln Dinner. DeSantis will appear in a bus tour hosted by the super PAC backing his candidacy, Never Back Down. The PAC will hold events in Chariton, Osceola and Oskaloosa between Thursday and Friday. Scott will hold a town hall in Ankeny, alongside Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, on Thursday, and Trump will join campaign organizers for the opening of his Iowa campaign headquarters on Friday evening, shortly before he takes the stage at the Iowa Events Center. Photos: Trump returns to Iowa Monday at Adler Theatre in Davenport The music industry is a vital part of Kenyas creative economy, and it has immense potential for growth & prosperity, First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto has said. The First Lady spoke after holding a consultative meeting with 36 pioneer Kenyan musicians at State House on Tuesday, July 25. We had a productive dialogue on how to strengthen the music sector as a key source of income and employment, she said. Rachel Ruto outlined plans to organise four national music conferences and conduct 47 county music talent forums, over the next four years, through the Talent Expression directorate of MaMa Doing Good. The First Lady congratulated the Music Copyright Society of Kenya on the steps taken to make the music industry a significant contributor to our economy and address music legends needs through the MCSK Foundation. The Music Copyright Society of Kenya is in the final stages of negotiating an increase in the commission earned by content developers from YouTube from 1.7% to 16.5%, she said. In addition, the implementation of the Blank Tape Levy by the Kenya Copyright Board is estimated to generate over six billion shillings annually. This levy is imposed on blank recording media. It is intended to compensate copyright owners for private, non-commercial copying of blank media such as DVDs, flash disks and memory cards, Rachel added. Dr Ezekiel Mutua, the CEO of the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), commended the meeting with the Pioneer Gospel Musicians for recognising the men and women in Kenyas music industry who have laid the foundation for authentic music and continue to inspire hope and positive aspirations in the music industry and the country at large. National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei has accused Raila Odinga of being responsible for the anti-government protests that resulted in the deaths of several demonstrators. Speaking on Monday, Shollei said Odingas declaration of civil unrest against the government squarely places the blame on him for the resulting violence and its consequences. Mr Odinga is responsible for the mayhem and killings. Unfortunately, some families have lost their kin and the Opposition leader should be blamed for the deaths. The blood of those killed is in the hands of Mr Odinga and nobody else. If he had not caused the demonstrations there would be no bloodshed, she said. The Uasin Gishu woman rep spoke at Burnt Forest sub-county hospital after launching a free medical camp hosted by her foundation in partnership with Passion to Give foundation, Mediheal Group of Hospitals, Chiromo Hospital Groups, and Lions Club Eldoret and Vihiga. Without the demonstrations, there would have been no bloodshed or people injured. There would have been no destruction and looting of property as witnessed in the anti-government demonstration. Police were quelling the rioters who had turned chaotic and were disrupting peace and causing mayhem, Shollei added. According to Shollei, Raila Odinga is well aware of the solutions needed to address the countrys crisis but he has been overlooking them to incite Kenyans to take to the streets. The cost of living cannot be solved in the streets and Mr Odinga knows it is through fiscal policy intervention and fiscal prudence, which is already being implemented by the government. Why hasnt he given an alternative if he is sincere with the calls for protests to lower the cost of living? He is being insincere with his demands, she said. Shollei also rubbished Azimios letter to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the government for police brutality. They should be the ones going to the ICC because they caused the mayhem. They have incited Kenyans into violence, looting shops and other acts of lawlessness, she said. She also noted that Azimio pulled out of bipartisan talks with Kenya Kwanza. They pulled out from bipartisan talks. Initially, they wanted the electoral server opened before it turned to the cost of living, and now the Financial Act. The Opposition is looking for every opportunity to be on the streets to cause chaos, she said. By Kenya News Agency(KNA) Maize farmers in Busia and most parts of the Western Region have a reason to smile after their region witnessed a bumper harvest that has led to a drastic drop in the maize price from Sh.230 to Sh.80 per 2 kilogramme tin, locally referred to as gorogoro. Following a market cross-check by the KNA office in Busia, the maize price for the tin, which is the main measure in the market, is now Sh 70Sh. 80 in the five markets of Buyofu, Butula, Lukolis, Malaba Town, and Miyanga that were visited. Residents no longer have issues with their favourite Ugali meal, which is made from maize flour, because maize is now readily available. Apparently, residents adhered to government calls during the planting season and properly used the subsidised fertilisers, resulting in high yields. Alfred Musungu, an established farmer and trader near Buyofu market, confirmed that the traders are buying tin at Sh. 70Sh. 80 from the farmers and selling the same at Sh. 100. We have realised a good harvest this season, and already we have planted for the second season, expecting short rains to keep the crops healthy on the farm. We anticipate a good harvest should the government send the subsidised fertilisers on time, noted Musungu. However, Musungu warned farmers that this might not be a good signal as they are likely to earn less as the brokers flock the market for maize, taking advantage of vulnerable farmers who are just recovering from hard economic times. With the meteorological department warning of a prolonged dry spell in most parts of the country, farmers woes may be compounded unless the government enacts rules that govern the sale of maize to cartels that sell back at hiked prices a few months later, he added. Another farmer from Amagoro, Evans Mukoit, lamented that the presence of brokers across the country with trucks and lorries moving from one home to the next to buy the precious grain might lead to food insecurity once again. Its a pity that we have already forgotten the hard economic times that have been due to the price of unga; people are already selling at throwaway prices, noted Mukoit. Farmers are now calling on the National Cereal and Produce Board to save farmers by purchasing the produce at a better price to protect them from falling into the trap of unscrupulous middlemen. The farmers woes have been compounded by the fact that the National Cereals and Produce Board has an insignificant presence in the county, unlike other regions, such as the Rift Valley, central and other regions. Data by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) in the recently released Economic Survey 2023 shows maize imports having increased by 307,226 tonnes to hit 793,751 tonnes last year. Farmers attributed the good harvest to the Kenya Kwanza government giving priority to agriculture, with the supply of improved subsidised fertilisers increasing the yield this season. But Titus Ouma, a cereal trader at Miyanga Market, is counting losses as the new prices have negatively affected his previous stock that he had purchased before the glut, and he is now forced to sell at the current price of Sh. 70 per 2 kg tin. Busia women Rep. Catherin Omanyo has urged farmers not to be excited over the high prices and ready markets for their produce because there is still an impending food crisis in the region. My people of Busia, be vigilant about the brokers who buy maize cheaply from your farm, but after value addition, they sell the same unga at double the price, noted Omanyo. Already, the country is grappling with an acute shortage of maize. The price of unga has risen to Sh230, which is why we must sell at the right price to get value for our produce, she added. Opposition leader Raila Odinga has said the Azimio La Umoja Coalition is gathering evidence of police brutality to be submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICC) in The Hague. Addressing an international press conference in Nairobi on Tuesday, Odinga said the country is currently experiencing early stages of genocide and political persecution as a result of State-sanctioned police brutality. We are currently assembling more evidence which we will shortly present to the International Criminal Court with an appeal to the court to open a file on State-sanctioned police atrocities in Kenya, he said. The Azimio leader claimed that the ongoing protests have evolved beyond their initial causes of punitive taxation and high cost of living. He accused the police of displaying bias and pursuing an ethnic agenda in certain regions of the country under the pretext of suppressing the protests. We believe Kenya is on a wrong path that could impact any countries in the region and lead to a major instability, he said Adding: Ethnic divisions and tensions are building up especially after the regime declared that the country is a company of limited shares, pegged on how one voted. As things stand, I fear we are marching down a very slippery path. Raila further asserted that there is no justification for the police to resort to the use of excessive force, which includes entering peoples homes and shooting or physically assaulting them. He specifically pointed out instances of such violence occurring in Kisumu and the slums of Nairobi. We never anticipated the unprecedented horrors of police brutality against protestors. With constitutional guaranteed for protestors, we never imagined that police would outlaw protests, confront protests and kill so many. Although the tax protests was initiated by Azimio, it has since gone beyond the party, he said. Raila also took issue with President William Rutos administration for engaging in sustained and constant verbal attacks against former President Uhuru Kenyatta. He expressed concern over the withdrawal of security from Kenyattas mother, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, and his son Jomo, allegedly by individuals claiming to be police without proper authorization. As a country, we developed the unwritten rule that for the sake of stability and dignity of our nation, we shall as much as possible let retired presidents live in peace, Odinga said. Photo: The Canadian Press Jenna Suddes arrives for a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet will have seven new faces, after dropping the same number of ministers from his bench on Wednesday. Here's who's in: Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree: A human-rights lawyer, Anandasangaree represents Scarborough-Rogue Park in the Greater Toronto Area and was first elected in 2015. Anandasangaree previously served as a parliamentary secretary to the Crown-Indigenous relations minister from 2019 until 2021. Citizens' Services Minister Terry Beech: First elected as an MP for Burnaby North-Seymour in 2015, Beech most recently served as the parliamentary secretary to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. He has also served as a parliamentary secretary to ministers of fisheries, economic development and official languages. His portfolio is brand-new. Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada: Before entering federal politics, Martinez Ferrada was involved with municipal politics for more than 10 years, serving as a city councillor for Saint-Michel. She was a chief of staff for the City of Montreal's executive committee and a senior advisor to the minister of Canadian heritage. In 2019, she was elected in her Montreal riding of Hochelaga, and has served as parliamentary secretary to ministers of transport and immigration. She is also taking on responsibility for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya'ara Saks: A long-time community advocate, Saks was first elected in York Centre in a 2020 byelection and has served as the parliamentary secretary to the families minister. Before entering politics, Saks owned and directed a Toronto-based mental health charity: Trauma Practice for Healthy Communities. She is also becoming the associate minister of health. Families Minister Jenna Sudds: The rookie MP's new ministerial assignment is the latest promotion in her meteoric rise in politics. She joined the federal Liberal campaign in 2021 while taking on her first term on Ottawa's city council. Before she joined politics, Sudds was the founding president of the Kanata North Business Association, representing Canada's largest tech park. Justice Minister and Attorney General Arif Virani: Virani first came to Canada as a Ugandan Asian refugee when he was a child. He had a law career focused on human rights before entering federal politics in 2015 as the member for Parkdale-High Park in Toronto. He was also one of the founders of the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario. Virani worked on the Liberal government's justice file as a parliamentary secretary to the minister of justice from 2019 until 2021. Minister of Small Business Rechie Valdez: The first Filipino woman elected as a member of Parliament, the rookie MP is a former television personality and advocate. Valdez serves Mississauga-Streetsville in the Greater Toronto Area. She has been a member of various parliamentary committees and associations, including the House veterans affairs committee and the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association. Here's who's out: Omar Alghabra: The transportation minister announced he would not run for re-election and resigned his seat in cabinet Tuesday. Alghabra was initially elected as an MP in 2006, but lost his seat in 2008. He returned to the House of Commons in 2015 and served as parliamentary secretary on several files before taking over the transportation file and the government's response to pandemic travel woes in 2021. Carolyn Bennett: The longtime Liberal was first elected to the House of Commons in 1997 after working as a family physician and an associate professor at the University of Toronto. In response to the 2003 SARS outbreak, Bennett oversaw the establishment of the Public Health Agency of Canada and the appointment of Canada's first chief public health officer as the minister for the state of public health. She also served as minister of Crown-Indigenous relations and, most recently, mental health and addictions minister. She announced Monday she does not intend to run for re-election. Mona Fortier: The Ottawa-area MP was the first and only minister for middle-class prosperity before she was appointed president of the Treasury Board in 2021. She was responsible for negotiating a new contract with public servants in May during one of the largest strikes in Canadian history. Helena Jaczek: Jaczek was promoted to the procurement minister's post less than a year ago but says she's not planning to run in the next election. She served in the Ontario legislature as health minister and social services minister before successfully running against former Liberal cabinet minister Jane Philpott in 2019 for a federal seat. David Lametti: Lametti took over as justice minister and attorney general from Jody Wilson-Raybould in 2019, just as the office erupted into turmoil. Shortly after he took over the job, allegations surfaced that the prime minister put undue pressure on Wilson-Raybould in what would come to be known as the SNC-Lavalin affair. Lametti was a law professor at McGill University for 20 years before entering politics. Marco Mendicino: The former federal prosecutor served as immigration minister before taking over public safety in 2021. He juggled several challenging and contentious files, including the Afghan refugee crisis, gun control, the response to "Freedom Convoy" protests and foreign interference. He most recently came under fire for his office's handling of the transfer of convicted killer Paul Bernardo from maximum- to medium-security prison, sparking calls for his resignation from the Opposition. Joyce Murray: Murray served in the British Columbia cabinet before she was elected federally, and served as digital government minister and president of the Treasury Board before taking over the fisheries file. She announced Tuesday that she plans to retire from politics after the next election. Kenya is on track to develop and implement electric motorcycles that will provide affordable and eco-friendly transportation. President William Ruto made the remarks on Tuesday during a visit to Roam Park, one of East Africas largest electric motorcycle assembly plants in Industrial Area, Nairobi. The President said his administration is committed to scaling up e-motorbike production from the current production of 2,000 e-motorbikes to 200,000 by the end of 2024. We want to have over 200,000 electric boda bodas by the end of next year. We have agreed with some companies and that is why we have reduced five different taxes, he said. As part of the government strategy to reduce production costs for electric vehicles and motorbikes, the President mentioned that the Finance Act includes provisions to decrease key taxes. This measure aims to lower the overall costs of production and subsequently reduce market prices for these vehicles. Ruto said the government had put measures to remove Value Added Tax (VAT) on spare parts and batteries as well as on all charging equipment for the e-bikes. He also noted that the government would reduce VAT for electric boda bodas which would ensure the buying price goes down by 16 per cent in a bid to make the bikes affordable. We have policy intervention in our Finance Bill specifically targeting e-mobility, our boda boda people specifically because they contribute almost Ksh.1 billion to the economy every day, he said. The policy interventions we have included from zero rating on all e-bikes, motor vehicle spare parts, removing taxes on charging equipment, battery and lithium and the whole manufacturing of gadgets and instruments used in e-mobility. Dr Ruto at the same time said electricity costs at charging stations would be reduced to enable the riders to maximize their profits and pay less for charging their e-bikes. You can see just by intervening in a minimal way, we can be able to bring down the cost of our e-mobility infrastructure by between 16 and 20 per cent just by adjusting taxes here and there, he explained. We need a tax infrastructure globally that is going to respond to climate change financing that were looking at. Ex-president Uhuru Kenyatta spoke about his fallout with President William Ruto, revealing that it all started after the 2017 polls. During an interview at his Nairobi office on Monday, Kenyatta said their disagreement arose from their differing opinions regarding Opposition leader Raila Odinga. It all started after the 2017 General Election. Dr Ruto wanted us to go after Mr Odinga and his opposition clique ruthlessly, but I refused. I told him my priority at the time was the unity of Kenyans, and that going after the political class would fracture the nation, Uhuru recounted. However, Uhuru revealed that Ruto was adamant that the Jubilee administration should take measures to tame the opposition. The retired president said he strongly disagreed with that stance, emphasizing that he had explicitly informed Ruto that the risk of dividing the country far surpassed any potential gains from controlling the opposition. I told him I had been to The Hague as a suspect and I didnt want to go there for another four years again. I was clear that I wasnt going to be arraigned at the International Criminal Court again for whatever reason. On hearing this, Dr Ruto went out and started his propaganda of abandonment, Uhuru said. The former president would go ahead to form a truce with Raila Odinga, whom he described as a godsend. Raila was a godsend. I dont think I would have survived the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic had I been leading the country alone, as my deputy was working against me. California's property insurance landscape has changed dramatically due to elevated wildfire risk and increased construction costs, leading several insurance carriers to end, or significantly restrict, the writing of new policies. Property owners are finding it harder and more expensive to get insurance in the wake of devastating wildfires. Following the 2017 and 2020 North San Francisco Bay firestorms, for example, some homeowners are being forced to go without coverage, while home buyers are finding it more difficult due to a shortage of full coverage policies. In May, Napa Communities Firewise Foundation (Napa Firewise) board chair Christopher Thompson gave a presentation to the Napa County Board of Supervisors detailing the Napa Firewise vegetation management projects completed and planned with support from the county and other funders. These hazardous fuel mitigation projects reduce the risk of wildfire spread in conjunction with the vegetation management residents complete to comply with Napa Countys Defensible Space Ordinance. Thompson referenced a March insurance industry symposium convened by Galway Holdings and its subsidiaries that brought together more than 40 insurance carriers, Napa Firewise, county officials, Cal Fire representatives, winery leaders, fire resilience experts and risk modelers. Panels discussed the wildfire mitigation steps being taken at Fire Safe Council, neighborhood and individual property owner levels throughout Napa County. Other presentations focused on providing carriers with an enhanced understanding of how wildfire risks are being mitigated. Many carriers were impressed by the investments made by the Napa community, and the broad Napa Firewise and County wildfire mitigation strategy that is being executed, Thompson reported. Louis Reynaud, senior vice president of climate initiatives for Galway Holdings, addressed the need for a coordinated wildfire risk management effort. Based on ongoing carrier feedback, I sense a willingness from insurers to acquire a better understanding of wildfire and to incorporate the effectiveness of large resilience investments like community fuel breaks and individual efforts at improving defensible space into their underwriting approach," Reynaud said. "To accomplish this, they need help gathering data." Several insurance carriers that participated in the symposium are reanalyzing their risk modeling to factor in the investment being made in wildfire resilience by Napa County and Napa Firewise, highlighting the value of a coordinated plan with ongoing funding, Napa Firewise officials noted. "Protecting Californians from deadly wildfires means everyone doing their part, said California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. Local actions like Napa Countys go hand in hand with my Safer from Wildfires regulation by reducing the risks for the entire community. My new regulation is the result of listening closely to the needs of consumers and businesses and crafting commonsense, lasting solutions so every resident has insurance they can rely on. Lara explained that Safer from Wildfires is a ground-up approach to wildfire resilience with three layers of protection for the structure, the immediate surroundings and the community and following these steps can help property owners save money on insurance. Learn more about Safer from Wildfires at insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/200-wrr/Safer-from-Wildfires.cfm. Napa County Fire Battalion Chief J.C. Greenberg described a new, one-of-a-kind Defensible Space Certification Program offered only in the county that recognizes property owners for their proactive compliance with county rules about wildfire fuel mitigation. The certificate verifies to insurance companies that the property has passed defensible space requirements, which helps residents make their homes safer in the event of a wildfire and helps insurance companies identify the risk models for the homes theyre insuring. This allows residents and insurance carriers to work together to provide better and more affordable property insurance by mitigating wildfire risk, according to Greenberg. During a town hall Zoom meeting on May 30, county Fire Marshal Code Compliance Officer Erick Hernandez explained the benefits of the new Defensible Space Certification Program. Several community members shared that their insurance companies are seeing value in the compliance certification, which has led to lower costs for coverage, he said. Fire officials are partnering with Napa Firewise, who is leading the implementation of the Napa Communities Wildfire Protection Plan adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2021. Adding property owners to that partnership is critically important, according to Hernandez. When were looking at the fire resiliency in Napa County, this is not just the fire department," Hernandez told the online audience. "We are inviting you to become part of a wildfire-resilient community. Were bringing the education component, were bringing the tools, and we want to continue working with you to ensure that were ready for the next wildfire." The St. Helena Fire Department established a similar defensible space certificate program, offering free site inspections and guidance on defensible space and city code requirements for any property within the city limits. Thompson added that Napa Firewise is helping Napa County's 21 volunteer-led Fire Safe Councils to become Firewise USA-certified. Once those Fire Safe Councils are certified, a lot of insurance carriers are starting to extend insurance discounts to (residents), he said. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, and Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, co-sponsored HR 4070, known as the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act, allowing homeowner rebates for home hardening to be tax-exempt. Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced companion bill S. 1953 in the Senate. Incentivizing homeowners to invest in home-hardening measures will help to keep our communities safe from the threat of natural disasters, including wildfires and earthquakes, Thompson said. Napa Countys certification program for home-hardening (and defensible space) serves as an example across our country because it is clear that this program is protecting against wildfire extreme events. I introduced legislation in Congress using the tax code to incentivize resiliency and home hardening nationwide and will continue working to promote disaster preparedness and resiliency. Napa Firewise is administering limited cost share grants from Cal Fire to help defray the cost of compliance, reimbursing eligible residents who create defensible space around their homes up to $3,500. Go to napafirewise.org/dspace. Visit napafirewise.org for more information on the Defensible Space Compliance Program and an August insurance webinar. Close David La Rochelle stands in front of his concrete house being built in Silverado to replace a house lost to the 2017 Atlas Fire. Construction crews on a recent day work on a house that David La Rochelle is having built in Silverado to replace one lost to the 2017 Atlas Fire. He thinks the concrete construction will be extremely fire resistant. Workers spray concrete to form the walls of David La Rochelle's new house in Silverado. He last house burned in the 2017 Atlas Fire and the new one is being designed to survive wildfires. A cement beam in David La Rochelle's new house in Silverado. It is being built to survive wildfires. David La Rochelle's new house-to-be in Silverado has concrete walls, all the better to survive future wildfires. David Rochelle stands near this house being built in Silverado to replace one lost in the 2017 Atlas Fire. David La Rochelle builds fire-resistant Napa house David La Rochelle lost his Silverado home to the 2017 Atlas fire. His new house will be concrete to survive future fires, though it will look similar to the prior home. David La Rochelle stands in front of his concrete house being built in Silverado to replace a house lost to the 2017 Atlas Fire. Construction crews on a recent day work on a house that David La Rochelle is having built in Silverado to replace one lost to the 2017 Atlas Fire. He thinks the concrete construction will be extremely fire resistant. Workers spray concrete to form the walls of David La Rochelle's new house in Silverado. He last house burned in the 2017 Atlas Fire and the new one is being designed to survive wildfires. A cement beam in David La Rochelle's new house in Silverado. It is being built to survive wildfires. David La Rochelle's new house-to-be in Silverado has concrete walls, all the better to survive future wildfires. David Rochelle stands near this house being built in Silverado to replace one lost in the 2017 Atlas Fire. Peter Ozorio went to the marshy area under the Butler Bridge near the Napa River with a mission to help keep life from becoming an itchy, unbearable hell for Napa County residents. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Ozorio is a mosquito-battler with a low-profile Napa County special district. On this early summer day, he walked along spongy, boggy soils in the south county flood control area that doubles as a nature preserve. He was checking an area previously treated with a biological control, Bti. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that this naturally occurring bacterium kills the larvae of mosquitos, blackflies and fungus gnats. It doesnt affect your frogs, doesn't affect your fish, doesn't affect your beneficial insects," Ozorio said. He used a dipper a container on a stick to sample some of the marsh water. He saw a water boatman and other insects, but no mosquito larvae. "The mosquitos have been addressed," he said. "But what happens is, the ecosystem is healthy." Battling mosquitos and other pests in Napa County was budgeted to be about a $3 million operation for the 2022-23 fiscal year. Thats the duty of the Napa County Mosquito Abatement District, a special district funded by local taxpayers. Check last years property tax bill. Youll see a $23.38 mosquito control charge. Local special districts do all types of jobs, from battling mosquitos to providing water to rural communities to running nature parks to cleaning up sewage to running cemeteries. They are usually not Jacks-of-all-trades, like the city and county. They are specialists. Special districts can form a kind of invisible government, though not necessarily because they are hiding. They are simply often overlooked by taxpayers, judging from attendance at many of the governing boards' meetings. California has more than 5,000 special districts that in 2021 spent a total of $75.65 billion, according to the California State Controllers Office. Special districts in Los Angeles County alone spent $16.74 billion. Napa County has 28 special districts as defined by the State Controller's Office that in 2021 spent a total of $108 million. Money comes from such sources as taxes, fees for services and grants. Some local districts are run by independent, elected boards. Some are run by boards appointed by the county and cities. And some are run by the Board of Supervisors or a city council. A publication by the Senate Local Government Committee sums up the special district situation. Special district advocates hail special districts as the best examples of small-town democracy, it says. Their critics say that special districts make local government too complex. Napa Countys special districts come in all shapes and sizes. Heres a look at some very different ones and how they impact local lives. An oldie The Napa County Mosquito Abatement District is the county's oldest special district, having been formed in 1925 to fight mosquitos and the diseases they can spread. It is headquartered in a building tucked away in the back of a lot on Melvin Road in American Canyon. Finding the place can be difficult. There is no sign along the road, only a mailbox with an address and a long, narrow driveway. But to find it, you must see a meeting of the district's board of trustees. There are no videos and the sessions arent televised. Youre either there live or youve missed it. On May 10, the district board held a 7 p.m. meeting at the headquarters. Board members are appointed by Napa County and its five cities. Nothing fancy here. Because of a post-pandemic desire to meet in an airy room, the meeting took place in the districts shop. Shovels and rakes stood against the wall, blowers were stored on a rack, and the floor was concrete. Ira Summer of GovInvest, a consultant who had come to make a presentation, joked he hadn't expected to be in a shed. District officials warmly greeted a Napa Valley Register reporter. Board member Brian Cramer, who represents St. Helena, noted with a smile that visitors from the public are rare. District Manager Wesley Maffei rolled out an extra chair and got an extra bottled water for the reporter. He shared a scrapbook on the history of the district. He also had a message for the public about the yellow fever mosquito, a pesky, blood-sucking invasive species. It has been found in other California counties, though not yet in Napa County. Get rid of standing water in yards, he urged residents. This mosquito can breed in as little as a bottle cap of water. Board President Anne Shelby Valentine of Calistoga pounded the gavel and the meeting started. Summer delved into pension funding. Finding money to help pay for the retirements of past employees is the bane of many public agencies, but Summer said the Mosquito Abatement District is in fine shape, at least for now. This was his fourth presentation of the day to an agency on their pensions, Summer said. This is the only one where I havent depressed everyone in the meeting, he added. Special districts are sometimes created to solve a problem. Certainly, Napa County residents had the itch to do something about mosquitos in 1923. The Weekly Calistogan described the situation after a bad mosquito summer. It was not comfortable to sit on the porch and enjoy the weather because of the pest, the newspaper said. Children playing outside in the yards were constantly tormented by the pest. Robert Whitthorne moved to the Carneros area in 1922 and became director of the Carneros Farm Center. That south county location is near mosquito-breeding wetlands. Carneros district was notorious for its terrible mosquito problem and many a day I swore I was going to sell out, he wrote. Instead, he was a major force pushing for the county and its cities to create the Mosquito Abatement District. The newly formed district held its first meeting in August 1925, and its been going ever since. and a newie The Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District has far less history. It is one of the newer, local special districts, formed by voters in 2006 by a 54% to 46% margin. Today, the district owns more than 5,000 acres and manages another 8,000 acres for other public agencies. It operates such parks as Bothe-Napa Valley and Robert Louis Stevenson state parks and Moore Creek Park. The district's board of directors met at 2 p.m. May 8 in downtown Napa in the county Board of Supervisors chamber. Directors are elected by voters in five districts that encompass the county. Talk at one point turned to the proposed Mayacamas Park. This is to someday be a 225-acre park in the forests of the Maycamas Mountains a few miles north of the city of Napa. Napans will have a new place to hike. Were not ready to kind of pursue that into a fully open public park yet, district Assistant General Manager Kyra Purvis said. But we are doing some major planning efforts. One issue is how to get future park users across Dry Creek, which could mean building a suspension bridge. Dry Creek is anything but dry in the winter. Weve thought about a wet crossing, but that creek can really rage in a storm and suddenly, Purvis said. We dont want to put people in a situation where they drive to the park, show up and figure, Ill just go for it and get in trouble. And there was the 2022-23 budget to consider. The Open Space District, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, faced financial ruin because the lodging tax share given to it by the county as its financial backbone crashed. This year, the news is good. The county grant almost doubled to about $1.4 million, allowing the district to increase the number of field workers essentially rangers from one to three. So people visiting places such as Moore Creek Park can thank the Open Space District. And, if they dont have to swat at any mosquitos during their hike, they can thank the Mosquito Abatement District. Some familiar faces Meanwhile, the Napa Berryessa Resort Improvement District faces financial difficulties. This special district needs more money to run water and sewer systems for the small, rural community of Berryessa Highlands. But proposed rate hikes are giving residents sticker shock. Resident Russ Cunningham said he understands why higher rates might be necessary. Still, a possible increase coming to about $2,500 annually gave him pause. We cant take that, he said during a May 9 community meeting held by district staff at the Capell Valley fire house. The Napa Berryessa Resort District's governing board has looked for outside help. It recently asked the Napa County Board of Supervisors for a $1 million county loan, on top of $2.8 million loaned over a decade. This request was granted. The two boards work together hand in glove. And why not, given they are the same people? This special district was formed by the county in the 1960s with the Board of Supervisors as its head. Supervisors hold most district meetings in their chamber in downtown Napa, far from Berryessa Highlands. Highlands resident Stu Williams sees pros and cons to this arrangement. A con is that the district doesn't have a board made up of Berryessa Highlands residents and elected by Berryessa Highlands residents. Williams said the district has "been run by the Board of Supervisors without the people up there having any say in anything." But he can see why. Given the financial shape of the water and sewer systems, its not feasible to have them run by a special district independent from the county, he said. In contrast, another small rural community, Circle Oaks, has a water district with its own elected board that meets in Circle Oaks. Resident Sue Wagner said that allows the community to make sure its own interests are given attention first and foremost. We intend to keep it that way, Wagner said. County supervisors govern not only the Napa Resort Improvement District, but also several other special districts, such as the Monticello Public Cemetery District. The Monticello district is fairly obscure. It oversees a small cemetery at Spanish Flat along Lake Berryessa. The budget in 2021 was a mere $54,000. Still, district meetings are held as part of Board of Supervisors meetings, and thus are televised and preserved on video. That places it among Napa County's special districts with the most public scrutiny available. Meetings hardly focus on earth-shattering topics. One had supervisors confirm that someone who bought a cemetery plot for $1,200 was eligible to do so. Whos minding the store? Special districts do jobs all over Napa County. The Napa Sanitation District cleans sewage from the city of Napa. The Los Carneros Water District brings recycled water to irrigate south county vineyards, and the American Canyon Fire Protection District fights fires. They are spending thousands and in some cases millions of dollars annually. And, though many have low profiles, they are handling taxpayer money. Three decades ago, this reporter took a look at special districts in neighboring Solano County. The county auditor-controller was doing audits on each. The results showed careless accounting procedures that could result in fraud, though no fraud was evident. Often, the people running the district are the same people who fight the fires, Solano County Auditor-Controller Bill Ricciardo told the Fairfield Daily Republic in 1993. So what assurances do today's local taxpayers have that today's Napa County special districts are handling money well, with the proper accounting safeguards in place? Auditor-Controller Tracy Schulze said her office is responsible for the accounting and auditing of independent special districts. That means holding them to the same budgetary controls as the county and helping to train their accounting staff. "For the larger ones, they have their own accounting staff which we work with very closely," Schulze said. "For the very small ones, we do their bookkeeping for them which is why it is important for them to all have an external independent audit each year as well." She's not aware of anything amiss, she said. A big change since the early 1990s is the flowering of the Information Age. No longer does one have to go to some small, out-of-the-way special district office to find the agenda for the latest meeting. Today, most Napa County special districts have their own web pages. A resident who wonders what the Congress Valley Water District board has been up to at recent meetings can easily find out without leaving home. Special districts under state law must have annual audits done. Napa County posts audits online for 14 local special districts. The State Controllers Office posts online financial information on all state special districts. The Napa County Taxpayers Association is a local government watchdog. Keeping track of all the special districts poses a special challenge. "The ones that matter most with taxpayers would be like the water, sewer and garbage people," said Jack Gray of the association. One issue the taxpayers group honed in on was Measure T, the countys half-cent sales tax for road maintenance that voters passed in 2012. The Napa Valley Transportation Authority oversees the measure (though, as the next chapter shows, whether the authority is a special district is up for debate). The taxpayers association in 2012 agreed not to oppose Measure T. The NVTA, among other things, agreed to publish an annual list of Measure T road projects. That is a significant control, Gray said. In 2016, the taxpayers group unsuccessfully mounted a challenge to the Napa Sanitation Districts move to raise sewage rates in the city of Napa and nearby areas. Still, its campaign resulted in customers registering 2,238 protest votes. That did get (the district's) attention; they got that much feedback, Gray said. It was an important move. The numbers game Counting the special districts in Napa County might sound like easy math, but thats not necessarily the case. Napa County has 28 special districts listed by the State Controller. Other lists have fewer. That situation is mirrored statewide. The state Senate Governance and Finance Committee says there are nearly 3,300 special districts in California. But the State Controller lists 5,180. So which is it? It depends partly on how a special district is defined. The Senate committee calls special districts limited-purpose local governments separate from counties. They have boundaries in which they provide certain services, such as sewers, fire protection, water electricity, parks and cemeteries. One group of agencies that doesnt fall into its definition is joint-powers authorities. These are partnerships of two or more agencies to address a particular issue. The NVTA, for example, exists to address regional transportation issues. It is a joint-powers authority among Napa County and its cities, so it doesnt qualify under this definition as a special district. But the California state controller has a different definition. It says that special districts for financial reporting purposes include joint-powers authorities. Thus, the NVTA shows up on its list of Napa County special districts. Bottom line: How many local special districts Napa County has appears to be partly in the eye of the beholder. Photos: SpiritHorse unites unwanted horses with traumatized humans in Napa County SpiritHorse 2 SpiritHorse (cover) Spirit Horse 11 Spirit Horse 12 Spirit Horse 10 Spirit Horse 1 SpiritHorse 3 Spirit Horse 4 Spirit Horse 5 Spirit Horse 6 Spirit Horse 7 Spirit Horse 8 Spirit Horse 9 The parents and relatives of a group of soldiers who went missing during a military operation in Nagorno Karabakh in 2021 held a protest in front of the presidential residence in Yerevan, demanding a meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan who has temporarily moved and works at this building. The protesters, who complain that nothing has been done so far to find out what happed to their sons, blocked Baghramyan Avenue. "They have been deceiving us for three years, we have no choice but to take this step," said one of the parents. It comes after they protested in front of the government building a week ago. Then the parents were promised that a date would be set for a meeting with the prime minister. However, until now, the meeting has not been organized, which has prompted todays protest. "They asked us to give them some time, now a week has passed already, and there is no answer. We will not leave until Nikol Pashinyan accepts us. If necessary we will wait for another 10 days," said another parent. Armenia is set to send 400 tones in humanitarian aid to the residents of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), who have been deprived of essential goods due to a blockade by Azerbaijan for more than six months. Dozens of trucks with humanitarian aid from Armenia intended for Artsakh are parked in Yerevan and waiting to deliver the aid. "Today, two dozen trucks loaded with humanitarian aid will deliver 400 tons of humanitarian aid to Kornidzor, from where it is planned to transfer the aid with the help of Russian peacekeepers to the people of Nagorno Karabakh, which has been under blockade for 227 days, Taron Chakhoyan, the deputy head of the Prime Minister's Office, wrote on Facebook. The Government had announced earlier that the working group for the management of the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh made decisions regarding sending urgent humanitarian aid to Nagorno Karabakh. The Government had not detailed how the aid would be delivered to the besieged Artsakh. Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened fire at around 11:20 a.m. on July 24 on two civilians working in their farms in the administrative area of Shosh village of Askeran region, the Prosecutor's Office of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) reported. In order to protect themselves from the fire, Arayik Ohanjanian and Alexander Marutyan had to stop their work. Earlier, on July 15, at around 9:50 a.m. the Azerbaijani Armed Forces had opened fire on two other civilians who were working in their fields in the administrative area of Verin Sznek village of Askeran region. As a result, Sergey Hovagimyan and Alexander Marutyan, had also had to stop the work. An investigation is underway over the two incidents. Freedom House international human rights organization has urged Azerbaijan to allow to provide vital humanitarian assistance to Nagorno Karabakh that has been under blockade by more than six months. The organization has also called on Azerbaijan to immediately work to ensure freedom of movement by opening the Lachin corridor, guaranteeing unrestricted movement of individuals, vehicles and cargo. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had stated that, despite persistent efforts, they are currently unable to deliver aid through the Lachin Corridor and other routes, including Aghdam. Our concern is that the humanitarian situation will further deteriorate, the ICRC had said. Earlier today, Taron Chakhoyan, the deputy head of the Prime Minister's Office, had informed on Facebook that Armenia is sending 400 tons of aid to Nagorno Karabakh. Azerbaijani economist is detained in Turkey, handed over to homeland Ombudsperson: Cases of fainting due to malnutrition continue to increase in Karabakh Armenia FM briefs Lithuania colleague on situation, growing humanitarian crisis in Karabakh Luis Moreno Ocampo: Azerbaijan blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh is genocide Los Angeles Armenians block street, march to Congressman Adam Schiff residence Crusaders detachment reaches area where humanitarian aid trucks sent from Armenia to Karabakh are waiting ARF does not find it proper to nominate its own proportional representation list for Yerevan elections Armenia premier congratulates Singapore counterpart on National Day Sputnik Armenia: Where, under what conditions father and son Smbatyan are detained? Newspaper: When Armenia ruling party election headquarters will start working? Armenia MFA spox: Abducting of patient under Red Cross care must be condemned Erdogan confirms Turkey participation in 2020 war against Karabakh Russia MoD records ceasefire violation in Nagorno-Karabakh 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 Toivo Klaar, European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, has shared on his Twitter account the statement of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) regarding the blockade of Nagorno Karabakh, saying that The ICRC should be able to act freely. The ICRC is doing a tremendous job in very challenging circumstances on the ground. It is important that they are able to operate freely. The EU is taking their warnings seriously, he wrote. ICRC had earlier stated that, despite persistent efforts, they are currently unable to deliver aid to Nagorno Karabakh through the Lachin Corridor and other routes, including Aghdam. Our concern is that the humanitarian situation will further deteriorate, the ICRC had said. ICRCs regional director for Eurasia, Ariane Bauer in turn had said that their humanitarian aid convoys are a lifeline for the population in this area and with those convoys blocked, their concern is that the humanitarian situation will further deteriorate. We are most worried about those who cannot help themselves. The sick and people with chronic diseases are particularly at risk, as are the elderly, infirm and children. For us to operate here, we need the sides to reach a humanitarian consensus. This is life-saving work, and it must be allowed to continue, she had said. Photo: . Brigitte Cleroux. Photo: Ottawa Police Service B.C. Supreme Court has certified a class-action suit against the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) for those affected by the activities of an alleged bogus nurse. Justice Michael Stephens decision said Brigitte Cleroux, who was alleged to be an unlicensed nurse, was involved directly or indirectly in the provision of nursing care to some 1,150 patients who attended for gynecological surgical procedures while working at BC Womens Hospital and Health Centre. Cleroux has already been convicted in connections with similar activities in Ontario. She is currently expected to plead guilty to similar B.C. allegations soon in Vancouver Provincial Court. Patient Miranda Massie, the representative claimant in the case, initiated the class-action suit. Massie claimed negligence, battery, breach of privacy, vicarious liability, and damages, including aggregate and punitive damages. Stephens did not accede to all items in the proposed action such as harm and battery as they are individual items. Still, he did rule there are common issues for the claim of breach of privacy and the PHSAs related alleged vicarious liability, and punitive damages. I certify a class action on this basis, Stephens said. The proposed class is all residents of Canada who were patients at BC Womens Hospital and Health Centre and received treatments directly or indirectly from Cleroux from June 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. In its defence, PHSA responded that Cleroux fraudulently worked for PHSA from June 22, 2020 until on or about June 23, 2021, and claimed to be trained as a procedural sedation nurse. She was not permitted to work in the operating room (OR) during procedures involving general anaesthetic and anaesthesiologist-led sedation and was permitted in the operating room only when administering procedural sedation. PHSA pleaded Cleroux worked under the name Melanie Smith and its evidence is that on a daily basis she worked as a general duty nurse in the pre-operative part of the Gynecological Surgical Services Program. The defendant PHSAs evidence is that Ms. Cleroux did not claim to be an OR-trained nurse and was never assigned as a nurse in the OR during procedures where patients underwent general anaesthetic or anesthesiologist-led sedation, Stephens said. The President of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Arayik Harutyunyan has said he has decided to stop the sit-in he started on July 17 and continue the fight against the blockade of Artsakh by working in an emergency mode. In a statement published on his Facebook page Harutyunyan said that the popular movement in Nagorno Karabakh, his sit-in, as well as other efforts have already achieved some results in drawing international attention to Artsakhs blockade and pushing them to take action. Further, he said that during this period, through their efforts they increased international pressure on Azerbaijan, as well as managed to raise international awareness of the situation in Nagorno Karabakh. He called on other states and international organizations (primarily relevant UN agencies) to follow Armenias example and provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Artsakh within the framework of their international obligations. Either Azerbaijan will open the Lachin (Kashatagh) corridor to that humanitarian aid, or it will additionally confirm the genocidal nature of its policy with another ban on the entry of humanitarian goods to the disaster area, he wrote. Arayik Harutyunyan noted that the trilateral meeting of foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan held in Moscow on Tuesday took place thanks to their efforts, adding that the results of the meeting, however, are not acceptable to them. He also called on the authorities of the Republic of Armenia to make maximum efforts to have the February 22 ruling of the International Court of Justice implemented and to immediately appeal to the UN Security Council regarding the issue of guaranteeing the security of the people of Artsakh and ensuring tangible results. Artsakhs President also urged Armenians living in Armenia and Diaspora to increase pressure on the main actors of the international community, especially the governments of the permanent members of the UN Security Council (Russia, USA, France, Great Britain and China), as well as the European Union, using all possible means in order to draw attention and push for urgent action. These may include civil disobedience, awareness raising, protests and other actions, using harsh and non-standard methods within the limits of admissibility, he clarified. The pressure to open the Lachin Corridor should be increased, using both political and humanitarian and other possible instruments. In that regard, Artsakh authorities are discussing all possible scenarios and steps in order to apply them depending how things develop, he added. He also noted that the sit-ins and other actions by others in Nagorno Karabakh continue within the framework of the popular movement, adding he will have regular meetings with them and will jointly discuss what needs to be done. American famous S&P Global Ratings company has improved the outlook on Ardshinbank, revising it to Positive from Stable and has affirmed 'B+/B' long-term and short-term issuer credit ratings on the bank. Thus, the rating assigned to the Bank is equal to the sovereign rating level of the Republic of Armenia. The rating action overview given by S&P Global Ratings mainly emphasizes that the sizable profits received by the Bank over the past 2 years and the existing economic conditions contributed to the growth of the bank's provision for possible losses and an increase in capital. At the same time, it is mentioned that Ardshinbanks risk profile has improved and the level of risk has decreased due to the Bank's more advanced scoring and internal rating systems. The affirmation of the rating given to the Bank and the Positive outlook reflects the opinion of S&P Global Ratings that Ardshinbank will continue to improve the risk profile, maintaining adequate level of capitalization in the near future. Ardshinbank is the only Armenian company with assigned ratings from the big three credit rating agencies (Standard & Poors, Moodys and Fitch). The activity of Ardshinbank are regulated by the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia. 19 trucks with humanitarian aid for Artsakh from Armenia reached Kornidzor. We contacted representatives of the Russian peacekeeping forces to deliver cargo to [Artsakh] Nagorno-Karabakh with their mediation, we are waiting for an answer. This process requires understanding and patience. As soon as there is news, we will let you know, Vardan Sargsyan, a representative of the working group on managing the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, said in an interview with 1TV. On July 26, 19 trucks with food and essential goods left for Kornidzor, from where it is planned to transfer 400 tons of humanitarian aid to Artsakh Armenians, accompanied by Russian peacekeepers. Humanitarian aid is sent to besieged Artsakh within the framework of the state program. In Azerbaijan, the reports of the Armenian media about the dispatch of a humanitarian aid convoy to Artsakh were quickly regarded as a "provocation." According to Turan, the State Border Service of Azerbaijan "called on the Armenian side to refrain from such actions aimed at provocation and serving to aggravate the situation." While working for one of the innovation and technology leaders in industrial automation and digitalization, Ines Ruiz started to see the power of gaining practical, hands-on experience. A senior who is studying economics, marketing, and creative writing at the University, Ruiz has developed a strong business background and never thought her future would one day include working for a technology companyuntil an opportunity came along to work with Siemens Digital Industries Software this past spring. Entering into this internship, I was questioning myself about how this was going to work. But it has worked out amazingly because I brought something to the table that was different, and I learned a lot from them at the same time, said Ruiz, an international student from Buenos Aires, Argentina. With this internship, I had exposure to a lot of topics like artificial intelligence, sustainability, clean energies, and a lot more subjects that are the future of our world, while still being able to utilize and expand my marketing experience. In her hybrid internship role, Ruizs day-to-day tasks involved marketing and communications related to technical writing duties. One of her major projects included leading the development of what they call global interest groupsessentially, its sales communications, she explained. Siemens has several energy sub-segments, and Ruizs responsibility was to reach out to various leaders within the company for a monthly meeting to gain insight into their sector progress. She analyzed that information based on industry standards and followed up with them to pursue potential opportunities. My boss, John Nixon, has been incredible. And he gave me the confidence that I could do this, said Ruiz. He wanted to train my leadership skills, and its been awesome. Based on her extraordinary performance as an intern throughout the spring semester, Nixon, vice president of global strategy in energy chemicals and infrastructure, selected Ruiz to attend Realize Live, Siemens Softwares flagship event for the exchange of ideas, best practices, and information, in Las Vegas, Nevada, this past June. She was one of five student interns to be chosen out of dozens. Ines has an inner fire and a zest for life, said Nixon. Her positive attitude is infectious, and her work ethic and quality make a powerful combo in a young professional. I knew we needed Ines at Realize Live, where we bring our worldwide users together in one location to expose those customers to all that Siemens has to offer and all that we are about to roll out in the new year. We had to have Ines present to bring her energy to customers. Im so grateful that I got to experience something like this early in my career, said Ruiz. I got to see both sides of the eventthe behind-the-scenes and also network and mingle with clients. Ruiz said she could only have excelled in this internship with the knowledge she gained from her professors in both the Miami Herbert Business School and the College of Arts and Sciences at the University. Being that I am an international student, its great to feel so welcome and included. And I really appreciate UM for all it has provided me, she said. My marketing and creative writing courses were very hands on, which have complemented my experience outside of the classroom. William Ted Bolton, lecturer at the Miami Herbert Business School, taught Ruizs digital media metrics course and recalled her enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. In his course, Ruiz created a live digital resource and said Bolton reaffirmed her passion for marketing and marketing management. For me, its why you teach, said Bolton. My attitude is that I want students to take the classroom knowledge and be able to apply it to real-life work and situations. So, its so great to know the course impacted her because thats really what I emphasize throughout. As Ruiz enters her final year at the University, she said that she is proud of all that she has learned and is looking forward to a career in marketing at an information technology company. Being here has gone above and beyond what I expected, she exclaimed. Former PM Thaksin will return to Thailand: daughter Thaksin Shinawatra currently lives in self-imposed exile after fleeing Thailand to avoid a jail sentence for graft in 2008. File photo: AP Thailand's self-exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra plans to return to the country on August 10, his daughter said on Wednesday, amid a prolonged political crisis following a May general election. "I don't quite believe what I am typing, dad is returning on 10 Aug at Don Muang Airport," Paetongtarn Shinawatra said in a social media post, referring to an airport in the capital Bangkok. Thaksin, who made a fortune in the telecommunications business and was premier from 2001 until he was ousted in a 2006 coup, currently lives in self-imposed exile after fleeing Thailand to avoid a jail sentence for graft in 2008. The Pheu Thai party backed by Thaksin, 74, is currently attempting to form a government in Thailand, after coming second in the May 14 general election. (Reuters) Researchers at the UC Santa Cruz Paleogenomics Lab helped conduct the first investigation of genomic diversity among people buried at Machu Picchu, the renowned 15th century Inca palace in southern Peru. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, suggest that the servants who lived, worked, and died at Machu Picchu were a diverse community representing many different ancestral backgrounds throughout the Inca Empire. And the remarkable extent of this diversity may even challenge historical narratives about how the empire grew. Scholars believe Machu Picchu was a royal estate connected to the lineage of Pachacuti, the emperor credited with establishing the Inca Empire. Royals visited Machu Picchu seasonally, but a community of servants lived there year-round to take care of the facilities. Servants were buried in caves and rock shelters outside the palace walls. The research team analyzed DNA from 34 of these individuals, as well as a comparison group of ancient burials from rural sites in the broader Urubamba Valley and the nearby city of Cusco. This study does not focus on the life of royals or political elites, but on the life of those who were brought to Machu Picchu to serve the nobility and who lived there and operated the place, said UC Santa Cruz Anthropology Professor Lars Fehren-Schmitz, a senior and corresponding author on the new paper. It gives us a unique insight into a highly diverse community of individuals and their families who were subject to Inca forced relocation and resettlement policies, a group usually referred to as retainers or yanacona. Researchers from Yale, Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Aba del Cusco (UNSAAC), UC Santa Cruz, Tulane University, the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, and others conducted the study, under an agreement between Yale, the State of Peru, and the University of Cusco to return artifacts and human remains from the Hiram Bingham Expedition collection back to Cusco, Peru. The teams work builds upon previous archeological and bio-archaeological research, including a 2021 study that determined the age of Machu Picchu (AD 1420-1530). For the current study, Fehren-Schmitz and scientists at the UC Santa Cruz Paleogenomics Lab and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology extracted ancient DNA samples from the teeth of those buried at Machu Picchu and the comparison sites. The human remains at Machu Picchu had been exposed to the elements for centuries, which meant that the DNA was highly degraded. But it was still able to be processed and sequenced thanks to specialized techniques developed at UC Santa Cruz, Fehren-Schmitz said. DNA from the samples was then compared with that of modern people across South and Central America and ancient people across South America. This allowed the team to identify the most likely ancestry of Machu Picchus residents and draw conclusions about how the community differed from others in the region before, during, and after the Inca Empire. The findings showed that Machu Picchu was a uniquely diverse community, which is consistent with both historical accounts of how servants were selected from across the empire and prior research that found non-local isotopic signatures and cultural identifiers among the dead. But the DNA analysis also revealed a surprisingly wide geographic range of ancestries. Servants had genetic ties throughout the Andean highlands, along the North and South Peruvian coast, and in Amazonian regions of Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador. An unexpected result was the finding that many of the retainers were of Amazonian origin and about a third of them have DNA reflecting significant amounts of Amazonian ancestry, said lead author Lucy Salazar, a research associate at Yale. At least two zones within the Amazonian region are represented. The teams DNA evidence suggests that people from far-flung corners of the Inca Empire had been living at Machu Picchu since the sites earliest occupation, which could indicate that the empire expanded earlier, or in different ways, than described in historical chronologies. This adds to a growing sentiment among Inca specialists that emerging archaeological evidence does not match dominant historical narratives. Traditional chronologies tell a story about how Emperor Pachacuti slowly started to expand the Inca Empire and then built Machu Picchu, Fehren-Schmitz explained. But in this study, we see that people from regions that are supposed to have been integrated into the Inca Empire later on seem to have actually already been interacting with the Inca at this point in time. Another important finding was that many of the people buried at Machu Picchu had mixed ancestries, often from regions distant from each other. This suggests that servants at Machu Picchu from different genetic groups had children together. Servants of different ancestries were also buried together. Archaeologist Richard Burger, Yales lead researcher for the Machu Picchu project, said DNA evidence ultimately helps to paint a picture of Machu Picchu as a cosmopolitan community, where diverse genetic backgrounds intermixed in life and in death. Portions of this article were excerpted from a Yale University press release. Banks in India have recovered non-performing assets worth Rs 10.16 lakh crore on an aggregate basis in the past nine years, Minister of State (MoS) Finance Bhagwat Karad informed Parliament. In the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, the government was asked to respond about the effective measures to recover the bad loans and NPA amount from corporate companies. The minister responding to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha on Monday, citing the Central Repository of Information on Large Credits data, stated that corporate company borrowers classified as non-performing assets (NPA) and having outstanding amounts of Rs 1,000 crore or more are yet to settle around Rs 103,975 crore till March 2023.The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has apprised that the total loan amount recovered from corporate company borrowers classified as NPAs is not maintained by it, Karad said.Further, the minister also listed a few reforms his government brought to resolve stressed assets. Introduction of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) to change the creditor-borrower relationship, setting up of National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited to resolve stressed assets above Rs 500 crore, automated Early Warning Systems are some of them. (ANI) Euphoria star Jacob Elordi and social media influencer Olivia Jade Giannulli are not only officially back together after a reported on-again, off-again relationship but they are also "getting serious," People reported. The couple was spotted together on vacation in Italy in early June. They also took a trip to Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, with Giannulli's parents, Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli in the mid of July. "Jacob had to leave early to fly back to Australia, but they looked like they had a great time together," People citing a source said of the Australian actor, 26, and the Dancing With the Stars alum, 23. "They are a really cute couple." As per People, Elordi, who in the past has also dated his Euphoria co-star Zendaya, as well as Kaia Gerber, was first linked to Giannulli in late 2021, after they were seen getting coffee together in Los Angeles several months after Giannulli had called it quits with her boyfriend Jackson Guthy. At the time, one insider told People that Giannulli, 23, and Elordi, 26, were "casually dating," while another source said they weren't. They have seen together several times in the past three months and a source confirmed, "They are 100 per cent going strong, reported People. (ANI) At 10:00 pm Tuesday, the Yamuna water level near the old Yamuna Bridge was recorded at 205.24 metres against the danger mark of of 205.33 metres. It was 205.32 metres at 7:00 pm. The rise in water level has been a matter of concern, leading to a flood-like situation in the national capital and adjoining regions. The river water level had been hovering around the danger mark of 205.33 metres for the last few days after reaching an all-time high of 208.66 metres on July 13. However, the river crossed the danger mark at 5:0 pm on July 10 following incessant rainfall in the national capital. The surge in Yamunas water level is primarily due to water discharge from the Hathnikund Barrage located in Haryana's Yamunanagar caused by heavy rainfall in some regions of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Due to the rise in the water level, several low-lying areas in Delhi grappled with waterlogging and flood-like situations. After July 13, the Yamuna had been receding gradually. Still, there have been marginal fluctuations in the water level over the last two-three days. The water level dropped below the danger mark at 8 pm on July 18 after flowing above the threshold for eight days. Meanwhile, Delhi Jal Board Vice-Chairman Saurabh Bharadwaj on Sunday inspected the Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and said that the Delhi government has made embankments and reinforcement at vulnerable spots to prevent flood water entering the water treatment plants. Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena on Sunday and discussed with him the water level in the Yamuna River in the national capital. (ANI) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, poses for a photo with Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum during their meeting at the presidential palace in Niamey, Niger, March 16, 2023. (Boureima Hama/AP) NIAMEY, Niger Members of Nigers presidential guard surrounded the presidential palace Wednesday in what African organizations called an attempted coup against the countrys democratically elected leader. The U.S. said the rebelling soldiers had detained President Mohamed Bazoum. A tweet from the account of Nigers presidency reported that members of the elite guard unit engaged in an anti-Republican demonstration and unsuccessfully tried to obtain support from other security forces. It said Bazoum and his family were doing well but that Nigers army and national guard are ready to attack if those involved in the action did not back down. Advertisement However, the commissions of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States described the events in Nigers capital as an effort to unseat Bazoum, who was elected president two years ago in the nations first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since its independence from France in 1960. The governments of France and the United States also voiced concern and urged the participating guardsmen to change course. Bazoums administration has made Niger a key Western partner in the fight against Islamist extremism in Africas Sahel region. Advertisement We strongly condemn any effort to detain or subvert the functioning of Nigers democratically elected government, led by President Bazoum, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. We specifically urge elements of the presidential guard to release President Bazoum from detention and refrain from violence. Streets surrounding the presidential palace in the capital, Niamey, were blocked off Wednesday, as were some government ministries. In the early evening, hundreds of people chanting No coup detat marched in support of the president. Multiple rounds of gunfire that appeared to come from the presidential palace dispersed the demonstrators and sent people scrambling for cover, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene.. We are here to show the people that we are not happy about this movement going on; just to show these military people that they cant just take the power like this, protester Mohammed Sidi said. We are a democratic country, we support democracy and we dont need this kind of movement. Someone close to the president who wasnt authorized to speak to the media told the AP the presidential guard surrounded Bazoums house when he and his wife were inside on Wednesday morning and that negotiations were underway between the parties. Within hours, there was a military buildup outside the headquarters of the state radio and television networks. Pickup trucks mounted with machine guns lined the roads to both buildings, with members of the army and national guard waving cars through. The streets of Niamey were bustling as usual, with many residents refusing to discuss the situation until there was more clarity. Some international security forces in the country were ordered put on lockdown. The United Nations said its 1,500 staff members in Niger were safe but had to suspend their regular work. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls on all actors involved to exercise restraint and to ensure the protection of constitutional order, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Threats to Bazoums leadership would undermine the Wests efforts to stabilize Africas Sahel region. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Niger in March, seeking to strengthen ties with a country where extremists have carried out attacks on civilians and military personnel but the overall security situation was not as dire as in neighboring nations. Advertisement Mali and Burkina Faso have had four coups since 2020, and both are being overrun by extremists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Mercenaries from the Russian military company also have deployed in those countries. Niger and President Bazoum has been the Wests only hope on the Sahel region to contain jihadists and Russias rising influence, said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Western countries have been showering Niger with aid programs, from military to development cooperation. Even if Bazoum survives this, the reputation of Niger among Western policymakers as a stability anchor for the Sahel is damaged. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who was selected this month as the ECOWAS Commissions chairman, said the regional blocs leadership would resist any attempt to unseat Nigers government. It should be quite clear to all players in the Republic of Niger that the leadership of the ECOWAS region and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically elected government of the country, Tinubu said in a statement he issued in Abuja. We will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region. After meeting with Tinubu in Abuja, President Patrice Talon of Benin left for Niger as part of ECOWAS-led mediation efforts. I believe that all means will be used, if necessary, to restore constitutional order in Niger, but the ideal would be for everything to happen in peace and harmony, Talon said. The African Union also called on Nigeriens and Africans to join their voices in unanimous condemnation of this coup attempt, and for the immediate and unconditional return of the felon soldiers to their barracks. Advertisement Security analysts said another coup attempt would worsen regional instability. The repeated coups in the Sahel signaled the beginning of a new era: an era of militaries being in control, and the end of what it was a hopeful democracy, said Rida Lyammouri, senior fellow at the Policy Center for the New South, a Morocco-based think tank. As we are seeing in Burkina Faso and Mali, coups did not really address security issues, which was the justification of these coups. Military coups are simply bad and send countries concerned backward rather than forward toward stability and (a) prosperous future, Lyammouri said. An FIR under Kerala Police Act 118 e for "mic hiss" was registered, the police informed on Wednesday. The incident took place during the memorial event organised by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). The veteran Congress leader, who served several terms as chief minister, was popular with the masses. Confirming the registration of a case in the matter, the Cantonment Police said it iwll run a check of the microphone and other audio props used the memorial event for the departed former chief minister. Police informed further that the case was regisrtered underthe Kerala Police Act. Speaking to ANI, Ranjit, the owner of company, which supplied the microphone used at the memorial event, said, "There was a noise, which was rectified within 10 seconds. A bag belonging to a cameraperson had dropped over the console, resulting in the malfunction. Earlier, Chandy's family members conveyed his wish not to be accorded a funeral with full state honours, as is the convention for distinguished citizens from various walks of life. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who represented the Wayanad constituency of Kerala in the Lok Sabha before being stripped off the membership of the Lower House following his conviction in a criminal defamation case, had travelled to Kottayam to pay his last tributes to the departed party colleague. Chandy's mortal remains had been brought Puthupally St. George Orthodox Church, in his native village, for the last rites. The Kerala government had announced two days of state mourning in honour of the departed former chief minister. A popular mass leader, followers of the former CM had gathered in numbers to pay their last respects. (ANI) Six bills, including four related to Jammu and Kashmir, were introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday as the government pushed its legislative agenda following Speaker Om Birla admitting the no-confidence motion against the government moved by Congress and other opposition parties. The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 introduced in Lok Sabha, Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 were introduced in the House. Two other bills - The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 - were also introduced. The House was later adjourned till 2 pm. The Rajya Sabha, which saw opposition members pressing for their demand for discussion on Manipur situation under Rule 267, saw several disruptions. Leader of the House Piyush Goyal raised objections to some remarks of Congress leader P Chidambaram pertaining to the Chair. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said that the initial remarks of the Congress members and his clarificatory remarks later were not in consonance. I am seized of the matter, he said. He adjourned the House till 2 pm. The two Houses had earlier been adjourned till 12 noon. Lok Sabha Speaker accepted the no-confidence motion against the government moved by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on behalf of opposition parties of I.N.D.I.A alliance. "Honourable members, I have to inform the House that I have received a motion of no confidence in the Council of Ministers from Gaurav Gogoi, Birla said. He admitted the motion after ascertaining support to it and said the time of debate will be communicated later. Opposition members expressed their opinion on the bills being introduced by the government. The two Houses have seen repeated adjournments since the commencement of monsoon session of Parliament on July 20. Gogoi represents Kaliabor constituency in Assam and is an MP from the northeast region. Bharat Rashtra Samithi, which has nine members in Lok Sabha, also gave no-confidence motion notice against the government. The decision to bring a no-confidence motion was taken at a meeting of opposition I.N.D.I.A alliance parties held on Tuesday. As many as 26 Opposition had earlier come together naming their alliance as I.N.D.I.A. Opposition MPs said that they know the numbers are in favour of the government in Lok Sabha but no-confidence motion is a way to seek reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on various issues including the violence in Manipur. "This No Confidence Motion is a political move with a political purpose - a political move which will bring results...The No Confidence Motion will compel him (Prime Minister) to come to the Parliament. We need a discussion on the issues of the country, especially on Manipur, inside the Parliament. Forget the numbers, they know the numbers and we know the numbers..," CPI MP Binoy Viswam said. Manickam Tagore, Congress Whip in Lok Sabha said INDIA alliance is together and it had proposed the idea of no-confidence motion. Yesterday it was decided. Today, Congress party's leader is moving it. We wanted to break the arrogance of Mr Modi. He is behaving as an arrogant person - not to come to the Parliament and make a statement on Manipur...We feel that it is our duty to use this last weapon," he said. AAP MP Raghav Chadha said that some parliamentary procedures are used to have a long-duration discussion and to compel the government to give a reply. "Many a time in India's Parliamentary history, critical instruments of debate, dialogue and discussion within Parliament are exercised. Regardless of the outcome of those instruments and motions, they are exercised with the sole objective of a long-duration discussion on an important issue subsequent to which the PM of India is compelled to come to Parliament and respond to the issues raised by the people and the Members of the Lok Sabha, he said. I think theseparliamentary instruments actually strengthen India's democracy and must be exercised time again and again to pressurise the government to come before the Lok Sabha and answer the questions, he added. (ANI) Days after an alleged incident where three girls of a medical college in Karnatakas Udupi district filmed fellow students in the washroom was reported, the Udupi Police have registered two separate FIRs in the case. A statement released by the police details that police took suo motu cognizance and two separate cases have been registered in connection with the incident adding that an investigation has been initiated. The second case is linked to the uploading of an edited video on YouTube channels and posted by one person on his Twitter account, which the police have alleged was used to spread fake news and offensive and communal hatred on social media. A case has been filed at the Malpe Police Station for attempting to cause harm to harmony and police said a probe will be carried out. The incident has triggered a war of words between the opposition BJP and the Karnataka Government. The BJP has accused the Siddaramiah government of not taking timely action. Former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai told ANI: "Police is not taking any action. They wanted to take action against the girl who raised the alarm- the whistle-blower rather than the culprits. After a hue and cry, they have lodged an FIR. The State Government is saying it is fake news. If it is so, why were three girls suspended and why is there an apology letter? Police have failed, they are under tremendous political pressure. I urge them to work without any political pressure." The Congress has hit back at the BJP accusing them of politicising the matter. Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad said An FIR has already been registered in this regard. Police will investigate the case. BJP doesn't want justice in this matter, they just want politics. Protesting for politics. If they really have a responsibility towards the society, let them protest on the issue of Manipur. Meanwhile, National Commision of Women Member and BJP leader Khushbu Sundar said she will go to Udupi to conduct a probe on the issue. Sundar tweeted Heading to Udupi to look into the issue where girls were filmed in a washroom by their fellow girl college mates. It is extremely saddening to see children indulging in such activities. As a @NCWIndia member, I will be looking into the matter, speaking with the students, meeting the cops and visiting the college too. Nobody can play around with the dignity of women. (ANI) Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Wednesday raised question on the "ideology and thought process" of Congress of doing "politics of appeasement" for not celebrating Kargil Vijay Diwas earlier terming the event as NDA's war. "This is the same Congress that sacrificed the interest of the nation. Our Congress friends then used to say that they will not celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas as it was NDA's war. This is their ideology and their thought process. Their thought process is of appeasement of politics," Chandrasekhar said. Chandrasekhar's statement came when the country celebrated the 24th anniversary of the Kargil War on Wednesday. Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year to commemorate India's victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War in 1999. The day honours the bravery and sacrifice made by Indian soldiers during the intense war. The successful operation against Pakistan was named Operation Vijay. Today, it's the 24th anniversary of the Kargil War. On July 21, 2009, Chandrasekhar had moved a special mention notice in the Rajya Sabha as a matter of important public importance, saying "I request the Chairman to permit me to mention the Kargil Vijay Diwas as a matter of important public importance in the House on July 23 2009". In his special mention, Chandrasekhar then said "I draw the attention of the Members to the 10th anniversary of the Victory of the men and women of our armed forces over our enemies at Kargil - on the 26th July." "This day represents not just the victory of our proud country and its will prevailing over those of its enemies, but also most importantly it represents the inspirational sense of duty and sacrifice by thousands of men and women of our Armed forces," Chandrasekhar then said. I remember every day of that conflict as do many Indians. These are the men and women whose actions, sense of nationalism and duty which should inspire our younger generations. I believe the actions of the men and women of our armed forces in that conflict and every other conflict deserve our shradhanjali, respects and solutes, he added. "I appeal to the Ministry of Defence and Government to memorialize this day and celebrate it every year. I also appeal to my colleagues in this house who oppose it on grounds of this being a BJP war or something as ridiculous to stop this mockery," Chandrasekhar pointed then. "The comments you do a serious disservice to the men, women and families of those who serve our nation and have served our nation. It is our duty to our nation to memorialize these sacrifices and duty," he mentioned further. Taking cognisance of Chandrasekhar's special mention, then Defence Minister AK Antony in a letter to him on July 16, 2010, mentioned: "Please refer to Special Mention made in Rajya Sabha on July 23, 2009 regarding commemorating the victory at Kargil every year". "Keeping in view the precedence and to honour the martyrs, a homage ceremony will be organized also this year at Amar Jawan Jyoti on July 26, 2010," Antony said in the letter then. (ANI) "Members of the Rajya Sabha from the Northeast called on the Hon'ble Chairman in Parliament today and requested for a short-duration discussion under Rule 176 on issues in Manipur. They urged Members across all party lines to participate in the discussion and give constructive suggestions for tackling the situation in Manipur, which will boost the confidence of people in the state," Jagdeep Dhankar tweeted. Earlier today, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi submitted a notice for no-confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha. The decision to bring a no-confidence motion was taken at a meeting of opposition I.N.D.I.A alliance parties held on Tuesday. Congress and other opposition parties have been demanding a detailed discussion on the situation in Manipur and a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They have resorted to protests and sloganeering in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, forcing adjournments of the two Houses since the commencement of the monsoon session of Parliament on July 20. The opposition parties have also urged the Rajya Sabha Chairman to revoke the suspension of Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh. The AAP member was suspended on Monday for repeatedly violating directions of the Chair. Twenty-six opposition parties have named their alliance I.N.D.I.A. The two Houses have witnessed repeated adjournments over opposition demands. The violence in Manipur between the Meiteis and the tribal Kuki, erupted after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3. (ANI) Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, holds deep religious significance among Muslims. The meeting, presided over by the ADGP Kashmir, focused on devising comprehensive strategies to tackle potential challenges and maintain order during this sacred period, an official press release stated on Wednesday.Security measures in terms of personnel deployment and technological enhancements, management of religious processions, crowd Management, prevent any untoward incidents and maintain a peaceful environment, traffic management were discussed. SSP Srinagar was also advised to use technology like drones to monitor crowd gathering.ADGP Kashmir also called upon all citizens to be vigilant, report any suspicious activities and cooperate with the authorities to make Muharram a safe and secure occasion for everyone. Meanwhile, two terrorist associates linked to the proscribed Pakistan-based outfit, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were arrested at a bus stop in Kreeri village of Baramulla district, officials informed through a statement on Tuesday. The two terror facilitators or linkmen were identified as Dayem Majeed Khan and Ubair Tariq, officials said. "On specific information regarding the movement of terrorists in Kreeri, Joint forces of Baramulla Police and 29 RR placed an MVCP at a Bus Stop. Two suspect persons who were coming from towards the main road Kreeri tried to flee while noticing a joint naka party but were apprehended tactfully," the official statement read. (ANI) Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai on Wednesday launched an attack on Bihar Chief Minister after police opened fire and baton-charged the protesters in Katihar, in which one protester was killed, adding that CM Nitish Kumar should resign. He alleged that Bihar Police have turned into criminals under the protection of the state government. Clashes broke out between Police and the people when locals held a protest over the inadequate supply of power and higher power tariffs against the electricity department in Katihar. Rai alleged that Police opened firing at the innocent and unarmed people who raised their voice against the basic necessity which is the duty of the government to provide. "Bullets firing and lathicharge on unarmed people for the demand of electricity is a heinous crime. This is the government of criminals. The police have been turned into criminals in Bihar by the state goverment. The police use bullets and sticks to kill people at their own will. The entire Bihar is living under the fear. The grand Alliance government in the state is not only incompetent but also ruthless, so this government should resign. Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi ji should be ashamed that they opened fire at the innocent people of Bihar" MoS Home Rai alleged. Katihar SP Jitendra Kumar said, "People pelted stones and vandalized the office of electricity department, in this incident one person died and 2 are injured. DM is present at the spot." Speaking to ANI in an exclusive interview, Nityanand Rai said, "Both the leaders of the Bihar government, Nitish ji and Tejashwi Yadav, have become very callous. This government has become tyrannical and sensitive. Today, in Katihar's Barsoi block, the public were protesting for the problem of electricity, but due to police firing, more than two people died, as per local information, while police claimed one person died in the firing." The Lok Sabha MP from Bihar's Ujiarpur further alleged that Police indulges in opening fire at students, farmers, BJP workers and common man. What is happening in Bihar? The Nitish Kumar government has crossed all limits of harshness in its greed for power. "Bihar government has so many excuses for police firing, but I want to say that there are many other ways. The police have become insensitive there, and those officers who fire bullets are rewarded and praised by the government. There are many ways to maintain law and order, but the intension of the Nitish Kumar government is to rule over the public through repressive policy," he added. The residents of a village near Barsoi town in Katihar gathered outside the electricity department to protest against the irregular supply of electricity and higher power tariffs. "One person was killed and two others were injured after the police allegedly opened fire to disperse a mob who were protesting in Bihar's Katihar against the electricity department," officals said. SP Katihar Jitendra Kumar said that a clash broke out between locals and Police in Kathihar during a protest against the electricity department. People pelted stones and vandalized the office of the Electricity Department. One person has died and 2 are injured in this incident. DM and SP present on the spot. (ANI) Karen Bigg, a harm reductionist for the Chicago Recovery Alliance, grabs items for drug use to give to a man living in a homeless encampment in Humboldt Park on July 25, 2023, in Chicago. Bigg said she parks a mobile outreach van at the corner of North California and West North avenues on Tuesdays from about 5-7 p.m. and usually sees between five and 15 people requesting drug use-related items. The organization offers sterilized products for drug users free-of-charge, including Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, for drug overdoses. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Cook County recorded the deadliest year for opioid overdoses in 2022, according to the medical examiners office, a record thats unsurprising to advocates and public health officials who said this signals a need for more harm reduction strategies. In 2022, there were 2,000 deaths, surpassing 1,935 deaths in 2021. The large majority of deaths involved fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Advertisement Opioid overdose deaths in Cook County have steadily increased every year, according to a Tuesday news release from the medical examiners office. In 2015, they recorded 676 deaths. This trend mirrors a national pattern of overdose deaths, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. Opioid-involved overdose deaths rose from 21,089 in 2010 to 47,600 in 2017 and remained steady through 2019 until a sharp increase in 2020. Advertisement In 2022, there were more opioid-related overdose deaths in Chicago than there were homicides and traffic crash fatalities combined, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health. John Werning, executive director of the Chicago Recovery Alliance, said that local and national systems arent equipped to handle the needs of those who use drugs. We dont provide good, robust services to people who use drugs in any capacity. So they continue to be pushed to the shadows where they will not get aid in the case of an overdose, Werning said. He said its a systemic problem in Chicago that continues to harm families, especially in marginalized communities where theres a history of segregated resources. Theres also underlying issues such as lack of housing or stigma around drug use that affects whether people get help. [ Women with opioid use disorder face stigma in getting help, seeking treatment ] The Chicago Recovery Alliance wants to increase the use of harm reduction strategies, public health practices that aim to reduce certain health and safety issues associated with drug use. Its not just about promoting treatment but also about giving people agency and autonomy, Werning said. One of their goals is to establish overdose prevention sites, where people can take pre-obtained drugs under the supervision of professionals or access resources, including treatment programs or social services. The alliance is also working with state and local health departments on initiatives such as Narcan distribution, a lifesaving drug that reverses an opioid overdose. [ New test strip detects opioids laced with veterinary sedative xylazine: They give us the ability to curb that exposure ] Despite the increase this year, some at the CDPH are cautiously optimistic that the numbers are stabilizing due to the efforts of city and community programs. But as with illegal drug markets, they can be hard to predict. Advertisement What tends to come next is more potent, more dangerous substances, right? And so when that continues to be the reality that we operate in, its hard to grapple with sort of how we think about predicting the future, said Sarah Richardson , grants research specialist with CDPHs Office of Substance Use. Last year, the CDPH started a program to distribute free Narcan kits at all 81 city library branches. According to Richardson, about 9,000 kits have been distributed a high number that indicates theres demand for harm reduction strategies. A box of Narcan nasal spray atop a cabinet as Karen Bigg, a harm reductionist for the Chicago Recovery Alliance, gathers items for drug users at Humboldt Park on July 25, 2023, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Earlier this month, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot appeared on NBCs Meet the Press to discuss the citys strategies in addressing the opioid crisis, mentioning the program distributing Narcan to libraries. I think the good news coming out of Chicago is that were really focused on harm reduction and treatment, Lightfoot said on the program. At the local level, what we have to focus on is how do we help these folks? We get them to turn their lives around. But despite scientific evidence on the benefits of such strategies, advocates and experts said theres always pushback from the general public and politicians who dont completely understand these practices, especially in Chicago. Afternoon Briefing Weekdays Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > For people who are not in this space, who kind of have been socialized in our world to understand people who use drugs as bad and drug use as bad, you know, you see a program handing out syringes or Narcan and the first sort of reaction is, Well, youre encouraging use, and thats absolutely false, Richardson said. Advertisement The goal is to meet people where they are, she said. CDPH has various programs such as the Opioid Response Team that focuses on areas of the city with the most overdose deaths and tries to connect people with health services. And last year, a 24/7 opioid treatment hotline launched to provide immediate access to medication-assisted recovery. A sign about helping drug users regardless of their addiction is posted on a wall in a mobile outreach van as Karen Bigg, a harm reductionist for the Chicago Recovery Alliance, prepares a backpack of items for a user at Humboldt Park on July 25, 2023, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) With all of these programs, Richardson said the focus is on personal interaction. Personal connection more than anything, sometimes is really what helps people understand things in a different way, Richardson said. Advocates and public health experts said theyll continue to push for harm reduction strategies and educate the public about these issues. People dont stop using drugs all at once, Werner said. Its a process and it takes time and we want to keep people safe and alive. vla@chicagotribune.com Sanjay Singh was suspended from the Rajya Sabha earlier this week for the remainder of the session for repeatedly violating the directions of the chair. AAP has attended meetings of opposition parties to forge a common front against the BJP and is part of the 26-party opposition alliance. Twenty-six opposition parties at their meeting in Bengaluru earlier this month had named their alliance as I.N.D.I.A (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance). Parties of I.N.D.I.A have moved a no-confidence motion against the BJP-led government in the Lok Sabha. Singh has protested against his suspension in Parliament premises and has received support from other parties of I.N.D.I.A. block (ANI) The Mumbai ATS has recovered Rs 5,71,000 in cash from the spot as well as 148 SIM cards. After receiving information, ATS officials raided the rented house in Dongri in which the telephone exchange was being operated. The exchange was being run by Riyaz Mohammad (32), in a small rented house. Riyaz also known as PK is a resident of Kerala. He was running the call center using a SIM box made in China through one of his Bangladeshi associates. The police informed that the call center also had the facility of making calls to foreign countries. It was being run in violation of the Indian Telegraph Act by routing Indian mobiles illegally. The ATS is investigating the case along with such other illegal call centers across Maharashtra. Earlier in April, the ATS and Thane Police busted a gang running a fake telephone exchange in the Bhiwandi area of Maharashtra's Thane. According to officials, on receiving information about a fake telephone exchange on the fifth floor of a building in Gauri Pada in the Bhiwandi area of Thane district, the ATS reached the site late evening to raid it. (ANI) The Odisha government delegation which is in the Silicon Valley in USA engaged in a series of discussions with high-ranking officials of multiple leading business organizations, the Odisha Chief Minister's Office said in a press release. In the first focused meeting of the day, the delegation visited the manufacturing site of Sanmina Corporation, and met its Co-founder and Chairman-cum CEO Jure Sola, Senior Vice President Sundar M Kamath, Senior Vice President Michael Sparacino and Vice President Bill Pappani. Sanmina Corporation is one of the largest global independent manufacturers of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) and a leading electronics services provider that serves Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). The delegation gave a detailed presentation on Odishas industrial ecosystem to the Sanmina team and briefed it on the various incentives available under Odishas different policies. Sanmina team was impressed by the support and the generous package of incentives the Odisha government provides to its companies, the press release stated. The company also gave a presentation to the Odisha government delegation, providing details of its products and solutions as well as expansion plans. It further added that it is looking favourably at India for expansion and diversification of its global supply base. The press release said that the company has expressed its intent to submit a detailed proposal to Government of Odisha at the earliest. The delegation assured all possible support in facilitating the investment journey and highlighted the customized and curated package of incentives which are available based on investment size, the release said. Later, the delegation visited the premises of Palo Alto Networks where it met Anand Oswal, SVP and GM, and his team. Palo Alto Networks is a leading cyber security firm with global presence, including India. The delegation briefed him on Odishas policies and the cyber security initiatives the Government has taken. The release further said that the delegation and the Palo Alto team discussed on collaboration opportunities in a range of areas which include providing solutions for a cyber-security focused Centre of Excellence, assistance in developing Odishas Cyber Security Policy, and supporting Odisha Cyber Security Operations Centre through automation.To augment nature conservation efforts in Odisha and adopt best global practices, the delegation met with Mr. George Jacob, President and CEO of Bay Ecotarium. Bay Ecotarium is the largest watershed conservation organization in San Francisco and is a combination of institutions, united under one mission to protect and conserve the Bay Area ecosystems. A range of collaboration opportunities were discussed. BayEcotarium also submitted a Letter of Intent to provide help in establishing a Living Oceanarium and a Sustainable Design Museum in the state, the press release said. The Oceanarium would be unlike any other conceived both in terms of scale and scope of its physical and virtual footprint. The Sustainable Design Museum will enable Odisha to become a hub for design festivals. In a meeting at Stanford University, the delegation interacted with the distinguished professor and founder of Rambus, Mark Horowitz. He founded Rambus which designs, develops, and licenses chip interface technologies and architectures and played an instrumental role in the companys transformation into a global player. The delegation briefed him on Odishas O-Chip program under which infrastructure, design, and training support will be provided to companies and start-ups, the press statement said. Horowitzs advisory support, given his vast experience, will greatly aid the development of a semiconductor ecosystem in the state and in the flourishing of Intellectual Property (IP) ventures. These initiatives will soon transform Odisha into a thriving hub for semiconductor innovation that attracts investments, generates high-value job opportunities, and nurtures the brightest minds. (ANI) The provincial Sindh government in Pakistan informed the assembly, that the shortage of water would continue to persist until the completion of the K-IV, or Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme, Dawn reported on Monday. During the assembly session, the Opposition raised concerns over the water scarcity in Karachi. Six call attention notices of the opposition members drawing the attention of the provincial government towards the persistent water shortage that hit every inhabited part of Karachi, while the seventh pertained to the water woes of residents of Hyderabad. Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan's parliamentary party leader Rana Ansar raised the water shortage issue in Hyderabad. While her party lawmakers Ali Khurshidi, Basit Ahmed Siddiqui, Sadaqat Hussain and Syed Hashim Raza through their call attention notices asked the local government department to resolve water shortage issues in parts of the city including Surjani Town, Orangi Town, Landhi and Korangi. The parliamentary secretary for the local government department, Saleem Baloch, said that currently, Karachi needed 1,200 million gallons of water per day (MGD), while it was getting only 600 MGD from two of its sources, Dawn reported. Almost 100MGD water is wasted due to leakages, he said, adding that the residents were actually supplied only 500MGD. He said that the completion of the K-IV project would bring an end to water problems in the metropolis Drawing attention to the water shortage in his constituency, MQM-Ps Sadaqat Hussain said that the people of Orangi Town had been deprived of water for 90 days. He demanded that strict action must be action against officials concerned over their failure, Dawn reported. He said that the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) was actively involved in granting illegal water connections in the vicinity, adding that five illegal connections were given in the last week alone, Dawn reported. In her call attention notice, Rana Ansar said that water shortage had become a chronic issue in Hyderabad. She said that the meagre quantity of water being supplied in the city was contaminated and unfit for human use. Ansar further said that though there was a water shortage in every city, Hyderabad was the worst-affected city due to a short supply of water. She said that the city needed 120 MGD, but it was being given only 60 MGD. Responding to the notice, parliamentary secretary Baloch conceded that there was an acute water shortage in Hyderabad mainly due to electricity load shedding and excessive use of water during summers, Dawn reported. The pumps are closed due to power suspension affecting the regular water supply, he added. (ANI) Afghan refugees held a protest in front of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHRC) office in Pakistan's federal capital Islamabad, claiming that no practical action has been taken to address their problems, ToloNews reported. Afghan refugees also sent a letter to the UN and called for their problems to be addressed. The main problem of the Afghans is unemployment. The Afghans who are coming from Afghanistan to Pakistan are without work, said Hedayatullah Ahadi, a Afghan refugee in Pakistan. Expressing concern over his uncertain future, Faizullah Turk, another Afghan refugee in Pakistan, said that they have been waiting for their cases to proceed for the past two to three years. The Taliban called for the Afghan refugees to return to the country. The Afghan refugees should return to their country and the Afghans who have recently gone and lack documents, they should return to their country, said Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Islamic Emirate. Based on official statistics, more than 1.6 million Afghans have migrated to neighbouring countries within the past nearly two years. Pakistan is one of the primary destinations where Afghan refugees have travelled to after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021. After the Taliban's return to power, new waves of Afghan refugees shifted to Iran and Pakistan due to various reasons, including fearing death threats and persecution by the Taliban. In spite of the refugees having the United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) certificate, Pakistani police and other relevant agencies continue detaining and incarcerating Afghan refugees in various parts of the country, including Islamabad, Khaama Press reported. Earlier in the month, 26 Afghan detainees were released from Pakistan's jail in Quetta and returned to Afghanistan. The Department of Refugees and Repatriation of Afghanistan said that these Afghan nationals were detained after failing to provide legal residence permits. The detainees were returned to the country through the Spin Boldak crossing point after being released, reported Khaama Press. (ANI) Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu arrived in North Korea on Tuesday, TASS News Agency reported citing Moscow's defence ministry. Minister Shoigu with his Russian military delegation is on a three-day visit to North Korea. "The Russian delegation was ushered in with an official welcoming ceremony at the Sunan international airport (Pyongyang)," it said. "The Russian defence minister was welcomed by North Korean Defense Minister Kang Sun-nam." The Russian delegation will take part in festivities dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. "This visit will help strengthen Russian-North Korean ties and will be a milestone in the development of cooperation between the two countries," the ministry added. Earlier, North Korean state media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported that the minister will pay a congratulatory visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korean people's victory. Chinese Communist Party official Li Hongzhong, who is part of the partys central policymaking committee and holds a leadership position in the top body of its rubber-stamp Parliament, will also lead a delegation to Pyongyang this week, according to KCNA. Both Russia and China are Pyongyangs longtime allies. Back in 1950,China helped North Korea by sending a quarter million troops into the Korean Peninsula. More than 180,000 Chinese troops died in the Korean War, or what Beijing calls the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, as per CNN. The Soviet Union also supported North Korea during the war and over the decades Moscow has been a staunch ally for North Korea, especially as the two share a joint animosity towards the West. The China and Russian delegations' visit came at the time amid simmeringtensions between North Korea and South Korea and its US ally. US and South Korea have condemned Pyongyang's missile test several times, and on several occasions, Washington and Seoul have deployed military assets like nuclear-capable submarines and bombers. The tensions increased as last week US soldier Pvt Travis King illegally entered the North Korea after crossing its border with the South Korea, where he was assigned to US Forces Korea and had been on the Joint Security Area (JSA) tour as a civilian. King was facing disciplinary action and was meant to go back to the US. He is believed to be the first US soldier to cross into North Korea since 1982. On July 17, the United Nations Command (UNC) deputy commander, Gen Andrew Harrison, said a conversation has commenced with North Korea over King. But Pyongyang does not seem to be responding to Washington directly, reported CNN. (ANI) The United States is sending USD 400 million in additional military aid to Ukraine, including a variety of munitions for advanced air defence systems, artillery rounds and armoured vehicles, the State Department announced Tuesday (local time). In a statement, Antony Blinken, Secretary of State said, "Pursuant to a delegation of authority from President Biden, I am authorizing our 43rd drawdown for Ukraine. This assistance package includes air defence munitions, artillery rounds, armoured vehicles, and anti-armor capabilities, as well as other equipment essential to strengthening Ukraines brave forces on the battlefield, helping them retake Ukraines sovereign territory, and defend their fellow citizens." "This package contains critical military assistance totalling USD 400 million worth of arms and equipment from Department of Defense stocks," he added. He also stated that following the withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia continues to attack Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure including in Odessa. Blinken further added that Russia could have ended this war at any time by "withdrawing its forces from Ukraine" and stopping its brutal attacks against Ukraines cities and people. Until it does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for as long as it takes," he added. Earlier in June, the US Department of Defence announced an additional security assistance package, valued at up to USD 500 million, for Ukraine to meet its "critical security and defence needs." The security package includes crucial capabilities to aid Ukraine's counteroffensive operations in its ongoing conflict with Russia and to strengthen its air defences. "Today, the Department of Defence (DoD) announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defence needs," the US Department of Defence said in an official release. "This authorization is the Biden Administration's forty-first drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. This package, valued at up to $500 million, includes key capabilities to support Ukraine's counter-offensive operations, strengthen its air defences to help Ukraine protect its people, as well as additional armoured vehicles, anti-armour systems, critical munitions, and other equipment to help Ukraine push back on Russia's war of aggression," the release said. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the US has condemned all acts by Moscow and has shown firm support to Ukraine, and its people. (ANI) In a stern message to China on the sidelines of the 13th BRICS National Security Advisor's (NSA) meeting in Johannesburg on Tuesday, NSA Ajit Doval said the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has eroded the strategic trust between the two nations. In a meeting with Chinas top diplomat Wang Yi, Doval stressed the significance of continuing efforts to thoroughly address the issue and re-establish peace in the border regions. "During the meeting, NSA conveyed that the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China boundary since 2020 had eroded strategic trust and the public and political basis of the relationship," the Ministry of External Affairs stated in an official release. "NSA emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to fully resolve the situation and restore peace and tranquility in the border areas, so as to remove impediments to normalcy in bilateral relations. The two sides agreed that the India-China bilateral relationship is significant not only for the two countries but also for the region and world," the release added. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met the Member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Political Bureau and Director of the Office of the CPC Foreign Affairs Commission, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the BRICS NSAs Meeting in Johannesburg on Tuesday. India and China have time and again faced border disputes dating back to 1962. The most recent clash was in June 2020, when Indian and Chinese troops engaged in a scuffle in the Galwan valley. Earlier, on July 24, Doval participated in the 'Friends of BRICS' meeting in Johannesburg. According to sources, he said the gravity of cyber risks will increase exponentially with the advent of disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Internet of Things. Doval also held a working meeting with the Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev and discussed the cooperation between the two countries in the field of security and economy, the Russian embassy in India said in a statement. He added that terrorism remains one of the key threats to national peace and security. Asserting that terror organisations in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region continue to operate with impunity, he added that listing terrorists and their proxies under the United Nations counter-terrorism sanctions regime is an area on which BRICS can work together. Doval said it was important that the decision-making of the UN Security Council sanctions committee is free from politicisation and double standards, adding that the meeting is being held at a time of great churn in the international security environment. The NSA said further the global security situation is marked by uncertainty and rising tensions. The global economy is still covering the aftereffects of the Covid-19 pandemic. He also appreciated the cooperation extended by South Africa for India's G20 Presidency, assuring Indias continued support for South Africas BRICS chairship this year. (ANI) Union Minister of State (MoS) V Muraleedharan on Tuesday received the High Commissioner of Gambia, Mustapha Jawara at his office in Delhi and discussed cooperation in trade, health, and education. The MoS informed about the meeting with the Gambian envoy throught Twitter and wrote, " Glad to receive High Commissioner of The Gambia H.E. Mustapha Jawara at my office." "Discussed possibilities for furthering the cooperation in trade, health, education and capacity building," the MoS added. Earlier in June this year, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar hosted the leaders of Zimbabwe, The Gambia and Congo in the national capital as India aims to strengthen the economic partnership with Africa and foster collaboration between businesses from both regions. At that time, Dhankhar also held discussions withVice President of theRepublic of The GambiaBS Jallow about India's ties and partnerships with the country. The leaders were in India to attend the 18th CII-EXIM Bank India Conclave on India-Africa Growth Partnership in Delhi from June 14-16. In the meeting with his Gambia counterpart, Dhankhar discussed the strengthening of ties between the two countries. "H.E. Mr. Muhammad B.S. Jallow, Vice President ofRepublic of The Gambiamet Hon'ble Vice-President of India, ShriJagdeep Dhankhar in New Delhi today. Both leaders discussed the further deepening of ties between the two nations, with special emphasis on trade and economic partnership," Dhankhar tweeted at that time. Earlier at the inaugural session "India-Africa: Synergies for ONE Growth" of CII-EXIM Bank India Conclave, Jaishankar said, "India's development partnership with Africa will have a strong focus on digital, green, healthcare, food security and water, in tune with the pressing priorities of Africa." In the last sixteen editions, the Conclave has played a pivotal role in encouraging Indian companies to establish and grow their footprints in Africa. Africa occupies an important place in India's Foreign Policy and during the last nine years, this has been consciously stepped up under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said earlier. "Our ties are not transactional but represent the solidarity of a shared struggle. Africa, therefore, occupies an important place in India's foreign policy. During the last 9 years, this has been consciously stepped up under the direction of PM Modi," EAM said while addressing the 18th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on the India-Africa growth partnership in Delhi in June. (ANI) Pedestrians use a crosswalk in the 5100 block of North Broadway in Chicago on July 26, 2023. A vehicle recently struck and killed a woman in the crosswalk. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Police are searching for the driver of a fatal hit-and-run in Uptown that killed a 69-year-old woman. The woman, identified as Sofya Athamanah by the Cook County medical examiners office, was in the crosswalk around 10:30 p.m. near 5100 North Broadway when a black sedan struck and killed her, police said. Advertisement The Chicago Fire Department transported her to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. Police said there was no one in custody and the Major Accident unit is investigating. Advertisement vla@chicagotribune.com Buddhist modernism has been described as a path to enlightenment and calm, exposing a person to new aspects of Buddhism, according to Bhutan Live. Sofia Reyes, a recent University of Southern California (USC) graduate, found herself on an unexpected voyage of self-discovery after enrolling in the class "Religion 342: Buddhist Modernism." With no idea how much it would change the way she thought about religion and faith, Buddhist Modernism positively changed Sofias perception of non-monotheistic beliefs. While always respectful of other peoples faiths, she had never been genuinely curious or interested in adopting them, Bhutan Live reported. But now Sofia was willing to adopt some Buddhist beliefs and methods, especially those associated with socially engaged Buddhism (SEB). She recognised the value of empathy, selflessness, and compassion for others via service, and she discovered a connection between SEB and her Christian ideals. Sofia found the concept of using religion to address sociological, cultural, and political challenges to be intriguing. Sofia thought back on her encounter with Buddhist Modernism and characterised it as educating, enlivening, and relaxing. She learned new facets of Buddhism in the course, gained knowledge from her classmates and professor, and learned how to meditate as a way to find peace. According to Bhutan Live, Sofia had plans to keep up the behaviours emphasised in the training in the future, as she had experienced a significant effect from meditation, and she wanted to incorporate it more into her daily life to feel more at ease and present. She also found it appealing to teach meditation to young children. Though initially overwhelming due to the vast array of new terms and concepts, Sofia recognized that her journey into Buddhism had been rewarding. Sofia's scepticism about different religions and ways of life grew less over the course. She came to see that preconceived notions often hide the true meaning of religious beliefs, a problem she observed in Buddhism as well as Christianity and Catholicism, as recounted by her Buddhist classmates in class. (ANI) Quoting Yeni Safak, a Turkish daily, the Afghan news agency reported thatthe studio designs were built expressly to meet distance education criteria, taking into account the nation's limited access to higher education and the large portion of the population lacking literacy. The project concentrates on rural Afghanistan and uses Mirac TV programmes to promote people's access to education, which has been hindered since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan. The project's inauguration was attended by Ali Akber Zerrin, the director of the Afghan Education Institute, Arafat Deniz, the TiKA Herat coordinator, Habibullah Ferahi, and Veli Ah Behre, the manager of the Abdulvahid Behre Cultural Centre, according to Khaama Press. Deniz, the coordinator of TIKA in Afghanistan's Herat, emphasised during the event that education remains a top priority in the nation and that TIKA's commitment to supporting circumstances for remote learning tackles the sector's present difficulties. Girls and women have been prohibited from enrolling in secondary education in Afghanistan since August 2021. In the meantime, since last December, de facto authorities have prohibited women from enrolling in universities. The girls have been denied access to their basic human rights amid a terrible humanitarian crisis for almost two years, despite the Taliban government's assurances that it will only be temporary. (ANI) Dubai [UAE], July 26 (ANI/WAM): Hub71, Abu Dhabis global tech ecosystem, and Wio Bank, the regions first platform bank, have launched a strategic partnership to transform the banking experience for startup founders in the capital. Designed to enhance bank account processes for SMEs, Wio becomes the official banking partner of Hub71, enabling startup founders to benefit from expert mentorship and commercialisation opportunities that foster innovative new products and services in Abu Dhabi. By streamlining the banking process, Hub71 and Wio are making it easier for startups in Abu Dhabi to access funding and essential banking products that support the growth and development of early-stage innovative tech businesses. Wio Bank was set up with the core mission of contributing to the future readiness of the SME segment in the UAE. As an official banking partner, Wio will streamline the bank account opening process when startups join Hub71. The digital bank will also participate in Hub71 events and initiatives that align with its growth strategy. Ahmad Ali Alwan, Deputy CEO of Hub71, said, By collaborating with an Abu Dhabi-based digital platform that is leading the future of business banking, we are opening the door to robust banking and commercial opportunities for our startup community. This partnership is a prime example of a powerful combination within Abu Dhabis tech ecosystem that fosters startup growth in the UAEs capital. Jamal Al Awadhi, Chief Operating and Experience Officer of Wio, said that Wio aims to empower startups in the region by providing simplified access to funding and essential banking products, facilitating their growth and success on their entrepreneurial journey. The collaboration with Hub71 is geared towards delivering meaningful banking solutions that make a difference, enabling startup owners to thrive and achieve new milestones. Hub71 startups will also have access to Wios network of subject matter experts to receive mentorship and strategic advice to support business growth and development. With access to expert guidance and insights, founders can better navigate unique challenges, make more informed decisions, and unlock new opportunities for the economic growth of Abu Dhabi. (ANI/WAM) Hours, after security forces took the Niger President Mohamed Bazoum hostage in his presidential palace, the Nigers presidency, said in a statement on Wednesday that some members of the presidential guard had started an anti-republican movement in vain and that the army and national guard were ready to attack those involved in the mood swing if the movement did not end, reported Al Jazeera. It also said that President Bazoum and his family were well after security sources said presidential guards were holding Bazoum inside the presidential palace in Niamey, the capital. According to the presidency and security officials, ministries close to the palace have also been blocked off, making it impossible for palace employees to enter their workplaces. However, there was calm in other areas of Niamey, the capital. The staff within the palace, according to a presidential official, did not have access to their offices. Bazoum and his family were safe, the Niger president said in a statement on Wednesday, though it was not immediately apparent if he was inside or what was going on. The presidency said that some elements of the presidential guard had started an anti-republican movement in vain and that the army and national guard were ready to attack them if the attempted mutiny did not end, according to Al Jazeera. The 2021 election that saw Bazoum elected president marked the first democratic transfer of power in a country that has experienced four military takeovers since gaining independence from France in 1960. Since 2020, there have been four military coups in Burkina Faso and Mali, two nearby countries. That insurgent insurrection, which plagued the Sahel region, which includes Niger, and was often nicknamed as the "coup belt," contributed to the grievances that led to those coups, as per Al Jazeera. A military force attempted to take the presidential palace in Niger in March 2021, just days before newly elected President Bazoum was scheduled to be sworn in. The events on Wednesday are taking place less than a month after Bola Tinubu, the president of Nigeria and the new chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), urged immediate action against coups and insecurity that had "alarming proportions. The southern coastal republics and Burkina Faso are among the neighbouring nations where the crisis, which began in Mali in 2012, has expanded. Niger is a crucial ally for Western powers looking to back local soldiers combating the conflict. After relations with the military administration there deteriorated last year, France moved troops from Mali to the nation, continuing a pattern in former French colonies in the area, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI) The Defence policy talks were co-chaired by the Special Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Nivedita Shukla Verma, and the Acting Deputy Secretary in Australian Defence Ministry, Steven Moore. During the talks, bothsides reviewed the bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries and explored new initiatives to further strengthen and deepen bilateral defence engagements. The discussions also focused on identifying ways to strengthen partnerships in the co-development and co-production of defence equipment. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership based on mutual trust and understanding, common interests and shared values of democracy and the rule of law. The Indian side highlighted the potential of the Indian defence industry with the capacity and capability to cooperate with the Australian Armed Forces in its shipbuilding and maintenance plans. India Australia share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since June 2020 and defence is a key pillar of this partnership. India and Australias partnership is based on a shared vision of a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. The two democracies have a common interest in peace and prosperity of the entire region. The two countries have a 2+2 mechanism at the Ministerial level. The 8th DPT reviewed the outcomes of the maiden 2+2 conducted in September 2021. Both sides agreed to early finalization of the hydrography agreement. The two sides also exchanged views on the geo-political situation, regional and global issues of shared interest. (ANI) Kumar is soon expected to take up the assignment, according to a MEA official release. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar recently said there is a very "deeply emotional" connection between India, South Africa. He saidIndia's andSouth Africa's respective struggles were "deeply intertwined". Jaishankar made these remarks while interacting with the Indian diaspora in Cape Town while on his visit to the city to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Jaishankar's address before the Indian diaspora focused on three subjects, "Thirty years of India-South Africa ties", "15 years of BRICS" and "9 years of Modi Sarkar." Speaking on the decades-oldIndia-South Africaties, which will be formally marking years this November, theExternal Affairs Ministersaid he thinks that the connections are not just between two countries who have similar views. "There is something very deeply emotional about our connect," he said. Jaishankar added that when India achieved its independence, there was a very strong sentiment that its independence would be incomplete until South Africa became a free country. (ANI) Tel Aviv [Israel], July 26 (ANI/TPS): Israelis dont think of Vietnam as a key business partner, but that could change with Tuesdays signing of a free trade agreement between the two countries. Thats because Vietnam is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a political and economic union made up of 10 countries, including several that do not have diplomatic ties with Israel. ASEAN is kind of like the European Union. And Vietnam is now one of the strongest members of this organization. Its kind of a hub, Einat Halevy Levin, president of the Israel-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce, told the Tazpit Press Service. This is Israels first free trade deal with an ASEAN member. If you work in Vietnam and have a headquarters in Vietnam, its very easy to approach other countries. Its a good access point for the other ASEAN countries. Israel has no diplomatic relations with countries like Malaysia or Indonesia. You can take your product to Vietnam, process it and sell it as a Vietnamese product to other countries that cant buy it as an Israeli product. Thats very good access to this market, she told TPS. By lowering customs taxes on Israeli products, Israel can better compete against similar products from other countries which Vietnam already has free trade with. Israel was left behind in many aspects of technology it wants to sell. We have better conditions to compete, Halevy Levin said. It was hard for Israeli technology to compete price-wise because of the customs that Vietnam put on Israeli products. Now the tax is reduced. The agreement is expected to lead to mutual tariff reductions on imported and exported products, alongside the improvement and facilitation of trade in a variety of other areas such as services, investments and standardization. The agreement will also provide a competitive advantage and facilitate the activity of Israeli exporters in the developing and growing Vietnamese market, thereby strengthening Israeli exports and increasing growth in the economy. Halevy Levin told TPS that the origins of the agreement lay in Vietnamese interest in Israeli technology. It started with Naftali Bennett, who served as Minister of Economy from 2013-2015, Halevy Levin said. He was at a conference in Indonesia. The Vietnamese were eager for Israeli technology. Bennett understood there was a barrier because of the customs and tax issues and then he started the process. The biggest pitfall, she said, is Israeli businessmen rushing to Hanoi without taking the time to understand Vietnams business culture. There are different terms, a different pace. Israelis are very straightforward and nothing is ever official, while Vietnamese are very official and their hierarchy is different, Halevy Levin stressed. Negotiations took eight years, but Vietnam wants to increase its exports to Israel. They want to strengthen trade relations. And they want less expensive access to Israeli technology. According to the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry, the main goods traded between the countries are chemicals, chemical industry products, electronic equipment, optical and medical equipment, electrical and mechanical machinery and equipment, fresh agricultural produce and food products. Israel imports from Vietnam many consumer products such as clothing, footwear, coffee, cell phones and more. The agreement requires final ratification from the Israeli Knesset and Vietnams National Assembly before it can take effect. A free trade agreement between Israel and South Korea went into effect in December 2022. (ANI/TPS) Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday met Virginijus Sinkevicius, European Commissioner for Environment, Ocean and Fisheries, here in the national capital, where the leaders held discussions on issues like marine pollution, blue economy and deep ocean exploration and deepening cooperation between India and EU in this field. India also extended its support for the EU proposal to identify an area in the Arctic-Antarctica Sea for prohibition. Speaking to ANI after the meeting, Kiren Rijiju said, "We had a very fruitful meeting with the delegation of the European Commission. We discussed many critical issues of marine pollution, the blue economy. We discussed our proposals for activities in many areas like deep ocean exploration. We also discussed certain issues which are critical not only for India and the EU but for the global community". "We also feel that India and the EU should come closer to work together on this front. And the European Union had come out with a proposal to identify an area in the Arctic-Antarctica Sea for prohibition. So India has extended its support," he added. Earlier in the day,Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also met President of Metas Global Affairs Nick Clegg, and discussed collaboration for the safety of users on WhatsApp and open source Llama model. Good discussion with Mr @nickclegg, President, Global Affairs, Meta, on collaboration for the safety of users on WhatsApp and open source Llama model, Vaishnaw tweeted on Wednesday. United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, who is on a five-day India tour visited the Parliament on Wednesday. Kerry, who is leading a US delegation during his visit, today met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her office inside the Parliament building. (ANI) Hun Sen, who happens to be one of the world's longest-serving leaders made the announcement in a speech on Wednesday. Hun Manet will become the prime minister in the coming weeks, he said, adding the new premier will be appointed on August 10. Hun Sen, who has ruled the Southeast Asian country for nearly 40 years, was speaking just days after his ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) swept a general election after running virtually unopposed, CNN reported. I will continue as the head of the ruling party and member of the National Assembly, CNN quoted Hun Sen as saying. The newly elected parliament would convene on August 21 and a new cabinet would be sworn in on August 22, Hun Sen said. Earlier on July 23, Hun Sens Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) claimed a landslide victory in national elections, Al Jazeera reported. However, critics described Cambodia's elections as the least free and fair vote in decades, the report added. Opponents and human rights groups have criticised the polls due to the lack of credible competition and Hun Sens strongman tactics that have now silenced all opposition to his rule in Cambodia, according to Al Jazeera report. Opposition supporters were arrested in the run-up to Sunday's vote for allegedly encouraging people to spoil the ballot papers in protest of the one-sided election race. Internet service providers were also directed to block access to the websites of several independent news and information outlets. (ANI) Surveillance images allegedly captured Illinois Army National Guard 1st Sgt. Joseph Beirbrodt, left, age 54, of Sheridan, breaking into the U.S. Capitol through a Senate fire door on Jan. 6, 2021, and assaulting police officers trying to keep the mob from overrunning the building. Also charged was his brother, William "Marty" Bierbrodt., of St. Cloud, Florida. (U.S. District Court records) A retired Illinois Army National Guard sergeant was arrested Wednesday on charges he and his brother broke into the U.S. Capitol through a Senate fire door on Jan. 6 and assaulted police officers trying to keep the mob from overrunning the building. Joseph Bierbrodt, 54, of Sheridan, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., with eight counts, including disorderly conduct in a restricted building, assault of a federal officer, and obstruction of law enforcement, court records show. Advertisement Bierbrodt appeared at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Wednesday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Young Kim, who ordered him released on a $10,000 recognizance bond, records show. His court-appointed attorney could not immediately be reached for comment. Bierbrodt retired from the Illinois Army National Guard in 2018, according to a spokesman. Advertisement Also charged in the same complaint was Bierbrodts brother, William Marty Bierbrodt, 55, of St. Cloud, Florida, records show. Court information for him was not immediately available. Joseph Bierbrodt is at least the 39th Illinoisan to be charged in the Capitol breach, an ongoing investigation that has been described by prosecutors as the largest criminal investigation in the countrys history. According to the complaint, surveillance images captured Bierbrodt and his brother, who had a distinctive long beard and was using a cane and scooter to move around because of a foot injury, as they approached a fire door on the Senate wing of the Capitol. William Bierbrodt used his cane to smash through the window and reached through the broken glass to unlatch the door, the complaint stated. Joseph Bierbrodt, dressed in a red hat, American flag face covering and dark sunglasses, was seen rushing through the door despite the presence of police in full riot gear on the other side trying to keep it from opening, the complaint alleged. Once inside, Joseph Bierbrodt assaulted one of the officers and slammed him into a wall, according to the complaint. As they moved deeper into the hallway, the brothers were met by another line of riot police and pepper sprayed, causing them to retreat, according to the complaint. Joseph Bierbrodt was photographed removing his face covering and trying to wash the spray from his eyes, according to the complaint. He then retreated back down the steps to where his brother had left his scooter and was again seen on surveillance images trying to wash his face, which was stained with blood from an apparent injury suffered in the melee. The FBI first got a match for Joseph Bierbrodt using facial recognition technology last year, according to the complaint. His identity was then further corroborated by one of Bierbrodts fellow guardsman, who identified him for law enforcement from images captured at the Capitol, the complaint stated. Advertisement Bierbrodt was featured in a February 2018 story in the Tribune about escorting a kindergartner to her first father-daughter dance after her dad had died in a military training accident months earlier. Bierbrodt, who has four children, was quoted in the article saying he was touched by the request to help the little girl. I consider it a huge honor to be able to do this, Bierbrodt said. We never forget the ones who have left, or leave their families unattended. That May, he was given the Major Gen. John A. Logan Patriot Award at Chicagos Memorial Day ceremony. A Facebook post still public on the Illinois National Guards profile shows him standing with then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel as the award was announced. Afternoon Briefing Weekdays Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > His brother, William, was also identified last year. Social media posts later uncovered by law enforcement showed William had advocated violence against members of a different political ideology just weeks before the Capitol assault, including one post on Parler stating all the Obama cronies should be taken tied to a stack and shot in the head. Time for revolution French style, the post stated, according to the complaint. Advertisement More than 1,000 people have been charged as part of the investigation into the U.S. Capitol attack, including arrests in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Of the 39 Illinoisans charged so far, Bierbrodt is one of only a handful to be accused of engaging in violence. Among them was James Robert Elliott, of Aurora, a former member of the Proud Boys militia group who assaulted police outside the Capitol with a flagpole. He was sentenced in June to more than three years in prison. Earlier this month, Kevin Lyons, 40, an HVAC technician from Chicagos Gladstone Park neighborhood, was given more than four years behind bars for entering U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis private office during the riot and stealing a staffers wallet as well as a cherished photo of the speaker with the late civil rights icon John Lewis. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com The case was heard by Justice Muhammad Bashir while the PTI chief appeared before the accountability court along with his lawyers. The court adjourned the hearing and fixed July 31 for final arguments in the case. Notably, The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had launched an investigation against Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi and others for the alleged gain of hundreds of canals of land in the name of Al Qadir University Trust, which reportedly caused a loss of 190 million pounds to the national exchequer, ARY News reported. As per the allegations, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Chairman and other accused allegedly adjusted 50 billion PKR 190 million pounds at the time sent by Britains National Crime Agency (NCA) to the government. The PTI chief registered Trust for Al-Qadir University Project on Dec 26, 2019, ARY News reported. Meanwhile, in a separate case, the Pakistan Supreme Court rejected the plea of the former Prime Minister seeking to stay a trial of the court's proceedings in the Toshakhana case, Dawn reported on Wednesday, Dawn reported. Earlier on October 21 last year, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had disqualified the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman in the Toshakhana reference under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution for making false statements and incorrect declaration. In May this year, Islamabad Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Hamayun Dilawar rejected Khans challenge to the maintainability of the Toshakhana reference and indicted him in the case. (ANI) Unidentified flying object (UFO) whistleblower claimed before Congress that the US government is secretly holding alien spacecraft. Former US Air Force intelligence officer Retired Major David Grusch on Wednesday asked the Congress to hold the government accountable. Earlier, Grusch, who led the analysis of unexplained anomalous phenomena (UAP), the militarys preferred term for UFOs, within a US Department of Defence agency, has alleged that the US has the spacecraft of non-human origin, ABC, a US-based news portal, reported. "I am asking Congress to hold our government to this standard and thoroughly investigate these claims," Grusch said in the hearing held by the House Oversight Committee's national security subcommittee. He further added, "But as I stand here under oath now I am speaking to the facts as I have been told." Grusch said he was asked in 2019 by the head of a government task force on UAPs to identify all highly classified programs. Grusch, responding to Representative from South Carolina Nancy Mace, said that they have recovered bodies from the crashed alien spacecraft which are non-human. "As I've stated publicly already in my News Nation interview, biologics came with some of these recoveries... Non-human and that was the assessment of people with direct knowledge on the program I talked to that are currently still on the program," the former US Air Force intelligence officer said. Grusch also said he couldn't publicly state when the supposed program began and who authorized it, stating much of that information is classified. Lawmakers expressed a desire to talk with Grusch and other officials behind closed doors to learn more. When asked who the committee should call to testify in their next hearing, Grusch said he could provide a "cooperative and hostile list of individuals in the government who you should talk to." The remarks came during a bipartisan hearing held by the House Oversight Committee's national security subcommittee. The three witnesses include Grusch, David Fravor, a former commanding officer in the US Navy, and Ryan Graves, executive director of Americans for Safe Aerospace. Lawmakers stressed the need for greater clarity on UAPs. Many voiced concerns that unidentified aerial objects pose to national security. The hearing is the latest push by lawmakers, intelligence officials and military personnel working on unexplained aerial phenomena to probe the issue on a national platform. Last month, the Pentagon said that it hadn't found "any verifiable information to substantiate" the claims about crashed alien spacecraft, ABC reported. (ANI) Henry Louis Wallace killed 11 women before his March 1994 arrest in Charlotte. Here is a timeline of his killings and prosecution. March 8, 1990: Wallace murders Tashanda Bethea, an 18-year-old high school student in Barnwell, S.C., the killers hometown. Her body is found floating in a pond on April 1. Wallace is questioned but not charged. November 1991: Wallace moves to Charlotte and find jobs in fast-food restaurants. May 1992: Wallace uses a rock to kill Sharon Nance, 33, a convicted drug dealer and prostitute, after she demands to be paid for sex. Her body is found May 27. Nance had a long criminal record, but her family remembered her as a kind and generous sister and daughter who drew, wrote poetry and cared for her son. A Killer's Long Shadow 30 years ago, Henry Louis Wallace cast a murderous shadow across Charlotte, raping and strangling 10 women before his arrest. Wallace's killings broke up families, stole daughters and sisters from their loved ones and left seven children without their mothers. June 14, 1992: Wallace rapes and strangles 20-year-old Caroline Love in the apartment she shared with Wallaces then-girlfriend. Wallace helps file the missing person report with police. Loves body is recovered 21 months later after Wallaces arrest. Love worked as a prized employee at Bojangles on Central Avenue. Feb. 19, 1993: Wallace rapes and strangles Shawna Hawk, a 20-year-old Central Piedmont student found floating in the bathtub of her family home. Wallace was Hawks supervisor at Taco Bell and attended her funeral. Love was quiet, hard-working and so unpretentious that on the ride to her junior prom she took off her fake fingernails and threw them onto Independence Boulevard. Story continues June 22, 1993: Wallace rapes and strangles Audrey Spain, 24. Spain, whose parents called her Baby, came to Charlotte from a small town in South Carolina hoping to work with computers. She wound up at a Taco Bell, where she worked alongside Wallace. Aug. 10, 1993: Wallace rapes and strangles Valencia Jumper, a 21-year-old computer science major at Johnson C. Smith University from Columbia, S.C., who is friends with his sister. He sets fire to Jumpers apartment to make it appear she died in an accidental blaze. Sept. 14, 1993: Wallace rapes, strangles and stabs college student Michelle Stinson, 20, in front of one of her two young sons. She was a friend of his from Taco Bell and was studying at CPCC to become a graphic artist. Feb. 20, 1994: Wallace rapes and strangles Vanessa Mack, 25, in her west Charlotte apartment. Wallace met Mack through her sister, who worked with him at Taco Bell. He told others he fell in love with Mack at first sight and was known to have doted on Macks 4-month-old daughter, Natalia, who was left on a nearby couch during her mothers killing. March 9, 1994: Wallace rapes and strangles Betty Baucom, 24, a co-worker of Wallaces girlfriend at Bojangles. He also steals her car, on which police later find his palm print. Before her death, Baucom talked of transferring to a Bojangles in Sanford to be closer to her fiance. March 9, 1994: Wallace goes back to the same east Charlotte apartment complex where Baucom lived to rape and strangle Brandi Henderson, the girlfriend of one of Wallaces best friends. Henderson holds her 10-month-old son Tyrece during the assault. Wallace tells police he gave Tyrece a bottle and a pacifier but choked him with a towel when the toddler keeps crying. The boy recovers. March 12, 1994: Wallace rapes and stabs Debra Ann Slaughter, 35, another co-worker of his former girlfriend. Slaughter, tall and strong, had fought her attacker. Friends remembered her for her laugh and sense of humor, and a beautiful singing voice she displayed in church choirs. March 13, 1994: Wallace is arrested after police find him hiding in the bathroom of a friends apartment in east Charlotte. Wallace had talked of leaving town that day and returning to Barnwell. March 14, 1994: After an all-night interrogation followed by an early morning prayer with police, Wallace began writing down the names of his victims. Police expected three or four. Wallace listed 10. Sept. 30, 1996: Jury selection begins in Charlotte for Wallaces trial on nine murder charges (the killings of Bethea and Nance were not included). Jan. 7, 1997: A Mecklenburg County jury finds Wallace guilty of nine murders. Jan 29, 1997: Wallace receives nine death sentences. He has remained on death row in Central Prison in Raleigh for more than 26 years. A 13-year-old Pennsylvania boy has been formally charged with shooting a 12-year-old in the back of his head after the victim took exception to a comment the alleged killer made about his mother, according to police. Nolan Grove was arraigned on multiple counts, including third-degree murder Tuesday, in the killing of Kain Heiland. Those charges come nearly four months after a witness told police Grove made a comment about Heilands mom, prompting the 12-year-old to tell the teenager to shut up, according to Pennsylvania station WGAL. Authorities believe the gunman then fired a shot into the victims head in the southeast Pennsylvania town of Red Lion on April 1. The York Dispatch reported in May that prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed Grove should remain in juvenile detention while waiting to be charged as an adult. Grove has a Sept. 25 court date, where hell also answer to charges that include involuntary manslaughter. Both boys, along with a third child, had been playing together throughout the day before the killing occurred. The third boy, also a teenager, said Grove was in possession of a .380-caliber handgun that allegedly came from the shooters nearby home. Security footage from one of the childrens houses reportedly shows Grove training the firearms laser scope on Heiland. The three boys reportedly participated in a FaceTime call with a fourth child, during which the shooter was also filmed aiming the gun at the 12-year-old. The teenager on that call told authorities he heard a gunshot. According to the York Dispatch, separate witnesses told investigators Grove pointed a gun at people during a dispute involving a scooter on the day Heiland was shot and stated he wasnt afraid to use the weapon. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Overwhelmed by the number of true crime podcasts out there? There are differences between them. Some shows take a full season to explore the nuances of one case, while others cover a new crime per episode. There are podcasts seeking answers in ongoing mysteries and shows that break down how authorities handled cases. Some hosts take advantage of their experiences as investigative journalists, criminologists, or former law enforcement officials. Breezier hosts use tasteful humor as they discuss true crime. Others harness their own experiences to connect to cases and victims. We found the 15 best true crime podcasts out there so you can find the right one for you. More True Crime: Why the Menendez Brothers Killed Their Parents Where Is Anna Delvey Now? Inside Elizabeth Holmes' Downfall at Theranos Anatomy of Murder Co-hosts Scott Weinberger and Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi focus on a new case each episode of this show, which dates back to September 2020. Weinberger is an investigative journalist and former deputy sheriff, and Nicolazzi is a former New York City homicide prosecutor. Accordingly, they understand crime investigation more than most, and theyre great at interviewing victims families and members of law enforcement. New episodes arrive every Tuesday. Shop Now Spotify Audible anatomy of murder podcast Sistas Who Kill This podcasts co-hosts, best friends MaRah and Taz, are great storytellers. Every week, these two Black women discuss a different crime perpetrated by a Black woman. The show also doesnt shy away from addressing the unfair treatment Black women can receive from the justice system. The podcast launched in 2021, and new episodes come out every Friday. Shop Now Spotify Audible sistas who kill Serial Serials first season, released back in 2014, demonstrated how gripping true crime podcasts could be and paved the way for other shows. Its still worth listening to host Sarah Koenig examine the charges against Adnan Syed, who was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999. The case also had a major new development in 2022, which Koenig covered in special episodes. Story continues Shop Now Spotify Audible serial productions podcast Murder Book Season 2 of Murder Book, which came out in 2020, focuses on Sam Little, whom the FBI considers the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history. The show contains interviews with the Los Angeles Police Department detective who tied Little to many of his crimes, as well as others who helped stop this killer. Host Michael Connelly is a popular mystery writer, and his storytelling skills are on full display in this podcast. Shop Now Spotify Audible michael connelly murder book the women who stopped sam little podcast My Favorite Murder My Favorite Murder, which has been around since 2016, features a fantastic rapport between hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. The two longtime true crime fans mix banter with a discussion of a different case in each episode. This podcast has a dedicated listenershipthe most devoted call themselves murderinosand is still releasing new episodes twice a week. Shop Now Spotify Audible my favorite murder podcast Love & Justice For someone who wants the thrill of following along as a new podcast tries to unearth the truth in an unsolved murder, consider Love & Justice. The show aims to discover who killed 19-year old Ashleigh Love back in 2009. The first episode came out on October 27, 2022, and the podcast is receiving new tips in the case. Shop Now Spotify Audible love and justice who killed ashleigh love podcast CounterClock CounterClock re-examines one homicide each season. Investigative journalist Delia DAmbra is an excellent researcher who sifts through old case files, interviews, and photos to create a must-listen podcast. CounterClock has five seasons available to enjoy. Shop Now Spotify Audible counterclock podcast Bruh Issa Murder This podcast covers a range of true crime, from murders to in-depth looks at female serial killers. Hosts Andre, Battle, Kelly, and Robert are fun to listen to, and they dont shy away from social commentary. The show debuted in 2018. New episodes come out on Tuesdays. Shop Now Spotify Audible bruh issa murder podcast Your Own Backyard Host Chris Lambert was a true crime newbie when he started Your Own Backyard, but his podcast helped bring about new developments in the case of Kristin Smart, a 19-year-old Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student who went missing in 1996. Lambert grew up seeing billboards with Smarts face, so he felt a connection to the case. He also won the trust of Smarts loved ones and interviewed many for the podcast. Shop Now Spotify Audible your own backyard WTOPs American Nightmare Series WTOP, a Washington, D.C.based radio station, has released three seasons of its American Nightmare Series, and each one is a captivating exploration of a different local case. Season 1 covers a murderous home invasion, Season 2 a rape and murder, and Season 3 tracks the Potomac River Rapist. Spotify Audible wtops american nightmare series Campus Killings As the name suggests, this show focuses on killings on or around college campuses. It debuted in September 2022 and has a biweekly release schedule, so catching up is easy if you prefer to stay current with your podcasts. Hosts Meghan Sacks and Amy Shlosberg are expert criminologists. They also have other podcast showsWomen & Crime and Direct Appeal, both of which are greatso they know what theyre doing here. Shop Now Spotify Audible campus killings Casefile True Crime This podcasts Australian host, who goes by Anonymous, looks at a different incident in each episode. Hes covered crimes that took place in Australia and around the globe. Casefile has been around since 2016 and is still producing new episodes, some of which are initially available only to premium subscribers. Shop Now Spotify Audible casefile true crime In the Dark In the Darks in-depth investigative reporting dove into a different true crime case each season. Season 1 examined the kidnapping of Jacob Wetterling, which had been unsolved for 27 years. Season 2 focused on Curtis Flowers, a Mississippi man who endured six trials for the same crime. A third season is in the works now, giving you time to work through the back catalog. Shop Now Spotify Audible the new yorker in the dark podcast Buried Bones On Buried Bones, the true crime cases that journalist Kate Winkler Dawson and retired investigator Paul Holes cover are from decades or centuries past. The first episode of Buried Bones debuted in September. Each week, a new episode looks at a different historical crime. Shop Now Spotify Audible buried bones podcast Mama Mystery Mama Mystery is great if youre dipping your toe into true crime podcasts for the first time. The co-hosts are a husband-and-wife team. The husband is a true crime neophyte, while his wife is an aficionado who researches each case they discuss. This podcast launched in 2020 and continues to release new content weekly. Shop Now Spotify Audible mama mystery with kelly evans You Might Also Like Two hours before his arrest, Henry Louis Wallace watched professional wrestling on TV with some friends in their east-side apartment and talked of leaving Charlotte. His companions had started worrying about the 28-year-old. Wallace had begun wearing the same clothes for days at a time, and he no longer appeared to have a place of his own. They suspected that he had become a crack addict. On March 13, 1994, Wallace told his companions that he wanted to go home to Barnwell, S.C. Just before 3 p.m., they handed him a Corona and $2 to catch a city bus to the Greyhound station. Yall might not see me no more, Wallace told a friend around that time. He never caught his bus. Two hours later, Wallace was under arrest. A Killer's Long Shadow 30 years ago, Henry Louis Wallace cast a murderous shadow across Charlotte, raping and strangling 10 women before his arrest. Wallace's killings broke up families, stole daughters and sisters from their loved ones and left seven children without their mothers. Starting in 1992, Wallace had murdered with impunity for 22 months, moving like a shadow across the city from victim to victim. In the spring of 1994, a series of back-to-back-to-back killings finally brought him to the attention of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. First came the Feb. 20 murder of Vanessa Mack in west Charlotte. Less than three weeks later, the bodies of Brandi Henderson and Betty Baucom were found in the same east-side apartment complex. All three women had been robbed, raped and strangled. None of their apartments showed signs of a break-in, meaning they had each allowed their attacker into their homes. Most importantly, Mack, Henderson and Baucom had been strangled in the same way, with double ligatures of bras, pillow cases, T-shirts or towels. Story continues That the three women died in a similar fashion was striking. In 1993, there had been only six strangulations in Mecklenburg County, less than 5% of the total homicides. Now, police were dealing with their third in less than three weeks. Two pieces of evidence gave the cops their first big breaks. Deputies lead condemned serial killer Henry Louis Wallace to a van to transport him to Death Row in Raleigh on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997. A name and a print First, according to former CMPD homicide detective Darrell Price, Hendersons boyfriend told police that Henderson was so shy that she would have opened her door to only two other people. One was Wallace. Secondly, after Baucoms body was discovered, her Nissan turned up behind a shopping center near her apartment. The interior had been wiped clean. But police found a palm print near the trunk. On March 11, they received a match. The next day, they also had a fourth body. Debra Slaughter, 35, was discovered on her living room floor by her mother. She lived at the Glen Hollow Apartments, about a half mile from where Henderson and Baucom had been killed. Slaughter, too, had been raped and strangled. She also had been stabbed 38 times, and there was a balled-up sock in her mouth. Former Detective Darrell Price says Henry Wallace manipulated crime scenes to keep police at bay. By then, Price and fellow detective Mark Corwin had been pulled off investigating the scenes of the recent killings and given a single task: Find a former fast-food restaurant manager who had come to the city less than three years before and seemed to have female friends all over town. At around 5 p.m., Officers Gilbert Allred and Sidney Wright found Wallace hiding in the bathroom of a friends eastside apartment, not far from where the three latest killings had taken place. He was arrested on an outstanding warrant for shoplifting a $48 sweater at nearby Eastland Mall. Wallace, police were learning, had connections to each of the four women. Hendersons boyfriend was one of Wallaces best friends, and Baucom and Slaughter both worked with Wallaces former girlfriend at the Bojangles on Central Avenue. Wallace also had dated Vanessa Macks sister, Leslie Little. In 1993, Little and Wallace had worked together at the Taco Bell on Sharon Amity. At the police station, according to court documents and Observer accounts at the time, the first sessions of what would be an all-night interrogation yielded little. Wallace was the main suspect, but Price said police did not have enough evidence to charge him with murder. Price and Corwin began their questioning shortly before 7 p.m., talking to Wallace about sports, his jobs, and his family and friends. At 10, the detectives read Wallace his Miranda rights and began to bore in: Why, they asked Wallace, is your hand print on the back of Betty Baucoms car? Why does the man seen in an ATM photo with Macks bank card have an earring with a dangling cross, just like the one in your arrest photo from earlier that day? Wallace kept deflecting. The back and forth dragged on for six more hours. Dont you think its funny that so many people around you are dying of unnatural causes? Price said he asked. That happens to everybody, Wallace replied. Hasnt it happened to you? At one point, Wallace mentioned that he knew detective Tony Rice from the investigation into the 1992 disappearance of Caroline Love, the roommate of Wallaces former girlfriend. A call went out, and at 5 a.m. Rice entered the room. Rice, who had not worked the Wallace case up to that point, asked all those present to bow their heads. While holding Wallaces left hand, the detective led a prayer about thanks and repentance, guidance and forgiveness, and Wallace began to cry. Rice told Wallace it was time to cleanse his soul and tell the truth, no matter what the truth might be. After the amens, Wallace sighed. Lets do it this way, he said, reaching for a pen and pad. Then Wallace began jotting down names. The detectives expected the list to begin and end with the four killings over the last three weeks. But Wallace kept writing. The women Detective Garry McFadden was outside the interrogation room when one of his colleagues exited with Wallaces list. Hes got names that we dont have, McFadden, now Mecklenburg County sheriff, remembered saying. Sheriff Garry McFadden, a former CMPD homicide detective, says police were caught off guard by the sweep of Henry Wallaces killings. Nine names in all. Wallace also used a question mark to account for his first Charlotte victim, the only one he did not know. She was later identified as Sharon Nance, 32, who was found beaten to death in June 1992 near Rozzelles Ferry Road. There was Caroline Love, 20, the roommate of Wallaces girlfriend at the time, who disappeared in June 1992. Wallace helped file the missing persons report. Now, he would lead police to her body. Shawna Hawk, 20, was a college student who was raped and strangled and found floating in the bathtub of her family home on Feb. 19, 1993. Wallace later attended her funeral. Audrey Spain, 24, was Wallaces co-worker and co-manager at the Taco Bell. She was murdered on June 22, 1993. On Aug. 10, 1993, Wallace raped and strangled Valencia Jumper, a 21-year-old college student who was his sisters friend. College student Michelle Stinson, 20, a friend of Wallaces from Taco Bell, was raped, stabbed and strangled on Sept. 14, 1993 in her apartment while one of her sons watched. Then came Mack, Henderson, Baucom and Slaughter. Wallace also confessed to an 11th murder, the 1990 rape and strangulation of 18-year-old Tashanda Bethea in Barnwell. All of the Charlotte victims were Black women between 18 and 35. All had been murdered over the previous 22 months. And all but Nance had known Henry Wallace. During 10 hours of taped confession, Wallace casually shared details how some of the victims fought, scratched or bit him, while others wept and asked for mercy. One fell to her knees and prayed. He raped and killed them anyway. Wallace considered almost all of them friends. He told detectives that their ghosts spoke to him in his dreams. He boasted that he sometimes used a professional wrestling move he described as the Boston choke hold to overpower his victims. After raping them, Wallace said, he would give the women the impression that they were safe, only to strangle them with a piece of their own clothing, a towel or the pillow cases he began smuggling into his crime scenes. He was playing God, Price says. The killer took elaborate steps to hide his tracks, almost toying with police. He explained that with some of his victims, he turned down the thermostats in their apartments to slow down decomposition to confuse investigators as to when the killings occurred. After strangling Valencia Jumper in August 1993, he soaked her body in rum, then put a pot of beans on the stove and turned the burner to high. The medical examiner ruled Jumper died of thermal burns, changing the cause of death to strangulation only after Wallaces confession. He did everything he could to throw us off, Price says. It was almost like he knew how we investigated our cases, and he anticipated what we would think and what we would do. The trial In September 1996, the largest murder trial by number of victims in North Carolina history opened in Charlotte. Wallace was charged with nine counts of first-degree murder, eight counts of first-degree rape and 10 other crimes. Prosecutors asked for the death penalty. (The killing of Sharon Nance did not fit the pattern of the other deaths, and never went before a jury. Likewise, Wallace was charged but never prosecuted for Betheas death.) Defense attorneys Isabel Day and Jim Cooney acknowledged that Wallace committed the Charlotte murders, but they said their clients mental illness and childhood trauma left him incapable of killing intentionally, forming the required intent. Because there was no premeditation, they argued, there couldnt be a death penalty. They also accused the police of illegally obtaining Wallaces confession. District Attorney Peter Gilchrist gave the job of first convicting Wallace then persuading jurors to put him on Death Row to Marsha Goodenow, a veteran homicide prosecutor, and Anne Tompkins, a West Charlotte High School and UNC Charlotte grad who was a few years into her career at the DAs office. Anne Tompkins was one of two Mecklenburg prosecutors who persuaded a jury to send Wallace to Death Row. The prosecutors took six months to prepare. The jury selection and trial ran on for an additional four. Four hundred exhibits were presented, 75 witnesses sworn in. Seven hours of Wallaces taped confession were played in open court. There was so much evidence tucked into files and cardboard boxes that Tompkins fingers were laced with paper cuts before the trial ended. From the start, Tompkins, who later became U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, says she and Goodenow harbored the same fear: How can we keep the jury from becoming numb to so many victims? The trial pushed past Christmas and New Years, the pressure and exhaustion rising for all involved. Tompkins recalls that when she reached for a glass of water before the start of her closing argument, her hand shook uncontrollably. On Jan. 7, 1997, two years and 10 months after his arrest, Wallace was convicted of nine murders. Three weeks later, the same jury sentenced him to death. For each sentence, the name of the victim was spoken aloud. Nine times Judge Robert Johnston read Wallace the required refrain: May God have mercy on your soul. Twenty-six years later, Wallace remains on Death Row. This story includes information compiled by The Charlotte Observer staff in 1994. Shooting Two people were shot while sleeping at a park in Phoenix early Wednesday morning, police are searching for suspects. According to Phoenix police, officers responded for reports of a shooting at around 2:45 a.m. on Wednesday near 28th Avenue and Polk Street. Upon arrival, officers found two people, an unidentified adult man and woman, with gunshot wounds. Phoenix police spokesperson Sgt. Brian Bower said that both were transported to the hospital, with only the man in critical condition. Bower told the Arizona Republic that statements from the man and woman mentioned they had been asleep on picnic tables in the park when they were shot. "All subjects left the area prior to police arrival," Bower said, adding that it was still too early to determine if shots were fired from inside or outside a vehicle. It's unclear how many suspects police were searching for, and no descriptions were provided. No other information had been released. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 2 shot while asleep at Phoenix park, suspects sought Police arrested two men on July 21 who authorities believe were involved in a drive-by shooting last month, leaving a rival gang member dead and another injured. Tempe and Phoenix police say 21-year-old Zyonn Colbert and 20-year-old Makhyi Hinkle followed the occupants of a Ford Edge some of whom were believed to be members of the gang Park South Crips while driving a Kia Optima before firing multiple rounds into the vehicle near Baseline Road and 48th Street in Tempe. Documents say one man who was seated in the middle-rear seat was killed after a bullet struck him in the head while another man also seated in the back was struck but later treated at a hospital and was in stable condition. Documents say Colbert and Hinkle, whom authorities say belong to the rival gang Southern Crips, then turned south on 48th Street and sped away. Police recovered 24 bullet casings at the scene. Authorities later received an anonymous tip that Hinkle was involved in the shooting and obtained a warrant to track his cellphone location history, which matched the time of the shooting. Police also obtained a warrant for Colberts cellphone location history, which placed him at the drive-by shooting as well. Documents say the shooting stems from a yearslong war between the two gangs sparked by the death of a Southern Crip member named Tre. Documents note the drive-by shooting was but one of many between the two gangs since Tres death. Police arrested Hinkle and Colbert on July 21 in Phoenix. Both men have been booked into jail with the following charges: First-degree murder. Drive-by shooting. Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Assisting a street gang. Criminal damage. Hinkle and Colbert are being held on a $1 million cash-only bond according to court documents. Their next scheduled hearing is on Thursday in Maricopa County Superior Court. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 2 suspected gang members arrested in fatal drive-by shooting in Tempe Since the start of the full-scale war, the State Bureau of Investigation has opened 106 criminal proceedings into the malfunction of military enlistment offices and military medical commissions. The Bureau has served 21 notices of suspicion. Source: Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk, First Deputy Minister of Defence, on Telegram Details: Pavliuk said that the task forces of the Ministry of Defence established to inspect military enlistment offices were working in the regions. He stated that the experience of service, reputation, information in the public space and citizens' appeals are analysed. In total, more than 2,300 appeals have been received from citizens. This covers the entire spectrum of issues when interacting with military enlistment offices: from corruption to organisational problems. Pavliuk confirmed that each appeal is processed individually. Quote: "The law enforcement agencies are continuing to inspect the management of military enlistment offices and military law enforcement services (SVP). The National Agency on Corruption Prevention has formed a database that includes all the heads and deputy heads of the military enlistment offices to be checked. Lifestyle monitoring has already begun for 102 people. The State Bureau of Investigation is working actively. Since the beginning of the [full-scale ed.] war, it has been investigating 106 criminal proceedings regarding violations during the work of the military enlistment offices and SVPs, as well as military medical commissions. 21 people have been served with notice of suspicion. Eight indictments against 16 people have been sent to court." More details: Pavliuk said they were also working on proposals for amendments to regulations. In addition, the priority is to digitise the work of the military enlistment offices. Background: Following the scandal with Yevhen Borysov, Chief of the Odesa military enlistment office, whose real estate and fleet of vehicles worth millions of dollars in Spain were found by Ukrainska Pravda, Ukraine has begun inspections of military enlistment offices. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that he had given an urgent order to set up a commission headed by First Deputy Defence Minister General Oleksandr Pavliuk, together with the law enforcement unit and the National Agency on Corruption Prevention, to inspect all military enlistment offices in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the results of the inspection of military commissariats should be available by the end of July. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! NEW BEDFORD The Flying Carrot Farm Farms in Dartmouth and Tichon Seafood Corporation in New Bedford are among the farms and fishing businesses awarded $2 million in state grant funding. Nearly $2 million in Food Security Infrastructure Grants were granted to farm and seafood companies in the Greater New Bedford area to strengthen local food systems and part of the $26.3 million in grants awarded statewide. The grant program was created to combat urgent food insecurity resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Sen. Mark Montigny, D-New Bedford, originally authorized by the state legislature during the pandemic, this years round of funding was made possible by a $25 million appropriation in the 2022 economic development bill, an act relating to economic growth and relief. Helping families have access to nutritious food The program supports projects to ensure individuals and families across Massachusetts have access to nutritious food, with a special focus on food that is produced locally. The program also emphasizes equitable access to food and energy conservation, he said in a press release. He said the program seeks to ensure that farmers, fishermen, and other local producers are better connected to a strong, resilient food system. A $2M state grant will benefit New Bedford's fishing community and area farms. Supporting our local fishermen and farmers is a crucial necessity toward maintaining food security for our community and across the Commonwealth, he said. The pandemic exposed great weaknesses in our national food supply, and it is vital that we invest in our local infrastructure to ensure our community can benefit from a resilient food system now and well into the future. New Bedford, Dartmouth groups receive grants Several New Bedford-area farms and small businesses have been awarded grants. The grant awards include $60,276 to the Flying Carrot Farm, $120,000 to Copicut Farms LLC and $84,208 to Round the Bend Farm Inc. All three are located in Dartmouth. Kyler's Catch Seafood Market in New Bedford. The grant awards also include $500,000 to Tichon Seafood Corporation, $204,053 to MELC LLC, $51,903 to Coastal Foodshed Inc., $43,000 to Cura & Borges Fishing Corp. F/V Sao Paulo, $16,800 to M&P Fishing Corporation F/V Fisherman and $350,000 to Kyler Seafood. All are located in New Bedford. Story continues The New Bedford Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services was also awarded a grant to purchase a warehouse freezer to create a central kitchen and culinary center in the citys West End to benefit the public school system. The grant award for the project is $449,330. Governor supports projects following extreme weather For the first time in the history of this program, the administration prioritized projects that support organizations impacted by drought or extreme weather events, according to a press release from the Healey-Driscoll Administration. In speaking to farmers over the past week, its clear that they need support now more than ever after being hit hard by extreme weather events from flooding to drought to late frost, Gov. Maura Healey said. Our farmers are the backbone of Massachusetts food infrastructure, and its critical that we continue to make short and long-term investments through grants like these to help strengthen resiliency and enhance mitigation efforts. Industry in flux: New Bedford advocates for fishing industry compensation in response to offshore wind impact Healey-Driscoll Administration officials say the recent flooding in Western and Central Massachusetts is expected to have a further impact on food security in Massachusetts, as many impacted farms play an important role in combating hunger. Officials have been assessing damage at farms and discussing recovery and mitigation efforts over the past week. The program is designed to ensure farmers and other local food producers are better connected to a strong and resilient food system. It provides grants for capital infrastructure investments that increase access to locally produced food for families and individuals who may be facing food insecurity, live in gateway cities or food deserts, or otherwise face unequal access to food. Administered by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the program is subject to authorization by the state legislature. Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @kgallreporter. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford schools, Dartmouth farms receive grants to combat hunger China ramps up macro control for stable economic growth Xinhua) 08:21, July 26, 2023 BEIJING, July 25 (Xinhua) -- China's top leadership has convened a crucial meeting that set the economic policy agenda for the rest of the year with clear macro policy steps to navigate new situations facing the country's "tortuous recovery." Currently, China's economy is meeting with new difficulties and challenges, which mainly arise from insufficient domestic demand, difficulties in the operation of some enterprises, risks and hidden dangers in key areas, as well as a grim and complex external environment, according to the meeting held by the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Monday. This aerial photo taken on July 22, 2023 shows a warehouse of Shougang Jingtang United Iron &Steel Co., Ltd. in Tangshan, north China's Hebei Province. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) The world's second-largest economy secured a 5.5-percent GDP expansion in the first half (H1) of the year -- quicker than 2022 and this year's first quarter, while certain indicators showed a trend of decline and fluctuations. "We cannot perceive this round of recovery from an old perspective," said Liu Yuanchun, president of the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. "Post-COVID recovery occurs in stages, and fluctuations in indicators and expectations are normal." China's post-pandemic recovery is a "wave-like" and tortuous progress, with the country's long-term sound economic fundamentals remaining unchanged, the meeting noted. LEVERAGING FISCAL, MONETARY TOOLS To combat the challenges, the central leadership emphasized the need for precise and forceful macroeconomic regulation, focusing on strengthening counter-cyclical regulation and adopting more policy options. The meeting called for the continuation of a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy and leveraging the role of quantitative and structural monetary tools to support the real economy, scientific and technological innovation, and the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. The mentioning of "counter-cyclical" adjustment signaled that the monetary policy would be intensified and the policy orientation is to stabilize growth, so there might be an increase in the intensity of credit supply in the future, said a research note by China International Capital Corporation Limited after the meeting. "The proactive fiscal policy will continue to focus on helping enterprises overcome difficulties and promoting investment, while the monetary policy will adopt price-based instruments and focus on optimizing the structural monetary policy tools," said Feng Xuming, a Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) research fellow. BOOSTING DOMESTIC DEMAND The CPC Central Committee has urged active expansion of domestic demand, particularly on bolstering consumption, and called for accelerating government investment to drive overall investment. People look at Denza vehicles during the 20th Changchun International Auto Expo in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, July 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun) Consumption in key sectors such as automobiles, electronic products, and household items will be bolstered. Spending on services, including sports, leisure, culture, and tourism, is also encouraged, according to the meeting. With a contribution of 77.2 percent to economic growth, consumption has played an increasingly prominent role in driving China's economy in H1. China's top economic planner has mapped out measures to restore and expand consumption in a wide-ranging plan to bolster growth. Detailed plans on promoting the consumption of automobiles, electronic products, and household items have been unveiled this month. Chen Lifen, a researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council, stressed the need to expand domestic consumption to achieve development goals considering a lack of driving forces in global growth and a slowdown in international trade. Tourists shop at a duty-free shopping complex in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, July 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) "With the gradual implementation of policies to expand domestic demand, investment and consumption are expected to maintain stable growth in the second half of the year, further enhancing the resilience and stability of China's economic development," said Chen. The meeting stressed that government investment should better drive overall investment, with faster issuance and use of local government special-purpose bonds. In H1, the country saw a slow issuance of special bonds, and there is still a quota of 1.6 trillion yuan (about 224.1 billion U.S. dollars) of bonds waiting to be issued in the second half, said Wen Bin, the chief economist at China Minsheng Bank. He expected that the issuance of special bonds would accelerate in the third quarter to support infrastructure investment and stabilize the economy. DEFUSING RISKS TO ACHIEVE HIGH-QUALITY GROWTH In pursuit of high-quality development, the CPC Central Committee stressed the importance of fostering strategic emerging industries and promoting the integration of the digital economy with advanced manufacturing and modern services. This photo taken on April 26, 2023 shows an exhibition during the 6th Digital China Summit in Fuzhou, east China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan) The real estate market also received attention. The meeting called for concrete efforts to prevent and defuse risks in key areas and adjust and optimize real estate policies promptly in response to the new situation that "major changes have taken place in the relationship between supply and demand in China's real estate market." "It is a precise judgment on the changes in the supply-demand relationship and the structure of China's real estate market under the new situation, sending a clear signal for timely adjustment and optimization of policies to promote the stable and healthy development of the real estate market," said Zou Linhua with the CASS. Policy toolkits should be well utilized with city-specific measures to meet residents' essential housing demand and their needs for better housing, and advance the stable and sound development of the real estate market, according to the meeting. China will likely adopt more supportive measures in the property sector in the rest of the year, which will stimulate residential purchasing and effectively alleviate risks for real estate enterprises, said Lian Ping, the chief economist at Zhixin Investment Research Institute. Wen Bin with China Minsheng Bank pointed out that the real estate policies are still geared towards risk prevention, indicating that the goal of policy adjustments is to ease the overly strict policies in the previous stage and prevent risks from worsening. "Real estate will not be used as a short-term means to stimulate the economy," Wen stressed. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Northwestern University researcher Alessandro Rotta Loria looks for temperature sensors installed by his team to monitor the heat inside the Grant Park North parking garage on July 20, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Two levels below ground at the Grant Park North Garage, the summer heat feels oppressive. As downtown commuters park and exit their cars, sweat quickly beads on their furrowed brows and foreheads. Alessandro Rotta Loria pinched two fingers to zoom into a map on his phone, trying to locate a temperature sensor. Finally, he found the white, pocket-size instrument, inconspicuously zip-tied to a pipe next to a red column. Advertisement Using a wireless network of more than 150 of these sensors above and below ground across the Loop, Rotta Loria, a Northwestern University assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, discovered ground deformations in Chicago are causing buildings to sink and crack. Things are sinking very slowly, Rotta Loria said. The good news is that people dont die. Advertisement Buildings are unlikely to crumble because of underground climate change, he said, but damage from what he calls a silent hazard could lead to tremendously costly upkeep and retrofitting bills. And at the end of the day, he noted, sensible people tend to be uncomfortable with cracks in walls. These deformations are occurring because of a phenomenon called underground climate change. Buildings, their garages and basements, as well as transportation systems like trains and tunnels, are constantly diffusing heat into the ground. The more of these packed into a given area, the higher the temperatures will be below the surface, causing the ground to contract and expand, Rotta Loria explained. This exploratory study is, to the best of my knowledge, the first of its kind. So a lot needs to be done to know more, said Rotta Loria, whose study was published July 11 in the journal Communications Engineering. This phenomenon is present in most, if not all, urban areas worldwide. Its important to understand which types of civil structures and infrastructures are particularly sensitive to underground climate change and can be prone to operational issues. Northwestern researcher Alessandro Rotta Loria looks for temperature sensors installed by his team to monitor the heat inside the Grant Park North parking garage on July 20, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Local building developers and insurance professionals say they arent planning any changes to their buildings until more research has been conducted on underground climate change. But the study does explore promising ideas that could benefit sustainability efforts, especially as energy costs rise, they say. Affecting limestone and clay Subterranean temperatures in Chicagos downtown are likely not as high as they might be in more densely urbanized areas with bigger underground transportation systems such as London and New York City. But the Millennium Parking Garage facilities, which include Grant Park North Garage and are touted as the largest downtown underground parking system in North America, presented a unique opportunity for research in Chicagos busiest and densest infrastructural area. Part of Rotta Lorias research involved building a 3D computer model to simulate the evolution of ground temperatures since 1951 when Chicago completed its subway tunnels and predict it until 2051. These simulations demonstrated that higher temperatures can cause different types of soil like limestone and clay to either swell and expand upward by up to 0.47 inches or to contract and sink downward under a building by up to 0.31 inches. By comparing data collected over three years from the sensors near underground infrastructures with data from sensors buried in green spaces like Grant Park, the researchers also found that underground temperatures beneath the Loop are often 18 degrees Fahrenheit higher than temperatures below Grant Park. Advertisement This means that not only do heat islands exist at the surface level in urban areas, where materials like steel, asphalt and concrete absorb more heat from the sun than rural or green areas do. They also happen underground, where they are known as subsurface heat islands, Rotta Loria said. Northwestern researcher Alessandro Rotta Loria locates a temperature sensor overhead that monitors heat inside the Grant Park North parking garage on July 20, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) While both atmospheric and underground climate change are caused by humans, the cause of the former can be traced back mostly to heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions due to fossil fuel burning. The latter is caused by heat from underground transit systems and buildings, but global warming and surface urban heat islands also contribute. As part of his job at an insurance firm, Chris Semlies keeps up to date on climate-related risks that affect property and construction projects, something he notes is intensifying. Semlies said he doesnt see an enhanced risk for underground structures such as parking garages. But Semlies, the assistant vice president of Construction Project & Business Resilience Services for Zurich North America, said regular inspections to check for deterioration and cracks are essential. Riverside Investment and Development finished building three office towers downtown in the past six years. Tony Scacco, the chief operating officer of the Chicago-based real estate firm, said third-party experts havent recommended making any design changes based on the Northwestern findings, in large part because underground climate change doesnt threaten a buildings structural integrity. Advertisement We have not experienced any unforeseen conditions in basements or elevator pits or any subsurface levels as a function of excess expansion or contraction, he said. But Scacco said resiliency and sustainability are crucial in the design of new buildings, especially considering recent severe thunderstorms and flash flooding in Chicago. He said his firm tries to take as little subsurface risk as possible, which includes limiting the amount of excavation and not putting critical facilities underground. [ Costly Deep Tunnel flooding project cant handle Chicago areas severe storms fueled by climate change ] Their main goal in terms of sustainability, Scacco said, is to reduce a buildings energy consumption. Sometimes that means using high-performance materials so heating and cooling costs decline. Other times, he said, his firm opts for building green roofs to reduce the heat island effect. Harvesting waste heat Rotta Lorias research might offer a new approach to sustainability as well. In it, he suggests that urban planners can harvest waste heat with geothermal technologies and pump it into buildings as a heat source. Geothermal energy is a very powerful energy source, because its available continuously, everywhere on Earth, irrespective of the weather, Rotta Loria said. If you consider the energy budget of buildings, for example, residential buildings, depending on the country, from 40 to 70% of what we consume in buildings is associated with thermal energy. A temperature sensor placed by Northwestern researcher Alessandro Rotta Loria and his team monitors the heat inside the Grant Park North parking garage on July 20, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Naturally occurring geothermal energy, produced by the Earths core and stored in its crust, in conjunction with the waste thermal energy from poorly insulated buildings, can theoretically meet that demand, he said. This is why the so-called geothermal potential of cities is actually enhanced, he added. Advertisement Amy Masters, director of government and external affairs at the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago, sees thermal energy as a chance to increase operational efficiency and save on energy costs. BOMA is a trade association representing Chicagos office building industry. Afternoon Briefing Weekdays Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Definitely more research is needed, and ultimately we will need more technology to evolve to actually be able to implement it, she said. Semlies said another one of Rotta Lorias recommendations that planners install thermal insulation in buildings to minimize the amount of heat entering the ground is a good one. He added that building codes typically require insulation underground. Those codes exist for energy conservation purposes, but they would also mitigate losing heat from the building out into the surrounding soils, Semlies said. Rotta Loria said he plans to keep the sensor network up and running for the foreseeable future and continue collecting data. But he said the studys three-year time frame has been helpful in beginning to understand the existing correlation between temperatures underground and at the surface. If you know what the temperature at the surface is, you can predict what the temperature (underground) is, he said. I dont expect that for a longer period of time those correlations will change. Advertisement adperez@chicagotribune.com rjohnson@chicagotribune.com Anton Cherepennikov. Wikimedia Commons Russian tech tycoon Anton Cherepennikov, 40, was found dead in his Moscow office, per local reports. He was subject to US sanctions and his company helped Putin expand domestic-surveillance operations. A Moscow law enforcement source claimed the businessman overdosed on "medical gas." A Russian tech tycoon who helped President Vladimir Putin expand Russia's domestic-surveillance operations was found dead in his Moscow office, local media reports say. Anton Cherepennikov, 40, the founder of Russian IT company ICS Holding, was found dead on July 22, his company said, according to the Russian outlet RBC. His company said that the preliminary cause of death was cardiac arrest, per RBC. However, a Moscow law enforcement source said that the businessman overdosed on "medical gas," according to Russian channel RTVI, The Times of London reported. "Cherepennikov took the drug for medicinal purposes, but presumably exceeded the allowable dose," the source reportedly said, adding that the cause of death was still under investigation. The source also claimed that three guests visited Cherepennikov while he was in his office the night before his death. Cherepennikov had been sanctioned by the US, with authorities saying that one of his companies, named Citadel a part of ICS Holding was responsible for developing software to steal financial and personal data from computer networks, per Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Citadel helped Putin implement Russia's infamous Yarovaya laws, a controversial set of anti-terrorism measures passed in 2016, which expanded surveillance powers and increased data collection and storage within Russia, per The Times. ICS Holding, which reportedly has ties to Russia's security services, benefited financially after the laws came into force in 2018, according to independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta. The company had consolidated revenue of 91 billion rubles, or around $1 billion, in 2022, according RBC. Story continues Cherepennikov is the latest in a series of Russian oligarchs and tycoons to have died in mysterious circumstances since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Igor Kudryakov, another high-profile Russian businessman, was also found dead in his Moscow apartment on Friday, The Times reported. Read the original article on Business Insider Three Marines were found dead Sunday in a vehicle parked at a North Carolina convenience store. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI July 25 (UPI) -- Three Marines were found dead over the weekend inside a car parked at a North Carolina convenience store, authorities said Tuesday as they investigate the deaths. The sheriff's office for Pender County said in a release on Facebook that officers responding to a report of a missing person Sunday night found the three men deceased inside the vehicle at a Speedway convenience store in Hampstead, N.C., an unincorporated community located just north of Wilmington. Little information about the deaths was made public, including how they died, but the Pender County Sheriff's Office said there does not appear to be any threat to the larger community. "This is an ongoing investigation," the sheriff's office said. The deceased were identified as Marines from the 2nd Marine Logistics Group at Camp Lejeune in a press release. The three men were named by the Marine Corps as Lance Cpl. Tanner J. Kaltenberg, 19, from Madison, Wis.; Lance Cpl. Merax C. Dockery, 23, from Pottawatomie, Okla.; and Lance Cp. Ivan R. Garcia, 23, from Naples, Fla. All three were motor vehicle operators, the sheriff's office said. Brig. Gen. Michael McWilliams, commanding general of 2nd Marine Logistics Group, offered his condolences in a statement to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased. "Our focus is providing the necessary resources and support to those impacted by their tragic loss as they navigate this extremely difficult time," he said. Three people who appeared in a viral documentary that criticizes the transgender community said they were tricked into being interviewed for the movie, titled What Is a Woman? The filmmakers alleged sleight-of-hand tactics contradict the movies promise to be a fearless examination of the modern gender debate, and the tactics appear to show the lengths to which some conservative activists have gone to try to cast doubt on the rights of trans people. The video debuted in June 2022 to little fanfare but received wide attention on Twitter last month with the help of tech billionaire and Twitter owner Elon Musk, who reversed the platforms previous restrictions on the movie and allowed it to be uploaded and shared on the platform. He then promoted it on his own account, writing, Every parent should watch this. Twitters previous management had a rule against degrading behavior or other hateful content. The movie has since marked more than 187 million views on Twitter alone and been endlessly memed and recycled among conservatives, making it another major flashpoint in a nationwide conflict over transgender rights thats also playing out in state legislatures, public libraries and courthouses. But three people who participated in the films production by sitting for interviews told NBC News that its producers misrepresented how it would portray transgender topics and that they were unwittingly inserted into gotcha moments with right-wing provocateur Matt Walsh, who narrated and starred in the film. Two of the three people provided copies of emails in which a producer, Rebecca Dobkowitz, used flattering language and wrote that the documentary would bring to light the challenges facing trans people. What Is a Woman? ended up very different from that pitch. It includes repeated attacks on trans people, with Walsh at one point calling them part of an insane ideological cult, even as the 95-minute movie employs some methods of documentary filmmaking such as formal interviews. Story continues Screenshot of an email sent to Naia Okami requesting an interview with her for the transgender documentary on Sept. 8, 2021. (Courtesy Naia Okami) Few who watched the movie likely knew about the tactics used to make it. With its popularity online, the film has spread myths about sexuality and gender, including the debunked rumor that some children are identifying as cats and using litter boxes at school. Dobkowitz did not respond to requests for comment via email, text and voicemail. Walsh did not respond to requests for comment sent to the conservative website The Daily Wire, which backed the film and where he has a podcast and column. Walsh said in January 2022, while the movie was in production, that he had a plan for waging an all out assault on gender ideology. People see that gender ideology is toxic and insane. We have the numbers to fight back and destroy it. All we need is the will to do whats necessary, he said on Twitter. Dr. Marci Bowers, a California surgeon whose patients include trans women, said she first heard from Dobkowitz in July 2021. The producer emailed her with what seemed like a friendly request for a documentary about transgender people and the challenges they face in todays culture, according to a copy of the email that she provided to NBC News. Since you are a leading expert and professional in this field, we would love to interview and hear your insights, Dobkowitz wrote. Bowers said she felt Dobkowitz was hiding her intentions with the completely deceptive email. A map in Dr. Marci Bowers' office shows gender-affirming patients in the U.S. (Preston Gannaway for NBC News) Pronoun pins in Dr. Marci Bowers office. (Preston Gannaway for NBC News) I didnt really know about Matts conservative credentials, she said of Walsh. They sugarcoated it just a little bit. They didnt give me an indication of what it would really be about, but they did give me the title of the video. The movie includes footage of an interview with Bowers and with two other people, who told NBC News that they felt they were deceived: Dr. Michelle Forcier, a Brown University professor, and Naia Okami, a trans woman who lives in Washington state. In the movie, Forcier talks about the process children go through in learning about gender, and Okami talks about a different subject entirely her affinity for wolves as Walsh tries to make a link between animals and trans people. While documentary filmmakers such as Michael Moore often use edgy tactics to advance a specific point of view, the use of deception to obtain an interview is generally frowned upon, especially when the subject is a person vulnerable to harassment, according to a 2009 report from American University based on interviews with 45 professional filmmakers and producers. But in recent years, subterfuge has been popularized by right-wing figures such as James OKeefe, who founded the hidden-camera outfit Project Veritas. The tactics that Walshs team allegedly employed were already somewhat known within the trans community when the movie was in production. In February 2022, Eli Erlick, a trans rights advocate, published a Twitter thread alleging that Walshs team had reached out to her for an interview using a fake name and a front organization called the Gender Unity Project. So @MattWalshBlog's crew is trying to trick trans people into joining a fake documentary. His producers set up a whole front organization (@GenderUnityProj) and tried to recruit me into his next anti-trans documentary. Here's the wild story of how it went down (1/x): pic.twitter.com/Kqy3x5oZQe Eli Erlick (@EliErlick) February 7, 2022 At the time, Walsh did not respond to media inquiries about his methods, including from BuzzFeed News and Insider. The tactics now seem to be spreading. Erlick said that a second right-wing figure, Robby Starbuck, recently tried to recruit her under false pretenses for another documentary-style video called It Takes a Village. She posted emails to Twitter. The style of Matts film is going to be replicated, Erlick said in a phone interview. I think theyre using it as a model for a new form of far-right disinformation masquerading as a documentary. Starbuck did not respond to emailed requests for comment. He told Rolling Stone in an email last month that trans rights activists were misrepresenting the subject of the documentary he is working on. He told the magazine that his documentary will not involve any unethical editing, that no one of either political side has been upset about their interview, and that he is taking a fair and honorable approach to each individual. By the time Erlick revealed Walshs tactics last year, Bowers, Forcier and Okami had already been interviewed by Walsh. When Okami heard from Walshs staff in September 2021, she was already experienced in media appearances, so she pressed Dobkowitz for more information on the project. Naia Okami (Grant Hindsley for NBC News) Dobkowitz wrote back using the same email account she used to contact Bowers. This documentary will explore the challenges the transgender and LGBTQIA+ face in todays culture, as well as advancements in transgender care and gender/sex affirmation surgery, she wrote. We are coming from the position that as more attention is given to the transgender community, its critical that accurate information is available to the public, she went on. In the movie, Walsh did not use phrases such as transgender care and affirmation surgery terms that support trans rights and instead referred to some such treatments as chemical castration. Okami said she would not have done the interview if Walshs staff had been forthcoming with their perspective. In the movie, Walsh mocks Okami for her spiritual and psychological connection with wolves, something that is not connected to her being transgender. Opponents of trans rights often raise the alarmist and false idea that transgender identity is somehow encouraging people to identify as animals. Naia Okami (Grant Hindsley for NBC News) It was complete fraud in my opinion, Okami said. He wanted to use me to make us look ridiculous, to make us look sensational. She said she spoke with an attorney about potential recourse but was told there was little she could do because she had signed a general release form provided by Walshs staff. Forcier, a professor of pediatrics at Brown University, said she got an email from Walshs staff that she thought was a sincere inquiry about the science of puberty blockers. I said, sure. Learning about blockers is really important, and Im always trying to be available to talk about the science and help people understand, she said. For everyone, she said, I think theres room for growth, in terms of both individual and larger cultural understanding. Dr. Michelle Forcier. (Courtesy Dr. Michelle Forcier) Forcier said she felt pressured to sign a release form before she knew much more. They said they needed the release before they made the effort to come down from Canada, she said. There were definitely some pressure tactics: Sign this so we can use the footage. She said she hasnt been able to find copies of the emails. The interview part of which Walsh later posted online didnt last long, Forcier said. A few minutes in, Walsh compared gender dysphoria to believing in Santa Claus and compared puberty blockers to chemical castration. Forcier ended the interview. I thought, This is not what I thought this was going to be, she said. I thought, This is now a gotcha video, and I was not quite informed about whats going to be happening today. He was getting frustrated because I just wouldnt say some of the things he wanted me to say, she added. Forcier said she tried to get in touch with Walshs staff afterward to learn more and to ask to see the video. She said they didnt respond. Doctors who provide transgender care and their allies have been the targets of misinformation campaigns organized on social media for some time, and the promotion of the video whipped up even more of a cultural maelstrom and harassment of the people interviewed for it. Forcier said she keeps a folder of the worst emails she gets in case she needs to send them to law enforcement later. People send really graphic, sexual, violent comments about me being a pediatric gender-care provider. Its way more graphic and sexual than any work Ive done, she said. She shared excerpts with NBC News, including one email saying, Im sure Lucifer has a nice warm seat waiting for you. Bowers said that one person tracked down her daughter on Instagram and told the daughter she was going to hell. She said that she and her daughter try to take the harassment in stride and even joked about it on Mothers Day. Id been at the front line for a long time, so Im used to taking a lot of arrows, but we take those arrows and we send them back with kindness and truth, she said. Bowers is serving a two-year term as president of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), the medical group that writes the standards of care for trans health care. Dr. Marci Bowers in her office in Burlingame, Calif. (Preston Gannaway for NBC News) Bowers said that she doesnt necessarily regret speaking to Walsh. She said her inclination is to talk to anyone and try to find common ground. But she said Walsh in the video came across to her as smug and arrogant. He edited it in a way that wasnt fair, so it doesnt leave people with any sort of knowledge or education. It just heightens their fears of trans people to his and his viewers loss, she said. Matt really is just a bully, she said. Bowers said that shes undeterred. Her clinic near San Francisco offers surgery not only for transgender people, but also to victims of genital mutilation and other people needing gynecological services. Dr. Marci Bowers in her office (Preston Gannaway for NBC News) Im here helping people in three areas of medicine that are not covered by current services, so Im pretty certain that Im doing Gods work. What is Matt Walsh doing but trying to return us to some 1950s simplified version of male and female? she said. Forcier said that, like Bowers, she hasnt let up in her medical work and that, if anything, she now has more resolve. These are adults bullying and victimizing children, she said about Walsh and his supporters. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com In 2021, the $60,000 price tag for transporting the remains of fallen U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole Gee reportedly nearly fell on the shoulders of her family, according to a letter sent Wednesday to the Pentagon. In it, Rep. Kevin Kiley, who represents Roseville in Congress, asked Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to explain how this apparent travesty could occur. Reports that Sgt. Gees family was forced to seek outside help to pay for the transport of her remains fails to live up to the expectations Americans have for how their fallen warriors and families will be treated, he said in the letter. Gee, along with 12 other U.S. service members, was killed Aug. 27, 2021, when a suicide bomber attacked the Kabul airport as U.S. forces were withdrawing from war-torn Afghanistan. Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole Gee, second from left, a maintenance technician with 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, awaits the launch April 5, 2021, during a care exercise aboard the USS Iwo Jima. The Department of Defense announced Saturday that Gee was one of 13 American service members killed in an attack Aug. 26 at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. In a message Wednesday to The Sacramento Bee, Christy Shamblin, Gees mother-in-law, said the family was fortunate to have the help of Honoring Our Fallen, a nonprofit organization, which found a private pilot who donated the transport, sparing them the hefty price tag. Not every family was so fortunate, she said. A Pentagon official said that, as of Wednesday, there was no record of any incurred charges or any pending requests for reimbursement associated with the transportation of Sgt. Gees remains to Arlington National Cemetery. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that Marine Corps casualty assistance officers were in direct communication with Sgt. Gees family, and they remain in contact today. The official told McClatchyDC, The Bees Washington bureau, that the Marine Corps stayed consistent with its policy that all costs associated with internment be borne by the government. The Marine Corps takes very seriously the transfer of remains of our Marines, the official said, they never leave a Marine behind, and they care for the families of their fallen Marines. Shamblin and others visited the U.S. Capitol last week to raise awareness of the issue, she said. Story continues Family members of the Fallen 13, referring to service members who were killed in Kabul, met with Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., during the visit, per a post to his Instagram. Mills office told Fox News Digital that he learned Gees family took on the burden during a meeting last week. His office further told Fox that the option for the Department of Defense to decline to pay for transport of her remains was allowed via an amendment to last years National Defense Authorization Act. At no time should our Gold Star families be financially responsible for burying their loved ones and American heroes, Mills, an Army veteran, wrote on social media promoting a link to the Fox story. Mills spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. After her death, Kileys letter said, the Department of Defense originally paid for Gees remains to be transported to her family in Roseville, where a local funeral was held for her. However, the department later declined to cover the cost of transportation to her final resting place in Arlington National Cemetery. Gold Star families have given too much to be treated so poorly, the Rocklin Republican wrote. Kansas City, Kansas police have identified the suspect facing charges and the victim who died from a fatal stabbing Friday, according to a press release from Officer Jovanna Cheatum, a KCKPD spokesperson. As previously reported by The Star, officers were dispatched before 2 p.m. Friday to the home in the 700 block of Nebraska Avenue, where the stabbing allegedly occured. Robert Simpson, 66, has been identified by investigators as the man taken into custody on the scene. Hes been charged in Wyandotte County with second degree murder, and is being held in the Wyandotte County jail on a $150,000 bond. The women killed was identified as Latasha Williams, 43, a resident of Kansas City, Kansas. The stabbing marks the 14th homicide in Kansas City, Kansas, in 2023 according to data maintained by The Star. The homicide is under investigation by the Kansas City Kansas Police Department Major Case Unit. They are asking anyone with information to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). The Stars Bill Lukitsch contributed to this report The iconic Half Dome Rock seen from Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park May 30, 2021 in Yosemite, California. Barbara Davidson/Getty Images A 93-year-old retired professor is likely the oldest person to summit Yosemite's Half Dome. Everett Kalin, of Oakland, California, trained by climbing the stairs in his apartment and walking daily. Kalin's son and granddaughter helped him make the climb, calling Kalin as "stubborn as a mule." If you ever catch yourself getting winded climbing stairs, prepare to be humbled. A 93-year-old man who just summited Yosemite National Park's 4,800-foot Half Dome is likely the oldest person to do it. And he says he's "feeling great." "When you're 93, it's a little extra special," Everett Kalin told SFGATE. Kalin, of Oakland, California, completed the 13-hour climb on July 18 with the help of his son and granddaughter, according to Men's Journal. "I just feel so very grateful to the people that made it possible," Kalin told Men's Journal. "I'm actually feeling great." Kalin, a retired theology professor, trained by climbing the stairs of his 16-story apartment building and taking daily walks around Lake Merritt in Oakland, which is over 3 miles in circumference. "When you hit your 90s, you think, 'What would be some things I'd like to do?'" Kalin told SFGATE. "I guess Half Dome was the thing that most popped into my mind." A Yosemite National Park spokesperson told Insider that they don't keep records on the ages of climbers, so they're not sure if Kalin is the oldest. However, Kalin's son told SFGATE they spoke with several rangers who had only ever seen elderly people up to their 80s complete the climb never anyone in their 90s. The first portion of the climb with its slick, steep subdome was difficult, Kalin told SFGATE. His son and granddaughter, Jon and Sidney, held onto him to support him. "I didn't fully realize how tricky it would be, especially at my age," Kalin said, noting that it was easier once he got to the portion of the climb with cables to hold onto. "I walked and pulled the best I could. It's a matter of balance and leaning forward to try and get the power." Story continues "He's stubborn as a mule. When he sets his mind to something, he's going to do it," Jon, Kalin's son, told SFGATE. "He kept proving me wrong every step of the way." When the trio finally reached the summit after almost being rained out all the climbers along with them celebrated, Jon told SFGATE. "It was like paparazzi, everyone taking videos and photos. It was unreal," Kalin's son told the outlet. "I'm choking up just talking about it now. The power of seeing him was so much joy and inspiration." Kalin wasn't even sore when he returned home to Oakland. "That was fantastic. Just super," he told SFGATE. Read the original article on Insider The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, a non-profit dedicated to protecting personal freedoms, is downsizing due to budget constraints. The organization, known for pursuing legal challenges against the government, including suits that established the right for gay couples to marry and adopt in the state of Florida, is laying off 10% of its staff, according to Executive Director Tiffani Lennon. In a statement, Lennon said the ACLU of Florida increased its staff to meet an unprecedented onslaught of attacks on civil rights and liberties in the state, but now finds itself needing to reduce its expenses by 20%. The loss of talented staff members is very difficult, said Lennon, who stressed that the organization is committed to maintaining a strong defense of Floridians civil rights as it works to secure more sources of financial support. The ACLU of Florida, often on the opposite side of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis policies, currently has 51 staff members listed on its website. A senior ACLU of Florida official familiar with the organizations budget said it was laying off five employees, who by Thursday will be notified that they have lost their jobs. The official said the organization increased the size of their staff amid plans to boost fundraising, but the money coming in didnt increase as quickly as theyd hoped. Going forward, the ACLU of Florida plans to increase educational programming to raise awareness of the organizations mission and attract more small-dollar donors. Chartered in 1965, the ACLU of Florida has been involved in many of the states most contentious legal battles. Recently, the organization has challenged state legislation that seeks to criminalize abortion providers, and legislation restricting healthcare for transgender people. The last time Rev. William Barber traveled to Kentucky, he didnt get a very warm welcome. In 2018, Barber the North Carolina-based anti-poverty and voting rights activist, inspirational speaker, author and McArthur Genius Grant recipient brought his reincarnated Poor Peoples campaign to the Capitol to protest proposed changes to Medicaid and state police stopped the group at the door. People were allowed in only two at a time, they said, and Barber refused to go in without his group. Luckily for Lexington, Barber doesnt hold a grudge. He is giving the keynote address to the Kentuckians For The Commonwealth annual meeting on Saturday at the Lyric Theatre. Its free and open to the public. Barber will appear with Louisville poet and activist Hannah Drake, who said she remembered his last time in our state. Hannah Drake is photographed by her (Un)Known Project installation near the Ohio River in downtown Louisville, Ky., on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. I paired his photo with a photo of Dr. King being stopped by police when I wrote about the hypocrisy of Kentucky, Drake said. Outside of knowing the date, which was 2018, you would think this was the same time period. It is not lost on me that Rev. William Barber and Rev. King are fighting for many of the same things and people still refuse to listen. I believe that life allows voices to rise in the midst of chaos to drive us towards cosmos. Barber is one of those voices that continues to be a light in darkness to let many know the bell is tolling for them. At what point will we listen? A photo of Rev. William Barber being blocked at the Kentucky Capitol by state police was paired with a similar photo of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Because of his passionate advocacy for civil rights, often from the public, Barber is often compared to King. Thats why in 2018, he reignited the 1967-68 original Poor Peoples Campaign, started after King decided that a civil rights movement led naturally to basic human rights such as healthcare and education. King worked on the campaign for a year before his assassination in Memphis. Barber is now involved with a group called Repairers of the Breach, which is trying to move beyond politics to create a moral agenda on issues such as voting rights, poverty and economic justice. Story continues Thats very much in keeping with KFTC, which has been working on these issues for the past 40 years, and invited Barber to appear in 2018. The group is less famous than it was in the 1980s when it led the fight to abolish the broad form deed, which allowed coal companies to mine for minerals under peoples homes if they owned the mineral rights. But it continues to fight for things like voting rights and environmental justice. Rev. Barber has been a voice for the voiceless for quite some time, just to be in his presence will be an honor, said Dee Parker, a member of the KFTC executive committee who lives in Hazard. This year, the theme of the annual meeting is Reckoning with Race, something Parker said needs to be done across all the issues that KFTC works on, from environmental justice to voting registration. Were shaking tables and making noise and people are listening, and its going to move KFTC into the next realm, Parker said. The annual meeting will have two events that are open to the public. On July 28 at 7 p.m. at the Lyric, there will be a screening and discussion of the in-progress film, After the Flood, which looks at the aftermath of last years devastating floods in Eastern Kentucky exactly a year later. On Saturday, July 29, Barber and Drake will speak at the Lyric from 7-9 p.m. For more information, go to kftc.org. Capybara babies were recently born at a California zoo, and theyre already playing and keeping up with their mom, video shows. Capybara pups are precocial, meaning theyre more mature and already mobile when born, officials with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said in a July 25 news release. So theyre already nursing and following mom, officials said. Dont let their little legs fool you, these little pups are already up and on the move, following mom and exploring their new surroundings, officials said on a video posted to Facebook. Its mama capybara Rosalinas second litter of pups, and the first for their dad, Bowie, officials said in the release. Theyll grow up to be the largest rodents in the world, though you wouldnt know it from their scientific name Hydrochoerus meaning water hog. They are great swimmers, after all. Capybaras are not pigs, but they are related to guinea pigs, as well as hamsters and mice, officials said. Wild capybaras roam swampy, grassy regions that border rivers, ponds, streams and lakes in Central and South America, officials said. Though not listed as an endangered species, capybaras are threatened by deforestation, habitat destruction and poaching, officials said. The four capybara pups are at the zoos Elephant Odyssey they share a habitat with Bairds tapir and might be hard to spot while theyre out on habitat, officials said. Lucky visitors might still be able to catch a glimpse as they take a cap-nap during the day, officials said on Facebook. Hear mountain lions playful growls as she tumbles with cub in California videos Baby bat-eared foxes claim moms ears as favorite toy at California zoo. See them play Giant rodent native to South America ended up in Illinois river. A fisherman killed it A major push in the southern Zaporizhzhia province Wednesday appears to signify Ukraine has launched a more aggressive phase of what so far has been a slow-developing counteroffensive aimed at recapturing territory from Russian occupation. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to repel the massive assault led by three battalions near the town of Orikhiv. But a Kremlin-appointed official in the heavily fortified region, Vladimir Rogov, remarked on social media that "the second wave of the counteroffensive has begun, pointing out the Ukrainians were riding tanks provided by the West. Pentagon officials confirmed that after nearly two months of mostly probing for Russian weak spots, a revitalized Ukrainian onslaught is underway, bolstered by fresh reinforcements including many Western-trained troops, the New York Times reported. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to reveal information about the campaign. At a White House briefing with reporters Wednesday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby was asked about the limited progress Ukraine has made and said, "They are moving, it's not a stalemate. They're not just frozen. The Ukrainians are moving." Ukrainian officials were coy about the latest thrust. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded his nightly video address by saying, "By the way, today our guys at the front had very good results. Well done. More details later." Local residents stand in front of buildings destroyed in the Russian strike July 10 in the town of Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine appears to have launched a new push to retake the province. (Credit: Andriy Andriyenko, AP) Developments: A former leader of a now-banned pro-Russian political party has been charged with high treason, the Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigation announced. Vadym Rabinovych spread anti-Ukrainian propaganda at home and among political leaders in the EU, investigators said. Kirby said the U.S., Ukraine and their allies are working on finding ways to export Ukrainian agricultural products by land, "But that's not as efficient. It's not effective. You can't move as much or as fast via land routes.'' Story continues The Moldova Foreign Affairs Ministry ordered Russia to send home 45 of its more than 80 embassy personnel by Aug. 15. The decision was the result of "numerous unfriendly actions" and Russian efforts to destabilize the country, the ministry said. Ukrainian Security Service head Vasyl Malyuk said Wednesday on state television that his agency was responsible for the October attack that severely damaged the Kerch Bridge linking Kremlin-occupied Crimea with Russia, a rare admission of a covert operation by an Ukrainian official. Ukrainian law enforcement agencies are investigating claims that Yury Aristov, a member of Zelenskyy's Servant of the People party and deputy chairman of parliament's national security committee, traveled to the Maldives in mid-July despite a ban on officials traveling abroad for leisure. Ex-US Marine hurt: Trevor Reed, freed by Russia in prisoner swap, is wounded in Ukraine: Live updates African leaders skip summit; Russia blames US pressure A scaled-down Russian summit of African leaders convening Thursday in St. Petersburg appears poised to draw about half as many heads of state as a similar conference four years ago, apparently because of global concerns over Moscow's bold invasion of Ukraine. Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which provided a lifeline of desperately needed grain shipments from Ukraine to multiple African nations, will be among crucial topics at the event. "I sure hope Mr. Putin is willing to be honest with African leaders about the effect this is having or could have on'' their countries, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at the White House. Yuri Ushakov, foreign policy assistant to Russian President Vladimir Putin, acknowledged that fewer than half the 49 countries participating this year will be represented by heads of state, down from 43 at the inaugural summit four years ago. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov blamed the West for the low turnout, accusing the U.S., France and other nations of putting "unprecedented pressure" on African leaders to skip the gathering. "Once again, (we will) continue the conversation on the grain deal, which has ceased to operate, about the reasons for this," Peskov said. Ukrainian pilots will get F-16 training in Romania and Denmark Details about the plans to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets are starting to filter out, though much information remains under wraps. Kirby told reporters some of the training will be conducted in Romania and Denmark. "The dates, locations, the length of the syllabus, that's still being worked out,'' said Kirby, adding that other sites are also being considered. After longtime opposition, the Biden administration said it May it would grant permission for its allies to provide Ukraine the U.S.-made warplanes, while pointing out they would not be a factor in the current counteroffensive and were meant for mid- and long-term security needs. As part of the training, Kirby said, the U.K. is teaching English-language skills to some Ukrainian pilots "so they can actually operate the controls in an F-16.'' Could cluster bombs actually save lives in Ukraine? The Biden administration's controversial decision to provide Ukraine with cluster bombs could result in fewer deaths, a former State Department special presidential envoy for arms control says. The artillery shells disperse scores of "bomblets" that explode above the ground and rain shrapnel over a wide area. Marshall Billingslea, a senior fellow at the conservative Hudson Institute think tank, acknowledges that a "very small fraction" of the bomblets can fail to detonate and could sit in the ground for years before being detonated by an unsuspecting passerby even a child at play. "That's a horrific possibility," Billingslea writes in a commentary for the Daily Mail. "However, this future risk cannot be considered in isolation from the fact that Ukrainians are fighting for their lives right now." He also points out the cluster bombs Russia has been spraying across Ukraine have a much higher "dud'' rate, up to 40%, than the under-2.35% rate of those supplied by the U.S. The bombs were designed to counter the "human wave" infantry tactics Russia has adopted and to dislodge the kind of dug-in defenders that have slowed the Ukrainian counteroffensive, so they could help accelerate the end of the war, he says. "If these purpose-built weapons bring the war to a speedier conclusion, they will be worth it," Billingslea says. Russian fleet appears poised to tighten blockade Russias Black Sea Fleet has "altered its posture" since Russia pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, apparently preparing to enforce a blockade on Ukraine, the British Defense Ministry says. The agreement had helped moderate the involvement of the Black Sea in the war, the ministry said, warning that violence in the area could increase. "There is a realistic possibility (the fleet) will form part of a task group to intercept commercial vessels Russia believes are heading to Ukraine," the ministry said. Contributing: Francesca Chambers and Anastasiia Riddle, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine live updates: Kyiv launches 'second wave' in southern province A rendering shows what the patio on the north side of La Quinta de los Reyes restaurant in downtown Aurora would look like after the planned remodeling. (City of Aurora/HANDOUT) The Aurora City Council Tuesday night approved a $1.1 million incentive to help with the remodeling of the popular La Quinta de los Reyes restaurant downtown. Aldermen voted 9-1 in favor of a redevelopment agreement for the building at 36 E. New York St. The agreement includes two $550,000 incentives from the city to the restaurant, one of which is a traditional loan restaurant officials will pay back, and the second a loan the city will consider paid back by sales and food and beverage taxes in the future. Advertisement Before the vote, Mayor Richard Irvin said the money is going to a restaurant that has been in business for 20 years, at times the only large restaurant in downtown Aurora. City officials have pointed out the business survived the recession, and the coronavirus pandemic lockdown. The business was one of the first in town to adapt to curbside pickups and social distancing during the pandemic. Advertisement We exist because our businesses exist, Irvin said. An Aurora business success is the city of Auroras success. The planned improvements would turn a courtyard seating area in the back of the restaurant, on the north side, into an all-weather seating area. The plan also includes infrastructure improvements to the La Quinta building that would help future redevelopment of parts of it currently not used by the restaurant, city officials said. Under the proposed redevelopment agreement, La Quinta would put in $680,000 of equity in the building. The city would loan the company $550,000 like a traditional loan, which the restaurant would pay back at 5.5% interest. It also would do a $550,000 loan the city would consider paid back through sales and food and beverage taxes during the next 12 years. City officials have said the restaurant already grosses about $2 million a year, and that should go up with the increased seating. If the restaurant is not meeting that threshold for payback, officials have said the city could reevaluate the agreement. The building at New York and Broadway is an anchor for both New York Street and Broadway downtown. It was built in 1912, said John Curley, Auroras chief development services officer. At one time, the building was the endpoint for the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin electric interurban in downtown, and some might remember it as housing Duts Dugout, a longtime tavern, on the Broadway side. In 1992 and 1993, a restaurant called Rollin on the River opened in the building, but closed in 1995. A place called Jesse James Saloon attempted to open there after that, but while remodeling was done, the place never opened. In 1998, it was remodeled into a Snuggery, which closed in 2001. In 2003, La Quinta opened in the building. Advertisement City officials have said the infrastructure work on the building - including a new stairway along the north side of the building and a grease trap - would not only serve La Quinta, but development in other parts of the building. As for the patio, it would be converted to an indoor-outdoor space that would use louvers that could open in nice weather. It would more than double the seating size of the restaurant year-round. Restaurant officials have said they would look to start work on the building by Sept. 11, with hopes of finishing the work in early December. slord@tribpub.com The agricultural industry in the United States is graying, as the average age of farmers creeps ever higher. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the average age of an American farmer is 57.5, continuing a long-term trend of America's farmers aging toward retirement. On average, those farmers have been working on their current farm for more than 21 years. Tuscaloosa County Extension Agent John Cameron talks about the Agriscience Outdoor Classroom Project during a lunch meeting Friday, July 21, 2023 at the Cooperative Extension Offices in the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse Annex. The Agriscience Outdoor Classroom Project, a new program that was proposed to the Tuscaloosa County School System, will address that problem by introducing high school students to the agricultural industry using a hands-on approach. Tuscaloosa County site of farm plot for education John Cameron, Tuscaloosa County extension coordinator, said a new farm plot off Finnell Road in the Samantha community in northern Tuscaloosa County will give educators the chance to provide a broad base of agricultural education. More: New Chamber CEO Kyle South hopes to bolster the region, Tuscaloosa hub "This is the whole ball of wax. We are hoping to start some of the program in the fall. It is going to directly impact Tuscaloosa County High, Sipsey Valley High and Northside High, but we want it to impact the whole county," Cameron said. The 70-acre plot will be divided into various areas of agricultural production including areas for cattle, forestry, traditional row crop farming, bees, sheep and goats, and an orchard. The area will open new opportunities for ag educators to move from the classroom into the field. An aerial view of farm property in the Samantha area is displayed during a lunch meeting Friday, July 21, 2023 at the Cooperative Extension Offices in the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse Annex. Greer Williams, the ag teacher at Tuscaloosa County High who also works with students from Sipsey Valley and Northside in the Northport Career Tech Annex at TCHS said, "At this farm, we're going to cover just about every base that an ag teacher needs to. Everything and anything that is ag, that's what we're going to cover at this farm. It's going to be a multi-use farm that many different agencies can use. There's no doubt it's going to stimulate student interest. It's really going to open the eyes to kids about the ag industry." Story continues The hands-on approach also opens avenues of learning to a broad spectrum of learning styles. Not all students enjoy learning from a book or an electronic device; some would rather have a more direct experience to help them learn. The new Agriscience Outdoor Classroom Project would reach those tactile learners. "It allows students to connect what they are learning in the classroom to the real world. The up-and-moving tends to be the learning style of a lot of students these days. They are not just hearing about it but they are actually physically doing the things they are being taught. It is more meaningful, and they will remember it longer and be able to see the connection," said Shannon Stubbs, a career counselor at TCHS. Cameron said the initiative is bringing together people from across the agribusiness industry to help build the future through the program. He presented the program to the Tuscaloosa County School Board in June and has been in contact with Pickens County and Fayette County boards of education about the program. The role of technology in modern agribusiness An informational meeting held July 21 at the County Extension Office in Tuscaloosa brought together men and women from across the agricultural industry including working farmers from West Alabama as Cameron works to build a cooperative support environment to help build the fledgling program. This property on Finnell Road in the Samantha Community will host an agricultural education area for the Tuscaloosa County School System. Cameron emphasized that modern farming isn't only about putting seeds into the ground or raising cattle of clearing timber. Modern agribusiness is filled with technology, a fact that he says will help kids who are living in a high-tech society with the more traditional aspects of agribusiness. "There's tech in there, but a lot of people think agriculture is my granddaddy in a straw hat on a 30-horse(power) tractor and it's not that anymore. There's a lot of things that go on there that people don't understand that was just old school information that our granddaddy's had, but we've now got our research base information coming from the universities I work for," Cameron said. Farmers and agribusiness people use drone technology for a wide variety of applications, from forestry to spraying row crops. Cameron said if anyone visits a catfish farm in West Alabama, they will see that much of the operation can be run from a iPad. Tuscaloosa County School System Superintendent Keri Johnson said she loves the approach because it enhances the learning process for students. "There's only so much you can teach in the classroom, but when kids can put their hands on things and actually see things from start to finish, it makes a difference. They can see a product from the very beginning all the way through the process. They get more experiences when they are out of the classroom," Johnson said. 'In West Alabama, agriculture is alive and thriving' The superintendent is also excited that the hands-on aspect of learning presents to kids in the TCSS schools. "The students all have different learning styles, of course, and the kids who would prefer to be outside and have their hands in the dirt, or on an animal, or picking vegetables are definitely going to be more engaged. It gives the kids who like to be in the classroom a chance to see the other side of things. It reaches all of our learning styles," Johnson said. Johnson sees the potential for programs such as this one to have a strong impact on the future of American agriculture. "We hope the program will have a positive impact on the future of agriculture. Here in West Alabama, agriculture is alive and thriving. We want our students who will be the next generation of farmers to have the skills to continue the work. To be able to give our students some real skills and knowledge is very exciting." Reach Gary Cosby Jr. at gary.cosby@tuscaloosanews.com. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Program offers students hands-on work at 70-acre Tuscaloosa County farm Delivery of AH-1Z attach helicopters to the Czech Republic The first two new U.S.-made AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters for the Czech Republic have been delivered to the country. Their arrival comes as the Czech Republics aging Soviet-era Mi-24/Mi-35 attack helicopters are set to be retired from service in September, with four of these already having been delivered to Ukraine, and more set to follow. Delivery of the AH-1Zs also comes amid a broader resurgence in interest in modern attack helicopters among NATOs Eastern European members in response to the conflict in Ukraine with the possible delivery of more H-1 series helicopters to the region in the near term. https://twitter.com/ObranaTweetuje/status/1684165146321514497?s=20 According to the Czech Republics Ministry of Defense, the 22nd Helicopter Air Force Base, which is located in Namest nad Oslavou, in the southeast of the country, received the helicopters on July 26. By mid-September, the base will receive two more Vipers and the first two UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters also being delivered by the U.S. In total, the Czech Army's helicopter force will eventually receive 20 H-1 series helicopters 10 AH-1Zs and 10 UH-1Ys. Hellfire and Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) air-to-ground guided weapons, unguided rockets, and ammunition for cannons and machine guns, will also be provided. The two AH-1Zs were transported from the United States to the Czech Republic via a C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane. According to the Czech MoD, a large group of American specialists also arrived with the helicopters. Working alongside Czech personnel, they will reassemble the Vipers and start to fly them in the next two weeks. Czech MoD Czech MoD Czech MoD Delivery of the first American [AH-1Z Viper] helicopters is a significant moment for the modernization of the [Czech] military, it moves the helicopter air force into the 21st century. In this way, we are getting rid of our dependence on Russian technology and switching to a modern Western platform supplied by an important ally, Jana Cernochova, the Czech Republics Minister of Defense, said of the news. Story continues Czech MoD Czech MoD Czech MoD In August, a mobile training team will arrive from the U.S. The team will train Czech personnel of the 22nd Helicopter Air Force Base on how to operate its new AH-1Zs, starting September 1. Under the supervision of the training team, courses will continue for Czech pilots at the base for the next two years, until they have fully mastered the system of operation and maintenance of the helicopters, according to the Czech MoD. Czech MoD Czech MoD Czech MoD Czech MoD Czech MoD Czech MoD It should be noted that pilots from the 22nd Helicopter Air Force Base have already been training on the H-1 system for seven months at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, as per the Czech MoD. The H-1 system will fundamentally increase the firing capabilities of the helicopter air force of the Czech Armed Forces, especially with precision-guided ammunition that can be used by both helicopters of the system, according to Lt. Gen. Karel Rehka, Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Republic Armed Forces. Bells H-1 series of helicopters has roots dating back to the 1950s. As weve noted in the past, the company has strived to keep the UH-1 and AH-1 designs as common as possible in order to make the fielding, maintenance, and spare parts stocking for both variants easier. A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom helicopter, assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, descends in an extraction exercise, at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, April 14, 2023. USMC Indeed, the most modern versions of the H-1 helicopters the AH-1Z and UH-1Y share 85 percent of their parts, mostly in terms of powertrain, sub-systems, and to a degree, avionics. In recent years, the Marine Corps AH-1 helicopters have had to fight for operational significance, with the last of the services AH-1Zs rolling off Bells assembly line in Amarillo, Texas, in November of 2022. A number of the relatively new helicopters have already been put into storage due to changing priorities within the Marine Corps. Plans for the delivery of the H-1s to the Czech Republic have been in the pipeline for some time. Back in 2017, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of a number of UH-1Ys the Czech Republic requested 12 and related equipment for the country, at an estimated cost of $575 million. Then, in 2019, the department approved the sale of four AH-1Zs and related equipment, at an estimated cost of $205 million. The Czech government chose to purchase the four AH-1Zs and eight UH-1Ys, manufactured as new by Bell, for a total of $623 million in August of the same year. A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 fires at a target during Resolute Dragon 22 at Yausubetsu Maneuver Area, Hokkaido, Japan, Oct. 6, 2022. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Lorenzo Ducato Following the announcement that the Czech Republic would be donating an unspecified number of its Mi-24/Mi-35 attack helicopters to Ukraine in May 2022, the United States offered an additional eight H-1s to the Czech Army free of charge, bar the costs of transfer and upgrades, in August 2022. That offer included six AH-1Z a two UH-1Ys. The implementation of the agreement brought the total number of sold and donated H-1s by the U.S. to the Czech Republic to 20; 10 of each variant. The Czech Republic has since offered more Mi-24/Mi-35 attack helicopters to Ukraine, although the final number has not been disclosed. As of summer 2022, eight Mi-24/35s were operating with the Czech 221st Helicopter Squadron. That figure does not include the first two Mi-35s that were sent to Ukraine. There has also been suggestion that the Czech Republic which has recently invested in the refurbishment and modernization of its incoming H-1 fleet may look to purchase additional H-1s, too, which could be made available via foreign military sale. Of course, the U.S.'s decision to sell a number of its H-1s comes amid a broader resurgence of attack helicopter interest in Eastern Europe in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Delivering various kinds of attack helicopters to Europe has also been seen as critical to balancing out depleted numbers of older Soviet systems donated to Ukraine by NATO powers. Back in September 2022, Poland announced it was considering procuring as many as 96 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to replace its aging fleet of Cold War-era Mi-24s. Around a dozen of Polands Mi-24s were recently sent to Kyiv, according to the Wall Street Journal. AH-1Z and UH-Y are often seen working together as a team. Bell Moreover, Slovakia, which has given Ukraine MiG-29 fighter jets, has been offered 12 new AH-1Zs by the United States as compensation for the donation. That offer would see Slovakia pay $340 million for a deal worth about $1 billion, alongside the delivery of 500 AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles as well as training on the helicopters. Such is the interest in attack helicopters in Europe, and the U.S. commitment to supplying Bell H-1 series helicopters, that Bell Textron has supposedly made an offer to the German government to relocate the entire production to Germany if the country chooses the Viper to replace its Tiger attack helicopters. Germany is set to retire its Tigers by 2038. Given the demands for attack helicopters in the region amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, its likely the AH-1Zs for the Czech Republic will not be the last of their kind to be delivered to a European nation. And there is also the question of Ukraine itself. The AH-1Z has been floated in the past as a possible platform for reequipping its Soviet-era attack helicopter fleet. The war in Ukraine, and the dramatic geopolitical shift that went with it, has also made it very challenging to support Russian aircraft types. Beyond sanctions, Russia is consuming massive amounts of spare parts and logistical capacity to keep its own fleets in the fight. This has left many legacy users of these aircraft scrambling for replacements. This has not gone unnoticed by U.S. helicopter manufacturers. The business opportunities spurred by this situation could be highly lucrative in Europe and elsewhere, such as Africa. So, the iconic H-1/AH-1 team may still have a bright future ahead of it nearly six decades after they began to grace the skies together. Contact the author: oliver@thewarzone.com Leaders from the AI research world appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to discuss and answer questions about the nascent technology. Their broadly unanimous opinions generally fell into two categories: we need to act soon, but with a light touch risking AI abuse if we don't move forward, or a hamstrung industry if we rush it. The panel of experts at today's hearing included Anthropic co-founder Dario Amodei, UC Berkeley's Stuart Russell and longtime AI researcher Yoshua Bengio. The two-hour hearing was largely free of the acrimony and grandstanding one sees more often in House hearings, though not entirely so. You can watch the whole thing here, but I've distilled each speaker's main points below. Dario Amodei What can we do now? (Each expert was first asked what they think are the most important short-term steps.) 1. Secure the supply chain. There are bottlenecks and vulnerabilities in the hardware we rely on to research and provide AI, and some are at risk due to geopolitical factors (e.g. TSMC in Taiwan) and IP or safety issues. 2. Create a testing and auditing process like what we have for vehicles and electronics. And develop a "rigorous battery of safety tests." He noted, however, that the science for establishing these things is "in its infancy." Risks and dangers must be defined in order to develop standards, and those standards need strong enforcement. He compared the AI industry now to airplanes a few years after the Wright brothers flew. There is an obvious need for regulation, but it needs to be a living, adaptive regulator that can respond to new developments. Of the immediate risks, he highlighted misinformation, deepfakes and propaganda during an election season as being most worrisome. Amodei managed not to bite at Sen. Josh Hawley's (R-MO) bait regarding Google investing in Anthropic and how adding Anthropic's models to Google's attention business could be disastrous. Amodei demurred, perhaps allowing the obvious fact that Google is developing its own such models speak for itself. Story continues Yoshua Bengio What can we do now? 1. Limit who has access to large-scale AI models and create incentives for security and safety. 2. Alignment: Ensure models act as intended. 3. Track raw power and who has access to the scale of hardware needed to produce these models. Bengio repeatedly emphasized the need to fund AI safety research at a global scale. We don't really know what we're doing, he said, and in order to perform things like independent audits of AI capabilities and alignment, we need not just more knowledge but extensive cooperation (rather than competition) between nations. He suggested that social media accounts should be "restricted to actual human beings that have identified themselves, ideally in person." This is in all likelihood a total non-starter, for reasons we've observed for many years. Though right now there is a focus on larger, well-resourced organizations, he pointed out that pre-trained large models can easily be fine-tuned. Bad actors don't need a giant data center or really even a lot of expertise to cause real damage. In his closing remarks, he said that the U.S. and other countries need to focus on creating a single regulatory entity each in order to better coordinate and avoid bureaucratic slowdown. Stuart Russell What can we do now? 1. Create an absolute right to know if one is interacting with a person or a machine. 2. Outlaw algorithms that can decide to kill human beings, at any scale. 3. Mandate a kill switch if AI systems break into other computers or replicate themselves. 4. Require systems that break rules to be withdrawn from the market, like an involuntary recall. His idea of the most pressing risk is "external impact campaigns" using personalized AI. As he put it: We can present to the system a great deal of information about an individual, everything they've ever written or published on Twitter or Facebook... train the system, and ask it to generate a disinformation campaign particularly for that person. And we can do that for a million people before lunch. That has a far greater effect than spamming and broadcasting of false info that is not tailored to the individual. Russell and the others agreed that while there is lots of interesting activity around labeling, watermarking and detecting AI, these efforts are fragmented and rudimentary. In other words, don't expect much and certainly not in time for the election, which the Committee was asking about. He pointed out that the amount of money going to AI startups is on the order of 10 billion per month, though he did not cite his source on this number. Professor Russell is well-informed, but seems to have a penchant for eye-popping numbers, like AI's "cash value of at least 14 quadrillion dollars." At any rate, even a few billion per month would put it well beyond what the U.S. spends on a dozen fields of basic research through the National Science Foundations, let alone AI safety. Open up the purse strings, he all but said. Asked about China, he noted that the country's expertise generally in AI has been "slightly overstated" and that "they have a pretty good academic sector that they're in the process of ruining." Their copycat LLMs are no threat to the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic, but China is predictably well ahead in terms of surveillance, such as voice and gait identification. In their concluding remarks of what steps should be taken first, all three pointed to, essentially, investing in basic research so that the necessary testing, auditing and enforcement schemes proposed will be based on rigorous science and not outdated or industry-suggested ideas. Sen. Blumenthal (D-CT) responded that this hearing was intended to help inform the creation of a government body that can move quickly, "because we have no time to waste." "I don't know who the Prometheus is on AI," he said, "but I know we have a lot of work to make that the fire here is used productively." And presumably also to make sure said Prometheus doesn't end up on a mountainside with feds picking at his liver. Airbus and Boeing are racing to boost production rates to meet a surge in orders from airlines (JULIEN DE ROSA) Airbus and Boeing both stepped up deliveries of commercial aircraft in the first half of this year, boosting revenue as they strive to ramp up production to meet demand from airlines. Both aircraft manufacturers released results on Wednesday, with Airbus reporting a net profit of 1.06 billion euros ($1.17 billion) in the second quarter while Boeing suffered a $149 million loss following delays and cost issues in its defence and space programme. Both saw revenues jump as they delivered more aircraft to clients. Boeing boosted revenue by 18 percent during the quarter to $19.8 billion, while Airbus posted a 24 percent increase to $17.6 billion. In the second quarter, US-based Boeing notched a 12 percent increase in commercial plane deliveries to 136. Its European rival Airbus managed a 6.4 percent increase to 316 deliveries in the first half of the year. As airlines have announced major new orders in response to robust travel demand following Covid-19 lockdowns, Airbus and Boeing have had trouble boosting production. Both companies slashed output and cut staff during the pandemic as global air travel came to a near halt, and ramping it back up has proved slow and difficult for them and their suppliers. - 'Steady progress' - Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun pointed to "steady progress" in the aerospace giant's turnaround, calling demand strong in the company press release. Boeing's commercial plane programme has been beset with various manufacturing and quality control issues in recent years that have limited deliveries for its top-selling jets, the 737 and 787 Dreamliner, pushing the company into loss. In an interview on CNBC, Calhoun described the supply chain difficulties as "settling down" as he reviewed the ramp-up planned for the best-selling jets and reviewed a number of major contracts with carriers in India, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. Calhoun offered a somewhat more upbeat appraisal Wednesday as he mapped out the plan to increase production of the 737 MAX to 38 a month from 31 a month. Story continues "Suppliers have been working diligently to sort of settle down and eliminate the constraints, and slowly and steadily we're seeing fewer and fewer concerns," Calhoun told CNBC, adding that the company plans to boost output to 50 per month down the road. Boeing also announced new production targets for the 787 Dreamliner. Later on a conference call with analysts, Calhoun characterised supply chain issues as still the "most significant" challenge facing the company, but said "it's steadily getting better". - Airbus constrained by suppliers - Airbus also highlighted the critical importance of ramping up production and continued supply chain difficulties. "On the supply side, our deliveries continue to be paced by a few critical suppliers," chief executive Guillaume Faury said in a conference call. Airbus confirmed plans to make 75 of its best-selling single-aisle A320 family aircraft per month in 2026. This production rate "is now the key reference point for the company", it acknowledged. But it dropped reference to making 65 A320 aircraft per month in 2024 "Given the volatility in our supply chain and in our operations, we wont give interim targets anymore," said Faury. "The overall trajectory and the landing point is what matters, well continue to make tactical adjustments in our production as required," he added. Faury said a problem recently identified with Pratt and Whitney engines for the A320neo would not affect deliveries and Airbus would assist affected clients. Airbus confirmed its target of delivering around 720 commercial aircraft this year. - Record order book - Faury said demand for its commercial aircraft remained strong, pointing to 800 orders announced at the Paris Air Show. Net orders totalled 1,044 during the first half of the year, more than four times the amount during the first six months of 2022. That is already close to its annual totals the past two years and puts Airbus within striking distance of its 2014 record of 1,590 aircraft. "This demand is driven both by growth and fleet replacement as airlines invest in more fuel efficient fleets," said Faury, noting its order book stands at a record 7,967 aircraft. Airbus' results were held back by a weak performance by its defence and space unit which was hit by a drop in revenues due to delays, although it did return to an operating profit. Meanwhile, Boeing's defence, space and security business operated at loss, hit by delays in the Starliner spacecraft and increased costs connected to the T-7A jet trainer programme. Even though Boeing's commercial aircraft unit continued to operate at a loss the company beat analyst expectations and investors welcomed its revised production targets, driving the share price up 6.7 percent. Airbus released its results after European markets closed for the day. jmb-rl/bp Sen. Kyrsten Sinema was the beneficiary of a recent, unrivaled burst of financial support from airline executives among her Senate colleagues who also oversee the industry and whose terms are also ending next year. Five different airline CEOs and the chair of another directly contributed to Sinema, I-Ariz., between April and June. Only one other person on the Senate Commerce Committee whose term expires in 2024, as Sinemas does, received support from even one airline CEO. The financial backing extended beyond the top executives and Sinemas principal campaign committee. Overall, three committees linked to Sinema collected at least $135,000 from donors who identified themselves in campaign finance reports as working in the airline industry in the second quarter. Nearly all the donors identify themselves as executives. Sinemas total led her nine peers on the Commerce Committee who are up for reelection, including Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who heads the committee, and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, the top GOP member of the panel. Historically, Sinema and her committee peers have received significant support from the airline industry, according to figures from OpenSecrets, which tracks money in politics, but it is Sinema, who isnt even a declared candidate at the moment, who is quickest to receive campaign cash this year. The support came as the Commerce Committee is helping shape the periodic reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration, legislation that helps determine the rules guiding the airlines. It also arrived as Sinema has trailed in new fundraising against Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., who is running for her seat and relying more on small-dollar donors. The heads of Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian and United airlines all gave to Sinema in the most recent fundraising quarter. So did the chair of Southwest Airlines. Those airlines combine for 76% of the nations domestic market share, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Story continues Sinema's spending under scrutiny: Luxury trips, fine wines are now part of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's image. Will voters care? Cantwell was the only other senator on her committee who is facing voters next year who also received money from an airline CEO this year. That came from Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Airlines. The FAAs reauthorization comes before Congress as the nations air-traffic systems face a troubling number of near-miss incidents on runways, a situation the agencys acting administrator described earlier this year as concerning. The FAAs reauthorization came to a surprising halt in the Senate Commerce Committee in June, in part over a provision favored by Sinema and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., to allow the agency to modify pilot-training rules if the FAA deems the changes safer than current practices. In aviation circles, it is a contentious issue that is backed by regional airlines. The aviation industry is grappling with pilot shortages amid rising passenger traffic, and is opposed by the union that represents those in the cockpit. At a Monday event with the U.S. Hispanic Business Council in Phoenix, Sinema sidestepped the issue of financial support and high-profile, safety related criticism of her amendment from Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot who in 2009 safely landed a crippled US Airways jetliner in New Yorks Hudson River. I hadnt seen any of his comments, but I will tell you that Sen. John Thune and I are working on an amendment that would actually enhance pilot training and ensure that pilots who are in accredited schools can use some of the hours in simulators towards their pilot training, Sinema told reporters. Now, this is actually important because in simulation training, you experience really tough weather conditions that you probably dont ever experience in real-life training as youre getting towards those 1,500 hours. So, the bottom line is that Sen. Thune and I are working together with our colleagues, Sen. Cruz, Sen. Cantwell, to find an agreement that works for everyone, she said. " Arizonans know that I continue working hard for all of the achievements we talked about today, and Ill continue doing just that. Ill leave the partisan politics to someone else. Sinema has not officially said whether she is seeking another six-year term next year, but records show her campaign spent more than $800,000 between April and June even as her fundraising has lagged by her usual standards. Sinemas amendment found unusually blunt condemnation from another senator and from Sullenberger, a national flying hero. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a former combat pilot who chairs the subcommittee on aviation safety that Sinema previously headed, attacked those backing the training changes. Duckworth said it would leave blood on your hands. Ruben Gallego's Senate campaign: Gallego brings in $3.1 million, largely from small-dollar donors Last week, Sullenberger ripped Sinema over her backing for the amendment and pointed to her support from the industry. While not surprising, this is disgusting and disappointing, he wrote in a pair of tweets. I have spent a lifetime dedicated to making air travel safer, but this critical and life-saving work is about to be undone with one amendment to a bill. Elements of the Sinema amendment, however, have been outlined to the FAA before. In 2016, for example, a committee that advises the FAA on training standards detailed multiple proposals to modify early-stage pilot training standards based on college education and military experience. In many cases, flight simulators have proven to provide more thorough training than can be accomplished in the aircraft, the report said in one section. Even so, the recommendations made clear there are limits to alternative training. Airmanship skills cannot be attained through ground training; they are learned, developed and honed only through actual flight experience, it notes in another section. Last year, the FAA rejected the request of a single smaller carrier that sought to help attract more pilots through an exception to the current pilot-training rules. The FAA denied the request, saying pilot recruitment isn't part of its duties and opted to preserve its current flight education foundation. Sinema has said Cantwell asked her earlier this year to help forge bipartisan agreement on a plan for the FAA. The agency has operated without a permanent administrator for more than a year. Phillip Washington, a nominee to head the FAA, bowed out earlier this year after Sinema and Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., along with Senate Republicans, withheld their backing for him. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously passed its version of an FAA reauthorization bill the same week the Senates version froze. The pending reauthorization plans brought a flurry of lobbying by the airline industry this spring on many issues, from tracking customer complaints to flight-related taxes to aviation workforce supply. About the same time, airline CEOs targeted Sinemas campaign committees. On May 29, Scott Kirby, CEO of United, gave her campaign $4,000. Two days later, Minicucci, the CEO of Alaska Airlines, gave her $1,500. On June 5, Robert Isom, Americans CEO, gave her campaign $5,000. The same day, he gave another $5,000 to the Sinema Leadership Fund, a PAC that has transferred $2 million this year to Sinemas campaign or to another affiliated PAC, Getting Stuff Done. On June 8, Gary Kelly, the current chairman and former CEO for Southwest Airlines chipped in $2,500. Later that month, he gave Sinemas campaign $1,500 more. On June 12, Edward Bastian, the CEO of Delta, gave $3,300 to the Sinema Leadership Fund. Overall, Delta executives and the companys PAC gave Sinemas affiliated committees more than $54,000. Americans executives and corporate PAC gave her nearly $47,000. Executives or PACs with Southwest, Hawaiian, United and Alaska airlines provided her nearly $25,000. Airlines for America, an industry advocacy group, gave her campaign $6,000 since late May. A PAC for the Allied Pilots Association, the nations largest labor union for pilots, gave her $2,000 on June 30. Two weeks earlier, the FAAs reauthorization stalled in the Senate Commerce Committee after Sinemas amendment that Duckworth specifically condemned. The amendment would allow the FAA to consider changes to the current 1,500-hour rule for commercial pilot training, an idea considered for years. The changes would only happen if the FAA determined it made flying safer. The Regional Airline Association, which represents smaller, domestic airlines, has supported changes to training rules as the industry grapples with a nationwide shortage of an estimated 5,000 qualified pilots. Most pilots only have access to an hours-based pilot qualification standard, which incorporates little actual training after completing flight school, the RAA said in statements on proposed changes in April. To maintain safety, every regional airline has significantly expanded its training footprint, but more candidates fail out today than they did before the qualification standards favored flight time over quality training. Southwest said earlier this year it must park at least 40 planes a day because of pilot shortages. That airline tries to make up for its pilot shortage by hiring from smaller carriers, the Associated Press reported. Sinema silent on reelection: Senator presses forward with vets, fentanyl work In January, United's Kirby told investors that, pilots are and will remain a significant constraint on capacity. He said that United, Delta, American and Southwest planned to hire 8,000 pilots this year at least 1,000 more than in a usual year. The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents pilots, said the amendment undermines the current aviation safety regime that has resulted in the safest period in air travel in history. The amendment could change the way credit hours are tallied, potentially allowing some pilots to fly with as little as 500 hours of training, a return to rules as they existed before a 2010 overhaul by Congress, the association wrote. It was this shameful era of training pilots quickly and on the cheap and the resultant series of tragic accidents, including Flight 3407 outside of Buffalo, N.Y., that led Congress to pass changes, the group wrote. In a statement, Hannah Hurley, a spokeswoman for Sinema, said the amendment's detractors are ignoring its safety-focused intent. "Kyrsten is laser focused on ensuring America's airspace remains the safest in the world. At a time when the FAA and the Department of Transportation have called attention to the alarming rate of near-miss incidents, Kyrsten following the recommendations of safety experts proposed a bipartisan amendment that would enhance the safety of pilot training by allowing the FAA to investigate ways to make pilot training more diverse and robust. "Unfortunately, bombastic, partisan talking points distract from the shared goal of ensuring pilot and aviation safety." OpenSecrets identfied Sinema as the No. 3 recipient of air transportation money in the 2018 cycle, with about $85,000. Cruz came in first with $156,000 that cycle. Between 2018 and 2022, eight of the nine senators on the Commerce Committee whose terms expire next year have appeared in OpenSecrets' top ranks for senators from the air transportation industry at different times. Sinema, for example, ranked seventh in 2022 with about $56,000. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., ranked eighth that cycle with $51,000. When Sinema ranked third in 2018, Tester ranked fifth with $57,000. But Sinema appears to have pulled away from the others in the early months of this year. Cantwells campaign received more than $11,000 from donors identified as working for airlines this year. An affiliated committee that raises money for her didnt report taking in any money from that industry. Cruzs campaign collected $6,300 this year and an affiliated committee took in another $7,600. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., received $7,900 from both types of committees this year. From there, the financial support falls off, with six senators receiving a combined $8,000 to their campaigns or affiliated PACs. They include Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.; and Tester. The race for Testers seat is generally viewed as among the most competitive in the country, while Sinemas seat presents the possibility of a rare three-way contest. Rosens seat is also considered potentially competitive. Republic reporter Rafael Carranza contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: With FAA plan up in the air, airline execs gave to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema An Airbus A320neo aircraft. Regis Duvignau/Reuters 1,200 Pratt & Whitney engines on Airbus A320neo jets will need to be removed for inspection. The engine manufacturer said Tuesday it discovered an issue with its powder metal. JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, and Wizz Air are among the airlines to be impacted. There's likely to be more air travel disruption on its way because hundreds of Airbus planes will have to undergo engine inspections. Aerospace and defense conglomerate RTX, announced Tuesday that its subsidiary Pratt & Whitney, which makes aircraft engines, had discovered an issue in some of its engines which sent its stock down 10% on Tuesday, per Markets Insider data. The company said a "rare condition" contaminated the powder metal used to make "certain engine parts" and it could cause cracks to form on critical engine parts, per The Wall Street Journal. More than 1,000 engines will need to be inspected sooner than scheduled. RTX CEO Greg Hayes told Reuters that it could take up to 60 days to inspect and fix each engine. Those Pratt & Whitney engines are used on about 40% of the twin-engine Airbus A320neo jets, per the Journal. And at least 1,200 engines will need to be removed for "enhanced inspection" of the high-pressure turbine disc, said Chris Calio, RTX chief operating officer, in the Q2 earnings call. 200 inspections should take place by mid-September, with a further 1,000 in the next nine-to-twelve months, Calio added. It doesn't impact those currently in production, and Pratt & Whitney will continue to deliver new engines. But it will cause disruption for airlines using the parts built between 2015 and 2021. JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, and Wizz Air are among those affected, Reuters reported. A spokesperson for Wizz Air told Insider that 12 out of the more than 400 engines in its fleet will be replaced as part of the first round of inspections. The other airlines impacted did not immediately return Insider's request for comment, sent outside US working hours. Story continues An Airbus spokesperson said the company is working with its customers and Pratt & Whitney to minimize the disruption and implement the required inspection plans. The A320neo is a narrow-body airliner that competes with the Boeing 737 MAX. It was first launched in 2010, and helped Airbus break order records at the following Paris Air Show, France24 reported. That's because the engines are more fuel-efficient and provided an increased range, allowing more options for transatlantic flights without having to rely on the higher-capacity wide-bodies. Read the original article on Business Insider Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty Late last week, the state of Alabama appeared to defy the United States Supreme Court by refusing to redraw its congressional districts as ordered by the Court. The immediate aftermath of Alabamas conduct has been predictable: continued litigation, political grandstanding, and revisiting that states history of racial discrimination at the ballot box. But the significance of what is happening in Alabama goes beyond redistricting and voting rights: it represents an extremely dangerous step away from American democracy. In 1870, the United States ratified the 15th Amendment, which says that the right of citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Alabama GOP Defies SCOTUS, Refuses to Create 2nd Majority-Black District For nearly 100 years, however, the 15th Amendment proved to be barely more than what Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts recently described as a parchment promisewith Jim Crow laws including poll taxes, literacy tests, and so-called good-morals requirements effectively nullifying the Amendments intent. In 1965, to fulfill the promise of the 15th Amendment, Congress passed the landmark Voting Rights Act, hailed as one of the most important laws in American history. But not surprisingly, it did not completely rid the country of racial discrimination in voting, as intended. In 1980, the Supreme Court held that the Section 2 of the VRA, which mirrored the language of the 15th Amendment, prohibited voting laws intended to discriminate. That decision led to policy arguments about how to protect against laws that had a discriminatory impact (even without a discriminatory intent) without requiring racial proportionality in election outcomes. Lead counsel for the plaintiffs Deuel Ross speaks to members of the press as President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund Janai Nelson (R), plaintiff Evan Milligan (2nd R) and Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL) listen after the oral argument of the Merrill v. Milligan case at the U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 4, 2022 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong/Getty Images In 1982, Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS) led a bipartisan effort, signed into law by President Ronald Reagan, that amended the VRA to prohibit any law which results in a denial or abridgement of voting rightsexpanding it to cover discriminatory impactbut expressly provided that no group is entitled to representation equal to their proportion of the population. The revised VRA also established a totality of the circumstances test to ensure meaningful participation in the electoral process, and for the past 41 years, the Supreme Court has consistently interpreted and applied that law. Story continues From a 50,000-foot perspective, the history of the VRA has been an example of our democracy functioning as intended: Congress passes laws; states follow laws; courts correct states not following laws. Separation of powers? Checks and balances? Protecting Constitutional freedoms? Check, check, and check. But something is rotten in the state of Alabama. After the 2020 census, Alabama redrew its seven congressional districts, leading to lawsuits alleging that the new map ran afoul of the VRA through racial gerrymandering that diluted the vote of Black citizens. In Jan. 2022, after an extensive fact-specific hearing, a three-judge panel in federal court in Alabama found that the new map violated the VRA by denying Black voters an equal opportunity to other Alabamians to elect representatives of their choice. The court ordered Alabama to redraw its map to give Black voters, who represent 27 percent of the population, a meaningful influence in at least two of the seven districts, such as by having two majority-Black districts (the unconstitutional map had one). Alabama appealed, and the case ultimately went to the U.S. Supreme Court. Last month in a 5-4 decision written by Chief Justice Roberts and joined by Justices Kavanaugh, Sotomayor, Kagan, and JacksonSCOTUS affirmed the lower courts decision. Last Friday, in what appears to be a direct violation of the Supreme Courts order, the Alabama Legislature adopted a new map that increases the percentage of Black voters in a second congressional district but failed to create a second majority-Black district or give them materially more influence in that district. Ron DeSantis Wants to Make America Hungary Ultimately, a court will determine whether the legislature complied with the Supreme Courts order, but comments from Alabama officials suggest they know they did not. The Alabama House speaker pro tempore called it the best map we could negotiate with Republicans in the state Senate, and the Alabama Senate President Pro Tem said he believed it was a fair solution. Gov. Kay Ivey, who signed the bill into law, defiantly declared, The Legislature knows our state, our people, and our districts better than the federal courts or activist groups. Eric Holder, former U.S. Attorney General and Chair of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said Alabamas new map arrogantly defies a very conservative United States Supreme Court decision and would make [former segregationist Alabama Gov.] George Wallace proud. Alabamas actions are not just arrogant; they are possibly criminalfederal law criminalizes willful disobedience of a court order as contempt. And they are definitely hypocritical. Imagine, for example, the Republican outrage if local Democratic election officials half-heartedly enforced the Alabama law requiring voters to have a photo ID in addition to their registration card, saying they tried their best, or it was a fair solution, or that they know their voters better than the legislators from around the state who passed the law. Above all, Alabamas defiance is toxic to democracy. As James Madison wrote in Federalist Paper No. 51, you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. That is why the Constitution expressly says that it is the supreme law of the land and why since 1803 the courts have exercised judicial reviewthe authority of federal courts to invalidate unconstitutional acts by other branches of government. Sadie Janes shows off her voting sticker after casting her ballot at Floyd Middle Magnet School during the Democratic presidential primary in Montgomery, Alabama on Super Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Joshua Lott This is not Alabamas first rodeo defying the Supreme Court. In 1963, Gov. Wallace infamously stood in the entrance of the University of Alabama auditorium to prevent two Black students from registering for school following the Supreme Courts Brown v. Board of Education decision. Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach, flanked by federal marshals, confronted Wallace, who refused to follow the Courts order. President John F. Kennedy federalized the Alabama National Guard, and a Guard general ordered Wallace to move. A more recent example is Roy Moore, the former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice who unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate amidst evidence that he committed sexual assault by dating underage girls when he was in his thirties. Moore was twice removed from his job as chief justice for defying the U.S. Supreme Courtonce for ignoring an order to remove a massive statue of the Ten Commandments from the Alabama courthouse, and again for instructing judges to ignore the SCOTUS decision permitting gay marriage. The Supreme Courts Student Loan Decision Shows We Are Ruled by the Elites Similarly, Gov. Ivey clearly believes that she and her colleagues in the legislature understand better than the U.S. Supreme Court what is best for Alabama. Perhaps so, but they obviously do not understand the basics of our Constitution or founding values. Recent history has shown us that the stability of our democracy is precariously balanced on our unwavering commitment to the rule of law. In the last few years we have witnessed unprecedented verbal attacks on democratic institutions, seditious election denial conspiracies, calls for secession, and a physical attack on our house of government. We need leaders who revere the Constitutionwho are willing to uphold laws that they may oppose to protect the freedoms of those with whom they may disagree. Alabamas choice to do the opposite will not be the end of our republicand likely will not even require calling up the National Guardbut it is the latest tremor under the foundation of our democracy. And although it may be on brand for Alabama, it is entirely un-American. 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. A fight over congressional representation in Alabama is headed for another federal court showdown after the states Republican-controlled legislature approved new district lines that critics say openly defy a US Supreme Court mandate to give Black voters more power in this Deep South state. The high-stakes battle slated to play out before a federal court next month could help shape whether Republicans retain their narrow majority in the US House after the 2024 election. And it could again force courts to consider whether and how the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act should apply in redistricting cases. On Friday, the Republican-dominated legislature approved new maps, just weeks after the US Supreme Court said that an existing map with just one majority-Black congressional district out of seven in a state where Black residents make up 27% of the population likely violated the decades-old federal voting law by diluting the voting power of Black residents. The high court, by a 5-4 majority, affirmed a lower court decision that had ordered the state to redraw the congressional maps to include a second majority-Black district or something quite close to it. But the map approved Friday and signed into law that day by GOP Gov. Kay Ivey instead boosted the share of Black voters in the majority-White 2nd Congressional District from roughly 30% to around 40%. It also reduced the Black voting-age population in the states only majority-Black district to around 50% from about 55%. The new map also guarantees that no incumbents will face off in a primary election in 2024. The Legislature knows our state, our people and our districts better than the federal courts or activist groups, Ivey said in a statement that praised lawmakers for producing the new maps before a court-ordered deadline. But civil rights advocates saw a familiar, if discouraging, pattern. Im both disappointed but not surprised, Stuart Naifeh manager of the redistricting project at the Legal Defense Fund, a civil rights group that represents some of the plaintiffs in the original case told CNN. Alabama has been discriminating against Black voters for literally more than a century. Its kind of more of the same. Story continues Back to court State Rep. Chris England, an African American Democrat who represents Tuscaloosa, said the Republican legislatures GOP supermajority is openly and intentionally defying the courts instructions, and it now will fall to federal judges to take corrective action. This is not an unfamiliar feeling for us, England said. Throughout our history, the federal courts have always had to force Alabama to do the right thing. Alabama history during the civil rights era is littered with examples of state officials resisting mandates from the federal government. Former Attorney General Eric Holder, who leads a Democratic redistricting group, pointedly evoked that segregationist history in a statement that said the map, and the Republican politicians who supported it, would make George Wallace proud. The sole majority-Black congressional district in the state, now represented by Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell, was created following a court order in the early 1990s. The litigants in this case face a tight timeline. The plaintiffs have until Friday to object to the new map in federal court, with a hearing expected on August 14. Naifeh said his clients intend to lodge objections to the map. State officials previously have said the final map must be in place by early October to give candidates and election administrators time to prepare for March primary elections. The three-judge federal panel overseeing the case could choose to implement a new map with two majority-Black districts drawn by an expert it appoints. This week, it asked the parties to submit the names of three to five outside mapmakers by Friday after a previous redistricting expert withdrew from the case. The state, in turn, still could appeal a map drawn with the courts approval, setting off another round of litigation. In a statement, a spokesperson for Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, a Republican, said the legislature has devised a fair map that complies with the Voting Rights Act and argued that it applies traditional redistricting principles, previously upheld by the US Supreme Court. And Republicans in the legislature say the new map made appropriate adjustments to comply with the high courts ruling, arguing that it keeps together so-called communities of interest with similar economic and geographic profiles and priorities. They argue that the new map still provides an opportunity for Black voters to elect a candidate of their choice. I firmly believe that the map we adopted is a fair solution that positions Alabamas congressional districts and our voters in the best way possible, Alabama Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed said in a statement. Kareem Crayton, a redistricting expert and Alabama native who is senior director for voting and representation at the liberal-leaning Brennan Center for Justice, disagrees. The state has a history of racially polarized voting, making it harder for candidates favored by Black voters to win in a district where they account for less than 50% of the voting-age population, Crayton said. And the centers data show that voters in the 2nd District as reconfigured by the state legislature last week would have backed the Democratic candidate preferred by Black voters in just one of the 15 recent elections: the 2017 US Senate race won by Democrat Doug Jones. (Jones scored an upset in this deep-red state in a special election after his Republican rival faced allegations of child molestation and sexual assault.) This isnt even close to what a district that provides equal opportunity would produce, Crayton told CNN. The effort that they (legislators) offered is a rather weak one. All eyes on Alabama The fight over the maps has sparked national attention, given the razor-thin majority that Republicans hold in the US House of Representatives. The Alabama case along with the outcome of other redistricting battles looming around the country, including in North Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, Louisiana, New York and Texas could help decide partisan control of Congress in 2025. In Alabama, most Black voters have supported Democrats. If federal judges approve a map with a second majority-Black district, that could result in two Democrats representing the state in the US House. In one sign of the high stakes: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy weighed in on the debate, telling reporters on Capitol Hill that he had spoken to a few Alabama lawmakers as they met for a special session last week to redraw the maps. Alabama state Sen. Steve Livingston, a Republican who co-chairs a legislative committee charged with map-making, was more blunt about the objective, telling reporters that McCarthy had told him: Im interested in keeping my majority, according to the Alabama Reflector. Livingston did not respond to messages from CNN. McCarthy aides did not respond to requests for comment this week. There are signs that some Republicans in the state want the courts to further reexamine the application of the Voting Rights Act in these cases. In a letter to lawmakers earlier this month, Marshall, the attorney general, argued that the Supreme Courts recent decision ending affirmative action in college admissions means that using a map in which race predominates could open up the state to claims that is violating the 14th Amendments guarantee of equal protection. And he noted that one of the US Supreme Court justices who sided with the majority on the Alabama map Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined only partly in the 5-4 decision. Alabama sits at the center of an earlier, successful challenge to a key pillar of the federal voting law. In a 2013 redistricting case out of Shelby County, the US Supreme Court defanged a portion of the Voting Rights Act by tossing out a formula that had been used in requiring nine states and scores of local jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination in voting to secure approval or pre-clearance from the US Department of Justice or a federal court before they could make changes to their voting procedures and laws. Some Democrats in Alabama argue that the current skirmishes over the states congressional map and the defiance of Republican legislators in the face of federal court decisions are aimed at taking the issue to the high court again in the hopes of peeling away a conservative justice who sided with the majority in the most recent case. It feels like a process designed to force this thing back into court to take another shot at gutting the Voting Rights Act, England, the Tuscaloosa Democrat, said of the legislatures refusal to simply draw a second majority-Black district. Voting rights activists believe they will prevail, at least in the short-term, in challenging the latest map advanced by Alabama Republicans, given that the case is before the same judges all three appointed by Republican presidents who rejected the initial map as discriminatory. Alabama may be trying to engineer another bite at the apple in front of the Supreme Court, but it is difficult to imagine the three-judge panel indulging such blatant noncompliance, or the Supreme Court suddenly reversing course in the face of the legislature defying their ruling from just a month ago, Chris Shenton, a voting rights attorney at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, said in a statement to CNN. CNNs Dianne Gallagher contributed to this story. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com If the truth is out there, the US Congress wants to know. The House of Representatives convened a landmark panel on unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAPs), known more colloquially as UFOs, on Wednesday, in the most serious acknowledgement yet that mysterious sightings deserve scrutiny at the highest levels of government. US lawmakers were "not bringing little green men or flying saucers into the hearing we're just going to get to the facts," Republican Tim Burchett said at the beginning of the meeting. Yet the testimony at times strayed into the unknown. Over the course of two hours, three witnesses shared their encounters with objects that defied physics and told of pilots afraid to speak up, biological material recovered from crafts, and alleged retaliation against whistleblowers. All acknowledged that anomalous phenomena were a potential national security threat. The hearing produced no serious bombshells - nor a confirmation of alien life - but the fact that the witnesses received a major hearing before Congress was notable in and of itself. Lawmakers and witnesses alike used the panel to demand greater transparency around UAPs from the military. Washington's public embrace of UFOs as a policy issue has moved with astonishing velocity Retired US Navy commander David Fravor once again recounted his encounter with a "tic-tac" shaped UAP in 2004 that moved in a way that baffled aviators, footage of which was released in 2017 and publicly verified by the US Navy two years later. "The technology that we faced was far superior than anything that we had, have today, or are looking to develop in the next 10+ years," Mr Fravor said. David Grusch, an ex-Air Force intelligence officer, hinted that government officials had suppressed information and punished whistleblowers, but claimed he could not elaborate further in public due to classification laws. 'Human or non-human?' In one notable exchange, Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, asked Mr Grusch elaborate on what he knew about non-terrestrial bodies. Story continues She asked him if "biologics" were recovered from any crafts retrieved by the government. Referencing his previous media interviews, Mr Grusch responded that "biologics came with some of these recoveries". Were they human or non-human? Ms Mace asked. "Non-human, and that was the assessment of people with direct knowledge on the programme I talked to," Mr Grusch responded. During a different line of questioning, he confirmed he had never personally seen an alien body. Witnesses also called for an official reporting process for military personnel or members of the public to report unexplained sightings "We need a system where pilots can report without losing their jobs," said Ryan Graves, executive director of Americans for Safe Aerospace. Congress seemed eager to grant that request by the end of the session. David Fravor (left), Ryan Graves and David Grusch (right) all testified before US lawmakers on Wednesday "UAPs, whatever they be, may pose a serious threat to our military and our civilian aircraft, and that must be understood," Robert Garcia, a California Democrat, said. "We should encourage more reporting, not less on UAPs. The more we understand, the safer we will be." While both Republican and Democratic lawmakers took the subjects seriously, a few expressed scepticism that extraterrestrial activity was afoot. 'Alien incompetence' Eric Burlison, a Missouri Republican, attempted to poke holes at the concept that pilots saw alien objects. He said he found it difficult to believe beings who could travel billions of miles to reach us would be "incompetent" enough to crash on Earth. He asked whether any of the UAPs could actually be craft created by military contractors, or belong to secret agency programmes that other government entities had hidden. Washington's public embrace of UFOs as a policy issue has moved with the same astonishing velocity as the mysterious objects, going from shadowy backroom meetings with a handful of enthusiasts to a full-blown, televised panel that received the same serious questioning as any other national security matter. In 2017, the issue burst into the open when The New York Times reported the existence of a secret Pentagon programme to investigate unidentified aerial phenomenon. The programme was backed by former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who represented the state of Nevada - and therefore, Area 51. The New York Times, as well as an organisation called To The Stars Academy of Arts and Science, also published three videos showing unexplained encounters with UAPs. Since that time, the US military has gradually acknowledged these encounters while declining to speculate about their origins. Investigating UFOs, now known to many as UAPs, has become a rare bipartisan issue in Congress. Lawmakers of both parties have called for investigations and military transparency. In 2022, the House Intelligence Committee held a hearing about the secretive Pentagon programme. Nasa held a public hearing on the matter in June. Both former presidents Barack Obama, a Democrat, and Donald Trump, a Republican, have addressed the issue in public interviews. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said he was open minded. "What we believe is that there are unexplained aerial phenomena that have been cited and reported by pilots - Navy and Air Force," Mr Kirby said. "We don't have the answers about what these phenomena are." In a rarity for a televised congressional hearing, nearly all the lawmakers focused their questioning on the subject at hand on Wednesday. "Many Americans are deeply interested in this issue," Jared Moskowitz, a Florida Democrat, said. "And it shouldn't take the potential of nonhuman origin to bring us together." The Black mens Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has announced it will move its 2025 general convention from Orlando in light of racist policies. The fraternity announced the news Wednesday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, citing Governor DeSantis harmful, racist, and insensitive policies against the Black Community, as the reason behind the decision. Willis L. Lonzer III, the fraternitys general president, told The Hill that last weeks controversy surrounding new education standards in the state became the tipping point in the fraternitys decision. Governor DeSantis has continuously advocated for laws and policies that negatively impact Black people and other marginalized communities, Lonzer said. We start first with the laws rejecting the teaching race and the cultural diversity of our nation. We can even talk about the bill that he supported, banning [diversity, equity and inclusion] initiatives in colleges and universities. But the final straw really was his advancement of this new curriculum standards released last week, suggesting enslaved people developed skills that could later be a personal benefit to them, which is absolutely absurd. This is a stunt, DeSantiss office said in a statement to The Hill. Floridas new guidelines, approved last week, require lessons on race be taught in an objective manner that does not seek to indoctrinate or persuade students to a particular point of view. One of the updated standards that received backlash requires instructors to teach that slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. Another requires that students must learn about acts of violence perpetrated against and by African Americans. This includes massacres such as the Tulsa Race Massacre. The new education standards were immediately met with backlash from Black leaders around the nation, including Vice President Harris, who blasted DeSantis in a speech in Jacksonville for pushing propaganda on children. Story continues The latest set of guidelines follows the states decision earlier this year that prohibited an Advanced Placement African American studies course from running. At the time, the state said the class lacked educational value. Alpha Phi Alpha was the fraternity of some of the most prominent Black leaders in America, and remains so today. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Paul Robeson, Whitney Young and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall were all members of the fraternity. Today, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, are all members. While a new location has not been decided upon just yet, Lonzer said the fraternity expects their decision will cost the greater Orlando area some $4.6 million in revenue. We will not spend our money where Black people and other marginalized communities are continuously harmed by policies at the highest level of government, Lonzer said. He added that other members of the Divine Nine a group of nine historically Black fraternities and sororities are all aligned on the significance of ensuring that all people are treated with respect. But he also urged those in Florida to exercise their right to vote when the time comes. We have not forgotten our membership or the citizens of Florida, Lonzer said. We are committed to encouraging them to stay vigilant and to ensure that they are in the voting process. We will continue to make our voter education opportunities available as we funnel funds to the state of Florida to ensure that they can hold various forums and can have the appropriate conversations. When the time comes to vote, we will get them out to vote. Updated on July 27 at 10:36 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Prosecutors characterized a former Crown Point High School theater teacher as a predator who selectively groomed at least three students for later sexual relationships. Christopher Kit Degenhart, 51, pleaded guilty in May to Level 5 felony child seduction. The deal included a 4-year cap. Advertisement On Tuesday, he avoided hard time in the Indiana Department of Corrections. Judge Gina Jones sentenced him instead to 1.5 years in Lake County Community Corrections and another 2.5 years on probation in a three-hour hearing. He will have to register as a sex offender. Advertisement He wont appeal. His community corrections sentence is set up as one year on work release and six months in the Kimbrough Work Program. The two women who testified said they looked up to him. He was supposed to be a role model, but instead betrayed their trust, prosecutors said. Degenhart appeared to look down mostly and did not make eye contact when they were speaking. No student should ever have to question if a teacher (wants) me to succeed, or (do) they want to have sex with me, Deputy Prosecutor Nadia Wardrip said. Degenhart admitted in a police interview he had an affair with a co-worker around 2003 and other sexual relationships with three former students around 2005-2008, circa 2009-2011 and 2020. He is charged in the last incident. One woman testified her relationship gradually developed in her senior year. They kissed in July 2005, after high school. He told her he loved her. It ended 2.5 years later when she and her sister took a letter to Degenharts wife around 2008, she said. The woman said an assistant principal at Crown Point High School contacted her for an investigation. Advertisement Degenhart told her to delete your emails and lie saying it would ruin his life and he would kill himself or could lose his kids. I lied, she said. The assistant principal informed a school superintendent, the woman said. Its not fully known if the school contacted police after those first allegations emerged in the mid-2000s. One source said it did not. Indiana is a mandatory reporting state, meaning anyone who suspects a child has been neglected or abused must by state law make a report, according to the state Department of Child Services. I cant speak on behalf of the administration that was here at that time, Crown Point Community School Corp. Superintendent Todd Terrill said via email through a spokeswoman. However, any actions that compromise students safety and well-being are inexcusable. Student safety is our first concern, and we take our duty to report issues seriously. Advertisement The second woman the cases victim said Degenhart preyed on her around 2020 and she had significantly struggled with her mental health since. Their physical relationship started at 17 with sex acts, but Degenhart waited until she was 18 to have sex with her, according to court documents. At the time, she struggled with a bad boyfriend and her home situation. In retrospect, Degenhart groomed her and made her feel safe, something that now made her feel sick. She begged the therapist not to report him, putting him first once again in her precarious emotional state. The other victim appeared to cry. Degenharts lawyer Casey McCloskey said he was a friend and neighbor and knew him for 15 years. He was shocked and it wasnt the man he knew. But, Degenhart admitted he did it while sitting in his first jail cell, the lawyer said. Advertisement Degenhart tearfully addressed the court saying he sought treatment for sex addiction and therapy to figure out what was wrong with him. He had embraced a church and got counseling from a pastor. Wardrip said in court there were three known victims. Two testified and the third didnt want to be involved. They couldnt charge him for first victim on child seduction, because she was 18 when a sexual relationship began. According to the probable cause affidavit, the allegations of the inappropriate relationship came to light after the most recent victim, now a college student, reported the alleged relationship to her therapist. The alleged relationship began in February 2020 when the then-senior at CPHS was 17 and was involved in theater, according to court documents. Degenhart was 47 at the time. During his police interview, Degenhart initially stated he waited until Victim One turned 18 to engage in oral sex and sexual intercourse with her. But when he was later confronted with her statements, Degenhart stated his memory is murky from being 50 years old and doing a lot of disgusting things, and he is not going to refute what she says, the affidavit stated. Advertisement The girl continued to come to school early and the two would go backstage and make out, according to court documents, and the meetings became more frequent. In mid- to late-February, the pair began to use what was described as the booth, a room where the soundboard and lighting equipment is located which had a secure door, according to court documents. The booth is where the relationship allegedly progressed to the victim performing oral sex on Degenhart and him sometimes reciprocating, according to the affidavit. The pair allegedly used the booth between 40 and 50 times for sexual purposes until the school closed due to COVID-19 in March 2020. A week after the victim turned 18, she and Degenhart began to have sexual intercourse, court records stated. The relationship continued through August 2020 when Degenharts wife discovered he had been emailing Victim One. The pair had their final meet up Aug. 4, 2020 when Degenhart broke off the relationship. Volusia County firefighters are worried about how long you could be waiting to get to a hospital in an emergency. The countys professional firefighters association said it has to do with ambulance staffing. But firefighters want to see the county act to fix this. The firefighters association said this has been a problem for years, but its gotten a lot worse. They say theyve tried to work with the county on solutions but in the meantime, it means some patients are waiting more than 30 minutes for an ambulance. We have just been seeing a significant increase in ambulances not being staffed, said Jeremy Karaginis, president of the Volusia County Professional Firefighters Association. If youre on the beach with a drowning victim. You dont want to wait 30 minutes to get them to the hospital. READ: Reedy Creeks governor-appointed board to cut $8M in law enforcement overtime on Disney properties Karagnis said firefighters can provide treatment at the scene, but definitive and often lifesaving care happens at the hospital and ambulances staffed by county EMS are in short supply. Due to turnover, sick calls or just these guys working to the bone, they cant staff these ambulances, he said. READ: Volusia County girl, 11, facing felony charges, accused of making hoax 911 kidnapping report Karagnis said its been a problem for years, but has gotten worse in the last few months. He wants to see Volusia County shift gears and explore a system used in other local counties where dual certified firefighters staff ambulances instead of paramedics in a separate EMS system. READ: Central Florida tourism district proposes Disney property tax decrease 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. Getty For Blacks across the United States, its been a long walk to freedom, paved with discrimination, injustice, domestic terrorism, and an unrelenting fight towards showcasing, I, Too, Am America. That long freedom walk is ongoing. And the most perilous parts of the inhumane treatment of Black Americansbeginning with 400 years of slaveryare now getting a rebrand thanks to the culture war generals in the Republican Party. Of course, this is a misguided approach. We cant create a future of progress without taking lessons from our pastand slavery was Americas original sin. Americas Tragedy Is Its Culture of FearArmed With Millions of Guns But to let Floridas new Black history curriculum tell it, slaves developed skills that could be used for personal benefit. The narrative turns an economic engine for white wealth where the buying and selling of Black bodies, lynchings, beatings, rape, and forced labor with no pay were all commonplaceinto essentially a public works program where slaves were the apprentices learning valuable skills. Rightfully so, the curriculum has drawn strong rebuke from civil rights leaders, advocates, educators, and the Black community writ large. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke out against the Florida curriculum saying, How is it that anyone could suggest that amidst these atrocities [of slavery], there was any benefit to being subjected to this level of dehumanization? As civil rights-era policy wins unravel across the country, our children now face obstacles to even learning about freedom fighters. Book bans and the silencing of teaching divisive conceptsincluding tragic chapters of the American experiment like slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, and morespread like wildfire across red states. Any narrative that doesnt tell Americas complete storywhich any rational adult could tell you has both good and bad elementsis a slap in the face to Black America. But Republicans know this. They also know its good politics to reel in white grievance voters as part of their big tent. Story continues Contrast GOP efforts to whitewash slavery with President Joe Biden signing a proclamation this week designating a national monument to honor Emmett Till, the young Black child who was abducted, beaten, and murdered by white vigilantes in 1955 after being accused of whistling at a white woman in Mississippi. The national monument will have multiple sites in Chicago (Tills hometown) and Mississippi. Tills brutal murderand his mother Mamie Till-Mobleys advocacy to show the world the evil of commonplace lynching in the Jim Crow Southignited the nation and served as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. American Students Barely Know Anything About Reconstruction Erecting monuments is a welcome, overdue gesturebut it comes at a curious time. When Mamie Till-Mobley allowed photos of her sons open casketrevealing his savagely brutalized bodyto be published in Jet magazine, she knew it would be provocativeeven divisive. But that was the point. For Mamie, it was more important to show the world the extent of suffering Blacks faced, put a face to the evil of white supremacist terrorism, and spotlight why everyone in America should care, not just those living in the Jim Crow South. US President Joe Biden signs a proclamation to establish the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Illinois and Mississippi during an event in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Demetrius Freeman / Getty Today, Republicans seek to shield children from such harsh truths about America, lest white children be made uncomfortable. That is the goal of the book bans. Silencing history. Silencing the fight for equality. Silencing Black America. Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Strattonthe states first Black lieutenant governortold me in an email, [Emmett Tills] story reminds us that still today, being a Black person in America can often be a death sentence because of discrimination and hatred fueled by systemic racism. She added, As some state legislatures in our country attempt to water down Black history, and minimize the pain and trauma of racial violence, it is as important as ever that we not only remember these wounds, but also the individuals who refused to be silenced. We stand on their shoulders, and this memorial serves as a reminder that we must remember our past to build the brighter future we seek. RFK Jr.s Legacy of Inflicting Severe Damage on Black Communities In modern day America, one political party is doing everything in its power to turn the clock back on racial progress, as the other major party moves to honor Black historybecause it is American history. Black people cannot be erased, neither can the American history that treated them as second class citizens, the Constitution that saw them as three-fifths of a person, or the current Republican Party that argues Blacks were better off because of slavery. If the most damaging, brutal, and inhumane multi-generational course of pain and suffering isnt seen for what it ishow do we even attempt to make sense of the laws passed after slavery ended that continued to create underclass status for Blacks? Like voting rights restrictions, restrictive covenants prohibiting Blacks from having housing in white communities, and the vast array of Jim Crow laws and segregationist policiesslavery laid the groundwork for systemic racism and unbridled white supremacy. The murder of Emmett Till was the culmination of these things. Remembering Till is remembering America for who she is and, if Republicans get their way, sadly who she might return to. 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. If youre heading north to Canada, must-visit places include Niagara Falls, Banff National Park, Torontos iconic CN Tower, and as far as one TikToker is concerned a Bulk Barn. TikTok user yunggravysfuturewife (@yunggravysfuturewife) had her mind blown when she walked into one of Bulk Barns 275-plus locations in Canada. My jaw is on the floor. This is the craziest place Ive ever been, exclaims the bewildered Bulk Barn rookie as she wandered the aisles of food-filled bins. In case youve never strolled through the doors of a Bulk Barn, it is Canadas largest bulk food retailer. Many grocery stores have a few items in bulk, like coffee beans, nuts, and candy but Bulk Barn is wall-to-wall bulk items. You literally just take out macaroni and cheese (powder), chicken soup mix, cereal, the TikTok user says, pointing at bins around her. You can just get lemon pie (filling), dulce de leche (filling) by itself this is wild! The TikToker could not get enough of the ingenious concept of the bulk bonanza, saying, This is the smartest s*** Ive ever seen, like, you take as much flour and salt and everything red velvet cake mix! she says with a joyful squeal. Buying in bulk is a great way to save money theres a reason Costco was the fifth-largest retailer in 2022. The great thing about places like Bulk Barn is that you can also buy as little as you want. Being able to buy the exact amount of food you need significantly reduces food waste which, in turn, reduces money waste. Feeding America reports that Americans throw away 119 billion pounds of food yearly, which mean more than $408 billion in food being wasted. Not only do stores like Bulk Barn help cut down on food waste, but they also cut down on packaging waste especially plastic. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that companies generated 14.5 million tons of plastic packaging in 2018. Story continues The TikTokers elated reaction amused many people. As a Canadians this is so amusing to me, I didnt realize other places didnt have bulk barns, wrote one user. Another user admitted, I guess we really are taking bulk barn for granted out here. For one Canadian, the thrill of a Bulk Barn has not faded. This is me every single time I enter a bulk barn. Ive lived in Canada my whole life and it still gets me excited, they wrote. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to shop smarter, live cleaner, and help yourself while helping the planet. U.S. passport holders will be required to have travel authorization to enter 30 countries, ending visa-free travel in Europe for U.S. citizens. (Getty Images) Next year, Americans will be required to obtain travel authorization to enter 30 countries, ending visa-free travel in Europe for U.S. citizens. The European Union announced this week a new security program that would mandate U.S. passport holders to obtain visas before traveling to any of the visa-required countries, including Spain, France and Greece. Here is everything Americans need to know. Application process Before you secure your flights to your European destination, visit the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). The earlier you apply and are approved for the visa, the sooner it will arrive, providing peace of mind. Keep in mind that the new rules will be enforced starting in January 2024. American tourists will be required to obtain a visa from the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). (Photo illustration: Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) The application will require you to provide personal information, including your passport details, your job and where you live, as well as your upcoming travel plans and travel history. The EU encourages those looking to travel to apply before booking flights or hotels in case your application is denied. The visa, which will cost about $8, is similar to the one that European tourists are required to get when traveling to the U.S., which costs $21. Parents and legal guardians can apply for minors. Make sure your passport details are correct on the application (name, passport number, etc.), as you will be denied entry into a European country if any of the information on your visa is not correct. If you have made a mistake on your form, the fastest way to get a visa is to submit another ETIAS application, because a request to correct typos can take up to 30 days to process. If you have submitted an incorrect nationality or passport number, you will be required to pay for another application. Once it's submitted, you will receive an email confirmation for your application with your ETIAS number, which should be kept for future reference. The European Union announced a new security program that would mandate U.S. passport holders to obtain visas before traveling to any of the visa-required countries, including Spain, France and Greece. (Getty Images) Most applicants will receive approval in minutes, according to the EU. However, some applications may take up to four days. You will be notified of the status by ETIAS. If more documentation is required or youre called in for an interview, some applications may take 14 days or 30 days. If you are refused an ETIAS visa, you will be able to appeal the decision. Story continues Once approved, your visa will be valid for three years and you can spend up to 90 days in that country. Arrival at border Holding a valid ETIAS authorization does not mean you are guaranteed entry to a country. You will still have to meet the entry conditions of the border police. If you do not meet those requirements, you will be refused entry. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo was escorted out of a D.C. event that was interrupted by rowdy climate change protestors on Tuesday. Raimondo was speaking at a Wilson Center event entitled "A Conversation on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework" on Tuesday afternoon. She was onstage with economist Sadek Wahba when protestors barged in. "We have to be present. And so for the five years before President Biden took office, the United States was not present economically in these regions," Raimondo said to Wahba. "We didn't even, you know, have a framework for engagement, I would say" Environmental protestors promptly interrupted the event and began chanting "We need clean air, not another billionaire" and "End fossil fuels, Gina" while the dumbfounded speakers looked on. BIDEN'S CLAIM TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF HUNTER'S BUSINESS DEALINGS IS BECOMING HARDER TO MAINTAIN Protestors promptly interrupted the event and began chanting "We need clean air, not another billionaire" and "End fossil fuels, Gina" before Raimondo was removed. Footage shows Raimondo laughing and saying something to Wahba during the awkward interruption. The protestors wore t-shirts that read "END FOSSIL FUELS" and linked arms with each other. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The demonstrators obstinately chanted "Clean air, not another billionaire" for around three minutes. They were confronted by security guards before Raimondo was eventually taken off the stage. One protestor's arm was yanked by a security guard in a minute-long attempt to get him out of the think tank's auditorium. BIDEN REPEATEDLY DENIED DISCUSSING BUSINESS DEALS WITH HUNTER, BUT EVIDENCE SUGGESTS OTHERWISE Raimondo was with economist Sadek Wahba when protestors barged in. The talk, which was described as a "fireside chat," was about economic stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region. According to the Wilson Center's website, the intention of the event was to "focus on the path forward for IPEF [Indo-Pacific Economic Framework] and Secretary Raimondos efforts to enhance American economic security and spur private sector investment in areas of strategic economic importance." Story continues Wilson Center Chief of Staff Eddy Acevedo told Fox News Digital that it was unfortunate that the protestors, who were later arrested, interrupted the event. "We were honored to host Secretary Raimondo and our event continued after a short delay as we examined the importance of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework," Acevedo said. "The Wilson Center values our public discussions on US strategic competition and the importance of American economic security." One protestor's arm was being yanked by a security guard during an attempt to remove him. Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Commerce for a statement, but has not heard back. UNITED NATIONS (AP) In an escalation of Russias anger at Ukraine and its Western backers, Russia refused to speak at a U.N. Security Council meeting called to discuss Moscows recent devastating attacks on the key port of Odesa immediately following its refusal to extend the Black Sea grain deal. The confrontation began at the start of a council session called by Russia on the divided Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Russias deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky ,protested that Britain, which holds the council presidency, was allowing only two briefers and Moscow wanted a third Archbishop Gideon of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Ukrainian government has cracked down on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church over its historic ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, whose leader, Patriarch Kirill, supported Russian President Vladimir Putin over the invasion of Ukraine. Polyansky accused the UK of bias, censorship and obstruction for limiting the number of briefers. Deputy British ambassador James Kariuki responded that because of a tight time schedule to fit in two council meetings, the UK had offered a compromise to allow a third Russian briefer to submit a statement to the council, which he said was not unreasonable. Polyansky was not satisfied, and Kariuki then put Russias proposal to have the archbishop speak to a vote. Russia got support only from China and Brazil, with the 12 other council members abstaining. Polyansky called the councils refusal to allow the archbishop to speak an egregious example of double standards on human rights and freedom of religion. As a sign of protest, he said, Russia wouldnt speak in the Ukraine-backed council session called by Ukraine to take up the Odesa attacks. The meeting on the Orthodox Church then went ahead. The director of the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations, Nihal Saad, told the council that the division between Ukraines Orthodox bodies has existed for decades. But she said it has been exacerbated since the February 2022 Russian invasion and has "reverberated worldwide as Orthodox churches have struggled with how and whether to take sides. Story continues Saad said the heartbreaking damage to Odesas historic church, the Transfiguration Cathedral, caused by a Russian missile strike Sunday was condemned by many, including the U.N. secretary-general. The cathedral is in Odesas historic city center that is a UNESCO world heritage site and had been largely spared since the beginning of the war. Saad lamented that it was one of 116 religious sites damaged since the invasion, according to a preliminary assessment by the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. In her briefing, Saad cited restrictions to freedom of religion by both Russia and Ukraine since the invasion, saying the politicization of religion in the war in Ukraine fuels intercommunal tensions, stokes fear and triggers violence. Polyansky called the devastation to the cathedral a horrible tragedy and reiterated Russias claim that the cathedral was damaged by a piece from Ukraines anti-air defenses not a Russian missile. If a Russian missile targeted the cathedral, he said, then there would be nothing left of the cathedral at all. The Russian deputy ambassador left the council chamber at the end of the session. The council meeting that followed on the Russian attacks on Odesa came days after President Vladimir Putin pulled Russia out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a wartime deal that enabled Ukraine to export more than 32,000 tons of foodstuff to many countries facing the threat of hunger. In addition to severely damaging the cathedral, the Russian attacks crippled significant parts of export facilities in Odesa and nearby Chornomorsk, and destroyed 60,000 tons of grain, according to Ukraines Agriculture Ministry. The council heard from 14 members, almost all condemning the damage to Odesa. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that Russia is hell-bent on preventing Ukrainian grain from reaching global markets and that the world is paying the price for Russias barbaric attacks. She accused Russia of weaponizing grain and cynically using Russian-produced grain as leverage to win the support of other countries. Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya, the last speaker, told the council that Russian missiles, including anti-ship missiles, hit 29 historical and cultural landmarks in Odesa. He said Russias blockade of Ukrainian ports, destruction of their infrastructure, obstruction of grain exports, and intimidation of foreign merchant vessels should be considered an attack on freedom of navigation. These actions also aim at eliminating a market competitor, deliberately raising world food prices and making a profit at the expense of the millions of people around the world who will suffer, Kyslytsya said. A junior Russian diplomat sat in Russias chair during the Odesa session and left the chamber when it ended never having uttered a word. This summer, Anheuser-Busch will team with the National Volunteer Fire Department Council (NVFC) and its wholesale partners to donate over 42,000 cans of emergency drinking water to volunteer fire departments around Georgia. The water will help volunteer firefighters to help prepare for and respond in times of crisis. Firefighters rely on clean drinking water to stay hydrated in times of need, but volunteer fire departments often lack the funding to stock their supplies. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Access to clean drinking water is essential for firefighters to operate at their best while battling wildfires or other emergencies in the summer heat, said Curt Pechloff, Chief of the Northwest Harris Volunteer Fire Department. Were grateful for the dedication of our community partners Anheuser-Busch, the NVFC, and the numerous wholesalers who have delivered over 40,000 cans of water to 18 fire and rescue departments across Georgia to support our mission to serve and protect. Georgia volunteer fire departments including those in Buena Vista, Cross Creek, Cook County, Ideal, and Morgan County will receive the donations. This is the fifth consecutive year that Anheuser-Busch and NVFC will donate drinking water to volunteer fire departments around the country. This year theyll expand their reach to provide 2.5 million cans to over 600 volunteer fire departments across 48 states. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Japan is planning to release potentially more than 1 million tons of filtered and diluted radioactive wastewater into the ocean, which has neighboring countries and environmentalists worried. Whats happening? Japan is set to start releasing treated radioactive water from its Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea this summer. In 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami triggered a nuclear meltdown at the facility. Since then, the facility has stored the cooling water for nuclear fuel along with rain and groundwater that has been seeping through the damaged reactor building. Because storage capacity is running out, Japan decided to release 1.25 million tons of Fukushimas wastewater after filtering and diluting it. Why is the radioactive water release concerning? Though several experts said the filtration plan is technically sound and feasible, South Koreans and others from neighboring countries are worried about the potential effect on the local marine environment, including the fish and sea salt that they consume. Environmental groups and fisheries have also expressed concern, fearing the possible impact. Japans neighbors have reason to feel alarmed after the original disaster in 2011, which spewed radioactive material into the Pacific Ocean. The regional fishing industry was devastated due to contamination concerns. People are mistrustful because its a region where the accident happened, Choi Eunmi, a Japan specialist at the Seoul-based think tank Asan Institute, told NPR. The South Korean government has been checking radiation levels in seafood and seawater since the 2011 disaster and vowed to oppose the impending water release if it doesnt meet regulatory standards, per NPR. Whats being done about the radioactive water? Japan is using the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) filtering system to help clean up the water before releasing it to the sea. The countrys Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said this process will remove all radioactive materials other than tritium. Then, it will dilute it with more than 100 times quantity of seawater before discharging into the ocean. This will lower the concentration of tritium in the water. Story continues There [are] no concern[s] about effects on human health or the environment, according to the ministrys website. But the ALPS system is not fail proof. In addition to tritium, other isotopes with longer radioactive lifetimes like ruthenium, cobalt, strontium, and plutonium occasionally slip through. Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) acknowledged that these nuclides are now found in 71% of the tanks at the facility. The government said the plant will repurify the water to meet regulatory standards for these nuclides. Shigeyoshi Otosaka, a marine geochemist at the University of Tokyo, told Science.org that he is worried about the accumulation of these isotopes in seafloor sediments, where they could be absorbed by animal and plant life. While he said this possibility is limited, he told Nature, it is important to evaluate the long-term environmental impact of these radionuclides. A number of governments are asking Japan to reconsider the move due to concerns about the radioactivity concentration in fish. An intergovernmental panel of 18 Pacific nations including Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and French Polynesia was formed to advise on whether the release was safe for the ocean and people. The panel has visited the site and reviewed all the data from TEPCO, but one member told Nature that there are still some unanswered questions. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Johnny Johnson, who was scheduled to die by execution next Tuesday in Missouri, has been granted a stay by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Attorneys for the 45 year old said he suffers from mental illness so severe that he is incompetent to die by lethal injection. Going forward with the execution, they argued, would violate the Eighth Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The courts 2-1 decision was announced in a one-page order issued Tuesday. The Missouri Attorney Generals Office will ask the court to vacate the stay, spokeswoman Madeline Sieren said. Johnson was convicted in the attempted rape and killing of Casey Williamson, 6, in 2002 in St. Louis County. During a psychiatric evaluation earlier this year, Johnson told Dr. Bhushan Agharkar that he believes he communicates with beings from another dimension he calls the Underworld. Johnson also believes is a vampire and may be able to reanimate his organs if he eats food before his execution, a report said. Johnson told Agharkar that Satan is using the state of Missouri to kill him and end the world. The attorney generals office argued delaying the execution would harm both the State and victims. They also said a prison counselor determined that Johnsons auditory hallucinations are well managed by medication and that he was not incompetent to be executed. The state has executed three people this year: Amber McLaughlin, Leonard Raheem Taylor and Michael Tisius. Tisius was granted a stay by a federal judge on May 31. Two days later, the Eighth Circuit overturned the stay and Tisius was killed June 6. Republican U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance speaks to a crowd of more than 500 people at the Lincoln Day dinner in Clyde, Ohio. WASHINGTON, D.C. Here's a look at how area members of Congress voted July 14 through July 20: In addition to the week's 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 House Vote 1: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. The vote, on July 14, was 218 yeas to 210 nays.NAYS: Marcy Kaptur D-OH (9th) House Vote 2: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. The vote, on July 14, was 217 yeas to 216 nays.NAYS: Marcy Kaptur D-OH (9th) House Vote 3: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. The vote, on July 14, was 219 yeas to 210 nays.NAYS: Marcy Kaptur D-OH (9th) House Vote 4: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. The vote, on July 17, was unanimous with 400 yeas.NAYS: Marcy Kaptur D-OH (9th) Story continues House Vote 5: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 America's ability to attract direct investment from foreign businesses and ways to improve that ability. The vote, on July 17, was 386 yeas to 22 nays.NOT VOTING: Marcy Kaptur D-OH (9th) House Vote 6: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. The vote, on July 18, was 30 yeas to 388 nays.NAYS: Marcy Kaptur D-OH (9th) U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo. House Vote 7: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 Syria's Bashar al-Assad regime. The vote, on July 18, was 24 yeas to 394 nays.NAYS: Marcy Kaptur D-OH (9th) House Vote 8: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. The vote, on July 18, was 412 yeas to 9 nays.YEAS: Marcy Kaptur D-OH (9th) House Vote 9: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. The vote, on July 19, was 222 yeas to 201 nays.NAYS: Marcy Kaptur D-OH (9th) House Vote 10: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. The vote, on July 19, was 243 yeas to 191 nays. YEA: Marcy Kaptur D-OH (9th) House Vote 11: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. The vote, on July 19, was 240 yeas to 195 nays.YEA: Marcy Kaptur D-OH (9th) House Vote 12: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. The vote, on July 19, was 229 yeas to 205 nays.YEA: Marcy Kaptur D-OH (9th) House Vote 13: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. The vote, on July 20, was 351 yeas to 69 nays.YEA: Marcy Kaptur D-OH (9th) Senate Senate Vote 1: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 Bloomekatz's 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.YEAS: Sherrod Brown D-OHNAYS: J.D. Vance R-OH Senate Vote 2: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). The vote, on July 19, was 65 yeas to 28 nays.YEAS: Brown D-OHNAYS: Vance R-OH U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Senate Vote 3: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.NAYS: Brown D-OHYEAS: Vance R-OH Senate Vote 4:ENFORCING EPA RULES: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of David Uhlmann to be the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) 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. The vote, on July 20, was 53 yeas to 46 nays.YEAS: Brown D-OHNAYS: Vance R-OH Senate Vote 5: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. The vote, on July 20, was 85 yeas to 14 nays.YEAS: Brown D-OH, Vance R-OH This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: How Area Members of Congress Voted Dr. Maria Stamp, Porter County health officer, cuts the ribbon Tuesday, May 9, on the health department's new mobile health unit. The Board of Commissioners voted on Monday, July 24, 2023 to accept additional state funding for the department. - Original Credit: Porter County Health Dept. (Handout / HANDOUT) The Porter County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Monday evening before a full audience to opt in to receiving additional moneys for the Porter County Health Department under Senate Enrolled Act 4, which took effect July 1. The legislation aims to improve Indianas poor record on public health spending and outcomes. Advertisement The state ranks 45th in the nation on public health funding and there is about a two-year gap in life expectancy between the national and Indiana averages, health department officials have said. The state ranks 46th in obesity, 45th in smoking and tobacco use and 43rd in mental health. Porter County Health Department Director Carrie Gschwind and Porter County Health Officer Maria Stamp gave an overview of the health plan timeline the health department has already adopted as the countys public health budget is due to the state by Sept. 1, which also is the deadline for commissioners to accept the state funding for the health department. Advertisement They pointed out that members of the Porter County Board of Health were present and Commissioners President Jim Biggs, R-North, invited the six in attendance to sit in the first row. I also want to thank you guys for letting us speak in front of you, said Board of Health President Dr. Linda Boxum. Weve been waiting for this for a while. A majority of the health department board voted in favor of accepting the funding during a sometimes tense meeting in early June. The appointed boards vote was strictly advisory and commissioners had to give final approval to accept the funds. A review and assessment of current core services began in May and concluded in June, while preliminary public health surveying, vital statistic data collection, and a public health needs assessment are currently ongoing. If all counties opt in, Porter County would receive a minimum of $1.6 million in 2024 and a minimum of $3.3 million in 2025, raising per capita spending by one-half and 100% respectively. As of Monday, 54 of Indianas 92 counties had opted in. Several people for and against opting in spoke after the vote was taken when the meeting was opened for public comment. I think that SEA 4 can very much be a positive for our community, said Lisa Kiger, director of business development for Community Healthcare System, offering up the not-for-profit as a potential partner in future initiatives. Just recently, our health care system did a community needs assessment and you are right on track, she told the health department. Commissioners Vice President Barb Regnitz, R-Center, invited the health department to come back to a future meeting and share their plan once its formed. Three residents of other counties spoke against opting in. Barbara Koteles, of Hobart, and Sheila Madjecki, of Schererville, said they were speaking at the Porter County meeting because their efforts to have SEA 4 on the agenda for public comment at a Lake County Board of Commissioners meeting were rejected. Advertisement The legislators put everybody in a very bad position, Madjecki said. They will use this against countless counties like they did during COVID. In my heart of hearts I dont want to believe that they did this to control us, Biggs told the crowd of naysayers, which laughed at him. Its really important that we all work together, Regnitz added. Johannes Poulard, of LaPorte County, said he came to speak in Valparaiso because he plans to run for the State Senate District 4 seat in 2026 and Porter County is part of that constituency. If you guys are going to get the funding I hope you will spend some of it on those who were injured by the vaccines, he said. Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. An argument Clark County Sheriffs investigators said involved drinking and a claim of missing money ended with one person stabbed and another in custody. >> Circleville PD fires officer to set K-9 on truck driver who had surrendered The victim, suspect and a third person had returned to a residence in South Vienna on Tuesday after a night of drinking, Sheriffs Maj. Michael Young said. They continued drinking, reportedly, and an argument involving two of the individuals who are in a relationship with each other erupted over missing money. During the argument, the suspect, identified as Keri Lanum, intervened. But instead of de-escalating the situation, her intervention caused a disruption to exist between Lanum and the victim, identified as Selena Hoelscher. The confrontation became physical when Hoelscher reportedly punched Lanum in an effort to get away. Maj. Young said the investigation revealed that Lanum grabbed a butcher knife and chased Hoelscher out of the trailer and into the front yard, where she cut Hoelscher on her wrist. Neighbors were alerted by screaming coming from the altercation and someone called 911. Hoelscher refused a ride to a hospital and was treated at the scene, Young said. Lanum, however, was taken to Springfield Regional Medical Center before she was booked into the Clark County Jail because of her suspected level of alcohol and possible drug use, Young said. Lanum is charged with single counts of felonious assault and domestic violence, Young said. A magistrate judge lowered the bond amounts to $1.2 million each for two Fort Bliss soldiers accused of killing two people and wounding four others in a shooting spree outside an El Paso bar. Pvt. Aaron John, 22, and Pfc. Andrew James Williams, 20, who are both from New York, are accused of capital murder and remain at the El Paso County Jail in Downtown. Their bonds were initially set at $2.5 million each. The soldiers are accused of firing guns into a crowd following a fight on July 13 outside the Ditzy Duck bar in the parking lot of Airway Plaza, 1160 Airway Blvd. During Tuesday's teleconference bond hearing, the soldiers' attorneys said their clients weren't flight risks and that even if they were to be released from jail, they would be taken into the custody of the U.S. Army. U.S. Army soldier Pfc. Andrew James Williams is accused of capital murder in connection with a shooting that killed two people and wounded four others in the Airway Plaza parking lot on July 13 in El Paso. As a private in the U.S. Army, he is incapable of posting anything close to that," public defense attorney Marcelo Rivera, who represented Williams, said about the original $2.5 million bond. Military: Fort Bliss soldier killed in Army vehicle crash identified Magistrate Judge Tony Aun, who had set the original bonds, reduced them to $1.2 million at the hearing. In Texas, capital murder is punishable by life in prison without parole or the death penalty. Prosecutor: Argument with woman preceded Airway Plaza shooting The soldiers were outside the Ditzy Duck when one of them got into an argument with a woman companion, drawing the attention of a crowd, which tried to intervene, leading to an argument and a fight, Assistant District Attorney Ray Duke said at the hearing. The fight ended when Williams and John allegedly pulled out handguns and began firing into the crowd, Duke said. The violent rampage was filmed by security cameras. U.S. Army Pvt. Aaron John is accused of capital murder in connection with a shooting that killed two people and wounded four others in the Airway Plaza parking lot on July 13 in El Paso. A longtime couple, James Nicholson Jr., 26, and Alexa Retana, 27, were killed in the shooting. Four men were wounded. A person, believed to be an Uber driver, managed to take a photo of the license plate of the suspected shooters' car and the information was broadcast to law enforcement, Duke said. Story continues Law enforcement: Constable announces bid for El Paso County sheriff Military police stopped the car at the Constitution Gate to Fort Bliss. Two guns believed to have been used in the shooting were found in the vehicle, Duke said. When questioned by El Paso police detectives, both soldiers allegedly admitted to firing their guns. Investigators are awaiting ballistic tests to determine who shot whom, Duke explained. I just know they are both equally as culpable as parties in this case," Duke said at the hearing. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Bond reduced for Fort Bliss soldiers in El Paso shooting spree Ariana Madix has entered a whole new reality. The Vanderpump Rules star made her way into the Love Island USA villa in Fiji for the Peacock reality dating shows fifth season. During Episode Eight, which aired July 25, Madix hosted a high stakes game of Mr. & Mrs. where the coupled islanders had to test their knowledge of one another. But first, the contestants who must couple up and find love while living together fawned over the reality star as she strutted into the villa. Ariana Madix make an appearance on Season Five of Shes just an icon. You look up bad bitch in the dictionary, you gonna see a picture of Ariana, islander Hannah Wright told the camera after Madixs arrival. Madix then proceeded to spill the details on how to play the game, while teasing that the winning couple would receive a prize thats never ever been given out in the history of Love Island. Its important to know who youre dating or sharing a bed with. And if theyre not the one for you. Trust me, its better to find out sooner rather than later, Madix said, seemingly touching on her past relationship woes. As for the juicy prize, the winning couple get to avoid the first public dumping when the public votes for their favorite duo. If you win this game, you cant go home in the next dumping, she said to the surprised islanders. Ariana Madix hosted a game of After a series of questions which included the couples guessing their partners worst personality trait, what animal their partner would be, boys "body count" and more it came down to a tie between Marco Donatelli and Wright and Destiny Davis and Harrison Luna. After answering one more question, Donatelli and Wright took home the win. Madix congratulated the winning couple before dropping one last bombshell. She gave the pair the power to choose one more couple to be safe from elimination. The chosen pair was Leo Dionicio and Anna Kurdys. I think thats my cue to go, Madix said after her appearance. Bye for now. Madixs guest role was first teased on July 11. Love Island USA is hosted by Sarah Hyland with Scottish comedian (and Love Island UK fan-favorite) Iain Stirling serving as narrator. Story continues This is just one of Madixs stops in the reality show world. She is also set to compete on the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars. Madix has had a headline-making year after being involved in what fans dubbed Scandoval, After nine years together, she and Tom Sandoval broke up in March after he cheated on her with Vanderpump Rules cast member Raquel Leviss. The fallout played out in Season 10 of the Bravo series and the three-part reunion. This article was originally published on TODAY.com PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) Southeast Asian countries should be given some latitude to engage informally with Myanmar on an individual basis to help resolve a deepening crisis there, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Wednesday. Anwar said he and visiting Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed during talks on the need to strengthen the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in ending the violence that started after Myanmar's army seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government on Feb. 1, 2021. At the same time, Anwar said neighboring countries should be given some flexibility, room and space" to engage with Myanmar on an informal basis. But he said it must not come at the expense of sacrificing the issues of human rights and the treatment of minorities, particularly the ethnic Muslim Rohingya and others. Some ASEAN countries, including current chair Indonesia, have been frustrated with Myanmar's refusal to cooperate with a peace plan forged in 2021 that called for an immediate end to the violence and dialogue to be brokered through an ASEAN special envoy. The 10-member bloc has banned Myanmars generals from attending ASEAN meetings. Thailand has already taken a bilateral route to engage Myanmar. Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said he met earlier this month with Suu Kyi in detention and that she was open to engage in talks. He is the only foreign government official known to have been given access to Suu Kyi. The military government had earlier refused requests by ASEAN special envoys to meet her. Don said his meeting with Suu Kyi was an approach from the friends of Myanmar" to secure a peaceful settlement. Southeast Asian diplomats told The Associated Press that Thailand was taking extra steps to help ease the crisis amid fears that an escalation of violence could drive large numbers of refugees from Myanmar into Thai territory. Marcos, in a joint press conference with Anwar on Wednesday, didn't mention Myanmar by name. But he agreed that countries should be able to use the bilateral route to resolve problems. Story continues I think that this will be an important aspect to all the issues that ASEAN is presently facing and to all the issues that the member states are presently worrying about, he said. Myanmar's military takeover and its crackdown on armed resistance has plunged the country into deadly chaos. Western and European governments, including the United States, have imposed sanctions on Myanmars military government and demanded the immediate release of Suu Kyi and other political detainees. Suu Kyi, 78, is serving a total of 33 years imprisonment after being convicted on a raft of charges that her supporters and rights groups say were politically motivated in an attempt to discredit her and legitimize the militarys takeover while preventing her from returning to politics. More than 3,750 civilians, including pro-democracy activists, have been killed by security forces and nearly 24,000 arrested since the military takeover, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights group that keeps tallies of arrests and casualties. Marcos, who arrived Tuesday, will also attend a business event and investment forum before leaving Thursday. Route of Operation K and President Theodore Roosevelt High School in Honolulu which was damaged by bombs dropped nearby from Operation K. The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, is rightly the most infamous of the attacks on America in the early months of U.S. involvement in World War II. For most of us who took high school history and moved on, that's what we learned in school. But Japan planned to destroy as much American naval might in the first months of the war as it could, and it launched multiple invasions, more attacks, and even bombed Pearl Harbor a second time. Japan attacked American territory often Most high school history books seem to cover the Pearl Harbor attack, yada yada yada, Battle of Midway, D-Day, let's all go to lunch. This will be on the test. But the Japanese attacks on December 7 (at Pearl Harbor and in the U.S.) included near-simultaneous attacks west of the International Date Line. The attacks on Wake Island, American Samoa, and the Philippines on December 8 actually took place within hours of the Pearl Harbor attack beginning. American forces across the Pacific quickly rallied to the defense but struggled against prepared, well-timed Japanese attacks designed to inflict massive pain quickly. The empire had America on its back foot and bloody, but it had still failed to inflict serious damage to America's submarines or carrier fleet, both key target of Japanese strategy. Japan sent submarine attacks against Hawaii through the end of December 1942, but couldn't find the fleets they hunted for. The submarines shelled a few locations and did minimal damage. And so the Japanese navy planned a new, insidious series of raids. Operation K called for flying boats to conduct the longest aerial attacks in history to that point. Five Kawanishi H8K flying boats carrying four bombs each were to fly 1,900 miles from the Marshall Islands to French Frigate Shoals. They would refuel from a waiting submarine, fly 310 miles to bomb the docks at Pearl Harbor, and then return home. The prime target was the "ten-ten" dock, a 1,010-foot dock essential to quickly servicing large ships like carriers and battleships. Story continues Photograph taken from a Japanese plane during the torpedo attack on ships moored on both sides of Ford Island. View looks about east, with the supply depot, submarine base and fuel tank farm in the right center distance. (U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph) The failure of Operation K If you saw all of that and thought, "Wow, crossing over 2,000 miles of mostly open ocean in five 1940s flying boats while relying on submarines for fuel sounds really hard, and what if the weather is bad?" then congratulations. Japan's first raid under Operation K became much smaller. First, only two aircraft were available, so they cut the bomb load to eight bombs total. Then, the refueling submarine got into place no problem, but a submarine ordered to check the weather at the target went missing at sea. And so Japan didn't know about the thick clouds and minor storm over the target March 4. So, instead of a raid of five bombers dropping 20 bombs right on and around the dock, two bombers dropped eight bombs. Four landed out at sea and the other four landed 900 feet from a school, breaking some windows. Worse, the planes couldn't spot ships underneath them, and so they left with almost no intelligence gathered. The raid was a failure, but it did instill some fear and forced the Navy to work out how the attack had happened. Planes scrambled during the attack found no sight of a carrier, and the flying boats clearly needed refueling somewhere. So Navy planners started working out how Japan might have attacked, and they rightly guessed that Japanese forces might use French Frigate Shoals for reconnaissance or linking up forces. Operation K actually helped America Admiral Chester Nimitz, in command of the fleet since December, ordered additional patrols and defense measures at the shoals. When a Japanese submarine arrived in May 1942 for the second raid of Operation K, it found plentiful mines and two American warships at the shoals. And that turned out great for America. America and Japan fought a major battle at the Coral Sea May 4-8 with a mixed result. America prevented Japan severing crucial supply lines, but Japan damaged and sunk more American firepower. And Japan planned a major, surprise assault at Midway for the following month. It just wanted to make sure that America's carriers would be in dock at the time. Japan scheduled the next Operation K reconnaissance for May 30, the perfect time to make sure the U.S. carriers were at Pearl Harbor and not, for instance, steaming toward Midway Atoll to interrupt the surprise attack. But the U.S did, in fact, know about the fleet headed to Midway. And America rapidly repaired the USS Yorktown to get the carrier to Midway in time to fight. The Yorktown left port on May 30. If the March 4 raid hadn't happened, then the May 30 one likely could have, and Japan would have known that the U.S. carriers were missing ahead of the Battle of Midway. Instead, it couldn't gather the intelligence, committed to the Battle of Midway, and got clobbered by a gutsy American ambush. Attorney General investigators serve a search warrant, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at Indiana Neurology Specialty Center in Lafayette, Ind. LAFAYETTE, Ind. Investigators with the Indiana Attorney General's office served a search warrant Wednesday at the offices of the Indiana Neurology Specialty Care at 3731 Rome Drive in Lafayette. Lafayette police Lt. Justin Hartman said local officers were asked to assist in serving the warrant, but he does not know what is being investigated. A hand-written sign taped to the doctor's office door read, "This office is closed for today, 7/26. Please contact our Indy office ... ." The Journal & Courier called the number listed on the note and asked the person who answered the phone if they had a comment. "We do not," the person said. The sign on the office door lot indicates Dr. Albert C. Lee and two nurse practitioners work out of that office. The Indiana Neurology Specialty Care published a short bio about Lee. "Albert C. Lee, MD is Board Certified in Neurology as well as Internal Medicine," the bio states. "He received his medical degree from Queens University of Belfast, UK. While in medical school he was part of the Coulter Exhibition for Medicine and Neurology and he completed his neurology residency at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He received additional post-graduate training through the Mayo Clinic with specialized training in performing and interpreting EMG, EEG and injection therapy." The Journal & Courier was unable to contact Lee or the two practitioners for comment. A man who answered the door at the doctor's office wore a shirt with an embroidered police badge indicating he worked for a fraud division within the Attorney General's Office. He declined to comment about why they were there or what they were doing. He instead referred the J&C to contact the Indiana Attorney General's media spokesperson. The Indiana Attorney General's Office spokeswoman Kelly Stevenson replied to the Journal & Courier's emailed request for the factual circumstances for the search warrants. Story continues "Our office cant share anything yet, due to this being an active investigation," Stevenson wrote in her one-sentence response. Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Search warrant served at Lafayette neurologist's office An Augusta University math professor has been charged with misdemeanor public indecency after allegedly exposing himself in a math lounge. John Christopher Sligar, 65, was booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center on Monday, July 17. He was bonded out on July 18. The incident allegedly occurred on July 10 at about 2:15 p.m. in a math lounge on the third floor of Allgood Hall at Augusta University, according to a warrant from the Richmond County Civil and Magistrate Court. Sligar "was observed exposing" and pleasuring himself. Augusta University said they could not comment on personnel matters, and did not confirm whether he was still employed at the university. Sligar's faculty profile is no longer available online. A saved version of the page from November lists him as an associate professor in the College of Science and Mathematics. As of 2022, he made more than $81,000 a year as a professor, according to state salary transparency data. Burning crosses: Martinez woman arrested after allegedly burning crosses on door with small torch This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta University professor charged for alleged exposure in lounge Two decades before he was a candidate for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was just starting to make a name for himself as an anti-vaccine activist. In 2005, he stormed onto the scene with Deadly Immunity, a 4,700-word piece co-published by Salon and Rolling Stone that, within days, had racked up numerous corrections. In the piece, through a mix of bad science, bad math and spliced-together quotes from a meeting of public health officials, Kennedy wrote a tantalizing but false story about the medical establishment allegedly seeking to cover up evidence that vaccines were harmful to children. After reviewing the evidence concerning thimerosal, an ethylmercury-containing preservative that was once used in childhood vaccines, I became convinced that the link between thimerosal and the epidemic of childhood neurological disorders is real, Kennedy wrote. In the years since, Kennedy has become one of the most influential anti-vaccine voices in the world, along with since-discredited physician and researcher Andrew Wakefield. (HuffPost helped in that effort, publishing blogs that denigrated vaccines from Kennedy and others on its unpaid contributor platform. Those posts, along with others spreading misinformation about vaccines, have since been removed from the site.) The link that Kennedy promoted in Deadly Immunity isnt real. Studies have repeatedly found no connection between thimerosal and autism. Notably, aside from some flu vaccines, thimerosal hasnt been used as an ingredient in childhood vaccines in the United States since 2001 and theres been no correlating drop in autism diagnoses. Still, for years, Kennedys article remained available online to Salon and Rolling Stone readers. That changed in 2011, with the publication of The Panic Virus, in which journalist Seth Mnookin explored the falsehoods and misdirections that fueled the anti-vaccine movement. Mnookins book included an entire chapter on Kennedy. Story continues Rolling Stone removed Kennedys article. Salon published an interview with Mnookin, and wrote in a retraction notice that his book further eroded any faith we had in the storys value. A few weeks ago, Joan Walsh, Salons former editor-in-chief, credited Mnookin again, writing in The Nation that his book ultimately helped convince us to retract the piece entirely. Kennedy hasnt forgotten, either. In June, as part of a response to another critic of his claims, he told the editors of National Review that Mnookins book is a lengthy recitation of Pharma/CDC patently erroneous talking points, devoid of serious scientific analysis, and that it contains an overheated and venomous pop-psychological screed against vaccine safety advocates. Kennedy has ultimately maintained his stance against vaccines, describing criticisms as censorship and his opponents as big shots and bullies who believe that they can get away with anything, including destroying the lives of our children. After Kennedy was banned from Instagram in 2021 for sharing anti-vaccine misinformation, he wrote: Facebook, the pharmaceutical industry and its captive regulators use the term vaccine misinformation as a euphemism for any factual assertion that departs from official pronouncements about vaccine health and safety, whether true or not. This kind of censorship is counterproductive if our objective is a safe and effective vaccine supply. (Hes since gotten his account back.) With relativelypoor poll numbers, Kennedy is likely not a serious threat to Joe Bidens renomination. But hes also probably not quitting any time soon. And with conservative outlets like Fox News willing to give him tons of free media, Kennedy has a larger microphone than ever. These days, Mnookin is the director of the Graduate Program in Science Writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. With Kennedy using his presidential candidacy to reach new audiences, HuffPost spoke to Mnookin about how it feels to see Kennedys resurgence, how the political leanings of anti-vaccine activism have changed over the years, and why Mnookin doesnt think theres a responsible way to debate such activists. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. I wonder if you feel a sense of deja vu now that RFK Jr. is getting so much attention. How are you feeling these days about your book, and where it stands 12 years later? Yeah, I mean, its pretty depressing. What Joan [Walsh] described, accurately, back in 2011, was the fact that when you looked at the evidence, and when you looked at what RFK Jr. was claiming, it clearly didnt add up. His original piece in Rolling Stone and Salon was almost a textbook example of how you can technically fact-check something and say, Oh, yes, these words actually do exist in this transcript, but by taking words and moving quotes around and to make it seem like one sentence was said before another when it was not, by removing context, you take a nuanced, responsible conversation, and make it seem like this incredible conspiracy. Its unfortunate it took six years to retract Deadly Immunity, but my feeling at the time was, This is pretty definitive. But my feeling at the time was also within those two years [2010-2011], Andrew Wakefield, who had initially published a lot of the bogus claims about vaccines, his paper was retracted by The Lancet, and he lost his medical license in the U.K. My feeling at the time was, All right, we can move past this. And I think weve seen both of those cases, that obviously isnt true, that I was more optimistic than I should have been. My feeling at the time was, All right, we can move past this ... I was more optimistic than I should have been.Seth Mnookin, author of "The Panic Virus" So how do you understand Kennedys support these days compared to where he stood in 2005 or 2011? Some people say its just a matter of Republicans supporting a challenger to Joe Biden. Do you believe that? Is this maybe reflective of a surge in anti-vaccine beliefs? I guess I would say that its neither just a surge in anti-vaccine beliefs nor just Republicans propping up an opponent of Biden. On the Democratic side, theres clearly an interest in someone besides Biden. How that will ultimately shake out in the election is hard to say. While RFK Jr. is appearing on a lot of conspiracy-minded, right-wing troll podcasts and websites, he clearly does have some appeal beyond just that group of the electorate. One of the things that Ive frequently found confusing is that, if you look at the numbers nationally for vaccine uptake, theyre consistently high. The uptake rates for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are well over 90%. The uptake for even the COVID vaccine is very high, and so what you see is a sort of disconnect. I wouldnt attribute the interest in his campaign to just anti-vaccine sentiment, so much as I would attribute it to a general sense that, writ large, quote, the fix is in that theres some nefarious force that is controlling peoples lives. And he speaks to that conspiracy-minded belief. When you see the audience that someone like Joe Rogan has, when you see the appeal that Donald Trump has and the significant portions of the GOP electorate that continue to not only support him, but say that they believe that there was a massive conspiracy in the 2020 election there clearly is a deeper sentiment in the country, and in the world right now, that there are forces that we dont understand that are controlling society. I think thats one of the things that he taps into. My feeling about the vaccine controversies that started in the late 90s surrounding thimerosal and the MMR vaccine was that there were a number of bad actors, but ultimately, that really it was the media that was responsible for that, because the media treated what was a settled scientific issue as if it was an on the one hand, on the other hand debate, when it wasnt. And I think thats hugely irresponsible, and coverage like that now is one of the reasons why, at this point, Kennedy has some of the support that he has. My hope, and my suspicion, is that that support is pretty squishy that once people start looking into his views a little bit more, that will sort of crater. But thats also dependent on coverage of him being more responsible than it has been in many cases so far. Describing his views as controversial, I think, is dishonest. Theyre not controversial. Theyre false. Hes not spreading controversial views, hes spreading lies. And so the framing matters enormously, and thats something that I foresee being a huge, huge issue in the 2024 campaign. The media coverage makes up a large part of your book, and reading back, the examples of the type of coverage that Andrew Wakefield got were pretty egregious. HuffPost played a big role in what I would call very generous coverage of the anti-vaccine movement, and weve since removed a lot of those articles and replaced them with editors notes. I wonder, 12 years later, have journalists gotten better at not taking anti-vaccine activists at their word? What we saw in the decade after 2011 was much more responsible coverage, generally, of vaccines. I should emphasize, when I cite 2011, Im not at all saying that thats a demarcation line because of my book, by any stretch of the imagination. Im saying that, in that two-year period, 2010-2011, Wakefields paper was retracted, RFK Jr.s piece was retracted, Wakefield lost his medical license. There were these other events that happened. From that point on, when you saw coverage of childhood vaccines, the coverage was not all the time, but in general much more responsible. If there was going to be any discussion of these conspiracy claims about childhood vaccines being harmful, the framing was almost always that those were disproven, and that was the way that the article was presented. That changed a little bit with the COVID vaccine. Some of that was understandable, because you had a new vaccine on the market that had not gone through the types of testing that most vaccines have gone through, because of the direness of the situation. So it was understandable that some of that coverage was not as immediately accepting of the efficacy and safety of those vaccines. What we saw, then, start to creep into the coverage, and what I found so disturbing, was not the raising of legitimate questions, but really, the same type of BS, disproven, bogus studies or case series that you saw in the late 90s and 2000s, trying to show that childhood vaccines werent safe. You saw some of those same types of really shoddy studies getting attention around the COVID vaccine. I think a more responsible way to cover that would have been to say, All of the research we had so far says that these vaccines that have been developed are safe. However, they have not been on the market for long, et cetera, et cetera. As opposed to saying, Well, theres this concern thats being raised, and maybe thats true. Thats the type of coverage that I always think is really wildly irresponsible. There was a campaign last month that Joe Rogan tried to put together, to pressure the vaccine scientist Peter Hotez to debate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Rogans show. Hotez declined. Is there a version of engaging with those arguments in a debate that can be productive? No, I dont think so. Its the same reason that I refused to debate Andrew Wakefield when my book came out, and the same reason I wouldnt debate RFK Jr. When youre dealing with someone who is completely divorced from facts, its impossible to win a debate. If you are committed to reality, and if you are committed to evidence, its impossible to win a debate with someone who isnt. One of the reasons is because no matter how much evidence you come prepared with, if youre debating someone who is willing to say anything and willing to make any claim, they can then just make up some new claim in the debate, and if you are responsible and only relying on evidence, you will have to say, I dont know, I dont have the answer to that, thats something that has just come up for the first time. And in a debate, what that sounds like is, Aha, we got you. See, we knew that you couldnt show that this was X, Y or Z. It becomes a game of whack-a-mole, and the reason that you can never win a game of whack-a-mole is, no matter how many moles you knock down, they keep popping up. Another reason is because I think its important for people who do depend on evidence, and on data, to hold the people that they come in contact with to that same standard. So if Peter Hotez said, Yes, Im going to debate RFK Jr., then essentially its saying, Here are two people on two different sides of this issue, and were going to listen to both of their views. When the reality is, one of those is a respected scientist with decades and decades of experience, and the other is a wing nut who has been pulling claims out of his ass for decades, and whenever hes shown to be wrong, just moves on to the next crazy claim. When youre dealing with someone who is completely divorced from facts, its impossible to win a debate.Seth Mnookin You mentioned that the uptake of most pediatric vaccines is at or near 90%, and youve said before that most parents would be surprised at how infrequently parents decline recommended vaccines. Has the media over-inflated the level of popularity that the so-called anti-vaccine movement has? You raise a really excellent point, which is that the tenor of the coverage of the anti-vaccine movement gives the impression that its a huge portion of the population. I think a lot of people would feel more comfortable with their decisions around vaccines if they learned the reality of the situation, which is that is not true. Even the uptake for the first dose of the COVID vaccine was over 80%, and that was for a new vaccine where there was a ton of politicization of it, and a lot of people on the GOP side saying that it was a mistake to get it. The degree of anti-vaccine sentiment is exaggerated by the coverage of the anti-vaccine movement, and its a problem in the media more broadly. When you wrote your book, you wrote about progressive enclaves like Brooklyn and Marin County, California. It seems like the Trump years and COVID-19 have scrambled the partisan balance of folks who might pass on vaccines, either pediatric or COVID-19. Have you found that to be the case? And if so, where do you think Kennedy fits in this new landscape? When I wrote in my book that there were these enclaves of seemingly liberal-minded parents where vaccine uptake was lower than it was in the country as a whole, I didnt mean to imply that that also was not true in some areas that were more conservative. One thing that is interesting about the anti-vaccine movement and was more true then, I think, than it is now is that you found anti-vaccine pockets on both the right and the left, which was somewhat uncommon in terms of hot-button political issues. I think what weve seen over the last three or four years with COVID is that there is more appetite for anti-vaccine rhetoric on the right than there is on the left. If you look at vaccine uptake rates around the country, that seems to bear out: Democrat-voting states have, for instance, significantly higher COVID vaccine uptake rates than Republican-voting states. That said, Im not sure that it has scrambled what we were seeing a decade ago as much as it has expanded the numbers of people willing to identify as being skeptical of vaccines, and expanded it more in one direction than the other. If I picture Kennedys supporters, its kind of a conglomeration of the pre-COVID anti-vaccine movement, and the post-COVID, expanded anti-vaccine movement. That is, people from liberal areas hes swum in those same circles for a long time as well as, maybe, Trump supporters who want to see someone like Kennedy elevated politically. Do you think he is the anti-vaccine candidate across the political spectrum? Because it seems from the outside that thats who hes aiming for. Trump, obviously, has the support of a fair number of people who are anti-vaccine. But I think one mistake that we make as political observers is assuming that voting is a rational act, as opposed to an emotional act. And so I think whatever percentage of people end up voting for RFK Jr., there will probably be a significant portion of them that do not identify as anti-vaccine, but for some reason for another, feel like they like him, or feel like they dont like Biden, or feel like Biden is too old, or have fond memories of the Kennedy dynasty, or something else that doesnt have to do with vaccines. I think were seeing a lot of that, a lot of sort of vague, Well, I dont know if I want Biden. Plus, oh yeah, Kennedys. All of that thrown in together with some fervent anti-vaccine stuff as well. Ultimately, the number of people who vote for him will be much smaller, but it will not be just anti-vaccine people. You saw that with [former U.S. Rep.] Dennis Kucinich, whos now helping Kennedy in his campaign. Kucinich, when he ran, had some pretty out-there opinions. I dont think that the percentage of people who voted for him all shared those opinions, so much as some people just felt like it was time for someone to get in and change the system. They needed new voices. They need someone willing to speak truth to power. So I think when you see fringe candidates, its a mistake to interpret their support as support for all of those views. Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visits Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visits "Fox & Friends" at Fox News Channel Studios on July 14 in New York City. Kennedy has rejectedthe label anti-vaccine, even though, as NBCs Brandy Zadrozny pointed out, hes on record telling people that when he goes on hikes and he sees somebody with a newborn baby, he says, Better not get them vaccinated. Why do you think it is important to him that he not be stuck with this anti-vaxxer label? That same sort of rhetorical sleight of hand is what anti-vaccine activists have been doing literally for as long as there have been anti-vaccine activists. They insist that theyre just in favor of safe vaccines, or safer vaccines, or theyre in favor of different types of testing. His whole point is that hes not dogmatic about this, hes just following the research, and viewing someone as pro- or anti-anything is essentially saying that youre dogmatic. So I think thats why its important to him. Also, as evidenced by the over 90% of parents who vaccinate their kids, most of the country is in favor of vaccines and do not want to get vaccine-preventable illnesses. In some ways, that denial serves as cover, both for him and for his potential voters. But its completely ridiculous and false. He clearly is anti-vaccine. Hes shown [that] with literally everything hes ever said about vaccines since that Rolling Stone-Salon story came out, and with his absolute steadfast refusal to ever accept evidence that contradicts what he feels like is true. Thats sort of the definition of someone being dogmatic. Earlier this month, Kennedy claimed during a press event that theres an argument that COVID-19 is ethnically targeted, that it attacks certain races disproportionally, that its targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people, and that Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people are most immune to the virus. (In a tweet after the New York Post published a recording of his remarks, Kennedy denied suggesting that the COVID-19 virus was targeted to spare Jews.) What did you make of that? I had a couple reactions to that. One was, [the idea that] theyre designed to target certain people is right in line with this notion of there being some big, bad, evil force that is trying to control the population. Why he felt compelled to then make that extra racist, by saying that it was not targeting Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people, is beyond me. I have no idea what his possible motivations for that could have been, apart from maybe thinking that theres some upside to appealing to antisemites and people who have anti-Asian sentiment. I found that to be incredibly bizarre, and again, I think it shows that if you put a microphone in front of him, he will say anything, just spout all sorts of incredibly dangerous nonsense. During a period where hate crimes are on the rise, for any political figure to stand up and essentially borrow antisemitic and anti-Asian tropes is just so insanely irresponsible. And it speaks to someone who is both not a serious person, but is also completely willing to burn things down around him for who knows what reason. Rebecca Traister, in her story in New York magazine, did a good job of getting to some of this. She wrote that he either has no idea what kind of fire hes playing with, or does and is therefore an arsonist. I think thats spot on. Either hes irresponsible because he doesnt realize that making statements that can be perceived as antisemitic and anti-Asian is not only irresponsible but potentially dangerous or he does know what hes doing, and is trying to light a fire. What has changed over the years that Kennedy, who was maybe at one point more of a fringe figure, is now polling pretty substantially, if not enough to be a real threat? I definitely do not think he has changed. Really the only thing that has changed is that he announced that hes running for president, and I think what were seeing is that the American media has still not figured out how to responsibly cover someone with really dangerous views. We saw this, obviously, in 2016, with Trump. Right before RFK Jr. announced that he was running for president, he was still pretty widely considered to be an incredibly fringe character with completely debunked ideas, and if hed had a press conference announcing Ive decided X about vaccines, he would have gotten very little coverage. What he perceived, correctly, is that all he has to do is announce that hes running for president, and then those same views that would not have gotten any attention previously are all of a sudden getting major coverage. Thats the big thing that has changed. What I mean when I say I dont think the American media has learned how to deal with this, is theres a pretty well-established body of research showing that all you need to do is say something for a certain percentage of people to come away thinking that its true. It becomes a real problem when you have fringe characters who then figure out that, Oh, I can get attention for these views just by announcing that Im going to throw my hat into the political ring. Its a dangerous combination. I think what were seeing is that the American media has still not figured out how to responsibly cover someone with really dangerous views.Seth Mnookin What should our readers keep in mind as they read that coverage of him, wherever it may be coming from? Do you have any advice on how to absorb media coverage of a candidacy like his, without getting sucked into the narratives hes trying to push out there? I think there has been some responsible coverage of him. Rebecca Traisters piece. Jake Tapper, I thought, wrote a very good piece on CNN because RFK Jr. was really almost hilariously misrepresenting an interaction that hed had with Jake a while back. I guess this is more what I think media outlets should do. Its tough, because when youre asking that question, what Im thinking is, If youre already listening to Joe Rogans podcast, what would I recommend that you do? I guess my recommendation would be, Dont listen to Joe Rogans podcast and expect responsible coverage of political or medical issues. But thats not going to fly, obviously, for his fans. So I think being a proactive consumer of news is an important step. Instead of just taking whatever comes across your feed, if youre curious about someone like RFK Jr., find news outlets that you respect and trust and look up what their coverage of him is. I think, not just around this issue but in general, being proactive news consumers, as opposed to passive news consumers, is a really important step. We have seen, in American public life, how difficult it is to keep a conspiracy hidden, right? The tobacco companies were not able to do it. The Catholic Church was not able to do it. The FBI was not able to do it when they were spying on American citizens. And those were all groups that are much more closed than the massive conspiracy that would need to be taking place for one hundredth of what someone like RFK Jr. claims to be true. You would need to have a conspiracy between world governments, between multiple different pharmaceutical companies, between public health officials at multiple different agencies. It would be the type of vast conspiracy that the world has never seen. To imagine both that that is whats happening, and also that somehow it has been kept secret all of this time, is kind of the definition of insanity. Related... BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis said their alliance would make "EV charging more convenient, accessible and reliable". (DENIS CHARLET) Seven major global automakers said on Wednesday they were creating a joint venture for an extensive North American charging network in a bid to boost demand for electric vehicles. BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis said in a statement their alliance would make "EV charging more convenient, accessible and reliable". The network is set to install at least 30,000 high-powered chargers, the companies said, using federal and state subsidies along with private funds. "The new charging stations will be accessible to all battery-powered electric vehicles from any automaker," they said. The stations will offer connectors for both the so-called Tesla system, known as the North American Charging Standard (NACS), as well as the rival standard, known as the combined charging system (CCS). The joint venture, due to be established this year, "aims to become the leading network of reliable high-powered charging stations in North America". The first stations, powered solely by renewable energy, are scheduled to open in the United States next summer and in Canada "at a later stage". They will be built in cities and along major highways, as well as on key commuter and vacation routes. With US electric vehicle sales expected to exceed 50 percent of total US sales by 2030, "the expansion of reliable charging infrastructure will become even more critical to widespread electric vehicle adoption," the companies said. Elon Musk's Tesla has already been forming charging partnerships with major car companies including Ford, General Motors and EV truck company Rivian. Under the partnerships, Musk has agreed to let consumers with autos from rival brands utilise its popular national network. The ascendance of Tesla's network has reflected the system's reputation for reliability, as well as the sluggish expansion of rival EV charging options amid supply chain problems and a slow rollout of a giant federal programme. Story continues A January 2023 forecast by S&P Global concluded that the US charging system was "not nearly robust enough to support a maturing electric vehicle market," saying that the number of EV chargers in the country would need to quadruple between 2022 and 2025. The US National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) programme, established in the 2021 infrastructure bill signed into law by President Joe Biden, provides $5 billion in funds for states to build EV charging networks. dlc/sea/lth Described as a game-changing tool in helping fight violent crime, cameras called automated license plate readers are being deployed in the metro-east. Details about the plan were announced Wednesday morning at a press conference with Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly and local officials at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center in East St. Louis. Jumping onto an interstate is no longer an escape route for criminals, Kelly said Wednesday morning. Illinois State Police is using license plate readers to track vehicles suspected of being involved in criminal acts. This technology is helping us catch criminals and solve crime, adding to the resources weve already committed to this area. This technology is a game-changer in deterring and solving crimes. Forty-five automated license plate readers have already been installed and are in use along Interstate 55, Interstate 70 and Interstate 64. Plans are to install 30 more cameras along metro-east highways before years end. State police are working with the Illinois Department of Transportation to install the cameras We started here in Madison County and St. Clair due to just the nexus of the Interstate 64, 70, 55, 255 ... its the right location to be able to use these tools, Kelly noted. Kelly said authorities will not use the images to catch speeders or for other petty offenses. This is limited to the most serious offenses, Kelly said. This is not for traffic enforcement. This is not a tool used to catch people speeding. Thats not what the technology can be used for. Again, its limited and focused to guns, drugs, human trafficking, violent crime ... things that the public absolutely expects law enforcement to be focused on and to be using these very effective tools for. Its focused, it has appropriate protections in terms of privacy and civil liberties, and we want to make sure that those protections are sustained because we want this tool to be around be effective. Story continues Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly and local officials announced a plan to install 75 automated license plate readers along Interstate 55, Interstate 70 and Interstate 64 as part of an effort to curb violent crime. How the technology works The cameras take still photos of license plates that authorities can use to identify vehicles used during a crime, state police said in an announcement. The agency uses images from the ALPRs to track the path of a suspect vehicle, which can lead to the apprehension and arrest of suspects, the release states. Kelly added the technology is not used to identify persons. You might be able to see the person driving, he said. But its not used primarily to identify persons. Its not face technology. Its primarily focused on the license plate. We may see the color of the vehicle. We may be able to kind of make out the make or model of the vehicle and colors or stripes, that sort of thing, that can help to identify the vehicle. But its not really primarily used to identify a specific person. It is a license plate reader. It is not a face reader. State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) and local officials announced a plan to install 75 automated license plate readers along Interstate 55, Interstate 70 and Interstate 64 as part of an effort to curb violent crime. Kelly cites examples of technologys effectiveness Use of the cameras that already have been installed in the region have been effective, state police said. The agency cited two examples: Use of the cameras led to the arrest of a suspect in a July 5 shooting death in East St. Louis. Officers from the East St. Louis Police Department and the ISP Public Safety Enforcement Group responded to the shooting. The cameras were instrumental in identifying the suspect vehicle, which led to the identification of the suspect who has since been charged with First Degree Murder, state police said. In another case, a state police trooper used what was referred to as an ALPR alert about a vehicle whose owner was wanted for a violent crime in Missouri. The trooper matched the physical description of the driver with the wanted subject and initiated a stop for a traffic violation, state police said in a release. The driver was arrested on two active warrants out of Missouri for Resisting Arrest and First Degree Assault. Troopers also seized four guns during the course of the stop. Cameras strategically deployed in areas with high violent crimes like shooting and carjackings will help make metro-east communities safer, Kelly said. He said his department works with local law enforcement to decide where to post the cameras. St. Clair County States Attorney James Gomric and local officials announced a plan to install 75 automated license plate readers along Interstate 55, Interstate 70 and Interstate 64 as part of an effort to curb violent crime. Dont bring your crime here Kelly also said ISPs strategy is not to make the cameras difficult to spot in fact, just the opposite. Kelly said law enforcement wants the public and criminals to know these tools are out there. Im sure anybody with a keen eye can drive around and see them, he said. And, frankly, the message here today is not about hiding them. And, particularly, we want anybody thats thinking about being involved in crime or committing some act of violence to know that we will use these tools, they are out here and we will find you and you will be held accountable for the crimes youre committing here. So dont come here with your violent activity. Dont bring your crimes to this community. This tool is there and were not hiding it because we want to send that deterrent message: Dont bring your crime here. East St. Louis Police Department Chief Kendall Perry and local officials announced a plan to install 75 automated license plate readers along Interstate 55, Interstate 70 and Interstate 64 as part of an effort to curb violent crime. What others are saying about the cameras East St. Louis Police Department Chief Kendall Perry lauded the initiative. At a time now where crimes on the highway, crimes committed by vehicles, stolen vehicles are on the rise, this is a key component to deterring a lot of the major crimes in our community, he said. This is going to be, as theyve said, a game-changer for this area. St. Clair County States Attorney James Gomric echoed Perrys remarks. It is and will be a game-changer, he said. Technology has been utilized in law enforcement from the magnifying glass to fingerprints ... all of the changes that weve seen during the years that have gone by, license plate readers will be of tremendous benefit as myself and the folks behind me do the good work that needs to be done. State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) called the technology a crime deterrent. Today, is really a monumental day in the metro-east, its a monumental day in Illinois ... because, again, were here to talk about a game-changer when it comes to combating crime in the metro-east, he said. These devices provide rapid and accurate identification of suspects while allowing law enforcement to take immediate action. By knowing what their movements are and that their movements are being monitored closely by these automated systems criminals may deter from engaging in elicit activities on expressways. Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly Additional uses of cameras Kelly discussed other ways law enforcement can use the technology, including for tracking down potential witnesses. Its also to be able to identify potential witnesses that have been in the area so we can contact them, he said. And say We see that you were in close proximity to this particular shooting at a certain time. Did you see anything? People sometimes see things, particularly on the interstates and theyre not even sure what it is that they saw, they go about on their lives, they drive on the interstate and may be another state away. But we can use this technology to identify them, reach out to them to see what kind of information we can get. Kelly added the cameras can be used in AMBER alerts. In addition, if someone is the subject of an AMBER alert a missing child, maybe a child has been kidnapped and we have an identification of the vehicle, that license plate number can be put into the system. And when we get a hit off of that our officers can be immediately notified, he said. The cameras have been in used in Chicago for some time and have been an important tool to help reduce expressway crime, state police said. Expressway shootings in the region dropped by 47% between 2022 and 2021 as a result, according to state police. More about cameras The state began installing cameras in the Chicago area with the enactment of the Tamara Clayton Expressway Camera Act in 2020. Clayton was shot to death in February 2019 as she traveled to work on Interstate 57. Originally, Illinois State Police received $12.5 million from the IDOT Road Fund Grant to purchase specialized cameras, as well as cover the costs of engineering, permitting, and labor associated with installation, controllers, servers/software, electrical power, and communications equipment required to install ALPR systems, according to an agency release. Due to the programs success in the Chicago area, on June 6, 2022, Gov. J. B. Pritzker signed an extension of the Tamara Clayton Act, allowing cameras to be installed in 21 more counties in Illinois, including in the metro-east. An additional $20 million has been appropriated to implement this expansion, called Tamara Clayton 2.0. At the end of the day this is a tool that is being used by the special agents and the other men and women serving the law enforcement that are standing behind me to be able to bring justice and safety to this area and to this community, Kelly concluded. A man robbed a Portage bank Monday afternoon after slipping a teller a note and fleeing with an undisclosed amount of money, according to a release from the Portage Police Department. Around 2:25 p.m., police responded to an activated panic alarm at Horizon Bank, 2650 Willowcreek Road. Employees told police that a white adult male had entered the bank and presented the teller with a note demanding currency. Advertisement The robber did not make direct threats, display a weapon or imply that he had one, police said. The robber fled after receiving the money and was not immediately apprehended. Investigators have since identified the suspect and are following up with leads in an attempt to locate him, police said. After formal charges are filed with the Porter County Prosecutors Office the suspects identity will be released. Autopsies show the three U.S. Marines found dead in a parked car at a gas station in a coastal North Carolina community over the weekend died from carbon monoxide poisoning, the Pender County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday. "I am saddened by the timeless and tragic death of these three young men, who served our country honorably. Our thoughts and prayers remain with their families and colleagues during this time," Sheriff Alan Cutler said in a statement. From left, Tanner J. Kaltenberg, 19, of Madison, Wisc., Ivan R. Garcia, 23, from Naples, Fla., and Merax C. Dockery, 23, from Pottawatomie, Okla., were found dead in a vehicle in North Carolina. Photos provided by the United States Marine Corps. The Pender County Sheriff's Office said deputies were responding to a report of a missing person when they found the three Marines early Sunday at a Speedway convenience store along a highway in Hampstead, North Carolina, about 30 miles south of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. A woman called the office that morning indicating that her son, a Marine, had failed to arrive on a flight in Oklahoma the night prior, the sheriff's office said. Autopsies show the three U.S. Marines found dead in a parked car at a gas station in North Carolina over the weekend died from carbon monoxide poisoning. "The caller indicated that she had spoken with a supervisor in his unit and that someone was en route to the location to see if they could locate the missing person," the office said. The woman knew to direct deputies to the gas station because she had pinged her son's phone to find its location, according to Sgt. Chester Ward, spokesperson for the sheriff's office. At the time, sheriff's deputies were also working on a separate missing person report, the office said. The office said it received a second call later that morning indicating the missing person had been located at the Speedway and that he, along with two other Marines, was deceased inside of a car. Who are the Marines who died in North Carolina? The U.S. Marine Corps identified the three men as Marine Corps Lance Corporal Tanner J. Kaltenberg, 19, from Madison, Wisconsin; Marine Corps Lance Corporal Merax C. Dockery, 23, from Pottawatomie, Oklahoma; and Marine Corps Lance Corporal Ivan R. Garcia, 23, from Naples, Florida. The men were motor vehicle operators with the Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 2 and 2nd Marine Logistics Group at Camp Lejeune, according to First Lt. Raymond Fullbright, of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group. Story continues The North Carolina Office of Medical Examiner performed the autopsies Wednesday, the sheriff's office said. Ward said he did not know how long the car had been parked at the gas station before it was found or if there were any problems with the car. He said he also did not know where the Marines were headed. The families of the three Marines did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Who was Merax Dockery? Merax C. Dockery, 23, from Pottawatomie, Okla., was one of three U.S. Marines found dead in a vehicle in North Carolina. The youngest of five siblings, Dockery grew up in Seminole, Oklahoma, and graduated from Seminole High School in 2019. "Our condolences and prayers are extended to his family and friends," said Bob Gragg, Superintendent of Seminole Public Schools, in a statement. Dockery entered active-duty service in June 2020, according to the U.S. Marine Corps. He was previously based in San Diego at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, at the School of Infantry-West at Camp Pendleton in California and in Missouri at Fort Leonard Wood. His military awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation and Global War on Terror Service Medal. Dockerys mother, Heather Glass of Maud, Oklahoma, told the Associated Press her son joined the Marines "for personal growth" and so that he could travel, with the possibility of making the military a career. Glass said she and another relative had driven to the Oklahoma City airport Saturday evening to wait for her son who was slated to fly home for his grandfather's funeral. When he didnt arrive, Glass' daughter started calling North Carolina hospitals and jails while Glass contacted the sheriffs office and her sons sergeant at Camp Lejeune, resulting in a search. "I feel at peace because I know he was asleep when he passed," Glass told the AP. Several of Dockery's family members shared photos and messages on social media in recent days. "My handsome kind baby brother is gone," one of Dockery's sisters, Micah, wrote in a Facebook post. "I dont feel like this is real, it cant be." Who was Tanner Kaltenberg? Tanner J. Kaltenberg, 19, of Madison, Wis., was one of three U.S. Marines found dead in a vehicle in North Carolina. Kaltenberg attended Verona Area High School in Verona, Wisconsin, and played baseball and hockey, according to local news reports from the time. He entered active-duty service in May 2021, according to the U.S. Marine Corps. Before Camp Lejeune, he was based in San Diego at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and in Missouri at Fort Leonard Wood. Kaltenberg's military awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Medal, the Navy Arctic Service Ribbon, and the Global War on Terror Service Medal. Who was Ivan Garcia? Ivan R. Garcia, 23, from Naples, Fla., was one of three U.S. Marines found dead in a vehicle in North Carolina. Garcia graduated from Lely High School in Naples, Florida, in 2019. "It is a sad day anytime one of our Collier County Public Schools alumni passes away, especially at such a young age," said Chad Oliver, spokesperson for the school district. Garcia entered active-duty service in July 2019, according to the U.S. Marine Corps. Before Camp Lejeune, he was based in San Diego at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and in Missouri at Fort Leonard Wood. He was also based at the Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina. His military awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation and Global War on Terror Service Medal. Rosely Garcia, who identified herself on Facebook as Garcia's aunt, shared photos of Garcia throughout his life as a child, with a skateboard, surrounded by family, in uniform and more. Writing in Spanish, Garcia said she could not believe her "beautiful child" is no longer here. Grace Hauck reports for USA TODAY, Chase Jordan reports for the Wilmington Star-News and Sophie Carson reports for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Marines died of carbon monoxide poisoning in North Carolina: Sheriff Amazon is expanding its range of health-focused apps and services with a platform that offers AI tools to help clinicians transcribe and analyze their conversations with patients. At its annual AWS Summit conference in New York, Amazon unveiled AWS HealthScribe, an API to create transcripts, extract details and create summaries from doctor-patient discussions that can be entered into an electronic health record (EHR) system. The transcripts from HealthScribe can be converted into patient notes by the platform's machine learning models, Amazon says, which can then be analyzed for broad insights. "Documentation is a particularly time-consuming effort for healthcare professionals, which is why we're excited to leverage the power of generative AI in AWS HealthScribe and reduce that burden," Bratin Saha, VP of machine learning and AI services at AWS, said in a blog post shared with TechCrunch via email. "Todays announcement builds on AWSs commitment to the healthcare and life sciences industry and our responsible approach to technologies like generative AI to help reduce the burden of clinical documentation and improve the consultation experience. HealthScribe identifies speaker roles and segments transcripts into categories based on clinical relevance, like "small talk," "subjective comments" or "objective comments." In addition, HealthScribe delivers natural language processing capabilities that can be used to extract structured medical terms from conversations, such as medications and medical conditions. The notes in HealthScribe, augmented by AI, include details like the history of the present illness, takeaways and reasons for a visit. Amazon says that the AI capabilities in HealthScribe are powered by Bedrock, its platform that provides a way to build generative AI-powered apps via pretrained models from startups as well as Amazon itself. This might be cause for alarm, given generative AIs tendency to exhibit biases, confidently invent facts and generally go off the rails. Story continues Speech recognition algorithms, too, often contain biases. One recent study published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed that speech recognition systems from leading tech companies were twice as likely to incorrectly transcribe audio from Black speakers as opposed to white speakers. As a piece in Scientific American points out, in normal conversations, we might choose to "code-switch" depending on the audience. But there's no code-switching with automated speech recognition programs -- either you assimilate, or you're not understood. So is HealthScribe consistent? Can it be trusted, particularly when it comes to deciding whether to label a part of a discussion as "subjective" or "objective" or identifying medications? And can it handle the wide array of different accents and vernaculars that patients and providers might use? The jury's out on all that. But perhaps in an effort to prevent some of the more major potential mistakes, HealthScribe can only create clinical notes for two medical specialties at present: general medicine and orthopedics. And the platform offers clinicians a chance to review notes before finalizing records in their EHR, providing references to the original transcript for sentences used in the AI-generated notes. Given the reluctance of some companies to let generative AI apps field sensitive data, it's not surprising that Amazon's also highlighting HealthScribe's security and privacy aspects in its marketing materials. HealthScribe doesn't retain customer data after processing requests and encrypts data at transit and at rest, and Amazon says it doesn't use the inputs and outputs generated by HealthScribe to train any of its AI models. Healthcare software providers using HealthScribe also have control over where they want to store transcriptions and preliminary clinical notes. But the service isn't compliant (out of the box) with HIPAA, the U.S. law that provides protections for personal health information. HealthScribe is "HIPAA eligible," however -- meaning customers who work with Amazon to meet HIPAA requirements can ultimately reach compliance. Those customer must sign a contract known as a business associate addendum, which AWS' documentation covers in detail here. Amazon says that 3M Health Information Systems, Babylon Health and ScribeEMR are among the companies already using HealthScribe. Alongside HealthScribe, Amazon today announced AWS HealthImaging, a service designed to make it easier to store, transform and analyze medical imaging data "at a petabyte scale." With HealthImaging, customers can run medical imaging apps from a single copy of each medical image in the AWS cloud. As an added benefit of running on AWS infrastructure, HealthImaging enables dynamic pricing for active and archive data as well as "subsecond" image access latencies from AWS' Frequent Access or Archive Instant Access storage tiers. Amazon claims the average organization can reduce the total cost of ownership of their medical imaging storage up to 40% -- a bold statement, to be sure. HealthImaging is now generally available in the US East (N. Virginia), US West (Oregon), Asia Pacific (Sydney) and Europe (Ireland) AWS regions. The University of Colorado, a Pac-12 Conference school since 2011, is discussing a return to the Big 12 Conference, according to multiple Wednesday afternoon reports. ESPNs Pete Thamel reported Colorados board of regents met Wednesday and another session has been scheduled for Thursday to discuss the move. He also reported Big 12 presidents would be meeting Wednesday evening regarding an expansion update. BuffStampede.coms Adam Munsterteiger noted that barring any unexpected hiccups, the (Buffaloes) are indeed on the move to the Big 12. WildcatAuthority.coms Jason Scheer reported Colorado is likely to move within the next 48 hours and that theres another surprise Pac-12 team contemplating a move to the Big 12. Sports Illustrateds Pat Forde wrote that the Big 12 would like to also add Utah, Arizona and Arizona State from the Pac-12, but thats an unlikely scenario. Scheers report indicated none of those schools is the mystery Pac-12 university thats also eyeing the Big 12. Alternatively, Forde reported the Big 12 could target Connecticut if it fails to poach additional Pac-12 members. This latest round of potential Power Five conference realignment looks promising for the Big 12, which is slated to lose Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC in 2024. The Pac-12, which is losing USC and UCLA to the Big Ten in 2024, is in a precarious position. It could be shedding even more members while its currently working to finalize a new media rights deal. As an announcement of that deal remains unfulfilled, Yahoo Sports Ross Dellenger noted that Colorado brass publicly pressured Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff to show them the numbers last week. Dellenger also reported that the Pac-12 held its own board meeting Wednesday morning, wherein Kliavkoff provided an update on the media rights situation. Colorado representatives did not reveal any intentions of leaving or publicize their board of regents meeting to their conference colleagues, Dellenger said. Colorados motivation for the departure appears to be greater financial stability, which, ironically, is why it left the Big 12 for the Pac-12 previously. Dellinger reported the Big 12 has given Colorado a deadline of Tuesday, Aug. 1 to make a decision. He also named SMU and San Diego State as potential future replacements for the Pac-12. phones in classroom Smartphones should be banned from schools to help stop classroom disruption, a major United Nations report has recommended. Unesco, the educational, scientific and cultural wing of the UN, said the ban would improve learning and help protect children from online bullying. Excessive mobile phone use was associated with poor educational performance and screen time worsened childrens emotional stability, the Guardian reported, citing the agencys research. Digital technology as a whole, including artificial intelligence, should never take precedence over a human-centred vision of education or replace face-to-face interaction teaching, the report added. Not all change constitutes progress. Just because something can be done doesnt mean it should be done, it concluded. The report also called for policymakers to take heed of the social dimension of education. Those urging increasing individualisation may be missing the point of what education is about, it added. Public support Audrey Aloza, Unescos director general told the newspaper: The digital revolution holds immeasurable potential but just as warnings have been voiced for how it should be regulated in society similar attention must be paid to the way it is used in education. Its use must be for enhanced learning experiences and for the wellbeing of students and teachers, not to their detriment. Keep the needs of the learner first and support teachers. Online connections are no substitute for human interaction. Last month, Finland became the latest European country to ban mobile phones in classrooms in an attempt to curb slumping exam results. The countrys newly elected Right-wing coalition pledged to introduce the new rule for pupils aged between seven and 15 years old. The change, which is expected to mean students would have to keep phones in their backpacks, has public support but would still need parliamentary approval. A recent petition calling for rules forcing children to switch off their phones at school or banning them altogether got more than 30,000 signatures. Story continues Other European countries have already introduced restrictions on smartphones in schools. Phones in a locker Italy completely banned the use of mobile phones in schools in December. Teachers were told to collect the tech from students at the start of the day. Phones were banned in French schools in 2018 but in Germany, the region of Bavaria recently relaxed its long-standing ban. Nick Gibb, the veteran schools minister, has suggested parents in the UK could give their children brick phones instead of smartphones to help them make better use of their time at school. In England, schools are free to set their own behaviour policies but Mr Gibb told the Telegraph he supported schools which banned smartphones from the premises. Mr Gibb pointed to Katharine Birbalsingh, the headteacher of Michaela Community School in north London, who requires children to put phones into a locker when they get to school. He said: Youre not out with your friends. If youre on this [phone] for six hours, you should be out with your friends, socialising, talking to your parents, doing your homework. Katherine talks about these children being up all night to 1am, tapping away on their mobile phones and then coming to school half asleep and therefore they are not concentrating. 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. Woman on the phone The fallout from Nigel Farage having his bank account closed has raised questions over whether banks can terminate accounts due to a person's political beliefs. The former UKIP leader has said an internal document from private bank Coutts indicated his political views were part of the decision for the account being closed. Dame Alison Rose has resigned as chief executive of NatWest which owns Coutts, after she admitted discussing Mr Farage's account with a BBC journalist was a "serious error of judgement". Are bank accounts being closed due to people's views? In short, it isn't clear either way. Mr Farage claims he is "far from alone" in this matter, claiming that "tens of thousands of people have had their accounts closed". However Sir Philip Augur, a former member of the Future of Banking Commission, which was set up to make banks more accountable to customers after the 2008 financial crisis, said he did not think cases like Mr Farage's were widespread. "No doubt there will be lots of complaints, no doubt every single bank will be scrutinising their processes really carefully from now on," Sir Philip told the BBC's Today Programme. "But I would be really surprised if this is a massive industry wide issue." The Financial Ombudsman Service told the BBC that it received 1,389 complaints about closures of current accounts in 2022 and 2023 but said it could not provide information on the reasons behind them. What are the rules? The law states that every person in the UK has a legal right to hold a basic bank account that gives them the ability to receive and make payments. Legislation says a credit institution (legal jargon for a bank) "must not discriminate against consumers legally resident in the United Kingdom by reason of their nationality or place of residence or by reason of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion". Story continues Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, told MPs last week that legislation around payment accounts meant banks cannot "discriminate on the basis of political views". Angela Knight, former chief executive of the trade body British Banking Association, said it didn't matter what type of bank account someone had - from very basic or one with "bells and whistles" such as overdrafts, savings accounts and standing orders - rules preventing banks discriminating are the same. But she said banks can refuse customers when fraud, for example, is suspected or when a person's conduct inside a bank or towards bank staff amounts to a public order offence or harassment. One potentially complicating factor are figures who are classed as a politically exposed person, or PEP. These are people who hold a prominent position or influence who may be more susceptible to being involved in bribery or corruption. Banks are required to do extra due diligence on PEPs. The government has said some banks might be "failing to strike the right balance" in their approach to providing services to PEPs. It has said accounts should be not closed just because of someone's status as a PEP. But can it close my account because my views are "controversial"? As the law states, a bank should not close an account because of a "belief, political, or an other opinion". However, if a person drops under the wealth threshold that some banks have it could prompt the lender to conduct a wider review of the customer's profile, including reputational and legal risk. Gary Greenwood, a banking analyst at Shore Capital, said the entire banking sector might have to change the way it approaches account closures. Lenders will need to "demonstrate that they have gone through the proper processes", he said. But Mr Greenwood said banks will still need to consider legal and regulatory requirements such as financial crime, as well as whether their reputations will be tarnished by having some customers on their books. What is happening now? The government met with bank bosses on Wednesday who committed to government reforms on the closure of customer accounts. The reforms include a requirement that banks give customers a termination notice period of 90 days. This would giving customers more time to challenge a decision through the Financial Ombudsman Service or to find a replacement bank. Banks will also be required to spell out why they are terminating a bank account, but there will be limited exceptions to such requirements, for example when investigations into criminal activity are ongoing. The News wont be officially released in Russia, since Warner Bros. stopped doing business in the country after it invaded Ukraine. But Barbiemania has nonetheless swept Russia. Residents are dressing up in pink, going to Barbie-themed parties and living out their Barbie dreams, The Moscow Times reported, accompanied by photos of Russian fans decked out in hot pink or in their favorite Barbie costume. Fans might also help to fund the unofficial and legally dubious release of the movie in Russia, per local news reports. The Barbie craze recalls the somewhat complicated legacy of the doll in Russia. Insights Many of the complaints alleged that doctors promoted hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, neither of which are effective or safe treatments for COVID-19. George Frey/Reuters Nearly 500 doctors had complaints filed against them over spreading COVID-19 misinformation. But only 4% received disciplinary action from state medical boards, the Washington Post reports. And seven states have passed laws making it harder to discipline doctors who spread misinformation. Nearly 500 doctors had complaints of spreading COVID-19 misinformation filed against them in the last three years. And state medical boards only disciplined 4% of those doctors, a Washington Post investigation revealed. From January 2020 to June 2023, the Post identified at least 480 complaints against physicians, related to spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic. Several of these complaints related to doctors promoting the use of ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine. Then-President Donald Trump and several of his allies promoted the two drugs in 2020, but health authorities have demonstrated they are ineffective against COVID-19 and can have dangerous side effects. Both the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration recommend against the use of either drug for COVID-19 treatment. Out of the 20 doctors disciplined for spreading COVID-19 misinformation, five of them lost their medical licenses, the Post reported. Others received fines but continued practicing for instance, the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services fined a doctor just $3,943 after he prescribed two patients ivermectin to treat COVID-19, according to documents the Post obtained. Both patients later died. Meanwhile, it is becoming even more difficult for some states to discipline doctors. Seven states have passed legislation since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic limiting the ability of medical boards to punish doctors who prescribe either of the drugs, the Post reported. This includes Florida, where Republican legislators pushed a law that passed in May preventing authorities from punishing doctors who spread COVID-19 misinformation on social media, Axios reported. Read the original article on Business Insider Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra deflected blame over the exploitation of migrant children Wednesday, saying that his departments responsibility over a child ends once they are resettled in a sponsor household. And he repeatedly noted it was up to Congress to change that reality, if it so desired. Wednesdays hearing of the House Oversight subcommittee on investigations was the latest exploring issues first highlighted in a New York Times investigation revealing the employment and exploitation of migrant children. We cant go to an employer and say, Hey, you cant employ this kid, youre violating the law, Beccera said. What we can do is try to reach the child and the sponsor and say, How are things going? But he noted the sponsors arent required to respond. Our authorities are very limited, Becerra added. If you wish to give us further authority, we will absolutely work with you towards that. Republicans have focused their criticism on HHSs Office of Refugee Resettlement, and they have repeatedly cited a figure in the New York Times that HHS could not reach more than 85,000 children after being placed with sponsors. Becerra claimed he was unfamiliar with the statistic at a congressional hearing in March, but on Wednesday sought to explain it, and confront what he called misinformation. The references in the New York Times article are to voluntary calls we make. We try to reach each child and sponsor three times separately but there is no requirement for the sponsor or the child to answer the call, Beccera told lawmakers Wednesday. There could be any number of reasons they dont pick up but any suggestion that we lost kids is categorically false. According to Becceras testimony, more than 81 percent of households are reached. He added that HHS is working with the Department of Labor to identify abusive employers and make sure they arent sponsors. Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) said that if appropriate, Congress should absolutely expand HHS jurisdiction over migrant children following their resettlement. Story continues Democrats argued Republicans were moving in the wrong direction on the issue, pointing to a GOP funding bill that could cut current spending on the Unaccompanied Childrens Program by $3.3 billion, or 60 percent. A press release from the office of House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) said the bill reins in wasteful bureaucracy while enhancing oversight and accountability. Though Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) said the eightfold increase in unaccompanied migrant children crossing the border annually makes ORRs job a lot more impossible, Becerra said the funding cuts would only make it harder. Kids are kids. If its your child or my child or anyone elses child, kids deserve our support and care, Becerra said. It would be impossible to do that if the cuts that are being proposed in the House Appropriations Committee were to go through. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. An arrest warrant was issued on Tuesday for a 78-year-old suburban Kansas City woman accused of robbing her third bank for failure to appear in Cass County Circuit Court. Bonnie B. Gooch, of Pleasant Hill, was charged by Cass County prosecutors in April with a single felony of stealing or attempting to steal from a financial institution. She was released from the county jail on a signature bond in June. Gooch is accused of robbing Goppert Financial Bank in Pleasant Hill. On April 5, around 3:15 p.m., Pleasant Hill police officers responded to a robbery in progress. They were told an older woman wearing a disguise had robbed the bank and left in a Buick with a disabled persons license plate. Gooch was pulled over and arrested in the parking lot of the Pleasant Hill Animal Clinic. Inside her vehicle, police reportedly found a black N-95 face mask and plastic gloves on the passenger seat. A large amount of cash in small bills was on the passenger floorboard. During the April robbery, Gooch allegedly passed a note to a teller instructing her to hand over $13,000 in small bills and no dye pack! Added was: thank you sorry I didnt mean to scare you. During an interview with the FBI, Gooch said she had no memory of what occurred. The FBI declined to pursue federal charges against Gooch, according to Cass County court documents. Gooch was convicted of two earlier felonies for bank robberies in 2020 and 1977. In February 2021, Gooch pleaded guilty in Jackson County Circuit Court to one felony count of stealing more than $750. The criminal charge stemmed from the robbery of Bank of West in Lees Summit. A teller told investigators a shorter, older woman entered the business wearing a lime-green hat with a black wig tucked underneath. She put a grocery bag on the counter. Then she handed the teller an orange and blue greeting card with a handwritten note inside demanding $3,000. Goochs son also called police that day reporting his mother had left the home off her rocker and saying she was going to rob a bank, according to court documents. Story continues Following her guilty plea, Gooch was given probation with the promise to stay out of trouble or face three years in prison. Online court records show she was discharged from that probation order in November 2021. Court documents state Gooch was also convicted of robbing a bank in California in 1977. Further details of that criminal offense were not available in online court records on Monday. Under Missouri law, Gooch faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison if convicted in the Pleasant Hill bank robbery. The Stars Jenna Thompson contributed to this report. Jeremy Suarez | Getty Images Jeremy Suarez portrayed Jordan on the hit television series The Bernie Mac Show and recently sat down for an interview and shared how he transitioned from a child actor to living a regular life working in retail and construction. The 33-year-old starred in the series alongside Kellita Smith, Camille Winbush, Dee Dee Davis and the late comedian from 2001 to 2005. When the show ended, Suarez was older and realized he wanted normalcy in his life. He placed his acting career on the back burner and worked as a blue-collar employee in retail, as a line cook and in construction with his stepfather, Atlanta Black Star reported. Suarez also worked as a boilermakers apprentice. In a recently-published interview with HYPE+, he said the experience was hard work and put some hair on his chest. I mean it was good work, it was heavy work, but like I said, it kinda put some hair on my chest, man, he explained, adding, I may be an actor and I may got soft hands but got dang it Imma use em to lift s**t. Im not scared, ya know. The Chicago native said his transition to regular jobs helped him learn more about himself. I always transitioned to a regular job and kind of lifestyle with a purpose of using that as like a fact-finding mission. You go out, and you see all of this stuff. You take it, and you make all of those things part of you. After spending some time away from the limelight, Suarez has plans to resume his acting career. I think you can run away from it and try to be the exact opposite of that character, but not really. Jordan is one section of me. Its one little slither of Jeremy. Theres tons of different Jeremys, too. Im hoping that in the future Ill just get to show all the different parts of me. Suarezs former castmates have also chosen different routes to make a living. In February, Blavity reported that Winbush and Davis created OnlyFans accounts and made quite a bit of money on the subscription service. Winbush clapped back at social media users who criticized her and Davis decisions to create content on the app. The trolls are hungry again so heres some food for thoughtIve never been arrested, never been on drugs, dont have any baby daddies, I pay all my taxes, I drink water and mind the business that pays me, Winbush said, according to Atlanta Black Star. A jogger runs near Montrose Beach in the Uptown neighborhood during a warm and humid day on July 26, 2023. Parts of the area were under a severe thunderstorm warning as a storm system moved east through northern Illinois, according to weather officials. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) Hot and humid weather is forecast for the Chicago metro area Thursday and Friday, creating dangerous conditions for older adults and vulnerable populations, officials said. A heat advisory that was issued Wednesday for most counties south of Interstate 80 is expected to expand north on Thursday, including most of the Chicago metro area, said Scott Baker with the National Weather Service. Advertisement How hot will it get? Temperatures will reach the high 90s on Thursday and Friday, but the biggest concern for weather service meteorologist Kevin Doom is that the high humidity will make it feel hotter than what the temperature gauge says. Weve been pretty lucky so far this year, with the lack of humidity during some of our hotter stretches, but this time around it looks like the humidity is going to play a bigger role, Doom told the Tribune. Advertisement The heat index is a measure of relative humidity and air temperature. Its a closer representation of how it really feels outside, an important measurement for weather officials deciding when to issue heat warnings and advisories. On Thursday and Friday, the heat index will range from 95 to 105 degrees with the highest temperatures occurring away from the lakefront. At that temperature range, heat-related illness and heat exhaustion are more common, according to the National Weather Service. Although temperatures are expected to soar on back-to back days, it wont technically be considered a heat wave. A heat wave is a period of abnormally hot weather generally lasting more than two days, according to the weather service. This weeks heat and humidity are remnants of the blistering heat wave that affected millions across the West and Southwest, Doom said. But the system has weakened as it has traveled east. Thats sort of shifting eastward a little bit, but luckily, as it does, its going to kind of fizzle away and so thats why were not expecting temperatures quite as high, he said. How to prevent and spot heat-related health issues Heat is the top weather-related killer in the United States, even though many deaths are preventable, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Medical experts say heat isnt as visible as other weather disasters or taken as seriously. Juan Cobo, primary care physician and geriatrics specialist at Rush Oak Park Hospital, said its important to stay hydrated and keep away from direct sun exposure. If you have to go outside, wear light-colored and thin clothing and consider drinking electrolytes. Dehydration is one of the first signs of heat-related illness, Cobo said, which can range from mild heat exhaustion to serious, sometimes fatal, heatstroke. Other symptoms include changes in blood pressure, fainting or dizziness. Advertisement Heatstroke has those same symptoms but also includes a high body temperature of 103 degrees or more, confusion, hot or red skin and a fast pulse. If you think someone might have heatstroke, call 911 immediately. Anytime the temperatures go above 90, you should pay attention to it, Cobo said. In places like northern Illinois where most people arent used to high temperatures, the body might respond differently than someone in Florida would. Older adults are one of the most vulnerable groups during a heat wave or periods of high temperatures. Cobo said the bodys ability to regulate temperature decreases as you age or become less active. People dont think about the medication they take as also being a potential risk factor, Cobo said. He suggests checking in on family members and neighbors, especially those living alone. If were giving someone, lets say, medications to lower their blood pressure, or were giving them diuretics, which actually make their kidneys pee more, that increases the capacity, the chance of organs to have injury, he said. Cobo was a medical resident during the infamous 1995 Chicago heat wave, where over 700 heat-related deaths were recorded over the course of five days. Most deaths were older individuals who didnt have air conditioning or didnt turn it on because of high costs. Advertisement Chicago has a documented pattern of heat disparities by race, ethnicity and also health insurance coverage, an investigation by the Tribune found. On Friday, volunteers throughout Chicago will participate in a city-run program to map these disparities. We know that there are historical events and policies that have made these disparities more pronounced, Kyra Woods, a city of Chicago policy adviser on environment and climate, said last month at the programs launch. Cobo also strongly recommends staying informed by watching the news or keeping up with city emergency notifications. When you start hearing all this rumbling, take it seriously. Be prepared. It is not a joke, he said. Resources for relief Chicago residents can seek relief at any public library location, Park District field houses and splash pads around the city. Cooling centers will be available at the following locations. Face masks are required and can be obtained at the centers: Advertisement Englewood Center, 1140 W. 79th St. Garfield Center, 10 S. Kedzie Ave. (24 hours) King Center, 4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave. North Area Center, 845 W. Wilson Ave. South Chicago Center, 8650 S. Commercial Ave. Trina Davila Center, 4312 W. North Ave. Residents can also call 311, check online at 311.chicago.gov or download the CHI311 app to request a wellness check by the city or get connected to health resources. Cook County officials on Tuesday also announced the opening of cooling centers from Wednesday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and those can be found on the countys website. The county is also opening cooling centers at the Skokie, Maywood and Bridgeview courthouses. vla@chicagotribune.com Biden signing proclamation for Emmett Till monumnent Evan Vucci / AP Photo On Tuesday, President Biden established a national monument to honor Emmett Till and his mother, the activist Mamie Till-Mobley. The monument will memorialize the Black teen, who was lynched in 1955, and his mother's work to find justice for him, which "helped ignite the civil rights movement," The Wall Street Journal reported. The president signed the proclamation to create the monument at three critical spots related to Till in Illinois and Mississippi on the day that would have been his 82nd birthday. Biden's announcement "made the case for reckoning with the legacy of racism in America, even as some Republicans try to restrict how Black history is taught," The New York Times wrote. "At a time when there are those who seek to ban books, bury history, we are making it clear crystal, crystal clear. While darkness and denialism can hide much, they erase nothing," Biden said in a speech before signing the proclamation. He also noted that the lynching was "barbaric." Till was abducted and tortured at 14 years old after being accused of whistling and making lewd remarks to a white woman while visiting family in Mississippi. His body was found in the Tallahatchie River. Two white men, Roy Bryant and his half-brother J.W. Milam, were tried for his murder, but an all-white jury acquitted them. "Months later," Politico added, "the men confessed to the crime in a paid interview with Look magazine." The White House said the monument is meant to honor the work of Till-Mobley, who became a prominent figure in the civil rights movement after her son's death. The monument, dubbed the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, will be erected in three locations significant to the family. In Illinois, the church where Till's funeral was held in Chicago will host the memorial. The other two sites, located in Mississippi, are the courthouse where his killers were tried and where his body was believed to be found. 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 By Trevor Hunnicutt and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden has ordered his administration to begin sharing evidence of alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine with the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC), a U.S official said on Wednesday. The Pentagon had been resistant to the move and privately argued that any cooperation with the court could open the way for politicized prosecution of American troops deployed overseas. The ICC, a permanent war crimes tribunal, in March issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for suspected deportation of children from Ukraine, which would be a war crime. The news was first reported by the New York Times, which said the Biden administration had started notifying lawmakers on Tuesday. The White House declined to discuss specifics of any cooperation with the ICC. "Since the beginning of Russias assault on Ukraine, the president has been clear: there needs to be accountability for the perpetrators and enablers of war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine," a National Security Council spokesperson said. "On the ICC specifically, we are not going to discuss the specifics on any cooperation, which is consistent with the courts practice of treating requests for cooperation in a confidential manner," the spokesperson added. The spokesperson said the United States had previously sent teams of international investigators and prosecutors to help Ukraines Office of the Prosecutor General in preparing war crimes cases. Ukrainian and Western authorities say there is evidence of murders and executions, shelling of civilian infrastructure, forced deportations, child abductions, torture, sexual violence and illegal detention. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have accused the Pentagon of effectively undermining war crimes prosecution of Russia by blocking the sharing of U.S. military intelligence with the ICC. Russia is not a member of the ICC and rejects its jurisdiction. It denies committing atrocities during its conflict with Ukraine. Story continues The United States is also not a member of the ICC. Russia has issued an arrest warrant for the ICC prosecutor who in March prepared a warrant for Putin on war crimes charges. A successful war crimes prosecution requires a high standard of proof, in a situation where access to suspects and crime scenes is often restricted and there is overlapping jurisdiction between national and international courts. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Additional reporting by Idrees Ali, Ismail Shakil and Rami Ayyub; editing by Dan Whitcomb, Jonathan Oatis and Deepa Babington) Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has signed onto a multi-state effort to push back on a rule from President Joe Bidens administration designed to protect women who obtain abortions out of state. But on Tuesday a spokesperson for Bailey said that the Republicans office does not track women who leave the state for abortions or gender-affirming care and accused the president of pushing a false narrative. This is not about states needing access to medical information; its about halting Bidens perpetuation of a false narrative and combating government overreach, Bailey spokesperson Madeline Sieren told The Star in an email. Sieren, in response to a follow up, said that Baileys office does not keep track of Missouri residents who receive abortions in other states, nor do we plan to pursue legal action against mothers who leave the state to obtain abortions. Mothers are victims of the abortion industry. Bailey in June signed onto the letter from Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch along with 17 other Republican attorneys general. The letter called on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to end a proposed rule change that would prevent states from using health information to investigate reproductive health care that is sought, obtained, provided, or facilitated in a state where the health care is lawful and outside of the state where the investigation or proceeding is authorized, according to a fact sheet on the proposal. The proposed rule was aimed at strengthening protections for women who seek abortions outside of states such as Missouri where the procedure is almost entirely banned. While proposed rule is focused on abortion, the Republican attorneys general argued that it is broad enough to advance radical transgender-policy goals. Baileys office said Tuesday that it also does not keep track of people who leave the state for gender-affirming care. State Rep. Emily Weber, a Kansas City Democrat, said in a text to The Star that Bailey should read the letters he signs. Story continues While the authors may frame the rule as government overreach, state governments often go much further than the feds when it comes to controlling the lives of private citizens, Weber said. The Republican attorneys general, in the letter, argued that the Biden administration was pushing a false narrative that states were seeking to treat pregnant women as criminals or punish medical personnel who provide lifesaving care. The letter said the proposed rule would unlawfully interfere with States authority to enforce their laws, and does not serve any legitimate need. The Biden administration, Weber said, was working to prevent radical state law enforcement officials like Attorney General Bailey from encroaching into the lives of Missouri citizens who made the individual, personal decision to receive medical care in another state because Republicans in Missouri passed an inhumane abortion ban here with no exceptions for rape or incest. Baileys stance on the proposed rule came roughly a year after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal right to abortion. The ruling triggered a law in Missouri that banned abortion in nearly all situations. Missouri lawmakers have in recent years considered legislation designed to curtail out-of-state abortions but the proposals have not gained traction. In 2022, before the abortion ban triggered, then-state Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, an Arnold Republican who is now in the state Senate, proposed a bill that would have made performing an abortion on a Missouri resident or helping a Missouri resident get one illegal. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin has been tapped by President Biden to be the top ranking officer in the service amid the holdup on military promotions in the Senate. Bidens nomination of Allvin to be Air Force chief of staff was submitted to the Senate Tuesday, according to a notice from the chamber. The choice has not yet been publicly announced. If confirmed, Allvin would replace Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., whom Biden picked in May to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Browns nomination last week was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee. If confirmed by the full Senate, he would become only the second Black man to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs after Colin Powell. Browns appointment would also be historic as it would mean that, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in his role at the Defense Department, the top two Pentagon officials would be Black men for the first time. Allvin, meanwhile, has a career that spans the globe with positions in Afghanistan, Germany and at the Pentagon on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986 and served as the commanding general of NATO Air Training CommandAfghanistan; the head of 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, Kabul; commander of 618th Air and Space Operations Center; director of strategy, plans and policy at U.S. European Command; and vice director of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs. He was nominated to be the Air Force vice chief of staff in August 2020 and confirmed to the role later that year. Biden announced last week that he picked Adm. Lisa Franchetti, who has been vice chief of naval operations, to be the next chief of naval operations. Franchetti was previously passed over by Austin when he recommended candidates for the role. The presidents announcements come as military nominees have been blocked in the Senate. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) is preventing the Senate from moving on military promotions in protest of the Pentagons abortion policy, which allows for paid leave and travel reimbursement for abortions. Story continues Biden, Austin and top officials have called on Tuberville to end the hold and called on Republicans in the Senate to stop the Alabama Republican, warning that he is putting national security at risk. Alex Gangitano contributed reporting For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Steve Holland HELSINKI (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden held talks with Nordic leaders at Finland's presidential palace on Thursday, visiting NATO's newest member directly after knocking Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit a day earlier. Biden travelled to Finland, which shares a border with Russia, straight from this week's NATO talks in Vilnius, Lithuania to participate in a U.S.-Nordic summit with the leaders of Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Norway. He will also hold a joint news conference with Finland's President Sauli Niinisto before heading back to Washington. Finland's decision to join NATO broke with seven decades of military non-alignment and roughly doubled the length of the border NATO shares with Russia. The country repelled an attempted Soviet invasion during World War Two but lost territory. It maintained accommodating relations with Russia until Putin's Ukraine invasion. Ahead of a bilateral meeting with Niinisto, Biden hailed Finland's as an "incredible asset" to the NATO military alliance. "I don't think NATO has ever been stronger," he told reporters at the palace. "Together we're standing for shared democratic values." Niinisto said Finland's NATO membership heralded "a new era in our security", and applauded Biden for "creating unity" at the Vilnius summit which focused on uniting behind Ukraine. A White House official said that during the meetings Biden would also welcome Sweden's prospective entry to NATO, after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan dropped objections to its application this week. Sweden had applied to join NATO alongside Finland, but its bid was held up by Turkey, which says Sweden is doing too little against people Ankara sees as terrorists. "We're seeing a total change to the European security structure as a result of Russia's move and the Nordic countries writ large have moved closer to the West in response to Russia's aggressive and destabilising actions," the White House official said. Story continues At this week's NATO summit, Biden described Finland and Sweden's push to join NATO as evidence Putin's "craven lust for land and power" had backfired, only serving to strengthen the military alliance. He also successfully soothed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who eased off on demands for a quick entry into the alliance. "We accomplished every goal we set out to accomplish," Biden told reporters at Vilnius airport before departing for Helsinki. His visit comes almost exactly five years after former president Donald Trump struck a conciliatory tone with Putin at talks in Helsinki. Biden is also expected to discuss climate change and emerging technologies, among other topics. (This story has been refiled to add a missing quotation mark in paragraph 14) (Reporting by Steve Holland and Essi Lehto; Editing by Heather Timmons, Rosalba O'Brien and Emma Rumney) Hunter Biden (L), son of US President Joe Biden, arrives at federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, where he had been expected to plead guilty to tax charges before his deal fell apart (RYAN COLLERD) US President Joe Biden's son Hunter pleaded not guilty to minor tax offenses Wednesday as a deal with federal prosecutors crumbled in a Delaware court. The surprise move came after Judge Maryellen Noreika raised questions over the original deal -- under which Hunter Biden had agreed to enter a guilty plea and admit to illegal gun possession -- and effectively placed it on hold. Biden, 53, whose legal troubles have cast a shadow over his father's reelection campaign, had reached an agreement with prosecutors that he would be sentenced to probation on two tax avoidance counts. The deal also specified that the firearms charge would eventually be erased if he adhered to a counseling-and-rehabilitation program. But the deal fell apart after Noreika queried why the gun charge was included in a tax case, and whether the plea agreement protected Biden from charges that might arise from a wider ongoing investigation of his business dealings, according to US media. When prosecutors could not resolve her questions, Noreika said she could not accept the deal, and Biden then entered a not guilty plea to close the session. That was expected to send the deal back to negotiations, which could become more complex. Noreika gave the two sides 30 days to report back on where they stand. Meanwhile prosecutor David Weiss confirmed to the court that his office is still examining other possible crimes by Biden, without offering specifics. One issue mentioned in the court was possible violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, relating to Biden's business deals in China, Ukraine and other countries dating back to the early 2010s, when his father was vice president. - Political attacks - The unexpected collapse of the arrangement came after Republicans accused Weiss of giving Biden a "sweetheart deal" with the plea agreement announced on June 20. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that Hunter Biden was "a private citizen. This was a personal matter." Story continues The case was "handled independently by the Justice Department under the leadership of a prosecutor appointed by President Trump," she added. The plea deal was to end a five-year investigation that Republicans have sought to use to politically harm his father Joe. According to the charges, Hunter, a Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyist, failed to file his tax returns on time on earnings of more than $1.5 million for 2017 and 2018. He was facing up to 12 months in prison for each tax charge and a possible maximum 10 years on a charge that, as a known drug user, he had illegally possessed a handgun in 2018. But prosecutors recommended probation on the tax charges after Biden paid the taxes and penalties, according to his attorney. In addition, the gun charge was to be suspended and then eliminated if Biden completed "pretrial diversion," which often involves counseling or rehabilitation. That would require Biden to remain sober as the charges arise from a long period when he says he struggled with addiction to alcohol, crack cocaine and other drugs. - Congressional probe - Late Tuesday Republicans sought to influence the sentencing, presenting a sealed submission to the court by Representative Jason Smith, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Smith's committee has recently taken testimony from whistleblowers from the Internal Revenue Service who alleged that political interference prevented a fuller probe of the president's son. But Weiss has rejected that claim, and offered to testify to their committee in late September or October, an apparent indication that he sees any other investigation activities regarding Biden to be completed by that time. At the White House reporters pressed Jean-Pierre about the case and the Republican investigations in Congress alleging President Biden and his sone had illicit business dealings abroad several years ago. She said the two had no business links and that Biden had no role in Hunter's court case. "The president, the first lady, they love their son and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life," she said. In Congress, Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy suggested Hunter Biden's case was treated lightly. "There shouldn't be two justice systems in America," he told reporters. pmh/mlm A bipartisan bill to reform the Federal Communication Commissions (FCC) process for licensing satellite systems unexpectedly failed to pass in the House on Tuesday after some lawmakers argued that the measure would grant the agency too much authority. The House considered the legislation titled the Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act under suspension of the rules, a fast-track process to approve legislation that has at least two-thirds support. It is typically used for noncontroversial bills. The FCC bill, however, did not garner enough support to clear the chamber, failing in a 250-163-1 vote. The vote varied along party lines: 163 Republicans and 87 Democrats supported the measure, while 50 Republicans and 113 Democrats opposed it. Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) voted present. The legislation is sponsored by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.), the chairman and ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. The measure calls on the FCC to create a new framework for licensing satellites and seeks to reform rules to persuade operators to locate their operations in the U.S., according to Rodgers. Specifically, it would have established deadlines for the FCC to process applications pertaining to earth and space stations, per the Congressional Budget Office. And, according to a fact sheet, the legislation would also reduce outdated regulatory requirements, encourage innovation and investment in efficient technologies and support creating performance requirements as a way to promote responsible use of space. Tucked into the 48-page bill, however, are clauses pertaining to space safety and orbital debris, which fueled some opposition Tuesday. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), the chairman of the Science, Space and Technology Committee, argued in a statement that the bill includes a significant and unprecedented grant of authority to the FCC, explicitly directing the agency to issue rules related to both space safety and orbital debris that applicants must comply with to obtain a license for use of FCC-controlled spectrum. Story continues The FCC has exclusive jurisdiction over the licensing of spectrum use, but the language in the bill would extend to that reach to the design and operation of any space object that carries an FCC-licensed system, he continued. Not only would this new authority fly in the face of existing efforts to coordinate space safety and orbital debris roles across the federal government, but it would task the FCC with regulatory responsibilities that are outside of the agencys areas of expertise, he later added. The chairman said the bill goes a step too far and still contains a massive and problematic expansion of FCCs authorities. Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas), the chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, sounded a similar note, expressing concern in a statement that the legislation goes beyond the task of streamlining this process and instead grants FCC additional authorities for which it is not suited and would be duplicative of authorities at other agencies. The bills sponsors, for their part, advocated for passage of the measure on the floor Tuesday, arguing that it is important to keep the U.S. ahead of other nations. The SAT Streamlining Act would reform and improve the FCCs process to make the United States the destination of choice for licensing satellite communications systems without expanding the FCCs authority, Rodgers said. It is evident that other countries, including our foreign adversaries, are also aggressively dominate this industry. So its imperative that Congress act now to retain our countrys leadership position in the satellite marketplace, Pallone said. Now [the Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act] helps to accomplish this goal. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Joe Lewis, the British billionaire and long-time majority stakeholder in Tottenham Hotspur, pleaded not guilty in New York on Wednesday to charges of insider trading. The previous day, federal officials said the investor abused his access to corporate boardrooms and carried out a series of brazen instances of financial misconduct, sharing insider information with friends, employees, and former romantic partners. Hes charged with 16 counts of securities fraud and three counts of conspiracy, Reuters reports. Thats classic corporate corruption, US Attorney Damian Williams said in a video statement on Tuesday. Its cheating, and its against the law. Tavistock founder Joe Lewis leaves court (AP) Attorneys for the billionaire said he plans to fight the charges. The government has made an egregious error in judgment in charging Mr Lewis, an 86-year-old man of impeccable integrity and prodigious accomplishment, David M Zornow said in an email statement to The Independent on Tuesday. Mr Lewis has come to the US voluntarily to answer these ill-conceived charges, and we will defend him vigorously in court. In a hearing on Wednesday before US Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo in Manhattan following Mr Lewiss early-morning arrest by the FBI, new details about the case against the businessman came to light. As part of a $300m bond, Mr Lewis was ordered to surrender his mega-yacht, the Aviva, as well as his private aircraft. He will now be barred from international travel as the case proceeds. Officials also accused two of his pilots, Patrick OConnor of New York and Bryan Waugh of Virginia, of profiting off illegal tips from Mr Lewis. Both men have pleaded not guilty, and their lawyers declined requests to comment from Reuters. Prosecutors allege Mr Lewis lent the men $500,000 each in 2019, encouraging them to buy stock in an oncology company in which the billionaire had invested. Mr OConnor allegedly texted a friend the Boss has inside info, a seeming reference to a tip that the billionaire allegedly passed on that the company was about to announce promising clinical results. Story continues Lewis was ordered to surrender his luxury yacht Aviva, seen here moored by Butler's Wharf in London in 2018 (Getty Images) After the company announced the news, the shares the pilots allegedly bought leapt by 16.7 per cent, and prosecutors allege one of the men labeled a payment to Mr Lewis loan payback and listed the companys stock symbol. In an accompanying civil case, the Securities and Exchange Commission accused Mr Lewis, the pilots, and the billionaires former girlfriend Carolyn Carter of insider trading. Officials allege that in 2019, Mr Lewis told Ms Carter about a biotech company that was about to raise capital and potentially increase its share price, even though he was bound by a confidentiality agreement. She then allegedly bought $701,000 in the company, earning a $172,000 on her investment. The Independent has contacted Ms Carter for comment. When insiders like Lewis take advantage of their access to such information, it erodes public trust and confidence in the fair and efficient operation of our markets, SEC enforcement director Gurbir Grewal said in a statement. Thats why we will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to hold accountable those who abuse their positions for personal benefit and the unlawful enrichment of others. Tottenham Hotspur told The Independent, This is a legal matter unconnected with the club and as such we have no comment. Mr Lewis ceased to be a "person with significant control" of the Premier League club last year, following a "reorganisation of the Lewis Family Trusts, the club said, according to Sky News. He bought a controlling stake in the Premier League club from Lord Alan Sugar in 2001 for 22m. Mr Lewis owns the Tavistock Group, which owns more than 200 assets across 13 countries, including Tottenham Hotspur and UK pub operator Mitchells & Butlers, according to Sky News. The 86-year-old is worth an estimated $6.1bn and lives in the Bahamas, according to Forbes. Biloxi chef Austin Sumrall emerged victorious in May on the Food Network show Alex vs America when he competed against Chef Alex Guarnaschelli and two other renowned Southern chefs. Tuesday he was back on Food Network this time on Chopped as one of four Southern chefs competing for a chance to advance in the All-American Showdown and win $50,000 in the grand finale. In the showdown, 16 chefs representing four regions of the country compete by preparing courses using mystery baskets of mismatched ingredients. A chef is chopped, or eliminated, after each course. Theres pride on the line, Sumrall said. And money lots and lots of money. Sumrall made it through the appetizer and entree rounds, and faced former Top Chef finalist Sara Bradley of Paducah, Kentucky, in the final dessert round. This time, Sumrall finished second to Bradley. Judges Geoffrey Zakarian, Alex Guarnaschelli and Gregory Gourdet ultimately said the Southern hoe cake he made in the appetizer round was a little big, and the beignet he made in the dessert round was greasy. On the show, Sumrall said he was obviously a little disappointed and I hope I did Mississippi proud. The judges eliminated Javier Becerra from Houston in the first round and Scotley Innis from Atlanta after the entree round. Austin and Tresse Sumrall on White Pillars Restaurant & Lounge in Biloxi. Austin Sumrall won an episode of Alex vs. America on Food Network. Three courses to win Austin comes from a long line of chefs, and he wants to prove that he is the best chef from the South, according to his bio on the Food Network. His Southern roots were kicking in, Sumrall said, as he began making an appetizer of red eye gravy with barbecue Gulf shrimp, topped with salty fingers he said grows wild on the beach. On the show, he said he hoped he wouldnt get eliminated for undercooked or overcooked shrimp or he might not be able to return to Biloxi. I think the shrimp is really, really nicely cooked. It pops. Its juicy. Its tender, Gourdet said, while Guarnaschelli said his hoe cake was nicely cooked. Its unrecognizable but its unmistakable at the same time, she said. Story continues With basket ingredients of chicken and waffles, swamp cabbage, minute steak and moonshine-soaked pickles for the entree round, Sumrall completely transformed them into Vietnamese style curry meatballs the judges said were tender and velvety. A lot of people from Vietnam live in Biloxi, he said, So we have this cool melting pot of fun flavors. Sumrall used the dessert ingredients to make peach and sour candy ice cream with beignets, which he said gave him fits. As they were falling apart, he said he was seeing the competition slipping through my fingers. He came back and got the beignets fried and on the plate. A wild competition Sumrall called the competition a wild ride and said everything he does is for his wife and their 6-year-old son. Sumrall, a Mississippi native, attended the Culinary Institute of America and was nominated for a James Beard Award for Best Chef: South. Austin and Tresse Sumrall opened White Pillars on the Beach Boulevard in Biloxi in December 2017. The restaurant was recently named one of seven restaurants in Biloxi and 22 in the state to win the Wine Spectator Award. Blake Lively broke a royal rule in the name of fashion. Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images/Getty Images Blake Lively visited Kensington Palace for the Crown to Couture exhibit on Tuesday. Her 2022 Met Gala dress inspired by the Statue of Liberty is part of the exhibit. Lively shared an Instagram video of herself adjusting her dress on a mannequin at the exhibit. Blake Lively pushed a boundary at Kensington Palace literally. On Tuesday, Lively, 35, went to the London palace, which is the official residence of Prince William and Kate Middleton, to visit the Crown to Couture exhibit. According to the Historic Royal Palaces website, the exhibit in Kensington Palace's State Apartments and Piggott Galleries displays iconic fashion looks through the ages for a total of 200 items, from Beyonce's dress for the 2017 Grammys to dresses from 1700s royal courts. One of the 200 items is Lively's Versace Atelier dress from the 2022 Met Gala, which was inspired by the Statue of Liberty. Lively served as co-chair of the event in 2022. Blake Lively at the 2022 Met Gala. Jamie McCarthy / Staff / Getty Images The strapless dress was bronze when Lively arrived on the Met Gala red carpet, and after a large bow on her waist was untied, it revealed a green layer, which was meant to mirror the oxidation of the famous New York City landmark. Coordinating gloves and a bronze-and-green crown completed the look, which was full of hidden details. Both Lively's dress and her husband Ryan Reynolds' custom Versace tuxedo from the event are displayed at the Crown to Couture exhibit. But when she visited the gown at Kensington Palace, Lively noticed her dress wasn't falling correctly. To rectify the issue, Lively hopped over a rope barrier to adjust it, as she shared on her Instagram story. Blake Lively hopped a barrier at Kensington Palace. @blakelively/Instagram "When you're the clown who hops over the rope at the museum to fix the exhibit," she wrote on her story. "Happy almost Virgo season folx." The crown Lively wore with her 2022 Met Gala look is also part of the Crown to Couture exhibit. The crown had seven spikes, which Lively told La La Anthony was symbolic during an interview on the Met Gala red carpet. Story continues "She has seven spikes representing the seven seas and the seven continents, which represents inclusivity, welcomeness, and freedom," she told Anthony. It also had 25 stones to represent the 25 windows on the Statue of Liberty. She voiced her appreciation for the inclusion of her accessories in the exhibit in the caption of another photo of her with Lorraine Schwartz and Ofira Sandberg, who designed the crown, on her Instagram story. "This was absolutely surreal. Seeing this crown that we made in Kensington Palace," she wrote. "I still feel like a kid playing dress up every time I get to wear a gown and borrowed jewels out," she added. "To see it memorialized like this... just. Wow. Something I'll never forget." Read the original article on Insider Cyclists ride along the lakefront at Montrose Beach in Uptown in front of a hazy Chicago skyline on July 26, 2023. (Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune) Parts of Chicago were under a severe thunderstorm warning Wednesday morning as a storm system moved east through northern Illinois, according to weather officials. Northwestern Cook County was issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 9:45 a.m. Advertisement The National Weather Service said that the line of thunderstorms could produce heavy local rainfall, frequent lightning and some strong wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour. Scott Baker, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said theyre seeing a weakening trend with the system as it moves toward the Chicago metro area but cant completely rule out the potential for strong winds. Advertisement For the rest of Wednesday morning, Baker said the Chicago metro area could expect lightning and steady rain. Trains on the Metra Union Pacific Northwest line were operating with extensive delays due to a high wind warning near Crystal Lake as of 9:38 a.m. Weather officials are also monitoring redeveloping strong storms in the area during the afternoon. Temperatures are expected to reach the high 80s on Wednesday but wont be as hot as the high 90s forecast previously due to the storms, Baker said. Having some rain move through right now, its helping to keep us a little bit cooler. So temperatures might not get up as high today just because we are staying a little cooler through this morning, Baker said. Hot and humid temperatures are still expected for Thursday and Friday, with potential for midday storms. vla@chicagotribune.com I was sitting in the garden at home, and I got a telephone call to say that my daughter, Lucie, had gone missing. These are the words of Tim Blackman, the father of Lucie Blackman, the 21-year-old British woman who vanished while living in Tokyo in 2000. She was out working in Japan, Tim says, in Netflixs new documentary Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case. I was immediately thinking, Well, there must be some rational explanation. But he soon realised something was very wrong. That feeling of complete blind panic just crashes in on you, he tells the camera. Lucie, a former flight attendant, went missing just three weeks after moving to Tokyo for a year of exploration. She was last seen leaving the bar where she worked as a hostess and, as the Netflix documentary shows, an intricate international investigation followed to find Lucie, led by a team of Japanese detectives. The true crime feature is told both through the inside track of the investigation and through Tims story of trying to track his daughter down. The day after Lucie went missing, her friend Louise Philips received a call from a man who told her that Lucie had joined a cult and would never see Philips again. Philips then raised the alarm, and within weeks, Tim held a press conference in Tokyo appealing for information about his daughters whereabouts. The then-prime minister, Tony Blair, met the Blackmans in Japan and promised to raise the issue with his Japanese counterpart at a G8 summit. During the seven-month search for Lucie, Japanese police received a letter purporting to be from Lucie, stating: I am doing what I want so please leave me alone. It was quickly dismissed as fake. Then in early 2001, body parts later identified as being Lucies were found by police buried in a cave near a beach close to Korean-Japanese businessman Joji Obaras seaside home. In April 2001, Obara was arrested over Lucies death. In October 2002, he went on trial charged with the abduction of Lucie, rape resulting in death and the disposal of her body. He was also charged with killing an Australian woman, Carita Ridgway, in 1992 and raping eight other women. Story continues Tony Blair listens to Tim Blackman and his 20-year-old daughter Sophie as they speak about Lucie (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) A years-long fight for justice followed, during which time Tim drew criticism for accepting a 100 million yen condolence payment from a friend of Obaras (the equivalent of 442,000 at the time). This is not uncommon in Japan: the accused are expected to reflect on their crimes and admit their errors, sometimes atoning through a payment to the victim or the victims family. Tims ex-wife and Lucies mother, Jane Steare, called the cash blood money, telling press that Tims actions were an utter betrayal. Tim argued he wanted to use the money to secure the long-term future of the Lucie Blackman Trust, which works to help young people be more aware of their safety, particularly when abroad. In 2005, Lucies younger sister Sophie attempted suicide soon after Lucies ashes were buried because she could no longer cope with her grief. Lucies sister, Sophie, holds her missing poster (Getty) In 2007, Obara was cleared of all charges connected with Lucies death but was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of eight counts of rape and the rape and death of Ridgway. Tim said his daughter was robbed of justice. After an appeal from prosecutors, Obara was convicted in 2008 of abducting Lucie. The high court in Tokyo said that although there was not enough evidence to convict Obara of murder, he had mutilated Lucies body. Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case is out now. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's was the first visit to Tonga by a U.S. cabinet official as President Joe Biden was preparing to "usher in a new era of even closer collaboration to deliver on the issues that matter most to our people -- rooted in mutual respect and mutual trust," Blinken said during a joint news conference. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI July 26 (UPI) -- Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Tonga Wednesday to dedicate a new U.S. embassy and reaffirm relations with Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku as Washington raced to counter the growing Chinese threat in the South Pacific. During the visit, Blinken highlighted "problematic behavior" by China, including unlawful maritime claims, the militarization of the South China Sea, as well as predatory economic activities that promote corruption throughout the region. Blinken's was the first-ever visit to Tonga by a U.S. cabinet official as President Joe Biden was preparing to "usher in a new era of even closer collaboration to deliver on the issues that matter most to our people -- rooted in mutual respect and mutual trust," Blinken said during a joint news conference. Blinken said Washington would continue to engage diplomatically with Beijing and would respect its sovereign decisions following this week's sudden and unexplained removal of Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang after less than seven months on the job. "As we've said, it is important for us to manage this relationship responsibly," Blinken said. That starts with diplomacy. That starts with engaging. And I will work with whoever the relevant Chinese counterpart is," Blinken said. Previously, Gang blamed Washington for allowing diplomatic relations to break down over the past year due to tensions over Taiwan, trade, and Beijing's deepening ties with Russia amid the war in Ukraine. Relations stumbled again in February after Biden ordered a Chinese spy balloon shot down after it drifted across the United States for several days. Months later, Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to strengthen his military and take steps toward "reunification" with Taiwan while lashing out at "bullying foreign powers" that were working to stifle the Chinese economy and exert more influence throughout Asia. Story continues Blinken's visit, meanwhile, was intended to build upon a broader strategic effort by the U.S. military to shore up its presence in the region, including on the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Kiribati, and the Philippines, as U.S. allies faced increased Chinese aggressions as well as a growing threat from North Korea's nuclear arsenal. Back in Washington, the administration was working to determine who will serve as the first U.S. ambassador to Tonga, who must first be confirmed by the Senate. In his third trip to the region, Blinken emphasized the U.S. commitment to staying engaged with its allies, saying fresh relations with Tonga would serve to strengthen the engagement of other Pacific partners as China was becoming more aggressive in its posturing toward neighboring territories. "We're a Pacific nation," and "we very much see the future in the Indo-Pacific region," Blinken said while pledging to support Tongan priorities. "We really understand what is a priority for the people here," he said, citing issues like climate change, development and illegal fishing. "There are a long list of things that we're working on together, but it's all driven by focusing on what's concrete, what can really make a difference in people's lives." Blinken said he and Hu'akavameiliku discussed numerous other matters, including clean energy, maritime security, climate change, illegal fishing, cybersecurity, sustainable infrastructure, humanitarian programs, and ways to strengthen education partnerships as 70,000 Tongans live in the United States. The leaders also talked about bringing the Peace Corps back to Tonga to help local communities deal with emerging environmental crises while also building lifelong relationships between both nations. So far the administration has invested $810 million to support increased security among Pacific Islands like Tonga, while Biden plans to host a second U.S.-Pacific Islands summit in Washington later this year, Blinken said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken shakes hands with Tonga's Prime Minister Hu'akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni in Nuku'alofa on July 26, 2023 (Tupou Vaipulu) Antony Blinken on Wednesday became the first US secretary of state to visit Tonga, dedicating a new US embassy and warning South Pacific nations about the perils of "predatory" Chinese investment. As part of a drive to build Washington's influence across the region and to counter Beijing's growing clout, Blinken touched down in the capital Nuku'alofa on a diplomatic charm offensive. "We're a Pacific nation", and "we very much see the future in the Indo-Pacific region", Blinken told his hosts. "We really understand what is a priority for the people here," he added, citing issues like climate change, development and illegal fishing. Blinken also delivered a barbed warning about aid and investment from Beijing, saying it often comes with strings attached. "As China's engagement in the region has grown, there has been some -- from our perspective - increasingly problematic behaviour," Blinken said. He claimed China had been behind "some predatory economic activities, and also investments that are done in a way that can actually undermine good governance and promote corruption". Earlier this year, Micronesia's then-leader David Panuelo publicly accused China of engaging in harassment and espionage, and bribing members of his cabinet. Tonga's debt-laden government is seen as particularly vulnerable to economic pressure from China. The island kingdom owes China's export bank around $130 million -- almost a third of its GDP -- which was loaned to help rebuild after rioters tore through the capital in 2006. Repayments on that loan are scheduled to spike next year. - Diplomatic hub - Tonga, a Polynesian archipelago of about 100,000 people, is the latest in a string of Pacific island states being targeted in a renewed US diplomatic push. The new US embassy in Nuku'alofa was officially opened in May, but Blinken's hosts said his visit signalled Washington's renewed interest in the region. Story continues "His presence here today is a testament to the fact that our partnership is growing from strength to strength," said Tongan Prime Minister Hu'akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, welcoming a "shared respect for democracy, rule of law and the rights and freedoms of others". The United States has plans to open embassies in Vanuatu and Kiribati, and in February restored its embassy in Solomon Islands after a 30-year hiatus. "The United States had been missing in action to some extent prior to 2018, but they are now back in a big way," said Pacific analyst Meg Keen from Australia's Lowy Institute. "Where they have singled out for visits is where they think the geopolitical risks are high," she told AFP. Chinese state-controlled media painted Blinken's visit as evidence that the United States no longer had confidence in its ally Australia to manage relations with Pacific Island nations. The United States has been the dominant military force in the South Pacific since World War II. But the region is increasingly an arena for powers to compete for commercial, political and military influence. China, the rising military force in the region, has also asserted itself through its expanding diplomatic reach, investment, police training and security deals. While in Tonga, Blinken also commented on the abrupt removal of Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang from office. "I wish him well," Blinken said, while vowing to work with his replacement Wang Yi. "I've also known Wang Yi for more than a decade. I've met with him repeatedly," Blinken said. "I anticipate being able to work well with him as we have in the past." "It is important for us to manage this relationship responsibly. That starts with diplomacy, that starts with engaging, and I will work with whoever the relevant Chinese counterpart is." bur-sft/arb/sco By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned of China's "problematic behaviour" during a visit to the Pacific island nation of Tonga on Wednesday, citing Beijing's militarisation of the South China Sea and what he called economic coercion. Chinas growing presence in the region, which saw it sign a security pact with the Solomon Islands last year, has fuelled concern in the U.S. and Australia about Beijings ambitions, and prompted increased Western aid and engagement. Blinken said at a press conference that the U.S. had no objection to China's engagement with the region but there were concerns that its investments needed to be transparent and undertaken with sustainable finance. "I think one of the things that weve seen is that as Chinas engagement in the (Indo-Pacific) region has grown there has been some, from our perspective, increasingly problematic behaviour," he said. Blinken earlier held talks with Tongan Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni on the strategic importance of the Pacific region, ahead of his visits to the South Pacific's two major powers, Australia and New Zealand. Blinken said the United States was committed to both Tonga and the broader Pacific Islands. His trip is the latest by a senior U.S. official to the region, and President Joe Biden hosted a first ever summit in Washington with Pacific island leaders last September. A second summit is scheduled later this year. In recent years, China has funded infrastructure and increased its diplomatic presence in the region. China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, undertook a multi-stop tour in the Pacific last year. There has been a significant boost in engagement and funding from Western countries to counter this. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is visiting Papua New Guinea this week before heading to Australia where the largest Australia-US military exercise is due to begin. French President Emmanuel Macron is also in the region visiting French territories, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. Story continues One of the West's biggest concerns is debt levels in the region. Tonga is heavily indebted to Beijing and there have been questions about how the nation of a little more than 100,000 people will repay that debt. Sovaleni said at the press conference that Tonga had this year started to pay down its debt and had no concerns about Tonga's relationship with China, which was focused on development such as infrastructure. Blinken will officially open a new U.S. Embassy in the capital Nukualofa later on Wednesday before flying on to Wellington, New Zealand. (Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Stephen Coates) The battle of wills between Florida health administrators and a federal court judge intensified Tuesday as U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks accused the state of obstructing his efforts to free medically fragile children from segregated institutions, where many have spent their entire lives. Late last week, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration asked Middlebrooks to stay an injunction he signed a week earlier requiring the state to reform its system of care for 2,750 children with medical complexities. The linchpin of Middlebrooks plan is a requirement that the state ensure such children receive at least 90% of the at-home nursing care prescribed by their doctors. The injunction capped a two-week trial in May and a 12-year litigation Middlebrooks repeatedly has castigated as shameful over claims by the U.S. Justice Department that Florida is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by steering severely disabled children into nursing homes. Virtually all of the youngsters, Middlebrooks wrote, could be safely cared for at home with sufficient help from the state. The litigation, filed by the DOJs civil rights division, primarily concerns the plight of 140 children who are so frail that most require feeding and breathing tubes to sustain them. Another 1,800 youngsters, the DOJ said, are at risk of being institutionalized. What binds the children together is their reliance on round-the-clock nursing care, plus the medical equipment that keeps them alive. Federal civil rights laws require that people with disabilities be allowed to live and receive care in the least-restrictive settings, such as family homes. But Florida health regulators instead have left families with little choice but to leave their children in institutions by making it extremely difficult for parents to access adequate private-duty nursing, Middlebrooks wrote. A total of 2,750 children in Florida require constant nursing care, Middlebrooks wrote, and parents have complained bitterly for years that low reimbursement rates under Medicaid, the states insurer of last resort for impoverished and disabled Floridians, have made in-home care difficult to access. Story continues The judge said he would appoint a court monitor to oversee the states compliance with his orders. Lawyers for the state argued last week that Middlebrooks actions amounted to a takeover of the states healthcare administration by the federal government. AHCA lawyers said it would be impossible for the state to comply with Middlebrooks injunction. And doing so, the state said, would force health administrators to redirect scarce health dollars from other deserving groups. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, the state will violate the injunction through no fault of its own, and despite its best efforts, because the provision of 90% of [private-duty nursing] hours to 2,750 children in the midst of a nursing shortage is simply impossible. the state argued. On Tuesday, Middlebrooks fired back, accusing the state of dragging its heels deliberately for more than a decade rather than helping some of the most fragile children in the state. Over its 12-year history, this case has devolved into obstruction for obstructions sake, without regard to the consequences for these children with medical complexity and their families, Middlebrooks wrote in an order that appears more heated than previous statements from the judge. My order directs the State to accomplish that which is required by federal and state law, as well as that which it has expressly contracted with managed-care organizations to provide, Middlebrooks added. There is no basis or reason for a stay. Historically, Florida has maintained one of the most cash-starved systems of care in the nation for people with physical and intellectual disabilities. And the few reforms achieved over the past 30 years have required the help of federal judges. According to a 2019 report issued by the state Agency for Persons with Disabilities: Florida has been extremely frugal on spending on individuals with disabilities, ranking 50th out of 51 in the nation [including the District of Columbia] in total fiscal effort. For people with disabilities who live in group homes as opposed to institutions, the state ranked 46th, the report said. Another federal judge, the now-deceased Wilkie D. Ferguson, who presided in Fort Lauderdale, ordered sweeping reforms that, at the time, helped transform the states care for people with disabilities. In 1996, Ferguson ruled it was unconstitutional for the state to require disabled Floridians to wait years for needed care. Ferguson held state disability administrators in contempt for willfully withholding services to about 23,000 people who had been on waitlists for more than seven years. Ferguson fined the state $10,000-per-day for ignoring his 1996 order to begin providing care to long-waitlisted Floridians. The fines were reversed on appeal. But the substance of Fergusons orders stood, and by 2001, lawmakers had increased funding for people with disabilities by about $300 million, enabling the state to eliminate the decades-long waitlist. Since then, the state has re-established its policy of requiring Floridians eligible for care to wait years, sometimes decades, for community care. Currently, about 22,000 Floridians with disabilities are awaiting care and services in their communities. These children deserve better, as do those whose taxes are already paying for these services, Middlebrooks wrote of the medically complex children at the center of the current litigation. I caution the state against foot-dragging in complying with the injunction. This issue is too important. And for the families involved, the stakes are too high. As to the argument that it lacks money to provide 90% of the nursing care doctors order, Middlebrooks reminded the state that it is already paying its managed-care organizations to deliver 100% of what doctors prescribe a contractual requirement the state has never enforced. The premise of my order is that the state should enforce its contracts, collect the information necessary to do so, and require accountability on the part of the managed-care organizations, the judge wrote. I am not persuaded that Florida will suffer irreparable damage without a stay, but I am firmly convinced that if compliance with the injunction is delayed, the institutionalized children, and those at risk of imminent institutionalization, will suffer substantial harm. The public interest would not be served by issuing the stay. Hunter Biden, son of US president Joe Biden leaves federal court in Wilmington, Delaware - REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst Joe Bidens re-election hopes suffered a blow as a United States judge angrily rejected a plea deal that appeared to end his sons legal troubles. Under the terms of the deal, Hunter Biden, 53, would have been spared jail in return for pleading guilty to two minor tax offences. He would have also avoided prosecution for buying a gun while abusing drugs. Republicans had lambasted the deal for weeks as a sweetheart agreement formed under pressure from the White House. GOP leaders have launched multiple investigations into Hunter Bidens business affairs, accusing the former crack cocaine addict of using his fathers position to enrich himself in shady business deals with foreign governments. They argue that the plea deal lets Hunter Biden off too lightly, when if convicted at trial he would have faced up to 12 months on each tax charge, and up to 10 years for the firearms charge. Adding to their claims of a cover-up, two Internal Revenue Service (IRS) whistleblowers have testified that the Biden administration obstructed the investigation into Hunter Bidens business dealings. Those claims have been refuted by David Weiss, the Trump-appointed US attorney for Delaware, who maintains he had complete authority over the case. Hunter Biden arriving at court in Wilmington, Delaware - Jonathan Ernst/Reuters On a dramatic day in court in Delaware, Judge Maryellen Noreika refused to sign off on the plea agreement, citing serious concerns about the deal between the younger Biden and his fathers Justice Department. Judge Noreika, a Donald Trump appointee, said it contained some non-standard terms, such as broad immunity from other potential charges. She gave both sides 30 days to revise the agreement, which she described as without precedent. Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty pending further negotiations over the deal. It fell apart amid key differences between prosecutors and Hunter Bidens lawyers, who had hoped it brought to a close a five-year criminal investigation into his financial affairs. Still examining possible crimes That was refuted by Mr Weiss, who told the court his office is still examining other possible crimes by Hunter Biden. Story continues Those could relate to Hunter Bidens work on behalf of foreign governments, such as potentially failing to properly register as a foreign agent. He had various business dealings in China, Ukraine and other countries dating back to the early 2010s, when his father was the US vice-president. It leaves Hunter Biden open to further criminal charges and potentially embarrassing public disclosures as his father seeks a second term as president in 2024. Republicans said the collapse of the plea deal underlined the seriousness of the accusations facing the Biden family. Its very telling that the judge intervened here and said basically, no, Im not going to approve some sweeping blanket deal, said senator Josh Hawley. I mean, that tells you the court has serious concerns about other potential charges here, and also the scope of the deal, which has seemed outrageous from the beginning. Jerry Nadler, the senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said the prosecutor handling the case was a Trump appointee and there was no evidence of an unfair deal. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, called the case a personal matter. However, it raises the prospect that the presidents family business dealings will be open to public scrutiny as he wages his campaign for another four years in office. The president and the First Lady love their son, and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life, Ms Jean-Pierre said. Ms Jean-Pierre stressed the case was handled independently ... under the leadership of a prosecutor appointed by the former president, President Trump. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, says Hunter Biden's case is a 'family matter' - Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Wednesdays court appearance forced a number of highly personal disclosures from Hunter Biden, including the fact that he was last treated for drug abuse in 2018. He told the judge that the treatment programmes were primarily and originally for alcohol addiction, but he eventually also sought treatment for drug addiction. He first received in-patient treatment for alcohol addiction in 2003, ultimately seeking treatment at six in-patient facilities and a number of outpatient programmes over 20 years. Hunter Biden was charged last month with two minor tax offences, marking the first time the child of a sitting US president has been charged with a federal crime. The charges related to his failure to pay more than $100,000 (77,200) in taxes from at least $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018. Hunter Bidens representatives said that he later paid the IRS the tax he owed. Prosecutors also said that, for 11 days in 2018, Hunter Biden possessed a firearm despite being a drug user a felony. When buying the gun, he had declared that he was not using or addicted to a controlled substance. But in his 2021 memoir, he admitted to using drugs including crack cocaine following the 2015 death of his older brother, Beau. 07:59 PM BST This live blog is now closed The hearing has ended with Hunter Biden pleading not guilty pending further negotiations over a plea deal. Thanks for following. 07:28 PM BST Hunter Biden leaves court Hunter Biden and his legal team have left the US District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, after the hearing ended. Hunter Biden leaves the courthouse - REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst 06:49 PM BST White House: 'President and First Lady love their son Hunter and support him as he rebuilds' The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, has issued a statement on todays extraordinary proceedings. Ms Jean-Pierre said: President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden love their son, Hunter, and support him as he seeks to rebuild his life. The presidents spokeswoman added: This case was handled independently, as all of you know, by the Justice Department under the leadership of a prosecutor appointed by the former President, President Trump. Hunter Biden is a private citizen. And this was a personal matter, Ms Jean-Pierre said. 06:33 PM BST President Biden may lose at least one 2024 vote following proceedings If his son Hunter pleads guilty to federal charges, he will quite possibly be ineligible to vote in 2024, writes Rozina Sabur. It is unclear what repercussions the proceedings will have on Hunters ability to practise law. 06:31 PM BST Judge delays decision on whether to accept plea agreement Judge Noreika has delayed a decision on whether to accept the plea agreement. The hearing ended with Hunter Biden pleading not guilty for the time being, CNN reported. Both sides have been asked to submit additional briefs and insert language that limits the immunity from prosecution offered to Mr Biden. Mr Bidens lawyers estimated it would take about two weeks. 06:28 PM BST Original plea deal was seen as close of investigation into Hunter Biden Hunter Bidens lawyers have repeatedly framed the plea agreement as the close of the five-year criminal investigation into his financial affairs. Mr Biden was charged with tax offences over failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes from at least $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018. Prosecutors also said that, for 11 days in 2018, Mr Biden possessed a firearm despite being a drug user, a felony. When buying the gun Mr Biden had declared that he was not using or addicted to marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance. But in his 2021 memoir he admitted to using drugs including crack cocaine following the 2015 death of his older brother Beau. 06:21 PM BST Investigation into Hunter Biden is ongoing Journalists outside the federal court in Delaware It is understood that prosecutors are still investigating Mr Biden, including in relation to his work with foreign governments. CNN reported that there are ongoing investigations into whether Mr Biden failed to properly register as a foreign agent while doing business for foreign governments. Under the more limited deal, it appears that prosecutors could still charge him with further potential crimes. Prosecutors signalled their investigation into Mr Biden is ongoing. 06:12 PM BST Hunter Biden's court appearance an extraordinary day in US politics It was an extraordinary day in US politics, which was began with the expectation that for the first time, a child of a sitting US president would plead guilty to a federal crime, Rozina Sabur writes. Legal analysts were stunned at the manner in which the plea deal unravelled in court. Hearings of this nature typically take around 30 minutes to process. But the proceedings quickly blew up when it became clear that Mr Bidens lawyers and Justice Department prosecutors had very different views on the framework for the deal. After furious negotiations, in the presence of a gaggle of bemused journalists, the two sides have now come to a more limited agreement 05:57 PM BST Who is Judge Maryellen Noreika? Judge Noreika had been widely expected by legal experts to approve the Hunter Biden plea deal on Wednesday morning. The federal district judge was appointed by former President Donald Trump. Judge Noreika, a former patent lawyer, had bipartisan support from Delaware senators when she was nominated. She was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote in August 2018. 05:44 PM BST Why Hunter Biden is in court today Hunter Biden arriving at court on Wednesday morning Hunter Biden had been charged with two misdemeanour tax crimes of failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes from over $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018, and he made an agreement with prosecutors, who were planning to recommend two years of probation. Last month, Biden was charged with possession of a firearm by a person who is a known drug user, a criminal offence. He had a Colt Cobra .38 Special for 11 days in October 2018. He agreed to enter into a diversion agreement, which means that he would not technically plead guilty to the crime. As long as he adhered to the terms of his agreement, the case would be wiped from his record. If not, the deal would be withdrawn. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The limited deal reported by CNN will cover these offences, but not protect him from possible future charges. 05:37 PM BST Hunter Biden asked to list foreign companies he's worked with The judge asked Mr Biden to list the names of the foreign companies he has done business with. The Ukrainian energy company was Burisma, Mr Biden said, according to CNN. He also mentioned his work for a Chinese energy company, CEFC. His ties to that company have come under intense scrutiny by House Republicans. The judge also asked Mr Biden: You did know that you owed tax money, right? Mr Biden replied: Yes, your honour. 05:26 PM BST Hearing restarts and deal appears to be 'back on track' Hunter Biden has agreed to a limited agreement that covers 2014 to 2019 and only includes conduct related to tax offenses, drug use and gun possession. The deal will not shield him from future charges, according to CNN. 05:24 PM BST Court goes into second recess More than two hours into the hearing, the court has gone into a second recess. The judge called for a second break as it appeared the plea deal started to fall apart, saying she had concerns about the linking a deal on tax charges to a gun charge, CNN reported. The unravelling of a plea deal in this manner is very rare, analysts have said. 05:17 PM BST Welcome Good evening/afternoon - depending on where youre joining us from. Welcome to our Hunter Biden live blog where were covering his appearance at federal court in Delaware. The deal that would have seen him plead guilty to a pair of misdemeanour tax charges and avoid prosecution on a gun offence appears to have gone awry. 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. SALISBURY, Mass. Salisbury Police Chief Thomas Fowler said the body of the Seabrook man recently discovered in waters off the town beach is an example of societys inability to deal effectively with the mentally ill. According to Fowler, the body of 28-year-old Xhoi Docnoka, of Seabrook, was found by a passerby floating in shallow waters off Salisbury Beach in the early morning hours of July 25 near the beach center. Responding officers pulled Docnokas body to shore. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Local and state authorities are investigating the death of a Seabrook man whose body washed ashore on Salisbury Beach. Docnoka was well known to Salisbury police. He had a number of dealings with him due to his mental health issues, Fowler said. In the past, including last week, Salisbury police had taken Docnoka into custody because of his behavior, he said. Docnoka was taken once to Exeter Hospital and twice to Newburyports Anna Jaques Hospital, Fowler said. He was estranged from his family, so shortly after being evaluated, Docnoka was released, according to Fowler. In my opinion this is a microcosm of a broken system, Fowler said. We dont have a place to deal with mentally ill individuals in these situations. Emergency departments are ill equipped, unless its a large hospital with a significant psych unit. Hampton Beach rescue: 'Human chain' formed to save swimmers caught in rip current Following Docnokas death, Fowler said his officers learned he had just been released from jail after being arrested in another jurisdiction. He had complied with the terms of his release, Fowler said, and met with his probation officer. In their investigation of his death, Fowler said, Salisbury police pulled video from private surveillance cameras in the area and were able to spot Docnoka at Salisbury Beach the evening of July 24. We saw on video that he was here, and he was acting erratically, Fowler said. But we dont know what happened. We dont know if this was an accidental death; we have no evidence he did this on purpose. We have no evidence at this time that this was foul play. Story continues According to published reports, Docnokas death is being investigated by Massachusetts Essex County District Attorneys Office and the State Police Detective Unit, as well as the Salisbury Police Department. Docnoka had multiple dealings with police in a variety of jurisdictions that go back years and relate to numerous behavioral and alleged criminal issues. They include his attack on hospital security guards in one instance, and involuntary commitment under Massachusetts law. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Body found on Salisbury Beach identified as Seabrook NH man A fatal house fire in Manchester on Monday has been deemed accidental, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced Tuesday. At approximately 8:30 p.m. on July 24, Manchester Township Police and Fire departments were dispatched to a structure fire on Laketree Court, Billhimer said. Parts of the first and second floors of the home had collapsed into the basement, and it was deemed unsafe to continue the fire investigation until daylight hours. The next day, authorities found the body of a man in the collapsed area of the house, the prosecutor said. The victim's body was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River for a post mortem examination and identification. His name has not yet been released. Authorities determined the fire began on the front porch, the prosecutor said. The fire was ruled accidental, but "improperly discarded smoking material" cannot be eliminated as a cause. Prosecutor identifies victim: Cause of fatal Berkeley house fire revealed Jenna Calderon covers breaking news and cold cases in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Before coming to the Press, she covered The Queen City for Cincinnati Magazine in Ohio. Contact her at 330-590-3903; jcalderon@gannettnj.com This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Manchester NJ: Fatal fire ruled accidental, police say Charlotte-based fast-food chain Bojangles has settled a sexual harassment and retaliation case for $20,000, federal court documents show. In September, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Bojangles saying a Greensboro store employee was sexually harassed by her general manager, then transferred and denied promotions in retaliation for complaining about the harassment. Although the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina court docket showed in April that the case could go to trial in January, a settlement was reached this week. Bojangles sued by EEOC over female worker claims of sexual harassment and retaliation According to the lawsuit, during the womans employment from March to June 2020 at the Bojangles store on Landover Road, the general manager made numerous sexual remarks including wanting to have sex with her and he grabbed (her) buttocks and touched her breasts. After telling other supervisors, including an area director who told her to not tell anyone, she was denied management training, according to the lawsuit. Fast-food chicken chain Bojangles, based in Charlotte, settles sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed last year by U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. About the Bojangles EEOC settlement Bojangles full and final settlement financial total is $20,000, according to the 13-page consent decree filed Tuesday. Other terms in the settlement include: Bojangles must provide the woman with a neutral letter of reference. The former general manager and alleged harasser cannot be rehired by Bojangles. Bojangles must post anti-harassment and retaliation policies in the Greensboro store, including a reporting hotline. Bojangles is required to provide an array of live, annual and other training programs for the Greensboro store managerial and non-managerial employees. Bojangles will provide reports to the EEOC for two years. In an emailed response Wednesday morning to the Observer seeking comment, Bojangles said: As a matter of policy, we do not comment on legal matters. Last year, in response to the filed lawsuit, Bojangles told the Observer it was committed to preventing and eliminating misconduct, including all forms of discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Story continues Bojangles was founded in 1977 in Charlotte, and has more than 760 restaurants throughout the Southeast. In 2019, the chain was sold to two New York firms, Durational Capital Management and The Jordan Co. Other harassment claims against Bojangles Bojangles has reached settlements in other sexual harassment and retaliation cases. In 2017, Bojangles paid $15,000 to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit from a transgender former employee at a Fayetteville store. In 2012, Bojangles paid over $33,000 to a Greensboro employee who said she was sexually harassed and then fired for complaining about it. Bojangles franchisee pays over $11,700 for violating child labor laws after fed probe Lowes to pay $700,000 to women in sex harassment discrimination settlement with EEOC Multiple booksellers, publishers and authors filed a lawsuit in Texas on Tuesday over the states soon-to-be enacted law banning sexually explicit content in schools. The lawsuit, led by organizations including the American Booksellers Association and the Association of American Publishers, are going after the Restricting Explicit and Adult-Designated Educational Resources (READER) Act on the grounds it violates the First and 14th amendments of the Constitution. The legislation, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) last month and set to go into effect in September, would require companies selling books to Texas public schools to label certain ones as sexually relevant or sexually explicit. Sexually relevant content would be allowed in schools, but students would need permission from a guardian. Sexually explicit content would be banned from schools and is defined as material that describes, depicts, or portrays sexual conduct in a way that is patently offensive. Companies would have to put these labels on the thousands of books already sold and those that will be sold in the future. If one fails to comply, Texas schools will no longer be able to work with them. It is central to the First Amendment that the government can neither restrain nor compel speech, but this law will force booksellers to label constitutionally protected works of literature and nonfiction with highly subjective and stigmatizing ratings, effectively forcing private actors to convey and act upon the governments views even when they disagree, the coalition of publishers said in a statement. Lawmakers had said during debate that the law could jeopardize classic works such as Romeo and Juliet and even apply to texts such as the Bible. The law is also unfair to local communities who have the right to set their own standards. We would be forced to seek legal opinions about every book we will sell and have sold. We do not have the human or capital resources as a small independent bookshop to comply with the law as it is written, said Valerie Koehler, owner of Houstons Blue Willow Bookshop. Story continues The lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas aims to put preliminary and permanent injunctions on the law. Those in support of the bill say its purpose is to protect children from sexually inappropriate content. Schools should not expose, intentionally or accidentally, students to graphic sexual material, said Austin Prochko, deputy campaign manager of Next Generation Texas. HB 900 is a straightforward, conservative way to prevent school libraries from providing sexual material to minors. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Chinese film director Wuershan told China.org.cn that dedicating nearly 10 years to creating and crafting his mythology epic trilogy "Creation of the Gods" was a worthwhile endeavor. The trilogy's first installment premiered nationwide this weekend, marking a potential milestone in this distinct genre of Chinese cinema. Director Wuershan on the set of "Creation of the Gods" trilogy. [Photo courtesy of Askwin] Wuershan and his team have notably avoided the term "fantasy" in their marketing campaign. Instead, they preferred to call it "mythology," emphasizing that they have created a Chinese mythology epic and are making great progress. "To my knowledge, mythology epic films have rarely been created in Chinese-language cinema, nor has there been a trilogy of films on this scale," Wuershan said. The story of "Fengshen" was Wuershan's childhood dream. As a young boy, he avidly read picture-story books adapted from "Fengshen Yanyi," or "The Investiture of the Gods." The novel, written during the Ming dynasty (13681644), is rich with mythology, folklore, and historical events. It left a deep impression on Wuershan. As he grew into adulthood, he pursued studies in art, immersing himself in books, paintings, and artworks related to art history, anthropology, and religion, with a particular focus on ancient China. This deepened his fascination for the grand and fantastical world of mythology. The project began in 2014 when the Inner Mongolia-born filmmaker felt the time had come to fulfill his dream. This realization occurred during the production of his fantasy adventure film "Mojin: The Lost Legend," where he gained significant experience in commercially-backed filmmaking and the use of necessary technologies for creating visually heavy blockbusters. In initial planning meetings, anthropologists, historians, and folklore experts discussed the fundamental elements of the "Creation of the Gods" story that could resonate with reality and maintain relevance in contemporary society. The director eventually concluded that the themes he wished to convey included the enduring struggle between good and evil and the development of heroes. He firmly believes that these timeless narratives will never lose their significance and relevance. Filming commenced in 2018 with the goal of shooting three films back-to-back. Finally, this eagerly awaited project has now been unveiled. The cast and crew pose for a photo at the premiere of "Creation of the Gods I" held in Beijing, July 10, 2023. [Image courtesy of Askwin] "Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms" is a fusion, according to the director. They adapted not only "Fengshen Yanyi" but also incorporated elements from another book of folk stories, "Wu Wang Fa Zhou Ping Hua" ("Storytelling of King Wu's Campaign Against King Zhou"), as well as certain aspects from other ancient Chinese classics such as the "Book of Documents" and "Six Secret Teachings." Wuershan emphasized that the film trilogy is not intended to be a historically accurate account; instead, it is a story derived from mythology and imagination. This explains why some of the film's makeup, props, and costumes may not necessarily adhere to the style of the Shang dynasty, the era in which the film is set. The first installment, currently in theaters, focuses on the human world and primarily explores the cruelty of Yin Shou, a character name given to Di Xin, also known as King Zhou, who is bewitched by a fox spirit posing as his concubine Daji. It also follows the journey of the young hero and future king, Ji Fa, as he awakens and rises. Wuershan promises even more visually stunning scenes in the two upcoming installments currently in post-production. "Creation of the Gods I" has grossed 381 million yuan over the weekend since its debut on July 20. Imax also reported that the film grossed 61.8 million yuan in this format and was Imax China's all-time best summer opening for a local language title. The filmmaker acknowledged the challenges encountered throughout the production, ranging from scriptwriting to visual effects. Crafting a trilogy demands a distinct thought pattern and thematic expression tailored to the mythology epic genre. Each film of the trilogy must stand on its own while contributing to a cohesive narrative. Moreover, the production of the trilogy necessitates a complex setup and a colossal crew exceeding 8,000 members. Developing the visual effects for this film required tackling the highest level of technical difficulty in visual effects, particularly when creating lifelike computer-generated characters, digital creatures, and massive battle sequences. "Creation of The Gods I" incorporates more than 1,700 visual effects shots, a process that took nearly four years to complete from pre-production through to final completion. To tackle this immense undertaking, the director founded Myth Image, a company specifically established to produce, manage, and supervise all of the film's visual effects. In collaboration with seasoned companies worldwide, they successfully integrated Chinese aesthetics and creativity with the world's advanced film technology. Additionally, the director made diligent efforts to cultivate and discover artists from various fields, aiming to address any shortcomings within China's film industry. A poster for "Creation of The Gods I." [Image courtesy of Beijing Culture] "These past 10 years have been a very right choice for me because, throughout the process of working on this project, I have learned so much. It has also allowed me to mature in my approach and attitude towards many things. I don't like doing things that have already been done and proved to be foolproof. I hope every time I undertake a new project only for the reason that I'm driven by my curiosity, filled with passion and a desire for challenges. It is this drive that gives me motivation and makes me feel fulfilled in life," Wuershan said. By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge on Tuesday voided a 2017 court-martial conviction against Bowe Bergdahl, an Army sergeant who walked off his post in 2009 only to be captured by the Taliban and spend five years as their prisoner. Bergdahl's conviction in 2017 left him with a dishonorable discharge, reduction in rank to the lowest enlisted pay grade and an effective fine of $10,000. Tuesday's ruling, which is subject to appeal, vacates that court-martial conviction. Reggie Walton, a U.S. district judge, said the military judge who presided over Bergdahl's court martial proceedings failed to disclose his application at the time to become a federal immigration judge. That could create the appearance of potential bias, given then-President Donald Trump's denunciations of Bergdahl, Walton ruled. The court noted that there was no finding of actual bias. "This case presents a unique situation where the military judge might be inclined to appeal to the president's expressed interest in the plaintiff's conviction and punishment when applying for the immigration judge position," Walton wrote. The Army did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The military judge who handed down Bergdahl's conviction, Jeffrey Nance, could not be reached for comment. Geoffrey Corn, a retired Army officer and military law expert at Texas Tech University School of Law, said the ruling left a big question for the U.S. Army. "Do they bring him back to active duty and retry him? I highly doubt that will happen, but it might," Corn told Reuters. Bergdahl was freed in a prisoner swap in May 2014 involving the release of five Taliban leaders held by the United States in a deal that drew heavy criticism from Republicans. Bergdahl said he left his post on June 29, 2009, hoping to report leadership issues in his unit. His disappearance triggered a risky search by fellow soldiers. Walton noted that Nance, then an Army colonel, had stated during proceedings that he was a "a terminal Colonel, which means I'm not going anywhere but the retirement pastures." Story continues But Nance even submitted one of his orders in the Bergdahl case as his writing sample in his application to become a federal judge, according to the ruling. Walton also took the opportunity to warn politicians about commenting on ongoing cases - in apparent reference to Trump, who declared Bergdahl a traitor who should be executed. "The Court notes that what occurred in this case illustrates why individuals aspiring for public office and those achieving that objective should not express their desired verdict," he wrote. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Stephen Coates) Its a boy! Meet the newest edition to the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, a Masai giraffe calf. The six-foot tall, 184-pound male calf was born on July 14 and according to the Zoo, was standing and nursing from mom, Amari within an hour of the birth. He is a strong, healthy calf and appears bright and alert, said Dr. Chris Bonar, Zoo New England Director of Animal Health. As with any newborn, he will be closely monitored by his care team as he continues to grow and reach milestones. Zoo New England owns Franklin Park Zoo as well as Stone Zoo in Stoneham. Zoo New England is a participant in the Masai Giraffe Species Survival Plan (SSP), which is a cooperative, inter-zoo program coordinated nationally through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Amari is an attentive mother and the calf appears healthy and strong, said Chris Bartos, an Assistant Curator at Franklin Park Zoo. The dedicated care team has been closely monitoring the mother and baby since the birth. The calf has been nursing well and is curious about his surroundings. Its a boy! Franklin Park Zoo welcomes Masai giraffe calf According to the Zoo, Chad, the calfs father, joined Franklin Park Zoo from the Santa Barbara Zoo in 2018. This birth is a result of a recommended breeding between Chad and Amari. The Masai giraffe is one of Africas most iconic and beloved species. The giraffe is known for its distinctive patterned coats and towering stature. Giraffes face numerous threats in the wild, including habitat loss and poaching. The population has declined by 40% over the last 30 years. 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 After 84 years, one of Bradentons most well-known attractions will close its doors for good this week. Mixon Fruit Farms started as a fruit stand in 1939, and its last day of business will be Saturday, July 29. But owners Dean and Janet Mixon hope the memories will live on for the generations of Manatee County residents who visited. This week, employees gathered for a goodbye photo and the Mixons prepared for the next stage of their businesss legacy a food truck with their famous soft-serve ice cream. Upholding that legacy was a challenge Dean Mixon started to take on as a child. I came along and as soon as I could reach the pedals of the tractor, I was working in it and doing whatever I could. Ive worked in it all my life, he said. Origins of Mixon Mixons Fruit Farms in 1939, started by Willie and Rosa Mixon, grandparents of the present owners, Dean and Janet Mixon. The fruit stand was located on 26th Ave East across from the present store and packing house. In 1939, Deans grandparents, Willie and Rosa, began selling fruit on the street and from their home. Willie was a caretaker of the groves in the area and was able to buy a few acres to produce fruit. Since there were no canneries around, Dean said the only way to sell the fruit was fresh. Rosa would load her six children in the back of the truck and drive them to the Dixie Grande Hotel in downtown Bradenton to sell the produce. Dean said reception to their citrus was overwhelmingly positive. The family reached people who lived out of town, which led to many requests to have the fruit shipped out of state and to loved ones up north. Shipping was much more difficult during that time, according to Dean. Boxes would weigh roughly 90 pounds, and it would take two weeks to arrive up north using the railways. That demand began the decades-long growth of the family-owned business. Willie and Rosa also sold fruit in front of their home on the corner of 26th Avenue and 27th streets. It was always my grandfathers dream to get my grandmother off that corner, because she had traffic from the dirt roads and the dust and stuff coming in all the time there was no air conditioning in those days, everything was open. They finally moved right down the street, he said. Story continues Dean and Janet Mixon hold ice cream cones at Mixon Fruit Farms on May 25, 2023. Before Mixon Fruit Farms was established, the land was sold to Joseph Braden, who Bradenton was named after, according to Janet. We kind of say that this is part of the beginning history of Bradenton. To me, thats kind of an exciting thing, she said. Business booms Business continued to soar in 1959 when Mixon expanded to incorporate several pieces of property that were under individual ownership under one umbrella. It was also when the first part of the main Mixon building was built, a small wooden building filled with equipment. Despite technology evolving with Mixons continual success, the farms work ethic remained the same, and Deans parents thought it was time for him to start pitching in. However, Dean thought his days at Mixon Farms were over when he went to college. It wasnt until my second year in college I decided its a pretty good way to make a living, he said. So I decided to come back and I focused on my studies and took all the citrus courses they had [at Florida Southern]. Mixon Fruit Farms co-owner Janet Mixon with visitors Camden and Harper Alexander, 5 and 7 years old, as they sort through oranges during the last orange juice run for the iconic Bradenton business. The size of the main Mixon building doubled in 1972. As part of a college project, Dean said he helped plan the expansion and designed the processing line, which would eventually become a processing plant. The farm only grew more successful as the years passed. Dean said the farm spanned 350 acres of groves by the 1970s, and it began selling its famous ice cream in 1986. About 39 acres still remain on the farm, and its not clear yet what will happen to the land. Its up for sale, and the county is considering turning it into a public park. Citrus sales used to account for 80-90% of Mixons revenue stream, Dean said. He said the farm used to pack close to 200,000 boxes of fruit to mail out to individual addresses just during the Christmas season alone in the early 1990s. The farms peak business year was in 1992. Though some land eventually had to be sold and business slowed overtime, the popularity and rave reception cemented Mixon as a local household name. Modernizing Mixon Dean and Janet took over the farm from Deans father, Bill Mixon, in 2006. Dean was tasked with the challenge of merging both successful aspects of his fathers and grandfathers skills into one Willie was best at farming, while Bill was the businessman. When Dean and Janet took ownership, the definition of what it meant to visit Mixon Fruit Farms rapidly developed. Kids and adults enjoy a ride through the groves during the Mixon Fruit Farms Orange Blossom Festival. The tram rides a guided tour through the groves were implemented in 2005. The farm also held weddings beginning in 2009. Since then, Mixon has hosted roughly 400-500 weddings, Janet said. Dean and Janet also expanded possibilities to allow locals and visitors to hold memorials, baby dedications, celebrations of life, class reunions and corporate meetings. His family thought we were crazy, Janet said. Janet, not initially a farmer herself, said she brought an outside perspective by pitching ideas she thought would appeal to a broader audience and would fill the holes in the declining citrus industry. Children run through the maze during the Mixon Fruit Farms Orange Blossom Festival. Dean said his familys initial skepticism was because of their preference for traditional business models. Bill and Deans brother, Don Mixon, believed citrus was the main money-making and moral focus of the business. However, Dean said the diversification paid off when they saw how the industry was hit hard by citrus disease. Dean said citrus sales now account for roughly 5-10% of revenue. Closing out a legacy Though they adapted, many factors have caused them to close this summer after 84 years. One major contributor was the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) of 1994, Janet said. NAFTA was created to expand trade opportunities between the U.S., Canada and Mexico, which led to more imports. She said it also led new insects and citrus diseases that caused Mixon Fruit Farms to lose all of its trees on two separate occasions, including some trees that were planted in the 1800s. One of Mixons citrus groves seen across S.R. 70 is losing a great amount of trees to the bulldozer thanks to citrus canker in 2000. Employment has also been a struggle, according to Dean. He said although getting people to work has always been an issue for them to varying degrees, the pandemic drastically affected the situation and made it more difficult to find employees. Future of Mixon Dean and Janet plan to keep the Mixon legacy alive by opening a food truck in October. The truck will travel around the community and is expected to serve ice cream, pressed Cuban sandwiches and different types of grilled cheeses. Events like weddings that were scheduled through 2023 will also still go on given that no work will be done on the property in the immediate future. Being able to remain involved with the community in a more accessible way is something Janet said is an exciting prospect. I just want to have a good time, she said. Although we have been working crazy Im not ready to sit at home and watch Hallmark movies and eat candy. Employees of Mixon Fruit Farms sandwich and ice cream shop gather to wave goodbye in advance of closing the store on July 29. Bill Mixon stocks oranges at the annual opening of Mixons Fruit Farms in East Manatee in 2003. Customers wait at the checkout at Mixon Fruit Farms on May 25, 2023. Good fruit and fun is the name of the game at Mixons Fruit Farm in East Manatee in 2002. Dean Mixon of Mixon Fruit holds the first juice of the season in 2005 The Wallendas perform their high wire act during the Mixon Fruit Farms Orange Blossom Festival in this file photo. With a trial approaching, prosecutors have shared new details of the investigation into the night 10-year-old Breasia Terrell disappeared. The girl vanished in July 2020 while spending the night with Henry Dinkins, her brother's father, at his Davenport apartment. Her disappearance sparked a major search that ended nine months later, when fishermen found skeletal remains near DeWitt that were later identified as Breasia's. Dinkins, 50, was charged after the body was found with first-degree murder and kidnapping. His trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 8, and late last week, prosecutors filed a motion for permission to use at trial evidence of pornographic searches obtained from his phone. The filings which Dinkins' attorney called "inaccurate in many respects" contain new information about what investigators say happened the last night Breasia was seen alive. Prosecutors: Henry Dinkins isolated Breasia Terrell from older brother Dinkins, a registered sex offender with a criminal record, had been paroled from prison less than four months before Breasia's disappearance. His previous prison term came after he was arrested in March 2019 for crashing into a Davenport yard while high on crack while trying to flee police. According to previous court filings, on the night Breasia disappeared, Dinkins came to the home of her mother, Aisha Lankford, to pick up Breasia's younger brother, Dinkin's biological son. Prosecutors say Lankford had recently run into Dinkins and encouraged him to spend more time with his son. Breasia Terrell, a 10-year-old Davenport girl, was first reported missing July 10, 2020. Her body was found March 22 by fishermen near DeWitt. When Dinkins arrived, Breasia and her 13-year-old brother both expressed interest in coming too, and Dinkins granted Breasia permission but told the older boy he didn't have enough seating, according to prosecutors, who say that was not true. Breasia's younger brother, Dinkins' son, later told police he spent most of that evening playing a video game and Dinkins spent most of the evening in the bedroom with his sister before the children went to bed. Story continues Tracking Henry Dinkins through son's phone game At 3 a.m., Dinkins' partner said he woke up and noticed Dinkins and the girl were missing and Dinkins had left his phone in the apartment, according to prosecutors. At 3:30, Dinkins briefly returned to the apartment but refused to answer questions, and his partner told police she saw Breasia in his car parked below. The next morning, Dinkins called Lankford to tell her that Breasia was missing and said he was headed to the police station to report it. Lankford left work and located Dinkins "driving at a high rate of speed" herself and confronted him, retrieving their son. Dinkins' son, then 8 years old, later told police where he'd gone with Dinkins that morning, including a stop at Walmart. The boy said Dinkins had taken the battery out of his phone, but while waiting for him in the car, his son had put the battery back in to play a game. Based on that, police were able to locate Dinkins' phone earlier that morning at a Walmart in Clinton, where he was seen purchasing Clorox, a cleaning solution that can be used to destroy DNA evidence. Are Henry Dinkins' phone records admissible? Police obtained warrants for information from Dinkins' phone, and prosecutors are now seeking permission to show the jury what they describe as pornographic searches, "the titles of which involved the sexual abuse of young black female children." To support their request, prosecutors point to a 2014 Iowa Supreme Court decision holding that evidence of a defendant's viewing of child pornography could be shown in trial for the limited purpose of proving the "motive, intent or identity of the person charged." Because prosecutors need to prove Dinkins' premeditated intent, they ask the court to permit them to share Dinkins' searches as evidence of his intent to sexually abuse Breasia. Henry Dinkins In court filings, Dinkins argues the evidence in question serves no purpose but to paint him as a "bad guy" before the jury, and defense attorney Chad Frese said in an email the alleged searches have no bearing on any of the charges against his client. "The state admits that they cannot prove that Dinkins sexually abused Breasia Terrell," Frese said. "Further, our motions will point out that they have no evidence of sexual assault." Prosecutors in their filings note there were no advance plans for Breasia to spend the night at Dinkins' residence and suggest Dinkins' actions in allowing her to come, excluding her older brother and spending the evening in the bedroom with her "speak to the opportunity, preparation and plan he created/made to gain access to Breasia Terrell." Roadside assistance becomes additional evidence In a separate motion, prosecutors are asking to introduce the deposition of a witness who died last month of a heart attack and can, they say, put Dinkins near the location where Breasia's body was found. According to prosecutors, Jerod Brink was driving to work near Clinton early on the morning Terrell disappeared when he was flagged down to help a stranded motorist pull their car from a ditch. The car and driver both matched Dinkins' description. The pond where Breasia's body was found months later is on the adjoining property, and when it was reported, Brink approached police to report what he'd seen. Cell phone records confirm Brink was present on that road the morning Breasia disappeared. In his email, Frese said the information provided by Brink is "out of context." According to Frese, Brink could not identify the date of the encounter and was not able to identify Dinkins out of a lineup. Henry Dinkins asks judge to suppress interview evidence In addition to resisting the state's motions, Dinkins also filed a motion to suppress evidence on Tuesday, arguing that investigators violated his Miranda rights. According to the motion, police kept Dinkins in an interview room for more than eight hours the day Breasia disappeared, confiscated his keys and phone, and eventually took him in handcuffs to be tested for DNA. Although Dinkins says he repeatedly stated, "I want a lawyer," he says he was not provided one and argues all statements Dinkins made after that point should be suppressed. It is not clear from other court filings what statements Dinkins might have made, or whether the state's case significantly relies on anything Dinkins said during his initial interview. Dinkins was not formally arrested or charged until Breasia's body was discovered nine months later. Trial to begin soon in Linn County Because of pretrial publicity, Dinkins' trial will not take place in Scott County. It will instead be held at the Linn County Courthouse starting August 8. Previous court filings have shown additional potential evidence against Dinkins, including cleaning supplies, an ax and suspected human blood in Dinkins' trunk. Dinkins' son also told police he'd seen his father wipe a "big knife" with bleach that morning, and prosecutors searching a mobile home connected to Dinkins found a machete matching that description. 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: Breasia Terrell murder suspect searched child porn, prosecutors say Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect the current number of Breeze Airways flights in and out of Florida. VERO BEACH Breeze Airways is expanding flights in and out of Vero Beach Regional Airport, adding service to Providence, Rhode Island. Beginning Nov. 2, service between Vero Beach and Providence will be Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Providence joins Hartford, Connecticut, and White Plains, New York, as destinations from Vero Beach. Breeze operates a base in Providence, a factor in its choice as a destination, according to Breeze. We are trying to target people from the Northeast looking to escape the winter, said Breeze Airways spokesperson Ryne Williams. Providence, with approximately 1.6 million people, is the second-largest metropolitan area in New England behind Boston, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. What impact will the new route have? The Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce anticipates the new flights from New England will mean an increase in tourism. This is great for the city and offers more opportunities for people to come down, especially those looking to avoid Logan International Airport in Boston, said Bob McCabe, chair of the Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce. How will the airport handle the new traffic? The airport is anticipating no issues with the increased traffic. We will see increased traffic, but we are set up and ready to handle it, said Airport Director Todd Scher. Who is Breeze Airways? Breeze began operations in Vero Beach on Feb. 2, filling the vacancy left by Elite Airways, who in June 2022, abruptly halted all traffic in and out of Vero. Coming to VRB: Breeze Airways confirms it will begin Vero Beach service Feb. 2; three destinations named Opinion: Breeze Airways, Vero Beach airport must address these issues after delay exposes problems Breeze was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, near Salt Lake City. Its inaugural flight was from Tampa to Charleston, South Carolina. Story continues From February through June, Breeze has flown 29,854 passengers in and out of Vero Beach on 151 flights, according to data provided by the airport. Breeze currently operates 58 nonstop routes in and out of Florida. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Breeze Airways adding Providence as new Vero Beach destination Jim Skea (R) succeeds Hoesung Lee (L), both seen here in October 2018, as chair of the UN climate panel (Jung Yeon-je) British professor Jim Skea was elected to head the UN's climate expert panel on Wednesday, taking the helm of the organisation charged with distilling the best science to guide global policy in a crucial decade in human history. Skea, a Professor of Sustainable Energy at Imperial College London who co-chaired the report on solutions in the latest round of publications, said in a statement he was "humbled" to have been elected chair at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Nairobi. He succeeds South Korean economist Hoesung Lee, who is stepping down after nearly eight years at the helm. Earlier this year he warned that it was "now or never" to limit global warming to the more ambitious Paris Agreement goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times, as the IPCC wrapped up a cycle of bumper assessments with a synthesis report that urged dramatic reductions in planet-heating emissions. With climate impacts sweeping the planet -- from devastating floods to blistering heatwaves -- the IPCC warned in March that the world will cross the key 1.5C global warming limit in about a decade and said impacts of warming are hitting faster than expected. In an interview with Climatica, Skea said recently that he was "genetically optimistic" and underscored that humans still have power over the future trajectory of warming. "The challenges are huge, but the key thing is to not become paralysed into inaction by a sense of despair," he said. klm/ yad Jim Skea (R) succeeds Hoesung Lee (L), both seen here in October 2018, as chair of the UN climate panel (Jung Yeon-je) British professor Jim Skea was elected to lead the UN's climate expert panel Wednesday, taking the helm of the organisation charged with distilling the best science to inform global policy in a critical decade for humans and the planet. Skea, a Professor of Sustainable Energy at Imperial College London who co-chaired the report on curbing planet-heating emissions in the latest round of assessments, was elected chair at a meeting of the 195-nation organisation in Nairobi. "Climate change is an existential threat to our planet," he told delegates. With impacts already sweeping the planet -- from devastating floods to blistering heatwaves -- the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) plays a key role in the growing scientific knowledge on climate change. Skea, 69, takes on the role as the world is already a third of the way through a crucial decade for climate action, which will set the course of warming and impacts that will ripple out for decades or even centuries. He will oversee hundreds of experts -- who work on a voluntary basis -- and be charged with ensuring the smooth functioning of the institution. Last year, the IPCC's key final report -- synthesising a host of major assessments since 2018 -- was postponed for "operational reasons", meaning it was not ready before crucial UN climate negotiations in November. That document, dubbed a "survival guide" for the world, was finally released in March this year. It said the world will cross the key Paris Agreement goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius warming since pre-industrial times in the early 2030s and urged dramatic reductions in planet-heating emissions. - 'Forceful advocates' - Skea, who has nearly forty years of climate science experience, outlined the main priorities for his tenure as improving inclusiveness and diversity, protecting the IPCC's integrity and policy relevance and making sure it has the best available science to work with. Story continues He succeeds South Korean economist Hoesung Lee, who is stepping down after nearly eight years at the helm. The final vote was between Skea and Brazil's Thelma Krug, an IPCC vice-chair and former researcher at her country's national space institute, who was one of two candidates vying to be the first woman chair of the organisation. "The role of scientists in this global crisis now surpasses the conventional confines of research and analysis," said Tasneem Essop, of campaign group Climate Action Network International. "They are being called upon to serve as forceful advocates for practical solutions, actively championing measures based on equity and justice that will effectively tackle the escalating climate change crisis." - 'Challenges are huge' - Under the 2015 Paris treaty, nations promised to collectively cap the rise in the planet's average temperature at "well below" 2C, and at 1.5C if possible. To get to that more ambitious target, the IPCC says emissions need to drop 43 percent this decade. Yet they continue to rise. With assessments normally published every five to seven years, there are concerns that the next round of IPCC reports will come too late to sufficiently galvanise the global response. That will put the focus on potentially more timely special reports like the influential 2018 one focused on a 1.5C cap on warming, which Skea also had a leadership role on and that made it clear that this aspirational goal was a better bet for a climate-safe world. Olivier Boucher, climatologist at the Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace, said the next IPCC leader may have to be the one to finally say that the world cannot limit temperature rises to 1.5C in time -- but would have to try to reverse the warming after breaching that threshold. "The IPCC is really going to have to change its approach and focus much more on overshoot scenarios," he told AFP. In a recent interview with Spain's Climatica, Skea underscored that humans still have power over the future trajectory of warming. "The challenges are huge, but the key thing is to not become paralysed into inaction by a sense of despair," he said. klm/cw A bed bug feeding on human skin. (Edwin Remsberg / VWPics via Associated Press) A British tourist was awarded $375,000 after he suffered hundreds of bed bug bites all over his body during his stay at a Hollywood Hills home, according to court records. The tourist, Meshak Moore, at first believed the marks on his body were from mosquito bites, but four weeks after waking up with itchy welts on his skin he discovered his mattress was infested with hundreds of bugs and nests that he recorded in a video he submitted as evidence. "I've been sleeping in this for a month, getting bitten," he is heard saying in the video when he discovered the bugs, according to court records filed Friday. "Look. Look." The arbitration decision, signed June 29 by Robert Bare, a judge with the American Arbitration Assn., came after six years of litigation between Moore and Henry Huang and Robert Norris of Bamboo Retreats LLC, the owners of the house in the 2000 block of Vasanta Way. Moore was in Los Angeles for an extended vacation, renting part of the house occupied by Huang and Norris. "This case was a beast," said Moore's attorney, Brian Virag, who said it extended over two years after going through two rounds of arbitration. Robert Anderson, the attorney for Norris and Huang, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to the arbitration agreement, Moore planned to stay at the property from Aug. 24, 2015, to Oct. 22, 2015, but he noticed bug bites around his body on the first night. Moore initially believed the bites were from mosquitoes and began to close the windows of the home to keep them out, but according to court records "the bites got worse and worse, and by the end of the first week, there were approximately 100 bites." Read more: The surprising stories behind some of L.A.s most famous landmark names Still, Moore continued to believe the bites were from mosquitoes, and he began to sleep fully clothed to avoid bites. That didn't deter the bugs, either. Story continues After four weeks of waking up covered in bites, Moore testified, he thought "enough was enough" and decided to check the bed. Hundreds of bed bugs littered the mattress that Moore had been sleeping on for weeks, according to court records, citing video taken by Moore during his inspection of the bed. "He saw hundreds of bugs running, and multiple nests and eggs," according to the arbitration agreement. Moore was treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where doctors noted the bites covered his body, including his penis. It took three years of using creams and lotions, Moore testified, for the scars to blend to a point where they were no longer visible. Meanwhile, Huang testified that Moore's experience was the first time he was aware of bed bugs at the property and had no idea how they got there, despite efforts to try to prevent an infestation at the home with pesticides and an anti-bug mattress. Read more: $11,000 to see Taylor Swift? How concert tickets got so expensive One expert testified that the bed bugs had been infesting the mattress for at least three months before Moore discovered them. The owners of the property also said that, had they been alerted to the bites earlier, they would have addressed the situation before it got out of hand. According to the arbitration agreement, the judge had initially considered awarding Moore $500,000, but he ruled that he was 25% liable for not alerting the property owners sooner. Even though Huang and Norris lived at the property during the time of Morris' stay, Morris didn't bring up the bites during the four weeks before he discovered the bed bugs. When asked why he didn't reach out during a deposition, Moore testified that he "did not connect the two." Despite his client being found partly liable, Virag said Moore felt "fortunate to put this whole incident behind him." Based in Encino, Virag specializes in legal cases involving bed bug infestations. On his website, Virag uses a cartoon depiction of himself holding a gavel and the words "My bed bug lawyer" emblazoned beside him. Last year, another client of Virag's reached a $100,000 settlement with Disneyland Resort after claiming she was bitten by bed bugs during a stay in 2018. 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. The Brooklyn Public Library wants to help Black women in underpaying jobs level up. The institution announced the new LevelUP initiative which will give Black women in underserved communities and low-paying positions, an opportunity to set themselves up for success. Its intended to help them with career growth and building wealth. How BPL Will LevelUP The program will serve 120 women over a two-year period. It will provide participants with assistance in different life areas all while providing mentorship to each individual. There are three career tracks that will be focused on: real estate, finance, and technology. These efforts are all backed by Goldman Sachs. The bank awarded the program with a $500,000 grant through its One Million Black Women initiative. Arcola Robinson, Program Coordinator of the Business and Career Center at BPL said in a press release that the program plans to have a large impact on the community. The very mission of Brooklyn Public Library is to provide free and equal access to information, so we are especially delighted to partner with Goldman Sachs to provide LevelUP, a program for Black women in Brooklyn to advance professionally and build wealth, Robinson said. Participants will have access to an extensive suite of free resources, classes and counseling in BPLs Business and Career Center. LevelUP will also help build a more equitable and a brighter future not just for Black women, but for the Brooklyn borough as a whole. LevelUP will offer three 10-week intensive program cycles, focusing on one of the career tracks at a time. Throughout the program, participants will develop milestone charts and financial plans. The go-getters who make progress towards their goals will qualify for $500 towards certification or professional development costs. Additionally, the participants will be able to shadow industry mentors. One-on-one sessions with members of the Community Service Society of New York will be available to participants. These individuals will provide support to participants both during and after the program. Interested applicants can visit the BPL website, or stop by in person to attend an information session. The post Brooklyn Public Library to Help Black Women in Low Paying Jobs LevelUP appeared first on 21Ninety. The Broward School Board rejected a proposal Tuesday evening that would have given teachers a nearly $20,000 pay raise in total compensation, after the majority of the board members raised concerns about the budget impact and the board chair called the plan too aggressive, too fast and too broad. The failed proposal championed and crafted by board member Allen Zeman would have raised teachers total compensation to an average $100,000, and principals and assistant principals total compensation to an average $150,000 by 2025. Their total compensation includes their base salaries, as well as their health and retirement benefits. Superintendent Peter Licata, center, breaks into laughter as School Board members points to where he must stand for a group picture. Broward School Board held a special meeting to vote on the new superintendents contract inside the Board Room at the Kathleen C. Wright Building in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. Left to Right: School Board members - Daniel P. Foganholi, Debra Hixon, Vice Chair, Superintendent Peter Licata, and Dr. Allen Zeman. The board, however, didnt completely abandon the idea and instead vaguely directed new Superintendent Peter Licata to present a draft of next years budget in January that would hike the average total compensation for teachers, administrators and all other staff. On our first budget workshop in January well start showing how we can get to the Zeman plan, said Licata and added with a chuckle, Were all going to get shirts made with that, the Zeman plan. What was the budget proposal? Zemans proposition could have made the employees of Broward County Public Schools, the sixth-largest school district in the country and the second largest in the state, some of the highest paid in the U.S. and Florida. Broward teachers currently make an average base salary of about $66,000 and an average total compensation of about $83,000, according to the boards discussion Tuesday. The average public school teacher in the U.S. earns a salary of $66,745, according to 2022-23 data from the National Education Association. The school district couldnt immediately provide similar data for principals and assistant principals. Dr. Peter B. Licata reacts while taking his seat after being sworn in by Judge Elijah H. Williams of the 7th Judicial Circuit as superintendent of Broward County Public Schools at the Kathleen C. Wright Administration Centers boardroom in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. BCPS, the sixth-largest school district in the nation and the second-largest in the state of Florida. Why, now, the raise? Zeman, along with the rest of the board, talked about how teachers have been through a lot and deserved the extra money. During the pandemic, teachers were thrust into remote learning, and when they returned to their classrooms, they contended with students suffering significant learning losses along with risks to their own health amid COVID-19. Many veteran teachers retired, leaving a flood of vacancies. Story continues Additionally, teachers, like many in South Florida, are facing much higher housing, food, insurance and gas costs. Luis Rolon, a science teacher at Riverglades Elementary in Parkland, begged board members for more money, before the motion failed. I am writing you today to plead to each and everyone of you for a raise for teachers that we can live off of. Im working two jobs to try to survive in this economy and that isnt even enough, he wrote in a public comment for the board workshop. And classrooms have become a political battleground in Florida, making it harder for teachers to do their job. Just last week, the Florida Department of Education, which governs K-12 public schools, generated an uproar when it approved new Black history standards that suggested some slaves benefited from their enslavement. This comes on top of book challenges by parents and a new law that restricts the way that teachers and students can use their preferred pronouns in schools. READ MORE: Teachers enraged that Floridas new Black history standards say slaves could benefit Where was the money going to come from? Zeman relied largely on an about 9% increase in state funding, an approximate 13% increase in taxes connected to higher property values and a 100% increase in the countys 2022 referendum, in which voters agreed to pay more taxes for teacher and employee supplements. He combined that revenue growth with some budget cuts, including: Cutting conferences and professional development travel by 30% Cutting technology contracts by 15% Cutting contracted services by 15% Filling only half of the vacant clerical and administrative positions Why did the School Board reject Zemans plan? Zemans plan died Tuesday after board members voted 5-4 against it. They spent more than four hours discussing the issue at a board workshop in the morning and a following special board meeting in the afternoon. In total, they met for nearly 12 hours. Zeman, along with Vice Chair Debra Hixon, a former teacher, and board members Jeff Holness and Daniel Foganholi, voted in favor of the pay raise. Board member Sarah Leonard, left, sits with her daughter Lia, center, as Broward School Board discusses the selection of the new superintendent for Broward public schools on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The boards Chair Lori Alhadeff, along with board members Torey Alston, Sarah Leonardi, Nora Rupert and Brenda Fam, shut it down. All dissenters said they liked it partly, but couldnt subscribe to all of it and didnt have time to fine-tune it before the state deadline to approve this years operating budget in September. Fam said shed like to see a component that considers seniority and pays veteran staffers more. Alhadeff said she couldnt cut a vague line like IT contracts without knowing exactly what contract shed be cutting. Chair Lori Alhadeff talks during a news conference after a Broward Country School Board meeting discussing superintendent candidates on Monday, May 22, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale. One of Alstons sticking points: He wants the district to consider creating its own police force soon and doesnt want this to impact that. Currently, Broward Sheriffs deputies patrol the schools. Leonardi, also a former teacher, said: I support some version of this, but I think there needs to be more deliberate conversation. How can you voice your opinion? Dozens of teachers had rallied behind Zemans plan since he first mentioned it last week in a South Florida Sun Sentinel opinion piece.. John Sullivan, district spokesman, center, takes a photo of the board members with Jorge Altuna, student advisor who is leaving his post on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We cant afford to live in South Florida with our current salary!!! Please help us before we are forced to leave! Rolon, the Parkland teacher, wrote in his comments. If you, too, want to share your opinion about the school districts finances, you can attend the first school districts public budget hearing this year. The meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1 at the Kathleen C Wright Office in Fort Lauderdale. You are here: Arts The China Great Wall Museum on Tuesday began seeking cultural relics from home and abroad in a move to further promote the research, collection and protection of the cultural heritage of the Great Wall. Cultural relics include objects, photographs, documents and construction tools that reflect the construction and development of the Great Wall during various periods of Chinese history. The museum is also seeking material evidence documenting major events, important people and key works related to the Great Wall, as well as various types of related publications. "The Great Wall of China is a symbol of Chinese civilization," said Ren Jianghao, deputy head of Beijing's Yanqing District, noting that the museum needs to enrich its collection of cultural relics further to display the full history and culture of the Great Wall. The museum, located in the scenic area of the Badaling Great Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been closed for renovation and upgrades since April 2022. The renovation project covers a land area of approximately 27,000 square meters and a construction area of about 16,000 square meters. Opened in 1994, the museum has since received about 10 million visitors from home and abroad. [Source] BTS Jimin has posted a video about the one-of-a-kind Barbie gift he received from Ryan Gosling. Background info: Gosling, who plays Ken in Greta Gerwigs recently released Barbie, gave Kens guitar from the film to Jimin as a humble offering. In a video posted last week, Gosling declares that his character Ken wears the same cowboy outfit that Jimin does in the music video for BTS hit song Permission to Dance. I have to give it to you, you wore it first, Gosling says. You definitely wore it best. If you bite another Kens style, you have to give them your most prized possession. More from NextShark: Musician and YouTube pioneer David Choi starts company that makes music for kids Jimin reacts: The BTS member took to social media on Monday to thank Gosling for the present. Hi Ryan, and hi Ken, its Jimin. Congrats on your big release, Jimin says in a recently shared video, Ken guitar in hand. I could see that you look great in my outfit, he adds. Thank you for this guitar. I really love it, and I look forward to watching Barbie. Go, Barbie! More from NextShark: Bae Suzy, Yang Se-jong star in Crash Landing on You directors new drama The Girl Downstairs Jimin also praised Goslings character in his posts caption, saying, Thanks for having my outfit in #BarbieTheMovie! You rocked it, Ken. More from NextShark: Lily Gao calls out 'racist and sexist harassment' for her Ada Wong portrayal in 'Resident Evil 4' Just a stones throw south of the Texas border, someone or someones with a bold entrepreneurial spirit and no fear of lawyers is opening a store called BUK-IIS, social media posts show. Its an awfully similar name to Buc-ees, a much loved and ever-expanding gas station chain based in Texas. For those who have never been, Buc-ees is like a mall that also happens to sell reasonably priced gasoline and better than average brisket. The Buk-iis store is opening in Matamoros, Mexico, according to a July 25 social media post. Maybe the name is just a coincidence, you say. Well, turn your gaze to the left and right of the stores double doors, analyze the creature painted there, encircled in yellow, sporting a red baseball cap. Is that Buc-ee, beloved beaver mascot and patron saint of clean bathrooms? No. Its Buk-ii. The upcoming Buk-iis store as seen from another angle. Screengrab from Facebook. Pull up an image of Buc-ee for a side-by-side comparison though you shouldnt need one and count the differences. Its like someone was asked to paint a portrait of Buc-ee from memory while also misremembering him as some sort of weasel or maybe a stoat. As one commenter said, roughly translated, that beaver (looks) like he ate a lemon. Is this a relative? An impostor? Who are you, Buk-ii, and whats your deal? Buk-iis wants to sell groceries, and maybe some beer, Ramon Montelongo, who shared the image of Buk-ii on Facebook, told MYSA.com. The store will be opening soon, likely in a matter of days, Montelongo told the outlet. He added that Buk-ii isnt a beaver, hes a gopher. Go-phigure. Buc-ees is aware of the matter and will not stand as an idle spectator while others use without permission the intellectual property that Buc-ees has cultivated for decades, Buc-ees told the news outlet. Buc-ees has over 40 locations across the U.S., 34 of which are in Texas, according to the companys website. The chain has been expanding outside the Lone Star state in recent years, opening locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee. Buc-ees the beaver: Big, toothy prehistoric species named after beloved Texas chain Buc-ees biggest Southeast store opens near Great Smoky Mountains. Take a look around After Robert Atkins was charged last year with murdering his ex-neighbor and setting her Croydon home on fire in 1991, his family members who live out-of-state contacted the Bucks County District Attorneys Office. They wanted to know if prosecutors had heard about what Atkins did to his aunt when he was a teenager living with his grandparents in rural Tennessee. After hearing what he was accused of in Bucks County, and seeing photos of his victim, the family members said that they felt compelled to bring the previous incident to the attention of prosecutors in Pennsylvania. Defendant Robert Atkins is escorted to the police car after his preliminary hearing for the 1991 murder and arson of Joy Hibbs, 35, of Bristol Township on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Joy Hibbs in an undated photo More on the arrest of Robert Atkins Ex-police informant charged in 1991 murder of Croydon mom found dead in arson fire at her home What they claimed is that a decade before Joy Hibbs, a 35-year-old mother of two was found murdered in her home on April 19, 1991, Robert Atkins had been arrested for attacking his then-35-year-old aunt and leaving her for dead. He was 16. The relatives also noted that not only were there similarities in the crimes, but his aunts physical appearance and demeanor bore a strikingly eerie resemblance to Hibbs. First Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Schorn wants jurors in the murder trial expected to take place later this year to hear about his crime in Tennessee. Atkins was adjudicated delinquent, the juvenile court equivalent of guilty in adult court. Schorn contends the similarities in the crime and victims makes it relevant as a signature crime. Defense attorneys for Atkins, 57, believe his juvenile arrest record should remain sealed because it is irrelevant and prejudicial. They have filed a motion to suppress it, arguing prosecutors were improperly given a copy. The details of Atkins juvenile arrest are among so-called prior bad acts evidence and witnesses that his defense attorneys are seeking to exclude. Prior bad acts involve actions that took place before the crime a defendant is charged with. Under Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence, evidence of prior crimes or other wrong actions of a defendant is not admissible at trial for the sole purpose of showing a defendant or witness in a bad light. But there are limited exceptions, such as proving motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, or identity, under the rules. Story continues More: Bucks County man wants evidence in 1991 Croydon murder, arson of young mom thrown out What happened when Robert Atkins moved to Tennessee On Monday and Tuesday, Bucks County Common Pleas Judge Wallace Bateman Jr. heard testimony during pretrial hearings from three Atkins family members and a Bucks County Detective about what happened in Hamblen County more than four decades ago. Bateman is expected to render his decision on the motion to suppress Atkins juvenile record and roughly two dozen other pretrial motions at a September hearing. Prosecutors allege that Atkins strangled, stomped on the chest of his aunt, and possibly sexually assaulted her, when he was living with his grandparents. But what prosecutors know about the incident has come only from Atkins family members, who are fuzzy on the details, including whether it happened in 1981 or 1982, and a single 1982 order that the Bucks County Detectives obtained from a Tennessee Juvenile Court. What family members testified to Monday and Tuesday is that his father and stepmother sent Robert Atkins to live with his grandparents when he was 15 or 16. Not long after he moved, he attacked his aunt, the sister of Atkins father, a widow, in the mobile home where she lived. The aunt died of cancer in 2016. Atkins allegedly strangled his aunt with a telephone cord, stomped on her chest, breaking her ribs and left her for dead. She was found wrapped in a rug in her bed. Her pants were around her ankles, but it was not clear if she was sexually assaulted. Robert Atkins then stole his aunts car and fled, but he was found at the local high school and arrested by his grandfather who was the county constable. Bucks County Detective David Hanks testified Monday while he was in Tennessee speaking with Atkins family members he met with a judge who signed an order releasing Atkins juvenile court records. More than 40 years later, though, the only document found was an order dated July 28,1982 releasing custody of Robert Atkins to his maternal grandmother in Croydon. Defense attorneys for Atkins contend that the county was improperly given a physical copy of the records citing Tennessee law that allows for inspection only of juvenile court records and only if there is a legitimate interest in the proceedings, according to court documents. In Tennessee, family members Hanks met with also shared family photos including one taken 19 days before Joy Hibbs was found dead in her sons charred bedroom, he said. She had been stabbed multiple times, badly beaten and possibly strangled with a computer cord found draped on her body. The photo was taken during an Easter trip Robert Atkins and his wife and kids took to visit family in Tennessee. Among those Robert Atkins saw during the trip was his aunt, who at that point had forgiven Atkins for his attack on her, family members said. Photos the family provided Hanks show what appears to be an electric blue vehicle, the same color car witnesses placed outside the Hibbs' Spencer Drive house shortly before the fire. Robert Atkins owned an electric blue Monte Carlo sedan. Hanks testified that the electric blue car wasnt the only thing in the photos that he found interesting. The resemblance between Hibbs and Atkins aunt at the time she was attacked was undeniable, he said. They were strikingly similar, Hanks said. He added that when Hibbs daughter, Angie, was shown a picture of the aunt she thought it was her mother. What the family of Robert Atkins remembers about his juvenile arrest On Tuesday, Barbara Atkins, Robert Atkins 81-year-old stepmother, testified that she and her late husband had problems with Roberts behavior before they married in December 1978. A month before their wedding the couple were in court after neighbors accused a then 12-year-old Robert of making harassing phone calls, she said. She recalled that Robert had a short fuse, but she never saw him act violently. Robert was around 15, when the couple sent him to live with his grandparents because they were concerned he was hanging around with the wrong crowd, might be using drugs, and they worried about his influence on the seven other children in their home. They felt moving him to a more rural environment would have a positive effect on him, Barbara Atkins testified. She testified she was unable to recall the year when Robert was sent to live with his grandparents or how long before she and her husband were notified about his being arrested for attacking his aunt. Barbara Atkins said that any information she had about the circumstances for the arrest came from what her husbands father told them. She never spoke with Robert about what happened, she said. She and her husband attended his court hearing in Tennessee, as did the aunt. Barbara Atkins testified the bruises were still visible on both sides of her neck. After the hearing, where Robert was adjudicated delinquent, Barbara Atkins recalled that the judge said he didnt think Robert presented a risk for reoffending and he was placed on probation. But when the Atkins were asked if they would take him back to Pennsylvania, they refused, the stepmother said, adding they were concerned about the safety of their other children. It was painful, she added, as her voice choked with emotion. We loved the kidsThey were ours. There was never any differentiation between the kids. Robert Atkins was sent to a juvenile detention facility, but at some point an aunt and uncle in Tennessee took custody of him, but the arrangement didnt last long. After that, the court approved a transfer to his grandmothers house in Croydon. After her stepson returned to Bucks County, Atkins testified that neither she nor her husband had contact with him, though they lived in the township. On Monday, Daniel Atkins testified he believed his older brother was sent to Tennessee after he was caught sneaking into the house of a neighbor girl and his parents had to go to court because of it. He also testified that Robert told him that he was on bad drugs when he assaulted his aunt in Tennessee. Melanie Robertson, one of Atkins cousins, testified that she found an apology letter that Atkins allegedly wrote in pencil on toilet paper when he was in juvenile detention in Tennessee. She found the note in a cookbook she inherited from her aunt after her death. Robertson also testified that she and Robert Atkins reconnected on social media and started communicating through Facebook messages. But some of his interaction with her she found disturbing. She recalled one message, where Atkins told his cousin, who bears a striking resemblance to their late aunt, that she looked hot today, and he also referred to her as my Melanie. Robertson testified that Robert Atkins also told her the aunt he assaulted had raped him. Bucks County authorities believe that Atkins killed Joy Hibbs over a dispute involving a marijuana sale. After killing he stole the money from a paycheck she had cashed, and set the familys Spencer Avenue home on fire to destroy evidence. Within days after the murder in 1991, Bristol Township police identified Atkins immediately as a prime suspect, but then swiftly dismissed him, despite strong evidence at the time that suggested his involvement, the grand jury found last year. Atkins has denied he was involved in the murder. For three decades Atkins has maintained that his family were on route to a planned Poconos vacation when Hibbs was murdered; April Atkins coworker at the time provided him an alibi for the time Hibbs was murdered. The grand jury, though, found both stories neither believable or credible. The Hibbs family have said they believe that Atkins previously undisclosed work as a confidential drug informant for Bristol Township Police influenced the murder investigation and resulted in a 30 year delay of justice. Bristol Township police have denied the familys allegation. How informants impact criminal cases How did murder suspect's status as a police informant impact a Bucks County cold case? More on the 1991 murder of Joy Hibbs Did police ignore evidence in 30-year-old Bristol Township murder? Family seeks answers This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County DA offers juvenile record as evidence in Croydon murder Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles), shown in January, organized the letter from congressional Democrats. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Democratic members of Californias congressional delegation, increasingly concerned about the ongoing strikes in Hollywood, are warning studios that they are watching. Hollywood ground to a halt after negotiations between studios and the guilds representing writers and then actors collapsed earlier this summer. Thousands of workers are protesting on picket lines, demanding more money and better working conditions. As thousands of our constituents engage in their legally and constitutionally protected capacity to participate in a work stoppage, we urge all parties to respect and affirm collective bargaining rights as these employees negotiate with their employers, 37 Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to the presidents of Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists known as SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents Hollywood studios and streaming services. The contributions of these artists are indispensable to productions that millions of Americans watch each year to be entertained, expand their horizons, and experience unrivaled performance talent, wrote the lawmakers, including Judy Chu of Monterey Park, Ro Khanna of Fremont, Ted Lieu of Torrance, Pete Aguilar of Redlands and Jimmy Gomez of Los Angeles. Barbara Lee of Oakland, Katie Porter of Irvine and Adam B. Schiff of Burbank, the three House Democrats vying for the U.S. Senate seat held by Dianne Feinstein , all signed the letter. Reps. Josh Harder of Tracy, Jim Costa of Fresno, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco are the only three California House Democrats who did not join the letter. Read more: What to know about the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike Gomez, who organized the letter, told The Times in a phone interview that he has more than 33,000 SAG- AFTRA members living in his district and that their strike is having a ripple effect on the economy. Still, a strike is not something unions do lightly, he said. Story continues Striking is the option of last resort and comes when an employer is not negotiating in good faith, he said. Well be supporting the right of these workers to go on strike and use their right to collectively bargain, he said. But we want everybody to go to the table and we want the studios to take the workers demands seriously. Gomez said he has been increasingly wary of studios labor tactics. The studios endgame is to allow things to drag on until union members start losing their apartments and losing their house, an anonymous studio executive told Deadline earlier this month. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers has said that such anonymous people are not speaking on behalf of the AMPTP or member companies, who are committed to reaching a deal and getting our industry back to work. Last week, NBCUniversal trimmed trees that had provided shade for workers picketing during a heat wave outside its studios. (L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia said his office is investigating the matter. NBC said it did not intend to create challenges for picketers and the trimming was part of annual maintenance.) Tactics such as these have a reverse effect on workers, Gomez said. It actually forces workers to become more cohesive and united, because they feel that theyre under attack, he said. This letter is meant to demonstrate to the studios that Congress is watching, he said. We are paying attention to what they say and how they behave. Read more: Writers' strike: What's at stake and how it could disrupt Hollywood The letter, sent Tuesday to Fran Drescher , president of SAG-AFTRA, and Carol Lombardini , president of the AMPTP, highlighted the role that artificial intelligence has played as a bargaining issue in the talks. The lawmakers said they understand that union members have expressed the importance of agreement on the reproduction and use of their likenesses and work product in a rapidly changing digital economy with emerging technologies that are not yet fully understood or regulated. The actors union has called AI a real and immediate threat and said it wants to guard against misuse by requiring studios to obtain consent and to compensate actors for the use of their likenesses or voices. The AMPTP has said it offered a variety of protections for workers related to the technology, including that the studios would be prohibited from using digital replicas of background actors in lieu of hiring the required number of covered background actors. Still, Gomez likened the studios proposal for the use of AI to wage theft, saying that it undermines the ability for [background actors] to get work. Representatives for SAG-AFTRA did not respond to a request for comment. Gomez said that though striking is often union workers ultimate leverage during negotiations, it can also have an adverse effect on Californias economy. Gomez does not lay blame on the union for the strike, saying that it happens when a corporation refuses to listen to what the demands of the workers are. Still, Gomez said that he hopes the strike does not last too long. Strikes are a means to an end, he said. Their end is trying to get a good and fair contract for the workers. Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert! REPUBLICANS ARE IFFY ON FENTANYL BOND California Republicans are not entirely sold on a $5.2 billion bond to curb fentanyl overdoses even though a GOP lawmaker co-authored the bill. Assembly Public Safety Committee Chair Reggie Jones-Sawyer, D-Los Angeles, and Vice Chair Juan Alanis, R-Modesto, are pushing Assembly Bill 1510, which would fund substance abuse treatment, harm reduction programs, targeting of high level drug traffickers and more. Jones-Sawyer sees the bond as a comprehensive approach, instead of a bill-by-bill approach to the fentanyl overdose crisis. Alanis is on board, saying he wants to look at solutions on both the front end and the back end of the problem. But Assemblywoman Diane Dixon, R-Newport Beach, and Assemblyman Joe Patterson, R-Rocklin, think a bond measure may not be the best approach. Dixon and Patterson say AB 1510 which would go before voters during the March primary or November general election would take too long to enact and convert into programming. Were asked to watch the long game, Dixon said. And so Im interested in seeing the benefits and accountability of a long game. But right now, we have a fentanyl crisis here today. Dixon, Patterson and Alanis authored Assembly Constitutional Amendment 12, which would enact Alexandras Law and require judges to warn dealers they could face homicide charges if they knowingly sell fentanyl that kills people. The law is named after a 20-year-old woman from Temecula who died after taking half of an oxycodone pill she did not know contained fentanyl. ACA 12 has not yet been assigned to an Assembly committee, and Dixon wants to see public pressure applied to make that happen. She cited the recent outcry over Senate Bill 14 from Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, a child trafficking bill that passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee after a GOP-led campaign. People are now becoming awakened to the failure of the Legislature to launch these bills into the process, Dixon said. Story continues Patterson favors some of the bond priorities, but he believes the money for fighting fentanyl should come from the states general fund. He also wants to see more penalties for dealers and accountability for state spending. We should be addressing it at the highest priority, Patterson said. Not a 30-year bond thats going to cost more than twice the amount of money that were going to be borrowing. Id rather take that twice amount and fund it on a regular basis every year, because it is the one of the leading causes of death of Californians. Jones-Sawyer said in a statement that those who favor only harsher penalties are missing the point. Preemptive measures to end demand and actions to help those suffering from addiction save lives and put a stop to the sales of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, he said. Locking up dealers happens after someone has died or their lives have been ruined. Alanis said he knows he will be fielding questions from his Republican colleagues. But he remains confident about the bond measure, and he also isnt done pushing for stiffer punishments for dealers. Ive actually found when I talk with my colleagues in private, or even in committee, that they listen, he said. They respect my background in law enforcement and know where Im coming from on that. ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS TAKE ON OIL-DRILLING REFERENDUM A coalition of environmental, public health and community groups are uniting to take on an oil-backed California ballot measure challenging a recent law that prevents oil drilling near homes and schools. The Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California launched on Wednesday to combat the measure, which will appear on the November 2024 ballot and attempt to repeal Senate Bill 1137. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 1137 in 2022, and it went into effect on Jan. 1. It creates setback requirements for oil and gas wells, preventing the state from approving new drilling within 3,200 feet of hospitals, schools and homes. The California Independent Petroleum Association reportedly spent millions of dollars on a signature-gathering effort to fight SB 1137. The Secretary of States Office announced in February the group had collected enough valid signatures to qualify for the November ballot. The Campaign kicked off with $550,000 in initial contributions, with $500,000 from the Advocacy Action Fund and $50,000 from the Center for Biological Diversity, according to its Form 497 Contribution Report. Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach, who co-authored SB 1137, said the campaigners are fighting for their lives and for a future for all Californians from oil drilling in their neighborhoods. The law passed with overwhelming support from your elected leaders across California to protect communities and bring accountability to Big Oil, Gonzalez said in a statement. And now, we are standing with the Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California to hold Big Oil accountable for the decades theyve spent poisoning our neighborhoods for profit. CALIFORNIA JUDGE THROWS OUT BIDEN ASYLUM RULE Via Gillian Brassil and Michael Wilner A federal judge in California tossed President Joe Bidens new immigration policy on Tuesday, writing that the rules for asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border were unlawful. U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar, who is based in Oakland, California, wrote that the new rules imposed conditions on asylum-seekers did not align with the intent of Congress. The policy was put in place by the Biden administration in response to an historic surge in migrant arrivals at the U.S. southern border, and offered asylum seekers other pathways to legal status into the country while limiting options for entry at border crossings. Before requesting asylum in the United States, migrants must have asked for asylum and prove that it was not granted in another country. Migrants schedule interviews to claim asylum via a mobile application, CBP One, or have a U.S. citizen sponsor them. There are minimal exceptions for health and safety threats. While Bidens immigration policies have been criticized on the political right as too lenient, the California lawsuit was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, which argued they were too harsh. The Biden administration previously said that the rule was coupled with more legal immigration pathways. Responding to the ruling, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the Justice Department would quickly appeal the decision. Tigar stayed the ruling for two weeks to allow the appeal to go forward. We strongly disagree with todays ruling and are confident that the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule is lawful, Mayorkas said in a statement. Read more in The Sacramento Bee. QUOTE OF THE DAY The Legislature weakened itself by not showing up and that relationship between the branches has never been the same. We love to piss on the administration and Gavin, but thats something that was our fault. It was never rectified. - Former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, in the Los Angeles Times. Rendon believes lawmakers departure from the Capitol during the COVID-19 pandemic empowered the Newsom administration. Best of the Bee: A woman in California is suing sheriff's deputies for punching her while she was holding her baby. Getty Images A woman in California is suing sheriff's deputies for punching her while she was holding her baby. Attorneys for Yeayo Russell say police forced her to throw away some of her breast milk after arresting her. Russell was arrested for child endangerment, but prosecutors decided not to charge her, her attorneys say. A Black woman in California alleged sheriff's deputies punched her in the face while the was holding her baby and kept her in jail for days before prosecutors decided not to charge her with a crime, according to a new lawsuit. Yeayo Russell sued Los Angeles County and 10 unnamed Palmdale Sheriff's Station deputies on Monday in Central California District Court on behalf of herself and her minor child. According to the lawsuit, sheriff's deputies pulled over a car that Russell was a passenger in on July 14, 2022 for a traffic violation. Russell was breastfeeding her baby at the time of the traffic stop, her attorney told The Los Angeles Times. After pulling the car over, the deputies "harassed" and "threatened," the vehicle members and made them get out of the car, the lawsuit says. Deputies then threatened to take Russell's child from her and began to pull on the baby's legs, causing them to scream, court documents say. Body camera footage obtained by The Los Angeles Times shows Russell screaming that she does not currently have custody of her child and that "you will have to shoot me to take my baby." "While Ms. Russell continued to hold and protect her newborn child, defendant deputy 1 punched her in the face two times causing her great pain," the lawsuit says. According to the document, Russell's baby started "hanging upside down" after the punches and the deputy grabbed her child's leg, causing Russell to fear the deputy would break their leg. "Ya'll punched me bro," Russell can be heard saying the body camera footage before saying she thinks her chin is broken. Story continues Jamon Hicks, an attorney representing Russell, told The Los Angeles Times that the case is about "more than just punches." "It is about the way the deputies treated this mother," Hicks said. Sheriff's deputies booked Russell for felony child endangerment but prosecutors decided not to charge her, according to The Los Angeles Times. According to the lawsuit, Russell spent more than four days in jail. Hicks told the outlet deputies also forced Russell to throw away some of her breast milk. The lawsuit says sheriff's deputies would not tell Russell who was hysterical where her child was and denied her medical treatment on the way to the jail. Russell alleges in the lawsuit that the deputies subjected her to unreasonable search, excessive force, and wrongful arrest. The lawsuit also says that the Sheriff's Department did not adequately train its deputies on when to use physical force. "As a result, county sheriff's deputies, including DOES 1-10, are not able to handle the usual and recurring situations with which they must deal, including contacting unarmed individuals," the document says. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages and punitive damages to be determined during a jury trial as well as attorneys fees and cost of suit, according to court documents. The Palmdale Sheriff's Station and Jamon Hicks did not immediately return Insider's request for comment on Wednesday. Read the original article on Insider The UN Security Council has called for nations to support Haiti's national police, who have been overwhelmed by gangs in the capital Port-au-Prince (Richard Pierrin) Haunted by previous failures in Haiti and worried about getting stuck in a deadly quagmire, the international community is reluctant to answer a UN call for a special intervention force, experts say. "There is a strong case for deploying an international force to Haiti, but it could be a very risky mission," said Richard Gowan, an analyst at the International Crisis Group. "The gangs are well-armed and there is no clear exit strategy if a mission does deploy," he told AFP. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, relaying a request from Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, began calling in October 2022 for an international, non-UN deployment to help support police who have been overwhelmed by gangs. Months later, in mid-July, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution urging the international community "to provide security support to the Haitian National Police," including through "the deployment of a specialized force," but stopped there. But while countries like Kenya and Jamaica have said they would consider staffing such a mission, no one has stepped up to lead it. Not the United States, with its checkered history of intervention in the country, and which has firmly said it doesn't want to put Americans in danger. Canada too is out, though it had at one point considered taking the lead, as had Brazil. "We continue to work with partner nations to identify a lead nation for a police-driven multinational force," State Department spokesman Matt Miller said. "It is urgently needed." Previous failures by the international community in Haiti hang over calls for an intervention. At the same time, Haiti's gangs -- which control up to 80 percent of Port-au-Prince -- would be formidable opponents. - An 'illegitimate' Haitian government? - "They're afraid of the gangs, that they would have to confront the gangs with armed force," said Walter Dorn, a professor of defense studies at the Royal Military College of Canada and the Canadian Forces College. Story continues Another fear: casualties among intervention forces, and collateral damage. "Urban warfare is very difficult," Dorn added. "And the danger of killing innocent civilians would be great." "However, I think that it's possible" an international force could prevail against the gangs, Dorn said, estimating it would take at least 7,000 soldiers and as many police officers -- roughly the same amount of people deployed in the UN's last peacekeeping force in Haiti, from 2004 to 2017. William O'Neil, an independent UN expert on Haiti, estimated 1,000-2,000 people would be needed -- numbers Guterres said "do not reflect any exaggeration." But huge parts of any mission remain unknown, experts say, such as a precise mandate or what would happen if a proper economic revival and political transition are not carried out in parallel. In a country where elections haven't been held since 2016, and the last president, Jovenel Moise, was assassinated in 2021, many Haitians don't consider Prime Minister Henry legitimate. Those in the opposition argue that an intervention would be tantamount to support for "a government that is illegitimate," said Robert Fatton, of the University of Virginia. - Previous failures - Previous interventions have left a bitter taste among the Haitian population. During the last UN peacekeeping force's deployment, 10,000 people died from cholera, brought by Nepalese peacekeepers. While Guterres has called for a non-UN force, the Security Council has asked him to present by mid-August a report on all possible options, including a UN-led mission. But "there is unlikely to be a return to a traditional form of peacekeeping in Haiti," a UN source told AFP. If it ended up being a UN force, "it would be a police force and it wouldn't look like anything we have on the books today." "There is still some hope member states will make a decision on a non-UN force, which still remains the preferred option," the source said. In any case, an intervention would need a green light from the Security Council, where China remains skeptical, insisting instead on stopping the flow of arms trafficked to Haiti from the southern US state of Florida. "I think the Chinese are quite pleased to see the US grappling with a problem on America's doorstep at the UN," said Gowan of the International Crisis Group. Though when -- or if -- the time comes to vote on an intervention, he doubts Beijing would actually use its veto. abd-lb/nro/des (Bloomberg) -- Cambodias Hun Sen will step aside as prime minister after nearly four decades in power, leaving his West Point-educated son Hun Manet to form a new government after the ruling party claimed a landslide election victory over the weekend. Most Read from Bloomberg Speaking during a televised address Wednesday, the 70-year-old strongman leader said the decision was made to keep the country stable. He along with other top ministers in his cabinet will resign as ruling party leaders pave the way for a younger generation of politicians, with his son set to assume the job on Aug. 22. If I remain PM and resign after one or two years in office, there will be instability, he said. It is necessary that the new government be filled with a new generation of young ministers. Hun Manet, 45, is a political novice who contested elections for the first time following a career in the armed forces in which he rose through the ranks to become a four-star general. He was among the children of the ruling elite serving in positions of power as the government transitions from the old guard to the new generation for the first time since 1979. Hun Sen is not expected to withdraw from government completely any time soon, saying in his address he would continue to be the President of the Cambodian Peoples Party and a lawmaker. He further plans to run in senate elections next year, all but assuring he continues to loom large over the countrys politics for the foreseeable future. The move comes as the Southeast Asian nation draws even closer to China to shore up an economy that is on the mend following the pandemic. Hun Manet would inherit an economy the World Bank has forecast will accelerate 5.5% this year after China accounted for more than 90% of the foreign direct investment in 2022. Story continues Despite relinquishing the prime ministership, Hun Sens influence will endure, said Sebastian Strangio, author of the book Hun Sens Cambodia. In the years to come, particularly during the early phases of the Hun Manet prime ministership, he will play an important role in backstopping his sons administration in order to ensure a stable balance among the countrys fractious ruling elites. Preliminary results show the Cambodian Peoples Party nearly swept the vote on Sunday, winning 120 of 125 seats up for grabs in the National Assembly, after the main opposition was barred from participating for a second time. The vote was criticized by some western nations, and prompted the US to impose visa restrictions on individuals who undermined democracy and implemented a pause of certain foreign assistance programs. Political Operator When Hun Sen was first appointed premier in 1985 at the age of 33 Cambodias Vietnamese-controlled government was still battling remnants of the Khmer Rouge. After losing the first election following a United Nations-brokered peace in 1993, he threatened to break up the Southeast Asian nation unless he was made co-prime minister. Four years later, a de facto coup put him solely in charge. As the leader of one of Asias poorest countries, Hun Sen was adept at playing to foreign interests to secure donor funding needed to grow an economy left in shambles after years of civil war. His rule saw the longest spell of peace in modern Cambodian history, one that has seen rapid economic advancement, urbanization, and the emergence of a substantial middle-class. Hun Sens also spent much of his rule consolidating control over the country, moving to quash any political dissent following a narrow election win in 2013 when the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party nearly won the popular vote. With no viable opposition at present, rumors of a split within the CPP have been rife in recent years including throughout succession planning, something officials have sought to taper down. The CPP has good experience with this, Phay Siphan, the main government spokesman, told Bloomberg News following the announcement Wednesday. They know if they split they will die together, so they have consolidate together. Externally, Hun Sen has notably brought Cambodia much closer to China, accepting cash from Beijing in return for supporting its geopolitical aims in the region particularly regarding disputed territory in the South China Sea. Cambodias relationship with the US and its allies have meanwhile come under considerable strain as Washington condemned what it sees as the growing influence of Chinas military in the country. While the US criticized the vote, Chinese President Xi Jinping as Hun Sens biggest backer abroad, congratulated the leader in a letter saying Cambodia had achieved political stability. Cambodia too touted the election as a true reflection of the countrys democratic maturity. Analysts have said that a Hun Manet administration would create an opportunity for some version of a diplomatic reset between Cambodia and Western governments, despite any criticism over fairness at the polls. To what extent that will happen, however, may depend on how long his father remains active in government. Hun Sen is now attempting to enshrine his legacy, and the current political dispensation, by engineering a dynastic succession from one generation of CPP elites to another, Strangio said. Whether this is successful over the long term remains to be seen. (Updates with quote from government official, adds context) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Hun Sen, in power for 38 years, has led an increasingly repressive regime Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-serving leaders, has announced he will resign and hand over to his son in early August. The anticipated announcement came three days after his party again won all seats at an uncompetitive election. Hun Sen, 70, has become increasingly authoritarian after nearly four decades of rule in Cambodia. He first flagged a transition in 2021, but up to now no one knew exactly when it would take place. His eldest son, Hun Manet, until recently the commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, has long been groomed for the role. In his announcement, Hun Sen said his son would be appointed prime minister on 10 August. "I would like to ask for understanding from the people as I announce that I will not continue as prime minister," he said in a special broadcast on state television. He said he would be stepping down as staying in office could cause instability. However he will retain leadership of the ruling Cambodian People's Party - a position political analysts say still gives him ultimate control. Earlier on Wednesday, state media showed Hun Sen visiting the Cambodian monarch's palace to announce the news of the dynastic succession. Hun Manet, 45, took a leading role in campaigning for the 23 July election this year - and was often spotted leading rallies next to his father, who has ruled the Southeast Asian nation of 16 million people since 1985. Hun Manet, son of Hun Sen, is due to succeed his father within weeks Sunday's election was widely seen as a done deal, because the only credible opposition party had been disqualified from the vote. There were 17 other parties on the ballot but they were all too small, new or aligned with the CPP to be considered a real alternative for voters. The US and the EU both released statements condemning the vote as neither free nor fair. Hun Sen's elimination of political opponents is part of his wider crackdown on civil space in Cambodia in recent years. Story continues Having consistently crushed his opponents, in 2017 he used the courts to dissolve another popular opposition party, the CNRP, and jail or exile its leaders. He has also increasingly stifled dissent and free speech - shutting down most independent media in the country. Rights groups, trade unions and NGOs also report facing threats of closure. Analysts had speculated that his clampdown this year was driven by the need for a smooth transition. It will be Cambodia's first transfer of power in four decades. Compared to his father, whose iron-fisted rule was forged during and after the days of the Khmer Rouge regime, there is some speculation that Hun Manet, who attended US military academy West Point and the University of Bristol, could lead a less repressive regime and be more receptive to Western calls on human rights. However analysts say he has shown no evidence that he may be more open. Hun Sen has also made it clear that he will continue to wield enormous influence over the running of the country. PHNOM PENH (Reuters) -Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Wednesday he will step down and hand over power to his son next month, ending a near four-decade reign during which he established stability after years of war but stifled democracy in the process. One of the world's longest ruling leaders, Hun Sen made the announcement days after his Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won 120 of 125 parliamentary seats in a general election from which all serious opponents were banished. "I met the king, and declared I won't continue the position as prime minister anymore," Hun Sen said in a nationally televised address. "I must sacrifice and relinquish power." Hun Sen, 70, said his son, Hun Manet, would get royal approval as prime minister on Aug. 10 and be sworn in on Aug. 22. "Hun Manet ... will become the prime minister in the coming weeks," he said. Hun Sen said it was time to make way for a younger generation of leaders. "It is very necessary to have a new cabinet which comprises mostly young people ... they are responsible for the future," he said. "Long-term peace and development will be continued under my son." But Hun Sen will not disappear into retirement. He said he would be staying on as head of the ruling party and a member of the National Assembly. He recently said he would step back in to the prime minister's job if his son did not perform well. CLOSER TO CHINA Opposition politicians, most of them in self-exile, and rights groups say Hun Sen has for years suppressed democratic institutions while party colleagues and relatives have benefited from a range of business concessions. The government has rejected accusations of corruption within its ranks levelled over the years by opposition politicians, rights groups and environmental activists. In 1993, Hun Sen rejected the result of a landmark election organised by the United Nations aimed at ending a conflict that had endured since Cambodia was dragged into the Vietnam war in the late 1960s. Story continues He entered an uneasy coalition with his royalist rivals only to oust them in a bloody takeover in 1997. A former mid-level commander of the communist Khmer Rouge, Hun Sen responded to attempts by the United States and other Western powers to press him to support democracy by moving closer to China. "It is concerning that Cambodia has witnessed a constant shrinkage of democratic space in recent years, undermining fundamental freedoms and the right to participate in public affairs, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement on Wednesday. But Hun Sen is also credited with establishing peace and lifting Cambodia to middle-income status, improving health, education and infrastructure during his 38 years in power. Western-educated Hun Manet, who is deputy commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has said little of his vision for the country. He won a seat in the capital, Phnom Penh, in Sunday's election. The new parliament will convene on Aug. 21 and the new prime minister and cabinet would be sworn in on Aug. 22, Hun Sen said. Critics denounced Sunday's election as a sham after the government disqualified the sole opposition party on a technicality and threatened to penalise anyone calling for a boycott. The CPP won the last election, in 2018, after an earlier incarnation of the same opposition party was disbanded by the Supreme Court. (Reporting by Reuters staff, Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor, Robert Birsel) Performers dance at a music and food festival in Zhaxizom Township, Tingri County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 23, 2023. (Photo by Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua) Applause resounded through an open space in Zhaxizom Township, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on Sunday night. The air was filled with excitement as performers presented enchanting songs and dances to the delighted crowd. The performance marked the beginning of a monthlong music and food festival in the township. Zhaxizom is situated approximately 4,200 meters above sea level at the foot of Mount Qomolangma, the world's highest peak. It is under the jurisdiction of Tingri County and is located about 49 kilometers from Mount Qomolangma's Base Camp, making it a frequent stop for people traveling to the mountain. "I planned to head straight to Mount Qomolangma Base Camp, but when I arrived in the small town, the amazing festival caught my attention. I decided to stay in the town for several more days to enjoy the music and cuisine here before continuing my journey," said a traveler surnamed Zhang, who is from northeast China's Liaoning Province. "The festival can help people learn more about our town. It not only enriches our lives but will also become a new attraction for tourists," said Migmar Lhamo, a college student residing in the town. Migmar Lhamo believes the festival will play a positive role in promoting the development of local culture and tourism. According to the county government, more events such as live music shows, fireworks displays, special delicacy fairs and bonfire parties will be held during the festival to provide both residents and tourists with an impressive experience of local culture. Almost three decades ago, China's central government made a major decision to rally support for Tibet's development. A pairing assistance policy was established in 1994 to link specific areas of Tibet with central state organizations, provincial-level regions and state-owned enterprises. Tingri County official Zhu Dongfeng said that in recent years, Tingri has been working with a pairing-policy group from Shanghai to boost the town's development, with the goal of achieving rural revitalization. "The music and food festival will contribute to boosting the local economy further," Zhu said. A Canadian man who attacked a mosque with a hatchet and bear spray last year has been sentenced to eight years in prison for terror offences. Mohammad Moiz Omar attacked the Dar Al-Taweed Islamic Centre in Mississauga, Ontario during early morning prayers on 19 March 2022. Last week, he pleaded guilty to three charges that "constitute terrorist activity". In his plea, he confessed that he was motivated by a hatred for Muslims. Last week, Omar confessed to administering a noxious thing - the bear spray, which emits a grizzly bear deterrent chemical that is similar to pepper spray. He also admitted to assault with a weapon and mischief to property with the motivation of bias, prejudice, or hate based on religion. Video shows him spraying the crowd as he enters the mosque swinging a small axe. Worshippers attacked him and held him down until police arrived. Omar had "intended to perpetrate a mass casualty event" according to his plea deal. At the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Brampton on Tuesday, a judge sentenced him to eight years in prison, the term recommended by prosecutors. Last week, the mosque's imam criticised the sentence as too lenient, according to CBC News. The Public Prosecution Service of Canada said that after he was arrested he told police about "his hatred for Muslims and his disappointment at having failed to inflect any real harm on the victims", CTV reported. He must serve at least half of his sentenced before he can apply for parole. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his new team (pictured behind him) was assembled to meet "a consequential moment" for Canada Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made a major overhaul to his cabinet ahead of the country's next election. This is the first ministerial shake-up since Mr Trudeau was re-elected with a minority government in 2021. Of the 38 cabinet members sworn-in on Wednesday, only eight remain in their previous roles. Many of the changes put an emphasis on affordability as Canada grapples with an ongoing housing crisis. Mr Trudeau, who has been in power for eight years, said that the shake-up was about making sure Canada is prepared to meet "a consequential moment" domestically and globally. He referenced issues like the impact of climate change on Canada, the ongoing war in Ukraine and a potential global economic downturn. "People realise that we are involved in challenging times not only in this country but around the world, and bringing in fresh energy was important," Mr Trudeau said at a news conference. One major change is Mr Trudeau's combining of the housing and infrastructure files. Sean Fraser, the former immigration minister, will take over those portfolios. The shift is seen as a response to the increasing unaffordability and limited housing supply in Canada, at a time when immigration has grown Canada's population at a historic rate. The average home price in Canada is C$716,083 ($528,000; 426,000), according to the Canada Real Estate Association, though homes in Canada's most populous city Toronto average about C$1.15m. Household debt in Canada - mostly driven by mortgages - is the highest of any G7 country. Mr Trudeau has also swapped Canada's defence minister. Anita Anand, who held the post for nearly two years, will be replaced with Bill Blair while she takes over as President of the Treasury Board. Mr Blair has been a member of parliament since 2015 and was formerly the chief of the Toronto Police Service for a decade. He has also overseen public safety and emergency preparedness. Story continues His new role will mean tackling Canada's response to the Ukraine war, as well as growing calls from Nato allies for Canada to increase its defence spending to at least 2% of its GDP. Ministers remaining in their current roles include finance minister Chrystia Freeland and foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly. Kamal Khera was sworn in as Canada's Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Public safety minister Marco Mendicino has been kicked out of the cabinet, and will be replaced by long-time member of parliament Dominic LeBlanc. The change comes as Canadian politics have been rocked with allegations of foreign interference by China, with the prime minister facing repeated calls for a public inquiry on the issue. Mr Mendicino has also faced criticism for his office's handling of the prison transfer of serial killer Paul Bernardo, who was recently moved to a lower-security prison. Four other ministers have been removed as they will not be seeking re-election. The shake-up is widely seen as Mr Trudeau's way of refocusing his government ahead of Canada's next election, which must be held on or before 20 October, 2025. Pierre Poilievre, the leader of Canada's Progressive Conservative opposition, criticised the cabinet shuffle, writing on social media that the changes were an admission that Mr Trudeau's government had failed to deliver on its promises. "Firing ministers won't change that - firing the Prime Minister will," Mr Poilievre said. An Abacus Data poll released on Wednesday shows Mr Poilievre's party has a big lead among voters, with 38% of public support compared to Mr Trudeau's 28%. Charging anxiety is one of the biggest factors keeping Americans from buying electric cars. Source Photo/Getty Images Seven automakers plan to build an electric-vehicle charging network to take on Tesla. Tesla's Supercharger network is by far the largest in North America. The automakers aim to install 30,000 fast-charging plugs in North America, more than Tesla currently has. Seven car companies are making their own charging network to take on Elon Musk's Tesla Superchargers. BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis (the European goliath that owns Jeep, Fiat, Dodge, and many others) announced a joint venture on Wednesday aimed at blanketing North America with thousands of fast-charging plugs. They hope the move will make EV charging more convenient and get more people into electric cars, trucks, and SUVs. The coalition of brands aims to install 30,000 fast-charging plugs, more than Tesla (by far North America's largest provider of fast charging) currently has. Tesla operates around 22,000 Supercharger stalls in the region. Electrify America, the charging company established by Volkswagen as part of the Dieselgate scandal, is the next biggest with 3,592 plugs. The automakers didn't specify how long building out the network will take, but said the first stations are scheduled to open in the summer of 2024. Car companies have clear interest in beefing up the continent's charging infrastructure: Worries about where to charge and how long it takes are some of the biggest things turning people off from buying electric cars. The more convenient, accessible, and quick charging becomes, the more EVs car companies can expect to sell. Most current EV owners charge at home in their garages or driveways, and public charging will be key for getting new buyers particularly those who live in buildings without private parking on board. Up until now, most carmakers apart from Tesla turned their buyers loose on a patchwork of third-party public-charging stations. Tesla, by comparison, has spent over a decade building out a vast network of charging stations specifically for its owners. And that network, which historically only allowed Tesla owners to plug in, has been a huge driver of Tesla sales. (Tesla recently began opening up parts of its network to drivers of non-Tesla cars and sharing its charging-plug design with rivals.) Story continues Tesla's chargers are renowned for their reliability and ease of use. For example, Tesla owners don't need to swipe a credit card to pay they just pull up and plug in, and their car identifies itself to the network. If a Tesla owner goes on a long trip, the car's navigation system will automatically route to Superchargers along the way as needed. That's a level of convenience and seamlessness other EV owners don't get. Moreover, non-Tesla chargers are notorious for poor reliability and for often being out of order. It sounds like the planned charging network aims to mimic some of the things Tesla got right, and add some extra conveniences. The automakers said their network will allow owners to reserve charging spots, plan routes with charging stops, and pay for charging just by plugging in. The stations will also include rain awnings wherever possible, something missing from most current locations. The stations will offer both major charging plugs: The CCS standard that most automakers have used, along with Tesla's NACS plug that's gaining popularity in the industry. Read the original article on Business Insider Former Royal Ballet star Carlos Acosta says he wants his new studio to become a "reference in dance worldwide". His arts education charity, the Acosta Dance Foundation (ADF), has set up its global headquarters in Woolwich. Housing five dance studios, it aims to teach styles from across the world - but Acosta also wants the centre to be a place local people feel is theirs. He said he located the centre in this part of south-east London because of the many locals with African heritage. The 50-year-old said he wanted the Acosta Dance Centre, at Royal Arsenal, to create "an ecosystem" of dance, because people in the local community do not yet feel the space is a "place for them". The Cuban-born star, who is the director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, said: "[Some] of the dances that we're going to be teaching are Afro-Cuban dance, Afro-Cuban beats, more popular dances that speak about Africa. "So hopefully, one of the things that we're doing at the centre is to benefit the community so hopefully the locals can come and get involved." 'Take ownership' Acosta said his ambition was for all forms of dance to be taught at the centre, which is due to open on 4 September. "You will have the chance to take ballet classes, to take contemporary classes, Afro-Cuban, or (more) popular ways of dancing ingrained in the Cuban culture," he said. "So we want to involve the community of Woolwich, because we're here and we want to work with them and also we want to make sure that they really take ownership of what we're trying to do. "But obviously our vision is that this becomes a landmark... so that people from all over the world, they know that there is a centre in Woolwich they could come in and take classes and stay around as long as they [want] and they participate in many schemes that we're going to deliver." Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk Authorities believe that a Cedar Hill shooting that injured a doctor at a medical clinic and left a suspect in critical condition Tuesday was a planned attack, the Cedar Hill Police Department said in a update Wednesday. Vehicle surveillance video and body-camera footage was also released by police at Wednesdays press conference. Cedar Hill police were called to Methodist Family Health Center at 950 E. Belt Line Road around 12:15 p.m. Tuesday about an active shooter. The first officer who arrived at the scene saw a man a physician from the clinic on the ground in front of the clinic with a gunshot wound, Cedar Hill Police Chief Ely Reyes said at a Tuesday press conference. It is unknown if the victim was shot inside or outside of the clinic, according to Reyes. Another officer at the scene saw a man with a long gun later identified by police as 34-year-old Bryan McGee, from Glenn Heights leaving the scene in a black Chrysler four-door vehicle, Reyes said. McGees ex-girlfriend works at the Methodist Family Health Center, Reyes said. He said the shooting appears to be a planned attack as McGee recently made threats toward her. His ex-girlfriend was at the clinic when McGee opened fire, Reyes said at Wednesdays press conference. Dashboard-camera video released by police shows officers chased McGee after he was seen driving past them. At 12:22 p.m., McGees car crashed into another vehicle in the 700 block of East Belt Line Road, police said. McGee was seen in body-camera footage and in dashcam video opening his door and shooting at an officer just after being told to drop his weapon, police said. The officer in the bodycam video is then seen firing back at McGee. At one point, McGee dropped his gun on the ground and the shooting temporarily stopped. He is then seen picking up the firearm shortly after dropping it and an officer is heard telling him to stop the threat. The officer then fires at McGee, the video shows. According to Reyes, multiple officers saw McGee with the gun in his car, and five officers shot at him, wounding him. Story continues Police removed McGee from the car and began life-saving measures until medics arrived, according to Reyes. A semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun, a pistol, and ammunition were recovered by police from the Chrysler. McGee was taken to Methodist Dallas Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition. He faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Additional charges are pending, police said. The doctor who was found shot is in stable condition. A driver in the other vehicle involved in the crash with McGee was also taken to a local hospital to be treated for minor injuries. An officer also suffered minor injuries from a crash in the chase. All five officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave during the investigation, police said. The Dallas County Sheriffs Office and the District Attorneys Office will conduct the criminal investigation, and the Cedar Hills Police Department will conduct an administrative investigation. Cedar Hill is in Dallas and Ellis counties and is about 30 miles southeast of Fort Worth. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday for Sadie Mauro, a Dover-Sherborn High School senior who was killed in a boating crash off Cape Cod. The 17-year-old Sherborn resident was one of six passengers aboard a boat that struck a jetty off Cold Storage Beach around 9 p.m. on Friday, July 21. Dive teams recovered her body hours later. The service honoring her life will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 11 Washington St., Sherborn, according to her obituary. The service will be livestreamed at the church website. Mauro, a former resident of Shelburne, Vermont, was a star lacrosse player at Dover-Sherborn High and had committed to playing lacrosse at Gettysburg College next year. To those that knew her, Sadie was a true light, and lived every day in full. Family and laughter, friends and sport, animals, and the outdoors, that was what she loved, her obituary states. She was born with a nature and wisdom beyond her years that allowed her to live a full life that felt far longer than her time here. Confident, warm, and empathetic in all she did, and to all she met, our lives will always be better and brighter because of her example, her obituary states. Dover-Sherborn High School Principal John Smith remembered Mauro as a hardworking student and great athlete. Sadies smile could light up a room, she had a heart of gold and the sweetest spirit, Smith said in her obituary. 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. Leslie Frank of Massachusetts Elite Lacrosse echoed his comments. She just had that kind of glow and ease about her Always happy, Frank said in her obituary. You felt like she was a personality you could trust anything you had in her care. Relatives, friends and community members are invited to attend Fridays memorial service. Casual summer attire please, as Sadie loved this season so much, her obituary states. Donations in Sadies honor can be made to Harlem Lacrosses Sadie Mauro Memorial Fund. Story continues A teenage boy was also taken to Cape Cod Hospital with a head laceration following Fridays deadly boating crash. A preliminary investigation found that the vessel was equipped with two outboard 250-horsepower engines bearing an Alabama registration, according to the Cape and Islands District Attorneys Office. State Police and Environmental Police teams conducted dive operations at the crash site on Saturday in an effort to recover debris from the boat. State Police have not said whether any charges will be filed in connection with the fatal crash. 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 Attorneys for four Montecito homeowners who sued the county over Hot Springs trailhead parking want to take the case to the California Supreme Court after an appellate court sided with Santa Barbara County. The California 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled last week that the county could remove unpermitted encroachments in the public right of way along a portion of East Mountain Drive. We are thankful that the Court of Appeal recognized the legal authority of a California Road Commissioner to protect all the public who utilize the road rights-of-way within the county of Santa Barbara, said Scott McGolpin, Santa Barbara County Public Works director and county road commissioner. The conflict emerged after the county sent letters to three property owners, ordering them to remove any unpermitted obstructions in front of their homes in the right-of-way on East Mountain Drive, threatening them with fines if they didnt comply. That includes boulders, landscaping and a bank of mailboxes, according to the county. Montecito residents Christopher Anderson, Ross Bagdasarian, Peter Barker and James Moreley filed a petition to stop the county from pursuing its Hot Springs Trailhead Parking Design & Construction Project, citing environmental and evacuation concerns with the increased traffic. The county, however, contended that private homeowners deliberately blocked public access to the Hot Springs Trail by placing boulders, walls, landscaping, illegal No Parking signs and other unpermitted private encroachments in the county road rights-of-way that otherwise would be available for parking. The homeowners alleged in court that the county must comply with the California Environmental Quality Act and perform an environmental review for its proposed parking project near the trailhead. Two lower courts agreed, but the Second Appellate District Court on July 19 ruled that the county roads commissioner, McGolpin, has the legal right to move forward and remove the encroachments. Story continues David Cousineau, an attorney for the homeowners, said the dispute is not resolved. While two veteran trial judges found that the county cannot so easily ignore CEQA, the appeals court disagreed, Cousineau said. We still believe the trial judges got it right. While the Court of Appeals is a higher court, they are not the last word. We intend to seek review in the California Supreme Court and ask them to get it right. The environmental laws are too important to carve out such a broad exception. The Appellate Court, Second Appellate District, agreed with the county. We conclude the trial court abused its discretion when it found County had no legitimate interest in enforcing the laws against encroachments and that respondents would be irreparably harmed by complying with those laws, the appellate court judges wrote in the opinion. The record includes substantial evidence that encroachments in the public right of way present both fire safety risks and public safety risks to motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. The appellate court judges on the cases opinion documents include Kenneth Yegan, Arthur Gilbert and Hernaldo Baltodano. We conclude the trial court erred because respondents are not correct on the merits of their CEQA claim and will not be irreparably harmed by removal of encroachments installed without permits in the public right of way of an existing road, they wrote. Respondents will suffer no irreparable harm because a party suffers no grave or irreparable harm by being prohibited from violating the law, they wrote, citing other legal cases. A Superior Court order from Judge Donna Geck granting a preliminary injunction against the county is reversed, the appellate court decided. Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com . Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District may lower property taxes on its stakeholders likely good news for several businesses within its boundaries, including Walt Disney World. Read: Sinead OConnor dies at 56 The district, at its July 26 meeting, will vote to approve a new proposed millage rate or tax rate levied on the taxable value of land that helps determine the property taxes paid by property owners in this case, primarily Disney-owned land. The districts millage rate will drop to 12.95 mills or 1/1,000th of a dollar levied on property assessments for the districts fiscal year 2024, which starts on Oct. 1, down from 13.9 mills this year. The new millage rate decision comes after taking stakeholder feedback to improve the overall business environment, District Administrator Glenton Gilzean Jr told Orlando Business Journal in an exclusive interview. He said one of his and the boards goals as the new district gained speed since being created in February was to be independent and fair. Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journals website. ORLANDO, Fla. The National Hurricane Center continues to keep an eye on a system in the Atlantic with a small chance to develop into a tropical depression or storm as it approaches the Florida coast, but is also eyeing two more systems in the Atlantic. In its 8 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday tropical outlook, the NHC said the weak trough of low pressure was located a few hundred miles southwest of Bermuda, but is expected to migrate toward the U.S. in the coming week. Significant development of this system appears unlikely while it moves move west-northwestward toward the southeastern U.S. coast over the next several days, forecasters said. The NHC dropped its predictions to only a 10% chance to form into a tropical system in the next seven days. Another system the NHC has been tracking has entered the Caribbean Sea after dropping heavy rain on the Lesser Antilles. Its now west of the Windward Islands with disorganized showers and thunderstorms and continuing a speedy path west. Development of this system is not expected while it continues to move rapidly westward over the Caribbean during the next few days, forecasters said. The NHC gives it a 0% chance to form into a tropical depression in the next two to seven days. The NHC began tracking a third system late Tuesday in the far eastern Atlantic off the coast of Africa. The tropical wave is located south of the Cape Verde Islands, but the NHC said it could develop later this week as it moves west toward the Caribbean and the Bahamas. The NHC gives it a 20% chance to form into a tropical depression or storm in the next seven days. If any of the systems spin up to named-storm power, they could become Tropical Storm Emily. The 2023 hurricane season has seen four named storms so far with only one hurricane, Hurricane Don, which was a Category 1 hurricane that petered out in the north Atlantic on Monday. The hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. ____ A union training center taking shape near Marineland Village in Kennewick will set the stage to double the number of apprentice electricians in the Tri-Cities. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 112 and the National Electrical Contractors Association are building a two-story, 26,000-square-foot Joint Apprenticeship Training Center (JATC) at 142 N. Edison St., in Kennewick. Crews began preparing the 1.5-acre site for the $10 million project in January. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 112 and the National Electrical Contractors Association are constructing a $10 million Joint Apprenticeship Training Center at 142 N. Edison St., Kennewick. The JATF is next to the IBEW 112 meeting hall. Wendy Culverwell The steel frame is being erected now. Travis Swayze, IBEW 112 business manager, said the center will be ready for apprentices in March. Before that, though, IBEW and NECA plan a grand opening attended by national officers and, he hopes, political leaders from both both Washington and Oregon. We expect it to be a really big deal, he said. Design West was the architect for the JATC. Its being built by an all-union crew, with DGR Grant Construction serving as general contractor. The JATC is next to IBEW 112s 17,000-square-foot Kennewick meeting hall. That $3.4 million project was built in 2019. The new training hall will replace the unions existing facility on Gage Boulevard, where tight quarters limit it to its 280 apprentices. Were just maxed out, Swayze said. He said the program already bumped up the number of apprentices it accepted this year to 62 in anticipation of the new facility coming on line. IBEW 112 receives about 500 applications a year. It will begin recruiting the first class to start at the JATC this fall. Swayze expects to accept up to 80 people. NECAs inside wireman apprenticeship program includes a mix of classroom and job-based training. Participants begin earning paychecks, benefits and building retirement savings on the first day. This is an avenue for a really great career, Swayze said. Online applications are currently closed. Watch for openings at jatc112.org. Papa Murphys comes to West Richland Partners Jennifer Phillips and Justin Duarte opened Papa Murphys Take N Bake Pizza in West Richland on July 17. It is the duos fifth edition of Vancouver, Wash.-based Papa Murphys in the Tri-Cities. Image courtesy Justin Duarte Theres a new Papa Murphys Take N Bake Pizza in town. Story continues Justin Duarte and Jennifer Phillips, the partners who franchise the Vancouver, Wash.-based pizza chain in the Tri-Cities, opened the areas fifth outlet at 1589 Bombing Range Road. The new shop is near the West Richland branch of Gesa Credit Union, on July 17. It is open 10 a.m.-9 p.m., daily. Unlike most franchises, Papa Murphys is based in Washington state. The Vancouver company has built a following in North America for its fresh, you-bake business model. Duarte is a Papa Murphys veteran who began with the company 17 years ago in Hillsboro, a Portland suburb in the companys backyard. He came to the Tri-Cities in 2014 as an area supervisor and set out to build a local network. His business includes two Papa Murphys in Richland and one each in Pasco and Kennewick. More are coming, he promised. Since it doesnt cook or freeze food, Papa Murphys is a flexible tenant that can move into almost any retail space because it doesnt need vent hoods or other kitchen systems. In West Richland, its in a new strip mall next to a jiu jitsu studio and near a dog grooming shop. Duarte said Papa Murphys itself asked him to open the West Richland location, citing growth and demographics. The company franchises about 1,500 shops in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Middle East. Charc ute rie truck now a restaurant Roberta Chalaris and Marina De Albuquerque opened Roma House, a charcuterie, deli, wine and grocery at 617 The Parkway, Richland. Image courtesy Roma House Roma Charcuterie, which began as a truck serving area wineries, has opened Roma House, a brick-and-mortar restaurant, deli and grocery at The Parkway in Richland. Owners Roberta Chalaris and Marina De Albuquerque held grand opening festivities July 13 at 617 The Parkway in Richland. Roma House offers a full deli case, charcuterie trays and gourmet grocery while serving a menu of small bites, cheese plates and more. It partners with Wit Cellars, Eternal Wines and Tirriddis for its wine selection and has a selection of craft beer. Roma House offers a full deli case, charcuterie trays and gourmet grocery while serving a menu of small bites, cheese plates and more. Courtesy Roma House Chalaris and De Albuquerque are interior decorators who were inspired to create the charcuterie truck when they craved cheese to accompany wine during a tasting trip to Red Mountain. The restaurant, deli and grocery in Richland is the next evolution of the truck-based business. Our aim is to offer products that are unique to the area while actively supporting local wineries and breweries, Chalaris said. Business hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Go to romahouse.net. Numerica opens in Pasco Numerica Credit Union is now open at 2307 W. Court St., Pasco. Numerica is based in Spokane Valley and has six branches in the Tri-Cities. Image courtesy Numerica Credit Union Numerica Credit Union has opened its newest branch, at 2307 W. Court St., Pasco. It replaces the former branch at 1817 W. Sylvester St. The new branch features an open floor plan, game station with iPads for children, a refreshment bar and 24/7 access to its drive-up and walk-up ATMs. Opening festivities are planned from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Friday. Sign Up: Boom Town Tri-Cities Stay up to date on Tri-Cities growth and development with our weekly business newsletter. Get the latest on restaurant and business openings and closings, plus the regions top housing and employment news. Click here to sign up. In your inbox every Wednesday. Build a better nation, Xi tells HK students 08:28, July 26, 2023 By XU WEI in Beijing and OASIS HU in Hong Kong ( Chinadaily.com.cn The Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. [Photo/Xinhua] President Xi Jinping has called on students from a high school in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to develop a deep love for the motherland and its people, hone their abilities and become talents capable of shouldering important responsibilities from an early age. In his reply to a letter from students at Pui Kiu Middle School, Xi underlined patriotism as the core of the Chinese national spirit, saying that the noble tradition of loving both the motherland and Hong Kong long upheld by the Hong Kong people is a crucial cornerstone for the stable and enduring implementation of "one country, two systems". In his letter dated July 24, the president said he was pleased to learn that the students had developed a stronger sense of pride in being Chinese and a sense of responsibility as the SAR's young generation after participating in activities such as interacting with astronauts who are aboard China's Tiangong space station. "I hope that you can integrate the pursuit of knowledge with exploration of the world, gain a profound understanding of global developments and delve into the history, culture and realities of the motherland," Xi wrote in the letter. He encouraged the children to contribute their strength to building an even better Hong Kong and the cause of national rejuvenation. Founded in 1946, Pui Kiu Middle School was one of the first Hong Kong schools to raise the national flag after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The school has nurtured generations of people who love both the motherland and Hong Kong. The students from the school recently wrote to the president to share their takeaways from events aimed at strengthening patriotism. In the letter, they also shared their resolve to carry forward the spirit of loving the nation and Hong Kong and contribute to national development and the SAR's prosperity. In a statement released on Tuesday, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the SAR appreciates the reply letter from Xi, adding that the president's earnest expectations for youths in Hong Kong to fulfill their mission and responsibilities as the younger generation in the city were palpable in the letter. While the letter conveyed care and encouragement to the school, it also served as an impetus for all schools in Hong Kong to organize various activities outside the classrooms, guiding the youths to deepen their understanding of the nation's history, culture and realities, Lee said. The letter will also inspire schools in the SAR to strengthen their students' sense of national pride, national identity and patriotism, turning these values into action and passing on the spirit of loving the country and Hong Kong to future generations, he added. Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, chancellor of Pui Kiu Middle School, expressed appreciation to the president on behalf of the school at a meeting at the school on Tuesday, saying that the reply from Xi was "a milestone in the education on patriotism in Hong Kong". Xi's letter was profoundly touching for the school's faculty and students, and the school will continue to lead the way for the students in learning traditional Chinese culture and building up their emotional bonds with the motherland, he said. Jeff Sze Chun-fai, the SAR's under-secretary for education, said the SAR authorities will use concrete actions to respond to Xi's earnest expectations and keep enriching the national education system. Fong Yiu-lam, vice-chairman of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Youth Association, said the letter not only extends support and encouragement to the younger generation in Hong Kong but also reaffirms the commitment to "one country, two systems". (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) The China-South Asia Exposition has become an important platform for economic and trade cooperation between China and South Asian countries, Vice Minister of Commerce Li Fei said on Tuesday. This year's expo is set to take place from Aug. 16 to 20 in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The upcoming expo, the seventh since 2013, will be held fully offline this year, Li told a press conference. The annual trade volume between China and South Asian countries came in at under 100 billion U.S. dollars a decade ago, but the figure neared 200 billion dollars last year, representing an average annual increase of 8.3 percent, Li said. China has become the largest trading partner of countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives, he noted. Over 60 countries and regions have expressed the intention to participate in the expo so far, and nearly 1,000 enterprises are expected to attend the event. The expo will also host eight forums, including the fourth China-South Asia Cooperation Forum, and three other activities, including a signing ceremony for cooperation projects. This year's expo will feature the first South Asia tea festival to promote tea products and culture, and a digital platform that enables online conferencing, business discussions and the signature of agreements. Temperatures at or above the century mark are a rarity in Chicago. The last time OHare International Airport, the citys official recording site, experienced a temperature of 100 degrees or higher was July 6, 2012 more than a decade ago. There have only been 65 days, when looking back through more than 136 years of data kept by the National Weather Service, that have logged triple-digit temperatures. The first was observed on July 16, 1887. When the Tribune reported on how fashionable people solve the hot weather problem, suggestions included reading a book indoors, going on a canoe excursion or leaving town for a cooler locale. The highest temperature on record in Chicago was 105 degrees logged on July 24, 1934, but unofficial results have been even more extreme. Documented highs of 109 degrees during the Dust Bowl in 1934 and 106 during an oppressive heat wave in 1995 were set at other sites in the city. On July 13, 1995, Chicagos high temperature for the day reached 104 degrees during a notorious heat wave that killed more than 700 area residents. That one sweltering week would change the way Chicago responds to and prepares for all emergencies. Heres a look back at the hottest temperatures on record in Chicago and how the Tribune reported them. Hottest day in Chicago history: 105 degrees (July 24, 1934) What the Tribune reported There were fifteen deaths in Chicago which were ascribed definitely to heat prostration. In addition to these there were more than thirty deaths from heart disease and other ailments in which the heat was regarded as a contributing factor. ... The 12th prostration victim was Karol R. Bielawski, 43 years old, 1629 North Mobile avenue, who dropped dead over the wheel of his truck while driving in Ogden avenue near Warren boulevard. ... Although temperatures throughout the middle west and the east were extremely high Monday and yesterday, pilots on the transcontinental air lines reported comfortable weather only a few thousand feet above the ground. One pilot, flying a TWA Douglas air liner to Pittsburgh from Chicago, found the temperature 32 degrees at 15,000 feet and was forced to turn on heat in the cabin for the comfort of shivering passengers. Read more. Story continues Just two days earlier, John Dillinger dubbed Americas first Public Enemy No. 1 by U.S. Attorney General Homer S. Cummings was gunned down by federal agents outside the air conditioned Biograph Theatre. 104 degrees (June 20, 1953) What the Tribune reported Of the estimated 350,000 persons who sought relief at beaches and pools, five drowned, scores suffered heat prostration, and thousands took home second-degree sunburns. Another 150,000 tried to duck the heat by seeking shade trees in forest preserves and parks. More than 300 motorists were temporarily stranded, the Chicago Motor club reported, when vapor locks developed in carburetors. They had to wait until engines cooled off. Some Chicago transit authority buses were slowed because of overheating, but service was maintained. The heat softened blacktop roads in many parts of the Chicago area. Pavement buckled in two places in Lake county route 173, near Channel Lake, and route 134, near Big Hollow. ... It was also the hottest spring day in Chicago weather history, because summer does not begin until noon today, and the warmest day of this year, exceeding Fridays 101.8 degrees. There were only two cities in the country which registered higher temperatures than Chicago. These were Abilene, Tex., and Oklahoma City, Okla., with 105 degrees each. Fort Worth, Tex., and Yuma, Ariz., equaled Chicagos mark of 104. ... In some neighborhoods, adults joined children in opening fire hydrants to get momentary relief. ... Police also were busy on south side beaches, taking care of the 75,000 persons there and ticketing 150 illegally parked cars that blocked entrances and exits. Unusually small crowds attended Lincoln Park and Brookfield zoos. Directors Robert Bean of Brookfield said the animals appeared to be comfortable despite the heat. They are more judicious than humans, and never seek second degree burns on beaches, he said. Other 104-degree days June 20, 1988: On the first day of summer Monday, Chicago-area residents experienced two weather milestones. The thermometer at OHare International Airport read 104 degrees at 4:26 p.m., the second-hottest temperature ever recorded in Chicago. And it rained for the first time in nearly a month. July 13, 1995: From the Department of Scant Consolation: Only about one two-billionths of the suns heat and light reaches the Earth. The rest of our stars blazing energy is lost in space or absorbed by the other planets in the solar system. Thats true day in and day out. But on a day like Thursday, it seemed as though the sun was focusing all of its searing heat on the Chicago area. 103 degrees (July 5-6, 2012) What the Tribune reported Some were elderly. Others lived alone. All had underlying health problems. While many Chicagoans were able to escape the third day of triple-digit temperatures Friday retreating to air-conditioned homes or cooling centers authorities said that over the last few days, at least six people have succumbed to the stifling heat. There will always be some people who are very hard to reach, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said. It could be a person who is down on their luck, it could be a person who has good resources but no one to monitor them, it could be a person who doesnt want to leave their home. Other 103-degree days July 21, 1901: Yesterday was the hottest day Chicago ever has known. The thermometer made a pole-vault for the record, reached it at 2 oclock, slipped back to get a fresh start, and made a flying leap that cleared the record by a full degree. Then, to cap the climax, the mercury registered the hottest evening the Weather bureau has ever had to record in Chicago. July 1, 1956: It was the 13th day this year that the temperature has exceeded 90. The number of days with 90 or higher temperatures is ahead of last year when the all-time record of 46 such days in one year was set. The 13th 90 degree or higher day did not come until July 19 last year. June 25, 1988: Chicagos official high temperature was a record (for June 25) 103 degrees at OHare International Airport at 3 p.m., and it was 2 degrees higher at Lake Michigan. By midnight, however, the temperature had dropped to a cool 66 and was expected to fall even more before dawn. Sources: Tribune research, reporting and archives; National Weather Service Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicagos past. krumore@chicagotribune.com Twitter @rumormill Chien-Shiung Wu in a laboratory at Columbia University in 1958. Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images Chien-Shiung Wu was a Chinese physicist who was instrumental to the Manhattan Project. Wu was awarded the prestigious Wolf Prize for Physics after being denied a Nobel Prize that her male colleagues received. Wu also advocated for gender equality, refusing to adopt her husband's last name and demanding equal pay. Christopher Nolan's blockbuster film "Oppenheimer" largely omits the women and the people of color who worked on the real-life Manhattan Project, instead zeroing in on the white men involved in the US government's atomic bomb initiative. Chien-Shiung Wu is a physicist who broke through both gender and racial barriers in 1940s America, wowing the science community with her significant contributions to the Manhattan Project. Wu was born in Jiangsu province, China, on May 31, 1912, to a family of intellectual revolutionaries. Wu's mother was a teacher who valued education for both genders, while her father was an engineer who also advocated for women's equality. He became an activist during the 1911 Revolution, which ended imperial rule and established the more modernized Republic of China. Wu was especially close with her father, who encouraged her interests and surrounded her with books, magazines, and newspapers. Instead of children's stories, Wu would listen to her father read from scientific journals, according to her biography. She attended an elementary school for girls her father founded. A gifted student, Wu went on to study physics at prominent institutions in China. A female professor encouraged her to earn her Ph. D. abroad at the University of Michigan. When she was 24 years old, Wu set sail for the United States in August 1936. It would be the last time she saw her parents alive: Although her family survived the impending world war, the establishment of Communist rule in 1949 made it impossible for Wu to travel home for many years. The 'Chinese Madame Curie' Her plans to study in Michigan quickly changed after she visited the University of California, Berkeley. There, she met the Nobel Prize-winning nuclear physicist Ernest Lawrence, who, along with other pioneering researchers like J. Robert Oppenheimer, were turning the campus into the epicenter of the Manhattan Project. (It may have bolstered her decision to have discovered that at the relatively conservative Michigan, women weren't allowed to use the front entrance, per Wu's biography.) Story continues Wu quickly impressed her colleagues with her work on nuclear physics. Lawrence described Wu as "the most talented experimental physicist he had ever known, and that she would make any laboratory shine." Oppenheimer himself reportedly said, "Go invite Ms. Wu she knows everything about the absorption cross section of neutrons." (According to her granddaughter, Wu called him "Oppie," while Oppenheimer called her "Jiejie," a term of endearment meaning "elder sister" in Chinese.) In his autobiography, prominent Italian physicist Emilio Segre compared Wu to her heroine Marie Curie, but said Wu was more "worldly, elegant, and witty." But sexism and anti-Asian racism that only intensified after the Pearl Harbor attack prevented Wu from securing a good academic job. She married her colleague Luke Yuan and moved to the East Coast. Wu eventually accepted a job at Princeton University, becoming the first female faculty member in the history of its physics department. Chien-Shiung Wu shown with a "Dr. Brode" (probably Wallace Brode) and a group of Science Talent Search winners, 1958. Smithsonian Institution Archives The Manhattan Project In March 1944, Wu was recruited to the Manhattan Project at Columbia University, where she helped develop the process for separating uranium crucial to producing enriched uranium to fuel the atomic bombs at the Oak Ridge facility. Wu also helped solve a problem involving an isotope's chain reaction that stumped the other scientists. Enrico Fermi, who became the associate director of the laboratory at Los Alamos in 1944, was reportedly told to "ask Ms. Wu." It turned out that Wu's graduate school thesis had been on the isotopes in question, which were instrumental in solving the issue. Like many other scientists involved in the project, Wu later distanced herself from the Manhattan Project due to its destructive outcome. "I have confidence in humankind," Wu said, years later. "I believe we will one day live together peacefully." Wu at work in a laboratory. Robert W. Kelley/Contributor/Getty Images Wu's legacy After the Manhattan Project, Wu continued to advance the science community's understanding of nuclear physics. In the late 1950s, Wu devised a series of experiments dubbed the "Wu experiment" that disproved the "law of conservation of parity," which posits there is a fundamental symmetry in the behavior of things. The findings were groundbreaking, and Wu's male colleagues who had originally come up with the theory won the Nobel Prize in 1957. Wu, however, did not. "Although I did not do research just for the prize, it still hurts me a lot that my work was overlooked for certain reasons," she later wrote to her friend. Wu was later awarded the first Wolf Prize, considered the second most prestigious award after the Nobel Prize, in 1978. Wu and her associates, Y.K. Lee and L. W. Mo, conducting experiments in 1963. Bettmann/Getty Images Out of the lab, Wu continued campaigning for gender equality in her profession, correcting anyone who called her by her husband's last name and insisting on being paid the same as her male colleagues at Columbia. "I wonder," she once asked at a symposium of women, "whether the tiny atoms and nuclei, or the mathematical symbols, or the DNA molecules have any preference for either masculine or feminine treatment." Wu also advocated for human rights issues, protesting the crackdown in China in the wake of the grisly Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. After Wu retired in 1981, Columbia University hosted a celebration "to honor the First Lady of Physics." Wu died in 1997, and her ashes were buried in the courtyard of the school her father had founded. Read the original article on Business Insider Qin Gang (R) served as China's foreign minister until his abrupt removal from the post following an absence that has sparked questions about his whereabouts (Tobias SCHWARZ) Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang was abruptly removed from office this week, deepening a mystery over what precisely has happened to a one-time confidant of President Xi Jinping and one of Beijing's most well-known officials. Here's what we know so far about the dramatic removal of one of China's most prominent diplomats. - Who is Qin Gang? - Qin, considered close to President Xi, was appointed foreign minister in December 2022. The 57-year-old spent several years at the Chinese embassy in London and is a fluent English speaker. Qin earned a reputation as a "Wolf Warrior", a nickname given to a new generation of Chinese diplomats who push back with often inflammatory rhetoric against Western criticism of Beijing. He said in 2020 that the image of China in the West had deteriorated because Europeans and Americans -- in particular the media -- had never accepted the Chinese political system or its economic rise. While serving as ambassador to the United States, Qin stepped up his visibility through public and media appearances in Washington in which he explained the Chinese position. He kept up a busy schedule after his appointment as minister, visiting Africa, Europe and Central Asia as well as hosting foreign dignitaries in Beijing. - What happened to him? - On Tuesday, after not being seen in public for a month, China's top lawmaking body met and removed Qin from his position. "Qin Gang was removed from the post of foreign minister," state news agency Xinhua reported, adding that President Xi "signed a presidential order to effectuate the decision." No reason has been given for his removal. But on Wednesday, the website of the Chinese foreign ministry was abruptly scrubbed of any mention of Qin. The rumour mill has gone into overdrive since Qin's disappearance, with some online claiming the diplomat's alleged affair with a prominent television anchor had landed him in hot water. Story continues And while China's foreign ministry said "health reasons" were to blame for Qin's absence, a spokeswoman later deflected further questions about the missing diplomat. "On the basis of all available evidence, it seems very unlikely this matter is only -- or at all -- health-related," China law expert Neysun Mahboubi told AFP. After weeks of "ceaseless speculation", he added, "it beggars the imagination that a primarily health-related cause would not have been clarified a lot more forcefully than we have seen." - What do we know about his whereabouts? - Qin has not been seen in public since June 25, when he met Russian deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko in Beijing. But it was his absence from a high-level ASEAN summit in Indonesia two weeks later that first raised eyebrows. Qin's absence left a vacuum at the top of China's foreign ministry. A visit by the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to Beijing was abruptly called off this month. And Bloomberg reported on Friday that a visit by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly was postponed due to Qin's absence. - Who is representing China in his stead? - Top diplomatic official Wang Yi -- who outranked Qin in China's political hierarchy -- has taken up the job of foreign minister, a job he held before Qin's appointment. Beijing insisted Monday that "China's diplomatic activities are moving forward steadily". And US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that he expects to "work well" with Wang, promising to "work with whoever the relevant Chinese counterpart is." Given Wang's experience, experts said they expect Chinese diplomacy to carry on as normal -- despite the political drama in Beijing. "I do not expect China's foreign policy to shift significantly on account of Qin Gang's exit," Ryan Hass, a Brookings scholar on China and a former US National Security Council official, told AFP. "Qin was more an implementor and articulator of Chinas foreign policy than an architect of it," he added. "Wang Yi is one of the world's most experienced and recognizable diplomats. He will ably carry forward China's foreign policy." pfc-oho/je/cwl Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, gestures while speaking to Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sept. 16, 2022. Sergei Bobylev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo/Associated Press, File China has been a key ally and crucial trade partner to Russia during the war in Ukraine. Cold War historian Sergey Radchenko argued in a New York Times op-ed that it's unwise for Putin to rely on China. Radchenko said history shows China will flip on allies as needed if it's to their benefit. As much of the Western world has shunned Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, China has served as the country's most powerful ally but relying too heavily on that partnership could spell trouble for Russian President Vladimir Putin down the line. Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have boasted about their "no limits" friendship, driven in part by a desire to curb US power. Xi has largely avoided criticism of Russia's actions in Ukraine, and China has been a crucial trading partner to Russia after it was cut off by the West. China has even been sending the Kremlin enough military equipment for an entire army, according to a report from Politico this week. But Sergey Radchenko, a Cold War historian at Johns Hopkins University, wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times that it's unwise for Putin to put all his eggs in one China-sized basket. "The Chinese Communist Party's approach to geopolitics is rooted in an ancient strategic culture of playing other nations sometimes dismissed as barbarians during China's imperial times against one another for China's benefit," Radchenko wrote. He cited China's actions in the early 1970s, when Chinese leader Mao Zedong cozied up to the US, his "avowed foe," while his country was on the brink of war with the Soviet Union. A senior Chinese official in 1975 said the move wasn't because China had "good feelings toward the United States" but was intended to take advantage of the US conflict with the Soviets. But, Radchenko said, by the end of the decade China was playing the US against the USSR, and had grown closer to the Soviet Union instead. Story continues "China remains the same secretive, self-serving Communist Party state that it was in Mao's day, with an outlook on global politics in which alignments are viewed as temporary," he wrote. Radchenko noted that Russia has become increasingly reliant on China for support, adding that Putin "has made a potentially grave error, burning bridges with the West to go all in with China in reckless disregard for Beijing's track record of instrumentalizing its friendships." Some have argued that, at least for now, China may need Russia too. Jonathan Ward, CEO of the Atlas Group, told Insider's Tom Porter last month that Xi has invested a lot in China's relationship with Russia and that the partnership may be key to his global strategic ambitions of confronting the West. "This investment of personal political capital and broader strategic effort is too substantial to be easily abandoned or lost," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider Qin Gang (above) was removed from his position as China's foreign minister on Tuesday. Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images The opacity of China's government means we may never know why Qin Gang was ousted. Eurasia Group's Jeremy Chan told Insider that "so much remains unknown about Qin's case." References to Qin have already been removed from the foreign ministry's website. One month after he was last seen in public, Qin Gang was removed from his post as China's foreign minister. The news sent shockwaves around the world, but it came with no explanation and experts say we may never get one. On Tuesday, China's state-run press agency, Xinhua, said simply that the country's "top legislature voted to appoint Wang Yi as foreign minister" and that "Qin Gang was removed from the post." Wang, a veteran of the Chinese government, previously held the role of foreign minister from 2013 to 2022. As of press time, references to Qin had been removed from the foreign ministry's website. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider. Because of the opacity of the Chinese government, few people will ever know what led to Qin's abrupt departure, experts say. "So much remains unknown about Qin's case that it is impossible to answer this question with precision," Jeremy Chan, a consultant for Eurasia Group, told Insider. "However, the way in which the government has handled the Qin affair so far indicates that we are unlikely to ever get a full accounting of the reasons for his disappearance." Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore, told Insider that the lack of clarity "is part of the opacity and uncertainty" in China. "I suppose the whole incident is a visible reminder of the arbitrariness of the PRC system," Chong added. However, some believe that the details surrounding Qin's removal could be revealed in due course. "I think at some point, we will hear from Beijing. It is not good from Beijing's perspective for speculation and rumors to be flying so wildly over Qin's disappearance and the reasons for his disappearance," Dylan Loh, an assistant professor at the Nanyang Technological University, told Insider. Story continues "Of course, when and in what form this accounting will take place is entirely Beijing's prerogative," Loh added. Qin had been absent from the public eye for a month Qin's removal comes after weeks of speculation following his disappearance in June. He was last seen publicly on June 25, when he held meetings with diplomats from Russia, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. Wang Wenbin, a foreign ministry spokesperson, said in a press briefing on July 11 that Qin was unable to attend a diplomatic gathering in Indonesia "due to health reasons." Wang's remarks were widely reported by international outlets, but they were conspicuously absent in the briefing's official transcript. There were also rumors that Qin was having an affair with Fu Xiaotian, a Chinese journalist and presenter. Some even speculated that Qin had fathered a love child with Fu, after she posted a photo of her son, Er-Kin, on Twitter in April. Fu has not commented publicly on the matter. Qin's sudden ouster comes at a time of heightened tensions between the US and China. In February, the US shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon and in May, there was a near-miss confrontation between two military planes over the South China Sea. Read the original article on Business Insider China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who has not been seen in public for over a month -- has been removed from office by Beijing's top lawmaking body after just 207 days in the job (THOMAS PETER) China refused to disclose on Wednesday why Qin Gang had been sacked as foreign minister, insisting it was releasing information "normally" despite him having not been seen publicly for more than a month. Qin was removed from office by Beijing's top lawmaking body on Tuesday after just 207 days in the job, following weeks of speculation that the former ambassador to the United States and confidant of President Xi Jinping had fallen out of favour. Asked at a regular briefing about his removal, spokeswoman Mao Ning referred journalists to a state news agency article and declined to offer any further information. "Xinhua has already published information. You can refer to that," Mao said. Asked how she evaluated Qin's brief stint as foreign minister, Mao said she was "probably not the right person to answer that question". "I don't think it's appropriate for me to pass judgment," she said, insisting that China was "releasing normal information" concerning Qin's position. Pressed repeatedly by journalists to provide more details on Qin's fate, Mao said decisions made Tuesday by China's top lawmaking body and the president were "very clear". "I suggest you all refer to that. I don't have any additional information," she said. "China's diplomatic activities are all advancing steadily," Mao added. Any reference to 57-year-old Qin had been removed from the website of China's foreign ministry by Wednesday. A search for his name yielded no results and previous articles about his diplomatic appearances showed a message saying the page "does not exist or has been deleted". But his name did appear on other Chinese government websites, including the State Council, the Ministry of Commerce and state media outlets. Asked about his disappearance from the foreign ministry website, Mao said: "Information on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is updated according to relevant management regulations." Story continues Qin has been replaced as foreign minister by top diplomat Wang Yi. The foreign ministry had dodged questions on Qin for weeks, after previously saying "health reasons" were to blame for his absence. State media gave no reason on Tuesday for his dismissal but one expert said Qin's "digital erasure" suggested he had fallen from grace. "If he were a comrade in good standing who had fallen ill I am not sure that would be happening," China analyst Bill Bishop wrote in his Sinocism newsletter. Neil Thomas, a fellow on Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute, a US think tank, agreed. "Evidence is emerging suggesting this is indeed a political purge," Thomas said on Twitter, which is being rebranded as "X". - 'Totally in the dark' - China remained tight-lipped for weeks about the fate of Qin, who has not been seen in public since June 25 when he met Russia's deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko in Beijing. But that did little to stem an explosion of rumours online, some of which claimed the diplomat's alleged affair with a prominent television anchor had landed him in hot water. "People from the outside are totally in the dark and the episode illustrates that Chinese politics is becoming increasingly unpredictable and volatile, though under a calm surface," Ho-fung Hung, an expert in Chinese politics at Johns Hopkins University, told AFP. Originally from the northeastern city of Tianjin, Qin frequently rubbed shoulders with Xi in an earlier role as chief of the foreign ministry's protocol department. His promotion over more experienced candidates, first to US ambassador and then China's number two diplomat, was attributed to the trust placed in him by Xi directly. And the sudden fall of the so-called Wolf Warrior diplomat shows that no official is immune to the vicissitudes of Chinese politics -- no matter how close they are to the leader, one expert said. "I think the main implication would be for Chinese officialdom, with the message being that no one is safe, however high they may have risen or however strongly they have been supported by Xi Jinping," China law expert Neysun Mahboubi told AFP. bur-oho/je/pbt ANKARA (Reuters) - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed Ukraine with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara and met President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday during his first foreign trip since being appointed, a Turkish foreign ministry source said. China named Wang, a veteran diplomat, as its new foreign minister on Tuesday, removing former rising star Qin Gang after a one-month absence from duties barely half a year into the job. Discussions between Wang and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan included the latest situation in Ukraine as well as the global financial system, the Turkish foreign ministry source said. Russia has expanded its air attacks on Ukrainian grain targets in recent days after quitting a 2022 deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey that had allowed the safe Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain for the past year. The United States and several European countries have urged China to use its influence over Russia to seek an end to the war in Ukraine. Earlier this year, China published a 12-point peace plan, calling for the protection of civilians and the sovereignty of all countries to be respected. During his talks with Wang, Erdogan voiced hope that Turkey and China would intensify their cooperation as both countries play important roles in global and regional issues, Erdogan's office said in a statement released after the meeting. Fidan and Wang also touched on the development of economic and trade relations between Turkey and China, the Turkish foreign ministry source said. Their discussions included "harmonisation of the initiatives of (China's) Belt and Road and Middle Corridor", as well as nuclear energy, agriculture and civil aviation, the source added. The two top diplomats discussed the situation of Uyghurs, a mostly Muslim ethnic minority in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang, during talks in Ankara, the source said. Human rights groups accuse Beijing of abuses against Xinjiang's Uyghur inhabitants, including the mass use of forced labour in internment camps. China denies the allegations. (Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever; Editing by Daren Butler, Andrew Heavens, Conor Humphries and Mark Heinrich) Dear Parent, begins the notice from the school district. Student (insert name here) is transgender. With this new notification policy from the Chino Valley Unified School District, parents and the board of education there have succeeded in teaching their children a lesson a lesson on how to vilify their peers, violate equal protection rights, ignore basic human autonomy and disrespect authority. The school boards recent decision to notify all parents of the presence of a transgender child is a grievous abuse of a school notification system that is intended to inform parents of pep rallies and school lunches. It is an unsurprising and uninspired tactic from a right-wing school board with numerous ties to Christian fundamentalism, inside a conservative county that attempted to secede from the state last year. Opinion When, at the request of concerned students, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond came to the Chino Valley Unified school board meeting last week, he was met with heckling and physical removal at the request of school board president Sonja Shaw. Shaw ordered Thurmond to leave after only one minute of his public comment period, and accused both Thurmond and state leaders in general of proposing things that pervert children. I ask if I am forcibly removed from a public school board meeting as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Thurmond wrote in a series of tweets, how are everyday parents and students in Chino Valley Unified supposed to have their voices heard? Theyre not and thats the entire point of Chino Valley Unifieds cruel, new policy. Shaw and her conservative band of like-minded autocrats clearly would rather place other peoples children in danger of harassment and increased risk of suicide or self-harm rather than recognize the civil rights of those children. Nor does Chino Valley apparently wish to abide by the laws of the state, as established by the California Department of Education and the School Success and Opportunity Act. Story continues The law requires that pupils be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school programs, activities, and use facilities consistent with their gender identity, without respect to the gender listed in a pupils records. It was signed by former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2013. It is the same law under which the Sacramento County Office of Education has based its policy, which is to not disclose a students gender status without that students prior consent, unless it is otherwise required by law. That includes respecting a pupils desire not to inform parents, said SCOE Superintendent Dave Gordon. The idea was that if this came up at one of our schools, school personnel would talk to our students and encourage them to communicate with parents when appropriate. However, there may be situations when informing parents would create a safety concern for the student, Gordon said, and then the appropriate course of action is decided on a case-by-case basis. Californias education and political leaders, however vilified by a small school board, cannot allow segregation and inequality to exist at any level. It is time for Thurmond and Gov. Gavin Newsom to jointly call for legislation that would remove the ability to segregate and abuse gender-nonconforming children and their families. Transgender and non-binary children are not at a higher risk of suicide or self harm because of their gender identity, but because of the stigma they face from society. LGBTQ youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers; and even beyond that upsetting number, transgender and non-binary youth were twice as likely as their cisgender LGBTQ+ peers to experience depressive symptoms, seriously consider suicide and attempt suicide. According to the Trevor Project, more than 1.8 million LGBTQ youth between the ages of 13 and 24 seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S. and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds. We cannot idly allow such cruelty to occur in our public schools, nor allow local governments of any size in California to play political games with the bodily autonomy of our states most vulnerable children. Hun Manet, eldest son of Prime Minister Hun Sen, shows his finger after he casts his vote at a polling station in Phnom Penh on July 23, 2023 (-STR) Hun Manet has an economics degree from England and graduated from US military academy West Point, but there are few expectations he will uphold Western liberal ideals when he succeeds his father as Cambodia's prime minister. Groomed for years, the eldest son of Cambodia's iron-fisted ruler will take over next month in a dynastic transfer long in the making, which sees Hun Manet move from the premier's bodyguard unit to the seat of power in the capital Phnom Penh. After nearly four decades as Cambodian leader, Hun Sen on Wednesday announced his resignation in a televised speech, three days after claiming a landslide victory in a one-sided election that the ruling party was guaranteed to win after having silenced all viable opposition. Hun Manet, already a member of the ruling Cambodian People's Party's (CPP) powerful permanent committee, has served as commander of the Royal Cambodian Army since 2018. Born on October 20, 1977, the princeling graduated from West Point in 1999 and has more recently met world leaders including President Xi Jinping of China -- Cambodia's main ally and benefactor. But the 45-year-old four-star general only contested a parliamentary seat for the first time in Sunday's election, a poll he has insisted was legitimate, while Western powers criticised it as neither free nor fair. - 'After Hun Sen' - While Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-serving rulers, has trailed the handover to his son for a year and a half, he has also made it clear that he intends to wield influence after he steps down, scotching the notion the country could change direction when Hun Manet assumes power. While Hun Sen's politics are shaped by his experiences of revolution and war as a young man during the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s, his son was raised in luxury and educated abroad. Hun Manet holds a PhD in economics from the University of Bristol in Britain, and was the first Cambodian to graduate from the prestigious US military academy. Story continues He has also served in leadership roles in the ruling CPP's youth movement, his father's bodyguard unit and the counterterrorism special forces. But a Western education is no guarantee of a more liberal approach, exiled politician Sam Rainsy, a longstanding foe of Hun Sen, told AFP this month -- pointing to Syria's brutal Assad dynasty. "Syria's Bashar al-Assad is more educated than Hafez al-Assad, but the son is politically worse than the father," he said. Sebastian Strangio, author of a book about Hun Sen's rule, told AFP that so far Hun Manet had shown "little evidence that he will introduce anything more than cosmetic reforms to the current political system". Without his father's backing, it is not clear Hun Manet would be able to make changes even if he wanted to. He remains untested in the political arena, analyst Ou Virak told AFP this month. "The problem is he's been spoon-fed, mostly with a golden spoon," Ou Virak said. Married with two daughters and a son, Hun Manet will assume the role of prime minister on August 22. ss-sco/pdw/dhw Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie knocked former President Trump on Wednesday for having former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at his 2005 wedding to Melania Trump. The former New Jersey governors jab came in response to Trumps suggestion on Tuesday that Christie had tanked 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romneys chances at the presidency over his collaboration with then-President Obama in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Yeah I invited the sitting President to New Jersey during the worst natural disaster in our states history, Christie tweeted. But I didnt invite him to my weddingDonald did you dance the night away with Hillary? Christie included a photo of Trump and former first lady Melania Trump at their 2005 wedding, smiling alongside the Clintons. The former president had said in a Truth Social post on Tuesday that Christie, who praised Obamas efforts to lead the recovery from Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, was star struck by the then-president. Christie was so star struck with Barack Hussein Obama, that Romney, who is a terrible politician and horrible representative of the Republican Party, never had a chance at the Presidency, Trump said. Christie sold Romney out. The former New Jersey governor, a one-time ally of Trump, has positioned himself as a staunch opponent of the former president in the race for the Republican nomination, repeatedly taking swipes at Trump that his fellow GOP candidates have avoided. However, Trump remains the clear frontrunner amid the crowded Republican field, with Christie and the others trailing far behind in the national polls. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. You are here: Business Business magazine Fortune released its latest China 500 companies list on Tuesday, with the total revenue and profits of the 500 companies hitting $15 trillion (107 trillion yuan) and $717.1 billion in 2022. State Grid received $530 billion in revenue, taking the first spot in the Fortune China 500 list, followed by China National Petroleum and Sinopec Group with the revenue at $483 billion and $471.15 billion. The metal products industry has 56 companies in the ranking thereby claiming the largest number of companies on the list. The top 3 profitable companies are Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), China Construction Bank and Agricultural Bank of China, with profits at $53.59 billion, $48.15 billion and $38.52 billion, respectively. Andon Health, a healthcare electronics manufacturer, has the highest net profit rate of 60.92 percent among the 500 companies. The Circleville officer who unleashed his police dog on an unarmed truck driver has been fired, following additional details and video footage of the mauling incident. A Circleville police news release stated in part that "Officer (Ryan) Speakman did not meet the standards and expectations we hold for our police officers. Officer Speakman has been terminated from the department, effective immediately." But the union that represents Speakman has filed a grievance to reinstate him, claiming that police contract rules weren't followed in his firing, leaving the possibility that Speakman could eventually return to policing. The July 4 incident has received international attention, including reaction from Gov. Mike DeWine and the White House. Read More: Circleville police dog mauled unarmed Black man as he surrendered to officers, video shows Saturday rally planned. High-profile attorney involved. Meanwhile, a rally is planned Saturday in Circleville, according to a Facebook page Dismantle Circleville Police. The group, affiliated with Black Lives Matter, is demanding the resignations of top Circleville police officials, a reduction of departmental staffing and retirement of the dog, 'Serge,' to a canine rescue. The Belgian Malinois was trained in Pennsylvania. When released by his handler, Speakman, the dog initially bolted for an officer, not the intended target, Jadarrius Rose, 23, of Memphis, Tenn., who had failed to stop for a vehicle inspection by a state trooper in Jackson County, leading authorities on a chase north into Ross and Pickaway counties and, eventually, Circleville, where "stop sticks" were deployed to deflate the rig's tires Several officers and Speakman called Serge back and pointed at Rose, who by then was on his knees and holding his hands up. The dog finally grasped Rose's left arm and held on for at least 20 seconds before Speakman and another officer pried the dog's teeth from Rose who was screaming on his back. Story continues Prior to the attack, Rose stood with his hands raised, refusing orders to approach the officers whose guns were pointed at him from behind his rig. One of the orders tells him "Come to me. We're not going to hurt you." Speakman was placed on leave several days after the incident. Circleville police have declined to comment on the matter, citing the ongoing probe. The mayor, council members and law director have been unavailable for comment. In an afternoon email Thursday, the Florida-based civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced that he is representing Rose, stating: It is unacceptable for a police officer, while being instructed by other officers NOT to release the dog while Jadarrius was surrendering with his hands up, to do just that. Body cam video clearly shows Speakman lead the canine to attack unarmed Jadarrius who, at that point, was fully complying. Crump has defended many officer-involved incidents including: Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Tamir Rice and Breonna Taylor. He represented the family of Andre Hill, who was shot and killed by Columbus police Officer Adam Coy in December 2021. The city settled the case for $10 million. Circleville attorney Benjamin Partee had earlier this week said that he was Rose's attorney. The Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association has said the city failed to provide Speakman progressive discipline including issuance of a warning, meeting with the chief and other protocols before his firing. A so-called Use of Force Review Board investigated and determined that Speakman's didn't violate specific departmental policy, according to Circleville officials. Other Circleville police incidents On Wednesday, a former Circleville police sergeant told The Dispatch that he and five other officers left the force within a three month span a year ago, citing misconduct, including illegal raids, racial profiling and harassment and retaliation against those who spoke out. The sergeant, who did not want to be named, citing retaliation, is now working for another central Ohio department, said he was pushed into a urinal while using it by current police Chief Shawn Baer and another officer after the sergeant and others had objected to police practices. Those who filed grievances faced other backlash, they say. "It was met with "That doesn't happen. Don't bring it up," the former sergeant said. "It was never about the money. We left because of the retaliation against us based on our complaints against the administration." As for the urinal incident, the former U.S. Marine said "It was the most vulnerable (incident) in my life. It wasn't done as a joke. And by two grown men with 40 years in law enforcement." Calls to top police officials, city council members and Circleville law director's office were not returned. Separately, the family of another man named Ryan Speakman, who lives in Canal Winchester and is not a police officer, has reportedly been receiving threatening phone calls. People are calling my parents house, my brother and his wifes cellphone and making death threats to them, said Ashley Springer, the mans sister. They have three children who are terrified and have no understanding of whats going on. ... It is horrible that they are suffering because of another persons actions. dnarciso@dispatch.com This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Circleville officer fired after video of mauling by police dog Duvall city leaders are receiving backlash from queer activists over their dismantling of a long-standing Pride Wall downtown. Mayor Amy Ockerlander defends the decision was made for safety, legal, and equity reasons. She says the appearance of a flag with a well-known white nationalist symbol prompted the takedown. I am disheartened to learn our community would be the victims of such actions that should be considered harassment and intimidation, said Mayor Ockerlander. Disgraceful displays of hate like this will not be tolerated in Duvall. Roughly a year ago, Carol Kufeldt, owner of Valley Mail commissioned the artwork. Local artist and queer activist Axton Burton says they spent fifteen hours lacing rows of ribbon through the fence around Kufeldts establishment. It was beautiful when it was up, said Kufeldt. The light would hit it and it literally glowed, it was gorgeous. The city claims they own the fence and that Valley Mail never received approval for the installation. After consideration and review by the City Council, myself, and City staff the City was required to take this action to remove all material from City owned fences and public right-of-ways last week, said Mayor Ockerlander. Our hope was to allow the Pride decorations to remain until such time as City Council could develop policy for decorations and displays in the right-of-way on a City-owned fence. Unfortunately, the City had to take swift action to remedy the immediate harms and risks to the community, staff, and public last week. Kufeldt acknowledges the challenges now facing the city but argues theres a difference between free speech and hate speech. However, she believes Duvall officials are trying to do the right thing. They were stuck between a rock and a hard place, said Kufeldt. This isnt something small towns are prepared to deal with. All this hate speech thats been emboldened. Burton was dismayed to see their creation go to waste. They felt blindsided by city officials, arguing the City acted too hastily. Story continues It has been excruciatingly painful and unfair in a myriad of ways, said Burton. I think it was very sudden. I think Duvall leadership may have been dealing with uncomfortable comments. The Mayors office reports theyre currently looking to install a permanent art piece in town that would honor the LGBTQ+ community. On August 15 the city will consider revising its right-of-way policy. Council will meet on that day to determine what materials can and cannot be displayed in the City right-of-way like the fence in question. The public is invited to come and give their two cents. PROVIDENCE A coalition of coastal landowners moved in federal court Tuesday for an injunction to block enforcement of Rhode Islands new shoreline access law, arguing it strips them of their right to lawfully exclude strangers from their property without just compensation. The Rhode Island Association of Coastal Taxpayers is seeking a preliminary injunction in U.S. District Court to block the new law, which allows the public to use the shoreline up to 10 feet inland of the seaweed line. They allege the law goes against 100-plus years of court precedent identifying the seaweed line as the landward extent of the publics shore access and amounts to an unconstitutional taking under the Fifth Amendment. It is the latest shot in the legal tussle in Rhode Island over shoreline access, led by South Kingstown property owner David Welch, president of the Coastal Taxpayers Association, which is described as having about 50 members, half of whom own beachfront property. What are the coastal taxpayers arguing? Charlestown Beach Road still shows some "private property" signage and obstructions. Rhode Island Association of Coastal Taxpayers, or RIACT, sued the state earlier this month through Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, seeking to overturn the law. "While public beach access may be important to state legislators and officials, they may not simply redefine private shorelands as a 'public beach' by the stroke of a pen, consistent with the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment," the complaint argues. More on beach access: Middletown shoreline access confrontation turns into viral video and it raises questions Neronha, named a defendant in the case along with the Department of Environmental Management and the Coastal Resources Management Council, indicated on Twitter that he was up for a fight. "'Get off my sand'? Please," he wrote, adding, "Were ready." A spokesman for the attorney generals office did not immediately respond to an inquiry Wednesday, RIACT argues its members will suffer `irreparable harm Now, the association argues a preliminary injunction to halt the enforcement of the new law is warranted because the group is likely to prevail on the merits of its takings claim, and that members will suffer irreparable harm otherwise due to the laws failure to provide an adequate monetary remedy to compensate them. Story continues RIACTs recent filing chronicles beachfront showdowns in which shoreline rights advocates have intentionally entered onto members beachfront properties in South Kingstown and Charlestown, under color of the law. Welch cited a local coastal activist entering his neighbors property above the seaweed line July 3, while urging other members of the public to join him. When the activist identified in news stories as Scott Keeley approached a private security guard hired by Welchs neighbors, the guard told him he could not set up beach equipment on property inland of the water line. Keeley objected and called the Charlestown police to press charges against the guard for trying to exclude him from "privately owned" property lying between the seaweed line and 10 feet inland, the complaint alleges. An officer from Charlestown told the security guard that Keeley had the right to be there under the law, an exchange captured on video taken by Keeley. Welch argues that he and other members of RIACT fear that they can and will be criminally or civilly penalized under a state law prohibiting obstruction of public rights of way if they attempt to stop people from occupying private beach property under color of the [new law] and will therefore refrain from excluding members of the public from their property in some instances. Issuing such an injunction will not harm the public interest. Since the public never had a beach easement on private property located landward the [mean high water] line prior to the Act, an injunction will take nothing from the public. It will simply return property interests along the coast to the pre-Act status quo and ensure that countless coastal owners do not have their property rights and investments suddenly and unconstitutionally injured, the complaint argues. RIACT, which is being represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation, has requested a hearing before U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Enforcement of RI beach access law could stop as lawsuit plays out For nearly 36 years, the person who stabbed 22-year-old Jacqueline Denise Henry to death walked free. Last week, the family of the beloved Fresno mother finally got some closure. A 71-year-old registered sex offender was arrested on suspicion of killing Henry, after his DNA matched that of the probable killer. Fresno Police Department officers responded on Feb. 24, 1987, to a report of a body found in a field at the corner of Church and Fig avenues. A deceased woman was found lying face-down with multiple stab wounds. The woman was identified through her fingerprints as Henry, a Fresno resident and the mother of an infant boy. Henry had been reported missing three days prior and according to an autopsy report, she was killed three to five days before her body was discovered. She was most likely sexually assaulted and killed just outside the Pearly Grove Baptist Church before being dragged across the street and left in the field, according to authorities. The case went cold after detectives couldn't find any leads or suspects. At this time, back in 1987, there were no Ring cameras. There were no smartphones, said Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama during a Tuesday news conference. There was no ShotSpotter. There were no eyewitnesses. And DNA evidence was brand new. We had no leads to the cases and no witnesses. Although they worked extensively, they were not able to find the killer in this particular case. In March 2009, homicide detectives reopened the case and submitted evidence gathered in 1987 to the CAL-DNA data bank in the hopes a lead would emerge. In February 2022, the department received a letter from the state saying there was a probable DNA match to the suspected killer. Carl Eugene Sears, a registered sex offender, was arrested Friday in the 1987 killing of 22-year-old Jacqueline Henry. (Fresno Police Department) Detectives went back to the original evidence and also obtained a second sample of the suspect, which was an exact match. On Friday, the day after what wouldve been Henrys 59th birthday, Carl Eugene Sears, a registered sex offender, was arrested. Sears was on probation at the time of his arrest. Story continues He was charged with first-degree murder with enhancements for felony murder for allegedly killing Henry while committing a sexual assault, according to Fresno County Dist. Atty. Lisa Smittcamp. He was also charged with weapons enhancements for allegedly using a knife. Sears is being held at Fresno County Jail on more than $1 million bail. He appeared in court Monday for arraignment but his hearing was continued until Aug. 7 for the public defender to rule out any conflicts of interest. Sears was convicted of several felonies between 1984 and 2002, according to Smittcamp. He was convicted of violating a child in 1980 in Los Angeles County and of committing an assault in Los Angeles in 1979. During the Tuesday conference, Jean Whittle, Henry's older sister, thanked the Fresno Police Department and everyone who worked on the case. "Jacqueline was a beautiful child," Whittle said. "Jacqueline was my baby. She would babysit for me. If it weren't for her at the time I was raising my children and trying to work, I couldn't afford it, the childcare. Jacqueline is not just any person. Jacqueline was a very sweet person." Louis Goodman, who was 3 years old when his mother was killed, also expressed gratitude to the Fresno Police Department. "We don't really talk that much about my mom but when we do, it's all good stuff," he said. Connie Meux, Henry's sister, implored prosecutors to seek the death penalty, which is legal in California, but most often used in crimes of special circumstances, including murder. Id like to ask that he gets the death penalty and not just go to prison for life, she said. 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. John Howard Colonisation was "the luckiest thing that happened" to Australia, the nation's second-longest serving Prime Minister John Howard has said. His remarks were made in relation to a historic referendum due to take place this year on Indigenous recognition. If successful, the vote will change Australia's constitution to give First Nations peoples a greater say over the laws and policies that affect them. But the debate has seen a surge of divisive commentary. Speaking to the Australian Newspaper about the upcoming vote, Mr Howard described colonisation as "inevitable". "I do hold the view that the luckiest thing that happened to this country was being colonised by the British," he said. "Not that they were perfect by any means, but they were infinitely more successful and beneficent colonisers than other European countries." He also predicted that the Voice to Parliament initiative would fail to pass, leaving a "new cockpit of conflict" over "how to help Indigenous people" in its wake, while accusing its proponents of failing to sell it to the Australian public. The Voice vote, Australia's first referendum since 1999, was announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the start of 2023. If passed, its supporters say it will lead to better outcomes for Australia's First Nations people, who face lower life expectancy, and disproportionately poorer health and education outcomes than other Australians. But those against it argue - among other things - that the Voice is a largely symbolic gesture which will fail to enact reform, while also undermining Australia's existing government structures. Recent polling has also shown a steady - yet dramatic - decline in public support for the Voice, as the debate grows more protracted. Mr Howard is one of the most influential conservative figures to throw his weight behind the No campaign, but his own legacy on Indigenous affairs remains controversial. Story continues His government weakened First Nations land rights, suspended Australia's racial discrimination act, and refused to apologise to the Stolen Generations - tens of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were taken from their families by the government until the mid-1960s. And in 2007 he was the architect of "the Intervention", a set of policies which saw Australia's military deployed to seize control of daily life in 73 remote Indigenous communities across the Northern Territory. The now disbanded scheme - which was enacted following a government report on the sexual abuse of children in Aboriginal communities - has been criticised as "coercive" and culturally insensitive. Mr Howard defended the policy in his interview on Wednesday as "a good old-fashioned dose of proper governance". He also claimed that if the Voice succeeds, it could prevent the government from intervening in Indigenous communities when it is deemed necessary. Mr Howard's remarks come amid a wave of controversy that has gripped the referendum's official No campaign. This week, one of its leaders faced calls to resign after doubling down on comments that Indigenous Australians should undergo blood tests to prove their lineage, to receive welfare payments. And earlier this month, the campaign was accused of using a "racist trope" in a newspaper ad, after it paid for a full-page cartoon depicting a prominent Indigenous Voice campaigner dancing for money. Senior figures within the No camp's ranks have also been accused of intentionally spreading falsehoods about the vote. Among them is federal opposition leader Peter Dutton, who warned that the vote would have an "Orwellian effect" on Australian society, by giving First Nations people greater rights and privileges. It is a claim that has been further distorted online - and debunked - with social media users suggesting the vote would divide Australians into "settlers" and "original custodians" resulting in a "two-tier government". If the Voice referendum passes, it will change the nation's constitution for the first time in over 46 years. A Columbia man died in a hospital days after a hit-and-run crash on a Midlands road, the Sumter County Coroners Office said Wednesday. Othega Nesmith, 42, was the pedestrian who was killed, Coroner Robbie Baker said in a news release. The collision happened at about 5:30 a.m. on July 18 in the 1300 Block of Myrtle Beach Highway, according to the release. Thats in Sumter, near the intersection with U.S. 76. Nesmith was walking on the side of the road when he was hit by an unknown vehicle that left the scene, Baker said. Nesmith was initially taken to Prisma Health Tuomey before being transferred to Prisma Health Richland where he died on July 22, according to the release. An autopsy was completed Tuesday at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, Baker said. No other injuries were reported. The crash continues to be investigated by the coroners office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Through Sunday, 561 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2023, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,091 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported. At least 18 people have died in Sumter County crashes in 2023, according to DPS data. Last year, 30 deaths were reported in the county, DPS reported. Anyone with information on the collision is asked to call the Highway Patrol at 803-896-9621 or 800-768-1503, submit a tip to CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip. Tips can also be texted to *HP. Exactly 20 days after he was shot in the line of duty, a Columbus police officer left OhioHealth Grant Medical Center to a chorus of applause. Officers from Columbus, Hilliard, Dublin, the Ohio Highway Patrol, Grandview Heights, the Franklin County Sheriff's office and other local agencies gathered Wednesday afternoon outside the Columbus hospital as the officer, who has not been publicly identified, was put into an ambulance to go to a long-term rehabilitation facility to continue his recovery. The officer was injured July 6 in a shootout on Interstate 70 that left one of three suspects dead and the officer fighting for his life. Law enforcement officers from around central Ohio gather Wednesday outside OhioHealth Grant Medical Center as the Columbus police officer injured in a shootout July 6 on Interstate 70 is released. The officer was shot multiple times around 4 p.m. July 6 during a shootout with three men inside a stolen Porsche Cayenne that was involved in a bank robbery on the city's Far West Side. The officer's partner, who also has not been identified, took him to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, where the injured officer underwent emergency surgery. Outside the hospital Wednesday, police Chief Elaine Bryant said the "clap-out" and police escort to the care facility was a much needed day for the Division of Police, which has had multiple officers injured in recent weeks. "Its been tough," Bryant said of the weeks since the officer was injured. "Weve been prayerful as a leadership team. Its been very emotional, but at the same time, it shows us what we can do when we band together." One of the three suspects in the vehicle, Abdisamad Ismail, 19, died at the scene. Two other suspects, Aden Jama, 20, of Reynoldsburg, and Faisal Darod, 23, of Columbus, ran off and were arrested days later. Darod was arrested in Columbus while Jama was arrested at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport while trying to board a flight to Turkey. Darod and Jama both face federal charges and remain in jail without bond pending their trials. A Columbus police officer, who has not been named, was shot in the leg about 4 p.m. on July 6 during a shootout with suspects on I-70 near West Mound Street. Officers were pursuing the three suspects, accused of robbing a car dealership and then a bank. The officer was released from Grant Medical Center on Wednesday and will continue his recovery at a rehabilitation center. In court records, prosecutors allege that on July 6, Ismail, Darod and Jama went to a car dealership in Whitehall and stole the Porsche. They then drove the Porsche to the Fifth Third Bank, 2455 Hilliard Rome Road, and robbed the bank at gunpoint, getting about $90,000. Story continues Whitehall police officers who tracked the Porsche to the bank tried to stop it; however, the Porsche rammed its way out and sped away. Columbus police officers found the Porsche on Interstate 70 east, near West Mound Street. At least one person in the Porsche fired at officers, who returned fire and killed Ismail. Eight officers were involved in the shooting. Columbus police have not identified any of the officers, citing a recent change in Marsy's Law. Body camera footage from the incident has also not been released. The officer who was injured joined Columbus police from another agency as part of the department's lateral transfer program in late 2022. He has 10 months of experience with Columbus police. Since the officer was injured, the fire and police unions held a joint blood drive in honor of the officer. Additional fundraisers to help the officer's family are also being planned for the near future. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus police officer injured in I-70 shootout released from hospital FIRST ON FOX: House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky, said Wednesday he believes the ongoing investigations into Hunter Biden by House Republicans have been given more credibility after a plea deal for the president's son fell apart during his first appearance at a Delaware court Wednesday morning. The president's son was expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax, as part of plea deal to avoid jail time on a felony gun charge. But Judge Maryellen Noreika did not accept the plea agreement, questioning the constitutionality specifically the diversion clause and the immunity Hunter Biden would receive. "What we're seeing today is that the Biden family is under a whole lot more investigative scrutiny than what the media has reported," Comer told Fox News Digital from outside the Capitol. "I think that you're seeing our investigation that's shined a light on the many wrongdoings of the Biden family has picked up a lot of credibility today, because now we see that there are a lot of crimes that this family's committed and that played out in court today." Comer also said he hopes that Republicans in the House were given "a lot more credibility with a skeptical media" following the court happenings. HUNTER BIDEN PLEADS 'NOT GUILTY' AS PLEA DEAL FALLS APART DURING DELAWARE COURT APPEARANCE Rep. James Comer said he believes the investigations into Hunter Biden by House Republicans have been given more credibility after a plea deal for the president's son fell apart on Wednesday. During his appearance in court Wednesday, Hunter Biden was also expected to enter into a pretrial diversion agreement regarding a separate felony charge of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The judge pressed federal prosecutors on the investigation and questioned whether there was the possibility for future charges and if Hunter Biden was under active investigation. Prosecutors said he was, but would not answer specifically what the president's son is under investigation for. Story continues "I said from day one after Jamie Raskin and I got briefed in the SCIF (sensitive compartmented information facility) from the FBI that the FBI said this was part of an ongoing investigation," Comer said. "Jamie Raskin walked out and said that that wasn't true. He lied to the American people. Now, what we've heard today in court for the whole world to see is there is an ongoing investigation because obviously the president's son has committed many, many more crimes." "And the one that was mentioned in particular in court today was the violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Remember, they can't account for what they did to receive the millions and millions of dollars they received from our adversaries around the world. What did they do to receive that money? Nobody knows. At the very least, Hunter Biden was serving as an agent for our enemies for communist China, for Russia, for Romania. He was getting millions of dollars from foreign nationals in these countries. You are supposed to be registered to do that, and he was not. Not only that, he wasn't paying taxes on it. They've lied about it, his dad lied about it." BIDENS ALLEGEDLY 'COERCED' BURISMA CEO TO PAY THEM MILLIONS TO HELP GET UKRAINE PROSECUTOR FIRED: FBI FORM Comer also reiterated that he believes Hunter Biden would never have been able to do what he did without the support of his father, President Biden. "I don't think any of these countries would have acquired his services had it not been for his dad standing beside him, as he says in his text messages, putting his dad on the phone to give his son credibility," he said. Republicans in the House have hammered down on investigations into Hunter Biden's overseas business dealings for months now as they seek to get to the bottom of the matter, which has largely gone uncovered by many major news networks. Last week, an IRS whistleblower testified before Congress and claimed that Hunter Biden and his companies raked in over $17 million from foreign sources over several years, beginning while his father was vice president. The House Oversight Committee interviewed two IRS whistleblowers alleging political misconduct throughout the Hunter Biden investigation: special agent Joseph Ziegler, whose identity was revealed during the hearing, and his IRS supervisor Gary Shapley, who previously blew the whistle on alleged political influence surrounding prosecutorial decisions throughout the years-long federal probe into the president's son. Hunter Biden departs the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building on July 26, 2023, in Wilmington, Delaware. Ziegler told Comer that Hunter Biden, his family members and business associates received over $17 million due to business dealings in China, Ukraine and Romania. Those deals included multimillion-dollar payments to Biden family-linked companies from 2014 to 2019, including $7.3 million from Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings. Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report. A campaign watchdog group is alleging a $500,000 donation to a super PAC backing Miami Mayor Francis Suarezs (R) 2024 presidential bid may have violated campaign finance laws. The Campaign Legal Center said in a complaint filed this week with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) that PassionForest, an obscure, eleven-month-old company whose only known activity involved selling artificial flowers online, purported to contribute $500,000 to SOS America PAC, the super PAC backing Suarez. The complaint claims PassionForest did not have the funds to make such a large donation on its own. It alleges the company was part of a straw donor scheme meant to conceal the identities of the true contributors, violating campaign finance laws. The complaint further alleges the donation may have been made under a false name to conceal illegal contributions from foreign nationals, who are categorically prohibited from making political contributions. According to the filing, PassionForest was registered in Delaware and disclosed a Florida address, but the watchdog said other information suggests the companys principal place of business is in China, and that it may be owned and operated by one or more persons living in China. The complaint asks federal regulators to investigate the donation and seek appropriate sanctions for any violations found. The super PAC told The Associated Press the complaint is an attack intended to undercut the only Hispanic Republican candidate. The Hill has reached out to the super PAC and Suarez for comment. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage The donation was reportedly made to SOS America when the group was operating under the name America for Everyone. The super PAC changed its name last month. SOS America made headlines earlier this month when it offered donors the chance to win a free year of college if they donated $1 to Suarezs campaign. Suarez jumped into the 2024 GOP primary last month, becoming the third Florida resident in the Republican race, alongside former President Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Promise Edwards looked out at the crowd of about 70 people who gathered at the community center Monday night and for the second time in nearly 20 minutes she offered both gratitude and regret. If Jacob would have had one single ounce of support and love in his life that he has right now, we would not be standing here today, Edwards said. In front of her, the seats in Jacob Williamsons hometown of Laurens, South Carolina, were filled with friends, family and people who never knew the 18-year-old. Many wore purple T-shirts or had hair streaked with shades of plum, a color symbolizing support for LGBTQ+ youth. Several never met Williamson, but they had heard his story. Williamsons body was found July 4 on the side of a road in Pageland, South Carolina, roughly 8 miles from where 25-year-old Joshua Newton lived in Monroe, North Carolina. Police have charged Newton with first-degree murder and obstruction of justice in Williamsons death, and arrested Newtons girlfriend, 22-year-old Victoria Smith, in connection with the killing. Williamson had been living as a transgender man for about a month when he went to meet Newton, whom he first connected with online, Edwards said. Police say the killing is not being investigated as a hate crime. His family and friends say that Williamson might not have been killed because he was transgender, but he died because he was transgender. Its a small distinction with a gulf of understanding in between. All of the love and support that Jacob is getting right now in his untimely death could have prevented this from ever happening, Edwards told the crowd. Promise Edwards, a longtime family friend of Jacob Williamson, speaks at a vigil for the teen who was killed in July. He felt shunned by his family, Edwards said, and began living with her, a longtime family friend, near the end of May. Edwards and Williamsons mom, Brittney Patterson-Shealy, have been friends since grade school. But they havent really spoken in months, Edwards said, splitting over Williamsons transition. Everything has become complicated. Story continues She was not invited to Williamsons funeral, which was held last week in Williamsons birth name, because she refused to stop saying Jacob. In an interview for an article jointly reported by the Observer and The State, Patterson-Shealy made clear that she only uses Williamsons birth name and feminine pronouns. Williamson never knew that organizations like PFLAG Spartanburg existed, Edwards says, but it helped organize Mondays vigil with the help of Uplift Outreach Center, another Spartanburg organization that aims to make LGBTQ+ youth feel welcome. I feel that the sequence of events that led up to his death could have had a very different outcome if he had just been accepted from the beginning, said Amberlyn Boiter, president of PFLAG Spartanburg. He would have been less likely to try to find that love and acceptance somewhere else. Williamson was accepted by a small circle of friends and family, but did not feel accepted by the larger community he was a part of in his conservative, small Southern town. And he was still searching for love. The date he expected to go on last month before being killed would have been his first. Candles and notes to Jacob Williamson from friends and loved ones were left on a table at a vigil for the 18-year-old who was killed in early July. Somebodys life is gone Laurens once gained notoriety because it was known as the home of The Redneck Shop, the self-proclaimed Worlds Only Klan Museum that sold white-nationalist and neo-Nazi paraphernalia until it closed in 2012. The town, itself, is named after a former prominent slave trader. More recently, Laurens has become known as the South Carolina city that earlier this year reelected the states first openly gay mayor. It has an undeniable racist past that has led to a legacy of hate, but its also accepting enough to disregard a local politicians sexuality. Nathan Senn wants to be careful to not make connections where there might not be any, so he speaks with long, thoughtful pauses. The mayor of Laurens, a city of about 9,000 people, has been told that Williamsons murder was not a hate crime. In fact, he didnt know Williamson was transgender at first. The county weekly newspapers July 5 headline said, 2 charged in death of 18-year-old Laurens woman. The report was based on the victims sex and name given by police. Senn is worried the focus on Williamsons gender identity overshadows the starkly horrific details of the murder, itself: A teen was lured from home by someone he met online and killed. Because these are such divisive times and because gender identity doesnt seem to be a factor in this beyond just as a descriptor of the person who tragically passed away, this becomes a story that could do more to divide than bring people together, Senn said. And I think the last thing I would want as a community leader is to cause division or drum up publicity as a result of a tragedy. My concern is just that a story that is truly a personal tragedy becomes something thats centered around identity and identity politics, honestly. Ultimately, I dont want to lose sight of the fact that somebodys life is gone. But the stories are intertwined, transgender advocates say. In 2023, 79 anti-transgender bills have been passed across the country, according to Trans Legislation Tracker. S.C. Sen. Danny Verdin, a Republican who represents Laurens County, was one of the primary sponsors on a South Carolina bill earlier this year that proposed banning gender-transition surgeries, hormone therapy and puberty blockers for people under the age of 18. The bill has not yet come up for a vote in the state Senate. Edwards said Williamson came to her house because he knew she would accept him; she is bisexual and has made a point to tell everyone around her that her home is a safe space. There are not many other places in Laurens or South Carolina that make the same proclamation. Boiter, the PFLAG Spartanburg president who is transgender, said she grew up in Pickens County, near Greenville, South Carolina, and understands the community where Williamson was raised. The fact that I was born in such a rural county is part of what kept me in the closet for over three decades, she said. No Laurens elected officials except the mayor have made public statements about Williamsons death. Senn helped secure the site for the vigil, The Ridge at Laurens, but he did not attend. State representatives were invited, Boiter said, but also did not make an appearance. Laurens Police Chief Keith Grounsell was the only visible city official in the crowd. Attendees at Jacob Williamsons vigil in Laurens, S.C., were handed a program with a portrait drawing of the 18-year-old, and a fan featuring transgender flag colors and the phrase Justice for Jacob. Theyve buried so much Regan Freeman, who attended the vigil, had heard Williamsons story reported nationally but didnt know the teen was from his home county until last week. Theyre so committed to making Laurens look like a happy, small-town place to grow up in that theyve buried so much, Freeman said. Theyve buried so much. And thats been the case for centuries. He grew up in nearby Clinton without knowing anything about the racist history of the county seat. When he learned in college about lynchings in Laurens County that he was never taught about as a child, he was inspired to connect with Rev. David Kennedy. Kennedy is the pastor of the New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church who now owns the Echo Theater, the building where The Redneck Shop once operated. Freeman is now the executive director of The Echo Project, the nonprofit working to transform the former Echo Theater into an education center, museum, and community center. Freeman said hes hopeful the center can open in about three years if full funding is secured. He regrets that it wasnt open for Williamson. The Echo Theater in Laurens, S.C., is the former home of The Redneck Shop, which was the self-proclaimed Worlds Only Klan Museum, until its closure in 2012. Its being converted to a museum and education center. We believe we can fight that kind of legacy of hate and of fear, Freeman said. Were making progress, but I am sorry to say that we werent around (for Williamson). People deserve community and they deserve a network. And it just breaks my heart that this happened. Laurens, Freeman says, is still working to shed its past. Its racist history, of course. But also its unwillingness to accept anyone different. The city might have elected an openly gay mayor, but Senn did not make his sexuality a focus of his campaign. He won reelection in a runoff in March by garnering 54% of the vote. Nathan never really made a point that he was gay in this campaign, Freeman said. So thats true that they did this (elected him), but it wasnt like a referendum on, Should we have a gay mayor? It was just Nathan. No black-and-white answers Edwards said she woke the morning of Williamsons vigil feeling sad. She was remembering all the things she missed about Williamson: His goofy sense of humor, his outgoing happiness, his love of anime and his generous, kind soul. By the time the vigil was over Monday evening, after she had spoken for 20 minutes about her communitys need for acceptance and about the dangers of online dating, she said she felt a million times better. When I looked out and I saw all these people here that were just loving, they just gave me a little bit more hope that there are still some people that care, Edwards said. Im proud of the amount of people that came out to show their love and support. About 70 people gathered for a vigil for Jacob Williamson in his hometown of Laurens, S.C., on July 24, 2023. Here, Promise Edwards, speaks to the crowd. But she also was careful to be inclusive of anyone who might use Williamsons birth name and female pronouns presumably, people like his parents. Its all so complicated. When they speak, theyre speaking from memories that they know, Edwards said. And it is not a disrespectful thing. So I ask that you guys understand that all of us have memories, whether that is with her or with him. The vigil served as a remembrance of Williamson, but it also was a clear plea for acceptance of transgender individuals, in general. Speaker after speaker talked of Williamsons gender identity and the transgender communitys feeling of disconnection and otherness. How a political focus on gender identity is fanning the flames of hatred toward a group of people and causing the tragic death of one teen from Laurens to become centered around a singular aspect of who he was. Boiter knows there are still questions about what led to Williamsons death. Because Williamson might not have been killed because he was transgender, friends and family say, but he died because he was transgender. So often people want a very black-and-white answer on things, Boiter said. What she left unspoken is that few things in life are ever that clear. The Chinese government has announced key tasks for deepening the reform of medical and healthcare systems for the second half of the year. The tasks include expanding the availability of quality medical resources and ensuring they are evenly distributed among regions, and deepening reform of public hospitals to ensure that they truly serve the public interest, according to a document jointly issued by government departments, including the National Health Commission. The country will also promote the orderly linking up of medical insurance programs at different levels, advance reform and innovative development in the field of medicine, improve the public health system, and build up the ranks of medical and healthcare personnel, according to the document. There must be a blue moon somewhere, because Democrats and Republicans in Congress are working together on a national security issue. That national security issue? Aliens. Yes, aliens. A House Oversight subcommittee held a hearing Wednesday on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs), also known as UFOs. The hearing generated significant public interest; a livestream of the hearing had as many as 111,000 real-time viewers. Were not going to bring flying saucers or little green men into the hearing, Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett, one of two Republicans in charge of the UAP inquiry, said. Sorry to disappoint about half of yall. Were going to uncover the cover-up. The hearing featured former members of the U.S. military who described their own encounters with UAPs and expressed concern at the lack of government oversight and transparency regarding what they see as a possible national security threat. One witness, a former intelligence official turned whistleblower, has alleged there is a covert government program to retrieve crashed alien spacecraft and that there has been malevolent activity by some UFOs. He also claimed to have personal knowledge of people being harmed or injured in efforts to cover up or conceal extraterritorial technology. (UFO historians have expressed doubt about the veracity of such claims, especially given the lack of concrete evidence.) In recent weeks and months, UAPs have emerged as a bipartisan issue, as lawmakers push for transparency from the Pentagon and other intelligence agencies. A bipartisan group of senators, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, is hoping to advance legislation that would force the public release of UFO records. At the start of Wednesdays hearing, committee members voiced their desire to put politics aside. This is a nonpartisan issue, one member said. This has nothing to do with party politics I think the cover-up goes a lot deeper than that. Another quipped, It shouldnt take the potential of non-human origin to bring us together. Story continues If only Congress brought this spirit of bipartisanship and urgency to everything it does! Of course, U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), a member of the subcommittee, couldnt resist getting a little dig in at the Biden administration. She pointed to the pitiful response to the Chinese spy balloon debacle earlier this year as another example of why Congress must inject transparency into government. On Twitter, North Carolina congressman Greg Murphy appeared open to the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Are aliens real? There are a lot of strange findings in the world - we need to go by the objective science, Murphy tweeted. God surely can work in mysterious ways! In a separate tweet, Murphy said that the probe is an incredible responsibility that Congress must take seriously. The hearing did not, however, provide any concrete evidence of alien life, perhaps to the chagrin of some viewers. That doesnt mean it doesnt exist, and it certainly warrants further investigation. But Congress should tread carefully to avoid fueling conspiracies. We have yet to see evidence for some of the more outlandish claims made by witnesses, and the intense speculation may only lead us further from the truth instead of closer to it. The governments silence regarding UAPs may not actually belie something more sinister. But officials should note how their evasiveness and secrecy only drives conspiracies and public distrust. One might think theyd have learned that lesson after the JFK assassination files, but they must certainly learn it now. If nothing else, Wednesdays hearing was proof of how a once-taboo topic has slowly become mainstream, and a reminder that Congress can actually come together to do its job when it wants to. (Why cant they do that more often?) Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero / The Daily Beast / Alamy The U.S. House of Representatives hearing on Wednesday morning about so-called unidentified anomalous phenomenaa.k.a. UAPswas only mostly a clown show. Ignore the rightwing religious rhetoric from some House Republicans; disregard some congresspersons insinuation that the White House is hiding aliens because it hates America; tune out the vague conspiratorial ramblings from one attention-seeking whistleblower. Whats left, after you filter out the bluster, is a compelling argument for a better system of centralizing, correlating, and vetting sightings of UAPs. Lots of people have seen, or at least think theyve seen, airborne objects they cant explain. Its been happening for decades. Despite the long history of UAP sightingsor, to use older terminology, unidentified flying objects, or UFOstheres no single reporting system. Former Navy Pilot Testifies to Congress About Chilling UFO Encounter Off Virginia Coast Military witnesses to UAP have limited options, Ryan Graves, a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot who had a close encounter with what looked like a flying gray cube off the coast of Virginia in 2014, told the House Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs. The commercial sector hasnt adapted, Graves added. A central UAP reporting system would help immensely, Jacob Haqq Misra, an astrobiologist with the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science in Seattle, told The Daily Beast. Today every military aviator, commercial pilot, or joe schmoe on the ground with a photo or video of a UAP has to decide on their own whether to share the imagery or even talk about itthen figure out some way of sharing their experience as well as the purported evidence of that experience. That dearth of options was at the heart of Tuesdays hearingeven if many of the subcommittees Republican members did their best to obscure the issue. Two of the three witnessesGraves and another former Navy pilot who has had an encounter with what appeared to be a weird flying objectdescribed in detail their strange meetings with strange aerial phenomena and practically begged for someone to figure out a new, better, and more open way of reporting them. Those compelling pleas for action were inexplicably met with responses to our country to take back our country, to borrow Rep. Tim Burchetts (R-TN) unique phrasing. Story continues A centralized, nonclassified reporting systeman app or website with sufficient quality control and plenty of metadatamight allow anyone with a photo or video of a UAP to add their sighting to a reliable database that lawmakers, academics, and the public can tap as they craft policy, conduct research and satisfy their own curiosity. The same system might mitigate some of the stigma some witnesses feel when they try to explain to their colleagues and bosses that they saw something strange. A website doesnt give anyone side-eye. We need a system where pilots can report without fear of losing their jobs, said Graves, whose testimony stressed how common encounters are between pilots and UAPsand how reluctant many pilots are to discuss the encounters. It should go without saying that what Graves described as excessive classification would neuter any effort to create a central repository for UAP sightings. Avi Loeb, a Harvard physicist and noted UAP hunter, argued the government should go a step further and declassify any military UAP sightings that arent yet on the public record. Heres hoping that by allowing scientists to access the UAP data that the U.S. government may have, we will all get a better sense of whether there is evidence for cosmic neighbors in our backyard, Loeb told The Daily Beast. Are We Finally Ready to Admit UFOs Are Alien Visitors? A universal, declassified method of reporting UAPs could let some of the hot air out of the paranoid balloon that hovered over the Tuesday hearing. American people largely believe the government has actively covered up the truth about UAPs, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) said in her opening statement. Testimony by David Fraver, a former Navy pilot who tailed what he described as a Tic Tac-shaped UAP off the California coast in 2004, didnt go as far as Luna in accusing the feds of a coverup. Indeed, Fraver said he was treated very well by his military chain of command in the aftermath of his close encounter. Fraver said his Tic Tac maneuvered in ways no human-made craft possibly could. But thats not what worries him the most when it comes to UAPs, he said. What concerns me, he stressed, is theres no oversight. Patchy oversight does not equal conspiracy. But tell that to Burchett, who blamed the spirit of the devil for corrupting government officials and impeding UAP disclosures. Burchett practically donned a tinfoil hat when he asked the third and least credible witness, former U.S. intelligence official David Grusch, if the administration of President Joe Biden had ever murdered anyone who claimed to have seen a UAP. I have to be very careful discussing any alleged murders, Grusch replied, practically winking at the cameras. His testimony included claims that the government had previously recovered non-human biological remains from crashed UAPs, and that the government has been aware of the existence and activity of extraterrestrial beings since the 1930s. Gruschs insinuation of high crimes and a government cover-up was a distraction from Graves and Fravers valid point. UAP are in our airspace, but theyre grossly underreported, Graves said. In this era of universal smartphone cameras, apps, and social media, theres no longer any excuse for the absence of an unclassified reporting system that can capture a greater share of the worlds UAP sightings. At least one developer, New York City-based Enigma Labs, is working on a smartphone app for uploading UAP videos. But the app hasnt really gone mainstreamperhaps because its a strictly private enterprise without a big government sponsor that would make it the official UAP app. Coming to a Rooftop Near You: A UFO-Spotting Spycam The need for a universal UAP reporting system is only going to intensify. Loeb has been building a network of rooftop sensors that he and his team have designed for spotting and recording UAPs. We want to cover the entire sky at all times with multiple sensors, so that we will not be fooled by just one of them, and classify objects based on their image and trajectory in the sky, Loeb said. If Loeb can find the money and expand the network from its current tiny scaleone installation in Cambridge, Massachusettsto something truly global, the number of credible UAP sightings could grow by a lot. The speakers at the Tuesday hearing were wrong about many things. But they werent wrong that we need a better way of capturing, vetting, and sharing UAP sightings. 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. Congressman Tim Burchett asked a government whistleblower whether he believes anyone has been "murdered" in an effort to cover up the existence of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) during a House Subcommittee on National Security. David Grusch, a former intelligence officer who claims the US has retrieved crashed UAPs and is reverse engineering them, was among three witnesses who spoke to congressional leaders on Wednesday during the subcommittee hearing. Mr Grusch, who described himself as a whistleblower, said during the hearing that he was the subject of retaliation for his decision to go public with his claims. During the hearing, Mr Burchett who laboriously explained that the "Tic Tac" video showing a smooth, white aerial object, was not named for the "Chinese Communist Party app" TikTok lamented that he could not secure a sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) to discuss certain sensitive topics. He then asked Mr Grusch if anyone had been harmed to maintain the alleged coverup. "Do you have any personal knowledge of people who have been harmed or injured in efforts to cover-up or conceal these extra-terrestrial technologies," Mr Burchett asked. "Yes," Mr Grush replied. "Personally." Mr Burchett then asked, "has anyone been murdered?" Mr Grusch hesitated for a moment before saying "I have to be careful asking [sic] that question," he said, citing a current investigation into whether or not he was the subject of retaliatory action for whistleblowing. "I directed people with that knowledge to the appropriate authorities." Later, when Congressman Jamie Raskin asked him about retaliation, Mr Grusch said he was aware of "active planned reprisal" coming from "leadership at my previous organisation." He referred to the alleged intimidation as "administrative terrorism." Mr Grusch has not provided concrete evidence for any of his claims. Conservative legal activist Leonard Leo is refusing to provide Democratic lawmakers with information regarding his interactions with Justice Samuel Alito, who attended a luxury fishing trip with him in 2008 and took a ride on a private jet owned by a conservative hedge fund manager. In a scathing letter Tuesday to key Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Leos lawyer said the congressional inquiry exceeds the limits placed by the Constitution on the Committees investigative authority and is tainted by partisan politics. ProPublica first reported the trip, which Alito did not include on his financial disclosure forms. By selectively targeting Mr. Leo for investigation on a politically charged basis, while ignoring other potential sources of information on the asserted topic of interest who are similarly situated to Mr. Leo but have different political views that are more consistent with those of the Committee majority, your inquiry appears to be political retaliation against a private citizen in violation of the First Amendment, the lawyer, David B. Rivkin Jr., wrote. Rivkin was responding to a July 11 letter, penned by Committee Chairman Dick Durbin of Illinois and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, asking Leo to provide more information about the trip. Leo, co-chairman of the Federalist Society, is a longtime player in conservative judicial circles. A spokesperson for Durbin declined to comment. CNN also has reached out to Whitehouse for comment. The committee is investigating ethics standards at the Supreme Court as a part of its oversight efforts after an array of stories have been published raising questions of transparency at the Supreme Court. In a statement accompanying the letter earlier this month, Durbin said that answers to these questions will help the Committees work to create reliable ethics guardrails at the Court, under Congresss clearly established oversight and legislative authority. Story continues Rivkin said in his letter that the investigation lacks a valid legislative purpose because even if it were to produce legislation, it would be unconstitutional if enacted, violating separation of powers principles. He also noted that in the past, Whitehouse has called Leo the little spider that you find at the center of the dark money web. Rivkin said that Whitehouses remarks were akin to a campaign of innuendo and character assassination that have now moved beyond angry speeches and disparaging soundbites. Leos attorney also accused the investigation of being one-sided, noting that while the committee is professing interest in potential ethics violations and influence-peddling at the Supreme Court, it has focused on individuals who have relationships with Justices appointed by Republican Presidents. Rivkin listed allegations against liberal justices that have appeared in the press that he said have been ignored by the committee. Among those charges is a report from 2004 by the Los Angeles Times alleging that the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg maintained a close relationship with the pro-abortion rights group National Organization for Women, which frequently had business before the high court. He also listed a recent story by the Associated Press that raised questions concerning Justice Sonia Sotomayors use of court staff to coordinate book sales and linked to a Fox News report raising questions about an investiture celebration for Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson that, the outlet reported, was funded by undisclosed donors. None of these incidents has resulted in inquiries from this Committee, Rivkin wrote. Where, as here, the scrutiny of an investigation is aimed at only one side of the political spectrum, it is a fair inference that politics is the motivating factor, he said. Whereas Mr. Leo is now the subject of a congressional inquiry, the many individuals and organizations who have facilitated travel for Democrat-appointed Justices, or exchanged gifts or personal hospitality with those Justices, are apparently immune from the Committees attention, he said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Construction of a new bike trail is now beginning in Old North Dayton. >>RELATED: New biking center to open at Welcome Park tomorrow The Miami Conservancy District (MCD) is building a new bike trail through the Old North Dayton area connecting Keowee Street and Helena Street, according to an MCD spokesperson. This is due to a federal grant of more than $1 million from the U.S. Department of Commerces Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded to MCD in 2021. MCDs contractor, Kelchner, is beginning the first steps of constructing a trail on the land side and on top of the levee. Upgrading the levee that protects the Greater Old North Dayton area is critical to safeguarding lives, properties, jobs, and businesses, said MaryLynn Lodor, General Manager of MCD. Im excited that the Miami Conservancy District will be able to use these funds to protect the Old North Dayton area from flooding by upgrading the deteriorated concrete that armors the Greater Old North Dayton levee. The EDA grant award is being matched with an investment of at least $276,000 by MCD and predicted to retain jobs and generate $5 million in private investment, the spokesperson said. The work includes widening the levee, making it stronger, and providing space for the addition of the new 14-foot-wide asphalt trail. The project is expected to better protect the Old North Dayton area, including homes and businesses, from flooding. NEW YORK A tall construction crane caught fire in Manhattan on Wednesday morning, injuring six people including two firefighters as it crashed into a neighboring building before falling to the street. Officials received a report around 7:30 a.m. of a fire in the engine compartment of a crane operating at 550 10th Avenue in Midtown, about 45 stories up and carrying 16 tons of concrete. Footage posted on social media showed smoke billowing out of the car of the crane, and its arm striking a building across the street as it fell. Pedestrians could also be seen running from the area. Four civilians and two firefighters suffered non-life-threatening injuries from the incident, officials said. One of the firefighters was experiencing chest pains and was taken to the hospital. The area around 10th and 11th avenues between 41st and 42nd street was closed to traffic, and the NYPD advised New Yorkers to avoid it. As you see from the debris on the street, this could have been much worse, Mayor Eric Adams said at a press conference at the scene. We are extremely fortunate, number one, that we were not during the busy time of the day. The site of the collapse at 10th Avenue and 41st street is close to the Port Authority Bus Terminal and an entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel to New Jersey. Both reported delays on Wednesday morning due to FDNY activity. We were also fortunate that the men and women of FDNY and our first responders responded in such a manner and properly made the right evaluation of how to look at the fire that we were presented and the crisis we were presented and coming up with the right, effective solution to minimize any additional injuries, the mayor added. The general contractor for the project under construction, intended to be a 54-story, mixed-use building, is Monadnock Construction, said Jimmy Oddo, commissioner of the Department of Buildings. Oddo said Monadnock was responsible for an earlier unrelated incident at the site in which they hit a ConEd vault while they were doing excavation. Story continues The crane that collapsed was owned by New York Crane & Equipment Corp., a firm founded by the late James Lomma, whose cranes were involved in other accidents going back more than a decade. Lomma was the owner of a crane that collapsed on the east side of Manhattan in March 2008, killing seven people. Two months later, another crane owned by his firm collapsed on the Upper East Side, killing the crane operator and a construction worker, and leading Lomma and the company to be hit with manslaughter and other criminal charges. Lomma was acquitted of the criminal charges but was ordered to pay $96 million in damages in 2015 following a civil trial. There was no immediate comment from the crane company. In a statement, Monadnock thanked the first responders for their efforts and sought to highlight its precautions at its worksites. "Safety is a priority for Monadnock Construction Inc. at this and every project," the Brooklyn-based company said. "We are fully cooperating with all regulatory agencies and are available for any assistance that is needed. We are unable to provide any additional details regarding the incident at this time. Oddo said: There are lots of people who are part of the crane operation. Theres an engineer that writes up the plans; theres essentially a general contractor; theres the user. We will be looking at all those folks. Includes reporting from the Associated Press. Cook County recorded the deadliest year for opioid overdoses in 2022, according to the medical examiners office, a record thats unsurprising to advocates and public health officials who said this signals a need for more harm reduction strategies. In 2022, there were 2,000 deaths, surpassing 1,935 deaths in 2021. The large majority of deaths involved fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Opioid overdose deaths in Cook County have steadily increased every year, according to a Tuesday news release from the medical examiners office. In 2015, they recorded 676 deaths. This trend mirrors a national pattern of overdose deaths, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. Opioid-involved overdose deaths rose from 21,089 in 2010 to 47,600 in 2017 and remained steady through 2019 until a sharp increase in 2020. In 2022, there were more opioid-related overdose deaths in Chicago than there were homicides and traffic crash fatalities combined, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health. John Werning, executive director of the Chicago Recovery Alliance, said that local and national systems arent equipped to handle the needs of those who use drugs. We dont provide good, robust services to people who use drugs in any capacity. So they continue to be pushed to the shadows where they will not get aid in the case of an overdose, Werning said. He said its a systemic problem in Chicago that continues to harm families, especially in marginalized communities where theres a history of segregated resources. Theres also underlying issues such as lack of housing or stigma around drug use that affects whether people get help. The Chicago Recovery Alliance wants to increase the use of harm reduction strategies, public health practices that aim to reduce certain health and safety issues associated with drug use. Its not just about promoting treatment but also about giving people agency and autonomy, Werning said. One of their goals is to establish overdose prevention sites, where people can take pre-obtained drugs under the supervision of professionals or access resources, including treatment programs or social services. Story continues The alliance is also working with state and local health departments on initiatives such as Narcan distribution, a lifesaving drug that reverses an opioid overdose. Despite the increase this year, some at the CDPH are cautiously optimistic that the numbers are stabilizing due to the efforts of city and community programs. But as with illegal drug markets, they can be hard to predict. What tends to come next is more potent, more dangerous substances, right? And so when that continues to be the reality that we operate in, its hard to grapple with sort of how we think about predicting the future, said Sarah Richardson , grants research specialist with CDPHs Office of Substance Use. Last year, the CDPH started a program to distribute free Narcan kits at all 81 city library branches. According to Richardson, about 9,000 kits have been distributed a high number that indicates theres demand for harm reduction strategies. Earlier this month, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot appeared on NBCs Meet the Press to discuss the citys strategies in addressing the opioid crisis, mentioning the program distributing Narcan to libraries. I think the good news coming out of Chicago is that were really focused on harm reduction and treatment, Lightfoot said on the program. At the local level, what we have to focus on is how do we help these folks? We get them to turn their lives around. But despite scientific evidence on the benefits of such strategies, advocates and experts said theres always pushback from the general public and politicians who dont completely understand these practices, especially in Chicago. For people who are not in this space, who kind of have been socialized in our world to understand people who use drugs as bad and drug use as bad, you know, you see a program handing out syringes or Narcan and the first sort of reaction is, Well, youre encouraging use, and thats absolutely false, Richardson said. The goal is to meet people where they are, she said. CDPH has various programs such as the Opioid Response Team that focuses on areas of the city with the most overdose deaths and tries to connect people with health services. And last year, a 24/7 opioid treatment hotline launched to provide immediate access to medication-assisted recovery. With all of these programs, Richardson said the focus is on personal interaction. Personal connection more than anything, sometimes is really what helps people understand things in a different way, Richardson said. Advocates and public health experts said theyll continue to push for harm reduction strategies and educate the public about these issues. People dont stop using drugs all at once, Werner said. Its a process and it takes time and we want to keep people safe and alive. vla@chicagotribune.com Two sheriffs deputies in Tennessee yanked a 61-year-old man out of his van during a traffic stop, beat him and then tried to cover it up, federal prosecutors said. Lawrence County Sheriffs Office investigator Zach Ferguson and deputy Eric Caperton used excessive force without a legitimate law enforcement reason against the man while trying to arrest him on Oct. 5, 2020, the Justice Department announced in a July 25 news release. Nearly three years later, a federal grand jury has charged Ferguson and Caperton with depriving the man of his rights, falsification of records and misleading conduct in a five-count indictment, court records show. If convicted, theyd both face up to 10 years in prison on the excessive force charges and up to 20 years in prison on the obstructing justice charges, prosecutors said. Information regarding Ferguson and Capertons legal representation wasnt listed in court records as of July 26. McClatchy News contacted the Lawrence County Sheriffs Office for comment and to inquire about the pairs employment status on July 26 and didnt immediately receive a response. The traffic stop resulting in excessive force According to the indictment, Ferguson and Caperton tried pulling the 61-year-old man over as he was driving a van on Oct. 5, 2020. The indictment doesnt specify why they were conducting a traffic stop. The man continued driving for 3 miles until he pulled over on the side of the road in Giles County, which borders Lawrence County, the indictment and news release says. While stopped and still inside his car, he raised his arms and hands in the air through his drivers side window before Ferguson and Caperton approached him, according to the indictment. Then, the deputies yanked the man out the van, threw him onto the pavement and repeatedly punched him in the head, prosecutors said. As a result, the repeated blows caused the man to smack his head on the pavement, leaving him badly injured, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. Story continues The cover-up Following the beating, Ferguson and Caperton are accused of trying to obstruct a law enforcement investigation by lying about what happened during the traffic stop in false reports, according to prosecutors. Both deputies claimed the man was on his knees when (they) removed him from his van, and that omitted that (they), aiding and abetting each other, threw the arrestee to the pavement and struck him multiple times in the head, prosecutors said. Ferguson and Caperton also claimed the mans upper body never touched the ground during the arrest and that his injuries were caused by punches that Ferguson delivered while the arrestee was still inside his van, prosecutors said. Following the beating, Ferguson and Caperton are accused of taking cellphone photos of the man, according to a Sept. 13, 2021, report by WTVF. The TV station says the FBI began investigating them over the incident. In an interview with the outlet, the mans brother said he was unrecognizable after the beating. On July 25, summonses were issued to Ferguson and Caperton for them to appear before U.S. Marshals no later than Aug. 8, court records show. Lawrenceburg, the Lawrence County seat, is about 85 miles southwest of Nashville. Gardener left in pool of blood after California police beat him over beer, lawsuit says Cop called to help man in crisis instead tased him 7 times in 2 minutes in NY, feds say Cop followed teen home after noise complaint, then raped her in police car, feds say Officer ignored dying inmate in Virginia prison after promising to help him, feds say A body was found floating in water in Biloxi on Tuesday, according to police. Joshua Swoope, 25, of Biloxi, was found in the waters of the Back Bay near Hiller Park, Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer said. An 11-year-old child who regularly fishes with a net at the park spotted the body a little ways out in the water, Switzer told the Sun Herald. In a press release, the Biloxi Police Department said a call came in on Tuesday around 6:19 p.m. saying that there appeared to be a person floating in the water in the 300 block of Hiller Drive. Biloxi Patrol Officers, the Biloxi Fire Department and a Biloxi Rescue Boat responded, and recovered Swoopes body from the water. Authorities are still trying to determine where Swoope went into the water and his body has been sent to the crime lab for an autopsy. Switzer said Swoope didnt have any obvious injuries and estimated he had been in the water for about 24 to 36 hours before he was found. There doesnt appear to be any sign of foul play, according to Switzer. Swoope is understood to be homeless and was likely living in Hiller Park, Switzer said. OTTAWA COUNTY Ottawa County's legal costs are mounting. The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners approved a budget adjustment Tuesday, July 25, of $110,000 transferred from the countys contingency fund to cover expenses from Kallman Legal Group, whom the board hired in January after firing previous longtime corporate counsel Doug Van Essen. The change was championed by members of Ottawa Impact, a far-right fundamentalist group formed in 2021 over outrage at the county and state responses to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The organization targeted seats on the board in November and holds a six-person majority. David Kallman leads the Lansing-based law firm Kallman Legal Group. Since Jan. 3, Kallman has transitioned into handling most legal affairs for the county and the commission. During the commission's finance subcommittee last week, Ottawa Impact founder and current Board Chair Joe Moss cited a spike in Freedom of Information Act requests as one reason KLG's billable hours have increased. He also referenced two separate lawsuits filed against the county earlier this year. But the lawsuit expenses aren't relevant, Commissioner Doug Zylstra pointed out, since litigation costs go through the county's insurance authority. That was confirmed by administrative staff. Commissioner Doug Zylstra sits during public comment Tuesday, May 23, 2023. "I understand that we have more lawsuits, but that's not what's coming out of here," Zylstra said. "If we had more publicly available information at the beginning, we probably wouldn't be seeing this many FOIA requests right now." KLG was billing an average of $34,000 in monthly legal expenses to the county. With the $110,000 moved over from the contingency fund, KLG now has the ability to bill for $4,000 more per month. The contingency fund had approximately $750,000-$800,000 at the beginning of 2023. After the latest move, it now has $36,000. Counsel Jack Jordan briefly speaks to members of the crowd before taking his seat Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, at the Ottawa County Offices in West Olive. At last week's finance meeting, KLG's Jack Jordan said the county's contract reviewing process was "quite disorganized," adding an extensive amount of time was allocated to address that. Story continues "We've been in the process of putting together a process," Jordan said. "We've been working through contracts and trying to streamline them." Contracts have seen a high amount of scrutiny this year. More: Ottawa County board tables mental health campaign, declines grant for OCDPH More: Ottawa County unanimously approves plan of organization for health department In ongoing litigation with the county, Health Officer Adeline Hambley claimed KLG attorney Lanae Monera refused to approve a contract extension with My Community Dental Centers for public dental services over MCDC's requirement that an anti-discrimination clause be included in the agreement. The health department contracts with MCDC to provide dental care for children and adults who don't have dental insurance or access to adequate oral healthcare. The contract is set to expire in October. The health department's plan of organization, which was submitted for Moss' approval in mid-May, was revised by KLG three times prior to approval July 11. During public comment at that meeting, several residents questioned the need for corporate counsel to rewrite the document. There were also complaints about changes made between posting the meeting agenda packet and the day of the meeting. #3 Spring Lake Twp: He says he is "dismayed" that the publicly posted document in the agenda was changed after being released. "The fact that you bring this in secret, I cannot view that as a fair, transparent process." Sarah Leach (@SentinelLeach) July 11, 2023 At the meeting July 25, Zylstra questioned the increase in legal funds, and attempted to amend the ask from $110,000 to $98,000 from the contingency fund; he argued the issue could be revisited in a few months and adjusted as necessary. Commissioner Jacob Bonnema agreed. "I think these lawyers' fees are just too dang high. It's upsetting. I think we need to renegotiate these contracts," he said. "We need to offload some of this expense to maybe the clerk's office or somewhere else. Because this is a lot of tax dollars that are going out the door. So we need to consider some options rather than going on this course." We will now discuss the budget adjustments Zylstra wanted to remove from the consent agenda. Sarah Leach (@SentinelLeach) July 26, 2023 Zylstra said previous corporate counsel had a cap on expenses, which is not the case with KLG. "I would be in favor of going back into the contract so that we have a floor and then we have a cap, so we know where expenses are at," Zylstra said. In February, the OI majority approved an extension to the agreement with KLG from two to three years which extends beyond the current board members' terms and now requires "just cause" to fire the law firm. Jordan told commissioners Tuesday that KLG's rate was fair, that he commutes from Lansing two to three days per week to provide services to the county and that he often is the first one to arrive at the county building and the last to leave. "I'm working through my lunch. I eat my lunch at my desk," Jordan said. "There's been meetings that last through 2 a.m. in the morning. But I'm here doing the job I am mandated to do." Jordan said he has been mentoring Monera to take over as KLG's representative at future meetings. Monera has publicly supported at least one Ottawa Impact candidate, contributing to Vice Chair Sylvia Rhodea's campaign last year. Zylstra's amendment failed 7-4. The motion as proposed at the $110,000 amount was approved 10-1, with Zylstra the lone "no" vote. At the end of the meeting, county administrator John Gibbs briefly acknowledged the resignation of deputy administrator Patrick Waterman this week. In separate letters to the board and fellow department heads, Waterman cited a strained relationship with Gibbs and the board's "lack of effective leadership" as his main reasons for leaving. Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage "I value Patrick Waterman's contributions for the eight months that he worked for Ottawa County. I wish him the best in his new position, where he will join John Shay in Wyoming," Gibbs said. Gibbs confirmed Waterman was placed on paid administrative leave Tuesday, meaning he will not perform any duties for the county prior to his separation date. Sarah Leach is executive editor of The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at sarah.leach@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter@SentinelLeach. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: County dips into contingency funds as it grapples with mounting legal costs President Xi Jinping has replied to a letter from students of Pui Kiu Middle School in Hong Kong, encouraging them to make contributions to building an even better Hong Kong and achieving national rejuvenation. In his letter dated July 24, Xi said he was pleased when the students told him that they had a stronger sense of pride in being Chinese after participating in activities such as interacting with astronauts of China's Tiangong space station. Xi said patriotism lies at the heart of Chinese national spirit. People in Hong Kong maintain the noble tradition of loving both the motherland and Hong Kong, which serves as a crucial cornerstone for the stable and enduring implementation of "one country, two systems," Xi said. The president called on the students to gain a better understanding of global trends, delve into the history, culture, and present realities of their motherland, and develop a deeper love for the country and its people. He also urged the students to sharpen their skills and abilities to become capable talent ready to shoulder great responsibilities at an early date. Pui Kiu Middle School was founded in 1946. It is known as one of the first Hong Kong schools to raise the national flag after the founding of New China in 1949. The school has nurtured generations of people who love both the motherland and Hong Kong. private banks The privilege of having a debit or credit card from a private bank in your purse or wallet is reserved for those with a few million pounds in an investment portfolio. Those who can satisfy the eligibility criteria will receive full red-carpet treatment or rooftop treatment in the case of Coutts which has a fully working kitchen and private chef on the terrace of its London office on the Strand. You also get your own dedicated banker who you can call directly and theyll know you by name. Private banking remains the preserve of the very wealthy, however, because of the strict eligibility criteria which differs from bank to bank. High street banks also offer private banking services. Barclays Private Bank offers banking to those who have at least 5m to invest. At HSBC Private Bank youre eligible if you have investment or borrowing needs of 1.5m or more. Santander Private Bank is for those who earn over 250,000 a year or have savings or investments of at least 500,000. Private banking C Hoare and Co requires 3m in deposits and 1m of lending while at Coutts the requirements are a little lower, at 1m of investable assets or borrowing, or 3m in savings in order to bank there. At SG Kleinwort Hambros (owned by the French bank Societe Generale), you need 2m or more in investable assets. Most of these accounts come with hefty annual fees. At C Hoare and Co youll pay 50 a month and at Coutts its 900 a year. But these elite accounts are no ordinary accounts, of course. Theres much more to a private bank than an elite bank account, having a prestigious card to pay with at dinner, and having a concierge service on speed dial. Private banking typically provides a single coordinator for most banking and financial needs. Having a private banker on hand means you have access to other services such as wealth management where they can open the door to exclusive investment opportunities, and lending large amounts for complex property purchases, perhaps. Story continues There are often special events held for clients which could prove good for networking for business or pleasure. Rory Scott, founder of Comparewealthmanagers.com, says: If you just want banking services or the prestige of handing over a private bank card when you pay for something then the annual charges might be more than you need to pay for what you really need. Where private banking comes into its own is when you have complex borrowing needs. For example, if you are developing a property and need to raise funds for the development a private bank can leverage against the equity that you have in an existing property or against your investment portfolio if you have one. Despite the strict criteria enforced to maintain a customer base of high society, you can now access private banking with less than a million under your belt. To become a client at Hampden & Co which became the first new UK private bank in 30 years when it formally opened its doors to clients in 2015 you need 350,000 to deposit or to borrow 500,000. At Hampden theres no annual fee to pay, however clients will pay 30p for each cash withdrawal, as well as debit and credit transactions. Now read: The worlds most exclusive bank accounts and how to get one High street banks High earners also have the option to access premium bank accounts from high street banks promising a superior experience to standard current accounts. HSBCs Premier account is reserved for those with an annual income of at least 75,000 (paid into your HSBC account) and either a mortgage, investment, life insurance or a protection product with the bank. Alternatively if you have savings or investments of at least 50,000 with HSBC UK you can have a Premier account. Theres no fee and benefits include worldwide travel insurance from Aviva for those under the age of 70. This also covers dependents up to 18, or 23 if they are in full-time education as well as winter sports. As a Premier customer youll also have access to a choice of two credit cards, both of which give you reward points when you spend and discounted airport lounge access and hotels among benefits. Barclays Premier account requires a minimum annual salary of 75,000 or 100,000 in savings or investments with the bank. Theres no fee for this account which comes with a range of perks like discounts on travel, dining and experiences such as spa treatments. You will also get exclusive rates on mortgages and savings accounts and access to the premier team 24/7 by phone. To open a NatWest Premier account you need to earn 100,000 (or 120,000 joint income) paid into your NatWest account. Alternatively you can have 100,000 savings or investments or a 500,000-plus mortgage with NatWest. There are three Premier accounts to choose from. Premier Select is free and offers the very basics including fee-free spending on your card overseas and access to the Premier banking team. Premier Reward costs 2 a month and on top of the Select benefits you can earn cashback of up to 10 a month by using direct debits and logging into the app each month. The Premier Reward Black costs 31 a month and for your money youll get a 24/7 concierge service, airport lounge access, and worldwide travel cover on top of the other benefits. NatWest is currently offering 200 to switch to any Premier account, using its switching service. Santander Select is a service you can bolt onto your Santander current account if you pay in monthly income of at least 5,000 or you keep 75,000 in any Santander account (savings, current account, or investment). This is free and gives you access to a priority phone service, access to a World Elite credit card which comes with airport lounge access and concierge services (for a monthly fee of 15). Select customers also get discounted will writing and lasting power of attorney services. Now read: The bank accounts with the best perks (whatever your age) 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. Weeks after Democratic lawmakers forced Gov. Gavin Newsom to make good on a four-year-old pledge to use tax penalty proceeds from fining the uninsured to increase health insurance subsidies for low- and middle-income Californians, Covered California officials announced they will funnel that money into reducing out-of-pocket spending for many enrollees struggling with the cost of care. The states health insurance exchange will zero out some patients hospital deductibles, up to $5,400; lower the copay of primary care visits from $50 to $35; and reduce the cost for generic drugs from $19 to $15. Some enrollees will also see their annual out-of-pocket spending capped at $6,100, down from $7,500. Covered California CEO Jessica Altman argues these are tangible reductions savings on deductibles and copays on top of subsidies to lower monthly premiums that will affect hundreds of thousands of people and entice them to use their coverage. Deductibles uniquely detract people from seeking care, so thats a significant focus, Altman told KFF Health News. California is really grappling with affordability and thinking about, What does affordability really mean? Many people simply do not have $5,000 sitting in their bank account in case they need it for health care. Additional reductions in patients out-of-pocket costs on top of existing federal health insurance subsidies to reduce monthly premiums will take effect in January for people renewing or purchasing coverage during Covered Californias next enrollment period, which begins in the fall. The state could go further in helping reduce patients costs in subsequent years with future budget increases, Altman said. Still, those savings may be offset by higher costs elsewhere. Covered California announced July 26 that inflation and other factors are driving up annual premium rates on participating health plans by an average of nearly 10% next year, the largest average increase in five years. Story continues California started fining those without health coverage in the tax year 2020, establishing its own individual mandate. In that first year, the state raised $403 million in penalty revenue, according to the state Franchise Tax Board. It has continued to levy fines, paid for largely by low- or middle-income earners, the very people the new subsidies are intended to help. Legislative leaders had pushed Newsom, a fellow Democrat, to funnel the tax revenue into lowering health care costs for low- and middle-income people purchasing coverage via Covered California many of whom reported skipping or delaying care due to high out-of-pocket costs. The governor for years resisted pleas to put penalty money into Covered California subsidies, arguing that the state couldnt afford it and needed the money given looming economic downturns and the potential loss of federal premium subsidies which could be threatened by a change in federal leadership. But under ongoing pressure, Newsom relented in June and agreed to begin spending some of the money to boost state subsidies. According to the state Department of Finance, California is expected to plow $83 million next year and $165 million annually in subsequent years to expand financial assistance roughly half the revenue it raises annually into reducing Covered California patients costs. The remainder of the money will be set aside in a special health care fund that could be tapped later. The budget deal also allows the Newsom administration to borrow up to $600 million in penalty revenue for the state general fund, which it must pay back. Penalty revenues are projected to bring in $362 million this year with an additional $366 million projected next year, according to Finance Department spokesperson H.D. Palmer. Covered California board members approved the new plan design last week. They say the cost-sharing subsidies will lower out-of-pocket spending for nearly 700,000 people out of roughly 1.6 million enrolled in Covered California. The boost in funding, which represents the states most significant effort to slash patients costs in Covered California, will largely benefit lower-income Californians who earn below 250% of the federal poverty level, which is $33,975 for an individual and $69,375 for a family of four for 2023, according to the exchange. Bringing down deductibles goes a long way to help middle-class California families struggling with increasing costs of living, said Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, who rallied fellow Democrats to block a plan by Newsom and his administration to keep the revenue for the state general fund, which can be used for any purpose. Atkins added, We will continue our work to lower the costs even more in the years to come. Newsom spokesperson Brandon Richards defended the governors health care record, saying Newsom is committed to ensuring Californians can access health care. In addition to boosting assistance in Covered California, Richards said, the governor has expanded public health insurance coverage to immigrants lacking legal status and is increasing how much doctors, hospitals, and other providers get paid to see Medicaid patients. Originally required by the federal Affordable Care Act, the so-called individual mandate to hold health coverage or pay a tax penalty was gutted by Republicans in 2017, eliminating the fine nationally. Newsom reinstated it for California when he took office in 2019 a key component of his ambitious health care platform. California is one of at least five states, along with Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont, as well as the District of Columbia that have their own health coverage mandate, though not all levy a tax penalty for remaining uninsured. Among them, California is most aggressively trying to lower health care costs and achieve universal coverage, said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at KFF. Even though they may disagree on the big picture of health care reform and single-payer, California Democrats have managed to come together and unify around these incremental steps to improve the current system, Levitt said. Step by step, they have put in place the pieces to get as close to universal coverage as they possibly can. Democratic leaders in the state have faced political blowback for not using the penalty revenue for health care, details first reported by KFF Health News, even though Newsom and other Democrats vowed to spend the money to make health care more affordable in Covered California. Advocates say the deal represents a win for low- and middle-income people. Were excited that this money is protected for health care, and ultimately is set aside for future affordability assistance, said Diana Douglas, chief lobbyist with the consumer advocacy group Health Access California. Advocates want the state to tap those health care dollars to get more people covered, such as lowering health care costs for immigrants living in the state without legal permission. A bill this year by Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula, a Fresno Democrat, would require Covered California to establish a separate health insurance marketplace so that immigrants who lack legal status and earn too much to qualify for Medi-Cal, Californias version of Medicaid, can purchase comprehensive coverage that is nearly identical to plans sold on Covered California. Currently, immigrants without legal residency are not allowed on the exchange. Other states, such as Washington and Colorado, have set up similar online marketplaces. Were working hard to create a system that has equal benefits and affordability assistance for everyone, Arambula said. KFF Health News, formerly known as Kaiser Health News, is a nonprofit news service covering health issues. It is an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. Gavel depicted on a canvas Illustrated / Getty Images Since last fall, experts have touted generative artificial intelligence as both a groundbreaking innovation in tech and a potential threat to humanity. The rapid growth of this nascent technology has outpaced the law, and AI has remained largely unregulated. Some creatives have grown impatient waiting for governments to step in and are banding together to push back against AI companies with a flurry of lawsuits. A growing number of visual artists, writers, musicians and filmmakers argue that generative-AI companies illegally train their systems with their copyrighted work. They are rebelling against the tide of generative AI in court and with mass petitions. "The data rebellion that we're seeing across the country is society's way of pushing back against this idea that Big Tech is simply entitled to take any and all information from any source whatsoever and make it their own," Ryan Clarkson, the founder of a law firm behind two class-action lawsuits against Google and OpenAI, told The New York Times. How have creatives challenged AI companies? AI companies face at least 10 lawsuits from individuals and corporations accusing them of illegally scraping their data to train their systems, the Times reported. Last fall, a group of programmers filed a class action lawsuit against Microsoft and Open AI, the company behind Chat-GPT, alleging that the companies violated the copyrights on their code. Getty Images sued Stability AI in January, alleging that the company used copyrighted images to train its text-to-image generator. Recently, a group of writers followed suit. Comedian Sarah Silverman joined authors Christopher Golden and Richard Kadrey in suing OpenAI and Meta, alleging that the companies used pirated copies of their books to train their chatbots. The authors claim the companies scraped their copyrighted data from "shadow library" websites like Bibliotik, Library Genesis and Z-Library. Authors Mona Awad and Paul Tremblay filed a similar lawsuit against OpenAI around the same time. Story continues For artists and writers who are on their own, lawsuits can be both time-consuming and expensive. "Fighting back against AI systems has meant rethinking where they publish," the Times added. After a group of fan-fiction writers found that ChatGPT was mimicking the style of their stories posted on the fan-fiction database Archive of Our Own, they removed their content and "wrote subversive content to mislead the AI scrapers." Over 9,000 authors signed an open letter from The Authors Guild that called out the "inherent injustice" in generative-AI companies "exploiting" their work without consent or compensation. The authors include Margaret Atwood, James Patterson and Jodi Picoult. How could this shape the future of generative AI? The spate of lawsuits and proposed regulations could "pose the biggest barrier yet" to the integration of AI tools, The Washington Post stated. Eventually, AI companies will rely on more curated data sets for training. The current practice of scraping unfiltered data from the internet will seem archaic," Margaret Mitchell, the chief ethics scientist at AI startup Hugging Face, told the Post. The system needs to change, and it's "unfortunate that it needs to change via lawsuits, but that is often how tech operates," Mitchell added. She also said she wouldn't be surprised if the lawsuits or new regulations forced OpenAI to delete one of its models by the end of the year. The New York Times pointed out that the "data protests may have little effect in the long run." The "deep-pocketed tech giants" already have a ton of "proprietary information and have the resources to license more," the outlet added. However, "as the era of easy-to-scrape content comes to a close," smaller companies might have difficulty getting enough data to train their systems, the Times opined. Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, a Responsible AI Fellow at Harvard University, told NPR that there's a lot of talk about regulations, but nothing concrete has come out yet. Whatever happens, the path forward won't be easy. "Some of it will be litigated, some of it will be regulated, and some of it people will literally just have to shout until we're heard," she said. 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 District Attorney Steve Mulroy speaks to the press after a hearing where the five former Memphis police officers charged for their involvement in the beating of Tyre Nichols plead not guilty at the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center in Memphis, on Friday, February 17, 2023. Local, state and federal leaders, along with law enforcement, will meet in late August at a crime summit hosted by Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, his office announced in a press release. The summit is slated for Aug. 31 and open to the public. The location is unknown. In the press release, the DA's office called the summit a "collaborative, strategic planning session" that will help lay out objectives in halting violent crime in Shelby County. "We're in a crime crisis," Mulroy said in the press release. "And the only way to reduce crime is for everyone to work together. The summit's goal is to create a space for law enforcement, city and county leaders and the DA's office to brainstorm and leave with three to five objectives to which we can all commit." Multiple public officials have already confirmed they will attend, including Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz, Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon, State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis), Representative John Gillespie (R-Memphis), U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee Tyreece Miller, Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner and leaders from the Memphis Police Department. Where crime in Memphis stands now Crime rates throughout Memphis and Shelby County are up through the first half of 2023, early reporting data from the Memphis Shelby County Crime Commission indicated. In Memphis, the violent crime rate is up 6.7% and the property crime rate is up 37.8%. In the county, which does not include data from Memphis, violent and property crime rates increased 4.9% and 35.1%, respectively. More: Crime rates slow through June, still up from 2022, crime commission data shows Those numbers, although still indicating a higher crime rate than this time in 2022, are lower than crime data the commission released through the first quarter of 2023. The increase in property crime has largely been driven by vehicle thefts in both the city and county. Robberies seem to drive the increase in violent crime in Shelby County and a combination of robberies and murders drove the increased violent crime rate in the city. Story continues Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland absent from list of officials expected to attend The DA's office added that there are "more attendees expected to confirm," but notably absent from the list of officials expected to be present is Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, who in recent months has been critical of the Shelby County district attorney. Strickland, in a phone interview Tuesday with The Commercial Appeal about how his weekly email portrayed a shooting case that was dismissed by the DA's office, said he had not received an invitation to the summit. When asked if the district attorney had extended an invite to Strickland, Erica Williams, the communications director for the district attorney's office, said the mayor had not returned Mulroy's phone call or text. "The invites consisted of the DA reaching out by phone," Williams said in an email. "After he couldn't reach Strickland by phone, the DA texted, asking him to call. While the invite was not specified in the text, the mayor has not responded." Mulroy, during his Tuesday morning press availability, said in the past he had tried to call Strickland to issue a correction about his weekly emails, but was unable to get a response. In that Tuesday interview, Strickland told The CA there was not a disconnect between the city mayor's office and the DA's office, saying "I think it's all a difference in philosophy." Lucas Finton is a criminal justice reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com and followed on Twitter @LucasFinton. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Crime summit to bring local, state, federal officials together in Memphis More than 200 people made their thoughts on a proposed Nipomo housing development known during a town hall meeting Monday evening, with most attendees voicing vocal opposition to the project. Developer Nick Tompkins attended the meeting, hosted by the South County Advisory Council at Nipomo High School, to discuss changes to the proposed Dana Reserve housing development ahead of the projects final environmental impact report. Tompkins, owner of development company NKT Commercial, presented the final version of the project, which incorporated feedback from local governments and residents after a lengthy review process. Getting a project like Dana Reserve approved in todays regulatory process is much akin to going to the dentist to have a tooth pulled, Tompkins said. The cost is worth the time, the capital and the effort as the need especially today is so great. At Mondays meeting, many Nipomo residents expressed concern about the 1,318-home project located near Willow Road and Highway 101 and its impacts to the local ecosystem. Others said it will provide much-needed workforce housing. Heres how the project changed and what Nipomo residents had to say about it ahead of its final environmental impact report. How have plans for Nipomo housing development changed? With a final environmental impact report for the Dana Reserve project on the horizon, Tompkins presented an overview of the development in its most recent form. The most recent form of the development features some modifications to meet the requests of neighbors. The 288-acre project would consist of 1,318 units 29 more units than the previous version of the project spread across 10 neighborhoods, Tompkins said during the meeting. Neighborhoods 1, 2, 10A and 10B are planned for the area nearest to the planned commercial center and flexible commercial zone bordering the west side of Highway 101, Tompkins said. All four would consist of mult-family housing of different types, Tompkins said. Story continues Peoples Self-Help Housing, a Central Coast nonprofit housing organization, will construct 104 homes in Neighborhoods 10A and 10B, while Neighborhood 1 and 2 will feature a total of 383 apartment-style townhomes, Tompkins said. These townhomes would be the most affordable homes in the development, with the Peoples Self-Help Housing units charging 30% of the residents incomes and rent in the dwellings in Neighborhoods 1 and 2 between $600 and $1,200 a month, the developer said. Neighborhood 3, consisting of 124 two-story homes built in four-packs on smaller lots, would be the next most affordable part of the development, Tompkins said. Its the only so-called cluster lot proposed for the property. A 75-foot buffer was added to the south side of Neighborhood 3 to separate the Dana Reserve development from existing neighborhoods off of Sandydale Drive, Tompkins said. Neighborhoods 4, 5 and 6, which would be located at the center of the development, would feature lot sizes between 4,000 and 5,000 square feet, and would consist of a total of 290 units. Some single-family homes will have enough space on their lots for accessory dwelling units. The number of ADUs, Tompkins said, could number as many as 154, though he said that adoption and usage of ADUs is a complete dart throw. NKT Commercial owner and developer Nick Tompkins speaks at the South County Advisory Councils town hall meeting on the proposed Dana Reserve housing development in Nipomo. Supporters and opponents of the project were given a chance to share their thoughts about the project. Units in Neighborhoods 1 through 6 are expected to retail at about $470,000 to $670,000 each, Tompkins said in November. One new aspect of the plan is a matching down payment assistance program that would be administered by Peoples Self-Help Housing, Tompkins said. This program would use a $3.2 million donation to the Community Foundation of San Luis Obispo County to provide up to $32,000 in down payment assistance to buyers with demonstrated financial need, Tompkins said. If your life goes upside down and the housing market collapses, you never have to pay it back, and it doesnt mean your credit or anything, Tompkins told The Tribune on June 29 prior to the town hall meeting. However, if you do sell your home and you havent been wiped out, and theres dollars leftover, then you pay it back to the Community Foundation, and the idea behind that is then they can lend it out on other projects under the same scenario, not just here, but around the county. Another change concerns the highest-value homes in the development, found in Neighborhoods 7, 8 and 9, Tompkins said. These homes would be constructed by Shea Homes, which built the Trilogy at Monarch Dunes development in Nipomo, and are expected to sit on lots between 4,500 and 10,000 square feet, costing between $1 million and $1.2 million, Tompkins said in November. These homes are now restricted to home buyers over the age of 55, a decision Tompkins said was made to reduce impacts on local schools and vehicle miles traveled to and from the development, as older buyers are less likely to have children or use the roads at peak hours. Infrastructure upgrades for water, fiber-optic internet and roadways are still planned should the project move forward, Tompkins said. Other changes included adding 7.5 miles of equestrian trails to the project and converting the developments proposed active park to a passive park to save on maintenance costs, Tompkins said. Active parks typically require development and facilities for team activities, where passive parks take a low-development, open-space approach. Nick Tompkins of NKT Commercial leads a tour of the Dana Reserve site between Willow Road and Sandydale Drive and Highway 101 in Nipomo. The proposed housing development calls for 1,270 homes on 288 acres. Supporters: SLO County businesses held back by lack of homes Adam Verdin, owner of Old Juans Cantina in Oceano, was among the community members who attended Mondays meeting to show support for the project. Verdins family has owned the restaurant for 47 years, but began experiencing difficulties with rehiring employees when COVID-19 lockdown procedures started to scale back in early 2021, Verdin said. That was largely because there isnt enough housing in the area to support the staff, he said. We employ between 50 and 55 employees both full-time and part-time, and we have eight employees right now that live in Santa Maria or Orcutt that are traveling to Oceano for work, Verdin told The Tribune during Mondays meeting. Were just one business. I have to think theres other businesses in similar positions. Verdin said Dana Reserves model of introducing more workforce and affordable housing was promising, even though the prices for the homes would still be competitive. I would think that for the success of our business, and other small businesses like ours, we need housing, Verdin said. Nick Tompkins of NKT Commercial leads a tour of the proposed Dana Reserve housing development between Willow Road and Sandydale Drive and Highway 101 in Nipomo on July 6, 2022. Another industry that has been hurt by lack of housing in the Nipomo area is the hospital and medical sector, Arroyo Grande Community Hospital chief administrative officer Ken Dalebout said during Mondays meeting. Dalebout said the hospital systems closest to Nipomo have struggled to fill positions with quality staff. Its not uncommon for physicians or medical professionals to turn down offers from Arroyo Grande Community Hospital and other Dignity Health locations due to the high cost of living in Nipomo, Dalebout said. The economic forecast for this area is to increase population, and without adequate housing, we will not be able to sustain the health care system, Dalebout said during the meeting. Without adequate housing, we will not be able to recruit people to take care of the population. In addition to staffing problems, health outcomes tend to be better in regions with adequate housing, Dalebout said. Theres abundant research, and all of us in this room have lived the experience that theres a direct relationship between having adequate housing and having healthy communities, Dalebout said. Where there is inadequate housing for a community, the residents have poor outcomes. High costs of living have already caused some local workers to reconsider whether Nipomo is feasible as a long-term place to live, other speakers said at the meeting. After he and his wife got their degrees at Cal Poly, Clayton Carlson said they decided to settle down in Nipomo, hoping it would be more affordable than other San Luis Obispo County cities. Carlson, an agriculture mechanics teacher at Nipomo High School, said he and his wife were long-term renters in Nipomo for several years. When the time came to look for a home they could purchase, he added, they couldnt find any housing they considered affordable. As a result, Carlson and his wife moved to Guadalupe, where housing costs are less severe. I would love to be close to work, but more importantly, the community that I work in and serve, and I know that my wife feels the same, Carlson told The Tribune during Mondays meeting. I know that not having affordable housing is definitely not an unknown. Many of the teachers here commute from out of area as far as Atascadero or Paso Robles. Nipomo Action Committe organizer Alison Martinez speaks at the South County Advisory Councils town hall meeting on the proposed Dana Reserve housing development in Nipomo. Supporters and opponents of the project were given a chance to share their thoughts about the project. Opponents of Dana Reserve say changes arent enough The majority of attendees at Monday evenings town hall were opposed to the Dana Reserve project moving forward. Nipomo residents who live near the project site expressed concerns about the health and environmental impacts of the development, specifically the removal of around 3,000 oak trees. Tompkins said that around 2.1 trees will be removed for every home built on the project site, while 1,834 oak trees will be left as they are. A total of 1,554 oak trees will be planted on the project site as construction progresses, bringing the total to 3,388 once the project is finished, Tompkins said. Around 14,000 oak trees will be permanently preserve by using a conservation easement at the nearby DANA Adobe & Cultural Center, a local nonprofit dedocated to the legacy of Nipomo and Captain William Dana, meaning 5.6 times as many trees will be preserved than destroyed, Tompkins said. However, opponents of the project said preserving trees is not the same as keeping the current ecosystem the way it is. Lets start with the name: Dana Reserve, said one resident during public comment. It is not a reserve. It is land destruction. This name is Orwellian. This is a plan to slaughter ecosystems, including the open woodland, and it would result in maximum harm to present occupants. Alison Martinez, co-chair of the anti-Dana Reserve nonprofit Nipomo Action Committee, said the projects environmental impacts cannot be offset. Martinez said the Nipomo Action Committees petition to stop the development have amassed around 4,000 signatures, which would be around 25% of Nipomos population assuming all signers are Nipomo residents. We know the county needs housing surely there could be a balance between housing and protecting the environment, Martinez said during public comment. Why cut down 3,000 oak trees? Though the newest version of the plan proposes to preserve more trees, Martinez said the project still doesnt do enough to protect the current ecosystem. The restriction of Neighborhoods 7, 8 and 9 to buyers over 55 was a good step, she said, but ultimately not enough to offset the estimated 900 students that could attend Nipomo schools if the project is built. Martinez said she was disappointed with the lack of communication between the county government and the NAC on the projects outlook, and said the project is being pushed through without real community input. She pointed to the 25-day time period between the release of the final environmental impact report and San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission meetings on the project next month as an example of feedback not being taken into consideration. We need to come back and get a compromise with the project, Martinez told The Tribune. It sounds like thats what the community wants. Whats next for Dana Reserve? The Dana Reserve projects final environmental impact report will be released Aug. 4, and will be heard by the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission Aug. 30 and 31. If the project moves forward, the Board of Supervisors will hold a hearing on it at an undetermined date. City AM has been providing a free newspaper for 18 years In a surprise move, health and beauty retail group THG has bought business newspaper City AM. THG, which owns brands including Cult Beauty and LookFantastic, has never owned a newspaper but has an online publishing arm with two magazines. The free London-based newspaper was put up for sale earlier in July after it was impacted significantly by the pandemic and a reduction in commuters. City AM co-founder Lawson Muncaster said the deal was "brilliant news." Mr Muncaster - who owns a quarter of the business - said the deal would help it develop its online presence, which it hadn't been able to do before due to funding issues. He told the BBC THG's previous experience in online publishing makes him optimistic about the newspaper's future. "We can draw on THG's expertise and given they are a global business this is a chance to get our content out on an international level." Described by Mr Muncaster as a "pro-business, pro-libertarian" business, THG has committed to the editorial independence of the paper and will not be closing the print arm of the company. The deal will secure the future of City AM's roughly 40-strong workforce. Following the deal, co-founder and CEO Jens Torpe has announced his retirement from the business. He said he was "delighted that a business like THG has taken over City A.M. Their digital expertise will be a great asset, so after 18 years I take comfort in the knowledge that our 'little baby' will grow and become more than a teenager." THG founder Matthew Moulding said the deal would help it reach a new audience. "We've long been reviewing opportunities in the disruptive media space but have waited for the right time and the right opportunity to make a digital step-change" he said. City AM, which has been running for 18 years, has a monthly online readership between 1.8m and 2m, with more than three-quarters in the UK, and print circulation of 67,714. Story continues It is distributed from about 400 travel hubs and commuter locations, as well as about 1,600 London offices. The move has been widely seen as a slightly new direction for Manchester based THG, which primarily runs ecommerce brands and platforms for third parties. THG also holds content syndication partnerships with firms including Google and Bloomberg. As our culture war rumbles on, there are hordes of denialists at hand to reassure us that it either doesnt exist, or that it is a mere distraction. Labour MP Ben Bradshaw warns us that we need to resist the Tory culture war, as though it had been concocted by the very party that has presided over its worst excesses. Writing in The Scotsman, Joyce McMillian claims that the SNPs Gender Recognition Reform Bill is being used as a culture-war distraction. Times columnist Matthew Parris insists that the Why-Oh-Why War with Woke is not a real culture war, and if we stop thinking about it, stop talking about it, it will finally go away. Wishful thinking only explains so much. A cynic might take the view that all this talk of distraction is a way to minimise the significance of the culture war, a tactic likely to appeal to those who support the creeping authoritarianism of our times. But perhaps the better explanation is that culture warriors have been so successful in misleading the public when it comes to their methods and objectives. The claim that the culture war is a distraction is, in other words, a distraction. This is not to deny that some tabloid woke-gone-mad stories are frivolous. It is, of course, eminently sensible to shrug off bitter screeds about vegan sausage rolls or reports of young people tweeting about how old sitcoms are problematic. All conceivable opinions are available on social media if one searches long enough. Just as the devil can cite scripture for his purpose, so too a lazy tabloid columnist can quote the Twitterati to confect some juicy clickbait. That said, these kinds of trivialities are often symptomatic of a much deeper cultural malaise. We may laugh at the university that appended a trigger warning to Ernest Hemingways The Old Man and the Sea, informing students that it contains scenes of graphic fishing, but the proliferation of such measures is an authentic concern. It points to an increasingly infantilising tendency in higher education, one that accepts the dubious premise that words can be a form of violence and that adults require protection from ugly ideas. Worse still, it is related to growing demands that certain forms of speech must be curtailed by the state. Only this month, a poll by Newsweek found that 44% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 believe that misgendering should result in criminal prosecution. Such developments are anything but a distraction. What has become known colloquially as the woke movement is rooted in the postmodernist belief that our understanding of reality is entirely constructed through language, and therefore censorship by the state, big tech or mob pressure is fully justified. In addition, this group maintains that society operates according to invisible power structures that perpetuate inequality, and that these can only be redressed through an obsessive focus on group identity and the implementation of present discrimination to resolve past discrimination. This is why the most accurate synonym for woke is anti-liberal. When James Davison Hunter popularised the term culture war in his 1991 book Culture Wars: The Struggle to Define America, he was describing tensions between religious and secular trends as well as alternative visions of the role of the family in society. He was using the term in its established sense, where any given culture war has clearly defined and oppositional goals (such as the Kulturkampf of the late-19th century, which saw the Catholic Church resisting the secular reforms of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck). Hunters application of the term mapped neatly onto accepted distinctions of Right versus Left in American politics, which is perhaps why the notion of a culture war is still so often interpreted through this lens. But our present culture war is not so simple. The goals are certainly oppositional, but the terms are vaguely defined and often muddied further through obfuscation. Rather than a reflection of antipathies between Right and Left, todays culture war is a continuation of the age-old conflict between liberty and authoritarianism. John Stuart Mill opened On Liberty (1859) with an account of the struggle between Liberty and Authority; the only difference today is that the authoritarian impulse has been repackaged as progressive. This would help explain why a YouGov poll last week found that 24% of Labour voters believe that banks ought to be allowed to remove customers for their political views. The idea that defending liberal principles is a kind of distraction amounts to an elaborate form of whataboutism. Contemporary critics of Mill might well have argued that in writing On Liberty, he was allowing himself to be distracted from more pressing causes. Why wasnt he writing about social reform, for instance, or the Franco-Austrian war? Similarly, while some commentators ask why we are discussing climate change during a cost-of-living crisis, an environmentalist might well ask why we are discussing the cost-of-living crisis in the midst of climate change. The extent to which we are being distracted is very much dependent on our individual priorities. That is not to suggest that there are not important issues that are being neglected. Matthew Syed has observed the curious lack of interest in the possibility that we are facing self-annihilation due to our rapidly advancing technology. As he points out, in an age when the full sequence of the Spanish flu can be uploaded online and reconstructed in a laboratory, how long before it is possible for a solitary fanatic to design and release a pathogen capable of killing millions, perhaps billions? And why, Syed asks, arent world leaders devoting time and money to confront these existential threats? Syed writes persuasively, and I certainly share his concerns. But I part company when it comes to his diagnosis of our culture war as a form of Freudian displacement, that the woke and anti-woke need each other to engage in their piffling spats as a diversion from realities they both find too psychologically threatening to confront. Syed is right that there are some who specialise in the trivial, but there are many more who are undertaking in earnest the crucial task of halting the ongoing erosion of our freedoms. The liberal approach to redressing injustices, one now routinely dismissed as anti-woke, has a long and illustrious history. We might look to Mary Wollstonecraft, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King and many others who understood that freedom of speech and individual liberties were fundamental to human progress. Identity politics in its current form is directly opposed to the ideals of these great civil rights luminaries. While many of todays culture warriors promote polarising narratives of distinct and incompatible group identities, the proponents of universal liberalism as embodied in the movements for black emancipation, second-wave feminism and gay rights have always advanced individual rights in the context of our shared humanity. Far from being a distraction, then, our culture war still cuts to the heart of what kind of society we wish to inhabit. While it continues to be misapprehended as a conflict between Left and Right, those of us who are urging vigilance when it comes to the preservation of our freedoms will continue to be mistrusted and maligned. The likes of Matthew Parris are free to assert that ignoring the agents of authoritarianism will make them go away, but I am not aware of any historical precedents that support this view. When it comes to the culture war, apathy is tantamount to surrender. A Rowan County deputy acted lawfully when he shot and killed a man while serving warrants back in February, according to a district attorneys office investigation. Jordan Mays was fatally shot by Deputy Travis James at a home on Thriftwood Court on Feb. 14. No deputies were injured in the incident, according to the sheriffs office. Investigators said Mays, after a tussle with Deputy Adam Dyles in a bedroom, grabbed a gun and began to turn toward deputies. James fired his AR-15, hitting Mays in the head. The warrants being served were for failure to appear, possession of a firearm by a felon, felony probation violation, carrying a concealed weapon, and driving while a license is revoked. Mays was on the Rowan County Sheriffs Offices Top 10 Most Wanted list, the report said. PREVIOUS: Rowan County deputy shoots, kills suspect while serving warrants In their report, the district attorneys office cleared James of wrongdoing. Two witnesses and the four deputies at the home corroborated the sheriffs offices narrative of what happened. The deputies and witnesses said the officers gave multiple commands for Mays to come out of the home. One deputy said they saw three guns in the room with Mays, two of which were within the suspects reach. He said Mays ignored his commands and wouldnt show his hands to be put in handcuffs, so the deputy struggled with him to get him away from the guns. It was during that struggle that Mayys freed himself, grabbed a gun, and started turning toward the deputies. That is when Deputy James shot him. The deputies mentioned the lighting conditions in the bedroom were dark. The medical examiner found that Mays was shot in the head three to five times. According to the toxicology report, he had fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, methamphetamine, amphetamine, and cocaine in his system at the time of his death. The report concluded that the deputies perceived an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death that necessitated an immediate response by law enforcement, and therefore, the deputy didnt violate any criminal laws. (WATCH BELOW: Cleveland County deputy who was attacked: I think his intent was to kill me) An Iowa man was sentenced Tuesday for the 2019 robbery and murder of 20-year-old Tyrel Truss, who was lured to Mendota by the killer and three accomplices with a dating app and the promise of hooking up with a woman. Isaac Ty Helms, 22, of Sioux City, Iowa, was found guilty in April of murder after a 12-day trial. Three female co-defendants, Precious Green and Hannah Haywood, both 22 and from Sioux City; and Alexa Ramos, 23, of Firebaugh, were initially charged with murder and robbery, but prosecutors dropped the murder charges against the women as part of a plea deal. They were sentenced to two to four years for second-degree robbery, but given credit for time already served in county jail as they waited for the case to come to trial. Police said Helms and the three accomplices used a dating app, MeetMe, to lure Truss to Fresnos west side with the promise of a hook up. Truss, who was a complete stranger, took the bait. The defendants plan was to rob Truss so they could get enough money to return to Sioux City. Truss replied to the app and drove to Mendota to meet his alleged date. When he arrived, one of the accomplices asked Truss to give them a ride to nearby Firebaugh. He agreed. As they neared their destination, Helms used a stolen .22 caliber handgun to try and rob Truss. Helms pistol whipped Truss in the head, but he still refused to give them anything. As the situation escalated, Helms shot Truss from the backseat, hitting him in the back and killing him. Helmss attorney Michael Aed tried to convince Judge Brian Alvarez that his client was not a danger to society. He argued that Helms was only 18 when the crime happened and deserved a lighter sentence. Prosecutor Daniel Walters said that Helms committed a serious offense and deserved a life term. Alvarez weighed the issue and ultimately ruled that Helms would spend the rest of his life in prison. The judge offered his condolences to Trusss family memberswho were in the courtroom Tuesday. This is a sad case, just sad, Alvarez said This robbery was to get money to go home and the irony is he is never going home. Graduating midshipmen arrive for the graduation and commissioning ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. on May 26, 2017. On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman ordered desegregation of the U.S. military. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI July 26 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1775, Congress establishes the U.S. postal system. In 1847, Liberia became a republic and Africa's first sovereign, black-ruled democratic nation. In 1908, the FBI was born as the Bureau of Investigation, or BOI, when a group of newly hired investigators reported to the Justice Department. The special unit officially became the FBI in 1935. In 1931, swarms of grasshoppers decimated millions of acres of crops throughout the southwestern United States. The Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off for a mission to the International Space Station at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on July 26, 2005. This first shuttle mission since the Columbia disaster was originally scheduled for launch in May, but technical glitches delayed the return to human space flight. File Photo by Marino-Cantrell/UPI In 1941, Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur was named commander of U.S. forces in the Philippines. File Photo by US Army/UPI Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks to the media after appearing at Belmarsh Magistrates court in Woolwich on January 11, 2011. On July 26, 2010, Assange, said it was decided to post more than 75,000 secret U.S. Afghan war documents on the Internet to give a more complete picture of the conflict. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI In 1945, voters ousted Winston Churchill as prime minister of Britain after five years in the position. His Conservative Party would be voted back into power in 1951, and he would regain his position. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman ordered desegregation of the U.S. military. Smoke rises from oil tanks beside the Suez Canal hit during the initial Anglo-French assault on Port Said, on November 5, 1956. On July 26, 1956, Egypt sparked the crisis by nationalizing the British- and French-owned Suez Canal. File Photo courtesy Imperial War Museum In 1956, Egypt created a crisis by nationalizing the British- and French-owned Suez Canal. In 1984, serial killer Ed Gein, the inspiration for the movie Psycho, dies of cancer. On July 26, 1945, voters ousted Winston Churchill as prime minister of Britain after five years in the position. His Conservative Party would be voted back into power in 1951, and he would regain his position. File Photo courtesy Cecil Beaton/Imperial War Museums In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, prohibiting discrimination against the disabled in employment, public accommodations, in telecommunications, and on public or private buses or trains. Participants march in the Heartland Disability Rights March and Rally on July 25, 1999, to celebrate the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act of July 26, 1994. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI In 1992, under pressure, Iraq agreed to allow U.N. inspectors to look for documentation on weapons of mass destruction. In 2005, the Discovery lifted off from Cape Canaveral in the first shuttle launch since the 2003 Columbia tragedy. In 2010, the founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, said the site decided to post more than 75,000 secret U.S. Afghan war documents on the Internet to give a more complete picture of the conflict. The White House said the deed had "a potential to be very harmful." In 2018, Facebook had the worst single day of trading in history, losing some $110 billion. In 2022, two studies strongly suggest that COVID-19 most likely began with a jump to humans from animals sold at the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China, in 2019. China has experienced significantly less damage from flood and droughts this year, but flood and drought control remains grim due to the high frequency of extreme weather events during what is the country's rainiest time of year, officials said. The situation so far this year is not as grave as in normal years, Wang Daoxi, vice-minister of emergency management and water resources, said at a news conference organized by the State Council Information Office on Tuesday. Compared with the same period over the past five years, China has on average experienced great decreases in casualties and direct economic losses from floods this year, and far fewer people have faced urgent evacuations, he said. The number of people left dead or missing has declined 85.1 percent, the vice-minister said. The country has also registered decreases of 50.2 and 44.4 percent in the number of people and the amount of cropland affected by droughts, respectively, he continued. Wang, however, stressed a complicated, grim situation for flood and drought control as the annual period with the most intense rainfall from mid-July to mid-August continues. "The country is forecast to experience comparatively more extreme weather events," he said, adding that more periodically heavy rainfall, floods and scorching heat waves are expected to occur. He said forecasts show that the country will have to simultaneously cope with flood and drought events in the remaining days of this year's rainiest period. While major floods may hit the Songhua River, the middle reaches of the Heilong River, Taihu Lake and some tributaries of the Huaihe and Yangtze rivers, the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Gansu province will experience periodic drought, he said. He stressed the importance of public vigilance over the next two weeks, as many weak links remain in the country's flood control system. Precautionary measures for mountain torrents, geological disasters and deluges in medium-sized and small rivers and reservoirs still need to be beefed up, he said. Wang Yawei, an official at the China Meteorological Administration, warned that the country is expected to experience more extreme weather this month and in August. During this rainy season, China on average has received 288 millimeters of precipitation, down 10.6 percent from the average amount of rainfall in normal years, he said. In Chinese meteorological statistics, the bench mark "normal years" generally refers to the period from 1981 to 2010. But the nation has been lashed by 10 strong rainfall incidents this year, causing 16 national meteorological stations to report record amounts of precipitation. Furthermore, Wang said 26 national meteorological stations registered record high temperatures in six rounds of extreme heat waves. He said blistering temperatures in some parts of the country are expected to continue this month, including some areas in the Xinjiang Uygur and Inner Mongolia autonomous regions and Gansu province. The highest temperatures are expected to reach 38 C in these regions. Some places may even see temperatures exceed 40 C, he noted. Northern parts of North China, most areas in Northeast China, parts of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and the provinces of Sichuan, Hainan and Yunnan will receive 20 to 50 percent more precipitation than average, he said. Some areas in Xinjiang and the provinces of Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangxi, however, will see precipitation next month drop by 20 to 50 percent from normal years, he added. NEW YORK A Manhattan judge sentenced one of the dealers charged in Michael K. Williams overdose death to a 2 1/2 year prison term Tuesday after hearing from the beloved actors nephew, who asked both for justice for his uncle and leniency for the man accused of selling the drugs that claimed the stars life. Dominic Dupont became overwhelmed as he spoke about calling Williams mother after finding him dead in his penthouse apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on Sept. 6, 2021. The city medical examiner later determined Williams died of an overdose of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. Dupont said he felt similarly torn when he thought about the driving factors that led to an illiterate Carlos Macci selling fentanyl-laced heroin on Brooklyn streetcorners while approaching age 70. When I think about the letters that youve received and I think about all of the challenges that exist for people who have had similar challenges like Mr. Macci, challenges like poverty and substance abuse disorders and a lack of services, Dupont said, I say to myself that those things are real. And I also say to myself, what can we do to assist people who are dealing with those things? We have a responsibility to help people who are victims, he continued. And (people) dealing with these challenges, help them understand that selling poison to people is not right. Dupont repeated some of the life lessons his uncle instilled in him. What is some of the things that I can do to fix myself, to fix my life? Dupont said. Thats one of the most impactful things I ever learned form my uncle dont be me; be better than me. Manhattan Federal Court Judge Ronnie Abrams thanked Dupont for his incredibly thoughtful and insightful remarks, imposing a lenient term of 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Macci must spend one of them at an inpatient drug treatment facility. I dont think people need to be defined by the worst mistake they ever made, Abrams said. You still have a chance to define yourself in a positive way. Story continues Before the sentencing, Macci told the court, I would like to say Im sorry, Your Honor, for what has happened. Macci, 72, who pleaded guilty to narcotics conspiracy in April, had faced up to 17 years in prison. His lawyer Benjamin Zeman said he was a loving relative and community member but suffered deeply from mental and physical issues and had long been addicted to the deadly drugs he sold. He left school in the second grade. He was one of four men charged with drug offenses by the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office over Williams tragic death in February 2022. Prosecutors said Williams bought the drugs from the crew the day before his arrest, and that they continued dealing heroin laced with fentanyl in broad daylight after it killed him. Irving Cartagena, Hector Robles and Luiz Cruz previously pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the case and are awaiting sentencing. A Flatbush native, Williams had millions of fans worldwide who watched him in critically acclaimed shows like Boardwalk Empire and The Wire, in which he played the vigilante stickup specialist Omar. In real life, he was a dedicated anti-violence activist who devoted countless hours to mentoring young people and improving police-community relations. Williams spoke passionately about his struggles with drug addiction before he broke into show business and after he rose to fame on HBOs groundbreaking hit series set in Baltimore. I was playing with fire, the actor told the Newark Star-Ledger in 2012, discussing how he used to score drugs in dangerous neighborhoods. It was just a matter of time before I got caught and my business ended up on the cover of a tabloid, or I went to jail or, worse I ended up dead. In a letter to Abrams before sentencing, the shows creator joined Williams nephew in urging the court to exercise leniency in Maccis case. Mike was always aware that addiction and the impulse toward addiction would remain a constant in his life, David Simon wrote. He spoke of it to me bluntly at points, and he never discounted the threat. At the same time, in all of his address of these struggles, Michael always declared that he was responsible for himself, that the decision whether to use or to cease using would always be his own, he continued. When one of his previous sources of supply not a dealer, but a co-user was discovered to have some proximity to our film sets, Michael insisted that the matter was to be addressed by changes in his own behavior rather than anything punitive to anyone else. I never failed to see him take responsibility for himself and his decisions. _____ For more than 10 years, Channel 9 has been asking the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services why a paperwork problem is keeping food off the table for many families. The county has a near-constant backlog of recertifications for SNAP benefits, or food stamps. In 2013, a new website was to blame. In 2022, DSS said there were significant increases in new application and recertifications. Last month, the department never responded to our inquiry. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: On Wednesday, Channel 9 was told that 3,445 families didnt get their benefits on time because North Carolina stopped processing waivers and is facing staffing challenges. While families do get retroactive benefits once the recertifications get processed, the delay has real-life implications for parents who rely on it to put food on the table. Jennifer Bustle, a Cornelius mother of three, reached out to investigative reporter Madison Carter for help after she said she was blindsided by the backlog. My food stamps always go through on the 17th of the month and they always run out within a week or two, she said. Except that didnt happen this month. If theyre running behind, they did not let us know so that we could kind of try to plan something [or] try to get a referral to a food bank, Bustle said. Bustle recounted her conversation with a DSS employee after she said it took three days to get through. I said, Is there anything I can do? Do you have all my paperwork because I sent in my recertification? she said. She looked in the system and she said, Yes, we have everything we need from you. Were just behind. Youll just have to wait and keep checking every day to see if theres money on the card. Story continues Carter reached out to Mecklenburg County Commissioner Pat Cotham, who told Channel 9s Joe Bruno in 2022 -- shed keep the pressure on the county for a fix. We shouldnt have let this happen, Cotham told Carter. She says county leaders werent made aware of what she calls an emergency with a capital E and an exclamation point. Now, she has more questions for those leading the division. When do you start planning? How many do you have to be behind before you start realizing you got a problem here? Cotham asked. Carter learned the backlog is a constant battle for the county. The department reported facing a high of 8,424 cases in May 2022, but were able to clear the backlog in February 2023. Now, just five months later, as of July 21, there are 3,445 cases currently in need of processing. Cotham shared more answers with Carter Wednesday about how the department is planning to process those cases. Carter was told Mecklenburg County is: Utilizing overtime to process overdue cases, saying there are an average of 50 employees working overtime each month Creating what it calls a power team of staff and supervisors to process overdue cases and address urgent needs Using temporary employees Transitioning 60 staff from a call center to help with processing cases Finally, Carter learned the county is requesting state and federal waivers to help eliminate some of the administrative red tape in processing food stamp recertifications. The State Department that processes the paperwork told Carter in a statement, NCDHHS is committed to working with our county partners who administer Food & Nutrition Services (FNS, formerly food stamps) benefits to ensure all eligible families across the state have timely access to healthy and nutritious food. We would refer you back to Mecklenburg County for information on the amount of recertifications they are processing. DHHS directs families to resources for help finding food near them. The backlog issues that persist have not been resolved in 10 years of Channel 9s coverage. Carter told the department wed like to sit down and to ask some questions face-to-face about what is not working. She was granted that interview Wednesday and is currently in the process of scheduling the discussion youll see only on Channel 9 in the coming weeks. In the meantime, Carter was able to get the following information from a department representative for families with emergent needs for food: Customers who visit our Kuralt and CRC locations with an emergency need for assistance are provided a 2-day supply of food from an internal food pantry and a Loaves and Fishes referral for an additional 7-day supply of food. Loaves and Fishes has a network of food pantries across the community that provide this assistance. (WATCH PREVIOUS: Complaints continue with food stamp delays) House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) on Wednesday dismissed Republican discussions about opening an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, calling the conversations a complete distraction. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) during an interview Monday night said GOP-led investigations into Bidens family are rising to the level of impeachment inquiry, then told reporters Tuesday that actions he sees could rise to an impeachment inquiry. He did not, however, launch such a probe. The comments, nonetheless, have sparked a conversation about whether lawmakers should begin an impeachment inquiry into Biden, which is prompting pushback from Democrats. This is just a complete distraction, and Speaker McCarthy knows it, Aguilar told reporters in the Capitol when asked for his reaction to Republicans now targeting Biden, after previously floating impeaching other administration officials. In the absence of talking about important policies that reduce cost for everyday Americans, this is what were left with, he continued. Theres no there there, but thats not going to stop House Republicans from advocating things that they feel are harmful politically for the president. Republican-led committees in the House for months have been investigating Biden and his familys business activities, with a particular focus on Hunter Biden, the presidents son. Last week, a House panel heard testimony from two IRS whistleblowers who allege that prosecutors slow-walked an investigation into Hunter Bidens tax crimes. Also last week, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) released an FBI document of unverified claims of corruption connected to Hunter Bidens work with Ukrainian energy company Burisma. McCarthy on Tuesday said committees of jurisdiction will continue to investigate, but if the government denies lawmakers information they are requesting, That would rise to an impeachment inquiry. Story continues The conversation about an impeachment inquiry involving Biden comes after Republicans have been at odds over who their first target for impeachment should be. Lawmakers previously floated impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for the situation at the southern border and Attorney General Merrick Garland, citing testimony from the IRS whistleblowers. Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), the chairman of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, on Wednesday called attention to the wide net Republicans have cast when it comes to possible impeachments. The American people understand that this is a political sideshow, these are political games, he said. I mean look, House Republicans three months ago, four months ago, were talking about impeaching the Homeland secretary, then they talked about impeaching the attorney general, now apparently talk of an impeachment inquiry with respect to the president. Apparently, the extreme MAGA Republican wing of the House Republican caucus would like to impeach every single federal official if they could, and I think the American people would far prefer that the Congress focus on real priorities and real issues that are impacting their daily lives. And certainly we will continue to do that. It would be the prudent course of House Republicans to do the same, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The House Financial Services Committee late Wednesday advanced a landmark bill that would overhaul cryptocurrency regulation, in a bipartisan vote that marked a major victory in the digital asset lobby's bid for legitimacy. The Republican-led proposal, part of a plan that the House Agriculture Committee is also set to approve Thursday, would mandate in federal law for the first time how two key market regulators the SEC and the CFTC police crypto trading. The Financial Services Committee approved the plan in a 35-15 vote despite resistance from the panel's top Democrat, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), who blasted it as "a wish list of Big Crypto" and rallied lawmakers to oppose it. Six Democrats broke with Waters and supported the bill: Reps. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, Jim Himes of Connecticut, Steven Horsford of Nevada, Wiley Nickel of North Carolina, Brittany Pettersen of Colorado and Ritchie Torres of New York. "I am confident that this legislation, while not perfect, makes the status quo better," Himes said. The clash illustrates the fluid politics around crypto policy following a boom and bust that revealed widespread industry mismanagement and consumer protection concerns. The House Republicans who drafted the legislation argued Wednesday that it was an attempt to fill gaps in the existing regulatory regime and to deter digital asset firms from leaving the U.S. for other countries with crypto-specific rules. "It is better, at worst case, than what we have currently," Financial Services Chair Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) said. The bill would give explicit digital asset authorities to the SEC a regulator that has become increasingly active in policing crypto fraud and investment law violations but impose new boundaries on the agency. The part of the plan that the House Agriculture Committee will consider Thursday would give the CFTC sweeping new powers over crypto trading, expanding jurisdiction that today focuses on futures contracts and other financial derivatives. Story continues It's an arrangement that the crypto lobby has long sought amid an escalating clash with the SEC over its jurisdiction. Jonathan Jachym, who heads global policy for crypto exchange Kraken, called Wednesdays vote a critical step toward regulatory clarity. Kara Calvert, head of U.S. policy for the Coinbase exchange, said, "the wind is at the back of crypto legislation." Democrats blasted Republicans for rushing the process. They said that the plan was unnecessary and could make it harder for the SEC, which already brings crypto enforcement cases under existing law, to police digital asset firms. Theres not uncertainty, they just don't like the certainty theyve got, said Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), who voted against the bill. Republicans spent the last few weeks tweaking the plan to draw more Democrats, including by agreeing on Tuesday to give a funding boost to the CFTC to implement the legislation. They continued working to build Democratic support as House Financial Services debated the bill Wednesday. At one point, Pettersen disappeared into a back room with McHenrys deputy on the bill, Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.). After they emerged, Pettersen indicated she would support the legislation with a commitment from Republicans to work on floor amendments addressing illicit activity. "Not enough is said in this bill," Pettersen said. But "right now, we dont have an amendment that is ready." Committee Republicans adopted five Democratic amendments. But the edits failed to convince Waters and other crypto skeptics on her side of the aisle. You dont need to invent new regulatory structures simply because crypto companies refuse to follow the rules of the road, Waters said. Breaking with Waters, Himes on Wednesday described the status quo of crypto regulation in the U.S. as "total chaos," with crypto startups, agencies and the courts at odds over how the market should operate. Himes said he and his staff had "hundreds of hours of engagement" on the bill with committee Republicans and the law firm WilmerHale. He said GOP members incorporated "each and every one" of the changes he suggested. "Are we comfortable walking away having done nothing?" he said. "The status quo is this: $2 trillion in value lost in the crypto asset markets. $2 trillion evaporated in what is a Wild West. An FTX collapse, which might have been prevented by this legislation, that devastated smart and dumb money alike. We don't want to see another FTX collapse." The Democratic amendments that Republicans accepted included one from Lynch that removed a section of the bill that would have added "innovation" to the SEC's mandate, following complaints that doing so could open the door for firms to evade oversight. They also adopted an amendment from Gottheimer that would direct the agencies to create a process for delisting an asset and another from Himes that would give the SEC six months, rather than three, to determine whether an exchange is decentralized. The committee approved changes from Nickel and Horsford, as well. Bipartisan votes could help give Republicans a fighting chance as they face widespread skepticism in the Senate, where the bipartisan focus has been on rooting out money laundering and other illicit activity in crypto. The House bill is the crypto industrys wish list, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said in an interview. I don't see how a bill like that makes it through. Republicans signaled a hope that Waters might help them pass a separate, more-narrow crypto bill Thursday focusing on the regulation of stablecoins, which are digital tokens backed by assets like the U.S. dollar. One key sticking point: the role states will play. McHenry said they were still talking through the stablecoin bill, including with the Treasury Department. He declined to rule out that he would postpone the stablecoin bill vote until September, when Congress returns from its August recess. No news today to report on a breakthrough, McHenry said. But we will continue to talk. Sen. Bernie Sanders Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Sen. Bernie Sanders, alongside other progressives, is again trying to raise the federal minimum wage. He's introducing legislation to bring the federal minimum to $17 by 2028; currently, it's $7.25. However, past attempts to raise the minimum wage have been stymied by Republicans and moderate Democrats. Sen. Bernie Sanders is once again pushing for a higher minimum wage. Sanders, alongside 29 senators and nearly 150 House representatives, introduced new legislation to bring up the federal minimum rate for the first time since 2009. "It was the movie Wall Street where Michael Douglas played the character Gordon Gekko, who famously uttered the words 'greed is good,'" Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said during a Tuesday afternoon event to unveil the legislation. "We want to make clear that greed is not good. Greed is not good for the American worker." Under the latest version of the Raise the Wage Act, the federal minimum would climb to $17 by 2028. It's an effort that's most likely dead on arrival, as previous attempts to push through a hike even in a House and Senate both previously controlled by Democrats have failed to pass. A federal hike took a backseat during the economy's robust pandemic recovery, as many firms began raising pay of their own volition to try and lure in new workers. But as the labor market cools, and wages begin to moderate, progressives say it's time to once again turn an eye towards raising the nationwide standard. "In the year 2023 a job should lift you out of poverty, not keep you in it. At a time of massive income and wealth inequality and record-breaking corporate profits, we can no longer tolerate millions of workers being unable to feed their families because they are working for totally inadequate wages," Sanders said in a press release. "Congress can no longer ignore the needs of the working class of this country. The time to act is now." Story continues The left-leaning Economic Policy Institute has found that 21 million workers make below $15 an hour. EPI estimates the hike to $17 would give nearly 28 million workers a boost, impacting 19% of the workforce. Workers would get, on average, a raise of $3,100. Many states have taken matters into their own hands and raised local wages, especially with grassroots efforts like the Fight for 15 gathering steam over the last decade. States enacting higher minimums have led to $87.6 billion more in economic output since 2012, according to a report from the National Employment Law Project, with those hikes and increased output supporting 452,000 jobs annually. "The President shares Congressional Democrats' commitment to put workers first and supports increasing the minimum wage. It is shameful that Republicans in Congress have kept our national minimum wage at just $7.25 per hour. President Biden has already taken action on his own," Michael Kikukawa, White House Assistant Press Secretary, said in a statement to Insider. "Just three months into office, he signed executive orders that raised the minimum wage for federal contractors and employees requiring that hundreds of thousands of workers be paid a $15 minimum wage, and ensuring that wage continues to rise." Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, argued that raising the minimum wage will spark a "virtuous economic cycle" in which both workers and businesses do better. "Workers get a higher wage, they have more money to spend, they spend in the community, it lifts up businesses, those businesses do well, they hire more people and that cycle continues," Jayapal said at the event on Tuesday. The NELP report found that, while higher state minimum wages helped slash Black-white wealth gaps, those gaps grew in states that left their minimums untouched. Oxfam America has found that nearly a third of America's workforce make below $15 an hour, and workers of color are disproportionately more likely to make below $15. Multiple analyses find that if the minimum wage were tied to productivity as it was up until the 1970s it would be closer to $22 or $23 an hour range. Frances Holmes, who works a minimum wage job at Busch Stadium in St Louis, Missouri, said she can't afford her rent after it was raised to $720. "Workers like me, we need your help," Holmes said. "I know what corporations do. What they do is we make the money, they get rich. They get rich, we get poor." Read the original article on Business Insider Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to attend a fundraiser for his presidential campaign on Saturday on Cape Cod. The location: a ferry ride away from where he had migrants flown to Marthas Vineyard. DeSantis is due to hobnob with deep-pocketed donors in Cotuit, Mass., which is just 10 miles from Joint Base Cape Cod, where the 49 migrants were voluntarily taken for longer-term shelter and access to free legal services. DeSantis administration took credit ahead of Floridas 2022 gubernatorial election for relocating South American migrants from San Antonio, Texas, to Marthas Vineyard, in a bid to highlight what he called President Joe Bidens open border policy. The stunt sparked outrage from Democrats across the country and drew legal challenges from immigrant advocacy groups and a Democratic state senator. DeSantis has repeatedly referenced the incident while stumping on the Republican presidential campaign trail, often drawing applause. Now DeSantis is turning to the same blue state for cash to prop up his presidential campaign thats bleeding money and recently laid off more than three dozen staffers. The $3,300-per-person fundraiser is being hosted by several big-name Massachusetts donors at a private location, according to an invitation obtained by POLITICO. The Boston Globe first reported the fundraiser. Meanwhile, a Texas sheriffs office in Bexar County last month recommended criminal charges over the flights, saying unsuspecting migrants were lured to the wealthy enclave under false pretenses. The case is being reviewed by the local district attorneys office. DeSantis administration orchestrated similar flights this year this time to Sacramento, Calif., in a political move against Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. The California governor threatened kidnapping charges in response. During this years session, the Florida legislature set aside $12 million for such flights and altered the law so that state officials could move migrants from other states besides Florida. The changes, made by a GOP supermajority legislature, rendered other lawsuits over the Marthas Vineyard flight moot, as the relocation law previously only allowed for flights departing from Florida. As a candidate, DeSantis proposed numerous anti-illegal immigration measures that were similar to those of GOP frontrunner and former President Donald Trump. Two policies that were different from Trump would empower cities and states to deport people who are undocumented, and would require private businesses to check the immigration status of prospective workers. The DeSantis campaign did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment. Split of Ron DeSantis and Nate Hochman The floundering presidential campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) fired more than a third of its staffers on Tuesdayincluding Nate Hochman, a speechwriter who created a promo video for DeSantis that ends by flashing a Nazi symbol. Hochman is a 25-year-old GOP rising star who praised white nationalist Nick Fuentes; he left his position as a staff writer at the conservative National Review to join DeSantiss gubernatorial staff, then his presidential campaign. Hochman came under fire this week for retweeting a video from the DeSantisCams Twitter account that bashes former President Donald Trump and ends with DeSantis standing in front of the seal of Florida as it morphs into a sonnenrad, an ancient symbol appropriated by Nazis and white supremacists. (The video is, for some reason, set to Kate Bushs Running up That Hill.) Read more When DeSantis hired Hochman in March, some other Republicans were critical of the move, given Hochmans praise of Feuntes. I think Nicks probably a better influence than Ben Shapiro on young men who might otherwise be conservatives, Hochman said in a Twitter Spaces forum in August 2022. The fact that kids are listening to you, there are good things and bad things about it. But the fact that you have said super edgy things means that theres a pretty strong ceiling to what you can accomplish in politics. Others defended Hochman because he is Jewish. The DeSantis campaign is imploding and, even though the candidate himself is out here doing things like defending a curriculum that teaches that enslaved people benefited from slavery, his aides seem to have realized that its unwise to keep a Nazi sympathizer (or at the very least thinks someone who thinks Nazi dog-whistles are an effective strategy) on staff. Story continues Semafor reported that donors have been worried that the campaign was too online, and too focused on social issues that appealed to highly engaged anti-woke conservatives on Twitter. Does this mean DeSantis will stop saying woke repeatedly in every speech? Probably notbut we shall see. More from Jezebel Sign up for Jezebel's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Florida governor and GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that he would consider putting Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running for the White House as a Democrat, in charge of one of the major federal health agencies. During an interview with Clay Travis, DeSantis said his views align with Kennedys on COVID-19 policies and the corruption with federal health officials. If youre president, sic him on the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] if hed be willing to serve. Or sic him on CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], DeSantis said in response to a question about whether hed consider making Kennedy his running mate. But in terms of being veep, theres 70 percent of the issues that he may be averse to our base on, you know, that just creates an issue. Kennedy is a long-shot candidate for president, but he has increasingly been embraced by Republicans, including former President Trump, who amplify his contentious views as a way to try to play spoiler for the Democrats. At GOP invitation last week, Kennedy spoke before the House Judiciary select subcommittee on the weaponization of the federal government, where he was blasted by the Democrats on the panel. He is a prominent anti-vaccine activist and a vocal critic COVID-19 mitigation measures. He appeals to the libertarian faction of the right that dislikes vaccine mandates and lockdowns and raise questions about the safety of vaccines, including the one for COVID-19. In the past few weeks, he has come under fire from Democrats for suggesting that the coronavirus was engineered to target Caucasians and Black people and to be less lethal to Asian and Jewish people. DeSantis is also a harsh critic of the federal bureaucracy, which he suggests is too woke. He previously said he would seek to abolish the departments of Education, Commerce and Energy, as well as the IRS. Story continues As governor, DeSantis has waged a war against federal health agencies, as well as private companies in his state that enacted COVID-19 policies he felt were too strict. DeSantiss suggestion that he would appoint Kennedy to a position in his administration drew a rebuke from fellow GOP candidate Mike Pence, the former vice president. When I am President, I will only consider Pro-Life Americans to lead the FDA, CDC, or HHS. To be clear, pro-abortion Democrats like RFK, Jr. would not even make the list, Pence said in a statement. This story was updated at 7:42 p.m. Brett Samuels contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. When former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said in February that he hoped Gov. Ron DeSantis would run for president, it opened up the DeSantis campaign to comparisons between his and Bushs failed run for president in 2016. Both men were twice elected Florida governor and entered the race with lots of cash and buzz. And they both experienced declining poll numbers as the summer approached. The Trump campaign has repeatedly made the comparison. A Trump campaign mailer in June portrayed DeSantis campaign logo as Ron!, in the fashion of Bushs infamous Jeb! logo that received widespread mockery in 2016. In April, Trump shared a Truth Social post claiming that the Bushes were running against him through DeSantis as a proxy candidate. The political environment DeSantis finds himself in is worlds apart from 2016. Trump, no longer a political outsider, faces multiple criminal indictments but a strong base of support that has transformed the Republican Party and uprooted the moderate, establishment party politics that Bush represented. Its also early in the race. And unlike the 2016 primary, which saw multiple candidates dip in and out of the top three spots, the 2024 primary so far has been a two-man race between DeSantis and Trump. Some people think that DeSantis needs to be leading in the polls in July of 2023, said Justin Sayfie, a policy adviser and spokesperson for Bush during his time as governor. You need to start winning in January and February of 2024. Theres a long way to go. Heres whats similar and different about the Florida governors presidential bids. A fall from grace When Utah Sen. Mitt Romney announced in early 2015 that he would not seek the presidency for a second time, many saw Bush, who had signaled interest in running, as the clear establishment-backed candidate for the job. A two-term governor of a swing state and member of a political dynasty that had already produced two U.S. presidents, Bush was seen as an early favorite to dethrone the Democrats after eight years. Story continues Early polling confirmed that sentiment: Bush led the pack or was neck and neck with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in polling for the first half of 2015. Some geared up for a political dynasty matchup between the Clintons and Bushes that would bore everyone to tears, Politico wrote. Presidential candidate Jeb Bush smiles for selfies with supportets at Chicos Cuban Restaurant in Hialeah on Monday Dec. 28, 2015 on his first leg of many campaign stops in Florida. Still, some worried that the mild-mannered Bush, then seven years removed from holding office, wasnt prepared for the scrutiny and intensity that comes with a presidential campaign. And many pointed out that Bush had issues he would need to square with GOP voters, like his brothers legacy in the White House and his more moderate positions on immigration. George W. Bush, the two-term president and older brother to Jeb, reportedly responded me when asked about the biggest issues facing his brothers campaign. While DeSantis did not enter the race with such baggage, he also came in with less name recognition. And unlike Bush, DeSantis has never been considered the front-runner for the nomination. According to the news and polling website FiveThirtyEight, DeSantis polled highest in early January at 40%, just two points behind former President Donald Trump. He has steadily declined since then, sitting at around 20% now, 30 points behind Trump. Bush, too, saw his numbers fall from their highest point in the spring of 2015. By July, Trump, then considered a political outsider, had overtaken Bush as the partys front-runner. Rolling in cash Bush and DeSantis were fundraising juggernauts. Bushs Super PAC raked in $100 million in six months, and the campaign brought in over $11 million just 16 days after Bush officially announced his candidacy. DeSantis presidential campaign raised $8.2 million in the first 24 hours after he officially joined the race, and raised about $20 million in the month and a half following his announcement. A super PAC backing his bid has said it raised about $130 million in the second quarter of the year, about $82.5 million of which was transferred from a state committee that had leftover funds after supporting his reelection. Bush relied on his familys connections to the White House and name recognition for donations. DeSantis has experienced a rapid political rise based partially on his relationship to Trump, a bridge that has since burned. And he now relies on his own branding as a a crusader against the woke, eager to take on issues tied to race, diversity and gender identity; and a governor who wants to make the United States more like Florida. Dealing, or not dealing, with Trump Aubrey Jewitt, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida, said DeSantis and Bush have reputations for being awkward. Neither of these two guys have seemed like theyre particularly well suited for retail politics, Jewitt said. Jeb is a very smart guy and a policy wonk. But he was not real comfortable shaking hands and kissing babies. And now thats one of the complaints about DeSantis. The candidates uncomfortable public speaking rigid at times, awkward at others and messaging have stood in stark contrast to Trumps brash and showy approach. And for Bush, Trumps low-energy Jeb label stuck. There were also Trumps incessant attacks that Bush and DeSantis had to deal with, and both men generally took more punches from Trump than they dealt. Aside from a feud between Bush and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Bush largely focused on his own agenda instead of taking aim at other Republicans. DeSantis has walked a tightrope by criticizing Trump and simultaneously trying to appease his base. In South Carolina last week, DeSantis said that Trump should have done more to stop the Jan. 6 rioters and then pivoted to talking points about the weaponization of the Justice Department. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a tour at North Baptist Church in Spartanburg on Wednesday April 19, 2023. Different bases, different candidates Brad Coker, CEO of Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy in Jacksonville, said people are reaching when comparing the candidates. They started from different positions and theyre filling different lanes, Coker said. Their objectives are completely different in terms of what they have to do to be successful over the long haul. Bushs role in the Republican Party hinged on his success in the 2016 primaries. And in the beginning of 2016, Bush had the worst favorability rating among the Republican candidates. Bush exited the race after a disappointing finish in the early state of South Carolina. Observers could point to several moments when the Bush campaign started to unravel. Among the most notable are Bushs struggle to give clear answers to questions related to the Iraq War launched by his brother, comments about the federal government spending too much money on womens health, the Jeb! logo, or his underwhelming performances in presidential debates. Although Bush held moderate conservative views on fiscal policy and social issues, his more progressive positions on overhauling immigration laws and education reform separated him from an increasingly conservative voting base. There was also, perhaps, the larger issue of a Republican base ready to move on from the establishment that Bush represented. He was not a populist candidate, and thats what the voters of the party wanted at that time, Sayfie said. Theres nothing Jeb Bush could have done differently to have won that campaign. The GOP has changed dramatically since 2016, in large part because of Trumps populist approach that voters began preferring over moderate party politics during that time. DeSantis, though, seems to be more in tune with the new Republican base, Jewitt said. Hes lockstep with most conservative policy across the board especially in places where Bush wasnt, like immigration and education. DeSantis has reportedly pitched himself to conservative donors as Trump without the drama. And his political career doesnt have to end if he loses in 2024. I dont think hes done anything that has just totally burned bridges with Trump supporters, Jewett said. Hell be back even if he loses. Ron DeSantis once again floated a potential pardon for his 2024 rival Donald Trump should the Florida governor win the presidency. During a Tuesday interview with right-wing podcaster Clay Travis, DeSantis justified the idea by citing President Gerald Fords pardoning of his predecessor Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal as a way to move the country beyond Nixons actions. Trump is currently a defendant in two criminal cases, with more indictments expected in the coming months. The former president was charged with dozens of counts of falsifying business records in April, and in June was charged by the Department of Justice on 37 counts related to his post-presidency mishandling of classified records. Do we really think its good for the country to have an almost 80-year-old former president in prison? DeSantis told Travis when asked if he would consider pardoning Trump alongside Jan. 6 defendants. Is that really going to help the country come together? I look back at Nixon pardoning Ford, DeSantis added, mixing up who pardoned whom. [Ford] took a lot of heat for it but I think it was the right decision to move the country beyond that. They could have tried [to get] a pound of flesh out of Nixon, and it wasnt that Nixon was above the law, it was just weighing how does that you know provide fissures to society. In terms of ending weaponization, wielding pardon power is definitely part of it, he added. Citing Ford-Nixon, Desantis suggests that he would pardon Trump to bring the country together. Do we really think its good for the country to have an almost 80 year old former president in prison? pic.twitter.com/D3YHtt5QYX Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) July 26, 2023 Its not the first time DeSantis has teased a pardon for Trump. In May, during an episode of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, the Florida governor stated he would consider pardoning Jan. 6 defendants, including former President Trump. Story continues On day one, DeSantis told the hosts, I will have folks that will get together and look at all these cases [of] people who are victims of weaponization or political targeting and we will be aggressive in issuing pardons. When questioned specifically about Trump, DeSantis specified that any example of disfavored treatment based on politics or weaponization would be included in that review, no matter how small or how big. While DeSantis has avoided outright promising to pardon Trump, his receptiveness to the proposal comes as Trumps campaign has pressured his opponents into committing to handing the former president a get out of jail free card. If you blast the DOJ and you blast Jack Smith and Biden, youre essentially defending Trump and admitting Trump was right, one MAGA-aligned Republican strategist told Rolling Stone in June. If you condemn him, theres no lane for you running on that. And then silence is an equally bad option because folks notice you not saying anything. DeSantis dance along this tightrope has not reflected well in polling among prospective voters. In recent weeks, the gap between the Florida governor and Trump has widened, with DeSantis slipping drastically in favorability ratings. The governors campaign has attempted to mitigate the damage with a massive strategy and messaging reset. On Tuesday, the campaign confirmed that it was expanding layoffs announced earlier this month to include more than a third of its overall staff. Among those let go was a campaign aid who had secretly created, then shared through his public social media account, a video that featured a Nazi symbol. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. You are here: China China's Ministry of Water Resources and the China Meteorological Administration on Tuesday jointly issued a yellow alert for mountain torrents in some areas. From 8 p.m. Tuesday to 8 p.m. Wednesday, mountain torrents are expected to occur in parts of Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan, according to the alert. Local authorities have been 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. A federal judge on Tuesday vacated the military conviction of Bowe Bergdahl, a former U.S. Army soldier who pleaded guilty to desertion after he left his post and was captured in Afghanistan and tortured by the Taliban. The ruling from U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton in Washington says that military judge Jeffrey Nance, who presided over the court-martial, failed to disclose that he had applied to the executive branch for a job as an immigration judge, creating a potential conflict of interest. Walton noted that former President Donald Trump had strongly criticized Bergdahl during the 2016 presidential campaign. Bergdahls lawyers argued that Trumps comments placed undue command influence on Nance. Walton rejected the specific argument surrounding undue command influence, but he said a reasonable person could question the judges impartiality under the circumstances. Bergdahl was charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy after the then-23-year-old from Hailey, Idaho, left his post in Afghanistan in 2009. He said he was trying to get outside his post so he could report what he saw as poor leadership within his unit, but he was abducted by the Taliban and held captive for nearly five years. During that time, Bergdahl was repeatedly tortured and beaten with copper wires, rubber hoses and rifle butts. After several escape attempts, he was imprisoned in a small cage for four years, according to court documents. Several U.S. servicemembers were wounded searching for Bergdahl. In 2014, he was returned to the U.S. in a prisoner swap for five Taliban leaders who were being held at Guantanamo Bay. The swap faced criticism from Trump, then-Sen. John McCain and others. Both Trump and McCain called for Bergdahl to face severe punishment. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to both charges. Prosecutors at his court-martial sought 14 years in prison, but he was given no time after he submitted evidence of the torture he suffered while in Taliban custody. He was dishonorably discharged and ordered to forfeit $10,000 in pay. Story continues His conviction and sentence had been narrowly upheld by military appeals courts before his lawyers took the case to U.S. District Court, resulting in Tuesdays ruling. The Justice Department declined comment on the ruling Tuesday. Eugene Fidell, one of Bergdahls lawyers, said he was gratified by the ruling and said Waltons 63-page opinion shows how meticulous he was in rendering the ruling. Calls and emails to the immigration court in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Nance now serves as an immigration judge, were not returned Tuesday evening. A Republican congressman on Wednesday accused the Pentagon and the intelligence community of hiding what the government knows about UFOs, saying the devil has been in our way. During a House Oversight subcommittee hearing on the issue, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said the governments lack of transparency surrounding unidentified aerial phenomena amounts to a coverup. The devil has been in our way through this thing. We've run into roadblocks from members from the intelligence community, the Pentagon, said Burchett, who has been the subcommittees most vocal advocate for investigating UFOs. Burchett cited an example of when he proposed an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration that would have made pilot reports of UFOs available to Congress, but the bill was never advanced. The amendment, he said, would have required the FAA to report sightings by commercial pilots to Congress. Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wisc.), chair of the panels national security subcommittee, also accused the Biden administration of not being transparent on the subject of UFOs, citing the Chinese spy balloon incident in February. We are not just debating the existence of UAPs. Were deliberating on the principles that define our republic, which is a commitment to transparency and accountability, he said. Lawmakers didnt provide many concrete examples of a Biden administration cover-up, and instead criticized the Pentagon for overclassifying information and raising what they viewed as a lack of information over the spy balloon incident multiple times. Though several questions early in the hearing revolved around the possible existence of extraterrestrial activity, witnesses and lawmakers emphasized the importance of investigating UFOs as a national security matter. Rather than spaceships operated by aliens, unidentified craft could be drones or aircraft operated by adversaries. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, stressed the need for bipartisanship on the issue, which has struggled to achieve credibility among lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Rather than dismiss claims, Republicans and Democrats must work together to cut through misinformation and to look at the facts in a serious and thoughtful manner, he said. Story continues Congress held its first public hearing on UFOs in decades last year, with Pentagon officials speaking before lawmakers. Wednesdays hearing was the first public, unclassified testimony from witnesses who have reported sightings. Ryan Graves, a former Navy pilot and current executive director for Americans for Safe Aerospace, testified Wednesday alongside David Grusch, who made public claims about a secretive government UFO retrieval program, and David Fravor, a former Navy pilot who, like Graves, claimed to have spotted unidentified aircraft. While Burchett and others have called for more transparency, other lawmakers have scoffed at any notion that there are aliens hiding in the Pentagons basement. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, when asked two weeks ago if he believed in aliens, provided a tongue-in-cheek response: I think if we had found a UFO, I think the Department of Defense would tell us because they probably want to request more money. Its been a hot-button issue as witnesses and congressional advocates for increased transparency plead for lawmakers and the public to take the matter seriously, despite the pushback. Today is just the start of it, its not the ending, Burchett told Fox News before the hearing. An employee and co-defendant of Bhagavan Doc Antle in his federal criminal case reached a plea deal Tuesday with the government. Meredith Moksha Bybee agreed to plea guilty to one misdemeanor violation of the Endangered Species Act in exchange for prosecutors dropping any other charges against her, according to court records. Bybee has been living at working with Antle at Myrtle Beach Safari for more than 20 years, according to her social media pages. Antle, who was featured in the hit Netflix series Tiger King, was recently convicted in Virginia on four counts of buying endangered animals and is facing money laundering and wildlife trafficking charges in the pending federal case. An attorney representing him in the federal case did not return a voicemail Wednesday seeking comment. As part of the plea deal, Bybee agreed to fully cooperate with the governments investigation, including submitting to a polygraph if requested, and surrender any interest she may have in animals that are subjects of the indictment, court records show. Two of those animals listed in the plea agreement are chimpanzees named Angada and Tara, who Bybee recently featured in a video celebrating their birthdays on her YouTube channel. Deborah Barbier, an attorney representing Bybee, declined to comment on whether the plea deal meant the government wanted her client to testify against Antle. Barbier emphasized that the charge Bybee is pleading guilty to only deals with the transportation of the animal and doesnt mean any animal was endangered by her client, who is an avid animal lover. She added that Bybee is currently away from Myrtle Beach Safari spending time with family. A doctor testified Tuesday that Dalton Beals death during basic training at U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in 2021 resulted from a fatal and preexisting heart condition. Under cross examination, the prosecution strongly questioned the doctors testimony with the exchanges becoming testy at times. Gerald Feigin, a New Jersey forensic pathologist, was called to testify in the defense of Staff Sgt. Steven Smiley, who is on trial for negligent homicide, dereliction of duty resulting in death, violation of the recruit training order, maltreatment of recruits and obstruction of justice in the June 4, 2021 death of 19-year-old Beals of New Jersey. Smiley has pleaded not guilty. Adjusting his garrison cap, U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Steven Smiley arrives at Marine Corps Defense Services Organization Branch Office on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 in the continuation of his court martial on Marine Recruit Depot Parris Island. Smiley has plead not guilty to the charge of negligent homicide in the June 4, 2021 death of recruit Dalton Beals during The Crucible. Drew Martin/dmartin@islandpacket.com The prosecution rested its case Tuesday and defense counsel began with Feigin as their first witness. Feigin testified that Beals manner of death was natural and the cause, cardiac arrhythmia brought on by heart disease. Beals alleged heart condition contradicted the conclusion of Dr. Ellen Riemer of the Medical University of South Carolina, a cardio and pulmonary specialist who performed the first autopsy for Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Earlier in the trial, she testified on behalf of the prosecution that Beals died of hyperthermia, which is a dangerously overheated body. You dont want to bad mouth another doctor, but I think in this case its justified, Feigin said. One by one, Feigin went through 134 slides of Beals heart that were shown on a big screen and pointed out areas to the six-man, two-women jury of what he described as scar tissue. Scar tissue, Feigin said, prevents electricity from moving through the heart, causing it, in effect, to short out. You shouldnt have any scars in the heart, Feigin said. Period. The scarring of Bealss heart was unusual for a 19-year-old and one of the worst hed seen in his career, he said, with the scarring showing he had heart disease. How Beals lived as long has he did with a heart that bad, Feigin said, is a mystery. He described it as one of the worst he had seen in his career. With a heart like that, the only outward sign or symptom is death, Feigin said. Story continues It could have happened anytime, Feigin said of Beals death. It just happened to happen during the Crucible. Dalton Beals Beals died during the Crucible, the final challenge recruits must meet before earning the title of U.S. Marine. Its a 54-hour event that tests physical stamina, mental toughness and the ability to think critically while under stress including hunger, sleep deprivation and exhaustion. Lt. Col. Ian Germain of the prosecution sharply questioned Feigin. Did he know if anybody was near Dalton Beals when he died? Feigin wasnt sure. You dont want to know if someone saw Dalton Beals die? Germain asked. It would not have mattered, Feigin said. Beals death from severe cardiac issues was sudden and one step below a gunshot to the head, Germain testified. The presenting sign is death, Feigin said. Germain rattled off questions. Did Feigin ask for any information about Beals core body temperature? Did he ask for information about the conditions under which Beals died? Did he know Beals had fallen down and refused water? Did he know that Beals had attempted to hand canteens that were full of water to another recruit to fill up? Did he know he had left an area where Marines were staged in buddy pairs on his own? Feigin replied no or that he had learned about details later from the defense. Germain continued his questioning, asking about the progression of signs that Beals showed before he died and whether that was important to take into account in determining the cause of death? Some of the time, Feigin said. Is it important that you not be wrong here? Germain said to Feigin at one point. Feigin conducted the second autopsy at the request of Beals family but its the defense that called him to testify. Germain also questioned whether there could be changes to the body, including scarring of the heart, after death. Feigin said he was confident the scarring did not occur after Beals died. During the second day of the Crucible, about 90 minutes after Beals had completed one of the training events, which included a long hike, he was found unconscious on Page Field, a former airfield on the southeast corner of the depot. Efforts to revive him failed. He had been missing for an hour. The government charged Smiley, alleging he overworked the recruits in extreme heat and neglected to see the signs of Beats heat-related illness and rebuffed recruits who tried to bring it to his attention. On Tuesday, Smileys defense asked Col. Adam J. Workman, the judge, to dismiss the charges, arguing the government had failed to prove them. Workman withheld judgment on that request. Lyudmila Emag said it felt like being caught in a trap when she was bitten by a shark off of Fire Island on July 4. Maxim Tsarenkov Lyudmila Emag was one of two shark bites victims to be treated at a Long Island hospital on July 4. Dr. Nadia Baranchuk, who had never dealt with a shark bite before, treated both of them. It may be part of a new normal as sharks have returned to waters off of New York. Lyudmila Emag was taking her last dip of the day on the Fourth of July with two friends when she felt something clamp down on her thigh. The 47-year-old nurse practitioner was swimming about 20 yards off the shore of Fire Island, a thin barrier island just south of Long Island in New York, in water that was deep enough she could no longer feel the bottom. "I screamed to my friends, 'Something is biting me!'" she told Insider, adding, "I didn't know it was a shark." Emag said she felt pressure, like being caught in a trap, but not sharp pain. She reached down to push off the thing that had grabbed her. After several seconds the shark released and she was able to swim to shore. The bites on her leg later showed a line where the shark's teeth had dragged on her skin before it released her from its jaws. It wasn't until she got out of the water that her friends realized she had been bitten by a shark. Emag said she's the kind of person that shouts when she sees a mouse, so even though her friends had seen a fin and tail near her, they thought it might have been a dolphin that just spooked her. They estimated the shark that bit her was around four to five feet long. Emag, who is a nurse practitioner, was transported by police ferry and then ambulance to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, where she was treated by Dr. Nadia Baranchuk. Emag was the second patient with a shark bite that Baranchuk treated that day. There were only 57 unprovoked shark bites documented worldwide in all of 2022, primarily in Florida, so for a New York hospital let alone the same doctor to treat two in a single day is surprising. But with sharks returning to Long Island's waters, prompting drone patrols and helicopter monitoring, treating shark bites may become part of the new normal. Story continues Shark bite patients may become more normal in New York hospitals To be clear, the chances of getting bit by a shark are still incredibly low. But in New York, at least, they are increasing. Before last year, only 12 unprovoked shark bites had ever been reported in New York state, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File. But in 2022 alone, there were eight. And this year, in just a couple of days over the Fourth of July holiday, there were five reported bites. Baranchuk, who has practiced emergency medicine at South Shore for seven years, told Insider she had never treated a shark bite before July 4. "Are you sure it's a shark bite and not a dog bite?" she remembered thinking when she read the notes on the first patient. That patient had been bitten on their hand and did not have life-threatening injuries. But what was believed to be a piece of a shark's tooth did have to be removed from their hand. About an hour after treating the first shark bite patient of her career, Baranchuk was treating her second: Emag, who had deep bite wounds on her thigh that were also not life-threatening. Lifeguarding supervisor Cary Epstein operates a new shark-monitoring drone at Jones Beach State Park on July 07, 2023 in Wantagh, New York. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Treating shark bites is similar in some ways to treating bites from any animal, which involves a risk of infection. But unlike dogs or cats, the sheer size of sharks means there's greater "potential for someone to come in with massive tissue loss," Dr. Sanjey Gupta, the chair of emergency medicine at South Shore, told Insider. Gupta said his department saw one confirmed shark bite patient in all of 2022. Before that, the most recent one was about four years ago. Last year, when shark sightings started ramping up off Long Island, Gupta decided to include an extreme shark bite scenario as part of a training day for doctors. "I think for us it's a matter of reorienting and thinking about dealing with bites and the tissue injury that comes with that," Gupta said. "But I think it's one of those things that's potentially going to become part of our norm now." Sharing the water Emag said about two weeks after the shark bite, her wounds were about 80% healed. The deepest tooth wound was still there. But the shark bite has not deterred her from swimming at the beach in the future, something she does often in the summer at Brighton Beach, not too far from her home in Brooklyn. "It's like when we hike: We know there are bears in the mountains, but we still go hiking," she said. Still, she does plan to be a bit more careful, by doing things like avoiding murky water or areas where a lot of bait fish are present. Gupta agreed that sharks are now on the mind of many Long Island swimmers, who are learning how to share these spaces with sharks. While he knows shark bites are still rare, he said it is comforting that officials are prioritizing safety by monitoring for sharks and temporarily closing down beaches as needed. He has also learned the kind of waters and swimming situations to avoid in order to minimize the risk of a shark bite, something he said he would never have thought about even a year and a half ago. "I never really thought about what a shark-infested water might look like," he said. "Now it's one of those things you have to think about." Have a news tip? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@insider.com. Read the original article on Insider Don't head out on a road trip without planning for breaks. Don't head out on a road trip without planning for breaks. If you have a road trip planned this summer, you may be focused on the places youll visit, determining the route youll take, and prepping your car for the long journey. These are all crucial steps for planning an unforgettable road trip, but theres one very important task that cant be overlooked. According to cardiologists, the single most important thing to do during lengthy car rides is to take breaks lots of them. It doesnt matter who you are or what your overall health is like. Young or old, healthy or dealing with a chronic health condition, anybody and everybody should plan to get out of the car and move around every one to two hours if your trip will last at least four hours. Sitting in the car for hours on end can disrupt blood flow in the body, lead to dehydration, and contribute to clots. Left untreated, those clots can spread and quickly become life-threatening. Riding in the car for a prolonged uninterrupted period of time in a seated position increases the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) a kind of blood clot that forms in the deep veins of the legs, Dr. Vladimir Lakhter, an assistant professor of medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and an interventional cardiologist at Temple University Hospital, told HuffPost. Heres what happens to blood flow in your body during car rides. Typically, when youre moving around, your calf and thigh muscles push blood from the deep veins in your body up toward your heart. After a few hours in the car, as the lower half of your body hangs down, blood starts to pool in the veins of your lower legs and calves, explained Dr. Britt H. Tonnessen, a Yale Medicine vascular surgeon and associate professor of surgery at Yale School of Medicine. Your muscles arent contracting and circulating blood as they normally do, Lakhter said. As blood pools in your lower legs, platelets (tiny blood cells that help your body form clots to stop bleeding) begin to adhere to each other, forming a soft jelly-like mass. A coagulation cascade kicks in, where a series of physiological processes that are involved in blood clotting activate. Story continues Once this system is triggered, the clot can propagate much like knocking over a row of dominoes, Tonnessen said. Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a clot forms in a vein deep inside your body, such as in the lower leg or thigh. The clot can cause pain and swelling in the leg. When you start to walk around after being sedentary for several hours, the muscles will squeeze again and cause the clot to break loose, Lakhter said. The clot will then flow with the natural direction of the bodys blood flow upward. A DVT can migrate and move to the main arteries in the lungs, Tonnessen said, and cause a pulmonary embolism, or a sudden blockage in the arteries that pump blood to your lungs, that can be fatal. The main symptoms of pulmonary embolism include shortness of breath, chest pain, lightheadedness and dizziness, cough and pain in your back. Who is at risk for a travel-induced blood clot? Everyone. Anyone can get a blood clot, Tonnessen said. They can occur at any age and in people who are otherwise healthy, which is why its crucial to take breaks during your road trip and pay attention to the signs and symptoms of a clot, no matter what your overall health is like. Certain people are more at risk. Older adults, people with a personal or family history of blood clots, people undergoing cancer treatment, and those with an inherited or acquired clotting disorderall face a heightened risk of experiencing DVT during or after a long road trip, according to Tonnessen. Recent surgery, which can cause you to be immobile for an extended period of time, can also increase your risk for a clot. The more risk factors you have, the higher the chance you could get a clot while traveling. The risk of a clot doesnt disappear the moment your journey ends. The risk is greatest in the week following your travels, but Lakhter says that heightened risk can linger for several weeks after a trip. Get out of your car, walk around and stretch your legs on road trips. Get out of your car, walk around and stretch your legs on road trips. How to make the most of your breaks. Tonnessen recommended getting out of the car and taking a brief walk every hour or so. Lakhter echoed the advice. Doing so allows the leg muscles to contract and keep the venous blood circulation moving efficiently, he said. Its also important to stay hydrated (which, by the way, may force you to take more breaks since you may need to pee more). Dehydration is a known risk factor for clots. Maintaining adequate hydration also means minimizing the intake of beverages which can dehydrate our bodies these include caffeine and alcohol, Lakhter said. Wearing compression socks or stockings can reduce your risk of a clot, too, by supporting blood flow in your lower legs. Tonnessens recommendation: 20 to 30mmHg knee-high compression socks. Other than the compression socks, wear loose-fitting clothing, as tight apparel can further restrict blood flow throughout your body, according to Lakhter. Those with an extremely high risk may need to take a blood thinner for travel, such as an injection of a low-molecular-weight heparin or a factor Xa inhibitor, Lakhter said. Talk to your health care provider to see if you may benefit from one of these preventive treatments. If you delay or skip those breaks, make a point to move your legs in the car. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends extending your legs straight out and flexing your ankles so your toes are pointed toward you. Hold this position for 15 seconds, then repeat the exercise 10 times. You can also do knee lifts, where you bend your legs and lift your knees to your chest, and a forward flex, where you bend over and reach for your ankles in 15-second increments. Simply tightening and releasing your leg muscles can help too. Remember: The risk for DVT or pulmonary embolism persists even after your trip is over. Listen to your body, and if anything feels amiss, contact a health care provider as soon as possible. When it comes to blood clots, intervening early can prevent serious complications, and, in certain cases, be the difference between life and death. Related... Lawson reportedly aimed to break 15 records, including becoming the fastest person and first African American to sail around the world alone in a vessel no longer than 60 feet. A Black sailor attempting to shatter multiple world records remains missing nearly two weeks after his family last heard from him. On July 5, Baltimore resident Donald Lawson, 41, departed Acapulco, Mexico, on his 60-foot racing trimaran according to NBC News. Quentin Lawson said his brothers original itinerary called for him to travel on his boat, named Defiant, from Acapulco to the west coast of Central America, through the Panama Canal, then home to Baltimore. Donald Lawson, an experienced sailor from Baltimore attempting to shatter several world records, remains missing after losing communication with his family on July 13. (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube.com/NBC News) However, on July 9, four days after he set sail, a storm knocked out one of the engines on his boat, his brother said, forcing him to turn around and return to Acapulco. Jacqueline Lawson, Lawsons wife, said he used a wind generator after being left without engine power. She said he lost his backup wind turbine a few days later. Quentin Lawson said data from his brothers boat showed that late on July 12, while he was moving at a pace of about 11 knots against the wind (about 12.6 mph), he significantly lowered his speed. He then abruptly altered his course and started sailing against the wind, which caused his speed to drop to 2.9 knots. I believe something happened at that moment, Quentin Lawson said, NBC reported. It doesnt make sense to turn out of the wind into the wind when youre on emergency route to turn back. Quentin Lawson said family members last heard from his brother on July 13 when he was about 285 nautical miles from Acapulco. Petty Officer Hunter Schnabel of Coast Guard District 11, based in Alumina, California, said Mexicos Maritime Search and Rescue Unit is spearheading attempts to locate Lawsons trimaran. While the data from Defiant was concerning, Quentin Lawson who conceded he is a little afraid said he remains optimistic because his brother is an experienced sailor. Story continues He said his brother, who founded the charity organization Dark Seas Project, aimed to break 15 world records, looking to become the fastest person and first African American to sail around the world solo in a vessel no longer than 60 feet. Lawson himself shared in April 2020 that he intended to finish the journey in 70 days a lot less time than the American record of 105 days. The same year, he shared that he was working to increase Black youths sailing involvement. He noted that a youth sailing program helped him realize his dream. I went and asked the captain, Hey, how far can you take on a boat like this?' Lawson previously recalled, according to NBC. He looked at me and said, Technically, you can sail it around the world. And thats when the light bulb went off. I said at 9 years old I want to sail around the world.' TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Donald Lawson, sailor seeking to break world records, has gone missing appeared first on TheGrio. RFK Jr. | Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Newscom Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared last week before the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. The Republican majority invited Kennedy to testify about the government's campaign to suppress contrarian speech on COVID-19, vaccines, and the virus's origins; a tweet from RFK Jr. expressing doubts about vaccines had been among the first posts that the White House urged Twitter to restrict after President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. Before Kennedy could even read his opening statement, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (DFla.) attempted to move the panel to executive session, which would have effectively blocked the public from hearing what the witnesses had to say. When Republicans called for a vote to table the motion, all the Democratic members of the subcommittee voted no. In short: At a hearing intended to probe bureaucrats and politicians' well-documented efforts to crack down on disfavored speech, Democrats played exactly to type. Their first impulse was not merely to express disagreement with Kennedy's views, but to stop him from uttering them in public. Their stated objection to Kennedy was a comment he had made claiming that COVID-19 may have been ethnically targeted, remarks widely seen as anti-Semitic. Del. Stacey Plaskett (DVirgin Islands) said that by inviting RFK Jr. to testify, Republicans "intentionally chose to elevate this rhetoric to give these harmful dangerous views a platform in the halls of the United States Congress." Plaskett did not merely criticize Kennedy's comments. She implied that they were not protected by the First Amendment. "Free speech is not an absolute," said Plaskett at the beginning of the hearing. "The Supreme Court has stated that." The New York Times, in its recap of the hearing, echoed these concerns: Despite the theater, the hearing raised thorny questions about free speech in a democratic society: Is misinformation protected by the First Amendment? When is it appropriate for the federal government to seek to tamp down the spread of falsehoods? Story continues These are not, in fact, thorny questions. Of course misinformation is protected by the First Amendmentunless it veers into defamation or fraud, both narrowly defined legal categories. The modern Supreme Court has never validated the idea that speech expressing incorrect ideas is unprotected by the Constitution; if it had, the Times' own speech rights would be in jeopardy. Indeed, Times' own story about Kennedy's controversial remarks itself contained misinformation. Its opening paragraph described the comments in question as "a conspiracy-filled rant by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that the Covid-19 virus was engineered to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people." The candidate did not, in fact, straightforwardly declare that COVID-19 was "engineered to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people." He said: "There is an argument that it is ethnically targeted. COVID-19 attacks certain races disproportionately." He also said: "COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese." And he said: "We don't know whether it was deliberately targeted or not but there are papers out there that show the racial or ethnic differential and impact." You can see why someone would raise an eyebrow at the suggestion that the virus even might have been "deliberately targeted," but a reporter should report what the candidate actually said. Kennedy, for what it's worth, seems to have been referring to a study by the Cleveland Clinic that found some evidence the virus's genetic makeup could theoretically make certain populationsincluding the Amish and Ashkenazi Jewsless receptive to it. Some scientists have disagreed with the underlying findings of the Cleveland Clinic study; moreover, the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 are likely best explained by certain populations' overall health, age, and access to medical resources. Kennedy's larger point was that government funding of research that creates such viruses is dangerous. In an interview on Rising, the YouTube show I co-host for The Hill, the candidate claimed that "it never entered my mind that it was engineered directly to protect Jews and injure other people." Unfortunately, the Democrats' behavior at the hearing is part of a pattern. Far too many political leaders have urged greater censorship of contrarian COVID-19 speech, especially online. The vast federal bureaucracyfirst under Donald Trump, and then in a greatly expanded fashion under Joe Bidenpushed private tech companies to censor speech that was critical of the government's approach to the pandemic. Both the Twitter Files and Reason's own Facebook Files show that the White House, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and other arms of the government frequently contacted content moderators for the purpose of jawboning. These pushes for greater content moderation were not just philosophically wrongthat is, at odds with principles of free speechbut they were often wrong about the underlying facts as well. One need not cosign everything RFK Jr. has ever said about the virus or vaccines to admit that the mainstream purveyors of pandemic-related information made grave errors of scientific judgment. For instance, The New York Times' lead coronavirus reporter, Apoorva Mandavilli, said the lab leak theory of COVID-19's origins was a "racist" falsehood, and she was in good company. The establishment media's persistent crusade to demonize lab-leak dissentersother than a tiny number of cautiously dissenting voicesdid not end until earlier this year, after multiple federal agencies finally concluded that a lab leak was more likely than natural spillover. If leading Democratic politicians, government health experts, and mainstream media reporters engaged in some self-reflection about their own role in pandemic-era authoritarianism, they might better understand the appeal of a candidate who is running on an explicit platform of never repeating such mistakes. The post Don't Censor RFK Jr. appeared first on Reason.com. When Carl Cody gazed outside his window this past Friday night, the sky seemed lighter than usual. Cody has always been fascinated with stormy weather, so he thought he'd walk out onto his porch and take a peek. Then lightning struck. "I saw one [lightning bolt] off to the right and kind of thought to myself, Holy...'" Cody told AccuWeather. "Then I just happened to look left, and a couple seconds later it was like a flash-bang went off." Cody's Ring camera captured a video of him watching a storm outside his house in Pike Road, a town southeast of Montgomery, Alabama. In the video, Cody steps into the frame before a lightning bolt strikes nearby, accompanied by a bright flash of light. A loud clap of thunder is audible before the video shows Cody retreating back into his house. The National Weather Service warned earlier in the day that thunderstorms were expected to develop across Alabama, with damaging winds, heavy rainfall and frequent lightning among the predicted threats. Montgomery was depicted in an area of "marginal risk" for those weather events for both Friday and Saturday, according to the NWS. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+ Despite the close call, Cody said he wouldn't be wary of stepping outside to watch storms in the future. "I'll go outside every time it rains," he said. "Until I get struck, I'll go out and watch. If I could, I'd be a storm chaser. I'd love to hear tornadoes and everything else if I could." But even for Cody, the storm in Alabama felt severe. "Normally, it doesn't scare me very much, but something that close - I got myself inside pretty quick," he said. Since 2013, there's been an average of 20 deaths a year from lightning in the United States, according to the National Weather Service. In 2023, the U.S. reached seven lightning-related deaths Monday after a New York man was struck while sitting under a tree. In the event of a thunderstorm, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommends staying indoors and staying low as the best defenses against lightning. And if you hear thunder, NOAA advises you should immediately find shelter. 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. Don't feel bad if you don't know who Gov. Doug Burgum is or that he's among the roughly dozen candidates jockeying for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. A June poll by Quinnipiac University showed 90% of Americans haven't heard of North Dakota's billionaire governor. In a primary dominated by former President Donald Trump, he concedes he is one of the least-known contenders, which means coming up with new ways to get attention. One strategy that generated attention and elevated Burgum to qualifying for the Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee Aug. 23 was offering a $20 gift card to people who donated $1 to his presidential campaign, which critics blasted as buying support. Some used their gift card money to donate to President Joe Biden's reelection campaign. "I love the creativity that people have," Burgum told USA TODAY. "I know a lot of people that got their whole family to give a dollar and we got five donors and then they used it to help pay down the food bill or pay for the next tank of gas." But there's plenty that is serious about Burgum, who signed one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the country this year and whose views on energy draw praise from conservative thinkers. He sat down with USA TODAY reporters and editors on Tuesday to introduce himself to voters and talk about the nations biggest challenges and how he wants to solve them. Burgum is a software entrepreneur, largely self-funded North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum speaks at the state Capitol in Bismarck, North Dakota. Burgum has signed a veto-proof bill into law that restricts transgender health care and criminalizes providers who give gender-affirming care to people under 18. Burgum, 66, was born in Arthur, North Dakota, northwest of Fargo. He attended Stanford University, where he earned a masters degree in business administration. In the 1980s, he and his relatives including his grandparents, who owned an agriculture business bought Great Plains Software, a software company that eventually was bought by Microsoft for $1.1 billion in 1997. Most of Burgum's fundraising comes from his own pocket with a $10.2 million personal loan to the campaign. Story continues He has been a major underdog before North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum speaks to the Northside Conservative Breakfast Club in Ankeny. When Burgum first entered politics as a gubernatorial contender in 2016, he was a long shot, trailing by 49% in the GOP primary against a popular attorney general. He won that election by 20%, largely running as an outsider in the year that Trump first captured the Republican nomination for president. Trump's staying power Former President Donald Trump departs after a visit with campaign volunteers at the Elks Lodge, Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Most public polls put Burgum in the basement of the Republican presidential primary and often barely registering with 1% to 2% of voters. Like every other GOP hopeful, he has to contend with a news cycle dominated daily by Trump, who has already been indicted twice on the campaign trail. Asked about the former president's staying power, the North Dakota Republican said that in the seven weeks he has been in the race, he has already made the Aug. 23 debate stage and that polls taken far from Election Day haven't been good forecasts for who wins. "There's lots of twists and turns," Burgum said. "But for us right now, our focus is really on trying to introduce ourselves to the American public because we're the least known of any of the candidates who will be on stage. But we think we've got some of the best qualifications to actually lead the country." Climate change and buying energy from friends FILE -- Wildfires burning in Quebec, Canada, on June 14, 2023. Across North America, Europe and Asia, hundreds of millions of people endured blistering conditions. The U.S. special envoy for climate change called it a threat to all of humankind. (Renaud Philippe/The New York Times) If there's a subject Burgum loves to talk about, it's energy and its role in America's domestic and foreign policy. "The potential for us to have an amazing future as a country has never been greater, and yet we're trapped in this politically and talking about internal division and really talking about the past," he said. Burgum believes human activity has caused climate change, and as governor he made it a goal to get the Roughrider State carbon-neutral by 2030. But he rejects the Democratic worldview of using regulation to curtail fossil fuel use and instead emphasizes innovative technology to capture carbon emissions. The energy debate is also a national security issue, Burgum said. "It's one sentence, which is we need to sell energy to our friends and allies and stop buying it from our adversaries." Winning the cold war against China China's President Xi Jinping (R) speaks with former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger during a meeting in Beijing on July 20, 2023. Burgum's energy views dovetail with a foreign policy perspective that centers on China being America's chief rival in the 21st century. The first campaign ad Burgum launched was all about China's communist leadership, and he has been stark in saying that the U.S. is engaged in a cold war with Beijing that must be won economically. But unlike the Cold War with the Soviet Union, he said, this conflict will require dialogue with China but a firm stance on U.S. values. "There's a lot more nuance required here, because it is a fact that you've got a dictatorship with a bad track record on human rights and a bad track record against democracy, but our two economies are very much intertwined." GOP debate 'all upside' for non-Trump contenders, Burgum says From left, John Kasich, Mike Huckabee, Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Ted Cruz, Chris Christie and Rand Paul at a Republican presidential debate on Oct. 28, 2015, in Boulder, Colo. Qualifying for the Aug. 23 debate is a big step for the Burgum campaign, mainly because it will put the North Dakota governor on national TV. Burgum said that he would support whoever wins the GOP nomination, including Trump, but that he is running to win. "I think competition is good for the Republican Party, and it's great for this country," he said. "Ninety-three percent of Americans want something different than a Biden-Trump matchup, and if that's what they really want, then people should pay attention." What remains unclear is if Trump, the unquestionable front-runner in the primary, will even attend the debate and how that will influence other candidates' approaches. But Burgum said he isn't joining the "media obsession" of candidates commenting on one another's campaigns. "If you got 100% name recognition and you've been participating, it's all downside," he said. "If you've got low name recognition, you know that you've got things that matter to all Americans, it's all upside for us." No national abortion ban Demonstrators hold signs during the Women's March in Washington, Saturday, June 24, 2023. Abortion rights and anti-abortion activists held rallies Saturday in Washington and across the country to call attention to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling on June 24, 2022, which upended the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Like other governors, Burgum is on the front lines of the country reshuffling its reproductive rights laws in the wake of the Supreme Court knocking down Roe v. Wade last year. North Dakota passed one of the nation's most strict abortion bans; it blocks the procedure at all stages of pregnancy at up to six weeks with the exceptions for rape, incest and medical emergencies. But that comes amid other bans failing in conservative-leaning states either through the legislative or referendum processes. The question being posed to many White House hopefuls on the GOP side is whether they support Congress establishing a federal ban, which many social conservatives have been demanding in recent months. Burgum told USA TODAY he would not support such a move, however. "It absolutely belongs to the states," he said. "What would fly in New York would never fly in North Dakota. Those are two very different things." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who's Doug Burgum, the N.D. governor running for president?: Takeaways You are here: China Members of the Chinese Arctic expedition team pose for a photograph at the China Arctic Yellow River Station in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway, on July 24, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] The latest batch of the Chinese Arctic expedition team arrived at the China Arctic Yellow River Station in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean on Monday. This marks the first return to a normal schedule for the station's summer expedition since 2020. The station's director, He Fang, told Xinhua that a total of 41 team members will gradually settle in this year, and they will embark on a series of research activities over the next seven months. He said throughout their stay, the team will conduct on-site investigations for nine scientific research projects, covering four major research directions, including terrestrial ecology, marine ecology, space physics, and glacier change monitoring in the Arctic region. The expedition team will also collaborate with their Norwegian counterparts in a joint investigation and research on Arctic environmental pollutants. Established in July 2004, the Yellow River Station is China's first Arctic research station. It is situated in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard at 79 degrees north latitude. China is the eighth country to set up an Arctic research station on the archipelago. In recent years, China has proactively engaged experts from diverse fields in Arctic research, amassing substantial experience. Starting from 1999, China has successfully conducted 12 Arctic scientific expeditions using research vessels "Xuelong" (Snow Dragon) and "Xuelong 2" as platforms. China has gradually established a multidisciplinary observation system encompassing marine, ice and snow, atmospheric, biological, and geological sciences in the Arctic region. BRENTWOOD A Dover woman is being held in jail pending an evidentiary hearing on a charge alleging she sold a man cocaine in Exeter, causing his death. Police say Ashley Q. Holt, 40, sold a man cocaine near Phillips Exeter Academy March 8 and he was found dead the following day near white powder believed to be the drug. She was arrested Tuesday, July 25, on two felony charges sale of a controlled drug and sale of a controlled drug with death resulting and arraigned at Rockingham Superior Court Wednesday, July 26. The maximum penalty for the sale of a controlled drug resulting in death is punishable with life in prison in New Hampshire. Prosecutors argued in court that qualified Holt to be held without bail, similar to other charges that can result in life imprisonment like first-degree murder. They also argued Holt should be held because she's a danger to herself and the community. Ashley Q. Holt, 40, was arrested and charged with two drug-related felonies on July 25. Rockingham County prosecutor Marcia Rossen said the fact Holt was with her children in her car negotiating a drug deal with the victim demonstrated she is a danger. Phone records allegedly indicate she texted the victim that she could not speak at the moment because she was with her kids in the car. Obviously its very concerning to the state that the defendant is conducting drug sales with very young children in the car, Rossen said. Schulman agreed to detain Holt because of the statute regarding a life sentence, but only pending the evidentiary hearing set for Thursday, Aug. 3, at 11 a.m., when attorneys will discuss whether there is evidence Holts drug sale caused the death. Hampton Beach rescue: 'Human chain' formed to save swimmers caught in rip current Holts attorney, Paul Garrity, argued the cocaine from his client cannot be pinned as the cause for the victims death. He argued text messages indicate the victim was not feeling the effects of the drug. An affidavit indicates the man texted Holt shortly after purchasing the drugs that night, Im so disappointed, Rossen read while making her own case in the hearing. She said the texts include messages from the victim saying the amount was a gram that cost $200 and that he was already halfway through and had yet to feel the feeling. Story continues Garrity argued because police found cocaine near the victim when he died, it should be determined how much they found to show whether the victim got more cocaine from another individual. If its more than half a gram, I think that is significant evidence in terms of theres someone else involved in this chain of events other than Miss Holt, Garrity said. More: Body found on Salisbury Beach identified as Seabrook man. Chief blames 'broken system.' Exeter police began investigating Holt the day they discovered the man unresponsive and declared him deceased at the scene. Detectives investigating the death determined it was the result of a suspected overdose, according to police. A toxicology report later listed the cause of death as acute combined alcohol and cocaine toxicity. The charge of selling a controlled drug with death resulting is a Class A felony. While it calls for a potential life sentence, it includes the possibility of parole. The Exeter Police Department received assistance in the investigation from the Rockingham and Strafford County Sheriffs Offices and the U.S. Marshals New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Dover woman charged with selling cocaine in Exeter, causing death A construction crane collapsed in New York, on July 26, 2023, injuring several people (Kena Betancur) A high-rise crane partially collapsed in New York's busy Midtown area of Manhattan on Wednesday, slamming into an adjacent building and sending concrete debris crashing to the street. Four civilians suffered minor injuries when the construction crane's arm collapsed shortly before 7:30 am (1130 GMT) after a fire broke out in its operating car, officials said. Dramatic video footage posted on social media showed the arm smashing into a glass skyscraper across the road as residents ran for their lives to escape the falling debris. Mayor Eric Adams said the accident could have been much worse. "We were extremely lucky this morning," he told reporters. New York City Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Pfeifer said the crane was lifting 16 tons of concrete when its cables became weakened by the blaze. He said the crane operator saw the fire and tried to extinguish it but the flames overwhelmed him and he had to leave the crane. "The crane operator was able to get out and is safe," Pfeifer told reporters. The fire department said it was investigating the incident which occurred on 10th Avenue near the Hudson Yards development on the west side of Manhattan. In 2016, a crane collapsed in Lower Manhattan during wind gusts and falling snow, killing one person. pdh/bfm Two additional annual emergency drills, a threat assessment team and a zero-tolerance policy for students who make threats of mass violence are among the newest measures adopted by Metro Nashville Public Schools. The move comes in response to a sweeping, $230 million school safety bill signed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee in May. The MNPS Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt the policy changes during its regularly scheduled Tuesday night meeting, in compliance with the new state requirements. Here's a look at what it changed for the district's safety policies. Freda Player, vice chair of the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education, discusses the agenda during a meeting on July 25. New drills, safety measures, threat assessment team Previously, at least one armed intruder drill was required by the state per year. The new measures require an annual armed intruder drill, along with an annual incident command drill and an emergency safety bus drill. The district will also create a threat assessment team charged with the following, under the new policy: Developing intervention-based approaches to prevent violence, manage reports of potential threats, and create a system that fosters a safe, supportive and effective school environment Documenting all behaviors and incidents deemed to pose a risk to school safety or that resulted in intervention, and providing that information to the director of schools Creating a report of the team's activities that will be shared with the school board before each regular meeting 'Am I safe at school?': How parents, students are reconciling grief with action after Covenant shooting MNPS Director of Schools Adrienne Battle gives a report during a July 25 school board meeting. MNPS Director Adrienne Battle will appoint the members of the team and develop training and operational procedures. While the team's meetings and any documents tied to its assessments will not be made public, according to the policy, the team will be reviewed every year in September. The new rules also require a district employee or approved person to be stationed by the door if it needs to be unlocked for an on-campus activity outside of regular school hours. Story continues Stricter measures for response to threats, violence The new policy adds making a threat of mass violence against school property or a school-related activity a zero-tolerance offense. That means a student can be expelled for at least one regular school year on first offense. MNPS has seen an uptick of threats of mass violence in recent years, including several made via social media, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department. The director of schools can modify the length of the expulsion on a case-by-case basis. The director can also decide if students who commit zero-tolerance offenses should be reassigned to alternative schools. MNPS staff are also now required to report students who commit offenses of assault and battery or vandalism on school grounds that put the life, health or safety of others at risk. What safety measures are already in place School Resource Officer Freddirico Pye poses for a photo at Pearl-Cohn High School in Nashville on May 12. MNPS already has an extensive school safety plan in effect, some of which is not public as a precaution. Recently, MNPD committed to filling all school resource officer vacancies for the district's middle and high schools. However, the police department decided to forgo $5.25 million offered by the state to staff SROs at elementary schools a move that sparked controversy and drew ire from state leaders, including Lee. MNPD currently allows officers to volunteer or log overtime to be on campus at elementary schools for arrival and dismissal times. SRO controversy: Nashville police 'invested in keeping kids safe,' responds to criticism over elementary school SROs Here are some of the safety measures MNPS already employs: Badge-access control to schools Locked doors during and after school hours Locks on classroom doors Advocacy centers to help with restorative practices and behavioral issues Recently added or improved fencing New outdoor lighting Recently expanded security cameras, some of which have add-ons that use use artificial intelligence to detect possible brandished weapons Security vestibules that control entries to each school Emergency access boxes that allow first responders to quickly get into schools This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Student safety at Nashville schools: What parents should know Ohio Highway Patrol Trooper Adrian Wilson's cruiser following a Feb. 13 crash on Interstate 71 northbound near U.S. 62 in the Grove City area of southwestern Franklin County. The patrol says Wilson's cruiser had its emergency lights on when it was struck from behind by a Toyota SUV and sent careening into Wilson, who was on foot outside his cruiser. Wilson was critically injured in the crash. A Georgia woman who critically injured an Ohio Highway Patrol trooper in a crash on Interstate 71 is sentenced to prison while another woman who killed her passenger in an Interstate 270 crash received probation in unrelated Franklin County Common Pleas Court cases. Alea Weil, 30, of Atlanta, plowed into Trooper Adrian E. Wilson's parked cruiser on I-71 on Feb. 13 in southwestern Franklin County, shoving the vehicle into Wilson, who was on foot. The cruisers overhead emergency lights were flashing at the time, the Highway Patrol has said. Wilson, 44, was hospitalized with a broken leg and a severe head injury after the crash, according to court records. Weil was also treated for serious injuries. Weil pleaded guilty last month in Franklin County Common Pleas Court to aggravated vehicular assault and possession of a fentanyl-related compound. Franklin County prosecutors dropped other charges, including misdemeanor counts for operating a motor vehicle while impaired. Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Adrian E. Wilson In front of dozens of troopers sitting in the courtroom Monday, Common Pleas Judge Kim Brown sentenced Weil to five years in prison. Brown could have given Weil up to 6 years in prison. Brown also suspended Weils driver license for six years, according to the Franklin County Prosecutors Office. Wilson, a trooper for 15 years, had stopped on the side of northbound I-71 around milepost 97, near U.S. 62, to pick up some debris in the roadway that might have posed a hazard to other motorists. The patrol reported that Weil, who was driving northbound, slammed her Toyota Rav4 into the back of Wilson's parked cruiser, sending the cruiser forward into him. Both vehicles were damaged extensively. Woman gets community control for crash that killed passenger Italia Jefferson, 22, of Michigan, will spend five years on community control, often called probation, for driving off Interstate 270 and hitting two trees in 2021, leading to the death of one of her passengers, 21-year-old Xitalic Rivera of Chino, California. Story continues The crash happened on westbound Interstate 270 in the Easton area. Jefferson pleaded guilty in April to aggravated vehicular homicide in connection with the crash on the evening of April 23, 2021. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Bill Sperlazza, who sentenced Jefferson on July 20, could have given her up to five years in prison. Sperlazza suspended Jeffersons driver license for five years and ordered her to pay a little more than $4,200 in restitution to Rivera's family to cover funeral costs. Jeffersons defense attorney, Mark Hunt, told The Dispatch that Jefferson was not under the influence of drugs or alchol that night, but was driving at an excessive speed of at least 85 miles per hour. Hunt said it is one of the most tragic cases hes ever handled and the two women were friends. jlaird@dispatch.com @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Driver who hit trooper gets prison while driver in fatal on probation Iranian drone Shahed-131 Moscow and Tehran are building a factory in Russia that will manufacture Iranian-designed combat drones, which could have a significant impact on the war in Ukraine, CNN reported on July 25, citing U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency analysts. Read also: Iran supports territorial integrity of Ukraine The analysts noted that such a factory would provide Russia with new supplies of drones, allowing the country to obtain significantly more kamikaze drones than Iran currently supplies. The analysts also reported that Iran regularly sends equipment to Russia to assist with the construction of the factory. The agency stressed that Iran has so far only transferred about 400 drones to Russia, including models such as the Shahed 131, 136, and Mohajer. However, this arsenal is nearly depleted. The report also says that the United States possesses "irrefutable evidence" that Russia is using Iranian kamikaze drones, despite Tehran's repeated denials. Furthermore, components of the drones used by Russia in Ukraine correspond to those found in Iraq, which were Iranian-made. According to U.S. intelligence, Iran may supply Russia with new Shahed-101 drones. These UAVs are smaller and lighter compared to the ones Russia has already received. Read also: Russia, Iran building combat drone factory in Tatarstan report "There is a possibility that Iran could begin providing the Shahed-101 to Russia, particularly because they are more compact and easier to ship," the report said. In return for helping Moscows war effort in Ukraine, Iran receives financial support and assistance for its space and missile programs from Russia. Read also: Ukrainian diplomat says Minsk-Moscow-Tehran-Beijing alliance is threat to global security On July 6, the Financial Times reported that Moscow and Tehran are continuing their cooperation in the production of combat drones and are building a factory for manufacturing combat drones in Tatarstan. 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 Photo: Arturo Holmes (Getty Images) The case surrounding the heartbreaking death of actor Michael K. Williams has reached its end. According to NBC News, on Tuesday, Carlos Macci, one of the men arrested on drug trafficking charges in connection with Williams death was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. He received 30 months in prison, plus three years of supervised release, with the first year in an inpatient drug treatment facility. I would like to say, your honor, Im sorry for what has happened, the 72-year-old Macci said in court before the sentence was announced. Read more Williams, who was best known for his memorable portrayal of Omar on The Wire, died in September 2021 after overdosing on heroin laced with fentanyl. The day before his death, the actor bought the heroin from someone working with Macci. Prosecutors stated that Macci and the three other men sold the bad batch of drugs even after Williams death became public knowledge. Today was a sad day. There are no winners here, Williams nephew, Dominic Dupont, said outside the courtroom after the sentence. Ahead of the sentencing, David Simon, creator of The Wire and a close friend of Williams, wrote a three-page letter asking the judge for leniency for Macci, noting that the actor would not want him to spend his final years in prison/ No possible good can come from incarcerating a (72-year-old) soul, largely illiterate, who has himself struggled with a lifetime of addiction and who has not engaged in street-level sales of narcotics with ambitions of success and profit but rather as someone caught up in the diaspora of addiction himself, Simon wrote. Michael would look at Mr. Macci and hope against hope that this moment in which he finds himself might prove redemptive, that his remaining years might amount to something more, and that by the grace of love and leniency, something humane and worthy might be rescued from the tragedy, he continued. Story continues U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams agreed that it wasnt in the interest of justice to give Macci a lengthy prison term, but she did comment on the danger of fentanyl and the fact that Macci and the others kept selling their drugs despite knowing their product just killed a man. Abrams told Macci that his choices not only cost Mr. Williams his life, but its costing you your freedom. More from The Root Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. At the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police gathering in Savannah, Dunwoody Chief Billy Grogan was named the Outstanding Chief of the Year for 2023. The GACP awarded Grogan with the title due to his proactive contributions to the Dunwoody Police Department, the GACP, and the Georgia state law enforcement community. Grogan has served in law enforcement for more than 41 years. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] A release about the chiefs award from the Dunwoody Police Department said he first began his service career in 1981 as part of the Marietta Police Department. While serving in Marietta, he rose to the rank of Deputy Chief. When the City of Dunwoody was formed in 2008, he was named Chief of Police of the new citys police department, a position hes held ever since. TRENDING STORIES: Grogans career included multiple degrees related to law enforcement, political science and nationally accredited training programs. The Dunwoody police chief holds a Bachelors degree in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration from Kennesaw State University, as well as being a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Georgia Law Enforcement Command College, the Georgia-International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE), and the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) at the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). I appreciate this honor very much. Ive been working in this field for 41 years, and Ive enjoyed every single minute of it. But I would not be here without the folks Ive worked with throughout my career in Marietta and Dunwoody, Chief Grogan said, accepting the award in Savannah. I want to thank my wife and family for their support. Theyve always been there for me. Grogan was honored by an organization where hes also served in leadership roles. Story continues From 2016 to 2017, Grogan was the 52nd President of GACP. Currently, Grogan is co-chair on the GACPs Legislative Committee, and a member of its Alarm Management and State Certification Committees. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] OTHER NEWS: About 140 migrants are stranded in a buffer zone between Libya and Tunisia (Mahmud TURKIA) African migrants pleaded to be saved from a desert zone between Libya and Tunisia on Wednesday, weeks after Tunisian authorities allegedly dumped dozens of them there with nothing. "We are dying. We are dying by the minute," a Nigerian who wanted to be identified only by his first name, George, told AFP. "Please, I'm begging you. Take us from here now," said George, 43. "Come and rescue us from this place." On Tuesday Libya's interior ministry said the bodies of five African migrants had been found near Tunisia's border. The group of about 140 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa are the latest to be taken to Tunisia's borderlands with Libya or Algeria, according to border guards, migrants and NGO workers who reported previous cases. "We don't know where we are living here. We've been suffering with no food and no water," George said at the migrants' makeshift camp among barbed wire 30 metres (33 yards) from a Libyan border post on the seashore at Ras Jedir. He said he had been working as a barber for 18 months in the Tunisian coastal city of Sfax, where his wife and baby remained after he was forced out. "The Tunisian police, they aim their weapons... and say we are terrorists," George said. The Libyans tell the migrants not to go further into their territory, leaving them "stuck in the middle," George said, as a heatwave grips the Mediterranean. Through the Red Crescent the Libyans have, however, brought them some food and water, which they share among themselves. Another migrant, Fatima, 36, from Niger, said Tunisian soldiers "took everything from us", including their mobile phones, and left them there. She also declined to give a last name. Some held up torn pieces of cardboard with hand-written messages. One asked the International Organization for Migration to "help please". "We are humans," another said. - Racial tensions - Story continues In early July, hundreds of migrants from sub-Saharan African countries were driven out of the Tunisian port city of Sfax as racial tensions flared following the death of a Tunisian man in a clash between locals and migrants. At its closest point, near Sfax, Tunisia is only about 130 kilometres from the Italian island of Lampedusa. The North African country is a gateway for migrants and asylum-seekers attempting perilous sea voyages in hopes of a better life in Europe. Mubarak Adam Mohamad, 24, said he had fled the war in Sudan for Libya before reaching Tunisia. "I was arrested by the police in Sfax and brought here by force," he told AFP, appealing for "regional and international organisations" to rescue them. Medecins du Monde, an aid group, called on Tunisian authorities to facilitate humanitarian access. "These people find themselves in a situation of great vulnerability," the group said in a statement. Human Rights Watch said up to 1,200 black Africans were "expelled or forcibly transferred by Tunisian security forces" to the country's desert border regions with Libya and Algeria this month. In mid-July the Tunisian Red Crescent said it had provided shelter to at least 630 migrants who had been taken after July 3 to Ras Jedir, north of Al-Assah. Around the same time, Libyan border guards also said they rescued dozens of migrants left in the desert by Tunisian authorities without water and food. An AFP team at the time saw migrants who were visibly exhausted and dehydrated, sitting or lying on the sand and using shrubs to try and shield themselves from the heat that topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). The group were in an uninhabited area close to Al-Assah. str-rb/fka/it/jsa Batteries for e-bikes should be regulated in the same way as fireworks, heavy machinery or medical devices because of the fire risk they pose, a charity has said. In June, a woman and two children died in a fire linked to an e-bike battery. Currently, manufacturers can self-declare that e-bike and e-scooter batteries meet safety standards. But campaigners Electrical Safety First says the batteries should require third-party approval before sale. Cambridgeshire Fire Service said the bike was the "most probable cause" of the fatal blaze in June, and it is investigating the e-bike that was left charging in the flat. Meanwhile, the London Fire Brigade said it has been called to a fire caused by e-bike batteries on average once every two days in 2023. "The huge amount of energy that is released over time when a battery bursts into flames is unlike other fires," said Electrical Safety First chief executive Lesley Rudd. A room could be destroyed "in a matter of minutes" she said. "This unique type of fire requires special measures to tackle the increasing problem." The UK should adopt regulation similar to rules introduced in New York City in March 2023, Ms Rudd believes. The US city has signed into law legislation which requires e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries to meet standards set by a third party with expertise in battery technology. "We need to get on top of this issue now to prevent more lives being lost," said Ms Rudd. "There are too many reckless operators in this space, such as third-party sellers on online marketplaces, who are risking the lives of the public and giving responsible manufacturers of these products a bad name." A government spokesperson told the BBC: "The Office for Product and Safety and Standards is working closely with the fire brigade to ensure product safety issues are properly assessed and action is taken to protect consumers. "If manufacturers don't comply with product safety regulations, appropriate enforcement action will be taken, such as ordering the removal of the product from the market." Story continues 'Incredibly ferocious' According to the London Fire Brigade website, e-bike and e-scooter batteries "can start incredibly ferocious fires" if they are damaged or fail. "Lithium battery fires can spread quickly out of control, and within minutes have started a large fire," it says. Lancaster-based Andrew Beaton said his family are facing "upwards of 50,000 in damages" after an e-bike fire destroyed their home. "If it wasn't for my son, we wouldn't be here," he said. "He was up to get a drink at night and shouted to us after seeing the e-bike on fire - I sprinted downstairs, swung open the front door and threw the bike outside. "In that moment, all the batteries fell out and were exploding like hand grenades." Despite removing the e-bike from the house, he said the fire had already spread to the stairs. "I urge anyone thinking of buying these e-bikes not to - it's not worth your life," he said. Neil Odin, prevention lead for the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), said there has been a "worrying increase" in fires involved lithium ion batteries used by e-bikes. "These are particularly concerning when they occur in people's homes with the incorrect charging or use of items such as e-bikes or e-scooters," he said. "More awareness of the risks is required with a very close look at the standards associated with these products." The NFCC recommends that people do not charge their device's battery while they are sleeping. It also says: Always unplug your charger once it has finished charging Plug the cable into a main socket rather than an extension lead Do not cover the battery with anything while charging Make sure you use the battery recommended by the manufacturer Always use the manufacturer-approved charger for the product Ensure you have working smoke alarms on every floor of your home and in the room where you charge the bike/scooter What can be done? Aside from regulating the sale of the batteries themselves, Electrical Safety First said e-scooters could be made safer if regulation required the battery to be positioned differently, so it was more shielded from damage. It said the current location of batteries on e-scooters - typically under the foot plate - can expose them to damage from the ground as well as water. A mandatory increase to the height of the foot plate by 15 centimetres would minimise impact damage. In a wide-ranging report published today, the charity also recommends: Banning universal chargers altogether, as this is a cause of overcharging - which can cause fires Introducing a standard for so-called conversion kits - which can be used to turn regular bikes into e-bikes Requiring the Home Office to report e-bike and e-scooter fires A nationwide campaign on e-bike and e-scooter safety, backed by the government, to include how to charge devices safely Regulating online marketplaces, where it says "many sub-standard and dangerous e-bike and e-scooters are purchased" The UK Bicycle Association (BA), the trade association representing the UK cycle industry said it would "fully support" such regulation. "The BA particularly welcomes the comments around regulation of online marketplaces, which have been identified by fire services as the route by which many problematic products are sourced," it said. James Metcalfe, founder of e-bike firm Volt, told the BBC there was a proliferation of substandard batteries online and "consumers need to be educated that cheap imported batteries can be extremely dangerous". He said firms like Volt already had robust quality standards and welcomed any measures that would better protect the consumer. The relative of an inmate reacts while another person tries to comfort her as they wait for news about their loved ones outside the prison in Guayaquil, Ecuador July 25, 2023 Police and soldiers who stormed a prison in the Ecuadorean city of Guayaquil following days of unrest say they have come across dozens of bodies. Officials said 31 inmates had been killed since Saturday, when a deadly fight erupted between rival gangs. The violence quickly spread to other jails and inmates took scores of prison guards hostage in jails across Ecuador. Officials said 120 guards had been freed but more than a dozen are thought to still be held against their will. How did the violence unfold? The wave of violence first started in El Litoral, Ecuador's largest men's jail, which forms part of the Guayas prison complex in the port city of Guayaquil. El Litoral prison is located on the outskirts of Guayaquil on the banks of the river Daule The jail houses more than 5,000 inmates, many of whom are members of Ecuador's most violent gangs, such as Los Choneros, Los Lobos, Los Tiguerones and Latin Kings. El Litoral has been the scene of a number of recent prison fights between rival gangs, many of which have been deadly. In April, 12 inmates died in a gang-on-gang confrontation but the most deadly incident occurred in September 2021, when 119 prisoners were killed inside El Litoral. The authorities have tried to quell the violence by housing members of rival gangs in different wings of the prison but overcrowding has made it difficult to keep warring factions apart. The deadly fight which erupted in El Litoral on Saturday reportedly started between inmates housed in wing eight, where members of a gang called Los Tiguerones are locked up, and those of wing nine, which is dominated by members of another gang, calling itself Los Lobos. Ecuador's Interior Minister Juan Zapata said the majority of those killed had been in wing eight. How did the unrest spread? News of the deadly fight in El Litoral quickly spread to other jails across the country. Inmates went on hunger strike in 13 prisons and in at least six penitentiaries prisoners took guards hostage. Story continues This is a pattern which has been seen in previous prison fights and which some analysts blame on the decision to move gang leaders to prisons across the country. The measure was aimed at easing overcrowding in El Litoral as well as breaking up the prison gangs which some of the most violent inmates had formed behind the walls of the Guayaquil jail. But the move appears to have had unintended consequences with the transferred prisoners forming new factions in jails which had until then not experienced such extreme levels of violence. Attacks on a gang in one jail have since triggered vendetta attacks in jails in other parts of the country as fellow gang members communicate via mobile phones they have smuggled into their cells. What's happened to the guards? There has been very scant official information about the guards taken hostage. The country's prison service said late on Tuesday that 120 had been freed but local media are reporting that 15 guards and two employees at a jail in Esmeraldas province are still being held by inmates. The prison service had earlier said that the guards who had been held hostage were all "in a good state". No injuries or deaths of any prison guards have been reported. What has the government done? President Guillermo Lasso declared a state of emergency in Ecuador's prisons - a measure which allows soldiers and police to be sent into the jails. Soldiers were deployed to help retake control of El Litoral A total of 2,700 members of the security forces - 1,500 police officers and 1,200 soldiers - were deployed on Tuesday to retake control of El Litoral prison. Interior Minister Juan Zapata wrote in a tweet in Spanish on Tuesday that "the security forces have taken control of the prisons". He also published a photo and three videos showing handcuffed inmates surrounded by armed security personnel in a prison courtyard. Las fuerzas del orden toman el control de los centros de privacion de la libertad. Debemos unirnos mas que nunca para combatir las amenazas que enfrenta el Estado. Tendran respuestas contundentes de @PoliciaEcuador y @FFAAECUADOR.#NuestroTrabajoContinua pic.twitter.com/bt2NUyF9h4 Juan Zapata (@CapiZapataEC) July 25, 2023 What's the background? Ecuador, which is sandwiched between two of the world's largest cocaine producers - Colombia to the north and Peru to the south - has seen a surge in gang-related violence in recent years. International criminal cartels have infiltrated local gangs and are using Ecuador as a transit country to smuggle cocaine from Colombia and Peru to destinations in North America and Europe. Ecuador's port cities and its Pacific coast have been hardest hit by the activities of these gangs, which try to gain control of these strategic points to load tonnes of cocaine onto ships and smaller vessels headed to lucrative drug markets abroad. Two Mexican crime groups, the infamous Sinaloa cartel - once led by the now-imprisoned Joaquin El Chapo Guzman - and the Jalisco New Generation cartel, have forged key alliances with Ecuadorean gangs. They are thought to have brought with them some of their most gruesome tactics, such as decapitating rivals to spread fear and targeting politicians who they think stand in their way. On Sunday, the mayor of Manta, Ecuador's sixth largest city and a strategic port, was shot dead by a gunmen after receiving threats. There have also been shootouts and explosions in Esmeraldas, a province on the Pacific coast, which have led to the closure of schools in four of Esmeraldas' worst-affected regions. Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, speaks at a symposium themed "Chinese modernization and the national rejuvenation" in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, July 25, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] A symposium themed "Chinese modernization and the national rejuvenation" was held Tuesday in Nanjing, the capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province. Over 150 representatives from both sides of the Taiwan Strait attended the event. Speaking at the event, Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, urged compatriots across the Strait to thoroughly understand that all the compatriots can do well only when the country and nation do well. He emphasized upholding the 1992 Consensus, opposing "Taiwan independence" and adhering to the correct direction for the development of cross-Strait relations, calling for efforts to push the relations back to the right track of peaceful development and make more contributions to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Hung Hsiu-chu, former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang party who attended the symposium, said the current generation should take on the responsibility of leading cross-Strait relations out of jeopardy and towards peace. She called on Taiwan compatriots to seize the opportunity and actively take part in Chinese modernization, achieve better development for themselves and help advance national rejuvenation. Zimbabwe's largest opposition party, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), finally launched its election campaign this month after being banned from holding rallies ahead of the August 2023 general elections. After its leader Nelson Chamisa addressed supporters, snippets of his speech circulated on social media with claims that he vowed to reverse a controversial land reform programme and return land to white farmers. But this is misleading: Chamisa was talking about rural families being displaced from their ancestral land for government projects, saying he would stop this practice and give current landowners title deeds. "In his Speech yesterday at Mkoba Gweru, Chamisa promises his supporters to reverse Land Reform Programme and repossess farms from resettled black Zimbabweans (sic)," reads a post published on July 17, 2023. "This is why he will never win an election, he is aiding Western interests over Zimbabwe Land." The post on Twitter, which is being rebranded as 'X', features pictures of CCC supporters wearing the party's yellow colours at the launch rally on July 16, 2023. It also has a 10-second video of Chamisa speaking in Shona. "The land issue is an important point, everyone who was removed from the land should be returned -- thats where we should start," Chamisa says in the short clip. A screenshot of the misleading post, taken on July 19, 2023 Reactions to the post were mixed, with some calling it misleading while others labelled Chamisa a "sellout". A screenshot of some of the replies to the post, taken on July 19, 2023 Government spokesman Nick Mangwana also posted the short clip on July 16, 2023, calling the land reform "irreversible". Screenshot of Mangwanas post on the day of the CCC rally The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the forerunner to the CCC, had previously said land reform should be de-racialised and that the distribution of land should be done fairly (archived here). However, Chamisa himself did not promise to reverse the land reform programme started under Mugabe. What Chamisa really said AFP Fact Check found Chamisa's full speech in a video posted on the CCCs official YouTube channel on July 17, 2023 (archived here). Story continues Approximately 21 minutes into the footage, he talks about the governments expropriation of ancestral land not farms that were under white ownership as implied in the misleading posts. "Others have been displaced and had their farms taken from them... Don't be misled, when I am elected, I will give you title deeds so that you won't be removed," Chamisa said in Shona, citing the examples of Dinde, Chilonga, and Mutoko (archived here, here and here) where villagers and rural farmers have faced eviction in favour of mining. In 2022, the CCC accused officials from the ruling Zanu-PF of harassing farmers who had been given resettlement offers by demanding their support at the polls (archived here). "The land issue is an important point, all those who have been removed must be returned -- that's where we will begin," Chamisa said in his address, referring to farmers displaced from their ancestral land. During the CCCs inaugural rally in February 2022, Chamisa had made his stance clear on the governments formal land reform policy, saying he "unreservedly agree with the land reform, minus the other challenges of violence" (archived here). Land reform context As reported by AFP, Zimbabwe launched controversial land reforms in 2000 when ruling Zanu-PF party activists and veterans of the 1970s liberation -- under then president Robert Mugabe -- forcibly took more than 4,000 farms from the country's 4,500 white large-scale commercial farmers (archived here). Mugabe justified the land grabs as a way to correct historical injustices by claiming back land that was forcibly taken from the black population, which is why a reversal would be seen by some as "selling out". Critics blame Mugabe's land programme for wreaking havoc on the agricultural sector, a pillar of the economy. In July 2020, Zimbabwe signed a US$3.5 billion agreement to compensate the white farmers. However, earlier this year, white Zimbabwe farmers rejected the government's offer to settle the compensation deal over 10 years instead of 20, calling it a "slap in the face" (archived here). Zimbabweans will vote in local, parliamentary, and presidential polls on August 23, 2023. The Department of Education has launched a civil rights probe into Harvard Universitys policy on legacy admissions in what can be seen as the next step in the legal fight over U.S. college admissions. Lawyers for Civil Rights, a Boston-based nonprofit, filed a federal civil rights complaint earlier this month on behalf of Black and Latino community groups in New England. The complaint, filed with the Education Departments Office for Civil Rights, accuses Harvard of engaging in the discriminatory practice of giving preferential treatment in the admissions process to applicants with familial ties to wealthy donors and alumni. The complaint asks the department to deem practices relating to legacy and donor preferences illegal and to order Harvard to stop such practices if it wants to continue receiving funds from the federal government. LCR said that the Education Department contacted the group on Monday about its request to open an investigation under Title VI into Harvards legacy admissions. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bans discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin in programs and institutions receiving federal financial assistance. An Education Department spokesperson separately confirmed the inquiry to HuffPost on Tuesday but declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing investigation. Efforts to target the common practice of favoring applicants with legacy status in the college admissions process have ramped up since the conservative Supreme Court ruled last month to end race-based affirmative action in college admissions. One of the two universities at the center of that case was Harvard. Democrats have since coalesced around the idea of eliminating legacy admissions, with Sen. Jeff Merkley (Ore.) and Rep. Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.) announcing a plan to reintroduce their bill aimed at targeting policies that give an unfair advantage to college applicants who are the children of alumni and wealthy donors. Story continues President Joe Biden has not directly supported eliminating legacy admissions. But after the Supreme Court affirmative action ruling, he did argue that the college admissions process does not favor the working class. With studies showing that eliminating legacy preferences would do little to compensate for the loss of affirmative action, however, the White House is also looking at alternative ways to respond to the ruling. According to the LCR complaint, nearly 70% of Harvards donor-related and legacy applicants are white. Donor-related applicants are almost seven times more likely to be admitted than non-donor-related applicants, and legacy applicants are almost six times more likely to be admitted. A study released Monday by Harvard and Brown researchers found that wealthy students were twice as likely to be admitted to elite colleges as their lower- or middle-income counterparts with similar standardized test scores. Theres no birthright to Harvard. As the Supreme Court recently noted, eliminating racial discrimination means eliminating all of it. There should be no way to identify who your parents are in the college application process, said LCR Executive Director Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal. Why are we rewarding children for privileges and advantages accrued by prior generations? he continued. Your familys last name and the size of your bank account are not a measure of merit, and should have no bearing on the college admissions process. Related... Students walk through Harvard Yard on April 27, 2022, on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. On Monday, July 24, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education opened an investigation into Harvard Universitys policies on legacy admissions. | Charles Krupa, Associated Press The U.S. Department of Education has opened a civil rights investigation into Harvard Universitys policies on legacy admissions. The use of legacy admissions the practice of giving preferential treatment to family of alumni is under scrutiny because the practice discriminates on the basis of race because it largely benefits white applicants, a complaint filed by Lawyers for Civil Rights earlier this month alleges. The complaint filed on behalf of three advocacy groups the Chica Project, the African Community Economic Development of New England, and the Greater Boston Latino Network argues that Donor and Legacy Preferences disproportionately advantage white applicants. The inquiry comes less than a month after the Supreme Court struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions. Does Harvards legacy admissions discriminate based on race? In a letter, the Office of Civil Rights confirmed that it was investigating whether the University discriminates on the basis of race by using donor and legacy preferences in its undergraduate admissions process in violation of Title VI and its implementing regulations. According to The New York Times analysis of court papers, less than 5% of applicants to Harvard are recruited athletes, legacies, relatives of donors and children of faculty and staff. However, this group makes up about 30% of those admitted every year, with about 70% of those applicants being white. This means that legacy applicants the majority of whom are white are nearly six times more likely to get in. The preferential treatment is conferred without regard to the applicants credentials or merits the benefit is derived simply from being born into a particular family, Lawyers for Civil Rights argues. How did Harvard respond to the investigation? A spokesperson for Harvard responded to the news of the investigation Tuesday by stating that the university has already been reviewing its admissions process to ensure compliance with the law since the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, The Associated Press reported. Story continues Related As this work continues, and moving forward, Harvard remains dedicated to opening doors to opportunity and to redoubling our efforts to encourage students from many different backgrounds to apply for admission, the spokesperson stated. El Paso police over the weekend arrested eight people accused of trespassing on the Star on the Mountain, which is being repaired after being shut down because of repeated vandalism in recent weeks. Residents and visitors are reminded that the giant lighted star on the side of the Franklin Mountains is located on private property and that trespassers will be prosecuted, the El Paso Chamber, which oversees the landmark, said in a statement. On Friday, four men and four women were arrested on the mountain on misdemeanor criminal trespass charges by police officers who where monitoring Scenic Drive because of the previous vandalism to the star, police officials said. Seven of the people arrested were residents of Fort Bliss and the eighth was an 18-year-old woman from Katy, Texas. The accused trespassers ranged in age from 18 to 37, according to a police news release. Gun violence: Argument with woman preceded Fort Bliss soldiers' deadly shooting spree outside El Paso bar, prosecutor says The trespassing cases were accepted by the El Paso District Attorney's Office and the suspects were booked into the El Paso County Jail on bonds ranging from $100 to $1,000, police officials said. They are not accused of vandalism. El Paso's iconic Star on the Mountain was lighted in blue in honor of El Paso law enforcement in November 2020. The Star on the Mountain was shut down after its light bulbs were damaged by vandals on July 13. The star had been previously fixed and relighted after it was damaged by vandals on June 30. The El Paso Chamber said that there is video footage of the vandals. But the video has yet to be publicly released by the police department. The chamber is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the vandals. History: El Paso's Star on the Mountain originated as Christmas ornament The Star on the Mountain began in 1940 as a Christmas ornament lighted only during the holiday season. In 1993, the star became a civic symbol and a nightly feature in the Borderland skyline. The Star on the Mountain is among other high-profile vandalism cases under investigation in El Paso this month. Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church was vandalized during a burglary on July 17 in the Parkland area of Northeast El Paso and an arsonist broke into and set destructive fires inside the 100-year-old El Paso Scottish Rite Temple in Downtown on Monday, July 24. Story continues Anyone with information on vandalism, arson and any other criminal activity may anonymously call Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-8477 (TIPS) or leave a tip online at www.cselpaso.org. El Paso's Star on the Mountain is a Borderland community landmark dating back to 1940. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso police make arrests for Star on the Mountain trespassing The Wire co-creator David Simon, who shared a close friendship with series star Williams, had penned a three-page letter to the judge pleading for leniency for 72-year-old Carlos Macci. An elderly drug dealer involved in the overdose death of acclaimed actor Michael K. Williams will spend two and a half years in prison. According to NBC News, Carlos Macci, 72, was also given three years of supervised release, the first year of which he will spend in an inpatient drug rehab center. Prior to learning his fate, he apologized to the New York federal court for what has happened. Given Maccis age, U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams said she did not believe giving him a significant prison term was in the interest of justice. She also acknowledged his challenging upbringing and lengthy drug misuse history. Actor Michael K. Williams posed for a portrait in July 2016 in Beverly Hills during the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour. He died in 2021, and this week, a 72-year-old man linked to a crew of drug dealers blamed after his death was sentenced to 30 months in prison. (Photo: Chris Pizzello/AP, File) However, she emphasized the severe toll fentanyl has had on Americans and claimed Macci and his crew persisted in selling the narcotic even after knowing it had just killed a man. While handing down her sentence, she looked directly at Macci and noted that selling drugs not only cost Mr. Williams his life, but its costing you your freedom. Macci was one of four individuals arrested on drug trafficking charges after Williams fentanyl overdose death in September 2021. Williams, 54, best known for playing the notorious stickup man Omar Little in HBOs The Wire, died after ingesting heroin laced with fentanyl he purchased from a member of Maccis crew the day before in Brooklyn. The exchange was captured on security footage, and federal prosecutors described it in court documents. In April, Macci pleaded guilty to drug possession and distribution. The Wire co-creator David Simon, who shared a close friendship with Williams, had penned a three-page letter to the judge pleading for leniency for Macci. Ben Zeman, Maccis attorney, asked for a sentence of time served, given his clients age and difficult upbringing. Zeman said in court documents that the defendant had battled drug addiction for most of his life, had never completed second grade and never learned to read or write. Story continues However, federal prosecutors requested the judge sentence Macci to at least four years in prison. Prosecutor Micah Fergenson stated in court that Macci has over 20 prior convictions, most of which were for drug-related charges, and that the last four resulted in time-served sentences. Fergenson added that Maccis attorney said his clients health improved during incarceration, and a longer sentence could benefit the defendant. After the hearing, Williams nephew Dominic Dupont asserted Tuesday was a sad day with no winners. We lost an amazing human being, he said of the star. Dupont spoke in court just before the judge handed down Maccis sentence, sobbing as he recalled telling Williams mother that her son was dead. He said he sympathized with Maccis struggle with addiction. Im really hopeful, he said, NBC reported, that this will be an opportunity for people to see and understand the impacts their decisions will have on people. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Elderly drug dealer gets 2.5 years in Michael K. Williams death appeared first on TheGrio. An elderly drug dealer was sentenced on Tuesday to two-and-a-half years in prison in connection with the overdose death of actor Michael K. Williams. Carlos Macci, who is 72, was among four men arrested on drug trafficking charges tied to the death of Williams, who was best known for his role as the feared stickup man Omar Little in HBO's "The Wire." Macci was sentenced to 30 months in prison, plus three years of supervised release, with the first year in an inpatient drug treatment facility. "I would like to say, your honor, I'm sorry for what has happened," Macci said in the New York City courthouse before the verdict was announced. He had shuffled into the Manhattan courtroom with his hands cuffed and his back slightly hunched over. Macci, who is mostly bald and has a grey beard, kept his eyes trained on U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams as she rendered his sentence. Today was a sad day, Williams' nephew, Dominic Dupont, said outside the courtroom afterward. There are no winners here. We lost an amazing human being, he added. Williams, 54, died in September 2021 after consuming heroin laced with fentanyl. The previous day, he purchased the drugs from a member of Maccis crew in Brooklyn. The exchange was caught on surveillance video and described by New York federal prosecutors in court filings. Macci and the three other defendants continued selling the batch of fentanyl-laced heroin even after Williams fatal overdose made headlines, according to prosecutors. Macci pleaded guilty in April to possessing and distributing narcotics. His lawyer, Benjamin Zeman, requested a sentence of time served citing Macci's advanced age and his hardscrabble background. He dropped out of school in the second grade, never learned to read and write and has struggled with drug addiction for most of his life, Zeman said in court filings. "Mr. Macci was on that block" for "the exact same reason" Williams was there, Zeman told the judge. "He was there to get drugs." Story continues "An additional term of incarceration won't help Mr. Macci or Mr. Williams, and certainly won't prevent the next overdose," he added. In court filings, New York federal prosecutors asked the judge to sentence Macci to at least four years. Micah Fergenson, a prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, noted in court that Macci has more than 20 prior convictions, mostly for drug offenses, and the last four all resulted in sentences of time served. "They had absolutely no deterrent effect," Fergenson said. Fergenson added that, by Macci's lawyer's own account, his health has improved since he was placed in jail. "It's the unusual case where a lengthier term of incarceration" could "benefit the defendant," Fergenson said. David Simon. (Colin McPherson / Corbis via Getty Images file) David Simon, co-creator of "The Wire," wrote a three-page letter to the judge seeking mercy for Macci. Simon had a close relationship with Williams, who was open about his struggles with addiction. "No possible good can come from incarcerating a (72-year-old) soul, largely illiterate, who has himself struggled with a lifetime of addiction and who has not engaged in street-level sales of narcotics with ambitions of success and profit but rather as someone caught up in the diaspora of addiction himself," Simon wrote. "Michael would look at Mr. Macci and hope against hope that this moment in which he finds himself might prove redemptive, that his remaining years might amount to something more, and that by the grace of love and leniency, something humane and worthy might be rescued from the tragedy." Before the judge announced Macci's sentence, Williams' nephew addressed the court. Dupont choked up as he recounted delivering the news to Williams' mother that her son was dead. He went on to say that he felt for Macci and his battle with addiction. "I'm really hopeful that this will be an opportunity for people to see and understand the impacts their decisions will have on people," Dupont said. In announcing her sentence, Abrams said she didn't think it was in the interest of justice to give Macci a lengthy prison term given his age. She also acknowledged his difficult upbringing and long history of drug abuse. But she noted the extraordinary toll fentanyl has taken in the U.S. and that Macci and his crew continued selling the drug "knowing their product just killed a man." Selling drugs, she said while looking directly at Macci, not only cost Mr. Williams his life, but its costing you your freedom. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Two elderly people found burned to death in their home in Italy are among at least 40 people killed as wildfires rage across huge swaths of the Mediterranean. Countries including Italy, Greece and Algeria are deploying thousands of firefighters to battle the devastating fires, which have been fueled by scorching temperatures and strong winds. The highest death toll is in Algeria, where wildfires ripped through 11 provinces in the North African nation, killing at least 34 people, state broadcaster EPTV News reported Monday, citing the countrys interior ministry and local groups. Ten of the victims were soldiers, Reuters reported. More than 8,000 firefighters have been deployed to control the blazes as residents living near forested areas were evacuated, according to EPTV. The situation now appears to be under control, according to Algerias Civil Protection services, which said that it has managed to contain all wildfires, in a statement on Wednesday. A forest fire rages in the mountainous area of Bourbatache, Algeria, on Monday, - Nasri Elyas/AP The Algerian Ministry of the Interior announced at least 34 deaths in multiple forest fires across the country. - Billel Bensalem/APP/NurPhoto/Getty Images Italy, one of the countries hardest hit by extreme heat in Europe, is battling 10 fires in the south of the country including blazes in Sicily, Calabria, Abruzzo and Puglia, where 2,000 people were evacuated from three hotels on Tuesday evening. The fires claimed at least four lives on Tuesday, according to Italian news agency ANSA. A 98-year-old man died as flames reached his home in the coastal city of Reggio Calabria in southern Italy, according to ANSA. In Palermo in Sicily, two people in their 70s were found burned to death in their home near Palermo and an 88-year-old woman died when an ambulance called for her was blocked by the fires. In some parts of Sicily, temperatures reached 47.4 Celsius (117.3 Fahrenheit) on Monday, edging close to the European temperature record of 48.8 degrees Celsius, set in 2021. Italys meteorological agency said that temperatures will dip slightly over the coming days in the south before climbing again towards the weekend. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday that the fires and extreme weather disasters are putting the country to the test. Story continues She came short of announcing a state of emergency in the country as many regions are demanding, tweeting that the government had deployed all the means at its disposal. Further west, in parts of Portugal and southern Spain, emergency teams struggled to contain wildfires on Wednesday as residents were evacuated from the affected regions. Outside the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, on Wednesday morning over 500 firefighters remained at the scene of a wildfire that broke out in the Cascais area, according to Portuguese public broadcaster, RTP. Firefighters remained at the scene after the fire was contained. In the Spanish municipality of Tejeda on Gran Canaria, a forest fire broke out on Tuesday in an area where 200 hectares of land had already burned down, according to Spanish public broadcaster, RTVE. Residents watch a fire burning in Capaci, near Palermo, in Sicily, southern Italy, on July 26. - Alberto Lo Bianco/LaPresse/AP An abandoned shed engulfed in flames in the province of Catania, Italy, on Tuesday. - Fabrizio Villa/Getty Images In Greece, the fire service said 61 new wildfires ravaged parts of the country amid sweltering temperatures as high as 46 degrees Celsius (114.8 degrees Fahrenheit). The countrys fire service said on Wednesday that new blazes prompted evacuation orders in some parts of the cities of Lamia and Volos, after nearly 20,000 people were evacuated from homes and tourist resorts in Rhodes over the weekend. The carbon emissions from the blazes are the highest in the past two decades, according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). Around 1 megaton of carbon emissions was recorded from July 1 to July 25, CAMS said, adding that the wildfires are expected to affect the air quality in the region. Maria Feggou, a volunteer with the Hellenic Red Cross fighting the blaze in Rhodes, said that the situation is difficult to describe. Half of the island is in flames, and it seems uncontrollable, Feggou told CNN on Tuesday. In Evia, two pilots aged 27 and 34 died when their aircraft crashed during a firefighting operation over the island, the Greek Air Force said in a statement. Greeces armed forces announced three days of national mourning. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said at a government cabinet meeting on Tuesday that the fires were a tough test for the country. He warned that things will probably get worse, not better, with warmer temperatures, more drought, stronger winds. The Greek weather agency has warned of rising temperatures in some parts of the country, while the island of Crete has been placed under a state of alarm for extreme risk of fire. Flames burn a tree in Vati village, on the Greek island of Rhodes, on July 25. - Petros Giannakouris/AP An aerial view shows burnt vehicles and trees after a fire near Vati, on Rhodes, on July 26, 2023. - Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images In Turkey, forest wildfires ignited Monday night in the southern Mediterranean province of Antalya, according to Antalya Municipalitys statement. Antalyas Mayor Muhittin Bocek said Tuesday, Our efforts to extinguish the forest fire that broke out last night in Antalyas Kemer district continue. Bocek said 180 hectares of land were affected and the fire was hard to bring under control due to the steepness of the area and the strength of the winds, according to the statement. A total of 10 homes near the fire were evacuated as a precaution. Six people are being treated at the hospital for smoke inhalation, according to Turkeys state media Anadolu. Fires have also broken out in Croatia, south of the city of Dubrovnik, according to the Croatian fire service. Around 130 firefighters and two aircraft have been battling the fires, which are now under control, the fire service said in a statement on Wednesday. Scientists are clear that the kind of extreme weather, which is causing destruction across swaths of the Mediterranean, will become more frequent and more severe as long as the world continues to burn planet-heating fossil fuels. Without the human-caused climate crisis, Europes searing heat wave, which has baked several southern European countries and primed the land for wildfires, would have been virtually impossible, according to a report on Tuesday. CNNs Sharon Braithwaite, Radina Gigova, Niamh Kennedy and Vasco Cotovio contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com As part of a Twitter rebrand, the social-media company changed its domain to X.com. CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images Elon Musk has rebranded Twitter as 'X,' using a new domain X.com. This has caused issues in Indonesia, where users are unable to access X.com, per Al Jazeera. The government said the domain had been used by websites that didn't adhere to its regulations. Twitter's rebrand as 'X' hasn't quite gone to plan in Indonesia, where the site has been temporarily blocked because the domain was previously used by websites that posted "negative" content, Al Jazeera reported. Elon Musk announced on Sunday that the domain X.com, which he previously used for PayPal, had started redirecting users to Twitter. But according to Al Jazeera, millions of Indonesians were subsequently unable to access the social media platform due to the country's strict rules that aim to curb online pornography and gambling. A screenshot shared by a Twitter user appears to show a page saying that the website had been blocked by Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Informatics for violating local laws and regulations. The ministry told Al Jazeera that the X.com domain had previously been used by websites that did not adhere to the country's regulations against "negative" content. The ministry tends to block websites that are considered to be "offensive, criminal, or dangerous to social harmony," Gatria Priyandita, a cyber policy analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told Al Jazeera. This includes websites with adult content, Priyandita said, per the news outlet. Aribowo Sasmito, the cofounder of MAFINDO, a fact-checking group, told Al Jazeera that he believes the website was blocked because it sounded like "XXX," a porn site. X.com began as an online bank founded by Musk in 1999, before it merged with Peter Thiel's Confinity to become PayPal. The company was bought by eBay, which in 2014 used the domain for "x.commerce, an eBay Inc. company," before Musk repurchased it in 2017, Insider's Pete Syme reported. Story continues The director-general of information and public communication at Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Informatics, Usman Kansong, told Al Jazeera that he has been in contact with Elon Musk's company to try to get to grips with the situation. "Earlier today, we spoke with representatives from Twitter and they will send a letter to us to say that X.com will be used by Twitter," Kansong said, per Al Jazeera. X did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Insider also reported on Monday that X.com was seemingly redirecting some users, including cofounder Jack Dorsey, to a GoDaddy ad. Read the original article on Business Insider An ad launched by Progress Action Fund launched, showing an elderly Republican congressman interrupting a couple in the bedroom, has now been banned on X, formerly known as Twitter. According to the Progress Action Fund, which aims to defeat Republicans in red states, the platform has censored its account as well as the ad, called Keep Republicans Out Of Your Bedroom. In addition, the platform has placed a Search Ban and a Search Suggestion Ban on the account. As of Wednesday afternoon, the account did not show up on the social media platform, yet the ad could still be seen on X through retweets from other accounts. The Progress Action Fund said it contacted the platforms legal department and appealed the decision, which was denied. Joe Jacobson, Founder and Executive Director of Progress Action Fund, took a stab at Xs owner: Elon Musk loves free speech, but only when its convenient for him and his far-right political agenda. Political speech is protected under law and Musks competitors clearly agree that our ad should not be censored, he continued. When releasing ads in the future, well be taking them to other platforms, which many others are already doing given Elon Musks frantic and poor leadership at Twitter. The Independent has reached out to X for comment. The ad features a scene in which a woman asks a man if he has a condom. He reaches for the condom in a bedside table drawer, and another suit-covered arm appears, reaching for it as well. Sorry, you cant use those, says an older man, clad in a black suit and red tie, while standing beside the bed. When the woman asks who he is, he replies: Im your Republican congressman. Now that were in charge, were banning birth control. The ad urges voters to vote no on 8 August, in reference to State Issue 1, which would require proposed amendments to Ohios constitution receive the approval of at least 60 per cent of eligible voters voting on the proposed amendment, rather than a simple majority. Story continues Since acquiring Twitter, Mr Musk, a self declared free speech absolutist, has touted free speech as a pillar of the platform. As part of this shift during the takeover, he reinstated Donald Trumps account after a two-year ban, which was due to the risk of further incitement of violence after the January 6 Capitol riot. He also reinstated at least 11 accounts belonging to prominent far-right and anti-trans influencers. On 23 November, the platform announced it is no longer enforcing the Covid-19 misleading information policy. As recently as April, the platform claimed to strive to promote and protect the public conversation. We believe Twitter users have the right to express their opinions and ideas without fear of censorship. In May, he wrote: I am adamant about defending free speech, even if it means losing money. The SBU detained an enemy informer in Mykolaiv The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has detained a Russian informant caught helping to facilitate attacks on crucial logistic facilities in Mykolaiv Oblast, the service reported on July 26. The occupiers hoped to hinder logistics support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine involved in the ongoing counter-offensive operation. Read also: Ukraines SBU nabs Russian agent trying to disrupt Ukrainian counter-offensive near Bakhmut The defendant attempted to identify key railway bridges used by military units on the southern front. He also covertly recorded the movement of personnel and equipment. According to the SBU, the suspect was actively engaged in pro-Kremlin Telegram channels, where he often posted anti-Ukrainian comments, which led to his remote recruitment by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Read also: Ukraines SBU nabs Russian agent helping abuse residents of Mykolayiv Oblast The man was charged with violating two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. He faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted. The SBU arrested another Mykolaiv resident on May 28. He collected data on Ukrainian military units, as well as information about key facilities near the frontline in the south of Ukraine. He also faces up to 12 years in prison. 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 Thirty Hong Kong secondary students will embark on a journey to experience the country's achievements in space science and technology. During the eight-day Young Astronaut Training Camp 2023, they will visit key space observation sites, cutting-edge facilities and have face-to-face communication with space experts. The camp is the 12th of its kind. This year's activity will run from July 29 to Aug 5, during which the students will go to three mainland cities Beijing, Dunhuang in Gansu province and Xi'an in Shaanxi province. The students will visit sites such as the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Astronomical Observatories and Lenghu Mars town in Qinghai province. They will also experience a rocket launch and view space station work with virtual reality technologies, participate in astronomy science and manned space science lectures, and take rocket model production courses. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong government and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong have organized the camp since 2009, with about 330 Hong Kong students having participated. Eric Chan Kwok-ki, Hong Kong's chief secretary for administration, encouraged all the young campers to seize this opportunity to follow the example of the country's space heroes. He added that during the short recruitment period of less than one month, the SAR government has received 120 application forms and selected 30 students. Timothy Ho, curator of the Hong Kong Space Museum, said that each middle school in Hong Kong has the right to nominate two students, after which three rounds of selection will be conducted. Jonathan Choi, chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, said that China's space industry is developing in full swing. He hoped trainees in the camp will have an opportunity to become real astronauts someday and contribute to space development in the SAR and the Chinese mainland. Ngai Yiu-tung, a student in the camp from Christina Alliance Cheng Wing Gee College, said that this is a great opportunity for the youth to experience the rapid development of the country. He said he has decided to major in space engineering and hopes his dream of going into space will come true one day. Lui Pui-ying, a student from Po Leung Kuk Mrs Ma Kam Ming-Cheung Fook Sien College, said that she admires Yang Liwei most among all the astronauts. She added that the camp will definitely be an unforgettable experience for her. Young people with a passion for the environment are being urged to train as foresters and told they are pretty much "guaranteed a job". Students are even dropping out of their degrees after being offered full-time roles by firms "desperate" for staff. Industry leaders said a workforce crisis threatened the UK's ambitious tree-planting targets to fight climate change. The Welsh and UK governments said they were investing in skills and training. A new project at Bangor University in Gwynedd aims to tackle common misconceptions about the industry and attract a younger and more diverse workforce. Students in the Inspiring Future Foresters group plan to take to social media and visit schools to tell their own stories. "Anyone who hears about forestry thinks it's just about big men with chainsaws cutting down trees," said masters student Mercy Babatunji, but she insisted there were many other career opportunities. The 25-year-old from Ondo state in Nigeria hopes to work as an urban forester after finishing her studies, promoting and managing trees in towns and cities. "We all know of the grievous effects of climate change - governments around the world need more people to study forestry and get into this field," she said. "Everyone just walks into a job," after training, Katie Somerville-Hall says she was told Katie Somerville-Hall, 24, from Reading, claimed that students had been told on their open day that "everyone just walks into a job afterwards". "It's a growing sector with a lot more jobs than there are people with the expertise to do them - which is a massive bonus," she said. "I really like the idea of hopefully having a positive impact on a landscape and environment over a long time frame," said Beth Scott, 26, from Stirlingshire, who has already lined up a job with a forestry firm back home in Scotland once her dissertation is handed in in September." Story continues Branching out: Beth Scott has a job lined up when she returns to Scotland The students acknowledged they had "fallen" into forestry, having studied other courses at undergraduate level and felt there was generally "a lack of awareness" about the subject as an option for young people. Bangor is one of only three universities across the UK training foresters to degree level, while provision at FE colleges was described in 2021 as being "at crisis point" in a report by leading forestry organisations. "We anticipate that there are currently around 500 unfilled professional positions in the UK and probably a further 10,000 support positions," said Dr Tim Pagella, who runs the undergraduate forestry programme at Bangor University. The workforce is ageing too - by 2030 about 20% of current foresters are set to have retired. "I think it is a crisis for us - when we think about climate change, trees are one of the first things we talk about - and yet the profession that delivers trees for us is struggling to recruit people." He said there had been instances of students going on work experience placements and not coming back: "They've gone straight into a job with a nice car, a nice salary and a woodland." "In most European countries a forester is seen as someone with a high level of skill," says Sean Reilly of Forest Industry Safety Accord But the sector suffered from an image problem that needed tackling, he said, and urged more discussion about forestry - "a hugely broad discipline" - in the school curriculum. Governments have committed to speed up tree planting to help soak in carbon emissions, with a UK target of 30,000 hectares of new woodland being created every year by 2025. Dr Pagella said it was "undeniable" those goals were at risk due to a shortage of professional foresters coming through the system. The organisation which looks after health and safety in forestry also has concerns about the UK's workforce shortage. At the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show in Llanelwedd, Powys, this week, Forest Industry Safety Accord (FISA) has launched a new bursary to support students on professional forestry degree courses. Director Sean Reilly claimed the industry had not been regarded as a "professional" career choice in the UK in recent decades and that needed to change. "In most European countries a forester is seen as someone with a high level of skill and playing a major role within a local environment or community," he added. A Welsh government spokesman said the forestry sector had "a crucial role to play in the environmental and economic future of Wales." "The work we are doing as part of our timber strategy and net zero skills plan looks at how we can ensure we have the right skills and the right training for the future," he said. A UK government spokeswoman said it was spending 4.9m on projects to support forestry education and skills under the Nature for Climate Fund. "This includes a new professional forester apprenticeship programme at the University of Cumbria, the first degree-level forestry apprenticeship that has been offered in the UK," she said. Watch on iPlayer banner West side homes and businesses in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator KC Becker will visit community leaders and residents in Salt Lake City to listen to community concerns, share information about EPA support and grant opportunities and present the initial results of an environmental justice assessment focused on westside neighborhoods. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Pollution has a "disproportionate" impact on several neighborhoods on Salt Lake City's west side, according to a preliminary report issued by the Environmental Protection Agency. Due to their proximity to I-15, the Salt Lake City International Airport and major railways, the neighborhoods of Westpointe, Jordan Meadows, Poplar Grove, Glendale, Fairpark and Rose Park have greater pollution and health risks that accompany it compared to the rest of the state. "We totally understand there's air quality issues that the west side communities are facing are vexing, impactful and long-standing," said KC Becker, regional administrator who oversees Utah for the EPA. Becker spoke at a community gathering Tuesday night alongside Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, who requested the initial study. Bianca Boggs, an associate at Skeo Solutions who contracted on the study, described it as a literature review of existing data used to establish a baseline for monitoring pollution in the area going forward. "We know that our air quality here doesn't impact every part of the city or the county, and certainly the state, equally," Mendenhall said. Salt Lake County has failed to meet regulatory standards for several pollutants, including eight-hour ozone, particulate matter 2.5 and sulfur dioxide, according to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. A skater in the skate park at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator KC Becker will visit community leaders and residents in Salt Lake City to listen to community concerns, share information about EPA support and grant opportunities and present the initial results of an environmental justice assessment focused on westside neighborhoods. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News And those in west side neighborhoods face higher asthma burdens, higher risks of cancer and lower life expectancies compared to residents on the east side of the city. Much of the pollution comes from manufacturing, vehicle use and construction, as well as natural sources like dust from the Great Salt Lake, wildfire smoke and winter inversion. The report comes amid concerns that the Utah Inland Port will increase pollution in the area. Boggs said the Utah Department of Transportation's plan to widen I-15 will conform with the state's implementation plan to bring certain types of pollution in line with regulatory standards. Story continues UDOT is currently working on an environmental impact statement that it plans to release this fall. Several community members seemed concerned that the EPA report doesn't include projections for the inland port's impact, and criticized the agency for not doing more to protect air quality on the west side. But the federal Clean Air Act gives states the primary authority to enforce clean air standards, and the EPA can only do so much by issuing grants, Becker said. She said the agency can provide "carrots," but the state can use "sticks." Earlier in the day, officials at the EPA announced they are close to providing Salt Lake and Tooele counties with "transformative" grant money to help reduce pollution and combat climate issues. In response to questions about the EPA's ability to regulate pollution in the state, Becker said the study was meant to provide a baseline to help inform officials with the Utah Department of Environmental Quality about the impact to the communities, and reiterated that the agency can't control everything the state does. Mendenhall, a Democrat, said she wishes the state Legislature wasn't dominated by Republicans, and said anger at the EPA for its perceived lack of action over pollution is misguided. Utah House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, also encouraged west side residents to petition their lawmakers for action and express their concerns in legislative meetings. This handout photograph taken and released by the Turkish Presidency Press Office on July 26, 2023, shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) and the leader of the Palestinian Hamas movement Ismail Haniyeh (R) at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. (Mustafa KAMACI) Turkey's leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday spoke in Ankara with the Palestinian president and the head of Hamas in the run-up to a crucial meeting of Palestinian factions set for the weekend. Erdogan, who has good ties with Mahmud Abbas of the Fatah party and Hamas's political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, has said his government will do its best to push for intra-Palestinian reconciliation. He told Wednesday's meeting, which was held behind closed doors, that a lack of unity among the Palestinians benefited those "who wanted to undermine peace" according to the Turkish leader's office. An official in the Palestinian presidency told AFP that Abbas "invited all Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, to attend the meeting of the heads of the factions in Cairo" on Sunday. The meeting will "discuss how to confront aggression against the Palestinian people, especially from the extremist Israeli government, and to strengthen Palestinian unity," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Sources close to the Fatah party and Hamas said that the Ankara meeting organised by Erdogan focused on Palestinian unity and how to end divisions. The meeting is "very important especially in light of the continuation of the Israeli aggression in Jerusalem and the West Bank and the continuation of settlement activity," the sources said. Israel has occupied the West Bank since the Six-Day War of 1967. Since early last year, the territory has seen a string of attacks by Palestinians on Israeli targets, as well as violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities. Earlier this month, Israeli forces conducted a two-day raid on the Jenin refugee camp razing swathes of the area, and killing 12 Palestinians, including militants and children One Israeli soldier was also killed. The raid on Jenin was one of the biggest operations carried out by the Israeli army in the West Bank in years. Story continues - Netanyahu visit postponed - Turkey is home to prominent Hamas officials even though the Palestinian group, which controls the Gaza strip, is considered a terror organisation by much of the West. Haniyeh and the group's former chief Khaled Meshal visits Turkey often. Erdogan is a fervent supporter of the Palestinian cause and a fierce critic of Israel -- but he altered regional strategy by initiating an outreach to Israel after several years of tensions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to visit Turkey this week, but his visit was later postponed, after he had surgery last weekend and as Israel is roiled by protests over contentious judicial reform. Erdogan on Tuesday promised to continue supporting the Palestinian cause and voiced concerns over the flare up of violence in the West Bank, after meeting with Abbas separately. "We will continue to support the Palestinian cause in the strongest way possible," Erdogan said, alongside the Palestinian leader. "We are deeply worried about the increasing loss of life, destruction, the expansion of illegal settlements and settlers violence," the Turkish leader said. "The only way to a just and lasting peace in the region is to defend the vision of a two-state solution." Israeli troops killed a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, the Palestinian health ministry said, as the army confirmed it was conducting "counter-terrorism activity" in a Nablus refugee camp. bur-fo/jmm Stark County Assistant Prosecutor Dennis Barr seeks to re-enact the sequence of the fatal confrontation on March 22 in northeast Canton during his cross examination of Errol G. Frank III, who is standing by the witness stand Wednesday in Stark County Common Pleas Court. CANTON Errol G. Frank III, a Canton man on trial for murder, took the stand in his own defense Wednesday and testified he shot and killed Melvin Stevenson after Stevenson lunged at him and tried to shoot him. Frank's account of what happened was one no one else had heard up to that point and is not supported by any other witness accounts, including his own prior statement to police, of the March fatal shooting. Frank has pleaded innocent to charges of murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence. Frank said Stevenson, who was formerly married to Frank's wife, had called him and his wife from prison and referenced their new address on Morris Avenue NE over the phone. "It scared me. Because it's a guy in prison. How do you know my address? Me and my wife had just moved there," Frank told the jury that will decide his fate. Frank and his wife got a court protection order last year against Stevenson and he had been getting threatening phone calls from Stevenson. Errol Frank's account of the shooting On the day Stevenson was shot, March 22, Frank testified he was driving home from work in Wooster when his wife, Tricia, called him, crying and hysterical. She had seen her ex-husband, Stevenson, walking along 12th Street NW. Frank said he went home to get his gun in case Stevenson became violent. He then drove in an area about two miles from his home to find him even though he said he didn't know what Stevenson looked like. He said he stopped his vehicle at Nimisila Park near a man he suspected was Stevenson and called Stevenson's name. "So I turned around with the pure intentions if actually to see if this was Melvin Stevenson. And if it was .... I wanted to talk to him because of the fact I was tired for the last year of living in fear and I just wanted to have a man-to-man conversation to see if we could come up with some type of solution," Frank testified. Frank said he then drove to Lippard Road NE and parked. He intercepted Stevenson crossing the street. Stevenson asked him about the name of nearby apartments. Frank said his "COVID" mask fell off, revealing who he was, leading to the fatal confrontation. Story continues "He looked at me. His whole demeanor changed," said Frank. "It changed from a normal person walking to like a vicious animal about to attack its prey. And at that point, that's when he lunged at me and attacked me. During the attack, I heard two loud pops and that's when I went for my gun," Frank said. He said Stevenson ran and Frank chose to run after him. "As he's running, he reaches his arm back like this and there's another loud pop, bop. And that's when I returned one shot." said Frank, who added that he dodged the bullets he said Stevenson fired. "This is like when he's coming at me with his arms out. And at that time, I shoot him another time. ... After that, there was a thud on the floor before his body fell. And at the thud it sounded like something heavy hit the ground. ... And when I looked, there was a gun on the floor so I picked the gun up and I ran to my van. So from that point, I drove home." Frank's attorney Aaron Kovalchik asked, "Did you intend to kill him that day?" "No, sir. My intentions was to talk to him as a man. To see if we could come up with a solution. That he can move on. And find love somewhere else. And my wife don't have to continue living in fear," Frank said. "I didn't know it was going to turn into a gun fight." Errol Frank under cross-examination Dennis Barr, who heads the criminal division at the Stark County Prosecutor's Office, asked Frank why he didn't tell the police detective who questioned him that Stevenson had shot at him first. "And you didn't happen to tell (Detective) Vinny (Romanin) that new story you told her today, did you?" Barr asked. "It's not new," said Frank, adding he told his attorney. Barr said, "Well it's the first time anybody's heard it. Right?" Frank said he left things out of the police questioning "because of the way the interview went with the personal questions and everything, a lot of things I forgot." Barr said sarcastically, "You forgot? ... You got picked up like what 9 o'clock that night? "Yeah, something like that," said Frank. "Some six hours after the shooting?" asked Barr. "Something like that," said Frank. Barr said, referring to Frank's account that he was walking to see a friend, "First of all you lied to Det. (Vincent) Romanin, right?" Frank said, "yes." Canton detective takes the stand, refutes threats The Canton police detective testified Wednesday that he found no phone calls, text messages, Facetime video chats or any communications from Stevenson to the Franks. The two had given police consent to search their phones hours after Stevenson was found on Peel Place NE and OJays Parkway NE. In a video of his questioning recorded by police, Frank said he shot Stevenson because Stevenson had made threats against his wife and family. The detective was one of several witnesses for the prosecution on the second day of the trial. Romanin said he checked the call histories of both Franks phones. Tricia Frank called her husband and was on the phone with him from about 2:46 p.m. to 3:01 p.m. right before Stevenson was shot. She called again and was on a FaceTime video with him from about 3:01 p.m. to 3:08 p.m. Under cross examination by Frank's attorney Kovalchik, Romanin said he did not read the entire analysis for all of the data extracted from Frank's phone. Romanin said he saw some of the report but not all of it because the data was voluminous. The prosecution also played several video clips from surveillance cameras near where Stevenson was found. Romanin explained that the video showed Frank driving his Mazda to and from the scene. In one video minutes before he was shot, Stevenson can be seen crossing a street and Frank's Mazda is driving by him. Related: Defense attorney: Canton man fatally shot Melvin Stevenson in self-defense Dr. Alison Krywanczyk, a pathologist with the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's office, testified that she performed an autopsy on Stevenson's body. He was shot twice. One bullet entered through around the top of his scalp and exited around his upper lip; the other entered through his back and exited his abdomen. Frank was the last witness to testify Wednesday afternoon. The jury received instructions from Judge Frank Forchione. Closing arguments will take place at 8:30 a.m. And then the jury will begin its deliberations. The most serious charge, murder, carries a potential prison term of 15 years to life in addition to at least three additional years for using a firearm in the commission of the crime. Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com. This article originally appeared on The Repository: Errol Frank III takes stand, testifies man he shot attacked him first BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union on Wednesday agreed to ban exports of battlefield equipment and aviation parts to Belarus, expanding sanctions on the Kremlin ally for its involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine. Spain, the current holder of the EU's rotating chairmanship, said in a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the new sanctions were a response to "the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine." Lithuania's EU ambassador, Arnoldas Pranckevicius, said in his post on X that the embargo covered "dual use battlefield and aviation goods", as well as a blacklist of individuals. The decision must still be finalised and will take effect if none of the bloc's 27 member states raise last-minute objections by Friday. A draft of the decision, which is dated June 24 and was seen by Reuters, named aircraft engines and their parts among exports under the new sanctions that extend to Belarus more of the trade curbs the EU has in place against Russia. Introducing sanctions requires the approval of all 27 member countries, something that has been missing for a wider package of restrictions that would target Belarusian industry, as advocated for by hawks Poland and Lithuania. (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Gabriela Baczynska, additional reporting by Justyna Pawlak; Editing by Bernadette Baum) By Kate Abnett BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union wants to sign contracts this year for up to 12 firefighting planes, the first it would fully own, to improve its ability to fight blazes fuelled by climate change, the bloc's head of crisis management said. The EU doubled its existing reserve fleet of firefighting aircraft in the past year, after devastating fires last summer in southern Europe exhausted its previous 13-craft capacity. That fleet comprises 28 aircraft, which the EU pays to lease from EU countries' own fleets or the market, to form a bloc-wide buffer during the wildfire season. That doubling of numbers is expected to cost 23 million euros, the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, said. But as climate change increases the risk of severe blazes, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic said Brussels wanted contracts signed this year to buy 12 EU-owned craft, plus another 12 to bolster countries' own national fleets. "We could have the first planes delivered two years later. And the whole fleet would be there by the end of the decade," Lenarcic told Reuters. Manufacturer De Havilland Canada has agreed to re-launch production of the "Canadair" aircraft, if the EU orders are placed, Lenarcic said. Six member states would sign the contracts: Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The EU would finance the purchase of the 12 planes for its own fleet, while member states would pay for their own. De Havilland said in a statement it has completed its critical design review of the DHC-515 Firefighter and anticipates "completing contracts with our customers in the coming months, with first delivery before the fire season of 2027." Europe is facing another summer of disastrous extreme weather. Wildfires in Greece have killed three people and caused thousands of tourists to evacuate, while Italian firefighters said they battled nearly 1,400 fires between Sunday and Tuesday. Story continues "The situation that we see in southern Europe shows that we are in the climate crisis. It's already here," Lenarcic said. EU countries are responsible for responding to wildfires, and request assistance from the EU reserve only when they need back-up. The EU can also offer emergency support to non-EU countries. The bloc received 11 such requests in 2022 and has had four this year so far - including in Greece and Tunisia, where EU reserve planes are currently battling blazes. Lenarcic said climate change-fuelled impacts were now costing Europe at least tens of billions of euros per year - costs that would spiral if countries do not urgently reduce the burning of fossil fuels and the CO2 emissions heating the planet. "The green transition is not going to be cheap. But what we need to explain to our citizens, to the voters, to the electorate, is that if it is not done, the consequences will be much more expensive," he said. (Reporting by Kate Abnett; additional reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal;Editing by Alison Williams and Leslie Adler) Gardon River Saint-Nicolas de Campagnac bridge France drought Mohamad Salaheldin Abdelg Alsayed/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Billions of humans are sweating bullets as the hottest summer in recorded history continues. From the United States to Europe, thousands of temperature records have been shattered due to greenhouse gases released by burning fossil fuels. The Mediterranean Sea hit its highest-ever temperature, reaching 83.1F (28.4C), while the waters in southern Florida hit literal Jacuzzi temperatures at 100F (37.8C), also a record. In Phoenix, Arizona, temperatures have exceeded 110F (43.3C) for 26 days in a row, by far the longest streak on record. Lest there be any doubt that such climate change is caused by human activity, a rapid attribution report was recently put together proving precisely that. After collecting weather data from three continents during the ongoing heatwave and analyzing it with a peer-reviewed computer simulation model, an international team of scientists called World Weather Attribution deduced that as a result of climate change the current extreme heat waves are both more frequent and more intense. Indeed, they'd be "virtually impossible" without climate change. "Without climate change we wouldn't see this at all or it would be so rare that it would basically be not happening," explained Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London and co-leader of the project, told NPR. Although that study itself has not yet been peer reviewed, the same cannot be said of research published earlier this month in the scientific journal PNAS. It drew from numerous state-of-the-art simulations and found that the current compound drought and heatwaves (or CDHW events) are expected to happen roughly twice a year all over the world. "It's a 'new abnormal' and it is now playing out in real time," study co-author Dr. Michael E. Mann of the University of Pennsylvania told Salon at the time. According to former acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal, Donald Trump will likely be indicted for a third time sooner rather than later, despite continuing developments in the investigation. Special counsel Jack Smith last week sent the former president a letter informing him he was a target of the probe into 2020 election interference. Trump announced the news on Truth Social Sunday night. Katyal said Smith would have expected Trump to post about it within minutes. So I do think his ducks are probably all in a row, the former Justice Department official said of Smith and his team of prosecutors. .@neal_katyal: "For Jack Smith to send that letter, he had to be pretty sure he was going to indict, and indict soon." #TheReidOutpic.twitter.com/0oaJuiWUph The ReidOut (@thereidout) July 25, 2023 Theres some new evidence about Bernie Kerik, and so on. But I think none of thats probably going to slow this thing down, Katyal added. A lawyer for Kerik revealed Monday that that former New York police commissioner had handed over thousands of pages of material to Smith. Kerik, a Trump ally, helped Trump to gather supposed evidence of fraud to support his effort to overturn the 2020 election. For Jack Smith to send that letter, he had to be pretty sure he was going to indict, and indict soon, Katyal said. So I expect this week. But look, could it be next week or the week after? You know, absolutely. A target letter does not guarantee an indictment, but legal experts have indicated its very likely. Its not clear what charges Trump would face. If it happens, it will be Trumps third indictment this year. He was charged with dozens of felonies in March in the Stormy Daniels hush money case, and also faces federal charges over his handling of classified documents in a separate case led by Smith. The officers of the State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine have served Vadym Rabinovych, former MP from the banned pro-Russian political party Opposition Platform For Life, with a notice of suspicion for high treason. Source: State Bureau of Investigation press service; The Office of the Prosecutor General press service Details: According to the investigation, the MP distributed anti-Ukrainian propaganda information among the population and political leadership of the European Union countries. Quote from State Bureau of Investigation: "Rabinovych made public manipulative statements in his numerous speeches and interviews that were harmful to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability, [as well as] state, economic and information security of Ukraine. His propaganda helped the Russian leadership achieve its military and political goals and provided the Russian Federation with ideological assistance in subversive activities against Ukraine." More details: According to the investigation, he is currently hiding abroad. The notice of suspicion was served by sending a corresponding request for international legal assistance to Israel. The sanction of the article provides for up to 15 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property. Background: In March 2022, Rabinovych said in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda that he was located abroad, but he said that he was looking for opportunities to return to Ukraine. According to the MP, at first he was in Israel for treatment, and then he flew to Cyprus. In March of this year, employees of the State Bureau of Investigation searched the property of several MPs from the Opposition Platform For Life faction who illegally crossed or planned to cross the state border of Ukraine, including Rabinovych. For reference: In March 2022, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine suspended the activities of Ukrainian political parties with ties to Russia: Opposition Platform - For Life, Sharii's Party, Ours, Opposition Bloc, Left Opposition, Union of Left Forces, State, Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, Socialist Party of Ukraine, Socialists party and Bloc of Volodymyr Saldo. On April 14, the pro-Russian Opposition Platform For Life party stopped working in the parliament. On May 3, the Verkhovna Rada officially banned the activities of pro-Russian parties in Ukraine. On May 12, the Opposition Platform For Life party officially ceased to exist in the Verkhovna Rada. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Former Marine Daniel Duggan once flew Harrier jets for the United States, taking off and landing on Navy carriers during international missions as part of Marine Attack Squadron 214, based in Yuma, Arizona. That was over 20 years ago, but his activity since leaving the service is now the subject of a US indictment that alleges he used his specialist skills to teach Chinese pilots how to land planes on aircraft carriers, claims he denies. Since last October, Duggan, 54, has been held in a maximum-security prison in regional Australia as his lawyers fight an extradition order, approved by Australias attorney general, to return him to the US to face trial on charges including money laundering and conspiracy to export US defense services. On Tuesday, Duggans lawyers argued for a stay of extradition while Australias Office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) investigates claims of improper action by Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), including that Duggan was lured from China, where he was living, to Australia, where the US had legal reach to arrest him. The case comes as the US and its allies seek to unite against China in the Indo-Pacific, where Beijing has been fortifying islands with military installations that they fear may one day be used in a regional conflict. From Lithgow Correctional Centre, where hes being held, Duggan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that he was living a nightmare. I strenuously reject the indictment in its entirety, he said. Duggans wife Saffrine wants Australian officials to block his extradition, and on Tuesday she and some of their six children stood outside court, holding signs calling for him to be freed. Were horrified that something like this could happen, not only to us, but to anyone, Saffrine Duggan told her supporters. I would never have thought this could ever happen in Australia, let alone to our family. My family is brave and strong and so are our friends, and so is my husband, but we are all terribly torn apart. Story continues Saffrine Duggan speaks to supporters outside a Sydney court on Tuesday, July 25, as lawyers argue her husband's case. - Paul Devitt/CNN The allegations After completing his final mission as a Major with the US Marines, Duggan moved to Australia in 2002. He met Saffrine in 2011, and a year later he became an Australian citizen, renounced his US citizenship, and the family moved to China. Saffrine and the children moved back to Australia in 2018, and Duggan joined them in September 2022, after receiving Australian security clearance for an aviation licence, his supporters say. But within weeks, that clearance was revoked and he was taken into custody. The charges relate to a period between November 2009 and November 2012, when Duggan then a US citizen was alleged to have trained Chinese military pilots in China, according to a 2017 indictment that was unsealed last December. The indictment said that as early as 2008, Duggan received an email from the US State Department telling him he was required to register with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and apply for permission to train a foreign air force. Instead, it claims he conspired with others including the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA) to export defense services in violation of an arms embargo on China. An undated image of former US fighter pilot Daniel Duggan with his wife Saffrine in Tasmania. - Courtesy Saffrine Duggan In a statement to CNN, TFASA said it complies with the laws of every jurisdiction in which it operates. The statement said Duggan undertook one test pilot contract for the company in South Africa between November and December 2012, and never worked for TFASA on any of its training mandates in China. The indictment alleges Duggan negotiated directly with a Chinese firm to provide other defense services for a fee, including the evaluation of pilot trainees, testing of naval aviation related equipment, instruction on tactics, techniques, and procedures for launching planes from, and landing on, a naval aircraft carrier. Duggan told the ABC that none of the training involved the disclosure of secret or proprietary information. Its all public domain, open-source information that anybody, if theyre interested in, could Google it or look it up on Wikipedia, he said. The training offered by TFASA allegedly involved the use of a T-2 Buckeye, a twin-engine, straight-wing airplane, purchased in the US and exported to South Africa, without authorization from the US. In its statement to CNN, TFASA said it only leased the plane from a business associate in South Africa, and never attempted to purchase it. Duggan flew the T-2, among other planes, during his contract, but the company ceased using the aircraft when approached by officials from the US Embassy in South Africa, TFASA added. Former US fighter pilot Daniel Duggan is in custody in Australia pending extradition to the US on charges including that he trained Chinese military pilots. - Courtesy Saffrine Duggan Training Chinese pilots Duggan doesnt deny training Chinese pilots, but he maintains they were civilians plane enthusiasts seeking to improve their skills or prospective members of Chinas then rapidly expanding aviation industry. Glenn Kolomeitz, a former member of the Australian Defence Force and lawyer, who is advocating for the family, told CNN that it is very, very common for people to leave the military and go work overseas. Dan was just an instructor, just a pilot trainer. Thats it, he told CNN. He wasnt a part of the company (TFASA), he wasnt in any way involved in any of the administration, the management, and how could he possibly have thought, or have even considered that there would be any illegality in this, when there are so many people, including high levels from the RAF, the British air force, involved in this training. On October 18, three days before Duggan was arrested in Australia, the UK Defence Ministry issued a statement warning that it was taking decisive steps to stop Chinese recruitment schemes attempting to headhunt serving and former UK Armed Forces pilots. The next day, Australias Defence Minister Richard Marles said he had asked his department to investigate reports that former Australian military pilots had also been recruited by TFASA to work in China. And a spokesperson for New Zealands Defence Force confirmed to Reuters that four of its former military pilots had been recruited by the company. Two days after that, Duggan was taken into custody near his home in rural New South Wales, and only learned of the allegations against him 62 days later, Saffrine said. He faces up to 65 years in prison if found guilty. It has been devastating. The kids and I distraught. Its just a struggle. Its a daily struggle. The kids have lots of questions. Constant tears. I mean, its horrific, she told CNN. Daniel Duggan's children joined protesters on Sunday July 23, 2023 to call for their father's release. - Paul Devitt/CNN Since Duggans arrest, the UK and Australia have moved to tighten laws for former service members who train foreign forces. The new legislation being developed will remove any doubts about the application of these laws to the full breadth of our defence secrets, said a spokesperson for Marles. In a speech in February, Mike Burgess, Australias director-general of security and the head of ASIO, said a small but concerning number of Australian veterans were willing to put cash before country. These individuals are lackeys, more top tools than top guns. Selling our warfighting skills is no different to selling our secrets especially when the training and tactics are being transferred to countries that will use them to close capability gaps, and could use them against us or our allies at some time in the future, he said. The T-2 Buckeye News of Duggans arrest has spread through the ranks of former US Marines, says Ben Hancock, a retired colonel who served a rank above Duggan in the late 90s when he was forward deployed on missions that took him to the Persian Gulf and around Asia, with a final stop in Townsville, Australia. He was what we called a weapons and tactics instructor, which is the highest instructor qualification you can get in the Marine Corps, he said. Its a very expensive course, you have to be hand-picked to be sent to it. And then once you return, you become the training guru for everybody else in the squadron, he said. He was top-notch. I trusted him with my life. Hancock said Duggan left the service as an honorable Marine, and while he hadnt spoken to him since his arrest, they had kept in touch by email sporadically over the years. Hancock said the T-2 Buckeye was used for many generations by US Navy and Marine Corps pilots to learn maneuvers on a ship how to catapult off and trap aircraft as well as make arrested landings. Aircraft from Training Squadron 86 mark the last training flight of the T-2 Buckeye, the Navy's longest-serving jet trainer, Pensacola, Fla., Aug. 8, 2008. - US Department of Defense He said it was unusual to see a T-2 Buckeye at a civilian flight school, because most of them had been mothballed, but described it as a great introductory aircraft for military training. Its great aerobatic airplane if you want to teach a guy to fly a twin-engine jet, how to handle jets, the speed of jet over propeller airplanes, and then do aerobatics and stall series Its a great airplane to train anybody in extreme flying environments that allow you to recover the airplane safely, he said. He said he hasnt seen the evidence against Duggan, but questions why no one else has been charged and says the vast majority of Duggans experience was piloting Harriers that take off and land vertically, which requires a different approach. As Harrier pilots, all our time at sea, we did short takeoffs using the Harriers capability, not a catapult. Wed pick up under own power and then we did every landing was a vertical landing. And the Chinese dont have in those kinds of jets, he said. So Dan didnt have the expertise, in my opinion, to be training guys for that. Its the wrong type of approach and landing. In its statement to CNN, TFASA denied teaching aircraft carrier approach and landing techniques to Chinese military pilots. TFASA provides training to test pilots, flight test engineers, and basic operational instructor pilots under closely controlled security conditions. All training aspects and material are strictly unclassified, and provided either from open source or the clients themselves. No training involves classified tactics or other information, nor any frontline activities, the statement said. Duggans supporters believe hes been caught up in a hardened approach by Western allies towards China under leader Xi Jinping, who in recent years has expanded the military and expressed his intention to reunify the democratic island of Taiwan with the mainland, despite never having controlled it. US Vice President Joe Biden with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping before talks at a hotel in Beijing on August 19, 2011. - Ng Han Guan/AFP/Getty Images/File At the time Duggan was alleged to have been training Chinese military pilots, Xi was stepping out onto the international stage, visiting the US to meet then Vice President Joe Biden and proposing to strengthen their cooperation. Several years later, under former President Donald Trump, relations deteriorated as both countries engaged in a trade war and ties remain deeply strained to this day. Duggans arrest in 2022 came as the US, UK and Australia formed a stronger security bond under AUKUS, the deal they signed in 2021 to join forces in the Pacific to counter an increasingly assertive China. Kolomeitz, the familys supporter, says Duggan is being used to send a message to Beijing to back off from hiring its former military personnel. Dont be recruiting Western former military people thats what its all about. Right? he said. Its sending a message to China, and its helping to push through the legislative agendas of these agencies. The court was adjourned Tuesday with a date set of November 24 for Duggans extradition hearing. By then, pending any bail application, the former US pilot will have be detained for more than 12 months. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Visitors gather at the booth of Algeria at the 21st Beijing International Book Festival in Beijing, on June 16, 2023. [Photo/VCG] Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune recently paid a five-day visit to China, agreeing to scale up cooperation in a host of new areas. They also discussed the expansion of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) engagements into aerospace, telecommunications, and new energy spheres, featuring a shared emphasis on deepening political trust and long-term cooperation with the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations in view. Moreover, China also said it will continue to provide assistance to Algeria to support economic and social development in the country. Prioritization of Algeria's economic and social development mirrors its value to China's foreign policy. Algeria became the first Arab nation to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership with Beijing in 2014. Historically, both partners stood united against the forces of imperialism and colonization and remained unwavering in their support for one another's sovereignty at the United Nations. Tebboune's landmark visit heralds a new chapter in strengthening the foundations of that partnership. Look no further than Beijing's stated support for a more "significant" Algerian role in international and regional affairs, encouragement of more multi-sector investment, and stronger cooperation in areas such as national defense and security. All this arrives at a time when China and Algeria are demonstrably resolute in their opposition to external interference and envision democratization in international relations. Their joint stakes in accelerating the implementation of the first China-Arab States Summit's outcomes are one example of closing ranks behind meaningful mechanisms for regional security. Algeria joined the BRI in 2018 and formalized an executive plan for its implementation with China late last year. To date, hundreds of Chinese companies have invested in sectors from trade to energy in Algeria, and China has maintained its status as the country's top exporter for about a decade. Tebboune's trip strengthens the case for greater complementarity between Beijing's all-around modernization and opening-up and Algeria's "new Algeria" vision. Prospects of new synergies between the two promise meaningful impacts on BRI cooperation, given China's emphasis on fast-tracking progress on important documents related to the connectivity initiative. "Algeria welcomes Chinese business investment in Algeria and will provide a favorable business environment for such investment cooperation," said Tebboune. Bilateral trade stood in excess of $7.4 billion last year, while Algeria maintains its status as one of the largest markets for China's contracted works. Interestingly, historic relations stand to strengthen further as both sides agree to enhance coordination between their parliaments. China's top legislator Zhao Leji signaled readiness for exchanges "at all levels" between the National People's Congress and the Algerian parliament. In many ways, such multi-tier exchanges can provide concrete legal protection for major bilateral cooperation arrangements reached between their heads of state. Moreover, parliamentary consensus can help reinforce bilateral priorities and align viewpoints on global governance objectives, such as China and Algeria's shared support for evolving the global governance system in a more equitable and rational direction. In Tebboune's own telling, the current international order is very unbalanced, and China's support for inclusivity and openness identifies as a noble pursuit to a world in wait. Tebboune's landmark China visit provides a compelling foundation for such convergence, evident through stronger South-South cooperation, heightened prospects for Algeria's participation in the BRICS, and a range of bilateral cooperation documents struck from transportation, technology, and telecommunications to sustainable development and trade. As China reiterated its promise to work with Algeria to carry forward the longstanding friendship and strive for bigger progress in the China-Algeria comprehensive strategic partnership, the presence of requisite groundwork in this ironclad relationship makes the path to all-around progress all the more certain. Hannan R. Hussain is a foreign affairs commentator, author and recipient of the Fulbright Award. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. By Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden has picked former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley to lead the massive, financially challenged U.S. agency that distributes Social Security benefits to the elderly and disabled, the White House told Reuters on Wednesday. O'Malley, a Democrat, would need to be confirmed by the Senate to become commissioner of the Social Security Administration at a time when political partisanship has made confirming presidential nominees increasingly difficult. A former Baltimore city council member and city mayor, O'Malley's eight-year term as Maryland governor ended in 2015. His 2016 presidential run as a younger, more liberal alternative to Democratic Party frontrunner Hillary Clinton failed to catch fire. "Governor OMalley is a lifelong public servant who has spent his career making government more accessible and transparent, while keeping the American people at the heart of his work," said Biden in a statement. "Since Day 1 I have fought to strengthen and defend Social Security, which tens of millions of Americans have paid into and depend on to support their livelihoods. I know that Governor OMalley will continue to be a strong partner that works tirelessly to protect Social Security for generations to come." The over $1 trillion budget U.S. Social Security agency has been run by an acting commissioner, Kilolo Kijakazi, since Biden in 2021 fired the Trump holdover Andrew Saul after he refused to resign. Democratic lawmakers have been pushing Biden to pick a permanent agency chief for months, citing the low morale reported by its employees. The program with more than 70 million beneficiaries is especially popular with elderly voters in competitive political states from Florida to New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Biden, a Democrat, has accused Republicans of trying to undermine the program, including ahead of his debt limit fight with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the 2022 congressional elections. A number of Republicans, citing chronic U.S. government deficits, have proposed sharp benefit cuts. Story continues Congress has been unable to agree to longer-term solutions to finance the program, which accounts for a fifth of government spending, a proportion that will only grow as the country ages. The main Social Security trust fund's reserves will be depleted within a decade, the program's trustees and the Congressional Budget Office both estimated this year. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Editing by Heather Timmons and Andrea Ricci) By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) - The United States Coast Guard is in talks with Pacific Island countries to expand its maritime law enforcement role by allowing U.S. officers to board and search vessels suspected of illegal activity within their economic zones, officials said. The push to expand the role of U.S. Coast Guard across millions of kilometres of ocean could see U.S. officials board Chinese vessels and comes after an intensification of rivalry in the Pacific between the U.S. and China, which is also seeking to increase its security and fisheries roles. Papua New Guinea (PNG), which U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit this week, the first by a U.S. defence chief, struck the 12th maritime law enforcement agreement between a Pacific Island nation and the U.S. Coast Guard in May. PNG is the furthest country from a U.S. Coast Guard home port to reach such a pact. So-called ship riders, or law officers from PNG, will join the U.S. Coast Guard on patrols of PNG's 2.7 million square km (1 million square miles) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to combat illicit activity. "We provide the legs, if you will, to get out to the further reaches of their EEZ and enforce laws over their sovereign rights," U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Megan Willmann said in an interview on Wednesday. "Whenever PNG wants us, we will try to accommodate that," she said, adding that the goal was for an annual patrol. PNG Prime Minister James Marape has told parliament the U.S. agreement would "establish an expedited mechanism" for consent to board and search vessels suspected of illicit activity, ranging from drug trafficking to fishing. The U.S. announced plans a year ago to battle illegal fishing in the Pacific as part of increased engagement with the region to counter China's security ambitions. U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Commander, Vice Admiral Andrew Tiongson, said on Wednesday a cutter would be relocated to Honolulu this year to focus on the Indo-Pacific, and would start with building partner capacity with Pacific countries. Story continues This year, the U.S. Coast Guard patrolled nine of the 12 Pacific Island nations with which it has a ship rider agreement. "We are definitely looking at states that have distant water fleets, and China is one of them," Willmann said of illegal fishing. BOARDING AGREEMENTS Some Pacific Island nations are in talks to go further than ship rider agreements, to allow U.S. officials to board and search foreign vessels in their waters without a local official present, Willmann said. "Ship boarding agreements" would reduce the diplomatic hurdles, and time constraints, the U.S. Coast Guard faces to enter port to pick up ship riders, she said. "A lot of Pacific Island nations are interested in that and so are we. The logistics of picking up a ship rider is complicated," said U.S. Coast Guard captain Angela Cook, legal adviser on the expanded agreements. Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is the first nation to agree to the U.S. Coast Guard boarding vessels on its behalf. FSM's previous president, who stepped down in May, had complained about Chinese research vessels conducting unauthorised surveillance in its waters. Palau also said it had asked the U.S. to step up patrols after apparent surveillance activity by Chinese vessels, which China denied. Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, with closer ties to China, have declined recent U.S. Coast Guard port calls, however. Willmann said the U.S. Coast Guard was waiting for diplomatic clearance to enter Vanuatu, after being unable to refuel there in January on a patrol for illegal fishing. The Chinese navy visited Vanuatu in April to deliver relief supplies. The U.S. is in the process of establishing an embassy in Vanuatu, after recently opening a mission in Solomon Islands, which last year struck a security pact with China that alarmed Washington and its allies. Austin is expected to meet Marape on Thursday to discuss the next steps in the law enforcement deal, and a separate defence agreement. Marape has told parliament the defence deal allows the U.S. to refurbish and develop PNG ports and airports for civilian and military use. (Reporting by Kirsty Needham) Poll workers across the country have been bombarded with online harassment, in-person acts of intimidation and death threats, incited by conspiracy theories stemming from the 2020 presidential election. Elected officials say they remain worried about their safety. I think there's a very legitimate threat of political violence in this country unlike anything we've seen in recent time, Jena Griswold, Colorados secretary of state, said in an interview with USA TODAY. "We've seen a kidnapping attempt of a sitting governor, political violence against the former speaker's husband, and of course threats and retaliation against election workers," she said. Multiple states moved to create new poll worker protections this year, and in recent months a handful have moved to further incentivize the people many view as the first-line defense of democracy in the United States. Americans who volunteer to oversee and administer our elections are now being offered pay raises. An election worker scans ballots at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center on November 11, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. Ballots continue to be counted in Maricopa County three days after voters went to the polls for the midterm election in Arizona. In June, Oklahoma legislators, who said finding people willing to work on election days has become harder as many veterans have retired, gave election inspectors a 125% pay hike from $110 to $225 per day while doubling the pay for judges and clerks to $200. Earlier this month in Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey signed a measure providing a $50 pay increase for election clerks and inspectors, which marked the first pay hike since 2006. "As a former probate judge, I know firsthand how vital poll workers are to election administration in our state. Poll workers love our communities and work extremely hard," Wes Allen, who serves as Alabama secretary of state, said in a statement to USA TODAY. Experts and pro-democracy groups say these steps mark another serious attempt to boost the morale and number of Americans willing to join the herculean task of administering the 2024 presidential election. But surveys show, despite efforts to fortify legal protections and raise pay, election workers continue to feel the pressure of threats brought on by a relentless misinformation campaign, and remain headed for the exit door. Story continues And even as states begin to take this crisis more seriously, advocates are pleading for federal action to improve conditions for poll workers around the country. Poll: U.S. could be losing 1.5 election workers each day Public officials are rightfully biting their nails about losing experienced election administration professionals ahead of 2024, given the continued bleeding. Roughly three-quarters of local election workers said they feel that threats against them have increased in recent years, according to an April survey by the Brennan Center of Justice. Larry Norden, a senior director for elections and government at the Brennan Center, said it remains unclear if state efforts, including new protections or pay raises, have worked. Their polling data shows the people on the frontline of democracy remain fatigued. Election officials are still concerned both about the safety of staff that includes for workers, but also about the impact that threats, harassment and intimidation will have on recruiting and retaining staff in the future, he said. Poll workers helped voters check in at the Robert Howard Community Center at Diamond Lakes Regional Park in Georgia on Tuesday May 24, 2022. The survey also found 11% of poll workers said they are very or somewhat likely to leave their position before the 2024 contest. If these officials follow through and exit their positions, the Brennan Center said, the country will lose roughly 1.5 election officials per day between the November 2020 and 2024 elections. Federal government must do more, poll workers say As states continue to step up, poll workers say the federal government needs to do more to support them, according to the Brennan Center survey. About 31% said the federal government is not doing anything toward supporting them or their roles in the wake of 2020. That is far less than the 11% who said the same about their state government, and 8% who agreed with that statement about their municipal government. Earlier this year, a group of two dozen current and former elected officials urged Congress to invest $400 million in security grants toward safeguarding poll workers. Meanwhile, advocates and state legislators are thinking of solutions other than pay hikes, including organizations like Vet the Votes, a national group that has launched a campaign to recruit 100,000 military veterans and their family members to be the next generation of poll workers. In 2022, more than 63,000 retired service members signed up to help administer the midterm elections, the group said. "Election officials and others who are concerned about this issue, have to start getting more creative about how to get poll workers because of all the challenges there are to make sure that we're adequately staffed," Norden said. This year, for example, Louisiana enacted legislation permitting a service member who lives in another state or their dependents, if they are stationed in the state, to serve as a poll worker under certain conditions. That change created an exception that a poll worker must be a registered voter in Louisiana. "I don't think there's any question that we need to be thanking the people who do this work, we need to be lifting them up, and it wouldn't hurt to pay them more either," Norden said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Need extra cash? Poll workers are getting a pay raise ahead of 2024 A receptionist for a Florida family eye clinic used patient credit card information to steal thousands of dollars from dozens of patients, police said. In March, Winter Springs Police officers were called to the MacDonald Family EyeCare clinic after they suspected one of their employees was stealing from patients, according to a July 26 release. The clinic told officers they believed one of their receptionists was stealing the credit card information from patients who came for care, according to police. Police investigated and found the receptionist stole information from 76 patients, then used their credit card data for her personal Square account, they said. In total, approximately $44,000 was stolen out of patients accounts, police said. McClatchy News reached out to the clinic for comment and did not receive an immediate response. Charges were filed with the Florida State Attorneys Office and an arrest warrant was issued for the receptionist, according to the release. She was taken into custody on several charges, on July 21, police said. McClatchy News reached out to the Winter Springs Police Department for the specific charges. Winter Springs is located about 15 miles north of Orlando. Homeowner jailed for spraying passing woman in face with water hose, Florida cops say 16-year-old fighting with mom lights Hilton lobby couch on fire, Florida cops say Tourist falls to his death from condo tower balcony in Florida Panhandle, cops say Teacher accused of sexual acts with student nabbed after fleeing US, Florida cops say Western partners are discussing, but have not yet agreed on, a plan to provide Ukraine with F-16s and train Ukrainian pilots to fly the fighter jets. Source: Politico with reference to its sources Details: Politico noted that Western partners have not even agreed on a plan to train Ukrainian pilots to fly the promised fighter jets, as three US officials familiar with the negotiations told. Denmark and the Netherlands are leading an 11-nation coalition in support of the training, but so far no country has publicly committed aircraft to the program. The Western discussion comes at a time when Ukraine is demanding additional military capabilities to break through Russian defences on the battlefield. And Ukraine is stepping up pressure on allies to provide the F-16s as Russia pulls out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the jets could help protect a corridor that is vital to global food security. One training proposal that has been discussed involves sending Ukrainian pilots to the United States to receive instruction from the 162nd Air Wing, a National Guard unit based in Tucson, Arizona, that already trains foreign partners on F-16s. But the idea has not received enough support, as two US officials and one European official told Politico. Another plan involves sending US military pilots to Europe to train Ukrainians outside the US. Two US officials said nothing is off the table and no final decisions have been made. "Theres collaboration ongoing. We are working with our partners and allies to determine the most practical way to implement this plan," one of the officials said. The coalition has taken some steps to start training. The US official said aerospace contractor Draken International had begun recruiting retired military pilots to train Ukrainians. The training will take place at a facility under construction in Romania, which is to become a regional F-16 training centre. Story continues Another training centre will be set up in Denmark, European officials said. European partners hope that training can begin as early as this summer, most likely at a European training facility, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the UK plans to start basic flight and language training for Ukrainian pilots within weeks, she said. "In terms of any aircraft delivery or any additional timelines, I just dont have anything for you today," Singh added. Despite the announcement, training on the F-16s cannot begin until the US Department of State officially approves the transfer of related training materials, such as manuals and flight simulators. This approval, which is required under export restrictions, has not yet taken place. Realistically, US officials stated, the aircraft will not arrive until spring. "Wed probably get some pilots flying, training by the end of the year, but an actual F-16 with Ukrainian colors is not likely before the spring," the fourth US official said. Background: Before that, 30 members of the European Parliament joined the call for the delivery of fourth-generation F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine as soon as possible, with training for Ukrainian pilots to begin in August. At the NATO summit in Lithuania, Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov signed a memorandum with 11 coalition member states that sets out the conditions for training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s. The White House believes that Ukraine is likely to receive F-16s by the end of this year. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Scoop Customers have asked to run OpenAI models on non-Microsoft cloud services or on their own local servers, but OpenAI has no immediate plans to offer such options, according to people familiar with the matter. That means theres one area where rivals of the ChatGPT creator have an edge: flexibility. To use OpenAIs technology, paying customers have two choices: They can go directly through OpenAI or through investment partner Microsoft, which has inked a deal to be the exclusive cloud service for OpenAI. Microsoft will not allow OpenAIs models to be available on other cloud providers, according to a person briefed on the matter. Some companies that exclusively use rivals, such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud or Oracle, choose to use other AI models rather than switch cloud providers or send data directly to OpenAI. But Microsoft would allow OpenAI models to be offered on premises in which customers build their own servers. Creating such solutions would pose some challenges, particularly around OpenAIs intellectual property. But it is technically feasible, this person said. Spokespeople from OpenAI and Microsoft declined to comment. Right now, every time customers access OpenAI models, they are sending data to Sam Altmans company or Microsoft. They are also paying for the cloud computing costs for each query. For companies with sensitive data or that cant send data to the cloud because of regulatory reasons, OpenAI isnt an option. And companies that would rather build their own servers instead of paying cloud computing costs might opt for alternatives. Its unclear how many customers fall into that bucket. Some companies, like Morgan Stanley, send data directly to OpenAI, which does not use it to train its AI models. Microsoft does offer a hybrid cloud option to customers, where companies can take advantage of the cloud while storing sensitive data on local servers. But even with that solution, companies would still be required to send some data to Microsoft in order to utilize OpenAI models. Story continues Know More The pressure on OpenAI intensified after last week, when Meta released a competing AI model called Llama 2 that is distinct from OpenAI in one major way: Its open source. That means companies, individuals and researchers can use it any way they wish, including by fine-tuning it for their own purposes, something that is not possible with OpenAIs GPT-4 model. Llama 2 can also be downsized so it can run on low-power devices, which could cut costs and increase speed. OpenAI has released its own open source models in the past and it may release more in the future. But when it comes to its top-tier model, GPT-4, open source is not an option, Altman has said. OpenAI argues that open-sourcing powerful foundation models would be dangerous because they could be misused. It would also almost certainly lead to a loss of valuable trade secrets for OpenAI, allowing competitors to catch up and potential customers to use the technology for free. Reeds view The AI landscape is increasingly competitive. Claude 2, a competing model developed by Anthropic, a company founded by former OpenAI employees, is available on multiple cloud providers, including AWS, the industry leader. By some measures, Claude 2 is a higher performing model. And rivals are becoming widely available. AWS, Google and Oracle are intent on offering customers a plethora of AI options, both open source and closed source. The ace up OpenAIs sleeve is that it may be able race ahead of competitors. GPT-4, the most advanced model available to consumers, was released to the public in March, but it was in use over a year ago, a person close to the company said. And GPT-4, this person said, is not the most advanced technology OpenAI has developed. The idea is that future models from OpenAI will leapfrog competitors, thanks in large part to ever-growing datasets that improve accuracy and sophistication, this person said. But even assuming OpenAI can keep improving its models and stay ahead of the competition, theres still a question of how much better they are. There are a myriad of benchmarks that assess the abilities of these foundational models and rank them such as how well they do on medical and legal exams. But the real question is whether the average consumer can tell the difference. If theyre all good enough, then businesses will gravitate toward the cheapest and most convenient options and some will go for the most secure or private. OpenAI wouldnt be the top choice by any of those measures. But if large language models like GPT are about to see an exponential increase in abilities thats noticeable to consumers, then OpenAI will still be the industry leader, regardless of whether its only available on some cloud providers. Exponential improvements are not a given. Some AI researchers believe that in order to make big advances beyond where we are today, a whole new architecture is needed. Theres no guarantee OpenAI will make such a discovery. Room for Disagreement OpenAI can afford to be less flexible because of its first-mover advantage. That, and the moat its created by gathering more data from the widespread use of ChatGPT, will keep it ahead of competitors, this article argues. OpenAI has made its name synonymous with advanced AI and chatbots, and competitors will have a hard time doing the same. The View From Europe I spoke with a European venture capitalist Tuesday who believes we havent even begun to see the competition in the market yet. From the U.S., Europe looks hindered by the looming threat of ham-handed regulation. But those laws havent passed yet and fears may be overly dramatic. European AI companies hope to take advantage of an influx of Chinese AI researchers who want to leave the homeland but are scared off by the geopolitical implications of working in the U.S. Notable Asylum seekers who have just crossed the border are led by a National Guard troop to be apprehended by Customs and Border Protection in Roma on Aug. 3, 2021. Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune Facing sex discrimination lawsuits for targeting men under the states border security crackdown, Texas has begun putting migrant women in state prisons, too. Since last week, women arrested under Gov. Greg Abbotts yearslong Operation Lone Star have been sent to a state prison facility in Edinburg, prison and state police officials confirmed. By Tuesday, 25 women, most accused only of trespassing, were being held at the Lopez State Jail, which typically houses men convicted of low-level crimes. Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesperson Amanda Hernandez said officials had cleared out one building in the facility to house up to 200 females. Its been two years since state troopers began arresting migrants en masse in response to record-high levels of Texas-Mexico border crossings. Texas cant enforce federal immigration laws, but Abbott skirted the restriction by ordering state police to jail people suspected of illegally crossing the border on misdemeanor trespassing charges. The state cleared out two prisons, which house convicted felons, to instead detain these misdemeanor defendants, not yet convicted of any crime. Soon, thousands of migrants caught on private ranchland or at railyards had been swept into Texas new criminal justice system specifically erected for them. But troopers were instructed to arrest only single men they encountered, turning women and families over to the U.S. Border Patrol. Then the lawsuits came. Under both the U.S. and Texas constitutions, equal protection laws require governments to treat people alike, regardless of race, national origin or sex. Last September, a state district judge tossed out trespassing charges against six migrant men in Zapata County, siding with defense attorneys who argued the state was unconstitutionally discriminating against men by not arresting women or children. A flurry of other legal challenges followed, with varying results. In one case, a judge decided a mans May 2022 arrest in Maverick County wasnt discriminatory because the women in his group, who were referred to immigration authorities, could be charged later, even though troopers had not collected any identifying information. An intermediate appeals court overturned that ruling last month, finding the mans arrest expressly discriminated on the basis of sex. Story continues As the legal filings began mounting, the Texas Department of Public Safety changed course, telling troopers in December to begin arresting single, female migrants, a department spokesperson said last week. Troopers are still told not to arrest minors, adults over 65 or families. Defense lawyers say the change appears to be a direct response to sex discrimination lawsuits. Since we started making equal protection challenges, weve seen a few token arrests of females here and there, said Kristin Etter, Texas RioGrande Legal Aids lead attorney for Operation Lone Star cases. But the practice of releasing females to Border Patrol for processing is still widespread. As of Saturday, DPS said more than 105 women have been arrested for allegedly trespassing in five border counties. Women accused of more serious crimes, like smuggling, have been arrested under Operation Lone Star since its inception. The low number of trespassing arrests may in part be because the state had set up booking centers and two prisons to process and hold men accused of immigration-related crimes, while women were being held at local county jails with little space. The significant influx of criminal activity along the border regions strained the ability of impacted counties to incarcerate those charged with state offenses, Hernandez, with TDCJ, said last week. Hernandez said the Lopez facility was brought into the Operation Lone Star fold to help incarcerate women, mostly those arrested for trespassing. Since it is acting as an alternative to a county jail, not a state prison, there are different, often better, minimum standards of care required. Most notably, this means the building housing female defendants must be air conditioned, something notoriously lacking in the majority of Texas prisons. Court challenges are continuing, however. Defense attorneys have filed repeated challenges to criminal charges based on the discrimination claims, and appeals are pending. The practice of arresting women is still far less common than arresting men, defense attorneys said. But even when discrimination based on sex is obvious, the appeals court said in June, it doesnt necessarily mean the arrest was unconstitutional. Instead, the 4th Court of Appeals told the Maverick County court to weigh whether the discrimination is justified based on a narrowly tailored compelling governmental interest. Prosecutors had argued that discrimination against migrant men is justified because of the emergency situation on Texas southern border. The court of appeals ruling is being appealed to Texas highest criminal court, the Court of Criminal Appeals. Join us for conversations that matter with newly announced speakers at the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival, in downtown Austin from Sept. 21-23. (Reuters) - Cambodia's long-ruling Prime Minister Hun Sen announced on Wednesday he will hand over power to his son Hun Manet, ending a near four-decade reign in the Southeast Asian country increasingly criticised as autocratic. The announcement came just days after Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) swept a general election after running virtually unopposed. Here are details about his son, Cambodia's 45-year-old leader in waiting: WHO IS HUN MANET? The eldest of Hun Sen's five children, Hun Manet was born on October 20, 1977. His father later poetically described the birth by saying Hun Manet was born from a spirit that emerged from a banyan tree in a flash of light. He is married to Pich Chanmony, the daughter of a prominent Cambodian politician. The couple have three children. WESTERN EDUCATION Hun Manet grew up in Phnom Penh and joined the Cambodian military in 1995, but also did much of his higher education in the United States and Britain. He was the first Cambodian to graduate from the U.S. military academy at West Point in 1999. He then got a masters degree in economics from New York University in 2002, and a PhD in economics from the University of Bristol in 2008. MILITARY AND POLITICAL CAREER Hun Manet also rose up the ranks of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, including the posts of deputy of his father's bodyguards, commander of counter-terrorism, commander of the army, and deputy commander-in-chief. He also became head of the youth wing of the ruling Cambodian People's Party and joined its standing committee. In December 2021, Hun Sen named his eldest as his choice to succeed him as leader, and the CPP soon endorsed him as "future prime minister". WHAT ARE HIS POLITICAL VIEWS? Hun Manet has given few media interviews and few clues about his vision for Cambodia and its 16 million people. He has largely avoided lengthy speeches on the campaign trail, restricting himself mostly to smiling and waving. At a large campaign rally on Friday, he said a vote for the CPP was a vote for a bright future and warned of unspecified "extremist" attempts to "destroy the election". Story continues In 2015, Manet told the Australian Broadcasting Corp channel that Cambodia must preserve peace, stability and security "at any cost". WILL HE GOVERN DIFFERENTLY THAN HIS FATHER? 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. Hun Sen has indicated that he expects his heir to rule in his own model. Asked by the Phnom Penh Post if his son might govern differently, Hun Sen laughed. "In what way? Any such divergence means disrupting peace and undoing the achievements of the older generation." (Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) By Bate Felix DAKAR (Reuters) -Niger's presidential guards were holding President Mohamed Bazoum inside his palace in the capital Niamey on Wednesday, in what the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union are calling an attempted coup. It marks the ninth coup or attempted power grab in just over three years in West and Central Africa, a region that over the last decade had made strides to shed its reputation as a "coup belt", only for persistent insecurity and corruption to open the door to military leaders. Here is a list of recent successful coups. BURKINA FASO Burkina Faso's army ousted President Roch Kabore in January 2022, blaming him for failing to contain violence by Islamist militants. Coup leader Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba pledged to restore security, but attacks worsened, eroding morale in the armed forces leading to a second coup eight months later when current junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traore, seized power in September following a mutiny. MALI A group of Malian colonels led by Assimi Goita ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August 2020. The coup followed anti-government protests over deteriorating security, contested legislative elections and allegations of corruption. Under pressure from Mali's West African neighbours, the junta agreed to cede power to a civilian-led interim government tasked with overseeing an 18-month transition to democratic elections in February 2022. But the coup leaders clashed with the interim president, retired colonel Bah Ndaw, and engineered a second coup in May 2021. Goita, who had served as interim vice president, was elevated to the presidency. ECOWAS lifted some of the sanctions on Mali after the military rulers proposed a two-year transition to democracy and published a new electoral law. The country is scheduled to hold a presidential election in February 2024 to return to constitutional rule. CHAD Chad's army took power in April 2021 after President Idriss Deby was killed on the battlefield while visiting troops fighting rebels in the north. Story continues Under Chadian law, the speaker of parliament should have become president. But a military council stepped in and dissolved parliament in the name of ensuring stability. Deby's son, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, was named interim president and tasked with overseeing an 18-month transition to elections. The unconstitutional transfer of power led to riots in the capital N'Djamena that were but down by the military. GUINEA Special forces commander Colonel Mamady Doumbouya ousted President Alpha Conde in September 2021. A year earlier, Conde had changed the constitution to circumvent limits that would have prevented him from standing for a third term, triggering widespread rioting. Doumbouya became interim president and promised a transition to democratic elections within three years. ECOWAS rejected the timeline and imposed sanctions on junta members and their relatives, including freezing their bank accounts. The military regime has since proposed to start the 24-month transition in January 2023, but opposition parties say it has done little to put in place institutions and a roadmap to return to constitutional rule. (Reporting by Bate Felix; Editing by Nick Macfie) A failed Miami-Dade commission candidate spent more than a million dollars challenging one of the countys longest-serving politicians last year. Now, prosecutors allege some of that money was mishandled. Sophia Lacayo, who ran against then-Doral Mayor Juan Carlos JC Bermudez for the District 12 county commission seat in 2022, was charged with a slew of campaign finance law violations, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced at a Wednesday press conference. The numbers provided in the sworn campaign documents, they didnt add up, Fernandez Rundle said. Sophia Lacayo was a candidate for Miami-Dade County Commission in 2022. On Tuesday, July 25, 2023, she was booked at a Miami-Dade jail on charges related to campaign-finance violations. This photograph was taken during the booking process. Lacayo, 45, was arrested while getting off a flight at Miami International Airport. Her charges include: Four counts of making two or more campaign contributions in the name of another, a third-degree felony. Four counts of receiving two or more campaign contributions in excess of the limits, a third degree felony. Seven counts of falsifying reporting or deliberately failing to include information, a first-degree misdemeanor. Three counts of making a campaign contribution in the name of another, a first-degree misdemeanor. Three counts of receiving a campaign contribution in excess of the limit, a first-degree misdemeanor. If convicted, she could face up to 40 years in prison as well as 364 days in jail on each of the misdemeanor charges, the State Attorneys Office confirmed to the Miami Herald, though that likely wouldnt be the case. The violations, Fernandez Rundle said, werent the production of inexperience. They were deliberate steps to sidestep finance laws. The copy of a loan check written to Sophia Lacayo is displayed on a flat screen TV during the press conference during the announcement of her arrest. State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced the arrest of former Miami-Dade commission candidate Sophia Lacayo for alleged campaign finance irregularities during a press conference on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at the State Attorneys Office in Miami, Florida. The legal limit for campaign contributions is $1,000, Fernandez Rundle said. That includes loans from individuals, organizations and political parties. All candidates are required by law to report all contributions, loans and expenditures. But Lacayo, Fernandez Rundle alleged, was running funds through several bank accounts to obscure the source of the money. This is a common strategy associated with money laundering, though it cant be charged in that way due to state law, she said. Story continues The process by which Sophia Lacayo allegedly funneled money from lenders is displayed on a flat screen TV during the press conference announcing her arrest. State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced the arrest of former Miami-Dade commission candidate Sophia Lacayo for alleged campaign finance irregularities during a press conference on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at the State Attorneys Office in Miami, Florida. Lacayo moved more than $450,000 from her business account to her personal account and, ultimately, to her campaign account, Fernandez Rundle said. This was done to sidestep campaign finance limits. The people who loaned Lacayo money, Fernandez Rundle said, arent believed to be involved in any way. No one else on Lacayos campaign team is currently facing charges. Theres no doubt in our mind... that... such actions cannot be tolerated in our community, she said. We need to have fair, honest and transparent elections. State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announces the arrest of former Miami-Dade commission candidate Sophia Lacayo for alleged campaign finance irregularities during a press conference on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at the State Attorneys Office in Miami, Florida. Lacayo, the owner of a tax-preparation business, stunned campaign watchers in 2022 when her campaign outspent Bermudez, nearly 3-to-1 with a $1.8 million war chest. Bermudez was mayor of Doral for more than 15 years. About $1 million of that came from her own accounts and businesses she owned, according to campaign reports. Bermudez won the two-person race with more than 65% of the vote. Sophia Lacayo lost a race for Miami-Dade County Commission in 2022, and now shes facing campaign-finance charges. This isnt the first time Lacayo has been in hot water, Fernandez Rundle added, while mentioning that this is the second prosecution of the political hopeful. During the 2022 campaign, a Lacayo lawyer asked a judge to seal records from a prior criminal case. In 2020, Lacayo was arrested on perjury charges tied to where she claimed to live to qualify for her successful run for the Sweetwater city commission. Lacayos plea agreement then spared her from a guilty verdict, imposing a one-year probation, $3,750 in fees, and a requirement that she resign her Sweetwater seat. She withdrew the request for the records to be sealed after the filing became public. Foreign minister stresses role of Global South countries 08:32, July 26, 2023 By MO JINGXI ( Chinadaily.com.cn Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday called on countries of the Global South, a rising group of emerging economies and developing nations on the world stage, to remain firm and confident in following their own paths and support each other on issues related to their core interests and major concerns. Wang, who is also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when attending the 13th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Global South is now tasked with the important mission of resisting external interference and safeguarding both political and regime security, he said, highlighting the importance of taking concrete actions to counter all attempts to undermine BRICS unity and discredit BRICS cooperation. Established in 2006 as BRIC (South Africa was added in 2010), the grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa has become an important platform for countries of the Global South to get united and strengthen themselves through cooperation in sectors such as politics, security, the economy, finance and culture. Wang said that over the past years, the grouping has been working to enhance the voice and influence of emerging economies and developing countries, which helped inject positive energy into a world full of uncertainties and also demonstrated the significance of BRICS cooperation. Under new circumstances, it is necessary for BRICS countries to strengthen political mutual trust and strategic coordination, continuously provide global public goods that meet the requirements of the times, and transform the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation into concrete actions, he said. To jointly address current global security challenges, the senior diplomat stressed respecting the right of each country to choose its own political system and development path, opposing unilateralism and hegemonic acts and solving disputes through dialogue instead of decoupling. The "big family" of multilateral cooperation must not be disrupted by "small circles" that are closed and exclusive, he said. Wang expressed China's readiness to work with other BRICS members to support each other's efforts in maintaining national security and stability and carry out more pragmatic cooperation in addressing international security challenges. The world should hear a louder BRICS voice and see it play a greater role, he said. Meeting participants exchanged in-depth views and reached a broad consensus on current security challenges and other issues including counterterrorism and cybersecurity, food and water safety, and energy security. They stressed the importance of opposing unilateral sanctions, jointly fighting terrorism and extremism, addressing global challenges, reforming the global governance system and elevating the representation and voice of developing countries. All parties agreed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, support South Africa in hosting the BRICS Summit in August and push for the greater development of BRICS cooperation. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Flash Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the CPC Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, attends the 13th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 25, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on Tuesday called on BRICS countries to carry out more practical cooperation in addressing global security challenges. Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the CPC Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, made the remarks when attending the 13th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in Johannesburg, South Africa. Calling BRICS an important platform for emerging market countries and developing countries to unite and strengthen themselves, Wang said BRICS cooperation has achieved fruitful results and injected positive energy into the volatile world. "Under the new circumstances, we should grasp the direction of the future development of BRICS countries, further strengthen political mutual trust and strategic cooperation, and continuously provide international public products that meet the requirements of the times," he said. To address the current global security challenges and resolve the security dilemmas, Wang urged BRICS countries to adhere to the premise of mutual respect, abide by the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, respect each other's legitimate security concerns and respect the right of countries to choose their political systems and development paths. He also called for adhering to multilateralism, maintaining the multilateral system with the United Nations at its core and rejecting unilateralism and hegemonic practices. "We should adhere to the principle of fairness and justice, follow international law and the generally recognized norms of international relations, resolve disputes through dialogue and settle differences through consultation, and oppose "decoupling and breaking the chain" and "double standards," Wang stressed. The senior Chinese diplomat also urged BRICS countries to adhere to the path of solidarity and cooperation, place national security in the context of common security, jointly address all kinds of security challenges in a spirit of win-win cooperation, and oppose zero-sum games mindset and cold-war mentality. Wang pointed out that the Global South is a collection of emerging market countries and developing countries, adding Global South countries are faced with the important mission of resisting external interference and infiltration, and maintaining political security. He noted Global South countries should maintain strategic stability and self-confidence, unswervingly follow our own path, support each other on issues of mutual core interests and major concerns, and take practical actions to counter all murmurs of provocation against BRICS solidarity and smearing of BRICS cooperation. "We should continue to deepen South-South cooperation, lead the Global South in solidarity and self-empowerment, jointly safeguard national security and stability, and promote the construction of an equal and orderly multipolar world," Wang also said. During the meeting, representatives from BRICS countries held an in-depth exchange of views on current security challenges, counter-terrorism and cybersecurity, food and water security, energy security and other issues, and reached a broad consensus. They agreed that in the face of various security challenges, the BRICS countries should carry forward the BRICS Spirit, support multilateralism, build a multi-polar world, oppose unilateral sanctions and jointly combat terrorism, extremism and transnational crime. They vowed to jointly address global challenges such as cyber, food security and climate change, promote the reform of the global governance system, enhance the representation and voice of developing countries, and promote the democratization of international relations. The parties also agreed to strengthen dialogue, consultation, solidarity and cooperation, support South Africa in organizing the BRICS Summit, promote the continuous development and expansion of BRICS cooperation, and start a new journey of BRICS cooperation. The Aiken Department of Public Safety announced that they made an arrest in a fatal shooting at an Aiken apartment complex in November 2020. Richard Lee Garvin Jr., of Fairfax, South Carolina, is charged with murder and criminal conspiracy in the death of TyQuan Graham, 34, of Aiken, according to arrest warrants. Public safety received a call just after 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29, 2020, for a shooting on Sandlapper Drive in the Palmetto Crossing apartment complex, according to the incident report. Initial report: Aiken man killed in Newberry apartment complex shooting Firefighters fight suspensions: Augusta firefighters speak out about 'flawed' investigation, claim fire trucks are unsafe When officers arrived, they found a man with multiple gunshot wounds in the breezeway, according to the report. He was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS. Investigators and the Aiken Bloodhound Tracking Team were called to the scene, but no suspects were arrested. Arrest warrants filed on July 14 state Garvin and other conspirators planned the retaliation shooting. Authorities noted that the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Fairfax man charged in 2020 Aiken apartment complex murder KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. The second attempt to launch a Falcon Heavy rocket from Florida's Space Coast was a success on Friday evening, with clouds providing enough clearance for the school-bus-sized satellite to reach outer space. The company originally tried to launch the payload on Wednesday but scrubbed the attempt less than 2 minutes before liftoff "due to a violation of abort criteria." Before NASA's Space Launch System rocket launch to the Moon last year, Falcon Heavy was the world's most powerful rocket. The Falcon Heavy has 27 Merlin engines and three first-stage boosters compared to SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, with one first-stage booster and nine Merlin engines. About 8 minutes after launch, the two side rocket boosters returned to Cape Canaveral Landing Zones 1 and 2. According to the satellite operator Hughes, Jupiter 3 will support in-flight Wi-Fi, maritime communications and HughesNet satellite internet connectivity across North and South America. SpaceX's heavy-lift rocket is designed for larger payloads. Jupiter 3 is a massive spacecraft weighing about 9 metric tons with 14 solar panels that span 10 stories. The satellite was built by Maxar in Palo Alto, California, before being carried by a special Antonov commercial cargo plane to Cape Canaveral. The nose of the plane hinges open for large cargo to be loaded up. By Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China's decision to reappoint its top diplomat Wang Yi as foreign minister one month after former rising star Qin Gang disappeared from public view means Washington will be dealing with a familiar face in its bid to steady relations with its main strategic rival. But Wang's return to a post he held for most of the past decade is unlikely to alter the trajectory of a troubled bilateral relationship or dispel concerns about the opaque workings of President Xi Jinping's government. The removal of Qin, reputedly a Xi protege, on Tuesday came barely half a year after he assumed the role. The 57-year-old former ambassador to the United States and Xi aide took over the ministry in December but has not been seen in public since June 25 when he met visiting diplomats in Beijing. The ministry has said he was off work for health reasons but has given no details. Wang, known in Washington for his sharp intellect and his sometimes aggressive defense of China's positions, has been a fixture in U.S.-China relations for years. Washington-based analysts say Wang's return to the ministry should help China's foreign ministry resume normal operations after weeks of international speculation about Qin's fate. But it is unlikely to yield any major improvement in tense U.S.-China relations, which have hit their lowest point in decades. "None of this changes the structural reasons for friction in the relationship," said Joseph Torigian, an expert on China's Communist leaders at American University in Washington. China's embassy in Washington did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. At a briefing on Tuesday U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said it was up to China to choose its foreign minister and Blinken had met Wang multiple times. A DIPLOMAT WITH SWAY Wang's second stint as foreign minister suggests an eagerness in Beijing for stable U.S. relations ahead of Xi's likely meetings with U.S. President Joe Biden later this year on the sidelines of global summits, including the G20 in India in September and a gathering of APEC leaders in California in November. Story continues "With a series of major international meetings coming up, Xi defaulted to someone who has relationships with many of his foreign counterparts," said Rorry Daniels, Managing Director of Asia Society Policy Institute. "In times of uncertainty, China wants continuity and predictability in this position." U.S. and Chinese diplomats are grappling with a range of contentious issues, including China's increasingly aggressive actions over Taiwan, the self-governed island it claims as its own, and the United States' export controls aimed at hobbling China's ability to developed advanced semiconductors. Given these challenges, Wang's seniority in China's ruling Communist Party could be helpful to the U.S. In the Chinese system, the top diplomat is not foreign minister but rather the director of the Chinese Communist Party's foreign affairs commission, a role Wang will continue to hold. Jude Blanchette, a China expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Wang's concurrent perch atop the country's two top foreign policy positions removed a layer of bureaucracy for U.S. interlocutors. And as a member of the Communist Party's 24-man ruling Politburo, Wang is a diplomat with arguably more sway with China's top leaders than his predecessor. Even while Qin was foreign minister, Blinken had contacts with Wang, though exchanges had been frosty at times, particularly after an alleged Chinese spy balloon crossed U.S. airspace and was shot down earlier this year, prompting Wang to scold Washington for its "hysterical" reaction. Still, Wang's reappointment is a sign of problems in China's foreign policy establishment, said Blanchette. "The bigger story here is the sheer unpredictability and opacity of the Chinese system, which can see a top foreign policy official be thrown into a black hole for a month with absolutely zero information from Beijing," he said. On Tuesday, content mentioning Qin was quickly removed from China's foreign ministry website after Wang's appointment. The tab on the website that typically holds the biography of the foreign minister simply read "Updating." The choice of Wang for the role also reflected a lack of good options for Beijing, said Craig Singleton, deputy director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "Simply put, there remains a dearth of seasoned Chinese diplomats that are both trusted by Xi and possess the requisite U.S. experience for this highly visible role," he said. (Reporting by Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Don Durfee and Lincoln Feast) Jane Carmichael says her career "has taken many hits" A mum of three has told the BBC she has had to go into debt to pay for childcare. Jane Carmichael who has three children said affording summer childcare was "impossible". Research shows London parents pay a weekly average of 177.13 per child for summer holiday childcare, 25% more than the figure in the east of England. A government spokesperson said it was "rolling out the single-biggest investment in childcare in England". The spokesperson added that the government's childcare programme was "set to save a working parent using 30 hours of childcare up to an average of 6,500 per year". Children are now on school holidays until the beginning of September But Ms Carmichael, who is from Uxbridge in west London and was a founding member of the Women's Equality Party, believes that more investment is needed. She told the BBC: "It's affected my career many times over. When I had two children in childcare it was just about affordable, that was just about affordable. As soon as a I had a third, I know that that was my choice, it tipped us over the edge. "I was going into debt to have a career." She said it would cost her 60 a day over the summer to pay for each of her children to attend a childcare facility. The unaffordability of childcare has meant her career in public relations "has taken many hits" and she has "deliberately changed jobs to flex around childcare". 'Summer is really difficult' Antoinette Johnson, a single mother from Brent, in north-west London,has two children, one of whom has autism and learning difficulties. She said: "I'm unable to work unless I have a family member that can step in and help over the summer." Antoinette Johnson says she is not working over the summer as she cannot afford to pay for childcare It is particularly hard for the mum of two as many childcare providers do not take on children with special needs. She says the government "really needs to do a lot more" and "offer services that meet the needs of working parents". A Department for Education spokesperson said: "Our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, backed by 200m per year to 2025, provides heathy meals, enriching activities and free childcare places to children from low-income families over the holidays." Story continues One provider of the HAF programme is OnSide, a national youth charity in Barnet, north London, that offers childcare facilities. Robin Moss, the chief executive of Unitas Youth Zone in Barnet, part of OnSide, told the BBC there was huge demand for places over the summer. Robin Moss, chief executive of Unitas Youth Zone, says parents are struggling amid the cost-of-living crisis "Our summer holiday club can take up to 100 young people, and already some of the days this summer are fully booked," he said. The facility, which costs 10 a day per child, is open every day and offers a range of activities for young people. However, Mr Moss said that as parents were struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, the charity has had to fundraise separately and rely on external donors to help subside the cost. What help is available for childcare costs? Flexible working All employees have the right to ask for it and, if granted, it can help people save money on childcare by changing their hours Unpaid leave It's not ideal to earn less but for some people it makes more sense than paying for childcare Universal credit childcare funding Working families with this benefit can claim up to 951 a month for one child or 1,630 for two or more Care to Learn Parents under 20 in England, who are at school or sixth form college, can claim weekly payments under this scheme Holiday activities and food programme Local authorities offer summer clubs for children in England who receive benefits-related free school meals Read more: What childcare help is available? The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry told the BBC there was an impact on business caused by the affordability of childcare. James Watkins, its head of policy and public impact, said: "Parents are finding it hard to keep up with their jobs as they now need to juggle work and home simultaneously", adding that there needed to be more "flexible working options and greater financial support". He said the government "must provide support to London families - that would not just prevent burnout but also boost productivity". Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk Banner saying 'Get in touch' Are you affected by issues covered in this story? 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. LANSING Two Michigan families and an injured inmate want the state to compensate them for a violent and bloody 30-day stretch at Macomb Correctional Facility. Two men were killed and another suffered severe wounds in three separate inmate-on-inmate attacks at the prison between Sept. 18 and Oct. 18 of last year. Crystal Neely, 43, left, and her husband Robert Neely, 37, hold a photo of Robert's younger brother Christopher Neely at Marko Law Firm in downtown Detroit on Friday, July 21, 2023. Christopher Neely is one of multiple prisoners who were murdered in separate incidents at Macomb Correctional Facility. "I don't want this to happen to another family. This is hard," said Crystal Neely. "He was trying to do better with his life and be a good brother and good uncle." The knifings at the state prison in Lenox Township were the result of severe understaffing and gross negligence by the state, say attorneys Jonathan Marko of Detroit and Vince Colella of Southfield, who sued the state Tuesday in the Michigan Court of Claims. "We don't expect prisons to be idyllic retreats with massages and spas and pickleball," said Marko, who is seeking unspecified damages. "But we do expect basic human needs and safety are going to be met." Kyle Kaminski, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Corrections, declined comment. He said the department does not comment on pending litigation. The attacks cited in the suit include: A Sept. 18, 2022, knife attack by two other inmates in a prison common area that killed Christopher Neely, 34, who had served 13 years of a 30-year sentence for second-degree murder. The Oct. 17, 2022, stabbing and asphyxiation of Ruben Martinez, 28, who was serving time for armed robbery, attempted assault of a prison employee, and malicious destruction of property. He was found dead in his cell, tied up under his bunk. The Oct. 18, 2022, stabbing near the prison chow hall of Daniel Mastaw, now 40, who is eligible for release next year after serving time for unarmed robbery, domestic violence, and possession of a weapon by a prisoner. Mastaw wasn't killed but suffered a chipped spine, a fractured bone near his eye, and major cuts to his face that caused deformities, according to the complaint. He suffers from chronic pain and mental trauma, the suit says. The state breached its duty to protect the prisoners from "harm, injury and death," according to the suit. It alleges cruel and unusual punishment, violation of the prisoners' rights to bodily integrity, and wrongful death. Story continues "I don't want this to happen to another family this is hard," said Crystal Neely, 43, of Flint, who is married to Christopher Neely's brother Robert, 37. She said she could get little information about the killing from prison officials except for one who told her the facility was understaffed. Robert Neely, 37, left, his wife Crystal Neely, 43, and attorney Jonathan Marko discuss a lawsuit related to the death of Christopher Neely at Marko Law Firm in downtown Detroit on Friday, July 21, 2023. Christopher Neely is one of multiple prisoners who were murdered in separate incidents at Macomb Correctional Facility. "The state needs to understand that they need to be employing more people or figure something out," Neely said. "I know they go (to prison) for a reason, but you don't expect them to die there." The suit was filed Tuesday as the state has been airing TV ads and stepping up other recruitment efforts, including signing bonuses, in an effort to fill hundreds of vacant corrections officer positions around the state. The Michigan Corrections Organization, which has described the staffing situation as a "time bomb," said Monday the number of vacancies is more than 920 and growing and the amount of forced overtime officers are working is excessive and unsustainable. The union said the hiring crisis is "impacting the health and safety of the current officers, the prisoner population, and citizens of Michigan." At Macomb Correctional Facility, the number of assaults on prisoners increased to 41 in 2021 and 45 in 2022, up from an average of 17.5 per year between 2017 and 2020, department records show. The number of times officers had to use force to maintain control at the prison was 158 in 2021 and 133 in 2022, up from an average of 39 per year between 2017 and 2020, records show. Marko, who has handled numerous prison suits in which he has represented both prisoners and employees, said Macomb is at the center of a statewide epidemic of prison violence. The Macomb prison "is a dangerous place," Marko said. "Prisoners will tell you that. Officers will tell you that." More: Iggie's will offer its Eggie sandwiches in Ann Arbor More: Michigan's 5 costliest hazmat accidents in the past decade all involved tanker trucks Crystal Neely said her brother-in-law had never mentioned concerns about his safety, but it would be unlike him to do so. He mostly asked about family, such as her children and his sister's children, when they spoke regularly on the phone, she said. Christopher Neely, who was sent to prison at age 18 after making some "bad choices," completed his high school certificate in prison and had recently completed a paralegal course so he could help other prisoners with legal issues, she said. Michael Anthony Fleming, 39, was bound over for trial Monday in New Baltimore district court on charges of first-degree murder and possession of a weapon by a prisoner in connection with Neely's death. Fleming's co-defendant, JoJuan Taylor, 35, was also bound over on charges of possession of a weapon by a prisoner and tampering with evidence, according to court records. Fleming has been moved to maximum security at Ionia Correctional Facility since the killing; Taylor remains at Macomb. Colella is representing Rachel Neitzelt of Saginaw, the mother of Martinez. He is also representing Mastaw, who is now held at Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility in Ionia. Michael Leroy Ketchum, 45, is charged with first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, and being a prisoner in possession of a weapon in connection with the killing of Martinez and the attack on Mastaw. After Mastaw was attacked near the chow hall, prison officials searched Ketchum's cell, where they found Martinez, his cellmate, tied up and murdered under his bunk. Officials believe Martinez had been killed the previous evening. Since the attacks, Ketchum has been moved to the highest security level at Ionia Correctional Facility. Colella said the prison's management of Ketchum is particularly concerning because of Ketchum's 2021 conviction for a 2019 prison assault with intent to commit murder, which also involved a weapon. The Free Press reported in October 2022 that the warden of the Macomb prison at that time, George Stephenson, had been "stop ordered," meaning he was banned from prison property pending internal investigations. Prison officials have refused to state the reason for the removal of Stephenson, who has not returned to the department. Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Families sue state over wave of violence, killings at Macomb prison Nicole Horton and her daughter Rey at Disney World. Nicole Horton Nicole Horton and her family visited Disney World in July for a vacation and birthday celebration. They were eager to introduce their baby Rey to the "Star Wars" character she's named after. The video of the sweet interaction shows how "magical" it was, as the mom of two told Insider. A family of "Star Wars" fans experienced a magical moment at Disney World this month when they introduced their 7-month-old daughter to the character she was named after. Nicole Horton, a mom and claims representative from Indiana, visited the Orlando, Florida, theme park with her boyfriend Treyce and two children on July 19 for a family vacation and birthday celebration for their son Sam. But Horton told Insider that while they were at Hollywood Studios, she and her family "were on a mission to meet Rey" the "Star Wars" character who inspired her daughter's name. "We ran around for an hour trying to find her," she said, noting they eventually spotted the character in front of the Millennium Falcon at the "Star Wars"-themed Galaxy's Edge section. Horton proceeded to film the moment she and Treyce introduced their child to the character, and later shared the clip on TikTok. The video, which she posted on Tuesday, has been viewed more than 487,000 times as of Wednesday. "Your name's my name? That's perfect," the character can be heard saying to the young parkgoer. "You're me but just Pog-sized, aren't you?" She seemed to be referencing Rey's outfit: a white dress with a brown belt that perfectly matches the character's signature look. Rey Horton wearing her "Star Wars"-inspired outfit. Nicole Horton When the child seemed a bit distracted by another "Star Wars" staple, Chewbacca, in the distance, the character called him over. Story continues The baby seemed a bit hesitant to greet the furry creature at first, but Rey reassured her, saying: "Where'd your smile go? You were so happy a little bit ago. You've never seen a Wookiee this size before? Is that what it is? Do you wanna feel his paw?" The character then showed the child how to touch Chewbacca's hand and quickly got a smile out of her. Rey also joked about Stormtroopers mixing the two of them up, and finding the child a speeder bike and smaller creature like an Ewok to go on galactic missions with. Nicole Horton and her family meet Rey at Hollywood Studios in Disney World on July 19. Nicole Horton TikTokers loved the interaction, with many pointing out that the character actor looks a lot like Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey in the "Star Wars" films. But for the Horton family, the experience was more than just a funny conversation with a Rey look-alike. "Our interaction with both Rey and Chewbacca was truly magical," the mom of two told Insider. "Rey was so sweet and you could tell she was very happy to meet our baby. We weren't expecting her to bring Chewbacca over, but it made the moment even better." And the interaction didn't stop there. According to Horton, Rey later told Vi Moradi, another "Star Wars" character at Hollywood Studios, about the baby and even introduced them while the two parents rode Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. The two Reys meet for the first time. Nicole Horton "We named our daughter Rey because we have always loved who the character represents," Horton said. "She is a kind soul and a strong-willed character. Our baby Rey already shows these personality traits even at 7 months old." "The experience made for a day we will never forget," she continued. "We cannot wait to hopefully visit again someday and see Rey and Chewbacca." Read the original article on Insider Kustwacht NL A cargo ship carrying thousands of vehicles is currently ablaze just off the coast of the Netherlands. One crew member has died as a result of the accident, while several others have been injured trying to escape the flames. The Coast Guard is struggling to put out the fire, which they believe originated from an electric vehicle onboard. According to Dutch officials, the Panamanian-registered Fremantle Highway was en route from Germany to Egypt carrying some 2857 vehicles when the fire started in the North Sea around 16 miles off the coast of Ameland. Of the thousands of vehicles onboard the ship, 25 of them are electric vehicles. The Coast Guard believes that it is likely that the fire started with one of the EVs. Fires originating from electric vehicles are tremendously difficult to extinguish, often reigniting despite firefighters best efforts. The crew initially tried to contain the fire themselves, but they were unable to limit its spread. Dutch firefighters on the scene have been unable to control the fire thus far. One of the crew members onboard the Fremantle Highway was killed in the accident, while seven others were forced to jump from the ship to escape the fire. The sailors were recovered from the water by boat, while a rescue helicopter retrieved the remaining sailors onboard. A total of 23 people were rescued from the ship. Automotive News reports that several crew members are being treated for breathing problems, broken bones, and burns. Salvage companies are actively working alongside Rijkswaterstaat, the Dutch infrastructure department, to try and limit damage to the ship and the local environment more broadly. Tug boats currently on the scene are serving to prevent the ship from moving. Several additional tug boats are also en route to try and tow the ship once a safer connection is established. According to Automotive News, Mercedes-Benz has around 350 vehicles on the Fremantle Highway at this time. At this time, it's unclear what the other vehicles onboard are. Story continues You can continue to receive live updates on the situation from the Kustwacht live blog linked here. This situation is all too reminiscent of the Felicity Ace disaster that took place back in February 2022. That ship was carrying around 4000 VW Group vehicles when it caught fire, including several Porsche, Lamborghini, and Audi products. While the cause of the Felicity Ace incident remains unclear to this day, it was suspected that an EV fire was also responsible for that sinking. Kustwacht NL You Might Also Like Rick Ruberti witnessed a car crash outside his business on River Street in Fitchburg Tuesday. We heard this car making a really weird noise like scraping along and smashed into this other car, said Ruberti. He says a woman was driving down River Street Tuesday afternoon when someone shot at her car, and she then crashed into another driver at the intersection by Sheldon Street. She came inside with the grandson, and first she said I dont know why they were shooting at me and the grandson said Well they were shooting at me grandma, said Ruberti. Ruberti took pictures of the womans car, showing at least three big bullet holes, plus the front end damage following the crash. While first responders came to the scene, Ruberti says luckily no one seemed seriously injured. It was weird because no one in the car got hit by the bullets, it was kind of a miracle, said Ruberti. While Fitchburg Police have not released any information about the shooting and whether that suspect is still on the run, Ruberti isnt too worried since he believes this crime was targeted. The kid said they were after him, said Ruberti. Boston 25 News reached out to the Fitchburg Police Department several times Tuesday to see whether theyve made any arrests in connection to this shooting but police have yet to respond. 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 In a move that has ignited controversy and raised concerns over its impact on education, PragerU, a conservative nonprofit known for downplaying systemic racism and promoting anti-immigrant theories, has been officially approved as an educational vendor in Florida, becoming the first state to grant such recognition. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Starting this fall, students throughout Florida will have the opportunity to watch these videos in their classrooms. This recognition is a significant milestone for the nonprofit organization. PragerU (short for Prager University Foundation) made the announcement through a press release, indicating that the PragerU Kids program will be integrated into schools nationwide, addressing concerns expressed by teachers who are seeking conservative lesson plans devoid of perceived radical political agendas. BIG NEWS: Americas students will be watching PragerU videos in school! Our new turnkey lessons are becoming approved educational resources starting with Florida! The establishment is trying to prevent this from happening. We need your help! https://t.co/sstKRiFVWj pic.twitter.com/aXX2zVSUCF PragerU (@prageru) July 25, 2023 Despite the controversies surrounding PragerUs views, the organization continues to garner significant online engagement. Founded in 2009 by conservative radio host Dennis Prager, PragerUs videos, ranging from critiques of mainstream media narratives to the promotion of Christian conservative values and capitalism, have collectively amassed over a billion views. The target audience is Generation Z. Its true we bring doctrines to children, Prager told the conservative group Moms for Liberty at a conference in Philadelphia in July. But what is bad about our indoctrination? Story continues With titles such as The Myth of the Gender Wage Gap, Playing the Black Card and Blacks in Power Dont Empower Blacks and a roster of hosts that features right-wing personalities such as Ben Shapiro, Candice Owens, Jordan Peterson, and Charlie Kirk. However, its important to note that PragerU is not an accredited academic institution and does not offer degrees. The nonprofit claims to be partnering with numerous states to provide supplementary curriculum on subjects ranging from civics, history financial literacy, or government. According to the press release, In the past, teachers have been disciplined even fired for showing PragerU videos in their classrooms. Now, PragerU videos are not only being allowed in classrooms but superintendents and education commissioners are actively encouraging teachers to use PragerUs content to educate their students.... PragerU supplemental curriculum offers an easy, cutting-edge way to teach core knowledge in subjects ranging from civics and history to entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Now, with official approval, superintendents and education commissioners are encouraging educators to use PragerUs content as part of their teaching materials. PragerU Kids is marketed as a means to combat what they call leftist lies that children might be exposed to. One particular advertisement depicts a child watching kids programming on a tablet and raising a question about racism in America, which the father is meant to address using PragerU Kids content with what they label as accurate history. PragerU Kids released a controversial video in which Christopher Columbus seemingly justifies his violent actions against Native Americans. In the video, Columbus can be heard stating: Being taken as a slave is better than being killed, no? I dont see the problem Youre from 500 years in the future how can you come here and judge me by your standards in the 21st century. The video has sparked criticism on social media, with many parents worried about its approved use in teaching children in the state. In response to queries regarding the approval, the Florida Department of Education emphasized that PragerU Kids aligns with the states revised civics and government standards and is considered on par with other supplemental materials available for district discretion. This development coincides with Floridas adoption of Floridas new African American history standards, following the contentious Stop W.O.K.E. Act signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022. The legislation restricts teachings about systemic racism and forbids educators from suggesting that people are privileged or oppressed solely based on their race, national origin, or sex. READ: Missed the mark: Florida training on new African American history standards skips over controversy The approval of PragerU also raises concerns, given the groups contentious content, and its potential influence on students education, particularly on sensitive topics such as slavery and racial narratives. The Florida education department maintains that PragerU did not bid for inclusion in the 2022-23 social studies material, which includes the new Black history curriculum. Action News Jax contacted several public school districts to ask if they will use PragerU in classrooms. At this time, only Duval County Public School responded, saying they will not use the materials for educational use. As of now, Governor DeSantis office has not released any official statements regarding the recent approval of PragerU as an educational vendor in Florida. In 2022, Gov. DeSantis sat down with founder Dennis Prager on their Youtube channel to talk about where courage comes from. The matter remains subject to ongoing debate and scrutiny, as educators, parents, and advocacy groups voice their perspectives on the potential implications of integrating PragerUs content into the classroom environment. [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 Florida man was arrested on drug and weapons charges Tuesday following a traffic stop on a major highway running through South Carolina, according to the Florence County Sheriffs Office. Ewart Everton Brown a 55-year-old Fort Lauderdale, Florida resident was charged with trafficking cocaine and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, the sheriffs office said in a news release. On Tuesday, Brown was driving a BMW SUV that was pulled over by deputies for speeding on Interstate 95, according to the release. Deputies were suspicious of criminal activity and searched the SUV, finding two kilos of cocaine and a Beretta 9mm pistol, the sheriffs office said. A photo shared by the sheriffs office shows stacks of money with the confiscated drugs and gun, along with an I-95 road sign. The Florence County Sheriffs Office shows confiscated items from a traffic stop. Brown was taken to the Florence County Detention Center, and he remains behind bars as no bond has been set, jail records show. If convicted on the felony drug trafficking (over 400 grams) charge, Brown faces a maximum punishment of 30 years in prison and a $200,000 fine, according to South Carolina law. A conviction on the weapons charge could mean a mandatory 5-year prison term for Brown, according to South Carolina law. Hes scheduled to return to court on Oct. 3, according to Florence County judicial records. Flash Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning gives a regular briefing at the Foreign Ministry of China on July 25, 2023. [Photo/fmprc.gov.cn] China urges Japan to stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday when responding to Taiwan-related remarks by a Japanese incumbent high-level official. Mao said that Taiwan is China's territory and the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, which brooks no interference by any external force. Mao said the remarks of the incumbent high-level official of Japan's defence department constitute blatant interference in China's internal affairs in disregard of the basic norms governing international relations and the principles set out in the four political documents between China and Japan and have a damaging effect on the political foundation of China-Japan relations. China strongly disapproves of and firmly opposes this and has made serious demarches to Japan, Mao said. For half a century, Japan exercised colonial rule over Taiwan and committed notorious crimes to the Chinese people, Mao said, adding that given the grave historical responsibilities Japan bears for those crimes, it is all the more important for Japan to act prudently and draw lessons from the history. Mao stressed that the complete reunification of the motherland is the common aspiration of all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation and an unstoppable historical trend. "No one shall underestimate the strong resolve, will and capability of the Chinese people to defend the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the spokesperson said. "We urge Japan to stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question. Those who play with fire will eventually get burnt," Mao said. Should parents in Pinellas or Hillsborough counties want their childs school books selected by residents of Pahokee or Palatka? Should school superintendents be removing books unilaterally behind closed doors without public input? Should elected school board members wipe their hands of this responsibility and cede these decisions to parents and staff? And should political appointees in Tallahassee be allowed to have the final say? Of course, the answer to all of these questions is no. But these absurdities are happening, or are poised to, thanks to the circus that Florida Republicans have created out of book bans and local control of the public schools. School districts across the state are scrambling to inoculate themselves as a small band of parents and conservative activists seek to remove instructional materials they deem objectionable. Their efforts are fueled by new state laws pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the GOP-dominated Legislature that restrict lessons on race, gender identity and sexual orientation, and that look to give parents more control over school operations. The net effect is that school districts are self-censoring books without cause, due process or public recourse. Pinellas County recently evaluated 87 books selected for review by local educators. While all were approved for use, anticensorship organizations complained the district targeted the materials without having received any objections to them. In Leon County, Superintendent Rocky Hanna removed five titles from schools recently at the urging of the conservative group Moms for Liberty, and his staff has said many books previously used in courses could be reexamined. Districts are taking widely varying approaches to book bans. Confused over how to interpret Floridas crackdown on certain topics, and fearful of political controversy, many elected school boards are targeting books in piecemeal fashion, or opting to pass the responsibility on to staff and parents. The Pinellas School Board said this week that it would leave decisions on books to a committee of parents and staff appointed by the superintendent. The board also agreed that the superintendent and staff would be authorized to remove books from schools regardless of whether any formal objections were filed. By contrast, Hillsboroughs board wants more clarity from the state, even though at least one board member, Patti Rendon, has suggested reviewing complaints over books whether a formal challenge was filed or not. Story continues This preemptive rush to appease serves the purpose of removing books from circulation while allowing the governor and his allies to wipe their hands of culpability. And it promises to only get worse; the Department of Education is compiling a list of materials removed statewide for all Florida districts to consider, and lawmakers approved another provision that took effect July 1 that enables parents to appeal a school boards decision on books directly to the state. School districts need a process that adheres to state law but that also is clear, uniform, methodical and fair. Removing books without a challenge denies everyone the right to defend a title. It invites abuse, prevents a paper trail that makes accountability impossible and weakens a school districts defense that it acted lawfully. The goal here should be keeping, not removing, as much educational material as possible. Incredible that it needs saying, but thats the whole point of having schools. Editorials are the institutional voice of the Tampa Bay Times. The members of the Editorial Board are Editor of Editorials Graham Brink, Sherri Day, Sebastian Dortch, John Hill, Jim Verhulst and Chairman and CEO Conan Gallaty. Follow @TBTimes_Opinion on Twitter for more opinion news. A little creature with big eyes found itself trapped inside a Missouri birdhouse, photos show. Patsy Myers, of Alton, found the flying squirrel with its tiny head and one foot popping out of the feeders entrance hole, as seen in photos shared by the Missouri Department of Conservation. The critters large eyes appear to be begging for help. This is the face of instant regret, Missouri Department of Conservation said in a July 26 Facebook post. Fortunately, Myers was able to rescue the flying squirrel. Dont worry - this rodent was able to fly again after she removed the roof and safely freed him, state wildlife officials said. Now we are all blessed with these images. Southern flying squirrels are chipmunk-sized rodents that often look like mice with their large eyes, big ears and upturned nose, according to the state department of conservation. They can be found statewide in Missouri and are common in forested areas near water, officials said. Flying squirrels live in holes in trees, usually leftover woodpecker holes, officials said. They can squeeze into a hole about the size of a quarter, so they could even live in your wren house or attic. They prefer mature forests with plenty of old dead or rotten trees riddled with woodpecker holes. Some people enjoy flying squirrels so much that theyll put out birdhouses meant for the rodents, according to the conservation department. And while they are called flying squirrels, they technically glide through the air. Between its front and back legs is a loose flap of skin that the squirrel stretches out like a kite when it is ready to fly, Missouri officials said. Alton is about 140 miles southeast of Springfield. Determined diver works to free large shark tangled in reef off Florida, video shows Teacup sized cat with bent and twisty legs steals hearts on TikTok. Meet Tater Tot Zoo thought Sully the gorilla was male. Then staff found her holding her newborn baby Randy Cook, who sponsored the policy to revoke Francis Howell School Board declarations, said the district doesnt need a resolution against every evil in society, such as racism. Public outcry has led to a Missouri school boards decision to revisit an anti-racism policy before allowing it to expire in the coming months. The Francis Howell School Districts board president, Adam Bertrand, wrote in a Facebook message on Tuesday that the three-year-old Resolution in Response to Racism and Discrimination may have support for a rewrite or modification, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Bertrands comments came after the board voted at its July meeting to revoke all previous resolutions within 75 days, sparking outrage from the local community of OFallon, a St. Louis suburb, and calls for solidarity from school officials. Attendees at a July 20 meeting in OFallon, Missouri, including Kimberly Thompson (center), listen as Francis Howell School District board members talk in favor of rescinding all previously passed resolutions, including an anti-racism policy. (Photo: David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) The St. Charles County NAACP branch issued a statement labeling the groups 5-2 vote a significant setback in our collective work to create an educational environment where every student is learning, seen, heard, and valued. The previous Francis Howell board adopted the anti-racism resolution in the summer of 2020, shortly after thousands of demonstrators marched three miles down Mid Rivers Mall Drive in favor of Black students after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd. Demonstrators questioned Francis Howells hiring policies, disciplinary procedures and curriculum, which were perceived as biased against people of color, requesting changes to them all. We will promote racial healing, especially for our Black and brown students and families. We will no longer be silent, the passed decree states, according to the Post-Dispatch. We are committed to creating an equitable and anti-racist system that honors and elevates all, but one that also specifically acknowledges the challenges faced by our Black and brown students and families. Since adopting the non-binding resolution three years ago, the all-white school board has become a conservative majority. Story continues Bertrand wrote that the racism resolution probably wont be upheld in its current form, but the board will collaborate and consider community feedback to move towards a draft the majority of the current board could support. Board members who supported revoking the resolutions claimed it was unnecessary and had not improved race relations in the district. About 80 percent of the 16,500 students in the Francis Howell School District are white. The districts most notable instance of racial unrest occurred in 2013 when many people demonstrated against Black students transferring there from unaccredited schools in nearby Normandy. The Post-Dispatch reported that according to a letter just last month from Will Vanderpool, the Francis Howell compliance officer, a recent internal investigation of a Black students civil rights complaint found that the districts policy against discrimination, harassment and retaliation had been violated. Francis Howell Superintendent Kenneth Roumpos noted in a follow-up letter to frustrated and hurting parents that moments like this are when people can come together, work out problems and learn from each other, ultimately building a stronger community. Roumpos stressed his commitment to helping all campus employees and students of diverse races, cultures and backgrounds feel welcome and valued. The school board will convene again on Aug. 17. In a statement made before the vote, board member Randy Cook, who sponsored the policy to revoke the declarations, said that he does not feel the school district needs a resolution against every evil in society one opposes, such as racism and that this resolutions lack of definitions for terms including equity and systemic racism left it subject to debate and interpretation. I believe the Board had the very best of intentions when they adopted this resolution, Cook said, but carrying out the commitments made by prior Board members has many challenges. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Following outcry, Missouri school board will revisit anti-racism policy appeared first on TheGrio. Vadym Rabinovych The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has charged a former MP from the banned Opposition Platform For Life (OPZZh) party, Vadym Rabinovych, with high treason, the bureau wrote on Telegram on July 26. The DBR said Rabinovych spread anti-Ukrainian propaganda among the population and political leadership of EU countries. His numerous false public claims were "manipulative and harmful to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, its state, economic and information security." Read also: Ihor Abramovych, Ukrainian MP from pro-Russian OPZZh party, gives up his mandate "His propaganda activities helped Russia to achieve its military and political goals and provided ideological assistance in conducting subversive activities against Ukraine," the DBR said. Rabinovych was co-head of the banned pro-Russian OPZZh party, as well an ally to pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk. He has stayed abroad since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and was stripped of his parliamentary mandate on Nov 3, 2022. Last year in July, MP Serhiy Vlasenko published a reported copy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decree depriving 10 people of Ukrainian citizenship, including Rabinovych. The National Security Council secretary, Oleksiy Danilov, indirectly confirmed this information in an interview with NV in January this year. Read also: Ukraine twists rope from Putins red lines to hang imperial corpse, says top security official Another MP from the banned OPZZh, Oleksandr Ponomaryov, was charged with high treason on June 24, and the next day a similar charge was made against the former parliamentarian Yevgeniy Muraev. 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 EVANSVILLE Former Evansville Parks Director Brian Holtz pleaded guilty to amended charges Wednesday morning, two years after he resigned from his city role amid a criminal investigation. Holtz pleaded guilty to two count of forgery, one count of official misconduct and five counts of counterfeiting. He was originally set to go to trial Aug. 14. The trial dates have been canceled and a sentencing hearing is now set for 1 p.m. on Sept. 26 in Vanderburgh County. Holtz resigned from his position in July 2021. Since that time, deputy mayor Steve Schaefer has held the position on an interim basis. No full-time hire has been made or is likely to be made prior to a new city administration coming in January. The original charges against Holtz were 12 felony counts. He turned himself in to the Evansville Police Department in April 2022 after a warrant was issued for his arrest on 12 felony counts. He first appeared in court April 26, 2022. Amended charges removed three counts of counterfeiting and one count of fraud on a financial institution. An audit completed by the Indiana State Board of Accounts stated Holtz should reimburse the city $491,706 in connection to alleged unauthorized purchases and diverted funds. The audit also states Holtz should pay the state $83,835 for the cost of the special investigation. His official response to their findings was that he had done his job the way the city wanted him to. Response from Mayor Lloyd Winnecke Mayor Lloyd Winnecke issued a statement Wednesday evening through city spokesman Noah Stubbs. "We acknowledge Brian's guilty pleas with a sense of closure," Winnecke stated. "It is encouraging to see him taking responsibility for his actions. " Winnecke said the case serves as a reminder to all public officials the importance of following rules and procedure. "We must conduct ourselves with the highest standards of integrity and ensure the proper use of taxpayer funds," he said. Story continues Winnecke also said the actions of one person should not overshadow the work of the city's parks department staff, or other city employees. "Together, we will continue to uphold the values that define our community," he said. "We will continue to serve the citizens of Evansville with steadfast dedication and work toward a brighter future." This is breaking news and this article may be updated. This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Former Evansville parks director pleads guilty, sentencing date set A Georgia deputy is off the job after allegedly committing multiple crimes including burglary. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On July 19, the Alapaha Judicial Circuit District Attorneys Office asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to look into former 33-year-old Cook County Sheriffs Office Dep. Trey Kenny, of Hahira, Georgia. The investigation revealed that Kenny burglarized a home between June 30 and July 11. Authorities said he also committed several other crimes during the burglary, which led to his current charges. TRENDING STORIES: The sheriffs office terminated Kenny on July 7. He was arrested on July 21 by the GBI and charged with first-degree burglary, two counts of eavesdropping and surveillance, theft by taking, second-degree criminal damage to property, three counts of possession of a firearm during a felony, stalking, and violation of oath of office. Its unclear whose home he targeted or his relationship to the victim or victims. The investigation remains ongoing. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: The House Oversight Committee is holding a hearing about highly controversial claims that the US government is secretly hiding evidence of extraterrestrial life, and could even be working to reverse-engineer the otherworldly relics. Air Force veteran and former member of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency David Grusch renewed his allegations that the government has not only recovered alien spacecraft over recent decades, but has actively sought to keep the information from leaking to the public. If that all sounds insane, you're not wrong. And it's worth keeping in mind that Grusch has produced exactly zero evidence to back up his outrageous claims. The big question? Whether today's hearing will manage to shed any light on the situation. Congressman Tim Burchett, co-lead of the investigation into UAPs, said that "this is an issue of government transparency. We cant trust a government that does not trust its people." "Were not bringing little green men or flying saucers into the hearing," he added. "Sorry to disappoint about half yall. Were just going to get to the facts. Were going to uncover the cover-up." Still, Grusch's opening statements did seem to allude to some of those things. "I was informed, in the course of my official duties, of a multi-decade UAP crash retrieval and reverse engineering program," he wrote, adding that "I made the decision based on the data I collected, to report this information to my superiors and multiple Inspectors General, and in effect become a whistleblower." "It is my hope that the revelations we unearth through investigations of the Non-Human Reverse Engineering Programs I have reported will act as an ontological (earth-shattering) shock, a catalyst for a global reassessment of our priorities," he concluded. "As we move forward on this path, we might be poised to enable extraordinary technological progress in a future where our civilization surpasses the current state-of-the-art in propulsion, material science, energy production and storage." Story continues Today's hearing also included a rehashing of existing reports of UFO sightings that have made headlines ever since The New York Times published a report back in 2017 that first uncovered a "shadowy" Defense Department UFO program that had been operating for years. "We were primarily seeing dark grey or black cubes inside of a clear sphere," retired navy pilot Ryan Graves, the first witness to appear alongside Grusch, told lawmakers during today's hearing. "That was primarily what was being reported when were able to gain a visual tally of these objects," he added. "That occurred over eight years." The hearing's third witness, former navy commander David Fravor, who famously filmed a "Tic Tac"-shaped object back in 2004, described the object as being " far superior to anything that we had at the time, have today or looking to develop in the next ten years." "All four of us saw a white 'Tic-Tac' object with a longitudinal axis pointing north-south, and moving very abruptly over the water, like a ping-pong ball," he recalled during his opening statements. Some Congress members, unsurprisingly, balked at Grusch's previous allegations that the government had recovered "non-human" spacecraft. North Carolina representative Virginia Foxx pointed to All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office director Sean Kirkpatrick, who told Congress back in April that the office "found no credible evidence thus far of extraterrestrial activity, off-world technology, or objects that defy the known laws of physics." Other onlookers pointed out that members of Congress clearly didn't do their homework before attending today's hearing. "Not a great sign that [representative Glenn Grothman] launches the UFO Hearings by mentioning reading Frank Edwards' book 'Flying Saucers Serious Business,'" journalist Garrett Graff tweeted, "which is one of the least reputable books on the subject of the last 75 years." Graff also called today's opening statements not "compelling (or even particularly smart)," arguing that "these members haven't really done their research to understand the history of UFOs and the US government." In short, extraordinary claims call for extraordinary evidence. If the government has alien artifacts, let's see them. More on UFOs: Scientist: No, We Didn't Just Find an Alien Spacecraft on the Bottom of the Ocean Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast A former Navy pilot has recounted a chilling encounter he had with an UFO in 2014 as he flew an F/A-18 Hornet off the coast of Virginia Beach, saying the unknown object was so jarring his flight commander called off the mission immediately and they returned to base. Ryan Graves, the first witness to testify in Congress highly anticipated UFO hearings on Wednesday, recalled seeing a dark gray or a black cube inside of a clear sphere that got within 50 feet of his squadrons lead aircraft. Graves said the UAPunidentified aerial phenomena, another term for UFOswas between five to 15 feet in diameter. He said his commander filed a report but no official mention of the encounter ever surfaced. Our squadron submitted a safety report but there was no official acknowledgement of the incident and no further mechanism to report the sightings, he said. Other former pilots backed up Graves eerie account with similar stories of their own. Retired Navy Commander David Fravor, who recorded the famous Tic Tac UFO video off the coast of San Diego in 2004, told the hearing that he believed UFOs were a threat to national security. He said their movements appeared to be doing things human technology isnt yet capable of achieving. In his own sighting, Fravor recalled seeing a perfectly white object that was smooth with no windows as it flew by. He said it moved in ways that a human could never move. The technology that we faced was far superior than anything that we had, Fravor said. I'm not a UFO fanatic. But what we saw with four sets of eyeswe have nothing close to it. It was incredible technology. While pilots were encouraged to remain quiet, Graves claimed, sightings of strange objects became a regular occurrence for his squadron. They were so common that Graves superiors began working the presence of UFOs into pre-mission flight briefings, he said. Graves said the UFOs would make inexplainable maneuvers, like right hand turns and retrograde orbits or J hooks. Story continues Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN): How do you know that these [UAPs] were not our aircraft? Former Navy fighter pilot Ryan Graves: These objects were staying completely stationary in Category 4 hurricane winds. These same objects would then accelerate to supersonic speeds. pic.twitter.com/qQiOEJAgL4 The Recount (@therecount) July 26, 2023 These objects were staying completely stationary in Category Four hurricane winds, Graves said. The same objects would then accelerate to supersonic speeds, 1.1, 1.2 Mach, and they would do so in very erratic and quick behaviors that we dontI dont have an explanation for. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said a flight crew previously told him about four UFOs that flew in a diamond over the Gulf of Mexico. When they approached the formation, Gaetz said, the flight crews radar went down and their infrared cameras malfunctioned. The crew was able to snap a picture manually that Gaetz said hed since seen. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) called the governments shielding of information about UFOs the biggest cover-up in history. We need to tell the folks at the Pentagon they work for us, we dont work for them, he said. Were going to uncover the cover-up. David Grusch, a former intelligence official whos become a whistleblower on UFO sightings, has claimed the U.S. government actively intimidates soldiers who spot unknown objects, and has kept secret that it had captured some UFOs. He testified Wednesday that hes feared for his safety after coming forward with what hes seen. I just want everyone to note that hes coming forward in fear of his life, said Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL). To put [it] in perspective, if they were really not scared about this information coming out, why would someone be intimidated like that? 1572088376 Ryan Graves, David Grusch, and David Fravor swearing into Wednesdays hearing on UFOs. Getty Images/Drew Angerer Grusch claimed he knew of multiple colleagues who have been injured. When asked if they were injured by UFOs or the government, Grusch responded, Both. Later probed about possible killings that stemmed from speaking out about UFOs, Grusch said he couldnt answer. Grusch has been scrutinized in the past and has conceded himself that some of his most damning claims about UFOs are second-hand knowledge onlytold to him by others in the intelligence community. Grusch also said Wednesday that non-human biologics had been recovered at alleged crash sites of UFOs, but he didnt elaborate. He said he was told about the biologics by those with direct knowledge on the program and didnt see them personally. He claimed that he knew the exact locations where captured UFOs were being housed by the government, citing more than 40 interviews with top-security officials. He said those locations had been provided to the Office of the Inspector General. While multiple recollections of sightings were discussed at the hearing, no photos or videos or detailed evidence were displayed. The infamous Tic Tac video filmed over the Pacific Ocean was discussed, however, and a grainy recording of the incident is public. Fravor said he witnessed the UFO in person after his aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz, and another warship, the USS Princeton, dispatched him to investigate an object that was captured moving in an inexplicable fashion by radar. Once in the air, Fravor said Wednesday, he spotted the object flying as fast as 60 miles per minute despite it having no visible rotors, rotor wash, or any flight control surfaces like wings. Theres no visible signs of pollution, he said. Its just sitting in space at 20,000 feet. Fravor recalled watching the object move abruptly, very determinant, as if it was aware it had eyes on it. It knew exactly what it was doing, Fravor said. It was aware of our presence and it had acceleration rates. I mean, it went from zero to matching our speed in no time at all. Graves, the ex-Navy pilot, claimed the military has extensive data on similar UFOs that it has kept under wraps. He warned that the stigma surrounding UFOs means theyre grossly underreported by service members, commercial pilots and the general public. Wednesdays hearing was notably bipartisan, with Democrats, like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Republicans like Gaetz, combining to press the trio of veterans for answers. 1556766410 Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Maxwell Frost (D-FL) attend Wednesdays hearing on UFOs. Getty Images/Tom Williams House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has recently pushed for UFO-related intelligence to be declassified as part of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Actan effort mirrored in the the Senate by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). If successful, the amendment would make records about UFO intelligence accessible to the public unless a review board deemed it necessary to be classified. This is by far the most bipartisan conversation and discussion that I've seen happen in Congress, said Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA). Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) observed the same, saying, It shouldnt take the potential of non-human origin to bring us together. For decades, many Americans have been fascinated by objects mysterious and unexplained, he said. And its long past time that they got some answers. The American public has a right to learn about technologies of unknown origins. 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. Coffee Creek Correctional Institution in Wilsonville is Oregon's only women's prison. A federal jury Tuesday found a former Oregon Department of Corrections nurse guilty of sexually assaulting nine female inmates. Tony Daniel Klein, 38, of Clackamas County, was convicted of 17 counts of depriving the women of their constitutional right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment by sexual assault and four counts of perjury. Klein worked for years at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, Oregon's only women's prison, located in Wilsonville. The survivors said they endured multiple assaults while in prison and faced disbelief from prison officials when they reported the abuse. One woman told the Statesman Journal in 2019 that she began having anxiety and nightmares, including one where Klein hurt her baby. "It was the most heart-wrenching thing," she said. "I felt like there was something wrong with me." After being released from prison, the survivors continued to struggle with trauma. At least one person killed herself in the aftermath of the assaults. Multiple former inmates filed five lawsuits accusing Coffee Creek Correctional Facility of allowing sex abuse, following a pattern of sexual misconduct at the women's facility. Photographed in Salem in February 2019. In 2019, the Statesman Journal reported sexual abuse and rape were not only "widespread" at Coffee Creek, but the violence was ignored by prison staff and those who reported it were punished. Klein resigned from his position on Jan. 31, 2018, and previously declined to comment on the allegations against him. Before Klein faced criminal charges, he and the Oregon Department of Corrections were the defendants in a multi-million dollar civil lawsuit filed on behalf of the sexual assault survivors. The state paid a combined $1.87 million to settle the civil lawsuits involving Klein. An investigation by Oregon State Police in 2017 did not result in charges from the Washington County District Attorney's Office. The office issued a decision to not file criminal charges against Klein in August 2018. More survivors continued to come forward. In March 2022, criminal charges against Klein were issued from the U.S. Attorney's Office District of Oregon. Story continues According to court documents, Klein worked as a nurse at the prison from 2010 until 2018. Prosecutors said that in his position, Klein interacted with female inmates who either sought medical treatment or worked as orderlies in the prisons medical unit. Often left alone with the women, Klein used his position of power as a corrections employee. Prosecutors said he sexually assaulted and engaged in nonconsensual sexual conduct with many female inmates entrusted to his care. Tony Klein used his position of authority to prey on women in custody who were in a uniquely vulnerable position," said Natalie Wight, U.S. attorney for the District of Oregon. "He further led his victims to believe they had no power to resist or report his abuse." Kieran Ramsey, special agent in charge of the FBI Portland Field Office, praised the women who were assaulted for coming forward. "His heinous actions were only brought to light by a small group of courageous women who came forward, even despite their precarious circumstances of being incarcerated," Ramsey said. "Their willingness to report their victimization undoubtedly saved others from Mr. Kleins predatory actions." Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division said abuses of power and authority such as how Klein took advantage of his position as a medical professional will not be tolerated, and justice will be pursued. "We thank the survivors of these sexual assaults for having the courage to come forward and tell their story," Clarke said. "The Civil Rights Division will continue to vigorously hold accountable those who abuse their authority by committing sexual assault. Following the announcement of the jurys verdict, Klein was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 17. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter at @wmwoodworth This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Ex-Oregon prison nurse convicted of sexually assaulting inmates By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um BANGKOK (Reuters) -Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra plans to return on Aug. 10, his daughter said on Wednesday, coming home from self-exile to a country struggling to overcome a political deadlock after a May general election won by opponents of military rule. Former telecoms tycoon Thaksin spent years trying to resist military interference in governments led by his populist party and was eventually ousted in a 2006 coup. He left the country two years later to avoid corruption convictions that he said were politically motivated. "Dad is returning on 10 August," Thaksin's youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, said in a social media post. Paetongtarn is a senior member of the Pheu Thai party, the latest incarnation of a party founded by and loyal to Thaksin, which came second in the May election to the progressive Move Forward Party. The two election-winning parties have together been trying to form a government with six like-minded partners but have been stymied by opposition from the military-appointed upper house Senate and conservative opponents. Thaksin, premier from 2001 until his ousting in 2006, has lived in self-imposed exile since 2008. He faces up to 10 years in jail for his convictions. The 74-year-old would be subject to the judicial process upon his return, deputy national police chief Surachate Hakparn said. "The police will conduct their duties normally when the plane lands. He will have to go to court and listen to what they decide," Surachate told Reuters. A Pheu Thai official declined to comment on Thaksin's return, saying the party was not involved. Thaksin has vowed to come back before only to change his mind. In a message to supporters, Thaksin made no mention of any personal political ambitions but said he wanted to thank them for backing Pheu Thai. "The economy will vastly improve under a Pheu Thai government," he said. Story continues 'GOING FOR BROKE' A prime minister has to be voted in by a joint sitting of the two houses of parliament, according to a constitution drafted under military rule, a system that critics say gives the military-appointed Senate the power to block parties that win the most seats from forming a government. Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the liberal Move Forward party, which won the most seats in May with the backing of young voters, has been blocked from becoming prime minister largely because of his party's aim to amend a law that punishes insulting the monarchy with up to 15 years in jail. Critics say the law has been used by conservative forces to stifle dissent. With Move Forward stalled, the second-placed Pheu Thai is attempting to gather support in parliament to get one of its candidates elected prime minister. Some analysts suspect that it will have to strike a deal with its old pro-military rivals to achieve that. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University, said Thaksin's return was a likely sign that Pheu Thai had found a way to form the next government but it may have to severe ties with Move Forward to do that. "Pheu Thai is going for broke," Thitinan said. "They will join the government and isolate Move Forward and part of the deal is to bring Thaksin back." A Move Forward official said Thaksin's return was a "private matter" and unrelated to the formation of a government. A vote in parliament to select a prime minister was postponed this week to give a court time to review a petition over a decision to block Pita's candidature for the top job. The house speaker, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, told reporters he was hopeful that the Constitutional Court would act with urgency to deal with the appeal and clear the way for a vote for prime minister. (Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Chayut Setboonsarng and Panu Wongcha-Um, Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor, Robert Birsel) Flash A delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC), led by Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, wrapped up a visit to Mauritius on Tuesday. During the four-day visit, Liu met with Pravind Jugnauth, leader of the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) of Mauritius and Mauritian prime minister, Maneesh Gobin, general secretary of the MSM, Alan Ganoo, leader of Mouvement Patriotique and Mauritian minister of foreign affairs, and leaders of the Mauritius Labour Party, the MSM, the Mauritian Social Democratic Party and other political parties. The two sides agreed to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, harness the strength of political mutual trust, mutually beneficial cooperation and people-to-people bonds, advance inter-party exchanges, promote cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, culture, education, infrastructure and climate change, so as to advance the in-depth development of China-Mauritius relations and China-Africa relations. Donald Trump has learned a very valuable lesson from his failed efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss, Michael Steele warned on Tuesday. The former president likely wont let lawyers again thwart his attempt to subvert democracy if he becomes the GOP nominee in 2024, the former Republican National Committee chair told MSNBCs Katie Phang. Instead, Steele said next time around they will just tell Trump: Yes, sir, how do you need this done? When does it need to be done? And how do we corral the forces across the country to make sure it sticks? Michael Steele warned that Donald Trump, pictured, has learned a Michael Steele warned that Donald Trump, pictured, has learned a "very valuable lesson" from 2020. Steeles prediction came during a discussion about former senior Justice Department official Richard Donoghue, who this week revealed hed been interviewed by special counsel Jack Smiths office as part of the investigation into Trumps attempts to overturn the election. Donoghue, during testimony to the House last year, said hed rejected Trumps efforts to flip the result. Donoghues stance against Trump was important to understand just how thin that line was for us in 2020 and why that line will be obliterated should he get reelected in 24, said Steele. Trump wont face such opposition next time around, Steele suggested. Trump has already reportedly vowed to seize presidential authority over every part of the federal government that now operates, by either law or tradition, with any measure of independence from political interference by the White House, according to a New York Times article. NBC News presidential historian Michael Beschloss this week warned it would mean Trumps second term would be a presidential dictatorship. Smith is reportedly close to indicting Trump, who last week said hed received a target letter from the special counsel. Related... Trevor Reed, the former US Marine who was wrongfully detained in Russia for nearly three years before being released in a prisoner swap, was injured while fighting in Ukraine, a source familiar with the matter told CNN Tuesday. Reed, who was freed in a prisoner swap in April 2022, was transported to a hospital in Kyiv and was evacuated to Germany for medical care, the source said. The circumstances around Reeds injury in combat were not immediately clear. The Messenger was first to report the news. We are aware that Trevor Reed was injured while participating in fighting in Ukraine, State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said at a briefing Tuesday, adding that Reed was evacuated to Germany with the support of an unnamed NGO. A US official told CNN that Reed is being treated at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, a US military hospital near Ramstein Air Base. Patel and another US administration official stressed that Reed was not engaged in any activities on behalf of the US government. And as I indicated, we have been incredibly clear warning American citizens, American nationals not to travel to Ukraine, let alone participate in fighting, Patel added. Since the beginning of this war, we have warned that US citizens who traveled to Ukraine, especially with the purpose of participating in fighting there, that they face significant risks including the risk of capture or death or physical harm, he said. Patel did not provide details on when the US government became aware of Reeds injuries in conflict. Jonathan Franks, a spokesperson for the Reed family, declined to comment. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a news conference Tuesday in Tonga said that Reeds fighting in Ukraine shouldnt have any effect on ongoing negotiations aimed at freeing two Americans who remain wrongfully detained in Russia: Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich. As Ive noted before, even with countries where we have profound differences, and almost by definition, countries that are arbitrarily detaining or unlawfully detaining Americans are usually countries with which we have profound differences, we manage to find ways to bring Americans home, Blinken said. Story continues Since the start of this administration, weve brought home 29 Americans who were being arbitrarily detained, he continued. So, my expectation is that even as were dealing with all sorts of other challenges in our relationship with Russia, we will and we are determined to continue to work to bring both Evan and Paul home. While aware of reports that Reed was injured, Blinken did not have any additional information on his condition. The top US diplomat also said it underscored why the US warns Americans against traveling to Ukraine. A US official said that of course they are concerned that the development with Reed will negatively impact efforts to negotiate the release of Whelan and Gershkovich. However, this official stressed that the two issues are wholly separate. This was something an individual did of their own volition and should be treated entirely separately from negotiations for the release of Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, the official told CNN. Patel would not speculate on the impact Reeds fighting in Ukraine would have on negotiations, but said that as it relates to other American citizens who continue to be wrongfully detained in Russia, as I, as the Secretary, as Matt, as Ambassador Carstens and others have said, we will continue to engage directly with the Russian Federation calling for the release. Youve seen us do so in the case of Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich, and will continue to remain deeply engaged on those issues, he said. Reed was arrested in Moscow in the summer of 2019 for intoxication, and was sentenced to nine years in prison in July 2020 for endangering the life and health of Russian police officers in an altercation. Reed and his family denied the charges against him, and he was designated as wrongfully detained by the US State Department. His release from Russian prison in April 2022 came after months of effort by the US government, officials said, and was particularly urgent given concerns about Reeds health. It was ultimately secured through a prisoner swap for Russian citizen Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian smuggler convicted of conspiring to import cocaine. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Natasha Bertrand contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Max Hill was the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation before taking over as director of public prosecutions - Jason Alden During Max Hill KCs tenure as director of public prosecutions (DPP), the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has battled to improve catastrophically low prosecution rates of defendants accused of sexual offences. Asked about the issue on BBC Radio 4s Law in Action earlier this year when he announced he would not be seeking a second term in the post, he said: Rape remains a horrifying, devastating crime. It has required in my time here ... a whole-system, end-to-end approach to improve what we are doing because you can only achieve a conviction and therefore sentence if you operate together. It came after he suggested in February 2022 that too few rape cases were being brought to prosecutors by the police. Asked why only 1.3 per cent of the 63,000 reported rapes resulted in a charge, he said: What is clear from those statistics is that too few of the complaints of rape are ever reaching the attention of the CPS. [Too few] are ever receiving the CPS services of taking what may appear to be a difficult case and converting it into a charge case in court. Before Mr Hill was appointed DPP for England and Wales in November 2018, he had an illustrious career as a barrister. He was responsible for the prosecution of Irish republicans, al-Qaeda terror cells and Islamic State terrorists. It was Mr Hill who helped secure the last IRA prosecution in the UK after terrorists planted a car bomb outside the BBCs White City studios in 2001. He brought to justice the 21/7 plotters who planned copycat bombings just weeks after the 7/7 London Underground attacks, as well as those behind the so-called Ricin Conspiracy to spread the deadly poison on the streets of Britain. Wealth of experience and expertise Born in Hertfordshire in 1964, he attended state primary schools before going onto the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle after his family moved to Northumberland. He won a scholarship to study law at St Peters College, Oxford, in 1986, before qualifying as a barrister in 1987. Story continues He was appointed Queens Counsel in 2008. Prior to taking up the role as head of the CPS, he worked as the independent reviewer of terror legislation from March 2017 to October 2018. In 2017, he also appeared in Channel 4s The Trial as lead counsel for the prosecution, in which real juries, together with actual barristers and judges, tried a fictional murder case in order to explore the workings of the court system. As the independent reviewer, he compiled reports including an investigative review of the use of terrorism legislation following the Westminster Bridge attacks. Amber Rudd, the then home secretary, praised his wealth of experience and legal expertise, while terror experts dubbed him formidable. In an interview with The Telegraph in 2017, he said it was his prosecution of the killers of Damilola Taylor, the 10-year-old Nigerian boy stabbed to death on Londons streets in 2000, that he was most proud of. Undoubtedly the killing of a 10-year-old boy on the streets of London when his Nigerian parents had sent him to be schooled in London thinking he would be safer here than at home, that is not only tragic but leaves a lasting impression, he said. Mr Hill is due to step down as DPP in October. 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. A new chicken restaurant is coming in hot to north Fort Worth. HCK Hot Chicken is hosting its grand opening at 6600 North Freeway suite 128 at 11 a.m. Saturday. The restaurant serves Nashville-style hot fried chicken sandwiches, tenders and wings. Fort Worth is HCKs first venture into Texas, with three restaurants already established in Virginia. The other two locations are in Florida and New Jersey, with several others on the way. Husband and wife duo Carla and Billy Zenn are bringing the restaurant to Fort Worth. We love Fort Worth, we raised our girls here, weve grown up here, Carla Zenn said. It is an east coast-based company and when we were able to test the food, we thought we really need to bring it back to our friends and family. The Zenns arent new to the food industry, having both worked at Sonic and Burger King while growing up. But this is their first venture in restaurant ownership. After several years in different careers, the duo decided it was time for a new adventure. They spoke with a franchise consultant who gave them several potential businesses to partner with, zeroing in on HCK after visiting the company in Virginia. Besides the cuisine, the Zenns liked HCKs motto of unity through food, where the company donates a percentage of sales to area nonprofits. From there it was simple. We kind of fell in love with them, Carla Zenn said. Thats what made us to go ahead and move forward with the restaurant. While the fried chicken sandwich is the star of the show, the menu has plenty to offer. Billy Zenn recommends the loaded mac and cheese bowl, which is topped with fried chicken and various sauces. Another option is the chicken and waffles, where hot syrup and crunch meet. I dont care where you try other different styles of chicken sandwiches, this has a distinct flavor and taste that just makes you want to come back, Billy Zenn said. To celebrate Saturdays grand opening, the restaurant is offering $5 sandwiches per person all day long and coupons for a free sandwich with any purchase for future visits. HCK Hot Chicken will open Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. As the new school year for the Fort Worth Independent School District approaches next month, parents and community members are calling attention to content in school library books that they consider inappropriate for children. Calls for the removal of these books dominated public comment on Tuesday night during the districts Board of Education meeting with about 20 people speaking out. Some attendees held up signs that read, Ban sexual books and Keep your kinks out of our kids schools! Tensions flared twice when excerpts were read aloud that included profanity and sexual descriptions. When Board President Dr. Camille Rodriguez told those gathered to refrain from quoting the material, attendees shouted and complained about it being available in schools. Disruptions in the meeting are not tolerated, Rodriguez said. If theres another disruption from the audience, you may be removed from the meeting. District parent Italia De La Cruz, who has three children, read from the book Push by Sapphire when she was interrupted by Rodriguez. The book, made into the 2009 film Precious, includes descriptions of rape. We urge you to take action and to take the necessary steps to remove any books that will hinder our students education. We will be watching, De La Cruz said. The complaints come after district officials announced earlier this month that three books were removed from elementary and middle school libraries: Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe; Flamer by Mike Curato; and Wait What? A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up by Heather Corinna. The books that touch on exploring sexuality and gender identity are now in the districts professional learning catalog, which is only accessible to district staff. They were deemed inappropriate after being reviewed by officials. We are currently reviewing our guidelines and policies (of library books) in preparation for the upcoming school year, John Cope, the districts director of communications, told the Star-Telegram in a statement. Gender Queer was the book most commonly banned from school libraries during the 2021-22 school year, according to a report released in September by the free-speech-advocacy organization PEN America. Additionally, the report states that Texas was the nationwide leader in school library book bans during the same school year with 801 titles banned across 22 school districts. Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill last month that aims to keep sexually explicit books out of school libraries, which has drawn concerns from legal experts and librarians over its broad language that could eliminate books that are considered appropriate. Fox News host Greg Gutfeld. Omar Vega/Getty Images Fox News is facing fresh backlash after one of its hosts made comments about concentration camp victims' work skills. Greg Gutfeld said that those in the work camps with skills survived during the Holocaust a clear simplification. "Being skilled or useful did not spare them from the horrors of the gas chambers," the Auschwitz memorial said in response. Fox News is facing a slew of backlash after one of its primetime hosts suggested that Holocaust survivors who had work skills survived in concentration camps. On an episode of "The Five" Monday, Greg Gutfeld referenced a book by Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl and said "you had to survive in a concentration camp by having skills. You had to be useful Utility kept you alive." Gutfeld's Holocaust remark was meant to defend Florida's new educational guideline to teach students that slaves learned skills that could be "applied for their personal benefit." Representatives for Fox News did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Early Tuesday, the Auschwitz Memorial shared a lengthy statement on Twitter condemning Gutfeld. "While it is true that some Jews may have used their skills or usefulness to increase their chances of survival during the Holocaust, it is essential to contextualize this statement properly and understand that it does not represent the complex history of the genocide perpetrated by Nazi Germany," the statement began. The statement went on to contextualize Frankl's observations that Gutfeld was referencing, noting that some Jews who were stationed at Auschwitz which was both a work and extermination camp "became registered prisoners and might have used their skills to gain favor or prolong their lives in that particular setting. Yet, it never gave them complete protection." "However, we must not overlook the larger picture of the Holocaust," the statement continued. "Millions of Jews were brutally murdered in execution sites ... with entire communities wiped out regardless of their usefulness or contributions to society. Story continues "Being skilled or useful did not spare them from the horrors of the gas chambers," the statement said. "We should avoid such oversimplifications in talking about this complex tragic story," the Auschwitz Memorial concluded. Shortly after, the White House strongly rebuked Gutfeld's comments in a statement shared with The Hill. "What Fox News allowed to be said on their air yesterday and has so far failed to condemn is an obscenity," spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement to The Hill. "In defending a horrid, dangerous, extreme lie that insults the memory of the millions of Americans who suffered from the evil of enslavement, a Fox News host told another horrid, dangerous, and extreme lie that insults the memory of the millions of people who suffered from the evils of the Holocaust," the statement continued. And on CNN Tuesday night, a Holocaust survivor told host Abby Phillip that he is "disgusted" by Gutfeld's comments. Michael Bornstein recalled how his father and brother, who possessed "skills," were gassed in Auschwitz. "There's no silver lining to killing six million people or talking about slaves and the benefits of slaves and learning and what they were doing," Bornstein said. "There's absolutely no room for fake news like that." Gutfelds' comments have sparked criticism in the past. Last year, he suggested that US reporters were exaggerating how devastating Russia's invasion of Ukraine had been and in May, he made a joke that a teacher accused of having sex with an underage student was a "hero" because the teacher was female and the student was a teen boy. Read the original article on Business Insider PARIS (Reuters) - France said on Wednesday it condemned any attempt to seize power through violence in Niger, where presidential guards were holding President Mohamed Bazoum inside his palace in the capital Niamey. In recent months France has been forced to redefine the country's strategy to fight Islamist militants in the Sahel after thousands of troops completed a withdrawal from Mali and concerns mount over the growing threat to coastal West African states. Coups in Mali, Chad and Burkina Faso have weakened France's alliances in its former colonies, emboldened jihadists who control large swathes of desert and scrubland, and opened the door to greater Russian influence. Key to its strategy has been to move troops to Niger, which it has considered its main ally in the region and the best launch pad for operations against militants in the border regions connecting Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre said Paris was watching the situation carefully, but "condemned attempts to take power by force." France, she said, joined African Union calls to restore the integrity of democratic institutions. An updated travel advisory from the ministry said French citizens, of which there are about 1,200, should remain vigilant and limit their movements in the capital. About 1,000 to 1,500 French soldiers are based in Niamey with fighter jets, drones and helicopters also in the country. (Reporting by John Irish and Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Richard Lough) Hate crime incidents in Fresno have remained static according to the 2022 report by the state Department of Justice, but Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama refuses to relax because of fears that many victims remain hesitant to report such crimes. Last month, state Attorney General Rob Bonta released the 2022 Hate Crime Report, which showed 13 reported hate crime events and 26 offenses. The numbers were 15 and 19 the previous year. Balderrama, in his third year leading a force of more than 840 sworn officers, spoke with Vida en el Valle recently about that report and hate crimes in the city. The numbers do look low, said Balderrama. And when you consider the fact that we received 894,911 calls, and 392,00 required a police response, thats obviously a very, very small number. Tracking the data is important because police can then make better decisions. Balderrama said the statistics represent people who have experienced hate crime or hate speech. Hate crimes really focus on individuals and who they are as human beings, he said, adding that the citys diversity ninth in the nation makes it a challenge to keep hate crimes in check. Culture, religion, the color of your skin, and the language you speak is diversity. Every resident of this community deserves to feel safe and secure in their community, and they should never be targeted for how they speak, how they look, what they believe in. Convictions for hate crimes is difficult When a hate crime gets reported, it becomes a high priority for Fresno police. When police get a call regarding hate crime, a supervisor is prepared to contact an investigative unit, said Balderrama. We also have resources with our federal partners we can call if we determine that there is a (hate crime) trend that is affecting the community, he said. From personal experience, were a lot more interconnected at the national level. However, Balderrama said it can be difficult to get a conviction. Story continues That doesnt mean law enforcement isnt keeping an eye on hate crimes. In the last three or four years nationally, law enforcement has placed a higher degree of attention and importance on hate crimes, said Balderrama. The FBI has publicized its anti-hate crimes campaign on social media, stating that hate crimes not only harm victims but also strike fear into their communities. They ask people to call (800) 225-5324. In May, Gov. Gavin Newsom launched CA vs Hate, a statewide hotline to report hate acts. Within a month, 180 calls were made to (833)-8-NO-HATE. The California State Library has invested $40 million with media (including Vida en el Valle) to spotlight the impact of hate crimes and educate readers/viewers on the issue and get people to report if they are a victim or witness to a hate crime. Fresno police joined a Greater Fresno Hate Crime Task Force set up last year by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California to share hate crime data with other law enforcement groups. Balderrama applauds those efforts. Theres been a lot of information flowing out through the media to the community, he said. So the reporting of such crimes has been steadily increasing, not by much, but at least we know that the information and knowledge is getting out there. A problem with underreporting Despite those informational campaigns, hate crimes remain unreported, according to officials. I know it is underreported without a doubt for many reasons when you consider diversity in our community, said Balderrama. People who come here from other countries sometimes dont have much trust or confidence in the police that they are going to do their jobs or that theyre here to protect. Balderrama said immigrants may mistakenly think that police should be called only when its something very, very serious. Or, he said, they dont see a threat worth bothering the police. The police chief stresses that all hate crimes and hate speech be reported to police, for them to have confidence in their police department to report it. Language is not a barrier, he said. A lot of our police speak Spanish, Punjabi and Hmong, said Balderrama. We strive to meet their needs. Even if the case does not result in a charge being filed, Balderrama said gathering the information and figuring out whats going on in the community really helps us to diminish fears. Balderrama fears what could happen if an alleged hate crime gets shared on social media with just partial or even incorrect information. Its shared once, twice, 100 or 1,000 times, and all of a sudden you have a certain segment of the population thats living in fear based on misinformation, said Balderrama. When they report it to the police, we can figure out whats really going on and typically diminish the fears of the community. Its the polices job, he said, to sort out misinformation. Immigrants can be easy targets Balderrama, who grew up in El Paso and later joined the Oklahoma City police force, said immigrants are vulnerable targets because they tend to not speak English or know how to get around or know where the resources are. In Oklahoma City, a lot of Mexican American laborers were being targeted because they do not use banks. A gang was going through apartment complexes, particularly on Fridays, because they knew that they had just gotten paid, he said. A lot of the people would be robbed and assaulted because they would have a large amount of cash on them. Balderrama said it is difficult to prove those cases against the Mexican American workers were a hate crime. For us to be able to say with 100% certainty that the motivation was based on religion or race or nationality or the language they speak, thats not easy to do, he said. That Fresno County prosecuted seven hate crimes in 2022 is proof of that difficulty, he said. They are hard to prove, he said. This last year in Fresno, weve had some incidents that have occurred at churches, and certain protected classes have been the victims of these crimes. Unless you have a suspect, you can almost never determine if hate was the motivation. Unless theres a note left or unless theres derogatory speech left on graffiti, then we can make that assumption. Its important to have people trust the police, he said, so that hate crimes can be reported. We want to make sure that they feel confident they can trust us when they call that were going to respond, said Balderrama. The Daily Beast/American University/FBI A yoga teacher who spent more than a decade on the lam after fleeing to Mexico has been extradited to the United States this week to face charges for allegedly killing an American University professor, police said Wednesday. The Montgomery County Police Department announced that Jorge Rueda Landeros was extradited from Mexico and arrested in Maryland in connection with the October 2010 murder of Sue Marcum in her Bethesda home. Authorities say Marcum, who became friends with Rueda Landeros after the two met in a Spanish language class he taught, died after suffering blunt-force trauma and asphyxiation. Court records indicate that Rueda Landeros was taken into U.S. custody on Tuesday and was expected to make his initial appearance in Montgomery District Court on Wednesday afternoon on a first-degree murder charge. Montgomery Countys head public defender Michael Beach said in a statement that Landeros is innocent, has asserted his innocence before, and continues to today. We look forward to a trial in a courtroom in this case, he added. Rueda Landeros extraditionwhich was first reported by The Washington Postmarks the latest development in a case that garnered national attention. Authorities were initially called to Marcums house on Oct. 25, 2010, where she was found dead in the basement. Initially, authorities suspected it was a burglary gone wrong, a theory that was bolstered after a teenager was found driving Marcums stolen Jeep, court records state. But investigators eventually abandoned the theory after they couldnt find evidence that the teenager ever entered the professors home. According to the Post, investigators then learned of Rueda Landeros, a yoga teacher who held dual citizenship in Mexico and the United States. Rueda Landeros had met Marcum in 2006 after she had joined his Spanish class in Washington, D.C. The pair quickly developed a friendship and eventually created a joint investment fund in 2008. A 1099 form in Marcums name listed proceeds from this fund of over $100 million, charging documents state, adding that the university professor was uncomfortable with the financial entanglement. Story continues Investigators said that after looking at emails between the pair, it became clear that Marcum was increasingly concerned and uneasy about the way Landeros was handling and spending the monies that had been in this brokerage account. Marcum spoke of not being able to sleep and seemed to be very troubled by what was happening with this account, the charging documents state. Investigators also learned that Landeros is the sole beneficiary of a $500,00 life insurance policy in the event of Marcums death. But by the time authorities went to question Rueda Landeros, he had fled to Mexico. The charging document states that authorities also later determined that Landeros DNA matched samples taken inside the professors home, including what is believed to be the weapon used to strike Marcum and the scrapings from under Marcums fingernails. Despite issuing an international warrant, the trail on Rueda Landeros went colduntil last year when the FBI received information that he was likely living in Guadalajara, Jalisco. El Pais Mexico reported at the time that he was living under the name Leon Ferrara and had been teaching yoga. Rueda Landeros was arrested in Mexico and had been awaiting extradition until this week. He has maintained his innocence despite fleeing the U.S. over a decade ago. Im innocent. I suppose not of everything, but obviously of what they are accusing me of, he said during a 2022 Mexican jailhouse call, according to El Pais Mexico. 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. Intentional succession planning prepares an organization for the next leaders at all levels and in all departments of an organization. This is particularly important in higher education organizations and departments that serve student veterans because it helps to provide a continuity of support for this community. About Succession Planning Succession planning encompasses specific procedures with organizational goals and missions while preparing individuals for increasing levels of management for future operations. As an organization grows and changes over time, succession planning needs to be revisited and modified as needed to ensure the plan stays viable and relevant. Succession planning conceptualizes the big picture with clear goals and direction while planning for future needs with creativity and flexibility. In addition, succession planning operates with foresight, which is the ability to predict the future based on past events and current circumstances. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that people, training, and processes are in places that point toward future growth and outcomes. Change is inevitable. Leaders who do not acknowledge change risk hindering the organizations growth and its employees, especially in disregarding succession planning. It takes time and dedication to plan for the organizations future. Four factors that boost succession planning: adequate criteria, assessing performance rather than potential, relevant data to make informed decisions and non-traditional training. Winston Churchill said, Those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. Leaders must reflect on past actions and endeavors and learn from their mistakes. Succession plans need to be reviewed to ensure they apply to current situations. They also need to be evaluated for viability and suitability. After every training event, the United States military conducts an After-Action Review to discuss the planned training, the actual training that occurred, what portions need sustaining, and what training needs improvement. Conducting a review after implementing a succession plan can show what went right and what needs improvement, helping the organization continue to adjust as needed. Story continues Organizations cannot afford to assume that leaders will be in place for many years. Succession planning and succession development can benefit an organization by having leaders readily available and trained to assume leadership positions. Contingencies and courses of action for multiple situations, such as hiring outside leadership or replacing poor leaders, are also necessary, along with regular maintenance and viability. Foresight and forethought can save an organization time and money and ensure the organization or department is set up for success. How Succession Planning, or Lack Thereof, Affects Students Veterans Succession planning for higher education and student veterans can be intimidating, disappointing, or a struggle. At my alma mater, for example, we had a Student Veterans of America chapter. However, the entire SVA leadership graduated at the same time and left the SVA chapter with no one in place to continue managing the chapter, which makes it difficult for the chapter to remain viable and generate interest for the next group of student veterans. Perhaps a longer look or involving alumni in the SVA chapter would be beneficial. Alumni can offer a perspective that encourages longevity and reflection on their time as student veterans, which can help improve continuity of organizations like SVA. Another aspect of succession planning for student veterans includes the universitys veterans affairs office. The one constant in the veterans affairs office is the school certifying officials (SCOs) for VA benefits. School certifying official training occurs yearly through VA.gov. The training prepares SCOs with education on student veteran benefits, access to VA systems to certify student enrollments, and interaction with student veterans regarding payments, information, and resources about the GI Bill. Retaining SCOs is important, as it helps the school build and maintain a military-friendly and yellow-ribbon school status. School staff and administrators interested in building a better rapport with student veterans should also consider the longevity of the veterans affairs office and how to build a robust student veteran program and outreach. Syracuse University demonstrates an example of succession planning that has developed into a non-traditional, robust training opportunity for veterans and families. The DAniello Institute for Veterans & Military Families provides free training for veterans in entrepreneurship, women veterans, career transition, industry certifications, and alumni services. In addition, Syracuse launched AmericaServes network, which is a coordinated network of organizations dedicated to serving the military community. Through strategic initiatives such as these, the staff and administration at Syracuse demonstrate a focus on succession planning for veterans and their families. Programs and initiatives like these look beyond the 4-6 years of a typical student veteran. They are helping veterans prepare for life after the military and include families in their programs, which speaks to the heart of many veterans. Developing a long term and robust veterans affairs office requires foresight and planning that engages veterans, meets their current needs as student veterans and enlists their support and involvement as alumni. Sometimes it takes training or events outside the current scope. It could involve dependents and family members, as well as supporting veterans with initiatives well beyond their student veteran time. One final thought -- ensure the faculty knows and understands the nature of student veterans. Some are active duty, with training and full-time duties. While they hate to miss suspenses, sometimes their priorities override an assignment due date. Some student veterans are deployed to remote locations while attending school, which adds another level of intensity to their busy schedule. Succession planning for student veterans isnt just answering the question of who are incoming student veterans, it is engaging them beyond their time as a student that contributes and supports the next class of student veterans and beyond. Disclaimer: HigherEdMilitary encourages free discourse and expression of issues while striving for accurate presentation to our audience. A guest opinion serves as an avenue to address and explore important topics, for authors to impart their expertise to our higher education audience and to challenge readers to consider points of view that could be outside of their comfort zone. The viewpoints, beliefs, or opinions expressed in the above piece are those of the author(s) and dont imply endorsement by HigherEdMilitary. This article was originally published at HigherEdMilitary. Flash At least 16 civilians were killed on Tuesday in air and artillery strikes at a neighborhood in the city of Omdurman, west of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, a resistance committee said. The civilians "died in this senseless war at the Ombada neighborhood" in Omdurman, the Ombada's Resistance Committee, a popular youth group, said in a statement. It added that there were other victims at Souk Libya, a local market in Omdurman, due to the strikes. In the meantime, the United Nations said that the humanitarian situation in Sudan has turned into a full catastrophe. "Yesterday marked 100 days since the eruption of war in Sudan, a crisis that turned a dire humanitarian situation into a full-blown catastrophe," Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, said in a statement on Tuesday. The humanitarian community remains steadfast in its commitment to support the people of Sudan, making tremendous and brave efforts to provide assistance amid very difficult circumstances, the statement said. "Yet relief workers are not spared from the horrendous acts of violence and abuse," the UN official said, adding that at least 18 aid workers have been killed and many more injured since the start of the conflict in Sudan. Humanitarian facilities have also been attacked, with at least 50 humanitarian warehouses having been looted, and 82 offices ransacked, according to the statement. Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum and other areas since April 15, resulting in over 3,000 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries, according to figures released by the Sudanese Health Ministry. In order to reduce harmful carbon pollution, we must first understand where most of it is coming from. We know that just 100 companies are responsible for 71% of planet-heating pollution. Two new bills in the California state legislature aim to hold companies accountable by forcing them to disclose information about their emissions and their sustainability efforts. If oil and gas lobbyists have their way, though, these bills wont get passed. Whats happening? Earlier this year, California State Senator Scott Wiener introduced the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253). If passed, the bill would require businesses with annual revenues of more than $1 billion to report all of their emissions. The voluntary carbon market disclosures bill, introduced by Assembly Member Jesse Gabriel, would require firms that buy and sell carbon offsets credits companies can buy that represent a reduction in their carbon footprints to disclose further information about these offsets. Studies suggest that up to 90% of carbon offsets do not result in meaningful reductions in carbon emissions. The bill would require greater transparency from buyers and sellers of carbon offsets, allowing legislators and consumers to hold companies accountable for their claims of sustainability. If passed, these bills could present a major shift in corporate transparency and accountability in regard to the climate crisis. This would be pretty monumental, Mary Creaseman, CEO of California Environmental Voters, told the Guardian. Whos against it? Unsurprisingly, oil and gas lobbyists arent fans of these bills. The Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), a trade association of businesses in the oil and gas industry, has already spent $2.38 million trying to prevent the bills from being passed. Opponents of the bills are focusing on swaying moderate Democrats who have aligned themselves with corporate interests in the past. Though Democrats outnumber Republicans in the state assembly 62 to 18, a similar climate disclosures bill was blocked last year by moderate Democrats. Story continues An additional 15 legislators abstained from the vote, and the Guardian found that these 15 legislators have received millions of dollars from the California Chamber of Commerce and oil and gas lobbyists. Where are the bills now? The Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act passed the California Assembly Natural Resources Committee on July 10. Next, the bill will move on to a floor vote in the state assembly. The voluntary market disclosures bill passed the assembly and is moving on to the state senate. California voters can call their assemblymember to express their support of the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act through California Environmental Voters. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. An officer offers water to one of several people detained in an early-morning sweep of alleged members of the Quiet Village gang. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Federal investigators, El Monte police and Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies arrested alleged members of the Quiet Village gang Wednesday, naming the group in a series of indictments that accuse them of conspiring to commit murder, other violent crimes and drug trafficking. The cases stem from the killing of two El Monte police officers last June during a confrontation at a motel with a member of the gang. Officers Michael Paredes and Joseph Santana were responding to a domestic violence report when Justin Flores a documented member of the Quiet Village gang with multiple prior convictions shot them in the head. In the wake of the double homicide, a joint task force of local police and federal agents from the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives targeted the Whittier area-based gang, which has ties to the Mexican Mafia. Several suspected members of the gang's leadership were taken into custody Wednesday as prosecutors revealed charges in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman in the City of Commerce in March 2022. In that case, prosecutors say, a member of an affiliated gang tried to kill an informant who had talked to police about an attempted murder. This morning, law enforcement officers fanned out across the San Gabriel Valley and arrested 11 defendants on federal and state charges, U.S. Atty. Martin Estrada said at a news conference announcing the cases, alongside officials from the FBI and ATF, El Monte's police chief and L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna. Estrada said 10 people face federal charges, three of whom remain fugitives. Five others were arrested on local charges, he said. One of the federal indictments alleges violations of the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, and some of those charged were already behind bars in connection with other cases. Estrada said the investigation also targeted the Whittier Varrio Locos gang that associates with Quiet Village. Estrada said Quiet Village is a small gang of about 40 members that formed decades ago and has been extremely violent. He said the gang celebrated the killings of the two police officers at an illegal underground gambling establishment it operated. Story continues Estrada said the gang was behind an attempted murder in El Monte in January 2022. The victim was struck with at least eight bullets and severely wounded, he said. According to one of the indictments, Chase Carrillo, a.k.a. Sicko, 34, an alleged shot caller in Quiet Village, and alleged Whittier Varrio Locos leader Ronny Rojas shot a rival gangster after an argument. They escaped with the help of a man identified in the indictment as J.P., who was ordered to drive the getaway car. In early March 2022, Rojas obtained a police report about the incident that named J.P. as a person who had provided authorities with information about the shooting, according to the indictment. Rojas, through a member of his gang, distributed the report and said that, J.P. should be murdered for cooperating with law enforcement," according to the indictment. On March 5, 2022, two days after the police report began circulating among gang members, prosecutors say Carrillo was in a car being driven by Maria Garcia, an alleged member of Varrio Locos who had rented the vehicle using a stolen credit card. When he spotted J.P. riding as a passenger in another car in Commerce, Rojas got out of the rental car and fired at least two rounds at the suspected informant, prosecutors allege. J.P. was not hit, but the woman driving the vehicle he was in was fatally wounded. Soon after the killing, prosecutors allege Garcia attempted to sell the 9-millimeter ghost gun that had allegedly been used by Carrillo. One week after the slaying, Garcia allegedly told another gang associate, Yeah, she was driving his car, and later said, sometimes you gotta take matters into your own hands, you know? "Today the good men and women of our participating federal and local agencies did something good, did something extraordinary in combating evil," said El Monte Police Chief Jake Fisher, speaking at the news conference, which included a display of seized guns, drugs and a T-shirt that the gang members allegedly wore bragging about cop killers. The killing of Santana and Paredes occurred June 14 last year when the officers were responding to a domestic violence report at El Monte's Siesta Inn. The officers were able to get the purported victim out of the motel room, but Flores emerged from a bathroom and shot them both in the head, police said. Flores stole a gun from one of the fallen officers and ran into the motel parking lot, where he engaged in a gun battle with other officers. Authorities say he fell to the ground before taking his own life. Luna said the prosecution sends a message to those considering acts of violence against law enforcement. "We're going to come to your homes, we"re going to impact your businesses, and it is not only going to be done by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, but every agency represented here," he said. The families of Officers Santana and Paredes have filed litigation over the circumstances that allowed Flores to be free at the time of the shootings, alleging a combination of poor supervision by the Los Angeles County Probation Department and a plea deal that was struck in 2021 as part of Dist. Atty. George Gascon's broad sentencing reforms. Flores was on probation as part of a plea deal struck in 2021 after he'd been arrested on suspected possession of a firearm and methamphetamine. With a prior burglary conviction, Flores could have faced several years in prison under California's "three strikes" law. But the prosecutor assigned to the case said he couldn't seek the enhanced sentence because of one of many sweeping policy changes Gascon made on his first day in office, according to a document reviewed by The Times. Gascon had enacted a policy barring strike enhancements in late 2020, but it was later deemed illegal by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge. The district attorney has appealed the lower court decision to the state Supreme Court. A spokesperson for the office also said last year that the prosecutor on Flores' case could have requested a policy exemption if they believed the defendant was especially dangerous, and that no such request was made. Gascon also argued that the plea deal was consistent with similar offers made by his predecessor's administration. The Probation Department came under scrutiny after a Times investigation revealed Flores had not received a single in-person visit from a probation officer for at least six months before the killings. In the days before the shooting, probation officials also learned Flores was allegedly in possession of a gun, using drugs, and beating a woman he was in a relationship with. All are violations of the terms of his probation and could have triggered an arrest. A preliminary report by the L.A. County Office of Inspector General later revealed probation officers saw Flores in person just one time during the 16 months he was under county supervision. 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. On July 22, 2011, far-right terrorist Anders Breivik carried out Norway's deadliest mass shooting since World War II, killing 77 people. He justified the massacre by propagating the "great replacement" conspiracy theory, claiming he was saving Europe from a left-supported Muslim takeover of Europe. Twelve years on, that once obscure theory is now broadly mainstream among right-wing voters, media personalities, politicians and 1 in 3 U.S. adults. And since the terrorist's manifesto was shared, it has inspired a wave of deadly far-right attacks in the United States, Europe and New Zealand. This replacement theory is nothing new, however. Similar anti-Muslim racism was used to justify the slaughter of Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks) by Bosnian Serb and Serbian government forces during the 1990s aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina. A vigil on July 26, 2011, near the Norwegian island of Utoya, where a gunman killed 69 after he exploded a car bomb at the government quarter in Oslo, killing eight people. If you think the large-scale targeted, identity-based violence could not happen now, think again. Just look at Ukraine, where Russian rhetoric of ethno-nationalism is killing thousands. And America has not been shielded from Breiviks toxic ideas. From Buffalo, New York, and El Paso, Texas, to the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, the replacement conspiracy has become a familiar narrative to explain the motivation behind mass shootings. It was even the motivation for many who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Indeed, the Capitol riot underlines how quickly conspiracy theories that trigger existential fear of the other can escalate into near uncontrollable violence even at the heart of American political power. A new partnership to address fear and hate How then, do we address a dangerous trend that has grown in popularity despite every logical and moral reason for it not to? This is precisely the area of focus the International Interfaith Lab set up last year in partnership between Columbia University and one of the largest Islamic nonprofit organizations, the Muslim World League specializes in addressing. Story continues And both of us, who are directly involved in the Interfaith Lab, have learned a few things along the way. The popularity of conspiracies like the replacement theory exposes a deeper, more troubling reality. Such ideas can only take hold when people already hold preexisting beliefs, biases and values most notably a belief that society is composed of divided and competing ethnic, racial or religious groups. White supremacy isn't just history: Acts of racial intimidation do not stay just a dark part of history Thats why dismantling such theories in isolation, using reason and analysis alone, is simply not enough because it addresses the symptom, not the cause of the problem. This points to a bigger challenge around biases and attitudes to race, religion and ethnicity. And its why a more substantive engagement involving educators, civil society actors, mainstream leaders and grassroots role models is needed to build resilience to hate and biases that conspiracy theories mobilize. How do we counter disinformation and denialism? However, even then we encounter a challenging obstacle: disinformation and denialism. Both are key pillars for keeping extremist narratives alive. Denialism, after all, is precisely what grants those who hold hate views the privilege of never subjecting them to scrutiny. One of us Amra Sabic-El-Rayess, a genocide survivor knows this firsthand. The Bosnian genocide is still denied and even celebrated by huge swathes of Serbian society. Not only does that allow dehumanization and hate to persist, but the conspiracy of Western forces manufacturing anti-Serb genocide claims helped forge a victimhood mentality that drew ordinary Serbs closer to their strongman rulers. Amra Sabic-El-Rayess is a professor at Columbia University, where she leads the International Lab for Research and Leadership in Interfaith Collaboration and Coexistence. We see a similar dynamic play out in the United States, where the Buffalo and El Paso attacks ironically reinforced support for the far right after conspiracy theorists characterized those attacks as false flag operations. Perversely, this reinforced opposition to the very demographic groups who were victims of those attacks. Solving the problem of disinformation is not easy. Just this week, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that artificial intelligence could massively compound the spread of hate speech and disinformation, adding a new dimension to the manipulation of human behavior, and contributing to polarization and instability on a vast scale. As dramatic as that sounds, its not unfounded. Beyond ChatGPT: AI conspiracy theories are here. Don't believe everything you read. This month, the U.N. Office on Genocide Prevention launched a policy paper on countering online hate speech, something the Muslim World League has been actively pursuing for years. Its #RejectHate campaign, launched in 2021, combats anti-Muslim racism and all forms of hate by pressuring Big Tech to address the concerning rise of online hate crimes. Fearmongering conspiracies designed to weaponize negative emotions are an increasing issue in todays social media landscape. They trigger peoples basest fears to galvanize them into becoming loyal followers of extreme movements. Positive emotional narratives have the opposite effect. Powerful, moving storytelling that shatters the biases and presumptions of hate groups is a potent way to preempt and diffuse the influence of extremists and conspiracy theorists. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa is the secretary general of the Muslim World League. When one of us Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, the secretary general of the Muslim World League led the most senior Islamic religious delegation to Auschwitz in 2020 alongside senior global Jewish leaders, he aimed to counter hate. The sheer spectacle of some of the world's leading Islamic religious leaders paying homage to the victims of the Nazi death camp in Poland did more than any other single event or news story to dent Holocaust denialism across the Islamic world. 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. Clearly, 12 years after a neo-Nazi terrorist killed innocent lives in Norway, we have yet to successfully address the hate-filled narrative that motivated his attack. In many ways, todays challenges are amplified. The stakes are high, but if an unprecedented coalition of government, Big Tech, civil society and content creators can produce major policy, narrative and public opinion shifts, we might just turn the tide. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa is the secretary general of the Muslim World League, which was behind the ground-breaking Makkah Charter supported in 2019 by 1,200 Islamic scholars across nearly 140 countries.He also founded Faith For Our Planet, one of the worlds first interfaith climate nonprofit organizations. Amra Sabic-El-Rayess is a professor at Columbia University, where she leads the International Lab for Research and Leadership in Interfaith Collaboration and Coexistence. Her new nonfiction book, "Three Summers: A Memoir of Sisterhood, Summer Crushes, and Growing Up on the Eve of the Bosnian Genocide," comes out next year. You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Great replacement theory isn't new. We need new strategy to fight it Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty/Mike Sapraicone As Rep. George Santos (R-NY) faces charges of being an allegedly shameless crook as well as a serial liar, those seeking to claim his seat include a retired detective who would be the only person in Congress with working knowledge of how to actually control crime. During his time with the New York City Transit Police and then the NYPD, Det. Mike Sapraicone was one of a tight crew assembled by policing genius Jack Maple, whose strategies transformed New York from Fear City, with more than 2,000 murders a year, into the safest big city in America with less than 400. Sapraicone had known Maple since they both attended Holy Child grammar school in Queens. Sapraicone was a Transit detective. Maple became a Transit lieutenant and covered a squadrooms walls with what he called the Charts of the Future, computer paper on which his cops used crayons to color-code the details of each subway crime, thereby enabling them to spot patterns. Maple combined that with a basic precept as simple as those taught by the nuns at Holy Child: Treat every crime as if the victim were your mother. When Rudy Giuliani was elected mayor in 1994, he appointed former Transit Police Chief William Bratton the new NYPD commissioner. Bratton had come to recognize Maples genius and promoted him in one unprecedented jump to Deputy Commissioner. Maple extended throughout the city the precept about the importance of each victim. He thereby pressed NYPD commanders to treat Black=on-Black crime as seriously as Black-on-white crime. And that changed everything. At periodic meetings called CompStat, the Charts Of the Future were updated to computerized pin maps, where a crime was represented by the same size dot, whether it was on ritzy Central Park South or the toughest street in East New York. Maple was liable to point to any of these dots and ask a commander to detail how he or she addressed the particular crime with the application of four operating principles: accurate, timely intelligence; rapid deployment; effective tactics; relentless followup. Story continues Nobody was more relentless than Sapraicone as the NYPD generated a reduction in crime so dramatic that Bratton became a celebrity. A jealous Giuliani subsequently drove Bratton out. Maple chose to go with him, later noting that Giuliani never understood what caused the drop in crime for which he demanded credit. CompStat continued, but it passed into the hands of people who began to use it as a personnel management tool, a way to control cops as much as to control crime. It became all about the numbers of arrests and summonses rather than the importance of each and every victim. But the underlying principle that a dot is a dot still kept crime at record lows. Sapraicone stayed relentlessly true to the Maple mission until he retired in 2000. Maple fell critically ill with cancer and Sapraicone went to visit him in the hospital. I spent a good two hours with Jack, Sapraicone recalled to The Daily Beast on Tuesday. We both cried a little bit and, and laughed about a whole bunch of stuff. Sapraicone added, I loved him. I learned a lot of things from him. Maple died in August of 2001. Sapraicone started a successful private security company whose clients included Apple. He became a big success as he approached business much as he had policing with Maple. Strategies and looking at things and asking the questions nobody asks, Sapraicone said. And to listen to people At the heart of it was what had also been at the heart of it with Maple. In my mind, like policing is common sense, Sapraicone said. You could train and do whatever, but its really all about common sense. If you dont have common sense, you fail. In September, Sapraicone sold his business and pondered his next adventure. His wife, Eileen Daly-Sapraicone, is a Nassau County judge who had successfully run for Family Court and then Supreme Court. He had been intrigued by the process. He also began to feel that somebody had to do something as New York seemed in danger of reverting to the bad old days. People from Long Island don't want to take the train into the city, he said. And once they get in the city, they dont want to go on a subway. Its just gotten to a point where its just totally ridiculous. He then saw both an opportunity and a necessity when a compound scandal unfolded around his representative in Congress. Sapraicone felt he had placed better people than George Santos in handcuffs. George Santos New Max Donors Have Strong Ties to Guo Wengui Hes worse than a perp, Sapraicone said of Santos. Hes a stain. Sapraicone decided to make a bid for the spot, whether or not Santos manages to keep his seat until the primary. I said, You know, I could do this, I can certainly do this kind of thing, he recalled. Sapraicone is giving some press interviews and going on various TV and radio shows meeting with people who know Nassau County politics. He is also fundraising. I have to start to learn, how do I ask people for money? he said. I think thats the hardest part of this whole thing. And Ive got to raise a lot of money to make sure that Im viable. If Maple were around, he would say Sapraicone is nothing if not relentless and the Charts of the Future just may see common sense come to Congress. 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. About a year before George Santos was elected to Congress, he and three other men approached a loyal campaign donor with a potentially lucrative opportunity. A wealthy Polish citizen wanted to buy cryptocurrency, they said, but for reasons unclear, his fortune was frozen in a bank account. They asked the donor, a wealthy investor in his own right, for help. The donor was immediately skeptical. He was not told the Polish citizens name. The mens plan having the donor create a limited liability company to gain access to the funds made no sense to him. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times And while they hadnt yet asked for money, he was struck by how much their pitch resembled the classic Nigerian prince email scheme, in which a rich, potentially fictitious, foreigner asks an outsider to help free up frozen assets. In the years since Santos first ran for the House in 2020, he has become adept at finding ways to extract money from politics. He founded a political consulting group that he marketed to other Republicans. He sought to profit from the COVID crisis, using campaign connections. And he solicited investments for and from political donors, raising ethical questions. Santos has been charged with 13 felonies for misrepresenting his earnings, collecting $24,000 in unemployment while employed, and pocketing $50,000 he solicited from political supporters through what he claimed was a super PAC. Santos, who has pleaded not guilty, has not been charged with personal use of campaign funds. But a review of his political career found several previously unreported examples of how he sought to use the connections he made as a candidate for public office to enrich himself. The proposition involving the wealthy Polish national is a prime example, as Santos partnered with a former Republican state assemblyman, Michael LiPetri; and Bryant Park Associates, a company run by a Republican donor, Dominick Sartorio, according to the investor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he said his business interests would be harmed if he was publicly associated with Santos. Story continues The interaction was so strange that the donor said he was uncertain if Santos and his partners were themselves being conned. He asked for more information but was told to first sign a nondisclosure agreement. Three of their names appeared on the agreement, which was reviewed by The New York Times. When the investor asked for changes to the nondisclosure form, the talks ended. LiPetri, now a lobbyist at the firm Park Strategies, sought to minimize his role in the venture, saying that while he was aware of Santos efforts, he was not involved in detail, and suggested that no deals ultimately materialized. The congressmans lawyer, Joseph Murray, said that LiPetri had connected Santos to Bryant Park Associates, which represented the Polish citizen. Mr. Santos only made the introductions. End of story, Murray said, adding that he had no information about the Polish mans identity. Sartorio, a businessperson whose ventures repeatedly forced him into bankruptcy, did not return repeated requests for comment. Santos actions have been scrutinized ever since the Times revealed last year that the high-powered finance career and fabulous wealth he bragged about on the campaign trail were fictional. But sometime between his first ill-fated congressional run and the present, Santos grandiose stories began to come to life. He started driving a Mercedes and wearing Cartier, and made large loans to his campaign. Santos has claimed that his company, the Devolder Organization, paid him $750,000 a year, plus dividends of more than $1 million. Prosecutors have called those numbers inflated. Santos has consistently rejected allegations of impropriety. I had the relationships and I started making a lot of money. I fundamentally started building wealth, he told City and State in December, several months before his indictment. And I decided to invest in my race for Congress. Theres nothing wrong with that no criminal conduct, no anything of the sort. One of the earliest, previously unreported instances of Santos blurring his political and business interests came in July 2020, against the backdrop of COVID-driven shortages of personal protection equipment, and just six months into his first and unsuccessful bid for a House seat. A campaign contact connected Santos to Blue Flame Medical, a new company run by Michael Gula, a Republican fundraiser from Washington, D.C., and a California-based political consultant, John Thomas. The pair had recently pivoted from politics into procurement, recognizing the tremendous market for testing kits, masks and ventilators. Blue Flame, which claimed to have access to supplies from a partner company owned by the Chinese government, soon ran into troubles of its own, after several clients said they had not received the materials promised. Blue Flame was investigated by federal authorities, but no charges were ever brought. A referral agreement obtained by the Times shows that Santos was signed on as a consultant with the potential to receive 10% of any deal he brought in. Santos separated from the company shortly afterward without arranging any deals, he said through his lawyer. Blue Flame had no comment. Nearly a year later, Santos was again looking for business opportunities after his employer, Harbor City Capital, a Florida-based investment firm, was shut down amid accusations from the Securities and Exchange Commission that it was operating as a Ponzi scheme. Santos opened a political consulting firm with his campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, and some Harbor City colleagues. Called Red Strategies USA, it aimed to be a one-stop shop for Republican candidates and would handle everything from bookkeeping to ad production. One of its first clients was Tina Forte, a far-right firebrand who had developed an online following after criticizing coronavirus mandates. Santos encouraged her to run against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., according to Fortes former campaign manager, Jen Remauro. Santos told Forte that he knew of a great political consulting firm, Remauro recalled, and steered her to Red Strategies failing to note that he was an owner of the company, as reported by The Daily Beast. In a video call between Red Strategies and Forte, Santos acted as though he was purely an intermediary who had never before met his business partners at Red Strategies, Remauro said. George introduced himself to them and he was like, pleased to meet you, blah, blah, blah, Remauro said. Meanwhile, fast forward, they all worked at that company that went under! she added, referring to Harbor City. Over the next few months, Remauro said she grew suspicious of some of Red Strategies practices. Despite numerous requests to Marks, Forte was not able to get copies of monthly account or bank statements, Remauro wrote in one email, and her own paychecks were several months late. Even more troubling, Remauro said, was the unusual way that Red Strategies appeared to be paying itself. Under the terms of the companys agreement with Forte, Red Strategies was entitled to keep 80% of whatever it raised on her behalf, according to campaign documents reviewed by the Times. But Red Strategies obscured its earnings through inflated expenditures to other vendors. In its July 2021 quarterly filing, the Forte campaign reported raising $42,000 an amount nearly nullified in a solitary $35,000 payment for credit card fees to WinRed, a fundraising platform favored by conservatives. But that made little sense to Remauro, who knew that WinRed typically charges clients closer to 4% of their fundraising haul. Indeed, Forte would have needed to raise 20 times more than she had to merit a $35,000 processing fee. The next filing showed the same pattern: $51,000 in credit card fees to WinRed, even though Forte only raised $86,000. Forte, who is once again running for Congress, declined to comment. After Remauro complained in October 2021 emails to Red Strategies, the companys filings were amended: In six months, WinRed had collected $6,200 in fees; Red Strategies took home more than $100,000. It would not be the only time that Santos has been tied to discrepancies in WinRed fees. Santos own campaign reported raising $796,238.26 using the WinRed platform, which ought to have resulted in roughly $33,000 in fees, according to a Times analysis. But Santos filings show he paid more than $200,000 a seeming overpayment of $173,000. Murray said that Marks was to blame for the irregularities in Santos and Fortes campaigns, adding that Santos was unaware of her negligence and, in hindsight, regrets having worked, hired and partnered with Ms. Marks in every capacity. Neither Marks nor WinRed officials returned a request seeking comment. Red Strategies was dissolved in September 2022 for failing to file an annual report. By then Santos had moved on to another venture coordinating the sale of a 141-foot yacht between two of his political donors, Mayra Ruiz and Raymond Tantillo. Santos, in an interview with Semafor in December, said that he made his money by bringing interested parties together. Although Santos has declined to comment on his involvement in the yacht sale, his lawyer on Tuesday asserted for the first time that Santos did not act as a broker for this or any transaction. Yet in the Semafor interview, Santos specifically mentioned a hypothetical yacht sale. If youre looking at a $20 million yacht, my referral fee there can be anywhere between $200,000 and $400,000, he said. The sale of the 141-foot yacht closed in the final weeks of his winning congressional campaign. It was around then that prosecutors said he approached Tantillo and another large donor, Andrew Intrater, with yet another opportunity. Santos said he was raising money for a last-minute advertising blitz. But unlike previous solicitations for his campaign, this one was free of federal contribution limits because it went through a nonprofit called RedStone Strategies. Tantillo and Intrater agreed to contribute $25,000 each. But prosecutors say that rather than using the money for ads, Santos spent it on credit card payments and designer clothes. c.2023 The New York Times Company Tiffany Francis (not pictured) said water park staff told her not to breastfeed in the lazy river. hetmanstock/Getty Images This month, a Georgia mother visited Rigby's Water World in Warner Robins, Georgia. She said staff told her to stop breastfeeding her 11-month-old son in a now-viral Facebook post. After online backlash, Rigby's updated its policy to allow breastfeeding in the pools, a park rep told Insider. A Georgia water park changed its breastfeeding policy after a mom said she was barred from nursing her son in a lazy pool earlier this month. Tiffany Francis shared the incident at Rigby's Water World, in Warner Robins, in a now-viral Facebook post on July 14. As of Wednesday, her post has garnered over 1,100 comments and reactions. Francis said she thought staffers were joking when they told her to stop breastfeeding Francis told Insider her family visited the water park on July 14, and at one point, she began to nurse her son to sleep in the lazy river because motion helps him sleep. However, she said she was approached by a lifeguard who told her she wasn't allowed to nurse in the pool. Francis added that she was shocked because she's breastfed her son in the lazy river several times as a seasonal ticket holder. "A lifeguard was sitting up in a little chair and said, "Ma'am, you can't do that,'" Francis said. "I looked around and was like, 'Is he joking?'" After being confronted by two lifeguards, Francis told Insider she asked if there were specific rules stating she couldn't breastfeed in the lazy river. "I knew they had a huge placard of rules at the front door, and so she [one of the lifeguards] said, "Yeah, the rules are up front." I got out immediately and went up there to look, and there was nothing about that," Francis said. Francis told Insider she eventually spoke to the general manager, who reportedly said she was barred from breastfeeding "as a courtesy for others." In her Facebook post, Francis wrote the general manager suggested it was because no food or drinks were allowed in the water. Story continues "I told him it was illegal, and I guess he didn't realize or didn't think about it at the time," she said. According to the state's law, breastfeeding "is an important and basic act of nurture which should be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child health. A mother may breastfeed her baby in any location where the mother and baby are otherwise authorized to be," per Georgia's Breastfeeding Coalition. Tiffany Francis (not pictured) shared her experience on Facebook. Orbon Alija/Getty Images At that point, Francis said she asked for a refund on her season tickets, which, according to her, Rigby's Water World denied. She told Insider she left the water park feeling "completely humiliated." "I was literally shaking walking out of there, just trying to get out as fast as I could," she added. The same day, Francis said she wrote about her online experience as a cautionary tale for other mothers who plan to visit the water park. In her Facebook post, Francis wrote that most people wore "very little clothing" at the water park that day, "but my son and I were offensive." A Rigby's Water World representative told Insider they never intended to embarrass Francis People's Angela Andaloro reported Monday that after Francis' Facebook went viral, a Rigby family member responded to Francis' Facebook post and acknowledged that breastfeeding was important, but "an exposed breast in a water feature without a covering could be seen as indecent (we wouldn't let another guest do the same)." The family member added that family rooms, shaded seats, and an admin building at the water park could be used as alternatives, according to the outlet. On Tuesday, a representative for Rigby's Water World confirmed to Insider that its policy is now updated and allows mothers to breastfeed anywhere in the water park. They added they had no intention of embarrassing Francis, and the staff is now educated on the revised policy. However, Francis told Insider the apology doesn't move her. "I don't feel a sincere apology at all, but they said, 'Oh, well, we've said sorry,'" Francis said. "And they've changed their unwritten policy to say you can now do something that was already legal." Francis also acknowledged that she'd received an outpouring of support from people but also faced a stream of hate. "I told one person yesterday, I was like, 'If you're going to say something to a breastfeeding mom, make it positive, because that's something it's going to stick with them forever,'" she said. "It sticks with you because it's a very sensitive topic." Francis said more than anything; she's shocked mothers were still navigating public breastfeeding in 2023. "It's crazy that this is even still happening to people in this day and age," she said. Read the original article on Insider The Bundeswehr [German Armed Forces ed.] leadership has no objections at the strategic level to the way the Ukrainian Armed Forces are defending their land and launching a counteroffensive. Source: Oleksii Makieiev, Ukraines Ambassador to Germany, in a comment to Ukrinform Quote: "We ask our German partners ourselves to conduct the so-called After Action Review, which is a standard procedure that is carried out after operations, after each day of training, to see what was done correctly and what was not. We really appreciate their advice on what to do and how to do it. This happens at both the tactical and strategic level and is part of the training of our Armed Forces." Details: Makieiev said that at the strategic level, there is no dissatisfaction with certain actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In addition, Ukraine is in constant contact with the German Ministry of Defence to share experience and receive advice. He added that Berlin understands the situation with Ukraine's lack of weapons, in particular when it comes to armoured vehicles, air defence systems and aircraft. "So when we talk about the Kampf der verbundenen Waffen (combined arms battle), we have to understand that we unfortunately lack long-range artillery and air superiority. In such circumstances, what we are doing is fully understood and supported by the high command," the ambassador said. Background: Earlier, Bild published an article about a secret Bundeswehr document criticising the use by the Ukrainian Armed Forces of methods of warfare learned in the West, in particular the division of Ukrainian brigades and the lack of proper training of command personnel. Roderich Kiesewetter, Bundestag lawmaker from the Christian Democratic Union, said that Western partners, in particular Germany, should provide Ukraine with all the necessary weapons and not make critical remarks about the approach of the Ukrainian military. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! German flag The Bundeswehr command has no objections regarding the strategic planning and execution of Ukraines ongoing counteroffensive, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, said in a comment to news agency Ukrinform on July 26. Read also: UK Storm Shadow missiles hit strategic bridge in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine, military confirms According to the diplomat, "at the strategic level, there is no dissatisfaction with the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Furthermore, Ukraine maintains ongoing communication with the German Defense Ministry, allowing for the exchange of expertise and advice." We often approach our German partners with requests to conduct so-called After-Action Reviews a standard procedure performed post-operations or after each day of training, to evaluate what was executed correctly and what wasn't, said Makeiev. We highly value their advice on what actions to take and how to proceed. This happens at both the tactical and strategic levels and contributes to the preparedness of our Armed Forces. The ambassador further emphasized that Berlin is aware of the situation regarding Ukraine's insufficient armament, specifically when it comes to armored vehicles, air defense systems, and aircraft. Read also: Germany investigating possible poisoning of Putins critics in Berlin Therefore, when discussing Kampf der verbundenen Waffen (combined arms warfare), we must recognize that unfortunately, we are lacking in areas such as long-range artillery and air superiority, Makeiev explains. Read also: Drunk occupiers in Tiger armored vehicle collide with civilian car in Melitopol Given these conditions, our actions are fully understood and supported by the higher (German) command. Read also: Pentagon chief and General Milley praise Ukrainian counteroffensive Ambassador Markarova On July 25, Bild reported that an internal Bundeswehr report criticized the tactics utilized by the Ukrainian military during the counteroffensive, particularly the approach of pushing forwards using isolated small infantry squads. 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 Roderich Kiesewetter, former Bundeswehr general (Armed Forces of Germany) and a defence spokesperson for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which is in opposition to the Scholz government, said he rejected criticism of the Ukrainian Defence Forces and accused Western partners of insufficient and untimely assistance to Ukraine. Source: Kiesewetter in a comment to Ukrinform Details: The politician alleged that the "document", which he has never seen, criticises Ukrainian methods of conducting an offensive that do not comply with the rules prescribed in textbooks, and are therefore not functional. Quote: "I reject such criticism on principle, because we Germans, the Bundeswehr, are not in the trenches and therefore should not criticise while sitting in our warm chairs and without any information about the situation on the ground. Ukraine has to rely on its own experience and, in the end, make do with the very little material it receives for support." Details: According to the official, Ukraine has to look for any weaknesses in Russian defence and cut off supply routes for Russian troops as much as possible. A real combined arms battle is impossible in these circumstances, as Ukraine lacks combat aircraft, anti-drone and air defence equipment, long-range weapons and, above all, sufficient ammunition. The former German army general noted that the Bundeswehr would not have gone into battle without proper air defence and direct air support. Moreover, Kiesewetter continued, it was the hesitation of partner states, especially Germany, that led to Ukraine losing for almost a year, while Russia was able to significantly expand its defence lines and dig deep trenches. Consequently, it is now much more difficult for Ukraine to move forward with the liberation of its territories. "Our delays in supplying tanks, fighter jets, attack helicopters, drones and long-range munitions such as ATACMS and Taurus cruise missiles, as well as insufficient production of artillery ammunition, mean that Ukraine is making slow progress and suffering more casualties. Because the time factor is crucial," the politician said. Story continues He is convinced that the partners have provided Ukraine with too few weapons and too late. And this harms Ukrainian soldiers, who now have to overcome powerful defences. Perhaps the Ukrainian army is not acting according to Bundeswehr textbooks, but is fighting according to its own experience and understanding, in accordance with the real conditions on the frontline, which is more than 1,500 km long, the former general said. "It is very bold to criticise when Germany is to blame for the slow progress: Ukraine's biggest problem is that it has lost a year due to the delay in arms deliveries," said the representative of the CDU, the largest opposition party in the German parliament. He recalled that the terror against civilian Ukrainians does not stop, missile and drone attacks continue daily, and air defence is unable to protect civilians in the first place. But despite all this, the brave Ukrainian soldiers managed to liberate as much territory in five weeks as Russia occupied in six months. "It depends on the states that support Ukraine how successful and fast its liberation offensive will be. We can immediately send ATACMS, F16s, Taurus and other main battle tanks. This is more sensible than sitting in an armchair and commenting on the progress of the frontline, which we in Germany cannot understand at all. Moreover, we would not send our troops into such difficult situations. It's a shame," the German deputy concluded. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! MEMPHIS, Tenn. Germantown residents remain without safe tap water as they wait for officials to test more samples one week after they announced the city's water supply was contaminated with diesel fuel. Residents in the Memphis suburb of over 40,000 were first told about the diesel leak and water contamination on July 20 and advised not to consume the city's tap water, or use it for bathing or washing. Since then, residents have descended on water bottle distribution sites and some restaurants have dramatically reduced their menus to only include items that can be prepared without tap water. There is no timeline for when the water nightmare will be over, officials said. As the city flushes out its water distribution system, residents and businesses are being told to only use bottled water for everything besides flushing the toilet. The water crisis in Germantown comes about one year after residents across the state line in Jackson, Mississippi, entered a state of emergency when a flood shut down the city's largest water treatment plant, leaving residents without running water. The state of emergency lasted from August to November 2022. Two water bottles are seen on the field as football players take a water break during practice at Houston High School in Germantown, Tenn., on Monday. Germantown residents are still being advised not to drink the citys tap water after it was contaminated with diesel fuel. Germantown officials continue water testing In Germantown, officials said Tuesday some tests of water samples were coming back clean. But that doesn't mean water usage restrictions will be lifted anytime soon, City Administrator Jason Huisman said. "The order to use water only for flushing toilets remains in place until the city's entire water main distribution system has been flushed and cleared," Huisman said in a YouTube video. The flushing process for the entire system started Tuesday, Germantown officials said. Germantown, Tenn., residents have been warned not to drink the citys tap water since it was contaminated with diesel fuel. How did diesel contaminate water in Germantown? Germantown first advised residents not to consume the city's tap water last Thursday after a few residents reported their tap water had a strong odor. The city's water department determined a generator which was powering the Southern Avenue water treatment facility during a power outage had been leaking diesel fuel into an underground reservoir. Story continues Health department warns of contaminated water effects On Monday, Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo said officials had not yet begun investigating what caused the diesel leak. The Shelby County Health Department warned residents and businesses not to consume the city's tap water or use it when cooking. The department told some restaurants in Germantown to prepare food items staff can make using only water from bottled water supplies. The city of Germantown also told residents that boiling the contaminated water will not make it safe for consumption. This week residents flocked to a water distribution site at an elementary school, causing a traffic jam. At the Forest Hill Elementary School, nearby roads were backed up and police asked residents to avoid the area unless they were there to pick up water bottles. As the city works on pumping all the contaminated water out of its system, the health department said that bathing in and consuming diesel fuel can lead to health issues. "If swallowed, diesel can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Skin exposure can cause skin irritation, blisters, and peeling," the health department said. River also contaminated with diesel Monday night, Palazzolo said some of the contaminated water is being fed back into the Wolf River. While diluted, the water still makes its way back into the water system down the river, Palazzolo said. The Wolf River Conservancy is working with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to determine the possible environmental hazards of having contaminated water enter the river, director Keith Cole said. Palazzolo said Monday that the Department of Environment and Conservation has not laid out what levels of diesel would cause concern. Some residents have turned to social media, demanding to see results from past and future water testing. Others say they want to know why parts of the city are being allowed to use tap water and what exactly Germantown and state officials mean when they say water is "safe." Palazzolo said that water is deemed "safe" when there are no traces of diesel found. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Germantown water crisis drags on, restrictions continue in Tennessee Flash Situated between China and Kazakhstan, the city of Horgos in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region is actively promoting cultural and people-to-people exchange between the two countries. On May 17, representatives of six Kazakhstani media outlets joined with their Chinese counterparts in Horgos for the launch of a media exchange event between the two countries. A media salon between Chinese and Kazakhstani journalists is launched in Horgos, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on May 17, 2023. (Photo provided to China.org.cn) The media salon has been held twice so far this year, becoming an important platform for cultural exchange between media professionals of the two countries. As a border city, Horgos boasts the world's first cross-border free-trade zone China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center that allows entry of citizens from any country with either a valid passport or exit and entry documents. Media representatives attending the salon agree that the event is conductive to bringing media organizations closer, and enabling them to present good stories between China and Kazakhstan. Roman Botabekov, general director of Turan TV channel of Kazakhstan, attended the first event in May and spoke highly of this new platform. He said the launch of the media salon is of great significance for providing a new window of people-to-people exchange between the two countries. Botabekov said he would like to invite more colleagues to participate in the event and map out main themes for the future sessions with his Chinese counterparts. The second session of media salon is held in Horgos, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on June 10, 2023. (Photo provided to China.org.cn) A second session was held on June 10, gathering over 20 media representatives from more than 10 media outlets of Kazakhstan and representatives from Chinese media agencies to conduct discussions on further enhancing media cooperation. The event was jointly organized by the Chinese Consulate-General in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the Publicity department of the Communist Party of China Horgos Municipal Committee. Jiang Wei, consul general of the Chinese Consulate-General in Almaty, attended the event. Jiang gave high praise to the media's role in promoting people-to-people exchange between the two countries, and encouraged media professionals from both sides to work together and create a favorable environment for the development of bilateral ties between China and Kazakhstan. Kazakhstani journalists put on Hanfu at the Horgos Chinese Cultural Center in Horgos, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on May 17, 2023. (Photo provided to China.org.cn) At the event venue, attendees also took part in various cultural activities and learned about traditional Chinese culture. In particular, journalists from Kazakhstan had the opportunity to put on Hanfu, a type of traditional Chinese clothing, while practicing Chinese calligraphy, sampling tea, and watching traditional Chinese song and dance performances. (Bloomberg) -- Germany will rely on trade partners for the overwhelming majority of its future hydrogen needs as Europes largest economy charts a transition away from fossil fuels. Most Read from Bloomberg The government expects two-thirds of its projected 2030 hydrogen to be imported, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, who oversees economic and energy policy, said Wednesday at the presentation of the governments revised hydrogen strategy in Berlin. To secure supplies, pipelines are planned from Spain, North Africa and Norway, he said. Shipping hydrogen will also be key, and Habeck has concluded energy partnerships during recent visits to Brazil and Colombia. He also discussed the issue with counterparts in India last week. The import strategy shows how Germany lacks the renewable power resources to become energy independent similar to its current reliance on fossil fuel imports. The country has a relatively small coastline, where winds are strong and steady, and theres limited sunshine for much of the year. Meanwhile, its industrial base is a massive energy user. Chancellor Olaf Scholzs administration forecasts 130 terawatt hours of hydrogen demand by 2030. To cover a portion of that, the German government aims to install around 10 gigawatt of electrolysis capacity by 2030 double the previous target. Electrolysis is the technology that breaks water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen is considered green if that process uses renewable energy. Most foreign exports are expected to initially come from Norway in the beginning in the form of blue hydrogen which means derived from natural gas through a pipeline that passes through the offshore wind parks. Story continues Overtime, Habeck said he expects green hydrogen to eventually dominate the market and promised subsidies to accelerate the shift, but didnt provided figures or details on the planned measures. One instrument that has been floated is the so-called Carbon Contracts for Difference, which additional costs of building and operating climate-friendly plants for emission-intensive industries. The initial focus is on kick-starting the transition. We promote green and take everything, Habeck said in front of the chancellery. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Tomorrow, it will be a year since the closure of the controversial Gender Identity Development Service (Gids) at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust was announced. Rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission and overwhelmed by an exponential rise in referrals, the NHSs only clinic for children with gender distress was deemed neither a safe nor viable long-term solution for the young patients who required the expertise of a multidisciplinary team to address their problems. However, the inadequacies at Gids extended well beyond a failure to keep on top of a spiralling demand. Gids had been established in 1989, to help distressed teenagers navigate their feelings of gender dysphoria, but changes in leadership along the way led to a dramatic shift in its clinical approach. In recent years children routinely found themselves on a medical conveyor belt before the psychological effects of early adverse experiences were fully explored. Much has been written about the blanket application of an affirmation-only approach to a complex caseload, which too often put children on a single pathway to life-long medicalisation. In most academic discourse, a no-debate approach, such as the one described at Gids, will be stifling and unproductive but in medicine, it will inevitably result in harm. All clinical practice should be centred around the careful consideration of competing possibilities. It is unsurprising that children were harmed at Gids when a single-minded certainty usurped clinical curiosity. One year on, Gids remains open, although it no longer accepts new referrals. The plan is to replace the moribund service with regional hubs offering the holistic care required by young people struggling with their gender identity. The promised new services are still taking shape, but before they have even opened their doors to the ever-accumulating backlog of referrals last rumoured to be upwards of 8,000 young people concerns have been raised about history repeating itself. Some of the senior clinicians from Gids have seamlessly transferred into new leadership positions, despite appearing to have learned little from its terminal failings. In April 2023, Prof Gary Butler, the lead endocrinologist at Gids and a clinician appointed to a leadership role in its replacement service, questioned any need to rethink the model. He told a conference audience that Gids was already working in exactly the way that Dr Hilary Cass had called for in her thorough review of services for children and young people with gender incongruence. It is difficult to see how anyone could reconcile the service described in Time to Think BBC Newsnight reporter Hannah Barness careful and balanced account of the failings reported by multiple Gids clinicians with the holistic approach recommended by the Cass Review. Its recommendations tear down the exceptionalism that allowed things to go so wrong at Gids; evidence-based practice will be the bedrock of the new service, just as it is in every other NHS clinic. Those working within the new services will be contractually committed to follow Dr Casss recommendations, which place a new emphasis on integrated models of care and evidence-based treatments, recommendations that should be as uncontroversial as motherhood and apple pie. But, then, motherhood and apple pie arent quite as uncontroversial as they used to be. And an evidence-based practice may not be quite the unifying foundation if the clinicians involved cannot agree on the evidence base. Earlier this month, a group of 21 eminent clinicians working across nine countries in the field of gender distress wrote an excoriating open letter in response to a bold claim from Stephen Hammes, president of the Endocrine Society. In a letter to the Wall Street Journal, Hammes had stated that more than 2,000 studies had provided a clear picture that gender-affirming care improved the well-being of gender diverse people and reduced the risk of suicide; if that were true, it would be very reassuring and closer to certainty than we often get in many medical specialities. The authors of the response, who included Dr Anna Hutchinson and Dr Anastassis Spiliadis, two of the original whistleblowers at Gids, noted that this claim had been contradicted by every single systematic review of the evidence, not least one published by the Endocrine Society itself. They noted that recommendations for clinical practice should be aligned with the best available evidence, rather than a position that exaggerated the benefits and minimised the risks. Not all evidence is equal. There are hierarchies of evidence in science, often represented as a pyramid. The lowest level is expert consensus, which is barely evidence at all. Who decides who is an expert? The process of reaching a consensus can result in a compromise where lots of people agree collectively what nobody actually believes individually. Consensus may have nothing to do with empirical truth. Expert medical consensus can be very wide of the mark, sometimes disastrously so: in the early 1900s, it was expert medical consensus that smoking cured asthma and other lung diseases. It is well within living memory that the expert consensus for treating back pain was bed rest and plenty of it. We now know this is likely to increase pain and prolong recovery. The history of medicine is littered with these examples, and there are treatments we are recommending now with the full blessing of expert consensus that will eventually prove to be ineffectual at best, fatal at worst. But perhaps the biggest problem with consensus, particularly in the area of gender medicine is the chilling effect it has on debate. As Michael Crichton, the physician and author of Jurassic Park, said: The claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to avoid debate by claiming that the matter is already settled. Fortunately, most branches of medicine now rely on more rigorous forms of evidence to inform their practice. Further up the evidence pyramid are case reports and studies that compare the outcomes in patient groups before and after treatment, with and without control groups. Close to the top of the evidence pyramid are the results from randomised controlled trials. All of these kinds of research can provide valuable information (some more than others) but no study is perfect and no study design can control for all of the biases that might have influenced the results. So sitting right at the top of the evidence pyramid are the meta-analyses and systematic reviews. These studies systematically evaluate the quality and quantity of all of the relevant evidence that has been published in peer-reviewed journals. These independent reviews summarise what we really know and how confident we can be in that knowledge. Bodies such as the National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (Nice) produce the gold standard in clinical practice guidelines based on these kinds of independent meta-analyses. In 2020, Nice examined the evidence for puberty blockers. They concluded that the results of the studies that reported impact on [] outcomes of gender dysphoria and mental health (depression, anger and anxiety), and [] body image and psychosocial impact (global and psychosocial functioning), in children and adolescents with gender dysphoria were of very low certainty. In other words, there is no good quality evidence supporting the use of these drugs on these outcomes. It seems likely in the heated debates that surround gender medicine that many people are confusing expert consensus the evidence right at the bottom of the pyramid for the gold standard in clinical practice guidelines, which are based on evidence and right at the top. This conflation appears to have been responsible for the mutual bafflement in the heated exchange between Republican Dan Crenshaw and Dr Meredithe McNamara earlier this month, in a debate in the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce on gender-affirming care. While Dr McNamara insisted trans healthcare was based on standards of care, the senator countered with the stark lack of evidence from any systematic reviews. Both appeared exasperated with the failure of the other to grasp the importance of their incontrovertible evidence. Just as not all evidence is equal, neither are all clinical guidelines or standards of care. They can be developed from evidence at the top of the pyramid (as in Nice guidelines), but more often come from the bottom and simply represent expert consensus with all its inherent flaws and biases. The stamp of approval from a learned society does not trump the rigours of a Nice review. The Gids clinicians themselves acknowledge that few high-quality studies have examined the effects of puberty blockers and cross sex hormones on mental health outcomes and that it is difficult to apportion positive effects to endocrine treatments alone. Their latest contribution to the scientific literature does nothing to change that. Although purporting to present the data of 38 children on five questionnaire measures assessed at three time points (before treatment, one year after puberty blockers and one year after cross sex hormones), not one of the patients in their study actually completed all measures at all time points. The maximum number of patients who had data at all time points on any of the questionnaires was 21, representing fewer than 20% of the children who had taken this pathway. This paper is useful in confirming the very poor monitoring at Gids and could be exemplary as a how not to do it in an introduction to research methods course, but the results contribute nothing of clinical value. If an enquiry is ever launched into the Gids service, one of the key questions will be how a centralised NHS service, led by clinicians trained in research methods, failed so spectacularly to establish an evidence base for their practice. Since no high-quality evidence for the benefits of puberty blockers has been found in systematic reviews, it is unsurprising that even the doctors who work in this field have described themselves as building the plane while flying it. With mounting concerns for the possible harms associated with medical pathway of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones (including reduced bone density, disruptions to neurodevelopment, impaired sexual function and infertility) not to mention the growing numbers of detransitioners for whom this was never an appropriate treatment pathway, one might extend their aviation metaphor as an attempt to build a plane while flying it while someone else throws out all the parachutes and sets an engine on fire. Who would put any children on that plane? Or volunteer to pilot it? The only rational response in such a situation would be to ground the plane immediately. The interim recommendations of the Cass Review combined with the upcoming closure of Gids effectively do this, but the pressures on a new service to immediately take to the metaphorical skies again will be significant. However, there is another way. Practice guidelines based on expert consensus cannot be mistaken for those based on systematic reviews. Where the systematic reviews indicate little evidence for benefit and potential for significant harm, the service should proceed with the caution that would be applied in any other branch of medicine. Cass has emphasised that just as there are many pathways into gender dysphoria for young people, so there could be many ways out. For some, that may still be a medical pathway, with its unevidenced outcomes and multiple inherent risks. The new teams will be tasked with explaining these uncertainties in uncompromising detail to ensure the truly informed consent of those who wish to embark on this experimental approach. Fortunately, the new service model means that other treatment pathways will now also be available. Bringing gender distress firmly back into the fold of mainstream mental health services for children and adolescents means that these vulnerable children can finally begin to benefit from the therapeutic input and safeguards they have been denied for far too long. It cant begin soon enough. Washington Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who served as an outside lawyer to former President Donald Trump, acknowledged Wednesday that he made "false" statements when he claimed two Georgia election workers engaged in voter fraud during the 2020 election. Giuliani, who's being sued by the now former election workers for defamation, still argued he was engaging in constitutionally protected speech when he made the allegations. Giuliani's concession came in a two-page stipulation he submitted to the federal District Court in Washington, D.C., as part of the lawsuit brought by Ruby Freeman and Wandrea "Shaye" Moss, who are mother and daughter. In the filing, the former mayor admitted that for the purposes of the litigation, "to the extent the statements were statements of fact and otherwise actionable, such actionable factual statements were false." Giuliani also admitted that "he does not dispute for purposes of this litigation, that the statements carry meaning that is defamatory per se," and no longer contests the "factual elements of liability" raised by Freeman and Moss. But he noted that the declaration has no effect on his argument that he made constitutionally protected statements or opinions, or that his conduct caused the pair any damage. Giuliani's concessions come as he faces the prospect of sanctions from the court regarding his discovery obligations in the dispute. Freeman and Moss asked U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, who is presiding over the case, earlier this month to impose the sanctions, including awarding certain attorneys' fees and costs, on Giuliani for failing to preserve electronic evidence from his email, messaging and social media accounts and electronic devices. "Indeed, sanctions exist to remedy the precise situation here a sophisticated party's abuse of judicial process designed to avoid accountability, at enormous expense to the parties and this Court," the pair's lawyers wrote. "Defendant Giuliani should know better. His conduct warrants severe sanctions." Story continues Rudy Giuliani speaks to members of the media while leaving federal court in Washington, D.C., May 19, 2023. / Credit: Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images Giuliani, though, asked to deny the request for sanctions, and noted in a separate filing that he "stipulates by concession any pertinent facts for which discovery from him would be needed." "Out of abundance of caution, and to avoid any potential controversy, Giuliani has agreed to stipulate to the factual aspects of liability as to plaintiffs claims, except damages, as such discovery or information would be solely in possession of the plaintiffs," Joseph Sibley IV, Giuliani's lawyer, told the court. "While Giuliani does not admit to Plaintiffs' allegations, he for purposes of this litigation only does not contest the factual allegations." The signed declaration noted that Giuliani "is desirous to avoid unnecessary expenses in litigating what he believes to be unnecessary disputes." Ted Goodman, a political adviser to Giuliani, said in response to the filing that it was made "in order to move on to the portion of the case that will permit a motion to dismiss." "This is a legal issue, not a factual issue. Those out to smear the mayor are ignoring the fact that this stipulation is designed to get to the legal issues of the case," he said in a statement. Michael Gottlieb, a lawyer for Freeman and Moss, said Giuliani's acknowledgements are a "major milestone in this fight for justice," though certain issues, including damages, still must be decided by the court. "Giuliani's stipulation concedes what we have always known to be true Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss honorably performed their civic duties in the 2020 presidential election in full compliance with the law; and the allegations of election fraud he and former-President Trump made against them have been false since day one," Gottlieb said in a statement. Freeman and Moss worked as election workers in Fulton County, Georgia, during the 2020 election. Freeman was a temporary employee tasked with verifying signatures on absentee ballots and preparing them for counting and processing, while Moss, who had worked for the Fulton County elections department since 2012, worked on the county's absentee ballot operation. The two were thrust into the public eye after they were shown in security camera footage from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta processing ballots. The Trump campaign and Giuliani shared an excerpt from the footage, and falsely claimed it showed Freeman and Moss engaging in a fake ballot scheme. Though Georgia election officials refuted the inaccurate claims peddled by Trump's allies, Moss and Freeman were subjected to violent and racist threats and harassment. The two women appeared before the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol about how their lives were upended by the baseless theories spread about them. Freeman and Moss filed their lawsuit against Giuliani in December 2021, alleging he made defamatory statements about them, which he repeated long after the 2020 election had been decided, and inflicted severe emotional distress on them. Giuliani sought to dismiss the lawsuit, but Howell denied his request, writing that Giuliani "propagated and pushed" a false narrative that the electron was stolen. "CBS Evening News" headlines for Wednesday, July 26, 2023 Ohio officer fired for releasing K-9 onto Black man who had surrendered Several hurt in New York City crane collapse Former President Donald Trumps former attorney is now admitting he lied about two Fulton County election workers. Election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Shaye Moss sued Giuliani for defamation. But Giuliani says he does not think those lies actually caused them any damage. For nearly three years, Giuliani accused Freeman and Moss of committing massive voter fraud in the now-infamous video from State Farm Arena. All you have to do is look at that tape, Giuliani said at the time. You can see them count the ballots more than once. Two, three, four, five times. You would have to be a moron not to realize that was voter fraud. But it wasnt. Multiple federal and state investigations proved it and even the Georgia state elections board totally cleared Freeman and Moss of any wrongdoing. But in her testimony before the Jan. 6 Committee, Freeman talked about Trump and Giulianis accusations and what they did to her life. I had to move out of my house because the FBI said it wasnt safe, Freeman testified. Now, Freeman and Moss are in the middle of an ongoing lawsuit accusing Giuliani of defamation. Theyre seeking sanctions against him, accusing him of failing to preserve some electronic evidence. RELATED STORIES: In his response, Giuliani finally admitted, he lied, specifically that he doesnt contest that his factual statements were false. But he added that he believes it was constitutionally protected speech so hes not liable for damages and thats why his legal teams say theyre trying to move past the fact-finding phase so they can argue those points before the judge. Freeman says statements Giuliani made turned their lives upside down. There is nowhere I feel safe. Nowhere, she testified. All because a group of people starting with No. 45 and his ally Rudy Giuliani decided to scapegoat me and my daughter Shaye. Story continues In June, the state closed the ballot suitcase investigation. The state elections board found no evidence of fraud during the 2020 ballot counting site at the State Farm Arena. Now, the board wants to send a letter of apology to Freeman and Moss. In December 2020, Channel 2 investigative reporter Justin Gray worked with the Secretary of State to debunk the suitcase video from the very beginning. It came after a lengthy two-year investigation by the Secretary of State, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the FBI. RELATED NEWS: Former Trump personal attorney Rudy Giuliani conceded that he does not contest that statements he made about two election workers in 2020 were false, according to a Tuesday court filing. Two Fulton County (Ga.) poll workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss sued Giuliani for defamation in December 2021 over statements he made falsely claiming they played a role in fixing the election. In a two-page statement filed Tuesday, he said that he will not contest that those statements were false and carry meaning that is defamatory. In his statement, Giuliani also said he will not challenge the factual elements of liability regarding the election workers allegations of intentional infliction of emotional distress and other related tort claims. However, his statement maintains that those concessions do not affect his argument that the statements and opinions he made were constitutionally protected. The statement also notes that he is conceding on these allegations for the purposes of deciding this case on legal issues. This statement comes just days after former New York Police Department (NYPD) commissioner Bernard Kerik who helped former President Trumps campaign look into false claims of election fraud in 2020 committed to turning over documents to Freeman and Mosss legal team. More from The Hill The Hill has reached out to Giuliani for further comment. Freeman and Moss, a mother-daughter pair, began to receive backlash during the 2020 election after social media posts surfaced that falsely claimed to show them committing election fraud. These false allegations were perpetrated by Giuliani and Trump, according to a report investigating the matter. A series of probes led by three law enforcement agencies Georgias Secretary of States office and special agents within the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation found those allegations against the poll workers were false and unsubstantiated. The election workers also filed a defamation lawsuit against One America News Network which advanced the false claims during their broadcasts. The network ultimately paid a settlement and issued an on-air retraction of the allegations last year. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Jacqueline Thomsen (Reuters) - Rudy Giuliani, onetime attorney for former U.S. President Donald Trump, admitted in a court filing late Tuesday that he made defamatory statements about a pair of Georgia election workers. Giuliani told a federal court in Washington that he does not dispute that comments he made about Wandrea "Shaye" Moss and Ruby Freeman "carry meaning that is defamatory per se." Moss and Freeman said in a December 2021 lawsuit that Giuliani injured their reputations when he accused them of conspiring to produce and process secret batches of illegal ballots. No evidence supports such claims, which have been repeatedly debunked by Georgia election officials. Giuliani said in the filing that he was making the concession "solely for purposes of this litigation" and "without admitting to the truth of the allegations." Ted Goodman, a political adviser to Giuliani, said in a statement that Giuliani wanted "to move on to the portion of the case that will permit a motion to dismiss." Michael Gottlieb, a lawyer for Moss and Freeman, said in a statement that Giuliani's filing concedes that Freeman and Moss did their jobs as election workers "in full compliance with the law; and the allegations of election fraud he and former President Trump made against them have been false since day one." Freeman and Moss are seeking sanctions against Giuliani, alleging he failed to preserve important evidence. Giuliani's attorney Bob Costello denied those claims in court papers on Tuesday, saying that issues raised by the plaintiffs about the quality of the evidence stemmed from the handling of electronic devices seized by federal authorities in a separate probe, in which no charges were brought. Tuesday's court document said Giuliani wants "to avoid unnecessary expenses in litigating what he believes to be unnecessary disputes." Giuliani, New York City's former mayor and once the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, has faced other legal challenges over baseless claims he made about widespread fraud in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, which Trump lost. Story continues A New York state court suspended Giuliani's law license, and a District of Columbia ethics hearing committee earlier this month recommended that his license there be revoked. He is also facing defamation lawsuits from voting companies Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic about fraud claims he made about the 2020 election. Giuliani has characterized the Smartmatic allegations as baseless, and has also denied Dominion's claims. (Reporting by Jacqueline Thomsen in Washington; Editing by David Bario and Jonathan Oatis) Rudy Giuliani made significant concessions late Tuesday in a long-running defamation lawsuit by two Georgia election workers, dropping efforts to challenge their claim that he falsely accused the pair of manipulating ballots in the 2020 election. In a two-page statement filed in federal court just before midnight Tuesday, Giuliani said he does not contest that his statements, which fueled a torrent of public attacks on the workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss were false and carry meaning that is defamatory. In the heavily couched statement, Giuliani also conceded that his statements meet the factual elements of liability for Moss and Freemans claims that his attacks amounted to intentional infliction of emotional distress. But Giuliani is not abandoning his effort to fight the lawsuit altogether. An aide, Ted Goodman, said his concessions and acknowledgments were an effort to bypass the fact-gathering stage and move on to legal arguments about whether he can be held liable for the damages Moss and Freeman are seeking. Mayor Rudy Giuliani did not acknowledge that the statements were false but did not contest it in order to move on to the portion of the case that will permit a motion to dismiss, Goodman said. This is a legal issue, not a factual issue. Those out to smear the mayor are ignoring the fact that this stipulation is designed to get to the legal issues of the case. Still, its a significant acknowledgment from the former presidents attorney, who spent months pointing to security footage of Moss and Freeman as proof that thousands of ballots had been mishandled or sabotaged in Georgia. Those claims were widely debunked by Georgia and federal investigators but were nevertheless echoed by former President Donald Trump and others in his orbit. Moss and Freeman testified to the Jan. 6 select committee that both had faced significant threats and suffered damages to their livelihoods as a result of Trump and Giulianis claims. Story continues Giulianis stipulation concedes what we have always known to be trueRuby Freeman and Shaye Moss honorably performed their civic duties in the 2020 presidential election in full compliance with the law; and the allegations of election fraud he and former-President Trump made against them have been false since day one, said Michael J. Gottlieb, partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. While certain issues, including damages, remain to be decided by the court, our clients are pleased with this major milestone in their fight for justice, and look forward to presenting what remains of this case at trial. Giulianis stipulation appears intended to head off more legal pain in the long-running lawsuit, which has resulted in depositions of several high-level figures in Trumps orbit, the disclosure of text messages, emails and deposition transcripts, and threatened significant financial penalties. Most recently, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, who is presiding over the lawsuit, threatened severe sanctions on Giuliani over claims that he failed to preserve significant caches of evidence related to the matter. Giulianis stipulation to the facts of the lawsuit came in response to an order from Howell demanding an explanation for his failure to produce certain batches of records and asking why she shouldnt simply rule in Moss and Freemans favor. Giulianis attorney, Joseph Sibley, emphasized in an accompanying filing that Giuliani was not in fact admitting to Moss and Freemans allegations against him but making a decision to stop contesting them, which he says should end the womens effort to seek further factual evidence emails, text messages and other communications from Giuliani. Though the statement amounts to an admission of the facts, Sibley said Giuliani still contends that he has legal defenses to the claims and is asking Howell to rule purely on those legal questions now that the facts have largely been established. In Tuesdays signed statement, Giuliani said he still maintains his legal argument that his comments about Moss and Freeman were constitutionally protected statements or opinions. But by admitting to the facts, he says further efforts by Moss and Freeman to obtain documents and other factual evidence are no longer necessary. The statement comes as special counsel Jack Smith appears poised to charge Trump and potentially others for their efforts to subvert the 2020 election, an effort that has included a penetrating look at efforts by Trump and his allies including Giuliani to mount false claims of election fraud. Giuliani has sat for at least one proffer session with Smiths investigators, and Smith has also scrutinized other figures working with Giuliani on the election effort, including former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik. Kerik, who has also come under pressure from Howell to provide more documents to Moss and Freeman in the lawsuit, revealed this week that he had obtained the Trump campaigns permission to produce documents he once considered protected by attorney-client privilege. In Tuesday nights filing, Giuliani also sharply contested that he personally mishandled or destroyed any of the evidence Moss and Freeman were seeking. He produced a statement from another attorney, Robert Costello, that primarily pinned blame on the Justice Departments seizure of his devices in 2021, which he said were returned with corrupted files or, in some cases, wiped altogether. Boasting about 13,000 restaurants and cafes, some of the Dubai's eateries are already making global waves (Karim SAHIB) French chef Renaud Dutel never thought his career would take him to the United Arab Emirates' glam hub of Dubai, but has found there a culinary capital in the making. Five years since he was offered a spot at a fancy restaurant in the Gulf financial and tourism hub -- better known for its skyscrapers than its food scene -- Dutel is delighted to have "taken the risk". "I believe Dubai is at the beginning," he told AFP as lobster cuts were sizzling on a skillet beside him at STAY, a Michelin-starred restaurant specialised in French cuisine on the city's signature Palm Jumeirah man-made island. "But (Dubai) is on the way to becoming one of the best destinations in the world to come to dine." Boasting about 13,000 restaurants and cafes, some of the city's eateries are already making global waves. Last year, 11 Dubai restaurants were awarded the Middle East's first Michelin stars, with more joining the prestigious club this year. Some like STAY by Yannick Alleno clinched two stars, but none made it to three -- Michelin's highest honour. "Dubai's gastronomy scene has transformed the city into one of the most diverse and dynamic food hubs in the world," said Issam Kazim of the local government's tourism and economy department. - '100 percent Dubai' - The UAE, a five-decade federation of seven emirates along the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, lacks the rich culinary heritage of other Arab states. The meat-heavy Emirati cuisine is strongly influenced by historic trade ties with present-day Iran and India. But it did not see the "gastronomisation" that culinary traditions in much of the West did, according to Loic Bienassis of the European Institute for the History and Culture of Food. Still, it "can be done", he told AFP. "And political will can play a role." Instead, with expats largely outnumbering the local Emirati population, the city's rich cultural mix has yielded a unique culinary identity. Story continues Moonrise, a rooftop restaurant which offers a Middle Eastern-Japanese fusion and only seats 12 people at a time, is a prime example. Solemann Haddad, Moonrise's head chef and co-owner, described the food as one-third European, one-third Japanese and one-third Arabic, "but it's 100 percent Dubai". Haddad, born in the city to French and Syrian parents, won a coveted Michelin star last year at the ripe age of 27. His dishes reflect the cosmopolitan spirit of Dubai, he told AFP, combining elements such as date syrup with a chutney of saffron and pineapple. Having established itself as a business and luxury hot spot, Dubai is now also attracting some of the world's leading culinary names including Alleno and fellow Frenchman Pierre Gagnaire. - Desert-sourced - Britain's Gordon Ramsay, Japan's Nobu Matsuhisa and Italy's Massimo Bottura have also joined the roster of celebrity chefs with a presence in the city. But beyond importing top talent, Dubai is also fostering local stars, said Habib Al Mulla, an Emirati lawyer and culinary blogger who has reviewed more than 700 establishments worldwide. "A new, young generation of homegrown chefs are coming up," he told AFP. "Many of them are winning... worldwide recognition." Dubai's rising culinary stars include not only chefs but also restauranteurs such as Omar Shihab, born and raised in the UAE to a Jordanian family. The restaurant he founded, BOCA, was awarded the Michelin Green Star for sustainability this year. Shihab sources a bulk of his produce from the UAE -- a feat in a country that imports more than 80 percent of its food needs. "Let's face it, we live in the desert," he told AFP. "But through our sourcing policy, we prioritise local ingredients." Some 30-40 percent of fruit and vegetables served at BOCA come from hydroponic Emirati farms, and up to 80 percent of the fish sourced from the UAE or nearby shores, said Shihab. "We do not have any local or regional suppliers" for meat and chicken, he said. "But we make sure that the farms we rely on, we know their names, we know a little bit about their practises, no matter where they are in the world." saa/aem/ho/ami California Storm Flooding David McNew/Getty Images The El NinoSouthern Oscillation (ENSO) is a cycle which causes periodic variations in the winds and sea surface temperatures over the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean. Through both its warm El Nino phase and its cold La Nina phase, ENSO can cause flooding, heat waves, tropical storms and other types of extreme weather. The La Nina phase specifically is associated with unusually warm winter temperatures in the South, unusually cool winter temperatures in the North and more severe hurricanes during hurricane season. These things matter now because, according to a recent study published in the scientific journal Nature, global warming is going to cause the La Nina phases to be both longer and more frequent. The international team of researchers concluded this by analyzing data acquired through the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). According to Dr. Geng Tao from Ocean University of China, the first author of the study, "these findings suggest that weather extremes as seen during the 20202022 La Nina will probably occur more frequently in the near future." The authors particularly pointed to an extreme weather event from 2020 that they project will become more common. "A three-year-long La Nina event beginning in 2020 had a key role in triggering consecutive seasonal droughts in parts of the United States and the Horn of Africa, and in causing floods in eastern Australia," the authors write. "This rare 'triple' La Nina sparked worldwide discussion about how global warming could change the duration of these formidable events." A gold, ruby, and diamond crown ring, designed and worn by the late US rapper Tupac Shakur during his last public appearance in 1996, is displayed during a press preview at Sotheby's in New York City on July 20, 2023. Ed JONES / AFP Tupac Shakur's crown ring was sold at auction for $1.02 million, Sotheby's announced Tuesday. The gold ring, encrusted with rubies and diamonds, features a reference to his fiance Kidada Jones. Yaasmyn Fula, the artist's godmother, offered the ring for auction. Tupac Shakur's custom crown-shaped ring, which he wore shortly before he died, sold for nearly $1.02 million Tuesday, becoming the most valuable hip-hop artifact ever sold at auction. Sotheby's in New York sold the ring as part of a large sale of hip-hop artifacts, including autographed letters from Shakur and a demo tape for his single "Trapped," per a press release from the auction house. Prior to auction, the ring was estimated to sell between $200,000 to $300,000. The lots, meant to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the musical genre, also included memorabilia from many other memorable names Mos Def, De La Soul, and Wu-Tang Clan, to name a few. The 14-Karat gold ring, encrusted with diamonds and rubies, features an inscription on the side that reads "Pac & Dada 1996" a reference to his engagement to actress Kidada Jones. According to the press release, Yaasmyn Fula, the artist's godmother, offered the ring for auction, telling Sotheby's it was custom designed by Pac and assembled by jewelers in New York City following his months behind bars and his newly signed deal with Death Row Records. "Reflecting his recent affinity for Niccolo Machiavelli's political manifesto 'The Prince' (Tupac would start going by "Makaveli" after reading The Prince while incarcerated), Tupac modeled his design after the crowns of the medieval kings of Europe in 'an act of self-coronation,' according to Fula, a celebration of survival through a tumultuous year in an oft tumultuous life," per the press release. The ring also appeared on his finger during the September 4, 1996, MTV Video Music Awards his last public appearance before his tragic murder three days later in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department recently executed a search warrant at the home of Duane Keith Davis while investigating the still-unsolved killing of Shakur. According to CBS News, police collected a desktop and laptop computer, a copy of the book "Compton Street Legends," a copy of a Vibe magazine issue on Tupac, photographs, and other documents. Read the original article on Insider A Frankenfish called the northern snakehead has been creeping across the U.S. for the past 20 years, Business Insider reports. In 2023, a Missouri resident reported a sighting deep in the state, the farthest into the Midwest that the fish has ever been found. This slow spread is wreaking havoc on fish and fishers in 17 states. What is a northern snakehead? The northern snakehead is a fish originally from Eastern Asia, according to the National Invasive Species Information Center. It can grow to be well over a foot long and has brown scales with a spotted pattern somewhat similar to a python or rattlesnake, with similarly sharp teeth. While it mostly avoids humans, the northern snakehead will attack to protect its eggs or hatchlings and unlike many fish, it can travel on land for days at a time. Why is this fish a problem? The northern snakehead is an invasive species a species that is so successful in a new environment, it multiplies out of control and damages the ecosystem and the organisms that are native to it. The northern snakeheads ability to travel over land to reach new bodies of water, combined with the fact that it can breed five times a year and lay 50,000 eggs each time, makes it easy for the fish to spread, Business Insider explains. Meanwhile, this carnivorous fish is eating its new neighbors. According to Business Insider, researchers examined the affected ecosystems in 2019 and found that the populations of 17 native species had shrunk by up to 97% because of the northern snakehead. Many of the affected species are popular with fishers, like white perch and black crappie. Its gotten harder to catch these fish since the northern snakehead arrived. The invader is also going after the endangered American eel and threatening conservation areas that include some of Missouris last lowlands and swamps. What can you do about the northern snakehead? The government has asked individuals to kill any northern snakeheads they see immediately and report it to the Division of Fish and Wildlife. Never release the fish back into the water, and do not just leave it alive on land, where it can wriggle back into the water. Story continues If you want to, you can also cook the northern snakehead and make it into fish tacos, fried fillets, or myriad other white fish preparations. Its edible and considered a delicacy in some parts of Asia, so youll get a free meal while doing the environment a favor. Unfortunately, all the fish tacos in the world likely wont be enough to rid the U.S. of this fish completely. Theyre in the Mississippi River already, Dave Knuth, of the Missouri Department of Conservation, told Business Insider. It will just be a matter of time before we see them spread north. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. A Confederate monument outside the courthouse where Emmett Till's killers were found not guilty. (Rogelio V. Solis / Associated Press) A newly declared national monument honoring the life and story of Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, is being talked about in the context of current events. Understandable, considering that the spirit that tried to oppress them is still a force in American politics and life. Just look to Floridas governor, Ron DeSantis. This week DeSantis cut a third of his campaign staff the second round of layoffs this month as it seems fundraising has slowed since he launched his bid in late May. Its the latest disappointment for a candidate who has spent the last two years trying to woo Donald Trump voters with extreme legislation like the Dont Say Gay bill and a war on diversity at state colleges . Unfortunately for him, Trump voters still prefer Trump, indictments and all. Not to mention that when it comes to pressing flesh on the trail, DeSantis is about as charismatic as a splinter. But while he continues to lose ground because people are getting to know him better, I would like to remind the nation that he told us exactly who he was the first time he ran for governor, back in 2018. Less than 24 hours after his Democratic opponent, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, became the first Black nominee for governor, DeSantis went on Fox News to tell voters not to monkey this up. Sounds like the kind of dog whistle Southern politicians were tossing around in 1955, when 14-year-old Emmett was kidnapped, tortured and killed by white supremacists in Mississippi. Read more: Granderson: Republicans keep trying to erase history A spokesperson would later say DeSantis monkey remark was solely about the states economy and to characterize it as anything else is absurd, a statement that of course is absurd. But then again, so is his latest attempt to rebrand slavery as some sort of trade school . Thanks to his desperation to out-Trump the real Donald Trump, Floridas new curriculum will teach middle school children that slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. Story continues Of course DeSantis, a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, knows better than to suggest enslavement had its benefits. But in his pursuit of power, he has decided to forget that world-class education and instead execute his favorite parlor trick: gaslighting. When he performed it nearly five years ago, pretending his use of monkey in reference to Gillum had nothing to do with race, we all knew what he was doing then. And we know what he is doing now. Read more: Opinion: Florida's censorship of 'diversity' efforts are a tantrum born of white guilt Its a fresh reminder of the importance of declaring a national monument for three sites associated with Emmett and his mother. Just so were clear, though: President Bidens decision to honor these two Americans shouldnt be seen as a response to DeSantis rhetoric. Their story is far too big to share space with a man so small. We cant just choose to learn what we want to know, Biden said Tuesday after signing the proclamation. We have to learn what we should know. We should know about our country. We should know everything: the good, the bad, the truth of who we are as a nation. Thats what great nations do, and we are a great nation. That we are. Read more: Granderson: Keep saying 'gay,' despite new legislation. Kids need to hear it And this country has Till-Mobley to thank for that. She chose to have an open casket at Emmett's funeral to show the world how he had been mutilated. The image galvanized the civil rights movement. During the 1940s, more than 50 lynchings had been recorded, six of them in Mississippi, where her son was murdered. In 1941, the year her son was born, James Oliver Eastland was appointed to the Senate to fill a vacancy. As a senator seven years later, Eastland successfully led a campaign to block a federal anti-lynching bill . In fact for nearly 40 years, voters in Mississippi sent Eastland to Washington to fight against civil rights, and he didnt disappoint. As the nations attitude toward race began changing after Emmett's funeral, Eastland leaked the confidential Army record of Louis Till, ex-husband of Till-Mobley. He had been convicted of rape and hanged in Italy when their son was 3. Read more: Opinion: DeSantis' defunding of diversity programs threatens college life as we know it Just a spiteful act from a small man who used to go by the name Big Jim on the Hill. Over the course of his career, Eastland served as the acting vice president twice because of vacancy. Thats how influential he was in Washington. Thats the kind of firepower wielded by the folks who tried to shut down Mamie Till-Mobley and failed. She remains an icon for civil rights, even decades after her death in 2003. Read more: Granderson: Texas keeps trying to make slavery sound less slaveryish There have always been small men like DeSantis. But there havent always been giants like Till-Mobley. Honoring her and her son Emmett should not be spoken about as a response to the current political environment. Instead we should think about it for what it truly is: a long-overdue honor. @LZGranderson 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 Granite City man told a Madison County judge that an undiagnosed head injury caused him to burn a neighbors dog, set the neighbors fence on fire, tailgate and hit a motorcyclist with his car, fail to report the accident and engage in other disturbing behavior last year. Associate Judge Ronald Slemer sentenced John T. Turcott, 69, a retired steelworker, to four years of probation instead of giving him a four-year prison term, as requested by prosecutors. (Im having) a hard time not sending you to prison, said Slemer, explaining that his decision was based mostly on Turcotts lack of a criminal record. Turcott promised the judge he would follow through with doctors appointments and try to get to the bottom of his issues, which he blamed on his fall from a tree while trimming it with a chainsaw. Im actually not a violent person, he testified at his sentencing hearing Tuesday at the Madison County Criminal Justice Center in Edwardsville. Turcott had pleaded guilty in February to four out of 26 charges resulting from five separate incidents in 2022. That includes animal cruelty and arson related to the fire and aggravated battery and failure to report an accident involving personal injury related to the motorcycle hit-and-run. The last three are felonies. Mr. Turcott knows hes got a problem, said his attorney, Tom Hildebrand. He knows hes got to get it fixed. The other 22 charges against Turcott were dismissed, including nine related to firearm possession with a revoked firearm owners identification card. Police reported that they found an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle and other guns at his house on Dec. 8, 2022, after being alerted by his mother-in-law. John Turcott and his wife, Angela Turcott, have been separated for several years and are now in divorce proceedings. Dog owner testifies Witnesses at the hearing included Melissa Walker, John Turcotts former neighbor and owner of Rocky, a pit bull mix that was burned on Dec. 5, 2022, in her back yard on St. Thomas Road. She cried during her testimony and stated that she feared for her familys safety. Story continues After the hearing Tuesday, Walker expressed disappointment with what she viewed as too light a sentence for Turcott. I wanted him to rot in jail like he should, she said in an interview. ... Its been a nightmare. Whatever he was on, hed yell all the time and rev his motorcycle up at all hours of the night. There was a lot that happened (before the fire), but that topped it. Assistant States Attorney Katie Warren had argued that Turcott sprayed gasoline on Rocky before throwing a lighted stick, which the dog fetched, over a wooden privacy fence, causing burns around its eye and mouth. Walker wiped away tears while watching home-surveillance video of the incident from the witness stand. She also owns another dog with her husband Josh and two children. (Turcott) tried to burn those dogs alive, Warren said. Detective Jacob Svoboda, of the Madison County Sheriffs Office, testified that Turcott denied knowing anything about Rockys injury during questioning but admitted he had been burning vinyl siding in his yard. He told us that the dogs were always barking, and it was a constant issue for him, Svoboda said. Motorcyclist gives statement Halfway through the hearing, Warren read a victims impact statement from Jacob Redstone, the motorcyclist that Turcott admitted running into a ditch and hitting with his car on June 22, 2022, off Morrison Road. According to the statement, Redstone suffered a broken leg, which prevented him from working, attending college or walking unassisted for several months and depleted his savings because he had no health insurance. His motorcycle insurance wouldnt cover the hit-and-run, his statement said. His status as a military veteran made him eligible to stay in a Volunteers of America homeless shelter temporarily. So to recap, the attack robbed a year from me, delaying my education, causing me to become financially broke, in debt, and forced me to become homeless, Redstone wrote. Charges dropped against Turcott related to the hit-and-run included leaving the scene, failure to give aid or information, failure to report the accident to police, driving too fast for conditions, improper lane usage and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle causing bodily harm. Illinois State Trooper Kevin Billings testified that a police investigation led to Turcott, who told officers that he didnt remember the hit-and-run and gave vague answers to questions. He said he had a bad temper, Billings said. Turcott also was charged with criminal damage to property under $500 for allegedly hitting a garage door and smashing a window of a vehicle owned by his girlfriend, Marilyn Chrusciel, on Oct. 23, 2022. In a related charge, prosecutors alleged that Turcott, while being transported to jail, threatened to choke Madison County Sgt. Michael Coles, put his head through a wall and show up at his house to harm him with help from friends in the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. Five other charges resulted from an incident on June 30, 2022, that Warren referred to as road rage. Turcott allegedly tailgated, passed, backed up and hit a truck driven by Trevor Bardle before threatening to beat him with a fire poker and tire iron and implying he had a gun in his pocket. (Turcott) said that he blacked out and did not remember anything, according to Svoboda, the detective who investigated. Girlfriend called as witness Defense attorney Hildebrand called Turcotts girlfriend, Chrusciel, who he lives with now, as a witness at the hearing. She testified that he had been experiencing anxiety, sleeplessness and other strange symptoms since he fell, but results of a brain scan at the hospital came back normal. Chrusciel promised to keep Turcott out of trouble if the judge was willing to give him probation, and that she would continue their quest to find a doctor who could properly diagnose him. Chruscial, who works at Granite City High School, stated that seroquel, an antipsychotic medication, already was helping him. We dont live a wild life, she said. Turcott testified on his own behalf at the hearing. He told Judge Slemer that he worked 35 years at American Steel in Granite City before retiring and that his hobbies have included guitar playing, car racing and mixed martial arts. When talking about falling out of the tree, Turcott said, I thought I was OK, but I guess I wasnt. In her closing statement, Warren argued that the defense had presented no evidence that Turcott suffered a head injury, let alone one that caused criminal behavior, and his actions could have resulted in more serious injuries to Redstone or Bartle, as well as firefighters and neighbors in Granite City. Hildebrand countered that sentencing Turcott to prison would serve only to deter people in their 60s from going on a criminal spree that they cant explain. He likened his clients personality change to Jekyll and Hyde. Turcott had been incarcerated more than 100 days before he was released on bond. Beyond the four years of probation, Slemer sentenced him to six more months in jail, but that will take effect only if he gets in trouble. Turcott must pay restitution for damages. He is no longer allowed to visit the house he owns with his estranged wife on St. Thomas Road, go anywhere near his victims, particularly the Walker family, or own a dog. At this time, if the court told me to jump out the window, I would, he said. Editors note: This story has been updated to correct a misspelling of the last name of Madison County Sheriffs Department Detective Jacob Svoboda. My grandmother had the theory that, as we get older, our mind subconsciously cleanses our memories of myriad misfortunes, leaving a sanitised version of the past for us to feel nostalgic about. The optimism of remembrance, she called it. Little did she know that her reasonable hypothesis would, one day, become the climate change deniers mantra. Until a few summers ago, I dismissed my sense that our bushfires were getting worse as merely Grandmas optimism of remembrance in action that I was forgetting how awful bushfires were back in the day. Then, in 2018, I witnessed, from a few kilometres away, a horrendous fireball consume Mati, a seaside suburb north of Athens, in a few short minutes. It incinerated more than 100 people, including an old friend of mine, and her husband. Two summers ago, this time from our homes veranda, my partner and I watched helplessly as a firewall destroyed a whole mountain on the other side of the Saronic Bay in whose forests I had spent a magical holiday in the early Seventies. That fire burned for three days and two nights, during which the stars seemed pinned on a scarlet backdrop and the air was thick with ashes tasting of wholesale death. It took us weeks to smile again. And, now, this dreadful summer. I need not describe the situation in Rhodes, Corfu, Attika. Ten minutes ago, I heard on the wireless that a twin-engine, fire-fighting Canadair plane had crashed near Karystos while diving into a ravine to throw seawater onto yet another conflagration. Greece is desertifying, but living here is worse than living in a desert, because we have to watch the process, the perishing. Experts tell me that Greece is no outlier. That there are worse developments elsewhere: the hideous 2019 fires in South East Australia, or the unbelievable 50oC temperatures in British Columbia in 2021 I am sure they are right and that, unlike the Cold War and the Euro Crisis, which did begin in Greece, the climate disasters origin story isnt set in my homeland. Be that as it may, for many people in the West, but also in the Global South, echoes of some very old Greek ideas about our collective fortunes can be heard in the tale of climate change, and thus resurface as Greece burns. Story continues Hesiod told us the tale of Prometheus and his daring act to steal fire from Zeus. It was delivered to us, humans, so that we could flourish as a species. Accepting Zeuss horrendous punishment, Prometheus clearly hoped that we humans would put fire to good use that we would use it to lighten our lives without burning down the Earth. Hesiod did not share his faith in humanity. In his poem Works and Days, Hesiod did not hold back on the white heat of technology and the Iron Age, which he called the Fifth Age: I wish I did not have to live among the people of the Fifth Age, but either had died earlier or been born later. For now truly is a generation of iron who never rest from labour and sorrow by day or from perishing by night The wicked will hurt the worthy bitter sorrows will be left for us mortals, and there will be no help against evil. Fire begat steel, steel begat power and power was something that humans could not handle wisely, Hesiod explained. He then prophesied that Zeus would have no choice but to one day destroy a humanity incapable of restraining its own technology, its own power. Today, surrounded by technologies that would have baffled Zeus no end, it is our children who are issuing warnings not too dissimilar to Hesiods. Meanwhile, the adults are playing childish games. The new head of Cop28 is, of all people, the CEO of an Emirati oil company. The EU political tide is shifting against the green transition. The boisterous new farmers party in the Netherlands has, for instance, inspired the European Peoples Party to start questioning the EUs net zero policies. Rishi Sunak recently did the same thing, emphasising that policy needs to be proportionate and pragmatic. Returning to Greece, I am often asked about the prospects of green politics here, where it remains marginal at best. Why do the Greeks turn a blind eye to climate change, while the heat sizzles their bodies and crushes their souls? A century ago, many Greeks were living off the land, sustaining themselves without playing a part in destructive industries, tactically burning to keep wildfires at bay. But after the Second World War, thousands of these deeply knowledgeable rural Greeks relocated to cities, to escape poverty. Urban sprawl became unbearable. Fifty years ago, city-dwelling Greeks with money to spare found themselves needing to escape, too: back to the land. My parents were among them. In 1969, they bought a plot of land deep inside a splendid pine forest in an area 60km north-east of Athens that was deemed, and remains, unfashionable. The law allowed us to place, in between the pine trees, a log cabin no larger than 90 square metres. No electricity, no running water, no telephone. It was a heavenly place. Soon after, others followed. Industrial workers, shopkeepers, drivers, school teachers: a cross-section of the working class and the Athenian petit bourgeois discovered the joys of our forest, as they had every right to. The more wooden houses appeared, the greater the popular demand for paved roads, electricity, water and all the conveniences of modern life. Gradually, residents bent the rules. Cement foundations, stone patios and unlicensed extensions appeared overnight. The initial resistance of the municipality gave way to lobbying. Local politicians calculated that allowing development would win votes. Trees were cut to accommodate asphalt roads, electricity infrastructure was built, and telephone lines were installed. They, in turn, created greater demand for land and for houses that were breaking, in broad daylight, all the local laws. The development of that forest is a good parable, an encapsulation of Greeces path from the Seventies to our present predicament, via our entry into the European Union, the debt-fuelled growth that led to our bankruptcy and, finally, to the 13 years of austerity that followed which badly hit, among other services, our fire brigades. In 1999, the place was still recognisable as a pine forest, even if it had been infested with disrespectful humans. But one hot summer day, that year, a ravenous bushfire descended upon it from the North. Hundreds of houses were burned to a crisp. The forest was gone. It never came back. Had humanity not invaded, it would have regenerated in 20 or 30 years. Alas, many of the invaders took the opportunity to expand their abodes, building over where the trees once grew. Today, you would not know that a pine forest had flourished there during my teen years. I try to understand why a people whose country burns do not embrace green politics. One reason, which we encounter all over the world, is that the weak know that the powerful have the political capacity to make them fund the green transition. After paying for the bankers crimes, after suffering a decade of harsh austerity, they will now have to pay the huge cost of restoring the planet, whose degradation generated wealth beyond the reach of any treasury. However, in the case of my people, there is that other reason too: a well-repressed sense of common guilt. Our working class and our petit bourgeoisie know that, in the early Seventies, they too played their part in a steady assault on nature. While each did little individual damage, compared to the vast devastation wrought by the oligarchs, their guilt makes it easy for the ruling class to say to them: We were in this together. And in doing so, to silence dissent. 3D computer graphics image of business building with reflection trees and blue sky Yuichiro Chino / Getty Images Businesses' commitments to fighting climate change are regular topics of conversation. Previously, companies were called out for greenwashing, when they mislead consumers and investors about how environmentally friendly their products and services are. Now, businesses have taken to what's called greenhushing, sparking a new round of controversy. What is greenhushing? Greenhushing is when "companies keep quiet about their environmental goals, sometimes for fear of public backlash," according to The Washington Post. The movement is the result of a polarizing political climate and acts as the opposite of greenwashing. A 2022 report by carbon consultancy group South Pole found that a quarter of businesses "do not plan to talk about their science-aligned climate targets." Companies face criticism from both sides of the political spectrum, with liberal-leaning parties accusing them of greenwashing and conservative-leaning parties criticizing them for taking climate change into account in business decisions. "Faced with the threats of tarnished reputations and legal trouble, some companies are instead choosing not to communicate their climate goals at all," explained Fast Company. Many critics have actively been opposed to business environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives, claiming that those factors can "distract companies from their core goals of competitiveness, efficiency, market success and delivering shareholder value," per Forbes. On the other hand, those in favor of ESG initiatives have claimed that companies are not doing enough for sustainability, leading companies to be caught in the middle. However, the lack of communication regarding environmental initiatives does not mean that companies aren't doing anything. "Actual ESG efforts have not decreased for most companies, but how corporations talk about them has changed." Why are companies doing it? "If you're a CEO who has all the right intentions, you might get sued from both sides from the left and from the right," remarked Renat Heuberger, the co-founder and CEO of South Pole, to the Post. "And that is not good news if you want to convince more CEOs to get active on climate." So businesses have taken to staying out of the conversation altogether. Story continues Attacks on companies are "more irrational and so fierce," explained Peter Seele, a professor at Universita della Svizzera Italiana in Switzerland, to Fast Company. These responses include "canceling" or boycotting companies for taking actions that stir controversy. "The easiest thing to do is just to stay out of the conversation and emphasize other facets of business that are going to be perceived as less controversial and more core to the traditional metrics of the business," said Jason Jay, a senior lecturer of sustainability at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to The Wall Street Journal. Also, there are new laws globally cracking down on greenwashing, which, while beneficial, can encourage greenhushing. Being unable or unwilling to navigate new guidelines, "some of these firms would stop touting their sustainability for fear of lawsuits alleging they have violated these directives," per the Post. "Any society only finds new words if there is a new phenomenon to describe," said Hermine Penz, an English professor at the University of Graz in Austria, to The New York Times. "Is it now a no-go to be green? Do companies have to hide their activities? People don't know how to talk about what they are doing." 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 Rep. Jamaal Bowman. Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for The Recording Academy A group of Democrats revived a bill to ban legacy admissions across colleges. The bill would strip financial aid from schools that maintain the practice. It comes after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions. A group of Democratic lawmakers want to end legacy admissions once and for all. On Wednesday, Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley and Chris Van Hollen, along with Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman, revived the Fair College Admissions for Students Act first introduced in February 2022 after the Supreme Court announced it would be taking up affirmative action cases that would stop universities across the country from giving preferential treatment to children of donors and alumni. Specifically, the legislation would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit schools who give preference to legacy students from participating in the federal student aid program, while granting the education secretary the authority to determine if legacy preference for Historically Black College and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions is in the best interest of its students. Merkley said during the Wednesday press conference that "every seat that a university reserves for the already wealthy and well connected, that is, the children of donors and the children of alumni, is a seat not available to a more qualified individual who comes from a financially challenged background, or who comes from a minority community." "So the less qualified are being given, if you will, a golden path in, that takes away the opportunity of the more qualified individuals," Merkley continued. "At many of our major universities, ten to 15% of the seats, sometimes more, are reserved for donors and reserved for the children of alumni. In short, affirmative action for the affluent, the well connected, the children of alumni, the children of donors, is alive and well. And it's not a form of affirmative action that serves our country well." Story continues At the end of June, the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, meaning colleges can no longer consider race as a factor when deciding whether to admit a student. Following the decision, legacy admissions practices entered a harsh spotlight. The Education Department recently opened an inquiry into Harvard's admissions process following allegations from three groups the Chica Project, the African Community Economic Development of New England, and the Greater Boston Latino Network that claimed the Ivy League school was favoring white and wealthy applications who were less qualified than applicants of color. A Harvard spokesperson said in a statement that it is examining data on the way it admits students, and that "Harvard remains dedicated to opening doors to opportunity and to redoubling our efforts to encourage students from many different backgrounds to apply for admission." Some prestigious schools have already ended their legacy admissions practices. Johns Hopkins University, for example, ended the practice in 2009, and Amherst College did the same in 2021. Just last week, Wesleyan College's President Michael Roth wrote in a letter that the school will also be ending the practice. "In the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision regarding affirmative action, we believe it important to formally end admission preference for 'legacy applicants,'" he said. "We still value the ongoing relationships that come from multi-generational Wesleyan attendance, but there will be no 'bump' in the selection process. As has been almost always the case for a long time, family members of alumni will be admitted on their own merits." The Democrats' bill does not yet have bipartisan support, but they said they will continue to push for their legislation to ensure students who don't have the same resources as children of alumni or donors have an equal shot at getting into the college of their choice. "This bill is a very straightforward proposition that we can no longer have a situation where the federal government supports colleges and universities that stack the deck in favor of applications from students from families who are big donors, and it doesn't unfairly stack the deck in favor of legacy applicants," Van Hollen said. "So we need to end this hereditary privilege that is embedded right now in so many colleges and universities." Read the original article on Business Insider FILE - Grovetown Mayor Gary Jones recently reached a settlement worth $300,000 following his dismissal from the Waynesboro Police Department. Over a year after the mayor of Grovetown filed a lawsuit against the City of Waynesboro, a $300,000 settlement recently was approved. Mayor Gary Jones, who was an employee with the Waynesboro Police Department, alleged about $144,000 collected by the Waynesboro Municipal Court was missing and had not been deposited into the city's account. Jones brought his concerns to police Chief Willie Burley and requested an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, according to previous reporting. Burley consulted with interim Mayor James Jones, city manager Valerie Kirkland and council members, who all refused. Jones was fired by Burley on Oct. 20, 2021, with Burley stating Jones was the "sole source of misinformation" related to the missing funds, according to previous reporting. Body identified: Coroner releases identity, cause of death of body found buried in Aiken County Murder arrests: Two arrested, two wanted in connection to murder of Graniteville man Settlement reached with Gary Jones A settlement was recently reached with the city of Waynesboro issuing $300,000 to Jones and his attorneys. Jones was issued $4,500 in back wages and $295,500 in compensatory damages, according to the settlement. In addition, the city agreed to amend Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council records to reflect no involuntary termination from the police department, according to the settlement. A covenant in the settlement also states Jones cannot seek employment with the city of Waynesboro in the future. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: City of Waynesboro signs $300,000 settlement in whistleblower lawsuit Miami is one of the hottest concrete jungles in the country, according to a report released Wednesday by the non-profit research group Climate Central. That ranking is based on something called the urban heat island effect. Basically, it measures how temperatures rise higher in cities where the natural landscape has been replaced with densely packed buildings that trap heat. Generally, the effect is more intense in neighborhoods with bigger buildings and fewer trees, like Brickell or downtown, than it is in leafy suburbs like Coral Gables or Pinecrest. The Miami metropolitan area has the third-worst urban heat island effect out of the 44 biggest U.S. cities, according to the Climate Central report. Only New York City and San Francisco trap more heat than Miami. That means local residents who are already sweating through record-breaking summer heat have to deal with even higher temperatures every time they walk down the street. Cities are being disproportionately impacted by this heat, said Kaitlyn Trudeau, a senior research associate at Climate Central. With climate change, were already seeing increased extreme heat. This is exacerbating that. On average, temperatures in the Miami metro area which, for the purposes of this study, covers a roughly 150-square-mile area that stretches from Westchester to Miami Beach and Hialeah to South Miami are 8.3 degrees hotter because of the urban heat island effect, according to the Climate Central report. Those findings fit with another study published this month which concludes that many parts of Miami-Dade County get far hotter than the official temperature reading found on weather apps or newscasts. Researchers at the University of Miami, Florida International University and others placed thermometers in parts of the county known to have intense urban heat island effects and found that maximum temperatures were, on average, 6 degrees higher than the official reading taken from the weather station at Miami International Airport. Story continues Urban heat magnified in Brickell In the hottest parts of Miami, the urban heat island effect can crank up the temperature as much as 12 degrees, according to the Climate Central report. Miami leads the country in terms of the percentage of its population that lives in neighborhoods with 12 degrees or more of urban heating: More than 12,000 people, representing 1.5% of the Miami metro areas population (as defined in the study), are feeling that level of heat. Nearly all of them are in heavily built-up parts of Brickell or Edgewater according to the report, which shows the heat island impact for each U.S. census tract in the Miami metropolitan area. Those areas are home to dense skyscrapers and dont have many trees to offer shade. The urban heat island effect, which raises temperatures in cities where concrete and pavement have replaced natural landscapes, has made it up to 12 degrees hotter in parts of Miami. Earlier this year, Miami-Dade County mayor Daniella Levine Cava pledged to prioritize 15 areas of concern in the countys tree-planting efforts to reduce the urban heat island effect. These neighborhoods have tree canopies that cover less than 20% of the ground with shade and a poverty rate over 20%. They are: Opa-locka, Brownsville, Gladeview, West Perrine, Naranja, West Little River, Goulds, Pinewood, Hialeah, Westview, Norland, Carol City, Lake Lucerne, Scott Lake and Bunche Park. In areas with little shade and high poverty, vulnerable residents including people who are elderly, pregnant, disabled or homeless face higher risk of heat-related illness. Thats especially true for residents who are living without air conditioning during a sweltering summer that has seen record-breaking daytime temperatures and nights when the air fails to cool. Reducing the urban heat island effect Miami can bring down the temperature by easing the urban heat island effect, said Trudeau. The biggest thing we can do is replace surfaces that absorb heat with surfaces that reflect heat, said Trudeau. That includes painting roofs white, using light-colored or reflective pavements, and making more room for parks and swales instead of cement and asphalt. Planting more trees to shade streets and homes can also offer some relief. Miami-Dade County officials have pledged to plant enough trees to cover 30% of the ground with shade by 2030, up from the current figure of about 20%. This climate report is funded by Florida International University, the Knight Foundation and the David and Christina Martin Family Foundation in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald retains editorial control of all content. A St. Augustine doctor was convicted of 19 counts of drug trafficking and obstruction of justice following a weeklong trial in his federal pill mill case that also involved sexual favors. Dr. Scott Andrew Hollington is accused of overprescribing drugs at his Sawgrass Health clinic and sexually exploiting female patients by trading pills for sex. The doctor, who continues to practice, was released pending formal sentencing that will occur within 90 days. The trial included a parade of undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agents who testified they were prescribed a raft of stimulants, sedatives and other addictive drugs without demonstrating any legitimate medical need or undergoing even basic medical evaluations. Tony Tsitos: St. Augustine man charged in child-porn case is well-known Virginia psychiatrist Pain clinics: 5 Jacksonville doctors, 8 others indicted in pill mill operations The undercover visits were secretly recorded and show Hollington saying he didnt care about the results of legally required drug tests. On one occasion, he didnt require an agent to provide a urine sample. On another, the agent simply filled the sample cup with tap water from the bathroom sink, and Hollington accepted it. Jurors also heard from four women who say Hollington either extorted, suggested or attempted to force sexual acts on them in exchange for prescription drugs. Thats not the practice of medicine, government expert witness Dr. Gene Kennedy testified. This is something else ... Its a violation of everything you would expect in the use of normal medical practice. Hollington did not put on a defense; his attorney called no witnesses, and Hollington did not testify. However, his attorney Curtis Falgatter argued the doctor was helping addicts obtain untainted drugs legally rather than buying potentially lethal versions off the street. Attorney Curtis Falgatter, left, and his client Dr. Scott Hollington enter the federal courthouse for their July trial. Hollington was convicted of 19 counts of drug trafficking and obstruction of justice in his federal sex-for-drugs case. If they are addicts, every one of these prescriptions are legitimate ones for them, he said. Story continues Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirwinn Mike disputed that account. He reminded jurors of one recorded encounter in which an undercover agent said he used cocaine. Hollington replied that he would prescribe him the stimulant Adderall. It is not FDA-approved for that, OK? Hollington said. Just so you know, OK? Your nurse practitioner will go through the [ADHD diagnosis] crap with you, because we cannot give it to you for cocaine, even though really thats what wed be doing. Regarding sex with patients, Falgatter said it was not defensible. No one in this courtroom is going to say that was right. Not me, not Mr. Hollington. But Falgatter noted the sexual acts were not criminally charged. This case is not about a sex charge, its not about that. Its a drug case. Mike told jurors the doctors sexual behavior was just additional proof that the clinic was not a legitimate operation. Its like a candy shop: You go in you get what you want, he told jurors. He compared Hollingtons loose prescribing methods to a charcuterie board." Thats not care, Mike said. Thats just handing out drugs. Youve just got a prescription pad, thats all. Jurors also heard from several former nurses in Hollingtons St. Augustine clinic, two of whom are unindicted co-conspirators. One testified that after watching a Netflix documentary, she began to worry she was working in a pill mill. Prosecutors asked that Hollington be taken into custody immediately after the verdict, but U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan said he would allow him to remain out of jail pending a hearing on the government's request. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: St. Augustine Dr. Scott Hollington guilty in pill mill case Water sea surface with light pouring in The Gulf Stream system of warm ocean currents could collapse as early as 2025, a scientific study has warned. The end of the system, which drives the Atlantic's currents and determines western Europe's weather, would probably lead to lower temperatures and catastrophic climate impacts. But leading scientists have reservations about the study and say it is not established science. It is far from certain the system will shut down this century, they say. The most recent assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that the system, known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc), would not in fact collapse so quickly. The latest study's author, Prof Peter Ditlevsen at the University of Copenhagen, told BBC News that other scientists had warned about the potential for collapse of the Amoc. "There's been worries that this current is weakening for as long as we have had measurements of it - since 2004," he said. The Amoc is a complicated set of currents that bring warm water north towards the pole, where it cools and sinks. But as global temperatures rise with global warming, fresh water is pouring into the Amoc from the melting Greenland ice cap and other sources. It if collapses, it could lower temperatures by up to 10 or 15 degrees in Europe and lead to rising sea levels in the eastern US. It would also disrupt rain that billions rely on for agriculture. The last time Amoc stopped and restarted was during Ice Ages about 115,000 to 12,000 years ago. The new study, published in Nature Communications, used sea surface temperature data stretching back to 1870 as a way of assessing the change in strength of Amoc currents over time. It estimates Amoc could collapse between 2025 and 2095. The analysis is based on greenhouse gas emissions rising as they have done so far. If emissions started to reduce, the world would have more time to keep temperatures below the point at which Amoc would collapse. Story continues But scientists including Ben Booth at the Met Office Hadley Centre say the paper's conclusions "are far from settled science". "We just don't have the evidence to state that it has declined," says Prof Penny Holliday at the National Oceanography Centre. "We know that there is a possibility that Amoc could stop what it's doing now at some point, but it's really hard to have certainty about that," she says. "If my neighbour asked me if I should worry about heatwaves or the Amoc collapse, I'd say worry about temperatures. We know that is already happening and will get worse," she said. The reasons for many scientists' reservations is that they say the study's authors made a series of assumptions about how to understand Amoc. But the climate system is extremely complex and experts do not have all the evidence they need to fully understand the Amoc. The predictions that it could collapse as early as 2025 or by 2095 should be taken with a large grain of salt, says Jon Robson at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of Reading. But It does not mean that the study is not important or that the possibility of Amoc shutting down should be dismissed, they say. "We do still have to take the idea seriously that there could be abrupt changes in the North Atlantic climate system," says Prof Robson. "But the exact predictions that it will happen and within this time frame - you have to take that with some scepticism," he adds. CAMDEN - One man died and another was injured in a shooting here, police say. Jose Bonilla, 47, was killed by gunfire at South 4th and Royden streets around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, July 22, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. The Camden man and a second victim were taken to a city hospital. Camden woman arrested in murder case: Ex-girlfriend arrested for killing Mantua man in Camden Bonilla died at the hospital around 10:40 p.m. The surviving victim was identified only as a 38-year-old Camden man. An investigation into the South Jersey shooting is underway, said the prosecutor's office. It announced no arrests. Anyone with information is asked to call Prosecutor's Detective Daniel Crawford at 856-580-2223 and Camden County Police Detective Maria Bagby at 609-519-6947. Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Reach him at jwalsh@cpsj.com. This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Jose Bonilla gunned down near South 4th and Royden streets in Camden Guy Fieri told Brooke Shields he was falsely accused of a fatal, drunk-driving accident when he was 19. Steve Jennings/Getty Images Guy Fieri said he was falsely accused of drunk driving when he was 19. Fieri said he was a passenger in the car crash and that the person next to him got killed. He woke up "handcuffed to the gurney" in the hospital, he said on Brooke Shields' podcast. Guy Fieri has spoken out about an experience that he said completely changed his perspective on life. While appearing on the "Now What? with Brooke Shields" podcast on Tuesday, Fieri said he had been falsely accused of a fatal drunk-driving accident when he was studying hospitality management at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "I was in a fatality car accident when I was 19," he told Shields. "I wasn't driving, I was in the backseat. And, unfortunately, I was with a bunch of guys andwe were drinking." Fieri said he and the group had been watching drag boat races and were headed to a nearby campsite when the driver who the Food Network star said had also been drinking saw a cop. "He took off and we got chased and the car flipped," Fieri said in the podcast. "And the guy next to me was killed. It was horrific. Everybody was messed up." Fieri said he was airlifted to a nearby hospital and was "handcuffed to the gurney" when he woke up. Fieri said the other members in the car were in the military together and had claimed he was the one who had been driving. Fieri said he was later arrested in his dorm room and had to tell his parents and get an attorney. Fieri said the accident was a turning point in his life. Paul Zimmerman /GettyImages Fieri told Shields that the police knew he hadn't been driving and the charges were cleared, but that his father told him to "cut the shit." "You're not invincible," Fieri said his father told him. "This is for real now. You're not in your hometown anymore. You're in Las Vegas. You got to focus." Representatives for Fieri, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Story continues The Food Network star said the accident was a turning point for him "I was like, OK, my family didn't have any money. I'm not the smartest kid. Didn't get the best grades," Fieri said. "But if I'm going to win, I'm going to win based upon how hard I play and how disciplined I am and how driven and controlled I am. And if I do that, then I have a better chance at getting through this." Fieri said it's a lesson he's passed down to his two sons, Hunter and Ryder. Guy Fieri and his son Ryder Fieri at the 2023 NBA All Star Game. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images "It's things I teach my kids all the time," he told Shields. "Don't trust anybody to drive you. Don't trust what anybody puts in a drink and gives it to you. Don't trust if anybody tells you that this is safe or this is smart." "You have to be the master of your domain," he added. "You have to be in control of your environment." In a previous interview, Fieri told People that he made Ryder drive his parents' used Chrysler minivan to school when he first got his license to teach him how to be self-sufficient. "I'm not buying Ryder a car, and I refuse to let him buy a car until he spends one year with no tickets, no accidents, driving the minivan," Fieri said during the September 2022 interview. "Prove that you've got it all together. Then you can take your own money out of the bank and go buy a car." Read the original article on Insider Doug, who? The latest presidential candidate to make the stage for the first Republican primary debate next month knows he doesnt have the name recognition of former President Donald Trump or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. But North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has embraced his underdog status, even selling T-shirts with that question on his campaign page. The North Dakota governor officially met the Republican National Committees rules to participate in the August debate as of this week, he told USA TODAY on Tuesday. To reach the required minimum number of donors, Burgum relied on an unusual and controversial tactic: a $20 Visa or Mastercard gift card to anyone who donates at least a dollar to his campaign. The former software executive sat down with USA TODAY to share more about his strategy to reach voters across the country. Who is Doug Burgum? Burgum is currently serving his second term as governor of North Dakota, his home state. The position was his entry to politics, and his first win in 2016 was a major upset. He defeated the favored Republican candidate and then-state attorney general Wayne Stenehjem by almost 20 points in the GOP primary. Before taking office, Burgum served as president of Great Plains Software until Microsoft bought the company in 2001. The Stanford alum worked as an executive at Microsoft and later was a real estate and software investor. Burgum endorsed Trump in the 2016 and 2020 presidential races. This time around, though, he said he believes the electorate is looking for someone new. I think there's an eagerness for a fresh face and a different story. And I think it just hasn't been presented yet, Burgum said. Burgum to join other big names on the debate stage Along with other polling thresholds, the RNC is requiring any candidate looking to participate in next months Milwaukee debate to receive at least 40,000 individual contributions with at least 200 unique donors in 20 or more states. Story continues Six other GOP candidates have met the requirements. Thanks in large part to his gift card giveaway, Burgum said he can now join this group that includes former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and U.S. Senator Tim Scott, R-S.C. The governors approach isnt a clear violation of election rules, but some have criticized it. Burgum on Tuesday compared the move to a business decision that introduces voters to his brand. "We just said, 'Oh, that's the rule? Well, let's figure out a way,'" Burgum said. "We'll do a hack, we'll get around it. And we'll do it in a way that's completely legal and completely smart." He said it was also a response to the donor hurdle he said favored his more well-known opponents. The rule was set up to benefit people who've held national office, people who've been pundits on national television ... or they've been career politicians in D.C., Burgum said. "It would oppose somebody from a small town, small state who's trying to bring fresh ideas." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Doug Burgum campaign used a $20 gift card to get in the GOP debate The Florida Democratic Party is injecting $1 million into voter registration efforts through the end of the year as it looks to make up a growing gap with Republicans ahead of the 2024 election cycle. The seven-figure investment, which was reported first by the Miami Herald, coincides with the launch of an 17-plus county Take Back Florida tour by the partys chair Nikki Fried and Executive Director Phillip Jerez, who joined the operation last month after serving as political director for former U.S. Rep. Charlie Crists 2022 gubernatorial campaign. The tour and voter registration push is set to launch next Wednesday with an event in Orlando. But the initiative will also focus heavily on South Florida, most notably in Miami-Dade County, where Democrats are scrambling to bounce back from a series of high-profile losses in 2022. It is all hands on deck in Miami, Nikki Fried, the chair of the Florida Democratic Party, said. We have not just the Florida Democratic Party, but a lot of our partners that are going to be spending significant resources on voter registration, vote by mail, re-enrollment, as well as messaging. Fried is set to travel to at least 16 other counties in August, including Broward and Palm Beach, according to an announcement shared with the Herald. The party is also planning a few more stops in September, a spokesperson said. RELATED CONTENT: At annual gala, Florida Democrats look to unify around a common adversary: Ron DeSantis The goal, Fried said, is to deploy paid staffers and an expanded volunteer network to engage with and register voters in traditionally Democratic parts of the state and in Republican-leaning counties in hopes of minimizing Democrats margins of defeat there. The new voter registration spending is part of a broader effort to revamp the Florida Democratic Party after a brutal 2022 midterm election cycle that saw Gov. Ron DeSantis win reelection by nearly 20 percentage points and Republicans capture supermajorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Story continues Democrats held a sizable voter registration advantage over Republicans in Florida for years. But a turning point for the party came in late 2021 when the GOP gained the edge in registered voters. That lead has only continued to grow. There are now more than half-a-million more registered Republican voters in the state than Democrats, according to the latest data released by the Florida Division of Elections. By Frieds own admission, closing that gap entirely isnt the goal. She said that the partys aim is to cut the GOPs current voter registration advantage by about 35% about 190,000 voters. The problem for Democrats isnt just statewide. The party was alarmed in November when DeSantis and Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio both carried Miami-Dade County, a key population center that Democrats have long banked on to deliver them statewide victories. Fried, a Miami native, acknowledged that Democrats problems in Miami run deep, but said that the party sees the voter registration investment as part of an effort to re-engage with South Florida voters, especially new voters and independents who she said have been overlooked by Democrats. What is the message of the Democratic Party? Who are we? Fried said. And unfortunately we lost our way. And this is an opportunity to restart the conversation with so many of our electorates down in Miami-Dade. A stunt performer who performed in the latest Indiana Jones film set himself alight at a recent actors strike rally. Mike Massa, who body doubled for Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, appeared on stage during the ongoing Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) protests on Monday (24 July). Actors and performers withdrew their labour from film and TV productions on 13 July in order to achieve, among other requests, fairer wages and greater protections against the use of AI in the industry. As seen in a video posted on Instagram, Massa walks in front of the crowd as his blazer and trouser leg are on fire. He is seen to pump his fist upward as the audience cheers him on. Massa shared the footage in a joint Instagram post with fellow stunt actor Elena Sanchez. They directed their ire at Hollywood bosses, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), in a caption. We are tired of being burned by the AMPTP, their message reads. Other union performers and Hollywood employees on the ground applauded the eye-catching stunt. Massas actions have also garnered support online. For putting your life on the line for stunts, you deserve more residuals and protection from AI replicas too, reads one comment on the post. Another supporter noted that his actions were proving stunt people would rather get burned for real than the metaphorical getting burned by the studios. Bravo. Way to bring in the HEAT, reads one comment, while another person added: Youre on fire brother! Actors and performers began striking earlier this month, following film and TV writers who have been protesting since May. This marks the first time that both actors and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have been out of action simultaneously in 60 years. With writers nor performers able to work on any productions, including participating in any promotional work, these strikes have effectively shut down Hollywood. Elsewhere, Dwayne Johnson reportedly donated a seven-figure amount to the union, as a way to help performers who will be hit hardest during the strikes. Fresno County and neighboring counties in central California have seen a significant increase in reported hate crime in recent years, with Valley law enforcement agencies together reporting in 2022 the highest number in eight years. Blacks were the most frequently reported victims, locally and across the state, but few groups escaped being targeted as crimes also affected whites, gay and transgender people, according to recently released state data. The numbers have been trending higher, but whats less certain is why. Its hard to know whether more crimes are happening or if people are feeling more empowered to report, said Peter E. Smith, a former professor at Fresno Pacific University who was the schools program director for peacemaking and conflict resolution studies.. Its probably a little bit of both. Hate crimes are under-reported historically, systemically, he added. I think pretty much everyone agrees that even if theres an uptick, it probably means there is still a lot not being reported. Smith told The Fresno Bee in a telephone interview that its one of those things that if people dont have confidence that law enforcement is going to be able to do anything about it or that their voice will be heard, then there may be reluctance to report in the first place. Almost 200 people were victims of 166 separate hate-crime incidents reported in Fresno County during the eight-year period. They were reportedly subjected to crimes ranging from property damage and vandalism to physical assault, rape and murder. Across the five-county region of Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced and Tulare counties, more than 240 offenses were cataloged as hate crimes by police and sheriffs investigators, affecting 272 individual victims from 2015 through 2022. The figures are included in data reported to the state by Valley police departments and sheriffs offices and released recently by the state Department of Justice. What the data reveal In Fresno County and Valleywide, race or ethnicity was the most common motivation for hate crimes in each of the past eight years. Blacks were the most frequently targeted demographic segment with 88 incidents in the region since 2015, including 23 in 2022 across the five-county region. Story continues Others among the most-targeted groups Valleywide were: Gay men, 26 cases since 2015, including six in 2022. Hispanic or Latino residents, 22 cases since 2015, including three in 2022. White residents, 17 cases since 2015, including five in 2022. Transgender persons, 10 cases since 2015, including two in 2022. According to a bulletin issued to law enforcement agencies throughout California in late June, state law defines a hate crime as a criminal act committed, in whole or in part, because of one or more of the following actual or perceived characteristics of the victim: disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation; or because of the persons association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. One of the most shocking hate crimes in Fresno County in recent years was the shooting deaths of three men, all of whom were white, in April 2017, in a rampage near downtown Fresno. The gunman, a Black man, reportedly told police that he intentionally set out to kill white people. In addition to those race-motivated slayings, the gunman shot and killed an unarmed security guard several days earlier at a Motel 6 in central Fresno. Over recent years, several churches have been targeted by vandals, incidents considered hate crimes, some because of their religious positions and in at least one case because the church publicly welcomes and supports the LGBTQ community. Our Saviours Lutheran Church, near Fruit and Clinton avenues in central Fresno, was vandalized in April 2023. Several windows at the church were broken. The churchs pastor said those responsible are believed to be members of the Central Valley Proud Boys and may have targeted the church for being friendly to the LGBTQ+ community. A Proud Boys sticker was found on a church railing when the vandalism was discovered. Statewide, more than 2,100 hate crimes were reported in 2022, representing a 20.4% increase over 2021. In the five-county central San Joaquin Valley region, however, the uptick was even more dramatic almost 32.6% as incidents climbed from 43 in 2021 to 57 in 2022. Black people were the most frequent target of reported hate crimes across California, and the data show a one-year surge of 27.1%. from 513 in 2021 to 652 in 2022. Hate crimes reported against Asians dropped from 247 in 2021 to 140 in 2022, a decrease of 43.3%. Hate crimes rooted in a bias based on sexual orientation rose by almost 30% statewide, from 303 cases in 2021 to 391 in 2022. The alarming increases in crimes committed against Black, LGBTQ+ and Jewish people for the second year in a row illustrates the need for our communities to join together unified against hate, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said. It takes all of us working together to combat extremism and foster a safe and inclusive environment for all Californians. For Fresno County, the increase was much more modest from 23 overall hate crime incidents in 2021 to 26 in 2022, or about 5%. Crimes rooted in bias based on race or ethnicity amounted to 16 cases in 2022 in Fresno County, and 105 from 2015 through 2022. More than half of all of those crimes were against Black victims. Whats behind the increase in hateful acts? While recent years are reflecting increases in hate crimes, Smith pointed out that such offenses against racial or social minorities are hardly new in American history. Historically, I would suggest that the U.S. has a history of being built on hate crimes the genocide of the Native Americans, the history of slavery and segregation, he told The Bee. Thats all there, and we still really have not had a national reckoning with understanding our own history. Thats politically some of the backdrop. Smith added that the U.S. saw marked spikes in attacks against Muslims or others of Middle Eastern ancestry or people who looked Middle Eastern and against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. In some ways its no wonder that we continue to see the patterns continuing to pop up, maybe with more force at certain times than other times, but I think the recurrence isnt a surprise when we really havent come to terms with our history, Smith added. Smith and Matthew Jendian, a professor of sociology at California State University, Fresno, said they believe the increasingly divisive political climate of recent years, marked by inflammatory rhetoric by prominent elected officials and commentators, has helped to fuel resentment among people who commit hate crimes. When leaders talk disparagingly about certain groups, when they target certain groups, putting down some groups so they can feel better about themselves that certainly, very easily translates to followers who say, Hey, we can talk that way, too, Smith said. And those followers may go a step further. They say, Guess what? The leader who talks that way, he probably cant actually do some of the things we can do because hes in the spotlight, but we can actually carry out some of those things and act upon whats being talked about. Jendian said its hardly coincidental that divisive and hateful rhetoric has been on the rise and seems much more pronounced since 2015 and the announcement of Donald Trumps candidacy for the U.S. presidency. I want to be clear that Donald Trump is not responsible for the existence of hate, Jendian added. Hate toward groups of people who are different in whatever way race, sex, immigration status, etc. has always been around. However, the openness with which that hate was expressed moved from the backstage to the frontstage and the norms of what was acceptable to say in public shifted in significant ways. When those sentiments move from hateful speech protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to actual hate crimes against people or property, it reflects a substitute for power by people who feel their own way of life or their place in society is threatened, Smith and Jendian said. In many respects, America has been and will likely almost always be segregated in different ways, but the cross-over and increase in proximity to people of diverse backgrounds is happening particularly in the larger urban areas, Jendian said. We live in a multicultural society, a multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-religious, multi-class society, and there is no way to make that work without respect. And, yet, this value and behavior of respect is in short supply Indeed, whats being exhibited now is disrespect for and blame against others, Smith suggested. So theres this sense of justification thats there that makes someone feel like theyre in the right and theyre defending what is right and good and true, even though theyre making life miserable for someone else, he said. At times when tensions begin to build and people begin to feel this sense of uncertainty and disorder, often the easiest and cheapest move is to find scapegoats, Smith said. We can find a common enemy, we can find a bit more unity and stability in the short term, the promise of that. Of course it never pays off long-term. I would even use the language of addiction, he said, in the sense that were addicted to scapegoats. Michelle Tessier, Deseret News The co-founder of FanX Salt Lake was found guilty by a federal jury in Hawaii of threatening to bomb Utah buildings, including the Salt Lake Temple, the Matheson Courthouse, the Salt Lake City mayor's office, the University of Utah and the state Capitol. Bryan Brandenburg, 64, lives in Hawaii and was arrested there for making bomb threats. The threats began after he emailed the 3rd District Court in Salt Lake City to follow up on whether his divorce had been granted. Brandenburg's jury trial was held at the Hawaii district court, and lasted four days beginning on July 18. It included testimony from multiple Utahns who received emails with bomb threats from him. The jury began deliberating the case around 11:15 p.m. Friday, and it reached a guilty verdict less than two hours later. He was found guilty of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce and six counts of conveying false information concerning the use of an explosive which the jury found he did willfully and maliciously in each instance. Brandenburg took an "indefinite leave of absence" from FanX in 2018 and he sold his share of the company in 2019, so he was not involved in the company during the times he made threats that led to this conviction. The threats On March 8, 2022, he emailed a court employee asking whether his divorce was final and learned it would take 60 days for the decision to be made. After 60 days he emailed again, and then again a few days later when he used an expletive. After a court employee told him his language would not be tolerated, he emailed: "So go (expletive) yourself. All of you," and "I guess I'll just have to bomb the city." On May 4, 2022, Brandenburg sent emails threatening to bomb multiple buildings. One email states, "We're still going to bomb the 3rd District Courthouse. Hae a nice day," according to charging documents. Subsequent emails said, "Now we're going to bomb the State Capital (sic)...," and "And then .... we'll bomb the mayor's office ..." Another email said "And then, we're going to level the sacred temple," according to the charges. Investigators say Brandenburg also threatened to bomb "every Ivy League School," and the federal courthouse in San Diego "to teach them a lesson." Story continues Brandenburg had been involved in a trademark lawsuit between San Diego Comic-Con International and FanX, which was previously called Salt Lake Comic Con. The company ended up paying almost $4 million in legal fees after a San Diego jury found it had violated trademark rules with the previous name. On May 6, 2022, Brandenburg also threatened to bomb the University of Utah Center for Medical Innovation and Hall Labs in emails to four members of the media in Salt Lake City. Brandenburg called the U. center "Frankenstein Inc.," saying, "They put illegal medical devices in me without my knowledge or permission with U of U Center for Medical Innovation. We're bombing both campuses today for crimes against humanity," according to charging documents. Members of the media reported the emails and the center was evacuated before police found the threat to be a hoax. He was interviewed by FBI agents in Hawaii later that day, and acknowledged he had sent the emails to get attention and pressure the court and his family and to "get his money back." Request for acquittal The same day the guilty verdict was reached, Brandenburg asked the court to consider an acquittal for each count. He argued there was "insufficient evidence presented at trial to justify a verdict of guilt." He argued in the motion that prosecutors did not show he had the state of mind needed for the interstate commerce threat charge. Brandenburg said this email was sent to people he was familiar with and he did not think it would be viewed as a threat. The motion said a recipient being fearful does not show whether a threat was sent. To address other charges, his attorneys argued there was not enough evidence that Brandenburg acted "with a malicious state of mind" when emailing court employees, media and others. The motion said he was sending emails to get attention, did not expect them to be taken seriously and had a purpose of trying to publicize his story. For the final charge, Brandenburg argued the lack of response to his previous threats strengthened his belief that no one would take the threats seriously. The sentencing for Brandenburg is scheduled for Nov. 9. Fans are getting ready to see Beyonce next week, when she returns to Gillette Stadium on Tuesday. The 32-time GRAMMY winner will perform at the home of the New England Patriots and Revolution for the fourth time in her career as part of her Renaissance World Tour, her first solo tour in over six years. The show will start at 8 p.m., with parking lots scheduled to open at 4 p.m. Gates open at 5 p.m. Gillette Stadium officials are asking concert attendees to allow plenty of time for travel to the venue, since there is no opening act. The concert will coincide with weekday commuter traffic, so please plan accordingly, stadium officials said in a statement on Wednesday. Traffic restrictions will be in place on local roads before and after the show. Fans who use local roads will experience delays in arrival time due to road closures that are not captured by traffic and navigation apps. Fans must use I-95, I-495 or Route 140 to access Route 1 and Gillette Stadium. Record-breaking concert season on deck at Gillette. Heres a look at what stars are coming to town Heres some other things concert attendees need to know: PARKING Stadium lots will open for parking at 4 p.m. Gillette Stadium offers general parking for all ticket holders. General parking is located on the opposite side of Route 1 from the stadium and is included in the price of the event ticket. A parking pass is not required for general parking. For ticketholders wishing to park on the stadium side of Route 1, prepaid parking passes are available for $50. In order to purchase a prepaid parking pass, ticketholders must use the same email address that their event tickets are associated with. Ticketholders may only purchase one prepaid parking pass per account per event. Please note that prepaid parking passes are limited and are subject to availability. Oversize vehicle parking is located in Lot 52, accessible from P10 North and P10 South from the north and south respectively, and is included in the price of the event ticket. ADA parking will be accessible from P1 when traveling from the north and P7 when traveling from the south. For more parking information, visit gillettestadium.com/parking/. Story continues ENTRANCES Gates will open at 5 p.m. Fans can enter through the Bank of America, CVS Health and Ticketmaster Gates for this event, and fans with field seats should enter via the Enel Plaza only. ADA entry is available through the Ticketmaster Gate on the east and Bank of America Gate on the west. Gillette Stadium provides two dedicated ADA Elevators for guests needing additional accommodations and requiring elevator access: one on the east side of the stadium at the Ticketmaster Gate, and one on the west side of the stadium at the W1 entrance. Club and suite ticketholders should enter via the E1, E2, W1, W2, W3 or W4 entrances. A full stadium map and seating chart is available at gillettestadium.com/general-seating-chart/. CLEAR BAG POLICY IN EFFECT Fans attending the concert are reminded that bags larger than a small wristlet or handheld wallet will not be allowed inside Gillette Stadium, per the venues clear bag policy, which is in effect at all ticketed events. If carrying a bag into the stadium is necessary, there are three options: a clear plastic bag the size of a one-gallon Ziploc bag, a clear plastic vinyl or PVC bag that does not exceed 12 x 6 x 12, or a small wristlet or handheld wallet not exceeding 4.5 x 6.5. Please note that bags larger than the permitted size, including purses, shoulder bags and backpacks, will not be allowed inside Gillette Stadium and will not be held or stored by the venue. These items must be returned to a vehicle before entering the stadium. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit gillettestadium.com/bagpolicy/. File photo: Beyonce . PROHIBITED ITEMS Per stadium and artist management, prohibited items at Gillette Stadium include, but are not limited to: GoPro/video cameras, tripods/monopods, professional cameras and cameras with detachable lenses, selfie sticks, strollers, backpacks, lasers, umbrellas, outside food and beverage, balloons, beach balls, noisemakers and any items deemed dangerous and/or inappropriate by stadium management. Polaroid cameras and portable phones chargers are permitted. Signs are permitted but they cannot be larger than 11 x 17. Lights and battery packs are not permitted on signage, clothing or any other objects. Stadium and artist management reserve the right to prohibit signs or banners due to message content. For more information on prohibited items at Gillette Stadium, visit gillettestadium.com/bagpolicy/. TICKETING Tickets are digital and accessible via mobile device. Fans can access and manage mobile tickets via the Gillette Stadium app which is available on the App Store (for iPhone users) and Google Play Store (for Android users). Gillette Stadium officials strongly encourage guests to add their mobile tickets to their Apple Wallet or Google Pay prior to arriving at the stadium gates to beat busy network connections and for ease of entry into the venue. Additional information on mobile ticketing can be found at gillettestadium.com/tickets/mobile/. Ticketmaster is the official ticket vendor for all Gillette Stadium events. Gillette Stadium officials want to remind fans that all tickets purchased through secondary markets are at risk of being invalid counterfeit tickets. If fans are not purchasing tickets through an authorized seller, they should ensure they are purchasing tickets via a website/person(s) they trust. The Gillette Stadium Ticket Office is unable to confirm the validity of tickets prior to entry into the stadium on the specific event date. For more ticketing information, visit gillettestadium.com/tickets/. SPECIAL EVENT TRAIN SERVICE The MBTA Commuter Rail and Keolis are providing round-trip, special event train service from Boston for the show. Tickets for this Boston special event train are sold out. Regular Commuter Rail tickets and passes are not valid for special event trains. Guests choosing to travel to Gillette Stadium for the show via the Foxboro Station weekday Commuter Rail service will not be able to return to Boston following the conclusion of the show via the special event train without a corresponding special event train ticket. The last Foxboro Station weekday Commuter Rail train departs for Boston at 10:20 p.m., while the special event train will depart 30 minutes following the conclusion of the concert. Any prohibited items at Gillette Stadium, including bags that do not comply with the stadiums Clear Bag Policy, will not be permitted on the trains. Additionally, no personal items may be left on the trains during the concert. For more information on the trains to Gillette Stadium, visit mbta.com/destinations/gillette-stadium. South Station Train Schedule to Gillette Stadium for Tuesday, Aug. 1 South Station: Departs for Gillette Stadium at 5:15 PM Back Bay: Departs for Gillette Stadium at 5:20 PM Dedham Corp: Departs for Gillette Stadium at 5:40 PM Arrive: Train arrives at Gillette Stadium at 6:15 PM NOTE: The train will depart from Gillette Stadium 30 minutes after the conclusion of the concert. DESIGNATED RIDESHARE LOCATION Gillette Stadium has a designated rideshare drop off and pick up location in Lot 15 adjacent to Bass Pro Shops. Concertgoers can schedule an Uber or Lyft ride to and from the venue through the rideshare services mobile app. Please note that Gillette Stadium makes no representation about the availability, cost, or quality of any rideshare, taxi or limousine service. The companies and individuals that operate these services are solely responsible for providing these services. Gillette Stadium officials recommend that guests contact these companies and individuals in advance of an event to confirm that the services will be available or have a secondary plan for a safe ride home. TAXI STAND LOCATION Gillette Stadium has a designated taxi stand location in Lot 6A on the east side of the stadium. Taxis will be available at this location following the conclusion of the concert. Please note that taxis are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. GILLETTE STADIUM IS A CASHLESS VENUE Gillette Stadium is completely cashless. All fan points of sale accept electronic payment only including debit and credit cards, wallet or watch. The venue has deployed cash-to-card machines throughout the stadium for guests who bring cash, which is converted to a VISA card that can be used at any point of sale inside the stadium and anywhere VISA is accepted. STADIUM RENOVATIONS In January 2022, construction of the most dramatic Gillette Stadium improvements since its opening in 2002 began in the north end of the stadium. As part of these renovations, the main ticket office is closed and satellite ticket office locations are in a dedicated trailer in the north end of Lot 5 on the east side, and in a dedicated trailer outside of the W3 entrance near the CVS Health Gate on the west. GUEST SERVICES Gillette Stadium has guest service booths located on the 100- and 300-level concourses by Sections 109, 131, 309 and 331 for all stadium events. GILLETTE STADIUM HOTLINE For immediate assistance during an event, please contact the stadium hotline at (800) 280-9529. For anonymous assistance during an event for behavioral or conduct related matters, please send security operations a text message at (800) 280-9529 or text the issue and location to 50894 followed by all the relevant details. WEATHER ADVISORY Gillette Stadium is an open-air venue; therefore all concerts are rain or shine events. Stadium management always works closely with the artist, tour and local public safety officials to ensure the safety of all guests. If public safety officials determine that storms in the immediate area pose a safety hazard, guests will be provided instructions regarding sheltering options until the concert is able to resume. 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 the heat rises, cooling centers are opening up in the metro-east, including Highland. The Weinheimer Community Center will be available as a cooling center until July 28, and city manager Chris Conrad said whenever the county opens their cooling centers, the city will follow suit. Announcements will be made online via Highlands social media and the Highland Happenings informational app. The metro-east is currently under a heat advisory through 9 p.m. Friday, with heat index measured up to 109 degrees, according to the St. Louis County Office of Emergency Management. The entire region is subject to high temperatures and humidity that may cause heat-related illnesses. The Weinheimer Community Center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. If there are needs after 5 p.m., residents are asked to call the center at 618-654-6071 or Highlands public safety building at 618-654-2131. After hours cooling time may be offered. Meanwhile, the Highland public pool is closed for the week during the Madison County Fair, which was recently questioned on social media. Fair week always sees a substantial drop in users for the outdoor pool and we lose quite a bit of money staffing it for so few users during that week, Conrad said. So we closed it and avoided both the cost and the issues that come up with the fair being an ongoing concern and trying to get people in and out of there. The Madison County Fair began Tuesday and runs through Sunday at the county fairgrounds, which are adjacent to the Highland pool off Park Hill Drive. In addition to the Weinheimer Center, the following cooling centers are open in surrounding communities: Breese Public Library, 530 N. Third St. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10-6 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Tri-Township Public Library, 209 S. Main St. in Troy. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. YMCA of Edwardsville (Niebur and Meyer centers), 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Glen Carbon Senior Community Center, 157 N. Main St., 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Glen Carbon Centennial Library, 198 S. Main St., 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Edwardsville Public Library, 112 S. Kansas St. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Lebanon Public Library, 314 W. St. Louis St., noon-7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, noon-5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. Check out the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website for a complete list on both sides of the river. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan lambasted President Joe Bidens border policies, calling it a Biden border crisis and describing them as open border policies in his opening remarks Wednesday at a hearing where Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is testifying. I know that today Secretary Mayorkas is going to try to paint a rosy picture of this disastrous mismanagement of our border, Jordan said. But the numbers dont lie. While border crossings remain high, there have been fewer border arrests in recent weeks. In June, for example, US Border Patrol arrested nearly 100,000 migrants along the US southern border, marking a decrease from May and marking the lowest monthly border encounters since February 2021, according to US Customs and Border Protection data. Mayorkas is facing House Republicans who have been making the case to potentially impeach him over his handling of the US-Mexico border in a House panel hearing Wednesday. He maintained in his opening remarks that the administrations approach to the border is working. Our approach to managing the border securely and humanely, even within our fundamentally broken immigration system is working, he said. Unlawful entries between ports of entry along the southwest border have consistently decreased by more than half compared to the peak before the end of Title 42. Over recent months, House Republicans have started to lay the groundwork for potential impeachment proceedings against Mayorkas, who, they argue, has failed to enforce the US southern border. Within less than an hour after the hearings start, House Democrats twice called out Republicans for pursuing Mayorkas potential impeachment. First of all, I want to make clear that this is an oversight hearing, not an impeachment hearing, said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas. This is a hearing to address the questions of the work that has been done, and so to that end, just as a factual basis, there has been a lot of hollering about the entry on the border, operational control. Story continues The hearing comes as House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, a Republican from Tennessee, has launched a five-phased investigation into Mayorkas. GOP Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado, a former federal prosecutor and member of the hardline Freedom Caucus, has said he does not believe the criticisms of Mayorkas have raised to the bar of high crimes or misdemeanors at this point until he sees more evidence. Bucks comments highlight that despite the public pressure to launch impeachment proceedings into Mayorkas, key holdouts remain, even from those who serve on the Judiciary panel who would be responsible for overseeing the effort. Its an example of the uphill battle within the Republican conference to build consensus on impeachment. Still, Buck sharply criticized Mayorkas at Wednesdays hearing over the departments handling of fentanyl trafficking. When people die of fentanyl poisoning, it is your fault, he said. Mayorkas responded, saying, Congressman, we grieve the loss of any life as a result of the toxicity of the devastation of fentanyl. The challenge of fentanyl is not new. It has been escalating for more than five years. This is a scourge that all of us have to work together to combat and we in the Department of Homeland Security with our federal partners are taking it to the traffickers to an unprecedented degree through innovative operations targeting criminals, he added. The handling of the US-Mexico border has been an ongoing point of contention between Republicans and President Joe Biden, whose administration has grappled with unprecedented migration in the Western hemisphere. While border crossings remain high, numbers dipped in June to the lowest monthly border encounters since February 2021. Administration officials have credited a series of measures taken on the US-Mexico border, as well as new policies, for the dramatic drop in border crossings. But the administrations actions have done little to quell concerns among Republicans who continue to seize on the issue. In a warning shot Tuesday, Jordan, an Ohio Republican, requested that Mayorkas be ready to provide data on border arrests and deportations, among a host of issues, in a letter to the DHS secretary. While the impeachment of Mayorkas was once thought of as inevitable, some members on the House Judiciary panel are still against pursuing the impeachment of the Homeland Security secretary. And House Republicans are starting to focus their efforts on pursing an impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden, particularly since House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has warmed to the idea. Its exceedingly rare for a Cabinet secretary to be impeached, something that has only happened once in US history when William Belknap, the secretary of war, was impeached by the House before being acquitted by the Senate in 1876. In the impeachment articles that have been filed, Republicans have accused Mayorkas of undermining the operational control of the southern border, encouraging illegal immigration and lying to Congress that the border was secure all charges that the administration has dismissed. But challenges remain for the administration as it escalates its feud with Gov. Greg Abbott over his operation on the Texas-Mexico border and as it faces a court ruling against a key immigration policy. On Monday, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the state for installing floating barriers in the Rio Grande without authorization. Border agents have historically worked closely with Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety. But the latest steps taken by the state have made day-to-day operations more difficult. DPS, for example, made certain portions of the Texas-Mexico border more difficult to access, marking a departure from the coordination that previously existed between law enforcement. Agents on the ground have also sent regular reports to CBP headquarters about what theyve observed as Abbotts operation has been underway, a Homeland Security official told CNN. And on Tuesday, a federal judge blocked Bidens controversial asylum policy, delivering a major blow to the administration, which has leaned on the measure to drive down border crossings. The judge put the ruling on hold for 14 days for a possible appeal. A Justice Department spokesperson told CNN that the department plans to appeal. This story and headline have been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Ownership of electric vehicles may be on the rise, but one Florida homeowner is still getting grief from his homeowners association about his new Rivian R1T. Weston Hills Country Club resident Glenn Gordon describes his surprise when he received a letter from his HOA telling him that his pickup is against community regulations and that he could not keep it parked in his driveway overnight, local news station WPLG reported. The neighborhood rules, which were reportedly written in the 1980s, stipulate that trucks, trailers, RVs, and commercial vehicles cannot be parked in the community overnight. The HOA says that Gordon has to park his pickup in his garage. If he fails to comply, he could face fines and penalties and even lose his home. But Gordon believes that the communitys rules are outdated and could hamper the neighborhoods desirability in the long run. Its a different world. Teslas coming out with cybertrucks, he points out. And it may hurt our home values, as the new vehicles come out. Were going to discourage people from buying in our community. Rivian currently has 100,000 backlogged orders that it is shipping off to customers. Thats up from a reported 1,000 vehicles made in January 2022. More drivers are opting for EVs than ever, with registrations in the U.S. increasing by 60% in the first half of 2020. President Biden wants 50% of the cars on U.S. roads to be electric by 2030. The number of electric vehicles sold in the U.S. has already tripled since he entered office. This would tackle the biggest source of harmful carbon pollution in the U.S. transportation. All this is to say that the Weston Hills Country Clubs stance on Gordons electric vehicle seems counterproductive, even if it is a pickup. A judge from a comparable case agreed. In 2021, another pickup truck driver successfully appealed against his HOA, which ended up having to pay $40,000 to cover the homeowners attorneys fees. Personal use pickup trucks do not carry the negative implication they might have 25 years ago, Broward County Judge Steven Shutter said. In no way could parking these vehicles interfere with the quiet enjoyment or the property value of the condominium residents. Story continues A version of the WPLG report posted on the stations YouTube channel largely drew support for Gordon and his ability to park his car in his driveway. I hope all HOAs take notice of this! There are many bylaws that need to be revised and made up to modern day standards, one user writes. What the HOA defines as a truck was probably intended as like a work truck with a box or panels on the back. Not a personal pickup truck. Antiquated HOA rules and too many Karens. Im rooting for the homeowner! another replies. I love the heart warming story of an H.O.A. having to pay $40k, said a third. I plan on telling this as a bed time story for years to come. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet. Circuit Court Judge Mark Rogers will retire from his 19-year-plus judicial career Aug. 31, he announced recently. "It was just time," Rogers said Monday. "I have enjoyed serving the citizens of Rutherford and Cannon counties in the 16th Judicial District, and I hope I made a positive difference." Mark Rogers Rogers is the last of a group of judges in Rutherford County who won or accepted appointment for their seats as Democrats before a majority of local voters by 2010 supported Republicans. He was able to keep his seat running for eight-year terms as an independent in 2014 and 2022. Rogers won 52.31% of the vote Aug. 4, 2022, against fellow independent Mike Jones. "Ive enjoyed serving and working with my fellow judges in the 16th Judicial District, as well," Rogers said. "I've enjoyed working with judges previously retired and those on the bench." Rogers plans to spend more time with his wife, Jean Anne Rogers, a recently retired optometrist, and their three daughters, two granddaughters and a third grandchild on the way. "I tried to make a difference and hope I did make a positive difference," Rogers said. Judge Rogers wins reelection: Election Day results show new leaders will serve Rutherford County, Murfreesboro, Smyrna Gov. Bill Lee will appoint replacement for Judge Rogers Rogers accepted his seat in 2004 from former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen to replace retired Circuit Court Judge Steve Daniel, who's now vice chairman of the Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center Oversight Board. Rogers held the judge seat as a Democrat in the 2006 election. Attorneys interested in replacing Rogers have until noon July 26 to apply with the Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission. The commission will conduct screening interviews with the applications starting at 9 a.m. Aug. 30 at the Rutherford County Courthouse in the center of Murfreesboro's downtown Public Square. The commission will choose three finalists for Republican Gov. Bill Lee to consider for appointment to the vacancy of Circuit Court judge seat for 16th District Division 1 seat. Story continues Voters in Aug. 1, 2024, election will decide who should serve in the judge seat for next six years. Those competing to replace Rogers include Jones, who ran for the seat in 2022, and fellow attorney Terry Fann. Judge Rogers presides over case involving former Sheriff Robert Arnold Rogers has been known for being "a really good note taker" with legal pads during hearings and trials to follow "the evidence thats presented," he confirmed. The retiring judge, for example, took notes while presiding over a case involving a dispute between former Republican Sheriff Robert Arnold and Bill Kennedy, who lost as a Democratic sheriff's nominee against Arnold in 2014. Kennedy had been a former sheriff's major who previously supervised school resource officers, including Arnold, prior to the former sheriff winning as a Republican in 2010. The legal issue involving the sheriff's office pertained to a building for a wrestling club founded by Kennedy on the Blackman Middle School campus. Rogers ruled that the wrestling club building raided by deputies working for Arnold was public property belonging to Rutherford County Schools. "Judge Rogers has always been a fine southern gentleman," Arnold said Monday. Legal issues: Convicted former Sheriff Robert Arnold asks Trump for pardon Attorneys praise legacy of Judge Rogers Rogers focused his court on civil cases, including complex medical malpractice lawsuits. Prior to becoming a judge, Rogers had a long history in serving as a lawyer representing personal injury and workers compensation cases, recalled Murfreesboro attorney Brad Hornsby. "I think hes a very honorable person," Hornsby said. "Hes very conscientious, and hes done a great job." Recently retired lawyer Gary Patton described Judge Rogers as having a good demeanor and temperament to preside over court. "Hes got a great judicial mind, and hes a fine person and a judge," Patton said. "Hes very well respected in the judicial community amongst all the lawyers." Fann, one of the attorneys competing to replace Rogers, agreed. "He always treated the parties fairly and with respect," Fann said. "He was very thorough and conscientious in applying the law." Court verdict: Mayor Ketron loses over $2M in age discrimination case filed by EMS head Rogers learned from being 'youngest of 13 children' Rogers as an attorney had law partnerships with Tom Reed, a former Murfreesboro city attorney; the late Larry Trail, a former state senator; and then with Lisa Eischeid before she became an elected General Sessions Court judge for Rutherford County. Reed suggested that Rogers learned skills that benefitted him as an attorney by growing up in a large family. "He had to learn to get along with folks at an early age because hes the youngest of 13 children," Reed said. "Hes one of the most congenial people I know. Lawyers are not known for being congenial as a rule, but Mark is and has been." Reed also praised Rogers for serving as an excellent volunteer president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association for a year spread over 1999-2000. "He is one of the most ethical, high moral people you would ever want to know," Reed said. Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @ScottBroden. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital. About retiring Judge Mark Rogers What court does he serve: Circuit Court 16th Judicial District Division I When did he become judge: 2004 How did he become judge: accepted appointment from former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen Elections won by judge: 2006 as a Democrat, and 2014 and 2022 as an independent When is his last day as judge before retiring: Aug. 31 Higher education degrees earned by Rogers: Middle Tennessee State University in 1974 and University of Tennessee College of Law in 1977 Sources: Rutherford County Election Commission and Tennessee Court records This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Circuit Court Judge Mark Rogers will retire at end of August Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis is talking up the prospect of Democrat and Joe Biden rival Robert Kennedy, Jr., serving in his administration. In a new interview with right-wing commentator Clay Travis, DeSantis was asked whether hed consider the anti-vax conspiracy theorist Kennedy as a running mate. DeSantis, who has campaigned vigorously (and fecklessly) to appeal to vaccine skeptics, downplayed that idea, arguing that the Democrat was averse to our base on 70 percent of the issues. But the Florida governor was warm to Kennedy serving in the Cabinet, because Kennedys stance on the medical stuff, DeSantis said, does appeal to me. DeSantis lofted the idea that Kennedy could serve as his administrations attack dog, battling the nations top health agencies. Sic him on the FDA, if hed be willing to serve, DeSantis said. Or sic him on CDC. Curiously, the Florida governor is not the only Republican talking up Kennedy this week. Roger Stone, the notorious GOP dirty trickster pardoned by Trump, also argued in his most recent podcast that Kennedy deserves consideration for a Cabinet pick in a future Trump administration. Stone floated the idea of a Cabinet post for Kennedy during Tuesdays episode of his podcast, The StoneZone. Stone recalled the Democratic candidates own comments during a Fox News appearance with Laura Ingraham, in which Kennedy I would have to think about that, adding he would not reject that out of hand and suggesting he could do a lot of good for the public at an agency like the Department of Health and Human Services. I understand political speak pretty well, Stone argued. In politics, to me, that means yes. Stone pointed to a long tradition of having a bi-partisan Cabinet, including by Kennedys uncle, John F. Kennedy, who appointed a Republican a treasury secretary. Why would Trump consider it? Stone praised Kennedys Democratic presidential bid as a boon to the GOP frontrunner. I believe that this entire movement could inure to the benefit of Donald Trump, Stone argued, if there are disaffected Democrats and independents who at the end of the day are unhappy with the treatment that Robert Kennedy has received. Story continues The GOP hatchetman argued that many of those traditional Democratic constituencies are receptive to [Kennedys] message of hope and national unity, adding: I really subscribe to what hes said. Its time to end this toxic environment in our politics. Im tired of being attacked. Stone also touted Kennedys impact on Trumps campaign during a Sunday call with Pastors For Trump, the evangelical group backing Trumps 2024 bid. Everything hes doing, Stone said of Kennedy, will benefit Trump. Stone spoke in a more familiar and divisive tone on Sunday than he did on his podcast, insisting that secular Democrats are satanic and portraying the 2024 campaign as a struggle between evil and good and between the godly and the godless. In this context, Stone spoke of Kennedy as an ally, insisting he is mounting a very serious challenge to the same globalist forces that Trump targets. I dont think he will be successful, because I dont think they will let him be successful, Stone said, conspiratorially. But I do think that everything hes doing all the important issues he is raising will end up inuring to the benefit of Donald Trump. The Kennedy campaign did not immediately return a request for comment. The anti-vax crusader is running as a Democrat, but has declined to say whether hed endorse the incumbent if his longshot bid fails to unseat President Biden More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Correction: An initial version of this story understated the total cost of submarine industrial base investments in the House NDAA. That value is $735 million. WASHINGTON The House on Wednesday advanced a series of authorizations needed to implement the trilateral AUKUS agreement, meant to enable the U.S. and U.K. to help Australia obtain its own nuclear-powered submarine fleet as the three countries simultaneously deepen cooperation on disruptive and emerging technologies. The House Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously advanced an authorization to sell up to two nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines to Australia despite consternation from some lawmakers about industrys capacity to meet production goals. But authorizations to give Britain and Australia a broad, general exemption to a key U.S. export control regime ran into Democratic opposition, prompting Republicans on the committee to advance the legislation along party lines. The U.K. and Australia have pushed for a blanket export control exemption, arguing its necessary to better facilitate AUKUS cooperation on advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing and hypersonic weapons. They need these exemptions to move at a faster pace because its too slow, and its critical right now given the threat from China, McCaul told Defense News ahead of the vote. And the nuclear sub, thats the one thing the Chinese dont have us beat on. Weve got superiority with the nuclear sub. So getting that moving is hugely important for deterrence reasons. The submarine transfer bill, introduced by Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., authorizes the sale of two Virginia-class vessels to Australia so long as the president certifies that doing so will not impact U.S. underseas operational requirements and that the industrial base can maintain submarine production requirements. The Navy seeks to build two Virginia-class attack submarines and one Columbia-class ballistic submarine per year, though industry is currently only producing approximately 1.2 Virginia-class vessels per year. Under the AUKUS roadmap unveiled in May, Australia will buy at least three and as many as five Virginia-class submarines from the Navy in the 2030s, either newly built or used. Story continues The submarine capacity debate in the Senate has complicated passage of AUKUS authorizations as amendments to the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. The Pentagon in May asked Congress to attach the submarine transfer authorizations to the NDAA. Australia has agreed to invest $3 billion in the U.S. submarine industrial base as part of AUKUS, and the Huizenga bill advanced by the House Foreign Affairs Committee also authorizes the Pentagon to accept those payments from Canberra. Additionally, it authorizes private-sector Australian employees to begin training in nuclear-powered submarine work. The stricken fast-attack submarine Connecticut returns to the dry dock on July 12 following Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington, upgrades that officials say will allow the facility to better withstand a catastrophic earthquake. (Navy) The Senate is currently debating the NDAA, but Politico reported last week that Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., is holding up the AUKUS amendments unless Congress injects additional funding into the submarine industrial base. Wicker is the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee. Wickers office confirmed the hold on Wednesday, but told Defense News it does not apply to training Australian personnel or export control waivers. His hold applies to the submarine transfer provision and the language allowing the U.S. to accept Australian investments in the submarine industrial base. President Biden should immediately send Congress a request for supplemental appropriations and authorities including a detailed implementation plan that increases U.S. submarine production to 2.5 Virginia-class attack submarines a year, Wicker wrote in a July Wall Street Journal op-ed. It is time to make generational investments in U.S. submarine production capacity that include supplier and workforce development initiatives. The Houses FY24 NDAA invests $735 million in the submarine industrial base, and the Senate version authorizes multiyear procurement for the Navy to procure the next block of 10 Virginia-class submarines. The Senate bill also includes a nonbinding provision calling for additional defense spending beyond the $886 billion top line agreed to in the debt ceiling compromise. Wicker wants the additional submarine funding in a supplemental defense spending bill Senate leaders agreed to take up later this year to secure the debt ceiling vote, despite opposition from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. A faster pace Two other bills advanced by the House Foreign Affairs Committee would give both Britain and Australia a blanket exemption to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, or ITAR. The committee voted 25-22 to advance a bill from Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., that would give Australia a blanket exemption to ITAR a privilege currently only enjoyed by Canada. It voted 26-23 to advance another bill from Rep. Thomas Keane, R-N.J., to extend that same exemption to Britain. A June legislative proposal from the State Department, seen by Defense News, asked Congress to give Australia and Britain the ITAR exemptions only if the two countries implement their own export control regimes that are at least comparable to those administered by the United States. Democrats on the committee sided with the State Department and Pentagon, opposing exemptions that do not require Australia and the U.K. to first tighten their export control laws. Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the committee, noted the Biden administration is pushing both countries to do just that, and argued the legislation would undermine those efforts by mandating premature exemptions. The [Peoples Republic of China] focuses significant personnel and resources on surveilling, stealing, capturing or otherwise gaining an advantage over the United States and our allies, Meeks said ahead of the vote. The targeting of Australian defense industry insiders and experts has increased since AUKUS announcement. The U.K. faces similar intelligence threats. The Senates AUKUS bill, introduced by Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Menendez, D-N.J., exempts Australia and Britain from certain ITAR licensing requirements, but stops short of the blanket exemption in the House bills. McCaul said theres too much bureaucracy within the ITAR system and argued both countries need the exemptions to move at a faster pace in developing advanced defense technologies to counter China. Republicans and Democrats compromised to advance a fourth bill from McCaul that would require the State Department to establish a senior AUKUS adviser. McCaul agreed to remove additional language on ITAR exemptions from his bill to secure support from Democrats. The Senate NDAA also includes a provision that would require a senior Pentagon official to coordinate AUKUS activities within the Defense Department. McCaul said he hopes Congress will add the four AUKUS bills when the House and Senate convene a conference committee later this year to draft a final NDAA. Ive already gotten texts from the Australian ambassador, prime minister and the U.K. secretary of defense thanking us for moving this forward, McCaul told Defense News. Three retired military veterans testified Wednesday at a House hearing on unidentified anomalous phenomena commonly known as UFOs warning that the sightings are a national security problem and that the government has been too secretive about them. A House Oversight subcommittee convened Wednesdays hearing on UFOs, as the lawmakers who pushed for the hearing are calling for the government to be more forthcoming about the unidentified anomalous phenomena. If UAP are foreign drones, it is an urgent national security problem. If it is something else, it is an issue for science. In either case, unidentified objects are a concern for flight safety, said Ryan Graves, a former Navy pilot who now runs Americans for Safe Aerospace, a group he founded to encourage pilots to report incidents of UAPs. The government characterizes the unexplained sightings as UAPs and has released reports on the cases in recent years. Some of them still have not been explained, while others have been attributed to balloon or balloon-entities, as well as drones, birds, weather events or airborne debris like plastic bags. Graves and David Fravor, a retired US Navy commander, both testified about their own sightings of UAPs while they were serving in the military. David Grusch, a former Air Force intelligence officer, alleged that the government has covered up its research into the unidentified sightings and said he reported information to the intelligence community inspector general. The technology that we faced was far superior than anything that we had, Fravor said of the episode he witnessed in 2004, when asked why UAPs are a national security threat. The hearing is the latest push by lawmakers, intelligence officials and military personnel working on unexplained aerial phenomena to probe the issue on a national platform. This is an issue of government transparency, said Rep. Tim Burchett, a Tennessee Republican who pushed to hold Wednesdays hearing. Were not bringing little green men or flying saucers into the hearing. Were just going to get to the facts. Were going to uncover the cover up, and I hope this is just the beginning of many more hearings. Story continues No government officials testified at Wednesdays hearing. In April, Sean Kirkpatrick, the director of the Pentagons All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, which Congress created to focus on UAPs, told a Senate subcommittee the US government was tracking 650 potential cases of unidentified aerial phenomena, playing video from two of the episodes. Kirkpatrick emphasized there was no evidence of extraterrestrial life and that his office found no credible evidence of objects that defy the known laws of physics. Lawmakers have pressed the Department of Defense on the sightings, describing them as potential national security threats. UAPs, whatever they be, may pose a serious threat to our military and our civilian aircraft, and that must be understood, Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia of California said. We should encourage more reporting, not less on UAPs. The more we understand, the safer we will be. Both Garcia and Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Florida Democrat, said that it was important for Congress to work on the issue in a bipartisan manner in order to press for more government transparency. Many Americans are deeply interested in this issue, and it shouldnt take the potential of nonhuman origin to bring us together, Moskowitz said. Grusch claimed that the US government not only has UAPs in its possession but also the remains of the allegedly non-human pilots of the aircraft. However, when he was pressed, he made it clear this was what he has been told by others, and he did not have firsthand information. Thats something Ive not witnessed myself, he said. Grusch told the panel he could provide a list of cooperative and hostile witnesses who could provide Congress with more information about the programs related to UAPs. Grusch said that he had reported his allegations as a whistleblower to the Intelligence Community inspector general. A spokesperson for the office of the Intelligence Community inspector general declined to comment. The witnesses, as well as several lawmakers, complained that information related to the unidentified sightings was overly classified by the US government. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican, said that he sought information about an incident he was told about from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Gaetz said when he went to Eglin, he was initially denied but eventually shown an image of the episode, of which, he claimed: I am not able to attach to any human capability, either from the United States or from any of our adversaries. Graves said that a stigma remains for both commercial and military pilots when it comes to reporting UAP incidents. Right now we need a system where pilots can report without fear of losing their jobs, Graves said. There is a fear that the stigma related to this topic is going to lead to professional repercussions either through management or through their yearly physical check. Last year, the House Intelligence Committee held the first congressional hearing on UAPs in decades, and Kirkpatricks testimony was the first Senate hearing on the matter in recent memory. Of the 650 cases the government is tracking, Kirkpatrick said, Weve prioritized about half of them to be of anomalous interesting value, and now we have to go through those and go How much of those do I have actual data for? This story and headline have been updated with additional developments. CNNs Noah Gray, Saba Haroon, Gregory Wallace, Ashley Strickland, Abby Baggini and Clare Foran contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Hun Sen seized control in a bloody 1997 coup, a year before the death of Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot (DAVID VAN DER VEEN) Asia's longest-serving leader Hun Sen outlasted the murderous Khmer Rouge, sidelined the monarchy and extinguished any glimmer of multiparty democracy during his nearly 40-year reign over Cambodia. The 70-year-old announced on Wednesday that he was stepping down and handing power to his eldest son, Hun Manet, in dynastic succession reminiscent of North Korea. Through state-sponsored violence, repression, attacks on free speech and politicising the courts, Hun Sen managed to eliminate virtually all opposition during his stint as prime minister. His ever-widening patronage system meanwhile forged a class of loyal elites in the country of 16 million, which he likes to claim responsibility for lifting out of post-genocidal poverty. Hun Sen's unstinting grip on Cambodia put him among a small coterie of world leaders in power for more than three decades: a club that also includes Equatorial Guinea's Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Cameroon's Paul Biya and Iran's Ali Khamenei. Ever the wily operator, he played off tensions between the United States and China to rake in huge sums in Chinese investment that allowed him to ease reliance on the critical West. Before he was Cambodia's long-serving prime minister, Hun Sen was a cadre in the Khmer Rouge, an ultra-Maoist organisation that overthrew the US-backed government of Lon Nol and killed an estimated quarter of the population from 1975 to 1979. But to escape ever-deeper purges he defected to Vietnam, returning as their army toppled the Khmer Rouge and taking credit as Cambodia's saviour. The ambitious former fighter was installed as prime minister in 1985, aged just 32. - Crushing the opposition - Hun Sen lost the first election he contested in 1993, with the UN-sponsored vote meant to usher in a new era of democracy after the mass atrocities and civil war. But he seized control in a bloody 1997 coup, a year before the death of Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot. Story continues His party won every election from 1998 onwards, including most recently Sunday's -- a vote that was widely dubbed a sham by international observers and described by the United States as "neither free nor fair". The most serious political challenge Hun Sen faced was mounted by the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP). Formed in 2012, the CNRP capitalised on the diaspora's hunger for change and the young domestic population's frustrations with corruption. The generation born after the Khmer Rouge had no memory of the horrors Hun Sen would typically evoke in long speeches riddled with warnings that without him Cambodia would crumble. The CNRP won more than 44 percent of the vote in 2013 and almost the same in local elections in 2017. But their emerging threat was quickly snuffed, out with the courts dissolving the party and convicting its figureheads. Opposition leader Kem Sokha remains under house arrest, serving 27 years for treason, while self-exiled Sam Rainsy has been in France since 2015 to avoid jail on a number of convictions he says are politically motivated. Since then, Hun Sen has presided over what has effectively become a one-party state, with all 125 seats in the National Assembly currently occupied by his Cambodian People's Party (CPP). The latest democratic challenger was crushed in May, when the Candlelight Party was disqualified from running, though a small CPP-friendly royalist party is on track to win five seats. bur-lb/pdw/dva Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, exits federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Credit - Hannah BeierBloomberg/Getty Images This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox. When Hunter Biden walked into a squat concrete federal courthouse in Wilmington, Del., Wednesday, he thought he had a deal with prosecutors that would help him turn the page on his troubled past. In exchange for paying back two years of delinquent and sloppy income taxes, going to an addiction counseling program, staying clean for two years, and not owning guns, hed get lenient terms from the justice system for tax violations. Biden had already paid a $100,000 tax bill back in 2021, and he is no stranger to counseling, having been in and out of rehab more times than he cared to tally in his memoir about addiction. A gun he owned had already been taken from him by his romantic partner at the time, clearing that up for him albeit complicating matters when it went missing. But when youre a Biden, nothing is ever that easy. And when youre Hunter Biden, its doubly complicated. Even that courthouse where Hunter Biden tried to take responsibility was named for the three-term Senate incumbent his father ousted back in 1972. In Delaware, being a Biden is everything. And having profited from the family name for much of his life, Hunter Biden is now finding it hard to escape it. What was expected to be a routine proceeding stretched more than three hours. Federal Judge Maryellen Noreika seemed uneasy about the terms the parties had agreed to. The deal mentioned the potential gun crimenamely, that Hunter Biden lied on a form when he said he was not using drugs when he bought itbut didnt charge him or explicitly condition the plea on it. More From TIME Noreika also poked enough to reveal a misunderstanding between the prosecutors and defense about whether this closed the door on future cases involving firearms, Hunter Bidens business dealings, or his potential foreign lobbying. Bidens lawyers thought so, but prosecutors didnt share that view. Frustrated with the holes being poked in their deal, Bidens lead lawyer sniped across the courtroom to his government counterpart: Just rip it up. Story continues When Noreika asked prosecutor Leo Wise if he knew of any precedent for such an open-ended immunity in perpetuity, he was candid: No, your honor. At one point, Hunter Biden sat alone at the defense table while his lawyers, the government, and the judge all talked about his fate without him in earshot. It was about as perfect a snapshot of life as Hunter Biden as you could imagine. Ever since his mother and sister died in a car crash days before he turned three years old, Hunter Biden has been in the center of an ever-unfurling tragedy that is the Biden political mythology in Delaware. When Joe Biden defeated Cale Boggs in 1972, the Biden clan guaranteed its place in the state history books alongside the likes of the du Ponts. (The Bidens even bought a dilapidated du Pont estate they could ill-afford just to hammer home the point of a dynasty in the making.) Fast forward to today. Hunter Biden is nominally a private citizen, a former bank exec, Commerce Department aide, Amtrak vice chairman, and hedge funder. Hes also the son of a 36-year Senate insider, an eight-year Vice President, and the incumbent Commander in Chief. Hunter Bidens consulting services drew millions to his familys bank account, stood to make him rich, and give him a measure of independence from his broader family that can be overwhelming with its unconditional love and endless scrutiny. But Hunter Bidens professional resume masks a darker CV. He was booted from the Navy for testing positive for cocaine in 2014. He is a recovering crack addict who has been painfully open about his struggles. At one point, his drug dealer moved into his Logan Circle condo so he had constant access to his supplier. He fathered, with a former assistant at his consulting firm, a child no one in his family has ever met. His divorce papers from his first wife allege tons of debt on drugs and prostitutes. He knew his current wife just six days before getting hitched. Hunter Bidens efforts to stand on his own drew scrutiny and derision alike for lucrative consulting fees with foreign companies, including a Ukrainian energy company that paid him more than $80,000 a month to serve on their board. Little wonder hes looking to move on. Republicans have come to see Hunter Biden as an easy proxy for their ongoing political pursuit of his father. Hunter Bidens work in Ukraine is what keeps House Republicans drooling about its drag on President Joe Bidens re-election bid. An unverified claim that the Bidens pushed for a $10 million payout from a Ukrainian oligarch is catnip for conservatives. Nebulous, billion-dollar allegations about China hang out there, too, without evidence. Convinced that Joe Biden is also on the take from foreign governments, House Republicans are moving aheadwith mixed enthusiasmpotential impeachment proceedings against the President. House Republicans even went so far this week as to ask Noreika, the judge reviewing Hunter Bidens plea agreement, to hold off until they could rustle up more evidence why he should face bigger charges. It was merely the latest reminder that as much as Hunter Biden looked to move beyond his past, there was no chance of that. Especially not with the hyper scrutiny of a plea deal sending it crashing, both sides scrambling for hours to find some agreement on a revised effort, and an entire political party trying to sink it. Whistleblowers are alleging the Justice Department pumped the brakes on the investigation, slow-walked subpoenas, and blocked felony charges. House oversight chiefs are even going back through records to make his divorce even more acrimonious in hindsight. Complicating matters even further, Hunter Bidens former business partner Devon Archer is set to meet behind closed doors with House investigators next week. The New York Post is reporting Archer will tell House lawmakers that the younger Biden put the elder one on speaker phone with their business associates at least two dozen times, lending their consultancy the prestige of the then-Vice President. Five years of a federal probe later, Hunter Biden is ever-so-slightly closer to putting his legal woes behind him. Judge Noreika seemed to remain open to the deal with some more details fleshed out. Im not in a position to accept or reject it. I need to defer, she said before sending the parties home to hash out more explicit terms. But his political haunting is far from over. With 15 months before Election Day 2024, its smart betting that Republicans will keep lashing Hunter Biden at every chance they can summon. No matter how much Hunter Biden would prefer to put his past misdeeds behind him, he can never escape the shadow of his family. Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the D.C. Brief newsletter. Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com. A plea agreement between federal prosecutors and Hunter Biden fell apart Wednesday after the judge refused to sign off on a deal that would have seen the president's son enter guilty pleas to two misdemeanor tax charges and enter a diversion program in lieu of pleading guilty to a felony gun possession count. After the deal collapsed, Hunter Biden entered a not guilty plea. The judge, Maryellen Noreika, deferred the decision on the plea deal, saying "you are telling me to rubber stamp the agreement." The parties have 14 days to brief her and the ruling could now be delayed for weeks. Earlier in the hearing, Noreika questioned Biden on topics ranging from his history of addiction to his business ventures, both foreign and domestic. Biden, in a blue suit, white shirt and a dark tie, appeared visibly frustrated as Noreika deferred the agreement. U.S. Attorney David Weiss was present in the courtroom gallery, directly behind the prosecution team. When Hunter Biden arrived, he shook hands with each prosecutor, and waved to Weiss. Soon after the hearing began, Noreika said she was confused by the deal's diversion agreement, which called for Biden to remain drug-free without committing additional crimes in order to see the gun charge dismissed. While the defense lawyers and prosecutors wanted to keep that agreement separate from the tax matters, Noreika wanted to know if it was all part of a "package deal." Biden acknowledged that without the provisions of the diversion deal he would not be pleading guilty. After the deal appeared to break down, the prosecutors and defense attorneys took three separate breaks to huddle and discuss ways forward. Inside the courtroom, Hunter Biden's attorney, Christopher Clark, at one point blurted out: "This was all negotiated!" "I don't know what you're trying to accomplish," Clark said, speaking to prosecutors. "We'll rip it up!" Story continues The effort was, in essence, high-stakes negotiation in real time, with a federal judge and a gallery full of reporters standing by. It failed. Both sides had motivation to reach an agreement. For Hunter Biden, this was a chance to close the books on a tax investigation that has been hanging over him for years. For prosecutors, the deal avoided the risks of trying a case in Biden-friendly Delaware, against a defendant who failed to file taxes while in the throes of addiction. The judge acknowledged the day's events had thrown the case a "curveball." "I have concerns about the agreement," Noreika said. "I can't let him plea to something if he thinks he has protection from something and he doesn't." The president's son had previously agreed to enter guilty pleas on the counts of willful failure to pay income tax, and admit to felony gun possession. Under the original agreement, it was unlikely the president's son would face prison time, which had angered Republicans. Clark called the deal "null and void" after a prosecutor told the judge that Hunter Biden isn't immune from future charges in the investigation, including potential counts under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said as the hearing was wrapping up that "the president, the first lady, they love their son and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life." "This case was handled independently, as all of you know, by the Justice Department under the leadership of a prosecutor appointed by the former president, President Trump," Jean-Pierre said. "So for anything further, as you know and we've been very consistent from here, I'd refer you to the Department of Justice and to Hunter's representatives who is his legal team obviously, who can address any of your questions." What is Hunter Biden charged with and what was the plea deal? Hunter Biden is charged with two misdemeanor tax offenses and a felony firearm offense. The deal prior to Wednesday's court session included an acknowledgement that drug use was a contributing factor in his gun possession charge. A source with knowledge of the agreement said the diversion plan was expected to mean that for two years, Hunter Biden would have had to remain drug-free without committing additional crimes. If he fulfilled that successfully, the gun count would have been dismissed without a guilty plea. The two misdemeanor tax charges relate to Hunter Biden's alleged willful failure to pay taxes for 2017 and 2018. A filing indicates that he earned more than $1.5 million in income each year. He has since fully repaid back taxes and fines, including $2 million reportedly paid to the federal government last year, with the help of a loan from his personal attorney. The felony gun charge relates to alleged possession of a handgun by a drug user in 2018. The filing identifies the gun as a Colt Cobra 38SPL, and Weiss said in a statement that Hunter Biden had it for 11 days in October 2018. Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, arrives for a court appearance on July 26, 2023, in Wilmington, Delaware. / Credit: Julio Cortez / AP Who is Judge Maryellen Noreika? Noreika was confirmed for her post in 2018 after being nominated by Republican former President Donald Trump in 2017. Her nomination was supported by Delaware's two Democratic senators, Tom Carper and Christopher Coons. She previously worked in patent litigation for a Wilmington, Delaware law firm. In March, Noreika dismissed part of a defamation lawsuit filed by a Delaware computer repair shop owner who claims Hunter Biden left his laptop in the store in 2019. She dismissed claims in the suit made against Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, and determined that allegations against others, including Hunter Biden, would be handled by Delaware civil courts. What has the reaction been from Republicans? The plea hearing came amid intense scrutiny from Republicans in Congress, who have raised questions about how the case was handled and whether Hunter Biden received special treatment or leniency. In an unusual move, House Republicans had submitted a court filing on the eve of the hearing, asking the judge to consider recent statements from two IRS officials who worked on the case. On July 19, the two IRS whistleblowers testified to the House Oversight Committee about the tax probe. Joseph Ziegler, the tax agency's lead case agent in the investigation, described himself as a Democrat and said he recommended prosecutors charge Hunter Biden with multiple felonies and misdemeanors in 2021. Ziegler said he believed evidence showed Hunter Biden had improperly claimed business deductions for a number of personal expenses, including his children's college tuition, hotel bills and payments to escorts, but that their efforts to investigate further were stymied. "When you're prevented from going down certain roads, I guess I don't know what could have been found if we were not hamstrung or not handcuffed," Ziegler said last week in an interview with CBS News. Republican Jason Smith, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, filed a brief with the court Wednesday asking the judge to consider the IRS whistleblowers' testimony when deciding whether to approve the agreement. Clark urged the court to disregard Smith's filing, saying in a letter that Smith had no standing to file and was attempting to introduce "grand jury secret information and confidential taxpayer information" into the public record. "In addition, you have not identified (nor could you identify) any legal basis for your attempt to intervene as amicus in tomorrow's proceeding," Clark wrote. Clark said in a July 19 statement to CBS News that "any suggestion the investigation was not thorough, or cut corners, or cut my client any slack, is preposterous and deeply irresponsible." "The [Justice Department] investigation covered a period which was a time of turmoil and addiction for my client. Any verifiable words or actions of my client, in the midst of a horrible addiction, are solely his own and have no connection to anyone in his family," Clark said. The judge is likely to read and consider briefs filed in the case by outside parties, but is unlikely to be influenced by other outside factors like media coverage and politics, according to former Justice Department official Thomas Dupree. "They're aware of outside events. They won't turn a blind eye to it, but it would be unusual for a judge basically to say ... either just in my own investigation or by things I've seen on TV or in the papers, I have some questions," Dupree said in an interview with CBS News. Noreika on Wednesday asked questions early on in the hearing about the outside claims that the investigation was insufficient but prosecutors and Clark said they did not see evidence of that. Biden's lawyers said those concerns would be resolved in the "political process." Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, chair of the Republican-led House Oversight Committee which is investigating the Biden family's business dealings told reporters Wednesday that the collapse of the plea deal "doesn't impact my investigation because the Department of Justice, FBI, haven't done a darn thing to help me." What have the White House and Justice Department been saying? The White House and Justice Department have denied any political interference in the probe. "President Biden has made clear that this matter would be handled independently by the Justice Department, under the leadership of a U.S. attorney appointed by former President Trump, free from any political interference by the White House," the White House said in a statement shared previously. "He has upheld that commitment." Weiss has also pushed back against Republican claims his investigation had been impeded, stating in a letter last month that he had ultimate authority on these matters and was "never denied the authority to bring charges in any jurisdiction." On Monday, the Justice Department sent a letter to lawmakers stating that Weiss will be able to testify before Congress to answer their questions and address what they say are "misrepresentations" about their work in the Biden probe "...that could unduly harm public confidence in the evenhanded administration of justice, to which we are dedicated." From the start, the effort to dissect the business dealings of a man whose father served as a senior U.S. senator, vice president, and candidate for the presidency, faced unusual challenges. The investigation unfolded as Hunter Biden became the subject of repeated political attacks from the right, including the leaking of his laptop computer into the public sphere, and continued as Hunter Biden waged a counter-offensive, filing civil lawsuits against his political critics. At an event in California the day the plea deal was first announced, President Biden responded to questions about Hunter Biden by saying, "I am very proud of my son." Midwest hit with extreme weather Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes: Investigating medically unexplained cures | 60 Minutes The largest offshore wind farm in the world | 60 Minutes An agreement expected to see US President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, plead guilty to tax charges and admit a gun offence has dramatically fallen apart in court. The plea deal, negotiated over several weeks, was likely to spare the younger Mr Biden prison time. But a judge on Wednesday said she could not "rubber stamp the agreement". The case marks the first time the justice department has charged the child of a sitting president. Hunter Biden's lawyers have been given 14 days to hash out a new deal with the prosecution. It follows a five-year investigation into the finances of the US first son, who arrived on Wednesday morning at the court in Wilmington, Delaware. In a plea agreement announced last month, he was to be charged with two misdemeanour counts for failing to pay his taxes on time in 2017 and 2018. He was also to admit that he had illegally possessed a gun while being a drug user, and agree to drug treatment and monitoring in lieu of a more serious felony charge and possible jail time. But during the three-hour hearing, US District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika questioned whether the deal would also provide Hunter Biden with immunity from crimes he could be found liable for in the future. She said the agreement contained "non-standard terms" and its proposed resolution for the gun possession offence was "unusual". Officials with the justice department are still investigating whether Hunter Biden violated federal laws that required him to register as a foreign agent while working in China and Ukraine during his father's vice-presidency, CNN reported. Legal teams for both sides were seen negotiating in full view of reporters inside the court in an effort to salvage the plea deal or carve out a narrower agreement. But the hearing ended with Judge Noreika, a Trump appointee, declining to sign the deal. She gave the two parties a fortnight to reach a new agreement and brief her. Story continues Hunter Biden, who initially offered to enter a guilty plea, ended by pleading not guilty for the timebeing. In a statement on Wednesday, the White House said the president and first lady "love their son and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life". "Hunter Biden is a private citizen and this was a personal matter for him," said press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Republicans zone in on Hunter allegations Congressional Republicans allege Hunter Biden was offered a "sweetheart deal" The misdemeanour tax counts are minor charges compared to the more serious allegations against Hunter that congressional Republicans have introduced in committee hearings. Republicans allege that he was offered an unusually lenient plea deal because he is the president's son. The House of Representatives Oversight Committee has already heard testimony from a whistleblower who claimed the justice department had deliberately stalled the tax investigation. That is denied by the US Attorney for Delaware, David Weiss, who led the investigation. Mr Weiss was appointed by former President Donald Trump and left in place by the Biden administration to finish the investigation into Hunter. He has offered to testify in front of Congress to address criticism of the inquiry. Republicans, who are examining various allegations against Hunter Biden, have focused on a notorious laptop that he apparently abandoned in a computer repair shop in Delaware. The contents have been used to try to prove bribery and corruption against the president's son, and to attempt to connect his father to illegal business dealings. But Democrats say it is no coincidence that Republicans are attacking the justice system while Mr Trump faces two criminal indictments and may soon learn of charges against him in two more cases. Photograph: Shawn Thew/EPA Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, arrived in a Delaware courtroom on Wednesday morning expecting to finalize a plea agreement with federal prosecutors over two misdemeanor tax charges. Hours later, Hunter Biden unexpectedly pleaded not guilty to the charges after the judge overseeing the case expressed skepticism about the specifics of the proposed deal. The court adjourned on Wednesday afternoon without a clear path forward, and prosecutors plan to continue to hammer out the details of a potential deal in the coming weeks. Heres where the case stands so far: What has Hunter Biden been charged with? The office of the US attorney of Delaware, David Weiss, has been investigating Hunter Biden since 2018 over potential violations of tax and gun laws. Weiss, who was appointed by Donald Trump, announced last month that his office had reached an agreement with Hunter Biden in which the presidents son would plead guilty to two federal misdemeanor tax violations while entering a pre-trial diversion program on a separate felony gun charge. Related: Hunter Biden pleads not guilty as judge says she needs more time to review deal Would the deal have allowed Hunter Biden to avoid jail? Yes, prosecutors were expected to recommend two years of probation for Hunter Bidens tax violations. The pre-trial diversion program would have ultimately resulted in the gun charge being dropped, assuming Hunter Biden met certain terms laid out by prosecutors. The felony charge is otherwise punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Republicans had attacked the plea agreement as a sweetheart deal that reflected a double standard of justice, but legal experts note the charges brought against the presidents son are rarely prosecuted. What questions did the judge raise on Wednesday? The US district judge Maryellen Noreika, a Trump appointee, expressed concern about her role in enforcing the terms of the plea agreement struck between prosecutors and Hunter Bidens lawyers. Story continues It seems to me like you are saying just rubber stamp the agreement, Your Honor, Noreika said. This seems to me to be form over substance. Prosecutors and Hunter Bidens attorneys also clashed over whether the agreement would protect the presidents son from additional charges in the future. At one point, Weiss said the investigation into Hunter Biden was ongoing, but he would not share details on the inquiry. What happens next? Noreika gave prosecutors and Hunter Bidens defense team 30 days to further hash out the details of the agreement, and the court is expected to reconvene in the coming weeks to re-examine the case. It remains possible that Noreika will accept the plea deal at a future hearing, but she made clear she would not do so without more clarification about the details of the agreement. Has the White House weighed in on the news? The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, said on Wednesday afternoon that she had not yet spoken to the president about the latest news on his sons case. Hunter Biden is a private citizen, and this was a personal matter for him, Jean-Pierre said. As we have said, the president [and] the first lady, they love their son, and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life. This case was handled independently, as all of you know, by the justice department under the leadership of a prosecutor appointed by the former president. Jean-Pierre referred additional questions about the case to the Department of Justice and Hunter Bidens defense team. How did Republicans react to the development? Republicans celebrated the unexpected complication in Hunter Bidens case, and they called on Noreika to throw out the plea deal entirely. Today District Judge Noreika did the right thing by refusing to rubber-stamp Hunter Bidens sweetheart plea deal, said Congressman James Comer, the Republican chair of the House oversight committee. But lets be clear: Hunters sweetheart plea deal belongs in the trash. Comer pledged that the oversight committee would continue examining Hunter Biden and his business dealings, which have become a central focus of Republicans investigative work since they regained control of the House in January. Hunter Bidens plea deal involving tax and gun charges was put on hold Wednesday in a sudden twist that saw the judge presiding over the case questioning the parameters of the agreement reached with the Justice Department. Biden, 53, made his initial federal court appearance in Wilmington, Del., where he was expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of willful failure to pay income taxes as part of a deal announced last month with the Department of Justice (DOJ). The deal is now on hold after U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, a Trump appointee who is overseeing the case, reportedly raised concerns about the scope of Bidens immunity from any potential future charges. Court filings show Biden ended up pleading not guilty to the two tax crimes after Noreika gave the parties 30 days to explain why the deal, which she has to approve, should be accepted. Noreika had raised issues about a related deal in which Biden would agree to enter a pretrial diversion program in connection with a gun charge, according to AP. The charge of possessing a gun while being an unlawful user of a controlled substance normally would carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, but the program would enable Biden to avoid prosecution or pleading guilty if he follows certain conditions. Biden is now required to not possess a firearm, drink alcohol or use controlled substances, court filings indicate. Prosecutors last month announced a plea deal following a five-year investigation into the presidents son, which began before his fathers 2020 campaign. Wednesdays hearing was intended to formalize that agreement in front of the judge, but the three-hour, whirlwind proceeding left the future of Bidens criminal case unresolved. The AP reported Noreika questioned whether the deal would immunize Biden from future charges. Prosecutors, without revealing details, reportedly indicated at the hearing that Hunter Biden remains under active investigation. Story continues At one point during the hearing, Noreika reportedly gave the parties time to huddle about the issues during which the plea deal appeared to be in serious jeopardy. I think having you guys talk more makes sense, Noreika said, according to the AP. After raising the concerns, the judge ultimately put the deal on hold as she allowed the parties more time to respond in writing, court filings show. The tax charges are connected to Bidens alleged failure to pay income taxes on time in 2017 and 2018. Court documents indicate he did not pay taxes on time for at least $1.5 million in income he earned each year, creating a tax bill worth more than $100,000 each year. Biden reportedly paid off his tax liability in 2020. The gun charge stemmed from the presidents sons possession of a firearm in 2018 while he used crack cocaine. Biden denied drug use when applying to secure the gun. President Biden has repeatedly defended his son as Republicans pounce on his legal troubles. The White House has consistently distanced itself from the case. The GOP previously attacked the plea agreement as a sweetheart deal, arguing it shows unequal justice for Republicans and Democrats. An attorney for House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) on Tuesday sought to file a longshot amicus brief with the court that urged the judge to consider information from two IRS whistleblowers who recently testified before Congress before accepting the plea deal. The whistleblowers, special agent Joseph Ziegler and his supervisor, Gary Shapley, testified that the Justice Department showed preferential treatment to Biden and slow-walked the prosecution. Republicans have in particular honed in on Shapleys testimony that U.S. Attorney for Delaware David Weiss, a Trump appointee who has overseen the Hunter Biden case, was denied special counsel status to bring charges in other districts. Both Weiss and Attorney General Merrick Garland have denied the account. Wednesdays hearing also followed a series of last-minute, bizarre developments in which the judge accused a member of Bidens legal team of misrepresenting themselves to the clerks office. An administrative staff member at a law firm representing Biden had called the clerks office raising concerns about alleged social security information and other private details contained in the brief filed by Smith, the Ways and Means Committee chairman, on the public court docket. The judge said the staff member had gotten it removed by pretending to be associated with the law firm representing Smith, threatening sanctions. But Bidens team on Tuesday night said the incident was a misunderstanding, claiming the staff member had never misrepresented themselves. There is no indication the matter was raised at Wednesdays hearing. Updated at 5:31 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WILMINGTON, Del. President Joe Bidens son Hunter's plea deal on two tax charges fell apart on Wednesday, at least temporarily, after the federal judge hearing his case expressed concern over a related agreement on a more serious gun possession charge. The outcome leaves in jeopardy the yearslong investigation into Hunter Bidens business dealings. He had been charged with two misdemeanor tax crimes of failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes from over $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018, and he made an agreement with prosecutors, who were planning to recommend two years of probation. Last month, Biden was charged with possession of a firearm by a person who is a known drug user, a felony. He had a Colt Cobra .38 Special for 11 days in October 2018. He agreed to enter into a diversion agreement, which means that he would not technically plead guilty to the crime. As long as he adhered to the terms of his agreement, the case would be wiped from his record. If not, the deal would be withdrawn. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, said she was concerned about the language in the diversion agreement, which contained details about not prosecuting Biden for tax crimes in the future. She suggested the lawyers get back together and discuss it. I think having you guys talk more makes sense, she said to the attorneys. It wasn't immediately clear whether the lawyers could resolve the case Wednesday, or whether they would have to go back into more discussions. The deal was meant to clear the air for Hunter Biden and avert a trial that would have generated weeks or months of distracting headlines. But the politics remain as messy as ever, with Republicans insisting he got a sweetheart deal and the Justice Department pressing ahead on investigations into Trump, the GOP's 2024 presidential primary front-runner. Story continues Trump is already facing a state criminal case in New York and a federal indictment in Florida. But last week, a target letter was sent to Trump from special counsel Jack Smith that suggests the former president may soon be indicted on new federal charges, this time involving his struggle to cling to power after his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. Republicans claim a double standard, in which the president's son got off easy while the president's rival has been unfairly castigated. Congressional Republicans are pursuing their own investigations into nearly every facet of Hunter Biden's dealings, including foreign payments. On Tuesday, a dustup arose after Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee filed court documents urging Noreika to consider testimony from IRS whistleblowers who alleged Justice Department interference in the investigation. Shortly after their motion was filed, a court clerk received a call requesting that sensitive grand jury, taxpayer and Social Security information be kept under seal, according to an oral order from the judge. The clerk said the lawyer gave her name and said she worked with an attorney from the Ways and Means Committee but was in fact a lawyer with the defense team. Noreika demanded the defense team show why she should not consider sanctioning them for misrepresentations to the court. Defense attorneys responded that their lawyer had represented herself truthfully from the start and called the matter a misunderstanding. President Biden, meanwhile, has said very little publicly, except to note, "I'm very proud of my son." A plea deal between President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden and the Justice Department is on hold after a dramatic court hearing Wednesday. Hunter Biden failed to pay between $1.1 million and $1.5 million in federal taxes before the legal deadlines and was poised to plead guilty to two tax charges with prosecutors agreeing to recommend a sentence of probation. But before the original plea could be entered, the deal began to unravel and a revised agreement reached during the hearing was not accepted by the judge. I cannot accept the plea agreement today, said District Judge Maryellen Noreika. Noreika said she had concerns about the parties seemingly linking the tax plea agreement to resolving a felony gun charge. During the proceedings, prosecutors confirmed that the investigation into Biden was ongoing. After negotiations, the presidents son then agreed to plead guilty to the two tax charges in a deal that only includes conduct related to tax offenses, drug use and gun possession. The two sides agreed that this deal does not shield him from potential future charges. But the judge wasnt satisfied. What if it is unconstitutional? she asked. Im trying to exercise due deliverance and consideration to make sure we dont make a misstep. After the discussion, Hunter Biden entered a not guilty plea. Noreika a Donald Trump appointee who was confirmed unanimously by the Senate presided over Wednesdays hearing and has the sole authority to decide Hunter Bidens ultimate punishment. While the investigation was ongoing, Hunter Biden fully paid his federal tax bill, along with interest and penalties, his lawyers have previously said. The Trump-era Justice Department started investigating Hunter Biden in 2018, and the probe steadily expanded to examine whether he violated money laundering and foreign lobbying laws with his multimillion-dollar overseas business dealings. Federal investigators also looked into Hunter Bidens unpaid taxes and lavish spending, which came amid a struggle with addiction. Story continues US attorney David Weiss has led the investigation. He was appointed by Trump, and Joe Biden kept him at his post so he could continue handling the probe. There is no public indication that Joe Biden or the White House ever tried to intervene in the probe. A bizarre legal clash between a top Republican lawmaker and Hunter Bidens lawyers, which erupted on the eve of his court appearance, did not come up at Wednesdays hearing. The dispute revolves around whether a member of Hunter Bidens legal team lied to the court about her identity so they would remove a Tuesday filing from GOP Rep. Jason Smith, the House Ways and Means Committee chair, about alleged political interference in the probe. In a late twist, the judge threatened to sanction Hunter Bidens lawyers over the matter. They denied the claims and called the incident an unintentional miscommunication by court staff. Questions about the probe Hanging over the plea hearing are recent claims from two IRS whistleblowers who helped lead the investigation that the Justice Department gave preferential treatment to Hunter Biden beginning when Trump was president in 2020. Their claims dovetail with the GOP-fueled narrative that Hunter Biden got a sweetheart deal, even though its fairly common for first-time offenders to avoid incarceration in a misdemeanor-only case. The career IRS agents told Congress that Justice Department officials undercut their attempts to further scrutinize Biden family members, slow-walked requests for subpoenas and search warrants and blocked Weiss from filing the felony tax evasion charges that they had recommended. The relevant parties including Weiss, Attorney General Merrick Garland and other senior Justice Department officials have publicly refuted the whistleblowers claims of politicization. In letters to Congress, Weiss has maintained that he has been granted ultimate authority over this matter, including responsibility for deciding where, when and whether to file charges. And earlier this week, he offered to testify at a public House Oversight Committee hearing, likely sometime this fall. House Republicans have zeroed in on Hunter Bidens finances as part of their broader oversight probes into the Biden family. They are seeking testimony from Weiss about the criminal probe, and the House GOPs right-wing flank is already clamoring for a possible Garland impeachment. Hunter Bidens lawyers called the IRS whistleblowers disgruntled agents with an axe to grind. Theyve also said their client is pleading guilty because he believes it is important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of turmoil and addiction in his life. This story has been updated with additional developments. CNNs Tierney Sneed, Zachary Cohen and Devan Cole contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to federal tax charges Wednesday after a plea agreement fell through during a court hearing. File photo by Ting Shen/UPI July 26 (UPI) -- Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to federal tax charges as plans to reach a plea deal fell through Wednesday amid a dispute between the legal teams over a separate gun-related charge. The plea came as lawyers deliberated for more than three hours over the terms of the original deal as Biden appeared in court with the intent of pleading guilty. Presiding District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika questioned whether he would still agree to the terms of his plea arrangement if there was a potential for additional charges in the future. Biden said he would not and Noreika ordered the proceedings to stop while calling for a "meeting of the minds" to help settle the issue. Biden's lawyer Chris Clark said at one point during the hearing that the deal was off. "As far as I'm concerned, the plea agreement is null and void," said Clark. Hunter Biden in June agreed to a plea deal to avoid punishment for tax and gun charges. The investigation marks the first for the son of a sitting president. File photo by Julia Nikhinson/UPI Noreika ordered the two sides to file additional briefs explaining the structure of the deal, which she described as "unusual." "We don't usually make diversion agreements in public," she said. If the issue isn't resolved, Hunter Biden would face a court trial. Biden in June said he would plead guilty to two federal offenses connected with his taxes and businesses. The son of President Joe Biden, who is the first child of a sitting president to face charges from the Justice Department, faced misdemeanor charges for failing to pay federal income taxes in 2017 and 2018, despite owing more than $100,000 in taxes in each of those years. Hunter Biden also possessed a firearm in October 2018 despite "knowing he was an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance," a charge for which he had agreed to enter a pretrial diversion agreement to avoid prosecution. The case marks the first time the Justice Department has brought charges against the child of a sitting president. And amid claims of a "witch hunt" against Republicans, most notably against former President Donald Trump, the case against the younger Biden has become something of a rallying point for the GOP. Story continues The investigation started during the Trump administration and continued under Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney David Weiss when President Joe Biden took office. Republicans wanted a special prosecutor for the case, though the Justice Department rejected the call on grounds the investigation should be free of politics. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., has long suspected there's a legacy of foul play among the Biden family. The plea deal, he said, amounted to a "slap on the wrist" for federal offenses. "Let's be clear: the Department of Justice's charges against President Biden's son Hunter reveals a two-tiered system of justice," he said. Hunter Biden | CBS Sunday Morning/Zuma Press/Newscom At a hearing in Delaware today, a federal judge questioned a plea deal that would have allowed Hunter Biden to avoid a prison sentence for failing to pay his income taxes and illegally buying a gun. Under that agreement, Biden would have pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor tax offenses. The deal also called for pretrial diversion with respect to a felony gun charge: receipt or possession of a firearm by an "unlawful user" of a controlled substance. U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika objected to language in the agreement that seemed to preclude future prosecution for tax or lobbying crimes. The Associated Press reports that she also "expressed concern" about the decision to drop the gun charge once Biden completes a two-year diversion program that would require him to avoid drugs and firearms. As written, the plea agreement would have charged Noreika rather than the Justice Department with determining whether Biden had met the program's requirements. She suggested that arrangement was constitutionally questionable because it assigned a prosecutorial function to a judge. After the plea agreement was announced last month, Republicans argued that the president's son was receiving preferential treatment. In addition to wondering why the tax offenses were charged as misdemeanors, they complained that the deal would have allowed Biden to get off with a slap on the wrist for a gun crime that was punishable by a up to a decade in prison when he committed it. Assessing the latter complaint requires understanding not only the relevant statutes and sentencing guidelines but also the typical fate of someone in Biden's position. While the evidence suggests that Biden would be lucky to remain a free man, the main takeaway should be that federal law authorizes astonishingly severe penalties for violating illogical, unjust, and arguably unconstitutional restrictions on gun ownership. Biden, by his own admission, was a crack cocaine user when he bought a Colt Cobra .38 Special from StarQuest Shooters, a Wilmington gun store, in 2018. That transaction violated at least three provisions of federal law. Story continues Under 18 USC 922(g)(3), it is a felony for an illegal drug user to "receive" or "possess" a firearm. The maximum penalty at the time of Biden's gun purchase was a 10-year prison sentence. This is the charge that David Weiss, the U.S. attorney for the District of Delaware, filed against Biden on June 20. Under 18 USC 922(a)(6), it is a felony "knowingly to make any false or fictitious oral or written statementin connection with the acquisition or attempted acquisition of any firearmwith respect to any fact material to the lawfulness of the sale or other disposition of such firearm." That offense also is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Since Biden bought the revolver from a federally licensed dealer, he had to fill out ATF Form 4473, which asks, among other things, "Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?" Biden falsely checked "no," thereby violating 18 USC 922(a)(6). That lie also was a violation of 18 USC 924(a)(1)(A), which makes it a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, to submit "any false statement or representation with respect to the information required by this chapter to be kept in the records of a person licensed under this chapter." That crime, the Justice Department notes, "may be charged when a person provides false responses to questions on Form 4473," although it adds that "there is considerable overlap in the conduct covered" by this provision and the conduct covered by 18 USC 922(a)(6). If Biden had bought the gun after his father signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in June 2022 and was still using crack, the potential penalties would have been even more severe. That law raised the maximum sentence for violating 18 USC 922(g)(3) to 15 years. It also created a new felony, "trafficking in firearms," which Congress counterintuitively defined broadly enough to cover cannabis consumers and other illegal drug users who obtain guns. That crime also carries a 15-year maximum. Even under the law as it stood in 2018, Biden's gun purchase theoretically could have been charged as three different felonies, punishable by combined maximum penalties of 25 years. But any such outcome would have been highly unusual for several reasons. First, only a tiny percentage of people who violate 18 USC 922(g)(3) are ever officially recognized as unlawful users of controlled substances, which would require evidence such as a drug arrest, court-ordered treatment, or a state-issued medical marijuana card. Generally speaking, when a person filling out Form 4473 falsely says he is not an illegal drug user, neither the gun dealer nor the FBI, which runs background checks on firearm buyers, has any basis to doubt that statement. After buying a firearm, that person ordinarily would escape charges for illegal gun possession unless he happened to be caught with drugs. Bidenwhose crack habit was widely known, especially after he published his 2021 memoir Beautiful Thingsis unusual in that respect. Second, "prohibited persons" like Biden are rarely prosecuted even when they are caught trying to buy guns. In fiscal year 2017, according to a 2018 report from the Government Accountability Office, federal background checks "resulted in about 112,000 denied transactions." The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) "referred about 12,700" of those cases for "further investigation" by its field offices. Yet as of June 2018, the Justice Department had prosecuted just 12 of those cases, which represents about 0.01 percent of the blocked transactions and 0.09 percent of the cases investigated by the ATF. Third, the statutory maximums are a misleading indication of what typically happens even when prohibited gun buyers are prosecuted. In fiscal year 2021, according the U.S. Sentencing Commission, 7,454 people received sentences for violating 18 USC 922(g). In addition to unlawful users of controlled substances, that provision covers several other broad categories of people who are not allowed to own guns. They include people with conviction records involving crimes punishable by more than a year of incarceration, who accounted for most of the cases identified by the commission. Keeping that point in mind, 97 percent of the defendants received prison sentences, and the average sentence was 60 months. That includes the impact of mandatory minimums under other statutes, which applied in less than 10 percent of the cases. Unlike the typical defendant sentenced under 18 USC 922(g), Biden has no prior criminal record. Under federal sentencing guidelines, it looks like his "base offense level" would be 12, which corresponds to a recommended sentence of 10 to 16 months for someone with zero criminal history points. Under the plea deal that is now up in the air, of course, Biden would have avoided prosecution on that charge, and Weiss chose not to file other possible charges. That decision is open to question if you accept the premise that violating the prohibition that applied to Biden is a serious crime worthy of a prison sentence. But that premise is dubious. While an illegal drug user who owns a gun might pose a danger to public safety, so might a drinker. Yet 18 USC 922(g)(3) covers anyone who uses illegal drugs, regardless of whether he handles guns while intoxicated or otherwise behaves recklessly. An analogous policy regarding alcohol would categorically prohibit drinkers from owning guns, regardless of how much they drink or the circumstances in which they do so. Ongoing litigation poses the question of whether the ban on gun ownership by illegal drug users is consistent with the Second Amendment. Two federal judges have concluded that it is not, at least as applied to cannabis consumers. Form 4473 warns that "the use or possession of marijuana remains unlawful under Federal law regardless of whether it has been legalized or decriminalized for medicinal or recreational purposes in the state where you reside." In other words, people who use marijuana in compliance with state law are still committing federal felonies, punishable by the same potential penalties that Biden faces, if they buy or possess firearms. Biden's behaviorwhich according to Politico triggered "a bizarre incident" in which his wife took his gun and "threw it in a trash can behind a grocery store, only to return later to find it gone"may have been more careless than that of the average gun-owning marijuana user. But his crime does not hinge on any specific thing he did that injured or endangered others; its essence was exercising Second Amendment rights that Congress had arbitrarily decided he did not deserve, based purely on his choice of recreational intoxicants. That should not be any sort of crime, let alone one that can send someone to prison. The fact that President Joe Biden stubbornly defends a policy that could put his own son behind bars should not blind us to the injustice that would entail. [This post has been updated with additional information about Noreika's objections to Biden's plea agreement.] The post Hunter Biden Shouldn't Go to Prison for Violating an Arbitrary Gun Law appeared first on Reason.com. Hunter Biden is the son of President Joe Biden. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik Hunter Biden tried to plead guilty to two tax charges, but his deal collapsed in court. His lawyers claimed the deal would immunize him from potential charges related to business dealings. Prosecutors said more criminal charges could come as the investigation continues. Hunter Biden attempted to plead guilty to two tax crime charges on Wednesday after a dramatic back and forth between his team and federal prosecutors. Despite their in-court efforts to come to a revised plea agreement on the fly, US District Judge Maryellen Noreika ultimately rejected the deal. From the start, Biden's plea change hearing seemed doomed, when the initial deal in place since June collapsed over questions of whether it would make him immune from future prosecution related to his business dealings. Last month, prosecutors announced the charges against the president's son, alleging he illegally avoided paying taxes in 2017 and 2018. His lawyers said he would agree to plead guilty. Hunter Biden reportedly failed to pay around $1.2 million in taxes over those years but has since paid the IRS in full. Biden also agreed to seek treatment to have an additional gun charge dropped. In addition to the tax crimes, prosecutors had reportedly examined whether Biden worked as an unregistered agent for foreign governments and other business dealings involving overseas companies. After news of the charges in June, Biden's attorneys said the plea would resolve all of the Justice Department's investigations into his conduct. But David Weiss, the US Attorney in Delaware overseeing the Biden case, said in a press release that the investigation was ongoing. During the plea hearing on Wednesday in Delaware federal court, Noreika, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, asked Leo Wise, a top prosecutor in the case, whether the deal would mean Biden would get immunity for other possible crimes, according to the New York Times. Wise said the plea deal wouldn't cover other potential crimes. At that point, according to the Times, Biden's lawyer said the plea agreement was "null and void." Story continues Prosecutors and Biden's lawyers conferred over the scope of the charge. For a moment, it looked like prosecutors won: Biden indicated he would enter his plea and Biden's lawyers agreed that prosecutors could bring other charges related to other issues. According to CNN, the revised plea agreement covers 2014 to 2019 and only covers conduct related to tax offenses, drug use, and gun possession. After that back and forth, though, Noreika declined to accept the plea deal, and it remains on hold, CNN's Zachary Cohen reported from court. Biden, instead, entered a not guilty plea. The charges stem from an investigation by Weiss, the US Attorney in Delaware. He opened the investigation in 2018 during the Trump administration. While US Attorneys typically resign with each new presidential administration, the Justice Department under Biden asked Weiss to remain in his role. Prosecutors had also brought a gun charge against the president's son alleging he was in possession of a firearm, which is against the law for unlawful drug users. They allowed Biden to enter a pretrial diversion program for the charge, allowing they'd drop it if he seeks treatment. If the gun charge went to trial, it would carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. GOP politicians asked the judge to reject the deal Republican politicians have sought to intervene in Biden's case. Some have been furious about what they call a "sweetheart deal" between the Justice Department and the president's son, and want more investigation into Biden's business in Europe and Asia. The Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank, filed a highly unusual brief asking the judge to seek more information about the case before deciding whether to accept a plea. On Tuesday, Republican Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, the chairman of the powerful House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, tried to intervene in the proceedings by asking the judge to reject the plea deal. His filings cited testimony from two IRS employees who have said the investigation has been limited in scope due to political influence accusations Weiss has publicly denied. Rep. Smith's filings kicked off some drama on the court docket. Noreika, an appointee of Trump, said in an order on Tuesday that an employee at Latham & Watkins, a law firm representing Hunter Biden, called the court and pretended to be a Republican lawyer in an attempt to convince the clerk to remove documents that Smith filed to court. Hunter Biden. AP Photo/Susan Walsh The law firm told the court that it was an "unfortunate and unintentional miscommunication" and does not warrant sanctions. Some accompanying documents in Smith's filings appeared to include Biden's personal tax information, the firm said. The court clerk had removed the documents from the public record "on their own accord," the firm wrote. The staffer in question filed her own affidavit, denying that she ever implied she worked for Smith's lawyer Ted Kittila, as accused. "I am completely confident that I never indicated that I was calling from Mr. Kittila's firm or that I worked with him in any way," Jessica Bengels wrote in the affidavit. Legal experts previously told Insider it was highly unlikely a judge would reject the plea deal. Prosecutors have discretion, under the separation of powers in the Constitution, for which charges to bring. Political intervention from a completely different branch of government, as with Smith's filing, made it even less likely. "There's no way the judge, for instance, could say, 'Well, I want to prosecute him for the laptop or for corruption or Ukraine' it's outside the judge's hands," Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, told Insider. This story is breaking and will be updated. Read the original article on Business Insider Devon Archer, Hunter Bidens longtime friend and fellow Burisma board member, is reportedly in "hiding" ahead of his expected testimony on President Biden's involvement with Hunter Biden's business deals before becoming president. Archer is expected to testify next week to the House Oversight Committee that he witnessed the elder Biden sitting in on at least two dozen calls with Hunter. The New York Post first reported the scheduled hearing late Sunday. Since then, Archer told friends he has fled his Long Island and Brooklyn homes, but he still plans to testify, the Daily Mail reported Wednesday. From left: President Biden, Hunter Biden and Devon Archer. BIDENS NARRATIVE ON NEVER DISCUSSING BUSINESS DEALS WITH HUNTER CONTINUES TO CRUMBLE A source told the Daily Mail that Archer had received threats and was "concerned" for his and his family's safety. Another source said Archer had received threats but denied he was "in hiding." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Archers wife, Krista, confirmed that he wasnt in Washington, D.C., or at either of their homes in New York. "He's not here. He's not at our other home. He's not in D.C.," she said. Devon and Krista Archer attend a Quest Magazine and What2WearWhere.com event in New York City on Sept. 9, 2010. Fox News Digital reached out to the office of Archers lawyer, Matthew Schwartz, of Boies, Schiller and Flexner, but was told he was not in. He did not respond by publication. According to the New York Post's reporting, Archer is expected to testify next week that Hunter would specifically introduce his father to foreign business partners or prospective investors during meetings and would often put him on speakerphone to impress them. The House Oversight Committee invited Archer to testify as he was sentenced last year to one year in prison for his role in a $60 million bond fraud involving various clients. At least three previously planned depositions were canceled by Archer for personal reasons. Archer's lawyer released a statement on Monday afternoon, saying, "There have been many leaks and much speculation about Mr. Archers potential statement to the Oversight Committee, but next week, Mr. Archer will get to speak for himself." Story continues Devon Archer, left, golfing with Joe Biden and Hunter Biden in 2014 photo. Meanwhile, Hunter Biden's plea deal fell apart during his first court appearance Wednesday morning. The president's son was expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax as part of a plea deal to avoid jail time on a felony gun charge. Instead, he pleaded "not guilty" as federal prosecutors confirmed the president's son is still under federal investigation. Fox News Digital's Lawrence Richard and Brooke Singman contributed to this report. Donald Trump Mark Makela/Getty Images Miles Taylor, who served as chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security under Donald Trump, shared how he often had to oversimply national security reports for the former president. "This fifty-page memo that we would normally give to any other president about what his options are is something Trump literally can't read. The man doesn't read. We've gotta boil this down into a one-pager in his voice," Taylor told podcast host Brett Meiselas on Tuesday. "And so I had to write this incandescently stupid memo called something like, 'Afghanistan, How to Put America First and Win.' And then bullet by bullet, I summed up this highly classified memo into Trump's sort of bombastic language because it was the only way he was gonna understand," Taylor added. "I mean, I literally said in there, 'You know, if we leave Afghanistan too fast, the terrorists will call us losers. But if we wanna be seen as winners, we need to make sure the Afghan forces have the strength to push back against these criminals.' I mean, it was that dumb and that's how you had to talk to him." An independent panel of experts investigating the 2014 disappearance of 43 students from a rural teachers college in Mexico announced theyre withdrawing from their probe because the government had failed to give them access to vital information. The Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI), a committee of jurists and doctors, are in Mexico to investigate the disappearance of the students, who vanished during a visit to the southwestern city of Iguala. But after presenting their final fact-finding report on Tuesday, the experts said they faced a series of roadblocks, and would be withdrawing from the investigation and leaving the country next week. The failure to provide existing information for the investigation of atrocious events such as these, must be denounced by the Prosecutors Office and investigated to achieve justice, the GIEI report read. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, told a morning press conference on Tuesday that his government was going to continue the investigation. The college-aged students, from a teachers college in Ayotzinapa, disappeared on September 26, 2014, as they traveled through the southwestern city of Iguala to attend a protest in Mexico City. Exactly what happened remains unknown, since most of the missing students were never found. Bullet-riddled buses were later seen in the citys streets with shattered windows and blood. Survivors from the original group of 100 said their buses had been stopped by armed police officers and soldiers who suddenly opened fire. Last August, a Mexican court issued at least 83 arrest warrants for people allegedly involved in the 2014 disappearance, but so far no one has been convicted in relation to the students disappearance. The long list of suspects includes dozens of military commanders, troop personnel, police officers, as well as administrative and judicial authorities, who were accused of organized crime, forced disappearance, torture, homicide and crimes against the administration of justice. Story continues The GIEI experts said throughout the different stages of the investigation they faced pressures and obstacles such as lack of information, secrecy and hidden evidence until it reached a critical point in August 2022. The group added that the GIEI was forced to leave the investigation in 2016 and were only invited back in 2020 by the new government of Mexico under President Obrador, who made it a campaign promise to investigate the disappearance. The concealment of that information has contributed not only to the concealing of government responsibilities, but it has constituted in itself a responsibility of the state in the disappearance of these young men, GIEI member Carlos Beristain told reporters on Tuesday. He went on to say that access to information has been partial and another part of it continues to be hidden. Angela Buitrago, another panel member, said the experts were unable to access key intelligence files. That condition was to have all the information that was in the files that had not been opened, such as intelligence files, she said. The reason why we are leaving is because we cannot go further without that information, she told CNNE. Really, we have delivered this report with what could be done, but we cannot move forward without that information so that is the reason why we are leaving Mexico. CNNEs Juan Paz contributed to the report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Rupam Jain NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's parliament on Wednesday authorised a no-confidence vote against Narendra Modi's government by an alliance of opposition parties, to force the prime minister to address in detail concerns about ethnic clashes in a northeastern state. Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has a clear majority of 301 members in the 542-seat lower house of parliament, so the no-confidence vote will not affect its stability. The opposition instead wants to trigger a debate about violence in the remote, BJP-ruled Manipur state, where more than 130 people have been killed and 60,000 displaced since it began in early May. Approving the opposition motion, lower house speaker Om Birla said he would soon decide when the debate and vote would take place. The ethnic tensions in the small state of 3.2 million people are seen as a rare security and political failure by Modi's government, which will face a national election by May 2024. Further incidents of arson and the destruction of some abandoned houses, government offices and vehicles by armed mobs were reported from at least two districts of Manipur on Wednesday, a local police official said, asking not to be named. Modi had not commented in public about the violence until last week, when videos showing two women being paraded naked and molested by a mob in Manipur sparked national outrage. Modi condemned the mass assault as "shameful" and promised tough action against the perpetrators. Opposition parties have, however, disrupted the monsoon session of parliament which began last week, to demand a detailed statement by Modi on Manipur in parliament, followed by a debate. As head of the government, he will have to respond to the no-confidence motion before it is put to vote. The government has offered a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah, saying internal security is his ministry's responsibility. The violence began on May 3 after a court ordered the state government to consider extending special economic benefits and quotas in government jobs and education enjoyed by the tribal Kuki people to the majority Meitei population as well. Story continues Shashi Tharoor, a leader of the main opposition Congress party, said the government must invest time to answer questions about Manipur. "Everyone knows that Manipur has witnessed horrendous loss of lives in violence, sexual assault and displacement. How can this not be the main agenda?" Tharoor told Reuters. (Additional reporting by Zarir Hussain in Guwahati; Editing by YP Rajesh, John Stonestreet and Barbara Lewis) Indonesia bans X.com Elon Musks rebrand of Twitter to X faces yet another setback this week after it was blocked in Indonesia for violating local pornography and gambling laws. Musk informed X users in a tweet on Sunday that X.com will now redirect users to Twitter.com, but Indonesias Ministry of Communication and Informatics said the domain had previously hosted content that runs against the countrys laws forbidding gambling and porn sites. The ban will continue until the company shares additional information about how it will use X.com, meaning the roughly 24 million people who had used the platform will not have access for the foreseeable future. Usman Kansong, the director general of information and public communication at the ministry, said the government has been in contact with X, telling local media on Tuesday: Earlier today, we spoke with representatives from Twitter and they will send a letter to us to say that X.com will be used by Twitter, Al Jazeera reported. Read more Musks relationship with X.com goes back to 1999 when he was CEO of PayPal and spearheaded a disastrous push to rebrand the company under the X banner. Julie Anderson Ankenbrandt, a former PayPal executive, wrote in a 2016 Quora post that fellow executives were concerned about the pornographic associations of the letter X. Decades later, it seems that Musk is determined to turn his previous failure into a success. Aribowo Sasmito, the co-founder of the fact-checking group MAFINDO had a similar opinion, saying he thinks Indonesia banned X.com for the same reasons, telling Al Jazeera, The name is not too far from XXX, I guess. Indonesia passed its strict anti-pornography laws in October 2008 which outlaws all pornographic acts and images. The law defines pornography as man-made sexual materials in the form of drawings, sketches, illustrations, photographs, text, voice, sound, moving pictures, animation, cartoons, poetry, conversations, and gestures. At the time, some lawmakers expressed concern that the law was too broad and could be misinterpreted to ban what would otherwise be considered a non-offensive site. Story continues Generally, the ministry blocks websites that are considered to be offensive, criminal, or dangerous to social harmony, Gatria Priyandita, a cyber policy analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told Al Jazeera. These may include pornographic materials, sites that violate intellectual property laws, those that incite hate or are filled with false information. She continued, Given that Twitter can be freely used in Indonesia, I doubt removing X.com from the list of banned sites would be a great challenge, so long as Twitter can demonstrate that the domain name truly does direct to Twitter. Given that Twitter really does, intentionally or not, host pornography it will be interesting to see what the government decides to do about X.com. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Photo 7-13. Salmon (SS182). Photo taken on 10 August 1944 at Navy Yard, Mare Island. In October 1944, a U.S. submarine picked a fight with a tanker and four anti-submarine ships. The Japanese escorts lobbed 30 depth charges against the submarine, deforming its hull, causing severe flooding, and jamming its stern planes. The submarine sank past its expected crush depth. But then it blew itself to the surface, made emergency repairs, and fought off its attackers like a wounded lion. This is the insane story of the USS Salmon survival. The Salmon's prey The Salmon's legendary patrol started in Tanapag Harbor, Saipan, on October 4. The boat had new engines and a large number of recent upgrades as it started its 11th war patrol. It went on patrol with two other submarines, the Silversides and Trigger. The three-sub pack headed for the southern approaches to the Japanese home islands. The subs found no suitable targets until October 30 when Salmon found a large Japanese tanker, the Takane Maru, escorted by four frigates. Salmon radioed the ship's position to its peers and then chased the tanker through rain squalls for most of the day. Luckily, 12 hours after Salmon started chasing Takane Maru, Trigger managed to hit it with a torpedo. The massive explosion immobilized Takane Maru. The American subs waited an hour as the escorts looked for them, then Salmon began an attack run. Despite three of the escorts drawing near, Salmon fired four torpedoes from its bow torpedo tubes at Takane Maru and then swung around in case it needed to fire more from the stern. Unfortunately, three of the torpedoes broached the surface, making it clear where the Salmon was. As two torpedoes crashed into Takane Maru, the Salmon conducted a crash dive to 310 feet to get away from the escorts. The Salmon is stricken The escorts fired four spreads of depth charges at Salmon. The first two spreads inflicted catastrophic damage. A Navy report said: The Commanding Officer reported that severe flexural vibrations of the ship as a whole occurred during close detonations, stating that "The conning tower vibrated up and down so violently that I thought the ship was going to shake herself apart. I remember bending my knees to ease the shock". Damage to the ship was severe and widespread. Unattached gear and many inadequately secured small fixtures were hurled about during close detonations and presented an appreciable missile hazard to personnel in some areas. Submarine Report, Section VII, U.S.S. Salmon (SS-82) Story continues In addition to the submarine shaking and bending, pipes and fittings broke, and seawater rushed in through leaks in the fittings. And the stern planes became stuck in the full dive position. Also, air leaks took away the crew's power steering. The crew didn't know until later, but a number of hatches broke open and the boat was barely saved by secondary hatches. Many of the fittings that saved the boat were installed during the overhaul just before the tour. A number of pressure gauges broke or lost calibration. This made the crew's job harder and more terrifying just moments later. As the seawater rushed into oil tanks and multiple compartments, the combination of increased weight and the jammed stern planes forced the submarine deeper. The commander ordered emergency speed and trimmed the boat to try and reduce its depth. Each time they tried to level out, however, the sub would immediately descend further. Attempts to pump out the seawater to reduce weight failed as cork clogged the pump lines. The water shorted out many electrical connections and nearly reached the batteries. The boat lost main power and, for a few minutes, auxiliary power. The Salmon sank to 400 feet, then recovered to 300, then sank to 400, recovered to 150 feet, and then plunged past 500 feet. uss salmon damage In a boat designed to operate at 250 feet of depth, maximum, pressure gauges registered 578 feet. Combined with the boat's steep tilt from the damage, that would mean that damaged sections of the Salmon passed 600 feet, if accurate. The crew reported sections of the hull bulged inward, likely from the excessive depth and pressure in this moment. The Salmon rises again The boat's batteries barely held any energy, the hull bulged inward, and the crew couldn't get the ship level. But the Japanese ships continued to send out depth charges and patrol overhead. About 17 minutes had passed since the first frigate attack against the Salmon. Faced with the choice of crushing or a fight, the commander ordered a battle surface. They blew their ballast tanks, pushing out seawater from the hull, and raced topside. When it surfaced at 2030 (8:30 PM), the boat essentially had no air left to blow ballast again, so it couldn't risk a dive to evade enemy ships. It had to stay on the surface. It couldn't even push out water to correct a 15-degree list. The Salmon found itself up moon of the Japanese frigates and about 4 miles distant. Luckily for them, the enemy ships focused on the site of the initial fight and didn't immediately notice the American boat, despite the moon. According to the Navy report: This delay was invaluable for it enabled Salmon to take damage control measures, man guns, correct list, increase freeboard, obtain partial operation of the surface propulsion plant and repair vital auxiliary machinery before the first escort closed in for an attack. Submarine Report, Section VII, U.S.S. Salmon (SS-82) The crew found the main deck gun's sights completely destroyed, but the rest of the weapon worked fine. The missing sights plus the boat's list forced the crew to improvise aiming, with one member looking down the barrel and yelling orders to the others. The Salmon got three diesel engines working and managed to use blowers to remove more seawater. But then at 2100 (9 PM), the closest escort spotted the American boat and began lobbing shells at it. The Salmon eludes the net After 30 minutes of the escorts firing from distant range, Salmon sent out a call for help. It improvised a new radio antenna as the original ones were all destroyed. It told its pack mates, Silversides and Trigger, about its extensive damage and the nearby Japanese ships firing on it. Silversides, Trigger, and four other submarines within range responded by all sending voice messages on the radio, warning the Japanese that a significant American threat existed. But with the Salmon bleeding and vulnerable right in front of them, the frigates closed in anyway. The first escort chased down the Salmon for almost two hours. The two vessels traded shots with Salmon carefully shooting only when a hit was likely to conserve ammo. The Salmon spotted a rain squall that it could slip away in and attempted an escape. From the Navy report: The enemy then headed to intercept and Salmon immediately staged a surprise offensive attack. Turning directly toward the patrol craft, Salmon charged in with all available speed and passed at about [50] yards distance on opposite course, raking the escort from end to end with 20mm, 40mm and 50 cal. machine guns and probably killing most of the enemy personnel topside. Damage from enemy light fire was minor. This maneuver knocked all the fight out of the Japanese escort and Salmon once again headed toward this rain squall. Submarine Report, Section VII, U.S.S. Salmon (SS-82) To be clear, a submarine that barely survived its crush depths, leaked oil, and had broken weapon sights attacked a Japanese frigate so badly that the frigate backed off. Even better, a second frigate fired a few shots but seemed to decide that the Salmon was too vicious. It let the Salmon go as, 45 minutes past midnight on October 31, the Salmon made good its escape into the rain squall. The submarines Salmon, Silversides, and Sterlet escorted Salmon back to safety and planes joined starting on November 2. On the evening of November 3, the stricken submarine pulled back into the relative safety of Tanapag Harbor. The extensive repair work needed forced the Salmon to California in 1945, but the war ended before the repairs did. On October 5, 1945, repair work ceased and the boat was scrapped in 1946. Salmon ended the war with credit for sinking 11 ships, including partial credit for the Takane Maru, which was finished off by Sterlet days later. Speaker Kevin McCarthy in recent weeks has heard similar advice from both a senior House Republican and an influential conservative lawyer: prioritize the impeachment of President Joe Biden over a member of his Cabinet. Part of the thinking, according to multiple sources familiar with the internal discussions, is that if House Republicans are going to expend precious resources on the politically tricky task of an impeachment, they might as well go after their highest target as opposed to the attorney general or secretary of homeland security. And McCarthy who sources said has also been consulting with former House GOP Speaker Newt Gingrich on the issue has warmed up to an idea that has long been relegated to the fringes of his conference. This week, he delivered his most explicit threat yet to Biden, saying their investigations into the Biden familys business deals appear to be rising to the level of an impeachment inquiry. Speaking to CNN on Tuesday, McCarthy signaled that Republicans have yet to verify the most salacious allegations against Biden, namely that as vice president he engaged in a bribery scheme with a foreign national in order to benefit his son Hunter Bidens career, an allegation the White House furiously denies. But he said that launching an impeachment inquiry would unleash the full power of the House to turn over critical information, mirroring an argument advanced by House Democrats when they impeached then-President Donald Trump in 2019. How do you get to the bottom of the truth? The only way Congress can do that is go to an impeachment inquiry, McCarthy said Tuesday, stopping short of formally moving to open such a probe. It all amounts to a consequential shift in thinking among Republican leaders, who were previously reluctant to call for Bidens impeachment and have instead focused more energy on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland. Those were largely seen as lower stakes fights that could be easier to sell to the party and the public. Story continues Yet as some of the GOPs investigative lines have lost momentum border crossings are down in recent weeks, for example and Republicans believe they have uncovered compelling new information about Hunter Biden, they increasingly see the president as their most ripe candidate for impeachment. Rep. Mike Johnson, a member of the GOP leadership team from Louisiana, told CNN on Tuesday that all the evidence leads to the big guy. Speaking as a member of the Judiciary Committee, were certainly at the point of an impeachment inquiry. I feel like were there, Johnson said. And so well continue to investigate and see if were going to follow the facts where they lead were not going to use impeachment for a political tool, like the Democrats did in the last administration. We will not do that. But we do have an obligation on the Constitution to follow the facts. As another senior GOP source put it: When youre going deer hunting, you dont shoot geese in the sky. Even some of the more hardline members of McCarthys conference said that if the GOP needs to settle on one target, it should be Joe Biden. If I had to pick one, I would pick Biden, said Rep. Andy Ogles, a Tennessee Republican and member of the House Freedom Caucus. The White House has maintained that Biden has had no involvement in his sons business deals, and Republicans have yet to link Biden directly to them. But even with more Republicans coalescing around the idea, impeachment would still be a complicated and time consuming endeavor, given McCarthys razor thin majority and the need to fund the government by September 30. And theres anxiety about impeachment backfiring with the partys moderates while energizing the Democratic base, all for an effort that is sure to be doomed in the Senate a similar concern shared by Democrats in 2019, when they launched their first impeachment into Trump ahead of the 2020 election, proceedings that took about three months to complete in the House. In moving to potentially make Biden just the fourth president in US history to get impeached, McCarthy could appease some of his sharpest critics in his conference, especially as the House will have to cut a deal in the fall to keep the government funded and prevent a shutdown. Some on his far-right, who have threatened to boot him from the speakership if he strays from their demands, are now praising his embrace of potential impeachment proceedings. We probably should have moved to an impeachment inquiry probably sooner than this, said Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs, a former leader of the House Freedom Caucus. But he added: I understand. He was reticent at first, Biggs said of McCarthy. We dont want to look like our colleagues across the aisle. But as weve continued to amass evidence and information, I certainly think (at) a bare minimum, we should be doing an impeachment inquiry. Rep. Bob Good, a Virginia Republican who tried to prevent McCarthy from winning the speakership, said of McCarthy: I dont think theres any question that him speaking to that has caused a paradigm shift. Im just glad to hear that the speaker is recognizing that that we need to follow the evidence and the truth wherever it might lead us, Good said. I dont know how anyone, any objective, reasonable person couldnt come to the conclusion that this appears to be impeachment worthy. But GOP Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado, a member of the Judiciary Committee and hardline Freedom Caucus who has been more skeptical of impeachment, shot back at the idea he would take impeachment cues from the speaker: The Freedom Caucus hasnt listened to McCarthy in years. I cant imagine that we would start now, he told CNN. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, is seen in the US Capitol on July 14, 2023. - Tom Williams/AP I couldnt prioritize one With concerns among vulnerable members that impeaching Biden may not be a winning message in their districts, House Republicans would like to wrap up any such proceedings before years end, according to senior Republican sources familiar with the partys thinking. But that means Republicans are going to have to make a decision soon on if and whom they want to impeach, given the desire among Republicans for impeachment hearings and a formal inquiry process. The House is slated to leave at the end of this week for a six-week recess. Getting an impeachment resolution through the narrowly divided House where McCarthy can lose no more than four of his members on party-line votes will only get tougher in an election year, Republicans say. Plus Republicans still appear to be all over the map on their impeachment strategy. Firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican who is not only seeking to expunge Trumps two impeachments but also introduced a slew of impeachment articles against Biden and members of his Cabinet, told CNN: I couldnt prioritize one. That sentiment was echoed by Rep. Ralph Norman, a hard-right South Carolina Republican who said impeaching Biden is just the start of the list. His judgment is wrong on who he has in office, Norman said. They got to have to be accountable. And I think youre seeing the accountability now. But with economic concerns expected to dominate voters minds in next years elections, many in the House GOP have been skeptical about moving forward with charging the president with committing a high crime or misdemeanor. Nebraska GOP Rep. Don Bacon, whose district Biden carried in 2020, told CNN that the House needs to be deliberate. This needs to be thoroughly vetted in the Judiciary Committee, Bacon said, arguing the approach needs to differ from the two impeachments under then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The Watergate profile is what we should benchmark off of, not the Pelosi method of putting it on the floor without a single committee hearing, Bacon said. Pelosi watered down and lowered the threshold for impeachment, and we should not follow her example. Its not good for the country. In the first Trump impeachment, House Democrats led a number of closed and open hearings before charging Trump with abuse of power and obstructing Congress. In the second impeachment, Democrats charged Trump with inciting the January 6, 2021, insurrection just days after the deadly attack in the Capitol. Republicans have already had a tough time convincing even members of the House Judiciary Committee, where impeachment articles would originate. Indeed, one GOP Judiciary member who has been skeptical of a Mayorkas impeachment leaned over to share that assessment with a Democrat on the panel during a recent hearing. During a private leadership meeting on Tuesday, McCarthy stressed the difference between opening an impeachment inquiry and actually voting to impeach someone an important distinction that could be key to convincing moderates skeptical of impeachment to back a formal inquiry. Still, McCarthy fielded questions from members during the meeting about how this could impact the partys more vulnerable members. Democrats say Republicans are just using the threat of impeachment as a political stunt to help boost Trump, who remains their frontrunner in the GOP presidential primary. Its clear that Donald Trump is the real Speaker of the House, Jaime Harrison, chair of the Democratic National Party, said in a statement. He has made sure the House majority is little more than an arm of his 2024 campaign, and Kevin McCarthy is happy to do his bidding. Indeed, McCarthy has been under pressure to placate Trump, particularly after he questioned Trumps strength as a candidate comments he quickly walked back. As CNN previously reported, McCarthy told Trump in a private phone call that he supports the idea of expunging his past two impeachments and said he would bring the idea up with the rest of the conference. But theres no sign that GOP leadership is planning to bring such a symbolic resolution to the floor any time soon, with many Republicans pouring cold water on the idea. That has privately frustrated Trump, who called Greene earlier this month to complain about the lack of action from McCarthy, according to a source familiar with the conversation. McCarthy has had to walk a tightrope on the issue of impeachment amid growing frustration from his right flank, which has been itching to launch impeachment proceedings. Last month, McCarthy opted to defer a push from GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado to force a snap floor vote on impeaching Biden over his handling of the southern border and immigration problems, saying they need time to gather the facts and build a case. On Tuesday, Boebert took notice of the apparent shift in McCarthys tone. The Speaker of the House is now talking impeachment, Boebert tweeted. The Biden corruption has risen to a level that there is no other response that can possibly be leveled against it. Impeachment is a very big deal, but these are incredibly serious crimes. I look forward to holding Joe Biden accountable for all that hes done. Hunter Biden walks to a waiting SUV after arriving with US President Joe Biden at Fort McNair in Washington, DC, on July 4. - Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images Hunter Biden probe moves front and center Republicans argue that a string of recent developments have generated new momentum that has helped bring McCarthy on board and will even satisfy the remaining holdouts. Last week, GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa released an internal FBI document containing unverified allegations that both Hunter and Joe Biden were involved in an illegal foreign bribery scheme that Republicans had been trying to make public for weeks, despite serious warnings from the FBI. The House Oversight Committee held a hearing last week that put a spotlight on two IRS whistleblowers who have claimed that the Justice Department politicized the Hunter Biden criminal probe, and has a deposition with Hunter Bidens long-time associate and Burisma co-board member Devon Archer next week. And the House Judiciary Committee just secured assurance from the Justice Department that US Attorney David Weiss, who is overseeing the Hunter Biden criminal probe, can testify publicly before Congress this fall. But Republicans still have yet to tie such allegations directly to the presidents actions, which will be a major hurdle for GOP leaders to clear if they move ahead with impeaching Biden. The White House has repeatedly stated that the allegations launched by Republicans have all been debunked. Part of the consideration for House Republicans will be figuring out how to delineate or combine the work currently being conducted by House Oversight Chair James Comer and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, who are in constant communication with each other and McCarthy, sources told CNN. Comer confirmed he has been regularly briefing McCarthy on his Hunter Biden probes, which he thinks helped give McCarthy the confidence to publicly raise the idea of an impeachment inquiry. But he said its ultimately McCarthys decision. With just three days to go before the House stands in recess for six weeks, Greene, who continues to serve as a conduit to Trump in the House and has been relentless in pushing McCarthy toward a Biden impeachment, wasted no time in making her case again on the House floor. And afterward, the firebrand conservative had this message to her reluctant GOP colleagues: Any Republican that cant move forward on impeachment with all of the information and overwhelming evidence that we have, I really dont know why theyre here to be honest with you. This story has been updated with additional developments. CNNs Nikki Carvajal and Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is disappointed with the preliminary results of an inspection of military enlistment officers. Source: Zelenskyys evening address Quote from Zelenskyy: "Today, I was presented with some preliminary results of the inspection of other military commissars [enlistment officers] besides the former one from Odesa [Yevhen Borysov, who has been revealed by Ukrainska Pravda to own property worth millions of dollars in Spain - ed.]. And the results are disappointing. Of course, law enforcement officers will implement them in a legal manner, and society will see everything." Details: Zelenskyy emphasised that military enlistment officers and officials who think "it is possible to brazen it out somewhere in the rear" will have no place in Ukraines peaceful life after the war. "Were going to win this war that Russia started. And were going to win for Ukraine the kind of public life that will be worthy of our heroic defenders, of everyone who is now giving all their strength to defence. There is no place for the unworthy in such a life," Zelenskyy emphasised. Background: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on 23 June, where he gave an urgent order for a commission to be set up under the leadership of General Pavliuk, First Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, together with the law enforcement unit and the National Agency of Corruption Prevention. The commission will be inspecting all military enlistment officers in all regions of Ukraine, so that they do not discredit the Ukrainian state and the memory of the heroes who die at the front. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Henry Clay High Schools new principal Corye Franklin, who was previously under investigation in his former school district, came back whistle clean when Fayette Superintendent Demetrus Liggins looked into his background, he said Tuesday. At Franklins previous district in Indianapolis, Liggins told the Herald-Leader there was a policy that there was a disagreement on and ultimately the policy that was broken ended up being removed anyway. His stance was right, Liggins said of Franklin. Franklin was placed back into a leadership role in Indianapolis before resigning in December. Under a new Kentucky law, school based councils recommend their top two candidates for principal and the superintendent makes the final selection, Liggins said. Franklin was one of the top two principal candidates for the Henry Clay position. Liggins said he did not ask the council how they ranked each of the finalists. Liggins said he was limited to what he could say about a personnel issue, but said he conducted a thorough background investigation to make sure Franklin could lead. He came back whistle clean, he said. Liggins said the policy issue that resulted in an administrative leave for Franklin, the former principal of Indianapolis largest public high school Arsenal Tech, was no longer even an existing policy in the Indianapolis district. He said the administrative leave had nothing to do with students. The Indianapolis school district superintendent who placed Franklin on leave gave him a stellar recommendation, written and orally, Liggins said, and regretted placing him on leave. Indianapolis school officials did not immediately comment to the Herald-Leader Tuesday. Indianapolis Public Schools General Counsel Ken Pack told an Indianapolis television station that Franklin wasnt disciplined and that the allegations, which he declined to discuss, were dismissed after an investigation, WRTV reported. Franklin resigned in December. Liggins said Franklin would take Henry Clay High School to new heights. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Iran said Wednesday it gave new details to the United Nations about two sites near Tehran that inspectors say bore traces of manmade uranium, part of a wider probe as tensions remain high over the Islamic Republic's advancing program. The comments by Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran's civilian nuclear program, come as Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers remains in tatters and as Tehran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. Resolving questions from the International Atomic Energy Agency could see Iran avoid further censure as an October deadline approaches that would lift international restrictions on its ballistic missile program as well. Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Eslami said Iran had sent detailed answers to the International Atomic Energy Agency. If those answers are not accepted and there are any ambiguities or doubts, as we have always said, we will clarify and revise the documents, Eslami said in comments carried by state television. We are now in that phase now, and we have given the IAEA more evidence and documents and will give more so that it can move past this issue. The Vienna-based IAEA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. However, Eslami's comments mark a change in tone as Iran has limited inspections, held surveillance footage and taken years to respond to the IAEA after then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the nuclear deal in 2018. Eslami did not name the sites, though the IAEA has identified them as Turquzabad and Varamin just outside of Tehran. At Varamin, the IAEA in a March report said that inspectors believe Iran used the site from 1999 until 2003 as a pilot project to process uranium ore and convert it into a gas form, which then can be enriched through spinning in a centrifuge. The IAEA said buildings at the site had been demolished in 2004. Story continues Tehran insists its program is peaceful, though the West and the IAEA say Iran had an organized military nuclear program until 2003. Turquzabad is where the IAEA believes Iran took some of the material at Varamin amid the demolition, though it said that alone cannot explain the presence of the multiple types of isotopically altered particles found there. In 2018, the site became known publicly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed it at the United Nations and called it a clandestine nuclear warehouse hidden at a rug-cleaning plant. Iran denied that, though IAEA inspectors later found the manmade uranium particles there. The IAEA said in May it no longer had questions about a third questioned site called Marivan near Abadeh in southern Iran. In recent months, Iran has pledged to restore cameras and other monitoring equipment at its nuclear sites. That's as Iran's economy has cratered under international sanctions over its program. Meanwhile, Iran likely wants to avoid any dispute at the IAEA as U.N. restrictions on Irans ballistic missile program are scheduled to lift on Oct. 18. Those restrictions call on Iran ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. INDIAN RIVER COUNTY A 21-year-old Vero Beach-area man defended himself, detectives said, when he shot a 35-year-old Fort Pierce man five times in what was described as an escalating dispute between families in a crowded home last year. As a result, no charges were pursued by law enforcement in the May 2022 shooting death of Travis Kenyon. Detectives apprehended and questioned one person in connection to the shooting death of a local man in what an Indian River County Sheriff's Office official said was an argument during a gathering at a home in the 700 block of 5th Place Southwest late Monday, May 16, 2022. Kenyon died from what medical examiners reported were multiple gunshot wounds to his torso in a bedroom of a home in the 700 block of 5th Place Southwest on May 16, 2022. The man, who deputies said told them, I shot him, and where he put the weapons afterward, the next day with detectives invoked his right to remain silent, after saying he had a conceal carry permit, according to reports. Records show, in January detectives spoke with Kenyon's family about the case and by March had ended their investigation. More: Man shot, killed in argument at southwest IRC home; detectives question suspected shooter On July 11, Sheriff Eric Flowers said, the case was officially closed. Floridas stand your ground statute was cited in the report: attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be, has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force According to the investigative conclusion of Detective Luis Avila, the man was in imminent fear for his safety, and that of his family, and was cornered when he shot Kenyon, who forcefully entered an occupied bedroom. Originally from Fort Pierce, Kenyon had nine children and worked in the kitchen of a seafood restaurant on State Road 60. Travis Kenyon, 35, died May 16, 2022 from gunshot wounds sustained in what law enforcement officials described as a domestic dispute at a home in the 700 block of 5th Place Southwest. Statements taken by detectives show Kenyon's relationship with a woman in whose home he was living was turbulent and erupted into conflict the night he was set to move out. A conflict between both families grew and pressed toward a bedroom, where the man said to have fired the shots was with his child, according to the report. Records show the woman said she ordered Kenyon and his family out of the room, but he pushed through and was shot. Story continues Authorities released few details and withheld identities until the investigation ended. Assistant State Attorney Brandon White went to the shooting scene that night. The sheriffs office (felt) like there was not enough to submit a warrant for our review, said White. In order for law enforcement to do a warrant they have to swear under oath that there was probable cause that a crime was committed. A man was shot and killed at home during what officials said was an argument in a large gathering at a home in the 700 block of 5th Place Southwest, where deputies and crime scene investigators were gathered late Monday, May 16, 2022. Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said if his agency seeks an arrest warrant without probable cause, its like perjury. Especially on these stand-your-ground cases, he said. If the detective does not believe they have probable cause we do not submit an (arrest) affidavit. Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreyarwood, or reach him by phone at 772-978-2246. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: IRCSO: 35-year-old shot, killed in self defense; IRC man faces no charges An Irmo High School teacher has been arrested and charged with giving an underage student THC gummies, vapes and items of a sexual nature, according to the Lexington County Sheriffs Department. Brianna Nicole Carpenter, 25, has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to a statement released by the sheriffs department.. The victims parents found womens clothing, sexual items and expensive electronics in the victims room, Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. The victim later admitted a teacher gave it all to them. Deputies also found online communication between the minor and Carpenter, Koon said. It is unclear whether the victim was a student of Carpenters. Carpenter is also accused of giving the victim 70 to 80 edible THC gummies and two THC vape devices, according to the statement. A LinkedIn page for Brianna Carpenter describes her as an English teacher in the Lexington & Richland School District 5. The page lists her start date as October 2022. Carpenter is being held in the Lexington County Detention Center. No information has been provided about whether Carpenter will be granted bond. As Israel plunges deeper into crisis after the countrys parliament passed the first bill of a controversial judicial overhaul, thousands of Israeli army reservists the backbone of the Israeli military are threatening not to show up for work. And Israels leaders are sounding alarms about the countrys readiness for war. The law that came into effect on Wednesday took away the courts power to veto government decisions based on them being unreasonable. Millions opposed the change, according to opinion polls, which critics said would erode the independence of the courts and harm Israels democracy. At the current point in time, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is competent, IDF Chief Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters on Tuesday, but he acknowledged that the countrys military readiness could be affected. If reservists do not show up for a long time, there will be damage to the armys competence. It is a gradual process that will be affected according to the presence of the reservists, he said. The threat is unprecedented in its scope, experts say, and the military has pleaded with reservists to remain in their posts. Members of Israeli security forces guard the al-Aqsa Mosque compound following clashes that erupted during Islam's holy fasting month of Ramadan in Jerusalem on April 5. - Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images The IDF needs you only together will we protect our common home, IDF Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi said Tuesday, addressing reservists who refused to show up for service. Nearly 10,000 military reservists said before the passage of the controversial reasonableness bill on Monday that they would refuse to volunteer for duty if it was passed. And the number of refusers is growing, according to Hagari. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke by phone with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and reiterated the US commitment to Israels security. But he also said that broad consensus through political dialogue was critical to maintain democracy. Chuck Freilich, a senior researcher at The Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv who served for over 20 years in Israels national security establishment, said that Israel is at a historical inflection point, in which extreme measures may have to be taken to endure Israels fundamental character of democracy. Story continues Speaking about reservists refusing, Freilich said that on the one hand, it is admirable. But on the other hand, he said, it is a horrible thing for the IDF. It was remarkable, he added, that one of the worlds better militaries is threatening to come apart at the seams over domestic changes. When the vote passed on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the IDF to stay out of any political controversy, saying that the call for refusal harms the security of all citizens of the country. The backbone of Israels military A country that went to war shortly after its founding in 1948, Israel has fought seven wars and engaged in several other smaller conflicts with its neighbors. Every Israeli over the age of 18 who is Jewish, Druze or Circassian must serve in the military, an institution that is deeply entrenched in many Israelis sense of identity and nationhood. Palestinian citizens of Israel and ultra-Orthodox Jews are exempt from swerving, among some others. Yiftach Golov, a disabled IDF veteran and a leading member of Brothers and Sisters in Arms, the IDF reservists and veterans protest movement, said that by definition, the reservists are the backbone of the IDF. They comprise the majority, the bigger fraction of the IDF, Golov told CNN, adding that their strength is not only in numbers, but also in their higher expertise. After completing their mandatory service, soldiers can remain part of the countrys reserve army a force of some 400,000 soldiers who can at any moment be called to serve. Israelis can remain part of the reserve until their forties or sometimes beyond. Among those threatening to quit are more than 1,000 reservists in the Israeli Air Force, whom Golov describes as one the militarys main, major forces, defining its aerial abilities. The Israeli Air Force makes up one third of the IDFs manpower. We feel like we are doing the right thing, and that we are fighting for the democracy of Israel, one reservist, who has been volunteering for 23 years, told CNN at a protest in Jerusalem on Tuesday. Another reservist called on the government to stop the madness, stop the destruction of the army. The military remains a huge part of Israeli society, even while that influence has faded a bit over the years, Freilich said, with more than half of Israeli society today having had some experience in the IDF. For many Israelis, military service is a rite of passage. Freilich says that reservists are likely to return to duty if there is a real national security threat, but their protest nonetheless harms the IDF. This isnt a refusal to serve, he said. These are people who are totally committed to Israels defense, and if there was some sort of security emergency tomorrow, they will all report for duty instantaneously. What theyre saying is that this crisis is so important there is a higher morality they have to report to, he added. Volatile surroundings Israels domestic crisis takes place amid increased tensions at its borders. The country is still formally at war with several of its neighbors, including Lebanon and Syria. Violence regularly flares up between Israeli forces and Palestinians in East Jerusalem and in the occupied West Bank as well as with Palestinian militants in Gaza. After years of calm, tensions also rose across Israels northern border with Lebanon earlier this year, when Israel and militants in southern Lebanon exchanged a barrage of rockets in April. The escalation was the worst between the two sides since 2006. Israel blamed Hamas for the rockets. Some of Israels enemies have been watching the crisis closely. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Monday in a televised speech that Israel is on a path of collapse, fragmentation, and disappearance, Reuters reported. Today, in particular, is the worst day in the history of the entity (Israel), as some of its people say. Israeli police use a water cannon to disperse demonstrators blocking a road during a protest in Jerusalem on Monday. - Mahmoud Illean/AP Netanyahu and others have warned of the dangers of not showing up for military duty, but Golov of Brothers and Sisters in Arms says that this is a divide and conquer tactic by the prime minister. The government will try to create a sense of an opposite world, said Golov, when the patriots become traitors. Freilich said that Nasrallah, Iran, Gaza and the West Bank, would find a lot of joy in watching Israel potentially tear itself apart. But the problem is not with the protesters. The problem is with the government and the prime minister that caused this, he said. He (Netanyahu) is willing to pay any price to move forward with this. Golov sees reservists threatening not to serve as a sign of something much bigger. Now it is only the beginning, Golov said. But you will see this movement now penetrating into the masses of the ground brigades, also known as the army. CNNs Fred Pleitgen contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Emily Rose JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli army reservist Avishai Cohen says his decision to stop reporting for duty was perhaps the hardest of his life. But he is ready to face the consequences, including possible jail time, as he protests against moves to limit the judiciary's authority. He is one of a growing number of reservists who have said they will stop serving in protest at steps by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to make changes to the judiciary, seeing a threat to Israel's democracy. It reflects just how deeply Israel has been fractured over the plans, with the repercussions hitting a military that, with the key support of reservists, has been vital to the state's survival through numerous wars since it was established in 1948. Cohen, 42, a major, declared his decision on social media after Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition ratified the first part of their plan in parliament on Monday, curbing some of the Supreme Court's powers. He thought about his late grandmother, an Auschwitz survivor, as he weighed up his decision. "I remember, she told us that it is our duty ... to serve, to protect our country," Cohen told Reuters. "But then I also remembered the lesson about humanity about the duty of soldiers to refuse to serve in a ... non-democratic army," said Cohen, who posted his decision alongside a photo of him in uniform with his arm around his grandmother. The plans have prompted months of unprecedented protests. Critics have accused Netanyahu of authoritarianism in his moves to roll back Supreme Court powers which have long been a check on government. Supporters of the changes say they are needed for balance among branches of government, and reject criticism that Israel's democracy is in jeopardy. The Israeli army on Tuesday acknowledged an increase in requests to abstain from military service, adding that damage would be done, gradually, to the preparedness of the armed forces if they did not report for duty for a long time. Story continues The military declined to provide Reuters with figures of how many reservists have notified their commanding officers that they will not serve. THE FINAL STRAW Known as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the army fought several major wars with Arab states after the declaration of Israel in 1948, and in more recent times has battled Iran-backed adversaries such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. Its ongoing operations include raids against Palestinian militants in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where violence has been surging for more than 15 months. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Tuesday the Israeli military "is combat-ready and will remain combat-ready" despite the protesting reservists, whom he accused of trying to "put a gun to the head of the government". Alongside full-time professional soldiers, many branches of the Israeli military depend on reservists who are required to undergo regular training and are called up at times of war. Israeli law does not punish those defined as volunteer reservists if they refuse to serve. But reservists like Cohen - who is defined as a combat officer - must serve when requested to do so until they are 45, or risk punishment. Cohen served as a soldier in the West Bank and later became a human rights activist, authoring a book criticising Israels treatment of Palestinians and its occupation of Palestinian territories. His father and two brothers have all served. Cohen said he continued to serve despite his criticism of Israeli policies in the West Bank. "I still decided that I need to contribute to protect my country," he said. But Mondays vote was the last straw. "It was maybe the most difficult decision Ive taken in my life," Cohen said, adding that he hoped others would follow in his footsteps. Ahead of Monday's vote, protest leaders had said thousands of volunteer reservists would not report for duty if the government continues with the judiciary overhaul. In a latter last week, more than 1,100 air force reservists threatened to stop serving. Another letter shared with Reuters last week was signed by 750 reservists with the intelligence special operations division who said they won't report for duty. One reservist, who asked not to be identified for security reasons, said 300 people had joined a Whatsapp group he administers for special operations reservists who will stop serving, and it now had 650 members. He shared with Reuters dozens of text messages which he said were copies of messages sent by reservists to their commanding officers saying they would no longer serve. Retired helicopter pilot Guy Poran, 67, who leads a group of air force reservists against the judicial overhaul, said many pilots would not serve after the decision. They are waiting to see if the Supreme Court, which said on Wednesday it would hear an appeal against the new law, would strike down the measure. Poran said its currently impossible to calculate the number of pilots who would be grounded over time, but the announcements that they would stop volunteering for reserve duty were a "major blow, a major shake-up" for the air force. (Reporting by Emily Rose; editing by Tom Perry and Mark Heinrich) Top meeting on economy spurs market confidence 08:39, July 26, 2023 By Qi Xijia and Wang Cong ( Global Times Chinese and overseas markets on Tuesday responded positively to a top meeting on the Chinese economy, where top Chinese officials vowed various efforts to ensure reasonable economic growth amid new challenges, which evidently injected confi-dence into the growth prospect of the world's second-largest economy despite down-ward pressure. The meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, presided over by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping, has sent a strong signal that Chinese policy-makers are moving swiftly to take concrete steps to tackle domestic and external chal-lenges and boost economic development in the second half of the year, so as to meet growth target for the year, analysts said. The meeting pointed out that the economic situation faces new challenges due to in-sufficient domestic demand, difficulties for some enterprises, risks in crucial sectors, and a complex and severe external environment. However, the Chinese economy still has vast potential, and the long-term positive fundamentals remain unchanged. Reviving confidence Before the meeting on Monday, many foreign media outlets were hyping negative views on the Chinese economy due to slowdown pressures. But on Tuesday, market confidence clearly improved, as stock prices surged, northbound capital inflows in-creased, and overall market performance indicated a renewed confidence among in-vestors. The stock market opened higher on Tuesday morning and continued the rally throughout the day, with all three major indexes on the Chinese mainland surging over 2 percent. At market close, the Shanghai Composite Index edged up by 2.13 percent, the Shenzhen Component Index rose by 2.54 percent, and the ChiNext Index gained 2.14 percent. Over 4,200 stocks made gains and more than 70 stocks hitting the daily limit increase of over 10 percent. Foreign capital is also buoyed by the meeting. Net inflow of "northbound capital" - overseas money flowing into China's A-share market - reached 18.9 billion yuan on Tuesday, a new high for the year. The offshore yuan has strengthened over 300 points against the US dollar, trading at 7.1469. The capital market and foreign exchange market have both reacted positively and strongly to the recent meeting, as it has set tone for the economic work for the rest of the year and has significantly improved economic expectations for the second half of the year in China, Tian Yun, a veteran economist based in Beijing, told the Global Times on Tuesday. "It confirms that China has enough policy room to support the economy," Tian said. While some foreign media said the meeting did not announce a large-scale stimulus plan and lacked specific details, Tian argued that China's economy achieved a 5.5 per-cent growth in the first half, indicating a continued recovery. Therefore, there is no need to implement aggressive stimulus policies. "Massive stimulus will only push China into the trap of deep debt," Tian noted. Chinese officials have also been stressing the need to avoid broad-based stimulus, as they also focus on improving quality of economic development, rather than just speed. Expected policy measures Still, there are plenty of policy tools at Chinese officials' disposal to ensure both speed and quality. Monday's meeting showed a strong signal of policymakers taking steps to stabilize the economy, the market, and confidence in the second half of the year. For macroeconomic policy, experts believe the recent "strengthening counter-cyclical adjustment" as mentioned at the meeting indicate the possibility of implementing monetary easing measures in the second half of the year, including a policy rate cut in the third quarter. It is not ruled out that China will lower the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) in August and September, Ming Ming, chief economist at CITIC Securities, told the Global Times. According to experts, some of the policies discussed in the meeting have surpassed what the market expected. These policies specifically focus on the capital market, property market, and job market. Experts highlighted that in the second half of the year, China may accelerate its open-ing up and increase efforts to attract more foreign investment as the meeting empha-sized the need to "boost the capital market and restore investor confidence." Tao Chuan, chief macro economy analyst from Soochow Securities, told the Global Times that the move on one hand will further stabilize the capital market, enhance the activity of private investment and improve their financing environment. On the other hand, it serves as a "reassurance" to stabilize foreign investment in China through pol-icy measures. Notably, the phrase "housing is for living in, not for speculation" was absent from the meeting announcement, which experts believe is a significant signal for an easing in real estate policies in the second half. It is expected that the administrative and restrictive policies that were previously im-plemented during periods of real estate market overheating will gradually be phased out, Tao said. Experts also noted that for the first time, the meeting has "put the importance of stabi-lizing employment at a strategic level," which reflects a high-level priority to stabilize employment. China's employment has remained largely stable in the first half of 2023, with the av-erage surveyed urban unemployment rate dropping down 0.2 percentage points from the first quarter to 5.3 percent. Yet, the surveyed unemployment rate for young people aged between 16 and 24 in June stood at 21.3 percent, recording a new high. It is expected that in the future there will be increased support for employment among young people to achieve the goal of stable employment, Ming said. With the improved expectation, policy adjustment and more policies being rolled out in the second half of the year, China is capable of achieving annual growth of around 5.5 percent this year, Tian said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) By Maayan Lubell JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken a hit in the polls over a judicial law his hard-right coalition has championed, deepening a crisis that has shaken Israelis, seeped into the military, bruised the economy and dismayed Washington. Surveys published late on Tuesday by two main Israeli news broadcasters showed that if an election was held now, the number of seats held by Netanyahu's governing coalition in the 120-seat Knesset would fall from 64 to 52 or 53. Seats held by Netanyahu's Likud party would fall from 32 to 28, according to N12 News, and to as low as 25 seats in a survey by broadcaster Reshet 13. On Monday, Netanyahu's nationalist-religious coalition, formed after an election on Nov. 1 last year, gave parliamentary approval to legislation that will limit some of the Supreme Court's powers, despite mass street protests and fierce objections from the opposition. It was the first ratification of a bill that is part of a government bid to overhaul the judiciary. Announced in January, the plan has sparked unprecedented street protests and stirred international concern for the state of Israel's democracy. Netanyahu won approval rating of 38% of respondents in N12's poll, with a majority of Israelis wanting his judicial plan either scrapped entirely or negotiated with the opposition. Less than a quarter of respondents showed support for the legislation package. Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption that he denies, has said he wants to pursue consensus on any further legislation by November. The United States has urged him to reach broad agreements on judicial reforms and called Monday's legislation "unfortunate". But Netanyahu's coalition has been determined to push back against what it describes as overreach by a Supreme Court that it says has become too politically interventionist. The new law says the Supreme Court cannot void government and ministerial decisions by deeming them unreasonable. Story continues Critics say the amendment was rushed through parliament and will open the door to abuses of power by removing one of the few effective checks on the executive's authority in a country without a formal written constitution. The divide has even spread to the military, with volunteer reservists saying they will not report for duty and former top brass warning that Israel's war-readiness could be at risk. On Tuesday, Moody's Investors Service said the government's judicial drive and the upheaval it has been causing will likely have negative consequences for Israel's economy and security. (Writing by Maayan Lubell; editing by Robert Birsel) By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Long feted as a torch-bearer for basic rights or scorned for elitist over-reach, Israel's Supreme Court is under ever fiercer scrutiny as it is asked to roll back Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial reforms - and to rule on its own powers. Since the Knesset, controlled by Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition, passed the first bill in a stormy Monday session, a raft of appeals has been filed in the court, located a stone's throw across a rose garden on a gentle Jerusalem hill. For many Israelis, the two buildings might as well be worlds apart. They see in the mobilising of the judiciary against the executive and legislature a battle for the future of a country polarised over politics, religion, ethnicity and even gender. "Big Bang at Supreme Court," read a headline on the popular Ynet news-site in a nod to the sense of an existential shake-up. The court said on Wednesday it would hear arguments in September by political watchdog activists who, in their appeal, deemed the new law "a substantive change to the fundamental structure of Israeli parliamentary democracy and the character of government". Proponents of the reform cried foul. "The Supreme Court is not only being asked to be a judge in its own case, it is being asked to decide that a constitutional amendment is unconstitutional," said Eugene Kontorovich, a scholar at the conservative Kohelet Policy Forum in Jerusalem. "It would truly be the end of meaningful democracy." Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a top Netanyahu confidant, appeared to sidestep a question on whether the government would heed a Supreme Court decision against it. "The government will always obey and abide by the rule of law in Israel because we're - we have in Israel the rule of law. What we don't have is the rule of judges," he told CNN. The showdown has loomed since the 1990s, when an activist chief justice, Aharon Barak, advocated expanding realms in which the court could rule in the absence of a written constitution. Story continues It was a time of peacemaking efforts with the Palestinians that were opposed by Israelis who wanted to keep occupied land, and of military crackdowns on violence when the talks collapsed - and conservatives saw some court intervention as left-leaning. With Netanyahu having bounded back to power in December after a decisive election win, the government has been impatient with judicial measures it perceives as undermining its mandate. "There's all check and no balance. That's the problem that we've had in Israel over the last 30 years," Dermer said. Such arguments have been disputed by Alan Dershowitz, a prominent U.S. jurist with expertise on Israel's legal system. In a December interview, he called the Israeli judiciary "a gem ... respected all over the world" for its independence, and said that the Supreme Court duty was being counter-majoritarian. In Netanyahu's Likud party, which draws core support among disadvantaged Mizrahi Jews of Middle Eastern descent, there is resentment of the mostly Ashkenazi, or European Jewish, make-up of the bench - although two of the justices are from West Bank settlements that account for just 5% of Israel's population. "The Supreme Court is a clique," Dudi Amsalem, a cabinet member who holds a Justice Ministry post, argued in an April TV interview. He called for Chief Justice Esther Hayut to be put on trial for what he described as complicity in a coup attempt. In 2022, Amsalem said in a Knesset speech that Hayut "hates" him and others from Moroccan immigrant families. She denied that in an open letter, voicing sorrow at the allegation and noting that she was born to Holocaust survivors in a transit camp. As the crisis has gathered steam, Hayut has been assigned armed bodyguards. So has Gali Baharav Miara, Israel's attorney-general, who has come out against the planned judicial overhaul. Baharav Miara on Tuesday issued an opinion in favour of a separate Supreme Court appeal, due to be heard next week, against a government-led amendment to a quasi-constitutional law limiting conditions for removing the prime minister from office. Some anti-government activists are worried about the rise of male-dominated Orthodox Jewish political parties. Amsalem did little to allay that when, addressing the Knesset last week, he accused Baharav Miara of "doing her makeup and putting rollers in her hair" rather than tackling protests against the reforms. Merav Michaeli, head of the centre-left Labour party, has praised Hayut and Baharav Miara for "protecting us (women) in the name of the law". (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams and Maayan Lubell; editing by Mark Heinrich) Passers-by look at a mural painting by Italian artist- activist aleXsandro Palombo, depicting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (R) and Democratic Party (PD) Secretary Elly Schlein (L) naked and pregnant as debate rages over surrogacy (GABRIEL BOUYS) Italian lawmakers on Wednesday backed a bill to extend the country's ban on surrogacy to couples who seek it abroad, sparking warnings the move was unconstitutional and would damage children's rights. The bill, which passed the lower house of parliament and now heads to the Senate, would make Italians who seek surrogacy in other countries liable for prosecution on their return home. It was put forward by the far-right Brothers of Italy party of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the self-described "Christian mother" who won September elections on a campaign of nationalism and traditional family values. Brothers of Italy MP Elisabetta Gardini on Wednesday condemned surrogacy as a "uterus for rent" that "outrages the dignity of women and tramples on the rights of children". Another party member in March said that surrogacy, where a woman carries to term a pregnancy on behalf of others, was crime "even more serious than paedophilia". Under 2004 legislation, anyone involved in surrogacy in Italy faces three months to two years in jail and a fine ranging from 600,000 euros ($664,000) to one million euros. Critics said extending the ban to people using surrogates abroad was impractical and unconstitutional, and accused Meloni's right-wing coalition of political posturing. Stefania Ascari of the opposition Five Star Movement called it a "huge legal mess" which was "above all hugely harmful to the rights of minors" who might arrive in Italy to see their parents arrested. - 'State homophobia' - Until now, Italians who can afford it have been able to travel to countries where surrogacy is allowed, such as the United States or Canada. Media reports suggest the vast majority are heterosexual couples who cannot have children themselves. However, the new proposal has sparked alarm among LGBTQ activists who have been warning of moves to erode civil rights since Meloni took office in October. Story continues Ahead of the debate, a few hundred people gathered Tuesday evening in front of Rome's Pantheon to protest the bill, many waving rainbow flags. Among them was Mario Colamarino, 32, a gay man who said he would one day like to have his own children, who called the anti-surrogacy bill "a pretext, a state homophobia against us". "Instead of dealing with the climate... fires, serious problems, gas prices, the government sees fit to deal with these things, an issue that concerns few people," he told AFP. Fabrizio LaPaglia, 60, a gay man with children from an earlier marriage with a woman, said he was at the protest to support all those seeking the right to surrogacy, whether homosexual or straight. "This government is strongly supported by pro-life associations, they are fundamentalists who want to make decisions about a woman's body and the LGBT community," LaPaglia said. - Legal limbo - The issue is part of a wider unsolved problem in Italy, which lacks a law to recognise the children of same-sex couples. That leaves them in legal limbo with only the biological parent registered on their birth certificates, forcing the other to embark on the lengthy and costly process of adoption. In the absence of clear policy, some cities, including Milan, Turin and Padua, had been registering the children of same-sex couples conceived overseas through surrogacy. But an interior ministry directive in March instructed municipalities to stop, and some parents' names have since been eliminated from city registers -- a distressing move which also creates bureaucratic problems for the excluded parent. Civil unions have been allowed in Italy since 2016 but same-sex couples cannot marry, or adopt. Medically assisted reproduction -- in which a donated egg or sperm is used -- is legal for heterosexual couples but not for same-sex couples or single women. ams-ar/bp The Senate of the Republic of Italy has voted to recognise the Holodomor the 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine that occurred as a result of the USSRs deliberate policies as the genocide of the Ukrainian people. Source: European Pravda Details: A total of 130 members of the Italian Senate voted in favour of the resolution recognising the Holodomor as genocide, four abstained, and not a single senator voted against the resolution. In the resolution, Italian senators noted that in 1932-1933, the USSR, led by Joseph Stalin, "deliberately provoked famine, which caused millions of deaths, mainly peasants and small landowners", among the civilian population of Ukraine. "The memory of the Holodomor and Soviet crimes against the Ukrainian people is becoming even more important today in the light of the Russian invasion and a new attempt to erase Ukrainian national identity", the document writes. Accordingly, the adopted resolution obliges the Italian Senate to recognise the Holodomor as genocide with the adoption of any further initiative in coordination with the Chamber of Deputies, the government, and European and international institutions. Commenting on the decision of the Italian senators, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called it an important step that "restores historical justice, honors millions of victims, and warns future generations against the crime of genocide". The Holodomor was a famine of 1932-1933 artificially created by Stalin's repressive regime in the heyday of collectivisation, that is, the forced seizure of private property and the organisation of collective farms. As a result of those events, according to various estimates, from four to six million Ukrainians died due to the lack of food, mainly in rural areas. Background: To date, the Holodomor has been recognised as genocide against the Ukrainian people by the parliaments of more than two dozen countries in the world, as well as the European Parliament. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! (Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) TV chef James Martin has been accused of bullying his ITV colleagues. The British star has reportedly been spoken to by the channel following a complaint from an employee described as his closest colleague that was registered in May. This complaint came after the filming of his next cookery show James Martins Spanish Adventure and, according to Deadline, its the second one to follow an incident that occurred in 2018. Martins production company, Blue Marlin Television, has acknowledged the complaints, saying lessons have been learned. Its been alleged that Martin reduced members of the new ITV specials crew to tears in front of their fellow employees, and then changed schedules that would have only given them a few hours of sleep. Martin is then claimed to have shown up late despite being the one to change the schedule. A producer who regularly works with Martin said: Whats remarkable is I saw this behaviour on every project I did with him and it feels conscious. I think he just feels like its OK to behave like that. The first complaint, which was made in 2018, came after the chef allegedly grew angry with a member of staff after his drain became blocked while filming an episode of James Martins Saturday Morning at his home. Those who work on this show said that Martin has been repeatedly accused of inappropriate, intimidating and bullying behaviour. In response to the two allegations, Blue Marlin Television told Deadline: An unfortunate incident occurred after filming James Martins Saturday Morning in 2018 where Jamess home was badly damaged. Blue Marlin accepted responsibility. James was shocked by what had happened and on reflection acknowledges he responded emotionally, which he wholly regrets. James apologises for any offence or upset caused, as he did at the time to the crew involved. Following this and some issues filming James Martins Spanish Adventure, James and Blue Marlin Television agree that lessons have been learned which have been discussed with members of the team and with ITV. Blue Marlin Television and James Martin have taken on board ITVs recommendations and their sharing of best practice, and are in the process of fully implementing. Story continues However, the company denied to The Independent that there was major damage to his house. The statement continued: Since the 2018 incident, Blue Marlin Television has continued to film over 500 shows at James home. Blue Marlin Television remains committed to ensuring the welfare of all those with whom they work is of the utmost priority. Meanwhile, ITV said in response to The Independent: Following a complaint we received in May from members of the Blue Marlin production team about the filming of James Martins Spanish Adventure, we contacted Blue Marlin to discuss these concerns and to understand how the issues raised were being addressed and what actions were being taken. As a result, we made a number of recommendations for Blue Marlin to implement as soon as possible, sharing best practice of some of our own relevant procedures around staff welfare and reiterating our Supplier Code of Conduct. James Martin (Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) It continued: At ITV people and their welfare are our highest priority. The production companies who make shows for us have primary responsibility for the duty of care of everyone they work with, both on and off screen. We make clear our expectations in this regard as part of our pre-greenlight duty of care processes. This includes having appropriate independent controls in place to enable everyone who works on their shows to confidently and confidentially raise concerns. The Independent has contacted Martin for additional comment. This controversy comes shortly after ITV vowed, during a parliamentary hearing following the Phillip Schofield controversy, that it had a zero tolerance guidelines when bullying and harassment was concerned. Donald Trump; Jack Smith Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images At least two more fake electors have been subpoenaed in special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into former President Donald Trump's attempts to challenge and overturn the 2020 election results, NBC News reported. The electors are scheduled to appear in early August before the grand jury in Washington, marking their first testimony, a source told the outlet. These individuals were part of groups of fake electors operating in seven battleground states. Most of them signed documents falsely claiming that Trump had won in states won by President Joe Biden. Numerous witnesses have already testified before the Washington-based grand jury as part of the investigation, including two electors from Nevada who appeared before the same grand jury last month. For months now, Smith's team has been conducting an investigation into Trump's elaborate plan to remain in the White House even after losing the election. This scheme ultimately led to his supporters violently attacking the Capitol on January 6, 2021. The special counsel's office has interviewed multiple former officials inquiring about Trump's state of mind prior to the election and asked witnesses about Trump retaliating against officials, who challenged his narrative concerning election security. Investigators have also interviewed Chris Krebs, the head of DHS's cyber agency, who was fired by Trump shortly after releasing a statement in November that confirmed there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud. "The special counsel appears to be investigating what President Trump said and did in private to further show that Trump's public statements and actions about election fraud were not borne out of good faith or [an] honest mistake," Temidayo Aganga-Williams, white-collar partner at Selendy Gay Elsberg and former senior investigative counsel for the House Jan. 6 committee, told Salon. Now, the Department of Justice has also reached an agreement with Bernie Kerik, the former NYPD commissioner involved in gathering evidence of alleged election fraud on behalf of the Trump campaign in 2020, according to The Daily Beast. Story continues Kerik will hand over records that were related to his role as Trump's "on-the-ground investigator looking into eventually disproven conspiracy theories about ballot stuffing and fake voters," The Beast reported. In February 2020, then-President Trump granted Kerik a full pardon, effectively nullifying his 2010 conviction on eight felony charges related to tax fraud and providing false information to federal officials. Following his conviction, Kerik served almost three years in prison before being released in 2013. When Smith previously requested the documents, Kerik's legal team had refused to hand them over, citing attorney-client privilege. They argued that the privilege applied because Kerik was working on behalf of Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. On Friday though, Trump waived the privilege and agreed to have the documents turned over, Kerik's defense lawyer Timothy Parlatore told The Beast. Smith is now anticipated to receive close to 2,000 pages of material documenting Kerik's examination of unfounded fraud claims and his team is expected to interview Kerik next month. The files include affidavits alleging extensive "irregularities," questionable statistical analyses claiming to expose "fraudulent activities" and investigative materials concerning a senior employee of Dominion Voting Systems, according to CNN. These records could be crucial for federal prosecutors, as they seek evidence regarding Trump's decision-making process, during which he persistently made groundless allegations about the 2020 election being "rigged," despite being informed otherwise by top advisers. "Trump's persistent disregard of evidence contrary to his election fraud claims will be essential to demonstrate Trump was acting in bad faith," Aganga-Williams said. Read more about the January 6 probe Map of Japan Japan has the world's third-largest economy, having achieved remarkable growth in the second half of the 20th Century after the devastation of World War Two. Its role in the international community is considerable. It is a major aid donor, and a source of global capital and credit. More than three quarters of the population live in sprawling cities on the coastal fringes of Japan's four mountainous, heavily-wooded islands. Japan's rapid post-war expansion - propelled by highly successful car and consumer electronics industries - ran out of steam by the 1990s under a mounting debt burden that successive governments have failed to address. Japan's relations with its neighbours are still heavily influenced by the legacy of Japanese actions before and during World War Two. Japan has found it difficult to accept and atone for its treatment of the citizens of countries it occupied. Read more country profiles - Profiles by BBC Monitoring JAPAN: FACTS Capital: Tokyo Area: 377,975 sq km Population: 122.4 million Language: Japanese Life expectancy: 81 years (men) 87 years (women) LEADERS Head of State: Emperor Naruhito Japanese Emperor Naruhito Crown Prince Naruhito succeeded to the throne as emperor when his father Akihito abdicated on the last day of April 2019, after a reign of 30 years. Akihito had no political power, but played an important role in working to heal the wounds of a war waged across Asia in the name of his own father, the Emperor Hirohito. He also promoted a more approachable image of the imperial family among the Japanese public, a style that the new emperor is expected to continue. Emperor Naruhito, who studied at Oxford University, has said that his reign will bear the name Reiwa, which "beautiful harmony". Prime minister: Fumio Kishida Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kichida This scion of a political dynasty won a snap election to become prime minister in October 2021 following the resignation of Yoshihide Suga, who had beaten him to the premiership a year earlier. Story continues Mr Suga resigned over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, allowing the former foreign minister to take over. Mr Kishida, who is also leader of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, is seen as more liberal than his recent predecessors. His government has been hit by a political scandal related to his party's links to the Unification Church that came to light after the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe in 2022. MEDIA Newspaper reader in Japan Japan's broadcasting scene is competitive and technologically-advanced. While the use of online media and social platforms is ubiquitous, the printed press has a very high readership and is highly trusted. TIMELINE A delegation officially presents Japan's surrender at the end of World War Two Some key dates in Japan's history: 1853 - US fleet forces Japan to open up to foreign influence after over 200 years of self-imposed isolation. 1868 - Empire of Japan proclaimed, and country enters period of rapid industrialisation and imperial expansion. 1894-95 - Japan goes to war with China, and its better-equipped forces win victory in just nine months. China cedes Taiwan and permits Japan to trade on mainland. 1904 - Japan becomes first Asian country in modern times to defeat an European power when it routs Russia in Manchuria. 1910 - Japan annexes Korea after three years of fighting, becoming one of the world's leading powers. 1914 - Japan joins World War One on the side of Britain and her allies, gaining some Pacific islands from Germany. 1923 - Earthquake in Tokyo region kills more than 100,000 people. British Empire ends 21-year alliance with Japan, signalling Western and US apprehension of Japan's growing power in East Asia. 1925 - Universal male suffrage is instituted. The electorate increases fivefold. Late 1920s - Extreme nationalism begins to take hold in Japan as world economic depression hits. The emphasis is on a preservation of traditional Japanese values, and a rejection of "Western" influence. 1931 - Japanese army invades Chinese province of Manchuria, installs puppet regime. 1932 - Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi killed during failed coup by nationalist army officers. Military holds increasing influence in the country. 1936 - Japan signs alliance with Nazi Germany. 1937 - Japan goes to war with China, capturing Shanghai, Beijing and Nanjing amid atrocities like the "Rape of Nanjing", in which up to 300,000 Chinese civilians were killed. 1939 - Outbreak of World War Two in Europe. With fall of France in 1940, Japan moves to occupy French Indo-China. 1941 - Japan launches a surprise attack on US Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. US and main allies declare war on Japan. 1942 - Japan occupies succession of countries, including Philippines, Dutch East Indies, Burma and Malaya. In June, US aircraft carriers defeat the Japanese at the Battle of Midway. The US begins a strategy of "'island-hopping", cutting the Japanese support lines as its forces advance. 1945 - US planes drop two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August. Emperor Hirohito surrenders and relinquishes divine status. Japan placed under US military government. All Japanese military and naval forces disbanded. 1947 - New constitution comes into force, establishes parliamentary system with all adults eligible to vote. Japan renounces war and pledges not to maintain land, sea or air forces for that purpose. Emperor granted ceremonial status. 1951 - Japan signs peace treaty with US and other nations. But there is no peace treaty with Russia, as the legal successor to the Soviet Union. 1952 - Japan regains independence. US retains several islands for military use, including Okinawa. 1955 - Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) formed. Apart from brief interludes, party governs into 21st century. 1956 - Japan joins United Nations. 1972 - Japanese prime minister visits China and normal diplomatic relations are resumed. Japan subsequently closes embassy in Taiwan. Okinawa is returned to Japanese sovereignty, but US retains bases there. 1989 - Emperor Hirohito dies, succeeded by Akihito. 1995 - An earthquake hits central Japan, killing thousands and causing widespread damage. The city of Kobe is hardest hit. A religious sect, Aum Shinrikyo, releases the deadly nerve gas sarin on the Tokyo underground railway system, killing 12 and injuring thousands. 2006 - Parliament approves the creation of a fully-fledged defence ministry, the first since World War Two. 2011 - Huge offshore earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastate miles of shoreline. Damage to the Fukushima nuclear plant causes a radiation leak that leaves extensive areas uninhabitable and contaminates food supplies. 2015 - Lower house of parliament backs bills allowing troops to fight overseas for first time since 1945, prompting protests at home and criticism from China. 2019 - Akihito abdicates and his son Naruhito becomes emperor, 2022 - There is worldwide shock over the assassination of former prime minister Japan Shinzo Abe - the country's longest serving premier. His killing triggers questions over links between politicians and the Unification Church. Jason Aldeans music video for his controversial song Try That In A Small Town appears to have been quietly edited to remove a portion related to Black Lives Matter. On 14 July, the country singer dropped the accompanying video for his hit song, initially released in May. The video which shows Aldean performing in front of a courthouse with an American flag hanging from the entrance and images of protestors fighting with police officers has since ignited furore among listeners, who accused it of promoting violence. However, it now appears the video has been shortened by six seconds and no longer includes a portion of footage taken from a Fox 5 Atlanta news broadcast, which showed violent interactions at the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. In the original uploaded music video, clips from the news broadcast were featured twice. During one scene, the footage was projected onto the wall of a Tennessee courthouse. It is unclear when the clip was removed, but the music video itself has reportedly undergone several edits since it sparked criticism. The Independent has contacted Aldeans representative and Fox 5 Atlanta for comment. Since its release, the music video has garnered over 19 million views on YouTube, while the song has soared to the top of US charts. It was pulled from rotation on Country Music Television on 18 July, though the American broadcaster has not provided a reason for its decision. Jason Aldean attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Getty Images) Critics have called the song racist and a lynching anthem after learning that the music video was filmed outside the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, where 18-year-old Black teenager Henry Choate was lynched in 1927. The location was also the site of the Columbia race riot in 1946. The track has also been criticised for its allusion to gun ownership and use. Aldean, 46, was a performer at Route 91 Festival in Las Vegas in 2017, where a shooter killed 60 people and injured 400. The incident is the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in American history. Story continues Aldean has since responded to the criticism in a post on Twitter. 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, his message began. These references are not only meritless, but dangerous. There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it and there isnt a single video clip that isnt real news footage and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music this one goes too far. 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 neighbours, regardless of differences of background or belief. President Biden brushed off and smiled at reporters who peppered him with questions Tuesday evening about a potential impeachment by Republicans in the House. Following a speech in the East Room of the White House about expanding access to mental health care, Biden made his way to the exit where a group of reporters eagerly asked for his thoughts about the growing discussion by Republicans to impeach him. Amid numerous questions, one reporter asked, "Mr. President, McCarthy says he may [consider] an impeachment inquiry to get to the bottom of " Smiling from ear to ear in one clip shared to social media, Biden quickly passed by the noisy group of reporters. MCCARTHY: BIDEN CASE WILL 'RISE TO IMPEACHMENT' AS 16 ROMANIAN PAYMENTS ALLEGEDLY WENT TO 'SHELL COMPANIES' President Biden leaves after speaking about expanding access to mental health care in the East Room of the White House on July 25, 2023. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., says Republican lawmakers may consider an impeachment inquiry of Biden over claims of financial misconduct. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Speaking Tuesday at the Capitol, McCarthy said the questions that House Republicans are raising about the Biden family finances need to be investigated. He said an impeachment inquiry "allows Congress to get the information to be able to know the truth" about whether Biden committed any wrongdoing. An impeachment inquiry by the House would be a first step toward bringing articles of impeachment. Such a probe could be as lengthy or swift as the House determines, potentially stretching into campaign season. Other Republicans also appear to be on board with the idea of impeachment, specifically House Freedom Caucus members. "When [McCarthy] does speak to impeachment, it carries a tremendous amount of weight. And that's why I think the ground shifted on that a little bit when he opened up the door," Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., said after a Freedom Caucus press conference on Tuesday. "I don't think there's any question that him speaking to that has caused a paradigm shift." Story continues Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., suggested there would be "an uprising" against Biden if the House did not move forward with trying to remove him. "Look, the evidence is mounting against this guy. Look at what hes done," Norman said. "What Donald Trumps done with papers pales in comparison." Norman said there was a "difference of opinion" on whether to take such a severe step but dismissed the idea of risking an impeachment vote that fails. McCarthy, right, predicted Monday that Republicans will gather enough evidence soon to mount an impeachment inquiry against President Biden as the corruption scandal enveloping him and his son, Hunter, grows. "Some people think that what hes done isnt that bad. A lot of us in general the public, its going to be an uprising against this guy, I think, at the end of the day." HOUSE CONSERVATIVES HUNGRY FOR BIDEN IMPEACHMENT AFTER MCCARTHYS COMMENTS: GROUND SHIFTED McCarthy predicted Monday that Republicans will gather enough evidence soon to mount an impeachment inquiry against Biden as the corruption scandal enveloping him and his son, Hunter, grows. McCarthy made reference to a relatively new revelation from the House Oversight Committee that while Joe Biden was vice president Hunter Biden "capitalized" on a financial relationship with a Romanian national later convicted on corruption charges. According to prepared remarks from House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., in June, the Bidens received more than $1 million in 17 increments. McCarthy, during an appearance on Fox News, said that 16 of those 17 payments went to what he described as "Biden shell companies" while President Biden was vice president. According to Comer's prepared remarks, the elder Biden had been "lecturing Romania on anti-corruption policies" while instead being a "walking billboard for his family to collect money." "When President Biden was running for office, he told the American public that he's never talked about [Hunter's] business. He said his family has never received a dollar from China, which we now prove is not true," McCarthy said on "Hannity." He said evidence and legitimacy of their caucus' probes are mounting as he described the two IRS investigators who testified before Congress last week as "some of the most credible" to come forward. President Biden leaves the East Room at the White House on July 25, 2023. McCarthy cited the FBI 1023 form wherein a confidential human source told the bureau that Biden was paid $5 million by a Burisma executive while he was vice president and while Hunter was on the company's board. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Biden has long denied discussion or involvement in Hunter's business dealings, recently rebuffing a New York Post reporter who asked why he is reportedly referred to as the "big guy" in the FBI form which is the same nickname purportedly used as a pseudonym in a message gleaned from previously released documentation connected to Hunter. McCarthy on Tuesday gave no timeline for launching an impeachment inquiry into Biden. Fox News' Charles Creitz and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Joe Lewis UK billionaire Joe Lewis, whose family trust owns Tottenham Hotspur football club, has pleaded not guilty to insider trading charges in a Manhattan court. He was granted $300m (230m) bail. New York prosecutors allege he hatched a "brazen" scheme that enriched his friends. He allegedly supplied confidential information that allowed them to profit from buying or selling related stocks. The court granted two co-accused, Mr Lewis' pilots, bail of $250,000. His lawyer David Zornow earlier said charging the tycoon was an "egregious error". He added that the charges would be "defended vigorously in court", and that the 86-year-old had come to the US voluntarily to defend himself against the "ill-conceived charges". He usually resides in the Bahamas, but surrendered on Wednesday to federal authorities in the US. In a statement, a Tottenham Hotspur spokesperson said the charges facing Mr Lewis had no bearing on the club: "This is a legal matter unconnected with the club and as such we have no comment." It's been noted that last October the club made a filing to Companies House confirming that Lewis was - the club said - "no longer a person with significant control at the club". Mr Lewis was charged with 16 counts of security fraud, and three counts of conspiracy for crimes alleged to have taken place between 2013 to 2021, according to the 29-page indictment. Allegations against Mr Lewis were laid out in a video statement posted to the US State Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. "We allege that, for years, Joe Lewis abused his access to corporate board rooms and repeatedly provided inside information to his romantic partners, his personal assistants, his private pilots, and his friends," US attorney Damian Williams said in the video. Mr Williams, the chief federal law enforcement officer for the SDNY, alleged that Mr Lewis's acquaintances used that information to make millions of dollars in the stock market. Story continues "Thanks to [Mr] Lewis, those bets were a sure thing," he claimed. "None of this was necessary. Joe Lewis is a wealthy man", he added. The indictment quoted one pilot texting a friend that "Boss lent Marty and I $500,000 each for this," and that he thought "the Boss has inside info" because "otherwise why would he make us invest". It listed several occasions on which Mr Lewis allegedly told his pilots to sell or invest in shares on the stock exchange, after he received confidential information. The indictment also alleges that Mr Lewis told a girlfriend to invest in a biotech company in July 2019, before the results of its clinical trial were made public. After speaking to his girlfriend, he allegedly logged into her bank account himself and used almost all of her available funds to invest into the company - amounting to $700,000. She then sold the shares for a profit of $849,000, say prosecutors. The indictment listed many other alleged incidents of Mr Lewis telling friends, girlfriends and employees to invest in stocks based on insider information. Insider trading is the illegal practice of using confidential information to trade on the stock exchange to one's advantage. Mr Lewis is reported to be one of Britain's richest men. According to the indictment he has a 98-metre superyacht that at times is his primary residence. He also owns a stake in UK pub chain Mitchells & Butlers. He was ranked 39th in the 2023 Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated worth of more than 5bn. News Daily banner Sign up for our morning newsletter and get BBC News in your inbox. Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero / The Daily Beast / Getty Not content to push homophobia, transphobia and fat-shaming, make light of sexual assault, and undermine the publics confidence in vaccines, uber-popular radio host Joe Rogan is now doing his best to dismantle astronomy, too. On July 16, Rogan tweeted to his 11 million followers a link to a press release from the University of Ottawa promoting recent research from Rajendra Gupta, one of the schools adjunct physics professors. New research puts age of universe at 26.7 billion years, nearly twice as old as previously believed https://t.co/S6HZIcGRsR Joe Rogan (@joerogan) July 16, 2023 Flouting decades of work by hundreds of the worlds best astronomers and physicists, Gupta invented a new formula, blended it with data from NASAs James Webb Space Telescope and concluded the universe is 26.7 billions years old. Thats nearly twice as old as the universes actual age13.7 billion years, a figure scientists spent decades calculating. Virtually none of Guptas peers agree with him, but that didnt bother Rogan. Nor did it trouble Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of Twitter, who replied to Rogans tweet. In addition to Rogans signal-boost, USA Today has highlighted Guptas old-universe notion, as has Popular Mechanics. A dubious notion from a minor player in the space sciences has gone mainstream. Possibly. Dark matter is what seems most sketch to me. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 16, 2023 Gupta is wrong. But hes just the right kind of wrong that appeals to self-proclaimed free-thinkers such as Rogan and Musk. With an assist from some mainstream media, the two libertarians are, wittingly or unwittingly, chipping away at one of the last bastions of pure sciencethe space sciences. Which is especially ironic considering that Musk also owns a rocket company. Story continues The populist embrace of Guptas fringe idea could have dangerous implications. Misinformed voices who lack credentials can drown out the educated voices who have spent their lives studying a subject, Allison Kirkpatrick, a University of Kansas astronomer, told The Daily Beast. Guptas main mistake was to revive a discredited theory about light. Space scientists agree that light tends to change color across time and space. Since the universe is expanding, lightin order to keep uptends to stretch out as it radiates. Over billions upon billions of miles and millions of years, this stretching-out changes the lights wavelength and makes it more red. Hundreds of Doctors Demand Spotify Stop Menace Joe Rogan From Pushing Anti-Vax Misinfo This so-called redshift is extremely useful to Earthbound astronomers gazing out at the inky depths of the cosmos. Exactly how red a star, or a galaxy full of stars, appears to be can tell us how far away it is, andas the universe is expandinghow old it is. Since everything in the universe started out in the same spot, and then burst outward with the Big Bang, the oldest and reddest observable objects should be close to the overall age of the universe. At the same time, this age should align with the gradual decay of the background radiation from the Big Bang. Match up these and other observations, as many scientists have done many times, and you get roughly the same age for the universe: 13.7 billion years. But Gupta was unhappy with the number, as he fixated on new data about some very old galaxies that are only now becoming observable thanks to the $10-billion James Webb Space Telescope, which launched on Christmas Day in 2021. NASAs Webb Telescope Cracks a 40-Year-Old Space Mystery Some of the oldest observable galaxies seem to have developed weirdly quickly in the first few hundreds of millions of years after the Big Bang. The well-accepted standard model of the universe is in tension with the JWST data, Gupta told The Daily Beast. So Gupta tried something new. He mixed into his calculations the defunct tired light model, which assumes the universe isnt expandingand that any redshift we observe comes from light literally wearing out and stretching out over time. He then applied tired light to an expanding universe. The result is a description of a very old universe. One thats expanding and is filled with light that slows down all on its own across space and time. The implication for astronomers, if Guptas model actually worked, is that those ancient and faraway galaxies wouldnt be 13.7 billion years old. Theyd be 26.7 billion years old. Those extra 13 billion years would have given the oldest galaxiesthe ones that recently became visible through the JWSTample time to evolve. The hybrid model is found to be compliant with the JWST observations, Gupta said. Its all very tidy. But only if you ignore a lot of other data, including the observable decay in the cosmic background radiation from the beginning of the universe. Also, the tired-light model should make faraway galaxies lose focus from our point of view here on Earth. Distant galaxies would appear blurred if tired light were correct, but they do not, Brian Keating, an astrophysicist at the University of California, San Diego, told The Daily Beast. The bottom line is that Guptas theory doesnt work. Yes, we still have a lot to learn about the oldest galaxies and how they seemingly formed so quickly. No, those mysteries do not fundamentally rewrite overlapping models that have aligned in recent decades to tell us that the universe is 13.7 billion years old. The Universes Oldest Galaxies Hold Its Biggest Secrets In the sciences, its OK to be wrongas long as you work in good faith, submit your data and findings to your peers, accept their scrutiny, correct your mistakes and move forward with a better understanding while others publish rebuttals of your original work. This is peer review, writ large, and its essential. The problem is the media, which can short-circuit the slow process of peer reviewand tempt unscrupulous or impatient academics to do the same. Media outlets seek compelling and attention-grabbing stories, while academic institutions and researchers strive for visibility and recognition for their work, Keating explained. As a result, there can be a temptation for both parties to exaggerate findings, oversimplify complex research or present preliminary results as definitive conclusions. For his part, Gupta said hes not worried. My theory is in the open for people to test and criticize. But the qualified critics of Guptas work dont have nearly the reach that the populist boosters do. Combined, Rogan and Musk can instantly reach tens of millions of attentive followers. In this case, they may have seeded in millions of minds the incorrect notion that the universe is twice as old as it actually is. To be fair, the age of the universe doesnt have much direct bearing on how most of us live our lives. But science in general does have a direct bearing on our livesand science says the universe is 13.7 billion years old, not 26.7 billion years. If we can't convince people to trust science about things that have very little impact on their lives, Kirkpatrick asked, how can we convince them to trust scientists on the most important questions facing humanity? The safety and effectiveness of vaccines, for instance. Or the urgency of climate change. Astronomers used to be one of the most trusted scientific professions because we don't have any obvious agendas, Kirkpatrick said. We are not being paid by corporations. But now we're being questioned on things like the age of the universe. 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. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office has announced the termination contract with the Duval County Jails healthcare provider, Armor Correctional Healthcare, following numerous reported issues and concerns over the treatment of inmates. The decision comes as the agencys commitment to accountability and a desire to move in a new direction. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< JSO Sheriff T.K. Waters addressed the media outside the Duval County Jail, stating, When I say were moving in a new direction, Im holding ourselves accountable at the agency. We make the changes because I felt we needed a new direction. We did it with the Director and our Chief of Jails, and now were changing our medical provider. Armor Correctional Healthcare has been accused of failing to properly care for inmates, prompting the Sheriffs Office to review the situation since November. The move comes in the wake of a troubling report by the Tributary, which highlighted a significant spike in deaths since the healthcare provider took over in 2017. During the press conference, when questioned about the reported deaths, Sheriff Waters stated that he could not confirm the specific numbers at this point. One particular case that gained attention was that of 54-year-old Dexter Barry, who was arrested for a simple battery charge last November. Barrys family attorney, Andrew Bonderud, informed Action News JAX that Barry passed away three days after posting bond because he was not provided with the necessary medication during his time in jail. They plan to file a lawsuit. Action News Jax talked with the family about the termination. I think its the right thing to do, but at the same time, I will say there was no other option. You can not have a convicted felon being responsible for inmate health services at Duval County Jail, the family stated. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The termination of the contract with Armor Correctional Healthcare has opened the door for a new healthcare provider. Story continues The company selected to take over is NaphCare, set to commence on September 1st. The contract was officially signed yesterday afternoon. NaphCare is not unfamiliar with controversy, as Action News JAX has discovered concerning information about their operations at a facility in Georgia. However, Sheriff Waters expressed confidence in the decision, stating that the change was necessary and that he is not concerned about NaphCares past. As the transition to NaphCare approaches, the focus remains on ensuring proper healthcare services for inmates at the Duval County Jail. Meanwhile, Dexter Barrys family plans to file a lawsuit in response to his untimely death. [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. Carlos A. Moreno/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom Judge blocks President Joe Biden's "Trump-lite" asylum policy. A federal court has blocked the Biden administration's latest attempt to limit migrants from seeking asylum in the U.S. "The Rulewhich has been in effect for two monthscannot remain in place," wrote U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar in a ruling released Tuesday. Tigar gave the administration two weeks to appeal before his order takes effect. "The Justice Department immediately appealed [Tigar's] order and asked for it to be put on hold while the case is heard. The agency said it's confident the rule is lawful," reports the Associated Press. The rule in questionwhich took effect upon the expiring of Title 42 migrant expulsions in Mayrequires the U.S. to immediately expel many asylum-seeking migrants. George Mason University law professor Ilya Somin called it a "Trump-lite asylum policy." Here's how Tigar explained it: Under the Rule, noncitizens other than Mexican nationals who cross the southern border are presumed ineligible for asylum unless they (1) have received advance permission to travel to the U.S. to apply for parole; (2) present at a port of entry for a pre-scheduled appointment (or without an appointment, if they can demonstrate an "ongoing and serious obstacle" that precluded pre-scheduling); or (3) have already sought and been denied asylum or other protection in another country en route to the U.S. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the National Immigrant Justice Center, and other organizations challenged the rule, arguing that "it forces migrants to seek protection in countries that don't have the same robust asylum system and human rights protections as the United States," notes the A.P.: They also argued that the CBP One app the government wants migrants to use doesn't have enough appointments and isn't available in enough languages. The administration had argued that protection systems in other countries that migrants travel through have improved. But Tigar said it's not feasible for some migrants to seek protection in a transit country and noted the violence that many face in Mexico in particular. "While they wait for an adjudication, applicants for asylum must remain in Mexico, where migrants are generally at heightened risk of violence by both state and non-state actors," the judge, an appointee of President Barack Obama, wrote. He also wrote that the rule is illegal because it presumes that people are ineligible for asylum if they enter the country between legal border crossings. But, Tigar wrote, Congress expressly said that should not affect whether someone is eligible for asylum. Story continues Under the Refugee Act of 1980, "any noncitizen who arrives in the United States, 'whether or not at a designated port of arrival' and 'irrespective of [their] status, may apply for asylum,'" noted Tigar. "The court's ruling is welcome and expected, since the new policy simply rehashed prior rules that restricted access to asylum based on similar grounds, which courts already rejected," Keren Zwick, director of litigation at the National Immigrant Justice Center and co-counsel on the case, said in a statement. "U.S. laws protect the rights of people fleeing persecution to come to this country and pursue asylum, full stop." The ACLU's Katrina Eiland, who argued the case, called the ruling "a victory," while noting that "each day the Biden administration prolongs the fight over its illegal ban, many people fleeing persecution and seeking safe harbor for their families are instead left in grave danger." FREE MINDS Digital rights groups tell Congress to say no to "bad internet bills." A coalition that includes the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Woodhull Freedom Foundation, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is crusading against what they call "bad internet bills." These bills include many that Reason has previously warned against, including the EARN IT Act, the RESTRICT Act, the Kids Online Safety Act, and state-level age verification bills like the one passed in Utah. The groups are urging people to contact congressional representatives about their opposition to these bills and to submit art and other content warning against them. "We've made it clear that these bills are terrible ideas, but Congress is now considering packaging them togetherpossibly into must-pass legislation," notes Jason Kelley of EFF. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Bills like the EARN IT Act and the STOP CSAM Act "may sound well-intentioned, as they claim to protect children from sexual exploitation, but their impact on free expression and online privacy would be devastating," says the ACLU. "These bills would create a clear avenue to remove important, protected speech from the internet, and our ability to communicate without the government seeing." Some lawmakers are angling to attach the STOP CSAM Actwhich Riana Pfefferkorn of the Stanford Internet Observatory has called "an anti-encryption stalking horse"into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). EFF has more on that here. FREE MARKETS FTC readying another lawsuit against Amazon? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is reportedly readying another antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, just months after accusing the company of duping people into signing up for Amazon Prime. "The FTC has been investigating the company on a number of fronts, and the coming case would be one of the most aggressive and high-profile moves in the Biden administration's rocky effort to tame the power of tech giants," according to Politico: The wide-ranging lawsuit is expected as soon as August, and will likely challenge a host of Amazon's business practices, said the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss a confidential matter. If successful, it could lead to a court-ordered restructuring of the $1.3 trillion empire and define the legacy of FTC Chair Lina Khan. The exact details of the final lawsuit are not known, and changes to the final complaint are expected until the eleventh hour. But personnel throughout the agency, including Khan herself, have homed in on several of Amazon's business practices, said some of the people. The complaint is likely to focus on challenges to Amazon Prime, Amazon rules that the FTC says block lower prices on competing websites, and policies the FTC believes force merchants to use Amazon's logistics and advertising services, according to some of the people. More here. QUICK HITS This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Lab-grown meat is hitting high-end restaurants. Rep. Bobby Scott (DVa.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (IVt.) are introducing legislation to raise the national minimum wage to $17 per hour by 2028. "Liberalism's core principle of individual autonomy is not a recipe for social decay," writes Emily Chamlee-Wright at The Unpopulist. "It is an essential ingredient in what makes liberal societies humane sites of meaning-rich social connection in which capable but fallible human beings cooperate, adapt, and learn." The Ron DeSantis campaign has fired more than three dozen staffers, including some thought to be responsible for the campaign's "too online" aspects. Conservative commentators may be reading way too much into Barbie. The post Judge Blocks Biden Administration's Strict Asylum Restrictions appeared first on Reason.com. A judge has denied a motion to exhume the body of Robert Bowers father, Randall George Bowers. The judge denied the motion, stating it was untimely. The court also doesnt believe it has jurisdiction to order the exhumation, even if it was found to be warranted. Attorneys for Bowers filed the motion Tuesday, wanting to obtain DNA to prove paternity. They allege the government interjected into the case its speculative theory that Randall Bowers is not the father of Robert Bowers, who was convicted of killing 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Bowers defense team files motion to exhume his fathers body to prove paternity In the motion denial, the judge stated the defense has been aware paternity could be an issue in the case but chose not to disinterment earlier. The judge called it a strategic decision to not pursue extraordinary relief soon. At the core of the exhumation motion is whether Robert Bowers has schizophrenia. Randall Bowers was diagnosed with schizophrenia, which is believed to be hereditary. Pittsburgh synagogue shooting: Complete Coverage Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Fighting for his life: Man attacked inside Pittsburgh hotel was with wife celebrating honeymoon 2 people killed when motorcycle crashes into house in Mt. Pleasant Township Kevin Spacey cleared of sexual assault charges VIDEO: DA Zappalas son facing charges for alleged domestic dispute DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts The judge overseeing Hunter Bidens criminal case accused a member of his legal team of misrepresenting themselves to the clerks office, an unusual development that has raised the possibility of sanctions. Bidens lawyers insisted the debacle is a misunderstanding in court filings Tuesday night, saying they had not intentionally deceived anyone at the court. At issue was an attempt by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) to block Bidens plea agreement ahead of a Wednesday hearing. Smith filed documents on Tuesday urging the judge to consider recent testimony to Congress by IRS whistleblowers, who alleged Biden received preferential treatment. Court filings indicate that Jessica Bengels, an administrative staff member at Latham & Watkins, a firm representing Biden, called a member of the court clerks office just before noon Tuesday seeking the documents removal from the public docket, saying they contained secret details including social security, taxpayer and grand jury information. Top Stories from The Hill But U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who is overseeing Bidens case, later suggested Bengels had pretended to call from the committee chairmans law firm. Noreika ordered Bidens attorneys to submit in writing why they shouldnt be sanctioned. It appears that the caller misrepresented her identity and who she worked for in an attempt to improperly convince the Clerks Office to remove the amicus materials from the docket, Noreika, a Trump appointee, wrote in the order. Responding to Noreikas order Tuesday night, a Biden attorney said there was no misrepresentation. The matter under consideration appears to stem from an unfortunate and unintentional miscommunication between a staff member at our firm and employees of the Court, Matthew Salerno, the attorney, wrote in a letter to the judge. Story continues President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden, arrives for a court appearance, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Attached to the letter was a declaration from Bengels, written under penalty of perjury, in which Bengels said she first called a clerk named Julia to ask for guidance as to the procedures for restricting access to the private information. Upon being asked by the clerk, Bengels said she provided the name of her law firm during the call and indicated the documents were filed by attorney Theodore Kittilas firm, which represents the Republican committee chairman. Twelve minutes later, Bengels said she received a call back from another court employee who said they would be removing the material from the docket. Bengels said she was completely confident she did not pretend to call from the other firm, although the second employee did not ask about who Bengels worked for. I believe there may have been some confusion when Julia passed the information on to the other Court employee, resulting in a mistaken understanding that I had called from Mr. Kittilas firm, Bengels wrote. Sign up for the latest from The Hill here In court filings, Kittila said he was deeply concerned by the development and attached an email from the clerks office indicating Bengels had pretended to be calling from the other firm. He also pushed back on the need to seal the documents in question, saying they were already public before they were submitted to the court. The exhibits that were filed have been public since June 22, 2023, following an approved vote of the House Ways and Means Committee. Moreover, the documents that were made public were redacted by both counsel for the minority and the majority members of the Ways and Means Committee, Kittila wrote. The presidents son has agreed to plead guilty to two counts of willful failure to pay taxes and avoid prosecution for possessing a gun while being an unlawful user of a controlled substance. The judge is set to preside over a plea hearing Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The judge who will review Hunter Bidens plea deal on Wednesday accused a member of Bidens legal team of misrepresenting herself in a phone call to the court a bizarre episode that prompted the judge to threaten sanctions even as Bidens lawyers insisted it was all a misunderstanding. In a brief order Tuesday afternoon, U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika wrote that an employee at Latham & Watkins, a law firm representing the presidents son, had called the court clerks office and falsely claimed to work for a Republican lawyer in the hopes of persuading the clerk to remove documents that apparently contained Bidens personal tax information. Latham denied any misconduct, saying the firms employee identified herself as a Latham staffer and called from a law firm phone that typically displays LATHAM on the caller ID. The firm said there must have been an unfortunate and unintentional miscommunication between the employee and court staff. The documents in question had been submitted earlier in the day as part of an amicus brief by House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.). Smith complains in the brief that Bidens plea deal on gun and tax charges is too lenient, and he alleges that federal prosecutors investigation of Biden was tainted by political interference. Under the plea deal, Hunter Biden has agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and enter a pretrial diversion program in order to avoid being prosecuted for a felony gun charge. Noreika, a Trump appointee, is scheduled to review the deal at a hearing in Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday morning. On the eve of that hearing, a dispute arose over Smiths amicus filing, which was signed and submitted to the court by Theodore Kittila, the managing partner of the Wilmington law firm Halloran Farkas + Kittila. Shortly after Kittila filed the brief, the clerks office informed the judge that a Latham employee, Jessica Bengels, had called the clerk and falsely claimed to work with Kittila. During the call, Bengels asked that Smiths filing be removed from the public docket due to sensitive information in it, the judge wrote in her order. Story continues It appears that the caller misrepresented her identity and who she worked for in an attempt to improperly convince the Clerk's Office to remove the amicus materials from the docket, Noreika wrote, before ordering Biden's legal team to explain why Noreika should not issue formal sanctions "for misrepresentations to the Court." Bengels, who is listed on Lathams web site as the firms director of litigation services and litigation services counsel, did not respond to an email and phone call seeking comment. But Latham lawyers representing Biden said in a court filing Tuesday night that Bengels never misrepresented herself. "The matter under consideration appears to stem from an unfortunate and unintentional miscommunication between a staff member at our firm and employees of the Court. We have no idea how the misunderstanding occurred, but our understanding is there was no misrepresentation," Latham partner Matthew Salerno wrote, stressing that Bengels is not part of the team of lawyers assigned to the Hunter Biden matter. Bengels also submitted a formal declaration denying she misrepresented herself. "I am completely confident that I never indicated that I was calling from Mr. Kittila's firm or that I worked with him in any way," wrote Bengels, who is a member of the New York bar, according to a state database and Latham's website. The judge temporarily removed Smiths amicus brief from the court's public docket, although copies of it remain available on other websites. Kittila claimed that all the information about Hunter Biden contained in Smiths brief is already public on the House Ways and Means Committee website. But Christopher Clark, Bidens lead attorney, wrote that was beside the point if court rules forbid putting it on the public docket. Most troubling is that you have sought to append to a filing on the public docket hundreds of pages of documents, many of which contain grand jury secret information and confidential taxpayer information, Clark wrote in a letter to Kittila also contained in the court docket. We have alerted you to this issue and you have refused to file these materials under seal, frivolously claiming that because a congressional committee has improperly disseminated these materials, they no longer need protection. Your position is baseless and abusive. The details of the Biden plea deal will likely be made public on Wednesday. The general terms, which were announced last month, call for Biden to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax offenses for failing to pay or file his federal taxes over a two-year period and to enter into a deferred prosecution agreement on a felony charge of possessing a firearm while being a drug user. The arrangement, which is subject to approval by Noreika, contemplates that Biden will get probation on the tax charges and no punishment on the gun charge assuming he stays out of trouble for two years. Bidens political allies have said the deal is fair and perhaps even tough given the facts involved and Bidens long, publicly acknowledged struggles with drug addiction. Republicans have portrayed the agreement as a slap on the wrist, particularly because no charges were brought relating to his alleged attempts in his foreign business dealings to trade on his ties to his father. The prosecutor who signed off on the deal, U.S. Attorney for Delaware David Weiss, was appointed by President Donald Trump, confirmed by the Senate in 2018 and allowed to remain on duty into the Biden administration by Attorney General Merrick Garland in order to complete the probe of the presidents son. (l-r) Marcus Decker and Morgan Trowland were told in April that they would spend half of their sentences in prison The prison sentences handed to two Just Stop Oil activists who scaled the Dartford Crossing bridge could have a "chilling" effect on future protests, the Court of Appeal has been told. Morgan Trowland, 40, and Marcus Decker, 34, were suspended over the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge for about 37 hours. Trowland was jailed for three years, and Decker for two years and seven months, following a trial. The pair are appealing against the length of their sentences. An Essex Police officer spoke to activist Morgan Trowland as he scaled the bridge at 04:00 BST In written submissions to the court, their barrister Daniel Friedman KC said the jail terms were "extraordinary" and were the "longest ever handed down in a case of non-violent protest in this country in modern times". "The extent of the deterrent element of the offence was unduly severe, unreasonable and otherwise likely to have a 'chilling effect' on all protest," he said. Structural engineer Trowland, of Islington in north London, and Decker, a private tutor of no fixed address, climbed the bridge's cables at about 04:00 BST on 17 October and were eventually brought down using a cherry picker crane at about 17:30 the following day. The southbound A282, the designation for the road on the bridge as it connects the M25 motorway between Essex and Kent, was reopened at about 21:00 - 41 hours after the demonstration began. In April, a jury at Basildon Crown Court found them guilty of causing a public nuisance by a unanimous verdict. Just Stop Oil said it was horrified by the original sentences Trowland said they staged the protest to "deliver a warning message" and a Just Stop Oil spokesperson said they were "horrified" by the sentence. The defendants have been in custody since their arrest. Protesters gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice before and during the hearing Tom Little KC, for the Crown Prosecution Service, told the Court of Appeal hearing there was a "proper basis to impose a sentence which reflected a marked element of deterrent". Essex Police previously said a heavily pregnant woman who needed urgent medical help, and a person who missed their best friend's funeral, were affected. Story continues Trowland and Decker joined the court via video link and supporters staged a demonstration outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London during the hearing. Lady Justice Carr, sitting with Mrs Justice Cutts and Mrs Justice Thornton, said they needed to "reflect carefully" before giving a written ruling - due to be given at a later date. "We are aware of both the potential urgency of the matter and its importance," said Lady Justice Carr. Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830 Its tough to be disliked more than Joe Biden these days, but Vice President Kamala Harris has managed to outshine her boss on this metric. Her negative ratings have hit all-time highs for vice presidents 49% of registered voters hold an unfavorable opinion of Harris, according to a recent poll. Since it doesnt seem that either Harris or Biden is going anywhere, Democrats have opted to get the VP out in public even more. That strategy has had mixed results. For instance, earlier this month, Harris had one of her infamous word salad moments when asked to define the meaning of culture. Last week, however, Harris comments went viral for a different reason. She spurred a slew of headlines after attacking Floridas recently revamped social studies standards, which include the teaching of African American history. Kamala Harris Criticism is fine, but dont deceive Its not a shock for a Democrat to excoriate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, since hes the only Republican presidential candidate the left loves to berate more than Donald Trump. Yet, Harris went beyond political chiding into the realm of deceit when she blasted the Florida Board of Educations new standards as revisionist history. Harris took the most umbrage at a part of the standards that calls for instruction on how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. Biden campaigns on 'decency.' Refusing to acknowledge his granddaughter is anything but. Placing the word benefit anywhere close to slavery was unwise and offensive, and it opened the door to legitimate criticism. The authors of the standards had a reason, though (more on that later). Just yesterday in the state of Florida, they decided middle school students will be taught that enslaved people benefited from slavery, Harris said at an event Thursday. They insult us in an attempt to gaslight us, and we will not stand for it. The next day, the vice president doubled down on her remarks while on a visit to Florida expressly to bash the social studies standards: They want to replace history with lies. Story continues 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, Harris said. Some context, please The way she described the updated standards, youd think the point was to whitewash history by painting the horrors of slavery in some sort of positive light. If that were true, it would deserve outrage. If you read the standards, however, thats far from the truth. Shortly before the Civil War began, slaves made up more than 40% of Florida's population. The state's disturbing history includes horrific violence against Black people after the Civil War. Florida also had some of the worst Jim Crow laws in the country. Those laws, which denied Black Americans basic rights, were enforced into the 1960s, meaning in the lifetime of many people alive today. It's essential that students learn about their states ugly history. But the new social studies standards dont gloss over the damning facts. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. The standards are comprehensive, and include instruction on the following topics: the conditions for Africans during their passage to America; the harsh conditions and their consequences on British American plantations (e.g., undernourishment, climate conditions, infant and child mortality rates of the enslaved vs. the free); how the South tried to prevent slaves from escaping and their efforts to end the Underground Railroad; and the ramifications of prejudice, racism and stereotyping on individual freedoms (e.g., the Civil Rights Cases, Black Codes, Jim Crow Laws, lynchings, Columbian Exposition of 1893). In addition, the standards call for Florida-specific instruction about violence against Africans Americans, including the 1920 Ocoee massacre and the 1923 Rosewood massacre. They also mandate that students learn about historic Black settlements in Florida, such as Lincolnville and Eatonville. William Allen and Frances Presley Rice, two Black members of the Florida work group that wrote the new standards, issued a statement in light of the criticism. They said the group included the benchmark on skills because 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. Yesterday, @abcnews aired a very small section of their interview with a member of Floridas African American History Standards Workgroup, Dr. William B. Allen. Heres more of the interview, where Dr. Allen debunks @VPs narrative and calls her criticism categorically false. pic.twitter.com/hPFbKNZPs1 Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) July 23, 2023 It is disappointing, but nevertheless unsurprising, that critics would reduce months of work to create Floridas first ever stand-alone strand of African American History Standards to a few isolated expressions without context, they wrote. Feed outrage to motivate voters? Context is too often missing when politicians seize on something with which to paint the other side as extremists. Thats exactly what Harris did. When you have government-controlled schools, schools controlled by politics, there will always be people who disagree about what goes into standards, especially history standards, says Neal McCluskey, director of the Cato Institutes Center for Educational Freedom. And they will tend to be blown up into bigger political issues that we're told represent extreme sides because the way people are successful in politics is to smear those they are running against as extremists. Both liberals and conservatives are guilty of this, and its one of the reasons the divisions in our country grow deeper. What does 'woke' mean? For conservatives, it's so much more than political correctness. DeSantis has made fighting woke ideology central to both his time as governor and to his presidential campaign. And he has overseen legislation and other policies to tackle it in K-12 classrooms and higher education. DeSantis efforts against gender identity and diversity, equity and inclusion have made him a prime target of the left. Even some fellow Republican presidential contenders, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Texas Rep. Will Hurd, have said it's DeSantis' fault that Florida is being criticized for the social studies standards. USA TODAY columnist Ingrid Jacques. Harris has a right to criticize conservatives like DeSantis, but as the saying goes, she doesnt have a right to her own facts. Feeding the outrage machine with misleading comments on how Florida plans to teach about the history of slavery is a cynical and dangerous way for the vice president to score political points. Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or on Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Don't deceive: Harris Florida slavery 'benefit' attack ignores context A third man has been sentenced in the killing of a Kansas City teenager who was kidnapped at gunpoint and fatally shot in Kansas City, Kansas, in April 2017. Following a hearing Wednesday in Kansas Citys downtown federal courthouse, Judge Roseann Ketchmark sentenced Jonathan M. Bravo-Lopez to life in prison. The 27-year-old was convicted at trial in December 2022 of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping resulting in the death of Cristian Escutia, 19, of Kansas City. Bravo-Lopez stood trial along with co-defendant Juan D. Osorio, 30, who was also found guilty in the conspiracy. Osorio was sentenced in June to life in prison without the possibility of parole. At trial, prosecutors said Osorio and Bravo-Lopez lured Escuita with an arrangement to buy $300 worth of marijuana. He was forced at gunpoint to enter a vehicle and taken from Missouri to Kansas, where he was shot three times and left on the side of the street in the 200 block of Donovan Avenue, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors relied in part on a home video surveillance system that captured footage of Escuita entering a vehicle outside his home. Also convicted in the conspiracy was Marco Sosa-Perea, 27, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to spend 10 years in federal prison. Prosecutors alleged Sosa-Perea drove the vehicle used in Escutias kidnapping. The Princess of Wales has been labelled a disappointment with regards to her approach to jewellery. Former Vogue editor and fashion critic Suzy Menkes made the remarks during an interview on the newest episode of her podcast Creative Conversations. Speaking to British Vogues jewellery editor Carol Woolton, the two discussed and analysed some of Kate Middletons recent style choices, explaining to listeners that as a senior member of the royal family, she would surely have access to some of the finest jewels in the country. The Princess of Wales is a bit of a disappointment about jewellery, said Menkes. She gives the impression that she only puts it on when she absolutely has to. The 79-year-old critic continued: I imagine her looking beautiful in one of those gowns behind the scenes and then pulling a face as if to say, Do I have to wear this? She doesnt give any sense of adoring jewellery and being pleased to put it on. Menkes went on to suggest that Queen Camilla seems far more interested in jewellery, stating: [Kate] doesnt seem to have Camillas joy at wearing jewellery. She went on: We now have a new Queen, so presumably she has a first opportunity to look at the jewels. We can imagine that the next in line to the thrones wife would be something that was very special, so will we see Catherine wearing jewellery that is more dramatic, that is more personal to her? I dont know. I cant help feeling with things of beauty, you either love it or you dont. Later in the podcast, Menkes went on to discuss some of the controversy that the royal familys jewellery collection has garnered over the years. Its one of these strange secrets, she said. Its not discussed, and I can see why because some of the pieces are dubious. They came from India. I wont say they were stolen but they were perhaps given and taken by the British Royal Family. They werent stealing it but they were taking over a country at that time, and and taking jewels they thought were an attractive thing to take back to England with them. For much of July, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has used his Twitter account, @SpeakerMcCarthy, to claim that America is operating with a two-tiered system of justice. As proof of this, the Bakersfield Republican, who also represents Clovis and parts of Fresno County, has claimed in his tweets that the misdemeanors levied on President Bidens son Hunter for not paying taxes on time were nothing more than a slap on the wrist. At the same time, the Biden Justice Department indicted former President Donald Trump over his mishandling of presidential records. Justice is supposed to be blind, McCarthy says in a July 15 tweet. But its obvious to everyone that Biden Inc is getting a special deal that puts them above the law. As further evidence of how seriously he sees this state of affairs, McCarthy is now talking about an impeachment inquiry into Biden on the basis of congressional investigations into the president and his son. Nevermind that McCarthy cannot detail what Biden would be charged with, nor when such an inquiry might start. Seeking justice Nonetheless, McCarthy is trying to create the impression that he cares about justice and that no one should be above the law. If that were true, then McCarthy would also support the special counsels indictment of Trump in the documents case. Justice is based on facts and whether lawbreaking occurred. McCarthy should want the truth to come out. But McCarthy has blasted that inquiry as a weaponization of the justice system, despite how that case has yet to be heard. The case against the former president must be carried out and seen for what it is: serious allegations including espionage against an ex-president who refused to comply with the law for records in his possession. The House Oversight Committee examining Hunter Bidens tax evasion case should also perform its due diligence. If it uncovers a double standard in how his matter was handled, the GOP-led committee would have an opportunity to make its argument. If President Biden has truly done something wrong, he should be held accountable. Story continues Trump and documents Federal law says that when presidents leave office, they are to turn over to the National Archives all papers, documents, mementos and other materials they accumulated during their time in office. All such materials belong to the people of America, not the departing president. Former Attorney General Bill Barr was interviewed by National Public Radio on the case of the documents. When asked why Trump held onto so many records, Barr said this: He was going to show them that no one was going to push him around and that he was, in effect, still the president and could do what he wanted and get away with it. Barr said Trump committed a willful violation that was effectively flipping the bird at the government. That is the perspective of a Republican who served as the head of the Justice Department under Trump. The Bee Editorial Board sent these questions to Speaker McCarthy about his contention of two-tiered justice: If Speaker McCarthy is concerned with effective justice, why does he call the investigations into Trump the weaponizing of government? Is it not right for those charged with the rule of law to investigate possible wrongdoing by the former president? McCarthys staff answered by referring The Bee Editorial Board to a July 18 tweet by the speaker. In it, McCarthy says this: President Trump just increased his lead in the polls. So what does the Biden administration do next? Weaponize government to go after President Bidens number one opponent. This is not equal justice. Its wrong, and the American public is tired of it. President Trump just increased his lead in the polls. So what does the Biden Administration do next? Weaponize government to go after President Bidens number one opponent. This is not equal justice. Its wrong, and the American public is tired of it. pic.twitter.com/H53qEyOvrO Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) July 18, 2023 Two tiers benefits Trump If there is any unequal justice, it is in the favor of Trump. An organization called Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has compiled a database of criminal offenses that Trump is accused of committing since he first campaigned in 2015. The list, updated last in April before the case of the documents was brought, consists of 56 offenses. Trump has been able to delay charges by tying up cases in court with extensive maneuvering. That requires having scores of lawyers working the legal angles, something only a person with wealth like Trump can afford to do. He also benefits from political allies like McCarthy, whose words undercut Americans confidence in their justice system. Maybe McCarthy is right about two tiers to justice the one for Trump, and the one for average Americans. Kevin McCarthy; Joe Biden SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images Last fall, as we were all girding ourselves for the impending "red tsunami" and contemplating what it was going to do to the remnants of the Biden agenda, I wrote that we should be prepared for the revenge of the MAGA cult and an inevitable Republican attempt to impeach Joe Biden. At that time, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia had already filed five impeachment resolutions, and it was well known that Donald Trump would not be happy if the incoming Republican majority didn't deliver payback for the two impeachments on his record. One of the resolutions Greene filed on Biden's very first day in office claimed that he had tried "to influence the domestic policy of a foreign nation and accept benefits from foreign nationals in exchange for favors." That was, of course, based upon the bogus Ukraine scandal that prompted Donald Trump's first impeachment. Nothing would be more satisfying to Trump than to see Biden impeached for allegedly doing what Trump actually did when attempting to blackmail the Ukrainian president into smearing Biden. Then-presumptive House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a staunch Trump acolyte, was asked by Punchbowl News before the midterm election if would pursue a Biden impeachment. He replied: I think the country doesn't like impeachment used for political purposes at all. If anyone ever rises to that occasion, you have to, but I think the country wants to heal and start to see the system that actually works. Clearly that whole "system that actually works" thing didn't pan out, so now McCarthy is signaling that the GOP is ready to go ahead with an impeachment inquiry. Here's what he told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday: Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Monday night said the House's investigation into the Bidens is "rising to the level of impeachment inquiry." pic.twitter.com/uMFXWA9JSj The Recount (@therecount) July 25, 2023 This was always going to happen. As Barton Gelman wrote in the Atlantic before the midterm election: Story continues [T]here is little reason to think that McCarthy can resist the GOP's impulse to impeach once it gathers strength. He is a notably weak leader of a conference that proved unmanageable for his predecessors Paul Ryan and John Boehner. If he does in fact reach the speakership, his elevation will be a testament to his strategy of avoiding conflict with those forces. The chaotic and inane House "investigations" into Hunter Biden and their collective outrage about the alleged "sweetheart deal" the president's son got for some minor offenses paying his taxes late and lying on an application to buy a firearm have been pointing in this direction for some time. There's the notorious laptop, there's an informant's unverified claim that Joe Biden was in the room when Hunter made business deals, there's another informant who is on the lam from the DOJ and there are a couple of IRS whistleblowers who say that Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, a Trump appointee, was hamstrung by the Justice Department in going after Hunter. So far, that's the extent of the "evidence," if you want to call it that. (The Justice Department says the IRS claims are nonsense and says Weiss will testify before Congress when it's back in session.) The details of all these investigative threads are opaque but highly suggestive: It's all unproven speculation, dubious sourcing and a lot of smoke and mirrors. But that's the point. It's Republican scandal-mongering 101: Throw volumes of incomprehensible minutiae into the media ether and deliver it with breathless intensity, and you can make the public believe that there must be something to it even if they have no idea what. Donald Trump serves as the biggest possible megaphone for this stuff. He has dubbed Biden "Crooked Joe," the most corrupt president in history, and has repeatedly slandered the "Biden crime family." It may seem as if the ex-president has lost his touch, since he's merely repurposing that nickname from "Crooked Hillary" and the GOP's longstanding assault on the Clintons, but that's no accident. Trump is drawing on all those years of character assassination against Bill and Hillary Clinton and wrapping Joe Biden in them like a cozy old sweater. Trump is also pushing McCarthy hard, not only to impeach Biden as soon as possible but also to "expunge" his own impeachments, which would mean, at least in his mind, that he can go into the 2024 election claiming that Biden was impeached and he wasn't. This strategy is starting to work. We can see this because that it's not just the usual suspects who are flogging these scandals. Some high-profile GOP anti-Trump apostates are getting in on the action too. We saw former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, supposedly a 2024 candidate himself, on "Face the Nation" this past weekend talking the alleged "sweetheart deal" for Hunter Biden: On the Hunter Biden plea agreement on tax and gun charges, @ChrisChristie tells @margbrennan, "I don't think it's time to move on. Christie says the U.S. Attorney in Delaware's work "appears to be incompetent and inexplicable and he owes the American people an explanation." pic.twitter.com/yiM4Z4gJzI Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) July 23, 2023 Far be it from me to second-guess a former U.S. attorney but I was under the impression that prosecutors didn't reveal all the details about investigations in which they don't charge someone because it's not fair to smear people with innuendo and suspicions of wrongdoing when there isn't adequate evidence. Apparently, that doesn't apply to the sons of presidents. Christie has at least, to his credit, also raised the question of how Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner got a $2 billion sweetheart deal from the Saudi investment fund, which Republicans in Congress don't want to know about. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Then we have No Labels supporter and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a never-Trump Republican, making this startling comment: We have two very unpopular potential nominees, and both of them potentially face very serious legal troubles. An overwhelming majority of Americans are looking for something else when given the choice between Donald Trump, Joe Biden, or neither, most pick neither. pic.twitter.com/Q8S57q8oc7 Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) July 21, 2023 That's the first time I've heard anyone suggest that Joe Biden might face "serious legal troubles," much less that they might be on par with Trump's, which involve two current felony indictments and quite likely at least two more. Hogan retreated a bit when pressed on that by MSNBC's Jen Psaki, who pointed out that Hunter Biden isn't a government official and that there's no conceivable equivalence between Trump and Biden when it comes to "legal problems." It's fortunate for Biden that the credibility of most of his antagonists is so tattered that people who aren't already in the right-wing echo chamber aren't particularly likely to buy into this narrative. Oh, and speaking of serious legal problems: Rudy Giuliani who supports the twice-impeached, twice-indicted, sexual predator disgraced ex-president Trump says Biden should be impeached immediately: a criminal, should not be in the White House. pic.twitter.com/BesNsCmTHU Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) July 25, 2023 According to CNN, Speaker McCarthy has been in close consultation with a former House speaker who is telling him it's time to strike. That would be Newt Gingrich, who infamously drove the Republicans to impeach Bill Clinton, only to see Clinton's approval rating hit an all-time high on the day of the impeachment vote. That cost Gingrich the speaker's gavel and forced him to resign from Congress over it. It's a mystery why anyone would want to take his advice on this issue but then, we're talking about Kevin McCarthy. No wonder Joe Biden smiled when he was asked about this on Tuesday. Biden smiles as reporters ask him about McCarthys push for an impeachment inquiry pic.twitter.com/xznSewL6NG Acyn (@Acyn) July 25, 2023 Read more from Heather Digby Parton on what lies ahead Kevin Spacey Chris J Ratcliffe / Getty Images Kevin Spacey has been cleared of all charges in his U.K. sexual assault trial. A London jury found the actor not guilty on nine charges he faced in connection with the alleged sexual assaults of four men. The incidents were alleged to have occurred between 2001 and 2013. Spacey served as artistic director at the Old Vic theater for the majority of those years. Prosecutors described Spacey as a "sexual bully," and he was accused of groping three men, while another man alleged he woke up to find the actor performing oral sex on him. He pleaded not guilty. In his testimony, Spacey said he made a "clumsy pass" at one of the accusers but denied all of the allegations of sexual assault. "I'm a big flirt," he testified, and Spacey's attorney described the accusers as liars who hopped on a "bandwagon" by making up stories about him. The trial lasted four weeks. Spacey was facing jail time if he was convicted. Since 2017, the actor has been accused of sexual misconduct by numerous men, which derailed his acting career and led Netflix to fire him from "House of Cards." In October 2022, a jury found Spacey not liable in a sexual assault lawsuit brought by actor Anthony Rapp. "Bringing this lawsuit was always about shining a light, as part of the larger movement to stand up against all forms of sexual violence," Rapp said at the time. Ahead of his U.K. trial, Spacey claimed to ZEITmagazin that "there are people right now who are ready to hire me the moment I am cleared of these charges in London," adding, "The second that happens, they're ready to move forward." According to CNN, the actor "had tears in his eyes" when his not guilty verdict was announced. In a statement to the media outside the courthouse, Spacey said he is "enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before they reached the decision." He added that he is "humbled by the outcome today." 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 Kevin Spacey made an emotional appearance outside Southwark Crown Court - Susannah Ireland/Reuters Kevin Spacey, the Oscar winning Hollywood actor, has been cleared of sexually assaulting four men. The 64-year-old star of American Beauty, The Usual Suspects and House of Cards, was found not guilty of nine sexual offences against four complainants between 2001 and 2013. After almost 12 hours of deliberation, jurors at Southwark Crown Court acquitted him on all counts. The actor had tears in his eyes as the verdict was read out and later nodded at jurors as they left the court. Letting out a big sigh in the court room, Spacey thanked the guard in a hushed voice and received a pat on the back from his legal team. Speaking outside the court, Spacey thanked the court staff, his legal team and said he was enormously grateful to the jury, adding he was humbled by the outcome of the trial. Humbled by the outcome Flanked by his legal team, Spacey said: I imagine that many of you can understand that there is a lot for me to process after what has happened today but I would like to say that I am enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before they reached their decision. I am humbled by the outcome today. I also want to thank the staff inside this court house, the security and all those who took care of us every single day. The actor said he was 'humbled' by the not guilty verdict - Yui Mok Members of the public cheered and filmed Spacey as he left Southwark Crown Court in London after speaking briefly to reporters. One man wished him a happy birthday, while another shouted we love you, Kevin, as he got into a taxi to leave. Spacey branded prosecution weak During the trial, Prosecutor Christine Agnew KC had accused Spacey of using his position as the golden boy of the London theatre scene, to do what he wanted, confident his alleged victims would not be believed. Giving evidence, the Hollywood star denied being a sexual bully and labelled the prosecutions case against him as weak, accusing one alleged victim of being after money, money and then money. Story continues Spacey wiped tears as he was cleared by jurors He told the jury the sexual assault allegations were madness, made no logical sense and were a stab in the back. During proceedings, Spacey had told jurors he could have had sex all the time but found it hard to trust people because of his fame. Asked if he considered himself to be a powerful man, he replied: I did not have a power wand that I waved in front of peoples faces whenever I wanted someone to go to bed with me. The court heard how Spacey, who is an American citizen, had moved to London in 2001 to take up a role as artistic director at the Old Vic theatre. Spacey departing court on Wednesday afternoon But during his time in the UK he was accused of attacking four men aged in their 20s and 30s. Prosecutors alleged that Spaceys preferred method of assault was to aggressively grab other men by the crotch. Prosecutors respect courts decision He was also accused of performing a sex act on an aspiring actor who had passed out in his Waterloo apartment. Spacey was acquitted of seven counts of sexual assault, one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. Following the not guilty verdicts in the Spacey trial, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said prosecutors respect the decision of the court. In a statement, a CPS spokesman said: Following a thorough investigation by the Metropolitan Police, the CPS made the decision to charge Spacey with sexual offences. The function of the CPS is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges. It is the role of the jury to consider the charges and we respect the decision of the court. 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. A jury in London acquitted actor Kevin Spacey on charges of sexual assault Wednesday, his latest court victory after a series of men have accused him of misconduct. During Spaceys trial, which took four weeks, he had argued he was a big flirt but did not assault anyone. Accusations in the trial included three men who said Spacey aggressively grabbed their crotches and another who said he woke up to the actor performing oral sex on him after going back to Spaceys London apartment for beer. The allegations span from 2001 to 2013, a period in which Spacey spent a good portion of his time as the artistic director for The Old Vic theater. The men who said Spacey assaulted them came forward after an American actor came out saying Spacey committed an act of sexual misconduct against him as the #MeToo movement rose in prominence in 2017. British prosecutor Christine Agnew had described the former House of Cards star as a bully who preyed on men from behind a shield of fame. My world exploded, Spacey testified. There was a rush to judgment and before the first question was asked or answered I lost my job, I lost my reputation, I lost everything in a matter of days. More from The Hill Last year, he also emerged victorious in a $40 million sexual misconduct lawsuit brought against him by actor Anthony Rapp. Earlier this month, Spacey predicted that hed soon be working again after an acquittal in the U.K. trial. I know that there are people right now who are ready to hire me the moment I am cleared of these charges, he told German newspaper Die Zeit. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Kids of the 1% are twice as likely to get into 'Ivy Plus' colleges, even when their grades are no better than anyone else's. Charles Krupa/AP A new study shows kids of the top 1% are over twice as likely to be admitted to Ivy Plus colleges. That's despite scoring no better than students of other income groups, per an Opportunity Insights study. After the end of race-based affirmative action, wealth and legacy admissions may now be the new focus of scrutiny. Children of the top 1% of income earners are more than twice as likely to be admitted to Ivy Plus colleges, despite scoring no better on SAT or ACTs than students of other income groups, according to a study published on Monday by Opportunity Insights, a group of Harvard-based economists. Ivy Plus refers to the eight Ivy League colleges Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, UPenn, Princeton, and Yale, plus Stanford, MIT, Duke, and the University of Chicago. According to the study, roughly 40% of the wealthiest students with 99th percentile SAT or ACT scores attend Ivy Plus colleges double the rate of their equally qualified but poorer peers and four times that of middle-income students. The study analyzed standardized test scores from 2001 to 2015, parental tax records of nearly all college students from 1999 to 2015, as well as internal admissions records from three of the 12 Ivy Plus colleges. The research identifies three main factors behind the discrepancy: a bias towards children of alumni known as legacy students wealthy students having higher non-academic ratings, and well-to-do students being more likely to be recruited as student-athletes. The study noted that although less than 1% of Americans attend these 12 colleges, these schools have an outsized impact. Ivy Plus graduates "account for 15% of those in the top 0.1% of the income distribution, a quarter of US Senators, half of all Rhodes scholars, and three-fourths of Supreme Court justices appointed in the last half-century," per the study. These findings come in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling which effectively ended race-based affirmative action in June, Insider reported. Story continues Now, scrutiny from lawmakers and civil rights groups might be shifting towards wealth and legacy admissions and their impact on inequality, the Associated Press reported on July 1. On Tuesday, the US Department of Education launched a federal civil rights probe against Harvard, alleging favoritism towards legacy students in their admission process, per Reuters. The Ivy Plus colleges did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider, sent outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Business Insider Hun Manet, son of Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, is seen at a polling station on the day of Cambodia's general election, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on July 23. Credit - Cindy LiuReuters After nearly four decades as Cambodia's strongman leader, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced on Wednesday that he will step down in a matter of weeks to make way for his successor and son, Hun Manet, the countrys army chief. Hun Sen, 70, announced his departure during a news conference in Phnom Penh, marking the start of a close to a 38-year premiership that made him Asias longest ruling leader. Hun Sen, who said he will remain head of the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party, was once a mid-ranking commander in the totalitarian Khmer Rouge, but defected to Vietnam midway through its four-year reign. He was installed as foreign minister following the Vietnamese army's invasion of Cambodia in December 1978, becoming Prime Minister in 1985. In December 2021, Hun Sen made it known that Hun Manet was to succeed him and the CPP backed his endorsement. The official news of this step-back comes days after the CPP reported a landslide victory in sham elections that have been criticized by the U.S. as neither free nor fair after the main opposition party was prevented from participating. Read More: After Suppressing Opposition, Hun Sen Declares Landslide Election Win to Extend Rule Some observers have suggested that the Western-educated Hun Manets leadership could usher in a gradual shift toward liberalization and democratization in Cambodia. But experts tell TIME they remain skeptical that any major reform will follow as the result of political patronage. The fact Hun Sen groomed [his son] over the course of a few decades to take the reins suggests a strong degree of trust and confidence, Lee Morgenbesser, a Southeast Asia politics expert at Australias Griffith University, tells TIME. This can be seen in not only the positions of power he gave him, but the speed within which he gave him more responsibility. Story continues Heres what to know about Hun Manet, Cambodia's prime minister-in-waiting. Who is Hun Manet? Hun Manet is the eldest of Hun Sens five children. He grew up in Phnom Penh and joined the Cambodian military in 1995. Hun Manet graduated from the U.S. Military Academy West Point in 1999, and earned a master's degree in economics from New York University in 2002 and a PhD in economics from the U.K.'s Bristol University in 2008. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, left, stands with his son Hun Manet after graduation ceremonies at the United States Military Academy at West Point, May 29, 1999. Jeff ChristensenReuters Hun Manet is married to Pich Chanmony, the daughter of Pich Sophoanformer secretary of state at the Ministry of Labourand the couple have three children, one of which is a U.S. citizen born while Hun Manet was a student in the country. Hun Manet's ascension within Cambodia's ruling elite was rapid to say the least. Obviously Hun Sen played a large role in that, but his military training at West Point and doctoral degree from Bristol further solidified his credentials, says Morgenbesser. The military leader is also Head of the National Counter-Terrorism Special Forces and Commander of the Prime Minister's Bodyguard Unit, which Morgenbesser says makes him complicit in severe repression observed in Cambodias recent history. The country has seen increasing internet surveillance and censorship as well as a growing crackdown on human rights activists, the political opposition, and free media, according to Human Rights Watch. Freedom Houses annual Freedom in the World report classifies Cambodia as Not Free, with a score of 24 out of 100 in the most recent edition. Will Hun Manets leadership differ from Hun Sen? It remains to be seen but experts are not optimistic. Whenever hereditary succession occurs in a dictatorship, there is a tendency to give the new leader the benefit of the doubt. The misguided assumption is that he won't be as awful as his father; instead he will be more favourable, moderate, progressive, tolerant, says Morgenbesser. He adds that Western diplomats may be tempted to place significance on the newness of Hun Manets appointment, but there is no historical evidence to suggest the sons of dictators are better news. Whats next for Hun Sen? In June, Hun Sen spoke about stepping down as Prime Minister but said he would not withdraw from politics. Even if I am no longer a prime minister, Hun Sen said on Wednesday, I will still control politics as the head of the ruling party. Morgenbesser says that Hun Sens decision to stay on as CPP head will allow his son to strengthen his power base while maintaining his own influence. Until Hun Manet consolidates his power in such a way that he cannot be credibly threatened with removal from office, Hun Sen will have a significant say in major policy decisions, the distribution of rewards, and the selection of personnel, he adds. Write to Armani Syed at armani.syed@time.com. Federal land managers planned to block oil and gas development from about 28,000 acres in Lincoln National Forest, aiming to protect sensitive cave systems near Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains national parks. The U.S. Forest Service will accept public comments for 30 days on an environmental analysis it conducted on the proposal, and the Department of Interior will make a final decision following that process. Should the proposal be denied by the DOI, its Bureau of Land Management would be allowed to consider proposals for exploration and extraction projects in the area. More: $75M oil and gas deal announced in Permian Basin as region leads US in production Heres what we know about the agencys plans to withdrawal the lands from mineral development. A cave in the Guadalupe Cave Resource Protection Area in Lincoln National Forest is pictured. Where are the lands located? The 28,513 acres of federal land being considered for withdrawal are within Lincoln National Forest on a stretch of lands known as the Guadalupe escarpment. The escarpment is south of Queen, an about 30 miles southwest of Carlsbad, between the two national parks. What would the proposed withdrawal mean if enacted? More: Oil and gas industry in New Mexico could see higher land rates under federal proposal If the DOI ultimately approves the Forest Services proposal, the no new prospecting permits or mineral leasing would be authorized within the area for 20 years. A map show the boundaries of the Guadalupe Cave Resource Protection area outlined in purple. Were these lands protected before? The acreage being proposed for protection by the Forest Service were first withdrawn from mineral development in 2001, and the Forest Service filed another application in December 2020. In January 2022, the Bureau of Land Management filed a notice it accepted the application and began a two-year segregation of the lands during the approval process. More: New Mexico to investigate PFAS 'forever chemicals' in oil and gas drilling after petition A public hearing was held in February 2022, and the environmental analysis (EA) was published July 21. How could drilling impact sensitive species? In the EA, the Forest Service pointed to sensitive resources like cave systems and underground aquifers that could be damaged by oil and gas drilling. Story continues Potential conflicts with mining and fluid mineral development include significant earth disturbing activities, especially to sensitive cave resources, read the report. More: Oil company's mineral rights in Eddy County upheld by New Mexico Supreme Court The EA detailed 26 threatened and endangered species in the area proposed for withdrawal that could be impacted by oil and gas drilling and mining. This could see direct and indirect mortality of plants and animals through the damage to the surface, and by causing them to consume hazardous materials, the report read. Industrial operations could also damage habitats, remove food sources and displace breeding locations, the report read. More: Natural gas production set to rise, oil production declines in Permian Basin region These impacts can harm wildlife individuals and decrease the health and abundance of populations. Surface disturbance could impact populations by affecting breeding, feeding, and sheltering habitat, the report read. What could extraction do to the caves? Beneath the surface the report said there are the most spectacular cave resources in the world and if drilling or mining was allowed to occur it could cause irreversible and irreplaceable damage. This could contaminate groundwater, spring and aquifers, the report read, reducing water quality. More: New Mexico could get another $25 million in federal funds to clean up abandoned oil wells Increased surface activity could cause heavy vibrations, potentially damaging the underground rock formations that make up the cave systems, read the report. Has the area ever been mined before? Records show the forest has a history of mining for metals like gold, silver, lead and copper, dating back to the early 1900s, but those activities have largely ceased. There are two mining claims still in existence within the proposed withdrawal area. A uranium mining pit was established in Lincoln National Forest in 1954, the report read, but it was closed the same year and no subsequent mining for uranium was anticipated. The Forest Service reported that no oil and gas leases exist in the area, and no entity has shown interest in such leases, despite the Forests close proximity to the Permian Basin the U.S. busiest oilfield in southeast New Mexico and West Texas. The Lincoln National Forest boundary is roughly the geologic edge of the Permian basin; however, the forest is outside of the Permian basin, read the report. For this reason, the oil and gas development near the Lincoln National Forest is unlikely to spread across its boundaries. Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: What we know about plan to block oil drilling from New Mexico caves An American soldier killed during the Korean War has officially been identified as a Georgia native, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Officials said his remains will be brought home to a final resting place in Georgia in September. DPAA said the body of U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class James L. Wilkinson, of Bowden, was accounted for on Dec. 5, 2022. The Carroll County native died at 19 while serving overseas. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Federal officials said Wilkinson was a member of G Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division during his time in the armed forces. He joined the company in July 1950. Wilkinson was first reported missing in action while fighting along the Naktong River near Yongson, South Korea on Sept. 8, 1950. Fighting of the Naktong Bulge continued from August 5 to September 15, 1950, split into two battles. Amid the fighting, officials said Wilkinsons body could not be recovered, but no evidence suggested he had been a prisoner of war. In December 1953, the Army issued a presumptive finding of death for Wilkinson. TRENDING STORIES: In July 1951, the U.S. Army started recovering remains from the area and interring them at the United Nations Military Cemetery in Tanggok. Some remains, including one designated as Unknown X-1588 were not identifiable at the time and were later sent to Hawaii for burial. Those unidentified soldiers were buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also called the Punchbowl in Honolulu, alongside other unknown casualties from the Korean War, according to DPAA. During the summer of 2018, more than 650 unknown Korean War veterans were disinterred from the Punchbowl in an effort to identify the remains using dental and anthropological analysis, according to federal officials. Story continues Mitochondrial DNA analysis was also used to identify remains. According to DPAA, Wilkinsons identity was established on March 25, 2019 as part of the Korean War Disinterment Project. Wilkinsons name was one of the soldiers recorded in the Courts of the Missing at the Punchbowl. Now that hes been identified, a rosette will be placed next to his name signifying his being accounted for. The military announcement of his identification said Wilkinsons remains will be returned home to Georgia for burial in September. Wilkinson will be buried in Barrow County, according to officials. A full set of up-to-date statistics for DPAA recovery efforts from the Korean War is available online. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] OTHER NEWS: President Vladimir Putin's administration has been making it harder to exit the Russian market. GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images The Kremlin could pass a new rule allowing it priority rights to acquire shares from exiting foreign firms. This would make it harder for foreign companies to leave the Russian market. Moscow has been imposing an increasing number of restrictions on firms that want to exit the country. Foreign businesses wanting to leave the Russian market already face a tough time trying to get out but a new law could make the breakup even harder. Russia is in the process of approving a new rule that allows the Kremlin to be the first in line to acquire the shares of strategic companies whose foreign shareholders are leaving the country, Interfax news agency reported on Monday. Companies in the Kremlin's list of 200 strategic enterprises include food giant Danone and Finnish energy firm Fortum, per the Moscow Times. The Russian operations of both companies have been seized by Moscow this year. The Financial Times reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the seizure after people close to his regime expressed interest in the assets. Russia's preferential right to acquire shares is "realized regardless of the preferential rights of other persons," according to a Moscow Times translation of the draft document obtained by Interfax. Russia's finance ministry confirmed the draft decree to the news agency on Monday. The "super priority" rights, as translated by the Moscow Times, supersedes the rights of others who may also be entitled to the shares of the exiting foreign shareholders. Despite 1,000 companies announcing they were voluntarily cutting back on operations merely two months after the Ukraine war started in February 2022, just 529 foreign companies have made a clean break with the country, according to an ongoing study from Yale University, which was last updated on July 18. But it's not for lack of trying: More than 2,000 companies were seeking approval to exit the Russian market, the Financial Times reported in March, but the progress has been slow due to logistical delays, among other reasons. Story continues President Vladimir Putin's regime has also been imposing an increasing number of punitive measures on companies exiting the Russian market. In December 2022, Russia started forcing those companies selling their assets to dispose of them at a 50% discount. This has benefited Russian businessmen who bought the assets of 110 Western companies "that have fully or partially left Russia" at bargain-bin prices, independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported last Thursday. These assets were collectively valued at 35 billion euros, or nearly $40 billion, at the end of 2022, per the report. Moscow also charges exiting companies an exit fee of at least 10% of the sale value. In addition, the Russian government started requiring sellers from "unfriendly countries" to donate at least 10% of the sale proceeds to the Russian budget from March 2023. The Russian finance ministry did not immediately respond to a request from Insider for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Last year's surge in world prices saw Kuwaiti oil revenues soar to $87 billion, helping it to a budget surplus of $21 billion, its first in nine years (-) Kuwait recorded its first surplus in nine years for the 2022-2023 fiscal year which ended in March, the finance ministry said on Wednesday, crediting last year's surge in oil prices. The Gulf emirate, whose revenues rely heavily on hydrocarbons, closed its fiscal balance with a surplus of $21 billion, the ministry said. "The final account of the state's financial administration records an actual surplus for the first time in nine years," the ministry said in a statement on its website. More than 92 percent of revenues came from oil after prices surged following last year's Russian invasion of Ukraine. Oil revenues for the fiscal year which started in April 2022 stood at $87 billion, a 64 percent increase from the previous year, the ministry said. The average price of a barrel of oil over the fiscal year stood at $97.1, an increase of 21.4 percent compared to the previous year. Output was 2.7 million barrels per day. Revenues for the current fiscal year are expected to fall due to a decline in oil prices. The draft budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year -- published in January -- was calculated based on a price of $70 per barrel. The 2023-2024 draft budget projects a growing deficit, with total revenues expected to drop to around $63.8 billion. Kuwait, which borders Saudi Arabia and Iraq, is home to seven percent of the world's crude reserves. It has little debt and one of the strongest sovereign wealth funds in the world. However, it suffers from constant stand-offs between elected lawmakers and governments installed by the ruling family, which maintains a strong grip over political life despite a parliamentary system in place since 1962. The political instability, which has seen seven general elections held in little more than a decade, has spooked investors and stymied economic reforms. Kuwait's fifth government in less than a year took the oath of office last month after the latest election returned an opposition-controlled parliament. sl/ho/kir HOUSTON (AP) Kyle Tucker and Martin Maldonado homered, rookie starter J.P. France worked seven solid innings and the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 4-3 on Tuesday night. The Astros (58-44) moved within a game of the AL West-leading Rangers (59-43). The injury-plagued Astros could see the return of stars Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez on Wednesday when they go for a series sweep and the top spot in the division. Tuckers line-drive homer narrowly cleared the wall in right-center, giving Houston a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning. In the seventh, Maldonado crushed a 93-mph fastball that nearly landed on the train tracks above left-center field, extending the Astros lead to 4-1. In the ninth, Astros closer Ryan Pressly allowed a two-run homer to Mitch Garver that traveled 420 feet to straightaway center field. That cut Houstons lead to 4-3 before Pressly got Leody Taveras to fly out to the warning track in right field, securing his 24th save. France (6-3) allowed five hits and two walks while striking out three. France, a 28-year-old right-hander, lowered his ERA to 2.97 and has allowed three earned runs or less in 12 of 14 starts. Today, I couldnt thank the defense enough, France said. To have the defense behind me, its awesome. I have the reassurance that even if the ball gets put in play, theyre going to make a play on it. Texas used reliever Yerry Rodriguez (0-1) as the starting pitcher, marking the first time the Rangers have utilized the opener approach since late last season. Making his first career start, Rodriguez allowed two runs on two hits in two innings, leaving Texas in an early hole. Lefty Cody Bradford entered in relief of Rodriguez and allowed six hits and two runs in five innings while striking out three. Astros outfielder Chas McCormick doubled in the second inning, scoring Alex Bregman. McCormick had a pivotal three-run homer in the seventh inning of Monday nights 10-9 win. Houston scored its second run on a sacrifice fly by Corey Julks that plated Jose Abreau. Story continues Texas cut Houstons lead to 2-1 in the sixth inning on a fielding error by Jeremy Pena. We gave up a couple runs early, but we fought back hard, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. You love the fight in this club, but we just came up short. Pena later redeemed himself defensively by throwing out Marcus Semien on a relay to home plate in the eighth inning. Semien was originally ruled safe, but the Astros successfully challenged the call, and it was overturned. They have the angles in New York, so I dont really know, Semien said. I ran as hard as I could, I popped up at home like I always do. It felt OK, but like I said, I dont have the angles they do. Astros manager Dusty Baker called it a huge play. Cut offs and relays can cost you a lot of games, Baker said. Thats one of the few plays that Ive seen overturned in our favor. That was a huge play in the ballgame. TRAINERS ROOM Texas: RHP Josh Sborz (shoulder tendinitis) left the club on Tuesday for a rehab assignment at Triple-A Round Rock. Sborz is eligible to come off the injured list on Friday. Prior to Tuesdays game, the Rangers recalled RHP Spencer Howard and optioned RHP Alex Speas to Round Rock. Houston: Both Alvarez (right oblique discomfort) and Altuve (left oblique strain) participated in Tuesdays batting practice, and both general manager Dana Brown and manager Dusty Baker said theres a chance the players could be back in the lineup on Wednesday. RHP Jose Urquidy (right shoulder discomfort) made a third rehab start on Tuesday night at Double-A Corpus Christi, allowing just one hit and striking out four in four innings. CLOSE CALL With Houston clinging to a 4-1 lead in the eighth inning, Rangers power hitter Adolis Garcia nearly hit his 25th homer of the season. With two runners on base, Garcia pulled a 94-mph fastball 400 feet down the left-field line, but it curved sharply left and went foul. Garcia struck out on the next pitch, an 84-mph splitter from Houston reliever Hector Neris. 100 FOR PRESSLY Closer Ryan Pressly on Tuesday became the fourth reliever in club history to record 100 saves with the Astros. Pressly -- who has recorded all but one of his career saves in Houston -- joined Billy Wagner (225), Dave Smith (199) and Brad Lidge (123) on Astros all-time 100 saves list. UP NEXT In the finale of the three-game series on Wednesday, Houston LHP Framber Valdez (8-6, 2.94 ERA) is scheduled to square off against Texas LHP Andrew Heaney (6-6, 4.58 ERA). ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sport Supervisors said Tuesday this motion would be the one to finally make free phone calls inside county jails a reality. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press) Two years after pledging to make phone calls free for the roughly 13,000 people incarcerated inside the county's seven jails, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has given the Sheriff's Department a deadline to get it done: Dec. 1. The five supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday on a motion that gives the department four months to stop charging inmates and their families for phone calls. The family members who have loved ones in our jails I dont think can wait any longer, said Supervisor Hilda Solis, who initially co-authored the motion with Supervisor Holly Mitchell. Its the third motion the board has passed in two years meant to inch the county closer to making phone calls free across all county jails. The other two motions both went through in 2021, when supervisors asked the Chief Executive Office to explore how much it would cost and what funding source should cover it. Supervisors said Tuesday this motion would be the one to finally make free phone calls inside county jails a reality, following in the footsteps of other big California counties including San Francisco and San Diego . Weve been talking about it. We've been motioning it, said Board Chair Janice Hahn. Today is the day to do it. The vote comes amid growing pressure from advocates and attorneys, who have accused the county of extorting the inmates it's locked up with steep prices they have no choice but to pay. When you talk about making our communities better, you dont do it by charging families who are already on the fringes so much for commissary and calls, Kent G. Mendoza-Morales, manager of advocacy and community organizing at the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, told The Times earlier this year. "As one of the richest counties in the world, how is it that were expecting people to pay so much for something that is cheaper on the street? As in other California counties, the millions of dollars Los Angeles pulls in each year from jail phone calls goes back to the Sheriffs Department. Under state law, it has to be deposited in the department's Inmate Welfare Fund, which is supposed to be used mainly for the benefit and education of inmates. Story continues In April, lawyers targeting the price of phone calls and commissary items in jails across the state sued several counties including Los Angeles over what they alleged amounted to an unlawful tax levied on the countys poorest residents. The lawsuit also alleged the money has been spent on "general jails issues," including salaries and office furniture, rather than services that benefit inmates. Read more: Lawsuits target extortionate phone calls, commissary items in California jails The millions of dollars in commissions that the companies agree to pay the County annually in exchange for these exclusive contracts are completely passed through to inmates, their families, friends, and attorneys, in the form of extortionate and outrageous prices, which are then used by the County to fund its jails, the lawsuit said. These commissions, though denominated as such, are actually unlawful taxes. Nationally, the average jail charges about $3 for a 15-minute phone call, according to the Prison Policy Initiative . In California that figure is slightly lower, around $2 per call still an impossible cost for some inmates and their families, who are disproportionately poor and disproportionately people of color. The supervisors all signaled this week that they felt it was the countys duty to shoulder the burden of these calls. According to Fesia Davenport, the countys chief executive Officer, that burden could be in the ballpark of $30 million annually, which includes $15 million to cover the cost of the calls and another $15 million to fund programs currently being funded by the call revenue. And as of Tuesday, the supervisors were still unsure about where that money would come from. The motion asked Davenport to identify the necessary funding. Though she initially co-sponsored the item, Mitchell voiced the loudest concerns, criticizing it as sound on policy but weak on fiscal analysis. She said she saw the motion as yet another example of the county greenlighting ambitious new policies without making it clear how theyll be funded. Mitchell ultimately pulled her name as co-sponsor but voted for the motion after the supervisors tweaked it to ask Davenport's office to consider using money from the Inmate Welfare Fund. Bianca Tylek, executive director of the criminal justice advocacy group Worth Rises, said in an interview she was "excited" about the board's stance on the matter. But she questioned the accuracy of the anticipated cost, pointing out that when SB 1008 the state legislation that made prison phone calls free passed last year, it was only estimated to cost $12 million for a much larger population. More recently, when Minnesota voted to make phone calls free for its roughly 8,000 state prisoners, she said, the state estimated that it would cost $3.1 million. "We think its way past due for Los Angeles to do this given that San Francisco and San Diego already have," Tylek said. "But while were optimistic, were only cautiously optimistic because they did do this in 2021, two years ago. Were just wanting to make sure it actually happens this time." 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. Los Angelesbased photographer Adam Davis is bringing his ongoing Black Magic project to the Queen City. Davis will produce more than 75 photographic tintypes of Black Charlotteans as part of his goal to create an archive of 20,000 portraits of Black Americans. So far, Davis has traveled to New Orleans, Tulsa, Chicago, and Detroit with his project. During his 15-day residency in Charlotte, Davis will set up portrait studio spaces throughout the city, inviting the public to be part of the collection. PHOTOS: Luminous Lane murals in Uptown Charlotte All visitors who pose for a portrait will receive a free tintype by the artist. During each 40-minute portrait session, Davis takes two portraits, one for the sitter and another for his archive and future exhibition. Portrait sessions will be held at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branches Allegra Westbrooks Library at 2412 Beatties Ford Road and Sugar Creek Library at 4045 North Tryon Street from July 31 Aug. 16. Interested participants can register in advance for sessions at both library branches. Registration will close once capacity is reached. To register for a portrait session, click here. In addition, drop-in sessions will be available at Bazal Gallery Lounge at 950 North Carolina Music Factory Blvd. on Aug. 11- 12 beginning at 8 p.m. All drop-in sessions are first come, first served. For more information, email therollupclt@gmail.com or call 412-525-7099. (VIDEO: Charlottes first-ever poet laureate unveils latest work, poetry in the Queen City) Newly released video shows a Southern California man yelling, youre gonna kill me during his violent arrest by a Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputy in February. In footage provided by Emmett Brocks attorney in which surveillance video is edited to be synched with audio from the deputys body camera, Brock, 24, is shown being thrown to the ground by the deputy seconds after exiting his car at a convenience store. Brocks attorney also provided unedited video from the deputys body-worn camera, but images are mostly obscured throughout the incident. Brock told CNN that on February 10, he was leaving work and driving to an appointment but decided to stop at a 7-Eleven in Whittier. On the way, he said he witnessed Deputy Joseph Benza behaving in an aggressive manner toward a woman. The deputy was gesturing wildly, and appeared irate, he said. When Brock drove past, he flipped him off casually and continued driving, he said. He then noticed Benza started following him for several blocks in a residential area, he said. Brock added he did not see any lights or sirens. He said he called 911 because he was confused with what was happening and was concerned for his safety, and the dispatcher said if there were no lights and sirens, he could continue on as normal. Brock continued to the 7-Eleven and parked in front of the store, where Benza confronted him, he said. Benza did not identify himself but told him, I stopped you, which Brock said confused him after what the 911 dispatcher had said about not needing to stop if there were no lights or sirens. He replied, No you didnt and moved toward the store when Benza grabbed him and threw him on the ground. In the video, the deputy approaches Brock and the pair exchange a few words. In the clip, no explanation for the confrontation can be heard. The deputy says, Come here. I just stopped you as he approaches Brock. Brock replies, No, you didnt. Less than 10 seconds after first approaching him, the deputy throws Brock to the ground. Story continues The two men struggle in the parking lot, with the deputy on top of Brock and Brock telling Benza to get off him, yelling, Stop! Youre gonna kill me! As the deputy lies on top of Brock, he can be heard in the video telling him to move his arms behind his back. Brock replies repeatedly that he cant because the deputy has pinned his hands. Brock told CNN that his hands were pinned under his stomach and were stuck because of the weight of Benza on top of him. At one point, Brock can be heard saying, Im a f**king teacher, bro! and Benza responds, I dont care. Music can be heard in the footage, coming from Brocks cell phone, which started playing after it disconnected from his car, his attorney said. In a report following the incident, Benza wrote that he stopped Brock for a vehicle code violation because he saw an object hanging from the cars rear-view mirror. Benzas patrol vehicle can be seen in the surveillance video pulling up behind Brocks car in the convenience store parking lot. Its unclear from the video if its lights are flashing before the police cruiser stops. I punched S/Brock face and head, using both of my fists, approximately 8 times in rapid succession, Benza wrote in a report following the incident. The report was shared by Brocks attorney, along with medical records showing the deputy broke a bone in his hand during the altercation. Benza also reported that Brock repeatedly tried to bite him, which was also noted in the medical report, with a comment following the exam that there is no bite marks at this time. Brock, who can be heard yelling throughout the encounter, told CNN he didnt bite Benza. Brock was arrested for mayhem, resisting arrest causing injury to a police officer, obstructing or resisting a police officer and failure to obey a police officer, Benzas report says. Brocks attorney, Tom Beck, says Brock denies the allegations. Its clear retaliation; he is a man that lost his temper and took it out on a resident of Los Angeles, Brock said. They are there to protect and its not acceptable. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department declined to comment on specifics of the incident or the surveillance video, nor did they provide the deputys body camera footage. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department takes all use of force incidents seriously, it said in a statement. The Department is investigating the information and allegations brought forward by Mr. Brock and his attorney. Unfortunately, we cannot comment any further at this time due to the pending litigation in this matter, the department said. They did not specify what litigation they were referring to. Benzas attorney Tom Yu told CNN in a statement that the detention was lawful and said that Benza feared that Mr. Brock had a weapon on him. He called his clients handling of this particular situation, given the totality of the circumstances, comported with Department policy and was objectively reasonable. He added that the officer Brock said he flipped off and allegedly followed him was not Benza, which can be proven by the location of his 911 call. Brock also alleges he was treated badly while at jail because he is transgender. While he was being questioned about the incident, Brock revealed he was transgender, he said. After the questioning was over, another deputy came into the room and started aggressively questioning about his gender, asking him repeatedly if he is a woman, Brock said. He said he tried to explain surgeries hes had and what medication he was on, but the deputy was not listening, so Brock told him that he was identified female at birth. Brock was then taken to a bathroom with a female deputy and ordered to undress and show his genitals, he said. He said he was then taken to a mens holding cell and shortly after transferred to a womans holding cell. The jail identified his gender as female on jail records despite his legal gender being male for around six years, he added. Jail records from his booking show Brocks sex listed as female. LASD said in a statement they are investigating the allegations but cannot comment any further due to pending litigation. This incident is one in a series of recent allegations of excessive use of force involving Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies, several of which have been caught on tape. Two Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies have been taken off field duty as their department investigates force they used when a couple was being detained at a grocery store in the city of Lancaster last month. A Palmdale deputy was also recently disciplined for a 2022 incident in which he allegedly punched a woman twice while she held an infant in her arms, authorities said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Pierce County authorities are investigating a rash of car break-ins in Lakewood. There were 27 cars smashed in just three days. Police said most of them happened at the Bluffs Condominiums on July 21. The others happened at another complex down the street. Lakewood police said they believe one group is behind all of the crime. Witnesses saw two vehicles, they were both Kias, one was reported stolen, the other had no license plate, so Im not sure if it was stolen or not, said police. They were chased out of the area after they saw them prowling cars. Officers said they tried to stop them but the suspects drove away. State law does not allow police to pursue suspects in car break-ins and thefts unless they are suspected of a violent crime. Car break-ins seem to have become a bigger problem after the COVID pandemic started, according to data from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. In 2019, there were 46,000 reported thefts from cars. That number jumped to more than 52,000 in 2021. We saw a slight decrease last year with around 51,000 reported thefts. Demobilization after World War I. (German Federal Archives) World War I officially ended on November 11, 1918. But in a war that spans continents, there are always people who don't get the memo for a while. One German force fought a guerilla war in German East Africa that successfully tied down thousands of British troops and continued for two weeks after the end of the war. The small German force of World War I While Germany served as an industrial powerhouse of World War I, German leaders in remote colonies and outposts often found themselves undergunned and undermanned for the conflict. That was especially true in German East Africa. German army Lt. Col. Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck led a force that started around 2,700 men and grew to 30,000. This small force fought against Allied armies that started around 15,000 and grew to 250,000. Lettow-Vorbeck had the advantage of heavy artillery, having salvaged guns from a scuttled cruiser. But an effective blockade by the Allies meant that he rarely received significant resupply or reinforcement. And, aside from the cruiser guns, his men carried mostly obsolete and old equipment. Knowing that he could not hope to win a conquest in Africa, Lettow-Vorbeck decided to tie down Allied forces. He rightly reasoned that war in Europe would be a war of attrition. If he avoided a decisive battle but constantly interrupted British operations, he could tie down multiple divisions. He led one of the most successful guerilla campaigns in history. The Germans lived off the land in the bush. Working together with local Askari allies, they bled the British and their allies constantly for four years. His first opponent was relieved of command for failing to take a port from Lettow-Vorbeck despite having greater numbers and firepower. Commander after commander and unit after unit failed to dislodge the "Lion of Africa." But Lettow-Vorbeck and his German troops, often living in the bush with his African allies, got scant word of events in Europe. Lettow-Vorbeck in Northern Rhodesia Lettow-Vorbeck and his men evaded their pursuers, in part, by attacking their colonies. When Allied forces got close in German East Africa, he invaded Portuguese East Africa and then Northern Rhodesia, a British colony. These incursions allowed his men to raid enemy towns. The raids provided ammunition, replacement parts, and fresh weapons as well as other supplies. Story continues His invasion of Northern Rhodesia was the only instance in the war of a Central Power taking British territory. On November 9, 1918, Lettow-Vorbeck attacked and captured the town of Kasama. The Germans seized full supply depots with medicine, arms, ammunition, and goods to trade. Their African allies had a herd of 400 cattle. Lettow-Vorbeck later said, The men were well armed, equipped and fed, and the strategic situation at the moment was more favorable than it had been for a long time. And so he and his men were quite shocked four days later. On November 13, a British commander told them the war was over. Lettow-Vorbeck remained on the defensive for almost two weeks, but marched his men into Abercorn on November 25, 1918. He was down to 155 Europeans and about 3,300 African soldiers. His medical supplies consisted of bark bandages, and Lettow-Vorbeck wore undersized boots captured during the fighting and modified to fit his feet. Future German leaders, including a German ambassador, said that this moment was when the war ended. European leaders, including the general who fought against him and England's Queen Mary, voiced admiration for him and his men. That prestige served him well after the war, since he clashed with Hitler before and during World War II. He reportedly told the Fuhrer to screw himself when Hitler recruited him to be an ambassador. A Kansas City area state senator who successfully passed legislation that forced Kansas City to spend more on its police force is now seeking a spot on the Missouri Supreme Court. State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, a Parkville Republican, is among the 22 applicants to fill the vacancy on the states highest court left by Judge George W. Draper III who was appointed by former Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon in 2011. Draper, who previously served as just the states second Black chief justice in history, will retire next month after turning 70, the courts mandatory retirement age. Luetkemeyer, an attorney who was elected to the Missouri Senate in 2018, has served as chairman of the Missouri Senate Judiciary Committee and sits on the chambers budget writing panel. Republicans who spoke with The Star floated Luetkemeyer as a potential candidate to fill a vacancy for Missouri attorney general. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, passed over the state senator and appointed his general counsel Andrew Bailey for the position. Luetkemeyer, reached by phone Wednesday, declined to comment on his application. The Republican state senator made headlines last year when he sponsored legislation that forced Kansas City to increase the amount of its budget it spends on police from 20% to 25%. City leaders criticized Republican lawmakers for deciding how the city should allocate its police funds. Kansas City is the only city in Missouri that does not control its police force. The department is overseen by a five-member board of police commissioners. Four are appointed by the governor while Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas fills the remaining spot. Draper is one of two Black judges on the seven-member court, along with Judge Robin Ransom. Of the 22 applicants to fill Drapers seat on the high court, one, Jackson County Judge Kenneth R. Garrett III, is Black. Garrett, who hails from Kansas City, was appointed by Nixon in 2013. Prior to becoming a judge, he worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Jackson County. Other candidates include Cole County Associate Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh, the son of a federal court judge and cousin to the late conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh and Kelly Broniec, the chief judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District. Broniec is one of six women to apply for the position. A seven-member commission led by Chief Justice Paul C. Wilson will interview the candidates in late August and select three nominees from the applicant pool. Parson will then appoint his pick for the vacancy. Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah) and Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) said Wednesday both Congress and the public need to be educated on clean energy and energy permitting reform as the issues become ever-more pressing. Curtis cited the intricacies of energy permitting as an obstacle to enacting reform on this issue during The Hills Clean Energy Permitting Reform: The Plan Ahead event sponsored by Advanced Energy United. To some, its transmissions. To some, its pipelines, its all of these different things, Curtis said, adding that getting almost a common language that we all understand will help the House pass legislation on energy permitting. Amendments made to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in the recent debt ceiling agreement made some changes to the energy permitting process, though some members are not yet satisfied. While Republican and centrist Democrats wanted the debt agreement to make energy permitting a faster process, other Democratic members were against the permitting measures because of their potential to fast track fossil fuel projects. Hickenlooper, a moderate Democrat on the Senates Energy and Natural Resources Committee, shared the sense of urgency to accelerate these procedures. We cant spend the same amount of time and energy on processes when the climate is changing so rapidly, Hickenlooper told The Hills Editor in Chief Bob Cusack. I havent given up my hope for this Congress right now, Curtis said about his push to pass energy reform. There are some great ideas out there, they have merit. Another area that the Republican and Democrat seem to agree on is making clean energy and permitting more digestible. Curtis, vice chair of the Houses Energy, Climate and Grid Security Subcommittee, said more informed members could help guide others as Congress debates permitting reform. I dont think every member has to understand every issue, he said. We dont all need to be perfect, but you need credibility and the people that youre looking to need credibility. Story continues Hickenlooper also emphasized the need to raise awareness around the reality of clean energy. He recalled an instance of GOP anger about Mercedes potentially selling only electric vehicles. His Republican counterparts saw the companys move as a betrayal to their shareholders, but Hickenlooper insisted that were not betraying anybody, and it was instead an example of much-needed forward thinking. This is happening, its going to happen, and how do we do it in such a way that we are efficient and not wasting money by having to rush around doing things at the last minute, he said about the U.S.s impending move to clean energy. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Allowing transgender Kansas residents to intervene in a lawsuit that seeks to force the state to list the sex they were assigned at birth on their driver's licenses would create a legal morass, the state's Republican attorney general argued in a new court filing. Attorney General Kris Kobach also contends in a filing made public Wednesday that the five transgender people trying to intervene do not have a substantial interest in the lawsuit's outcome. Kobach wants to keep the focus of the case on his argument that a new state law that rolled back transgender rights as of July 1 bars the state from changing transgender people's driver's licenses to reflect their gender identities. Kobach filed the lawsuit last month against two top officials in the Kansas Department of Revenue, which issues driver's licenses. The lawsuit came after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly announced that people could continue to have their driver's licenses changed despite the new law, which defines male and female under any state law as the sex assigned to a person at birth. The Republican-controlled Legislature overrode Kelly's veto and enacted it. District Judge Theresa Watson has an Aug. 16 hearing set in Shawnee County, home to the state capital of Topeka, on the transgender people's request to intervene. Watson already has directed the department not to change transgender people's licenses while the lawsuit moves forward, and that order is to remain in place until at least Nov. 1. Kansas is among a few states that don't allow such changes, along with Montana, Oklahoma and Tennessee. The five transgender individuals are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and argue that barring changes in the sex listings on driver's licenses violates their rights under the Kansas Constitution. Kobach argued in his filing, dated Tuesday, That is not the issue in this case. Instead, he said, the question is only whether the Department of Revenue is complying with the new law. Story continues Thus, whatever grievances third parties may have ... such matters are simply not relevant," Kobach wrote. Kobach also argued that if the transgender people intervene and raise constitutional issues, he would be obligated as the state's top lawyer to defend the Department of Revenue against those claims in his own lawsuit. Allowing intervention will create a procedural morass, he wrote. Attorneys representing the Department of Revenue against Kobach's lawsuit support the transgender people's request and argued in their own filing Tuesday that allowing them to intervene would promote judicial economy. The lawyers said the transgender residents are likely to file a separate lawsuit if their request is denied. Sharon Brett, legal director for the ACLU of Kansas, said in a statement that because Kobach's interpretation of the new law conflicts with transgender people's rights, Their voices must be heard. It is telling that Mr. Kobach is going to great lengths to prevent the voices of transgender Kansans from being heard in this case, she added. Kobach also is trying to stop Kansas from changing the sex listing on transgender people's birth certificates in a separate federal lawsuit. ___ Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna For the last two years, the National Education Association has shielded from public view the actions it took during its annual representative assembly. Press coverage is sparse, making it a simple task for the union to portray the event in the most positive light. But you cant put 5,400 people in a convention hall for four days and expect them all to maintain a vow of silence. Union Report has obtained a full list of business items introduced during the assembly. Some items lack information on their final disposition, but whether they were approved, rejected or referred to a committee, they offer a complete picture of what occupied the delegates during their stay in Orlando earlier this month. New Business Item 1 was approved by the delegates and did receive media attention. Among other things, it directed NEA to ensure that its political strategy included promotion and defense of the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ people. The union will devote more than $580,000 to this effort. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Once a new business item is approved, all subsequent proposals on the topic are ruled out of order, so a handful of items related to LGBTQ+ and transgender issues never made it to the floor for debate, including Item 4, which would have required NEA to recommend sample contract language with the terms birthing parent and non-birthing parent instead of mother or father. The delegates also approved items that directed NEA to explore options for member-led direct action at the sites of future assemblies, and for the national union to stop referring to right-to-work states and laws, instead using the phrases anti-worker or anti-union. The delegates referred a large number of items without recommendation to NEAs standing committees. One of these called upon the union to address the use of artificial intelligence in public education. Without access to the debate itself, its hard to say why the following items were rejected, but the costs of implementation weighed heavily on most proposals: Story continues Item 24 directed NEA to divest and dissociate from businesses and organizations that discourage joining a labor union. The delegate who introduced the measure specifically named Amazon and Bank of America. Perhaps this was defeated because under a strict reading, it might have required the union to dissociate from the U.S. Senate. Item 36 would have required NEA to develop a framework to evaluate and resolve conflicts with state affiliate union employees. For many years, the union has discouraged delegates from getting too involved in the internal workings of management and staff. Item 41 would have required NEA to collect information on the potential dangers of artificial turf fields. Each year, delegates introduce items on fringe issues, but they are usually shot down. Item 48 would have required NEA to produce a forum on potential legal pathways to overturning the Janus decision, which barred public employee unions from collecting agency fees from non-members. This was probably defeated because there are no legal pathways to overturning a U.S. Supreme Court decision, short of something like Item 74, which would have directed NEA to call on President Joe Biden to expand the Supreme Court. A number of business items were debated and voted upon late on the final day of the convention, so I dont have information on their ultimate fate, but here are a few: Item 56 directs NEA to encourage state affiliates not to use Amazon gift cards as giveaways. Item 57 calls on NEA to create a fund to issue grants to private-sector union organizing efforts. Item 65 requires NEA to publish a report on each states policies on charter school participation in the pension system. The rationale states: At a time when state plans are under attack, requiring charter schools to participate in state plans could reinforce plan stability for educators and state and local plan sponsors. Related: At Its Annual Convention, NEA Didnt Practice What It Preaches about Democracy Item 72 is about immigration and directs NEA to defend asylum for all. Item 81 states that NEA will hold events only in states whose laws are reviewed by the unions general counsel, which would include laws related to womens health care, including abortion; health care for LGBTQ+ and transgender individuals, including any civil rights provisions and anti-union animus that seeks to penalize educators at the state or local level. Item 94 directs NEA to communicate to members about the calming effect of green noise. In addition to new business items, delegates debated additions to the unions federal lobbying program. A series of amendments introduced by a single California delegate were rejected for being out of compliance with NEA policies. They included withdrawing from the World Health Organization, requiring schools to have hard-wired internet instead of wifi, prohibiting skywriting above schools and creating a vegan food pyramid. NEA budgeted for a loss of 31,000 working members during the 2023-24 school year. The union has 410,000 fewer today than it had at its high-water mark in 2008-09. Nothing that happened in Orlando seems destined to reverse that decline. Mike Antonuccis Union Report appears most Wednesdays; see the full archive. In the knife aisle at Bloomington's Harbor Freight Tools, you can buy a $6.99 machete with an 18-inch-long two-edge blade, one side serrated, that's two-and-a-quarter inches wide nearing its sharp tip. The blade is attached to a rubber handle with finger grips. The Gordon-brand machete comes with a black woven nylon storage sheath that's got a Velcro strip to hold the tool in place and a loop so it can be attached to a belt and worn. It's intended as a yard tool "for sawing through thick brush and vines," promotional ads say. An 18" serrated machete for sale for $6.99 at Harbor Freight Tools on Third Street on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. But around Bloomington, inexpensive machetes such as this are being used not only to hack down tall weeds, but also as defensive weapons sometimes used to hurt people. People walking around town with machetes may be unnerving, but it's not against the law. Anyone can carry a knife, a sword or a machete, although it seems unusual to see them worn as a sidearm. They can be found stowed away in tool sheds and also within arms' reach inside homes as a potential weapon against intruders. The Bloomington Police Department has seen an increase in the number of calls from citizens reporting people carrying big unconcealed knives, Capt. Ryan Pedigo said. Unless they are threatening someone or committing a crime, there's nothing officers can do. These calls to police don't generate reports, but 911 operators are accustomed to taking the concerns. "Many callers report seeing someone walking down the sidewalk with a large knife or machete in a sheath attached to their belt and are alarmed that people are openly carrying such large cutting instruments," Pedigo said. Pedigo said a supervisor sometimes decides if an officer will respond. For instance, if a citizen reports someone with a machete strapped to their belt walking along, the department doesn't expend scarce resources when there's no indication of a crime. That's because there's no federal, state or local statue that restricts someone from carrying a knife or machete. Story continues "These instruments are extremely cheap to purchase, and sales are not regulated like firearms, so we do frequently see people openly possessing them in public spaces," Pedigo said. Monroe County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jeff Kehr has noticed the upswing in machete-related crime. "Im not sure why that is, other than they are easy to come by, and not illegal to possess." Machete incidents: Threats, minor injuries A Herald-Times review of police calls that generated written reports revealed three dozen machete-related cases reported with the Bloomington Police Department over the past decade. After just one in 2012, there were a total of five between 2013 and 2016, none in 2017, five in 2018, three in 2019, five in 2020, four in 2021, and seven in 2022. So far this year, Bloomington police have responded to at least nine incidents involving machetes. The most recent was the evening of July 24, when a 62-year-old man reportedly came out of his southside apartment holding a machete over his head, threatening to cut a neighbor's throat. The incident was the culmination of an ongoing dispute between the neighbors about one's dogs and kids, police said. Monday's altercation happened in front of several children, who described to police how their dad was threatened with the long knife, according to a report from an officer at the scene. The neighbors reportedly were in the midst of a verbal dispute outside when one went into his apartment and returned with a machete in hand, holding it upright over his shoulder. It had belonged to the man's father, a probable cause affidavit in the case said. His sister wrestled the machete away. The 32-year-old neighbor said he went inside and called 911 after being threatened. Police arrived in the 2400 block of South Winslow Court soon after the 5:46 p.m. call, arrested the suspect and and took him to the Monroe County Jail on a charge of felony intimidation. Eleven days earlier, an afternoon brawl at Seminary Park got out of hand when some men were in a fight that included two weapons: a machete and a fishing pole. At 2:11 p.m. on Thursday, July 13, police went to Seminary Park where a 27-year-old man reported being hit several times with a machete. He suffered cuts to his back, arm, hand and face. A 35-year-old man told police he was threatened by the same man and feared for his life. The 43-year-old machete-wielding suspect claimed that welts on his back were the result of having been struck twice during the fight with a fishing pole. He was arrested for intimidation and battery by means of a deadly weapon, both felonies, and a $5,500 bond was set. Court records show the man, listed as transient with no permanent address, has had four misdemeanor battery charges dismissed by Monroe County judges since 2021; two battery charges from 2022 are pending. Other 2023 machete incidents July 6, 12:27 a.m., 1400 block of North Willis Drive: a 31-year-old man reported a 26-year-old woman threw a machete toward him. June 27, 10:53 a.m., Switchyard Park Splash Pad: a 31-year-old transient man reported someone took his machete from his belongings while he was at the park. June 27, 3:38 p.m., 200 block of South College Avenue: A 58-year-old woman and 59-year-old man told police a man with a machete threatened them outside the Seminary Square Kroger store. May 10, 2:17 p.m., 3100 Block of West Third Street: an employee of the At Home store called 911 after a 52-year-old woman ran in and said she had been threatened with a machete by someone she knows. A 43-year-old man was charged with intimidation with a deadly weapon, a felony. April 8, 2:43 a.m., 1600 block of North Kinser Pike: a 20-year-old reported a man he knows pushed a shopping cart at him and made him crash his bike. A 54-year-old man told police the bicyclist brandished a machete and threatened him. Feb. 25, 4:07 p.m., 600 block of North College Avenue: someone called 911 to report a 30-year-old man walking around carrying a machete. "Due to no crime being committed," the report said, the man was not detained, but did relinquish his machete to police. Jan. 29, 11:07 p.m., 300 block of North Hopewell Street: a 48-year-old woman reported that a man she knows held a machete while threatening to kill her. A 32-year-old man was charged with two felonies criminal recklessness and intimidation with a deadly weapon. 'It's really sharp, so be careful' More than 90% of the 2,063 people who wrote Harbor Freight Tools website reviews of the Gordon 18-inch machete recommend it to others. One purchaser said it was the perfect tool for weed whacking. An 18" serrated machete for sale for $6.99 at Harbor Freight Tools on Third Street on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. The reviews don't mention the machete as a weapon. "I used this once to cut underbrush," one reviewer wrote. "Only thing I can say is its really sharp, so be careful." Beacon's Forrest Gilmore oversees the Shalom Center, Bloomington's daytime shelter where people experiencing homelessness gather. He acknowledged that some patrons possess machetes, but said they must check them at the door to enter. No guns, knives or pepper spray are allowed, he said, at the weapons-free facility. The fact that people are carrying machetes might worry some Bloomington residents, said Gilmore, who cautioned against making an issue of something that could incite unnecessary fear. "We certainly see people carrying blades of all kinds, but it has generally not been an issue as far as behavior here," the Rev. Gilmore said. "People aren't wielding knives here (at Shalom) and hurting people." Contact Herald-Times reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Machete-related crime on uptick in Bloomington, Indiana Rudy Giuliani Alex Wong/Getty Images Former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani on Tuesday conceded the statements he made about two Georgia election workers who were forced from their home by death threats from the former president's supporters were false. Giuliani in a two-page late-night court filing said he "does not contest" that his statements about Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss were "false" and "carry meaning that is defamatory." The statement conceded that his statements meet the "factual elements of liability" for Moss and Freeman's claims that his comments amounted to "intentional infliction of emotional distress." But Giuliani is not giving up in the defamation lawsuit from the two election workers, his adviser Ted Goodman told Politico, arguing that it was just a way to move past the fact-gathering stage of the lawsuit and into the legal phase, where he can try to dismiss the suit. "Mayor Rudy Giuliani did not acknowledge that the statements were false but did not contest it in order to move on to the portion of the case that will permit a motion to dismiss," Goodman said. "This is a legal issue, not a factual issue. Those out to smear the mayor are ignoring the fact that this stipulation is designed to get to the legal issues of the case." But the report noted that it is a "significant acknowledgment" from the former president's lawyer, who spent months claiming that Moss and Freeman were seen on video improperly pulling ballots from a suitcase and claiming it was proof of Trump's widely debunked election fraud conspiracy theories. Moss and Freeman testified to the House Jan. 6 committee that they faced numerous threats and were forced to flee their home. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, who is overseeing the case, threatened to impose sanctions on Giuliani over claims that he failed to preserve key evidence in the case. Giuliani's filing on Tuesday came in response to an order from Howell demanding an explanation for why he failed to produce certain evidence and why she shouldn't rule in the plaintiffs' favor. Story continues Giuliani attorney Joseph Sibley emphasized in an accompanying filing that Giuliani was not "admitting" to the allegations but would stop contesting them, which he said should end further efforts to obtain additional factual evidence, including emails, texts and other communications, according to Politico. Giuliani in his statement maintained that his comments about Moss and Freeman were "constitutionally protected statements or opinions" but by admitting to the facts, he says further efforts to obtain factual evidence are unnecessary. Giuliani in his statement disputed that he mishandled or destroyed the evidence sought by the plaintiffs, citing a statement from his attorney Robert Costello blaming the Justice Department for seizing his devices in 2021, which he claimed were returned with corrupted data. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Legal experts expressed doubt that Giuliani's move would work. Former federal prosecutor and CNN legal analyst Elie Honig said Wednesday it was "remarkable" to see someone in a defamation lawsuit "admit 'yes, what I said was false.'" Honig called the attacks Freeman and Moss "one of the most despicable, over-the-top lies" pushed by the former New York City mayor. "What he seems to be trying to do is limit this question to, 'Was it constitutionally protected speech?' You have a lot of range when it comes to First Amendment political speech, but I cannot conceive how you justify attacking innocent civilian poll workers falsely like this," Honig said. "This is a sort of desperate, last-second gasp to try to limit his liability here," he added. "It's really an astonishing concession." National security attorney Bradley Moss also predicted the move would fail. "This is horribly written, contradicts itself and will not suffice," he tweeted. "The real question in this case was always about what level of fault attaches," explained Georgia State University Law Prof. Anthony Michael Kreis, "but even then, it's hard to see how Giuliani and the entire Trump team showed any more care than a reckless disregard for the truth." Read more about Rudy Giuliani He sort of stumbled out the gate, and when he got off to a bad start, the rookie Mayor Eric Adams did what any seasoned politician would do. He blamed the media. But Adams took it to another level. The citys second African-American mayor, and the first in more than a generation, said the press was picking on him because he was Black. Im a Black man thats the mayor, but my story is being interpreted by people who dont look like me, Adams said at the time, before launching a rant about newsroom diversity. The lecture didnt go over well with editors and reporters, who wondered about the thickness of Adams skin. But give Adams credit for this: He wasnt just talking about the issue. Hes doing something about it. Adams on Friday announced a new scholarship Initiative to increase diversity in journalism that will commit at least $500,000 in one year for students of color in New York City to emulate the people they read online and in the newspapers and see on TV. From Ida B. Wells to Jovita Idar, journalists of color have used the power of the press to shine a light on urgent issues and push our country forward, Adams said. Unfortunately, too many newsrooms still do not look like the communities they cover, with Black, Brown, Asian-American, and so many other communities underrepresented in our press corps. This scholarship fund for students of color will help support students from New York City as they work to repair the inequities were seeing in newsrooms, building new pipelines for students to become journalists and increasing the diversity of this essential industry. If you have any doubt about whether or not Adams is on to something, consider that there was hardly a peep in the press about the mayors newsroom diversity announcement. Certainly, theres a lot going on in the city competing for the medias attention. Buses continue to flood the city with migrants. Violent crime plagues New Yorkers above and below ground. Education and child care issues keep parents up at night. Story continues But the makeup of the people who cover these stories is almost as important as the stories themselves. Yet the media in general does a poor job reflecting the communities it covers. For instance, while Hispanics make up 19% of the U.S. population, they account for only 8% of American journalists, according to surveys. Similarly, Blacks make up 12% of the U.S. population, but account for just 6% of American journalists. Meanwhile, Asian-American and Pacific Islanders make up 7% of the U.S. population, but just 3% of journalists. The numbers are really worse than that. The stats only reflect people and news organizations that responded to the surveys. In fact, a large portion of newsrooms employees are white, higher than the share of U.S. workers overall who are white. And if you think a lot of time is spent talking about this in newsrooms, then you havent spent a lot of time in a newsroom. At the same time, the persistent closures of local newspapers have sealed off long-standing pathways into the industry for students seeking internships and entry-level jobs. Adams administration has already begun conversations with leading journalism schools across the country to ensure that as many New York City students of color as possible can get a foot in the door. New Yorkers can donate directly online to the fund to help support the scholarships. But heres the fine print. If the scholarship eventually leads to a job covering City Hall, and you produce a story the mayor doesnt like, hes coming after you, too. It comes with the job, and you shouldnt want it any other way. ___ Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a news conference this month in South Carolina. (Sean Rayford / Associated Press) To the editor: The more Ron DeSantis talks and passes inane and harmful laws, the more he reveals who he really is: a dangerous ignoramus who thinks he is smarter than anyone else, anxiously attempting to erase or whitewash facts. What this country doesn't need is another self-serving blowhard bully who hasn't got a single clue about how democracy functions for all of the people. DeSantis' need for control can't stop the tide of learning and seeking the truth about our past, the good, the bad and the ugly especially the horrors and grim legacy of slavery, which can never be forgotten nor rearranged for political gain. The more he tries to suppress and deny the truth, the more it will surface and bubble to the top. What are you so scared of, Mr. DeSantis? Frances Terrell Lippman, Sherman Oaks .. To the editor: DeSantis just can't help himself. He has to insult Floridians over and over again. Now he wants to ban history and substitute his own interpretation in its place. For this to be coming from a Harvard graduate is more than just an insult to the American people he's also an embarrassment to Harvard University itself. I would expect a supposedly intelligent Harvard graduate to accept the reality that people must arrive at their own opinions, rather than force his own opinions into textbooks as governor. Patrick Sullivan, Reseda .. To the editor: Whats next in Ron DeSantis' schoolhouse culture-war offensive sanitizing sex education curricula by underscoring how babies are delivered to their parents by storks? Christine Hagel, Orcutt, CA This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Santa Barbara residents rally in front of the Santa Barbara News-Press offices in 2006. The paper announced last week that it was ceasing publication. (Michael A. Mariant / Associated Press) To the editor: I grew up reading the Santa Barbara News-Press. Images of my father reading it in the evenings and typing earnest, oft-published letters-to-the-editor a lesson I internalized! remain vivid childhood memories. The moderate-leaning daily was an integral part of my life growing up in a city I knew was special even as a child. Its historic De La Guerra Plaza location which hosted the Old Spanish Days fiesta engendered awe. I returned during graduate school in the mid-1980s to do a journalism internship with the paper and pinched myself that I could enter its venerable portal as a member of the staff with my own byline. Upon graduating, I realized newspapers were already facing untenable headwinds and redirected my focus to tech. The publications ignominious endorsement of former President Trump, the first such endorsement from a daily paper, seemed to cement its rightward turn after Wendy McCaw's purchase in 2000 from the New York Times Co. I subscribe to both the L.A. Times' print edition and our own struggling daily (one of the few to see an actual paper land on our driveway), and I lament the dire direction each is taking. Social media is not a replacement for local, ink-on-your-hands information. Mary MacGregor, La Quinta .. To the editor: Yes, newspapers are having a difficult time surviving in 2023. I am a woman in my late 70s who remembers the vital role our Santa Barbara News-Press provided to our county. Every morning before my dad went to work, he had his coffee and the paper. Then when my grandmother had finished her day, I can still see her resting on her bed reading the paper. Finally, it was my turn to check out the news the comics were quite important to an 8-year-old. But the point is that the Santa Barbara News-Press died in the year 2000 when McCaw took it over, leading to this very sad set of events. Katherine Chapman Wetzel, Santa Barbara This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. CHARLOTTESVILLE New Alzheimers research from University of Virginia Medical Center suggests that enhanced light sensitivity may contribute to sundowning the worsening of symptoms late in the day and spur sleep disruptions thought to contribute to the diseases progression. Researcher Thaddeus Weigel is a graduate student working with Dr. Heather Ferris at the University of Virginia School of Medicines Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism have discovered that enhanced light sensitivity plays a key role in Alzheimer's Disease progression and Sundown Syndrome. The new insights into the disruptions of the biological clock seen in Alzheimers could have important potential both for the development of treatments and for symptom management, researchers say. For example, caregivers often struggle with the erratic sleep patterns caused by Alzheimers patients altered circadian rhythms, as the bodys natural daily cycle is known. Light therapy, the new research suggests, might be an effective tool to help manage that. Better understanding Alzheimers effects on the biological clock could have implications for preventing the disease, UVA Health said in a press release. Poor sleep quality in adulthood is a risk factor for Alzheimers, as our brains, at rest, naturally cleanse themselves of amyloid beta proteins that are thought to form harmful tangles in Alzheimers. Circadian disruptions have been recognized in Alzheimer's disease for a long time, but we've never had a very good understanding of what causes them, said researcher Thaddeus Weigel, a graduate student working with Heather Ferris, MD, PhD, at the University of Virginia School of Medicines Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism. This research points to changes in light sensitivity as a new, interesting possible explanation for some of those circadian symptoms. Alzheimers research shows 'abnormally fast' adaptation to changes in light Alzheimers disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting 50 million people around the world. Its hallmark is progressive memory loss, to the point that patients can forget their own loved ones. There can be many other symptoms, such as restlessness, aggression, poor judgment and endless searching. These symptoms often worsen in the evening and at night. Story continues Ferris and her collaborators used a mouse model of Alzheimers to better understand what happens to the biological clock in Alzheimers disease. They essentially gave the mice jet lag by altering their exposure to light, then examined how it affected their behavior. The Alzheimers mice reacted very differently than did regular mice. Research from Heather Ferris, MD, PhD, at the University of Virginia School of Medicines Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism shows enhanced light sensitivity plays a key role in Alzheimer's Disease progression and Sundown Syndrome. The Alzheimers mice, scientists found, adapted to a six-hour time change significantly more quickly than the control mice. This, the scientists suspect, is the result of a heightened sensitivity to changes in light. While our biological clocks normally take cues from light, this adjustment happens gradually thus, jet lag when we travel great distances. Our bodies need time to adapt. But for the Alzheimers mice, this change happened abnormally fast. The researchers initially thought this might be due to inflammation in the brain neuroinflammation. So they looked at immune cells called microglia that have become promising targets in efforts to develop better Alzheimers treatments. But the scientists ultimately ruled out this hypothesis, determining that microglia did not make a difference in how quickly mice adapted. (Thats not to say that targeting microglia wont be beneficial for other reasons, scientists said in the release.) UVA scientists also ruled out another potential culprit: mutant tau, an abnormal protein that forms tangles in the Alzheimers brain. The presence of these tangles also did not make a difference in how the mice adapted. The researchers results ultimately suggest there is an important role for the retina in the enhanced light sensitivity in Alzheimers, and that gives researchers a promising avenue to pursue as they work to develop new ways to treat, manage and prevent the disease. These data suggest that controlling the kind of light and the timing of the light could be key to reducing circadian disruptions in Alzheimers Disease, Ferris said. We hope that this research will help us to develop light therapies that people can use to reduce the progression of Alzheimers Disease. Findings published The researchers have published their findings in the scientific journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. The research team consisted of Weigel, Cherry L. Guo, Ali D. Guler and Ferris. The team members have no financial interest in the work. The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Owens Family Foundation and the Commonwealth of Virginias Alzheimers and Related Diseases Research Fund. Keeping it civil: Lyndhurst animal shelter could soon change fees for impoundment, civil penalties More: VCSB pursuing funding for crisis receiving center, other takeaways from Waynesboro City Council This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Alzheimer's: Light therapy to slow disease, manage sundown syndrome LINCOLN, N.Y. Lightning killed a man Monday and injured two others as they sheltered under a tree from a storm in upstate New York. The three roofers were working on a residence and headed under the tree to wait out the storm, according to the Madison County Sheriff. About 2:30 p.m., lightning struck a nearby flagpole, and all three were affected by the strike. The three roofers were under a tree when lightning hit the flagpole on the left. Emergency crews found a 39-year-old man unconscious and not breathing. They were able to revive the man and sent all three men to a hospital for treatment. Two workers were treated for minor injuries and released. The third victim was transferred to a trauma center, where he later succumbed to his injuries, a Madison County official confirmed. LIGHTNING DEATHS ARE ON THE RISE. HERE'S WHAT TO DO TO STAY SAFE WHEN THUNDER ROARS According to the National Lightning Safety Council, seven people in the U.S. have been killed by lightning this year. Lightning strikes are not always direct. In this case, the electricity from the bolt that hit the flagpole was likely conducted to the ground and set up a "ground current" which traveled to the workers under the tree. Ground currents happen when lightning makes contact with an object on the ground and then travels outward through the surface of the ground. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE IS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING File: Cloud to ground lightning. DEBUNKING LIGHTNING MYTHS While lightning technically has no temperature, its electrical current can heat the surrounding air and any object the current passes through to be up to five times hotter than the surface of the sun. Burns are likely injuries. Electricity from lightning can also cause extreme damage to the body's cardiovascular system. The jolt can actually cause the heart to stop. When electricity reaches the nervous system, it can directly damage nerve cells, cause temporary paralysis and cause arteries and vessels in the brain to burst as well. NEARLY 200 MILLION LIGHTNING STRIKES HIT THE U.S. IN 2022. HOW MANY HIT YOUR STATE? Story continues FILE - Lightning strikes the Empire State Building on July 15, 2014 in New York City. According to the National Weather Service, no outdoor place is safe during thunderstorms. "When you hear thunder, immediately move to safe shelter: A substantial building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with windows up," the NWS advises on their Lightning Safety site. "Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder." If you are caught outside with no safe shelter, the NWS advises: Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges or peaks. Never lie flat on the ground. Never shelter under an isolated tree. Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter. Immediately get out and away from ponds, lakes and other bodies of water. Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (barbed wire fences, power lines, windmills, etc.). HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER About 40 million lightning strikes hit the U.S. every year, according to the CDC. Over 90% of people hit, survive. Lightning kills about 28 people in the country each year. A man carrying a Google Street View Trekker backpack walks in the city center on July 03, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. The Street View Trekker, which is equipped with cameras pointing 360 degrees, is helping Google to show more hard to reach places for it Street View service in Google Maps. Google regularly spends billions of dollars on its mapping initiatives, like its recent return to recording street views in Germany. Other companies both big and small are working together to create a open source dataset that everyone can draw from. If youre not Google (or, to a much lesser extent, Apple), map apps are damned hard to make. Last year, several major heavy hitters in tech, including the likes of Meta, Microsoft, TomTom, and Amazon, decided to lay down their arms and meet under a flag of parlay held aloft by the Linux Foundation to make mapping just a little easier, cheaper, and less dominated by two companies. Alone, none could establish a big enough data pool to rival the likes of Google Maps, but with their individual hoards of business location data, satellite mapping tech, and more support from smaller tech firms, they could perhaps gather enough data together to help create a whole new series of up-to-date map apps. On Wednesday, this pooled initiative, called the Overture Maps Foundation, shared its first alpha release for its mapping data. It contains millions of examples for buildings, roads, and geographic boundaries. Its only the first large release for the planned massive dataset, but the hope is there will be much more to come as companies sign on. Read more Marc Prioleau, the executive director of the Overture Maps Foundation, was named as head of the project back in May. Hes been around mapping projects for many years, having worked in the start of the GPS market back in 1995, and later moved on to the likes of Meta and Uber for their location-based services. He said if theres one thing that strikes at the difficulty of building a high-quality app with exacting road and place information, its the ephemeral nature of public infrastructure. The hardest thing in mapping is knowing whats changed in the world, Prioleau told Gizmodo in a video chat. Essentially, map apps are some of the hardest to design simply because of the massive amount of data required to build the systems. Not only do they need to be accurate, but they need to be constantly updated when businesses close and new ones open. Story continues The first Overture release contains about 59 million points of interest that the group claims has not yet been released as open data before. A POI could be anythinga public landmark, a specific building, or a local business. Otherwise, the data contains about 750 million building footprints alongside road data thats mostly collated from the crowdsourced OpenStreetMap project. So how much of the world does this alpha release truly cover? Prioleau said the POI data makes up around 60 to 70% of a worldwide dataset. In his mind, a good number to shoot for is somewhere between 80 and 100 million places. Its something of a Goldilocks problem. With around 200 million POIs, Prioleau said youd likely be hoarding a lot of junk, but too little means youre obviously missing out on locations, especially from less represented countries. As far as the building data, he said that feels pretty complete as far as laying out worldwide structures, considering that the U.S. itself contains something around 100 million buildings. A good chunk of that data came from Meta through businesses listing their addresses on Facebook or Instagram. Microsoft also handed over some of its data through its work on Bing Maps, but the two sets combined included duplicates, which cut down on total numbers. The Overture director said the foundation has plans to add more datasets in the future from other sources centered on different continents. The road data is a different beast entirely. The vast majority of it is based on the OpenStreetMap project, an open source, wiki-style resource compiled by internet users going on nearly 18 years. Prioleau said Overture has modified the projects info to make it easier to attach new datapoints. The project has also worked to standardize and fact check the data contained on the projects site. Theres also several benefits to using this Wikipedia-style map compared to how Google might spend billions maintaining its map data every year (or otherwise buying up the competition like it did with Waze). Users on the ground can archive and modify the map to note damage during a natural disaster. One of the things [OpenStreetMap] does incredibly well is build richness into the map, because what you map is no longer determined by what your commercial interest is, its what the community wants to map. Prioleau described himself as the only full time employee of the Linux Foundation-based group. Otherwise, the Foundation has depended on around 130 engineers from Meta, Microsoft, and more of the steering companies. As far as maintaining the data, the Overture head said that theres no contractual agreement for companies to use the open source resources, but theyre still heavily encouraging all those who build upon their foundation to somehow give back to the data source with any new information they collect. The incentive is: if you want to fork [AKA build off] Overture, start building your own dataset and not give stuff back, then youre on your own to maintain that dataset going forward. Prioleau said. So the incentive to giving back is that your data remains part of this consortium. Whats next is to create a global entity reference system for attaching data points to a map, which will then facilitate even more layers of information for new apps. Todays map users arent just looking for ways to get from place to place, but from door to door. Delivery drivers need to know where they can pick up and drop off items. People with disabilities want to know where they can find ramp or elevator access. Maps are really digitization of things that are observable, the Overture lead said. Were not mapping secret stuff. Were mapping roads and addresses and placesthings that are observable. And as the ways of capturing observable stuff gets better, the ability to build maps gets better. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Lionel Messi of Inter Miami celebrates his first goal against Atlanta United on Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Photo by Larry Marano/UPI July 26 (UPI) -- Lionel Messi scored two first-half goals and logged an assist, leading Inter Miami past Atlanta United in his second game for the MLS team in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Messi opened the scoring in the eighth minute of the 4-0 triumph Tuesday at DRV PNK Stadium. Fellow forward Robert Taylor also totaled two goals and an assist for the Herons. Inter Miami, which was winless for six-consecutive matches before Messi's debut Friday, secured a spot in the Leagues Cup knockout round with the shutout. The tournament, which includes MLS and Mexican Liga MX teams, does not count toward league standings. Center midfielder Sergio Busquets sparked the first goal with a beautiful long pass from behind midfield. The feed sailed over a crowd of players and dropped down about 15 yards in front of the box. Lionel Messi of Inter Miami celebrates a goal against Atlanta United on Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Photo by Larry Marano/UPI Messi tapped the ball down and dribbled into the box. He then ripped a pass off the right post. Messi followed up the shot and smashed a second attempt into the net. He scored for a second time in the 22nd minute. Messi knifed through the defense to set up that goal. He then fired a pass into the box for Taylor. Lionel Messi of Inter Miami (L) celebrates with forward Robert Taylor (C) during a win over Atlanta United on Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Photo by Larry Marano/UPI Taylor slid to the ground to send a pass from left to right, in front of the face of the goal. That pass slid through defenders and found Messi as he ran toward the back post. Messi finished the play with a powerful shot past Atlanta United goalie Brad Guzan. Taylor scored Inter Miami's third goal in the 44th minute. Lionel Messi of Inter Miami scans the field during a Leagues Cup match against Atlanta United on Tuesday at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Photo by Larry Marano/UPI Left wing Benjamin Cremaschi assisted that goal. Messi toyed with the defense on the right side of the box at the start of that sequence. He then slid a pass to Cremaschi, who flipped the ball in the air and tapped a bouncing pass to Taylor. The Inter Miami striker used his first touch to rip a half-volley into the upper right corner of the net. Messi assisted Taylor for Inter Miami's final goal in the 53rd minute. Messi received a ball in transition while running about 40 yards from Inter Miami's goal to spark that score. He carried his dribble past midfield as Taylor sprinted up the left flank. Messi then led Taylor with a ball into the box. Taylor took a soft touch and finished the play with a grounded shot past Guzan's left leg, off the right post and into the net. Inter Miami will host FC Charlotte at 7:30 p.m. EDT Aug. 20 in Fort Lauderdale. WARSAW, Poland Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas has announced the countrys government aims to sign a letter of intent with Germany to purchase Leopard 2 tanks for the land forces. The Defence Resources Council of the Ministry of National Defence, taking into account the detailed market analysis and military assessment carried out by the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Defence Resources Agency, has approved the proposal to [propose] to the State Defence Council to send a letter of intent to the German Ministry of Defence regarding the acquisition of Leopard tanks, he wrote in a Facebook post. The Lithuanian military evaluated the German Leopard, the American Abrams and the [South] Korean Black Panther tanks, according to the minister. The key evaluation criteria the military used to select its preferred vehicle included the price and maintenance costs, operational environment, mobility, safety, adaptability, protection, firepower, and interoperability, Anusauskas said. He did not disclose the estimated value of the planned procurement and the number, or variant, of Leopard 2 tanks to be purchased. The latest development comes after Lithuanias chief of defense, Lt. Gen. Valdemaras Rupsys, said in March the Baltic nation intends to acquire up to 54 tanks to bolster the combat capacities of the land forces. Under the plan, Lithuania is to establish a division-sized unit within its armed forces in reaction to Russias ongoing invasion of its neighbor Ukraine. The unit will include infantry fighting vehicles and tanks, among other vehicles. The State Defence Council approved the initiative in May. A growing number of Eastern European allies are advancing plans to acquire German-made tanks. Among others, the Czech Republic is planning to buy up to 50 new Leopard 2A7+ tanks. WILMINGTON, Del. A federal judge refused Wednesday to accept a plea agreement with Hunter Biden after an unexpected disagreement about the terms between prosecutors and defense lawyers temporarily upended the resolution to the five-year federal investigation. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika urged both sides to come to an agreement and called for a lengthy mid-day recess. But she wanted more time to review the proposal before accepting it. "You all are telling me 'just rubber stamp the agreement, Your Honor, Noreika told the lawyers. Biden pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges he failed to pay his taxes in 2017 and 2018, when he received more than $1.5 million each year. Biden told the court a third party paid the back taxes along with interest and fees pursuant to a personal loan he has not began to repay. Hunter Biden leaves the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Wilmington after the hearing regarding his criminal tax case, Wednesday, July 26, 2023. The plea deal had also covered a gun charge and would have allowed him to enter a pretrial diversion program that could eventually wipe the charge off the record. But prosecutors and defense lawyers disagreed about the terms of the plea agreement, with Biden insisting any guilty plea encompass immunity from any other criminal charges. Noreika asked the parties to submit legal briefs on the legitimacy of the deals offered to Hunter Biden within 30 days. U.S. Attorney Leo Wise said that would require ordering transcripts of Wednesday's hearing and said 14 days would be sufficient. However, Noreika set no specific date for the next hearing before court adjourned. The hearing was held in the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building, named after the former U.S. senator a young Joe Biden defeated in 1972. GOP gets involved in case Noreika's postponement of the plea agreement came after Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, urged Noreika to reject the plea deal based on the allegations from two IRS investigators of political favoritism in the case. Julianne Murray, chair of the Delaware Republican Party, was in the courtroom Wednesday. She filed a separate brief on behalf the Heritage Foundation, which claims that it offers "information that has not, and likely will not, be presented to the Court by either the government or the defendant." Story continues "I have not had time to review those submissions," the judge said, noting it consisted of 900 pages. The plea agreement aimed to resolve a five-year investigation into Hunter Biden. The case remains a flashpoint for Republican investigations into Hunter Biden and his father, President Joe Biden. Republicans have questioned the sources of Hunter Bidens income and accused him of peddling influence with his father for foreign companies. The White House has dismissed the allegations as baseless innuendo. Here is what we know: White House responds White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to questions shortly after the decision. "Hunter Biden is a private citizen, and this was a personal matter for him," she said Wednesday afternoon. "As we have said, the president, the first lady, they love their son, and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life." She said the case was handled independently and by a prosecutor appointed by former President Donald Trump, referring other questions to the Department of Justice and Hunter Biden's legal team. 'An absolute disgrace' As Hunter Biden's plea deal fell apart at least temporarily Republicans on Capitol Hill ran a victory lap. He thought he was pleading to get rid of everything and they said, No, its only the tax evasions, not the Foreign Agent Registration Act, money laundering, and the other stuff, said Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chair of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee investigating the Biden family.The only thing is I'm glad that people see that what I've said for weeks is true, that there is an ongoing investigation of the entire family, Comer added. There hasn't been any evidence yet to substantiate GOP claims linking President Biden to his son's legal challenges. Other Republicans continued their criticism of the plea deal that dissolved in court Wednesday afternoon, when it was put on hold by a federal judge. The plea deal is an absolute disgrace, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said.It is a sweetheart deal designed by the Biden Justice Department to give Hunter Biden a slap on the wrist and its principal objective is protecting Joe Biden and insulating him from his own involvement and corruption selling access to foreign nationals, Cruz added. I dont think that it was a good deal for the American public. I think it was clear he was getting favored treatment because hes the presidents son and theyre trying to close down and shut down the investigations into the Biden (family), Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., a member of the House Judiciary Committee, told USA TODAY Wednesday. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., pointed to last weeks high-profile hearings in the House with two whistleblowers from the Internal Revenue Service who alleged the Department of Justice interfered with the federal investigation into Hunter Biden. Lawler said Congress is yet to be done investigating Hunter Bidens case. You have numerous whistleblowers right now coming forward and saying (interference) occurred. These are not Republican whistleblowers by the way, these are Democrats. These are registered Democrats coming forward and saying this is a problem, Lawler told reporters Wednesday. How to watch Hunter Biden press conference Hunter Biden will hold a press conference Wednesday after his court appearance in Delaware, marking his first public reaction to federal tax charges and an anticipated plea deal. The president's son is expected to avoid jail time, but is facing mounting pressure from President Joe Biden's political enemies in the House GOP, which tried to intervene in the case and asked the judge to reject the plea deal. You can watch the press conference here when it begins: What is Hunter Biden accused of? Biden is set to plead guilty to receiving $1.5 million in taxable income each year in 2017 and 2018 and failing to pay more than $100,000 in taxes each of those years, according to a prosecution letter that announced the charges. Each charge carries a maximum 12 months in prison, but prosecutors are expected to recommend probation, according to The Associated Press. The judge, Noreika, will determine the sentence. Gun charge still pending The gun charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, alleges Biden made a false statement on a federal form when he bought a gun in 2018. The Gun Control Act prohibits drug users from possessing firearms. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ruled the ban applies to "a conviction for use or possession of a controlled substance within the past year." Biden filled out a federal form when he bought a handgun in October 2018 in which he replied no to a question of whether he was an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance," according to the Washington Post. Hunter Biden and his legal team arrive for a hearing regarding his criminal tax case at the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Wilmington, Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Hunter Biden drug addiction By his own account in his memoir Beautiful Things, Biden battled drug addiction and for periods during 2018 smoked crack every 15 minutes. "I know Hunter believes it is important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of turmoil and addiction in his life, said Clark, Bidens lawyer. He looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving forward." FILE - President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden leave Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Johns Island, S.C., after attending a Mass on Aug. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File) ORG XMIT: WX204 What is a plea deal? A plea deal is a negotiation between a defendant and a prosecutor in which a defendant agrees to plead guilty to one or several offenses in exchange for a lenient punishment from the prosecutor, according to the Cornell Legal Information Institute. The prosecutor can agree to reduce the number or severity of a charge, thus allowing them to to focus their time and resources on other cases, according to the institute. But ultimately it is the judges decision on how to punish a defendant. Scholars estimate that about 90% to 95% of federal and state court cases are resolved through plea deals, according to the Department of Justice. Who is Maryellen, Noreika, the judge overseeing the Hunter Biden case? U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who is overseeing Hunter Bidens tax and gun cases, was appointed by former President Donald Trump and confirmed with bipartisan support in the Senate. The Senate confirmed her appointment in August 2018 by voice vote, suggesting her nomination wasnt controversial. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., has cited her appointment as an example of bipartisanship and how the system should work. Noreika has a bachelors degree from Lehigh University, her masters is from Columbia University and her law degree is from the University of Pittsburgh. She was a lawyer in private practice in Wilmington for 25 years before Trump appointed her to the bench. Hunter Biden's artwork Republican lawmakers on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee are investigating who bought Hunter Bidens paintings and how much they paid as part of a wide-ranging inquiry into Bidens business dealings and bank records. The art was initially listed as $500,000 a piece and now range from $50,000 to $25,000. Rep. James Comer, the chairman of the committee, called the figures exorbitant and questioned whether Biden was using the art to influence foreign adversaries. The questions about the art sales grew in 2021 and the White House announced then that all sales would be handled through a dealer without the president or his son knowing. Hunter Bidens lawyers: Latham and Watkins, and more Jessica Bengels is the lawyer at Latham and Watkins in New York City who contacted the U.S. District Court clerks office to ask about how to seal filings in Hunter Bidens tax case, according to a court filing. Bengels, a lawyer who worked 18 years at the firm, provided a statement saying she hadnt worked on the case other than to research on the docket how to file electronically. She said she called the clerks office Tuesday to ask how to restrict confidential material from the court file and that there may have been some confusion in dealing with two clerks. I am completely confident that I never indicated I was calling from Mr. Kittilas firm or that I worked with him in any way, Bengels said. Hunter Biden has a number of lawyers representing him in criminal cases, congressional investigations and a recently settled child-support case. Lawyers representing Biden in the tax case are Christopher Clark of Clark Smith Villazor in New York, Richard Jones of Berger Harris in Wilmington and Matthew Salerno of Latham and Watkins in New York. Bengels was helping Salerno with her calls. Other lawyers working on the gun case are Brian McManus and Timothy McCarten of Latham and Watkins in Boston and Washington, respectively. Hunter Biden's education Hunter Biden graduated high school in 1988 from Archmere Academy, a private Catholic prep school in Delaware and the alma mater of his father. He graduated from Georgetown University in 1992 with a bachelors of arts degree in history. He spent a year as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, where he met his first wife, and later received his law degree from Yale University in 1996. Hunter Biden's age, wife and 5 kids Hunter Biden, 53, is the youngest and only living son of President Joe Biden and Neilia Hunter, who died in a car crash in 1972. He married Melissa Cohen, a 37-year-old South African filmmaker, in 2019 after a 24-year-long marriage with Kathleen Buhle, whom he divorced in 2017. Biden has five children, ranging in age from 29 to 3. He has three daughters with Buhle: Naomi Biden, 29; Finnegan Biden, 23; and Maisy Biden, 21. He has a 4-year-old daughter with Lunden Roberts and a 3-year-old son with Cohen. President Joe Biden attends his granddaughter Maisy Biden's commencement ceremony with first lady Jill Biden and children Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Monday, May 15, 2023. IRS whistleblowers: DOJ 'hamstrung' investigation Two Internal Revenue Service investigators Greg Shapley and Joseph Ziegler told Congress last week that Justice Department officials hamstrung the inquiry. "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 told three committees that held a joint hearing. Shapley said he was prevented from following certain leads that could have potentially led investigators to the president. 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. House GOP: Biden 'appears to have benefited from political interference' The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, the panel that oversees the IRS and participated in the hearing, argued Tuesday the judge should reject the plea deal because of political interference in the investigation. The filing from Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., said Biden appears to have benefited from political interference which calls into question the propriety of the investigation of the U.S. Attorneys Office. Smiths lawyer, Theodore Kittila, asked the judge to consider witness testimony and other exhibits he submitted. Bidens lawyers argued the exhibits posted with excerpts of the IRS testimony contained personal information about Biden that should be refiled and remain confidential. But Kittila said the information was already publicly available through records at the congressional committee. Judge considers sanctions for lawyer at Biden firm for 'misrepresentations to the court' At some point Tuesday, a lawyer at the firm representing Biden called the court, allegedly identified herself as working with Kittila and asked to seal the records, according to a narrative of events the judge outlined in the court docket. The contested documents were taken down from public view while the judge considers the arguments. "It appears that the caller misrepresented her identity and who she worked for in an attempt to improperly convince the Clerk's Office to remove the amicus materials from the docket," the order stated, commanding Biden's attorneys explain why the court shouldn't consider sanctions for "misrepresentations to the court." In another filing, a lawyer from Bidens legal team, Matthew Salerno, wrote that another attorney from his office was responsible for the phone call, that the attorney in question properly identified herself and the situation "stems from an unfortunate and unintentional miscommunication between a staff member at our firm and employees of the court." WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 08: House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., questions witnesses during the first public hearing of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 08, 2023 in Washington, DC. Republicans contend Biden treated preferentially with 'slap on the wrist' House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., called the plea agreement a "sweetheart deal" and Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., called it a "slap on the wrist." Both men have said the charges will continue to fuel congressional investigations of the Biden family alleged foreign influence peddling before the 2024 election. Hunter Biden is getting away with a slap on the wrist when growing evidence uncovered by the House Oversight Committee reveals the Bidens engaged in a pattern of corruption, influence peddling, and possibly bribery, Comer, chair of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, said in a tweet. Donald Trump, who has been indicted on federal charges alleging he mishandled classified documents and New York state charges alleging his falsified business records, argued the judicial system is broken. "Wow! Trump posted on Truth Social. The corrupt Biden DOJ just cleared up hundreds of years of criminal liability by giving Hunter Biden a mere 'traffic ticket.'" The White House has dismissed the inquiries as "made up stunt 'investigations.'" Biden's lawyer, Christopher Clark, has said his understanding is that the agreements resolve the government's five-year investigation of Hunter Biden. Biden's lawyers target Trump, Marjorie Taylor Greene Hunter Biden's legal team clashed with prominent Republican political leaders over the past several weeks in response to Republican attacks on the character of the president's son. Hunter Biden's lawyer Abbe Lowell sent former President Donald Trump, the leading 2024 Republican presidential candidate, a cease and desist letter after Trump criticized Biden's plea deal in a post on Truth Social. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., was also targeted by Biden's lawyers last week after she displayed sexually explicit photos of Biden during a congressional hearing. Lowell requested that a congressional ethics panel take action against Greene in a letter sent to the Office of Congressional Ethics. Biden's lawyer sent a similar letter about Greene to the Office of Congressional Ethics in April, accusing Greene of spreading "unhinged rhetoric" about Biden. Prosecutor denies favoritism David Weiss, the U.S. attorney for Delaware who was appointed by Trump, denied the Justice Department retaliated against IRS investigators on the case. Weiss also said he was allowed to pursue the investigation unhindered. I have been granted ultimate authority over this matter, including responsibility for deciding where, when and whether to file charges and for making decisions necessary to preserve the integrity of the prosecution, consistent with federal law, the Principles of Federal Prosecution, and Departmental regulations, Weiss wrote to lawmakers. The Justice Department offered to make Weiss available for a House Judiciary Committee hearing after Congress' August break, to answer questions about how the investigation was handled. The Department believes it is strongly in the public interest for the American people and for Congress to hear directly from U.S. Attorney Weiss on these assertions and questions about his authority at a public hearing, Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte wrote to the chairman, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden arrive at Fort McNair, Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Washington. The Bidens are returning from Camp David. Criminal cases follow Biden settling child-support case The criminal cases come after Hunter Biden settled a child support case in Arkansas last month with the mother of one of his daughters. Biden had sought to reduce the $20,000 per month in child support he was paying for the girl born Aug. 28, 2018, to Lunden Roberts. The amount of child support agreed upon was redacted from the court filing. Biden will continue reimbursing Roberts for the cost of the girls health insurance and the girl multiple paintings. His paintings have been listed with sale prices as high as $500,000. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hunter Biden plea deal on hold: What you missed Dark horse GOP presidential candidate and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has revealed the "completely legal" hack that helped secure his spot on the first Republican debate stage. Burgum's campaign announced Tuesday morning that he qualified for the first Republican debate in Milwaukee by receiving 1% in the Morning Consult national poll. Burgum is the seventh candidate to meet all the requirements to participate in the first debate. To help meet one of the Republican National Committee's requirements for debate participants to receive at least 40,000 individual contributions with at least 200 unique donors in 20 or more states, Burgum told USA Today he relied on supplying a $20 Visa or Mastercard gift card to anyone who donated at least a dollar to his campaign. CHRIS CHRISTIE CHARGES TIM SCOTT 'AFRAID TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT DONALD TRUMP' North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum speaks to guests during a campaign stop at the Westside Conservative Breakfast Club meeting on June 9, 2023, in Ankeny, Iowa. Though he's faced some criticism over the permitted tactic, Burgum said the gift card giveaway helped introduce voters to his "brand." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "We just said, 'Oh, that's the rule? Well, let's figure out a way,'" Burgum said. "We'll do a hack, we'll get around it. And we'll do it in a way that's completely legal and completely smart." "The rule was set up to benefit people who've held national office, people who've been pundits on national television... or they've been career politicians in D.C.," he added. "It would oppose somebody from a small town, small state who's trying to bring fresh ideas." The second-term governor and former software executive first entered politics in 2016. Burgum defeated then-state Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem by almost 20 points in a major upset during the GOP gubernatorial primary. Burgum endorsed former President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020. Gov. Doug Burgum speaks to guests during a town hall meeting with employees at Rueter's equipment dealership on June 9, 2023, in Elkhart, Iowa. TRUMP CAMPAIGN FIRES BACK AT GOP OPPONENT TRYING TO BAIT HIM INTO JOINING DEBATE: 'INCOHERENT PSYCHOTIC RAGE' Story continues "I think there's an eagerness for a fresh face and a different story. And I think it just hasn't been presented yet," Burgum told USA Today of his 2024 White House bid. "Governor Burgum is looking forward to sharing his focus on the economy, energy and national security at the August debate," Burgum campaign spokesman Lance Trover said in a Tuesday statement obtained by Fox News. "In less than 7 weeks, Governor Burgum has exceeded all the requirements for the debate. As a Governor and business leader Doug knows how to fix the economy, unleash American energy and win the Cold War with China." Burgum has already received contributions from well over 40,000 individual donors, including more than 200 from 20 different states, his campaign said. Burgum achieved the donation metrics six weeks after announcing his campaign despite having never held or run for national office before. Gov. Doug Burgum and his wife Kathryn Burgum recite the Pledge of Allegiance during a campaign stop at the Westside Conservative Breakfast Club meeting on June 9, 2023, in Ankeny, Iowa. Previously, Burgum received 1% in a national JMC Analytics poll. In addition, Burgum polled at 6% in a University of New Hampshire poll and at 3% in a FOX Business poll of Iowa. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Tuesday's announcement means Burgum joins the ranks of former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., former South Carolina Gov. and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who have all met the RNC qualifications to participate in the first debate. Fox News is scheduled to host the Aug. 23 showdown in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It remains to be seen if Trump will choose to participate. Fox News' Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report. A longtime friend and ally of Hunter Biden and the Biden family served as a prosecutor in the Delaware U.S. Attorney's office when that office led the federal investigation into Hunter Biden and has visited the White House at least five times during the Biden administration, a Fox News Digital investigation has found. Alexander Snyder-Mackler, a former legal counsel to Joe Biden when he was vice president and a press secretary for then-Sen. Biden between 2007 and 2008, served as an assistant United States attorney in the Delaware U.S. Attorney's office under David Weiss from August 2016 to May 2019. During that time, Weiss was leading the federal investigation into Hunter Biden for tax fraud and illegal foreign business dealings. According to emails from Hunters abandoned laptop, which were reviewed and verified by Fox News Digital, Mackler and Hunter Biden remained in close contact, with Mackler once signing off an email saying, "Love you brother." It's unclear what, if any, role Mackler played in the probe. Even if Mackler played no role in the Hunter Biden investigation, his professional closeness with Weiss' team is sure to lead to conflict of interest questions from Republicans on Capitol Hill. Fox News Digital has reached out to Weiss and Mackler for comment. BIDENS NARRATIVE ON NEVER DISCUSSING BUSINESS DEALS WITH HUNTER CONTINUES TO CRUMBLE Hunter Biden, son of President Biden, arrives at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C., June 25, 2023. Hunter Biden had been under federal investigation since 2018. That investigation into his "tax affairs" began amid the discovery of suspicious activity reports (SARs) regarding funds from "China and other foreign nations." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Mackler, who also worked for Joe Biden in 2008 as his press secretary during his time in the U.S. Senate, previously told The Washington Times he did not know about the case when he was a federal prosecutor and only learned about it with the rest of the world through Hunter Bidens press statement Dec. 9, 2020, which came a month after his father's presidential win. Story continues Chief Deputy Attorney General Alexander Snyder Mackler Last month, Biden agreed to a deal with the Justice Department to plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax and entered a pretrial diversion agreement regarding a separate charge of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance. WHO IS DAVID WEISS? HUNTER BIDEN PROSECUTOR COMES UNDER MICROSCOPE AFTER CONTROVERSIAL PLEA DEAL Mackler has been the Deputy Attorney General of Delaware since May 2019, according to his LinkedIn profile. According to visitor logs reviewed by Fox News Digital, he visited the White House five times last year, including a one-on-one meeting with President Biden. On March 28, 2022, Mackler met with White House counsel Steve Ricchetti for a one-on-one meeting. On April 11, he met with President Biden in a one-on-one meeting. On Aug. 28, he met with Biden's 2024 campaign manager, Julie Rodriguez, who was also serving as Biden's senior adviser, for a one-on-one meeting. And on Sept. 21, he met one on one with Claudia Marconi, senior adviser for congressional engagement. Mackler also attended a White House event in December. Fox News Digital reviewed emails and text messages that reveal Mackler has maintained relatively frequent contact with the younger Biden for many years. In a text message dated March 10, 2019, well after the federal investigation was underway, Mackler texted Hunter Biden, saying he was "in the car for a long drive" and "just wanted to say hi." Biden responded the next day, calling him "buddy." U.S. Attorney David Charles Weiss, left, Hunter and Joe Biden, center, and Chief Deputy Attorney General Alexander Snyder Mackler. HUNTER BIDEN REVEALED LONGTIME BUSINESS PARTNER WAS VP BIDEN'S 'CLOSE CONFIDANT AND COUNSEL' IN 2014 EMAIL On Oct. 16, 2018, Mackler emailed Biden "wondering how life is on [his] end" before signing off, "Love you brother." Two years earlier, in August 2016, when he first started working under Weiss, Mackler emailed Hunter Biden and Eric Schwerin, president of Hunter Bidens now-dissolved Rosemont Seneca Partners, boasting about his "first day at the new job," according to an Aug. 22, 2016, email. "Literally the first page on all the paperwork I have to review--the first page!--was about preserving all federal records, especially emails. Just like at the WH. Incredible how this all could've happened," Mackler said, referring to a Politico report about the State Department being ordered to review 15,000 emails for a potential release. One week later, Mackler gave his two cents on a drafted statement regarding the launch of the Biden Institute at the University of Delaware, writing to Hunter Biden and others, "Looks good to me." HUNTER BIDEN RIPPED BILL CLINTON AS A--HOLE WHO LOOKS LIKE S---,' SAID CLINTON AIDES ARE 'GREEDY': EMAILS Mackler also frequently vented to Hunter Biden and Schwerin following Hillary Clintons upset defeat to former President Donald Trump later that November. "I'm trying very hard to take solace in the fact that more people in this country feel like us than like Trump's people," Mackler said. "It's hard," he wrote to Hunter Biden and Schwerin Nov. 9, 2016, one day after the election. The next day, he wrote to Hunter Biden and Schwerin, "I truly hope he picks all these clowns," referring to Trumps potential cabinet picks at the time, including former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson. President Biden and first lady Jill Biden, joined by Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden, attend granddaughter Maisy Biden's graduation at the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field May 15, 2023, in Philadelphia. A few days later, he blasted the Democrats backing Hillary Clinton at the time as "pompous a--holes." Six months later, Mackler was still perceivably upset about the election after Schwerin shared a story about David Axelrod, who had criticized Clinton for blaming her loss on virtually everything but her own campaign. "I'm old enough to remember when he took a whole afternoon of JRB's [Joseph Robinette Biden] time in the West Wing, arguing that he needed to get out of HRC's [Hillary Rodham Clinton] way because she was the better candidate and would win," Mackler fumed. Weiss has repeatedly denied claims by two IRS whistleblowers who alleged officials at the Justice Department, FBI and IRS interfered with Weiss five-year investigation into President Bidens son. The House Oversight Committee, House Judiciary Committee and House Ways and Means Committee are conducting a joint investigation into the federal probe into Hunter Biden and whether prosecutorial decisions were influenced by politics. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in June that Weiss, who was nominated by President Donald Trump in November 2017, "was given complete authority" in the prosecutorial decisions concerning Hunter Biden. U.S. Attorney David Weiss In June, House Republicans demanded testimony from Weiss and more than a dozen federal officials, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Wolf, who allegedly blocked lines of questioning in the investigation related to President Biden. In a Monday letter obtained by Fox, Assistant Attorney General Carlos Felipe Uriarte wrote to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan , R-Ohio, that the DOJ has accepted the offer for Weiss to testify "at a public hearing before the committee." A source close to the Delaware Biden probe told the Daily Mail this month that Mackler worked with Wolf on at least one Delaware federal case and that the two were friends. "The source said there were concerns about Wolf's ties to the ex-Biden advisor while she was investigating Hunter and that their collegiate relationship was even allegedly referred to the 'Designated Agency Ethics Officer' for Weiss's office," the Daily Mail reported July 14. Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed reporting. Longtime Lake Norman Mexican restaurant owners Antonio and Katie Reyes branched out this week with an entirely new culinary adventure, as Katie Reyes described it. On Tuesday, July 25, the Mooresville couple held a soft opening for their Mama Katies breakfast and lunch spot in the former Black Eyed Pea restaurant on Brawley School Road in Mooresville. Black Eyed Pea owners John and Carleen Savvides wanted to retire, and the Reyes are their close friends. Katie Reyes said she and Carleen Savvides bonded because of their mirrored lives, married to immigrant restaurateurs from large families, while the women are from small families. Antonio Reyes is from the state of Jalisco, Mexico. John Savvides is from Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea near Greece. The Reyes have operated restaurants for 21 years, starting with one they no longer own in Lenoir and now, for nearly two decades, one in Mooresville at Lake Norman. Their 18-year-old El Cerro Reyes Mexican Restaurant is just down Brawley School Road from the 49-seat Black Eyed Pea, and Katie Reyes said she, Antonio and their three daughters have enjoyed breakfast and lunch there for years. Their daughters are Emily, 17; Julie, 14; and Katie, 11. The couple also opened 3 Reyes Mexican Restaurant at 247 E. Plaza Drive, Unit B, in Mooresville in May 2020. That was a challenge, Katie Reyes said about opening a restaurant during the COVID outbreak. But we were very blessed by the community. [READ NEXT: The Egg Cafe in Huntersville has closed. Now, Lake Norman is welcoming Rise Cafe.] Katie Reyes is focusing on Mama Katies and her husband on El Cerro Reyes. Antonios oldest of two brothers, Rigo, and Rigos family manage 3 Reyes. Antonios other brother, Lalo, helps run El Cerro Reyes. Katie, I would love for you to take this over, because youre family, Carleen Savvides told Reyes. All of their customers are family, Reyes told The Charlotte Observer at Mama Katies on Friday as she and Antonio readied for the opening. Anyone who comes here, thats what theyre treated like. And thats what its been like at El Cerro Reyes over the years. Story continues And former Black Eyed Pea patrons will see the same menu items and recipes, she said. Same grits, omelets and fresh, hand-prepared Chicken Fried Chicken. Same fruit cup and recipes for Carleen Savvides chicken salad along with the same batter for the Black Eyed Peas most popular item, the French toast. Reyes added an avocado cobb salad and is developing a gluten-free menu, she said. She and one of her daughters have Celiac disease, a chronic digestive and immune disorder and can only eat foods free of gluten. And Mama Katies expects to have an ABC permit in a month or so, she said, enabling the restaurant to host small evening events. If someone books an evening gathering and wants Italian food catered in, Steven Hackett, owner of Roccos Pizzeria & Spirits in the same retail center, will provide the selections, Katie Reyes said. As for the name Mama Katies? That was the cute, endearing moniker that kids called her when her daughter, Katie, then 6, began attending preschool dance at Academy Dance Center on Brawley School Road, Katie Reyes said. Location: 862 Brawley School Rd Suite 107, Mooresville, NC 28117 Menu Cuisine: American, breakfast, lunch Facebook: Mama Katies. Any architecture aficionado knows that perhaps the greatest tragedy in the world of design is demolition. Its a sting that hurts even more when it occurs at the hands of chance or disaster, without opportunity for intervention. In 2018, this was the fate of Frank Lloyd Wrights only project in Malibu, the Arch Oboler Complex, which burned down in the Woolsey fires that devastated Southern California that year. Though charred parts of the home remained, government regulation required all remaining fire-affected structures to be demolished out of safety concerns, according to the Frank Lloyd Wright Revival Initiative. At the time, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation confirmed that the home had indeed been destroyed, noting that the tragedy paled in comparison to any loss of human life. Now a chance for reinvention presents itself: The land where the home once sat is available for sale. Listed through The Agency, the 100-acre plot is going for just shy of $7.5 million and is represented by Sandro Dazzan. The opportunity now exists to rebuild the 4,000-square-feet gatehouse/compound or begin anew, reads the propertys description, adding that by rebuilding, new owners could experience the genius of Wright firsthand. Berlyn Photography 2023 The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation upholds a policy on unbuilt Wright projects, which states that any structures based on the architects plans but built after his death cant be reasonably described as designed by Wright, but rather inspired by. These projects will necessarily require varying degrees of interpretation as to how Wright would himself have constructed the project, or used materials now available for such works, in todays building environment, reads the foundations website. At the time of publication, a representative for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation had not responded to a request for comment on whether rebuilding a destroyed work would be viewed under the same guidelines. Before its untimely destruction, two Wright structures had sat on the land and were part of a planned, though never completed, estate Wright called Eaglefeather. The residence had been commissioned by Arch Oboler, a writer who worked across many mediums, and his wife, Eleanor. According to the Library of Congress, Arch became friends with Wright in the 1940s and even floated the idea of a filmed biography about the architect. After World War II, Wright designed an estate for the couple and their four children, though only two of the original structures were ever built: the gatehouse, which included a living room, workspace, bedroom, bathroom, and horse stalls; and a small cabin that was called Eleanors retreat. Other planned buildings included a film studio, stables, and paddock, according to the New York Post. The Obolers ultimately made the gatehouse their primary residence while making additional modifications that werent supervised by Wright. Story continues In 2013, previous owners completed extensive renovations to the two buildings, which brought the property out of disrepair. Following the fires, the Frank Lloyd Wright Revival Initiative pledged $45,000 to assist the previous owners with the reconstruction costs of the home; however, it was estimated that the work required would cost multiple millions. AD reached out to the Revival Initiative about whether this offer would stand for new owners interested in rebuilding the home, but the organization has not responded at the time of publication. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest More Great Stories From AD The search of Rex Heuermanns Long Island home has ended after investigators turned up quite a lot of evidence in the Gilgo Beach serial killings, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said Tuesday. We are for all intents and purposes done with the search, Tierney told reporters. The district attorney said it will take some time for analysts to review the massive amount of material collected from the cluttered home, including around 279 weapons. Investigators had been digging up the yard in Heuermanns Massapequa Park home for days, using ground-penetrating radar, a backhoe and a police dog in the search for additional evidence, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said Monday. There was nothing of note taken from the backyard, as far as remains, said Tierney, adding that investigators will be conducting forensic and DNA analysis on any items recovered inside the home, including hair fibers. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney says the search of Rex Heuermann's home turned up "quite a lot of evidence." - CNN Authorities have been operating on the theory that Heuermann committed the killings in his home, which is just a few miles from where the remains of the women were found. Heuermann was arrested July 13 in New York City, where he worked as an architectural consultant, and charged with murder in the deaths of three of the Gilgo Four women whose remains were found in 2010 along a short stretch of Ocean Parkway in Gilgo Beach. He has pleaded not guilty in the killings of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Lynn Costello. I did not do this, his court appointed-attorney, Michael Brown, said Heuermann told him. The 59-year-old architect is also the prime suspect in the disappearance and killing of the fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, but he has not been charged in that case. Were working towards that, Tierney said, referring to the filing of charges in the fourth case. The disappearances occurred during times that Heuermanns family was out of town, suggesting he may have lured victims to the home where he lived with his wife, their daughter and stepson, according to a source involved in the investigation. Story continues Committing the killings at home would have given Heuermann control of the environment and access to materials that were found at the crime scene, including tape and burlap bags, the source told CNN. Investigators discovered between 200 and 300 guns stashed in a walled-off vault which was locked behind a metal door in the home, a source told CNN. Harrison confirmed there was a vault with guns at the home. The investigation has expanded to other parts of the country. Police in Las Vegas are sifting through unsolved cases that Heuermann may have been involved in. The suspect and his wife had bought two timeshare condos in Las Vegas between 2003 and 2005, according to property records obtained by CNN. The couple sold the first property, the records show, and it is unclear whether they still own the second. In northern South Carolinas Chester County, where tax records show Heuermann owns four large parcels of land, the sheriffs office said it has been gathering evidence since before the suspects arrest. Heuermann was first identified as a potential suspect in early 2022, shortly after a multi-agency task force was formed to examine cold cases involving nearly a dozen sets of human remains found along Long Islands South Shore between 2010 and 2011, including the Gilgo Four. Were going to look at the other instances where the bodies were recovered in that area as well, Tierney said Tuesday. CNNs Frank Bivona, Rob Frehse, Christina Maxouris, Lauren Mascarenhas and John Miller contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com An avid lottery player walked into a grocery store to scan her tickets as she had done many times before. She walked out thinking she had won nothing, the Maryland Lottery reported. The 51-year-old caregiver from Baltimore had scanned the tickets, barely glancing at them as she did. Figuring they were all non-winners, she went into work, where she took them out again to throw them away, she told lottery officials. Thats when her co-worker spotted the lucky numbers. I stepped away for a few minutes and my friend noticed that one of the tickets had a number combination that wed been talking about recently, she said, according to the lottery. She scanned it on her Lottery app and it came up a big winner. When I returned, she told me and I was blown away. After thinking she only had non-winners on her hands, she was happy she had won something. But she still didnt realize just how much she had scored in the July 19 drawing. I almost always buy Pick 5 tickets for 25 cents, so I figured my winner was $2,500, the woman told lottery officials. Her ticket was actually a $1 straight-bet purchase, making her win worth the $50,000 top prize. It was an amazing moment, she said. The caregiver was not the only winner of the day. The management at the Giant store in Baltimore where she bought the ticket will receive $500. Ive been taking care of people for so long, itll be nice to take care of myself a little bit, the winner said. Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families. If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website. Lottery player wins big at 7-Eleven then quietly leaves store with exciting secret 25-year-old asks mom to confirm her big Michigan lottery win. Shocking and surreal Stepdad wins big Powerball prize and gives his stepdaughter good and bad news New mom was one number away from Powerball jackpot. She still won big in Maryland Machu Picchu stands at the meeting point between the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon Basin and is made up of close to 200 structures. Despite being a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most well-known archaeological locations in the world, Machu Picchus history is still being uncovered. This former royal estate from the vast Inca Empire located in present day Cusco, Peru was once home to a mixture of royalty and the workers who served them. DNA is offering up new clues as to who once lived and worked there. [Related: The king behind Machu Picchu built his legacy in stone.] In a study published July 26 in the journal Science Advances, scientists analyzed DNA from 34 people and uncovered a diverse genetic ancestry. This supports a theory that the people believed to have been servants were brought from distant and varied populations across the Inca Empire and further into South America. There were no slaves in the Andean world. Nonetheless, individuals were removed from their ethnic homelands and assigned to serve the Inca royal families for life in different capacities, including that of retainers at country palaces such as Machu Picchu, study co-author and Yale University archaeologist Lucy Salazar tells PopSci. Ancient DNA provides the most powerful tool in determining the genetic background of these individuals. In the study, the team compared the DNA of 34 individuals buried at Machu Picchu over 500 years ago with DNA of other people from around the Inca Empire, as well as some modern genomes from South America. They found that the individuals had come from as far away as Amazonia (which includes parts of present-day Brazil, Bolivia, and Colombia), but only a few shared DNA with each other. This indicates that they had been brought to Peru as individuals rather than as part of a family unit or community group. Salazar says it was surprising that only a few came from the heartlands of the Inca Empire. The majority came from the Pacific coast, the Amazonian lowlands, Ecuador and Chile. However, over a third of the sample had some Amazonian genetic background. Story continues Another surprise was the number of individuals with genetic admixtures from geographically unrelated sources (45 percent of our sample), Salazar says. The sheer genetic diversity at Machu Picchu was remarkable and unprecedented, and it suggests that the cultural diversity at Machu Picchu was more similar to a cosmopolitan center than a modern agricultural village. The study also found that the genetic composition of the Inca capital of Cusco was also diverse, but very different from the samples excavated at Machu Picchu. The team plans to study genetic samples from Inca Cusco to better understand the differences in the genetic composition of these two sites. Salazar is currently excavating an Inca cemetery to learn more. [Related: Ancient Maya masons had a smart way to make plaster stronger.] Work like this study is part of a trend in archaeology that combines traditional archaeological techniques with new technologies and scientific analyses. It can lead to a more complete understanding of ancient civilizations not possible without these advances. Breakthroughs in the analysis of ancient DNA led to the collaboration of Salazar and fellow Yale archaeologist Richard Burger, geneticist Lars Fehren-Schmitz from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and archaeologists from Cusco. The role of the Amazon in the Inca empire has been more important than previously recognized and the complexity of the Inca society is only beginning to be understood, she says. Applying new scientific techniques such as ancient DNA analysis allows archaeologists to explore questions that were previously out of reach. The study was also part of an agreement to return artifacts native to Machu Picchu, currently being stored at Yale University to the University San Antonio de Abad of Cusco, back to the historic site. French President Emmanuel Macron (C) greets people after delivering his speech in Noumea on Wednesday (Ludovic MARIN) President Emmanuel Macron warned Wednesday that separatism could lead to violence in the Pacific territory of New Caledonia, as he urged the pro-independence camp to accept a string of votes to stay part of France. On a landmark visit following three referendums that have rejected secession, Macron insisted the archipelago's future was within France. "Taking refuge in separatism actually means choosing the risk of violence today or tomorrow," Macron said, in a land that experienced violent pro-independence protests in the 1980s. France vowed in the Noumea Accord of 1998 to gradually give more political power to its territory. Under the agreement, New Caledonia held three referendums in the past five years over its ties with France -- all rejecting independence. "After these three referendums, I do not underestimate the disappointed hopes of those who backed a completely different project," Macron told a gathering at a square in the capital Noumea. "But I say to them all, together we all have to have the grace to accept these results and to build the future together," Macron said. The vote was between 53 and 57 percent in favour of remaining part of France in the first two referendums. But the pro-independence indigenous Kanaks rejected the result of the last referendum held in December 2021. It resulted in a 97-percent vote against secession after Kanaks boycotted the process due to the Covid-19 pandemic. - 'Personally hurt' - The French leader said he was proud the votes had been carried out. "The three referendums took place. New Caledonia is French because it has chosen to be French," he insisted. "I will also be with you all and the president of a new project I want to build with you -- that of New Caledonia in the Republic." Macron said he wanted a revised constitutional status for New Caledonia to be in place by the beginning of 2024. He vowed there would be "no backtracking" and "no standstill". Story continues To those seeking to break away from France, the president warned of China's growing influence in the South Pacific. If secession leads to China establishing a base in New Caledonia, "good luck, that is not called independence", Macron said. He urged people to take note of countries in the region "that have lost their sovereignty", without offering further explanation. China has notably signed a string of secretive deals with Solomon Islands, including on security and policing. But both countries deny any plan for a Chinese military base there. Macron had been due to meet earlier on Wednesday with pro- and anti-independence camps to discuss a future for the nickel-rich South Pacific territory of nearly 300,000 people. But the French leader said he was "personally hurt" by the absence of some pro-independence representatives at the meeting. Negotiations on a new constitutional status for the territory have been bogged down, notably over the voting system, with a future path for self-determination also up in the air. - French alternative - Macron is at the same time seeking to reassert his country's importance in the Pacific region, where China and the United States are vying for influence but France has territories such as New Caledonia and French Polynesia. After a 48-hour stop in New Caledonia, the head of state is to make the first visits by a sitting French president to Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, where he is expected to lay out a "French alternative" for the region. Macron has had to reassemble a Pacific strategy since Australia in 2021 tore up a deal for France to provide a fleet of diesel-powered submarines, opting instead for US- and British-built nuclear-powered vessels. md-fff/djw/arb/pbt Madera County leaders are expected to extend a half-million dollar lifeline to help the countys shuttered, bankrupt hospital stay afloat through August as it negotiates a deal with a possible suitor. The Madera County Board of Supervisors plans to vote next Tuesday on whether to allocate $500,000 to Madera Community Hospital. The money would cover another month of expenses including building maintenance, utilities and salaries as Madera Community races to find a new partner that would either purchase the hospital or operate it as an acute care facility. Fresno-based St. Agnes Medical Center and its parent company, the hospital chain Trinity Health, walked away from a proposed merger with the Madera hospital late last year. The hospital filed for bankruptcy in March. County leaders say the cash infusion would demonstrate a commitment to reopening the hospital and fend off, at least temporarily, mounting pressure from creditors who seek liquidation of the hospitals assets. The board of supervisors is considering this funding now, they say, because of two positive developments: the possibility of a loan through the states new Distressed Hospital Loan Program and the news of a potential partner. Madera Supervisor Robert Poythress said in a phone interview with The Bee that the county would commit the money to hold off the creditors committee from taking any action that would permanently close the hospital. The county indicated its willingness to provide short-term financial support for the hospital on Tuesday, the same day that a bankruptcy judge in Fresno heard arguments about whether the Madera hospital should be allowed to continue running a skeletal operation while it seeks a buyer and develops a reopening plan. The promise of county funding was a key bargaining chip at the proceedings, when U.S. District Judge Rene Lastretto II gave the hospital until Aug. 4 to continue its spending plan and look for a potential suitor. (The judge could have denied an extension of the spending plan, which would have likely meant liquidation of assets to pay off its creditors.) Story continues Another hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of California. Hopefully by then, well see a path forward, said Lastretto during Tuesdays hearing. Faded signs are visible on the wall outside Madera Community Hospital on Monday, July 24, 2023. The hospital closed early this year. Madera hospital close to accepting deal Any potential suitor is likely to be either a health care or hospital system that would take over operations through a management agreement. Madera Community Hospitals chief executive, Karen Paolinelli, told KFF Health News last week that the current, unnamed suitors are interested in reopening the hospital as an acute care facility, possibly with scaled back services. Riley C. Walter, Madera Community Hospitals bankruptcy lawyer, said during Tuesdays hearing that MCH is close to accepting a proposal from a healthcare system. Walter also said the hospital is looking at a strict management services agreement with a hospital system thats done this in other municipal bankruptcy cases. There may be an option to purchase the hospital in the future, he said. In an email statement to The Bee, Walter said that the countys funding commitment is a big deal that will likely help secure additional time from the creditors. He added that MCH will likely reach an understanding and maybe an agreement in principal by mid-August. An agreement doesnt mean the hospital would open right away. There would be a lot of time between when the deal is reached and when the hospital would reopen, Walter said. Any agreement would be subject to court approval. Baldwin Moy, an attorney for California Rural Legal Assistance, a community advocacy group and party of interest in the bankruptcy proceedings, said in an email statement to The Bee that the supervisors cash infusion would help the hospital avoid a total shutdown during this fluid time. Im cautiously optimistic, he said, looks like the stars are aligning for a reopening of the hospital. A sign with a handwritten Closed sign stands outside Madera Community Hospitals ER on Monday, July 24, 2023. The hospital closed early this year. County supervisors: reopening hospital is a priority District 1 Supervisor Jordan Wamhoff said during Tuesdays board meeting that he was ready to take this very strategic risk because the hospitals future is at a critical juncture. We are at that precipice right now, Wamhoff said, and I think it sends a message to others involved that reopening this hospital is a priority for us. Poythress said the county was willing to put money into the hospital now, as opposed to other points, because of developments in the case. Its one of those situations where the hospital for the first time in a long time received a serious offer, he said, or maybe not an offer, but interest. At the same time, the situation is dire due to the pressure from the creditors committee seeking repayment and the hospitals dwindling funds, he said. Joel Bugay, assistant county administrative officer, said the board is planning to approve the allocation of the $500,000 of federal American Rescue Plan money next Tuesday, with a payment plan of $125,000 per week. Disbursement of these funds is contingent upon the countys receipt of a letter of intent from a credible partner, provider or suitor for the hospital, Bugay said. The number one goal, he said, is the restoration of services in the county. Mamadou Diallo, 43, of Madison Township, seen here during his trial earlier in July in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, was found guilty July 19 of charges of murder, aggravated arson, tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse in the 2021 strangulation of his wife, 32-year-old Fatoumata Diallo, whom authorities say he then set on fire inside their home. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Stephen McIntosh sentenced him Wednesday to life in prison with the opportunity for parole after 27 years. A Madison Township man faces life in prison with a chance for parole after at least 27 years in the 2021 murder of his wife, whom he then set afire in their home. Franklin County prosecutors charged Mamadou Diallo, 43, originally of Guinea, with fatally strangling his 32-year-old wife, Fatoumata Diallo, with a USB cord on Sept. 30, 2021. He then set her on fire, burning a room of their home and destroying evidence. On July 19, a Franklin County jury found Diallo guilty of murder, aggravated arson, tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse. During his sentencing hearing Wednesday, Diallo maintained his innocence and said he intends to appeal his conviction. He said, through an interpreter, that he loves his family. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Stephen McIntosh said this was one of the worst cases he's seen in his 17 years as a judge. "I cannot think of someone doing anything worse to another human being," McIntosh said. McIntosh gave Diallo the maximum possible sentence and an indefinite prison term of 27-31 years before he is eligible for parole. More than a dozen members of Fatoumata Diallos family attended Wednesday's sentencing. Her cousin, Fatoumata Bokoum, said many women in her community suffer violence at the hands of men, and she is grateful justice was done. She said four young children, ages 2-9, are without their mother now. The day Fatoumata Diallo died, her husband called 911 around 1 p.m. and told a dispatcher he arrived home to find there was a fire and immediately got their four young children out, according to testimony during the trial. Footage from the homes video doorbell played at trial contradicts Mamadou Diallos version of events, showing that Diallo arrived home about 40 to 50 minutes before the fire started. Investigators also found a small amount of his wife's blood on a shirt inside his vehicle. Assistant Franklin County Prosecutors Beau Wenger and Cory Helffrich said during the trial that when firefighters and police arrived, Diallo was calm and did not ask anybody to go in to save his wife. Story continues More court news: Former Marine testified he was defending his neighbors. Jury finds him guilty of murder. jlaird@dispatch.com @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus-area man to appeal life sentence in wife's strangling, arson A Maine, Somerset County sheriffs deputy is suing gun manufacturer Sig Sauer, claiming his holstered P320 pistol fired into his leg without him touching the trigger, causing serious injuries. The lawsuit filed by Detective David A. Cole in Somerset County Superior Court alleges the New Hampshire-based gun manufacturer designed a defective firearm and negligently marketed it without warning customers of its flaws. The suit stems from an incident on May 4, 2022, when Cole and other law enforcement officers were executing a routine search warrant in Sangerville, Maine. Sig Sauer has corporate headquarters and a production facility in Newington, New Hampshire, at Pease International Tradeport. After a search was completed, Cole exited a building with both of his hands holding his jacket, away from his holstered sidearm, according to the lawsuit. As he was walking to his vehicle, Cole and other officers heard a gunshot, immediately assuming that they were being fired upon. They took cover and they were waiting for what they thought was the worst, one of Coles attorneys, Michael Bigos, said during a press conference on Monday. It wasnt until moments later that Cole realized he was struck by a bullet from his department-issued handgun, a Sig Sauer P320, which was holstered at his side. The bullet fractured multiple bones in Coles right leg, entering and exiting through his thigh, re-entering by his calf, where it was then lodged in his ankle. Cole was then taken to a nearby hospital for emergency surgery, followed by months of physical therapy and permanent physical and emotional injury, the lawsuit states. Bigos said that the suit intends to hold Sig Sauer accountable for its unreasonably dangerous designed firearm and the injuries Cole sustained. Previous story: Sig Sauer beats claim pistol fires itself. Attorney: 'I know Kyle did not shoot himself' One of many lawsuits filed against Sig Sauer Cole is one of dozens of plaintiffs who have filed similar suits against Sig Sauer, with the claim that the companys P320 pistol a popular sidearm for law enforcement departments and the military unintentionally discharged without the user pulling the trigger. Story continues Robert Zimmerman, another attorney representing Cole, said his Philadelphia law firm Saltz, Mongeluzzi and Bendesky is representing over 50 clients with active lawsuits against Sig Sauer. Zimmerman said that in addition to seeking monetary compensation for Cole and his wife, Kimberly Cole, the lawsuit intends to protect other law enforcement officers and military members from a weapon that he alleges is defective and dangerous. There are law enforcement departments who still use the P320, Zimmerman said, and [Sig Sauer] has continued to make the decision to manufacture this weapon without the types of safeties that its competitors use. At the heart of Coles lawsuit is a claim that the P320 lacks industry-standard safety features and fires without the user deliberately pulling the trigger. Despite Sig Sauer marketing the firearm as only firing when the user wants it to, the lawsuit alleges that the P320 lacks external safety features that similar pistols from other manufacturers use, making it susceptible to unintentional discharge. The lawsuit also alleges that Sig Sauer knew the P320 was capable of firing unintentionally, but failed to warn customers of such flaws. Though the company released two voluntary upgrades for the P320, the lawsuit states Sig Sauer never recalled the weapon which it has done for other products with fewer sales. Sig Sauer denies allegations made in lawsuits The Maine Monitor left a message on Monday afternoon with Sig Sauers media office seeking comment, but did not get an immediate response. The company, in response to a story published earlier this year by The Washington Post and The Trace, denied that the P320 could fire without the trigger being pulled. Zimmerman said he hopes the lawsuit will make other law enforcement departments think twice about issuing the P320 to officers. We hope that every law enforcement department in Maine and in New England and throughout the country will consider whether the P320 is a weapon that they want in their communities and protecting their officers, Zimmerman said. According to Zimmerman, the Somerset County Sheriffs Office rescinded its purchase order of the P320 following Coles incident, instead purchasing new weapons. The Maine Monitor left messages for Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster and other department officials on Monday to corroborate Zimmermans statement, but did not receive a response by late Monday afternoon. This story was originally published by The Maine Monitor, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. To get regular coverage from the Monitor, sign up for a free Monitor newsletter here. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Maine officer sues gunmaker Sig Sauer alleging pistol fires on its own This photo shows a little girl filling up a cup with water at the kitchen sink. This article was originally published in Georgia Recorder. In 2021, when Dade County Schools Superintendent Josh Ingle was in his first year on the job, his facilities manager came to him with an idea that seemed like a no-brainer: a program that would use federal funds to test his schools water fixtures for lead. Previously, the district had paid a third-party business to test for lead, but Ingle decided to enroll all four of his districts schools into the Clean Water for Georgia Kids program, which launched in 2021 and is available for free to schools and child care centers. The district received training videos and equipment on testing all of its sinks and water fountains. I mean, its a free opportunity to have your water tested, you know, and we deal with kids each and every day, Ingle said. My kids go to Dade County Schools. As a parent, I would want to know. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Doctors say no amount of lead exposure is safe, and children are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, as even small amounts can accumulate in the body and cause problems with brain development, leading to decreased intelligence and behavior problems. Lead in water is not detectable by taste or smell, and unlike other contaminants, it should be tested for at the tap rather than the water source or treatment plant. Thats because lead can enter the water through corroding pipes once it has already been treated. When the results came back for Dade County, it was mostly good news. Most of the drinking fountains had no detectable lead, though some had slightly elevated levels. A few kitchen sinks and faucets in employee break rooms had higher levels, with one Davis Elementary kitchen hand-washing sink standing out at 13.47 parts per billion. Results for all participating schools and child care centers are available online. None of Dade Countys samples reached the 15 parts per billion threshold that requires immediate action. Story continues Statewide, 6.1% of fixtures tested were above 15 parts per billion, while 18% met the best possible result of less than .1 parts per billion. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that lead in water not exceed 1 part per billion, and 59.5% of fixtures in Georgia schools and daycares meet this goal. Ingle said he followed recommendations for fixtures with higher levels, which include installing new filters and flushing faucets each morning, which can remove any lead that may have built up overnight. His only gripe with the program is that the district is on the hook for about $600 for optional retesting of the fixtures with elevated levels, which he says is not a big deal in the long run. The federal grant funds do not cover retesting for samples with less than 15 parts per billion. We didnt realize that we were going to have to pay for this retesting, which, I dont care, I guess we assumed it would be free, but because we did not have any over that 15 parts per billion, then we had to pay, which is very minimal in the grand scheme of things, Ingle said. Participation Ingle said hes glad to have a handle on the issue and to be able to show parents that the schools are taking lead safety seriously, but Dade County is in the minority. Of the more than 2,200 Georgia public schools, only 91 have signed up since August of 2021. Only 118 of approximately 3,100 child care centers and 1,500 family child care learning homes have signed up. Those participation rates are especially low when compared to North Carolina, where the program that became the model for Georgias launched in 2020. In that state, the program is required for daycare facilities, and nearly all of the states approximately 4,500 centers have signed up. In North Carolina, about 75% of fixtures returned less than 1 part per billion, and 2.3% were greater than 15 parts per billion. Georgias Department of Early Care and Learning, or DECAL, set a goal of 500 facilities in the testing programs first year. We had hoped for more, but it is on a voluntary basis, said chief DECAL spokesman Reg Griffin. We are continuing our outreach efforts to encourage programs to enroll. We have continued our outreach efforts by emailing our programs and discussing the Lead Project in our Child Care Services newsletter sent to more than 4,400 licensed programs across the state, he added. We have also had a strong social media push and featured on our weekly podcast, DECAL Download. RTI Laboratories, the group partnering with the government to test the water samples, is also working to get the word out, says Jennifer Hoponick Redmon, an environmental health scientist and director of environmental health and water quality at RTI. We want to show facilities that this is something that can be done pretty easily at the individual facility level, and theres really no better time than now to take advantage of this, she said. So we would love to hear from facilities that are on the fence about whether or not to sign up to see if theres any additional support we can help to provide them to complete the testing. We are amenable to individual concerns and needs. Schools and daycare centers can enroll year-round at www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/georgia. Some providers may incorrectly believe that they dont need to test because their facility is newly built or because their water provider tests, she said. Another concern may be that facilities will be stuck with a public record of elevated lead levels but no money to mitigate it. Redmon said some facilities may hesitate because they want to make sure that theyre not joining something thats voluntary, that they dont need to do, thats translating into more headaches for each facility. But she said most recommended fixes are free or low-cost, such as installing filters or flushing faucets every morning, and facilities could access funds for bigger fixes from the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in 2021, she added. On Monday, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox announced $58 million in grant funding from the bill to pay for activities that remove sources of lead in drinking water. And what weve really found in North Carolina is that by providing information about participation and participating in the program and things being available online, that transparency has removed a lot of what would otherwise be perceived as hiding problems that are found at a school, Redmon added. Fixes A February report from Environment America gave Georgia, along with most other states, an F for protecting drinking water in schools. The highest grade, a B+, went to Washington D.C. The researchers note that Georgia does participate in Clean Water for Georgia Kids, but finds that only a small portion of programs take part, and adds that the state has no laws or regulations to address lead in school drinking water. Last year, Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill aimed at protecting kids from lead by lowering the threshold of lead in a childs blood that would trigger state action, including testing and required fixes. Thats a good measure, but even better would be to prevent kids from getting lead poisoning, Redmon said. Ideally, its best to stop exposure before it starts, she said. Blood lead testing is a reactive way to identify children that have already gotten lead exposure, and our goal is to stop that at the source so that there is less of a need to identify children that have blood lead poisoning and then the need to identify where that source is coming from. Schools that do not participate may be testing on their own or hiring out, Ingle said, but the Legislature requiring facilities to test could boost participation in the free program. Well, the gray area is, its not a requirement. Its optional, he said. And some districts may not know that much about it. I know about it because our facilities director did a great job of pushing out the communications. If the legislature pushed this, made it mandatory, obviously, it would definitely increase participation, he added. Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor John McCosh for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com. Follow Georgia Recorder on Facebook and Twitter. Photo: Department of Justice A male nurse in Oregon was convicted on Tuesday of sexually assaulting nine incarcerated women while working at the states only womens prison, Coffee Creek Womens Prison, in Wilsonville. A federal jury found Tony Daniel Klein guilty of 17 counts of sexual assault and four counts of perjury. He faces up to life in prison. Tony Klein used his position of authority to prey on women in custody who were in a uniquely vulnerable position, Natalie Wight, U.S. attorney for the District of Oregon, testified. He further led his victims to believe they had no power to resist or report his abuse. Read more After the state settled with the victims behind the 2017 lawsuit, more of Kleins survivors came forward, and in March 2022four years after prosecutors decided against filing criminal charges against Kleinthe U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Oregon finally filed criminal charges against him. Back in 2019, the Statesman Journal reported that sexual abuse was widespread at Coffee Creek. The abuse, sources told the outlet, was ignored by prison staff, who would punish and retaliate against people who reported it. Research has shown 60% of sexual assaults in prisons are perpetrated by prison staff, but survivors are often disbelieved, ignored, or even punished for reporting abuse because of their criminal status. In March, a California warden whose prison was internally nicknamed the rape club was sentenced to 70 months in prison for sexually abusing incarcerated women and sending those who reported sexual abuse to solitary confinement. In November, a New York Times report found hundreds of women who had been incarcerated in the New York state prison system were set to sue the state alleging they were sexually assaulted by prison staff. Story continues In response to Kleins conviction this week, Kieran Ramsey, special agent in charge of the FBI Portland Field Office, praised his victims for their bravery. His heinous actions were only brought to light by a small group of courageous women who came forward, even despite their precarious circumstances of being incarcerated, Ramsey said. Their willingness to report their victimization undoubtedly saved others from Mr. Kleins predatory actions. More from Jezebel Sign up for Jezebel's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. A 35-year-old man was arrested Monday in connection to the fatal shooting of 12-year-old TreyShawn Eunes, who police say was accidentally shot by a toddler, according to the Fort Worth Police Department. Decarlos Jordan was arrested and is charged with suspicion of tampering with evidence at the scene of the shooting. He is being held in Tarrant County custody, according to jail records. TreyShawn was at a Juneteenth barbecue at a music video in a strip mall at 5504 Brentwood Stair Road, playing video games with a friend of his fathers, when a toddler picked up a gun and shot him, according to police and TreyShawns mother, Lakesha Bay. TreyShawn was taken to a hospital where he died. Bay said TreyShawn was shot through his side, and the bullet went through his lung. She also said that police told her the gun was taken from the scene before officers arrived. No arrests were made the day of the shooting. Police have not commented on who the gun belongs to or how the toddler was able to get a hold of it. Community members gathered June 25 for a fundraiser for TreyShawns family at Daesys Tropical Sno in Arlington, arranged by the owner of the snow-cone shop and by some of TreyShawns teachers. He really just liked to be friends with everybody, TreyShawns mother said. If there was a kid at the park being left out, he would be going to that one kid who wasnt playing with anybody and bring that kid into the group. Thats the kind of person TreyShawn was. He loved to bring people together. A man who attacked worshippers at a mosque in Canada with bear spray and an ax last year was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in prison. Mohammad Moiz Omar, who was 24 at the time of the attack, stormed into the Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, during morning prayers on March 19, 2022, and started spraying. Worshippers took him down and held him until police arrived. Police investigated the incident as a possible hate crime. Omar pleaded guilty July 19 to three charges: administering a noxious substance with intent to endanger life or cause bodily harm, assault with a weapon, and mischief to religious property with motivation of bias, prejudice or hate based on religion, CBC News reported. Omars act, according to a statement of facts agreed to by all parties involved, was intended to perpetrate a mass casualty event, and his plea included an admission that his offenses met the Criminal Code definition of terrorism. He also admitted being motivated by intense hatred for Muslims and said he wanted to intimidate them because he believed that Islam is an intolerant and violent religion, CBC News reported. Muslim advocates had not commented late Tuesday afternoon about the sentence, but Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre Imam Ibrahim Hindy told CBC News before the sentencing that eight years would not be enough given that Omar, a former Muslim who referred to himself as an atheist, had admitted planning a much broader attack and wanted to see people die. This was not someone having a bad day or having a mental health episode, Hindy said. This was someone who planned out clearly what he wanted to do and how he wanted to kill Muslims. Im only grateful that our congregation was able to stop him before he was able to ultimately harm someone. _____ [Source] A man accused of kicking a senior Asian woman in San Franciscos Union Square area on July 21 is the same man convicted of attacking a Chinatown leader in a widely reported incident in 2021, records show. The latest attack: James Lee Ramsey, 27, was arrested immediately after the latest incident, which occurred on Ellis Street near Market Street at around 11:15 a.m. last Friday. The victim, 88, was heading home after buying some avocados when he allegedly kicked her to the ground. The victim was initially reported to have massive internal bleeding. Subsequent reports say she was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A career criminal: Ramsey, an Oakland resident, is the same man convicted of assaulting Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce President Carl Chan in 2021. At the time, Chan accused Ramsey of yelling f*ck you Chinatown! before striking him in the head. More from NextShark: Hyundai and Kia recall more than 280,000 vehicles over fears they could catch fire Ramsey faced hate crime charges for the attack, but those were dropped after he pleaded no contest to his assault charge. He was sentenced to 18 months in county jail followed by 18 months of supervision, which he had both served. Ramsey was also wanted on a warrant in Alameda County when he was arrested last week. Now, he faces up to 10 years in state prison for his latest charges, which include felony elder abuse, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, battery causing serious bodily injury, misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor vandalism. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins condemned his alleged crimes in a statement: More from NextShark: Japanese American Olympian Racially Harassed While Training in Orange The crimes that Mr. Ramsey is accused of are horrific. I am grateful to the witness who was able to detain him until police arrived ensuring that he did not flee. My office, on behalf of the victims, and every San Franciscan who is fed up with brazen violence like this, will stand for justice and seek to hold him accountable for his crimes. Story continues Reported mental illness: Ramsey was previously reported to have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. In February 2022, a GoFundMe page was created for his benefit, but it was reportedly taken down after he was arrested again. Chan, for his part, has expressed disappointment about the fundraiser. More from NextShark: Asian Clerk Fatally Shot During Attempted Robbery in Maryland Convenience Store When you were able to get support from many people and doing the wrong thing, and when you came out and you're financially rewarded, he said, according to KTVU. More from NextShark: Wuhan University Unveils Plasma Jet Prototype That Could Eventually Replace Jet Fuel NEW YORK One of the four men who gunned down rookie NYPD Officer Edward Byrne more than 35 years ago has been granted parole a move that sent shock waves through the law enforcement community Wednesday. Scott Cobb, 60, will walk out of the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, N.Y., a free man next month, Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said. All cop-killer paroles are infuriating, but this one is especially outrageous considering the shock waves this crime sent through the NYPD, the city and nation, said Hendry, who worked at the 103rd Precinct in South Jamaica, where the 22-year-old Byrne was assigned when he was blasted in the head by drug dealers while guarding the home of a witness on Feb. 26, 1988. As a young officer, Hendry would often walk past the plaque for Byrne every day as he started his tour, the union president said. New York City police officers are absolutely sickened by this parole decision, and New Yorkers who care about safe streets should be, too, Hendry said, calling on state legislators to fix the broken parole system so that none of the other Byrne assassins go free. Cobb is expected to be released on Aug. 9, 2023, according to state prison records. Hes been eligible for parole since 2013, but this is the first time the parole board granted his request. The three others accused of killing Byrne, David McClary, Todd Scott and Phillip Copeland, are all still in prison, but are expected to go before a parole board in the next few years. The foursome were acting on orders from notorious drug dealer Howard Pappy Mason, who orchestrated the hit from prison and fronted the $8,000 for the deed. Mason is currently serving a federal life sentence for organizing the assassination. The witness, known only as Arjune, a Guyanese immigrant, was going to testify against Masons drug crew. Drug dealers had already firebombed Arjunes home on 107th St. and Inwood Ave. when the department decided to have a cop posted in a squad car outside. Story continues Arriving officers found Byrne sitting upright in his cruiser, a folded copy of the Daily News and a portable AM-FM radio on the seat. Testimony at the trial showed that vengeful dealers had driven by the home at least twice but decided it would look weak to kill a female cop or a black officer. Byrnes death would forever be known as a turning point in the NYPDs war against drugs. The NYPD marks the anniversary of his death each year with a special service. The assassination of Police Officer Eddie Byrne was a ruthless act that captured the citys attention like few others, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said in 2008. When Eddie Byrne was assassinated, it galvanized cops and the community to work together to take our streets back from these violent drug gangs, Hendry added. That was Eddie Byrnes legacy, and the insane Parole Board is tearing it to shreds. According to figures compiled by the PBA, the state Parole Board has released 36 cop killers since 2017, 32 of whom killed New York City police officers. A motorcyclist was injured late last week when he crashed head-on into a deputys patrol car while trying to run from deputies on a stolen motorcycle. A deputy with the Bibb County Sheriffs Office attempted to stop the rider of the stolen motorcycle after he struck the rear of a marked Bibb County Sheriffs Office patrol unit while operating the motorcycle recklessly. Deputies say the rider was operating the bike without a helmet on Williamson Road. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The pursuit ended on Rice Mill Road after the cyclist drove on the wrong side of the road in a blind curve and hit a responding deputys marked H.E.A.T. unit head-on. The deputy, that was injured in the crash, gave the 22-year-old cyclist medical aid until EMS arrived at the scene. The sheriffs office did not specify the extent of the injuries to either the deputy or the cyclist. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: A 21-year manhunt ended this week with the arrest of a man captured in Mexico for the slaying of a 36-year-old Visalia man. Federico Castellanos Velasco, 56, has been extradited from Mexico to Visalia. He was booked at the Tulare County Adult Pretrial Facility and faces charges of murder, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, and false imprisonment. Velasco was expected in court on Wednesday. Bail has been denied. The search for Velasco Around 10:15 p.m. on Feb. 27, 2002, officers were called to the 1900 block of Stevenson Street for a report of gunshots fired. While officers were headed to the home, they were told that there was a man with gunshot wounds at a home in the 900 block of West Walnut Avenue. When officers arrived at the Walnut Avenue home, they found Oscar Ramon Paniagua, 36, shot multiple times. Officers also found two badly beaten men inside the home on Stevenson Street. Violent Crimes detectives were called out and took over the investigation. Police Chief Jason Salazar, who was a detective at the time, was the lead investigator in the case, public information officer Liz Jones said. Detectives say that three armed men broke into the Stevenson home. The men assaulted three people and tied them up with duct tape and electrical cords, Jones said. Although Paniagua was shot, he managed to escape and ran to the home on Walnut Avenue. He was rushed to Kaweah Delta District Hospital, now Kaweah Health, for his injuries. He died eight days later. Through their investigation, detectives identified Velasco as the suspect who killed Paniagua. To evade capture, Velasco fled to Mexico, police said. He was 35 at the time of the incident. In November 2021, Velasco was found in Colima, Mexico and was arrested by FBI agents with the help of local Mexican authorities. He remained in a Mexican jail, and went through the extradition process. Velasco's extradition was approved last week, according to Jones. He was handed over to FBI agents, then flown to Fresno Yosemite International Airport and driven to Visalia for his court appearance this week. He faces life in prison. This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Man extradited from Mexico to face 2002 Visalia murder charges A day after his wedding, a man was fighting for his life in the hospital after being attacked in a hotel lobby, his wife said. The attack happened around 7 p.m. Monday, July 24, at Even Hotel in Pittsburgh, according to Pennsylvania media outlets. Larry Gilmore was at the hotel celebrating his honeymoon with his wife, Shalawrae. The 26-year-old suspect, identified as Heiko-Lamar Calhoun, was shown in surveillance footage putting the 41-year-old victim in a chokehold as he waited for an elevator, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Calhoun then banged the mans head on the ground repeatedly and dragged him across the floor before hitting, kicking and stomping him in the head, the Post-Gazette reported. I walked over to see what was going on and I found him in a puddle of blood, Shalawrae Gilmore told WPXI. Calhoun was taken into custody as officers helped Gilmore, according to WTAE. Police said Calhoun attacked Gilmore because the honeymooner said something to him when he walked by him in the lobby, KDKA reported. He was charged with criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault, robbery and recklessly endangering another person, court records show. Gilmores wife said in a GoFundMe that Larry was hospitalized with extensive trauma to his body. This is just the beginning to a very long and difficult recovery, she said. In a statement to multiple outlets, including KDKA, the hotel said its thoughts are with Gilmore and his family. We appreciate the swift actions by our hotel staff, the Pittsburgh Police Department and local EMTs who rendered aid to our guest, the statement read. We will continue to cooperate with local authorities in their investigation. Shalawrae Gilmore is calling for the hotel to be shut down until they can hire more security to ensure customer safety, according to WPXI. Dad drowns while celebrating 28th wedding anniversary, reports say. Love of my life Groom dies soon after saying I do at his wedding. Never made it to the reception 19-year-old very much in love dies in house fire on wedding day, Wisconsin mom says The last of three men convicted in a We Build the Wall fundraising fraud scheme was sentenced to more than five years in prison Tuesday, federal prosecutors said. Timothy Shea "stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to line his own pockets," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams of the Southern District of New York said in a statement. Shea, 52, was sentenced to 63 months, or five years and three months, in prison, the U.S. attorneys office said. Colorado businessman Timothy Shea stands outside Manhattan federal court after he was sentenced on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, in New York. Shea was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for his role in a scheme to siphon hundreds of thousands of dollars from an online fundraiser that collected $25 million in donations. (AP Photo/Larry Neumeister) (Larry Neumeister / AP) "We Build the Wall" was a crowdfunded effort to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. President Donald Trump made a wall a key part of his 2016 campaign and presidency. It pulled in more than $25 million, federal prosecutors said. The government alleged that Shea and others defrauded donors and took money for their own use. Steve Bannon, the chief White House strategist in the Trump administration, was also charged in the scheme. Bannon, who had pleaded not guilty, was pardoned by Trump in the final hours of his presidency in 2021 and never stood trial. Shea, of Castle Rock, Colorado, also pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury in October of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and obstruction of justice. The other two people charged Brian Kolfage and Andrew Badolato pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison in April. Kolfage was sentenced to a little over four years, and Badolato was sentenced to three years. They each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Kolfage also pleaded guilty to tax and wire fraud counts out of Florida, officials said. The fundraising scheme started on GoFundMe, but it was impossible to directly transfer money to the federal government, and GoFundMe threatened to return the cash to donors unless a nonprofit entity was identified, according to court documents. Thats when Bannon and Badolato got involved, according to prosecutors, and all four men started a nonprofit entity called We Build the Wall, Inc., prosecutors said in a sentencing memo. Story continues Promises were made that "100%" of the funds would be used in the effort to build a wall, and Kolfage promised to take no compensation, prosecutors wrote. Those representations were lies, the U.S. attorneys office said. Kolfage took more than $350,000 for his personal use, and Shea kept more than $180,000, prosecutors said. "Sheas communications make clear that he was motivated by greed," prosecutors wrote in a sentencing submission. "From the beginning, Shea viewed this fundraising project as a cash cow." An attorney for Shea did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night. Sheas attorneys argued that Shea was not aware of a secret agreement about payment that prosecutors alleged and that he learned about it only after his arrest. "He is a good man who got swept up in a dizzying vision of becoming enriched by something that both got out of control and was not what he planned," his attorneys wrote in their own sentencing submission. Shea wrote in a letter to the judge that he regrets becoming involved and that he failed to recognize the importance of Kolfages claim of no compensation, seeing it instead as a relatively meaningless salesmans boast. He also wrote that he wished he had taken a plea deal. I do acknowledge that some of the things I did were wrong and probably illegal, he wrote. In addition to the prison term, Shea was ordered to pay $1,801,707 in restitution, the U.S. attorney's office said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A man was sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted of murdering a woman he hardly knew after she gave him a ride to buy cigarettes in Galveston County, Texas, prosecutors announced on Wednesday. Mark Anthony Jackson, 44, was found guilty of shooting and killing Karli Hope Hurley, 27, in what prosecutors described as a particularly senseless act of violence, according to a news release. Prosecutors said that the incident occurred in the early morning of Oct. 25, 2021, when Jackson came to Hurleys apartment to ask for a ride to the gas station to buy a pack of cigarettes. After going to the gas station, the two then went to a rural area in League City where Jackson shot Hurley in the back twice and left her face down, still alive, in a partially flooded drainage ditch where she slowly died, prosecutors said. Karli Hope Hurley was a mom of two children whose family was very important to her, according to her obituary. Karli Hope Hurley was a mom of two children whose family was very important to her, according to her obituary. The evidence at trial showed this was a particularly senseless act of violence shown to have occurred without provocation or identifiable motive, the statement read. Jackson then returned to Hurleys apartment and tampered with the gun used to kill Hurley, prosecutors said. A driver found Hurleys body the next day, and Jackson was arrested on Oct. 28, 2021. After almost 2-years of pretrial motion, Jackson was found guilty on Jul. 19. At his sentencing, prosecutors emphasized Jacksons criminal history. According to her obituary, Hurley enjoyed life to the fullest and was loved by her family. She left behind two children. She loved spending time with family. Her family was very important to her. She would do anything to protect her family. She loved her children dearly... the most precious gift she had, her family wrote. According to data by the non-profit group Everytown for Gun Safety, an average of 43,375 people die by guns in the U.S. each year, with an average of 3,996 in Texas. Related... A man accused of stealing a delivery drivers SUV in Tennessee was later caught at a Wendys, police say. The victim said he was walking back to his Ford Edge on the afternoon of July 25 in Nashville when the suspect grabbed him and pushed him into traffic before driving off in the vehicle, according to a news release from Metro Nashville police. Officers called in a helicopter crew, and they tracked the car to a Nashville Wendys location about 6 miles from where the car was stolen, police told McClatchy News. Police said when they attempted to take the suspect into custody, he accelerated and struck a police car. He wouldnt get out of the stolen car, and eventually, a K9 unit brought him into custody, according to police. Wendys did not immediately respond to McClatchy News request for comment on the incident. The 36-year-old was charged with carjacking, vandalism and attempted evading arrest, and his bond was set at $37,000, according to records from the Criminal Court Clerk of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson. Cops yanked man from car, beat him during traffic stop then tried to hide it, feds say 74-year-old hit while trying to stop person from stealing car with dog inside, cops say Child labor violations involving 388 minors at McDonalds uncovered since May, feds say Mom and daughter last seen leaving Sonic restaurant are found dead in river, KY cops say RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) It was once Latin America's largest landfill. Now, a decade after Rio de Janeiro shut it down and redoubled efforts to recover the surrounding expanse of highly polluted swamp, crabs, snails, fish and birds are once again populating the mangrove forest. If we didn't say this used to be a landfill, people would think it's a farm. The only thing missing is cattle, jokes Elias Gouveia, an engineer with Comlurb, the city's garbage collection agency that is shepherding the plantation project. This is an environmental lesson that we must learn from: nature is remarkable. If we dont pollute nature, it heals itself. Gouveia, who has worked with Comlurb for 38 years, witnessed the Gramacho landfill recovery project's timid first steps in the late 1990s. The former landfill is located right by the 148 square miles (383 square kilometers) Guanabara Bay. Between the landfill's inauguration in 1968 and 1996, some 80 million tons of garbage were dumped in the area, polluting the bay and surrounding rivers with trash and runoff. In 1996, the city began implementing measures to limit the levels of pollution in the landfill, starting with treating some of the leachate, the toxic byproduct of mountains of rotting trash. But garbage continued to pile up until 2012, when the city finally shut it down. When I got there, the mangrove was almost completely devastated, due to the leachate, which had been released for a long time, and the garbage that arrived from Guanabara Bay, recalled Mario Moscatelli, a biologist hired by the city in 1997 to assist officials in the ambitious undertaking. The bay was once home to a thriving artisanal fishing industry and popular palm-lined beaches. But it has since become a dump for waste from shipyards and two commercial ports. At low tide, household trash, including old washing machines and soggy couches, float atop vast islands of accumulated sewage and sediment. Story continues The landfill, where mountains of trash once attracted hundreds of pickers, was gradually covered with clay. Comlurb employees started removing garbage, building a rainwater drainage system, and replanting mangroves, an ecosystem that has proven particularly resilient and successful in similar environmental recovery projects. Mangroves are of particular interest for environmental restoration for their capacity to capture and store large amounts of planet-warming carbon dioxide, Gouveia explained. Experts say mangroves can bury even more carbon in the sediment than a tropical rainforest, making it a great tool to fight climate change. To help preserve the rejuvenated mangrove from the trash coming from nearby communities, where residents sometimes throw garbage into the rivers, the city used clay from the swamp to build a network of fences. To this day, Comlurb employees continue to maintain and strengthen the fences, which are regularly damaged by trespassers looking for crabs. Leachate still leaks from the now-covered landfill, which Comlurb is collecting and treating in one of its wastewater stations. Comlurb and its private partner, Statled Brasil, have successfully recovered some 60 hectares, an area six times bigger than what they started with in the late 1990s. We have turned things around," Gouveia said. "Before, (the landfill) was polluting the bay and the rivers. Now, it is the bay and the rivers that are polluting us. Opposition leaders have demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi address parliament on Manipur Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government will face a no-confidence vote in parliament amid deadlock with the opposition over violence in the state of Manipur. A lawmaker from the opposition Congress party tabled a no-confidence motion on Wednesday. Mr Modi's government won't lose the vote as his party and its allies have a clear majority in parliament. But opposition leaders say the move will force Mr Modi to speak on Manipur. They have been demanding that he address parliament on ethnic clashes in the state which broke out in May between the majority Meitei group and the tribal Kuki minority. At least 130 people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced in the violence. Last week, a video that showed two women being paraded naked by a mob had sparked global outrage and condemnation. It also forced Mr Modi to break his silence on Manipur: he said that the incident had "shamed India" and that the attackers wouldn't be spared. Federal home minister Amit Shah told the Lok Sabha - the lower house of parliament - earlier this week that the government was ready to discuss the violence and accused the opposition of preventing this. This is the second time that Mr Modi's government is facing a no-confidence motion since it came to power in 2014. In 2018, a lawmaker had moved a motion over the issue of granting a special category status to Andhra Pradesh state. It was defeated after a 12-hour debate. A no-confidence motion can only be moved in the Lok Sabha and will be accepted if at least 50 lawmakers support it. Once accepted, the speaker will announce a date for a vote within 10 days. If the government is unable to prove its majority, it will have to resign. On Wednesday, two motions were moved by MPs from the Congress party and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi - the first was accepted. Speaker Om Birla said he would announce a date for the debate and vote after speaking with leaders of all parties. Story continues "We are well aware that the numbers are not in our favour," Manoj K Jha, an opposition MP, said on Wednesday. "But it is not about the numbers, the PM will have to speak in parliament following a no-confidence motion." The opposition was "forced to move the no-confidence motion as it was the last weapon", Congress leader Manickam Tagore said. BBC News India is now on YouTube. Click here to subscribe and watch our documentaries, explainers and features. Read more India stories from the BBC: Violence broke out in Manipur in early May Misinformation has been widely shared in the violence-hit state of Manipur in north-east India, despite attempts by authorities to quash it by restricting internet access. The conflict between the majority Meitei community and the tribal Kuki minority recently made global headlines after a video of a mob of men assaulting and stripping two women went viral, sparking outrage in India and beyond. Warning: This article contains details some readers may find distressing False claims about sexual violence Attacks on women have been a particular source of false and misleading claims, dating back to the upsurge in violence in Manipur in early May. The authorities shut down mobile internet services as soon as clashes began on 3 May to stop the spread of "disinformation and false rumours, through various social media platforms". A day later that was extended to include all internet services in the state. Screengrab of tweet But by then a graphic image of the body of a woman, wrapped in a plastic bag, incorrectly said to be a Meitei nurse who was raped and murdered by Kuki men, was already circulating. Not only had the image appeared on social media, we have seen evidence of it also being shared on WhatsApp in the district of Churachandpur where clashes broke out on 3 May. The claims surrounding the image are false because it not from Manipur at all. It is a photo of Aayushi Chaudhary, a 21-year-old woman who was killed in Delhi in November last year. Similarly, a false claim emerged on 5 May on social media that the bodies of 37 Meitei women, who had been raped and killed, and the body of a seven-year-old Meitei child, were at the Shija hospital in Manipur's capital Imphal, awaiting post-mortems. On Twitter, a number of posts repeated this claim, with almost identical wording. The posts were shared by newly-created accounts. The BBC has also seen identically-worded text messages circulated in the local Manipuri language, as pictured in the example below. We've been told by journalists working in Manipur that, despite the mobile shutdown, it was still possible to communicate via text message. Story continues Screenshot of text The claim is false. The Shija hospital told the BBC it never happened, and that - as a private medical institution - they are not authorised to carry out post-mortems. Myanmar not Manipur There are other examples of false and misleading content, including a highly-graphic video of the assault and killing of a woman on a road, said to be in Manipur. In late June, this video began to be shared with the hashtag #Manipur, and received thousands of views - with some claiming it showed the killing of a Kuki woman by armed men, presumed to be from the Meitei community. It resurfaced a week ago, with the same claim, amid declarations that it took place in Manipur. Screengrab of Myanmar video falsely shared as Manipur Once again the claims are false. The video is not from Manipur, and the victim is not a Kuki woman. It is from neighbouring Myanmar and the incident happened in June 2022 - well before the Manipur clashes began - and has been debunked by an Indian fact-checking site. We can't be sure how widely this video was shared, but it was circulating within Manipur because the state police warned publicly that action would be taken against anyone sharing it. Wrong information about arrest Misinformation has continued, even after the Manipur violence hit the headlines on 19 July - when the video emerged of the mob attack on two women from the Kuki community, from early May. The following day, claims spread that a Muslim man had been arrested for his alleged involvement - those sharing this included a politician from India's ruling BJP party, Tejinder Pall Singh Bagga. Screengrab of tweet Mr Bagga's tweet had more than a million views, and thousands of re-tweets, and referred to the man as the "main accused of [the] Manipur case" - with 'the Manipur case' widely understood to refer to the attack on the two women. But this was misleading as, although Manipur police did arrest a Muslim man that day, it was for something completely different. The police have made clear the arrests took place in different locations; they did not link the Muslim man with the assault on the women. The news agency, ANI, which also incorrectly reported the arrest of this man in connection with the mob attack later corrected itself, blaming their mistake on the "erroneous reading of tweets" from the police. Note on Story retraction and APOLOGY: Yesterday evening, inadvertently a tweet was posted by ANI regarding arrests undertaken by the Manipur Police. This was based on an erroneous reading of tweets posted by the Manipur police as it was confused with an earlier tweet regarding ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2023 However, Mr Bagga, from the BJP, has so far neither corrected nor clarified his original tweet, nor has he responded to questions about it from the BBC. Additional research by Ahmed Nour While he was on the way to check into his new unit, a junior Marine used his military training to save a family in a crashed car in the middle of the road. In May, Lance Cpl. Joshua Diaz was wrapping up his time off in between checking out of the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force and into 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, according to a Marine Corps news story. Driving from his hometown of Miami, the infantryman was on a narrow two-lane road near the small town of Atkinson, North Carolina, when he came across the aftermath of a collision that had left one vehicle in a ditch and one in the middle of the road. Diaz immediately jumped into action and found a woman with her three children in the car that was in the road, according to the Marine story. When I ran up, my mind was blank, Diaz said in the release. I was like a robot going back to my training. Diaz, who had been trained in vehicle extrication and combat lifesaving, grabbed his medical bag from his car. He pulled the most injured member of the family, a 6-year-old with a cut on the face, out of the car before treating the wound. Marine 1st sergeant uses combat experience to save man hit by car He retrieved from the backseat another child, who was unconscious, and rubbed the childs sternum to help him regain consciousness, according to the Corps. The Marine put him on his side into the recovery position to keep his airway clear as first responders arrived at the scene of the crash. I always think of it from the casualtys standpoint, Diaz said in the Marine news story. Its not a good time being the casualty. The last thing you want is just to sit there and not know whats going on. The family was airlifted to the hospital, according to the release, which stated that Diaz saved the lives of the injured family members. When Diaz arrived at his new unit, he told the officer on duty what had occurred. But before that, he told his mother. Story continues My mother remembered how dead-set I was on leaving at a specific time to get to my new unit, not getting more sleep like she wanted me to, Diaz said in the news story. It was like an act of God, being there in the right place at the right time. Diaz was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal on June 30 in a ceremony at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Diaz was unavailable for an interview because of training commitments, according to Marine spokeman Staff Sgt. Rodion Zabolotniy. The enlisted leader for his company at his new unit, 1st Sgt. Jared McManus, described Diaz as a Marine who takes initiative. No one was looking, McManus said in the release. He could have simply driven by, but he didnt. He stopped and he performed what he did. 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 Her hands shook when she got the call, the excitement so overwhelming it briefly kept her from calling her parents to give them the news. After learning in 2017 that she was accepted to join NASAs astronaut candidate class, Lt. Col. Jasmin Moghbeli felt her long desired dream of exploring the stars becoming a reality. A lot of my time in the Marine Corps, I think, is what set me up for this experience, she told Military Times. After years of training, the Marine test pilot-turned-astronaut will serve as the commander of NASAs upcoming SpaceX Crew-7 mission to the International Space Station. The research mission is currently slated to launch August 17, according to Steve Stich, program manager of the commercial crew program. The trip will be Moghbelis first to space. She follows in the footsteps of those like Col. Nicole Mann, another Marine test pilot who traded in her military flight suit for a space suit and led the SpaceX Crew-5 mission that launched in October 2022. Many of the commercial crew missions have or are slated to be led by a current or former service member. In addition to those endeavors, other military personnel will soon be finding themselves leaving Earths atmosphere. In April, NASA announced a pair of Navy captains will command and pilot the Artemis II lunar mission. Marine astronaut to lead NASA mission to International Space Station Moghbeli, who will serve as an Expedition 69/70 flight engineer aboard the station, will be joined on the mission by pilot Andreas Mogensen of the European Space Agency, Japans Satoshi Furukawa and cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov. Before signing up to become an explorer of the cosmos, Moghbeli, an AH-1W Super Cobra pilot and Marine Corps test pilot, completed over 150 combat missions and logged 2,000 hours of flight time in over 25 different aircraft. Born in Germany though she considers New York her hometown Moghbeli partly credits her familys journey from Iran in sparking her interest in service to the United States. Story continues I was interested in joining the military from a pretty young age, she told Military Times. I was also interested in becoming an astronaut from a pretty young age. Thankfully, those two things worked out together very well. Moghbeli commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 2005 and began her operational flying career in 2008 with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 Scarface at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California. Love this pic of @AstroJaws all suited up. We are less than a month from her upcoming #Crew7 mission. Can't wait to see the crew fly to station from @NASAKennedy to conduct essential science on board. pic.twitter.com/NQ08cIYBv7 Heather Scott (@spacewordnerd) July 18, 2023 My time as a test pilot has served me very well, Moghbeli said. This is a time in space flight where we have more new vehicles and different vehicles then weve ever had before. For the Crew-7 mission, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A SpaceX Crew-8 mission is planned for no earlier than February 2024. Collecting signatures for candidate nomination papers can be sloppy business, but one campaign worker for Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, who is running for the Democratic nomination in the 1st Congressional District, made a particular mess leading to a criminal investigation. While a Providence Journal review of papers filed in Jamestown, where the Matos campaign's errors first came to light, showed that other campaigns had signatures rejected, the Matos signatures were rejected at a rate of more than four times other candidates. The Journal reviewed papers for five of the major candidates in the race: Gabe Amo, Sandra Cano, Donald Carlson, Aaron Regunberg and Matos. The papers for the first four were supplied by Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore, while the Matos papers were supplied by Jamestown Town Clerk Roberta J. Fagan. Jamestown Town Hall Jamestown's town clerk kept some information secret Fagan redacted the number portion of the address listed for each person who signed the Matos papers and the signature they gave, even when it was decided the signature was bogus. To justify withholding the blacked-out information, Fagan cited a section of the state's Access to Public Records Act that protects "individually identifiable records , the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy." A page from the nomination papers turned in to Jamestown by the campaign of Sabina Matos. Jamestown Town Clerk Roberta J. Fagan blacked out portions of the public records, citing privacy concerns. Voter addresses, including the house number, are considered public record and digitized lists of them are routinely given to anyone who asks, especially political organizations looking to build mailing lists. Fagan also cited a 2018 attorney general's opinion that the secretary of state's office did not have to give the Providence Journal a computer database that included the full date of birth of each voter. None of what Fagan blacked out were dates of birth. A page from the nomination papers turned in to Jamestown by the campaign of Sandra Cano. The secretary of state's office did not black out any portion of the public record. Although it doesn't make public a database with the full date of birth included, the secretary of state's office will provided anyone who asks for it with a database of every voter in Rhode Island, with their name, address, party affiliation and other information, including the year of birth, but not the month and day. It also will provide the full date of birth for individual voters, but not in a database. Story continues State law has a provision to allow victims of domestic violence to register to vote without their information becoming public. Matos' signatures were rejected at a much higher rate than other major candidates The Matos campaign had 94.1% of it's potential lines of signatures rejected in Jamestown. That's all but one of the 17 the campaign submitted. The Cano campaign had 13.0% of its 92 potential lines rejected in the island community. That included one line that was left blank. More from Jamestown: A Jamestown elections clerk started three weeks ago. Then, he found signatures from dead voters. The Carlson campaign had 18.2% of its 143 potential lines rejected, including four blanks. The Amo campaign had no signatures rejected, but it only submitted two. The Regunberg campaign did not submit nomination papers in Jamestown, according to the secretary of state's office. 3 signatures suspected to be from dead people The Jamestown Board of Canvassers placed an asterisk next to the names of three people who signed the Matos nominating papers without explaining on the papers what the mark means. The Journal has matched those names to people who have appeared in published obituaries as having died: Gladys (Gannon) Geib, who died in 2012; her husband, Frederick J. Geib, who died before her; and Charles Everett Cabral, who died in 2017. In a July 13 letter to Jamestown Police Detective Derek Carlino, Keith Ford, the clerk for the canvassing board, drew the detective's attention to three names, saying those three had passed away. Fagan blacked out the three names in the copy of the letter provided to The Journal. Other reasons signatures were rejected Of the 16 lines that were rejected on the Matos papers, six were rejected because the signatures did not match what was on file in voter registration records; seven were rejected because the person could not be found in voter registration records; and three were ruled ineligible, though the form does not have space to explain why. Of the 92 lines submitted by the Cano campaign, 80 were approved; nine were rejected because the signatures didn't match; and one each were rejected for being in eligible, a duplicate or a blank. Of the 143 lines submitted by the Carlson campaign, 117 were approved; 12 were rejected because the signatures didn't match; five were rejected because the voter lived in the wrong district; four were rejected because the person could not be found in voter registration records; one was ruled ineligible and four were blank. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Sabina Matos had 94% of signatures tossed in Jamestown as fake A child looks at a Barbie-themed computer in Anhembi, northern Sao Paulo, Brazil, on July 26, 2023 (Miguel SCHINCARIOL) American toy maker Mattel on Wednesday reported a drop in profits compared to last year, due to lower sales including a decline in Barbie products in the second quarter. Profits fell 59 percent compared to this time last year, to $27.2 million, on a 12 percent fall in revenues to $1.1 billion. The first quarter had seen a net loss of $106 million, and analysts had expected a loss of $11 million this quarter. Business was negatively hit by retailers trimming inventory levels and "some overall industry softness," said Chief Financial Officer Anthony DiSilvestro. "At this point, we believe the retail inventory correction is mostly behind us, and we look forward to meeting consumer demand for our product as we enter the second half of the year and all-important holiday season," DiSilvestro said. Mattel's toy categories were mixed, with "Hot Wheels" and the overall vehicles category scoring increased gross billings compared with last year, while Fisher Price and the action figures/building sets/games categories fell. Barbie had a six percent drop in worldwide gross billings to $282.7 million. - A coming 'Barbie' bump? - The star-studded "Barbie" film was released after the end of the second quarter, and the iconic doll is expected to be a cash-cow for Mattel in the coming period. The movie, from director Greta Gerwig and staring Margot Robbie, raked in a stunning $155 million in its opening weekend in North America. Mattel Chief Executive Ynon Kreiz said that the toymaker had entered into 165 product partnerships tied to the film. "We launched a wide range of 'Barbie' movie-related toys and products," Kreiz said. "Releases to date have sold out across major distribution channels and we will be expanding the range in the second half." "The Barbie movie is a showcase for the cultural resonance of our IP (intellectual property), our ability to attract and collaborate with top creative talent and the capabilities of our franchise management organization," Kreiz added. Story continues "This also speaks to the potential of Mattel Films and the significant progress of our strategy to capture the full value of our IP." Shares of Mattel edged up 0.1 percent, to $21.34, in after-hours trading. jmb/nro/caw House Republicans are set to meet as a group one final time ahead of the August recess on Wednesday amid tensions over the annual appropriations process, a push to expunge former President Trumps impeachments and questions over who they might impeach in the Biden administration. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has shaken up the final question by suggesting in an interview on Fox News on Monday night that the impeachment targets could include the president himself. He told Foxs Sean Hannity that Republican-led investigations into Biden are rising to the level of impeachment inquiry and didnt back away from the suggestion in remarks to reporters Tuesday. The statements by McCarthy offer red meat to the GOP base and hard-line conservatives in the conference who are jumping at the chance to go after Biden amid anger over what many Republicans see as favorable treatment by the Department of Justice. They also come as McCarthy is trying to soothe conservatives angered by the direction of federal spending. Its the latest balancing act for the Speaker, who is managing a razor-thin majority and must navigate differences between conservatives and more moderate members of his conference, some of whom do not support as steep of spending cuts and do not want to expunge Trumps impeachment or impeach Biden. Weve got a narrow majority and were trying to work our way to a consensus and hopefully we will, Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), the chairman of the Rules Committee, said of the appropriations process. McCarthy must also contend with Trump, the leading candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, whom he risks angering should he fail to schedule a vote to expunge his impeachments. That dynamic could grow if Trump is hit with his third indictment of 2023 this week. Wednesdays Republican conference meeting its regular weekly gathering provides McCarthy with one final opportunity to alleviate tensions and rally his GOP troops ahead of a critical week, and a long summer break. Story continues Top of the legislative to-do list is appropriations, as Congress stares down a Sept. 30 deadline to fund the government or risk a shutdown. The House is scheduled to vote on the first two of 12 appropriations bills this week, even as conservatives remain skeptical of leaderships efforts to cut spending. Members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus put GOP leadership on notice Tuesday, announcing they want to review all 12 appropriations bills and assess the overall price tag before voting on any individual measures. All appropriations bills have been released by the Appropriations Committee, but two are still being marked up. We are united in the belief that we have to see what the entire cost is before we can start working on individual pieces of it. Because again, you will be left with a very small piece of that pie that we might have to take a lot of the spending out of, Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), one of the Freedom Caucus members, said Tuesday. That posture could make it tougher for McCarthy to pass the first two appropriations bills, which Democrats are expected to oppose because they were marked up at levels below the debt limit deal. If liberals are united in opposition, the Speaker will only be able to lose a handful of his members. McCarthy brushed aside any concerns Tuesday. Its your same question every week, and I havent changed my opinion yet, he told reporters. The appropriations fight is at risk of being drowned out by Trump, with the former president on indictment watch and House conservatives pushing for a vote on expunging his impeachments. Trump last week said the Justice Department informed him that he is a target in their investigation into his efforts to remain in office following the 2020 presidential election which includes the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot a notification that often precedes charges being filed. That news came within days of a Politico report that said McCarthy in an effort to ease tensions with Trump after the Speaker questioned his strength as a candidate promised to stage a vote on resolutions to expunge the former presidents impeachments by the end of September, the constitutionality of which has been questioned by some. McCarthy, who is in favor of expungement, denied ever vowing to hold a vote on the measures. But the report nonetheless resurfaced conservative calls to wipe away the impeachments, much to the chagrin of moderate Republicans. President Trump was wrongfully impeached twice twice and both of these impeachments must be expunged by the House of Representatives, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a lead sponsor of one of the expungement resolutions, said on the House floor Tuesday. Those demands will likely grow louder if Trumps is indicted. McCarthy risks angering Trump and his allies if he does not schedule a vote on the resolutions; but if he does, they would almost certainly fail amid opposition from moderates. The risk of angering Trump and hard-line conservatives is especially acute as appropriations season heats up a time when McCarthy is trying to unite his conference behind spending bills to avoid a shutdown. Some conservatives, however, were pleased with McCarthy opening up the possibility of an impeachment inquiry, a move that could help simmer tensions between the Speaker and his right flank in the sprint to Sept. 30. I dont think theres any question that him speaking to that has caused a paradigm shift, Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) said Tuesday. Emily Brooks contributed. This story was updated at 8:12 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Evacuation orders have been issued for areas close to two central Greek cities threatened by new outbreaks of wildfires. Citizens in areas around Volos and Lamia have been told to move to safety as the country remains in the grip of a severe heatwave. Meanwhile, fires continue to rage on the islands of Rhodes, Corfu and Evia. Greece is one of a number of countries currently grappling with wildfires, in which more than 40 people have died. Two people have died in the fires near Volos, the fire service has confirmed - a farmer who died after he went to release his sheep to protect them, and a woman who was in a mobile home in Chorostasi. Kostas Agorastos, mayor of Greece's Thessaly region, which includes Volos, has accused "brainless workers" of starting the fire, according to the Ellada 24 news channel. He added that it had broken out on four simultaneous fronts. In Rhodes, where a state of emergency is in place and from where thousands of tourists have been forced to flee, high winds have continued to fan the flames and villages remain at risk. Some firefighters, who have been battling the blazes for days, have begun to lose hope. "Every day, every night, we are here and we achieve nothing," Savas Filaderis, who is from Rhodes, told the Reuters news agency. "We can't stop it," he said. "Everybody, all the people, they fight. The civil people, the government, they are but... for nothing. I believe we fight for nothing." In southern Italy, fires in Sicily and Puglia have also been fuelled by high winds and tinder-dry vegetation, meaning firefighters have been struggling in many areas to douse the flames and create firebreaks. The church of St Benedict the Moor in the Sicilian city of Palermo was among the buildings that have been destroyed in the fires. "The damage is enormous," said Vincenzo Bruccoleri, superior friar of the convent. Enrico Trantino, the mayor of Catania, another city on the island, told the BBC the high temperatures had melted underground electrical cables, which had left parts of the city without power and water. Story continues However, Italy is expected to become much cooler in the coming days, according to BBC Weather. The heaviest death toll so far is in Algeria, with more than 30 victims, including 10 soldiers surrounded by flames during an evacuation in the coastal province of Bejaia, east of Algiers. Most of the fires have now been contained. In neighbouring Tunisia, the country's Interior Minister, Kamel Feki, said on Wednesday that all of the wildfires were under control and there had been no loss of life. The European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, said support was being sent to affected countries, including Tunisia and Greece. But Yamina Saheb, lead author on the United Nations' climate change panel, known as the IPCC, told the BBC that people in the African region felt they were being left to fend for themselves without international help. "People are scared and they don't really understand why there is no international help," she said. Ms Saheb said she had spoken to friends and colleagues in the affected areas, who were finding it hard to understand why there was no European aid when they were so close to the continent. "They say, if the situation gets worse, what are we going to do? Are we going to die, all of us? Is Africa going to die because of climate change, and Europe will be watching that, just watching and not doing anything?" The EU has also said it wants to sign contracts for up to 12 firefighting planes in order to improve its ability to fight blazes fuelled by climate change. These would be the first it would fully own. A team of climate scientists - the World Weather Attribution group - said this month's intense heatwave in Southern Europe, North America and China would have been virtually impossible without human-induced climate change. The fires have dealt a blow to the summer tourism industry, especially in Greece, where the industry accounts for one in five jobs and is vital for Rhodes and many other islands. Holiday firms Jet2 and Tui have cancelled departures to the island for the coming days. Tui said that it had already brought hundreds of people home, while hundreds more were expected to make it back to the UK on Wednesday. The UK Foreign Office has not advised against travel to the affected parts of Greece, but has urged tourists to check with tour operators for updates. Thousands of people have also been evacuated on Evia and Corfu, while Crete - another major holiday destination - is on high alert. Other European countries have not escaped the heatwave unscathed. Portugal, Croatia and the French Mediterranean Island of Corsica are among other places that have experienced wildfires in recent days. Map showing fire risk across southern Europe and north Africa Banner saying 'Get in touch' How have you been affected by the wildfires? 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. Two longtime Harrison County deputies are competing in the Aug. 8 Republican primary to replace retiring Sheriff Troy Peterson. Voters will decide between Louis N. Elias and Matt Haley to serve as the next sheriff because no Democrat, independent or third-party candidates are running. Haley has spent his 26-year career at the Sheriffs Department, working his way up from corrections officer in the jail to captain. Elias got his start in law enforcement in 1994 as an intern, then a patrolman, with the Long Beach Police Department, joining the Sheriffs Department in 2008 and working his way up to major. Elias, 49, says he has wanted to be in law enforcement since he was a child, dressing as an officer for career day when he was in Kindergarten and hoping one day to run for sheriff. I have prepared for that for a lifetime, he said. Haley, 48, found his passion for the job once he moved from the jail to patrol, saying he enjoyed helping people and the excitement of solving crimes. It was almost second nature to me, he said. The two previous sheriffs, Melvin Brisolara and Peterson, have endorsed Haley for the job. Elias says both sheriffs also have endorsed him through the promotions he received while working for the department. Louis Elias, left, and Matt Haley, right, candidates for Harrison County sheriff, answer questions during a debate moderated by Rip Daniels at Saint Paul United Methodist church in Biloxi on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. The two men talked to the Sun Herald recently about what they would hope to accomplish if elected. Both left their positions with the department in January to run for sheriff. Louis Elias campaign for Harrison County sheriff Elias wants to keep violence out of schools by identifying threats in advance to school safety rather than reacting once a shooting or other violence has happened. He wants to raise community awareness about recognizing and reporting threats and work with agencies that gather intelligence about threats, including a threat mitigation team at Keesler Air Force Base that he has worked with in the past. Elias believes federal, state and local agencies, school administrators and community members must work together to stop threats to school safety. Story continues Elias also wants to hire more jailers, saying personnel is at dangerously low levels. He thinks more recruits for the job could be found among high school graduates, community college students and people leaving the military. He also said exit interviews with departing corrections officers would identify areas for improvement to reduce turnover. He also wants to increase pay for department personnel, possibly with an annual cost of living increase and, eventually standardized pay similar to the way teachers are paid. Elias wants to put more officers on patrol to increase the departments visibility and deter crime. To offer raises and put more officers on the streets, he said, spending could be cut in other areas, using beach Jeep Gladiators as an example of an unnecessary expense. More creative solutions are needed to combat illegal drugs, he said, noting the connection between crime and drugs. He believes a therapeutic, rather than punitive, approach to drug intervention is needed in some cases, with state and federal funding needed to address drug and mental health issues in the community. Elias has also made transparency and accountability a part of his campaign. When we do something right, we brag about it, he said. When we do something wrong, we should admit it. That helps build trust within a community. Louis Elias, a candidate for Harrison County sheriff, answers questions during a recent candidate debate in Biloxi. Matt Haley campaign for Harrison County sheriff Haley wants all officers trained in crisis intervention so they can better handle school safety issues. And he wants to assign to county schools a K-9 officer so the dog can sniff out drugs and guns. He also hopes to work with schools to start a Handle With Care program suggested to him by a friend in law enforcement. If a child has been involved in a traumatic incident, their school is contacted and told, without specifics, that the child might be going through difficulties and should be handled with care. Community engagement and outreach is another area Haley wants to focus on. He said attendance at Neighborhood Watch programs has dwindled and he hopes to improve turnout. As a K-9 officer, he used to take his dog to Neighborhood Watch meetings for demonstrations. He would like to send deputies from different areas to Neighborhood Watch meetings for demonstrations and find other ways to improve participation. He thinks officers should talk to residents about ways they can reduce crime, such as removing firearms from cars, the largest source of gun thefts, FBI data shows. Haley also wants to increase the number of officers assigned to drug interdictions on Interstate 10, where he spent six years doing that job. He said the department has two officers working interstate interdiction, but there used to be six. The interdictions bring in money for the department and keep drugs out of the community. While many drug dealers are just passing through, he said, hes also stopped loads of drugs headed for the Mississippi Coast. A lot of drugs, a lot of fugitives, a lot of bad guys are coming through our county, he said. I just feel like its necessary for us to do our part. Jazmin Grace Grimaldi is the oldest daughter of Prince Albert of Monaco. Gisela Schober/Getty Images; Patrick van Katwijk/WireImage/Getty Images Jazmin Grace Grimaldi is the daughter of Prince Albert of Monaco and Tamara Rotolo. Her parents were never married, and she has no claim to the throne of Monaco. She works as an actress and has posted photos from the picket lines of the SAG-AFTRA strike. Prince Albert of Monaco's eldest daughter, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, has no claim to the throne of Monaco, but that hasn't stopped her from earning her place in the spotlight. The 31-year-old, whose middle name comes from her paternal grandmother Grace Kelly, has worked for several years as a professional actress and has appeared in critically acclaimed shows like "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." And now she's joining fellow SAG-AFTRA members in striking on the picket line. Grimaldi has shared images of herself holding up SAG-AFTRA picket signs In a series of Instagram posts, Grimaldi is seen holding up SAG-AFTRA picket signs and posing with her dog Frankie Bleu, who she calls her "strike dog." "I'm all about HOT Girl Summer but we creative beauties had to pivot to HOT Picket Summer!!!! THE WORKERS UNITED WILL NEVER BE DIVIDED," Grimaldi wrote in the caption of one Instagram post. Hollywood writers have been on strike since May and got a boost in exposure when members of SAG-AFTRA also called a strike earlier this month. Now, more than 160,000 members are withholding their labor from Hollywood companies like Netflix, NBC Universal, and Paramount in an effort to fight for better wages, among other issues. Grimaldi was born in California and grew up in the US Prince Albert II of Monaco and his daughter Jazmin Grace Grimaldi watch the Monte-Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament on April 19, 2018, in Monaco. YANN COATSALIOU/AFP/Getty Images Grimaldi is the daughter of Prince Albert and Tamara Rotolo. She was born before Albert married Princess Charlene of Monaco and fathered twins Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques, who are now 8. He also shares a son, 19-year-old Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste, with a different woman, Nicole Coste. Story continues Grimaldi was raised in southern California by her mother. Tamara Rotolo came from a working-class background and reportedly worked as a waitress before she met Albert. The Los Angeles Times reported in 2006 that she filed a lawsuit in 1992, the same year Grimaldi was born, alleging that Albert had fathered her daughter and that she was seeking child support from the royal. However, a Riverside County Superior Court judge dismissed it on jurisdictional grounds. The Los Angeles Times, which cited European press releases at the time Grimaldi was revealed to be Albert's daughter, reported that her parents met while Rotolo was vacationing in the Cote d'Azur region of France, near Monaco. In 2001, Rotolo filed a malpractice suit in Los Angeles against her attorney, claiming they had not advised her to file a paternity suit in Monaco before 1994 in order to maintain her legal rights. Grimaldi met her father for the first time in 2004 when she was 11 years old. Grimaldi's parentage was finally publicly confirmed in 2006. "I was 14, getting ready to go to high school, when it hit the media that my father had a daughter, and it was me," she told Harper's Bazaar in 2015. "It's a difficult time for any young adult, and it was an adjustment to have that attention. But I knew it was going to come someday." Grimaldi and her father now appear to share a close relationship, and she has been photographed alongside him and his family multiple times. Read the original article on Insider Callum Darragh, a bored 26-year-old office worker who recently travelled to Afghanistan - Callum Darragh To be honest, a major part of going on the trip was that I was bored as f at my desk job doing nine to five, five days a week, mulls Callum Darragh, a 26-year-old office worker from Swindon, Wiltshire. Maybe it was a slight overreaction to the mundanity of modern life, but there we are. We turned up in Kabul after 40 hours, on four different flights, and when we landed it was kind of terrifying because you see the Taliban posters and whatnot and then you think to yourself, What the hell have I done?. Callum spent two-and-a-half weeks in Afghanistan in August last year, and is one of a growing number of Westerners who are travelling to the country for tourism. The Taliban government is keen for more to come - no surprise when the 7,000 tourists it claims have visited since it took power in August 2021, have brought with them 6.2m of crucial foreign exchange. The country remains dependent on aid worth 3.5bn annually and a Taliban crackdown on poppy farming is set to decimate the 1bn opium industry. As we can see in other countries, tourism can bring in a lot of revenue, Mohammad Nabi Baha, director of the governments tourist board, candidly told The Times. A tour bus being dug out of the mud in Afghanistan in 1997 - John Standing/Alamy This week Tobias Ellwood, the MP and chair of the Commons defence select committee, was widely criticised when he praised the Taliban for reducing corruption and bringing stability after visiting the country on a fact-finding mission. One of his critics, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, said the video could have been issued by the Afghan tourist board. Yet there is a certain type of thrill-seeking traveller who needs no tourist boards encouragement to pay a visit to the beleaguered Islamic emirate. Some people want to go on holiday, and go to the beach, eat, drink, swim and relax and not think about anything. And that is fine, says James Willcox, founder of adventure travel company Untamed Borders, which has been running ski trips to Afghanistan since 2011. But others want to explore an area, go somewhere with different scenery, culture or food. The reason for going to Afghanistan is pretty similar to South America, India or Thailand. It is just pushing the boundaries that little bit more. Story continues As a 55-year-old mother-of-two, Emma Witters may not seem a natural boundary pusher. But with trips to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Iraq under her belt, the Scot knew she could handle herself when she spent a total of two months in Afghanistan between August and November last year using a multi-entry visa. Emma Witters, a 55-year-old mother-of-two, spent two months in Afghanistan last year - Emma Witters My daughters werent surprised when I told them I was going, they trust my judgement, she says. Why I go to these places is to see them for myself. I know [Afghanistan] is ranked as the most dangerous country in the world but I certainly didnt feel that way. I would walk around Kabul by myself in my hijab, even at night if I ran out for dinner, and I felt safe. I did have run-ins with the Taliban a few times, just questionings about my permits and paperwork, but thats to be expected. Its difficult not to be taken aback when hearing run-ins with the Taliban described in this matter-of-fact manner, not least because one Kabul hotel Witters stayed at for two weeks was attacked by a pair of Isis suicide bombers only a week after she had checked out. The Taliban itself is also currently holding three Britons in custody, including Miles Routledge, a danger tourist who first gained notoriety in August 2021 by flying into the country at the height of the evacuation crisis. Afghan boys ride a bicycle along a road in Kandahar in July 2023 - AFP via Getty Images Yet, says Willcox, tourist interest in Afghanistan is as high as it has ever been. Sales of his companys three tours of the country priced between 2,200 and 3,500 per person returned this year to their pre-withdrawal peak. One of the major risks we had before were anti-government groups not being happy with international people being in the country, he explains. The risk of being targeted for that has dissipated a lot, mainly because what was the major anti-government group then is now the government. Untamed Borders tours now visit places like Helmand, Kandahar and the 12th century Minaret of Jam which, before the Taliban seized power, were deemed too dangerous to visit because of the presence of Taliban fighters there. Darragh, who visited Kabul with Miles Routledge in August last year and donned the local shalwar kameez attire to blend in, also enjoyed a sense of safety in the presence of the Taliban that even he accepts was quite odd. Emma Witters: 'I would walk around Kabul by myself in my hijab, even at night if I ran out for dinner, and I felt safe' - Emma Witters He recalls: The feeling at the time was absolutely that the Taliban were not going to do anything to foreigners, so seeing them with guns was not a threat. What was a threat was Isis, so if there were Taliban within viewing distance then you knew you were safe because if someone did start shooting, they were going to shoot back. The only time I did feel unsafe was once when we went out at night, he adds. We were walking back to the hotel in pitch blackness and there was this car coming towards us with its beams on. Oh, crap. It started slowing down and I was thinking to myself I am going to die, they are going to kidnap me and this is where I am going to die. And then we saw it was flying a Taliban flag and I had an instant feeling of relief, thank God, which is obviously quite odd. Hippies in Kabul in 1971 bucolic rural areas in Afghanistan are said to be charming, beautiful and very peaceful - Mirrorpix But for all the risks, Afghanistan remains attractive because it offers experiences that cannot be had anywhere else. Witters spent time, accompanied by an armed Talib, in Helmand, where British soldiers fought and died for eight bloody years between 2006 and 2014. Camp Bastion, Sangin, Lashkar Gah: places our troops once traversed in armoured vehicles can now be walked on foot. Two centuries ago, the Victorians knew Afghanistan too: the great game, two Anglo-Afghan wars. What you have is British history going back a couple of centuries at least, as Darragh puts it. Then there are the people, who Willcox, Witters and Darragh all agree are hospitable and welcoming, even in the southern Pashtun-dominated provinces where the Taliban recruited many of their fighters. The presence of westerners after two decades of war produces remarkable interactions, Darragh interviewing a Taliban commander and Witters taking a lasting memory from her second day. Western tourists eating lunch at an outdoor rest stop in the mountains outside of Kabul in 1973 - Morse Collection/Gado/Getty Images We were up at the flagpole in Kabul which is a big gathering place, especially on Fridays, she says. It was relatively empty and then it got packed with Taliban dancing around me singing Death to America and I was like, Im from Scotland. Im not American. It turned out to be the first anniversary of the takeover and they were all out parading with the American humvees and waving flags and singing. Yet for Willcox, it is the bucolic rural life that attracts him most not the thrill of being in a recent warzone. The rural areas are really charming, beautiful and very peaceful, he says, having been to the country 25 times since 2008. Its a sort of bucolic lifestyle. Afghanistan: action, adventure and tranquillity. Thats one for the tourist board. Would you travel to Afghanistan? Tell us in the comments below. 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. Former first lady Melania Trump. Alex Wong/Getty Images Former first lady Melania Trump started a scholarship program called "Fostering the Future" last year. But The Times reported that no charity with that name or the name "Be Best" is registered in New York or Florida. One person who said he received funds from the program told The Times he got it through a friend who knows the Trumps. Former First Lady Melania Trump started a scholarship program last year called "Fostering the Future." But there's no charity with that name registered in New York or Florida, The New York Times reported. "Since leaving the White House, I have further dedicated my efforts to helping America's children," Trump said in a press release announcing the program in February 2022. "In fact, I have spent the past months laying the groundwork for a new project that focuses on the foster care community." "To avoid confusion, I do not operate a 501(c)(3) charitable organization," the press release said. "In simple terms, 'Fostering the Future' is the name of my platform. Fostering the Future is a Be Best initiative." The scope of the project was unclear. And The Times reports that there also isn't a charity with the name "Be Best" registered in Florida or New York. A person familiar with the scholarship program told the paper that "more than two" scholarships have been awarded as part of the program but did not provide further details. Michael Weitzman, the first person to win a scholarship from "Fostering the Future," told The Times that he got the funding through a friend who knows the Trump family. Weitzman, who lived in a dozen foster homes throughout his childhood, told The Times his friend asked him if he still dreamed of going to college. "He said that he might know somebody really rich who might want to pay for me to go," he said. Last year, Weitzman was interviewed on the Fox News program "Fox and Friends" about the scholarship and was surprised with an appearance by Melania Trump. Story continues "Thank you so much for your generosity," he told the former first lady over a Zoom call. The former first lady said in last year's press release that she was working with the Bradley Impact Fund, "a donor-advised fund, to select charities that support foster children." She added that she would team up with groups to work with foster children "across our Nation interested in receiving scholarships. These individuals will have the ability to take advantage of the opportunity to learn computer sciences this year." Insider reached out to a representative of Melania Trump's office, who responded: "Mrs. Trump does not operate a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. 'Fostering the Future' is the platform's name and part of a Be Best initiative." Florida law mandates that organizations that raise charitable contributions in the state must register with its Division of Consumer Services. Last year, the Division of Consumer Services opened an inquiry regarding a ticketed event where some of the profits would go toward Fostering the Future, according to The New York Times. There was no indication of how much money would be retained by Melania Trump, per the newspaper. Read the original article on Business Insider The State Board of Education has asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit from Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador that said the board violated the open meetings law when it secretly discussed acquiring the University of Phoenix. Boise attorney Trudy Hanson Fouser called Labradors complaint meritless. Labradors allegations are not only legally and factually incorrect but unwisely prejudice the peoples access to the truth and needlessly undermine the peoples trust in government, Fouser wrote in the motion filed last week. Idaho State Board of Education officials acting in their capacity as regents for the University of Idaho in May approved a $685 million proposal for U of I to buy the University of Phoenix, an Arizona-based for-profit university. The announcement was the first time the deal was publicly disclosed. Fouser also told the court that Labradors complaint against the board should be dismissed because it was filed after a statutory deadline to challenge the decision, and because the complaint named the wrong entity. Labrador sued the Idaho State Board of Education, which also comprises the Board of Regents for U of I, but the two are distinct entities. You have previously expressed concern about wasting taxpayer funds and resources by prolonging litigation. Our client strongly agrees, Fouser wrote in a Friday letter to Labrador. Taxpayers of the state of Idaho should not be paying for this unnecessary litigation. Beth Cahill, Labradors spokesperson, told the Idaho Statesman by email that the attorney generals office has no additional comment beyond what we have previously provided on the lawsuit. A previous comment from the office accused the state board of wasting taxpayer funds to justify its failure to follow Idaho open public meeting laws, all to keep a half-billion-dollar transaction from public discourse. Idaho EdNews first reported the boards motion to dismiss Tuesday. Why Labrador sued to overturn Phoenix deal A May 18 State Board of Education meeting was the first time the board publicly discussed the deal between the U of I and the University of Phoenix, which had been in the works for months. Board members previously mulled the deal at least three times behind closed doors, State Board President Linda Clark said during the May 18 meeting. Story continues Idahos Open Meeting Law requires that all meetings of government boards be open to the public. But the law exempts preliminary negotiations among public officials that involve matters of trade or commerce and competition with governing bodies in other states or nations. Board members pointed to that exception to justify their secret meetings to discuss the University of Phoenix acquisition. On June 20, Labrador asked the 4th Judicial District Court in Ada County to nullify the boards decision to approve the deal. When board members met privately on May 15 three days before publicizing the University of Phoenix deal they did not consider the meeting preliminary negotiations but rather the final, or substantially final, terms of the prepared acquisition, the attorney general alleged. Labrador also argued that U of I no longer had competition on the deal by May 15. About three weeks earlier, trustees for the University of Arkansas, the only other bidder known to the public at the time, had voted against a proposal to buy the University of Phoenix. Labrador asked the court to void the boards decision to approve the deal because the May 15 meeting did not qualify for the Open Meeting Law exception. U of I had competition on deal, letters say In a Friday letter to Labrador, Fouser urged the attorney general to withdraw his meritless claim that the board violated the Open Meeting Law. Fouser attached two letters, from University of Phoenix President Chris Lynne and the schools financial advisor, that explained U of I was competing with two other universities and a private entity in its bid to buy the University of Phoenix. It is unclear what information you based such allegations upon, Fouser wrote to Labrador. However, we write to draw your attention to the two attached letters, which demonstrate that whatever information you possessed, if any, was false. In addition to another unnamed state university and nongovernmental entity, officials with the University of Arkansas still wanted to pursue a potential acquisition after trustees rejected the proposal in April, wrote Gregory Finkelstein, managing director for Tyton Partners, University of Phoenixs financial advisor, in a July 18 letter to U of I President C. Scott Green. In May, U of I officials were aware of our ongoing discussions with other potential buyers including state universities and private entities and understood that those parties remained viable alternatives, Finkelstein wrote. In her motion to dismiss Labradors complaint, Fouser rebuked the attorney generals claim that the board members discussion of the deal was no longer preliminary when they met on May 15. All information and negotiation before the boards May 18 decision to approve the deal is considered preliminary, Fouser argued. In Idaho, where the Legislature has not provided a definition in the statute, terms in the statute are given their common, everyday meanings, Fouser wrote. Labradors complaint also should have been filed by June 14 to satisfy a 30-day deadline to challenge decisions involving violations of the Open Meeting Law, Fouser argued. Why State Board of Ed hired private attorney Typically, the attorney generals office would represent the State Board of Education in such a case, but the board members hired a private attorney because they were sued by the attorney general. Its not the only case in which Labrador is opposing his own client. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in March sued to block Labradors office from demanding that the department hand over records related to child care grants. Fouser is representing the department in the ongoing case. State Board of Education members consulted with Labradors office before the May 15 closed door meeting to ensure it was conducted legally, according to a June 30 letter that State Board Executive Director Matt Freeman sent a letter to Labradors office. The deputy attorney general assigned to advise the board was present at the May meeting and raised no concerns with its legality, Freeman wrote. To adequately respond to the lawsuit, the board now requires legal counsel who is both experienced in ligation and acting independent of Attorney General Labrador, he wrote. Freeman said the board would forward invoices for legal expenses to Labradors office. Sophia Lacayo, the former Sweetwater commissioner who reported spending $1 million of her own money in a failed bid for Miami-Dade County Commission last year, was booked in jail Tuesday on charges alleging campaign-finance violations. Details of the charges werent available. But online booking records show Lacayo, 45, was brought to Miami-Dades Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center shortly after 7 p.m. on Tuesday on multiple counts related to campaign-finance laws. Those include filing false campaign reports and circumventing caps on how much money donors can contribute to campaigns. Bond was listed at $14,500. READ MORE: Shes running for Miami-Dade commission and wants a judge to seal her perjury case Lacayo, the owner of a tax-preparation business, stunned campaign watchers in 2022 when her campaign outspent her opponent, then-Doral Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez, nearly 3-to-1 with a $1.8 million war chest. Sophia Lacayo was a candidate for Miami-Dade County Commission in 2022. On Tuesday, July 25, 2023, she was booked at a Miami-Dade jail on charges related to campaign-finance violations. This photograph was taken during the booking process. Almost all of that came from from the candidate herself, according to a tally of the final reports from the campaign. Lacayos total reported payments to the campaign were $1.75 million of the $1.79 million she reported raising, according to campaign reports. Bermudez won the two-person race with more than 65% of the vote. During the 2022 campaign for the District 12 commission seat, a Lacayo lawyer asked a judge to seal records from a prior criminal case. In 2020, Lacayo was arrested on perjury charges tied to where she claimed to live to qualify for her successful run for the Sweetwater city commission. She did not serve jail time, but agreed to resign as part of her plea agreement. Lacayo withdrew the request for the records to be sealed after the filing became public. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) The director of the Miami-Dade Police Department offered to resign his position hours before shooting himself, the county's mayor said Wednesday. Details of the conversation were released as Alfredo Freddy Ramirez was in a Tampa hospital, continuing to recover from the shooting. State officials are investigating events leading up to him shooting himself, including an argument with his wife at a Tampa hotel during a law enforcement conference, officials said. Ramirez had called his boss, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, after leaving the hotel with his wife, Jody Ramirez. Freddy told me he had made a mistake, he was prepared to resign and I told him we would talk about it the next day, the mayor recounted during a news conference on Wednesday morning. She said Ramirez was very remorseful during their conversation. She said she told Ramirez to get home safely and they would discuss it the next day. The shooting happened later Sunday night along Interstate 75 south of Tampa. It was unclear whether Ramirez was inside or outside the vehicle when the shooting occurred. His wife was not injured, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Ramirez, 52, remained in stable condition on Wednesday after undergoing surgeries, the mayor said. One of his children is a sergeant with the Miami-Dade police force. He continues to receive outstanding medical care in Tampa, surrounded by his family, loved ones, and MDPD brothers and sisters, Miami-Dade police said in a statement posted on social media late Tuesday. Police officers were called to a downtown hotel after someone reported a man pointing a gun at himself during an argument with a woman, according to a Tampa Bay police report. Officers spoke with the couple. He denied pulling out a gun, and Jody Ramirez told officers she was not in fear of her safety, the police report said. Ramirez is a 27-year Miami-Dade police veteran and was leading the largest law enforcement agency in the southeastern U.S. In May, he announced his intention to seek election for the newly-created role of sheriff in 2024, signaling his desire to remain the leading law enforcement official. Story continues A link for contributions to his campaign was not working on Wednesday. The bio on his campaign website says that Ramirez joined the Miami-Dade police force in 1995 after marrying his high school sweetheart and graduating from the University of Miami. The mayor said they are optimistic that Ramirez will continue to recover. She has made two appointments to cover the positions in which Ramirez served. Deputy Director Stephanie Daniels will serve as interim director of the agency. The mayor appointed J.D. Patterson, the chief of corrections and forensics for the county, as the interim chief of the Miami-Dade Police Department. Patterson served in the same role from 2013 to 2016 and first began his service with the agency in 1983. Help for first responders and others include the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, and the U.S. Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which accepts calls and text messages at 988. ___ This story has been updated to correct that Cava is the Mami-Dade county mayor, not the city mayor. ___ Associated Press writer Curt Anderson contributed to this report from St. Petersburg, Fla. Williams talked openly about his struggles with addiction A man charged in the drug-related death of Wire actor Michael K Williams has been jailed for two-and-a-half years. Prosecutors sought a four-year term for Carlos Macci but the actor's nephew and show's co-creator asked for leniency. Macci, 72, one of four men charged with selling Williams heroin laced with fentanyl, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute narcotics in April. Williams, who starred as robber Omar Little in the HBO crime drama, died of an overdose aged 54 in 2021. The three other men have been charged with directly causing Williams' death and face harsher sentences. One of them, Irvin Cartagena, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and will be sentenced in August. Two others have pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors wrote in court papers that "for decades the defendant has been selling deadly narcotics: heroin and now heroin laced with fentanyl". Sentencing judge Ronnie Abrams told Macci that selling the drugs "not only cost Mr Williams his life, but it's costing your freedom", the Associated Press news agency reported. But it is thought that Macci may have avoided a tougher sentence in part because of a three-page letter filed earlier this month. In it Wire co-creator David Simon asked for mercy for the defendant because Williams "believed in redemption". "No possible good can come from incarcerating a... soul, largely illiterate, who has himself struggled with a lifetime of addiction," the letter said. Mr Simon added that Williams himself "would have fought" for Macci. Williams' nephew Dominic Dupont also told the judge he thought Macci could turn his life around, adding that it "weighs heavy on me" to see someone in that situation. As overdose deaths in the US continue to rise, some prosecutors have charged victims' friends who helped obtain such drugs, as well as the dealers. Several states have passed laws in recent years allowing prosecutors to charge overdoses as homicides in an effort to discourage people from selling or sharing fentanyl. Williams, who talked openly about his struggles with addiction, won critical acclaim for his role in The Wire, a series that ran from 2002-08 and explored the narcotics scene in Baltimore from the perspective of law enforcement as well as drug dealers and users. Prosecutors say that on 5 September 2021, Macci and other members of a drug-trafficking organisation sold Williams heroin laced with fentanyl and continued to sell the substance even after they knew the actor had suffered a fatal overdose. The discredited practice of conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth is now banned in Michigan under two pieces of legislation signed Wednesday by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Michigans House Bill 4616 bars mental health care providers from engaging in conversion therapy with a minor. Violators are subject to disciplinary action and licensing sanctions. Its companion bill, House Bill 4617, amends Michigans mental health code to define conversion therapy as any practice or treatment by a mental health professional that seeks to change an individuals sexual orientation or gender identity, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behavior or gender expression or to reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward an individual of the same gender. Conversion therapy, according to the legislation signed Wednesday, does not include counseling that provides acceptance, support, or understanding to an LGBTQ person or that assists a transgender individual with a gender transition. Both measures, which are set to take effect in October, passed out of the legislature last month in close votes along party lines. Republican state Sen. Mark Huizenga was the only Republican to vote in favor of the bills in the state Senate. Not one Republican backed either measure in the House. State Rep. Neil Friske, a Republican from northern Michigan, argued on the House floor last month that Democrats definition of conversion therapy was too broad, and passing the bills would criminalize providers who are simply upholding natural law and refusing to buy into the new age left-wing gender schemes. Democrats, meanwhile, argued that conversion therapy practices are tantamount to abuse, citing studies from groups including the Williams Institute and the Trevor Project that point to higher rates of anxiety, depression and suicide among individuals who have experienced them. Conversion therapy, sometimes referred to as reparative therapy, has been denounced by major medical organizations as unscientific, in part because it is underpinned by the false belief that LGBTQ identities are pathologies that need to be cured. Story continues As a mom of a member of the community and a proud, lifelong ally, Im grateful that today were banning the horrific practice of conversion therapy in Michigan, Whitmer wrote Wednesday in a post on Twitter. In doing so, we are taking action to make Michigan a more welcoming, inclusive place. Michigan already bans the use of state and federal funding for conversion therapy for minors under a 2021 executive order signed by Whitmer. Including Michigan, 27 states and Washington, D.C. have enacted laws that either fully or partially ban conversion therapy for minors. Three states Alabama, Georgia and Florida are unable to enforce bans on conversion therapy because of a preliminary injunction that prevents them from doing so. House and Senate Democrats in June re-introduced federal legislation that would ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ youths and adults nationwide. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Regarding "Why Rockland County can't shelter migrants," lohud.com, July 13: Rockland County Executive Ed Day says that sheltering homeless immigrants sent to New York State by the likes of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is an emergency and requires an emergency declaration. County Executive, what is the emergency? Day gives us an idea of what he means when he states that a bus ticket to Rockland County is a one-way ticket to homelessness or worse. Rockland County Executive Ed Day speaks at Orangetown Town Hall about the efforts to block migrants from New York City from being bused to Rockland May 10, 2023. In other words, migrants sent to New York and then to us are potential child sexual abusers or rapists. Certainly, that notion is outrageous and most likely racist. Or is it just using racist language as a political tool? 'Racially-charged': Rockland, Orange execs discriminated against migrants, fed judge rules Day cannot articulate a reason that housing a small number of migrants in Rockland creates an emergency situation. What we are actually seeing is nothing less than an attempt to divide the people of Rockland County for political gain. He states that Rockland County is already experiencing a housing crisis, yet he has not held any public hearings on this crisis; he has not created a special task force to come up with solutions; he has not offered solutions to fix existing multiple dwelling housing. Whats worse? Day hasnt even asked advocates like me to discuss already existing methods of increasing the supply of affordable housing in Rockland County. Rockland County had $71 million that was given to it during the COVID-19 crisis, thanks to Sen. Chuck Schumer. The expectation had been that local governments would have significant shortfalls in revenues. In middle- and upper middle-class Rockland County, this proved not to be the case. Day used large chucks of that money (again without any hearings or a task force to discuss possible uses for this windfall) to remove taxes that were necessitated he and others who helped the county approach near bankruptcy under County Executive Scott Vanderhoef. Did he hold any public hearings about the use of that money? Did he ask the County Legislature to hold such public hearings? Might some of that money have been used for a variety of our housing needs? Story continues Earlier: Want to tell your county how to spend COVID funding? Surveys, forums and meetings used So, Ed, I am giving you a task. Reach out to those who, like me, understand and have ideas on how to expand low income housing, affordable housing and even market housing for all types of Rockland families. Reach out to me and others to help figure out ways to improve our existing housing stock. Please meet with advocates and actually meet some of the migrants that you either truly fear or who you so easily characterize as a threat to Rockland County and its people. I dont have all the answers, but I will protest and protest again the use of migrants as a tool to divide the county that I served and that I love. Bruce M. Levine is the former chair of the Rockland County Legislature. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rockland County NY: migrant issue should be used as a political wedge Sacramento city officials are seeking public input at community forums this week and in an online survey on the Police Departments use of military equipment. The Sacramento Community Police Review Commission and the Sacramento Police Department are hosting two public meetings to discuss the departments military equipment use policy. The first meeting will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Hagginwood Community Center at 3271 Marysville Blvd. The second meeting will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hart Senior Center at 915 27th St. Free food and childcare will be provided at both events. Police using military equipment came under intense scrutiny in February after the Sacramento City Council approved a $430,000 purchase of an armored vehicle for the Police Department. The purchase of the Rook, which was funded by a federal grant, is intended to protect officers while confronting armed and dangerous suspects, police officials have said. City Council members who voted to approve the Rooks purchase faced a heated backlash from residents and community advocates who challenged the elected officials to stop further militarization of police. Sacramento County Sheriffs Deputy Shropshire talks with onlookers after unloading the departments Rook, an armored Caterpillar vehicle modified to provide protection for SWAT and other police units, as area law enforcement respond to a report of an officer shooting Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, in Carmichael. California Assembly Bill 481, signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021, requires law enforcement agencies to seek community feedback on the acquisition, funding and use of military equipment. It is aimed at giving the public a voice in the acquisition and use of military-grade materiel that could have a negative effect on communities, according to the legislation. The Police Department this week released its military equipment use report for May 1, 2022 through April 30, 2023. In that time, the department had 86 reportable use of force incidents; 26 incidents involved military equipment on 18 total suspects. A summary sheet of the military equipment use report is also available online. The department also posted on its website its updated military equipment use policy. Police officials are asking residents to also provide input in an online survey on the department procuring, using and implementing military equipment in the community. The survey is available through Aug. 25 in four languages on the Police Departments website. Construction worker Felipe Campuzano attempting to cool off in Philadelphia. Heat advisories are in place across much of the Northeast. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) With scorching temperatures well past 100 degrees Fahrenheit pummeling much of the U.S., residents in major cities like Houston, Phoenix and Miami are experiencing far more intense weather than those in rural areas thanks to urban heat islands. The phenomenon is affecting more than 40 million Americans living under conditions where temperatures are at least 8 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than nearby rural environments, according to a new analysis from the nonprofit research group Climate Central. What is an urban heat island? Urban heat islands are created in cities where open land has been replaced with expansive buildings, concrete sidewalks, paved parking lots and other materials that absorb and retain heat. At night, a city with more than 1 million residents can experience temperatures more than 22 degrees higher than surrounding areas, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Cars and air conditioners throughout these cities also produce and emit heat, adding to the sweltering temperatures. Were basically talking about a phenomenon where theres a measurable increase in urban air temperatures thats caused by the way the city is built, Kaitlyn Trudeau, a climate scientist with Climate Central, told NBC News. Its additional warming that is caused by dark building materials, dark pavement, building heights, population density and lack of green space. While the effects of a heat island may be most noticeable during the summer months, the warmer temperatures persist year-round. A sign of the times in Phoenix. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) The Climate Central analysis examined how populations across 44 cities are affected by global warming, or the ongoing increase in the global temperature, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Scientists believe that rising global temperatures are a direct consequence of climate change, caused by a steady increase in greenhouse gas emissions and the weather pattern known as El Nino a band of warm air from the tropical Pacific Ocean that recurs every two to seven years. A new study published this week found that the current heat wave baking the U.S. and Southern Europe would have been virtually impossible without human-caused climate change. Story continues Which cities suffer the most According to the Climate Central analysis, at least nine cities, including New York, San Antonio and Los Angeles, had at least 1 million residents exposed to the highest urban heat island (UHI) index of at least 8 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, which estimates how much hotter these areas are due to the characteristics of the built environment. This means on days when its 90F in an open park, in these cities it would feel like at least 98F. Thats especially tough on cities like Houston, Phoenix and Chicago, which have experienced daily July averages at or near 100F. Poor and communities of color suffer more Due to fewer heat-reducing amenities like parks, yards and street trees, low-income neighborhoods and communities of color are more likely to be in severe heat islands. A 2019 joint investigation by NPR and the University of Maryland's Howard Center for Investigative Journalism found that for residents of dozens of major cities, low-income neighborhoods are more likely to be hotter and pose more health risks than wealthier communities. For example, Baltimores Franklin Square, a majority-Black neighborhood, is hotter than about two-thirds of the neighborhoods in the city and roughly 6 degrees hotter than Baltimores coolest neighborhood. Rick White, a resident of a homeless encampment in Phoenix, tries to cool off amid the city's worst heat wave on record, July 25. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Many city residents especially in low-income areas also live near sources of air pollution like major roadways, industrial facilities and ports. This can lead to a variety of health effects ranging from asthma to reduced lung function to cardiovascular disease. Since heat places additional burdens on the cardiovascular system and also increases the formation of smog, these pollutants combine with heat to pose an extra health burden. Ultimately, I describe extreme heat as such a risk multiplier, Sonal Jessel, director of policy at the Harlem-based nonprofit WE ACT for Environmental Justice, told CNN. Its not an issue that exists in a vacuum at all, and lower-income communities or communities of color bear the brunt of all these different hardships. A 14-year-old girl missing for two months was found safe, leading to charges against the ex-boyfriend of the girls mom, Minnesota authorities say. Police in Forest Lake say the 36-year-old man helped the teen navigate life being homeless. He was charged with a felony count of deprivation of parental rights, causing a child to be a runaway, court records show. The teenager was described as a runaway after leaving her Forest Lake home May 19 on a bicycle. She was not heard from for months, police said. She left a note for her mother, telling her she was traveling with her boyfriend. But the mother was unaware her daughter had a boyfriend, the mother said in a Facebook post. The boyfriend, her mom determined, was her own ex-boyfriend who she says had been grooming her daughter, according to the post. A week after the girl went missing, the man told police he taught the 14-year-old how to dumpster dive and how to live as a homeless person, according to court documents. The investigation revealed he had been in contact with the girl since she went missing, police said. Police said he had two cellphones, one of which the girl had in her possession. Officers monitored the location of the phone and tracked it to a property in Pokegama Township, about 45 miles north of Forest Lake, according to court records. The girl was found Friday, July 21, hiding in a closet in the residence with her hair in front of her face, police said. She was healthy and cooperating with officers, the Forest Lake Police Department said Friday. The home was owned by the mans friends, who let the girl stay in a tent in the woods behind the property, according to Forest Lake officers. An extension cord ran from the home to the tent, police said. Food, a bed and $2,590 cash were found in the tent, investigators said. When the moms ex-boyfriend was arrested, he admitted to helping the girl for two months, police said. He is in custody in the Pine County Jail. Story continues The homeowner told police she thought she was doing a good thing by letting her stay in a tent in the woods because she was told the girl had been physically abused at home, according to the criminal complaint. Investigators did not note any evidence that supports claims the mother had been abusing the girl. The mom said the grooming behavior began as she was dating and living with the man, and it continued after they broke up in March. The mother said the girl was entirely blameless in this situation. Forest Lake is about 30 miles northeast of Minneapolis. Teen kidnapped in Texas found over 1,000 miles away in NC, cops say. Now man sentenced Youth leader used church group as dating pool and groomed underage girls, feds say Update: The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Doris Romero was found safe Wednesday afternoon. Earlier story: Law enforcement is looking for help to find a missing teenager in Daytona Beach. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said it is looking to find 15-year-old Doris Romero. Investigators said Doris was last seen Tuesday on North Liddy Court in Daytona Beach. Watch: Strong wave near coast of Africa could develop in Atlantic this week The area is not far from Westside Elementary School. Doris is around 5 feet 5 inches tall, 140 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Watch: Woman drove the wrong-way on I-4 for 15 minutes before trooper crashed his cruiser into her car She was last seen wearing gray sweatshirt and green sweatpants. Officials said Doris wears prescription glasses. Watch: Deputies: Man shot, killed during 2021 cannabis pop-up party not intended target Anyone who knows her whereabouts is asked to call the Daytona Beach Police Department at 386-248-1777 or 911. 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. One of two men charged in the murder of Willie Chill Jones, a Picayune man who went missing and was later found dead in 2020, has been sentenced to life in prison. Austin R. Brookshire, 21, of Rankin County was sentenced on Monday. I would like to thank the Pearl River County Sheriffs department and the Picayune Police Department for their hard work that led to this defendant being brought to justice, District Attorney Hal Kittrell said. On July 6, 2020, Jones was reported missing to the Picayune Police Department by his family. Austin R. Brookshire and his half-brother Dustin Michael Gray, 24, of Picayune, who Jones considered a friend, had planned to rob Jones of a large amount of money he was keeping in a box, according to Sun Herald reports. Brookshire then shot and killed Jones in the backseat of Dustin Grays car in Pearl River County and took Jones body to a wooded area on Texas Flat Road in Hancock County, where they buried him in a shallow grave, according to records. Austin Brookshire is lead out of at the Pearl River County Justice courtroom after his first court appearance Tuesday, July 21, 2020. Hes charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Picayune man Willie Chill Jones. An affidavit from the case said that Gray then attempted to get his car washed but employees at the car wash he went to refused after seeing the blood in the backseat. Grays wife, Erica Deleon Gray, 21, is charged with accessory after the fact to murder and allegedly helped try to clean the vehicle before fleeing with Gray to Pueblo, Colorado, where they were eventually picked up by authorities and extradited back to Mississippi. Grays father, attorney James L. Jim Gray, turned over Grays vehicle to the police after seeing the blood in the backseat. Jim Gray received threats and his office was burned down as his son was on the run from authorities. Police caution tape surrounds the burned law office of James Gray in Picayune on Saturday Aug. 15, 2020. As Jones family members held a vigil to pray for their missing son in the summer of 2020, protests were being held around the country over the death of another Black man, George Floyd. Misinformation spread through rumors on Facebook led to right-wing militias gathering in Picayune over false notions that instead of a vigil for a missing Black man, a group of Black Lives Matter and Antifa supporters were going to allegedly burn down the town. That did not happen, but ring-wing militia members amassed in Picayune anyway without violence. Story continues Austin Brookshire was found guilty in a trial on May 24, 2023. The case was investigated by the Pearl River County Sheriffs Department and Picayune Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys John Dowdy and Christina Holcomb. Dustin Grays trial is set for August. Sun Herald reporter Margaret Baker contributed to this report. Top legislature appoints officials, reviews law Global Times) 08:53, July 26, 2023 China's top legislature voted to appoint Wang Yi as foreign minister and Pan Gongsheng as central bank governor, as it convened a session on Tuesday. Qin Gang was removed from the post of foreign minister he concurrently held; Yi Gang was removed from the post of governor of the People's Bank of China, according to a decision adopted at the fourth session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC). President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to effectuate the decision. Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the session, which opened on Tuesday morning. A draft amendment to the Criminal Law was reviewed at the session. The amendment focuses on better implementing the Party Central Committee's principles and policies regarding the fight against corruption and the protection of private enterprises in accordance with the law. It refines stipulations concerning the crime of offering bribes as well as corruption conducted by private enterprise personnel. On Tuesday afternoon, Zhao presided over a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee before the closing meeting of the session. The closing meeting, attended by 169 members of the NPC Standing Committee, approved the personnel appointments and removals. Wang Yi, a 70-year-old veteran diplomat who served as the Chinese ambassador to Japan from 2004 to 2007, began his career in the foreign ministry in 1982. Besides working in the foreign ministry, Wang also served as director of the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee, and minister of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council from 2008 to 2013. Between 2013 and 2018, Wang served as the minister and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of the foreign ministry. From 2018, he served as the State Councilor, member of the Leading CPC Members Group of the State Council, and foreign minister before Qin took up the position in 2022. Qin was promoted to the vice minister of the Foreign Ministry in 2018 and three years later became Chinese ambassador to the US. He arrived in the US in July 2021 to take his post as Chinese ambassador. He was appointed as Chinese foreign minister, according to a decision made by the 13th National People's Congress Standing Committee, on December 30, 2022. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) TEHRAN, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Wednesday offered his condolences to the "friendly and brotherly" government and people of Algeria over the deadly wildfires in the North African country. In a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Kanaani also expressed Iran's "deep sympathy" with Algeria over the "tragic incident," and wished the injured people a speedy recovery. By late Monday, wildfires raging across northern Algeria had killed at least 34 people, including 10 soldiers, said the Algerian Interior Ministry. The fires started overnight on Sunday mainly in the provinces of Bejaia, Jijel, and Bouira, but quickly spread due to strong winds, causing significant damage. Protesters at Missouri capitol Families, medical providers, and LGBTQ+ organizations have filed a lawsuit in hopes of keeping Missouris ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors from going into effect. They filed the suit Tuesday in Circuit Court in Cole County, which includes the state capital, Jefferson City. They are challenging Senate Bill 49, signed into law by Republican Gov. Mike Parson June 7. It is set to become effective August 28. SB 49 prohibits hormone treatment, puberty blockers, and gender-confirmation surgeries for the purpose of gender transition for people under 18, while allowing them for cisgender minors who have a disorder of gender development or other condition that necessitates their use. Trans minors already on hormones or puberty blockers will be able to stay on them, but they cannot initiate treatment. The law also bans gender-affirming care for adults imprisoned in Missouri and prevents the states Medicaid program from covering this care for people of any age. The suit was brought by the families of three transgender people, Southampton Community Healthcare and two of its medical providers, and two organizations, PFLAG and GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality. They are represented by Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP. Gov. Parson is named as defendant. The suit is known as Noe v. Parson, Noe being one of the anonymous plaintiffs. SB 49 violates the Missouri Constitutions guarantee of equal protection of the law, similar to that provided in the U.S. Constitution, the suit states, and interferes with parents right to manage their childrens health care. Because the plaintiffs are likely to succeed in proving these arguments, it continues, the court should issue a preliminary injunction keeping the law from going into effect while the case proceeds. Trans minors in Missouri will suffer irreparable harm if the law is allowed to be enforced, the suit contends. Story continues Several of the same plaintiffs, represented by the same legal groups, had won a temporary restraining order blocking a rule put in place by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey that banned gender-affirming care for trans youth. Bailey withdrew the rule, however, after state legislators passed SB 49. SB 49 is the latest chapter in Missouris relentless attacks on transgender people, and the stories of the families challenging the law demonstrate the immense, devastating harm it is already inflicting on their lives, Nora Huppert, staff attorney at Lambda Legal, said in a press release. SB 49 would deny adolescent transgender Missourians access to evidence-based treatment supported by the overwhelming medical consensus. This law is not just harmful and cruel; it is life-threatening. On its face, the law enshrines discriminatory practices in our health care system by specifically denying transgender Missourians under the age of 18 access to evidence-based gender-affirming medical care while stripping parents of their fundamental right to make medical decisions for their children, added Gillian Wilcox, deputy director of litigation at the ACLU of Missouri. Extreme politicians in Missouri, like the attorney general, have made known their desire to ban gender-affirming care throughout the state. This legislation targets very specific, vulnerable populations young people, those who access health care through Medicaid, and incarcerated individuals to replace private medical decisions with the will of politicians in Jefferson City. We are frightened and outraged at Missouris assault on our rights as parents to seek necessary health care for our children, said a statement from the families in the suit. SB 49 is an attempt to interfere in our family relationships and it places the health and well-being of our children at great risk. It must be stopped. In a first for Missouri University of Science and Technology, a student-designed satellite is expected to launch into orbit on Feb. 1, 2024, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The Satellite Research Team of undergraduate aerospace engineering students with changing members has worked on the project for years. Two of the team members talked about how emotional launch day may be for them. "I will be very, very nervous for sure," said Emily Doddemeade, a senior from Denver. "My nerves will be off the chart." Satellite Research Team members Galen Gilmore, left, and Jonathan House work on a student-designed printed circuit board. Being an undergraduate student with a satellite in orbit that she helped build before her career starts is something special, she said. "It will be very awesome," Doddemeade said. She's a project manager on the team. It's something few people get to experience, said Drake Beaman, a junior from Pleasant Hill, chief project engineer. "How many people can say they have a satellite in orbit?" Beaman said. "It's one of the coolest things in the world." The goal is to get the spacecraft into orbit and for it to work flawlessly, said Hank Pernicka, Distinguished Teaching Professor of aerospace engineering at Missouri S&T. "It will be an exciting, nervous, fun day," Pernicka said of launch day. The autonomous satellite, about the size of a shoebox, will orbit Earth for a week to become accustomed to space and the zero-gravity environment. Then it will test a new electrical propulsion system, Beaman said. It should be obvious in the data the amount of pressure exerted by the propulsion system, he said. There will be five 30-second bursts for the testing. The thruster was developed in the Advanced Plasma Lab at S&T in partnership with Froberg Space. The satellite circuitry is an important aspect of the testing, Pernicka said. "One of the technological advancements is the electronic circuitry that steps up the voltage," Pernicka said. S&T students will retrieve the data from a Iridium Communications server on the day of the tests. Story continues The launch has been a long time coming, Pernicka said. The project received a $200,000 grant from NASA in 2016. "COVID upset the applecart," Pernicka said. "We had a good bit of knowledge lost from COVID." Students came and graduated as the lab was closed or only partially open, he said. The launch will be major accomplishment for the students, he said. "One of the particularly educational benefits of this is the students get a close-up look at how the industry works," Pernicka said. S&T's industry partners will be in communication about the launch, of which there will be more in the future, he said. A pair of satellites about the size of laundry baskets should launch in the next few years. They will be deployed from the International Space Station, Beaman said. One satellite will orbit the other, tracking it. The technology could be used to assess broken satellites for possible repair or even identifying unidentified objects in orbit, Beaman said. "We're hoping to power through it and get it approved for launch next school year," Pernicka said. Pernicka tells students that most courses require 90% for an A grade, but dealing with spacecraft, close to 100% is required for success. There's also a lot that's not in the students' control, including the rocket, he said. Most launches are successful, but not all. "Sometimes they fail spectacularly," Pernicka said. "It's part of the business." Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri S&T undergrads' satellite scheduled for 2024 SpaceX launch Mitch Daniels said that he has had informal conversations with backers of the centrist group No Labels about their efforts to run a third-party presidential ticket. But the former Indiana Republican governor scoffed at the idea that he would be a candidate for such a unity campaign. "They're too smart to ask, and I'm too smart to say 'yes,'" Daniels told POLITICO in an interview when asked whether he was weighing a third-party bid on behalf of the organization. That Daniels, who famously eschews political labels like "conservative" or "liberal," would sidestep entreaties from a political outfit that calls itself No Labels as a potential candidate is another sign of the difficulty the group might have in fielding credible candidates. As a Republican who once proposed the idea of a social truce as he explored a 2012 presidential run, he cuts the profile of the kind of less-rancor, more substance candidate the group hopes to attract. As for the conversations hes had with the group, Daniels said it was not any direct engagement" but, rather, conversations roughly a month ago with a few of the organizations backers. But the idea of a marriage between him and No Labels has been the topic of some buzz. In a recent column, Nate Feltman, the publisher of the Indianapolis Business Journal and Daniels' former state commerce secretary, floated Daniels as the groups presidential candidate. No Labels said earlier this month that they would field a candidate for a third-party presidential ticket by Super Tuesday if the choices were former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. A spokesperson for No Labels did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Daniels defended No Labels from attacks from the left that they were merely a spoiler ticket hamstringing Biden's reelection campaign. "The flack they're taking from the left end of the political spectrum makes me more sympathetic to them," Daniels said. "It's not surprising because the left is authoritarian to the point of being tyrannical. Let's not hear any more about voter suppression out of people trying to squash somebody's right to even get out of the ballot." Story continues Daniels, who decided against a Senate run in January, also took a different tack from fellow former Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who, as a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, recently called No Labels' mission a "fool's errand." "I don't buy that this is Mission Impossible," said Daniels, the 74-year-old former political director to former President Ronald Reagan. "I know the history of third-party candidacies. That's all true. But if a person can't see that we're in a sui generis situation here I mean, a huge majority of people that don't want the likely two candidates, and those two candidates being well, I'll let you fill in the blank but we've never seen one 80-year-old candidate let alone two, with all the doubts that come with that." Daniels, who is friendly with No Labels ally Joe Manchin and occasionally runs into the senator at his vacation spot at The Greenbrier Resort said he had not spoken with the West Virginia Democratic since he talked with him about seeking a Senate piece. Daniels demurred when asked whether he would vote for a No Labels ticket, saying I dont have anything to say about that. Daniels, a meticulous writer who is at work on his second book a collection of his commencement speeches as former president of Purdue University and his Washington Post columns expected out later this fall did say that he told the group's backers that he had some notes about their name. "That was an appropriate name for the original mission," Daniels said. "It's not that banner you'd want to fly under if it comes to that [launching a presidential ticket.] You're going to want a signature of where you want to take the country something that connotes unity or moving the country forward." Mitch McConnell abruptly stops speaking during a press conference on July 25, 2023. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Mitch McConnell abruptly stopped speaking at the beginning of a press conference on Wednesday. He was quickly whisked away from the podium by other senators and aides. McConnell later returned, assuring reporters that he felt "fine" and could do his job. At the beginning of Senate Republicans' weekly press conference on Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell abruptly stopped speaking, and was eventually escorted away by other senators and an aide. He began his remarks by saying that the Senate was "on a path to finishing" consideration of the annual defense authorization bill, noting that there had "been good bipartisan cooperation, and a string of..." before trailing off and staring straight ahead for several seconds. "Are you good, Mitch?" Sen. Joni Ernst asked McConnell. "Anything else you want to say, or should we just go back to your office?" asked Sen. John Barrasso, who then helped McConnell off to the side as Sen. John Thune, the caucus whip, began making remarks. McConnell, 81, later returned to the podium and took questions from reporters, where he was asked by CNN's Manu Raju to address the incident and whether it had anything to do with a concussion he suffered earlier this year after falling at an event in Washington. "I'm fine," McConnell tersely replied, answering in the affirmative when asked if he was able to fully do his job. Reached for comment, an aide to the Kentucky senator said that McConnell stepped away because he "felt light headed," but argued that he was "sharp" when he returned to take questions. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday evening, McConnell said President Joe Biden called to check on him after the incident. Story continues "The President called to check up on me and I told him I got sandbagged," McConnell said, referring to when Biden tripped and fell over a small sandbag onstage at the Air Force graduation earlier this year. McConnell ignored specific questions from reporters inquiring about what exactly happened to him when he froze, insisting once again, "I'm fine." July 26, 2023: This story has been updated with McConnell's comments to reporters later Wednesday evening. Read the original article on Business Insider Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was escorted away from a lectern by Republican colleagues during a Wednesday press conference after taking an unusually long pause. The GOP leader was giving an opening statement during a press conference when he abruptly stopped speaking and stood silently for several seconds. McConnell, 81, appeared to be unable to start talking again as other senators helped him move away from the lectern. This episode comes after he was hospitalized in March for a concussion he suffered from a fall at a hotel in Washington. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., center, is helped by, from left, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, after the 81-year-old GOP leader froze at the microphones as he arrived for a news conference, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 26, 2023. McConnell went to his office for a few minutes and returned to speak with reporters. It also comes at a time when the age of U.S. leaders has become more magnified amid President Joe Biden's reelection and Sen. Diane Feinstein's hiatus until May from Congress. In Congress, the average House member is roughly 58 years old and the average senator is about 65 years old, according to the Pew Research Center. The average American is about 39, Census data show. When McConnell returned to the lectern a reporter asked if he would address what happened and if it was related to his previous injury.No, Im fine, he said. Asked if hes able to able do his job, the senator, first elected in 1984, said yes. A McConnell aide, who asked for anonymity in order to speak candidly, told USA TODAY the the Kentucky Republican, "felt light headed and stepped away for a moment."When he came back to the press conference, McConnell was "sharp" the aide pointed out. After McConnell returned to the presser, he answered four questions about Hunter Biden's plea deal; the possibility of the House impeaching President Biden; Alabama redrawing its congressional maps and the Senate appropriations bill without incident. When asked if he has anyone in mind to replace him when he is no longer the leader of the GOP conference, McConnell smiled and laughed as he walked away, without answering. A deeper look: Mitch McConnell and when it becomes OK to talk about someone's personal health issues This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mitch McConnell escorted away from news conference: What we know Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze during his opening remarks at the weekly Senate Republican press conference on Wednesday, seemingly unable to speak. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who is also a physician, approached him and spoke quietly with him, and the two walked away from the podium. The top Senate Republican eventually returned to handle questions, but not before arousing the concern of his colleagues. A McConnell aide later said he "felt lightheaded and stepped away for a moment." McConnell, 81, was discussing the Senate's progress on the National Defense Authorization Act when he ceased speaking. Barrasso asked him, "You OK, Mitch?" He asked if the Republican leader wanted to return to his office and helped McConnell away from the podium. Sen. John Thune, the second-highest ranking Republican in the Senate, took over the press conference. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell / Credit: CBS News When McConnell returned to the podium a short time later, reporters asked what happened, and whether his sudden break in his remarks was related to his injury earlier this year, when he suffered a concussion from a fall. "I'm fine," the top Senate Republican responded. "You're fine? You're fully able to do your job," a reporter asked. "Yeah," McConnell replied. Briefly addressing reporters outside his office Wednesday night, McConnell disclosed that he received a call from President Biden. "Well, the president called to check on me, and I told him I got sandbagged," McConnell said. This was in reference to Mr. Biden having tripped over a sandbag while on stage for a commencement ceremony last month at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. When asked how he was feeling, he again responded, "I'm fine." Following the incident, Barrasso also said he went back to McConnell's office to make sure he was OK, but believes McConnell is fine, since he returned and took questions. He said he had some concerns after McConnell's fall, but the Senate minority leader continues to do a "great job" leading the conference. Story continues "I'm a doctor, I'm just not his doctor," Barrasso told reporters. "He answered questions, and he was fine." Still, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley said he wants to know "what went wrong" at the press conference. McConnell's fellow Senate Republicans said he should remain the GOP leader. McConnell, a polio survivor, has served in the Senate since 1985. NFL will expand punishments for sexual misconduct, report says French nationals to be evacuated from Niger as sensitive post-coup situation continues Zoo in China insists this bear is real and not a human in a suit Mitch McConnell appeared briefly unable to continue speaking and was escorted away from a SenateRepublican press conference on Wednesday, before returning moments later. The scene occurred as Republicans held their last weekly press briefing before the August recess, and discussed remaining business including the chambers effort to pass a defense spending bill before the holiday begins. Mr McConnell was seen freezing at the podium for several seconds before a number of senators including Joni Ernst of Iowa approached him and encouraged him to step away. He did so, only to come back a few minutes later, and refused to elaborate on what had just occurred. Flag: McConnell just stopped abruptly during his opening statement during the gop leadership presser and appeared to be unable to restart talking. He then stepped away and walked away with Barrasso: pic.twitter.com/f1kFUjggzm Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) July 26, 2023 Can you address what happened here at the start of the press conference? Was it related to your injury from earlier this year when you suffered a concussion? asked CNNs Manu Raju. Im fine, responded the senator. Youre fine? Youre fully able to do your job? Raju asked in response, to which the minority leader replied: Yeah. The Independent has reached out to Mr McConnells office for further information about the episode. The 81-year-old McConnell returned to the Senate in March after suffering a fall that caused a concussion. He also continues to walk with a limp, a residual issue caused by his battle with polio at a young age. Mr McConnells freezing at the press conference is likely to be looked at with scrutiny given the renewed interest in the issues presented by the increasingly advanced ages of many of the members of the upper chamber of Congress. Sen Dianne Feinstein of California, in particular, has been the subject of intense criticism on the manner as many have argued that the senator, who often appears confused in interactions with reporters and staff, is no longer up to serving. Sen. John Barrasso and Sen. Mitch McConnell During Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnells weekly press conference in Washington, D.C., Wednesday afternoon, he appeared to suffer a medical incident that left him temporarily unable to speak. A few words into McConnells conversation about the Department of Defense funding bill, he paused for a lengthy time midsentence, requiring others to intervene. This week [theres] been good bipartisan cooperation in a string of uhh, McConnell began before stopping to speak and looking off into the distance with a vacant stare and not blinking. For nearly 23 seconds, McConnell and fellow Republican Senate leaders lined up behind him and stood silently as it became clear that the senator was unwell and clearly in distress. (@) Hey Mitch, Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso said as he stepped up to the GOP leader and grabbed his wrist to get his attention. Anything else you want to say, or should we just go back to your office? he asked McConnell, who appeared confused by the question. Do you want to say anything else to the press? McConnell glanced at Barrasso and turned, seemingly indicating he wanted to step away. After stepping aside, McConnell was escorted out of public view. The press conference continued with North Dakota Sen. John Thune taking over for McConnell, who had retreated to his nearby office with staff assistance. Twelve minutes after the episode began, McConnell returned to the press conference and was asked if the incident had anything to do with his injury earlier this year. In response, McConnell said, Im fine. Yeah, he replied when asked if he could still perform his duties. McConnell continued the press conference, responding to questions. The incident sparked alarm by observers who opined that it appeared McConnell showed signs of a stroke or a seizure. Though the episode was difficult to watch and alarmed those who observed it, nobody called 911 or sought emergency medical care, leading to online criticism of the situation. Story continues In April, McConnell returned to work after a six-week absence after falling in a Washington, D.C., luxury hotel. He suffered both a concussion and a fractured rib. McConnell spent time in inpatient rehab before returning to the Hill. According to McConnells aides, McConnell felt lightheaded after Wednesday's incident and took a moment off but was sharp when he returned to answer questions. Asked by reporters following the incident, the Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, of New York, responded to a question about what happened to the Kentucky Republican. I always wish Leader McConnell well, Schumer said. Initially elected to the Senate in 1985, McConnell has led the Republican Party in the chamber since 2007. A Cole County judge on Wednesday said that a lawsuit accusing Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft of crafting a misleading ballot summary for a proposed initiative petition to restore abortion rights in the state was not ready to be argued in court. The order from Judge Jon Beetem was largely procedural, stating that the ACLU of Missouri had filed the suit before Ashcroft, a Republican who is running for governor in 2024, had officially certified the measure. Beetem will allow the ACLU to file a new lawsuit and has scheduled another hearing for next week. Ashcroft, in a statement provided by his office, touted the ruling. We applaud the court for dismissing these frivolous lawsuits that were filed prior to the initiative petition language being certified by my office, he said. Tom Bastian, a spokesperson for the ACLU of Missouri, said the group would file an amended complaint on Thursday. Despite the Secretary of States request to toss our challenges to his deceptive ballot summary statement, the court kept our case on track, he said. We will amend our filings tomorrow and see the Secretary in court next week. The lawsuit accused the Republican of crafting a misleading and unfair summary that would encourage Missourians to vote against the ballot measure. Ashcrofts language, in part, would ask voters to allow for dangerous, unregulated, and unrestricted abortions. The civil liberties group proposed its own ballot summary for the petition. It, in part, would ask voters to establish the right to reproductive freedom that includes the right to make decisions about reproductive health care, including prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care, and respectful birthing conditions. The ruling illustrates another roadblock erected by Republicans to fight against the proposed ballot measure, which seeks to ask voters in 2024 to repeal the states near-total ban on abortion. It comes less than a week after the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey overstepped his authority when he refused to accept the ballot measure unless it included a projected loss of billions of dollars to the state. The ruling forced Bailey to approve a set of fiscal notes for the ballot measure and send them to fellow Republican Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatricks office sent the estimates to Ashcrofts office on Friday. The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) passes by the smoke from a suspected pirate skiff it disabled March 31, 2010 in the Gulf of Aden. Photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Cassandra Thompson/U.S. Navy via Getty Images Modern day piracy is alive and well on the open seas. A recent Navy seizure notice shed light on the litany of illegal goods being trafficked. "As long as ships go to sea, there's gonna be piracy," a retired Navy admiral told Insider. Today's seafaring smugglers may have traded the swashbuckling swordplay of yesteryear for modern-day missiles and mines, but piracy remains alive and well on the open seas. "Somewhere in the world today, there's a pirate event," Terry McKnight, a retired Rear Admiral in the US Navy, told Insider. A government seizure notice filed in court earlier this month helped shed light on the present-day loot these smugglers often traffic. The United States Naval Forces Central Command in its seizure notice included a series of striking photos showcasing thousands of weapons and nearly 800,000 rounds of ammunition seized from four vessels sailing in international waters in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea in 2021 and 2023. Government officials believe the 10,000 rifles, nearly 200 rocket launchers, and piles of ammunition were part of an Iranian smuggling operation to support rebel forces in the Yemen Republic amid an ongoing civil war. Weapons smuggling across international waters is nothing new, and in fact, pirate attacks are generally on the decline, with 2022 seeing the lowest number of piracy incidents since 1994, according to a report from International Maritime Bureau. But McKnight, who was the first commander of an international anti-piracy task force, said the problem of piracy is unlikely to ever be entirely eradicated. "As long as ships go to sea, there's gonna be piracy," he said. The 'wild, wild West' on the open seas McKnight, who oversaw Combined Task Force 151 for five months in 2009, said the multinational counter-piracy task force was created to address the increasing issue of maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia that exploded in the mid-to-late aughts. Story continues These "pirates" would capture vessels in international waters and bring them back into territorial waters the seas up to 12 miles surrounding a sovereign state in which no other authorities have jurisdiction to avoid being apprehended, McKnight said. The Gulf of Aden, located between Yemen to the north and Somalia to the south, became a prime piracy spot amid the surge thanks to its status as a massive trade route that sees more than 20,000 merchant ships pass through each year. A map of the Gulf of Aden. Getty Images "It's the wild, wild West out there. There are hundreds of dhows either smuggling arms, drugs, or people," McKnight said, referring to the narrow ships that often operate without an identification signal. Rampant drug trafficking throughout the Gulf of Aden has spawned a biting nickname for the waterway the hash highway and weapons are often carried from Africa to Yemen on its seas, McKnight said. "It's like trying to pick a needle out of a haystack," he said of apprehending traffickers. Boarding parties can bring danger The process of intercepting illegal goods on the open ocean is a laborious one, McKnight said. Citing his own experience commanding the still operational anti-piracy task force, McKnight said officials will usually go after a vessel only after they have sufficient intelligence suggesting the ship is carrying illegal items. Then, they watch and wait. Authorities will track these dhows, sometimes for days, McKnight said, as they hug the coastline. But the moment they exit territorial waters and make for the open seas, maritime officials are ready to apprehend them, he said. A Naval search and seizure team from the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio and U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team 91104 dispose of bags of illegal narcotics aboard a drug smuggling vessel October 15, 2009 in the Gulf of Aden. Photo by Matthew Bash/U.S. Navy via Getty Images Next comes the boarding party, McKnight said. Officials deal with both compliant and non-compliant boardings depending on whether the vessel's inhabitants agree to be boarded. Only Naval Special Warfare forces can conduct a non-compliant boarding, given the dangerous nature of the interaction, McKnight said. Even compliant boardings carry real risk though; a stray seaman could always be waiting below deck, ready to pounce, McKnight said. "It's not for the faint of heart," he told Insider. But in many cases, the people on these dhows are simply hired to transport the goods, McKnight said. Sometimes they know what they're carrying, other times, they're unaware. "They don't care what they are transporting, could be rugs, drugs, or guns," he added. And when maritime officials do encounter a "jackpot" like the weapons seizure documented in this month's Navy court documents, government leaders can't help but show off their treasures. "There's no doubt that someone wanted to send a message," McKnight said of the deck photo shoot. Read the original article on Business Insider URUMQI, July 26 (Xinhua) -- With a loud train whistle echoing through the air, a freight train loaded with more than 260 new energy vehicles (NEVs) slowly pulled out of the Horgos Port in northwest China, and prepared to head to Uzbekistan. In the first half of this year, a total of 18,000 NEVs were exported through the Horgos Port in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, mostly via China-Europe freight trains, marking a 3.9-fold increase compared to the previous year, the Horgos Customs said. "The China-Europe freight train has provided us with a new pathway for exporting automobiles," said Li Ruikang, manager of Sino-Worlink Special Cargo Railway Logistics Co., Ltd. Li added that 25 percent of the vehicles exported by his company are through railway transportation, with the efficient customs clearance process being a crucial factor in their decision to utilize the China-Europe freight train. Based on vehicle type, weight, dimensions and other details, relevant facilitation measures for customs clearance have been formulated by the Horgos Customs, significantly reducing clearance time and lowering costs for car manufacturers. Currently, the majority of automobiles transported through the Horgos Port, one of China's closest ports to Central Asia and Europe by land transport, come from provincial-level regions such as Chongqing, Sichuan and Guangdong, destined for countries along the Belt and Road, including Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The China-Europe freight train service that started operations in 2011 has offered a secure and reliable channel between Asia and Europe, transporting a variety of goods ranging from IT products and automobiles to wines and coffee beans. An increasing number of NEV exporters are turning to China-Europe freight train service due to its stable and smooth transportation environment, multiple routes and stops, said Lyu Wangsheng, an official from Horgos Customs. In January, a freight train carrying 50 NEVs departed south China's Guangzhou metropolis for Europe. It's the first China-Europe freight train departing from Guangdong Province that is exclusively for Chinese-made NEVs. Guangzhou Customs has opened a green channel for NEV exports to ensure smooth logistics and supply chains. As global pressure to reduce carbon emissions and energy crises intensify, many countries are embracing policies that support the adoption of NEVs. Leveraging its industrial chain advantages, China's export of new energy vehicles has witnessed significant growth. In the first half of 2023, China exported 534,000 NEVs, expanding 160 percent from a year earlier, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed. Embassy of Russia in Chisinau The Moldovan government has announced that the number of accredited diplomats and "technical and administrative" staff working at the Russian Embassy in Chisinau will be reduced from 84 to 25, according to Daniel Voda, a spokesperson for Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean, Deschide.MD reported on July 26. "We can announce that the number of diplomatic posts has been reduced to 10 and the number of technical staff to 15," Voda said. This was a principal decision that the Chisinau authorities conveyed to the representative of the Russian Federation this morning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Later, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry said that Chisinau's decision is the result of numerous unfriendly actions against the Republic of Moldova, as well as attempts to destabilize the internal situation in the country. Read also: Russia wants to use Moldova against Ukraine, President Sandu warns According to the diplomatic note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed over to the Russian side during the meeting, the decision of the Moldovan authorities should be implemented by Aug. 15. Earlier, Moldova decided to reduce the number of diplomats at the Russian Embassy in Chisinau. This happened after Jurnal TV and The Insider published an investigation in which they established that Russian special services were monitoring the Moldovan authorities through antennas on the roof of the Russian embassy. The report noted that the movement on the roof is especially frequent ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections or visits of foreign delegations to Moldova. After that, Russian Ambassador to Chisinau Oleg Vasnetsov was summoned to the Moldovan Foreign Ministry to explain the situation. Read also: Moldova joins international Russia tribunal initiative, FM Kuleba says 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 Moldova has summoned the Russian ambassador in Chisinau after a media report surfaced alleging the embassy installed spying devices on its rooftop, according to the Moldovan foreign ministry. It comes after the Insider media outlet and Moldovas Jurnal TV reported this week after a joint investigation that 28 satellite dishes and other communication devices had been installed on the Russian embassys rooftop and a neighboring residential building used by embassys staff. The Moldovan foreign ministry in close coordination with other competent institutions, is analyzing the nature and extent of these espionage actions, including the activity of the persons mentioned in the investigation, in order to respond appropriately and promptly to the situation, the ministry said in a statement. We consider absolutely unacceptable any acts of espionage and foreign interference in the internal affairs of the Republic of Moldova, which represent a direct challenge to the sovereignty and national security of our state, it added. Moscows ambassador in Chisinau Oleg Vasnetsov was summoned on Tuesday to provide clarifications and explanations on the situation, the ministry said. Depending on further developments, the Moldovan authorities will consider several options for a response, it concluded. CNN has contacted the Russian embassy in Chisinau for comment on the spying allegations and the summoning of their ambassador but is yet to hear back. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A Milwaukee mother plans to fight allegations she allowed her two sons to wander the south side naked and covered in feces. Katie Koch, 34, faces charges of chronic neglect of a child, false imprisonment and neglecting a child. Her bond was set at $30,000; she remained in custody at the Milwaukee County Jail on Wednesday. Koch's live-in boyfriend, Joel Manke, 38, is charged with chronic neglect of a child and false imprisonment. Manke previously posted a $6,500 bond and is out of jail. They each pleaded not guilty to the charges during a preliminary hearing Wednesday at Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Koch's sons, ages 7 and 9, have been placed into protective custody. Judge Jeffrey A. Wagner rejected Manke's request to dismiss the case. Authorities have described the home Koch and Manke kept as 'something out of a horror movie' Calls poured into police dispatchers on July 13 reporting two children seen walking on South 71st Street. They were naked, bruised and covered in feces, callers reported, according to a July 16 criminal complaint. Neighbors directed police to a home on the block where, inside, the living space was saturated in trash and human waste. Feces were smeared all over the walls of the boys' room. "It was something out of a horror movie," Milwaukee County assistant district attorney Mallory Davis said during a July 17 hearing in Intake Court. "These children were essentially confined to their room for much of their lives." Possible penalties A conviction of chronic neglect of a child in Wisconsin is punishable of up to 15 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. It is considered a Class-E felony. False imprisonment, a Class-H felony, carries a penalty of six years in prison and a fine of $10,000. Koch and Manke face two counts of each charge. Koch also was charged with two counts of neglecting a child, both Class-A misdemeanors that carry a maximum of nine months imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. Story continues More: Stalked and terrified, she turned to the justice system. What happened left her feeling more unsafe. Next steps in the case A court commissioner and a judge found there's enough evidence to bind Koch and Manke over for trial. Each of them must attend an Aug. 10 scheduling hearing for attorneys and the judge to map out the next steps in the case. A trial date hasn't been set. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee mom pleads not guilty to 'horror movie' child neglect A mom and daughter were found dead in a river days after they went missing, Kentucky authorities say. Bonnie Mayes, 80, and her 59-year-old daughter, Reginia Payne, had last been seen just after midnight on Saturday, July 22, leaving a Sonic restaurant in Owensboro, according to authorities. The Sonic worker who served the mother and daughter told WEHT nothing was out of the ordinary when they came to the restaurant. Mayes and Payne were supposed to go back to Riverside Care and Rehabilitation Center, a health care facility in Calhoun where Mayes reportedly stayed, according to the McLean County Sheriffs Office. But they never arrived. Daviess County authorities said their Toyota Highlander was discovered Tuesday in the Green River in Webster County, about 35 miles southwest of the Sonic. Mayes and Payne were found dead in the vehicle, deputies said. Their deaths are believed to be accidental, according to McLean County authorities. Family members said Mayes had advanced dementia. This is a very difficult time for our Signature HealthCARE family as our residents and their loved ones become our family and a tightly knit community, Riverside Care said in a statement to WFIE. Any loss is simply devastating to us all. Our pain cannot compare to those of the families of our beloved resident, and we cannot begin to resolve their loss. For that, we are truly saddened. College student missing for month found dead in Ohio quarry, family says. Devastated Woman vanishes after slipping and falling in Vermont river, cops say. Body now found Mom and daughter dead, baby missing after Pennsylvania flood sweeps SC family, cops say Park | Paul Vinten | Dreamstime.com The Tucson mom found guilty of neglect for letting her 7-year-old son play at the park has finally had her name removed from Arizona's Central Registry, a government blacklist of unfit parents that is maintained by the Department of Child Safety (DCS). While this is obviously a victory for the momand for common sensethe constitutional rights of countless other people are still at stake. The appeal by Sarra (whose full name is being withheld to protect her identity) was handled by the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) and the Goldwater Institute, two nonprofit organizations that help defend individual rights. They argued that Arizona's actions were unconstitutional. "But instead of responding to this brief, DCS decided to just permanently remove Sarra's name from the list," says Adi Dynar, an attorney at the PLF. "We suspect they didn't want this kind of ruling on the books, because that affects the other 81,000 names." Perhaps the state thought it was better to lose one battle than to deal with an army of parents demanding justice. The case against Sarra was this: In November 2020, as COVID-19 raged, she let her son and his friend, age 5, play at the park while she shopped for a Thanksgiving turkey. This seemed prudent. The grocery was asking shoppers not to bring in kids, and the park was one that Sarra had played in herself as a child, about five blocks from the store. What's more, a friend happened to be teaching a tai chi class there. After about 20 minutes, the friend called Sarra about a police officer who was talking to her son. When Sarra arrived at the park, the officer told her that she had committed negligence by leaving the kids alone, even for a short length of time in a safe, public place. County prosecutors dropped all charges after Sarra agreed to take a "life skills" class. (Said class included advice on how to avoid angering a cop; truly, a worthwhile life skill.) But the folks at the DCS were not as easily appeased. Story continues The agency ruled that Sarra had put her son at "unreasonable risk of harm for abduction, injury, harm from a stranger, exposure to drugs and death." That meant Sarra's name would go on Arizona's Central Registryand remain there for 25 years. Employers can access this registry, which essentially functions as a blacklist. People whose names are on the registry cannot get jobs involving children. This was a big problem for Sarra, who worked with refugees, helping them to find jobs and often providing child care. Sarra took the Central Registry to court. I testified on her behalf, as a subject-matter expert. When the state argued that Sarra's son could have been abducteda huge talking point for themI asked the prosecutor if she knew how long it would take for a child to become statistically likely to be kidnapped by a stranger. The answer: 750,000 years. Nevertheless, Sarra lost out, and her name was added to the Central Registry. That's when the PLF and Goldwater Institute swooped in to help her with an appeal. They drew up a brief arguing that the case against Sarra was unconstitutional because the court used a low standard of proof despite the high stakes. The DCS is allowed to operate off of "probable cause" rather than a "preponderance of evidence" standard for placement on the registry. Typically, "probable cause" is reserved for the opening of an investigation, not the determination of guilt. The Goldwater Institute and the PLF also argued that the agency's system for determining guilt was manifestly unfair. The DCS brings the case against a parent, and if the parent is found guilty, they can then appeal, as Sarra did, to an administrative law judge. But if they're found guilty and want to appeal again, the next hearing is in front of the director of the DCS. Ultimately, the department ends up adjudicating itself. "This means no judge, no jury, no nothing," says Dynar. Thankfully, a new director took over the DCS at the start of 2023. This change in administration became the ostensible reason the agency dropped its case against Sarra. But her attorneys aren't buying it. "Although we argued that the department was merely trying to escape a decision on the constitutionality of its actionssomething that is not usually allowedthe Superior Court judge agreed to let the department abandon the lawsuit," writes Timothy Sandefur, vice president of legal affairs at the Goldwater Institute. "Obviously our hope was that we would have had a ruling from the court on the constitutional aspects of the case," says Dynar. Without that, the DCS is free to return to business as usual. The post Mom Who Let Child Play at a Park Finally Removed From Unfit Parent Registry appeared first on Reason.com. Senator John Barrasso (L) reaches out to help Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell after McConnell froze and stopped talking during a news conference (Drew Angerer) Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell sparked health concerns Wednesday when he appeared to physically seize up at a press conference in Congress. McConnell, 81, froze in mid-sentence and stood motionless at a microphone for about 20 seconds before aides and fellow senators walked him away. But the veteran Kentucky politician returned several minutes later and told reporters "I'm fine" before taking questions on various political issues. McConnell has been the top Republican in the US Senate since 2007, and wielded unflinching power as Senate majority leader from 2015 to 2021. In that role he stifled policies of the Democratic administration of president Barack Obama and bolstered Republican president Donald Trump when he took office in January 2017. He most notably helped engineer conservatives taking a majority on the Supreme Court by stalling a hearing for Obama's progressive appointed nominee in 2016. He also ensured that Trump was not convicted at trial after his unprecedented two impeachments, though he was critical of Trump's behavior. In March McConnell was hospitalized after he tripped and fell during a private dinner. He suffered a concussion and a fractured rib, and spent six weeks away from the Senate, undergoing physical therapy. The incident Wednesday highlighted the challenge of the aging leadership in the US Congress. Three other senators are older than McConnell, including Republican Chuck Grassley, 89, and Democrat Dianne Feinstein, who is 90. Another two-dozen senators are 70 or older. Age is also a central issue in the looming 2024 presidential battle: incumbent Joe Biden is 80 while Republican front-runner Donald Trump is 77. pmh/tjj A monster fish recently pulled from a lake in northwestern Arkansas far outweighs the current state record but it wont be recognized, officials say. Someone spotted the massive creature floating near the surface of Beaver Lake, jumped into the water and swam out to rescue it, the state Game and Fish Commission said in a July 22 Facebook post. It turned out the pre-historic fish was injured, officials said, adding that it appears to have been hit by a boat propeller which severed its spine. The paddlefish was hauled to shore and its measurements were taken, officials said. It measured 6 feet, 3 inches long and weighed 165 pounds, according to officials, outweighing the state paddlefish record by roughly 47 pounds. The current record paddlefish, caught in 2020, weighed 118 pounds and 9 ounces, state records show. Though the recent capture is far heavier, it wont count as a new record. The fish is not an official state record because it was not caught with a rod and reel, officials said. It is still a fish of a lifetime. Its not clear what became of the fish after it was weighed and measured, but McClatchy News has reached out to the commission for more information. Paddlefish are the oldest living animal species in North America, with fossil records dating back further than 300 million years, according to wildlife experts. They can be found in rivers and reservoirs across much of the U.S. Determined diver works to free large shark tangled in reef off Florida, video shows Shadow lurking under paddleboarder was great white shark, California video shows Fishermen wrestle catfish from Texas lake with bare hands. See the monster catch Bright blue buttons washing up on Texas coast, photos show. But dont press them Brian Wing still has the video on his phone. After a domestic dispute, a front door video camera captured the moment a young man was hit by a fleeing car while he leaned his body halfway out a window. Hours later, the man was still laying there. The young man lays there, right there in the middle of the road, for three hours even longer, said Wing, a member of the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council. No officer shows up, no ambulance shows up, nothing. He just lays there. In a different hit-and-run incident last year, the only officer on duty was called to the southern end of the Fort Belknap reservation in north central Montana, not far from the Canadian border. The reservation itself is immense 1,042 square miles in Montanas vast, lightly populated plains. The officer responding to the hit-and-run was stationed some 40 minutes away from the incident, said Gary LaMere, a supervisory criminal investigator in Fort Belknap. Alone, the officer identified the crime scene, the victim and a potential suspect, all while assisting the ambulance. But he did not test the suspects blood alcohol levels, eventually causing the department to lose its case against them, according to LaMere. This is a case where I believe we lost the evidence because it was only one officer on [duty], LaMere said. Such tragedies are not uncommon for residents of the Fort Belknap Indian Community, local leaders told The Hill. For nearly 30 years, funding for the communitys police force has remained relatively unchanged, and requests to the U.S. government for additional funds since 2018 have been largely denied. Limited resources have made it more challenging for tribal officers to protect the community, increasing danger and distrust, the leaders said. The Montana reservation sued the U.S. government in October after it was denied a request for $5.3 million in funding, which was an increase of $3.8 million. Theyve been neglecting us for over 23 years; weve exhausted all options, said Geno LeValdo, a member of the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council. Story continues They just dont seem like they care, he said. Fort Belknap is far from the only reservation that says it is suffering from such problems. The Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in southeastern Montana sued the DOI and BIA last July, claiming the U.S. government is not abiding by its treaty obligation to provide adequate law enforcement services. The Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota sued the administration, too. We think that this problem exists not just at Fort Belknap it exists all over, said Terryl Matt, a lawyer representing the Fort Belknap Indian Community. So if Fort Belknap can make a change for all Indians in the United States, that would be great. The United States, the Department of the Interior (DOI), Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and officials from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), which maintains the relationship between the U.S. and tribal governments and facilitates support for the tribes, were named as defendants in the Fort Belknap complaint. The DOI declined to answer questions for this story. The BIA and White House did not respond to requests for comment. Following the money In Indian Country, residents are served by tribal law enforcement or the BIA. BIA officers view themselves as federal officers, where tribal law enforcement is more akin to local police, according to Jeff Stiffarm, president of the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council. The Biden administrations budget for fiscal 2023 included a $2.8 billion investment in BIA programs, with $562.1 million directed toward public safety and justice programs. That figure includes $282.4 million for boots on-the-ground police services. But those funds and others havent trickled down to tribal law enforcement, the leaders said. We dont know where their money is going, said Matt. So thats why we have the lawsuit. Fort Belknaps current budget pays a fraction of comparable BIA positions, according to the lawsuit. A chief of police in the reservation is paid 50 percent of a BIA police chief, and six of Fort Belknaps seven officers are paid 70 percent of a BIA officers salary, the lawsuit alleges. LaMere, a Fort Belknap resident, served as law enforcement for the Fort Belknap community and several tribes overseen by the BIA. In a federal affidavit submitted on Fort Belknaps behalf, LaMere said the communitys law enforcement funding is barely enough to provide the most basic law enforcement services. Some 3,100 people reside within Fort Belknap and receive tribal law enforcement services across more than 637,000 acres, LaMere said in the sworn statement. The community has received about $1.2 million in total law enforcement funding each year since 1997, he said. But as police chief for the Mescalero Apache Tribe in New Mexico where law enforcement, run by the BIA, serves about the same number of residents across its 463,000 acres LaMeres budget for personnel alone was more than $2 million, he said. We had enough patrol officers [at the BIA] to where we could do things proactively, LaMere said in an interview. Here at Fort Belknap, it just seems like were barely catching up like were always behind. Stiffarm told The Hill that requests to the BIA for more money since 2018 have been met with one-time funding, not adjustments to their yearly budget. More from The Hill I called it hush money Heres your money; shut up and go away, Stiffarm said. Without additional funds, the Fort Belknap leaders say they cannot hire for positions like victim specialist, program specialist, drug investigator, K-9 officer and drug dog, school resource officer or special agent for missing and murdered indigenous persons, according to the lawsuit. Each of those positions would help the community provide adequate and modern law enforcement services, the lawsuit claims. Do your damn job The consequences have been dire for Fort Belknap residents, most of whom have been personally failed by local law enforcement, the leaders said. Matts stepson died at 18 years old after a high school dance, freezing to death when friends kicked him out of their car, she said. Stiffarms son died at the same age; the reservation leader suspected foul play. Though both said they sought further investigation by law enforcement, they were denied. I told them I dont want your condolences. I dont want your pity. I want you to do your damn job, Stiffarm said. Still never happened. And my story is the same as everybody elses back home. Living on an Indian reservation, when there is a death that involves criminal activity off the reservation, it would be investigated. On the reservation, theres no resources to invest in it, Matt said. Thats why were here. We want this changed. Tribal law enforcements limited funding also increases their risk on the job, the leaders said. In a federal affidavit submitted with the communitys complaint, Stiffarm said he regularly paroled the entire reservation by himself when working in law enforcement. If he needed back-up, other officers were often off-duty and nearly an hour away, he said. What happens there is people start losing faith: Theyre never going to respond, why bother? Stiffarm said. When they stop calling, people start knowing that on the streets. And without proper support, tribal officers face increased burnout resulting in rapid turnover, LeValdo said. I wouldnt want to die for 20 bucks an hour, he said. Calls for Biden administration to act The Biden administration has touted its commitment to Native American communities, including the appointment of Haaland as Secretary of Interior. Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna in New Mexico, is the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary. But those efforts ring hollow without active support, the leaders said. [The administration] must think everythings hunky dory because Secretary Haaland is Native American, when Secretary Haaland has never stepped up to help her own people, Stiffarm said. Matt said that BIA officials have been of little help with requests for additional funding, telling the tribal leaders to lobby Congress, not the agency, for the funds they seek. If thats true you cant help us in any way we dont need you, Matt said. Your job should be gone because theres no use for you. Montana is GOP territory in presidential elections, and Biden lost the state by nearly 100,000 votes to former President Trump in 2020. But he did edge Trump in Blaine County, in part due to voters in Fort Belknap. More than 95 percent of voters in Fort Belknaps precinct also cast ballots for Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) in 2018 when he narrowly won reelection, underscoring their importance to Democrats. The lack of law enforcement funding could have political ramifications for the party, local officials said. As law enforcements limited resources exacerbate crime in the reservation, residents are turning to self-defense. Who has the message out there that were not taking guns? The Republican Party, Matt said. The Republican Party is gaining ground in Indian Country because of that message, and I think its attributable to the fact that theres no law enforcement. In January, the Montana state Legislature heard a joint resolution calling on Congress and the federal government to fully fund law enforcement agencies and services on Montanas tribal reservations, claiming that justice has eluded many Native American victims, survivors and families and that insufficient funding has left many injustices unaddressed. Stiffarm urged Biden to visit the reservation himself to see the impact with his own eyes and hear it from our own peoples voices. Thats the only way I think he would take a good picture of whats really happening in Indian Country, Stiffarm said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Photograph: Amy Toensing/Getty Images The Fort Belknap reservation in Montana has sued the federal government over lack of funding for police resources on the vast, 1,042 sq mile reservation that has undermined the existing police forces ability to provide basic services. The lawsuit was filed in October after a request for $5.3m in funding, a $3.8m increase, was denied. The reservation is home to two Native American tribes, the Assiniboine, or Nakoda, and the Gros Ventre, who refer to themselves as Aaninin or People of the White Clay, with a combined enrollment of 4,000 members. Theyve been neglecting us for over 23 years; weve exhausted all options, Geno LeValdo, a member of the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council, told the Hill. They just dont seem like they care. Other Native American tribes, including the North Cheyenne Tribe on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation and the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, have filed similar lawsuits against the federal government over lack of providing adequate law enforcement services. The North Cheyenne Tribe filed their lawsuit on 18 July, this year. We think that this problem exists not just at Fort Belknap it exists all over, Terryl Matt, a lawyer representing the Fort Belknap Indian Community, told the Hill. So, if Fort Belknap can make a change for all Indians in the United States, that would be great. Matt claimed the lack of funding and resources is enabling the Republican party to gain ground on the reservation, an important voting bloc for the Democratic party as the partys sole US senator in Montana, Jon Tester, is up for re-election in 2024. A joint resolution was heard by the Montana state legislature in January that called on Congress and the federal government to fully fund law enforcement agencies and services on all tribal reservations in Montana. Levels of federal funding for tribal public safety, law enforcement, and tribal courts have consistently remained insufficient to fully fund the necessary public safety activities, noted the resolution. Justice has eluded many Native American victims, survivors, and families, while criminal jurisdiction complexities and insufficient funding have left many injustices unaddressed. Last Wednesday morning, a toddler arrived at the emergency department of UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville with a swollen jaw. When emergency doctor Brandon Allen examined the boy, he discovered the childs teeth had rotted to the point that they were infected and nerves were exposed. He was in a lot of pain, Allen said. Unfortunately, Allen said, children often arrive in his emergency room with painful dental problems that could have been avoided with preventive care. Florida has the highest rate in the country of children going to hospital Emergency Departments for dental care, and the highest average charge for these visits, a new report reveals. More than 17,600 children visited Floridas Emergency Rooms for non-traumatic dental conditions and and additional 3,500 children and adults had to be admitted for life-threatening infections, according to 2021 federal hospital care data compiled by CareQuest Institute, a national nonprofit. We need to have robust access to preventive dental care so people can feel that the emergency department is not their only option, Allen said. In hospitals we dont do extractions. Were not dentists. Were open 24/7 so we are the default for access to care, but by the time they come to the emergency department, its too late when comes to doing anything preventative. The toddler, he said, most likely will need some, if not all, of his teeth removed. Children brought to emergency departments for dental care are more likely to be uninsured or covered by Medicaid and live in lower-income households, CareQuest researchers reported. These children may have Medicaid, but they cant access care, said Dr. Frank Catalanotto, president and founder of Floridians for Dental Access. They cant find dentists who take it, or the wait is too long, or parents have to travel an hour or two to find a dentist who might see them. The new research by CareQuest shows Florida is next to last in the country for children with Medicaid who had a dental visit in 2021, the most recent year for which data is available. Many children in Florida are walking around with rotten teeth, Catalanotto said. Most people dont realize how important this really is. Children do not learn as well when they are in pain. Story continues The most common diagnoses for the Florida children at the time of their emergency department visits were abscesses, dental caries, stomatitis, and chronic gingivitis conditions that are largely preventable with routine oral health care, CareQuest researchers found. Theres nothing for these children in the ER, Catalanotto said. All they get is a prescription for antibiotics and pain medication and they are told to go to a dentist. The relief of antibiotics and pain pills is temporary. In Florida, turning to a hospital ER for dental care is costly. Florida had the highest average charge for emergency department visits, ranging from $1,900 to $2,600 depending on the age of the child, the CareQuest report shows. In Florida, Medicaid covered about 80% of those visits. By contrast, Maryland had the lowest average charge ranging from $600 to $700, depending on the age of the child. In that state, Medicaid covered only 69% of those visits. Dental disease is almost entirely preventable, yet cavities are the leading chronic illness among children in this country, said Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan, president and CEO of CareQuest Institute. Catalanotto said his organization, Floridians for Dental Access, plans to propose solutions to Florida legislators with the hopes they will pass laws or fund new programs to make dental care more affordable and accessible for children. Floridas Department of Health maintains a locator of providers who may offer reduced fees for dental services. And in June, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill that increases the income threshold to qualify for subsidized coverage under the Florida KidCare program, which should give more families coverage. Florida KidCare covers dental, but services may differ with each plan and program. If more Florida children get dental insurance coverage, hopefully they will get a regular source of dental care that they can call even if they have a toothache on the weekend, said Lisa Heaton with CareQuest. Right now, many children likely dont have that. Parents are going to the ER because they dont have anywhere else to go. At UF Health Shands, Allen sees all the factors that result in children arriving at his hospitals with mouths full of decayed teeth and exposed nerves. Those factors, particularly in the low-income population, include lack of teeth brushing, poor access to dentists in their communities, transportation issues, and consumption of sugary drinks. Floridas rankings are disappointing but the report shows there is real opportunity, he said. We are going to need a real investment in oral hygiene for our states pediatric population. ------- RAMALLAH, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian leadership is making efforts to create a broad international front to resume the peace process with Israel, which has been stalled since 2014, said a senior Palestinian official on Tuesday. The resumption of the stalled peace talks with Israel "should be based on implementing the international resolutions and the Arab peace initiative," Majdi Al-Khaldi, a diplomatic advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told the radio station Voice of Palestine. "The Palestinian position is clear and known to all international parties," Al-Khaldi said, referring to Abbas's visits to several countries "to advance the political track and prevent any deterioration." He called for an international front that agrees and coordinates under the umbrella of the United Nations to implement international law by ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. Abbas will also seek, during his current visit to Turkiye and then to Egypt at the end of July, "to strengthen the Arab position to confront these measures taken by Israel," he said. The last direct peace negotiations between Palestine and Israel stopped in 2014 due to differences over the issues of settlement, security, and the recognition of a Palestinian state. The Palestinians wanted to establish an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel on all the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel in 1967, including the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital. DONETSK OBLAST Sixteen months have passed since Halyna Nikiforova's husband went missing on Ukraine's eastern front line. But the 40-year-old Sloviansk native still texts him daily stories about their children. "They were everything to him," Nikiforova said of their 13 and 15-year-old sons. "They've grown up so much this year he wouldn't recognize them." Her husband, Kostiantyn, was already deployed on the Marinka front in Donetsk Oblast when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022. He went missing about a month later, on March 21. The town of Marinka, which had endured war since 2014, saw some of its worst fighting in the early months of the full-scale war. Nikiforova said her last phone call with her husband was a day before he disappeared. She couldn't reach him the next day, so she kept calling until someone finally picked up the phone. But it wasn't her husband who answered. An unknown man, who Nikiforova assumes is a Russian militant judging by his accent, suddenly began yelling on the phone, threatening that she would never see her husband again. "It felt like something tore inside me. Such an intense fear," Nikiforova said. Kostiantyn was not on the list of killed or wounded. Instead, his name was added to Ukraine's growing list of missing soldiers. To this day, Nikiforova has very little information about what may have happened to her husband a fate shared by more and more Ukrainians. Nearly a year-and-a-half into the full-scale war, thousands of relatives are enduring an unbearable wait, not knowing whether their loved ones were killed or captured by Russian forces on the front line. Ukraine doesn't provide the official count of dead, injured, or missing soldiers, with each category believed to be in multiple thousands. Social media in Ukraine are filled with posts from people looking for family members and friends. Desperate to hear anything, relatives have filed hundreds of appeals to the military and various branches of law enforcement, begging them to speed up the search. Story continues Like many others, Nikiforova began her search, as she was frustrated by the lack of information about her husband, with whom she was together for nearly 20 years. She eventually discovered that her husband had been driving an infantry vehicle in a small column on March 21 when Russian artillery targeted them. While his vehicle was the only one that remained undamaged, it seemed that he spotted something and abruptly left the wheel of his vehicle, one of his fellow soldiers told his wife. Nikiforova thinks her husband might have been trying to save wounded soldiers, even though, as a driver, he was not supposed to leave his vehicle. As a former emergency service worker, "it's in his blood" to help others, Nikiforova said. Nikiforova was informed that other service members had seen a video of her husband being captured by the Russians, giving her hope that he might be alive. But she is desperate for a clear answer. "Sometimes it's just unbearable, and I want to cry, but I can't cry because I have to hide it all from our children," Nikiforova said. Viktoriia Tsymbaliuk, a representative of Ukraine's coordination headquarters on the treatment of prisoners of war, told the Kyiv Independent that finding missing soldiers is complicated because the Russian side rarely gives any information. The National Information Bureau, which helps relatives find information about their missing relatives, adds all soldiers who didn't return from combat to its list and waits for the Russian side to confirm their status through the International Red Cross, according to Tsymbaliuk. Russia rarely cooperates. Tsymbaliuk said that there are thousands of Ukrainian soldiers held in dire conditions in Russian captivity without being allowed to talk to their relatives, which violates the Geneva Conventions. According to international humanitarian law, POWs must be allowed to send and receive correspondence. The Russian side isn't returning the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers either, forcing desperate relatives to cling to any hope that their loved ones might still be alive. The unbearable wait Nikiforova's story is not unique. For Kateryna Medvechuk, 27, whose husband also went missing in March 2022, it has taken a toll on her health. She began experiencing heart problems and is about to undergo a third surgery since her husband, Dmytro, went missing. "My heart just couldn't take it all, I'm on medication," Medvechuk said. "I need to make it until he returns." Between hospital visits, Medvechuk never stopped looking for her husband. Even when she was going to the hospital daily, she would go to the draft office after each visit to see if there was any information about Dmytro. Her husband never told her where he was deployed, but she thinks it was either Bakhmut or Marinka in Donetsk Oblast. And while she has filed dozens of appeals to law enforcement and called her husband's commanders and fellow soldiers many times, Medvechuk only knows that he came under Grad rocket fire during a combat mission. "I won't give up, and I'm ready to do everything possible so that he returns sooner," Medvechuk told the Kyiv Independent in her hometown Tetiiv in Kyiv Oblast, where the couple planned to raise children after finishing the reconstruction of their house. "He's all that I have." Marina Fareniuk, 25, whose cousin also disappeared in Marinka in March 2022, admits she is counting on a miracle. Her cousin, then 23-year-old Oleksandr, was severely wounded by tank fire on the noon of March 23, his comrade told Fareniuk. The others had to flee because Russian forces were approaching, so they couldn't evacuate Oleksandr. While Oleksandr's injury was said to be critical, Fareniuk insists that "anything could have happened." She suggested Russian forces might have captured him and given him the medical treatment he needed. A commander proposed that the family go through the courts in order to at least receive a death certificate, but they refused to do so until they saw the body. "I believe that Sasha (short for Oleksandr) is alive, it's possible that he has no memory, and when he remembers who he is, he will return," Fareniuk said. "Or maybe, after all, he will return from (Russian) captivity or from a hospital." "Maybe he is just walking somewhere in a nearby city, I think everything is fine with him... He is somewhere, and we will find him, or he will find us," Fareniuk said. More missing than killed There are thousands of cases like this from every front line, as it's extremely difficult to track what has happened to soldiers who suddenly go missing during a combat mission. From fierce battles near Kreminna, Luhansk Oblast, to fighting in Kherson Oblast in the south, more soldiers go missing as Russia's war rages on. On the Bakhmut front, where the longest and bloodiest battle of Russia's war against Ukraine has raged, multiple Ukrainian soldiers interviewed by the Kyiv Independent said that there are more missing than killed in their battalions. Soldiers usually go missing due to being captured by Russian forces or because their bodies couldn't be evacuated due to fierce fighting especially if the territory fell to Russia. Without a body, it's difficult to assess if a person was killed on the basis of reports from witnesses alone. Read also: Inside Ukraines costly mission to grind down Russia near Bakhmut For Yelizaveta Diachenko, 24, whose cousin Mykyta went missing on June 12 near Bakhmut, the morning starts with checking with volunteers and hospitals to see if there has been any news about him. Diachenko said her cousin, with whom she was very close, was drafted in May and, after a month of training, was deployed near Bakhmut in an assault unit. "Everyone wants victory at someone else's hands it doesn't work like that, I will go," Diachenko remembers Mykyta saying before going to the Donbas. Diachenko says it has been a nightmare trying to piece together what may have happened to Mykyta, with people offering varying accounts or providing no information about what happened on his last assault operation. When Diachenko first called a commander who was with Mykyta during the assault, she was initially told that her cousin was "evacuated, 100 percent," but then he later said that he had gotten mixed up with another soldier, and Mykyta might not have been evacuated. And after some time, the same commander called her in the evening and said Mykyta was "99.99 percent killed," and there was no point in looking for him anymore. "I was in hysterics, and I was crying, all at the same time" when hearing the words for the first time, Diachenko said. But then she said "some inner confidence" grew that Mykyta was still alive, despite the commander's words, and she still expects his return. "We believe that he's in (Russian) captivity. I never thought that we could say this, but I hope that my cousin is in captivity," Diachenko said, shaking from crying. Meanwhile, Natalia Bozhenar, a mother of three who moved from the Russian-occupied Luhansk to Kyiv Oblast, is also desperate to receive official confirmation that her eldest son, Dmytro, is in Russian captivity. She received a Viber video call late at night on March 9, 2022, showing Dmytro in front of a white wall, and she heard a voice behind the camera say, "We will let him go when the war ends." However, Ukrainian law enforcement have told her that the video call cannot be a confirmation of her son's POW status. "I really want him to have the strength, the courage to survive this and return home," Bozhenar said. The mother remembers the fear in her son's voice during brief phone calls in the early days of the full-scale war. Dmytro joined the army in April 2021 at the age of 19 and was deployed in Bakhmut. She remembers his exact words: "People are being killed, adult men are crying." "We love him, and we're waiting for him," Bozhenar said. Legal limbo As of today, nearly half of the Ukrainian soldiers who returned from Russian captivity were considered missing, according to Tsymbaliuk. The authorities have said that over 2,000 have returned home since the start of the full-scale war. However, if the soldiers don't appear on the prisoners-of-war lists provided by Russia, the missing soldiers, their relatives, and the state are stuck in limbo. Relatives of missing soldiers can continue to receive the salary of their loved ones unless their death is confirmed after a body is identified in which a one-time Hr 15 million (about $400,000) state guarantee is offered, according to Tsymbaliuk. She added that they could also receive psychological and legal assistance. For many, this uncertainty of not knowing if the soldiers are dead or alive continues for months. Thirty-two-year-old Kateryna, who is part of an intelligence team deployed on the Bakhmut front, said the procedures are tough for families, and without a body, they can't receive compensation even if a soldier's comrades saw him killed in front of their eyes. "If the body hasn't been evacuated or if there is nobody, then accordingly, there can't be compensation, even though everyone knows where he is and how he was killed," Kateryna said, referring to the one-time state guarantee that relatives of killed soldiers can receive. Read also: Its a lottery: How Ukraines assault brigade counterattacks near Bakhmut For the state, until a death certificate is issued, the missing soldier is considered alive. Denys, a mortar battery commander with the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, said there needs to be confirmation of a battlefield death before saying anything to the family, no matter the number of witnesses. He admitted that it was a "controversial topic" but said he believes the relatives should only be told confirmed information, as the situation is complex, with several cases of people considered officially dead eventually found alive. Tsymbaliuk said that she tries to be positive even though, realistically, not all missing Ukrainian soldiers are in Russian captivity. She explained that relatives struggle to take in the harsh reality of the war and cling to the chance that their loved ones are alive. Even when a body is returned and confirmed, they may ask for a second DNA test, insisting there may have been a mistake. Ukrainian soldiers fire artillery to support their frontline in the direction of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on July 20, 2023. (Photo by Ercin Erturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Witnesses on the battlefield For soldiers on the battlefield, witnessing their comrades suddenly disappear is another pain. They say that one of the toughest moments on the battlefield is not being able to help wounded comrades and evacuate them due to heavy Russian shelling. Sometimes, soldiers see the bodies of their friends but have to leave them behind. Serhiy, a 37-year-old heavy machine gunner with the 93rd Mechanized Brigade a unit that has been fighting on the Bakhmut front since the beginning of 2023 said he still can't stop thinking about his comrade Mykhailo, who has been missing since March. "I can't find him, and he's someone I ate from the same plate with," Serhiy told the Kyiv Independent after returning from the Bakhmut front line. Serhiy said he had looked for Mykhailo, an experienced soldier, everywhere. In his last conversation with Mykhailo, Serhiy remembers his comrade saying, "Everything is good," and that he planned to go home in a week to get married. It's nearly impossible to look for missing soldiers, a group of soldiers with the 5th Separate Assault Brigade deployed near Bakhmut told the Kyiv Independent in late May. Oleksandr, a mechanic/driver with the 5th, said that the number of men in his company has fallen from 130 to 30 since it was deployed in the Bakhmut area in February and that, along with killed and wounded, a lot of men are missing. And much like the relatives, soldiers cling to the hope that their missing comrades are not dead but being held in captivity. Mechanic Ruslan from the 5th Separate Assault Brigade said he can never get used to the reality of the war, in which you might never see your comrades again. "When your friends are gone, it's scary. When you're sitting and chatting with them, and then they're gone," Ruslan said. "We never forget them." Read also: When dying stops being scary: Worn out Ukrainian soldiers in Donbas hold off Russian assaults ______________________________________________________ Note from the author: Hi, this is Asami Terajima, the author of this article. Thank you for reading our story. While I've often heard the soldiers' side of how scary it is when their friends go missing on the battlefield, it was the first time that I've spoken to the families back home about the matter. I was heartbroken to hear all of the stories, and I can't imagine how difficult it is to not know what may have happened to their loved ones. To help the Kyiv Independent continue telling stories that may otherwise be untold, please consider becoming our supporter. There are new details in a theft plea deal involving the mother of a missing Grays Harbor County girl. Jordan Bowers admitted to three counts of identity theft and one count of theft on Monday. Bowers was arrested in January moments after she was released from prison. Bower and Andrew Carlson are the parents of Oakley Carlson. The now 7-year-old was last seen in February of 2021. Oakleys supporters want her parents held responsible for her disappearance. Detectives said Bowers and Carlson have not cooperated in their search for Oakley. Neither has been charged in her disappearance. But both were convicted of child endangerment for exposing their other children to drugs. Women attend a lesson at a school for wives and daughters of former Renamo members Television is popular medium in Mozambique and there are around 20 stations. State-run TVM is the national network, and STV is a popular private channel. Portuguese RTP Africa and Brazilian-owned TV Miramar are widely-watched. State-run Antena Nacional radio is a key news medium. Private FM stations operate in most towns. Many community broadcasters are funded by the government and Unesco. BBC World Service is available via FM relays. Many media outlets are "directly or indirectly controlled by the authorities or members of the ruling party", says watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The media suffer a lack of resources and are susceptible to self-censorship, says Reporters Without Borders. Journalists are subject to intimidation and lawsuits by officials. Access to the north of the country, where Islamist militants are active, is "virtually impossible" for reporters, RSF says. There were 6.5 million internet users by December 2021, comprising 20% of the population (Worldinternetstats.com). Press/Online Television Radio News agency European Solidarity MP Oleksiy Honcharenko said that from now on all officials and MPs are banned from traveling abroad. The Ukrainian government has banned all MPs and officials from leaving the country without an explicit waiver from the Presidents Office, Ukrainian MP representing the European Solidarity party, Oleksiy Honcharenko, said in a Telegram post on July 26. Read also: Russian destruction of Kakhovka dam could deprive Crimean residents of drinking water, says Yermak A few hours ago, instructions were sent to border checkpoints to prohibit all officials and MPs from traveling abroad, said Honcharenko. Anyone attempting to cross the border is stopped, and a decision from the President's Office is expected for each of them. According to him, "Andriy Yermak (Head of the President's Office) personally allows or blocks the departure of officials and deputies via phone calls." This is a good PR move and I think people will like it, adds Honcharenko. Read also: Europe struggling to plug workforce gaps with Ukrainian refugees, media reports The only thing I want to point out is this: imagine a 40-million country in the midst of the largest war in Europe, and the Head of the President's Office is deciding whether someone can go abroad. This is a wrong approach. It is simply fundamentally wrong. Read also: What categories of men can be returned to Ukraine from abroad? He believes that a procedure for obtaining permission to travel abroad should be established and those who violate it should be punished. He concludes that "a country cannot function via phone rule." Read also: Pro-Russian MP Ponomaryov arrested for two months Ukrainian journalists recently discovered that an MP from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys ruling Servant of the People party, Yuriy Aristov, vacationed in the Maldives in mid-July, staying at luxurious Waldorf Astoria resort there. This report sparked outrage in the Ukrainian society, with Aristov later resigning his parliamentary seat. 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) - Myanmar's military government may move ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi from prison to house arrest in the capital, Naypyitaw, two media outlets reported on Wednesday. The 78-year-old Nobel laureate has been in detention since her arrest in early 2021 when the military overthrew her elected government in a coup and unleashed a bloody crackdown on opponents that has seen thousands jailed or killed. The Associated Press cited an unidentified security official as saying the move was an act of clemency to prisoners as part of a religious ceremony due next week. The BBC Burmese-language service cited a "source close to the prison" as saying she may have already been moved to a house usually used by government officials. Reuters could not independently verify the reports or Suu Kyi's whereabouts. A spokesman for Myanmar's ruling military was not immediately available for comment. Suu Kyi's lawyers and a spokesperson for the shadow National Unity Government, which opposes military rule, could not confirm the reports. "News of improvements in conditions is welcome, but does not change her status as a prisoner of conscience," said NUG spokesperson Kyaw Zaw. Suu Kyi is appealing sentences adding up to 33 years in detention after being convicted of offences ranging from incitement and election fraud to corruption, charges she denies. Many Western governments have condemned the junta's treatment of Suu Kyi and others, calling for their release. This month, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said he had recently met Suu Kyi, the first foreign official to be granted access to her since she was detained more than two years ago. The meeting came as Southeast Asian's regional grouping ASEAN struggled to agree on an approach on how to end the crisis in fellow member Myanmar. The daughter of Myanmar's independence hero was first put under house arrest in 1989 after huge protests against decades of military rule. In 1991, she won the Nobel Peace Prize for campaigning for democracy but was only fully released from house arrest in 2010. She swept a 2015 election, held as part of tentative military reforms that were brought to a halt by the 2021 coup. (Reporting by Reuters staff; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Robert Birsel) Editors note: Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. A brief power outage at NASAs mission control center in Houston caused a voice communications blackout with the International Space Station and forced the space agency to rely on backup systems for the first time. The outage occurred Tuesday morning and lasted about 90 minutes, according to ISS Program Manager Joel Montalbano. At no time were the astronauts aboard the ISS in any danger, according to Montalbano. It wasnt an issue on board. It was purely a ground problem, he said, adding that NASA was able to communicate with the crew via Russian systems within 20 minutes after the outage began. The outage impacted only the first floor of the mission control building, Montalbano said. It did not affect flight controllers, or the rotating crew of NASA employees who constantly monitor the ISS from consoles in the main mission control room . But the outage did affect the hardware that provides key communications, including voice contact and telemetry, or data about the space stations pressure levels, power and position. The issue occurred as the mission control center was undergoing some preplanned upgrades to its power systems. The outage was triggered by some reconfiguration that took place as part of that process, Montalbano said. We knew this (the upgrade work) was going on, Montalbano said. In preparation for that we have the backup command and control system that we would use if we have to close the center for a weather emergency. It took about an hour and a half to transition to using that backup system, which is designed for use during hurricane season or in the event of a weather outage, Montalbano said. He noted the outage marked the first time that NASA has activated the backup control hardware at Johnson Space Centers Building 30, which is home to mission control. Though, he noted that temporary losses in communications have occurred before, due to systems upgrades on the ground or missed contact with one of the satellites NASA uses to maintain two-way communications between the ISS and mission control. Montalbano added that NASA would work to better understand what happened and then take some lessons learned. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com "These more powerful and efficient nuclear thermal propulsion systems can provide faster transit times between destinations," said Kirk Shireman, vice president of Lunar Exploration Campaigns at Lockheed Martin Space (MANDEL NGAN) NASA and the US military said Wednesday they had selected defense contractor Lockheed Martin to develop a nuclear powered rocket, with a view to using the technology for missions to Mars. The Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program may launch as soon as 2027, officials said on a call. Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) systems could cut journey times, increase fuel efficiency, and require less propellant, meaning future spacecraft could carry larger payloads than today's best chemical rockets. NTP works by pumping a liquid propellant, in DRACO's case cryogenic hydrogen, through a reactor core, where uranium atoms split apart through fission. The process super heats the propellant, converting it into a gas and funneling it through a nozzle to produce thrust. "These more powerful and efficient nuclear thermal propulsion systems can provide faster transit times between destinations," said Kirk Shireman, vice president of Lunar Exploration Campaigns at Lockheed Martin Space. "Reducing transit time is vital for human missions to Mars to limit a crew's exposure to radiation," he added. BWX Technologies will be responsible for developing the nuclear reactor and propellant. For safety purposes, DRACO's reactor will not be turned on until the spacecraft has reached a high orbit. Shireman added that the technology could also "revolutionize" future missions to the Moon, where NASA plans to build long term habitats as part of the Artemis program. NASA conducted its last nuclear thermal rocket engine tests more than 50 years ago but the program was abandoned due to budget cuts and Cold War tensions. ia/tjj A temporary power issue at Nasas mission control in Houston led to the agency losing contact with the International Space Station (ISS) briefly on Tuesday. During this period, Nasa could not send commands or any voice from the ground to the astronauts aboard the space station, the agency noted in a blog post. Then about 90 minutes after the outage, backup control systems moved in, Nasa said. This is the first time the space agency had to turn its backup systems on to take control, according to the space stations programme manager Joel Montalbano, who added that neither the astronauts nor the ISS itself was in any danger throughout the incident. About 20 minutes after the outage, the seven astronauts aboard the ISS were notified of the issue via Russian communication systems. The power outage, according to the agency, was due to upgrade work underway in the building at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Around 9 a.m., a power issue in Mission Control Houston resulted in the loss of command, telemetry, and voice from the ground to the International Space Station, Nasa said. The issue was isolated to the ground, and flight controllers were able to talk to the crew onboard station through Roscosmos channels, and at no point was the crew in any danger, the space agency said. Despite the tensions between the US and Russia on the ground, astronauts and Russian cosmonauts aboard the orbiting laboratory are working and training together for the safe operation of the space station. Russian space agency Roscosmos had earlier this year reversed its decision to leave the ISS collaboration after 2024 that it had made amid tensions between Russia and the West over the Kremlins military action in Ukraine. The decision to leave the station after 2024 has been made, Roscosmos head Yuri Borisov had said last year. But in April this year, Mr Borisov said Roscosmos extended its participation in the international space project. By the decision of the government, the operation of the International Space Station has been extended until 2028, the Russian space agency chief told president Vladimir Putin in a televised meeting. Sheriff T.K. Waters delivers his sheriffs address during a town hall meeting Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at the Prime F. Osborn Convention Center in Jacksonville, Fla. Sheriff T.K. Waters held the hour-long meeting to talk about the vision of the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office, city and county policing, realignment project, Connect Duval, unveiling of new patrol vehicles, hand out two awards of merit, and hold a question and answer session. COMMENTARY | Before City Hall hands Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters the goodie bag of hundreds of millions of dollars for a new jail he's been pining for, it's probably a good idea to first make sure he knows how to keep inmates ... well, alive. That is admittedly an odd charge, but the routine care of inmates has apparently been quite a challenge in the past few years, with inmates too often unable to access one of the most basic levels of medical care: their prescription medications. Deaths at the Duval County jail have tripled since the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office ended its in-house medical care program and hired Armor, a private firm, in 2017, according to an analysis from The Tributary, a Jacksonville news nonprofit. The outlet earlier this year reported on the fall 2022 death of 54-year-old Dexter Barry, who went two days at the jail without necessary medications to support his transplanted heart, despite his pleas with staff. He died a few days after his release, which, a pathologist hired by his family determined, was attributable to his body having rejected the transplanted heart, the Tributary reported. There is much about Barry's story to find shameful and gross he was arrested on a misdemeanor after allegedly threatening to beat up a neighbor over an argument about Wi-Fi access (this is why we're locking people up in this town?). And at its core, the privatization of medical care at the jail and its attendant failures, as well as the zeal with which people are thrown in a jail that lacks adequate staffing, are matters of policy and judgement. They are, in other words, the sorts of things a sheriff could set about fixing now, new jail or no. Waters announced on Tuesday he had canceled JSO's contract with Armor for "a bunch of different reasons," never once directly mentioning the poor treatment of inmates or acknowledging the public scrutiny around medical care at the jail unmistakably prompted by the Tributary's reporting. Instead, Waters offered a garbled explanation that "I had to wait until we got our mayor in office" to cancel the contract, which he claimed he'd been considering for months. In Armor's place, JSO hired NaphCare, another private firm with its own troubling controversies around inmate care. Story continues "We have decided to move on with our contract from Armor," Waters said. Curiously, he held this up as a demonstration of his commitment to transparency and accountability while refusing to divulge the reasons behind his decision or explaining what, exactly, he was holding himself and his agency accountable for a distinct lack of transparency-ness and accountability-ness. And, in response to questions about NaphCare's history, Waters offered a shrug, arguing that lawsuits and controversies around medical care in jails are common as if one can't even aspire to something better. "You can look at any medical facility in North Florida, throughout the state of Florida. They all have issues. They've all had lawsuits. They've all had those things." It's worth remembering inmates are often people being held on mere charges and not convicted of any crimes. Sometimes, they're people like Barry, locked up on a minor charge while, first, waiting for a judge to set bail and then waiting until their family can cobble together the money. Sometimes they're wholly innocent. They are quite often the loved ones of someone else in the wide world: Would you entrust Armor or NaphCare to care for your loved one? And always, they deserve basic medical care. It seems fair to worry the city might end up spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a new jail only to find it suffers the same old problems. What, exactly, would change? Will expanded space just yield another larger but still-overcrowded jail where no one wants to work? What feat of engineering can make someone in a position of power care more? Waters has so far been closed minded about implementing an adult civil-citation program, a measured idea, pushed locally for years, that would relieve some pressure on the jail. And the Tributary's recent analysis found the jail averaged fewer inmate deaths per year when JSO ran an in-house medical program. Both are reasonable topics interested City Council members might pursue when matters of police funding arise. Before the sheriff gets a new jail, he ought to demonstrate he's capable of running the one he's got. Nate Monroe is a metro columnist whose work regularly appears every Thursday and Sunday. Follow him on Twitter @NateMonroeTU. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Nate Monroe: Would a new Duval County jail have the same old problems? U.S. President Joe Bidens decision to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions triggered a debate that saw NATO allies, including the U.K., Canada, and Germany, as well as human rights groups, oppose the move. In the U.S., the decision was opposed by right-wing Republicans and the centrist Democratic leadership in Congress, while Republican senators like Lindsay Graham sided with the president. The arguments against Ukraine using cluster munitions betray a naivety, if not a disingenuousness, about the hard truths of military history. After the Germans used chlorine gas against the Canadians and French during the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915, political and military leaders, as well as the press, excoriated the German high command. Five months later, at the Battle of Loos, the British unleashed around 140 tons of chlorine gas. During World War II, the Americans were against bombing cities and civilians until they did so themselves after entering the war in December 1941. Read also: How controversial cluster munitions give Ukraine needed punch during counteroffensive The fact that neither Russia nor Ukraine are signatories to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) matters much less than does the fact that Russia, by using them against Kharkiv, Odesa, and other Ukrainian cities, could not but call forth a like response. Another argument raised against Ukraine using cluster munitions is their dud, or failure, rate, pegged by the International Committee of the Red Cross at 10-40% and the fact that unexploded bomblets are small enough to be picked up by civilians. The 40% figure includes Russian-manufactured cluster munitions; by contrast, American-manufactured cluster munitions have, according to U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, a dud rate of 2.5%. Further, unlike the cluster munitions Russian forces have fired indiscriminately at Ukrainian cities, Ukraine will know exactly where they have been fired and, hence, what patches of land need to be cleared, as the Americans did after the Gulf War. Story continues People look at the remnants of a Russian missile that dropped cluster bombs on a residential housing complex in Sloviansk, Ukraine, on June 27, 2022. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Legalistic appeals to the CCM also fail. First, as Sullivan explained during an interview with NBC on July 16, the U.S. and Ukraines moral authority vis-a-vis cluster munitions comes not from the CCM but rather from the fact that the U.S. is aiding Ukraine against a brutal, vicious attack by its neighbor, thus drawing a hard line between Ukraines and Russias use of the weapons. Even more importantly, those who make legalistic appeals commit a major category error. Cluster munitions should be banned, the convention says in part, because their remnants kill or maim civilians, including women and children, obstruct economic and social development impede post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction, delay or prevent the return of refugees and internally displaced persons and have other severe consequences for many years after use. In other words, it focuses on the post-war effects of cluster munitions. Yet, as Sergej Sumlenny, an international lawyer and the founder of the European Resilience Initiative Center, told me on July 9, In Ukraine, this is not the case. The civilians are already suffering from the most brutal genocide, and the territories are already full with landmines and unexploded ordnances. The remains of a Russian cluster bomb on the international airport on Jan. 6, 2023, in Kherson, Ukraine. (Photo: Pierre Crom/Getty Images) None of the newspaper accounts of the debates on the CCMs ratification contain even a single statement by the conventions architects that refers to how and when Ukraine intends to use cluster munitions; i.e., to defend itself on internationally recognized sovereign Ukrainian territory. According to the framework outlined last week by the spokesperson of Ukraines Tavria operational-strategic group, Valerii Shershen, cluster munitions will be used only for the liberation of Ukrainian territories, and not on Russian territory or densely populated areas. He explained that they will be used only in the areas where the Russian military is concentrated, to break through the enemys defenses. Because the 72 or 88 submunitions spread out over a much wider area than the blast range of conventional artillery rounds, much like shrapnel during World War I, cluster munitions are fitted to attacking troops in trenches. In military parlance, they are a force multiplier. Read also: Andreas Umland: Should Kyiv be pressured to exchange land for peace? Even as these hard military facts summon up horrifying images of dead men strewn around a blasted trench, we must remember they are invaders their very presence on sovereign Ukrainian territory is a testament to Vladimir Putins violation of international law. Evicting Russian troops is Ukraines undeniable right. For, as Russian soldiers war crimes have shown, evicting them is the sine qua non, the essential condition, of the Ukrainian peoples survival, let alone their state. Ukraines plan to use cluster munitions in its own territory to evict the Russians is both legal and just. Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. Submit an Opinion NAIROBI, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN migration agency, on Wednesday called for coordinated efforts to end trafficking in persons from the Horn of Africa to Yemen and the Gulf states. The IOM called on governments, law enforcement, public services and civil society to enhance efforts to strengthen prevention, identify and support victims and survivors, and end impunity. "An estimated 36.6 million people across Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, and Djibouti have been affected. Many migrants fall victim and prey to traffickers," it said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, ahead of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons to be marked on July 30. According to the IOM, women and girls continue to be the most vulnerable group, making up 70 percent of trafficking victims, adding that of all identified trafficked persons in the East and Horn of Africa, 78 percent were female and 22 percent were male. The UN migration agency is also calling for increased funding to provide life-saving assistance and protection for victims of trafficking from the Horn of Africa. Every year, thousands of migrants leave countries in the Horn of Africa -- mainly Ethiopia and Somalia -- and move along the eastern route toward the Gulf states to find work and job opportunities. Many migrants make the dangerous crossing from Djibouti's coastal town of Obock to Yemen and further by land to Yemen's borders with Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, according to the IOM. Increasingly many are driven from their homes due to the devastating effects of climate change. "Whilst in the hands of traffickers, they are subjected to forced labor, sexual exploitation, and other forms of exploitation such as forced marriage," the IOM said. The UN migration agency has supported approximately 300,000 vulnerable migrants with humanitarian assistance in Yemen, Somalia, and Djibouti in 2023. It has helped more than 3,895 stranded migrants and victims of trafficking to safely return to their home countries from Yemen. Resources, however, are needed to further assist and protect migrants from traffickers and exploitation. In February, the IOM launched an appeal for 84 million U.S. dollars to respond to the needs of 1 million migrants and the communities hosting them on the eastern route, including trafficked persons, but only 15.4 million dollars of the appeal needs have so far been met. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemns Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal and announces the Alliance's strengthening of security in the Black Sea region Following a meeting of the newly-established Ukraine-NATO Council, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has announced that the Alliance plans to strengthen security in the Black Sea after Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI). Important meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council; we condemn Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal, its cynical weaponization of hunger, and its dangerous actions in the Black Sea, Read also: Lukashenko muses about Wagner attacking Poland to distract Ukraines NATO and EU allies NATO is united Allies continue to step up for Ukraine, and increase vigilance in the region. Read also: Stoltenberg schedules Ukraine-NATO Council meeting at Zelenskyy's urgent request According to a press release NATO issued after the council met, the increased vigilance Stoltenberg referred to will mostly consist of ramped up reconnaissance in the region, using naval aviation and UAVs. On July 23, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the Ukraine-NATO council to meet and discuss steps in response to Moscow abandoning the grain deal. 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 Dame Alison Rose NatWest boss Dame Alison Rose has resigned hours after admitting she had made a mistake in speaking about Nigel Farage's relationship with the bank. She had been heavily criticised for being the source of an inaccurate BBC report about Mr Farage's account at Coutts, which is part of NatWest Group. The announcement came just hours after NatWest said it had full confidence in her in continuing to lead the bank. Dame Alison had admitted a "serious error of judgment". In a statement released early on Wednesday morning, NatWest Group chairman Sir Howard Davies said: "The board and Alison Rose have agreed, by mutual consent, that she will step down as chief executive of the NatWest Group. "It is a sad moment." In a separate statement, Dame Alison thanked her colleagues "for all that they [had] done", saying: "I remain immensely proud of the progress the bank has made in supporting people, families and business across the UK, and building the foundations for sustainable growth." NatWest shares fell more then 2.5% after the announcement. Dame Alison was paid 5.25m last year. Whether Dame Alison will get a severance payment will emerge in the banking group's next report on pay. Chair Sir Howard said hours before Dame Alison resigned that it was in the interest of shareholders and customers that she stayed on as chief executive. It is understood he intends to remain as chair. Following her resignation, ex UKIP leader Mr Farage told the BBC it had taken a long time for Dame Alison to resign. "The first rule of banking is client confidentiality. She [Dame Alison] clearly broke that." He said that anybody in a more junior position at the bank would have been "out of the door". Dame Alison had come under mounting pressure from Downing Street, the chancellor and other senior cabinet ministers to resign, with the BBC told there were "significant concerns" over her conduct. Story continues Mr Farage, the former leader of the UK Independence Party and a Brexiteer, first reported in early July that his account had been closed and said he had not been given a reason. The BBC reported that it was closed because he no longer met the wealth threshold for Coutts, citing a source familiar with the matter. It has since apologised for its inaccurate report. Mr Farage subsequently obtained a document looking at his suitability as a Coutts customer. The 40-page document flagged concerns that he was "xenophobic and racist", and also questioned the reputational risk of having Mr Farage as a client. It said that to have Mr Farage as a customer was not consistent with Coutts' "position as an inclusive organisation" given his "publicly stated views". Mr Farage had highlighted what he said was a discrepancy between the BBC's apology on Monday from its chief executive Deborah Turness, which said the BBC had gone back to the source to check the information, and NatWest's statement on Tuesday. "There is no way, if the BBC went back for a second time to confirm the story, that they would not have checked that it was the balance of my account that led to that commercial decision," he said. Confidentiality key City minister Andrew Griffith said it was "right" that Dame Alison had resigned from NatWest, which is 39% owned by the taxpayer. "This would never have happened if NatWest had not taken it upon itself to withdraw a bank account due to someone's lawful political views. That was and is always unacceptable," he said. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC that "NatWest got this one wrong, and that's why Alison Rose had to resign". Freddy Colquhoun, investment director at the wealth management company JM Finn, told 5 Live's Wake up to Money the resignation was inevitable: "I think as soon as you lose the confidence of Downing Street, who is also a major shareholder, then something needs to change quite quickly. "Confidentiality, it is one of the major pillars of trust between the clients and the bank." Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC that "NatWest got this one wrong, and that's why Alison Rose had to resign." Dame Alison said she had not revealed any personal financial information about Mr Farage, but admitted she had left the BBC's business editor Simon Jack "with the impression that the decision to close Mr Farage's accounts was solely a commercial one." She said she was wrong to respond to any question raised by the BBC about the case. Following her resignation the government said she was also "no longer a member of the Prime Minister's business council". She was also asked to step down from the government's energy efficiency taskforce and the net zero council. While at NatWest, one of changes she made was to end new loans to oil and gas companies. Paul Thwaite, NatWest's current chief executive of its commercial and institutional business, will take over Dame Alison's responsibilities for an initial period of 12 months, pending regulatory approval. Public trust warning On Wednesday Mr Griffith had a meeting with some of the largest banks and building societies "to discuss the importance of protecting lawful freedom of expression for customers". The Treasury said bank bosses had acknowledged that "recent events" had hit "public trust for the whole sector". The bosses agreed to bring bank policies in line with planned rules to make it easier for customers to find out why their bank accounts had been closed and challenge the decisions. Charlie Nunn, the boss of Lloyds Banking Group, said he had not been able to attend the meeting, but had "no concerns" about pressure over de-banking policies. "Our policy is really clear. We don't include looking at political beliefs, or personal beliefs, as part of that policy," he said. A North Carolina deputy was legally justified in shooting a man in the head, the Rowan County district attorney concludes in a report released this week. Jordan Mays died after a deputy fired five bullets from his AR-15 rifle at close range Feb. 14, according to the Rowan County Sheriffs Office. Mays had grabbed a gun while another deputy was on his back, trying to subdue him inside a home, police said in a previous statement. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation reviewed the fatal shooting, including taking statements from the officers involved. We concluded that the evidence supports that the deputy acted lawfully and did not violate any criminal laws, said District Attorney Brandy Cook in a news release, the Salisbury Post and WSOC the Charlotte Observers news partner reported. Five deputies were at 138 Thriftwood Court outside the city limits of Salisbury to serve warrants to Jeremy Brock and Mays, who was on a wanted list issued by the N.C. Probation and Parole office. Mays had outstanding warrants for failure to appear in court on charges of carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, driving while licensed revoked, and a probation violation, according to the sheriffs office. All deputies were placed on administrative leave after the shooting, which was the second involving Rowan County sheriffs deputies in recent months. In the first, on Nov. 29, deputies and police killed a man who shot two officers and a firefighter with a pellet shotgun during a house fire, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. In Cooks review of deputies killing Mays, the DA wrote that a law enforcement officer is justified in using deadly force if the officer reasonably believed that he or another person was in imminent danger of great bodily injury or death. Mays lack of cooperation with deputies led to the shooting, according to the DAs office. Mays didnt follow deputies commands to leave the bedroom he was in. When they entered the room, Mays was sitting up on a bed with a woman and a gun nearby. Story continues A deputy struggled with him on the bed and then on the floor, police previously said. When one deputy yelled tase him, Mays rose from the floor with the deputy on his back. He reached for the gun and turned toward deputies when the five fatal shots were fired. The total encounter inside the bedroom was only a few seconds, the sheriffs office previously said. One deputy attempted to aid Mays, but all deputies left the trailer and secured the scene when they determined aid wasnt possible because of the severity of the injuries, Rowan County Sheriff Travis Allen said. After, police removed $3,000 in cash, three loaded handguns and an undisclosed amount of what they believed is crystal methamphetamine from the bedroom. It is never our desire to be involved in a lethal, deadly force encounter, Allen said in a February news release. However, we are often forced into this outcome by those that would mean harm to others. We take steps and train to avoid these confrontations. PERTH, Australia (AP) Volunteers worked frantically on a second day Wednesday to save dozens of pilot whales that have stranded themselves on a beach in Western Australia, but more than 50 have already died. Nearly 100 long-finned pilot whales, stranded themselves Tuesday on the beach by the city of Albany, on the southern tip of Western Australia, south of Perth. They were first spotted swimming Tuesday morning near Cheynes Beach east of Albany. As the day progressed, the pod began moving closer to the beach, sparking the concern of conservation officers. By 4 p.m., a large stretch of the shoreline was covered in beached whales. Reece Whitby, Western Australia's environment minister, said it was particularly frustrating because it's not known why the phenomenon occurs. What we're seeing is utterly heartbreaking and distressing, he told reporters. It's just a terrible, terrible tragedy to see these dead pilot whales on the beach. Fifty-two whales had perished, and volunteers are doing what they can to try and save 45 still alive, he said. People are committed to doing what they can to save as many whales as they can, Whitby said. Western Australia states Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions set up an overnight camp to monitor the whales. Peter Hartley, a manager from the department, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that the volunteers were trying to get the living whales back into the water and encourage them to swim away. We are optimistic that we will save as many as we can, Hartley said. The team tasked with helping the whales includes Perth Zoo veterinarians and marine fauna experts. They have been using specialized equipment, including vessels and slings. Hundreds of volunteers also offered to help so many that officials said they had enough registered volunteers and urged other members of the public to stay away from the beach. Drone footage released by the department showed the whales clustering and forming into a heart shape before stranding themselves on the beach. Story continues This is just an amazing event, Joanne Marsh, the owner the Cheynes Beach Caravan Park told the ABC. We've never seen anything quite like this. Wildlife experts said the unusual behavior of the whales could be an indicator of stress or illness within the pod. Pilot whales are highly social animals and often maintain close relationships with their pods throughout their lives. Macquarie University wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta said the drone footage could suggest the whales had become disoriented, although she said the exact reasons for mass strandings remain unclear. The fact that they were in one area very huddled, and doing really interesting behaviors, and looking around at times, suggests that something else is going on that we just dont know, she said. She said she thought it unlikely the whales were trying to avoid a predator. They often have a follow-the-leader type mentality, and that can very much be one of the reasons why we see stranding of not just one but many, Pirotta added. The incident is reminiscent of one in September, in which some 200 pilot whales died after a pod stranded itself on the remote west coast of Tasmania, off Australia's southeastern coast. The following month, nearly 500 pilot whales died after stranding themselves on two remote beaches in New Zealand. Taliban officials at a meeting in Qatar in 2021. Even when abroad, Taliban officials wear traditional attire (KARIM JAAFAR) Neckties worn by men were a sign of the Christian cross, a senior Afghan Taliban official said Wednesday, adding they should be eliminated. "Sometimes, when I go to hospitals and other areas, an Afghan Muslim engineer or doctor uses a necktie," said Mohammad Hashim Shaheed Wror, head of the Invitation and Guidance Directorate, a department that seeks to guide people along proper Islamic lines. He said in a speech broadcast by Tolo TV that the symbolism of the tie "is obvious in Islam". "What is a tie? It is the cross. It is ordered in Sharia that you should break it and eliminate it," he said. Taliban authorities have not imposed any dress rules on men since taking over in August 2021, but women must cover up with a hijab when out in public. Afghan Taliban officials almost all dress the same -- shalwar kameez, a waistcoat, and turban. Casual Western clothes became less common after the Taliban takeover but some professionals -- as well as newsreaders on TV channels -- still don a collar and tie. The tie is widely believed to have emerged in the 17th century and was made a fashion staple by the French. Previous Afghan administrations have also tried to impose dress regulations on the population, or on officials at least. During the decade-long Soviet occupation starting in 1979, government workers were discouraged from wearing traditional attire and told to wear suits. Former president Ashraf Ghani -- who fled the country as the Taliban took over in 2021 -- favoured Western suits when abroad and traditional attire at home. During their two-decade insurgency the Taliban's fighters wore shalwar kameez, but since taking power have introduced modern military uniforms for the armed services. bur-fox/ecl/dhw A Star man whose 39-year-old son was killed by police last summer is calling on the Star City Council and Ada County Sheriffs Office to provide more police officer accountability. Skip Banach, a former San Diego police officer, asked the City Council to codify a civilian review board to analyze and make determinations about shootings by officers and injuries they cause. Banach said the board should be made up of local community members who do not work in law enforcement or the criminal justice system. Police cannot police themselves, Banach told the council on Tuesday. You will never cross that thin blue line. According to Star police, whose department is staffed by the Sheriffs Office, Jeremy Banach was holding a handgun he had stolen from a family member as he walked through the parking lot of the Star Mercantile downtown on June 15, 2022. Officer Jason Woodcook and other officers told Banach to drop the gun. Instead, he raised the gun toward the back of his head. Officers believed he was going to aim it at them. Woodcook fired. Skip Banach sees the shooting differently. They shot him five times with an AR-15 while he was walking away, he told the Idaho Statesman in a phone interview. Banach has participated in protests in downtown Boise in recent weeks that followed a police killing of 22-year-old Payton Wasson, of Nampa, on June 24. Boise police said they tried to make contact with the occupants of a suspicious vehicle downtown about 2 a.m. when Wasson left the vehicle and fled on foot with a gun. Officer Chance Feldner shot Wasson while he was running away. State law requires that to use deadly force on a suspect, an officer must feel threatened or someone else must be threatened by the individual. The Wasson shooting has led to calls for an end to police violence and greater accountability when police officers fire their weapons. For Banach, it was the last straw to begin the call for civilian review boards in cities across Idaho. Story continues According to The Washington Posts police shooting database, Idaho police officers have killed 71 people since 2015. Twelve shootings were in Boise, four were in Meridian, four were in Nampa and four were in Caldwell. That is too many for this small state, Banach said. Banachs citizens review board would be made up of retired officers, attorneys and prosecutors from other states and at least one mental health professional. No retired officer or acting officer from the state of Idaho should be on it, Banach said. Civilian review boards like what Banach is proposing are not unusual in the United States. The U.S. Department of Justice has a 180-page handbook available online about how people can implement civilian review boards in their communities. The most active citizen oversight boards investigate allegations of police misconduct and recommend actions to the chief or sheriff, the handbook said. Other citizen boards review the findings of internal police investigations and recommend that the chief or sheriff approve or reject the findings. Why Star? Forensic tests determined that Jeremy Banach was intoxicated on fentanyl and methamphetamine at the time of the shooting, authorities said. Police said hed been a suspect in several property crimes. In March, Valley County Prosecutor Brian Naugle found Woodcooks actions were justified when he shot and killed Banach. According to reporting by the Statesman, Star has had just one police officer killing since 2021. So why does Banach want to start a civilian review board in Star? Because he lives there, he said. He said he has no plans to be a part of the board if it is created. He told City Council that the small rural city is growing rapidly and is no longer the 5,000-person town he moved to. Today Stars population is 17,000, according to the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho. Citizens of Star deserve a civilian review board so they can rest assured that police will be held accountable for their actions, he said. Any shooting or serious injury by police would have a civilian board look at it. Skip Banach How citizens review board would be different After Banach spoke, Council Member Kevin Nielsen asked him how a citizens review board would be different than the investigations that already take place in Idaho when police fire their weapons. When officers kill someone on duty, Idaho law requires that a Critical Incident Task Force, which is made up of law enforcement personnel from a nearby department, to conduct an investigation. Then, prosecutors in counties outside of the area where the shooting took place review the task forces investigation and decide whether officers were justified. But that isnt independent enough, according to Banach and other critics. Pierce Murphy, the former police oversight director for the city of Boise until 2013, told the Statesman that civilian oversight boards can take many forms depending on the city, its budget and department. Its really important for whatever mechanism to be truly independent from the police department, Murphy said by phone. That means giving it the authority and the resources to investigate and look into either an allegation or an incident. Murphy said the board must make sure it doesnt rely on police to do any investigations, because even the way police question witnesses or decide which questions to ask can sway an investigation. Whether its the sheriffs office or another neighboring police agency, or the state Office of the Attorney General or the Justice Department, even prosecutors are law enforcement, Murphy said. The whole idea is to have someone that doesnt work every day in and around the people that were involved in the incident. Ada County sheriff accountable to voters Patrick Orr, spokesperson for the Ada County Sheriffs Office said they believe the policy they follow after police shootings is enough to instill public trust in the department. The office provides a narrative of the incident and posts a redacted Critical Incident Task Force report when it is completed. Orr said the sheriffs office has not heard calls like Banachs for a citizens review board. The sheriff is accountable to the voters of Ada County, he said in an email. Every one of our 800+ employees work every day to keep Ada County a safer place to live, work, and play. We are all accountable to the people we serve and work to adapt to the needs of the community. They have no shame: Boise protesters critical of police at rally over fatal shooting After shootings, questions raised about Boises interim police oversight office, director Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at the Capitol on January 31, 2023. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images House Republicans may soon launch an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who lead the Clinton impeachment, says he supports an inquiry. But he said it would be a "terrible idea" to actually impeach him. With House Republicans potentially launching an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is offering his own take on the matter. Gingrich, a Georgia Republican who led the 1998 impeachment of President Bill Clinton when he was speaker of the House, told the Washington Post that it would be a "good idea to go to the inquiry stage." But, he added, "impeachment itself is a terrible idea." "The only short-term consequence of a successful impeachment is [Vice President] Kamala Harris [becoming president], and Kamala would be such a total disaster for the country that Biden's corruption is probably preferable to her incompetence," Gingrich also told the Post. The Republican-led impeachment of Clinton is widely seen as having politically backfired, leading to Republicans losing some seats in the 1998 midterms and Gingrich resigning as speaker. But Gingrich told the Post that he doesn't worry about the political repercussions of a potential Biden impeachment. In teasing the potential impeachment, McCarthy has pointed to unsubstantiated claims that an informant made to the FBI of second-hand knowledge that a Ukrainian gas company owner may have paid the Bidens $10 million in bribes. The Bureau criticized Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa last week after he released a document summarizing the claims, telling Insider in a statement that the release "unnecessarily risks the safety of a confidential source." Read the original article on Business Insider In 2019, the state of New Hampshire banned firefighting foams containing PFAS chemicals, as mounting evidence linked the widely used fire suppressant to higher cancer rates among firefighters and contamination of drinking water. And yet, fire departments around the state are still storing these now-prohibited foams on site. Thats because, up until now, there wasnt a safe or effective way to dispose of them. New Hampshire is the inaugural state to partner with new PFAS Annihilator technology, believed to be a first-to-the-market solution from Ohio-based Revive Environmental. Under its contract with Revive, the state is expected to remove and dispose of 10,000 gallons of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) through a takeback program with municipal fire departments. The state of New Hampshire is contracting with Revive Environmental for its PFAS Annihilator technology, said to be the first-to-market total solution to remove and destroy toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The need to remove these toxic PFAS-containing foams from firehouses throughout New Hampshire is a must, said Brian Ryll, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire. As it stands now, many fire departments across the state have a stockpile of these foam products that are not able to be used. As time goes by, the likelihood of inadvertent use or exposure to these products increases. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances have been used for decades in fire protection equipment and types of Class B firefighting foam, the most common of which is AFFF. Identified as a leading cause of PFAS contamination in drinking water, AFFF been used and stored at local fire departments, military installations, airports, and other facilities. When the state Legislature prohibited firefighting foams containing PFAS for use in testing or training, and banned manufacturers from knowingly selling or distributing these foams in New Hampshire unless otherwise specifically exempt, it also directed the Department of Environmental Services to form a takeback program. But finding an end destination for the contaminants wasnt easy. Story continues Mike Wimsatt, Waste Management Division director at DES, said his department missed an initial deadline to stand up the takeback program because it hadnt confidently identified a company or technology. Initially, the state looked at a facility in New York that would have incinerated the AFFF stockpiles, but with that came concerns about air pollution and emissions. The other option, Wimsatt said, was a landfill, but that would have only buried the contaminants and not destroyed them. The interior of Revive Environmentals PFAS Annihilator technology. Now, theyre glad they waited. Revive Environmental commercially deployed its PFAS Annihilator in April. The technology uses high temperature and pressure to break down PFAS molecules into safe byproducts, the company said, effectively destroying PFAS in contaminated wastewater, landfill leachate, and AFFF. In return, Revive Environmental will give the state a certificate of annihilation. We really set it as an internal goal to make sure we arrived at a technology that minimized the potential liabilities for our fire departments, Wimsatt said. AFFF takeback program Last year, DES conducted an inventory of legacy firefighting foam stockpiles across the state in preparation for this years takeback program. Wimsatt said the department is currently working with local fire departments and the state Fire Marshals Office to establish consolidated pickup locations in all 10 counties. From the pickup sites, Heritage-Crystal Clean, a waste management service, will transport the collected AFFF to Revive Environmentals PFAS Annihilator mobile technology at a facility in Wyoming, Michigan. Funding for the states $668,258 contract with Revive will come from two DES pots of money: hazardous waste cleanup funds and emerging contaminants funds. Frankly were excited, said Wimsatt. Were glad weve identified this technology. This will be the first takeback program that will send AFFF to this facility for destruction. Wimsatt said its typical for a small fire department to have at least a 5-gallon can of AFFF concentrate. The longer these stockpiles hang around, he said, the likelihood grows that theyll be mismanaged or cause contamination. At the former Pease Air Force Base, a federal Superfund site, the contamination of at least one well was attributed to past use of AFFF at the air base and its fire training center. Thousands of people were exposed to PFAS chemicals until the well was shut down in 2014. Communities around Pease were selected for a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry because of residents exposure to the contaminated drinking water. PFAS have been linked to a host of adverse health effects, including increased risk of cancer and interference with development, hormones, and the immune and reproductive systems. Ryll, who in addition to being the state fire association head is also a captain at the Portsmouth Fire Department, said hes hopeful that fire departments will see the value and take advantage of the upcoming takeback program. The Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire will continue to encourage department heads to rid their fire stations and trucks of these products, in order to limit our members exposure and reduce liability to cities and towns, he said. Firefighters have a 9 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Pictured is at left is raw leachate, and at right, the result after treatment by the PFAS Annihilator. How does the PFAS Annihilator work? Because of its technologys touted ability to broadly destroy PFAS, Revives partnership with the Granite State is likely to be a model going forward. The company expects New Hampshire will be the first of many states it will contract with, especially since federal PFAS limits are currently in the works by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The PFAS Annihilator technology comes from Battelle, a private nonprofit applied science and technology development company. To see it be developed for practical use, Battelle launched Revive Environmental with Viking Global Investors, transferring over its patents for the only proven lifecycle solution to PFAS mitigation in the U.S. today. What we do, simply put, you give me a gallon of really nasty AFFF liquid, I make that into water that can go right into your water and drinking fountain after treatment, said David Trueba, president and CEO of Revive Environmental. Its that pure. We dont only destroy PFAS, we mineralize it to basic elements. Trueba explained the heat and pressure of the PFAS Annihilator which is powered by supercritical water oxidation break down the carbon-fluorine bond that allows PFAS to persist in the environment. The byproducts are water, inert salts, and carbon dioxide. In trials of more than 30 PFAS-contaminated sample types, the technology demonstrated more than 99.99 percent destruction of total PFAS, Revive Environmental says. Trueba said New Hampshire wanted a technology partner that could give the state batch-by-batch confirmation that the PFAS was destroyed, and therefore reducing liability for its fire departments. Its really significant, he said. It gives states peace of mind and a responsible care opportunity. This story was originally published by New Hampshire Bulletin This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH is first state to partner with PFAS Annihilator to destroy firefighting foams Nigel Farage Nigel Farage has called for the whole NatWest board to follow boss Dame Alison Rose in quitting as the row over his bank account closure escalated. The ex-UKIP leader told BBC Breakfast it was "right" that Dame Alison quit but said the board "should all go". Dame Alison quit abruptly early on Wednesday after admitting she had made a mistake in speaking to the BBC about Mr Farage's relationship with the bank. It came after the chancellor expressed significant concerns over her conduct. Natwest chair Sir Howard Davies said just hours before Dame Alison resigned that it was in the interest of shareholders and customers that she stayed on as chief executive despite admitting she had made a "serious error of judgement". The BBC has been told Sir Howard intends to remain on until the middle of next year when he is expected to retire. Mr Farage said: "She's gone and it is right that she has gone. However, I think this brings into question the whole of the board. Frankly, because of how they have behaved, I think they should all go." City minister Andrew Griffith said that since Sir Howard was already on his way out, there was no need for him to resign. "There's already a search under way... for his replacement," said Mr Griffith. "We should let that continue and then in due course, obviously, the bank will need to appoint a new chief executive." Mr Griffith said it was important that lessons are learned from what has happened at NatWest, which is 39% owned by the taxpayer. "It's not the job of the bank to tell us what to think or what political party we should support." Mr Farage, the former leader of the UK Independence Party and a Brexiteer, said in early July that his account at private bank Coutts - which is owned by NatWest - had been closed and that he had not been given a reason. Story continues How the Farage bank row unfolded 29 June: Mr Farage posts a video on Twitter, claiming he had been told his bank accounts would be closed. He does not name the banking group at this stage but says he has been a customer since 1980. He says he was told it was a "commercial decision" but he did not believe it 4 July: BBC article runs suggesting Mr Farage fell below the financial threshold needed to hold an account with Coutts. Mr Farage confirms Coutts is the bank in question and says at "no point" had he been given a minimum threshold and calls it a "political decision" 18 July: Mr Farage posts another video, saying he has obtained documents showing Coutts decided to close his account because his views "do not align with our values" 19 July: The Telegraph reports Dame Alison sat next to business editor Simon Jack at charity dinner the day before the BBC story was published 20 July: First apology by Dame Alison for "deeply inappropriate comments". She says that the documents prepared for the Wealth Reputation Risk Committee "do not reflect the view of the bank" 21 July: The BBC changes the headline and copy in its original story saying Mr Farage fell below the financial threshold needed to hold an account with Coutts to say the claim had come from a source and added an update to recognise the story had changed 24 July: Simon Jack and Deborah Turness, chief executive of BBC News, apologise to Mr Farage 25 July: NatWest releases a statement saying Dame Alison had made a "serious error" but that the board still had "full confidence" in her 26 July: Dame Alison resigns. Mr Farage calls on the whole NatWest board to go. Mr Farage had highlighted to the BBC what he said was a discrepancy between the BBC's apology on Monday from its chief executive Deborah Turness, which said the BBC had gone back to the source to check the information, and NatWest's statement on Tuesday. "There is no way, if the BBC went back for a second time to confirm the story, that they [the BBC] would not have checked that it was the balance of my account that led to that commercial decision," he said. Public trust On Wednesday, economic secretary Andrew Griffith had a meeting with some of the largest banks and building societies "to discuss the importance of protecting lawful freedom of expression for customers". The Treasury said bank bosses had acknowledged that "recent events" had hit "public trust for the whole sector". The bosses agreed to bring bank policies in line with planned rules to make it easier for customers to find out why their bank accounts had been closed and challenge the decisions. The data protection regulator also joined the debate, pointing out that people trusted banks with their money and personal information. Information Commissioner John Edwards said any suggestion this trust had been betrayed would be "concerning for a bank's customers, and for regulators like myself". He said he had written to banks to "remind them of their responsibilities to the public". These included not holding "inaccurate information" and not using information in a way that was "unduly unexpected." Mr Edwards added banks should also not be holding "any more information than is necessary". "Even the information banks gather around politically exposed persons must follow the law," he said. Reuters TV/Handout via Reuters Niger soldiers said late Wednesday that President Mohamad Bazoum had been ousted from power and his government overthrown hours after he was reportedly taken captive in his palace by presidential guards. In a broadcast aired on state television, Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, joined by nine other men in military fatigues, announced Bazoums removal, adding that a curfew had been instituted and the countrys borders closed until further notice. Abdramane said that the conspirators behind the coup had decided to put an end to the regime that you know due to the deteriorating security situation and bad governance, according to Reuters. He explained that Bazoum would be looked after. The president did not immediately comment on the development and has not been seen since being taken captive. Hours earlier, the Niger presidential office had said in a Twitter statement that Bazoum and his family were doing well despite reports that he was being held at the residence in the capital city of Niamey. Elements of the Presidential Guard had a fit of temper and tried unsuccessfully to gain the support of the national armed forces and the national guard, the office said, adding that the army had given the guards an ultimatum that they would attack... if they do not return to a better disposition. The president and members of his family have so far remained unharmed in the incident, which has been blasted as an attempted coup detat by the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). President of Niger has reportedly been removed from office and the country's borders have been closed per Niger State TV. A statement was released via soldiers. pic.twitter.com/7Pr5fJJ3WG Global: Military-Info (@Global_Mil_Info) July 26, 2023 As of Wednesday evening local time, the president remained trapped in residence, which had been sealed off by his alleged captors. The presidential guards motivation for detaining Bazoum remained unclear. Story continues The incident prompted protests across Nigers capital, with scores of demonstrators pouring out into the streets in support of the president. Some supporters reportedly attempted to approach the palace during the standoff until the guards surrounding the residence fired warning shots that sent them scattering. #Niger : putschist soldiers fired on protesters in #Niamey this afternoon, as hundreds gathered to reject the detention of democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum. pic.twitter.com/wxzjNhGIBU Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) July 26, 2023 In a statement through his spokesperson, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned in the strongest terms any effort to seize power by force and to undermine democratic governance, peace and stability. Earlier efforts to negotiate with the presidential guards and secure the presidents release have reportedly failed. According to the head of ECOWAS, Benin President Patrice Talon will head to Niger in an effort to reach a resolution with the alleged captives. In comments on Wednesday, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that the United States is deeply concerned about todays developments in Niger, urging elements of the presidential guard to release President Bazoum from detention and refrain from violence. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Bazoum on Wednesday as he was being held in the presidential palace. In New Zealand, he told a press conference that, what it clearly constitutes is an effort to seize power by force and to disrupt the constitution. Spoke to Nigerien President Bazoum. I conveyed our support for the democratically elected President of Niger. The U.S. condemns efforts to subvert Nigers constitutional order by force, and underscores that our partnership depends on the continuation of democratic governance. Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) July 26, 2023 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. File photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows a villager walking through water with mangroves in the background near the village of Kivalo, southwestern Madagascar. According to data from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Madagascar has about 227,150 hectares of mangrove forests. The country recorded a net loss of 8,526 hectares of mangrove between 1996 and 2016, but a gain of 1,446 hectares from 2016 to 2020. Thanks to the efforts of grassroots communities and their global partners, the Malagasy village of Kivalo now serves as an example of nature conservation that benefits both the environment and the people. (Xinhua/Ling Xin) MORONDAVA, Madagascar, July 26 (Xinhua) -- To arrive in the village of Kivalo in southwestern Madagascar, the island country in the Indian Ocean, visitors have to take a 45-minute boat ride through beautiful mangroves from the nearest land point. Thanks to the efforts of grassroots communities and their global partners, the village now serves as an example of nature conservation that benefits both the environment and the people. "A hundred years ago, Kivalo was directly exposed to the Mozambique Channel, when the mangroves were not there yet. The change of the riverbed due to successive cyclones has favored the plantations of mangroves around the village," said Justin Ramanahirana, president of a community organization managing mangrove conservation, known as the Analamaitso tsy ho gnan'olo (The green forest that is ours). The growth of mangroves has changed the lives of the 200 households who used to live on fishing in Kivalo for the better. "We protect the mangrove because all our money comes from it. We can catch 40 kilos of shrimp in a single catch. Thanks to the mangrove, it is no longer necessary to fish further out in the open sea," said Ramanahirana, a 44-year-old father of two sons and five daughters. As an expert on mangrove conservation, Ramanahirana said different species of mangroves in Kivalo provide flood protection and risk reduction benefits to the local communities. "The mangrove cools the water around it, which helps attract fishery resources," he said, adding that it also acts as a barrier against the winds coming directly from the Mozambique Channel. "Mangroves have high capacities to sequester carbon compared to other types of forests. And in recent years, many actors consider mangroves as a strategy for carbon offsetting, and they are taking action to tackle climate change," Lilia Rasolofomanana, coordinator of the Mangrove Program at the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Madagascar, told Xinhua. With 350 members, the Analamaitso tsy ho gnan'olo takes care of reforestation on a voluntary basis, conducts patrols with forest rangers, cleans the village and raises public awareness among the inhabitants of the protection of the mangrove. This successful experience attracted other similar associations and organizations in the country which came to Kivalo to exchange information on mangrove protection. With the support of technical and financial partners such as the WWF, Kivalo has achieved sustainable development propelled by environmental protection. Local communities are able to install solar thermal collectors to store seafood thanks to its partners and to rehabilitate a primary school ravaged by a cyclone, Ramanahirana said. "The result of a study commissioned by the WWF in 2021 to analyze the socio-economic values of mangroves showed that the estimated economic and total value for the mangroves of Madagascar is at 578 dollars per hectare per year", Rasolofomanana said. According to data from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Madagascar has about 227,150 hectares of mangrove forests. The country recorded a net loss of 8,526 hectares of mangrove between 1996 and 2016, but a gain of 1,446 hectares from 2016 to 2020. File photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows Justin Ramanahirana, president of a community organization managing mangrove conservation, walking among mangroves near the village of Kivalo, southwestern Madagascar. According to data from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Madagascar has about 227,150 hectares of mangrove forests. The country recorded a net loss of 8,526 hectares of mangrove between 1996 and 2016, but a gain of 1,446 hectares from 2016 to 2020. Thanks to the efforts of grassroots communities and their global partners, the Malagasy village of Kivalo now serves as an example of nature conservation that benefits both the environment and the people. (Xinhua/Ling Xin) File photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows local people paddling a canoe among mangroves near the village of Kivalo, southwestern Madagascar. According to data from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Madagascar has about 227,150 hectares of mangrove forests. The country recorded a net loss of 8,526 hectares of mangrove between 1996 and 2016, but a gain of 1,446 hectares from 2016 to 2020. Thanks to the efforts of grassroots communities and their global partners, the Malagasy village of Kivalo now serves as an example of nature conservation that benefits both the environment and the people. (Xinhua/Ling Xin) File photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows tourists paddling canoes among mangroves near the village of Kivalo, southwestern Madagascar. According to data from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Madagascar has about 227,150 hectares of mangrove forests. The country recorded a net loss of 8,526 hectares of mangrove between 1996 and 2016, but a gain of 1,446 hectares from 2016 to 2020. Thanks to the efforts of grassroots communities and their global partners, the Malagasy village of Kivalo now serves as an example of nature conservation that benefits both the environment and the people. (Xinhua/Ling Xin) A worker operates a loader as a rig drills a well near Roosevelt, Utah, on March 13, 2022. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News A new proposal by the Bureau of Land Management, which manages 245 million acres of land in mostly Western states, is earning wide support from environmental groups but condemnation and concern from not only the Wests elected leaders, but also representatives from the oil and gas industry, mining, ranching and even some recreation interests. Tourism accounted for $10.5 billion in direct visitor spending in Utah in 2021 and is a critical economic driver for many rural communities across the state that share a unique nexus with the public lands playground they provide, said Natalie Randall, executive director of the Utah Tourism Industry Association. While Randall said her association has not taken a direct position on the BLMs proposed Conservation and Landscape Health rule, there are a lot of questions it poses. The rule proposes to put conservation as a use of public lands available for leasing, which critics say upends decades of law. She said there is concern about what unintentional, unnecessary constraints, may result regarding public access if the rule is adopted. Randall wondered aloud if conservation leases were granted how BLM would define casual use of the land, which would possibly bar commercial guides and outfitters, an integral avenue to get visitors into the great outdoors with seasoned professionals. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and several other Western governors penned a letter to the Biden administration in opposition to the rule, asking it be pulled because it is unnecessary, a breach of BLMs own management mandate for multiple use particularly because so much federal land is already protected via monuments or other special designations such as Wilderness areas. Related Of the remaining BLM lands still open to multiple use, there is still a very high bar set before any kind of surface disturbing activities can be authorized, and many barriers to development in existing BLM resource management plans, Cox and the other governors wrote. In short, the proposed rule seems to be a solution in search of a problem when so much BLM land in the western United States is already under strict federal protection. Story continues Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, has proposed legislation to nullify the rule, and industry is already practicing its punches for a potential legal fight, with a spokesman for the American Exploration and Production Council saying Tuesday during the panel that courts are starting to make clear federal agencies should not usurp their authority. You know, I think looking at the Supreme Court, and looking at its ruling on West Virginia vs. EPA, I think that the court is really going to take a hard look at making sure that agencies are staying within their clearly expressed statutory authorities when promulgating rules, said Troy Lyons, vice president of governmental affairs for the council. So given where we are in this era of that, I would expect there to be some type of challenges to it. Oil and gas fueling energy, controversy Lyons said the Biden administration has made clear since its fledgling weeks in control of the United States that domestic gas and oil development is anathema to the countrys future, pressing pause on any federal onshore or offshore leases in a move later derailed in federal court. Related To continue on a similar path but in a different way will result in consequences that will be far reaching, he warned. In 2021, operators on onshore federal and tribal lands in the United States produced 462 million barrels of oil and 3.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. If oil and gas produced on federal onshore federal lands were a country, it would be the 17th largest producer in the world of oil and the 11th largest producer of natural gas in the world. He said the revenue adds up. In 2022 onshore federal lands production yielded about $8.6 billion dollars in total federal revenue, and $3.8 billion dispersed to local and state governments. This accounted for nearly $90 million in 2022 for Utah. Amid calls to combat climate change and decrease carbon emissions, the extraction industry has not only been condemned by top Washington officials, but a consortium of environmental organizations that say a fossil-fueled economy needs to be a thing of the past and other public land uses prioritized or at least on a level playing field. The proposed rule would give the Bureau of Land Management the tools it needs for responsible stewardship of Americas public lands in the 21st century. Lands across the West are under increasing pressure from wildfires, drought, and development, said Center for Western Priorities Deputy Director Aaron Weiss. At the same time, our public lands will be central to Americas transition to a clean energy economy. By elevating the best available science and giving land managers on the ground more flexibility, the rule would ensure Americas public lands remain healthy for years to come. But Jake Garfield, an assistant attorney general representing Utahs Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office, said the Bureau of Land Management already controls 22.8 million acres of land in Utah and of that, 10.1 million acres of that is under a strict designation that generally precludes industry activity. During the panel presentation, he showed a map with those strict designations colored in purple and the rest in yellow. What were seeing with this rule is really an attempt to expand the purple area on this map. This rule appears to us to be a way for the BLM to take more of yellow land, more of this land that is open for development of natural resources and close that off to that development. Garfield added, Needless to say, we strongly oppose this rule as currently drafted. The intact landscape dilemma BLMs new proposal would allow it to consider large swaths of land that represent intact landscapes of a special nature that preserve ecological balance for designation for leasing. Utahs vast amount of natural resources and wide-open spaces necessarily lead to intact landscapes, Garfield and Randall said, and questioned how those impacts would play out in the future should the rule become effective. Cox and the other governors mentioned the concern in their letter. The proposed rules proposed restrictions on intact landscapes could ultimately punish westerners for being good stewards of the land, it said. Rikki Hrenko-Browning, president of the Utah Petroleum Association which hosted the panel, echoed that sentiment. The reason that Utah has such large areas of intact landscapes is because our multiple use has been done so responsibly. Its a little bit of a no good deed goes unpunished issue here of, really, you know, hurting those individuals who have been responsible for creating those intact landscapes in the first place, she said. So, obviously, we have a lot of concerns with this rule. Clarification: A previous version of this story included a direct quote indicating there is concern among some recreational groups, including REI and the Outdoor Industry Association, over the proposed BLM rule. To clarify, those groups have indicated they support for the proposal. A restaurant owner accused of opening fire on a man outside of a popular pastry shop in Bostons North End was deemed dangerous by a judge Wednesday and ordered held behind bars for at least 120 days while his court proceedings play out. Patrick Mendoza, the co-owner of Monicas Trattoria in the North End, fired a gun at another man on July 12 outside Modern Pastry on Hanover Street, according to Boston police. Mendoza, 54, was arrested in Falmouth on Friday and has been held behind bars since his initial arraignment. Mendoza returned to court Wednesday for a dangerousness hearing, where prosecutors argued that he needs to remain in custody because there is no safety net that will keep him from going after the shooting victim again. The defense argued that Mendoza needs to support his family and that he is not a danger to the public. Boston Municipal Court Judge Paul Tresler ultimately ordered Mendoza held without bail after ruling he was a danger to society. A dangerousness hearing is an appropriate action here, given this individuals extraordinarily reckless decision to send bullets flying on a city street, in this case, a street packed with restaurants and bustling with diners and tourists, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said. Its very lucky that no one was injured or worse by his reprehensible conduct. This comes after the Boston Licensing Board voted unanimously to suspend Monicas Trattorias food and liquor licenses on Tuesday, essentially shutting the business down. Those licenses wont be reinstated - and the restaurant cannot serve food or liquor - until the board approves a new manager. This is a very heavily regulated industry and you simply must have a manager on record, said Board Commissioner Keeana Saxon. You have to cross the Ts and you have to dot the Is. Mendoza is facing several charges including assault by means of a dangerous weapon (gun), assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery. He stood behind a door, hiding his face during his arraignment Friday. Story continues Prosecutors said Mendoza, who was riding a bike when the shots rang out, was specifically targeting a man who lives above Modern Pastry who he has allegedly feuded with for decades. He fired multiple shots at this individual, stating, Its going to be quick. Im going to kill you, Suffolk County Assistant District Daniel Nucci said of Mendoza. Mendoza received a probation sentence in December 2022 for assault with a dangerous weapon involving the same victim. On the day of the shooting, Mendoza appeared at a probation hearing for violating the sentences no-contact order with the victim. He was released on personal recognizance and committed the shooting later that night, according to prosecutors. Mendoza is due back in court for a probable cause hearing on Aug. 4. An investigation remains ongoing. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (centre) welcomed at an airport in Pyongyang on 25 July A Russian delegation led by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has arrived in North Korea, to be joined by a Chinese delegation later on Wednesday. They will attend Pyongyang's celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, marked typically by massive military parades. The visits are the first of their kind to the North since it shut its borders to try to keep out the pandemic. It is unclear if this signals a change in Pyongyang's border policies. Reclusive North Korea had sealed itself off from all trade and diplomatic ties in early 2020, even with Russia and China, its main economic and political partners. They even cut off imports of essential goods like food and medicine. North Korea has been facing food shortages, which have been made worse by its border closure and strict international sanctions that have been imposed because of its nuclear programme. Some analysts say the inclusion of Chinese and Russian envoys in this year's "Victory Day" parade - as the 1953 Korean armistice is called in the North - hints at a possible loosening of Covid restrictions. It comes weeks after images of North Koreans walking around without masks were shown on state media. The Russian delegation arrived in North Korea late on Tuesday, and received a warm welcome on the tarmac at an airport in Pyongyang. Mr Shoigu walked past a line of saluting soldiers and a red banner emblazoned with the words, "Welcome, Comrade Defence Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu!" in both Korean and Russian. The Chinese delegation will be led by Li Hongzhong, who is part of the Chinese Communist Party's central policymaking committee, and will arrive some time on Wednesday, according to a party spokesperson. China and Russia are both long time allies of North Korea. Beijing had sent troops in the autumn of 1950 to support North Korea in the war against South Korea. The then Soviet Union also supported North Korea in the war. Story continues Since the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Russia has remained a natural ally for North Korea because of their mutual dislike for the US. Washington has, in fact, accused North Korea of providing military aid to Russia in its war in Ukraine, a claim that both Pyongyang and Moscow deny. Mr Shoigu's visit also comes against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions between the US and Russia over the Ukraine war. Ties between Beijing and Washington are also frayed because of Taiwan. The US has been trying to talk to Pyongyang after US soldier Travis King fled to North Korea last week. Private King, who was meant to go back to the US to face disciplinary action, ran into North Korea while on a tour at the Joint Security Area (JSA), an area in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that divides North and South Korea. The United Nations Command, which the United States is part of, said on Monday that dialogue had taken place with North Korea over Pvt King, but did not provide any details. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (front, L) arrives at Pyongyang International Airport on Tuesday (STR) North Korea rolled out the red carpet for the Russian defence minister, state media said Wednesday, with delegations from Moscow and Beijing set to attend Korean War anniversary events, the country's first known foreign visitors since its pandemic border closure. Pyongyang on Thursday will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the signing of the July 27, 1953 Korean War armistice, which ended open hostilities and is marked as Victory Day in the North. The Russian national anthem blared throughout Pyongyang International Airport, which was "wrapped up in a warm welcome atmosphere" to greet Moscow's Sergei Shoigu and his delegation Tuesday evening, the Korean Central News Agency said. "Flags of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation were fluttering at the flagstaffs and the guards of honor of the Korean People's Army (KPA) lined up at the station before the terminal," KCNA said. Shoigu was greeted by North Korean Defence Minister Kang Sun Nam, and photos carried by the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed hundreds of uniformed KPA soldiers lining the airport holding signs welcoming the Russians. The North Koreans expressed their "full support" for the Russian army and people, "who are struggling to defend the sovereign rights and development and interests of their country," KCNA added. Russia, a historic ally of Pyongyang, is one of a handful of nations that maintains friendly relations with the North. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been steadfast in his support for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, including, Washington says, supplying rockets and missiles. Park Won-gon, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said the fact that Russia's defence minister flew to Pyongyang while his country is at war was "very significant". "Even though the emergency quarantine system remains in place, Kim Jong Un may have felt the need to show something to his people at the Victory Day celebrations," Park told AFP. Story continues For the Chinese and Russians, their presence could send a "strong unified message" to the United States, he added. - Change in border policy? - The inclusion of foreign guests at this year's celebrations is a post-pandemic first and hints at new flexibility towards enforcing border controls. China also said it would send a delegation led by Politburo member Li Hongzhong that was due to arrive in Pyongyang later Wednesday, suggesting they would not be required to undergo an extensive quarantine ahead of the Thursday anniversary event. North Korea has been under a rigid self-imposed coronavirus blockade since early 2020 to protect itself from Covid-19, preventing even its own nationals from entering the country. The North only resumed some trade with China last year and allowed new Beijing envoy Wang Yajun to take up his position this year. He is the first known diplomat to cross into North Korea since the border closure in January 2020. Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang, Alexander Matsegora, is known to have remained in the North Korean capital throughout the pandemic, even as staff numbers at his embassy dwindled and other foreign missions closed their doors. sh/ceb/cwl Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (front, L) arrives at Pyongyang International Airport on Tuesday (STR) North Korea rolled out the red carpet for the Russian defence minister, state media said Wednesday, with delegations from Moscow and Beijing set to attend Korean War anniversary events, the country's first-known foreign visitors since its pandemic border closure. Pyongyang is on Thursday marking the 70th anniversary of the signing of the July 27, 1953 Korean War armistice, which ended open hostilities and is celebrated as Victory Day in the North. The Russian national anthem blared throughout Pyongyang International Airport, which was "wrapped up in a warm welcome atmosphere" to greet Moscow's Sergei Shoigu and his delegation Tuesday evening, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said. Shoigu was greeted by North Korean Defence Minister Kang Sun Nam, and photos carried by the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed hundreds of uniformed soldiers of the Korean People's Army lining the airport holding signs welcoming the Russians. Shoigu laid flowers in front of giant bronze statues of former leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, video shared by the Russian defence ministry showed. "For Russia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is an important partner, with which we share a common border and a rich history of cooperation," Shoigu said according to a ministry statement, which added that the meeting would "contribute to strengthening cooperation between our ministries of defence". Russia, a historic ally of North Korea, is one of a handful of nations with which Pyongyang maintains friendly relations. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been steadfast in his support for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, including, Washington says, supplying rockets and missiles. The fact that Russia's defence minister flew to Pyongyang while his country is at war was "very significant", said Park Won-gon, director of Ewha University's Institute of Unification Studies. "Even though the emergency quarantine system remains in place, Kim Jong Un may have felt the need to show something to his people at the Victory Day celebrations," he told AFP. Story continues For the Chinese and Russians, their presence could send a "strong unified message" to the United States, Park added. But Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University, said the visit was unlikely to result in any arms deals or diplomatic advances, calling it "a symbolic show of solidarity on a war anniversary". - Change in border policy? - Satellite imagery indicates North Korea has been preparing for the kind of large-scale military parade with which it typically fetes such anniversaries. South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that there were "clear signs" of preparations for a midnight parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang in recent days, citing multiple unnamed government sources. The inclusion of foreign guests at this year's celebrations is a post-pandemic first and hints at new flexibility towards enforcing border controls. China also said it would send a delegation led by Politburo member Li Hongzhong that was due to arrive in Pyongyang Wednesday, suggesting they would not be required to undergo an extensive quarantine ahead of the Thursday anniversary event. North Korea has been under a rigid self-imposed blockade since early 2020 to protect itself from Covid-19, preventing even its own nationals from entering the country. It only resumed some trade with China last year and allowed new Beijing envoy Wang Yajun to take up his position this year. He is the first known diplomat to cross into North Korea since the border closure in January 2020. Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang, Alexander Matsegora, is known to have remained in the North Korean capital throughout the pandemic, even as staff numbers at his embassy dwindled and other foreign missions closed their doors. sh/ceb/dhw By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) -After years of pandemic isolation, North Korea has invited its friends back this week, hosting senior Chinese and Russian delegations for 70th anniversary commemorations of the Korean War and the struggle against the United States and its allies. The visiting dignitaries, which include Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong, are expected to be presented with one of North Korea's signature events: a massive military parade showcasing its latest weaponry. Analysts say the spectacle will likely include the North's nuclear-tipped missiles banned by the United Nations Security Council, where Russia and China are permanent members. The visits are the first known foreign delegations to visit North Korea since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and come as Pyongyang has looked to deepen its ties with Beijing and Moscow, finding common ground in their rivalries with Washington and the West. Thursday's holiday, in which North Korea celebrates what it sees as a victory over U.S.-led allied forces in the 1950-1953 Korean War, provides a chance for Pyongyang to highlight the Cold War days when North Korean troops fought with Chinese and Russian support. North Korea is still technically at war with the U.S.-led alliance after fighting ended in an armistice, rather than a formal peace treaty. "North Korea inviting delegations from both countries seems to be a case of history rhyming, whereby Pyongyang is gearing up to stand up against the West, but perceives the need to maintain relatively balanced ties with both China and Russia," said Anthony Rinna, a specialist in Korea-Russia relations at Sino-NK, a website that analyses the region. Only time will tell if the visits signal a broader easing in North Korea's bans on international travel, which could in theory provide an opening for U.S. officials to negotiate the release of U.S. soldier Travis King, who crossed into North Korea last week, Rinna said. Story continues However, it seems unlikely that Pyongyang will seek to engage with Washington any time soon, and may consider itself to be in a full-scale New Cold War with the United States, he added. MILITARY DISPLAYS Images from Russia's defence ministry and North Korean media showed Shoigu being greeted by North Korean defence minister Kang Sun Nam and Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora at the airport, and rows of North Korean and Russia troops. The United States has accused North Korea of providing weapons to Russia during the war in Ukraine, including an arms delivery of infantry rockets and missiles to the Kremlin-backed Wagner mercenary group in November 2022. Pyongyang and Moscow have denied those claims, but Kim has vowed to bolster strategic cooperation between the nations. The military parade in Pyongyang is likely to include as many as 15,000 personnel, and possibly feature new designs of nuclear-capable weapons, said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. Commercial satellite imagery over recent weeks have shown participants practicing, including in downtown Kim Il Sung Square where the event will take place, with large formations showing the number "70" and other slogans, said Dave Schmerler, a researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS). At a training ground outside Pyongyang, military units appeared to be practicing marching around the square track with vehicles behind them, Schmerler added, citing imagery provided to Reuters by U.S.-based firm Umbra, which used radar imaging satellites to peer through cloud cover. 'SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY' Leader Kim Jong Un kicked off commemorations this week with visits to a cemetery for Chinese soldiers who fought in the war, known as the Fatherland Liberation War, state media KCNA reported on Wednesday. The only defence treaty China and North Korea have is with each other. Kim also visited the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery on Monday, KCNA reported, as he praised the soldiers for "inflicting defeat" on U.S. imperialism. Amid international sanctions over North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes - which both Moscow and Beijing voted to impose - China has become by far North Korea's largest trading partner. China's exports to its secretive neighbour in June were eight times higher than a year before. Beijing asserted on Monday that it "strictly" implements U.N. sanctions on North Korea. Russia and China have rebuffed recent attempts by the United States and some European countries to impose new sanctions on North Korea. They have instead pushed for existing measures to be eased for humanitarian purposes and to entice Pyongyang back to denuclearisation talks, which broke down in 2019. Yang said the delegations could signal that long-stalled diplomatic visits could resume. "If North Korea also sends a high-level delegation to China for the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games, it means the resumption of high-level 'shuttle diplomacy' between North Korea and China since the COVID-19 pandemic," he said. (Reporting by Josh Smith; Additional reporting by Minwoo Park; Editing by Michael Perry) The News Policymakers misunderstand the carbon footprint of plant-based resources: Thats the underlying conclusion of a new report from the World Resources Institute, which found that deforestation is set to soar in the coming decades as the worlds decarbonization and economic development goals collide. As global demand rises for food, bioenergy crops, urban space, and timber, there isnt enough real estate available to provide all of them. Land needed for wood production alone is expected to increase by a third by 2050, the report found, requiring an area twice the size of India to be harvested. Policies that support land-intensive climate solutions especially biofuels and wood as a replacement for steel and concrete in construction exacerbate the problem. The scale of the global land squeeze is really underappreciated, said Rich Waite, a senior researcher at WRI and co-author of the report. Its completely incompatible with our goals to eliminate deforestation. Tims view The report highlights a misconception at the heart of how policymakers think about plants. A single corn plant, converted into ethanol fuel, may be carbon neutral if the CO2 emissions produced when its burned in a car engine are equal to what the plant consumed while growing. But if using that corn for ethanol means cutting down a forest somewhere else in the world to make space for food crops, the net climate effect is likely negative. Too often in climate policy, land is treated like an inexhaustible resource or afterthought, when in fact the conversion of land to produce ostensibly low-carbon commodities can be just as damaging as the use of fossil fuels. The report takes particular issue with the emerging trend of using wood to replace carbon-intensive steel and concrete in construction. New processing techniques have made it possible to build much larger and more durable structures from wood, which could have a lower carbon footprint and be easier to recycle. Wood-based large construction projects are booming in the U.S., according to Bloomberg. Story continues There are a few problems with this approach, Waite argues. Much of the mass of a tree is wasted during harvesting and production, which creates emissions as it decomposes. There is also a carbon opportunity cost in harvesting trees, which would continue to absorb CO2 if not harvested. Most important is the land limitation: All existing timber production lots already have customers lined up. There isnt extra wood sitting around for construction projects to use, so a boom in wood building would have to eat into the global land budget, displacing agriculture or some other land use and leading eventually to the cutting of old-growth forests, a practice that world leaders have promised to end by 2030. The upshot is that policymakers should proceed with caution before introducing new incentives for wood construction, as they have recently in Germany, for example. We shouldnt increase demand for new land-based products until we can demonstrate that demand for other land uses has peaked, Waite said. Room for Disagreement Wood-based construction isnt necessarily a lost cause. If other uses of wood, especially single-use paper products, can be cut back, and some of that existing wood supply redirected to offsetting the use of steel and concrete in construction, it could shave about 25% off the net annual carbon footprint of wood production, WRI finds. Relying exclusively on wood from fast-growing forests, and reducing waste, would also make wood more attractive as a construction material, especially if the steel and concrete industries fail to make much progress on weaning off their heavy use of coal. The View From Romania European policymakers are debating whether wood should qualify as a renewable energy source, when burned for heat or power. The war in Ukraine has boosted calls for alternatives to Russian gas, including wood, and demand for wood pellets is rising quickly in the European Union. That demand is driving deforestation on the continent, particularly in Romania, where environmental groups have found evidence of increased logging in protected areas. Notable Apparently, its not all sunshine and lollypops for former Georgia reality TV couple Todd and Julie Chrisley as they continue to serve their sentences in federal prison, according to their children. On the latest episode of Savannah Chrisleys podcast, her brother Chase joined her, and the two talked about what they called inhumane conditions that their parents were living in. You went and saw Dad, and you got to hear about the cluster of everything going on at his facility, Savannah said during their chat. Its a nightmare, Chase said. They both have no air conditioning, Chase said. They are both in states where it gets to be 100+ degrees, and theres no air conditioning. I dont care if you killed somebody if youre in a government facility, you should have air conditioning, Chase said. Savannah said that Julie has rattlesnakes just casually slithering on the floor in front of her and has allegedly seen snakes in her cell, around her bed. RELATED STORIES Chase clarified that they were not actually rattlesnakes, but still a poisonous species of snake. At the end of the day, its my parents. I mean, I dont [expect] anyone else to feel bad for them, Chase said. [People] dont have any sympathy until theyre in the situation and its their loved one. Savannah said that its been hard watching her parents in prison. Its just crazy to sit and watch Mom and Dad go through that, she said. But luckily, they have the fight in them. Air conditioning is the least of it whenever youve got black mold, asbestos, lead-based paint, snakes, Savannah said. Story continues Its not Fear Factor, Chase responded. Savannah said despite their incarceration, her parents love for each other has remained solid. Theyre strong, and they have remained loyal to each other. They love each other, Chase said. They are strong individuals. They werent built to break and this, for damn sure, isnt going to break them. The Chrisleys, mostly known for their reality TV series Chrisley Knows Best, were found guilty last year of conspiring to defraud banks and the IRS out of millions of dollars. In November, Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years in prison plus 36 months of supervised release. Julie Chrisley was sentenced to seven years in prison, plus 36 months of supervised release. Both were ordered to report to separate Florida prisons on Jan. 17. However, Julie Chrisley was instead taken to a prison in Kentucky. The Christleys have maintained their innocence since being brought up on charges in 2019. Fox News asked for a comment from both prisons about the claims made by Savannah and Chase Chrisley, both so far have gotten no response. RELATED NEWS: FILE: Reality TV stars Julie Chrisley and Todd Chrisley attend the 2016 Make-A-Wish Stars For Wishes at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel on January 16, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images) FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 05: (L-R front) Faye Chrisley, Chloe Chrisley, Savannah Chrisley, Julie Chrisley, Chase Chrisley (L-R Back row) Grayson Chrisley, Todd Chrisley and Nic Kerdiles pose during a personal appearance by Savannah Chrisley at Belk at Cool Springs Galleria Mall on November 05, 2019 in Franklin, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Rampage ) TV personalities Todd Chrisley (L) and Julie Chrisley attend the 52nd Academy Of Country Music Awards at Toshiba Plaza on April 2, 2017 in Las Vegas. FILE PHOTO: Julie Chrisley (L) and Todd Chrisley attend the grand opening of E3 Chophouse Nashville on November 20, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. The reality television stars have had their bond request denied and will have to report to prison later this month. (Photo by Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images for E3 Chophouse Nashville) BIG STAR LITTLE STAR -- WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: (L-R) Producer/TV personality Todd Chrisley reads aloud the tattooed text of Bible verse John 3:16 on TV personality Chase Chrisley, while Lindsie Chrisley observes onstage during the 'Chrisley Knows Best' panel at the 2016 NBCUniversal Summer Press Day at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village on April 1, 2016 in Westlake Village, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JULY 14: Actress Julie Chrisley and Todd Chrisley attend NBCUniversal's 2014 Summer TCA Tour day 2 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 14, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images) NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 12: (L-R) Julie Chrisley, Todd Chrisley, Savannah Chrisley and Lindsie Chrisley Campbell speak onstage at The Concert For Love And Acceptance at City Winery Nashville on June 12, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Concert For Love And Acceptance) LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 15: (L-R) Chase Chrisley, Julie Chrisley, and Todd Chrisley attend the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images) BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JULY 14: (L-R) Executive producer Stephanie Bloch Chambers, TV personalities Julie Chrisley, Todd Chrisley, Chase Chrisley and Savannah Chrisley speak onstage at the 'Chrisley Knows Best' panel during the NBCUniversal USA Network portion of the 2014 Summer Television Critics Association at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 14, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 03: TV personalities Savannah Chrisley (L) and Todd Chrisley attend the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 3, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 24: (L-R) Julie Chrisley, Savannah Chrisley, Chase Chrisley and Todd Chrisley from reality show, Chrisley Knows Best, attend the 17th annual Waiting for Wishes celebrity dinner at The Palm on April 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for The Kevin Carter Foundation) GF Default - Todd Chrisley's Daughter Seriously Injured in Car Accident GF Default - Todd Chrisley Being Investigated After Records Indicate Dodged Taxes GF Default - Reality stars Todd Chrisley, wife indicted by federal grand jury on tax evasion charges GF Default - Chrisley indicted for tax evasion On his television show, "Chrisley Knows Best," reality star Todd Chrisley (pictured) flaunts his lavish lifestyle, but a WSB investigations ask if that lifestyle come at the expense of Georgia taxpayers. FILE: Julie Chrisley, Todd Chrisley, speak onstage at the 'Chrisley Knows Best' panel July 14, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)" height="720" width="1280"/> Todd Chrisley being interviewed by Channel 2" height="391" width="694"/> Actress Julie Chrisley and Todd Chrisley attend NBCUniversal's 2014 Summer TCA Tour day 2 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 14, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images)" height="720" width="1280"/> Police say a now-former Winter Park police detective drove drunk, smashed his city SUV into parked cars, and then left the scene. He was found a short drive away with his front tire nearly torn off, and 12 empty White Claw Seltzer cans under his seat. Channel 9 investigative reporter Karla Ray asked whether he was given special treatment by his colleagues, who didnt arrest him or take him to jail. By the time Winter Park police officers started searching the SUV in the early morning hours of March 13, they knew it was one of their vehicles and one of their own driving. Read: New Winter Park building in the works Now-former detective Matthew Wright was in court to plead no contest to a misdemeanor DUI citation earlier this month. As part of a plea, prosecutors threw out an additional citation for leaving the scene of a crash. He was given those tickets, but not taken to jail, despite a dozen empty cans found in his patrol vehicle and the damage to two parked cars he slammed into on a nearby street. Read: Winter Park rejects land swaps for old library, to seek more redevelopment bids Per a memorandum of understanding, the Maitland Police Department took over the investigation into the crash. An officer visited Wright at the hospital after a police report shows he reported having a headache. Once inside the hospital, the Maitland officer noted that Wright didnt have any injuries from the crash itself. Read: All good things come to an end: Lindas Winter Park Diner to close this summer From his hospital bed, a report shows that Wright stated he had, no recollection of any events prior, during, or after the crash, and refused a blood draw. Still, he was not booked into the jail. This officer should have been transported to hospital, checked off, and then released from the hospital to the custody of the police department, and then transported, attorney and former FHP Trooper Jeff Lotter said. Story continues Video: Winter Park residents could see higher utility, trash pick-up fees Lotter questions whether an average person would have been given tickets, like Wright, or taken to jail. I think that is a fair assessment, that the default position in a DUI is that youre going to be arrested, Lotter said. Thats the default position. And there are very few exceptions to that. Read: 2 brothers accused of killing Winter Park man released on own recognizance Maitland police said in a statement: Matthew Wright was charged with the highest level of crimes given the evidence, which were misdemeanor driving under the influence (Florida State Statute 316.193(3)(C)(1)) and misdemeanor leaving the scene of a crash with property damage (Florida State Statute 316.063(1)). During the course of our investigation, it was determined by the responding Fire Department that Mr. Wright was in need of medical care and hospital staff subsequently concurred. In lieu of making a physical arrest, our Officer filed criminal charges directly with the Orange County Clerk of Courts through the use of a criminal DUI citation and a criminal traffic citation. Mr. Wright was provided with the court dates for his arraignment on both charges prior to the Officer leaving the hospital. Issuing notices to appear via criminal citations in lieu of making physical arrests is not an uncommon practice when the offender is hospitalized for injuries sustained during the incident and the criminal charges involved are not felony crimes. With that being said, it is understandable that you may perceive that Mr. Wright was given preferential treatment because he was not physically arrested; however, this was not the case. He was charged with those crimes for which probable cause was developed and our agency cooperated with the State Attorneys Office to ensure Mr. Wright was successfully prosecuted. The Maitland Police Department strongly believes that law enforcement officers should be held to the highest standard. Winter Park police said in a statement: The Winter Park Police Department holds our officers to a higher standard of the law and expect them to uphold and honor the laws they enforce. Former Officer Matthew Wrights actions were not representative of our agencys core values and undermines the trust between the police department and community we serve. 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. By Rich McKay (Reuters) - The man who sold a fatal fentanyl-laced bag of heroin to actor Michael K. Williams, who played the shotgun-toting drug dealer Omar Little in the HBO crime drama "The Wire," was sentenced on Tuesday to 30 months in prison, according to court records. Carlos Macci, 72, was part of a four-man crew selling drugs from Brooklyn, and he sold the lethal dose to Williams, federal prosecutors said in court documents. Prosecutors had asked for a longer sentence of 48 months. "For decades the defendant has been selling deadly narcotics: heroin and now heroin laced with fentanyl," they wrote in court papers. An autopsy and court records show that Williams, 54, died of a drug overdose and was found in his Brooklyn apartment on Sept. 6, 2021. Drug paraphernalia was discovered at the scene, police said. In a plea agreement, Macci pleaded guilty in April to narcotics conspiracy, according to court papers. Fentanyl was associated with 70,600 of the drug overdoses in the U.S. in 2021, according to the National Institutes of Health. Williams was known for humanizing the characters he portrayed, bringing to the roles his own experience as a Black man growing up in New York. Among the real-life struggles he tapped were his bouts with drug addiction, which he brought to his best known role for "The Wire." The TV series, which aired from 2002 to 2008, was set in Baltimore and told the story of the narcotics trade from the perspective of criminals, police and the people caught between them. Williams also won praise for his performance in "Boardwalk Empire," an HBO series set in Atlantic City, New Jersey during the Prohibition era of the 1920s. (Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Cynthia Osterman) KAMPALA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Uganda has banned the exportation of timber to fight deforestation in the East African country. Fred Enanga, Uganda Police Force spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone on Wednesday that the ban came into force on Monday. Enanga said they would work with other sister security agencies, such as the National Forestry Authority, the Uganda Revenue Authority, and the army, to enforce the ban. "I want to inform the public that police have commenced joint operations to enforce the presidential directive on the ban of timber and commercial charcoal production in the country," Enanga said. He added that the ban is aimed at reversing the damage caused to the environment by individuals engaged in the illegal production of timber. "All timber exporting companies and hotspots are under close monitoring with emphasis on land, air, and water transport. We are carrying out intelligence on unscrupulous dealers, criminal elites and politicians who will attempt to abuse this presidential directive," Enanga said. In May, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni issued an executive order banning charcoal burning and trade in the northern region. Museveni said officials in charge of the environment and forestry had allowed the destructive tree-cutting for the charcoal business to go on massively in the northern region. Four civilians and two firefighters sustained minor injuries Wednesday morning when part of a construction crane in Manhattan caught fire and plummeted from the top of a skyscraper to the street below, New York City authorities said. Firefighters were already en route at 7:25 a.m. to what became a five-alarm fire when the crane collapsed atop a 45-story building under construction on 10th Avenue in the Hudson Yards area of Manhattan, FDNY First Deputy Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer told assembled media. All of those who were injured, including a firefighter experiencing chest pains, were outside when the crane fell, Pfeifer said. "We were extremely, extremely lucky this morning," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said at the news briefing. "As you can see from the street, this could have been much worse." Watch as Mayor Adams, Commissioner Caban and city officials provide an update on this mornings crane collapse. https://t.co/ZqtaPyVQFu NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) July 26, 2023 Skyscraper planned at 550 10th Ave., where crane collapsed More than 200 firefighters and medics responded to the area, where Pfeifer said they evacuated surrounding buildings and stretched hose lines to the top floors of nearby skyscrapers to battle the blaze. Drone footage appeared to show that most of the fire had been extinguished by around 9:30 a.m. local time, he said. Emergency responders battle flames as a large construction crane caught fire in Manhattan on Wednesday in New York. The skyscraper at 550 10th Ave. is intended to become a 54-story mixed-used building, said Jimmy Oddo, commissioner of the New York City Department of Buildings. Oddo said at the news briefing that his office will conduct an investigation, and an independent assessment will be commissioned as well. "It's my job and our agency's job to find out what happened here," Oddo said. Crane was carrying concrete A preliminary investigation revealed that the crane's operator was lifting 16 tons of concrete when the operator noticed that a fire had started in the engine compartment of the crane. The fire heated the crane's cable, weakening it to the point that it lost strength, causing it to collapse, Pfeifer said. Story continues Unable to contain the blaze, the operator had no choice but to exit the crane and get to safety, he added. As the top part of the crane fell, it struck a building across the street at 555 10th Ave. Videos show crane collapse, fire The crane can be seen ablaze in multiple videos captured by bystanders and posted to Twitter before it and the load of concrete detach, slam into the neighboring building, and fall to the street below. One video posted on Twitter by user @jimmy_farring shows the crane on fire before it breaks loose and crashes into a skyscraper across the street and onto the ground, sending pedestrians fleeing the area. (Editor's note: Video contains profanity). In another video shared on Twitter by podcaster Paula Pant, black smoke could be seen billowing into the sky after the top of the crane detached and fell. #fire #nyc #hudsonyards you can see the top piece of it collapse around approx the 40-second mark pic.twitter.com/k78wiJEGXu Paula Pant (@AffordAnything) July 26, 2023 Surrounding streets were closed to traffic, but some reopened around 9:30 a.m., according to a tweet from the New York City Police Department. However, 10th Avenue remained closed between 34th and 42nd streets as of Wednesday morning, police said. The location on Manhattans west side is near the Port Authority Bus Terminal and an entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel, which carries auto traffic to and from New Jersey under the Hudson River. Contributing: Associated Press. 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: Crane collapse NYC: Structure caught fire in Manhattan's Hudson Yards After the Yemeni civil war in 2014, much of the diaspora made its way to the Bronx near the Pelham Parkway and Van Nest neighborhoods in an enclave that eventually became deemed as Little Yemen. The area now boasts more than 500 Yemeni-owned businesses, and one of the best among them is family-run Arth Aljanatain. As I walked in the door of the no-frills restaurant, I heard no music, just the sounds of hungry diners chatting and the clinking of a busy kitchen. The lack of a playlist was made up for in character, smells and an infectious warm energy. There is one small counter at which diners can place an order, and while there is no visible menu on the wall, a paper one will be provided on request. Owner Hashen came out to greet me, and I shyly admitted my knowledge on Yemeni cuisine is sparse. With this information, he refused to let me order on my own, and told me if I was going to be properly introduced to his countrys food, I had to trust him. While I was taught to never trust strangers, in this case, it was simply doctors orders, no questions asked. Within minutes, a cup of yellow-greenish soup and a salad were placed on a plastic tray before me. The soup turned out to be a brothy turmeric lentil soup. My server let me know that every dish comes with soup and salad. Shortly after they arrived, a bowl of hummus with some freshly baked Yemeni flatbread called malawah followed. The bread is baked inhouse everyday and is much larger and thinner than a pita, with signature charred flecks throughout. I shamelessly tore pieces off to use as a scooping vessel into the incredibly clean-tasting hummus. I was quickly learning that the food here is simple, one might even say pure, like you were eating in someones kitchen at their home, not at a restaurant in New York City. After the hummus and soup came several main courses: lamb, chicken, and salmon, all in hearty portions served with rice. I immediately went for the lamb. I pulled the plate toward me and as I went to pick up the bone, preparing to have to cut a piece off, the meat in its entirety fell off. Now that is the epitome of fall-off-the-bone, no-fork-needed food. It was impressive to witness, and, so, I skipped the utensils, grabbed yet another piece of the flatbread, scooped up some of that tender lamb, and popped it into my mouth. I had a few bites of fragrant, warm rice, and while I could have finished that lamb dish 100 times over, I wanted to save some room to try the chicken and salmon. Story continues I noticed the salmon was heavily covered in a red seasoning, which Hashen explained was a mix of paprika, chili, coriander and other spices. I dug in, and while the portion was huge and it certainly is worth trying at only $19.99, it was hard to compare anything to that lamb. I tried the chicken, and added dollops of zhug. Any hot sauce aficionado should be familiar with zhug. The flavor-packed, eye-watering green Yemeni hot sauce is typically made with chili peppers (in Arths case, jalapenos), garlic and other spices, with a chimichurri-like consistency. Add small drops (or dollops, if youre like me) to any of the dishes at Arth Aljanatain, and youre in for a real treat. Arth Aljanatain also serves breakfast items, such as liver and hearts, foul, kidney beans with eggs and cheese, and sandwiches like falafel, egg, beans and chicken. There is also a selection of desserts, such as basbousa, a syrup-soaked semolina cake, and mahalabiya, a creamy Middle Eastern milk pudding. One of the most efficient ways to understand a community is through the food they eat, so bring your support to a group of hospitable, warm folks who certainly deserve it, and head to Arth Aljanatain in the Bronxs Little Yemen. Address: 700 Rhinelander Ave, Bronx, N.Y. 10462 Hours: Monday-Sunday 9 a.m.-1a.m. Prices: Appetizers $1.49 to $7.99, breakfast $8.99 to $16.99, lunch $15.99 to $27.99, main courses $14.99 to $27.99 Delivery and takeout available; no reservations Kaitlyn Rosati is a New York City-based food and travel journalist. She is constantly on the hunt to find the citys best hidden gems, allowing New Yorkers to travel far without ever leaving the boroughs. Have a suggestion for a great hidden dining gem in your neighborhood? Reach out to Kaitlyn with your recommendations at nomannomad.net@gmail.com. NEW YORK (AP) New York City will set up a shelter for up to 1,000 migrants in the parking lot of a state psychiatric hospital as thousands of asylum seekers continue to arrive in the city weekly, officials said Wednesday. The new emergency relief center at the Creedmoor Psychiatric Hospital in the Queens borough of New York will house adult men who are asylum seekers and will offer services including meals and medical care, the officials said. This center will provide not just a place to stay but also critical services to support these individuals on their journey, Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol said at a City Hall news conference. New York state will provide the space at the 300-acre (121-hectare) Creedmoor facility and will reimburse the city for setting the migrant center up and staffing it, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom said. There are currently more than 56,000 migrants in New York's care, with more people arriving daily, officials said. Mayor Eric Adams has scrambled to house migrants while asking for help from the federal government. New York City continues to receive thousands of asylum seekers each week, and we have stepped up and led the nation, but this national crisis should not fall on cities alone to navigate. We need a national solution here, the mayor said in a statement. Adams, a Democrat, announced last week that some adult asylum seekers without children in the city's shelter system would be given 60 days notice to find other accommodations in order to make room for families with children. Dr. Ted Long, senior vice president of the city's public hospital system, which oversees the migrant shelters, said Wednesday that about 100 migrants have been given notice so far. Officials said the Creedmoor migrant center should be up and running at some point next month. Over the past year, New York City has rented out hotels to house migrants, and has placed asylum seekers in locations including a cruise ship terminal and a former police academy building. New York Citys subway system is the latest to implement artificial intelligence-powered surveillance, following an increase of similar software use in airports and police stations across the country. The Metropolitan Transit Authority, the agency that operates the citys public transportation, quietly rolled out a third-party technology to help crack down on fare evaders, NBC reported. The new policy comes weeks after the Transportation Security Administration announced an expansion of facial recognition software use at over 400 airports. Police in Westchester County, a suburb outside of NYC, also recently revealed that they used AI to scan vehicle license plates and examine the driving patterns of vehicles. What is AI software used for? The MTA software was deployed to track fare evaders and is in use at seven subway stations, according to a report published by MTA in May. MTA plans to implement the software in approximately two dozen more stations, with more to follow by the end of the year. The MTA uses this tool to quantify the amount of fare evasion without identifying fare evaders, Joana Flores, a spokesperson for MTA, told USA TODAY. The AI software is used to count the number of unpaid entries into subway stations, according to the agency's May report. From there, an evasion rate can then be calculated by comparing the number of unpaid entries to the number of paid entries, the report states. The data will be used to cross-check with systemwide estimates of fare evasion. The software created by AWAIIT, a Spanish company uses surveillance cameras to scan travelers and send pictures of potential fare evaders to nearby station agents, as shown in a promotional video. 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, the MTA report 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. Story continues Data privacy experts raise alarms on AI use MTA reported $690 million in revenue losses because of fare evasion in 2022. The new policy has drawn many critics. Data and privacy experts said MTAs new initiative doesn't address the underlying problem that causes fare evasion, which is related to poverty and access. Instead, the program tries to use technology to solve a problem in a way that is more or less a Band-Aid, said Jeramie Scott, senior counsel and director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy, litigation and research center. Caitlin Seeley George, campaigns and managing director for Fight for the Future, a Massachusetts-based digital rights nonprofit, said she is concerned about policies that contribute to a culture of mass surveillance. Facial recognition technology makes it so that the concept of privacy is moot because peoples every movement can be tracked and watched, George said. Artificial intelligence software is being used at seven subway stations in New York City to track fare evaders, according to the Metropolitan Transit Authority. AI becoming a more popular security tool The use of AI for surveillance and identity detection has risen over the past decade. Although there are no direct federal regulations on the use of AI, about two dozen state or local governments across the United States passed laws restricting or banning facial recognition from 2019 to 2021. However, certain cities and states, including California, Virginia and New Orleans have since reversed these restrictions over the past year. Earlier this month, the TSA announced it will be expanding its 25-airport pilot program of facial recognition software to 430 airports across the country over the next several years following an extremely promising pilot. The pilot program utilizes one-to-one matching, which means that a passengers picture is only compared to their government-issued ID, including a driver's license or passport. The TSA facial recognition program is voluntary, and travelers are allowed to opt out in favor of an alternative verification process, a TSA spokesperson told USA TODAY. Data captured by the software is not stored. "TSA is committed to protecting passenger privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties and ensuring the publics trust as it seeks to improve the passenger experience through its exploration of identity verification technologies," a TSA spokesperson wrote in a statement to USA TODAY. Scott, of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said he fears facial recognition technology use in airports will become mandatory, given that TSA Administrator David Pekoske said that would be the goal during a South by Southwest fireside chat in April. I know when I submitted a passport application, I did so to obtain a passport not for the State Department to retain my photo and then use it for facial recognition, Scott said. Taking information provided for one purpose and then using it for a secondary purpose that is what AI is. Westchester County police utilized a database of about 1.6 billion New York license plates to monitor car traffic patterns that exhibited patterns of illegal activity, leading to the arrest of a Massachusetts man for drug trafficking, according to news reports. In Miami, police confirmed to the BBC that the department uses Clearview, an AI software that allows law enforcement customers to upload a face and match it against billions of images it has collected. Officers use the software about 450 times a year for every type of crime, Miami police told the BBC. Clearview said it had run nearly a million searches for United States police. Early this month, TSA announced an expansion to their facial recognition pilot program and will now be utilizing the software at 430 airports across the country. Use of AI sparks discrimination concerns The use of AI by national agencies is particularly troubling because the software is flawed and often discriminates against people of color, said Albert Cahn, executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, a nonprofit legal group based in New York City that advocates for privacy rights. Facial recognition software has been found to be inaccurate in 98% of cases. When used by law enforcement, the software is often unable to distinguish darker faces, leading to racial profiling and false arrests, according to a 2016 study. A 2018 study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology also found commercial AI systems had an error rate of 34.7% for dark-skinned women, compared to 0.8% for light-skinned men. This technology would be creepy if it worked perfectly, but its even more disturbing that its been shown to be discriminatory, Cahn said. George, of Fight for the Future, also expressed concern that AI use in NYCs subway stations will lead to mass surveillance and tracking of peoples movements. The MTA has said that theyre only using it to count people evading fare but the fact that this system is in place just opens up the possibility that it could be used on all travelers and could become a broader tool of surveillance and policing, George said. In March, a group of House and Senate lawmakers reintroduced the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act, which would stop the federal governments use of facial recognition technologies. Data privacy experts have called for federal regulations and oversight of AI to ensure that peoples data is protected and not misused by companies. We just cant predict every way that AI may be used to leverage the information that the federal government already has and theres a lack of protections in place to prevent the federal government from doing that, Scott said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NYC and other officials use AI to monitor crime, citizens The triggermen wanted in separate Brooklyn shootings that took place three months apart have been arrested, according to police. Cops on Wednesday morning arrested Andrew Decoteau for the April 9, 2022, killing of Kevin Alves, who died in a bloody ambush inside a violence-plagued Crown Heights apartment building on Bergen St. Alves, 38, was shot in the head at about 1 a.m. when a gunman opened fire from the street into the building, police said. A 45-year-old man in the lobby was also shot in the chest and grazed in the ear. Medics took both victims to Kings County Hospital, but Alves couldnt be saved. Alves often hung out and smoked weed in the lobby, the buildings porter previously told the Daily News. A motive for the shooting was not immediately disclosed. Cops recently identified Decoteau as the triggerman and arrested him at his Brooklyn home. He was charged with murder, attempted murder, assault and weapons possession. On Tuesday evening, cops apprehended Leo Lewis, 45, for the killing of Zamel Myers inside a NYCHA unit in Canarsie on July 10, 2022. The NYCHA building on Flatlands Ave. is part of the Breukelen Houses. Myers, 44, was shot multiple times in the torso in an apartment building hallway and died at the scene. He lived in the building where he was shot, cops said. He had lost his brother Robert to gun violence two years before he was shot, Myers heartbroken mother told The News after his death. Lewis fled to Greensboro, N.C., where he was living when cops identified him as the shooter. Members of the NYPDs Regional Fugitive Task Force apprehended him in the Tar Heel State and he was extradited back to New York, charged with murder and weapons possession. A motive for Zamels slaying was not immediately released. His brother Robert Myers death, which remains unsolved, is believed to be gang-related, cops said. Arraignments for Lewis and Decoteau in Brooklyn Criminal Court were pending Wednesday. Former Rep. Beto ORourke (D-Texas) in an op-ed published Tuesday called on President Biden to order the immediate removal of Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts (R) razor wire and buoy obstructions in the Rio Grande. Its time for President Biden to step up, wrote ORourke, a prominent Texan Democrat who lost his bid to unseat Abbot as governor in 2022. ORourke ran an unsuccessful campaign against Sen. Ted Cruz (R) in 2018 and for president in 2020, but he dropped out of the Democratic primary race to endorse Biden. In his New York Times opinion piece, the former lawmaker sharply rebuked Abbott for what he called his political stunts and for Operation Lone Star, which ORourke described as Abbotts dangerous, illegal and ineffective border mission. Abbott launched the program in 2021 to take control of part of the southern border, which by law, is under the authority of the federal government. Texas has spent billions of dollars on the operation, elements of which have been found to violate federal law. The border security program has come under increased scrutiny for reports of inhumane treatment of migrants, yet, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report, Theres no indication it has worked. ORourke, however, also took aim at Bidens new immigration policies, specifically saying the strategy of prevention through deterrence behind the administrations updated asylum restrictions only risks worsening the humanitarian crisis at the border. A federal judge Tuesday also blocked a Biden administration rule that limited access to asylum, issuing a decision that will take effect in two weeks. I know that President Biden is a good man who has the ability to tackle conflict head-on by leading with moral clarity. And to his credit, the president has taken steps to undo some of the most harmful elements of Mr. Trumps immigration policies, ORourke wrote. But he has also imposed new asylum restrictions that cut off access to protection for far too many, while leaving thousands more to wait for weeks or months in squalid tent camps in Mexican border towns, where they suffer alarming rates of kidnapping, sexual assault or worse, he added. Story continues The Texas Democrat argued Biden must prioritize doing more to stop Abbott from defying federal law. ORourke praised the Justice Departments lawsuit filed Monday calling on Abbott to remove the dangerous barriers in the Rio Grande, but he noted the governor has made clear he would not comply. While ORourke acknowledged it was a good first step, he said it was far from sufficient to tackle the issue. Mr. Biden must change course, and that begins by stopping Mr. Abbott, he continued. The president should order the immediate removal of the lethal razor wire and obstructions in the Rio Grande and ensure that Border Patrol are unimpeded by Texas Department of Public Safety officers today. Every day that Mr. Biden fails to stop Mr. Abbott leads to unnecessary, preventable suffering, ORourke added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Oak Ridge police are seeking information on the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of a man last Saturday. Officers responded at approximately 10:35 p.m. Saturday to the report of a shooting on South Benedict Avenue, according to a news release from the Oak Ridge Police Department. They found Javon Ellis, 32, suffering from gunshot wounds. Ellis died shortly after being taken to the hospital, police said. Oak Ridge detectives, assisted by agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, are investigating the homicide. No one has been arrested and no other information was released by police. Anyone with information that may help investigators is asked to call ORPD at 865-425-4399. Crime tips can also be submitted online at oakridgetn.gov/oak-ridge-police-department. Information can be given anonymously. This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Oak Ridge police looking for information after man dies in shooting (AP/Google) Several questions remain unanswered days after Tafari Campbell, who worked as a personal chef to Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, drowned in a tragic paddleboarding accident on the island of Marthas Vineyard off Massachusetts. The 45-year-old from Dumfries, Virginia, had served the 44th US president during his tenure at the White House between 2008 and 2016 and accepted an invitation to stay on with the family when Mr Obama stepped down to make way for Donald Trump at the end of his second term in January 2017. Emergency services were called to the Obamas 30-acre estate near Turkeyland Cove on Sunday evening after a paddleboarder was reported to have disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean following a brief struggle to stay afloat after getting into difficulties. His body was discovered at around 10am on Monday (24 July) with the aid of sonar technology about 100 feet from the shore and eight feet underwater in Edgartown Great Pond, a large coastal pool connected to the Atlantic. Tafari was a beloved part of our family, the Obamas said in a statement in response to the tragic accident. When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together. In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter. Thats why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. Hes been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that hes gone. Today we join everyone who knew and loved Tafari especially his wife Sherise and their twin boys, Xavier and Savin in grieving the loss of a truly wonderful man. Campbell had a brief brush with fame in 2012 when he brewed an ale from honey gathered from the beehives Ms Obama had installed on the White Houses South Lawn, which is believed to be the first alcohol ever produced within the grounds of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Story continues There are several key details we do not yet know about the circumstances of the beloved chefs death, a look at which follows. How did Tafari Campbell drown? Massachusetts State Police (MSP) said on Tuesday they had concluded that Campbell was standing on his paddleboard, lost his balance and fell into the water, then struggled to stay afloat but could not do so. The MSP added that the deceased was not wearing a personal flotation device and was not leashed to the paddleboard at the time of the accident, suggesting he may simply have been overwhelmed by the waves, regardless of his capabilities as a swimmer. The MSP added in its update that an autopsy had found no evidence that Campbells death was suspicious and no trauma or injuries were found on his body. Police said no other updates are expected except for standard toxicology results, which are protocol in all autopsies and may take several weeks to complete. Tafari Campbell (Tafari Campbell/Instagram) Questions have been asked, however, about just how experienced Campbell was in the water after it was noticed that a number of his Instagram posts suggested he may only have learned to swim, or to swim confidently, within the last five years or so. In October 2017, he posted a photo showing him and his wife standing chest deep in the sea off Aruba, with the hashtag #stillcantswim. One follower asked: But can you swim though? Lol. Campbell responded with a weary face emoji, suggesting frustration or lamenting. The Independent has contacted that person for comment. A pair of videos posted about a year and four months later showed him practising various swimming strokes over beginner distances, with the hashtags #Progress and #survivalskills. Who was the witness to the tragedy and the 911 caller? A second person who has not been named was with Campbell when the disaster unfolded, according to the MSP. The fellow paddleboarder tried to swim to Mr Campbells location but did not reach him in time, the latest update read. The other paddleboarder then swam to shore and notified a person on shore of what had happened. That person placed a 911 call to the Dukes County Regional Emergency Communications Center, which initiated an immediate emergency search and rescue response by numerous public safety agencies. The caller has also not yet been named, although the Daily Mail has reported the call came from within the Obamas house without citing a source. Were the Obamas in the house at the time? The MSP said on Monday that neither the former president nor his first lady were at home at the time of the tragedy. However, the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama later clarified that they were on Marthas Vineyard at the time but not at their mansion when Campbell went missing. Their daughters Sasha and Malia were spotted leaving Marthas Vineyard in the aftermath of the epsiode. The Independent has contacted the Obamas office for further details. The social media platform X, newly renamed from Twitter, is hosting wild conspiracy theories without evidence claiming that there was foul play in the death of the Obamas personal chef on a Marthas Vineyard pond. The platform has pulled back many of the rules it once had around misinformation under owner Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter last year while vowing to make speech as free as possible. The Massachusetts State Police called the death of Tafari Campbell, 45, an accident after divers recovered his body Monday from Edgartown Great Pond, about 100 feet from shore. Former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, who own a house there, were not home, police said in a statement. Right-wing figures cast doubt without evidence on the police statement and found a home for their views on the website X, the new name for Twitter after Musk rebranded it Sunday. A post in which Ian Miles Cheong, an online pundit, asked followers what they thought really happened got 5.6 million views on X. A post from the X account @libsoftiktok noted that the pond is 8 feet deep where Campbell was found and that he had posted swimming videos on Instagram facts other people said in replies indicated he was killed. That post had more than 14.5 million views. The influential right-wing account @catturd2, with 1.8 million followers on X, said he did not believe anything the government or the media said about the death. I wont believe a word of it, @catturd2 wrote. Why would they start telling the truth now? A post from the X account @dom_lucre that got 3.8 million views suggested without evidence that Campbells death was somehow related to the potential indictment this week of former President Donald Trump on new charges. The four accounts did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. Representatives for X also did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the spread of the conspiracy theories. Massachusetts police said Campbell was paddleboarding when he died. They said a second paddleboarder was on the pond with him and saw him go under the water after he briefly struggled to stay on the surface. Police responded at 7:46 p.m. Sunday, they said. They did not release a suspected cause of death for Campbell or say what factors might have contributed to his death. Story continues Campbell was a chef in the White House before he went to work for the Obamas when they left in 2017. The Obamas mourned him in a statement Tuesday as a beloved part of our family. State police did not immediately respond to a request for copies of any written incident reports. Posts with conspiracy theories were visible Tuesday with some searching on other social media platforms, such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Reddit, but the conspiracy theories were getting much less traction and viewership on those platforms, most likely because they take harder lines on misinformation than X does. Musk, the billionaire who runs the automaker Tesla and the rocket company SpaceX, softened Twitters rules about misinformation after he bought the company last year for $44 billion. He also gave priority in Twitters algorithm-driven feeds to posts from paying subscribers, allowing them to boost their reach, and he reinstated the accounts of some people banned by previous management. Taken together, the changes appear to have made it easier to spread hoaxes and conspiracies on the site now known as X, according to nonprofit fact-checkers and academic researchers. Recently, Musk has vocally supported conservative causes and ideas, frequently engaging with posts mocking LGBTQ people and sometimes amplifying misinformation. Conservative activists have a long history of suggesting without evidence that liberals kill their own. In 2020, Fox News reached a settlement with the parents of Democratic staffer Seth Rich over its baseless reporting that fellow Democrats might have been involved in Richs death. A similar baseless conspiracy theory about Vince Foster, a Clinton White House lawyer who died by suicide in 1993, was still circulating on Facebook 25 years after his death. In a search of Facebook for the phrase Obamas chef, the top result Tuesday was a post baselessly suggesting foul play because Campbell saw something he wasnt supposed to. The second result was a video of right-wing pundit Jack Posobiec reading the news aloud, with comments (by others, not Posobiec) on the video implying a crime had occurred. The seventh result was someone asking about Campbell, What did he know? Facebook says its search results are ranked on a variety of factors, including an individual users activity and platformwide activity. Despite how highly those posts ranked in a search, they appeared to have few views and reshares reflecting Facebooks strategy of reducing the spread of problematic content that does not break an explicit rule of the site. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, had no immediate comment Tuesday. The company recently launched a competitor to X called Threads, which has the same content policy as Instagram. Threads does not yet have a content search function or other possible windows into how misinformation is spreading there. Some online conspiracy theorists tried to draw a connection between Campbells death and the drowning death of another former White House chef, Walter Scheib, in New Mexico in 2015. Scheib had worked for former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Medical examiners ruled his death an accident, and there is no evidence to connect his death with Campbells. About 4,000 people drown in the U.S. every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While children are at the highest risk, anyone can drown, according to the agency. Factors that can make drowning more likely are not wearing life jackets, drinking alcohol and taking certain drugs and medications, the CDC says. Edgartown Great Pond is a saltwater pond on the south shore of Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts, separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a barrier island. Several organizations work to conserve the area, according to the Great Pond Foundation, which does restoration work and science projects there. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com By Jennifer Rigby LONDON (Reuters) -Obesity drugs will not join the World Health Organization's (WHO) latest essential medicines list, but treatments for diseases, including Ebola and multiple sclerosis will, documents published by the U.N. agency showed. The WHO's essential medicines list is a catalogue of the drugs that should be available in all functioning health systems. Inclusion on the list can have great significance for access: for example, experts say adding HIV drugs in 2002 helped make them much more widely available to AIDS patients in poorer countries. A group of U.S. academics had proposed including obesity drugs on the WHO list for the first time earlier this year, focused particularly on the active ingredient liraglutide in Novo Nordisk's obesity drug Saxenda. But a WHO expert panel on Wednesday recommended against adding the drugs for weight loss, citing the "uncertain long-term clinical benefit and safety in this patient population". Benedikt Huttner, WHO team lead for the EML, said in a press conference on Wednesday that there were also "uncertainties" about how long to use the treatments "because often when you stop the treatments there is a rebound in weight gain". But he said the medicines may be reconsidered in future when there is more long-term evidence. The decision is part of a wider update of the list following an expert meeting in Geneva in April. The document is designed to guide government purchasing decisions in low and middle-income countries. Experts did back adding other new treatments. For example, a trio of drugs that can individually be used to treat multiple sclerosis were added for the first time, including the generic and biosimilar versions where available. The three drugs are cladribine, branded Mavenclad by EMD Serono and Merck KGaA; glatiramer acetate, branded Copaxone and sold by Teva Pharmaceuticals; and rituximab, branded as Rituxan/Mabthera and usually sold by Roche. Story continues The panel said their inclusion would "address an important public health need and support global advocacy efforts to reduce the global burden of multiple sclerosis". "Rising prices and supply chain disruptions mean that all countries now face increasing problems in ensuring consistent and equitable access to many quality-assured essential medicines," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO-Director General, in a statement. "WHO is committed to supporting all countries to overcome these obstacles to increase access with equity." Two monoclonal antibody treatments for Ebola Zaire were also added to the list: anzuvimab, made by Ridgeback Biotherapeutics with the brand name Ebanga; and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals' Inmazeb, made up of atoltivimab, maftivimab and odesivimab combined. Naltrexone and acamprosate, both available as generics and designed to treat alcohol-use disorder, were also added, as well as ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) to treat severe malnutrition in children under the age of five. In total, 36 items were added to the lists for adults and children, bringing them up to 502 medicines for adults and 361 for children. For COVID-19, the WHO experts suggested adding a section on therapeutics pointing to the U.N. agency's regularly updated COVID treatment guidelines, rather than including individual medicines, given the fast-changing epidemic and the fact that the essential list is only updated every two years. Sunscreen for the prevention of skin cancer, particularly for people with albinism, was rejected by the experts. They acknowledged the importance of the product for everyone, but said more research was needed before it would be suitable for the list. The new versions of the list - the 23rd for adults and 9th for children - will be published in full later this year. (Reporting by Jennifer RigbyEditing by Mark Potter, Emma Rumney and Jane Merriman) UNITED NATIONS, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The humanitarian community in South Sudan is seeking urgent funding to transport people fleeing fighting in Sudan, mostly South Sudanese returnees, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday. "Many of those fleeing are vulnerable with no financial resources to continue their journey inside the country," said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The spokesman said that humanitarians have been helping people reach their final destinations by river, road or air but are running out of funds. Without new funding, humanitarian agencies will be forced to halt transportation in two weeks' time. "With no onward transportation available, more people will become stranded in and around the border towns where humanitarian services are already overstretched," Dujarric said. "We need 26.4 million U.S. dollars to continue providing this service until the end of the year," he added. Florida in particular has taken the brunt of one of the hottest summers on record, with an elevated heat index lasting more than a month and making it feel like 108 degrees along much of the East Coast, according to the National Weather Service. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI July 26 (UPI) -- The Atlantic Ocean temperature off the South Florida coast soared to more than 100 degrees on consecutive days amid a global heat wave. A buoy in Manatee Bay recorded water temperatures of 101.1 degrees Monday -- one day after the same floating device hit 100.2 degrees on Sunday, leaving scientists stunned by what could be a new global record for ocean temperatures. Meteorologists closely tracking marine heat since early July called temperatures in the region unprecedented, saying the oceans have never been this hot throughout recorded history. Readings from other weather buoys in surrounding areas did not register as warm, with one in Murray Key reaching 99.3, and another in Johnson Key topping out at 98.4. For now, the reading of 101.1 degrees -- which is about the warmth of a ready hot tub -- remains preliminary until it can be confirmed by officials. The figure stands to set a new world record for the hottest sea surface temperature, which is 99.7 degrees, recorded at Kuwait Bay in 2020. A man off in a fountain from the Roman period in the Haniya Natural Spring in the Judean Mountains National Park between Jerusalem and Bethlehem on July 15 amid an ongoing global heat wave. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI An analysis released this week by World Weather Attribution says extreme world temperatures in July were a likely sign of worsening climate change and that heat waves are no longer rare but at least 50 times more likely in the modern world. Another report from the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change blamed carbon emissions for continuously heating the Earth's surface and oceans for more than half a century. The past 10 years have also been the warmest on record since the first Industrial Revolution, NASA said, while many climate experts continue to express concern over the steady drumbeat of new heat records since 2022. Seas ar also rising to unprecedented levels. Record-breaking temperatures continued to grip nearly every corner of the globe, including the Southwest United States, Mexico, Southern Europe, China, the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean, with temperatures surging to 122 degrees in some locations. Story continues In the United States, the devastating warm front was making its way across the country's midsection, where it will affect millions more with dangerously hot weather in the coming days. Many regions of the country have tied or set new all-time records for high temperatures in July. Hundreds have died in the heat worldwide, with many cities under heat warnings or alerts, while demand for power surged across three continents as populations struggled to stay cool. Unusual weather patterns were fueling the heat wave, with a strong area of high pressure swirling and chafing the air, weakening trade winds that typically serve to cool the planet. Sweltering conditions around the world were forecast to continue through September and potentially into late fall and the start of winter, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Meteorologists warned previously that an El Nino event was likely to prolong extreme temperatures into the coming months, raising the potential for even more heat records worldwide. Florida in particular has taken the brunt of one of the hottest summers on record, with an elevated heat index lasting more than a month and making it feel like 108 degrees along much of the East Coast, according to the National Weather Service. Last week, land temperatures reached 95 degrees in South Florida, while ocean temperatures hit 94 degrees, which was about 7 degrees hotter than normal for this time of year, experts said. Marine scientists said the heat is having a devastating effect on sea life, including coral reefs. Many high schoolers in the state will have one less thing to worry about as far as period products go and access to them. >> Miami Twp. police officer credited with saving baby found in bathtub One in four teenagers has missed class because they didnt have access to a menstrual product, according to PERIOD, a national organization that fights period poverty. Ohio students will be removed from that equation during the 2023-2024 school year, our news partner, WBNS (10tv.com) is reporting. A few students at The Ohio State University helped secure $5 million in the state budget that will now be allocated for free period products in Ohio schools. First-year medical student Anusha Singh said she has always felt a stigma around menstruation. I remember leaving my fifth grade classroom where we learned about periods for the first time, and our teachers instructing us to be hush-hush about what we learned about, she said. She founded PERIODs OSU chapter, became a TEDx contributor and partnered with her fellow Buckeyes to make sure students who menstruate dont have to miss class because they cant afford pads or tampons. Ella Roxey, vice president of the Ohio State PERIOD chapter, helped spearhead talks with lawmakers in the state Senate. She said support was incredibly bipartisan. Now, girls across Ohio in grades six through 12 are getting a better chance at succeeding in school. Schools in the state will get $2 million for period product dispensers and $3 million for the products themselves making the funding total $5 million. Singh said this is a step in the right direction with more work ahead. Ella and Anushas next step is to talk with as many school districts as they can to make sure the period products are actually put in bathrooms and not just nurses offices, as they often are. They said this entire effort is about accessibility. Reagan Tokes [Family photo, taken by Toby Tokes, victim's father] The Ohio Supreme Court has upheld the Reagan Tokes Act a state law named for an Ohio State University student who was brutally murdered as constitutional. The law allows the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to hold some people in prison longer for bad behavior without the involvement of the sentencing judge. Ohios highest court announced its 5-2 decision Wednesday morning, affirming the decision by two appellate courts that the law does not violate the constitutional rights of inmates or violate the role of the judiciary. The Reagan Tokes Act, or Ohio Senate Bill 201, took effect in 2019. Under the law, Ohio judges must give indefinite prison sentences for most first- and second-degree felonies by selecting a minimum sentence length at which its presumed the defendant will be released. The maximum time the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction may keep the inmate if they misbehave behind bars is determined with a formula: 150% of the minimum term. Proponents like the Tokes family say the law is intended to keep dangerous criminals who have not been reformed from being released. Opponents of the law, including some judges and criminal defense lawyers, previously said SB 201 gives judicial power to the executive branch and violates peoples rights including their rights to due process and a trial. Who was Reagn Tokes? Tokes was a 21-year-old Ohio State University student who was abducted after she left her job in the Short North, raped and murdered in 2017 by a man released from prison a few months prior. After she was raped and ordered to get out of her car naked, her killer, Brian Golsby, shot her in the back near the entrance to Scioto Grove Metro Park in Grove City. A memorial has been erected to her near the park entrance. Prior to the killing, Golsby spent about six years in prison for robbery and attempted rape, and during that time received numerous infractions. Golsby was ordered to wear an ankle monitor with GPS tracking upon his release. But in Ohio, nobody monitors parolees GPS trackers in real time. Story continues Tokes family reacts to decision Tokes parents, Lisa McCrary-Tokes and Toby Tokes, advocated for SB 201. "Im thrilled that the court did the right thing and upheld it, and nothing is going to change with it," McCrary-Tokes told The Dispatch on Wednesday. "It comes down to rules and consequences. If youre being told something up front and you choose to defy it, theres a consequence." The law also allows an individual an opportunity to reduce their time in prison by up to 15% by demonstrating they're reformed, McCrary-Tokes pointed out. SB 201 was only half of the legislation the Tokes family had pushed for. The second part would establish the monitoring of GPS trackers in real-time, and has been introduced multiple times in the Ohio General Assembly. Last session, a bill passed the House but languished in the Senate. "It's very frustrating, but we haven't given up on that part," McCrary-Tokes said. "Innocent people are still at risk the way the ankle monitor program currently is. The current system is a waste of taxpayer money and provides a false sense of security." McCrary-Tokes said if Golsby's GPS tracker had been monitored, her daughter would be alive today. What does this mean for Franklin County cases? Two Franklin County Common Pleas Court judges Carl Aveni and Christopher Brown are among a handful of judges statewide who ruled that the law was unconstitutional and stopped giving out indefinite sentences. Both local judges, who started ruling the law was unconstitutional in 2021, told The Dispatch on Wednesday that they plan to abide by the decision of the state's highest court. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Carl Aveni Aveni said judges in lower trial courts like his are duty-bound to follow the precedent. On Wednesday morning, Brown sentenced someone for felonious assault and gave out his first Reagan Tokes sentence in more than a year. I respect the decision and I intend to follow it, Brown told The Dispatch. Brown said hes not sure how resentencing will work logistically for defendants who were eligible for an indefinite sentence but to whom he did not give one. He estimates that involves a total of about 20 defendants in his courtroom, and Aveni estimates that is about 40 defendants in his courtroom. All those people will stay in prison, Aveni assured. It may be as simple as modifying each sentence by judicial order, he said. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Chris Brown The Ohio Supreme Court's decision The Ohio Supreme Court made this ruling in regard to two cases it consolidated: State of Ohio v. Christopher P. Hacker out of Logan County and State of Ohio v. Danan Simmons Jr. out of Cuyahoga County. Hacker and Simmons both were convicted of crimes subject to indefinite sentences under SB 201 and challenged the law as unconstitutional. Writing for the majority, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Joseph T. Deters said the men raised only hypothetical situations where SB 201 might be applied unfairly like holding somebody for a minor rule infraction. Deters left the door open should an inmate in the future raise a claim that the ODRC applied the law unconstitutionally. Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy and Justices Patrick F. Fischer, R. Patrick DeWine and Melody Stewart joined Deters opinion. All are Republicans except Stewart, who is a Democrat. Justices Jennifer Brunner and Michael P. Donnelly, both Democrats, dissented. Writing for them both, Brunner said the law does not give inmates appropriate means to challenge the prison authoritys accusations they misbehaved. She said ODRC acts as both prosecutor and judge in these situations, and the judicial system is not involved. jlaird@dispatch.com @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Supreme Court upholds Reagan Tokes Act on prison sentencing An Ohio ballot measure in November that would enshrine abortion access in the state constitution stands to be a bellwether on the issue ahead of next years elections. Groups on both sides of the issue say the vote in November could provide more insight into how salient the battle over abortion access remains more than a year out from the overturning of Roe v. Wade. In particular, the vote will be closely watched by Democrats, who have signaled abortion rights will be at the center of their platform in next years presidential election. Earlier this month, abortion-rights advocates submitted 710,000 signatures for a ballot measure on abortion, twice the 413,000 needed for a ballot measure. On Tuesday, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose certified abortion-rights advocates had enough signatures to place their measure on the ballot in November. Seeing this level of enthusiasm in Ohio shows that this is going to be a salient issue and is an issue that is top of mind for voters no matter where they live, said Ryan Stitzlein, vice president of political and government relations at NARAL-Pro Choice America. A USA Today Network/Suffolk University poll released Monday found that 58 percent of voters said they supported the abortion-rights amendment, while only 32 percent said they opposed it. Its another data point in what we have seen since the Dobbs ruling last June, is that the decision by the Supreme Court and the subsequent actions that Republican, anti-abortion lawmakers have been making are totally out of step with the American people, Stitzlein said. Anti-abortion advocates say the poll doesnt tell the whole story of what is happening on the ground in Ohio. In November, voters will look more closely at the proposed amendment and see that it covers more than just abortion by its own language, said Mark Weaver, an Ohio-based GOP strategist. The poll doesnt ask them that. The proposed amendment says every individual has a right to make and carry out ones own reproductive decisions, including but not limited to decisions on contraception, fertility treatment, continuing ones own pregnancy, miscarriage care, and abortion. Story continues Anti-abortion advocates argue the amendment would allow minors to obtain abortions and undergo gender-affirming procedures without parental consent. Nowhere in the entire amendment does the word woman appear, said Amy Natoce, press secretary at Protect Women Ohio, an anti-abortion rights coalition. The word adult is not used anywhere. There is no mention whatsoever of age restrictions. Instead the ACLU and its attorneys who wrote the amendment intentionally chose the very broad word individuals. The group has committed $25 million in ads that echo the parental rights message that has been a rallying cry for conservatives and Republicans since 2021. One of the groups ads released in May features footage of President Biden saying, Theres no such thing as someone elses child and concludes with the message, Theyre coming for your parental rights. Critics and abortion-access advocates say the messaging and the ads are incorrect and designed to mislead voters with a message that has worked for Republicans in the past. The big thing that the campaign is going to have to do is fight back a lot of disinformation and fear-mongering that the other side has already started but will continue to push through the election, Stitzlein said. The amendment is one of two elections that will take place in the second half of the year. In August, Ohio will hold a special election on Issue 1, which would raise the threshold for any future amendment to pass from a simple majority to 60 percent of the vote. On top of that, organizers would need to meet signature requirements in all of Ohios 88 counties as opposed to 44 counties. Turnout in the August special election appears to be particularly high for an off-year special election. According to LaRoses office, more than 155,000 Ohio voters have already cast their ballots early in the special election. Abortion-rights advocates claim Republicans brought the August special election forward to sabotage the November vote to enshrine abortion in the state constitution. They want to prevent Ohioans from being able to vote on reproductive freedom because they are seeing what we are seeing, which is a majority of Ohioans are saying they will vote yes on reproductive freedom in November, said Lauren Blauvelt, vice president of government affairs and public advocacy at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio. Stitzlein echoed this, saying anti-abortion advocates know that they cant win on this issue, so they try to change the rules. Abortion-rights advocates also point to leaked audio of LaRose saying the August election was 100 percent about keeping a radical pro-abortion amendment out of our constitution. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage However, LaRose has also said preventing abortion was just one of the reasons to support Issue 1. There are a lot of good reasons to support Issue 1 preventing a radical abortion amendment this fall is just one of them, the secretary told WEWS in Cleveland. Anti-abortion advocates say the August vote is about protecting the states constitution from outside special interest groups. Natoce accused outside groups of trying to buy Ohios constitution. We have very weak standards for passing constitutional amendments compared to the rest of the country, which leaves our constitution very vulnerable to out-of-state groups, she said. While early voting turnout has been higher than normal ahead of the August election, its unclear what it will look like going into November during the off-year, when turnout is normally lower across the board. Abortion-rights advocates point to the abortion-related ballot measures last year, saying that although they took place in a midterm year, the issue was still highly motivating. What we have seen in the elections where the question was brought directly to the voters, the side of reproductive freedom was successful in every single one of them, Stitzlein said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Charlotte Van Campenhout and Rishabh Jaiswal AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -A fire blazed on a cargo ship off the Dutch coast with nearly 3,000 vehicles on board on Wednesday, killing one member of the crew and injuring several others, the coastguard said. Several crew members were forced to jump overboard after the fire began on Tuesday night on the 199-metre (655-foot) Panama-registered Fremantle Highway as it was en route from Germany to Egypt. The Indian Embassy in the Netherlands said in a social media post the fire had "resulted in the death of an Indian seafarer and injuries to the crew", and that it was in touch with family of the deceased. Japan's Shoei Kisen, which owns the ship, said the entire crew of 21 was Indian. Rescue ships sprayed water onto the burning vessel to cool it down, but using too much water risked its sinking, the Dutch coastguard said. It was attached to a salvage vessel to prevent it drifting. The fire might last for several days, Dutch news agency ANP reported, citing the coastguard. Smoke continued to billow from the vessel near the northern Dutch island of Ameland. "The fire is most definitely still not controlled. It's a very hard fire to extinguish, possibly because of the cargo the ship was transporting," said Edwin Versteeg, a spokesperson for the Dutch Department of Waterways and Public Works. The coastguard said on its website the cause of the fire was unknown, but a coastguard spokesperson had earlier told Reuters it began near an electric car. Roughly 25 out of 2,857 vehicles on the ship were electric. The International Maritime Organisation, which regulates safety standards at sea, plans to evaluate new measures for ships transporting electric vehicles next year in light of the growing number of fires on cargo ships, a spokesperson said. "Electric cars burn just as much as combustion engine cars. When batteries overheat and a so-called 'thermal runaway' occurs, then it gets dangerous," said Uwe-Peter Schieder, master mariner and representative of the German Insurance Association. Story continues "A chemical reaction in the battery produces gases which inflate the battery." New rules under consideration could take years to implement, but may include specifications on the types of water extinguishers available on boats and limitations on the amount a battery can be charged, which impacts flammability. Around 350 of the vehicles on board were Mercedes-Benz cars, the German company said. HELICOPTER AIRLIFT The coastguard said the Fremantle, which had departed from the port of Bremerhaven, had been towed out of shipping lanes. It was 27 km (17 miles) north of Ameland when the fire started. It spread so quickly that seven crew members leaped overboard, said Willard Molenaar of the Royal Dutch Rescue Company (KNRM), who was among the first at the scene. Molenaar told NOS some people were injured jumping into the water, while one crew member had died in the flames. "There was lot of smoke and the fire spread quickly, much faster than expected," he said. "The people on board had to get off quickly ... We fished them out of the water." A helicopter airlifted the remaining members of the crew off the burning ship. The injured were being treated for breathing problems, burns, and broken bones, local Dutch authorities said. Coastguard spokesperson Edwin Granneman said salvage experts were trying to work out the next steps for the burning boat. Ship owner Shoei Kisen said it was working with Dutch authorities and management company Wallem Ship Management to extinguish the fire. The incident was the latest of several fires recently on car carriers. Earlier this month, two New Jersey firefighters were killed and five injured battling a blaze on a cargo ship carrying hundreds of vehicles. There were no electric cars on that vessel, the operator said. Another fire destroyed thousands of luxury cars, some electric with lithium-ion batteries, on a ship off the coast of Portugal's Azores islands in February last year. (Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Rishabh Jaiswal and Victoria Waldersee; additional reporting by Kaori Kaneko and Chang-Ran Kim in Tokyo; writing by Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Mark Heinrich and Chris Reese) Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway / Kelly Caminero / The Daily Beast / Getty Growing up feeling displaced takes a toll. Despite their age, the child may never feel good enough to be an adult and may never feel righteous enough to have any commonality with peers. The child may think theyre a burden to their parents, like a pariah who needs extra effort and resources to be taken care of. Then, the kid moves forward in life, compromising their emotional comfort just to make it easier for others around them. Throughout that entire journey, its as if theyre trying to find their true self. At 35 years old, I still feel like that same outcast searching for acceptance, and seeing Barbie opening day gave me a reality check of who I am, where I came from, and who I still dream of becoming. As a first-generation Black woman college graduate, I know I have made strides other women in my family havent. But theres still something within me that keeps me starving to want more in life, to expect the same things I wanted as a kid when I first discovered Barbie and before Pandoras Box of life tainted my optimism. I loved the 11-and-a-half-inch dolls as a little girl in the early 90s, living in southeastern Kentucky. When I got my first few Barbies at about 3 years old, I had no idea where they came from or from what magical pink-hued boxes they originated. Midge had purple earrings and freckles speckled across her nose like mine. Ashas hair texture flowed like my hair, and my mom was very proud that she found herand, later, Jamal of the same Shanti doll line, a Barbie sub-brand of Black characters. Out of all of Barbies friends, I tended to collect Teresa dolls, because I could physically relate to her ethnic ambiguity. (She and my mom also shared names.) Ken somehow appeared in my collection but suffered a leg injury during a battle with my brothers G.I. Joes. A pink Western camper took the dolls on adventures around my parents house, while my brothers G.I. Joes managed to finesse my Barbies white Ferrari. Eventually, I had a pool with a slide for my Barbie village, a family friend designed a custom Barbie bed for my dolls, and my parents gifted me a Power Wheels-brand, kid-sized pink Corvette for Christmas. Story continues Lights and Lace Barbie allowed me to explore multi-dimensional fashion; Rappin Rockin Teresa reminded me of the Fly Girls on In Living Color (including the yellow boombox that played actual music); and Paint and Dazzle Barbie told me to find and design my own style. (L to R): 1969 Julia, 1985 Day to Night Barbie, 1980 Black Barbie Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Getty Disney princess dolls, Barbies with hats, dolls that could talk, even the mini dolls gifted in McDonalds Happy MealsI was obsessed. I was a creative kid who loved to orchestrate imaginative worlds that adhered to my sense of utopia, and I wouldnt let my mom play with me because she interfered with that fantasy. (Besides, her Barbie voice was annoying, and I told her as much. ) My world was disrupted when I was 6 and my parents divorced. My mom and I moved to another city, leaving my brother and dad behind, and eventually I got a stepfather. I turned very inward; I was the only Black girl in my new neighborhood and one of just a sprinkle in my new school. I didnt spend as much time with my dad anymore, and I found out hed got rid of my Barbie Corvette when I went back to visit one weekend. I became privy to things from a messy split that I shouldve been completely ignorant to, which made me question myself. My parents were always fighting, my brother became angry, and my new step-dad wasnt welcoming. The only constant I had, at that time, was my dolls. Barbie helped me make friends during those heavy transitions, when I felt like an afterthought to the rest of my family. There were vicious arguments between parents and kids, drunken rages, ill-placed blame, and physical fights where I was at the center. Emotionally, I cant say I always had an easy childhood, but my own Barbie world managed to make it better. Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Getty / Handout Barbie reminded me of that younger version of myself who remained optimistic and dreamed that anything could be possible in my future, thateven as a childI held myself to standards to outlive the heartbreak I experienced. But it also reminded me of the heartache I felt when I was so young and put up an emotional wall as a coping mechanism. When Barbie (Margot Robbie) ventures to the real world to discover why shes malfunctioning, she sits on a bench near Venice Beach, just with her thoughts, trying to be in tune with the environment around her to gain the information she needs to find the little girl who she thinks needs to be saved. At that moment, she experiences deep emotion for the first time. Images of a distraught girl and mother bring Barbie to tears. She breaks from her trance and tells the older woman she suddenly finds sitting next to her that shes beautiful. Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Getty Immediately, I cried. I felt Barbies tears as my own. Life throws punches, hard ones; punches I felt like would knock me out for a lifetime. So many times, I felt like I never belonged, like I wasnt pretty enough, smart enough, classy enough. I had moments when I had countless suicide ideations and felt life would just be better if I didnt exist, moments when I felt like I wasnt meant to succeed and thought it would just be easier if I stopped trying. Thankfully, with a system of reminders, Ive managed to recover. Regardless of my dysfunctional family and ensuing issues with low self-esteem and bouts of isolation, I made it somewhere. Im not going to lie: Its still hard. But I survived periods that my mind has chosen to block out as a form of protection. Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Getty / Handout Near the end of Barbie, the title character realizes the world isnt as it seems. The diverse, feminist, glamorous, democratic Barbieland does not exist in real life. Understanding that, she knows that her duties now fall outside of the Mattel-created sphere. Instead, shes needed in the patriarchal real world, where shell put in work to make it more Barbie-like, equitable, and multifacetedwhere women can be smart and beautiful without having to choose one persona over the other. 1998 Barbie Deluxe Dreamhouse Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Getty Again, I burst into tears. The movie played a larger role for me beyond its satirical and political stances. It reminded girls and women like me that the world is never perfect, regardless of the dreams we held onto when we were 5 years old. Instead, there will be changes, and you have to find a way to live in spite of them. But along the way, you cant lose the essence of what makes you unique, and Barbie was a great reminder. Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Getty As an adult, I dont hold back on how meaningful Barbie is to me. Sometimes, we can get so distracted with adulthood that we lose focus on our inner selves, but I happily add to my village of dolls in a way that keeps me authentic to my childhood dreams. The doll was my icon before I could read, and the movie presented a motivating pinkprint for a lifetime. Read more of our Barbie coverage HERE. The Barbie Movies Best Line Honors the Beauty of Older Women What Barbie Critics Are Getting Wrong About Its Big Monologue Barbie Gives Us Ryan Gosling at His Peak Musical Powers 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. Exposure to smoke from smoke from charcoal, firewood, coal, agricultural waste and animal dung burned to prepare meals causes 3.7 million premature deaths, ranking it the third largest cause of premature death globally (Jinty Jackson) Nearly a third of the world's population, some 2.3 billion people, still cook using open fires or basic stoves that damage their health and the environment, a study said Wednesday. The International Energy Agency and the African Development Bank Group, which jointly produced the report, called for spending $8 billion per year to ensure every household worldwide has access to clean cooking by 2030. "The lack of access to clean cooking negatively impacts public health, perpetuates deforestation, and increases greenhouse gas emissions," said President Akinwumi Adesina of the African Development Bank Group. The report estimates that collection of wood and charcoal for cooking results in the loss of areas of forest the size of Ireland each year. Exposure to smoke from smoke from charcoal, firewood, coal, agricultural waste and animal dung burned to prepare meals causes 3.7 million premature deaths, ranking it the third largest cause of premature death globally. The report said the worst impacts from the lack of clean cooking fall on women, who are typically responsible for collecting fuel and thus keeps them away from education or employment. While China, India and Indonesia have halved the number of their citizens who lack access to clean cooking since 2010, the situation has worsened in Africa and current policies won't resolve the problem in the next three decades, according to the report. The IEA and African Development Bank Group said the $8 billion in annual investments is less than one percent of what governments spent last year on fuel subsidies. "Solving access to clean cooking does not require a technological breakthrough," said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. "It comes down to political will from governments, development banks and other entities seeking to eradicate poverty and gender inequality." cho/ico/spi/rl/yad Concord Mills and other major Charlotte-area shopping centers have a number of new stores, and more planned, including some making their North Carolina debut. Hollister / Gilly Hicks, part of national apparel retailer Hollister Co., has opened across from The Childrens Place at Concord Mills, Simon said in a news release Wednesday. Gilly Hicks carries bras, bralettes, undies, swimwear, loungewear and sleepwear. Several other stores will open soon at the mall: Primark will make its North Carolina debut opening near entrance three by Dicks Sporting Goods, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. Founded in Ireland in 1969, the store sells womens, mens and childrens apparel, as well as lingerie, beauty and homeware. Primark has over 400 stores worldwide. Primark will have a temporary hiring recruitment center in the dining pavilion. The 40,000-square-foot store is expected to open this summer. Cotton: On, an Australian retailer that sells apparel and accessories, will open at entrance six, the Observer previously reported. Cotton On Group has eight brands with 1,500 stores in 22 countries and employs over 20,000 people. The Concord outlet store with womens and mens apparel and Cotton On Kids under one roof will open this summer. A pair of overseas discount retailers land on Concord Mills for their NC expansion New York Thread, a threading, waxing, eyelash and henna shop, will open at entrance six across from Aeropostale. The store is expected to open Aug. 1, according to the malls website. The North Face, an apparel store known for its hiking and outdoor apparel and equipment and is based in Denver, Colorado, will open at entry two across from the dining pavilion. The store is expected to open Aug. 4, according to the malls website. MINISO, a chain store specializing in cosmetics, stationery, toys and kitchenware, will open at entrance seven next to Lucky Brand. It is expected later this year. Ugg, known for its sheepskin boot originating in Australia, will open at entry six beside Old Navy. It will open this year. Story continues Concord Mills at 8111 Concord Mills Blvd., just northeast of Charlotte, has 185 stores, according to the mall. Hollister/Gilly Hicks and The North Face at Concord Mills mall are among stores open or opening at the North Carolina mall. New stores at SouthPark mall Simon also owns two other Charlotte shopping centers SouthPark mall and Charlotte Premium Outlets. Several stores have or will open at the mall, according to SouthParks website. Brahmin, a luxe leather handbags and accessories store based in Massachusetts, is open in the Nordstrom wing. Omega, a Swiss brand watch company, is opening next month near center court next to Lucky Brand. Aritzia, a Canadian womens luxury apparel brand, will open between Lego and Kate Spade. Its expected to open in the fall. Alo Yoga, a yoga clothing stores, will open in the Nordstrom wing next to Tiffany. Its expected to open this winter. Royal Reflections, a nail salon, will open near J. Jill. SouthPark at 4400 Sharon Road has 165 stores and restaurants. Trendy fashion retailer Zara is making its NC debut in Charlotte, report says New shops at Northlake Mall Northlake Mall, which has been under receivership since 2021 after failing to pay its debts, has new stores opening soon too: 3SIX92, womens apparel store, which has a store on Concord Mills Boulevard. American Eagle, casual clothing, accessories and footwear, based in Pittsburgh. Custom Place, a customized T-shirt, hoodies and hats shop. Northlake Mall at 6801 Northlake Mall Drive has 111 stores and restaurants. Apple store is opening at new Charlotte-area location after closing at Northlake Mall Best Buy now sells patio furniture. Really. Showrooms are coming to Charlotte and Raleigh. On July 26, the Americans with Disabilities Act turns 33 years old. As the law and the ADA generation carry on into our early 30s, we can look back at how far weve come and still see how far we have left to go. Over the past 33 years, the Americans with Disabilities Act has changed the way we enter buildings, cross the sidewalk and has slowly increased access for the more than 25% of the population that identifies as disabled. When it was signed, the ADA was heralded as the emancipation proclamation for people with disabilities. And today, the various outcomes of this landmark legislation can be physically seen and used in our everyday lives. Most notably, we think of sidewalks curb cuts a disability innovation that benefits not only those in wheelchairs but any person who uses a stroller or roller bag or skateboard. Additional modern advances rooted in disability innovation include automatic doors, captioning on televisions, audio books, the electric toothbrush, and even composing an email on your QWERTY keyboard. Society as a whole has benefited from the ADA. Physical spaces are more accessible today than 33 years ago, but full accessibility still lags behind. For example, many polling locations remain inaccessible for disabled voters, many students with disabilities are not receiving the services they need in schools, and, as addressed by Vice President Kamala Harris earlier this month, there is still a lot of room to grow to ensure that disabled people have access to transportation. The area that has both the least amount of improvement but the most amount of opportunity is competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities in our country. Competitive, integrated employment means all people with disabilities deserve the opportunity to access and pursue employment in their community at a prevailing wage. In the last three decades, the employment rates of people with disabilities has not dramatically improved. Even while employers around the country have record numbers of open positions, people with disabilities remain an untapped and underutilized talent pipeline. The unemployment rate of disabled people is more than double that of non-disabled people. People without disabilities are employed at three times the rate of disabled people despite unemployed disabled people reporting higher interest in seeking employment than their non-disabled counterparts. There is a pool of highly motivated, innovative, and loyal job seekers looking for their next opportunity. Story continues The newly-built Harkin Institute is seen on Dec. 16, 2020 at Drake University. The building is designed to be fully accessible to those with disabilities, complete with an encircling ramp, single-user restrooms, and a staircase wide enough to allow hearing-impaired individuals to sign side-by-side. This ADA Generation is actively participating and breaking attitudinal barriers. For instance, on the 25th anniversary of the ADA, Sen. Tom Harkin shared Emilea Em Hillmans story of going from segregated employment making less than minimum wage, to being a business owner herself, employing six other people. Today, Em celebrates 13 years in business and now employs 10 people at her coffee shop. Em is hardly the only success story. Back in May, The Harkin Institute hosted its first Summit on Scaling Disability-Driven Innovation; focusing on entrepreneurs with disabilities. Disabled small-business owners from all over the country presented their business plans to executives from Fortune 100 companies right here in Des Moines. There was also a full-day job fair for disabled job-seekers looking for more traditional employment opportunities. One story from the conference that stands out as an example of how this generation of disabled people is taking control of their economic futures is Joe Steffy. Joe has been running Poppin Joes Gourmet Kettle Corn since 2005. His business has continued to expand, and he has now started producing kettle corn here in Iowa. What is striking about Joes story is how he is integrating sales across our community. Not only can you buy from him directly, but you can find Joe at the Downtown Farmers Market in Des Moines and soon the Beaverdale Farmers Market as well. If you buy caramel corn to munch on while you catch the latest flick at The Varsity Cinema in the Drake Neighborhood, youre supporting Poppin Joe too. Whether its delicious popcorn or the keyboard on your phone, innovations rooted in disability have changed our lives, our cities, towns, and the world, and will continue to change lives for the better. Disability is not a bad word. Its a word that embodies creativity, innovation and when we design for disability, we increase access for all. Innovation is often found in the discomfort, behind our implicit biases, and in challenging how weve always done things. This week, as the ADA turns 33, I challenge you to think about if you and your company, nonprofit, club, whatever youre a part of are missing out on the next big idea because youre not purposefully engaging with the disability community. Living in a world that is not designed for you makes you a creative thinker and problem solver by default. Do you have too many problems solvers in your company? Thats what I thought. Take steps this year to capture the innovative power of disabled people. Make us your employees, your vendors, your managers, and your board members. If this idea makes you nervous or you feel like you dont know where youd start, that alone is an indicator that youre ready for a little innovation. For more information on how you can get started on your disability employment journey, head to HarkinInstitute.Drake.edu. Daniel Van Sant Daniel Van Sant is the Harkin Institutes director of Disability Policy. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Opinion: Employment is next Americans with Disabilities Act frontier Too many new teachers quit the profession because they suffer burnout. This needs to change. | WavebreakMediaMicro, Adobe I was asked to do so much every day as part of my job and it was exhausting. I left everyday feeling like I had been hit by a bus. I think the major piece of my burnout was not feeling valued and not feeling like I belonged anywhere. I have had many parents tell me exactly how they feel I should be running my classroom and/or handling situations with their students. I felt that I was not supported regarding inappropriate student behavior. I had a student become somewhat physical with me on three separate occasions, and nothing was done to correct that behavior or support me in the matter. The first thing they do is blame the teachers for problems. These were some of the anonymous comments recorded in exit surveys the State Board of Education gave to the 456 educators in Utah who decided in 2022 to leave their profession entirely. A few years ago the state board reported that 42% of new teachers in Utah quit within the first five years, while more than one-third leave at the end of their first year. That was before the pandemic forced them to rewrite curricula to fit an online format, followed by a time when many were teaching some students in person and some online. Those circumstances not only added to the pressure, they were disruptive, leaving many students behind in the learning of basic knowledge and skills. Utah isnt the only state experiencing this problem. A recent piece in Education Week identified the causes of teacher burnout as, among other things, inadequate workplace support and resources; unmanageable workload; high-stakes testing; time pressure; unsupported, disruptive students; and a wide variety of student needs without the resources to meet them. Related For these reasons and more, last weeks second annual Show Up for Teachers Conference at the Mountain America Expo Center, hosted by Utahs first lady Abby Cox, was so important. Story continues For more than eight hours, teachers networked with one another, listened to speakers and learned how to teach better and to take better care of their own mental health. Well-known author and Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks, and Michael Bonner, a teacher at the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, were keynote speakers. The Deseret News and Utah Business hosted a gala at the Grand America Hotel to honor four Teacher of the Year recipients and to recognize businesses and administrators who have excelled. Cox, who used to be a special education teacher, said she got the idea for the conference after listening to teachers statewide who were struggling. Almost universally what we heard from our educators was, We need this, she said. We have to help the helpers. Indeed, that is important, not only for the teachers, but for the future generations they are teaching. State lawmakers and others spend a lot of time debating and voting on bills designed to enhance the states education system. Some of these add unnecessarily to the burdens teachers face, while others are important. A recently released National Assessment of Educational Progress report showed dwindling scores among the nations fourth and eighth grade students. That is alarming. But teachers, who overwhelmingly chose their profession out of a passion for educating and helping children, cannot adequately become a part of the solution to this problem if they feel burned out or under-appreciated. Too often, they are unwittingly swept up in the cross-currents of culture wars and conspiracy theories, in which some outsiders accuse them of indoctrinating students or teaching history incorrectly. Lifting student performance will require support from administrators, politicians and, to a large extent, parents. It will require involvement and communication, which foster trust. But it will also require a sense of appreciation for teachers. The annual Show Up for Teachers conference is a good step in the right direction. CAIRO, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang signed here on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote bilateral relations, according to a statement released by the AL. Aboul-Gheit stressed the importance of strengthening the relations between members of the AL and Vietnam in different fields. Heading a high-profile delegation, the Vietnamese official lauded the AL for its role in maintaining regional peace and security. According to the AL, this is the second MoU of its kind that was signed between the pan-Arab body with southeastern Asian countries after the first one inked with Indonesia in 2016. The AL seeks to continue boost its relations with southeastern Asian states at all levels, the statement added. A pile of characters removed from the sign on the Twitter headquarters in San Francisco on Monday, as Elon Musk unveiled a new X logo to replace Twitter's famous blue bird. (Godofredo A. Vasquez / Associated Press) For the record: 10:06 p.m. July 26, 2023: An earlier version of this article dated the smiling Macintosh to 1980. The correct year is 1984. The blue bird is dead. Long live the black X. As the Twitter birdie flew off to logo heaven this week, something else also seemed to be vanishing. A whole aesthetic. The user-friendly design that has defined tech from the first smiling Macintosh in 1984, through the chirping aviary of social media in the present day, is rapidly losing ground. In its place? User-frightening design. Read more: Elon Musk reveals new 'X' logo to replace Twitter's blue bird With amoral AI fast-tracked to take the place of social media as the internets killer app, perhaps we need design that serves more as a warning than a beacon. Less come on in and more keep out. Indeed, at a glance, the black X that the company introduced as its work-in-progress logo this week recalls the skull-and-crossbones on cartoon bottles of poison. In other words, if Twitter-turned-X is toxic, maybe its time it was properly labeled. But the vibe shift didnt start this week. We had an inkling of the friendly-to-frightening metamorphosis in 2008 when the first Tesla roadster with its midlife-crisis styling became the face of electric vehicles. The swaggering, outta-my-way design stole the category from the prudently shaped Prius family hybrid. Or maybe user-frightening design started to win in the 2010s, when Lyft, sporting cute Barbie-colored mustaches on car grilles, was soundly subjugated by Uber, with its heavy-metal logo and fascist name. The sweet communitarian sharing economy was broadsided by the UberX road hog. Read more: Column: Elon Musk has replaced Twitter with X and an actual business with science fiction (Fascist is not hyperbole. The German prefix uber was a favorite of the Nazis, who used it to describe their own supposedly biologically superior race.) Then theres Facebooks transformation. Face is such a human word, and it went well with the platforms invitation to befriend the world with kindergarten gestures likes and shares and smiley faces. Story continues But then in 2021 the company was emblazoned with an infinity sign and renamed Meta, a word so abstract it means abstraction. Meta is Greek for beyond; uber is German for above. The lesson seems unmistakable. The new ubercorporations are above and beyond us finite mortals. Theyve left us in the dust. Read more: Op-Ed: Will Twitter survive Elon Musk? I'm sticking around to find out Were a long way from the 1990s, when companies love-bombed us with cartoonish design, affable interfaces and goofball names like Yahoo and Google. The goofiness encouraged the tech-reluctant to join the dance. Looking back at all those O's elongated to max cuteness as Yahooooo! and Goooooogle youd never have predicted the dominion of the X. X is an exciting letter, the artist Martin Grasser, who co-designed the Twitter bird in 2012, told me Tuesday. I had called him to praise his gloriously user-friendly bird. But then I asked him about the letter X. It has a severe form, he said. Its angular and diagonal. Read more: Op-Ed: To tweet or not to tweet, now that Elon's the boss By contrast, the bird he created with fellow designers Angy Chu and Todd Waterbury was made from circles, balanced, round-bellied and uptilted. On Sunday Grasser tweeted he xeeted? that it was meant to be legible at very small sizes, almost like a lowercase e. But to Grasser, a typeface obsessive, his bird is not the right logo for the new company. Elon Musks company, after all, is clearly not cute or optimistic or uptilted. The name X and a severe, black logo are more apt for whatever baffling and galactic storm-trooping Musk wants to do with his interplanetary empire. The current X logo is derived from an existing character set. The designer Michael Bierut told me that, while most Xs are drawn to be slightly thicker at the bottom than the top, to give a sense of solidity, the current Twitter X is not made this way. Perhaps that's why it looks a bit teetery to my eye, like a folding chair thats about to collapse. Read more: Opinion: How I looked past Twitter and learned to like social media again I ran this by Grasser. The optical correction that occurs at the center of an X there are subtle shifts you need to make it feel balanced, he said. If you just draw two lines that cross each other it can feel unbalanced. Jack Dorsey, Twitter co-founder, recently xeeted a goat emoji at Grasser, whose thread about designing the bird logo went viral this week. Grassers bird is indeed the GOAT. Its a reminder of the 1990s promise of the internet that so much hypertext would lead to serendipitous connections, meaningful collaborations and whole new fields of human endeavor. But the ideals of collaboration and co-invention sharing and caring deserted Big Tech some time ago. Today a pantheon of overmen have consolidated an oligopoly and deliberately styled it as authoritarian. Rather than attracting our eyeballs, the oligarchs seem to want to poke them out. So while the new name and logo may be true to the rapacious and even inhumane plans Musk has for his company, the X has also sterilized the project. Read more: Elon Musk is dying to be funny. These eight comedians have some notes The letter X is a negation, Bierut told me. No kidding. To me, the negativity of the new brand exactly models the kind of spiteful interaction bereft of humor, edged with despair that good design should endeavor to discourage in social media. Ever since Grasser, who co-founded the branding company Studio Mococo in 2016, posted about how he designed the bird, hes been barraged with expressions of grief for the hopeful spirit his logo represented. I asked him why he thinks people are so moved by the birds retirement. It has so much to do with familiarity, Grasser said. Its like when the tree on the corner goes down in the neighborhood. All of a sudden, you find yourself a little bit sad and you dont know why. Virginia Heffernan is a regular contributor to Wired, the author of "Magic and Loss: The Internet as Art" and a podcast host. @page88 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. Eliza Anderson, Deseret News Carol Zulu died of HIV/AIDS in 2009. She was 15. Carol had been ill for some time before she went to live at the Childrens Resource Center outside of Lusaka, Zambia, but once she had regular meals and a stable environment, she began to thrive, at least in some ways. Internally, AIDS continued the destructive march that would take her life. When I first met her in 2006, she was 12 years old, but looked like she might have been 7. Her rich brown skin, bright eyes and carefully braided hair were beautiful, but it was her charming personality that really drew people to her. She was cheerful, kind and worried about the well-being of others. She sang, wrote poems and made sure the people around her were taken care of. The founder of Mothers Without Borders, Kathy Headlee, called her love on legs and said she represented the best in all of us. The year she died, Carol was one of some 1.8 million people worldwide who died of HIV/AIDS in those 12 months, with the vast majority of the dread diseases victims in sub-Saharan Africa like Carol. Over 40 million people have died since the disease was first identified in 1981, and approximately the same number are currently living with HIV. It was therefore stunning to read in this years UNAIDs report that there is a path to ending AIDS deaths by 2030, less than seven years away. Meeting Carol was not the first time I had been personally touched by a person who ultimately died from AIDS. My uncle, Nathan Smith, contracted HIV from contaminated blood he received as part of his ongoing treatment for hemophilia. He died in 1986, during a fear-filled time when people with AIDS were shunned and ostracized. In this 1991 file photo, Britains Princess Diana, the Princess of Wales, hugs and plays with an HIV positive baby in Faban Hostel, San Paulo, on the second day of her visit to Brazil. For someone who began her life in the spotlight as Shy Di, Diana became an unlikely, revolutionary during her years in the House of Windsor. She helped modernize the monarchy by making it more personal, changing the way the royal family related to people. By interacting more intimately with the public kneeling to the level of children, sitting on edge of a patients hospital bed, writing personal notes to her fans she set an example that has been followed by other royal. | Dave Caulkin, Associated Press People refused to even touch a person with AIDS because of fear that the illness could be transmitted through a simple touch. Diana, Princess of Wales, worked to break down that stigma. She deliberately went ungloved and shook hands with 10 HIV-positive men in an English hospital in April 1987. The fear even from the patients was so intense that only one man allowed himself to be photographed shaking hands with her, and even then, he would not allow his face to be shown. In 1989, she went to Harlem Hospitals AIDS unit, picked up infected children and hugged them tightly. She helped dissipate some of the fear that permeated the community. Story continues In our opinion, Diana was the foremost ambassador for AIDS awareness on the planet and no one can fill her shoes in terms of the work she did, the National AIDS Trusts Gavin Hart told the BBC in the days following her fatal car accident. Related What is HIV/AIDS? HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a retrovirus that attacks the bodys immune system. It differs from the types of viruses that cause colds and the flu, and attacks T helper cells, the cells that normally help protect us from disease. It is very efficient at tricking host cells to make multiple copies of itself and once acquired, will cause a lifelong infection. AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is the most severe stage of HIV. People with AIDS have badly damaged immune systems and develop a variety of opportunistic infections, and a CD4 cell count (a type of white blood cells) below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. According to the Mayo Clinic, untreated HIV typically turns into AIDS in eight to 10 years. With treatment, the HIV infection may never lead to AIDS. Treatment After identifying the HIV virus in 1983, researchers began a rapid search for treatments that worked. In 1987, after my uncle was already dead, zidovudine, also called azidothymidine, or AZT, was approved for use. AZT is not a cure, but it prevents the HIV virus from replicating itself. It is also a difficult regimen to manage, requiring 4-5 pills every four hours, with severe side effects, including some that could be deadly. At the time, it was also the most expensive prescription drug in history, with a one-year price tag of close to $10,000 ($20,000 in todays dollars). Scientists kept working. In 1995, the FDA approved saquinavir, an antiretroviral drug that was the first of a new class of drugs: protease inhibitors. Like AZT, it prevents the virus from copying itself, but at a different stage of infection. In 1996, a third medication was approved for use, in another class of antiretrovirals. These three types of medications began to be used in combination and marked the year (1996) that people stopped dying. However, the drug cocktail still involved multiple pills per day. Just one year later, 1997, Combivir appeared on the market, the first to combine multiple drug treatments into one pill. Today, there are 23 FDA-approved combination medications used to treat HIV. On the one-pill-per-day regimen, patients are more likely to stick with their treatments and less likely to end up sick enough to require hospitalization. In 1989, Samuel Broder, then head of the National Cancer Institute, declared in a speech at the international AIDS meeting in Montreal, Quebec, that AIDS was a chronic illness and no longer a death sentence at least for those in the global north. The end of AIDS In 2022, AIDS still claimed a life at least every minute of the year, and 1.3 million people became newly infected. Women and girls are still disproportionately affected, and global funding for the fight against AIDS is decreasing. So how do we get to zero deaths from AIDS in the next 61 2 years? Here are the goals UNAIDS sets out: 95-95-95. That means that 95% of the people who are living with HIV know their HIV status, 95% of the people who know that they are living with HIV (are) on lifesaving antiretroviral treatment, and 95% of people who are on treatment (are) virally suppressed. Five countries have met that standard, and 16 more are close. The end of AIDS is an opportunity for a uniquely powerful legacy for todays leaders, said Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS. They could be remembered by future generations as those who put a stop to the worlds deadliest pandemic. They could save millions of lives and protect the health of everyone. They could show what leadership can do. Ending deaths from AIDS is achievable, but it will take work, political will and funding. We are hopeful, but it is not the relaxed optimism that might come if all was heading as it should be. It is, instead, a hope rooted in seeing the opportunity for success, an opportunity that is dependent on action, said Byanyima. And, it would be a miracle that was unthinkable for my Uncle Nathan and sweet Carol Zulu. Holly Richardson is the editor of Utah Policy. Editors Note: Bill Carter covered the media business for more than 25 years at The New York Times. He has also been a contributor to CNN, and the author of four books about television, including The Late Shift. He was the Emmy-nominated writer of the HBO film adaptation of that book. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN. If you ask people what they think of when they hear X, you will likely get a host of answers: Bill Carter - Fred Conrad A comic book movie franchise. A rating for adult films. Somebody who wants to be anonymous. Maybe a letter that appears in titles of Super Bowls? Or: A lost love. For a whole lot of people, the latter best describes how they are feeling about Twitter, the live social conversation app. It once was an inviting place, a place of stimulation and information. But lately it had become far less comfortable to hang out there, thanks to an erratic personality, overbearing demands and increasing levels of ugly hate speech. It was barely recognizable anymore. So now, for many, its just another ex. That even goes for the companys owner, Elon Musk, who, in what looks like the culmination of a months-long campaign to sabotage his own investment, announced on Sunday he will totally reinvent Twitter, even ditching its corporate name, replacing it with a single capital letter: X. Having overseen devised, really the demise of Twitter, Musk has also created a reasonable chance that he could now be in charge of a complete brand blowout, should this daring reboot eventuate in extinction for X. In the wake of Musks firing of most of Twitters employees, and making decisions that sent half the companys ad revenue elsewhere, Twitter users had reason to question what the heck the alleged wunderkind tech billionaire was thinking. Even if all he wanted to do was to anoint himself emperor of the still-influential digital town square, so he could kibitz with his friends and troll his enemies, why was he packing the site with bullies tossing Molotov cocktails? Story continues Less than two months after Musk took over Twitter, promising unfettered free speech, slurs against Black Americans, gay Americans and Jewish people soared. As expressed by Imran Ahmed, the chief executive of the Center for Countering Digital Hate: Elon Musk sent up the Bat Signal to every kind of racist, misogynist and homophobe that Twitter was open for business. They have reacted accordingly. Observing the quick deterioration of what was considered acceptable content on the site, it was surely fair to ask: Is that what Musk wanted his new toy to become? Did he really just want to sit back and watch the company implode? Maybe we got the answer on Sunday, when Twitter was effectively blown up once and for all, its internationally recognized bird logo literally targeted for plucking from its perch on the wall of its San Francisco headquarters (until interrupted by the cops). The blue birdie will presumably soon be replaced as all the companys corporate symbols will be by a stylized X, a letter Musk, founder of SpaceX, has apparently long been fascinated by. The message being promoted by official X-dom (Twitter now having been declared a non-entity) is that the revised app will be a breakthrough of incalculable impact, a one-app-serves-all service not just for social interaction but also commerce, banking, video, audio and personal advancement, the platform that can deliver, well everything, according to CEO Linda Yaccarino. Yes, it will all be Appenin on X. Who will still be around to frequent this miraculous innovation is less certain. The app formerly known as Twitter had almost 370 million users globally in December of last year, after Musk paid (overpaid) $44 billion to buy it. Less than a year later, it is already down to 353 million users, and Statista projects the number will decline to 335 million in 2024. And that projection was made before rival Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, decided to try to take advantage of how many disaffected Twitter users were hunting for an alternative and introduced Threads three weeks ago. Threads reached 100 million users in five days, which was surely the biggest case in history of rustling wandering strays from the herd. Speaking of record-breaking cases, Musk, who embraces personal celebrity (he did host SNL in 2021, after all) has, in his handling of this acquisition, potentially set himself up for an unparalleled entry in the business history books. Taking a brand that is recognized and used around the world not to mention 44 billion bucks and vaporizing the whole kit and caboodle would be, at a minimum, memorable. Imagine, say, Nike deciding to re-label itself Z, and then adding video and audio and banking services, while firing 90% of its staff and welcoming neo-Nazis to hang around its stores throwing Air Jordans at the other customers. Probably not great for business. But, its certainly a veritable Titanic of a case study for professors at every grad business school in the world. Lets talk today about what not to do with your company. Of course, none of this may take place. Musk has ridden Tesla and SpaceX to a multi-billion-dollar net worth. And so, as his (largely bro-type) admirers will tell you, loudly and luridly, he cant be counted out. But Twitter has been already. More accurately, for millions who spent many pleasant hours in its company, the site has been, definitively, X-ed out. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Editors Note: Michael Bociurkiw (@WorldAffairsPro) is a global affairs analyst currently based in Odesa. He is a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and a former spokesperson for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He is a regular contributor to CNN Opinion. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion at CNN. Its just past 3:00 a.m. About two hours ago, air raid sirens started to sound across the Odesa region, prompting me to leap out of bed and into my safe space the windowless washroom in the rented flat of a 200-year-old building, which has survived all sorts of calamities over the centuries. Michael Bociurkiw - Chrystia Chudczak War forces you to seek out places that can outsmart Russian drones and missiles. My building is a low-rise, strong, obscure it almost oozes strength and so it seems a reasonable alternative to a bomb shelter. As an added layer of comfort, Ive my trusty red sleeping bag from a Canadian mountaineering company. Its accompanied me to trouble spots as diverse as the Turkish-Iraqi border, Ukraines Donetsk region and rural Papua New Guinea. In my protective space at nights, Im connected virtually with countless others on Telegram who like me are scrolling through Ukrainian channels. All of us trying to find out whether there will be drones or hypersonic missiles; how many, from which direction and most importantly, where theyve already fallen. But as much as I keep telling myself I can weather this out having worked and lived in many conflict zones over the years I am beginning to recognize the gathering dark clouds that signal its time to leave. The daily rollercoaster of emotions, fighting back tears when describing the situation around me on live television, how even the smallest sounds seem to trigger the instinctive flight-or-fight response. Story continues Im not the only one. Sadly, after several nights of violent strikes, it feels as if the war is finally closing in on us in Odesa, Ukraines jewel on the Black Sea and my beloved temporary home over the past year. (I previously wrote here about ditching my comfy Canadian lifestyle for Ukraine.) With its seemingly endless seaside promenade, joyful outdoor gyms, Miami-like flair and New York chutzpah, Odesa has made me its number one fan. Emergency service personnel clear a destroyed building near the Odesa Port after a Russian attack on Thursday, July 20. Russian forces have pounded Ukraine's southern cities -- including the port city of Odesa -- with drones and missiles, damaging some of the country's critical grain export infrastructure. - Libkos/AP I doubt Russian forces intend to lay waste to Odesa the way they did to the Ukrainian city of Mariupol early on in the war. But then again, we seem to have reached a tipping point in human cruelty in this war. Late last week, Russian cruise missiles blasted the port and an overlooking bluff where the imposing Chinese consulate is located. Thats a 10-minute walk from my flat and an area which Id previously considered off limits to Russian aggression (isnt Beijing one of the few buddies Moscow has left?). And early Sunday, another strike ripped into Odesas historic district, with its architectural gems, museums, restaurants and famed music school. The impact sent shards of glass tumbling onto the sidewalk of my favorite hangout, Dizyngoff Restaurant, and onto the square where the statue of Odesas founder, Russian Empress Catherine II, once stood. We are losing hope Lika Bezchastnova, a dear friend and owner of Dizyngoff, told me after the strike: Ive never felt this way before but we are losing hope in the war ending in our favor. We are feeling helpless. Its come to the point where we feel neither protected nor supported by the West. And I dont want to feel that way. Oleksandra Kovalchuk, Deputy Director of the Odesa National Fine Arts Museum (so far spared by the Russian missiles) told me: Even though weve seen how dangerous it became in other parts of Ukraine in the past year and a half, including targeted hits on cultural heritage, we were totally unprepared for something of this scale in Odesa five cultural institutions impacted by blast waves. Its intense, heartbreaking and very painful for everyone, she added. These institutions are very core to us: weve been visiting them since weve been little children. Seeing them hit was a very, very painful thing. It was hard to imagine that the Russians are that barbarian to target central Odesa. But they are. The Transfiguration Cathedral is Odesas largest church building. It was consecrated in 1809 and destroyed during the Soviet era in 1936, before being rebuilt when Ukraine became an independent nation in 1991. - Oleksandr Gimanov/AFP/Getty Images To put things into perspective, the US-based geopolitical commentator with a unique expertise in cultural property during times of war, Laura Ballman, said such assaults on priceless cultural heritage should be seen in a similar prism as the destruction of the Statue of Liberty in New York City or the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It constitutes cultural genocide, she recently told our Global Impact podcast. Odesas art museum sits near grain storage areas of the main port, so it is especially vulnerable. Kovalchuk tells me her team is rushing to protect the art works. Zombie state In the past, friends in Kyiv often talked of the zombie state theyd experience after relentless nightly waves of Russian bombings. Thats now commonplace in Odesa: You can see it on the worn faces of residents taking their pet dogs out on their morning constitutional. As daylight broke on Sunday, after the double strike on the Transfiguration Cathedral and the historic district, it seemed that moms were hugging their kids tighter, that faces became more stern. Handshakes seemed more firm, as if they could be the last for a while. When I asked one taxi driver whether the nightly violence would prompt folks who returned from overseas to flee again, he replied: Theres nowhere for us to go anymore. This is home. Another told me he evacuated his wife and kids to the countryside after the anxiety from the sirens and explosions became too much. A woman reacts near the site of a missile strike on Odesa, on July 23. The city in southern Ukraine is a key cultural center, and has long links with Russia. It was founded under Catherine II and was once Russias second most important port. - Oleksandr Gimanov/AFP/Getty Images One of my longtime friends a local business owner who Id considered a pillar of strength fled Odesa for Western Europe last week just for some peace and quiet. Our wartime humor may not be understood by everyone but, trust me, it helps us cope. My friends and I debate whether, during these times, wine consumption should be increased to numb the senses or be reduced to keep alert in case theres a need to flee (Ive staked ground somewhere in between the two approaches). Especially at night, a home-cooked meal feels extra special knowing it could be my last for a while. Ive made it a habit to bid sleep-deprived shop clerks a quiet night. The other night in a vacated flat next to the Opera House, one of Odesas famed pianists, Andrii Pokaz, gracefully fulfilled requests from us on a grand piano as air raid sirens blared. In my head I labelled the impromptu concert: Waiting for the Rockets to Come. Yet another red line? Russia has crossed so many red lines since the start of its full scale invasion in February 2022 that it feels almost meaningless to re-attach that label to the recent attacks on Odesa. Even the most skeptical of us never expected Russia to strike the main port a crucial cog in the global food supply chain. In a further escalatory step overnight on Monday, Russia bombed Ukrainian ports on the Danube River, within view of NATO member Romania, and on an alternative waterway to the Black Sea where it was thought grain exports would be safe. Odesa has borne the brunt of Russias fury over the Crimean bridge attack this month. The attacks also coincide with Russia pulling out of the Black Sea grain deal that was keeping Ukrainian grain flowing to the world. Its becoming clearer that part of the Kremlins military strategy to defeat Ukraine has expanded to the Black Sea, from where the deadly Kh-23 and Oniks anti-ship cruise missiles are launched. They fly unbelievably fast, are capable of traveling extremely high and low altitudes and are pretty much immune to interception by conventional means (which is why the leadership here in Ukraine is calling for Patriot missile defense systems). The twisted Kremlins end game this time, it seems to me, is to rip apart Ukrainian agricultural export infrastructure to the point that desperate markets have no choice but to source from Russia. Consider that East Africa, where the World Food Program says millions of people are experiencing unprecedented levels of food insecurity, is hugely dependent on Ukrainian grain. As much as words of condemnation from austere bodies such as UNESCO have become a customary response to Russian aggression, words dont repel missiles the way the Patriots do. So will I stay in Odesa or will I go? Theres no easy answer. The world needs trusted eyes and ears on the ground to report what is happening, to give context to the Russian aggression. My inner Ukrainian self, as unconventional as it sounds, tells me not to run from the burning house. But my journalistic sense tells me that I am of no use to anyone if I am silenced. All I know is, I want to be in the fan zone when Ukraine declares victory over Russia. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com In a more than two-month blitz that ended in violence, Donald Trump lied, cajoled, inveighed and inspired his supporters to challenge the results of an election he lost. Now, special counsel Jack Smith appears on the verge of indicting Trump for those efforts. Two and a half years have passed since the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021. Yet investigators are still piecing together the breadth of Trumps attempt to derail the transfer of power. It wasnt a singular plan but in fact was many disparate schemes, led by distinct groups of advisers who embraced increasingly fringe strategies and were not always working in harmony. Each arm of the effort was held together by one core lie with Trump at the center: that the election was stolen. And each tentacle has faced withering scrutiny from Smiths investigators, who may ask a federal grand jury any day now to approve criminal charges tied to Trumps election subversion, mere weeks after Smith charged Trump in a separate case for hoarding classified documents. But if and when Smith brings charges related to Trumps wide-ranging bid to cling to power, it will fall to the courts and a jury to determine whether Trumps conduct no matter the broad powers and immunities of the presidency crossed the line into criminality. The exact charges that Smith will seek are unclear, but heres a look at the extraordinary range of conduct that will figure into them. The disinformation campaign Key figures: Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell Even before votes were cast, Trump began conditioning his supporters to distrust the outcome of the 2020 election, insisting that mail-in voting which states embraced to contend with Covid-era dangers would be exploited by Democrats, foreign adversaries and bad actors to steal the election. Trump rejected advice from his own allies, like campaign manager Bill Stepien and House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, to embrace mail-in voting as a way to drive turnout among his supporters. Instead, he set up mail ballots to be a scapegoat for his possible defeat. Story continues In tandem with this effort was Trumps plan, which he telegraphed to advisers, that he would declare victory on election night when interim results were likely to be tilted in his favor due to delays in counting mail-in ballots even though large shifts toward Joe Biden were anticipated as all votes were tallied in the days following the election. Trump did just that. In the wee hours of the morning on Nov. 4, 2020, at the urging of Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani and against the advice of virtually everyone else in his inner circle, Trump declared victory and warned his supporters that Democrats would try to steal the election. Trump followed his early claim of victory with a weekslong campaign alleging without evidence widespread fraud in a handful of states Biden won: Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia and Arizona. He and his allies filed dozens of lawsuits aimed at overturning the results or throwing out millions of votes in areas that favored Biden. Most were summarily dismissed for lacking substance or being filed in untimely ways. A last-ditch bid to challenge the results, filed by Texas but supported by Trump in a separate legal brief, was turned aside by the Supreme Court. Despite being rebuffed in the courts, wild conspiracies proliferated in pro-Trump circles. Figures like Sidney Powell, an attorney who represented Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn in criminal matters, promoted the false notion that election machines made by Dominion Voting Systems had been manipulated by foreign governments to tip the election toward Biden. In the meantime, Trump barraged the airwaves and his supporters inboxes with fundraising appeals and ads accusing Democrats of cheating, stuffing his campaigns coffers even as many of his own advisers privately indicated that he had, in fact, lost the race. Smith may be eyeing Trumps fundraising and messaging tactics for potential crimes related to defrauding donors or the public at large. The Electoral College, Part I: The states Key figures: Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis, Brad Raffensperger, John Eastman As Trumps efforts flailed in the courts, his allies began eyeing a second target: state legislatures. Although by late November election officials and governors had certified Bidens victory, Giuliani began promoting the notion that state legislatures could simply override those decisions by citing fraud or irregularities that justified a different outcome. To support this notion, Giuliani and Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis traveled to the states Trump was contesting and convened public hearings with sympathetic GOP legislators to highlight allegations of fraud. They pushed GOP-controlled legislatures to attempt to designate pro-Trump slates of presidential electors to replace or compete with Democratic electors that had been certified by election officials and governors. Most notably, Trump leaned on Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, to simply find the votes that would put Trump ahead of Biden in the state. A recorded Jan. 2, 2021, phone call captured the lengthy exchange and has become fodder for Smith as well as investigators in Georgia. Raffensperger balked. So did other state leaders, refusing to appoint their own slates of electors despite Trumps increasing pressure. This stage of Trumps strategy is where John Eastman a conservative attorney with fringe theories about the Electoral College began gaining prominence in Trumps orbit. He participated in Trumps efforts to lean on state legislatures to act, appearing at public hearings convened by Republican legislators. Ultimately, Eastman would become the driving force behind Trumps final, desperate bid to stay in power, a plan focused squarely on Jan. 6. The Electoral College, Part II: The fake electors Key figures: John Eastman, Rudy Giuliani When the Electoral College met on Dec. 14, 2020, in 50 state capitals and Washington, D.C., no contested states had designated pro-Trump electors to compete with Bidens electors. Nevertheless, in seven of those states, dozens of pro-Trump activists convened in state capitals, at the same time as Democratic electors, and cast ballots that they claimed made them legitimate presidential electors. These alternative or contingent electors signed certificates claiming to be the states duly qualified electors and delivered them to the National Archives and Congress, following a process set out in federal law for actual presidential electors. Enter Eastman. Emails released by the House select committee on Jan. 6 show that after the Electoral College ballots had been cast, he shifted his focus to legitimizing the uncertified electors. The conservative attorney, who advised Republican legislators during the contested Bush v. Gore election of 2000, had been advising Trump and his allies since before the 2020 election, joining a working group assembled by attorney Cleta Mitchell to develop a post-election litigation strategy. Within days of the Nov. 3 election, Mitchell asked Eastman to draw up a plan for state legislatures to appoint pro-Trump electors to supplant those certified by governors. Eastman obliged, and his plan, by late November, had made its way to the Oval Office. Eastman, who would also author Trumps Supreme Court brief in the Texas case, spent much of December leaning on state legislators to declare their elections invalid, citing fraud and irregularities, and use that as a pretense to appoint alternate electors. Eastman told allies at the time that without the imprimatur of a state legislature, these contingent electors wouldnt have any legal force. Mulling the seizure of voting machines Key figures: Sidney Powell, Mike Flynn After the Supreme Court refused to consider the Texas election challenge Dec. 11, 2020, Trump saw his options dwindle to an increasingly desperate few. He had begun mobilizing members of Congress to formally challenge the election results Jan. 6, when the House and Senate were required to meet and count electoral votes. And he still hoped state legislatures would swoop in and send their own electors to Washington. But he also began eyeing a more extreme option. Powell, Flynn and their allies had been in Trumps ear about the prospect of invoking presidential authority to seize voting machines in the states he was contesting, using a combination of national security directives to justify the move. Various drafts of an executive order supporting such a move circulated in the White House (some of which were turned over to the Jan. 6 select committee). The conversation culminated in a Dec. 18 Oval Office meeting with Trump, Flynn, Powell, Giuliani and others. At the meeting, Trump flirted with naming Powell a roving special counsel to pursue election-related matters, and Flynn advocated for taking the machines. But White House aides and Giuliani pushed back, and Trump ultimately opted against the move. Hours later, in the middle of the night, Trump issued his first call to supporters to descend on Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021. Be there, he tweeted. Will be wild. Deploying the Justice Department Key figures: Jeff Rosen, Rich Donoghue, Jeff Clark, Pat Cipollone, Scott Perry Trump was publicly frustrated that his own Justice Department had openly rejected his claims of widespread election fraud, and when Attorney General Bill Barr resigned in December 2020 amid open conflict with the president Trump eyed another mechanism to bolster his bid to remain in power. Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA.), who espoused some fringe theories about election fraud, had begun connecting Trump with Jeff Clark, a Justice Department official who was sympathetic to his efforts. Several documented meetings or calls with Trump in late December 2020 and early January 2021 showed Clark had Trumps ear during this crucial period. Internally, Clark had been pressing Justice Department leaders to issue a letter to the states Trump was challenging, describing irregularities and recommending that their legislatures reconvene to consider whether Trump, rather than Biden, should be declared the winner. Clark faced sharp pushback from Barrs successor, acting attorney general Jeff Rosen, and his deputy, Rich Donoghue. But Trump briefly considered outflanking them by naming Clark acting attorney general and giving him the perch to implement the effort. But Trump backed down after a mass resignation threat by Trump Justice Department officials and top White House lawyers, including White House counsel Pat Cipollone. Records revealed by the Jan. 6 select committee indicate that Trump may have briefly effectuated Clarks appointment as acting attorney general before rescinding it. The Electoral College, Part III: Pressuring Pence Key figures: Mike Pence, John Eastman, Greg Jacob, Ken Chesebro When all else failed, Trump turned firmly to Jan. 6, 2021, seen by his increasingly fringe group of allies as the ultimate deadline to stop the transfer of power to Biden. Though no states had endorsed alternative slates of electors, Congress was still in receipt of the unofficial slates sent in by pro-Trump activists. The Jan. 6 session, required by the Constitution as well as an 1887 law known as the Electoral Count Act, has long been a formality, a ceremonial gathering to affirm the certified results of the states. Only a handful of times in American history have challenges been brought and no challenge to a states electoral votes had ever been sustained. But in Trumps view, the Jan. 6 session was a last stand of sorts. And he had one final cudgel to attempt to stave off a Biden presidency: his vice president, Mike Pence. The Constitution requires that the vice president who doubles as the president of the Senate preside over the counting of Electoral College ballots. So Trump spent the final weeks of his presidency pressing Pence to assert the power to simply refuse to count Bidens electoral votes. Pence, Trump argued, could cite the competing slates of electors and declare the results to be in doubt, postponing the count and sending the matter back to the states for consideration. His contention was backed by a coterie of fringe attorneys who had spent a frantic few weeks fleshing out what they dubbed The president of the Senate strategy. Emails obtained by the Jan. 6 select committee show Eastman communicating with lawyers like Giuliani and Ken Chesebro, who attempted to muscle through what they acknowledged was a constitutionally dubious plan. But Pence resisted. He recognized that taking such steps would require violating provisions of the Electoral Count Act and would be an unprecedented assertion of single-handed authority to determine the outcome of the election. Trump publicly and privately browbeat Pence to change course, but Pence repeatedly refused. On the morning of Jan. 6, Trump called Pence for one final, angry phone call in which he derided Pence for refusing to bend to his will. It was the last time they would speak that day. As violence unfolded at the Capitol that afternoon, Eastman and Giuliani continued to press Trumps allies to stop the election process. Giuliani called Republican members of Congress and asked them to mount continued challenges to the results that might buy more time, and Eastman corresponded with a Pence aide, counsel Greg Jacob, in a final effort to get Pence to delay the electoral vote count. Jacob pushed back on Eastman, even as he fled from the first wave of rioters. He has since become a key witness in California bar discipline authorities bid to strip Eastman of his law license over his Jan. 6-related actions. The rally Key figures: Ali Alexander, Alex Jones, Steve Bannon After Trump told his supporters to be there for a wild protest in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, a large pro-Trump faction responded. The tweet invigorated groups like Ali Alexanders Stop the Steal organization, which made plans for a rally on Capitol grounds Jan. 6. Women for America First organized a rally near the White House that became Trumps primary event that day. The rally was the primary reason tens of thousands of Trump supporters descended on Washington. And Trumps tweet imploring them to be there has figured into dozens of prosecutions stemming from the riot that followed the rally. It was the moment, prosecutors have argued, that extremists like Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes began mobilizing large contingents to descend on Washington. Both have since been convicted of seditious conspiracy. The far-right conspiracy theorist and broadcaster Alex Jones, who attended the rally, helped lead hundreds of people from the Ellipse to the Capitol. Nearby, at the Willard Hotel, a pro-Trump war room was working to manage the ongoing efforts to overturn the election, featuring participation from Steve Bannon, Giuliani and other Trump allies. Trump used the rally crowd as a means to pressure Congress, telling them that if they didnt fight to stop Bidens victory they wouldnt have a country anymore. He then pointed them to the Capitol, where he urged them to march peacefully and patriotically to reject the election results. But Trumps rhetoric was overwhelmingly packed with apocalyptic imagery, which has led at least one federal judge to say he might plausibly be accused of inciting the violence that followed. The riot Key figures: Mark Meadows, Mike Pence, Pat Cipollone After Trumps rally speech, he retreated to the White House furious that his Secret Service detail had resisted his desire to go to the Capitol, where violence had begun to break out. Instead, he withdrew to the Oval Office dining room, where he watched the chaos at the Capitol unfold on TV. While watching, he resisted desperate pleas from allies like McCarthy and other Republicans in Congress, aides, advisers and family members to explicitly tell his supporters to go home. For hours, Trump ignored those appeals while outnumbered police officers were battered and members of Congress and Pence evacuated to safety. While Pence fled, Trump tweeted an attack on his vice president, saying he lacked the courage to stop Bidens election. That tweet appeared to inflame the crowd; the Jan. 6 committee has shown how the mob intensified in the ensuing moments and many on hand at the Capitol shared it with those around them. Throughout the day, Trump held court with a long list of advisers, like chief of staff Mark Meadows and Cipollone. Both have become key witnesses in Smiths probe. Pence has also testified to the special counsel. When Trump finally did tell supporters to go home, 187 minutes after the first police line was breached, many in the crowd seemed to respond. Videos from the riot show supporters sharing the tweet with one another and heeding his call. The damage, however, was done. Five people died during or shortly after the attack; hundreds more were injured. In the 30 months since, more than 1,000 rioters have been criminally charged for what they did Jan. 6. Now, Smith's next moves and the secret vote of a grand jury that has undoubtedly heard all of the evidence above will determine whether Trump, and members of his inner circle, will stand trial, too. Greg Gutfeld John Lamparski/Getty Images Fox News anchor Greg Gutfeld has been awash with criticism after he said that Jewish people "had to be useful" in order to survive the Holocaust during Monday's broadcast of the network's top show, "The Five." Fox News staffers and insiders told The Daily Beast that the remarks were a "disgusting thing" for its resident "comedian" to say, adding that "at any other place, his career would be over." Gutfeld made the comment while defending Florida's new and controversial history education curriculum, which will endeavor to teach children that slavery provided Black Americans with "personal benefit" by helping them develop skills. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate, has suggested that experiencing slavery was a beneficial experience for come enslaved people and has defended the "anti-woke" lesson plans amid nationwide criticism. During Monday's edition of "The Five," the panel blasted Vice President Kamala Harris' rebuff of the education standards as racist. Jesse Watters, a co-host and newly minted primetime anchor for the network, criticized Harris for not wanting "African-Americans and white Americans to know that Black Americans did learn skills despite being enslaved." The hosts' conversation shifted, however, when the sole liberal panelist, Jessica Tarlov, made a connection between slavery and the Holocaust, wondering if Florida schools would go on to teach that Jewish people received some benefit from the Nazis' systemic murder of them in concentration camps. "Obviously I'm not Black, but I'm Jewish," Tarlov began. "Would someone say about the Holocaust, for instance, that there were some benefits for Jews? That while they were hanging out in concentration camps they learned a strong work ethic? That maybe you learned a new skill?" Gutfeld referenced Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl's famous book to respond to Tarlov's question. Story continues "Did you ever read 'Man's Search for Meaning'?" Gutfeld said. "Vik Frankl talks about how you had to survive in a concentration camp by having skills. You had to be useful. Utility! Utility kept you alive!" A clip of Gutfeld's comments soon spread across social media, prompting immediate backlash from media observers and journalists who believed the host had crossed the line. "I wanted to throw up after this comment," Juliet Jeske, a research associate for the Tow-Knight Center News Integrity Initiative at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, wrote of the viral clip she tweeted from her Fox News tracking account, Decoding Fox News. "How would he not know that Jews were sorted the day they arrived in some camps and were immediately murdered. I thought that was common knowledge. A lot of them were children." I wanted to throw up after this comment. How would he not know that Jews were sorted the day they arrived in some camps and were immediately murdered. I thought that was common knowledge. A lot of them were children. Decoding Fox News (@DecodingFoxNews) July 24, 2023 Gutfeld's comments have also drawn critiques from people within the conservative network, which has long since navigated the controversy generated by the inflammatory rhetoric of its commentators. The Anti-Defamation League has repeatedly admonished the network for pedaling "racist" and "fringe" commentary, including white supremacist ideology like the "Great Replacement" theory. "Obviously, it is a disgusting thing to say, same with Jesse's remarks on the matter," one unnamed Fox News producer told the Daily Beast. "Just generally speaking, I'm amazed that FOX has any ability to retain employees from multicultural backgrounds. Our workplace is shockingly diverse given the vitriol that often makes it to the air. Understand that they're likely here for the same reasons I am, these jobs are scarce, but I can't help but feel awful for them because they undoubtedly see this nonsense and can't do anything to stop it." When asked for a reaction, another reporter simply told the outlet "yikes," while a Fox insider hinted that there was a "lot of internal worry" about Gutfeld's controversy, especially since he recently ascended to a primetime slot. "At any other place, his career would be over," the insider added. The host faced severe criticism this week for misrepresenting the message of Frankl's book and downplaying the horrors of the Holocaust. "Everyone else at Fox fine with Gutfeld suggesting Jews sent to concentration camps could survive 'by being useful?' How can any of his fellow panelists show up tomorrow to sit there next to him?" neo-conservative commentator Bill Kristol, who is Jewish, rhetorically asked online Monday night. Everyone else at Fox fine with Gutfeld suggesting Jews sent to concentration camps could survive by being useful? How can any of his fellow panelists show up tomorrow to sit there next to him? https://t.co/iMmBa7MPwI Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) July 24, 2023 Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. "This f**king imbecile @greggutfeld is beyond absurd. He argues that Jews honed skills in the Holocaust that allowed some to survive," Trump impeachment whistleblower Alexander Vindman, who is also Jewish, added on Monday night. "More than SIX MILLION men, women, & children died because they weren't useful enough. @FoxNews is complicit in this hateful tirade. #NeverAgain." This fucking imbecile @greggutfeld is beyond absurd. He argues that Jews honed skills in the Holocaust that allowed some to survive. More than SIX MILLION men, women, & children because they werent useful enough. @FoxNews is complicit in this hateful tirade. #NeverAgain https://t.co/KhAmt18NyL Alexander S. Vindman (@AVindman) July 25, 2023 Eric Kleefeld, a senior writer for watchdog Media Matters, argued that, in making those comments, Gutfeld "unrionically extolls" the infamous phrase "Arbeit macht frei," which translates to "Work sets you free," that hung above the entrance of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. Fox News host unironically extolls the value, Arbeit macht frei. The same network also elevates a fringe political candidate who says covid was genetically engineered so that Jews would be immune. https://t.co/J9vrM2B24r Eric Kleefeld (becoming a parody of myself) (@EricKleefeld) July 25, 2023 Gutfeld also garnered a condemnation from the Auschwitz Museum, which called his comments an "oversimplification" of the atrocity and fact-checked the self-proclaimed "King of Late Night." "While it is true that some Jews may have used their skills or usefulness to increase their chances of survival during the Holocaust, it is essential to contextualize this statement properly and understand that it does not represent the complex history of the genocide perpetrated by Nazi Germany," the museum wrote on Twitter in a lengthy statement. "Viktor Frankl's observation about the specific situation in Auschwitz, which at some point became a camp that connected the functions of a concentration camp and extermination center and where deported Jews went through the selection process, highlights how some Jews became registered prisoners and might have used their skills to gain favor or prolong their lives in that particular setting," the statement continued. "Yet, it never gave them complete protection." The statement also noted that there "were no selections in extermination camps" and that "being useful did not offer protection" in the final stages of the Holocaust, ending with a firm correction of Gutfeld's comments. "Therefore, while it is accurate to acknowledge that some Jews may have survived temporarily due to their perceived usefulness, it is crucial to remember that the Holocaust was a systematic genocide with the ultimate aim of exterminating the entire Jewish population," the statement concluded. "It would be more appropriate to say that some Jews survived the Holocaust because they were considered temporarily useful, and the circumstances of the Nazi regime's collapse prevented their murder. We should avoid such oversimplifications in talking about this complex tragic story." While it is true that some Jews may have used their skills or usefulness to increase their chances of survival during the Holocaust, it is essential to contextualize this statement properly and understand that it does not represent the complex history of the genocide perpetrated Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) July 25, 2023 A spokesperson for the ADL also told The Daily Beast that, while the crux of Gutfeld's suggestion was unclear, what was apparent was his lack of knowledge of the facts. "It is not clear from Gutfeld's comments if he is arguing that Jews learned skills in the Holocaust, or that Jews who had skills had a better chance of staying alive. The latter is something that is well-documented, while the former is nonsense. That said, many millions of Jews, who, in Gutfeld's words, had 'utility' were still murdered," the spokesperson said. "Moreover, the main argument in Frankl's book was more about how those who had something to live fora relative they wanted to be with, a book they wanted to write, research they were in the middle of, etc.had a better mental chance of surviving because it motivated them not to give up," he added. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates condemned Gutfeld's remarks in a statement to CNN. "What Fox News allowed to be said on their air yesterday and has so far failed to condemn is an obscenity," he began. "In defending a horrid, dangerous, extreme lie that insults the memory of the millions of Americans who suffered from the evil of enslavement, a Fox News host told another horrid, dangerous and extreme lie that insults the memory of the millions of people who suffered from the evils of the Holocaust," he continued. "Let's get something straight that the American people understand full well and that is not complicated: there was nothing good about slavery; there was nothing good about the Holocaust. Full stop," Bates added. "Americans deserve to be brought together, not torn apart with poison. And they deserve the truth and the freedom to learn, not book bans and lies." Though Gutfeld has built his brand, in part, by assuming the role of Fox News' resident "edgy" provocateur, he has also taken aim at others for referencing the Holocaust in offensive ways. During a 2015 segment, Gutfeld rebuked actress Shirley MacLaine for suggesting in her memoir that Holocaust victims could have been "balancing their karma from ages before" due to the possibility that they may have been Roman soldiers or crusaders in another life. "That's not just offensive but an example of imposter intelligence, for intellect without boundaries is mere stupidity," Gutfeld said, adding, "Shirley wasn't in a concentration camp, allowing her to use their hell for fun and profit." Gutfeld, who debuted his latest book on Tuesday, concluded: "Did Shirley write this awful book as punishment for her being a horrible creep in a previous life? No, because she's a horrible creep in her present life." Fox News did not respond to the Daily Beast's requests for comment. Read more about Fox News GEORGETOWN TWP. The Ottawa County Prosecutor's Office has decided an OCSO deputy was justified when he shot and killed a man near Jenison in June. All witness accounts agreed that Mackenzie DeBarr, 28, pointed a gun at deputies and responding Grandville police before he was shot, Ottawa County Prosecutor Lee Fisher told WOOD TV-8. More: Man, 28, dead after officer-involved shooting in Ottawa County More: Report: Man shot by Ottawa County deputy near Jenison pointed gun at police Specifically, Fisher said, DeBarr pointed the gun at a sergeant who was about 25 yards from him. Fisher wrote in his opinion that DeBarrs actions caused an immediate threat of death or serious physical injury to the officers and that the deputys actions were reasonable in the extreme situation he faced to protect himself, fellow officers, and members of the public. I do not find this to be an excessive use of force, but rather an appropriate and necessary shooting given the circumstances of this case, Fisher said. Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage The shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, June 10, on River Street off Baldwin Street. Fisher said DeBarrs father called 911, saying his son was suicidal and homicidal, and threatening to shoot himself and others. The father said he heard a shot fired while on the phone with his son. He also told authorities DeBarr said he wouldn't cooperate with police. Deputies from Ottawa County and Grandville responded. Ottawa County deputies do not have body cameras or dashcams, but Grandville police do. In one officers bodycam video previously obtained by WOOD TV-8, someone can be heard saying, Show me your hands. Another officer says, Gun, gun, gun, gun. That's immediately followed by a gunshot. Fisher said he delivered his opinion to Michigan State Police, who investigated the shooting per standard procedure, on Friday. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ottawa prosecutor finds deputy was justified in June shooting Israeli army vehicles block off a road during a deadly raid on a Palestinian refugee camp in the flashpoint West Bank city of Nablus (Zain JAAFAR) Israeli troops killed a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank Wednesday, the Palestinian health ministry said, as the army confirmed it had conducted a "counter-terrorism" operation in a Nablus refugee camp. "A young man died of his wounds as the occupation forces stormed the city of Nablus at noon (0900 GMT)," the ministry said, referring to the Israeli army. "The martyr, Mohammed Abd al-Hakim Nada, was shot in the chest." An Israeli army spokesman told AFP that troops had conducted a "counter-terrorism activity in Al-Ain camp" in Nablus. In a separate statement, the army said that during the raid "suspects fired and hurled rocks and paint bottles at the soldiers, who responded with live fire. "An armed assailant fired at the soldiers who responded with live fire, a hit was identified." Eyewitnesses told AFP that Israeli forces had stormed the neighbourhood of Al-Muhayim and surrounded a house before arresting one Palestinian. Troops "apprehended one wanted individual suspected of involvement in terrorist activity," the army added. A Palestinian militant group, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, said its fighters had "ambushed a unit of special forces in the alleys of Al-Ain camp ... and managed to inflict casualties". In a statement on its Telegram channel, the group, which is linked to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah movement, did not specify whether the dead man was one its fighters. The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls the coastal enclave of Gaza, condemned what it said was a "Zionist crime in Nablus". The group called on all "Palestinian factions to confront the terrorist settlers' government". Wednesday's death came a day after Israeli troops killed three Palestinians in an exchange of fire in Nablus, the Palestinian health ministry said. Hamas said the three were members of its armed wing. Israel has occupied the West Bank since the Six-Day War of 1967. Story continues Since early last year, the territory has seen a string of attacks by Palestinians on Israeli targets, as well as violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities. Earlier this month, Israeli forces conducted a two-day raid on Jenin refugee camp razing large swathes of the area, and killing 12 Palestinians, including militants and children. One Israeli soldier was also killed. The raid on Jenin was one of the biggest operations carried out by the Israeli army in the West Bank in years. So far this year, violence linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has killed at least 202 Palestinians, 27 Israelis, one Ukrainian and one Italian, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources on both sides. They include, on the Palestinian side, combatants as well as civilians and, on the Israeli side, three members of the Arab minority. Excluding Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, the 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. str-ha-jd-gb/ysm/fz NABLUS, West Bank (AP) A Palestinian man was killed by Israeli troops during an arrest raid in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the latest bloodshed in one of the most violent stretches of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in years. Israeli forces entered the al-Ein refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus and arrested a suspected militant after surrounding his house, the army said. Palestinian officials said a 23-year-old man was killed when fighting erupted between Palestinian militants and Israeli security forces. The Israeli army said Palestinians opened fire and threw stones and paint at soldiers, who responded with live fire. Another two Palestinians were wounded by bullet shrapnel, including a female motorist caught in the crossfire, medics from the Palestinian Red Crescent said. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the man killed as Mohammed Nada and said he was shot in the chest. Wednesday's incident came a day after Israeli troops killed three Palestinian gunmen who opened fire on soldiers near Nablus. Israeli-Palestinian fighting has surged in the occupied West Bank, which Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war. Palestinians seek the territory, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, for a hoped-for future state. In recent months, the West Bank has witnessed a volatile mix of the rise of local armed Palestinian groups carrying out frequent shooting attacks against Israelis and near-daily Israeli military raids that have increasingly turned deadly. So far this year, over 161 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank the highest death toll in over a decade. Around half of them were affiliated with militant groups and killed in fighting during Israeli military raids, but stone-throwing youths protesting the incursions as well as innocent bystanders have also been killed. Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis have killed at least 25 people this year. Pan Gongsheng, the new governor of China's central bank China has named Pan Gongsheng as the new governor of its central bank, the People's Bank of China (PBOC). The 60-year-old's appointment comes as the country continues to struggle with major economic challenges in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Among the problems facing the world's second largest economy are slowing growth, a housing market in crisis and youth unemployment at a record high. Mr Pan succeeds Yi Gang, who held the top post at the PBOC since 2018. Some analysts said the promotion of Mr Pan, who is not regarded as a close ally of President Xi Jinping, signals recognition by the government that it needs an experienced economist with a track record in crisis management to help steer the country through its economic problems. The governor of the PBOC is one of the most prominent figures in China's financial system. However, compared to the leaders of many central banks in other large economies, the PBOC governor's powers are limited as it is controlled by the ruling Communist Party. The Chinese Communist Party reshuffled its leadership in October to help tackle the country's post-pandemic economic challenges. It became apparent that the ground was being laid for Mr Yi's exit as governor when he was dropped from the party's central committee and was nearing the official retirement age of 65 for high level officials. However, Andy Chen, a senior analyst at consultancy Trivium China, said that at the time Mr Pan did not appear to be lined up as the PBOC's next leader. Mr Chen told the BBC the Chinese government seems to have recognised that it "doesn't have a deep bench when it comes to well-trained financial technocrats". "Pan is known as a competent, skilled and outspoken technocrat, who is not going to hesitate to push policy proposals to the very top of China's policy making apparatus during a crisis," he added. Mr Pan had been a deputy governor of PBOC since 2012. He was named in 2016 as Administrator of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, to manage the country's foreign reserves of around $3.2tn (2.5tn). Story continues Earlier this month, he was appointed as Communist Party chief of the central bank, which set him up to be its next governor. Mr Pan received his doctorate in economics from the Renmin University of China in 1993. After that he was a visiting scholar at Cambridge University, as well as studying at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Back in China, Mr Pan made a name for himself with successful stints working for state-owned banks. He was also credited with helping to manage a currency crisis in 2016. In his time at the central bank, Mr Pan has tightened rules around property speculation and warned of an impending housing bubble which is now hurting the Chinese economy. His appointment to the top job at the PBOC is part of a broader reshuffle in China's economic leadership. In March, Li Hefeng, a long-time loyalist to President Xi Jinping was put in charge of China's overall economic policy. At the time the appointment was seen as a reflection of President Xi's desire to maintain a tight grip on the country's economy. So far China's political leadership has been careful to play down the severity of the country's economic challenges, and measures to stimulate the economy have been limited. "Mr Pan has a reputation of regulation and compliance. He's quite conscious about containing financial risks," Dan Wang, chief economist at Hang Seng Bank China, told the BBC. "I have no doubt that monetary policy will have a meaningful turn in the coming months. Maintaining economic stability is still key. We'll see more expansionary monetary policy, but it won't be very aggressive," she said. PHNOM PENH, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia exported 139,220 tons of dry rubber in the first half of 2023, up 2.72 percent from 135,537 tons over the same period last year, said a report from the General Directorate of Rubber on Wednesday. The country made 187 million U.S. dollars in revenue from exports of the commodity during the January-June period this year, down 13.5 percent from 216.3 million dollars over the same period last year, the report said. "A ton of dry rubber averagely cost 1,344 U.S. dollars during the first semester of 2023, about 252 dollars lower than that of the same period last year," Him Oun, director general of the General Directorate of Rubber, said in the report. The Southeast Asian nation exports the commodity mainly to Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, and China. The report said Cambodia has so far planted rubber trees in a total area of 404,578 hectares, in which the trees on 315,332 hectares, or 78 percent, are old enough to be tapped. Canton City Council is debating whether police should have the ability to cite parents of children who violate the city's juvenile curfew for designated outdoor drinking districts. CANTON Should parents be cited when their children continuously violate Cantons juvenile curfew for designated outdoor drinking areas? Its a question being debated among Canton City Council members as they consider another change to the city laws that specify when children under the age of 18 can no longer be in a public place without an adult. Council members first changed the juvenile curfew law in May 2022, setting an earlier nightly curfew of 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. unless the child is accompanied by an adult or meets other limited circumstances. Council then established an even earlier curfew in May 2023 for Cantons two designated outdoor refreshment areas, which are located in downtown Canton and at the Hall of Fame Village. The newer law states youths must leave the DORA districts between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. except in specific situations. See all the DORAs in Ohio: Every Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in Ohio Now, council is considering whether police should have the ability to cite the parents of children who violate the DORA juvenile curfew law. Police already have the ability to cite parents under the citywide juvenile curfew. Parents could be charged with a minor misdemeanor for a first offense and a fourth-degree misdemeanor for subsequent violations, while juveniles could be charged with unruliness in Stark County Family Court. Council is expected to vote on legislation allowing officers to cite the parents of DORA juvenile curfew violators at its next council meeting on Aug. 7. Canton law director: Were not out there to punish the parent. Law Director Jason Reese said the language to enable police to cite parents was inadvertently left out of the DORA juvenile curfew legislation that was passed by nine of the 12 council members two months ago. He said having the ability to cite the parents of youths who violate the DORA juvenile curfew is designed to be a tool for police, not as a penalty for responsible parents whose child made a bad decision. He said police retain discretion as to when to cite parents. Story continues Were not out there to punish the parent, he said. This is just a tool that we would have if we have a situation where a parent continued to allow their child to go down there (into the designated outdoor drinking district) or didnt know where their child was again and again, again and again. He said most often police will take the youths home and advise the parents of the curfew laws first. After repeated violations, he said police then would likely cite the juvenile, and juvenile court officials can ensure the child and the family receive the resources they need, such as food vouchers or bus passes. Council members express concern with parent curfew citation At least three council members have voiced concerns about the change. Those concerns have so far stalled the legislation from being voted on by the full council. Councilwoman Chris Smith, D-Ward 4, believes its unfair to cite a parent because parents dont always have control over what their kids are doing, especially if the parent must work in the evenings. So now you have a parent that has a case pending against them , said Smith, who voted in support of the DORA juvenile curfew in May. This could affect that parents job and so forth. Smith, who said she attends all of the downtown events, said it seems that children fitting a certain profile typically are the ones being questioned by police. Its always the African American kids that it always seems to be something happening with, she said. Councilman Kevin Hall, D-Ward 6, who abstained from the May vote on the DORA juvenile curfew, believes that instead of charging parents, the city should provide additional resources for them. He also questioned the starting times for the juvenile curfew, citing two recent instances where youths were becoming disorderly before 9 p.m. Councilman Frank Morris, D-Ward 9, who abstained from the DORA juvenile curfew vote in May, believes council shouldnt pass laws that police dont intend to enforce, noting how officers continue to take youths home instead of citing them for curfew. He also said constituents have raised concerns that police will use the curfew laws to harass Black youths. How many curfew violations have been issued so far? Canton Police Chief John Gabbard provided the Canton Repository with a summary of the departments curfew enforcement since the citywide juvenile curfew law took effect last year. The summary shows that city police warned 33 youths about a curfew violation between May and December 2022 and cited nine juveniles for violating curfew. Through July 18 of this year, police have warned 35 youths and cited eight juveniles. Only one of the juveniles taken home and given a warning had violated the DORA curfew. Gabbard said no juveniles or adults have needed to be warned about a curfew violation more than once. The chief said the overall statistics likely are higher because officers contacting youths in other arrestable situations sometimes do not document the curfew violation, and officers do not always create a report when they take a juvenile home and issue a warning regarding curfew. When asked about the demographics of the youths who have been contacted or cited for curfew, Gabbard said the department is trying to improve its process for tracking such information. Reach Repository staff writer Kelli Weir at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com. This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton council debates citing parents for DORA juvenile curfew Paris plans to make the Seine the centerpiece of the 2024 Olympic Games, with long-term efforts to clean up the river allowing swimming events to take place in its waters. When the French capital hosted its first Olympic Games in 1900, swimming competitions took place in the river. Parisians used to bathe in the Seine in centuries past, until it was banned in 1923 due to pollution. But now clean up efforts, which started in 2018 as part of what is known as the Swimming Plan, are coming to fruition, and local authorities say residents will be able to make use of the river once again as part of the legacy of the Olympics, which is returning to the French capital after 100 years. An empty boat travels the River Seine during the technical test event last week for the Paris 2024 opening ceremony. - Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images A group of swimmers in the Seine on July 2. - Geoffroy Van der Hasselt/AFP/Getty Images The opening ceremony, which is traditionally held inside the host citys Olympic stadium, will take place on the river, with at least 600,000 people expected to watch from the banks, according to organizers. Then a number of races will take place on the river during the Olympics. At the Paris 2024 Games, the athletes will inaugurate swimming in the river with the Olympic events. A revival that will pave the way for aquatic leisure, reads a statement from Paris city hall published July 10. Works under the 1.4 billion-euro ($1.55-billion) plan to clean up the Seine have been underway for years now, but the Olympic games has had a galvanizing effect. Two disinfection units at wastewater treatment plants run by the Paris region public sanitation service will be operational from this summer, and structures that will help to improve water quality, such as a rainwater storage basin, are under construction. The basin will hold rainwater and gradually release it into the sewage network, preventing pollution when wastewater overflows during periods of rain. Workers with a tunnel boring machine at the Seine-Valenton wastewater treatment plant. - Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images According to Paris head of water cleaning services, Nicolas Londinsky, reducing the main type of pollution in the Seine bacterial pollution from wastewater from even reaching the river is the priority. Story continues The city has obligated boat owners berthed along the Seine to connect to Paris wastewater network, avoiding direct discharges into the water. Authorities have also worked to rectify poor plumbing across the city, which in some cases saw wastewater pumped into storm drains. And existing efforts have already boosted water quality. Analysis carried out at the beginning of June showed excellent results in complying with European regulation, according to city hall. And testing in the parts of the river set to be used for Olympic events met standards 91% of the time from July 20 to August 11, 2022. This will allow open water swimming events, paratriathlon and triathlon events to take place by the Alexandre III bridge. Public swimming From 2025 the public will be able to swim in the Seine at three bathing sites: Bras Marie, Bras de Grenelle and Bercy, according to city hall. The swimming areas will be marked out by buoys and a pontoon to get to them, with spaces to change, shower and store your things on the quay, it said in a statement. In addition, around 20 other potential swimming sites have been identified in the greater Paris region. A boat passes the Alexandre III bridge during an opening ceremony test event. - Kristy Sparow/Getty Images However, stormy weather or local changes in water quality mean that guaranteeing swimming in the Seine every day during summer months is almost an impossibility, city water official Londinsky said. And some locals told CNN affiliate BFMTV that they were still dubious about entering the water. I will not swim not now, not in two years or three, said one woman in a video clip. Look at the color, we dont know what is in there. And a man said out that there were still weird things floating in the river. They really need to do a proper cleanup upstream, he said. But Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo told CNN that the plan is also part of wider efforts to adapt the city to future challenges. What we aim with this cleanup of the Seine is the adaptation of the city to climate change, she said. The Seine is a corridor of biodiversity and a source for cooling down in the summer, Hidalgo said, adding that the number of fish species has increased due to the clean up from two to more than 30 in recent years. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Advancements in DNA technology and a fresh look at evidence and information led to the arrest of suspects in two old death investigations in Erie over the past year. But for Erie police Detective Sgt. Craig Stoker and Pennsylvania State Police Master Trooper Todd Giliberto, who worked together on the Helen Vogt and Lexie Castile homicides, those case clearances represented a small percentage of the workload that still sits in front of them. Stoker, who was appointed in October to be the Erie Bureau of Police's designated cold case detective through a two-year state grant paying for the position, still has a few dozen open and unsolved homicide cases in the city dating back to 2000. And the pile of case folders will grow, as Stoker said he will soon identify and review unsolved cases in Erie dating back a few more decades. Giliberto, the criminal investigation assessment officer for state police Troop E, which covers Erie and three neighboring counties, said he has 21 unsolved major cases before him dating back to the early 1960s. Stoker and Giliberto are working together on many of these cases through a renewed effort by Erie police and the Erie County District Attorney's Office to clear some of these "cold cases" and to bring closure to the victims' loved ones. "I think it's important. My whole career has been dedicated to championing victims," said District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz, whose past work has included prosecuting child abuse and domestic assault cases. "I strongly believe this is another avenue to take to help those individuals who have long awaited justice." The District Attorney's Office is partnering with Stoker and Giliberto in their work at reviewing and re-investigating unsolved major crimes and using a fresh perspective and advances in technology including DNA testing in an effort to finally solve them. Hirz said she and First Assistant District Attorney Jessica Reger are involved in the majority of the cold cases being worked by the investigators, but others in her office may become involved if a case has connections to a staffer's assigned area, such as sexual assaults, or if a staffer had been involved in the case in the past. Story continues It's not new work. Previous district attorneys in Erie County, including the late Brad Foulk and Jack Daneri, put an emphasis on solving cold cases during their times in office. What's different this time, according to Hirz, is that having Stoker and Giliberto assigned by their departments to focus on these old cases is making a tremendous difference in providing the time and resources needed to work them. "In the past, everyone who has touched (the cases) tried to do their best, but they got other homicides, major cases they had to attend to. These guys can attest to the amount of time and detail and work that goes into these investigations. To have a caseload on top of that, you can't do it," she said. Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz, center, is working with Erie police Detective Sgt. Craig Stoker, left, and Pennsylvania State Police Master Trooper Todd Giliberto to review and attempt to solve a number of unsolved major crimes in Erie County, some of which are decades old. A fresh set of eyes The cases that sit before Stoker and Giliberto have been worked by a number of investigators over the years, and have also been reviewed by other cold case investigators in the past, Hirz said. She and the investigators said taking a new look at these cases might reveal bits of information that perhaps were not focused on in the past. "There may be a case that happened two days ago, and we're not looking at little nuances. We might have other evidence. But now we're looking at things a different way, and things we may not have looked at right away when we first started investigating becomes a huge factor because we are now trying to connect different dots," Hirz said. That's particularly true in cases where there might not have been witnesses, which makes investigators more keen to other facts, she said. "So you have to be more creative, I think. We've got to scrutinize things in a different manner because we don't have the advantage of an eyewitness. It forces us to look at it in a whole different way that we may not if it is a recent case," Hirz said. Giliberto said it also helps to partner with Stoker in reviewing cases, as Stoker brings a fresh set of eyes to state police cases while he brings a fresh look to Erie police cases. "That's in any case. Someone sees a different perspective, and being able to collaborate between the two of us, ideas, ideas for interviewing, where to move forward, is just huge," he said. Advances in technology, primarily in DNA testing and genealogy, are also playing a big role in advancing older unsolved cases, according to Stoker and Giliberto. "There's all kinds of technology that's better out there. We just have to review the case and see what's out there to solve those cases and what new technology can be used," Stoker said. A growing recognition of cold cases across the country and a growing willingness to share information among various law enforcement agencies is additionally aiding investigators in their work, Hirz said. "These guys are really good at reaching out and asking for help and suggestions, and we have wonderful people who are willing to help us out," she said. "Everyone is on the same team with these cases, and that really helps tremendously." Early successes Three months before Stoker was officially appointed at the Erie Bureau of Police's cold case investigator, he and Giliberto joined Hirz in announcing in July 2022 that they had charged Texas resident Jeremy C. Brock in the 1988 slaying of his grandmother, 76-year-old Helen Vogt, in Erie. Hirz said advancements in DNA technology identified Brock as a suspect in Vogt's slaying, as well as the work of earlier investigators and prosecutors. New analysis of evidence connected Brock's DNA with DNA found on a bloody washcloth in Vogt's shower, as well as blood samples taken from Vogt's kitchen, Erie Police Chief Dan Spizarny said when authorities announced the filing of charges against Brock. Brock, 56, is awaiting trial on criminal homicide and other charges. More: Cold case resolved as grandson charged in 34-year-old murder of Erie's Helen Vogt Stoker and Giliberto filed charges in their second cold case investigation earlier this month, charging 35-year-old Washington resident Anthony D'Onofrio with criminal homicide and other offenses in the Sept. 16, 2012, fatal shooting of his fiancee, 20-year-old Lexie Castile, in Erie. The charges were filed after the investigators went over evidence collected in the case, gathered new witness information and reviewed the case with Erie County forensic pathologist Eric Vey, M.D., according to information outlined in D'Onofrio's criminal complaint. Lexie Castile, 20, seen in this undated contributed photo that was provided to the Erie Times-News in September 2013, was fatally shot at her residence in west Erie on Sept. 16, 2012. Erie police on July 7, 2023, filed criminal homicide and other charges against 35-year-old Anthony D'Onofrio, Castile's fiance, in Castile's death. D'Onofrio remains in custody in Washington, where he is fighting extradition, according to authorities. More: Fiance charged in 2012 fatal shooting of 20-year-old Erie woman at West 24th St. apartment Other cases One case that Stoker and Giliberto have been focusing on is the disappearance in June 2002 of 20-year-old Erie resident Sabrina Kahler. She traveled to western Erie County with an acquaintance to go swimming but never returned home, according to authorities. Investigators said in late June that they were reassessing the case and were re-interviewing people and searching areas of possible interest. Earlier this year, Stoker and Giliberto presented the case to the Vidocq Society, a group of volunteer forensic experts and investigators who serve as confidential consultants to assist in solving difficult cases. More: Police redouble efforts to solve Erie resident Sabrina Kahler's 21-year-old disappearance Among the other cold cases for state police, according to Giliberto, are the December 1980 fatal shooting of Erie police Cpl. Robert Owen; the disappearance in December 1982 of Venango Township resident Barbara Shumac; and the fatal shooting in January 1982 of Crawford County resident Patricia Tyler in Girard. The oldest unsolved major case in state police Troop E, according to Giliberto, is the fatal shooting in 1963 of Donald Perkins, who was working at a Harborcreek Township gas station off Interstate 90 when he was killed. The most recent is the death of Crawford County resident William Rossey, who disappeared in October 2005 and was found months later in French Creek, and whose death was ruled a homicide. Stoker said Erie police have four open homicide cases in the city from 2000 to 2009, 17 from 2010 to 2019, and four since 2020. Those cases include the fatal shootings of 42-year-old Nelson Irizarry in April 2012, 20-year-old Travon D. Green in July 2014, Antonio "Jay" Yarger in September 2016 and 18-year-old Jose Rosario Jr. in October 2018; and the fatal stabbing of 34-year-old James Allen in April 2019. Investigators said that although these cases may be referred to as cold cases, investigators have never stopped working them. Solving them could take something as small as a piece of information someone might have thought had no value and did not report. Investigators want to hear that information, Hirz said. She noted that, in the Vogt and Castile homicide cases, people came forward with information that helped in those cases. "So it might be a situation where someone has information about something but didn't think at the time that it was important. But there is nothing that is too minimal to call. We want to know as much information as we can and make the call. Just let us know," she said. Hirz urged anyone with information or questions about any of the major unsolved cases to contact her office at 814-451-6349; Stoker at 814-870-1506 or cstoker@erie.pa.us; or Giliberto at 814-898-1641 or tgiliberto@pa.gov. "We want people to understand we're working on all of them. They can call and talk to us," she said. Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNhahn. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: DA, investigators team up to resolve cold cases in Erie region A man was killed early Wednesday morning after he was hit by a car in Lexington, according to police and the Fayette County Coroners Office. The incident happened shortly before 1 a.m. on Nicholasville Road near Larkin Road. Lt. Samantha Moore with the Lexington Police Department said the pedestrian was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. The man later died at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital from multiple blunt force injuries, according to the Fayette County Coroners Office. The Fayette County Coroners Office identified the victim as 67-year-old Donald Parker, of Lexington. The coroners office said Parkers manner of death was an accident. He was pronounced dead at 1:34 a.m. The collision reconstruction unit was called out to the scene to investigate, according to Moore. As of Wednesday morning, the driver involved in the collision had not been charged. The investigation was still ongoing. The road was closed while the collision reconstruction unit investigated the scene, but it has since reopened. This is a developing story and may be updated. Mike Pence may have saved American democracy on Jan. 6, 2021, from his boss coup attempt, but Republican primary voters, at least so far, seem less than appreciative. The former vice president is entering the final weeks before the first scheduled Republican primary debate without the 40,000 donors necessary to make the stage even as former President Donald Trump, already bearing two criminal indictments and likely on his way to a third and fourth, leads all his rivals by substantial margins in both national and early state polls. Some candidates are openly pandering to Trump followers by refusing to criticize him, while former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has made it his mission to go after Trump as a threat to democracy. Pence has sought a middle ground. There is zero appetite for Mike Pence from GOP voters of all stripes, said Sarah Longwell, a Republican consultant who has conducted dozens of focus groups on the 2024 race. Many think hes a traitor. Some think he was too accommodating of Trump. Many describe him as boring or milquetoast. He has 100% percent name ID and virtually no constituency. Pence raised just $1.2 million in the three-month period that ended on June 30. And although hed officially entered the race just weeks earlier, on June 7, candidates running for president have typically spent months leading up to announcement day lining up commitments from donors to ensure a strong showing in the first campaign finance filing. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, for example, who announced his candidacy just two weeks before Pence did, raised $20.1 million in that same reporting period. In national polling, Pence sits at 5.5% about half of where he was a year ago and tied for third with biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. In Iowa polls, Pence is at 3.7%, effectively tied for sixth with Christie, who is not even campaigning in that state. Marc Short, an aide to Pence who served as his chief of staff at the White House, declined to reveal how many donors Pence has so far but said his strategy of emphasizing direct mail over online fundraising was designed to bring in more money, albeit not as quickly. He said Pence had built a list of 130,000 donors to his nonprofit, Advancing American Freedom, over the past two years, but that turning them into campaign donors takes time. Story continues They dont convert automatically, he said, adding that the campaign expects to have the necessary number of donors to make the Aug. 23 debate. We have the resources we need, and were on track. He has 100% percent name ID and virtually no constituency.Sarah Longwell, Republican consultant Pence is the only one among the dozen GOP rivals trying to defeat Trump to have nearly died because of Trumps actions leading up to and on Jan. 6, when thousands of his followers attacked the Capitol to stop the ceremonial certification of Trumps defeat to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump had instructed his supporters to march on the building, even claiming he would accompany them, to pressure Pence into awarding Trump a second term notwithstanding his election loss. When Pence refused to bend to Trumps demands, Trump told his followers through a social media post that Pence had lacked the courage to do as he was told, which further inflamed the mob and sent hundreds more swarming into the building, where many chanted Hang Mike Pence as they wandered the halls looking for him. Pence barely avoided some of the rioters as his Secret Service detail moved him, his family and his top aides to safety. Despite this, Pence has been reluctant to criticize Trump for his behavior. At first, he would only say that he and Trump would never see eye to eye about that day. Nearly a year later, Pence after months of Trumps continued lying that the election had been stolen from him and that Pence had failed to use his authority to reverse the result finally said that Trump was wrong. Even today, as Christie makes Trumps post-election actions the centerpiece of his campaign, Pence says he does not believe Trump should be indicted for Jan. 6. President Trumps words on Jan. 6 were reckless. I thought he endangered my family and everyone in the Capitol on that day. And I believe history will hold him accountable for that, he told reporters recently at The Family Leaders candidate forum in Iowa, where the first votes in the 2024 Republican race will be cast in January. But as Ive also said, I dont know that taking bad advice from crank lawyers is a crime. And frankly, I would rather that this question be given to the American people in the upcoming election. Republican presidential candidate and former Vice President Mike Pence is interviewed by former Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson in Des Moines, Iowa, on July 14, 2023. Republican presidential candidate and former Vice President Mike Pence is interviewed by former Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson in Des Moines, Iowa, on July 14, 2023. Bob Vander Plaats, head of The Family Leader, an evangelical Christian group, told HuffPost that Pence, himself an evangelical Christian with a long track record on abortion and other issues important to the evangelical community, has the ability to win over like-minded voters in Iowa and other states. He acknowledged, though, that his perceived disloyalty to Trump on Jan. 6 was a hurdle. Vander Plaats added that Trumps oft-repeated claims about a stolen election and his attacks on Pence have worked with a sizable segment of the electorate. The former president has used his platform to basically disparage his vice president, he said. That does have an impact. In any event, Vander Plaats said, polling in Iowa six months away from the caucuses means little, and Pence is in a decent position to benefit from voters as they shop around. If they dont find what theyre looking for, they may gravitate toward someone they trust, he said. Toward that end, a super PAC run by Pence allies says it has already knocked on nearly a quarter-million doors in Iowa using a staff of 30. The super PAC, Committed to America, is also helping Pence raise money for his campaign. The PAC is engaged in both mail and digital outreach to help recruit small-dollar grassroots donors for the vice presidents campaign, spokesperson Michael Ricci said. In the end, predicted Erick Erickson, a prominent conservative talk radio host, none of that will much matter. The Trump people find him too disloyal. The non-Trump people find him too close to Trump, he said. US flag U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, have expressed their high regard for how Ukraine is conducting its counteroffensive, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, said in an interview with RFE/RL on July 25. During the interview, Markarova emphasized that the U.S. government is well aware of how challenging it is for Kyiv to conduct the operation. Read also: US announces $400 million aid package for Ukraine "Im pleased to say that our partners, from (U.S.) President (Joe) Biden to (his) administration, to Defense Secretary Austin and General Milley, have a clear understanding that our counteroffensive, our reclaiming of territories, and our defense of our homes and citizens, is not a spectacle but rather a challenging, monumental task undertaken by our courageous defenders," said the ambassador. Markarova noted that the United States consistently supports Ukraine on this issue. Read also: Ukrainian military conducting dual offensive operation, says General Staff "Secretary Austin and General Milley hold the activity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in high esteem; as a result, we receive genuine words of encouragement from them and engage in active discussions on how we can achieve greater success," she added. Read also: Ukraine's air defense to be reinforced, Zelenskyy says On July 21, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Ukrainian counteroffensive has been progressing slower than expected because the operation began later than initially planned. 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 Changes in behavior can lead to significant emission reductions. Getty Images The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2022 emphasized that changes to lifestyles and behavior have the potential for large reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions. These changes from using more mass transit to ensuring homes and offices are made more energy-efficient have the potential to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40%-70% by 2050. But to achieve these large reductions, policies are needed to help drive individual change, often through government or businesses. But research in social and behavioral science for the best solutions has been lagging behind communication of climate and the physical science of it. Its one reason some members of the public believe that individual actions wont have any meaningful impact. The Social Science Research Council, The Conversation and Sage convened a meeting at The Rockefeller Foundation on June 9, 2023, to discuss the potential for cost-effective and scalable behavioral interventions to reduce harmful climate emissions. The daylong session, which was attended by policymakers, leaders of philanthropic and nonprofit organizations, journalists, and social and behavioral scientists, featured numerous examples of how governments and businesses can apply behavioral science to achieve large-scale changes. The discussion of the relationship between human behavior and climate change consisted of three panels and six speakers. Below are highlights of their work. Electrification and incentives Speakers Karen Palmer, Senior Fellow at Resources for the Future. Casey Wichman, Assistant Professor of Economics at Georgia Institute of Technology. Moderator: Camille Gamboa, Associate Vice President of Corporate Communications at Sage Wichman, Palmer and colleagues partnered with Ecobee, a smart-thermostat company, to automate thermostats in homes where people were usually home during the day. The experiment raised indoor temperatures and reduced air conditioner use during the afternoon, usually a time when energy costs were high. Despite the temperature rising above a households preferred temperature, customers rarely overrode the automated feature, suggesting they were willing to experience some discomfort to save money. Story continues In her talk, Palmer explained that electrification offers a promising path to reduce emissions, but more research is needed to better understand challenges such as how to ensure electric car charging stations are more reliable and to come up with solutions, such as having homes use electricity more when electricity is abundant and prices are low. To reduce greenhouse gases significantly, Wichman said, the U.S. needs the right incentives to inspire such behavioral changes as reducing water use. He also explained that, while encouraging the electrification of homes and vehicles is important, there must also be policies that promote clean electricity and discourage high-emissions behaviors. Individuals matter in culture shifts Speakers Erica Myers, Associate Professor of Economics and Canada Research Chair in Environmental, Energy and Resource Economics at the University of Calgary. Andrew Hoffman, Holcim Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan. Moderator: Beth Daley, Executive Editor of The Conversation US. In her talk, Myers discussed a study she and her colleagues conducted in Illinois that gave contractors bonuses tied to how well they weatherized a home, measured by how airtight the house was. The bonus system increased the airtightness of the home dramatically. Hoffman identified policies needed to lower climate-warming emissions, including reducing corporations emissions and giving nature, such as rivers, legally enforceable rights. Corporations sparking large-scale change Speakers Michael Greenstone, the Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago. John List, the Kenneth C. Griffin Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago and Chief Economist at Walmart. Moderator: Anna Harvey, President of the Social Science Research Council. Greenstone presented evidence from a study in India that developed permits for industrial plants to release pollution in a large Indian city. Plants could trade the permits among one another to meet emission requirements, with those who polluted more buying permits from those who polluted less. The study showed that the system helped reduce pollution by 20% to 30% compared with plants that were not in the system. List discussed an experiment conducted with Virgin Atlantic to address carbon emissions. It reduced excessive fuel load and changed flight patterns and engine use during landings to cut emissions. The result saved 700 tons of fuel, reduced delays and increased job satisfaction among Virgin Atlantic employees. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. Like this article? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Read more: In 2015, a property management company called Paragon Real Estate Group tried to evict two dozen tenants from a single-room occupancy hotel in San Francisco for hanging laundry outside the building, Grist reported. The same year, AB 1448 passed, protecting the right of all Californians to hang their laundry outdoors, no matter what any landlord or HOA says. Prior to 2015, California already had laws explicitly protecting the right to dry, according to Grist. However, that right didnt extend to tenants in multi-family buildings and trailer parks, as well as anyone living in an HOA. In those cases, the management had the power to forbid hanging up clothes, which is exactly what Paragon did. Tenants continued drying their laundry outside windows and on fire escapes, as theyd always done before Paragon bought the building in 2013, Grist reported. So the company started handing out eviction notices. The tenants responded with a protest, waving T-shirts that said, Hanging laundry is not a crime. At the same time, Grist reported that Laura Shafer had spent the last several years pushing for an update to state law to protect the right to dry clothing outdoors for all residents. With her help, Patty Lopez, a member of the California State Assembly, introduced AB 1448. Existing laws in Vermont and New Hampshire protected all solar devices, including solar panels, water heaters, and clotheslines, Grist explained. AB 1448 made Californias laundry laws similar and now applies to all residents of the state, including renters and those living in HOAs, so long as they meet certain requirements, such as not interfering with reasonable rules, safety, and maintenance. The move aimed to save residents a lot of money, as Californias sunny climate provides plenty of free energy for drying clothes and powering solar panels. Meanwhile, cutting down on electricity use from other sources helps reduce pollution. According to the California Legislature, the bill passed in October 2015 and took effect in 2016. Its getting hotter and drier in California. We need this, Shafer told Grist. The clothesline is such a lovely little appliance. If only everyone would use it. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet. UPDATE @ 11:20 a.m.: The issue that left Verizon Wireless customers unable to call dispatch center non-emergency and administrative lines has been resolved, according to the wireless network operator. Our engineers have resolved an issue that caused intermittent call failures from cell phone users to some business landline numbers earlier this morning, a spokesperson for Verizon told News Center 7. Verizon customers now should be able to call the Montgomery County Sheriffs dispatch center non-emergency and administrative lines at 937-225-4357 for assistance and support. INITIAL REPORT: The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office is warning residents that they are experiencing issues receiving calls from Verizon Wireless customers. According to the sheriffs office, there is currently a nationwide issue involving Verizon Wireless customers that are unable to call dispatch center non-emergency and administrative lines across the region. This includes the Regional Dispatch Center and only seems to be impacting Verizon customers. >> Its rough for people; Gas prices increasing throughout region When calls are placed, it rings and then the message all circuits are busy will play. The sheriffs office says 911 lines are currently unaffected by this and are fully operational. Anyone who needs fire or EMS should call 911. Those who need law enforcement for a non-emergency matter and cant use a phone other than Verizon are advised to either go to the nearest station, wait until service is restored, or call 911. A social media account with a history of spreading disinformation shared a photo of a bridge claiming it was built in Nigerias Cross River state. But the claim is false: AFP Fact Check found that the bridge was built in Guangzhou, China. The junction undergoing construction in Cross River is unfinished. This is the famous Spaghetti Highway Bridge built by Ben Ayade linking Calabar Municipality and Odukpani LGA in Cross River province Biafraland (sic), reads the Facebook post published on July 21, 2023. A screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken on July 24, 2023 The post references a project championed by Cross River governor Ben Ayade who, in 2018, finalised plans to build a flyover connecting the states capital to its southern region (archived here). The designs intersecting, undulating roads earned it the name spaghetti flyover. Shared more than 440 times, the post was published by Biafra Broadcast Isiagu, an account that supports the Nigerian separatist group the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The group wants the independence of Nigerias southeast region, and its supporters regularly resort to disinformation in their campaigns. AFP Fact Check has debunked numerous false stories (including here and here) posted on the Biafra Broadcast Isiagu page. An account on Twitter, which is being rebranded X, also shared the bridge claim. However, the claim is false. Bridge in China Using reverse image searches, AFP found that the United Arab Emirates-based Khaleej magazine published the same photo on Twitter on May 7, 2023, (archived here). Nansha bridge Guangzhou, China pic.twitter.com/3gSGemXDeX Khaleej Mag (@KhaleejMag) May 7, 2023 The caption explains that the photo shows the Nansha Bridge in Guangzhou in China. Chinese media reported that the bridge opened to traffic in April 2019 (archived here). Story continues Chinese news agency Xinhua reported on April 2, 2019, that the 12.8-kilometre bridge connects Guangzhou and Dongguan (archived here). The news agency used a photo similar to the one in the false Facebook post in its report. A keyword search for Nansha Bridge on Google Maps shows it's in China. Also known as Second Humen Bridge, the bridge can be seen in the Google Maps satellite picture below. A screenshot shows the Nansha Bridge on Google Maps, taken on July 24, 2023 Spaghetti Flyover While there is a bridge in Calabar known as Spaghetti Flyover, photos published by a Turkish architectural firm show that the design differs from the one seen in the false claim (archived here). Screenshots show differences between the designs of Nansha Bridge, below, and Spaghetti Flyover, taken on July 24, 2023 A statement published on the state governor's website shows Ayade inspected the flyover site on April 11, 2023 (archived here). Although he had vowed that his project would be completed before the end of his term in May 2023, it is yet to be finished. Passengers stranded due to Typhoon Doksuri take a rest at a port of Manila, the Philippines, on July 26, 2023. The Philippines' national disaster agency on Wednesday said it has so far tallied at least one dead as Typhoon Doksuri continued to batter the country with rain and strong winds. (Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via Xinhua) MANILA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' national disaster agency on Wednesday said it has so far tallied at least one dead as Typhoon Doksuri continued to batter the country with rain and strong winds. In a preliminary report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the victim drowned in a flood that inundated a province east of Metro Manila. At least two others were injured in typhoon-related incidents in Luzon island and central Philippines. "We are still verifying (the casualties)," NDRRMC spokesperson Edgar Posadas told a local radio channel. Doksuri has affected eight regions across Luzon island and the central Philippines. Nearly 9,000 displaced residents are staying in 107 evacuation centers, added the NDRRMC. The agency said at least 46 roads and three bridges in seven regions have been affected by flooding. Thousands of people are stranded across the country due to the rough seas. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Doksuri made landfall before dawn Wednesday over Fuga island in Cagayan province in northern Philippines. The fifth cyclone to enter the Philippines this year, previously a super typhoon, was downgraded into a typhoon on Tuesday night. Passengers stranded due to Typhoon Doksuri take a rest at a port of Manila, the Philippines, on July 26, 2023. The Philippines' national disaster agency on Wednesday said it has so far tallied at least one dead as Typhoon Doksuri continued to batter the country with rain and strong winds. (Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via Xinhua) People wade through a water-logged area in Malabon City, the Philippines, on July 26, 2023. The Philippines' national disaster agency on Wednesday said it has so far tallied at least one dead as Typhoon Doksuri continued to batter the country with rain and strong winds. Doksuri has affected eight regions across Luzon island and the central Philippines. Nearly 9,000 displaced residents are staying in 107 evacuation centers, added the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) A jeepney drives through a water-logged area in Malabon City, the Philippines, on July 26, 2023. The Philippines' national disaster agency on Wednesday said it has so far tallied at least one dead as Typhoon Doksuri continued to batter the country with rain and strong winds. Doksuri has affected eight regions across Luzon island and the central Philippines. Nearly 9,000 displaced residents are staying in 107 evacuation centers, added the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) People wade through a water-logged area in Malabon City, the Philippines, on July 26, 2023. The Philippines' national disaster agency on Wednesday said it has so far tallied at least one dead as Typhoon Doksuri continued to batter the country with rain and strong winds. Doksuri has affected eight regions across Luzon island and the central Philippines. Nearly 9,000 displaced residents are staying in 107 evacuation centers, added the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) People wade through a water-logged area in Malabon City, the Philippines, on July 26, 2023. The Philippines' national disaster agency on Wednesday said it has so far tallied at least one dead as Typhoon Doksuri continued to batter the country with rain and strong winds. Doksuri has affected eight regions across Luzon island and the central Philippines. Nearly 9,000 displaced residents are staying in 107 evacuation centers, added the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) People wade through a water-logged area in Malabon City, the Philippines, on July 26, 2023. The Philippines' national disaster agency on Wednesday said it has so far tallied at least one dead as Typhoon Doksuri continued to batter the country with rain and strong winds. Doksuri has affected eight regions across Luzon island and the central Philippines. Nearly 9,000 displaced residents are staying in 107 evacuation centers, added the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) People wade through a water-logged area in Malabon City, the Philippines, on July 26, 2023. The Philippines' national disaster agency on Wednesday said it has so far tallied at least one dead as Typhoon Doksuri continued to batter the country with rain and strong winds. Doksuri has affected eight regions across Luzon island and the central Philippines. Nearly 9,000 displaced residents are staying in 107 evacuation centers, added the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) The Pirates managed just three hits in a testy 5-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night. The Friars made some outstanding defensive plays, and Pirates reliever Angel Perdomo let his emotions get the best of him in a seventh inning that ended with both him and manager Derek Shelton ejected. The Pirates west coast road trip concludes on Wednesday at 4:10pm ET against the Padres. Pittsburgh (44-57) looks to take the series with Johan Oviedo (3-11, 4.77 ERA, 101 SO) on the mound. San Diego counters with right-hander Seth Lugo (4-4, 3.72 ERA, 71 SO). Read the full game recap and noteworthy moments at our partners PittsburghBaseballNOW.com Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: 2 teenagers, 1 adult shot in Mt. Oliver, police say 2 people hurt in house fire in Shaler Township Fighting for his life: Man attacked inside Pittsburgh hotel was with wife celebrating honeymoon VIDEO: DA Zappala s son facing charges for alleged domestic dispute DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts The Pittsburgh Pirates (44-56) had no answer for Blake Snell and were defeated 5-1 by the San Diego Padres (49-53) on Tuesday night at Petco Park. Snell, who has been on a roll over his last dozen starts, held the Pirates to just a single run across six innings pitched. While he walked five batters, he only yielded a pair hits. Pirates pitchers surrendered three homers to the Padres in the loss and the Bucs were outhit by San Diego 11-3. The Pirates will try and clinch their first series victory since sweeping the Padres at PNC Park almost exactly a month ago. Read more from our partners at Sports Now Group Pittsburgh. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: 2 teenagers, 1 adult shot in Mt. Oliver, police say 2 people hurt in house fire in Shaler Township Fighting for his life: Man attacked inside Pittsburgh hotel was with wife celebrating honeymoon VIDEO: DA Zappala s son facing charges for alleged domestic dispute DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts I love to travel for the same reasons many of you do to experience the people, history, architecture, plants and wildlife of some place new. And then, theres the food, which is always my favorite part. Some examples: I spent four days in Boston and ate four lobster rolls, afraid that I would never taste anything so wonderful again. (Lobster rolls are equally good in Maine and the very best ones are from Reds Eats, a shack on the side of the road in Wiscasset.) My friend Dottie and I scoured New Orleans for the perfect oyster po-boy and finally found just the right one at Johnnys in the French Quarter. Fish and chips, scones, and beef pies were high on the list in England, Ireland and Scotland. In Italy, we ate bruschetta chewy, crusty bread topped with plum tomato slices, fresh basil and olive oil every single day for a week for an afternoon snack. And last fall in France, we sought out chocolate croissants, French onion soup and creme brulee to see how they measured up to my dreams. As we headed to Michigan recently, I asked Facebook friends what iconic foods to be sure to try while there. Cherries. Cherry pie. Cherries in salads, specifically a cherry, spinach and bleu cheese salad. Fried cheese curds. Deep-dish pizza. Meat pie called a miners pasty a folded workmans pie. Fish whitefish, wall-eye and lake perch. Mediterranean food and Greek food. Dearborn is home to the largest Arab American population in the United States and ethnic restaurants are flourishing. All That: New jazz bar to honor King Oliver on MLK Jr. Blvd. Cup of Joe: Residents bring community feel to Way Station Coffee Co. Mackinac Island, Michigan The cherry on top After five days, I can tell you that, for us, cherries came out the clear winner in the iconic Michigan food category, although the Food Network agrees with some of my Facebook friends that the iconic dish of Michigan is pasty, a folded meat pie that traveled down into the copper mines to provide a hearty meal for miners. My husbands mother, who grew up in Pennsylvania, also made pasty for her Scottish father, a coal miner, so pasty isnt just a Michigan dish. Story continues Our trip started in Dearborn so that we could visit the fascinating Henry Ford Museum. In addition to many transportation marvels, we happened to be there during the Julia Child traveling exhibit, which was the highlight for someone who loves her as much as I do. Next up was Mackinac Island, where we saw gorgeous scenery, an overabundance of tourists, and lots of fudge! Leaving Mackinac, we headed to the Western Shore of Michigan to marvel at the houses in Harbor Springs and Petoskey. Next up was Traverse City, cherry capital of the world, and sure enough, cherries were the star of just about every restaurant. At Grand Traverse Pie, we sampled individual cherry pies made with traditional crust and with a crumb crust. Both were amazing. We passed many roadside stands selling cherries and pick-your-own fields. The region around Traverse City produces about 40 percent of the annual cherry crop in the United States. Grilled cheese on dried cherry toast In Glen Arbor, home of Sleeping Bear Dunes, we ate at The Cherry Republic, where just about every dish on the menu featured cherries. Chicken cubes were tossed with celery, almonds and cherries and served atop greens and tomatoes and then drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette. Cherry bread was thickly sliced, slathered with fig-cherry jam, filled with muenster cheese, smeared with Parmesan on the outside, and grilled into the most incredible grilled cheese sandwich imaginable. Chicken salad with dried cherries and almonds The next morning, our innkeeper, Laura, served us fresh cherry crumble with our eggs and tomato toast for breakfast. We were totally hooked, and came home with bags of dried cherries to use in upcoming dishes, like this favorite salad from my friend Jane Tyler. Freshly picked cherries APPLE-PARMESAN-CHERRY SALAD Serves 8 to 10 For the dressing 3 green onions, cleaned and trimmed 1/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon poppy seed 1 teaspoon dry mustard 1 teaspoon coarse salt 1 cup canola oil For the salad 2 Romaine hearts, chopped into bite-sized pieces 2 crisp apples, unpeeled and cut into bite-sized pieces 1 cup dried cherries 1 cup cashews or toasted chopped pecans (I prefer toasted pecans) cup shredded Parmesan cheese To make the dressing: Combine all the ingredients except for the oil in a food processor. Pulse 4-5 times. While machine is running, add oil through the feed tube and mix until the dressing is emulsified. To make the salad: Mix the lettuce, apples, cashews or pecans, Parmesan cheese and cherries in a large salad bowl. Pour a 1/2 cup of dressing over the salad and toss until all the ingredients are evenly coated. Taste and add more dressing if you desire. Cherry pies with crumble top (left) and traditional crust (right) Cherry Crumble Laura, the innkeeper at the Glen Arbor Bed & Breakfast in the heart of Glen Arbor, gave me the inside scoop on how to make your cherry crumble taste as good as hers. The secret is lavender sugar: Pulse cup culinary lavender and cup granulated sugar in a blender, then mix the lavender with 3-4 cups sugar. If you put all of the sugar in at first, it turns to powdered sugar. Laura uses this on many things, including a bowl of yogurt topped with fresh cherries. You could serve as individual crumbles in small ceramic ramekins, or you can use a larger ceramic casserole dish or pie plate. Serves 4 to 6 For the crumble topping 3/4 cup all-purpose flour cup sugar 1/3 cup soft unsalted butter Pinch ground cardamom 1 pint pitted cherries 1 tablespoon sugar Preheat the oven to 350 F. Mix the crumble topping ingredients with a spatula until they form into coarse, pea-sized shapes. Place the cherries in a casserole dish and sprinkle with the sugar. Toss to coat the cherries, then with your fingers, distribute the crumble topping evenly over cherries. Bake for 35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the cherry juices are bubbling. Note: To pit the cherries, I use a paring knife to remove the pits, which is tedious. Also, the cherry juice will stain your fingers, clothes and countertops, so prepare! Follow-up Question: What iconic foods do you recommend to visitors to Savannah? This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah Georgia food writer visits Michigan and brings back cherry recipes Pittsburgh police are asking for your help identifying two people in surveillance video that shows graffiti tagging in Pittsburghs South Side. The incident shown in the video happened on July 11, but its the same tag that has popped up on other buildings, including a church in December and a historic building this past week. The video can be found here. We were around. We went inside. We came back and it was there, Ann Hohn said. Shes the H.O.A. president at the Bedford School Loft Condominiums on Bingham Street in the South Side. She says the paint job showed up Friday evening. Its extraordinarily frustrating. Its a 170-year-old building, 170-year-old bricks. And how are we going to clean that? Im not even sure what were going to do, she said. Further down the road at Jade Wellness Center, it was more of the same. I just got some paint and painted over it, just the other day, Devin Finley said. He works at the wellness center. We had one last year over there and you guys just pointed out that one. Looks like more work for myself. It was on the same street earlier this month that surveillance video captured another tag in progress. Pittsburgh Police posted the video to its Facebook page, hoping to identify the man and woman in it. They say the woman was taking pictures of the man and later was seen walking away with him. Back in December, we showed you video of the same tag on the side of Holy Assumption of St. Mary Orthodox Church. Meanwhile, Hohn is taking action. Weve called our insurance company. Weve called some experts. Were not sure what to do but we are going to be putting up cameras and lights in the next couple of weeks, Hohn said. Why? I mean, there are plenty of places here in the South Side. Go to the Color Park and tag. Why would you do this to such a beautiful, historic building? If you know the people in the video, police ask you call (412) 495-6052. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Story continues Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Fighting for his life: Man attacked inside Pittsburgh hotel was with wife celebrating honeymoon 2 people killed when motorcycle crashes into house in Mt. Pleasant Township Kevin Spacey cleared of sexual assault charges VIDEO: DA Zappalas son facing charges for alleged domestic dispute DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts The Florida police chief who attempted suicide on a highway after an argument with his wife Sunday night offered his resignation before he injured himself, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced Wednesday. Levine Cava spoke on the phone with Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Freddy Ramirez about 8:30 p.m. Sunday, she said. He told her that there was an incident at the hotel in Tampa and that he had made mistakes, and he was remorseful, and he was going back to Miami, and we would talk about it more the next day," she said. She added, "He told me he had made a mistake, that he was prepared to resign." Levine Cava didn't elaborate more on the conversation; she said an investigation into Sunday's events continues. Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez. (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) Authorities announced Monday that Ramirez shot himself in the head on a Florida highway after an argument with his wife. He had surgery Monday afternoon and was stable, Miami-Dade police officials said Monday evening. He probably has a long road ahead, a lot of surgeries, but he is going to survive, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister told reporters in Tampa. Levine Cava said Wednesday that Ramirez is stable after having undergone surgery. "And every day that he is recovering, he is continuing to regain his strength. Hes now alert, awake and responsive," she said. Officers responded Sunday evening to the Florida Sheriffs Associations summer conference in Tampa, where a male had pointed a gun at himself, police said in a statement. When officers arrived on the 12th floor of the Marriott Westside, Ramirez, 52, told them he was no danger to himself or others and was released at the scene, Tampa police said. The Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office described the encounter as a domestic dispute between Ramirez and his wife. But shortly after the incident, Ramirez drove off and shot himself in the head, the sheriff said. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said the incident happened on I-75, south of Tampa. Story continues Our hearts are with Chief of Public Safety Freddy Ramirez and his family during this difficult time, Levine Cava said in a statement. All that matters right now is his well-being and we continue to pray for his speedy recovery. Ramirez had announced his candidacy for sheriff of Miami-Dade County in 2024. He grew up in Hialeah and was raised by his grandparents, who fled Cuba and the Castro regime, according to his campaign biography. He graduated from the University of Miami, married his high school sweetheart and joined the Miami-Dade Police Department in 1995, his campaign said. Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle called Sunday nights shooting deeply saddening. An incident such as this is so deeply saddening, and I am praying and hoping for Chief Freddy Ramirez full recovery, she said. We all know that we need many, many more individuals with the strength, courage and commitment he has exemplified throughout his career. During Wednesday's news briefing, Levine Cava called Ramirez "an amazing human being," adding: "He is the best, the best of law enforcement. ... I have total trust in his leadership." She mentioned how she had appointed Ramirez to a dual role, the chief of safety and emergency response, as well as director of the Miami-Dade police. To that end, Levine Cava also announced two appointments Wednesday to fill Ramirez's duties temporarily. She appointed JD Patterson, the chief of corrections and forensics, as the interim chief of public safety, responsible for the "public safety portfolio" that includes Miami-Dade police, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the Department of Emergency Management, Corrections and Rehabilitation and the medical examiners office. She also appointed Deputy Director Stephanie Daniels as interim director of the Miami-Dade Police Department. Levine Cava said Ramirez's shooting is a "tragic reminder of the critical role mental health plays in our law enforcement." "We must continue working to eliminate any stigma around mental health care and to ensure that it is uplifted as an essential part of our health care," she said. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A police K-9 handler has been fired after he released his dog to attack an unarmed Black man during a traffic stop in Ohio. Disturbing body camera footage captured the police dog mauling the man who had his hands up after a long chase in Ohio. Jadarrius Rose, 23, was driving a semi-tractor vehicle westbound on US Route 35 on 4 July. He did not respond to multiple calls by a motor carrier enforcement inspector and the Ohio State Highway Patrol to stop after authorities spotted his trailer was missing a left rear mud flap, the incident report said, according to NBC News. The officials deployed stop sticks twice before Mr Rose stopped his trailer on US Route 23, ending a lengthy pursuit by authorities. But a police dog was unleashed on the suspect shortly after he was given orders to exit the vehicle and get down on the ground. The bodycam footage showed the man with his hands in the air, kneeling in front of the troopers. One of the troopers is heard giving repeated warnings: Do not release the dog with his hands up. One Circleville police officer, ignoring the troopers warnings, is heard shouting Get on the ground or youre gonna get bit after which he sics the dog on the man. Mr Rose is heard screaming for help and asking the police officers to get the K-9 off him. The dog is seen biting and pulling the arm of the man, who is on his knees and screaming in agony. Get it off! he is heard saying as one trooper asks for the dog to be removed from the suspect. Another officer is heard calling for a first aid kit. The footage also showed one of the police officers covering her mouth with her hands and walking away from the spot. Officials said the 23-year-old Mr Rose was eventually taken into custody and given first aid. The dog handler has now been fired, the police department has said in a statement. Circleville Police Officer Ryan Speakmans actions during the review of his canine apprehension of suspect Jadarrius Rose on July 4 show that Officer Speakman did not meet the standards and expectations we hold for our police officers, the department said, according to CNN. Officer Speakman has been terminated from the department, effective immediately. Police in Billings, Montana, are investigating after a musician who performs with Lyle Lovett and His Large Band said he found a noose hanging from a light pole near the groups tour bus. Band member Charles Rose, who is White, said he found the noose Sunday morning, ahead of the groups performance in the city that night. The multi-racial band, led by the Grammy-winning Lovett, is currently on a summer tour, according to its website. I just went back out to our bus to get something and saw this hanging a few feet from the bus door. I dont recall seeing it when we first arrived this morning, Rose said in a Facebook post that included a picture of a noose. Scary. Needless to say, I took it down. Charles Rose said he found the noose near the tour bus on Sunday. - From Charles Rose/Facebook The Billings Police Department received a report relating to this event, and it is being investigated as a hate incident, Mayor Bill Cole said in a statement on Tuesday. As of Monday afternoon, the Billings Police Department does not have any witnesses to determine who placed the noose on the light pole or what their intention might have been, Coles statement said. Investigators have so far been unsuccessful in finding any cameras that may have captured the incident, the mayor added. We condemn any hateful speech or symbols of hate in our community, Cole said. CNN has reached out to police and the band for additional comment. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (Reuters) - Police in Circleville, Ohio, on Wednesday fired an officer who unleashed his dog on a Black man during a highway traffic stop and ordered the animal to attack even though the man had his hands raised, according to video of the incident. "Officer (Ryan) Speakman did not meet the standards and expectations we hold for our police officers. Officer Speakman has been terminated from the department, effective immediately," police in a statement. Speakman could not be reached for comment, but the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, a police union, said in a statement that Speakman was fired "without JUST CAUSE" and it was filing a grievance on his behalf. The incident unfolded on July 4 after law enforcement officers engaged in the lengthy pursuit of a semi-tractor trailer driven by Jadarrius Rose, 23. The vehicle was missing a mud flap and it had failed to stop for an inspection, a report from the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) said. It came to a halt on a state highway about 40 miles (64 km) south of Columbus after officers deployed tire deflation devices, known as "stop sticks," for a second time. In a video provided by the highway patrol, Rose is standing by the vehicle with his hands raised as law enforcement officials order him to get on the ground. Moments later, an officer with the Circleville Police Department unleashed a police dog on Rose even though a state trooper told the local officer not to release the dog. "Do not release the dog - with his hands up," the trooper can be heard shouting on the video. The video shows the dog running towards Rose, now on his knees, and appears to show the canine biting and pulling the driver. Rose screams loudly and can be heard saying, "please get it off." A social media campaign that formed after the story came to light last week has called a protest for Saturday. A Facebook group called Dismantle Circleville Police demanded the dismissal of Speakman and Police Chief Shawn Baer, in addition to dropping all charges against Rose. Circleville police department declined to comment beyond the statement. (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Jamie Freed) Light rail tracks in downtown Mesa, Arizona. The vacationing Arizona Legislature returns to the Capitol on Monday, where our leaders will decide whether to put the question of Maricopa Countys transportation future where it belongs. Into the capable hands of the voters who will pay for it. Meanwhile, a new poll shows that Maricopa County voters support the plan Republican legislators have been blocking. Imagine that. Only 17% oppose county's transit plan In all, 56% of those polled said they would support an extension of the Proposition 400 half-cent sales tax to fund freeways, roads, buses and, yes, even the light rail despised by Republican legislators. Just 17% oppose it, according to the poll by the nonpartisan Noble Predictive Insights. Lest you think its a boondoggle supported only by Democrats, socialists and suspicious sorts who display disturbing woke tendencies, fully 47% of Republicans surveyed said theyd support the plan. Just 30% opposed it. Pollster Mike Noble said the message is clear. The Republican Legislature should be a little more open minded and also maybe looking a little less to the base and little bit more about what all Republicans and all voters think about light rail and its utility, he told me. Freedom Caucus views the plan differently The half-cent sales tax to fund the Valleys regional transportation needs expires in December 2025. Unlike every other county in the state, Maricopa County cannot ask voters to extend it without the nanny-state Legislatures approval. The updated plan put together by the Valleys cities and tribes was actually approved by the Legislature last year, only to be vetoed by then-Gov. Doug Ducey, whose dislike for taxes extended even to tax extensions. Lawmakers reject transit plan: Great news, if you enjoy snarled traffic But this years Legislature dances to the tune of the far-right Arizona Freedom Caucus, and its members have made it clear they would rather allow traffic and the Valleys economic prospects to come to a screeching halt than to allow any expansion of light rail. Story continues Some dont even want to spend the money to maintain the system we've already spent billions to build. Taxpayers shouldnt be forced to fund a transit system like light rail that accommodates less than 1% of the Valley commuters, Freedom Caucus Chairman and Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, said last month. Few voters want to pare back light rail Voters see it differently. Among those polled, 54% said the light rail system should be expanded. That includes 48% of Republicans, 50% of independents and 64% of Democrats. Among Republicans, another 22% said its is fine as it is. Just 11% of Republicans said light rail should either be reduced or cease to exist. Unfortunately, those seem to be the people who have the ear of the states Republican legislators. No compromise yet, and we're out of time Staffers from the Governors Office and the Legislature have been meeting for months to try to hash out a deal. Im told theres no agreement as of now, just five days before the Legislature is due to return. Its anybodys guess whether theyll get there, but one thing is certain. Its now or never for putting a Proposition 400 extension on the 2024 ballot, given the poisonous politics of a presidential election year. The MAGA crowd spends a fair amount of time talking about We the People. So why, I wonder, are they so afraid to allow us to make the call? -- The opt-in online poll of 600 Maricopa County voters was conducted July 13-17 and overall has a margin of error of 4%. The margin of error on the Republican subsample is 6.79%. Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LaurieRoberts. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Light rail should live on in Maricopa County. Even GOP voters say so An 11-year-old Port Orange girl who texted 911 operators to falsely report that her friend had been kidnapped by an armed man was arrested Wednesday for reporting a false crime, the Volusia County Sheriffs Office said. The child reported that her 14-year-old friend had been taken by an armed kidnapper driving a white van traveling south on Interstate 95 in Oak Hill, said sheriff's spokeswoman Laura Williams. The girl was charged with making a false police report concerning the use of a firearm in a violent manner, a felony, and misuse of 911, a misdemeanor. She was transported to the Family Resource Center for processing, then transferred to the Volusia Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Daytona Beach, Williams said. When the girl sent the message saying she was in a blue Jeep following the kidnappers van on I-95 in Oak Hill, multiple deputies responded, along with police from Edgewater, New Smyrna Beach and Port Orange. A sheriffs helicopter also joined the search for the suspect and the van, Williams said. False shooting reports 'Swatting' calls to 911 send police to two Volusia County homes An 11-year-old Port Orange girl called 911 and falsely reported that her friend had been kidnapped. She's been charged with a felony for making a false report. For 90 minutes the girl texted updates including a description of the suspect, who she reported had a gun, Williams said. After no suspect or van was found, sheriffs deputies traced the messages, which led them to the girls home in Port Orange at 10:23 a.m., Williams said. Deputies made contact with the childs father who said she was at home, Williams said. As deputies approached the girl her cell phone rang when 911 dispatchers called it. Her arrest was caught on video. "I'm telling you right now you're going to take this as a lesson at 11 years old when you do something stupid in the future you're going to enjoy those cuffs," the girl's father is heard saying. "I'm not going to do this again," the crying 11-year-old is heard saying. The child told deputies she got the idea to prank 911 through a YouTube challenge and thought it would be funny, Williams said. Story continues But Sheriff Mike Chitwood was not amused. This kind of prank activity is dangerous were going to investigate every incident but today it wasted valuable resources that might have helped someone else who legitimately needed our help, Chitwood said in a release. Due to an editing error, a quote in this story was misattributed. The quote: "I'm telling you right now you're going to take this as a lesson at 11 years old when you do something stupid in the future you're going to enjoy those cuffs" was uttered by the girl's father and not a deputy. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida girl, 11, makes fake kidnapping 911 texts for YouTube challenge China's top legislator holds talks with Pakistan's National Assembly speaker Xinhua) 09:02, July 26, 2023 Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with the Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf via video link at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, July 25 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji on Tuesday held talks with the Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf via video link. Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that China is ready to work with Pakistan to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields and push forward the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership for new and greater development. Hailing Pakistan for giving firm support to China on issues concerning China's core interests over a long period of time, Zhao said China is willing to strengthen strategic coordination with Pakistan and promote the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community of shared future in the new era. It is hoped that the two sides will deepen all-round practical cooperation, push the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to a new level, strengthen friendly people-to-people exchanges, continue to closely coordinate and cooperate on international and regional issues and make global governance more just and equitable, he added. China hails Pakistan for taking the lead in supporting the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, and joining the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative, Zhao said. "We welcome Pakistan's support for and participation in China's proposals and initiatives, and jointly promote the effective implementation of relevant initiatives," he added. Zhao said the NPC is willing to work with Pakistan's National Assembly to strengthen exchanges, carry out exchanges on governance experience, timely issue and approve legal documents conducive to bilateral cooperation, and provide legal guarantee for the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative. Ashraf said Pakistan firmly supports China's core interests and stands ready to work with China to strengthen the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and jointly build the Belt and Road. The National Assembly of Pakistan is willing to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning with the NPC of China, and play a positive role as a legislature in promoting cooperation in various fields and promoting the development of bilateral relations, Ashraf added. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with the Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf via video link at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) BEIRUT, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia and North Lebanon Merchants Association on Wednesday signed a protocol of understanding in the field of trade, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported. The agreement was signed between Hajriyanto Thohari, the ambassador of Indonesia in Beirut, and Assaad Hariri, the head of the North Lebanon Merchants Association. According to NNA, the protocol aims to strengthen trade and cooperation between the association's affiliated members and Indonesian companies interested in doing business in Lebanon's northern region. The agreement includes facilitating trade exchange, increasing investment volume, promoting products and services through legal means, and encouraging the visits of Indonesian trade delegations to the Lebanese trade shops affiliated with the association. The ambassador promised to facilitate dealings with the association's affiliated shops and organize joint trade exhibitions to display products and promote bilateral trade. (Bloomberg) -- Port of Rotterdam and Koninklijke Vopak NV have been asked to submit construction and funding plans for a 50 billion rand ($2.8 billion) port and associated rail links to ship commodities including hydrogen and its derivatives from northwest South Africa, people familiar with the talks said. Most Read from Bloomberg The two Dutch companies are part of three consortiums that on Tuesday won the right to present proposals to South Africas state logistics company, Transnet SOC Ltd., to build the Boegoebaai Port and related infrastructure, the people said, asking not to be identified as the consortium members havent been identified. South Africa hopes to use the abundant wind and sun on its arid west coast to generate the renewable energy needed to produce so-called green hydrogen. That fuel can be used to make products for export such as green ammonia. Politicians from Germany and the Netherlands this year said that their countries would be interested in buying the clean-burning fuel from southern Africa as Europe seeks to reduce its reliance on natural gas and other fossil fuels. Transnet National Ports Authority, a Transnet unit, on Tuesday said three groups, selected from eight consortiums of domestic and foreign companies that applied, were selected to make firm proposals. Those groups are known as the Boegoebaai Port & Rail Consortium, Boegoebaai Development Consortium and Project Elephant Consort. TNPA and Transnet didnt respond to questions about the groups participants. Vopak, which operates 78 terminals in 23 countries, and Port of Rotterdam, Europes biggest harbor and energy import gateway, were joined by a French bidder among those selected, the people said, without identifying the French company. DP World Ltd. withdrew, one of them said. Story continues Port of Rotterdam and DP World didnt respond to requests for comment. Vopak declined to comment. The South African government and Transnet plan to select a transaction adviser in September and issue a final request for proposals to the three groups in February, with the deadline being a year later, according to documents seen by Bloomberg. The port is expected to begin operating in March 2030 and the rail links may be complete by May 2036. Under a master-plan for the development of a green hydrogen industry in both South Africa and neighboring Namibia, Boegoebaai would be one of four regional ports exporting hydrogen. South Africas green hydrogen production could reach 10 million tons per year by 2050 with liquefied hydrogen, green ammonia and methanol being exported, alongside steel made using green hydrogen to smelt it. Plans sent to Bloomberg by the Northern Cape Economic Development Agency, which oversees development in the province in which Boegoebaai is located, show the harbor would occupy 2,882 hectares (7,121 acres) and sit alongside a 1,500-hectare tank-storage area. Green hydrogen production facilities would be built adjacent to the port in a 33,772-hectare special economic zone. Sasol Ltd., South Africas biggest company by revenue, has expressed interest in developing green hydrogen production facilities near Boegoebaai. The rail network would stretch about 800 kilometers (497 miles) inland. Metals such as manganese could also be exported from the port. --With assistance from Adveith Nair and Cagan Koc. (Updates with Vopak declining to comment in sixth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. PORTSMOUTH The mayor will no longer have the sole discretion to remove a colleague from a City Council meeting for disorderly conduct. Portsmouth City Council voted Tuesday to amend the councils rules of order and procedure regarding decorum during meetings and will now require a majority vote to eject a council member from a public meeting. The change comes after Council member DeAndre Barnes was ejected at several meetings over the last few months at the request of Mayor Shannon Glover. Since then, city leaders have discussed aligning the City Councils rules more closely with Roberts Rules of Order, which governs parliamentarian procedure. Barnes told The Virginian-Pilot he believes the changes likely targeted him specifically since hes been removed at least three times in recent months. His removals have often but not always occurred during times of heated debate, and disputes with the mayor. In one instance, Barnes was removed after directing questions about tax abatement to a city official and disputing Glovers point of order. Barnes said it could be someone else in the future and that the amended rules are clearer now and more fair. Barnes previously said he was targeted in March when council members voted to prohibit video recording from behind the dais a normal practice for Barnes, who streams meetings on his Facebook page. He was removed during the subsequent meeting in March for refusing to place his camera at the speakers podium facing the dais, which he has done since that meeting. Council rules task the mayor, as chair of the governing body, with maintaining dignity and decorum in the chambers and calling out any disorderly conduct. Council members deemed to be disorderly can be removed by by the sergeant-at-arms. Though council rules already allow for members to appeal a ruling from the chair, Tuesdays vote amends the rules to require a majority vote of council before removal can occur. Story continues City Council members didnt discuss or debate the measure before taking Tuesdays vote, which was 4-2. Mayor Shannon Glover and Council member Mark Hugel voted against. Council member Bill Moody was absent. But council members discussed the changes at length during a previous July work session. At the time, Hugel said he believed changing the rules in such a way addresses a symptom of a larger problem of bad behavior and that the time spent taking a vote on such a matter is inefficient. Glover said then that the ability to appeal a ruling that one is out of order is already in place. He added that he doesnt enter meetings with an intent to eject any members. He also apologized to council members if they ever believed there was a different intent other than keeping the order and doing the business of council. The language doesnt need to be changed, Glover said at the July 11 meeting. The appeals process is already in place. Council member Mark Whitaker said he believed the ejection of members has happened more frequently within the current council body and that the rules have been applied arbitrarily. Council member Vernon Tillage said removing a council member without a majority vote opens the door for manipulation of votes by limiting elected members participation. Im not thinking about it as trying to strip power or anything of that nature, Tillage said. As elected leaders, we are all elected here by the people to serve and make decisions. So if a voting member of a council, or an assembly, is ejected from a meeting, to me thats limiting the voice of the people who put us here. Vice Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke, a member of the Virginia Municipal League, concurred. She previously said aligning procedures with Roberts Rules is an issue cities across the commonwealth are grappling with as well. Barnes said Wednesday the changes could help the affected member reflect on disorderly behavior since the action would come with majority consensus. He added that younger generations, for example, may differ on what they deem disorderly or disrespectful. City Attorney Lavonda Graham-Williams suggested council members form a committee to review other rules and procedures that may need to be updated, such as rules governing speakers and dates and times of meetings. Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com Ally: A helicopter with France's anti-jihadist force in Niger (BERTRAND GUAY) Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum on Thursday defiantly vowed to protect "hard-won" democratic gains after he was detained by elite troops who declared they had taken power in the troubled West African nation. Bazoum was confined in Niamey on Wednesday by members of his presidential guard, who hours later announced that "all institutions" in the country would be suspended, the borders closed and a night-time curfew imposed. Amid fierce condemnation from African and international organisations and Niger's Western allies, Bazoum has stood his ground. "The hard-won gains will be safeguarded," Bazoum said on Twitter, which is being rebranded as 'X'. "All Nigeriens who love democracy and freedom would want this". Niger Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massoudou said the country's "legal and legitimate power" was the one exercised by its elected president. He told the France24 TV channel that Bazoum was "in good health". There had been a "coup bid" but "the whole of the army was not involved," he stressed. "We ask all the fractious soldiers to return to their ranks," he said. "Everything can be achieved through dialogue but the institutions of the republic must function." The president of neighbouring Benin, Patrice Talon, was heading to Niamey Thursday for mediation efforts, the head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said. - Coup-prone - The landlocked Sahel state is one of the poorest and most unstable countries in the world. It has experienced four coups since gaining independence from France in 1960, as well as numerous other attempts -- including two previously against Bazoum. Bazoum, 63, is one of a dwindling group of pro-Western leaders in the Sahel, where a rampaging jihadist insurgency has triggered coups against elected presidents in Mali and Burkina Faso. Their juntas, taking a nationalist stance, have forced out French troops and in the case of Mali have woven a close alliance with Russia. Story continues Disgruntled members of the elite Presidential Guard sealed off access to the president's residence and offices in the capital Niamey on Wednesday morning, and after talks broke down "refused to release the president," a presidential source said. Bazoum's supporters hours later tried to approach the official complex, but were dispersed by members of the Presidential Guard who fired warning shots, an AFP reporter saw. One person was hurt, but it was not immediately clear if he was injured by a bullet or from falling as the crowd scattered. The coup leaders appeared on television overnight, declaring they were suspending "all institutions" and imposing other measures "until further notice." "We, the defence and security forces... have decided to put an end to the regime" of President Bazoum, said their leader, Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, flanked by nine other uniformed soldiers. "This follows the continued deterioration of the security situation, poor economic and social governance." - Condemnation - The parties of Niger's ruling coalition in Niamey denounced "a suicidal and anti-republican madness," and condemnation poured in from regional and global leaders. ECOWAS and the African Union each lashed what they called an "attempted coup d'etat". The West African bloc called for Bazoum's immediate and unconditional release and warned all those involved would be held responsible for his safety. The European Union said it "associates itself" with the ECOWAS statement and attacked "any attempt to destabilise democracy and threaten the stability" of Niger. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had spoken to Bazoum to offer Washington's support, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he "strongly condemns the unconstitutional change in government" in Niger. - Poverty and jihadism - Bazoum took office after elections two years ago, in Niger's first-ever peaceful transition since independence. He was a former interior minister and right-hand man to former president Mahamadou Issoufou, who voluntarily stepped down after two terms. But an attempted coup took place just days before Bazoum's inauguration, according to a security source at the time. Several people were arrested, including the suspected ringleader. Five people were jailed in February for 20 years. A second bid to oust Bazoum occurred last March "while the president... was in Turkey", according to a Niger official, who said an arrest was made. The authorities have never commented publicly on the incident. The nation of 22 million is two-thirds desert and frequently ranks at the bottom of the UN's Human Development Index, a benchmark of prosperity. Niger is also struggling with two jihadist campaigns -- one in the southwest, which swept in from Mali in 2015, and the other in the southeast, involving jihadists from northeastern Nigeria. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes, stoking a humanitarian crisis and further straining the economy. burs-ach/ri/jmm Dogs may be mans best friend, but that courtesy doesnt seem to extend to the Secret Service. President Biden's dog Commander has bitten multiple Secret Service agents and officers, according to records from the Department of Homeland Security obtained by the conservative group Judicial Watch. The group, which sued the Department of Homeland Security in order to get the records connected to dog bites, says there have been 10 attacks between October 2022 and January 2023, adding multiple agents required medical care, including at a hospital. The Secret Service also said there have been no biting episodes for several months. The agency also does not handle, care for or walk presidential pets. Commander (Carolyn Kaster / AP) Commander is a 2-year-old German shepherd the Bidens adopted in 2021. Judicial Watch also reports the Bidens previous German shepherd, Major, was given to family friends following a series of attacks on members of the Secret Service and White House workers. The Bidens also had another dog, Champ, who died in 2021. One email states Commander bit an officer two times, one time in the upper right arm and a second bite on the officers thigh, with the White House medical unit electing to send the victim to the hospital. In October 2022, another officer sent a colleague an email expressing concern about the dog. Commander has been exhibiting extremely aggressive behavior, the officer wrote. Today, while posted, he came charging at me. The First Lady couldnt regain control of commander [sic] and he continued to circle me. I believe its only a matter of time before an agent/officer is attacked or bit. Commander (Carolyn Kaster / AP) In a Christmas Eve email exchange, a Secret Service inspector wrote to a co-worker about an incident the day before. I attended officials roll call [redacted] this afternoon, the inspector wrote. The dog bite issue came up again today. Apparently, Officer [redacted] was bitten while posted at [redacted] yesterday. Nearly every official in the room with me today spoke about specific incidents surrounding the First Familys dog. Story continues For the past several Presidential administrations, the Secret Services has navigated how to best operate around family pets and these incidents are no exception, Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement. While special agents and officers neither care for nor handle the first familys pets, we continuously work with all applicable entities to minimize adverse impacts in an environment that includes pets, he added. First lady Jill Biden is also aware of the episodes. The White House complex is a unique and often stressful environment for family pets, and the First Family is working through ways to make this situation better for everyone, her communications director, Elizabeth Alexander, said in a statement. They have been partnering with the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff on additional leashing protocols and training, as well as establishing designated areas for Commander to run and exercise. According to the Secret Service, each incident referenced was treated similarly to comparable workplace injuries, with relevant notifications and reporting procedures followed. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, records his video addresses in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. Prigozhin Press Service via Associated Press Yevgeny Prigozhin's short-lived mutiny last month may have lacked the support of his men. CIA director Williams Burns told Puck that some Wagner troops may have felt the revolt wasn't what they signed up for. Prigozhin was "making it up as he went along," Burns told Puck. Wagner group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin may have turned back his armed rebellion last month because his men didn't support the effort, according to CIA director Williams Burns. Puck's Julia Ioffe asked Burns about Prigozhin's short-lived mutiny at the Aspen Security conference last week, including why the mercenary group leader "choked and turned back." "Some of his men started getting cold feet," Burns said. "This wasn't what they had signed up for." Prigozhin, formerly a close ally of Putin, went on a tirade against Russian military leadership on June 23 and marched his Wagner troops towards Moscow, shooting down some Russian military aircrafts, before abruptly turning around leaving many wondering what the point of it all was. While speaking on a panel at the conference last week, Burns said Prigozhin was "making it up as he went along." Burns also noted Prigozhin had only 5,000 men with him not nearly enough to actually take Moscow. Read the original article on Business Insider By Abigail Summerville (Reuters) - The private equity owners of popular emergency contraception pill Plan B, Foundation Consumer Healthcare, have hired advisors to explore options including a potential sale of the company, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters. A sale could value the company at more than $4 billion, the source said, adding that the process is at an early stage. It is owned by investment firms, including Kelso & Co. and Juggernaut Capital Partners. Foundation Consumer Healthcare also owns brands such as Breathe Right nasal strips, Dimetapp, which is a medicine for cough and cold for children and allergy drug Alavert. Plan-B One-Step has been available over the counter for use without age restrictions since 2013, but the health regulator changed its labeling in December for the emergency contraception to make clear that the pill does not alter the course of an existing pregnancy. Contraception has come under renewed focus in the United States after the Supreme Court in June overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that recognized the constitutional right to an abortion and legalized it nationwide. The privately held company, which makes over-the-counter healthcare products, bought Plan B One-Step and other brands of emergency contraception from Israel-based Teva Pharmaceutical Industries in 2017 for $675 million in cash. Foundation Consumer Healthcare or its private-equity owners Kelso & Co and Juggernaut Capital Partners did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment. The report on the potential sale was first reported by Bloomberg News. (This story has been refiled to correct syntax in paragraph 1) (Reporting by Mariam Sunny and Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru and Abigail Summerville in New York; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar and Arun Koyyur) Progressive Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, a new member of the "The Squad," faced mockery on social media after pledging to go on a "thirst strike" in solidarity with federal workers that ended up lasting only eight hours. "Just took my last drink of water before my thirst strike with the one and only, Dolores Huerta. #WorkersCanWait," Casar, whose district represents parts of Austin and San Antonio, posted Tuesday morning . He pledged to abstain from liquids as he called for a federal heat rule to protect workers as they faced high temperatures across the country. "Today Im on a thirst strike on the steps of the U.S. Capitol not drinking water or taking breaks, through rain or shine, in solidarity with our nations workers," Casar wrote in another post. "Currently there are NO federal protections for workers exposed to heat." AOC LASHES OUT AT TWITTER, CLAIMS SHE'S 'NEVER EXPERIENCED MORE HARASSMENT' BEFORE Casar's thirst strike ended eight hours later, prompting criticism from conservatives on Twitter. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, went on an eight-hour thirst strike on Tuesday. "Congrats on existing between early lunch and late dinner," CNN commentator Scott Jennings tweeted. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "eight whole hours what a hero," Washington Free Beacon reporter Andrew Kerr tweeted. "Libs get participation trophies for literally skipping breakfast," The Spectator reporter Matthew Foldi tweeted. AUSTIN MAYOR BLOCKS STATE POLICE HELP FOR UNDERSTAFFED PD IN MOVE THAT CAVES TO 'DEFUND' ACTIVISTS: CRITICS Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, speaks to a reporter on the House steps of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on April 20, 2023. Casar's thirst strike on the steps of the Capitol on Tuesday drew a crowd that included progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and reporters who tweeted photos of Casar being monitored by medical professionals. Casar's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Democratic candidate Greg Casar speaks during a "Get Out the Vote" rally on Feb. 12, 2022. Fox News Digitals Louis Casiano contributed to this report. As artificial intelligence becomes more common in our daily lives, some members of Congress are pushing to regulate its use in the workplace. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< A new proposal dubbed the No Robot Bosses Act aims to protect employees from being fired or having hiring decisions solely made by an automated system. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Supporters of the measure point to examples such as a companys recruitment software automatically rejecting an application because of a gap in the persons resume. The bill would require employers to disclose when and how these automated systems are being used and it would require employers to use human oversight over the use of AI in the workplace. Our Washington News Bureau spoke with Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), who sponsored the bill in the Senate. We got to make sure that workplace security and the dignity and value of workers are protected, said Casey. We want to make sure that we have a focus on taking steps to make sure that when artificial intelligence is used, as it will be and continues to be used throughout society, that we have some check on that when it comes to the workplace so someone is not fired by a robot. Read: Ex-Florida State Guardsman: Mission was Bait and Switch; Recruit reports assault at Camp Blanding This comes as the AI industry is cautioning against too much government regulation. We spoke with Josh Jackson, co-founder of The AI Association, about the proposal. I think theres opportunity to obviously enhance his proposal because we dont want too much regulation to hinder employers, said Jackson. This looks like its leaning more toward putting more constraints on the employer, which does not help the cause to increase innovation and help the employees do their job better. Jackson said the industry supports having a framework that outlines best practices without discouraging the growth of new technology. Story continues Read: White House proposes new rule to expand access to mental health benefits Its good to have something in place that outlines sort of like a contract, right, of were agreeing to these terms and these rules and that helps make things clear, said Jackson. Another proposal introduced by Sen. Casey called the Exploitative Workplace Surveillance and Technologies Task Force Act would create a task force to oversee workplace surveillance through artificial intelligence. That task force would be led by the Department of Labor and the Office of Science and Technology Policy and would have to submit reports to Congress. The goal of the proposal is to shed light on how and when algorithms and automated systems are being used by employers to surveil employees and the impact. Republicans in Congress, meanwhile, have warned against too much government overreach regarding artificial intelligence. Read: Online romance scheme leads to guilty plea from Clay County woman A spokesperson for Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he is focused on educating lawmakers about AI and has hosted House-wide briefings where members of both parties can question industry experts to discuss the best path forward. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] We want to work collaboratively together on being able to craft legislation that fosters the growth of AI, while protecting it from any fears that some might have, said McCarthy during a press conference on July 17. 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. Jack Smith, the special counsel, after delivering remarks about the indictment of former President Donald Trump in Washington, June 9, 2023. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times) Even as the special counsel, Jack Smith, appears to be edging closer toward bringing charges against former President Donald Trump in connection with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, prosecutors have been continuing to investigate multiple strands of the case. In recent weeks, Smiths team has pushed forward in collecting new evidence and in arranging new interviews with witnesses who could shed light on Trumps mindset in the chaotic postelection period or on other subjects important to the inquiry. At the same time, word has emerged of previously undisclosed investigative efforts, hinting at the breadth and scope of the issues prosecutors are examining. In the past few days, a lawyer for Bernard Kerik, the former New York City police commissioner who worked closely after the election with Trumps lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, gave hundreds of pages of documents to prosecutors working with Smith. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times The documents detailed efforts by Kerik and Giuliani to identify and investigate allegations of fraud in the election an issue that is likely to be front and center as prosecutors seek to understand what Trump may have been thinking when he set in motion various efforts to maintain his grip on power. While it remains unclear precisely when Smith may seek an indictment of the former president, the clearest signal yet that one was in the offing came last week from Trump, who announced on social media that he had received a so-called target letter from prosecutors alluding to at least three charges he might face. Those charges included conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of an official proceeding, and a Reconstruction-era civil rights statute that makes it a crime for people to conspire to threaten or intimidate others from exercising rights provided to them by federal law or the Constitution. It is not uncommon for prosecutors to keep investigating a criminal case up to the moment an indictment is returned. They can even press forward after charges are filed. But prosecutors are not supposed to use a grand jury of the sort that has been used to investigate Trump to gather fresh evidence after charges are brought unless they intend to use the information to seek additional charges. Story continues The production of documents by Kerik, who was convicted of tax fraud but pardoned by Trump, came as his lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, was arranging for Kerik to sit down with Smiths prosecutors for a voluntary interview next month. Giuliani did a similar interview with Smiths team in June. Among the previously unknown steps taken by Smiths team was an interview conducted about three months ago with Richard Donoghue, a former top official in the Justice Department at the end of Trumps time in office. NBC News reported on the interview on Monday night, and Donoghue confirmed Tuesday that it took place. But he declined to comment on what he discussed with Smiths prosecutors. In late 2021, Donoghue, who served as the acting deputy attorney general under Trump, told the House select committee investigating Jan. 6 that he and Jeffrey Rosen, acting attorney general at the time, repeatedly sought to rebuff Trumps claims that the election had been marred by widespread fraud. At one point, Donoghue testified, Trump urged him and Rosen to just say the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me and the Republican congressmen. Donoghue also told the committee that in the waning days of his presidency, Trump wanted to replace Rosen with Jeffrey Clark, a loyalist within the Justice Department. Clark, whose home was searched as part of the election interference inquiry into Trump, had helped to a draft a letter suggesting that fraud had affected the election results and urging Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia, a Republican, to call for the creation of a fake slate of electors to the Electoral College declaring that Trump had won that state, not Joe Biden. Smiths team has also reached out to Kemp seeking an interview, Garrison Douglas, a spokesperson for Kemp, said Tuesday. But Douglas declined to say whether the interview, which was reported by The Washington Post, had been merely scheduled or had taken place. Georgia was a key location in Trumps campaign to pressure local officials to throw him the election in their states. Brad Raffensperger, Georgias secretary of state, recorded Trump on a phone call in early January 2021, asking him to find sufficient votes for him to win the state. Smiths prosecutors have also shown interest in a different line of inquiry in recent months, asking questions about a meeting that Trump held in February 2020 with officials who briefed him about election security for the upcoming race. The special counsels interest in the meeting, where Trump praised what officials told him were improvements in election security, was reported earlier by CNN. During the meeting, Trump attacked Joseph Maguire, who was then serving as acting director of national intelligence, for having days earlier given a briefing on Russian interference in the 2016 election to Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., then the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, and other members of the panel, according to people familiar with the events. Trump viewed Schiff as an enemy after he focused extensively on whether Trumps campaign had conspired with Russia during his 2016 campaign and he played an instrumental role in his first impeachment. At the meeting, officials from the FBI and other agencies also told Trump about their preparations to secure the election from interference. Trump was so taken by what he heard that he wanted to hold a news conference to tout the security of the election, according to a person with knowledge of the talks. Trumps apparent excitement at the meeting could shed light on his state of mind and what factual knowledge he had as he spread baseless lies about election fraud months later. In a related line of inquiry, prosecutors under Smith have asked questions as to when and how federal officials went about securing the election, and how they coordinated those efforts with secretaries of state in various states, according to a person familiar with the matter. Prosecutors have also sought to determine how regularly the White House was briefed on election security measures. c.2023 The New York Times Company The Providence City Council voted on Tuesday to take legal action against tax breaks that may have been improperly given to 10 downtown buildings controlled by real estate developer Arnold "Buff" Chace. The nearly-unanimous vote officially hires Providence law firm Wistow, Sheehan, and Loveley of which noted attorney Max Wistow is part. Wistow's previously represented the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation in litigation against failed gaming company 38 Studios. "Im looking forward to attempting to vacate the consent order," said Wistow. "The consent order is not only harmful to the city but completely unjustified and hurts Providences low-income residents." Council, auditor took issue with agreement not including appropriate city officials The decision comes after the council met last Thursday and weighed how to address the 8-Law treatment given to the properties in a 2021 consent decree. That year, City Solicitor Jeff Dana entered the city into the agreement without approval from the tax assessor, the Board of Tax Assessment and Review, the City Council or the Committee on Claims and Pending Suits. Internal Auditor Gina Costa took issue with the lack of approvals in a memo drawn up late last year. Costa also questioned the legitimacy of the tax breaks, as 8-Law is intended to spur the creation of low-income housing and Chace's properties are partly commercial. According to Costa, they also do not meet the Department of Housing and Urban Development's affordability standard. Furthermore, the tax breaks were made retroactive, dating back to 2020, when no agreement existed. Over the course of the 30-year deal, if it remains in place, Chace will have saved about $42.5 million. During an executive session that spanned several hours, the council was briefed by Dana, then the law firm on its findings and recommendations. Providence developer Arnold B. Buff Chace Jr. More: Buff Chace's tax breaks for 10 downtown buildings could be in jeopardy Story continues Chace's real estate firm responds, saying agreement was meant to create housing Chace's real estate firm, Cornish Associates, released a lengthy statement on Tuesday night, stating it had been in talks with Mayor Brett Smiley's administration to amend the consent decree. Now, the risk of litigation has upended those negotiations. "We regret that the actions of the City Council this evening preclude us from continuing those discussions, as it now appears that there exists the possibility of litigation," the firm's spokeswoman, Patti Doyle, said. "We further regret that it also now appears as though the Council is seeking to reverse a legal judgment designed to bolster additional, much-needed housing which clearly will have a chilling effect on all such initiatives contemplated throughout Providence slowing the development of housing across the city." Chace and his firms own numerous buildings in downtown Providence, including 75 Fountain Street, which houses The Providence Journal. That property is not included in this tax break package. Doyle said 25% of Cornish Associates' downtown units are "dedicated" to workforce and affordable housing. Smiley, in a statement of his own, expressed skepticism of the council's vote. More: Rhode Island house prices hit record highs in June. Is there any sign of a cooldown? "I did not support the settlement the previous Administration agreed to and given the legal assessment of our counsel, my team entered negotiations with Mr. Chace to secure a better deal," the mayor said. "We provided the City Council a resolution that addresses the challenges of the old settlement and claws back 30% of the tax subsidy provided. The City Council has still not shared external counsel's proposal with the Administration, which does not allow us to assess its likelihood of success." This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence City Council takes legal action, challenging Buff Chace deal By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Federal Reserve was sued on Tuesday by a Puerto Rican bank that said its access to the U.S. central banking system could be improperly cut off following a federal crackdown on banks with links to Venezuela. Banco San Juan Internacional (BSJI) said in a complaint in Manhattan federal court that the Fed's New York branch informed the bank earlier this year that its "master account" - which lets banks access the Fed's electronic payment systems - would be terminated due to concerns about its compliance with U.S. sanctions and anti-money laundering rules. The bank asked the court to bar the New York Fed from terminating its master account, without which it said it "cannot effectively function as a depository institution." A spokesperson for the New York Fed declined to comment. BSJI said it improved its compliance program during a previous 22-month suspension of its master account between 2019 and 2020 in the wake of a federal money laundering and sanctions evasion investigation into its 2016 and 2017 credit agreements with state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela. BSJI agreed in 2020 to pay $1 million to resolve the probe. Federal prosecutors dismissed a civil forfeiture complaint and returned $53 million in seized funds to the bank. BSJI says the loan agreements were lawful. Puerto Rico's banking industry has historically had close ties Venezuela, an OPEC member. The New York Fed in 2019 said it would stop approving master accounts for some Puerto Rican banks due to U.S. sanctions on Venezuela aimed at ousting socialist President Nicolas Maduro, Reuters reported at the time. "Improper targeting of BSJI because it was founded by a Venezuelan national more than 12 years ago ... is, of course, patently unreasonable (and unlawful)," BSJI wrote in the complaint, citing the Reuters story. The bank said its founder, Marcelino Bellosta, has lived in the United States and Europe for much of the last 25 years. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; editing by Grant McCool) WHITE PLAINS He made his name in Yonkers as a friend to the police: a former gang member who prodded the force to improve community relations by having officers greet residents with friendly handshakes. But Hector Santiago, the activist who initiated the "Stop and Shake" program in 2015, found himself on the wrong side of his allies in blue one night in November. Pulled by officers from the Yonkers City Council chambers during a rowdy meeting, Santiago one arm in a sling after recent shoulder surgery brushed away a cop's hand on his arm and was punched in the face in return, then tackled and handcuffed. The incident was caught on multiple videos, including a city's official recording of the meeting and a hallway surveillance camera recording. Hector Santiago closes his eyes as he listens to White Plains City Court Judge John Collins Jr. render a verdict of not guilty in Santiago's trial on disorderly conduct July 25, 2023. Santiago was charged with several crimes after he was removed from a Yonkers City Council meeting in November 2022. The most serious charges, including assaulting a police officer, were eventually abandoned and he was only tried on the disorderly conduct charge. The trial took place in White Plains City Court after several Yonkers City Court judges recused themselves. Thus began an eight-month court ordeal for Santiago that finally ended on Tuesday. It ended with acquittal. White Plains Judge John Collins Jr. delivered the verdict at the end of a three-day trial, declaring the 35-year-old father of three not guilty of disorderly conduct the sole, low-level violation Santiago still faced after other charges against him crumbled. Police outreach: Yonkers resident gets police to start "Stop and Shake" program to improve community relations Santiago beamed outside the courtroom afterward, relieved to be vindicated and done with the first part of his legal battle. In his telling, the two-minute encounter and arrest extended his surgery recovery by two months and cost him his job, more than 20 trips to court and $4,500 in initial legal fees. "It just dragged out for so long," he said. Next up was his impending federal lawsuit against the police department. "On to the next fight, but now with my head high," Santiago said. Hector Santiago is removed from the Yonkers City Council chambers during a tense session Nov. 22, 2022 in which the city council voted to extend term limits for city officials. The vote will allowed Mayor Mike Spano to run for a fourth consecutive four year term. A Yonkers police spokesman later said the department stood by the actions its officers took on Nov. 22 to "maintain law and order at a public gathering." "We respect the ruling of the courts in this matter," Detective Sgt. Frank DiDomizio told The Journal News/lohud in an emailed statement. "However, the internal investigation into this incident revealed no wrongdoing on behalf of our Officers." Story continues What caused the ruckus at the Yonkers City Council meeting? The incident was a spinoff from a highly charged political issue: a proposal to extend term limits in Yonkers so Mayor Mike Spano could run for a fourth term. The council had already pushed the limit to three terms from two in 2018 and was ready to extend it again, causing a heated split among residents. That was the topic at hand when Santiago and others packed the chambers to state their views and watch the vote. The mood was boisterous. Audience members cheered, booed and traded chants. Council members took turns explaining how they intended to vote. Extension vote: Yonkers City Council votes to extend term limits, giving Mayor Spano a shot at fourth term The noise got louder as a councilwoman lashed out her critics, prompting shouts from the audience. Santiago, standing in the crowd, can be seen on video cupping his mouth with his one free hand and saying something. "Stop talking and vote," a witness testified on Tuesday that Santiago said, his voice barely raised. On the recording, Detective Russell Kilgore is seen striding across the room, straight to Santiago. He speaks to Santiago, then starts to push him toward the door. Two plain-clothes cops immediately join in, pushing Santiago through the crowd. A brief tussle breaks out as a bystander intervenes. Another camera captured what happened next in the hallway. Kilgore, who had been speaking there to the bystander, approaches Santiago and takes him by the arm. In seconds, Santiago flicks away Kilgore's hand, Kilgore decks him, and a scrum of officers converge and take Santiago to the floor. What was Hector Santiago charged with? Police initially planned to charge Santiago with the felony of assaulting an officer, according to his arrest report. But that was dropped from their charges when they brought him to court the next day, leaving two misdemeanors obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest and the disorderly-conduct violation. The case was moved to White Plains after all seven Yonkers judges recused themselves. And the Orange County District Attorney's Office was enlisted to prosecute it after Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah also recused herself, since Santiago had worked on her 2020 election campaign. Kilgore said in the arrest report that he removed Santiago from the chambers because he cursed and acted defiant after being asked to lower his voice. According to the detective's account, he punched Santiago in the face to "stop his actions" after Santiago hit him with his elbow and forearm, "forcefully jolting me back." Floyd protests: Yonkers police commissioner: 2 city protests 'truly a model for the rest of the country' Yonkers Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza defended his officers' handling of the situation days later in a News12 TV interview, saying they showed restraint and tried to calm Santiago and others around him. "There was a whole room full of people, many people voicing their opinions, but he was the one that got arrested," Sapienza said of Santiago. "He was the one that took it to the level to get arrested." The two misdemeanors fizzled before the case even went to trial. On April 7, the Orange County prosecutor assigned the case replaced them with harassment, a violation akin to a speeding ticket. That was the offense Santiago allegedly committed by striking Kilgore. The White Plains judge dismissed that charge on the second day of the trial. That left only disorderly conduct for Santiago's alleged disruption of the meeting. Hector Santiago hugs his partner Madeline Ortiz after he was found not guilty of disorderly conduct in White Plains City Court July 25, 2023. Santiago was charged with several crimes after he was removed from a Yonkers City Council meeting in November 2022. The most serious charges, including assaulting a police officer, were eventually abandoned and he was only tried on the disorderly conduct charge. The trial took place in White Plains City Court after several Yonkers City Court judges recused themselves. What happened in court? One final trial witness testified for a half-hour on Tuesday about what she saw and heard in the chambers before Santiago's arrest. Eileen O'Connor, who said she was sitting in the audience in front of Santiago, told the court the meeting got raucous as Councilwoman Tasha Diaz spoke, with people already yelling back in anger when Santiago spoke up "probably less loudly than others around him, including myself." Judge Collins then grilled prosecutor Bryan Conway about how exactly Santiago disrupted the meeting: by calling out in a noisy room as others did the same, or by his conduct as police removed him? Conway said it was the second part, arguing that Santiago defied police instructions and caused a spectacle during his removal that halted the proceedings. Santiago's lawyer, Richard Ferrante, countered in his closing argument that police likely had no intent to arrest Santiago for that alleged disruption until after Kilgore "cold-cocked" him. Then they charged him as a way to justify the detective's own conduct. "I think this whole incident got blown out of proportion when it got moved into the hallway," Ferrante said. What happens next? The council voted 4-3 that night to extend Spano's term limits, clearing the mayor for a fourth run. Spano won a three-way Democratic primary last month and faces Republican Councilman Anthony Merante in the general election in November. A court fight to undo the term-limit extension ended Monday when the state's highest court declined to hear the case. Santiago plans to sue Yonkers and its police in federal court for damages. In a notice of claim given to the city to announce the pending case on Dec. 1, his attorneys accused the police of "falsely and maliciously" charging Santiago "to cover up for the Yonkers police officers misconduct and brutality." Santiago, who serves on the Yonkers Human Rights Commission, says he lost his job as a digital navigator with Y-Zone a Yonkers program that helps low-income residents get computers and internet service after his police run-in because he missed so much work with doctor's appointments and court dates. After his acquittal on Tuesday, he said remains committed to the "Stop and Shake" program and its mission, seeing his experience as evidence that more work is needed to improve how police and citizens interact. "There's more good cops and good community members than bad on both sides," Santiago said. "It's about holding the wrongdoers accountable on both sides." Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA Today Network. Reach him at cmckenna@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Hector Santiago punched by cop at Yonkers meeting, now acquitted The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has noted that the situation with the Wagner Group rebellion and the Kremlin's inability to respond promptly to it both indicate Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's lack of confidence in his ability to rally the Russian elite. Source: ISW Details: The Washington Post reported on 25 July that Ukrainian and European security forces said Putin did not issue orders for the most part of 24 June, despite warnings from Russian intelligence agencies 2-3 days prior of a possible rebellion uprising. Reports said Putin and the Kremlin did not respond promptly to the 24 June Wagner Group rebellion, leaving it up to local Russian officials to make decisions about the so-called Private Military Companys (PMC) march on Moscow. Experts concluded that the lack of reaction from the Kremlin and Putin in this case indicates that the Russian security apparatus was probably not ready for a direct challenge to the Russian military leadership and probably could not end the rebellion quickly. The Kremlin likely realises that its paralysis [inability to react ed.] has shown the extent of the regime's instability, and appears to be consolidating Russia's internal security apparatus in the Russian National Guard to prepare for further domestic threats and show resolve. The report said, in addition, that Putins inability to act quickly also shows that he is not confident in his ability to rally the so-called Russian elite around him, and may indicate how factional internal Kremlin politics have become. Russian President Vladimir Putin continued to express concern about potential threats from Wagner PMC and its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin during Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's extended visit to St Petersburg. The ISW said Putin's decision to prolong the meeting with Lukashenko probably indicates that the Russian dictator is still worried about Wagner mercenaries, and it seems that Lukashenko could not reassure him. Story continues ISW also said Lukashenko probably wants to use his power over Wagner PMC to obtain concessions from Putin. In particular, Lukashenko tried to use Putin's concerns throughout the visit to Russia to achieve favourable terms in Belarusian-Russian relations, while rejecting Putin's demands for closer integration into the Union State and support for Russia's war in Ukraine. In addition, the ISW also draws attention to the fact that the leadership is trying to reduce the security vacuum created after the Wagner Groups departure by creating formalised, but decentralised (regional) military "enterprises" based on the federations subjects. The Russian State Duma adopted on 25 July in the second and third readings amendments to the federal law regulating weapons circulation, allowing the Russian subjects heads to create specialised state unitary enterprises. The ISW noted the amendments would allow Putin to set up state enterprises on a temporary basis and then close them, after which those enterprises would have to hand over all small arms and other weapons to the Russian Defence Ministry within one month. The Kremlin is probably trying to balance two competing security demands, including the need for combat-ready formations to fulfil the functions left by the Wagner Group after its armed rebellion and redeployment to Belarus, and the desire not to create systemic threats to the Russian state that Wagner Group's independence has generated. Regarding the situation on the front, the ISW indicated Ukrainian troops continued counteroffensive actions on at least three areas of the front line and made some advances on 25 July. The ISW assesses that Ukrainian counteroffensive operations are aiming to create an asymmetric casualty gradient that preserves Ukrainian manpower at the cost of conquering territories more slowly, while Russian manpower and equipment are gradually depleted. To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 25 July: Russian President Vladimir Putin continued to manifest concern over potential threats that the Wagner Group and its financier Yevgeny Prigozhin may pose during an impromptu two-day extension of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenkos visit to St. Petersburg. Lukashenko likely seeks to leverage his power over the Wagner Group to gain concessions from Putin. Russian leadership is attempting to mitigate the security vacuum left by the Wagner Groups departure by creating formalised but decentralised military "enterprises" on the basis of federal subjects (regions). Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations on at least three sectors of the front and advanced on July 25. Russian forces conducted another series of Shahed drone strikes on rear areas of Ukraine overnight on July 24-25. The Angry Patriots Club continues efforts to cast former Russian officer and ardent nationalist Igor Girkin (Strelkov) as an opposition figure and may be attempting to appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin through rhetoric about the illegality of Girkins arrest. Putin and the Kremlin reportedly failed to respond promptly to the Wagner Groups June 24 rebellion, leaving local Russian officials to make decisions concerning the groups drive on Moscow. Russian forces conducted offensive operations near Svatove, Kreminna, the Bakhmut area, the Avdiivka-Donetsk City area, and the Zaporizhia-Donetsk Oblast border area and made claimed advances near Svatove, Kreminna, and Bakhmut. Ukrainian forces conducted offensive operations near Kreminna, the Bakhmut area, the Avdiivka-Donetsk City area, along the administrative border between Zaporizhia and Donetsk oblasts, and western Zaporizhia Oblast and advanced in the Bakhmut area, in some areas along the administrative border between Zaporizhia and Donetsk oblasts, and west of Orikhiv. US intelligence officials warned on July 25 that Russias drone supply will dramatically increase as a result of continued bilateral Russo-Iranian cooperation. Russian officials continue efforts to deconflict legal discrepancies as part of the incorporation of occupied territories. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Despite recent moves to strengthen Russia's influence on the continent, his summit with African leaders is looking weak. Contributor/Getty Images Putin is hosting a critical summit with African leaders this week in St. Petersburg, Russia. But only a handful of attending nations are sending their heads of state or leaders. Isolated by the war in Ukraine, Putin seeks to grow influence and support on the African continent. Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming meeting with African leaders is designed to be a diplomatic showcase and a bit of a flex but it's looking like a miss on both counts. On Thursday, Putin will meet with 49 representatives from African nations at the second Russia-Africa summit. The event, hosted in St. Petersburg, is critical for an increasingly isolated Russia to maintain its ties and support on the African continent. But on Tuesday, Presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov said only 17 of the 49 attendees are sending their respective heads of state or leaders, including Egypt, South Africa, and Uganda, according to The Moscow Times. The remaining nations will send lower-level ambassadors or representatives. It's a striking difference from the first summit held in 2019, which was almost all attended by presidents and prime ministers. The same is true for the US-Africa summit late last year. The Kremlin is already preparing for disaster, blaming this year's low turnout on the West and, specifically, the US. On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the US of subjecting "unprecedented pressure" on "virtually all African states," and blamed French embassies in Africa for "trying to do their bit to prevent this summit from taking place," according to Reuters. The summit setback is part of the wider fallout from Russia's struggling war against Ukraine. Russian leaders are attempting to reassure their partners in Africa after a failed rebellion in June mounted by the head of the Wagner Group, which is intertwined with Russian state interests in African states like Libya, Mali, Sudan, and the Central African Republic. In the war-torn CAR, some of Wagner's forces stationed near diamond mines have left, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month. Its troops had previously helped train CAR's army to prepare for possible coup attempts, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Read the original article on Business Insider New Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi had held the post for most of the past decade Wang Yi, re-appointed as China's foreign minister to replace Qin Gang, will be a familiar face to many on the international stage. The 69-year old is already China's top diplomat as head of the Communist Party's Central Foreign Affairs Commission. Unlike in many countries, China's foreign minister is not the most authoritative voice in its diplomatic affairs. Other individuals in the Chinese Communist Party's leadership, including the director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission - a post that Mr Wang continues to hold - have more say over foreign policy formulation. He now returns to a post he held for most of the past decade. One of the leading "wolf warrior" diplomats - who often engage in combative rhetoric against those who cross Beijing - Mr Wang is well-known to the US. In a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in June, he said Washington's "misperceptions toward China" has led to misguided China policies. "China-US relations have gone through ups and downs, and it is necessary for the United States to reflect upon itself, and work with China to jointly manage differences and avoid strategic surprises," he said. Mr Wang majored in Japanese as an undergraduate at Beijing International Studies University and first joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the age of 29. From 2004 to 2007, he served as China's ambassador in Tokyo. He then moved on to lead China's policy-making Taiwan Affairs Office from 2008, until he was appointed foreign minister for the first time in 2013. In 2020, he reacted strongly to Czech senate president Milos Vystrcil's visit to Taiwan, warning that the Chinese government would make the Czechs "pay a heavy price for their short-sighted behaviour and political opportunism". This prompted Prague to hit back, describing Chinese leaders as "unmannered rude clowns". However some observers see Mr Wang's re-appointment as a move to stabilise Chinese diplomacy in a turbulent time - the country's economy is faltering as it emerges from Covid-induced isolation and it's engaged with the US in trying to thaw frosty relations. Story continues "With a series of major international meetings coming up, Xi defaulted to someone who has relationships with many of his foreign counterparts. In times of uncertainty, China wants continuity and predictability in this position," said Rorry Daniels, a senior fellow at the Center for China Analysis. Ian Johnson, a senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, added: "Wang Yi has held the [foreign minister] position before. He's clearly a fireman or caretaker who has been sent in to right the ship to keep Chinese foreign policy going smoothly." "And I think he'll do that because he's a very, very capable official," he said. The Rafale, a popular French export (Ludovic MARIN) France said Wednesday its arms exports hit a record last year, helped by Rafale aircraft sales, in a context of rising global defence spending after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. French weapons exports totalled 27 billion euros ($30 billion) in 2022, up from 11.7 billion euros the previous year, the ministry said in its annual report to parliament, seen by AFP. France is the world's third biggest arms exporting nation, after the United States and Russia. A contract with the United Arab Emirates for 80 Rafale combat aircraft alone contributed more than 16 billion euros to the French total. Indonesia placed a firm order for six Rafale, as did Greece, further cementing the global success of the fighter made by Dassault Aviation. Since then, India has signed a memorandum of understanding for 26 Rafale for navy use, after 36 were delivered for its air force. Greece last year also ordered three French defence and intervention frigates, and signed maintenance and associated weaponry contracts. Poland in December agreed to buy two French observation satellites. "The appreciation of French weaponry goes beyond the Rafale," Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said in the report. "It has become a global reference in a wide capacity range, including missiles, frigates, submarines, artillery, helicopters radars and observation satellites." The French arms exports record comes as global military spending is higher than at any point in the past three decades. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), worldwide military spending in 2022 -- the year that Russia attacked Ukraine -- reached $2.24 trillion, representing 2.2 percent of the world's gross domestic product. Nearly two thirds of French arms exports went to the Middle East, some 23 percent to Europe and eight percent to Asia and Oceania. France's biggest arms customers between 2013 and 2022 were UAE, Egypt, Qatar, India, Saudi Arabia and Greece. NGOs often criticise France for delivering arms to what they say are authoritarian regimes, but the defence ministry said in the report that France always respected its "international commitments" and weapons exports were subject to "very strict rules" and export controls. dab-cf/jh/rl Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty/Reuters Since winning the Best Actor Oscar in 2019, Rami Maleks career has taken a turn for the less Oscar-winning. Perhaps its because he received that honor for the much-maligned Bohemian Rhapsody, a film whose accolades astounded and annoyed critics aplenty. But subsequent roles in films like Bond entry No Time to Die and last years box-office flop Amsterdam were either similarly criticized or, in the case of the latter, far from substantial to start with. When he silently popped up an hour or so into Oppenheimer, then, it seemed like the latest meager appearance from a once-buzzy actor. (By 2019, hed already won an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and an Oscar.) That Malek ends up starring in one of the films most searing, powerful moments came as a gigantic surprise. And it was a welcome oneJ. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) had his own unqualified win, all thanks to Maleks Dr. Hill. As Hill, Malek plays one of the scientists working on the Manhattan project, albeit not with Oppenheimer directly. Instead, he works with Dr. Enrico Fermi (Danny Deferrari) at a lab in Chicago. While Fermis team create the nuclear reactor, both Fermi and Hill remain steadfast about the atomic bomb not being used directly on cities. Despite holding this belief, Maleks Dr. Hill is a man of almost no words. Instead, he mostly appears alongside Fermi, trying to offer Oppenheimer a petition to look at: the Szilard petition, which 70 scientists signed and sent to President Truman in protest of bombing the Japanese. The two times that this occurs, however, Oppenheimer knocks Hills hand away in frustration. Its a humbling role for Malek, as he is seen primarily as a minor annoyance in his scant appearances. For much of the runtime, Maleks Oppenheimer performance was so small as to almost appear like the result of a Faustian bargain. Yes, he could be in one of the guaranteed biggest movies of the year, but only if he agreed to keep his mouth shut the entire time. By the second time he showed up and said nothing, I openly laughed. Unpopular Best Actor winners stay losing, I guess. Story continues Except that in Oppenheimer, this oft-mocked Best Actor honoree reminds us how he managed to collect all those awards in the first place. Malek holds his tongue for much of the film, only to let it rip as the film reaches its denouementset years after he was but a petition-holding no-name in Oppenheimers periphery. Oppenheimers structure includes two parallel timelines: one following the journey of the physicists horrible creation, the other following the events surrounding Lewis Strausss (Robert Downey, Jr.) congressional confirmation hearing. He was up for a Cabinet position in Eisenhowers White House, a long-held dream of his that hes been masterminding for years. The film builds up to revealing why Strauss is such a meaningful figure in Oppenheimers life: Strauss conspired to have Oppenheimer named as a communist, based on his petty dislike for the man. Being that this was the mid-50s, such a claim was among the worst possible accusations a government employee could face. The film establishes this as a thrilling courtroom drama, in which we root for the beleaguered father of the atom bombsomething that, at that point, is otherwise hard to do. We know that much of what hes being accused of is neither relevant to his scientific achievements nor accurate; the assertion that Oppenheimer opposed the hydrogen bomb so as to set the Soviets up for a win against the States was a clear falsity. Strauss himself admits to his aide, played by Alden Ehrenreich, that his great dislike for Oppenheimer encouraged him to help get the scientists government clearance revoked and effectively end his career. But hes a charmer, and public opinion has long soured on Oppenheimer; Strauss confirmation for the Cabinet seems all but assureduntil Dr. Hill is brought in to testify at the hearing. Universal Pictures Hill shows up to quietly, confidently, clearly call out Strauss for his wrongdoing. As the then-chairman of the Federation of American Scientists, his word held cloutso when he said that Strauss unfair damnation of Oppenheimer stoked the ire of the entire scientific community, it meant something. Maleks typically measured cadence lends his performance a rousing gravitas, especially from a character who had up to this point been a distracting piece of wallpaper. Sitting before Congress, Maleks Hill offers a searing indictment of Strauss, the character we have come to learn is Oppenheimers villain, all in a scant two minutes. To tout Malek as a surprise witness at the films turning point feels like the film showing all of its cards in the eleventh hour. Its made more effective by the fact that his presence was felt before, albeit for the opposite reason. As Hill, he was largely a nonentity in Oppenheimers crew. His one big scene, in which he forcefully shames Strauss for manipulating Hills fellow scientists into affirming Oppenheimers alleged communism, is made more effective because of this; if he had more lines as an even smaller part of the large ensemble, perhaps his damning piece of testimony would have felt less of a secret weapon. This heel turn was especially striking, considering that Hills opinion of Oppenheimer seemed less positive beforehand. The physicist had repeatedly rejected Hill, who openly opposed the governments use of Oppenheimers greatest invention. Thanks to Hill, the film tells us, Strauss doesnt get the Cabinet position he so badly wantsa win as much as any in a movie like Oppenheimer. And its the first career win Maleks had in a while too: a moment in the spotlight that elicits gasps, applause, and a deserved heaping of praise. Keep obsessing! Sign up for the Daily Beasts Obsessed newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. Read more of our Oppenheimer coverage HERE. The Oppenheimer Sex Scenes Are Cringey, But Not Because of the Sex Anatomy of a Scene: The Glory and Horror of the Oppenheimer Atomic Bomb Launch What Was That Picasso Painting Doing in Oppenheimer? 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. LOS ANGELES Jay Jenkins, better known to the world as Jeezy, has never shied away from talking about his life in his music. But for the Grammy-nominated, BET Award-winning, platinum-selling hip-hop artist, this next project might be his most personal. The famed artist is letting the public in on his childhood as a military brat, struggles growing up in Georgia and career in the music industry in his new book, Adversity for Sale: Ya Gotta Believe. In the memoir, which is Jenkinss first book, he opens up about the adversities he faced in his personal life, and the lessons he learned that enabled his success as a rapper and businessman. Perhaps most importantly, Jenkins, 45, writes about the role of music in his life and how it helped him become the man he is today. I just always loved music, the Atlanta-based artist told Yahoo News in a sit-down interview. When I was coming up, I loved the Master Ps, the 8Ball and MJGs, Da Brat. My thing was to listen to music before I went to school every morning. A lot of people would listen to it because they liked it. I would listen to it because I was learning things from it. So those were my books, because I hated reading back then. In his new memoir, Jay Jenkins, better known as Jeezy, opens up about adversity and the lessons that enabled his success. (Illustration: Alex Cochran for Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images) And when I stumbled upon Tupac, Jenkins continued, that was a game changer because now you got somebody that you listening to, that actually has values and morals and he stands for something. I aint never seen no shit like that. Nobody was coming to save us Jenkins was born in Columbia, S.C., and spent time growing up in Hawkinsville, a central Georgia town southeast of Atlanta. He later relocated to Okinawa, Japan, because of his father, who was in the military. In the book, Jenkins talks about what traveling away from the hood meant to him. [The military] showed me that there was a world out there that I aint see in my neighborhood. So when I came back [to Georgia], when my parents got divorced, I was trying to convince my friends that there [were] beaches; we had never seen beaches, we had never seen palm trees. We had never seen another race of people [other than Black and white]. Story continues Jenkins arrives at the BET Awards on June 25 at then-Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Even though a life of struggle was all he knew, he had a bigger vision for himself. I always wanted to do business. All my people had factory jobs, nine-to-fives that was paying minimum wage or people working for people, like my mother was cleaning somebodys house. I wanted anything that was going to put me on another level, so that I can create jobs for my people, because thats how I felt, like nobody was coming to save us. Music or nothing As Jenkins grew older, he got into the trap game (selling drugs), where he was making hundreds of thousands of dollars. He tells astonishing stories of dropping thousands each week in Magic City, a popular strip club in Atlanta, alongside cultural icons like Big Meech. But Jenkinss relentless work ethic and grind set him apart. He stayed in the studio and eventually started investing more money into his music. I just knew that there wasnt no other way if I didnt figure it out, he said. I was going to end up in prison or probably dead like the rest of my friends. A lot of my music ... was me just wanting to be heard. I was writing my music as if I wasnt gonna be there anymore. So I was like, This better be the best I ever said. And so thats what Trap or Die and Thug Motivation [released in 2003 and 2005, respectively] was, because I was preparing myself for the worst and when it popped, I understood, and now I was like, OK, I gotta sustain this. So I just carried that same energy into all my next projects. Young Jeezy at a photo session in 2005 in West Los Angeles. (Gregory Bojorquez/Getty Images) Jenkinss career would soon flourish after a meeting with legendary music executive Antonio L.A. Reid at Def Jam Recordings, of which Reid was chairman. Once Jenkins performed for the music mogul in his office, Reid told him: Young Jeezy, whatever you were doing before you came in here today, you dont have to do it anymore. Weve got you from here, according to the memoir. Jenkins attributes a lot of his success to DJs playing his music when he was an up-and-comer, and gave a big shout-out to the late DJ Nando, who would spin his records at Magic City. Known as Young Jeezy at the time, Jenkins signed to Def Jam in 2004, and his major-label debut album, Lets Get It: Thug Motivation 101, was released the following year. It debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 2, selling 172,000 copies in its first week and receiving a platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America. You got to believe Jenkins at a dinner celebrating his upcoming book on July 14 in West Hollywood, Calif. (Jarrod Williams/Getty Images) The title of Jenkinss book has special meaning for the rap artist and now author. You got to believe, he said. You got to believe, at all times, [that] you can bounce back. You got to believe at all times that you can get it done. The book is available for preorder and officially drops on Aug. 8. Jenkins said those who plan to listen in via audiobook will hear his voice narrating the memoir. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Zach Eflin left his start Wednesday against the Miami Marlins after four innings because of left knee discomfort. Eflin, who signed a $40 million, three-year contract during the offseason that was the largest deal for a free agent in Tampa Bay history, was bidding to become the American League's first 12-game winner. Instead, the Rays lost 7-1. Manager Kevin Cash said Eflin was hurt while attempting to field Garrett Hampson's bunt single leading off the fourth. He went to cover the bunt and it just kind of grabbed him, Cash said. I think his cleat got caught a little bit. Don't know much more. The 29-year-old has a history of knee problems and will undergo testing. See how sore he is coming into tomorrow's off day, Cash said. I'm happy that he said something said look its sore.' The last thing we want him to do, with a guy that's had some knee issues in the past, is to go out there and try to compete when it's hurting. Eflin began last season in the Philadelphia Phillies' rotation but made his last start on June 25 and was sidelined by right knee soreness. He returned on Sept. 14 and made seven appearances out of the bullpen with a 1.17 ERA, then had a 3.38 ERA over 10 2/3 innings in 10 postseason relief outings. Eflins 2021 season was cut short by a torn patellar tendon in his right knee that required surgery. He had surgery on both knees in 2016. Tampa Bay has starting pitchers Jeffrey Springs (Tommy John surgery), Drew Rasmussen (elbow ligament internal brace surgery), Josh Fleming (left elbow inflammation) and Shane Baz (Tommy John surgey) on the injured list. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports A large data center company has bought more than $10 million worth of York County property. All in an area primed for new development. York County land records show QTS York I LLC bought three properties in Lake Wylie on July 10 for almost $7 million. The properties combine for more than 230 acres. The largest of the three parcels is 220 acres at 2107 Hands Mill Highway, west of and with frontage on Hands Mill. The property is north of Paraham Road. Also, York County sold property to QTS York II LLC on July 11. That land is connected to the 220 acres at 2107 Hands Mill. The 130-acre property at 5805 Campbell Road is west of Allison Creek Presbyterian Church. It sold for more than $4.3 million. The Overland Park, Kansas address for both sites 360 acres matches the corporate headquarters for QTS Data Centers. According to the company website, QTS has more than 9 million square feet of mega scale data center space in North America and Europe. Project Cobra York County has a potential $1 billion economic development deal, known as Project Cobra, on its table. The county hasnt identified the incoming company by name. Often before final county incentive approvals, contracts can dictate that the company wont be named. Last fall, the county had an offer to sell the 2157 Hands Mill Highway property to a then unnamed buyer in a deal listed as Project Cobra. The deal, county records show, was part of an economic development project. York County plans to sell almost 200 acres in Lake Wylie. Heres what we know so far Project Cobra didnt appear in county documents again until this summer when the county began the approval process for a tax incentive agreement. Those June documents list Project Cobra as a data center coming from an out-of-state company. They dont list the location for the project. York County Council has approved two of three votes needed for the incentive deal negotiated with the unnamed company. A public hearing and one final reading are needed. Councils next scheduled meeting, barring any special called one ahead of time, comes Aug. 21. York County could strike a $1 billion deal, with Project Cobra on the table The most recent public documents on the project show an anticipated investment of $1 billion and a dozen new jobs. The company would be required to invest $900 million within eight years for the agreed upon tax incentives. The International Committee of the Red Cross will reduce funding for humanitarian needs in Ukraine. This was stated by Iryna Vereschchuk, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, during the panel discussion Expansion and Synergy of the Activities of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and Caritas Ukraine to Respond to the Needs of Ukraine on 26 July. "Ukraine can count less and less on the help of international organisations, so public organisations should work more actively inside the country," Vereshchuk stated. The International Committee of the Red Cross has already informed the Cabinet of Ministers about the reduction of funding for humanitarian needs in Ukraine. "We will not be able to count on them, and therefore we must look for someone who will help us within the state," Vereshchuk said. She called on public organisations to actively cooperate with Kherson Oblast, as well as Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and other six oblasts, which are included in the decree 309 of the Cabinet of Ministers. According to the document, the list also includes the territories of Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Chernihiv Oblasts and the city of Kyiv. "I will ask you to work with vulnerable categories of the population in the winter," the minister added, addressing the public organisations. According to her, in addition to food, Ukraine can also expect an energy crisis. Ukrainians are also expecting problems with fuel supply. "Experts say that this winter will be harder than the previous one, because then we had certain reserves. The enemy targeted our [power ed.] stations... they are preparing to do so this winter," Iryna Vereshchuk concluded. The International Committee of the Red Cross has been repeatedly criticised for inaction during the war in Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Detroit-based DTE Energy, which provides electricity to 2.3 million people in southeast Michigan, will be able to go forward with a plan to retire its coal-fired Monroe Power Plant in 2032 after receiving approval from a state regulatory board Wednesday. The Michigan Public Service Commission signed off on DTE's integrated resource plan (IRP) 2-0 during its meeting Wednesday morning, with Chair Dan Scripps and Commissioner Katherine Peretick voting in favor of the plan. Commissioner Alessandra Carreon abstained from voting after noting she had only been appointed to the commission in late June. In its first draft of the IRP, the company had initially proposed to keep the Monroe Power Plant up and running until 2035, but agreed to accelerate the plant's closure in a settlement which DTE, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office and a bevy of environmental conservation groups all signed off on. An aerial view of DTE Energy's huge, coal-fired Monroe power plant which is the second-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in the U.S. Michigan law requires utility companies to submit IRPs to the MPSC for review and approval at least once every five years. The plans are roadmaps for how the utility companies forecast their energy generation over the next 20 years. Before Wednesday, DTE's most recent IRP was approved by the commission in 2020. The settlement will see DTE retire two coal-burning units at the Monroe Power Plant, units 3 and 4, by 2028, and have units 1 and 2 retired by 2032. Before proposing the IRP approved Wednesday, DTE had first planned to phase out coal-burning for energy generation by 2040. Environmental concerns: Huge amounts of hazardous materials pass through Midwest every day. How safe are residents? The retirement of plants that use coal-burning to generate energy is seen as a key tool in the pursuit of making Michigan a "carbon-neutral" state when it comes to energy generation. Getting to carbon neutrality generally means getting carbon emissions as close to zero as possible, and then using various "offsets" projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as planting trees or increased efficiencies at power plants to address the remainder. Story continues The Attorney Generals office says the Monroe Power Plant is the third-largest CO2 polluter in the U.S. and moving up its closure from the original 2040 target will result in an estimated 21.2 million fewer tons of CO2 emissions. Democratic lawmakers in Michigan have introduced legislation which targets the state being a carbon-free state for energy generation by 2035 among the most ambitious goals in the country but the bills remain in early stages and sponsors have stressed that the legislation could be amended as more feedback is gathered. In addition to moving up the retirement of the Monroe Power Plant, the IRP approved calls Wednesday for: DTE to spend $135 million on converting the Belle River Power Plant from using coal to gas by 2028 to handle peak energy demands. The Monroe Plant, along with the Belle River Power Plant in St. Clair County, are DTE's last remaining coal-fired plants. The two currently produce 40% of the overall power the utility provides to its 2.3 million electric customers in southeast Michigan. DTE to pursue any state and federal grants made available for the coal plant retirements, so long as they represent savings for ratepayers. DTE to provide $38 million in donations, including $30 million toward reducing low-income customers arrearages, or money owed, and $8 million to go to organizations assisting in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for low-income customers. Starting in Oct. 2024, DTE will have to make annual public disclosures for political donations of at least $5,000 made from Oct. 1 to Aug. 31 of the previous year. This includes contributions made by DTE entities to tax exempt entities, like 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 nonprofits. 501(c)4 nonprofits are often social welfare organizations that can engage in lobbying and weigh in on pending political issues. DTE to increase the distributed generation cap from 1% to 6%. Distributed generation projects, like solar panels, allow individuals to generate their own energy for usage. By increasing the cap, more ratepayers would be able to pursue these projects. DTE will securitize over $1 billion in assets represented by the coal-burning assets at the Monroe and Belle River plants upon retirement. This means the company can convert the value of the current assets being phased out into securities that investors can purchase shares of. In a media call earlier this month, Trevor Lauer, president and chief operating officer of DTE Electric, said the plan will drive $11 billion of investments over the next 10 years in the clean energy space. Additionally, Lauer said DTE will reduce future costs to customers by a projected $2.5 billion by saving $1.4 billion by retiring the Monroe Power Plant early and a mix of tax credits for building renewable energy, reduced operating costs and reduced fuel costs associated with the closing of the plant. "The settlement represents a number of major advancements that we were looking to achieve in this IRP proceeding, the most significant being locking in the retirement of the third-largest climate polluter in the country, the Monroe coal plant," said Shannon Fisk, director of State Electric Sector Advocacy at environmental law nonprofit Earthjustice, during a briefing on the settlement. Free Press business reporter Adrienne Roberts contributed to this article. Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @arpanlobo. Become a subscriber today. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan commission approves DTE's closing Monroe Power Plant sooner A report by the British Foreign Affairs Committee faulted the British government for a "dismal understanding" of the threat posed by the Wagner Mercenary Group. File Photo by Arkady Budnitsky/UPI July 26 (UPI) -- A report released by the British Foreign Affairs Committee released Wednesday found that the British government underestimated the power Wagner mercenary group. The committee's report found that the government was "remarkably complacent" about states employing the services of Private Military Companies, like Wagner, for "malign purposes" while calling for a coordinated response to stem the growth of the industry. "The committee found that, for nearly 10 years, the government has underplayed and underestimated the Wagner Network's activities, as well as the security implications for Europe and its significant expansion in Africa," the committee said in a statement. It described Wagner as a "decentralized network of individuals and commercial entities, which is active in several countries and for which the 'membership' is not always clear," and named multiple individuals who are linked to Wagner and its front companies while calling for an immediate assessment of whether they can face sanctions. "The report urges the government to move faster and harder in sanctioning Wagner-linked actors and consider action against civilian enablers and corporate 'frontmen,'" the committee said. Wagner and its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, which had been employed by Russia to take part in its invasion of Ukraine, last month led a brief revolt against Moscow in opposition to a decision to force the group to sign deals with the government. File Photo by Press service of Prigozhin/UPI The committee painted a picture of Wagner's actions going "beyond conventional military activities," including "political advisory services, electoral services, media campaigns, mineral extraction and guarding/security services." Wagner and its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, which had been employed by Russia to take part in its invasion of Ukraine, last month led a brief revolt against Moscow in opposition to a decision to force the group to sign deals with the government. The committee report urged the British government to sanction Wagner members and its affiliates and take action to stem the industry of Private Military Companies. File Photo by Arkady Budnitsky/ UPI The committee also faulted the British government for failing to disrupt the activities of Wagner and other "disreputable companies," that it called "detrimental to the United Kingdom's interests." Story continues "In the 10 years since the Wanger Network's formation, the U.K. Government has lacked a coherent strategy and efforts to meaningfully tackle Wagner have been non-existent. This has allowed the network to grow, spread its tentacles deep into Africa, and exploit countries on their knees due to conflict or instability," said Committee chair Alicia Kearns. Kearns added the committee was "deeply concerned by the government's dismal lack of understanding of Wagner's hold beyond Europe, in particular their grip on African states" where she pointed out a pattern of Wagner militia filling power vacuums. "Where the West moves out, Wagner moves in, seeing opportunity in suffering and profit in chaos. Today's report lays bare the activities of the network in seven key countries, where there is clear evidence of Wagner operations. The U.K. must provide an alternative for countries that are struggling; those who feel abandoned by the developed world and see the Wagner Network as a provider of security," Kearns said. Hunter Bidens legal team denied Tuesday night that they lied to court officials to get filings from a senior Republican lawmaker removed from the public docket, blaming the dispute on an unintentional miscommunication on the eve of their clients plea hearing. Their denials came in response to US District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who is presiding over the case and threatened them with sanctions amid accusations that a member of their staff misrepresentedwho she worked for while successfully requesting the removal of the GOP filing. The dispute appears to stem from an unfortunate and unintentional miscommunication between a staff member at our firm and employees of the Court, Hunter Bidens lawyers told the judge. Hunter Biden is set to plead guilty Wednesday morning to two federal tax misdemeanors, for failing to pay taxes on time in 2017 and 2018. The plea deal will also resolve a felony gun charge if Hunter Biden abides by court-imposed rules, according to court filings. CNN has previously reported that prosecutors are expected to recommend no jail time. The court filing at the center of Tuesdays dizzying dispute came from Rep. Jason Smith, the Republican chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. He sought to weigh in on the case, encouraged Noreika to consider recent claims from IRS whistleblowers that the probe into President Joe Bidens son was tainted by political interference, and submitted transcripts of their testimony. The Defendant appears to have benefited from political interference which calls into question the propriety of the investigation of the U.S. Attorneys Office, Smiths attorney wrote in a court filing, which went on to say, it is critical that the Court consider the Whistleblower Materials before determining whether to accept the Plea Agreement. Noreika has the power to reject the plea agreement that was negotiated between Hunter Biden and the Justice Department, though that would be a surprising and unexpected move. The House committee and Smith are not parties in the case. Story continues Sanctions threat After Smiths so-called amicus motion was filed on the public docket, a member of Hunter Bidens legal team called the court clerk and represented that she worked with Smiths attorney and requested the amicus materials be taken down, according to a lengthy order from the judge, which was posted Tuesday afternoon. The judge, who said she consulted with the clerks office to figure out what happened, said, It appears that the caller misrepresented her identity and who she worked for in an attempt to improperly convince the Clerks Office to remove the amicus materials from the docket. The judges timeline of events apparently contradicts some of the explanations given by Hunter Bidens lawyers. Earlier in the day, Hunter Bidens lawyers claimed the clerk took Smiths filing down on their own accord, according to court filings. They maintain that Smiths filing violated legal rules by disclosing Hunter Bidens personal tax information and that they called the clerk to inquire about sealing the material. Smiths committee heard testimony from two IRS agents who helped lead the probe. They claimed Justice Department officials undercut their attempts to scrutinize Biden family members, slow-walked requests for subpoenas and search warrants, and blocked the US attorney who oversaw the probe from bringing the felony tax evasion charges that they had recommended. The relevant parties including US attorney David Weiss, Attorney General Merrick Garland and other senior Justice Department officials publicly refuted the whistleblowers claims of politicization, which included alleged incidents dating back to 2020 when Donald Trump was president. Weiss, a Trump appointee, has offered to publicly testify about the matter to Congress this fall. An unintentional miscommunication Responding the judges threat of sanctions, Hunter Bidens lawyers argued that they werent warranted because there was no misrepresentation made to the court, and that the entire incident was completely unintentional. Jessica Bengels, a staffer of the law firm representing Hunter Biden who had reached out to the court earlier on Tuesday, said in an affidavit submitted to the judge that she never told anyone that she was working with attorneys representing the Republican committee chairman. I am completely confident that I never indicated that I was calling from Mr. Kittilas firm or that I worked with him in any way, Bengels said in the affidavit, referring to Smith lawyer Ted Kittila. Bengels said she had two phone calls with two court clerks, and said there may have been some confusion between the officials that led to a mistaken understanding about her identity. According to earlier court filings, a court clerk said their office had been told by Bengels that she worked with Kittila. It appears likely that the matter will come up at Wednesdays highly anticipated plea hearing. Also on Tuesday, the right-wing Heritage Foundation, which isnt a party in the case, urged Noreika to postpone Wednesdays plea hearing so she could obtain additional information directly from the Justice Department that might address the lingering questions about whether there was any political interference in the probe. This headline and story have been updated with additional developments. CNNs Tierney Sneed contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com An aerial photograph released by the Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions shows 60-70 pilot whales gathering before scores stranded at Cheynes Beach (-) More than 50 pilot whales died after stranding themselves on a beach in Western Australia, but authorities said Wednesday they were "optimistic" that the other 45 whales in the pod could survive. The pod of almost 100 long-finned pilot whales was spotted in shallow water off Cheynes Beach, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) southeast of Perth on Tuesday. Fifty-one of them died overnight, despite the efforts of volunteers and staff from the state's Parks and Wildlife Service. Late on Wednesday afternoon, incident controller Peter Hartley said the surviving whales were being monitored and, once they have been assessed as being strong enough, they would be released. Volunteers in kayaks will help to herd them past the rocky part of the coast and out into deeper water, he added. "We're optimistic -- we've got to be optimistic in this game," he said. "It's highly stressful for all the people here -- volunteers and staff -- and you've got to have something to hold onto." A spokesperson said the Parks and Wildlife Service had been "overwhelmed with hundreds of offers of help" but that it had enough volunteers and the public should "stay away" from the beach "for safety reasons". "The priority focus of the Incident Management Team is to ensure the safety of staff and volunteers and the welfare of the whales," they said. "The response zone has a range of hazards, including large, distressed and potentially sick whales, sharks, waves, heavy machinery and vessels." Mass strandings of pilot whales are not uncommon in Australia and New Zealand. Last October, around 500 pilot whales died when they beached on the remote Chatham Islands in New Zealand. Scientists do not fully understand why mass strandings occur, but pilot whales -- which can grow to more than six metres (20 feet) long -- are highly sociable, so they may follow pod-mates who stray into danger. Story continues Bec Wellard, a marine mammal scientist at Project Orca, said the reasons for whale strandings were still not known. "We still don't know why -- if we did, we could perhaps do more to prevent it," she told AFP. "But with pilot whales, they frequently strand en masse -- an individual might be ill or in trouble and the rest of the pod follows them -- that can lead them to strand." She said that, because of the pilot whales' "strong family bonds", it was important to try to re-float them together. But she added that, if the surviving whales' health is compromised, an assessment needs to be made as to whether efforts to refloat them "could just be prolonging their suffering". sm/arb/dva SOMERSWORTH Greater Seacoast Community Health has announced that three years after becoming the first community health center in New Hampshire to train medical residents as part of the Portsmouth Family Medicine Residency Program, it has welcomed its first associate residency program director and its fourth cohort of family medicine residents. Michael Samaan, MD, is the new associate residency program director at Greater Seacoast Community Health. Michael Samaan, MD, the associate program director, has two decades of experience in family medicine at hospitals and practices in Alaska and Texas. He also served on the faculty of the Alaska Family Medicine Residency and is a Marine Corps veteran. In his faculty and administrative role, he will he will oversee residents training and supervise them directly in the clinical setting. Samaan also sees patients as a primary care provider at Goodwin Community Health in Somersworth, one of two community health centers along with Families First Health Center in Portsmouth that comprises the Greater Seacoast network. I have always felt that the patient/physician relationship should be rooted in a genuine feeling of mutual respect, with both parties able to express their frustrations and hopes and to work together in achieving health related goals, Samaan said. A similar relationship can be applied to the medical education environment in preparing new doctors to enter the extremely challenging and dynamic practice of family medicine. Resident physicians joining Greater Seacoast Community Health this summer are, from left to right, Samuel Backman, Antara Chakraborty, Charelle Allen and Anna Byrne. Joining the program this summer are new resident physicians Samuel Backman, MD, a graduate of Saba University School of Medicine in the Caribbean; Charelle Allen, MD, from St. Georges University School of Medicine in Grenada; Anna Byrne, DO, a graduate of Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine; and Antara Chakraborty, from Calcutta National Medical College in India. The 12 residents based at Goodwin serve more than 2,500 patients as one of six primary-care teams at Goodwin Community Health and Families First Health Center. In addition, they complete rotations in the prenatal, mobile health, medication-assisted recovery and psychiatric programs at Greater Seacoast and at Portsmouth Regional Hospital and local specialty practices. Supervising the new residents along with Samaan are Greater Seacoast Community Health Chief Medical Officer Joann Buonomano, MD, and Portsmouth Regional Hospital core faculty and community physicians, including Nancy Braese, DO; David Gagnon, MD; and Robert Mathes, MD. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Greater Seacoast Community Health residency: new associate director Three Belleville City Council members agreed a proposal to allow residents to keep backyard chickens should be put on the ballot for a citywide vote but the plan was blocked. Instead, the Ordinance and Legal Review Committee voted 6-1 Tuesday night to ask the city attorney to draft an ordinance for the committee to consider next month. This ordinance would establish the regulations people would have to follow if they want to legally raise chickens in the city. If the committee approves the draft ordinance in August, the full, 16-member council could vote on the plan in September. One step at a time, were moving forward, you know, said Andrew Tufto after the meeting. Hes one of the residents leading the effort to allow residents to raise chickens in their backyards. Last month, the Public Health and Housing Committee supported the backyard chicken proposal and forwarded the plan to the Ordinance and Legal Review Committee. In 2015, the housing committee rejected a request. Swansea approved an ordinance for backyard chickens in 2016. Chickens also are allowed in Collinsville, Edwardsville and Shiloh. In Madison County, residents can seek permission from the zoning board to keep chickens in neighborhoods. In St. Clair County and OFallon, chickens are not allowed in residential neighborhoods but they are allowed in rural residential and agricultural areas. Belleville resident Steve Meister suggested the ordinance committee members ask the full council to put the important question on the ballot in Belleville. To me something like this should be put on the ballot. When the election comes around, put yes or no, he said. Ward 7 Alderman Phil Elmore concurred. Let everybody vote, I dont see whats the harm in that, he told the committee. I think this is a lifestyle issue and as a lifestyle issue, everyone that lives in Belleville should have a fair voice and whats more fair than a citywide election. Elmores motion for a nonbinding referendum on the issue was defeated, 4-3. Story continues Elmore and Ward 2 Alderwoman Carmen Duco and Ward 3 Alderman Kent Randle voted in support of a referendum. Voting against it were Ward 1 Alderman Bryan Whitaker, Ward 5 Alderwoman Shelly Schaefer, Ward 6 Alderwoman Mary Stiehl and Ward 8 Alderwoman Kara Osthoff. If the advisory referendum request had advanced to the full council and was approved, the earliest it could be placed on a ballot would be for the March primary, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections. On the motion to ask for a draft ordinance to be written, Randle cast the lone no vote. Here are highlights of the requirements that the housing committee suggested for the draft ordinance: Fifty permits would be issued but Scott Tyler, director of the citys housing department, said this number could be increased. Residents could have a maximum of six female chickens, or hens. Roosters, known for their loud, early morning calls, would not be allowed. Only residents in owner-occupied homes would be allowed to get a permit. No commercial egg sales would be allowed in homes. Homes would be inspected each year. The annual fee would be $25. Residents would not be allowed to butcher chickens in their homes. Chicken ordinance debate Beverly Meister told the ordinance committee members they should not approve the backyard chicken proposal because chickens belong in the country. She said her daughter lives on a farm and she can smell the manure from chickens being raised by her neighbors. And when this weather gets to be 100 degrees, the odor is not good, said Meister, whose husband suggested the referendum plan. A website called Chickens and Chicks Info has details about backyard chickens and suggests people clean chicken coops every week to control the smell. Louis Holm, who wants the city to allow backyard chickens, told the ordinance committee that the waste produced by a chicken is less than a single dog and dog owners dont have to pay to have a permit each year. Megan McCarron also spoke in favor of the backyard chicken request. Im a nurse, she said. I have a child. I have zero health concerns about my capabilities as a responsible adult and parent to keep my child safe from any chicken diseases. Tufto gave the committee several pages with what he said had about 500 signatures of people who support the proposal to allow people to keep chickens. Tufto said there are people in Belleville who currently have chickens and that hasnt heard of any problems. We would like regulations, just not an all-out ban, he told the committee. Also, the supporters have created a Facebook page called Belleville, IL Backyard Chickens. It has over 500 members. Qualities needed for school board In seeking a prospective school board member, the qualities and characteristics should be, or in a stronger sense, shall be, honesty, open mindedness, respect for and devotion to the rule of law, willingness to work productively with each other and the superintendent, ability to make compromises and take others viewpoints into consideration, and of course, above all, keep the students safety and quality of learning paramount. There should not be any need or requirement for the candidate to gain the endorsement of any political party, nor should there be any political bias of same in conducting school board affairs, or intention to promote political agendas. Likewise, there should be no demonizing of students and family lifestyle choices, or attempts to put forth policies that seek to suppress lifestyle choices or cultural learning opportunities. David P. Sisk, Richland Maier working to update city codes Did you know that thanks to Kurt Maier, candidate for Richland City Council Position 6, if you have an overdue library book, you wont be issued a citation or be arrested. That is because Kurt Maier spearheaded the effort through his leadership on the Richland Library Board to decriminalize overdue books. Did you know until recently the staff at the Richland Public Library could not lock the library doors even in the event of an emergency such as an active shooter. Kurt Maier spent much of his tenure on the Richland Public Library Board working to remedy that problem. Kurt is passionate about updating the Richland Municipal Code to bring it into alignment with current needs. He is focused on revising outdated codes that hamper the citys ability to address problems such as the rising cost of housing and an increasing homeless population. His thoughtful analysis of issues, his solutions-based approach to tackling problems, and his commitment to community service make him the ideal candidate for City Council. Kurt Maier is a leader who will listen. Please join us in voting for Kurt Maier for Richland City Council. Story continues Karen A. and Kenneth A. Buxton, Richland 3 reasons to boot 3 off school board I support the recall of Richland School Board members Semi Bird, Audra Byrd and Kari Williams because I believe: Public officials should demonstrate prudence in their actions. The rushed vote to make masks optional in the Richland schools demonstrated none. These three blindsided other board members, the administrators and other employees, as well as the parents and students of the district. That is not good governance. Public officials should uphold their oath of office and the rule of law. These three chose to disobey the laws of Washington. Private citizens may choose to engage in civil disobedience when they dont agree with a law; Bird, Byrd and Williams tried to use a government body (the school district) to protest a legal statewide mandate, violating the Open Public Meetings Act in the process. Public officials should be fiscally responsible. They have made it clear they also want the taxpayers to pay for the legal fees they incurred fighting the recall efforts. For these reasons, I am voting Yes on each of the recall measures. Benita L. Brown, Richland These 3 will stop Richland drama Do you want the drama of the Richland School Board to stop? Me, too! Thats why Im voting for Chelsie Beck, Jill Oldson and Katrina Waters. Lets get things back to normal. Just remember B.O.W. on this ballot and again in November, and we wont be bothered by ridiculous headlines about our school board going forward. Barbara Chen, Richlalnd Inspired by the effortless way humans handle objects without seeing them, a team led by engineers at the University of California San Diego has developed a new approach that enables a robotic hand to rotate objects solely through touch, without relying on vision. Photo courtesy of Binghao Huang July 25 (UPI) -- A research team led by engineers with the University of California San Diego has shown off a robotic hand that can rotate an object in its palm using touch-based sensors rather than by sight. "The work could aid in the development of robots that can manipulate objects in the dark," the researchers said in a news release. It was not immediately clear why in the world the researchers would want to create robots that could work in the dark. The researchers presented their study at a conference in South Korea. "Using their technique, the researchers built a robotic hand that can smoothly rotate a wide array of objects, from small toys, cans and even fruits and vegetables, without bruising or squishing them," the news release reads. In total, the functionality of the robotic hand is dependent on just $192 worth of sensors. Each sensor, at a cost of $12, simply relays whether the object is being touched or not -- which is enough information for software to rotate the hand. The software was trained using Reinforcement Learning, a paradigm of machine learning in the artificial intelligence field. "What makes this approach unique is that it relies on many low-cost, low-resolution touch sensors that use simple, binary signals -- touch or no touch -- to perform robotic in-hand rotation," the news release reads. The researchers said that using the low-cost sensors provides benefits over much pricier, high-resolution touch sensors, beyond the cost. "We show that we don't need details about an object's texture to do this task," said Xiaolong Wang, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at UC San Diego. "We just need simple binary signals of whether the sensors have touched the object or not, and these are much easier to simulate and transfer to the real world." Wang said in-hand manipulation of objects is very difficult for machines. The researchers began the paper with a simple analogy that shows just how difficult the task of rotating an object is for machines and why research into it is so important. Story continues "Imagine we are washing the used pan in the kitchen after dinner. Suddenly, the power is cut off unexpectedly, and all the lights go out. What would we do? Most of us may stop the work, put down the pan in the sink, and then probably find our phone in the pocket to light up the way," the study reads. "Simple as it may seem, this sequence of actions actually requires precise execution of in-hand dexterous manipulation in the dark, where we receive no vision input for guidance. Even in normal situations with lights on, the manipulation of objects in hand often comes with heavy occlusions." Consequences of the Russian attack on Odesa Oblast on July 24 During Russia's attack on the port of Reni in Odesa Oblast in the early hours of July 24, a Romanian dry cargo ship came under fire, the country's foreign ministry stated on July 25, according to local outlet HotNews. The Romanian Consulate General in Odesa found that, according to preliminary data, the ship suffered minor damage. No Romanian citizens were injured and the ship was able to leave port. The port of Reni is located on the border with Romania. Ukrainian authorities said that as a result of an attack by Iranian kamikaze drones on the port infrastructure of Odesa Oblast on July 24, a hangar with grain was destroyed and tanks for storing other types of cargo were damaged. Seven people were injured. After Russia's attack, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis warned of serious security risks in the Black Sea. Bucharest has also joined the security guarantees for Ukraine offered by the G7 countries. Read also: Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine As part of its latest downsizing effort, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presidential campaign fired a staffer who over the weekend promoted an online video that superimposed Nazi imagery over DeSantis face. The staffer, Nate Hochman, had retweeted the video over the weekend before he deleted the post, a screenshot shared with NBC News showed. Hochman, a communications staffer who has written for The New York Times, National Review and other outlets, is considered by some to be an up-and-coming thinker on the right. Nate Hochman is no longer with the campaign, a campaign official said. And we will not be commenting on him further. The official did not say whether the retweet factored in the decision, which was first reported by Semafor. Hochman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hochman shared a video from the Twitter account @desantiscams that criticized former President Donald Trump and concluded with an image of DeSantis standing in front of a sonnenrad a symbol co-opted by the Nazis and promoted in modern times by fascist sympathizers as soldiers marched by. Republican strategist Luke Thompson, a regular critic of the DeSantis campaign on Twitter, first noted the video. The account has shared similarly styled pro-DeSantis videos since it launched in March. Last year, The Dispatch reported that Hochman participated in a Twitter Space with white nationalist Nick Fuentes, saying Fuentes is probably a better influence than Ben Shapiro on young men who might otherwise be conservative. (Hochman later said he had said some "really stupid things" that he did not "actually believe.") The DeSantis campaign has fired more than 40% of its original staff within months of having launched following concerns over its spending and large staff footprint. In total, 38 staffers have been cut since the campaigns launch in late May, including at least 26 on Tuesday afternoon. Politico first reported the latest round of cuts. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Here's a roundup of recent incidents and announcements from Ventura County agencies: Driver arrested after head-on Hwy 126 crash A 60-year-old Ojai man was arrested on suspicion of a drug-related DUI after a head-on crash on Highway 126 west of Fillmore Monday that caused serious injuries to two Lancaster residents. The collision was reported shortly before 2 p.m. east of Pyle Road, between Fillmore and Santa Paula, California Highway Patrol officials said. The Ojai man had been driving a 2018 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck eastbound when he traveled into oncoming traffic, according to the CHP. The Ojai driver's truck hit a 2006 Chevrolet pickup truck traveling westbound. The 43-year-old Lancaster man had been driving with a Lancaster woman, 49, in the passenger seat. The woman was trapped after the head-on collision and Ventura County firefighters had to extricate her from the truck. Both of the Lancaster residents were taken to Ventura County Medical Center with major injuries. On Tuesday, the two were said to be in stable condition, said CHP Officer Jorge Alfaro. The Ojai driver suffered minor injuries, authorities said. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI, with CHP officials saying drug-related impairment was believed to be a factor in the crash. A third vehicle, a Dodge ProMaster cargo van, had been traveling westbound and was hit by debris from the initial crash. The driver wasn't injured and his passenger suffered minor injuries. Both are from Ventura. The incident fully closed the highway in both directions for about 30 minutes, Alfaro said. At least one lane in each direction was later opened, with traffic alternating at times, as the CHP's on-scene investigation continued for a couple hours. The accident remains under investigation. Witnesses are asked to call the Ventura-area CHP office at 805-662-2640. Santa Paula man accused of having drug lab in vehicle A Santa Paula man suspected of operating a drug lab in his vehicle was arrested in Goleta on Friday. A 24-year-old Santa Paula man was arrested in Goleta Friday after authorities found a suspected drug lab in his vehicle. Story continues Santa Barbara County Sheriff's deputies had responded to the 5500 block of Hollister Avenue after a caller reported someone passed out in a vehicle in the parking lot of a business around 6:30 p.m. Deputies arrested the man on suspicion of DUI after determining he had driven to the business. A subsequent search of the vehicle found what authorities called a clandestine drug manufacturing lab with methamphetamine, heroin, LSD, MDMA and psilocybin, sheriff's officials said, as well as evidence of drug sales and manufacturing. A Santa Paula man suspected of operating a drug lab in his vehicle allegedly manufactured methamphetamine, heroin, LSD, MDMA and other drugs, authorities said. The man was arrested on suspicion of felony drug-related violations and misdemeanor DUI and possession of burglary tools. He was later released on bail, the agency reported. Former high school employee sentenced in sex crimes case A former Westlake High School employee who sent explicit photos of himself to female students was sentenced last week to a year in county jail. Thomas Charles Ballas, 34, will also be required to register as a sex offender, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office reported. Thomas Ballas The Westlake Village resident had pleaded guilty in June to two felony counts of sending harmful matter to a minor. He also admitted to the special allegations of taking advantage of a position of trust and that the victim was vulnerable. Ballas had been a former theater technical specialist at the school and had worked closely with the choir program, prosecutors said. In December, a student reported that Ballas was sending her explicit photos of himself via Snapchat, a social media app. Screenshots of the conversation show Ballas and the victim discussed that she was underage, according to the DA's office. He was arrested on Dec. 2 was fired by the Conejo Valley Unified School District after his arrest. Ventura County Sheriff's detectives learned of a second victim who confirmed she had also received explicit photos of Ballas when she was in high school, prosecutors said. One of the felony counts pertains to the second victim. Because of the crimes involved, Ballas's sex offender registration will be for his lifetime and his name will appear on the California Megan's Law website, according to the DA's office. He is due to report to Ventura County jail on Aug. 7. Thousands of pills seized, 16-year-old arrested Police in Port Hueneme arrested a teen suspected of selling drugs as authorities confiscated thousands of pills and other evidence during a search last week. Port Hueneme police seized thousands of pills and other evidence during a warrant search on Friday. A 16-year-old was arrested. At around 2 p.m. Friday, authorities executed a search warrant in the 2500 block of Spinnaker Avenue for suspected narcotics sales and weapons violations, the Port Hueneme Police Department said in a news release. The search was assisted by special enforcement investigators from the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. Police found about 2,000 Farmapram pills, a version of Xanax made and sold in Mexico and believed to have been illegally smuggled into the U.S. They also seized about 1,500 counterfeit oxycodone pills suspected to contain fentanyl, a loaded, unregistered 9 mm handgun and more than $4,000 cash, officials said. The department estimated the street value of the drugs at about $60,000. The teen was arrested on suspicion of narcotics sales and firearms violations and booked into the county juvenile hall facility. Items may be updated. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Roundup: Driver arrested in Highway 126 head-on crash, more news Rudy Giuliani. Leah Millis/Reuters After the 2020 election, Rudy Giuliani baselessly claimed two Georgia election workers manipulated ballots. One of the workers, Ruby Freeman, said she lost her "name" and "reputation" as a result. On Wednesday, Giuliani said in a filing he's not contesting the fact his statements were false. Former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani is admitting he made false statements about two Georgia election workers who allege he defamed them in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. The election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, filed a defamation lawsuit against Giuliani in December 2021, accusing the former mayor of New York City of sharing a video alleging the two manipulated ballots during the 2020 election. In a two-page filing on Tuesday, Giuliani said he "does not contest" he made statements following the election about Moss and Freeman that "carry meaning that is defamatory per se." The filing says Giuliani is only conceding to making false statements for the purposes of litigation strategy so that he can save some money. He still plans to keep arguing that his statements about Freeman and Moss were protected by the First Amendment and didn't cause them any damage. "Defendant Giuliani is desirous to avoid unnecessary expenses in litigating what he believes to be unnecessary disputes," the filing says. Freeman, one of the two election workers, previously said in a video testimony to the House Select Committee on January 6 that attacks from former President Donald Trump and Giuliani changed how she lives her life. "I've lost my name and I've lost my reputation. I've lost my sense of security all because a group of people starting with Number 45 and his ally Rudy Giuliani decided to scapegoat me and my daughter, Shaye, to push their own lies about how the presidential election was stolen," Freeman said. Giuliani's spokesperson Ted Goodman told Insider that, despite conceding that he made false statements in the filing, the former mayor still plans to further contest the defamation suit. "Giuliani did not acknowledge that the statements were false but did not contest it in order to move on to the portion of the case that will permit a motion to dismiss," Goodman said. "This is a legal issue, not a factual issue. Those out to smear the mayor are ignoring the fact that this stipulation is designed to get to the legal issues of the case." Read the original article on Business Insider Rudy Giuliani admits he made false statements that two election workers mishandled 2020 election ballots Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump's former lawyer, has conceded he made "false" statements by accusing two Georgia election workers of ballot fraud. But in a court filing, Mr Giuliani also maintained that his statements were protected by freedom of speech. Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss testified to Congress last year that they received threats over the false claims. The ex-New York City mayor could still face sanctions from the court, including legal fees and costs. The lawsuit was filed in 2021 by Ms Freeman and Ms Moss, who are mother and daughter respectively. The legal action notes that Mr Giuliani and others shared a video that wrongly claimed to show the two altering ballots while they were working for the Fulton County Board of Elections in 2020. In a two-page concession, filed on Tuesday night, Mr Giuliani said his statements were "false" and admitted his remarks "carry meaning that is defamatory per se". Mr Giuliani, though, argued that his statements were "constitutionally protected" under the First Amendment of the US Constitution. He did not acknowledge in the filing causing any damages to the mother and daughter. His lawyer, Joseph Sibley, told the court: "While Giuliani does not admit to plaintiffs' allegations, he - for purposes of this litigation only - does not contest the factual allegations." Ted Goodman, a political adviser to Mr Giuliani, said in a statement: "This is a legal issue, not a factual issue. "Those out to smear the mayor are ignoring the fact that this stipulation is designed to get to the legal issues of the case." Even after Fulton County and Georgia officials refuted accusations against Ms Freeman and Ms Moss, Mr Giuliani continued to share false claims that they had pulled thousands of fraudulent ballots from a suitcase and fed them through voting machines. The mother and daughter testified last year to the US House of Representatives select committee that investigated the Capitol riot how the voter fraud claims left them living in fear. Michael J Gottlieb, a lawyer for Ms Freeman and Ms Moss, welcomed Mr Giuliani's filing. He said it affirms what they knew - that the two "honourably performed their civic duties in the 2020 presidential election in full compliance with the law; and the allegations of election fraud he and former President Trump made against them have been false since day one". Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trumps former personal attorney, conceded in a court filing Tuesday that he made defamatory statements concerning two Georgia poll workers. Fulton Country election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Moss sued Giuliani for defamation in December 2021. They claim the former New York City mayor falsely asserted that the pair committed election fraud to hurt Trump in Georgia in 2020. In the new filing, Giuliani said one of the reasons for the stipulation was to avoid unnecessary expenses in litigating what he believes to be unnecessary disputes. While Giuliani conceded he made defamatory and false statements, he did not admit those statements caused damage to the pair, and argued those concessions dont prevent him from asserting constitutional speech protections. Defendant Giuliani, for the purposes of this litigation only, does not contest that, to the extent the statements were statements of fact and otherwise actionable, such actionable factual statements were false, the filing said. Giuliani was a key player in Trumps attempt to overturn the 2020 election. He spread baseless conspiracy theories on behalf of the then-president and helped lead efforts to challenge election results in key battleground states. Investigators with special counsel Jack Smiths probe into the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection have spoken with Giuliani, as well. Ted Goodman, a political adviser to Giuliani, said the filing was an effort to move the case along. Mayor Rudy Giuliani did not acknowledge that the statements were false but did not contest it in order to move on to the portion of the case that will permit a motion to dismiss, Goodman said in a statement. This is a legal issue, not a factual issue. Those out to smear the mayor are ignoring the fact that this stipulation is designed to get to the legal issues of the case, he added. Lawyers for Freeman and Moss havent commented on the filing as of Wednesday morning. Statement from Giuliani advisor Ted Goodman characterizes Giulianis stipulation as simply a way to move past the fact-gathering stage of the lawsuit and into the legal phase, where he can still try to dismiss the matter. pic.twitter.com/eoiSzB8wPp Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) July 26, 2023 Last month, Giuliani was sanctioned by U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell for failing to search for and produce documents requested by Freeman and Moss lawyers. He has also been ordered to pay the election workers attorney fees and costs related to the requests for those files. Story continues The pair have also testified before the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection about the detrimental effect the conspiracy theories about them had on their lives. Related... In new court documents filed Tuesday, Rudy Giuliani conceded that he made false statements about two Fulton County election workers whom he accused of engaging in voter fraud. Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss worked in a corner room at State Farm Arena counting votes following the 2020 presidential election. They were volunteers but became targets of conspiracy theorists. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Freeman and Moss filed a defamation lawsuit against Giuliani, saying that he continued to push false statements about them trying to commit voter fraud. Both women went into hiding after saying they received death threats and other forms of harassment. In the documents filed Tuesday, Giuliani says he believes that he has still a legal defense to the defamation complaint; however, he is no longer contesting the allegations in the lawsuit and concedes that he made false statements. Giuliani is still contesting any damages and is standing behind his argument that his statements were constitutionally protected. The concession from Giuliani comes weeks after the Georgia elections board cleared Freeman and Moss any of wrongdoing. This serves as further evidence that Ms. Freeman and Ms. Moss -- while doing their patriotic duty and serving their community -- were simply collateral damage in a coordinated effort to undermine the results of the 2020 presidential election, the attorney representing Freeman and Moss said in a statement. In an exclusive interview, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told Channel 2s Richard Elliot that hes glad the board cleared Fulton County but is very glad they cleared Freeman and Moss. And so, we move on. But the damage has been done to those ladies, and thats very regrettable, Raffensperger said. ABC News contributed to this report. RELATED STORIES A vehicle of the Ukrainian Armed Forces moves along the road in Novodarivka village, Zaporizhzhia Region, southeastern Ukraine. Dmytro Smolienko / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images Ukraine appears to have launched a major attack in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. The surge, reported on by media and officials, marks a dramatic escalation of Kyiv's counteroffensive. Ukrainian forces had been conserving combat power as they navigated through Russian minefields. Ukrainian forces reportedly launched a massive push against Russia's front-lines in the country's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, threatening Russian positions that had been overseen by a general who was recently fired. The surge marks a dramatic change in pace for Ukraine's ongoing counteroffensive. For nearly two months, Kyiv's troops were forced to make slow and steady advances to liberate occupied territory as they faced Russia's formidable defensive lines, which include deadly networks of trenches, barbed wire, anti-armor obstacles, and minefields. Clearing the Russian fortifications particularly the minefields has been a painstaking process for Ukraine, which managed to preserve lots of its firepower and combat capabilities, such as heavy armor provided by the US and its NATO allies. But it now seems as though Kyiv has committed significantly more resources into the fight. Pentagon officials told the New York Times on Wednesday that Ukraine has poured thousands of reinforcements many who have been trained and outfitted by Western countries into battle along the Zaporizhzhia axis, which is one of several locations along the several-hundred-miles-long front line where Kyiv is fighting. The sheer scale of this thrust as reported suggests a main attack has begun, coming after weeks of probing attacks and mineclearing that suggests Ukraine's war commanders think they've found a vulnerable spot in Russia's formidable defenses. The fired Russian general had demanded changes after suffering losses in artillery battles with Ukraine that were crucial to holding their defensive lines. According to the US officials, Ukraine has expressed a desire to press south toward the occupied city of Melitopol, near the Sea of Azov. Doing so would allow Kyiv's military to split the territory that Russia currently occupies and threaten its hold on the Crimean peninsula. Story continues Ukrainian Grad multiple rocket launcher fires standing in a field near Orikhiv on June 27, 2023 in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine. Photo by Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images Russian state-run media outlet TASS said Ukraine carried out a "massive tank attack" in the Zaporizhzhia area, citing a defense ministry official, who claimed the attacks had been repelled and that Kyiv lost a number of tanks, armored vehicles, and personnel. The battlefield picture, however, was disputed and unclear on Wednesday, and Insider was not able to immediately verify Moscow's assertions. Ukrainian officials did not publicly reveal many details about the new push on Wednesday, although Kyiv's General Staff of the Armed Forces said in a Facebook update that Russia "is concentrating its main efforts on preventing the further advance of our troops" in Zaporizhzhia. The General Staff added that Ukraine's air force carried out over a dozen strikes on Russian troops, military equipment, weapons, and anti-air defense systems. It said Kyiv's missile and artillery units managed to strike Russia's own artillery units and command posts. "By the way, today our guys at the front had very good results. Well done. More details later," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his address to the nation on Wednesday. The new Zaporizhzhia assault comes shortly after Russia's military leadership fired Maj. Gen. Ivan Popov, who previously commanded Russia's 58th Combined Arms Army, which had been battling Ukraine's offensive in that region. Popov was apparently dismissed from his role earlier this month after he raised concerns over several front-line weaknesses plaguing his forces, including deficiencies in Moscow's artillery defense. A press officer stands on top of a destroyed Russian military vehicle in Novodarivka village, Zaporizhzhia Region, southeastern Ukraine. Dmytro Smolienko / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images Popov later said in an audio message that he raised concerns about "the lack of counter-battery combat, the absence of artillery reconnaissance stations, and the mass deaths and injuries of our brothers in enemy artillery fire." Lacking air superiority, Ukraine has relied heavily on artillery to strike Russian troop positions, command and control locations, communications sites, and heavy guns. According to the Times, Ukrainian officials told the US that the new operation in Zaporizhzhia could take up to several weeks. Kyiv's military leadership previously expressed frustration with some in the West who have suggested that the counteroffensive should be moving faster than it had been, saying that every meter of territory is extremely costly for Ukraine to liberate. Top Pentagon officials have also pushed back on discourse around the speed of the offensive. "The various wargames that were done ahead of time have predicted certain levels of advance. And that has slowed down," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told reporters at a briefing last week. "Why? Because that's the difference between war on paper and real war. These are real people in real machines that are out there really clearing real minefields and they're really dying." Milley said at the time that Ukraine had been preserving its combat power while its forces slowly make their way through Russia's elaborate minefields, which the US general referred to as Kyiv's biggest threat and the source of many of its casualties. It's unclear exactly how much of that combat power has now been committed in Zaporizhzhia. "This is going to be long, it's going to be hard, it's going to be bloody," Milley said last week. "And at the end of the day, we'll see where the Ukrainians end up, vis-a-vis the Russians." Read the original article on Business Insider Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Russia-Africa Summit in 2019 in Sochi, Russia. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images Forty-three African heads of state attended the 2019 Russia-Africa summit. They had high hopes that Russia would emerge as a new source of investment and trade for the continent. Russian president Vladimir Putin promised to double Russian trade with Africa in five years to US billion. Since then, Russian trade with the continent has contracted to US billion. It is lopsided, with Russia exporting seven times as much as it imports from Africa. Additionally, 70% of this trade is concentrated in just four countries: Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and South Africa. Russia invests very little in Africa. It accounts for 1% of the foreign direct investment that goes to the continent. Mauritius is a larger source of foreign direct investment for Africa. Additionally, Russias gross domestic product has shrunk in value from US.3 trillion in 2013 to US A sculptor of wind explains how to make fiber dance far above city streets https://theconversation.com/a-sculptor-of-wind-explains-how-to-make-fiber-dance-far-above-city-streets-202476 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 18:51:19 +0000 tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/202476 Artist Janet Echelman explains how she collaborates with engineers to create massive sculptures that have changed city landscapes and inspired people around the world. Janet Echelman, Mellon Distinguished Visiting Artist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Janet Echelman says she never set out to be a sculptor of wind. But if you have ever explored Porto, Portugal, walked the streets of Gwanggyo, South Korea, or passed through West Hollywood, you might have seen her massive iridescent sculptures of fiber floating above cities and the millions of people in them. Working closely with engineers, Echelman has spent the past 26 years of her career producing sculptures that rival the size of skyscrapers. In March, Echelman spoke at the 2023 Imagine Solutions Conference in Naples, Florida, about her journey to becoming a sculptor, her creative process and how her sculptures have forever changed the landscapes of the cities where they ripple, dance and billow in the wind. Story continues What inspired you to create this type of art? I began my career as a painter. In 1997, I traveled to India as a Fulbright scholar and planned to give exhibitions around the country. I had my paints and brushes shipped to India from the U.S., but they never arrived. As the deadline for the show loomed, I had to come up with something fast. In Mahabalipuram, the Indian fishing village where I was staying, I would watch the fishermen work and reel in their mounds of netting on the beach at the end of each day. One day, it occurred to me that those nets would make excellent material for sculptures. By the end of my Fulbright year, I had created an entire series of these netted sculptures with the fishermen, called the Bellbottom Series, named after the popular bell-bottom pants. Ive been working to develop and refine this visual language ever since. Its an ever-evolving challenge to go from making handmade nets on the beach with fishermen in India to creating works the scale of one or two city blocks attached to skyscrapers. How do you approach the engineering side of your art? How are these pieces constructed, especially given their large scale? Every piece is planned out digitally first. The first sketches are very simple its just me with a pencil. But the final design in our studio is a complete digital color 3D model. We can see how the sculpture sits in space and how it attaches to everything around it. Were able to move around the three-dimensional site to see the work from all sides. My team and I have engaged in a decade of development of original computer software to do soft-body modeling of our sculptures, which allows us to design our 3D netted forms while understanding the constraints of our craft, showing response to the forces of gravity and wind. Every element every line of twine, and every knot is modeled in terms of its thickness, stiffness, weight and density. So its actually quite an endeavor to analyze such unusual structures that are both porous and fluidly moving. This is not the standard building departments typically analyze solid buildings made of things they know, like steel and concrete so this is really pushing everyone to work in new ways. In terms of the physical construction, my sculptures appear delicate yet are incredibly strong. They have to be able to withstand winds of a Category 5 hurricane. We achieve that by using highly engineered materials, including a fiber that NASA used for the Mars Rover called ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene, which is custom-braided into structural ropes. We use a variety of other fibers to create the braided twine for the soft layers of each sculpture. The ropes are then all hand-spliced together with methods that have been used for hundreds of years to construct boats in the maritime industry. These are old human technologies passed down from generation to generation. Once we have these knotted net panels, we incorporate different colors to create patterns within the work. These panels are then attached to rope structures and usually lifted into space using cranes. My team pulls them into tension so that they can withstand immense forces of nature. What was the hardest sculpture to create from a technical standpoint, and why? My commission for the St. Petersburg pier in Florida titled Bending Arc was challenging, because it needed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane and yet we did it. Theres footage of it during Hurricane Ian, and it was just dancing beautifully. Hurricane testing starts in the design stages. Our detailed digital models are tested and analyzed for their capacity to withstand certain forces of wind, which, for public safety reasons, is required in order to obtain a building permit. My sculptures have to satisfy the same requirements as a skyscraper, and they can withstand the same forces as any major building. What are you currently working on that youre excited about? I am excited to continue to explore the relationship between dance and art. In 2014, I collaborated with the Stuttgart Ballet in Germany to create sculptures that dancers could interact with in their performances. Since then I have worked with a choreographer and engineer at Princeton University to create a sculpture that the dancers actually enter into and interact with. Their movements cause the sculpture to move and appear as if it were a dancer itself at a larger scale. I see it as an exploration of our planet and its climate. It illustrates how the Earth and human beings are always mutually influencing one another and yet we are not equals. What do you hope your art evokes in people? Its important to me that each person can create their own meaning from art. They are the expert in their own experience. If my work offers a moment of contemplation and allows you to feel a sense of calm and your own interconnection with the wind, sun, people and city, then thats all I could hope for. I like how complete strangers often start talking to each other underneath the sculptures. Our cities are made up of straight lines and hard edges and my sculptures offer something completely different they are soft and adaptable, yet theyre the same scale as skyscrapers. If my art prompts people to contemplate that the world can be built in a completely different way than it always has been, if it opens up questions, then that is the most an artist could ever hope to do. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters. It was written by: Janet Echelman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Read more: Janet Echelman 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. Russian T-14 Armata tank participates in a Victory Day Parade night rehearsal in Moscow, Russia, on May 4, 2022. Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images Russia's top-tier T-14 Armata tanks were used in combat in Ukraine, state media reported. But then they were quickly "withdrawn from the frontline," a military source told state media. The roll-out of the tanks has been plagued by setbacks in recent months. Russia briefly deployed its top-tier T-14 Armata tanks in combat in Ukraine but then withdrew them again, according to Russian state media. Armored forces from Russia's southern military district (SMD) "actively used Armata in combat," an unnamed military source told the state-run outlet TASS. "Several vehicles participated in combat to see how the tank will perform. After that, they were withdrawn from the frontline," the source added. They did not elaborate on why the cutting-edge tanks were removed from battle. The T-14 is an advanced vehicle with a high degree of automation. Russia says it has defense systems that capable of countering the anti-tank rockets that Ukraine has deployed so effectively in battle against older Russian tanks. Russia does not yet have many T-14s and has appeared reluctant to use them in battle, probably fearing they could be destroyed. At the beginning of this year, the British Ministry of Defense said that if Russia does deploy the T-14 "it will likely primarily be for propaganda purposes." "Production is probably only in the low tens, while commanders are unlikely to trust the vehicle in combat," the ministry said in a statement, citing intelligence sources and satellite imagery. The tank was first unveiled at Russia's Victory Day Parade on May 9, 2015, but its roll-out has been plagued with delays and technical problems. The Kremlin initially planned for 2,300 of the tanks to arrive between 2015 and 2020. But in December 2021, the Russian conglomerate Rostec said production of around 40 tanks had only just started, and that they were anticipated for delivery after 2023, according to the Russian news agency Interfax. "The necessary trials of the T-14 tank still continue," another unnamed military source told TASS. Read the original article on Business Insider Russia lays additional sea mines on the approaches to ports The Russian Navy has placed additional naval mines on the approaches to Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea, UK Ambassador to the UN, Barbara Woodward, said on July 25, as reported by The Guardian. Woodward noted that the UK has information indicating that the Russian military may expand its attacks on Ukrainian grain export-related infrastructure facilities, including attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea. Read also: Russia could stage 'false flag' incident in Black Sea, US State Department warns "Our information also indicates that Russia has laid additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports," Woodward said. We agree with the U.S. assessment that this is a coordinated effort to justify and lay blame on Ukraine for any attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea. Read also: Ukraine attacks Russian patrol ship in Black Sea Russias MoD claims She added that UK PM Rishi Sunak has already informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about this during a phone conversation earlier on July 25. Previously, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned that the Russia may carry out attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea following Moscow's exit from the "grain agreement." Read also: Hitting Black Sea fleet HQ would hurt occupiers most - Crimean Tatar leader Meanwhile, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller announced that after Russia's withdrawal from the grain agreement, there are concerns that the Kremlin may be preparing a false flag operation in the Black Sea. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russia has launched Kinzhal cruise missiles on Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi and Kirovohrad oblasts. Source: Ukraines Air Force on Telegram Quote: "Kyiv Oblast: everyone take shelter! We have detected the launch of Kh-47 Kinzhal [missiles]." Details: The Air Force also said Kinzhal missiles were launched on Khmelnytskyi and Kirovohrad oblasts. Previously: Air-raid warnings were issued in the city of Kyiv and in the majority of Ukrainian oblasts. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russia threatens Black Sea blockade, attack on ships Following Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the aggressor is preparing ships and aircraft to block and destroy civilian vessels in the Black Sea, the Military Media Center, a media platform coordinated by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, reported on July 26. "After Russia's withdrawal from the grain initiative, the occupying armed forces intensified combat training of the Black Sea Fleet's surface forces and naval aviation," the ministry stated. In particular, the Russians are practicing blocking maritime areas, detecting and destroying ships. The defense ministry claims that the Russians are training to hit civilian vessels that will be sailing from Ukrainian ports, and that the occupation administration continues to improve the defense system of Crimea, in particular, the Armyansk and Perekop axes. The Kremlin announced the suspension of the "grain agreement" on July 17, previously brokered by the UN and Turkey last July. This agreement facilitated the unblocking of three Ukrainian ports for food exports. Read also: Russia could stage 'false flag' incident in Black Sea, US State Department warns Russia then withdrew its shipping safety guarantees under the framework of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Ukraine asked Turkey and the UN to continue the "grain corridor" operations without the involvement of Russia. In retaliation, the Kremlin issued threats, hinting at the possibility of resuming the agreement's operation without Ukraine. After that, the aggressor country's Ministry of Defense announced that it would consider all ships sailing to Ukrainian ports to be carriers of military cargo. Read also: Russia deploys naval mines on approaches to Ukraines Black Sea ports UK Ukraine's Defense Ministry mirrored Russia's threats, saying that it would also consider ships heading to Russian and occupied ports to be military targets. In the wake of these developments, Russia launched massive strikes on the port and grain infrastructure of Ukraine, targeting the port cities of Odesa and Mykolaiv. These attacks resulted in the destruction of civil infrastructure and the loss of civilian lives. Story continues On July 21, Russia conducted training missile strikes in the Black Sea after threatening to attack all ships sailing to Ukrainian ports. During the training, the Russian forces demonstratively sank the Ukrainian corvette Ternopil, which was hijacked in 2014 during the occupation of Crimea. Read also: Russia could target civilian ships in the Black Sea, UK warns 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 Ukrainian artilleryman fires a 152 mm towed gun-howitzer D-20 at Russian positions on the front line near Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine (AFP via Getty Images) Ukrainian troops are inching closer to the eastern city of Bakhmut, the scene for some of the fiercest fighting in the continuing invasion, officials in Kyiv said as their military is about to receive a consignment of 1,700 strike and reconnaissance drones to help with its counteroffensive. Deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said fierce fighting raged near the villages of Klishchiivka, Kurdyumivka and Andriivka on the southern flank of Bakhmut, a small city reduced to ruins in a bloody, months-long battle that gave Russian forces control of the area for now. Despite steady Western military aid, Ukrainian military officials have said Russia still has an advantage in artillery, tanks and manpower. Mykhailo Fedorov, a deputy prime minister, said 1,700 drones were on their way to the front lines to help the offensive. This comes as Ukraines security service claimed responsibility for the first time on Wednesday for a sabotage operation that badly damaged the Russian-made Kerch Bridge linking occupied Crimea with Russia last October. Vasyl Malyuk, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), said his agency was behind the attack. Key Points Putins forces pushed back around Bakhmut in Ukrainian counteroffensive Putin looked paralysed and unable to act as Wagner coup unfolded Wagner gold smuggling critical to keeping Russias economy afloat, MPs say Kyiv security service claims responsibly for Crimea bridge blast Putins forces pushed back around Bakhmut in Ukrainian counteroffensive 03:44 , Arpan Rai Ukrainian troops are appear to be creeping closer to the eastern city of Bakhmut, the scene for some of the fiercest fighting of the war and the military is about to receive a consignment of 1,700 strike and reconnaissance drones to help with its counteroffensive. Hanna Maliar, the deputy defence minister, said Kyivs troops were successfully attacking in the east on the flanks of occupied Bakhmut and also reported advances towards the southern, occupied cities of Melitopol and Berdyansk which is on the Sea of Azov Story continues Russia, which sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, holds swathes of territory in the south and east. Read the full report here: Putins forces pushed back around Bakhmut as Ukraines troops press on Latest pictures from Ukraine 03:00 , Martha Mchardy People take cover inside a subway station during an air raid alert, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv (REUTERS) Ukrainian servicemen attend a training for platoon commanders of military units of the Eastern Administrative-Territorial Association of the National Guard, at a shooting range near Kharkiv (EPA) Platoon commanders of Ukraine's National Guard take part in a military training in Kharkiv region (AFP via Getty Images) A man makes the Sign of the Cross as he pays respect in front of People lay at the Dnipro riverside promenade in Kyiv (AFP via Getty Images) Wagner gold smuggling critical to keeping Russias economy afloat, MPs say 02:00 , Martha Mchardy Russias economy is being kept afloat by critical gold-smuggling operations by the Wagner mercenary group led by its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, a parliamentary report has suggested. The report by the foreign affairs committee said that Mr Prigozhins Wagner Group is smuggling significant quantities of the precious metal out of Sudan. The private military company (PMC) has been simultaneously supporting Sudans RSF paramilitary group and its army forces since conflict erupted between the military factions in April, the committee said. Oliver Pritchard-Jones reports: Wagner gold smuggling critical to keeping Russias economy afloat, MPs say Irish Government would not offer condolences to Russia after Putins death, says Taoiseach 01:00 , Martha Mchardy Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he does not think the Irish Government would offer condolences to Russia in the event of Vladimir Putins death. Mr Varadkar said he did not believe an Irish delegation would be present at the Russian presidents funeral. The Irish Government adhered to a strict policy of neutrality throughout the Second World War. However, then-taoiseach and minister for external affairs Eamon de Valera sparked outrage among the international community when he expressed condolences to Germanys Irish minister Eduard Hempel following Adolf Hitlers death by suicide in 1945. Leo Varadkar (PA Wire) The event caused significant reputational damage to Mr de Valera and the state, and is regarded as an important moment in the history of Irish neutrality. While Ireland insists it continues to employ a policy of neutrality, senior government ministers say this relates to being militarily neutral rather than being politically neutral. Last week, Mr Varadkar pledged to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes when he visited Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. He also announced millions of euro in additional funding for humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Mr Varadkar was banned from travelling to Russia last year after the Kremlin said it was placing 52 key representatives from Ireland on a sanctions list for expressing what it claimed was Russophobic sentiment. Watch: Ukrainian minister shows rows of drones to protect the lives of our soldiers Thursday 27 July 2023 00:00 , Martha Mchardy Lawmakers say the UK should ban Russia's Wagner as a terrorist group Wednesday 26 July 2023 23:00 , Martha Mchardy Britain has underplayed and underestimated the threat posed by the Russian Wagner mercenary group and should ban it as a terrorist organization, a powerful committee of U.K. lawmakers said Wednesday. The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said the sanctions imposed by Britain on Wagner are underwhelming and U.K. authorities have done little to track the private armys activities beyond Ukraine, where it has fought as part of Russias invading forces. There are serious national security threats to the U.K. and its allies of allowing the network to continue to thrive, said the committee, whose members come from both governing and opposition parties. It said Britain should urgently proscribe the Wagner Network as a terrorist organization, something the Conservative government has so far been unwilling to do. Jill Lawless reports: Lawmakers say the UK should ban Russia's Wagner as a terrorist group Watch: Inside RAF fighter jet cockpit over Estonia as Russian invasion of Ukraine continues Wednesday 26 July 2023 22:00 , Martha Mchardy Biden orders US to share Russian war crimes evidence with ICC -official Wednesday 26 July 2023 21:54 , Martha Mchardy U.S. president Joe Biden has ordered his administration to begin sharing evidence of alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine with the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC), a U.S official said on Wednesday. The Pentagon had been resistant to the move and privately argued that any cooperation with the court could open the way for politicized prosecution of American troops deployed overseas. The ICC, a permanent war crimes tribunal, in March issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for suspected deportation of children from Ukraine, which would be a war crime. The news was first reported by the New York Times, which said the Biden administration had started notifying lawmakers on Tuesday. The White House declined to discuss specifics of any cooperation with the ICC. Since the beginning of Russias assault on Ukraine, the president has been clear: there needs to be accountability for the perpetrators and enablers of war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine, a National Security Council spokesperson said. On the ICC specifically, we are not going to discuss the specifics on any cooperation, which is consistent with the courts practice of treating requests for cooperation in a confidential manner, the spokesperson added. The spokesperson said the United States had previously sent teams of international investigators and prosecutors to help Ukraines Office of the prosecutor general in preparing war crimes cases. Ukrainian and Western authorities say there is evidence of murders and executions, shelling of civilian infrastructure, forced deportations, child abductions, torture, sexual violence and illegal detention. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have accused the Pentagon of effectively undermining war crimes prosecution of Russia by blocking the sharing of U.S. military intelligence with the ICC. Russia is not a member of the ICC and rejects its jurisdiction. It denies committing atrocities during its conflict with Ukraine. The United States is also not a member of the ICC. Russia has issued an arrest warrant for the ICC prosecutor who in March prepared a warrant for Putin on war crimes charges. A successful war crimes prosecution requires a high standard of proof, in a situation where access to suspects and crime scenes is often restricted and there is overlapping jurisdiction between national and international courts. What was Trevor Reed accused of? Wednesday 26 July 2023 21:30 , Martha Mchardy Mr Reed was accused of grabbing the right arm of the driver in the police car, causing him to swerve dangerously into other lanes. He was also accused of striking the officer in the back seat with his elbow as the officer tried to stop Trevor from grabbing the driver. In April 2021, Mr Reed was freed from nearly three years of imprisonment after he was swapped for a Russian drug trafficker in a prisoner exchange between Washington and Moscow at the time. Mr Reed was swapped in Turkey for Konstantin Yaroshenko, who had been serving a 20-year prison sentence in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy case. Mr Yaroshenko was detained in Liberia in 2010 by the US and accused of smuggling cocaine and knowing that some of the drugs were intended for distribution in the US. Mr Yaroshenko was detained by Liberian authorities and later turned over to the US. Despite never visiting the US, Mr Yaroshenko was flown there to stand trial in 2011 where he was convicted. At the time, The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the arrest, calling it a kidnapping of a Russian national from a third country. US proposal for talks with Russia on keeping nuclear arms curbs in limbo Wednesday 26 July 2023 21:19 , Martha Mchardy The United States and Russia blamed each other for a lack of progress on arms control following a U.S. proposal to open talks on a framework that would preserve curbs on strategic nuclear weapons deployments when the current limits expire in 2026. Russias apparent rejection of the plan last week and what several arms control experts say was a White House failure to formally convey it to Moscow have fueled concerns about whether there would be enough time to reach a new pact. There is no excuse that the administration has delayed for nearly two months the formal communication of this proposal to the Kremlin, said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association (ACA) advocacy group. Such complex negotiations would be difficult in good times and extraordinarily difficult so long as Russias war on Ukraine continues, he said. U.S. president Joe Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan unveiled the proposal in a June 2 speech to the ACA, announcing that the administration was ready for talks without preconditions with Moscow on managing nuclear risks and a framework to replace the New START treaty after it expires. Sullivan said that any new limits to which Washington could agree would be impacted by the size and scale of Chinas ongoing nuclear arsenal buildup. Russia last Friday appeared to reject the U.S. proposal. The state-run TASS news agency quoted deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying that while Moscow studied Sullivans speech, Washington had not sent a formal written proposal. We are not ready to and will not conduct this dialogue based on what the Americans are now proposing as they ignore several points, Ryabkov, Moscows top arms control negotiator, said according to TASS. A U.S. National Security Council spokesperson said in an email that the United States remains open to discussing nuclear risks and the future of arms control with Russia. Unfortunately the Russian side appears not to share this willingness. Asked whether the U.S. had delivered a formal proposal, the NSC spokesperson said Russia was very clearly aware of Jakes speech, adding that the administration privately conveyed the proposal to Moscow, but he declined to elaborate. U.S. Federal Reserve Chair does not see big U.S. inflation impact from Ukraine grain deal suspension Wednesday 26 July 2023 21:06 , Martha Mchardy U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday that the Fed is watching developments in grain markets closely after the suspension of Ukraines Black Sea grain shipment deal, but so far it does not see the suspension making a big contribution to U.S. inflation. Grain prices did go up on this news, but they remain well below their peaks of last spring, and the moves that weve seen so far I would say are not expected to make a significant contribution to U.S. inflation, Powell told a news conference following the Feds policy meeting. Of course, we will be watching that situation carefully. Powell said the cut-off of grain shipments from Ukraine does raise concerns about global food security, particularly for poorer countries that import much of their food. Ukraines forces have achieved very good results from the front line, says Zelensky Wednesday 26 July 2023 21:05 , Martha Mchardy President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that Ukrainian forces had achieved very good results on the front line, and he promised to provide details of their successes soon. By the way, today our boys had very good results at the front, Zelensky said in his nightly video address. Good for them! Details will follow. Zelensky has repeatedly said the offensive launched by Ukrainian forces last month in Russian-occupied areas of the countrys east and southeast is going more slowly than he would like. Who is Trevor Reed? Wednesday 26 July 2023 21:00 , Martha Mchardy Mr Reed is originally from the Dallas-Fort Worth area and spent his 20s in the US Marine Corps and eventually received an honourable discharge. In 2016, Mr Reed began dating a young Russian woman called Alina, according to a website set up by his family to call for his release. In 2017, after his service, he then returned to college and began working toward a degree in International Studies at the University of North Texas, which required him to select a foreign language course. Mr Reed selected Russian as a foreign language and was inspired to learn the language given that his girlfriend was also from Russia and he wanted to communicate with his girlfriends family. In May 2019, Mr Reed travelled to Moscow to study Russian and spend the summer with his girlfriend. A week before his scheduled flight back to Texas, on 15 August 2019, Mr Reed reportedly attend a party with his girlfriend and her coworkers. US ex-marine Trevor Reed, charged with attacking police (AFP via Getty Images) Russian police alleged that Mr Reed was detained by police in Moscow after leaving a car on a busy street while he was intoxicated. It was alleged that Mr Reed grabbed the arm of an officer while they were on the way to the police station, causing the police vehicle to swerve into another lane. A claim that Mr Reeds lawyers disputed. According to the website set up by Mr Reeds family, Mr Reed apparently became inebriated due to the level of alcohol in his system that night. Mr Reed reportedly became nauseated and wanted to get out of the vehicle. When the car stopped, he left the vehicle and started running around near a busy street in the early hours of 16 August. His behaviour caused those with Mr Reed to call the police for assistance. The familys website states that when the police arrived, they reported he was in the condition of strong intoxication considering his shaky gait, rambling speech, and strong smell of alcohol. Mr Reed waved his hands, shouted incoherent words, and behaved inadequately. The police then took Mr Reed to the police station, where he was detained for the evening. His girlfriend was told to return in the morning to pick him up but when she returned, Mr Reed was being interviewed by the Russian Federal Security Services (FSB). Ukraine counteroffensive is moving, US says while pledging support Wednesday 26 July 2023 20:36 , Martha Mchardy Ukraines counteroffensive is not a stalemate even if it is not progressing fast enough, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Wednesday. Kirby made the remarks when asked about the pace of Ukraines counteroffensive in a press briefing. President Zelensky himself has said that he that its not progressing as fast as he would like and theyre not moving as far every day as they would like. The United States is not going to take a position on that, Kirby said. He added: That said they are moving, its not a stalemate. Theyre not just frozen. The Ukrainians are moving. The White House national security spokesman said Washington would make sure that they (Ukrainians) have the kinds of tools and capabilities they need to stay on the move. More than $43 billion in U.S. military aid has been provided since Russias invasion began in February 2022. The U.S. Department of Defense announced $400 million in additional security assistance for Ukraine earlier this week, including air defence missiles, armoured vehicles and small drones. U.S. secretary of Ssate Antony Blinken said on Sunday that while Ukraine has recaptured half the territory that Russia initially seized in its invasion, the counteroffensive was in its early days and would take shape over several months. Russian aircraft flew 'dangerously close' to US drone over Syria -White House Wednesday 26 July 2023 20:33 , Martha Mchardy A Russian aircraft flew dangerously close to a U.S. drone over Syria earlier this week in violation of established protocols and international norms, the White House said on Wednesday. We have seen the early reports of a second Russian fighter aircraft this week, flying dangerously close to our drone on a defeat ISIS mission, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters in a press briefing. The U.S. military said on Tuesday the Russian fighter jet hit the U.S. drone with a flare and severely damaged its propeller over Syria. U.S. officials say that Russian jets have increased the pace of dangerous encounters with U.S. military aircraft in recent months over Syria, where forces from both countries operate. Everything we know about Trevor Reed after his injury in Ukraine Wednesday 26 July 2023 20:30 , Martha Mchardy Former United States Marine Trevor Reed, who was released last year after being wrongfully detained in Russia for three years, has been injured in Ukraine, the State Department said on Tuesday. A person familiar with the situation told the Associated Press that Mr Reed was wounded several weeks ago. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said he has now been taken to Germany for medical care. Not much has been said about Mr Reeds injury or presence in Ukraine. Mr Patel added: As I indicated, we have been incredibly clear warning American citizens, American nationals, not to travel to Ukraine, let alone participate in the fighting. Faiza Saqib reports: Everything we know about former US Marine Trevor Reed after his injury in Ukraine Ukraines deputy defence minister gives update from frontlines Wednesday 26 July 2023 20:00 , Martha Mchardy On the ground, Ukraines deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar reported successes in the southeast, including near Staromayorske, a village near a cluster of hamlets that Ukraine recaptured in the Donetsk region this summer. Battles continue near Staromayorske, our defenders have successes, they were gaining a foothold on the reached frontiers, she said. In the east, Ms Maliar said Ukrainian forces continued to repel Russian advances in the direction of Kupiansk and Lyman, which Ukraine liberated last year. Fierce fighting raged, she said, near the villages of Klishchiivka, Kurdyumivka and Andriivka on the southern flank of Bakhmut, a small city reduced to ruins in a bloody, months-long battle that gave Russian forces control of the area for now. Despite steady Western military aid, Ukrainian military officials have said Russia still has an advantage in artillery, tanks and manpower. Ukrainian servicemen in Eastern Ukraine (REUTERS) Watch: Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu reaches North Korea to join armistice celebrations Wednesday 26 July 2023 19:30 , Martha Mchardy Putins forces pushed back around Bakhmut as Ukraines troops press on Wednesday 26 July 2023 19:00 , Martha Mchardy Ukrainian troops are appear to be creeping closer to the eastern city of Bakhmut, the scene for some of the fiercest fighting of the war and the military is about to receive a consignment of 1,700 strike and reconnaissance drones to help with its counteroffensive. Hanna Maliar, the deputy defence minister, said Kyivs troops were successfully attacking in the east on the flanks of occupied Bakhmut and also reported advances towards the southern, occupied cities of Melitopol and Berdyansk which is on the Sea of Azov Russia, which sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, holds swathes of territory in the south and east. Olena Harmash reports from Kyiv: Putins forces pushed back around Bakhmut as Ukraines troops press on Ukraine's allies commit $244 mln for humanitarian mine clearance - Kyiv Wednesday 26 July 2023 18:30 , Martha Mchardy Ukraines allies have committed to allocating $244 million and providing special equipment for the purpose of humanitarian mine clearance, first deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on Tuesday. Our task is not only to demine the entire territory in order to save peoples lives, but also to speed up this process, Svyrydenko, who is also the Ukrainian economy minister, said in a statement on the governments website. This is a question of economic recovery, because the sooner we return potentially mined lands to circulation, the faster business will develop on them, she said. She said the donors included the United States, European Union, Japan, Germany, Britain, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, Austria, Switzerland, Korea and the Howard Buffett Foundation. Russias full-scale invasion, launched in February 2022, has left swathes of Ukraine strewn with mines and dangerous war detritus. The U.S. State Department estimated in early December that some 160,000 square kilometres (62,000 square miles) of Ukrainian land needed to be checked for explosives hazards. That is nearly half the size of Germany. Humanitarian demining, according to the United Nations, refers to clearing land so that civilians can return to their homes and their everyday routines without the threat of explosive hazards. Svyrydenko said Ukraine would receive by the end of the year 10 demining machines from Croatias DOK-ING engineering firm and another 10 from the Swiss-based Global Clearance Solutions. International partners have also committed to supplying hundreds of metal detectors and pyrotechnic machines, as well as individual demining kits and gear. There were also agreements with DOK-ING and the Danish HYDREMA machinery firm regarding locating production in Ukraine. Russian missiles strikes attack three Ukrainian regions - air force Wednesday 26 July 2023 18:04 , Martha Mchardy Russia attacked the Ukrainian regions of Kyiv, Khmelnytskiy and Kyrovohrad with missiles on Wednesday, Ukraines air force spokesman said in televised comments after air raid sirens were sounded across the country. We have registered high-speed targets, probably also ballistic missiles, the enemy is using different weapons types, air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said. Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk, writing on Telegram, said anti-aircraft units had downed 36 targets - three Kalibr cruise missiles and 33 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles. Ihnat said some missiles had travelled towards the city of Starokostiantyniv, the site of a Ukrainian military airfield. He said the missiles had taken a highly convoluted route, even making a 180-degree turn at one point. Ukrainian air defences thwarted an earlier attack on Wednesday afternoon, shooting down two Kalibr cruise missiles over the central city of Vinnytsia that appeared to have been fired by a submarine in the Black Sea, the air force said. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that while Ukraine had recaptured half the territory that Russia initially seized, a Ukrainian counteroffensive was in its early days and would take shape over several months. Kyiv security service claims responsibly for Crimea bridge blast Wednesday 26 July 2023 17:43 , Martha Mchardy Ukraines security service claimed responsibility for the first time on Wednesday for a sabotage operation that badly damaged the Russian-made Kerch Bridge linking occupied Crimea with Russia last October. Vasyl Malyuk, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), said his agency was behind the attack, speaking in comments shown on television. There were many different operations, special operations. Well be able to speak about some of them publicly and aloud after the victory, we will not talk at all about others, Malyuk said. It is one of our actions, namely the destruction of the Crimean bridge on Oct. 8 last year. The bridge was badly damaged in October in a powerful blast, with Russian officials saying the explosion was caused by a truck that blew up while crossing the bridge, killing three people. The bridge was hit by a fresh attack this month, but Malyuk made no mention of who was behind that one. The 19 km bridge is the only direct link between the transport network of Russia and the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The bridge was a flagship project for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who opened it for road traffic with great fanfare by driving a truck across in 2018. It served as a crucial supply route for Russian forces after Moscow invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, sending forces from Crimea to seize parts of southern Ukraines Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Black smoke billows from a fire on the Kerch bridge that links Crimea to Russia (AFP/Getty) Nato says its boosting Black Sea surveillance and condemns Russian grain deal exit Wednesday 26 July 2023 17:33 , Martha Mchardy Nato said on Wednesday it was stepping up surveillance of the Black Sea region as it condemned Russias exit from a deal assuring the safe passage of ships carrying Ukrainian grain. The announcement came after a meeting of the Nato-Ukraine Council, a body established earlier this month to coordinate cooperation between the Western military alliance and Kyiv. Allies and Ukraine strongly condemned Russias decision to withdraw from the Black Sea grain deal and its deliberate attempts to stop Ukraines agricultural exports on which hundreds of millions of people worldwide depend, Nato said in a statement. Nato and Allies are stepping up surveillance and reconnaissance in the Black Sea region, including with maritime patrol aircraft and drones, the statement said. The deal that has allowed the safe Black Sea export of Ukraines grain for the past year expired on July 17 after Russia quit in a move the United Nations said would strike a blow to people in need everywhere. Moscow suggested it would consider reviving the deal if demands to improve exports of its own grain and fertilizer were met. The Nato statement criticized a Russian warning that parts of the Black Seas international waters were temporarily unsafe for navigation. As part of that warning, Russia also declared that any ships travelling to Ukraines Black Sea ports would be seen as possibly carrying military cargoes. Allies noted that Russias new warning area in the Black Sea, within Bulgarias exclusive economic zone, has created new risks for miscalculation and escalation, as well as serious impediments to freedom of navigation, the Nato statement said. Bulgaria is a member of Nato. Nato also said it condemned recent Russian attacks on Odesa, Mykolaiv and other port cities, including a drone strike on a Ukrainian grain storage facility in the Danube port city of Reni, near the border with Nato-member Romania. We remain ready to defend every inch of Allied territory from any aggression, Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said. Ukrainian troops to receive 1,700 drones as they push back Putins forces Wednesday 26 July 2023 16:35 , Laura Sharman Ukraines military is about to receive 1,700 drones as its soldiers gradually advance in the south. The consignment includes strike and reconnaissance drones to help with the countrys counteroffensive, officials said on Wednesday. Deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar reported advances towards the occupied cities of Melitopol and Berdyansk which is on the Sea of Azov. She said Kyivs troops were also successfully attacking in the east on the flanks of occupied Bakhmut. Russia, which sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, holds swathes of territory in the south and east. Ukraine launched a big push to recapture land this summer, but progress has been slow against entrenched Russian positions. Ukrainian minister of digital transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, right, and head of State Special Communications Service Yuriy Shchygol stand among 1,700 drones that are being sent to the frontline to be used against Russian forces in Ukraine (AP) Russia expands air attacks on Ukrainian grain targets Wednesday 26 July 2023 16:20 , Laura Sharman Russia has expanded its air attacks on Ukrainian grain targets in recent days. It comes after the Kremlin quitted a 2022 deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey that had allowed the safe Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain for the past year. The United States and several European countries have urged China to use its influence over Russia to seek an end to the war in Ukraine. Earlier this year, China published a 12-point peace plan, calling for the protection of civilians and the sovereignty of all countries to be respected. Russia launched strikes on Ukraine's southern Odesa region after Moscow pulled out of a grain export deal (AFP via Getty Images) Putin welcomes African leaders as Russia seeks allies in Ukraine war Wednesday 26 July 2023 15:50 , Laura Sharman Leaders from Africa have arrived in Russia for a summit with president Vladimir Putin as he seeks more allies in the Ukraine war. Africas 54 nations make up the largest voting bloc at the United Nations and have been more divided than any other region on General Assembly resolutions criticising Russias actions in Ukraine. Putin has billed his two-day summit as a major event that will help bolster ties with a continent of 1.3 billion people that is increasingly assertive on the global stage.Today, he is set to hold meetings with the leaders of Egypt and Ethiopia ahead of the summit in St Petersburg on Thursday. Its the second Russia-Africa summit since 2019 which welcomed 43 heads of state. However, the number of those attending this year shrank to 17 because of what the Kremlin describes as a crude Western pressure to discourage African nations from going. Vladimir Putin, right, today shook hands with Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed during their meeting on the eve of the Russia Africa Summit in St Petersburg (AP) Russia and Belarus not invited to 2024 Olympics Wednesday 26 July 2023 15:32 , Laura Sharman Russia and Belarus have not been invited to the 2024 Olympic games. A year to the day until the games in Paris, the International Olympic Committee sent formal invites to the worlds nations, excluding Russia and its ally Belarus. Turkey and China meet to discuss latest situation in Ukraine Wednesday 26 July 2023 15:15 , Laura Sharman The Turkish Foreign Minister and his newly appointed Chinese counterpart are discussing the latest situation in Ukraine. Hakan Fidan and Wang Yi met in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday to discuss the war among other issues, according to a source at the Turkish foreign ministry. China named veteran diplomat Wang as its new foreign minister on Tuesday, removing Qin Gang after a one-month absence from duties barely half a year into the job. Hakan Fidan (R) welcomes his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi (L) in Ankara (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) EU bans export of aircraft engines to Belarus in new sanctions Wednesday 26 July 2023 14:40 , Laura Sharman The European Union has agreed to ban exports of battlefield equipment and aviation parts to Belarus. The decision forms part of expanding sanctions on the Kremlin ally for its involvement in Russias war against Ukraine. Spain, the current holder of the EUs rotating chairmanship, said the new sanctions were a response to the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine in a post on X, formerly Twitter. In another post, Lithuanias EU ambassador, Arnoldas Pranckevicius, said that the embargo covered dual use battlefield and aviation goods, as well as a blacklist of individuals. The decision must still be finalised and will take effect if none of the blocs 27 member states raise last-minute objections by Friday. A draft of the decision, which is dated June 24 and was seen by Reuters, named aircraft engines and their parts among exports under the new sanctions that extend to Belarus more of the trade curbs the EU has in place against Russia. Moldova cuts Russian embassy staff over 'hostile actions' Wednesday 26 July 2023 14:15 , Laura Sharman Moldova is dramatically cutting the number of diplomats Russia can have in its capital Chisinau. The country cited years of hostile actions by Moscow and a media report about a possible spying kit installed on the embassys rooftop when it announced the decision on Wednesday. Relations between Russia and Moldova, once part of the Soviet Union, have reached new lows after President Maia Sandu strongly condemned Moscows invasion of Ukraine. Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Moldovas foreign minister Nicu Popescu said: We agreed on the need to limit the number of accredited diplomats from Russia so that there are fewer people trying to destabilize the Republic of Moldova. Embassy personnel will be cut from more than 80 to just 25, the foreign ministry said, bringing Russias embassy in line with Moldovas diplomatic mission in Moscow. Russia should implement the decision by August 15, it said. For many years we have been the object of hostile Russian actions and policies. Many of them were made through the embassy, Popescu added. Nicu Popescu pictured at the NATO Summit in Lithuania earlier this month (REUTERS) Ukrainian probe into lawmaker suspected of taking criminal luxury holiday in the Maldives Wednesday 26 July 2023 13:49 , Laura Sharman Ukrainian prosecutors have opened a criminal case into a lawmaker suspected of taking a luxury holiday in the Maldives in breach of a wartime ban on private travel abroad, the general prosecutors office said. Private trips abroad by officials have been banned since January, while most Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 are also barred from leaving the country. This is under a martial law that was introduced when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. The investigation found the lawmaker had travelled to Poland for three days on a business trip and later taken sick leave. But during this time, the prosecution said he was actually in the Maldives with his family. The lawmaker stayed in a hotel on the private island of Ithaafushi in Maldives in mid-July, according to the State Bureau of Investigation which is running the investigation with Ukraines Security Service. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appeared to allude directly to the case in his nightly speech on Tuesday, in which he railed against corruption and officials who shirk their responsibilities during the war. On their own front line: Ukraines surgeons treat waves of soldiers Wednesday 26 July 2023 12:28 , Laura Sharman A hospital in Ukraine has been met with a procession of stretchers bearing limp bodies whisked from the front line. Soldiers have been arriving with greater frequency with bandaged limbs, blackened faces and expressions frozen in shock. This surge coincides with the major counteroffensive Ukraine launched in June to try to recapture its land - with nearly one-fifth now under Russian control. Evacuated from trenches in the east, forests in the north and the open fields of the south, wounded troops begin appearing at the Mechnikov Hospital in late afternoon. Dozens more are in desperate need of surgery and wheeled in before the sun rises the next day.Surgeons at Mechnikov are busier now than at any other time since Vladimir Putin began his full-scale invasion 17 months ago, according to doctors at the hospital. Medics help a shell-shocked Ukrainian serviceman enter Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro, Ukraine, last week (AP) Russian court jails cyber security chief for treason Wednesday 26 July 2023 11:58 , Laura Sharman A top cyber security executive has been convicted of treason and jailed for 14 years in Russia. Ilya Sachkov was sentenced by a Russian court on Wednesday. The case centred on allegations that he had passed classified information to foreign spies, the state news agency TASS reported. Sachkov, who denied wrongdoing, helped found Group-IB, once one of the most prominent cybersecurity firms in Russia. Earlier this year, the company announced it had cut ties with its original market. Pictures show Russian minister saluting North Koreas past leaders Wednesday 26 July 2023 10:38 , Laura Sharman Russias defence minister visited the statues of the late North Korean leaders in North Korea on Wednesday. Pictures show Sergei Shoigu saluting the 74ft tall bronze statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in the Pyongyang capital. He was among several Russian officials photographed huddling under umbrellas at Mansu Hill which plays host to a total 229 figures commemorating the history of North Korea. Sergei Shoigu visited the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang, North Korea (Russian Defence Ministry/AFP via) The Russian defence minister visited the monuments at Mansu Hill on Wednesday (Russian Defence Ministry/AFP via) The site plays host to a total 229 figures commemorating the history of North Korea (Russian Defence Ministry/AFP via) Russia plans to strengthen ties with North Koreas defence ministries Wednesday 26 July 2023 10:18 , Laura Sharman Russias defence minister has announced plans to strengthen the Kremlins cooperation with North Korea. Sergei Shoigu said he aims to work more closely with North Koreas defence ministry after holding talks with his counterpart Kang Sun Nam. Shoigu was greeted by the North Korean defence minister at Pyongyan Sunan International Airport on Tuesday. Photos show hundreds of uniformed soldiers from the Korean Peoples Army lining the airport and holding signs to welcome the Russians. Moscow has sent government delegations to the North Korean capital this week for events marking the 70th anniversary of the armistice that halted fighting in the 1950 to 53 Korean War. Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu, right, is welcomed by North Korean defence minister Kang Sun Nam at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang on Tuesday (AP) Russias Bolshoi Ballet vows to return to the West despite cultural boycott Wednesday 26 July 2023 09:37 , Laura Sharman The artistic director of Moscows state-owned Bolshoi Ballet has vowed that his company will eventually perform in the West again, having been subject to a cultural boycott since Russias invasion of Ukraine. In its first international tour since the pandemic, the storied ballet company performed at Beijings National Centre for the Performing Arts on Tuesday. Speaking in Beijing on the eve of the performance, artistic director Makhar Vaziev, 62, insisted the troupe was not suffering from being unable to perform in the West. I have no doubt that one day everything will go back to how it should be because culture is a wave that is very hard to suppress, he added. Many governments have banned cultural figures from Russia...but we are still talking to the same people we talked to in the past. The Bolshois dancers hope their performances will herald a return to the global stage for the crown jewel of Russian culture, which toured the world even in the most tense days of the Cold War. But the company only has two further confirmed international stops so far: the Belarusian capital Minsk in November, and Oman in January 2024. Artistic director Makhar Vaziev, 62, insisted the Bolshoi Ballet was not suffering from being unable to perform in the West (PA) Putin invited to visit China and plans to go in October Wednesday 26 July 2023 09:12 , Laura Sharman Vladimir Putin has been invited to visit China, according to a foreign policy adviser at the Kremlin. The Russian president plans to travel to the country in October when the One Belt One Road forum will take place, Yury Ushakov said. It comes after Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi announced the country is open to working with Russia as well as Brazil, India, and South Africa on more practical cooperation when it comes to the challenges of international secnrutiy. Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi recently said the country is open to working with Russia (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Greek politician urges government to seek help from Russia to fight wildfires Wednesday 26 July 2023 08:39 , Laura Sharman A former Greek defence minister has urged the Greek government to seek help from Russia to fight the devastating wildfires. Panos Kamennos claims it is impossible to cope with the ravaging fires without the support of the Russian Be-200 amphibious aircraft. Without Beriev, nothing happens. Lets bow out heads and ask for help now. We will be given... he said in a social media post. Beriev . . Panos Kammenos (@PanosKammenos) July 22, 2023 North Korea to welcome Russia with military display after pandemic isolation Wednesday 26 July 2023 08:28 , Laura Sharman After years of pandemic isolation, North Korea has invited its friends back this week, hosting senior Russian delegations for 70th anniversary commemorations of the Korean War and the struggle against the United States and its allies. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu is expected to be presented with one of North Koreas signature events: a massive military parade showcasing its latest weaponry. Chinese officials have also been invited to the event. Analysts say the spectacle will likely include the Norths nuclear-tipped missiles banned by the United Nations Security Council, where Russia and China are permanent members. The visits are the first known foreign delegations to visit North Korea since the Covid-19 pandemic began. North Koreas capital Pyongyang has looked to deepen its ties with Beijing and Moscow, finding common ground in their rivalries with Washington and the West. Thursdays holiday, in which North Korea celebrates what it sees as a victory over US-led allied forces in the 1950 to 1953 Korean War, provides a chance for Pyongyang to highlight the Cold War days when North Korean troops fought with Chinese and Russian support. Ukraines allies commit $244m for humanitarian demining, says official Wednesday 26 July 2023 07:46 , Arpan Rai Ukraines allies have committed to allocate $244m (189m) in addition to special equipment for the countrys humanitarian demining needs, first deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said. Our task is not only to demine the entire territory in order to save peoples lives, but also to speed up this process, Ms Svyrydenko, who is also economy minister, said in a statement on the governments website. This is a question of economic recovery, because the sooner we return potentially mined lands to circulation, the faster business will develop on them, the official said. Russia left large areas of land filled with mines after it halted its initial full-scale invasion in Ukraine in the first half of last year and moved its forces to the east. Ukraines international partners Japan, Canada, Korea, Switzerland, Lithuania, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the United Nations Development Programme, and others have committed to hundreds of metal detectors and pyrotechnic machines, as well as individual demining kits and gear. Increasing violence in Black Sea amid war expected, says UK MoD Wednesday 26 July 2023 07:20 , Arpan Rai The British Ministry of Defence has said that Russias Black Sea Fleet has altered its posture since Moscow pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI), in preparedness to enforce a blockade on Ukraine. The modern corvette SERGEY KOTOV, has deployed to the southern Black Sea, patrolling the shipping lane between the Bosphorus and Odesa. There is a realistic possibility that it will form part of a task group to intercept commercial vessels Russia believes are heading to Ukraine, the ministry said in its latest intelligence update. It added that the grain initiative has moderated the involvement of the Black Sea in the war. There is now the potential for the intensity and scope of violence in the area to increase, the ministry said. Wave of wounded soldiers reaching Ukrainian surgeons since counteroffensive began Wednesday 26 July 2023 06:48 , Arpan Rai Wounded soldiers being evacuated from trenches in the east, forests in the north and the open fields of the south begin showing up at the Mechnikov Hospital in late afternoon. They are followed by dozens more in desperate need of surgery who are wheeled in before the sun rises the next day.This massive spike in the count of wounded soldiers coincides with the major counteroffensive Ukraine launched in June to try to recapture its land, nearly one-fifth of which is now under Russian control. Surgeons at Mechnikov are busier now than perhaps at any other time since Russia began its full-scale invasion 17 months ago, according to doctors at the hospital, who declined to be more specific, reports Associated Press.In a war where casualty counts are treated as state secrets, the hospital one of Ukraines biggest serves as a measurement of distant battles. When they intensify, so does the doctors workload, which these days consists of 50 to 100 surgeries per night.Here, we see the worst of the front line, Dr Serhii Ryzhenko, the hospitals 59-year-old chief doctor, says with a weary smile. We have 50 operating rooms, and its not enough. Blinken defends latest tranche of Ukraine aid: Russia could end this war at any time' Wednesday 26 July 2023 06:16 , Arpan Rai Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked on the latest military aid announcement for Ukraine by the US, defending the assistance in the continuing war as an act of solidarity with Kyiv. Russia could end this war at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks against Ukraines cities and people. Until it does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for as long as it takes, Mr Blinken said in a statement. The attacks from Russia on Ukraine ports and Ukrainian infrastructure have shot up after Vladimir Putin withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative last week. Russia, whose 16-month full-scale invasion of Ukraine has caused deaths of thousands and the displacement of millions of civilians, denounced the new US package. The actions by Washington... are beyond morality and common sense, Russias ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov said in a post on the embassys Telegram channel. US to deliver Black Hornet spy drone for Ukraine in fresh military aid Wednesday 26 July 2023 05:53 , Arpan Rai The US Department of Defence has announced $400m (310m) in additional security assistance for Ukraine and will deliver air defence missiles, armoured vehicles and small drones. The new aid package will for the first time include US-furnished Black Hornet surveillance drones, made by Teledyne FLIR Defence. The Norwegian-built Hornet is being used in Ukraine through donations by the British and Norwegian governments, the company said. FLIR Unmanned Aerial Systems was awarded a $93m (72m) contract in April to provide the small reconnaissance drones to the US army. In addition, the weapons aid package includes munitions for Patriot air defence systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), Stinger anti-aircraft systems, more ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), Stryker Armoured Personnel Carriers and a variety of other missiles and rockets. Wagner gold smuggling critical to keeping Russias economy afloat, MPs say Wednesday 26 July 2023 05:00 , Arpan Rai A UK parliamentary report has suggested Russias economy is being kept afloat by critical gold-smuggling operations by the Wagner mercenary group led by its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin. The report by the foreign affairs committee said that Mr Prigozhins Wagner Group is smuggling significant quantities of the precious metal out of Sudan. The private military company (PMC) has been simultaneously supporting Sudans RSF paramilitary group and its army forces since conflict erupted between the military factions in April, the committee said. The panel has called on Wagner to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation, and said its activities in Sudan were mainly non-combat. Wagner gold smuggling critical to keeping Russias economy afloat, MPs say Ban Russias Wagner as a terrorist group, say UK lawmakers Wednesday 26 July 2023 04:05 , Arpan Rai Britain has underplayed and underestimated the threat posed by the Russian Wagner mercenary group and should ban it as a terrorist organisation, a powerful committee of UK lawmakers have appealed. The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said the sanctions imposed by Britain on Wagner are underwhelming and UK authorities have done little to track the private armys activities beyond Ukraine, where it has fought as part of Russias invading forces. There are serious national security threats to the UK and its allies of allowing the network to continue to thrive, said the committee, whose members come from both governing and opposition parties. It said Britain should urgently proscribe the Wagner Network as a terrorist organisation, something the Conservative government has so far been unwilling to do. Read the full story here: Lawmakers say the UK should ban Russia's Wagner as a terrorist group Trevor Reed, US Marine freed from Russia in prisoner swap, injured fighting in Ukraine Wednesday 26 July 2023 04:00 , Martha Mchardy Trevor Reed, a former US Marine freed from a Russian prison last year, was injured while fighting as an international volunteer in Ukraine, according to US officials. A pair of defence sources told The Messenger that Mr Reed, who came back to the US in a high-profile prisoner swap in April 2022, stepped on a land mine in Ukraine and was not in the country acting on behalf of the US government in any way. Since the beginning of the war, we have warned that US citizens who travel to Ukraine, especially with the purpose of participating in fighting there, that they face significant risks, including the very real risk of capture or death, one of the officials said. Trevor Reed, US Marine freed from Russian prison, injured fighting in Ukraine Putin looked paralysed and unable to act as Wagner coup unfolded Wednesday 26 July 2023 03:45 , Arpan Rai Vladimir Putin was reportedly left paralysed when the Wagner coup began and no orders were given that day. The mercenary group launched its short-lived mutiny on 24 June, driving its forces towards the Kremlin and preaching open rebellion against Russias military leadership only to abandon its mission just hours later. Now, security officials from Ukraine and other parts of Europe have spoken out, claiming the Russian president was unable to act when he first heard the news. According to intelligence assessments shared with the Washington Post, Mr Putin got a warning from Russian security services that the leader of the Wagner Group Yevgeniy Prigozhin was possibly planning a rebellion, two or three days before it began. Putin looked paralyzed and unable to act as Wagner coup unfolded Today in pictures Wednesday 26 July 2023 03:00 , Martha Mchardy A group of nuns pray outside the Odesa Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa, Ukraine (AP) People lay at the Dnipro riverside promenade in Kyiv (AFP via Getty Images) A man works on the rubble of an apartment building destroyed in Russian missile attacks in Odesa (AP) A church personnel inspects damages inside the Odesa Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa (AP) Firefighters work to extinguish fire at a warehouse destroyed in shelling in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Donetsk (REUTERS) Putin looked paralyzed and unable to act as Wagner coup unfolded Wednesday 26 July 2023 02:00 , Martha Mchardy Vladimir Putin was reportedly left paralysed when the Wagner coup began and no orders were given that day. The mercenary group launched its short-lived mutiny on 24 June, driving its forces towards the Kremlin and preaching open rebellion against Russias military leadership only to abandon its mission just hours later. Now, security officials from Ukraine and other parts of Europe have spoken out, claiming the Russian president was unable to act when he first heard the news. According to intelligence assessments shared with the Washington Post, Mr Putin got a warning from Russian security services that the leader of the Wagner Group Yevgeniy Prigozhin was possibly planning a rebellion, two or three days before it began. Lucy Skoulding reports: Putin looked paralyzed and unable to act as Wagner coup unfolded EU agriculture ministers meet to discuss vital Ukraine grain exports after Russia nixed deal Wednesday 26 July 2023 01:00 , Martha Mchardy European Union agriculture ministers met Tuesday to discuss ways of moving grain vital to global food security out of Ukraine after Russia halted a deal that allowed the exports. At the same time, they want to protect prices for farmers in countries bordering the war-ravaged nation. The ministers met in Brussels for the first time since Russia pulled the plug last week on the wartime deal that allowed grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, where hunger is a growing threat and high food prices have pushed more people into poverty. The deal provided guarantees that ships would not be attacked when entering and leaving Ukrainian ports, while a separate agreement facilitated the movement of Russian food and fertilizer. Read the full story: EU agriculture ministers meet to discuss vital Ukraine grain exports after Russia nixed deal Anger grows in Ukraine's port city of Odesa after Russian bombardment hits beloved historic sites Wednesday 26 July 2023 00:00 , Martha Mchardy Tetiana Khlapovas hand trembled as she recorded the wreckage of Odesas devastated Transfiguration Cathedral on her cellphone and cursed Russia, her native land. Khlapova was raised in Ukraine and had always dreamed of living in the seaside city. But not as the war refugee that she has become. In only a week, Russia has fired dozens of missiles and drones at the Odesa region. None struck quite as deeply as the one that destroyed the cathedral, which stands at the heart of the citys romantic, notorious past and its deep roots in both Ukrainian and Russian culture. I am a refugee from Kharkiv. I endured that hell and came to sunny Odesa, the pearl, the heart of our Ukraine, said Khlapova, who has lived in the country for 40 of her 50 years. Her neck still has a shrapnel scar from the third day of the war, when her apartment was hit. On Day 4, she fled to Odesa. Read the full story: Anger grows in Ukraine's port city of Odesa after Russian bombardment hits beloved historic sites Unilever chose least bad option by staying in Russia, boss says Tuesday 25 July 2023 23:00 , Martha Mchardy The boss Unilever has insisted that the company chose the least bad option by staying in Russia days after the consumer goods giant admitted it would allow its Russian staff to fight in Ukraine if they were called up. The business, which is behind dozens of brands including Ben & Jerrys, Dove soap and Hellmanns mayonnaise, was earlier this month named as an international sponsor of war by Ukraines National Agency on Corruption Prevention. On a call with reporters on Tuesday, chief executive Hein Schumacher said that Unilever was guided by two main principles in how it runs its Russia business. August Graham reports: Unilever chose least bad option by staying in Russia, boss says Russia declares independent TV channel 'undesirable,' banning it from country Tuesday 25 July 2023 22:00 , Martha Mchardy The Russian prosecutor-generals office on Tuesday declared independent TV channel Dozhd to be an undesirable organization, continuing the countrys wide crackdown on news media and groups regarded as threats to Russias security. The designation outlaws Dozhd from operating in Russia and exposes its journalists, staff and donors to potential criminal charges. Dozhd, which is often critical of the Kremlin, closed its operations in Russia soon after the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, moving first to Latvia and then to the Netherlands. The prosecutor-generals office said Dozhd had spread extremist material and discredited authorities. Read the full story: Russia declares independent TV channel 'undesirable,' banning it from country Estonian-based fighter jet pilots focused despite Ukraine war RAF commander Tuesday 25 July 2023 21:00 , Martha Mchardy Pilots flying fighter jets in Estonia are very well placed to deal with threats in the Baltic Sea despite the Russian war in Ukraine, an RAF Lossiemouth wing commander has said. British military personnel have been deployed at the eastern European countrys Amari airbase since March to uphold security in the region as part of Natos Baltic air police mission. The mission, known as Operation Azotize, began in March 2023 and is the second deployment in the region since Russias invasion of Ukraine. Read the full story: Estonian-based fighter jet pilots focused despite Ukraine war RAF commander Watch: Russian fighter jet damages US drone with flares over Syria Tuesday 25 July 2023 20:15 , Martha Mchardy Russian military delegation to join Chinese in North Korea visit Tuesday 25 July 2023 19:51 , Martha Mchardy A Russian delegation led by defence minister Sergei Shoigu will visit North Korea this week, Shoigus ministry announced on Tuesday, joining a Chinese group as the first such public visitors to the country since the start of the pandemic. The delegations will visit to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Victory Day on Thursday in Pyongyang, state media agency KCNA reported, with Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong leading the group from his country. Russias Defence Ministry, whose delegation will visit from Tuesday to Thursday, said it had been invited by its North Korean counterpart and would attend the Victory Day events. This visit will contribute to strengthening Russian-North Korean military ties and will be an important stage in the development of cooperation between the two countries, the ministry said in a statement. North Korea closed its border in early 2020 to all trade and diplomatic exchanges, even with its main economic and political partners China and Russia. The state media report did not say whether the visits would mark any change in policy. The anniversary events are expected to include a major military parade in North Koreas capital. Marine veteran freed from Russia in 2022 prisoner swap is injured while fighting in Ukraine, US says Tuesday 25 July 2023 19:15 , Martha Mchardy A former U.S. Marine who was released from Russia in a prisoner swap last year has been injured while fighting in Ukraine, the State Department and a person familiar with the matter said Tuesday. Trevor Reed was injured several weeks ago, according to the person, who was not authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said Reed was taken to Germany for medical care. He said Reed was not acting on behalf of the U.S. government. Reed was released from Russian custody in a prisoner swap last year in exchange for a Russian pilot imprisoned in the U.S. for a drug trafficking conspiracy. US announces $400 mln in security aid for Ukraine Tuesday 25 July 2023 18:45 , Martha Mchardy The United States will provide up to $400 mln in additional security assistance for Ukraine, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday. The new aid will include air defence munitions, armoured vehicles and anti-armour weapons, it said in a statement. Putin passes law banning Russians from changing gender in latest blow to LGBT+ communit Tuesday 25 July 2023 18:30 , Martha Mchardy Vladimir Putin has signed a new controversial legislation banning surgical gender reassignment in Russia in yet another blow to the countrys LGBT+ population. Crackdowns against the LGBT+ community and gender minorities in the country have only gathered pace ever since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year as the Russian president seeks popularity among citizens. The latest move by Mr Putin on Monday marks Russias final step in rendering gender-affirming procedures illegal and depriving its transgender population of their right to access gender-reassignment services. Arpan Rai reports: Putin signs off law banning Russians from changing gender in blow to LGBT+ community Putin was told of Wagner mutiny plot but failed to stop it - Washington Post Tuesday 25 July 2023 18:00 , Martha Mchardy Russian president Vladimir Putin failed to stop a rebellion by Wagner fighters last month despite being warned of the mutiny days in advance, the Washington Post reported. President Putin was allegedly told two or three days before the June 23 uprising that Wagner chief Yevgeniy Prigozhin was preparing a possible rebellion. Wagner chief Yevgeniy Prigozhin Putin had time to take the decision to liquidate [the mutiny] and arrest the organisers, an unnamed European security official said. Then when it began to happen, there was paralysis on all levels There was absolute dismay and confusion. For a long time, they did not know how to react. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the claims as nonsense shared by people who have zero information. Kremlin adviser: Putin set to visit China in October Tuesday 25 July 2023 17:29 , Martha Mchardy Russian president Vladimir Putin intends to visit China in October, planning his visit to coincide with a One Belt, One Road forum, Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov told reporters on Tuesday, according to the Russian state news agency TASS. China has become Russias most significant ally since early last year, when the Wests already strained ties with Moscow were chilling further as Putin was preparing to send his armed forces into Ukraine. Putin last visited Beijing just before the invasion, which Russia calls a special military operation, and together with Chinese president Xi Jinping announced a no limits partnership that has extended into economic, trade, political and military areas. China has declined to blame Moscow for the war and condemned Western sanctions on Russia, even as it has profited by securing discounts for oil and gas that Russia no longer sells to Europe, and watched Russia increasingly use its yuan as a reserve currency, in preference to the U.S. dollar. Xi in turn came to Moscow in March, sealing a series of economic and other agreements with his dear friend Putin. China presented a paper in Moscow calling for a de-escalation and eventual ceasefire in Ukraine, but Kyiv and its Western allies rejected the plan, saying it would lock in Russian territorial gains. Russian president Vladimir Putin speaks to Chinese president Xi Jinping (Sputnik) Former Russian defence workers sentenced for spying on behalf of Ukraine Tuesday 25 July 2023 17:25 , Martha Mchardy Two former Russian defence workers have been jailed for treason after being found guilty of spying for Ukraine. The couple, who were formerly married, were sentenced to 17 and 13 years in prison after being accused of passing military intelligence to Kyiv. The two former defence workers also planned to blow up railway lines in the Kursk and Belgorod regions., the Kursk Regional Court said in a statement. The couple, identified as R.A. Sidorkin and T.A. Sidorkina by the FSB, were accused of handing over technical documents and models used in the manufacture of weapons systems for Russias air force. The FSB said it had seized plastic explosives, four detonators, military design documentation and $150,000 in cash. Sidorkin, 50, was additionally charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and sentenced to 17 years. Sidorkina, 41, was sentenced to 13 years. Ukrainian politician arrested over alleged collaboration with Russia Tuesday 25 July 2023 17:15 , Martha Mchardy A Ukrainian politician suspected of collaborating with Russia has been arrested, the countrys prosecutor generals office has said. Oleksandr Ponomaryov, a lawmaker elected for a now-banned party accused of ties to Russia, was placed in detention without bail by Kyivs Pechersk district court, the prosecutors office said. He is accused of going over to the side of the enemy and helping Russia occupy the city of Berdyansk. Putin visit to Turkey planned, but no firm date yet Tuesday 25 July 2023 16:59 , Martha Mchardy Senior Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov said on Tuesday that a visit by Russian president Vladimir Putin to Turkey is in both countries plans, but no firm date has yet been agreed, the Russian state news agency TASS reported. Putin to discuss Ukraine with African leaders at July 28 summit Tuesday 25 July 2023 16:30 , Martha Mchardy Russian president Vladimir Putin will discuss Ukraine with a group of African leaders in a working dinner at a summit in St Petersburg on July 28, Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov as saying on Tuesday. The state news agency RIA quoted Ushakov as saying that 17 African heads of state would speak at the Russia-Africa summit, which takes place this Thursday and Friday. Ukraine not slowing down pace of its ambitions to join Nato, says Zelensky Tuesday 25 July 2023 16:27 , Martha Mchardy Ukraine is not slowing down the pace of its ambitions to join Nato, president Volodymyr Zelensky has said. In a tweet, the Ukrainian president said: We are not slowing down the pace of our integration with Nato. I brought together representatives of the Verkhovna Rada and government officials to prepare practical steps to implement the decisions of the Vilnius summit. In particular, we have a clear plan to launch the Nato-Ukraine council at all levels. We will see its work at the ambassadorial level tomorrow during an urgently convened meeting on the situation in the Black Sea. We are also starting to jointly prepare an interoperability plan with the Alliance. We are not slowing down the pace of our integration with NATO. I brought together representatives of the Verkhovna Rada and government officials to prepare practical steps to implement the decisions of the Vilnius Summit. In particular, we have a clear plan to launch the pic.twitter.com/I29vgaq7P5 (@ZelenskyyUa) July 25, 2023 Russian fighter jet damages US drone with flares over Syria Tuesday 25 July 2023 16:08 , Martha Mchardy A Russian fighter jet flew within a few metres of a US drone over Syria and fired flares at it, striking the aircraft and damaging it, the US military said. A senior Air Force commander said the move on Sunday was an attempt by the Russians to knock the MQ-9 Reaper drone out of the sky and came just a week after a Russian fighter jet flew dangerously close to a US surveillance aircraft carrying a crew in the region, jeopardising the lives of the four Americans on board. One of the Russian flares struck the US MQ-9, severely damaging its propeller, Lt Gen Alex Grynkewich, the head of US Air Forces Central, said in a statement describing the latest close call. We call upon the Russian forces in Syria to put an immediate end to this reckless, unprovoked and unprofessional behavior. Lt Gen Grynkewich said one of the crew members operating the drone remotely kept it in the air and flew it back to its home base. The incident is the latest in a series of encounters between Russian fighter jets and US aircraft flying over Syria. In all but the one instance a week ago, the US aircraft were MQ-9 drones without crew members. On that Sunday, however, the Russian Su-35 jet few close to a US MC-12 surveillance aircraft with a crew, forcing it to go through the turbulent wake. US officials at the time called it a significant escalation in the ongoing string of encounters between US and Russian aircraft that could have resulted in an accident or loss of life. They said the Russian move hampered the crew members ability to safely operate their plane. In recent weeks, US officials said, Russian fighter jets have repeatedly harassed US MQ-9 drones, which are conducting anti-Islamic State group missions, largely in western Syria. On multiple occasions in the past three weeks, the officials said, Russian fighter jets flew dangerously close to the US Reapers, setting off flares and forcing the drones to take evasive maneuvers. US and Russian military officers communicate frequently over a deconfliction phone line during the encounters, protesting against the other sides actions. There are about 900 US forces in Syria, and others move in and out to conduct missions targeting Islamic State group militants. EU ready to move almost all of Ukraines grain exports via solidarity lanes Tuesday 25 July 2023 15:01 , Martha Mchardy The European Union is ready to export almost all of Ukraines agriculture goods via solidarity lanes, the EUs agriculture commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski said. We are ready to export almost everything. This is about 4 million tonnes per month of oilseeds and grains and we achieved this volume in November last year, he told reporters. Prior to Russia pulling out of the U.N.-backed grain deal this month, he said 60% of Ukraines exports were shipped via solidarity lanes while 40% went via the Black Sea. UN says Ukrainian POWs in Donetsk not killed by rocket, as Russia claimed Tuesday 25 July 2023 14:51 , Martha Mchardy The U.N. human rights chief on Tuesday called for accountability for the deaths of at least 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war last year in an explosion in a Donetsk region detention facility, rejecting Moscows claim that they were killed by a rocket. The prisoners being held in a Russian-controlled detention facility in Olenivka, in the eastern Donetsk region, were killed by an apparent explosion July 28-29 2022. Unverified Russia media video footage showed the burned out remains of the prison and charred bodies. Russias defence ministry said at the time that a missile strike by a U.S.-made HIMARS rocket was responsible. Kyiv, which frequently raises the incident, has maintained that Russia conducted the explosion at the Olenivka prison in order to hide mistreatment of the Ukrainian captives held inside. Russias defence ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Moscow has previously denied maltreating POWs. The prisoners of war who were injured or died at Olenivka, and their family members, deserve the truth to be known, and for those responsible for breaches of international law to be held accountable, said High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk in a statement sent to journalists. The UN rights body, which said it has conducted extensive interviews with survivors and analysed additional information, added that the incident was not caused by a HIMARS rocket. It said that it has not identified the source of the explosion but would continue to follow up on the incident. Russia has not granted requests to access parts of Ukraine under temporary Russian control nor given the satisfactory safety assurances for a site visit, the statement added. The U.N. rights office has previously said both Russia and Ukraine have abused prisoners of war during the conflict, although the former has done so on a bigger scale. Moldova to summon Russian ambassador over spying claims Tuesday 25 July 2023 14:31 , Martha Mchardy Moldovas foreign ministry said on Tuesday it would summon Russian ambassador Oleg Vasnetsov for an explanation of media reports that equipment has been installed on the Russian embassys rooftop that could be used for spying. The Insider media outlet and television channel Jurnal TV said 28 satellite dishes, masts, and transmitting and receiving devices had been installed on the embassy and a neighbouring residential building used by diplomats and technical personnel. They said in a joint report that people associated with Russian intelligence had been seen on the buildings. We consider espionage or foreign interference in the internal affairs of Moldova to be absolutely unacceptable, which represents a direct challenge to the sovereignty and national security of the Moldovan state, the ministry said. The embassy and Moscow did not immediately comment on the ministry statement or on the media report. Russia has denied repeated Moldovan accusations of meddling in its affairs, particularly over the breakaway region of Transdniestria, where Moscow has a contingent of peacekeepers. Tension has also mounted over Russias invasion of Ukraine. Moldova, which borders Ukraine, has criticised the invasion and Russias war on its neighbour. In February, Russia rejected an accusation by Moldovas president that Moscow was plotting to destabilise the former Soviet republic. The Russian foreign ministry described such assertions as completely unfounded and unsubstantiated. Why are Wagner mercenaries in Belarus and would they try to invade Poland? Tuesday 25 July 2023 14:18 , Martha Mchardy Thousands of Wagner group mercenaries have arrived in Belarus since its failed mutiny against Moscow led by founder Yevgeny Prigozhin leading to Nato-member Poland reinforcing its eastern border from the potential threat they pose. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko welcomed Wagner forces into the country after brokering a deal between the Kremlin and Mr Prigozhin stopping the mercenaries march on Moscow about 125 miles from the capital. He and Russian President Vladimir Putin have spoken about the mercenaries on a number of occasions, including during two days of talks over the weekend and into Monday, the Kremlin said on Tuesday. Mr Putin has said that any aggression from The Wagner chief called the mutiny a march of justice to oust the top military leaders. The mercenaries faced little resistance and downed at least six military helicopters and a command post aircraft, killing a number of Russian troops. Chris Stevenson reports: Why are Wagner mercenaries in Belarus and would they try to invade Poland? Kremlin: Putin and Lukashenko discussed Wagner, economic cooperation, external threats Tuesday 25 July 2023 13:50 , Martha Mchardy Russian president Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko discussed the Wagner mercenary group, economic cooperation and external threats during two days of talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday. Lukashenko, who helped broker a deal to end a mutiny against the armys top brass by the Wagner group last month, flew to St Petersburg on Sunday to start the talks with Putin. The two men have met regularly, as well as talking by phone, since Lukashenko allowed Belarus to be used as a staging post for Russias armed forces when they launched what Moscow calls its special military operation against Ukraine in February 2022. Peskov said the two men had not set out to reach any new agreements in the latest talks, but that within the framework of very close relations, the presidents synchronise their positions, synchronise their watches. Russian president Vladimir Putin and Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko (via REUTERS) He said the agenda had taken in the theme of the Wagner Group, and the theme of trade and economic cooperation, and the Union State, and external threats along the perimeter of our countries. Russia and Belarus are linked in a partnership called the Union State in which Moscow is the dominant player. Lukashenko has proved his usefulness to Putin not only in February 2022 but also by letting Russian forces train at his military bases and station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. The Kremlin also credited Lukashenko with brokering last months deal to end the mutiny, under which Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was allowed to relocate to Belarus. Thousands of his fighters have since moved there. Russian could target civilian ships in Black Sea after grain deal collapse, warns Cleverly Tuesday 25 July 2023 13:30 , Martha Mchardy Russian could target civilian ships in the Black Sea in a bid to destroy Ukraines exports following the collapse of a crucial grain deal, the Government has warned. Foreign secretary James Cleverly warned: The UK believes that Russia may escalate its campaign to destroy Ukraines food exports by targeting civilian ships in the Black Sea. He said that the Government would raise this unconscionable behaviour at the UN Security Council. Russia should stop holding global food supplies hostage and return to the deal, Mr Cleverly said. The deal, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, was broken off earlier this month by Russia in a move that sparked fresh concerns about global food security as the war drags on. In recent days Russia has also fired dozens of missiles and drones at the Odesa region, a key Ukrainian hub for exporting grain. James Cleverly (PA Wire) UK PM and Zelensky agree on need for Ukraine to be able to export grain Tuesday 25 July 2023 13:25 , Martha Mchardy Prime minister Rishi Sunak and Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky agreed on Tuesday on the importance of ensuring Ukraine can export grain to international markets, Sunaks office said following a call between the pair. Discussing the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the leaders agreed on the importance of ensuring grain was able to be exported from Ukraine to reach international markets, a spokesperson for Sunak said in a statement. The prime minister said the UK was working closely with Turkey on restoring the grain deal, and we would continue to use our role as chair of the UN Security Council to further condemn Russias behaviour. Sunak also told Zelensky he was appalled by the devastation caused by the recent Russian attacks on Odesa, the statement said. Kremlin says it is impossible to return to Black Sea grain deal for now Tuesday 25 July 2023 13:16 , Martha Mchardy The Kremlin said on Tuesday that it was impossible for Russia to return to the Black Sea grain export deal for now, as an agreement related to Russian interests was not being implemented. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, however, that president Vladimir Putin had made it clear that the deal could be revived if the Russia-focused part of the agreement was honoured. The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July, aimed to help prevent a global food crisis by allowing grain blocked by the conflict in Ukraine to be safely exported. Peskov said it would be important for Russia to discuss grain supplies with African countries at a Russia-Africa summit later this week. Russian lawmakers vote to raise conscription age limit to 30 Tuesday 25 July 2023 13:11 , Martha Mchardy Russias lower house of parliament voted on Tuesday to raise the maximum age at which men can be conscripted from 27 to 30 years, increasing the number of young men liable for a year of compulsory military service at any one time. The law will come into effect on Jan. 1. Sunak reaffirms UK support for Ukraine in call with Zelensky Tuesday 25 July 2023 11:08 , Matt Mathers Prime minister Rishi Sunak reaffirmed the UKs support for Ukraine in a call with president Zelensky this morning. The two leaders said they looked forward to speaking with one another again soon, a Downing Street readout of the call said. A Downing Street spokeswoman said: The UK continued to support Ukraines air defence and artillery needs with more ammunition and missiles being delivered, the prime minister said. "Reflecting on long-term security assurances, the leaders agreed the number of countries who had put themselves forward to sign up to the multilateral Joint Declaration was a testament to the international support for Ukraine. "The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon." Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their bilateral meeting at the Nato summit in Vilnius (Paul Ellis/PA) (PA Wire) UN warns of mines near occupied nuclear plant Tuesday 25 July 2023 10:40 , Matt Mathers The UN atomic watchdog staff at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine have reported seeing anti-personnel mines around the site as Kyiv pursues a counter-offensive against the Kremlins forces after 17 months of war. "Having such explosives on the site is inconsistent with the IAEA safety standards and nuclear security guidance and creates additional psychological pressure on plant staff," International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Grossi said. However, any detonation of the mines, located between the sites internal and external perimeter barriers, "should not affect the sites nuclear safety and security systems", the statement added. Russia Ukraine War (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Russia launches fresh strikes on Kyiv Tuesday 25 July 2023 09:46 , Matt Mathers Russia launched new drone strikes on Kyiv and parts of central and northern Ukraine early on Tuesday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. There were also no reports of new attacks on southern Ukraine, which had been struck almost every night since Russia pulled out of a deal allowing the safe export of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea on July 17. Russia used Iranian-made Shahed drones to attack Kyiv for the sixth time this month, but all were shot down, said Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv military administration. Air raid alerts blared for more than three-and-half hours over the Kyiv region. Regional governor Ruslan Kravchenko said there had been no reports of damage or casualties although falling debris set off a fire in a field. Air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said air defences had been engaged in three regions in the north of the country. "About 10 drones were recorded, the information is being clarified," he told Ukrainian television, adding that up to five were destroyed. A man works on the rubble of an apartment building destroyed in Russian missile attacks in Odesa, Ukraine, Sunday (PA Wire) Ukraine makes small gains in south - Kyiv Tuesday 25 July 2023 09:07 , Matt Mathers Ukraine has made small advances against Russian troops in the south of the country, Ukraines armed forces has said/ Andriy Kovaliov, spokesperson for the armed forces general staff, said Ukrainian troops had made gains in the direction of the southeastern village of Staromayorske, near settlements recaptured by Ukraine last month in the Donetsk region. Kyiv says it has retaken more than 192 sq km of land in the south and 35 sq km in the east since launching its counteroffensive, a senior defence official said on Monday. Russia Ukraine War (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Moscow and Crimea hit by drone attacks as Russia strikes ports on the Danube Tuesday 25 July 2023 08:45 , Matt Mathers Two drones have crashed into buildings in Moscow , Russian officials said, with one crashing close to the Defence Ministry in the city centre. Nobody was hurt in the drone attack early on Monday morning, while a senior Ukrainian official said there would be more to come. One drone struck close to the Moscow building where the Russian military holds briefings, a symbolic blow which underscores the reach of such drones. Full report: Moscow and Crimea hit by drone attacks as Russia strikes ports on the Danube Russian diplomat says there are no talks on restoring grain deal - RIA Tuesday 25 July 2023 08:17 , Matt Mathers Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Vershinin said on Tuesday that no talks on resuming the Black Sea grain export deal were currently under way, the RIA news agency reported. The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July, aimed to prevent a global food crisis by allowing grain blocked by the war in Ukraine to be safely exported. Russia announced it was withdrawing from the deal last week. (AP) Russia targeting Odesa over belief that Ukraine is storing military assets there, says UK MoD Tuesday 25 July 2023 06:54 , Arpan Rai The British Ministry of Defence has claimed that Russia is now less politically constrained after walking out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and is striking the Odesa port more in recent days as it believes Ukraine is storing military equipment there. Since 28 July, Russia has conducted greater numbers of long-range strikes against Odesa and other areas of southern Ukraine. These attacks have featured an unusual number of AS-4 KITCHEN missiles, a 5.5 tonne weapon originally designed to destroy aircraft carriers, the ministry said today in its latest intelligence update. It added that the Russian attacks have damaged several grain silos at Chronomorsk Port, south of Odesa, as well as the historic city centre. The ministry pointed to Russias extended one-way attack drone strikes to the docks of the Danube River, approximately 200 metres from the Romanian border, yesterday. Russia generally refrained from targeting civilian infrastructure in the southern port region between August last year and June this year, when the Black Sea grain deal was still in force, the ministry said. Since Russia failed to renew the deal, the Kremlin likely feels less politically constrained, and is attempting to strike targets in Odesa because it believes Ukraine is storing military assets in these areas. Since the start of the war, Russias strike campaign has been characterised by poor intelligence and a dysfunctional targeting process, it added. Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant's fourth and fifth blocks in shutdown mode Tuesday 25 July 2023 06:17 , Arpan Rai Russia-installed officials at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant said the fourth and fifth blocks of the facility were put in a shutdown mode for inspection purposes. In order to conduct a scheduled technical inspection of the equipment of power unit number 5, the management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant decided to transfer it to the cold shutdown, state, the administration said on its Telegram channel. And in order to provide steam for the stations own needs, the reactor plant of power unit number 4 was transferred to the hot shutdown state. The plant has been under Russias control from the early days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and has seen continuous shelling from both sides, risking the nuclear plants safety. Ilya Sachkov, co-founder of the Group-IB cybersecurity firm, was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian prison on treason charges (Handout) Russia on Wednesday sentenced Ilya Sachkov, co-founder of the Group-IB cybersecurity firm, to 14 years in prison on treason charges, according to an AFP journalist in the Moscow court. Following a closed-door trial, "the court found Sachkov guilty under Article 275 of Russia's Criminal Code and sentenced him to 14 years in prison with the sentence to be served in a strict regime penal colony", judge Alexander Rybak said. Sachkov, 37, co-founded Group-IB in 2003. It specialises in the detection and prevention of cyberattacks and works with Interpol and several other global institutions. Prosecutors last week requested that Sachkov be sentenced to 18 years in jail. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Sachkov was smiling as he appeared in court on Wednesday, wearing jeans and a black T-shirt, an AFP reporter said. His mother and his partner as well as several supporters were also present. Lawyer Ruslan Koblev, representing Sachkov, said they intend to appeal the verdict, describing the case as "politicised to the maximum". Sachkov has been in custody since September 2021. Few details have been made public from his trial, as treason cases in Russia are typically classified. Russian news agencies reported that Sachkov is accused of handing classified information to foreign intelligence and the charges were not connected to the work of Group-IB. - 'Dark day' - In an open letter to President Vladimir Putin published in November 2021, Sachkov said he was "not a spy and not a traitor" but a "Russian engineer" who repeatedly proved his "loyalty" to Russia. Group-IB, headquartered in Singapore, said in a statement following the verdict that it had "full confidence in Ilya's innocence". "While he remains wrongfully imprisoned, we will continue to stand up against injustice and operate our business with the same mission in mind -- to fight against cybercrime," the company said in a statement. Story continues Group-IB this year finalised its exit from the Russian market. Its stand-alone Russian business was sold to local management and renamed F.A.C.C.T (Fight Against Cybercrime Technologies). "This is a difficult moment for us all and a dark day for the cybersecurity market," Valery Baulin, CEO of F.A.C.C.T, said of Sachkov's verdict. Sachkov co-founded Group-IB when he was just 17 and he was featured on the Forbes "30 under-30" list of tech entrepreneurs in 2016. Three years later he received an "innovative breakthrough" award from Putin "for developments in the field of identifying and preventing cyberthreats", according to the Kremlin. bur/yad Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu has arrived in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and held talks with the military on Wednesday. Source: website of the Russian Defence Ministry; Vazhnye Istorii (Important Stories), a Russian media outlet; Meduza, a Latvia-based Russian independent news outlet Details: Shoigu reportedly spoke with the DPRK's Defence Minister, General Kang Sun-nam. The official purpose of the visit is Shoigu's participation in events dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. It is not known what the ministers discussed. In recent months, the US government has repeatedly accused North Korea of supplying missiles to the Russian military. Quote from Shoigu: "I am glad to meet you and get to know you. I gratefully accepted your invitation to visit Pyongyang, the capital of a friendly state... The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is an important partner of Russia... I am convinced that today's talks will contribute to strengthening cooperation between our defence ministries." Background: In September 2022, the New York Times reported, citing a declassified US intelligence report, that Russia was buying millions of artillery shells from the DPRK. At the time, analysts interviewed by the NYT said that this was evidence of the depletion of its own stockpiles. In December 2022, US National Security Council representative John Kirby said that Wagner Group was buying ammunition from North Korea. At that time, the mercenaries were actively fighting near Bakhmut. In March 2023, Kirby also said that Russia was seeking to obtain even more ammunition from North Korea, possibly offering food in return. Bloomberg reported that North Korea has large stockpiles of 152mm shells used by the Russian army. It is possible that the DPRK is supporting the war in Ukraine not only by supplying shells. In February, the South Korean outlet Daily NK wrote that the North Korean authorities had ordered some companies to send some of their employees to the occupied territories. They were tasked with participating in reconstruction work. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Air Force of Ukraine has reported the launch of cruise missiles from 12 Russian Tu-95MS long-range bombers on the evening of 26 July. Source: Air Force of Ukraine Quote: "Cruise missiles were launched from 12 Tu-95MS from the Caspian Sea!" Details: The Air Force has warned civilians of the new threat at 16:57. Cruise missiles typically fly for an hour or an hour and a half to the Ukrainian border and are capable of changing their trajectories. For reference: Usually, each Tu-95MS aircraft carries 2-4 missiles, and the maximum combat load is 8 missiles. Background: On the afternoon of 26 July, air-raid warnings were issued throughout Ukraine. At around 13:00, Russian troops launched a Kalibr cruise missile attack from the Black Sea, with both missiles being shot down in Vinnytsia Oblast. However, the Air Force also reported a threat of a Russian missile strike on Wednesday afternoon, with 12 strategic bombers taking off in Russia. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! This years Galaxy Unpacked foldable showcase is more of a Samsung eco-system barrage. Two foldables, two wearables, and no fewer than three tablets are here to tempt you to stick with the Galaxy family (or jump ship from rivals like Apple and Google.) While the fourth-generation foldables are arguably the big reveals, Samsungs latest flagship tablet, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, is making its case for a premium Android tablet. The flagship Galaxy Tab S9 is only the companys second Ultra tablet, and there are many similarities to last years Tab S8 Ultra, with its 16:10 screen, dual-camera array on the back and magnetized stylus holster. This time, you can attach the stylus in either direction on the holster, and itll still charge an odd oversight on the previous model. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra hands-on Design-wise, its more of the same for Samsungs tablet: More smooth aluminum frames but with slimmer bezels. Theyre still thin and feel incredibly premium, especially the wide-screen Ultra. The Tab S9 Ultra feels a little unwieldy in my hands, partially due its taller screen ratio, which Im not used to. Also because its almost 13 inches wide. At least its gorgeous. Samsung has evolved the displays on its tablets even further, with the ninth-generation tablets all using Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays, like those found on its most powerful (and expensive) Galaxy S phones and Galaxy Book Ultra laptops. The Tab S9 Ultra has a 14.6-inch AMOLED display, capable of reaching 120Hz and supporting HDR 10+. While Ill focus on the Ultra model, the Galaxy Tab S9+ with its 12.4-inch display and Tab S9 with its 11-inch screen also get the same beefed-up AMOLED tech. Unsurprisingly, the screens are all vivid and high-contrast its Samsungs strength right here. I had to reduce the screen's brightness pretty substantially just to capture images of the Tab S9 Ultra. Once again, the Galaxy Tab Ultra model comes with a notch gasp which appears to be dual 12-megapixel cameras. (There are a few specs were double-checking with Samsung.) The tablets also pack four AKG-tuned speakers, and if youre planning to watch a lot of movies, shows or games, theres also support for Dolby Atmos. Story continues Beyond the display, Samsung has made two other major upgrades to the Tab S9 series. First up is IP68 dust and water protection to all the new tablets. Samsung says this means it should survive depths up to 1.5 meters of water, while its also launching a ruggedized cover (pricing TBD) to make the most of the tabs new hardy bona fides. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra hands-on Samsung has also improved the processor for 2023 and its tablets all use Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The company claims some major performance improvements compared to last years Tab S8, including up to 32 percent improved CPU and 41 percent better GPU performance. Both the Tab S9+ and Tab S9 Ultra will be able to fast-charge at up to 45W, although only the Tab S9 Ultra will come with the compatible charging brick. Thats why its the Ultra, people. Both of the larger tablets have a dual-camera array on the rear, with 13- and 8-megapixel sensors, while the Tab S9 will have a single 13-megapixel camera. Youll be able to get up to 12 gigs of memory across all three models, although the base Tab S9 will also be available with 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage. The Tab S9 Ultra tops out with a heady 1TB storage for power users. Make sure to factor in the cost of your keyboard dock, though. Were waiting to confirm pricing with Samsung for the Tab S9 Ultra version, but last years premium keyboard folio, which includes a trackpad, cost $350. At least Samsung is making sure some apps power-users might demand make use of the add-on, with the company teasing CAD design app ArcSite and video-editor LumaFusion (think an Android-flavored iMovie) on its top tablet. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra hands-on Aside from the bidirectional charging feature, the S-Pen also gets IP68 support, which is more likely to get dropped into water hazard than an almost 15-inch tablet. Samsung announced that it will also launch a creator edition of its S-Pen, with a new textured finish, wider tilt angle and multiple stylus tips. However, I didnt get to test that during my meeting with Samsung and theres no word on pricing and launch date, yet. The standard S-Pen feels, well, like a Samsung Stylus. Its more substantial than the one included with the S23 Ultra and Note series, with a flattened side to aid grip, and it seems fluid and responsive on the Tab S9s screen. Samsungs Multi Control attempts to sew together your disparate Galaxy devices. I tested out some simple tasks during my briefing, and (after logging into both devices with the same Samsung account) could interface between a Galaxy Flip 4 and the Tab S9 Ultra. While setting up Multi Control, youll even get to choose where your phone appears in relation to the Tab S9, just like setting up a second screen on a PC. Then, if using a trackpad or mouse, you can inch the cursor across to your Samsung phone, type into search bars and emails from your keyboard (not sure why you would do that), and drag and drop files and images. Prices for Samsungs flagship tablet, the Tab S9 Ultra start at $1,200, while the Tab S9+ will start at $1000 and the Tab S9 at $800. Pre-orders are open now on Samsung and Amazon (although you won't find the Ultra on Amazon), with the tablets eventually going on sale August 11th. A fire crew walks through a charred field at the Agua fire in north Los Angeles County on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. The fire burned more than 400 acres into the Angeles National Forest. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times) Firefighters continued to battle three large brush fires Wednesday that, combined, had scorched hundreds of acres in Southern California, damaging power lines and shutting down roads amid triple-digit temperatures. The latest, dubbed the Owen fire, ignited in the Santa Monica Mountains shortly before 2 p.m. and was gauged, around 3 p.m., at 50 acres, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. A revised size-up at 5 p.m. Wednesday estimated the fire at 25 acres. About 200 firefighters battled the blaze, which was 30% contained by Wednesday evening, according to a department spokesperson. Although the fire was burning near homes, in the area of North Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Santa Maria Road, it was not threatening any structures and had not prompted evacuations. Topanga Canyon Boulevard was temporarily closed in both directions due to the blaze, according to Caltrans. Firefighters also continued to battle a brush fire at the edge of Angeles National Forest that quadrupled in size overnight, swelling to 421 acres as of Wednesday morning. The Agua fire , which ignited Tuesday afternoon near Soledad Canyon and Agua Dulce Canyon roads near Santa Clarita, was 20% contained Wednesday evening, according to forest officials. About 330 firefighters from both the L.A. County Fire Department and Angeles National Forest worked amid a heat advisory, enduring sweltering temperatures and steep terrain that made some areas difficult to reach and contributed to the blaze's rapid growth. Soledad Canyon Road was closed between Agua Dulce and Crown Valley roads as a result of the fire, according to Angeles National Forest. The blaze had also destroyed power lines, though forest officials could not confirm how many. Read more: Pair of fires leap in size in Santa Clarita Valley; hundreds of firefighters do battle There were no evacuations as of late Wednesday due to the Agua fire, said Celeste Morales, an Angeles National Forest spokesperson. The cause is under investigation. Story continues Overnight Tuesday, as the fire continued to burn, the county Fire Department deployed most of its resources to assist Angeles National Forest. As of Wednesday morning, about seven county firefighters were working to contain the blaze, according to a department spokesperson. About 13 miles away, the L.A. County Fire Department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection continued to battle another Santa Clarita Valley brush fire that ignited Tuesday afternoon amid triple-digit heat. Read more: Southern California will broil for the rest of the week. How hot could it get? The Victor fire, which started near North Sierra Highway and Needham Ranch Parkway, had grown to 70 acres by Wednesday morning, with 10% containment and one reported injury, according to county fire officials. No evacuations, closures or structural damage were reported. Metrolink service in Santa Clarita was temporarily halted Tuesday afternoon due to dangers posed by the Agua fire and other smaller brush fires including one that ignited along the 5 Freeway after a police pursuit ended in a crash. Thirteen trains were canceled, but all were back in service by Wednesday afternoon, said Scott Johnson, a Metrolink spokesperson. About eight miles from the Agua fire, another blaze that ignited Tuesday afternoon near Sierra Highway and Jakes Way in Canyon Country burned on both sides of the Metrolink tracks, county fire officials said. Firefighters stopped the spread of the 1-acre fire within an hour. At 1:36 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, firefighters were also dispatched to a brush fire in Palmdale that grew to 5 acres and delayed traffic. The blaze, which ignited north of Palmdale Boulevard, was stopped by 3 p.m. 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. After receiving several letters from locals about the cost of its Fourth of July Celebration, Saugatuck City Council discussed a possible audit Monday, July 24. SAUGATUCK After receiving several letters from locals about the cost of its Fourth of July Celebration, Saugatuck City Council discussed a possible audit Monday, July 24. The event featured fireworks, music from a DJ and a laser light show. But it came in vastly over budget, at nearly $30,000 in additional expenditures. An invoice received by former councilmember Bill Hess and shared with The Sentinel showed expenses of $53,169 including $14,000 for fireworks, $18,000 for the laser light show, and $5,000 for music. The city only budgeted $22,300. An expense report obtained by The Sentinel from Saugatuck City Treasurer Peter Stanislawski showed total expenditures for the event were even higher, at $58,025. The budget for the event was split between $13,300 in donations and $15,000 from the city. City Manager Ryan Heise said the shortfall will come out of the city's general reserves and will require a budget adjustment. He said that's not rare or unique. Hess acknowledged council had to make quick decisions to ensure the fireworks took place at all, given limited vendor availability but he wondered whether the DJ and light show were necessary. I do not think our taxpayers would have approved spending an additional $30,000 on the laser light show and DJ when there were no budgeted funds available for these costs, Hess wrote. City infrastructure projects would have clearly benefited from $30,000 in additional funds. Fireworks explode Sunday, July 4, 2021, over Kalamazoo Lake in Saugatuck. Hess, along with Allegan County Clerk Bob Genetski, called for an independent audit to determine if the gap between costs and contributions were out of compliance with any city or council policies. Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage In light of rising property taxes, Genetski questioned the timing of such a large event. Having just recently received our property tax bills (and the increases reflected on them), I share your concerns about unforeseen budget hits, Genetski wrote. I am hoping that an independent material and procedural audit can clarify any doubt in the community and ensure the public feels informed on the spending of taxpayer money in the future. Story continues In a statement read during Monday's meeting, Mayor Scott Dean addressed the issue, calling the event the biggest and best celebration of American democracy that our small town has seen in many years. He also thanked volunteers, city staff and public safety officials for their efforts and spoke about the struggles involved in putting on an event of such magnitude. The citys efforts to sustain our communitys Independence Day traditions in an era of declining volunteerism and shrinking outside funding has not been without criticism, Dean said. With that in mind, the citys legal counsel has been forwarded city resident concerns regarding the (event) and will report back to the council if any actions were taken outside of the citys authority regarding decision-making or spending." Dean, too, was frustrated. "Although, as mayor, I regret that we must spend additional taxpayer funds to respond to these questions, it is necessary to defend the citys hosting of the celebration of our national holiday and maintain the publics trust in their local government," he wrote. Hess and Genetski requested an audit, but Dean said there wasn't support from council. Instead, he said, the city will undergo a "legal review," with the city attorney currently in the process of reviewing meeting minutes and recordings. So far, he said, there's been no red flags. As I said, its a shame we have to spend more taxpayer money on it, but the city has to address allegations that, if unanswered, only serve to undermine the publics trust in local government. Heise said it's important to be transparent but barring any red flags, there's little left to be done. Ive learned not to predict the will of elected officials," he said. "Whats clear is that their votes were unanimous, and they were fully aware of the cost associated with an excellent family-friendly event. If there are no process concerns with authorization of vendor approvals, I cant envision a reason why council would continue the conversation. Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Saugatuck locals concerned after Fourth of July celebration goes $30K over budget A pair of senators wants new criminal penalties for scammers who prey on veterans, arguing the punishment is needed to discourage would-be wrongdoers from targeting individuals who have already sacrificed for their country. The Veterans Protection from Fraud Act introduced by Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Ted Budd, R-N.C., on Wednesday would add up to 10 more years in prison for individuals convicted of mail fraud and similar crimes when the victim is a veteran. In many cases, that could double the sentence already allowed under federal law. Nevada veterans have put their lives on the line for this country, and we must do everything we can to stop scams targeting them, Cortez Masto said in a statement. My bipartisan bill strengthens penalties for fraud against veterans and makes it more difficult for criminals to target them. Last year, individuals filed nearly 93,000 federal fraud complaints connected to their veterans benefits or veterans status, totaling more than $164 million. The senators behind the measure said they are concerned that veterans are becoming more of a target following recent congressional efforts to boost the availability of benefits options for veterans. How to best protect against online scams targeting service members Ross Bryant, the executive director of the Military and Veteran Services Center at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, said his office has seen an increase in recent years in the number of veterans receiving solicitations from groups posing as charities to help other military members or families. They especially seem to be preying on older veterans, who maybe arent as savvy with their passwords and personal information, he said. There are a lot of legitimate nonprofits out there, but there are a lot of scammers too. The measure has the support of numerous veterans groups, including Veterans of Foreign Wars, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Disabled American Veterans. In a statement, Budd said the new penalties send a strong message that we will not allow Americas veterans to be victimized by criminals. Whether the measure can advance in Congress this year remains unclear. The Senate is scheduled to break for the end of the summer starting this Friday. When lawmakers return, theyll have to rush through a host of budget work before October to avoid a partial government shutdown. No timeline has been set for hearings or votes on the fraud legislation, but it could be rolled into end-of-year legislative packages focused on veterans issues. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is helped by Senators and staff after McConnell unexpectedly pauses while speaking to reporters after the weekly policy luncheon on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. (Greg Nash) Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) froze in front of television cameras for about 20 seconds Wednesday as he battled a bout of lightheadedness that forced him to walk away briefly from a press conference. The scary moment, which prompted members of his leadership team to suggest that he take a rest, raises new questions about the 81-year-old Republican leaders future. Are you good, Mitch? asked Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairwoman Joni Ernst (Iowa), putting her hand on the back of his arm. Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (Wyo.), who is a doctor, ushered McConnell away from the podium after the leader was unable to get more than a couple of sentences into his opening statement. Lets go back to your office, Barrasso suggested. Do you want to say anything else to the press? Lets go back. Barrasso later revealed that he walked down the hall with McConnell toward his office after they both walked away from the podium and that the leader didnt say anything to him to indicate distress. An aide to McConnell later said, He felt lightheaded and stepped away for a moment. The aide pointed out that McConnell was sharp in answering reporters questions after he returned to the event. McConnells term runs through the end of 2026, and he previously said that he expects to stay on as leader. Senate Republican Conference Vice Chairwoman Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.) told reporters after the troubling moment in front of the cameras that McConnell should stay in his leadership role. And hopefully he gets a good rest over the [August] break, she said. Top stories from The Hill Story continues McConnell has helped recruit top-flight Republican candidates in West Virginia and Montana to maximize the chances of reclaiming his old title of Senate majority leader in January 2025. And two outside fundraising groups aligned with McConnell, the Senate Leadership Fund and One Nation, this week reported record-breaking fundraising hauls over the first six months of a nonelection year. The groups raised a combined $38 million, with the Senate Leadership Fund collecting $10.1 million and One Nation bringing in $28.2 million. But Senate Republican colleagues say McConnell seems to be still suffering the effects of a nasty spill he took in early March, which sent him to the hospital with a concussion and led to weeks of rehabilitation. Sign up for the latest from The Hill here One Republican senator who requested anonymity to discuss McConnells health observed that the GOP leader has been more reticent at Republican lunch meetings. The lawmaker speculated that McConnell may be having troubling hearing the conversations at the lunch, just as he sometimes has trouble hearing reporters questions at press conferences. A second Republican senator said McConnell does not appear fully recovered from his fall. I love Mitch McConnell, he is one of the most strategic political thinkers that we have. I have such admiration and respect for him but I do fear that you can call it low energy he is not himself, the lawmaker said. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who is the oldest member of the Senate GOP conference at age 89, said he planned to call McConnells office to check up on his health. If I want to know what went wrong, yes, he said. FILE Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, testifies during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, in Washington. A U.S. Senate committee has accused the embattled Swiss bank Credit Suisse of limiting the scope of an internal probe into Nazi clients and Nazi-linked accounts. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) McConnell waved aside questions about his health when he returned to the podium Wednesday afternoon. Asked at Wednesdays press conference why he was unable to complete his statement and whether it was related to the concussion, McConnell responded: No, Im fine. Youre fine, youre fully able to do your job? the reporter pressed. Yeah, McConnell answered. McConnell returned to the press conference in time to take the first question from reporters, as he usually does after the weekly Senate Republican policy lunch. He made a point of staying at the podium longer than usual to answer questions and appeared calm and confident while providing detailed answers. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) addresses reporters after the weekly policy luncheon on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. (Greg Nash) When a reporter asked Wednesday if he had anybody in mind to replace him when hes no longer the Republican leader, McConnell smiled and walked back to his office while members of his leadership team laughed it off. Republican senators and aides predict that if McConnell steps down from his leadership job, there would be a three-way race among Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.), Barrasso and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the former Senate GOP whip and a current adviser to the Senate GOP leadership team, to replace him. Thune and Cornyn, who have both expressed interest in becoming the Senate GOP leader sometime in the future, say the job belongs to McConnell as long as he wants it. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), the former chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee who challenged McConnell unsuccessfully in November, hasnt ruled out making another run for Senate Republican leader. McConnell defeated Scott 37-10 in an acrimonious race in which both candidates traded blame for the disappointing results of the 2022 midterm election. Barrasso said after the press conference that he was concerned about McConnells health but pointed out that he led the lunch meeting earlier in the day and appeared in good shape while answering questions from the press. I was concerned since he was injured a number of months ago, and I continue to be concerned, he told a crowd of reporters who pressed him for details about McConnells condition. I was concerned when he fell and hit his head a number of months ago and was hospitalized, and I think hes made a remarkable recovery. Hes doing a great job leading our conference and was able to answer every question that the press asked today, he said. Barrasso said McConnell didnt show any signs of impairment at the conference lunch meeting. He spoke at lunch, carried on, led the discussion. Everything was fine, he said. Al Weaver contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Note: The Green Bay Press-Gazette has chosen not to publish many of the graphic details of this crime. However, readers may find material in this report disturbing. GREEN BAY - Both the prosecution and the defense wrapped up their case Wednesday in the homicide trial for Taylor Schabusiness. Closing arguments began Wednesday afternoon and the case went to the jury shortly before 5 p.m. Schabusiness, 25, of Green Bay, is charged with first-degree intentionial homicide, third-degree sexual abuse and mutilation of a corpse in the 2022 killing of her former boyfriend Shad R. Thyrion, 24, of Green Bay. Schabusiness has pleaded not guilty to the charges and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Taylor Schabusiness, who is charged with killing and dismembering her friend, pictured during her trial in Brown County Circuit Court on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Green Bay, Wis. Seeger Gray/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Prosecutors accuse Schabusiness of killing Thyrion with a metal chain as she and Thyrion engaged in sexual play in the basement of a Green Bay house owned by Thyrion's mother, after they had smoked methamphetamine together. After Thyrion's death, his killer mutilated his body with a knife from the home's kitchen, including removing a leg, police say. Schabusiness interview with police On Wednesday, jurors heard a recording of Schabusiness telling police detectives about smoking methamphetamine with Thyrion, a former boyfriend with whom she attended middle school and high school in the Howard-Suamico School District. Green Bay Police Detective David Graf testifies in the homicide trial of Taylor Schabusiness in Brown County Circuit Court on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Green Bay, Wis. Testimony from Green Bay Police Detective David Graf and a recording of Schabusiness answering interview questions from police, show that police believe Schabusiness strangled Thyrion with a metal chain, removed his head with a kitchen knife, and tried to clean the area with Clorox wipes. Much of the morning Wednesday involved testimony from Graf about Schabusiness' activities the night of Feb. 22, 2022. Wednesday's proceedings included playing a recording of more than an hour of an interview Graf conducted with Schabusiness at the police department hours after officers had been told that Thyrion's head was in a bucket in the basement of his mother's house. Story continues Schabusiness spoke about what appears to have been the last moments of Thyrion's life. "I watched his face turn purple," Schabusiness said in the recording. "Blood was coming out of his mouth." Asked what happened next, Schabusiness said she "played with" Thyrion, but "I didn't want him to die, actually." Other testimony Wednesday Earlier in the day Wednesday, Froelich briefly cross-examined Green Bay Detective Phillip Scanlan. Jurors also heard brief testimony from Kendyl Danelski of the Green Bay Police Department's Computer Forensics Unit, who testified about internet searches, including a couple for Jeffrey Dahmer, that had been conducted with Schabusiness' phone. Defense witness unavailable Froelich mounted a brief defense but rested his case when a roommate of Schabusiness a witness he had intended to call could not appear in court because of a medical issue. Schabusiness chose not to testify. Froelich asked Brown County Circuit Judge Thomas Walsh to declare a mistrial because the witness was unavailable. Walsh declined to do so. Trial Day 2: Taylor Schabusiness trial started Monday in beheading case; here is timeline of events in the case Timeline: Taylor Schabusiness trial started Monday in beheading case; here is timeline of events in the case Timeline of events in Schabusiness case This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Schabusiness trial day 3: police interview describes Thyrion's death Note: The Green Bay Press-Gazette has chosen not to publish many of the graphic details of this crime. However, readers may find material in this report disturbing. GREEN BAY - A medical examiner who performed an autopsy on Shad Thyrion testified Tuesday rule that the Green Bay man was a homicide and that afterward his body was significantly mutilated. Thyrion's body sustained additional significant harm in the hours after his death, Dr. Vincent Tranchida, now the deputy medical examiner for Dane and Rock counties, told jurors on Day 2 in the trial of Taylor Schabusiness. Schabusiness, 25, of Green Bay, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, third-degree sexual abuse, and mutilating a corpse in the death of Thyrion, 24. Dr. Vincent Tranchida, who works in the Dane County Medical Examiner's Office, describes injuries observed on Shad Thyrion's neck while testifying in the homicide trial of Taylor Schabusiness on July 25, 2023, in Green Bay, Wis. Schabusiness is charged with killing and dismembering Thyrion in February 2022. Tranchida said he made a number of sketches or drawings that showed areas of the body that had been injured before Thyrion's death. He also testified that there was evidence of mutilation and dismemberment of Thyrion's body after his death. "My medical opinion is that this would (have taken) quite a few hours," he said. "The body was eviscerated." Tranchida ruled Thyrion's death a homicide by strangulation, in the form of "a significant amount of force applied to the neck." Taylor Schabusiness, who is charged with killing and dismembering her friend, is pictured during her trial in Brown County Circuit Court on July 25, 2023, in Green Bay, Wis. After Thyrion was dead, Tranchida testified, Thyrion's "torso was severed, (there also were) amputations or severing of the femur, the left lower leg had also been separated, (and) the right hip socket (was) open." Tranchida had been the chief medical examiner for Dane County at a time when his office was under contract to conduct death investigations for Brown County, which has since hired its own chief medical examiner, who is based in Green Bay. Tranchida also testified he tested Tyrion's body for the presence of drugs. He said he found "found cocaine, cocaine metabolite, methamphetamine, THC, and nicotine," but he does "not believe they contributed to Thyrions death. Story continues Timeline: Taylor Schabusiness trial starts today in beheading case; here is timeline of events in the case Day 1 of trial: Schabusiness trial: Victim's mother talks about finding her son's severed head in bucket Blood on clothing Also Tuesday, a DNA analyst at the Wisconsin State Crime Lab testified about how he analyzed fluids, such as the blood that stained clothing Schabusiness was wearing the night Thyrion was killed and when she was arrested by Green Bay police. Analyst Kevin Scott was able to conclude that Thyrion's blood had stained Schabusiness' articles of clothing. Mistrial sought, denied Froelich, outside the jury at day's end, asked Walsh to declare a mistrial, which would have required the case to start over, because prosecutors indicated they wanted to introduce evidence that Schabusiness' internet searches in February 2022 indicated a significant interest in Jeffrey Dahmer, the serial killer and sex offender who Froelich called "the worst killer in Wisconsin." Froelich said it would be unfair for prosecutors to connect Dahmer's case and Schabusiness'. Dahmer was murdered in state prison in 1994 while serving 15 life sentences for murder. Walsh denied Froelich's request for a mistrial, but told prosecutors he did not want "further references made" to Dahmer. Who else testified on Tuesday: Green Bay Detective Phillip Scanlan Brown County Sheriff's Deputy Bryce Haines Green Bay Police Officer Garth Russell Green Bay Police Lt. Tom Buchmann Green Bay Officer Tim Kenney Green Bay Officer Leah Whitman Wisconsin Crime Lab Data Analyst Kevin Scott Olivia Sassman, evidence program manager for the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation Alexander Gannon, a friend of Shad Thyrion and Taylor Schabusiness since high school Green Bay Police Detective Craig Pakkala Nathan R. Kolinski, Green Bay Police evidence technician Jean Rakers, Green Bay Police evidence technician Jena Luberda, former Green Bay Police lieutenant Coming Wednesday The prosecution could call its last remaining witnesses on Wednesday, and could show video of Schabusiness being interviewed by Graf about the Thyrion killing. Once the prosecution is through having witnesses testify, the defense can begin calling witnesses. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Expert: Thyrion's death homicide; body mutilated for hours after death Syniah Knapp, 6, left, a student in first grade teacher Kerri Harris' room, arranges her folder at the end of the day at Barack H. Obama Magnet School in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. As school begins this year some new laws will affect students. With a return to school just around the corner, Mississippi students and parents may soon come face to face with the latest state laws impacting education. Those include funding increases, crack downs on potentially explicit digital materials and a program that seeks to put more firearms in the hands of trained school faculty and others. Some education proposals did not reach the finish line. Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, who presided over the Senate, had proposed a rewriting of the state's public education funding formula, the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, that would also see the program fully funded for the first time in more than 15 years. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, center, listens as lawmakers speak during a meeting of the education conferees from both the House and Senate, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. As school begins this year, some new laws are in effect. A compromise between Senate and House leadership led to a roughly $100 million allocation made to the state's public schools separate from the debated-over MAEP formula, which the Legislature again underfunded. Hosemann also championed an expanded grant program for schools that wanted to move to a modified calendar. That did not pass either. Yet, the number of schools operating under such a calendar, with shorter but more common days off, has more than doubled between last school year and the upcoming one, according to previous Clarion Ledger reporting. Though neither passed, observers can expect conversations over both to continue through the ongoing election season and into next year's legislative session. Hosemann indicated at the close of session that conversations on potential future changes to MAEP would continue between sessions, despite focus shifting to statewide elections. Also not reaching the governor's desk were bills that would have allowed for parents to cite religious exemptions for student vaccination requirements. Although bills with that aim died during session, a federal judge recently ordered the state to allow such exemptions, which it began doing earlier in July. Here are some of the education bills that did become law this year: Guns in Schools The Mississippi School Safety Guardian Act, as created by Senate Bill 2079, would allow for school faculty to undergo a training program from the state Department of Public Safety, after which they could officially carry firearms and receive a stipend for doing so. School districts would pay guardians between $100 and $500 per month for participating. Story continues Whether schools have armed educators would be their choice, said bill sponsor Sen. Angela Hill, R-Picayune, as it was debated on the Senate floor during session. "This basically allows a school to decide whether or not they want to set it up. There is no requirement," Hill said. Sen. Angela Burks Hill, R-Picayune Hill said she worked with the Department of Public Safety to craft the bill, and that it was modeled similarly to the Church Protection Act that the Legislature passed in 2019. Minimum requirements and training provisions for the program include a requirement for a concealed carry permit. The bill was far from without critics, including a number of Senate Democrats. Sen. David Jordan, D-Greenwood, said it reflects poorly on society that such a bill is even being discussed. "After teaching for 33 years, in classrooms, science, it frightens me when we talk about we have to arm ourselves to teach our children. This is the most frightening thing I've ever heard of," Jordan said. "I'm just disappointed that we've come to this point." The guardian program is separate from armed resource officer programs, which some schools already have, according to Commissioner of Public Safety Sean Tindell, who said during session that allowing schools to arm teachers will not replace the need for those officers. "We feel like having a law enforcement officer at every school is the best-case scenario, but also knowing that each district is different, and some of the constraints financially on being able to do that, we feel like this is a good opportunity if a school district wants to do it and a school staff member or teacher wants to be a part of it," Tindell said. Digital Content in Libraries A law aimed at preventing minors from accessing pornographic online materials in libraries has led to some controversy, and confusion, as some question whether it could lead to book banning while content providers and libraries scramble to interpret and implement its requirements. Rep. Lee Yancey, R-Brandon, sponsored H.B. 1315, and said it is "not a book-banning bill." The bill, which only applies to digital content, does not ban any vendors of digital books, but forces them to be more vigilant when selecting content, Yancey said. That said, it does penalize vendors who fail to conform. The new law, titled "An act to regulate pornographic media exposure to children in K-12," went into effect July 1. "If a customer complains or they notice there is something inappropriate in there, the library notifies the digital content provider," Yancey said. "It's just kind of an incentive for the digital content provider to screen what comes in and not just allow anything to go into K through 12 libraries." Rep. Lee Yancey, R-Brandon, left, and Sen. Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven. While Yancey said the law does not place responsibility or liability on the libraries, it does create obstacles for them, said Tracy Carr, deputy director of the Mississippi Library Commission. When inappropriate content is reported, the libraries must investigate, but trying to track down the material and the path that was taken to access it can be time-consuming. In addition, the definition of "inappropriate" isn't as clearcut as some lawmakers believe, Carr said. What is inappropriate to one reader may not seem inappropriate to another. "When it comes down to trying to guarantee there is nothing sexually oriented or inappropriate by some definition of inappropriateness guaranteeing that for an entire community for thousands of ebooks we don't read all the books, we get a pile of books and we pay for them as they are used," Carr said. Feminine Hygiene Products A new law sponsored by Rep. Latisha Jackson, D-Como, would allow schools to provide feminine hygiene products like tampons free of charge to students in bathrooms or offices within school buildings. The law, which applies to students grades six through 12, is aimed at increasing affordability and accessibility of the products. That said, the language of the law merely allows these products to be provided and paid for by the school, it does not require all schools to provide such products. Joshua Williams and Lici Beveridge contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MS children, parents preparing for school year need to know new laws Scientists have revealed an ominous climate calculation, based on greenhouse gas emissions, which predicts the Atlantic Oceans current will collapse around 2060 if emissions persist, according to researchers at the University of Copenhagen. Photo courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration July 25 (UPI) -- Some scientists have revealed an ominous climate calculation, based on greenhouse gas emissions, that predicts the Atlantic Ocean's current will collapse around 2060 if nothing changes before then. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen's Niels Bohr Institute and Department of Mathematical Sciences issued the warning Tuesday, in the scientific journal Nature Communications, about the vital ocean currents, which distribute heat, cold and precipitation between the tropics and the northern Atlantic region. The scientists used ocean temperature data from the last 150 years and calculated the ocean current, known as Thermohaline Circulation or Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. "Using new and improved statistical tools, we've made calculations that provide a more robust estimate of when a collapse of the Thermohaline Circulation is most likely to occur, something we had not been able to do before," explained Prof. Susanne Ditlevsen of UCPH's Department of Mathematical Sciences. Through their calculations, researchers found the Atlantic Ocean's current will likely shut down in 34 years, around 2057, if current emissions persist. The result would be a warmer tropics combined with a much stormier North Atlantic region. "Shutting down the AMOC can have very serious consequences for Earth's climate, for example, by changing how heat and precipitation are distributed globally," said Prof. Peter Ditlevsen from the Niels Bohr Institute. "While a cooling of Europe may seem less severe as the globe as a whole becomes warmer and heat waves occur more frequently, this shutdown will contribute to an increased warming of the tropics, where rising temperatures have already given rise to challenging living conditions," Ditlevsen added. "Our result underscores the importance of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible." The findings contradict the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which found a change in ocean currents was "very unlikely" during this century. The last time ocean circulation collapsed was during the last ice age. During those events, climate change was extreme with 10- to 15-degree swings over a decade. Currently, climate change is warming at a rate of 1.5 degrees over a century. A search is underway in Colorado and beyond for a dangerous man who escaped jail alongside three other inmates, including one who is now dead. Mark Fox, 46, remained on the run Wednesday, days after he broke out of Bent County Jail with his fellow inmates, according KOAA. Two of the escapees were recaptured and returned to the detention facility early Tuesday while a third, 34-year-old Benjamin Valdez, was found dead of a suspected drug overdose in nearby Pueblo County, according to authorities. Bent County Sheriff Jake Six said the group escaped by forcing their way through drywall in the ceiling of a cell, which used to serve as the jails kitchen. They then bunched up bundles of clothing and arranged them on their beds to make it seem like they were present for the inmate head count. Authorities are not exactly sure when they fled from the facility, but Six said it was likely either late Sunday or early Monday. The two inmates who have been recaptured have not been identified. They were taken into custody when they called for an ambulance for an overdose on Tuesday. Six noted it was not for Valdez as he likely died on Monday. Fox is described as a bald white man, standing at 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing 210 pounds. Authorities stopped short of providing a clothing description, noting that he has likely changed since the escape. The Bent County Jail, located in Las Animas, is approximately 200 miles southeast of Denver. The sheriffs office is working with the Colorado State Patrol and the Otero County Sheriffs Office in their search for Fox, it said. _____ Police are looking for one dangerous man who remains on the loose after four inmates escaped from a Colorado jail, the Bent County Sheriffs Office said. Authorities are searching for 46-year-old Mark Fox, who escaped from the Bent County jail with three others. The sheriffs office did not say when or how they escaped. Two of them were caught and were back in custody Tuesday, it said. A third inmate, 34-year-old Benjamin Valdez, was found dead of a possible drug overdose in neighboring Pueblo County, according to authorities. Fox is described as 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 210 pounds. He is considered dangerous, police said. The Bent County jail is in Las Animas, almost 200 miles southeast of Denver. The sheriffs office is working with the Colorado State Patrol and the Otero County Sheriffs Office to search for Fox, it said. A number of prison or jail escapes this summer have left authorities scrambling to find the escapees. Michael Burham, a 34-year-old murder suspect with survivalist skills, escaped a Pennsyvlania prison this month, setting off a widespread manhunt before his capture. Last week, an inmate in Alabama was on the run for a day before being found and returned to custody. On Friday, a prisoner being transported from Colorado to Texas on an active warrant briefly escaped custody at Denver International Airport. CNNs Andi Babineau, Sarah Boxer and Caroll Alvarado contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Three people have been arrested as the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office searches an area around Elmer for a work release inmate who escaped Tuesday. Three people have been arrested as the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office searches an area around Elmer for a work release inmate who escaped Tuesday. Daniel Lee Burns, 39, was working Tuesday at the Tioga substation left the crew to get tool for people working inside the building around 3:30 p.m. Deputies who went to look for him found he was missing, reads a news release. Investigators believed Burns might have been picked up by someone, and tracked down two people to a home on Kent Avenue in Alexandria. Just after midnight Wednesday, a man and a woman were arrested at the house and booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center #1 on drug, weapons and other charges. Harvey Fountain case: Pineville man, 76, pleads guilty to 1 of 26 rape charges in decades-old case 'Didn't deserve that': Kristina Hoffpauir found guilty in 2019 murder of Sherwood Doyle Both remain in jail on Wednesday. Burns was found at a home in the 6300 block of La. Highway 112 in Elmer Wednesday, but he ran into some woods. A search is underway with deputies, detectives and dogs. Another Alexandria woman was arrested at the site, booked into jail on criminal conspiracy and accessory after the fact charges. A search is underway for Burns, who ran into nearby woods. He has brown hair and eyes, stands 6 feet tall and weighs 175 pounds. Burns, who has "numerous" burglary convictions, was serving time on a parole violation for one of those convictions, reads the release. He also has formal and pending charges against him in the 9th Judicial District Court, according to online records. Anyone with information on Burns is asked to call the sheriff's office at 318-47306700, Crime Stoppers at 318-443-7867 or local law enforcement. This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: 3 arrested as Rapides Sheriff's Office hunts for inmate Daniel Burns The warming waters are bleaching coral reefs in Florida much sooner than expected this year Seawater along the tip of Florida has exceeded hot tub temperatures of 37.8C (100F) in recent days, making it potentially the hottest ever measured. A buoy in Manatee Bay registered triple-digit readings on Sunday and Monday, while buoys in two other places also nearly reached that mark. The highest ocean surface temperature ever recorded, albeit unofficially, was 37.6C (99.7F) in Kuwait Bay in 2020. The warming waters threaten marine life and ocean ecosystems like coral reefs. Scientists have observed bleaching and even death in some of the Florida Keys' most resilient reefs, home to millions of algae and other tiny organisms. Bleaching is when corals expel algae, lose their vibrant colour and weaken as water temperatures exceed roughly 35C. Such events can lead to death. "The corals are pale, it looks like the colour's draining out," said Katey Lesneski, a research and monitoring coordinator with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). "And some individuals are stark white. And we still have more to come." Peak bleaching typically happens in late August or September, but experts say it is taking place much sooner than expected this year as the water temperatures spike. NOAA this week raised its coral bleaching warning system in the Keys to Alert Level 2, its highest heat stress level. "This is a hot tub. I like my hot tub around 100, 101, (37.8C, 38.3C) That's what was recorded yesterday," Yale Climate Connections meteorologist Jeff Masters told Associated News. Hot tub makers recommend temperatures of 37C-40C (9F8-104F). Surface temperatures in Manatee Bay, as well as nearby Murray Key and Johnson Key, have gone down since their Monday peak, but remain elevated in the high 80s. Waters as warm as those currently in Florida pose a threat to fishermen and others whose livelihoods may be tied to the water, with knock-on effects for human food supply. Story continues One fishing boat captain in Key Largo told the Guardian his catch has been getting "slower and slower" over the past five summers. Ocean surface temperatures worldwide have broken heat records for the months of April, May and June, according to the US government agency. WASHINGTON (AP) The Securities and Exchange Commission adopted rules Wednesday to require public companies to disclose within four days all cybersecurity breaches that could affect their bottom lines. Delays will be permitted if immediate disclosure poses serious national security or public safety risks. The new rules, passed by a 3-2 vote along party lines, also require publicly traded companies to annually disclose information on their cybersecurity risk management and executive expertise in the field. The idea is to protect investors. Breach disclosures can be delayed if the U.S. Attorney General determines they would pose a substantial risk to national security or public safety and notifies the SEC in writing. Only under extraordinary circumstances could that delay be extended beyond 60 days. Whether a company loses a factory in a fire or millions of files in a cybersecurity incident it may be material to investors, SEC Chair Gary Gensler said in a statement, noting the current inconsistency in disclosures. The rules will put more transparency into an otherwise opaque but growing risk and may spur improvements in cyber defenses though potentially posing a bigger challenge for smaller companies with limited resources, Lesley Ritter, senior VP at Moodys Investors Service, said in a statement. Technically, the clock doesn't start ticking on the four-day window for reporting until companies have determined a breach is material. One of the dissenting Republican commissioners, Hester Peirce, complained that the new requirements overstep the SEC's authority and seem designed to better meet the needs of would-be hackers - who could benefit from detailed info on how companies manage cyberrisk. As well, Peirce said in a statement, the temptation for the SEC to micromanage company operations will only grow. A leading figure in cybersecurity, Tenable CEO Amit Yoran, heartily welcomed the new rule. For a long time, the largest and most powerful U.S. companies have treated cybersecurity as a nice-to-have, not a must have. Now, its abundantly clear that corporate leaders must elevate cybersecurity within their organizations, he said in a statement. Story continues The rules were first proposed in March 2022, when the SEC determined that breaches of corporate networks posed an escalating risk as their digitization of operations and remote work increased and the cost to investors from cybersecurity incidents rose. While some critical infrastructure operators and all health care providers must by law report breaches, no federal breach disclosure law exists. In a new report published by IBM, researchers found organizations now pay an average of $4.5 million to deal with breaches a 15% increase over the past three years. The Ponemon Institute researchers also found that impacted businesses typically pass the costs on to consumers, who may themselves also be victims with personal information stolen in a breach. The rule's passage also comes amid slow-moving, often cryptic disclosures some through SEC filings from a major data breach affecting hundreds of organizations caused by the so-called supply chain hack by Russian cybercriminals of a widely used file transfer program, MOVEit. The breach has impacted multiple universities, major pensions funds, U.S. government agencies, more than 9 million motorists in Oregon and Louisiana and companies including the BBC, British Airways, Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Many victims of the MOVEit breach were quick to point out that they were failed by a third-party application. The new SEC rule encompasses third-party apps and notes how companies have increasingly relied on outside cloud services for data management and storage. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has admitted its involvement in the attack on the Crimean Bridge in October 2022. Source: Vasyl Maliuk, Head of the SSU, at the special cancellation ceremony of the post stamp celebrating the work of the special service, as cited by press service of the SSU Quote: "[There were ed.] A lot of different operations, special operations; we will be able to talk about some of them after the Victory, some of them will not be discussed at all. My colleague (Ihor Smilianskyi, CEO of Ukrainian state postal company Ukrposhta ed.) is wearing a suitable T-shirt today. It shows one of our operations, which is the attack on the Crimean Bridge on 8 October 2022." Details: Maliuk believes that unique special operations conducted by the SSU will serve as a source of inspiration for new post stamps. The SSU remarks that the post stamp dedicated to the SSU is a final issue of the series called Glory to the Defence and Security Forces of Ukraine! The special cancellation of the stamp in the city of Kyiv was carried out by Vasyl Maliuk and Ihor Smilianskyi. The event took place in the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, where there is also an exposition of destroyed Russian military equipment and much more. Maliuk states stickers with the stamps will be sent to members of the SSU who are currently working in combat zones. The circulation will consist of over 1 million copies. After the special cancellation, the stamp can be bought in Ukrposhta departments in all regions of Ukraine and online. Background: On 8 October 2022 in the morning, it was revealed that a large fire broke out on the railroad portion of the Crimean Bridge. The Russian occupation authorities in Crimea claimed that a truck exploded on the Crimean Bridge. Meanwhile, [Vladimir] Konstantynov, the Russian-appointed Head of the "Crimean Parliament" alleged that "Ukrainian vandals" had damaged the road surface on the Crimean Bridge. Early in the morning on 17 July 2023, Sergey Aksyonov, the so-called head of Russia-occupied Crimea, reported that an "emergency" had occurred on the Crimean Bridge, and the traffic on the bridge was suspended. Later, it was revealed that the bridge was attacked with surface drones. Ukrainska Pravda sources have reported that the night attack on the Crimean Bridge was a special operation by the Security Service of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Navy. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Kim Hau, a former tea shop owner who was convicted of sedition, said the offence remains "wide and mysterious" to her (May JAMES) Single mother Law Oi-wah pled guilty to sedition in an almost inaudible voice, as her 12-year-old son watched from a few feet away in a Hong Kong court. Arrested in March, the 48-year-old was accused under a colonial-era law for sharing dozens of pro-democracy social media posts authored by others, and then denied bail. But Law is not an activist, and her posts received sparse reactions. "My mother has been away for a month... Please let my mother come home," Law's son wrote to the court, which sentenced her in April to four months in jail. Her prosecution is one in a string of sedition convictions in the city, where critics say Beijing is tightening its authoritarian grip. After massive and at times violent pro-democracy protests in 2019, and Beijing's subsequently imposed national security law, Hong Kong has used the sedition offence -- created under British colonial rule -- to charge residents for the first time in over 50 years. From service industry workers to delivery staff, at least 20 of the more than 30 people charged with sedition have not been activists nor politicians. Their cases receive little public attention as they are swiftly convicted as national security threats by the city's lowest-level courts. Their "seditious" acts have mostly involved criticising authorities -- the government, police and courts -- through posters, stickers or on social media platforms. The trials are also handled by judges picked by the government to rule on security cases, and bail for defendants has become the exception, not the norm. Prominent activists and journalists charged with sedition have put up high-profile legal defences, but most residents accused of the crime choose not to fight after they are denied bail, due to the perceived slim chance of success, former defendants and lawyers told AFP. - Plead for quicker exit - Kenji, who requested a pseudonym to avoid reprisals, said his will to fight his sedition case collapsed after he spent five months in pre-trial detention. Story continues "When you are inside... you would spend all day thinking whether the prosecution would add an actual national security charge on you," he told AFP. "Although you might find it very unfair, you would offer a guilty plea in exchange for a quicker exit," said Kenji, who was arrested for publicly criticising officials. Sedition carries a penalty of up to two years in prison, but a guilty plea can reduce the sentence by a third. Of the 18 sedition defendants convicted at the magistrate level, more than 80 percent pled guilty within three months -- triple the rate of all cases handled in 2022. On average, they were sentenced to about 200 days in prison, according to an AFP tally. The city's security minister, Chris Tang, has said the sedition charge remains a necessary tool to plug gaps in the national security law. "Some other existing laws... such as sedition can handle some situations for now," Tang told broadcaster RTHK in April. The law covers acts, speech or publications deemed to have any "seditious intentions", which include raising "discontent or disaffection", promoting "feelings of ill-will" and inciting violence. The United Nations Human Rights Committee has said it is concerned about the "overly broad interpretation and arbitrary application" of both the sedition and security laws -- warning against using them to suppress dissent. Senior officials say the laws are clear. - 'Wide and mysterious' - But Kim Hau, whose tea shop was raided by police last February when she was arrested for sedition, said the offence remains "wide and mysterious" to her. Hau had posted flyers questioning the city's Covid vaccination scheme and urged people to boycott a government location-tracking anti-pandemic app. During the raid, her phone was confiscated, and she was later sentenced to seven months in jail, with judge Peter Law saying she and a co-defendant were "venting the hatred in their heart". "They define something as seditious when they feel you are urging people to directly or indirectly act against the government," she told AFP. One lawyer working on sedition cases agreed the offence has a "lack of legal certainty". "Such ambiguity is something they want," the lawyer, who requested anonymity, told AFP. "It's just enough to scare off the ordinary." The burden of proof is also placed on defendants, they said, explaining that taking a stand to "clarify their intention" is not something the average resident would do. "Meanwhile, it's rather easy for the prosecution to deduce the intention backwards with their own interpretation of certain words said by the accused." - 'The red line' - Homemaker Chiu Mei-ying, 68, found herself in the crosshairs of authorities when she was charged last April with saying "seditious words". "All I did was utter one sentence," she told AFP. Three months earlier, Chiu and preacher Garry Pang had attended an activist's conviction hearing and verbally criticised the magistrate judge. The trial ended up costing her over HK$300,000 ($38,400). Chiu eventually gave up on her appeal and served out her three-month sentence so that she wouldn't have to report to the police three times a week -- a bail condition stipulated for her appeal process. After all that, "I still don't understand what sedition is about," she said. "I have only learned that the red line can be very wide." su/aha/dhc/dva/smw/sco In a congressional hearing about the existence of unidentified anomalous phenomenon the most recent term for what have long been called UFOs Rep. Eric Burlison passed on a question for a witness from a Missouri constituent. Have you seen alien bodies? asked Burlison, a freshman Missouri Republican. The witness, David Grusch, was a former intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force who worked as an intelligence officer and worked with the Department of Defense office in charge of investigating UAPs, called the All Domain Anomaly Resolution Office. He has claimed the government is covering up their knowledge about non-human aircraft and pilot bodies. That is something I have not witnessed myself, Grusch responded. He also said he couldnt reveal any non-human aircraft hes personally witnessed in a non-classified setting. In a more than two-hour hearing that flirted with allegations that the federal government is covering up evidence of aliens, the witnesses and lawmakers on the House Oversight Committees national security subcommittee denounced the militarys lack of transparency around UAPs, saying the stigma and lack of reporting mechanism creates a national security threat. I think this hearing is going to show the American people their government takes this issue seriously, said Ryan Graves, a former F-18 pilot with the U.S. Navy who founded the Americans for Safe Airspace for the purpose of making pilots comfortable sharing their encounters with UAPs. In 2022, NASA and the Department of Defense started using the term UAPs for what have long been called UFOs unidentified flying objects to cover a broader range of unexplained sights and objects. There has long been widespread public interest in the idea of unrecognizable objects in the sky which has helped make movies like Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. cultural touchstones. In the hearing, Rep. Glen Grothman, the Wisconsin Republican who chairs the subcommittee, said he read a book about flying saucers as a child and said both Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter claimed they saw UFOs. Story continues Over the past decade there has been increasing pressure for the government to release what it knows about UAPs even as the military and NASA have said they have no evidence of extraterrestrial life. Earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act would include a provision requiring the National Archives to collect records about UAPs that would then be declassified for the public, similar to how documents around President John F. Kennedys assassination were handled. For decades, many Americans have been fascinated by objects mysterious and unexplained and its long past time they get some answers, Schumer said in a press release announcing his bill. The American public has a right to learn about technologies of unknown origins, non-human intelligence, and unexplainable phenomena. Burlison helped push for the hearing, saying there are too many areas where the government covers up information. We need to get down to the bottom of it, if what hes saying is true, Burlison said. Because hes saying pretty fantastical statements, right? But Wednesdays hearing did little to enlighten Burlison or the public about what is known about UAPs. Grusch, who has made claims of a government cover-up, was cautious about saying much in a non-classified setting. Burlison said lawmakers were blocked by the Department of Defense from hearing from Grusch in a classified setting. He said he was disappointed with the hearing because he felt like many questions were not answered because of the public nature of the hearing. Grusch went as far as he has in interviews with news outlets, claiming the federal government is in possession of non-human aircraft and that the government has collected non-human pilots from crash sites. Im pretty skeptical about this, Burlison said. As I said before, I think the idea that an alien race would travel hundreds of light years, or thousands, or whatever it takes to get here, and is capable of traveling at that speed, and get here is not capable of surviving our atmosphere and surviving this planet. It just doesnt make any sense. But the witnesses swore that the aircraft theyve seen, both personally and in reports, were beyond modern science. Retired Navy Pilot David Fravor testified he was on a training run in 2004 when he saw a white Tic Tac shaped object hovering over the ocean. He flew in to get a closer look, but as he approached, it disappeared traveling more than 60 miles in less than a minute. Fravor said what he observed was beyond any science he was aware of at the time or now. Im not like a UFO fanatic, Fravor said. Its not me. But Ill tell you that what I saw, with four pairs of eyes, was incredible to see. He was referencing the other people flying with him who witnessed it and called it the most credible UFO sighting in history. Another account came from Graves, who said a pilot in his unit saw a gray cube in a clear sphere while on a training mission off the coast of Virginia Beach in the 2010s. He said his squadron issued a safety report, but never heard back from their higher ups. Burlison said he suspects that the objects were research projects by defense contractors. While there were varying degrees of skepticism among lawmakers about whether the UAPs are coming from another planet, there appeared to be a bipartisan consensus that the Department of Defense could be more transparent about what it knows, in an effort to protect national security and quell conspiracy theories. We unfortunately live in a time in which many people distrust government and our institutions, said Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Florida Democrat. Overclassification of information away from the American public or even Congress, contributes to todays politics. Semiconductors power every aspect of modern, digital life It has been a year-and-a-half since India announced incentives to power up a homegrown semiconductor manufacturing industry and launched a national mission, but progress has been slapdash. Days after US major Micron announced it would invest nearly $3bn (2.3bn) in an assembly and test facility in the western state of Gujarat, Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn withdrew from its $19.5bn joint venture with India's Vedanta to build a chip-making plant in the country. Plans of at least two other companies appear to have been stalled, local media say. But as Mr Modi's government waits for high-value investments from chipmakers to match a $10bn incentives outlay, it has been inking a bunch of technology partnerships to get the industry on a firmer footing. Following an agreement with the US on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) to enhance bilateral collaboration on semiconductor supply chains, India signed a similar memorandum of understanding with Japan last week. Separately, at least three Indian states have announced individual policies aiming to secure investments in this sphere. While generous subsidies and a strong policy push have created a springboard for the sector to take off, time is of the essence and transfer of technology will be key to India's emergence as a manufacturing hub, says Konark Bhandari, a fellow at Carnegie India. "Whether companies commit to bringing these technologies will hinge upon an agglomeration of multiple factors, such as business climate, domestic market, export potential, infrastructure and talent," he says. As things stand, only parts of this puzzle appear to have fallen into place. India advantage Semiconductors power every aspect of modern, digital life - from tiny smartphones to mega data centres that control the internet. Advanced semiconductor technologies also play a key role in the auto industry's transition to climate-friendly electric vehicles and the development of AI applications. Story continues India makes up 5% of the global demand for chips. That's likely to double by 2026, according to Deloitte, driven by greater adoption of smartphones, consumer appliances and new trends like self-driving cars. Prime Minister Modi's government has announced several incentives to encourage semiconductor manufacturing The domestic market is evidently thriving. But across key phases of the chip production value chain - product development, design, fabrication, ATP (assembly, test and packaging) and support - India has a strong presence only in the design function and will have to start from scratch when it comes to manufacturing. "India houses 20% of the global talent in chip design. There are 50,000 Indians doing this work," Kathir Thandavaryan, a partner at Deloitte, told the BBC. Most semiconductor manufacturers - including Intel, AMD and Qualcomm - also have their largest research and development centres in India, leveraging local engineering talent. Getting trained personnel, however, could become a major headwind for companies, according to Deloitte, with an estimated quarter million people required to work across the value chain when investments start flowing in. Greater industry-academia collaborations in this area will, therefore, be crucial. To its credit, the government has been working towards enabling this by training 85,000 engineers, for instance, through its 'Chips to Startup' scheme. A number of other factors too - such as an improvement in global rankings on logistics, infrastructure and efficiency, and a more stable electricity grid, a critical prerequisite for semiconductor manufacturing - have fortified India's preparedness to be part of this global race, experts say. Geopolitics also seems to be in India's favour, with increased focus in the US to seek alternative locations to China to outsource parts of its own semiconductor supply chain. India, as an increasingly close ally, can become a viable "friend shoring" destination for US companies seeking to outsource support functions, according to Mr Thandavaryan. But its protectionist trade policy, particularly its absence in multilateral trade pacts like RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership), could prove costly. "If semiconductor companies based out of China were to diversify, they would be unlikely to face major changes to the tariff scheme applicable to their components if they were moved to Vietnam. This is because there is likely to be more uniformity among countries that are part of the same regional trade arrangement," says Mr Bhandari. Stumbling blocks New Delhi's single biggest challenge to positioning itself as a global option for chip makers, however, is one that's all too familiar to manufacturers across industries - a notoriously difficult 'doing business' environment. The country, known for its software prowess, doesn't really have hardware capabilities. The manufacturing sector's share of GDP has remained stagnant for years because of the lack of a facilitating ecosystem. India will need to undertake "fundamental and enduring reforms" to change this and make its semiconductors mission a success, say experts. "That entails addressing investment barriers such as customs/tariffs, taxation, and infrastructure," Stephen Ezell, vice president for global innovation policy at the US-based Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, told the BBC. "India's not going to be able to compete in the long-run with competitors such as China, the European Union, or the US if incentives are its first-order strategy to attract semiconductor ATP or fabs." That's primarily because India's semiconductors incentives policy is just one among several in the world. The subsidies simultaneously being offered by blocs like the EU or the US are far larger. In June, federal minister Ashwini Vaishnaw spoke about the technology Micron will bring to India Most companies will also not relocate their operations at the drop of a hat for subsidies "because they have an existing ecosystem of suppliers, partners, consumers, a logistics network - all of which make it difficult to offshore operations to other jurisdictions", says Mr Bhandari. India's subsidies could also be better directed, say experts. Right now, it offers them across all ends of the chip-making value chain. Instead, the country could play to its strengths. For example, it can invest in training schools for engineers or double down on its competitiveness in semiconductor ATP and design support rather than on the actual fabrication of chips, which is hugely capital-intensive and has long gestation periods. The government mustn't get locked in a "shiny-object syndrome" of focusing on fabrication, warns Mr Ezell. However, being competitive in it would mark a "major technological leap for the country" and the government is right to try and seek more investment in this category, he adds. Not having some domestic fabrication facilities would also have "serious implications for India's import costs", says Mr Bhandari, as domestic electronics production crosses the significant $100bn mark. High-stakes gamble Much is clearly at stake with India's semiconductor gamble. It has had several false starts in the past. But after years of delays, a dedicated policy that broadly gets it right is just the first step in the right direction. This is a "fresh opportunity to correct the earlier misses," says Mr Bhandari. "The geopolitical stars have aligned to aid this opportunity. In a fractious world with fragmented supply chains, India finds itself at a crossroads - it can either undertake a serious attempt at nurturing hardware manufacturing or let yet another opportunity slip." BBC News India is now on YouTube. Click here to subscribe and watch our documentaries, explainers and features. Read more India stories from the BBC: Sen. Tommy Tuberville speaks to reporters about his hold on promotions of hundreds of high-ranking military officers. Drew Angerer/Getty Images As Congress prepares to head into its August 2023 break, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, shows no signs of ending his five-month-long hold on military promotions for several hundred senior officers, namely generals and admirals. Tuberville is blocking the Senate from considering their nominations because he opposes a Defense Department policy to reimburse travel expenses for military personnel who have to leave their states to get abortions or other reproductive care. The policy was put in place after the Supreme Courts 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which overturned previous Supreme Court rulings affirming federal protections for abortion and returned the responsibility of passing abortion laws to the states. A U.S. senator has the prerogative of placing what is called a hold on a measure, preventing the Senate from acting on that measure. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has characterized Tubervilles hold as a threat to national defense. Senate Democrats have called him reckless, and more than 550 military families petitioned Tuberville and Senate leaders to end the stalemate. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, has said he does not support a hold on military nominations. But, so far, Tuberville isnt budging. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin departs a news briefing on July 18, 2023, at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, right, also leaves. Win McNamee/Getty Images No monopoly on Senate holds The practice of senators placing holds on legislation has become more frequent in recent decades. But it is not a practice confined to lawmakers of one party. Republican Sen. J. D. Vance of Ohio placed a hold on the confirmation of Justice Department officials to protest the federal indictment of former president Donald J. Trump. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont is using the same tactic to block President Joe Bidens nominee to head the National Institute of Health until the Biden administration delivers a plan to lower prescription drug prices. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia will not approve any nominees for positions in the Environmental Protection Agency because he opposes proposed regulations to limit power plant emissions. The holds these senators are using make a connection between the agencies the senators want to take an action and the agencies nominees. Story continues Tuberville is using a hold to get the Senate to vote on a bill introduced by Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire that, if passed, would make the Defense Departments policy law. In that case, Tuberville said he would relinquish his hold. If the bill fails, he wants the Defense Department to end the policy on reimbursement for travel related to reproductive care. There are ways to circumvent Tubervilles hold, specifically through one-by-one hearings that sidestep the collective promotion process but that would take months, and the August 2023 recess begins on July 31. Holding promotions hostage This is not the first time senators have used the promotion process to object to military policy or practice. But, in most cases, those objections pertained to specific individuals. Perhaps the most obvious cases occurred during the Civil War, when the Republican senators most committed to ending the war and ending slavery dragged their heels over promotions as a way to push that agenda. General George G. Meade is perhaps best known as the victorious U.S. general at the battle of Gettysburg. You might think that leading the army that defeated Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia in the wars most famous battle would mean Meade would have no problem securing a well-deserved promotion. But that was not the case. Meades handling of his forces at Gettysburg came under criticism from a congressional committee the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War as well as some of his fellow generals, who wanted to highlight their own contributions, while diminishing his. Essential to that scrutiny was that Meade had a reputation as a Democrat who was not an enthusiastic supporter of emancipation as a war aim. His detractors, including committee members and several generals, embraced the destruction of slavery and wanted war to be waged vigorously against Confederate civilians as well as enemy forces. The Pentagon building, located in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington. Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images As a result, Meades promotion to major general in the regular army a rank that would persist after the war ran into snags, largely because of concern that if Meade were nominated, the Senate would not confirm him. Although General Ulysses S. Grant repeatedly pushed for Meades promotion, it would not be until November 1864, after President Abraham Lincoln was safely reelected, that Meades name was presented for confirmation, according to the book Meade of Gettysburg. The Senate finally approved the promotion in February 1865, just two months before Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House. Other army promotions faced similar obstacles. Even Grants elevation to lieutenant general in the winter of 1863-1864 proved a struggle, as Congress wrangled over the wording of the bill that reestablished that rank. Some Republicans wanted to delay the promotion until the end of the war; others wanted to force Lincoln to nominate Grant for the new rank. It took over 11 weeks just to pass the bill, and Grant accepted his commission in March 1864, some three months after the bill was introduced. These cases involve individuals, albeit in high positions, and in many cases political debate over the promotions involved discussions of their presumed support for the destruction of slavery as a war aim. Tubervilles actions are not focused in the way those previous cases were. He is blocking consideration of all nominations because of an unrelated Defense Department policy. This public obstruction spotlights how Senate rules, written and unwritten, offer opportunities for individual senators to impede the legislative process until their demands are met. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. Like this article? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It was written by: Brooks D. Simpson, Arizona State University. Read more: Brooks D. Simpson 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. On Tuesday, Senate Finance committee chairman Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., revealed that the Senate Finance Committee is investigating $158 million paid to accused sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein by billionaire and Apollo Global Management co-founder Leon Black for tax and estate-planning advice. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI July 25 (UPI) -- The Senate Finance Committee is investigating $158 million paid to accused sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein by billionaire and Apollo Global Management co-founder Leon Black for tax and estate-planning advice. Finance committee chairman Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., revealed the investigation Tuesday, calling it an inquiry into how "ultra-high net worth persons avoid or evade paying federal taxes, including gift and estate taxes." Wyden said the investigation uncovered serious tax issues, allowing Black -- who is a private equity investor -- to avoid more than $1 billion in future gift and estate taxes. The investigation alleges Black paid the late disgraced financier a total of $158 million in several installments between 2012 and 2017. "Despite not being a certified public accountant or licensed tax attorney, Epstein was paid amounts that far exceeded what you paid other professional advisors, including some of the most high-priced legal counsel in the nation," Wyden wrote. Epstein, a billionaire financier, died by suicide in August 2019 while in federal prison in New York, where he was being held on sex trafficking charges. The Senate Finance Committee is investigating Apollo Global Management co-founder Leon Black and $158 million in payments to accused sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein for tax and estate planning advice. Photo courtesy of Apollo Global Management Wyden's letter to Black on Monday requests further clarification on a number of tax issues. "Unfortunately, the inadequate responses you have provided the committee only raise more questions than answers, and fail to address a number of tax issues my staff has uncovered over the course of this investigation," Wyden wrote in a letter to Black. The Senate Finance Committee is investigating $158 million paid to the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, for tax and estate planning advice, by billionaire Leon Black. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Attorney Southern District of New York/EPA-EFE "These investigations include the avoidance of billions of dollars in income, gift and estate taxes through the use of tax shelters such as Private Placement Life Insurance; the possible circumvention of laws related to gift taxes and deductions involving the complementary use of private aircraft/superyachts by public officials; and the use of Swiss banks by wealthy taxpayers to expatriate from the United States and evade gift taxes while concealing offshore accounts from the Internal Revenue Service," Wyden wrote. Story continues Specifically, Wyden is seeking documents to show how Epstein's payments were calculated, along with his role in helping Black to "avoid federal gift and estate taxes on as much as $2 billion in wealth transferred to your children." A spokesperson for Black said Tuesday the billionaire has answered more than a dozen of the committee's questions and provided more than 150 pages of his personal tax and estate documents. Black "has cooperated extensively with the committee, providing detailed information about the matters under review," his spokesperson said. "The transactions referenced in the committee's letter were lawful in all respects, were conceived of, vetted and implemented by reputable law firms and tax and other advisors, and Mr. Black has fully paid all taxes owed to the government." Senate Republicans see impeaching President Biden ahead of the 2024 election as a risky political strategy that could turn off moderate voters and are hoping to wave their House GOP colleagues off from marching down that road. GOP senators say the party is better off focused on how to improve Americans lives in the future instead of fighting messy battles to settle past political scores. Staying focused on the future and not the past is in my view the best way to change the direction of the country and thats to win an election, Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.) told reporters Tuesday. Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairwoman Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said Tuesday she would prefer to focus on national security policy, which the Senate is debating this week as it wraps up work on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Im really focused on NDAA right now. I really want to see it get done and I want a bipartisan deal between the House and the Senate. I think thats what were focused on, Ernst told reporters. We need to get our [appropriations] bills done, too. So, thats what were going to focus on in the Senate. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Tuesday strongly signaled to reporters that the House could move forward with an impeachment inquiry. How do you get to the bottom of the truth? The only way Congress can do that is go to an impeachment inquiry, McCarthy told reporters Tuesday. What an impeachment inquiry does, it gives us the apex of the power of Congress for Republicans and Democrats to gather the information that they need. However, McCarthy later said no decision had been made, raising doubts about whether hed move forward with the step. I wasnt announcing it, he said. I simply say that the actions that Im seeing by this administration, with holding the agencies from being able to work with us that would rise to the level of an impeachment inquiry. We still have a number of investigations going forward. Story continues Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) declined to comment on McCarthys impeachment push when asked about it on his way to the Senate floor. Senate Republicans have generally kept their distance from the House Republican-led investigations into the Biden familys business dealings and earlier this summer dismissed what they saw as a hastily filed motion by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) to impeach Biden for lacking evidence and due process. I know people are angry. Im angry at the Biden administration for their policies at the border and a whole host of other things, but I think we also need to look at whats achievable, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said last month in response to Boeberts impeachment resolution. And with a Democratic majority in the Senate, I dont think thats achievable, he warned. Cornyn on Tuesday remarked that the House standards for impeaching a president have dropped in recent years. House Democrats impeached former President Trump in December of 2019 and then again in January of 2021. He told reporters that impeaching presidents is getting to be a habit around here, and thats not a good thing. Unfortunately, what goes around, comes around, he said. Remembering when it backfired Senate Republicans remember the last time a Republican-controlled House impeached a Democratic president in the fall of 1998, it backfired on their party in that years midterm election. Democrats picked up five House seats that year, marking the first time in 64 years the presidents party didnt lose any seats in Congress during a midterm election. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who voted twice to convict Trump on impeachment charges during two separate Senate trials, said its not unusual for lawmakers to launch baseless attacks against a major partys nominee for president, as happened to him in 2012. Romney said Biden should open up about his familys business dealings to reassure the public. More from The Hill There are all sorts of accusations and allegations. I had something of that nature launched against me when I was running for president. I found the best way to respond was full disclosure and transparency. My guess is thats the way to make it go away, he said. Ill expect to see that from the Biden team. Romney reminded his House colleagues that the bar for impeachment is high crimes and misdemeanors. That hasnt been alleged at this stage, but well see what develops. I certainly hope that thats not going to confront us again, he said. Cornyn warned Tuesday that further lowering the bar for impeachment will set a precedent for future Congresses. Once a precedent is established around here, you can pretty well guarantee people will cite that as justification or lower the bar further. I dont think its a healthy thing, he said. Even so, Cornyn acknowledged that House investigators have uncovered some troubling evidence shedding light on Hunter Bidens business dealings. Im very disturbed by some of the revelations in the House about the Biden family business, he said. Not eager for battle GOP senators are not eager to get drawn into a protracted battle with Democrats over an impeachment trial that may wind up dividing their conference if House investigators fail to come up with compelling evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors, the standard set by the Constitution. Investigations by the House Oversight, Judiciary and Ways and Means Committees into Hunter Bidens business dealings and whether he received favorable treatment from the Department of Justice have failed to gain much public traction, or even support from Senate Republicans on the other side of the Capitol. Trump on Monday vented his frustration with Senate Republicans for not showing much interest in pursuing Biden. Why hasnt Republican leadership in the Senate spoken up and rebuked Crooked Joe Biden and the Radical Left Democrats, Fascists, and Marxists for their criminal acts against our Country, some of them against me. How long does America have to wait for the Senate to ACT? Trump demanded in a post to his social media site, Truth Social. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Steve Daines (Mont.) told reporters Tuesday that its the job of the House, not the Senate, to investigate Biden. It will be up to the House to determine what the facts lead them to vote on in the future. Thats their job, he said. Some Republican senators, however, argued Tuesday that House Republicans are justified in moving forward with an impeachment inquiry. Considering what the House Oversight Committee is unearthing we cant help that the FBI didnt do their job for five years now theyre finding all this information out. Theyre still digging and appropriately so, said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), who asserted that House investigators have found pretty strong evidence of serious crimes. Whether we like it or not, we may have to deal with it, he said. I think the Speaker is doing what he needs to do and whats appropriate to do, quite honestly. Asked about his Senate Republican colleagues reluctance to wade into another impeachment fight, Cramer said: Im not eager to get on an airplane every Monday morning. We dont do this for our own convenience, we do this because we pledge an oath and we have a president who clearly has over the years been running a really awful family crime syndicate, he said. Weve got to look into it. He said when Democrats controlled the House during the Trump administration, We impeached the president twice with no evidence in the kangaroo court. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A group of bipartisan senators introduced legislation Tuesday to require the U.S. Treasury to increase transparency on Chinas activity at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). In the press release, the senators described the IDB as the most important development institution in the Western Hemisphere and criticized the institution for awarding a disproportionate number of contracts to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), when it owns less than 0.1 percent of the shares at the IDB. Since joining the IDB in 2009, the PRC has consistently used its participation at the bank to advance its national interests and influence in Latin America and the Caribbean, the press release read, noting that the PRC has been among the top countries awarded contracts by the IDB in the last few years, including ranking first in 2019. The IDB Transparency Act would require a public report from Treasury every two years that lists all the PRC-funded projects, how the IDB has benefited from PRC entities, and all projects the PRC is involved in. The report would inquire about PRC tech that is subject to U.S. export controls in IDB projects. And the report would require an action plan for the U.S. to reduce PRCs influence at the IDB, according to the press release. The second part of the bill would call on the United States to use its influence at the IDB to curb the PRCs influence at the IDB, to block any additional shares from being sold to the IDB, to vote against PRC-funded projects that threaten national interests and to push for greater transparency. As the Peoples Republic of China continues to use economic tools to advance its coercive economic agenda across the Western Hemisphere, its more important than ever that we protect the integrity of the IDB and ensure its critical work can continue unhampered by Beijings interference, Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) said in the release. By strengthening transparency at the IDB and denying support to projects that undermine U.S. national interests or those of our partners, this important bipartisan legislation will bolster our commitment to the IDB while assuring the global community that were combatting efforts to exploit multilateral institutions, Menendez added. Story continues The economic security of the Western Hemisphere is inextricably linked to the economic security of the United States, and it is vital that the United States work to counter the CCPs efforts to gain a strategic foothold through investments in critical resources and infrastructure, Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) said in the press release. The U.S. is the IDBs largest shareholder, but the PRC has leveraged the IDB to enhance its growing, nefarious influence in Latin America. Im pleased to introduce this bipartisan legislation that will help put an end to the CCPs attempts to use the IDB to advance its goals in Latin America. The bill was introduced by Menendez, Hagerty, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and reflects the growing sentiment in Congress to take action to curb Chinas global influence. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. My last phone call with Barbara Rippy took us to a familiar place: her decades-old anger over the plight of the seven children left motherless by Charlotte mass murderer Henry Louis Wallace. Write something for the kids, she urged me in September, on the eve of her 83rd birthday. Nobody in that state has ever done a damn thing to help them. Wed been talking on the phone regularly since 2018, when I met her while reporting a story on how one of those motherless children with Rippys lifelong devotion had overcome the trauma of her early life to graduate from college. That story never appeared in time for Rippy to read it. She died of leukemia on Dec. 1, 2022. During our conversation in the fall, she talked about her plans to move back to Charlotte. She never told me she was sick. Yet, something about her final plea Write something for the kids still resonates. Thirty years ago in the midst of Wallaces murder spree, Rippy made a promise that changed the course of her life and that of a baby girl named Natalia. In our final conversation, I told Rippy I would do what I could to publish the story she and the other survivors of Wallaces 22 months of terror deserved a story of violence and loss and how families born from tragedy struggled to build new lives. Rippy kept her promise. Now, Im keeping mine. Barbara Rippy knew something was wrong the instant she spotted the open door. Vanessa Macks apartment off Wilkinson Boulevard was always locked tight. Each time Rippy visited, shed knock, then wait. Invariably, Mack would come to her kitchen window first, checking once, twice, even three times before shed let Rippy in. A Killer's Long Shadow 30 years ago, Henry Louis Wallace cast a murderous shadow across Charlotte, raping and strangling 10 women before his arrest. Wallace's killings broke up families, stole daughters and sisters from their loved ones and left seven children without their mothers. Story continues In February 1994, Mack had reason for caution. At 25, she was a single mother struggling to raise two young daughters in a city that no longer felt safe. For the better part of a decade, crack cocaine had been streaming into Charlottes neighborhoods. Killings were occurring in record numbers 132 in 1993 compared with 48 five years earlier. Days before Vanessa Mack was strangled by Charlotte serial killer Henry Wallace, she asked Barbara Rippy to raise her daughter, Natalia if anything happened to her. Rippy is shown on Mothers Day 2021 with Natalia Little and Natalias 5-month-old daughter, Amora. Photo courtesy of Quintina Johnson. Rippy also knew that Mack feared something else. For weeks the younger woman had been tormented by the same nightmare a desperate, night-long race to escape the devil. When shed awaken, Mack would find herself gasping for air, as if the chase had crossed over into waking life, and something or someone was closing in. If anything happens to me, Mack had asked Rippy three days earlier, will you take care of my girls? Rippy, then 54, had raised six children of her own. But she had ties to Macks two girls. Natara, 7, whose father was Rippys son, often stayed at Rippys home in Pineville. Rippy also looked after 4-month-old Natalia when Mack worked as a patients aide at Carolinas Medical Center. That Rippy was so involved in the girls care made it easier for her to envision them as her own. Nonetheless, she well understood the significance of what she was being asked to do. You make a promise like that to someone, Rippy told me years later, youre really giving them your life. Yet, she answered Macks request with a question of her own: Whats going to happen to you? The wail of sirens A little before 6 a.m. on Feb. 20, 1994 , Rippy stood on Macks back stoop. She paused, then pushed through the open door and into the darkened apartment. Macks keys, attached to a fob decorated with her daughters photographs, dangled from the inside lock. Vanessa Mack had a recurring nightmare of impending doom leading up to her death at the hands of Henry Wallace in February 1994. Rippy called out Macks name. No answer. She found her way across the kitchen, talking louder as she went, and flipped on the overhead light. Vanessa, wake your ass up, Rippy remembered saying in a near shout. Youre going to be late. Still no reply. Then she saw Natalia. The baby was lying on her stomach. Not in the crib kept in her mothers bedroom, but on the living room sofa. She had propped herself up with her arms and was smiling. Natara was already at Rippys home in Pineville, still asleep. Confused and more alarmed, Rippy walked toward Macks bedroom, reached in and found a light switch. Then she gasped. Macks body was strewn across the foot of her bed. A pillow case was tied around her neck along with another piece of fabric which was white and had deer on it. Mack had been strangled with her daughters baby blanket. Rippy touched Macks left foot and the fingers of her left hand. They were cold. Trembling, Rippy retraced her steps to the living room. She picked up the baby, dialed 911, then made her way to nearby parking lot as the wail of approaching police sirens continued to build. Vanessa Macks key fob with the photos of her daughters was found in the back door of her home the morning after her murder in February 1994. Photo courtesy of Mecklenburg County Clerk of Court She cradled Natalia, the two of them already bound by a promise Rippy never imagined shed have to keep. The killer Autopsy ME-94-1591 found that Vanessa Mack had been raped before she was strangled. Within days, police told Rippy that the killer tried to use Macks bank card at a nearby ATM but failed. Rippy had always told Mack to keep her PIN secret. Mack had listened and given her attacker the wrong number. Henry Louis Wallace told friends he fell in love with Vanessa Mack at first sight. He raped and strangled her in February 1994. HO At Macks apartment, detectives found no fingerprints or signs of a forced entry. At first, police focused their investigation on Macks former boyfriend, who failed two lie-detector tests, but he was never charged. Two weeks passed, and the search for Macks killer began to go cold. On March 9 , there was another body, this time in east Charlotte. And then another, and another still. All the victims were Black women, and the manner of some of their murders hearkened back to Macks. On March 13, police found Henry Louis Wallace hiding in a friends east Charlotte apartment. In all, he confessed to the killings of 10 women in Charlotte as well as an 11th victim, a teenager, in his hometown of Barnwell, S.C. Wallace told detectives that he fell in love with Mack the first time he saw her and that he had doted on Natalia. Yet, he went to her apartment in February 1994 to rob, rape and kill her. When he knocked on her door, Wallace said, he was carrying a pillow case inside his coat. Inside Macks apartment, according to court documents, he asked for a drink. When Mack turned to get him one, Wallace used his pillow case as a garrote to drag Mack into her bedroom. There, he demanded money, her bank card and PIN, as well as sex. Mack was too frightened to resist, he told police. Later, Mack asked to be allowed to check on Natalia, who was on the sofa. Wallace told police he loosened his grip as if to let Mack get off the bed, then quickly twisted the pillow case even tighter. He wrapped another piece of fabric Natalias baby blanket around Macks neck to maintain the pressure. Wallace did not leave the home until Natalia fell asleep, he told police. He kept the back door ajar, he said, so Macks neighbor could reach the baby if she started crying. A week later, Mack was buried in a small cemetery near York, S.C., the only plot Barbara Rippy could find on short notice. At Rippys direction, Macks casket was closed 10 minutes before the start of the funeral, just as Rippy entered the church with Natalia and Natara, and the three of them made their way to the front row. Rippy believed until the end of her life that Wallace was sitting among the mourners. On the witness stand Some 2 1/2 years later, Rippy testified at his trial. Sitting at the prosecutors table, then Mecklenburg Assistant District Attorney Anne Tompkins was struck by how Rippy commanded the courtroom. I do remember her testimony, Tompkins, later a U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, told me a quarter of a century later. How strong she was. How amazing. How gripping. Rippy told me that her composure teetered slightly when she recalled how she was told on the morning of the murder to keep Macks daughters until social workers could arrange to pick them up. I said, Nobodys going to take this baby away from me, she testified. Vanessa asked me to raise her children if anything ever happened to her. I made her a promise. Former Mecklenburg County prosecutor Anne Tompkins said Barbara Rippy provided key testimony that helped convict Henry Wallace of nine murders in 1997. Jeff Siner When Rippy left the witness stand, she was in tears. She said they were tears of anger, and that she would have strangled Wallace in the courtroom if given the chance. On Jan. 7, 1997, two years and 10 months after his arrest, Wallace was convicted of nine murders. Three weeks later, the same jury sentenced him to death. The families As Wallace moved to Central Prison, his victims families attempted to stitch together some semblance of a new life but found the trauma hard to escape. Dee Sumpter, the mother of 20-year-old Shawna Hawk whom Wallace killed in February 1993, helped start a nationally acclaimed organization called Mothers of Murdered Offspring. In March, it celebrated its 30th anniversary. Yet, decades after her daughter was found in the familys bathtub, Sumpter told me in 2018 that she was still trying to breathe. Life does go on, she said. But what kind of life are we talking about? What are the day-to-day mechanics of this life? Can someone define that for me? By the time Wallaces trial ended in 1997, Rippy had relocated to Florida with her new family. As she promised Mack, Rippy formally adopted Natalia and was raising her and Natara. Within a year, her husband Julius was dead from complications from diabetes. At 56, Rippy was a single mother. As a toddler, Natalia loved jewelry and dolls and trips to the beach. There were photographs of Mack throughout the apartment, but the difficult subjects surrounding the mothers absence did not come up. Little girls, Rippy told me, dont ask many questions. After losing her mother to serial killer Henry Wallace, Natalia Little was adopted by Barbara Rippy. But she often wondered where she belonged. Photo courtesy of Barbara Rippy. In 2003, when Natalia was in third grade, she drew a portrait of herself for a school assignment on what she wanted to accomplish that year in Mrs. Copelands class. She gave herself two ponytails, gold earrings and blue shoes, and she used big, elementary-school letters to spell out her goals. I want to get all As, she wrote. Go to college to be smart. And I want to graduate. But it was Natalia with whom Rippy struggled most. It was also Natalia with whom she had the most in common. Both had to deal with loss at an early age. Both were raised in families other than the ones into which they were born. In 1939, Rippy was delivered in a makeshift Monroe hospital for Black mothers. Three days later, she says, her mother left her. She never knew her father. Rippy was 8 before she learned from a playground taunt that the only parents she had ever known were actually her birth mothers cousin and her husband. She barreled ahead, she says, by embracing the family she did have. But you always wonder, she told me. What did you do for your real parents to run off? Natalia also grappled with ghosts: a father who wasnt around, a mother who was not allowed to be. Henry Wallace had warped the direction of her life, years before she was able to see it. There was a lot of anger and confusion, I guess, feeling like a part of me was missing, not knowing who I exactly was or where I came from, Natalia told me in 2018. Relationships to her seemed fractured and brief. She once told Rippy, I feel like I dont belong to anybody. Natalia Little was adopted after her mothers murder in 1994. She was one of seven left motherless by serial killer Henry Louis Wallace. Provided by family As she grew older, her battles with her adopted mother became more frequent. Rippy partly blamed herself. I was hard. I was hard on everybody, she said. Natalia thought I was mean, and she thought I was only being mean to her because she wasnt my child. The relationship ruptured when Natalia was 13. She, Natara and Rippy had returned to North Carolina and were sharing a home in Monroe. One morning before school, Rippy told Natalia to turn off the TV and come to the table for breakfast. Without warning, Rippy recalled, Natalia slammed a filled plastic water bottle into the left side of her head near her eye. Rippy reeled in shock and pain. Police came to the house. It was not their first visit. Two days later, with Rippys signature, Natalia became a ward of the state. For the first time since her mothers death, she and Rippy were no longer together, and Natalia spent most of her high school years shuffling between a group home and foster care. She said she saw Rippys decision to give her up as a betrayal. I felt rejected. I felt alone, Natalia told me during a 2018 phone call. I think it made me, like, cold. I had problems developing relationships. I didnt know how to get close to people. During the separation, Rippy says she tried to stay in touch. But she said she wondered some nights whether Natalia was gone for good. Their reunion came begrudgingly. At 18, when Natalia aged out of state care and graduated from high school, she and Rippy remained at an impasse. So, leading up to her high school graduation, Natalia lived for several weeks with a teacher from her school. Afterward, Rippy paid for Natalia to have her own small apartment in the same Monroe complex where Rippy lived. They saw each other every day. Rippy took her shopping, and drove her back and forth to junior college. Natalia also had her privacy and was slowly learning to live on her own. In this routine, and with time, they re-established their family ties. There is forgiveness, Natalia told me. There is resilience, too. I went through hell with Natalia, Rippy told me in 2018. But Im still standing here beside her. The promise It was during her college years, first at Johnson C. Smith and finally at East Carolina University, where Natalia says a healthier relationship with Rippy firmly took root. Emotional ties that had endured tragedy and estrangement slowly brought them back together. Drawing from her own struggles to understand her life and her feelings, Natalia majored in psychology at ECU. She told me in 2018 that she was interested in learning what makes people what they are. Dee Sumpter says the life Rippy and Natalia wrested from the hands of Henry Louis Wallace can be an example for others fighting the undertow of violent loss. There are these moments of redemption where the pain almost becomes worth it, she said. My lord. All I can say is, my lord. The Rippys of the world ... I am in complete awe. Natalia Little gives Barbara Rippy a hug after her graduation at East Carolina University in 2018. Diedra Laird In the spring of 2018, as Natalia finished her final college classes, she told Rippy that she did not want to attend her graduation. I told her, You owe it to yourself, Rippy said a few days before the ceremony. And the second person you owe it to is me. I want to see that man hand you the piece of paper. Then your momma will know I did my job. In May 2018, Rippy, then 79, caught a plane from Orlando to Charlotte. The next morning, she joined her daughter Quintina and her son-in-law Fred for the four-hour drive to the East Carolina campus in Greenville. Around noon that day, Natalia Little she uses Macks maiden name walked across the stage and received her diploma. The return path to her seat brought her within a few feet of her adoptive mother. Good job, Rippy said as Natalia passed by. A family portrait The next day, Natalia and Rippy shared a couch in the small house at the back of a Harrisburg cul-de-sac that belonged to Quintina and Fred. The two women were surrounded by photographs. One dated back to Christmas 1993, when Rippy arranged to have a family portrait done at a Kmart in west Charlotte. Rippy told me that Vanessa Mack wanted no part of the photo shoot. Rippy insisted and drove the family there herself. She bought Mack a Christmas sweater, along with new outfits for Natara and Natalia. She also paid for the photographs, which Rippy said were the only ones ever taken of Mack with her daughters. In the portrait, Natara grins cheek-to-cheek. Natalia, then 2 months old, gazes upward with a look that resembles wonder. As she holds her daughters, Mack manages a half smile. She had two months to live. In October, the baby in the photograph turns 30, five years older than her mother lived to be. I think about that often, Natalia said the day after graduation. Maybe Im living and experiencing stuff that she exactly did not get to live through or do. Just like, Im walking this path, and Im walking it, and Im sure Im making her happy. Im doing the best that I can, thats all I can say, she said. It feels like Im doing what I can to make her and my mom here (Rippy) proud. A few feet away, Rippy stopped picking through the photographs. Thirty years ago, she found an orphaned baby on a sofa. Now, she seemed to be studying the woman the little girl had become and what the future still might hold for both of them. A tear rolled down her cheek. Promise kept. Epilogue Today, as the 30th anniversary of her mothers death approaches, Natalia Little lives in Charlotte and is the mother of a young daughter, Amora. Her sister Natara Briggs, 36, still lives in Florida. After agreeing to multiple interviews in 2018, Little declined to talk to me this spring and summer. She told me in a text message that with Rippys death, she and Natara are on their own, and, as with other survivors of Wallace, have never received the help they needed or deserved. This story includes Observer reporting from 1992-94. Shasta County has become a hotbed for conservative political causes, including unproven conspiracy theories about rigged voting and assertions that American gun rights are in peril. (Anita Chabria / Los Angeles Times) After gaining national attention for dumping Dominion Voting Systems and becoming the largest entity in the United States to resort to hand-counting ballots, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday waded into another issue roiling right-wing America: an unwavering defense of gun rights. By a 4-0 vote, the board approved a resolution declaring that the county would "use all lawful means at its disposal to support and defend the Second Amendment." Supervisor Patrick Jones, whose day job is managing his family's gun store in Redding, said the largely symbolic measure was necessary because the 2nd Amendment in California has been treated as a "second-class right," with Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and other lawmakers in Sacramento making frequent efforts at stricter gun control. The resolution had come before the board earlier this year in a more dramatic form. Jones introduced a measure in February that had been drafted by the California Rifle and Pistol Assn. As originally drafted, the resolution called for county employees to review the county's support for the 2nd Amendment every year. It also gave the Board of Supervisors, and county staff, the right not to enforce any state or federal laws that they deemed a violation of the 2nd Amendment as originally written and intended. The countys legal counsel at the time, Rubin Cruse Jr., objected to that language, advising the board that the resolution likely violated state law and risked landing the county in court. Under the state Constitution, Cruse noted, it is the judicial branch and not the Board of Supervisors that is charged with interpreting the constitutionality of laws. County Sheriff Michael Johnson also raised concerns about the original draft. I am a strong proponent of the 2nd Amendment, he said, but noted that California already guarantees residents a right to bear arms through the issuance of concealed weapons permits. I am not scared of any of them, because I vet them. I know they are responsible citizens, the sheriff said. But he added that without some regulatory provisions, any armed violent felon would be able to carry a weapon and any 12-year-old would be able to strap on a weapon. Story continues Cruse advised significant changes to the original resolution, and the board ultimately deadlocked 2 to 2 on passage. Supervisors Jones and Chris Kelstrom remained committed, with Kelstrom arguing that California was waging "a war on the 2nd Amendment." Supervisors Tim Garman and Mary Rickert voted in opposition. Rickert, who runs a ranch in Shasta County and noted that she has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, argued that the resolution was unnecessary. Her husband has a shotgun by the door tonight," she said. "That shotgun is going to be there tomorrow. The measure failed after Supervisor Kevin Crye normally allied with the board's far-right majority abstained, saying he wanted time to seek personal legal advice. Read more: Public tirades, recall threats as Shasta County roils from decision to dump voting machines The measure that came before supervisors Tuesday had been significantly reworked with the input of the county's lawyers. (Cruse was not among them. He has since left his county job, part of a wave of top officers in Shasta who have resigned or been fired over the past year.) The new resolution clarifies that the county intends to adhere to state and federal laws. But it also takes sharp aim at the whole concept of gun control and questions the motivations behind persistent calls from Newsom and fellow Democrats for stricter regulation for firearms. The Board of Supervisors believes that the California Legislature has passed laws that will be determined to be unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, and continues to pass laws that will be determined to infringe, unconstitutionally, upon peoples rights under the Second Amendment, reads one article in the lengthy resolution. Another questions academic studies showing that gun regulations save lives: The Board of Supervisors believes there have been many problems with reports and studies claiming that gun laws work. And later: After instances of people killing or injuring people, there is often an outcry to do something and a calling for more restrictive gun laws, which the Board of Supervisors believes negatively infringes upon the right of law abiding citizens to bear arms. Evil people kill the innocent and do damage with all kinds of instruments, the resolution opines. Garman and Crye voted to support the measure in its new form, along with Jones and Kelstrom. Rickert was absent, having left the meeting early because she was ill. Read more: Column: Mike Lindell is helping a California county dump voting machines. You should worry Adam Winkler, the Connell Professor of Law at UCLA who has authored a book about the political battles over gun control, said the notion of "2nd Amendment sanctuaries" has become increasingly popular in rural communities in states that adopt gun safety regulations. These are elected officials who want to make a stand in favor of the 2nd Amendment, so theyre rattling their guns, he said. But Winkler noted that "at the end of the day, a county cannot just decide on its own that theyre not going to obey state law. Some Shasta County gun owners who have been critical of the boards embrace of a far-right agenda echoed Winkler's perspective. Dawn Duckett called the resolution redundant and unnecessary. We are in full support of the 2nd Amendment, she told the board Tuesday. As a matter of fact, most of us are armed to the teeth." 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. Unlike most children, Pandora Mike knew what her career path was going to be before she even hit her teens. At the age of 11, Mike had just lived through a traumatic incident, and her father, a kindergarten teacher, thought it might help her process the experience if the two spent some time together. So he invited her into his classroom to read to his students. She wound up spending the whole day by her fathers side, watching him work and interact with his students while they discussed life and the challenges it can present. From that day on, I knew I was going to be a teacher, she said. For the last 33 years, Mike has made good on that aim, serving as an educator at various levels, not just instructing students in the classroom, but serving as a district director, assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent and college instructor. But it was her current posting serving as the principal at Tse Bit Ai Middle School in Shiprock, part of the Central Consolidated School District that led to her being named the 2023 NM National Distinguished Principal of the Year by the New Mexico Association of Elementary School Principals. Mike was presented with the award during a ceremony last week at an Embassy Suites Hotel in Albuquerque. She will be honored again during an event in October in Washington, D.C., along with all the other statewide winners. Pandora Mike, principal at Tse Bit Ai Middle School in Shiprock, part of the Central Consolidated School District, said she strives to be a servant-leader, one who does all she can to support her students and teachers in the classroom. According to a news release from CCSD, the award is presented each year to an outstanding educational leader who has demonstrated excellence in their profession and made significant contributions to their schools, communities and the education system as a whole. The release indicates Mike, who is Navajo, is the first indigenous principal to receive the award, both in New Mexico and across the nation. Its a milestone, of course, in my career, Mike said on July 24 as she prepared for the beginning of the fall semester at Tse Bit Ai Middle School, where she expects to welcome an anticipated 403 students this semester. Being an indigenous woman leader, its especially important. As I see it, it really paves the way for young educators to see the glass ceiling can be broken. There is more potential we can all reach. Story continues Mike said she was encouraged to do that by her parents, both of whom were teachers. In fact, it was her father, who died in 2015, who was instrumental in helping her decided on a focus for her thesis when she was pursuing her doctorate. You know, when you get two teachers together, you talk school, you talk shop, she said, explaining that she and her father had the same habit. Mike was considering some other ideas for her thesis, but when she began describing a high-achieving school she recently had learned about, he encouraged her to perform a case study of the institution, doing a deep dive into what had allowed its students to succeed at such a high level. I still live by his philosophy, and it really holds true, she said, explaining that her father believed every child has three teachers in their life their parents; the folks they encounter on a daily basis at school, including teachers, custodians, cooks, bus drivers and administrators; and the environment in which they live their lives, both at home and at school. Pandora Mike, the principal at Tse Bit Ai Middle School in Shiprock, has been named the 2023 NM National Distinguished Principal of the Year by the New Mexico Association of Elementary School Principals. As indigenous children, that really speaks to the Dine philosophy, she said. He taught me the interdependency between environment and people. We learn from one another, and we impact one another. As she moved up the career ladder in education, Mike came to realize she was able to weld a good deal of influence not just on her teachers but on the atmosphere at her school, as well. That left her with no doubt she had made the right career choice as an 11-year-old. I love what I do, she said. In addition to her parents, Mike said she often has turned to medicine people for counsel over the course of her career. She said a conversation she had with one of those folks early in her career, in the 1990s, made an especially strong impression her. After revealing to Mike that he could see strong leadership qualities in her, the man told her that each child is born with different gifts and that it is a teachers job to be ready to nurture the development of those gifts when they make themselves known, like a seed blossoming into a plant. You never know when a student will show you their gift, she said he told her. You have to be ready. You can be too busy, too stressed out, too tired. Mike said she has resolved to be ready for those moments throughout her career, no matter what other circumstances she may be facing. People show you their gifts at all times, she said. Thats the beauty of this world. Mike said she aspires to be a servant-leader, one whose goal is to do everything she can to support her students and teachers in the classroom. She said that takes the form of building a well-structured educational model with clear processes in which everyone knows their role and performs it well especially herself. My students can expect that, from Day One, they will who I am as a mother and grandmother, she said. They will learn my plan, which I present at an assembly. That first day of school is something Mike has experienced dozens of times in her career, but it never fails to get her excited. I still get butterflies on the first day, she said. I think its important to kick off the year right. So Im looking forward to that. Mike Easterling can be reached at 505-564-4610 or measterling@daily-times.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e. This article originally appeared on Farmington Daily Times: Tse Bit Ai Middle School Principal Pandora Mike honored by NM group More than 100 years ago, a group of Greek sponge divers stumbled upon a sprawling shipwreck near the island of Antikythera. Since then, various excavation projects of the massive vessel which is considered to be the richest shipwreck in Greece have led to the discovery of numerous artifacts, including the famous Antikythera Mechanism, according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Now, ongoing excavations by an international team of archaeologists, divers and scientists have unearthed even more fascinating artifacts at the site of the wreck, according to a July 17 news release from the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece. Heres what to know about the Antikythera shipwreck; The latest discoveries: human remains and another vessel The latest round of excavations at the site of the wreck took place between May and June, officials said. Experts said divers used remote-controlled drones to explore the eastern edge of the site. Data was then processed using 3D modeling software that helped visualize and analyze the site. The team discovered bone remains from at least one victim of the shipwreck, according to officials. Additionally, a number of fragments from marble statues, pottery and glassware were discovered and parts of copper, lead and wood from the ships structure were found. Bronze fragments found in the wreckage. Orestes Manousos/Ministry of Culture and Sports Pieces of lead that came from the ships hull were found at the site of the wreck. Orestes Manousos/Ministry of Culture and Sports Human remains were excavated from the ships ruins. Orestes Manousos/Ministry of Culture and Sports A collection of bronze nails discovered in the wreck. Orestes Manousos/Ministry of Culture and Sports One of the marble fragments discovered appeared to be the beard of a statue of the head of Herakles the Greek name for Hercules, experts said. The rest of the statue was excavated in 2022. Evidence of a second shipwreck was also found, the team said. Several fragments of ceramics were unearthed at a higher elevation near the Antikythera site, indicating that another, smaller vessel wrecked nearby several hundred years later during the Byzantine Empire. Fragments of ceramics discovered at what experts think is a second shipwreck. Orestes Manousos/Ministry of Culture and Sports An Indiana Jones feature The Antikythera shipwreck was also recently highlighted by the film industry. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the fifth installment in the film series, is based on the wreck and one of its most famous pieces of cargo. Story continues In his latest on-screen adventure, Indiana Jones sets out with his hat and bullwhip to track down the fictional Archimedes Dial, also known as the dial of destiny, according to Smithsonian Magazine. The movie centers around Indiana Jones search for the dial, which is a fictionalized version of the Antikythera mechanism. The Antikythera mechanism is believed to be an ancient computer, according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Experts think it was used to plan important events such as the early Olympic games, religious rituals and agriculture. 800-year-old sword was found in Mediterranean Sea. Now experts know how it got there Hoard of ancient treasures uncovered near 2,200-year-old Celtic sanctuary, photos show Trove of dazzling glass pieces perfectly preserved in ancient shipwreck. See them Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has arrived in North Korea where he met with his counterpart, General Kang Sun-nam, in Pyongyang on July 26. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has arrived in North Korea where he met with his counterpart, General Kang Sun-nam, in Pyongyang on July 26. Shoigu claimed that he "felt care and attention from the very first moments" of his arrival. He said he intended "not only to work hard but also to learn a great deal about North Korea, its culture, customs and main attractions." Shoigu said he aimed at "developing bilateral ties in all directions," however he made no secret that he is focused mostly on military ties. "I am confident that today's talks will help strengthen cooperation between our defense ministries," the aggressor country's official said. Read also: Russia offers North Korea food in exchange for ammunition Together with a Chinese group, Shoigu is among the first public visitors to the country since the COVID-19 pandemic began. They will take part in the 70th anniversary of "Victory Day", namely the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement in the Korean War that lasted from 1950. Pyongyang calls the conflict the Great Fatherland Liberation War. According to the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, North Korea has supplied weapons and ammunition to Russias Wagner Group PMC. The White House said that Russia offered food in exchange. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un called the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine a "holy fight" and expressed the desire to build a strong state together with the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Read also: North Korea supplies Russias Wagner mercenaries, US says 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 Before he shot himself with his own gun on Sunday night, Miami-Dade Countys police director offered to resign in a call with Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, where he described a reported altercation with his wife, the mayor confirmed Wednesday. He was very remorseful. I reassured him we would talk, Levine Cava said in a press conference, her first since Alfredo (Freddy) Ramirez wounded himself critically after leaving a Tampa hotel with his wife, Jody. He told me he was driving back to Miami. Levine Cava declined to reveal specifics about what Ramirez, a candidate for Miami-Dade sheriff, told her during their Sunday evening conversation, including his version of the events that drew Tampa police to his hotel room earlier that night. But she described Ramirez as anguished over what had happened. There was an incident at the hotel in Tampa, she said, describing what he told her. He had made mistakes, and he was remorseful. A source briefed on the conversation said Levine Cava did not accept the resignation. At the press conference, Levine Cava said she left the conversation with the two planning to speak Monday. I reassured him we would talk, that I would call him in the morning, READ MORE: Hes stable and hes talking. Miami-Dades top cop said to be recovering after shooting Ramirez, a senior deputy to Levine Cava and a candidate for county sheriff, remains in a Tampa hospital with what police described as a critical wound to the head caused when he shot himself Sunday night on the side of I-75 after the couple left a convention hotel following an interaction with Tampa police. Officers responded to the hotel after reports of a man holding a gun, a report that led them to Ramirez. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava provides an update on the condition of Chief of Public Safety Alfredo Freddy Ramirez during a press conference at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center in downtown Miami on July 26, 2023. The source briefed on the call said Levine Cava and Ramirez spoke once on Sunday, around 8:30 p.m. after the mayor missed a call from him at 7:30 p.m. Ramirez also placed a call to the campaign manager the two Democrats share, Christian Ulvert, Ulvert confirmed Wednesday. Story continues Ulvert said he spoke with Ramirez three times between the incident at the hotel and the shooting on I-75. He said Ramirez called him to report he had a confrontation with his wife that wasnt violent but was still likely to cause problems for him as a candidate. He said he got into a fight with his wife. He said it was non-physical, Ulvert said. He was very embarrassed. He said: This is not like me. Ulvert said Ramirez did not share details about the confrontation, and that Ulvert didnt press for more information. I told him lets meet Monday morning to discuss what happened and build a plan from there, Ulvert said. He agreed wed meet Monday morning. While they only spoke once, Levine Cava tried to get back in touch with Ramirez that evening. Its not known why, but the county mayor placed calls and a text message to Ramirez in the timing leading up to what police said was his self-inflicted gunshot wound. The calls and text message did not generate responses, the source said. Hours after Ramirezs self-inflicted wound, Levine Cava was at the Tampa hospital where he was being treated, having flown there on a county rescue helicopter. She landed in Tampa around 2:30 a.m., the source said. Levine Cava held the 11 a.m. Wednesday press conference at County Hall to discuss Ramirezs condition, and to formally introduce the people taking his positions on an interim basis: Stephanie Daniels, as head of Miami-Dade police, and J.D. Patterson, as chief safety officer, a post Ramirez also held, which placed him in charge of the countys Fire Rescue Department as well. Im very glad to report he is in stable condition after under going surgery on Monday, Levine Cava said. Every day he is recovering he is continuing to regain his strength. Miami-Dade County Police Director Alfredo Freddy Ramirez is recovering in a Tampa hospital from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Sunday evening. This photo is from the press conference introducing him as the new director at Miami-Dade Police Department Headquarters on January 8, 2020 in Miami. She also emphasized the mental-health hazards of law enforcement. This incident is also a tragic reminder of the critical role that mental health plays in our law enforcement officers, she said during the County Hall press conference, flanked uniformed county police administrators and commanders. The reality is that these jobs are very demanding, theyre stressful and theyre emotionally taxing. By Ann Wang and Fabian Hamacher TAOYUAN, Taiwan (Reuters) - Taiwan conducted an anti-aircraft landing drill at its main international airport for the first time on Wednesday, simulating the repulsion of an invading force as China ramps up military pressure to force the island to accept its sovereignty. The drill at the island's main Taoyuan international airport was part of Taiwan's main annual Han Kuang exercises that started on Monday, focusing on protecting its infrastructure and striking incoming enemy ships to keep key waterways open. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its territory, has been staging regular exercises around the island for the past three years, to pressure Taipei to accept Beijing's claim of sovereignty despite the island's strong rejections. Six helicopters including Apache attack helicopters and some 180 soldiers took part in the drill to simulate the repulsion of an enemy force who had seized control of air traffic control facilities at the airport, the defence ministry said. Soldiers carrying rifles were seen running on the runway to fight off enemy forces being dropped off by the helicopters. Shortly, a soldier waved Taiwan's national flag on a jet bridge, signalling their victory. Overseeing a separate drill in the northern city of Taoyuan simulating physical and cyber attacks on an oil refinery, President Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan must boost its resilience in the event of an emergency. "We must continue to boost Taiwan's resilience for disasters so that when facing threats we can recover fast and minimize the impact of operation outages," she said. In the early hours of Wednesday, the military police conducted a "key infrastructure defence drill" at the Taipei Main Station, practicing taking back control of the transport hub in the event of fighting in the capital Taipei. Tsai has made modernising the military a top priority, pushing for various defence projects including developing Taiwan's own jets and submarines. She repeatedly vows to defend the island's freedom and democracy if China attacks. (Reporting By Ann Wang and Fabian Hamacher; Writing By Yimou Lee; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) CHICAGO More than a decade after his arrest in Mexico, a top narcotics distributor for the infamous Sinaloa cartel who was indicted in Chicago after negotiating a heroin deal with West Side twins Pedro and Margarito Flores was sentenced Tuesday to more than 19 years in prison. Felipe Cabrera Sarabia, 53, a former cattle rancher nicknamed The Engineer, was extradited to the U.S. in 2020 after spending nearly nine years in custody in Mexico, where his attorneys said he was often in solitary confinement and subjected to torture. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of narcotics trafficking, admitting in a plea agreement with prosecutors that he distributed more than 150 kilograms, or about 330 pounds, of cocaine and more than 30 kilograms, or about 66 pounds, of heroin for the Sinaloa cartel, then headed by Joaquin El Chapo Guzman and Ismael El Mayo Zambada. In asking for leniency, Cabreras attorneys noted that in the years before his arrest, Cabrera had become a pillar of support for his rural community in Mexicos Durango region, overseeing the buying and selling of cattle, helping bring fresh water service to his village and enlisting engineers to build a roadway system linking area towns. In handing down the sentence of 230 months, however, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman said that while its all well and good that Cabrera was able to help his community in Mexico, the massive amount of drugs trafficked by his cartel has done horrific and lasting damage to Chicago. My community up here has been decimated, said Coleman. Before the sentence was handed down, Cabrera apologized to his wife and children for his conduct and asked for forgiveness from the government of the United States. I am completely regretful, Cabrera said through a Spanish interpreter. I ask for an opportunity to return (to Mexico) and to be reunited with my family. Cabrera was indicted in 2009 along with Guzman, Zambada and numerous other cartel leaders and henchmen in what has been called the largest narcotics case ever brought in Chicago. Story continues The charges alleged the Sinaloa cartel used jumbo jets, submarines and tunnels to smuggle massive amounts of drugs into the U.S., much of which was later distributed in wholesale quantities in Chicago. The cartel members then laundered billions of dollars in proceeds back to Mexico, according to the charges. Among the cartels top distributors were Pedro and Margarito Flores, twin brothers who rose from the obscurity of the Little Village neighborhood on the West Side to working directly for El Chapo before cutting a secret cooperation deal with the government. In 2008, shortly before the Flores twins cooperation ended, Cabrera met with El Chapo, Zambada, Zambada Niebla and Margarito Flores, who agreed that he and his twin brother would purchase 13 kilograms, or about 28 pounds, of heroin located in Chicago for a price of $715,000, according to prosecutors. The twins later recorded phone calls with Cabrera, including one where Margarito Flores told Cabrera that El Chapos heroin was of higher quality than the drugs from Mayo, according to prosecutors. Theyre all the same, Cabrera responded, according to his plea agreement. He later told Pedro Flores hed look into it. Cabrera was also recorded by the twins as they updated him on the delivery of the heroin to couriers, which turned out to be a ruse set up by law enforcement, according to the plea. The Flores twins both pleaded guilty and were sentenced in 2015 to 14 years in prison. They were released in 2020, but a year later, their wives, brother and two other relatives were charged with conspiring to launder hundreds of thousands of dollars of their husbands narcotics proceeds, which they spent on lavish vacations and other lifestyle perks. Vivianna Lopez, who is married to Pedro Flores, was sentenced last week to 3 1/2 years in prison. Margarito Flores wife, Valerie Gaytan, has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. The Flores brothers cooperation, meanwhile, also led to the arrest of Zambada-Niebla, one of El Chapos most trusted associates who was recorded by the twins talking about massive drug shipments, obtaining grenades and explosives, and even attacking government buildings in Mexico in retaliation against law enforcement. In his testimony at Guzmans trial in December 2018, Pedro Flores described how he and his brother could barely keep up with the shipments that arrived to the United States via submarine, vegetable trucks and, one time, a load of live sheep. According to one estimate by federal agents, the twins helped smuggle at least 71 tons of cocaine and heroin and nearly $2 billion in cash. Zambada-Niebla pleaded guilty in Chicago and cooperated against his former boss. He was sentenced in 2019 to 15 years in prison. Guzman was convicted in New York in 2019 of murder conspiracy and drug trafficking charges and sentenced to life in prison. Lawrence Wong, tipped to be Singapore's next prime minister, said the recent scandals had been a "setback" for the ruling party Singapore's government will work "doubly hard" to regain public trust after a spate of recent political scandals, its deputy PM tells the BBC. Lawrence Wong acknowledged damage to the ruling party from a corruption probe and MPs' extra-marital affairs. He told the BBC's Newsday programme: "The incidents are a setback for the ruling party and the government". But he dismissed criticism his government had not been transparent with the public or accountable. "We have been upfront about the cases, investigated them thoroughly and [are determined to] have a full accounting to the public," Mr Wong said. Singapore prides itself on its reputation for clean governance. The city-state of five million is seen as a business and legal hub in Asia. Its political leaders are also the best-paid in the world, with the highest government salaries. However in recent weeks, the city-state's residents have been rocked by cases involving a senior minister's arrest in a corruption probe, as well as two lawmakers' resignation over an extramarital affair. Mr Wong acknowledged the public frustration over a perceived delay in revealing the arrests of Transport Minister S Iswaran and billionaire hotelier Ong Beng Seng - who are at the centre of a corruption probe. The minister has been released on bail and placed on leave. Mr Wong said the watchdog had chosen to reveal the arrests three days after they had taken place due to "operational considerations". He reiterated the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau's independence. "I believe Singaporeans have full trust in the work of the CPIB. Throughout our history, the track record is clear and evidence for all to see. We have zero tolerance for corruption," he said. In June, the watchdog was also involved when two senior ministers were accused of improper access in the property market. They were cleared by the CPIB in a case review. Story continues Political analysts say the events could dent support for the long-ruling People's Action Party, which has been in power since 1959 and holds 83 of 93 seats in parliament. Two of those seats are vacant after a pair of MPs, including the Speaker of the Parliament, resigned over their extramarital affair. Such impropriety scandals have stained the government's reputation. "To be clear, we set high standards for propriety and personal conduct," Mr Wong said. "But in dealing with such cases, which are cases of human frailties, we are also very cognisant of the impact that our actions have on innocent parties, including families, especially the spouses and their children." Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed he found out about the affair between former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-jin and fellow lawmaker Cheng Li Hui sometime in 2020, and that Mr Tan had resigned in February this year. This led Singaporeans to question why it was only disclosed to the public recently and why Mr Tan still carried out lawmaker duties. The city-state faces a presidential election later this year - an executive role long aligned with the party in power. A general election for government must be held by November 2025. Mr Wong told the BBC that he would "work doubly hard" to re-earn the trust of Singaporeans, but did not elaborate on how. "If I do have a chance to take over [leadership of the country], I know that it's not just about me taking over because I also have to earn that trust from Singaporeans themselves. I have to win their confidence and mandate to lead the country," he said. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) Singapore executed a man Wednesday for drug trafficking and is set to hang a woman Friday the first in 19 years prompting renewed calls for a halt to capital punishment. Mohammed Aziz Hussain, 56, was hanged at Singapore's Changi Prison and has been buried, said activist Kirsten Han of Transformative Justice Collective, which advocates for abolishing the death penalty in Singapore. A citizen of the city-state, he was sentenced to death in 2018 for trafficking around 50 grams (1.75 ounces) of heroin, Han said. Saridewi Djamani, a 45-year-old Singaporean woman, is due to be hanged Friday after she was convicted and sentenced in 2018 for trafficking around 30 grams (1.05 ounces) of heroin, the group and other human rights organizations said. Han said the last woman known to have been hanged in Singapore was 36-year-old hairdresser Yen May Woen, also for drug trafficking, in 2004. Singaporean authorities must immediately stop these blatant violations of the right to life in their obsessive enforcement of misguided drug policies, Adilur Rahman Khan, secretary-general of the International Federation of Human Rights, said in a statement. If Djamani's is executed as planned, Singapore will have executed 15 people for drug offences since it resumed hangings in March 2022, an average of one execution every month, Transformative Justice Collective, Amnesty International and seven other groups said in a joint statement. Anyone citizens and foreigners alike convicted of trafficking more than 500 grams (17.64 ounces) of cannabis and 15 grams (0.53 ounces) of heroin faces the mandatory death penalty. Human rights groups, British business mogul Richard Branson and the United Nations have urged Singapore to halt executions for drug-related offenses as increasing evidence shows the death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent. But Singapore authorities insist that all prisoners get due process of law and that capital punishment remains key to helping halt both drug demand and supply. Story continues The joint statement by Transformative Justice Collective and other groups noted that Law Minister K. Shanmugam reportedly acknowledged in a 2022 interview that Singapores harsh policy on drugs has not led to the arrest of the so-called drug kingpins. Instead of disrupting drug cartels the government of Singapore deliberately retains capital drug laws that, in practice, operate to punish low-level traffickers and couriers, who are typically recruited from marginalised groups with intersecting vulnerabilities, the statement said. The groups said Singapore is out of step with the global trend of more countries moving away from capital punishment. Neighboring Thailand has legalized cannabis while Malaysia ended the mandatory death penalty for serious crimes this year. The groups urged Singapore to halt all executions and instead pursue effective measures to humanely address drug trafficking in the country. A Brussels court on Tuesday found six out of ten suspects guilty of terrorist murder in the 2016 Brussels attacks, according to Belgian public broadcaster RTBF. Mohamed Abrini, Oussama Atar, Osama Krayem, Salah Abdeslam, Ali El Haddad Asufi and Bilal El Makhoukhi were all found guilty of terrorist murder, according to RTBF. The Brussels court established a terrorist motive behind the attacks, ruling that the groups intention was to intimidate the Belgian population and kill as many people as possible, RTBF reported. The six men, alongside Herve Bayingana Muhirwa and Sofien Ayari, were also found guilty of participating in the activities of a terrorist organization, according to RTBF. The trial began last year to determine whether 10 men played a part in the suicide bombings on March 22, 2016 that killed dozens of people and injured over 300. The court found that four further people should be added to the list of people killed in the attacks, bringing the death toll up to 36 people, according to RTBF. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks, which saw suicide bombers detonate several explosions in Brussels airport and a metro station in the city. A forensics officer works in front of the damaged Zaventem Airport terminal in Brussels, March 23, 2016. - Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP/FILE In 2022, Abdeslam was also found guilty of carrying out a series of deadly gun and bomb attacks in Paris in 2015. Abdeslam, who is believed to be only surviving member of the group that carried out the French attacks, was given a life prison sentence without the possibility of parole by a French court. Meanwhile, Oussama Atar who was absent from the Brussels trial, is presumed to have been killed in Syria, according to RTBF. Brothers Smail Farisi and Ibrahim Farisi were both acquitted of the charge of participation in activities of a terrorist group, according to RTBF. The two brothers were consequently not guilty of all charges filed against them. Tuesdays ruling marks the end of Belgiums largest ever trial which included evidence from over 370 witnesses and experts, according to Reuters. When the attacks took place in 2016, Belgium had been a focus for counterterrorism officials because of the large number of Belgian foreign fighters who have traveled to join ISIS and other terror groups in Syria and Iraq more per capita than any other European Union country. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Mark Trevelyan (Reuters) - A century after his father and mother fled Russia to escape the Bolsheviks, renowned mathematician Alexey Sossinsky found history repeating itself when President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. Brought up in France and the United States, Sossinsky moved to the land of his parents' birth in 1957 and carved out a distinguished academic career. But at 85 he is now an exile once more. When Putin launched the war last year, he left with two suitcases in the middle of the night. "I had no hesitation, I immediately did whatever was possible to get out," Sossinsky told Reuters in a phone interview. A former student secured him a plane ticket to Istanbul - the same city where his father fled by ship in 1919 - and from there he travelled to France, where his daughter lives. Fluent in three languages and still delivering classes to students in Russia via Zoom, he now expects to live out his life in exile. WAR AND PEACE The family story that Sossinsky recounts with pride and painstaking detail is a microcosm of Russia's history of upheaval, war and repression going back more than a century. His mother, Ariadna Chernova, was the daughter of Viktor Chernov, a socialist revolutionary who fleetingly served as president of Russia's Constituent Assembly in 1918, before it was dispersed by the Bolsheviks. She fled Russia in 1923 with her mother and sisters. In France she met and married another exile, Bronislav Sossinsky, who had won the highest medal for gallantry in the White Army that fought against the Bolsheviks in Russia's Civil war. Alexey was born in France in 1937. During World War Two, his father fought in the resistance against the Nazis and was a prisoner of war. The family moved in 1948 to New York, where Bronislav worked for the UN. Alexey got his first taste of Russia in the mid-1950s, after the death of Stalin, when the family visited there on holiday. He was surprised at the "absolutely horrid level of life" even in Moscow. But "against all logic" he decided in 1957 to stay on there and study mathematics, a subject in which he believed that Moscow was "the centre of the whole world". Story continues By the early 1970s he was an associate professor at Moscow State University and had gained an international reputation in an area of geometry called knot theory. His career took a dive after he and a friend wrote a letter in 1974 defending Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the dissident writer who had been expelled from the Soviet Union. Addressed to a French literary journal, the letter was intercepted by the KGB, and the friend lost his job. Sossinsky was instructed to sign an application form for classes in Marxism-Leninism but could not bring himself to do it. "I tore up that piece of paper, took a blank piece of paper and wrote my resignation from the department - a completely crazy thing to do," he said. He worked for 13 years as an editor at a science journal before he was able to return to academia. "HIDEOUS REGIME" Decades on, he is still speaking out. The West, he says, has dangerously underestimated Putin's "intelligence, cleverness, total immorality and cruelty", his ability to adapt to sanctions and his success in using state media to "hypnotise" the population. "It's absolutely horrible that normal ordinary people support this hideous regime," Sossinsky said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is a hero who has made mistakes but is doing a "fantastic job" overall, he added. Sossinsky says he now wants to die in France, the country of his birth. And he does not expect the Ukraine conflict to be over by then. "I'm very pessimistic because I'm pretty sure the war will not end in my lifetime," he said. "This is the kind of war that nobody is ever going to win." Nevertheless, as decades ago, exile still makes Sossinsky restless. He said he is weighing a brief return, if only to see friends and visit the country cottage outside Moscow where he would ski in winter and swim in a lake in summer. "Surprisingly, my hope is that at some time I will overcome my fear of repression and go back to Russia for the summer - if not next year, then the year after that or the year after that," he said. "My daughter is absolutely panicked by the thought that I will return to Russia and will be put in prison and God knows what. So I have to convince her she should not worry." (Reporting by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Peter Graff) After Being Arrested on the Steps of the US Capitol for a Peaceful Demonstration in 2021, Rev. Mahoney will Participate in a Special Mediation Hearing in Washington, D.C. Federal Court Regarding his Federal Lawsuit NEWS PROVIDED BY Christian Defense Coalition July 26, 2023 WASHINGTON, July 26, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- Rev. Mahoney filed a federal lawsuit calling for the U.S. Capitol to be open to all Americans and arguing members of Congress should not be granted special rights and privileges not afforded to all Americans. The mediation will take place on Thursday, July 27 at 11:00 AM. It will be held at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse located at 333 Constitution Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C. Rev. Mahoney, along with several others, was arrested for peacefully demonstrating on the eastern steps of the U.S. Capitol building in August of 2021. Shortly before Rev. Mahoney was arrested at the Capitol, Congresswoman Cori Bush was allowed to protest and camp out for several nights on the exact same Capitol steps. The U.S. Capitol Police stood by and watched, providing the Congresswoman a public, prominent platform for her message about the eviction moratorium. Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition based in Washington, D.C., states; "The 'People's House,' as the U.S. Capitol Building is so rightly called, must be a place where all Americans are afforded the right to come and peacefully celebrate and express their First Amendment Rights. It must never be a place where the 'political elite' are given special rights which are not extended to every citizen. "When ordinary Americans are arrested for engaging in the same activities in which members of Congress are protected and allowed to engage in, then we no longer have a functioning First Amendment at the U.S. Capitol. "My hope and prayer is this federal lawsuit will ensure the 'People's House' is returned back to the people and the First Amendment is once again celebrated and honored at the United States Capitol." For more information or interviews please contact: Rev. Patrick Mahoney at 540.538.4741 SOURCE Christian Defense Coalition CONTACT: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, 540-538-4741 Academic performance improves when schools ban smartphones, research shows. Westend61 via Getty Images Should smartphones be allowed in classrooms? A new report from UNESCO, the education arm of the United Nations, raises questions about the practice. Though smartphones can be used for educational purposes, the report says the devices also disrupt classroom learning, expose students to cyberbullying and can compromise students privacy. About 1 in 7 countries globally, such as the Netherlands and France, have banned the use of smartphones in school and academic performance improved as a result, particularly for low-performing students, the report notes. As school leaders in the U.S. wrestle with whether or not to ban smartphones, The Conversation has invited four scholars to weigh in on the issue. Daniel G. Krutka: Use smartphones to encourage technoskepticism While the issue of smartphone use in schools is complicated, evidence suggests that spending more time on smartphones is associated with young people being less happy and less satisfied with life. Technology scholars have long argued that the key to living well with technology is in finding limits. However, in banning smartphones, I worry educators might be missing opportunities to use smartphones to encourage what I and other researchers refer to as technoskeptical thinking; that is, questioning our relationship with technology. For example, students might be encouraged to consider the benefits and drawbacks of using navigational apps to travel from one place to another, as opposed to old-fashioned paper maps. Or, students might explore their social media feeds to critique what algorithms feed them, or how notifications get their attention. In my research, I have looked at how teachers can encourage students to go on techno-fasts that is, abstaining from the use of technology for a certain period of time. This, I argue, will give students time to reflect on the time they spend away from their devices. Policy debates often focus on whether or not to put smartphones out of reach during the school day. But I believe educators might find it more beneficial to make the phones an object of inquiry. Story continues Massachusetts Commissioner of Education Jeffrey Riley recently said the state may begin encouraging school districts to ban cellphone use in schools. monkeybusinessimages/iStock via Getty Images Sarah Rose: Consult parents, teachers and students While there is evidence that classroom phone usage can be a distraction, it can also promote engagement and learning. While research about the potential positive and negative consequences of classroom phones can be used to inform school phone policies, the views of those who are most directly impacted by the policies should also be taken into account. The views of parents matter because their views may influence the extent to which their children follow the policy. The views of children matter because they are the ones being expected to follow the policy and to benefit from it. The views of teachers matter because they are often the ones that have to enforce the policies. Research shows that enforcing cellphone policies is not always a straightforward issue. In my research, I have found that children aged 10 and 11 years old in collaboration with their parents, were able to come up with ideas for ideal policies and solutions to help enforce them. For example, one parent-child pair suggested mobile phone use in school could be banned but that a role of telephone monitor could be given to an older pupil. This telephone monitor would have a class mobile phone that children and parents could use to contact each other during the school day when necessary. This recommendation reflected how parents and middle and high school students whether from rural and urban areas felt cellphones were important to keep in touch with each other during the school day. Beyond safety, children and parents also told us that phones were important for keeping in touch about changing plans and for emotional support during the school day. I believe policies that simply ban phones in schools may be missing an opportunity to educate children about responsible mobile device use. When parents and children are involved in policy development, it has the potential to increase the extent to which these policies are followed and enforced. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2020, cellphone bans were in place in 76% of U.S. schools. gorodenkoff/iStock via Getty Images Arnold L. Glass: Cellphone use in college lectures hurts performance in ways that are hard to see The intrusion of internet-enabled electronic devices, such as laptops, tablets and cellphones, has transformed the modern college lecture. Students now divide their attention between the lecture and their devices. Classroom studies reveal that when college students use an electronic device for a nonacademic purpose during class, it hurts their performance on exams. When attention is divided between an electronic device and the classroom lecture, it does not reduce comprehension of the lecture at least, not when measured by within-class quizzes. Instead, divided attention reduces long-term retention of the classroom lecture, which hurts performance on unit exams and final exams. When some students open electronic devices, it also negatively affects the performance of all the students around them. Research has shown that student performance on final exams was worse when electronic devices were permitted during classes that covered exam material versus when the devices were not. Many students wont think their divided attention is affecting their retention of new information. It may not be for the moment, but a couple of weeks later or down the line, research shows, it does. Louis-Philippe Beland: Bans help low-achieving students the most Numerous studies indicate that low-achieving students stand to benefit the most from the implementation of mobile phone bans in schools. In a 2015 study, my co-author, Richard Murphy, and I examined the impact of banning mobile phones on student performance in high schools, using data from England. By comparing schools with phone bans to similar schools without the bans, we isolated the effect of mobile phones on performance. Our study found that banning mobile phones significantly increased test scores among 16-year-old students. The effect is equivalent to adding five days to the school year or an extra hour per week. Low-achieving students benefited more, while high-achieving students remained unaffected. Similar studies in Spain and Norway using a similar approach demonstrated compelling evidence supporting the benefits of banning mobile phones. In Spain, grades improved and bullying incidents decreased. In Norway, the ban raised middle school students grade-point averages and their likelihood of attending academic high schools while reducing bullying. Evidence from Belgium suggests banning mobile phones can be beneficial for college student performance. Psychological research sheds light on potential mechanisms behind the impact of mobile phones and technology on student performance. Multitasking, common with mobile phone use, has been found to hinder learning and task execution. Taking notes by hand has been shown to better enhance memory retention compared to typing on a computer. In sum, banning mobile phones in schools can yield positive effects, improve academic performance and narrow the achievement gap between high- and low-achieving students. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that mobile phones and technology can also be valuable educational tools when used appropriately. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters. It was written by: Louis-Philippe Beland, Carleton University; Arnold Lewis Glass, Rutgers University; Daniel G. Krutka, University of North Texas, and Sarah Rose, Staffords. Read more: Louis-Philippe Beland receives funding from SSHRC insight grant and SSHRC insight development grant. Arnold Lewis Glass, Daniel G. Krutka, and Sarah Rose 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. Smoke from more than 1,000 wildfires burning across Canada has wafted over the northern US, bringing poor air quality and pollution that threaten residents health to northern US cities including Chicago, Illinois, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Chicago, Minneapolis and Detroit, Michigan, were ranked among the most polluted cities in the world as of Tuesday evening, according to global pollution tracker IQAir. The smoke has drifted over the Great Lakes region, in particular, as about 1,090 active fires blaze throughout Canada, more than 670 of which are considered out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Thats up from more than 880 fires there last week. The bulk of the countrys wildfires are burning in British Columbia, where more than 460 fires are ongoing, the agency reports. In the US, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued air quality alerts for millions of people across Michigan and parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. The blanket of hazy skies follows a belt of Canadian wildfire smoke which stretched across the US last week, triggering air quality alerts for more than a dozen states from Montana to Vermont, with some smoke reaching as far South as Alabama. The smoke is expected to shift eastward through the Great Lakes region through Tuesday and disperse by Wednesday just as the upper Midwest is forecast to see some of its hottest temperatures so far this year. Minneapolis could reach 100 and Chicago will be in the upper 90s. The EPA in Illinois has declared an Air Pollution Action Day through Tuesday due to the persistent wildfire smoke causing elevated air pollution in the region. Similar advisories have been declares in Michigan and Wisconsin. The city is recommending that those with chronic respiratory issues limit their activities outdoors and is advising against strenuous activity for children, teens, seniors, people with heart or lung disease, and pregnant people. Story continues All Chicagoans may also consider wearing masks, limiting their outdoor exposure, moving activities indoors, running air purifiers, and closing windows, the city said in a release Monday. Wildfire smoke is packed with tiny pollutants known as particulate matter that can infiltrate the lungs and blood stream if inhaled. Particulate matter can commonly cause difficulty breathing and eye and throat irritation, but has also been linked to more serious long-term health issues such as lung cancer, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Canada suffers worst fire season on record The US is likely to see the downwind effects of Canadas prolonged wildfires as the country continues to experience its worst fire season on record. Almost 29 million acres of Canadian land have been scorched so far this year, according to the national fire center. Smoke from the blazes this summer have so far touched the American South and traveled across the Atlantic and into Europe. The crisis has elicited a flood of international support, as fire and emergency response personnel have deployed to the country from nations including the US, Australia and Brazil. At least two Canadian firefighters have died while battling the flames. Hard-hit British Columbia will receive federal assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces, Public Safety Canada announced last week. Hundreds of British Columbias fires have been ignited by lightning strikes from thunderstorms, according to the British Columbia Wildfire Service. Some of those thunderstorms were dry, producing insufficient amounts of rain to help quench any fires a dangerous prospect in a province experiencing severe drought. As the human-driven climate crisis intensifies, scientists expect wildfire seasons will increase in severity, especially as droughts and heat become more common and more severe across the world. CNNs Caitlin Kaiser and Monica Garrett contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Snoop Dogg & Friends: 30th Anniversary of Doggystyle, a pair of concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, are now canceled, after Snoop originally postponed the shows from June to October due to the WGA and SAG/AFTRA strikes. Snoop Dogg has canceled two concerts at the Hollywood Bowl to show solidarity with WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikers, according to a statement the 16-time Grammy nominee released on his Instagram page. We regret to inform you that due to the ongoing strike and the uncertainty of when this will be over, we need to cancel the Hollywood Bowl show, Snoops statement read. The statement continued, We continue to stand in solidarity with all of our brothers and sisters in the WGA and SAG/AFTRA during this difficult time and remain hopeful that the AMPTP will come back to the negotiating table with a REAL proposal and we can all get back to work. (Left to right) Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show, on Feb.13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) In May, the Los Angeles Philharmonic announced the pair of Hollywood Bowl concerts, Snoop Dogg & Friends: 30th Anniversary of Doggystyle, to celebrate his 1993 debut album. Dr. Dre, Snoops longtime collaborator and the producer of Doggystyle, would produce the shows, featuring performances by Snoop with special guests. Snoop and his guests were to be backed by The ReCollective Orchestra, conducted by Grammy Award-winner Derrick Hodge. The original dates for the Hollywood Bowl shows were June 27 and 28. However, in early June, Snoop postponed the shows to Oct. 20 and 21 in solidarity with the WGA strike. Me and Dr. Dre, we stand in solidarity with the writers, Snoop said in a video message on Instagram. The WGA went on strike in early May, while the SGA joined them with a strike of its own earlier this month. This is the first actors strike since 1980. Doggystyle, released via Death Row Records, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album charts in 1993. Including hits like Gin and Juice and Who Am I (Whats My Name), Doggystyle went on to get certified four times platinum, remaining Snoops biggest-selling album to date. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Snoop Dogg shows support for striking actors by canceling Doggystyle concerts appeared first on TheGrio. Snoop Dogg performing as DJ Snoopadelic in June. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for KROQ Snoop Dogg said he would no longer perform at the Hollywood Bowl in October. The move is meant to show solidarity with Hollywood strikers. Strikers with the Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild are striking for better working conditions. The Doggfather is once again flexing his muscle in support of Hollywood unions. Rapper Snoop Dogg posted on Instagram Tuesday that he would cancel two shows at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in support of writers and actors striking with the Writer's Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild. "We regret to inform you that due to the ongoing strike and the uncertainty of when this will be over, we need to cancel the Hollywood Bowl show," Snoop, born Calvin Broadus, wrote in a post. "We continue to stand in solidarity with all of our brothers and sisters in the WGA and SAG-AFTRA during this difficult time and remain hopeful that the AMPTP will come back to the negotiating table with a REAL proposal and we can all get back to work." The two shows, set for October 20 and 21, had initially been set for June, but Snoop postponed them because of the Hollywood strikes. Snoop has been pretty outspoken about the two strikes both of which have brought Hollywood to a standstill as workers demand better wages and job protections. In May, near the onset of the writer's strike, Snoop went on an expletive-laden rant about how low payments from streaming services hurt artists' ability to make a living wage from their products. "The money is not being translated and it's not working for the artist right now and I just want to speak to that in the music industry like that's fucked up. And we need to find a way to figure that out" Snoop said at the 2023 Milken Institute Global Conference. Snoop then brought up how streaming services hurt TV and movie writers similarly: "I mean, can someone explain to me how you can get a billion streams and not get a million dollars?" Representatives for Snoop Dogg did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider. Read the original article on Insider Fighters of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) captured Russian paratroopers from the 247th Parachute Regiment and Russian documentation. Source: SOF press service Details: The unit of the Russian army was based in Staromayorske, Donetsk Oblast. Soldiers of the tactical group of the 3rd Separate Special Forces Regiment came forward to eliminate it. SOF operators detected and blocked the Russians, and a battle ensued, during which the Russians were forced to surrender. During the mop-up operation of the settlement, the Special Forces discovered the staff documentation of one of the battalions of the 247th Parachute-Paratrooper Regiment of the Russian Federation. In the phone of one of the killed Russian soldiers, a list was found, in which considerable losses of this unit were recorded. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Slovakia has offered to help Ukraine with grain exports, creating the so-called solidarity corridor. Source: Jozef Bires, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, in an interview with TASR, reports European Pravda Quote: "Slovakia seeks to help Ukraine as much as possible in the field of infrastructure, so that the conditions of transportation are as simple as possible and the grain gets to where it is most needed." Details: Bires proposed to create corridors of solidarity using roads, railways and waterways to move grain from Ukraine to world markets. It is noted that this summer Slovakia expects the largest grain harvest in the last five years, and production will be 12% higher than the average for the same period. Background: Earlier, Polish Agriculture Minister Robert Telus said that Poland is ready to impose a unilateral ban on agricultural imports from Ukraine if the EU decides not to extend the existing measures. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki threatened not to open the border for entry of Ukrainian grain products after 15 September, if the European Commission's moratorium on imports of Ukrainian grain expires. Five Central European EU members Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Poland have submitted a proposal to the European Union to extend the ban on importing Ukrainian grain after 15 September. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali authorities have arrested several military officers for allegedly helping a suicide bomber gain entry to a military academy in the capital Mogadishu this week and kill at least 30 soldiers, an officer said on Wednesday. The Al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group, which has been waging an insurgency against Somalia's national government since 2006, claimed responsibility for the attack at the Jale Siyaad military academy. The attack was one of the deadliest the group has carried out in years against a military target in Mogadishu. Colonel Abdullahi Dabow, an infantry operations officer, has been arrested and accused of bringing the suicide bomber into the academy in his car, Captain Hussein Farah told Reuters. He said other officers had also been arrested in connection with the attack, without naming them. Reuters was not able to reach Dabow or a representative for comment. Many Somalis have long suspected that al Shabaab operatives have infiltrated parts of the government and military, but arrests had been rare until recently. In the past few months, the authorities have arrested dozens of police and military officers on suspicion of helping al Shabaab to carry out attacks against soldiers and civilians, local government officials have told Reuters. The central authorities have not commented on these arrests, and government officials did not respond to requests for comment. After Monday's attack, parliament speaker Aden Mohamed Nur Madobe called on the security services to investigate and arrest al Shabaab collaborators. "The idea that a suicide bomber just comes in a military queue in a military base is not something that can be accepted. This is killing the confidence of the people," he said in comments broadcast on local television. A military campaign by government forces and allied militiamen against al Shabaab since last year has pushed the militants out of large swathes of territory, but the group continues to stage frequent attacks. (Reporting by Abdi Sheikh; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Toby Chopra) Divers recently discovered a century-old shipwreck off the coast of the United Kingdom, according to a ship captain. The vessel is a German submarine that was sunk during World War I, Hazel Weaver, a ship captain who oversaw the expedition, told McClatchy News. It was found 341 feet underwater near the Shetland Islands, a Scottish archipelago. Lots of live torpedoes and mines were spotted on the wreck, Weaver said. A deck gun and hatches leading into the vessels interior were also located. Videos posted by Jacob Mackenzie, one of the divers, show fish darting around the monochrome gray wreck, which appears overgrown with plants and coral. If you havent been to those depths before you wont appreciate that its pitch black, its very quiet, Mackenzie told the BBC. Based on the ships design, divers were able to identify it as a German U-boat, a type of military submarine that once stealthily prowled the sea, searching for and sinking enemy ships. Damage to the hull further helped identify the vessel as SM UC-55, a submarine sunk by the British Royal Navy near the end of World War I. After sustaining a leak while laying mines on Sept. 29, 1917, the German vessel was forced to surface off the Shetland Islands, according to Lost In Waters Deep, a group that researches lost shipwrecks. Several British Royal Navy ships then spotted the submarine and opened fire, eventually sinking the vessel, according to the site. Seventeen of its sailors were taken captive, while the rest were not as fortunate. Eleven of her crew lost their lives in the sinking, Weaver said, so we treated the site as a war grave. The British government has designated the site as an official war grave, meaning no future dives can be made without express permission from the government, a spokesman for the Royal Navy told McClatchy News. Those who lost their lives should be left in situ and undisturbed, the spokesman said. About 20 million people, including soldiers and civilians, died during World War I, one of the deadliest conflicts in history, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Story continues The wreck is a somber and eerie reminder of the war, Weaver said. Hoard of ancient treasures uncovered near 2,200-year-old Celtic sanctuary, photos show 16-year-old fighting with mom lights Hilton lobby couch on fire, Florida cops say Monster fish pulled from Arkansas lake dwarfs record but it wont be recognized A South Carolina man is being accused of killing a man in Dayton last week. Demar Cobb, 37, of Myrtle Beach, was charged with two counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, and one count of having weapons while under disability, according to court documents filed in Dayton Municipal Court Wednesday. >> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 1 taken to hospital after early morning shooting in Dayton The charges are connected to a shooting that happened in the 2900 block of Lakeridge Court Saturday. As News Center 7 previously reported, police and medics were called out there around 1 a.m. on reports of a shooting. When they got on scene, they found a man, identified Wednesday by the Montgomery County Coroners Office and court records as Graylon Russell, shot in a parking lot. Cobb and Russell, 42, had reportedly gotten into a verbal confrontation before Cobb pulled out a gun and fired several shots at Russell, according to an affidavit and statement of facts. Cobb allegedly continued to shoot at Russells vehicle as he tried to get away. >> 2 Dayton juveniles taken into custody after multi-state pursuit Russell was taken to Miami Valley Hospital where he died from his injuries. Cobb was arrested Monday and booked in the Montgomery County Jail, according to online jail records. Hes set to make his first court appearance this afternoon. Lee Dae-bong waded across a river into China to escape North Korea after half a century as a prisoner of war At the age of 92, Lee Dae-bong doesn't particularly enjoy getting out of bed. He has lived enough of a life. As he readjusts his pyjamas, his left hand reveals three missing fingers. His injury is not the result of the war he fought, but the subsequent 54 years he was forced to toil in a North Korean coal mine. The former South Korean soldier was captured during the Korean War by Chinese troops, who were fighting alongside North Korea. It was 28 June 1953; the first day of the battle of Arrowhead Hill, and less than a month before the armistice brought an end to three brutal years of fighting. All, bar three of his platoon, were killed that day. As he and the two other survivors were loaded onto a cargo train, he assumed they were heading home to South Korea, but the train veered North, to the Aoji coal mine, where he would spend most of his life. His family was told he had been killed in combat. Between 50,000 and 80,000 South Korean soldiers were held captive in North Korea after the Korean War ended with an armistice agreement that divided the peninsula. A peace treaty never followed, and the prisoners have never been returned. Mr Lee was one of the very few who managed to plot his own escape. Just 80 of the tens of thousands of South Korean soldiers held in the North made it back home Over the decades, despite some skirmishes, the armistice has largely held, making this the longest ceasefire in history. But the absence of peace has wrought havoc on Mr Lee's life, along with his fellow prisoners and their families. As North and South Korea mark 70 years since the signing of the agreement, their stories are a reminder the Korean War is not over. For the first years of his captivity Mr Lee was forced to work a week in the coal mine followed by a week studying North Korean ideology, until, in 1956, he and the other prisoners were stripped of their military titles and told to marry and assimilate into society. But they, and their new families, were designated as outcasts and placed at the very bottom of North Korea's strict social caste system. Story continues Digging for coal, day after day, for more than 50 years was excruciating work, but it was the spectre of injury and death that Mr Lee says was the hardest to bear. One day his hand got caught in a coal processing machine, but the loss of his fingers seemed minor, as he witnessed various friends be killed in a series of methane gas explosions. "We gave our entire youths to that coal mine, waiting for and fearing a meaningless death at any moment," he says. "I missed home so much, especially my family. Even animals, when they are nearing death, go back to their caves." Lee Dae-bong was forced to carry out hard manual labour in North Korea's coal mines and lost three fingers in the process As North and South Korea mark the prevailing peace on the peninsula, many of the prisoners of war and their families blame both sides for their suffering. Various South Korean presidents have met North Korean leaders, but securing their return was low on the agenda. The North, after releasing just 8,000 prisoners, has refused to acknowledge that any more exist. At a summit in 2000 between the then-South Korean president, Kim Dae-jung, and the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, the issue was not even mentioned. This is the moment Lee Dae-bong says he lost all hope, realising the only way he would ever be coming home was if he were to escape. Three days after his only son was killed in a mine accident, with his wife long dead, Mr Lee embarked on his journey. Now aged 77, he secretly waded across the river into China, the water up to his neck. He is one of 80 prisoners to have escaped and made it home to South Korea, with only 13 of the escapees still alive. The remaining tens of thousands of prisoners were left to perish in the mines. Few, if any, are still alive - though their children remain. "South Korea exists today thanks to people like my father, but our suffering has still not been solved.", Source: Chae Ah-in, Source description: Daughter of South Korean prisoner of war, Image: Close up of Chae Ah-in Chae Ah-in was six years old when her father was killed in a gas explosion at a North Korean mine. Soon her older sisters were sent to work in his place. Still at school, she was relentlessly beaten and bullied. She could not understand why her family was cursed. Only later, when she overheard her sisters whispering, did she learn her father had been a South Korean soldier. "For a long time I hated him," she recounts, from her home in the outskirts of Seoul, where she arrived in 2010. "I blamed him so much for making us all suffer." At the age of 28, Ms Chae too chose to escape her painful existence in North Korea, crossing first into China, where she lived for 10 years. It wasn't until she arrived in South Korea that she realised her father was a hero. "Now I respect him and try so hard to remember him," she says. "I feel different to other North Korean defectors, because I am the proud daughter of a South Korean war veteran." But Ms Chae is not recognised by the South Korean government as the daughter of a veteran who gave his life for his country. The prisoners of war (POWs) who never made it home are marked as missing, assumed dead, and are not honoured as war heroes. "South Korea exists today thanks to people like my father, but our suffering has still not been solved," she says, wanting them both to be recognised for who they are. Prisoners' relatives have for years demanded their loved ones be repatriated and for them to be recognised as war heroes Around 280 children of POWs have managed to escape and make it to South Korea. Another is Son Myeong-hwa, chairperson of the Korean War POW Family Association, who is fighting on their behalf. "The children of the POWs in North Korea suffered from the pain of guilt by association, and yet here in South Korea we are not acknowledged. We want to be given the same respect that the families of other fallen veterans receive," she said. The South Korean government told us it is not planning to change its classification of veterans. By the time Lee Dae-bong arrived home, already an old man, his parents and brother had died. Although South Korea had changed beyond recognition, his younger sister took him to stand on the soil of his old town. Mr Lee recalls how his dying friends in North Korea would beg their children to one day bury them in their hometowns. Their wishes have yet to be granted. And the absence of peace between North and South Korea has left these families struggling to find peace of their own. Both Lee Dae-bong and Chae Ah-in still dream of the North and South being reunified. Ms Chae wants to bring her father's body to rest in South Korea. For North and South Korea, peace and reunification is still the officially stated goal. But 70 years since the armistice, this dream feels ever more distant. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26) Government agents confiscated counterfeit products worth 21.3 billion in the first seven months of 2023, with the customs chief urging e-commerce players to tighten measures against fake goods. In a statement on Wednesday, Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said 219 operations conducted between Jan. 1 and July 14 led to the seizure of a staggering volume of counterfeit items. Just this month alone, the bureau reported that 240 million worth of counterfeit items, including knockoffs of luxury fashion brands Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton, were confiscated. "Customs has been actively combating the import and export of fake products by cracking down on intellectual property rights violators," Rubio said during the Asia Security Conference Exhibition in Singapore. However, Rubio said the customs bureau is facing two major challenges, including inefficient trade facilitation through brand certification or verification by brand owners, and counterfeiters taking advantage of the growing influence of the e-commerce sector [I] urge e-commerce platforms to tighten their policies and enhance monitoring of retailers to prevent the sale of prohibited products on their platforms, he said. Rubio said this was necessary to keep the Philippines from the EU's intellectual property watchlist. the international space station seen from the side with earth in behind. a spacex crew dragon is on the top, docked to the station A SpaceX cargo spacecraft had a glitch in space during its last mission. A SpaceX Dragon docked with the International Space Station for 23 days in June had a thruster valve stuck open due to a corrosion problem, a SpaceX official said Tuesday (July 25) during a NASA press conference. "It didn't impact the mission at all," Benji Reed, senior director of SpaceX's human spaceflight program, said in the livestreamed opportunity. Since SpaceX's spacecraft are similar enough between the cargo and Crew Dragon versions, however, engineers are looking at all spacecraft in production to address the issue. So far this situation will have no impact on the launch date for the next astronaut mission, known as Crew-7. Crew-7 will launch with NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and Konstantin Borisov of Roscosmos. They will head to the ISS from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 6:56 a.m. EDT (1056 GMT) on Aug. 17. You can watch the events live at Space.com, via NASA Television. Related: SpaceX's Crew-7 astronaut launch delayed to Aug. 17 The valve known as an isolation valve is designed to come on in case of a thruster leak, Reed said during the press conference. Since no leak was happening at the time it was stuck open, the valve "didn't have to serve any purpose." The affected spacecraft, known as CRS-28, otherwise returned to Earth normally on June 30 after 25 days in space. After checking into the valve on CRS-28, SpaceX looked at its entire spacecraft line. They found "corrosion among certain units," Reed said, which SpaceX is looking into identifying and addressing. As part of this work, SpaceX has already tested all the isolation valves on its Crew Dragons and will continue to do so during their normal maintenance and certification for flight. "At this point, no anomalous behavior has been identified on any of those valves. They're all operating, opening and closing appropriately," he said. Story continues RELATED STORIES: International Space Station: Live updates Track the ISS: How and where to see it SpaceX's Dragon: First private spacecraft to reach the space station While there are backup valves available to isolate a leak in case of trouble, Reed said SpaceX will do its best to address the root cause and to keep NASA apprised of developments. "We will continue to work closely with NASA and all of our SpaceX teams to ensure that we're ready to fly," he added. SpaceX engineers, he emphasized, "will continue our mini tests and reviews that we've been doing. These always give us an opportunity to step back, review the data, listen to the hardware, and mitigate any risks." three clusters of rocket engines each made up of a group of cone shapes A new photo from SpaceX highlights the immense power of the engines of a sleeping Falcon Heavy rocket. The next Falcon Heavy is scheduled to launch the Jupiter 3/EchoStar 24 mission on Wednesday (July 26), during which it will carry the world's largest private communications satellite to a geostationary orbit. Ahead of the launch, SpaceX has joined the rocket's three boosters together in the company's hangar at Launch Complex-39A (LC-39A), at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, in Florida. SpaceX posted a photo to their Twitter account, which features a close-up of the 27 Merlin rocket engines mounted at Falcon Heavy's business end. Related: SpaceX Falcon Heavy lights up the night sky in these incredible launch photos Combined, Falcon Heavy's engines are capable or producing over 5 million pounds force (22,241 kilonewtons) of thrust at liftoff, and can launch almost 60 thousand pounds (27,215 kilograms) to geosynchronous orbit. Depending on mission parameters, Falcon Heavy is designed for full reuse, but launches with the option for booster expandability in the event a payload's mass or orbital specifications require the rocket expel more fuel than required for its safe return. For the Jupiter 3/EchoStar 24 mission, the rocket's two side boosters are expected to perform boost-back burns to return to SpaceX's Landing Zones 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral, approximately 8 or 9 minutes after launch. The core booster, however, will not attempt a sea landing on one of SpaceX's autonomous drone ships, as is typical for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches. Instead, the core stage will use its fuel reserves to place the hefty Jupiter 3 in its proper orbit. Related Stories: SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, world's most powerful rocket, launches US military satellites in 1st flight in 3 years Satellites spy on human trafficking 'compounds' (photo) NASA's Artemis 1 moon rocket spotted from space (satellite photos) Maxar's new Jupiter 3 relay is the company's largest communication satellite ever. It will join others in the Hughes Jupiter fleet to provide internet and other broadband services to North and South America. Once in orbit, Jupiter 3 is expected to double the fleet's existing bandwidth capabilities. Falcon Heavy is expected to liftoff with Jupiter 3/EchoStar 24 at 11:04 p.m. EDT (1504 GMT) on Wednesday, July 26, from LC-39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. four astronauts dressed in spacex's black-and-white spacesuits pose at the company's california headquarters during a training session We'll have to wait two additional days for the launch of SpaceX's next astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA. That flight, called Crew-7, had been scheduled to lift off on Aug. 15 atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. But the agency and SpaceX announced today (July 25) that they're now targeting Aug. 17. The slight slip is a consequence of another SpaceX mission the planned launch of the Jupiter 3 communications satellite atop a Falcon Heavy rocket on Wednesday night (July 26) from Pad 39A. "Because of the turnaround of the launch pad from that Falcon 9 Heavy configuration to the configuration we use for crew, we'll adjust the launch date to the 17th of August," Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, said during a news conference today. Related: SpaceX launches Crew-6 astronaut mission to space station for NASA Crew-7's liftoff will occur at 6:56 a.m. EDT (1056 GMT) on Aug. 17, Stich added. You can watch the launch live here at Space.com, courtesy of SpaceX. The mission will send four people NASA's Jasmin Moghbeli, Andreas Mogensen of the European Space Agency, Japan's Satoshi Furukawa and Russian cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule named Endurance. If all goes according to plan, Endurance will dock with the orbiting lab about 20 hours after launch, around 2:45 a.m. EDT (0645 GMT) on Aug. 18, Stich said today. That arrival will get the wheels turning on the departure of SpaceX's Crew-6 mission, which reached the ISS on March 3. Crew-6 is scheduled to return to Earth on Aug. 25, Stich added. RELATED STORIES: Russians will fly on SpaceX's Crew-7, Crew-8 astronaut missions: report SpaceX launches Crew-6 astronaut mission to space station for NASA SpaceX: Facts about Elon Musk's private spaceflight company As its name suggests, Crew-7 will be the seventh operational astronaut mission that SpaceX flies to the orbiting lab for NASA. But it will be the company's 11th crewed flight overall; SpaceX also launched the Demo-2 test mission to the ISS in 2020; the private Inspiration4 flight to Earth orbit in September 2021; and the Ax-1 and Ax-2 missions to the station in April 2022 and May 2023, respectively. Ax-1 and Ax-2 were organized by the Houston company Axiom Space, which plans to begin operating its own space station in low Earth orbit in the late 2020s. Spain's former King Juan Carlos waves in a car upon his arrival in Vigo airport (MIGUEL RIOPA) Spain's scandal-tinted former king Juan Carlos arrived in Spain on Wednesday for his third visit home since moving to Abu Dhabi in 2020 amid fraud investigations. The 85-year-old slowly descended the stairs of the private jet which took him to the northwestern city of Vigo, holding on to the railing with both hands, images broadcast on Spanish television showed. Wearing a navy blue jacket, he then headed by car to the seaside town of Sanxenxo where he also stayed during his two previous visits. Spanish media reports said the former head of state, who served as monarch between 1975 and 2014, would attend a regatta in which his yacht, "El Bribon" -- Spanish for "The Rascal" -- is competing. The visit comes days after Spain held an inconclusive snap election that could result in a repeat election in the coming months. Juan Carlos was for decades revered for his role in steering Spain to democracy after the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975. But damaging revelations about his opulent lifestyle and murky fortune forced him to abdicate in 2014 in favour of his son, Felipe. He fled to the United Arab Emirates in August 2020 as investigators pursued three probes into his finances. He returned for a first visit in May 2022 just after prosecutors shelved their investigations due to lack of evidence, the statute of limitations and his immunity while head of state but acknowledged "fiscal irregularities" in his affairs. The visit irritated Spain's left-wing government with some demanding he be held accountable for the scandals. "Explanations for what?" he snapped a TV journalist who asked him about it. His second visit in April this year was much more discreet, with Juan Carlos limiting himself to waving from a car without even opening the window. pho-mig/ds/yad The special counsels office has inquired about a White House briefing on Feb. 14, 2020, at which federal officials assured then-President Donald Trump of the security and integrity of the U.S. election system, according to people familiar with the matter. Three sources said they were interviewed by the special counsels office about the White House meeting with Trump. Two of those sources were at the White House meeting. In the briefing, officials from multiple agencies including the FBI, Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) laid out why its extraordinarily difficult for hacking or fraud to change the results of a U.S. election. Trump was receptive to the message and spoke about holding a news conference on the topic, though he never did, two people familiar with it said. The two sources said they have been interviewed since May by the special counsels office, which is investigating efforts to overturn the 2020 election. As director of CISA, Chris Krebs focused on U.S. election infrastructure nationwide and efforts to stop any foreign government interference or hacking of the voting system. While he was in charge, the agency released a rumor control website that debunked some of the false election conspiracy theories that Trump spread after losing the 2020 election. Krebs was interviewed by the special counsels office, according to a person familiar with the matter. Krebs was notably at odds with Trump in the aftermath of the 2020 election because Krebs insisted that the voting systems were protected. On Nov. 12, 2020, CISA issued a joint statement with other election security groups calling the election the most secure in American history. There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised, the statement said. Trump fired Krebs by tweet five days later. The special counsels interest in the election integrity briefing was first reported by CNN. The special counsels office declined to comment. Story continues The briefing came the day after a congressional meeting, where Shelby Pierson, the head of election security for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), told members of the House Intelligence Committee that Russia preferred Trump in the 2020 election. As NBC News and others reported at the time, that briefing became a contentious affair. Republicans in particular took issue with Piersons presentation. That meeting led to Trump firing his acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, and replacing him with Richard Grenell, a loyalist. In 2021, ODNI published a declassified summary of foreign threats to the 2020 election, which found that Russian President Vladimir Putin had formally authorized several influence operations that worked to denigrate Joe Bidens candidacy, but that there were no successful compromises of election infrastructure. The special counsels office also continues to examine the role of the fake electors after the 2020 election. At least two more of those individuals have been subpoenaed by the grand jury probing the matter, a person with knowledge of the investigation told NBC News. The electors are to appear in early August before the grand jury convening in Washington and have not previously testified before it, the person said. The individuals were among slates of false electors across seven battleground states, most of whom signed documents purporting that Trump had won in those states, even though he had lost. Last month, two electors from Nevada testified before the same grand jury. Dozens of witnesses have testified before the Washington grand jury. The grand jury is investigating Trumps actions surrounding the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, and in connection with efforts to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power. The new subpoenas call for testimony about the alleged scheme after Trump posted on Truth Social that he had received a letter from the Department of Justice indicating he was a target of the federal investigation. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com At farmers markets and catering gigs and through decades of hard work, Kim Tavino has made a name for herself as a baker and restaurateur on Hilton Head and in Bluffton. That name is the Sprout Momma. Now, Tavino has opened Sprout Momma Bakery in a location that has a iconic reputation of its own, the former Signes Heaven Bound Bakery and Cafe on Arrow Road on the south end of Hilton Head Island. Signe Gardo retired last year after her renowned bakery marked its 50th year in business, and Tavinos family purchased the building as of Jan. 1. After remodeling, the restaurant is once again ready to serve as a hub for hungry locals and visitors alike. Tavino describes her style as healthy but over the top. A counter display on a recent day featured boules of flour-dusted sourdough but also homemade Pop Tart-inspired pastries big enough for multiple people to share. Kim Tavino is the owner of Sprout Momma Bakery on Hilton Head Island. Everything is in house. Bread is in house; sauces are in house. Meats are grilled and chicken is cooked in house for the chicken salad. Everything is done in this place, Tavino said. Of course, we dont grow vegetables, but we try to get most of those from farmers markets. Tavinos son, Ryan Fennessey, is chef and her daughter, Abby Fennessey, handles front-of-house operations. Head baker Caitlin Anderson has worked for Sprout Momma for years, but newer additions to the staff are catering manager Brianna Ennis and baker Chelsea Ballard. In all, Sprout Momma employs about 25 people. The front room of the remodeled restaurant includes bar seating and high-top tables. Theres also a quieter dining area at the back of the restaurant and seating on the wrap-around porch. Fans of Signes may recognize the patio tables made from antique sewing machine bases. Ines Cubias prepares a rack of pastries at Sprout Momma Bakery on Hilton Head Island. Customers can walk up to the register to purchase boules of bread, pastries and cookies. You can come in and grab a loaf of bread, Tavino said. You come in and get one pastry. You can get 10 pastries, or you can order 100 pastries or platters to go. Story continues Sprout Momma Bakery serves a full breakfast, lunch and dinner lineup, with options for bar snacks during a 4 to 6 p.m. happy hour. Muffins are ready to be served at Sprout Momma Bakery on Hilton Head The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays for breakfast and brunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday brunch starts at 11 a.m. with a theme that changes weekly. A recent Mexicali Blues brunch featured tres leche french toast or carnitas, while the Momma O Sprouts Irish pub brunch included corn beef hash or oatmeal pancakes with a Jameson maple drizzle. We like to do unique dishes on our menu. We dont want to do the run of the mill, Tavino said. Sprout Momma Bakerys Bahn Mi, left, is crispy tempura shrimp tossed in sriracha aioli with pickled veggie salad, hoisin mayo, hot pepper preserves and daikon sprouts on a grilled baguette. At right, an order of fries is topped with carnitas, caramelized onions and melted cheese. Sandwiches on the Sprout Momma menu include Stallones Muffuletta with Italian charcuterie, burrata cheese and house Creole olive tapenade on olive oil focaccia, and the popular Groovin Reuben on grilled Jewish rye. The Dagwood Club is as stacked with smoked turkey, honey ham, bacon, avocado, lettuce and tomato, and a smash burger includes two patties with caramelized onions on grilled Jewish rye. There is also a selection of pizzas and salads as well. The South Beach Cobb salad includes chilled key lime shrimp and grilled pineapple tossed in chimichurri ranch dressing. Vegetarians need not miss out, though. Tavino doesnt eat meat and made sure there are multiple meatless options. The Farmers Focaccia includes chimi-charred and chilled market veggies, arugula, roasted sweet peppers and wild mushroom pate on olive oil focaccia. The creatively named Shrooms on a Shingle is made with tempura shiitakes on grilled sourdough. The Mezze Plate has crispy falafel with hummus, marinated feta, olive tapenade, and pita bread. Entrees and appetizers are priced in the $14-$18 range, and kids meals are $10. There are chicken tenders and grilled cheese sandwiches for finicky little tastebuds. Malcolm Maclennan of Hilton Head places an order at Sprout Momma Bakery, located in the former Signes cafe on Arrow Road. Sprout Momma previously offered grab-and-go lunches from its production bakery off Beach City Road, and thats where Malcolm Maclennan of Hilton Head says he became a fan of not only the food but also the family making it, regularly placing an order during the COVID pandemic and waiting in the parking lot until it was ready. Its mostly in the attitude, Maclennan said. They just wanted to make sure I was happy with the product. The fresh sandwiches up there were unbelievable. Baker Caitlin Anderson decorates a cake at Sprout Momma Bakery on Hilton Head. Tavino, who will continue to cater and make cakes for weddings, birthdays and other special occasions, said she also has some special occasions planned for the new restaurant. Were going to have music in the future, she said. Were going to have parking lot parties when its not 100 degrees, get a band out there and have our pizza oven going and just close the parking lot off. Weve got lots of fun ideas just to keep it interesting and fun and moving forward. The Spurs logo at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London -- team owner Joe Lewis was arrested in New York on insider trading charges Lewis, 86, is accused of furnishing employees and lovers with inside information for years in a "brazen" scheme that raked in millions of dollars. (Daniel LEAL) The British billionaire owner of Premier League side Tottenham, Joe Lewis, was arrested on Wednesday ahead of a court appearance in New York on insider trading charges, US prosecutors said. The 86-year-old Bahamas-based Lewis surrendered voluntarily after traveling to the United States to answer the charges, his lawyer told AFP in a statement. Lewis is accused of furnishing employees and lovers with inside information for years in a "brazen" scheme that raked in millions of dollars. The Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, announced on Tuesday that the Bahamas-based Lewis had been indicted along with two co-conspirators. "The defendants were arrested this morning and will be presented later today," Williams's office said in a statement. David Zornow, attorney for Lewis, said the US government had made "an egregious error in judgment" in charging his client. "Mr Lewis has come to the US voluntarily to answer these ill-conceived charges, and we will defend him vigorously in court," he added. The prosecutors allege that for years Lewis "abused his access to corporate board rooms and repeatedly provided inside information to his romantic partners, his personal assistants, his private pilots and his friends." "Those folks then traded on that inside information and made millions of dollars in the stock market, because thanks to Lewis those bets were a sure thing," Williams said. The attorney alleges that Lewis passed on the inside information as a way of compensating employees or giving gifts to friends, describing the scheme as "classic corporate corruption." Lewis has been charged with 16 counts of securities fraud, the most serious of which carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, and three conspiracy counts, which carry a maximum sentence of five years. His two alleged co-conspirators, Patrick O'Connor, 66, and Bryan Waugh, 64, are two pilots employed by Lewis to fly his private aircraft, according to the prosecution. Story continues Lewis is reported to be one of Britain's richest men with a fortune worth an estimated $6 billion, building his reputation as a currency speculator in the 1980s and early 1990s. Lewis's holding company ENIC bought a controlling interest in Tottenham in 2001 from then-owner Alan Sugar, another prominent British tycoon. pdh/bgs A St. Paul veteran will sleep under a new roof tonight, thanks to a partnership between Owens Corning, Habitat for Humanity and Sela Roofing and Remodeling. Their latest project took place on the East Side of St. Paul in the Daytons Bluff neighborhood. 824 Fremont Avenue is home to Paula Schilling, Lynn Warnecke, pitbull Buddy, several tomato plants and beagle Sweetie. The two-story home dates to the turn of the century, complete with Corinthian columns and dentil molding and sits on a corner plot encapsulated by a white picket fence. Childhood home Sitting in the shade of a birch tree and a tent, Schilling told the story of a home and a life. She has lived in the home since 1945. Schilling, who graduated from Harding High School in 1961, remembers riding bikes to Indian Mounds Regional Park and the well-known lovers lane behind the mounds. After serving in the First Army Intelligence Corps in Baltimore for two years, Schilling originally planned to re-up and train to fly helicopters. Plans changed in 1967 when Schillings father died. After returning to be with family in Minnesota, Schilling lived in a mobile home near Tanners Lake, saving money to buy the family home on Fremont Avenue. When Schillings mother remarried, she gave Schilling a note that read: paid in full. Schilling returned to 824 Fremont Avenue and has been there ever since, despite the challenges of owning an older house. Crumbling roof Recently, the home suffered an interior leak, and a crumbling roof didnt help, but Schilling didnt give up. Five years ago Schilling began looking up programs for veteran assistance after struggling to find roof repair services without homeowners insurance. A friend recommended the Owens Corning project, and it was a match. Workers began repairs on the house Tuesday, which meant removing years of roofing layers and redecking the entire surface. A new roof does a lot to stabilize an entire house, Teresa Bintner from Habitat for Humanity said. Were working from the top down, in this case. Story continues Asked whether all the effort to preserve the house was worth it, Schilling said simply, Its my home. Related Articles BOSTON - With a new academic year nearing, community colleges are tentatively moving forward with plans to help students 25 and older attend for free even though the program has not yet been approved within the fiscal 2024 budget that's stalled in negotiations on Beacon Hill. Community college leaders say the delay in striking a budget deal, which was due by July 1, means they have less time to implement MassReconnect, launch marketing campaigns and recruit potential students, including reenrolling people who previously dropped out. Gov. Maura Healey, who pitched the program while campaigning, has said MassReconnect could reach 1.8 million Bay Staters who are eligible to receive state aid as they earn a college degree or certificate. But the budget impasse could imperil Healey's plan to offer the program in the approaching fall semester. "Since Governor Healey put forward this proposal over the winter, the Department of Higher Education has been working closely with the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges, and all 15 community colleges to coordinate the successful rollout and implementation of MassReconnect," Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega said in a statement to the News Service Tuesday. "Thanks to this collaboration between the Department and the whole community college community, we are prepared to implement MassReconnect as soon as the FY 2024 state budget is signed into law." Should Beacon Hill not approve a final annual budget by the start of the fall semester, DHE and community colleges could retroactively credit eligible students once MassReconnect takes effect through a later budget agreement, a DHE spokesperson told the News Service. But not all community leaders interviewed by the News Service seemed aware of that reimbursement procedure and prepared to launch MassReconnect in the fall if the budget isn't finished. Jackie Jenkins-Scott, interim president of Roxbury Community College, said she and her community college counterparts had oriented MassReconnect planning around a mid-July budget agreement. Story continues "Of course, we're not able to actually start the program until it's funded, so we have all just been planning, and talking, and preparing our institutions for a fast rollout when it is funded, so hopefully it will not be delayed much longer," Jenkins-Scott said. "My guess is we will all just do our very best to make this funding available to students who qualify as quickly as we possibly can. We'll do our very best to get students enrolled in programs, in classes that make sense for them; it may mean that they can't really start until January." Healey, asked whether she's concerned about students not being able to attend community college for free due to the stalemate over the larger $56 billion annual spending plan, said she hopes to receive a budget from House and Senate Democrats "as soon as possible." "I think our budget proposal and what has been the subject of the other proposals contains a lot of important and good investments, including investments for education, investments for MassReconnect, investments for housing, and in a number of different areas," Healey told reporters Monday. Luis G. Pedraja, president of Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester. Community college presidents will collectively decide if they need to make major adjustments to MassReconnect to ensure fairness for prospective students throughout the state, said Luis Pedraja, president of Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester. Administrators are awaiting other funding in the budget to support marketing and outreach efforts tied to MassReconnect, such as hiring more personnel to prepare for an influx of students, he said. No timetable for compromise Pedraja said community colleges will "have to play it by ear to some degree" if Beacon Hill still can't reach a budget agreement by late August. House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz, a top budget negotiator, couldn't pinpoint any timetable this week for finalizing a compromise. "My expectation is the budget will be approved with MassReconnect. We're proceeding with the assumption that it's happening," Pedraja said. "My assumption is students will be applying for financial aid they'll have some funding. It will just be a matter of delaying the funds getting into our budget. A lot of times we do work with the expectation that the money is going to be coming." In a different scenario, should the budget not pass until the start of September, Cape Cod Community College can consider launching MassReconnect during its "quick term" option that starts in October, said Patrick Stone, director of strategic communications and marketing. Applicants could also be encouraged to enroll for classes in January, Stone said. "If this happens really late and we can't do September, that's just what we would be pivoting to," Stone said. "We've been promoting it, but we've been promoting it through the lens of it's coming. The governor has obviously made it well known that it's coming." John Cox, president of Cape Cod Community College, said higher education officials are still waiting to understand the rules and regulations surrounding MassReconnect. For example, it's unclear whether the state money could cover specialized fees for certain programs, including nursing, dental hygiene and aviation maintenance, he said. "There's quite a lot of unknowns that we still have to work through," Cox said. "I think there was an acknowledgment among many between the Department of Higher Education, the community college presidents and other folks at the state that this year may not see the biggest bump in enrollment driven by Reconnect because of how it's rolling out towards the start of the fall semester. I'm not sure the number would necessarily be as big as it would have been if we had a more solid start, say a month ago, but we'll get there." House, Senate match proposal The House and Senate matched Healey's proposal to allocate $20 million for MassReconnect in their budgets. Community college leaders told the News Service that represents a promising sign that MassReconnect will come to fruition once the final budget is approved on Beacon Hill. Unlike the House, the Senate also wants to invest $20 million in a free community college pilot program for nursing students this fall and $15 million for start-up costs to gauge enrollment demand and strategies for launching a universal free community college system. Nate Mackinnon, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges, said there's been no outreach yet on the free nursing proposal this fall due to a lack of agreement on the measure between the House and Senate. The focus, he said, has been on reaching roughly 719,000 students who fit the MassReconnect target audience, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse, who have taken some college classes but don't yet have a degree and are no longer enrolled. MassReconnect reinforces the opportunity that students have to apply for and leverage federal financial aid, which not all eligible individuals take advantage of, Stone said. MassReconnect is designed to provide last-dollar scholarships after that other aid is awarded, covering remaining costs for tuition, fees, books and supplies. "If some sort of doomsday situation happened where this didn't go through and it wasn't passed, our students would still very much be situated to be at the college for the fall," Stone said. "We know that the majority of students that will ultimately wind up as the Reconnect scholars would largely be supported by financial aid anyway." MassBay Community College is holding information sessions about MassReconnect on Thursday and Aug. 8, describing it as a proposal that's pending in the Legislature's budget process. Students can attend community college free in the fall, according to an advisory for the virtual sessions, if the budget is approved. "We're ready to go as soon as the budget is passed and the funds are secured. We'll be ready to enroll every eligible resident that is surely eager to seize this opportunity," said Jeremy Solomon, MassBay's associate vice president of institutional advancement, marketing and communications. "We really are confident that this is ultimately going to pass And if it takes an extra couple of weeks and months before the Legislature passes it, we're fine." This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Massachusetts budget delay complicates free community college push Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, chairman of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, welcomed inmates from several Massachusetts prisons to testify on bills, including parole reforms and mitigating the life without parole sentence for felony murder. Editor's note: James Keown's name was misspelled in an earlier version of this story. BOSTON - State lawmakers heard virtual testimony from more than two dozen incarcerated persons from facilities across the state Tuesday after opening the floor to inmates and allowing them to speak in favor of criminal justice reforms pending before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. Committee chairman Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, noted that the incarcerated persons were able to testify this way in this legislative session due to the intervention of Gov. Maura Healey. He remarked that the committee meetings were not opened to incarcerated people under the previous administration. Inmates allowed to testify from prison The bills ranged from establishing new parameters around parole hearings for lifers, people convicted of felony murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, to a proposal to modernize and strengthen supports for crime victims. The original Crime Victims Bill of Rights was enacted almost four decades ago and needs to evolve to accommodate societal and technological changes, said Stephanie McCarthy, director of policy and legislative affairs at the Massachusetts Office for Victims Assistance. The bill, filed by Rep. Marjorie Decker, D-Cambridge, would improve victim notifications to ensure those affected by crime are informed and up to date about the progress of their case through the justice system and the adjudication of their perpetrators. It could also serve to increase access to services supporting crime victims and strengthen victim statements. The bill could also enhance the collaboration and cooperation between all aspects of the states criminal justice system, improving the working relationship between police, the courts and probation and parole. Changes proposed for sentencing for felony murder Of the list of nearly 50 bills, the companion bills filed by Sen. Liz Miranda, D-Boston, and Rep. Christopher Worrell, D-Boston, an Act to Reduce Mass Incarceration, solicited the most testimony. The bills would allow inmates adjudicated on felony murder charges and serving sentences of life without parole to apply for parole hearings after serving 25 years of their sentences. Story continues In testifying to support her bill, Miranda talked about the emotional and financial trauma of incarceration on families. She noted that her district, Dorchester, is the most overpoliced and overincarcerated district in the commonwealth. As she noted the racial discrepancies that plague the Massachusetts criminal justice system, only 22% of the states population identifies as Black, yet 70% of incarcerated teenagers identify as Black. Of the more than 1,000 lifers serving time in Massachusetts prisons, 34% identify as Black. Statistically, Massachusetts aligns with Louisiana in the number of inmates serving life sentences, with 1,059 inmates, men and women, about 15% of Massachusetts prison population. About 39% are over 55. In comparison, New York state has 103 inmates serving life terms. Miranda noted that her life, as the lives of many of her constituents, has been touched by gun violence, incarceration and homicide. Her father and brothers had all served time. Her brother, Michael, 28, was shot and killed outside a Boston nightclub in 2017. When she testified at the trial of her brothers killer, she asked that the man not be sentenced to life without parole. That is a death sentence by another name, Miranda said. Not a 'get out of jail free' card The measure is not designed as a get out of jail free card. Instead it would allow inmates, some adjudicated as teenagers, a chance to appear before a parole board and prove that they have changed. This is an extreme sentence, and it is not just, Miranda said. In discussing the House companion bill, Worrell noted that the incarcerated serving a life sentence have no opportunity to discuss their growth and commitment to reform. The law is broken, Worrell said. Enacted with the repeal of capital punishment, Worrell said it is overused in Massachusetts. Yes, they should serve their time, but they should also be allowed to show their growth and their understanding of the consequences of their actions. Some 28 inmates spoke before the Judiciary Committee, taking their three allotted minutes to discuss the changes they have made in their lives, their commitment to reform and rehabilitation, and their desire to be allowed to speak about to a parole board. 'A slow death sentence' One woman said she killed her stepson. Another woman was charged and found guilty of felony murder under the joint venture clause and sentenced to life without parole after the person who murdered her husband testified against her in court. Its a slow death sentence, said Patricia Olsen, who has served 18 years of her life term. Even if I did seek a parole hearing, its not a guarantee I will be released. Its a second chance, we should be allowed to go home. If the purpose of incarceration is deterrence, punishment, incapacitation and rehabilitation, those goals are often met within that 25-year window, said James Keown, testifying from MCI-Shirley. He told the committee that life without parole is not more humane than the death penalty. If torture is a measure of pain, suffering and time, then life without parole is torture, Keown said, citing the bad food, bad medical attention but most of all, the hopelessness of those inmates incarcerated for life. Its an execution in slow motion. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Massachusetts lawmakers hear directly from inmates on parole reforms China's top diplomat calls for addressing global security challenges Xinhua) 09:04, July 26, 2023 Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the CPC Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, attends the 13th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong) JOHANNESBURG, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Tuesday called for joint efforts to address global security challenges. He made the remarks at the 13th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in Johannesburg, South Africa. BRICS is an acronym for five emerging economies -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. After more than 10 years of development, the BRICS countries have become an important platform for emerging markets and developing countries seeking strength through unity, said Wang, also director of the Office of the CPC Central Commission for Foreign Affairs. The BRICS countries have advanced cooperation with its three main drivers, namely, political and security cooperation, economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and have enhanced the voices and influence of emerging markets and developing countries, Wang said. He called for efforts to follow the right direction in the future development of the BRICS countries, further strengthen political mutual trust and strategic coordination, and continue to provide international public goods that meet the requirements of the times. To cope with security risks facing the world today, Wang called for adhering to mutual respect, abiding by the purposes and principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter, respecting each other's legitimate security concerns, and respecting the rights of all countries to choose their political systems and development paths. Wang urged to uphold multilateralism, preserve the multilateral system with the UN at its core and resist unilateralism and hegemonic practice. Efforts should be made to resolve disputes and differences through dialogue and consultation, while acts of "decoupling" and "double standards" should be opposed, Wang said. He also underlined common security, highlighted the spirit of win-win cooperation, and opposed zero-sum thinking and the Cold War mentality. As a grouping of emerging market and developing countries, "Global South" countries have an important mission of resisting external intervention and safeguarding political security, Wang said, calling for efforts to continuously deepen South-South cooperation, jointly safeguard national security and stability, in a bid to build an equitable and orderly multipolar world. China is willing to work with its BRICS partners to carry out more practical cooperation in addressing international security challenges, Wang said. The meeting was also attended by Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, minister in the Presidency of South Africa, Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim, chief adviser of the Presidency of Brazil, Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Security Council of Russia, and National Security Adviser of India Ajit Doval. The parties agreed to carry forward the BRICS spirit, support multilateralism, oppose unilateral sanctions and jointly cope with global challenges, including terrorism, extremism and cross-border crime. The parties also agreed to strengthen dialogue, consultation, solidarity and cooperation, support South Africa in hosting a successful BRICS summit, and promote the continuous growth of BRICS cooperation. Wang Yi (2nd L), a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the CPC Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, poses for a group photo with Khumbudzo Ntshavheni (C), minister in the Presidency of South Africa, Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim (1st R), chief adviser of the Presidency of Brazil, Nikolai Patrushev (1st L), secretary of the Security Council of Russia, and National Security Adviser of India Ajit Doval (2nd R) at the 13th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26) The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday assured drivers who joined the transport strike on June 24 that they will not be facing any penalties. The strike is the right of drivers, this is how they can air their views, their issues, their problems. We are not giving any penalty, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista told CNN Philippines The Source. On Monday, transport group Manibela held a strike to protest the governments public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program and its alleged failure in addressing the sectors concerns. The group also claimed that authorities have preferences when awarding jeepney routes. READ: Manibela temporarily suspends strike, cites commuters call for transport amid heavy rains Bautista said he already asked the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to submit a report regarding this, which showed the franchises were given to registered cooperatives and corporations. I have requested the group to give us a list of those franchises that were given to politicians if they have the documents, he said. The transportation chief also reiterated that old jeepneys will still be allowed to ply roads after the December 31 deadline for consolidation as long as they are roadworthy. He noted that among the benefits of joining a cooperative or corporation is having access to assistance once the government starts to phase out the older jeepney units. While replacement of older units is part of the modernization program, implementation will still take time since it requires a huge amount of capital, Bautista said. LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III earlier told CNN Philippines that the phaseout would happen in two or three years. Bautista said 40 local manufacturers of modern jeepneys have expressed their support for the program. Since the implementation of PUV modernization in 2017, only around 7,000 modern jeepneys have been deployed to replace some of the 180,000 older units across the country, the DOTr secretary noted. At least 20 states have enacted policies restricting health care for transgender youth, and the loss of gender-affirming care clinics in those states has dramatically increased the average travel time to a provider, according to a new study. About half of adolescents now live more than an hour away from the nearest clinic providing gender care, nearly double the share before the restrictions were put in place. And more than a quarter of children live more than a full days drive away from the nearest operating clinic, at least 8-hours roundtrip. Overall, the average travel time to a gender-affirming care clinic doubled from about 30 minutes to an hour, the researchers found, with the largest increases for those living in Florida, Texas and Utah. What would happen if the average persons travel time to their primary care physician increased by an hour? People would find that to be outrageous, said Mike Parent, principal researcher at Hopelab, an investment company focused on youth mental health and technology. Its going to have an immediate and detrimental impact on the well-being of these youth. Major medical associations including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry agree that gender-affirming care is clinically appropriate for children and adults, and access to this care can have significant mental health benefits. For transgender and nonbinary children and adolescents, early gender-affirming care is crucial to overall health and well-being, the US Health and Human Services Department Office of Population Affairs says. Delaying care can exacerbate stressors and health problems for kids. But the state-level restrictions exacerbate challenges for a system that was already straining to meet the needs of patients, experts say. For this study, researchers from the University of Michigan compiled a directory of clinics that publicly advertised that they provide medical gender-affirming care for patients younger than 18, including puberty-suppressing medications and hormones. Story continues They identified a total of 271 gender clinics to serve an estimated 300,000 transgender youth ages 13 to 17 nationwide. But more than a quarter of those clinics and more than 89,000 transgender youth are in states with restrictions on gender-affirming care. Its a small but growing number of medical and surgical and mental health experts who have been providing this care. And so there have always been waitlists. Ive watched as waitlists have grown by months to, in some cases, even more than a year to get in to see a specialist, said Dr. Scott Hadland, chief of adolescent medicine at Mass General for Children. The pressure is mounting on the clinicians and clinics that are left now. Increased travel time to gender-affirming care has ripple effects that multiply quickly. Children having to miss more time at school, or for the adults theyre with to miss work, in order travel these longer distances creates new challenges and each trip poses a new risk for care to be interrupted. Whats unique here is that gender-affirming care of young people involves the young person and their whole family. When we think about these barriers to access, theyre disrupting not just a young persons access to care but the entire familys access to care, Hadland said. And gender-affirming care involves a multidisciplinary approach in which regular, consistent appointments are key. These distances arent being magnified just for one appointment, but rather for many appointments when gender-affirming care is done well, he said. Telehealth can help in some ways, Parent said but there are still limitations. If a patient needs to check their hormones, for example, its not as simple as sending data over to a health care provider from a finger prick at home. For the thousands that will need to make those longer, in-person trips, the negative effects will be tangible, experts say. This means that (transgender youth) dont get access to services that can be life-changing, Hadland said. CNNs Jen Christensen contributed to this report For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, veteran President of Equatorial Guinea (Steeve JORDAN) Following the announcement by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that he was stepping down after nearly four decades in power, here are the world's longest-serving leaders, except for monarchs. - 40 years plus - Equatorial Guinea: The Soviet Union was still a decade from collapse when Teodoro Obiang Nguema came to power in a coup in the west African state of Equatorial Guinea in 1979. Under his repressive nearly-44-year rule, Equatorial Guinea has become known as the "North Korea of Africa". Cameroon: The world's oldest elected leader is 90-year-old Cameroonian President Paul Biya, who has ruled with an iron fist since November 1982. Nicknamed "the Sphinx" for his inscrutable nature, leader, he won a seventh consecutive term in 2018 after elections marred by allegations of fraud. - 30 years plus - Republic of Congo (also known as Congo-Brazzaville): Denis Sassou Nguesso, 78, has spent 38 years at the helm of the country in central Africa. He was president from 1979 to 1992, then returned in 1997 after a civil war and has remained in power ever since. Uganda: Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, 78, has led the central African country for 37 years. He was re-elected to a contested sixth term in 2021. Iran: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been supreme leader of the Islamic republic since the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989. Tajikistan: Emomali Rakhmon, a former collective farm boss who came to power shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, has had a firm grip on his poor, mountainous country for 30 years. Eritrea: Former rebel leader Isaias Afwerki has been president of the reclusive Horn of Africa nation of Eritrea since it won independence from Ethiopia in May 1993. - 20 years plus - Belarus: President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has used Soviet-style repression to remain in power in Ukraine's neighbour for 29 years. Djibouti: President Ismail Omar Guelleh, who was re-elected to a fifth term in 2021, has been leader of the country that styles itself the "Dubai of Africa", for 24 years. Story continues Russia: Putin became prime minister in August 1999, then president the following year, and served two terms before swapping jobs with prime minister Dmitry Medvedev in 2008 only to reclaim the role of Kremlin leader in 2012. Rwanda: Paul Kagame, a former Tutsi rebel leader who put an end to the Rwandan genocide of 1994, has been president of the small mountainous nation since 2000. Syria: President Bashar al-Assad, who has clung onto power through a 12-year civil war, has also been in power for 23 years. - Longest ever: Castro - The longest-serving leader in history was Cuba's revolutionary hero Fidel Castro, who spent 49 years in power. When he handed over in 2008 in his early 80s, it was to his brother Raul. cb/eab/yad Paul-Henri Nargeolet, director of a deep ocean research project dedicated to the Titanic, poses next to a miniature version of the sunken ship inside a new exhibition, at 'Paris Expo', on May 31, 2013, in Paris. Joel SAGET / AFP A submersible expert says he tried to talk Paul-Henri Nargeolet out of going on OceanGate's Titan. Nargeolet, an explorer, was among the five people killed when the Titan imploded last month. "I couldn't have been more unequivocal in my condemnation of that thing," Patrick Lahey told Insider. A longtime submersible expert who previously raised the alarm about OceanGate's doomed Titan sub, says it's "deeply troubling" that he couldn't talk his pal, explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, out of going on the doomed voyage to the Titanic shipwreck last month. "I couldn't have been more unequivocal in my condemnation of that thing," Patrick Lahey, the CEO and co-founder of Triton Submarines, told Insider during an interview on Tuesday, referring to the Titan. Lahey whose Florida-based company designs and manufactures submersibles said he told Nargeolet multiple times about his "grave concern for his personal safety and for anyone else" who planned to take a dive on the OceanGate vessel. Nargeolet, known as "Mr. Titanic" for having visited the wreck site of the iconic passenger line more than 35 times, was among the five people who died aboard the Titan when it imploded last month on an expedition to the Titanic. OceanGate's CEO Stockton Rush was also killed in the deep-sea disaster in the depths of the North Atlantic Ocean. Lahey called Nargeolet a "dear friend" who he had known for more than two decades and had sailed around the world with. This undated photo provided by OceanGate Expeditions in June 2021 shows the company's Titan submersible. OceanGate Expeditions via AP, File Lahey said Nargeolet may have been "convinced by others" that journeying on OceanGate's unconventional carbon fiber and titanium sub "was maybe risky, but not that risky." "But in point of fact, it was incredibly risky, as we all know ... [it] was ultimately the worst decision he ever made," said Lahey. Lahey said that he thinks Nargeolet, with his experience as a veteran deep-sea explorer, felt like "he could help" the other passengers on board the Titan if they found themselves in an emergency situation. Story continues In 2018, Lahey was among a slew of industry leaders who signed onto a letter sent to OceanGate expressing safety concerns about the Titan. "My biggest concern was that hull would collapse it would collapse catastrophically and unexpectedly," said Lahey, who called the deadly disaster an "avoidable tragedy." Lahey added, "You can't take people in a pressure boundary that is capricious, in a hull that's made of a material that is weakening and degrading in its strength over time." An expert previously told Insider that photos of the Titan sub wreckage suggest that the most likely explanation for the vessel's June 18 implosion was that the hull collapsed under the immense pressure of the ocean. The Titan, Lahey said, "was not safe for human occupants." Read the original article on Insider The director-on-leave of Miami-Dade animal services will have to find herself a new lawyer after a judge granted the county attorneys offices motion to withdraw from defending her in a lawsuit that alleges she slandered a well-to-do animal lover. The county will not cover the cost of the new lawyer. The county attorneys office cited irreconcilable differences that recently developed between Alison Bronwyn Stanford now on paid administrative leave from her director duties at animal services and the attorneys office. Yolanda Berkowitz, a founder of the Friends of Miami Animals Foundation, sued Stanford in Miami-Dade Circuit Court in May, alleging that Stanford slandered her with lies about her past, including that Berkowitz had been a stripper and an escort, after Berkowitz complained to the mayor about Stanfords performance as the tax-funded shelters director. Stanford, a former prosecutor and administrator at the Florida Department of Children and Families, became animal services director when Mayor Daniella Levine Cava appointed her in November 2021. The Doral shelter has faced a chorus of criticism, some of it relating to its handling of the proliferation of homeless dogs in the wake of the COVID pandemic. It remains unclear what occurred between the county attorneys office and Berkowitz that made the legal team backtrack on its decision to represent her. Levine Cava placed Stanford on administrative leave and named a new interim director on Friday July 15. Rachel Walters, the assistant county attorney who spoke on behalf of the office, said during the hearing that Richard Schevis, who was representing Stanford, had to go on emergency leave the same day as Stanford herself was placed on leave. The following Monday, his office filed the motion to withdraw as counsel. Walters stated during hearing that she was only authorized to say that irreconcilable differences made it impossible for the county to continue representing Stanford. Story continues Circuit Judge William Thomas, who said he had no basis to deny the countys motion to withdraw, said the county was delaying the case by agreeing to represent Stanford in the first place and then taking it back. Youre basically adding an amount of delay onto this and then youre putting the defendant in a position where they have to scramble for a new lawyer, he said. Judge Thomas set Aug. 15 as the date of a status conference, by which time Stanford is expected to have a new lawyer. Hank Adorno, attorney for Berkowitz, expressed frustration with the county attorneys offices decision to initially take on the case before the about-face. He said he expressed objections in vain back in May to the county representing her. Were trying to move this case as quickly as possible because not only are the slanderous statements damaging to the client, but because the case has now garnered publicity. It is continuing to cause injury to us, he said. Abe Perez lifts his 2-year-old son Mavy, for a drink of water from a fountain at Lanark Park in Canoga Park on a hot summer afternoon. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) As extreme summer heat continues to grip the region, young children are at a greater risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. It's important to understand the signs of danger for youngsters as well as the best ways to keep them safe. Know how to spot the symptoms of overheating and heat stroke. Young children and babies are more vulnerable to the heat than others. Babies, especially those under 6 months old, cannot control their body temperature well, according to Dr. Chandani DeZure, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics and a pediatrician in Palo Alto. Its important to check up on your young ones frequently because they might not be able to tell you if something is wrong. Keep an eye on whether your baby or toddler is extra fussy or fatigued, experiencing muscle cramps, vomiting or feeling nauseous, as this could indicate they are overheating. Overheated babies wont want to feed as much as usual. If you see your child has hot and dry skin, is breathing rapidly, has a rapid heart rate or is no perspiring or barely perspiring these could be a sign of heatstroke. Fatigue sets in from being in the sun for so long and it can, in severe situations, lead to seizures and strokes, DeZure said. We don't want it to get to that point. Read more: July is on track to be the hottest month on record and things are about to get warmer Monitor your childs play and make sure they take frequent breaks. Young kids are active, but its important to make sure they dont overextend themselves when temperatures are high. Have them play in the shade or indoors during peak sun hours typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and dont plan anything too strenuous to do on hotter days, DeZure said. Dr. Anu Seshadri, lead physician at UCLA Health in Century City, especially recommends keeping them indoors if the temperature passes 90 degrees. Even when youngsters play outside during cooler morning and afternoon hours, DeZure recommends limiting time outside to two hours and include frequent water breaks. Story continues Keep your young ones out of the heat. Its especially important to shield babies from direct sunlight, especially if they are under 6 months old. If you do bring them outdoors in a stroller, make sure not to drape a thick stroller blanket over it because that can actually trap the heat, according to Seshadri. Instead use an umbrella to block the sun and allow for ventilation. Dont leave your kids in a car either, even if the windows are open. The temperature within a car can rise fairly quickly nearly 20 degrees within the first 10 minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For homes without air conditioning, Seshadri suggests putting a bucket of ice in front of the fan to help circulate chilled air around the room. However, she recommends against using a fan when its over 90 degrees because it wont do more than move hot air around, she said. Do not give your child a cold water bath because the temperature of the water can actually affect their core body temperature, especially among babies, Seshadri said. Instead, use lukewarm water and a sponge to cool them off or spray them with mist. Keep them covered. Clothing should be loose and breathable, but cover the skin. Materials like cotton and linen are best. Light colors help too because they reflect the suns rays. Use a brimmed hat to keep your childs face out of direct sunlight. Babies, especially, should be covered as much as possible to avoid the sun. Make sure to reapply sunscreen every two hours. Doctors dont typically recommend putting sunscreen on babies under 6 months old but, DeZure suggests applying just a little bit to the parts of the baby that arent covered by clothing if they are in direct sunlight as long as those arent areas a baby can put in their mouth like their hands. Make sure sunscreen includes protection from both UVA and UVB rays and is mineral based. DeZure also recommends checking out sun protective clothing that has SPF built into it. At night, keep clothing to a minimum. Dress them in looser, more breathable clothing and tuck toddlers into bed with a sheet rather than a blanket. Leave babies in just a diaper, Seshadri recommends. Babies shouldn't have anything near them when they sleep regardless of weather to minimize risk of suffocation. Read more: Breasts are made for feeding. New dads play a key role in successful nursing, safe sleep Keep them hydrated. Make water as easily accessible as you can, but also have fruit and salad readily available for your children if you can. Those foods are great avenues for hydration as well, according to Seshadri. Make sure you serve as a role model for your kids. Hydrate often so that they can be encouraged to do so too. Like when kids see that mom and dad or their friends are hydrating, then you're going to do the same thing too, Seshadri said. Instead of just forcing them to drink water, you drink that water too. Read more: California's hottest new student recruits? 4-year-olds Make sure your daycare is adapting to the heat. Ask your childs day-care provider how they deal with the heat. Check with them about sunscreen application, hydration and playtime routines outside. Ask them what kinds of food they are serving. If they dont have air conditioning, what alternatives do they have to keep kids cool? Day care facilities should have policies that dictate how much time kids spend in direct sunlight, DeZure said. This article is part of The Times early childhood education initiative, focusing on the learning and development of California children, from birth to age 5. For more information about the initiative and its philanthropic funders, go to latimes.com/earlyed. 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. This article was originally published in El Paso Matters. Children and adults who would benefit from various therapies to learn or to regain certain developmental abilities can get that help and more during three consecutive four-day Summer Group Therapy Sessions that start July 17 at the University of Texas at El Paso. For the second year in a row, UTEPs Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic will conduct its free bilingual sessions from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Campbell Building, 1101 N. Campbell St. Each two-hour lesson will balance work with fun, organizers said. Twenty-nine of UTEPs speech-language pathology graduate students, backed by four clinical faculty and a staff member, will assist participants ages 5 to senior adults to work on their voice, fluency, aphasia, social skills, and/or the effects of traumatic brain injury to name a few areas. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Among the participants who plans to attend all three sessions is Kivana Herrera, a 19-year-old Sunset Heights resident on the global developmental delay spectrum. In other words, it takes her longer to achieve certain developmental milestones. Her focus this summer will be to enhance her speech and social skills. She loves it, said Iris Herrera, Kivanas mother. They work on things, but they are made to be fun and exciting, so it doesnt feel like therapy. We think (the summer sessions) are awesome. We wish there were more. Sunset Heights resident Kivana Herrera, 19, plans to attend all three Summer Group Therapy Sessions at UTEP. Her mother said that Kivana does not consider them therapy because they are so much fun. Herrera said one of Kivanas speech therapists recommended in spring 2022 that the family try UTEPs summer sessions. The mother said those sessions helped Kivana increase the number of words she uses in a sentence. As a result, the family registered Kivana for the free SLHC, which conducts one-on-one sessions during the academic year. These also are important for UTEPs speech-language pathology students who learn how to conduct assessments and suggest treatments under the supervision of faculty, who are licensed speech-language pathologists. Story continues Herrera said that Kivana enjoys working with the therapists because most are young, and they can talk about clothes, trips, music and social activities. She added that the UTEP therapists have great personalities, and know how to motivate her daughter to work harder. Herreras praise brought a smile to UTEPs Deena Peterson, coordinator of the summer sessions and a clinical instructor of speech language and hearing sciences. Those comments echoed the verbal and written feedback Peterson received from families of participants from the previous summer, especially from families of school-age children who do not receive therapy outside the academic year. Many noted how the sessions made their loved ones more competent and confident in their ability to communicate. They mentioned the enthusiasm of the student therapists and their genuine desire to help. As of mid-June, a good percentage of those registered for the 2023 sessions had participated last summer. Peterson said that these free activities help El Pasos underserved community members, who sometimes exhaust their health care benefits. She expects to enroll about 100 people for the summer sessions. The participants, separated by age and therapy needs, will use several of the labs, classrooms and conference rooms on the buildings first and second floors. The participant-student ratio will be less than 2-1. Susan Magana and Kristin Apodaca, both second-year speech language pathology graduate students, said they enjoyed the one-on-one sessions as part of the clinic, but looked forward to group therapy to practice behavior management techniques and working with children and adults with different goals. They talked about the upcoming sessions in the main therapy lab, which includes two walls with shelves stacked high with colorful toys, books and games used during the clinics and summer sessions. Well get to learn a lot at the same time, said Magana, a 1987 Austin High School graduate who, with her husband, operated a used car lot and home remodeling business before she decided to return to school after her children reached adulthood. Her interest in her second career was personal. She raised four children with various disabilities to include hearing loss, dyslexia, high-functioning autism and attention-deficit disorder. In recent years, she witnessed her grandparents deal with their Alzheimers disease. In all cases, she saw how effective therapists could be. Magana said that the summer sessions were a great way children could bridge the therapy gap between the academic years. Apodaca, a 2019 graduate of Hanks High School, has been interested in a speech language pathology career since high school when she would attend health fairs with her mother, a speech-language pathologist who was happy to help others improve their quality of life through therapy. One thing she has learned as an SLP student is that therapy is harder than it appears. It looks as if were playing, but there is a lot of intention behind everything we do because of how the brain and speech work, Apodaca said. You have to find the right strategies for the client. Apodaca said she looked forward to working with and learning from her clients, as well as the other members of her cohort. You know that everyones heart is in it, Apodaca said. Everyone wants to give back. Online registration is the best way to secure a spot, but people who cannot register online may contact the program at 915-747-7250 or speechclinic@utep.edu. Those individuals will need to come early on the first day of the session to fill out the necessary consent agreements. Peterson said she plans to invite representatives from family resource centers to set up information tables in the first-floor student lounge for parents, guardians and caregivers who must stay during the sessions. After the lessons, the student therapists will debrief the parents/caregivers about the therapy conducted that day and how they can continue the learning process at home. The work the UTEP students do during the summer sessions will benefit them during the 2023-24 academic year as they will work in school and hospital settings prior to graduation. The summer sessions will follow a separate activity for children ages 5 to 17 who stutter. Camp Dream. Speak. Live. will operate from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 10-14 in the Campbell Building. This free, intensive therapy program was organized by the Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research at the University of Texas at Austin. Peterson, who is familiar with the bilingual camp but not associated with it, said the center involves a lot of resources and a lot of fun to include a live deejay daily. She added that the same 29 graduate students who will be part of her sessions will help at the UT Austin camp. Its awesome, Peterson said. Its going to be fun for the kids. It will be a fun, interactive environment. This article first appeared on El Paso Matters and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. Any Washingtonian who has to drive northbound or southbound along Interstate 5 - particularly between Olympia and Tacoma - in the morning and evening knows the daily pain of the journey. The rising sun shines directly down some highway passages and into drivers faces in the morning, making driving extremely difficult and dangerous during rush hour. On the ride home, the same issue rears its ugly head as the sun sets in the west and cars are driving southbound. Drive into the light. Sun glare is causing a delay on NB 5 out of Nisqually. 40 mins from Olympia to Tacoma. pic.twitter.com/cJGQIclDHK KIRO Newsradio Traffic (@KIROTraffic) July 26, 2023 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted a survey that found of the approximately 2.2 million crashes in the study, 52,000 were due to environmental factors. Of those 52,000 crashes, the study attributes about 17% of those (8,840) to sun glare. How to reduce sun glare The American Automobile Association recommends slowing down when encountering glare and using extra caution. But aside from just slowing down, heres what else AAA recommends to help combat natures hazards: Purchase a pair of polarized sunglasses. These glasses specifically reduce glare and are often used for driving, hiking and around water. Polarized sunglasses can be purchased online and at places like local mall Sunglass Hut. Utilize your sun visor many visors pop out of place and swing to the side if the sun enters through the door window. Similar to when its raining, leave extra room from the car in front of you. Glare can make it tough to notice when traffic is slowing or if the vehicle in front of you has stopped. If driving on a smaller road, you can turn on your headlights to increase your visibility for people going in the opposite direction. AAA also recommends purchasing a lens-polishing kit from an auto repair store to reduce glare on your own headlights. Use lane markers to help guide you. Keep your windshield clean on the inside and out. Dirt and other particles on the windscreen can increase your glare. Story continues What is Washington doing to help? The Washington State Department of Transportations roadside manual outlines the primary considerations the department looks at when constructing new roads or looking to improve older roads. The department has a section about sun glare and believes that constructing or adding roadside features to block the sun or other reflective surfaces is most helpful. The manuals three points are: As the beginning of the academic school year approaches, Superintendent Greg Baker detailed during a school board meeting last week how a reduced budget will continue to affect school clubs and meal programs. Bellingham Public Schools announced in April that $16 million from their budget was being cut, saying that a reduction in COVID funding and decreased enrollment were primary reasons, according to a previous Bellingham Herald article. At the July 20 meeting, Baker gave an overview of how much the district spends on materials, supplies and operating costs versus what it receives for those expenses from the state of Washington. Baker said that the state funds Bellingham Public Schools with $14.5 million and the district spends about $18 million on their MSOCs. During the overview, he showed how they supplement this funding through their enrichment levy. The state hasnt fully funded education, Baker said during the meeting. The state of Washington is required to pay for the education for every student from K-12 through its general fund, and for the 2023-24 school year it is $214 million. Baker said some additional ways the district has created additional revenue is through grants, the Juul Settlement, Medicaid reimbursement and safety net dollars that the state gives to districts who have a high rate of students with expensive needs. Future Problem Solvers At the July 20 meeting, several students and parents commented about their disappointment that Future Problem Solvers was being cut at Fairhaven Middle School for the 2023-24 school year. This program teaches students to apply problem-solving skills to hypothetical future situations. Dana Smith, spokesperson for Bellingham Public Schools, said that due to the continued costs of FPS, especially compared to other similar activities, FMS had to discontinue the program, especially in the context of their greater budget cuts. One student at FMS said that the cancellation of FPS would make it difficult for students to access a higher level of learning. Story continues Another student from FMS said that she, along with other members of the program, had a truly amazing time at the competitions where they earned 11th place this year. Rebecca Kruger, the mother of a middle school student who was a member of FPS, lamented the loss of the program.. When we take these quality, challenging opportunities out of our public schools, people who do not have financial means go to private sources for those programs that we could have provided within our buildings, she said during the meeting. Baker said that the budget changes every day as they continue to wrestle with it. They are also getting ready for the Washington State legislative session, where they can request more funding for the school. They are also monitoring enrollment numbers, which is the driving factor for funding. According to the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, about 11,632 students were enrolled in the school district for the 2022-23 school year. This is a decrease from the 2018-19, when 12,066 students were enrolled. Free School Meals During the Covid-19 pandemic, Baker said, the district received federal funding so that students in the entire district could receive free meals. Once Covid-19 relief dollars dried up, they had to make changes. Since August 2022 and continuing on in the new school year, free lunches are offered to every student at 13 of 22 Bellingham schools through the Community Eligibility Provision. For the rest of the schools, free lunches are offered only to students who qualify based on income. CEP allows schools with a large number of low-income students to serve free meals to all students without collecting school meal applications. Students at non-CEP schools can still qualify for free meals; families just need to fill out the federal free and reduced price application, said Bellingham Public Schools spokeswoman Dana Smith. Smith said in an email to the Bellingham Herald that due to district policy and procedure, no child is ever turned away for a meal regardless of status or outstanding meal debt. Smith said it would cost around $350,000 per semester, or $700,000 per school year, to cover universal meals at the nine non-CEP schools. Baker said that they hope to eventually receive enough funding so that free meals will again be available to all schools in the district. The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35). Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. On July 30, 1945, USS Indianapolis got hit by a Japanese torpedo. It sank in just 12 minutes, leaving around 900 sailors stranded in the Pacific Ocean. Over the course of several days, they had to fight for their survival, braving extreme heat, thirst, hunger, and worst of all, shark attacks. Despite the odds, some sailors survived the ordeal, and their stories of courage and resilience continue to inspire us today. An unforgettable event The sinking of the USS Indianapolis is one of the most tragic and harrowing incidents in the history of the US Navy. The ship had just delivered crucial components of the atomic bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima. It was on its way to the Philippines when it was attacked by the Japanese sub. Nearly 300 of the 1,196 sailors on board died. The rest of the crew, including the captain, Captain Charles McVay III, went into the water. After the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, survivors clung to life in the Pacific Ocean. They didn't know if they'd be rescued or if anyone knew what had just happened. In fact, the ship had an insufficient number of life rafts and life jackets for all the sailors on board, so that added to their stress. Moreover, the distress signal was delayed by several hours. This further hampered the rescue efforts. It took several days for a U.S. Navy plane to finally spot the survivors and launch a rescue mission. USS Indianapolis' last voyage chart. (Navy photo) The Ordeal at Sea The sailors who survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis faced a grueling ordeal in the Pacific Ocean. They had no food, no water, and no protection from the scorching sun and the rough waves. Many of them suffered from dehydration, exposure and injuries from the sinking ship. The saltwater aggravated their wounds, and the heat and humidity caused blisters, boils, and hallucinations. Sailors also had to contend with extreme sleep deprivation. They were unable to lie down or rest comfortably due to the waves and the constant movement of the water. They had to take turns clinging to rafts or debris, with some sailors falling asleep while holding onto ropes or netting. The lack of sleep and physical exhaustion only added to the already dire situation. Story continues Shark Attacks The sailors who survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis faced an even greater threat in the form of shark attacks. The warm waters of the Pacific Ocean are home to plenty of sharks. That day, many of the sharks circled the wreckage and survivors because of the movement in the water and the scent of blood. Sharks attacked the sailors relentlessly, tearing off limbs and causing gruesome injuries. One of the most harrowing stories of the shark attacks was recounted by survivor Richard Thelen. Thelen was swimming with his fellow sailors when a shark attacked him, biting off his right arm. Thelen managed to swim back to his group, and his fellow sailors improvised a tourniquet with a belt and a stick to stop the bleeding. Despite his injury, Thelen continued to fight for his survival and that of his comrades, using his remaining arm to punch the sharks in the nose and fend them off. To defend themselves against shark attacks, the sailors had to resort to extreme measures. They used their life jackets as shields and fashioned spears from whatever materials they could find. Some sailors even attempted to swim away from the group to draw the sharks away, sacrificing themselves for the safety of the others. Surviving the Sinking of USS Indianapolis Survivors recalled the chaos that ensued as they fought to stay alive. Many sailors were injured or burned from the explosion. Saltwater didn't help their wounds, at all. Adding to that, the scorching heat caused severe dehydration and sunstroke. At night, the freezing cold made it impossible to stay warm. Adding to their misery was the constant threat of shark attacks. As days passed, many sailors succumbed to their injuries, exhaustion, or shark attacks. Some sailors tried to stay together, forming rafts from floating debris or clinging to each other in groups. Others struck out on their own, hoping to increase their chances of survival. One sailor, George Horvath, recalled that he swam for 12 hours straight until he found a life raft. He managed to stay alive by catching rainwater and eating jellyfish and plankton. Another sailor, Edgar Harrell, was one of only 317 survivors. He managed to survive by clinging to a makeshift raft for four and a half days until a rescue team finally arrived. USS Indianapolis' survivors on Guam, Aug. 1945 (Navy photo) The Rescue After four days in the water, A Navy plane spotted the surviving sailors. A rescue mission quickly launched. Within hours, the sailors traded the shark-infested waters for calmer lands. But out of the 900 sailors who went into the water, only 316 survived. The delayed rescue was due to a series of miscommunications and oversights, and it was a tragic reminder of the importance of clear communication and proper protocol in times of crisis. The Legacy of USS Indianapolis The sinking of USS Indianapolis remains one of the darkest moments in the history of the US Navy. The loss of life and the suffering endured by the survivors are a reminder of the horrors of war and the sacrifices that brave men and women make to defend their country. The tragedy also had far-reaching consequences, leading to changes in naval procedures and protocols to ensure such a disaster would never happen again. But the legacy of USS Indianapolis lives on, not only in the memories of those who lived through the ordeal but also in the lessons learned about the importance of preparedness, communication, and leadership in times of crisis. Survivors have dedicated themselves to keeping the memory of their fallen comrades alive and sharing their stories with future generations. The sinking of USS Indianapolis is a reminder of the human cost of war and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Sweden is the target of a disinformation campaign by "Russia-backed actors" intended to hurt the image of the NATO-candidate country by implying it supported recent burnings of the Koran, its Minister for Civil Defence said on Wednesday. Sweden's bid to join NATO after Russia's invasion of Ukraine has put it in the international spotlight, while a number of demonstrations at which protesters have burned copies of the Muslim holy book have angered Muslims around the world. "Sweden is the target of a disinformation campaign supported by state and state-like actors with the aim of damaging Swedish interests and ... Swedish citizens," the minister, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, told reporters at a press conference. "We can see how Russia-backed actors are amplifying incorrect statements such as that the Swedish state is behind the desecration of holy scriptures," he said. "That is, naturally, completely false," Bohlin said, adding that such state actors tried to "create division and weaken Sweden's international standing." There was no immediate reply from the Russian embassy in Stockholm to a request for comment about the minister's remarks. Swedish Premier Ulf Kristersson also commented on the topic in a post, saying he wanted to correct a common misunderstanding. "The Swedish state does not issue permissions to burn copies of the Koran. However, the police issue permits for public gatherings a right that is enshrined in Sweden's constitution," Kristersson wrote on Facebook. He said Sweden had no tradition of burning books just because it was legal. "The state guarantees the right to freedom of expression, but does not thereby stand behind any political messages," he wrote. Mikael Ostlund, a spokesman for Sweden's Psychological Defence Agency, said Russia was using the Koran burnings as opportunities to promote its agenda in the media. Story continues "Obviously, one such ambition from Russia's side is to be able to complicate our joining NATO." FREEDOM OF SPEECH Copies of the Koran have been burned at several demonstrations in Sweden and Denmark this summer, causing outrage among Muslims and prompting protesters to storm and vandalize the Swedish embassy in Baghdad. Denmark and Sweden have said they deplore the burning of the Koran but cannot prevent it under rules protecting free speech. Turkey, which holds a veto over Swedish NATO membership, has condemned the protests and called on Stockholm to take action against the perpetrators. Earlier on Wednesday, Sweden's security service, SAPO, warned that Sweden's security situation had worsened as a result of the recent controversy over freedom of speech. "The image of Sweden has changed. We have gone from being seen as a tolerant country to being a land that is anti-Muslim - that's how we are seen ... mainly the Muslim parts of the world," Susanna Trehorning, a senior official at SAPO, told Swedish state broadcaster SVT. Sweden's security-alert level has not been changed, however, and is currently at 3 on a scale of 5, indicating "heightened risk". Five is the highest level of threat. (Reporting by Simon Johnson and Johan Ahlander, additional reporting by Anne Kauranen in Helsinki, editing by William Maclean) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26) The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has released its school supply price guide, with several items recording a spike in prices due to increase in the prices of raw materials. The issued price guide covered different brands of notebooks, pad paper, pencils, ballpen, erasers, crayons, sharpeners, and rulers. As of July 25, the prices of notebooks range from 23 to 52, depending on the brand and specification. The figures are much higher than the 17.50 to 37.75 prices of notebooks from August 2022s guide. Grades 1-4 pad paper prices range from 21 to 28, an increase from the previous 6.50 to 24. There is also a jump in the prices of intermediate pad paper, which now costs 31 to 48.75. The prices of writing materials likewise are up from 11 to 17 for pencils, and 9.25 to 19 for ballpens. Meanwhile, erasers in small, medium, and large sizes, have a price range from 4.50 to 20. Sharpeners and rulers are priced at 18 to 69 and 22.00 to 27.75, respectively. The prices of crayons range from 12 to 95. While prices of some products have remained unaffected by recent market trends, other school supplies saw price increases. This is primarily due to increased global cost of basic raw materials, DTI Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said in a statement. The DTI said it is coordinating with manufacturers to make sure that prices are reasonable and supply is sufficient in the market. Tatyana Boltons passion for national security and defending her country drew her into cybersecurity, and she says the U.S. needs more who follow that path: The industry is facing a critical labor shortage. Theres just not enough folks doing cybersecurity work either in policy or in threat analysis, vulnerability disclosure, critical infrastructure protection, all of these different areas, said Bolton, an alumna of the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) who currently works for Google as a security policy manager. Its a fascinating field, and I think of cybersecurity as a part of national security, Bolton said in a recent interview with The Hill. I found it very interesting and a new challenge. And just like theres certain people who focus just on nuclear weapons, I focus on cyber, she added. The U.S. has nearly 700,000 job vacancies in cybersecurity, which members of a House Homeland Security Committee subpanel said they find troubling in a hearing last month. We need not only enough people, but the right people with the right skills in the right jobs to meet the growing cyber threat, Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) said. In April, the FBI director testified to Congress that even if all FBI cyber agents and analysts focused on the China threat, Chinese hackers would still outnumber our FBI cyber personnel at least 50 to 1. That is extremely concerning, Garbarino added. Former National Cyber Director Chris Inglis, who had been pushing for the government to hire more tech and cyber workers, said last year that the administration had been successful in filling two-thirds of the jobs that have the word cyber and IT in it, and thats the good news. He added, however, that there is still a long way to go. Bolton, who previously worked for CISA as a cyber policy lead, said the agency has been struggling to fill its roster but has put a concerted effort into addressing the underlying issues, including expanding its candidate pool and reaching out to diverse communities with different backgrounds, knowledge and expertise. Story continues I think right now in cyber particularly, were not tapping into the communities that have such wealth of knowledge and the diversity of thought and experience that can improve our defenses, Bolton said. During my time at DOD, and honestly, even probably before that, I always spoke up about things that I saw as inequitable, like, for example, under representation of women and people of color on the board of the organization where I worked in the Navy, she added. While at CISA, Bolton worked on cyber workforce strategy, including advocating for diversity, an effort she also pursues at her current role with Google. She began working for the tech giant last year as a security policy manager. She helps lead the companys cyber policy agenda on a wide range of issues, including artificial intelligence security, connected devices and cyber workforce. And she handles cyber matters tied to the Asia-Pacific region. Bolton was also involved in Googles recently announced $20 million investment in cybersecurity clinics with various universities across the country. Its a very exciting program because clinics, kind of like legal or medical clinics, give hands-on training for students that are in school, she said. Bolton got her bachelors degree in political science and theatre at Ohio State University before earning a masters in security studies from Georgetown University. A native of Russia, her family moved to the U.S. when she was 7. Bolton said she will continue to push forward policies that address the labor shortage, which affects the private sector as well as the public one, adding that the industry should work harder at demystifying cybersecurity and defining exactly what the field is about and the different career paths people can take. I think its not that the field is uninteresting or that people dont want to go into cybersecurity. I think some of the biggest challenges we face is that people are not quite sure how to get into the field because its not as defined a field right now as medicine or law or health care, where you have very defined pathways into those fields, she said. I think people still see it as a very mysterious and technical and confusing field, and thats certainly one of the reasons that I think we have fewer professionals than we otherwise could have, she added. Demystifying cybersecurity is going to be at the root of encouraging a wide array of Americans to apply, and we want to make it feel like an accessible and possible career path for anyone. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Taiwan staged its first-ever military drill at Taoyuan International Airport on Wednesday as part of the annual Han Kuang exercises (Sam Yeh) Taiwan staged its first-ever military drill at Taoyuan International Airport on Wednesday, briefly halting commercial traffic as soldiers practised defending the facility against a simulated attack by Beijing. The exercise is part of Taiwan's week-long massive wargames -- the annual "Han Kuang" (Han Glory) drills -- which this year has included protecting civilian airports as Beijing ramps up military and political pressures on the island. This is the first such drill held at Taiwan's biggest airport near the capital since it opened in 1979. Military expert Alexander Huang said Taiwan is drawing experiences from Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, which last year fended off a seizure by Russian paratroopers at the Antonov airport just outside Kyiv. "Seizing an adversary's airport is key to sending in large numbers of assault forces via air transport in an invasion operation," Huang, at Taipei's Tamkang University, said. "In addition to familiarising our forces with command and control, this drill can also signal to potential enemies that we are getting ourselves prepared for such contingency," he told AFP. As air traffic was halted for about 30 minutes, dozens of soldiers fought off "enemies" landing on the airport's tarmac from attack helicopters. Airport police and firefighters also joined the operation, which the government said is aimed at combining civilian and military forces to protect critical infrastructure. China, which regards Taiwan as its territory, has upped the pressure in recent years, with near-daily warplane incursions and Chinese vessels deployed around the island's waters. Taiwan has always held frequent military drills, but in recent months increased the civilian component. This week, as the army holds various exercises across the island, local governments are also holding air raid drills in different cities. "We need to start from the concept of a 'whole-society defence', to integrate and utilise the resources of the military, central government, local governments and civilian sectors, and to coordinate all units to work together," said Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, during her visit to a drill at an oil refinery in Taoyuan. Story continues Dressed in fatigues and wearing a mask -- she was diagnosed with Covid this week, though has mild symptoms -- Tsai watched on as soldiers fended off "attack agents" that parachuted out of helicopters. "The protection of the oil refinery was incorporated into this Han Kuang exercise to simulate possible attacks or disasters to establish comprehensive contingency measures, and effectively protect our critical infrastructure," Tsai said. A drill was initially scheduled at an airport in Taiwan's southeast Taitung Tuesday, but was cancelled due to Typhoon Doksuri. aw/dhc/dva Wednesdays hearing for Hunter Biden was already poised to be a historic event, as the son of a sitting US president appeared in court to plead guilty to federal tax crimes, bringing a controversial investigation to a near close. But the three-plus hour hearing saw the original plea agreement nearly fall apart and leaves the son of President Joe Biden in limbo for the moment and will only further brighten the spotlight on the issue as congressional Republicans pursue their own investigations into Hunter Bidens actions. Hunter Biden failed to pay between $1.1 million and $1.5 million in federal taxes before the legal deadlines and was set to plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors with prosecutors agreeing to recommend a sentence of probation. The deal was also meant to resolve a federal firearms offense. Hunter Biden, appearing in court wearing a dark suit and sporting slicked back hair, appeared agitated and worried as the plea deal began to unravel. The judge eventually declared that she wasnt ready to accept the plea deal, and the presidents son then entered a not guilty plea. Heres what happened Wednesday and what happens next: Hearing goes sideways over foreign lobbying questions The proceedings kicked off in routine fashion. Hunter Biden was placed under oath and told US District Judge Maryellen Noreika an appointee of President Donald Trump who was supported by Senate Democrats that he wanted to plead guilty. Noreika began asking him a series of procedural questions that are asked at basically every federal plea hearing. But as things dragged on, and Noreika quizzed the lawyers from both sides about the particulars of the tax deal, she sussed out a disagreement between the parties on a critical question: Did the deal protect Hunter from possibly facing additional charges for illegal foreign lobbying, known as FARA (The Foreign Agents Registration Act)? The Justice Department said no, but Hunter Bidens team thought yes. Story continues Without a meeting of the minds, as Noreika put it, there could be no deal. It appeared at that moment that the plea agreement was on the brink of collapse. But Chris Clark, Hunter Bidens lawyer, asked for a short recess to consult with the prosecutors. After a break, he announced that he was accepting the Justice Departments position that his client was still at risk of possible FARA charges, with an investigation still underway. Judge questions constitutionality of gun deal Things then appeared to be back on track and Noreika pressed forward with addressing the separate gun deal. She said she has concerns about the constitutionality of the gun deal because it might violate separation of powers principles. The felony charge revolves around a gun Hunter Biden bought in 2018 which was an illegal purchase because he knew he was an illegal drug user at the time, according to court filings. The judge said Wednesday that the deal to resolve the gun charge was not straightforward and contains atypical provisions. Noreika expressed frustration that the two sides structured the tax and gun plea deals in a way where she would need to approve the gun deal, but had no powers to approve or reject the tax agreement. The diversion agreement which isnt often submitted to a judge has a provision that says if there is a dispute over whether Hunter Biden breached the terms of the deal, it would go to the judge for fact-finding. Noreika questioned why it would plop her in the middle of a deal she didnt have a say in, and potentially block the Justice Department from bringing charges, a function of the executive branch. Bidens attorney said given the politicization of the case, they wanted a neutral arbiter like Noreika to handle any potential disputes. The judge said she couldnt decide on the fly if that was a legally workable plan. I cannot accept the plea agreement today, Noreika said. In this sketch from federal court, Hunter Biden, lawyers and Judge Maryellen Noreika attend a plea hearing on two misdemeanor charges of willfully failing to pay income taxes in Wilmington, Delaware, on July 26. - Bill Hennessy What happens next? The judge asked both parties to file additional legal briefs defending the constitutionality of the plea deal that addresses the firearms charges. The parties have 30 days to file these briefs, according to the court docket. What happens after that isnt clear at this time. Noreika could schedule another hearing, for oral arguments, to further flesh out the complex constitutional questions at hand. She could issue a written ruling accepting their explanations and agreeing to move forward with the guilty plea. How she wants to move forward will be up to her. Will DOJs probation recommendation hold? Noreika also has the ultimate decision on what sentence Hunter Biden will receive if a plea deal is accepted or he is tried and convicted. While prosecutors have said they recommend probation, the judge on Wednesday made clear it was an open question. I cant predict for you today whether that is an appropriate sentence or not, Noreika said. Republicans hope to capitalize on confusion The unraveling of the agreement in court further opens the door for Republicans who were already asking questions about the investigation. GOP lawmakers were sharply critical of the Justice Departments deal and jumped on the new developments in hopes it would bolster their probe into the president. At least there is some scrutiny going on, Texas Rep. Chip Roy told CNN in reaction to the Hunter Biden plea deal being refined. The plea deal, as we saw, as it started, was garbage. We have people that are in jail right now for far less. It also adds a new layer of intrigue around the potential trip to Capitol Hill by Delawares Trump-appointed US Attorney David Weiss, who is overseeing the 5-year-old Hunter Biden investigation. GOP Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio credited IRS whistleblowers critical of the investigation for the collapse of a plea deal, although the issue did not come up during a hearing. Weiss has told Jordan, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, he would testify publicly before the committee in the coming weeks to answer questions about the ongoing criminal probe, though Wednesdays developments could delay things. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The call to 911 in the hours before Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo (Freddy) Ramirez shot himself came at 6:33 p.m. Sunday from security at the downtown Tampa hotel where Ramirez was staying. My God, said a woman calling from the hotel, describing herself to the dispatcher as hotel security. The front desk is telling me theres a guy with a gun in our front drive. The dispatcher asked for a description. No, I didnt get that much info because of the way the call was received, she said. Ive got somebody who supposedly is in the front drive with a gun, she said, adding that the information came from guests on their way into the hotel. Officers are on the way, said the dispatcher. The call lasted one minute, 32 seconds, and Ramirezs name was never mentioned. A few hours later Ramirez, according to police and law enforcement sources, shot himself in the head on the side of I-75 just south of Tampa, with his wife, Jody, in the vehicle. Three days later Ramirez, who leads the largest police force in the Southeast U.S., was out of surgery and recovering, likely having lost sight in his right eye, but avoiding brain damage. What led to the tragedy, remains fuzzy. This much is known: Tampa Police arrived at the hotel minutes after the 911 call. Ramirez and his wife were in their 12th-floor room. Police waited for them to leave the room. When they did, police said the couple admitted to arguing, but Ramirez said no weapon was drawn. Police said they left after Jody Ramirez said she wasnt concerned for her safety. A short while later, according to Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Ramirez called her and offered to resign, describing to her an altercation with his wife and that police had been called. Levine Cava didnt go into detail. He was very remorseful. I reassured him we would talk, Levine Cava said in a press conference Wednesday, her first since Ramirez wounded himself. He told me he was driving back to Miami. Then, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Ramirez pulled over on the side of I-75 near at mile marker 244 south of Tampa and shot himself. When Levine Cava heard the news, she arranged for a Miami-Dade County helicopter and flew to Tampa. Steadman Stahl, president of the agencys largest police union and who visited with Ramirezs family in Tampa, said Ramirez was recovering. Levine Cava said Wednesday he was alert, awake and responsive. Taylor Swifts message for Travis Kelce: We are never getting together. OK, that may be jumping the gun just a bit, but the Kansas City Chiefs tight end knows that feeling all too well after revealing his master plan to give the music superstar his phone number was foiled when he recently went to see her on her "Eras Tour" at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. I was disappointed that she doesnt talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings. So I was a little butthurt I didnt get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her, Travis Kelce said on the July 26 episode of his New Heights podcast that he hosts with his brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce. You made her a bracelet? Jason Kelce asked. Yeah. If youre up on Taylor Swift concerts, there are friendship bracelets and I received a bunch of them being there, but I wanted to give Taylor Swift one with my number on it, Travis Kelce said, alluding to the bracelets that have become a staple at Swifts shows. Is there a love story brewing between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift? No, there's not. (Getty Images) When asked if the bracelet had his jersey number or telephone number on it, Travis Kelce joked, You know which one. She doesnt meet anybody or at least she didnt want to meet me, so I took it personal. But it was an unbelievable show, he continued. Despite striking out, Travis Kelce, who once starred on the 2016 reality dating series Catching Kelce, said there's no bad blood and that the concert was an amazing experience. Ive only seen Arrowhead filled like that for Chiefs games with that much excitement and, yeah, everybody was dressed in pink and purple going crazy for her, he said. It was wild. It was a wild show. While it may be a cruel summer losing out on the chance to court one of pop music's biggest acts, a Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift romance may not be in the cards anyway, since she is an Eagles fan and the Chiefs beat the Eagles in this years Super Bowl, featuring both Kelce brothers. It appears he may have to just shake it off. She probably just hasnt gotten over the Super Bowl yet. Shes a big Eagles fan, so maybe she just made something up and just didnt want to talk to you, Jason Kelce said. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Vanderbilt University Medical Center In response to Republican faux outrage that started last September about the treatment of transgender Tennesseans, Vanderbilt University Medical Center handed over confidential records of patients receiving gender-affirming care to the states attorney general, Jonathan Skrmetti. His office had requested the private treatment information, according to a new report in the Nashville Banner. There was no notification to patients that their unredacted medical records had been shared, let alone with an agency of a government notoriously hostile to transgender people. A list of 106 transgender patients treated by doctors at Vanderbilt University Medical Center was received from Skrmettis office when the hospital learned that it was under investigation, the Nashville Banner reports. Skrmetti aimed to access all transgender patient records, the outlet reports, when VUMC provided the documents to the state. A class action lawsuit was filed on Monday by two of those patients. According to the lawsuit, the hospital provided medical information to the attorney general violating the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the medical centers privacy policies despite knowing the state targeted transgender people. Identified only as Patients 1 and 2, the plaintiffs are not named. The attachment contained 106 entries of individual patients without explanation as to the source of the names on the list, the suit reads. The list included individuals who are: (1) on the state employees health plan and their family members, and (2) people who receive their health care through TennCare. Some of the VUMC patients whose records were disclosed were not even patients of the VUMC Transgender Health Clinic. Records were released legally in according to Skrmettis civil investigation demands, the hospital maintains. As HIPAA defines, medical providers may only disclose protected health information if de-identified information cannot be reasonably used. According to the lawsuit, Vanderbilt revealed some of the most sensitive personal information possible, including images of genitals, information about gender identities that others were unaware of, confidential communications with treatment teams, and intimate knowledge about partners and sexual background. Story continues The complaint continues, Nevertheless, it appears that instead of pushing back, VUMC simply complied with the AGs demand and turned over all requested records. Those records included the personally identifying information of its patients and some of the most intimate details of their private lives. VUMC did not inform its affected patients that it had done this. Per the complaint, the list includes state employees, their kids, and their partners. Across the country, Republicans are targeting transgender people. With 26 bills aimed at LGBTQ Tennesseeans during this years session, the Republican supermajority in Tennessees legislature made no exception. Human Rights Campaign data shows Tennessee has passed more anti-LGBTQ bills than any other state since 2015. Black child raising hand in classroom News that the Florida Board of Education wants educators to teach that slavery benefited enslaved people (understandably) sparked national outrage. Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the move as promoting revisionist history. But Florida is far from the only state with restrictions on educators ability to teach about race, gender, and biases accurately. In Tennessee, teachers are fighting an uphill battle against sweeping restrictions on what they can and cant say about some of the most pressing issues of our time. On Wednesday, the Tennessee Education Association filed a lawsuit arguing that the states restrictions on teaching about race, gender, and bias are unconstitutional. Read more Its a lawsuit years in the making. In 2021, Tennessee enacted a law banning teaching certain concepts related to race and sex. The law bans lessons that teach that an individual, by virtue of the individuals race or sex, is inherently privileged, racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or subconsciously. And similarly to the new standards in Florida, it also bans any lessons that make an individual feel discomfort, guilt or anguish because of their race or sex. Furthermore, it requires impartial discussion of controversial aspects of history. While all of that might sound fine to some people in principle, in practice, teachers say its a mess, especially because the penalty for being found in violation of the law is steep. School districts found in violation risk losing state funding, but what counts as a violation is super murky. I mean, how can you accurately talk about racism in the United States while ensuring that no one ever experiences a moment of guilt? The Ban thus deprives Tennessees public-school students of the information, ideas, and skills analytical thinking, reasoned analysis, historical understanding, debate that are central to any concept of civic education in a democratic system, the lawsuit read, according to ABC News. Story continues It could be a while before we know the outcome of this lawsuit. But its worth paying attention to these and other efforts to fight back against what many consider a blatant effort to whitewash history. More from The Root Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. A white Tesla drove off the 10 Freeway just east of National Boulevard in Palms around 2:22 a.m. Wednesday, according to the California Highway Patrol. (Chris Carlson / Associated Press) A driver veered off the 10 Freeway and crashed into a homeless encampment Wednesday morning, injuring at least five people, according to authorities. The white Tesla drove off the freeway just east of National Boulevard in Palms around 2:22 a.m., according to California Highway Patrol Officer Moses Marroquin. The car landed in a homeless encampment, injuring five people, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Three people were extricated from the car and transported in "at least serious condition" to be hospitalized. Two people were transported in fair condition. The National Boulevard off-ramp was closed and a Sig Alert was issued and canceled at 5:03 a.m., according to Marroquin. 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. Congressman Greg Casar, a Democrat from Texas, spent Tuesday participating in an all-day hunger and thirst strike and vigil outside the U.S. Capitol, along with other activists. The freshman representative said he held the strike to draw attention to the need for a federal workplace heat standard, including protections for rest and water breaks. It comes as much of the U.S. has experienced record-breaking heat this summer. "We need federal protections from the Biden administration as soon as we can get them, especially for next summer, which we know could be even hotter than this one," Casar, who represents parts of San Antonio and Austin, told CBS News. "I grew up in Texas. I know it's hot, but it hasn't usually been this hot. So the climate crisis is getting worse, workers aren't being paid a living wage and they're being put out there to work in the heat sometimes to get sick and die," he said. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, talks to supporters during the sixth hour of a thirst strike outside the U.S. Capitol, July 25, 2023. / Credit: JONATHAN ERNST / REUTERS Among those joining Casar on Tuesday were the family members who lost a loved one on the job in Texas. A picture frame honoring the life of Roendy Granillo, a 25-year old construction worker who died in 2015 due to heat stroke, was set up on the House steps, surrounded by candles. Granillo's family lobbied the Dallas City Council after his death to adopt an ordinance requiring manual laborers get breaks. Tuesday's demonstration comes just weeks before a new law in Texas takes effect. The legislation, House Bill 2127, blocks cities and counties from enacting certain local ordinances, and a press release from Casar's office said the law will eliminate protections against extreme heat, like ordinances in Austin and Dallas that require water breaks for workers. "Our governor (Greg Abbott) should be helping everyday workers and instead what he's chosen to do is to sign a law this month taking people's rights to a water break on the job away from them," Casar said. "And that is just cruel. It's wrong. And we know we have to overturn that decision. And so that's why we're calling on the president to accelerate a federal rule to protect all Americans from the heat while at work." Story continues CBS News has reached out to Gov. Abbott for comment. In a statement provided to CBS Austin in June, after HB 2127 was signed, Abbott's office said: "Ensuring the safety of Texans is a top priority as our state experiences high summer heat. This bill is consistent with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) standards regarding safe work practices and will not inhibit people from taking water breaks." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, of New York, and fellow Democratic Reps. Katie Porter, of California, and Sylvia Garcia, of Texas, also spoke at Tuesday's gathering on the Capitol steps, and greeted activists who included the legendary labor leader Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., greets Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union, during a vigil and thirst strike for workers' rights at the U.S. Capitol on July 25, 2023. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, is at left. / Credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Casar and over a hundred other members of Congress addressed the Biden administration in a letter Monday, urging it to implement an Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard "as soon as possible." Casar said he received a call from Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su on Tuesday afternoon during the strike. "It was really encouraging to get her support and to know that we have an administration that is pulling in the same direction as us, saying that workers should have more rights in the 21st century," he said. "And we know that there's big money corporate lobbying trying to stop the federal government from protecting workers in the heat but we believe that our people power can beat their lobbying power, and that's the point of this vigil and thirst strike." The temperature in D.C. on Tuesday was in the 80s. Casar, who got hourly checkups from a nurse, said he intended to continue the strike "all day" or until nurses told him to stop. Harvard professor discusses admission at elite colleges How Saudi investments are impacting the world of sports Why Israel's judicial overhaul is causing such upheaval A Democratic congressman from Texas is participating in a brief thirst and hunger strike Tuesday to draw attention to the need for a federal workplace heat standard, including protections for rest and water breaks. A communications director for Rep. Greg Casar, whose district stretches from Austin to San Antonio, said the congressman began the strike at 10:30 a.m. and would go as long as hes physically able. A release from Casars office said he would go with no water, no food, and no break, until nurses require him to stop. A basic thing like the right to a water break, a basic thing like being able to work and know that working is not a death sentence, is the baseline of what our democracy should be able to do, Casar said Tuesday. He cited a law signed by Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott last month that prohibits local officials from enacting rules on businesses that supersede state regulations, which Casar said will prevent water breaks. Casars office referred to the event as a vigil, and it was organized on the steps of the US Capitol. The Texas Democrat was joined by civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, and some House Democrats, including House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Maxwell Frost, briefly joined the crowd. Casar said Tuesday that he had spoken with Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, who is working hard to get a federal heat standard done. Su told CNN in a statement that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which falls under the Labor Department, is taking key steps to protect workers in hot environments. Many workers are at increased risk, sometimes because of the jobs they do or where they live, but also because of factors like the color of their skin or their ethnicity. As we continue to grow a more inclusive and accessible economy, the department will continue to use every available resource to ensure all workers have the health and safety protections they need and deserve in the workplace, Su said. Story continues Jasmine Granillo, whose brother Roendy Granillo died from heat stroke in 2015 while working on a housing construction site, holds an American Flag presented to her by Rep. Greg Casar during a vigil and thirst strike at the Capitol on July 25, 2023. - Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images On Monday, more than 100 members of Congress signed a letter to the Department of Labor calling for an OSHA standard as the country grapples with dangerously high temperatures. In Dallas, Texas, a USPS employee of over 40 years died while on his route in 115-degree heat. In Harrison County, Texas, a 35-year-old lineman working to restore power died, likely from heat exhaustion. We know extreme weather events such as heat waves are becoming more frequent and more dangerous due to climate change. Urgent action is needed to prevent more deaths, the letter states. Heat kills more Americans than any other form of severe weather, including flooding, hurricanes or extreme cold, according to National Weather Service data, and scientists have warned theres a growing likelihood that 2023 could be the Earths hottest year on record. Outdoor workers are among those who are at high risk for heat exposure along with the elderly, low-income families, communities of color and those experiencing homelessness. This headline and story have been updated with additional details. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26) An advocacy group urges the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to reactivate the over 62 million SIM that will be disenfranchised by the end of the month. The Junk SIM Registration Network said these SIM, which weren't registered before the July 25 deadline, mostly belong to the marginalized sector and grassroots communities. Kahit na hindi pa sila nakapag-register, kailangan huwag putulan ng DICT ang access sa komunikasyon [DICT shouldn't cut the communication lines of those who failed to register]. When millions and millions of Filipinos are at risk of having their right to communication interrupted, Maded Batara III, the groups spokesperson, said on Tuesday. The government should really be more transparent. More likely these [the over 62 million] are actual SIMs that are in use. Or SIMs that people did not register," he added. The group protested in front of the DICT office in Quezon City, slamming the timing of the SIM deactivation with the onslaught of Super Typhoon Egay in northern parts of the country. Ngayon pa talaga nangyari ang mass deactivation kung saan mas maapektuhan ang mga taong nasa malalayong lugar na mas kailangan ng access sa internet at access sa SIM para makipag-communicate sila sa kanilang mahal sa buhay at para hindi sila malagay sa panganib, Batara added. [Translation: What a time for the deactivation to happen, when Typhoon Egay threatens residents in far-flung areas who need internet access and access to their SIM to communicate with their loved ones and ensure their safety.] Kadamay Secretary General Mimi Doringo said typhoon-hit areas would not be able to receive emergency alerts and updates due to the deactivation. She said some members of the group were among the millions who experienced SIM deactivation. Telecommunication firms deactivated unregistered SIM at 12:01 a.m. in accordance with the law. Deactivation means loss of incoming and outgoing services like voice calls and texts, and no access to mobile data. Users can still reactivate their SIM until July 30 or five days from the July 25 cutoff, before facing permanent deactivation. The group cited data privacy and security concerns surrounding SIM registration. They also called on government and telcos to ensure the safety of SIM registration data, which may be a valuable target for hackers. Matuto na po tayo sa karanasan ng ating mga karatig bansa sa rehiyon. Indonesia, Pakistan at iba pa. Na hindi naman naging epektibo ang SIM registration law. Naging avenue pa ito sa pagpapalala ng identity theft, he said. [Translation: Let's learn from Indonesia, Pakistan, and others. They proved that the SIM registration law isn't effective. Sometimes it even becomes an avenue for identity theft.] Batara said they will seek all options, including legal remedies, to repeal the SIM Registration Act. In April, the Supreme Court junked the bid to temporarily stop SIM registration. The DICT has stood firm on the July 25 SIM registration deadline as it noted that authorities and telecommunication firms are within their target numbers. It said users were given ample time to register after the first deadline extension. A Democratic congressman began a "thirst strike" on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday to protest a Texas law critics say will override local ordinances such as mandatory water breaks for people working in the heat and to call for federal protections for those who work in hot temperatures. Rep. Greg Casar, whose congressional district includes parts of Austin and San Antonio, tweeted a photo of himself Tuesday with civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, while taking his last sip of water before his all-day strike. "Just took my last drink of water before my thirst strike with the one and only, Dolores Huerta. #WorkersCantWait," he captioned the image. MEXICO'S AMLO INTENSIFIES ANTI-GOP MEDDLING WITH NEW ATTACK ON TEXAS GOV ABBOTT U.S. Rep Greg Casar takes a last sip of water with civil rights activist Dolores Huerta before he goes on an all day thirst strike to call for a federal heat standards for workers. Casar planned to abstain from liquids to call for a federal heat rule to protect workers as record-setting temperatures continue to break across the country. The forecast in Washington D.C. was expected to reach 90 degrees on Tuesday. "Today Im on a thirst strike on the steps of the U.S. Capitolnot drinking water or taking breaks, through rain or shine, in solidarity with our nations workers," Casar said in another tweet. "Currently there are NO federal protections for workers exposed to heat." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP In a letter signed by more than 110 Democrats, Casar demanded the Biden Administration implement an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) workplace heat standard as soon as possible. The signatories noted a law recently signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott they claim would strip power from cities and could eliminate existing heat protections in Dallas and Austin. "Our nationand my home state of Texasis experiencing a historic heatwaveexposing workers to deadly 100+ temperatures," Casar tweeted. "Yet in the middle of this heatwave, @GregAbbott_TX signed a law *eliminating* workers rights to water breaks." Story continues House Bill 2127 doesn't mention water breaks specifically but prohibits cities across the state from creating rules that go beyond state law. Currently, there are no federal or state rules that require employers to provide paid water breaks. The law is intended to prevent what is described as a "patchwork of regulations that apply inconsistently across this state" U.S Rep. Greg Casar talks with U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su during his thirst strike on Tuesday. During Tuesday's thirst strike, several progressive Democrats were seen showing support for Casar, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Silvia Garcia, Hakeem Jeffries, Maxwell Frost and Ilhan Omar. "In the wealthiest country in the history of the world, workers shouldnt be dying from heat-related illnesses. Proud to join this effort led by @GregCasar," Omar tweeted. Casar said he spoke with Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, who said the White House was "working hard to get a federal heat standard done, and its up to us to fight corporate greed so they can get it done." (Bloomberg) -- Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has lived in self-imposed exile for 15 years, is set to return to the Southeast Asian nation next month, a move likely to add to the political chaos thats gripped the country since a May general election. Most Read from Bloomberg Thaksin, who turned 74 on Wednesday, will arrive in Bangkok on Aug. 10, his youngest daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, said in an Instagram post. She is among the three prime ministerial candidates of Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai Party, which is now leading the efforts of a pro-democracy coalition to form a new government and end a near decade-long military-backed rule. Its not the first time that Thaksin, a popular but polarizing politician, or his family has announced his plan to return to the country where he was ousted as the premier in a military coup in 2006. As recently as in May when the nation was in the middle of election campaign, he pledged to return before his birthday to raise his seven grandchildren. But this time it will be different, Paetongtarn said, adding that preparations were underway to welcome him back. The Shinawatra family an influential political dynasty was happy and also concerned at the same time about Thaksins plan, she said. The timing of Thaksins homecoming coincides with efforts by Pheu Thai to drum up support among pro-royalist political parties in the lower house and the nations conservative Senate, which holds the key to the countrys top political office under rules designed after a 2014 coup to entrench establishment influence in Thai politics. READ: Pheu Thai to Seek Senate Support While Sticking With Allies Story continues The eight-party democratic bloc has struggled to take power despite commanding a majority in the 500-member elected lower house. Its short of the half-way mark in a joint sitting of the bicameral assembly whose current strength is 748. The conservatives thwarted Pita Limjaroenrat, the coalitions first prime minister candidate and leader of the progressive Move Forward Party, citing opposition to his reformist platforms that include amendments to the countrys harsh royal insult law. The delay in government formation has weighed on Thailands stocks with foreign investors pulling out more than $3.5 billion this year. While the selling pressure has eased on prospects of a Pheu Thai-led government, many senators have ruled out support for a coalition that includes Pitas party. Pheu Thai has also held talks with conservative parties in recent days, fueling speculation that it may snap the alliance with Move Forward in exchange for support from conservatives to form a government. READ: Thai Political Gridlock Grows as Pro-Democracy Bloc Wobbles Thaksins homecoming announcement signals that a deal between Pheu Thai and the conservative establishment is in the works, though doubts remain if the former leader will stick to his plan, said Peter Mumford, Southeast Asia practice head at consultancy Eurasia Group. As this is not the first time Thaksin has announced he will be returning to Thailand, the latest comments do not necessarily signal that a Pheu Thai-conservatives deal has been finalized already, said Mumford. Parties backed by Thaksin, with his large following among the rural voters, had won the most seats in every national vote between 2001 and 2019, only to be unseated from power by dissolutions or coups. Corruption Charges Thaksin has lived overseas since fleeing the country in 2008 to avoid corruption charges, shuttling between Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and London. Since leaving Thailand, he had been found guilty in absentia in several graft cases he said were politically motivated, and still faces a combined 10 years in prison in three cases if he returns. Thaksin said in May that he would enter the justice process upon his return and that he didnt want an amnesty from jail terms something previously attempted by a government headed by his sister Yingluck Shinawatra in 2013 before it was toppled in the 2014 coup. Thai police is set to take Thaksin into custody when he lands in Bangkok and produce him before the Supreme Court, which may order his detention at Bangkok Remand Prison, Thai-language Matichon newspaper reported, citing police officers. Paetongtarn, 36, may have a shot at being nominated for premiership once her party secures backing of enough lawmakers. Pheu Thais candidates also include property magnate Srettha Thavisin and former attorney-general Chaikasem Nitisiri. The party has not announced which of the three will be nominated in the next round, after a vote this week was called off pending a petition by the Office of the Ombudsman to the Constitutional Court on the legality of parliament last week rejecting Pitas re-nomination. READ: How Thai Law on Royal Insults Caused Political Crisis: QuickTake (Updates with polices plan for Thaksins arrival in 15th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. MANILA (Reuters) - Strong winds and rain lashed the northern Philippines as Typhoon Doksuri made landfall on Wednesday, causing rivers to overflow and leaving thousands without power. Residents in coastal communities had been evacuated ahead of the storm, which brought winds of up to 175 kilometres per hour (108 miles per hour) and is expected to sustain strength as continues its course toward Taiwan and China. "We are being battered here," Manual Mamba, governor of northern Cagayan province told Reuters, adding that no casualties had been reported so far. More than 4,000 passengers were stranded at various ports in the country after sea travel was suspended, the Philippine coast guard said. Storm warnings are in place in many parts of the northern island of Luzon, which is home to about half of the Philippines' 110 million population. Authorities have warned of storm surges, landslides, and damage to infrastructure. Doksuri, locally known as Egay, is the fifth storm to hit the Southeast Asian nation this year, which is hit by an average 20 typhoons each year. Scientists have warned that global warming will only make storms wetter, windier and more violent. Categorised as a super typhoon on Tuesday, Doksuri had weakened slightly on Wednesday. It is expected to brush past Taiwan and make landfall in China's Fujian province on Friday, according to the Philippines weather bureau. (Reporting by Karen Lema and Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor) Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, Donald Trump Illustrated / Getty Images / AP Photo To be the president of the United States is to exist under pressures virtually unimaginable to nearly everyone else on Earth; you control a vast arsenal of weapons capable of destroying the planet many times over; you sit at the top one of of the most powerful, complex economies in history; the lives and wellbeing of hundreds of millions of people depend on your decisions; and to top it all off, you could, theoretically, be fired at any moment. But while impeachment has always been a Damoclean sword hanging over every president's head, it's historically loomed largely as an abstract concern, rather than an acute threat until recently. Speaking with Fox News' Sean Hannity this week, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) asserted that his party's ongoing investigations into President Biden and his family's business dealings were "rising to the level of impeachment inquiry" a statement he defended the following day, comparing the Biden administration to that of disgraced former President Richard Nixon. McCarthy's comments, although conspicuously vague and lacking any concrete timeline, "mark the furthest he's gone on a potential impeachment inquiry," Politico said. And although McCarthy denied any pressure from former President Donald Trump to push forward with impeaching Biden, his comments this week came amid "pressure from the hard right" of his party which has made investigating the president and his family a hallmark of Republicans' narrow congressional majority. Crucially, McCarthy's escalation and the GOP's thus far unfounded allegations against the president exists in the broader context perhaps best stated by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who in a recent floor speech linked the conservative effort to impeach Biden with a contemporaneous push to expunge Trump's own impeachment record. To Greene and her allies, the two are inextricably connected, seemingly validating former GOP Rep. Louie Gohmert's 2019 prediction-cum-threat that Republicans would seek political retribution for Trump's impeachment. "We've already got the forms," Gohmert said. "all we have to do is eliminate Donald Trump's name and put Joe Biden's name in there." With dueling impeachment narratives already saturating the 2024 presidential race, is this formerly rare political last resort our new presidential norm? What are the commentators saying? "If impeachment loses its taboo to become just another partisan instrument with implications for elections and fundraising, that would weaken its power as an emergency mechanism," Axios said in 2019, during the first Trump impeachment trial. Whether that process has already begun, however, is unclear. "I do not see this as the beginning of a trend or more likelihood for impeachments in the future," Berkley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky told the outlet. "I think it is the coincidence of having had a few recent presidents who have committed acts worthy of consideration as impeachable offenses." "The question going forward, of course, will be whether the Trump impeachment conditions the public to understand impeachment as a tool of normal politics, or whether it retains its exceptional character," Cornell Constitutional Law professor Josh Chafetz told The New York Times that same year. "The Clinton impeachment does not seem to have been enough to make it a tool of normal politics, but maybe this time will be different." Two years later, The Washington Post appeared to answer Chafetz's question, writing that "the era of perpetual presidential impeachment is probably upon us" after Republicans began calling for Biden to be removed from office not for his family's business dealings as they are now, but for the U.S. military pullback from Afghanistan. "The trouble with Dems lowering the bar when impeaching Trump over Ukraine is that Biden has certainly now tripped over it himself," former George W. Bush speechwriter Scott Jennings said. "Same elements at play." Speaking with the New York Times, Republican media strategist Brendan Buck suggested that the potential for an age of perpetual impeachments had less to do with the conduct of any particular president, and more to do with the state of American politics as a whole. "We're in an era where you need to make loud noises and break things in order to get attention," he said in 2021, shortly after Biden assumed the White House. "It doesn't matter what you're breaking as long as you're creating conflict and appeasing your party, anything goes." Where do we go from here? In the short term, a number of high-profile Republicans already have started throwing cold water on the impeachment chatter, with Utah Sen. Mitt Romney noting that "The bar is high crimes and misdemeanors, and that hasn't been alleged at this stage." Fellow Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said that "the best way to change the presidency is win the election," and even Newt Gingrich, the former GOP House Speaker who led the impeachment effort against former President Bill Clinton sounded skeptical, telling the Washington Post that while "it's a good idea to go to the inquiry stage," going to "impeachment itself is a terrible idea." That much of the pushback comes from the Senate is perhaps unsurprising given that any impeachment trial against Biden would likely be a non-starter in the Democratic-controlled chamber. Still, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) seemingly acknowledged the start of a cyclical impeachment chain even as he downplayed the Senate's role in making that decision. "It's getting to be a habit around here, isn't it?," he asked reporters who raised the House's deliberations. "Once you start, it's unfortunate, but what goes around, comes around," he added. Writing in the Hofstra Law Review in 2020, attorney Erin Daley proposed a series of actions that could potentially break that cycle, returning impeachment from its increased banality to its singular status as a last resort. Suggesting a "new standard for impeachment," Daley highlights statutory reforms to strengthen the legislative branch's ability to conduct genuine impeachment inquiries, while giving more clear oversight to the judicial branch as "a tool that could help Democrats and Republicans alike" while also preventing a "future Republican-led Congress from conducting a similar polarizing impeachment against a more liberal president." "It is impossible to comport with Framer intent when Congress uses impeachment as a political weapon and the president completely disregards checks and balances," Daley concluded. "Polarization has ruined the transparency and legitimacy of impeachments, and for now, Congress should recognize that '[i]mpeachment needs the legitimacy that the courts can provide.'" We may indeed be entering an era of perpetual impeachment, but there are, it seems, exit ramps if we want them. 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 Askari skirmish, 1914 (German Federal Archives) For months in 1914, an uneasy truce held in many European colonies in Africa. The colonial governments agreed to not take part in a war in Europe. While it may seem odd, it makes a lot of sense from the European perspective. Colonialism relied on both a promise of violence and a myth of European omnipotence. None of the major powers wanted to fight each other in Africa and trigger an uprising in their own colony. But for a group of combatants in what is now the northernmost shores of Tanzania, the neutrality of Africa blew apart during the Battle of the Tanga. As a laughably inept British assault fell apart at the port, local beehives attacked the soldiers so viciously that entire units stopped fighting to try and escape the insects. The fight is sometimes remembered as the Battle of the Bees. German East Africa and Lettow-Vorbeck German East Africa consisted of territory in what is now Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda. Germany and Britain had stolen their colonies from the Sultan of Zanzibar at cannon-point, and Germany used its possessions as a source of agricultural goods and a small amount of gold. When World War I broke out, the German governor attempted to cement neutrality agreements under the agreements of the 1885 Berlin Conference. But the leader of local protective forces, Lt. Col. Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, and other German officers pushed for war. Lettow-Vorbeck held vast experience fighting in Africa, having participated in years of anti-guerilla warfare against local tribes. He knew that he couldn't defeat the British outright but was certain he could tie down much of the British military with his local forces who seemed to genuinely admire him. And Lettow-Vorbeck created a real threat to British operations. He knew that Britain needed to move resources from its own African colonies to Europe via the Uganda railway and ships in the Indian Ocean. With a guerilla force, he could threaten the railway and ports and force Britain to defend them heavily. And German cruisers joined him in this mission, raiding British shipping lanes and ports on the Indian Ocean. Story continues British disposition So the British decided to land troops at Tanga Harbor. On August 17, 1914, Britain combined Indian Army units into Indian Expeditionary Force B. The British-Indian force boasted many more men, 9,000 compared to 1,000 Germans and local allies, but the units proved unprepared for battle. Many of the Indian forces were undertrained. And headquarters jammed existing units together to get them out the door on time. So many commanders didn't see their unit in the field until they assaulted Tanga. The British Force headed to Tanga by ship. Troops received new rifles and machine guns either just before embarking or while on the ships. These weapons included new sights and working mechanisms. Many riflemen carried rifles they had never used, and machine gun crews formed that had never touched a machine gun. As one captain summarized it: Of this force, three battalions came from non-martial races and two have not seen service in the field for more than a generation. Neither Wapshare nor Tighe had seen their troops until a few days before embarkation and it can safely be said that from top to bottom nobody knew anybody. The Battle of Tanga, German East Africa 1914 Meanwhile, the commander, Maj. Gen. Arthur Aitken, focused his guidance on important things like how well his men dressed. There is one thing gentleman about which I feel very strongly," he told his officers. "That is the subject of dress. I wish officers and men to be always turned out. I will not tolerate the appalling sloppiness allowed during the Boer War. That is all gentlemen thank you. "Battle of Tanga, 3rd5th November, 1914" by Martin Frost (18751927) The British landings and the Battle of the Bees The British first made landfall the night of November 2-3, focusing on rifle and grenadier units and not landing any artillery. If British forces had beelined for Tanga, they might have taken the town before German troops could occupy it. But they didn't, so German forces made it into the town and the fight began November 4. The unprepared British forces did not do well. Their initial assault managed to drive some local African allies away from the main German force, but then the British forces broke. But to the south of the town, a British attack disturbed logs hanging in the branches of trees. These were beehives made by local Africans, and the bees inside quickly swarmed out. According to a history from the Western Front Association: The bees swarmed angrily and stung both friend and foe alike. It is reported that one signaller of the Royal Engineers suffered 300 stings on his head. Other men fell back to get away from the bees, which seem to have been particularly prevalent in the 98th Battalion's sector. The Battle of the Bees, Western Front Association The troops reportedly broke contact multiple times to escape the bees. While both sides were attacked, the British seemed to get the worst of it. Regardless, the British forces continued to muddle through the battle. The Germans massed rifle and machine gun fire until the British broke and ran, leaving behind guns and other equipment. The British commander Aitken was relieved of command and the Germans went on to wage one of the best guerilla campaigns in history. Joanie Knight has a message for anyone considering drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy, which have become popular for the dramatic weight loss they can help people achieve. I wish I never touched it. I wish Id never heard of it in my life, said Knight, 37, of Angie, Louisiana. This medicine made my life hell. So much hell. It has cost me money. It cost me a lot of stress; it cost me days and nights and trips with my family. Its cost me a lot, and its not worth it. The price is too high. Brenda Allen, 42, of Dallas feels the same way. Her doctor prescribed Wegovy for weight loss. And even now, being off the medication for almost a year, Im still having a lot of problems, Allen said. She said she was at urgent care recently after vomiting so much that she became dehydrated. Emily Wright, 38, a teacher in Toronto, started taking Ozempic in 2018. Over a year, she said, she lost 80 pounds, which shes been able to keep off. But Wright said she now vomits so frequently that she had to take a leave of absence from her job. Ive almost been off Ozempic for a year, but Im still not back to my normal, Wright said. The diabetes drug Ozempic, and its sister drug for weight loss, Wegovy, utilize the same medication, semaglutide. These and other drugs in this family, which includes medications like tirzepatide and liraglutide, work by mimicking a hormone thats naturally made by the body, GLP-1. One of the roles of GLP-1 is to slow the passage of food through the stomach, which helps people feel fuller longer. If the stomach slows down too much, however, that can cause problems. Knight and Wright have been diagnosed with severe gastroparesis, or stomach paralysis, which their doctors think may have resulted from or been exacerbated by the medication they were taking, Ozempic. Wright said she has also been diagnosed with cyclic vomiting syndrome, which causes her to throw up multiple times a day. Emily Wright lost 80 pounds on Ozempic and now struggles with gastroparesis - Courtesy Emily Wright Allen doesnt have a diagnosis for her stomach problems but said they started only after she was encouraged by her doctor to take Wegovy to lose weight. She is managing her ongoing nausea and vomiting with a medication called Zofran and prescription probiotics while she waits for more tests in October the first available appointments she could get with specialists. Story continues Doctors say that more cases like these are coming to light as the popularity of the drugs soared. The US Food and Drug Administration said it has received reports of people on the drugs experiencing stomach paralysis that sometimes has not resolved by the time its reported. And last month, the American Society of Anesthesiologists warned that patients should stop these medications a week before surgery because they can increase the risk that people will regurgitate food during an operation, even if theyve fasted as directed. Vomiting under anesthesia sometimes causes food and stomach acid to get into the lungs, which can cause pneumonia and other problems after surgery. So far, extreme and unrelenting cases like these are believed to be rare, and they may be a result of the drug unmasking or worsening an existing slow stomach. Doctors say people can have a silent condition called delayed gastric emptying and not know it. Theres nothing on the drugs labels that specifically cautions that gastroparesis may occur. In response to CNNs request for comment, Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, pointed out that drugs in this class have been used for 15 years to treat diabetes and for eight years to treat obesity, and they have been extensively studied in the real world and in clinical trials. Gastrointestinal (GI) events are well-known side effects of the GLP-1 class. For semaglutide, the majority of GI side effects are mild to moderate in severity and of short duration. GLP-1s are known to cause a delay in gastric emptying, as noted in the label of each of our GLP-1 RA medications. Symptoms of delayed gastric emptying, nausea and vomiting are listed as side effects, the statement said. Gastroparesis can have many causes, including diabetes, which is a reason many people are on these drugs in the first place. Women are known to be at higher risk for the condition, too. In more than half of cases of gastroparesis, doctors are unable to find a cause. They may just be really unlucky, said Dr. Michael Camilleri, a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic, said of the people who shared their cases with CNN. On the other hand, this is how the drugs work, although not many doctors or patients understand this or the problems that may follow, he said. Camilleri received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how one of the first GLP-1 agonists, a drug called liraglutide, affects stomach function. He recruited 40 obese adults and randomly assigned them to take increasing doses of liraglutide or a placebo, which had no active ingredients. After five weeks, he had people in the study eat a meal laced with a radioactive tracer so he could see how long food stayed in their stomachs. People taking liraglutide had dramatically slowed digestion compared with those on the placebo; it took about 70 minutes for half the food they ate to leave their stomachs, compared with just four minutes in the placebo group. And that was just the average delay: In some patients on liraglutide, the time it took for half the meal to leave their stomachs was 151 minutes, or more than two and a half hours. Camilleri said the group taking liraglutide lost weight, and the bigger the delay in food leaving the stomach, the more weight people seemed to lose. Fortunately, people in the study seemed to adjust to the medication over time. After 16 weeks, people in the group taking liraglutide were clearing about half the food they ate from their stomachs in about 30 minutes, as opposed to seven minutes in the placebo group. Symptoms of nausea and vomiting seemed to ease, too. Unfortunately, there have not been these types of robust studies, and so the whole idea that this class of medications actually delays gastric emptying is not as well recognized, Camilleri said. It is conceivable that some patients may have borderline slow gastric emptying and starting one of the GLP-1 agonists may precipitate a full-blown gastroparesis. How am I throwing up this much? Joanie Knight remembers exactly what she ate on her birthday in 2021. She ordered chicken fajitas at one of her favorite restaurants. She ate three skinny French fries and two or three pieces of chicken and then felt panic set in when she couldnt swallow the food. It felt like it was stuck in my throat, said Knight, who had been taking Ozempic for two years at that point and was already eating very little every day as a result. Her birthday dinner triggered a bout of violent vomiting. I thought, I hadnt eaten. How am I throwing up this much? she said. She went to see a gastroenterologist, a doctor who specializes in stomach problems. They put a tube with a camera down her throat and into her stomach to see what the issue might be. They said, your stomach is full of food, she said. Normally, less than 10% of the food will be left in the stomach four hours after a meal. When that climbs to between 10% and 15%, its considered mild gastroparesis. Moderate gastroparesis is when 15% to 35% of food is left. Severe gastroparesis is anything over 35% after four hours. A gastric emptying study a test that measures how food moves through the stomach put Knight in the severe category. She said she stayed nauseated all the time, no matter how little she ate, and took a prescription anti-nausea medication like it was candy. Still, doctors didnt connect her stomach problems to the Ozempic she was taking. Although the prescription information for the drug warns of nausea and vomiting, it mentions only that the drug causes a delay in stomach emptying as a warning that it might affect the absorption of other medications. It was almost four more months until a specialist took her off the medication. Emily Wright, the teacher from Toronto, said Ozempic helped her shed about 80 pounds in one year, and she continued to take it to help manage her blood sugar, but she always felt sick. She said she vomited every day but kind of got used to it: She would wake up and throw up, and then her day would get better. In clinical trials, nearly half of people, 44%, who took Wegovy reported nausea, and almost 1 in 4 reported vomiting; both are common symptoms of gastroparesis. In the clinical trials for Ozempic, which is the same medication as Wegovy but given at a lower dose, 1 in 5 people reported nausea and 1 in 10 reported vomiting. In September 2020, Wright had to be hospitalized for dehydration related to the vomiting, and that prompted her to push her doctors for more answers. A gastric-emptying study showed that she had gastroparesis. Her doctors put her on two more medications to try to help her manage her symptoms but didnt take her off the Ozempic because they didnt suspect it was contributing. Diabetes can also cause gastroparesis, but that typically happens only in people who have had the disease for at least a decade and have chronically high blood sugars that have damaged the nerves that control the stomach. Both Knight and Wright say their doctors dismissed that possibility in their cases. Everybody said theres no way its diabetes, said Wright, who had been diagnosed with diabetes for only five years when she developed gastroparesis. In September 2022, her vomiting got much worse. Standing in front of her classroom, Wright said, she began having burps that smelled so strongly of sulfur and rotten eggs that the kids began to comment on it. What is that? Where is it coming from? they asked. Then, instead of just vomiting the food shed recently eaten, Wright noticed that she was throwing up food shed eaten three or four days prior. Another gastric emptying test showed her condition had deteriorated. Then the GI doctor said, Well, Ive been seeing a lot of clients coming in with full stomachs on endoscopy who are on Ozempic. So lets try taking you off the Ozempic, Wright said. Both Knight and Wright said they got some relief after coming off the medication, but their problems continued. Now, Wright said, instead of throwing up a meal she ate several days ago, she mostly vomits food she has eaten recently. For people with gastroparesis from any cause these stories are the norm. It takes a steep mental and physical toll on people who live with it. Knight eventually had stomach bypass surgery. Its similar to the technique used for weight loss, but it can also be a treatment for severe cases of gastroparesis. She said it has allowed her to eat some of her favorite foods again, like a few bites of pizza or chicken. Previously, I was on an extreme amount of vitamins because I wasnt eating. Now I can eat enough that Im not malnourished, Knight said. Wright said shes just hoping her condition will improve with medications and time. We dont know when were gonna get better. I think thats the hardest part, she said. Like if you could give me like a year or two years, I would have something to hope for. Weighing benefits and risks Drug regulators say they have received reports of stomach paralysis among patients taking GLP-1 agonist drugs. The FDA has received reports of gastroparesis with semaglutide and liraglutide, some of which documented the adverse event as not recovered after discontinuation of the respective product at the time of the report, the agency said in a statement to CNN. The reports have been submitted through the agencys publicly accessible adverse events tracking system, and the FDA said theres not always enough information in those reports to properly evaluate them. The FDA said it has been unable to determine whether the medications were the cause or if the gastroparesis may have been caused by a different issue. Gastroparesis can be a complication of diabetes that is related to long-standing or poorly controlled disease, further complicating the ability to determine what role the drugs played in the reported events, the agency said. Asked whether doctors and patients should be warned about the risk for people who are know to have slow digestion to begin with, the FDA said the benefits of the medication may still outweigh its risks, even for this group. Regulations pertaining to drug labeling state that a drug should be contraindicated only in those clinical situations for which the risk from use clearly outweighs any possible therapeutic benefit. Only known hazards, and not theoretical possibilities, can be the basis for a contraindication, the agency said. The FDA said people with gastroparesis werent excluded from clinical trials of these medications, and the benefits for diabetes and weight management may outweigh the risks in some patients with gastroparesis or delayed gastric emptying. Doctors who are experts in treating gastroparesis say theyre hearing more stories like these as greater numbers of people try the drugs. Gastroparesis or delayed gastric emptying from the GLP-1 agonists definitely does happen, said Dr. Linda Nguyen, who specializes in the treatment of this condition at Stanford University. What seems to be unusual about cases like Wrights and Knights, Nguyen said, is that they didnt improve after they stopped taking the medication. In my experience, when you stop the GLP-1 agonist, the gastric emptying improves, and it gets better, said Nguyen, who is also a spokesperson for the American Gastroenterological Association. Concern for surgery Anesthesiologists say there are real hazards involved with stomach paralysis on these medications, and doctors and patients need more information about the risks. Dr. Renuka George, fellowship director of regional anesthesiology at the Medical University of South Carolina, recently tweeted a photo of the stomach contents suctioned from a patient who had fasted as directed but was taking a GLP-1 agonist for diabetes. The stomach, she said, was basically full, even though the person had followed all the surgical prep instructions to the letter. George explained that this is a cautionary tale. This has become more, I guess, front and center for anesthesiologists, simply because aspiration is a big concern, she said. George explained that the stomach and esophagus can handle the acidic digestive juices that mix with food. Lungs cant. Lung tissue is fragile and precious, George said. If anything goes into the lungs, at best, its a cough; at worst, you end up on a ventilator for an extended period of time. She said that as more and more people take these medications, with little information about the stomach slowdown that comes with them, they may not know to tell their doctors. The big concern is if we have patients that arent aware of this and dont tell their anesthesiologists because not everybody wants to advertise that theyre on a weight loss drug, right? she said. So that becomes a problem because theyre not fasted appropriately. The American Society of Anesthesiologists is advising doctors to have patients stop these medications for one week prior to surgery to prevent aspiration, but President Dr. Michael Champeau said they arent sure what the right amount of time to fast or stop the drug would be. When we issued this guidance, we issued it on very limited scientific evidence, Champeau said. These kinds of studies on the delay in stomach emptying just havent been done, he said. He said their experts felt that stopping it one week in advance, for people taking it weekly, would be reasonable in the near term. George said she was aware of ongoing studies to try to learn more about this complication. Theres a lot of research underway. I have a feeling that were going to see a lot of publications in the next few years regarding this, she said. Until more is known, George said, people need to be open with all their doctors about taking any drugs. Knight, the gastroparesis patient in Louisiana, said people need to carefully consider the risks. I accepted that the medicine was working for me. I had a major side effect from it that altered my life course. Now I feel like my best option is to try to warn people whenever I can, she said. Nguyen, the Stanford doctor, said patients need to pay attention to the side effects. If you vomit once or twice, that might be normal, but persistent vomiting is not. They should be evaluated. Consider reducing the dose or stopping the medication, she said. If your vomiting is affecting your hydration or you are having to take other medications to treat the side effects of this medication, then I think its time to reconsider. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top Republican in the U.S. Congress said on Tuesday that he could launch an impeachment inquiry into Democratic President Joe Biden, if the administration fails to provide information sought by committees investigating the president and his family. Three committees in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives are investigating unproven allegations of financial misconduct by Biden, his son Hunter Biden and other family members, which the White House has dismissed as "insane conspiracy theories." "What is happening right now are the committees of jurisdiction are continuing to investigate," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters. "If the departments in government ... deny us the ability to get the information we're asking, that would rise to an impeachment inquiry." White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday brushed aside the possibility of an impeachment inquiry. "He's focused on the American family, but they want to focus on his family. They can do whatever it is that they wish to do, but we're going to stay focused," Jean-Pierre said. Members of McCarthy's Republican caucus began raising the idea of impeaching Biden shortly after winning their narrow majority in the November election, and some have called for votes to "expunge" the two impeachments of Republican former President Donald Trump. McCarthy spoke to reporters a day before Hunter Biden was expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges of willfully failing to pay income taxes and to enter into an agreement that could avert a conviction on a gun-related charge. Among other allegations, Republicans claim that the Justice Department intervened to restrain the Hunter Biden probe, though the Trump-appointed prosecutor in that case has said he was not constrained. An investigation involving the House Oversight, Judiciary and Ways & Means committees has intensified since Trump's federal grand jury indictment in June. Story continues House Republicans have sought to defend Trump against allegations of wrongdoing by accusing Biden of "weaponizing" the Justice Department against the leading 2024 Republican White House candidate. PROSECUTOR REBUTS WHISTLEBLOWER Last week, the House Oversight Committee heard testimony from two Internal Revenue Services whistleblowers who said the Justice Department dragged its feet on the Hunter Biden probe and that chief investigator, U.S. Attorney David Weiss, was denied special counsel authority. Weiss, who is expected to testify before Congress later this year, denied Justice Department interference and said he never sought special counsel status in a letter to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Some of the Republican allegations against Biden and his family involve the Ukraine energy company Burisma, which played a key role in Trump's first impeachment in 2019 over his alleged efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens and help him win re-election. A Republican-majority Senate later acquitted Trump. McCarthy cited an FBI report containing claims from an unidentified informant who said Burisma officials sought to pay the Bidens $5 million apiece in 2015 and 2016, in return for their help in forcing out a Ukrainian prosecutor investigating the energy company. Claims of Biden wrongdoing in Ukraine have been contradicted by former Trump insider Lev Parnas, who helped former New York City mayor and one-time Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani try to dig up damaging information about the Bidens in Ukraine. "There is no evidence of Joe or Hunter Biden interfering with Ukrainian politics, and there never has been," Parnas said in a July 18 letter to the House Oversight Committee. Parnas, a Ukrainian-American businessman, is serving out a 20-month sentence under house arrest for defrauding investors in a sham company and making illegal donations to U.S. political candidates on behalf of a Russian oligarch. (Reporting by David Morgan; additional reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Scott Malone and Cynthia Osterman) The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department is investigating after a deputy threw a transgender man to the ground, punched him and held him down as the man called for help. During the encounter, which was caught on recently released surveillance video, the man could be heard telling the deputy that he couldnt breathe and at one point said, Youre going to kill me. Emmett Brock, 24, told NBC News he was driving home from his job as a teacher in February when he passed a deputy who appeared to be having a heated conversation with a woman on the side of the road. Brock said he gave the deputy the middle finger as he drove by, and that a patrol vehicle started following him, but the deputy never turned on the vehicles sirens or lights. Emmett Brock. (Courtesy Emmett Brock) He said the vehicle tailgated him through several blocks of a residential neighborhood, so he called 911 to ask if he was being pulled over even though there were no lights or sirens. I was told if there were no lights and sirens, then I wasnt being pulled over and could continue to where I was going, Brock said. Brock pulled into a 7-Eleven in Whittier, a Los Angeles suburb, and Deputy Joseph Benza parked behind Brocks vehicle, according to video from the stores security cameras that Tom Beck, Brocks attorney, provided to NBC News. Brock exited his vehicle and, as he closed his car door, Benza said, I stopped you, the video shows. Brock responded, No, you didnt, with the knowledge that he had called 911 to check, he said. But then he said the deputys hands were on him, and he immediately panicked and thought, Im going to die. Benza grabbed him, threw him to the ground and then held Brock for three minutes while repeatedly punching him in the head, the video shows. Youre going to kill me, Brock is heard yelling. Youre going to fing kill me. Help! Help! Help! Im not resisting! Brock said hes 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 115 pounds, and he estimated Benza is about 6 feet tall and 180 pounds. Story continues His entire body weight is on top of me, and he flipped me over and threw me on my head, Brock said, adding that his glasses broke immediately. Ive never even been in a fight, Ive never had a speeding ticket, nothing like that. So Ive never been punched before, and to have these full-force blows from behind from this deputy that is so much bigger than me, it was just, theres no way Im getting out of this alive. After the struggle, Benza arrested Brock and put him in the patrol vehicle. Benza said he pulled Brock over because there was an object hanging from his rearview mirror, and it appeared to obstruct the drivers forward view in violation of a California code, according to an arrest report Beck provided to NBC News. Benza wrote in the arrest report that he activated my patrol vehicle overhead lights, which include a fixed forward-facing red lamp, though the overhead lights were not on when Benza pulled into the 7-Eleven parking lot behind Brock, the video shows. Benza wrote that he got out of his car and told Brock he stopped (detained) him, Brock said he didnt, and it appeared he was about to walk away from the car and myself. He added that Brocks rejection of my traffic detention and his apparent intent to distance himself from his vehicle further raised safety concerns. I know from my training and experience that those who possess contraband items inside vehicles commonly attempt to disassociate themselves from their vehicles when law enforcement is present, Benza wrote. Benza added that he feared Brock was going to punch him and that Brock continuously tried to bite him. He said he punched Brock approximately eight times in rapid succession. My punches had their intended effect, Benza wrote, adding that Brock subsequently stopped trying to bite him and wrapped his arms around his own head. Benza did not reply to a request for comment. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said in an emailed statement that it takes all use of force incidents seriously. The Department is investigating the information and allegations brought forward by Mr. Brock and his attorney, the statement said. Unfortunately, we cannot comment any further at this time due to the pending litigation in this matter. Brock was booked at the Norwalk Sheriffs Station, which is part of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, where he said he told staff he is transgender. And the jailer began to just badger me with questions, Brock said, including, So, youre actually a woman? and Do you have a penis? If you dont have a penis, then youre definitely a woman. Im seeing him get angrier and angrier every time I deny that Im a woman, Brock said. He feared the jail would increase his bail if he argued, so he decided to just nod his head and say OK. He added that the gender markers on all of his identity documents say male. The male jail employee then brought in a female employee who told Brock she was going to need to see everything, Brock recalled. So she brought him to a nearby bathroom and he showed her his genitals and explained what surgeries he has had and the effects of testosterone before being placed in a womens holding cell. Im not sure what I could have shown her on my body that would have been enough for them, Brock said. I just felt so demeaned. I felt humiliated. I felt small. Here are these police officers, these sheriffs deputies telling you to do something while youre in their custody, and if you dont want to make it worse for yourself, and you dont want your bail to be higher and you dont want to be stuck there longer, you have to comply with anything they say. You are completely powerless. The sheriffs department did not respond to questions regarding Brocks allegations. Brock said he was booked on three felony charges of mayhem, resisting arrest and obstruction, along with a misdemeanor charge of failure to obey a police officer. He said he lost his teaching job three days later due to the pending charges and is still unemployed. He said his girlfriend and his parents have been supporting him, but that he is also accruing debt. Prosecutors have since decided to pursue two misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and battery on an officer, according to arrest records. Brock said he has anxiety every time he drives his car, because he fears someone from the sheriffs department will know the make and model of his car and pull him over. The arrest also took one of his greatest sources of fulfillment: his job. He worked as a 12th grade English teacher at an alternative school for at-risk youth. That was my self-worth. Thats where I got my fulfillment in life, was helping others, teaching these students and being there for them, he said. So when I lost that I just, that was my happiness, and its been a lot of depression and hopelessness. He said people have asked him if he regrets giving the deputy the middle finger as he drove by, but he said he doesnt. I felt like thats what I could do in that moment to stand up for that woman, he said, adding that the deputy appeared to be harassing the woman. I regret that he reacted so poorly and so angrily and then he beat me for that. But I dont regret expressing my First Amendment right. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The 22-year-old will represent the Netherlands at the Miss Universe contest (Evert Elzinga) For the past decade, Rikkie Kolle has been on a journey that has seen her grow from a little boy in a Dutch harbour city into the Netherlands' latest beauty queen. The 22-year-old's crowning glory came two weeks ago when she was crowned Miss Netherlands at a gala function, becoming the first transgender woman to win the prize. "This is truly my year," said the statuesque brunette, crossing her long fingers in front of a sash with her new title. "To me it's an acknowledgement. To win the title as the first transgender woman after 94 years was a beautiful moment," Kolle told AFP. The organisers of Miss Netherlands said Kolle "has a strong story with a clear mission". She will now represent the Netherlands at the Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador in November, the second-ever transgender woman to participate in the contest after Angela Ponce, who appeared for Spain in 2018. Becoming the first transgender to win Miss Universe was "the big dream", Kolle said, adding: "I am just going to enjoy the experience." - Threats - Kolle, who lives in the southern city of Breda, faced a barrage of negative messages and even death threats on social media after winning. "The reactions in general were positive... but you also get negative reactions. I believe those will blow over," she said, when asked about the threats. "I want to focus on the nice things, and there are plenty," she said. Kolle added: "I've always chosen to go my own way and that's what I believe helped me to become the person I really wanted to be." Kolle said she hoped to be a role model for others, particularly young people from the transgender community. "I think it's very important to be there, that they have someone to inspire them or to refer to because it was more difficult for me when I was a child," she said. - Long and difficult journey - Growing up in the northern harbour city of Den Helder as a boy wasn't easy, said Kolle. Story continues But with the support of her parents, she started with puberty-blocking treatment at the age of 12. When she turned 16, female hormone treatment followed. Kolle said her transition came full circle in January this year when she underwent surgery that "gave me the complete feeling that I was now a woman and it freed me". "I was born little Rik. But little Rik really wanted to be Rikkie," she captioned a photo posted in late January, showing her lying in a hospital bed. It has been a long and difficult journey. "This road will never end. You will always remain a transgender woman but it's getting more normal for me," she said. "My hope is that other people will also realise that this is normal. That we are all just human beings." "We should stop putting ourselves in boxes because I just don't think it's from this era any more. It's just unnecessary," she said. jcp-jhe/ach By all measures, the race for Miami-Dade County sheriff was Freddy Ramirezs to lose. Now political insiders say the contest is wide open. As the county police director running for essentially the same job in the 2024 election, Ramirez, 52, brought high name recognition and substantial television exposure in uniform. He also shared campaign staff with fellow Democrat Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, his boss and the countys leading fund-raiser. READ MORE: Miami-Dade police chief shot himself in the head after fight with wife at Tampa hotel His perceived political starlight evaporated overnight Sunday when news broke that Ramirez had shot himself after an apparent altercation with his wife, Jody, that was alarming enough to draw police to their Tampa convention hotel. Listed as critically injured in a Tampa hospital, Ramirez and his campaign team havent spoken about his future. But privately, talk among potential sheriff contenders and campaign consultants has turned to who Democrats might back instead and how Republicans can capitalize on a reset race. The circumstances are tragic and horrible, said David Custin, a Republican political consultant. Republicans are emboldened. With Ramirezs health uncertain and county officials and police quiet on details about what happened, people from both parties said it was too soon to speculate about the political implications of Sundays events. Privately, they said that speculation was already underway, with discussions and calls about who might run in a contest without Ramirez. County voters abolished the sheriff post in the 1960s, and Miami-Dades mayor oversees the police department run by an appointed director. But a 2018 amendment to the Florida Constitution forced Miami-Dade to join the rest of the counties in the state in electing independent sheriffs. While Levine Cava and other county leaders hold non-partisan posts, sheriff and other state-mandated positions are elected in partisan contests. Ramirez in May filed to run in the Democratic primary for sheriff, three months after he joined the party. Story continues The deadline to recruit someone who may not already be a member of the Democratic Party has passed. Florida law requires primary candidates to be members of their chosen parties at least a year before the qualifying period begins. That window opens in June 2024 for county sheriff, meaning the party books closed on would-be candidates last month. READ MORE: Miami-Dades police director left the GOP and became a Democrat. Is sheriff run next? Who might enter the race? That could leave one talked-about candidate out of reach for Democrats seeking a high-profile replacement for Ramirez. Jorge Colina is a former Miami police chief recruited by both parties for the 2024 race ahead of Ramirezs entry but who declined to run. Colina, like Ramirez, a former Republican, said Tuesday hes an independent. He also declined to speculate whether he might consider running if Ramirez wasnt a candidate. At least for me, its way too soon to even give that consideration, he said. I think the world of Freddy. Im very fond of him. The race already has five candidates, including Ramirez. Rickey Mitchell, a retired county police officer, is the other Democrat. Three are Republicans: Mario Knapp, also a retired county police officer; Ruamen de la Rua, a Miami police officer; and Jaspen Bishop, who shows no campaign finance activity yet and whose background wasnt publicly available. Other would-be candidates were waiting in the wings, too. Joe Martinez, a former Miami-Dade commissioner and retired county officer, planned to run in 2024 before he was arrested on a corruption charge last year and this week sounded like a potential candidate if acquitted. This hurts, Martinez said in a text message after Ramirez was hospitalized. Yes, we would have been opponents in the 24 race for Sheriff, but he was and is still my brother...I will be praying for him and his family. From an expected Ramirez victory to wide open While Ramirez was expecting competition in the sheriff election, political operatives on both sides described him as the clear favorite before Sunday. Its almost like facing an incumbent. Thats the thing, said Alex Rizo, chairman of the county Republican Party and a member of the Florida House. When you look at the Miami-Dade police director and all of the exposure that he had received over the last few years he was extremely public. Fernand Amandi, a Democratic pollster in Miami, said Ramirez not only was the 800-pound gorilla in the sheriff race but also provided a valuable ticket-mate for Levine Cava in a re-election campaign in which she plans to make public safety a top issue. Ramirez was certainly the overwhelming front-runner, Amandi said, and also someone who really protected Mayor Levine Cava on the law-and-order and law-enforcement flank. Amandi called it too early to speculate whats next for Democrats. I think what happens now is that everyone should focus on making sure Director Ramirez recovers as quickly and as best as he can, he said. Let the political questions emerge a different day. Ramirez was reportedly talking Tuesday after at least two surgeries in Tampa. Along with questions about his long-term health and recovery, hes facing state police investigations into his self-inflicted gun wound and the events that led to it. Ramirez apparently saw the political damage ahead after the hotel altercation with his wife and the interaction with Tampa police. He placed calls to Levine Cava and his campaign manager, Christian Ulvert, to talk about what happened and discuss his future, sources said. Levine Cavas office has not released details about the conversation. Rizo said a sheriff election without Ramirez would mean a more competitive contest thats bound to draw formidable Republican candidates. It does change the dynamic, he said of the likelihood of a contest without Ramirez. Its more of what I would call an open race. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26) Malaysia has committed to help the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in improving its halal industry and Islamic banking, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday after meeting the neighboring country's king and prime minister. In a joint press conference with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Marcos said Malaysia has offered to train Philippine personnel and officials on these "increasingly important sectors," as well as on food security. Anwar, in particular, said they aim to ensure that the Halal industry "can penetrate more effectively into the Middle Eastern market." The two countries also resolved to enhance their trade and investment ties as they work towards a post-pandemic recovery. "With Malaysia being one of the leading halal economies in the world, cooperation in this sector would mutually benefit the growth of our respective halal ecosystems," Marcos said. The president added that he and Anwar have agreed to convene the next Philippines-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting "sometime in October" to further discuss bilateral cooperation. Besides sectors earlier mentioned, Marcos said priority areas include transnational crimes, agriculture, education, tourism, culture, sports, and the digital economy. The two leaders also said they talked about matters outside bilateral relations, among which was the Myanmar crisis. "We did touch upon Myanmar to strengthen the five-point consensus of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) but also give some flexibility, room and space for neighboring countries to engage on informal basis without sacrificing the issues of human rights and the treatment of minorities, in particular Rohingyans and other Burmese middle minorities in Myanmar," Anwar said. During the joint briefing, there was no mention of the long-standing Sabah dispute between the Philippines and Malaysia. In March, Marcos said the two countries agreed that their respective foreign affairs chiefs would meet over the matter. It was also not clear if they discussed the 56 Filipinos on death row in Malaysia over the crimes of murder, drug trafficking, and involvement in a 2013 siege. Before his meeting with the prime minister, Marcos had an audience with Malaysia's King Al-Sultan Abdullah and Queen Azizah. Marcos pushed for "mutually beneficial initiatives," especially as the region regains its footing following the COVID-19 pandemic. "We will play a very large part in that transformation. And that transformation is going to strengthen and (be) made more stable by this partnership that we make with each other," he said after meeting with the king. Marcos was accorded a State Welcome Ceremony, including a 21-gun salute, upon his arrival at Malaysia's National Palace Istana Negara. Trevor Reed, the former U.S. Marine who was wrongfully detained in Russia before being released in a prisoner swap, has been injured while fighting in Ukraine, according to a Biden administration official. Reed is expected to make a "full recovery," two sources familiar with the situation told ABC News on Wednesday. He is currently being treated at the Landstuhl Medical Center Army in Germany, according to sources. PHOTO: Former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed, who was convicted in 2019 in Russia and released in exchange for Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, talks with ABC News, July 28, 2022. (ABC News) Reed was hit by shrapnel, which struck him in both legs, one source told ABC News. Reed traveled to Ukraine in November 2022 as a volunteer, with no affiliation with the U.S. government, a source told ABC News. He was hurt after his unit advanced near the key city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian troops have been pushing forward as part of their counteroffensive, one source said. The unit had successfully pushed back Russian forces and recaptured some territory when Reed and others were wounded, one source said. MORE: 'I fought': Trevor Reed speaks out on how he survived nearly 3 years in a Russian prison State Department officials provided assistance to Reed directly after learning he was hurt, ABC News has learned. With the help of a nongovernmental organization, Reed was taken to Germany to receive medical care, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said during a press briefing on Tuesday. Reed "was not engaged in any activities on behalf of the U.S. government," Patel added. White House spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday that he was "not aware" that the U.S. government knew about Reeds plans to fight in Ukraine ahead of time. MORE: Russia-Ukraine live updates: Russian strikes hit Mykolaiv and Odesa, officials say "Other Americans have fought in Ukraine, unfortunately, and they don't have to report their departure or their whereabouts to the United States government. I'm aware of no information that we had," he said. Kirby also said he was unaware of any communication with Russia about Reed since he was injured. Story continues A spokesperson for Reed's family declined to comment. PHOTO: A poster photo of U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Russian prisoner Trevor Reed stands in Lafayette Park near the White House, March 30, 2022, in Washington. D.C. (Patrick Semansky/AP, FILE) Reed was arrested in 2019 when he was visiting his Russian girlfriend, a recent law graduate, in Moscow. He was wrongfully detained for nearly three years. In April 2022, he was freed as part of a prisoner swap between the Biden administration and the Kremlin. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Tuesday that U.S. officials don't believe Reed's decision to fight in Ukraine should impact efforts to free Americans Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich from Russian detention. Whelan, a businessman and former U.S. Marine, has been in custody in Russia since 2018. Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, has been detained since March. MORE: Evan Gershkovich's parents say Biden promised 'to do whatever it takes' to bring their son home "This case is completely separate," Jean-Pierre said. "They are not the same and they are treated entirely differently." Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed those comments during a press availability in Tonga, saying the development "shouldn't have any effect" on efforts to free the two detainees. "My expectation is that even as we're dealing with all sorts of other challenges in our relationship with Russia, we will and we are determined to bring both Evan and Paul home," he said. Blinken said Reed's case "underscores why we continue to call on Americans not to travel to Ukraine and to not fight there." ABC News' Shannon Crawford, Patrick Reevell, Conor Finnegan and Tanya Stukalova contributed to this report. Trevor Reed, American freed from Russia, expected to make full recovery from injuries fighting in Ukraine originally appeared on abcnews.go.com LAPORTE Opening arguments began Tuesday in the murder trial of a former South Bend resident who is accused of fatally shooting her husband and dismembering his body with her children present in 2021. Thessalonica Allen, 36, is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with murder, abuse of a corpse and altering the scene of death, both level 5 felonies. She's also charged with two level 5 felony counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and two level 6 felony counts of neglect of a dependent. LaPorte resident Thessalonica Allen, 36, formerly of South Bend, is charged with murdering and dismembering her husband, Frank Allen. Her trial began July 25, 2023, in LaPorte Circuit Court. Allen shot her husband, Frank Allen, in the couples bedroom while two of her children were home at Maple Tree Apartments, 1405 W. 18th St. on on July 27, 2021, authorities said. Allen said she killed her husband in self-defense, alleging that she fired the shots as he lunged toward her during an argument. Frank Allen was shot in the arm, and the bullet deflected toward his ribs and pierced a lung before coming to rest near his spine, officials said. He was an abusive husband, and a protective order was in effect against Allen at the time of his killing, Thessalonica Allen's attorney told the jury. The Allen family had been living in South Bend when Thessalonica Allen moved to LaPorte to get away from her husband several weeks prior to the shooting, defense attorney Frank Rodriguez said. But Frank Allen moved into the apartment with his wife and children a short time later, the attorney said. She was trying to defend herself, said Rodriquez said of Allen during his opening statements to the jury. However, the killing was premeditated, based on notes Thessalonica Allen had written and police recovered from the residence, La Porte County Deputy Prosecutor Julianne Havens said. The notes outlined Allen's plans to either kill her husband or have him fired from his job or arrested, the prosecutor said. On the day of the shooting, Frank Allen told his wife that he was leaving, but she responded, "you're not leaving; you're not going anywhere," then shot him, Havens said during opening arguments. Story continues She was planning to do it all along, not because she had to. She wanted to, the prosecutor told the jury. The argument stemmed from a social media post Frank Allen found on his wife's computer, Thessalonica Allen's son, Deshawn Addison, 16, reportedly told authorities. A short time after the argument started, Addison heard a gunshot. He went to the bedroom with his sister and saw his stepfather lying on the floor, officials said. Thessalonica Allen then told her children not to call 911, and she made no effort to help her husband as he bled to death, Havens said. Allen then left home to pick up her two other children from daycare and purchased cleaning supplies. Allen then instructed her two older children to help her clean up blood from the apartment, the prosecutor said. Allen later asked the same children to help her drag the body to her vehicle, Havens said, adding that the woman planned to drive the body to South Bend and set the vehicle on fire. However, the body which was in a tote, was too heavy to place into the vehicle, and they dragged it back inside the residence, Havens said. The next day, Allen allegedly purchased an ax that she used to dismember her husband's body, which she hid in a closet. The next day, she reportedly invited the father of her four children to the apartment and asked him to help her put the body in the car. However, the man left the home and called police, Havens said. Police later found Allen in her car outside of a hardware store and took her into custody. She immediately stepped out of her vehicle sobbing, and told officers you guys dont understand. He beats me, police said. The trial is expected to last for about a week. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Trail begins for wife accused of killing, dismembering husband's body Oklahoma tribes have emerged temporarily victorious in another scrap with the states Republican governor Kevin Stitt following the Oklahoma senates override of Stitts vetoes on tribal compact extensions. The Senate voted Monday to override Stitts vetoes on Senate Bill 26 and House Bill 1005, which would extend state-tribal compacts regarding a state-tribe split of revenues from tobacco products sold on tribal lands and motor vehicle registrations, respectively. For many tribes, those compacts were scheduled to lapse at the end of 2023. While the Senates override on House Bill 1005 was the last vote needed to secure the extension on motor vehicle registration compacts, Senate Bill 26 will now return to the Oklahoma House of Representatives for a final override vote. Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. applauded the Senates vote, calling it a great step forward in preserving decades-old compact agreements. The bipartisan supermajority of Senators who voted to extend our tribal-state compacts, overriding the Governors vetosaw this need, and I thank them for their support, Hoskin said in a statement. This vote shows once again that the Governor is isolated in his choice of conflict over cooperation with tribes. Cherokee Nation is ready to continue working with any and all good-faith partners in the state who respect our sovereignty. An extension allows tribes and the state to continue renegotiating those compacts, according to a conference held post-vote by Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat. During the press conference, Treat said the legislature could step in and take over negotiating those compacts if Stitt continues his trend of battling tribes at every turn. I think of this as a probationary period to see if [Gov. Stitt] can act in good faith and get true negotiations going, and then we can reassess next session whether or not we wish to amend that, Treat said during the press conference. The role of the legislature is clear, that we have a role now to approve or disapprove those compacts. If we wish to get more involvedits a little less clean, you would hope you have a central point of negotiation, but if we see that is not fruitful, we reserve the right to be able to change that law. Story continues Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby said in a statement that he looks forward to continuing collaboration on a durable compact agreement thanks to the veto overrides. We appreciate the work of the Oklahoma Senate in successfully overriding these vetoes, Anoatubby said. We embrace legislative participation and remain committed to upholding our cooperative approach, fostering open and honest dialogue. The maneuver marks a decided split between Stitt and the state legislature on how to negotiate with tribes, who Stitt fears will turn Eastern Oklahoma into a reservation, per reporting by the Tulsa World. Since his ascent to office in 2018, Stitt has repeatedly attempted to renegotiate tribal compacts and challenge tribal jurisdiction, creating an often contentious relationship with Oklahomas 39 federally recognized tribes. During his two terms in office, Stitt, himself a Cherokee Nation citizen, has vetoed a vast majority of legislative measures endorsed by the states tribes, including a bill that would allow tribal students to wear regalia at graduation ceremonies. During this latest battle with tribes, Stitt contended that the language used in many of the new tobacco compacts proposed by tribes would undercut non-Native retailers in the 40 percent of the state recognized as an existing Native reservation by the U.S. Supreme Courts landmark McGirt decision in 2020. During a press conference held in June, Stitt said the primary difference in language between his proposed compacts and tribes proposed contracts was where tribal tobacco products could be sold - while Stitt wanted to limit those sales to trust lands, tribes instead wanted products sold on fee lands included as well. These two compacts are almost identicalwe have offered the tribes the exact same financial terms - a 50/50 split of revenues on a one-year extension, Stitt said during the press conference. ...the tribes are pushing for the compact [with a] definition of Indian Country that, after the McGirt decision, has different consequences. It potentially could mean 42 percent of our state, thats why they want that compact signed. About the Author: "Chesley Oxendine (Lumbee-Cheraw) is an Oklahoma-based reporter for Native News Online and its sister publication, Tribal Business News. His journalism has been featured in the Fort Gibson Times, Muskogee Phoenix, Native Oklahoma Magazine, and elsewhere. \r " Contact: ChezOxendine@idonthaveit.com (Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau placed greater emphasis on portfolios such as housing and the Treasury Board in an extensive cabinet shuffle, shoring up his economic bench as his government faces attacks over the rising cost of living. Most Read from Bloomberg Wednesdays remake is expected to be Trudeaus last major change to his cabinet before an election sometime in the next two years. His chief rival, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, has blamed government policy for the skyrocketing prices of food and shelter. While Trudeau left Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne in their roles, he moved Anita Anand from defense to the Treasury Board, where she will be responsible for government administration and the public service. He also shifted Sean Fraser from immigration to housing and infrastructure. Trudeaus Liberal Party is trailing the Conservatives in a number of polls, and voters have given his government poor marks on key economic matters. Among Canadians who believe the housing shortage and the economy are top issues, Poilievres party has a double-digit lead, according to Abacus Data. Speaking to reporters after the shuffle, Trudeau acknowledged that many Canadians are struggling, but insisted his optimistic approach was more effective than Poilievres oft-repeated slogan of everything feels broken. Inflation has come down to 2.8%, lower than many peer countries, and his governments targeted transfers to low-income Canadians are working, he said. We have an incredible economic team, Trudeau said. Were bolstering that economic team with the likes of Jean-Yves Duclos, Sean Fraser, Anita Anand and others that are going to continue to step up and make sure Canadians know that weve got their backs. Story continues Duclos, former head of the economics department at Laval University, moved from health to procurement, where hell manage billions of dollars in contracts annually. Trudeau also created a new position of small business minister and placed cabinet rookie Rechie Valdez in the role. Both Anand and Fraser are seen as effective ministers with strong communication skills, suggesting Trudeau intends to bring a higher profile to two areas where Poilievre has hit him hard. Anand pointed out she was a professor for 25 years with expertise in capital markets and corporate governance, making her well-placed to deliver the governments economic message. The full title for Fraser minister of housing, infrastructure and communities suggests Trudeau intends to increasingly tie federal funding for homebuilding to transit and other infrastructure, a key piece of Poilievres housing promises. Frasers experience in immigration will be crucial on the housing file, given that Trudeaus record-high targets for newcomers have strained the housing supply. A new report from Toronto-Dominion Bank warned that if Canada adds another 1 million people this year, the gap between housing supply and demand would grow to 500,000 units by 2025. Marc Miller, who as Crown-Indigenous relations minister quieted some of the loudest criticisms of Trudeau on reconciliation, will take the reins at immigration. Hell need to deliver the governments message that immigrants are desperately needed to fill labor shortages, especially in health care and home construction. Poilievre said Trudeau had fired much of his cabinet, but should have fired himself. The prime minister is just as out-of-touch as ever, doubling down on his inflationary, high-spending and high-taxing ways, the Tory leader said. The new defense minister will be Bill Blair, the former Toronto police chief who has most recently served as emergency preparedness minister. Blair inherits a number of challenging files, including the war in Ukraine, outdated North American air defense systems and pressure to meet the North Atlantic Treaty Organization commitment of spending 2% of economic output on defense. Blair must also continue Anands work of transforming military culture after several top soldiers were accused of sexual misconduct. Pressed by reporters on whether he was the right choice to lead that shift, Blair said that under his watch the Toronto police became among the most diverse forces in North America. Trudeau also shifted Pablo Rodriguez from heritage to transport, after the previous minister in charge of that role said he wouldnt run again. Pascale St-Onge will take over the heritage file amid the contentious rollout of a new law to require digital giants to compensate news outlets for their content. Other Key Roles Dominic LeBlanc becomes public safety minister Arif Virani becomes justice minister Jonathan Wilkinsons title becomes energy and natural resources minister Ahmed Hussen becomes international development minister Lawrence MacAulay is the new agriculture minister Karina Gould becomes government House leader Marc Holland becomes health minister Gary Anandasangaree becomes Crown-Indigenous relations minister Yaara Saks becomes mental health and addictions minister (Updates with quotes and details throughout.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. A day of fishing in the water off Cape Cod quickly turned into the memory of a lifetime for a family when a trio of whales breached in sync in close view of their boat. Robert Addie shared video of the magnificent display with Boston 25 that showed the massive marine mammals jumping out of the water near Provincetown on July 24. Addie, who was out fishing with his daughters and son-in-law, was rolling at the perfect moment and was able to capture a video of the synchronized aerial ballet. A juvenile whale then followed up the showing with a breach of its own, about 500 yards away from their boat. Addie noted that hes had whales approach and rub his boat, but never anything like this stunning spectacle. Ive been on the water a long time. Ive worked sword and tuna out of Gloucester. I worked fishing in Alaska as a young man and Ive seen a lot of whales, Addie said. Ill tell ya, Ive never seen a triple in sync like that...Every time I take my phone out to take a picture of these guys, they go away. And bang. Just pure luck. Wow, what a sight! Addie described the day on the water with his family as a truly epic moment. It was spectacular. Literally, Ive seen thousands of whales, Addie said. I was stunned by the whales and stunned that I got it on video...Nobody would believe it if we didnt capture it. Philip Hamilton, senior scientist at the New England Aquarium, confirmed that the whales were humpbacks. He said its not uncommon for simultaneous breaching, though three in unison is a bit rarer and pretty cool. Hamilton noted that the whales werent breaching for food, but instead to possibly aid digestion, remove parasites, communicate acoustically, or just have fun. Pod of orcas spotted in rare sighting off Mass. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Former President Trump accused his GOP presidential primary opponent Chris Christie of costing 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney a chance at winning the presidency because of his collaboration with then-President Obama. Trump said in a Truth Social post Tuesday that Christie, who was serving as the governor of New Jersey at the time, was star struck with Obama while they oversaw the states recovery from Hurricane Sandy. The hurricane, which overall caused billions of dollars of damage and killed hundreds inside and out of the United States, made landfall in late October 2012, just before the general election. Christie endorsed Romney for the presidency that year and served as a surrogate for his campaign but praised Obamas efforts to lead the recovery and yielded some criticism for complimenting Romneys political opponent. Trump said this ensured that Romney never had a chance of winning the presidency. Christie said at the time that he still supported Romney and his policies but would compliment Obama if he earned praise through his actions. Trump also attacked Christie over his keynote address at the 2012 Republican National Convention, calling it one of the worst Convention Speeches in History. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage He said Christie did virtually not even mention Romney by name in the speech. Christie mentioned various policy issues and a vision for the country throughout most of the address but but mentioned Romney several times during the middle and end of it. Christie was formerly a close Trump ally and helped prepare him for the debates against President Biden during the 2020 presidential election, but their relationship deteriorated following Trumps efforts to overturn the election results and the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Trump has also repeatedly attacked Romney, who has been a more vocal critic of the former president. Christie has positioned himself in the race for the GOP nomination as a chief opponent of Trump, willing to be more aggressive in attacking the former president than other candidates have been. Trump blamed Christie earlier this month for his appointment of Christopher Wray to be the director of the FBI, alleging that Christie had recommended Wray. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Donald Trump has begged Congress to help save him from his escalating legal troubles as his potential indictment on criminal charges related to January 6 looms. In a video message on Tuesday, the former president pleaded with lawmakers to investigate what he falsely claims is retribution for winning the 2020 election and election interference regarding the 2024 presidential election. Congress, if you will, please investigate the political witch hunts against me currently being brought by the corrupt DOJ and FBI, who are totally out of control, he says. Mr Trump has gone on the attack over the federal grand jury investigation into the January 6 Capitol riot and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. In one of the clearest signs Mr Trump could face federal charges in the case, he said last week that he had received a letter saying he is a target of a grand jury investigation. Court documents revealed on Monday that former New York City Police Department commissioner Bernie Kerik, who collected spurious evidence of alleged voter fraud and manipulation for Mr Trumps campaign, has agreed to turn over hundreds of documents to the DOJ as part of its probe. Key points Trump insists Jan 6 indictment doesnt frighten him Giuliani 2020 election fraud team hands over hundreds of documents to Trump Jan 6 investigation Fulton County DA eyeing criminal solicitation and conspiracy crimes in Trump 2020 election probe Judge sets May 2024 date for Trump classified documents trial Trump demands cameras in courtroom for expected federal case Trump taunts Republican enemies and says Christie hopes as dead as his stomach band Eight search warrants and affidavits filed in Trump documents case, according to unsealed records Profile: Jack Smith, the prosecutor overseeing the federal Trump probes 09:15 , Oliver O'Connell Jack Smith, the experienced war crimes prosecutor who unveiled an unprecedented federal indictment against former US president Donald J Trump, is no stranger to high-profile probes of public figures. Story continues The Department of Justice veteran returned to the US last November after being appointed a special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland. The first mission was to consider, whether any person or entity violated the law in connection with efforts to interfere with the lawful transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election or the certification of the electoral college vote held on or about January 6, 2021. The second, which led to Mr Trump being indicted and arraigned in 37 federal charges, was about whether the former president had violated US laws prohibiting unlawful retention of national defence information and obstruction of justice. It marked the first time in US history that an ex-president let alone one who is a declared candidate in the next presidential election faced criminal charges. Read on... Who is Jack Smith? The ex-war crimes prosecutor who is coming for Trump Ramaswamy slated to headline South Carolina county GOP fundraiser 08:15 , Oliver O'Connell Biotech entrepreneur and Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy is slated to headline a GOP fundraiser in South Carolina as he returns to campaigning in the first-in-the-South primary state. Ramaswamy will be the featured speaker at the third annual Dorchester County GOPs Faith, Family & Freedom Dinner, scheduled for Aug. 19 in Summerville at the Dorchester Shrine Club, county party Chair Steven Wright told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Read on... Ramaswamy slated to headline South Carolina county GOP fundraiser in return to early voting state Profile: Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump 06:45 , Oliver O'Connell Her first day as the chief prosecutor for Fulton County came with news that then-President Donald Trump attempted to pressure Georgias top election officials to reverse his loss in the state during the 2020 presidential election. A phone call between Mr Trump and Georgias Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was published by The Washington Post late at night on 3 January 2021. Hours later, Fani Willis would walk into her first day on the job as Fulton Countys district attorney, an office that is now spearheading a criminal investigation into Mr Trump, with the phone call serving as a central damning piece of evidence against him. Read more... Who is Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump Trump, January 6 and a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election 04:45 , Oliver O'Connell Alex Woodward reports on how a sprawling Justice Department probe into Donald Trump and his allies could result in several criminal charges against the former president. The federal investigation into Trump and January 6, explained Hundreds of documents handed over to January 6 probe by Giuliani election fraud team 03:45 , Oliver O'Connell The former New York City Police Department commissioner who collected spurious evidence of alleged voter fraud and manipulation for Donald Trumps campaign has agreed to turn over hundreds of documents, according to court filings. US Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith had sought those documents as part of a sweeping investigation into the former presidents efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Alex Woodward has the story. Jack Smith receives hundreds of documents from Giuliani team City mayor demands Trump settle $35k bill from 2018 ahead of this weekendd rally 02:45 , Oliver O'Connell A Pennsylvania city mayor has demanded that Donald Trump reimburse a $35,000 bill from 2018 ahead of his planned return for a campaign rally on Saturday. Joe Schember, the mayor of the western Pennsylvania city of Erie, told Erie Times-News that their pleas to seek a bill for Mr Trumps campaign for the rally in October 2018, which attracted a crowd of 12,000 people, have gone unheard nearly for five years. He said they will try to get an advance payment this time as it is taxpayers money being used to fund his rallies. Shweta Sharma reports. City mayor demands Trump settle 2018 bill of $35k ahead of rally DoJ to make prosecutor in Hunter Biden case available to testify before Congress 01:45 , Oliver O'Connell The lead prosecutor in the case against President Joe Bidens son Hunter says he is willing to testify publicly this fall, setting up a clash with House Republicans who have demanded he come in soon for a closed-door interview. In a two-page letter to Rep. Jim Jordan on Monday, the Justice Department offered to make US Attorney David Weiss of Delaware available before the House Judiciary Committee for a public hearing after the August break as Republicans continue to escalate their ongoing investigation into his handling of the probe into Hunter Biden. The Department believes it is strongly in the public interest for the American people and for Congress to hear directly from US Attorney Weiss on these assertions and questions about his authority at a public hearing, Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte wrote to Jordan. Read more... Justice Department to make prosecutor in Hunter Biden case available to testify before Congress Eight search warrants and affidavits filed in Trump documents case, according to unsealed records 01:20 , Josh Marcus The details of eight different search warrants and affidavits were filed in connection with the federal case against former president Donald Trump regarding his handling of classified documents, according to court documents unsealed today. The revelation came as NBC News and other news organisations petitioned to know the contents of the warrant used to search Mr Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida last year. Officials did not disclose the content of the warrants and affidavits. GOPs Hunter Biden gambit jeopardises national security, say House Oversights Democrats Wednesday 26 July 2023 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell Democrats on the House Oversight Committee issued a memo saying that Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Sen Chuck Grassleys (R-IA) release of an unclassified document related to their probe of Hunter Biden jeopardises national security. Mr Grassley released what is called an FD-1023 form, which includes claims that a confidential informant made about President Joe Bidens son Hunters work with Ukrainian energy company Burisma. The informant claimed that they were told by officials at Burisma about their relationships with then-vice president Biden and his son Hunter. But top Republicans admit they cannot verify the claims in the form. But a memo from the Democratic members of the committee characterised the claims, which were memorialised second-hand from Ukrainian Oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky, the owner of Burisma, to the FBI by a confidential source, as coming years after the fact. Eric Garcia reports. House Oversight Committee Democrats call out GOP for jeopardising national security I gave $1 to you and $20 to Biden Tuesday 25 July 2023 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell Republican presidential candidate and North Dakota Gov Doug Burgum is offering $20 gift cards to donors who give $1 to his campaign but some supporters of Joe Biden say they have been funneling the gift card money to the presidents re-election campaign. Kelly Rissman has the story. Biden supporters exploit Republicans $1 cashback campaign pledge Haley leads DeSantis in South Carolina, poll shows Tuesday 25 July 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell Two new polls from Fox Business show that Florida governor Ron DeSantiss numbers in the Republican presidential primary continue to tumble in Iow in South Carolina, where the states former governor Nikki Haley has eclipsed him. Eric Garcia has the details. Nikki Haley leads Ron DeSantis in South Carolina: Fox poll Trump hits out at European plan to charge for visas from 2024... apparently forgetting to US does the same Tuesday 25 July 2023 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell Donald Trump is angered by a plan to introduce a paid visa system in Europe in 2024. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System would cost travellers from outside Europe $8 and last for three years. The former president posted on Truth Social: Wow! U.S. CITIZENS WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A VISA TO TRAVEL TO EUROPE STARTING IN 2024. Think of this. We give them everything, including military protection and trade, and now we have to pay them to go there. NO RESPECT FOR THE UNITED STATES. I WILL, AS PRESIDENT, NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. IT WILL END VERY QUICKLY!!! Visitors from outside the US have for many years had to apply for a similar travel authorisation document to enter the country, an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which lasts for two years and costs $21. ICYMI: Deranged Jack Smith still target of Trumps Truth Social rants Tuesday 25 July 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell Donald Trump lashed out at Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith, US Attorney General Merrick Garland and his own successor President Joe Biden in his latest tirade on Truth Social on Sunday night, where he once again claimed to be the victim of a coordinated HOAX orchestrated by his enemies to rob him of a return to the White House. Mr Trump was informed by Mr Smith last week that he is the target of a grand jury investigation into his role in the deadly Capitol riot of 6 January 2021 and in his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in his favour. Joe Sommerlad reports. Trump lashes out at deranged Jack Smith in nighttime rant about legal woes Trump hits out at politically correct Republican Congress for not yet impeaching Biden Tuesday 25 July 2023 22:20 , Oliver O'Connell Former president Donald Trump has hit out at the politically correct Republican Congress for not yet impeaching President Joe Biden, seeming to encourage them to do so. He wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday afternoon: So, lets get this straight? The Democrat SLIMEBALLS in Congress, then headed by Crazy Nancy Pelosi, Impeached me over a PERFECT PHONE CALL (I Won!), and are now Indicting me over their continuing, illegal, and long running Witch Hunt, but Crooked Joe Biden, who has stolen and extorted millions of dollars, wont be Impeached or Indicted by a very kind, friendly, and politically correct Republican Congress. Gee, that seems very fair to me? MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! Marjorie Taylor Greene addresses conspiracy linking her to Jan 6 pipe bomber Tuesday 25 July 2023 22:10 , Oliver O'Connell Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has taken to social media to address one of many absolutely stupid conspiracy theories linking her to the January 6 pipe bomber. Back on 6 January 2021, authorities identified two pipe bombs in the Washington DC area one each outside of the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee headquarters on Capitol Hill. The devices were discovered just minutes before Donald Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol, prompting concerns that they were planted as a distraction ahead of the chaos. Read on... Marjorie Taylor Greene addresses online conspiracy linking her to Jan 6 pipe bomber Trump complains about cost of investigations against him, claims he is being persecuted Tuesday 25 July 2023 21:55 , Oliver O'Connell Donald Trump has been posting on Truth Social this afternoon attacking his current two favourite targets: Ron DeSantis and Jack Smith. Hinting at the problems of the formers 2024 campaign, he first he wrote: Fox is desperately trying to find a replacement for Ron DeSanctimonious, but only TRUMP, despite a Weaponized Injustice Department, is working. Reminds me of 2016, doesnt it? He then turned his attention to his own legal woes, noting the cost of investigating his alleged crimes before again claiming he was being persecuted. So far this prosecutor, Jack Smith(?), handpicked by Biden, Merrick Garland, and rabid Trump Hater, Lisa Monaco, has spent more than $28 Million TARGETING me. When you add the Mueller Witch Hunt, its over $100 Million. Almost nothing has been spent on Crooked Joe Biden, by far the most corrupt President in the History of the United States. There is no longer Justice in the U.S.A., its all about persecuting your political opponent, me. But we will WIN, and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Trumps fate in hands of judge appointed by him Tuesday 25 July 2023 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell A Florida district judge assigned to oversee Donald Trumps classified documents case is attracting criticism given that it was Mr Trump himself who elevated her to the bench three years ago. Aileen Cannon, a federal judge with the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida overseeing the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice case against Mr Trump, has rejected the disgraced ex-presidents bid to delay his trial until after the 2024 election. Judge Cannon issued an order on 21 July granting the governments request to set a speedy trial date and schedule for pretrial motions, with a start date of 20 May 2024. Joe Sommerlad reports. Aileen Cannon: The judge with Trumps fate in her hands was appointed by him Voices: Marjorie Taylor Greenes cash haul shows she doesnt need the Freedom Caucus Tuesday 25 July 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell Eric Garcia writes: For the most part, Ms Greene has seemed undeterred by her ostracisation and she seems fully confident in her position as a beloved figure. And a major reason for that might be the fact she remains a mega-fundraiser who can vacuum up tons of small-donor contributions from the base. Read on... Marjorie Taylor Greenes cash haul shows she doesnt need the Freedom Caucus They wanted to hang you: CNN host in shock as Pence supports Jan 6 Maga movement Tuesday 25 July 2023 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell A CNN host was seemingly shocked when Mike Pence took a surprising stance by defending Donald Trumps supporters during an interview on Sunday. Dana Bash was caught off guard when Mr Pence defended Mr Trumps supporters, despite the violent storming of the Capitol during the 6 January insurrection in 2021 and calls for his hanging. Maroosha Muzaffar reports. CNN host in shock as Pence supports Jan 6 Maga movement: They wanted to hang you Christie dings Trump over bankrupting three casinos Tuesday 25 July 2023 21:00 , Oliver O'Connell Former New Jersey Governor and 2024 presidential candidate Christ Christie poked fun at his chief rival, former president Donald Trump and his record both in office and in business. He tweeted: Surprised Trump couldnt balance the budget? Im not. This is the same guy that bankrupted 3 casinos 3 different times. Who the hell cant make money running a casino? House always wins! Trump, thats who Surprised Trump couldnt balance the budget? Im not. This is the same guy that bankrupted 3 casinos 3 different times. Who the hell cant make money running a casino? House always wins! Trump, thats who pic.twitter.com/PHWNn3HHjo Chris Christie (@GovChristie) July 25, 2023 DeSantis has already blown 40 per cent of his campaign donations Tuesday 25 July 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell DeSantis lays off one third of his campaign staff Tuesday 25 July 2023 20:15 , Oliver O'Connell Florida Gov Ron DeSantiss presidential campaign laid off a third of its campaign staff as it continues to tighten its belt amid numerous negative news stories and lacklustre fundraising numbers, Politico reported. Eric Garcia reports. DeSantis lays off a third of his campaign staff as presidential bid sputters Earlier: Fulton County DA eyeing criminal solicitation and conspiracy crimes in Trump 2020 election probe Tuesday 25 July 2023 19:55 , Oliver O'Connell The Fulton County investigation of Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia has been weighing several potential statutes under which to charge the former president, The Guardian reports. Among those charges being considered are criminal solicitation to commit election fraud and conspiracy to commit election fraud, as well as solicitation of a public or political officer to fail to perform their duties, and solicitation to destroy, deface or remove ballots, the outlet reports, citing two people briefed on the matter. Identifying a list of potential charges suggests Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis and her team of prosecutors are on course to ask a grand jury to return indictments next month, as expected. Ms Willis is also seeking to charge at least some of the Trump operatives who were involved in accessing voting machines and copying sensitive election data in Coffee County, Georgia, in January 2021 with computer trespass crimes. The charges could be done individually or the possibility still exists that they could be folded into a wider racketeering case, as Alex Woodward reports below: How prosecutors could charge Trump with racketeering in Georgia case Recap: The DeSantis campaign was en route to fundraisers amid a campaign slump when four vehicles in the motorcade crashed Tuesday 25 July 2023 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell The floundering campaign of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was on its way to scramble for more cash all over Tennessee when the journey came to an abrupt stop. The motorcade transporting the governor and presidential candidate was involved in a crash on Tuesday morning, leaving one staffer with a minor injury. The governor was uninjured. Heres everything we know so far... Everything we know about Ron DeSantiss Tennessee car crash Flashback: Why was Trump impeached twice during presidency Tuesday 25 July 2023 19:15 , Oliver O'Connell Joe Sommerlad writes: Just in case you feel tempted to look back on the years 2017 to 2021 through rose-tinted spectacles, here is a refresher on precisely what happened during that angry whirlwind of a presidency, which began with government-by-Twitter and ended with the unprecedented and disgraceful spectacle of a president impeached not once but twice. Read on... Why was Donald Trump impeached twice during his presidency? McCarthy floats Biden impeachment inquiry Tuesday 25 July 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says Republicans may consider an impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden over unproven claims of financial misconduct, as he faces enormous GOP pressure to demonstrate support for Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Read on... House Speaker Kevin McCarthy floats an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden Watch: Rachel Maddow discusses likelihood of conspiracy charge and what it would mean Tuesday 25 July 2023 18:15 , Oliver O'Connell If theres one thing we know about conspiracy charges, its that a person cannot conspire alone. MSNBCs Rachel Maddow discussed with Chuck Rosenberg the likelihood of Donald Trump being charged with conspiracy and what that would mean. "If there's one thing we know about conspiracy charges, it's that a person cannot conspire alone." @maddow sits with Chuck Rosenberg to discuss the likelihood of Trump being charged with conspiracy and what, exactly, that would mean. https://t.co/EEVtKVVlFe pic.twitter.com/C5bGda7LYp MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 25, 2023 Jared Kushners relatives throw maximum donations to Christie campaign Tuesday 25 July 2023 17:45 , Oliver O'Connell Former President Donald Trump shouldnt be expecting any Christmas cards from his son-in-laws family after Jared Kushners relatives made it very clear who they were backing to run the country. Gustaf Kilander has the story. Jared Kushners family members throw maximum donations to Chris Christie campaign Watch: Former Trump staffer recalls redrafting memos for then-president in bombastic language Tuesday 25 July 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell Former Trump Department of Homeland Security official Miles Taylor reveals how he had to draft national security memos at a first-grade reading level so then-president Donald Trump could understand them. "This 50-page memo...is something Trump literally can't read. The man doesn't read." Former Trump DHS Official Miles Taylor reveals how he had to draft national security memos at a first grade reading level so Trump could understand them. https://t.co/mYKXUuvsns pic.twitter.com/j0uJJxtUfs MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) July 25, 2023 Unanswered questions about Trumps looming January 6 indictment Tuesday 25 July 2023 17:15 , Oliver O'Connell Donald Trump is widely expected to be hit with his third indictment of the year this week over his attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 US presidential election and his role in the ensuing Capitol riot of 6 January 2021. Mr Trump took to Truth Social last Tuesday (18 July) to gripe to his followers about receiving a letter from Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith informing him that he is the target of a grand jury investigation, adding to his ever-mounting legal woes at a time when he is attempting to secure the Republican Partys backing to be its candidate for the White House in 2024. The development comes after he was arraigned in New York on 4 April over the alleged misrepresentation of business records to conceal hush money payments during the 2016 campaign and again in Florida on 13 June over the alleged mishandling of classified documents belonging to the US government in the aftermath of his presidency. Mr Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing and, despite these setbacks, his popularity with his supporters remains largely undimmed: he leads the field in the quest for the GOP nomination to challenge Joe Biden and has turned adversity to his advantage by raising campaign funds off the back of his insistence that he is really the victim of political persecution by his enemies and a Justice Department weaponised against him by the Biden administration. Joe Sommerlad reports. Unanswered questions about Trumps looming January 6 indictment Meadows laughed off Trumps claims of election fraud, report says Tuesday 25 July 2023 16:45 , Oliver O'Connell Mark Meadows, former President Donald Trumps final chief of staff, joked about Mr Trumps claims of election fraud shortly after the 2020 election. According to the Washington Post, Mr Meadows sent a text message to a White House lawyer. He wrote that his son, Georgia-based attorney Blake Meadows, had been investigating possible fraud and had come up with a few possible votes cast in dead voters names. The lawyer sent a response, joking that maybe Mr Meadowss son could find the trove of votes Trump would need to win the election, mocking Mr Trumps claims that 5,000 votes were cast by dead people. (The state election board found only four.) Kelly Rissman has the story. Mark Meadows laughed off Trumps election fraud claims to White House attorney CNN reports grand jury not seen at DC courthouse Tuesday 25 July 2023 16:22 , Oliver O'Connell CNNs Paula Reid reports that the grand jury has not b een seen at the federal courthouse in Washington, DC, despite their usual schedule of Tuesdays and Thursdays. They may still meet later today, but she points out that prosecutors may still be working through the documents turned over by former NYPD commissioner Bernie Kerik. TRUMP LATEST: Grand jury that has been hearing evidence in the January 6th investigation has not been seen at the courthouse today per our intrepid @caseyagannon. This grand jury typically meet on Tuesday & Thursdays but that schedule can be amended as needed. pic.twitter.com/iV6k8ICIyX Paula Reid (@PaulaReidCNN) July 25, 2023 Watch: Esper says Trump not fit for office because he doesnt put country first Tuesday 25 July 2023 16:00 , Oliver O'Connell Donald Trumps former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told CNNs Kaitlan Collins: I said that I wouldnt support Donald Trump. I dont think hes fit for office because he puts himself first and I think anybody running for office should put the country first. Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper: "I said that I wouldn't support Donald Trump. I don't think he's fit for office because he puts himself first and I think anybody running for office should put the country first." pic.twitter.com/GkQPE8dEY5 Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) July 21, 2023 Fulton County DA argues against efforts to unseal grand jury report Tuesday 25 July 2023 15:43 , Oliver O'Connell Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis office, fighting effort to unseal special grand jury report on Donald Trump, says it must be for the district attorneys eyes only at least until final charging decisions have been made. JUST IN: DA Willis' office, fighting effort to unseal special grand jury report on Trump, says it must be "for the district attorney's eyes only at least until final charging decisions have been made."https://t.co/T719hIXlJU Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) July 25, 2023 What is an indictment? Donald Trump facing third of 2023 over Capitol riot Tuesday 25 July 2023 15:30 , Oliver O'Connell Donald Trump is widely expected to be indicted for a third time this year after receiving a letter from Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith warning him that he is under investigation by a grand jury over his role in inciting the US Capitol riot of 6 January 2021. What is an indictment and how does a grand jury decide on whether to issue formal charges? What is an indictment? Donald Trump facing third of 2023 over Capitol riot Grand jury assembled at DC courthouse Tuesday 25 July 2023 15:05 , Oliver O'Connell A grand jury was assembling this morning at the federal courthouse in Washington, DC, but that might not necessarily mean today is the day we hear news of a possible third indictment of former president Donald Trump. It could just be another day of hearing evidence. IS TODAY THE DAY? A grand jury is assembling here at the federal courthouse in DC, but we wont know right away if its *the* climactic moment of the Trump election investigation or just another day. Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) July 25, 2023 City mayor demands Trump settle $35k bill from 2018 rally ahead of new event Tuesday 25 July 2023 14:45 , Oliver O'Connell A Pennsylvania city mayor has demanded that Donald Trump reimburse a $35,000 bill from 2018 ahead of his planned return for a campaign rally on Saturday. Joe Schember, the mayor of the western Pennsylvania city of Erie, told Erie Times-News that their pleas to seek a bill for Mr Trumps campaign for the rally in October 2018, which attracted a crowd of 12,000 people, have gone unheard nearly for five years. He said they will try to get an advance payment this time as it is taxpayers money being used to fund his rallies. Shweta Sharma reports. City mayor demands Trump settle 2018 bill of $35k ahead of rally DeSantis in car crash as he heads to Tennessee campaign event Tuesday 25 July 2023 14:30 , Oliver O'Connell Ron DeSantis was in a car crash while on his way to a campaign event in Tennessee. The Florida governor and 2024 presidential candidate was uninjured in the Tuesday morning incident, ABC News reported. Gustaf Kilander has the latest on this developing story. Ron DeSantis in car crash as he heads to Tennessee campaign event Fulton County DA eyeing criminal solicitation and conspiracy crimes in Trump 2020 election probe Tuesday 25 July 2023 14:12 , Oliver O'Connell The Fulton County investigation of Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia has been weighing several potential statutes under which to charge the former president, The Guardian reports. Among those charges being considered are criminal solicitation to commit election fraud and conspiracy to commit election fraud, as well as solicitation of a public or political officer to fail to perform their duties, and solicitation to destroy, deface or remove ballots, the outlet reports, citing two people briefed on the matter. Identifying a list of potential charges suggests Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis and her team of prosecutors are on course to ask a grand jury to return indictments next month, as expected. Ms Willis is also seeking to charge at least some of the Trump operatives who were involved in accessing voting machines and copying sensitive election data in Coffee County, Georgia, in January 2021 with computer trespass crimes. The charges could be done individually or the possibility still exists that they could be folded into a wider racketeering case, as Alex Woodward reports below: How prosecutors could charge Trump with racketeering in Georgia case Giuliani 2020 election fraud team hands over hundreds of documents to Trump Jan 6 investigation Tuesday 25 July 2023 13:45 , Oliver O'Connell The former New York City Police Department commissioner who collected spurious evidence of alleged voter fraud and manipulation for Donald Trumps campaign has agreed to turn over hundreds of documents, according to court filings. Alex Woodward has the details. Jack Smith receives hundreds of documents from Giuliani team Profile: Fani Willis Tuesday 25 July 2023 13:15 , Oliver O'Connell Her first day as the chief prosecutor for Fulton County came with news that then-President Donald Trump attempted to pressure Georgias top election officials to reverse his loss in the state during the 2020 presidential election. A phone call between Mr Trump and Georgias Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was published by The Washington Post late at night on 3 January 2021. Hours later, Fani Willis would walk into her first day on the job as Fulton Countys district attorney, an office that is now spearheading a criminal investigation into Mr Trump, with the phone call serving as a central damning piece of evidence against him. Read more... Who is Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump How might Georgia prosecutors charge Trump with racketeering? Tuesday 25 July 2023 12:45 , Oliver O'Connell The Georgia prosecutor investigating Donald Trumps attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in that state is reportedly weighing a racketeering indictment against the former president and others. Alex Woodward reports. How prosecutors could charge Trump with racketeering in Georgia case DeSantis has already blown 40 per cent of his campaign donations Tuesday 25 July 2023 12:15 , Oliver O'Connell Ron DeSantiss campaign advisers took the rare (and sometimes fatal) step of acknowledging mismanagement of the Florida governors presidential bid this weekend, as reports revealed that he is burning through cash with little to show for it. John Bowden has the story. Ron DeSantis has already blown 40 per cent of his campaign donations Unanswered questions about Trumps looming third indictment Tuesday 25 July 2023 11:45 , Oliver O'Connell Donald Trump is widely expected to be hit with his third indictment of the year this week over his attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 US presidential election and his role in the ensuing Capitol riot of 6 January 2021. Joe Sommerlad looks at what we dont know yet about the potential indictment. Unanswered questions about Trumps looming January 6 indictment Legal woes: The status of all the lawsuits and criminal charges involving Trump Tuesday 25 July 2023 11:15 , Oliver O'Connell Heres what you need to know about all the major investigations and lawsuits against Donald Trump: All the investigations Trump still faces following his second arrest Trump shares QAnon post on Truth Social Tuesday 25 July 2023 10:50 , Rachel Sharp Donald Trump has shared a QAnon post on his Truth Social platform as he continues to lash out at President Joe Biden, special counsel Jack Smith and Attorney General Merrick Garland ahead of his third potential looming criminal indictment. The former president reTruthed a post from a QAnon supporter which showed an image of Mr Trump along with the ominous message: Nothing can stop what is coming. Nothing. Trump shares QAnon post on Truth Social (Truth Social) I gave $1 to you and $20 to Biden Tuesday 25 July 2023 10:30 , Oliver O'Connell Republican presidential candidate and North Dakota Gov Doug Burgum is offering $20 gift cards to donors who give $1 to his campaign but some supporters of Joe Biden say they have been funnelling the gift card money to the presidents re-election campaign. Kelly Rissman has the story of the ruse. Biden supporters exploit Republicans $1 cashback campaign pledge Voices: Is Donald Trump a legal unicorn? Tuesday 25 July 2023 09:45 , Oliver O'Connell Benedict Cosgrove writes: As the legal troubles facing Donald Trump grow, many of us are torn by conflicting responses to the spectacle of a former president facing multiple felony criminal indictments. Yes, were grateful that the most depraved, transparently autocratic president in US history is facing justice. But our satisfaction is tempered by the knowledge that, like any mob boss, Trump sees the indictments as a badge of honor, and countless MAGA die-hards see them that way, too. Read on... Is Donald Trump a legal unicorn? Which presidential candidates have met the criteria to join first RNC debate? Tuesday 25 July 2023 08:45 , Oliver O'Connell Six Republican presidential candidates have met the Republican National Committees (RNC) new criteria to participate in the first GOP debate on 23 August. Ariana Baio reports. The presidential candidates who have so far met criteria to join first RNC debate Haley leads DeSantis in South Carolina, Fox poll shows Tuesday 25 July 2023 07:45 , Oliver O'Connell Eric Garcia has the latest as the home state candidate Nikki Haleuy bests Ron DeSantis for the number two spot behind Donald Trump in South Carolina. Nikki Haley leads Ron DeSantis in South Carolina: Fox poll ICYMI: Jack Smith has contacted Georgia Governor Brian Kemp Tuesday 25 July 2023 06:45 , Oliver O'Connell Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has given insight into the possible scope of special counsel Jack Smiths investigation of Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The Republican governor - who survived a Trump-backed attempt to oust him from office last year - told USA Today on Sunday that Mr Smiths office had contacted him. However, it is unclear what stage Mr Smiths investigation has reached or whether Mr Kemps office had provided, or agreed to provide, evidence or testimony. John Bowden reports. Jack Smith has contacted Brian Kemp over Trumps effort to overturn 2020 election How Trump is gaining an advantage in the battle for delegates Tuesday 25 July 2023 05:45 , Oliver O'Connell Set aside the polls, the fundraising numbers or Donald Trumps name recognition as metrics of his early dominance of the Republican presidential contest. He has what could prove to be the most important advantage in the race: a leg up in winning the delegates needed to clinch the GOP nomination. How Trump is gaining an advantage in the nitty-gritty battle for delegates Nervous GOP candidates turn to New Hampshire in hopes of stopping Trump Tuesday 25 July 2023 04:45 , Oliver O'Connell They acknowledge Donald Trumps dominance, but weary Republicans across New Hampshire even inside the governors office are fighting to stop the former president from winning the first-in-the-nation primary. For now, however, theyre relying on little more than hope and prayers. Nervous Republicans turn to New Hampshire in hopes of stopping Trump The judge with Trumps fate in her hands was appointed by him Tuesday 25 July 2023 03:45 , Oliver O'Connell A Florida district judge assigned to oversee Donald Trumps classified documents case is attracting criticism given that it was Mr Trump himself who elevated her to the bench three years ago. Aileen Cannon, a federal judge with the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida overseeing the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice case against Mr Trump, has rejected the disgraced ex-presidents bid to delay his trial until after the 2024 election. Judge Cannon issued an order on 21 July granting the governments request to set a speedy trial date and schedule for pretrial motions, with a start date of 20 May 2024. Joe Sommerlad reports. Aileen Cannon: The judge with Trumps fate in her hands was appointed by him Explained: Trump, January 6 and a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election Tuesday 25 July 2023 02:45 , Oliver O'Connell Alex Woodward reports on how a sprawling Justice Department probe into Donald Trump and his allies could result in several criminal charges against the former president. The federal investigation into Trump and January 6, explained Voices: Ron DeSantis is caught in a death spiral of his own making Tuesday 25 July 2023 01:45 , Oliver O'Connell Eric Garcia writes: At this point, almost everyone, including his fans, acknowledges Florida Gov Ron DeSantiss presidential campaign has severely underperformed its expectations. He failed to raise more money than former president Donald Trump and his campaign has burned through cash, which has led to him shedding staff. This weekend, two polls from Fox Business offered a double body blow to Mr DeSantis, with one showing that Mr Trump leads the governor by 30 points while Sen Tim Scott (R-SC) is biting at his heels. Even more brutally, a poll in South Carolina shows he now trails the states former Gov Nikki Haley by one point. Read on... Ron DeSantis is caught in a death spiral of his own making DeSantis has already blown 40 per cent of his campaign donations Tuesday 25 July 2023 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell Ron DeSantiss campaign advisers took the rare (and sometimes fatal) step of acknowledging mismanagement of the Florida governors presidential bid this weekend, as reports revealed that he is burning through cash with little to show for it. The Florida governors top staff and advisers were in Utah on Sunday where, according to Politico, they appeared in front of dozens of restless campaign donors who have expressed concern about a return on their investments and the overall trajectory of Mr DeSantiss bid for the White House. John Bowden reports. Ron DeSantis has already blown 40 per cent of his campaign donations Could prosecutors charge Trump with racketeering in Georgia case? Tuesday 25 July 2023 00:00 , Oliver O'Connell Alex Woodward explores the possibility that the Fulton County grand jury could lead to racketeering charges against former president Donald Trump. How prosecutors could charge Trump with racketeering in Georgia case Nervous GOP candidates turn to New Hampshire in hopes of stopping Trump Monday 24 July 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell They acknowledge Donald Trumps dominance, but weary Republicans across New Hampshire even inside the governors office are fighting to stop the former president from winning the first-in-the-nation primary. For now, however, theyre relying on little more than hope and prayers. Nervous Republicans turn to New Hampshire in hopes of stopping Trump Man who beat officer with flagpole during Capitol riot is sentenced Monday 24 July 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell An Arkansas truck driver who beat a police officer with a flagpole attached to an American flag during the US Capitol riot was sentenced Monday to more than four years in prison. Read on... Man who beat officer with flagpole during Capitol riot is sentenced to over 4 years in prison ICYMI: Jack Smith has contacted Georgia Governor Brian Kemp Monday 24 July 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has given insight into the possible scope of special counsel Jack Smiths investigation of Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The Republican governor - who survived a Trump-backed attempt to oust him from office last year - told USA Today on Sunday that Mr Smiths office had contacted him. However, it is unclear what stage Mr Smiths investigation has reached or whether Mr Kemps office had provided, or agreed to provide, evidence or testimony. John Bowden reports. Jack Smith has contacted Brian Kemp over Trumps effort to overturn 2020 election GOPs Hunter Biden gambit jeopardises national security, say House Oversight Democrats Monday 24 July 2023 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell Democrats on the House Oversight Committee issued a memo saying that Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Sen Chuck Grassleys (R-IA) release of an unclassified document related to their probe of Hunter Biden jeopardises national security. Mr Grassley released what is called an FD-1023 form, which includes claims that a confidential informant made about President Joe Bidens son Hunters work with Ukrainian energy company Burisma. The informant claimed that they were told by officials at Burisma about their relationships with then-vice president Biden and his son Hunter. But top Republicans admit they cannot verify the claims in the form. But a memo from the Democratic members of the committee characterised the claims, which were memorialised second-hand from Ukrainian Oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky, the owner of Burisma, to the FBI by a confidential source, as coming years after the fact. Eric Garcia has the latest from Capitol Hill. House Oversight Committee Democrats call out GOP for jeopardising national security How Trump is gaining an advantage in the battle for delegates Monday 24 July 2023 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell Set aside the polls, the fundraising numbers or Donald Trumps name recognition as metrics of his early dominance of the Republican presidential contest. He has what could prove to be the most important advantage in the race: a leg up in winning the delegates needed to clinch the GOP nomination. While the delegate count wont begin taking shape until voting begins next January, Trumps edge in the race to win their votes is years in the making. Read on... How Trump is gaining an advantage in the nitty-gritty battle for delegates Former President Trump says he would put an end to Europe requiring entry fees for U.S. travelers if elected to the White House next year. Wow! U.S. CITIZENS WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A VISA TO TRAVEL TO EUROPE STARTING IN 2024. he posted on Truth Social. Think of this. We give them everything, including military protection and trade, and now we have to pay them to go there. NO RESPECT FOR THE UNITED STATES. I WILL, AS PRESIDENT, NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. IT WILL END VERY QUICKLY!!! he added. Trump did not provide details on how he would put an end to the entry fee. U.S. travelers, along with those from more than 60 other visa-exempt countries, will need to submit an application to the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) starting in 2024 if they plan to visit any of the 30 European countries listed. Any traveler from one of those 60 countries who is not exempt from the entry fee must submit an application for a short-term stay, which it defines as up to 90 days within an 180-day period. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage According to the ETIAS website, applicants would need to provide personal information, such as their name, date of birth, nationality, address, email address, phone number and their parents names. Applicants will also be required to submit information about their current occupation, education level and their travel plans for going to Europe. With a valid ETIAS travel authorization, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, the website states. However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions. The cost of getting an ETIAS authorization is 7 euros, or about $8. When in use, the visa is valid for the short-term stay period. If unused, it is valid for up to three years as long as travel documents, such as a passport, do not expire first. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Tarek Amara TUNIS (Reuters) -The Tunisian coast guard recovered 901 bodies of drowned migrants off its coast from Jan. 1 to July 20 this year, the country's interior minister, Kamel Feki, said on Wednesday, marking an unprecedented number of victims off the country's coasts. The North Africa country is facing a record wave of migration this year and frequent catastrophes of the sinking of boats of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa heading to Italian coasts. Tunisia replaced Libya as the region's main departure point for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East in the hope of a better life in Europe. Feki told parliament that among 901 bodies found were 36 Tunisians and 267 foreigner migrants, while identities of the rest were unknown. Most of the boats carrying migrants depart from the coast of the southern city of Sfax. Thousands of undocumented migrants have flocked to the coastal city of Sfax in recent months with the goal of setting off for Europe in boats run by human traffickers, leading to an unprecedented migration crisis for Tunisia. Some 75,065 boat migrants had reached Italy by July 14 against 31,920 in the same period last year, official data showed. More than half left from Tunisia. The European Union and Tunisia signed in July a "strategic partnership" deal that includes combating human traffickers and tightening sea borders during a sharp increase in boats leaving the North African nation for Europe. (Reporting by Tarek Amara; Editing by Leslie Adler and Diane Craft) Le Margot is now open for lunch and brunch along with dinner. But chef Graham Elliots new French brasserie is still just as busy as ever, so plan ahead to visit the latest restaurant in the empire that includes Marias, Pacific Table, Press Cafe, and Tavern. Some nights are booked up. Some menu items sell out by early evening. So reserve a spot in advance at Tock.com for Le Margot, a new, high-energy French restaurant in a former Blockbuster Video and Corner Bakery location at 3150 S. Hulen St. Executive Felipe Armentas lineup also boasts Towne Grill (similar to the Tavern) in Alliance Town Center, the forthcoming F1 Smokehouse barbecue dining room and Cowboy Prime in Mule Alley. The bar at Le Margot in the Trinlty Commons shopping center in Fort Worth. Handout photo Armenta and Elliot have talked about a visit to New York Citys busy Balthazar and other bistros last year that got them thinking about how to adapt a French restaurant for Fort Worth. I didnt want it to be an old-time French restaurant where nobody talks, Armenta said. Le Margot definitely achieved that. The conversation and volume level rival those at Marias Mexican Cuisine, Armentas South University Drive tribute to his San Angelo family. Elliot, a TV chef and Top Chef judge, described Le Margot as fine dining redefined. Chef Graham Elliot at Le Margot in Fort Worth June 16, 2023. Bud Kennedy/bud@star-telegram.com The menu features oysters, caviar, escargot and entrees such as sole meuniere or scallops. Nightly specials include lobster thermidor, sole almondine or coq au vin. Its all basic, with simple ingredients the kind of place you want to come once a week, Elliot said. Thats new for Fort Worth. The citys two established French restaurants, Paris 7th Restaurant Francais and Saint-Emilion, began as special-occasion choices, although both have upgraded their menus and built a midweek following in that west side neighborhood near the new Crescent Fort worth hotel. Steak au poivre at Le Margot in the Trinity Commons shopping center in Fort Worth. Handout photo Le Margot is perfectly positioned to become a regular stop for the Tanglewood neighborhood. Fort Worth has the appetite, Elliot said. Its not like the Midwest, all steak-and-potatoes, he said. In Fort Worth, we sell tons of sushi [at Pacific Table] and oysters. Story continues Lavender-glazed chicken with sauteed spinach at Le Margot in Fort Worth. Handout photo Le Margot serves solid classics, he said, not stuffy, expensive, with 10 forks people dont know how to use. its open for lunch, brunch and dinner daily; 817-720-9060, lemargottx.com. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26) The Philippine National Police will clarify with Malacanang the issue of 18 high-ranking officials whose courtesy resignations were accepted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. On Wednesday, PNP chief PGen Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the police force has yet to receive a copy of the signed document about the status of the resigned police officials. "Itong mga officers na ito, we are planning really if may mga plan to place them muna sa PHAU (Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit) but after the meeting with the ES (executive secretary), mas maganda, I talked with my directorate for personnel, na tapusin muna yung meeting para yung kung ano yung tono ng courtesy resignation mas klaro ang interpretation namin and mas naayon din yung response namin," Acorda said in a briefing. [Translation: We're planning to see if there's a place for these officers at the PHAU in the meantime, but it would be better after the meeting with the ES. I told my directorate for personnel to finish the meeting first to see how the courtesy resignations will work out so our interpretation would be clear and our response would be appropriate.] The Presidential Communications Office said the president accepted on Tuesday the courtesy resignations of the cops linked to illegal drug activities. Acorda said the PNP will continue to monitor and investigate those who resigned, as well as others that were not acted upon. He assured the public that the cleansing of the ranks will continue. Lawmakers want stiffer action For a number of senators, accepting the resignations is not enough. "The full force of the law should be applied to them to serve as warning to others. Otherwise, we will continue to hear and see this over and over again, said Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva. Senators Koko Pimentel, Jinggoy Estrada, JV Ejercito, Chiz Escudero, and Bong Revilla also said the police officers must be charged accordingly. "Follow the evidence. If good enough for criminal conviction then they should file the cases. Since dismissed na [already], then that is already the end of an admin case," Pimentel added. CNN Philippines Digital team contributed to this report. Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino has often posed with celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Rami Malek. Santiago Felipe/Getty Images Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino posted a picture posing with media personality Paris Hilton. Yaccarino often rubs shoulders with celebrities and previously posted a picture with Miley Cyrus. This latest post appears to be in support of Twitter changing its name to "X." Twitter's new CEO Linda Yaccarino seems to enjoy the company of celebrities and her latest post shows her posing alongside media personality and socialite Paris Hilton. Yaccarino posted a picture on Twitter, now known as "X," on Tuesday where the two are standing against a large portrait of Hilton and both sporting green printed outfits. It's captioned: "We work. We sliv. We X. @ParisHilton." It's unclear where the picture was taken. Sliv is a reference to a slang term created by Hilton that's a portmanteau of slaying and living your best life. What Yaccarino means by "We X," is also not clear but is likely a show of support for Twitter's rebrand. Twitter's owner Elon Musk has discussed his vision to create an "everything app" called X for months, and finally changed the app's name and iconic blue bird logo to a black "X" on Monday. Yaccarino was formerly an advertising executive at media giant NBCUniversal for over a decade and was poached by Musk to become Twitter's CEO in June. She keeps a crew of high-profile friends, posting images alongside celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Rami Malek on her Instagram, which is now private but was previously seen by Insider. Yaccarino recently took a moment away from her responsibilities as CEO to praise an Ed Sheeran concert where he was joined by Eminem to perform a rendition of the rapper's "Lose Yourself." The advertising titan is known for being a trendsetter at work with former employees copying her fashion sense and mannerisms, sources told Fortune. She's often seen wearing colorful suits, framed glasses, and heels, according to Fortune. Read the original article on Business Insider Twitters rebrand to X is well underway. The name and iconic bird logo have been (mostly) stripped from the companys San Francisco headquarters, and an X has replaced the blue bird atop twitter.com. Elon Musk has said the change is about more than just the name. He wants to turn the service formerly known as Twitter into an everything app that also encompasses banking and financial services. But the rebrand could pose significant legal and financial challenges to the company, which has struggled since an advertiser exodus cut the companys ad revenue by more than 50 percent. To start, there are hundreds of companies, including Microsoft and Meta, that own trademarks for variations of X. That could open the door to lawsuits and other legal headaches for Musk. Shubha Ghosh, a law professor at Syracuse University, says that lawsuits are quite common when major companies rebrand and change their names and logos. I'm kind of surprised he picked X because it's not that distinctive, he says. It's problematic in the sense that it's not something you can just suddenly do without anybody noticing and possibly suing. Trademark attorney Josh Gerben told Reuters that he counted almost 900 other companies with trademarks on X. And while not all of them will be able to credibly claim that the company formerly known as Twitter is interfering with their brand, it makes X an easy target. There is about a 100% probability that Twitter/X will be sued by both opportunistic and legitimate plaintiffs over the new name, Gerben tweeted . The company could easily spend tens of millions (if not $100+ million) in legal fees and settlement costs attempting to acquire trademark registrations for X and in dealing with the litigation that is likely to result from the rebrand. For the same reasons, Twitters new X branding could also prove difficult to defend, especially internationally. The chance that @elonmusk will be able to successfully register a trademark for X for all the services he intends to provide, in every country he wants to provide them in, is very low, Gerben wrote. Even if Twitter is able to fend off legal challenges, there are serious business risks to doing away with a brand as globally recognizable as Twitters. Bloomberg reported that some analysts have estimated the name change could wipe out billions of dollars in value from a brand thats already been damaged by Musk. Ari Lightman, a professor of digital media marketing at Carnegie Mellon University, says Twitters problems go far beyond potential legal headaches brought on by its rebrand. There's a lot going on that is diminishing the value, the utility, the uniqueness, that Twitter, now X, has in the space, he says pointing to the rise of Threads and other Twitter competitors. Tweets are synonymous with this idea of blogging, or microblogging, it's going to be very difficult to resocialize a concept with the global population. Two men have been sentenced in Franklin County Common Pleas Court in connection with unrelated fatal shootings while murder charges against two other men have been dropped. Richard Schoonover, 50, of Columbus' West Side, pleaded guilty on Monday to involuntary manslaughter, attempted murder and illegally possessing a gun in connection with the fatal 2022 shooting of 52-year-old Robert Lester in the citys Hilltop neighborhood. In exchange, Franklin County prosecutors dropped murder and other charges. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Brown immediately sentenced Schoonover to 19 years in prison. Around 11:35 p.m. on July 25, 2022, Columbus police responded to the 1900 block of West Broad Street after a report of a shooting in the area. At the scene, there was evidence of a shooting, but no victim. Police soon after found Lester, of the Northeast Side, with gunshot wounds in a vehicle near the intersection of East Livingston and Fairwood avenues. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A woman who was in the vehicle was not injured. In court documents, police said Schoonover pulled up to Lesters car, shouted at the occupants and began firing at them. Schoonover may have attempted to purchase marijuana earlier using a fake $100 bill, police said in court records. Some of the factual issues around intent made this case difficult for both the prosecution and the defense, said Mark Collins, Schoonovers defense attorney. The jointly recommended sentence is a very fair resolution which will allow the victims family to start the healing process. Dublin man sentenced for fatally shooting friend A Dublin man will spend at least a dozen years in prison after taking a plea deal in the Jan. 2 shooting death of his former friend and roommate after an argument at a restaurant on Columbus' Northeast Side. Abdulbasid Ahmed, 20, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Hassan Hassan, 22, of the Northeast Side. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Bill Sperlazza immediately sentenced Ahmed to 12 to 16 years in prison, with credit for 193 days already served in jail, as agreed upon by the prosecution and the defense. Story continues Hassan's father, Ahmed Gure, sat with Abdulbasid Ahmed's father during the hearing and asked Sperlazza for compassion and forgiveness for his son's killer, prosecutors noted. Two counts of murder, tampering with evidence and carrying a concealed weapon were dismissed in exchange for a guilty plea on the involuntary manslaughter charge. Columbus police homicide detectives charged Ahmed with fatally shooting Hassan around 6:55 p.m. Jan. 2 outside Safina World Restaurant, 4431 Cleveland Ave. After an argument inside the restaurant, prosecutors allege Ahmed went outside and got into his SUV. When Hassan came out and began walking away, Ahmed got out and shot him in the back, detectives said. Ahmed said he was afraid that Hassan, who also had a gun, was going to shoot him, prosecutors said. More court news: Former Marine testified he was defending his neighbors. Jury finds him guilty of murder. Charges in two murder cases dropped by prosecutors Two Columbus men previously charged with murder in unrelated cases are no longer facing charges at the request of the Franklin County Prosecutors Office. If new evidence is found or witnesses are located, prosecutors say either man could be reindicted for murder, which has no statute of limitations under Ohio law. Forrest Hayden Smith, 39, of Columbus' South Side, was previously charged with aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and other charges in connection with the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Carlton Stonewall Jackson on Aug. 29, 2019 on the citys Northeast Side. After prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the case, Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook dismissed the case without prejudice against Forrest Smith on June 12. Forrest Smiths defense attorney, Larry Thomas, said Smith feels exonerated. Hes happy that the charges were dismissed because hes always maintained his innocence, Thomas said. Taashan Smith, 26, of Columbus' Northeast Side, was previously charged with one count of murder in connection with the shooting death of 26-year-old Keshawna Ximines on Jan. 30, 2021. The Franklin County Prosecutors Office filed an entry earlier this month to "nolle prosequi" the case against Taashan Smith. Nolle prosequi is a Latin phrase and essentially means the prosecutors will not pursue the case at this time, so the criminal case was terminated. In that entry, First Assistant Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Janet Grubb said, the state of Ohio lacks sufficient evidence with which to support a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. More court news: Columbus man sentenced for killing 14-year-old while messing around with mom's gun Nathaniel Shuda, of The Dispatch, contributed to this report. jlaird@dispatch.com @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Sentencings issued in two separate, unrelated Columbus killings 2F87NJY Two police officers were injured in Manchester yesterday after being stabbed while responding to a road crash. An 18-year-old was arrested shortly after 4pm on suspicion of dangerous driving in South Manchester, police said, after a moped was involved in a collision. While the two officers were responding to this incident, they were approached by another man who attacked them with a knife, Greater Manchester Police said in a statement. The 26-year-old man, who was later arrested, may have been unconnected to the moped crash, the force said. An air ambulance was called to the scene, and one officer required hospital treatment. However, neither is thought to be critically injured. Superintendent Cara Charlesworth said: This was a serious assault on two officers who were simply doing their jobs and trying to keep members of the public safe. Thankfully the injuries inflicted on our officers are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing and I commend them for their bravery in bringing the incident to a swift and safe conclusion without risk to the public. One has required hospital treatment and we wish him a speedy recovery. I can assure you that we are treating this incident with due severity and whilst I am pleased we have a man in custody, this investigation is in its early days and we are working hard to understand the full circumstances. 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. Police vehicles surround a stolen black Porsche Cayenne SUV, with doors open just beneath the Interstate 71 South sign on Interstate 70 near West Mound Street in downtown Columbus following a shootout July 6 between police and three suspects in an armed robbery spree. One suspect was killed and a Columbus police officer was critically wounded. The other two suspects were later arrested and charged in U.S. District Court. Two suspects charged in connection with an armed robbery spree that led to a July 6 shootout with police on Interstate 70 in Columbus pleaded not guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court. Aden Abdullahi Jama, 20, of Reynoldsburg, and Faisal Mohamed Darod, 23, of Columbus, entered not guilty pleas in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in Columbus. The two are charged with aiding and abetting a bank robbery and aiding and abetting the use and carrying of a firearm during a crime of violence. They each face a maximum sentence of life in prison, if convicted. After the shootout in Columbus on July 6 that left a third suspect dead and a Columbus police officer critically wounded, Jama was arrested on July 7 as he tried to board a flight to Turkey at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. U.S. marshals returned Jama to Ohio last week. Investigators said that earlier, Darod had alleged that a third suspect, Abdisamad Ismail, 19, who died in the shootout, put him up to the robbery by holding him at gunpoint. Federal prosecutors initially charged both men with identical charges on July 10, but after a grand jury indicted them last week, the previous cases were consolidated into one, a federal court spokesperson told The Dispatch. Neither suspect physically appeared in court Tuesday; instead, their lawyers entered not-guilty pleas on their behalf. Peter Gill covers immigration, new American communities and religion for The Dispatch in partnership with Report for America. You can support work like his with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America at:bit.ly/3fNsGaZ. pgill@dispatch.com @pitaarji This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Robbery, I-70 shootout suspects plead not guilty in federal court Putin The majority of African nations' leaders have chosen not to attend the upcoming Russia-Africa summit, with 38 out of 55 countries opting not to send their heads of state, The Moscow Times reported on July 25. The summit, intended to showcase Russia's diplomatic push to increase influence on the continent, is taking place amidst a significant boycott: only 17 out of 55 African countries will be represented by their leaders at the event scheduled for July 27-28. Read also: First Stalin, now Putin Russia destroys Odesas historic Transfiguration Cathedral for second time video Yury Ushakov, an assistant to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, stated that an additional 10 African countries will send their prime ministers, and roughly half of the summit participants will be represented by lower-level delegations. Russian Foreign Ministry Special Envoy Oleg Ozerov responded to the boycott saying, "We won't kick up a fuss because, firstly, they might have other pre-planned events requiring the participation of heads of state; and secondly, those who could attend, attended." Read also: They stress me out Lukashenko complains to Putin about Wagners wishes to march on Warsaw Despite the significant no-show, Putin plans to hold personal meetings with each of the African leaders who do attend the summit. He is expected to engage with presidents from Egypt, Mozambique, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Eritrea, the Central African Republic, Libya, Cameroon, Senegal, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Congo. The Kremlin has announced that Putin will deliver a keynote speech at the summit, talking about a "new world order" founded on "multipolarity and equality" among all nations. Read also: Paralyzed Putin did nothing despite knowing of Wagner rebellion in advance Washington Post Putin's recent article on Russia-African relations may be an effort to mitigate the damage to both Russia's standing and his own reputation in Africa, caused by Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed Ukrainian grain alleviate food security risks in a number of African countries. 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 flooded bridge is seen in Cagayan province, Philippines, after a river overflowed due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Doksuri (STRINGER) A powerful storm hit the northern Philippines on Wednesday, toppling trees, knocking out power and dumping heavy rain as thousands sheltered with neighbours or in emergency evacuation centres. Typhoon Doksuri was packing maximum sustained wind speeds of 175 kilometres (109 miles) an hour as it hovered over waters around Fuga Island, off the northern tip of the main island of Luzon, the state weather agency said in its latest update at 0000 GMT. The agency warned of "violent, life-threatening conditions" as severe winds and heavy rain pounded the lightly populated region. Doksuri had been a super typhoon as it swept across the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, but weakened as it neared the Philippines. "The wind and rain were so strong overnight I could not sleep well," Rey Aguinaldo, a retired government official in the coastal municipality of Pasuquin in Ilocos Norte province, told AFP. "When I got up today I saw fallen trees and broken branches outside. We have no electricity." Around 12,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Cagayan province, including 431 in the Babuyan islands, following warnings of three-metre high storm surges, provincial disaster official Ruelie Rapsing told AFP. Fuga is one of the five islands that make up the tiny archipelago. Flooding has also been reported in the coastal municipalities of Lallo, Pamplona and Claveria. Rapsing said some people sheltered with neighbours who had concrete houses, while others were taken to municipal halls. "The roof of the Sanchez Mira municipal hall was blown off," Rapsing said. "The windows of an evacuation centre there also broke so we had to move them to multi-purpose halls back in their villages." There have been no reports of casualties. Doksuri is expected to weaken further as it moves across the South China Sea towards southeastern China. cgm-amj/sco By Karen Lema, Bernard Orr and Yimou Lee MANILA/BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) -At least one person died as powerful typhoon Doksuri lashed the coastline of the northern Philippines with gale-force winds and torrential rain on Wednesday, bursting banks of rivers and leaving thousands without electricity. Rain pounded coastal communities, including isolated villages tucked away in tropical forests. Many people had already been moved to safer areas ahead of the storm, which brought winds of up to 175 kilometres per hour (108 miles per hour). "We're being battered here," Manuel Mamba, governor of the northern corn-growing Cagayan province, told Reuters. The storm, labelled as a super typhoon by China's Meteorological Administration, is nearly 900 km (560 miles) across and is expected to sustain strength as it continues towards Taiwan and the Chinese mainland. China's weather agency has already raised its storm alert to the second-highest tier and the manufacturing hub of Guangdong province has warned of the worst storm in a decade. Doksuri is expected to make landfall in China on Friday, the second typhoon to land in under two weeks after Talim slammed into Guangdong on July 17. Throughout July, record temperatures have caused havoc across the globe, sparking wildfires in the U.S. and the Mediterranean. Scientists say global warming will also make storms wetter, windier and more violent. In the Philippines, at least one person drowned in the province of Rizal, the national disaster agency said. More than 4,000 passengers were stranded at ports across the country after sea travel was suspended, the Philippine coast guard said. WARNINGS The storm's outer rain bands were expected to hit southern Taiwan later on Wednesday, its Central Weather Bureau said. "I come to buy vegetables and meat to prepare for the typhoon, but there's nothing left," local TV network CTS cited Lin, a shopper in the southeast city of Taitung, as saying. Story continues "The shelves are empty, everything is sold out," she said. Taiwanese authorities issued warnings for several counties and cities in the south including the major port city of Kaohsiung. More than 300 people were evacuated in southern and eastern Taiwan as a precaution as Doksuri was expected to bring up to 1 metre (3.3 feet) of rain. Nearly 50 domestic flights and four international flights, as well as many ferry services, were cancelled, while railway services between eastern and southern Taiwan will be suspended from Wednesday evening. Ferry services to the Taiwanese governed islands of Kinmen and Matsu from the Chinese mainland were all halted. Some train services linking densely populated cities such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hangzhou along China's southern and eastern coasts were suspended. Doksuri is expected to move northwest at a speed of 10-15 kph (6-9 mph) and enter the northeastern part of the South China Sea starting Wednesday night until Thursday morning, said China's Meteorological Administration. State-run Guangzhou Daily reported that it could be the strongest typhoon that has landed or seriously affected eastern Guangdong in the past 10 years. China upgraded its emergency response from Level III to Level II, which implies an oncoming typhoon could severely affect the entire country, according to the State Council's national emergency plan for flood control and drought relief. The meteorological agency has urged people to stock up on food, necessities and candles as a precaution. (Reporting by Karen Lema in Manila, Bernard Orr in Beijing and Yimou Lee in Tapei; Additonal reporting by Beijing and Shanghai newsrooms; Additional writing by Ryan Woo in Beijing; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Kim Coghill) The United States on Tuesday announced a new weapons package for Ukraine that includes Black Hornet spy drones that are used for reconnaissance and target identification. File Photo by Lance Cpl. Julien Rodarte/Marine Corps/UPI July 26 (UPI) -- The Biden administration has announced another package of security assistance for Ukraine worth $400 million in weaponry and equipment that includes Black Hornet spy drones. The package was announced Tuesday, and marks the first time the United States will supply Ukraine with the micro drones, which have been used in the theater since Norway and Britain furnished Kyiv with them in a donation unveiled last August. The Norwegian-made micro drones, which weigh a little more than an ounce, are used for reconnaissance and target identification, and are easy to operate and difficult to detect, particularly in urban areas, Norway's Defense Minister has said. The announcement comes a day after Teledyne FLIR Defense, the Norwegian company that makes the Black Hornet drones, said it has won a five-year contract worth nearly $94 million to provide the aerials to the U.S Army. "The Black Hornet 3 gives warfighters up-to-the-minute situational understanding before and while they conduct missions," JihFen Lei, executive vice president and general manager of FLIR Defense, said in a statement. Along with the drones, the package announced Tuesday includes additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, Stinger anti-aircraft systems and ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, as well as armored vehicles and other equipment. The commitment represents the 43 drawdown of equipment from U.S. stockpiles for Ukraine since August of 2021. It also comes a week after the Biden administration unveiled a package worth $1.3 billion for the United States' war-torn alley that will be provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which sees the Pentagon secure the weaponry and training from partners and companies rather than from U.S. stockpiles as with presidential drawdowns. According to a release from the Pentagon, the United States as of Tuesday has committed more than $43 billion to Ukraine since Russia invaded on Feb. 24, 2022. Story continues In his statement announcing his authorization of the drawdown, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pointed to Russia's decision last to withdraw from the U.N.-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative, which saw commercial food and fertilizer leave three key Ukrainian ports, which the Kremlin has continued to attack since. "Russia could end this war at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks against Ukraine's cities and people," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday. "Until it does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for as long as it takes." In his nightly address Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was "grateful" for the package. A former intelligence officer-turned-whistleblower told Congress Wednesday that top government officials have hidden a top-secret program to find and study alien UFOs and that he fears for his life for choosing to speak out. Ive suffered retaliation for my decision, but I am hopeful that my actions will ultimately lead to a positive outcome of increased transparency, Air Force Maj. David Grusch told the House Oversight Committee Wednesday. Grusch claimed that a highly secret program exists to retrieve and reverse-engineer extraterrestrial unidentified flying objects and that Congress has never been briefed on its operations, or even knew of its existence. The former officer was working at the satellite-focused National Reconnaissance Office, or NRO, on a task force created in 2019 to study unmanned aerial phenomenon or UAPs. Im speaking to the facts as Ive been told them, Grusch said. I was informed in the course of my officials duties of a multi-decade UAP crash retrieval and reverse engineering program, to which I was denied access. The retired airmans testimony in front of Congress will likely to inflame suspicion among the growing proportion of Americans who have little trust in government, especially when fascination with extraterrestrial objects is on the rise. In a 2021 Gallup poll, more than 40% of respondents blamed alien spacecraft for at least some of the unidentified incidents in recent years. The Pentagons head of UFO research and analysis has previously denied the existence of an alien exploitation program. Sean Kirkpatrick, who leads the Pentagon All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, told senators in April that there was no credible evidence that any objects being examined by his office were of extraterrestrial origin. The Pentagon did not respond to request for comment about Gruschs alleged conversations with Kirkpatrick, but a Pentagon spokesperson denied claims about a retrieval and reverse engineering program. Story continues To date, [the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office] has not discovered any verifiable information to substantiate claims that any programs regarding the possession or reverse-engineering of extraterrestrial materials have existed in the past or exist currently, spokesperson Sue Gough said. Lawmakers, however, took his allegations about fears for his life seriously. Hes coming forward, in fear of his life, said Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said. If they were really not scared about this information coming out, why would someone be intimidated like that? There would be bipartisan rejection of any attempt to vilify, demonize or engage in other reprisals against our witnesses and people who were telling the truth from their perspective, added Rep. Jaime Raskin, D-Md. Two other former Navy pilots also testified Wednesday about their own interactions with unidentified phenomena while operating U.S. military aircraft. Retired Cdr. David Fravor, formerly head of The Black Aces squadron, and former Lt. Ryan Graves told lawmakers of their own experiences with unidentified objects on their routine flying missions. Fravor had experienced the famous incident in 2004 of a tic tac-shaped object that moved at incredible speeds and directions. Graves, who now heads the Americans for Safe Aerospace, talked about how a black cube in a clear sphere had flown between two F-18s on a routine mission off the coast of Virginia. He also described other spherical shapes that traveled at Mach 2, or twice the speed of sound, while on routine flights. Parts of our government are more aware about UAP than they let on, Graves said. Excessive classification processes keep crucial information hidden. (CNN) Chinas foreign minister Qin Gang was dramatically ousted on Tuesday after a prolonged absence from public view and replaced by his predecessor in a surprising and highly unusual shake-up of the countrys foreign policy leadership. The sudden move, approved by the top decision-making body of Chinas rubber-stamp parliament, comes as mystery has swirled around the fate of Qin, who was last seen in public on June 25. Qin, 57, a career diplomat and trusted aide of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, had only been appointed foreign minister in December after serving as Chinas ambassador to Washington. No reason has yet been given for Qins departure but his predecessor Wang Yi will now step back into the role, authorities confirmed. Wang, who was foreign minister from 2013 to 2022, now serves as director of the foreign affairs arm of the ruling Communist Party, a position which makes him Chinas top diplomat. Chinas National Peoples Congress Standing Committee made the new foreign minister appointment on Tuesday in a meeting that was abruptly announced the day before, in a deviation from typically choreographed procedure. The ouster comes in the middle of a busy and important diplomatic period for China following its emergence from pandemic isolation earlier this year and as Beijing tries to mend strained relationships with international partners. Qin had played a key role in efforts by the US and China to restore communication, including meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on June 18 during the American diplomats visit to Beijing. In his last public appearance, a smiling Qin was seen walking side by side with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, who flew to Beijing to meet with Chinese officials after a short-lived insurrection by the Wagner mercenary group in Russia. Qins disappearance from Chinas foreign affairs schedule had not been fully explained by the ministry, sparking intense speculation in a country known for its political opaqueness. The ministry briefly cited health reasons when he missed a diplomatic gathering earlier this month. But that response was missing from the briefings official transcript posted later on the ministrys website, and when asked the following week a spokesperson said she had no information to provide. His absence also caused apparent disruptions, with Wang Yi already seen stepping back into the role to attend an annual foreign ministers meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Indonesia earlier this month, and again at a key meeting of the BRICS bloc of major developing economies this week in South Africa. Rise and fall By Tuesday evening, Qins profile had been scrubbed from the Foreign Ministry website, with the page where his portrait and welcome message had been earlier in the day replaced with a message saying information being updated. Adding to the intrigue of Qins ouster is his perceived close ties to Xi, who secured a norm-breaking third term in power last autumn with a new leadership team stacked with loyal allies. Qin had a quick rise to the position of foreign minister, and his appointment last year over more experienced candidates caused some surprise among observers of elite Chinese politics, but was widely seen as a sign of Xis trust in the diplomat. Qin Gang was single-handedly pulled up the ranks by Xi. Any problems with him will reflect badly on Xi too implying that Xi failed to choose the right person for the job, Deng Yuwen, a former editor of a Communist Party newspaper who now lives in the US, told CNN earlier this month If anything unusual happened to a senior official, people will wonder if their relations with the top leader have soured or whether it is a sign of political instability, said Deng. Senior Chinese officials have disappeared from public view in the past, only to be revealed months later by the ruling Communist Partys disciplinary watchdog that theyve been detained for investigations. Such sudden disappearances have become a common feature in Xis anti-corruption campaign. Its not clear if there any disciplinary proceedings have been or will be taken against Qin. Such gaps in information are not uncommon within the Chinese political system, which by design lacks transparency into the inner-workings of a party that controls all aspects of government and conducts decision-making behind closed doors. Under Xi, this political opacity has only intensified as the leader cracked down on dissent and concentrated power in his own hands, while expanding Communist Partys grip over the political establishment and society more broadly. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Xi Jinpings foreign minister ousted after month-long unexplained absence from public view" A former Pentagon intelligence official testified Wednesday that he was absolutely certain the government had possession of nonhuman craft. David Grusch, a former Air Force officer, said during a House Oversight Committee hearing that his information was based on interviews with 40 witnesses and that he knew where the material was being held. Grusch added that nonhuman biologics were recovered along with the craft. Who is David Grusch? Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. David Grusch. (Nathan Howard/AP) Grusch initially made the claims last month before adding the information about pilots in a NewsNation interview. He was an intelligence officer for the Air Force and eventually joined the task force looking into unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP, the militarys preferred term for UFOs. He said he became a whistleblower in May 2022 after he received a number of concerning reports that the government was acting with secrecy and without congressional oversight with regard to UAP. A Pentagon spokesperson strenuously denied Gruschs initial claims, saying they have not discovered any verifiable information to substantiate claims that any programs regarding the possession or reverse-engineering of extraterrestrial materials have existed in the past or exist currently. Grusch said he feared for his life and had faced professional and personal consequences from the government for speaking out, noting there was an ongoing whistleblower retaliation investigation into his treatment. He said he believed that the government first became aware of nonhuman technology in the 1930s and that there had been a multi-decade campaign to disenfranchise public interest. The former intelligence officer said he had not seen any nonhuman bodies personally and responded to many questions by stating that he could not discuss details in an open forum but could brief legislators in private. The hearing was the second public congressional panel this year on UAP. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., was a major proponent of the hearing and said that other members of Congress had told him privately about their own UFO experiences. Story continues 'We're saying that there's something our pilots are seeing' Retired Navy Cmdr. David Fravor at the House hearing. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) Other witnesses at the hearing were Ryan Graves, a former Navy pilot who said he encountered numerous unexplained flying objects while flying near Virginia Beach, Va., and David Fravor, another retired Navy pilot who says he encountered UAP near the coast of San Diego. As we convene here, UAP are in our airspace, but they are grossly underreported, Graves said. Sightings are not rare or isolated. The pilots said the movements taken by the observed craft would be impossible with the current known technological limitations. They added that humans would not be able to survive the level of acceleration that occurred and that if the crafts had attacked, they would not have been able to defend themselves or their crew. Graves said that since his initial reporting, hed learned that pilots had similar encounters everywhere the Navy was operating. Fravor, asked about how he rationalized what hed seen, said he wasnt a UFO fanatic, but I will tell you that what we saw with four sets of eyes over a five-minute period, still there's nothing we have nothing close to it. It was amazing to see. I told my buddy I wanted to fly it, but it's just an incredible technology. Former Navy pilot Ryan Graves. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) Graves said that commercial airlines are not taking the threat seriously at all and that pilots are worried their careers will be negatively affected by reporting them, as well as noting the lack of a system for reporting through the Federal Aviation Administration. The pilots added that the military reporting process needs to be streamlined, with Graves saying that, in his personal estimate, only 5% of UAP sightings were reported. Last week at a White House briefing, John Kirby, a retired Navy admiral and the current Pentagon spokesperson, said that UAP have already had an impact on our training ranges. Now, were not saying what they are or what theyre not, Kirby said. Were saying that theres something our pilots are seeing. Were saying it has had an effect on some of our training operations. And so we want to get to the bottom of it. We want to understand it better. Long history of UFO investigations Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence Scott Bray with a video of UAP at a 2022 hearing. (Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock) At a Senate Armed Services hearing in April, the head of the office formed by the Pentagon last year to investigate unexplained phenomena said it had found no credible evidence thus far of extraterrestrial activity, off-world technology or objects that defy the known laws of physics. The interest in UFOs has been bipartisan and active in both chambers of Congress. A group of senators led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer are attempting to include an amendment in the annual defense appropriations bill that would require UFO records to be made public. Last year, Democrats in the House held the first public hearing on the topic in more than 50 years. The military has had an interest in UFOs since at least the 1940s. In 1952, the Air Force set up Project Blue Book, a classified program that counted more than 12,000 UFO sightings over its 17-year existence, with hundreds still unexplained. Then-Rep. Gerald Ford wrote to two fellow congressmen in 1966 to strongly recommend that there be a committee investigation of the UFO phenomena. In 2017, the New York Times published a story about how Democratic former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had pushed for funding to investigate unexplained aerial sightings from 2007 to 2012. Three former defense officials on Wednesday gave explosive testimony at a House hearing on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), warning that the sightings potentially pose national security risks. The witnesses before the House Oversight subcommittee a former Navy pilot, a retired Navy commander and an ex-Air Force intelligence official also stressed that the government has been far too secretive in acknowledging such incidents, prompting calls from lawmakers for the intelligence community to be more forthcoming. If UAP are foreign drones, it is an urgent national security problem. If it is something else, it is an issue for science. In either case, unidentified objects are a concern for flight safety, said Ryan Graves, a former F/A-18 Super Hornet pilot who founded Americans for Safe Aerospace, a non-profit group meant to encourage pilots to report UAP incidents. And all three witnesses replied yes when asked if the UAPs could be collecting reconnaissance information on the United States or probing the countrys capabilities. The hearing seemed to unite lawmakers in a push for answers on a topic that has largely been dismissed by politicians, who for decades have been hesitant to touch on UAPs also known as unidentified flying objects, or UFOs and other extraterrestrial life lest they become a laughingstock. A series of reports from The New York Times beginning in 2017 began to change that. The reports exploring the Pentagons secretive Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program and DOD-documented UAP sightings. Lawmakers also worry that the sightings could be tied to military technology owned by adversaries but unbeknownst to most Americans. UAPs, whatever they be, may pose a serious threat to our military and our civilian aircraft, and that must be understood, said the subpanels ranking member, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.). We should encourage more reporting, not less on UAPs. The more we understand, the safer we will be. Story continues The Pentagon has only given tentative information on UAPs, in 2021 releasing a report which found more than 140 inexplicable encounters. Videos released by the Defense Department have also shown unexplained happenings, including the now famous Tic Tac video, taken in November 2004 on a routine training mission with the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz off the coast of southern California. During the encounter, Navy ships and planes used sensors to track an oval-shaped flying object that resembled a Tic Tac breath mint, with four pilots visually sighting the apparatus that flew at high speed over the water before abruptly disappearing. Former Navy pilot David Fravor, the commander of the mission and the individual who filmed the video, on Wednesday told the committee that the object was far superior to anything that we had at the time, have today or looking to develop in the next 10 years. He added that he found it shocking that the incident was never investigated and said none of his crew were ever questioned. And fellow witness Graves said during the hearing that he had seen UAPs off the Atlantic coast every day for at least a couple years. He said the sightings were not rare or isolated noting that UAP objects have been detected essentially where all Navy operations are being conducted across the world, and were also seen by military aircrews and commercial pilots. But Graves also estimated that only 5 percent of sightings are reported, which he attributed to stigma among pilots who feel it will lead to professional repercussions either through management or through their yearly physical check. But the most explosive testimony of the day came from David Grusch, a former member of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency whose previous allegations on UAPs and the governments efforts to conceal them sparked Wednesdays hearing. Grusch claimed that the Pentagon and other agencies are holding back information about UAPs and hiding a long-running program that is attempting to reverse engineer the objects. Grusch said that he absolutely believes the U.S. government is in possession of non-human technology, adding that he knows the exact locations of that material. He also claimed that he has faced serious reprisals for his statements and had knowledge of those who have been harmed or injured as part of ongoing efforts to cover up extraterrestrial technology. Grusch in the past has claimed that the U.S. government has for decades recovered nonhuman craft with nonhuman species inside. He repeated similar assertions at Wednesdays hearing, though he repeatedly told lawmakers he could not share details in a public setting and that his information was based upon what he had been told by others. Republicans and Democrats now want to get to the bottom of what these incidents mean for U.S. national security. There clearly is a threat to the national security of the United States of America, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) said. As members of Congress, we have a responsibility to maintain oversight and be aware of these activities so that if appropriate we take action. He later told reporters that lawmakers have a responsibility now to move forward aggressively to get to the answers of these questions. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) told reporters that a bipartisan group of lawmakers will seek a closed meeting with the witnesses to discuss confidential information in a sensitive compartmented information facility, or SCIF. And Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said Wednesdays hearing was the first of many on the governments handling of information related to UAPs, which is an issue of government transparency. Im shocked, actually, at just the amount of information that came out because all the roadblocks that we were put up against, he told reporters. I think whats gonna happen now, the floodgates other people are gonna say, You know, Ive got some information, Id like to come swear in, and thats what were going to start doing. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The British Parliament warned that the mercenary organization the Wagner Group could pose a serious threat to the West in a report released Wednesday. A key force in Russias invasion of Ukraine, the group has also worked throughout the Middle East and Africa, often acting on behalf of Moscow, the report said. Even when the Wagner Network has not acted as a direct proxy of the Russian Government, the Kremlin is likely to have benefited from its presence. So long as the Wagner Network survives in some form, we believe that countries may still, despite an apparent failure of Wagner to deliver on their commitments, turn to the network for security reasons, despite the high price: atrocities, corruption and the plunder of natural resources, it states. There are serious national security threats to the UK and its allies of allowing malign PMCs to continue to thrive, not to mention devastating human consequences. Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin turned on Russian military leadership in a short-lived coup last month. After turning his troops from the front lines in Ukraine towards Moscow, Prigozhin struck a deal with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and sent his army there instead. In Belarus, Wagner troops have been reported training the Belarusian military, though it is unclear exactly how strong their numbers are after the mutiny. The group has ended its fighting in Ukraine, which was mostly focused in the east of the country using convict soldiers, many of whom were released from Russian prisons to fight. They may present themselves as a highly trained, professional fighting force but their indiscipline, their excessive violence and their financial motivation mean that the network has functioned like an international criminal mafia, fueling corruption and plundering natural resources, the report says. The Parliament analysis comes in the wake of that mutiny, emphasizing that now more than ever, it is important to diminish the Wagner Groups influence. The report says that the U.K. government has focused most of its effort on countering Wagner in Ukraine, and that ignoring its operations elsewhere in the world is the wrong move. Story continues It is a significant failing to see the Wagner Network primarily through the prism of Europe, not least given its geographic spread and the impact of its activities on UK interests further abroad. It is deeply regrettable that it was not until early 2022 that the Government began to invest greater resource in understanding the Wagner Network, despite Wagner fighters having already conducted military operations in at least seven countries for almost a decade, the report reads. The report urges the British government to declare the Wagner Group a terrorist organization, a move that has been pushed by members of Congress in the U.S. as well, and to better communicate with allies over identities of Wagner members and sanctions. The Wagner Group has repeatedly been targeted by U.S. sanctions, including additional sanctions on the groups African activity last month. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The News Ukraines tech sector is booming 1.5 years into its war against Russia. The war conditions have proven to be a valuable testing site for domestic and foreign technology. Weve curated reporting and analysis on how war has bolstered technological developments and what that means for post-war Ukraine. Insights The Ukraine-NATO Council held its second meeting on 26 July, condemning Russias unilateral withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and its recent missile strikes on Odesa, Mykolaiv and other Ukrainian port cities, including the Danube port of Reni. Source: NATO statement Quote: "Allies and Ukraine strongly condemned Russias decision to withdraw from the Black Sea grain deal and its deliberate attempts to stop Ukraines agricultural exports on which hundreds of millions of people worldwide depend. They also condemned Russias recent missile attacks on Odesa, Mykolaiv, and other port cities, including Moscows cynical drone attack on the Ukrainian grain storage facility in the Danube port city of Reni, very close to the Romanian border." Details: Allies also noted that Russias new warning area in the Black Sea, within Bulgarias exclusive economic zone, "has created new risks for miscalculation and escalation, as well as serious impediments to freedom of navigation". Allies welcomed Turkiyes continued efforts to revitalise the grain deal and the efforts of Bulgaria, Romania and other Allies "to enable the continued export of Ukrainian grain by land and sea". NATO and Allies confirmed that they will step up surveillance and reconnaissance in the Black Sea region, including with maritime patrol aircraft and drones. Background: Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! (Reuters) -Ukraine's allies have committed to allocating $244 million and providing special equipment for the purpose of humanitarian mine clearance, First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on Tuesday. "Our task is not only to demine the entire territory in order to save people's lives, but also to speed up this process," Svyrydenko, who is also economy minister, said in a statement on the government's website. "This is a question of economic recovery, because the sooner we return potentially mined lands to circulation, the faster business will develop on them," she said. She said the donors included the United States, European Union, Japan, Germany, Britain, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, Austria, Switzerland, Korea and the Howard Buffett Foundation. Russia's full-scale invasion, launched in February 2022, has left swathes of Ukraine strewn with mines and dangerous war detritus. The U.S. State Department estimated in early December that some 160,000 square kilometres (62,000 square miles) of Ukrainian land needed to be checked for explosives hazards. That is nearly half the size of Germany. Humanitarian demining, according to the United Nations, refers to clearing "land so that civilians can return to their homes and their everyday routines without the threat of explosive hazards." Svyrydenko said Ukraine would receive by the end of the year 10 demining machines from Croatia's DOK-ING engineering firm and another 10 from the Swiss-based Global Clearance Solutions. International partners have also committed to supplying hundreds of metal detectors and pyrotechnic machines, as well as individual demining kits and gear. There were also agreements with DOK-ING and the Danish HYDREMA machinery firm regarding locating production in Ukraine. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Stephen Coates, Tom Balmforth and Toby Chopra) Ukrainian forces are intensifying efforts to retake territory on the front lines, increasing attacks and committing additional soldiers to the battlefield, three Defense Department officials said Wednesday. Kyiv is beginning to send thousands of well-trained reinforcements, which it had previously held in reserve during the beginning stages of the counteroffensive, to the front lines, said one of the DOD officials, all of whom were granted anonymity to discuss a developing situation. Reports from the battlefield also indicated that Ukraine had launched a major new attack in the southeast of the country. Ukrainian forces attacked south of the town of Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region, deploying three battalions reinforced with tanks, Russias Defense Ministry said Wednesday. One of Ukraines goals is to reach the Sea of Azov, about 60 miles south of Orikhiv, cutting off Russian forces between the south and east of the country, said the first DOD official. The New York Times first reported that Ukraine had begun the main thrust of its counteroffensive. National security adviser Jake Sullivan spoke by phone on Wednesday with Andriy Yermak, head of the office of the president of Ukraine, according to a readout from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office. The two discussed the situation on the ground and measures taken by the defense forces to liberate Ukrainian lands from the Russian invaders. The push this week may be the start of the first real breakthrough for Ukrainian forces so far in the counteroffensive. Kyivs soldiers have struggled to move through dense minefields and fortified Russian positions while coming under heavy fire from artillery and aircraft. But Russia has retaliated with a barrage of new airstrikes this week, including on Wednesday, when a Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson warned that a new volley of missiles had been fired toward western Ukraine and the capital of Kyiv. The latest attacks included the powerful hypersonic Kinzhal missile, which can travel at least five times the speed of sound. Story continues Top Pentagon officials have in recent weeks described Ukraines strategy as holding its best-trained forces in reserve while probing enemy lines for weak spots. Many of the units Ukraine has held in reserve have been trained by the West on advanced maneuver tactics, and equipped with well-armored Western fighting vehicles and personnel carriers. Those officials have also acknowledged that the counteroffensive is going slower than some had hoped, but said Kyiv was biding its time. This offensive will be slow, it'll be difficult, and it'll come at a high cost. This battle continues as the Ukrainians fight through dense minefields and obstacles while a robust Ukrainian reserve force lies in wait to be committed at the optimal time and place of Ukrainian choosing, Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Mark Milley told reporters last week. Colin Kahl, who recently departed as the Pentagons top policy official, described the Ukrainians as deliberately probing for weak spots across the east and south of the country. The real test will be when they identify weak spots or create weak spots and generate a breach, how rapidly they're able to exploit that with the combat power that they have in reserve, and how rapidly the Russians will be able to respond, Kahl said during a July 7 briefing with reporters. Paul McLeary contributed to this report. CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated the location of a new Ukrainian attack. Its taking place south of the town of Orikhiv. Ukraine is pushing closer to Bakhmut. On the 517th day of Russias all-out war on Ukraine, the area surrounding the destroyed city of Bakhmut remains one of the most hotly contested places on the battlefield. Ukrainian and Russian sources alike are reporting continued Ukrainian gains around that embattled coal-mining city in Donetsk Oblast, especially toward the south. https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1683858274393653248 Russian forces have retreated from their positions in Andriivka to the south of Bakhmut following a Ukrainian offensive operation, General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces spokesperson Andrii Kovalov said during a briefing Tuesday, according to the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine is conducting offensive operations both north and south of the city of Bakhmut, in Donetsk Oblast. Andriivka is about 4.5 miles south of the outskirts of Bakhmut. The Russian Grey Zone Telegram channel, meanwhile, acknowledged that Ukrainian forces have captured the high ground surrounding Klischiivka, a little less than two miles south of Andriivka. Fighting in towns surrounding Bakhmut remains fierce. (Google Earth image) Russian artillery is firing on that tiny hamlet, which itself is currently gradually moving into a gray zone, Grey Zone reported. The location of the heights near the settlement allows the enemy to have an advantage in conducting surveillance, as well as work on adjusting artillery fire directly on Klischiivka and reserves in the rear, who are trying to come to the aid of our soldiers holding the settlement and its surroundings. Bakhmut fell into Russian hands on May 21 after a long battle with heavy casualties on both sides. Continued fighting around that city comes as Ukraine is pushing its counteroffensive slowly through Zaporizhzhia Oblast and elsewhere in the Donbas, while Russian forces appear to be pushing toward the Oskil River, near Kupiansk, as we reported yesterday. The Ukrainians have been making slow and steady progress along the east and in the south, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told The War Zone Tuesday when asked about how the U.S. military assesses a Russian advance near Kupiansk. But in terms of their operations and where Russians are positioning their forces, I will let the Ukrainians speak to how they plan to respond. Story continues The Ukrainians say that so far, theyve been able to hold off the Russian advance while making incremental gains in the counteroffensive. We will continue to follow this closely and provide updates as warranted. Before we head into the latest news from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here. The Latest The Pentagon on Tuesday announced the 43rd Presidential Drawdown Authority military aid package for Ukraine. Valued at up to $400 million, it includes 32 more Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers - bringing the total promised to Ukraine to 189 - as well as additional munitions for air defense systems, artillery and the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS. In addition, the capabilities in this package include: Additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS); Stinger anti-aircraft systems; 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds; 120mm and 60mm mortar rounds; Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles; Javelin and other anti-armor systems and rockets; Hornet Unmanned Aerial Systems; Hydra-70 aircraft rockets; Tactical air navigation systems; Demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing; Over 28 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades; Night vision devices and thermal imagery systems; and Spare parts, training munitions, and other field equipment. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1680052445873831937 Aerial and surface drones have played a huge role in this war and more images and video are emerging of uncrewed ground vehicles (UGV) on the battlefield as well. Below you can see a Ukrainian UGV which remotely distributes powerful MON-200 directional fragmentation anti-personnel landmines. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1683643725224747008 But artillery remains a mainstay for both sides. Like these Ukrainian 2S7 Pion self-propelled 203mm cannon, which both sides possess and use against each other. https://twitter.com/front_ukrainian/status/1683908519932592130?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A And you can watch this Ukrainian M-777 155mm howitzer crew pump rounds toward Russians in rapid fashion. https://twitter.com/osinttechnical/status/1683662658539487235?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A More visual evidence is emerging that the Bradley Fighting Vehicles donated to Ukraine are living up to their promise as tank-busting troop transports providing a great deal of survivability. The video below shows one battle-damaged Brad that saved its crew. https://twitter.com/gloooud/status/1683810329468317696?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A Given the importance of air defense systems, Ukraine and Russia alike have them on top of their target lists. In the video below, you can see a Russian 9K35 Strela-10 air defense system, mounted on an MT-LB tracked carrier, struck by Ukrainian forces. https://twitter.com/ukikaski/status/1683766985308471296?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A And finally, we've seen a lot of innovation from the Ukrainians on the battlefield. But now it appears they are bringing those skills indoors. A restaurant has apparently turned a cluster munition dispenser into a coat rack. https://twitter.com/mjluxmoore/status/1683871765234163717?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 Ukrainian BM-21 MLRS Roughly two months on from the start of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the south and east of the country, it appears that the long-awaited main thrust of that operation may now be happening. That, at least, is the conclusion of two unnamed Pentagon officials, speaking to The New York Times today. Those officials said that the main thrust was focusing in an area in the southeast of Ukraine and involved thousands of reinforcements. Notably, it seems that a significant quantity of these reinforcements were trained in Western countries and therefore represent more capable troops, held back for just this eventuality. https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1684290119895752705?s=20 While details of new developments in the counteroffensive remain understandably murky, at least for now, it is noteworthy that the comments from the Pentagon officials also broadly tally with recent accounts from Russian officials. Already, the Russian Ministry of Defense has spoken of a massive assault and fierce battles south of Orikhiv, a Ukrainian-held town roughly 60 miles north of the Sea of Azov. According to Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official in southern Ukraine, the assault in question involved Western-trained Ukrainian troops who were equipped with around 100 armored vehicles, including German-made Leopard 2 main battle tanks and U.S.-made M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. It had also long been expected that the full weight of the counteroffensive would involve larger quantities of advanced Western-supplied armor, with the hope that the qualitative advantage would give Ukraine the edge it needs to unseat Russian forces. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1683904109827481600?s=20 All that being said, caution is needed when it comes to definitively understand exactly what is or isn't going on across the battlefield. Deliberate feints designed to sow confusion or misdirect Russian resources, as well as just enhancing forces in key areas where tactical opportunities present themselves could also be at play. Story continues Before we head into the latest news from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here. The Latest A man has been sentenced to 22 years in jail for blowing up a portion of railway in Russias western Bryansk region last summer. The Russian-Ukrainian citizen, Sergei Belavin, received his sentence in a Moscow military court, Reuters reports, citing a story from Russias state-run TASS news agency. https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1684137859177934849?s=20 Belavin is said to have confessed to the crimes, which the court said were conducted at the behest of Ukrainian military intelligence, and he was convicted of terrorism and other charges. According to state prosecutors, Belavin entered Russia last summer and, on July 9, 2022, placed an explosive device on a stretch of railway near Russias border with Ukraine and Belarus. The blast damaged a passing freight train and the track and disrupted services there for 10 hours. Nobody was injured. https://twitter.com/RFERL/status/1684183030389432323?s=20 There has been a string of attacks on infrastructure within Russia and in Russian-controlled territory since the start of the Kremlins full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as well as assassinations. Kyiv has refused to comment on most of these attacks and has formally denied being behind them, at least in most cases. In another Russian region bordering Ukraine, Belgorod oblast, local authorities have reported recent Ukrainian shelling. While the claims have not been independently verified, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the region, said that several settlements on the Russian side of the border had been hit, but that there were no casualties. The settlement of Murom was said to have briefly lost power as a result of the shelling. https://twitter.com/IntelCrab/status/1683473276255756292?s=20 Ukraine has announced plans to spend over $1 billion on domestic drone manufacturing this year, in its latest effort to field uncrewed systems of the kind that have made a significant impact in the conflict, both on the battlefield and also at sea. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said yesterday that the government plans to invest 40 billion hryvnia ($1.08 billion) into the production of homegrown drone systems, although details of specific systems were not provided. https://twitter.com/GlasnostGone/status/1684188121607426048?s=20 Shmyhals announcement came as he met with Ukrainian drone manufacturers on Tuesday. He said: A year ago, through President Volodymyr Zelenskys UNITED24 initiative, we raised more than 4 billion hryvnia to invest in Ukrainian drone manufacturers. At that time, there were less than a dozen of them. Today, there are more than 40 companies that have contracts with the state, and the production of UAVs has increased tenfold. He added: The video of Ukrainian drones destroying Russian weaponry is the best result and evidence of our joint efforts with Ukrainian manufacturers. I thank everyone who brings our victory closer. A drone, more particularly, the first-person video (FPV) type that is now a prized weapon for Ukraine on the battlefield, is at the center of the scene below, geo-located to Donetsk oblast. This apparently recent video shows the final moments of a Russian T-80BV main battle tank, moving at speed along a treeline, before being engaged by an explosives-laden FPV drone. The tank appears to have some kind of ad-hoc protection on the turret, likely a cope cage to counter loitering munitions and drones. In this case, its not enough, as the detonation of the tanks own ammunition then obliterates it almost entirely. https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1684177628583055361?s=20 In the next video, the target of the FPV drone is of a very different kind, namely a Russian cargo van, identified as a GAZ-330232, also in Donetsk oblast. Although the video is cut short, the end result was likely similarly catastrophic for the vehicle in question. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1684093232144084992?s=20 And more drones are apparently soon headed to the battlefield, with the announcement from Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov today that 1,700 drones will be sent to the front line to support the counteroffensive. Among them are strike and reconnaissance copters, Fedorov said, in a statement on Twitter. Intriguingly, he also said that These drones are equipped with AI that will help to effectively recognize and then destroy targets. https://twitter.com/FedorovMykhailo/status/1684221311696900096?s=20 Belarus, Russias close ally in the war on Ukraine, has been hit with a new European Union ban on the transfer of military equipment and aircraft spares. The tighter export restrictions from the EU were announced today as part of an expansion of existing sanctions. The move was revealed in a social media post from the Spanish government, with Spain currently holding the EUs rotating chairmanship. https://twitter.com/Hajun_BY/status/1684161545541124097?s=20 The new sanctions were said to be in response to the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Lithuanias EU ambassador, Arnoldas Pranckevicius, confirmed in a social media post that the embargo covered dual-use battlefield and aviation goods and that is also included a blacklist of specific individuals. https://twitter.com/APranckevicius/status/1684157724601225217?s=20 At this point, the export restrictions are not yet finalized but will come into effect by the end of the week, providing none of the 27 EU member states have any objections. Meanwhile, on the battlefield, TASS reports an advance by Russian forces near Serhiivka in Luhansk oblast, close to the border with Kharkiv oblast. https://twitter.com/Maks_NAFO_FELLA/status/1684086010513063938?s=20 According to Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, The advance amounted to 3 kilometers [1.8 miles] along the front and 2.7 kilometers [1.6 miles] in the depth of the enemys defense. Elsewhere on the battlefield, Russias state-run Interfax agency reports that Russian forces claim to have struck at a Ukrainian fuel warehouse and training center in Donetsk overnight. These claims have not been independently verified. Interfax quoted spokesperson Vadim Astafyev saying: The groups missile units delivered three strikes with volleys of Tornado-S multiple launch rocket systems at the accumulation of manpower and firepower of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, the fuel depot of the 77th Separate Assault Brigade in Druzhkivka, and the personnel training center of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kostyantynivka. Meanwhile, Suspilne, Ukraines state broadcaster, reports that the Russian Armed Forces shelled six communities in Sumy oblast during the night and morning of July 26. Ukraine, too, has announced advances against Russian forces, this time in part of the south of the country. According to Andriy Kovaliov, a spokesperson for the Armed Forces General Staff, Ukrainian forces had made progress in the direction of the southeastern village of Staromayorske. This is close to the chain of settlements that were recaptured by Ukraine last month in the Donetsk region, as part of the ongoing counteroffensive. Kovaliov said that, despite concerted Russian resistance, the Ukrainian troops were reinforcing the positions they had taken. https://twitter.com/NationalIndNews/status/1684277531166269450?s=20 https://twitter.com/SarahAshtonLV/status/1684289047101943808?s=20 Battles continue near Staromayorske, our defenders have successes, they were gaining a foothold on the reached frontiers, Hanna Maliar, Ukraine deputy minister of defense said today. Maliar added that there was currently fierce fighting underway near the villages of Klishchiivka, Kurdyumivka, and Andriivka on the southern flank of Bakhmut, the city that was the scene of an enormously costly months-long battle before finally falling to the Russians. https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1684128716081733632?s=20 https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1684018415017553920?s=20 Moscow continues to look for ways to address the problem of replenishing its troop numbers in Ukraine. The latest measure will increase the maximum age limit to 30 for compulsory military service. Previously, the upper age limit was 27. Compulsory military service lasts for 12 months. The measure was approved by Russias lower house of parliament yesterday and is widely seen as a more popular initiative than introducing another mass mobilization, such as the one that was controversially introduced in September last year. https://twitter.com/France24_en/status/1684268114522017793?s=20 Relations between Russia and Moldova which borders Ukraine appear to be deteriorating further, with reports that Moldova will reduce the number of diplomatic staff Russia has in the country. The move was reported by TASS, which quoted the head of the Russian diplomatic mission in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau. https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1684131501594513408?s=20 Moldova appears to have taken the decision after media reports that the Russian Embassy in Chisinau had significant quantities of satellite equipment on its roof, potentially for espionage. In response, Moldova summoned Russian diplomats on Tuesday. Russian officials criticized the decision, saying it undermined the possibility of dialogue between the countries. In an attempt to curry favor with its Western sponsors, Chisinau has redoubled its Russophobic efforts, said Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry. https://twitter.com/tassagency_en/status/1684182623520796673?s=20 Relations between Russia and Moldova have been sour ever since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Complicating the matter is the presence of around 1,500 Russian troops in Transnistria, a separatist pro-Russian region of Moldova, sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine. The potential for further hostilities here is something The War Zone has explored in the past. The enduring menace of landmines is something that we have mentioned many times in the past in our daily updates on the war in Ukraine, but there is now a new initiative that should help deal with them. Kyivs allies have pledged $244 million for humanitarian de-mining efforts, according to Ukraines First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. These funds will be in addition to specialist mine-clearance equipment that will be supplied. Our task is not only to de-mine the entire territory in order to save peoples lives, but also to speed up this process, Svyrydenko, who is also economy minister, said in a statement on the governments website. https://twitter.com/gwnott/status/1684109580748431360?s=20 This is a question of economic recovery, because the sooner we return potentially mined lands to circulation, the faster business will develop on them. In particular, large swathes of the country were heavily mined by Russian forces during their initial full-scale invasion in early 2022. According to an estimate from the U.S. State Department last December, around 62,000 square miles of Ukrainian territory need to be checked for mines and other explosive hazards an area approximately half the size of Germany. One notable area that seems to be affected by landmines is around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europes largest, which is in a part of eastern Ukraine occupied by Russian forces. Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which serves as the United Nations atomic watchdog, saw some mines located in a buffer zone between the sites internal and external perimeter barriers, according to a statement from Rafael Grossi, the chief of the agency. These were said to be anti-personnel mines, although the number involved was not disclosed. https://twitter.com/BeijingEvening/status/1683802005817692165?s=20 The mines in question were in restricted areas that operating plant personnel cannot access, Grossi said. However, an initial assessment from the IAEA concluded that detonation of one or more of the mines should not affect the sites nuclear safety and security systems. Russia and North Korea have announced plans for enhanced defense cooperation, although details of how this might manifest itself are unclear for now. The Russian Minister of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, held talks today with his North Korean counterpart in Pyongyang. I am convinced that todays talks will contribute to strengthening cooperation between our defense departments, Shoigu said, according to a Reuters report quoting the Russia Ministry of Defense. According to a report from Bloomberg, Shoigus visit to North Korea was primarily concerned with securing 152-mm artillery shells, produced by Pyongyang and badly needed to replenish Russian Armed Forces stocks. https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1683906270946787336?s=20 Finally, we are seeing American submunitions from cluster shells appear on the battlefield after their first week or so of use. Unexploded submunititons were one of the greatest concerns with sending these weapons to Ukraine and about cluster munitions in general, which has led many countries to banning them. Still, both Ukraine and the U.S. believe the threat they post after deployment to friendly forces and civilians is far outweighed by the advantages they can bring to the fight. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1684221415686299649?s=20 Thats it for now. Well update this story when theres more news to report about Ukraine. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com The Ukrainian authorities are working to ensure that the United States of America extends the Lend-Lease law to Ukraine after September, although no weapons have been delivered under this program. Source: Oksana Markarova, the ambassador of Ukraine to the USA, on Radio Svoboda Quote: "At the end of September, the draft law on lend-lease expires, on which we are currently working very actively it has already been passed in the House [of Representatives], and now we are working with the Senate to extend the validity of this law. We hope we will be able to convince our colleagues to allocate grant funds to us in the additional budget. But if there are any delays or certain difficulties with this, then the availability of the option of leasing or renting weapons is very important it is important that it also remains possible." Details: Markarova also added that "integrated work is underway" with American partners in all directions. In particular, work is underway with the Congress to ensure that the US state budget for 2024 includes more funds for Ukraine. Quote: "In addition to getting new weapons, speeding up deliveries of those already announced, we also have to understand that we are approaching the end of the fiscal year. 30 September is the day that the fiscal year ends in the United States. And all those funds that were budget, security, humanitarian, energy, and reconstruction allocated by Congress in December of last year we will have them used up by the end of September. Therefore, we are already working very actively with the Congress on the future budget, on the increase and additional budget funds for Ukraine for 2024, which is actually a calendar year from 1 October." From UP: Lend-Lease is a US government program for the supply of weapons and strategic materials to allies, which operated during World War II and has been operating for Ukraine for more than a year now. Story continues On 28 April 2022, the House of Representatives of the US Congress voted to provide a lend-lease agreement for Ukraine. On 9 May, the "Lend-Lease Act for the Protection of Democracy in Ukraine" was signed by US President Joe Biden. It entered into force on 1 October. This program is valid until September 30, 2023 (with the right to extend it). Lend-Lease gives the President of the United States the opportunity, without votes for each aid package in Congress, to make decisions about the supply of weapons to Ukraine and the countries of Eastern Europe that were affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, the provided weapons will have to be returned or paid for after the war is over. The US Lend-Lease weapons have not yet arrived in Ukraine; the Biden administration is helping Kyiv at the expense of other programs and separate packages of free aid. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! (CNN) Paris plans to make the Seine the centerpiece of the 2024 Olympic Games, with long-term efforts to clean up the river allowing swimming events to take place in its waters. When the French capital hosted its first Olympic Games in 1900, swimming competitions took place in the river. Parisians used to bathe in the Seine in centuries past, until it was banned in 1923 due to pollution. But now clean up efforts, which started in 2018 as part of what is known as the Swimming Plan, are coming to fruition, and local authorities say residents will be able to make use of the river once again as part of the legacy of the Olympics, which is returning to the French capital after 100 years. The opening ceremony, which is traditionally held inside the host citys Olympic stadium, will take place on the river, with as many as 600,000 people expected to watch from the banks. Then a number of races will take place on the river during the Olympics. At the Paris 2024 Games, the athletes will inaugurate swimming in the river with the Olympic events. A revival that will pave the way for aquatic leisure, reads a statement from Paris city hall published July 10. Works under the 1.4 billion-euro ($1.55-billion) plan to clean up the Seine have been underway for years now, but the Olympic games has had a galvanizing effect. Two disinfection units at wastewater treatment plants run by the Paris region public sanitation service will be operational from this summer, and structures that will help to improve water quality, such as a rainwater storage basin, are under construction. The basin will hold rainwater and gradually release it into the sewage network, preventing pollution when wastewater overflows during periods of rain. And existing efforts have already boosted water quality. Analysis carried out at the beginning of June showed excellent results in complying with European regulation, according to city hall. And testing in the parts of the river set to be used for Olympic events met standards 91% of the time from July 20 to August 11, 2022. This will allow open water swimming events, paratriathlon and triathlon events to start from the Alexandre III bridge. From 2025 the public will be able to swim in the Seine at three bathing sites: Bras Marie, Bras de Grenelle and Bercy, according to city hall. The swimming areas will be marked out by buoys and a pontoon to get to them, with spaces to change, shower and store your things on the quay, it said in a statement. In addition, around 20 other potential swimming sites have been identified in the greater Paris region. However, some locals told CNN affiliate BFMTV that they were dubious about entering the water. I will not swim not now, not in two years or three, said one woman in a video clip. Look at the color, we dont know what is in there. And a man said out that there were still weird things floating in the river. They really need to do a proper cleanup upstream, he said. But Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo told CNN that the plan is also part of wider efforts to adapt the city to future challenges. What we aim with this cleanup of the Seine is the adaptation of the city to climate change, she said. The Seine is a corridor of biodiversity and a source for cooling down in the summer, Hidalgo said, adding that the number of fish species has increased due to the clean up from two to more than 30 in recent years. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Paris to bring back swimming in River Seine after 100 years." Ukraines air defence has shot down Russian cruise missiles over Kyiv and Kharkiv oblasts and over the city of Dnipro. Source: Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for Ukraines Air Force, on air during the national 24/7 joint newscast Details: Ihnat said that it was still too early to relax as a number of Russian cruise missiles were still in the skies over Ukraine. He added that Russia likely launched Kinzhal cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. As of 20:30, an all-clear has been issued in all of Ukraine. Background: Earlier on 26 July, Ukraines Air Force reported that Russia launched Kinzhal cruise missiles on Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi and Kirovohrad oblasts. Suspilne wrote that explosions were heard in Khmelnytskyi Oblast. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukraines air defence forces shot down 36 cruise missiles fired from the territory of the Russian Federation on Ukraine in the afternoon of 26 July. Source: Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on Telegram Quote: "Today, Ukraines air defence destroyed 36 aerial targets... It was a difficult day, but thanks to the coordinated actions of all the defenders of the sky, we repelled this attack!" Details: Oleshchuk reported that Ukrainian forces shot down three Kalibr cruise missiles and 33 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles. The Air Force said that on 26 July, the Russian invaders launched two missile strikes on the territory of Ukraine. The first attack took place in the afternoon. Then the air defence system destroyed three Russian Kalibr cruise missiles. At about 17:00, the Russians attacked again from the Caspian Sea area with Kh-101/Kh-555 air-launched cruise missiles. A total of 36 missiles were launched from eight Tu-95MS strategic bombers. Of these, 33 missiles were shot down. The missiles entered the airspace of Ukraine from the southeast and headed west of the country, constantly changing the direction of flight. Air defence was responding along the route of the missiles: anti-aircraft missile units, mobile fire groups, fighter aircraft of the Air Force and air defence of other components of the Defence Forces of Ukraine. In addition, the Air Force reported that at about 19:00, the Russian invaders raised MiG-31K fighter jets into the sky and struck with four Kh-47 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles towards Khmelnytskyi Oblast. Information on the consequences of these missile launches is being clarified. Background: Earlier, Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that Russian cruise missiles that were launched on Ukraine on Wednesday evening, in particular, targeted Starokostiantyniv, Khmelnytskyi Oblast. As it is known, there is a military airfield in Starokostiantyniv where Ukrainian Su-24M tactical bombers are based. They are carriers of Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Volodomyr Zelenskyy Ukraines air defenses will be significantly strengthened, President of Ukraine Volodomyr Zelenskyy announced on July 26. "Daily selector meeting. I heard the current reports on the supply of weapons and ammunition. There are reinforcements for our air defense systems (coming). It will be directed to where it is needed most right now," Zelenskyy said. Read also: Kh-22 & Oniks missiles: why Ukraine's Air Force can't stop them Zelenskyy said that the Ukrainian militarys Main Intelligence Directorate, and the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, reported on the enemy actions and future plans, while the Security Service of Ukraine reported on its work to detain enemy agents. "The Commander-in-Chief (of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valerii) Zaluzhnyi briefed me about the offensive actions and defensive campaign along the entire frontline. We trust our guys," Zelenskyy added. Read also: Russia justifies merciless missile attacks by claiming Ukraine hiding military equipment in grain facilities On July 23, Russia launched the largest air strike on Odesa's city center since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. The enemy launched five types of missiles. Air defenses managed to intercept nine out of 19 aerial targets. At least one person was killed in the attack, while another 22 were wounded. That attack destroyed the Transfiguration Cathedral in the center of Odesa. A total of 29 landmarks were damaged across the city. 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 Russian cruise missiles that were launched on Ukraine on Wednesday evening, in particular, targeted Starokostiantyniv, Khmelnytskyi Oblast. Source: Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on air during the national 24/7 joint newscast Details: There is a military airfield in Starokostiantyniv that hosts Ukrainian Su-24M tactical bombers. These aircraft serve as carriers of the Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Ihnat said the missiles were fired from the Caspian Sea and flew into Ukraine from the southeast, then their movement went as follows: - first, the missiles were directed at Kharkiv Oblast, changing course soon after; - consequently, they flew towards Dnipro; - then to Kirovohrad Oblast; - then their movement was recorded between Vinnytsia, Mykolaiv and Odesa oblasts; - then they headed towards Ternopil and Lviv oblasts, where they turned back 180 degrees; - eventually, they diverted towards Starokostiantyniv in Khmelnytskyi Oblast. Background: Earlier in the evening, the Air Force reported that Russia launched Kinzhal cruise missiles on Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi and Kirovohrad oblasts. Soon after, Ihnat reported that Ukraines air defence shot down Russian cruise missiles over Kyiv and Kharkiv oblasts and over the city of Dnipro. Suspilne reported that explosions were heard in Khmelnytskyi Oblast. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Army of Drones, a Ukrainian program aimed at increasing the number of UAVs on the front line, will be supplied with 1700 recently purchased drones. Source: Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation, on Telegram Quote: "We are supporting the Ukrainian counteroffensive sending 1700 drones to the front line. Among them there are combat and reconnaissance drones. The artificial intelligence of these "birds" helps [Ukrainian troops] effectively detect and destroy enemy targets." Details: All drones have been purchased within the framework of the Army of Drones state program. Background: The Army of Drones project has existed for a year now. Mass production of the drones and the training of drone operators have been facilitated in Ukraine. Herewith the Ukrainian industry is not only increasing the quantity but also the quality of self-made drones, which the Ukrainian government procures and hands over to the military. Throughout the year, donors from 100 countries have been funding the procurement of drones for Ukraine. It is planned that by the end of this year, the Army of Drones will expand to dozens of thousands. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's domestic intelligence agency claimed responsibility for the first time on Wednesday for a sabotage operation that badly damaged the Russian-made Kerch Bridge linking occupied Crimea with Russia last October. Vasyl Malyuk, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), said his agency was behind the attack, speaking in comments shown on television as he presented a commemorative postage stamp marking wartime special forces operations. "There were many different operations, special operations. We'll be able to speak about some of them publicly and aloud after the victory, we will not talk at all about others," Malyuk said. "It is one of our actions, namely the destruction of the Crimean bridge on Oct. 8 last year." The bridge was badly damaged in October in a powerful blast, with Russian officials saying the explosion was caused by a truck that blew up while crossing the bridge, killing three people. The bridge was hit by a fresh attack this month, but Malyuk made no mention of who was behind that one. The 19 km (12 mile) Crimean Bridge over the Kerch Strait is the only direct link between the transport network of Russia and the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine and occupied in 2014. The bridge was a flagship project for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who opened it for road traffic with great fanfare by driving a truck across in 2018. It served as a crucial supply route for Russian forces after Moscow invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, sending forces from Crimea to seize parts of southern Ukraine's Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. (Reporting by Olena Harmash; Editing by Tom Balmforth and Alison Williams) On the afternoon of 26 July, Ukrainian air defence shot down two Kalibr cruise missiles launched by the Russians from the Black Sea. Source: press service of the Air Force of Ukraine on Telegram Details: It is reported that at around 13:00 on 26 July, the Russians launched a Kalibr cruise missile attack from the Black Sea. The missiles were supposedly launched from a Russian submarine. The missiles entered the airspace from the southeast, changing course along the route. Both missiles were shot down in Vinnytsia Oblast. Background: On the afternoon of 26 July, air-raid warnings were issued throughout Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukrainian air defense shoots down a Russian missile in Dnipropetrovs'k region The Ukrainian military has intercepted 36 Russian cruise missiles in Ukrainian airspace on July 26, the head of Ukraines Air Force, Mykola Oleshchuk, said in a Telegram post. "Today, the Ukrainian air defense destroyed 36 airborne targets," said Oleshchuk. Read also: Russia could target civilian ships in the Black Sea, UK warns He further clarified that 33 Kh-101/Kh-555 air-launched cruise missiles were shot down, along with three sea-launched Kalibr missiles. "The air defense was operating along the route of (enemy) missiles: anti-air missile units, mobile firefighting groups, combat aviation of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces, and other components of Ukraine's defense forces," he said. Read also: Russia justifies merciless missile attacks by claiming Ukraine hiding military equipment in grain facilities The Air Force then added Russian MiG-31K jets and launched four Kh-47 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles at Khmelnytskyi Oblast. The information about the consequences of these Kinzhal launches is still being clarified, according to the Air Force command. Read also: Ukrainian Air Force walks back comments about Ukrainian pilots training on F16 jets in Europe Ihnat Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat told Ukrainian TV broadcasters that the Kinzhal missiles were heading towards Starokostiantyniv in Khmelnytskyi Oblast, where a military airfield is located. 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 Andrii Kovalev, the spokesman of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has said that Ukrainian troops had gained ground in the vicinity of Staromaiorske on the southern front. Source: Kovalev at a briefing, Military Media Center Quote: "Ukrainian troops had success in the Staromaiorske area on the southern front." Details: According to Kovalev, the defence forces gain a foothold on the achieved borders. At the same time, the Russians made unsuccessful attempts to restore the lost position northeast of Robotyne. Kovalev added that the Russians continue to put up strong resistance, move units, and actively use reserves. The spokesperson noted that Ukrainian defenders continue to advance on the Bakhmut, Melitopol and Berdiansk fronts. Quote: "Ukrainian soldiers continue to conduct offensive operations on the Bakhmut, Melitopol and Berdiansk fronts, consolidate on the achieved defence lines, and inflict artillery fire on the identified Russian targets." On the Bakhmut front, the defenders continue to conduct offensive operations north and south of Bakhmut. On the Kupiansk and Lyman fronts, the defence forces continue to hold back the Russian offensive. Heavy fighting continues there, with 26 combat clashes over the last day. Background: On 25 July, Andrii Kovaliov, Spokesman for the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, stated that the Ukrainian troops had succeeded in the area of Staromaiorske on the southern front, and the defenders are also advancing near Bakhmut. On 18 July, it was reported that heavy fighting for the village of Staromaiorske in Donetsk Oblast was ongoing, with the advantage on the side of Ukrainian defenders. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Over the past day alone, Ukrainian defenders killed 460 Russian occupiers and destroyed a helicopter, 22 artillery systems, 16 UAVs and other equipment belonging to the Russians. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Details: Total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 26 July 2023 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses ed.]: approximately 243,680 (+460) military personnel, 4,177 (+3) tanks, 8,136 (+5) armoured combat vehicles, 4,727 (+22) artillery systems, 698 (+0) multiple-launch rocket systems, 457 (+3) air defence systems, 315 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft, 311 (+1) helicopters, 3,993 (+16) operational-tactical UAVs, 1,307 (+0) cruise missiles, 18 (+0) ships/boats, 7,211 (+17) vehicles and tankers, 708 (+5) special vehicles and other equipment. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! (CNN) Israels Supreme Court announced Wednesday that it would hear appeals against a controversial new law that curbs its power, setting up a showdown with the government over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus divisive plans to weaken the judiciary. The court said it would debate the law in September but would not issue an injunction to block it before then. The new law, which strips the Supreme Court of the ability to reject some government decisions on the basis of the reasonableness standard, was the first of the governments major judicial reforms to be passed by the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. Netanyahus coalition the most far right in Israeli history pushed the law through by a narrow margin on Monday with the opposition boycotting the vote, despite months of mass protests and unusually public criticism from the White House. The court said it would hear challenges from seven groups who are seeking to throw out the law, including the Movement for Quality Government, whose chairman praised the announcement Wednesday. We are ready, Eliad Shraga said in a statement. We will appear in the Supreme Court to defend Israeli democracy, and we will do everything we can to stop the coup! The courts decision to take up the case brings Israel to the brink of a constitutional crisis, with judges considering whether to strike down legislation that was created to limit their power. Adam Shinar, associate professor at the Harry Radzyner Law School at Reichman University, told CNN Wednesdays decision by the court doesnt change the situation dramatically, because the court is on break in August and would be unlikely to strike down any government decisions based on unreasonableness. An injunction wouldnt be meaningless, but it wouldnt change much, he said. Its unlikely this reasonableness clause will do a lot of damage between now and September that would be irreversible. Shinar said it could be months before the court comes to a decision on the new law. You have to give all the parties, the respondents, time to prepare their briefs. So you cant just say, lets discuss this next week. Because obviously this is a very big issue, and they have to think hard about it, and there are a lot of parties involved. Israel does not have a written constitution and is instead governed by a series of Basic Laws and previous court rulings, including the one that was amended on Monday. These laws were originally enacted by the Knesset with the view that they would form a formal constitution in the future but that has not happened yet. The country has no upper chamber of the parliament, but it has a relatively strong Supreme Court. Netanyahu and his supporters argue the court has become too powerful, and that their overhaul would rebalance powers between the judiciary, lawmakers and the government. But opponents say the Supreme Court is the only check on the power of the government and the Knesset, since the executive and legislative branches are always controlled by the same governing coalition. They argue that the reforms would erode Israeli democracy by granting Netanyahu and his government almost unfettered powers. The conflict goes far beyond the political class and has caused deep division within Israel, sparking the largest and longest protests in the countrys 75-year history and pitting right-wing and religious groups against more liberal and secular parts of society. Other parts of the planned overhaul which are yet to be voted on by the Knesset would give Netanyahus coalition more control over the appointment of judges, and would remove independent legal advisers from government ministries. Uncharted territory The reasonableness standard has allowed Israels Supreme Court to strike down government decisions when they are deemed to have been made unfairly and without taking into consideration all relevant factors. The court cannot revoke a government decision in cases in which the judges disagree with the government decision; but rather only in cases in which the balance between the various considerations that were made is unreasonable in the extreme, wrote Yuval Shany of the Israel Democracy Institute earlier this month. The concept is not unique to Israel the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada have a similar principle in place and the court only has only used the power sparingly, according to the Israel Democracy Institute. The Supreme Court used the standard earlier this year when it ruled that the governments decision to appoint Aryeh Deri as a cabinet minister was unreasonable because Deri was previously convicted of tax fraud and had said he would retire from public life, forcing Netanyahu to dismiss him. Shinar said the government could attempt to reinstate Deri. That was one of the points why the government passed this amendment, was because it didnt want judicial review over ministerial appointments, Shinar said. The previous time when the court said he cant be a minister, most of the judges agreed it was on reasonableness grounds. Other judges gave a different reason, but that was in the majority. So right now at least, if they cant strike it down on reasonableness, it stands to reason that they can reappoint him, he said. The Supreme Court has never annulled a Basic Law, though it has previously set a precedent for the possibility of doing so. In 2021, it declared a law to delay the deadline to pass the state budget an improper use of parliamentary power but stopped short of annulling it, according to the Jerusalem Post. The same year, court president Esther Hayut said the narrow circumstances in which a Basic Law could be struck down included cases where a bill dealt a mortal blow to free and fair elections, core human rights, the separation of powers, the rule of law, and an independent judiciary, the Times of Israel reported. While the courts review of the law may take the tension between the hardline government and the judiciary to a new level, Netanyahus government has indicated it will comply with its ruling. Asked by CNN whether the government would comply with a ruling that struck the law down, Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer said: The government will always obey and abide by the rule of law in Israel, Dermer said. Because we have in Israel the rule of law. What we dont have is the rule of judges. We have the rule of law. The mass protests that have engulfed Israel since the reforms were first announced in January are unlikely to stop now. Netanyahu appears determined to keep pressing ahead with the overhaul, while the protesters are equally determined to stop it. The Israel Medical Association went on strike Tuesday in response to the Knesset vote and thousands of military reservists including more than 1,100 Air Force officers said even before the bill passed that they would refuse to volunteer for duty if it did. The governments plan to push the overhaul through despite the protests has attracted an unusual level of public criticism from some of Israels closest allies. US President Joe Biden had warned Israels government against moving ahead with the vote, urging Netanyahu not to rush this. After the law was passed on Monday, the White House called it unfortunate. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Israeli Supreme Court to review law that limits its power, setting up showdown with government" An assault unit of the Offensive Guard police brigade has killed a group of Russian paratroopers on the Donetsk front. Source: National Police on Facebook Details: The assault group of Russian paratroopers (Russian Airborne Forces) came under fire from the soldiers of the Tsunami Assault Regiment of the Liut (Fury) Joint Assault Brigade of the National Police. Every Russian soldier was killed. The timeframe of the successful operation was not disclosed. Background: The Liut (Fury) Joint Assault Brigade is a new paramilitary police unit. In early February 2023, the Ministry of Internal Affairs began forming the Offensive Guard assault brigades. It includes the Liut (Fury) National Police Brigade, the Stalevyi Kordon (Steel Border) State Border Guard Service Brigade and seven National Guard brigades. The units consist of active police officers, border guards and national guardsmen. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Over 180 schools in Ukraine have been completely destroyed, and over 1,300 educational institutions have been damaged due to Russia's military aggression. Source: Oksen Lisovyi, Minister of Education and Science, as reported by a Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform Quote: "180 schools have been destroyed to the ground as of today [26 July 2023]. More than 300 educational institutions have been [fully] destroyed, over 1,000 educational institutions have been damaged and are subject to assessment as to whether they can be repaired or not," the head of the Ministry of Education and Science stated. Details: He added that the Ukrainian government allocated UAH 1.5 billion [roughly US$40,820,000] to equip shelters in time for the new school year. Details: Only 9,000 out of 13,000 schools can resume full-time education at present, Lisovyi said. "The priority for us is the students' coming back; we are resuming education wherever possible. Education will take place online in oblasts close to the combat zone," the minister summed up. He said the ministry also recommends that universities should switch back to offline education in compliance with security requirements, as this will help improve the quality of education. Lisovyi also noted that many higher education institutions could arrange shelters, but not all of them can accommodate the total number of students. The Minister of Education and Science said that Ukraine's education system has faced another problem: the migration of teachers, which could become an obstacle to the resumption of full-time education. Therefore, the managers of higher education institutions will make their own decisions on the resumption of offline education. Previously: The management of one of the destroyed schools in Zhytomyr will be taken to Finland to gain experience in rebuilding the school. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! F-16 fighters Ukrainian pilots will be trained on U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets in Denmark and Romania, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said at a press briefing on July 26. Read also: Poland may provide Ukraine with 20 more MiG-29 jets Ukrainian ambassador Exact dates, locations, and duration of the training program are still being developed. Romania and Denmark will host the F-16 training program for Ukrainian pilots, Kirby said. Kirby added that besides Romania and Denmark, Ukrainian pilots may also receive training on F-16s in other locations. He noted that the UK has started English language courses for pilots so they can operate U.S. aircraft. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg earlier stated that Ukraine's allies will individually determine when to commence training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s. At the recent NATO summit in Vilnius, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov signed a memorandum with 11 nations to establish a coalition for training Ukrainian fighter jet pilots. The program may include other types of fighters, not just F-16s. The coalition includes the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Sweden. On July 6, Romania announced the opening of a regional training center for F-16 pilots, which will be available to NATO allies and partners, including Ukraine. Read also: Dutch judge dismissed for attempting to influence MH17 investigation On July 12, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said that training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s could take approximately 6-8 months. Read also: Ukrainian pilots to begin F-16 training in Denmark in August Lockheed Martin On July 18, Ray Piscelli, Vice President of International Relations at Lockheed Martin (the company that manufactures F-16s), announced that Ukrainian pilots would begin training on F-16s in Denmark in August. They will not head to Romania until late 2024. 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 Serhii Belavin, a plumber from the city of Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast in Ukraine, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison in the case of an explosion on the railway in Bryansk Oblast in Russia, which occurred on 9 November 2022, at the RobchikPishchanka railroad stretch. Source: Investigative Committee of Russia and the Russian media Details: The investigation claims that Serhii Belavian, citizen of both Russia and Ukraine, was "recruited by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine in 2019 and became a member of an organised group under their guidance for financial reward". The Investigative Committee of Russia claims Belavin "has undergone training in terrorist activities, organised by Ukrainian secret services, where he has developed the skills in dealing with explosive substances and radio-controlled explosive devices, acquired knowledge about reconnaissance and conspiration tactics, as well as skills in collecting and handing over information" from 2019 to 2021 in Ukraine. The Committee believes that after the beginning of the war, the leadership of the Ukrainian secret services worked out the plan of a "terrorist act" in the territory of Russia, and Belavin "was thoroughly instructed, provided with money and special means of communication". The Russian investigators convinced the court that in June 2022 Belavin had arrived in Russia, found a hiding place with explosives left for him by other members of the group, "made a remote-controlled explosive device", installed it on the railroad track near the village of Robchik, and blew up the railroad on 9 July, when a freight train from Belarus was passing. As a result, the train and the railway track were damaged, and the train movement was suspended for a long period of time. The investigators claimed Belavin tried to flee but was detained by the security services. A Russian court found Belavin guilty of committing crimes under Art. 205.3 of the Criminal Code of Russia (undergoing terrorist action training), subparagraphs "a" and "v" of Art.205.2 of the Criminal Code of Russia (terrorist act as a part of an organised group), Art. 222.1.4 (illegal purchase, transportation and storage of explosives) and Art. 223.1.3 of the Criminal Code of Russia (illegal manufacture of an explosive device). Story continues In Russia, Belavin was sentenced to 22 years in a strict regime colony and an 800,000 rouble [roughly US$8,888 - ed.] fine. Business FM reported that Belavin is 40 years old; he lived in the city of Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast of Ukraine, where he worked as a plumber. He has two children. The sources of the Kommersant media outlet in the security structures of Russia alleged that he had pleaded guilty. The case was heard by the 2nd Western District Military Court of Russia. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The United Nations has said that Russian accounts of a rocket attack on a camp holding Ukrainian prisoners of war in July 2022 are not supported by the evidence. More than 50 Ukrainian prisoners were killed in the strike that year on a detention center in the town of Olenivka. An extensive CNN investigation published in August last year demonstrated that the Russian narrative that the camp had been hit by a Ukrainian HIMARS rocket did not stand up to scrutiny a finding now supported by the findings by the UN Human Rights Commissioner (OHCHR). Russian and local officials from the self-declared Donetsk Peoples Republic said the attack was carried out by the Ukrainian side, using one of the HIMARS rockets that had been recently supplied by the US. The morning after the blast, Andrey Lazarev, who works for the Russian Defense Ministrys Zvezda media channel, pointed to fragments, one of which included the serial number of a HIMARS rocket in remarkably good condition. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said the detention center was hit by a missile attack from the American HIMARS. But CNNs investigation, based on analysis of video and photographs from the scene, satellite imagery from before and after the attack and the work of forensic and weapons experts, concluded that the Russian version of events is very likely a fabrication. There is almost no chance that a HIMARS rocket caused the damage to the warehouse where the prisoners were being held. Experts consulted by CNN discounted a HIMARS strike on Olenivka but could not say definitively what killed and wounded so many prisoners. The investigation noted that experts say most signs point to an intense fire, and according to several witnesses there was no sound of an incoming rocket. A right to truth, justice and reparations A UN statement issued Tuesday concurred that the information available and our analysis enable the Office to conclude that [the strike] was not caused by a HIMARS rocket. Story continues The Russian Federation provided neither satisfactory assurances about secure access for the United Nations to visit the particular site, nor granted general requests by the UN Human Rights Office to access areas of Ukraine under the temporary military control of the Russian Federation. The OHCHR said that it had been able to conduct extensive interviews with survivors of the incident at Olenivka and undertaken detailed analysis of available additional informationWhile the precise circumstances of the incident on the night of 28-29 July 2022 remain unclear, the information available and our analysis enable the Office to conclude that it was not caused by a HIMARS rocket. The OHCHR added that based on the information available, it is not possible at this stage to establish either the specific source of the explosion, nor the exact direction from which a weapon may have been fired. Survivors and families of the injured prisoners deserve the truth to be known, and for those responsible for breaches of international law to be held accountable, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said Tuesday. Our office has met with the families of the victims and heard their pleas for truth and justice and indeed, they have a right to truth, justice and reparations. For all those impacted by this tragedy, we must do all we can to ensure justice is done. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Malians demonstrate against the presence of foreign troops. Annie Risemberg/AFP via Getty Images On 30 June 2023, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to end the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (Minusma). Two weeks earlier, Mali had called for the immediate withdrawal of the mission. Bamako and the UN have agreed on a six-month deadline between 1 July and 31 December for the complete withdrawal of troops. This political decision raises questions about the objectives being pursued by the Malian government. Our research covers political, peace and security issues in Africa, and in our view, implementation of the UN resolution to exit Mali will have major security implications. A costly and deadly mission Minusma has an annual budget of US A sculptor of wind explains how to make fiber dance far above city streets https://theconversation.com/a-sculptor-of-wind-explains-how-to-make-fiber-dance-far-above-city-streets-202476 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 18:51:19 +0000 tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/202476 Artist Janet Echelman explains how she collaborates with engineers to create massive sculptures that have changed city landscapes and inspired people around the world. Janet Echelman, Mellon Distinguished Visiting Artist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Janet Echelman says she never set out to be a sculptor of wind. But if you have ever explored Porto, Portugal, walked the streets of Gwanggyo, South Korea, or passed through West Hollywood, you might have seen her massive iridescent sculptures of fiber floating above cities and the millions of people in them. Working closely with engineers, Echelman has spent the past 26 years of her career producing sculptures that rival the size of skyscrapers. In March, Echelman spoke at the 2023 Imagine Solutions Conference in Naples, Florida, about her journey to becoming a sculptor, her creative process and how her sculptures have forever changed the landscapes of the cities where they ripple, dance and billow in the wind. Story continues What inspired you to create this type of art? I began my career as a painter. In 1997, I traveled to India as a Fulbright scholar and planned to give exhibitions around the country. I had my paints and brushes shipped to India from the U.S., but they never arrived. As the deadline for the show loomed, I had to come up with something fast. In Mahabalipuram, the Indian fishing village where I was staying, I would watch the fishermen work and reel in their mounds of netting on the beach at the end of each day. One day, it occurred to me that those nets would make excellent material for sculptures. By the end of my Fulbright year, I had created an entire series of these netted sculptures with the fishermen, called the Bellbottom Series, named after the popular bell-bottom pants. Ive been working to develop and refine this visual language ever since. Its an ever-evolving challenge to go from making handmade nets on the beach with fishermen in India to creating works the scale of one or two city blocks attached to skyscrapers. How do you approach the engineering side of your art? How are these pieces constructed, especially given their large scale? Every piece is planned out digitally first. The first sketches are very simple its just me with a pencil. But the final design in our studio is a complete digital color 3D model. We can see how the sculpture sits in space and how it attaches to everything around it. Were able to move around the three-dimensional site to see the work from all sides. My team and I have engaged in a decade of development of original computer software to do soft-body modeling of our sculptures, which allows us to design our 3D netted forms while understanding the constraints of our craft, showing response to the forces of gravity and wind. Every element every line of twine, and every knot is modeled in terms of its thickness, stiffness, weight and density. So its actually quite an endeavor to analyze such unusual structures that are both porous and fluidly moving. This is not the standard building departments typically analyze solid buildings made of things they know, like steel and concrete so this is really pushing everyone to work in new ways. In terms of the physical construction, my sculptures appear delicate yet are incredibly strong. They have to be able to withstand winds of a Category 5 hurricane. We achieve that by using highly engineered materials, including a fiber that NASA used for the Mars Rover called ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene, which is custom-braided into structural ropes. We use a variety of other fibers to create the braided twine for the soft layers of each sculpture. The ropes are then all hand-spliced together with methods that have been used for hundreds of years to construct boats in the maritime industry. These are old human technologies passed down from generation to generation. Once we have these knotted net panels, we incorporate different colors to create patterns within the work. These panels are then attached to rope structures and usually lifted into space using cranes. My team pulls them into tension so that they can withstand immense forces of nature. What was the hardest sculpture to create from a technical standpoint, and why? My commission for the St. Petersburg pier in Florida titled Bending Arc was challenging, because it needed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane and yet we did it. Theres footage of it during Hurricane Ian, and it was just dancing beautifully. Hurricane testing starts in the design stages. Our detailed digital models are tested and analyzed for their capacity to withstand certain forces of wind, which, for public safety reasons, is required in order to obtain a building permit. My sculptures have to satisfy the same requirements as a skyscraper, and they can withstand the same forces as any major building. What are you currently working on that youre excited about? I am excited to continue to explore the relationship between dance and art. In 2014, I collaborated with the Stuttgart Ballet in Germany to create sculptures that dancers could interact with in their performances. Since then I have worked with a choreographer and engineer at Princeton University to create a sculpture that the dancers actually enter into and interact with. Their movements cause the sculpture to move and appear as if it were a dancer itself at a larger scale. I see it as an exploration of our planet and its climate. It illustrates how the Earth and human beings are always mutually influencing one another and yet we are not equals. What do you hope your art evokes in people? Its important to me that each person can create their own meaning from art. They are the expert in their own experience. If my work offers a moment of contemplation and allows you to feel a sense of calm and your own interconnection with the wind, sun, people and city, then thats all I could hope for. I like how complete strangers often start talking to each other underneath the sculptures. Our cities are made up of straight lines and hard edges and my sculptures offer something completely different they are soft and adaptable, yet theyre the same scale as skyscrapers. If my art prompts people to contemplate that the world can be built in a completely different way than it always has been, if it opens up questions, then that is the most an artist could ever hope to do. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters. It was written by: Janet Echelman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Read more: Janet Echelman 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. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Union Pacific has hired the CEO candidate favored by a hedge fund that's been pressuring the railroad to improve amid disappointing results driven by weakening consumer demand and higher labor costs. The Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad said its former chief operating officer Jim Vena will take over as CEO next month. Soroban Capital Partners, a hedge fund that holds a $1.6 billion stake in Union Pacific, had been urging the railroad to hire Vena because of his expertise in streamlining operations. The hedge fund said that UP lagged behind its peers during Lance Fritz' 8-year tenure in all key measures. Soroban declined to comment on the hire Wednesday, but investors resoundingly endorsed it by sending Union Pacific's stock soaring more than 10% to $238 Wednesday. I am excited about returning to Union Pacific and look forward to the journey to be the safest, most reliable and most efficient railroad in the industry, Vena said in a statement. Working closely with the entire team, my focus from day one will be to ensure the company delivers industry-leading customer and operating excellence, cultivates and empowers our employees, and cares for the communities in which we operate." Fritz acknowledged that the railroad didn't deliver consistent and reliable service during his tenure, and that needs to be remedied. He said proving to Union Pacific customers they can count on good service will help the railroad attract new business and improve profits in the future. At times, UP has struggled to handle everything companies wanted to ship after cutting too deep during the pandemic. Regulators had to twice order the railroad to deliver emergency shipments to livestock producer Foster Farms to ensure that company wouldnt run out of feed for the millions of chickens it raises. The rail industry has also been under pressure to improve safety ever since the fiery Norfolk Southern derailment in February prompted evacuations and sent a towering plume of black smoke over the town of East Palestine, Ohio. Lawmakers and regulators are considering imposing new rules on railroads. Story continues Vena was brought in to Union Pacific in 2019 after more than 40 years at Canadian National to help the railroad change to a new operating model that relies on fewer, longer trains and significantly fewer employees and locomotives to move freight, but Vena left after less than two years on the job. He knows us and hes laser-focused on running the safest, best-service railroad in the industry, Fritz said. And thats going to be thats going to be really valuable to us. But rail unions have criticized UP and the other major freight railroads' reliance on that precision scheduled railroading model that has become the industry standard. They say the deep workforce cuts that have accompanied that model have made railroads riskier because employees are spread too thin and under pressure to rush safety inspections and maintenance. Plus, the changes made it less desirable to work for the railroads with train crews on call 24-7 and increasing demands on all rail workers. Union Pacific has made progress this year in addressing workers' quality of life concerns by agreeing to provide paid sick time to all its workers and improve scheduling for engineers so they can reliably know ahead of time what days they will have off. The president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, Eddie Hall, was operating UP trains during Vena's previous stint with the railroad, and he said he hopes the new CEO is willing to temper his approach now. We would like to see continued progress, including necessary changes to the precision scheduled railroading operating model, Hall said. "Few people alive know more about PSR than Vena. He should be fully aware of its failings. If not, rest assured, we will make him aware. UP didn't follow the lead of CSX, which looked outside the rail industry to hire its new CEO last year, and instead went with someone with deep experience running a railroad. Edward Jones analyst Jeff Windau said the key is his knowledge of precision scheduled railroading and, you know, his ability to help improve productivity and efficiency overall for the railroad. Union Pacific also promoted board member Mike McCarthy to chairman and named its chief human resources officer Beth Whited president Wednesday. It also added two new independent directors who both have experience has CEOs of other companies. In addition to the hiring news, Union Pacific said its second-quarter profit declined 14.5% to $1.57 billion, or $2.57 per share, as it hauled 2% less freight and dealt with rising costs. H igher wages promised to workers in last year's bitter contract fight and the cost of adding sick time were among the rising costs. A year ago Union Pacific made $1.835 billion, or $2.93 per share. The railroad's earnings fell short of the $2.74 per share that the analysts surveyed by FactSet Research were generally expecting. The railroad's 5% decline in revenue to $5.96 billion also disappointed. Analysts had been expecting $6.09 billion. Union Pacific said weakening consumer demand and higher costs will make it hard to meet its previous goal of seeing the number of shipments it hauls grow more than industrial production. Volume will likely fall short of the current forecast for industrial production to grow by 0.1% this year. Union Pacific is one of the nations largest railroads with a network of 32,400 miles (52,000 kilometers) of track in 23 Western states. The Taliban announced Tuesday that all beauty salons in Afghanistan must shut down now as a one-month deadline to close them ended, despite rare public opposition to the order. The ruling is the latest curb on the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls following edicts barring them from education, public spaces and most forms of employment. Sadiq Akif Mahjer, spokesman for the Taliban-run Virtue and Vice Ministry, did not say whether it would use force against salons that do not comply. The Taliban said it decided to ban beauty salons because they offered services forbidden by Islam and caused economic hardship for the families of grooms during wedding festivities. Among those services is eyebrow shaping, the use of other peoples hair to augment a womans natural hair and the application of makeup, which it said interferes with the ablutions required before offering prayers. Grooms families have been required by custom to pay for pre-wedding salon visits by brides and their close female relatives. Its earlier announcement of a one-month deadline for salons to wind down their businesses led to a rare public protest in which dozens of beauticians and makeup artists gathered in Kabul, the capital. Security forces used fire hoses and tasers and shot their guns into the air to break up the protest. The announcement had come just a few days after the Taliban had said that they were working for the betterment of women in the county. More: A female soccer player flees the Taliban, and finds a new life in Worcester This picture, taken on Dec. 25, 2022, shows student Marwa protesting alone against the ban on women's higher education outside the Kabul University as members of the Taliban stand guard in Kabul. The Taliban, in July 2023, ordered the closure of all beauty salons in Afghanistan, after previous edicts have barred women from education, public spaces and most forms of employment. United Nations protests Meanwhile, the United Nations said it was engaged with Afghanistan authorities to get the prohibition reversed. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he supports efforts by the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which has called on the de facto authorities to reconsider closing beauty salons. UNAMA has said that this restriction on womens rights will impact negatively on the economy and contradicts support for womens entrepreneurship, and were seeking a reversal of the bans, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Monday. Story continues The ban also drew concern from international groups worried about its impact on female entrepreneurs. This isnt about getting your hair and nails done. This is about 60,000 women losing their jobs. This is about women losing one of the only places they could go for community and support after the Taliban systematically destroyed the whole system put in place to respond to domestic violence, said Heather Barr, associate womens rights director for the New York-based group Human Rights Watch. Despite initial promises of a more moderate rule than during their previous time in power in the 1990s, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures since seizing control of Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO forces pulled out. They have barred women from public spaces such as parks and gyms and cracked down on media freedoms. The measures have triggered fierce international criticism, increasing the countrys isolation at a time when its economy has collapsed, and worsening a humanitarian crisis. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Taliban closes beauty salons in Afghanistan, despite protests Willian Noun has an image of his brother, who perished in the Beirut port tragedy, in a firefighter's helmet tattooed onto his forearm (JOSEPH EID) William Noun and Maria Fares were united by loss after a devastating blast ripped through Lebanon's capital three years ago. Now engaged, the couple pledge to keep fighting for justice. As they prepare to take their wedding vows, Noun and Fares, both 28, sit at his family's house in the hills northeast of Beirut, surrounded by photographs of Noun's brother who perished in the tragedy. "Ours won't be a normal wedding," said Noun, who is set to marry Fares in September. "Many people lose their siblings... but the difference is that we don't even know why we lost them, and that they died together," he said. Joe Noun and Fares's sister Sahar were among 10 firefighters sent to their deaths when a blaze broke out at a warehouse at Beirut's port on August 4, 2020. What followed was one of the world's biggest non-nuclear explosions, which killed more than 220 people, injured at least 6,500 and wreaked destruction on swathes of the capital. Families of those killed have been fighting for justice ever since, with Noun one of the key figures in the campaign. But three years on, political pressure and legal hurdles have stalled and buried the investigation into the cause of the explosion. Fighting back tears, Fares said she was "unable to think about how the wedding day will go". "It's very hard, knowing that your sister won't be next to you." - 'Our promise' - Authorities said a huge stockpile of ammonium nitrate fertiliser kept haphazardly in a port warehouse for years caught fire and detonated. Despite the scale of the destruction, no one has yet been held accountable, and the cause of the fire has not been officially determined. Noun and Fares first met in 2020 during a therapy session for the siblings of firefighters killed in the blast. Overwhelmed with grief at the time, they only got to know each other later. Noun said he wished they had met under different circumstances, but had found in Fares someone who shared "the same pain". Story continues Their engagement "shows our faith: despite everything that happened, we still have the will to live, and we can still go on", said Noun, who runs a family restaurant in their town. Fares described her sister -- a paramedic with the firefighters -- as someone who loved life. "We've been thinking of ways to make their presence felt with us on the wedding day, maybe with a flower or a picture," she said. The couple are committed not only to each other, but also to fighting for justice following the explosion. "We insist on reaching the truth," said Noun, who has an image of his brother in a firefighter's helmet tattooed onto his forearm. "This is our promise and it will grow after we marry." But he also acknowledged the pair would have to "try to separate our private lives from the investigation". Otherwise "we will spend our whole lives crying". - 'Need to know' - The investigation into the blast has been repeatedly stalled, in a country split along sectarian lines and known for its history of official impunity. A slew of political and legal challenges have beleaguered the probe since its early days, with high-level officials filing lawsuits against the investigating judge who had charged them. In a surprise move, judge Tarek Bitar said in January he had resumed his probe after a 13-month hiatus. But Lebanon's top prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat retaliated by releasing the detainees in the case and charging Bitar with "usurping power". To Noun, "the struggle for justice is harder than the explosion itself". The activist, known for his outspokenness, was arrested briefly in January after throwing stones at Beirut's justice palace during a protest and threatening on television to "blow up" the building. Those responsible for the blast are "people who have been in power for years and who have money, weapons... and influence" over the judiciary, he charged. "We only have justice on our side," said Noun. Outside a small stone chapel that the family has built in Joe Noun's memory, a statue bears his likeness. Inside, photos and items including his firefighter's uniform are on display. With the local probe stalled, victims' families and rights groups have been urging the United Nations to create an independent fact-finding mission into the explosion. "We need to know what happened on August 4," said Noun. Fares said she had faith her sister and others did not die in vain, and that their deaths would represent a turning point for Lebanon. She would keep pursuing her fight for justice, "even if it takes time, even if obstacles are placed in our way". lar/lg/aya/ami/fz/leg A UPS truck in San Francisco, California. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images UPS reached a tentative deal with its Teamsters union on Tuesday, potentially avoiding a strike that could have caused supply chain disruptions across the country. The deal is "a win-win-win agreement on the issues that are important to Teamsters leadership, our employees, and to UPS and our customers," UPS CEO Carol Tome said in a press release. "This agreement continues to reward UPS's full- and part-time employees with industry-leading pay and benefits while retaining the flexibility we need to stay competitive, serve our customers and keep our business strong." The five-year agreement between UPS and the Teamsters, which represents 340,000 UPS workers, was the final step in a series of negotiations. The two sides had previously shaken hands on several key issues, but had been holding out over pay for part-time workers, The Associated Press reported. The agreement now awaits ratification by UPS' union members. The new agreement "raises wages for all workers, creates more full-time jobs, and includes dozens of workplace protections and improvements," the Teamsters said in a statement. If ratified, both full- and part-time union workers will get $7.50 per hour more by the end of the five years. Part-time workers' starting pay will also be increased to $21 per hour. Full-time drivers will receive an average of $49 per hour, which the Teamsters said will make them "the highest-paid delivery drivers in the nation." Teamsters employees were just one week away from a planned strike if no deal occurred. This could have crippled the American parcel industry, as UPS delivers an average of 24.3 million packages per day, according to its company profile. UPS says this is equal to about 6% of the country's entire gross domestic product. A study from Anderson Economic Group cited by the AP said a strike "could have cost the U.S. economy more than $7 billion." 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 (CNN) Taiwans Taoyuan International Airport became the scene of a simulated Chinese invasion on Wednesday for the first time ever as the islands military conducted an anti-takeover drill to fend off any possible attack from Beijing. The drill was designed to test the Taiwanese militarys cross-branch coordination and emergency response capabilities during a simulated Chinese invasion, the Ministry of National Defense previously said. With military helicopters in the sky and soldiers on the tarmac, the drill at Taiwans busiest international gateway reflects how Taipei is preparing for multiple scenarios in the face of fears over Chinas increased military intimidation concerns which have amplified since Russias invasion of Ukraine began last year. Chinas ruling Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy of Taiwan as its territory despite never having controlled it, and has spent decades trying to isolate it diplomatically. Beijing has not ruled out using force to take control of Taiwan, and has been putting growing military pressure on Taipei by sending aircraft into its self-declared air defense identification zone and warships in waters around the island. Airports, civilian or otherwise, are primary targets, as was vividly displayed by Moscows ultimately unsuccessful attempt to seize Kyivs Hostomel Airport in the opening stages of their invasion last year. At Taoyuan on Wednesday, soldiers wearing red helmets to mark themselves as simulated infiltrators engaged in a shootout drill with airport police. Firefighters also practiced putting out simulated fires. Military choppers simulated flying over the airport and deploying enemy troops on the tarmac. As they approached an airport building, they exchanged fire along the way with the Taiwanese military defending the facility and those hiding in makeshift covers. The drills, which lasted for 30 minutes, wrapped up as the Taiwanese military practiced clearing out residual enemy forces, brandishing Taiwans flag in the end to signify their simulated successful defense of the airport. The airport drill was newly added to the Han Kuang military exercise held annually since 1984 and involving all branches of Taiwans military including its reserve forces in an effort to boost overall defense capabilities. Airspace control measures were imposed during the drill, with planes temporarily prohibited from landing or taking off, a Taoyuan International Airport spokesperson told CNN. There was no major impact on passengers after the airport adjusted schedules for eight flights, the spokesperson added. Elsewhere, Taiwans military canceled some Han Kuang exercises as Typhoon Doksuri made landfall in the northern Philippines on Wednesday. The storms outer bands are beginning to impact eastern Taiwan, according to the islands Central Weather Bureau and is set to press on toward the island and China in the coming days. Taiwans Air Force decided to call of the drills at Taitungs Fengnian airport on its eastern shores on Tuesday due to safety concerns as the typhoon approached, the Ministry of National Defense said in a statement Monday. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Taiwans main airport becomes battleground for simulated Chinese invasion" The jury reached majority decisions on the nine counts against Kevin Spacey after more than 12 hours of deliberations (Daniel LEAL) Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey was found not guilty in Britain Wednesday of nine alleged sex offences against men, which follows the Oscar winner's being cleared in a US case. The star of "American Beauty" and drama series "House of Cards", who turned 64 on Wednesday, was acquitted by majority verdicts in London following a trial that lasted several weeks. "I'm enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before they reached their decision and I am humbled by the outcome today," he told reporters outside court. It comes less than a year after a New York court dismissed a $40 million sexual misconduct lawsuit brought against him, and follows charges of indecent and sexual assault being dropped in Massachusetts in 2019. Spacey's once-stellar career has been halted by the various allegations of sexual offences, which he has always consistently denied and has never been convicted of. The jury in London cleared Spacey of all nine counts that he faced after more than 12 hours of deliberations. They included seven counts of sexual assault, one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The offences allegedly occurred in 2005 and 2008 in London, and in 2013 in Gloucestershire, western England. Jurors began considering their verdicts on Monday, after hearing evidence from the four alleged victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons. British rock star Elton John was also among those to testify, as a witness for Spacey. The prosecution claimed he was a "sexual bully" who revelled in making others feel uncomfortable, including by aggressively grabbing men's crotches. - 'Madness' - One of victims, a former aspiring actor, said he woke up to find Spacey performing a sex act on him, suggesting the actor "drugged" him. Story continues Spacey was accused of grabbing another man's crotch "so hard" they nearly came off the road while driving to a fundraising event. Spacey, whose full name is Kevin Spacey Fowler, called the claims "madness" and a "stab in the back". He had been on unconditional bail since first appearing in court in Britain last year. The actor enjoyed a highly successful career with roles such as a middle-aged father lusting after a teen in "American Beauty," a serial killer in "Se7en" and the villain in "Superman Returns". He worked as artistic director at London's Old Vic Theatre between 2004 and 2015. In 2017 he was one of the first stars caught up in the global #MeToo movement and was accused of sexual assault by multiple young men. He was dropped from the final season of the political drama "House of Cards" and other projects. The New York court dismissed the $40 million sexual misconduct lawsuit brought against him in October last year. The complainant, actor Anthony Rapp, alleged the star had assaulted him when he was 14. He brought the civil case after being told it was too late to bring a criminal charge but failed to convince the jury in that case. In 2019, charges of indecent and sexual assault were dropped against Spacey in Massachusetts. He was expected to address the media outside Southwark Crown Court later on Wednesday. jj/jwp/jmm By Hannah Lang WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A key congressional committee on Wednesday advanced a bipartisan bill that aims to develop a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, a milestone for Capitol Hill in its efforts to codify federal oversight for the digital asset industry. The crypto industry has been in the regulatory crosshairs since investors were burned last year by sudden collapses of Celsius Network, Voyager Digital, FTX and other companies. The bill passed by the House Financial Services Committee would define when a cryptocurrency is a security or a commodity and expand the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) oversight of the crypto industry, while clarifying the Securities and Exchange Commission's jurisdiction, as many crypto advocates complain of the agency's perceived overreach. A handful of Democrats, including Reps. Jim Himes and Ritchie Torres, joined committee Republicans in voting for the bill. The House Agriculture Committee is scheduled to consider the same bill Thursday. "As other jurisdictions like the UK, the [European Union], Singapore and Australia have moved forward with clear regulatory frameworks for digital assets, the United States is at risk of falling behind. We intend to change that today," said Representative Patrick McHenry, the Republican chair of the House Financial Services Committee, at the markup. The markup - where legislation is debated and brought to a vote, paving the way for a full vote by the House of Representatives - is the first time a crypto regulatory bill was put to a vote in Congress, a victory for crypto lobbyists who have pushed lawmakers to provide regulatory clarity for the industry. "Obviously we've had some important decisions come from the courts in the past, but this is by far the most significant legislative moment that we've had," said Kristin Smith, CEO of the Blockchain Association. The bill has galvanized many in the crypto industry, who say that with Democrats' support, the bill could have a shot in the Senate. Story continues "For anything to be sticky, it's going to need some bipartisan backing," said Miller Whitehouse-Levine, CEO of the DeFi Education Fund, a lobbying group focused on decentralized finance. But some Democrats, including Representative Maxine Waters, the top Democrat on the Financial Services committee, fiercely oppose the bill. Waters said the bill would create more confusion and offer consumers and investors fewer protections than they have currently. "This bill heeds the calls from the crypto industry while disregarding the views of the administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission and consumer and investor advocates," she said. The measure may also face obstacles in the Democratic-led Senate, where the head of the Senate Banking Committee, Sherrod Brown, has said he is unsure if additional legislation to regulate crypto is necessary. CLARITY ON TOKENS Crypto companies started out in a regulatory gray area, but the SEC has steadily asserted its authority over the industry, arguing that most cryptocurrencies are securities and subject to investor protection rules. That effort escalated last month when the SEC sued crypto exchanges Coinbase and Binance for failing to register some crypto tokens. The pair deny the allegations. Most crypto companies dispute the SEC's jurisdiction, and have pushed Congress in recent months to write laws clarifying that cryptocurrencies are more akin to commodities than securities. Lawmakers are also set to consider on Thursday a bill that would have the Federal Reserve write requirements for issuing stablecoins while preserving the authority of state regulators. The bill was modified to address concerns from some Democrats, including Waters, that stablecoin issuers could evade stricter oversight by opting to be regulated under a state regime. While McHenry in an interview this month told Politico he remained hopeful that he and Waters would reach an agreement on the bill, he also said a federal stablecoin regime is "not essential," adding that there are state frameworks already in place. McHenry on Wednesday said he had "no news" on discussions with Waters on the stablecoin bill, but that the two were continuing negotiations. (Reporting by Hannah Lang in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis, Mark Porter and Diane Craft) By David Morgan and Katharine Jackson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives began debating the first of 12 fiscal 2024 spending bills on Wednesday, as lawmakers edged toward a looming showdown with the Democratic-led Senate that could trigger a government shutdown this autumn. The House voted 217-206, roughly along party lines, to adopt a measure that opened debate on a military construction and veterans affairs appropriations bill, amid signs that Republican leaders were near an agreement with hardline conservatives who have demanded cuts that would leave next year's overall spending at a fiscal 2022 level of $1.47 trillion. Hardline conservatives, including members of the House Freedom Caucus, warned Republican leaders this week that they would not support appropriations bills without assurances on spending. Freedom Caucus member Andy Ogles told Reuters that the two sides were trying to finalize such a deal. "It's a work in progress. Nothing's finalized. But I'm cautiously optimistic," Ogles said without providing details. "Part of that process is how do you get assurances that will actually achieve that number," the Republican added. McCarthy's office was not immediately available for comment. The House is expected to vote on passage of the military construction bill later this week and could turn as early as Thursday to a second appropriations bill, which would fund agriculture programs, rural development initiatives and the Food and Drug Administration. The agriculture bill could face resistance from more moderate Republican lawmakers, including some who oppose its restrictions on abortion services. Representative Don Bacon said the legislation could also lose support from the center if last-minute changes led to further cuts in spending. "If these guys keep pushing for more cuts, it may be in jeopardy," the Republican said. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other Republican leaders hope this week's votes will give them the upper hand against the Democratic-led Senate. Each chamber is expected to pass its own spending legislation and then try to hammer out compromise bills that can be sent to Democratic President Joe Biden. Story continues Lawmakers have until the current fiscal year expires on Sept. 30 to fund the government or risk a partial government shutdown. But with hardliners pushing for lower spending, the House and Senate are at least $120 billion apart, with Senate appropriators aiming at the $1.59 trillion in fiscal 2024 discretionary spending agreed by McCarthy and Biden in June. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said negotiations between the two chambers could begin during the annual August recess in an effort to move them toward agreement in September. Biden on Monday vowed to veto the House Republican spending bills if they make it to his desk, saying they backed away from the deal. The military and veterans bill would provide $155.7 billion in discretionary spending for military construction and veterans affairs. The health and agriculture bill would provide $25.3 billion, but that includes about $7.5 billion moved from Democratic programs. Democrats rejected the military construction bill, saying it would slash important programs and impose "a kitchen sink of culture wars" on the military and veterans. "It would prohibit training that helps people from different backgrounds work together, that addresses the inequalities that still exist in our military. It would allow homophobia to run rampant," said Democratic Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez. (Reporting by David Morgan and Katharine Jackson; editing by Susan Heavey, Bill Berkrot and Jonathan Oatis) A version of this story appears in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. There is a tendency to view the different elements of the immigration landscape in isolation. Texas is being sued by the US Department of Justice for acting on its own to put obstructions along the border. New York and other cities complain they are overwhelmed by buses of migrants being sent from the border. In the absence of action by Congress, court decisions are setting US border policy. But the elements are all interrelated. I talked to CNNs Priscilla Alvarez to get her perspective as a White House reporter with a deep background in reporting on all aspects of the larger immigration story. Our conversation, conducted by email, is below. And dont miss her story that published Tuesday: Federal judge blocks Bidens controversial asylum policy in a major blow to administration. Suing Texas over floating barriers WOLF: The US government is suing Texas to remove floating barriers from the Rio Grande. But its just the latest in a series of escalating measures Texas has undertaken on its own to keep migrants out of the country. What is the state of play at the border? ALVAREZ: The handling of the US-Mexico border has long been a point of contention between President (Joe) Biden and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, whos argued that the administration hasnt done enough to enforce the border. As an affront to Bidens border policies, Abbott has transported migrants to Democratic-led cities without coordinating with city officials, deployed more personnel to the Texas-Mexico border, and earlier this month, installed buoys in the Rio Grande. Border agents have historically worked closely with the Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety. But the latest steps taken by the state have made day-to-day operations more difficult. DPS made certain portions of the Texas-Mexico border more difficult to access, marking a departure from the coordination that previously existed between law enforcement. Agents on the ground have also sent regular reports to US Customs and Border Protection headquarters about what theyve observed as Abbotts operation has been underway, a Homeland Security official told me. Story continues But disturbing images of migrants with injuries and troubling reports of Texas troops pushing migrants back to Mexico forced the Bidens administration hands. Last week, the Justice Department said its assessing the situation along the Texas-Mexico border and on Monday, the DOJ filed a lawsuit on a separate, though related matter: the installation of a floating barrier. The lawsuit says Texas didnt seek authorization before placing the floating barrier in the Rio Grande and poses a threat to navigation. That court battle could take months to play out. But in the interim, it could fuel tensions between agents and troops on the ground and further escalate the feud between Biden and Abbott. Why a predicted migrant surge didnt happen WOLF: Youve written about how an expected surge of migrants after the end of a Covid-era policy known as Title 42 never materialized. What happened? ALVAREZ: Lets provide some context first. Migration often ebbs and flows. But the Biden administration has had to grapple with unprecedented mass movement of people in the Western hemisphere, which is in part the outcome of the coronavirus pandemic decimating conditions in the region. The administration relied on a public health authority, known as Title 42, to quickly expel migrants back to Mexico or their origin countries. That authority had been invoked under former President (Donald) Trump and used to turn away migrants, including asylum-seekers, at the US-Mexico border on public health grounds. In the days leading up to the expiration of Title 42, thousands of migrants tried to cross the US southern border, knowing that they could face tougher penalties after the end of the authority including bans on reentry to the United States. And thats indeed been the case. Increased deportations and tougher policies, paired with other, new legal pathways to the United States, appear to have driven down the number of people attempting to unlawfully cross the US-Mexico border. In June, for example, US Border Patrol arrested nearly 100,000 migrants along the US southern border, marking a decrease from May and marking the lowest monthly border encounters since February 2021, according to US Customs and Border Protection data. Busing migrants to far-flung US cities WOLF: Far from the border in Texas, New York Mayor Eric Adams, after earlier welcoming migrants bused to his city, has said with increasing urgency that the city is full. Migrants are now also being bused to Los Angeles. Whats the latest on the busing angle? ALVAREZ: The busing is still happening. Since last year, Texas has bused more than 27,000 migrants to six cities, according to Abbotts office. The cities include Washington, DC, New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver and Los Angeles. One of the main issues with the transport of migrants to these cities that officials often raise alarm about is the lack of coordination. The governors office doesnt generally notify cities that migrants are being sent there, leaving border NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) to try to fill the information void. Its important to note, though, that migrants who are released from government custody have been vetted and processed by federal authorities and are released as they go through their immigration court proceedings. An immigration judge ultimately decides whether a migrant has grounds to stay in the United States or be ordered removed. Who is actually trying to solve this problem? WOLF: All of these things are related the efforts by Texas to create its own border policy, the difficulty New York and cities are facing as they deal with an influx of migrants everything feeds from the lack of more comprehensive immigration reform. Is there any movement in Congress toward dealing with all of this in a comprehensive way? ALVAREZ: Bills addressing the immigration system have been introduced by both parties. Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas, for example, has introduced legislation that addresses work visa programs, among other parts of the system. But its such a divisive issue that legislation struggles to move forward. Both parties are so far apart on the issue that even though Democrats and Republicans acknowledge the US immigration system is broken, they cant agree on how to fix it. Without comprehensive reform, the federal government is left to implementing a patchwork of policies and then playing defense when lawsuits are filed against them, often resulting in policy whiplash. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The U.S. Navy has announced that it will name a future Navajo-class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue ship after Nisqually environmental and Tribal rights activist Billy Frank Jr. The USNS Billy Frank Jr. (T-ATS 11) will provide ocean-going tug, salvage, and rescue capabilities to support Fleet operations, the Navys news release said. U.S. Navy ships can be towed by Navajo-class ships and have 6,000 square feet of deck space. In a prepared statement from Willie Frank III, son of Billy Frank Jr. and Chairman of the Nisqually Indian Tribe, Willie Frank said that the naming of the ship is truly an honor for the Frank family, Wa-he-lut School and the Nisqually Nation. Willie Frank noted that his father, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 83, was proud to have served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is still teaching and bringing us together, Willie Frank said. We have a chance to tell our story and educate a whole new audience about the Nisqually Tribe, Billy Frank Jr., and the 29 tribes in the state of Washington. As Chairman of the Nisqually Tribe, we want to thank the United States Navy for recognizing and honoring our Nisqually veteran, father and uncle. This also honors all Native Americans who serve in the military at the highest rates per capita of any population. The Navys news release noted Franks many contributions to environmental and Tribal treaty rights, including his fish-ins at the Washington State Capitol, where he protested the arrests of Indigenous fishermen who had been blamed for the decline of stock at salmon fisheries in the 1960s. Republican House Rep. J.T. Wilcox and his family has had ties to the Frank family and the Nisqually Tribe for generations. He told McClatchy that he thinks the decision to name the ship after Billy Frank Jr. is a good idea and validates how perceptions have changed about Washington State Tribes. This is one more recognition of what an impact he made on the world, Wilcox said. Story continues Additionally, Wilcox said, Frank helped people understand that the Nisqually culture not only depended on the natural world, but also the act of harvesting fish. Billys victory has become mainstream now. Theres no dispute that he was right, Wilcox said. The Navys news release noted that the name selection follows the tradition of naming towing, salvage, and rescue ships after prominent Native Americans or Native American tribes. I am honored for the opportunity to name a naval ship after Billy Frank Jr., a man who was a proponent and leader for Native American rights, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said in the news release. Billy Frank Jr. spent his life serving others and his namesake ship will do the same as it travels around the world enabling humanitarian assistance and the maintenance of freedom. A spokesperson for the Navy Office of Information told McClatchy in an email that at this time there are no details for the commissioning date of the USNS Billy Frank Jr. However, they said that the keel laying is projected for later this summer and the christening is projected for early 2024. In addition to the Naval ship, a statue of the late Tribal activist will represent Washington state at the nations Capitol building after state lawmakers voted to remove the current statue of pioneer Marcus Whitman, although it is unclear when the Frank statue will be finished. In 2015, Frank was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. That same year the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge was renamed the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. So-called 'legacy' admissions give college applicants with family or donor ties to a university a leg up in the admissions process (Joseph Prezioso) The US Department of Education has opened a civil rights investigation into Harvard University's policy of giving family members of former students and donors preference in admissions decisions, documents showed Tuesday. The probe into the prestigious university's so-called "legacy admissions" policy, a practice used by many colleges across the United States, comes less than a month after a major Supreme Court decision banned the use of race in college application decisions. That decision, in which Harvard was also one of the targets, prompted fresh debate over the fairness of admissions policies at America's top universities, and the extent to which those policies contribute to inequities. The probe by the Education Department's civil rights wing is in response to a complaint filed by three organizations representing minority students. They argue that due to Harvard's historically white student body, legacy admissions pulling from alumni discriminate against minority applicants. In their complaint, the groups argue that nearly 70 percent of Harvard applicants with family connections or links to donors are white. "The boost that the predominately white applicants receive from Donor and Legacy Preferences is substantial," the groups said in their complaint, adding that the recent Supreme Court decision increased the importance of "rooting out preferences that unjustifiably disadvantage applicants of color." The groups posted a copy of the Education Department's letter to Harvard stating that a civil rights inquiry had been opened. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, while not wanting to comment directly on the investigation, said President Joe Biden is generally opposed to legacy admissions. Biden has made clear "that legacy admissions hold back our ability to build diverse student bodies," Jean-Pierre said. When reached for comment by AFP, Harvard did not address the Education Department probe directly, saying only that it was "in the process of reviewing aspects of our admissions policies" following the Supreme Court's decision on the use of race in admissions, known as affirmative action. Story continues In that case, the court sided with an activist group, Students for Fair Admissions, that sued the oldest private and public institutions of higher education in the country -- Harvard and the University of North Carolina (UNC) -- over their admissions policies. The group claimed that race-conscious admissions policies in effect discriminated against Asian Americans competing to enter the two schools. Harvard and UNC, like a number of other competitive US schools, considered an applicant's race or ethnicity as a factor to ensure a diverse student body and representation of minorities. Such affirmative action policies arose from the civil rights movement in the 1960s, aiming to help address the legacy of discrimination against African Americans. des/nro The US State Department is calling for an end to hostilities in the immediate vicinity of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), as the mining of the nuclear facility threatens the security of the entire region. Source: Ukrinform, citing Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State Quote: "Such a violent and volatile type of activity near, in such close proximity to, a nuclear power plant in this case, ZNPP is incredibly unsafe." Details: Patel was commenting on the issue of the United States position on the IAEA's announcement that landmines have been found on the territory of the ZNPP. Patel stressed that this puts the immediate region in harms way. "And so we continue to call for such activity so close to ZNPP to stop," the State Department representative said. Background: The US has warned the Kremlin of imminent liability if Russia creates a nuclear disaster at the ZNPP. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The US Embassy in Dublin issued the alert on Tuesday The US Embassy in Dublin has issued a security alert to its citizens in the Republic of Ireland. It encourages all citizens to be aware of their surroundings when travelling in unfamiliar or crowded locations and empty streets. The alert also urges people to avoid walking alone, if possible, especially at night. It comes as a 57-year-old New Yorker is in intensive care after he was assaulted in Dublin last week. The alert reads: "With a number of recent incidents reported in Irish media, the US Embassy in Dublin reminds US citizens to exercise good personal security practices while traveling." It continues by advising travellers to be vigilant for pickpockets and muggers, to limit headphone and mobile phone use in public, to be mindful of alcohol consumption and to keep a low profile. American tourist Stephen Termini, from Buffalo, New York, is believed to have been kicked and beaten by a group of youths on Dublin's Store Street on 19 July. A teenage boy was charged in connection with the assault on Sunday and appeared before a special sitting of the Children's Court. He was remanded on bail to appear before the Children's Court on Thursday. Several other people have been attacked in Dublin this week - a woman was hospitalised after she was assaulted in the Temple Bar area on Monday and a man was also taken to hospital after he was seriously injured and robbed in Jervis Street on Tuesday. The Taoiseach (Irish PM) said he will discuss matters to tackle street crime Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar said he would meet Garda (Irish police) Commissioner Drew Harris next week to discuss measures to tackle street crime. Mr Varadkar told reporters on Tuesday that many people felt Irish cities deteriorated during the Covid pandemic and had yet to return to the level of safety they once had. "We have to fix that because its a basic entitlement that people should feel safe walking at night in our towns and cities," he said. "It does mean more gardai and a more visible presence of gardai on our streets." There is currently a plan to hire 1,000 new police officers to the force, however Mr Varadkar admitted it was "going to be difficult" to reach this target. He said suggestions for easing police recruitment, including allowing people over the age of 35 to apply, would form part of his meeting with Mr Harris. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Undersecretary Jay Shambaugh said on Wednesday the Biden administration will not hesitate to take targeted actions against China to secure the national security interests of the U.S. and its allies and to protect human rights, but added that the two countries must cooperate on global challenges. In prepared testimony before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Shambaugh said economic decoupling would be "disastrous" for both the U.S. and China and nearly impossible to achieve. "When necessary, we will use a suite of tools to achieve our national security goals. It is our core mission to protect the American people from national security risks while also clearly communicating our position and intent to China to reduce the risk of misunderstanding," said Shambaugh, who heads Treasury's international affairs. The Biden administration is weighing new restrictions on outbound private investment into China and other countries of concern. The Senate voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to back legislation that would require U.S. companies to notify federal agencies of proposed investments in Chinese technologies such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence. "To be clear: neither targeted national security actions nor attempts to build diversified supply chains represent decoupling," Shambaugh said in the prepared remarks. "We seek a fair and healthy economic relationship that benefits both countries and supports American workers and businesses." U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visited Beijing earlier this month to reopen communications and make the same points to China's economic leaders, saying the trip put the relationship on "surer footing," though the world's two largest economies remained at odds over many issues. Shambaugh said these differences included U.S. objections to Chinese "non-market" economic practices and excessive government support that put U.S. companies at a disadvantage. He added that the U.S. has also objected to China's "economic coercion" to punish countries for diplomatic actions by cutting off imports or exports. Story continues He said the Treasury also has been troubled by China's recent punitive actions against U.S. firms and export controls on critical minerals for semiconductors. "While we are still assessing their impact, these actions reinforce the importance of our administration's efforts to build resilient and diversified supply chains," Shambaugh added. AREAS OF COOPERATION Shambaugh, who took over as the Treasury's top economic diplomat in January, said the U.S. and China must also be able to cooperate on pressing global challenges, such as climate change and growing debt distress in developing countries. The Treasury's engagement with China has yielded some dividends, including progress on debt restructurings for Zambia, Ghana and Sri Lanka, but more needs to be done, he added. He also said protecting U.S. economic interests requires "strong and reliable international leadership." This requires stronger engagement with allies and partners, particularly low- and middle-income countries, he said, adding that this also requires making sure that the International Monetary Fund and World Bank are "adequately" funded. Ensuring that there is a sufficient amount of "high-standards" lending available to low-income countries through these and other international financial institutions will help keep them from becoming dependent on loans from China, he added. (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Paul Simao) When Joe Biden tapped Kamala Harris to be his running mate in 2020, it was perhaps the most easily predicted vice presidential choice in recent memory. Biden had made it clear that after emerging from the most diverse Democratic presidential candidate field in history, he would select a woman to join him on the ticket. The dynamics of the Democratic Party, which relies heavily on the votes of African American women to win elections, made it seem likely that Biden would select a running mate from this demographic group, especially as the murder of George Floyd brought race issues to the top of the public agenda. She is also the first Asian American to be nominated on a major presidential ticket or serve as vice president. For her part, Harris brought a number of traits to the ticket other than her race and gender first and foremost, her high profile as a first-term senator who was considered a strong candidate for the presidential nomination herself. Harris candidacy was well-received at the time. But since taking office, her vice presidency has been a much bumpier ride. There have been rumblings about Biden replacing her on the ticket in 2024, though this most likely amounts to the usual speculation among pundits while we wait for something real to happen during election season. According to a recent poll, only 13 percent of Democrats would want to see her run in 2024 if Biden were unable to run. And while Harris has struggled with higher net unfavorable ratings than some recent predecessors, no one is exactly sure why. What does political science have to say about this? Scholarship on the vice presidency, the presidency and American politics points to the possibility that Harris serves at the tricky crossroads of two developments that cut in opposite directions. On the one hand, the vice presidency has been strengthened over the course of the past 40 years, raising expectations for how much power and influence she should wield in the job. On the other, party dynamics mean that vice presidents are tasked with enhancing the appeal of presidential administrations to different elements of their parties, and partisan polarization makes it unlikely that theyll do so while attracting much cross-aisle support. Story continues In other words, the vice presidency is two things at once a party office, and also an executive branch office. And sometimes on top of that, its a third thing, too, which is a legislative office, as it was during Harris first two years when she was frequently needed to show up on Capitol Hill to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate. Its a lot to do at once. Whats more, these roles sometimes conflict. The institutional role of the vice presidency is all about bolstering the White House and participating in the type of governance that often happens out of sight advising, management and negotiation. The party aspect of the job, by contrast, is public, often symbolic, and demands broadening the scope and reach of the White House, rather than narrowing the focus to achieve administration goals. Like other vice presidents before her, Harris is an important party liaison. Part of the idea behind selecting Harris was to make up for criticism within the Democratic coalition that Biden was too old, too centrist and too much like the last 40-some presidents and too little like the modern Democratic Party demographically. Recent research on the impact of vice presidential candidates suggests that while no one votes for the vice president, exactly, the choice of running mate can affect how voters see the presidential candidates priorities. The selection of Harris said that Biden valued diversity and understood who the key groups in the Democratic Party were. Harris is hardly the only vice president to step into this kind of role Dan Quayle was chosen partly for his credibility with social and movement conservatives, a group that didnt really trust George H.W. Bush as one of their own. But its notable that Quayles vice presidency wasnt considered especially successful. He invited controversy and even ridicule by wading into the culture wars. His role connecting the White House to conservatives did little to enhance his status as a trusted advisor on administration priorities like foreign policy, illustrating the potential tensions between vice presidents roles as public liaisons and high-level advisors. Harris also serves in a different context, in which partisan polarization runs deep, and identity issues are at the center of many of these disagreements. Her outreach to key Democratic groups carries the expectation of what political scientists call descriptive representation that shell be able to effectively translate the concerns of women and people of color into governing priorities and achievements. And thats where things get much more difficult. The growth of the modern vice presidency is usually traced back to Walter Mondale, who served under Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981 and transformed the vice presidency into an office with much more power, proximity to the president and policy influence. According to legal scholar Joel Goldstein, who has written extensively about the vice presidency, Mondale amplified his influence by taking on troubleshooting in a wide range of difficult foreign policy, domestic policy and political problems from Middle East peace to Ted Kennedys decision to run against the president in the 1980 Democratic primaries. Mondale also enhanced his role in the administration by avoiding being pigeon-holed into line assignments, or specific policy portfolios or specially created task forces. The vice president most closely associated with the growing executive power of the office is probably Dick Cheney, and he is so far an exception someone who came in with a fairly long resume of foreign policy experience and was suspected to be more powerful than the president in some areas. While Cheney was a long-serving and loyal Republican, his role in the Bush White House wasnt especially public-facing or directed at shoring up support among key party groups. So far, no other vice president has reached Cheneys level of influence or advocacy for strengthening the executive branch. But since Mondales vice presidency in the 1970s, all veeps have expected to do some troubleshooting, be taken seriously as a presidential advisor on major and difficult decisions and have had the physical infrastructure a permanent residence at the Naval Observatory and an office in the West Wing to base their work. Vice presidents have become much more integrated into the executive branch, and, with few exceptions, the presidents inner circle. As political scientist Jody Baumgartner points out, the expanded vice presidency is a response, in part, to a problem laid out in the 1937 Brownlow Report, which concluded that the modern president needs help in the execution of his duties. Harris fits into this model pretty clearly shes been given important and difficult issues to address. Like some other post-Mondale vice presidents Al Gore for example shes been assigned to head up specific policy areas, like abortion and reproductive rights, voting rights and immigration, as well as some other foreign policy assignments. Shes also leading the National Space Council. In other words, Harris has been identified with a portfolio thats connected to key Democratic priorities and is also consistent with the descriptive representation expected of her. Some have cautioned that Harris' mere presence in the administration, however, does not guarantee progress on issues important to women and communities of color in writer Mikki Kendalls memorable phrase, we must not take advancement as achievement. So Harris faces additional pressure in this area, as well as potential backlash. As numerous experts have observed, Black women in politics experience a double bind of racism and sexism and receive additional scrutiny of their public images, including their appearances. Harris has to navigate all of this terrain, all while operating in an office with an ever-evolving job description. For one thing, representation and the executive branch are always a tricky combination. Scholars have devoted a great deal of attention to figuring out how descriptive representation works in Congress and state legislatures, where representation is a much more direct part of the job description. In a classic article on descriptive representation, political scientist Jane Mansbridge argues that descriptive representation works when someone from an underrepresented group introduces a new perspective that had previously not been considered. (She cites an example from the 1990s about then-Sen. Carol Moseley Braun (D-Ill.). Congress was considering a patent for a flag representing the United Daughters of the Confederacy which featured the Confederate flag. As Mansbridge describes, Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) attempted to attach the renewal of this design patent to an unrelated bill, and Moseley Braun raised objections defeating a measure that might otherwise have passed without debate or notice.) But these moments are much easier to observe in a legislative body. The vice president has likely served this function in executive branch discussions. But the nature of those discussions means that we probably wont know about that until much later, if ever. Theres another tension between representation and coalition outreach: They conflict with consolidating the White House agenda. Weve seen this tension in the issues Harris has worked on, with varying results. On abortion, Harris has become an important spokesperson and enjoys more credibility than Biden partly because of her gender and partly because Biden has recently been to the right of his party on the issue. On abortion, Harris various roles descriptive representation, the partys position and the administrations stance are in relative harmony, and reflect the views of a large segment of the public. On immigration, however, this has been much messier. Harris has to voice the White House position on issues, and caught flak from both the left and the right for her statements about the border and migration from Central America. Harris parents might be immigrants, but that doesnt mean the Biden administration will be able to solve a difficult issue that has eluded many past administrations. Same with voting rights Harris has been tasked with leading on this issue, but the real problem is that the party doesnt have the votes in Congress to pass proposed bills that strengthen federal protections. Bottom line: On some of her main troubleshooting assignments, theres little she can do to advance the issue. Does all of this explain Harris flagging public support? Kind of. Vice presidential approval started reflecting hyper-partisanship starting with Joe Biden, and Harris latest numbers actually look pretty similar to Bidens (as vice president) early on: approval in the 70s with Democrats, and lower than 20 percent with Republicans. Harris actually fares better than Biden did nearly 80 percent approval to Bidens 72 percent (in October 2009). More detailed recent polling from YouGov allows us to compare her approval as vice president with Bidens as president: As of May 15, shes underwater with both men and women, while Biden breaks even with women and is about 6 points behind with men. Where we see a big demographic difference is in race: Harris net approval-disapproval with whites is -21 to Bidens -15, and its not clear she makes up the difference with Black voters she and Biden are both fairly popular among African Americans, but Harris approval has dropped some since the 2020 campaign and seems to bounce around a bit. In other words, its possible shes paying the price of negative reactions to her racial background, but without a consistent benefit from groups more favorably disposed to the administration agenda. Comparison with Bidens time as Barack Obamas vice president is also instructive. Biden, selected partly for his decades of experience in Congress, served as an important advisor on foreign and domestic policy. His differences with Obama on policy toward Ukraine and Afghanistan were not widely publicized until after Obama left office. To the extent Biden cultivated a public persona in the vice presidency, it was a combination of the kind of politician Americans are more used to seeing in high-level positions a seasoned white, male former senator and the novelty character created by the satirical newspaper The Onion, which depicted Biden as a freewheeling party animal who washed his 1981 Trans Am shirtless in the White House driveway. Biden often seemed to exemplify freedom, not constraint, in his position, making blunt statements and even pushing the administration on policy like same-sex marriage. In sum, Harris faces all of the usual problems that vice presidents do a murky official role, with her personal political project subsumed by the administrations goals, and no guarantee that loyalty to those goals will be rewarded with status or political clout. She inherits the baggage of the Biden administration, including its partisan baggage, but without the benefits or prestige of the presidential seal. But her historic role is also a very challenging one: Shes charged with bringing descriptive representation to the White House, but its not clear that shes enjoying especially strong favor with the underrepresented groups she belongs to, even as she has weathered racist and sexist attacks and possibly lost support as a result. Being tasked with these jobs may not have undermined her status in the Biden White House, but the recent record suggests that more successful vice presidents are those able to work behind the scenes. Carving out a public role is riskier, but Harris has little choice in needing to take this approach to the vice presidency. Unlike Cheney or Biden as VP, she isnt the one bringing experience to the administration. Bidens age has also meant that younger members of his team have faced pressure to be the new face of the Democratic Party, while still fulfilling the obligations to serve in the administration and articulate its priorities. This limits their ability to carve out their own priorities and political identities. Its also not entirely clear how much of her political struggles are real, and how much are simply media hype. Word salad is a common headline in conservative media after her speeches; while shes hardly the first politician to face this problem, the defenses from Democratic corners are less robust than those from the Republican side for, say, the speaking styles of George W. Bush or Donald Trump. High turnover in her staff, especially early on, invited criticism. Instability and staff treatment are important issues. But experts also note that staff turnover can becommon in high-level positions, and that these kinds of stories are especially susceptible to double standards for women and people of color. The vice presidency has long been a challenging office for politicians, and not always a friendly place to cultivate presidential ambitions. Harris has had an even harder time than her recent predecessors. Polarized politics have something to do with this she inspires vocal, often harsh objection from political opponents, and defenses from her own party tend not to match the intensity of the criticism. This despite her clear choice as a party politician intended to appeal to key groups in the party and carry the banner on signature issues roles that dont obviously go with the terrain of the vice presidency. In the final analysis, her political difficulties, and their causes, are nebulous and hard to pin down. Kind of like the vice presidency itself. The Virginia Beach School Board decided against discussing the states model policies regarding transgender students in closed session after several board members raised concerns about a lack of transparency. Tuesdays agenda had included consultation with legal counsel to review the Department of Educations Model Policies on Ensuring Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginias Public Schools, however this was removed Tuesday in a 6-3 vote. Board members Staci Martin and Kimberly Melnyk were not in attendance during the vote. Board chair Trenace Riggs and members Beverly Anderson and Jessica Owens voted to keep the discussion on the agenda because they wanted to hear from the school board attorney on any potential liability and maintain attorney-client privilege. Vice chair Carolyn Weems said she supported taking the discussion off the closed session because we have nothing to hide. Board member Victoria Manning also said she did not believe it was in compliance with the state code regarding closed session. No action regarding the model policies had been planned for Tuesday and further discussion is expected in future meetings. The board also opted not to expand membership from three to five members for the policy review committee, which is tasked with bringing recommendations to the board regarding division policies and bylaws. It will continue to have three members Kathleen Brown, Anderson and Owens. Kelsey Kendall, kelsey.kendall@virginiamedia.com A Virginia-based sailor who was lifeguarding at the Dam Neck Annex beaches rescued a child from drowning last month. On June 30, Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Michael Y. Yang, then a student at the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Oceana in Virginia Beach, noticed a boy struggling to swim in a rip current roughly 20 yards off shore. It was very high tides. [The] strong current pulled the kid into deeper water, Yang, 21, said in a Navy release. [The] kid began struggling and I noticed from the stand and radioed Charlie Down and sprinted and swam out to him. This Navy rescue swimmer saved lives after a boat capsized in San Diego The boy, 9, originally cried for help while swallowing water, but Yang said the child was unresponsive when he reached the boy, adding that he suspected the child passed out from exhaustion but was alert again once they reached shore. When I got to him, I jammed the [lifeguard rescue] can into his chest and shouted at him to hold the can but he wasnt responding or grabbing it, so I grabbed his body with my left arm and kept him tight on the can with my right arm while executing a combat sidestroke kicking toward shore, Yang said. Yang brought the child to the shore and continued to monitor his condition before EMTs got to the scene and took the boy to a hospital. The Navy said the boys condition then stabilized. Yang, who is now assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 32 in Virginia Beach, earned a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his actions saving the child, according to the Navy. Yang is originally from Savannah, Georgia, and joined the Navy in 2019. He started life guarding in high school and has continued to do so since. Lava Love In a spectacular display of Earth's power, a new volcano has erupted in Iceland and National Geographic reports that some scientists think it's the latest sign that the region, which was dormant for centuries, will experience much more volcanic activity going forward. The volcano, located just an hour's drive southwest from the capital of Reykjavik, erupted into existence with a shower of hot lava and poisonous gas on July 10 after the region experienced numerous earthquakes, according to the magazine. Within a week of its fiery birth, the baby volcano had grown to almost 100 feet and counting, the BBC reported. All signs point to increased volcanic activity that may last for generations, which scientists had previously predicted last year in National Geographic. "This could herald the start of decades of occasional eruptions," Dave McGarvie, a volcano scientist at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom, told the outlet last year. Mini Mordor The area around the volcano looks barren and windswept, like a scene from Mordor in "Lord of the Rings." But because of the volcano's proximity to the capital and an international airport, it's become a site for hordes of tourists curious to see a visually-arresting natural wonder. The area had been dormant for nearly 800 years until an eruption in 2021, according to National Geographic. These fissures of molten lava coming to the surface are the result of the Reykjanes Peninsula sitting atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the mag reports, which separates two major tectonic plates, the North American and the Eurasian. The ridge is spreading as the two plates pull apart little by little over the years, encouraging the growth of fissures and eventually the flow of molten magma coming to the surface. Though the latest volcano is quite close to civilization, there have been no reports of it damaging human settlements or infrastructure. The last time volcanic activity in Iceland caused major disruptions was in 2010, according to the Associated Press, when ash from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano caused more than 100,000 flights to be canceled amid massive closures of the airspace over Europe. More on volcanos: Violent Volcano Eruption Triggers an Ungodly Number of Lightning Flashes (Bloomberg) -- Voter turnout is likely to be a defining factor in Argentinas wide-open presidential race, as declining participation rates tend to favor candidates with more ardent followers such as hard-liner Patricia Bullrich and outsider Javier Milei, according to top polling firm Isonomia. Most Read from Bloomberg Juan Germano, a director at the Buenos Aires-based pollster, said such a trend can be observed in different types of surveys his firm has carried out. Bullrich and Milei perform better in phone and online interviews that usually attract more motivated Argentines, while centrist Buenos Aires Mayor Horacio Rodriguez Larreta and Economy Minister Sergio Massa are favored by in-person interviews. The gap is considerable and raises additional concerns about the accuracy of Argentine polls, which already have a spotty track record. As an example, Germano cited different surveys for the Aug. 13 primary election that will determine the candidate for the main opposition coalition which pollsters say stands good chances of winning the October election. While some online or telephone polls give Bullrich a double-digit lead, in-person surveys put her in a close tie with Larreta. Polls are not marginal; its a world of a difference depending on the methodology, Germano said in a recent interview. There is a type of voter who is a lot calmer, quieter, more removed, more apathetic, and we have to see if they vote or dont vote. The bad news for Larreta is that, with many Argentines disillusioned with years of economic and currency crises that have destroyed incomes and hurt living standards, pollsters warn that this years turnout could be the lowest in Argentinas history. Larreta, who has built his campaign on pragmatism and coalition-building, has the most to lose in that scenario, Germano said. Story continues Read more: Argentine Economic Chaos Fuels Hard-Liners Presidential Bid More In-Person Interviews Like other top pollsters, Isonomia only shares numbers with paying clients. His polls show voter intention for Bullrich, who had grown steadily for weeks, plateauing since Massa entered the race in late June, flanked by the Peronist coalition led by Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. Germano said the economy ministers perceived competitive edge could drive opposition voters away from the hard right and toward the center, if Larreta can seize the final sprint of the campaign. Can Larreta turn around and convince voters that its necessary to be more pragmatic, more open to beat Massa? he said. Thats whats on the line. Isonomia doubled its field interviews this year, after 2019 polls were very far from actual results. In-person responses now make up 85% of their poll data, compared to 40% in 2019. Germano expects voter participation to drop below 75% in the August primaries, despite mandatory elections in the South American nation. In provincial elections so far this year, voter participation is just below 70% compared to the 75% level from the last presidential election cycle in 2019, according to electoral data compiled by investment firm Latin Securities. On a TV interview Sunday night Massa encouraged voters to take the primary vote seriously. This is the first half of a game that could have a first half, a second half and overtime, he said. We have to go and look for the results in the first half. Other Key Points From the Interview: In October, I dont think Massas candidacy could lose the hard Kirchnerist vote, Germano said Milei voters tend to be anti-Kirchnerist and when they see an opposition coalition that is weaker against Massa, they will likely gravitate there Milei was performing much better on phone and online polls than in person, a gap that leveled off in recent weeks We trust in-person polling more. There, against Bullrich, Massa does better, Germano said Theres a lot more people who identify with none of the parties than those who identify with one of the parties. The issue is whether they show up, Germano said. (Updates story with more details from the interview and data on voter participation) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Officers from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), jointly with the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), are investigating the legality of lawmaker Yurii Aristov's holiday trip amid Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. Source: press services of the SBI, SSU, and Prosecutor Generals Office (PGO) Details: The Prosecutor General initiated criminal proceedings on 25 July 2023 based on the records of the State Bureau of Investigation and information spread in the media regarding the introduction of false information in documents for travelling abroad by the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada [Ukrainian parliament] Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence. The Bureau's investigators are looking into details of how the Ukrainian lawmaker managed to go on holiday to the Maldives despite a ban on officials travelling abroad. PHOTO: SSU The investigation will focus on the possible intentional inclusion of false information in official documents on his travel, specifically regarding his trip's duration, purpose and countries. The investigators established that in mid-July 2023, the MP stayed in a hotel on the private island of Ithaafushi, Maldives. The law enforcers confirmed that Aristov was outside Ukraine between 05 June and 22 July 2023. The lawmaker travelled to Poland for three days during an official business trip to deepen bilateral cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. On 10 July 2023, while abroad, the MP remotely took a sick leave certificate in one of the private medical institutions in Kyiv until 19 July 2023. Meanwhile, inaccurate information was probably entered into the digital healthcare system since no actual medical examination was carried out. The investigators also found out that the lawmaker, together with his family his wife and children stayed on the territory of the Republic of Maldives, at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives hotel resort, until 22 July. Story continues Law enforcement officers conducted urgent searches in the MP's apartment. They seized, among other things, passports for travelling abroad with relevant notes and other documents. PHOTO: SSU PHOTO: SSU The criminal proceedings are being investigated over forgery by a person in the office. The sanction of the article provides for the restriction of liberty for up to three years. Background: On 15 July, reports emerged that Yurii Aristov, 48, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence, a member of the pro-government Servant of the People political party faction, was seen in mid-July at the 5-star Waldorf Astoria Maldives hotel on the private island of Ithaafushi, Maldives. Davyd Arakhamiia, Head of the Servant of the People party faction, said that the party was studying the information on Aristov's trip to the Maldives, and if confirmed, he would face losing his mandate. On the same day, Aristov submitted a resignation letter from his parliamentary seat. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! For most of the week a nearly 80-mile stretch of highway in Southeast Washington has been closed because of a growing wildfire. The Washington State Department of Transportation reopened the two-lane highway along the Columbia River between the Umatilla Bridge and Biggs Junction on Wednesday, but residents in the area arent out of the woods yet. The Newell Road Wildfire has been blazing since July 21. It has now spread to just shy of 60,000 acres, and is 40% contained, according to the Northwest Incident Management Team. As the fire crept closer to the Columbia River earlier this week, WashDOT closed a 78-mile stretch of Highway 14 between Benton County at Interstate 82 to Klickitat County near Goldendale. Drivers were forced to either cross into Oregon and take Interstate 84 or go north across the Cascades to get to the west side of the state. WashDOT announced the roadway was reopened just before noon on Wednesday. Evacuation orders are still in place for residents in the Goldendale area. Shelters are located at Goldendale Middle School, the Goldendale Fairgrounds and Grandview Middle School. Strong winds had kept the fire moving, but cooler temperatures and easing winds overnight Tuesday helped firefighters get ahead to contain the fire, the incident management team said in its daily update. Crews also shared photos of deer taking refuge at the base of wind turbines in the region, which were buffered from the flames by their concrete pads. Driving in Washington state can be scary, especially outside of cities in more rural areas. Highways and freeways in the Evergreen State cross mountains, bodies of water, windy open plains and plenty of terrain in between. Extreme weather often impacts state and federal routes, from wildfires to mudslides to avalanches. Are some spots on the roads in Washington state more dangerous than others? Are some roads more feared? A recent survey conducted by the Gunther Mitsubishi auto dealership in Coconut Creek, Florida, surveyed 3,000 road-trippers across the country to determine nationally-feared routes. Gunther Mitsubishi does not elaborate why listings were chosen beyond the top five, so the survey rationale is unclear. The top 50 answers were listed, including one mention in Washington, State Route 20, or the North Cascades Highway. Why is SR 20 so scary? The North Cascades Highway can be a beautiful, scenic trip. It can also be a terrifying route, depending on the circumstances and the people in the vehicle. Its Washingtons longest highway at 436 miles going east to west, from the Olympic Peninsula to near the Idaho border. It connects Whatcom and Skagit counties with the eastern side of Washington state. Washington State Department of Transportation said the snow measured 80 inches deep on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at the summit of the North Cascades Highway. An earlier measurement was at 100 inches, WSDOT said in a Facebook post. But the highway includes Washington Pass, which is the northernmost route across the Cascades. It comes with large avalanche risk, reportedly one of the top areas in the country for avalanche paths per highway mile. Because of this, the route is closed over the winter. The Washington State Department of Transportation usually closes the highway between November and April, depending on weather conditions. In 2022, landslides in September closed sections of the highway prematurely. The year before, massive nearby wildfires closed the route for around a month. When its open, you can see one of the largest bald eagle populations in the United States near where it meets the Skagit River, according to the U.S. Forestry Service. Story continues Smoke rises from a fire west of Winthrop, Wash., along Highway 20 on Monday, July 12, 2021. Despite these closures, the highway is not immune from the rising rate of collisions in Washington. There have already been multiple serious crashes on SR 20 this year. Five most feared routes in U.S. According to the overall survey results, the top five most feared routes across the country are: The Wagner mercenary group, whose leader led a short and abortive mutiny against Russias defense chiefs, remains a serious security threat to the West and should be designated a terrorist outfit, a report from Britains Parliament said Wednesday. The report, Guns for Gold: The Wagner network exposed, is the result of a 16-month investigation by the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee, which heard evidence from expert witnesses from around the world, including former Wagner fighters. The committee strongly criticized the British government for underestimating Wagner and not doing enough to counter its influence in countries such as the Central African Republic and Sudan, where it provides security forces but is also accused of brutal unprofessionalism and exploiting natural resources, including gold and diamonds, for huge financial gain. They may present themselves as a highly trained, professional fighting force but their indiscipline, their excessive violence and their financial motivation mean that the network has functioned like an international criminal mafia, fuelling corruption and plundering natural resources, the report concluded. It was wrong to mainly see Wagner through the prism of Europe, the report added. Wagner played a key role in Russias war in Ukraine until its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, led an armed mutiny to within 125 miles of Moscow last month before turning back. Prigozhin is now in Belarus, where last week he was recorded welcoming Wagner fighters who had fought on the front lines in Ukraine, telling them to prepare to be deployed to Africa. The head of the Russian private army Wagner claims his forces have taken control of the city of Bakhmut after the longest and most grinding battle of the Russia-Ukraine war, but Ukrainian defense officials have denied it. In a video posted on Telegram, Prigozhin said the city came under complete Russian control at about midday Saturday. (Prigozhin Press Service / AP) Prigozhin told the Cameroon-based Afrique Media TV news channel Tuesday that he had no plans to reduce his operations in the Central African Republic, despite reports this month that hundreds of Wagner fighters were leaving. Some African countries have invited Wagner in to provide security and counterinsurgency operations, but the price they pay, instead, is that national security is often undermined and democracy is weakened, the report said. Story continues The only thing they seem to be good at is helping failing regimes cling on to power, said the committees chair, Alicia Kearns, a lawmaker with the ruling Conservative Party. They lie when they suggest that they are good at defeating terrorists. They certainly do not bring stability, she said. Unless, of course, you see stability as complete autocratic rule where civilians are scared of their own countries and brutalized into submission. An image from a video obtained by NBC News appears to show dozens of Wagner operatives in uniform at a military base in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic. (Obtained by NBC News) The report describes Wagner as a sprawling network with close ties to the Russian military and political leadership. A former Wagner fighter, who was not named, told the committee this year that the Russian Defense Ministry provides ammunition, equipment and transport to the group. Wagner was founded as Russia mounted its invasion of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. It has had a shadowy role supporting Russian military and geopolitical goals in Europe and Africa Prigozhin admitted only in September that he is the groups founder and leader, after years of denials. The Kremlin has always denied its involvement with Wagner. Wagner has ended its operations in Ukraine, where it was fighting in the far east of the country using mostly convicts, some of whom had been released from prison to fight. The charity Russia Behind Bars estimated in January that 80% of the mercenaries recruited from the countrys jails were dead or missing. The U.S. and the United Kingdom both have imposed economic sanctions on figures linked to Wagner, but Washington has stopped short of banning it as a terrorist group. Companion bills from Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., in June called on Congress to direct the State Department to change its stance, but neither the Senate nor the House has acted on the measures. Wagner helps to facilitate Russias war in Ukraine, the British report said. Jason Blazakis, a terrorism studies professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California, told the parliamentary committee that Wagner was instrumental in realizing Russian President Vladimir Putins ambitions to gain access to natural resources across Africa. Whether gold, oil or diamonds, the Russian Federation has acquired fungible assets that keep the war machine churning in Ukraine, he said. The U.K. and its allies should expose the work of Wagner to dissuade countries from contracting with it the first step of which would be an official terrorist group designation, the British report said. Russian Wagner group (Pierre Crom / Getty Images) However, some warn of unintended consequences. There are a lot of reasons to do it. Its popular because it costs a lot less than peacekeeping forces or a foreign invasion, said Brian J. Phillips, an expert in terrorist organizations at the University of Essex in the U.K. But this group is operating in some really poor countries, such as the CAR, so for a charity like Oxfam, it could complicate things, because they dont want to be accused of breaking the law by working with them. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Journalists discovered that the mercenaries of Wagner Private Military Company (PMC), based in Belarus, are now headed by a native of Ukraine Sergey Chubko, who previously fought in Chechnya and Syria. Source: All Eyes on Wagner monitoring project and Belarusian outlet Nasha Niva Details: On 19 July, the Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin, speaking to mercenaries in a camp near the city of Asipovichy, said that a man named Sergey, known by his alias of Pioneer, would be "chief in the Belarusian grouping." All Eyes on Wagner claims that this person is the 46-year-old Sergey Vladimirovich Chubko. The project refers to documents obtained by an unnamed source. Journalists of the Belarusian publication Nasha Niva found out that Chubko was born in a military family in Chernivtsi. His father fought in Afghanistan. After the collapse of the USSR, the Chubko family moved to Russia, to the city of Novorossiysk. In 1994, Sergei Chubko went to serve under a contract in the Russian army. He fought in Chechnya. In 2002, he terminated the contract and moved to a private security company. In 2003, Sergei Chubko, who did not have a higher education, unexpectedly headed the committee of the city administration in Novorossiysk. In 2005, he moved to the post of deputy head of a rural district administration. In 2010, Chubko worked as a security guard in several companies, and was also an employee of a private security firm. In 2011, the authorities planned to deprive him of Russian citizenship because he allegedly held his Ukrainian citizenship in secret. It is not known whether Chubko fought in Ukraine in 2014, but in December 2014, he became one of the founders of the Cossack organisation in Novorossiysk. Russian "Cossack" volunteers massively went to fight on the side of Russia after the proclamation of the so-called independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics puppet entities in 2014. He joined the Wagner PMC in January 2017. Then he went to Syria where he made a career, too: after a year of service, he was appointed to lead the Wagner military operation in the province of Eastern Ghouta. Story continues Background: Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC), supposedly spoke to the mercenaries who came to Belarus and said that they would be engaged in the training of the Belarusian army. On 25 July, information appeared on the 11th convoy of the Wagner PMC, which recently arrived in Belarus. According to the State Border Service, as of 22 July, approximately 5,000 Russian mercenaries of the Wagner Group are stationed in Belarus On 20 July, Ukraine's Border Guards reported that the mercenaries do not currently pose a threat to Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! COSHOCTON A Warsaw woman was sentenced by Judge Robert Batchelor after being convicted of sex crimes Wednesday in Coshocton County Common Pleas Court. Elizabeth R. Walser, 42, was indicted in August 2022 on three counts of rape, first-degree felonies, from incidents ranging from July 15, 2015, to July 15, 2018. The victim was between 8 and 11 years old at the time. The Coshocton County Sheriff's Office reported its special victims unit began looking into the case on Oct. 6, 2021. Walser was taken into custody by authorities on June 27, 2022, and officially charged with rape two days later. Attorney Matthew Mollica with client Elizabeth Walser Wednesday in Coshocton County Common Pleas Court. Walser received 30 months in prison for three counts of gross sexual imposition, third-degree felonies. She was originally indicted with three counts of rape, first-degree felonies. On July 7, Walser entered an Alford Plea to three amended counts of gross sexual imposition, third-degree felonies, as part of a plea deal. An Alford Plea means one pleads guilty while maintaining her innocence, but admits the prosecution's evidence would likely result in a guilty verdict if brought to trial. As part of the deal, the state agreed to not oppose a pre-sentence investigation and to a joint sentencing recommendation of 30 months in prison. Batchelor adhered to the sentencing recommendation. Walser will also serve mandatory 5 years of post release control and have to register as a Tier II sex offender for 25 years. She was granted 323 days of credit for local incarceration. Walser did not speak on her own behalf in court. Attorney Matthew Mollica of Cambridge said he's only had two previous clients who did an Alford Plea who he believed were truly innocent, Walser was the third. "Looking at the possibility of a life sentence is why we decided to go this route with the state," Mollica said. The victim's mother spoke in court about how she and her son felt betrayed by Walser and how her son is not the same carefree boy he was before. The Tribune does not identify victims. "He will never be the happy-go-lucky boy with an easy going personality he once was. He struggles to be the teenage boy he was meant to be. You stole his childhood. You stole his innocence," the mother said to Walser. "What you did to (my son) makes him feel unsafe and different, that he doesn't belong like he once did. He was once confident. He no longer trusts people, he's difficult to show affection or even know what appropriate affection is because of you. You are the cause of many ruined relationships for him." "We have the two parties coming to a resolution and while it might not be what each side wants, it is the reality of this situation," Batchelor told Walser. "Even though the prison term might not be what the victim would hope for, you will see the inside of a state penal institution. You will enter that women's reformatory as a child sex offender." This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Rape charges: Warsaw woman pleads guilty to gross sexual imposition Fighter jet taxis on runway during flight training China Military Online) 10:08, July 26, 2023 A fighter jet attached to a unit of air force under the PLA Eastern Theater Command taxis on the runway during a round-the-clock flight training exercise in early July, 2023. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Li Kai) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) WASHINGTON Some of the United States largest defense contractors are lobbying to restore a tax credit that partially expired last year, drawing fire from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, and Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa. Warren and Deluzio sent similar letters to four major defense contractors, hammering them over millions of dollars spent lobbying to fully restore a research and development credit Congress enacted in 2017 as part of former President Donald Trumps sweeping tax cuts. The four letters, addressed to the CEOs of Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics, come after House Republicans on the Ways and Means Committee advanced a tax cut package for U.S. businesses in June. A provision in that bill includes the research and experimentation, or R&E, tax credit restoration that the four companies have asked Congress to enact. These tax breaks are nothing but corporate handouts, Warren and Deluzio, who sit on their respective chambers Armed Services Committee, wrote to all four CEOs. A revival of the R&E break would add to the billions in savings your companies have already received from the 2017 Trump tax cuts, but it is far from clear that is the best use of taxpayer dollars. The 2017 R&E tax cuts allowed companies to immediately deduct their research and development expenses, until last year. A sunset provision in that law kicked in for 2022, requiring companies to spread that deduction out for a minimum of five years or longer in an amortization period. Defense contractors and industry groups lobbied Congress to undo this amortization period, but Republicans and Democrats failed to secure a deal amid broader tax policy disputes. While Warrens letters focus on the House Republican proposal, many of her fellow Senate Democrats also have lined up behind efforts to fully restore the R&E credit. Sens. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Todd Young, R-Ind., introduced legislation to do so in March with the backing of 18 other senators from the Democratic caucus. Story continues The Aerospace Industries Association, of which Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics are members, praised the Senate bill in a March statement as an opportunity to reverse course on the harmful R&D tax policy. American companies have always played a leading role in advancing the technology we need to maintain our competitive edge, especially in the defense sector, said Eric Fanning, the associations president. We must use every tool at our disposal to encourage R&D and remain competitive on the global stage. Lobbying Both the House and Senate bill would restore immediate R&E tax deductions. But the House Republican bill would allow the defense contractors and other businesses to retroactively claim the credit for 2022 as well. The letters referenced earnings calls from the companies where executives projected the retroactive tax credit for 2022 would allow RTX until recently known as Raytheon Technologies to recoup $2 billion; Northrop Grumman to reclaim $1 billion; and Lockheed Martin to take back $500 million. General Dynamics has not disclosed how much it could reclaim under the retroactive exemption. They also noted that all four companies already paid well below the 21% corporate tax rate in 2022. The lawmakers also catalogued the amount of money all four defense contractors spent lobbying to fully restore the R&E credit between January and March this year. Warren and Deluzio wrote that Northrop Grumman spent a whopping $4.3 million lobbying on the tax credit, followed by Lockheed Martin at $3.5 million, RTX at $3.1 million and General Dynamics at $3 million. The four companies have continued their lobbying since March, according to a Defense News review of lobbying disclosure forms between April and June this year. The forms indicate that Northrop Grumman paid $60,000 for Covington & Burling LLP to lobby on the House and Senate bills and $40,000 for the Duberstein Group to lobby Congress on issues related to tax. RTX also paid $60,000 apiece to BGR Government Affairs and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP to lobby for the tax credit extension. For its part, General Dynamics paid $37,500 to Meltsner Strategies LLC to lobby on the legislation. It also paid another $50,000 to the Ervin Graves Strategy Group LLC to lobby Congress on an R&D tax credits effort to get an amendment into the omnibus spending bill. Warren and Deluzio have asked each company to reply to a series of questions, including how much theyve spent on lobbying for the tax credit, how much the deduction has saved them between 2018 and 2021, and how much they expect to save through 2025 if its fully restored. They also want to know how much any retroactive credit for 2022 would go toward research and development versus how it would affect each companys outlook for stock buybacks. Of four people charged in the 2019 fatal shooting of Jaylin Jaquan Bart Williams, two have pleaded guilty and one goes to trial this week in Muscogee Superior Court. The fourth will walk free, if he testifies as agreed against Jordan Jamal Seldon, 24, whos on trial for murder, aggravated assault and using a gun to commit a crime. That key witness, Christian Desean Patrick, 25, admitted his role in Williams Aug. 1 homicide at Williams home on Wallace Drive in midtown, where three of the four suspects allegedly tried to rob him, sparking a gunfight that left the 21-year-old aspiring rapper mortally wounded. During opening statements in a trial expected to last a week, prosecutor Lewis Lamb acknowledged that Patrick will face no prison time. There has been a deal made to acquire testimony, Lamb told jurors, adding he expects Seldons attorney Mike Garner to make an issue of that. Mike Garner, defense attorney for Jordan Jamal Seldon, makes his opening statement Wednesday morning. 07/26/2023 Lamb said Patrick, who never shot at Williams, already has spent four years in jail awaiting trial. Garner did not focus on Patricks deal with prosecutors, however, and instead emphasized that his client has an alibi. His defense is, I wasnt there, the attorney said. Police tracked the suspects cell phones to prove they were near Williams home that night when Williams girlfriend called 911 at 10:58 p.m. to report the barrage of gunfire. Those phone records will show that five minutes later, Seldons phone was blocks away, on Avalon Drive off Macon Road, said Garner, who claimed Seldon could not have made it there so quickly from Wallace Drive. He urged jurors to question the credibility of the codefendants testifying against Seldon. Witnesses are people, and people lie, he said, later adding, If you participate in a crime, youre guilty. The evidence Lamb is the district attorney in Americus, Georgia. He was assigned the case because Columbus District Attorney Stacey Jackson once represented Patrick, presenting a conflict of interest. Lamb said Seldon, Patrick and Gerald Wayne Reed III conspired to rob Williams, meeting on Schatulga Road before driving to Wallace Drive, where a neighbors security camera recorded indistinct images of the crime. Story continues Prosecutor Lewis Lamb makes his opening statement Wednesday morning during the trial of Jordan Jamal Seldon, 24, whos on trial for murder, aggravated assault and using a gun to commit a crime. 07/26/2023 It showed Reed approaching Williams home from one direction and two others coming from another, before muzzle flashes appeared, he said. All the would-be robbers ran away, but Reed did not return to the getaway car, so he was left behind. He left his cell phone in the car, and lost his shoes running from Williams home. Caught in a heavy downpour, he started knocking on doors, asking to use a phone, and the neighbors called police. Police detained and questioned him, and he eventually confessed, investigators said, though he was not arrested that night. Lamb said detectives found shell casings from a .45-caliber Glock pistol Reed owned, and from two 9-millimeter handguns, one belonging to Williams, whose weapon jammed during the shootout. The other 9-millimeter has not been found. That was the gun Seldon used to shoot Williams, said Lamb, explaining that he needed Patricks testimony to prove Seldon fired the fatal shots. Garner countered that it was not Seldon, but a close friend of Reeds who killed Williams, a person police have not implicated in the slaying. The guilty pleas Reed and the fourth suspect in Williams slaying, his ex-girlfriend Anna Elizabeth Stecenko, pleaded guilty in May 2022, when Stecenko testified Reed had tried to get her to lure Williams from his house for a robbery. She refused to do that, triggering an argument with Reed at her home on Fairview Drive, where he had been staying, she said. She later dropped him off on Schatulga Road to meet with Patrick and Seldon. The three men went to Williams home, intending to surprise him, but Williams was outside and saw them coming, investigators said. Stecenko said Reed later told her Williams started shooting as soon as he saw them coming, and they shot back. After police questioned Reed and released him, she and Reed returned to Williams neighborhood to find a gun Reed had hidden there, and then they took the weapon to Harris County to bury it near her mothers house, she said. Jordan Jamal Seldon, 24 is on trial for murder, aggravated assault and using a gun to commit a crime. 07/26/2023 Police arrested Reed on Aug. 13, 2019, she said, and days later charged her after learning she helped hide his gun, which investigators recovered. Stecenko, 24, pleaded guilty to evidence tampering. Superior Court Judge John Martin said her recommended sentence will be 10 years in prison with six to serve and the rest on probation. Reed, 25, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and to using a gun to commit a crime. He faces up to 25 years in prison, Martin said, but neither Reed nor Stecenko will be sentenced until the trial ends. All other charges against the pair will be dropped in exchange for their testimony, authorities said. If convicted, Seldon faces life in prison. Reeds story During his guilty plea last year, Reed testified that he met with Patrick and Seldon to get some money. They got into Patricks silver Hyundai with Seldon driving and parked near Williams home, he said. Each suspect was armed with a handgun as they approached Williams residence from the rear, but they discovered Williams was sitting out on the front porch, he said. Williams saw Reed, pulled out a pistol and started shooting, Reed said, so Reed shot back and ran, fearing hed be caught in a crossfire. He found a vacant house, discarded his Glock pistol, and doffed a camouflage jacket before police caught and detained him, he said. John Boyd Jr. weighs in on a $4 billion debt relief program that was supposed to provide relief to Black farmers but was recently dismissed. In 1919, Black farmland ownership was between 16 to 19 million acres, according to Feeding America, making up 14% of total agricultural land in America. In 2022, the number has gone down to only 1% due to systemic racism, biased government policy and inequitable social and business practices. The Black farmers remaining are demanding the pay that they are rightfully owed from an administration who made a promise. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it was accepting applications for its Discrimination Financial Assistance Program, a $2.2 billion initiative being funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. It provides financial help for Black farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who experienced discrimination by USDA in the agencys farm lending prior to 2021. But John Boyd Jr., founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association, speaking to theGrios Eboni K. Williams, had a lot to say about what he called the Biden-Harris administrations lack of support for Black farmers, despite its vows. Virginia farmer John Boyd Jr., founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association, shown in May 2021, had a lot to say recently about what he called the Biden-Harris administrations lack of support for Black farmers. (Photo by Steve Helber/AP) The following is a transcript of their conversation. Eboni K. Williams: Were back with more of the exploitation of Black farmers in America. Now, several of them have sued and recently received back pay after it was discovered by the U.S. Labor Department that immigrant workers, white immigrant workers, were being given more money than the Black farmers, and the Black farmers were doing the exact same job. Its a disturbing reality for many Black American farmers, whose numbers are dwindling by the day. Still with us is John Boyd Jr. Hes the founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association. Now, John, when you were here, we wanted to address some of the concerns. Weve had this conversation, but we want to go deeper. Recently, we saw that a federal judge dismissed your lawsuit about the $4 billion debt relief program for Black farmers. Essentially, that was President Biden, including a specific element of that package that was supposed to provide relief to Black farmers. He reneged on that promise. You and Attorney [Ben] Crump and others filed suit, and now, its been dismissed. Where do you go next in this case? Story continues John Boyd Jr.: Well, we have filed an appeal to appeal that decision in federal court. And Im hopeful that the courts will take a deeper look at, Im going to use your words, a deeper look into what really happened to Black farmers. You know, every time that we are promised something in this country as Black people, and in this case Black farmers, they find a way not to get us to the resources that are promised to us. We were promised a 120% debt relief, but thats for every Black farmer who is eligible and other farmers of color. That means 100% relief, 20% to pay the taxes, and Congress repealed it under the leadership of President Biden. And recently, we just, we lost a big decision in affirmative action. People, Black people, are going backward. We need to wake up here. We lost a big decision on affirmative action, and the president says hes going to dig deeper to come up with something from the stroke of a pen, from his desk, to help get around a possible on the actual debt relief measure for college tuition and all of these things. We need him to use the stroke of the pen to help get around the issues that facing Americas Black farmers. And, you know, why wasnt it the same outrage when this administration went back on his word to do that? Were always overlooked and the fix problem in this country. And we were the nations first Black occupation here in the country for Black people. So I turn my fight to the federal courts, hoping that we can get some resolve there. If not, Im going to take my fight to the upcoming presidential election and to let Americans know that weve been left out. And for people on the Hill telling me, Boyd, youve got to take this one on the chin, and you dont have a way out on this, Im going to take my fight right out here to the American people and let the American people make the decision on how we were treated as voters in this country, because we voted probably 99% for President Biden. It hasnt been a sit-down meeting with the president and there hasnt been a sit-down meeting with his AG secretary. I mean, come on, people. Thats a given for a body of people who voted in a block to support this administration. Williams: Well, and also John Boyd, an administration and a president that said during his inauguration speech that he did owe Black America, to your point of his debt, that he owes the Black electorate as to the result of him even being the 46th president of the United States. Something else I want to bring up is something you said in our previous conversation before the break here. You said that Black America needs to realize that weve got more work to do. Talk about how important it is that Black America kind of connects the dots, whats happening and the mistreatment of Black farmers, whats happening with the gutting of affirmative action, whats happening with Black people disproportionately carrying more student loan debt that they will not get relief from. In your lived experience, because you are a man of significant lived American experience, do you believe that whats happening right now, John Boyd, is a backlash of what some Americans, some white Americans, some federal government leaders feel has been too much progress of Black folk in this country? Boyd Jr.: I believe its a continuation, a slow drag now or takedown, might I describe it as. Whats happened to us as Black farmers didnt just start with President Biden, where I openly supported him and got on early on, and took a chance with this president early on when there were many candidates in the race, I supported this president. From administration to administration, from Congress to Congress, we failed to fix the problem at the United States Department of Agriculture and its farm lending programs around the country and AG lending and the top 10 agriculture companies. These are all issues that we are facing every day. We are those big names that are having doubt. You know, my number to talk about this, get educated on it, and to see how they can lend their voice. Sometimes, people, its not your checkbook, sometimes its your voice saying that I support the Black Farmers movement. We support their lawsuit. We support these Black farmers getting justice. Williams: Well, listen, John Boyd, Jr., what we know is you are not going to take anything on the chin. Youre not going to take anything lying down, nor should you. And here at theGrio, we look forward to helping you amplify this fight. Thank you, brother. Check out the full clip above and tune into theGrio with Eboni K. Williams at 6 p.m. ET every weeknight on theGrio cable channel. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Watch: Black farmers are being exploited in America appeared first on TheGrio. The notion that the U.S. government not only has knowledge of extraterrestrials but has directly encountered them, long confined to the realm of conspiracy theory, is now a matter of congressional public record. Three former military members, all of whom have previously spoken publicly about their firsthand knowledge of reported encounters with strange and mysterious flying objects, appeared Wednesday before Congress for a hearing on the national security threats such phenomena could pose. Their testimony before the U.S. House came at a time of mounting bipartisan pressure on the executive branch of government and the military to release more information about so-called unidentified anomalous phenomena, more commonly referred to as unidentified flying objects. Across more than two hours of testimony, the three witnesses also provided accounts before the House Oversight Committee's national security subcommittee of their understanding for how the federal government has handled or suppressed reports of strange encounters documented by pilots. Who testified? Ryan Graves , a former Navy pilot who has spoken out about encountering UAP on training missions. Graves is now the executive director of Americans for Safe Aerospace, an airspace safety advocacy organization. Rt. Commander David Fravor, who was among Navy pilots who spotted the now-famous a Tic Tac-shaped object that was captured in 2004 on video during a flight off the coast of Southern California. Fravor is a former commanding officer of the Navy's Black Aces Squadron. David Grusch, a former Air Force and intelligence official who was a member of a previous Pentagon task force that investigated UAP. Grusch is a whistleblower who in a June interview with NewsNation accused the government of a cover-up he became aware of as a member of the National Reconnaissance Office, the agency that operates U.S. spy satellites. Ryan Graves, David Grusch and David Fravor are sworn-in during a House Oversight Committee hearing titled "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency" on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. For years, reports and videos have surfaced documenting sightings of craft moving in ways beyond the capabilities of any known human technology. On Wednesday, the witnesses went so far to suggest that the phenomena observed could be indicative of technology so advanced that it would take decades for humanity to equal it. Story continues "The American people deserve to know what is happening in our skies," Graves said in prepared remarks during the hearing. "It is long overdue." Here are some of the key takeaways from the hearing. 'Extraordinary:' Researchers discover mysterious interstellar radio signal reaching Earth Secret military program? Grusch claims the Pentagon has retrieved spacecraft and nonhuman "biologics" Grusch's testimony was highly anticipated following the explosive interview he did in June with NewsNation in which he accused the Pentagon of a plot to cover up an alleged secretive "crash retrieval" program for vehicles of nonhuman origin. In the interview, Grusch claimed that he became aware of the Pentagon's program that oversaw the collection of up to a dozen alien spacecraft, and in some cases, the bodies themselves of the otherworldly pilots. David Grusch, former National Reconnaissance Officer Representative of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Task Force at the U.S. Department of Defense, testifies Wednesday before Congress. Those claims resurfaced during Wednesday's hearing, with Grusch saying that the U.S. likely has been aware of what he characterized as nonhuman activity since the 1930s. Grusch, who referred to these pilots as nonhuman "biologics," said his apparent knowledge is based on conversations and interviews he's had with 40 people, many of whom he said are still working in the program. He said he was denied access to those programs, and accused the military of misappropriating funds to keep Congress in the dark about what it was doing. Witnesses describe flying objects performing unexplainable maneuvers In one stunning account, Graves described airborne pilots witnessing dark gray or black cubes inside of clear spheres. Graves was an F-18 pilot stationed in Virginia Beach in 2014 when his squadron reported encountering the mysterious, eerie objects that had no wings, gave off no infrared radiation, and had no obvious means of self-propulsion, Graves testified. The accounts were reported for a period of eight years, and "as far as I know, still (are) occurring," he said. Ryan Graves, executive director of Americans for Safe Aerospace, testifies Wednesday. Graves also described a 2003 sighting at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in which Boeing contractors observed a football field-size red square approach the launch facilities base from the ocean and hover at a low altitude before darting over the mountains after about 45 seconds. In testifying about the famous Tic-Tac video that Fravor was an eye witness to in 2004 while flying near the coast in an F/A-18F Super Hornet, the retired commander described the oval object as "perfectly white, smooth, no windows," and displaying flight capabilities that were unheard of. According to his observations, the object hovered above the sea before climbing about 12,000 feet in the air, where it accelerated and disappeared. A minute later, it was detected roughly 60 miles away. "We have nothing that can stop in midair and go in the other direction," Fravor testified. "Nor do we have anything that can ... come down from space, hang out for three hours and then go back up." Rt. Navy Commander David Fravor testifies Wednesday during a House Oversight Committee hearing about UFOs. Asked whether he believed the military would have been capable of shooting the object down if it proved to be a threat, Fravor said "it would have just left in a split second." Alien technology? Harvard professor finds fragments that could be of otherworldly origin Those who come forward may face serious reprisals Since becoming a whistleblower, Grusch testified that he has faced personal and professional retaliation, some of which has caused him to fear for his life. Citing an ongoing investigation on his behalf, Grusch declined to divulge details of what he deemed "administrative terrorism" that has been "very brutal" against both himself and former colleagues. "It actually makes me very upset to see that happen to other coworkers and superiors of mine," Grusch said. Attempts to reverse-engineer alien spacecraft have led to injuries, Grusch testifies During the hearing, Grusch testified that he has knowledge of people who were injured attempting to reverse-engineer recovered spacecraft. "I know of multiple colleagues of mine that got physically injured," Grusch said. "By UAPs or by people within the federal government?" asked Rep. Eric Burlison. "Both," Grusch answered. Though he was intentionally cryptic, Grusch said what he and his wife personally witnessed "was very disturbing." Witnesses could share more behind closed doors The hearing was filled with dramatic revelations, but just as intriguing as the information that was revealed is the information that was withheld. Throughout the hearing, Grusch in particular was forthcoming with some of the details he provided, but in some cases opted to be vague about what he's seen or been told. That included his decision to decline answering the question of whether the U.S. government has directly made contact with living alien intelligence. Prompted for how he drew the line for what he'd divulge, Grusch answered that it depended on whether the information being sought was classified or unclassified. However, he repeatedly said he'd be willing to elaborate on the answers to several questions behind closed doors. Toward the end of the hearing, members of the House committee expressed an interest in meeting with Grusch, Fravor and Graves in a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility. Why did this hearing occur now? Long a taboo, stigmatized topic, UFOs and aliens have increasingly become a subject of mainstream discussion. As interest in extraterrestrials becomes more widespread, many in the public and in positions of authority seek an answer to one central question: Has the U.S. military or government made contact with either crafts or creatures not of this world? In 2017, the New York Times released a report detailing evidence of a secret Pentagon program that tracked and studied UAP reports. Funded at the request of late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the program known as the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program operated for years in the shadows before the Times' report. In 2020, the Pentagon itself released three grainy videos of those UAPs. This year, NASA hosted a public hearing about UAP weeks before Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced legislation that would require the Pentagon to release any information it has gathered about the objects. First introduced in July, the legislation would also require that the defense department release information it had about nonhuman intelligences to an established review board, which would have the authority to declassify the information. During NASA's hearing in May, experts in astrophysics and other disciplines expounded upon sightings of UAP, which the experts said is their responsibility to investigate as a matter of air space safety. However, many NASA experts said they did not believe there was evidence to conclusively confirm that UAP are extraterrestrial in origin. I want to emphasize this loud and proud," NASAs Dan Evans said after the hearing, "there is absolutely no convincing evidence for extraterrestrial life associated with unidentified objects. 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: UFO hearing summary: Claims of 'biologics' and calls for transparency A swimmer caught a sea lion on camera charging toward people at a popular beach in Southern California. Japhet Perez Estrada, 28, was returning to the La Jolla Cove shoreline on Sunday, July 23, after a 2-mile swim when he started recording the sea lions at the beach, he told McClatchy News on July 25. People were crowding around one sea lion as it tried to move along the shoreline, Perez Estrada said. But it wasnt long before a lifeguard can be heard ordering people to keep a distance, the video shows. Please give that large male sea lion plenty of room. They have bitten people, the lifeguard says in the video. Another sea lion plunges beneath the waves and charges toward the sea lion on the shore. Beachgoers are seen in the video quickly scattering as some people scream. One of the sea lions then charges toward people before the video ends. Keep a distance from marine animals Perez Estrada, a La Jolla local and executive board member of La Jolla Village Merchants, said these types of encounters with marine animals arent uncommon in this area, especially during summer. Give them space. Dont antagonize them by throwing rocks or sand, Perez Estrada said. In March, a young girl was filmed throwing sand at a sea lion at the same beach, McClatchy News previously reported. A lifeguard told her to leave. Its illegal to harass sea lions and all marine animals under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. What is harassment? It is when we disturb, injure, or interfere with its ability to hunt, feed, communicate, socialize, rest, breed, or care for its young, the agency said. NOAA is in charge of enforcing the law. People and pets should stay at least 150 feet away from seals and sea lions, the agency said. La Jolla Cove is a popular beach in San Diego. See adorable sea lion pup share heartwarming moment with mom at Pennsylvania zoo Seal pup rescued after getting tangled in netting in California bay, video shows Beloved 17-year-old sea lion with booming voice and heart nose dies at CA aquarium Deputy Chief Wayne Jones says that as a young Black man he couldnt go to Miami Beach because of the racism in the city. On Wednesday, the Miami Beach City Commission confirmed Jones as the first Black police chief in the citys 108-year history. When I became a Miami Beach police officer, my dad cried, Jones said. He cried because of the history of the way Black people were treated in this city. Jones, 54, will begin the role September 1. Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber acknowledged the citys history of requiring Black workers to carry identification cards under a 1936 ordinance. The city was known as a sundown town where only white people were allowed to reside throughout the first half of the 20th century, and has long had a reputation for being hostile to Black visitors. This is a momentous moment, and Im very comfortable that its the right person at the right time, Gelber said. We are in a city that, in my lifetime, required African-Americans to carry ID cards when they were in this city after sundown. And now we will have a police chief who is a person of color. City Manager Alina Hudak announced the appointment of Jones, a 27-year veteran of the Miami Beach Police Department, earlier this month. Chief Richard Clements, who is retiring, is expected to stay on as an adviser until Oct. 31, Hudak said. A city spokesperson did not immediately provide information about what Jones salary will be. Wednesdays commission vote was 7-0, despite an email from Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez to residents on Monday saying she would vote against the appointment due to the lack of a national search process. At Wednesdays meeting, Rosen Gonzalez said she hasnt been happy with the performance of the police departments command staff, but that she was not going to begrudge Jones a unanimous appointment. Hudak said she decided to keep the search internal to the department, speaking with members of the command staff to determine who was interested in the chief role. Story continues I made a decision early on that I fully intended to keep the process internal, Hudak said. I believe that an external process is, quite frankly, as huge a risk as any city can take. Jones began his career with the department and rose from patrol officer to detective, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and major. In 2019, he was sworn in as deputy chief the departments second-in-command on the same day Clements became chief. Jones previously had led the Criminal Investigations Division. Clements has been with the Miami Beach Police Department for more than 30 years. In May, the citys Black Affairs Advisory Committee recommended Jones for the chief position, lauding his record dating to 1996 and his role in the creation of a Goodwill Ambassador Program, in which volunteers assist the police. As a major, Jones also established the departments human trafficking unit, Hudak said. Jones appointment comes at a moment of intense focus on crime among Miami Beach residents, particularly in South Beach, even as the citys crime rate has declined overall. Public safety has been cited as one of the top priorities for several candidates running for mayor in November, when Gelber will be term-limited. The move also follows years of scrutiny and critique over the police departments treatment of Black people in a city where just 4.7% of residents are Black, according to U.S. Census data. In 2021, five Miami Beach officers were arrested for using excessive force on a Black man in handcuffs and for pummeling a Black bystander who was recording the incident. The city also faced criticism for enacting an ordinance that disproportionately targeted Black visitors who made video recordings of police. That law was enacted as part of a series of tough-on-crime measures following an unruly spring break in 2021. Police and city leaders have continued to grapple with how to keep people safe and manage large crowds of young, mostly Black visitors in March after a pair of deadly shootings this year on Ocean Drive. Gen Z hates boomers, everyone hates millennials, and no one thinks about Gen X. Why are we so obsessed with talking about generations? Chelsea Jia Feng/Insider Gen Z is soft, millennials are embarrassing, boomers are evil, and no one has thought about Gen X in years. Even if we can't remember exactly which ages define each cohort, many people can offer up these generational stereotypes on command. These supposedly profound differences have been used to explain shifting attitudes about certain colors, the rising popularity of spicy foods, and even the perceived onset of adulthood. But while generational framings are ubiquitous, just how real are these fault lines? The Pew Research Center has spent decades conducting surveys and research about what each generation thinks, feels, and is doing. Its start and end dates for generations became the standard for news publications, academic research, and dinner-table arguments. But late this spring, Pew announced it would no longer use generational labels such as millennial and Gen Z in its research. In doing so, Pew quietly ended a tradition that had in recent years become a source of growing frustration (and heated debate) in social-science circles. The problem, said Kim Parker, the center's director of social-trends research, is that what we call a generation covers too wide of a time span to offer any useful insight. Generations span 15 to 18 years, Parker explained to me in an email, making it challenging to home in on a handful of attributes that realistically apply to the whole group. A 27-year-old is likely to experience today's lightning-fast social and technological changes differently than a 39-year-old, for instance, though both are considered millennials under Pew's definition. And it may be hard to generalize about a generation whose eldest members were already in the workforce when the 2008 recession hit but whose youngest were just leaving elementary school. To account for this "great diversity of thought, experience and behavior within generations," Parker wrote in an essay on the decision, Pew will reframe generational research in the context of "age cohorts": groupings of people who were born in a particular time frame who might have experienced major societal events in meaningfully similar ways. "For example, it could be a group/cohort that came of age politically when Obama was president, or it could be young adults who were in college during the pandemic, or we could group people by birth decade," a Pew spokesperson said. Story continues "The question isn't whether young adults today are different from middle-aged or older adults today," Parker wrote. "The question is whether young adults today are different from young adults at some specific point in the past." Pew's announcement raises questions about the validity of the stream of generational content we've been served. Is there really a cohesive Gen Z? Does it make sense to compare millennials to boomers? Are 20-year-olds always just 20-year-olds? At its core, Pew's decision makes clear that generations and the distinctions we draw between them are simply made up. But if generations are fake, why do we care so much about them? Fake generations You're probably familiar with each generation's unique flavor of malcontent. Millennials (born from 1981 to 1996, according to Pew) are lazy, self-obsessed, and slow to launch. Baby boomers (1946 to 1964) are entitled, selfish, and basically the root of all societal ills. Gen Zers (1997 to 2012) are tech-obsessed, psychologically fragile, and either too woke or not woke enough (looks like the jury's out on that one). And Gen Xers (1965 to 1980) who cares? Yawn! The idea of generations was born roughly a century ago. The sociologist Karl Mannheim developed the notion of discrete "generation units" in his 1928 essay "The Problem of Generations." When a group of people experience a historical or cultural event at a formative age, Mannheim argued, they develop a distinct consciousness that becomes a part of their shared identity. In a New Yorker essay published in 2021, Louis Menand linked this idea to the interwar explosion in high-school attendance in the US: In 1910, only 14% of Americans between 14 and 17 were in school, but by 1940 that had rocketed to 73%. Menand argued that the high-school boom gave rise to the "teenager" a whole new social category and marketing demographic. While the idea of generations percolated for decades, today's intense obsession with age cohorts can be traced to the 1992 book "Generations." In a recent paper, the Skidmore College sociologists Andrew M. Lindner, Sophia Stelboum, and Azizul Hakim say the book's authors, William Strauss and Neil Howe, drew on "a long lineage of quasi-scientific romantic historical generational thinking" to help popularize today's generational terminology. The book even came up with the term "millennial." "Since the release of Strauss and Howe's influential book, the generational labels of 'Baby Boomer,' 'Gen X,' 'Millennials,' and 'Gen Z' have appeared in dozens of trade paperbacks, thousands of newspaper headlines, and all over social media," Lindner and his colleagues said. "Each of these labels is associated with a package of supposed psychological traits, behavioral patterns, and political commitments typical of each respective generation (e.g., being narcissistic, parting one's hair in the middle, destroying the global economy)." Through our generation-tinted cultural lens, the outfits worn by the character Portia on the second season of the HBO series "The White Lotus" are seen not just as the sartorial missteps of a judgment-challenged 20-something but as a comment on how an entire generation's sense of style was broken by social media. The consulting behemoth McKinsey's speculation on the future of work focuses not just on technological developments but on a workplace generation gap between Gen Zers and everyone else. Declining birth rates? Generational. Climate activism? Also generational. The list goes on. But social scientists have long chafed at the idea of using generations to understand our changing culture, and there are numerous problems with overdeploying the generational framework. For one, there's only so much to be gleaned about a person from a haphazardly drawn, nearly two-decade window that happens to encompass their birth year. Generational discussions also tend to ignore critical variables such as race, education, and gender as Pew researchers pointed out, generational stereotypes carry a distinctly upper-class bias. And they often amplify points of perceived difference instead of reflecting the similarities between groups. At one point or another, boomers, Gen Xers, millennials, and Gen Zers have all been branded (in so many words) as the self-absorbed sociopaths of their time. A good chunk of the generational fascination comes down to people's interest in what the kids are up to. But even then, polls about Gen Z's attitudes typically leave out crucial context. "The issue there is that young adults will change as they get older," Parker told me. "So we can't really assess how their attitudes and behaviors are unique without the benefit of historical data." To see whether young people's attitudes toward work, for instance, are actually all that different from older workers' attitudes, researchers would need data on young people's views on work over time. But that kind of historical data is unfortunately lacking. So it's hard, if not impossible, to compare Gen Z's thoughts on the workplace with Gen X's thoughts on the workplace when they were the same age. And without that historical data, what you're really comparing is how 20-year-olds feel about work with how 50-year-olds feel about it. 'Kids these days' Artificial or not, generational tensions have calcified into easy shorthand for advertisers, writers, and consultants. Popular reporting on generations tends to fill in information gaps with generalizations that flatten the various groups into catchphrases. But Philip N. Cohen, a sociologist at the University of Maryland, College Park, suggests this troublesome reflex can't necessarily be chalked up to cynicism or malice at least, not entirely. It also comes from a real, compassionate human desire to connect with each other. Generation talk, he said, can help people scratch the itch of understanding, especially during periods of rapid social and technological change. "Stereotyping is just very powerful, whether you love it or hate it," Cohen told me. "When you're clicking on an article about generation concepts, it may be because you're irritated or cackling at the stereotype that's being portrayed in the headline, but it's also because you're trying to understand how the culture is changing. And I think there's a great impulse there." Cohen has nonetheless been among the most vocal recent critics of generational labeling in social research and specifically of Pew's role in perpetuating what he views as one of pop social science's greatest myths. In 2021 he published a Washington Post op-ed article and an open letter asking that the think tank "do the right thing" and "help put an end to the use of arbitrary and misleading 'generation' labels and names." More than 200 social scientists signed on. The circulation of Cohen's letter coincided with the release of "The Generation Myth." Written by Bobby Duffy, the director of the Policy Institute at King's College London, the book argued that "generational thinking" muddied the factors that actually do shape people's views and behavior over time. Duffy grouped these into three categories: "period effects" (major, era-defining events that affect everyone, such as the COVID-19 pandemic), "life-cycle events" (the typical milestones of an average person's life within a given society, such as getting married or having kids), and "cohort effects" (the overlapping experiences of people in the same age group). The trouble with generational thinking, according to Duffy, is that it homes in on cohort effects at the expense of other key mechanisms of social change. By and large, Cohen shares Duffy's view that generational labels make it tough for both experts and laypeople to distinguish between generational traits and universal, or multifactorial, occurrences. "If an event comes along and changes things for everybody you know, like a war, a recession, a pandemic those things are not generational, and the changes that follow aren't examples of generational change," he told me. "But because we're fixated on generational labels, we might assume they are. We might say, 'Oh, kids these days are different,' when really it's that people these days are different, and kids are kids." Duffy, Cohen, and the signatories of Cohen's open letter believe that the crutch of generational labels does more than oversimplify the complexity of demographic diversity. By creating rigid boxes for research, the labels stifle the potential for scientific breakthroughs. They can also warp data, generating conclusions that fail to encapsulate the full picture. To its credit, Pew has been transparent in acknowledging how the use of generational labels may have tilted its analyses. In one of the center's recent blog posts, researchers revisited a 2017 report asserting that millennials were less likely than prior generations of young adults to move residences within the next year. By running the dataset through a new statistical model that decoupled generation from age and period, the researchers arrived at a new conclusion: "The apparent differences between the generations are better explained by other factors in the model, not generation." We want to understand each other How can categories that are so arbitrary and often unscientific also be so present in our lives? There's a simple answer: Despite their glass-half-empty assessments, generational boxes seem to resonate with people. Lindner, Stelboum, and Hakim said in their paper that "after decades of exposure" to "heavily marketed" generational labels, Americans generally identified with the categories they'd been slotted into. This particularly applied to people born in the center of their generational cohorts; a millennial born between 1986 and 1990 would feel more "millennial" than their peers born in the five years before or after that window. In some cases, generational labels can offer something useful. Pew "does believe generational research can be a useful tool in the right context," Parker told me. "It helps capture societal change in a way that the public can understand and identify with. Also, outside of the commonly used definitions of generations, people can understand at a very basic level what generational change is my generation is different from my parents' and my grandparents'. And my young-adult children are experiencing the world in a different way than I did." Parker and her colleagues note, however, that young adults have always faced different societal circumstances than their parents did at the same age. Pew's president, Michael Dimock, pointed out in a blog post that it's always been common for elders to "express some degree of concern or alarm" in response to younger people's departures in behavior from the norms established in the elders' coming of age. There's a reason the "kids these days" trope is, well, a trope. Whatever generational labels the future brings, it seems fated that the senior citizens of 2123 will fixate on the supposed character deficiencies of their younger counterparts their work ethic, perhaps, or their self-obsession while the youth bemoan the challenges imparted by their elders' mistakes. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Kelli Maria Korducki is a journalist whose work focuses on work, tech, and culture. She's based in New York City. Read the original article on Business Insider The author said her son was happy to help his friends understand his body. The author said her son was happy to help his friends understand his body. My 4-year-old son has five health conditions, including imperforate anus (being born without an anus). His body is so unique that there may only be a handful of people in the world with his exact combination. So when he turned to me one day and said, I wish you had an ostomy bag too, I could hear in his wish how alone he felt. I didnt want him to feel alone, so I went into our bathroom, where I pile stacks of medical supplies. I took out an ostomy bag, which is similar in size to a sandwich baggie and into which he stools through a hole in his abdomen, and taped it to my stomach. I thought, hey, friends and family of people losing their hair due to chemotherapy shave their heads in solidarity so if it helps him, I will wear an ostomy bag every day. When he saw the bag on me, he excitedly asked: Wait, you have an ostomy bag too? You will poop there too? I didnt want to lie or discount the major surgery his small body had endured to create his stoma. I said: No, baby, I taped mine on, see? But I will do this if it helps you feel less alone. Crestfallen, he said no, he didnt want me to tape one on. And then I felt foolish for thinking that doing so would be helpful for him. While his dad and I do everything we can to care for him, advocate for him, and help him live a full life, our bodies are different from his, and they always will be. Theres no doubt that many children with disabilities feel alone or noticeably different every day. They may be the only person with disabilities in their family, their neighborhood or their school. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says up to 27% of U.S. adults have a disability, the Census Bureau reports that only 4.3% of children have one. The most common type among children are cognitive disabilities, which my son does not have. Additionally, most children will see very little representation of disabilities in the world. For instance, a 2022 study found that in the previous year there were no lead characters with disabilities in popular programming for children ages 2 to 11. Among notable supporting characters, 0.5% had a disability. Story continues An analysis of Disney and Pixar films from 2008 to 2018, meanwhile, showed that when a character had a disability, it was usually to elicit pity or humor, or to show that the character was old or evil. Most toys and books for children do not depict or incorporate disabilities, though there are a growing number of people working to change this. For instance, here are 11 toys that incorporate disability and 20 books about disability. We need more content and toys like this so that children with disabilities see themselves, and so that all kids can better understand, appreciate and accept the range of bodies in our world. In the meantime, while I cant make people who have the same disabilities as my son appear in person or in the shows he watches or the books he reads, I can work harder to help him feel seen and understood. I never want to ignore or hide his disabilities, as they are part of who he is and he should never feel ashamed about them. For instance, during this past preschool year, my son said to me a few times that he wished his friends understood his body. A therapist wed taken him to told us that it was important to let him talk about his surgeries, medical experiences and physical differences to help him address and process his medical traumas. So I asked my son if hed like me to ask his teachers about doing a presentation to his class to help them understand him more, and he said yes. His teachers agreed. One January day, I stayed after preschool drop-off and joined his class for circle time. He and I sat in the front, and I talked about how bodies can be different people have different eye colors, skin colors, hair textures and heights. We explained how some people use sign language, wear glasses or use wheelchairs. Then I told the class that my son was different in how he goes to the bathroom. Using a special doll that he was given at the hospital after his ostomy surgery the year before, I showed them where an ostomy bag goes and how it works. My son happily passed around catheters he has a neurogenic bladder, and we use catheters to empty his bladder every 3 to 4 hours as well as ostomy bags for his friends to examine. The kids listened intently to everything we said. Several children nodded when I talked about how all bodies are different, and they all carefully examined the medical supplies. Near the end, when I asked my son if he had anything else to add, he whispered that he goes to the doctor a lot. I repeated louder what he had said and asked his classmates if they had ever been to the doctor. This was something to which they could relate, and they were full of stories about their experiences at the doctors office. Being open about differences is a tactic I saw my parents employ for my sister Heidi, who had microcephaly and cerebral palsy-like symptoms. She could not walk, talk or hear. And she could not swallow food, so she had a feeding tube and drooled. People who did not know her would often stare at the playground or swimming pool. They werent used to seeing someone like her and werent sure what to think. We moved every few years for my dads job, and my parents and then I, as I grew older always made a point to explain Heidi and her differences to our neighbors, as well as to people at school and at our church. I remember watching a gaggle of girls clamber around her at recess and lunch at our elementary school to play with her and help her. In our neighborhood in Kentucky, where we lived for a few years, kids learned a handful of sign language words to help communicate with her. We also included her in our neighborhood games, like kickball our mom helped her push the ball off her tray, and she drove her wheelchair to the bases. Once people better understood what was different about her, they quickly came to accept and love her. When I arrived back at my sons preschool class after lunch to do his midday catheter and ostomy bag care, I asked how he felt after telling his friends about his body. I loved doing it, he said. Im happy that my friends got to see how I work. July is Disability Pride Month, and its a good time to remember the importance of talking openly about our differences. Its up to the adults in the lives of children with disabilities to help them feel seen, accepted and loved. Holly Kearl is an author, a community manager at the Aspen Institute, and the founder of Stop StreetHarassment. Do you have a compelling personal story youd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what were looking for here and send us a pitch. Related... Authorities in Westmoreland County continue to search for answers for a woman killed in Arnold 30 years ago. On July 16, 1993, Stephanie Coyle, 76, was found stabbed to death in the Arnold home where she lived alone. Several law enforcement agencies continue to investigate her murder. Channel 11 last spoke to Coyles son, Dan Coyle, in 2019, where he said he wasnt giving up on getting answers. We are still pushing to get answers. Never give up, he said. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >> 26 years after brutal murder, victims son is still pushing for answers Authorities today say the case is a very active cold case homicide. Anyone with information on this case should call Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Toll Free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS. Callers could be eligible for a cash reward. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: 2 teenagers, 1 adult shot in Mt. Oliver, police say 2 people hurt in house fire in Shaler Township Fighting for his life: Man attacked inside Pittsburgh hotel was with wife celebrating honeymoon VIDEO: DA Zappala s son facing charges for alleged domestic dispute DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts A boat navigates at night next to large icebergs in eastern Greenland in 2019. (Felipe Dana/AP) A study published Monday concluded that melting ice in Greenland caused by climate change could cause the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) to collapse as soon as 2025, ushering in dramatic consequences for the planet. The AMOC brings warm water north and east from the Caribbean, while delivering colder Arctic water south. If it were to suddenly shut down, scientists believe North America would experience weather changes such as more severe hurricanes and northern Europe would get a lot colder. But youre not likely to see igloos in London very soon. While climatologists say the collapse of the AMOC is a real threat, and that the new study raises a legitimate alarm that we may pass a key climate change tipping point sooner than previously thought, theres a lot we still dont know about exactly when it might happen. I think the authors in this case are on to something real, Michael Mann, a University of Pennsylvania climate scientist, told Axios. We could be talking decades rather than a century. Why the AMOC is so important Beachfront homes fall into the ocean on Jan. 6 in Rodanthe, N.C. (Jahi Chikwendiu/the Washington Post via Getty Images) The AMOC is part of what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration calls the global ocean conveyor belt. That keeps northern Europe several degrees warmer than it would otherwise be at that latitude Paris is farther north than notoriously frigid-in-winter Montreal, for example. Why its at risk In recent years, studies have shown that the current is at its weakest in 1,000 years. Although scientists are not certain why, several studies have attributed that weakening to an influx of fresh water from the melting of Arctic sea ice, including the Greenland ice sheet, and increasing precipitation both of which are results of global warming. The AMOC is driven by heavier cold water sinking, which raises warm water to the surface, but since fresh water is lighter than salt water, it has reduced the tendency of colder water near the surface to sink. What the new study found Researchers used sea surface temperature data dating back to 1870 to estimate AMOC current strength over time. Projecting forward from the gradual weakening of the system, they estimated it will collapse between 2025 and 2095, with the most likely date being around midcentury. Story continues What a collapse would mean In addition to colder weather at northern latitudes, an AMOC collapse would have wide-ranging effects including increased sea level rise in the Atlantic, a drop in precipitation over Europe and North America, and shifts in monsoon patterns in South America and Africa, Reuters reported in 2021, citing a British government agency. Such events are not unprecedented. The Washington Post looked back at the end of the last ice age, when studies suggest a flood of freshwater spilled into the Atlantic, halting the AMOC and plunging much of the Northern Hemisphere especially Europe into deep cold that lasted 1,000 years. Why some scientists are pushing back Melting icebergs near Horseshoe Island in Antarctica on Feb. 26. (Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Previous estimates about when a possible collapse of the current might occur have been much less dire. In 2019, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projected that the AMOC would weaken in this century, but that total collapse within the next 300 years was likely only under the worst-case scenarios. Some scientists say it is premature to revise that assessment. They argue that there are too many different factors affecting the current to project exactly if and when it will collapse. We know that there is a possibility that AMOC could stop what its doing now at some point, but its really hard to have certainty about that, Penny Holliday, head of the Marine Physics and Ocean Climate group at the National Oceanography Centre, a British research institute, told the BBC. The fact that the study used past ocean surface temperatures as a proxy for AMOC strength since actual data on the AMOC itself only goes back to 2004 is a limitation, according to some. The points of consensus among researchers are that imminent AMOC collapse is a very disturbing possibility and further study is needed. There is still large uncertainty where the AMOC tipping point is, but the new study adds to the evidence that it is much closer than we thought, Stefan Rahmstorf, a professor of physics of the oceans at the University of Potsdam in Germany, told the Guardian. Although the study probably overstates odds this century, uncertainty is high & the potential consequences of an AMOC disruption are extremely high, tweeted Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA. However, Peter Ditlevsen, a professor of climate physics at the University of Copenhagen and one of the authors of the report, told CNN that he and his co-authors are very confident that this is a robust result. Its really scary, he said. This is not something you would lightly put into papers. Picture of the Spanish Congress of Deputies on Thursday 18 May. Congreso de los Diputados Spaniards voted in a general election on 23 July. The election was called early. Pedro Sanchez, the current acting prime minister, brought it forward after the Socialist Party (PSOE) polled poorly in municipal and regional elections on 28 May, and the prospect of an internal rebellion within the party loomed. The polls, up to 22 July, indicated that the winner of the general election would be the right-wing bloc: the Peoples Party (PP) would be able to form a government with Vox (populist far right-wing party), with which it has already governed in coalition in regions and municipalities. At the same time, the polls saw the Socialist Party (PSOE) and Sumar (a grand coalition of left-wing parties) losing votes. Seat mathematics Pending the results of voters abroad, which may lead to changes in some constituencies but would not substantially alter the overall situation, this predicted triumph has not materialised. In the Spanish parliamentary system the election of the prime minister takes place in the 350-seat Congress of Deputies. The absolute majority is therefore reached at 176 seats. The PP, the winner of the elections, has won 136 seats and Vox 33, totalling 169 between them. To this could be added two more seats from regionalist parties, reaching a maximum of 171 seats. The coalition of the left could count on the PSOE, which won 122, and Sumar 31. That is, 153. All the minority left-wing or pro-independence Basque or Catalan parties that are likely to support the PSOE (and which already did so, in one way or another, in the previous government) add another 19 seats, which would make a total of 172 in that bloc. In other words, the PSOE and its partners are a little closer to forming a government than the PP. The fact that the PP can agree with Vox, with an increasingly conservative and illiberal discourse, disqualifies it from agreeing with other old partners. For example, the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), of former Christian Democrats, which has another five seats, has flatly refused to sit down at the negotiating table with Vox. Story continues The seven seats that have not yet been counted would be those belonging to the Catalan pro-independence party Junts per Catalunya, the party of Carles Puigdemont, who remains in exile in Belgium more than six years on from arranging an illegal referendum. What happened? To begin with, the question in the minds of the leaders and voters of the PP and Vox, which performed worse than expected, is what went wrong? The private polls contracted by the media were predicting a right-wing government. Only the public polls of the CIS (Sociological National Research Agency) showed the PSOE as the winner. The problem has been expectation vs reality. The results of the regional elections were projected as if they could be the results of the national elections, without taking into account possible changes, for structural and circumstantial reasons. An important structural element is the will consolidated in the 1978 Spanish Constitution for all regions to be represented in Congress. Electoral legislation establishes that the 52 constituencies have a minimum of two deputies each. The complicated outcome of the elections stems, in large part, from this territorial representation. Moreover, when extrapolating the results of 28 May, when the right wing triumphed, several regions had not voted, because they do not elect representatives at the same time as the rest of the country. The results were therefore skewed by the absence of votes from the Basque Country, Catalonia and Andalusia, among others. In the case of the general election, the consequence has been a left-wing vote or one that has added seats to the left-wing option. But regional votes pose a challenge for possible left-wing coalition negotiations. In the Basque Country it would mean counting on the support of EH Bildu (still controversial for being the political arm of the former terrorist group ETA). And in Catalonia, the nationalist parties Junts per Catalunya and ERC would have to be included. Both, despite declining in support compared to 2019, are now decisive. It should be borne in mind that Junts, in exchange for an agreement, is asking for a referendum on independence for Catalonia, something that the PSOE flatly rejects. The electorate also appears to have been unclear about what the limits of a PP pact with Vox would be. It remains to be seen whether this could have been a factor in the abstention of PP voters and the alienation of the partys core voters. What happens now? King Felipe VI must call the party most likely to form a government, i.e. the one with the most support in Congress. If its candidate gets enough support in a first vote (absolute majority), the king will name a prime minister. If not, 48 hours later another vote will be held in which a simple majority will be sought. If, after two months, no candidate obtains sufficient support, the king will be informed and new elections will be called, which would take place at the end of the year. The current election result produced a distortion in this process, as the party with the most votes is not the one with enough support to form a government. Currently, PP is asking PSOE to reach an agreement with it and allow Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of PP, to become prime minister. This is not likely to happen. The EU Council presidency All this chaos has repercussions at a European level. From 1 July until 31 December, Spain holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union. The incumbent government, on behalf of the country, is responsible for running the meetings related to this role. Political leadership is required to seek consensus, and develop international relationships. Consensus-building in the context of the European Union entails calm work, which must be carried out by experts with legitimacy and political capacity. Institutional representation corresponds to the presiding country, but the capacity to advance policies lies with those political leaders who seek agreements and advance ideas. It remains to be seen whether the incumbent, acting government has the capacity to exercise such leadership. However, the proposals of the Spanish presidency have been decided beforehand in an agenda coordinated by the previous and two subsequent presidencies. EU institutions are used to changes of government, as they are in an eternal electoral cycle in the member states. In this case, the novelty is the heavy responsibility that falls on the shoulders of the Spanish presidency during these months. Amid a possible deadlock in Spain and an end-of-year general election, Pedro Sanchez would lead Spain for almost the entirety of its presidency of the council. Internationally, Spain is considered a politically stable country, with institutions and parties that respond to general interests and a position in the European context that, despite some complicated periods, responds to obligations. An election resulting in difficulties in forming a government should not ultimately alter that. Demonstrators in Tel Aviv are sprayed with water cannon by Israeli riot police during a protest against the government's judicial overhaul plan, on July 24, 2023 (JACK GUEZ) Mass protests and strikes rocked Israel this week in the face of the hard-right government's decision to push through a controversial legal reform weakening the powers of the Supreme Court. As opponents of the legislation vow to rally again, here's a recap of the latest events and a look ahead to what comes next: - What happened this week? Lawmakers allied to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday threw their support behind an amendment which scraps the "reasonableness" clause, used by the Supreme Court to overturn government decisions which are deemed unconstitutional. The law passed with 64 votes in the 120-seat chamber, after opposition lawmakers stormed out shouting "shame". The measure was a key part of Netanyahu's broader judicial reform package, which the government argues is necessary to rebalance powers between elected officials and the Supreme Court. Critics have taken issue with the draft legislation for months, fearing it could pave the way to a more authoritarian government without judicial oversight. They also accuse Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges he denies, of trying to use the reforms to quash possible judgements against him. He rejects the accusation. - What new powers does it give? Netanyahu's coalition has a parliamentary majority, meaning it does not need opposition support to pass legislation. As Israel does not have an upper house of parliament, the "reasonableness" law was put in place to allow judges to determine whether a government had overreached its powers. "The decision to overturn (the law) is seriously extreme, because the government or a minister can now appoint who they want without checks," said Claude Klein, emeritus professor at the law department of Jerusalem's Hebrew University. "It gives unlimited powers to a government." - How was the law used? The "reasonableness" law has only been used a handful of times against government decisions. Story continues It is a tool used "only when decisions are extremely unreasonable", according to Suzie Navot, a constitutional law professor at the Israel Democracy Institute think tank. "If they (government) take a decision that is corrupted, then the court will intervene." The measure was used recently in a high-profile ruling which barred a Netanyahu ally, Aryeh Deri, from serving in the cabinet because of a previous tax evasion conviction. - Can the vote be challenged? There have already been numerous petitions filed with the Supreme Court against Monday's legislation, including by the Israel Bar Association. Navot says it is possible the country's highest court will strike down the legislation which has been classified as a Basic Law -- forming part of the country's quasi-constitution. "A Basic Law cannot revoke or infringe on the core values of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state," she said. "The Knesset (parliament) is not empowered to change the essence of the country and if it does so, then the court will be able to declare even a Basic Law unconstitutional," she added. But Supreme Court justices have never before made such a ruling. The court on Wednesday announced it would take on the case and not freeze the legislation while legal proceedings are underway. Hearings are set to be heard in September and are likely to be televised, giving the public a chance to see all parties present their arguments. - What's next for the wider reforms? With parliament entering its summer recess, the next piece of Netanyahu's legal overhaul is not expected to hit the chamber floor for months. The premier on Monday promised talks with the opposition. Julia Elad-Strenger, a politics lecturer at Israel's Bar-Ilan University, said this week's vote was a "big win" for the government and its overhaul plans. "Because once the first law has passed with such protest, it will be easier to pass the next," she said. Other items on the agenda include handing the government a greater say in the appointment of judges and downgrading the status of legal advisers attached to ministries. "The most important part of the project is the process of nominating judges, not that which was voted on Monday," said Klein. - Will Israel's divisions deepen? Opposition leaders and protesters, who have taken to the streets in their tens of thousands every week since January, are sceptical of the government's sincerity in holding talks. "This is a gesture of winners, not of losers," said Elad-Strenger. Divisions are only expected to deepen in the coming months, as the government presses ahead with its reform package. For Klein, the situation is no less than "the greatest legislative crisis in the history of the country." mib-rsc/jd/it Editors note: This is the first in a two-part series about the University of Arkansas boards vote against affiliating with the University of Phoenix and what it means for Idaho. After watching the Idaho State Board of Educations brief meeting to affiliate with the University of Phoenix, I, like many other people, was left feeling that Idaho was making a big mistake. On May 18, with just 24 hours notice to the public and 90 minutes of a public meeting, Idaho board members unanimously agreed to create a nonprofit organization to purchase the University of Phoenix for $550 million. That decision came less than a month after University of Arkansas system board members voted, 5-4, against a similar deal. Even though board members there voted against the deal, after watching recordings of the University of Arkansas boards three hours of deliberations, I had much more confidence in Idahos decision to affiliate with the University of Phoenix. Heres what I heard at the University of Arkansas meetings that I didnt hear in the Idaho State Board of Educations meeting that gives me more confidence that maybe Arkansas loss is Idahos gain: Due diligence. Multiple teams of lawyers and financial analysts in Arkansas studied the University of Phoenix for two years. They looked at more than 5,000 documents, analyzed monthly financial statements, had an audit done by Deloitte, had multiple projected earnings reports done internally and by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and were able to analyze financial projections in real time over two years, during which they saw consistent financial performance. Avoiding others mistakes. They learned the lessons of other similar deals: Purdue University and Kaplan; University of Arizona and Ashford; and University of Massachusetts and Brandman. All were land grant universities that purchased private online universities. The Arkansas deal, like the Idaho deal, is structured differently to avoid the problems of those other deals. Story continues Further, the University of Arkansas has already done this successfully, albeit on a smaller scale, purchasing the private, for-profit online Grantham University in 2021. Reputational risks. The Arkansas folks did a much more thorough job of addressing the reputational risks associated with the University of Phoenix, noting that a new management team was put in place in 2016, after the university engaged in business practices that got them a Federal Trade Commission fine. They right-sized the business and cleaned up its act. They noted that the University of Phoenix has 45 years of unblemished accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. Donald Bobbitt, University of Arkansas president, read a letter from 17 University of Phoenix alumni, who wrote about what a great education they received and how it helped their careers. Liability risks. Because the University of Phoenix would fall under the new nonprofit, the University of Arkansas system, like Idaho, would assume no corporate liability, according to Julie Miceli, a higher education lawyer and managing partner at Husch Blackwell, the Chicago law firm hired to work on the deal. She said her firm analyzed several areas of legal liabilities, including, among others: corporate governance, litigation, investigations, material contracts, state and federal regulatory compliance, including with respect to the U.S. Department of Education, accreditation, COVID relief benefits, intellectual property, information technology, labor, employment and benefits, real property, environmental issues and other property assets. This review was not just a snapshot, she said. It has been ongoing for the last two years. Strong financials. University of Phoenix has high cash flow, with annual revenue of $800 million and operating profit of $145 million, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, according to Marshall McKissack, head of mergers and acquisitions at Stephens, an investment banking consulting firm. Like Idahos deal, Arkansas deal included leaving $200 million in cash on the balance sheet. The purchase price of $535 million in Arkansas represented 3.8 times operating profit. With $200 million in cash left on the balance sheet, thats less than 3 times the operating profit. Thats an extremely attractive valuation when other companies either currently trade for five, six, seven times (operating profit), McKissack told board members. Enrollment cliff. Traditional higher education is headed for an enrollment cliff starting in 2025 because of declining numbers of people in the college age group. Arkansas is anticipating as much as a 15% drop in enrollment, hitting smaller, regional campuses hardest. Tapping into the online, adult learner population would help to offset that loss. Financial future. University of Arkansas vice president for academic affairs Michael Moore made one other interesting point: The affiliation with the University of Phoenix would help increase revenue without raising tuition. That was a point emphasized by Arkansas board member Ted Dickey, an investment portfolio manager, a general partner of a real estate fund, and an adviser to Innovate Arkansas, a technology entrepreneurship initiative. Dickey, who voted in favor of the deal, previously spent six years in corporate finance at Stephens Inc., the company evaluating the University of Phoenix deal. Raising tuition every year is an unsustainable, broke model, Dickey said. And thats what we continue to do. Thats our knee-jerk reaction.... So we have an opportunity here to innovate away from public funding, an ability to appeal to a broader audience to free up resources to become a highly regarded research institution, while reducing or at least reducing the growth of tuition. Well set ourselves apart. Though its not quite apples to apples, Dickey likened the deal to when Blockbuster turned down the opportunity to purchase Netflix for $50 million. Board member Ed Fryar said this is a FedEx moment, referring to FedExs decision 50 years ago to leave Arkansas and move to Memphis because Little Rock would not extend its airport runway to accommodate FedEx. How different would the Little Rock economy look today if FedEx headquarters and all of those jobs are still in Little Rock? Fryar said. To me, this is a FedEx moment. Matt Waller, former University of Arkansas dean of the business school, highlighted several key strengths of the University of Phoenix, including a long, proven track record of developing online and mixed-delivery courses quickly and cost-effectively, an ability to build courses based on data they collect of in-demand job skills and an established relationship with 1,600 corporate partners. Waller also noted that University of Phoenix instructors have an average of 14 years teaching experience and 27.6 years of professional experience. University of Phoenix debate But most importantly, heres what I heard in Arkansas that I didnt hear in Idaho: debate. University of Arkansas board members met for two-and-a-half hours for the first time on April 19 and tabled their decision so they could look over documents and spend more time thinking before making a decision. They met five days later for another half-hour of debate before voting. Over the two meetings, Arkansas board members heard extensive testimony from local, regional and national experts. They asked lots of questions. They shared their thoughts, their reservations. They weighed the benefits. They talked among themselves. They disagreed. They agonized. They debated before coming to their decision. Idaho board members, meanwhile, met for only an hour-and-a-half in public, most of which was a rapid-fire, cursory slide presentation, and asked very few questions. When they did ask questions, some didnt get answered. They didnt debate. They didnt even address the reasons and serious reservations that University of Arkansas board members had just a month earlier. Maybe they asked some questions and debated in their three previous closed-door sessions, but thats not how open government is supposed to work. Its understandable that there would be doubts about Idahos decision, which came only 24 hours after a press release went out to the public announcing that the board would be making a $685 million decision. I wish the Idaho State Board of Education members had as robust and open discussion as Arkansas board members. I certainly would have felt much better about their decision. So why did University of Arkansas board members vote against the deal? And how does Idahos deal differ to avoid those objections? Ill highlight those differences in the second part of this series. Today, Im singing the praises of Ohio. Not because I grew up in Kentucky rooting for the Cincinnati Reds and visiting old Crosley Field. Not because I also grew up dying to get home from church on Sunday to watch the Cleveland Browns (before the Bengals existed, we got the Browns on Cincinnati TV). Not because Ive been riding the ferry to the Lake Erie islands for 35 years to hang out with the Ohio branch of the family, watching my kids grow up to love it as much as I do. Not because Ohio gave Ray Mears, Don DeVoe, Len Kosmalski, Tom Boerwinkle, Jon Higgins, Terry Crosby and Howard Bayne to Tennessee basketball. Or Chuck Webb, Michael Munoz, Roland James, Dick Evey and Jeremy Lincoln to UT football. The Greater Miami River Trail runs 93 miles around Dayton, Ohio. Not because the Vols would never have become Wide Receiver U. without Tim McGee, Anthony Hancock and Peerless Price. And not because of Cincinnati chili (I like mine five-way). Im saluting Ohio for its great rails-to-trails bicycle route network pay attention, Tennessee. Pedaling a bicycle has been my primary fitness activity for several decades, on Knoxvilles streets, greenways and rural roads. Im just back from another visit with the family on Middle Bass Island in Lake Erie. The last few years, Ive made time both going and coming for a ride on one of the rails-to-trails paths that crisscross Ohio. Sometime in the 20th century, enlightened thinkers started repurposing out-of-use railroad lines (and canal towpaths) into biking and hiking routes. Some are paved, some crushed gravel. Because they are old rail lines, the grade is gentle if not flat. It makes for great riding and walking, safe from distracted motorists. The Ohio to Erie Trail runs 326 miles from Cincinnati to Cleveland. There are another 93 miles on the Greater Miami Trail around Dayton and a dozen more rails-to-trails around the state. Ive hit five segments and look forward to more, particularly in Cuyahoga Valley National Park south of Cleveland. Ill bet a bunch of local bicyclists and walkers/joggers join me in wishing we had rails-to-trails opportunities here in East Tennessee. Story continues For whatever reasons, Tennessee has a limited offering. Theres the Tweetsie Trail, a 10-mile segment from Johnson City to Elizabethton. A few miles over here, a couple miles way out there. Wouldnt it be nice if we could ride an extended route, say from Chattanooga to Knoxville? And even beyond, up to the Tri-Cities? I dont pretend to comprehend the logistics and obstacles. I do know theres a river valley from here to there. Ohios relative flatness is conducive. I get that. But other areas that arent flat have developed extensive and popular rails-to-trails routes. A bridge on the Virginia Creeper, a popular rails-to-trails route near Abingdon, Va. Ive ridden segments of the 78-mile Greenbrier River Trail in West Virginia. The 240-mile Katy Trail crosses Missouri, mostly along the banks of the Missouri River. From Washington, D.C., you can travel 184 miles west along the old C&O Canal to Cumberland, Maryland, from where you can add another 150 miles on the Great Allegheny Passage to Pittsburgh. Rails-to-trails development doesnt just benefit bicyclists. We spend money. I do an overnight in Abingdon, Virginia, on the Virginia Creeper trail at least once a year: hotel, lunch, dinner, brewery. On this recent trip through Ohio, I partook in the commerce generated in the village of Yellow Springs near Dayton, and in Loveland, northeast of Cincinnati trailside breweries, restaurants, ice-cream shops. Its a good scene, a community enrichment. Some day in Tennessee, maybe. Mike Strange is a former writer for the News Sentinel. He currently writes a weekly sports column for Shopper News. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Rails-to-trails bicycle routes are lacking in Tennessee WASHINGTON Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said a rematch between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump in the 2024 election in Pennsylvania would be closer than some might expect, though he still believes Biden holds an edge in the hypothetical contest. The freshman Democratic senator addressed the race for the GOP nomination, Trump, and life in the Senate since his bout with depression in a rare sit-down with reporters in his congressional office on Monday. Donald Trump cant beat President Biden in Pennsylvania but, assuming it will be President Trump, its going to be closer, Fetterman said of the current Republican presidential front-runner. Trump has to perform above his ceiling, he explained, adding that the former president is still very popular in the state. You still see Trump signs everywhere in Pennsylvania, and you have to respect Trumps strength. Trump won Pennsylvanias 20 electoral votes in 2016 by a narrow margin but lost the state resoundingly to Biden in 2020. Democrats are looking to repeat that kind of performance next year, especially with blue-collar voters in deep-red counties. Fetterman said no other GOP presidential candidate stands a better chance against Biden than Trump, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. He cast DeSantis as extreme, citing his staunch anti-abortion stance and his focus on waging culture wars, including over transgender rights. Theres no way Ron DeSantis could win Pennsylvania, the senator said. Watching DeSantis turn into [former Wisconsin Gov. and 2016 GOP presidential candidate] Scott Walker and get liquidated by Trumps machine, I respect Trump in terms of how formidable he would be in Pennsylvania. Fetterman spoke with the help of an iPad that transcribed the conversation with Capitol Hill reporters in real time, helping compensate for auditory processing difficulties caused by his stroke over a year ago. The Pennsylvania Democrat seems to be taking his own approach to life in the Senate after being hospitalized for depression. He often eschews suits in favor of shorts and a hoodie on his way to Senate votes, though, given the warm summer months, he has traded in the hoodie for a short-sleeve, button-down shirt. Mondays sit-down seemed to mark a shift in Fettermans media strategy. Embracing conversations with reporters, both in formal settings and in more informal interactions in the Senate hallways, is something he hasnt done much before. Harvard Yard at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., July 8, 2020. (Tony Luong/The New York Times) The U.S. Supreme Court ruling gutting race-conscious admissions last month placed a spotlight on legacy preferences in higher education, a practice that mostly helps white and wealthy students. That focus intensified Tuesday with the news that the Education Department had opened a civil rights investigation into Harvard Universitys legacy admissions policy. That inquiry will examine allegations by three liberal groups that Harvards practice of showing preference for the relatives of alumni and donors discriminates against Black, Hispanic and Asian applicants in favor of white and wealthy students who are less qualified. Heres a short guide to understanding legacy admissions. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times What are legacy admissions? Many selective colleges give a boost during the admissions process to the children or grandchildren of alumni, making them more likely to gain admission. The exact number of colleges that use legacy preferences is unknown, but a survey by Inside Higher Ed in 2018 found that 42% of private universities including most of the nations elite institutions and 6% of public colleges used the strategy. Critics have said for years that the century-old practice perpetuates privilege, and a handful of colleges, including Amherst and Johns Hopkins, have recently stopped using the preferences. Others, including the University of California system, the University of Georgia and Texas A&M University, ended the practice after they were pressured by lawsuits and ballot initiatives to stop using affirmative action, according to a Century Foundation analysis. Why do colleges use them? Colleges say that legacy preferences help create an intergenerational community on campuses and grease the wheels for donations, which can be used for financial aid. Some college leaders have said that legacy preferences play a small role in admissions decisions and that the students who are admitted under the system are highly qualified. Story continues A Harvard committee expressed worry in 2018 that no longer considering whether an applicants parent had attended Harvard could lead to diminished donations from alumni financial support that helps the diversity and excellence of the colleges student body. Jeremiah Quinlan, the dean of undergraduate admissions at Yale, said at a legislative hearing last year that a state ban on legacy admissions would undermine academic freedom and that he was skeptical that such a move would have a material effect on the number of low-income students or those from underrepresented groups. The process for selecting students for admission, together with the processes for hiring faculty and deciding which courses to offer, defines a campus community and culture, Quinlan said in written testimony. How have colleges and political leaders reacted to the recent developments? The Supreme Court ruling put a renewed emphasis on fairness in college admissions. The high court voted 6-3 to reject affirmative action programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina, a decision expected to lower the number of Black students at selective college campuses. Since the ruling, a handful of colleges have dropped legacy preferences, including the University of Minnesota and Wesleyan University. In an interview, Michael S. Roth, Wesleyans president, said that legacy status had played a negligible role in admissions but that it was becoming a distraction and a sign of unfairness to the outside world. The opposition to legacy preferences is bipartisan. President Joe Biden; Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., have all spoken out against the practice. In a concurring opinion in the ruling on race-conscious admissions, Justice Neil Gorsuch criticized preferences for the children of donors and alumni, saying they undoubtedly benefit white and wealthy applicants the most. Even before the Supreme Court ruling, the practice was not popular with the public. A Pew Research Center survey last year found that 75% of those asked believed legacy status should not be a factor in college admissions. Whats next? Legacy preferences face an uncertain future on campuses. After the Supreme Court decision, Biden said he would ask the Education Department to examine practices like legacy admissions and other systems that expand privilege instead of opportunity. In the Harvard investigation, the Education Departments Office of Civil Rights has a powerful enforcement authority that could eventually lead to a settlement with Harvard or set off a lengthy legal battle. Nicole Rura, a spokesperson for Harvard, said in a statement that the university was already reviewing the way it admitted students to ensure that it was in compliance with the law after the courts decision and would continue to strengthen our ability to attract and support a diverse intellectual community. c.2023 The New York Times Company Greenland ice melting. Paul Souders / Getty Images An important Atlantic Ocean current system is on the brink of collapse, according to a study published in the journal Nature Communications. Known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), the current is "part of a 'global conveyor belt' that moves water around the world" and "helps to regulate everything from the rate of sea level rise on the East Coast to Europe's average temperatures," Axios reported. The AMOC also serves as a crucial "tipping element," meaning it "could undergo an abrupt and irreversible change, with dramatic consequences for the rest of the globe," per The Washington Post. The AMOC plays an important role in the overall climate system; however, climate change "has thrown a wrench in the system," the Post wrote. Climate change has caused ice to melt, moving cold freshwater into the Atlantic Ocean. "When the increased meltwater from Greenland enters the North Atlantic, it's freshwater, which is lighter than the salty seawater around it," study co-authors Peter and Susanne Ditlevsen told USA Today. "This excess freshwater can disrupt the normal sinking of the salty water, weakening or even shutting down the AMOC." The study found that the AMOC could collapse sometime between 2025 and 2095, with somewhere between 2039 and 2070 being the most likely, Peter Ditlevsen told CNN. "The scientific evidence now is that we can't even rule out crossing a tipping point already in the next decade or two," Stefan Rahmstorf, an oceanographer at the Potsdam Institute, told the Post. "Our result underscores the importance of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible," said Peter Ditlevsen, per USA Today. A collapse "would affect every person on the planet it's that big and important," added Peter de Menocal, the president of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, while speaking with 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 A dispute about fixing a broken sewer pipe has escalated into an attempt by the town of Lexington to condemn a downtown business property. Town officials are pushing to condemn the site on East Main Street in order to gain access to a broken sewer pipe an issue that has led the town to park a pump truck behind the property for months just to remove sewage from the pipe. Lexington says it needs access to the site to repair the broken pipe, which the town says is almost 100 years old. The sewer line that failed dates back to 1925 and the line cant be repaired or replaced where it currently is located because it is under a building, said town spokesperson Laurin Barnes. Businesses in the area are not experiencing any disruption because the truck, parked in an off-street lot at the site since March 29, has been able to remove sewage from the broken line, she said. But the town has run into trouble because of a dispute with the property owner, New Brookland Associates. Prior to the failure, the Town was seeking to gain an easement from the adjacent property owners to relocate the line, Barnes said. However, now the Town is now having to go through condemnation in order to obtain that easement on the property located at 121 and 127 East Main Street, and that is a process that has to go through court. The addresses the town seeks to condemn currently contain OHaras Bakery and Cafe and Cho on Main Salon and Boutique. But those businesses should not be affected by the condemnation process, the town said. The condemnation notice seeks to gain access to a permanent utility easement for each property, totaling 2,850 square feet, as well as another 2,000 square feet for a temporary construction easement. The town offers the property owners compensation of $4,325. New Brookland Associates is fighting the condemnation in a court filing, claiming there is a better engineering way to fix the problem of the sewage, but (the town) has elected to place the alternate sewage pipe onto the Plaintiffs property rather than a downstream property where the gravity feed is much better. Story continues The suit asks the court to declare Lexingtons interest in New Brookland Associates property arbitrary and capricious. Calls to a listed number for the property owners and their attorney, Jahue Moore, were not returned prior to publication. In the meantime, downtown will be dependent on the pump truck to continue to remove sewage from the business district. The town estimates it will cost $500,000 to replace the pipe. The Lexington County Chronicle quoted a source saying the truck has cost the town well over $100,000. Barnes couldnt cite a cost for use of the pump truck, but until we can rectify the issue, its something we have to do to maintain service, she said. Italy is facing multiple kinds of extreme weather at once, with southern parts of the country scorched by blistering heat, while the north is battered by deadly storms. On Tuesday alone, extreme weather killed at least six people, according to Italian authorities. A teenager and a woman were killed by falling trees as severe storms hit northern Italy in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Four elderly people died as a result of wildfires in the southern island of Sicily and coastal city of Reggio Calabria. Italys fire brigade said they responded to 400 emergency calls for fallen trees, roof damage, flooding and broken windows after storms caused widespread damage in the area. In recent days, northern Italy has been pummeled by severe weather, which has also produced tornadoes and strong winds. Last week, 100 people were injured after tennis ball-sized hail rained down in the Veneto region. Firefighters and rescue services next to a fallen tree after a strong storm hit Lissone, Italy, on 24 July 2023. - Fabrizio Radaelli/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock As storms disrupt the north, the south is sweltering under an extreme heat wave. In some parts of Sicily, temperatures reached 47.4 Celsius (117.3 Fahrenheit) on Monday, edging close to the European temperature record of 48.8 degrees Celsius, set in 2021. The heat is priming the landscape for fires, which have already claimed at least one life. Of the four fatalities from wildfires, an 88-year-old woman died outside Palermo, Sicily, a government spokesperson told CNN. The woman, who had serious health issues, died because doctors were not able to reach her due to the wildfires, CNNs affiliate SkyTG24 reported. More than 40 fires broke out in Sicily on Monday night, including one at the Bellolampo landfill that produced poisonous fumes, according to the Italian fire brigade. More than 1,500 people have been evacuated from the affected region and several homes have been damaged. Palermos Falcone Borsellino airport was closed for several hours on Tuesday due to the fires, but reopened later in the morning with flights from major airlines now being allowed to land and take off with major delays. Story continues A wildfire burns near the Sicilian airport Falcone-Borsellino in Palermo, Italy, July 25, 2023. . - Ufficio Stampa Gesap via Reuters Most budget airlines have been diverted to Trapani airport, according to the Palermo airport authority. Sicilys other major airport in Catania has limited service after a fire in one of the terminals there last week, according to the Catania airport authority. Catania has also been affected by power and water supply cuts in part because of the extreme heat, according to Reuters. An additional 2,000 people were evacuated from three hotels in the Puglia region as a vast fire broke out in the San Felice bay in Vieste. Italys minister for civil protection and marine policies, Nello Musumeci, said Tuesday that Italy is experiencing very difficult times. We are living one of the most complicated days of the last decades: storms, tornadoes, giant hail in the North; torrid heat and devastating fires in the Centre-South. While we mourn the three victims of these twenty-four hours, I feel I have to thank the firefighters, the civil protection managers and volunteers, the police forces, the forestry workers and all those who are mobilized in the most difficult trenches, Musumeci said in a post on Twitter. As the human-caused climate crisis accelerates, scientists are clear that extreme weather events such as heat waves and storms will only become more frequent and more intense. A study published Tuesday found that southern Europes heat wave would have been virtually impossible without climate change. Italy, located in the climate change hotspot of the Mediterranean and surrounded by warming seas, is particularly vulnerable. The climate upheaval that has hit our nation imposes a change of pace on all of us, Musumeci said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Wind turbines operate in a wind farm in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights on the the border with Syria. A new wind project has spurred protests among native farmers in the area. Scientists agree that harnessing energy from renewable sources to power our lights, ACs, phones, stoves, and cars will be necessary to slow global warming. But wind farms across the world have increasingly been subject to protest by communities whose land theyve encroached on. People in small towns across the US have raised concerns at zoning meetings about health issues and depressed property values. An Indigenous group in Norway says a wind farm will affect their ability to herd reindeer, a concern supported by climate activist Greta Thunberg. One of the most common concerns raised by protestors worldwide is how these turbines will affect their health. People say wind projects near their homes, different from the off-shore wind farms at sea, have caused a range of harmful effects on their bodies, including migraines, chronic pain, increased blood pressure, and difficulty sleeping. When wind turbines are properly regulated, these problems dont quite reach the point of a public health concern, says Chris Ollson, an environmental health consultant in Canada who has worked for on minimizing fallout from wind projects for more than a decade. He points to more than a hundred studies that measure the impacts of wind turbines on sleep and other biological responses. When wind turbines are properly regulated, problems dont quite reach the point of a public health concern. Chris Ollson, environmental health consultant But regulations dont always consider important local context. Take the Golan Heights for example, where one of the worlds more contentious wind projects led thousands of Druze farmers to protest in the streets in June. The Golan has been occupied by Israel since 1967 and was annexed in 1981, although international law and every country except the US recognizes it as Syrian land. The states relations with the Druze community, most of whom consider themselves Syrian, have been tenseIsraeli police responded to the recent demonstrations with force, using teargas, water cannons, and rubber-coated metal bullets. Story continues The chief concern of the protestors is how the wind farm, proposed by the multinational company Energix, would further entrench Israeli occupation over the Golan. But another main concern is how the turbines will affect their health. In the region, regulations must consider context and the circumstances in which the new site would be built, Druze leaders say. Noise pollution and shadow flicker The two primary health concerns with wind farms include the level of noise they emit and the flickering lights they create, called shadow flicker, Ollson says. Disruptions are created when the three-pronged turbines spin, emulating a slow, giant fan. Typically, governments dont allow wind farms to send more than 50 decibels of sound to nearby houses, which is about as loud as the hum from a household refrigerator. The noise pollution could prevent those living nearby from sleeping properly. When people cant rest well for a prolonged period of time, it can reduce their quality of life. They might feel both tired and sick, which could lead to trouble eating and exercising, among other problems, Ollson explains. However, research shows that turbines that hum at less than 45 to 50 decibels dont have any statistical effect on sleep quality, he adds. Ollson points to one 2016 study from Canada that he says is considered the gold standard around the world. The government studied the sleep quality of 720 people who lived between 820 feet to about 7 miles away from a wind farm emitting a range of 20 to 46 decibels of noise. The researchers used actimeters, which are similar to fitbits, to track participants sleep quality. The study found no statistical difference between those living near the wind farm and those living a few miles away. There's some indication when we go over 55 or 60 decibels that it's probably too close. But ultimately, we aren't seeing that in jurisdictions that are [regulated] properly, Ollson says. [Related: The hard truth of building clean solar farms] Its unclear exactly how many decibels of sound the Energix wind project would wreak on Majd Al Shams, one of the few remaining Druze towns in the Golan. The farm is expected to be about 3,280 feet away from the neighborhoods, meaning the residents should be safe from noise. But farmers who work near the project would still be exposedand there are more than 1,800 cottages that people visit regularly on the farming properties a few hundred feet away from the designated site, Wael Tarabieh, a project manager for Al Marsad, says. Other major health concerns from living or working around turbines are epileptic seizures, headaches, nausea, and general disturbance from shadow flicker, which occurs when the sun shines through the turbines spinning prongs, causing a shadowing effect that can sometimes be seen in homes and buildings. People can simulate shadow flicker by pointing a flashlight at a ceiling or desk fan: The dark shapes created on the wall are similar to what people living near a wind farm might experience, though at a significantly lower rate, given that the fan blades move much faster than a turbines does. A near universal standard across the world is limiting shadow flicker to 30 hours per year, Ollson says. This can be done by using computer programs to model conditions and choosing spots for turbines accordingly. We can't find a correlation in these larger epidemiological studies between shadow flicker and headaches or nausea, Ollson notes. And the turbines move too slowly to cause epileptic seizures, he adds. What the majority of my colleagues in the field would say, is that shadow flicker isn't a health concern, but it is an annoyance or nuisance. Imagine you're sitting in your place tonight, and if I was standing at the wall and turning your lights on and off, in a slow fashion, for 20 minutes at a time. You would not enjoy that. An Israeli Centurion tank abandoned during 1973 Kipur war, sits on a older wind farm in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights. But in the Golan, some residents could experience up to one hour of shadow flicker per day during certain times of the year. This is because of the wind farms location and use of larger turbine blades, Israeli doctor Ofer Megged told Al Marsad for their 2018 report on the wind farm. The project has been modified several times since thenits unclear how many hours of shadow flicker the latest plan would produce. All forms of energy have their drawbacks, Ollson adds. Oil refineries and coal plants, the main way the world has generated power for the past century, churn out air pollution, which has been linked to a much wider range of health problems, including increased risk of asthma, cancers, and heart disease. Winds of change in the Golan Heights New construction needs to take native people, their history, and their current situation into context, explains Munir Fakher Eldin, an assistant professor and dean of the faculty of arts at Birzeit University in Palestine who writes about land rights. He calls the new wind farm in the Golan, where he is from, a form of greenwashing. The Golan is known for its wealth of natural resources, such as water, wind, and potentially petroleum. The area is attractive for renewables because of an estimated wind speed almost double that of Israels coastal plane, vast open areas, and low population density, according to the Syria Report. Wind energy is a major component of Israels net zero goal, and the country plans for nearly half of it to come from the Golan. [Related: What companies really mean when they say theyre net-zero] The Golan is already home to two wind farms, which are both near Israeli settlements. (Some settlers have also opposed the turbines, according to Tarabieh.) Israel also has plans to build a dozen more wind projects in the Golan to serve locals, both native and non-native. But the Energix project, first proposed in 2018, has received scrutiny from the Druze and become the subject of both protests and lawsuits for the past five years. After Israel began to occupy the Golan in 1967, they expelled around 131,000 Syrians, which was about 95 percent of the population in the area, according to Al Marsad. Since then, the 1,800 cottages near the wind farm have served as a place for many to escape. Our agricultural lands are not simply a place to cultivate the land. Actually, they are a kind of extension to our everyday life, Tarabieh says. Most of the people escape from [overcrowding in Majd Al-Shams] to the agricultural lands to spend the time with their family. People sleep in these cottages all the time ... That's why in our case, it's really very dangerous. It's not that people are afraid of or imagining something. It's real, and we are all close to it. The new project would also subsume a quarter of agricultural land left to farmers, who were already stripped of most of their land more than 50 years ago. Settlements, military facilities, and national park acquisition put 95 percent of the Golan under Israeli control, according to Tarabieh. The wind farm would also limit how much Majd Al-Shams could grow. Mountains in the north, a ceasefire line in the east, and settlements in the west mean that the agricultural land to the south, where the farm is planned, is the only place the town could expand. A new residential zoning code also allows houses to be built much closer to the turbines, which could increase health risks from the wind farm, Tarabieh says. In our case, it's really very dangerous. It's real, and we are all close to it. Wael Tarabieh, a project manager for Al Marsad Fakher Eldin and Tarabieh also think the development would affect residents' psychological health. In a complaint echoed by those living near wind farms around the world, the turbines, which stand at about 680 feet tall, would ruin their lands pastoral beauty. Whats different in the Golan though, they say, is the wind farm could serve as yet another reminder of how little control the native Syrian communities have over their home. The land is part of people's identity and sense of security, belonging, and communal safety, says Fakher Eldin. Basically we're defending our right for reasonable existence on our land The wind farm will feel like a suffocating presence. Update (July 28, 2023): The headline of this story has been changed from "Are wind farms low-key harming people's health." The article focuses on health concerns in some communities living around turbines, mainly in the Israel-annexed region the Golan Heights. Scientific reports and experts stress that most of the issues, which are far less severe than health effects stemming from oil refineries and coal plants, can be managed through proper siting and safety regulations. The political context in the Golan Heights, however, makes new wind farms more fraught for native residents. Winnie Harlow attends her birthday party in Los Angeles, California, on July 24, 2023. Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images Fashion model and Cay Skin founder Winnie Harlow turns 28 on Thursday. She attended an early birthday party on Monday night while wearing a daring, sheer look from GCDS. The rainbow-print set also had a flower-shaped cutout on its pants and crystal embellishments. Winnie Harlow celebrated her 28th trip around the sun this week, and she basically wore her birthday suit. The model was photographed outside Delilah, a 1920s-themed restaurant in Los Angeles, California, where she attended her birthday party on Monday night. She was dressed in a two-piece, see-through set from the Italian fashion line GCDS, and the multicolored look was both daring and perfectly festive. It included a crystal-covered halter bralette, which she wore with nothing underneath, and matching pants decorated with a flower-shaped cutout and the same crystal pieces at the bottom of each leg. She also wore a metallic thong underneath that blended with her skin. Winnie Harlow attends her birthday party in Los Angeles, California, on July 24, 2023. Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images Harlow's outfit is currently sold out on the GCDS website, though her pants previously retailed for $885. She completed the outfit with baby-blue stilettos, chunky bangle bracelets, a silver Chanel purse, oversized hoop earrings, sunglasses with tinted lenses, and sparkling hair embellishments. Winnie Harlow attends her birthday party in Los Angeles, California, on July 24, 2023. Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images The colorful outfit comes weeks after Harlow wore a similar sheer look in more neutral shades. She was spotted in Los Angeles on June 7 wearing a cream-colored mesh gown that showed her skin and undergarments. She also wore a cropped blazer, delicate jewelry, and white Chanel sneakers with crystal embellishments. Winnie Harlow in Los Angeles, California, on June 7, 2023. jfizzy/Star Max/Getty Images Harlow's actual birthday isn't until Thursday, but the Cay Skin founder has been celebrating since the start of the week. "Welcome to LEO SEASON ," she captioned an Instagram post featuring photos and videos of her wearing a flowing, yellow gown. Read the original article on Insider Twitter/Law&Crime A Wisconsin woman on Wednesday was found guilty of murdering and decapitating her lover in a meth-fueled rendezvous last February. Taylor Schabusiness, 25, was convicted of all charges against her, including first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, and third-degree sexual assault in connection with the February 2022 murder of her lover, Shad Thyrion. The verdict came after Brown County Circuit Court jurors deliberated for just 45 minutes. Throughout the three-day trial, jurors heard harrowing allegations against Schabusiness, who they say fatally strangled Thyrion on Feb. 22, 2022, in the basement of his mothers Green Bay home. Prosecutors argued that after smoking methamphetamine and engaging in a sexual encounter, Schabusiness fatally strangled Thyrion before mutilating the 24-year-olds body for hours. A selfie of #TaylorSchabusiness smiling next to a photo of Wisconsin serial killer #JeffreyDahmer was entered into evidence in her murder trial Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/wM6ILa0HCu Law&Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) July 26, 2023 Schabusiness admitted to the police that she dismembered and sexually abused Thyrion before she got paranoid and lazy and put his severed head and male genitalia in a five-gallon bucket with a beach towel before leaving. Thyrions mother later found the severed head and called the authorities. Thyrions mother, Tara Pakanich, testified earlier this week that she woke up in the middle of the night and went to the basement to see if her son was home. Instead, she said, discovered a five-gallon bucket with a beach towel on top with her son's head and genitalia inside. Story continues She found the severed head of her son in the basement, Pakanichs boyfriend, Steve Hendricks, told a 911 dispatcher in a call played in court. Theres something in the god damn bucket. On Wednesday, jurors also heard about an obsession Schabusiness had with Jeffrey Dahmerand even saw a bizarre smiling selfie that she took with a photo of the notorious serial killer. The photo was among several pieces of evidence that were found on Taylor Schabusinesss phone after the February 2022 murder of her lover, Shad Thyrion. Former Green Bay Police lieutenant Jena Luberda described to jurors that while looking through the 25-year-olds electronics, she found that Schabusiness had several Dahmer-related photos saved on her phone, as well as about 24 online searches about the murderer known for killing and dismembering 17 men between 1978 and 1991. The former detective also described the photos that were on Schabusinesss Google Drive. One Feb. 12, 2022, photo shown to the jurors depicts Schabusiness smiling next to a cell phone displaying a photo of Dahmer. Things like Jeffrey Dahmer, Jeff Boyardee, Jeffrey Dahmers butt, Jeffrey Dahmer walking into court all sexy, Luberda said about Schabusinesss search history. 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. Photograph: Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images A witness to the 1965 assassination of Malcolm X has come forward to claim that a comment he overheard as police were restraining assassin Thomas Hagan outside the Audubon Ball room proved to him that the New York police department and FBI knew beforehand that there would be an attempt on the civil rights activists life. Mustafa Hassan said he heard an officer ask of Hagan, Is he one of us? From my vantage point this was an attempt by police to assist in him getting away, Hassan said on Tuesday in a statement to reporters, read mere feet away from where Malcolm X was gunned down in New York Citys Audubon Ballroom. Appearing alongside the civil rights attorney Ben Crump, Hassan asserted that he prevented Hagan from being taken away by reaching out and grabbing the assassin by the collar. Hassan, formerly known as Richard Melwin Jones, delivered a vivid description of his recollection of the day that the leader of the Organization of Afro-American Unity was assassinated. According to Hassan, the assassination unfolded when someone shouted a racist slur along with the words get your hands out of my pocket! A bomb went off as Malcolm X asked everyone to calm down, and then gunshots erupted. During the ensuing chaos, Hassan spotted a man with a gun in his hand running toward him. Hassan said he managed to knock down Hagan, better known as Talmadge X Hayer, a member of the Nation of Islam. After checking on Malcolm, Hassan said he went outside the ballroom to find the activists followers beating Hagan. Thats when he heard one of multiple police officers trying to pull Hagan away ask, Is he one of us? Hassan, reading from his statement, also claimed that a police special service bureau member and undercover informant Eugene Roberts had described seeing a dry run on Malcolms life a week earlier. Crump and his associate Ray Hamlin said the is he one of us comment may now give Malcolm Xs family a basis to bring a legal claim seeking damages from the New York police department as well as the federal government. Story continues Such a claim would accuse both entities of fraudulent concealment and material misrepresentation of facts because, the attorneys argue, it indicates that police authorities had informants in the building and, by extension, knew there would be an attempt on Malcolms life. Were focused on the FBI, the federal government and the New York City police department, Hamlin told the Guardian. He also said that the phrase Hassan heard gives us indication that members of law enforcement were aware that there were people working with them in order to achieve the death of Malcolm X. Crump added: It tells us they knew something was going down. Even though they didnt know who was doing it, they all knew and they came because it was the assassination of Malcolm X. They were saying is this guy with us because they knew they had planted Black people in there who were informants. Crump also accused authorities of intentionally trying to keep information away fraudulently from people seeking justice, that being Malcolm Xs family. They sent a directive that no one is to tell about our presence in the Audubon Ballroom and then sat by as two innocent people were wrongfully convicted, Crump said. Crumps remarks referred to New York Citys agreement in October to pay $26m to settle lawsuits filed on behalf of two men whose convictions in the assassination were thrown out after a judge found serious miscarriages of justice had taken place. The two men, Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam, each spent more than 20 years in prison after their hasty arrests and a trial that relied on evidence since deemed questionable. A two-year investigation led by the Manhattan district attorneys office found that prosecutors, the FBI and the police had withheld key evidence that probably would have led to acquittals if presented to a jury. Tuesdays briefing with reporters was at the Malcolm X & Dr Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, which is on the site of the Audubon in Washington Heights. Attendees included Malcolm Xs daughters Qubilah and Ilyasah Shabazz, who were in the ballroom that night with their mother, Betty Shabazz, when their father was shot 21 times as he sought to gain support for the newly formed Organization of Afro-American Unity, after he broke from the Nation of Islam. Ilyasah said she and her family still had many unanswered questions. I think the truth should be told, Ilyasah said. Qubilah Shabazz declined comment. She was arrested in 1995 in connection with an alleged plot to kill Louis Farrakhan, then the leader of the Nation of Islam, who has faced but denied accusations of having a hand in Malcolm Xs assassination. Hassan said he was not the only one to believe authorities were involved in Malcolm Xs assassination. I realized that almost immediately, he told the Guardian. NEW YORK Cops racing to the assassination of Malcolm X in 1965 stopped the civil rights leaders followers from beating a suspected gunman caught at the scene, with the police asking each other, Is he with us? according to bombshell testimony released Tuesday. Speaking out for the first time, Mustafa Hassan recounted the bedlam during the Feb. 21, 1965 killing and how he tried to stop a man running from the scene with a gun but was held back by responding officers. He was being beaten by Malcolms followers while a group of policemen ... suddenly showed up on the scene asking, Is he with us? while at the same time holding back Malcolms followers from beating him, Hassan said about the gunman as he read an affidavit he filed with attorney Ben Crumps office. From my vantage point, this was an attempt by the police to assist in him getting away, the senior added. Crump has filed a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of Malcolm Xs daughters against the NYPD and other city, state and federal agencies for intentionally concealing evidence in his murder. Bolstering their case, Hassan was never questioned by police even though he remained at the scene, Crump said. The new evidence will also help them overcome concerns that the statute of limitations for the wrongful death suit expired decades ago, he added. We will show that the defendants concealed evidence, which gives us a cause of action, the lawyer said. It wasnt due to a lack of diligence. No one will say that Malcolm Xs family had accepted what the government had told them. They always sought the truth. After his public split from the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X was gunned down on the stage of the Audubon Ballroom as he prepared to make a speech to supporters of his new group, the Organization of Afro-American Unity. He was shot 21 times as his wife and children looked on. The new evidence was recounted at the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Education Center in Washington Heights, which was once the Audubon Ballroom. Story continues It comes after a state judge exonerated two of the three men convicted and jailed in connection with Malcolm Xs murder. Last year, the city paid $26 million and the state paid $10 million to Muhammad Aziz and the family of Khalil Islam to settle lawsuits related to their wrongful convictions. Hassan was working security for the Organization of Afro-American Unity when Malcolm X was murdered. After remaining silent for nearly 60 years, he came forward in March, Crumps legal team said. The attorney confirmed that Hassan was at the Ballroom through archive photos and videos of the assassination. We have the pictures and we have the video, but we have no sound, Crump said. But we have an eyewitness and, more importantly, an ear witness who heard what the NYPD officers were saying. The Police Department has repeatedly declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing the pending litigation. Mustafa Hassan, 84, an associate of Malcolm X, points to himself in a picture following the assassination of Malcolm X during a news conference with Civil rights attorney, Ben Crump, and Malcolm X's daughter, IIyasah Shabazz, on Tuesday in New York City. They allege more information has been discovered which they say points to efforts by the FBI to cover up a conspiracy to murder Malcolm X. Mustafa Hassan, 84, an associate of Malcolm X, points to himself in a picture following the assassination of Malcolm X during a news conference with Civil rights attorney, Ben Crump, and Malcolm X's daughter, IIyasah Shabazz, on Tuesday in New York City. They allege more information has been discovered which they say points to efforts by the FBI to cover up a conspiracy to murder Malcolm X. A man claiming to work for Malcolm Xs security detail the day of his assassination spoke publicly about the activists death for the first time at a press conference on Tuesday. The civil rights leader was shot more than a dozen times while delivering a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City on Feb. 21, 1965. Mustafa Hassan, who spoke at the press conference hosted by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, claims that what he saw and heard that day substantiates the theory that the FBI and the NYPD were involved in the civil rights leaders killing. Following the assassination, three men were charged and convicted in connection to the civil rights leaders death. Mujahid Abdul Halim, also known as Talmadge Hayer or Thomas Hagan, confessed to the killing. He has maintained that the two people convicted of the killing Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam were not involved. Hassan claimed in an affidavit signed last month that he stopped Hagan from escaping after the shooting despite what he believes was an attempt from the authorities to allow him to flee the scene. I would later see [Hagan] outside as he was being beaten by Malcolms followers while a group of policemen, who suddenly showed up on the scene asking is he with us while at the same time holding back Malcolms followers from beating him, Hassan said at the press conference. They were prepared to let him go, thats my perspective, Hassan added. Stock footage and photographs provided to HuffPost show Hassan, now 84, at the scene of Malcolm Xs killing. Hassan, who was also a member of Malcolm Xs Organization of Afro-American Unity, said he was never approached or interviewed by the authorities and that he and his family fled the country following the assassination fearing death. Story continues There are still a multitude of questions surrounding Malcolm Xs killing. Aziz was released in 1985 and Islam in 1987, but it wasnt until late 2021 that they were exonerated after a two-year long investigation conducted by the Manhattan District Attorneys office. And earlier this year, the family of the late Malcolm X filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking $100 million in damages, and accusing the CIA, FBI and NYPD of playing a role in his assassination. Crump plans to pursue further legal action in the coming months given Hassans claims. When police first ran up to the person who has just shot Malcolm X, are they trying to stop him? No. What they are saying, [is], Is he with us, because they dont know if their person was assigned to shoot Malcolm or not, Crump said on Tuesday. One of Malcolm Xs daughters, Ilyasah Shabazz, also spoke at the press conference. What history has recorded is inaccurate. So we want the truth to be known, we want the history books to reflect that truth, and we would like justice to be served, Shabazz said. Related... Attorney Ben Crump, speaks during a news conference, Feb. 21, 2023, at the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center in New York, accompanied by the daughters of Malcom X, Ilyasah Shabazz, left, and Qubilah Shabbaz, second from left, and attorney Ray Hamlin, right. A witness to the assassination of Malcolm X has rekindled a theory long believed by many people in the Black community: That law enforcement may have assisted the killers. Mustafa Hassan, now 84, was in Harlems Audubon ballroom when Malcolm X was shot dead of Feb. 21, 1965. Yesterday, Hassan appeared with civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who read from an affidavit which claims Hassan and others were stopped by NYPD officers as Malcolm Xs supporters tried to chase down and stop the suspected gunmen. revealed a testimony from a witness the night civil rights activist Malcolm X was assassinated. Crump represents the daughters of Malcolm X in a $10 million wrongful death lawsuit alleging the NYPD and several government agencies purposefully withheld exculpatory evidence in the killing. Hassan submitted his testimony that supports the theory that the cops were in on the shooting. He said he was working security with the Organization of Afro-American Unity at the Audubon Ballroom the evening of Feb. 21, 1965. After the shooting, Hassan recalled trying to stop a man with a gun from running away but was held back by NYPD responding officers. Read more He was being beaten by Malcolms followers while a group of policemen ... suddenly showed up on the scene asking, Is he with us? while at the same time holding back Malcolms followers from beating him, Crump read from the statement. From my vantage point, this was an attempt by the police to assist in him getting away. Hassan also said despite his presence on the scene of the crime, no law enforcement ever tried to interview him about what happened or what hed seen. Crump confirmed at the conference he had archive photos showing Hassan at the Audubon Ballroom as well as video footage but with no sound. Story continues Recently, two of the three men convicted in the murder, Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam, were exonerated and paid multi-million dollar settlements in the lawsuits they filed in their wrongful convictions, according to the New York Daily News. The last one, Thomas Hagan, confessed to the shooting but Crump said he believes he was working under the orders of the NYPD. More from The Root Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. A Florida Highway Patrol trooper was hurt Monday night after stopping a wrong-way driver on Interstate 4 in Orlando. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The trooper responded after reports a driver in a white car was going west on the eastbound lanes of I-4 in Orange County around 10:30 p.m. Troopers worked with Orange County deputies and Orlando police to secure the area and attempt to stop the driver. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] One trooper attempted to stop the wrong-way drivers path with lights and sirens on, but was hit in the process. At that stage, our trooper decided he was going to be able to protect life and property by putting his life in the way of that vehicle to stop it from getting to that busy intersection, said Tara Crescenzi with Florida Highway Patrol. The wrong-way driver eventually collided with a tree after crashing into the FHP cruiser. Read: JSO looking for missing, endangered man in Southpoint area The driver, a 48-year-old Arizona woman, was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center for an evaluation. The 22-year-old trooper was taken to AdventHealth to be treated for minor injuries. Troopers said the crash remains under investigation. CLICK HERE to read the original article by WFTV. Read: Miami-Dade police chief awake and talking after surgery for self-inflicted gunshot wound [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 woman is facing two felony charges, including child endangerment, in Warren County. >>We need medics here ASAP; Frantic 911 calls detail moments after shooting in Dayton Springboro Police officers were initially dispatched on April 3 to Redbud Drive on the report of a 20-month-old girl sustaining life-threatening injuries while at her babysitters residence, according to a Springboro Police spokesperson. Medics transported the child to Liberty Childrens Hospital by Clearcreek Fire and Rescue and then transported to Cincinnati Childrens Hospital for treatment. The child suffered serious injuries and remained at the main campus for several weeks in the ICU. >>2 men arrested after officers execute drug-related search warrant in Darke County Springboro Police opened an investigation and worked with the Warren County Prosecutors Office. The case was brought before a grand jury Friday and a warrant was issued Monday. Megan Carson, 30, was taken into custody on felony charges including Child Endangerment and Felonious assault, the spokesperson said. She is currently in Warren County Jail awaiting arraignment at the Warren County Common Pleas Court. Julia Hernandez-Santiago was killed 36 years ago while walking home from a doctors appointment, according to California prosecutors. The 26-year-olds body was found on an ivy-covered embankment in Carlsbad on Oct. 10, 1987, the San Diego County District Attorneys Office said in a July 25 news release. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled, prosecutors said. For decades, there were no arrests in Hernandez-Santiagos case. However, using DNA technology, the Carlsbad Police Department said in a July 2020 Facebook post that it was able to pinpoint a suspect and make an arrest. James Charles Kingery, 57, was arrested, and nearly two years later a jury found him guilty on first-degree murder and rape charges. Now prosecutors said he has been sentenced to 25 years-to-life in prison. The victims loved ones had their lives shattered by this horrific murder and have waited more than three decades for justice and some closure. Today they have it, District Attorney Summer Stephan said in the release. An attorney representing Kingery could not be reached for comment. Much evidence but no leads Though much evidence was collected where Hernandez-Santiagos body was found, no suspects were identified, police said. Over the decades, investigators continued to follow leads and examine evidence using new information and new technology, according to police. Then, in March 2020, the San Diego County Sheriffs Office arrested a man on narcotics and weapons charges, and his DNA was entered into a database, police said. Two months later, police said it was notified that the DNA of Kingery matched DNA found at the scene of the 1987 cold case killing, and he was arrested in July 2020. We are hopeful that the arrest can bring some sense of peace and closure to Ms. Santiagos family, police said at the time. Carlsbad is about 25 miles northwest of San Diego. Former pastor with North Texas ties charged with childs murder in Pennsylvania cold case Skull buried with a mismatched torso in CA identified after decades, DNA experts say Fresno cold case arrest: Suspect detained after 36 years in brutal murder of young mother A picture of Ogwen Valley in Wales, UK. jasonmgabriel/Getty Images A mountain rescue group in Wales rescued a woman Monday, per CNN. She reportedly became stranded on a mountain's cliffside after trying to retrieve her pet parrot. According to The Ogwen Valley Rescue Organisation, the parrot flitted away when a falcon attacked. UK Mountain rescuers saved a woman Monday who was stuck on a cliff after trying to find her pet parrot. Per CNN, The Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation shared details in a Facebook post Tuesday, just one day after the incident. According to the post, mountain rescue received a call about a woman stranded on the high cliffs of Glyder Fawr. Glyder Fawr is the highest summit in the Glyderau mountain range at over 1,000 meters. Representatives for The Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. "She was one of a group of parrot owners from Derbyshire walking in the area, they were flying their birds in Cwm Idwal when a peregrine falcon attacked them, causing one to fly off," the group's Facebook post read. The owner used a tracker to locate the bird, who flew to the cliffside, and she followed in an attempt to retrieve it, according to the post. A screenshot of a picture shared in the Facebook group. Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation "Unfortunately the parrot decided freedom was great and flew back down to the group unassisted, leaving the owner and her second bird now stuck," the post continued. The post added: "On arrival at the casualty, Jeckyll, the second parrot, perched on her owners' rucksack, greeted our team member with a 'Hello!'" Per the group's post, rescuers then escorted the woman and her parrot to safety. In addition, the Facebook post included photos of the rescue, including a group of rescuers posing with three parrots. Commenters applauded the rescue team, joking that people couldn't make the story up. In an interview with BBC published Tuesday, Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team chairman Chris Lloyd joked that the woman "could be described as being on a perch - needless to say parrot jokes were flying around everywhere." Story continues This isn't the first time in 2023 that parrots are making headlines. In May, scientists were overjoyed to learn the parrots willingly made video calls to their feathered friends and, in turn, became less lonely. Read the original article on Insider When Dione Rowe, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner working for Southern Plains Behavioral Health Services in Winner, met Lyn Fullen, the two could barely have a conversation. She couldnt hardly visit or keep a conversation flowing between the two of us, Rowe said. Fullen, 64, is part of the estimated 1% of the U.S. population who lives with schizophrenia and one of at least 30,000 South Dakotans living with a serious mental illness. She was at the rural behavioral health care clinic, which serves the counties of Gregory, Todd, Tripp and Mellette, looking to access services that could help her live life beyond her mental illness. In South Dakota, most patients either seek treatment from private practice physicians, local hospitals or a community funded behavioral health clinic. Lyn Fullen is a patient at Southern Plains Behavioral Health Services in Winner, SD. The community behavioral health clinic has helped her receive treatment for her schizophrenia. Fullen is also one out of the 17,333 children and adults living with serious mental illness who received treatment at a community-funded behavioral health clinic in South Dakota during 2022. And according to the Department of Social Services, which oversees behavioral health clinics that receive public funding, 93% of adult clients reported ease and convenience when accessing behavioral health services. About a year later, after starting a treatment plan and shifting between different medication, Rowe remembers the day Fullen and her husband walked in to the facility. I honestly didnt think Id ever seen this person before, Rowe said, adding Fullen had switched to the new medication a month prior. Rowe described Fullen as wearing make-up and wearing weather appropriate shoes. Fullen told Rowe she was thinking of getting a job, something unimaginable a few months prior when Fullen was so tired, she couldn't mop the floor without having to lay down to take a break. More: TenHaken says $790M budget is 'balancing the demands of a growing city' Fullens husband was in tears. He said, 'I dont know who she is. I have never known this person and Im so thankful for the services that you guys provide here,' Rowe said. Story continues Fullen said the new medication was like a wake up." It was "like Christmas Day. From barely functioning to waking up Fullen was officially diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2009. Her parents had both lived with schizophrenia as well. While genetics can be a cause for schizophrenia, theres also environmental and physical factors as well, according to The National Institute of Mental Health. Fullen said she had started hearing voices and hallucinating. I was having trouble telling the real world from the imaginary world. I was dreaming while I was still awake, she said, adding she started having trouble functioning in society. More: Report: Sioux Falls needs more mental health providers, education on existing resources When Fullen visited Southern Plains for the first time, after she moved from Phoenix to Winner in 2019 and was accepted as a patient, she remembers crying. It was a relief somebody would show mercy to me, she said. In Phoenix, her doctors put her on drugs they put everybody on that made you like a zombie." I was so sick, seeing things, hearing things, that I couldnt get possibly normal enough to communicate to people, Fullen said. I thought I was losing my mind and that I was going to have to go to a mental institution. Rowe said part of the treatment involved Fullen trying a few medications and once they found the right medication during the first year they worked together, a switch flipped. But medication isnt the entire story though, Rowe said. [Lyn] was a willing participant and wanted to get better, she said. The reward of providing needed services Rowe, who has worked in the mental health field since 2008 and has been a practicing mental health nurse since 2015, said her job is a rewarding one. The most rewarding part is seeing patients improve and do better, she said, adding aside from providing medication treatments, she also helps patients figure out how to access resources within their communities. Dione Rowe is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at Southern Plains Behavioral Health Services in Winner, SD. She's treated Lyn Fuller. Rowe understands that in rural communities, it can be difficult to find mental health help because of the shortage of providers and barriers, like traveling to access care, or the lack of having access to transportation or even when weather creates challenges to such access. And although South Dakota has multiple rural community health centers that offer therapy, substance use disorder treatment and medication management, Rowe thinks theres room for improvement. I think theres always more that can be done just because South Dakota is such a rural area anyway, she said. Were impoverished in certain areas. We have underinsured or noninsured residents in our state, so expanding access to behavioral health would be beneficial in every way possible. More: Medicaid expansion enrollment starts July 1, but some may be eligible to apply early Having easy access to mental health services can also result in a number of savings, from financial costs to reducing the likelihood of future emergency behavioral health situations and the toll an untreated mental health illness can have on someones family, Rowe said. To improve early access, we need to reduce those barriers by helping promote patients getting help, seeking help, she said. We want patients to be as independent as possible. Enjoying life Fullen now works part-time at a local hotel in the breakfast bar, something she didnt think wouldve been possible without the right medication. Most of the voices she used to hear have gone away except one, Fullen said. Shes alert and can focus on work. She can do her hair and put on make-up because the shaking she used to experience as a side-effect from previous medication has now gone away. I just felt like a brand new person, Fullen said when she noticed the changes. I just felt like I saw other people feel on TV. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Southern Plains Behavioral Health increases access to care in rural SD Surrounded by hundreds of pounds of soybeans, the man was trapped. The mound of legumes, piled up to 30 feet high inside the silo, left him no escape. The 43-year-old man, an employee of a grain bin operator in Westfield, Illinois, was stuck inside the storehouse for five hours in February before he was finally freed, according to a July 26 news release from the U.S. Department of Labor. He sustained minor injuries. Leading up the accident, his employer, Littlejohn Grain Inc., ignored numerous federal safety standards, officials said. Littlejohn Grain Inc. declined a request for comment from McClatchy News on July 26. The man, who has not been identified, entered the bin in order to unclog beans, officials said. The hazardous process is known as walking down grain. An investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) determined his employer allowed the man to enter the bin without necessary protective equipment, such as a harness. The company also failed to lock the machinery inside the bin and neglected to train employees on emergency procedures. The company was cited for around a dozen violations for which OSHA proposed $272,957 in penalties. This worker avoided serious and deadly injuries too often suffered by workers who are trapped in a silo where flowing materials can completely engulf someone in a matter of seconds, OSHA Area Director Edward Marshall in Peoria, Illinois, said in the release. The quick actions of his co-workers and first responders prevented him from suffering a fate that needlessly claimed the lives of too many agricultural workers every year, Marshall said. There were 24 fatalities involving confined spaces in the agriculture industry in 2022, according to a report from Purdue University. There were no fewer than 42 grain-related entrapments in 2022 representing a 44.8% increase over 2021, the report found. This was the highest number of grain entrapments in over a decade. Story continues Five months after the Westfield accident, another employee at the same Littlejohn Grain Inc. site became trapped in a grain bin, sustaining injuries that resulted in foot amputation, officials said. Westfield is located about 200 miles south of Chicago. Football player with infectious smile dies on trip with teammates, GA reports say Missing 14-year-old had been living in a tent with help from moms ex, MN cops say Good Samaritan stops to aid car crash victim and gets his truck stolen, NC cops say A major clean energy milestone was reached ahead of its expected timeline this month, and its been 40 years in the making. Electrek reported that the capacity of global installed wind power reached 1 terawatt in June and that it will likely reach 2 terawatts before the end of this decade. The 40-year benchmark used by The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) dates back to the late 1970s when Danish engineers like Henrik Stiesdal who established the basis for the modern wind turbine experimented with designs referred to as The Danish Concept, and that is the foundation of todays global wind industry. Wind energy has been steadily growing for decades it currently accounts for more than 6% of global electricity and the GWEC credits recently completed wind power projects in China, the U.S., Europe, and Morocco for bumping the capacity across the 1 terawatt threshold. Global energy consumption is more than 17 terawatts, with the U.S. accounting for around 16% of that, per the Energy Information Administration. A single terawatt could generate more than one-third of the energy needed to power the entire U.S. This achievement is great news for both individuals and the environment. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that almost 40% of emissions of all harmful, planet-warming pollution come from burning dirty energy to create the energy we use every day. Globally, wind energy replaces dirty energy sources like oil, coal, and natural gas and plays a crucial role in decarbonizing the global power system and helping the world achieve net-zero energy goals. Individually, wind can be used as a clean energy source to power homes, saving consumers money and protecting them from price fluctuations of dirty energy sources. In an announcement of the milestone, the GWECs CEO, Ben Backwell, said, This is an enormous moment for the wind industry, but it is also a moment to celebrate for the whole world. This landmark achievement shows the path to a clean energy future is here. Story continues While the GWEC is understandably proud, its members have also emphasized the need to keep pushing wind technology forward. While this is an immense achievement, it still represents only a small portion of what we must build in the coming years in order to decarbonize our planet, Jonathan Cole, the GWEC chairman, said in the same announcement. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. If your Auntie Sissy has ever told you and your cousins to hush up or to grab her pocketbook from the buggy so she can buy some nabs, chances are yall are from around these parts. Southerners have their own way of getting their point across. Many of the Mississippi Coasts most popular terms and sayings would need translating if you crossed a few state lines. Here are a few words and phrases that are a sure sign youre home when you hear them. The Sipp Noun: A nickname for the state of Mississippi I tell you what Listen up; It can be used as a threat when your daddys about to get the switch or send you to bed early for acting up, or just as an introduction to something interesting you have to say. Heres how you say the most commonly mispronounced cities on the Mississippi Coast Treated like a red-headed stepchild Youre either feeling neglected or like youre being mistreated. Daddy may be looking for that switch again. Comeback Noun: A Southern sauce made with mayonnaise, hot sauce, ketchup and spices Bubba and Sissy Nouns: Brother and sister. Things start getting complicated when Bubba and Sissy start having kids of their own. Doesnt everyone have an Uncle Bubba? Po-boy Noun: A sandwich or sub These sub sandwiches had their start in Louisiana, where hardworking streetcar conductors would grab a quick sandwich from a French Market coffee stand. New Orleans restaurant Mulates shared the story online. When the car workers went on strike, the stands owners, a pair of brothers who were streetcar conductors before opening Martin Brothers Coffee Stand and Restaurant, gave the poor boys free sandwiches. Today, just about every restaurant menu on the Coast includes a po-boy. The most common versions are french bread filled with fried shrimp, but a po-boy can have roast beef, chicken or just about any seafood on hand. Carry Verb: To drive someone. For example, Im going to carry mama to the doctor. Ill be there, good Lord willin and the creek dont rise. God willing. Minus any disasters, youll do something or show up somewhere, according to Enjoy Travel. Story continues Mudding Verb: Off-road driving for the fun of it, favorite pastime around these parts. Mudding is when you and a carload of friends hop in a 4-wheeler, truck or Jeep and drive off road, preferably in the muddiest places you can find. Nabs Sandwich crackers stuffed with cheese or peanut butter gained popularity nearly 100 years ago when Nabisco introduced peanut sandwich packets, according to the Southern Foodways Alliance. North Carolina-based Lance soon gave Yankee Nabisco a run for their money. Heres where things get a little confusing. While nabs is short for Nabisco, if you ask for nabs here in Mississippi, youre asking for Lances Toastchee. Nabisco stopped selling their version long ago. Living in high cotton Youre feeling wealthy, doing well. Tall cotton bushes yielded more cotton and were easier to pick, according to Hotty Toddy News. Goodys Noun: If you ask someone in California for a goody, dont expect to get a headache powder. The popular pain reliever is a Southern thing. Catawampus I.e. Caddywonked, cattywampus, catty wonkus Adj.: Crooked, askew, cater-cornered Pocketbook Noun: A purse Hush up Yall be quiet; shut up Bless your heart The secret is out on this one. While it sounds like your sweet neighbor is asking God for a blessing, shes actually calling you an idiot. Now, if your Meemaw says bless your heart after you show her where you scraped your knee, thats a blessing. Its all in the delivery and how she feels about that heart of yours. Buggy Noun: Have you ever noticed grocery store signs that point out where to return your buggy never use the word buggy on them? Thats because the rest of the country just calls them shopping carts, bless their hearts. Fresno County firefighters Tuesday evening were attempting to control a 40 acre fire in Yokuts Valley. The fire erupted in the 45000 block of Longview Road, and several structures were threatened. The blaze quickly spread from 20 to 40 acres and firefighters were calling for additional resources. Firefighters are battling a 20 acre wildland fire near the 45,000 block of Longview rd near the community of Sand Creek in eastern Fresno County. Structures threaten. Additional resources ordered. #LongFire pic.twitter.com/QsARCJXNmM CALFIRE/FresnoCoFire (@FresnoCoFire) July 25, 2023 The Fresno County Sheriffs Office initially issued evacuation warnings for the area, including all side roads from the Sand Creek Fire Station at 41510 Sand Creek Rd to Sans Baker Rd, and Chuckwagon Rd., including all side roads from Sand Creek Rd. through Sesame Ln. (Zone K82). The warnings were later rescinded. The fire started in the area of Butterfly Lane and was moving in a northeastern direction. YORK, Maine A ban on single-use plastic food ware could be coming to York but not in November as a group of high school students had hoped. The Selectboard opted this week against putting a proposed ban on single-use plastics on the November referendum ballot as pitched by the York High School Eco Club. They held a public hearing where business owners said they were concerned a plastic ban would be a difficult adjustment. Many said they supported the goal of reducing waste but thought the proposal to ban all single-use plastics needed to be further examined. The York High School Eco Club is looking to ban the use and sale of plastics in retail stores and restaurants in York. Caitlynn Ramsey of the Sun and Surf restaurant and the Anchorage Inn said she would gladly serve on a committee to consider a future ban on single-use plastics. However, she read a statement from her family-run businesses that said the ban goes too far and too fast. Ramsey said she was concerned alternatives to plastic ware in the food and beverage industry were not available yet. She also said composting bins are easy to contaminate so companies like Mr. Fox could decline to pick them up at all. She also doubted many tourists were prepared to bring their own cup to beach restaurants that serve takeout like the Sun and Surf. We believe our visitors are progressive, Ramsey told the Selectboard in a public hearing Monday night. However, theyre also very demanding, so they definitely want something that will suit their needs. Previous story: York High School students propose town-wide plastics ban The proposed ordinance called for the ban of the distribution, sale and use of single-use plastic cutlery, stirring sticks, straws, cups and lids in retail stores, restaurants and municipal departments. It would also require food and beverage providers to create and promote a program incentivizing customers to bring their own cups. It would encourage businesses that rely on plasticware to switch to compostable alternatives. Violations of the ordinance as proposed by the students would have resulted first in a written warning. The following offense would result in a $250 fine, and subsequent offenses would be $500. Story continues Love, Lois: How an 80-year-old woman battling cancer became a local legend at York Beach York business owners air concerns Other business owners like Dan Poulin of the Fat Tomato recommended a study committee. Poulin commended the students but warned the ordinance needs much more thought and idea refinement before its ready for primetime. Other concerns included whether requiring cups from home is always sanitary. David Brinkman, who said he has experience as a lawyer, was concerned the ordinance could violate the state regulations on cleanliness. The proposal here for people to take their perhaps poorly washed cups, containers and utensils to a restaurant puts the restaurant in danger of breaking the food safety law, Brinkman said. More: Ex-teacher sues York School Department alleging anti-LGBTQ discrimination Selectboard to form study committee on plastics ban Selectboard Chair Todd Frederick and members Robert Palmer and Mike Estes said they would not support moving the proposal to the November ballot, and no vote was taken. However, board members said they would like to have the committee formed to study the proposal and believe it could be put on the May referendum ballot in 2024. I agree with the intent of the ordinance, Palmer said. I think this ordinance would do well to have a little more public input. The ordinance received many supportive comments. Stones Throw owner Joe Lipton wrote a letter saying he supported the ordinance, and that York should move decidedly towards a better future. The Selectboard also received a letter from Hannaford supermarket, which has a store on Route 1. Hannafords District 6 Director of Operations Bob Hatem and York store Manager David Couture wrote in the letter the ordinance was in line with their own corporations efforts to protect the environment. Hannaford endorses and urges support of the proposed initiative, wrote Hayden and Couture. The letter stated Hannaford reached out to the student club proposing the ordinance when they learned about it. Their energy, enthusiasm and poise are impressive, the letter stated. The club is demonstrating how we can all be good stewards of our planet. A taste of Chile in York: Lorenas Empanadas opens on Route 1 York High School students to continue fight for plastics ban York High School students Maxine Adelson, Aidan Ring, Lucy Patterson and Chloe Whitbread brought forth the ordinance as part of their work on the York High School Eco Clubs plastic reduction task force. The group said they have hopes of passing an ordinance that could influence state law. Students from York High School sparked statewide legislation when they got bans on plastic bags and polystyrene foam containers approved in town in 2015 and 2019. The students have collected some feedback and made changes to their proposal since first introducing it to the Selectboard on June 12. Those changes have included an exemption for healthcare facilities as recommended by Frederick. Lucy Patterson, left, Maxine Adelson and Chloe Whitbread are York High School students pushing for a town ordinance banning single-use plastics in retail stores and restaurants. Adelson said they plan to continue working on a future ordinance banning plastics and reusables. The four appeared in green T-shirts that said single-use cups, we think your time is up as they spoke on the podium. Adelson was optimistic about the response from the Selectboard, which ended the meeting discussing the process of forming a study committee. Frederick said interviews for participants could take place at the subsequent meeting. We are disappointed with the outcome tonight, but the Selectboard is supportive of our goal to reduce single-use plastics, Adelson said. Our group will continue to work to create an ordinance that includes the feedback received. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Single-use plastics ban faces pushback from York, Maine businesses Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has advised Russian occupiers in Crimea to consider returning to Russia while the bridge built by the invaders across the Kerch Strait [Crimean (Kerch) Bridge] is still functioning. Source: Zelenskyys evening address Quote from Zelenskyy: "I have held several important meetings regarding the preparation of international events in August, in particular the Crimean Platform. We are also preparing a list of liberation steps for Crimea. They are comprehensive: security, economic, and social [steps]. We can reintegrate Crimea into the state fabric of Ukraine quite quickly." Details: Zelenskyy says Russian occupiers should consider returning home to Russia from the Ukrainian peninsula as long as the Crimean Bridge is still functioning. "Crimea, like all of Ukraine, will be free free from all Russian evil, starting with Russian missiles and ending with every Russian occupier. Russia will lose this war, and no missile will save it," the president said. Background: Oleksii Reznikov, Defence Minister of Ukraine, said in an interview with CNN that the Ukrainian Defence Forces would continue to strike at Russian-occupied Crimea and the Crimean Bridge, as it is necessary to disrupt Russian logistics. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that the Crimean Bridge is a legitimate target for Ukraine because Russian invaders use it to transport weapons. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the results of the first year of the Army of Drones are now available and can be seen in the news, and good news about the use of drones will be appearing more often. Source: Zelenskyys evening address Quote from Zelenskyy: "Today, a non-public but still strategically important event took place: government officials presented the results of the first year of the Army of Drones. Its not just a project any more, but a real Ukrainian drone army." Details: Zelenskyy said there had been a presentation of the various types of Ukrainian drones used for defence, as well as a meeting with manufacturers, designers and donors. Zelenskyy emphasised that the Army of Drones will increase, as the Armed Forces need all types of drones from fairly simple Mavic drones to naval and attack drones that are capable of operating at long distances. "By the way, we often discuss this topic at the Staff meeting, and often with raised voices. But there are results, and this can be seen in the news. There will be more good news involving Ukrainian drones. And this is crucial," the president emphasised. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has submitted a proposal to the Verkhovna Rada [the Ukrainian Parliament - ed.] to approve his decrees extending martial law and general mobilisation in Ukraine by another 90 days. Source: Verkhovna Rada website Details: The proposal was submitted on 26 July. The draft laws propose extending martial law and general mobilisation by 90 days from 18 August until mid-November. Previously, President Zelenskyy had already extended martial law and mobilisation by three months at a time. Iaroslav Zhelezniak, a member of the Verkhovna Rada, said the parliament plans to support these decrees in the coming days. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reported that Ukraine received reinforcements for its air anti-air defence forces, and they will be deployed to the most vulnerable areas. Source: President Zelenskyy on Telegram Quote: "A daily conference call. I heard current reports on the supply of weapons and ammunition. There is a reinforcement for our air defence forces. It will be sent to where it is urgently needed." Details: The head of the Ukrainian state said that the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and the Foreign Intelligence Service reported on the Russian activities and immediate plans, and the Security Service of Ukraine briefed him on the latest developments in the fight against Russia inside the country. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported on offensive and defensive actions along the entire contact line. Quote: "We have confidence in our guys. We will carry on working." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked the soldiers of the air defence system for the downed missiles launched by the aggressor country on 26 July. Source: Zelenskyy's evening address Quote from Zelenskyy: "Today is a day that should end with a special gratitude to all our air defence warriors for every Russian missile shot down." Details: Zelenskyy said the data is still being clarified, "but it is very important that the audacity of this attack was destroyed. The air defence units did a great job!" he stressed. At the same time, Zelenskyy noted that there were several hits and falls of missile pieces. "I am grateful to each and every person who protects the Ukrainian sky. And we work every day to ensure that our warriors have more and more opportunities to defend Ukraine, our cities and our people. Today is no exception," the president stressed. Background: In the afternoon of July 26, air defence forces destroyed 36 cruise missiles fired from the territory of the Russian Federation in the skies over Ukraine. In particular, three Kalibr cruise missiles and 33 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles were shot down. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our pat President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that the NATO-Ukraine Council has proven itself as an "effective mechanism for crisis consultations". He welcomed "lear and unequivocal condemnation by the Alliance of Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal". Source: Zelenskyy on Twitter, reports European Pravda Quote: "Established only two weeks ago in Vilnius, the Council has already proved to be an effective mechanism for crisis consultations." Details: Zelenskyy thanked Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and his deputy Mircea Geoana for holding a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council after Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Zelenskyy also stated that Ukraine will continue to fulfil its obligations to ensure global food security and also emphasised the unity of Kyiv with the Alliance on Ukraines path to NATO membership. Background: Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Amherst County Board of Supervisors recently approved a commemorative resolution recognizing David Proffitt, who retired June 30 after 36 years as the countys purchasing agent and deputy county administrator. Proffitt, an Arrington native, began his career with the county in February 1987. He served as interim county administrator on four occasions, helped navigate county officials and staff through many transitions and held a strong logical and moral foundation in his leadership, the resolution said. David has played a vital role for over three decades in everything from procuring business cards to constructing buildings and provided the wisdom and knowledge to guide the county through countless policy decisions, the resolution states. Proffitt oversaw many projects during his tenure, including the E-911 system, the regional radio system, multiple countywide property reassessments and countless improvements to county buildings, parks and trails, according to the county. He provided his experience in procuring the countys first software program and a new upgrade currently underway and was instrumental in the procurement process for expansion of public works facilities and the landfill on Kentmoor Farm Road, as well as many county solid waste convenience centers, the resolution states. David was influential in the procurement and ordering of all vehicles, buses, and heavy equipment purchases made throughout his tenure, the document reads. He is known throughout the region for this expertise in procurement procedures and was often consulted by other localities working to establish their purchasing policies and his co-workers know him for his professionalism, ethics, integrity, wisdom, humility, and problem-solving skills. A recent news release from the county said Proffitt is known by co-workers as the unofficial county historian with offices in three locations: the courthouse on Taylor Street, the second floor of the fire department in Amherst and the current county administration building. In the purchasing agent role, he was responsible for procuring goods and services and making sure they are within the framework of Virginias procurement laws. He also acted as a mentor for many former and current county employees, the resolution said. Tom Martin, the boards chair, and County Administrator Jeremy Bryant presented Proffitt with the resolution during the boards July 18 meeting, the first one in 36 years he attended not as a county employee. David, you are going to be sorely missed, Martin said to Proffitt. The audience and board gave Proffitt a standing ovation during the meeting. Its been a privilege, an honor to serve the citizens of the county and to work with many other people who did the same, Proffitt said. I appreciate all these words and the recognition. Before Proffitt left the meeting, Martin in jest told Proffitts wife: You can have him for a little while. In a meeting deemed phony by its own partys chair, nearly 40 members of the Lynchburg Republican City Committee voted Monday night to rescind a censure of the citys vice mayor. Yet in doing so, the fracture that has ripped through the local party since November was highlighted again. The events of Monday night transpired in stark contrast to the results of Novembers election, which saw the Republican Party of Lynchburg running in near lockstep to deliver the first GOP majority on Lynchburg City Council in a number of years. With dueling meetings happening just blocks apart in Lynchburg, Republicans at the Miller Center on Grove Street voted 39-0 with one abstention Vice Mayor Chris Faraldi to rescind the censure the LRCCs executive committee issued to the vice mayor just three weeks ago. Faraldi was censured on July 3 by the executive committee, which cited a slew of complaints of the vice mayors behavior since the Republican majority took over. The censure accused Faraldi of committing a perceived abuse of power by asking a law enforcement officer to spy on Ward III Councilor Jeff Helgeson the night of the Feb. 14 meeting, which was the night when Mayor Stephanie Reed claims Helgeson was captured on microphone calling her the stupidest person Ive ever seen. Continuing on, the executive committee later accused Faraldi of disparaging the committee in council meetings and in the media; betraying the trust of the party and its members by working with media against the other Republicans; abusing his office by retaliating against At-large Councilor Martin Misjuns to advance a personal agenda; blocking Misjuns controversial workplace resolution debate; and refusing to communicate with his entire Republican caucus while promoting division in the public eye. Ahead of Monday nights events, LRCC Chair Veronica Bratton was adamant in an interview with Lynchburgs WLNI radio station on Monday the meeting at the Miller Center was illegitimate and the only authorized committee meeting would happen down the road at Love & Truth Community Church, where the party was set to host U.S. Rep. Bob Good, R-5th, and the Lynchburg Peacemakers organization for a community conversation on crime. Despite the chairs stance, there was very little debate over the legitimacy of the meeting for those at the Miller Center. The party appointed a temporary chair to run the meeting and a temporary secretary to take minutes; the members conducted the vote to rescind the censure, and subsequently adjourned after reviewing the minutes. Eric Harrison, the husband of Lynchburgs Commonwealths Attorney Bethany Harrison, who was appointed to serve as temporary chair over Monday nights proceedings at the Miller Center, said, We believe that this meeting was legitimate. The bylaws have been reviewed, there have been consultations with counsel from the Republican Party of Virginia, we had a concerted number of people present here this evening. Harrison said one-third of the partys membership represents a quorum, which is required to call a meeting. And that the list of signatures of the members was provided to the chairwoman. However, in an email sent by the LRCC to its members on Friday, the party said Faraldis petition was reviewed and does not meet the threshold required by LRCC bylaws to call a special meeting, adding he was in violation of the partys rules of procedure. Bratton told WLNI that some of the signatures gathered to call the meeting were not valid membership signatures. Yet Harrison said after Mondays meeting, To the extent that that issue is one that there needs to be further debate or discussion about, were confident that ultimately that will be decided that this was a properly called meeting. After the vote to rescind the censure, Faraldi had few words, telling The News & Advance the meeting speaks for itself. For a meeting deemed illegitimate by the partys chair, the show of support for rescinding the censure from local elected Republicans was strong. In attendance Tuesday night at the Miller Center were State Sen. Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg; Del. Wendell Walker, R-Lynchburg; Lynchburg officials Mayor Stephanie Reed; Sheriff Donald Sloan and Commonwealths Attorney Bethany Harrison. After the meeting was over, Eric Harrison said the message that was sent on Monday was there are proper procedures for doing these sorts of things and the committee needs to speak on these issues, referring to the fact that a smaller group of the LRCC the eight-person executive committee issued the censure of Faraldi, not the entire Republicans committee. Asked if he thinks there could be backlash or discipline from the party for those in attendance or even for himself in leading the meeting, Harrison said he doesnt see that coming. This is really just a disagreement over the rules of the party. ...Were confident that this was a duly constituted meeting. Im also confident that, if for some reason, that was determined to be incorrect, what we have done is not anything that would subject anyone to any party discipline or anything like that, he added. As for whats next for the party, Bratton wrote in an email to party members that Faraldi would have an opportunity to be heard on the censure during an upcoming business meeting. An assistant commonwealths attorney in Campbell County by trade, Harrison served as an intermediary of sorts on Monday, saying after the meeting, I think there are those who will not want to acknowledge what transpired here this evening. But Im really hopeful ... that tonight will put an end to this chapter, that we can move forward from this. You move forward the same way you always do when you have sort of inner-family squabbles, Harrison later added. You forgive and you just move on. By afolabi Fayose urged President Bola Tinubu to curb the excesses of the DSS He said operatives of the DSS involved in the free-for-all with their counterpart should be made to face justice A former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has bemoaned the undemocratic actions of the Department of State Services. Recall that DSS operatives and Nigeria Correctional Services had a slugfest after the arraignment of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday. The court had granted Emefiele N20 million bail but the DSS said they would not obey the order of the court as they had received an order from above to return Emefiele to their facility. Pandemonium broke out after the masked and gun-toting DSS officials blocked warders from the federal penitentiary from taking the embattled CBN chief to prison. In the ensuing scuffle, an official of the prison authority was manhandled and assaulted by the DSS. Journalists and bystanders had to scamper for safety as the situation became tensed. Reacting to the development, Fayose urged President Bola Tinubu to curb the excesses of the DSS. He said operatives of the DSS involved in the free-for-all with their counterpart should be made to face justice. He noted that the action of the DSS would portray Tinubus administration in bad light, hence the erring operatives should be dwelt with. Tweeting, Fayose wrote: The DSS act of lawlessness at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos today, should be condemned by all lovers of democracy and rule of law in the country. It is painful that the DSS is yet to come to terms with the fact that the President of Nigeria today, is a product of struggles for democracy and wont superintend over any act of lawlessness. The actions of the DSS today, is no doubt bringing a negative image to the government and Im sure that President Tinubu will act swiftly to curb their excesses so that they dont give his government a bad name just as they did to the immediate past government. This is a function of failed or power drunk leadership in the DSS. Its time for the President to act. No doubt, I am not a fan of Emefieles actions as CBN Governor which threw Nigerians into untold hardships with the politically motivated change of Naira notes. However, it behoves on leaders of this country to speak out against acts capable of undermining democracy and rule of law. Nigeria is under civil authority and security agencies, especially the DSS should be properly guided to purge themselves of this display of overzealousness. The DSS men that participated in todays show of shame should be promptly brought to book. More so that it happened within the sacred premises of the court. Most importantly, restructuring of the Organization is imperative for a today Nigeria that is desirous of deepening democratic governance. WITHINNIGERIA NEWS SECTIONS Two traders have been reportedly killed in a protest over the closure of Ogbete Main Market in Enugu State by the State Government. Naija News earlier reported that Governor Peter Mbah had upon assumption of office placed a ban on the regular Monday sit-at-home imposed by a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). However, many residents are yet to comply with the governors directive out of fear of possible attack by unknown gunmen terrorizing the state and the South East. Following the non-compliance, the governor ordered the closure of banks and businesses at the Ogbete main market and other parts of the state for not opening on Monday. The state government said the affected shops would be closed for one week and also gave conditions that the affected traders must meet before their shops would be reopened. The development sparked a protest by Ogbete market traders who took to the streets to condemn the action of the governor. After 40 years in law enforcement, Council Bluffs Police Chief Tim Carmody told city officials in late June that he was preparing to retire from the department. Aside from a lengthy career, one of the reasons Carmody cited is that all three of the citys police captains will also be retiring over the next three years, and he wants to give the next chief a clean slate to work with. I feel that its best for the next chief, whomever he/she is, should get to choose who they will lead the department with for the foreseeable future, Carmody said. Carmody was hired by Mayor Matt Walsh in September 2014. I enjoyed working with the guy, Walsh told The Nonpareil. I always found him to be professional, well organized. Walsh pointed to the new police station as one of Carmodys most important contributions to the city. One of the things that he did was to finally organize and pass the bond resolution to build the new police station, Walsh said. That was a big deal. His leadership was invaluable in doing that. Prior to leading the Council Bluffs Police Department, Carmody was the police chief in Fort Dodge, Iowa from 2010 to 2014. Carmody retired from the Omaha Police Department as a captain in September 2010 after 22 years of service. He took the Fort Dodge chiefs position that same month. He began his law enforcement career in 1984 when he became a Sarpy County sheriffs deputy, working in the then-Sarpy County Jail before the opening of the current law enforcement center in 1989. In 1988, Carmody joined the Omaha Police Department, where he patrolled north Omaha, worked uniform patrol and supervised the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force. He also commanded the Emergency Response Unit, which was responsible for managing security for high-profile events and for responding to crises. The City of Council Bluffs has hired a consultant to help with the search for a new police chief, Walsh said. Last week we brought in many community leaders that work closely with the police chief to see what the community wants to see in a new chief, Walsh said. Walsh said hell be looking at a candidates experience in a similar role as one of his determining factors. A strong leader, well organized, Walsh said. Ill know the right person for the job when I see them, like I did with Tim. Carmodys retirement is effective Sept. 11, 2023. Jennie Edmundson Hospital is partnering with a Tennessee-based behavioral health care company to build a 96-bed, state-of-the-art behavioral health hospital in Council Bluffs, officials announced Monday. The hospital will include 24 beds for children and adolescents and also will provide outpatient behavioral health services. Jennie Edmundson is an affiliate of Omaha-based Methodist Health System. Acadia Healthcare, its partner in the joint venture, is the largest stand-alone behavioral health care company in the United States. Together, the partners will invest more than $55 million in expanding behavioral health resources in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, describing the new facility as a center of excellence that will help address the growing, unmet need for accessible, high-quality behavioral health services in the region. According to American Hospital Directory data, they said, Nebraska and Iowa have a shortfall of more than 300 inpatient behavioral health beds. David Burd, Jennie Edmundsons president and chief executive officer, said patients of all ages in the region will have access to the specialized behavioral health care in a carefully designed environment. This hospital will be a tremendous resource, and this partnership will help strengthen our level of expertise and implement proven best practices while enhancing the quality and number of behavioral health services available to patients throughout the area, he said in a statement. Jennie Edmundson and Acadia are in the process of securing land for the hospital, which would open in 2026. The location, which will be a site separate from Jennie Edmundson, will be announced at a later date. Construction will begin once the partners obtain all required regulatory approvals, specifically a certificate of need from the State of Iowa. According to a project website, the 29 licensed behavioral health inpatient beds in Jennie Edmundsons behavioral health unit would move to the new facility as part of the project. Plans call for the new facility to include large treatment rooms for group therapy sessions, centralized nursing stations to provide open lines of sight to all common areas, high ceilings and large windows to capitalize on natural light, serene outdoor spaces and high-tech features. Dr. Pat Ahrens, Jennie Edmundsons vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer, said the hospital will provide a centralized, regional referral center, creating a single point of care for all mental health and substance use disorders. Burd said the partners believe the facility will be the largest inpatient behavioral health facility in the area, outside of government facilities in Lincoln and Norfolk. However, he noted that dynamics in behavioral health are fluid. The hospital would be the latest among several planned expansions in behavioral health care in the area. Last fall, a nonprofit group called the Mental Health Innovation Foundation, a nonprofit group led by Omaha philanthropist Ken Stinson, and Childrens Hospital & Medical Center announced plans to build a 38-bed inpatient behavioral health facility for children on Childrens campus near 84th and Dodge Streets in Omaha. At the time, the Behavioral Health & Wellness Center at Childrens Hospital was expected to measure 103,500 square feet and cost $89 million. The Nebraska Department of Economic Development announced in late June that the project had expanded to 107,250 square feet and had a new budget of $110 million. Community Alliance is building a new 127,000-square-foot Center for Mental Health at 71st Street and Mercy Road that will house all of the nonprofit organizations nonresidential services, now spread across three locations, under the same roof. That project is backed by a $65 million campaign. As of late March, Acadia Healthcare operated a network of 250 behavioral health care facilities with approximately 11,100 beds in 39 states and Puerto Rico. It provides behavioral health services in a variety of settings, including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, specialty treatment facilities, residential treatment centers and outpatient clinics. 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. Morocco, faithful to its values of Maghreb brotherliness and solidarity, expressed condolences to Algeria on the deaths left by wildfires, saying it follows with pain and regret the blazes across the country. This came in a statement by Moroccos foreign ministry which is in line of the countrys stand in favor of an integrated Maghreb. On this painful occasion, the Kingdom of Morocco expresses heartfelt condolences after the human losses due to the fires and wishes prompt recovery to the injured, reads the statement. Wildfires in northern Algeria have killed at least 34 people, including 10 soldiers, according to the Monday update by the Algerian Interior Ministry King Mohammed has in many speeches reiterated Moroccos stand in favor of an integrated Maghreb region and the opening of borders with Algeria. In 2021, Morocco offered Algeria help to extinguish similar blazes that ravaged the country leaving human and environmental losses. Algeria, in return, turned a blind eye to Moroccos help. Algiers took the unilateral decision to cut ties with Rabat in 2021 followed by the closure of a gas pipeline as well as a ban on all Moroccan aircrafts from its airspace. While Moroccan King always emphasizes the centuries-old ties of brotherliness and the need for opening a new chapter with Algeria, the Algerian president and the military regime choose to build a new falsified national narrative centered on enmity towards Morocco. At the heart of Algerias hostility to Morocco is the demise of the anachronistic separatist plan in the Sahara territory, where Algeria nurtured the chimera to see a Polisario-led separate state. Issouf Nikiema, former parliamentarian and member of a leading political party in Burkina Faso, kidnapped last Friday July 21 in capital Ouagadougou by an unknown armed man, has been set free, his party announced Tuesday July 25. Union pour le Progres et le Changement (UPC), Nikiemas party, announced Tuesday that the politician was released by the men working for the State. The former mayor of Komsilga, a town in central Burkina Faso was abducted as he was going to Friday prayer. The UPC in a statement condemned the kidnapping and added that no charges have been leveled against its member. Following the abduction, hundreds of youth took to the streets in Nikiemas district to condemn the incident and demand his release. The justice system of the West African country has not made any comments yet on the kidnapping and the release. The party is led by Zephirin Diabre, former opposition leader under ousted leader Roch Marc Christian Kabore. Diabre built a coalition with Kabore during the latters second term in office. He became minister of Reconciliation in a coalition. The University of Nebraska Medical Center and Great Plains Health signed an affiliation agreement Wednesday that will bring medical students to North Platte. Students at UNMC will be given the opportunity to take their learned classroom skills into real-life situations at GPH as they work toward completing their education. With physician and nursing shortages across the United States, the groundbreaking agreement will address one aspect to help students attain their goals. UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey Gold and new Dean of Nursing Lepaine Sharp-McHenry were in North Platte for the signing of the agreement. Literally after months of work and years of spectacularly successful collaboration, we signed a master affiliation agreement with Great Plains Health, Gold said. Its a big deal, and I might add that actually of these new umbrella agreement arrangements that we have developed, literally hot off the press, this was the first one that we have signed. In a statement later Wednesday, GPH CEO Ivan Mitchell said, Today demonstrates our commitment to further enhancing our partnership with UNMC so that we can serve our community and build this critical workforce. We appreciate any opportunity to streamline processes that create meaningful clinical experiences for students in Greater Nebraska. Gold said the agreement will help to continually grow educational experiences for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, therapists and a host of health profession students. Those students will be offered the opportunity to obtain some of their clinical experiences at Great Plains Health, Gold said. Gold said the university has had a number of successful clinical rotation programs previously with GPH. Mel McNea (former CEO at GPH) and I and Lepaines predecessor, Julie Sebastian, put together a number of very successful programs, Gold said. But think of them as pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, and this agreement brings all those pieces together into a beautiful landscape. Frankly, it will allow us to add pieces over a period of time. Discussions include adding more surgical training, pediatrics training and different types of nursing programs at GPH. He said the plan is to cultivate similar agreements with other hospitals in Nebraska as well as other states. Our highest and most important focus is in Nebraska, Gold said. This agreement, Gold said, would bolster the medical workforce. At the end of the day, there are only a limited number of things that determine what the future of the health professional workforce is going to be, Gold said. Of course, you need the substrate. You need the young women and young men who want a career in the health profession. Next is the need for the accredited educational programs, the colleges and universities that provide the faculty and staff, classrooms and simulation. Then you need the clinical experience, Gold said. You need bedside experience, operative experience, emergency experience, and labor and delivery experience. The final step is based on that clinical experience, Gold said, so young women and young men who graduate from those programs want to stay in that community. That is to say, they have to be made to feel welcome, Gold said, so thats what (the hospitals) want to sell. Sharp-McHenry said one of the things the UNMC College of Nursing works to achieve in its programs is getting those students into the clinical placements Gold described. What weve found is that the more clinical experiences and those times that students spend in the hospitals, Sharp-McHenry said, the higher chance theyre going to choose those places to work after graduation. We really try to work with our clinical partners to open up those clinical opportunities, and this master affiliation agreement will do just that. She said it will help UNMC get students into those locations sooner and allow them to spend more time in those facilities. That gives the institutions first opportunity to hire those students because theyve had a chance to observe their clinical experiences across semesters and to make offers early. Thats something that is really common across the country, Sharp-McHenry said. Were seeing more of that in nursing programs because hospitals are seeing the values of getting students into their facilities earlier and longer and giving them first opportunity to hire those students and being able to retain them in those communities. Gold said this type of agreement is just one step, but a very important one, in determining where these young professionals will settle, particularly if they grew up in a rural community. If they derive the majority of their education and their clinical experiences in a rural community, Gold said, then thats the highest likelihood of retaining them. Not quite as impressive as he was in 2022. Photo: Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images As Ron DeSantis tries to catch up to Republican presidential primary front-runner Donald Trump, the Florida governors campaign has been making aggressive assertions that he has an advantage in terms of his electability against Joe Biden. The case for DeSantis being the better Republican general-election candidate has had less to do with any direct evidence than with the fading memories of his strong reelection performance in 2022, compared to the mixed results of Trump-endorsed midterms candidates and, of course, his loss to Biden in 2020. But truth be told, a lot of DeSantiss electability claims are more about Republican voters presumed lack of trust in Trump, which isnt all that well established. In fact, a new Monmouth survey of Republicans shows Trump has an electability advantage over DeSantis. Its not even very close. If you directly ask Republicans which candidate is stronger against Biden, Trump wins pretty clearly: Regardless of whether you currently support Donald Trump, which of the following statements comes closest to your view about which Republican has the best chance to win in 2024. Forty-five percent said Trump was definitely stronger and another 24 percent said Trump was probably stronger. Only 13 percent said any other Republican is definitely stronger, and 18 percent said some other Republican is probably stronger. Directly comparing Trump and DeSantis, 47 percent said the Florida governor was weaker than the former president; 22 percent said he was stronger. Its not just Monmouth showing DeSantiss loss of an electability advantage (if he ever had one). As the Washington Posts Aaron Blake notes, this problem shows up in early state polls as well: Fox Business polls in the key primary states of Iowa and South Carolina tell the same tale. In Iowa, 45 percent said Trump would be the most likely to defeat Biden, while 23 percent picked DeSantis. And in South Carolina, Trumps edge on this measure was threefold: 51 percent to 17 percent. In recent weeks, DeSantis has deemphasized the argument that hes more appealing to swing voters and instead focused on out-Trumping Trump by running to his right on immigration, crime, COVID-19, and federal spending. Its possible hes abandoning his once-obsessive electability pitch altogether and is going after hard-core very conservative and/or ultra-MAGA voters. Some right-wing Republicans believe, improbably, that swing voters actually want stridently ideological candidates rather than any sort of squishy centrists. And in the end, a candidate cant win the general election at all without winning the nomination. More likely, Team DeSantis is going after todays Trump voters by abandoning anything like moderation and perhaps making electability an afterthought. Yesterday, as part of what it describes as a reboot and what the campaign media describes as a breakdown Ron DeSantiss presidential campaign fired another tranche of staffers, including speechwriter and right-wing activist Nate Hochman. The 25-year-old Hochman created a controversial social-media post that dissolves into a creepy fascistic scene with bayonet-wielding soldiers marching toward a strange rotating symbol. That symbol, a sonnenrad, is used by white supremacists as a kind of less obvious version of the swastika. It would be easy to understand this development as simply more campaign dysfunction, perhaps poor vetting, or even a symptom of the campaign being too online. It is better understood as the result of a fundamental strategic decision by DeSantis to actively court the far right. DeSantiss campaign hired Hochman from National Review after it was reported he had participated in a Twitter Spaces with Nick Fuentes, who is at least Nazi-adjacent. We were just talking about your influence and we were saying, like, youve gotten a lot of kids based, and we respect that, for sure, Hochman told him. I literally said, I think Nicks probably a better influence than Ben Shapiro on young men who might otherwise be conservative. (The comparison is instructive: The nicest and perhaps only good thing that can be said about Shapiro is that Nazis hate him.) When I wrote a long feature about DeSantiss campaign last year, one factor I identified was its decision to position DeSantis to Trumps right. The most visible aspects of this strategy have involved mocking Trump as a supporter of the COVID vaccine and LGBTQ rights, both of which are themes in the video Hochman created. But it has also led the campaign to woo the extreme right: One of the less visible aspects of DeSantiss political operation has been its appeals to conservative activists who have gained clout and influence during the Trump era and who have legitimized vaccine skepticism, support for Vladimir Putin, and dismissing or even participating in the January 6 insurrection. [DeSantis spokesperson Christina] Pushaw attended an event to promote the anti-gay education bill held by Brandon Straka, who was recorded at the Capitol on January 6 urging the crowd to seize a police officers shield and yelling Go, go, go! Esther Byrd, whom DeSantis appointed to the states board of education, has reportedly defended the January 6 rioters, QAnon, and the Proud Boys. Last year, a small band of Nazis menaced Jewish students in Orlando (a city that has a small hub of white supremacists). Florida Republicans issued routine denunciations. Pushaw instead suggested the episode was faked by Democrats. When reporters asked him about it, DeSantis lashed out at the media, sneering, Democrats who are trying to use this as some type of political issue to try to smear me and Were not playing their game. The point of this political theater was not merely to display dominance against the media. It was to signal tribal solidarity with right-wing allies, by demonstrating DeSantis would not renounce them. White supremacists have reciprocated these gestures. Pedro Gonzalez, a white nationalist influencer, stridently supported DeSantiss campaign (while privately circulating overtly antisemitic propaganda). The white nationalist site VDare has praised DeSantis. These are not isolated scandals: DeSantis has actively competed for support against Trump among the most explicitly racist elements of the right, and he has succeeded. It is certainly a relief to learn that DeSantis does not want his staffers to be creating official campaign videos with white supremacist imagery. Still, Hochmans error here was not in the overall thrust of his project. He walked a very careful line of building bridges between the white nationalist right and the DeSantis campaign, and only fell off when the hidden message was sent a little too visibly. SmartWiz, a tax software company founded by five people with Auburn Universitys Black alumni, has been making waves in the tech sector after receiving $150,000 in development funding from Google. Bre Johnson, Olumuyiwa Aladebumoye, Tevin Harrel, Jordan Ward and Justin Robinson created the company to help minority and underserved businesses navigate the tax preparation landscape. Were the Netflix of the tax industry, Johnson said. Were coming in to completely disrupt the tax industry. Were coming in to completely disrupt the way you imagined doing taxes and make it a lot easier for people to make money. SmartWiz is an all-in-one tax software product that uses artificial intelligence to help eliminate data entry while increasing efficiency and customer service. It uses AI to help people prepare their taxes and teaches people how to do taxes. The company caught the attention of Google while participating in the Techstars business incubator in California earlier this year. Through connections made during their three months at Techstars, the five Auburn alumni learned about the Google for Startups Founders Fund. Since it began in 2020, the Founders Fund has provided more than $45 million in financial support to Black and Latino startup companies. We said lets believe in ourselves enough to say that if we put our business in front of Google that they will be willing to say, You know what, I do want to partner, Johnson said. Now, we have access to one of the worlds biggest companies to really help us build this thing out in a way that we didnt even think imaginable. In addition to the $150,000 in funding, Johnson said they will now have access to Googles artificial intelligence specialists, marketing department, and many other resources. Theyll be able to put their money towards improving the SmartWiz software and marketing as they continue to grow the company. Its just a super crazy opportunity for us to be able to connect with them on this level, to be able to have them to help us, and pour into us, and guide us along this journey, Johnson said. Were just super excited about where our business is going to be this time next year just because of this opportunity. Since starting SmartWiz as Taxxwiz in 2018, the company has seen phenomenal growth. Its caught the attention of several notable business incubators in that time. Since 2022, they have received development funding from Alabama Launchpad, Pharrell Williams Black Ambition Prize, and Techstars. Johnson, 27, said it was the Black Ambition prize that led them to join Techstars earlier this year. That opportunity allowed the SmartWiz creators to connect with executives from Amazon, Facebook, Netflix and of course, Google. Johnson said those connections helped their company to scale their business at a much faster rate than they would have otherwise. It gave us the opportunity to say we can do it too, she said. It probably would have taken us three years to get access to some of the resources that we got in three months being a part of Techstars. Johnson earned her masters in Information Systems from Auburn in 2018. She currently lives in Houston. She said her team founded SmartWiz as a tax preparation service when their CEO, Tevin Harrel, needed help with his fathers tax business. They pulled together their team, including Auburn native and 2015 Auburn grad, Olumuyiwa Aladebumoye. Its a real blessing that we all went to Auburn, Johnson said. Were all black grads at a predominantly white institution. We were in a situation where we had to think beyond the box, and we had to believe in ourselves early. Johnson said doing taxes was a way for them to make extra money as broke college students. But soon, her Aladebumoye, Harrel, Ward, and Robinson had more business than they could handle during the tax season. They began developing their tax software package to help make the tax preparation process go easier. It allowed them to spend more time on clients and less time on returns. Johnson said SmartWiz is designed to help Black and Latino tax professionals streamline the tax preparation process and focus more on building their clientele as well. Right now, the company is focused on providing their software for smaller tax preparation businesses. However, they plan to scale SmartWiz up to serve larger accounting firms as well. We were like, what does it look like to build our own system that will help us go a little bit faster, to be able to have more clients and spend less time per return, Johnson said. Were a software company that also teaches the average everyday person how to do taxes and how they can have extra income every single year. SmartWiz is an IRS approved software company for doing taxes. Johnson said they are the only minority owned tax software company to have that designation. For more on SmartWiz, visit smartwiz.io. Chinese Spaghetti Factory Faces OSHA Fines Over Unguarded Equipment The Boston companys investigation initially focused on an unsafe dumpling machine. After an employee was injured at Chinese Spaghetti Factory Inc. in 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) performed a follow-up investigation into the Boston-based food manufacturing plant. In a release dated July 24, OSHA announced the findings of its March 2023 investigation. During this visit, OSHA discovered the dumpling machine which was part of its 2022 citation still didnt have the required safety guards in place to protect workers from its rotating shafts. Chinese Spaghetti Factory faces a proposed $82,500 penalty for this repeat violation. OSHA investigatorsalong with health inspectorsfound other violations amounting to an additional $108,031 in penalties. These include a willful violation for the unguarded dumpling machine unguarded, two repeat violations for unguarded machinery and electrical components, a serious violation for having no procedure to prevent unintended equipment activation and three serious violations related to high noise levels, eyewash facilities and an incomplete chemical hazard communication program. "The sizable penalties in this case reflect the gravity of this situation and the dangers faced by people employed at the Chinese Spaghetti Factory's facility," OSHA Area Director James Mulligan in Braintree, Massachusetts, said in a statement. "The employer's willingness to ignore federal regulations and failure to correct workplace hazards, including one that seriously injured a worker, is unacceptable. Chinese Spaghetti Factory currently faces a combined $190,541 in proposed penalties. Since 2017, OSHA has cited this same location with 10 serious, repeat, and other-than-serious violations. The company now has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA or contest its findings. Saudi Arabia pledged to cut production right after the OPEC+ summit in early June, however, it took the market several weeks to see and properly assess the impact of such output curtailments. When Middle Eastern national oil companies set out to issue their formula prices for August 2023, Saudi Arabias extension of the production cuts into August and Russias pledge to cut exports by 500,000 b/d in the same month were making headlines across the OPEC+ universe. The market needed the Saudi extension as worrying signs of an impending decline in Chinese manufacturing as well as recessionary fears spreading across North America and Europe prompted many investors to quit their positions in the oil market and wait for all the woes to pass. Chart 1. Saudi Aramcos Official Selling Prices for Asian Cargoes (vs Oman/Dubai average). Source: Saudi Aramco. Timing is everything for Saudi Arabia, especially when it comes to setting prices. With the Dubai cash-to-futures spread coming in flat compared to May, with the June average at $0.99 per barrel, the futures curve indicated that Asian prices should be rolled over into August. There was some upside in refining margins across the globe, mostly coming from stronger diesel cracks, however, major increases seemed very unlikely. Then came the announcement that Saudi Arabia would extend its production cuts into August, followed up within a couple of minutes by Russias pledge to curb exports in the same month by 500,000 b/d and hikes were back on the agenda. The heavier grades, Arab Light, Medium and Heavy were all lifted by a uniform $0.20 per barrel compared to July, whilst Arab Extra Light was rolled over and Arab Super Light (a grade that didnt witness any exports in May and June) was cut by $0.40 per barrel, reflective of naphtha cracks going into a tailspin. Consequently, Asia has the narrowest spread between Arab Heavy and Arab Extra Light, a mere $1.55 per barrel, which goes on to show just how tight medium sour supply is across the Asian continent. For reference, the same spread in Northwest Europe is $3.50 per barrel, more than double the Asian. Chart 2. Formula prices of cargoes bound for Northwest Europe by selected grades (vs ICE Bwave). Source: Saudi Aramco. Right after the August OSPs were published, Saudi Aramco stated that it would provide Asian buyers with full requested volumes for the month, suggesting that the production cuts were in a sense also a reaction to much lower Asian buying. The same pledge of delivering full term volumes was also repeated for European customers, however the situation in Europe is in many ways different. The closest regional competitor to Middle Eastern sour grades, Norways very own Johan Sverdrup, has strengthened to a whopping $2 per barrel premium to Dated Brent by early July, almost $2 per barrel higher than a month before, so hiking OSPs into Europe was by no means controversial. In the end, all NW European formula prices were lifted by $0.80 per barrel, whilst prices into the Mediterranean went up by $1.00-1.10 per barrel. Considering Saudi exports to Europe have fallen back to 600,000 b/d recently, down more than a quarter compared to April-May, such prices are unlikely to incentivize higher purchases. Related: China Accelerates Crude Stockpiling To Highest Rate In Three Years Chart 3. ADNOC Official Selling Prices for 2017-2023 (set outright, here vs Oman/Dubai average). Source: ADNOC. For ADNOC, the national oil company of the UAE, things are starting to look better than they did a month ago. Back then, the premium of light sweet Murban to Dubai was less than 50 cents per barrel, in June the same spread rose marginally to $0.72 per barrel. Considering 35% of UAE exports are coming from Murban (and the share will increase once the Ruwais refinery finishing its upgrades that would allow ADNOC to refine more of their heavier grades), this is certainly good news for them. At the same time, the shrinking of heavy-light spreads is also becoming ever more visible with UAE oil, in that light sweet Das and medium sour Upper Zakum are now trading only 10 cent per barrel apart, despite the quality difference. ADNOC has been in the news quite frequently upping the Covestro takeover bid to $12.4 billion, reaching a crude production capacity of 4.5 million b/d (several years before the assumed deadline), merging petrochemical facilities into a giant polyolefin giant with Austrias OMV. In brief, things have been really busy at ADNOC as it seeks to catch up with Saudi Aramco, making up for lost time. Chart 4. Iraqi Official Selling Prices for Asia-bound cargoes (vs Oman/Dubai). Source: SOMO. Iraqi state oil marketing company SOMO had two key things to keep in mind when setting the official selling prices for August-loading cargoes to Asia. First, Saudi Arabia has been blazing the trail for other producers and the lack of medium sour barrels is set to lift not only Saudi OSPs but also those of peer countries. Briefly put, Iraq needed to capitalize on the Saudi price hikes. Second, the Asian market is looking increasingly difficult for Iraq, too, as Indian buyers keep on buying up whatever Russian crude they can lay their hands on and Chinas imports of Iranian oil has been shooting through the roof. Despite the above consideration, SOMO hiked Asian formula prices more than Saudi Aramco, lifting Basrah Medium by $0.50 per barrel and Basrah Heavy by $0.60 per barrel compared to July. At last, Basrah Medium will be trading above the Oman/Dubai average, though it remains more than $2 per barrel lower than Arab Medium, its closest Saudi competitor in terms of quality. Chart 5. Iraqi selling prices for Europe-bound cargoes (vs Dated Brent). Source: SOMO. Seeing Saudi Arabias $0.80-$1.10 per barrel increases to Europe, Iraq was tempted to hike formula prices for August even more. Its pricing benchmark is not the ICE Brent weighted average used by the Saudis, but the Platts-assessed Dated Brent which ever since the inclusion of WTI Midland into its calculation methodology has been dragging down the European physical benchmark. So, if the Iraqis wanted to adjust their pricing upwards to reflect this, they now had the ideal opportunity and it seems that they did account for it. Basrah Medium prices to Europe were hiked by $1.20 per barrel to a -$3.15 per barrel discount to Dated Brent and even though the heavier Saudi peer Arab Heavy is some $4 per barrel more expensive, that gap has been shrinking. SOMO also lifted the formula prices of Kirkuk, a grade that has been missing from the market since the export blockade started in March this year, hiking them by $0.75 per barrel to a $0.45 per barrel premium vs Dated, all this despite there not being any deliveries. It seems that Europes rising appetite for Iraqi barrels, exports last month were the highest in more than four years at almost 800,000 b/d, boils down to a lack of Kurdish options in the market. Chart 6. Iranian Official Selling Prices for Asia-bound cargoes (vs Oman/Dubai average). Source: NIOC. ADVERTISEMENT Whilst Iran has not been getting that much of attention as it should, the Middle Eastern country has been step by step building up its crude production capacity and exports, to the point when Irans oil minister feels confident to announce that it produces 3.1 million b/d crude and some 700,000 b/d condensate. With total liquids output passing the 3.8 million b/d mark, Irans national oil company NIOC has made great strides in bringing production closer to pre-sanctions levels. Iran followed Saudi Arabias suit and lifted Asia-bound formula prices by $0.05 per barrel and $0.15 per barrel for Iran Heavy and Iran Light, respectively. This would mean that Iran Light is to be traded at a $3.15 per barrel premium to Oman/Dubai, i.e. only 5 cents cheaper than Arab Light, however in reality NIOC needs to heavily discount its deliveries to China to be able to sell them. As Iranian exports have doubled year-on-year to 1.5 million b/d, Tehran doesnt mind the discounting as long as the volumes remain plentiful. Chart 7. Kuwait Export Blend official selling prices into Asia, compared with Arab Medium and Iran Heavy (vs Oman/Dubai average). Source: KPC. KPC, the Kuwaiti national oil company, hiked its Asian prices by $0.30 per barrel to a $2.25 per barrel premium vs Oman/Dubai, slightly more than Saudi Aramco increased its Arab Light and Arab Medium cargoes. It might be argued that Kuwait could have increased prices even more given the rapid decrease in exported volumes flows have dropped below 1.4 million b/d already, the lowest in more than 11 years, as an increasing amount of crude is refined domestically at the Al Zour refinery. KPC recently announced that it had launched the final (third) distillation unit of Al Zour, taking its operational capacity to 615,000 b/d and ramping up production of oil products along the way. Kuwait is the key factor in the Middle Easts rapidly increasing product flows to Europe, sending both diesel and jet fuel, as the countrys overall product exports went up by more than 50% year-on-year and are gradually approaching the long-coveted 1 million b/d threshold. As theres less Kuwaiti crude available, KPC might become even more assertive with its pricing than Saudi Aramco. By Gerald Jansen for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Cheap Russian oil helped China accelerate the pace of stockpiling crude in June to the largest monthly additions to inventories in three years, according to estimates by Reuters columnist Clyde Russell based on official Chinese data. In June, China is estimated to have added 2.1 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil to either its commercial or strategic reserves, up from 1.77 million bpd added to inventories in May, per Russells calculations. China does not report commercial or strategic inventories, so analysts are trying to estimate the volume of stockpiling by deducting the amount of processed crude from all available crude coming from imports and domestic crude production. In June, 2.1 million bpd of all available crude supply wasnt processed by refiners, so it likely went to further fill Chinas crude reserves, according to Reuters Russell. Cheap Russian crude played a large part in the high level of stockpiling last month, as China accelerated buying of Russian cargoes to benefit from the discounts at which Russian grades are being offered on the market relative to the crude from other sources, including from the Middle East. In June, China broke for yet another month the record for importing Russian crude oil, per data from the Chinese General Administration of Customs cited by Reuters. Chinese imports from Russia averaged 2.56 million bpd last month, a surge of 44% compared to the same month in 2022, the Chinese customs data showed. Despite an apparent weakness in its economy, China is importing record volumes of oil and is buying record amounts of Russian crude to add to stockpiles. During the first half of 2023, Chinese imports of Russian crude oil averaged 2.13 million bpd, which helped Russia oust its OPEC+ partner Saudi Arabia from the top spot as the single biggest supplier to the worlds top crude importer so far this year, per Financial Times estimates based on Chinese customs data. Imports from the worlds top crude oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, averaged 1.88 million bpd between January and June, according to FTs calculations. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Europes benchmark natural gas prices fell by nearly 6% mid-day in Amsterdam on Wednesday, erasing gains from earlier in the day, as the heatwave across southern Europe started to abate and gas inventories are high with storage sites on track to be full well in advance of EU targets. The front-month futures at the TTF hub, the benchmark for Europes gas trading, traded at $34 (30.75 euros) per megawatt-hour (MWh) as of 12:08 p.m. GMT on Wednesday, down by 5.8% on the day. Early on Wednesday, prices rallied by 5% after news broke that maintenance works at the Dvalin gas field offshore Norway would be extended to the end of this week, while works are planned at other Norwegian facilities next month. Earlier today, prices hit $37.60 (34 euros) per MWh, but fell as the day progressed. The record high temperatures in Italy are starting to ease, reducing demand for gas-powered electricity generation. Demand from industry is also lower compared to previous years, due to the slowdown in major economies in Europe. In addition, EU gas storage levels are highmuch higher than the five-year average and the levels from this time last year, easing concerns about Europes gas supply. The EU gas storage sites were 84% full as of July 24, according to data from Gas Infrastructure Europe. Further upside momentum has been dampened by continuously high underground gas storage levels in Europe, Masanori Odaka, a senior analyst at Rystad Energy, wrote in an emailed note cited by Bloomberg. The EU has set a target to reach 90% full gas storage by November 1, 2023. Not only will it hit that target ahead of schedule, but it could also fill its storage tanks to 100% by early September, according to Morgan Stanley. In the near term, Europes gas prices could rise due to the planned maintenance offshore Norway in August, which will include the massive Troll gas field, the Vesterled pipeline, and the Kollsnes gas processing plant. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Chevron is considering the construction of a floating LNG terminal in the Eastern Mediterranean to use as an export hub for Asia and Europe. Thats according to Chevrons global head of gas, who spoke to Japans Nikkei, saying that the Eastern Mediterranean was "being supplied really well, so [there's] going to be another development. We're looking at floating LNG in that market. Chevron is the parent company of Noble Energy, which has stakes in several large offshore gas projects in the Israeli section of the Mediterranean. The biggest, Leviathan, has recoverable reserves of more than 600 billion cubic meters which, according to Nikkei, is equivalent to 440 million tons of liquefied natural gas. The report comes out several days after Chevrons top gas man, Freeman Shaheen, said the company had no plans to build LNG capacity in the United States. Speaking to Reuters, Shaheen said that the decision was basically a choice between building LNG export capacity and drilling more wells in the Permian or investing abroad, including in the Eastern Mediterranean. Chevron is the largest player in the Permian with some 2.2 million acres in assets and its production there has been growing. And while it may not make business sense to build an LNG terminal on the Gulf Coast, it seems to make business sense to build such a terminal off the Israeli Mediterranean coast. Indeed, it does make sense for the location to be much closer to the two biggest LNG markets these days, Europe and Asia. That would make the LNG produced at the future terminal more affordable for more buyers and more profitable for the producers. Few details are clear at this point as to specific production capacity and timelines but, according to Shaheen, exports from the facility are set to begin in the late 2020s at the earliest. ADVERTISEMENT By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan is partially honoring the recent deal with the federal government of Iraq to supply crude from the region to Iraqi, an unnamed source told Argus on Wednesday. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) supplies 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil to Iraqs northern refineries, as part of the Iraq-Kurdistan deal under which the semi-autonomous region should deliver at least 400,000 bpd to the Iraqi storage tanks at the Ceyhan port in Turkey for sale to the international markets by Iraqi state oil marketing firm SOMO. If the crude cannot be exported from the Turkish port of Ceyhan on the Mediterranean as is the case currently it should be directed to Iraqi refineries, including those in northern Iraq, Argus notes. The KRG has been handing over 50,000-60,000 bpd of oil to Baghdad since the middle of June as part of the budget deal under which the federal government of Iraq will be responsible for exporting Kurdistans crude oil. SOMO is now in charge of marketing Kurdistans crude, after the region had sold the oil independently for years. We have handed over 50,000-60,000 barrels of oil since mid-June, to the federal government of Iraq, Omed Sabah, President of the Diwan of Council of Ministers, told local news outlet Kurdistan 24 in an interview published on Monday. Despite the new budget deal, under which Kurdistan is entitled to a 12.67% share of the Iraqi budget, most of the oil from Kurdistan hasnt been exported since the end of March this year. Iraq and Kurdistan have not exported crude oil from Ceyhan since March 25, due to ongoing disputes about who is in charge of exports. Iraq, OPECs second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia, is currently exporting oil only via its southern oil export terminals. Around 450,000 bpd of exports from the northern fields and from Kurdistan continue to be shut in. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Frances TotalEnergies has started drilling its first well in the Tilenga field, near Lake Albert, in Uganda. Production is set to start in 2025, the company said, as quoted by the AFP. The Tilenga project is part of a $10-billion deal between TotalEnergies, Chinese CNOOC, and the Ugandan government for the development of two fields in the Lake Albert area. The other field, whose development would be led by CNOOC, is Kingfisher. Like every new oil and gas development, the Ugandan deal has been seen as controversial by some, especially because it would also involve the construction of a pipeline from the fields to the Tanzanian Indian Ocean coast. The East African Crude Oil Pipeline, or EACOP, will have a capacity of 216,000 barrels of crude daily and will span across more than 1,400 km. It will be the worlds longest heated oil pipeline. The capacity could be ramped up to 246,000 barrels at a later stage. The cost of the project was estimated at $3.5 billion when Total, CNOOC, and Uganda sealed the deal for its construction. For landlocked Uganda, EACOP is a vital necessity if it is to get its crude oil to international markets. The project is a lucrative opportunity for neighboring Tanzania, too. Environmentalists, however, disagree that the pipelineor oil development near Lake Albertis a good idea. They cite the potential for environmental damage from the operation of the pipeline and the fields, and the idea that more oil a d gas development is at odds with emission reduction targets. For governments in the region, however, exploiting their natural resources is, indeed, a good idea. Politicians cite the prospects of improving the living standards of local populations thanks to oil revenues and the chance to do exactly what the West did thanks to oil and gas: wealthy. ADVERTISEMENT By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The United States has announced an additional $400 million security package for Ukraine, including air defense munitions, armored vehicles, anti-armor weapons, and other "critical military assistance" from Defense Department stockpiles to help it retake territory and defend against Russian missile strikes. The Pentagon announced the package on July 25 after the European Union announced a 1.5 billion-euro ($1.66 billion) aid disbursement to help Ukraine repair infrastructure amid fresh air strikes by Russia on the port city of Odesa and the capital Kyiv. The U.S. aid is the 43rd drawdown of equipment from Defense Department inventories for Ukraine since August 2021, the Pentagon said in a statement. The package includes munitions for Patriot air defense systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), Stinger antiaircraft systems, more ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers, and a variety of other missiles and rockets. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the United States and its allies and partners will continue to stand united with Ukraine. "Russia could end this war at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks against Ukraine's cities and people," Blinken said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked the United States for the aid in his nightly video message. He said he spoke earlier with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak about how to ensure the flow of Ukrainian grain to international markets amid fresh air strikes by Russia on the port city of Odesa and the capital Kyiv. "First and foremost, we talked about protecting our southern regions, in particular Odesa, the normal life of people and the work of our ports," he said in the video. "Rishi and I discussed possible steps and the possible number of air defense batteries. The United Kingdom can become the leader whose assistance with air defense systems will guarantee real security." Russian strikes in recent days have targeted Ukrainian food export facilities, including on Danube ports close to the border with NATO member Romania. Kyiv has accused Moscow of targeting grain supplies and infrastructure since suspending its participation in the Black Sea grain deal brokered last year by the United Nations and Turkey with Russia and Ukraine to help alleviate a global food crisis worsened by Russia's invasion. Sunak said he made it clear during the call with Zelenskiy that any efforts by Russia to prevent grain from leaving Ukraine would be "completely unacceptable." "The prime minister said the U.K. was working closely with Turkey on restoring the grain deal, and we would continue to use our role as chair of the UN Security Council to further condemn Russia's behavior," Sunak's office said in a statement. Sunak also said he was "appalled by the devastation caused by recent Russian attacks on Odesa." Zelenskiy also said in his video message that he held a meeting ahead of the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, scheduled to take place on July 26. "The consultations are specifically about security in the Black Sea -- our ports and our grain exports," he said. In Brussels, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said she "firmly condemns" the Russian strikes on Ukrainian grain storage and export infrastructure and vowed continued support for Kyiv. "Today we paid another 1.5 billion euros, to help keep the [Ukrainian] state running and repair infrastructure," von der Leyen said on Twitter. The Kremlin on July 25 rejected a call by UN chief Antonio Guterres for Moscow to rejoin the grain deal, claiming that a part of the agreement that allowed Russia to export its grain and fertilizer had not been honored. ADVERTISEMENT "Unfortunately, at the moment it is impossible to return to the deal because [the Russia-related part] is not being implemented, and de facto it has never been implemented," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a news conference. Regional officials in Ukraine reported early on July 25 that Russia launched a new wave of drone strikes on Kyiv, while and Moscow said it warded off a Ukrainian attack on one if its patrol boats in the Black Sea. All drones launched overnight in the sixth attack on Ukraine's capital this month were shot down by the city's air defense, Serhiy Popko, the head of the Kyiv city military administration, said. The attack caused no casualties or damage, he said. Russian drone attacks were also reported in the Cherkasy and Zhytomyr regions, with the latter suffering some infrastructure damage. The Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukrainian seaborne drones attempted an attack on one of its patrol boats in the Black Sea, but the attack failed. The claim could not be independently confirmed. By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Omaha police have arrested three people in connection with a Sunday night shooting that left one man dead and another critically injured at a southwest Omaha apartment complex, police said Wednesday. Homicide investigators arrested Luis Hernandez-Melendez, 34, Tuesday night at his home in Ashland, Nebraska. They booked Hernandez-Melendez into the Douglas County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder, felony assault and two counts of using a weapon to commit a felony. He is suspected of killing 28-year-old Luis Romero-Rodriguez and injuring Jose Alfredo Lapop-Flores, 24, at the Citadel Apartments & Townhomes near 86th and Q Streets. Police also arrested Alvin Melendez, 28, of Omaha, on suspicion of being an accessory to a felony and tampering with evidence. Valeria Vasquez, 30, was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of being an accessory to a felony. The two victims were found shot in the head inside a white Mazda sedan at the apartment complex. Romero-Rodriguez was declared dead at the scene. Lapop-Flores was taken to Creighton University Medical-Bergan Mercy with life-threatening injuries. He was listed in critical condition Monday. An update on his condition was not available Wednesday. According to police reports, Omaha homicide unit officers identified Hernandez-Melendez as a suspect after recovering surveillance video and interviewing witnesses. The Ashland Police Department, Saunders County Sheriffs Office and Nebraska State Patrol have assisted the Omaha police homicide unit and uniformed patrol officers in the investigation. Two Omaha men were federally indicted last week for their alleged participation in a check fraud scheme involving nearly $290,000 in forged business checks deposited at financial institutions across Nebraska and elsewhere. Federal prosecutors on Friday unsealed an eight-count indictment against Calvin Carter, 20, and Malik Washington, 26, alleging criminal conspiracy, bank fraud and production of counterfeit securities. The two men are accused of attempting to cash at least 60 counterfeit checks totaling at least $291,000 at various banks and credit unions between April 2021 and December 2022. The federal indictment is in addition to state charges filed last year against Carter and Washington alleging forgery and criminal conspiracy. The time frame listed in the indictment indicates that the men allegedly continued to perpetuate or aid in the fraud while out on bail awaiting trial in Douglas County Court. State charges against Carter and Washington will likely be dismissed later this week, Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine confirmed Tuesday. Crimes involving bank fraud are typically under the jurisdiction of the federal government. This is not state court, U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Bazis said to Washington at an initial hearing last week. Youre in a whole different ballgame. According to court documents, communications found on seized devices indicated that Washington, Carter and other associates would place advertisements on social media offering $1,000 to $3,000 to anyone with a bank account. People who agreed to participate would supply the men with their debit cards, PIN number and online banking credentials. Members of the alleged conspiracy would deposit forged business checks into the accounts and remove all of the funds via gift card purchases, ATM withdrawals and electronic transfers before the check could be flagged as fraudulent. Electronic evidence suggests that several dozen people were involved in the scheme. The Sheriffs Office began investigating the case in February 2022 after First National Bank of Omaha reported losing approximately $36,000 in two months from a series of similar forged checks, according to court documents. Twelve fraudulent business checks were deposited into seven different FNBO accounts throughout December 2021 and January 2022. The checks ranged from about $3,000 to $7,000 and were either distributed at FNBO branches or through the banks mobile app. FNBOs app allows account holders to take photos of checks to deposit money electronically. According to the affidavit, the app captures the IP address and physical GPS coordinates of each device used to upload photos of a check. The GPS coordinates captured when the fraudulent checks were deposited, leading investigators to a northwest Omaha home occupied by Carter. A search warrant was served on the home in February 2022. In Carters bedroom, deputies found hundreds of pages of blank check stock, a safe monitored by a security camera, a shredder with a bin full of shredded checks and receipts for thousands of dollars worth of designer clothing and shoes, according to court documents. They also seized Carters phone and laptop, which allegedly provided additional evidence of text communications with co-conspirators and check printing software on his computer. Carter was arrested after the execution of the search warrant and was charged with forgery and criminal conspiracy. He posted bail and was released shortly after his arrest. Carters arrest did not mark the end of the investigation. In June 2022, FNBO again contacted the Sheriffs Office to report an additional loss of more than $82,000 from forged checks that looked identical to those allegedly forged by Carter. Those checks, deposited between March and June 2022, purported to be for payroll from a business called The Standard. ATM cameras captured photos of the man who deposited the checks, and deputies identified him as Washington, according to court documents. A search warrant executed at Washingtons home did not locate any check forgery equipment, leading deputies to believe that someone else was supplying Washington with checks and directing him to deposit them. Washington was arrested in June 2022 and charged with forgery and criminal conspiracy in state court. At the time of his arrest, Washington was in possession of six debit cards not belonging to him, according to an arrest affidavit. He also posted bail and was released from jail shortly after his arrest. Washington was the first to appear in federal court last week, where he entered not guilty pleas on all counts and was ordered by Bazis to be released ahead of trial. Carter also pleaded not guilty during his initial appearance Tuesday and was ordered to be released from custody. Both men face decades in prison if convicted on any of the eight charges. They are both named in each count of the indictment, which includes one count of conspiracy, five counts of bank fraud and two counts of possessing a counterfeit security. The conspiracy and bank fraud charges each carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, and the counterfeit security count is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Kleine said the Douglas County Attorneys Office is considering pressing charges against others involved in the scheme. At least one person, Carters brother, is currently facing felony charges related to the fraud in Douglas County Court. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of July 2023 A 12-year-old was killed in a single-vehicle rollover accident Monday northwest of Elwood, Nebraska. At 1:54 p.m., the Gosper County Sheriffs Office and Bertrand Fire and Rescue crews responded to a call for assistance after a crash on Road 433, around a half-mile north of Road 744, according to Sheriff Jesse Naputi. The crash involved a man who was driving a 1997 Toyota Tacoma pickup. The driver was taken by helicopter to a Kearney-area hospital for treatment of his injuries. A 12-year-old passenger was pronounced dead on the scene by the Gosper County coroner. An 11-year-old passenger also was injured and was transported to Lexington Regional Health Center by Bertrand Fire and Rescue. The crash remains under investigation. Elwood is about 230 miles southwest of Omaha. BLOOMINGTON A Bloomington man was sentenced this week to two years in prison on a fleeing and eluding charge. Tysean Townsend, 36, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of Class 4 aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude an officer in a case that stemmed from a June 2022 attempted traffic stop, and to a misdemeanor charge of endangering the life or health of a child, after prosecutors said he left a minor home alone for more than six hours. Initially, Townsend was also charged in the felony case with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, three counts of child abduction, and obstructing justice. Those charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. Assistant States Attorney Spencer Chikahisa said when a McLean County Sheriffs Office deputy tried to conduct a traffic stop on Townsend, he refused to pull over and sped away, traveling more than 95 mph. He was sentenced to two years in the Illinois Department of Corrections with credit for 132 days already served, which will be followed by up to one year of mandatory supervised release. Photos: Scenes of protest in Israel over Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan BLOOMINGTON Five cows have died after a vehicle crash Tuesday evening toppled a cattle hauler, releasing animals out onto the roadway and surrounding fields. The crash occurred at 6:31 p.m. on Interstate 74 near U.S. 51, said Bloomington police, whose officers assisted with traffic control. Traffic was diverted at a highway intersection on Bloomingtons south side while emergency responders worked to round up the cattle. The highway reopened shortly before 9 p.m., police said. Illinois State Police Trooper Melissa Albert-Lopez said Wednesday that a semitrailer truck had been carrying 37 cows at the time of the crash and all were recovered, but five had to be euthanized due to injuries sustained in the incident. No other injuries were reported, the Bloomington Police Department stated on its Facebook page Wednesday morning. BPD said the McLean County Sheriffs Office and Bloomington Township Fire Protection District helped with traffic and cattle control. The post also thanked community members who assisted in wrangling the cattle and hauling them away. The crash remains under investigation by ISP. BLOOMINGTON A 18-year-old Peoria man is facing felony charges after police said he confronted someone in McLean County with a stolen shotgun. Sincere L. Walker appeared in a Monday bond court hearing before Judge Scott Black, who found probable cause for his arrest. Assistant States Attorney Brad Rigdon said Normal Police Department officers were dispatched at 1:45 am. Sunday to a report of an armed subject in the 1300 block of Dalton Drive. He said a witness reported the suspect got into a white vehicle that left the area. The prosecutor said the vehicle was eventually located by officers, as a male suspect later identified as Walker was seen exiting it and fleeing again before police ultimately took him into custody. Rigdon said officers were told Walker was upset that he loaned his car to someone who crashed it, and he confronted the person with a shotgun. He said police found an unloaded and uncased 12 gauge Pardus shotgun that had been discarded at a nearby apartment building, and had been reported as stolen. Walker is charged with possession of a stolen firearm, a Class 2 felony; violating the Illinois FOID Act, a Class 3 felony; and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 4 felony. Judge Black set his bond at $100,000, with 10% to apply for release. He also ordered him not to have contact with the victim. His next hearing is 9 a.m. Aug. 11. A guide to the US military guns most often lost or stolen M4 CARBINE M240 MACHINE GUN M16 RIFLE M9 SERVICE PISTOL M203 GRENADE LAUNCHER MOSSBERG SHOTGUN BROWNING M2 Comparing the weapons BLOOMINGTON As youth nationwide gathered last week in Atlanta for the annual Disruptivator Summit hosted by Usher's New Look Foundation, five teens from Bloomington-Normal were among them. The opportunity to network, gain professional skills and mingle with leaders from various industries was not missed on them or their families. All members of the nonprofit Jule Foundation who were chaperoned by founder Andre Hursey, the participants included his daughter, Amaya Hursey, 17; Sahara Williams, 16; Chance French, 15; B.J. Dumas, 16; and Jenaya Myers, 16. Williams' mother, Sharon, said before the group left July 19 that the opportunity was ripe for the taking. "I think the networking is good," she said, "and building relationships is very important. Because the time, right here, I think that building the relationships is the most important at this point." Jessica Washington, national program director for Usher's New Look, said the not-for-profit started in 1999 when the Grammy-winning artist and his mother decided to help at-risk and under-served youth. Washington said the goal is to give youth the opportunity to meet professionals and network, developing leadership skills and what they call their "spark" to start career planning. This marks the 24th year for Usher's New Look, "a non-profit organization that transforms the lives of under-resourced youth through a comprehensive program which develops passion-driven, global leaders." This year's Disruptivator Summit brought together 300 high schoolers to the leadership summit that hosted a career fair, speakers and live performances, Washington said. French's mother, Shique Smith, said that experience is invaluable to her son. "I like the idea of him building those relationships and the exposure, because, oftentimes, when you're in the same four walls, you get the same thing every day," Smith said. "So this exposure allows (these youth) to get exposed to different kids that have different dreams and ideas that they've never even thought of and may spark something in them." Antonio Myers, Jenaya's father, said the summit is an experience he and his generation were never offered. "They're just going and experiencing different things that we didn't when we were growing up ... I just think the program is good for the kids. And it shows that, if you put your effort into it, you'll get things like they're getting right now," he said. Some of the professions covered this year involved various positions in healthcare, information technologies, education and the corporate sector. Before boarding a flight back to Bloomington on Friday, the five participants and Andre Hursey discussed their experience in a phone call with The Pantagraph. They said one of the excursions, akin to a field trip in a professional setting, was with Walmart Global Tech, an arm of the retailer that aims to integrate technologies into the customer experience, expanding beyond simply a retail store. Jenaya Myers said, "There's way more thought and actual effort put into these things (like statistics and logistics) than you'd actually think." French said, "We got to see an intern that worked there. And it was nice to see like, people that are going from college and get to work in the summer "The office was really nice," he added. "They had like a fancy sparkling water machine that we got to try. It was a little too fancy if you asked me," he said with a chuckle. When the group met Usher, Dumas said, he took the time to give them some advice. "(He was) basically saying to follow your Spark. Which, your Spark is you superpower, as they call it. What you can do like what's your skill and how you can use it to change the world," he said. Dumas' father, Brantley, said these experiences are helping to shape his son's path for college and career. "For him to have opportunities to learn what his passion is before he goes to college that way he's not wasting time, like a lot of us did, trying to figure out what our career path should be or what he wants to do," he said. This way, Brantley Dumas said, his son can have a longer career working in his passion. "When you're working in your passion and not just working to work, it's a lot different," he said. Dumas' mother, Renarda, said being part of the summit and the Jule Foundation has helped her son build confidence. "When I see him in spaces that he's usually not in and speaking to adults, and being able to convey his convictions and his dreams and ideas ... it builds his confidence and makes me happy and proud," she said. Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the name and title of Jessica Washington, national program director of Usher's New Look. More than 40 people have died in Algeria, Italy and Greece as Mediterranean wildfires threaten villages and holiday resorts, and thousands have been evacuated. The entire island of Rhodes has been put into a state of emergency, as fires also rage on Corfu and Evia. The current long heatwave shows no let-up - temperatures are expected to rise above 44C (111F) in parts of Greece. Fires in Sicily and Puglia have forced thousands of people to flee. High winds and tinder-dry vegetation mean firefighters are struggling in many areas to douse the flames and create firebreaks. The heaviest death toll so far is in Algeria, where the 34 victims included 10 soldiers surrounded by flames during an evacuation in the coastal province of Bejaia, east of Algiers. Bejaia is the worst-hit area, accounting for 23 of the deaths, local media report. Algerian authorities said 80% of the blazes had been put out since Sunday, but a massive firefighting effort continues, involving about 8,000 personnel, hundreds of fire engines and some aircraft. Fires have also raged in neighbouring Tunisia, where 300 people had to be evacuated from the coastal village of Melloula. In Greece, the Civil Protection Ministry warned of an "extreme danger" of fire in six of the country's 13 regions on Wednesday. A team of climate scientists - the World Weather Attribution group - said this month's intense heatwave in Southern Europe, North America and China would have been virtually impossible without human-induced climate change. Read Full Story .... HERE >>> : Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghanas 1992 Constitution requires that with the approval of Parliament, the President should assign Regional Ministers for each of the sixteen (16) regions. As representatives of the President, the Regional Ministers are responsible for overseeing the coordination and direction of the administration of their respective regions. In constituting his cabinet and Regional Ministers for his second term in office, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo appointed sixteen (16) Regional Ministers who were on March 12, 2021, unanimously approved by Parliament as recommended by the Appointments Committee of the House. They were subsequently sworn-in by the President. They are Hon. Henry Quartey, Greater Accra, Mr. Seth Kwame Acheampong, Eastern, Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Western, Mr. Shani Alhassan Saibu, Northern, Mr. Joshua Gmayenaam Makubu, Oti, Mr. Saeed Muhazu Jibril, Savannah, and Mr. Stephen Yakubu, Upper East. The rest are Mr. George Boakye, Ahafo, Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, Ashanti, Ms. Justina Owusu, Banahene-Bono, Mr. Kwasi Adu-Gyan, Bono East, Justina Marigold Assan, Central, Mr. Yidana Zakaria, North East; Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih, Upper West, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta, and Mr. Richard Obeng, Western North. SURVEY Gina Media Consult conducted a survey between October 2021 and September 2022 to ascertain the Regional Ministers performance. Respondents for the survey included Teachers, Media, Traditional Leaders, Social Commentators, Youth Groups, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Politicians, Clergy, Assemblymembers, Students, Traders, Farmers, and Commercial Drivers. DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS The sample size was 8000 and, in each region, a total of 500 respondents were interviewed one on one. Eighty (80) percent of the respondents were between the ages of 18 and 70. The respondents were randomly selected nationwide. The measuring tool focused on the Regional Ministers administrative expertise, their accessibility, punctuality at public events, relationship with traditional leaders, relationship with development partners, relationship with NPP regional and constituency executives as well as other political parties and their relationship with the media. RATINGS In the phase of the public opinions. the Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa emerged as the Overall Best, while the Savannah Regional Minister, Mr. Saeed Muhazu Jibril, appeared as the Worst Regional Minister during the period under study. Dr Archibald Yao Letsa occupied the 1st position with 75.8 percentage of the overall total score, followed by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Henry Quartey 2nd with 73.8 percent, Central Regional Minister, Ms. Justina Marigold Assan, 3rd with 71.6 percent, Mr. Seth Acheampong, Eastern, 4th with 68.4 percent, Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, Western, 5th with 66.7 percent, Mr. George Boakye, Ahafo 6th with 64.4 percent. Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, Ashanti, was placed 7th with 62.8 percent, Ms. Justina Owusu-Banahene, Bono, 8th with 58.7 percent, Mr. Adu Gyan, Bono East, 9th with 56.5 percent, Mr. Yidana Zakaria-North East; 10th with 55.9 percent, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih-Upper West, 11th with, 53.3 percent, Mr. Richard Obeng, Western North, 12th with 50.7 percent, Mr. Joshua Makubu, Oti 13th with 50.7 percent, Mr. Shani Alhassan Saibu, Northern, 14th with 48.5 percent, Mr. Stephen Yakubu, Upper East, 15th 48.1 percent, and Mr. Saeed Muhazu Jibril Savannah, 16th with 47.1 percent. COMMENDATIONS The respondents commended the Volta Regional Coordinating Council led by Dr Archibald Yao for supervising and monitoring development projects in transforming the lives of the people there. He was also credited for operating an open-door administration, connecting with traditional leaders, development partners, other political parties leadership, the media and being punctual at public events. On the other hand, the Savannah Regional Minister, Mr. Saeed Muhazu Jibril fell short of the benchmark used for the assessments. He was accused of bad interpersonal relationship, lacking focus, poor relationship with the media, poor relationship with political leaders in the region, and not being accessible. CONCLUSION/EXPECTATIONS The respondents expected more from the Regional Ministers given the fact that President Nana Addo in his second term abandoned the principle of appointing Deputy Regional Ministers. The Respondents urged President Nana Addo to change the nonperforming Regional Ministers. Source: Gina Media Consult Contact ([email protected]) Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Atik Mohammed has condemned the former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah for hoarding a million dollars and other foreign and local currencies in her home resulting in her resignation and subsequent arrest by the Office of the Special Prosecutor. Atik Mohammed, speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, stated the act by the former Minister is "wrong on many levels. This is reprehensible on all accounts". He wondered why a public servant would keep huge monies in her home. "She is not Dangote's partner for us to see that these are her big businesses. Even if she owns businesses that can generate this much money, I'm sure those businesses should have accounts. Also, she doesn't work for the federal reserve, so she doesn't produce dollars or euros which means before you can have such money, it must be one of two things. Either you have done a transaction and have been paid or someone has gifted it to you; either way, there are issues," Atik argued. He stressed that his interest in Cecilia Dapaah's case is further aroused by the fact that when she was the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, she committed millions of money into projects undertaken under the sector which didn't benefit Ghanaians nor the country. He disclosed that huge figures were quoted by Mrs. Dapaah to have been spent in keeping the nation clean but "Ghana is one of the dirty countries, Accra mostly". "This is a sector that is troubled because we are sinking money but we don't see the outcomes. The outcomes don't match the investments," he expressed disappointment in Cecilia Dapaah. To Atik, Ghanaians deserve to ask questions about the Minister's source of wealth. "We are not even angry enough as Ghanaians. We need to find out where the money came from." 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 Atik Mohammed has rebuked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over his statement in response to the resignation letter by Hon. Cecilia Dapaah. Hon. Cecilia Dapaah, on Saturday, July 22, announced her resignation as Sanitation Minister after a theft case involving her house helps. Two of her house helps stole her 1 million dollars, 300,000 Euros and millions of cedis she had kept in her home. The former Minister caused the arrest and prosecution of her house helps but she has received a backlash after the news broke out. Accepting Cecilia Dapaah's resignation, President Akufo-Addo said; "It is with considerable regret that I accept your resignation and I applaud your loyalty to the image and standing of the Government. The work you undertook during your period in Government was excellent and productive, and I thank you for your wholehearted contribution and devotion to the progress of the Government and the Nation. "I am confident, like you, that, at the end of the day, your integrity and, whilst in office, will be fully established. I wish you the very best in all your endeavors." But Atik has expressed utter disappointment in the President for expressing confidence Mrs. Cecilia Dapaah's integrity. "Before the case could even start, already, there is a judgement and I think that is unacceptable," he stated while making his submissions on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo". 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 Madam Patricia Christabel Abena Adutwumwaa Kyerematen, Wife of NPP Flagbearer Aspirant, Hon John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, strongly holds the view that Ghana needs a "calm, but firm and just leader" in these current times to transform country after the tenure of His Excellency Nana Akuffo Addo. She believes Hon Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen is endowed and ingrained with these qualities. In an interview with PeaceFM News, Madam Abena Adutwumwaa Kyerematen pointed out that her spouse is not "soft" as people perceive him to be as "exhibiting physical strength is not even required to lead the country or fix the developmental challenges confronting us now." According to her, Alan Cash, as the flagbearer aspirant is affectionately called, is the only candidate amongst all the other aspirants capable of defeating John Dramani Mahama in any general elections. She emphasized that the Great Transformational Plan (GTP) being spearheaded by Mr Kyerematen will serve as a new direction towards accelerated growth that will position the country well towards economic recovery. "....he will thrive on his own records during his campaign, securing him the victory he deserves," she added. Highlighting some other qualities her husband possesses, she described Hon Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten as a "unique person, a rare gem and visionary par excellence." "Alan Kyeremateng has shown his unwavering commitment towards the unity and progress within the party....which he has pledged to continue when given the nod to lead the party and the country at large," Madam Christabel Kyerematen states. Whiles urging the delegates to give her husband the nod to lead the NPP in the 2024 elections so he can implement his visions for the party and country at large, Mrs Kyeremanten explained that the swan song Aduru Woso slogan implies "it is time for the grassroots to enjoy what they have toiled for over the years," adding that "that is the least he (Alan) can do to compensate them for their toils for the party." 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 Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey wept in court as he was cleared of all charges in his sexual assault trial in London. Jurors at Southwark Crown Court returned not guilty verdicts for nine sexual offence charges relating to four men between 2001 and 2013. Speaking afterwards, Mr Spacey said he was "grateful" to the jury as he thanked them for their deliberations - which took more than 12 hours. Outside the court the Oscar winner added he was "humbled". The US actor was acquitted of seven counts of sexual assault, one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. After the verdict was read, he put his hand on his chest, looked at the jurors and mouthed "thank you" twice before they left the room. Addressing journalists on the court's steps Mr Spacey said there was "a lot for me to process". "I would like to say that I am enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before they reached their decision," he said. "I am humbled by the outcome today. I also want to thank the staff inside this courthouse, the security, and all of those who took care of us every single day." Read Full Story .... HERE >>> : Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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: Retrieval of the box corer containing Lake Erie sediments, from which the sediment cores were retrieved for this study, aboard the Research Vessel (R/V) Lake Guardian, which is owned by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). The R/V Lake Guardian is the largest research vessel in its fleet and conducts environmental monitoring across all five Great Lakes. Credit: Dr Euan Reavie Researchers at York University went searching for the fossilized remains of small insect larvae called chironomids, found in sediment in Lake Erie, to find a history of deep water oxygen deprivation in the lake that continues today. "Our results indicate that Lake Erie has suffered declines and depletion of bottom oxygen in the past, including prior to major Euro-American settlements, however, it wasn't as bad as it is today," says senior author and Associate Professor Roberto Quinlan. If oxygen continues to decrease, Lake Erie will likely see more algal blooms occurring in the future. The paper, "Anthropogenic stressor impacts on hypolimnetic dissolved oxygen in Lake Erie: a chironomid-based paleolimnological assessment," was published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research. Until now, understanding the oxygen dynamics in Lake Erie was more speculative. The current research, led by former York grad student Dmitri Perlov, is novel in that it looked at how an organism, such as chironomid larvae, which is highly sensitive to changing oxygen levels, was affected over the past 150 years. The researchers studied the presence of these tiny larvae, which metamorphosize into midges as adults, in lake sediment cores from today to before pre-industrial times. They found oxygen depletion rates ramped up as populations increased and agriculture intensified after industrialization in the 1950s, which was likely exacerbated by the development and increased use of phosphorus-rich chemical fertilizers and household detergents. It was particularly bad in the 1960s and 70s. Water clarity started to improve in the 80s and 90s following phosphorus abatement programs initiated in the early 1970s, but oxygen levels have not recovered. Poor water quality has a lot to do with the lack of deep-water oxygen, which can spur summer algal blooms that can affect the drinking water for millions of people around Lake Erie, and it also means that when there is a temperature inversion, which sends deep waters devoid of oxygen to the surface, it can cause a massive kill-off of fish, that can have major effects on commercial fishing. View of a microscope workstation, with compound scope and associated micoscope digital camera, computer and monitor to view specimens for identification from published identification guides. Credit: Dmitri Perlov "Of all the Great Lakes, Lake Erie is the most stressed by human influence and has the poorest water quality so it is of great interest to both the United States and Canadian federal governments, and all the state and provincial governments that border the Great Lakes," says Quinlan of York University's Faculty of Science. Low oxygen levels at the bottom of the lake can produce a chemical environment where phosphorus, a primary nutrient for algae, is released from the sediments. "A central pillar of water quality research is trying to control phosphorus. If you get a lake that loses its oxygen and all of this stored phosphorus is released from the sediments, all of these efforts by governments and society to control phosphorus, it's all undone by this chemical process that releases a huge amount of phosphorus back into the water and fuels algal blooms," says Quinlan. This creates conditions for algal blooms, including harmful cyanobacterial blooms, which turns the water blue-green, makes it smell and taste bad, and can be toxic to humans, pets and livestock, making tap water unsafe to drink. "Our study's results emphasize the vulnerability of Lake Erie to low oxygen because it naturally had periods of low oxygen prior to large scale European settlement, urbanization, industrialization, agricultural fertilizers and all these additional stressors that make Lake Erie that much more vulnerable to low oxygen," says Quinlan. Microscope view of a subfossil chironomid head capsule. This specimen belongs to the Tanytarsini. Credit: Dmitri Perlov Climate change is what really concerns Quinlan. A warmer climate means warmer winters and shorter ice coverage as well as warmer summers which causes a further loss of oxygen in the deep layers. "Climate warming is already underway, and this is something that will take decades to reverse," he says. Some 13.2 million people live within the Lake Erie watershed, the most populated of the Great Lakes, representing about 34% of the total population in the Great Lakes catchment area. Lake Erie is a bellwether for other Great Lakes as it has changed the most in response stress and remediation. The researchers say that wide-scale watershed actions are needed if Lake Erie's water quality and deep-water oxygen levels are to improve. More information: Dmitri Perlov et al, Anthropogenic stressor impacts on hypolimnetic dissolved oxygen in Lake Erie: A chironomid-based paleolimnological assessment, Journal of Great Lakes Research (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jglr.2023.04.006 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Who lived at Machu Picchu at its height? A new study, published in Science Advances, used ancient DNA to find out for the first time where workers buried more than 500 years ago came from within the lost Inca Empire. Researchers, including Jason Nesbitt, associate professor of archaeology at Tulane University School of Liberal Arts, performed genetic testing on individuals buried at Machu Picchu in order to learn more about the people who lived and worked there. Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Cusco region of Peru. It is one of the most well-known archaeological sites in the world and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. It was once part of a royal estate of the Inca Empire. Like other royal estates, Machu Picchu was home not only to royalty and other elite members of Inca society, but also to attendants and workers, many of whom lived in the estate year-round. These residents did not necessarily come from the local area, though it is only in this study that researchers have been able to confirm, with DNA evidence, the diversity of their backgrounds. "It's telling us, not about elites and royalty, but lower status people," Nesbitt said. "These were burials of the retainer population." This DNA analysis works in much the same way that modern genetic ancestry kits work. The researchers compared the DNA of 34 individuals buried at Machu Picchu to that of individuals from other places around the Inca Empire as well as some modern genomes from South America to see how closely related they might be. The results of the DNA analysis showed that the individuals had come from throughout the Inca Empire, some as far away as Amazonia. Few of them had shared DNA with each other, showing that they had been brought to Machu Picchu as individuals rather than as part of a family or community group. "Now, of course, genetics doesn't translate into ethnicity or anything like that," said Nesbitt of the results, "but that shows that they have distinct origins within different parts of the Inca Empire." "The study does really reinforce a lot of other types of research that have been done at Machu Picchu and other Inca sites," Nesbitt said. The DNA analysis supports historical documentation and archaeological studies of the artifacts found associated with the burials. This study is part of a larger movement in archaeology to combine traditional archaeological techniques with new technologies and scientific analyses. This combination of fields leads to a more complete understanding of the discoveries made. More information: Lucy Salazar et al, Insights into the Genetic Histories and Lifeways of Machu Picchu's Occupants, Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg3377. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adg3377 Journal information: Science Advances This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A team of archaeologists from Tel Aviv University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Antiquities Authority has found a way to reconstruct a fire in a single building in Jerusalem burned by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. In their study, reported in Journal of Archaeological Science, the group analyzed magnetic signals in shards of pottery recovered from the site to learn more about a fire in a single building. Prior research has shown that from 586 to 587 BCE, the army of the Neo-Babylonian Empire conducted a siege against the city of Jerusalem. The city fell, and afterward, the Babylonians destroyed it, including the First Temple. Most buildings were destroyed by setting them on fire. In modern times, archaeologists and scholars have studied some of the writings from the time that described the siege and artifacts collected from the site. But because the events occurred so long ago, it has been difficult for modern scientists to gain a clear perspective on the way the city was destroyed. In this new effort, the research team found that pottery shards recovered from the site could offer clues about what happenedat least for one building. The work involved analyzing shards of pottery collected from a dig site identified as the base of an ancient two-story building. Prior researchers had named it Building 100. The team followed procedures of modern fire marshalsthey wanted to know where the fire started in the building and how it progressed. To find out, they studied magnetic signals hidden in the pottery shards. The researchers observed that some shards had magnetic signals pointing southa finding suggesting that they had been demagnetized in the kiln before the fire. Other fragments were pointing north, which meant that they had been demagnetized after the fire. Noting that high temperatures are needed to change magnetic polarity, the team assumed that they had been altered during the fire. Then, by comparing the magnetic direction of the shards with their location in the building, the team was able to trace the path of the fire and its strength. They found, for example, that it had burned hottest on the upper floor. It also never made it to some parts of the bottom floor, likely because the floor collapsed. Also, it was clear that the fire had been started in several locations, a sign that the arsonists were looking for complete destruction. More information: N. Shalom et al, Destruction by fire: Reconstructing the evidence of the 586 BCE Babylonian destruction in a monumental building in Jerusalem, Journal of Archaeological Science (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2023.105823 Journal information: Journal of Archaeological Science 2023 Science X Network 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: Ranger Uranium Mine near Jabiru in Australia's Northern Territory (A), and the dominant savanna woodland in surrounding Kakadu National Park (B). Photo credits: Mike Saynor, Australian Government's Supervising Scientist Branch (A) and Alan Andersen (B). Credit: Restoration Ecology (2022). DOI: 10.1111/rec.13735 A Charles Darwin University (CDU) study shows for the first time how animal biodiversity can be measured for assessing how well an ecosystem has been restored. According to CDU Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods ecologist and lead author of the study, Professor Alan Andersen, specific standards are required for assessing how well animal communities have been restored. "Animal biodiversity is critical if the goal is full ecosystem restoration," Professor Andersen said. "Typical land restoration criteria have focused on vegetation and soil, often with little consideration of animal diversity. "It is important to include a wide variety of animals, not just because of their intrinsic biodiversity value but also because of the many ecological roles they play in restoration processes. However, up until now there has been no framework for doing this." The new framework covers which animals to measure, how they should be measured and how similar they should be to a completely restored ecosystem. The study, "Faunal standards for the restoration of terrestrial ecosystems: a framework and its application to a high-profile case study," was recently published in the journal Restoration Ecology. The framework was applied to Ranger Uranium Mine, which has a restoration program aiming to return the site to an environment similar to that in surrounding Kakadu National Parkakin to "full recovery" based on the standards set forth by the Society for Ecosystem Restoration. But Professor Andersen said the assessment framework can be applied to any ecosystem worldwide. "Specific standards of evaluating returning animal populations can be set to suit any level of restoration, no matter where it is," he said. More information: Alan N. Andersen et al, Faunal standards for the restoration of terrestrial ecosystems: a framework and its application to a highprofile case study, Restoration Ecology (2022). DOI: 10.1111/rec.13735 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: In a graphic representation of a two-dimensional material, squeezing and stretching leads to, respectively, positive and negative signs of the anomalous Hall effect, represented by arrows. Credit: Hang Chi Some of our most important everyday items, such as computers, medical equipment, stereos, generators, and more, work because of magnets. We know what happens when computers become more powerful, but what might be possible if magnets became more versatile? What if one could change a physical property that defined their usability? What innovation might that catalyze? It's a question that MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC) research scientists Hang Chi, Yunbo Ou, Jagadeesh Moodera, and their co-authors explore in a new, open-access Nature Communications paper, "Strain-tunable Berry curvature in quasi-two-dimensional chromium telluride." Understanding the magnitude of the authors' discovery requires a brief trip back in time: In 1879, a 23-year-old graduate student named Edwin Hall discovered that when he put a magnet at right angles to a strip of metal that had a current running through it, one side of the strip would have a greater charge than the other. The magnetic field was deflecting the current's electrons toward the edge of the metal, a phenomenon that would be named the Hall effect in his honor. In Hall's time, the classical system of physics was the only kind, and forces like gravity and magnetism acted on matter in predictable and immutable ways: Just like dropping an apple would result in it falling, making a "T" with a strip of electrified metal and magnet resulted in the Hall effect, full stop. Except it wasn't, really; now we know quantum mechanics plays a role, too. Think of classical physics as a map of Arizona, and quantum mechanics as a car trip through the desert. The map provides a macro view and generalized information about the area, but it can't prepare the driver for all the random events one might encounter, like an armadillo running across the road. Quantum spaces, like the journey the driver is on, are governed by a different set of local traffic rules. So, while the Hall effect is induced by an applied magnetic field in a classical system, in a quantum case the Hall effect may occur even without the external field, at which point it becomes the anomalous Hall effect. When cruising in the quantum realm, one is equipped with the knowledge of the so-called "Berry phase," named after British physicist Michael Berry. It serves as a GPS logger for the car: It's as if the driver has recorded their entire trip from start to finish, and by analyzing the GPS history, one can better plot the ups and downs, or "curvature" of the space. This "Berry curvature" of the quantum landscape can naturally shift electrons to one side, inducing the Hall effect without a magnetic field, just as the hills and valleys dictate the path of the car. While many have observed the anomalous Hall effect in magnetic materials, none had been able to manipulate it by squeezing and/or stretchinguntil the paper's authors developed a method to demonstrate the change in the anomalous Hall effect and Berry curvature in an unusual magnet. First, they took half-millimeter-thick bases made of either aluminum oxide or strontium titanate, both of which are crystals, and grew an incredibly thin layer of chromium telluride, a magnetic compound, on top of the bases. On their own, these materials wouldn't do much; however, when combined, film's magnetism and the interface it created with the bases onto which it was grown caused the layers to stretch or squeeze. To deepen their understanding of how these materials were working together, the researchers partnered with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)'s Spallation Neutron Source to perform neutron scattering experimentsessentially blasting the material with shots of particles and studying what bounced backto learn more about the film's chemical and magnetic properties. Neutrons were an ideal tool for the study because they are magnetic but have no electrical charge. The neutron experiments allowed the researchers to build a profile that revealed how the chemical elements and magnetic behaviors changed at different levels as they probed deeper into the material. The researchers witnessed the anomalous Hall effect and Berry curvature responding to the degree of squeezing or stretching occurring on the base after the film was applied, an observation later verified by modeling and data simulations. Though this breakthrough occurred at the tiniest molecular level, the scientists' discovery has significant, real-world ramifications. For example, hard drives store data in tiny magnetic regions, and if they were built using "strain-tunable" materials like the film, they could store additional data in regions that have been stretched different ways. In robotics, strain-tunable materials could be used as sensors able to provide precise feedback on robots' movements and positioning. Such materials would be especially useful for "soft robots," which use soft and flexible components that better imitate biological organisms. Or, a magnetic device that changed its behavior when flexed or bent could be used to detect minute changes in the environment, or to make incredibly sensitive health monitoring equipment. More information: Hang Chi et al, Strain-tunable Berry curvature in quasi-two-dimensional chromium telluride, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38995-4 Journal information: Nature Communications This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A: Ryugu as seen by Hayabusa2. B: The stone C0002 collected by Hayabusa2. C: Electron microscope image of a section of C0002. D: Infrared image with anhydrous clasts. E: Spectra of a grain rich in amorphous silicates, of a cometary particle, of the primitive asteroid Hektor and of comet Hale-Bopp. Credit: IAS Orsay Infrared spectra of anhydrous grains from the carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu indicate a connection between one of the reservoirs from which Ryugu's parent body originated and the reservoirs that formed comets and primitive asteroids in the outer protoplanetary disk. Ryugu is a second-generation carbonaceous asteroid formed by the reassembly of fragments from a previous larger body in the main asteroid belt. In late 2020, the Japanese mission Hayabusa2 returned to Earth 5.4 g of materials collected on Ryugu. The majority of samples consists of hydrated minerals which formed in Ryugu's parent asteroid by the aqueous alteration of primordial anhydrous grains. These grains reveal the composition of the protoplanetary dust from which Ryugus parent asteroid formed. A new study led by IAS (Orsay, France), Tohoku University (Japan), and the SMIS beamline of synchrotron SOLEIL (France) used infrared hyperspectral imaging of two millimeter-sized "stones" of Ryugu to retrieve their mineral composition and to compare Ryugu with other extraterrestrial materials in the lab (meteorites and interplanetary dust) and in space (asteroids and comets). The study is published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. The infrared analysis of Ryugu's anhydrous grains shows that some of them are rich in amorphous silicates, with a mineral composition similar to that of some anhydrous primitive asteroids, comets, and interplanetary dust particles of cometary origin. These amorphous-rich grains formed by pre-accretional processes in the protoplanetary disk from which the solar system originated. Ryugu's parent asteroid would thus be a large planetesimal that formed in the outer solar system from a reservoir close to the accretion region of comets. Planetary migrations would later have transferred Ryugu's parent asteroid to the main asteroid belt. Aqueous alteration would then have determined the spectral diversity of "primitive" asteroid classes we observe today. More information: R. Brunetto et al, Ryugu's Anhydrous Ingredients and Their Spectral Link to Primitive Dust from the Outer Solar System, The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2023). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/acdf5c Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Letters Provided by IAS Orsay 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: Full-polarization, frequency-averaged profiles and polarization position angles (PPAs) for a selection of bursts. The top row shows the three brightest ultra-FRBs and the bottom row shows the three highest S/N millisecond-duration bursts. The profiles of the bursts (bottom panels) show the total intensity (Stokes I) in black, circular polarization (Stokes V) in blue and the Faraday-rotation-corrected unbiased linear polarization in red. Credit: arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2307.02303 A team of space scientists from several institutions in The Netherlands, two in the U.S. and one in Sweden, has found evidence of multiple microsecond-length fast radio bursts (FRBs) by analyzing data from the Green Bank Telescope, in West Virginia. The group has posted their study on the arXiv preprint server. Prior research has led to the discovery of FRBs, which are bursts of radio waves coming from outside the Milky Way galaxy. Though their origin is still not known, several theories have been proposedthe two leading candidates are emissions from a flaring magnetar or from the jet of an accreting black hole. Most FRBs have been found to last on the order of a few milliseconds. But last year, astronomer Kenzie Nimmo, found evidence of much shorter burstsa discovery that led many in the community to wonder if there might be even shorter bursts. To find out, the team turned to data from the Green Bank Telescopea facility with the largest steerable disk in the world. Data from the telescope has been studied before, but this time, the researchers looked for evidence of much shorter FRBs. To that end, they focused on observations of the repeating FRB 20121102A. They believed it might be possible that at least some FRBs come to us as very short bursts of radio waves because they have experienced interference in their trip across space. Such interference could conceivably cut a single long burst into a series of short bursts. Within these parameters, the team found 19 extremely short FRBs, all between 5 and 15 microseconds. In studying the bursts, the team found that other than duration, the FRBs were nearly identical in nature to longer FRBs. This finding, they suggest, adds more credence to the leading theories, rather than those that propose the microsecond bursts come about due to a shock of some sort. They also suggest that their findings likely offer more new information regarding the environment from which FRBs arise, rather than their source. The team also suggests that there are likely a lot more FRBs making their way to planet Earth than has been suspected. More information: M. P. Snelders et al, Microsecond-duration bursts from FRB 20121102A, arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2307.02303 Journal information: arXiv 2023 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: (a) Patterns in stable nitrogen ratios (15N, green) and (b) concentrations of immunoreactive progesterone (black), corticosterone (red) and oestradiol (blue) across a representative section of bowhead whale baleen (from individual 500). Closed circles indicate hormone concentrations above a baseline threshold, while open circles indicate hormone concentrations within baseline levels. Dark gray box highlights gestation as defined under hypothesis 2; light gray box extends gestation as defined under hypothesis 1. Light gray vertical dashed line demarcates first and second phase of P4 peak. Credit: Royal Society Open Science (2023). DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230365 A team of biologists and aquatic researchers from Suffolk University, Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources has found evidence suggesting that female bowhead whales may be pregnant for as long as 23 months. In their project, reported in the journal Royal Society Open Science, the group studied hormones produced by whales killed by Inuit hunters over a 13-year period. Prior research has suggested that bowhead females are likely pregnant for approximately 14 monthsthis number was derived by noting fetus size in multiple dead whales. But the whales, the research team found, may be another marine creature that is able to put its pregnancy on pause, allowing the mother-to-be the freedom to choose the best time frame for the birth of her offspring. To learn more about reproduction in bowhead whales, the researchers collected baleen samples from whales killed during the years 1998 through 2011 by Inuit hunters in Greenland and the Canadian Arctic. When studied closely, baleen samples offer a snapshot of the life the whale, including hormone levelsin particular, progesterone, estradiol and corticosterone. Each is produced during different parts of the pregnancy process. In studying the hormone levels of the whales over time, the researchers found that the whales appeared to be pregnant for up to 23 months. They suggest baleen females have the ability to put a pregnancy on pause for as long as nine months, which is why a pregnancy can last so long. More research is required, but if the number holds, that would make baleen whales the mammal with the longest pregnancy durationthe current champs are elephants, which have an average pregnancy of approximately 22 months. The research team acknowledges that there is another possible explanation for the hormone levels they foundthe whales were not actually pregnant during early progesterone surges, which are a sign of prolonged estrus. Under such a scenario, the whale would not have been pregnant until as long as 14 months later. In either case, the researchers suggest their work adds to knowledge about reproduction in whales, which may help to preserve populations. More information: N. S. J. Lysiak et al, Prolonged baleen hormone cycles suggest atypical reproductive endocrinology of female bowhead whales, Royal Society Open Science (2023). DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230365 Journal information: Royal Society Open Science 2023 Science X Network 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: Smoke from fires were part of the scenery for tourists on a ferry to Greece's Corfu island. Destructive fires, temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) and tourists dodging possible catastrophe by staying home. Will climate change end up transforming tourismnot least in the Mediterranean? State of play Regions which welcome a sizeable share of holidaymakers are also those hardest hit by climate change. In Greece, thousands of tourists have been evacuated in recent days from the islands of Rhodes and Corfu which have been ravaged by fires touched off by suffocatingly hot weather. Rhodes' international airport has morphed into an improvised campsite flooded by disorientated tourists. Other countries around the Mediterranean have also been hit. In Spain, the thermometer has shot 15 degrees above normal summer season levels. Italy has also labored under heatwaves with the island of Sardinia melting under 48 Celsius while, on Monday, Tunis endured 49C. Tourism plays a key role in the region's economiesthe sector accounts for nearly a quarter of GDP in Greece and 12 percent in Spain. Economic consequences The soaring temperatures could turn off visitors. For Jean-Francois Rial, who heads French travel firm Voyageurs du Monde, "global warming is going to render some destinations less and less visitable. The whole of the Mediterranean is concerned and yet it is the main destination of European travelers." In Spain, "we're starting to hear tourists ask themselves" if they should be looking to spend their summer break on the Mediterranean coast, said Joantxo Llantada, professor at Madrid's IE Business School. According to a recent note from Moody's, "heatwaves may reduce Southern Europe's attractiveness as a tourist destination in the longer term or at the very least reduce demand in summer, which will have negative economic consequences given the importance of the sector." Tourists sheltered from the sun with umbrellas at the Colosseum in Rome. No more sun worshiping? Not so fast, suggests Hamit Kuk, who heads the association of Turkish travel operators. "This issue is very important for the tourism industrybut it is not a problem if temperatures are very hot in Antalya because European tourists mostly prefer to see the sun," Kuk told AFP. "We can look at the examples of Egypt and Dubai. In July-August there are temperatures of 45C and tourists still prefer to go there." The president of Tunisia's hotel federation, Dora Miled, told AFP that to date "the heat has had no impact on tourism. "If we have yet to return to 2019 activity levels ... that's above all mainly due to the high cost of air travel," said Miled. Didier Arino, who heads the Protourisme travel consultancy in France, said, "When it comes to their holidays, people don't dream of a cool destination, they want good weather." Even in Greece it is not certain that the fires will dissuade tourists from coming. Kostas Chryssohoides, vice prefect of Dodecanese, an island group in the southeastern Aegean Sea that includes Rhodes, observed that "24,000 tourists arrived on Rhodes" between Sunday and Monday, fires notwithstanding. Only a handful canceled "as a precaution", he said. Picking up the slack Should it become next to impossible to visit a destination sweltering under abnormal temperatures holidaymakers could look further afield, suggests Jean-Francois Rial, who said "northern European destinations are on the rise." He suggested that Britain and Ireland could both gain in tourist traction. Wildfires forced the evacuations of thousands of tourists from Greek islands. Alternatives One thing sector professionals agree on is that tourism will change. They anticipate that total visitors to the Mediterranean could risebut reserve in seasons outside summer, boosted by increasing demand from pensioners. "For now we have no worries about domestic market demand, but if the global climate crisis continues to escalate, we will have to review the summer and winter seasons," said Hamit Kuk. In Rial's view, "that could perhaps be a chance to reduce 'over-tourism'... losing some clients in summertime but gaining more in the other nine months of the year." Albania is hoping to cash in on that, with a warm season that stretches into October. The country is currently experiencing a boom in tourism, with a 30 percent jump in arrivals expected this year. In Croatia, where tourism accounts for 20 percent of the economy, experts are pushing the development of other options for the country's Adriatic coastline, which could benefit rural regions. For Protourisme's Arino, climate change will force tourism to evolve. "We must conceive our cities somewhat differently, our resorts, the range of activities on offer." 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: Cyprus beach on northern coastline highlighting beach retreat over an 11-year period using historical satellite imagery. Credit: Monioudi et al, Frontiers in Marine Science (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1188896 Cyprus' beaches are at risk due to climate change as increased sea levels and wave action erode the sandy shores. This has prompted a dire warning from researchers at the University of the Aegean, Greece, that up to 72% of the island's beaches could disappear by 2100. Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, with a coastline spanning 740 km. Their research, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, used satellite imagery to measure the dimensions of the 241 unprotected beaches, while models were created to predict sea level rise and erosive wave action from storms under various climate scenarios to project the rate of beach retreat over the coming decades. These two issues are further exacerbated by the loss of sediment flowing downstream in rivers to the coast as dams built upstream trap sediment, which means less sand is available to build beaches back up after erosive events. Extreme sea level rise is projected to increase 60% by 2100 (up to 1.29 m above mean sea level) compared to the baseline level in 2000, with the greatest resulting erosive action occurring on the southern and western coastlines. However, it is the narrow beaches of less the 50 m width that are potentially most susceptible to erosion, with up to 72% modeled to permanently reduce their width by at least half at the end of the century. Under different IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) carbon dioxide emission scenarios, as emissions increase, so does sea level. From a scenario where carbon dioxide emissions are at 650 ppm (RCP4.5) increasing to 1,500 ppm (RCP8.5) for worse-case scenario, the researchers found a threefold increase in extreme sea level rise to 2.04 m. Projected impacts of a 100-year storm event under RCP4.5 conditions, with the shoreline retreat on Cyprus' 241 beaches indicated by coloured dots along the coastline (most severe retreat over 100 m indicated in red). Credit: Monioudi et al, 2023 In addition to the effects of sea level rise, the severity and frequency of coastal storms is expected to increase. A modeled 100-year extreme storm event at 2100 is anticipated to overwhelm almost half of the beaches, especially on the northern coastlines, and may cause significant damage to natural ecosystems and anthropogenic infrastructure if sufficient safety measures are not put in place. Such extreme events under RCP4.5 conditions are predicted to occur every 9 to 27 years from 2050, but under the more severe RCP8.5 conditions, storm frequency would increase to every 2.5 to 13 years, and beyond 2100 could occur multiple times a year. Given all of this erosive action, total beach retreat was projected for 2% of the beaches by 2050, while up to 16% would retreat by half under RCP8.5 scenario. This increases further still half a century on, as under the same conditions 30% of the beaches are projected to completely retreat and 72% retreat by half by 2100. Consequently, 39 m of coastline could be lost, particularly to the north and east. The researchers suggest this retreat is problematic as oftentimes tourist infrastructure is built along the coastlines and could be permanently eroded if beach replenishment schemes are not put into action to bring in sand from other areas. This is often taken from marine locations so the sustainability of this strategy and damage it may cause elsewhere is a key consideration. In addition to such measures, in 2008 buffer zones were implemented to prevent further building of infrastructure directly along coastlines, to reduce economic consequences of damage to tourist centers especially. The researchers further suggest that hard engineering measures may need to be considered, such as seawalls, groins and offshore breakwaters to dampen storm wave erosion and help protect against rising sea levels. It is not just the toll to human environments that is damaging, but the loss of key habitats for a plethora of shoreline organisms that is important, such as nesting sites for birds. So only we can take action to help our coastlines survive the toll of climate change. More information: Isavela N. Monioudi et al, Climate changeinduced hazards on touristic island beaches: Cyprus, Eastern Mediterranean, Frontiers in Marine Science (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1188896 Journal information: Frontiers in Marine Science 2023 Science X Network 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: Sanderling incubating four eggs. Credit: Jeroen Reneerkens About 15 years ago, researchers reported that the timing of spring in high-Arctic Greenland had advanced at some of the fastest rates of change ever seen anywhere in the world. But, according to new evidence reported in the journal Current Biology on July 26, that earlier pattern has since been completely erased. Instead of coming earlier and earlier, it seems the timing of Arctic spring is now driven by tremendous climate variability with drastic differences from one year to the next. "As scientists we are obliged to revisit previous work to see whether the knowledge obtained at that time still holds," says Niels Martin Schmidt of Aarhus University in Denmark. "We looked at previously reported extreme rates of phenological advancements in the Arctic and found that directional advancement is no longer the prevailing pattern. Actually, the previously observed trend has disappeared completely and has been replaced by extreme year-to-year variation in the onset of spring." Global changes in climate are expected to take place faster in the Arctic than in places at lower latitudes. To follow those trends, researchers at Zackenberg in Northeast Greenland launched an ecosystem-wide monitoring program in 1996. Among a suite of ecosystem variables, the program also tracks the timing of spring based on flowering plants, arthropod emergence, and bird nesting. When the first 10 years of data were analyzed for 19962005, the findings showed a clear pattern of advancement across plants and animals included in the study. For instance, they saw some arthropods emerging up to four weeks earlier. In the new study, Schmidt and his colleagues wanted to see how these trends look now that they have 15 additional years of data available. After analyzing the phenological data from 19962020, they report little evidence of directional change in the timing of events even as climate change continues. The researchers attribute this shift to a high degree of climate variability from year to year. The onset of flowering varies dramatically from year to year in the high-Arctic. Credit: Niels Martin Schmidt "That the extreme rates of phenological advancement we reported back in 2007 would not have continued unabated was not surprising to us," Schmidt said. "However, that we see such a consistent shift from directional to extreme variability across so many different organisms and that the entire ecosystem now seems driven by variation in climatic conditions, was surprising." Schmidt says that the previous pattern showed steadily rising temperatures and declining snow cover. Now, what they see is a lot messier. Temperature increases have stalled while snow cover fluctuates dramatically from year to year. "Some years have almost no snow in spring, whereas others have snow on the ground way into the summer season," he says. "This leaves us with a generally warmer but much more unpredictable spring climateand this is where the second contributor to the observed phenological shift kicks in. Some species appear unable to take advantage of the warmer conditions in spring and appear to have reached the limits of their phenological plasticity." Plants and animals have some flexibility that allows them to track the climatic conditions in their environment, he explains. Arctic species in particular appear to have a high degree of phenological plasticity. Even so, the new evidence suggests that some species are already being pushed about as far as they can go. For instance, they don't flower as early in warm summers as one might expect. As the Arctic continues to warm, the researchers predict that a growing number of species will become "increasingly out of sync with the climatic conditions." The new findings highlight the unfortunate reality that the lack in directional change does not mean that the climate is stable. In this case, quite the opposite is true. The climate pattern shows wide variation that may be pushing organisms and whole ecosystems to their limits. The researchers will continue to explore species-specific responses to the shifting climate pattern and its effects on essential interactions, such as pollination. They hope to learn how the responses of an individual species will cascade through the community. The findings are a reminder of the importance of long-term study. "These insights can only be obtained because of sustained, ecosystem-wide, long-term monitoring with rigorous field sampling across more than 25 years at a very remote corner of the world," Schmidt says. "Continued long-term monitoring is key to understand ecosystems and to detect changes in dynamics." More information: Niels Martin Schmidt, Little directional change in the timing of Arctic spring phenology over the past twenty-five years, Current Biology (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.038. www.cell.com/current-biology/f 0960-9822(23)00823-0 Journal information: Current Biology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A selection of fork-tailed drongo clutches that have been parasitised by African cuckoos. In each photo, the right-most egg is the cuckoo egg. Credit: Claire Spottiswoode African cuckoos may have met their match with the fork-tailed drongo, which scientists predict can detect and reject cuckoo eggs from their nest on almost every occasion, despite them on average looking almost identical to drongo eggs. Fork-tailed drongos, belligerent birds from sub-Saharan Africa, lay eggs with a staggering diversity of colors and patterns. All these colors and patterns are forged by the African cuckoo. African cuckoos lay their eggs in drongos' nests to avoid rearing their chick themselves (an example of so-called brood parasitism). By forging drongo egg colors and patterns, cuckoos trick drongos into thinking the cuckoo egg is one of their own. But drongos use knowledge of their own personal egg "signatures"their eggs' color and pattern to identify cuckoo egg "forgeries" and reject them from their nests, say scientists. These "signatures" are like the signatures we use in our daily lives: unique to each individual and highly repeatable by the same individual. African Cuckoo chick. Credit: Claire Spottiswoode Through natural selection, the African cuckoo's eggs have evolved to look almost-identical to drongo eggsa rare example of high-fidelity mimicry in nature. A team led by researchers at the University of Cambridge and the University of Cape Town, working in collaboration with a community in Zambia, set out to explore the effectiveness of "signatures" as a defense against highly accurate mimicry. The findings are published today in the journal, Proceedings of the Royal Society B. They found that despite near-perfect mimicry of fork-tailed drongo eggs, African cuckoo eggs still have a high probability of being rejected. Researchers carried out field work in the Choma district of Zambia during September to November across four years. The first step was to measure the differences in color and pattern of the fork-tailed drongo eggs and cuckoo eggs. The team found that the color and pattern of cuckoo eggs was, on average, almost identical to that of drongo eggs, and that all the broad types of drongo egg signatures were forged by the cuckoos. "It is incredible how perfect the mimicry is. We have occasionally missed cuckoo eggs in the field because they looked exactly like the drongo clutch that they were found in," said lead researcher and Zoology Ph.D. student Jess Lund. A fork-tailed drongo nest that has been parasitised by an African cuckoo (cuckoo egg on the bottom right). Credit: Jess Lund The second step involved "egg rejection" experiments in which the researchers simulated cuckoo visits by "parasitizing" drongo nests with foreign eggs from other drongo nests (as a proxy for African cuckoo eggs). They then checked the nest daily to see whether the drongo parents accepted the foreign egg as one of their own, or realized it was an imposter and rejected it by removing it from their nest. The team could then test what differences in color and pattern between the foreign egg and the drongo's own eggs best predicted whether or not the drongo parents were tricked. By combining results from both steps of the study, the researchers were able to create a model that predicted how often, on average, an African cuckoo would have its eggs rejected by a fork-tailed drongo host. They found the predicted rate of rejection to be 93.7%. "We were surprised to see that so many of the cuckoo eggs were predicted to be rejected," said Lund "Our additional simulations show this is likely due to drongos having evolved 'signatures' on their eggs. Even though cuckoos have evolved excellent 'forgeries,' individual cuckoos don't target individual drongo nests that match their own eggs. This means that for each cuckoo egg laid, the likelihood that it will be a good enough match to that drongo's 'signature' is very low." Fork-tailed drongos have likely honed these signatures and detection abilities through natural selection, explains Lund. "It's very costly for drongo parents if they don't have these skills. If they can't tell a "forgery" from their "signature" their own chicks will be killed by the cuckoo when it hatches, and they will be stuck raising a ravenous cuckoo for a whole breeding season." Two drongo clutches parasitised by different African cuckoo females. In each clutch of eggs the cuckoo egg is on the right. Credit: Jess Lund A selection of fork-tailed drongo eggs, each laid by a different female, arranged in a circle. Credit: Jess Lund The results of the study suggest that a female cuckoo may only fledge two chicks in her lifetimeonly just replacing herself and her mate. Researchers say that this would not amount to a sustainable population, which presents a puzzle because African cuckoos remain a common bird in many parts of Africa. The researchers think that the fork-tailed drongos where the research took place could be particularly good at spotting "forgeries." "Perhaps this part of Zambia is a hotspot for parasitism, where drongos have particularly fine-tuned defenses, and against which cuckoos stand little chance," said Lund. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A printed circuit that flew on the SubTEC 9 technology test flight from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in April sits on display during the Goddard Field Day event. Credit: NASA / Karl B. Hille Today's small spacecraft pack sensors, guidance and control, and operating electronics into every available space. Printing electronic circuits on the walls and structures of spacecraft could help future missions do more in smaller packages. Engineers successfully tested hybrid printed circuits at the edge of space in an April 25 sounding rocket flight from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility near Chincoteague, Virginia. Electronic temperature and humidity sensors printed onto the payload bay door and onto two attached panels monitored the entire SubTEC-9 sounding rocket mission, recording data that was beamed to the ground. The experiment by aerospace engineer Beth Paquette and electronics engineer Margaret Samuels of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, sought to prove the space-readiness of printed electronics technology. "The uniqueness of this technology is being able to print a sensor actually where you need it," Samuels said. "The big benefit is that it's a space saver. We can print on 3-dimensional surfaces with traces of about 30 micronshalf the width of a human hairor smaller between components. It could provide other benefits for antennas and radio frequency applications." They worked with colleagues at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, who developed the humidity-sensing ink. Partners from the University of Maryland's Laboratory for Physical Sciences (LPS) created the circuits. Printed circuits allow a new level of functionality for smaller spacecraft, ever more common for both near-Earth and deep space missions, said Wallops electronics engineer Brian Banks. "The hybrid technology allows for circuits to be fabricated in locations that would typically not be available for conventional electronics modules," Banks said. "Printing on curved surfaces could also be helpful for small, deployable sub-payloads where space is very limited." LPS engineer Jason Fleischer designed and printed the circuits for the April flight using printers capable of producing electronic traces thinner than the human eye can see. The SubTEC-9 launch marked a turning point in LPS's development and validation of printed-circuit technology, he said. "Every part needs to work throughout the flight," Fleischer said, "and a successful data return means all the circuits were up and working. I'm excited for this success as well as getting on another rocket and having more successes." The team has printed electronic circuits on a variety of materials, including around curves and corners and on flexible parts. In another investigation, they printed X-ray instruments on flexible strips of Kapton plastic. The team is developing guidelines to make it easier for mission and instrument engineers to adopt these circuits. Improvements in function and performance Printed circuits provide a significant advantage in predictability and stability in antenna connections and design, Samuels said. "We can print the antenna on a curved surface like the outside of a rocket or spacecraft, increasing the angles at which it can send and receive signals in space." Traditional antenna connections are made by a process called wire bonding, which melts a metal wire to the antenna and then bonds it to the signal processing electronics. The process can be messy and inexact, Samuels said, making it difficult to make the best use of precision antenna technology. "It's a bit like a sewing machine with metal thread," she said. "There are entire conferences focused on the potential failure mechanisms from wire bonding. The idea of being able to replace this with printed connections is, therefore, a massive improvement." Paquette said future missions could print temperature sensors throughout the vehicle's interior surfaces. For a small investment, such a mission could better understand how heating and cooling affect the whole spacecraft as it passes close to the sun, for example. Their work attracted the attention of engineer Ryan McClelland at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. McClelland pioneered NASA's use of Evolved Structures, spacecraft parts designed by artificial intelligence. "I imagine you could use their printed electronics to add functionality to parts that may have been designed by AI and 3D-printed themselves or even manufactured in orbit." Watching the SubTEC-9 launch, the team was thrilled at the opportunity to retrieve their experiment and data while advancing a technology that could offer new flexibility in spacecraft design. "We're really excited about the fact that this rocket test will prove our printed sensors," Samuels said. Provided by NASA 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: Bocconi University Policies and decisions designed to have a favorable impact on the environment can end up having measurable, non-positive consequences on other aspects of our lives, and on the lives of communities in remote areas if the process is not properly governed. These interdependencies are among the topics studied by Bocconi's GREEN research center. Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere. Their efficiency, durability and density mean that nearly all portable electronic devices, not to mention electric cars, are powered by this technology. The name "lithium-ion," however, conceals a very important feature of these batteries: they contain high amounts of cobalt, up to 60% in fact. Cobalt is vital for the production of batteries, and since demand for batteries is still growing strongly there is also an increasing demand for cobalt. Maurizio Malpede, a GREEN Fellow, has done some extensive research about the undesirable social aspects of intensive cobalt mining. In his article The Dark Side of Batteries: Cobalt Mining and Children's Education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo he describes some very negative consequences of cobalt extraction on the already suffering populations of Eastern Congo, where more than half of the world's output of the mineral originates. The research is currently available as a working paper in the SSRN Electronic Journal. Cobalt is generally not mined underground but is found on the surface associated with other minerals. In Congo, large numbers of children are employed for washing cobalt-rich rocks that are later refined elsewhere. Child labor itself is illegal, among other things because it prevents children from attending school. By combining available data from demographic and health surveys with the precise locations in which cobalt is mined, Maurizio Malpede has discovered that children who had worked in cobalt extraction did not achieve the same level of education as those living in other parts of Congo. Even more worryingly, children exposed to cobalt mining have been found to be 29% more likely to show difficulties in concentrating, 10% more likely to have difficulties in walking, and 20% more likely to have difficulties in understanding oral commands compared to their peers living in non-cobalt rich communities. "I provided evidence that childhood exposure to cobalt mining in a context of low enforcement of child labor regulations leads to lower educational attainment later in life," says Maurizio Malpede. "I contributed to the literature by showing that the natural geographic presence of deposits of cobalt along with the labor tasks specifically requiring the use of children is associated with a higher probability of those children being employed outside their domestic environment and a lower probability of being in school." The GREEN research center is actively investigating other areas of resource management as well. The center's director, Marco Percoco, has published a number of papers on the acceptability of Milan's road pricing scheme and its effects respectively on pollution levels, traffic composition, rents (with Filippo Maria D'Arcangelo). After Milan introduced its version of road pricing, it was important to assess its perception in the public's view. The key, Marco Percoco found, is that different costs incurred as a consequence of having to pay may impose different car usage and, as a result, different perceptions of road pricing. As for its effects on pollution, the results were positive but temporary, due to an inefficient policy design: motorbikes were not charged and the treated area is too small to generate positive outcomes for the whole city. Road users shifted from Euro 03 vehicles (highly polluting vehicles dating from before 20002001) to liquefied petroleum gas, bi-fuel and hybrid vehicles. However, the environmental benefits of the policy were partly offset by a substantial increase in the usage of motorbikes. Milan's road pricing has also had a small effect on housing rents which increased by 0.75% as a result of the reduction in external costs in terms of pollution and congestion. Another less immediately obvious take on green policies was the political effect of Milan's Area B, that is the ban of older and more polluting cars from the city, studied by professors Italo Colantone, Livio Di Lonardo and Marco Percoco, along with Yotam Margalit from Tel Aviv. While all Milanese citizens benefitted from the policy in terms of cleaner air, the cost rested exclusively on the shoulders of those who were forced to change their cars or their mobility habits. The authors found that the self-estimated median loss for the citizens affected by the policy was a hefty 3,750. They were, then, able to compare the voting behavior of this group in the following elections and the behavior of owners of very similar, but slightly less polluting, cars, unaffected by the policy. The main political party opposing the ban, the Lega, was the clear winner in electoral terms. Car owners affected by the ban were 13.5 percentage points more likely to vote for the Lega. The authors also concluded that it was not a consequence of a change of mind toward less environment-friendly attitudes and behavior. It rather originated from hostility to a green policy approach that places disproportionate costs on a restricted group of people. More information: Maurizio Malpede, The Dark Side of Batteries: Education, Fertility and Cobalt Mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo, SSRN Electronic Journal (2020). DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3680730 Provided by Bocconi University 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: Female Orinoco crocodile from the Roberto Franco Tropical Biological Stations ex-situ population. Credit: Mario Vargas-Ramirez The Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) is a critically endangered species native to the Orinoco River basin in Colombia and Venezuela. It is one of the largest crocodilian species in the world, reaching lengths of up to seven meters. Despite its impressive size, it is also the most endangered and least-studied of the New World crocodilians. The species has faced a severe population decline due to commercial overexploitation of its skin, which was highly sought after by the fashion industry of Europe, the U.S. and Japan in the 20th century. As a result, the current estimated global population stands at less than 250 adult individuals. Recognizing the critical status of the species, herpetologist Federico Medem established a captive breeding program for the Orinoco crocodile in 1971 at the Roberto Franco Tropical Biological Station (RFTBS) in Villavicencio. Currently, the RFTBS houses over 600 individuals, making it the largest stock of this species and the only one in Colombia. Remarkably, there might be more adult crocodiles kept there than in the wild. Despite the success of the captive breeding program, reintroduction of animals into the wild has been challenging. This is primarily due to the lack of a comprehensive genetic characterization that can determine whether the population is genetically viable and has no signs of inbreeding, which can result in reduced fitness at the individual and population level. To ensure the successful reintroduction of the species, it was crucial to have a robust and conclusive genetic assessment that confirms the population's genetic health and viability. Female Orinoco crocodile from the Roberto Franco Tropical Biological Stations ex-situ population. Credit: Mario Vargas-Ramirez "We felt a sense of urgency to determine the genetic viability of the population in order to proceed with the reintroduction of animals and establish new populations of the species in Colombia. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive genetic characterization using fast-evolving molecular markers on a sample of 551 crocodiles," explains Ana Maria Saldarriaga, a former researcher at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia who is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Fordham University. "Our findings showed that the individuals within the population possess sufficient genetic diversity and are suitable for reintroduction efforts, as well as for maintaining and enhancing the genetic variability of the ex-situ population." "We demonstrated that molecular data could be used to improve the management of ex-situ conservation programs well beyond what could be achieved with pedigree information alone," she and her colleagues write in a study just published in the journal Nature Conservation. Female Orinoco crocodile from the Roberto Franco Tropical Biological Stations ex-situ population. Credit: Mario Vargas-Ramirez Based on the findings of this study, the Colombian government, along with other public and private conservation institutions and agencies, can use the individuals identified in this research to initiate the establishment of new populations in regions where the species has been completely depleted. "Today, it is widely recognized that top predators, such as crocodiles, play fundamental roles in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. They have a significant impact on the nutrient cycle, regulate fish populations, and contribute to important cross-ecosystem engineering processes," stated Mario Vargas-Ramirez, professor at the Genetics Institute of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and director of the RFTBS. "Therefore, the reintroduction of the Orinoco crocodile to the Orinoco region is an urgent priority. Additionally, as the Orinoco crocodile is considered an umbrella species, its recovery and conservation efforts will have a positive cascading effect, protecting a large number of species that coexist in the same environment." More information: Ana M. Saldarriaga-Gomez et al, Hope is the last thing lost: Colombian captive-bred population of the critically endangered Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) is a genetic reservoir that could help to save the species from extinction, Nature Conservation (2023). DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.53.104000 Journal information: Nature Conservation 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: Thousands of people have evacuated in the region this week. Greece ordered evacuations on Wednesday for areas near two central cities after new blazes broke out during a punishing heat wave and as deadly fires hit the Mediterranean. Thousands of people have evacuated in the region this week as fires also flared in Croatia and Italy, and flames killed 34 in Algeria in extreme heat that has left landscapes tinder dry. New blazes threatened central Greece Wednesday, prompting orders for locals to leave near the industrial center of Volos and outside Lamia. "Today is the most difficult day of the summer," fire department spokesman Ioannis Artopios told reporters in Athens, noting that crews were battling 90 fires Wednesdayof which 61 had broken out in the last 24 hours. One woman was found dead in a camper van in a coastal area near Volos, the fire department told AFP. A cattle farmer was also found dead in one of the evacuated areas near Volos. Five people have died so far in Greece's wildfire wave, including two water bomber pilots whose plane crashed on Tuesday, and a cattle farmer on the island of Evia. "We are living through dangerous summer days, as are nine other Mediterranean countries," civil protection minister Vassilis Kikilias said in a televised address. Wildfires have been raging in Greece amid scorching temperatures, forcing mass evacuations in several tourist spots including on the islands of Rhodes and Corfu. "Very high temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius and intense winds have created fire fronts of many kilometers," Kikilias said, adding that crews were battling through "inconceivable fatigue." Evacuation orders have been issued for five villages and communities near Volos, and four more in outer Lamia. "It's hell here. There are four different fronts... stretching across a combined 10 kilometers (six miles)," Dorothea Kolindrini, a deputy governor from an area included in the orders, told state TV ERT. 600 fires Scientists from the World Weather Attribution group said this week the heatwaves that have hit parts of Europe and North America this month would have been almost impossible without human-caused climate change. The European Union's climate observatory Copernicus on Wednesday said smoke emissions from wildfires in Greece have been the highest for this period of time in the last 21 years. Greece has battled over 600 fires in the past 12 days, the government said Wednesday. Scientists said this week the heatwaves this month would have been almost impossible without human-caused climate change. Temperatures were expected to hit between 43-46 degrees Celsius (109-115 degrees Fahrenheit) in central and southern Greece, according to the national meteorological service. Storms are forecast for Thursday. Greece is used to summer heatwaves, but is experiencing one of the longest ones in recent years, according to experts. The civil protection ministry warned of an extreme danger of fire in six of the country's 13 regions on Wednesday. Wildfires, which have been burning in several parts of the country for more than 10 days, were ravaging the tourist islands of Rhodes, Corfu and Evia. The EU crisis management commissioner's office on Wednesday said over 490 firefighters and seven planes had been deployed to different areas in Greece under the bloc's civil protection mechanism. At least 100 firefighters were working to contain the flames on Evia. Authorities have evacuated tens of thousands of people from fire areas in Greece, including many tourists. Map of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea showing forecast temperatures at 1500 GMT from July 26-29, according to the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) from 0900 GMT on July 26. Fires around the Mediterranean The severe heat wave in Greece has also been reflected across much of southern Europe and northern Africa. Witnesses described fleeing walls of flames in Algeria that raged "like a blowtorch", and TV footage showed charred cars, burnt-out shops and smoldering scrubland. "Back home, there is nothing left and not even a sheep survived," Taous Timizar, a survivor of the blaze in northeast Algeria, told AFP. In Italy, firefighters spent the night battling wildfires in Sicily, one of which approached so close to Palermo airport that it shut down for several hours Tuesday morning. In the north of Italy, a 16-year-old girl on a camping trip was among two people killed by falling trees during violent storms. Dozens of firefighters were battling a wildfire near Croatia's picturesque southern city of Dubrovnik, authorities said Wednesday, with water-bombing planes dispatched to help contain the blaze. In Italy, firefighters spent the night battling wildfires in Sicily. Around 130 firefighters were working to contain the flames that had been spread by strong winds on Tuesday. Local media reported the fire also triggered landmines to explode in the area. During the bloody break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Dubrovnik was besieged and shelled by Serb forces, leading several areas in the city to be damaged while swaths of its outskirts are still contaminated by landmines. 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: Among others, skeletons found during an excavation at a cemetery in Sejet, Denmark, provided genetic samples for new plague study from Kiel University. Credit: Unit of Anthropology, SDU The origins of the plague go back to the Neolithic Age, with the oldest findings of the causative pathogen Yersinia pestis coming from human bones around 5,000 years old. In the history of the plague, the late antique Justinianic plague from the sixth century and the so-called Black Death of the late Middle Ages stand out. They were demonstrably caused by Y. pestis, and according to estimates, wiped out up to half the population in parts of Europe. While smaller, regionally limited outbreaks occurred repeatedly over the centuries on different continents, a third plague pandemic occurred from the mid-19th to the beginning of the 20th century. At first, it mainly affected Asia, with a focus on India, and subsequently spread globally. With around 15 million confirmed deaths, it is one of the deadliest pandemics in human history. The plague continues to occur regionally in the present day and is almost always fatal if not treated quickly with antibiotics. Over thousands of years, Y. pestis has evolved into numerous strains, via both acquisition and loss of genes. Researchers worldwide are studying the evolution of Y. pestis to find out more about the causes of historical pandemics and the dangers that the plague continues to pose. In particular, they are investigating the genetic characteristics of the pathogen, which are responsible for transmission, geographical distribution and disease severity, among others. In a new study, a research team from Kiel University and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plon (MPI-EB) has examined ancient and modern Y. pestis genomes ranging from the Neolithic to the modern pandemic. The researchers led by Dr. Daniel Unterweger, research group leader at the MPI-EB and Kiel University, and Professors Almut Nebel and Ben Krause-Kyora from the Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology (IKMB) at Kiel University learned that Y. pestis must have taken up a new genetic element, known as the Ypf prophage, between the Middle Ages and the modern pandemic, which is related to the virulence of the pathogen, i.e., its disease-causing effect. The prophage produces a protein that strongly resembles certain toxins from other pathogens, for example, the cholera pathogen. The researchers, who contribute to the Kiel Evolution Center (KEC) at Kiel University, among others, recently published their results together with colleagues from the University of Southern Denmark in Odense (SDU) in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. New genetic elements increased the virulence of the pathogen The Kiel research team obtained the genetic samples thanks to a collaboration with the Department of Forensic Medicine at SDU, which manages skeletal material from various Danish museums. In this specific case, the scientists examined the skeletal remains of 42 persons buried in two Danish parish cemeteries between the 11th and 16th centuries. The genetic information contained in the samples was sequenced and the Y. pestis genes contained therein were compared with other published genomes dating to the Neolithic, medieval and modern periods. "Previous research has shown that early in its evolution the pathogen lacked the genetic makeup required for an effective transmission via the flea, which is typical for today's bubonic plague. In the course of its evolution, Y. pestis acquired a remarkable level of virulence, which contributed to the later outbreaks of some of the deadliest pandemics in human history," says Dr. Joanna Bonczarowska, first author of the paper who conducted this research as part of her Ph.D. at the IKMB with support of the International Max-Planck-Research School for Evolutionary Biology (IMPRS). "In our study, we show that all known Y. pestis strains before the 19th century lacked a certain genetic element, the Ypf prophage," says Bonczarowska. The prophage was likely taken up from the environment through lateral gene transfer. This genetic information influences the virulence of the pathogen, i.e., the severity of the disease resulting from an infection. Y. pestis strains that have the prophage, were shown to require a significantly lower lethal dose compared to those without Ypf. This uptake of new genetic elements could thus provide an advantage for Y. pestis during the modern plague pandemic. How has the increased virulence since the Middle Ages come about? The mechanisms by which the prophage contributes to the increased virulence of the modern plague pathogen have not yet been researched in detail. Previous studies suggest that such new genetic information can help the pathogen to infect body tissues far away from the original site of infection. In their search for such a mechanism, the Kiel researchers examined all proteins encoded by the new DNA in question. They discovered that one of these proteins is very similar to a toxin known from other pathogens. "This protein is similar in structure to zonula occludens toxin (ZOT), which facilitates the exchange of harmful substances between infected cells and has a damaging effect on the mucosa and epithelia. This connection was first discovered in the cholera pathogen, where it causes the typical gastroenteritis symptoms," explains Bonczarowska. The Kiel researchers, therefore, want to investigate this ZOT-like protein in Y. pestis more closely in the future, as it offers a plausible explanation for the increased virulence of the plague pathogen in the present and recent past. Further research into the evolution of the plague and other pathogens Such a rapid evolution of Y. pestis adds to the pandemic threat it continues to pose. "Acquisition of new genetic elements may bring new symptoms of infection. These misleading signs of illness can make it difficult to diagnose plague in time and thus delay rapid treatment, which is essential for survival," stresses Unterweger. "In addition, some strains of the plague pathogen are already showing resistance to various antibiotics, which further contributes to the great potential danger of this disease," Unterweger continues. An important aspect of the work is also the newly discovered parallels to other bacterial species, as genetic elements highly similar to Ypf, were also found in other bacteria. These findings provide clues to their future evolution towards increased virulence. Overall, the research results underline that there is a great deal of knowledge to be gained for modern science and medical application in the study of historical disease evolution using aDNA, which goes back hundreds or even thousands of years. "Understanding how the pathogen was able to increase its harmfulness in the past, sometimes by leap evolution, will help us detect new forms of the disease and prevent new pandemics in the future," summarizes Krause-Kyora. More information: Joanna H. Bonczarowska et al, Ancient Yersinia pestis genomes lack the virulence-associated Ypf prophage present in modern pandemic strains, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0622 Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B Provided by Christian-Albrechts-Universitat zu Kiel This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The United States has more than 10 times the number of mass shooting incidents than other developed countries, yet little research has shown the distribution and types of shootings, geographically. "I'm constantly asked, 'What is public health doing about the rise in mass shootings?'" says Leslie Barnard, MPH, a student working with the University of Colorado School of Medicine's Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative. Barnard, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Epidemiology in the Colorado School of Public Health at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, wanted to find answers to address public concerns about the shootings from a public health perspective. Barnard worked with CU Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative collaborators to analyze data from 201422 and calculate cumulative incidence rates of mass shooting event types based on incident characteristics. The study was published in the JAMA Network Open. "We want to help explain the 'why, where, and how often' to give people an understanding of this issue," she says. "This study is not intended to answer every question, but highlights components to generate more hypotheses." Visual context and sociological impact Barnard and her CU co-authors examined the state rates of mass shooting event types and total injuries and deaths in the U.S. through the Gun Violence Archive. The archive defines mass shootings as an incident with four or more persons shot or killed, not including the shooter. The researchers analyzed data from a nine-year period, January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2022. The researchers calculated cumulative incidence rates of mass shooting event types based on incident characteristics and the total number of injured and killed per 1 million people. From 201422, there were 4,011 mass shootings in the United States, ranging from zero in Hawaii and North Dakota to 414 in Illinois. There were 60 in Colorado. Over these nine years, 27% of the shootings were social-related mass shootings, 16% were crime-related, 11% were domestic violence-related, 1% were school- or work-related, and 52% were not a part of any of these categories. The total number of people injured and killed was 21,006. "From this data, we can speculate that certain communities and victims are underrepresented," Barnard says. "Mass shootings in public places are covered by media, but 11% of mass shootings are domestic violence-related and even more may never be reported or receive coverage. We ask ourselves how we can raise awareness and bring support to this issue." Barnard says future research should assess socioeconomic, political, cultural, and demographic factors that may be associated with incidents of mass shootings across states and address state policies and social determinants of health associated with mass shooting incident types. "I'm often asked how Colorado compares to other states. This work shows that our state is in the middle. We have the 22nd highest number of mass shootings and population-based rate of mass shootings," says Emmy Betz, MD, MPH, director of the Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative and professor of emergency medicine in the CU School of Medicine. Mutual understanding to enact change Although Barnard hopes her visual analysis will help the public contextualize mass shootings, she says there are other discrepancies that create barriers to understanding the issue and enacting change. "The definition of 'mass shooting' is different depending on the source. While we consider mass shootings as four or more persons shot or killed, some data sources only count deaths," she says. "This discrepancy is especially difficult for epidemiologists, because we need to have a cohesive definition for what we're reporting on." Barnard believes public access to visual data, like this study offers, will help solidify the definition of "mass shooting" by showing how many people were hurt or killed, and can be used for state-level prevention strategies. "Understanding where mass shootings occur across the country, and more about the context, such as how often these tragic events happen in homes, can point firearm injury prevention specialists toward how to prevent them," says Ashley Brooks-Russell, Ph.D., MPH, co-author and director of the Injury and Violence Prevention Center in the Colorado School of Public Health. Barnard reiterates the importance of the Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative to help enact change and help her realize her passion to bring more attention to firearm injuries. "The ways I've been supported by Emmy and the initiative's leadership team are invaluable to this research and future studies," she says. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: From left, Ganymede, Europa, and Io the three Jovian moons that NASAs Juno mission has flown past as well as Jupiter are shown in a photo illustration created from data collected by the spacecrafts JunoCam imager. Credit: Image data: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS. Image processing: Kevin M. Gill (CC BY); Thomas Thomopoulos (CC BY) The spinning, solar-powered spacecraft will take another look of the fiery Jovian moon on July 30. When NASA's Juno mission flies by Jupiter's fiery moon Io on Sunday, July 30, the spacecraft will be making its closest approach yet, coming within 13,700 miles (22,000 kilometers) of it. Data collected by the Italian-built JIRAM (Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper) and other science instruments is expected to provide a wealth of information on the hundreds of erupting volcanoes pouring out molten lava and sulfurous gases all over the volcano-festooned moon. "While JIRAM was designed to look at Jupiter's polar aurora, its capability to identify heat sources is proving to be indispensable in our hunt for active volcanos on Io," said Juno Principal Investigator Scott Bolton of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. "As we get closer with each flyby, JIRAM and other instruments aboard Juno add to our library of data on the moon, allowing us to not only better resolve surface features but understand how they change over time." Launched in 2011, the spinning, solar-powered spacecraft has been studying the Jovian system since 2016 and will begin the third year of its extended mission on July 31. NASAs Juno spacecraft flew past Jupiters volcanic moon Io and the gas giant itself on May 16, as shown in this rendering that relies on images from the spacecrafts JunoCam. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS Io's Hot Spots Slightly larger than Earth's moon, Io is a world in constant torment. Not only is the biggest planet in the solar system forever pulling at it gravitationally, but so are Io's Galilean siblingsEuropa and the biggest moon in the solar system, Ganymede. The result is that Io is continuously stretched and squeezed, actions linked to the creation of the lava seen erupting from its many volcanoes. During Juno's last flyby of Io, which occurred May 16, the JunoCam imager took a picture from 22,100 miles (35,600 kilometers) showing a smudge at the moon's Volund region, near the equator. Such smudges are smoking guns to planetary scientists. "When I compared it to visible-light images taken of the same area during Galileo and New Horizons flybys (in 1999 and 2007), I was excited to see changes at Volund, where the lava flow field had expanded to the west and another volcano just north of Volund had fresh lava flows surrounding it," said Jason Perry of the University of Arizona's HiRISE Operations Center in Tucson. "Io is known for its extreme volcanic activity, but after 16 years, it is so nice to see these changes up close again." During that same May 16 pass, JIRAM found a smoking gun of its own. Built by the Italian Space Agency, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, the infrared imager was able to capture 125-mile-wide (202-kilometer-wide) Loki Patera, the largest volcanic depression on Io. At less than 6 miles (10 kilometers) per pixel, the JIRAM data reveals what could be an active volcano. The team hopes for another look with the next flyby. "The data show the lava could be bubbling to the surface in the northwest portion and creating a lava lake to the south and east," said Alessandro Mura, co-investigator from the National Institute for Astrophysics in Rome. "Any volcanologist will tell you it is important to determine whether a lava lake has a stable source of material from an underground chamber. These data, and those we collect on upcoming flybys, will be crucial to understanding the kind of volcanism that is occurring at Io." At top and bottom right, JunoCam images taken in May 2023 of Jupiters moon Io show lava fields surrounding volcanoes Volund A and B appear to be growing in size. Previous NASA spacecraft imaged the same region in 1996, bottom left, and 2007, bottom center. Credit: Galileo: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona. New Horizons: NASA/JHUAPL/SWRI. Juno: Image data: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS. Image processing: Jason Perry (CC BY) Young scientists engage Jupiter On July 17, Bolton and other members of the mission met with 49 students and early career scientists from all over Europe at the University of Rome to attend a weeklong workshop on Juno's cutting-edge data on Jupiter and its moons. "The contributions of the European scientific and engineering communities have been so fundamental for the success of our mission," said Bolton. "This is just a small way of giving back to the community that means so much to us. During the workshop, students and early career researchers got to work with members of the Juno science team to develop some exciting scientific projects based on our data. Based on what I saw and the enthusiasm of these young people, the future of planetary exploration is bright here in Europe." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) have identified a new protein that helps an oral bacterium thrive in other locations around the body. The discovery could eventually lead to the development of new drugs that specifically target the protein. "This bacterium is common in the mouths of humans and generally doesn't cause disease in that location. However, it can travel through the bloodstream to other areas of the body, which leads to some pretty big health concerns," says Dr. Kirsten Wolthers, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Microbiology at UBC's Okanagan Campus. Most notably, this bacteria is prevalent in the tumors of colorectal cancer patients. The presence of the bacteria can contribute to tumor growth, spread of cancer to other sites in the body, and resistance to chemotherapy. With the help of the CMCF beamline at the Canadian Light Source (CLS), located at the University of Saskatchewan, Wolthers and her colleagues determined that the new protein they identified enables the bacteria to take essential nutrients, such as iron, from our blood cells. "Most of the iron in the body is tied up in a molecule called heme which is surrounded by a protein cage," says Wolthers. "What we've discovered now is a new way for this bacterium to acquire essential nutrients from a very abundant source allowing it to grow very well in parts of the body that are free of oxygen." Newly identified protein could help fight cancer. Credit: Canadian Light Source This newly identified protein may prove to be a good target for drugs designed to attack this specific bacterium. Wolthers says that a lot of protein research relies on synchrotron technology. Without access to the CLS, her team would have been unable to identify the distinct section of the protein that binds to the heme. "The synchrotron technology helped us see the bit of the protein that was unique and interesting and allowed us to find a scaffold that could help with drug design," says Wolthers. "We just needed the experimental data that was provided by the Canadian Light Source." The findings are published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. More information: Alexandra K. McGregor et al, A new member of the flavodoxin superfamily from Fusobacterium nucleatum that functions in heme trafficking and reduction of anaerobilin, Journal of Biological Chemistry (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104902 Journal information: Journal of Biological Chemistry 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 Public schools routinely have a police officer in the building to deescalate and prevent violence. A new study led by faculty from the University at Albany's Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy examined how these school resource officers, or SROs, affect school and student outcomes. The study, published month in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, uses school outcomes measured in the 20172018 wave of the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights' Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC), a census of all primary and secondary public schools with more than 25 students in the U.S. The researchers found that the presence of an SRO is associated with a decline in some forms of school violence and an increase in reported firearm offenses, which could be the result of increased detection of firearms by an SRO. The study also concluded that having a police officer in school leads directly to the increase in harsh disciplinary actions by school administrators such as suspensions and arrests by police. "These increases in disciplinary and police actions are consistently largest for Black students, male students and students with disabilities," the study states. Associate Professor Lucy Sorensen of Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy is the lead author on the study, which was cowritten by UAlbany Ph.D. student Montserrat Avila-Acosta; John Engberg, a senior economist at the Rand Corporation; and Shawn Bushway, a public administration and policy professor at Rockefeller College and a senior researcher at Rand. "The findings from this national study, building on our prior work in North Carolina, demonstrate that stationing police officers in schools comes with a serious set of tradeoffs," Sorensen said. "We recommend that school districts weigh these tradeoffs carefully in determining the size and scope of their SRO programs and consider alternative school violence prevention approaches that support, rather than police, students." The research shows that having an SRO present in schools reduces fights and threats by about 30% and increases detection of firearms by about 150%. But the cost is high for students. Schools with SROs saw between a 35 and 80% increase in out-of-school suspensions, and a 25 to 90% increase in expulsions. Referrals to police and school-based arrests were up between 10 and 50% compared to schools without SROs. About half of U.S. public schools use SROs at least once a week. Public concern has grown over arrests of studentspredominantly Black studentsfor minor misconduct, and more than 50 districts serving more than 1.7 million students have cut back their SRO programs since 2020, the paper notes. However, the tide is now turning again in the wake of high-profile school shootings. For example, Denver reinstated its SRO programs and Texas created a mandate for armed officers in schools. The study was not able to delve into the impact of SROs on school shootings because these events are so rare, even when using a nationwide census of schools like the CRDC. Bushway noted that "while these deployments of SROs after a school shooting make many people in the schools feel safer, social science cannot at this point determine whether or not SROs prevent school shootings." "Together, these findings on arrests and discipline provide the most compelling evidence yet that stationing police in schools could put at risk other efforts to improve equity in K-12 education," the study concludes. More information: Lucy C. Sorensen et al, The thin blue line in schools: New evidence on schoolbased policing across the U.S., Journal of Policy Analysis and Management (2023). DOI: 10.1002/pam.22498 Journal information: Journal of Policy Analysis and Management China, ASEAN countries constantly enhance cooperation on automobile industry 10:09, July 26, 2023 By Yang Yi ( People's Daily A total of 500 units of BYD model ATTO 3 are about to be shipped to Malaysia from Shanghai. (Photo from the official website of BYD) Statistics showed that China's vehicle exports to ASEAN grew 48 percent year-on-year to $5.8 billion last year, accounting for 26 percent of ASEAN's vehicle imports. In the first five months this year, China's vehicle exports to ASEAN still maintained momentum for rapid growth. The constantly deepening China-ASEAN cooperation in the sector is contributing to the rapid development of the automobile industry of relevant countries. Last year, Thailand's vehicle imports from China surged 255 percent, the highest among all ASEAN countries. Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker BYD announced last September to set up a facility in Thailand, which is expected to be put into operation in 2024 and produce 150,000 vehicles annually. The vehicles produced in the factory will be sold domestically and to other ASEAN countries. Apart from BYD, other Chinese carmakers including Neta and SAIC Motor also plan to build factories for vehicle and key NEV parts in Thailand. Since SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile, a joint venture between SAIC Motor, General Motors, and Liuzhou Wuling Motors Co., Ltd. built a factory in Cikarang, Indonesia in 2015, the enterprise has constantly upgraded its products based on local demands. The company sold over 30,000 vehicles in Indonesia in 2022, up 17 percent from a year ago. So far, its total sales in the country has exceeded 100,000 units. Xu Haidong, vice chief engineer of China Association of Automobile Manufacturers told People's Daily that Chinese carmakers will witness rapid growth in their overseas direct investment as China's vehicle exports continue rising. Photo shows Air EV units manufactured by SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile, which were selected as the Official Car Partner for the 2023 ASEAN Summit. (Photo from the official account of SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile on WeChat) "More and more Chinese automobile manufacturers are entering the ASEAN market and building facilities there," Xu noted. Proton, a car brand established in the 1980s, was once the largest carmaker in Malaysia. However, its development had been stagnant due to its lack of innovation. In June 2017, Chinese multinational automotive company Geely acquired a 49.9 percent stake in the struggling Malaysian company to help it revive. In 2019, Proton's factory in Malaysia's Tanjong Malim completed expansion and the company started to make profit, doubling its revenue from a year ago. "After six years of integrated development, Proton has gone through a comprehensive reform in R&D, manufacturing, quality, purchasing and marketing. Its sales and market share have ranked second in Malaysia for four consecutive years," said Miao Yajun, vice manufacturing president of Proton. Proton chairman Dato' Sri Syed Faisal Albar said that Geely has accelerated the development of Proton, which has not only reclaimed the Malaysian market, but also expanded the overseas market. It is believed that Proton will see more prosperous development supported by Geely's global system, the chairman added. In February 2020, China's Great Wall Motor (GWM) announced to acquire General Motor's production facilities in Rayong, Thailand. The new factory, with an annual production capacity of 80,000 units, became operational in 2021. Sixty percent of the vehicles produced in the factory are sold domestically. Photo shows an intelligent workshop of a plant owned by Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motor in Rayong, Thailand. (Photo from Great Wall Motor) The factory has not only created over 1,000 jobs for local communities, but also cooperated with local charging operators to develop a charging service map that covers more than 50 percent of Thailand's public charging network. Over recent years, ASEAN countries have rolled out a series of incentive policies to promote green development and the electrification of vehicles. Chinese NEVs are favored by more and more consumers from these countries thanks to their performance. This April, SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile signed a memorandum of understanding on NEV investment with the Indonesian government. According to the document, the company will further expand its investment in Indonesia to strengthen the country's NEV development. Last December, Proton sent its employees to Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province for a half-year training program on NEV R&D, production, sales and maintenance, and five months later, the company launched its first hybrid model X90, which marked a huge step forward for the company on the journey of the new energy transition. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said it is expected that Geely and Proton can deepen their cooperation, launch more NEV models, and build Malaysia into an NEV hub of the ASEAN. Thailand's KASIKORN Research Center estimated that Thailand's production of pure electric vehicles (EVs) will hit 50,000 units this year, and the share of Chinese pure EVs will increase from 78 percent in 2022 to 85 percent. Chinese battery giant CATL recently reached an agreement on cell-to-pack cooperation with Thailand's Arun Plus, aiming to build Thailand into a battery production center in Southeast Asia. Chula Sukmanop, secretary general of the Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thailand, noted that China's NEV enterprises have brought other companies in the automobile industry to Thailand, too, including those engaged in the manufacturing of auto parts, tires, cells and charging poles. These companies have not only created local jobs, but also launched technical and talent training, which is conducive to improving the quality of the Thai labor force, he added. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) 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: Urban green spaces can help mitigate extreme heat in cities by reducing temperatures and providing shade, says University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign urban and regional planning professor Fang Fang. Credit: Fang Fang Large parts of the country, particularly in the South, have been experiencing extreme heat waves recently, with the heat index well into triple digits. Fang Fang is a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign urban and regional planning professor who studies trees in urban environments and issues of landscape design and environmental justice. Her most recent researchwith co-author Andrew Greenlee, also a U. of I. urban and regional planning professorexamines how the quality of street trees in Washington, D.C., is related to environmental and socioeconomic factors. Their findings have been published in the journal Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. Fang spoke with News Bureau arts and humanities editor Jodi Heckel about the use of green spaces to mitigate the effects of extreme heat. How do urban green spaces help mitigate the effects of extreme heat? As climate change brings warmer temperatures in summer, the health risks of extreme urban heatsuch as asthma, heat stroke and heart attackalso increase. Urban green space is a natural-based solution in urban planning to address the challenges of mitigating the impact of climate change and extreme summer heat. It reduces the risk of heat-related illness and improves health. Urban green space reduces the overall temperature during summer months through the process of evapotranspiration, which is water evaporation into the atmosphere, including water vapor released through plant leaves. In addition, the presence of trees and tall vegetation in cities also helps mitigate the extreme heat by providing ample shading. In urban areas, shaded surfaces may be 20F or more cooler than unshaded surfaces. What populations are the most vulnerable to extreme heat, and what does your research show about the availability of green spaces for those residents? Low-income communities are usually more vulnerable to extreme summer heat. These communities usually have limited access to air conditioning; thus, they are at a higher risk of heat-related illnesses. We also found that residents with relatively low incomes and educational levels are more vulnerable to extreme summer heat due to the shortage of high-quality and well-maintained urban green space. They may have limited capacity to manage the green spaces and further improve the living environment. Thus, these low-income communities are suffering most from low-quality urban green space, especially street trees that might have dieback, disease and/or other physiological abnormalities. As a result, these low-quality street trees cannot provide the proper amount of environmental benefitnamely, a cooling effect to the local residents. What are some challenges to providing green spaces to city residents? For planners, it's hard to accurately quantify the need and demand for urban green space for residents. Increasing urban green space coverage is challenging due to various factors such as land use policy or budget concerns. Residents, planners and decision makers need to understand the long-term benefit of ample urban green space and make plans strategically. Additionally, the quality of urban green space is more important than its quantity in mitigating extreme heat. We found that the quality and health status of urban green space is highly impacted by environmental factors such as air temperature and the height of surrounding buildings. Such compound impacts make it more challenging and costly to maintain a healthy urban green space. What are examples of innovative strategies to provide more green space in cities? Some cities are incorporating urban greenery systems on rooftops and walls instead of overwhelming the city's spatial footprint. Extending the green space vertically can help mitigate extreme summer heat and create attractive spaces for residents to enjoy. Is there a city that you believe is a good example for providing ample green space to its residents? The Urban Forestry Division of the District Department of Transportation is the primary institute that provides comprehensive urban forestry management services across Washington, D.C., with the mission of keeping the urban forestry healthy, safe and growing. The division is responsible for street tree pruning, new tree planting and removals each year. Instead of simply providing services where requested, they consider environmental justice factors. Wards 7 and 8 in the southeast quadrant in Washington, D.C., are dominated by low-income populations. From 2009 to 2020, the UFD focused on these places, which had the largest increase in new street trees and more than 25% of all tree pruning in 2022. Ward 8 experienced the fewest tree removals in the city. UFD provides guidance to planners and urban foresters in other mega cities to promote similar investments and strategies to reduce environmental inequity, especially for mitigating extreme heat, and maintain healthy green spaces for their residents. More information: Fang Fang et al, Evaluating the quality of street trees in Washington, D.C.: Implications for environmental justice, Urban Forestry & Urban Greening (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2023.127947 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A Biden administration program designed to address environmental inequalities, including reducing the air quality gap between white communities and communities of color, may not succeed. That's due, in part, to the administration's decision not to include racial demographics in a new tool that will be used to evaluate proposed regulations or policies, finds a new study published online July 20 in the journal Science. Across the U.S., disadvantaged communitiesincluding low-income communities and communities of colorexperience higher levels of air pollution than wealthier and predominantly white communities. These inequities are largely rooted in decades of discriminatory land use decision-making and housing practices, including redlining. To reduce these disparities, the Biden administration has committed to ensuring that 40% of the benefits from its climate change and energy investments accrue to disadvantaged communities. This initiative, known as Justice40, uses the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) to target so-called disadvantaged communities for government programs and investment. While CEJST considers a variety of burdens on communitiesincluding poor health, climate change risk and low income levelsit does not explicitly factor in race or ethnicity. The new study used simulations of air quality to model how using CEJST to target reductions in fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) might affect overall ambient air pollution exposures and exposure disparities over the next 20 years. The modeling showed that, while these deeper reductions in disadvantaged communities identified by CEJST could improve overall air quality, they will not significantly reduce racial and ethnic air pollution disparities. "There's been a lot of concern among scientists and advocates about the fact that the CEJST does not include any indicator about the racial or ethnic makeup of the census tracts that are being screened," said study co-author Rachel Morello-Frosch, a professor in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management and the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley, and a member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. "Our findings demonstrate that, by not including race, you lose the ability to track and target racialized inequities in environmental hazard exposures. You can improve overall air quality, but you lose the opportunity to eliminate racial inequities in pollution burdens if you don't evaluate them directly," said Morello-Frosch. Though the Justice40 initiative aims to address racial inequities, the CEJST was designed to be race-neutral to avoid potential legal issues. Just last month, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision restricting the use of race as a factor in determining college admissions. A similar challenge to the Justice40 initiative could derail the entire program. However, the study shows that the factors included in the CEJST ultimately won't succeed at addressing the country's large racial disparities in air pollution exposure. "Our findings emphasize that you're not going to be able to evaluate and solve racial and ethnic inequalities for air pollution without considering race in some way, because a lot of the things that you think might be a proxy for racial inequalities don't work terribly well for addressing the large, racialized disparities in air pollution exposure," said study co-author Joshua Apte, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Berkeley. The study also highlights the need for regulators to continue to quantify the impact of air quality policy and regulations on different racial and ethnic groups. New air pollution simulation toolsincluding those developed by Apte and Julian Marshall, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Washington, Seattlecould help regulators understand the future impacts of new rules and regulations. "It's really possible now for the federal government to evaluate prospectively whether their policies are going to make a difference on racial and ethnic inequalities in air pollution exposure, because we have modern air pollution simulation tools that can do that," Apte said. "The government absolutely should be using these tools to assess the environmental equity implications of current and proposed regulations." More information: Yuzhou Wang et al, Air quality policy should quantify effects on disparities, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adg9931 Journal information: Science 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: Synthetic human embryos mimic the development of natural human embryos, those created by fertilization. Credit: Shutterstock On June 14, 2023, developmental biologist Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz presented her research on creating human embryos using stem cells at the 2023 annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR). This research could increase our understanding of human development and genetic disorders, help us learn how to prevent early miscarriages, lead to improvements in fertility treatment, andperhapseventually allow for reproduction without using sperm and eggs. Beyond the limits Synthetic human embryosalso called embryoid bodies, embryo-like structures or embryo modelsmimic the development of "natural human embryos," those created by fertilization. Synthetic human embryos include the "cells that would typically go on to form the embryo, placenta and yolk sac, and develop to form the precursors of germ cells (that will form sperm and eggs)." Though research involving natural human embryos is legal in many jurisdictions, it remains controversial. For some people, research involving synthetic human embryos is less controversial because these embryos cannot "develop to the equivalent of postnatal stage humans." In other words, these embryos are non-viable and cannot result in live births. In addition, some maintain that the creation of synthetic human embryos would allow for research beyond the 14-day limit that typically applies to natural human embryos. But would it? Laws in the United Kingdom The research presented by Zernicka-Goetz at the ISSCR meeting took place in the United Kingdom. It was conducted in accordance with the Human Fertilization and Embryology Act, 1990, with the approval of the U.K. Stem Cell Bank Steering Committee. U.K. law limits the research use of human embryos to 14 days of development. An embryo is defined as "a live human embryo where fertilization is complete, and references to an embryo include an egg in the process of fertilization." Synthetic embryos are not created by fertilization and therefore, by definition, the 14-day limit on human embryo research does not apply to them. This means that synthetic human embryo research beyond 14 days can proceed in the U.K. The door to the touted potential benefitsand ethical controversiesseems wide open in the U.K. EuroNews reports on the synthetic embryos. Canadian law While the law in the U.K. does not apply to synthetic human embryos, the law in Canada clearly does. This is because the legal definition of an embryo in Canada is not limited to embryos created by fertilization. The Assisted Human Reproduction Act (the AHR Act) defines an embryo as "a human organism during the first 56 days of its development following fertilization or creation, excluding any time during which its development has been suspended." Based on this definition, the AHR Act applies to embryos created by reprogramming human embryonic stem cellsin other words, synthetic human embryosprovided such embryos qualify as human organisms. A synthetic human embryo is a human organism. It is of the species Homo sapiens, and is thus human. It also qualifies as an organisma life formalongside other organisms created by means of fertilization, asexual reproduction, parthenogenesis or cloning. The definition of an organism does not stipulate a specific means of creation and so can include creation by means of reprogramming embryonic stem cells. Limitations Given that the AHR Act applies to synthetic human embryos, there are legal limits on their creation and use in Canada. First, human embryosincluding synthetic human embryoscan only be created for the purposes of "creating a human being, improving or providing instruction in assisted reproduction procedures." Given the state of the science, it follows that synthetic human embryos could legally be created for the purpose of improving assisted reproduction procedures. Second, "spare" or "excess" human embryosincluding synthetic human embryosoriginally created for one of the permitted purposes, but no longer wanted for this purpose, can be used for research. This research must be done in accordance with the consent regulations which specify that consent must be for a "specific research project." Finally, all research involving human embryosincluding synthetic human embryosis subject to the 14-day rule. The law stipulates that: "No person shall knowingly maintain an embryo outside the body of a female person after the fourteenth day of its development following fertilization or creation, excluding any time during which its development has been suspended." Putting this all together, the creation of synthetic embryos for improving assisted human reproduction procedures is permitted, as is research using "spare" or "excess" synthetic embryos originally created for this purposeprovided there is specific consent and the research does not exceed 14 days. This means that while synthetic human embryos may be useful for limited research on pre-implantation embryo development, they are not available in Canada for research on post-implantation embryo development beyond 14 days. Prospects for expansion Proponents of synthetic human embryo research beyond 14 days may argue for a different interpretation of the law and insist that synthetic human embryos are not "human embryos" as defined in the AHR Act. But this looks to be an impossible task. Alternatively, they may insist there is an important moral distinction between natural and synthetic human embryos because synthetic human embryos lack the potential to become live born humans. This means they fall into the category of non-viable human embryos. It is not the case, however, that all natural embryos are viable embryos, and that all synthetic embryos are non-viable embryos. There are non-viable natural embryos such as tri-pronuclear embryos, where more than one sperm enters the egg during fertilization. And one day, synthetic human embryos may be viable embryos. In any case, in Canada, viable and non-viable embryos are legally equivalent. They are subject to the same rules, including the 14-day limit. This leaves proponents of synthetic human embryo research beyond 14 days with the need for an alternative argument. But any argument will have to overcome the political reality that the federal government is unlikely to open up the Pandora's box of amending the AHR Act. It therefore seems likely that synthetic human embryo research will remain limited in Canada for the foreseeable future. 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: The Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Malta, Angela Cervetti, visited the archaeological excavation site to meet USF students and USF IDEx staff members to learn more about the dig and their role in the international research project. Credit: Davide Tanasi A team of researchers and six students from the University of South Florida have discovered a centuries-old house in exceptional condition during an excavation in Malta, a country located in the Mediterranean Sea. Led by Davide Tanasi, professor and director of USF's Institute for Digital Exploration (IDEx), USF students collaborated with a team of scientists from around the world on the Melite Civitas Romana Project, uncovering what life was like 2,000 years ago when Romans ruled Malta and the island was used for military staging and maritime trade. "Not only do we have the chance to uncover amazing Roman structures, but Malta is critically understudied despite being a wealth of fantastic archaeology and history from antiquity," said Angela Costello, a USF doctoral student studying public history and digital humanities. "So, by revisiting these old excavations and furthering the work with new digital methods, we are learning more and more about Roman Malta every day." Nestled in the heart of the ancient city of Melite, the once lavishly decorated mansion, traditionally known as Roman Domus, had been covered by centuries of soil. "In use between the 1st century BCE and 2nd century CE, the Domus was elegantly decorated with mosaic floors, wall frescoes and marble decorations," Tanasi said. "During the Roman Empire, it was certainly used as a residence by a representative of the emperor or some very wealthy individual very close to the imperial court." After a summer of digging, processing and cleaning artifacts of the Roman Domus, the team discovered a portion of a previously unknown house adjacent to the domus with nearly 10-foot-tall walls, a height Tanasi says is unheard of for the Roman residential units usually found in the Mediterranean area. This discovery, according to Tanasi, provides a better understanding of the urban fabric of ancient Melite and the area's spatial configuration, a process that explains the human experience and behavior based on the surrounding structural environment. On a hunt to learn more about the owner of the house and what it was like living a block away from the domus, the team is searching for clues among the findings they have so far: an exquisite interior likely decorated with terracotta floor tiles, frescoed plasters and an ancient waste disposal system full of fragmented pottery, glass vessels, animal bones and charcoal. "It was literally the garbage disposed by whomever lived in the house," Tanasi said. "By studying this deposit, we will learn a lot about the life of who lived in the house. It is surprising how much you can learn about people from their garbage." For Sarah Hassam, a USF ancient history graduate student, another person's trash has indeed proven to be a treasure. "The most exciting moment for me was during our third week, while cleaning pottery, a small fragment I had been scrubbing revealed the engraved letters D-A-O-I, a possible hint for somebody's name. Everyone was pumped and shared theories on the engraving. It was a very cool find," she said. In addition to the excavation, IDEx's role in the project is to preserve cultural heritage through digital approaches. Findings from previous excavations are now displayed in the museum of the Roman Domus. "We perform digital photogrammetry where we capture data using a series of photographs that are then composited to create a 3D model and terrestrial laser scanning to provide more in-depth information on the site that we can process and re-visit during the year when we aren't present in the trenches," Costello said. Tanasi signed an agreement for IDEx and Heritage Malta to pursue funding to advance the 3D digitization of the Maltese archaeological and cultural heritage. The permit to continue the excavations in the Roman Domus district was extended to 2025 and IDEx will continue the exploration of the newly discovered house next summer to learn more about the identity of its owner. 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: Double duty: The great revenue gap between Western and non-Western states is a much more recent phenomenon than commonly thought, one that didn't happen until the first half of the 20th century. Political scientists Alexander Lee and Jack Paine call it the 20th-century great revenue divergence. Credit: University of Rochester illustration / Julia Joshpe In 2015, two political scientists at the University of Rochester began assembling data to study the effects of colonialism on the ability of newly liberated states to collect revenues after independence. Answering the question required information on former Western colonial powers as well as non-Western states, among them the former colonies. The scholarsAlexander Lee, an associate professor in Rochester's Department of Political Science, and Jack Paine, now an associate professor of political science at Emory Universityamassed a trove of data from 18 Western countries and 76 non-Western countries, with data points spanning the 19th to the 21st century. What they found was so surprising that they worried they'd gotten it wrong. Their results ran counter to conventional wisdom. "Wow," Lee remembers thinking. In 1913, Chile and Uruguay collected more revenue than any Western European country Academic research on state revenues seems to have overgeneralized the example of Britain, which developed the capacity to efficiently collect revenues as early as the 1700s, and throughout the 19th century. Britain had a strong need to raise revenues during the Napoleonic Wars, from 1803 to 1815. Britain was also where industrialization first took root. Based on the British example, scholars generally assumed that Western European nations, also affected by the Napoleonic Wars, followed a similar path as they, too, underwent economic modernization. But that seems to have been a mistake. Britain wasn't a trailblazer. Instead, it was an outlier. Existing studies showing an early European advantage in revenue collection are largely based on "little bits and pieces of revenue estimates with unrepresentative data points," says Paine. The two scholars had stumbled on a previously overlooked empirical pattern in state revenue collection. As it turns out, as late as 1913 central governments in the West collected very similar levels of per capita revenue as the rest of the worldnotwithstanding the fact that many countries in Europe already had the necessary infrastructure in place that would have allowed for much greater revenue extraction. "People just implicitly assume that if European countries had the ability to raise taxes, they were probably doing it," says Paine. In their resulting paper titled "The Great Revenue Divergence," recently published in the journal International Organization, the co-authors demonstrate that central governments in the West and the rest of the world did not differ dramatically in their ability to raise revenues, measured per capita, until the eve of the First World War. That's "despite ruling richer societies and experiencing a long history of fiscal innovation," they write. And while many Asian and African countries and colonies lagged behind Europe in revenue collection, these differences were still small compared to 20th century standards. In 1913, for example, Chile and Uruguay each collected more revenue per capita than any country in Western Europe. Denmarknow well known as a high taxation statecollected less revenue than either Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Malaysia, Cuba, or Panama. The United States raised even less than any of these countries, coming in just slightly ahead of Jamaica. As late as 1913, central governments in the West collected similar levels of per capita revenue as the rest of the world. Over the following half century per capita revenue intake skyrocketed in Western countries compared to more modest increases elsewhere. The term Western states in this study refers specifically to Western Europe (Austria, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal), plus the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Belgium and several smaller Western European countries are not included because of the lack of available historical data. Credit: Alexander Lee and Jack Paine The beginning of the great revenue gap It wasn't until the first half of the 20th centurymuch later than commonly thoughtthat the differences grew large. By the time the Second World War began, the schism between the West and the rest of the world had become a whopping gapwhat the authors call the "20th century great revenue divergence." The gap has continued to grow. Between 2010 and 2019, for example, Western states raised on average 43% of their annual GDP in government revenues, compared to just 27% in non-Western countries. According to Lee and Paine, disparities in per capita revenue intake were even greater, given the much higher income levels in the West compared to much of the rest of the world. Some East Asian states, particularly Japan, are exceptions, with a history of efficient bureaucracies that allowed for large taxation increases, similar to was happening in the West. What changed in the 20th century? Two thingsneed and ability. Paine and Lee argue that high levels of revenue intake require both a high demand for an active government that can supply public services to its populace and a high level of bureaucratic abilityalso referred to as fiscal capacity. In other wordstaxation (and general revenue extraction) requires both strong institutions and robust societal demand, they argue. Ultimately, a system of taxation and revenue collection can only work in an environment where the state possesses enough data about its population to know from whom it can collect and exactly how much. At the same time, the political will to tax heavily is vital, coupled with the population's demand for increased state services, the duo says. For example, in 19th century Denmark, Lee notes, the state knew a lot about its people, but Denmark didn't really use that information fiscally. Why? Because there was no need. Denmark wasn't fighting wars and didn't yet have a welfare state. The effect of war on revenue collection Of course, war doesn't make revenue extraction any easier, but "it drastically increases a state's incentive to do it," says Lee. The First World War generated an extraordinary demand for revenues to pay for weapons. But the West's higher level of revenue extraction continued also after the war, and the great revenue divergence that began during World War I widened explosively after the Second World War. Before the 20th century, the rule of thumb had been that a government would decrease its revenue intake once a war was over. But a few factors changed Western states' behaviors after the First World War and made the higher level of revenue extraction permanent: there was considerable war debt to pay off, the voting franchise expanded, allowing more people to vote, and Western incomes grew dramaticallyall of which went hand in hand with the onset of the modern welfare state. "The wars are front and center in terms of creating high societal demand for greater revenues and taxation," Paine says. Does higher taxation equal greater political stability? Generally, tax collection and a country's fiscal capacity are strongly associated with economic development, political order, and governance qualityaffecting such critical needs as drinking water, hospitals, road systems, public schooling, and military preparedness. In turn, the quality of these assets has a direct bearing on human welfare and long-term economic growth. But, as Lee and Paine caution, that doesn't mean greater revenue collection necessarily leads to greater political stability. In principle, Paine cautions, a nefarious government could use a capable tax system to exploit its population, which would likely trigger internal conflict and thus destabilize the country. Yet in Western countries with relatively strong constraints on the executive branch, it's generally true, says Paine, that a state's ability to efficiently tax and extract revenues "is good for political order." More information: Alexander Lee et al, The Great Revenue Divergence, International Organization (2022). DOI: 10.1017/S0020818322000200 By Politico Staff Writer Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa has urged stakeholders at the Correctional Centre in Freetown to expedite the relocation process of the Pademba Road facility to Songo just outside Freetown. The maximum security prison was established on the 14th March 1914, by British colonial government to hold 324 inmates. The facility now accommodates over 2,000 inmates, which rights groups have repeatedly denounced. According to the Director-General of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS), Ahmed Turay, there are 4,478 inmates nationwide with 1,888 convictions, 1,391 on remand, 106 condemned, 1,027 on trial and 29 serving life in prison. Rights groups have been advocating for a facelift of the Correctional facility on Pademba Road. Chief Minister Saffa said the relocation of the Correctional Centre was long overdue taking into consideration the high intake of inmates. He urged the Director General to have an accurate filing system that will aid his office with the necessary timeline on a roadmap that he said could be achieved in two weeks time. Copyright 2021 Politico Online (29/07/21) GRANVILLE Whether statements made by a Granville woman accused of neglecting horses on her property are admissible at trial was the central question of a hearing in the case on Monday. Wendy Murphy is facing 23 misdemeanor counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals on the property. She was arrested on Sept. 2, 2022 and subsequently indicted by a Washington County grand jury on 33 counts. Washington County Court Judge Kelly McKeighan dismissed 10 counts of the indictment for insufficient evidence. Murphys attorney, Tucker Stanclift is seeking to suppress statements that Murphy made when SPCA officials came to inspect animals on her property after obtaining a search warrant. The critical issue is whether or not the officer who placed Wendy Murphy under arrest had the probable cause to do so, he said following the court hearing, adding that the related issue is what statements Murphy made during the search of her property or after her arrest should be admissible at trial. Stanclift said at what point was his client free to leave. Sometimes that issue of being free to leave takes place well before handcuffs are put onto somebody, he said. Stanclift and Washington County Assistant District Attorney Taylor Fitzsimmons appeared before town Justice Roger Forando to make their arguments. Fitzsimmons questioned his witness, Trooper John Decristofaro, about the day that the search warrant was being executed on Murphys property. Decristofaro told the court that while the search warrant was being executed, Murphy was told a few times not to interfere with the work that the SPCA representatives and veterinarian were doing to inspect the horses. He said she primarily followed them around and fed some of the animals. There was much discussion of a deceased horse found in the driveway from a head injury. Murphy had said she had been trying to get the animal taken away. Fitzsimmons asked Decristofaro if Murphy had made statements that she had neglected or mistreated the animals. He said no. In fact, she stated the opposite numerous times. Fitzsimmons argued that all of Murphys interactions with law enforcement on that date should be admissible. While the SPCA officials were on their property, Murphy was not in custody. When she was arrested and taken to the station, she was read her Miranda warning. In an interview with The Post-Star, Murphy has denied this and has said that Decristofaro has targeted her and her family. She has maintained that the SPCA and state police never should have taken her horses, nor have given her horses to other people to raise. Some of her horses were in bad shape, but they were horses that she purchased to save them from the kill shelters because they were in bad shape, she has said. She has veterinary records that she has shown to a Post-Star reporter, to show that the horses were improving under her care, not failing. Stanclift played about 90 minutes of body camera footage from the officer that was executing the search warrant. In one section of the footage, Murphy was heard yelling at a neighbor to get out of the area because the matter is none of her f-g business. The trooper said that she is not standing on her property but the public road and not doing anything wrong. Murphy said she wanted to get into a truck and leave the property to talk to the neighbor, and Decristofaro questioned whether she had proper license and registration for the vehicle. Murphy said it is a farm truck but the trooper asked dispatch to run a check, and the vehicle was not registered as a farm truck. Youre not driving that vehicle, he said. Stanclift also argued that the trooper was the one who took Murphy into custody but not listed as the arresting officer. Decristofaro testified that a colleague was the lead investigator on the case but she works the night shift. The decision was made to execute the search warrant during the daytime when the SPCA and veterinarian could be present. Stanclift asked the trooper if he relied on the expertise of the veterinarian to determine if probable cause existed to make an arrest. The trooper admitted that he had. I did it based on the information provided by the doctor, he said. Also on Monday, Murphy rejected a proposal for the charge of mistreating small animals such as rabbits and goats to be adjourned in contemplation of dismissal. The condition of the animals was found to be healthy upon inspection. However, Stanclift said his client did not want to consent to that plea because the matter would be hanging over her head for the next 6 months. That may infringe on some of her rights. She intends to seek in a civil proceeding against the government, he said. The attorneys are going to submit closing summations in writing and return to court on Aug. 14. Stanclift believes a trial may be scheduled for October. Steve Thurston and Jana DeCamilla contributed to this report. KINGBURY Two home health care workers have been arrested after in an investigation of theft of funds from a patient under their care in the town of Kingsbury. Kimberly L. Ouderkerk, 50, of Hudson Falls, and 22-year-old Queensbury resident Aireal E. Bailey were arrested on July 21 following a joint investigation by the Washington County Sheriffs Office and Washington County Adult Protective Services, according to a news release. Ouderkerk was charged with felony second-degree attempted grand larceny after police said she attempted to steal money exceeding $50,000 from the patient. Bailey was charged with a felony count of second-degree grand larceny for allegedly stealing money exceeding $3,000 from the victim. Both Ouderkerk and Bailey were processed and held for arraignment on the charges at Washignton County Centralized Arraignment Part Court. They were released on $250 cash bail pending future appearances in Kingsbury Town Court. New York State Police also assisted in the case. MOREAU A public comment, or privilege of the floor, session at the most recent Moreau Town Board meeting ended abruptly with angry residents rushing the board as members left the chambers. The chaos stemmed from a summer concert that was hosted by the South Glens Falls/Town of Moreau Chamber of Commerce and promoted on the Moreau Community Center Facebook page. Although sponsored by the chamber, Councilmember John Donohue, who is running for re-election, financially supported the concert and was given time before the concert to address the crowd. Donohue said he did not politic beyond saying he was running and people could speak with him or others if they wished. Moreau Town Historian Brigid Martin saw the promotion of the event on the community center page as a political act and wrote posts on her personal Facebook page condemning the use of town funds to, as she said it, endorse, a candidate. This, along with a slew of other alleged attacks on political opponents, drew a larger-than-average group of residents to the Moreau Town Board meeting in order to voice their concerns over comments Martin made. Prior to opening the floor to public comment at the July 20 meeting, town Supervisor Todd Kusnierz said he would not take time listening to discussions of employee performance or those that were not germane to town business. The first speaker, Maureen Jackson, who distributed copies of her prepared statement to each of the board members, was stopped by Kusnierz before she began. It is clear that youre talking about an employee performance or work history, he said. We will not have those conversations in public. When Jackson clarified that she was not there to comment on Martins performance as the town historian, but rather on comments made on her personal social media account, Kusnierz said he wouldnt tolerate any discussion to limit someones freedom of speech. Under state law, a municipality does not have to hold public comment at all and may control the discussion. Every individual is entitled to freedom of speech, he said. I dont care about social media, it has nothing to do with the operation of the town. Beth Wadleigh said that in a previous, private conversation, in which she expressed concern over Martins comments, Kusnierz informed her that Martin was not an employee of the town, but now he was saying she is. Martin is an officer of the town similar to an appointed member of the planning board Kusnierz said in a follow-up interview with The Post-Star. Martin receives a $105 monthly stipend as the town historian. Since she is not elected, anything she writes on her personal social media is protected free speech, Kusnierz said. The town currently does not have a social media policy in place for officials or employees, however a review of the employee handbook is underway. Donna Nichols, Director of the Moreau Community Center said the center is an apolitical entity that supports our community. She said the calendar posting on the Facebook page was not an endorsement but was just an announcement of a concert. Similar community event announcements are regularly posted to the centers page. Kusnierz addressed the optics of promoting an event sponsored by a political rival through an official channel, and claimed an inference of political bias was a contributor to the negative discourse. Nichols acknowledged the inference, but made a comparison. I think, perhaps one of the points people are trying to make here tonight is the optics of another person that is representing the town and makes un-based accusations sometimes, she responded, referring to the historian, Martin. Dominick Tom spoke, first asserting that public criticism of public figures and their employees anyone that receives tax-payer money is valid and constitutional. He then stated that he would begin reading Jacksons full statement, and would continue even if Kusnierz adjourned the meeting. Its gonna show just what kind of a tyrant you are, Tom said. Listen, you drive around drunk, and youre going to tell me how to be a, Kusnierz said before being interrupted by Tom. You will Pardon me, Tom exclaimed. You are looking at a lawsuit. Im getting a damages lawyer. Im going to sue you, Im suing this board. Later, Tom told The Post-Star that the allegation of drunk driving was a reference to a 1986 incident in Schenectady. The audience erupted in uproar over Kusnierzs comment, but was subdued as Tom read from Jacksons prepared statement. When Toms three minutes had expired, Kusnierz asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting, which was seconded. Immediately, Donohue called for the board to discuss the motion, but was denied as Tom refused to yield the floor. You are the most disrespectful person Ive ever met, Donohue said to Kusnierz. As Tom continued to read, Councilmember Kyle Noonan and Councilmember Alan VanTassel voted to end the meeting. Noonan, VanTassel, and Kusnierz exited the chamber as members of the audience approached the dais to admonish their actions. WILDWOOD As shore communities deal with another summer of issues with juveniles, including the underage use of alcohol and cannabis, local organization Cape Assist says it is ready to help. That can include town hall meetings, staff training and awareness campaigns on underage drinking. Its a community effort, said Katie Faldetta, Cape Assist executive director and CEO. Cape Assist describes itself as a substance abuse prevention and treatment organization. Over the years, weve continued to provide information, resources and role models for the youth in our county to make smart decisions and to lead by example. Multiple shore towns enacted new rules this summer related to those under 18. Ocean City created a new curfew and closed beach access after 8 p.m., along with other steps. Lower Township, Sea Isle City and Wildwood have introduced or adopted earlier curfews and taken further steps, such as banning backpacks or restricting alcohol on beaches. Cape Assist says it wants to help communities, including working with other organizations, including the Cape May County Healthy Community Coalition and the Lower Township Healthy Youth Coalition. The easy part is telling them about the repercussions. The easy part is telling them something is wrong, Faldetta said. The part we need to work on together is providing them with an outlet to make the right choices, to be a positive influence for other individuals their age and to ultimately make our communities safer and stronger. The groups are offering employee training for businesses that sell alcohol, with a program focused on responsible consumption, intoxication prevention, underage drinking and drunken driving. Participants are trained how to recognize the signs of intoxication and receive strategies to best handle complicated situations, identify underage drinkers and prevent underage sales, and confidently use proven techniques to prevent alcohol-related problems, reads a statement from Cape Assist. Atlantic County leads state in detaining and prosecuting, Reynolds says Hundreds of people who have committed crimes have been taken off the streets into drug or alcohol treatment or incarceration, Reynolds told participants in the biweekly Clean and Safe Atlantic City meeting at City Hall. Officials in several shore communities have cited juvenile justice reform in New Jersey, which limits police interactions with those under 18 and prevents juveniles from being searched for alcohol or marijuana, as contributing to recent problems with gatherings of teens. In its statement, Cape Assist used examples of warnings for underage drinking or smoking marijuana, and said police can only make an arrest for a teenager buying alcohol with a false ID if the officer witnesses it. Thats why these new programs are so helpful, said Lt. Oscar Perez with the Cape May County Prosecutors Office, about the Cape Assist efforts. People in these establishments, whether we are there or not, can help us out with underage drinking and fake IDs. The trainings also help because associates, servers and bouncers can get in trouble if they mistake a real ID for a fake. According to Perez, the number of alcohol-related arrests and incidents is on the rise, most often involving someone over 21 providing alcohol to underage drinkers. The majority of the arrests involved minors drinking at facilities where they needed to provide an over-21 valid ID and could not. If an establishment in Cape May County is caught selling alcohol to minors, knowingly or unknowingly, the owners could face fines up to $500. Cape Assist has also participated in other community efforts such as the We Check for 21 Conference sponsored by the Cape May County Municipal Alliances and the Cape May County Board of Commissioners. The conference offers training sessions on identifying fake IDs and turning away minors. While municipalities have set new curfews and implemented new policies in place to deter underage drinking and drug use, Cape Assist is working with other community groups to try to achieve the same goals, reads the announcement from the organization. For more information, visit capeassist.org. The Atlantic City Aquarium, which closed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 and remained closed due to renovations, is tentatively set to reopen in the fall, according to its Facebook page. OCEAN CITY Every summer weekend, thousands travel sometimes for hours to stroll the Boardwalk, spread their blankets on the beach and dive into the waves. Some come away with T-shirts or saltwater taffy, and maybe a bright new sunburn. Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian hopes at least some of the visitors will also help oppose planned offshore wind turbines from their home communities. Over the weekend, the city placed new signs on the Boardwalk railings, arguing the proposed wind power projects included too many unknowns to move forward. At what cost? read the signs, which include a rendering showing what the windmills may look like when rsteds Ocean Wind 1 and Ocean Wind 2 projects are completed. The signs list contact information for state and federal officials. While local communities have been discussing the wind power proposals for years, and news coverage increased dramatically after a series of whale deaths over the winter that wind power critics have blamed on preparation work on the projects, Gillian and other shore town advocates say significant numbers of people in other communities know little about the proposals. We have found out that there are many who have no idea of this approved federal and state fast-tracked project, Gillian said Monday. He said the signs were installed to educate visitors. We want to bring attention and conversation, Gillian said. Murphy 'optimistic' about resolving offshore wind conflicts With various Jersey Shore communities continuing to air concerns over offshore wind development, Gov. Phil Murphy believes political matters revolving around their development can be addressed for the projects to proceed as planned. On July 5, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said it had given approval for the Ocean Wind 1 project to begin construction and operation of a 1,100-megawatt wind farm off Ocean City. The company plans to begin onshore work this year and start construction off the coast in 2024. Its the first New Jersey wind project to gain approval but unlikely to be the last, with additional phases planned by rsted and other companies now going through the approval process, including Atlantic Shores just to the north of Ocean Wind. Gov. Phil Murphy and President Joe Biden support offshore wind as a means of reducing carbon emissions and possibly blunting the impact of climate change. Ocean City and Cape May County have criticized the wind power projects, arguing the approval process moved too fast and with too little local input. County officials deny the projects will have any significant impact on carbon emissions. Federal marine life experts, in turn, say there is no evidence that work mapping the ocean bottom contributed to marine mammal deaths. So far, the objections of coastal mayors and the areas state and federal representatives have seemed to have little impact on the projects. So county officials have sought to widen the field. John Froonjian, executive director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University, said he could explain the effort in one number: 95,600. That is the population of Cape May County, he said. Meanwhile, the population of Bergen County is roughly 10 times that. This has been kind of the problem that South Jersey has always faced, why it sometimes feels ignored. Its hard for them without the numbers, without the voters, to really get their message across. New Jersey to explore tides as power source On Wednesday, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities tapped Rutgers University to evaluate the potential to use the power of tides to generate electricity, using current literature to evaluate the feasibility and create a recommendation, and include potential locations for tidal power plants. It does not help much that the county is represented by Republicans when Democrats dominate the Legislature and hold the governors mansion. Not that the representatives do not have a voice, Froonjian said, but there is less chance for members of the minority party to shift policy, either in Trenton or in Washington. When the Democratic majority are very much in favor of these projects, complaints and opposition doesnt hold as much sway, Froonjian said. But those key numbers change in the summer, when there may be millions of people in Cape May County on a sunny weekend. Because the federal government has a hand in the wind power projects, Pennsylvania voters may also have an impact, if the local advocates can sway them to oppose the projects. Were not changing the policy just at this level, so we have to bring it to a wider audience, said Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University. He agreed with Gillians assessment that many people who do not live near the beaches may have only a vague idea about the proposals for offshore wind, or how far the process has come already. Usually, when one level of government tries to influence another, it relies on resolutions, letters or proclamations, Rasmussen said. But in this case, those have not appeared to have much impact. The idea of engaging the public, engaging visitors, its bringing it to an entirely different level, he said. While the local governments describe the efforts as educational, at least part of the idea is to get summer visitors to reach out to their state and federal representatives back home, where they are registered to vote, to call on them to hit the brakes on offshore wind power, said Diane Wieland, Cape May County spokesperson and director of the county tourism department. Early this summer, lighted road signs that might usually warn of speed limits or special events appeared with messages directing drivers to the countys offshore wind website at capewindinfo.com. On weekends, banner planes fly the length of the county, dragging the same message. Lawsuits could delay the start of New Jersey's first offshore wind power project A tangle of litigation could delay the start of New Jerseys first offshore wind energy project. Wind developer Orsted is suing governments to stop delaying necessary permits, and citizens groups are trying to halt the project altogether. The latest comes as Orsted sues Cape May County, alleging the government is dragging its feet in issuing a road permit needed to do test work along the route a power cable would run. The company is also suing the city of Ocean City over similar delays. Last month, three citizens groups challenged New Jerseys determination that the Ocean Wind I project is consistent with state coastal management rules. This is something completely new, Wieland said. This year, the Board of County Commissioners resolved to fight the offshore wind projects. Reaching out to shore visitors is part of that fight, she said. The county already had the variable message road signs, she said. It was not a big deal to change the messages and put them on busy roads starting over Memorial Day weekend. The banner planes have been flying every weekend, at a cost of $18,450 from the countys tourism budget, she said. Ocean Citys sign on the Boardwalk at Fifth Street appeared to be having the desired effect on a recent evening, with several walkers stopping and reading or photographing the sign. This is ridiculous, said Joanne Gingrich, a summer resident who grew up in Ocean City and now lives in Pennsylvania, who captured an image of the sign on her phone. Theres going to be miles of them. She said she plans to contact the listed politicians when she returns home. Most years, politics takes the summer off in Cape May County. For someone running for office, most of the people reached with political ads, banner planes or by shaking hands outside the Acme will not vote in the area. But in this instance, that could be a benefit, if people in other districts begin to advocate on an issue that has so far primarily been a concern for beach communities. Wind power company sues Cape May County over permitting delay Ocean Wind 1, the entity owned by Danish energy company rsted that's building offshore wind farms along the Jersey Shore, is suing Cape May County officials for not following permitting requests and procedures ordered by state regulators. Other years, some political messages have made their way to beachfront banner planes, Rasmussen said, for instance in the race between Mehmet Oz and John Fetterman for Senate, in which Fetterman sarcastically welcomed Oz home to New Jersey. Fetterman, a Democrat, ultimately won over Oz, a Republican with national name recognition. But while the beachside messages were flown in New Jersey, they were aimed at Pennsylvania voters to take that message home across the Delaware River. The tourist outreach is not limited to wind power. In North Wildwood, signs went up this summer at entrances to the beaches, saying: Voice your concerns about New Jerseys inaction on North Wildwoods urgent beach issues. North Wildwood Mayor Pat Rosenello, who has been in a high-profile back-and-forth with the state Department of Environmental Protection, described those signs as primarily educational. He said multiple visitors have reached out to him about the eroded beaches and dunes, and he wanted people to understand that it was beyond the citys reach. But the signs specifically call for action, and include photos and phone numbers for Murphy and DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette. These two individuals are directly responsible for the states inaction on North Wildwoods beaches, they read. We urge you to contact them immediately. Tell them your public safety and property protection are at risk, and you want answers immediately. A special drive was conducted by the Excise Department in Pune to trace and arrest those involved in the manufacturing and sale of illicit liquor. The search was conducted at different city locations by the excise team, where they could arrest 88 accused, and liquor worth rupees 2 lakh 98 thousand 850 was seized. According to the information, 44 cases are registered under the special drive, and material, including liquor, beer, trade, and liquid, is confiscated from the accused. A vehicle worth 8.5 lakhs is also seized from their possession. A Rock Island man is accused of punching a woman in the face and struggling with several police officers, which led to injuries. The Rock Island County States Attorneys Office says Tremayne D. Pole, 33, punched a woman in the face, causing redness and swelling. A responding officer reportedly fell down stairs, hit his head, and sustained injuries to his ankle and forearm. Pole is accused of biting a second officer on the hand, grabbing and squeezing a third officers testicle and damaging a window in a holding cell at the Rock Island County Jail, court records state. The altercations occurred on July 17, but reports from the Rock Island Police Department do not indicate the time or location. Police did not immediately respond to a request for additional information. Prosecutors charged Pole with two counts of aggravated battery, two counts of domestic battery, aggravated resisting or obstructing a peace officer and criminal damage to property, according to records. He made his first appearance on July 18 and was free on a $20,000 bail as of Wednesday after posting a $2,000 bond, records state. As conditions of bond, he is to have no contact with the person he is accused of striking and is prohibited from using alcohol or controlled substances. His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 1. A Bettendorf man is accused of fleeing from an Iowa State Patrol traffic stop at more than 100 mph. Manuel Figueroa Jr., 19, faces charges of eluding and driving while barred, according to Scott County court records. A state trooper attempted to stop the 2011 Dodge Charger Figueroa was driving at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, records state. The Dodge was westbound on Interstate 74 near Bettendorfs Spruce Hills Drive. The reasons listed for the attempted stop were speeding and the Dodge having no rear registration. The trooper, in a fully marked police vehicle, followed the Charger and measured its speed at 71 mph in a 65 mph zone, reports show. When the trooper activated the squads emergency lights, Figueroa sped away and tried to flee, police said. At one point during the pursuit, the Dodge was going more than 100 mph in a 45-mph zone. Figueroa also is accused of failing to obey traffic signals as he tried to flee, as well as passing unsafely on the right and other traffic infractions, police said. The chase ended when Figueroa pulled over. He was then arrested without further incident. He was free Tuesday after posting an $8,500 bond, according to the Scott County Jail website. At the time of his arrest, Figueroa was also wanted in Rock Island County for failure to appear on a misdemeanor traffic case, records state. The citations from a November stop were for speeding, driving without a license and not having insurance. His next court appearance in Scott County is set for Aug. 24, court records state. His next appearance on the Illinois citations was not available Tuesday afternoon. Officers with the Scott County Sheriffs Departments Special Operations Unit arrested a Davenport man on Tuesday in connection with a months-long meth trafficking investigation. Dylan James Staggs, 29, is charged in Scott County District Court with one count of possession with the intent to deliver more than 5 grams of methamphetamine. The charge is a Class B felony that carries a prison sentence of 25 years. Staggs also is charged with one count of violating Iowas drug tax stamp law, a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years. According to the arrest affidavit filed by Bettendorf Police Officer Wyatt Flickinger, at 8:02 a.m. on March 29, 2023, officers with the Special Operations Unit were searching a home at 928 Iroquois Drive in Davenport when Staggs walked in the front door of the residence. Detectives were in the process of searching the home when Staggs walked in. Officers detained Staggs and asked if he was in possession of anything illegal. Flickinger said Staggs began to cry and told officers he was in possession of methamphetamine. Flickinger located a container in Staggs pants pocket that contained two plastic bags, one of which held 15.45 grams of meth while the other bag had 9.85 grams of meth, for a total weight of 25.3 grams. Police have said that the normal dose of meth is one-tenth of a gram, meaning that Staggs was in possession of 253 doses of meth. During a post-Miranda interview Staggs admitted to officers that he sold meth. A search of his phone showed messages that indicated he was selling drugs. The search warrant led to the arrest on May 9 of the homes resident, 35-year-old Maisa Skaff-Popp, on charges of child endangerment-meth exposure, and gathering where controlled substances are used, each of which is a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years. Skaff-Popp also is charged with possession of a controlled substance-first offense, a serious misdemeanor that carries a jail sentence of up to one year. Skaff-Popp is free on bond. She has a pre-trial conference scheduled for Aug. 11 in Scott County District Court. Staggs was being held Tuesday night in the Scott County Jail on a cash-only bond of $25,000. He is expected to make a first appearance on the charges Wednesday in District Court when a judge will schedule a preliminary hearing in the case. The investigation by the Special Operations Unit is continuing. Pacey Kane never expected to end his 8th grade year at North Scott on such a high note. He recently won the 2023 Iowa Composers Forum Student Composition Contest in the middle school division for his composed piece, The Forest of Sihir. What Pacey didnt see coming was that performers from the entire seventh to 12th grades learned his piece for the North Scott Band Showcase Concert. When I first started making it, I wasn't expecting the whole band to play it, he said. I didn't think anyone except for me was gonna hear it. Pacey has played trombone in the middle school's concert band for two years, along with the schools jazz band and choir. His composition began as a creative project in his free time that just started out as some rhythms he liked in his head. I just started with like a small little thing, and it just kept growing and growing into an actual full piece, Pacey said. Despite his musical experience, Pacey never had composed such a big piece. But he used past songs his ensemble had played as references for constructing melodies and figuring out other instruments' ranges that led to his piece growing to a 21-instrument composition. Any other guidance was provided by his 7th grade band director, Nicholas Propse, who convinced him to join the contest in the first place. I mainly composed it, but Mr. Propse helped (with) just like the little nitty-gritty stuff, he said. After his piece was completed, he decided on the name. Sihir means magic. I can't remember which language; I just chose a random one in Google translate, he said. But when I listened to it after I was completely done, it felt like a magical or mystical thing. Though the contest application and judging wouldnt occur for a whole month, Pacey said his band directors decided his piece would be perfect just in time for the end of the year musical showcase on May 7 and his final performance in the junior high concert band. His piece was performed by the entire combined junior and senior high band and conducted by his director, Ashley Knobloch. Its dedicated to my 8th grade teacher, Ms. Knobloch," he said. "She helped along the way and was my inspiration." The award came with $100 and a one-year membership to the Iowa Composers Forum who hosted the contest. The organization's purpose is to promote the creation and performance of new concert music of all styles by composers of all ages, according to their website. Judges this year were Dr. Jerry M. Owen, Ph.D.; Alma A. Turechek, Emeritus Professor of Music, Coe College; and Isaac Raymond Smith, freelance composer, MM in Composition from University of Louisville and ICF Board member. In addition to his prizes, The Forest of Sihir and the other winning compositions will be performed at the ICF Festival of New Music. Pacey plans to continue composing in high school, while he also plans to play in the marching and jazz band. Its gonna take time, like always, but I plan to make more music, he said. Warren Buffetts multibillion-dollar purchases of oil and gas investments early in the pandemic paid off when the sector cranked out record earnings in 2022. But instead of selling out for a huge profit this year, the Oracle of Omaha wants more. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is using this years dip in commodity prices to load up on some of Buffetts favorite oil and gas investments, showing that historys most famous investor sees opportunity in a sector long disfavored due to its volatility and effects on the climate. Earlier this month, Berkshire agreed to spend $3.3 billion to boost its stake in a liquefied natural gas export terminal in Maryland. This year, it has also increased its holding in Occidental Petroleum Corp. by 15% and bought more stock in five Japanese commodity traders. Meanwhile, Berkshires energy division is lobbying hard for a bill that would see Texas spend at least $10 billion on natural gas-fired power plants to back up its grid. On one level, its classic bargain-hunting by Buffett and Berkshire Vice Chairman Charlie Munger. Persistent concerns over the sectors environmental, social and governance performance, poor pre-pandemic returns and the risk of declining demand for fossil fuels in the decades ahead have soured many investors on the industry. Energy trades at the lowest price-to-earnings valuation of any sector in the S&P 500 Index, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. But it also generates the most cash flow per share. People are missing the economics that Buffett and Munger are looking at, said Cole Smead, chief executive officer of Smead Capital Management, which manages $5.4 billion, including Berkshire and Occidental shares. The returns on capital in coal, oil and gas are off the charts compared with other sectors. And with ESG, you can buy them cheaper than you otherwise would. But Buffetts fossil fuel bet isnt without nuances. While Berkshire remains the third-largest shareholder in Chevron Corp., it cut its stake by about 21% in the first quarter. Occidental, Cove Point LNG and Japans trading giants all have unique assets that will play a key role in powering the world no matter what path the energy transition takes, if it occurs at all. Even Berkshires seemingly straightforward investments in oil have their subtleties. Take Occidental. Buffett invested $10 billion to help Occidental beat Chevron in a bidding war for Anadarko Petroleum Corp. in 2019, and the company now owns an area the size of Jamaica in the worlds biggest and lowest-cost shale oil field. At this years annual meeting, Buffett stressed how shale is different from conventional crude sources in Russia and the Middle East. Shale wells, which make up the majority of U.S. production, can be brought on quickly and have short lifespans, making operators more flexible in responding to oil demand and prices. In the United States, were lucky to have the ability to produce the kind of oil weve got from shale, but it is not a long-term source like you might think by watching movies, he said, dubbing it short-lived oil. Buffett also said both extremes in the climate debate have gotten ridiculous in their arguments. We will make rational decisions, he said. We do not think its un-American to be producing oil. Cove Point LNG provides another example of a nuanced energy play. The facility buys gas from the nearby Marcellus shale and chills it into a liquid before shipping around the world. It also has the rare ability to import gas, something rival plants on the Gulf Coast cant do. Global LNG demand has risen substantially in recent years as Europe replaces Russian gas, Asia uses it to generate more power for its growing economies and countries seek cleaner alternatives to coal. But Cove Point also has several unique advantages. In contrast to the several multibillion projects along the Gulf Coast that have been sanctioned since Russias invasion of Ukraine, Cove Point is well established, having operated since 2018. Its located in Maryland on the East Coast where laws make rival facilities difficult to build, reducing competition. Crucially, its underpinned by long-term contracts with buyers including Tokyo Gas Co. and Sumitomo Corp. Berkshire is Sumitomos second-largest shareholder after the Japanese governments pension fund. Outside of Buffetts stock holdings, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, which owns utilities, power generation facilities and transmission lines, is in robust shape. Earnings for the division, overseen by Buffetts anointed successor Greg Abel, reached a record high of $3.9 billion in 2022, almost doubling in five years. Berkshire is scheduled to report second-quarter results on Aug. 5. Its a clear sign that the worlds thirst for energy, both fossil fuels and renewable, is insatiable, even as the climate crisis accelerates. Both temperatures and oil demand are hitting record highs this year and are poised to keep rising through the rest of this decade. Environmental concerns may have prompted others to shun energy, but they may also have left the door open for Buffett to profit, Smead said. I love ESG because it helps keep oil and gas stocks cheap, Smead said. Im sure Buffett and Munger love ESG as well. Photos: 30 images of Warren Buffett through the years Buffett family at home in 1956 Buffett, 1966 Warren Buffett in 1966 Buffett, vice president of Boys Club-1969 Buffett in the 1970s Buffett, Blumkin, 1983 Buffett, 1982 Fortune magazine cover Buffett, Munger, 1989 Buffett grabs a Coke Buffett playing bridge, 1990 Warren Buffett and his mother Buffett at Omaha Royals game, 2003 Buffett, 1992 Buffett on TV show Buffett at office, 1993 Buffett throwing out first pitch, 1995 Buffett driving, 1996 Buffett at '98 Texas game Buffett and Gates, 1995 Buffett and Gates, 2004 Winning hand Buffett at Berkshire meeting, 2011 Buffett at his high school alma mater Advantage, Buffett Buffett playing cards, 2016 Buffett at 2017 meeting Buffett at UNO, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. When President Joe Biden signed a proclamation Tuesday establishing a national monument honoring Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, it marked the fulfillment of a promise Till's relatives made after his death 68 years ago. The Black teenager from Chicago, whose abduction, torture and killing in Mississippi in 1955 helped propel the Civil Rights Movement, is now an American story, not just a civil rights story, said Till's cousin the Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr. "It has been quite a journey for me from the darkness to the light," Parker said during a proclamation signing ceremony at the White House attended by dozens, including other family members, members of Congress and civil rights leaders. "Back then in the darkness, I could never imagine the moment like this, standing in the light of wisdom, grace and deliverance," he said. With the stroke of Biden's pen, the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, located across three sites in two states, became federally-protected places. Before signing the proclamation, the president said he marvels at the courage of the Till family to "find faith and purpose in pain." "Today, on what would have been Emmett's 82nd birthday, we add another chapter in the story of remembrance and healing," Biden said. It's the fourth such designation by the Democratic president's administration, reflecting its broader civil rights agenda, the White House said. The move comes as conservative leaders, mostly at the state and local levels, push legislation that limits the teaching of slavery and Black history in public schools. "At a time when there are those who seek to ban books (and) bury history, we're making clear, crystal clear," Biden said. "We can't just choose to learn what we want to know. We should know everything the good, the bad, the truth of who we are as a nation. That's what great nations do." On Tuesday, reaction poured in from other elected officials and from the civil rights organizing community. The Rev. Al Sharpton said the Till national monument designation tells him "that out of pain comes power." House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jefferies said the monument "places the life and legacy of Emmett Till among our nation's most treasured memorials." "Black history is American history," he said in a written statement. Till's family members, along with a national organization seeking to preserve Black cultural heritage sites, say their work protecting the Till legacy continues. They hope to raise money to restore the sites and develop educational programming to support their inclusion in the National Park System. Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said the federal designation is a milestone in a yearslong effort to preserve and protect places tied to events that have shaped the nation and that symbolize national wounds. "We believe that not until Black history matters will Black lives and Black bodies matter," he said. "Through reckoning with America's racist past, we have the opportunity to heal." The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund has provided $750,000 in grant funding since 2017 to help rescue sites important to the Till legacy. A number of other philanthropic organizations have contributed several million dollars towards preservation of the Till sites. Biden's proclamation protects places that are central to the story of Emmett Till's life and death at age 14, the acquittal of his white killers by an all-white jury and his late mother's activism. In the summer of 1955, Mamie Till-Mobley put her son Emmett on a train to her native Mississippi, where he was to spend time with his uncle and his cousins. In the overnight hours of Aug. 28, 1955, Emmett was taken from his uncle's home at gunpoint by two vengeful white men. Emmett's alleged crime? Flirting with the wife of one of his kidnappers. Three days later, a fisherman on the Tallahatchie River discovered the teenager's bloated corpse one of his eyes was detached, an ear was missing, his head was shot and bashed in. Till-Mobley demanded that Emmett's mutilated remains be taken back to Chicago for a public, open casket funeral that was attended by tens of thousands of people. Graphic images taken of Emmett's remains, sanctioned by his mother, were published by Jet magazine and fueled the Civil Rights Movement. At the trial of his killers in Mississippi, Till-Mobley bravely took the witness stand to counter the perverse image of her son that defense attorneys had painted for jurors and trial watchers. Altogether, the Till national monument will include 5.7 acres of land and two historic buildings. The Mississippi sites are Graball Landing, the spot where Emmett's body was pulled from the Tallahatchie River just outside of Glendora, Mississippi, and the Tallahatchie County Second District Courthouse in Sumner, Mississippi, where Emmett's killers were tried. At Graball Landing, a memorial sign installed in 2008 had been repeatedly stolen and was riddled with bullets. An inch-thick bulletproof sign was erected at the site in October 2019. The Illinois site is Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ in Chicago, where Emmett's funeral was held in September 1955. Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who originally introduced the bipartisan legislation to federally recognize and protect Roberts Temple, noted the church's importance to the history of Chicago and the nation. "It's past time we recognize how national monuments can not only teach us about our history but provoke us to build a more just future," the Democratic senator said in a statement. Mississippi state Sen. David Jordan, 90, was a freshman at Mississippi Valley State College in 1955 when he attended part of the trial of the two men charged with killing Emmett. As a state senator for the past 30 years, Jordan, who is Black, spearheaded fundraising for a statue of Emmett Till that was dedicated last year in Greenwood, Mississippi, a few miles from where the teenager was abducted. On Tuesday, Jordan praised Biden for creating the Till national monument. "It's one of the greatest honors that a president could pay to a person, 14, who lost his life in Mississippi that's created a movement that changed America," Jordan told the AP. Daphne Chamberlain, a history professor at Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi, said Emmett's brutal killing continues to resonate in racial justice issues of today. "Over the past decade or so, we have seen as a nation the murder of young Black men like Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Tyre Nichols in Memphis, (and) Ahmaud Arbery," she said. "In each of these instances, what we have also seen is the bravery of the mothers in coming to the forefront and speaking out against what happened to their sons, but also making sure that they stayed the course in pursuing justice." The Till national monument joins dozens of federally recognized landmarks, buildings and other places in the Deep South, in the north and out west that represent historical events and tragedies from the Civil Rights Movement. For example, in Atlanta, sites representing the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., including his birth home and Ebenezer Baptist Church, are all part of the National Park Service. The designation often requires public and private entities to work together on developing interpretation centers at each of the sites, so that anyone who visits can understand the site's significance. The hiring of park rangers is supported through partnerships with the National Park Foundation, the park service's official nonprofit, and the National Parks Conservation Association. Increasingly, the park service includes sites "that are part of the arc of justice in this country, both telling where we've come from, how far we've come, and frankly, how far we have to still go," said Will Shafroth, the president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. For Parker, who was 16 years old when he witnessed Emmett's abduction, the Till monument proclamation begins to lift the weight of trauma that he has carried for most of his life. In an interview with the AP ahead of Tuesday's White House event, Parker reflected on the decades-long fight to portray Emmett and his story in a proper light. "I've been suffering for all these years of how they've portrayed him I still deal with that," Parker, 84, said of his cousin Emmett. "The truth should carry itself, but it doesn't have wings. You have to put some wings on it." ___ Associated Press writers Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson, Mississippi, and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report. Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term Genesis Health System president Kurt Andersen will take on an expanded role to lead one of three divisions across MercyOne. Genesis became part of MercyOne, a statewide Iowa health system, on March 1. MercyOne has formed three new divisions Western, Central and Eastern and expanded Eastern Iowa to include Genesis as the division hub. As MercyOne Eastern Iowa Division president, Andersen will oversee all of Genesis and MercyOnes Dubuque, Clinton and surrounding area locations. He will assume the role Aug. 1. As the Eastern Division, we can more effectively build the framework to enhance access to health care across Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, Andersen said. By aligning the clinical capabilities, services and talent within our division, we will find new ways to serve patients and overcome the current challenges in health care today. Kay Takes, current Eastern Iowa president, will retain her role as president of MercyOne Dubuque. Mellissa Wood, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer, will continue to serve as leader of MercyOne Clinton. Both will join the MercyOne Eastern Iowa Division leadership team that includes Genesis, all working together to transform health care in the communities served. A self-described hometown boy, Andersen is a lifelong resident of Eldridge, Iowa, and a North Scott High School graduate who has been with Genesis during his residency, as a practicing family medicine physician, and while serving in executive leadership roles. Andersen became president of Genesis Health System on March 19. He succeeds president and CEO Doug Cropper, who retired in June to serve a full-time church mission in Germany. Previously, Andersen was chief clinical officer/chief medical officer (CMO) at Genesis since January 2022. Prior to that, he served as senior vice president of physician operations and CMO during the challenges of COVID-19. As part of Genesis Health Group, he has held executive leadership roles and practiced family medicine in Davenport and at Genesis HealthPlex, Bettendorf. He is a 1997 graduate of University of Iowas Carver College of Medicine and a 2000 graduate of the Genesis Quad Cities Family Medicine Residency Program, where he has been teacher and mentor. As president of the Eastern Division, Andersen will join Tom Clark, president for the Western Division, and Mike Wegner, president for the Central Division, in leading the new divisions across MercyOne. The three presidents report to Bob Ritz, MercyOne CEO and president. MercyOne is a member of Trinity Health, headquartered in Livonia, Michigan. Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit health care systems in the country with 88 hospitals across 26 states. Trinity Health is not affiliated with any Iowa-based entities currently using the name Trinity or Trinity Health. States where people live the longest States where people live the longest #51. West Virginia #50. Mississippi #48. Alabama (tie) #48. Kentucky (tie) #47. Arkansas #45. Oklahoma (tie) #45. Tennessee (tie) #44. Louisiana #43. Ohio #41. Indiana (tie) #41. South Carolina (tie) #40. Missouri #39. Georgia #37. Michigan (tie) #37. North Carolina (tie) #36. New Mexico #35. Pennsylvania #34. Delaware #32. Kansas (tie) #32. Nevada (tie) #31. Washington D.C. #30. Maine #28. Alaska (tie) #28. Montana (tie) #27. Wyoming #24. Maryland (tie) #24. South Dakota (tie) #24. Texas (tie) #22. Idaho (tie) #22. Illinois (tie) #20. Iowa (tie) #20. Wisconsin (tie) #18. New Hampshire (tie) #18. Virginia (tie) #17. Nebraska #16. Vermont #15. Oregon #11. Arizona (tie) #11. North Dakota (tie) #11. Rhode Island (tie) #11. Utah (tie) #10. Florida #8. New Jersey (tie) #8. Washington (tie) #6. Colorado (tie) #6. Massachusetts (tie) #4. Connecticut (tie) #4. Minnesota (tie) #3. New York #2. California #1. Hawaii States where people live the longest #25. Maine #24. Maryland #23. Illinois #22. Iowa #21. North Dakota #20. Wisconsin #19. Nebraska #18. Arizona #17. Virginia #16. Idaho #15. Rhode Island #14. New Jersey #13. New Hampshire #12. Vermont #11. Utah #10. Oregon #9. Florida #8. Colorado #7. Connecticut #6. Massachusetts #5. Washington #4. New York #3. Minnesota #2. California #1. Hawaii Despite Gov. Kristi Noems strong approval ratings, legislators, lobbyists and other political officials interviewed by South Dakota News Watch point to turbulence behind the scenes in the administration with more than three years left in her second and final term. Noem has struggled to find a sixth chief of staff after the June departure of Florida native Mark Miller, her former general counsel and anti-abortion czar who returned to the Pacific Legal Foundation, his former employer. His exit came on the heels of a rocky 2023 legislative session following Noems re-election last November with 62% of the vote over Democrat Jamie Smith. Also gone is deputy chief of staff Rachel Oglesby, a Maryland native who was seen as Millers likely successor before bolting in May to work for the Center for the American Worker in Washington, a division of the America First Policy Institute. The departures of Miller and Oglesby continue a trend of out-of-state staffers coming and going from the governors office, detached from the institutional knowledge and relationship-building that past aides leveraged to pursue policy goals. Its not a concern of mine, but it sure should be a concern to the governor, said Republican Lee Schoenbeck, President Pro Tempore of the Senate. To have a lack of staffers that know South Dakota and understand the issues that ought to concern her a lot. Its a tough gig being Kristi Noems chief of staff. I dont think its a job that has a long shelf life. [Miller] is an easy-going guy and probably had the right personality to handle that for as long as he did. Schoenbeck said that Oglesby was a real talent and will be missed. The fact that she left at a time when the chief of staff position was becoming available reflects the turbulent nature of working under Noem, a former state legislator and U.S. representative whose leadership style is characterized as demanding by those who know her well. The governor is hardworking all of the time, and [chief of staff] is a very demanding job, said former Republican House Speaker Tim Rave, who worked closely with Noem in the Legislature before she won her U.S. House seat in 2010. I cant imagine the demand that puts on your personal schedule. I dont know how long is not enough or too long or whatever, but [Noem] is on the go all the time and its demanding. That doesnt mean its good or bad. It just is what it is. There has also been upheaval in Noems Cabinet, with Governors Office of Economic Development Commissioner Steve Westra, Health Secretary Joan Adam, Education Secretary Tiffany Sanderson and Social Services Secretary Laurie Gill all leaving in the past year. Westra, a Sioux Falls businessman and former state legislator who resigned in April, told News Watch that the ambitious nature of Noems agenda contributes to staff and Cabinet turnover. The time in office for any elected official is short, said Westra, who served on Noems transition team following the 2018 election. When you have a busy agenda and you want to do a lot of things, you run quickly. In doing so, lets be honest, sometimes theres a burnout factor. Public service can be tough and its also very thankless. Others note the fact that Noem suffered several embarrassing setbacks in the last legislative session, including a failure to fulfill her campaign pledge to repeal the state grocery tax. Lawmakers from her own party also rejected efforts spearheaded by Oglesby to expand paid family leave for state workers along with grant funding for private businesses. That failed proposal was based on a program in New Hampshire, home base of informal policy adviser and former Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, who remains part of Noems increasingly limited inner circle. Several individuals from Noems Cabinet and staff and the private sector have turned down the job of chief of staff since Millers departure, News Watchs analysis found. That delay in filling a key role has complicated Noems attempts to bolster her executive stature as she eyes her next political chapter and the upcoming session in Pierre. Multiple interview requests from News Watch to Ian Fury, the governors communications director, went unanswered. Noem told reporters during a July 12 press conference that shes not in a rush to name a new chief of staff. Weve got a great team and I think we are functioning very, very well, she said. So you may have to wait a while. Rave, president of the South Dakota Board of Regents and CEO of the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations, declined to call Noems staff turnover a problem. But he noted that reliance on aides who lack South Dakota backgrounds can complicate the process of working with legislators and coordinating state agencies. Someone coming from out of state certainly faces hurdles that someone from in state does not no one can argue that, Rave told News Watch. Its no different from saying, Tim, you know about South Dakota politics why dont you go to California, and I want you to understand all the nuances of the California Legislature and try to navigate that. So its hard. South Dakota is very relationship driven. You come in with some hurdles. Critics point to the administrations fumbling of the carbon pipeline project controversy, putting Noem in a quandary between ethanol advancements and the rights of South Dakota landowners. The governor has blamed legislators for failing to pass bills addressing eminent domain during the 2023 session, rankling those who accuse her of staying on the sidelines out of political expediency rather than leading on the issue. It would help if she wasnt always the victim and actually owned up to mistakes that shes made, said South Dakota Freedom Caucus chair and Republican Rep. Aaron Aylward from Harrisburg. He supported legislation to prohibit the use of eminent domain to access land for carbon pipelines. She could have said, I know these landowners are getting tread upon, and we do need to change state law, but she doesnt go down that road. She blames it on the Legislature. Im not sure whos advising her, but no matter what the issue is, its always somebody elses fault. This article was produced by South Dakota News Watch, a non-profit journalism organization located online at sdnewswatch.org. Joanie Knight has a message for anyone considering drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy, which have become popular for the dramatic weight loss they can help people achieve. I wish I never touched it. I wish Id never heard of it in my life, said Knight, 37, from Angie, Louisiana. This medicine made my life hell. So much hell. It has cost me money. It cost me a lot of stress, it cost me days and nights and trips with my family. Its cost me a lot, and its not worth it. The price is too high. Brenda Allen, age 42, in Dallas, Texas, feels the same way. Her doctor prescribed Wegovy for weight loss. And even now, being off the medication for almost a year, Im still having a lot of problems, Allen said in an interview with CNN. She said she was at urgent care recently after vomiting so much she became dehydrated. Emily Wright, 38, a teacher in Toronto, Canada, started taking Ozempic in 2018. Over a year, she said she lost 80 pounds, which shes been able to keep off. But Wright said she now vomits so frequently she had to take a leave of absence from her job. Ive almost been off Ozempic for a year, but Im still not back to my normal, Wright said. The diabetes drug Ozempic, and its sister drug for weight loss, Wegovy, utilize the same medication, semaglutide. These and other drugs in this family, which includes medications like tirzepatide and liraglutide, work by mimicking a hormone thats naturally made by the body, GLP-1. One of the roles of GLP-1 is to slow the passage of food through the stomach, which helps people feel fuller longer. If the stomach slows down too much, however, that can cause problems. Knight and Wright have been diagnosed with severe gastroparesis, or stomach paralysis, which their doctors think may have resulted from or been exacerbated by the medication they were taking, Ozempic. Wright said she has also been diagnosed with cyclic vomiting syndrome, which causes her to throw up multiple times a day. Allen doesnt have a diagnosis for her stomach problems yet, but said they started only after she was encouraged by her doctor to take Wegovy to lose weight. She is managing her ongoing nausea and vomiting with a medication called Zofran and prescription probiotics while she waits for more tests in October the first available appointments she could get with specialists. Doctors say more cases like these are coming to light as the popularity of the drugs soared. The US Food and Drug Administration said it has received reports of patients on the drugs experiencing stomach paralysis that sometimes has not resolved by the time its reported. And last month, the American Society of Anesthesiologists warned that patients should stop these medications a week before surgery since they can increase the risk that patients will regurgitate food during an operation, even if theyve fasted as directed. Vomiting under anesthesia sometimes causes food and stomach acid to get into the lungs, which can cause pneumonia and other problems after surgery. So far, extreme and unrelenting cases like these are believed to be rare, and they may be a result of the drug unmasking or worsening a pre-existing slow stomach. Doctors say people can have a silent condition called delayed gastric emptying and not know it. Theres nothing on the drugs labels that specifically cautions that gastroparesis may occur. In response to CNNs request for comment, Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, pointed out that drugs in this class have been used 15 years to treat diabetes, and for eight years to treat obesity, and they have been extensively studied in the real world and in clinical trials. Gastrointestinal (GI) events are well-known side effects of the GLP-1 class. For semaglutide, the majority of GI side effects are mild to moderate in severity and of short duration. GLP-1s are known to cause a delay in gastric emptying, as noted in the label of each of our GLP-1 RA medications. Symptoms of delayed gastric emptying, nausea and vomiting are listed as side effects, the statement said. Gastroparesis can have many causes, including diabetes, which is a reason many patients are on these drugs in the first place. Women are known to be at higher risk for the condition, too. In more than half of cases of gastroparesis, doctors are unable to find a cause. They may just be really unlucky, said Dr. Michael Camilleri, a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic, said of patients who shared their cases with CNN. On the other hand, this is how the drugs work, although not many doctors or patients understand this or the problems that may follow, Camilleri said. Camilleri received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how one of the first GLP-1 agonists, a drug called liraglutide, affects stomach function. He recruited 40 obese adults and randomly assigned them to take increasing doses of liraglutide or a placebo, which had no active ingredients. After five weeks, he had people in the study eat a meal laced with a radioactive tracer so he could see how long food stayed in their stomachs. People taking liraglutide had dramatically slowed digestion compared with those on the placebo. It took about 70 minutes for half the food they ate to leave their stomachs compared with just four minutes in the placebo group. And that was just the average delay: In some patients on liraglutide, the time it took for half the meal to leave their stomachs was 151 minutes, or more than two and a half hours. Camilleri said the group taking liraglutide lost weight, and the bigger the delay in food leaving the stomach, the more weight people seemed to lose. Fortunately, people in the study seemed to adjust to the medication over time. After 16 weeks, people in the group taking liraglutide were clearing about half the food they ate from their stomachs in about 30 minutes, as opposed to seven minutes in the placebo group. Symptoms of nausea and vomiting seemed to ease, too. Unfortunately, there have not been these types of robust studies and so, you know, the whole idea that this class of medications actually delays gastric emptying is not as well recognized, Camilleri said. It is conceivable that some patients may have borderline slow gastric emptying and starting one of the GLP-1 agonists may precipitate a full-blown gastroparesis. *** How am I throwing up this much? Joanie Knight remembers exactly what she ate on her birthday in 2021. She ordered chicken fajitas at one of her favorite restaurants. She ate three skinny French fries, and two or three pieces of chicken, and then felt panic set when she couldnt swallow the food. It felt like it was stuck in my throat, said Knight, who had been taking Ozempic for two years at that point and was already eating very little every day as a result. Her birthday dinner triggered a bout of violent vomiting. I thought, I hadnt eaten, how am I throwing up this much? she said. She went to see a gastroenterologist, a doctor who specializes in stomach problems. They put a tube with a camera down her throat and into her stomach to see what the issue might be. They said, your stomach is full of food, she said. Normally, less than 10% of the food will be left in the stomach four hours after a meal. When that climbs to between 10-15%, its considered mild gastroparesis. Moderate gastroparesis is when 15% to 35% of food is left. Severe gastroparesis is anything over 35% after four hours. A gastric emptying study a test that measures how food moves through the stomach put Knight in the severe category. She said she stayed nauseous all the time, no matter how little she ate, and took a prescription anti-nausea medication like it was candy. Still, doctors didnt connect her stomach problems to the Ozempic she was taking. Though the prescription information for the drug warns of nausea and vomiting, it only mentions that the drug causes a delay in stomach emptying as a warning that it might affect the absorption of other medications. It was almost four more months until a specialist took her off the medication. Emily Wright, the teacher from Toronto, said the Ozempic she was taking helped her shed about 80 pounds in one year, and she continued to take it to help manage her blood sugar, but she always felt sick. She said she vomited every day but kind of got used to it: She would wake up, throw up, and her day would get better. In clinical trials, nearly half of people, 44%, who took Wegovy reported having nausea, and almost 1 in 4 reported vomiting; both are common symptoms of gastroparesis. In the clinical trials for Ozempic, which is the same medication as Wegovy, but given at a lower dose, 1 in 5 people reported nausea, and 1 in 10 reported vomiting. In September 2020, Wright had to be hospitalized for dehydration related to the vomiting, and that prompted her to push her doctors for more answers. A gastric-emptying study showed she had gastroparesis. Her doctors put her on two more medications to try to help her manage her symptoms but didnt take her off the Ozempic because they didnt suspect it was contributing. Diabetes can also cause gastroparesis, but that typically only happens in people who have had the disease for at least a decade and chronically high blood sugars have damaged the nerves that control the stomach. Both Knight and Wright say their doctors dismissed that possibility in their cases. Everybody said theres no way its diabetes, said Wright, the Toronto schoolteacher, who had only been diagnosed with diabetes for five years when she developed gastroparesis. In September 2022, her vomiting got much worse. Standing in front of her classroom, Wright said she began having burps that smelled so strongly of sulfur and rotten eggs that the kids began to comment on it. What is that? Where is it coming from? they asked. Then instead of just vomiting the food shed recently eaten, Wright noticed she was throwing up food shed eaten three or four days prior. Another gastric emptying test showed her condition had deteriorated. Then the GI doctor said, Well, Ive been seeing a lot of clients coming in with full stomachs on endoscopy who are on Ozempic. So lets try taking you off the Ozempic, Wright said. Both Knight and Wright said they got some relief after coming off the medication, but their problems continued. Now, Wright said, instead of throwing up a meal she ate several days ago, she mostly vomits food she has eaten recently. For people with gastroparesis from any cause these stories are the norm. It takes a steep mental and physical toll on people who live with it. Knight, the Louisiana mom, eventually had stomach bypass surgery. Its similar to the technique used for weight loss, but it can also be a treatment for severe cases of gastroparesis. She said it has allowed her to eat some of her favorite foods again, like a few bites of pizza or chicken. Previously, I was on an extreme amount of vitamins because I wasnt eating. Now I can eat enough that Im not malnourished, Knight said. Wright said shes just hoping her condition will improve with medications and time. We dont know when were gonna get better. I think thats the hardest part, she said. Like if you could give me like a year or two years, I would have something to hope for. *** Weighing benefits and risks Drug regulators say they have received reports of stomach paralysis among patients taking GLP-1 agonist drugs. The FDA has received reports of gastroparesis with semaglutide and liraglutide, some of which documented the adverse event as not recovered after discontinuation of the respective product at the time of the report, the agency said in a statement to CNN. The reports have been submitted through the agencys publicly accessible adverse events tracking system, and the agency said theres not always enough information in those reports to properly evaluate them. The FDA said it has been unable to determine if the medications were the cause or if the gastroparesis may have been caused by a different issue. Gastroparesis can be a complication of diabetes that is related to long-standing or poorly controlled disease, further complicating the ability to determine what role the drugs played in the reported events, the agency said. Asked whether doctors and patients should be warned about the risk for people who are know to have slow digestion to begin with, the agency said the benefits of the medication may still outweigh its risks, even for this group. Regulations pertaining to drug labeling state that a drug should be contraindicated only in those clinical situations for which the risk from use clearly outweighs any possible therapeutic benefit. Only known hazards, and not theoretical possibilities, can be the basis for a contraindication, the agency said. The FDA said patients with gastroparesis werent excluded from clinical trials of these medications, and the benefits for diabetes and weight management may outweigh the risks in some patients with gastroparesis or delayed gastric emptying. Doctors who are experts in treating gastroparesis say theyre hearing more stories like these as greater numbers of people try the drugs. Gastroparesis or delayed gastric emptying from the GLP-1 agonists definitely does happen, said Dr. Linda Nguyen, who specializes in the treatment of this condition at Stanford University. What seems to be unusual about cases like Wright and Knights, Nguyen said, is that they didnt improve after they stopped taking the medication. In my experience, when you stop the GLP-1 agonist, the gastric emptying improves and it gets better, said Nguyen, who is also a spokesperson for the American Gastroenterological Association. *** Concern for surgery Anesthesiologists say there are real hazards involved with stomach paralysis on these medications, and doctors and patients need more information about the risks. Dr. Renuka George, fellowship director of regional anesthesiology at the Medical University of South Carolina, recently tweeted a photo of the stomach contents suctioned from a patient who had fasted as directed but was taking a GLP-1 agonist for diabetes. The stomach, she said, was basically full, despite following all the surgical prep instructions to the letter. In an interview with CNN, George explained this is a cautionary tale. This has become more, I guess, front and center for anesthesiologists, simply because aspiration is a big concern, she said. George explained that the stomach and esophagus can handle the acidic digestive juices that mix with food. Lungs cant. Lung tissue is fragile and precious, George said. If anything goes into the lungs, at best, its a cough, at worse, you end up on a ventilator for an extended period of time, she said. She said as more and more people take these medications, with little information about the stomach slowdown that comes with them, they may not know to tell their doctors. The big concern is if we have patients that arent aware of this and dont tell their anesthesiologists because not everybody wants to advertise that theyre on a weight loss drug, right? she said. So that becomes a problem because theyre not fasted appropriately. Right now, the American Society of Anesthesiologists is advising doctors to have patients stop these medications for one week prior to surgery to prevent aspiration, but ASA President Dr. Michael Champeau said they arent sure what the right amount of time to fast or stop the drug would be. When we issued this guidance, we issued it on very limited scientific evidence, Champeau said. These kinds of studies on the delay in stomach emptying just havent been done, he said. He said their experts felt that stopping it one week in advance, for people taking it weekly, would be reasonable in the near term. George said she was aware of ongoing studies to try to learn more about this complication. Theres a lot of research underway. I have a feeling that were going to see a lot of publications in the next few years regarding this, she said. Until more is known, George said people need to be open with all their doctors about taking any drugs. Knight, the gastroparesis patient in Louisiana, said people need to carefully consider the risks. I accepted that the medicine was working for me. I had a major side effect from it that altered my life course. Now I feel like my best option is to try to warn people whenever I can, she said. Nguyen, the Stanford doctor, said patients need to pay attention to the side effects. If you vomit once or twice, that might be normal, but persistent vomiting is not. They should be evaluated. Consider reducing the dose or stopping the medication, she said. If your vomiting is affecting your hydration, or you are having to take other medications to treat the side effects of this medication, then I think its time to reconsider. 7 essential nutrients your plant-based diet may be lacking (and how to get them) 7 essential nutrients your plant-based diet may be lacking (and how to get them) Vitamin B2 Niacin Vitamin B12 Vitamin D Iron Calcium Iodine LONDON Kevin Spacey was acquitted of sexual assault on Wednesday after the Oscar winner's star turn as a witness in his own defense spared him a possible prison term and gave him a shot at a career comeback. Tears rolled down Spacey's cheeks as the final "not guilty" verdict was read. The actor looked at the jury, placed his hand over the lapel of his blue suit and mouthed the words "thank you." It was his 64th birthday. Spacey's wide-ranging testimony culminated as he choked up speaking of the six years he'd gone without work after sex abuse allegations surfaced against him during the #MeToo movement in the U.S. in 2017. "My world exploded," Spacey testified. "There was a rush to judgment and before the first question was asked or answered I lost my job, I lost my reputation, I lost everything in a matter of days." Three men accused the Oscar winner of aggressively grabbing their crotches, describing him as "vile" and a "slippery, snaky" predator. A fourth, an aspiring actor, said he awoke to the actor performing oral sex on him after going to Spacey's London apartment for a career advice and a beer and either falling asleep or passing out. Spacey said he was a "big flirt" who had consensual flings with men and whose only misstep was touching a man's groin while making a "clumsy pass." Defense lawyer Patrick Gibbs said three of the men were liars and incidents had been "reimagined with a sinister spin." He accused them of hopping on a "bandwagon" of complaints in the hope of striking it rich. Prosecutor Christine Agnew told jurors that Spacey was a "sexual bully" who took what he wanted when he wanted. She said he was shielded by a "trinity of protection" he knew men were unlikely to complain; they wouldn't be believed if they did complain; and if they did complain, no action would be taken because he was powerful. Spacey had faced nine charges, including multiple counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. Spacey had viewed the London case as a chance for redemption, telling German magazine Zeit last month that there were "people right now who are ready to hire me the moment I am cleared of these charges in London." The accusations date from 2001 to 2013 and include a period when Spacey after winning Academy Awards for "The Usual Suspects" and "American Beauty" had returned to the theater, his first love. During most of that period, he was artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre in London. The men came forward after an American actor accused Spacey of sexual misconduct as the #MeToo movement heated up in 2017. Several of the men said they had been haunted by the abuse and couldn't bear to watch Spacey's films. One of the men broke down when speaking with police as he provided details in a videotaped interview about the oral sex incident that he said he'd never told anyone before. Another man said he was angry about the abuse that occurred sporadically over several years and began to drink and work out more to cope with it. Spacey's testimony was delivered in the warm, rich, calming voice that most audiences would instantly recognize. Under pressure when questioned by Prosecutor Christine Agnew, he did not take the menacing, cold tone of some of his calculating characters, but maintained his composure and only showed flashes of indignation delivered with a flourish. At times, Spacey sounded like a regular guy, speaking about how he liked to smoke marijuana but was incapable of rolling a joint and that he sought sex during lonely periods, quipping "welcome to life." He insisted that being promiscuous did not make him a bad person. At other moments, though, it was clear this was someone from a different walk of life than the jurors. He talked about acting in high school with Val Kilmer, spoke about buying the most expensive Mini Cooper ever at a charity gala hosted by Elton John, and discussed how he taught Judi Dench to play table tennis while filming "The Shipping News" and later bought her a ping pong table. Gibbs said Spacey was "monstered" on the internet every night and became toxic in the entertainment industry. Spacey was booted from "House of Cards" and his scenes in "All the Money in the World," were scrubbed and he was replaced by Christopher Plummer. Aside from some small projects, he has barely worked as an actor in six years. The court victory is his second since he beat a $40 million lawsuit last fall in New York brought by "Star Trek: Discovery" actor Anthony Rapp. Prosecutors in Massachusetts dropped charges when the alleged victim suddenly refused to testify. Los Angeles prosecutors declined to bring charges after the death of a massage therapist who said Spacey forced him to touch the actor's genitals during a rub down at Spacey's home in Malibu in 2016. Spacey said that being out of work had left him with bills he's still paying. An arbitrator in LA ordered Spacey to pay nearly $31 million to the makers of "House of Cards" for violating his contract by sexually harassing crew members. Photos: Kevin Spacey through the years Exploring the history and adventure of paleontology in the Bighorn Basin will be the subject of a free talk on Aug. 3 at noon in the Buffalo Bill Center of the Wests Coe Auditorium in Cody, Wyoming. Everyone knows there are fossils to be found in the West especially Wyoming but what sets the Bighorn Basin apart? asks Paleontologist Jason Schein. What is it that first drew scientists here in the 1800s, and what keeps them flocking to this region from around the world even today? Schein, whose current home is in Philadelphia, founded and leads the Elevation Science Institute, one of the many groups trying to learn about a future, warmer Earth by visiting the Bighorn Basin and studying its ancient inhabitants and environments. Those who prefer to attend virtually via Zoom webinar may do so by registering at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Q1dXhXn4RnCNfM6wF6L4Hw#/registration. Schein will explain Elevation Science Institutes own brand of citizen science utilizing students, retirees, writers, teachers, bankers, and doctors from around the world who join scientists each summer to help find and excavate 150-million-year-old dinosaurs. The talk also explores the connection fossils in this region have to the Founding Fathers and the history of paleontology in the New World. Scheins scientific research projects have led him across the globe, from Alabama to Montana and even to Argentinian Patagonia, to study an array of fascinating creatures, including modern echinoderms, ancient foraminifera, fish and turtles, mosasaurs and dinosaurs. A musician who performs with Lyle Lovett and His Large Band found a noose on a light pole over the weekend, prompting police in Montana's largest city to investigate the case as a possible hate crime. Charles Rose, who plays trombone, says he saw the noose on a light pole a few feet from the band's tour bus in Billings when he went out to get something from the bus on Sunday morning. Lovett and his band performed at an outdoor concert in downtown Billings on Sunday evening. "I don't recall seeing it when we first arrived this morning," Rose wrote on his Facebook page Sunday, where he shared an image of the noose. "Scary. Needless to say I took it down." Rose later made a report to police. He did not immediately respond to a Facebook message from The Associated Press seeking comment on Tuesday. Billings Mayor Bill Cole addressed the issue at a city council meeting on Monday night. "Your city council, police department and city leaders take this matter very seriously," he said. "We condemn any hateful speech or symbols of hate in our community." However, the investigation has so far not turned up any witnesses who saw the noose being placed on the light pole and police have not been able to find any surveillance video in the area, Cole said. Nearly 30 years ago in Billings, the city united against racist attacks, with members of a painters union painting over racist graffiti that defaced a Native American family's house and with people from several denominations providing security at a Black church after skinheads had interrupted services. The city united again when hate flyers were posted near a Jewish synagogue, headstones were knocked over at a Jewish cemetery and a brick was thrown through the menorah-decorated bedroom window of a 6-year-old boy, the son of a Jewish rabbi. In December 1993, The Billings Gazette newspaper printed a full-page menorah that people could hang in their windows in support of Jewish residents. A sporting goods store posted "Not In Our Town" on its reader board, giving name to a movement that was the subject of news coverage and later, a made-for-TV movie. It continues as a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to "stop hate, address bullying and build safe, inclusive communities for all." Nava Thakuria As one more first information reports (FIR) was lodged against the corruption and money laundering by concerned officials while updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam and the petitioner, Gitika Bhattacharya, a Guwahati-based social worker, in her complaint at Dispur police station demanded legal actions against the government officials along with the private parties as well as some individuals, it added more dimensions to the controversy. The complaint, received on 13 July 2023, also categorically highlighted the matter of exploitation to nearly 8000 contractual workers, who were denied legalised monthly salaries during the process of NRC updation in the north-eastern State of India. It was in fact the fifth FIR, lodged before Assam Police, against the former NRC State coordinator, Prateek Hajela, who was appointed to look after the massive exercise under direct monitoring of the Supreme Court of India engaging 50,000 government employees and a few thousands of contractual data entry operators (DEOs). The NRC updation process began in 2014 and culminated with the publication of a final draft in 2019, but that is yet to be endorsed by the Registrar General of India. Earlier, alleging corruption by Hajela and also inclusion of a large number of illegal Bangladeshi migrants names in the NRC draft, the senior officers immediate successor Hitesh Devsarma filed two complaints before the Assam CID on 19 May 2022 and State vigilance & anti-corruption on 13 June 22. Devsarma was followed by Aabhijeet Sharma (lodging an FIR in Paltan Bazar police station on 14 October 22) and Luit Kumar Barman (filed another complaint in the same police station of Guwahati on 19 Oct 22). But not a single FIR has been registered, even though the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG, the highest audit body of worlds largest democracy) also recommended penal actions against Hajela. Demanding a complete reverification of the NRC draft and also appropriate actions against all the individuals who were involved in intentional inclusion of illegal people's name in it, the Bharat Raksha Manch (Save India Forum, a non-government organisation) emphasized on a correct NRC for Assam and punishment against the guilty individuals involved in money laundering to the tune of Rs 2600 million. Submitting a memorandum to Assam Governor at Raj Bhawan, the nationalist forum appealed to him for pursuing the NRC issue with the Union government in New Delhi. Governor Gulab Chand Kataria was also urged by the delegation, led by Suryakanta Kelkar and Dwijendra N Barthakur, to initiate an affidavit to be filed by the State government before the apex court seeking its reverification. Assam anti-migrants agitation (1979 to 1985) to identify and deport the illegal foreigners culminated with an accord with the federal government (in presence of the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi) where influx up to 24 March 1971 was unfortunately resolved to get regularized. But the illegal immigration from the present-day Bangladesh continued and currently the indigenous people of Assam are on the verge of being minority in their homeland. Patriotic Peoples Front Assam, a forum of nationalist citizens, also demanded that the DEOs should be awarded the outstanding amount of money by the concerned authorities. The NRC authority spent a sum of Rs 1600 crore in the four-year long exercise where the system integrator (Wipro Limited) had the responsibility to supply DEOs, but it engaged one sub-contractor (Integrated System and Services) which paid a DEO Rs 5,500 to 9,100 per month (shockingly its below the countrys basic minimum wages). Guwahati: Bharat Raksha Manch (Save India Forum, a non-government organisation) reiterates its demand for the National Register of Citizens (NRC) with the base year 1951 across the country. The recently concluded its national executive meeting at Jammu (J&K) also extended support to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The nationalist forum also appealed for peace in Manipur which has been facing relentless turmoil since 3 May last. Graced by BRM national president Satyanarayan Jethia, working president Bhusan Dewan, national coordinator Suryakanta Kelkar with others, the meeting also observed that a correct nationwide NRC could have prevented the Manipur mayhem. Speakers expressed condolences over the demise of over 150 people from different ethnic communities of Manipur due to the conflicts which also left more than 75 individuals seriously injured. The miscreants burnt over 6000 houses rendering thousands of families homeless, who are now taking shelter in refugee camps. Till date, nearly 200 temples and other religious places have been destroyed and 80% of indigenous Meitei population suffer the most. They appealed to all stakeholders to exercise restraint while in indulging violence as it never solve any problem. In another resolution, the meeting urged the Union government to allow the temples across India to be managed by the Sanatani Hindus as being done by the Muslims and Christians while taking care of their religious places like mosques and churches respectively. It also emphasized on protecting the helpless Hindu refugees under Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) guidelines, who came to India from Pakistan and Bangladesh to escape religious atrocities in both the Muslim-majority countries. Recently, the Assam unit of BRM organised a press meet in the city, where State unit president Dwijendra N Barthakur and its adviser Hitesh Devsarma brief the media about the fate of NRC Assam draft, which was published in 2019. Devsarma, a former State NRC coordinator, who personally lodged two complaints against his predecessor Prateek Hajela claiming inclusion of millions of Bangladeshi migrants names in the NRC through tempered softwares. He also alleged that Hajela was personally involved with a scam involving Rs 260 crores in the process of NRC updation for Assam. ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates The baby sea turtle flapped its flippers as it was lowered into the ocean, only to be pushed back ashore by the strong tide. It tried again, and this time it made it, swimming fast and deep into Persian Gulf waters lapping at a string of beachfront tourist resorts. Scientists hope the turtle will thrive back in its natural habitat, joining about 500 sea turtles that have been rescued, rehabilitated and released since Abu Dhabi's Environment Agency launched a program three years ago to aid turtles distressed by climate change and other issues. In the latest release in early June, about 80 turtles were carried to the water's edge by members of the agency's Wildlife Rescue Program, joined by members of the community. Many were outfitted with satellite tracking gear to help scientists better understand migration patterns and the success of rehabilitation methods. Turtles have historically been hunted for their meat and eggs, with their shells used in jewelry. But plenty of manmade factors figure into a decline in all seven sea turtle species. "We see issues such as plastic pollution causing harm, vessel strikes, nets causing them to be entangled in them, and coastal development, which reduces the amount of nesting habitat they have available, says Hind al-Ameri, assistant scientist at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi. Climate change is a big contributor, researchers say. Warming oceans harm coral reefs, which turtles need to survive, and shift currents to expose turtles to new predators. Rising sea levels diminish the beaches where the turtles nest and lay their eggs. Abu Dhabi's isn't the only agency in the Emirates focused on aiding sea turtles. Emirates Nature-WWF launched a pair of marine conservation initiatives more than a decade ago, studying the behavior of the hawksbill and green turtles in the region. And the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project has been helping sick and injured sea turtles for nearly two decades, rehabilitating and returning more than 2,000 turtles to the Persian Gulf in that time. Scientists say they see evidence that the sea turtles are adapting to climate change. Turtle gender is influenced by the temperature in which eggs develop, with warmer temperatures producing a higher ratio of female turtles. Al-Ameri said conditions in the United Arab Emirates have become so warm that the male population should be devastated but it is healthy and reproducing. So its driving us to understand why our species are adapting the way they are and what it would mean in terms of climate change and would turtles be able to adapt to climate change in the future or not, she said. How the planet can limit global warming, and its damaging effects on sea turtles and the rest of the world, will be discussed at length in November when Dubai hosts the next United Nations summit on climate change. Virginia government, as an $88 billion-a-year enterprise, has a big footprint in the marketplace, spending about $6 billion in 2022-23 in just 20 areas from building construction to road paving, from temporary employment to health services, from warehousing to management consultants. According to the states purchasing and supply agency, those are just some of the services and part of the bill, which the Youngkin administration estimates is typically north of $11 billion. As a business guy, Gov. Glenn Youngkin a former private-equity CEO with, according to Forbes Magazine, an estimated net worth of $470 million when he was elected in 2021 wants to apply a business guys approach to state purchasing, believing taxpayers can save a ton with new guidelines that would be the purview of a so-called chief procurement officer responsible for monitoring costs and management. Savings can be steered to other programs. Thats one reason the stakes in the November legislative elections are so high for Youngkin: full Republican control of the General Assembly the House of Delegates is currently Republican; the Virginia Senate, Democratic means momentum for the governors agenda in the last half of his non-renewable four-year term and, perhaps, a last-minute go for the presidency in 2024. Youngkin, for whom the separation of powers seems to mean the executive is more equal than the legislature and courts, envisions an aggressive overhaul of procurement, one that initially would have awarded a bounty to the private management consultancy hired to assist in the effort. Boston Consulting Group could have pocketed $50 million to $70 million 10% of verified savings, targeted at $500 million to $700 million. The administration in late January retreated on the scheme because of skepticism (might that be too mild a word?) among the Senate Democrats, most notably retiring Sen. Janet Howell of Fairfax, who leads the powerful Finance and Appropriations Committee. The governor is pursuing a considerably cheaper version of the plan, one under which Boston Consulting Group where Eric Moeller, the low-profile aide overseeing the administrations efforts to retool targeted programs, once was a partner is expected to be paid more than $3 million for its initial work. The consultancy is expected to identify at least $200 million in savings, under a contract quietly modified in February and May by Boston Consulting Group and Michael OMalley, the chief procurement officer and formerly of insurance giant AIG. Among the tweaks: the scope of Boston Consulting Groups work is being expanded to include procurement by public colleges and universities, the front lines in the Youngkin war on supposed woke-ism and which when it comes to purchasing supplies and services can operate independently of Richmond. There were three other revisions that caught the eye and raised the eyebrows of legislators, experts on state purchasing and firms doing business with the state: the administration intends to renegotiate some current contracts for quick win savings, consultants will not share their findings with the General Assembly unless authorized by Youngkins office and legal counsel, and that Boston Consulting Group employees will train procurement officers in new procedures and personally monitor their contacts with prospective contractors. All three are generating questions. What is the basis, beyond a fiscal emergency, and were not in one, for the governor re-framing extant contracts? As Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, Howells presumed successor as finance chair should Democrats hold the Senate, put it, once we appropriate, thats none of their business. Lawyers and lobbyists know well the fireworks that can accompany efforts to alter or scuttle a contract in mid-stream. In 2017, Northrup Grumman, a titanic supplier of info-tech services, sued the McAuliffe administration for attempting to break off a 13-year contract. In a settlement the following year, the state paid Northrup Grumman $35.8 million, roughly half what the company said it was owed when the state ended the contract 10 months early. And why would an administration that, if only because of its inexperience, has had difficult dealings with legislators in both parties, as Lucas notes, these are the people who decide Youngkins spending requests, risk further alienating them with a perceived gag order? And would Boston Consulting Groups proximity to the new process for selecting contractors an overhaul that could require General Assembly consent should it involve reorganizing the bureaucracy give them a competitive advantage over rival consultancies for future services? There could be a lot of money on the line. The Department of General Services reports that in the past year, Virginia paid nearly $570 million for business management and consulting services. In a July 1 letter to Youngkin, Howell and Del. Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Moeller provided an update on the administrations transformation program, touching on improvements in service at the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Virginia Employment Commissions, both of which were roiled by the coronavirus pandemic. Moeller wrote that his goal is to help build a culture of transparency, accountability, and constructive challenge across government, ensure employees at all levels are reminded that our government works for the citizens of Virginia, and drive changes improving the effectiveness and efficiency of our government. In short, we work to help make Virginias government more responsive, efficient and transparent. Moeller made no reference, however, to anticipated changes in state procurement, a process that traditionally relies on competitive bidding and complex, often-lengthy negotiations with sole-source contractors. The system also includes incentives for participation by small firms and those owned by minorities, likely alarmed by Youngkins hostility to the post-George Floyd awareness of diversity, equity and inclusion and what that might mean for their businesses. Viola Baskerville, who was responsible for procurement as Democratic Gov. Tim Kaines secretary of administration from 2006 to 2010 and as a former Richmond city councilor and legislator has a keen appreciation for state governments economic impact on the city, said that purchasing and supply can be difficult in the public sector because of policy and political considerations. Its always harder, because in the private sector, the bottom line is always about profit, she said. With the state, its not about profit, its about fairness and efficiency. The topic of reparations for African American descendants of the enslaved invariably is framed in the form of a check. But momentum appears to be taking reparations back to its land-based roots, most famously voiced in the promise of 40 acres and a mule. And a collaboration between Richmonds Duron Chavis, an urban agriculturalist and food activist, and Callie Walker, the daughter of an Amelia County cattle farmer, has resulted in a effort to provide reparations for descendants of the enslaved on 80 acres Walker inherited from her parents. Chavis and Walker are putting the word out about their effort a project of their nascent nonprofit Central Virginia Agrarian Commons to be stewards of acreage that would grant low-cost or no-cost 99-year leases to individuals who want to farm on the land at Amelia Court House, about 40 miles southwest of downtown Richmond. Community members would be schooled on farming at a 5-acre site in Petersburg before heading to Amelia, where land, equipment and philanthropic resources would be available for their use. That way, were building a system between rural and urban where farmers can actually not have to go into debt to farm, Chavis said Monday. Central Virginia Agrarian Commons had hoped to build multiple housing units for the farmers on the property, but zoning restrictions prevented that. Instead, in upcoming months, the nonprofit will begin fundraising to build a bed and breakfast as a starter house for a family or two, as a business, or as a retreat center. Walker and Chavis connected at a workshop of the Agrarian Trust, which promotes equitable land access for future farmers and ranchers. During the workshop, Agrarian Trust gave us a pretty brief but pretty appalling history of practices by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including discrimination against Black farmers, Walker said. My husband and I already knew that we wanted to donate this land to environmental food growers, she said; after the presentation, they concluded that the donation must benefit African American environmental food growers. Chavis was already in conversations with Agrarian Trust, and it just kind of took off from there in January 2020, Walker said. They formed a board, including consultant Renard Turner, co-owner and operator of Vanguard Ranch in Louisa County. Last September, Agrarian Trust facilitated the transfer of Walkers 80 acres to Central Virginia Agrarian Commons. If African Americans are conflicted about returning to our agrarian roots in America, our skepticism is hard-earned. There is the traumatic legacy of enslavement, the broken promise of property redistribution after Emancipation, and the loss of land through theft, violence, eminent domain and lack of access to USDA loans. Another problem is heirs property land passed down to descendants without a will or deed which left owners vulnerable to partition sales. Chavis knows this history of land misappropriation all too well. But he argues that reconnecting Black folks with the land will not only heal communities, but a planet ailing from climate change. The land didnt do anything to us, he said. Theres a difference between the land and the oppression that happened on the land. The land is necessary. Land-based reparations came up during a meeting last Wednesday of the Virginia Commission to Study Slavery and Subsequent De Jure and De Facto Racial and Economic Discrimination Against African Americans. Commission member John W. Kinney said members of a Black realtors group proposed the donation of vacant state land for housing as a form of reparations. People are seeing another way, beyond individualism and immediate gratification, Chavis said. We can all boss up together if we work together and take lessons from Fannie Lou Hamer and the Rev. Charles and Shirley Sherrod, Chavis said, citing pioneers of the land trust movement. They laid blueprints down as far as how we can take care of our community through shared and cooperative ownership, for housing as well as agriculture, he said. This is where our movement left off, to be frank, after the Civil Rights Act passed. The Amelia farm on which Walker grew up has a complicated history of its own. When her father purchased the property in 1968, it had a plantation house on it. The family soon sold the house, which was dismantled, moved to Goochland and rebuilt. But two years ago through the book The Unsung African American Heroes of Amelia County, Volume 1 by Minister Emanuel Hyde III she learned that the plantation once belonged to a man named Nathaniel Harrison, who fell in love with an enslaved woman owned by his brother Edmund. Edmund learned of his brothers affection for Frankey Miles and planned to sell her into the Deep South. But his brother had a friend purchase her instead. Nathaniel Harrison then purchased and freed Miles. Upon his death in 1852, he left the 1,100-acre site to Miles and their children, Walker said. Their descendants held onto various pieces of the land and some remain in Amelia, Walker said. Descendants of people enslaved there also remain in the county. And so my hope is that descendants of people who were enslaved on this property will end up being the ones who control it, and decide what to do with it and how to use it and what to grow here, she said. Walkers husband, Pastor Dan Walker, leads United Methodist Church congregations in Amelia and Nottoway counties. Callie Walker was a United Methodist clergywoman in Philadelphia but is now on leave from that role in the church. They have no children to whom they can pass on property. So Im proud and honored to be part of a reparations project and to have inherited land that I can do this with. The goal is to build a community of people descended from the enslaved in Amelia, so that folks can actively participate in their repair or that healing that comes along with land-based reparations, Chavis said. Central Virginia Agrarian Commons is seeking a conservation easement that would prevent commercial development of the acreage. Were not giving you a check, but were going to give you 80 acres of land, Chavis said of the project. What do you do with that land to empower your community for generations to come? What you can do with land as a wealth-building strategy for your community is a real conversation. It is a conversation that is a century and a half overdue. PHOTOS: Hollywood Cemetery, from the RTD archives Deadly hotel shooting in Cancun Hotel Zone targeted attack Cancun, Q.R. One person was shot to death in a targeted attack Tuesday in a hotel the Cancun Hotel Zone. According to the State Attorney General, the targeted attack was drug related. The unidentified man was shot several times and pronounced on scene by responding paramedics. The Tuesday afternoon shooting had municipal and military police at the kilometer 6 scene of the hotel zone around 12:30 p.m. In a statement, the Riu hotel where the shooting took place said the people involved in the targeted attack were from outside the hotel. Their comment was made after some local media suggested hotel employees were involved. The hotel went on to clarify that at no time were employees or tourists injured or involved. The Fiscalia General del Estado (FGE) of Quintana Roo issued a statement saying The FGE of Quintana Roo reports that an investigation was opened for the events recorded in a lodging center located at kilometer 6 of Boulevard Kukulcan in the municipality of Benito Juarez (Cancun). The first investigations indicate that this event, where a person lost his life due to the impact of a firearm, occurred in the context of drug-related crimes and at no time were the tourists staying there at risk. Further details surrounding the targeted attack are unknown. More than 3,000 INAH workers strike around the country Chetumal, Q.R. Unionized workers from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in Quintana Roo began a strike Monday. The strike, they say, will likely continue until Thursday. The workers are demanding that the General Directorate comply with an agreement that was signed in 2021. Workers say the agreement was for the improvement of working conditions as well as the delivery of new work uniforms and proper training among other specifications. INAH workers from across the country are participaing in the strike which began Monday. More than 3,000 workers across Mexico have stopped work in protest of the broken agreement. In the state of Quintana Roo, approximately 100 INAH employees are refusing to work. Union delegate, Jose Palma Correa, said that the strike will continue until Thursday, during which time they will continue to demonstrate outside the INAH office of Chetumal. Tulum National Guard trained in ecosystem and environmental laws Tulum, Q.R. More than a dozen National Guard have received specialized training for the states Protected Natural Areas. On Monday, the group were trained in Tulum on the ecosystems, the importance of their conservation and the states environmental laws. Maria Luisa Albores Gonzalez, the Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), headed the National Guard training. She, along with Tulum Mayor Diego Castanon Trejo, welcomed the officials of the governments of Mexico and Quintana Roo. It is very important for us to receive them in this municipality where our President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has projects such as the Mayan Train, the Tulum Airport and the Jaguar Park, she said. According to Secretary Albores Gonzalez, the protection and conservation of flora and fauna is a priority for the government of Mexico. The training was done out of a need and the work we have been doing through this project, the Tren Maya project, was based on that need, said the federal official. On behalf of Governor Mara Lezama, the head of the Secretary of Ecology and Environment (Sema), Josefina Hernandez Gomez recognized the training that took place in Tulum, who hosted the training event. This specialized training allows for deeper knowledge, especially the ecosystems present, their fragility and the importance of their conservation, including knowledge of current environmental laws, she said. Elements of the National Guard have been assigned to provide security in the new Jaguar Park. Plans continue for a new Roanoke river park in the Wasena area and the city is asking for public feedback next week. The Parks and Recreation Department will show progress designs and host a community meeting Aug. 2. The meeting will be held at the Wasena Park Shelter starting at 5:30 p.m. The community is encouraged to provide feedback on what features they are most interested in and share their program or event ideas related to the future in-river park, according to a city news release. While a number of similar in-river parks can be found across the country, this will be the first of its kind in the state of Virginia, according to the release. The city is working with the Stantec engineering and project management firm on the park design and permitting process. The proposed plan incorporates features that can be enjoyed by a wide variety of river and park users from experienced paddlers, to tubers, to those who enjoy wading in calm waters or viewing from the riverbanks. Community access and enjoyment are a priority in the design process, with a focus on ADA river access, whitewater features, enhanced wading spaces, scenic viewing points, and calm river play areas, according to the release. Plans for the park also include adding access points along the river. In addition to ADA access at Wasena Park, the proposed design would include ADA access under Memorial Bridge. Also of note is a separate, grant-funded project to construct ADA river access at Bennington Park, demonstrating the ongoing efforts to enhance access to the Roanoke River more broadly, according to the release. A total of $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (pandemic relief) funding was allocated to this project in 2022 by the city, with an additional $1 million allocated in 2023. The ambitious plans will require additional funding of an estimated $1 million, and city staff are pursuing additional grant funding to supplement the existing budget, according to the release. The project will also require numerous permits under a deadline to finish it under the current timeframe. Once permits are acquired and design finalized, the next stage will be construction, with an estimated completion by 2026, according to the release. Russia and China are sending government delegations to North Korea this week for events marking the 70th anniversary of the armistice that halted fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War GREENVILLE, S.C. Duke Energy is reminding customers to check out the latest assistance programs that can help keep bills in check as the heat of summer settles in across the Palmetto State. While summer temperatures are one cause of higher bills, the costs of fuels used to produce energy have also increased. Duke Energy does not profit from fuel costs, and the company takes steps to protect customers from spikes through long-term fuel contracts, an equitable rate structure and a diverse fuel mix. When the heat of summer arrives in South Carolina, the energy it takes to keep our families and businesses comfortable can increase the electricity bills of our customers, said Mike Callahan, Duke Energys South Carolina president. We want our customers to know they have choices and control over their energy use to help manage those summer energy bills. Customer assistance programs fall into three categories energy efficiency, which help customers use less energy; flexible payment options; and programs designed for income-qualified customers. Programs can vary by Duke Energy service territory. Energy Efficiency Energy efficiency assistance can range from simple conservation tips to a number of programs to help customers use less energy. They include: Usage Alerts: Customers with smart meters who have an email registered can receive daily or midcycle alerts that show current energy use and a projection of that months bill at the current rate of usage. Power Manager: Incentivizes customers to allow Duke Energy to make minor adjustments to their thermostats or reduce the run time of their HVAC systems during peak electric demand periods. Home audits: South Carolina customers can receive a free energy efficiency assessment for homeowners. An expert will detail ways to increase efficiency and lower energy use and leave behind a free kit with energy-saving products valued at over $180. Billing and Payment Options For customers who need additional flexibility in how they manage their bills, Duke Energy offers the following options: Budget Billing: For those who prefer one predictable payment every month, this program takes the swing out of seasonal energy bills with an average amount thats periodically reviewed and adjusted. Pick Your Due Date: Great for those on a fixed income or for customers who like to manage personal finances once a month, this option allows customers to select their bill due date. Installment Payment Plans: Allows more flexibility to pay a past-due balance over a longer period. Customers can request a few extra days or restructure the past-due balance into a monthly payment plan. Income-Qualified Programs Duke Energy partners with community and state agencies to help those who are income qualified to access a range of Duke Energy, state and federal assistance programs. These programs also vary by service territory. Examples include: The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Provides assistance to help eligible customers meet their home heating and/or cooling needs. For more information on programs available in their community, customers can visit duke-energy.com/SpecialAssistance or call the Customer Care number listed on their energy bill. WASHINGTON, S.C. The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered more than $66,000 in back wages for 20 workers at six Pee Dee NAPA Auto Parts locations following an investigation. U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigators found that Bellinger Parts Group Inc. which operates the businesses as NAPA Auto Parts stores made illegal deductions from employees pay at six South Carolina locations for store damage, cash register shortages and uniforms. These deductions caused some workers pay to fall below the $7.25 per hour federal minimum wage for all hours worked, a Fair Labor Standards Act violation, according to a release from the agency. The division recovered $66,322 in back wages for 20 workers. The affected stores are NAPA Auto Parts, 160 Bentree Lane, Florence; NAPA Auto Parts, 612 Pearl Street, Darlington; NAPA Auto Parts, 913 Highway 301 North, Dillon; NAPA Auto Parts, 116 Third Loop Road, Florence; NAPA Auto Parts, 1016 S 5th Street, Hartsville and NAPA Auto Parts, 1806 East Highway 76, Marion. Bellinger Parts Group also failed to pay non-exempt salary counter salespeople and delivery drivers overtime for hours over 40 in a workweek. Investigators also learned the employer did not include non-discretionary sales bonuses in some employees regular rate when calculating correct overtime rates, causing Bellinger Parts Group to pay overtime premiums at rates lower than required by law. Employers who deny workers their full earnings make it harder for employees to provide for themselves and their families and give these employers an unfair advantage over law-abiding competitors, said Wage and Hour Division District Director Jamie Benefiel in Columbia. Other employers should use the outcome of this investigation as a reminder to review their pay practices to make certain they avoid violations that have costly consequences. Employers can contact the Wage and Hour Division at its toll-free number, 1-866-4-US-WAGE. Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including its search tool to learn if you are owed back wages collected by the division and industry-specific toolkits, like the auto repair and maintenance compliance toolkit. Keep track of hours and wages with the Wage and Hours new Timesheet App for Apple and Android devices, available in English and Spanish. If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). Not a done deal: Hunter Biden ends up pleading not guilty to federal charges after district judge raises concerns about plea deal particulars | Main | "Vagueness Avoidance" July 26, 2023 Ohio Supreme Court rejects myriad challenges to state's new indefinite sentencing system for most serous offenses As reported via this official court press release, an Ohio "state law allowing prison officials to retain beyond their minimum terms offenders who violate laws or rules while incarcerated does not violate the constitutional rights of inmates, the Supreme Court of Ohio ruled today." Here is more of the basics of the ruling: In a 5-2 decision, the Supreme Court affirmed two appellate court decisions finding the Reagan Tokes Law to be constitutional. The Reagan Tokes law, which took effect in 2019, imposes an indefinite prison term on those who commit serious felonies. Under the law, the offender is expected to be released once the minimum sentence is served, but the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) can maintain an inmates incarceration up to the maximum sentence imposed by the court for committing crimes or breaking rules. The Reagan Tokes Law is named for a 21-year-old student who was abducted, raped, and murdered in 2017 by a man on parole. The Court consolidated the cases of two men, Christopher Hacker and Danan Simmons Jr., who were both sentenced under the new law in December 2019. The men were not involved in Reagan Tokes case. Writing for the Court majority, Justice Joseph T. Deters stated the two men raised a facial challenge to the Reagan Tokes law and so had to prove that under no circumstances could the law be fairly applied. The pair failed to prove that was the case, raising only hypothetical situations in which an inmate might serve more than the minimum term for a minor prison rule infraction, the opinion noted. Justice Deters wrote that at some point an inmate could possibly raise a claim that the DRC applied the law in an unconstitutional manner should the facts of a specific case so warrant. Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy and Justices Patrick F. Fischer, R. Patrick DeWine, and Melody Stewart joined Justice Deters opinion. In a dissenting opinion, Justice Jennifer Brunner argued that the process for denying the inmates their release is constitutionally flawed. The law does not give inmates the appropriate means of challenging the DRCs accusations that they have misbehaved, and the DRC under the law is both the prosecutor and the arbiter or judge of prison conduct, giving the DRC sole discretion to extend inmates time in prison, she wrote. Justice Michael P. Donnelly joined Justice Brunners dissent. The full 53-page opinion in Ohio v. Hacker, No. 2023-Ohio-2535 (Ohio July 26, 2023), is available at this link. Here is how the opinion for the court begins: The Reagan Tokes Law, which became effective in March 2019, requires that for certain first- and second-degree felony offenses, a sentencing court impose on the offender an indefinite sentence consisting of a minimum and a maximum prison term. There is a presumption that the offender will be released from incarceration after serving the minimum prison term. But if that presumption is rebutted, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) may maintain the offenders incarceration up to the maximum prison term set by the trial court. In these appeals, which we have consolidated for decision, appellants, Christopher P. Hacker (case No. 2020-1496) and Danan Simmons Jr. (case No. 2021-0532), maintain that indefinite sentencing under the Reagan Tokes Law is unconstitutional because it violates the separation-of-powers doctrine, the offenders right to a jury trial, and procedural due process. We disagree and therefore affirm the judgments of the Third and Eighth District Courts of Appeals. The dissenting opinion by Justice Brunner begins this way: In both of these cases, we were asked to consider the facial constitutionality of the Reagan Tokes Law (RTL). I agree with several of the majoritys determinations in its analysis. Because the RTL is, in my view, akin to Ohios former indefinite-sentencing scheme, I agree that the law does not violate the separation-of-powers doctrine. I also agree that appellants, Christopher P. Hacker and Danan Simmons Jr., lack standing to challenge the Adult Parole Authoritys (APA) exercise of its discretion to recommend a persons release from prison before the presumptive minimum sentence has been served, because they are not aggrieved by that provision of the RTL. I share the majoritys view that the RTL does not violate the right to a jury trial, because nothing about the law permits a fact-finder other than a jury to find facts that increase the range of sentencing exposure of the defendant. With respect to the majoritys overall due-process analysis, I agree that appellants do have a protectable interest in their freedom after their presumptive minimum sentence has expired, and thus, I disagree with the contrary argument of appellee, the state of Ohio. Similarly, I agree with the majority that a facial constitutional analysis involves a review of the law that is challenged, not the policies that may be adopted to enforce the law. But I part ways with the majority in that I do not agree with its conclusions about procedural due process. The procedures created by the RTL are insufficient in light of the gravity of the decision being made whether to release a person from prison on his or her presumptive release date. This imbalance facially violates offenders right to due process and is unconstitutional. And because the unconstitutional portions of the RTL cannot be severed from the law without thwarting the intent of the legislature, I would invalidate as unconstitutional the entire RTL. July 26, 2023 at 02:40 PM | Permalink Comments Your view, Doug? Feels like the Court was just affirming what is really just a good time credit scheme. Posted by: federalist | Jul 26, 2023 4:12:28 PM Still getting through the day's email, but your feeling here is mine as well from first glance. Posted by: Doug B | Jul 26, 2023 6:36:48 PM Post a comment WINNEBAGO, Neb. Four days in late July are among the happiest times for members of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, according to Garan Coons. Coons, who oversees the tribe's public relations, fondly recalled dancing on the green grass at Veteran's Memorial Park as a child during the Annual Homecoming Celebration. "We have this section here for our elders. My grandmother, for many, many generations, sat there," Coons said, motioning to an area of seating in the circular arena, which is located on U.S. 75 east of Winnebago. "I remember dancing and waving at her. She has since passed on." Winnebago Tribe hosts 157th Annual Homecoming Celebration Garan Coons, who oversees the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska's public relations, speaks at Veteran's Memorial Park about the tribe's 157th Annual Annually, the tribe commemorates the return of Chief Little Priest and the Company "A" Fort Omaha Scouts with a pow-wow. The 157th Homecoming Celebration begins Thursday and runs through Sunday. "It's exciting that it's coming. Every year, we know it's coming, but it's just like last-minute preparation to make sure that everything's in order," Tribal Council Treasurer Rona Stealer, who also serves on the pow-wow committee, said last week, as volunteers touched up the paint on buildings surrounding the arena. "By the time the first day comes, everything falls into place." Winnebago Homecoming Celebration Darrell Blackbird III dances during a salute to the United States armed forces at the 156th Annual Winnebago Homecoming Celebration held at Ve Dancers from all over the United States and Canada will compete in several categories, including Ho-Chunk Applique, Fancy, Grass and Jingle. They'll be dressed in handmade regalia fashioned with leather, beads, silk, satin and feathers. "It's the most beautiful sight, in my opinion, to be up here and to see all the dancers and all the beautiful flags," Coons, who is emceeing the pow-wow along with Boye Ladd Sr., said. Veterans honored Each day begins with a flag-raising ceremony at 6 a.m. The ceremony is led by the Winnebago Veterans Association and American Legion Post #363. Gordon Rave, of the Winnebago Veterans Association, estimated that they raised around 130 flags last year. He noted that a flag for the late Gustave D. Smith, a highly decorated World War II veteran who died in 2002, will be raised on the honor pole, or main pole, today. "This main pole, that's the one that every day we honor somebody, mainly combat veterans who passed on. We'll put their flag up," Rave said. Winnebago Homecoming Celebration Dancers perform during a salute to the United States armed forces at the 156th Annual Winnebago Homecoming Celebration held at Veteran's Memor Rave said all veterans who served in the U.S. military are welcome to participate in the ceremony. The flags are lowered and removed from the arena daily at 5 p.m. ahead of the grand entry, which begins at 7. "We had a lot of people that were sitting in the audience that were non-Native. We would guide them -- 'Do you want to help us?' They kind of look at you because they never did it before. So, we'll take them out there and have them fold flags and, then, carry the flags back here. It's just kind of an honor for them to do it," said Rave, who served in the U.S. Army and Iowa National Guard. Aric Armell, a Marine Corps and U.S. Army veteran who serves on the Tribal Council, said anybody who wants to "bear witness" to the celebration is welcome. "Relationships have been made here. Families have been started here. Just a lot of good things come out of this," he said. "We invite anyone from anywhere to come in and join us for this. It's a good feeling, and it's a feeling I just want to share with everybody." Pow-wow highlights Stealer said she always looks forward to the Winnebago Snake Dance. At one point in the dance, participants end up in a coil like a snake. They also jump over a stick. "That's when everybody's out there. It's about bringing in new life," Stealer said. Winnebago Tribe hosts 157th Annual Homecoming Celebration Gordon Rave, Rona Stealer and Garan Coons pose for a photo at Veteran's Memorial Park. The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska's 157th Annual Homecomi Rave said his favorite dance is the men's Fancy Dance. "They put on a good show. They have to dance pretty fast," he said. Coons said much of the dancers' regalia has been passed down through generations, especially eagle feathers. Dancers who wear eagle feathers have been blessed by a veteran. "It's actually a federal law that no other culture, no other race can wear and hold eagle feathers except Native Americans," Coons said. "And, so, when we accept that responsibility, there's certain criteria that we have to have when we wear those eagle feathers." Dancers will often make their regalia throughout the winter months. Coons said there are stories that go along with the regalia. He said you can identify a dancer's tribe by the designs worn. "Some of the veterans will wear their patches and, then, also, if they're of the Winnebago Tribe, they'll wear like a floral design," said Coons, who noted that Sioux tribes have designs that are more geometric in nature. Winnebago Homecoming Celebration Spotted Eagle drummers from Walt Hill, Neb., perform during a salute to the United States armed forces at the 156th Annual Winnebago Homecomin Coons said there's "healing power" and "blessings" in the dances. In times of drought, he said non-Native farmers would often ask the tribe to dance the Green Corn Dance. "The tribe did, and it ended up raining," he said. Besides dancing, the celebration also features drumming, arts and crafts vendors, and food, including a corn soup. "One of the best dishes that we have is a soup that's made with a traditional corn and, usually, it's adorned with meat. I'll tell you what, that's really delicious," Coons said. Chief Little Priest The Winnebago Tribe, also known as the Ho-Chunk Nation, originally lived in Wisconsin. In the early 1800s, the U.S. government forced them to give up portions of their land. They moved around the Midwest, finally settling in Nebraska. Many eventually returned to Wisconsin. The tribe's Annual Homecoming Celebration commemorates the 1866 return of Chief Little Priest, the tribe's last great war chief, and some 75 members of the Company "A" Fort Omaha Scouts. In July of that year, Chief Little Priest's brother Grey Wolf held a celebration of his life and deeds. Winnebago Homecoming Celebration Dancers of all ages dance during a salute to the United States armed forces at the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska's 156th Annual Homecoming Celeb According to an article written by Ho-Chunk Tribal Historian David Lee Smith, even after Chief Little Priest was shot four times near Deer Creek Fort, he still managed to kill nine Lakota warriors, including their war chief, and wound many others. Coons said the federal government prohibited tribal dancing because it viewed the movements as a form of revolt. However, after Chief Little Priest was wounded in battle, his brother received special permission from the government for the Ho-Chunk warriors do some healing dancing on behalf of Chief Little Priest. "Back in those days, they had what are called war ties in their hair. And they said, take those out and let your hair out, and you can dance," Coons said. "They did what is called the Grizzly Bear Dance for him, and, during this special dance, he started kind of moving his fingers. They kept singing louder and louder, and, pretty soon, he kind of stood up. He got up and, then, because of the power of the song, he started to dance, himself, even with his wounds." Winnebago Tribe hosts 157th Annual Homecoming Celebration Last week, preparations were underway at Veteran's Memorial Park in Winnebago, Neb., for the Winnebago Tribe's 157th Annual Homecoming Celebra The Ho-Chunk warriors brought Chief Little Priest home to the reservation. But, ultimately, he succumbed to his wounds on Sept. 12, 1866. His remains were buried in a small mound in the Winnebago area, according to Smith's article. "His last dying words were, 'There's nothing more I can do for you. Please educate my children and be strong,'" Coons said. "If it wasn't for him and the Company 'A' Scouts, we wouldn't be here." SIOUX CITY Sioux City's Engineering Division will close 28th Street at Business Highway 75 to through traffic next week. The street will be closed on Monday morning and is expected to be reopened Aug. 11. Access to homes and businesses along the street will be maintained during the closure. DAKOTA CITY A Sioux City man likely will spend the rest of his life in prison for sexually assaulting two juvenile females in South Sioux City. District Judge Bryan Meismer on Tuesday sentenced Harry Beckner, 76, to 40-50 years in prison for the assault of the girls at their home. Beckner, a transient who was living in Sioux City at the time of his September arrest, had pleaded no contest in May in Dakota County District Court. The girls' mother contacted authorities on Jan. 22, 2021, and reported that Beckner had been staying at their home and had sexually assaulted her developmentally disabled daughter. According to court documents, Buckner told deputies he was drunk, had passed out and didn't remember anyone in his room. Questioned the next day when sober, Beckner told investigators he couldn't remember much from the day before. He denied sexually assaulting the girl, but said if he did, he didn't remember doing so. Tests showed Beckner's DNA was present on evidence collected from the girl. Investigators also discovered entries in the girl's journal indicating Beckner had assaulted her and her sister prior to the initial complaint. DAKOTA CITY A former co-owner of a now-closed South Sioux City RV sales company was placed on probation Wednesday for teaming with her husband to defraud more than a dozen customers. Shara Bras, 57, of Hinton, Iowa, also was sentenced to 270 days jail, time that could be waived if she successfully progresses through her five years on probation. She was fined $7,500 and must pay $24,492 in restitution to the victims, a sum she's already paid. She also must complete 100 hours of community service. Bras said an economic downturn due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic and her late husband's deteriorating health had led them to make bad decisions to cover their business expenses. "It was never my intent or desire to hurt or harm anyone," Bras said before District Judge Bryan Meismer sentenced her in Dakota County District Court. In March, Bras pleaded no contest to 11 counts of theft by deception and single counts of selling or disposing of a motor vehicle without delivering a title or VIN number, issuing a bad check, intentional abuse of a senior adult and violation of the motor vehicle certificate of title act. She and her husband, Douglas, both were charged with 50 charges connected with the sale of campers on consignment, then using the sales proceeds to pay business bills, debts and payroll rather than the campers' owners, while operating their business formerly known as Fremont RV Center, 2405 Cornhusker Drive. Douglas Bras also pleaded guilty in March to 15 charges, but died in April and his case was later dismissed. As part of an amended plea agreement, Shara Bras agreed to pay the restitution her husband had agreed to pay, in addition to her own. The remaining charges against Bras will be dismissed. The two were arrested in April 2022 after a months-long investigation in which buyers and sellers of more than a dozen campers or RVs reported to police they had received checks for insufficient funds after their campers were sold. Some said they didn't receive their title or payment until several weeks or months after the purchase was made. Customers also reported paying Fremont RV for items that were never ordered and received. In each of the theft by deception charges, the couple admitted to selling campers on consignment and keeping the money without notifying the owners their vehicle had been sold or paying the owner or the owner's bank the sale proceeds. On two occasions, Shara Bras issued checks of $50,000 and $23,000 to separate customers, knowing the business didn't have funds to cover the checks. The fraudulent activity dated back to July 2019 and continued through March 2022. FRESNO, Calif. A Sioux City native has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the shooting death of a man in California. Isaac Helms, 22, was sentenced Tuesday in Fresno for a Sept. 26, 2019, robbery setup involving two other Sioux Cityans that resulted in the fatal shooting of Tyrel Truss, 20, of Fresno. Helms was found guilty of murder and second-degree robbery after a 12-day jury trial in April. Helms was charged with Precious Green and Hannah Haywood, both of Sioux City, and Alexa Ramos, of Firebaugh, California, and formerly of Sioux City. The Fresno Bee newspaper had reported the three from Sioux City came to California to drop Haywood off in Firebaugh, where she was going to live with Ramos and attend college. A few days before the murder, the four were involved in a car crash. Without a car and believing the police were looking for them, they concocted a plan to make money by using a dating app to lure someone whom they could rob. The four set up a meeting with Truss, and while they were in a car, Helms used a stolen .22-caliber handgun to try to rob Truss, who refused to give them anything and threatened to kill them. The situation escalated, and Helms shot Truss. Helms, Green, Haywood and Ramos attempted to flee but were detained by officers dispatched to the scene. Detectives found the gun believed to have been used in the shooting, and Helms, Green, Haywood and Ramos were found in possession of Truss' items. Helms' attorney had argued the shooting was self-defense. Green, 22, Haywood, 23, and Ramos, 24, all pleaded guilty of second-degree robbery in exchange for the dismissal of a murder charge and their testimony against Helms at trial. Haywood and Ramos both were sentenced to two years in prison, and Green received a four-year prison sentence. All three were given credit for time held in custody since their arrests more than three years prior to sentencing and were not sent to prison. SAC CITY, Iowa An Iowa legislator was arrested Monday near Carnarvon after refusing to obey a sheriff sergeant's orders to clear a road during RAGBRAI's trek through rural Sac County. State Sen. Adrian Dickey, a Republican who represents District 44 in southeast Iowa, was arrested and booked into the Sac County Jail on a simple misdemeanor charge of interference with official acts. Sac County Sheriff's Sgt. Jonathan Meyer said in a complaint filed in Sac County District Court that a big party had stopped in the middle of the road on Quincy Avenue. The party had been there since 2:42 p.m., and Meyer said he approached Dickey at 4:10 p.m. and asked them to move so he could open the road. After Dickey told Meyer he wasn't going to move, "I advised him he needed to move on otherwise he would be going to jail. He advised me to arrest him," Meyer said in his complaint. Meyer suggested to Dickey to move the party down the road to an open roadway, but Dickey continued to argue with him. Meyer then arrested Dickey and transported him to the jail in Sac City. His $300 cash bond was posted Tuesday morning. Dickey, 49, of Packwood, is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 8. According to online news site Iowa Starting Line, Dickey introduced a bill during the 2022 legislative session that would have made it illegal for law enforcement officers to arrest RAGBRAI participants. SIOUX CITY -- The Sioux City Rotary Club on Monday honored Lou Ann Lindblade for her longtime leadership role with Tolerance Week. At its weekly lunch meeting, the club surprised Lindblade with the Service Above Self award. The annual award is given to a local resident who has volunteered in the community, usually with little or no recognition or public knowledge. Only non-Rotary members are eligible for the award, created in 1957. The Rotary Club described Lindblade as the "power" behind Tolerance Week, which has helped educate local eighth-grade students about the horrors of the Holocaust. In 2005, local businessman Jerry Weiner asking Lindblade and her husband, George, to set up a program that would allow students to view a documentary about the Holocaust and hear survivors of one of the German concentration camps share their stories. Each year, Lou Ann Lindblade arranges travel for survivors, sends out all the invitations to our tri-state area schools, promotes the youth essay and art contests, organizes a dinner that connects the winners with survivors, handles social media, posts news, essays, art and other content on the Tolerance Week website. Lou Ann handles everything," said Bruce Miller, who emcees the Tolerance Week dinners with award-winning students and others. "She gives marching orders and tells you what to do. She keeps the thing going. Tolerance Week without her involvement would not happen. Truly, Lou Ann is the mover and shaker behind George, Jerry Weiner and others who are well known in our community. More recently, Lindblade played a key role in the creation of a new continous exhibit at the Sioux City Railroad Museum entitled "Holocaust Rails: Desperate Passage." In partnership with the museum, Tolerance Week organizers purchased a replica railroad boxcar, similar to the ones used to transport victims of the Holocaust during World War II. Lou Ann and George Lindblade run Sioux City Gifts, a local business at 18th and Pierce streets. NEW YORK An intense police search of the Long Island home of Rex Heuermann is complete, authorities said Tuesday as they ended a 12-day hunt for evidence that involved ripping up the yard and the discovery of a basement vault containing hundreds of weapons kept by the man accused of killing at least three women more than a decade ago. At a news conference outside the Massapequa Park home where Heuermann lived with his wife and two children, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said police had found a tremendous amount of information during their search. He declined to describe the bulk of the material, but said there was not a singular piece of evidence that jumped out to him. The search turned up at least 279 weapons kept inside a thick basement vault large enough for a person to walk into, Tierney said. Police took boxes of additional evidence from the house, which he described as a very cluttered environment. An effort in recent days to dig up the backyard in search of possible clues about where the murders were committed did not yield any large items of evidence, he added. A coalition of law enforcement agencies have been pouring over the property since July 14, when Heuermann was arrested and charged with killing three women Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, and Megan Waterman and dumping their bodies along a remote stretch of coastal highway near Long Island's Gilgo Beach more than a decade ago. Prosecutors identified him as the prime suspect in the death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes. Heuermann, who worked as an architect in Manhattan, has denied the charges through his lawyer. The killings, all of which involved women engaged in sex work, took place while Heuermanns family members were out of town, according to court papers. There is no indication his wife or children had knowledge of the crimes, Tierney said. During the search, police used a scanning technology to identify disturbances in the ground outside Heuermanns property, Tierney said. An excavator dug up the yard, and investigators with shovels could be seen scraping through freshly upturned earth. There was nothing of note taken from the backyard, he said. As far as remains, there is a whole entire trace analysis we have to go through with the house with regard to hair fibers, DNA, blood, which well have to await the results of. Police were also seen pulling a large doll encased in glass and a portrait of a woman with a bruise on her face from the house. Tierney said it would be quite some time before all of the evidence could be tested for forensics. The end of the search comes as police in Las Vegas and South Carolina are beginning their own investigations into whether the suspect may have been connected to any unresolved cases. Heuermann owns a timeshare in Las Vegas and planned to retire in a remote area of South Carolina, where his brother lives. Tierney declined to discuss specifics in the other cases Tuesday, but noted the investigation is not limited to New York state. Heuermann is due back in court on Aug. 1. Photos: Scenes from Gilgo Beach serial killings investigation RURAL DAKOTA COUNTY, NEB. -- A 79-year-old Winnebago woman died at the scene of a two-vehicle accident, early Wednesday, near mile market 426 on U.S. Highway 20 in Dakota County. At around 2:45 a.m., the Dakota County Sheriff's Office and Dakota City Fire and Rescue responded to the crash. Investigators determined that a westbound vehicle was in the eastbound lane causing the accident. Winona Rice died at the scene while the driver of the other vehicle was transported to a Sioux City hospital for minor injuries. The Nebraska State Patrol assisted with the investigation at the scene. An Omaha woman is in jail in Lincoln more than a year after she was accused of smuggling synthetic marijuana often called K2 into the Nebraska State Penitentiary during a visit to the south Lincoln prison in February 2022, investigators alleged in court filings. Jamea Kellogg, 38, is accused of passing a bundle of 129 slips of K2-soaked paper to Danny Robinson Jr., her 42-year-old cousin who is serving life in prison for first-degree murder. Kellogg allegedly slipped Robinson the bundle during a visit to the State Penitentiary on Feb. 25, 2022, Nebraska State Patrol Investigator Justin Parsons said in the probable cause statement for Kellogg's arrest. A corporal at the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services found the bundle when he searched Robinson immediately after his visit with Kellogg, Parsons wrote in the statement. The State Patrol sent the slips of paper to the State Crime Lab for testing, which confirmed in September 2022 that the paper was soaked in K2, Parsons wrote. A Lancaster County judge signed a warrant for Kellogg's arrest in January, according to court filings, charging her with delivery of a controlled substance and conveyance of an article to an inmate. The 38-year-old was arrested and taken to the county jail Monday, according to jail bookings. Photos: 2015 Tecumseh State Prison riot 010922-owh-new-prisons5 (copy) 010922-owh-new-prisons14.JPG (web) (copy) 20191113_new_prisonriot 20181127_new_prisonriot 010922-owh-new-prisons6 Tecumseh tour (copy) Three years ago, over breakfast, my friend Helen handed me a novel about a quest that, unknown to both of us, would set me off on a quest of my own. The book was called The Dragon Waiting, and it was written by the late science fiction and fantasy author John M. Ford. Helen placed the mass-market paperback with its garish cover in my hands, her eyes aglow with evangelical fervor, telling me I would love it. I would soon learn that, owing to Fords obscurity, his fans do things like this all the time. Soon, I would become one of them. Advertisement The Dragon Waiting is an unfolding cabinet of wonders. Over a decade before George R.R. Martin wrote A Song of Ice and Fire, Ford created an alternate-history retelling of the Wars of the Roses, filled with palace intrigue, dark magic, and more Shakespeare references than are dreamt of in our philosophy. The Dragon Waiting provokes that rare thrill that one gets from the work of Gene Wolfe, or John Crowley, or Ursula Le Guin. A dazzling intellect ensorcells the reader, entertaining with one hand, opening new doors with another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wanted to buy a copy, but it was out of print. At the time, used copies of this mass-market paperback from 1985 started at $200 on Amazon. (Its currently much more affordable.) John M. Ford had other books that were not available at all, even as used copies. How had a writer this good fallen into this level of obscurity? The more I looked into Fords career, the more frustrating and mystifying his posthumous invisibility came to seem. Ford had won the Philip K. Dick Award and multiple World Fantasy Awards. He was a beloved and influential peer to writers including Neil Gaiman, Jo Walton, Ellen Kushner, James Rigney (better known as Robert Jordan), Jack Womack, and Daniel Abraham. So why had so few people heard of him? Why wasnt anyone publishing his books? Advertisement It would take me 18 months to answer my questions. My quest would bring me to the vast treasure trove of Fords uncollected and unpublished writing. It would introduce me to friends and relatives of Ford who hadnt spoken to each other since his death in 2006. And, in an improbable ending worthy of a John M. Ford novel, my quest would in fact set in motion the long-delayed republication of his work, starting in the fall of 2020. How did this happen? More importantly, why was he forgotten in the first place? More importantly than that: How did he write those amazing books? John Milo Ford was born the first child of two pharmacists in East Chicago, Indiana, in 1957. Everyone called him Mike. According to his aunt, Jane Starner, He was brilliant from the startreading at an adult level when he was in kindergarten and talking to college students. He played chess and loved model trains. But he was also sicklyafter nearly falling into a coma at the age of 9, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. At 16, he went to Indiana University, where instead of attending class he ran role-playing games and amassed a $3,000 library fine, which his father paid. He dropped out after two years, having already sold several stories, and soon after wrote his first novel, Web of Angels, a cyberpunk book before the term was invented. Pocket published it in 1980.* Advertisement Advertisement After that, Ford wrote, and wrote, and wrote. His body of work resembles some beast out of ancient Greek myth, all random appendages and vestigial organs, guarding a treasure. The torso of this body, supporting its many limbs, is made up of his novels. Each is written in a different genre (or, more often than not, multiple genres that overlap) but each is recognizably his. When youre reading a Mike Ford novel, you knew it instantly, said Beth Meacham, one of his editors at Tor. Every book contained a puzzle of some sort. And the play with language. He would use a word, and if that word had multiple meanings, he meant to use all of them in that sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All his novels also contain at least one lengthy stretch where the reader will be utterly baffled. Key events will be recounted elliptically, and vital connections will be revealed in a tossed-off detail. Inference, close reading, and faith that the author knows what hes doing are essential for navigating these moments, which I came to think of as Iceberg Passages, after the novelist Jo Walton explained them to me. Youre only seeing the tenth of the iceberg thats out of the water in every novel, she said. It makes it dense in a really powerful way, but sometimes its too hard for people because he wouldnt spell things out. When his editors would ask him to explain himself more, hed respond, I have a horror of being obvious. Advertisement Ford also wanted his works to flow from characters who felt like real people, and real people do not go around expounding on the rules of their universes, nor do they always understand whats going on, particularly if they lack power, as Fords characters often do. If theres one unifying theme to his books, its a deep skepticism of power and its costs. In The Dragon Waiting, a woman you think might become a crack assassin instead becomes paralyzed with guilt after committing her first murder. The Last Hot Time, an urban fantasy about bootleggers and elves, stars a character ashamed of his own desire to be a dom in bed. Growing Up Weightless, a story of political intrigue on the moon, is told not by the diplomats and governors, but by their children. Advertisement Advertisement Had he taken The Dragon Waiting and written a sequence of five books based in that world, with that power, he wouldve been George R.R. Martin. Neil Gaiman But the novels were only the beginning. The ephemera of John M. Ford could fill volumes, if you could locate all of it. He performed an improvised live show called Ask Dr. Mike at sci-fi conventions, where audience members shouted out absurd questions and he replied with even more absurd answers. He wrote handbooks for the GURPS and Paranoia role-playing game systems. He drew the maps for several fantasy and science fiction novels, including The Eye of the World, the first book in Robert Jordans Wheel of Time series. His blog comments are the stuff of legend. (His final one was a villanelle about King Edward IV.) Among his friends, his most prized pieces of writing were his Christmas cards, lovingly made documents containing poems, or stories, or short satirical plays that he would send to a small list of associates every year during the holidays. One of the cards, a poem called Winter Solstice, Camelot Station, went on to win the World Fantasy Award. (You can read it here.) Advertisement He would make art in the most surprising places, Gaiman told me. Once he wrote a short play based on the invitation and directions to my annual Guy Fawkes party. There was a typo, and he took that as the grounds for a play. When Ford visited his editor Teresa Nielsen Hayden at her office at Tor, he would scribble short parody poems of the documents on her desk and leave them for her to find. Life was not long enough, she recalled, for Mike to do all the stuff that he would think of to do. Advertisement Advertisement He could have had a more successful career, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Teresas husband and Tors editor in chief, said, if he had been more disciplined about his writing and stuck to one genre, or written a series. But Mike wanted to write what he wanted to write. Advertisement Advertisement No single example illustrates this better than The Dragon Waiting and its aftermath. As Gaiman put it, Had he taken The Dragon Waiting and written a sequence of five books based in that world, with that power, he wouldve been George R.R. Martin. Ford opted instead to write two Star Trek novels (The Final Reflection and How Much for Just the Planet?, both unexpected delights) and The Scholars of Night, a riff on midcentury British espionage thrillers with no fantastical elements and a lost Christopher Marlowe play at its center. Gaiman still bemoans that The Scholars of Night shouldve been marketed like The Name of the Rose. You needed to go, `We have a great writer who is really fucking brilliant and he has written a book that combines high and low culture. Instead, Tor, which had been recently acquired by St. Martins, published Scholars with a blank back cover. It didnt exactly do Umberto Ecolevel business. Advertisement Even if Ford had found a larger audience, though, his health problems and lack of insurance would have kept his finances on the thinnest of ice. All it took was one bad infection and Mike would wipe out every penny he had, Teresa Nielsen Hayden explained. To be an adult about money would mean to be permanently impoverished, give up on books, give up on travel, give up on the things that made his life so much better. And so he didnt. Advertisement Advertisement To the extent that Fords health was ever stable, it was due to MinnesotaCare, a health benefit for low-income residents of the state, which helped cover a kidney transplant. (Earlier surgery to keep Ford from going blind was made possible by the doctors willingness to waive part of his fee.) To the extent that his finances were ever stable, it was due to the largesse of his friends, particularly Harriet McDougal, who co-edited The Scholars of Night, and her husband, the late James Rigney, who wrote as Robert Jordan. The couple hired Ford to work as a games consultant for the Wheel of Time series, mostly to help keep him solvent. By then, McDougal and Rigney, who would eulogize Ford as his blood brother, had essentially adopted him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ford needed a sibling or two, as he had grown estranged from his own family. The causes of the rift are unclear. Ford told some of his friends that his mother disapproved of his work, possibly for religious reasons. Jane Starner says that Fords biological family were conservative Christians; Fords attitude toward religion was epitomized by the short story he wrote where God cheats at Scrabble. But according to multiple people I spoke to, also at issue was Fords partner, the writer and jewelry designer Elise Matthesen. The two became romantically involved in 1993. Matthesen, a polyamorist, had been married for two years when she and Mike began dating. My partner to whom I am married is John with middle initial M, and Mike was John with middle initial M, Matthesen recalled in an email. I used to refer to them collectively as my John M. Ponytails, as they both wore their hair that way. Advertisement The thing with Elise bothered Fords family, Starner said. I dont know whether they were completely estranged before that or not. But either way, at some point, Fords now-deceased father told Starner that the only way I know hes alive is because he cashes the checks I send for his birthday. Advertisement Advertisement In his final years, Ford toiled away at a colossal work, over 140,000 words long, titled Aspects. Beth Meacham described it as a magical-parliamentary-nobility-romance-spy-adventure. And that only touches it. When hed finish chunks of it, hed fire them off to close friends, including Gaiman, Walton, and Meacham. They were all amazed by it. Although Ford had outlined the book in a sonnet cycle (seriously), he struggled to get it right. On July 27, 2006, he emailed Gaiman about how hard it was to weave action into some parts of the story. Its not exactly like I can have someone charge into the room with a gun every few minutes, he wrote. Then, in signing off, he launched into one of the spontaneous riffs that so delighted his friends: Advertisement If a guy comes into the room holding a symbol of true kingship, the book is a high fantasy. If he is holding a sword with pizza sauce on the blade and is accompanied by a talking penguin, it is low fantasy. If he is holding a poorly described article that is clearly of great emotional significance to himself, but none whatever to us, and then he leaves the room without having done anything, it is a New Yorker story. Advertisement Advertisement Two months later, he died of natural causes, most likely a heart attack. He was heavily in debt, and almost all of his work was out of print. Elise Matthesen found him. He looked a little surprised, she wrote in an email. Sort of mildly quizzical. Not pained. Which was some comfort at least. Although he had written a will, it was neither witnessed nor executed, and was therefore legally invalid, as was his relationship with Elise. The two had married, but in a self-scripted Klingon ceremony during a convention. (The Klingon Empire has decided that we should formalize our relationship, was how Ford described it to friends.) Elise found contact information for Fords family, whom she had never met, and told them of Fords passing. She would have one phone conversation with Fords mother. After that, everything would be done through lawyers. Advertisement Advertisement According to a document Matthesen prepared for her lawyers in October of 2006, Fords unexecuted will specified that he did not want his family to get his estate. But the document had been left in Fords apartment, which she could no longer legally access. Matthesen and Fords friends wanted some say in the disposition of his effects, but their efforts to secure this through counsel were unsuccessful. The family claimed Fords body, cleaned out his apartment, and, shortly after, left town. His friends and loved ones held their own memorial service, which Jane Starner attended. All contact between Fords immediate family and his family of choice dissolved, leaving behind little but bitterness, particularly when, a couple of months later, someone tried to edit Fords Wikipedia page to remove all mention of Elise Matthesen. Advertisement Advertisement By 2018, when I started digging into this story, only The Last Hot Time, the story collection Heat of Fusion, and the two Star Trek novels remained in print. The rights to almost everything else, including all of his major works, his uncollected writings, and the unpublished Aspects, had reverted to his legal heirs. No one knew what had become of Fords family. No one had had contact with them since the summer of 2007, when Gaiman, McDougal, and Rigney unsuccessfully tried to purchase Fords literary estate and set up a foundation to administer it. No one even remembered their names. The story, repeated to me again and again (and, occasionally, online) was that Fords family did not approve of his work and were deliberately keeping it out of print. And then, after several months of looking, I found them, and asked them for comment on this article. Advertisement An agreeable, funny woman in her 80s, Jane Starner lives in a retirement community in North Manchester, Indiana. She spoke with pride of her late nephew, and sadness that things soured so thoroughly between him and the family. But she was very surprised when I asked her if her sister and niece were suppressing his work. She gave me an email address for Fords sister, Martha Fry. I cannot believe Martha would not want his books back in print, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All contact between Fords immediate family and his family of choice dissolved, leaving behind little but bitterness. Martha Fry and her brother Dale Ford agreed to an interview, but only if they could do it together, and only if it were done over email. Over the course of that interview, Dale and Martha disputed that Mike was estranged from them or his parents, saying instead he was introverted by nature. I once visited Mike with our parents in Minneapolis at his apartment, Dale wrote. We went to an old school downtown steakhouse, where our father treated us to dinner. Our parents sent him letters every year with updates about his family. We found some of the opened letters among his belongings. Martha added that shortly before their fathers death, he and Mike had corresponded, and the letter Mike wrote was kind and loving. Advertisement They also disputed that anyone had a problem with Mikes relationship with Elise. Mikes personal life was his own business and did not affect our feelings for him as a family, Dale wrote. I am appreciative to [Elise] for finding Mikes body and calling the police. Martha read a copy of the police report, and Elise listed her relationship to Mike as friend, not a legal spouse or domestic partner, which we presume to be accurate. I am glad Mike found caring friends during his adult life. Advertisement They refused to discuss anything having to do with his estate. But multiple friends of Mike Ford had told me that they were suppressing his work. I wrote back, saying that I needed comment from them if they wanted to dispute that. Ford and Fry replied that I was threatening them with the unsubstantiated beliefs of uncited individuals if we do not respond to your satisfaction on Mikes commercial affairs. However, they volunteered that on three separate occasions they had written to Mikes agent, trying to see if there was any interest in reprinting his work. When they didnt hear back, they assumed there wasnt. Advertisement Advertisement This seemed improbable. Every one of his colleagues in the industry loved Ford and wanted his work back in print. His agent stood to make money off the deal. Was it really possible, I asked Fords friends, that his agent could have ignored his familys requests? The answer, it turned out, was yes, because Fords agent had dropped out of the industry and, seemingly, off the face of the earth. According to Patrick Nielsen Hayden, shortly before Fords death, his agent Valerie Smith was beginning the process of essentially vanishing from the industry. She became more and more intermittent with phone calls and correspondence, and many of her clients fired her. Neither he nor anyone he knew had had contact with her in a decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a few tries, I eventually reached Valerie Smith by phone. Smith still found it difficult to talk about Mike Fords death and the events surrounding it. She had represented him since 1978. Web of Angels was the first novel she ever sold. But in the 1990s, family caregiving obligations and a legal battle unrelated to her literary work left her pretty overwhelmed, she said. Her heartbreak over Mike Fords death, an event that still leaves her angry today, helped push her further out of the industry. When I started, I really felt like this was where I was meant to be, she said. I just cant bring myself to go out there with the same enthusiasm that I had before. Smith said she never received any correspondence from the family about republishing Mike Fords work. Advertisement And so, after months of investigation, I found myself in an Iceberg Passage, seeing only some of the story while, lurking beneath the surface, other truths remained obscure. I do not share Fords horror at obviousness, but there are simply things that we will never know. We will never know why Mike and his family grew apart, or, from the familys perspective, how far apart they were. We will never know who anonymously tried to edit the Wikipedia page to cut out Elise Matthesen. (The family denies any involvement.) Advertisement Advertisement But I reconnected Fords family and editors at Tor, and after a year of delicate back-and-forth spearheaded by Beth Meacham, Tor and the family have reached an agreement that will gradually bring all of his books back into print, plus a new volume of stories, poems, Christmas cards, and other uncollected material. First up, in fall 2020, is the book that introduced me to Ford, The Dragon Waiting. Then, in 2021, Tor will publishat long lastthe unfinished Aspects, with an introduction by Neil Gaiman. Advertisement As in one of John M. Fords novels, a kind of happy ending has been reached. Its not the ending the characters necessarily wanted. Its not one that ties up every plot thread. No one in the story has enough power to make that happen. But the ending theyve carved out reaches some kind of resolution and leaves their world a bit better off than when they started. When I got word that a deal had finally been struck, I immediately thought of Elise Matthesen. Lacking the legal rights to Mike Fords work, still smarting from the events surrounding his death, how would she feel about all of this? I dont even have words, its such good news, she replied in an email. Except maybe Mikes words. In 1997, Elise wrote, she interviewed Mike for a convention. She put to him a prompt that had long been bouncing around in her head: Im going to die. Tell me a story. No, he said. No. You tell me one, and when youre gone, Ill tell it to somebody else. If you had to pick just one classic show whose ignominious fate embodies the commercial sins of the network-TV era, you couldnt do much better than Futurama. The beloved animated sitcom from Simpsons creator Matt Groening has bounced around every which way since its 1999 debut, canceled and revived and canceled yet again, to the chagrin of critics and fans: four seasons on Fox that ended in 2003, a series of direct-to-video films released from 200809, another two seasons on Comedy Central from 201013, even a podcast-exclusive reunion episode in 2017. The geeky, hilarious sci-fi misadventure always had a cultural presence wider than its actual viewership, whether through meme templates or sob-choked recollections of the dog episode; broadcast suits never knew how to handle such a strange piece of culture, wherein a bunch of robots, aliens, humans, sentient human heads, and other bizarre creatures deliver pizza across a universe shaped by complex timelines and generations of science fiction lore. So when Hulu announced early last year that it had revived Futurama for two new seasons, original cast and showrunners and all, it was easy to feel jadedespecially when it appeared that John DiMaggio, voice of the beer-swilling antihero Bender, might not rejoin the project thanks to cast-compensation issues (a rather prescient controversy in hindsight, just to look at the ongoing actors and writers strikes). Was the Futurama wed missed so much really returning? And if it was, would it be given a proper chance? Advertisement Thankfully, all thats been resolved, and Futurama is back for real (yes, with DiMaggio in tow). The first episode of its weekly Hulurama run, which aired on Monday, is a delightfully meta, inward-looking riff on the new streaming-TV landscape of binge watching, resurrected and reinvented shows, and the mighty deep diaper of content available on services like Fulu. While celebrating its own return and the circumstances that allowed it, Futurama is not too worshipful of its current masters; the plot has room to showcase the streaming industrys side effects of relentless episode output, schlocky and formulaic plots, overworked writers and actors, and studios desire to cut out the writers room in favor of robots. Of course, a series of self-referential gags is one thing (one of many such examples: How does a show get canceled this many times by this many networks?), but this disgruntled fan is pleased to say, having also viewed the five following episodes of the revival, that this new season is actually quite good? Advertisement Advertisement I dont mean to imply that the most classic and best of Futurama is back just yetthe tear-jerkers, the legendary gimmicks, the love stories, the layered gags. But for having shown its face again after a purgatorial decade, Futurama is in pretty decent shape. The core gang of Fry, Bender, Leela, Farnsworth, Hermes, Amy, Zoidberg, and Scruffy is back at Planet Express, ready to (re)experience the 3000s on the USS Planet Express Ship. And, thanks to the shows dedication to open-ended finales (a necessity in light of, well, you know), the new Futurama transitions smoothly from its poignant 2013 ending to its newer story arcs, now crafted after defining motifs of the 2020s: the Wild West of Crypto Country, the revitalization of Frank Herberts Dune, the rise of 3D-printed goods, the global dominance of Amazon. It helps, perhaps, that such societal flashpoints are easily pliable to Futuramas absurdities: Bitcoin minings heavy electricity use is shown devastating an entire planet and fueling the exploitation of intelligent robots; recurring series villain and business plutocrat Mom becomes the Jeff Bezos stand-in at the head of the ever-growing, ever-ubiquitous, ever-exploitative Momazon service. As some critics have thoughtfully noted, the whole thing is definitely fan servicey, and nowhere near as innovative as Futuramas previous all-time offerings, which could plumb Frys family backstories as easily as they could Zapp Brannigans ship. But considering the weaknesses in some of Futuramas Comedy Central seasons, as well as Groenings creative missteps in other ventures since, there was never a guarantee that a Futurama revival would even turn out this solid. I had my doubts, and couldnt be happier that they were wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even more surprisingly, its not the only satisfying cult-show revival to air this year to the overall satisfaction of both audiences and critics. The Starz sitcom Party Down found its way to Lionsgate earlier this year, 13 years after its low viewership booted it off the air. On top of that, Phil Lord and Christopher Millers Clone High, axed in 2003 after just one season on MTV, began anew this summer as a (HBO) Max Original. Its easy to feel conflicted about this sort of thing. The TV industry is scuttling a lot of new concepts in favor of intellectual property, and the cultural eras that made those shows so resonant have long passede.g., the 90210 and Dawsons Creek high school dramas that Clone High spoofed, and the postfinancial crisis creative economy that birthed Party Down. Yet the shows newest incarnations are hardly stale, perhaps because their source material was brilliant to begin with, and halted before it could develop into something even greater. And the Party Down and Clone High seasons go even further than Futurama does, by introducing new characters and explicitly setting themselves within the 2020s. Advertisement Advertisement Party Down, which ended early in part because its key stars had signed on to other, much more successful projectsJane Lynch to Glee, Adam Scott to Parks and Recreationfaced plenty of initial skepticism thanks to the fact that co-protagonist and core love interest Lizzy Caplan had skipped out on the new season to work on Fleishman Is in Trouble (another streaming original, natch). But the show nevertheless pulled it off, and more: It crafted convincing cover stories for characters both old and new (Megan Mullallys Lydia Dunfree now has to share her duties for the titular catering company with a Gen Z TikTokker portrayed by Tyrel Jackson Williams), and its newer situations, taken into a world of post-lockdown small-biz troubles and increasingly popular mushroom trips, feel unsettlingly fit for the present day. Supporting character Kyle (Ryan Hansen) has his long-awaited acting success derailed by past foibles and social media outrage; Martin Starrs Roman sells a screenplay to a streaming service that goes bankrupt; Season 1s college Republicans convention is paralleled this time by a white supremacist gathering. The more-diverse core cast, from Ken Marino to Zoe Chao, retains a boundless energy and chemistry, and even though the characters feel stuck at Party Down, the viewing experience doesnt feel that way. Advertisement Advertisement Clone High had more obstacles than either Futurama or Party Down. Its last episode aired just weeks before the United States invaded Iraq; creators Lord and Miller are now, of course, the busy creatives behind animated blockbusters about Legos and superheroes; teen dramas these days are better represented by Euphoria than Buffy; the angry Indians who protested Clone Highs depiction of Mahatma Gandhi reside in a country thats even more violently nationalist now than it was in the 2000s. Remarkably, the shows latest run admirably sidesteps these issues: Gandhi is absent from the group of the shows character pool of historical-figure clones, but the beloved incarnations of Abe Lincoln, Joan of Arc, JFK, and Cleopatra are all still there, and their crew expands to include the clones of Frida Kahlo and Harriet Tubman, among others. Season 2, like Futurama, starts off with a meta tack alluding to what happened to the show and whats occurring now, as well as the ways society has changed since their last screen appearance. Certain slang they once bandied about so casually is no longer acceptable, villains like Christopher Columbus (who tries to hide within the school under the truncated nickname Topher Bus) are universally maligned for their genocidal records, and episode plots widen their scope from angsty teen romances to internet trolling, zombie takeovers, and gentrification. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Futurama, Party Down, and Clone High all took their leave in years just a tad different from our current momentcultural milieus free of the TikToks, streaming-service hellscapes, and always-mobilized digital stan armies that direct what gets seen and noticed today. The shows are products of a time when network TV was still the central medium, when social media wasnt yet eroding liberal democracy, when smartphones were more luxury accessories than inescapable needs. Theres no easy way for any shows, especially those that take joy from skewering current events, to time-travel into this future and make sense of it in the same way. But if theres one through line with these three efforts, its that none of them are as ambitious as they once were. What the creators seem to recognize, refreshingly, is that theres no need to be. The work to adapt oneself to the current day takes enough effort as is, and theres so much IP nonsense out there anyway (a dark version of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air? Really?) that theres no need to force the point. Fansespecially those devoted to shows as relatively little-seen as these ones, whose popularity grew only posthumouslywant something similar but not exactly the same; theyd like something that doesnt try too hard, but tries hard enough to at least show that the hearts of the writers, actors, directors, and producers are still all in it. None of these revivals will be as classic as their forerunners, and thats OK. What these three shows get is that their role is to serve up another set of laughs for old times sakenothing more, nothing less. Thats fine by me, and Im excited to see what all these shows do next. If you saw Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer this past weekend, you probably walked out of the movie theater with the sadness that a film about the building of the atomic bomb would leave you with. However, if you are anything like me, chances are you left the theater also thinking about that one scene in which sexual intercourse between Cillian Murphys J. Robert Oppenheimer and Florence Pughs Jean Tatlock turns into an impromptu book club meeting. In a moment of top-tier comedy, Tatlock stops midcoitus, goes over to Oppenheimers bookshelf, picks out a book in Sanskrit (which Oppenheimer has been learning, he says), and asks him to read aloud a random section of her choosing as they resume their activities. The book is the Hindu scripture Bhagavad-Gita, and the section that Tatlock just happens to choose contains the famous line Now I Am Become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds. Nothing quite like a little light reading to arouse the senses. The scene begs the question: Besides the obvious choice of the Bhagavad-Gita, what would be the best book to read aloud during sex, if you, for some reason, were to do that? I asked a handful of book lovers to weigh in on their sexual reading of choice, below. Baby, I Dont Care, by Chelsey Minnis A book of dirty, flirty, cerebrally comic poems. Many read like inducements to abandon, to be followed by Champagne: Youre a national disgrace. / Please act accordingly; First, we have to insult each others butlers. / Then the downhill hallway leads to my bedroom; Write me a good line or Ill zip up my dress. Dwight Garner, book critic for The New York Times Throne of the Fallen, by Kerri Maniscalco Right now it feels like all anyone in the office can talk about is Kerri Maniscalcos Throne of the Fallen. Its the first adult novel from the author and IT IS SPICY. Its a romantic fantasy set in the Underworld that features a dark prince with an impossible curse. The plot and pacing are fantastic and any of the hotter scenes would be very bedroom appropriate. The juiciest sex scene is also 20 pages long. Lauren Hesse, social media director at Little, Brown and Company Love: Poems, by Danielle Steel The idea of reading during sex is penis-shriveling to me (I thought the scene in Oppenheimer was funny because it was so ridiculous). If anything, Id have to lean into the ridiculousness and choose something like Danielle Steels 1981 quite flowery collection, Love: Poems. My fave is called Zippety Click I Love You. By the time the book made it to bed, we would no longer be having sex, but we would be laughing. Rich Juzwiak, senior writer for Jezebel Id want this guy, whoever he is, reading Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats. Laura Miller, book critic for Slate Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate Oppenheimer Is a Mind-Blower, but How Is It as History? Read More Love Poems, by Pablo Neruda If youre looking to amp up the romance in the bedroom, you cant go wrong with some Pablo Neruda. Love Poems is a classic for very good reason. I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, / In secret, between the shadow and the soul. Come on, how do you not drop your pants for a line like that? Kiri Palm, senior manager of the Plaza and Westport branches of the Kansas City Public Library Pussypedia, by Zoe Mendelson If youre at a bit of a, well, loss, youve got a friend in Zoe Mendelsons Pussypedia. Its excellent for both owners and lovers of pussies (the authors proposed gender-inclusive term). This volume features everything from questions you were afraid to ask to guides on maximum pleasure, all written with plenty of giggle-inducing prose and damn-helpful illustrations. Kiri Palm Perversity Think Tank, by Supervert Superverts Perversity Think Tankone of the most frank and provocative works on sexuality of the modern era. The texture is lovely as well. Jessica Stoya, writer, performer, pornographer, and author of Philosophy, Pussycats, & Porn Texas Gov. Greg Abbott craved a showdown with President Joe Biden over illegal immigration. He wanted a test case that would give the Supreme Court a chance to expand states authority to repel, persecute, and brutalize unauthorized immigrants. He wanted nothing short of a constitutional revolution that would shift jurisdiction over the southern borderand perhaps even the power to wage warfrom the federal government to the state of Texas. What he got, instead, was a dispute over the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1899. Advertisement Abbotts scheme to seize control over immigration enforcement crashed against that law on Monday, when Bidens Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Texas. At Abbotts direction, state officials constructed a 1,000-foot barrier in the Rio Grande designed to block migrants from crossing the river. The governor justified the project in a letter to Biden by asserting Texas alleged prerogative to defend itself against invasion, teeing up a constitutional confrontation. But he and his lawyers appear to have overlooked a more mundane problem with this plan: Federal law prohibits any state from obstructing a navigable waterway like the Rio Grande without a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. Abbotts brawl over the border is fizzling into a dispute for permittingone that the governor will lose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate The Supreme Court Has a Clear Intellectual Lightweight Read More The Rio Grande barrier is made up of large buoys that would force migrants crossing the river to turn back. It was constructed near the spot where four migrants, including an infant, recently drowned. The initiative is part of Operation Lone Star, Abbotts $9.5 billion crackdown on migrants, which commandeers state troops and National Guardsmen to police the southern border. So far, Operation Lone Star has been a costly and lethal failure: It has had no evident impact on unlawful border crossings, and many Texas Guardsmenwho receive none of the benefits awarded to federal agentshave nothing to do; suicide and criminal conduct are rising in their ranks. Earlier this month, a whistleblower reported that Guardsmen were instructed to push migrants back into the Rio Grande, where they risked drowning; deprive them of water; and line the river with razor wire. After a 4-year-old got caught in the razor wire and suffered heat exhaustion, Guardsmen allegedly received an order to push her back. Many other migrants were trapped and lacerated by the razor wire, including a 19-year-old pregnant woman, who allegedly suffered a miscarriage while trying to extricate herself. Advertisement The inefficacy of Operation Lone Star may not matter much to Abbott, who created the program as a political stunt to challenge the Bidens administrations ostensibly lax border enforcement. From the start, he has sought out conflict with the president over his states power to perform duties that Congress has assigned to Customs and Border Protection. In a November letter to Biden, the governor invoked two provisions of the U.S. Constitution that, he claimed, gave him authority to marshal Texas resources against unauthorized immigration. First, he asserted that Biden had failed to honor the so-called invasion clause, which says that the federal government shall protect each [state] against Invasion. Second, he wrote that he would invoke his power under Article 1, Section 10, which says, No State shall, without the consent of Congress, engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay. Bidens purported refusal to enforce immigration law, he reasoned, had placed Texas in imminent danger, giving the governor power to engage in war. (A war against Mexico? Cartels? Migrants themselves? Abbott did not clarify.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This theory is pretty radical, to put it lightly: It would let individual states wage war over the express objection of the federal governmentincluding the commander in chiefbased on their subjective sense that migrants are invading them. That approach conflicts directly with the actual text of the Constitution, as the Supreme Court affirmed in 2022. The Constitution divests war powers from the states, vesting them instead in Congress (which may provide for the common defense, declare war, raise and support the armed forces, and more) as well as the president (who serves as commander in chief of the military, including the militia of the several states). So, where does Abbotts idea come from? A theory promoted by far-right anti-immigration groups, and once endorsed by Justice Antonin Scalia in a 2012 dissent declaring that states have an inherent power to protect their territory, one that lies at the core of state sovereignty and encompasses the right to exclude immigrants who have no right to be thereby force when necessary. (No other justices joined Scalias opinion.) And Abbott drew on another source: a June opinion from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, authored by Trump-appointed Judge Andrew Oldham and joined by fellow Trump appointee Don Willett. In it, Oldham severely limited the presidents authority over the Texas National Guard unless it has been called into federal service, shooting down the militarys efforts to discipline Texas Guardsmen who rejected the COVID-19 vaccine. Abbott quoted from Oldhams sweeping declaration that barred the president from bypassing the States, stepping into Governor Abbotts shoes, and directly governing Texass non-federalized militiamen. This theoryand its attempted expansion by Texaswould overturn centuries of precedent and practice that give the commander in chief presumptive authority to direct the nations armed forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abbott raised these arguments out of an undisguised hunger to manufacture a face-off with the Biden administration that would, in his words, go all the way to the United States Supreme Court. When the Justice Department warned the governor that it would sue over the barrier, he responded belligerently, Texas will see you in court. The DOJ filed its lawsuit on Mondaybut the complaint says nothing about the invasion clause, states ability to wage war, or any other contested constitutional principles. It is, rather, based entirely on the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1899, an old but still relevant law that was invoked twice in a recent Supreme Court opinion. This act prohibits the building of any structure in any navigable river without permission from the Army Corps of Engineers. It independently bars the creation of any obstruction to the navigable capacity of a river unless it is affirmatively authorized by Congress. Advertisement The Rio Grande is a navigable river. A 1,000-foot barrier in the middle of the Rio Grande is an obstruction to its navigable capacity. And that barrier is a structure that Texas built without permission from the Army. It is therefore quite obviously illegal under the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1899. The DOJ requested an injunction compelling Texas to remove the barrier and halt any plans to construct further obstructions in the Rio Grande. And it suggested that the case should be heard by the same judge who has already been assigned to separate litigation against the barrier brought by a canoe rental company. That judge is Robert Pitman, a Barack Obama appointee, who is likelier than most Texas judges to apply the actual law. Advertisement Advertisement Because Pitmans decisions are reviewed by the 5th Circuit, where law goes to die, its tough to predict the immediate trajectory of this case. But even if the 5th Circuit goes rogue, this one should not be difficult for the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh have consistently supported federal supremacy over national defense while looking skeptically at red states efforts to seize control over border policy. They need not even invoke any lofty principles to reach the right result: The Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act does all the workwith a crucial assist from Abbotts awful lawyering. Update, July 26, 2023, at 2:14 p.m.: This story has been updated to reflect that Hunter Bidens plea deal with the Department of Justice fell apart over its language. As a temporary hold, Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty on the tax charges, which he will reverse if the judge approves a new deal. Long before Joe Biden became president, conservatives had identified a potential liability in his family tree: Hunter. With a history of drug addiction, prolific sexual exploits, and questionable international business dealings, Bidens one living son looked to right-wing media outlets like an easy target. During the Trump presidency, eager to distract from Donald Trumps own financial and sexual misdeedsand the presidents habit of handing out favors to friends and his own childrenconservatives committed themselves to uncovering any dirt they could find on the former vice presidents son. They cooked up conspiracy theories, accused Hunter of engaging in deep statestyle corruption with his father, and published nude photos and text conversations gleaned from one of Hunters old laptops. Whether they uncovered anything about Joe, the actual elected official in the family, became almost beside the point. Hunter wasand throughout the Biden presidency, has remaineda stand-in for all the alleged moral failings Republicans couldnt pin on his father. And the right-wing appetite for spicy Hunter content has only grown in recent months, as the GOP-controlled House has made investigating Bidens son one of its primary governing objectives. Advertisement Advertisement This week, Hunter and his lawyers attempted to enter a plea deal with the Justice Department over a series of tax and gun charges. Specifically, Hunter planned to plead guilty to misdemeanor counts of failing to pay his 2017 and 2018 taxes on time. He would have been charged, but not prosecuted, for buying a handgun in 2018 when he was using drugs, contingent on the condition that he remain drug-free for two years and agree never to own a firearm again. Advertisement Though legal experts have called the terms of the plea deal justifiedand some have said that most prosecutors would probably not have pursued a federal case if it were not so high-profileconservatives have been railing against the DOJ for offering the presidents son a sweetheart deal. And on Wednesday, the plea deal fell fall apart, probably temporarily, over the question of whether Hunter would be offered broad immunity in future DOJ investigations. Advertisement While Biden allies have dismissed the Republican outrage as a purely political diversion tactic, everyday Americans arent so sure. In a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, about half of respondentsincluding 1 in 3 Democratssaid they believe that Hunter Biden is getting preferential treatment from federal prosecutors because he is the presidents son. In an interesting twist, many of the polls respondents said it still wouldnt affect how they vote in 2024. This makes sense: Everyone who cares enough to follow this story is already firmly entrenched in their own political camp. Plus, theres no evidence that the Hunter Biden emails affected the outcome of the 2020 election, so its reasonable to think that will be the case again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And yet, its clear that among swathes of Americans, there is a real perception that Hunter is reaping undue benefits because of his family name. And though everyday Americansor at least those who remain free of Newsmax brain wormscan perhaps dismiss the extreme Hunter-centered conspiracy theories, the fact that the presidents son has engaged in shady personal and professional conduct presents a problem for President Biden and his administration that goes beyond moral and ethical dimensions: Quite simply, it makes them look really bad. One glaring example is the yearslong court battle between Hunter and one of his former lovers over child support for their 4-year-old daughter. The little girl, named Navy Joan, was born in 2018 to an Arkansas woman named Lunden Roberts who had worked as Hunters personal assistant while she was pregnant. Hunter initially denied paternity of the child until a DNA test confirmed it. Advertisement Advertisement Since then, the extent of Hunters relationship with Navy Joan has been his mandatory child support payments, which he went to court to attempt to reduce. Earlier this month, Hunter came to an agreement with Roberts in which she agreed to drop her request to change her daughters last name to Biden. Hunter also agreed to give Navy Joan a number of his original paintings, which have been listed at up to $500,000 apiece. Advertisement For the most part, the Bidens have studiously pretended Navy Joan does not exist. According to the New York Times, White House aides are told the Bidens have six grandchildren, not seven. Only six grandchildren got stockings as part of the White House Christmas decorations, and only six were named in the dedication to Jill Bidens childrens book. This April, on Take Your Child to Work Day, Joe Biden told a group of kids, I have six grandchildren. And Im crazy about them. And I speak to them every single day. Advertisement Granted, blood does not necessarily make a family; it would be disingenuous for President Biden to pretend that Navy Joan is just like any of his other grandkids. (It is also unclear if Navy Joans mother would welcome a more familial relationship with the Bidens, especially since shes hired a conservative activist lawyer who worked for the Trump campaign.) But the Biden familys disregard for Navy Joan is a political problem because it threatens Joe Bidens entire mythology as a dedicated family man. The Bidens have taken such great pains to avoid acknowledging Navy Joan that it has begun to make the president and first lady look callous. For Joe Biden, who for decades has sold himself to the American public as a man who puts family above all else, this disavowal of his grandchild is, in political terms, catastrophically off-brand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then there are Hunters professional dealings. In both China and Ukraine, Hunter landed lucrative positions and business deals that make sense only if you consider his rarefied connections. Critics have been quick to note that Hunter has no particular expertise that would have otherwise qualified him for such ventures, and emails obtained from his laptop in 2019 suggest that he threw around his fathers name in those dealings. There are vast right-wing conspiracy theories that swirl around these business relationshipsyou can read Slates explainer herebut the basic upshot is that while Hunter almost certainly benefited from his family name, and while some foreign nationals may have cozied up to Hunter in hopes of gaining access to his father, Joe Biden is not implicated. Some deals occurred when the elder Biden was no longer vice president, meaning that no foreign entity could have realistically expected any kind of direct, policy-related quid pro quo. And in at least one notable situation in Ukraine, when Joe Biden was in office as vice president, the actions of the Obama administration were, if anything, counter to Hunters business interests. Still, Hunters foreign business dealings were, at best, an extremely bad look for his family. Advertisement Is Hunters objectionable behavior a reflection of widespread corruption, as Republican lawmakers argue? Almost surely not. But that doesnt mean that the president is absolutely clear of any wrongdoing involving his son. And you would think that after so many unsavory episodes, the president would have put up more boundaries or dividers between him and his son. The administration has said that there are firewalls. And yet, questionable stories keep coming. This week, it was revealed that at least one Democratic donor has been purchasing Hunters paintings through art galleries; some of these paintings have cost the amount of a house. That Democratic donor also happens to have been appointed to an unpaid commission in 2022 by President Biden. Theres no evidence of any bribery here, but again, its a really bad look. The question as to whether a donor could buy influence with the president through the younger Bidens art is an entirely reasonable one. Advertisement Advertisement When not properly addressed, valid complaints about Hunters actions (some of which occurred under the influence of alcohol and drugs) commingle with the swirl of allegations that surround him, lending legitimacy to the biggest conspiracy theories. Take the story of his hacked laptop: When social media companies downplayed initial reporting on it in 2019 because the reporting involved unverified and potentially hacked materialsincluding a private citizens nude photosconservatives twisted the narrative to be about totalitarian censorship coming from the Biden administration in cahoots with Big Tech. Advertisement Advertisement The conclusion was absurd, but the core argumentthat the social media companies had rushed to shut down the spread of reported materials in a way that treaded on political speechwas arguably legitimate. Advertisement Of course, many other presidents have been bedeviled by children or relatives who, in essence, made them look bad. Think Billy Carter, Roger Clinton, and of course, the Trump kids (though surely Trump himself wouldnt see it that way). But we are at a unique moment in which public trust in government is at a near-record low. And Hunter Bidens scandals are powerful because theyre useful material for those who want to push the idea that the elite are above the lawor even that the law and government exist to serve the elite. (This line of grievance was particularly on display during the grilling this month of FBI director Christopher Wray; Republican lawmakers claimed without merit that the FBI has been shielding the Biden family from answering to justice.) The presidents son isnt likely to swing the 2024 election against his father. But that doesnt mean that his actions havent made a political difference. Even if his plea deal is salvaged, the Hunter Biden saga is far from over. The legend of his supposed malfeasanceand how it reflects on the Biden administration and the federal governmenthas taken on a life of its own. On Wednesday, Hunter Bidens plea deal on tax, gun, and drug chargesperhaps temporarilyfell apart, as Judge Maryellen Noreika raised questions as to the constitutionality of the plea agreement and whether Biden was getting greater immunity than he should. The spectacularagain, perhaps temporarycollapse of the deal, as detailed well in the Washington Post, raised the question of whether or not Republicans were correct when they complained that Biden was getting a sweetheart deal because he is President Joe Bidens son. Exemplifying this coverage was an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal published on Tuesday arguing, Youd Go to Prison for What Hunter Biden Did. The precise contours of the agreement may have had some flaws that seem unrelated to the alleged tax crimes at issue in the case, as perhaps correctly pointed out by the judge. But as someone with more than 30 years of experience for the IRS investigating the exact sorts of tax crimes of which Hunter Biden is accused, I can tell you very firmly: Biden did not get a sweetheart deal. In fact, not only would you not be going to prison if you did what Hunter Biden did, you likely wouldnt even be charged. The fact of the matter is no one goes to jail anymore for not paying their taxes on time, as much as the WSJ would like one to think they do. Advertisement Related From Slate The Surprising Saddest Part of Catching the Long Island Serial Killer Read More The Hunter plea agreement was a negotiation where neither side got all of what they wanted and left both sides at least a little frustrated, as evidenced further by the fireworks in court on Wednesday. After prosecutors tried to clear up confusion as to the extent of Hunters immunityapparently less than he had hoped for in matters unrelated to this caseBidens attorney, Chris Clark, told the court as far as Im concerned, the plea agreement is null and void. Hunter then pleaded not guilty to two tax charges, which will allow both prosecutors and defense attorneys to go back to the drawing board. According to the New York Times, Bidens attorneys think it will take two weeks to salvage the agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Again, though, all of this should be doable, given that the deal itself is a fair one. While IRS whistleblowers touted by House Republicans in recent committee hearings would have us believe the devils bargain was between bringing a felony or a misdemeanor against Hunterwith the Trump-appointed Delaware prosecutor involved opting for the less punitive scenariothey left out another option, which was at least equally on the table. Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ Criminal Tax division could have declined prosecution completely, as it does in so many similar cases, meaning no felony and no misdemeanor at all due to a lack of provable mens rea possessed by Huntera person with a documented drug addictionto willfully defraud the IRS. Advertisement The media has not snapped on the fact that the only person authorized to greenlight a federal criminal tax prosecution is the assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice Criminal Tax Division, per the DOJ manual. So, while Republican House members are tearing their hair out on whether U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware David Weissagain a Trump appointeehad the ultimate authority to bring whatever charge(s) he wished, they are missing out on the fact that if Weiss wanted to bring criminal tax charges, he first had to get the green light from the acting assistant attorney general for the tax division, David A. Hubbert. That division, with which I worked hand in hand for decades, would not ordinarily have approved felony charges in another similar case. And Weiss office could not have prosecuted any criminal tax cases during his tenure without the tax crime division giving the OK in writing. Advertisement Advertisement When the division does not provide the green light, they issue what is known as a declination memo. That means the U.S. attorney is not authorized to prosecute a criminal tax case they have been investigating with the IRS Criminal Investigation unit. If the division deemed misdemeanor charges appropriate, its because they were. Advertisement And just why is DOJ Criminal Tax Division vested with such authority when U.S. attorneys have vast leeway in most other cases? Its because they are the ultimate arbiters when it comes to ensuring a uniformly consistent criminal tax enforcement across the land. This is a program of such importance to the U.S. government that DOJ has a separate division that focuses solely on criminal tax matters. Advertisement A criminal tax case on such a well-known persona as the presidents son will have a substantial impact on tax enforcement in general, leaving aside the course of current partisan political blood feuds. While many in the media will focus on who won or lost politically when it comes to criminal prosecution of politicians and their family members, IRS and DOJ need to narrow their focus on making sure that bad tax case law is not made by pushing flawed criminal tax cases that can then be pointed to by other potential criminal tax scofflaws throughout the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Thats why it took so long to reach a prosecution decision in the Hunter matter and that is likely why a plea agreement to misdemeanor charges was reached. After long contemplation, such an agreementas imperfect as many will see itwas clearly a compromise solution. The judges questions about the extent of the immunity in other nontax-related casesand the ongoing wrangling over those issuesdoesnt change the fact that, from a tax crimes perspective, this was the right outcome. You or I would not go to jail for doing what Hunter did because hardly anyone does and that is the point of having a professional tax enforcement establishmentto ensure a fair and just treatment of those that violate the law. In late June, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy put his foot in his mouth. And the House of Representatives is still living with the consequences. Can he win that election? Yeah, he can, McCarthy said of former President Donald Trump in a CNBC interview, when asked about a prospective rematch with President Joe Biden. The question is, is he the strongest to win the election? I dont know that answer. Trump, and those in his orbit, went ballistic over this show of disrespect, prompting McCarthy to go on an immediate apology tour. He did an interview the same day in which he described Trump as Bidens strongest political opponent and stronger today than he was in 2016. McCarthys team sent out fundraising emails with a message to the same effect. We learned then, too, that McCarthy had called Trump in what was described as an apology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What weve learned in the past few days, though, is that McCarthy offered more than just an apology following the incident. He also, as Politico first reported, pledged that the House would vote to expunge the two impeachments against the former president by the August recess. (He has since moved that timeline to the end of September.) But those votes to expunge the impeachmentswhatever that meanswont be easy to pass, and wont please vulnerable and moderate House Republicans who really, really dont want to participate in fresh referenda on the Trump presidency. Should McCarthy try to weasel out of his pledge, though, hes unlikely to find a sympathetic audience in Donald Trump. McCarthy is in another impossible situation between Trump and those House hard-liners he commands, and the moderate members who provide him a majority. It is, in other words, a Wednesday. Advertisement The twin impeachment expungement resolutions have been introduced by New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, a born-again MAGA member of House Republican leadership, and Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greenes resolution expunges the first Trump impeachment articles of 2019, and Stefaniks the second impeachment of 2021. Though Greenes is much terser, they arrive at the same answer, in which you can hear a trace of Trumps dictation: Resolved, That the [2019/2021] impeachment of President Donald John Trump is expunged, as if such Article[s] had never passed the full House of Representatives. Advertisement Impeachment expungement has no precedentwhich doesnt mean, on its own terms, that it cant theoretically be done. The House can always set a new precedent. But this aint it. This doesnt amend the Journal of the House from two previous Congresses; the clerk is not instructed to go into the books to white anything out. It doesnt change the Congressional Record. It doesnt change history, in which Donald Trump was twice impeached. (We should also note that Trump was not convicted in either impeachment trial, so what official criminal slate are we wiping clean here?) What these resolutions would do is give Trump something to point to and say the impeachments never happened on the campaign trail, truth be damned. But these simple resolutions have the same format, and all the teeth, of a resolution congratulating the Kansas City Chiefs for winning the Super Bowl. The House would be expressing a feeling. Advertisement Advertisement Or failing to. Related From Slate The Supreme Court Might Have Just Handed Jack Smith a Powerful New Tool Read More McCarthy says he supports the twin expressions of feeling, but has played coy about whether and when theyre going to come up. Hes denied that he promised Trump votes on the resolutions, and told reporters last week that they should go through committee like anything else. Well, the resolutions are what they are. Theres not much for committees to do here. Advertisement Advertisement Even if McCarthy had the votes to expunge Trumps impeachments, it would be a use of the House floor for messaging purposes that would please precisely one person and turn off many others. But according to reporting by CNN and the Hill, McCarthy doesnt have the votes. I have every expectation Ill vote against expungement, and I have every expectation that I will work to bring others with me, one moderate Republican told the Hill. Cleverly, or not so much, this moderate Republican invoked cancel culture to explain his or her opposition, noting that I just dont think we should be engaged in the kind of cancel culture that tries to whitewash history. It is worth noting, however, that this moderate Republican is still too scared to go on the record opposing the measures, on which official House votes would be literally on the record. Advertisement In one sense, moderates getting the word out there that the votes dont exist, and wont exist, to pass these resolutions could give McCarthy an out: He could tell Trump that he tried absolutely everything, but he just cant get the votes. In another more important sense, though, this wont satisfy Trump at all. He could go after those individual members holding up passage and threaten them with primary challengers, which is not what McCarthy wants to see happen to his front-liners. Trump could go after McCarthy personally, calling for his head and threatening his speakership. Or he could screw around with the critical work McCarthy needs to move through the House in Septembernamely, funding the government. A government shutdown at the end of September is already a distinct possibility, as hard-liners in the Republican conference are demanding cuts that theyre not going to be able to get. And while Trump hasnt weighed in on that battle yet, he could choose to do so if he finds himself in a mood to make McCarthys life more difficult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCarthys best hope is that Trump gets distracted by a squirrel and forgets about this entirely. But he could always return to the root of the tension and offer Trump something better that McCarthy alone controls. As Politico had reported, Trumps first reaction to McCarthys blowup CNBC interview was that McCarthy needs to endorse metoday! McCarthy has, in Politicos words, felt compelled to stay neutral during the primary so as to not box in his own members. Hes also the highest-ranking elected Republican in the country; in a normal world, where an unemployed former game show host hasnt taken complete control of a major political party, wed be calling McCarthy the leader of the Republican Party. Its not a perch from which someone traditionally would put his thumb on the scale in a presidential primary. But a McCarthy endorsement could get Trump to lay off of him for five minutes, which is all he can ever hope for. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tried to take immigration enforcement into his own hands by creating a 1,000-foot barrier in the Rio Grande designed to block anyone crossing from Mexico. He was looking for a showdown with the Biden administration over illegal immigration. Instead, hes getting a legal battle over the intricacies of the permitting processand hes going to lose. Mark Joseph Stern takes apart the legal theory at play in this conflict and what might become of the case. We need to talk about Hunter Advertisement Every president has family members who create an image problem for them. But Hunter Bidens saga comes at a unique timeand it seems far from over. Molly Olmstead and Christina Cauterucci examine the issue too many Democrats dont want to touch. Plus: Martin J. Sheil used to investigate tax crimes for the IRS. He explains why Hunter Biden didnt actually get a sweetheart deal. Between a Trump and a hard place Why is Kevin McCarthy suddenly so interested in expunging Trumps impeachments? Jim Newell explains whats going on, and whether thats actually possible. A glaring Oppenheimer omission Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christopher Nolans movie depicts the land that became Los Alamos as an empty vista. Nadira Goffe explains how that erases a disturbing truth about the bombs development. Plus: Inspired by the films spicy reading scene, Goffe brings you seven recommendations for books to read aloud during intercourse. A hostage situation The social networking site formerly known as Twitter is on fireand you only get a hose if you pay up. Alex Kirshner examines the platforms questionable new business model. Today, Slate is * AN ACCIDENTAL METAPHOR much like the ones present in the launch of Twitters bizarre rebrand! Nitish Pahwa runs down X things that have already gone wrong on X. Thanks so much for reading! Well see you tomorrow. In Arkansas, the Guardian reported on a disabled Medicaid recipient who depleted his savings to pay for a smartphone for his Medicaid-covered caregiverand then had to pay even more to cover caregiver wages that were withheld due to technical glitches. In Ohio, the Mighty reported on someone who placed the electronic device meant to certify his caregivers activities in the refrigerator when not in use because he was concerned about privacy. And throughout the U.S., other outlets have reported on disabled people who have been forced to share photographs and biometric data with third-party apps if they want to continue receiving government support to pay for their in-home care. Advertisement All of this is thanks to a program known as electronic visit verification, or EVV. EVV ostensibly aims to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicaid system by requiring that caregivers of disabled people prove that the covered individual is actually receiving their approved care. Under federal law, all states must require that health and home care providers utilize some form of electronic visit verification; if they do not, they risk a reduction in funding for their Medicaid programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medicaid-funded in-home care helps to make life more accessible for many Americans with disabilities, and has done so for decades. However, EVV creates barriers to accessing that care, and in doing so contravenes the intent of anti-discrimination statutes like the Americans with Disabilities Act. When the ADA was signed into law on July 26, 1990, it marked a critical turning point in the modern disability rights movement. The ADA had the noble intention of eliminating discrimination against people with disabilities, partially by providing for accessibility in all arenas of American life. But 33 years later, the law has been unable to entirely fulfill its idealsand in many cases, the rapid proliferation of technology can serve as a barrier, not only to the mission of advancing accessibility, but also to reducing discrimination against disabled people more generally. Electronic visit verification illustrates what discrimination can look like for people with disabilities in a digital age, and serves as a reminder that successfully combating disability discrimination requires looking beyond accessibility. Advertisement Technology can intersect with disability in unique and devastating ways. For example, algorithmic biaswhich shows up in employment via the use of algorithm-driven hiring tools and testscan harm people with disabilities by unfairly screening them out of jobs. Because a significant amount of their health-related data may be stored on devices or apps, disabled people are also especially at risk when it comes to issues of data privacywhich have become even more important in the wake of the 2022 Dobbs decision. The use of surveillance technology in schools, like student activitymonitoring software and student threat assessment software, can lead to adverse consequences for disabled students, including a disproportionate chilling effect on speech both in and outside of school. As is the case with electronic visit verification, many of these concernsdata privacy, surveillance, and personal privacyoften manifest simultaneously, thus amplifying their effects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In practice, EVV can look different depending on the statefor example, some states use mobile apps that require Medicaid-funded home-care workers to submit photographs of the disabled person to whom they are providing care periodically throughout the day. At times, those photographs must pass through facial recognition procedures to verify that the individual receiving care is actually who the worker says they are. A workers ability to be paid hinges upon successfully capturing, uploading, and verifying these photographs, regardless of whether the service recipient objects to the photography or facial recognition process. Many EVV schemes also use GPS to track caregivers locations, and by extension, the location data of the disabled people they work with. Often, the caregiver and care recipient both must prove theyre at the recipients home to properly verify the visit, which can limit the disabled persons ability to leave home and engage in community activities. Advertisement While EVV was initially required as an alleged attempt to prevent public benefits fraud, whatever preventative benefit it may provide (most of which seems, at this point, to still be largely speculative) is largely outweighed by its detriments. On the financial front, according to the Guardian, the state of Arkansas secured only three convictions for personal care-services fraud in 2020, recovering a total of $1,930; as of mid-2021, EVV had cost the state $5.7 million to implement. Outside of this, EVV creates a system in which disabled people who require Medicaid-funded in-home services are frequently surveilled by the government; their photographs or location data are uploaded to apps via their caregivers personal devices; the services they need and are entitled to are disrupted; and their independence, freedom to leave their homes, and legally protected right to participate fully in their communities is hindered. Disabled travel blogger and professional editor Karin Willison has written that Electronic visit verification is the equivalent of putting an ankle monitor on people with disabilities and telling us where we can and cant go. It turns having a disability into a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate How Online Job Applications Exclude Hundreds of Thousands of Americans Read More The harms that disabled people already experience as a result of EVV would only be amplified in the case of a data breach or cyberattack. A breach that impacted apps used for EVV could result in unauthorized disclosure of a disabled persons extremely sensitive datawhich, again, they likely didnt wish to share in the first place. And the harms stemming from EVV, like many other issues that exist at the intersection of disability and technology, not only disproportionately affect disabled people, but particularly those who are multiply marginalized: in this case, disabled and low-income individuals who qualify for Medicaid, many of whom are Black and brown. Furthermore, disabled people are affected on both sides of this issue, as care workers are often disabled themselves, as well. Advertisement The solution lies largely in the hands of policymakers. Congress could choose to reverse or reduce EVV requirements. It could also pass federal privacy legislation, which might then compel certain states to revise their EVV policies to better protect privacy. Even without federal policymaking action, because there is some leeway in the existing law, states could choose to implement a form of EVV that requires and collects as little data as possiblefor example, rather than collecting location data and requiring real-time photos of caregivers and those receiving care, a state could choose to have a form of EVV that requires only that a caregiver call in, perhaps using a landline instead of a smartphone (although landlines are being phased out, which limits the pragmatism of a solution such as this one). Limiting data collection to only what is absolutely and directly relevant and required to accomplish a particular purposea practice known as data minimizationcan help to mitigate at least some of the data privacy and security concerns that disabled people currently face. While electronic visit verification is but one of a number of issues within the tech policy world that implicates the civil rights and liberties of disabled people, relatively little conversation in that world centers centers disability, or even considers disabled people. It is only by prioritizing the needs of disabled people in all aspects of technology policy that the noble intention of the ADAequality for disabled people, in all arenas of American lifecan fully be realized. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Memorial Day is a national holiday to mourn and recognize Americas veterans who have died while serving in the United States armed forces. The day is observed on the last Monday of May and is marked with parades, services, a moment of silence, or visits to cemeteries and memorials. It is a day where we remember and grieve for those who died in wars and deliberate on the price of war while also paying tribute to our fallen heroes. Why You Should Send a Memorial Day Message Memorial Day is used to honor those that have given their lives in the US Civil War, the World Wars, and other conflicts. By sending out Memorial Day messages to clients, co-workers, employees, and our bosses we: Drive Traffic to Your Website Sell Your Business Small Business Spotlight Advertise Your Business Here Recognize the sacrifices made for us: The day is used to not only recognize the sacrifices of brave military personnel but also to recognize and also thank their comrades in arms, friends, and family. It is a holiday where we are all united in recognizing sacrifices made by our armed services. It is patriotic: As an American business sending commemorating Memorial Day to coworkers and clients can help reflect your patriotism. Despite our political differences, Memorial Day brings us all together for a common cause to value the sacrifices made for all of us and unite us all as one people. Use the day to be a great example for others to follow. It helps to thank those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms: As a business, you should show that you value the sacrifices made for you and indicate that you not only honor them but will never forget them. Helps build teams: Being a national holiday it helps bring people together under one cause and recognize that we are united. You can also use the day to inspire all of them for being responsible citizens and patriots. Reasons to Send Memorial Day Messages Description Recognize Sacrifices Memorial Day messages honor and recognize the sacrifices of brave military personnel, their comrades, friends, and families who have given their lives in various conflicts. Reflect Patriotism Sending Memorial Day messages as an American business showcases patriotism, uniting people despite political differences, and emphasizing the value of sacrifices made for the nation. Express Gratitude Memorial Day messages allow businesses to express gratitude and appreciation for those who paid the ultimate price for freedom, demonstrating a commitment to never forgetting them. Foster Team Building As a national holiday, Memorial Day fosters team building, bringing people together under a common cause and inspiring them to be responsible citizens and patriotic individuals. What Do You Include in a Memorial Day Message from a Business? Celebrating Memorial Day weekend is the perfect opportunity to take a step back and remember those who have played a part in creating the life we enjoy. The accompanying messages through cards, social media posts, and event banners can help bring attention to our fallen soldiers. And you can always use printing services to make it easier. Your Memorial Day messages should: Keep it short: It is always best to not write a lengthy message often three or four lines will suffice. You will also need to acknowledge the sacrifices made by others for us, be respectful, and that the nation will not forget their service. Include good quotes on honor: The message should include some good quotes on honor to help the mourning families and veterans find peace and consolation Include quotes on sacrificing: This is for us to praise the sacrifices made by the American military men and women. Include quotes on freedom: we should stress in our messages that freedom does not come free and easy. The freedoms and liberties we enjoy came by way of a heavy sacrifice that is why we will need to express our gratitude to those who have passed. Include quotes about serving ones country: The day is meant to honor those that have selflessly served their nation and use the opportunity to recognize ones duty to the nation. Memorial Day Messages to Send Warm Wishes to Clients Here are some inspiring Memorial Day greetings to send to clients: 1. Wishing you a warm and Happy Memorial Day (Name of client). Let us remember all our heroes who have left us while saving our lives and our country. 2. Memorial Day is the day celebrated in honor of all those who kept the faith and fought for it till the last breath. Let us remember and thank them all. Wishing a very Happy Memorial Day to you 3. Freedom doesnt come overnight. You have to nourish and nurture the idea with your blood and sacrifices. We are fortunate to have such wonderful army men and women in our country. Happy Memorial Day. 4. We are fortunate to be born as American citizens as we have a strong history to look back. We are born in a country of brave men and women who brought us peace and happiness. Happy Memorial Day Memorial Day Messages to Send to Other Businesses If you are lost for words on what do you say to a business on Memorial Day? Here are some great options: 5. Let us remember all our heroes in uniform who made ultimate sacrifices to defend our country from the enemies on this special day. Wishing you a warm and Happy Memorial Day. 6. On the occasion of Memorial Day, let us bow our heads in silence to remember and honor the sacrifices of hundreds of men and women who gave their lives for the country. Happy Memorial Day. 7. We are honored to be carrying such a strong legacy of brave American soldiers who are real-life heroes. Let us be proud of such an amazing history. Wishing you a very Happy Memorial Day. 8. We are a country of brave souls who fought for the pride of the country shed their blood and gave away their lives for the countrymen. Happy Memorial Day to you and your family. Memorial Day Messages to Send to Co-Workers Share your patriotism and gratitude by sending these Memorial Day messages to your co-worker. 9. Let us celebrate the pious day of Memorial Day by remembering all the national heroes who fought for the country and its honor. 10. To make this life worthy, let us take inspiration from our brave soldiers who fought for the freedom of America. Have a Happy Memorial Day. 11. I wish all my co-workers a very Happy Memorial Day. May each one of us take inspiration from the brave soldiers and the patriotism they have for the country 12. Pray for them and work for the country to make it a meaningful Memorial Day. 13. Let us never forget the price we have paid to get this independence. Let us always remember the sacrifice of every soldier. Happy Memorial Day. 14. Real heroes never die. They always live in our hearts to inspire us, motivate us, and guide us in our lives. Sending you warm wishes on Memorial Day in remembrance of the true heroes we lost. 15. Lets remember our fallen service members with pride this Memorial Day. 16. Let us honor all the veterans and also all the servicemen for whom the nation always comes first. Warm greetings on Memorial Day. Memorial Day Message to Employees Examples If you are wondering What do you say to employees on Memorial Day, here are some suggestions: 17. On Memorial Day, let us remember all those who gave away their comforts and lives so that we can enjoy 365 days of our lives with our family. Wishing you a Happy Memorial Day. 18. As I think of you on Memorial Day, I wish to celebrate this day which honors the spirit of the great nation USA and the glory of army men and women. Happy Memorial Day to you. 19. Memorial Day is not a day to honor just the veterans but it is also a day to honor those who lost their lives. Sending you warm wishes on Memorial Day to thank all those who fought for the country. 20. Dont let their sacrifices fade away with passing time but always keep them fresh in your memories to thank them. Happy Memorial Day. 21. Sending you warm wishes on this day of remembrance. 22. To the loved ones we have lost. You are forever in our hearts and minds. Your service and sacrifice will never be forgotten. 23. May God bless everyone who is mourning the loss of a loved one today. Be strong and cherish the moments of happiness. 24. Thank you to all those who have guarded my freedom and peace in my beloved country. Examples of Memorial Day Messages to Send to Your Boss You can also send your own Memorial Day message to your boss. Below are some to choose from: 25. We are forever grateful for the ultimate sacrifice of those who died protecting the United States of America. May their courage and dedication will never be forgotten. 26. Warm wishes to you and your family on Memorial Day. Our deepest gratitude goes to our beloved sons and daughters who gave us a chance to make this world a better place. 27. We appreciate all the great deeds and sacrifices done to grant us a chance to enjoy freedom. 28. I promise to keep the memory of the sacrifice of those who have died for my country. 29. I wish you a blessed Memorial Day and a cloudless future. 30. To the loved ones we have lost. You are forever in our hearts and minds. Your service and sacrifice will never be forgotten 31. We are forever thankful for all the good memories you gave us. We hope you know how grateful the people are for what you did for our country. 32. With the deepest admiration, we should strive to live by the liberties and principles for which our bravest soldiers fell. Memorial Day Quotes to Add to Your Message Below are some famous Memorial Day quotes to take inspiration from. 33. Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime. Adlai Stevenson, Politician 34. It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God such men lived. Martin Luther King, Civil rights advocate 36. It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived. General George S. Patton 37. Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay.- President Barack Obama 38. Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices. President Harry S. Truman 39. In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved. President Franklin D. Roosevelt 40. As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. President John F. Kennedy 41. No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave. President Calvin Coolidge 42. How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes. Maya Angelou, Poet Use These Memorial Day Message Examples to Create Your Own Memorial Day is a solemn and noble occasion that demands a message filled with gratitude and pride. It is essential to remember the significance of this day and why our heroes sacrificed their lives for the freedom we enjoy. When creating your own Memorial Day messages, consider incorporating these elements: Honor the Sacrifice: Express eternal gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice made by those who gave their lives for the United States of America. Acknowledge their courage and dedication in defending the nation. Express eternal gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice made by those who gave their lives for the United States of America. Acknowledge their courage and dedication in defending the nation. Peace and Hope: Reflect on the sacrifice made by our men and women in uniform, hoping that their bravery will bring peace and a better tomorrow for the nation. Reflect on the sacrifice made by our men and women in uniform, hoping that their bravery will bring peace and a better tomorrow for the nation. Remembering Worthy Ideals: Use the remembrance of fallen heroes to reflect on the ideals, virtues, and priorities that make the United States a great nation. Use the remembrance of fallen heroes to reflect on the ideals, virtues, and priorities that make the United States a great nation. Unite in Homage: Encourage coming together as a community to pay homage to those who fought and died to ensure a free nation. Let Memorial Day serve as a reminder of the things that truly matter in life. On this Memorial Day, let us pay tribute to the brave men and women who selflessly laid down their lives for our countrys freedom. Through thoughtful messages, we can honor their memory and continue to cherish the values they fought to uphold. If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. Print-on-demand companies follow a dropshipping business model where you contract a print-on-demand provider to help you print books, artwork, t-shirts, mugs, customized items, and handmade items to sell in small batches as needed. You can even have your own brand name attached or your distinctive design printed on each item you sell through your own store online, blog, or social media handle. In this article, well examine the top 19 best print-on-demand services currently offered so you can choose the best one for your company. What is Print on Demand? Print-on-demand (POD) is a business that works with a supplier to customize white-label products such as t-shirts, mugs, covers, notepads, or any other customized merchandise. Once the product is manufactured, you can sell them, on a per-order basis, under your own brand. This is a great home-based business idea to market your products with your own branding without worrying about inventory while eliminating the need for large print runs and reducing costs, making it ideal for creatives and small businesses. POD enables businesses to produce high-quality products quickly and cost-effectively while also giving them the flexibility to adjust their production volume as needed. With POD, businesses can offer customers unique and personalized products that can be printed in just a few minutes. There are two types of print-on-demand companies: print-on-demand marketplaces and print-on-demand service companies. Print-on-demand marketplaces are all-in-one platforms that host your online store on their platform, allowing you to sell the products on your website, build your brand, and grow your own customer base. POD service companies provide production, printing, and shipping services, making them the majority of recommended dropshipping partners. Can You Make Money with a Print on Demand Business? The demand for personalization on the part of consumers has helped the growth of print-on-demand sites. Todays global consumer trends indicate people require more than just functionality and want to buy things that reflect their identities. Everything is tailored to our preferences, including literature, audio, food, cellphone covers, long sleeve t-shirts, and even the information we consume. Todays consumers demand a completely personalized internet shopping experience from your online store. They dont want a straightforward mass-produced product; they want their purchases to reflect their personalities and print-on-demand sites are trying to meet the demand. In an ever-connected world where personalization is a major buying decision-making factor, POD offers opportunities to expand your business by playing on the economy of scale and the capability that comes through the dropshipping model. Businesses today no longer need to have physical outlets to thrive. By offering products tailored to your customers preferences, including books, cellphone covers, clothing, and other merchandising, you can create your very own niche. Additional perks include the ability to reduce expenses by using the made-to-order model to reduce inventory and production costs. You dont have to worry about managing orders, payments, or shipping because there are so many platforms available. All you have to do is concentrate on creating products that are in high demand. Heres a quick word from Joe Robert about the best print on demand companies In 2023 on Etsy and Shopify youll want to check out after reading: How print-on-demand companies work Simply put, print-on-demand companies offer print-after-ordering services to artists, creatives, or businesses engaged in merchandising. Essentially they take orders for your products designs and handle the production and fulfillment aspects of the enterprise. All you have to do is create your own designs and list your products, and start marketing them. When a customer buys a copy, the product is manufactured and mailed to them- the items are produced only after they are ordered for them. This is a great way to market your products without worrying about inventory while eliminating the need for large print runs and reducing costs, making it ideal for creatives and small businesses. In addition, this print-on-demand model helps businesses to produce high-quality products quickly and cost-effectively while also giving them the flexibility to adjust their production volume as needed. With POD, businesses can offer customers unique and personalized products that can be printed and delivered speedily. With this new system, you can customize and create virtually any product, from apparel to mugs. Thus helping you to quickly establish an e-commerce business or make your side business ideas turn into a reality. Which Platform is Best for Print on Demand? Printify is considered the best print-on-demand business, with over 800 items available in its inventory, including t-shirts, mugs, duvet covers, posters, accessories, and more. Among the services offered include a variety of printing choices, including direct-to-garment printing, cut-and-sew, sublimation, and embroidery. It also helps businesses produce personalized goods quickly and effectively. It has an easy-to-use UI and is linked with popular online marketplaces like Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Squarespace, Wix Stores, eBay, and more, making it easier for businesses to offer their goods. The 19 Best Print on Demand Companies When looking for the best print-on-demand companies, you must consider a number of factors. These include quality of products, customer service, price, turnaround time, integration with dropshipping platforms, ease of use, and general satisfaction. Weve compiled a list of the top 19 print-on-demand companies based on these criteria to help you make your choice. We took into account a variety of factors, including their manufacturing capabilities, customer service, whether they serve a specific niche, turnaround time, and pricing. Each of these best print-on-demand companies provides a wide range of products, such as apparel, books, mugs, and accessories, so you can pick the best one for your requirements. Most of them provide excellent customer service, so you can get answers to your queries quickly and easily. Whether you want a quick turnaround time or a low cost, these best print-on-demand companies will be able to provide you with the best options. 1. Printify Printify is considered one of the most popular print-on-demand companies. Printify offers a catalog has over 800 products selling everything from t-shirts to mugs, duvet covers to posters, accessories, and more making it easy for businesses to create custom products quickly and efficiently. It comes with an intuitive user interface that allows users to choose a product, personalize it with their own design, and have it shipped directly to their customers. With Printify, e-commerce companies can offer goods directly on their own site without using other online marketplaces. In addition, it is also integrated with major sales channels such as Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Squarespace, Wix Stores, eBay, and more making it easier for you to easily sell your products. Pros: Offers integration with various platforms, comes with a mockup generator, offers shipping calculator, extensive product catalog Cons: According to some reviews, a number of customers have expressed dissatisfaction with the response time to their customer support inquiries, claiming that the service took too long to respond. Pricing: Printify comes with a free plan where you can manage up to five stores and get unlimited product designs. Paid plans start at a monthly subscription of $ 24.99 and let you manage up to 10 stores per account and get up to 20% bulk discount on all products. 2. Printful Printful is another option for those who are looking for a reliable and cost-effective print-on-demand service. It offers a wide variety of products and services, including custom t-shirts, hoodies, hats, mugs, tote bags, and more. It offers intuitive design tools that let you create unique pieces, even if you have no design experience, while integrating with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce. In addition, it offers a wide range of customization options, including printing, embroidery, and sublimation. Pros: Offers discounts for bulk orders and monthly volume, promotes eco-friendly products, comes with mockup generator and pre-made designs. Cons: Offers higher production costs than other print-on-demand companies; the product line on offer is more limited than other print-on-demand sites. Pricing: Printify comes with a free plan where you pay only for the products you buy or sell after an order is made. If you want more features in addition to the free plan, Printify offers extra fees. 3. Sellfy Sellfy is an e-commerce platform for creators who want to sell a variety of goods, such as hoodies, shirts, phone cases, bags, and more. In addition to physical products, they also sell digital products. It allows you to quickly launch your online business idea or print-on-demand merchandise store. It has a shopping cart feature that allows you to make more money by enabling your customers to add multiple items to their online shopping carts at once. Even better, you can design a mobile-friendly checkout process and online store for desktop and mobile users. Additionally, it has some excellent marketing features, such as upselling, email marketing, and discount codes. More than 60,000 creators have used Sellfy to sell their goods since it launched in 2011, generating more than $100M in total revenue. Pros: Sellfy offers multiple payment options, built-in marketing tools, and customizable online storefronts Cons: There are a few integrations available. Pricing: Paid plans start with monthly charges ranging from $19 to $99. There is also a 14-day free trial. 4. SPOD SPOD is a print-on-demand company that lets you create and sell your print-on-demand products. With it, you can create a custom product line within minutes, print, and ship your merchandise in 48 hours or less, according to SPOD half of its orders ship within 24 hrs. You can start selling, printing, and dropshipping by uploading your designs or creating your own with SPODs free graphic library of over 50,000 designs. The library lets you create and personalize over 200 print-on-demand merchandise items. SPOD integrates with WooCommerce, Magento, Squarespace, Shopify, and others- it even has its own mobile app. Pros: 48-hour order fulfillment, vast graphic library, over 200 POD merchandise items Cons: You cant use it unless you have a Shopify account. Pricing: When using SPOD, there are no ongoing costs. SPOD charges only the order value and the shipping costs of the items when an order is placed. The cost of shipping is determined by the order value, shipping type, and country. 5. CustomCat CustomCat helps businesses to create and sell unique products from images they upload, and publish to their store. It allows anyone to create unique and high-quality custom goods whether ordering only one item or 1,000 items while at the same time offering a manual order feature for those without e-commerce experience. With it, you can sync existing product listings from your online store to CustomCat seamlessly, create product templates and mass publish product listings with bulk tools, manage product listings, view stock status and edit fulfillment settings, and manage all aspects of orders and fulfillment. CustomCat also partners with e-commerce sellers such as Shopify, Etsy, WooComemrce, and BigCommerce and ships products globally. Pros: CustomCat allows users to create product templates, manage listings, view stock status, and manage orders and fulfillment. Cons: Most of CustomCat items are limited to apparel, accessories, and housewares. Pricing: CustomCat is free to sign up for and use. When an order is placed in a store, customers pay for the base cost of the items plus the cost of shipping them to their customers. The PRO subscription comes with a $25 monthly fee and offers users 20-40% off CustomCats custom wholesale prices. 6. TeeLaunch TeeLaunch is a print-on-demand e-commerce platform for art, prints, apparel, and more. It offers an affordable print-on-demand option for entrepreneurs looking to create unique merchandising. Teelaunch will accept orders from your web store, prints the product, and handles the fulfillment end. Thanks to its user-friendly interface, it uses the power of Shopify to make mockups, and products and set up automatic order fulfillment in just minutes. Besides integrating with Shopify it also works well with other third-party platforms such as Etsy and WooCommerce. Pros: There are no monthly costs, it has a simple-to-use interface, offers a good selection of merchandising options. Cons: Some reviews complain of shipping delays. Pricing: Teelaunch comes with a free plan where you pay only for the products you buy or sell after an order is made. 7. Zazzle Zazzles print-on-demand service lets you create, sell, and buy T-shirts, hoodies, and other merchandise. With its easy-to-use design interface, you have access to a large selection of templates, apparel designs, colors, and sizes to customize the final product.- even if youre not a designer. Creating an item on Zazzle is a simple process that can be completed in a few minutes. To create a design, all you need to do is choose a template and add content. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as through text, and images. Once youve added content, you must choose a price and add your design to your account. Zazzle however does not have direct integration for third-party e-commerce stores such as Shopify, but you can however use Zazzles Application Programming Interface (API) to integrate with other platforms. Pros: Delivers good high print quality products, products can be customized by buyers, and affiliate marketing opportunities are available. Cons: Does not integrate directly with e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce Pricing: There is no cost to sign up. Designers can set their prices between 5% and 99% higher than Zazzles basic price. 8. SPOD SPOD is a print-on-demand service company that lets you create and sell your print-on-demand products. With it, you can create a custom product line within minutes, and print and ship your merchandise in 48 hours or less, according to SPOD half of its orders ship within 24 hrs. You can start selling, printing, and dropshipping by uploading your designs or creating your own with SPODs free graphic library of over 50,000 designs. The library lets you create and personalize over 200 print-on-demand merchandise items. SPOD integrates with WooCommerce. Magento, Squarespace, Shopify, and others- it even has its own mobile app. Pros: 48-hour order fulfillment, vast graphic library, over 200 POD merchandise items Cons: You cant use it unless you have a Shopify account. Pricing: When using SPOD, there are no ongoing costs. SPOD charges only the order value and the shipping costs of the items when an order is placed. The cost of shipping is determined by the order value, shipping type, and country. 9. Redbubble Redbubble is another option for independent artists looking to offer print-on-demand products through their existing website or through marketplaces such as Amazon, Etsy, and eBay. This print-on-demand solution gives you the tools you need to design products and works for artists of all skill levels from novices to experts. Thanks to its built-in design maker you can create intricate, eye-catching designs and mockups for your products to sell on redbubble. It also offers a wide range of merchandising products from eco-friendly to premium clothing that includes stationery, wall art, home and living, accessories, apparel, and more. Pros: Large customer base and traffic, anti-piracy features to protect artists artwork, has an affiliate program Cons: Potential low-profit margins, high competition Pricing: Redbubble charges a base price which includes a service fee for hosting the marketplace as well as the third-party manufacturers manufacturing fee. 10. GearLaunch GearLaunch is another choice for a print-on-demand company that offers a dependable and cost-effective solution. It provides a simple, no-hassle printing experience, with no minimum order requirements and a wide range of materials including paper, canvas, and apparel. GearLaunch functions in a straightforward manner: you create the designs and choose your ideal products and GearLaunch handles the manufacturing and delivery. You only pay the base price for products and if you want to integrate with Shopify you can opt to use its API. Pros: A good selection of Print on Demand products, no minimum orders Cons: Does not directly integrate with other platforms besides Shopify Pricing: The GearLaunch platform is free, and Shopify has a free option as well. There is a $4.99 monthly fee involved with upgrading your Shopify platform. 11. Amazon Merch on Demand Amazon Merch on Demand helps users sell their branded products created by them to be manufactured, sold, and shipped by Amazon. A key selling point here is that Amazon prints and ships products faster than most other POD fulfillment services. Because Amazon is both a massive marketplace and one of the most popular search engines on the internet, you should be able to reach more customers at Amazon Merch on Demand than anywhere else. Signing up is easy as Amazon Merch on Demand is free to create an account, upload content, and free to sell on the platform. Amazon also offers Print on Demand and Amazon Custom where customers can buy customized goods. With the help of these services, customers can develop unique products with their own artwork, logos, and text, and have them printed and delivered within a few days. Pros: Huge reach, high potential for conversion rate, perhaps the fastest shipping service Cons: Limited branding options, high competition. Pricing: Amazon Merch is an on-demand printing business where sellers make and list free t-shirt designs on Amazon. There are no out-of-pocket expenses, and you are paid royalties when a client purchases your shirt. 12. Sunfrog Sunfrog is a print-on-demand service offering a wide range of products from clothing to accessories, flyers, notebooks, mugs, and banners. They offer high-quality prints, with quick turnaround times, and competitive prices offer high- print quality for a wide selection of designs. Once signed in as a seller Sunfrog will make promotional images for you at no cost so that you can promote yourself to your customers. It also offers users campaign tracking codes to help you get on top of your marketing campaign. In addition, Sunfrog pays a 10% commission on all sales to artists and enables you to set your own prices. Each item, however, has a minimum and maximum price that can be charged. It is also integrated with major sales channels such as Shopify, Big Commerce, and Magento. Pros: No minimum sales requirement to have the merchandise printed, comes with a featured artist section, to promote your work and increase sales, easy to use dashboard that displays real-time statistics such as traffic, sales, and conversion. Cons: Initially, profit margins may be modest. Pricing: SunFrog is completely free to use, and you make money by creating items and earning a 15% commission on sales. If you are an artist, you will also receive a 10% commission on each piece sold. 13. JetPrint JetPrint is a printondemand company, offering over 400 products from shoes, jewelry, watches, and clothing to bags, rugs, shower curtains, and more. With JetPrints mockup generator, you can automatically create and publish products using youre your artwork or your own custom design and even include your own logo. You can also process orders automatically and even set a time limit that enables you to make changes or corrections if necessary. JetPrint offers integration with Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce, making it simpler and faster to promote and sell your unique merchandise. Pros: Good selection of merchandising products, good custom design options, availability of payment integrations. Cons: Lead times for production in some cases could take between three to five days. Pricing: JetPrint charges a base price. 14. Teespring Teespring initially began as the best print on demand for selling designed t-shirts. Today it has become a print-on-demand order fulfillment company, producing leggings, hoodies, decor, phone cases, and more. Teespring is a free platform that allows creators and influencers to develop, promote, and sell products without incurring any costs or risks. Teespring offers order fulfillment, customer service, and shipping. In exchange, creators can determine the selling price and keep 100% of the profit. Pros: Integration with social media platforms and other marketing channels, free-to-use, easy-to-use design feature. Cons: Small margins for small volume production, Teespring makes more sense if you have a large volume of orders to fulfill. Pricing: Spring is completely free to use. You determine the selling price and retain the entire profit. 15. TeeChip TeeChip is a print-on-demand platform that lets users create their own unique merchandising and sell directly to their fans. With it, you can sell a wide variety of products including posters, mugs, hoodies, gats, phone cases, and t-shirts. Working with TeeChip, there is no risk because there are no upfront costs. When it comes to, the payment TeeChip accepts credit cards, debit cards, wire transfers, and PayPal. Pros: A good selection of customizable products, simple sign-up procedure with no costs. Cons: According to Teechip orders are usually shipped within 5-20 working days. Pricing: TeeChip deducts the base price from the purchase each time you sell and provides you the margin you specify. 16. Printy6 Printy6 is a print-on-demand service that makes it easy for businesses to create and order custom-printed products. Businesses can quickly design their own products with intuitive tools, upload artwork, and order high-quality prints in no time thanks to Printy6s innovative technology and user-friendly platform. Printy6 integrates with many online stores, including Shopify, Etsy, BigCommerce, Woocommerce, and Amazon. It offers professional-level image rendering services to make your images stand out thanks to its photorealistic rendering feature. It uses premium fabrics and an eco-friendly printing process and provides a money-back guarantee if there are any quality problems. Pros: Easily integrates with your own online store, offers cheaper product costs compared to other print-on-demand , offers customized brand packaging Cons: Some reviews complain about longer fulfillment times than other competing print-on-demand sites, and most of its products are focused on apparel. Pricing: Printy6 app is free to use 17. Gelato Gelato is a print-on-demand site for a range of products that include clothing, wall art, Mugs, Photobooks, Cards, Stationery, tote bags, and more. With more than 130 production partners spread across 32 nations, it makes it simple for customers to have their products produced and delivered without hassle while lowering their carbon footprint. The option to select the shipping speed, live order tracking, shipping discounts, and more benefits are included. Additionally, it integrates with all of the leading online shopping carts, including Shopify. Platforms like Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, BigCommerce, and others are integrated with it. Pros: Offers local production options, affordable pricing, has a mobile app, tracks shipments, and offers basic analytics. Cons: Limited selection of product options with categories swaying more on apparel and basic stationery Pricing: Gelato is free to join with no minimum purchases required and get access to integration with Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce. Paid plans begin at $ 14.00 per month, and you can get millions of stock photos, premium mockups, and 30% off standard shipping as well. 18. Gooten Gooten is a dropshipping platform that specializes in print-on-demand services. It offers a wide range of products, from fashion and apparel to home decor, to wall art and accessories. It comes with a robust suite of tools and services to help users launch and scale their businesses. Its major selling points include its easy-to-use platform, extensive product catalog, and competitive pricing. Gooten integrates with Big Commerce, Shopify, WooCommerce, and Etsy. Its automated order fulfillment system makes sure that orders are usually processed and shipped within 24 hours. It also offers a loyalty program Very Important Merchant (VIM) where you get more tailored solutions and support to help grow your online business. Pros: Versatile product catalog, integration with major platforms, and great loyalty program. Cons: Its product mockups dont look as good as those from other print-on-demand companies. Pricing: The base cost of the item and the price of printing are both included in the prices listed in Gootens Product Catalog. You can charge and set your own margins, but dont forget to factor in shipping and fulfillment costs. 19. Society6 If you are an independent artist or a creative Society6 can be a great option for a print-on-demand site. With it, you can sell a wide variety of products, including wall art, t-shirts, phone cases, and home furnishings. Users can also upload their own artwork to create truly one-of-a-kind items. Similarly, Society6 has reasonable prices and a simple website. Its customer service is also well-known for its quick responses. Because of its extensive product selection, low prices, and excellent customer service, Society6 is an excellent choice for those looking for the best print-on-demand companies. Pros: Great for newly emerging artists, helps to create marketplace visibility for your artwork and offers networking opportunities in its online artist community. Cons: You are only able to sell your products through the Society6 website as it is unable to integrate with Shopify, Etsy, or other platforms. Pricing: Society6, does not have any monthly fee, you receive a 10% commission on the base price of your artwork. How to Choose the Best Print on Demand Company There are many great print-on-demand companies out there, each offering its own unique services and features. it comes to choosing the right print-on-demand company, theres no one-size-fits-all solution. Each print-on-demand business has its own distinct strengths, weaknesses, and features, but how can one choose the best print-on-demand business? Here are some features to consider: Offer quality products: For an enterprise to succeed, it will need to create products of the highest quality. So it is important to shortlist a few prospective print-on-demand suppliers and order test samples from them to get a sense of their quality standards. For an enterprise to succeed, it will need to create products of the highest quality. So it is important to shortlist a few prospective print-on-demand suppliers and order test samples from them to get a sense of their quality standards. Speedy Shipping: Customers expect fast shipping times when shopping online. You will need to deliver on this promise if you want to establish a good reputation and earn repeat business. When choosing a print-on-demand company, it is important to consider the average shipping time. Ideally, customers should receive their products within one week of placing an order. Customers expect fast shipping times when shopping online. You will need to deliver on this promise if you want to establish a good reputation and earn repeat business. When choosing a print-on-demand company, it is important to consider the average shipping time. Ideally, customers should receive their products within one week of placing an order. Reasonable production costs and shipping: Business is all about generating enough revenues to help your business thrive and grow. Reasonable production costs and shipping rates come in handy for your businesss success. Choosing a print-on-demand company with high product and shipping fees may result in smaller margins, hindering growth. Look for a print-on-demand company that offers a reasonable production cost without compromising quality. Business is all about generating enough revenues to help your business thrive and grow. Reasonable production costs and shipping rates come in handy for your businesss success. Choosing a print-on-demand company with high product and shipping fees may result in smaller margins, hindering growth. Look for a print-on-demand company that offers a reasonable production cost without compromising quality. Offer Customization and printing options: Good print-on-demand companies will offer different customization and printing options, depending on your needs. Great print-on-demand companies, in addition to this, will offer packaging options that suit your design and branding needs. Good print-on-demand companies will offer different customization and printing options, depending on your needs. Great print-on-demand companies, in addition to this, will offer packaging options that suit your design and branding needs. Offer Integration with other platforms: Different print-on-demand companies allow you to sell through a variety of channels, such as your own website, Shopify, Etsy, eBay, Amazon, and other platforms. Make sure your print-on-demand company accords you with the means to grow your business by offering you these options. It is important that you start your selection for the right print-on-demand partner from a pool of likely candidates while making sure not to make too many print-on-demand mistakes. Besides inquiring whether the provider provides the services you require and has a good track record with customers, you should check the companys refund policy. Check to see if they can offer you cutting-edge technology at a reasonable price. Heres a numbered comparison table for choosing the best print-on-demand company: iteria Importance Print-on-Demand Company A Print-on-Demand Company B Print-on-Demand Company C 1. Quality Products High ? ? ? 2. Speedy Shipping High ? ? ? 3. Reasonable Costs High ? ? ? 4. Customization & Printing Medium ? ? ? 5. Integration with Platforms Medium ? ? ? 6. Refund Policy Low ? ? ? 7. Cutting-edge Technology Low ? ? ? Note that a check indicates that the company meets the criteria, while an X indicates that the company does not meet the criteria. The importance levels are subjective and may vary based on individual business needs. Conduct thorough research and compare multiple print-on-demand companies to find the best fit for your specific requirements. How to Make Money with Print on Demand If done right, venturing into a print-on-demand business can be lucrative and comes with minimal risks. Print-on-demand offers low startup costs and quick setup without the need for inventory and storage, and is easy to experiment with product designs. It also offers you the ability to customize and sell your unique designs to a global market, scale, and test new products without financial risks. Lets also not forget that most print-on-demand businesses frequently provide discounts for bigger orders letting you to further increase your profit margins. Most importantly, it can boost your online stores chances of success while at the same time making money by creating your own brand that is distinct. Ultimately the amount of money you can earn with Print on Demand is dependent on the goods you offer, your target audience, and how well you advertise to them. Some great ways to make money with print-on-demand include: Partner with platforms that can boost your touch points: There are several platforms that can help you bring to scale your sales and boost your earnings. For example, platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and Amazon can increase your reach and help with some of the heavy lifting for you. There are several platforms that can help you bring to scale your sales and boost your earnings. For example, platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and Amazon can increase your reach and help with some of the heavy lifting for you. Make the most of social media marketing: Social media offers a tremendously and powerful instrument for promoting your print-on-demand goods. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter not only increase your customer touch points but also add to your credibility and boost engagement with your target audience. With some effort, you can develop a loyal customer base that will keep coming back for more. Social media offers a tremendously and powerful instrument for promoting your print-on-demand goods. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter not only increase your customer touch points but also add to your credibility and boost engagement with your target audience. With some effort, you can develop a loyal customer base that will keep coming back for more. Uniqueness and personalization sell: To succeed, you will need to fine-tune youre branding and design so that you represent a distinct personality this is what will make you stick out from the competition. Consider using unique typefaces and eye-catching graphics. Also, keep an eye on what is trending for print-on-demand goods to stay ahead of the curve. To succeed, you will need to fine-tune youre branding and design so that you represent a distinct personality this is what will make you stick out from the competition. Consider using unique typefaces and eye-catching graphics. Also, keep an eye on what is trending for print-on-demand goods to stay ahead of the curve. Create realistic mock-ups: Its always a good idea to make mock-ups of your products on real individuals when offering a print-on-demand product. This enables you to demonstrate your products in real-world settings and doesnt come off as a scam. This is also excellent for sharing on social media. Its always a good idea to make mock-ups of your products on real individuals when offering a print-on-demand product. This enables you to demonstrate your products in real-world settings and doesnt come off as a scam. This is also excellent for sharing on social media. Harness the power of testimonials and reviews: When it comes to promoting your print-on-demand goods, customer feedback can go a long way in terms of establishing your credibility. If you have satisfied clients who to sing your praises, make sure to clearly display their testimonials on your website or social media sites. This is an excellent method to establish trust with prospective customers and demonstrate to them that your goods are worthwhile investments. Always remember reviews and testimonials are the new social proof! Finally, its important to note that success with a POD company often requires patience and consistent effort. While some individuals and businesses have achieved significant success and generated substantial income through POD, others may experience more modest results. Like any business venture, there are risks and uncertainties, but with dedication, creativity, and strategic planning, you can increase your chances of success in the print-on-demand industry. Best Print on Demand Services FAQ There are several print-on-demand sites, and the best one for you will be determined by your particular requirements. You will need to consider the kinds of products you want to produce, the quantity required, the quality of the product, the turnaround time, and the expense without any hidden fees. Can you start print on demand with no money? Yes, you can start printing on demand with no money. You can build your own online store using a free platform like Shopify, or you can use a free tool offered by many print-on-demand service companies to help you with fulfilling your orders. When it comes to designing, print-on-demand companies come with free mock-up generators as well as free templates and designs online to use for your products. If you are a creative designer you can offer designs in the form of digital products to others and receive royalties in exchange. In some cases, a good print-on-demand site will even help you calculate your business costs and help set a price to help set prices for a cozy profit margin. Which print on demand service is most profitable? There are several print-on-demand service choices available in the market, each with its own set of benefits and disadvantages. Ultimately, the most profitable print-on-demand service will be the one that best meets your particular businesss requirements. For example, Printful is an excellent choice if you want a print-on-demand service that is quick and simple to use. It also comes with a variety of custom products, so you can choose the ideal product to sell. Zazzle is another well-known print-on-demand business that has a broader selection of products and customization choices. Is Print-on-Demand Still a Good Business? Theres no doubt that print-on-demand (POD) continues to open markets for creatives, artists, and small businesses engaged in merchandising. It offers a quick, easy, and affordable way to print and distribute books, artwork, merchandising, and more on a global scale. It is a great alternative for creatives who want to get their custom products into the hands of their fans without incurring the high costs of traditional printing, storage, and distribution. The major draw for POD is that it allows entrepreneurs much leeway in their manufacturing as production is on an as-needed basis. What Are the Best Quality T-Shirts for Printing? There are several factors to consider when looking for the finest quality T-shirts for printing. The first thing to think about is the sort of printing you want to do. For example, if you want to screen print, youll need to use a material made of a thicker substance to keep the pigment from bleeding through the blouse. And if you want to do digital printing, you would want to opt for a T-shirt made from a thinner material to improve the ink clearly printed on the garment. Is dropshipping better than print on demand? Though both dropshipping and print-on-demand share many features print on demand has an edge over drop shipping. Doprshipping companies or eCommerce suppliers offer goods and services to online merchants and are limited to marketing, fulfillment, and transportation. The dropshipping industry is more cutthroat than the print-on-demand market as there is little differentiation among the products that are up for sale. Print on demand, however, has an element of uniqueness when it comes to the product as they are designed by a particular artist, creative or small business. If you want to build a long-lasting and consistent image with customers and carve out your own niche then print-on-demand can be a good option. Save money on shipping costs for your Amazon purchases. Plus, enjoy thousands of titles from Amazons video library with an Amazon Prime membership. Learn more and sign up for a free trial today. On July 23, 2023, Elon Musk announced that he was rebranding Twitter to X. This move has been met with mixed reactions, with some people praising Musk for his vision and others criticizing him for his lack of understanding of the platform. As a small business owner, you may be wondering what the rebranding of Twitter to X means for you. Here are some of the key things to keep in mind: The X brand is still new and unproven. Its unclear how users will react to the new name and logo. Its possible the rebrand will alienate some of your followers, while others may be drawn to the new branding. The X platform is still under development. Musk has ambitious plans for X, but its unclear when or if he will be able to realize them. This means you may have to wait a while before you can fully benefit from the new platform. The X platform may not be a good fit for your business. X is designed to be a super app, which means it will offer a wide range of features. However, not all small businesses will need or want all of these features. Benefits of the Change to X Despite these challenges, there are also some potential benefits to the rebranding of Twitter to X for your business. Here are a few of the things to look forward to: Small Business Spotlight Sell Your Business Drive Traffic to Your Website Advertise Your Business Here The X platform could be more user-friendly for your business. Musk has said he wants to make X easier to use for businesses, and he has already made some changes to the platform to make it more accessible. The X platform could be more effective for marketing and customer service. X offers a number of features that could be helpful for your business, such as the ability to send direct messages, host live events, and create polls. The X platform could be more profitable for your business. Musk has said he wants to make X a more sustainable business, and he has hinted that he may introduce new ways for businesses to make money on the platform. Overall, the rebranding of Twitter to X is a mixed bag for small businesses. There are some potential benefits, but there are also some challenges to be aware of. Only time will tell how the new platform will ultimately impact your business. In addition to the above, here are some additional things to consider for your business: How will the X brand impact your social media marketing strategy? Will you need to change your Twitter handle? Will you need to create new marketing materials? How will the X platform impact your customer service? Will you be able to use X to provide better customer support? Will you need to hire additional staff to manage X? How will the X platform impact your overall business strategy? Do you have plans to use X to reach new customers? Do you have plans to sell products or services on X? Will the Name Change be Successful? It is too early to say whether the name change will be successful. However, there are a few reasons to be optimistic. First, Musk is a very successful entrepreneur, and he has a good track record of turning around struggling businesses. Second, the new name, X, is a strong and versatile name. It can be used to describe a wide range of products and services. Of course, there are also some challenges that Twitter will face. For example, the name change could alienate some users who are attached to the old name, Twitter. Additionally, the name change could be confusing for new users who are not familiar with Twitter. Overall, the name change to X is a bold move by Twitter. It is a sign of the companys ambitions to become more than just a social media platform. Only time will tell whether the name change will be successful. The rebranding of Twitter to X is a significant event, and its important for small businesses to be prepared for the changes. By carefully considering the potential benefits and challenges, you can make the most of the new platform. Get the latest headlines from Small Business Trends. Follow us on Google News. More generous meal vouchers, elections in Slovakia over the years, and police intensifying checks on cars stopping on cycle paths. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Share Twitter Facebook Whatsapp E-mail Link to the page Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, July 26 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes. More generous meal vouchers for the third time this year Stock image. (Source: SITA) On June 1, the minimum value of a meal voucher for employees increased by almost 40 percent to 5.48. Now, the Labour Ministry wants to increase the value of the vouchers for the third time this year, rising to 5.85. The changes will also cover workers on business trips across Slovakia. If their trip lasts from five to 12 hours, employers will reimburse them for their meal expenses to the sum of 7.80, up by 0.50, to 11.60 if the trip lasts from 12 to 18 hours, an increase of 0.70, and 17.40, up 1, for trips over 18 hours. When the change takes place will depend on how long it takes to get the proposal through parliament, the ministry said. More stories from The Slovak Spectator website SUMMER RECIPE: How to make creamy Slovak cucumber salad. BRATISLAVA: Petition demands less traffic on busy Bratislava artery. City authorities say some proposals are already being considered. SLOVAKS: Health of Slovaks stagnating, warns Health Ministry. New report shows public health indicators worsening. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you. FEATURE STORY FOR WEDNESDAY How voting evolved in Slovakia The archive photo caption reads: Electoral posters catch the eye of young mothers in the town of Handlova, they too will vote for peace and a happy life for their children on Sunday, June 12 1960. (Source: TASR) For centuries, many people in Slovakia had almost no rights, their future decided by a handful of oligarchs. It was only under democracy that they got universal voting rights. Today, half the population of Slovakia trusts demagogues and expects elections to be manipulated. Surveys also show that half of the electorate has no problem with being ruled by a firm hand. Read how people have viewed elections in Slovakia from the middle of the 19th century to the end of communism. EVENT FOR THE WEEKEND The crown is back in the city Coronation Days. (Source: TASR) From Friday to Sunday, Bratislava will return in time, once again becoming Pressburg, the coronation city of the Kingdom of Hungary. A coronation procession will go through the streets of the city, with participants in period costumes, while themed city tours will also be on offer. For more information including a programme click here (in English). In other news On Tuesday, Slovak firefighters on the Greek island of Rhodes managed to protect an electricity transformer station near the village of Gennadi from an approaching fire. The team helping to fight the vast wildfires also helped secure water supplies near the village of Vati and constructed a water pumping station. station near the village of Gennadi from an approaching fire. The team helping to fight the vast wildfires also helped secure water supplies near the village of Vati and constructed a water pumping station. A total of 12,265 people died in Slovakia in the second quarter of 2023 , the Statistics Office reports, adding that mortality fell 11 percent year-on-year. Circulatory system diseases remained the most frequent causes of death. , the Statistics Office reports, adding that mortality fell 11 percent year-on-year. Circulatory system diseases remained the most frequent causes of death. Bratislava City Police have intensified checks on people stopping on cycle paths , especially in problematic streets such as Dunajska, Krizna, Mlynske Nivy and Banskobystricka, city authorities have said. Parking a car on a cycle path carries a fine of up to 50. , especially in problematic streets such as Dunajska, Krizna, Mlynske Nivy and Banskobystricka, city authorities have said. Parking a car on a cycle path carries a fine of up to 50. PM Ludovit Odor criticised Hungarian PM Viktor Orban over a statement the latter made last weekend about Slovakia. "Any questioning of Slovakia's territorial integrity is unacceptable. It helps neither bilateral relations, nor the ethnic-Hungarian minority living in Slovakia," Odor said on Wednesday. WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy and occasional showers. Daily temperatures between 18 C and 25 C. A Level 1 wind warning is in place for districts around the High and Low Tatras and Kosice, Trebisov a Michalovce. (SHMU) Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us. P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook, Instagram (@slovakspectator) and Twitter (@slovakspectator). The full-service pharmacy will serve as a kind of living museum, with staff dispensing medicines while also presenting its story to tourists. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Share Twitter Facebook Whatsapp E-mail Link to the page The re-opening of the renowned Salvator pharmacy in Bratislavas Old Town is moving closer. Following the return to Bratislava, in 2021, of the historical pharmacy furniture that once decorated the interior, the city earlier this month completed reconstruction of the premises. Reinstallation of the Baroque furnishings began on Monday, July 24, and will last for some five to six weeks. Restorers from the Bratislava City Museum are helping with the work. The non-profit organisation Lekaren u Salvatora, which operates under the Slovak Chamber of Pharmacists (SLeK) and which has been granted a lease on the premises from the City of Bratislava, plans to open the pharmacy by the end of the year. We plan to provide here complete pharmacy care, including individual preparation of medicines and extended professional consultations, Ondrej Sukel, SLeK's president, told The Slovak Spectator. We want this place to be not only a showcase of historical, but also modern pharmacy. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230725/mccarthy-biden-investigation-rising-to-level-of-impeachment-inquiry-1112144720.html McCarthy: Biden Investigation 'Rising to Level' of Impeachment Inquiry McCarthy: Biden Investigation 'Rising to Level' of Impeachment Inquiry House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Monday that the investigation into Hunter Biden's business deals, and Joe Biden's alleged involvement, may lead to an impeachment inquirt. 2023-07-25T22:52+0000 2023-07-25T22:52+0000 2023-07-25T22:50+0000 hunter biden joe biden kevin mccarthy ukraine burisma fbi white house americas /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/15/1112036653_0:150:2880:1770_1920x0_80_0_0_4c00f93b36ffde88d0a0172ca461256b.jpg US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) recently stated that he believes the investigation into foreign business dealings by President Joe Biden's family may result in an impeachment inquiry.The investigation is specifically focused on Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden, his business dealings and if the US president received any payments by way of his son.When Biden was running for office, he told the public he has never talked about business. He said his family has never received a dollar from China, which we prove is not true, McCarthy told Fox News host Sean Hannity late Monday, referring to comments the elder Biden made about not discussing business dealings with his son.McCarthy also mentioned accusations by two IRS whistleblowers who said prosecutors slow-walked the investigation into Hunter Bidens tax crimes and congressional investigations that showed the Biden family received millions of dollars from over 20 shell companies they set up, including from Chinese and Ukrainian nationals.The IRS whistleblowers also alleged they were prevented from following leads that may have led to President Biden.Last week, Republicans released an FBI document in which a confidential source outlined conversations they allegedly had with Burisma CEO Mykola Zlochevsky. The source in that document alleges Zlochevsky hired Hunter Biden to leverage his connection to his father and sent payments to the Bidens to squash an investigation into Burisma by then-Ukrainian Prosecutor-General Viktor Shokin.Then-Vice President Biden bragged on video about the dismissal handed down to Shokin, who was accused of corruption by the US and some European countries, by threatening to withhold $1 billion in aid to Ukraine. The source in the FBI document also alleges Zlochevsky indicated he was coerced into paying the Biden family, and that he recorded conversations with both Hunter and Joe Biden. The accusations laid out in the document have not been proven and Democrats have pointed to a document from Trumps 2019 impeachment trial in which Zlochevsky reportedly told associates to Trump-era official Rudy Giuliani that Burisma never had contact with Joe Biden during his tenure as vice president.It was also reported in US media on Monday that Hunter Bidens business associate Devon Archer plans to tell the House Oversight and Reform Committee that Hunter would often put his father on speaker phone during conversations with foreign business partners.At her Monday briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierrre again denied the commander-in-chief has ever had a connection to his sons business dealings.Last month, a Hunter Biden Whatapp message from 2017 discovered by investigators was made public. In the message Hunter appears to use his father to leverage a business deal with a Chinese businessman. Photos found on Hunter Biden's abandoned laptop suggests Joe and Hunter Biden were both at Biden family's Wilmington, Delaware, home around the time the message was sent. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230725/self-harm-hunter-bidens-memoir-became-source-of-tax-evasion-evidence-1112140501.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230721/media-non-coverage-of-irs-whistleblower-spells-biden-family-cover-up-1112046879.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230724/hunter-biden-brought-then-vp-father-into-foreign-business-calls---us-house-oversight-panel-1112114875.html ukraine americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ian DeMartino Ian DeMartino 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 Ian DeMartino joe biden impeachment, investigation into hunter biden, burisma investigation, 10% to the big guy, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/brazils-parana-declares-6-month-state-of-emergency-due-to-bird-flu-1112149102.html Brazils Parana Declares 6-Month State of Emergency Due to Bird Flu Brazils Parana Declares 6-Month State of Emergency Due to Bird Flu The Brazilian Parana declared a 180-day emergency due to the detection of cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza among migratory birds, said the regional government. 2023-07-26T04:09+0000 2023-07-26T04:09+0000 2023-07-26T04:09+0000 americas brazil bird flu bird flu world health organization (who) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107820/29/1078202921_0:153:3099:1896_1920x0_80_0_0_199b83ee7e0c70be33d9d66fb36dedc8.jpg So far, seven cases of H5N1 have been identified in Parana in migrating wild birds. Regional Minister of Agriculture and Supply Norberto Ortigara said in the statement that the government needs to "avoid the spread of the virus on industrial farms by all possible means."In 2022, there were over 19,000 poultry farms in Parana, while the volume of poultry meat exports from this region exceeded one million tonnes in the first half of this year.Earlier in the month, the World Health Organization warned the global community that avian influenza is increasingly affecting mammals, thus posing a higher risk to humans. americas brazil 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 brazil parana, america bird flu, bird flu in brazil, highly pathogenic avian influenza h5n1, parana minister of agriculture and supply norberto ortigara, avian flu https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/bronny-james-goes-into-cardiac-arrest-drone-attack-on-moscow-and-the-climate-change-bomb-is-here-1112145175.html Bronny James Goes Into Cardiac Arrest, Drone Attack on Moscow, and The 'Climate Change Bomb' is Here Bronny James Goes Into Cardiac Arrest, Drone Attack on Moscow, and The 'Climate Change Bomb' is Here On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including Bronny James suffering a cardiac arrest, and President Biden claiming to end cancer. 2023-07-26T04:14+0000 2023-07-26T04:14+0000 2023-07-26T11:08+0000 the backstory radio moscow terrorism china university of southern california (usc) rural america heart attack /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/19/1112145018_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_18a3e26828c549b343fac25982d006e8.png Bronny James Goes Into Cardiac Arrest, Drone Attack on Moscow, and The "Climate Change Bomb" is Here On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including Bronny James suffering a cardiac arrest, and President Biden claiming to end cancer. Sonja Van Den Ende - Independent Journalist, Writer | More Drone Attacks in Moscow, Sonja Revisits Mariupol, and People are More Skeptical Than Ever on UkraineCharles Ortel - Former Investor, and Charity Fraud Expert | Joe Biden in 1988, The Biden Presidency is Considered Basically Dead, and Trumpism In the first hour, Lee spoke with Sonja Van Den Ende about her recent trip to Donbass, Mariupol is rebuilding, and the Western support for neo-Nazis. Sonja discussed the amazing restraint by President Putin and Poland threatening to take the territory of Ukraine. Sonja talked about the targeted strikes occurring in Odessa and Europeans are more affected by the war in Europe.In the second hour, Lee spoke with Charles Ortel about the crime wave affecting America, the once great cities in America, and how Joe Biden got his wealth. Charles talked about the need to enact laws to punish corruption and the weakness of the Biden administration. Charles commented on the plan B option for the Democrat party and the gains the Chinese have attained, during the Biden administration.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik. moscow china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png the backstory, drone attacks in moscow, biden presidency, western support for neo-nazis, crime wave in the us https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/crime-against-all-living-beings-climate-change-being-fueled-by-government-inaction-1112146584.html Crime Against All Living Beings: Climate Change Being Fueled by Government Inaction Crime Against All Living Beings: Climate Change Being Fueled by Government Inaction The Director of Environmental Justice for New York Lawyers for the Public Interest joined Sputnik's Political Misfits to discuss the ongoing effects of climate change. 2023-07-26T02:34+0000 2023-07-26T02:34+0000 2023-07-26T02:31+0000 john kiriakou joe biden greece sputnik wildfires climate change global warming analysis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/17/1112090858_0:0:2982:1677_1920x0_80_0_0_1dddb25b1f1cd2fdeed1b2941aa2f800.jpg The blame for the effects of the current state of climate change must be placed at the feet of governments around the world who are not acting with urgency, Anthony Rogers Wright, the director of environmental justice at New York Lawyers For the Public Interest, told Sputnik.Wright joined Radio Sputniks Political Misfits on Tuesday to discuss the record heat wave, massive wildfires and a rang of climate change effects.When asked about the wildfires in Greece and elsewhere around the world, Wright told hosts John Kiriakou and Michelle Witte it is unfortunately the new normal, adding that climate change is a form of slow violence that doesnt elicit the same urgency as terrorism attacks or other instances of immediate violence."As you just said, the Mediterranean, China, Africa, here in the United States, no one is safe. There is really no region in the world that is immune to this," he added.Massive wildfires are raging in Greece, causing tens of thousands of people to evacuate while similar wildfires raged in Italy and Algeria, where fires have killed at least 34 people. Wright fears this is just the beginning.Wright notes that it is our slash, dig and burn economy that is driven by fossil fuels and the infiltration of lobbyists into our government through Citizens United that encourages the continued destruction of our climate."That's an easy solution [switching to agriecological practices] but the reason it is not easy is because of Big Ag, and Citizen's United and politicians allowing themselves to be bought," he said.When asked by Kiriakou whether there are any feasible solutions governments could take that would have an impact, Wright pointed to agriculture as a possible massive solution multiplier. The environmentalist explained that by switching from industrial agriculture to agroecological practices, farming would not only be more sustainable but the healthy soil it promotes would trap greenhouse gasses and prevent flooding because healthy soil takes longer to become saturated. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230725/crucial-atlantic-ocean-current-at-risk-of-collapsing-by-2025-study-warns-1112145530.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230725/hardest-day-italy-wracked-by-hailstorms-wildfires-extreme-heat-1112135263.html greece Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ian DeMartino Ian DeMartino 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 Ian DeMartino anthony rogers-wright, political misfits, climate change, wildfires in greece, wildfires in italy, wildfires in canada, effects of warming. Guayaquil prison is notorious for inmate clashes. In September 2021, 119 people were killed and dozens were injured in prison riots there. Earlier this year, local media detailed that clashes between prisoners prompted the deaths of over 400 inmates over a period of less than two years. In fact, in May, three people were killed and another was injured after a shootout broke out between prisoners. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/france-eyes-new-deal-with-qatar-on-supply-of-rafale-fighter-jets---reports-1112147935.html France Eyes New Deal With Qatar on Supply of Rafale Fighter Jets - Reports France Eyes New Deal With Qatar on Supply of Rafale Fighter Jets - Reports PARIS (Sputnik) - France was planning to agree on another contract to deliver 24 Rafale fighter jets to Qatar after the supply of 36 aircraft in 2015, a French... 26.07.2023, Sputnik International 2023-07-26T03:24+0000 2023-07-26T03:24+0000 2023-07-26T03:24+0000 military qatar france dassault rafale rafale fighter jets rafale /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/07/1d/1080008330_0:67:1280:787_1920x0_80_0_0_fee7b0eecc0c4dafe0bccce66e887602.jpg Doha may place an order for French fighter jets between 2024 and 2025, the report said. Qatar may also request that France modernize the 36 aircraft supplied in 2015 to the F4 standard. The intention was announced during the visit of French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu to Qatar on July 17, where he met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to discuss the "strengthening of strategic partnership," among other topics, the media reported. In 2015, Qatar and France struck a deal for the delivery of 24 Rafale aircraft worth 6.3 million euros ($6.96 million), with Doha having purchased another 12 fighters later. A French broadcaster reported earlier that French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation received ten times fewer orders in the first half of 2023 compared to the previous year. The company was expecting to receive more orders by the end of the year, when, among other things, the deal on the supply of 26 Rafale fighters to India is finalized. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220922/indian-navy-evaluating-trials-of-french-rafale-and-american-f-18-fighter-jets-for-5-billion-deal-1101093799.html qatar france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International qatar, france, dassault rafale, rafale fighter jets, rafale https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/hungarian-parliament-would-veto-ukraines-accession-to-nato---party-head-1112152489.html Hungarian Parliament Would Veto Ukraine's Accession to NATO - Party Head Hungarian Parliament Would Veto Ukraine's Accession to NATO - Party Head Hungary's parliament would veto Ukraine's accession to NATO because the move could lead to another world war, the leader of Hungary's national conservative political party Our Homeland Movement party said 2023-07-26T10:10+0000 2023-07-26T10:10+0000 2023-07-26T10:10+0000 world russia nato russia-nato showdown hungary /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103522/88/1035228815_0:183:3073:1911_1920x0_80_0_0_bba404c3b49d85917275ccaed70d505a.jpg He said the "military psychosis and anti-Russian sentiment" evident at the recent NATO summit in Vilnius were "both astonishing and frightening."On July 11, the first day of the NATO summit in Vilnius, alliance leaders approved a three-year assistance package for Ukraine. It includes a multi-year assistance plan to achieve compatibility with the alliance, the creation of the NATO-Ukraine Council and the elimination of the Membership Action Plan condition, a move that reduces the accession process from two stages to one. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Ukraine would become a NATO member when the allies decide the conditions have been met.Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada amended two laws in December 2014, abandoning the country's non-aligned status. In February 2019, Ukraine's parliament passed constitutional amendments that solidified the country's course toward the EU and NATO. Ukraine became the sixth country to receive NATO's extended partner status. In late September 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine would apply for NATO membership under an accelerated procedure.In the Hungarian parliamentary elections in April 2022, the Our Homeland Movement won six seats in the National Assembly out of 199. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230725/nato-countries-using-ukraine-to-get-rid-of-outdated-weapons-1112139639.html russia hungary 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 hungary won't ban ukraine in nato, who wants ukraine in nato, why ukraine not in nato, nato-russia war, war in ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/hunter-biden-may-submit-guilty-plea-on-wednesday-for-deal-on-tax-firearms-offenses-1112146287.html Hunter Biden May Submit Guilty Plea on Wednesday for Deal on Tax, Firearms Offenses Hunter Biden May Submit Guilty Plea on Wednesday for Deal on Tax, Firearms Offenses Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, may plead guilty in a US court on Wednesday to two misdemeanor tax offenses and enter into a pretrial diversion agreement for a felony firearms offense as part of the deal. 2023-07-26T02:50+0000 2023-07-26T02:50+0000 2023-07-26T02:47+0000 americas joe biden hunter biden james comer justice department us house of representatives investigation /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/0a/1110232732_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_4e3c6cb37f6d6be66039b286004dec27.jpg Last month, US Attorney for the District of Delaware David Weiss announced Biden agreed to plead guilty to the two tax offenses as part of a deal to resolve all three charges. Biden is set to appear in the US District Court for the District of Delaware on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. EST (2:00 p.m. GMT), according to court schedules. Biden is scheduled for an initial appearance and a change of plea hearing. The deal would resolve a five-year investigation into Biden by the Justice Department, according to his attorney. The Justice Department said its probe into Biden remained ongoing following the announcement of the tentative plea deal. Hunter and Joe Biden are also the subject of US House investigations into alleged criminal activity by the presidents family, including a foreign bribery scheme involving Ukrainian energy company Burisma. The US House Oversight Committee likewise continues its probe into the Bidens despite the tentative plea agreement with the Justice Department, panel chairman James Comer said. Comer characterized the agreement as a "sweetheart deal" and a "slap on the wrist." The deal was also criticized by former US President Donald Trump, who frequently alleges the US justice system has been weaponized in favor of the Biden administration. Earlier this month, FBI Director Christopher Wray told lawmakers the agency is not protecting the Biden family. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230725/mccarthy-biden-investigation-rising-to-level-of-impeachment-inquiry-1112144720.html americas 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 hunter biden, guilty plea, plea deal agreement, biden family, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/kim-says-dprk-inflicted-indelible-disgrace-defeat-on-us-imperialism-in-korean-war-1112151962.html Kim Says DPRK Inflicted Indelible Disgrace, Defeat on US Imperialism in Korean War Kim Says DPRK Inflicted Indelible Disgrace, Defeat on US Imperialism in Korean War This week marks the 70th anniversary of the signing of the armistice which put a halt to fighting in the Korean War. The war was among the first of a series of conflicts involving the Cold War superpowers and their allies, and caused the deaths of over three million people, 1.2 million of them North Korean civilians killed by US carpet bombing. 2023-07-26T10:45+0000 2023-07-26T10:45+0000 2023-07-26T12:13+0000 joe biden kim jong-un pyongyang china seoul dprk red army us air force korean war world /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/1a/1112151619_0:0:900:506_1920x0_80_0_0_f9d710cb45434c266b97e7e16d6b1af6.jpg North Koreas miraculous ability to withstand US aggression during the Korean War shattered the air of invincibility surrounding the US military, and helped prevent a new global conflagration between the Eastern and Western blocs, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said.Stressing that nations which are great in history and tradition and steadfast in succession are invincible, Kim stressed that the DPRK, the most dignified and independent, powerful country in the world, will always emerge victorious against foes while guided by the heroism of those who forged the Korean Revolution.Kim visited the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery and the Chinese Peoples Volunteers Martyrs Cemetery on Wednesday, accompanied by senior military officials and Korean Workers Party members, laying wreaths to fallen soldiers at both.Russia and China each sent high-level delegations to North Korea to commemorate the armistice anniversary, with the Russian delegation led by Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, who was greeted as a guest of honor after arriving in the country early Wednesday morning.North Korean media said Shoigus visit would significantly contribute to the further strengthening of the strategic and traditionally friendly ties between Moscow and Pyongyang.During the visit, Shoigu laid flowers at the Liberation Monument in Pyongyang dedicated to the Red Army troops who died liberating Korea from Japan during Operation August Storm in August of 1945. Russian officials also laid flowers at the monuments to Kim Il Sung, North Koreas founder, and Kim Jong Il, in downtown Pyongyang.Chinas delegation was led by Li Hongzhong, the vice chairman of the Peoples National Congress parliaments Standing Committee.Korean War: Deadly Cold War ConflictThe Korean War is one of the top five deadliest conflicts of the 20th century after the First and Second World Wars and the Russian and Chinese civil wars, with an estimated 3-4.5 million people killed in brutal fighting.A war between the divided Koreas became inevitable after the United Nations proved unable to reconcile differences between the socialist and capitalist governments established in the two countries in the mid-to-late 1940s. After Pyongyang declared war on Seoul in 1950, the US and its allies mobilized an international coalition, which landed on the peninsula and began pushing DPRK forces to the Chinese border. This prompted the newly-declared Peoples Republic of China to join the conflict, sending volunteers who helped push US and allied forces back towards the 38th parallel, where the war began.Moscow assisted Pyongyang with arms deliveries, and secretly sent a contingent of volunteer Soviet ace fighter pilots who helped slow the systematic carpet bombing of North Korean cities and infrastructure by US bombers. The US Air Force ended up dropping more tonnage of bombs on the country between 1950 and 1953 than it had across the entire Pacific Theater of operations during WWII, resulting in the destruction of nearly three quarters of North Koreas population centers and the deaths of well over a million civilians.Modern TensionsThis week's armistice commemorations come amid a fresh escalation of tensions between North Korea on one side, and the US and South Korea on the other, with Washington sending nuclear submarines to the peninsula this month amid negotiations to ramp up its defense commitments to Seoul related to Pyongyangs nuclear and missile capabilities.Pyongyangs relations with Seoul and Washington enjoyed a brief thaw in the mid-to-late 2010s after Kim Jong-un and South Korean and US Presidents Moon Jae-in and Donald Trump established close personal rapports and began talks to normalize ties and deescalate tensions. This thaw was undermined following the election of Joe Biden, who had attacked Trump for meeting with Kim. Last years election of a new South Korean president and Seouls reversion to classifying North Korea as an enemy state strained relations further. North Korea, in its turn, conducts responsive critical rhetoric against the collective West. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230628/the-73-year-long-war-how-cold-war-rivalries-set-off-the-korean-conflict-1111503385.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230724/another-us-nuclear-submarine-arrives-in-south-korea---rok-navy-1112101976.html pyongyang china seoul Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov north korea, south korea, kim jong-un, united states, korean war, 1950, 1953, anniversary, commemoration, us imperialism https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/life-returning-to-mariupol-after-defeat-of-azov-neo-nazis---dutch-journalist-1112158858.html Life Returning to Mariupol After Defeat of Azov Neo-Nazis - Dutch Journalist Life Returning to Mariupol After Defeat of Azov Neo-Nazis - Dutch Journalist Independent journalist Sonja van den Ende is one of the few reporters from Western countries to cover the conflict in Ukraine from the Russian side of the front line 2023-07-26T17:17+0000 2023-07-26T17:17+0000 2023-07-26T17:17+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine mariupol russia donetsk people's republic donetsk donbass ukraine azov battalion netherlands /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/04/14/1094916131_0:165:1601:1065_1920x0_80_0_0_0bd465324cb3780e5c59fce5a86b7d93.jpg A Dutch independent war correspondent says normal life is returning to cities in the Donbass liberated from Ukrainian extremists. Sonja van den Ende spoke to Sputnik just days after returning from her latest trip to Donetsk, Mariupol and Volnovakha.While she was there, Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack on Mariupol, the port city on the Sea of Azov.The journalist said she first visited Mariupol in April 2022, while the battles were still raging. A year later she now saw construction crews "building everywhere."She saw the rebuilding of a damaged school and said the rubble left from weeks of fighting early last year was gone. Despite the horrors of war, the journalist fell in love with Mariupol.But the city was also the headquarters of the Azov Battalion, who revere Second World War Nazi collaborator Stepan Bandera. They were finally cornered in the vast Azovstal steel mill complex, with its underground labyrinths of Soviet-era nuclear bomb shelters. Mariupol residents told the journalist "terrible things what happened there.""The West is saying: 'no, they're not fascist'. Well we have the evidence there that they, they really are neo-Nazis and they were really supported by the West."For more exclusive commentary on world events, check out our Sputnik Radio show The Backstory. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/mariupol-residents-reveal-how-kiev-nazis-turned-sacred-may-9-victory-day-into-massacre-in-2014-1110164374.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230721/the-truth-about-ukrainian-war-crimes-against-donbass-civilians-1112031958.html mariupol russia donetsk donbass ukraine netherlands Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png azov battalion, who are azov battalion, is azov neo-nazi, neo-nazi in ukraine, azovstal siege, who controls mariupol, what happened to mariupol, where is mariupol, russia's special military operation in ukraine, war in ukraine, ukraine war https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/nato-trained-ukrainian-soldiers-being-wiped-out---austrian-military-expert-1112156974.html NATO-Trained Ukrainian Soldiers Being Wiped Out - Austrian Military Expert NATO-Trained Ukrainian Soldiers Being Wiped Out - Austrian Military Expert Many Ukrainian soldiers who underwent a six-month training in NATO countries were lost in action, Colonel Markus Reisner, a military strategist from the Federal Ministry of Defence of Austria revealed in an interview with a German television channel. 2023-07-26T16:13+0000 2023-07-26T16:13+0000 2023-07-26T16:13+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine steven reisner volodymyr zelensky austria nato ukraine ukraine crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/1b/1111492130_1:0:854:480_1920x0_80_0_0_7f7a094cc98116faecd08a617f479987.jpg "I recently spoke to a Ukrainian comrade: in a neighboring unit, their commander was a 47-year-old reservist. Due to inexperience, he ordered his platoon to advance directly into minefields. Only just over half of the platoon returned," he recounted.According to Reisner, such a mistake severely affected the morale of the Ukrainian troops.The Austrian officer also expressed his opinion that the first phase of the Ukrainian counteroffensive has failed.In a highly anticipated development last month, the Ukrainian forces finally launched the much-awaited counteroffensive. This strategic move had been eagerly anticipated for several months, with President Zelensky making multiple announcements about its impending implementation.Despite Kiev's readiness to sacrifice hundreds of its soldiers, Ukrainian troops have encountered formidable resistance in their pursuit of strategic objectives. As of the current situation, they have not succeeded in breaching the initial line of Russian defenses, known as the "Surovikin Defensive Line," underscoring the complexity of the conflict with both sides locked in a tense and high-stakes struggle for dominance. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230725/russian-forces-seize-sergeevka-settlement-after-counterattack-1112133421.html austria ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International nato-trained ukrainian soldiers, nato training ukrainian troops, ukrainian counteroffensive, ukraine counter offensive failed, ukraine counter offensive 2023 map https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/organization-of-islamic-cooperation-to-meet-on-july-31-over-quran-desecration---tehran-1112147772.html Organization of Islamic Cooperation to Meet on July 31 Over Quran Desecration - Tehran Organization of Islamic Cooperation to Meet on July 31 Over Quran Desecration - Tehran The Organization of Islamic Cooperation will discuss Quran desecration during their next foreign ministers' meeting on July 31. 2023-07-26T03:20+0000 2023-07-26T03:20+0000 2023-07-26T03:40+0000 world denmark copenhagen sweden iraq turkiye egypt iran quran koran burning /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/15/1112026815_0:143:2729:1678_1920x0_80_0_0_720acaaa268d95f89a2d3513d10d8ca8.jpg Earlier this week, Iraq invited the OIC to hold an emergency foreign ministers' meeting in Baghdad to discuss Quran-burning actions in Europe. On Tuesday, members of the Danish Patriots extremist group held a Quran-burning rally outside the Turkish Embassy in Copenhagen. US media reported that five members of the group also set a Quran on fire near the Egyptian embassy in Copenhagen. On Monday, members of the Danish Patriots extremist group set fire to a copy of the Quran in front of the Iraqi embassy in Copenhagen after protesters had done the same thing last Friday. The action was broadcast on social media, with the Danish government later condemning it as a provocation. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen said Tuesday that he discussed the Quran-burning incident with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, over the phone, having reiterated Denmark's "condemnation of these shameful acts carried out by few individuals" and "emphasized that all protests must remain peaceful." The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that Ankara condemned the Quran desecration in Denmark, adding that the "fact that the Danish authorities persistently turn a blind eye to these attacks and provide protection to these provocations shows that they do not realize what terrible consequences they can lead to," and urged Copenhagen to take measures to prevent these actions in the future. Last week, the Swedish police gave Iraqi immigrant Salwan Momika the go-ahead to stage yet another Quran-burning protest. A previous act in June sparked outrage in many Muslim countries. Hundreds of Iraqi demonstrators stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad ahead of Momika's action, which took place last Thursday in front of the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm. In the end, the 37-year-old stepped on his copy of the Quran but did not burn it. On June 28, the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, a protest took place outside Stockholm's main mosque, during which a Quran was burned after the Swedish police authorized the demonstration. At the time, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the authorization was "lawful but inappropriate." A similar demonstration took place in Sweden in January, when Danish far-right politician Rasmus Paludan burned the Muslim holy book in front of the Turkish embassy. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230721/iranian-foreign-minister-calls-on-un-chief-to-prevent-further-quran-burning-acts-1112046306.html denmark copenhagen sweden iraq turkiye egypt iran 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 quran burning, koran burning, desecration of the quran, book burnings https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/pentagon-expects-china-will-try-to-inhibit-us-ability-to-use-space-1112162551.html Pentagon Expects China Will Try to Inhibit US Ability to Use Space Pentagon Expects China Will Try to Inhibit US Ability to Use Space The US military expects that China will try to inhibit the United States' capabilities in space, President Joe Biden's nominee for commander of the US Space Command, Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting, said 2023-07-26T17:40+0000 2023-07-26T17:40+0000 2023-07-26T17:41+0000 taiwan us us space command china pentagon russia cooperation military /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/06/1d/1096812730_0:0:960:540_1920x0_80_0_0_0a3db3590caf82cfadd20ed492d33f16.jpg "Because the People's Republic of China has studied how we use space, we do expect that they will try to inhibit our ability to use space the way we would prefer to across the joint force," Whiting reported. Whiting agreed with lawmakers that a potential "Chinese invasion of Taiwan" could lead to a battle in space with the United States. Earlier in July, US Indo-Pacific Command head Adm. John Aquilino expressed confidence that the US military is capable of defending Taiwan against a "Chinese invasion". According to the general, the US thinks that China and Russia are developing their military capabilities in space, affecting Washingtons defense policy of deterrence.In addition, Whiting agreed that these developments are undermining US defense national security policy.Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing regards the island as its province, while Taiwan maintains that it is an autonomous entity but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official foreign contacts with Taipei and regards its sovereignty over the island as indisputable. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230619/china-to-not-compromise-on-taiwan-issue-us-must-respect-chinas-sovereignty---reports-1111271140.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230418/artemis-ii-astronaut-russia-china-moon-cooperation-possible-but-will-take-leadership-1109639421.html taiwan china russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International taiwan issue, us-china relations, us space command, space war, china in space, russia-china cooperation, russia and china in space https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/plea-deal-hearings-what-is-hunter-biden-accused-of-1112159104.html Plea Deal Hearings: What is Hunter Biden Accused of? Plea Deal Hearings: What is Hunter Biden Accused of? President Joe Bidens son Hunter is due to plead guilty on July 26 in accordance with a plea deal he concluded with the US Justice Department last month. 2023-07-26T14:20+0000 2023-07-26T14:20+0000 2023-07-26T14:46+0000 us americas hunter biden joe biden wilmington delaware justice department burisma internal revenue service (irs) gop /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/07/0c/1097218432_92:0:2931:1597_1920x0_80_0_0_da42db9c4b949b2ced3314dcaae423b4.jpg Hunter Biden is set to plead guilty on Wednesday to two federal misdemeanors for not paying taxes on time in 2017 and 2018. He is likewise due to enter a deal with prosecutors on his felony gun charge. The hearing will begin at 10 am (ET) at the federal courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware.Why Did Hunter Biden Strike a Plea Deal?In June 2023, the first son struck a deal with federal prosecutors in which he will plead guilty to failing to pay taxes for two years and will admit to unlawfully buying a gun. The deal, which allows Hunter to avoid prison time, was announced by David Weiss, the US attorney for Delaware, on June 20.According to some reports, prosecutors will recommend two years of "probation and diversion" for the younger Biden. Even though prosecutors recommend that the first son does not serve any jail time, a judge will determine Hunter's sentence.The deal stems from a years-long investigation into Hunter's tax affairs, as the latter is well known for receiving hefty bonuses from foreign tycoons, including Ukrainian oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky, an owner of gas firm Burisma. To complicate matters further, Hunter cashed in on lucrative contracts during his father's vice presidency.According to the US press, a federal probe into whether Hunter had properly paid his taxes started in the Barack Obama era. In 2018, the tax investigation extended to a broader federal criminal probe.Hunter Biden's Gun CaseWhile fighting with serious drug addiction, Hunter Biden bought a gun but made a false statement on a federal form that he was not a drug addict. The problem emerged when his sister-in-law found the gun and threw it out in an outdoor trash container, fearing that Hunter could harm himself. The weapon was later discovered and reported to police.As per the US press, Hunter will admit that he indeed made a false statement, but instead of pleading guilty to this he will enter a pretrial diversion agreement. A diversion program is a form of sentencing that helps remedy behavior leading to the arrest.Who's Presiding?US District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed by then-President Donald Trump, will preside over the first son's hearing on Wednesday. She is expected to sign off the deal.Why is the GOP Dissatisfied With DoJ's Deal?US Republican lawmakers cite political interference and kid gloves treatment of the first son by the DoJ. In April 2023, IRS agent-turned-whistleblower Gary Shapley claimed that the Justice Department meddled in the IRS probe to shield Hunter.In particular, DoJ officials let Hunter avoid two years of penalties for tax fraud from 2013 and 2014, in which he declared $400,000 of income from Burisma as a loan instead of payment for serving on its board, per the whistleblower. According to another IRS whistleblower, Joseph Ziegler, Hunter started manipulating taxes as early as two decades ago.For his part, House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer said that the DoJ turned a blind eye to Hunter's alleged violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) while de facto acting on behalf of foreign interests. Per Comer, his committee file contains "between six and 10 criminal referrals" with the Justice Department related to Hunter once the congressional probe is completed.How is the GOP Trying to Block Hunter's Plea?On July 25, Representative Jason Smith of Missouri, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee filed a brief in Federal District Court in Wilmington saying the plea agreement for the presidents son had been tainted by political interference. The Heritage Foundation, a famous conservative, think tank filed another brief with regard to the matter.Previously, Rep. Smith urged US Attorney General Merrick Garland and Weiss to include materials based on the testimony by the IRS officials into the court file, but to no avail. The DoJ did not respond to the House GOP request for the same action claiming in a Monday letter to the US Congress that it wants to "protect law enforcement work from even the perception of political interference, including from Congress."What's Behind the Timing?Hunter Biden struck a plea deal with the Justice Department after his father, President Joe Biden, announced his re-election bid in April 2023. The plea deal critics refer to the fact that the previous scandal concerning Hunter Biden and his infamous "laptop from hell" occurred during his father's 2020 presidential campaign and was quickly suppressed by the US intelligence community, mainstream media, and Silicon Valley giants as "Russian disinformation." Later, US spies, Big Tech and Big Media admitted that the laptop was genuine. As per conservatives, the US media is deliberately ignoring bombshells by the IRS whistleblowers to protect the older Biden and his 2024 presidential ambition.Influence Peddling?"This guy did start young," US journalist Angie Wong told Sputnik's Critical Hour podcast. "I mean, he was probably in his late thirties getting into this game of, well, selling what exactly? The Biden family does not produce anything. (...) All these clients are paying them millions of dollars. So, you know, we have to conclude that this is just influence peddling. And they caught a whiff for sure. And Hunter's been doing this for quite some time, even when his Dad was senator and [then] VP. So, you know, the latest round is that local reporters found these emails that were going through it and saw that he was doing this back in 2010, that Hunter was selling this idea of green energy." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/hunter-biden-may-submit-guilty-plea-on-wednesday-for-deal-on-tax-firearms-offenses-1112146287.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230724/hunter-biden-brought-then-vp-father-into-foreign-business-calls---us-house-oversight-panel-1112114875.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230723/hunter-biden-may-face-up-to-10-criminal-referrals-after-gop-finishes-its-probe-1112091668.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230624/millions-in-taxes--fara-violations-left-out-of-hunter-biden-plea-deal-critics-say-1111444643.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/fbi-knew-hunter-bidens-laptop-was-reliable-before-smearing-it-as-russian-disinfo-1111457950.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230520/durham-report-is-reckoning-coming-for-clintons-and-bidens-1110490817.html americas wilmington delaware 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 hunter biden plea deal, hunter biden plead guilty, hunter biden gun case, hunter biden false statement on federal form, hunter biden tax evasion, hunter biden burisma, hunter biden alleged tax fraud, gop investigation into hunter biden, house gop probe into hunter biden, irs whistleblowers, hunter biden plea deal hearing https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/putin-meets-with-brics-development-banks-president-1112159294.html Putin Meets With BRICS Development Bank's President Putin Meets With BRICS Development Bank's President Moscow is gearing up for the much-anticipated BRICS summit in South Africa next month, with the bloc widely expected to announce a new currency which some observers say could give the US dollar a run for its money as the world reserve currency. 2023-07-26T17:47+0000 2023-07-26T17:47+0000 2023-08-04T10:20+0000 economy vladimir putin dilma rousseff russia brics bank new development bank (ndb) brics summit 2023 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/15/1112040783_0:121:2616:1593_1920x0_80_0_0_a28e3b24472dc373182baadc5f964654.jpg Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting with BRICS' New Development Bank President Dilma Rousseff in St. Petersburg on Wednesday.This the first time that the former Brazilian president, who was appointed as the bank's president in March, will be meeting with the Russian leader in her new capacity. Putin last met with Rousseff during the BRICS Summit in Ufa, Russia in 2015. The Kremlin did not provide any additional details on the subject matter of Wednesday's discussions.Watch Sputnik's live feed to find out more. 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 vladimir putin, dilma rousseff, new development bank, meeting https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/russia-car-defense-industry-cooperation-actively-developing---ambassador-1112153996.html Russia-CAR Defense Industry Cooperation Actively Developing - Ambassador Russia-CAR Defense Industry Cooperation Actively Developing - Ambassador Defense industry ties between Russia and the Central African Republic (CAR) are thriving, and Moscow has recently delivered an L-39 fighter jet to Bangui, Russian Ambassador to the CAR Alexander Bikantov told Sputnik. 2023-07-26T11:27+0000 2023-07-26T11:27+0000 2023-07-26T11:27+0000 russia central african republic tanzania second russia-africa summit russia-africa summit 2023 military cooperation military /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101616/73/1016167399_0:4:1400:792_1920x0_80_0_0_872540236c2eb7cfc7229ba1ad32cd06.jpg "Cooperation in the field of military and technical cooperation is actively and consistently developing Recently, Russia has carried out a large supply of relevant weapons, in particular aircraft," Bikantov said. Russia is also willing to strengthen defense industry cooperation with Tanzania, Russian Ambassador to Tanzania Andrey Avetisyan told Sputnik. He noted that ties between the two countries in military education were developing "very actively," adding that hundreds of Tanzanians are currently studying in Russian military academies and schools. The Second Russia-Africa Summit will take place in the Russian city of St. Petersburg from July 27-28. Summit participants are expected to sign many international and bilateral documents, the Kremlin said. russia central african republic tanzania 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 central african republic, tanzania, russia-africa summit, russia-africa cooperation, alexander bikantov, military cooperation, technical cooperation https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/sputnik-lithuania-editor-kasem-leaves-latvia-fearing-criminal-proceedings-1112157241.html Sputnik Lithuania Editor Kasem Leaves Latvia Fearing Criminal Proceedings Sputnik Lithuania Editor Kasem Leaves Latvia Fearing Criminal Proceedings Sputnik Lithuania editor Marat Kasem, who was detained in Latvia earlier in the year and later released on bail, has left the country, fearing the possibility of the reopening of criminal case against him 2023-07-26T16:29+0000 2023-07-26T16:29+0000 2023-07-26T16:29+0000 world sputnik lithuania freedom of speech journalism journalist marat kasem russia detention arrest /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/0c/1106250488_0:0:3239:1822_1920x0_80_0_0_d599ef86aae3f04109f1d3e8ac128a4d.jpg Kasem is a citizen of Latvia who has been living and working in Moscow for several years at the Rossiya Segodnya media group, which also includes Sputnik Lithuania.On December 30, the journalist arrived in Latvia for family reasons. He was detained over alleged violation of EU sanctions against Russia as well as espionage, and on January 5, the Riga court took him into custody. In April, the journalist was released from prison on bail. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/sputnik-editors-espionage-charges-aim-to-cover-up-latvia-limiting-free-speech-lawyer-1106132751.html lithuania russia latvia 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 sputnik lithuania, latvia marat kasem, who is marat kasem, marat kasem case, journalist kasem, latvia arrests journalists, censorship in latvia, latvian political persecution https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/support-for-polands-ruling-party-and-opposition-almost-equal---poll-1112166183.html Support for Poland's Ruling Party and Opposition Almost Equal - Poll Support for Poland's Ruling Party and Opposition Almost Equal - Poll The ratings of Poland's ruling party and the opposition have almost equalized ahead of the parliamentary elections in fall, a poll conducted by the Research Collective laboratory showed on Wednesday. 2023-07-26T19:21+0000 2023-07-26T19:21+0000 2023-07-26T19:21+0000 world poland europe law and justice party (poland) parliamentary elections elections /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101581/28/1015812868_0:270:5184:3186_1920x0_80_0_0_e83d4a606c665a949917eb866b9be1f0.jpg Some 33% of the respondents said they were willing to vote for the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS), with a slightly lesser number, or 32% of respondents, saying they were going to vote for the opposition Civic Coalition alliance, the poll found. None of the other electoral groups, the Confederation alliance of right and Eurosceptic parties, the left-wing Left, and the Third Way coalition of the Poland 2050 party and Polish Peoples Party polled at more than 8%, according to the report. At the same time, 13% of the survey participants could not give a definite answer regarding their political preferences. The electoral threshold in the parliamentary elections in Poland is 5% for parties and 8% for coalitions. The poll also showed that 72% of respondents would go to vote if the elections were held next Sunday. The survey was conducted among 993 adult Polish citizens using CATI, the computer assisted telephone interview method, on July 14-19. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230704/german-defense-minister-says-poland-does-not-need-additional-nato-troops-1111650259.html 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 polish sejm, polish parliament, parliamentary elections, polish opposition, political parties in poland, politics in poland, political situation in poland https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/turkiyes-first-main-battle-tank-to-be-put-into-serial-production-in-2025-1112148570.html Turkiye's First Main Battle Tank to Be Put Into Serial Production in 2025 Turkiye's First Main Battle Tank to Be Put Into Serial Production in 2025 The first main battle tank developed and produced by Turkiye should be ready for serial production in 2025, Turkish defense manufacturer BMC Defense said. 2023-07-26T03:36+0000 2023-07-26T03:36+0000 2023-07-26T03:45+0000 military turkiye istanbul hyundai altay tank ankara south korea /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/1a/1112148175_0:24:1898:1092_1920x0_80_0_0_8f459253f7e3534413962f316db8c7cc.jpg "According to our estimates, all tests will be completed in 2024. We plan to transfer the first batch of tanks, that is 250 units, in 2025," Karaaslan said on the sidelines of the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul on Tuesday, adding that the construction of a tank factory in Ankara would be finished by the end of 2024. Due to a number of export restrictions and sanctions, some of the tanks' parts have been replaced with locally produced items or those not subject to limits, which has required repeated tests, Karaaslan said. The Altay project is being implemented under an agreement signed by the Turkish Defense Ministry and Turkish company Otokar in March 2007. Since Turkiye had no experience in building its own tanks, Otokar signed a contract with South Korean company Hyundai Rotem for the joint development of a prototype of the new tank. Under the contract, Hyundai Rotem transferred to Turkiye all the technologies used in South Korea's K2 Black Panther tank. Over time, BMC replaced Otokar as the main contractor for mass production of the tanks. The first prototype of the Altay tank was presented at the IDEF in Istanbul in May 2011. The first two Altay tanks were delivered to the Turkish armed forces in April 2023. The volume of investments in the production of the tanks is over $40 billion. turkiye istanbul ankara 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 altay tank, what kind of tanks does turkey have, does turkiye have, turkey prototype tank, k2 black panther tank https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/uk-blocks-ukrainian-orthodox-priests-testimony-at-un-security-council-1112164383.html UK Blocks Ukrainian Orthodox Priest's Testimony at UN Security Council UK Blocks Ukrainian Orthodox Priest's Testimony at UN Security Council London prevented the religious leader from delivering his first-hand experience of repression against the church in Ukraine. 2023-07-26T18:17+0000 2023-07-26T18:17+0000 2023-07-26T18:17+0000 world pope francis patriarch kirill kiev ukraine russia un security council (unsc) the united nations (un) ukrainian orthodox church (uoc) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/1a/1108799333_0:134:1281:854_1920x0_80_0_0_378c26291466a911866eefcf345a0901.jpg "Today is an extremely sad moment for the UN Security Council, as well as for the international community as a whole," said Dmitry Polyansky, first deputy permanent representative of the Russian Federation in the UN.The UK holds the 15-nation organ's rotating presidency for July 2023.Earlier, on July 18, Russia called for a meeting of the UNSC on Ukraine for July 26, in particular on the topic of repression against the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.On the same day, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Moscow would raise the issue of the persecution of the vicegerent of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Bishop Pavel, at the upcoming meeting of the UN Security Council.On July 14, a Kiev court changed the measure of restraint for Metropolitan Pavel from round-the-clock house arrest to detention until August 14.For his part, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia called on the UN, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and heads of churches, including Pope Francis, to protect the vicegerent of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.Earlier this month Pope Francis responded to the appeal of Patriarch Kirill and spoke against politically motivated arrests in Ukraine.The Kiev regime started to exert pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in 2022. Ukrainian authorities gave an ultimatum to the monks of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra to vacate the monasterys premises until March 29 under the pretext of allegedly violating the terms of the lease - jurisdiction over which is divided between the National Kiev-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Preserve, a Ukrainian secular organization and the UOC. Lavra monks condemned the eviction order as illegal as it was not backed by a court decision. As they resisted the Kiev regime's attempts to expel them from the monastery, the Ukrainian authorities resorted to persecution.Other Ukrainian Orthodox priests have also been subjected to pressure from the Ukrainian authorities. Ukrainian law enforcement officers searched the homes of bishops and priests, churches and monasteries, including the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, in order to find traces of "anti-Ukrainian activities." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230715/russian-foreign-ministry-urges-ukraine-to-release-vicegerent-of-kiev-pechersk-lavra-1111898070.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230401/vicegerent-of-kiev-pechersk-lavra-placed-under-round-the-clock-house-arrest-1109038959.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230329/priest-condemns-godless-zelensky-regimes-seizure-of-kiev-pechersk-lavra-during-great-lent--1108925813.html kiev ukraine russia 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 un, united nations, un securty council, uk blocked ukrainian priest testimony, ukrainian priest testimony at unsc, ukrainian orthodox church, national kiev-pechersk historical and cultural preserve, kiev-pechersk lavra, metropolitan pavel, pope francis, patriarch kirill, persecution of church, persecution of christians, religious freedoms, dmitry polyansky, ukraine conflict, war in ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/ukraine-lost-up-to-210-soldiers-in-donetsk-direction-in-past-day---russian-defense-ministry-1112158692.html Ukraine Lost Up to 210 Soldiers in Donetsk Direction in Past Day - Russian Defense Ministry Ukraine Lost Up to 210 Soldiers in Donetsk Direction in Past Day - Russian Defense Ministry According to the ministry, the Ukrainian military continued to make attempts to attack in Donetsk, South Donetsk and Krasny Liman directions. The ministry also mentioned that four Ukrainian attacks have been repelled in the Donetsk direction. 2023-07-26T14:28+0000 2023-07-26T14:28+0000 2023-07-26T14:28+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine russian defense ministry howitzer us arms for ukraine ukraine crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/1b/1111490262_0:129:3185:1921_1920x0_80_0_0_537d7d7ed02dc430d05e8d006ceeaa18.jpg According to the ministry, the Ukrainian military continued to make attempts to attack in Donetsk, South Donetsk and Krasny Liman directions. The ministry also mentioned that four Ukrainian attacks have been repelled in the Donetsk direction. Moreover, the Russian army has advanced in the Sergeevka area of the Krasny Liman direction, repulsingfour attacks in this direction, while Ukrainian troops lost over 190 soldiers in the past 24 hours, according to the report.The ministry added that Russian troops are conducting successful offensive in the Kupyansk direction as well, where units are now holding better positions, while Ukraine's military casualties amounted to 135 soldiers in the past day.In June, Ukraine attempted to launch the so-called counteroffensive that it had been announcing for months. Regardless of the significant losses, the Ukrainian forces failed to advance into Russia's territory. russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International how is ukraine's counteroffensive, donetsk direction cituation, russian defense ministry report, nato weapons destroyed, ukrainian losses https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/ukraines-stalled-offensive-puts-biden-in-uneasy-political-place-russian-training-ship-in-venezuela-1112146076.html Ukraine's Stalled Offensive Puts Biden in Uneasy Political Place; Russian Training Ship in Venezuela Ukraine's Stalled Offensive Puts Biden in Uneasy Political Place; Russian Training Ship in Venezuela President Joe Biden finds himself in an uneasy position as the Ukraine offensive stalls and the Russian training ship, Perekop, arrives in Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela, to join in the naval parade and show an alliance of military cooperation. 2023-07-26T04:04+0000 2023-07-26T04:04+0000 2023-07-26T11:05+0000 the critical hour radio ukraine israel qin gang scotus new hampshire cia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/1a/1112145919_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_ee0aa9d1f971a796d9c08e28014090d0.png Ukraine's Stalled Offensive Puts Biden in Uneasy Political Place; Russian Training Ship in Venezuela President Joe Biden finds himself in an uneasy position as the Ukraine offensive stalls and the Russian training ship, Perekop, arrives in Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela, to join in the naval parade and show an alliance of military cooperation. Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss Ukraine. President Biden finds himself in an uneasy position as the Ukraine offensive stalls, and the Russian training ship, Perekop docks in Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela, to join the naval parade celebrating the 200th anniversary of Venezuela's Navy Day and deepen the two countries' alliances and military cooperation.Alex Suarez, Peruvian American writer, independent journalist, historian, and author of several books, including "The Diplomat" about the Alex Saab case, joins us to discuss Venezuela. Venezuela's US-based oil subsidiary CITGO may be broken up to appease claims related to international arbitration awards in favor of multinational corporations.Dan Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "America's Undeclared War", joins us to discuss the Georgia Army school. Dan discusses Alan MacLeod's Mint Press article about Fort Moore, an infamous US Military base known for its history of being a training ground for global torture.Dr. David Oualaalou, international geopolitical consultant, veteran, and author of many books, including "The Dynamics of Russia's Geopolitics: Remaking the Global Order," joins us to discuss China. Chinese President Xi Jinping removed China's hand-picked Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, only months after Gang was promoted to head the foreign ministry after an unexplained absence. Also, Beijing vows countermeasures after the CIA says that it is rebuilding spy networks in China.Miko Peled, author, and activist, joins us to discuss the Middle East. Tension has been created between the US and Israel after the Israeli parliament voted Monday to weaken Israel's Supreme Court, despite President Biden's appeals to avoid voting before building consensus.Darryl Jones, attorney, and voting rights activist, joins us to discuss SCOTUS. Alabama voters prepare for another legal battle after the state openly disregards a SCOTUS ruling to take steps to draw up a map to comply with the Voting Rights Act so that Black voters have "a real opportunity to elect their candidates of choice."Misty Winston, radio host and free speech and press freedom activist, joins us to discuss domestic politics. Misty discusses the Democratic Party's efforts to eliminate the "first in the nation" status from New Hampshire's presidential primary. She also talks about the restrictions on government spending placed by House Republicans on the federal budget bill, with the addition of dozens of "poison pill" riders to legislation before the August recess.Caleb Maupin, journalist, and political analyst, joins us to discuss the CIA. Beijing vows to take countermeasures after the CIA says it is rebuilding spy networks in the US, and the Spanish newspaper El Pais claims that the CIA spied on Ecuador's former president.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik. ukraine israel new hampshire Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg the critical hour, ukraine offensive, russian training ship perekop, anniversary of venezuela's navy day, georgia army school, fort moore military base, voting rights act https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/us-house-panel-to-vote-on-thursday-on-holding-zuckerberg-in-contempt-of-congress-1112148738.html US House Panel to Vote Thursday on Holding Zuckerberg in Contempt of Congress US House Panel to Vote Thursday on Holding Zuckerberg in Contempt of Congress The House Judiciary Committee will vote on Thursday if Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg should be held in Contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a subpoena. 2023-07-26T03:43+0000 2023-07-26T03:43+0000 2023-07-26T05:41+0000 americas mark zuckerberg meta congress jim jordan us house of representatives house judiciary committee /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/06/1111691461_0:0:2977:1676_1920x0_80_0_0_098d17c4153b3bf97f5d68a198ea912f.jpg Earlier this year, the committee requested information from Meta and other tech companies about their content moderation policies as part of a broader probe by lawmakers into the alleged weaponization of the federal government and collusion with tech companies to censor speech. US media reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter, that Meta has not provided internal communications regarding the companys censorship efforts. The report also quoted a Meta spokesperson, who said last week that the company provided lawmakers with over 50,000 pages of documents requested by the committee. He also noted that nearly a dozen current and former company personnel are ready to discuss external and internal issues. In May, the committees chairman Jim Jordan warned Meta that the company's response was insufficient and in violation of a request for internal communications between employees. Earlier in July, Jordan sent a letter to Zuckerberg, requesting information related to Metas new social media platform Threads, "given that Meta has censored First Amendment-protected speech as a result of government agencies request and demands in the past." Jordans letter comes amid an investigation by the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, which he chairs, into the US governments purported misuse of power to target political opponents and suppress disfavored speech online.*Meta is banned in Russia as an extremist organization https://sputnikglobe.com/20230717/house-judiciary-panel-demands-threads-moderation-policy-docs-amid-censorship-worries-1111951776.html americas 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 mark zuckerberg in contempt of congress, censorship on threads, meta censorship https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/west-torpedoed-ukraine-peace-because-we-want-war-with-russia---rfk-jr-1112150461.html West 'Torpedoed' Ukraine Peace 'Because We Want War With Russia' - RFK Jr. West 'Torpedoed' Ukraine Peace 'Because We Want War With Russia' - RFK Jr. The former environmental lawyer, author and activist continues to creep up in the polls for the Democratic nomination for president, with a recent Harris Poll giving him 16 percent support against incumbent Joe Biden, who enjoys the full backing of the Democratic establishment. 2023-07-26T09:51+0000 2023-07-26T09:51+0000 2023-07-26T10:05+0000 world volodymyr zelensky vladimir putin russia ukraine democratic party aegis nato republican john f. kennedy /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/1a/1112149292_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_9b77c631f3c7f75cca15489383c821f2.jpg There is no chance of Russia losing the proxy war with NATO in Ukraine, the West fomented the conflict and a peace agreement is needed immediately to prevent further bloodshed, Democratic presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said."Go look at what Russia did in Stalingrad in order to preserve its territorial integrity. Russias been invaded three times through the Ukraine. The last time, Hitler killed one out of every seven Russians. Theyre 400 miles from Moscow. We already have Aegis missile systems within 12 minutes of Moscow. We wouldnt tolerate that if the Russians did it [like] in 1962 when they put them in Cuba," the candidate added, referencing the Cuban Missile Crisis, during which time his late uncle, John F. Kennedy, was president.US Sabotaged Peace"The more disturbing thing," Kennedy said, "is that on two occasions the Russians tried to sign a peace agreement with [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky," and both times the West sabotaged it.The candidate pointed to the 2015 Minsk Agreements, which Zelensky expressed interest in before being talked out of it by the US in 2019, and the 2022 draft peace deal reached after talks in Belarus and Turkiye.Then, in February 2022, he noted, Russia sent 40,000 troops in. Thats not enough to conquer the country. Clearly, [Putin] wanted somebody to come to the negotiating table. Russian and Ukrainian negotiators met in Istanbul, hammering out a draft peace deal. After that, Putin in good faith began withdrawing troops from Ukraine. What happened? We sent Boris Johnson over there to torpedo it. Because we dont want peace, we want war with Russia, RFK Jr. stressed.Road to PerditionThe Democratic politician also pointed out that the current crisis has its origins in the end of the Cold War.We promised in 1992, the Russian leadership said 'Were gonna withdraw 400,000 troops from East Germany and were gonna allow you to reunite Germany under NATO,' which is a hostile army. Thats a huge concession for them. 'One commitment that we want,' is what the Russians said, 'is that you will not move NATO to the east.' James Baker, who was then secretary of state under [George H.W.] Bush, famously promised We will not move NATO one inch to the east. Well since then, weve moved it 1,000 miles and 14 countries. Now when we started that plan in 1997, Bill Perry, who was the secretary of defense under the Clinton administration, said If you move NATO to the east, I am resigning because you are forcing the Russians to come to war with us. George Kennan, whos the most important diplomat in American history, the architect of the containment policy [after] World War II, said the same thing. You do not need to make an enemy out of Russia, Kennedy said.Since announcing his run for the presidency in April, RFK Jr. has been the single most outspoken critic of the Russia-NATO proxy war in Ukraine in the Democratic Party, and like former Republican President Donald Trump, has promised to bring the conflict to a close if elected president.The 69-year-old candidate, who is currently polling at 16 percent, is a veteran environmental lawyer and the son of assassinated former US Attorney General and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy. RFK Jr. has enjoyed a groundswell of support among Democrats, Republican, and independents amid his refusal to play party politics, but has been smeared by media and largely ignored by the Democratic establishment as an "anti-vaxxer" and "conspiracy theorist." Kennedy has rejected these claims and accused the establishment of trying to silence him. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230617/putin-kiev-threw-possible-russia-ukraine-settlement-deal-into-dustbin-of-history-1111251774.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20220831/gorbachev-was-promised-non-expansion-of-nato-his-mistake-was-to-believe-it-ex-us-official-says-1100199807.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov rfk jr, robert f kennedy jr, russia, nato, ukraine, proxy war, conflict, peace deal, vladimir putin, victoria nuland, volodymyr zelensky https://sputnikglobe.com/20230726/zelensky-regime-fomenting-hatred-against-ukrainian-orthodox-church---russia-1112153665.html Zelensky Regime Fomenting Hatred Against Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Russia Zelensky Regime Fomenting Hatred Against Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Russia Ukrainian lawmakers and officials are cultivating hate rhetoric against the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which has led to violence against its clergy, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. 2023-07-26T11:09+0000 2023-07-26T11:09+0000 2023-07-26T11:43+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukrainian orthodox church (uoc) russian foreign ministry russia kiev ukraine church /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/1a/1108799333_0:134:1281:854_1920x0_80_0_0_378c26291466a911866eefcf345a0901.jpg "The rhetoric of hatred against the UOC is being stoked by prominent politicians, state leadership and regional officials, and a massive information campaign against it is being conducted in state and privately-owned media," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a report on Kiev's persecution of the UOC out on Tuesday. The ministry noted that such rhetoric had resulted in acts of aggression and unmotivated violence against clergy and arson attacks on churches and shrines of the canonical Church. In addition, the report noted that the United States was making it clear that it approved of Kiev's actions to persecute the UOC by failing to condemn them. "During the persecution of Orthodox believers in Ukraine, they [the US] have not criticized the destructive church policy of [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky, thus apparently making it clear that they approve of the illegal actions of their subordinates," the foreign ministry said. The problem of the canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine is "still not among the priorities of the United Nations and other specialized organizations," and in response to the foreign ministry's appeals, international organizations "limit themselves to reprimands," the report read. "There is no adequate response to the anti-Orthodox policy of the ruling regime in Kiev, to the numerous cases of confiscation of real estate and property of the UOC, to the facts of arbitrariness and violence against clergy and believers," the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed. The Russian Foreign Ministry also stated that Ukraine is holding sham referendums to hand over the property of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).The ministry accused the Ukrainian government of forging documents to legitimize land grabs. It argued that mass transfers of property rights were not what people voted for but were pushed on communities by local officials with military backing."In addition to the paramilitary 'territorial defense' force, these seizures are often supported by local authorities and law enforcement agencies, and members of other religious organizations have been taking an active part in them," the report read.Over the past year, the Ukrainian authorities have organized the largest wave of persecution against the UOC in the country's history. Citing its ties to Russia, local authorities in various regions of Ukraine have passed resolutions banning the activities of the Church, and a bill has been submitted to the country's parliament to effectively outlaw it throughout Ukraine.Besides, the authorities have imposed sanctions on some members of the UOC clergy. The Security Service of Ukraine began to initiate criminal cases against the clergy of the UOC and to conduct "counter-intelligence activities," including searches of bishops and priests, churches and monasteries in an effort to find evidence of "anti-Ukrainian activities." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230715/russian-foreign-ministry-urges-ukraine-to-release-vicegerent-of-kiev-pechersk-lavra-1111898070.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230706/ukraine-police-resort-to-violence-against-religious-believers-at-kiev-pechersk-lavra-1111695600.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230628/what-christian-treasures-and-relics-may-kiev-hand-over-to-europe-for-safekeeping-1111493356.html russia kiev ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian lawmakers and officials are cultivating hate rhetoric against the canonical ukrainian orthodox church (uoc), which has led to violence against its clergy, the russian foreign ministry said. While it is unclear if Richard Westerink is familiar with the proverb, If at first you dont succeed try, try again, he clearly lives by it. The owner/trainer will once again cross the Atlantic Ocean with 2.5 million winner Etonnant, perhaps the top horse in Europe right now, in hopes of winning the $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot. Ive never won a race in the U.S. and it is a dream for me, said Westerink. My horse is in very good shape. We were preparing for the Prix dAmerique, but I said last year we were preparing for it also and my horse got sick and didnt race. Since the horse is fine now, it makes sense to race at Yonkers and think about the Prix dAmerique later. For the record, Westerink will be making his fourth trip to MGM Yonkers Raceway in search of the elusive International Trot trophy. His best finish was in 2015 when he finished second with Timoko, sire of Etonnant. Last year, Etonnant was sent off as the 8-5 favourite in the MGM Yonkers International Trot won by Cokstile and was charted with a break on the fourth turn just after the three-quarter call and finished eighth. Whether or not the break in stride by Etonnant was caused by the track configuration or some confusion between horses can be debated, but Westerink seems certain of his horses ability to handle the tight turns of the Yonkers half-mile oval. Maybe [the tight turns] are not his thing, but last year the race went badly for me when Back Of The Neck came out in front of him. If not for that, I think we wouldve been second or third by the final turn and it is a different race. Maybe he wouldve won the race, said Westerink. I think he can handle the turns and it is not a problem. We won at Kouvola in Finland [on June 17, 2023] and the turns there are flat and very tight. He won there in a new track record time. It seems he handles the turns easier now. Since missing the Prix dAmerique in January due to sickness, Etonnant has gone on a roll, winning six of eight starts at distances from one to 1.67 miles. His most recent triumph was on July 15 in the 120,000 Prix de Washington at Enghien-Soisy Racecourse in upper Normandy and Etonnant is expected to start there again this Saturday, July 29 in the 150,000 Jean-Luc Lagardere. Westerink was hoping to arrive in the U.S. in August to compete in the John Cashman Memorial at The Meadowlands but said the cost of travel, vet and insurance 80,000 was simply too high. With Yonkers providing guaranteed money to International shippers and with the large number of horses coming from Europe decreasing vet bills, the cost of a U.S. trip for the Yonkers International was more attractive. The star-studded field for the 1-1/4-mile race is certainly living up to its name with an international flare. Etonnant (France) joins Vivid Wise As (Italy), Get A Wish (Denmark), Aldebaran Zeus (Australia) and Jiggy Jog S (Sweden) at the halfway mark of attendance for the expected 10-horse Yonkers International Trot field. I know the Australian horse and, of course, Vivid Wise As. We beat [Vivid Wise As] on the outside a couple of times and right now I think we can handle him, said Westerink. The $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot will be the marquee event on a blockbuster program that includes a pair of six-figure Invitationals and the $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes Day of Champions to honour the best two and thre-year-olds in the state. Post time for the special card is noon. (Yonkers Raceway: Photo of Etonnant and Vivid Wise As) As debate around the recently passed LB 753 continues, two private school administrators in Scottsbluff are attempting to make their stance on the bill heard in their community. St. Agnes Catholic School administrator Julie Brown and Community Christian School head teacher Stephanie Reynaga both see the bill, otherwise known as the Opportunity Scholarship Act, as something that can benefit not only their schools, but their entire community. The Opportunity Scholarship Act seeks to offer tax credits to taxpayers who make donations to opportunity scholarship funds. Those funds would then offer scholarships to students wishing to attend a private or parochial school, effectively making school choice more accessible across the state. The bill has experienced opposition across the state since being passed by the 2023 Legislature. A petition to have the issue placed on the 2024 general election ballot has gained traction statewide, with opponents expressing concern over tax dollars being spent on private education, which some view as unconstitutional. Other concerns include the potential for the system introduced by LB 753 to be utilized as a tax break for the wealthy and the potential for funds to be diverted from public schools and given to less regulated private institutions. Brown and Reynaga responded to the criticism by saying that they feel many of those talking points use fear tactics and take advantage of a lack of common knowledge in terms of how private schools like theirs operate. One point they wished to clarify was the implication that private schools only serve wealthy families. Sometimes, I think people get a misperception about schools like ours, Brown said. They think theyre private schools, and they think that we only have upper-class students. We both have a very diverse population of kids, just as Scottsbluffs community is very diverse. Brown went on to say that the Scottsbluff area has more families living in poverty than most people realize. Many of those families still wish to send their children to private or faith-based schools, but finances often create a barrier to entry. It would be nice for all parents to be able to have that opportunity, she said. Both St. Agnes and Community Christian School make efforts to offer scholarships that help lower income families get their kids into their school of choice. In the interest of helping the most people, these scholarships can only take so much of the burden off of parents as they must be spread around to numerous students. Reynaga said that the systems introduced by LB 753 could be a game changer for those families. It actually makes schooling a lot more equitable, she said. We only have X amount of dollars we can give in scholarships to families who just think this is the best fit for their child, whether its for faith reasons or for small classroom environment reasons or whatever it is. It is heartbreaking to look at a family and say, We dont have any more scholarship dollars or cant meet you where your need is. Brown and Reynaga said that parents choose private, faith-based schools like theirs for a multitude of reasons. Some want their children educated in an environment that reflects their values. Others may be concerned that their kids arent thriving in the public school system and want to try something different. Sometimes, just a change is all that a kid needs, and it can make a world of difference, Brown said. We want all kids to be in their best zone for learning. At the end of the 2022-2023 school year, Community Christian School had around 97 students from preschool through fifth grade with class sizes averaging around 10-13 students. The school is in the process of adding grade levels, which means numbers for the next school year could look very different. Tuition is currently around $4,600 a year. St. Agnes is of comparable size with around 117 students at the end of 2022-2023 and class sizes averaging around 15 students. St. Agnes offers two different tuition rates: $2,500 for Catholic students due to a subsidy provided by the church and around $4,300 for non-Catholic students. Neither administrator expected an immediate change in their schools enrollment following the implementation of LB 753, but in the long term, they said that the bill would have a positive impact on their operations and the families they serve. In terms of finance, Reynaga described a tipping point of sorts for private schools at which they attempt to balance their enrollment and what resources they have available: staff, facilities, etc. She said that increased access to enrollment could help schools like CCS spend more time looking toward the future rather than the present. Were nonprofits, nobody is getting rich off of what we do. But you want to be able to go into a new year and have enough kids to cover our teachers, cover our books, cover our building, Reynaga said. Right now, we fundraise to close the gap. I think as far as the health of the school, it provides for more long-term planning, infrastructure updates, expansions, things like that. Brown added that one of the biggest gains would be the ability to offer pay increases to the educators at her school, many of whom took substantial pay cuts to work in a school they truly believed in. She also said that belief in the school and the community that surrounds it is a binding factor for parents and students and creates an experience that is entirely unique from a public school education. The administrators agreed that offering such experiences is a big part of why parents should have the ability to choose where their kids attend school without having to worry about financial restrictions. Theres nothing like watching your entire school community, students and parents, working for something they believe in. Theres nothing like that, its powerful. Its a family outside of their own family, and I think that is a big piece, Brown said. Reynaga emphasized the high quality of every school option in the Scottsbluff area and said that having such good options available helps all schools continue to pursue excellence that would not be possible in a world without choice. We are better as schools when we know that parents have choices too, she said. We all want each other to succeed. If we want to continue having a healthy community here in the Scottsbluff area, we want everyone firing on all cylinders. Thats why its important to have options for families. The fate of LB 753 is still unclear as the effort to place the issue on the 2024 ballot continues. The petition must gather at least 60,000 signatures and show support from enough counties by an Aug. 30 deadline. If that happens, the voters of Nebraska will make the final decision in November. If the petition fails, the Opportunity Scholarship Act will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024. The Scottsbluff City Council began discussions on the upcoming fiscal year budget Tuesday, the first step in a multi-step process leading to the creation of the citys yearly budget. City Manager Kevin Spencer presented the proposed budget for the 2024 fiscal year to Mayor Jeannie McKerrigan and council members Matt Salomon, Betsy Vidlak and Angela Scanlan. The council also heard a presentation from Andrew Ross, director of the Nebraska Municipal Power Pool, about the potential restructuring of utility rates in the city. Ross presented findings from a study of the citys electric, water and sewage facilities. While the city has operated on a 3% annual rate increase across the board under the current system, Rosss findings were that in the coming years those increases would be insufficient. He proposed rate increases of 5.6% for wastewater and 5.3% for water rates respectively. Utilities are (the citys) largest business in town, Ross said. The proposed restructuring also included the addition of a fixed monthly charge for infrastructure access as well as lower minimums to see charges for water use. Even under the proposed rate increases water and sewage utility rates in Scottsbluff were still below the average for municipalities surveyed, according to information presented to the council. An example provided by Ross of what increases could look like was based on the rates of a household that used 8,000 gallons of water a month, perceived to be the high end of household monthly use. Under the current system, the residents monthly water bill would be $19.70. Under the proposed system it would rise to $24.70. Spencer presented the proposed 2024 budget to council members, which he said included capital projects and anticipated new hires. Capital projects such as the recently approved Paving District No. 314 and Sanitary Sewer District No. 167 were among the projects slated for in the budget. While those projects will initially be covered by the city, the funds will be repaid by the property owners that benefit from the improvements within 15 years for the paving district and 10 years for the sanitary sewer district. Property owners also have the option to pay the expenses off sooner. The proposed budget also had funds for the hire of a director for the parks department as well as a recreation director. Spencer and the council felt there was a need for the positions to be filled as the city has been without a parks Director for an estimated five years. Other capital projects included improvements to the city hall lobby and the council chambers, which Spencer said had started to become outdated. (The council chamber) is not as professional as it could be, he said. Spencer also discussed the allocation of the citys American Rescue Plan Act funds in the proposed budget including a request for proposal for a comprehensive plan for the city and possible improvements to the Cleveland Field facilities. Using ARPA funds for the parks is a good idea, thats what drives people to the community, McKerrigan said. The City of Scottsbluff received $2.6 million through ARPA funds. Under federal requirements, money must be allocated by December 2024 and spent December 2026. Spencer said, This is an opportunity to bring our parks up to what they should be. Tuesdays budget session was the first step in a long process that will continue through the coming two months. On Aug. 20, the city receives property valuations and is able to plug those values into the proposed budget. The proposed budget must then be presented at three council meetings, one of which must be a public hearing separate from normal meetings. The city is due to submit a completed budget to the state by Sept. 30. For some, Laura Leggotts name is synonymous with chickens in Scotts Bluff County. From the time a chicken is just an egg, presentations at the county fair, and until the chickens arrive on a familys plate, she shares her knowledge with the community. As the provider of 17 dozen eggs to her local schools egg incubation program, she loves to attend kindergarten days at Legacy of the Plains museum and help the little ones learn about how eggs hatch. The kindergarten program has such an impact and so many kids develop an interest in poultry as a result, Leggott said. Some even, eventually, go on to the fair. Leggott shared that many of the chicks go home with the kids after theyve hatched and she takes the ones that arent spoken for back to her farm. Currently, she has about 130 chickens on her familys property that consist of a menagerie of meat birds, layers, show birds, and the young hatchlings from the schools. Leggott has been involved with 4-H since she was a little girl in Pennsylvania. As a kid she participated in the non-agricultural events. Now, the mom of four kids who are ages 14, 17, 20, and 21, says, Were chicken people. Shes spent 13 years helping her kids raise those chickens. I homeschooled my kids and the 4-H curriculum was a great supplement to our STEM education. Kids learn how to raise a quality animal that theyd be proud to eat. They also have to take a quality assurance class to make sure that theyre ensuring the food safety of their animals. Leggott is now the leader of a poultry club, The East County Cluckers in Melbeta, as well as a countywide group, The Fur and Feather Fun Club, that meets at the fairground. At their weekly meeting held just a few weeks prior to the Scotts Bluff County Fair, talk centered around getting the kids prepared to show their chickens. Each kid showed up with an animal tote with a chicken, or two, inside. They gently removed birds of every shape and size and practiced holding them to keep them calm and then set them on a central table as they talked over key points the judges would want to hear about during the presentation. O ne interesting fact that came up while Kayson Keithley of Minatare was displaying his White Crested Black Polish was that, in many cases, the color of the chickens earlobes determines the color of their eggs. Kids can present different breeds of chickens at the fair but can only take one meat variety to the sale at the end of the fair. Kids work really hard for that one chicken, Leggott said. Scotts Bluff County has a well supported fair and bids very generously. Were incredibly grateful to our sponsors. The sales can bring in $200-700 for a chicken, but have gone even higher. For more information, on 4-H competitions at the fair, the local Extension website, extension.unl.edu/statewide/scottsbluff-morrill/fair. The former longtime mentor of gifted students at Lincoln Public Schools, who was arrested in February on child pornography allegations, now has been indicted in federal court for it. Joseph Maciarz Jr., 62, made his first court appearance Tuesday, and his federal public defender entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. Maciarz is out of jail awaiting trial under federal supervision with the condition that he not use computers or any devices with Internet access or have any contact with minors. In February, Nebraska State Patrol investigators arrested him after allegedly finding "numerous items of child pornography" while serving a search warrant at his Lincoln home. State prosecutors charged Maciarz with possession of child pornography. In the affidavit for his arrest, State Patrol investigators said they got a search warrant for his home after his IP address was linked to the distribution of files of child pornography on an online file-sharing platform. At least two of the files Maciarz shared depicted girls as young as 4 years old being sexually assaulted on camera, investigators alleged. In an indictment unsealed this week, Maciarz stands accused of receiving child pornography between Jan. 1, 2022, and Feb. 1, 2023, and possessing child pornography on Feb. 1. If convicted as charged, he could face a minimum of five years of imprisonment and up to 40 years. Maciarz had been a contracted gifted mentor for LPS since December 1994, and most recently assigned to Sheridan Elementary School and Scott Middle School. His employment with the district ended in January. After Russia unexpectedly attacked the Ukrainian province of Crimea and portions of two other provinces in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainians began mobilizing for another Russian attack. The attack finally came in 2022 and the Ukrainian were prepared, to the exceedingly unpleasant surprise of the invading Russian troops. The Russians failed to note the extent and impact of Ukrainian military reforms since 2014. The Russians found that they were no longer fighting the same kind of Ukrainian military they had defeated in 2014. The Russians had ignored or misinterpreted those reforms and were still unable or unwilling to accept the effectiveness of the Ukrainian reforms. One reason for that is the Ukrainian reforms succeeded in converting the Ukrainian military's 2014 recycled Soviet model to one based on the more effective Western model. This transition happened gradually as the NATO military aid Ukraine requested after 2014 included trainers for existing Ukrainian units as well as new Ukrainian officers. The NATO trainers trained new Ukrainian combat battalions as well as newly recruited Ukraine officers. What the Russians didnt appreciate until the 2022 war started was that NATO training produced very different results than the training Ukrainian forces were used to getting. In 2014 the Ukrainian army was similar in skills and training methods Russia used. This was the old Soviet style of strict adherence to battle plans and discouragement of initiative among combat commanders. Western militaries approached these matters differently. Battle plans were created as estimates, not strict rules. Western commanders were trained to be flexible and adaptive in combat. As the NATO trainers did their work, the Ukrainian military was gradually reformed. Senior Ukrainian officers, all veterans of the old Soviet style of organization, command and training, tolerated this new approach not because they understood it, but because Ukraine needed all the military aid it could get and the Western combat unit and officer training seemed to work. When the Russians invaded they and senior Ukrainian commanders were surprised at how effective NATOs retraining of the Ukrainian armed forces worked. The Russians were dismayed and somewhat mystified at the poor performance of their troops. The Ukrainians were told the post-2014 Ukrainian troops and officers would be more effective because that had been the experience in similar situations since the 1990s. Another aspect of Western training and combat doctrine is that you rapidly modify your tactics and training as a result of recent, or ongoing combat experiences. NATO nations supplying Ukraine with vast quantities of weapons and equipment noted how the Ukrainians performed. For example, peacetime training standards called for months of training before troops were ready to effectively use Patriot Air Defense systems. The Ukrainians did it in weeks. The Ukrainians not only learned how to operate Patriot systems but also developed new uses. This surprised, and pleased the Americans providing the equipment because the Ukrainians were making Patriot useful for all users. The Americans took notes and modified the performance specs and training methods. The Ukrainian experience was somewhat unique because the Ukrainians had decades of experience with tweaking and upgrading existing systems. When Ukraine became independent in 1991 they inherited large quantities of Russian Cold War era weapons and equipment. Ukraine had been arguably the center of weapons development, production and upgrades while part of the Soviet Union. After 1991 they merged those skills with newly acquired Western marketing savvy. The Ukrainians modified and upgraded their Soviet era weapons to be more attractive to potential buyers. By 2014 Ukrainian had made all this into a sizable portion of their economy. The Ukrainian skills and speed with learning and modifying new Western weapons was, in hindsight, obvious. The Russians did not pay attention. The poor performance of the Russian military in Ukraine during its 2022 invasion was not a surprise to everyone. Journalists, politicians in general and the Russians were taken by surprise but military historians, the U.S. Army and the Ukrainian military were not. Thats because the American army finally realized, in the 1980s, that a fundamental problem in warfare was not paying attention to what had worked in the past and why. Those who possess this predictive capability also know that its best to keep quiet about what they know because the enemy will adapt once the shooting starts and some foes do that rather quickly. Most do not because admitting you were wrong is something most senior military commanders resist. A fundamental element in improving ground operations is analyzing past battles for what went right and what went wrong. The U.S. Army Center for Lessons Learned has been around since the 1980s, and U.S. commanders use it to determine what works in combat and what doesn't. This is more important than ever in the 21st century, where urban combat and counter-insurgency conflicts dominate. In urban warfare and counter-insurgency, the potential for mistakes to be made is exponentially larger than in conventional, large-scale warfare. Instead of hogging their experts, the US Army takes the data collected and analyzed at the CALL (Center for Army Lessons Learned) and supplies it to allied armies in the hope these allies will use this information. This sharing is more than just a gesture of goodwill. This does not always work, especially in countries where corruption and reluctance to change makes it difficult to make changes that will improve combat effectiveness. This cultural resistance was encountered in Iraq and Afghanistan but not in Ukraine, where the Ukrainians adapted while their enemy did not. CALL is divided into several major sections. The first collects data from previous engagements, by interviewing and visiting with units in the field. This section is tasked with discovering issues and areas of needed improvement in doctrine, training and readiness. The Analysis Section deals with evaluating the data collected and assessing the methods needed to improve effectiveness and combat efficiency. Finally, the Information Integration Section is responsible for processing and distributing the suggestions and findings from the previous two departments. The CALL is sometimes seen by other branches of the Army as a group of desk-bound analysts, but their suggestions and changes implemented in counter-insurgency and urban warfare tactics played a major role in maximizing the effectiveness of American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Persuading the local military to change was often less successful. Without something like CALL, doctrine and tactics rarely change. On-site CALL troops visited nearly every single major combat zone in Iraq and Afghanistan. CALL soldiers also spent significant time with Iraqi Special Forces and were an integral part of the development process for the country's military and police. Call analysts also report on who is accepting and acting on their advice and who isnt. The resistance to change was and remains a major problem in Iraq, Afghanistan and, we now know, in Russia. Because of CALL and similar efforts by the U.S. Army Special Forces, American military advisors headed overseas are given a briefing on the culture they will be dealing with and how to deal with various types of obstacles. The army maintains a database of lessons learned that can be searched by region as well as situation. A major contributor to this database is army Special Forces troops, whose training concentrates on local customs and traditions and how to work within that. Thats why the Special Forces are organized around regional specialization. Special Forces operators learn the languages and customs of one region and usually spend their entire career working in that region. This Special Forces technique was learned from World War II experience where many of the founding members of Special Forces (in the early 1950s) had worked for OSS (Office of Special Operations), an organization created to deal with contacting, communicating with and supporting local resistance groups in German or Japanese controlled territory. The success of the OSS led to the creation of the CIA and Special Forces to deal with the Cold War. This conflict, which did not end until 1991, had begun in the late 1940s when it became obvious that Soviet Russia was going to continue taking control of other nations any way it could. It took decades before the American military and foreign service learned how to use these new intelligence and operational capabilities. Tradition again but by the 1980s the military services cooperated in creating SOCOM (Special Operations Command) so that they all could benefit from what the OSS and Special Forces have developed. It took decades for most American military commanders to accept the findings and suggestions from CALL and SOCOM. Initially many senior American officers saw Special Forces and CALL operatives as a bunch of oddballs spouting nonsense. Another factor in the development of more effective tactics was the realization, during World War II, that when the enemy developed a new weapon or tactic, the speed with which you could analyze it and come up with an effective countermeasure was a matter of life or death as well as victory or defeat. The speed of analysis and quickness of response was expressed more vividly in the 1960s by John Boyd, a U.S. Air Force officer. Boyd demonstrated how the speed of assessing a combat situation, developing a plan and executing it was decisive in all forms of combat. Boyd came up with the OODA (observe, orient, decide, and act) loop, which could be applied to air, naval and ground combat. This made sense to World War II veterans who had witnessed the OODA loop in action. It resonated with the Russians as well because superior speed with OODA was a German specialty which the Russians never mastered as well as the Germans did during World War II. But by the 1980s some Russian theorists saw computers as a possible solution. Again, the West had a technological edge and from the end of the Cold War and into the 21st Century it was Westerners who made all this work in combat. Russia never caught up, or caught on to how vulnerable to opponents who worked the OODA cycle faster than they did. This was demonstrated in Ukraine and Russian military and political leaders are still having a hard time accepting this OODA reality. This became a problem for American military advisors working overseas, who frequently had solutions for problems encountered by foreign commanders they were supporting, but the real problem was local culture and resistance to change, especially the American emphasis on high-speed warfare and the need to quickly adopt new tactics to prevail. Meanwhile Islamic terrorists were on the receiving end of many of these innovations and the survivors learned to adapt. The impact of high-speed warfare was demonstrated after September 11, 2001, when American forces used computerized data mining and analysis to speed up their OODA loops during counter-terrorism operations in Iraq and elsewhere. Sunni terrorists quickly learned that if an American raid was accompanied by intelligence specialists carrying biometric tools and communication links (to huge databases of information on known terrorists and their organizations), there would quickly be additional raids. A few new names found on one raid would spawn additional raids and within 24 hours large terrorist operations could be rolled up. Microsoft contributed by developing a thumb drive that could quickly extract useful data from a laptop while rough (but effective) machine translation of many Arabic documents could quickly provide more leads, locations and who or what to look for. The Ukrainian military did not accept much change after Ukraine became independent of the Soviet Union, and Russia, in 1991. The Ukrainians had to accept the fact that they could not afford to maintain a large peacetime military. Russias seizure of Crimea and Donbas in 2014 was a wakeup call. The Russians had used KGB tactics, developed during the decades of communist rule that often used subversion and surprise to overthrow vulnerable governments. This included most East European countries who spent four decades under communist rule and Russian influence because of these tactics. The Russians tried to use these methods in Ukraine after 2000 and ran into resistance from many Ukrainians. After 2014 more Ukrainians were willing to accept advice from the Americans, who sent special forces and military advisors versed in CALL knowledge and willing to share with Ukrainians who were prepared to adapt. Initially it was Ukrainian military leaders and eventually political leaders, like current Ukrainian president Zelensky, who was elected in 2019 to make needed changes. That included lots of reforms to the Ukrainian military. What happened in 2014 scared Ukrainians because they had agreements with Russia that were supposed to keep Ukraine intact. The Russians violated their written promises and the Ukrainians realized they had to prepare for the worst, which the Russians were openly discussing. The worst came in February 2022 when Russia invaded. The Ukrainians had changed and adapted while the Russians had not. The result was a striking Russian defeat which many Russian leaders still dont understand. The most important lesson was that you dont invade a neighboring country expecting your attack if they are better prepared to deal with it. The Ukrainians had developed new tactics and used new weapons to defeat the invasion. Most Russian troops were not told they were conducting an invasion because their officers were assured that there would not be any effective resistance. There was effective resistance and many Russian troops abandoned their armored vehicles and fled once they realized what they were up against. That resulted in about half the Russian tanks and other armored vehicles lost being abandoned intact by their crews in the first 60-90 days of the war. The Ukrainians quickly developed procedures to adapt their vehicles to their own use with new insignia and some new communications equipment. The Ukrainians also used their newly acquired tanks more effectively than their former owners. Ukrainians, like the Russians, still used the same Cold War era tanks as the Russians, but were more aware of the vulnerabilities of these Russian designed tanks. For example, even the Russians didnt realize how vulnerable their tanks were to turret penetration by anti-tank weapons. Russia had made some changes to defeat the Western Cold War development of top attack anti-tank weapons. These weapons were not used against Russian attacks often enough, until 2022, to demonstrate that Russian tanks were extremely vulnerable because Russian tanks had been using an auto-loader since the late 1960s. This replaced the human loader but put a dozen or more tank gun rounds in the turret at all times. If one of those rounds was detonated by an anti-tank weapon penetrating the turret, all those ready rounds exploded, destroying the turret and the tank as well as killing the entire crew. As soon as Russian tank crews understood this, they were quick to abandon their tanks as soon as enemy fire began blowing tanks up. Western tank designers were aware of this problem and never adopted the autoloader because of it. There was never more than one shell exposed in the turret at a time. The other shells were kept in a separate armored container with blow out panels. If those protected shells exploded the armored container quickly blew apart from the inside, leaving the crew unharmed and the tank reparable. The Russians officially called their invasion a special operation meant to liberate the Ukrainians from neo-Nazi and NATO influence. Most Russian troops soon realized that the Ukrainians were more enthusiastic and determined to defend their country from foreign invaders and wanted to join NATO to discourage Russian attacks. Government corruption and inept military leadership meant the Russian troops were poorly supplied with food, medical care and ammunition. New recruits were not trained or paid the cash bonuses promised. Troop morale plummeted because of this and soon Russia found it could not obtain enough troops to keep the special operation going. The Ukrainians went on the offensive in late August and rapidly drove the Russians out of much of the Ukrainian territory they had conquered in 2014 and early 2022. The Russian government did not want to admit they were losing but were unable to convince enough Russian soldiers to resist or Russians and Ukrainian collaborators living in the occupied territories to stay. The civilians fled and Russian troop numbers dwindled All this had nothing to do with foreign observers asserting that tanks were obsolete and warfare had changed dramatically. Neither was true but the reality was less newsworthy so the situation was not reported accurately. The Ukrainians kept attacking Russian logistics (supplies for the troops) while improving their own. This was the key to victory but made for dull headlines. Hong Kong: Youth festival kicks off Acting Chief Executive Chan Kwok-ki today officiated at the 2023 youthfest@HK kick-off ceremony, unveiling a diverse series of youth activities. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan remarked that the current-term Government attaches great importance to youth development, and that it released the first edition of its Youth Development Blueprint last year. The festival is one of the blueprint's key projects. He stressed that by harnessing the strengths of both the Government and different sectors of the community, the festival engages young people to enhance their knowledge, realise their potential, share their experiences and enrich their lives. The theme of the festival is Positive Thinking, and its slogan is Ignite Youth Power. Mr Chan said that young people represent the future, hope and pillars of Hong Kong, and that they are also the engine that drives the long-term development of society and the economy. The Acting Chief Executive added that cultivating positive thinking from an early age is vital to individuals growth and success, and that while ups and downs are inevitable in life, it is important to face them positively and optimistically. Only by strengthening their confidence to face difficulties can young people thrive, he said. Mr Chan noted that under a tripartite collaboration involving the Government, the business sector and the community, the festival involves staging more than 100 activities to promote positivity among young people. He called on young people to participate and on all sectors of the community to get involved in supporting the festival. Partner events organised by community groups and other organisations in support of the festival will be included in the official event calendar upon approval of organisers applications. Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak also officiated at the kick-off ceremony. Click here for a list of festival events. This story has been published on: 2023-07-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China finds solutions to parking problem via digital technologies 10:48, July 26, 2023 By Zhang Yiqi ( People's Daily Technicians debug a smart parking system in Hefei, east China's Anhui province. (People's Daily Online/Luo Xianyang) "Sometimes I want to drive, but I'm worried about the parking problem. It often happened that I couldn't find a parking space even after I drove around my destinations for half an hour," said a man surnamed Yang in Beijing. This is something experienced by people in many Chinese cities. According to statistics, the number of motor vehicles in China reached 426 million as of the end of June this year, and that exceeded 1 million in 88 cities. In particular, both Beijing and Chengdu have an automobile population of over 6 million, and that in Chongqing, Shanghai and Suzhou surpassed 5 million. Apart from expanding the supply of parking space, cities across China are working to improve the efficiency of parking with digital technologies and thus alleviate the parking problem. Many people in China have had this experience - driving around in the parking lot for a parking space, which is both time- and energy-consuming. Today, thanks to the application of digital and intelligent technologies, it's becoming more and more common that drivers are directly led to available parking spaces by navigation apps. After a user selects a parking lot near his or her destination in a navigation app, the app will recommend the user the best parking spaces for the time being when the user drives near the entrance of the parking lot, and then guide the user to the designated parking space. A man parks his car in an intelligent three-dimensional garage in Huai'an, east China's Jiangsu province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Hao) Yang recently found this function in the navigation app launched by Chinese tech giant Baidu and tried it when he drove to Beijing's Fengtai railway station to pick up a friend a few days ago. When he arrived at the parking lot, the app selected an available parking space for him and guided him there. "It's so convenient that the app just led me to the parking space. I hope this function can be available in all parking lots," he said. At present, technologies for this type of intelligent parking guidance are rapidly developing. More and more parking lots will see higher efficiency because of them. People often had to wait in line at the exit to pay before leaving a parking lot, which might take as long as more than 30 minutes in rush hours. Thanks to the popularization of mobile payment, the scan-and-pay service has significantly reduced the waiting time, and the waiting lines are becoming shorter and shorter. In particular, the frictionless payment that is currently on the rise has enabled users to pay and leave without stopping at the exit, taking out their wallets, scanning the QR code or even rolling down the window. The payment system will automatically deduct money from users' bank accounts and open the barrier gate. A model of a three-dimensional parking lot for buses is exhibited at the China International Urban Parking Industry Expo held in Beijing, May 31, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Chen Xiaogen) An insider told People's Daily that frictionless payment is a result of the combination between password-free payment and license plate recognition. It synchronizes license plate recognizing, gate opening and fee deduction. It is estimated that this method can save more than 80 percent of time compared with traditional ways. It is learned that many other frontier technologies have been applied in the management of parking lots, too, such as the license plate scanning that helps people rapidly locate their parking locations. Besides, autonomous valet parking systems are also making parking easier, and they are expected to integrate with vehicle charging in the future for better parking experiences. The parking problem concerns people's livelihood. Better parking facilities can improve people's sense of fulfillment. Multiple regions in China are working to promote the construction of intelligent parking facilities. This April, Beijing officially put into use a technical requirement for intelligent parking systems, which offers technical basis for the construction and upgrading of intelligent parking systems in the city's commercial parking lots. Shanghai plans to build more than 100 demonstration smart public parking lots and more than 100 demonstration smart roadside parking lots by 2025. Twenty demonstration smart parking lots will be in place in the city this year. Li Liping, head of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Construction Industry Branch, noted that smart parking, as an important part of urban renewal, can not only accelerate industrial upgrading, but also help release consumption potential. At the recent 23rd China International Urban Parking Industry Expo 2023, a batch of parking technologies and equipment were unveiled. Experts believe that the rapidly rising number of new energy vehicles and the market demand for urban renewal and renovation will drive the upgrading of parking facilities and create new opportunities for relevant industries. Besides, the application of big data, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and other technologies will make parking smarter and cities more intelligent. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) Principals say they are finding it harder to attract foreign teachers from traditional source countries like the UK and Canada. Teaching Council figures show 912 foreign teachers applied for New Zealand registration in the first six months of this year, compared to 1002 in the same period in 2019. But principals like Sam Mortimer from Greymouth High School say the supply of teachers from preferred source countries like England and Scotland seemed to have dried up. She says her school tried to recruit a head of maths from overseas, generating just two expressions of interests but no applicants. "We advertised in New Zealand for eight months, we advertised overseas using the Times Educational Supplement which went to the UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa. We had only two people respond to that. I thought we'd get some people from England or the UK, Scotland, Ireland to apply, but no," she says. Mortimer says foreign teachers were not a first option because it cost so much time and effort to recruit them, even though the Education Ministry covered $3500 of the cost. "It costs a lot of money to do that. We have to pay for recruitment agencies, we have to pay for the new job check which is nearly $700 each time, it takes a lot of time and energy and recruitment agencies can charge between $4000 and $8000 per teacher," she says. Secondary Principals Association president Vaughan Couillault says foreign teachers might be coming to New Zealand for primary and early childhood jobs, but secondary schools were not seeing them. "Certainly talking to my colleagues I don't get a sense that there's a regular flow of overseas teachers in the secondary space that are helping to fill gaps that we might have on our staff," he says. Couillault says there seemed to be fewer applicants from the traditional big sources of the UK and Canada and more from South East Asia and Fiji. He says foreign teachers were a short-term solution to the teacher shortage, which was as bad as ever. "I get a sense that it hasn't really eased in the secondary space and if it is starting to ease it might be easing quantity-wise but not quality-wise and we're still in a state where we're likely to have to advertise more than once for a position and we're not likely to get a decent field of applicants for a position," he says. Stu Birch from recruitment agency EP Education says a lot of foreign teachers wanted to come to New Zealand, but fewer were coming from traditional sources such as the UK, Canada and the US. "The volume at the moment of teachers applying for jobs, their experience is in education systems that are really different from New Zealand and schools sometimes struggle with that. Their ideal applicant is someone with experience in a system similar to New Zealand," he says. Birch says it might just take time to get the flow of teachers from the traditional source countries running again. "We are seeing it starting to pick up. We're starting to see some of the working holiday visa teachers coming back. It's slow but it is happening now." Birch says teachers that wanted to move to New Zealand often started the process six months or a year before they actually moved. "We've got teachers that want to come next year but schools need teachers now and they're not set up to recruit for jobs in six or 12 months time. That's something only recruiters can do," he says. Birch says some schools could not afford to recruit foreign teachers even with financial support from the Education Ministry. - John Gerritsen/RNZ. There was something off with Donnie Ray Billings the day he went missing. Normally fun-loving and charismatic, he was unusually moody, making odd comments and behaving strangely the last time his sister saw him. Donnie just wasnt Donnie when he left here Friday, Janice Havens told the News & Messenger back in 1997. Havens, then Janice Billings, had just gotten home from work sometime after 3:30 that afternoon. Shed been staying with Billings and his fiancee at their home on Keller Lane in Marion, where her brother and now-husband, Jimmy, had spent the day tinkering around on a car. Havens didnt catch on at the time, but she later came to believe her brothers odd behavior was at least partially an effort to get her and Jimmy out of the house. He just kept on doing stuff that was totally out of character, she said in a recent interview. At one point, Havens said Billings, 30, came within inches of her and told her without prompt, Jan, you know I would never do anything to hurt Mom. Thats what gets me right there, she said. Out of all his actions, whatever he was getting ready to do was dwelling on him and he knew it was going to hurt mom . . . and it was eating at him enough to where he couldnt help but say that. And I said, I know you wouldnt, brother. I know you wouldnt, she recalled. And he just kept doing weird stuff. Eventually, Havens said, Billings handed her a $20 bill and asked her and Jimmy to ride to Food City to get the fixings for a fish fry. When the couple returned, both Billings and Havens Dodge Daytona were gone. Strangely, Havens said, the contents of a freezer inside the home had been emptied onto the floor. Havens wasnt too concerned about Billings taking off in her car at first; hed done that before when she wasnt around for him to ask, so it wasnt out of the ordinary. His absence at the Hurricane Bowl later that evening, though, put her on alert. The two were part of a local bowling league that met every Friday at 7. Despite it being Valentines Day that day, they planned to spend their evening at the alley. Billings never missed a game, Havens said, recalling her brothers love of the atmosphere and competition. When he wasnt on the lanes, Havens said, he could be found handing out quarters to children eager to fill the coin slots of game machines. There wasnt a kid in the bowling alley that would want for anything, Havens said. If they wanted food, hed buy them food. He kept rolls of quarters for them kids. But that Friday, Billings didnt show. That was unlike Don, because he loved to bowl and we always bowled together and he didnt show, Havens said. The Crash Unbeknownst to Havens at the time, a county deputy had been called out to a wreck involving her Daytona just two hours earlier, around 5 p.m., not long after shed left for Food City. The car had run off the road and had gotten stuck alongside Highway 16 near the Mitchell Valley intersection. According to news reports at the time, the wreck was reported by a local man traveling that section of the highway. Cleve Compton, who ran the nearby campground now known as Camp Burson, told police that hed been traveling north on 16 toward Hungry Mother State Park when the Daytona passed around him, nearly hitting a truck head on. I didnt see the wreck, Compton told the News & Messenger in 1997. Hed gone on around me . . . I just came around the curve and he was in those trees there. Its unclear where Billings was headed or why hed been in such a hurry, but Havens said her brother was known to play around in a vehicle. He liked to drive fast and he loved straight drives, she said. He was real bad about going high enough speeds to where you could pull up the emergency brake and it would throw you around in the road and youd end up going back the other way. I wholeheartedly believe thats what he was doing that day. Compton said hed stopped to ask if Billings was OK before leaving to report the wreck. Billings told him he was and then got out of the vehicle. Compton told police he saw Billings walking up a nearby driveway as he was leaving. A second person told police they saw him walking toward Mitchell Valley shortly after. From there, Billings seemingly dropped out of existence. State police quickly took over the crash investigation, so when Havens placed several frantic calls to the sheriffs office over the weekend inquiring about her brother and her car, the department had no record of the incident. Then-Sheriff David Bradley explained to the News & Messenger in 1997 that Most of the time, they dont let us know unless its something rare where they need to put out an APB or something. Havens was told during her inquiries that she couldnt report her brother missing until 48 hours had passed or she could show he wasnt competent. They told me the only way they could do anything would be if I wanted to report him for stealing my car, she said. And I said, Well, I dont want to get him in any trouble. I just want to know hes OK. It wasnt until the initial responding deputy came back on duty that Sunday that Havens and the rest of the department learned of the crash. That knowledge coupled with Billings continued absence triggered a search of the area. Deputies with K9s, members of the Marion Rescue Squad, Billings friends and family and other volunteers traversed the ground looking for the missing man while a search and rescue team inspected nearby caves and a state police helicopter flew overhead. Later that week, the search expanded to include the park, where two teams of divers scoured the lake and other waterways for signs of Billings. Weve had people walk that mountain, weve looked in every building, weve checked every riverbank, Bradley said after the search. But, nothings ever turned up and nobodys ever heard from him since, retired Smyth County Investigator Ronnie McKinnon recalled in a June interview. McKinnon was the first of several investigators to work Billings case. Family and Friends tacked up missing persons posters all over the area in hopes his photo would jog a few memories and investigators followed up on a number of reported sightingsincluding one at Hungry Mother Grocery and one at the Village Truck Stop in Atkinsbut were unable to confirm a single one. Meanwhile, McKinnon began interviewing Billings friends and family, trying to get a line on where he could be. We did everything we could, McKinnon said. We interviewed people, his girlfriendthey was supposed to get married that yearwe looked every place that he might have been. He was very close to his mother. None of his siblings had heard from him or anything. Havens was quick to dismiss reports from Billings friends that he had talked about suicide and about taking off. I cant see Donnie doing either one of those things, she told the News & Messenger in 1997. She pointed out then that her brother had big plans for his future. He and his fiancee were set to be married that May. Hed also recently purchased property near his mothers home in Thomas Bridge. Then there was his closeness with his family, particularly to his mother, who was in poor health at the time, to consider. With nothing in the way of evidence to go on, McKinnons investigation quickly came to a standstill. Though theres some dispute about the state polices role in the missing persons investigation, and no one from those days or any record to verify the extent of their assistance, McKinnon said he turned the investigation over to the state agency for a time. During that time, McKinnon said a VSP investigator followed up on tips and reported sightings that led as far away as Myrtle Beach, Mardi Gras and the rail yards of Chicago, none of which panned out. Once, in Chicago, McKinnon said a transient on the railway didnt have any information on Billings, but reportedly told the state police investigator, If somebody wants to get lost, we can lose them. Not meaning, well kill you, or anything, but just meaning if you want to get lost, come see us on the railroad tracks. Well get rid of you, McKinnon explained. Despite all the leg work, not a single credible lead was nailed down. With the state police and what we had done, we just kind of hit a brick wall, McKinnon said. Nobody could find him and nobody knew the cause. It was definitely one of those unsolved mysteries that nobody could really take a grasp at, because he was a very nice young man, had a good standing in the community, so who knows, he said. More than 26 years after Billings was last seen wandering the highway road, Lt. Tony McCormick leafed through the pages that now make up Donnie Billings case file. One of several to inherit the case since McKinnon retired in the mid-2000s, McCormick is now tasked with tackling a cold case in which minimal information has surfaced. While the bulky file looks impressive, McCormick said the majority of its contents are copies of missing persons posters, dental and medical records, and a large number of bulletins for unidentified bodies found in other places across the country. Throughout the years, the investigation has been handed down from one generation of investigators to another. After McKinnons retirement, Chip Shuler, who currently serves the countys sheriff, picked up the case. Having known Billings and his siblings since their youth, Shuler took a special interest in the case. They were more my younger brothers age, he said. They went to school with him and, of course, my mom was the school secretary and she knew everybody. She knew every kid coming through that school and she was always real sad about it, wondering what happened to him. Following his disappearance, Billings was entered into the Regional Organized Crime Information Center (ROCIC), which provided resources for missing persons investigations at the time. After the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) was launched in 2007, Shuler also entered him into that database. He also took a buccal swab from Billings twin brother, Ron, and placed the DNA into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) in hopes that if Billings turned up anywhere, theyd be able to identify him. Twice in the last several years investigators thought theyd caught a break with the discovery of human remains. In 2015, human bones discovered in a field in Bland County were thought to have possibly belonged to Billings. DNA comparisons, though, later excluded Billings, as well as several other local missing men. State police are still working to identify those remains using the help of a forensic genealogist. Again in 2018, remains found near Hungry Mother were believed to be those of Billings, but were later identified as belonging to a man reported missing out of Minnesota. Since Billings familial DNA was entered into CODIS, an untold number of comparisons have been made against the DNA of other unidentified men. Donnie Billings has been excluded in each one. Rumors and Uncertainty Twenty-six years of worrying and chewing over rumors has worn on the family, leaving Havens to doubt her brothers case will ever be solved. Describing him as a mamas boy who hardly made a move unless Mom knew about it, Havens said rumors of his entry into witness protection brought both solace and uncertainty to their mother. That rumor reached Martha Billings by way of her sister in West Virginia, who Havens said had reportedly heard it from a law enforcement official there. The two had agreed to speak more about the matter when they could see one another face-to-face, but Havens said the two womens health prevented that exchange from ever taking place. Havens recalled her last interaction with her brother, remembering his comment about not wanting to hurt his mom. Whatever he had on his mind that day, it was eating at him pretty hard, she said. That comment sticks out in her mind, lending some credence to the theory, but his closeness with his family and his plans for the future also casts heavy doubt on it. He was just always really close with Mom and Mom knew it and she couldnt accept the fact that he would do her that way, Havens said. I guess it settled her a little bit when they told her he was in witness protection when she talked to her sister and stuff, but she still couldnt fathom the thought that even if he was in witness protection he couldnt figure out a way to get in touch with her. Though they acknowledge theyd have no way of knowing for certain given the programs secrecy, Shuler and Chief Deputy Johnny Joannou, who also works the case, dont believe Billings would have been a good candidate for witness protection. Billings was known to use drugs from time to time and Havens believes thats what had been stored in and taken from the freezer the day he disappearedbut neither Havens nor investigators believe he was involved enough to have the kind of information to warrant entry into such a program. The circumstances of his disappearancehis abrupt disappearance following a minor fender-bender also dont seem to fit that theory. Already in poor health at the time her son went missing, Billings disappearance took a devastating toll on Martha. She told me point-blank after Don disappeared she didnt care if she lived or died and she held true to that statement, Havens said. She got to where she wouldnt eat, she wouldnt do anything. In 2001, four years after her sons disappearance and still clinging to hope that he may have still been alive, Martha Billings died without knowing her sons fate. When his mother passed away, we thought, if hes alive surely he would turn up for his moms funeral, McKinnon said. But he didnt. Sometime after Martha Billings death, another rumor reached Havens of a purported jailhouse conversation in which one inmate was heard telling another that hed beaten Billings to death. McKinnon, who coincidentally had taken the helm of the Smyth County Jail by 2002, didnt recall the rumor, but pointed out that in that time inmates would frequently promise information as a means to get out of their cells for a while. We had that all the time, he said. Hey, I got some information, can I come and talk to ya? It was a way to get downstairs, get a free cup of coffee. Another rumor, possibly entangled with the jailhouse rumor, suggested Billings had witnessed a murder somewhere near the Virginia/West Virginia line, triggering a hit to be placed on him. While they wouldnt talk specifics about the avenues of investigation, Shuler and Joannou said several rumors have looked into, but, so far, nothing has been substantiated. The absence of answers can often make even the most unlikely scenarios seem possible. Havens turns the rumors over in her head, her skepticism remaining high at times, while at others believing there could be some truth in there somewhere. Theres been a lot of weird stuff since Don disappeared, she said, so you dont know whats true and whats not. A few weeks prior to Billings disappearance, Havens said hed given someone a ride to a place near the Virginia/West Virginia border. She doesnt know exactly where he went or what he was doing, but said after he returned, Everything Don done, he looked over his shoulder after that. After hearing the later rumors, Havens and her husband traveled to the area themselves looking for answers. We rode every back road from here to West Virginia and we walked into a couple stores out there and all you had to do was mention this guys name and you could hear a pin drop, she said. I mean, everybody shut up. They wouldnt answer no questions or say anything. After that, they decided it was best to keep to themselves, Havens said. Despite the lack of credible leads in the investigation, both police and family members tend to agree that someone had to have had a hand in Billings disappearance. Given the mostly-unscathed state of the vehicle and Comptons interaction with him following the crash, Billings was not believed to have been injured. Finding no trace of him in the subsequent searches also leads them to believe he didnt stay in the immediate area. But, where he went from the scene of the crash is anybodys guess. You dont just vanish, Shuler said. I dont think you can just vanish without some assistance. That might not always be criminal, but youve got to have help to just drop off like that. Each year on February 14, the anniversary of Billings disappearance, Shuler runs the missing mans name and social security number through the system in hopes hell find some activity. Year after year, nothing has turned up. We dont let a case go, the sheriff said. We never give up, even when theyre passed down from generation to generation. The not knowing is painful to Havens, but the possibility of learning what happened to her brother also unnerves her. Ive always said closure is good to a certain extent, she said. But, I dont necessarily know if I want to know if [he was beaten to death]. I wouldnt want nobody to go that way. I dont know if I would want that kind of closure, but it would be nice to know if hes alive or dead. With nearly three decades having passed since Billings was last seen, McCormick hopes people who may have had information then will be more comfortable coming forward now. Maybe if somebody was afraid to say something before, now that so much time has gone by, maybe theyll come forward and say something, McCormick said. That does happen, you know, leads get dropped years later. Likewise, Joannou also encouraged those with information to reach out. We welcome new information, he said. Any case that drags on year after year, we welcome new information because the longer it drags on, the more difficult it is to solve. Anyone with knowledge that could help in the investigation is asked to call the sheriffs office at 276-783-7204. Tips can remain anonymous. Syria said Canada and the Netherlands have their "own dark history stained with crimes," according to Syria TV. On July 26th, the Assad regime responded to the objections raised by Canada and the Netherlands regarding the postponement of a session at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to investigate Assads alleged crimes. The regimes news agency, SANA, quoted a source from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, denouncing the stance of Canada and the Netherlands and dismissing their objections as misleading. The source accused both countries of propagating misinformation and lies through their campaign against Syria, emphasizing that their actions lacked credibility. The regime asserted that Canada and the Netherlands were unqualified and lacked the legitimacy to lecture on human rights matters, suggesting they should instead be concerned about the dark history of crimes during their colonial eras. The International Court of Justice had decided to postpone the session, which was supposed to address the regimes alleged crimes of torture in Syrian prisons. Canada and the Netherlands expressed regret over the courts decision, which came at the request of the Assad regime. The original session date was set for July 19 but was rescheduled for three months later. The legal action against the Syrian regime was initiated last June when the Netherlands and Canada jointly filed a case against it, focusing on the regimes alleged involvement in torture and inhumane treatment in Syrian prisons. The case was based on the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1984, to which Syria is a signatory. The allegations of the regimes involvement in various human rights violations, including torture, killings, enforced disappearances, and chemical attacks since 2011, prompted legal action. While the regime initially agreed to negotiate the case in 2021, no further dialogue was announced. The Syrian official source stated that the joint Canadian-Dutch statement is riddled with disinformation and falsehoods. Furthermore, the ongoing campaign against Syria launched by these nations lacks any credibility, as they have been actively involved in the aggression against Syria and have provided support to terrorist organizations responsible for horrific acts of violence. Highlighting the historical context, the source pointed out that both Canada and the Netherlands have their own dark history stained with crimes committed during their colonial periods and against their indigenous populations. Damascus usually responds to international actions against it through an unnamed source. The Convention Against Torture, implemented in 1987 and signed by 150 countries, allows for arbitration between parties in disputes over its interpretation and implementation. If parties are unable to resolve the issue through negotiation within six months of the arbitration request, they may refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Lavrentiev conveyed to Assad warm regards from President Vladimir Putin, according to al-Baath. President Bashar al-Assad held a meeting on Tuesday with Alexander Lavrentiev, the Russian Presidents special envoy, along with a delegation, to discuss the pressing matter of Syrian refugees return and various proposals and ideas being deliberated on the regional and international stage to find a resolution. During the discussions, both parties addressed the issue of Turkish reluctance to withdraw from Syrian territories, as well as the challenges of providing cross-border humanitarian aid to Syrian civilians residing in regions controlled by terrorist organizations. These efforts are to be in accordance with international humanitarian law and the principles of sovereignty. President Assad emphasized that the US and the West have deliberately orchestrated a global political and economic crisis, using tactics to undermine Russias standing and international presence. The situation in Ukraine was manipulated to serve their ulterior motives, yet the repercussions of this crisis are now beginning to affect their own countries in terms of living conditions and socio-economic stability. Moreover, President Assad acknowledged that Russias unwavering stance against the West and the US plays a crucial role in paving the way for a multipolar world. A world in which all nations and peoples who uphold international law and defend their sovereignty and independent decision-making can aspire to. In response, Lavrentiev conveyed warm regards from President Vladimir Putin and reaffirmed Russias steadfast support for Syria in its pursuit of security and stability for its people. He also emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two nations to facilitate the safe and dignified return of Syrian refugees. Both parties demonstrated their commitment to addressing the humanitarian aspect of the Syrian refugee situation, condemning any attempts to politicize this pressing issue. The focus remains on alleviating the plight of the affected population and seeking practical solutions for their safe return home. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Cancer patients in northern Syria must obtain medical referrals from the Governorate Hospital in Idleb, according to Zaman al-Wasl. On Wednesday, a significant development took place at the Bab al-Hawa border crossing as the administration announced the commencement of the entry of the first batches of cancer patients from the northern regions of Syria into Turkey for much-needed treatment. The Medical Coordination office of the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, in collaboration with Turkey, released a series of photos capturing the entry of several cancer patients from northern Syria as they began to receive the crucial treatment they required. These images depicted the poignant moments of their entry, highlighting the unfortunate delays some of them had faced earlier. These delays severely worsened their health conditions and added to their already challenging circumstances. According to the approved mechanism for admitting patients from northern Syria, approximately 90 cancer patients are expected to enter Turkey through the Bab al-Hawa crossing on a weekly basis. This includes cases discovered after the February 6th earthquake. To be eligible for treatment in Turkish hospitals, cancer patients in the northern Syrian regions must obtain medical referrals from the Department of Oncology and Hematology at the Governorate Hospital in Idleb. The names of these referrals are then included in nominal lists for sequential admission, following a coordination mechanism established by the Bab Al-Hawa crossing administration in partnership with the Turkish authorities. Earlier, the administration of the Bab al-Hawa crossing had confirmed the resumption of the admission of Syrian cancer patients for treatment in Turkish hospitals, starting from Wednesday. This decision came after the Turkish authorities had temporarily halted receiving sick cases following the February 6 earthquake, which had adversely affected the health sector in the affected governorates. Statistics from the Directorate of Health in Idleb reveal the gravity of the situation, indicating that the number of cancer patients in northern Syria has reached 3,100 cases, with 65% of them being children and women. This underscores the urgent need for the support and medical attention provided through the resumption of treatment in Turkish hospitals. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Clashes were triggered when the military police arrested a member of the Deir-ez-Zor Military Council, according to Athr Press. Clashes erupted on Tuesday between the Deir-ez-Zor Military Council and forces from the Military Police affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The violence subsided in the town of Al-Sur in the northern countryside of Deir-ez-Zor but later extended to include the city of al-Busaira and several surrounding towns. During the clashes, roads were cut off, and the SDF headquarters and checkpoints were seized. The toll of the clashes resulted in 5 fatalities and several injuries on both sides, with dozens of SDF members arrested. Following the incident, the SDF leadership established a committee to investigate the causes and hold those responsible accountable. According to Athr sources, the international coalition led by Washington intervened, holding a meeting with the leaders of both parties to successfully halt the clashes. On Wednesday, the Councils leader, Ahmed al-Khabil, described the events as a sedition instigated by external regional countries. He emphasized that the SDF is the sole authority for all military councils in northern and eastern Syria. Furthermore, he called for a military campaign against ISIS cells in the northern countryside, a campaign that the SDF endorsed. According to Athr sources, a number of young Arab tribesmen lost their lives during the clashes. The SDF distanced itself from the violence, placing the blame on Ahmed al-Khabil for the casualties and unrest. The clashes extended to various locations, including al-Busaira, al-Hussein, Jadid Akidat, Jadid Baqara, al-Hussan, and the town of al-Sur, along with its neighbouring villages in the northern countryside of Deir-ez-Zor. The conflict resulted in civilians evacuating the area, prompting the commander-in-chief of the Council known as Abu Khawla to issue a state of public alert. Regarding the cause of the tension, Athr sources revealed that the clashes were triggered when the military police arrested a member of the Deir-ez-Zor Military Council and demanded the release of an officer within a specific timeframe. However, no response was received, leading to the outbreak of clashes. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Your daily brief of the English-speaking press on Syria. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad discussed on Tuesday with Russias Presidential Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev and an accompanying delegation file of the return of Syrian refugees, North Press reported. The two sides discussed Turkeys refusal to withdraw from Syria, and the cross-border humanitarian aid for northwest Syria, in line with the international humanitarian law and rules of sovereignty, the state-run SANA news agency reported. The authorization of a mechanism of aid delivery to opposition-held areas in the northwest of the country expired on July 10, following the last reauthorization for six months on January 10. The following day, Russia vetoed the UN Security Council (UNSC) compromise resolution that would have extended aid deliveries through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, which connects Turkey and opposition-held northwest Syria, for nine months. Lavrentiev stressed that his country continues supporting Syria to enhance security and stability in the region, as well as it maintaining cooperation between the two countries to secure a decent return of Syrian refugees. Russia and Syria committed to the humanitarian dimension of the Syrian refugees file and they categorically reject all attempts to politicize this file, according to the Russian diplomat. Cancer patients head for Turkey after border closure protests in NW Syria Cancer patients are once again being allowed to cross the border from northwest Syria to Turkey to access essential medical care after a vital crossing reopened, Al-Jazeera reported. The United Nations had said that the cross-border referral of cancer patients from the opposition-controlled area of Syria to Turkey would resume through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing on Wednesday. The referral system had stopped after the devastating earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria in February but resumed again on June 5. However, after the UN Security Council failed to agree on an extension to the authorization necessary for Bab al-Hawa to be used for UN aid operations, the authorization expired on July 10, and the crossing was closed. The Syrian government whose attacks on the opposition-held northwest have made it necessary for aid to be routed away from areas under government control eventually gave permission for Bab al-Hawa to be used for aid delivery on July 13, and following several protests by activists and humanitarian workers in recent days, Turkey has now allowed those being referred for cancer treatment to cross the border again. The protests reflected the desperation of cancer patients and their families in northwest Syria, which, having been torn apart by war for more than a decade, does not have facilities capable of fully treating patients, with a shortage of supplies, medication and medical staff. Al Jazeeras Nour Qormosh, reporting from the Turkey-Syria border, said that Turkeys decision to open its borders, allowing the most vulnerable to seek medical aid, was a glimpse of hope for the patients. Um Ahmed, the mother of a toddler with cancer waiting to be transported to Turkey, told Al Jazeera that her family had exhausted all their options to provide proper care for her son at the hospitals in Idlib, but it was not enough. He was very close to dying and I hope that the treatment in the Turkish hospitals will help him get better in the long run, she said. The COI Report Confirms that Torture is still Being Practiced in Syria in a Systematic and Widespread Manner Against Both Residents and Returnees The news and press release from the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) highlights the release of a report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic (COI) titled No End in Sight. The report focuses on the issue of torture and ill-treatment in Syria and covers the period between January 1, 2020, and April 30, 2023. Key points from the report are as follows: Continuation of Torture: The report confirms that torture and cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment are still being practiced in Syria. The abuses occur in a systematic and widespread manner against both residents and individuals returning to the country. Various Perpetrators: The report documents torture practices in detention centers operated by different parties, including the Syrian regimes agencies (Air Force Intelligence, Military Intelligence, Political Security, and General Intelligence Directorates), as well as non-state parties such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Syrian National Army (SNA), and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Detention Conditions: Detainees are held for prolonged periods without contact with their families, friends, or lawyers. They are subjected to various forms of torture and ill-treatment, aimed at forcing confessions or as a form of punishment. The methods of torture include suspension by limbs, severe beatings, electric shocks, burning of body parts, sexual violence, and more. Detainees are also held in overcrowded cells with severe shortages of food, water, and inadequate healthcare. Crimes Against Humanity: The report concludes that the Syrian regimes government has committed acts of torture, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, rape, sexual violence, and enforced disappearances, which amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes. Lack of Accountability: The report highlights the failure of institutions affiliated with the Syrian regimes government to prevent torture practices or investigate reports of torture, custodial deaths, or enforced disappearances. The lack of death notifications indicates an attempt to cover up deaths in custody. Calls for Action: The report calls on the Syrian regime and all parties to immediately cease all detention practices, enforced disappearances, and torture. It emphasizes the importance of accountability and fair trials for perpetrators. Support and Appreciation: The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) welcomes the findings and recommendations of the COI report. SNHR has worked with the COI since its inception, providing evidence and interviews to support its investigations. Overall, the report reveals the ongoing and systematic nature of torture and ill-treatment in Syria, raising serious concerns about human rights violations in the country. It underscores the need for accountability and action from both the Syrian regime and other involved parties to stop these abuses and ensure justice for the victims. Examining a masterpiece by a prominent writer No One Prayed Over Their Graves by Khaled Khalifa is an epic novel set in the backdrop of modern Syrias tumultuous birth. The story follows the lifelong friendship of Hanna, a Christian boy who seeks refuge in Aleppo with a wealthy Muslim family, and Zakariya, the son of his protectors. Over 70 years, their friendship is tested by war, floods, ethnic conflict, religious tensions, and personal tragedies. The Guardian in a long piece on the novel says that narrative explores their youth of pleasure-seeking, adventures, and indulgence, which changes drastically after a cataclysmic flood claims the lives of loved ones. This tragedy leads them to a path of grief, religious awakening, and a deeper understanding of the world. The book portrays Aleppos beauty, chaos, cosmopolitanism, and licentiousness, and it acts as an act of remembrance for the citys lost past. The novels humanist theme emphasizes the importance of living ones life on ones own terms and defying societal norms. However, the complexity of the books form and narrative voice may be challenging for some readers, as it shifts between different periods and characters points of view. Nevertheless, the novel offers moving revelations and explores the price of choices made. It seeks to grant all its characters a final prayer and commemorates Aleppos history and resilience amidst more recent calamities. No One Prayed Over Their Graves is a powerful tribute to Aleppos past and the enduring strength of the Syrian people. Wagner spat with Russian army began in Syria years before attempted coup: Experts A report published by Al-Arabiya highlighted the conflict between PMC Wagner and the Russian government, which recently culminated in an armed rebellion by the private military group against the Russian military. According to the report, the rift began in 2017 in Syria. Wagner forces had been present in Syria since 2015, fighting alongside forces loyal to Bashar al-Assads regime. However, the group suffered heavy losses due to reported lack of support from the Russian army, leading to tensions and disputes. The conflict initially arose in Palmyra in 2016 and 2017 when Wagner forces fought alongside the Syrian army against ISIS but faced a shortage of ammunition from the Russian military, resulting in significant casualties. Another significant source of conflict occurred in February 2018 when Wagner fighters launched an attack against Kurdish forces backed by the United States in the Khasham area of Deir-ez-Zor. The Russian military had promised comprehensive air protection, but it was not provided, leading to around 200 Wagner fighters being killed in the attack. The Russian government denied its presence in the area, leaving the Wagner forces feeling betrayed. Subsequent disputes between Wagner and the Russian army involved Russian military intervention in Syria, Chechen forces involvement, and the issue of enlisting Syrians into Wagners ranks. Following Prigozhins attempted coup, senior officers were sent to Syria to contain Wagner troops and prevent a broader mutiny against the Russian government. Wagner fighters present in Syria were surrounded and some were arrested, while others were transferred to Russian forces or Belarus. The areas controlled by Wagner forces in Syria were handed over to Iranian militias. Despite the efforts to control the situation, some experts believe that Wagner forces may still be present in Syria, and there is a possibility of further armed rebellion in the country. The Syrian regimes vulnerable position due to economic conditions and dependence on various militias creates tension in the region. Wagner, known for safeguarding Russian interests, remains a significant factor in Syrias complex landscape. Europes wait-and-see policy on Syria will not work Columnist Dania Koleilat Khatib, argues in an op-ed in Arab News that Europes wait-and-see policy on Syria is not effective and unsustainable. The current status quo in Syria shows the country divided into three areas, with different forces and influences in each region. The conflict has been further complicated by the Ukraine war, which has led Western leaders to avoid engaging in conversations with Russia, even regarding Syria. Regarding Bashar Assad, there is a lack of political or military capital to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 2254, which calls for a political transition in Syria. Europe faces a dilemma as it realizes removing Assad would be difficult, yet stability in Syria is not possible while he remains in power. However, the EU believes maintaining the status quo is the best option, hoping that the situation will change over time. The author argues that this approach is wishful thinking and not realistic. The refugee situation in neighbouring countries like Lebanon and Turkey is becoming increasingly unsustainable. Turkey has already started sending refugees back to Syria, and the aversion towards refugees in Lebanon is growing, potentially leading to clashes and more refugees reaching Europe. The author suggests that Europe needs to engage with its allies and push for a Saudi-Iran rapprochement to reach an operational agreement on Syria that allows for the safe and dignified return of refugees. Additionally, engaging with Turkey to incentivize normalizing relations with the northeast of Syria could be a starting point for a practical policy. The main point is that the current refugee situation cannot be ignored, and Europe needs to take action to address the issue in Syria. SEATTLE With ropes, a harness, a hammock and a bucket pulley system, masked activists in Seattle have taken residence in the branches of an old, thick cedar tree to prevent it from being cut down to make way for new homes. The protest on a private lot is the latest episode highlighting tensions behind tree policy in Seattle as climate change increases temperatures and urban canopy decreases. The Western red cedar, dubbed Luma, is about 80 feet (24.4 meters) tall, with two trunks that are each about 4 feet (1.2 meters) in diameter. Its age is not known, but activists have estimated it could be as much as 200 years old. The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe is seeking to have the tree preserved for its archaeological significance, saying that Native Americans shaped its branches generations ago to distinguish it as a trail marker. The protesters have declined to give their names, citing concerns about retaliation. They said they support new housing, but not at the expense of the tree. We have to win this tree. We have to win because Luma is setting the tone for every other tree thats under threat in Seattle, one said from the tree. We have to show that we mean business. The occupation began July 14, with each activist taking shifts of several days in the tree. Some local residents hope to see it preserved. We were led to believe that this tree was going to be was going to be kept, said Andy Stewart, who lives down the block. Then we got surprised to learn that the final permits were approved with the tree being removed. The tree is on a development site where a single family home is being replaced with six housing units split between two parcels. After the city surveyed the site and proposal, it decided that the tree needed to be removed to accommodate the new housing, The initial plans neighbors cited didnt accurately show the extent of the trees roots, said Bryan Stevens, a spokesman for the Department of Construction and Inspections. The tree sits towards the middle of the parcel, making it difficult to preserve while also allowing for the development to achieve the number of housing units allowed on the property, Stevens said. Stevens said the city cant revoke the removal permit. The activist in the tree said she hopes the city can find a way to keep the tree and create housing. It seems like theres an easy solution to have the houses that they want on this lot if they would just take a small creative step, she said. The project is funded by Legacy Group Capital, which did not reply to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment. The Snoqualmie Tribe this week sent a letter to the city asking officials to halt the removal. The city suggested the tribe reach out to state authorities to further assess if the tree is on an archeological site. Its unclear if the tree will be removed because new coordination between the landowner and the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation is needed, Stevens said. The departments executive director, Allyson Brooks, said the developer will need to seek a permit, since the site has been determined to be a cultural resource. The permitting process will take 60 days and will include consultation from the tribe. Cities across the country have pledged to plant more trees to combat climate change and its impact. Trees not only absorb carbon dioxide but also cool cities. Researchers also say old trees need to be tended in cities because new plantings can take 10 to 20 years to start providing environmental benefits. Our majestic trees, for the most part, are our very largest native trees. And they are the most valuable in terms of keeping the community healthy and preserving our ecosystem, said Sandy Shettler of the Last 6000, a group that aims to count and protect old trees. Western red cedars can live up to 1,500 years in forests, according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources. Amazon and workplace safety regulators from the e-commerce giant's home state on Monday kicked off what's expected to be a weekslong trial that may well determine the future of work at Amazon's warehouses. Regulators with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries have fined Amazon four times since 2021, alleging that inspections of three of its warehouses showed workers were at a high risk of injury due to repetitive motions and, in some cases, a fast pace of work. Amazon appealed all four citations, arguing its employees worked at a comfortable pace and that the company already made changes that were bringing down injury rates. Both parties appeared on Monday before a judge from the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, an independent state agency responsible for hearing appeals related to workers' compensation, safety citations and other decisions made by Labor and Industries. L&I is asking Amazon to make changes to its warehouses that it says will reduce the risk of injury among its workforce. The department didn't specify which changes Amazon must make but offered suggestions, including introducing new equipment and creating a formal job rotation program to help workers avoid injuries from repetitive motions. Amazon is asking the court to dismiss the citations, arguing that it has not violated any state laws and should not be forced to make any of L&I's proposed changes. Those changes would be "tremendously disruptive," Amazon wrote in court documents. The trial is focused on three of Amazon's facilities in Washington, in DuPont, Pierce County; Kent; and Sumner. Amazon has since stopped operations at its Sumner facility, a decision that was made before the citation. Workplace regulators inspected Amazon's DuPont facility twice, resulting in a second citation and fine. The fines themselves amount to $81,000, a tiny figure compared with the $12.2 billion in pretax profits Amazon recorded in 2022. Elliott Furst, an attorney representing the state, told Judge Stephen Pfeifer during opening statements that Amazon's online marketplace "probably changed the world," and that the company has done an "amazing job of setting up a system" where shoppers can have a product on the doorstep, with a few mouse clicks. "But," Furst continued, "the only reason we're here today is because when they set up this highly efficient system they did not factor in ... the safety of their workers." In the most recent citation, from March 2022, Labor and Industries officials said workers at Amazon's Kent warehouse are asked to repeatedly lift, carry and twist at a dangerous pace. Ten of the 12 processes the department inspected "create a serious hazard" for back, shoulder, wrist and knee injuries. Because the department had cited Amazon for similar violations before, L&I determined Amazon is aware of these hazards and is "knowingly putting workers at risk." Amazon disputes those claims and says its safety record has improved in Washington and around the country. In statements to the court, Amazon said it was testing new engineering controls, including powered cart tuggers, electric pallet jacks and vacuum lifts. It plans to invest $550 million in safety initiatives in 2023, adding to the $1 billion it committed to safety from 2019 to 2022. The company also says it does not have fixed production quotas for workers and that employees are free to take breaks as needed. "When all the evidence is in, the picture that's going to emerge is going to be far different than what the department has alleged here," Jeffrey Youmans, an attorney with Davis Wright Tremaine representing Amazon, told the court Monday. Instead, he continued, the court will see "an employer that's committed to safety, committed to eliminating ergonomic risk in its facilities and keeping its associates safe." Ergonomics broadly refers to the study of how people work, and to arranging workplaces, job tasks and equipment to be easy and safe to use. In this case, ergonomists from L&I and Amazon are studying the risk of injury from repetitive motions, like pulling items off racks or trailers. Repetitive motions in the workplace can cause musculoskeletal disorders, like strains, sprains and tears. This is the first Washington state ergonomics case that's been litigated in any regulatory context in nearly 30 years, Furst said Monday. Over the next two months, Amazon and L&I will call Amazon employees and managers to testify about their experiences at the company. Members of Amazon's workplace health and safety team whose work covers all of Amazon's fulfillment centers will take the stand, as will several ergonomists. In opening statements, Furst and Youmans focused on the types of tools the department used to measure the risk of injury at Amazon's warehouses. Youmans accused L&I of using tools that don't factor in the variability of work in Amazon's facilities and using those tools incorrectly. Furst accused Amazon of trying to bypass the law by telling the department its tools weren't fit for "the new modern type of workplace we have invented." State law doesn't allow "an employer to create a uniquely unsafe workplace and then argue that it's unfair to hold that workplace to the same standards as every other workplace," Furst told the judge. Youmans argued that L&I made "baseless accusations" about the pace of work at Amazon facilities. Instead, Youmans argued, Amazon only set goals for its lowest-performing employees and those goals were reasonable and easy to meet. Regulators had not accounted for all Amazon had already done to minimize risk to workers, he continued. Maureen Lynch Vogel, an Amazon spokesperson, said in a statement Monday "we look forward to showing that L&I's allegations are inaccurate and don't reflect the reality of safety at Amazon." "The truth is that we're always investing in safety and our efforts are working, with recordable injury rates at our sites in Kent and DuPont improving by 16% and 40% since 2018," she said. "We're proud of our progress and we'll continue working to get better every day." The trial, which will take place in Seattle and Tacoma, is unfolding at the same time federal safety regulators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are conducting their own inspections of Amazon warehouses around the country. The agency has issued several citations, finding Amazon failed to properly record work-related injuries, failed to provide a safe workplace and exposed workers to risk of injuries. Amazon has appealed those citations. Sen. Bernie Sanders announced earlier this year the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is also investigating working conditions at Amazon's warehouses. Sanders, who campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020, said the committee sent a letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, initiating an inquiry into the safety record at Amazon facilities and the company's treatment of workers who are injured on the job. Amazon spokesperson Steve Kelly said the company strongly disagrees with the assertions in the letter. The overall injury rate at Amazon warehouses declined in the past year, according to two recent analyses of injury data. The Strategic Organizing Center, a coalition of labor unions that has focused on working conditions at Amazon, analyzed data the company submitted to OSHA for 2022. It found the overall injury rate at Amazon had decreased from 7.9 injuries per 100 workers in 2021 to 7.0 injuries in 2022. Amazon released its own safety report in March, mostly using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that showed a similar decline. Amazon reported that its injury rate at U.S. facilities fell from 7.6 injuries per 200,000 working hours in 2021 to 6.7 injuries in 2022. While Amazon touts this statistic as evidence that it has made strides on founder Jeff Bezos' 2020 commitment to become "Earth's safest place to work," the Strategic Organizing Center said the data overall shows Amazon has "failed to make meaningful progress on worker safety." The Industrial Insurance Appeals Board trial resumed Tuesday in Seattle, and is expected to continue into September. (Photo : Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy floated the idea of an impeachment inquiry against United States President Joe Biden over financial misconduct. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy floated the idea that the GOP could investigate an impeachment inquiry against United States President Joe Biden over unproven claims of financial misconduct. The situation developed on Tuesday at the Capitol when McCarthy said that questions raised by House Republicans regarding the Biden family finances need to be investigated. The House speaker has acknowledged that the current investigations have not proven that the Bidens have done anything wrong. McCarthy Floats Idea of Biden Impeachment However, McCarthy added that an impeachment inquiry would allow Congress to get the information to know the truth about the issue. Such an inquiry by the House would mark the first step toward bringing articles of impeachment against the president. Additionally, such a probe could become as lengthy or swift as the House determines it to be, resulting in the investigation stretching into the 2024 campaign season. McCarthy first showed signs of such a situation when he said, "We will follow this to the end," as per the Associated Press. The remarks are seen as the strongest comment yet from the House speaker on a potential impeachment against Biden following the Republican leader sidelining efforts made by House conservatives to launch such a probe. McCarthy, having a slim majority in the House, has continuously faced demands from allies of former United States President Donald Trump to elevate their priorities. Furthermore, the Republican businessman himself questioned during a Fox News town hall held last week why his successor has not yet been impeached. The House speaker has not yet officially endorsed Trump for the 2024 presidential elections, as the latter is seen as the early frontrunner for the GOP nomination or any other candidate. He also denied a report that he was considering House votes to completely remove the former president's two impeachments as another way of showing his support. The situation comes as House Republicans previously demanded that US Attorney David Weiss, a Trump appointee, answers questions regarding allegations from two whistleblowers from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), according to CNN. Read Also: Biden Admin Wants Better Mental Health Treatment Access from Insurers Allegations of Financial Misconduct The whistleblowers claim that the tax investigation in the criminal case against the president's son, Hunter Biden, was tainted by political interference. These are claims that Weiss and Attorney General Merrick Garland have both denied. Hunter agreed to plead guilty to two federal tax misdemeanors as part of a plea deal. The White House, in response, criticized House Republicans' eagerness to attack Biden "regardless of the truth." In a statement posted on Twitter on Monday, White House spokesperson Ian Sams said that the GOP is prioritizing these situations instead of focusing on real issues within the country. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said in June that the Bidens received more than $1 million in 17 increments. McCarthy argued that all but one of those payments went to what he described as "Biden shell companies" when he was still vice president. Based on Comer's prepared remarks, the now sitting president had been "lecturing Romania on anti-corruption policies" while being a "walking billboard" for his family to collect massive amounts of money, said Fox News. Related Article: MTG Could Face Punishment After Showing Hunter Biden's Nude Photos @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A federal appeals panel July 5 refused to allow the full 9th U.S. Circuit of Appeals to rehear its ruling that prohibited the city of Grants Pass, Oregon, from criminally punishing homeless people who sleep in public places when they have nowhere else to go. The panels denial of a full court review prompted unusually scathing dissents and statements by 16 other 9th Circuit judges who either blasted the original decision and urged it be corrected or argued that at least the full court be given the chance to reconsider the matter. Many who dissented argued that the Grants Pass ruling created a confusing set of rules based on a flawed interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and made the courts judges into inappropriate homeless policy czars. The original ruling placed a straitjacket on West Coast cities that are left with little recourse to deal with an insurmountable and widespread rise in homelessness, the dissenters wrote. In response, the two judges who made up the majority opinion on the three-judge panel defended their denial of a full court review and also stood by their underlying 2022 opinion and claimed those criticizing it had mischaracterized it. Highlighting the significant division among the 9th Circuit active and senior judges, a lawyer representing the city of Grants Pass said the city plans to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case. Last year, the three-judge 9th Circuit panel upheld a lower courts injunction that directed Grants Pass not to enforce its public camping and park exclusion ordinances against involuntarily homeless persons for the mere act of sleeping or camping in public spaces when there is no other place in the city for them to go. The city appealed to have the case heard by the full federal appellate court. A majority of the courts 29 active judges voted not to allow a full court rehearing. The two judges who wrote the majority opinion Rosyln O. Silver, a U.S. District judge in Arizona designated to sit on the 9th Circuit and 9th Circuit Judge Ronald M. Gould said the Eighth Amendment imposes substantive limits on whats punishable as a crime. The attempt by Grants Pass to punish people with nowhere to go for the life-sustaining act of sleeping outside rose to one of those circumstances and is consistent with U.S. Supreme Court precedent, Silver and Gould argued. Senior 9th Circuit Judge Diarmuid OScannlain called the panels initial ruling an egregiously flawed and deeply damaging mistake that is at war with constitutional text, history, and tradition, and Supreme Court precedent. OScannlain, joined by 14 other judges, argued that the original opinion has paralyzed cities from addressing the significant problem of homelessness and removed their authority to craft public policy. Without a fix, the 9th Circuit has required cities, particularly those in the West such as Portland, Los Angeles and San Francisco to surrender their sidewalks and other public places to homeless encampments, he wrote. The full court needed to reconsider our unfortunate constitutional mistake, OScannlain wrote. OScannlain contended that the Grants Pass decision rested partly on an earlier ruling in a case involving the city of Boise, which he wrote invented a federal constitutional right to sleep on public property. He noted that the 9th Circuit remains the only federal court of appeals to have recognized an individual constitutional right to sleep or to camp on sidewalks and other public property. The three-judge panel that issued the Grants Pass ruling wrongly applied the Eighth Amendment that prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, OScannlain wrote. It is not a boundless remedy for all social and policy ills, including homelessness. It does not empower us to displace state and local decisionmakers with our own enlightened view of how to address a public crisis over which we can claim neither expertise nor authority, and it certainly does not authorize us to dictate municipal policy here, he wrote. He also argued that the U.S. Supreme Court hasnt found that the Eighth Amendment applies to conduct not of ones free choice, and that local officials should have the right to prohibit a species of antisocial conduct. OScannlain and judges who signed onto his statement urged the court to come out from behind its marble walls and sealed doors to consider the practical grave and troubling ramifications of the Grants Pass ruling. One need only walk through our neighborhoods through the Tenderloin (San Francisco) or Skid Row (Los Angeles) to know that our communities are fast coming undone, he wrote. Tents crowding out sidewalks, needles flooding parks, and rubbish (and worse) marring public squares reflect a threat to the public welfare that should not be taken lightly. Ninth Circuit Judge Milan D. Smith Jr. in his own dissent, wrote that the Grants Pass and Boise decisions have left local governments without a clue of how to regulate homeless encampments without risking legal liability. Formula criticized Smith said the Grants Pass ruling has set up unelected federal judges as homelessness policy czars instead of doing what they should be doing: Applying the rule of law. The Boise ruling, he said, handcuffed local jurisdictions trying to respond to the homelessness crisis while the Grants Pass case now places them in a straitjacket. Smith criticized the formula that the judges set in the Grants Pass case that the city couldnt prosecute homeless people for sleeping in public if there is a greater number of homeless individuals in a jurisdiction than the number of available shelter spaces. Thats unrealistic and doesnt take into account individual circumstances, such as people who refuse an offer to go to a shelter, Smith wrote. In response to the vigorous dissents, the majority slightly amended its original ruling, removing the beds-versus-population formula. To clear up any potential confusion, Silver and Gould removed a statement from their original opinion that referenced the number of homeless individuals in a jurisdiction compared to the number of shelter spaces available. When there is no shelter space, jurisdictions may still enforce limitations on sleeping at certain locations, they wrote in their amendment. The assertion that jurisdictions must now allow involuntarily homeless persons to camp or sleep on every sidewalk and in every playground is plainly wrong. They accused OScannlain and Smith of mischaracterizing their ruling with exaggerations. Their decision, they wrote, holds only that governments cant criminalize the act of sleeping with the use of rudimentary protections, such as bedding, from the elements in some public places when a person has nowhere else to sleep. Silver and Gould said nowhere in their ruling do they establish an unrestrained right for involuntarily homeless persons to sleep anywhere they choose. Nor does it require jurisdictions to cede all public spaces to involuntarily homeless persons. The holding in Grants Pass is not that involuntarily homeless persons in the City of Grants Pass and elsewhere in the Ninth Circuit are allowed to sleep wherever and whenever they wish, the two wrote. When there is space available in shelters, jurisdictions are free to enforce prohibitions on sleeping anywhere in public. Further, when someone refuses an offer of shelter, that person may be punished for sleeping in public, the majority judges wrote. Senior Circuit Judge Susan P. Graber sought to offer a middle ground. She said she agreed with the legal premise that the Eighth Amendment protects against criminal prosecution of the involuntary act of sleeping, but that the relief granted in the Grants Pass case went too far. Given the widespread nature of the homelessness crisis in our jurisdiction, it is crucial that we get it right, she wrote. Our court should have reheard this case en banc. Theane Evangelis, the attorney representing the city of Grants Pass, said the city plans to petition the U.S. Supreme Court for review. We hoped the full Ninth Circuit would reconsider recent decisions that have contributed to the growing problem of encampments in cities across the West, Evangelis said by email. The Ninth Circuits decisions in this case and Martin v. Boise are legally wrong and are only harming the very people they were meant to help. In Boise, a three-judge panel of the the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2018 upheld the citys enforcement of its camping and disorderly conduct ordinances against persons experiencing homelessness. The panel found that as long as there is no option of sleeping indoors, the government cannot criminalize indigent, homeless people for sleeping outdoors, on public property, on the false premise they had a choice in the matter. When Boise sought a full court review of the ruling, the 9th Circuit rejected such a review. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2019 then denied a Boise petition to review the ruling. Senior status judges dont have a vote on whether a case should be heard by the full court. Thats why OScannlains position is called a statement, rather than a formal dissent. NXP Semiconductors Chief Executive Officer Kurt Sievers said that China's slumping smartphone market remains far from a rebound but that one major non-Android customer's chip orders are still comparing well with historical trends. Netherlands-based NXP makes a near-field communications chip that goes into smartphones to help with mobile payments and other functions. Sievers did not discuss Apple Inc by name, but analysts believe the iPhone maker is a major customer. Sievers' comments in an interview with Reuters came a day after the company gave a better-than-expected sales forecast based on a steady recovery in the automotive segment, sending its shares up 4.8% to $221.05 by midday Tuesday. China's smartphone market has suffered as the country's growth has slowed, with Counterpoint Research reporting that sales declined 8% for the early June "618" shopping season in the country. But Apple has resisted the trend, with sales rising 8% during the shopping period, Counterpoint said. NXP's forecast suggests that Apple's strength may continue. In an interview, Sievers said NXP expects mobile revenue to increase 23% in the current third quarter, up from $284 million in the just-ended second quarter. While the Android portion of those mobile chip orders is growing slightly, Sievers said there is no rebound in sight. "I would still say the (smartphone) build rates are below what they used to be in China. And we also don't see it jumping," he said. Sievers said most of the 23% increase forecast for mobile chip sales is attributable to a large customer that NXP cannot name. Most analysts believe that company is Apple. "This increase in itself sequentially from Q2 to Q3 is quite good," Sievers said. "We also compare that seasonally to past years or to more normal years. And I'd say that the sequential increase for that particular customer is on the better side." Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A revamped Twitter could become the world's most valuable brand, but there are also legal issues ahead July 26, 2023 12:12 Famous billionaire Elon Musk promises to make the renamed Twitter (X) the most valuable brand in the world. Planned innovations will transform X into a financial hub, enabling users to manage their finances. True, the company also faces possible legal problems related to the intellectual property rights of the letter "X". To make Twitter the most valuable brand in the world Elon Musk recently announced plans to make his Twitter social platform, rebranded as X, the world's most valuable brand. Musk published this statement on his Twitter page, commenting on the words of an expert who assumed that after the name change, the value of the Twitter brand would decrease by more than 40 billion dollars. "X will become the most valuable brand in the world. Remember my words," Musk wrote. Musk previously said that the name Twitter no longer reflects the nature and functions of this microblogging platform, so it has been renamed X. As part of the rebranding, Twitter has also updated its logo. Instead of the usual blue bird, you can now see the black and white letter X on the website. According to Musk, the logo will still be finalized. The official Twitter page has also been renamed X, and the company's office has been brightened up with a new logo. Regular updates on Twitter Twitter is expected to introduce new features to its users soon. An official statement about the planned innovations appeared on the website of the owner of the company, Elon Musk. "In the coming months, we will add comprehensive information sharing and the ability to manage your entire financial world," the businessman wrote. What exactly he meant by this and how the updated platform will work is still not completely clear. Launched in 2006, Twitter has become a popular tool for sharing short 140-character messages around the world. After some time, the allowed number of characters in posts was doubled to 280, which allowed users to express their thoughts and ideas more freely. Now the platform may change beyond recognition. Twitter may face lawsuits over X's name change As Reuters reports, Elon Musk's decision to rename Twitter into X may have legal consequences for the company, as there are already other companies that have the right to use X as intellectual property. Josh Gerben, a trademark attorney, says lawsuits against Twitter are likely. There are about 900 trademarks in the US that contain the letter X, and companies such as Microsoft and Meta already have the rights to use this letter for their products and brands. Microsoft uses the X to promote the Xbox brand, and Meta has registered the blue and white X for use in the "software" and "social media" categories. If the companies prove that the logos and ads of the new social platform X cause confusion among consumers, they can demand compensation or that the use of X be banned. Genpact announced a collaboration with Microsoft that allows Genpacts global talent to access Microsofts Azure OpenAI Service to enable them to unlock new opportunities to implement generative AI capabilities for clients. Genpact has identified various opportunities to leverage large language models (LLMs) to drive enterprise efficiencies in areas such as transition management, global service desk management, infrastructure management, and other areas. Generative AI has the ability to help companies improve employee productivity, and enhance operational efficiency and agility, allowing Genpacts business teams the domain experts to develop use cases that solve the many day-to-day challenges enterprises face. Azures cloud infrastructure coupled with the flexibility of the Azure OpenAI Service will help accelerate these solution developments. Vidya Rao, Chief Information Officer at Genpact, said, Generative AIs potential to drive innovation is unprecedented, and by democratizing access to this technology, including Microsoft Azures powerful AI tools, we continue to foster our culture of innovation, experimentation, and knowledge across our more than 115,000 global workforce. Our continuous learning environment helps clients optimize AIs rapidly evolving landscape, and were excited to leverage Microsofts AI tools to revolutionize the way we approach problem-solving. This relationship with Microsoft builds on Genpacts deep expertise in AI innovation from decades-long investments in advanced data analytics, to strategic AI acquisitions, to leading-edge technology solutions and extensive experience with LLMs across numerous industries, including consumer goods, retail, life sciences, healthcare, hi-tech, and financial services. Sangita Singh, General Manager IT&ITES, Microsoft India, said, Genpact is an innovator in combining AI and advanced analytics, and we are pleased to collaborate with them to expedite the development of new solutions that empower enterprises to strategically use generative AI for business value. Microsoft Azure AI, combined with Genpacts industry knowledge, operational expertise, and experience in running processes for Global Fortune companies, will be a powerful combination, Genpact will support its employees use of generative AI tools through comprehensive training programs and resources. Genpact also recently established a generative AI practice with a team of data scientists, data engineers, and domain experts focused on the rapid development of generative AI capabilities on the Genpact Cora platform which is already integrated with more than 250 enterprise ecosystems handling more than 20 million transactions a month. Tech Mahindra announced the audited consolidated financial results for its quarter ended June 30th, 2023. Financial highlights for the quarter (USD) Financial highlights for the quarter () Other Highlights CP Gurnani, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Tech Mahindra, said, Our results this quarter reflect the uncertainty in the global economy and the IT sector. We are confident that we have the right strategy and the right team to overcome this temporary setback and deliver long-term value for our customers and shareholders. Rohit Anand, Chief Financial Officer, Tech Mahindra, said, This quarter was a challenging one for us as revenue growth faced strong headwinds and that had an impact on profitability. We have taken swift and decisive actions to address these issues and improve our execution. 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: Airbus and Boeing are racing to boost production rates to meet a surge in orders from airlines. Airbus and Boeing both stepped up deliveries of commercial aircraft in the first half of this year, boosting revenue as they strive to ramp up production to meet demand from airlines. Both aircraft manufacturers released results on Wednesday, with Airbus reporting a net profit of 1.06 billion euros ($1.17 billion) in the second quarter while Boeing suffered a $149 million loss following delays and cost issues in its defense and space program. Both saw revenues jump as they delivered more aircraft to clients. Boeing boosted revenue by 18 percent during the quarter to $19.8 billion, while Airbus posted a 24 percent increase to $17.6 billion. In the second quarter, US-based Boeing notched a 12 percent increase in commercial plane deliveries to 136. Its European rival Airbus managed a 6.4 percent increase to 316 deliveries in the first half of the year. As airlines have announced major new orders in response to robust travel demand following COVID-19 lockdowns, Airbus and Boeing have had trouble boosting production. Both companies slashed output and cut staff during the pandemic as global air travel came to a near halt, and ramping it back up has proved slow and difficult for them and their suppliers. 'Steady progress' Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun pointed to "steady progress" in the aerospace giant's turnaround, calling demand strong in the company press release. Boeing's commercial plane program has been beset with various manufacturing and quality control issues in recent years that have limited deliveries for its top-selling jets, the 737 and 787 Dreamliner, pushing the company into loss. In an interview on CNBC, Calhoun described the supply chain difficulties as "settling down" as he reviewed the ramp-up planned for the best-selling jets and reviewed a number of major contracts with carriers in India, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. Calhoun offered a somewhat more upbeat appraisal Wednesday as he mapped out the plan to increase production of the 737 MAX to 38 a month from 31 a month. "Suppliers have been working diligently to sort of settle down and eliminate the constraints, and slowly and steadily we're seeing fewer and fewer concerns," Calhoun told CNBC, adding that the company plans to boost output to 50 per month down the road. Boeing also announced new production targets for the 787 Dreamliner. Later on a conference call with analysts, Calhoun characterized supply chain issues as still the "most significant" challenge facing the company, but said "it's steadily getting better". Airbus constrained by suppliers Airbus also highlighted the critical importance of ramping up production and continued supply chain difficulties. "On the supply side, our deliveries continue to be paced by a few critical suppliers," chief executive Guillaume Faury said in a conference call. Airbus confirmed plans to make 75 of its best-selling single-aisle A320 family aircraft per month in 2026. This production rate "is now the key reference point for the company", it acknowledged. But it dropped reference to making 65 A320 aircraft per month in 2024. "Given the volatility in our supply chain and in our operations, we won't give interim targets anymore," said Faury. "The overall trajectory and the landing point is what matters, we'll continue to make tactical adjustments in our production as required," he added. Faury said a problem recently identified with Pratt and Whitney engines for the A320neo would not affect deliveries and Airbus would assist affected clients. Airbus confirmed its target of delivering around 720 commercial aircraft this year. Record order book Faury said demand for its commercial aircraft remained strong, pointing to 800 orders announced at the Paris Air Show. Net orders totalled 1,044 during the first half of the year, more than four times the amount during the first six months of 2022. That is already close to its annual totals the past two years and puts Airbus within striking distance of its 2014 record of 1,590 aircraft. "This demand is driven both by growth and fleet replacement as airlines invest in more fuel efficient fleets," said Faury, noting its order book stands at a record 7,967 aircraft. Airbus' results were held back by a weak performance by its defense and space unit which was hit by a drop in revenues due to delays, although it did return to an operating profit. Meanwhile, Boeing's defense, space and security business operated at loss, hit by delays in the Starliner spacecraft and increased costs connected to the T-7A jet trainer program. Even though Boeing's commercial aircraft unit continued to operate at a loss the company beat analyst expectations and investors welcomed its revised production targets, driving the share price up 6.7 percent. Airbus released its results after European markets closed for the day. 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: We formulate three tasks using over a decade of New Yorker caption contests: models must 1) recognize a caption written about a cartoon (vs. options that were not); 2) evaluate that captions quality by scoring it more highly than a non-finalist/non-winner from the same contest; and 3) explain why the joke is funny. Credit: Cartoon by Drew Dernavich, winning caption by Bennett Ellenbogen. Large neural networks, a form of artificial intelligence, can generate thousands of jokes along the lines of "Why did the chicken cross the road?" But do they understand why they're funny? Using hundreds of entries from the New Yorker magazine's Cartoon Caption Contest as a testbed, researchers challenged AI models and humans with three tasks: matching a joke to a cartoon; identifying a winning caption; and explaining why a winning caption is funny. In all tasks, humans performed demonstrably better than machines, even as AI advances such as ChatGPT have closed the performance gap. So are machines beginning to "understand" humor? In short, they're making some progress, but aren't quite there yet. "The way people challenge AI models for understanding is to build tests for themmultiple choice tests or other evaluations with an accuracy score," said Jack Hessel, Ph.D. '20, research scientist at the Allen Institute for AI (AI2). "And if a model eventually surpasses whatever humans get at this test, you think, 'OK, does this mean it truly understands?' It's a defensible position to say that no machine can truly 'understand' because understanding is a human thing. But, whether the machine understands or not, it's still impressive how well they do on these tasks." Hessel is lead author of "Do Androids Laugh at Electric Sheep? Humor 'Understanding' Benchmarks from The New Yorker Caption Contest," which won a best-paper award at the 61st annual meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics, held July 9-14 in Toronto. Lillian Lee '93, the Charles Roy Davis Professor in the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, and Yejin Choi, Ph.D. '10, professor in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington, and the senior director of common-sense intelligence research at AI2, are also co-authors on the paper. For their study, the researchers compiled 14 years' worth of New Yorker caption contestsmore than 700 in all. Each contest included: a captionless cartoon; that week's entries; the three finalists selected by New Yorker editors; and, for some contests, crowd quality estimates for each submission. For each contest, the researchers tested two kinds of AI"from pixels" (computer vision) and "from description" (analysis of human summaries of cartoons)for the three tasks. "There are datasets of photos from Flickr with captions like, 'This is my dog,'" Hessel said. "The interesting thing about the New Yorker case is that the relationships between the images and the captions are indirect, playful, and reference lots of real-world entities and norms. And so the task of 'understanding' the relationship between these things requires a bit more sophistication." In the experiment, matching required AI models to select the finalist caption for the given cartoon from among "distractors" that were finalists but for other contests; quality ranking required models to differentiate a finalist caption from a nonfinalist; and explanation required models to generate free text saying how a high-quality caption relates to the cartoon. Hessel penned the majority of human-generated explanations himself, after crowdsourcing the task proved unsatisfactory. He generated 60-word explanations for more than 650 cartoons. "A number like 650 doesn't seem very big in a machine-learning context, where you often have thousands or millions of data points," Hessel said, "until you start writing them out." This study revealed a significant gap between AI- and human-level "understanding" of why a cartoon is funny. The best AI performance in a multiple choice test of matching cartoon to caption was only 62% accuracy, far behind humans' 94% in the same setting. And when it came to comparing human- vs. AI-generated explanations, humans' were preferred roughly 2-to-1. While AI might not be able to "understand" humor yet, the authors wrote, it could be a collaborative tool humorists could use to brainstorm ideas. Other contributors include Ana Marasovic, assistant professor at the University of Utah School of Computing; Jena D. Hwang, research scientist at AI2; Jeff Da, research assistant at the University of Washington Rowan Zellers, researcher at OpenAI; and humorist Robert Mankoff, president of Cartoon Collections and long-time cartoon editor at the New Yorker. The authors wrote this paper in the spirit of the subject matter, with playful comments and footnotes throughout. "This three or four years of research wasn't always super fun," Lee said, "but something we try to do in our work, or at least in our writing, is to encourage more of a spirit of fun." 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: Boeing reported a quarterly loss but lifted production rates on key commercial plane models. Boeing shares rallied Wednesday after the aerospace giant reported a smaller-than-expected loss, announced production rate increases on key commercial jets and described supply chain problems as moderating somewhat. The US aerospace company reported a $149 million second-quarter loss following delays and cost issues in its defense and space program. But a jump in plane deliveries boosted quarterly revenues to $19.8 billion, up 18 percent from the year-ago level and above analyst expectations. Boeing announced production rate increases on both the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner, two popular commercial jets that have struggled with factory and supply chain issues in recent years. Boeing also reaffirmed its projections for 2023 free cash flow, a benchmark closely watched by investors. Chief Executive Dave Calhoun pointed to "steady progress" in the aerospace giant's turnaround, describing demand as strong, according to the company's press release. In an interview on CNBC, Calhoun described the supply chain difficulties as "settling down" as he reviewed the ramp-up planned for the best-selling jets and reviewed a number of major contracts with carriers in India, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. As airlines have announced major new orders in response to robust travel demand following COVID-19 lockdowns, both Boeing and Airbus have described supplier shortfalls and delays as a key constraint on the industry. Calhoun offered a somewhat more upbeat appraisal Wednesday as he mapped out the plan to increase production of the 737 MAX to 38 a month from 31 a month. "Suppliers have been working diligently to sort of settle down and eliminate the constraints, and slowly and steadily we're seeing fewer and fewer concerns," Calhoun told CNBC, adding that the company plans to boost output to 50 per month down the road. Later on a conference call with analysts, Calhoun characterized supply chain issues as still the "most significant" challenge facing the company, but said "it's steadily getting better." In the second quarter, Boeing notched a 12 percent increase in commercial plane deliveries. However, the commercial program still experienced a quarterly loss due to "abnormal costs and period expenses, including research and development." The company's defense, space and security business also experienced an operating loss, hit by delays in the Starliner spacecraft and increased costs connected to the T-7A jet trainer program. The second quarter marked the 15th straight operational loss in Boeing's commercial division, although the business is moving closer to breakeven, said Peter McNally of research firm Third Bridge. "The overall outlook is unchanged," McNally said in a note, adding that the commercial division results are "encouraging, particularly in light of the ongoing supply chain challenges." "Boeing's execution has improved, and it will need to continue on this path to turn the corner on sustained profitability." Shares jumped 6.7 percent to $228.55 shortly after midday. 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: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaks during a February 2023 keynote address announcing ChatGPT integration into the company's Bing search engine. Tech titans Google and Microsoft announced better-than-expected earnings on Tuesday as the frenzy over artificial intelligence stokes investor excitement and breathes a new life into the sector. The release of ChatGPT last year landed as technology giants were embarking on major layoffs and cost-cutting plans, with share prices hammered after flying high during the coronavirus pandemic. For the second consecutive quarter, Microsoft has more than reversed the trend, seeing profits and sales soaring to the highest levels ever for the 48-year-old company co-founded by Bill Gates. An earnings statement reported that net profit for Microsoft was $20.1 billion in the April to June period, up 20 percent year-on-year and above expectations. The company posted $56.2 billion in sales, which also beat expectations, though the growth slowed from the previous quarter. And even though its share price slipped in after-hours trading, the Windows-maker remains the world's second most valuable company after Apple, with a market capitalization of $2.6 trillion. Once again, business in the latest quarter was driven by the cloud, which relies heavily on artificial intelligence and accounts for more than half of the company's sales. Cloud sales grew by 21 percent year-on-year. Microsoft shares lifted off last week when the company said it would charge $30 extra per user to turbocharge its Microsoft 365 productwhich includes Word, Excel and Teamswith AI powers. "Every customer I speak with is asking not only how, but how fast they can apply next generation AI to address the biggest opportunities and challenges they face and to do so safely and responsibly," said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Google parent Alphabet on Tuesday also reported profits that beat market forecasts as digital advertising revenue revived and its cloud business grew. The search engine giant reported net income of $18.7 billion on revenue of $74.6 billion in the recently ended quarter. "There's exciting momentum across our products and the company, which drove strong results this quarter," Alphabet chief executive Sundar Pichai said in an earnings release. Alphabet shares jumped more than six percent to $129.57 in after-market trades following the results. Google co-founder Sergey Brin is reported to be back at the internet giant's Silicon Valley campus helping with is artificial intelligence efforts. Microsoft saw its share price slip more than three percent to $337.99 as earnings showed it will take a bit of time and investment to fulfill its AI visions. "I think people got overly excited by AI, but now the reality is that it is not going to be instant," said independent analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group. "We are talking a few years before the full benefit starts to materialize." Brin is back While the latest talk has surrounded AI, what matters most for Google earnings currently is digital advertisingwhere it gets the bulk of its revenue. The company said that advertising revenue hit $58.1 billion, which outshined analysts' expectations of $57.45 billion. Google is also a player in the cloud computing industry, where revenue came in at $8 billion, compared with $6.3 billion the unit took in during the same period a year earlier. "Our continued leadership in AI and our excellence in engineering and innovation are driving the next evolution of Search, and improving all our services," Pichai said. Google has played a close second to the partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI in rolling out its AI products following the release of ChatGPT. The company has largely been seen as playing catch up with Microsoft, with questions over whether the mighty Google search engine will withstand developments in AI. Microsoft was quick to beef up its Bing search engine with AI powers, but Google's search has yet to see a real threat to its dominancewhich remains about 90 percent of the market worldwide. Google, though not as dramatically as Microsoft, has seen its share price rise steeply in 2023 as investors expect AI to generate new revenue and open new markets. According to The Wall Street Journal, Google co-founder Sergey Brin is back at the company headquarters in California helping teams develop even more AI products. He and co-founder Larry Page stepped down from active roles at Google in 2019 when Pichai was chosen to replace them as chief executive. 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: Livestreaming represents an increasingly important part of social media. Credit: KnowYourMeme, CC BY "Yes, yes mmm, mmm ice cream so good," coos a platinum-haired woman known on TikTok as Pinkydoll. Holding a hair straightener, she plays with popcorn kernels and audibly pops her lips. Your screen brightens with emojis of food, roses and stars purchased by her audience. What are we watching? Why? Pinkydoll is a Montreal-based social media creator who has become the face of TikTok's latest trend: NPC streaming. The trend draws its name from the non-playable characters (NPCs) of video games. Think of background characters that might perform a few preprogrammed lines or actions. NPC streamers perform a cycle of non-sequitur dialog, cartoonish stares and physical jolts for no purpose besides ambience in a virtual world. In July 2023, videos featuring creators like Pinkydollmostly thin, conventionally attractive womenwent viral to the confusion of millions. Top content creators can earn thousands of dollars a day online. With this trend, more TikTokers have found incentive to become living game pieces for a digital public. Pinkydoll credits the backgrounds citizens of the Grand Theft Auto video game as the inspiration for her performances. Some touted NPC-ing as a triumph for "fetish videos." Others argue that labeling NPC content as "fetish" expands digital surveillance and moral panic against sex workers. A number of popular NPC streamers also produce paywalled adult content on sites like OnlyFans. The rise of NPC streaming showcases how gamer cultures and adult content make for lucrative bedfellows. Livestreamers as our 'playthings' Livestreaming represents an increasingly vital part of the social media business models of companies like YouTube and Instagram. Their apps offer an easy interface between broadcasters and audiences, who interact with each other in real-time via voice and chat. TikTok offers live video streaming to users with at least 1,000 followers. NPC streamers are thus already established creators familiar with commodifying our attention. NPC streaming depends on the purchase and posting of "gifts." Buying an NPC streamer a virtual gift triggers a chain reaction of the absurd: the gift will appear in a creator's stream as emojis like ice cream cones, balloons, or even squids. NPC streamers then react accordingly to the specific image on their screen. Squeals, catchphrases, lip smacking and a myriad of gestures result. These broadcasts offer built-in incentives to keep engagement going. Scholars have previously used "gift economy" to describe the unpaid rewards that prompt us to share with each other (for example, writing fan fiction without remuneration). In NPC streaming, not only is gifting tied to real-world currency; but gifts incite the streamer to move. The NPC streaming trend involves performing a cycle of non-sequitur dialogue and actions. TikTok's transactional approach to intimacy is not new. Amazon's Twitch platform remains an exemplary case of a streaming platform that sells live interaction, with more than seven million active streamers. Dominated by professional gamers, Twitch operates a similar model where viewers accrue Channel Points for as long as they are watching a stream. With Channel Points, users can buy special emojis to be used in chats. They can also be redeemed to purchase subscriptions, which put real money in streamers' pockets. The parallels between livestreaming and webcam work have just begun to be academically recognized. Like the NPCs of TikTok, Twitch gamers render their bodies as intimate interfaces. As reflected by one Twitch streamer's advice for colleagues, it is not uncommon for game streamers to set a "Bathroom Break" and "Hydration Break" as "achievements" (or commands) that viewers can purchase for their streamer to perform on demand. Game streamers like Ludwig Ahgren have taken the sale of control further. In 2021, the Twitch creator broke records with a 31-day continuous livestream from his home. For every subscription received, Ahgren would extend the livestream by 10 seconds, leading to over US$1.4 million from those who subscribed. In this context, NPC streamers are just the latest genre of creators who divide their bodies into marketplaces of intimacy. What's new is old in gamer patriarchy With their predilection for shocking wigs, filters and revealing outfits, NPC streamer aesthetics bear a stark familiarity to the archetypes of controversial gamer "e-girls": a once sexist slur from eSports that women gamers have reclaimed for themselves in recent years. Like e-girls, NPC streamers have been received as anti-heroines who have gamed our eyeballs into profit. When women gain our attention for money, we pay attention to the figures. The media fixation on Pinkydoll echoes back specifically to the scandalous reaction to e-girl creator Belle Delphine who made headlines in 2017 for selling her own "Gamer Girl" bathwater for US$30 a bottle. Similarly, many commentators have quoted the US$7,000 per day Pinkydoll has earned from streaming. However, TikTok alone did not pay her bills. According to the creator, the money is a collective sum from her streaming and adult content. The economics of online fame are closely tied to a more invisible economy of online sex work. This is happening as the internet becomes increasingly unkind to erotic content creators. Anti-sex work movements such as the FOSTA-SESTA legislation in the U.S. and Meta's purges of kink accounts are linked to growing online hostility toward those who sell intimacy, regardless of if they identify as sex workers. In gamer cultures, a similar paranoia pervades against women seen to be "weaponizing" their sexuality. Twitch's female game streamers operate in the shadow of the 2014 GamerGate harassment campaign. NPC streaming gives creators a new avenue to earn money online. Understanding how different bodies, practices and agencies are receivedand strategically surrenderedis essential to building safer play and work in social media. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. (Photo : OLIVIER HOSLET/Belga/AFP via Getty Images) A Brussels court handed out a guilty verdict on six suspects involved in the terror bombing attacks conducted in 2016 that caused dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries. A Brussels court on Tuesday handed out guilty verdicts to six defendants involved in the 2016 attacks, finding them responsible for "terrorist murder." The suspects in the case are Mohamed Abrini, Oussama Atar, Osama Krayem, Salah Abdeslam, Ali El Haddad Asufi, and Bilal El Makhoukhi. The defendants were found guilty of terrorist murder in the brutal attacks. Brussels Court Hands Guilty Verdict to Terror Suspects The Brussels court established a terrorist motive behind the tragic incident, ruling that the suspect intended to intimidate the Belgian population while killing as many people as possible. The suspects, alongside Herve Bayingana Muhirwa and Sofien Ayari, were also found guilty of participating in the activities of a terrorist organization. The trial in the case started last year in an attempt to determine whether or not the ten men played a part in the suicide bombings conducted on March 22, 2016. The attacks led to the deaths of dozens of people and the injury of more than 300 others. Recently, the court found that four more people should be added to the list of people killed in the attacks, which brought the death toll to 36, as per CNN. Following the attacks, ISIS, a terror organization, claimed responsibility for the incidents where several suicide bombers detonated multiple explosions in Brussels airport and a metro station located within the city. Abdeslam, in 2022, was also found guilty of carrying out a series of deadly gun and bomb attacks in 2015. The individual, previously believed to be the only surviving member of the group responsible for the French attacks, was handed out a life prison sentence without the possibility of parole by a French court. On the other hand, Atar, absent from the trial in Brussels, was presumed to have been killed in Syria. Smail Farisi and Ibrahim Farisi, brothers, were both acquitted of the charge of participation in the activities of a terrorist group. They were consequently found not guilty of all charges against them. Read Also: South Korea Receives Hundreds of Mysterious Parcels From China Horrific Suicide Bombings A few days before the Brussels bombings, 33-year-old Abdeslam was arrested and found to have fled Paris for Belgium following the 2015 attacks. He also denied any involvement in the bombings that occurred four months later. But the Brussels court has convicted him of murder and attempted murder, according to BBC. Abrini was previously identified on CCTV fleeing Zaventem airport when his explosives did not go off as he had planned. He later became known as the "man in the hat." Unlike Abdeslam, Abrini acknowledged his responsibility for the attacks and confessed to preparing the explosives for the incidents. In her closing remark, the president of the Brussels court of assizes, Laurence Massart, recalled the devastation that the assailants caused. The attacks placed the country on edge and affected people from nearly a dozen nations. The judge handling the case described how two clasts tore through the check-in area at the airport, causing the death of 15 people, injuring hundreds of others, and causing what they described as "untold chaos," said The Guardian. Related Article: WATCH: Passage of Israel's Judicial Reform Sparks Wild, Violent Clashes @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Swiss-based Proton offers free access to a basic version its virtual private network service, making it a popular option to escape controls over internet access in certain countries. Internet privacy company Proton announced Wednesday a new VPN Observatory, tracking demand for its services to detect attacks on free speech in countries like Russia and Iran before they hit the headlines. Switzerland-based Proton said its new observatory would document spikes in sign-ups to its virtual private networks (VPNs), and thus map attempts to skirt sudden rises in online censorship. VPNs provide a secure, encrypted connection over the internet between a user and a server, giving users greater anonymity and depending on the location of the server, the possibility to avoid local restrictions on internet use. Proton, which offers a basic free VPN service, says it saw a 9,000-percent increase in sign-ups in the days after Russia blocked access to independent news sites following its invasion of Ukraine last year. It also saw a 6,000-percent hike in sign-ups in Iran last October as authorities cracked down harder on internet access amid flaring protests following Mahsa Amini's death in custody. And it says it saw a 15,000-percent sign-up increase in Turkey following the devastating earthquake earlier this year, when access to Twitter was reportedly temporarily restricted. Proton, perhaps best known for its encrypted email service, said in a statement that it had "noticed these events before they hit the news." The company warned that governments around the world were imposing ever more internet shutdowns. Proton CEO and founder Andy Yen grew up in Taiwan and says the Chinese threat hanging over the democratic island colored his world view and that he believes privacy is essential for freedom. "Internet censorship is increasing at an alarming rate," warned Proton chief Andy Yen. He told AFP in an email that the new observatorya publicly available webpageaimed to "shine a light on trends in global VPN use to better understand authoritarian attacks on free speech and freedom of information". In 2022, authorities in 35 countries shut down access to the internetthe highest number ever recorded in a single yearat least 187 times, Proton said. The company said that such shutdowns and increased internet censorship were clearly triggered by things like public protests, active conflict, elections and political instability, in a bid "to keep people in the dark as a desperate means of control". "Online freedom is under attack and has never appeared so fragile," Yen said, lamenting that "even democracies are breaking their own rules." He pointed out that the United States and Britain were among those that had attacked online freedoms, while French President Emmanuel Macron "has suggested online censorship could be used as legitimate policing tools." "This is a very dangerous path," Yen said. "We hope through greater awareness of the issue, we can strengthen the notion that access to the internet is a fundamental human right that must always be respected." 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: Delivery driver Michael Leib, 31, joins other drivers and dispatchers employed by third-party contractor Battle-Tested Strategies protesting outside the Amazon warehouse in Palmdale, California on July 25, 2023. When they started to unionize, Amazon tried to get rid of them. That's the argument at the heart of a strike by more than 80 delivery drivers in California, who have taken legal action against the online retail giant in a case that could have major implications for the way it operates in the United States. For the past month, employees have manned a picket line outside an Amazon warehouse in Palmdale, north of Los Angeles, slowing down vans that carry the company's packages. Their strike is "not for our building alonewe want to go nationwide," said Michael Leib, a 31-year-old driver. Leib works for Battle-Tested Strategies (BTS), one of more than 3,000 small businesses in the US that exclusively deliver packages for Amazon. Fed up with faulty air-conditioning and windows that didn't open in their Amazon-branded vans in California's heat, and being forced to work at breakneck speed, BTS workers unionized in April. They demanded better working conditions, and a pay rise. But barely a week before they formally unionized, Amazon announced the cancelation of BTS's contract. Since the end of June, the retail giant has ceased all activity with the subcontractor. "We want to have safer working conditions, we want to have a higher pay wage," said Leib. "And the fact that you don't want to do that for us when you're a multibillion dollar company? That's not fair." 'Fear tactics' Critics allege that Amazonwhich has steadfastly opposed organized labor in its massive workforcehas used similar tactics before. If Amazon is forced to negotiate with the union formed by its subcontractors, that could fundamentally change the company's business model. Back in 2017 in Michigan, another subcontractor whose delivery drivers unionized had its contract canceled. When Amazon employees at a New York warehouse last year voted to unionize, the company took legal action to block the move. "Amazon is employing textbook fear tactics and union-busting throughout," said Christian Castro, a spokesman for the Teamsters Unionthe powerful organization representing truck drivers across the US which BTS workers joined. "You try to stand up for yourself as a worker, as a person, and they're going to squish you, they're going to take you out," said Castro. To resist, the union has filed an unfair labor practice charge against Amazon with the National Labor Relations Board, and BTS drivers went on strike. If the federal agency steps in and forces Amazon to negotiate with the union, it could fundamentally challenge the company's business model. Amazon has said that BTS workers, like those among its 3,000-plus other subcontractors, "do not work for Amazon," and has accused them of spreading a "false" narrative. But BTS workers reject Amazon's claim, noting that they operate everywhere with the retail giant's logo and under conditions it sets. "We work for Amazon because we're wearing their shirts, we deliver their boxes, we drive their vans, their shipping labels are all over the boxes," said Leib. When he's asked for a raise, Leib said, "the owner of the company said, 'Well, let me ask Amazon, to see if I can get more money from them so that I can pay you.'" Amazon did not respond to AFP's request for comment. Drivers for contracted companies drive Amazon-branded vans under work conditions largely set by Amazon, but aren't considered employees of the online retail giant. 'Exhaustion' Leib said he has endured three years of working in "very harsh conditions," including temperatures of up to 129 degrees F (54C) inside his van during California's sweltering summers. Drivers are expected to deliver more than 400 packages a day, with supervisors remotely keeping tabs on their progress. "You've got dispatchers breathing down your neck, saying, 'Hey, what's going on? Why are you slowing down?'" he said. "I felt heat exhaustion. I felt nauseous... and nearly collapsed" last year, Leib said. Despite this, Amazon says it terminated BTS's contract because the subcontractor was consistently under-performing and missing its targets. BTS boss Johnathon Ervin, a military veteran, strongly disputed this, claiming his employees set records and delivered up to 20,000 packages per day. "Does that sound like low performance to you?" he asked. Ervin's company was cited as an example in an Amazon newsletter in 2020. And last November, an Amazon performance review said BTS's risk of non-renewal was "low." According to Ervin, Amazon had been aware for over a year that the Palmdale delivery drivers wanted to unionize. Last August, Amazon approached BTS with an offer of management training. "It ended up being an anti-union training," Ervin said. "They said that if workers unionized, they would cancel our contract and they gave us strategies on how to prevent unionization." 2023 AFP After skipping bond and remaining on the lam for 12 years, 71-year-old Carlos Blanco has been extradited from Spain to the United States to face federal child pornography possession and distribution charges in the Southern District of Florida. Blanco made his initial appearance in Miami federal court this week after arriving on a flight from Spain, where he was arrested pursuant to a request from the U.S. government. READ ALSO: FBI San Francisco Announces Diversity Recruiting Event for the Special Agent Position Federal law enforcement originally arrested Blanco (a citizen of the United States, Honduras, and Cuba) on November 3, 2010, charging him by criminal complaint with possessing and distributing child pornography. He was released on bond following initial hearings before a federal magistrate judge. Following a grand jury's decision to indict Blanco, the court set a February 24, 2011 hearing, at which Blanco was expected to plead guilty. Blanco failed to appear for the change of plea hearing, and the judge issued an arrest warrant. The court declared Blanco a fugitive on February 25, 2011 -- a designation Blanco held for over 12 years. In March 2023, Blanco was arrested in Spain pursuant to a request for his provisional arrest made by the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division's Office of International Affairs (OIA). Blanco consented to his extradition to the United States. Blanco lived in Spain from July 2022 through the date of his arrest. Before that, he lived in Honduras for 11 years. Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, announced the extradition. U.S. Attorney Lapointe extends his gratitude to FBI Miami's Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Task Force and the government of Spain for making the extradition possible, as well as OIA for its significant assistance in securing the defendant's extradition. The U.S. Attorney also extends his gratitude to the Spanish Civil Guard and Interpol for their assistance in capturing this fugitive and in bringing him back to the United States. FBI Miami investigated the criminal case against Blanco, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Cory O'Neal is prosecuting. An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number Case #10-20837-CR-King. READ MORE: Nevada Woman Sentenced to 5 Years Prison for Hiring Hitman on Dark Web to Kill Her Ex-Husband @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In a day characterized by resilience and promising growth, the Japanese stock market demonstrated its strength and stability as it recorded modest gains across various sectors. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index exhibited a balanced performance, bolstered by notable advancements in the Mining, Chemical, Petroleum & Plastic, and Finance & Investment sectors, which provided investors with a sense of optimism amidst global economic uncertainties. As the closing bell rang in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index showcased a fractional rise of 0.01%, signaling a cautious yet positive sentiment among traders and market participants. Investors welcomed the mild upswing as a testament to the Japanese markets ability to maintain its equilibrium in the face of external pressures and domestic challenges. Among the best-performing stocks on the Nikkei 225 was Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (TYO:3863), a prominent player in the paper manufacturing industry. Nippon Paper Industries achieved a commendable increase of 3.16%, accounting for a gain of 40.00 points, and settling at a closing price of 1,305.00. This impressive performance underscored the companys resilience and ability to navigate market dynamics efficiently. Another notable contender in the list of top performers was CyberAgent Inc (TYO:4751), a leading internet service provider and developer of online platforms. CyberAgents shares witnessed a strong growth rate of 2.38% or 24.00 points, resulting in a closing price of 1,034.50. Investors were encouraged by the companys steady progress and innovative strategies in the digital landscape. Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. (TYO:5541), a renowned player in the metal manufacturing sector, also contributed to the markets positive momentum. The companys shares recorded an upward trajectory of 2.27% or 36.00 points, reaching a closing price of 1,623.00 during the final hours of trading. Pacific Metals resilience reflected the underlying strength of the industrial segment amidst a rapidly changing global economic landscape. Despite the overall market resilience, the session also saw some decliners, with IHI Corp. (TYO:7013) leading the pack of underperforming stocks. IHI Corp., a diversified industrial conglomerate with interests in engineering, aerospace, and energy sectors, experienced a decline of 7.02% or 262.00 points, concluding the trading day at 3,468.00. The setback faced by IHI Corp. highlighted the challenges faced by conglomerates amidst evolving market dynamics. Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd. (TYO:6976), a major player in the electronic components industry, faced a minor decrease of 2.30% or 100.00 points, resulting in a closing price of 4,255.00. Similarly, Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd (TYO:5101), a renowned name in the tire manufacturing sector, encountered a decrease of 2.22% or 70.00 points, reaching a closing price of 3,079.00. These declines raised concerns among investors, prompting a deeper analysis of the factors influencing the performance of these companies. As the trading day drew to a close, a total of 1822 stocks experienced declines, while 1686 showcased advancements. In contrast, 344 stocks remained unchanged, presenting a balanced scenario on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. This equilibrium offered investors a nuanced perspective of the markets performance and potential investment opportunities. A standout highlight of the day was Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (TYO:3863), which soared to a 52-week high, experiencing a remarkable upswing of 3.16% or 40.00 points. The companys shares reached a closing price of 1,305.00, signaling its resilience and ability to capitalize on market opportunities. Market volatility, as measured by the Nikkei Volatility Index, displayed a slight decrease of 3.27%, settling at 19.21. This factor contributed to an environment of stability for traders, indicating the markets ability to absorb fluctuations and maintain a steady course. In the commodities trading arena, the price of crude oil for September delivery experienced a marginal decline of 0.13% or 0.10, closing at $79.53 per barrel. Similarly, Brent oil for delivery in October faced a slight decrease of 0.11% or 0.09, reaching $83.16 per barrel. These marginal fluctuations were closely watched by investors, as energy prices continue to play a significant role in shaping global economic conditions. Meanwhile, the August Gold Futures contract experienced an upward trend, rising by 0.32% or 6.30, trading at $1,970.00 per troy ounce. This uptick in gold prices reflected investors inclination towards safe-haven assets amidst geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties. In the realm of currency exchange rates, USD/JPY exhibited a decline of 0.16%, settling at 140.68, while EUR/JPY experienced a minor decrease of 0.08%, reaching 155.68. These fluctuations underscored the currency markets sensitivity to economic indicators and geopolitical developments. The US Dollar Index Futures displayed a modest decline of 0.15%, settling at 100.94. This index serves as a crucial barometer of the greenbacks performance against a basket of major currencies and was closely monitored by investors seeking insights into the US dollars strength. As investors attentively observe market dynamics, the Japanese stock market continues to exude a sense of stability, supported by incremental gains in various sectors. The Nikkei 225s fractional rise embodies the cautious optimism prevailing in the market, as investors and analysts anticipate further developments that may shape future trading sessions. The markets steady performance amidst sectoral gains provides valuable insights into the resilience of Japanese companies and their ability to adapt to evolving market conditions. Investors remain cautiously optimistic, aware of the importance of monitoring global economic trends and geopolitical developments that can significantly influence market dynamics. The Japanese stock markets ability to navigate challenges and maintain its steadiness underscores its significance as a crucial player in the global financial landscape. With a diverse range of industries contributing to its performance, the Nikkei 225 index continues to be a barometer of Japans economic prowess and resilience in the face of change. In conclusion, the Japanese stock markets modest gains and balanced performance provide an encouraging outlook for investors and analysts alike. As the global economy continues its path to recovery, Japans role as a key player in the Asian markets assumes even greater importance, making the Nikkei 225 a focal point of interest for investors seeking opportunities in a dynamic and ever-evolving financial world. A Houston woman was arrested near College Station on Monday for possession of several illegal drugs in various amounts, according to the Department of Public Safety. Darcionne Marie Davis, 37, was charged with the manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana, according to police. Officers said police pulled over Davis on Texas 6 around 7:45 p.m. near Nantucket Drive and found the following substances in her vehicle: a used methamphetamine pipe, two bags of powder cocaine, two bags of methamphetamine, one bag of crack cocaine, four bags of marijuana, one bag containing a single Xanax pill and one digital scale. The manufacture or delivery of a substance in penalty group 1 is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000. Davis is being held under a $21,000 bond, according to Brazos County Jail records. 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. (Photo : PHILIP OJISUA / AFP) (PHILIP OJISUA/AFP via Getty Images) Nigeria's suspended Central Bank governor, Godwin Emefiele, appears in court a month after his arrest on charges of illegal possession of a firearm and live ammunition. Nigeria's suspended Central Bank governor, Godwin Emefiele, arrested a month ago, appears in court over charges of illegally possessing a firearm and live ammunition. Authorities discovered that Emefiele illegally owned a shotgun and hundreds of cartridges for the gun, marking a dramatic fall from grace of a man who has long been at the center of the country's politics and finances. Nigeria's Central Bank Governor Appears in Court The Central Bank governor appeared in court on Tuesday and continues to deny the charges against him as he has been granted bail. He has not been charged with economic crimes despite illegal firearm possession. Outside of the court where Emefiele arrived, secret police officers beat up prison officials preparing to take the Central Bank governor into custody until his bail was settled. The DSS was later able to take the 61-year-old. Emefiele was initially suspended shortly after Bola Tinubu used the address at his May inauguration as president to criticize a key policy spearheaded by the suspended Central Bank governor. As per BBC, it was seen as an unsuccessful attempt to redesign the currency, known as the naira. It was also seen as part of an effort to prevent vote-buying during the country's tightly contested presidential election in February that Tinubu won, the ruling party candidate and a billionaire. When he was seen at a Lagos court, the defendant looked to be a shadow of the man that once had control over the finances of Nigeria, which is considered the largest economy in Africa. He was also seen holding onto a huge red Bible in one arm while he was being dragged by the court registrar into the courtroom by his other arm. When Emefiele was inside, he was placed in a dock wedged between a scrum of lawyers and a shelf with thousands of court files left to gather dust. The presiding judge in the case is Justice Nicholar Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos and was the one who granted Emefiele bail despite various objections from the attorney general's office against such a decision, according to the Associated Press. Read Also: Greece Wildfires: Firefighter Pilots Killed After Plane Crashes on Evia Island Near Athens Illegal Possession of Firearm and Live Ammunition The latest public appearance is the first for the suspended Central Bank governor since his June 10 arrest by the secret police. The illegal possession of a firearm and live ammunition against Emefiele was a far lesser offense than the alleged terrorism financing and economic crimes the agency accused him of last year. In June, lawyers for the Nigerian government asked the courts to authorize Emefiele's detention for alleged misappropriation of funds and "criminal breach of trust." They secured a court order to hold the Central Bank governor pending further investigations. The defendant is known for using unorthodox policies to keep Nigeria's naira currency artificially strong and lending it directly to businesses to boost growth. Aljazeera said he was first appointed in 2014 and won a second five-year term in 2019. Related Article: Brussels Court Hands Out Guilty Verdict on 6 Defendants Over 2016 Terror Attacks @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. When Jerri Cutrer left her gaming job in 2005, she was sure she'd left the gambling industry behind for good. Over a period of 14 years, Cutrer worked at three casinos in Biloxi, Miss. In 2006, Cutrer and her husband, Scott, moved to Grand Island, her hometown. The Cutrers thought they were settled in Biloxi. But then, in 2005, Hurricane Katrina demolished much of the area along the Gulf of Mexico. The Cutrers were able to repair their house, which was 5 miles from the beach. But the Biloxi casinos faced a long rebuilding project, and jobs were scarce. Both of Jerri's parents, Billie and Gary Berta, were still alive in Grand Island. Scott Cutrer asked his wife, "Do you want to move back home?" She said yes. "If I was a gambling man and (somebody) said, 'Will you ever live in Grand Island, Nebraska, again, I would have said no," she said. Then, a casino opened in Grand Island in December. She returned home "and here comes a casino right to my back door. I live literally right up the road." Cutrer thought she'd retired last year. But when Grand Island's casino opened, she decided, "I want to get back in it, and here I am. I couldn't stand missing out on something." Mike Dyer, the casino manager, heard that Cutrer had experience dealing. He asked her to assist with training at the dealer school. So since December, she's been showing people how to work the table games at Grand Island Casino. Cutrer feels it was all meant to be. Her presence is also good fortune for Grand Island's aspiring dealers. Cutrer, 61, wants to convey to her students that the job is fun. "You're playing games all day," she said. There's a lot of cheering. People working in slots and table games rely a lot on tips. "So you're on their side. You want them to win," she said. Working with table games and slots is "the happiest job in the world," she said. Cutrer has been telling class members about blackjack, poker and roulette. This week, dealers start learning craps. Sharon Haselhoff, regional vice president for Elite Casino Resorts, calls craps "a fun, social game. Whenever you go into a casino, the loudest table is always the craps table, " she said. Cutrer graduated from Grand Island Senior High in 1980. She lived in Biloxi from 1981 to 2006. She met her husband, a naive of Pascagoula, Mississippi, in Omaha. Because of harsh winters in 1980 and 1981, they decided to head south. Now married for 42 years, they have three children. After Katrina hit, the family headed to Andalusia, Alabama. "What should have been a three-hour drive was eight hours because the whole area was evacuating," she said. Three days later, they returned to Biloxi. When they saw their home, Cutrer was "relieved that I had four walls to come into." Some friends lost their homes completely. The coast looked like a war zone. "It was very emotional. Everybody was crying." The Cutrers' house needed new siding, a new roof and other repairs. "It was a total redo, from top to bottom," she said. They were able to stay in the house while they rebuilt it. Initially they had no electricity and no cell phone service. But employment prospects were limited, unless you owned heavy equipment. The Cutrers knew it would be a while before the casinos reopened. So they headed north. Her father died in 2015 at the age of 77. But, "I was able to spend time with him for three years before he passed." Her mother will turn 80 next month. Cutrer is glad she and her husband returned to Nebraska. So she was dealt a good hand. Grand Island will look quite different in a few years, when the big new casino is built and Conestoga Marketplace is finished. Not only that, but there might be a big overpass at Broadwell Avenue crossing the Union Pacific tracks. Diers Avenue might also have some adjustments. Plus, who knows how many mattress stores and vape shops we might have by then. Here are a few more comments about Grand Island. SIGNS WELCOME ADDITION TO STATE FAIR A bunch of new signs have popped up at Fonner Park, in anticipation of the Nebraska State Fair Aug. 25-Sept. 4. The signs not only provide helpful guidance to fairgoers, but they're also attractive. WITH JOANN STORE, NO NEWS IS BAD NEWS If there's any progress being made on finding a new home for the JoAnn fabric store, it's being kept pretty quiet. A local developer offered a new location for JoAnn, but company leadership rejected the offer. This is by no means official, but a few phone calls haven't turned up any good news. I hope it's not true, but Grand Island may have seen the last of JoAnn. SPLASH PAD GOOD ADDITION TO STOLLEY PARK I admit it: I was skeptical when Grand Island Parks and Recreation decided to get rid of the wading pool at Stolley Park. Driving by in the summertime, I used to see a lot of mothers enjoying quiet afternoons in the shade as their kids enjoyed the pool. But I was wrong. The new splash pad at Stolley Park is an unqualified hit. WATERMELON-EATING CONTEST A WINNER Make sure you go to the watermelon-eating contest at the Hall County Fair next year. It's fun watching high school students attack food as if they're animals. It's also good clean fun, except for the sticky mess the watermelon leaves behind. RIVALRY WITH IOWA Just in the last few months, I've seen T-shirts and signs saying Nebraskans grow better corn than Iowa. Is there really a difference? And, if so, what is it? Is our dirt superior to theirs? EXPLOSIVE OCCUPATION Here's something unique about Grand Island: Sometimes, reading an obituary, you find out that a 93-year-old woman spent part of her working life "building bombs." That's because she worked at the Grand Island ordnance plant. HOW MANY JAILS CAN ONE CITY HAVE? Here's something else unique about Grand Island: People sometimes talk about the old jail and the "old, old jail." DO SOME TURKEYS NEED TO SHAVE? Jarrod Spilger is one of the better outdoor writers you'll come across. But sometimes, his columns leave me with questions, mostly involving turkeys. For instance, why is a hen bearded? TOP 40 RADIO SHOWS I've always enjoyed listening to countdown shows on the radio. So I'm happy tuning in to "Rick Dees Weekly Top 40"on 105.9 FM Saturday mornings and late Sunday afternoons. Saturday evenings, I love the Kix Brooks country show on 96.5 FM. I wish the Casey Kasem show would return to its old time period on 98.9 The Vibe. The new slot doesn't seem to match up with my driving habits. I know it's still on Sundays, but I don't hear it much anymore. Speaking of radio, it would be good if the Kansas City Royals were carried on a strong signal in Grand Island. Right now, the reception is as bad as their record. Kelli Lepler, a Grand Island business owner facing theft charges, is at the Hall County Jail now after extradition. Lepler waived extradition in Missouri court on Friday. Lepler faces 43 theft charges involving her Grand Island business, Monument Advisors. She was arrested on July 13 in Wentzville, Missouri. Of the 43 theft charges, 36 are felonies and seven are misdemeanors. In Nebraska court documents, Leplers earliest charge dates from Sept. 21, 2020 (theft by deception, more than $5,000, a class 2A felony). The most recent charge is from Feb. 9, 2023, also theft by deception, more than $5,000. After an investigation, the Grand Island Police Department turned the case over to the Hall County Attorneys Office in early June. On July 17, Lepler pleaded not guilty on the charge of fugitive from out of state in the 11th Judicial District court in Missouri. On July 20, Missouri Judge Dwayne Johnson denied a change in Lepler's bond and she'll continue to be held at a Missouri jail. Court documents note "the clear and convincing evidence is that the current conditions are the least restrictive to secure appearance and safety." Kelli Lepler, who was returned to Grand Island Tuesday evening, was arraigned Wednesday in Hall County Court, where she faces 43 charges in connection with the operation of her company, Monument Advisors. Lepler, 45, was transported to Grand Island from Wentzville, Missouri, where she was arrested on a warrant July 13. She was delivered to Grand Island by a transport company engaged by the Hall County Sheriff's Office. She was booked into Hall County Jail at 6:27 p.m. Tuesday, said Chief Deputy Josh Berlie. Hall County Court Judge Alfred Corey set Lepler's bond at $150,000. A condition of the bond is that she have no contact with any of the victims in the case. Corey scheduled Lepler's preliminary hearing for 3:30 p.m. Aug. 15. At a court hearing Friday in Missouri, Lepler agreed not to fight extradition to Nebraska. Lepler is charged with 36 counts of theft by deception totaling $5,000 or more. That crime is a Class 2A felony. She also faces four counts of theft by deception totaling $501 to $1,499 and three counts of theft by deception totaling up to $500. Those seven offenses are Class 2 misdemeanors. The crimes were allegedly committed between Sept. 21, 2020, and June 30 of this year. The prosecutor in the case is Matthew Boyle of the Hall County Attorney's Office. An arrest warrant was issued for Lepler on July 3. Restructuring delays Vietnam Airlines financial statements: company By Trang Nguyen Wed, July 26, 2023 | 3:32 pm GTM+7 Vietnam Airlines has blamed the delay in announcing its audited financial statements for 2022 on comprehensive restructuring and stabilizing production and business activities. Its auditing company was working urgently on the financial statements and the airline will release them as soon as they are completed, the national flag carrier said. The collection and comparison of documents took a long time because of the ongoing restructuring process, it explained. A Vietnam Airlines plane. Photo courtesy of the carrier. In addition, during the Covid-19 period, the airline had negotiated price reductions and delayed payments with many suppliers and it needed more time to compare resultant contractual changes and confirm its dues. This has also led to the delay in issuing financial statements, Vietnam Airlines said. The Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) switched the status of Vietnam Airliness HVN shares from controlled to restricted trading from July 12, due to the delay in submitting its 2022 audited financial statements. In Vietnam, a public company must release its audited annual financial statements within 10 days from the date they are signed, but no more than 90 days from the end of the fiscal year. Vietnam Airlines has missed these deadlines. On March 29, the airline submitted an application to the State Securities Commission (SSC) and HoSE asking for a postponement. However, the corporation did not specify an intended date for submission. Citing the large scale of its global operations, with 27 affiliated units (nine domestic and 18 foreign branches) and 15 large- or medium-scale subsidiaries operating in other fields, the airline argued that it needed more time to verify reports and collect data to meet auditing standards, especially since it was restructuring its business operations to overcome the impacts of the pandemic. However, the SSC did not agree, saying the reason was not a natural disaster, fire, pandemic, war or other force majeure event. Vietnam Airlines reported a loss of VND37.3 billion ($1.59 million) in Q1/2023, significantly better than the loss of VND2.69 trillion ($114.45 million) in the same period last year. Its net revenue of VND23.49 trillion ($1 billion) was up 102% year-on-year and its highest quarterly revenue since 2020. In 2022, the state-owned carrier suffered a net loss of VND10.37 trillion ($442.2 million) although its revenue of VND71 trillion ($3.03 billion) was 2.5 times higher than that of 2021 and more than 70% of pre-pandemic 2019. As of December 31, 2022, Vietnam Airlines had negative equity of VND10.2 trillion ($425 million). HVN closed Tuesday at VND13,050 ($0.55) per share. Thailands Amata records Q1 revenue of $8.3 mln in Vietnam By Tri Duc Wed, July 26, 2023 | 11:26 am GTM+7 Thailands biggest industrial developer Amata recorded a revenue of THB286 million ($8.3 million) from its activities in Vietnam in the first quarter of this year, according to the firms report. Globally, the company posted a revenue of THB2,180 million ($63.2 million) in the first quarter, up 26% year-on-year, including THB1,185 million from industrial land sales, THB756 million from utilities and services, and THB199 million from rentals. In Vietnam, the firm did not make any revenue from industrial land sales in the period; gained a revenue of THB278 million ($8.1 million) from utilities and services, tripling year-on-year; and posted a revenue of THB8 million from rentals of ready built factories, about one-seventh of last year. Amata said revenue from global services increased about 89% year-on-year, mainly driven by consumption in Vietnam. Meanwhile, the underperformance in the rental segment in Vietnam was due to the fact that Amata sold off ready-built factory real estate in Vietnam last year, so there were less available units for rent. Amata Industrial Park in Dong Nai province, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Dong Nai newspaper. Besides, Amata noted a loss of THB33 million ($0.96 million) due to the depreciation of the Vietnamese dong and Lao Kip in the period. Currently, Amata runs five projects in Vietnam. In the north, the 7.14-square-kilometer Amata City Halong in Quang Ninh province has a prime location 30 kilometers from a deep-water seaport, 30 kilometers from an international airport, and 200 kilometers from the Vietnam-China border. In central Vietnam, Amatas Quang Tri project is progressing. The one-square-kilometer facility will utilize Quang Tri provinces strategic development of power plants, a deep-water seaport, motorways, and others. In the south, Amata City Bien Hoa, Amata Township Long Thanh, and Amata City Long Thanh Hi-Tech Industrial Park, all in Dong Nai province, cover 5.13 square kilometers, 7.53 square kilometers, and 4.1 square kilometers, respectively. The most recent deal signed by Amata in Vietnam was with Anh Duong Irradiation Technology JSC to lease two hectares in Amata City Long Thanh Hi-Tech Industrial Park on July 17. Construction of the Anh Duong Irradiation Technologys project with an investment of VND650 billion ($27.5 million) is set to commence later this month and the facility is scheduled to begin operations in the third quarter of 2024. Vietnam International Sourcing expo lures EU business missions, global retail giants By Van Minh Wed, July 26, 2023 | 5:24 pm GTM+7 Business missions from Belgium and the Netherlands will attend the Vietnam International Sourcing 2023 expo in Ho Chi Minh City this September, seeking suppliers, partners and business opportunities. A delegation of around 50 Belgian entrepreneurs has registered for the September 13-15 event, according to the Vietnam Trade Office in Belgium. The mission will represent businesses from the Flanders region in various areas including farm produce, confectionery and chocolate production, insulation film, machinery, construction materials, real estate and logistics services. Andries Gryffroy, First Vice President of the Belgian Senate, who is also head of the Belgian-Vietnamese Alliance which promotes bilateral cooperation in all fields, is scheduled to deliver a speech at the Vietnam-EU trade forum held under the auspices of the three-day event. Gryffroy had met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during the latters official visit to Belgium last December. Chinh had called on the bilateral alliance to promote economic, trade, investment and tourism cooperation as well as people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. It should also encourage bilateral ties between localities, universities and research institutes, Chinh said. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets with Andries Gryffroy, head of the Belgian-Vietnamese Alliance, in Belgium on December 15, 2022. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency. Meanwhile, the Dutch delegation attending the Vietnam International Sourcing 2023 expo will include distributors, retailers and trading companies based in the Netherlands with presence across Europe. Vietnams Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoIT) has already confirmed the attendance of leading world retailers like U.S. headquartered Walmart and Amazon, Japans Aeon and Uniqlo, Frances Carrefour and Decathlon, Mexicos Coppel, and Thaialnds Central Group. Avineesh Gupta, vice president in charge of general merchandise and apparel sourcing, will lead Walmarts delegation. He will introduce and seek business opportunities with Vietnamese partners in Walmarts global value chain, the ministry said. The Vietnam International Sourcing 2023 expo will comprise a series of events that aim to support domestic enterprises efforts to step up their engagement in global production and supply chains, adapt to the growing trend of international economic integration, and boost connectivity with foreign distribution channels and importers. The events will include conferences, workshops and business-matching events. Vietnamese, Australian firms ink rare earth exploitation pact By Tri Duc Wed, July 26, 2023 | 5:12 pm GTM+7 Vietnam Rare Earth JSC (VTRE) and two Australian firms - Australian Strategic Materials Ltd. (ASM) and Blackstone Minerals Ltd. - have signed an MoU on rare earth mining and production. In a Wednesday announcement, ASM said the agreement would facilitate cooperation in identifying, assessing and securing rare earth mining opportunities in Vietnam as feed stock for VTREs refinery as also ensure long-term offtake of rare earth oxides. It would enable VTRE to explore opportunities to increase its rare earth oxide production by utilizing Blackstones plant at the Ban Phuc Nickel Mine in the northern mountainous province of Son La. The MoU is an extension of the cooperation agreement signed by ASM and VTRE in April for the supply of rare earth oxides from Vietnam to ASMs Korean metals plant. Representatives of VTRE, ASM and Blackstone sign an MoU on rare earth exploitation at the Australian Embassy in Hanoi, July 25, 2023. Photo courtesy of ASM. Also Wednesday, Blackstone said that it would work with VTRE on obtaining mining licenses for the Dong Pao rare earth deposit in the northern province of Lai Chau. It said VTRE will access Blackstones facilities and technical assistance from ASM to conduct a pilot flotation program for the Dong Pao deposit. Blackstone also said that some electric vehicle manufacturers have indicated their interest in securing rare earth for their supply chains. Vietnams rare earth plan Vietnam plans to exploit two million tons of rare earth annually under a decision (866/QD-TTg) signed by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on July 18. Under the decision, the country aims to exploit 2.02 million tons a year from 10 mines during the 2021-2030 period. This will go up to 2.11 million tons from 13 mines in 2031-2050. In order to secure mining licenses, firms must demonstrate their capacity to make final products with a 95% plus ratio of total rare earth oxide (TREO) using modern technologies and ensuring sustainable protection of the environment. Vietnam will strive to complete the building of the Bac Nam Xe and Nam Nam Xe mines in the northern province of Lai Chau by 2030. The plan estimates total TREO capacity of TREO at 20,000-60,000 tons a year and that of rare earth oxide (REO) at 20,000-60,000 tons a year by 2030. This will increase to 40,000-80,000 tons in 2031-2050. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates global reserves of rare earth at 130 million tons, with China accounting for 44 million tons, followed by Vietnam with 22 million tonnes, Brazil and Russia with 21 million tonnes each and India with 6.9 million tons. VinFast EVs showcased in Israel prior to exports By Tuong Minh Wed, July 26, 2023 | 11:40 am GTM+7 Israeli car distributor B-EV Motors has introduced electric vehicles (EVs) made by Vietnamese carmaker VinFast in Tel Aviv ahead of official exports to be announced at a later date. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang witnessed the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA) signing on Tuesday in Jerusalem by Nir Barkat, Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry, and Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien. B-EV Motors debuts VinFast EVs in Tel Aviv. The Monday event was part of a number of celebrations marking 30 years of diplomatic relations between Israel and Vietnam. SUV VF 8 is one of VinFasts EV models that will be exported to the Israeli market. Photo courtesy of VinFast. VinFast announced in April 2022 that it had chosen B-EV Motors as its EV distributor in Israel. Under the agreement, B-EV Motors will distribute solely VinFast products, and VinFast and B-EV Motors will be the first to introduce unprecedented policies to the Israeli market, the Vietnamese EV maker said. VinFast will become the leading electric vehicle company in the Israeli market in the coming years, B-EV Motors chairman Dror Michman said in the announcement. Israel's goal is to reaching 100% electric vehicles on its roads by 2030 and the adaptability of its transportation infrastructure represents the driving forces behind the Middle East countrys development of electrified mobility. VinFast said its e-SUV models the VF 8 and VF 9 will be made available for reservation in the Israeli market and come with a 10-year or first 200,000-km warranty policy. However, the producer has yet to unveil a date for its export plans to Israel. The EV startup is expanding in North American and European markets. It plans to break ground for its EV and battery manufacturing complex in North Carolina, the U.S. on July 28 (U.S. time). This will be the first electric vehicle manufacturing facility in North Carolina, and will help contribute to the supply of electric vehicles in North America and accelerate the global green mobility revolution, VinFast, the car unit of Vingroup, Vietnams largest private conglomerate, said on July 19. VinFast's manufacturing facility will be built at the Triangle Innovation Point in Chatham Count. Covering an area of approximately 1,800 acres (nearly 7.3 million square meters), the EV plant is designed to reach a capacity of 150,000 vehicles per year in phase one. Expected to start production in 2025, it will also house supplementary supplier businesses. Wheat field, corner of Welker and Old Bath Road, Barrington, New York Signs of summer I am of course way behind in getting new pictures up on Flickr (because I'm late with everything always), but I thought I'd mention a few things about this one. It's the middle of summer now (but not Midsummer, which is a specific day). To me, the middle of summer is reached when the first bloom appears on my big Rose of Sharon bush outside the kitchen window. That was yesterday. Today there are ten blooms, and soon it will be covered. Also yesterday, by coincidence, the last batch of robin fledglings from the nest outside my back door made the leap of their lives and left the nest. I didn't see it happen, but everyone's gone now. The fledglings are at the greatest risk over the next two weeks. I sure hope they make it! The two robin babies who left the nest yesterday, and the Mama robin who has done her bit for Robinkind this year. iPhone 13 at maximum digital zoom. I did what I could to help. I didn't mow under the nest after the eggs hatched, and all summer I've left a tray of premium dried mealworms out on the top of the propane tanks, so the birds can get to them but the dogs can't. American robins don't eat birdseed, and dried mealworms are rich in nutrients for the parents, the eggs, and the babies. There hasn't been any shortage of earthworms this year, either, because of all the rain. That and berries are their other favorite foods. Three batches of eggs were raised in my back porch nest this year, two fledglings in each batch. I haven't been able to figure out if it's the same nesting pair. I got to see the second set leave the nest. It was quite dramatic. I think it was the same Mama all summer because of her behaviorshe was easily alarmed and readily spooked at the beginning of the first nesting, but eventually she learned that I was not a danger and she'd just sit there letting me talk at her, and only fly off when I circled around the nest to replenish the mealworms. Then, with each successive nesting, the Mama acted exactly the same way. So I think it was the same mother for all three nestings. Wheat Two things about the wheat field picture. First, I was surprised at how difficult it is to get a halfway decent picture of a wheat field. The best one I know of is by a guy named Lawrence McFarland. This one is merely decent, not rising anywhere near the quality of his, but I took a lot of pictures of wheat fields before I got one even this good. The other subject I'm on the trail of is a field with cows in it. Sounds simple, but I haven't made a good one yet, unless you count my shot of the cows gathered under the little stand of trees to escape the early September heat. The second thing is that this picture has some political content. Well, a little. My area is a wheat-producing region, so wheat fields aren't unusual, and I've only been here for eight years, which is not enough to make me an expert. However, simply by looking and paying attention, I'm pretty certain I can say that there's a lot more wheat being grown locally this year than in the other years I've been around. The reason isn't far to seek. Russia and Ukraine combined are responsible for a whopping 28% of global wheat exports in normal times. Wheat prices are up an average of 50% nationally because of the sorry situation in Ukraine. A local farmer told me that "fifty percent is huge." So this field, where I've never seen wheat before, is a wheat field because of Vladimir Putin's crazy imperialistic obsessions and Russia's unilateral aggressions. I took this only 18 days ago, but the wheat in the picture has now been threshed, the wheat straw baled and carried away, and the secondary crop is coming up in the understory. Wheat fields all over the area have been harvested already. Good thing I took this picture when I did, because I'm not going to get a chance again until next yearand I hope not even then. Mike Original contents copyright 2023 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below or on the title of this post.) Featured Comments from: Bill Tyler: "Cows in the field. Try doing a Google search for 'Cole Weston Palo Corona Ranch.' I used to drive by that spot frequently, but never saw the light and cattle arranged as he found them. It's taken from California Highway 1, just south of Rio Road in Carmel on the way to Big Sur." GKFroehlich: "That photo shows so much grain! But I do like the crop." (Photo : Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Florida's ocean temperature reached 101.19 degrees Fahrenheit, which could be a global record. The preliminary ocean temperature off the coast of South Florida reached triple digits, which could be a global record. According to meteorologists, a buoy in Manatee Bay, Florida, reported a provisional high ocean temperature of 101,1 degrees on Monday afternoon. Florida Water Temperature Hits Hot Tub Levels Extremely high water temperatures in the ocean are extremely rare, but scientists have categorized the extremely significant marine heat wave in the region as unprecedented. The temperature reported by adjacent buoys is not in the triple digits. According to meteorologists, these buoys are reading temperatures in the upper 90s. ABC News reported that climate change is strongly connected to ocean temperatures. The United Nations climate change council states that it is "essentially certain" that the ocean has continued to warm since 1970 and has absorbed more than 90 percent of the climate system's excess heat. NASA reports that the last 10 years were the warmest decade for the ocean since at least the 1800s. According to specialists, 2022 was the warmest year on record for the ocean and the year with the highest global sea level. In addition to the preliminary reading in Florida that may be a global record, ocean temperature readings in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean are also shattering records this week. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that maritime heat wave conditions will persist in the North Atlantic through September and possibly through the end of the year. The extreme readings add to previous warnings about Florida's warming waters in the southeastern United States, as other parts of the country continued to experience protracted weather. Per The Guardian, extreme heat has posed a hazard to marine life and ocean ecosystems along the coast of southern Florida. Last week, Derek Manzello of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coral Reef Monitor told CNN, "We did not anticipate this heating to occur so early in the year and to be so extreme. This appears to be a first for our records." Read Also: Ron DeSantis Fires Staff Member Who Retweeted Nazi Imagery Video Ocean Heatwaves Heatwaves are increasingly impacting the world's oceans, eradicating kelp, seagrass, and corals and wiping out vast swaths of marine life, similar to "wildfires that consume vast forest tracts." According to research conducted in 2019, ocean heatwave days have quadrupled in recent years. A 2021 heat dome will likely destroy more than one billion marine animals along Canada's Pacific coastline. The increasing frequency and severity of severe weather - both on land and in the oceans - is a symptom of the global, human-caused climate crisis that is fueling extremes, experts warn, with current heatwaves expected to continue through August. Since May, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) of the United Nations reported that global sea temperatures have attained monthly record highs, in part due to an El Nino event. Noaa reports that global sea surface temperatures have broken monthly records for heat in April, May, and June. While fileting fish brought into Key Largo on Tuesday, fishing boat captain Dustin Hansel remarked that catches have become "sluggish and slower" during the past five summers. Additionally, he has observed an increase in the number of deceased fish in the waters surrounding Key Largo. The NOAA issued a warning earlier this month that the warmer water surrounding Florida could intensify tropical cyclones and hurricanes, which gain more energy over warmer waters. According to the agency, increasing temperatures also place coral reefs under severe duress. Related Article: Canada Floods: State of Emergency Declared in Nova Scotia; Floodings Leave 2 Dead, 2 Missing @ 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. 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 Zip Code Paris, TX (75460) Today Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. Hot. High 99F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low near 75F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. PINCKNEYVILLE One thing has been constant at Least of the Brethren Food Pantry over the years hungry people can get food. That is still true today even though the pantrys founder, George Culley, died a little more than a year ago. His partner in the pantry and wife, Betty Culley, is continuing to fill their mission: Let Jesus hands feed hungry people in Southern Illinois. We are still open. I plan on staying open until God calls me home, Betty Culley said Tuesday morning. Some supporters of the pantry have told her that rumors are circulating about the pantry closing. While the rumors are not true, Culley believes they are hurting donations to the pantry. They are getting fewer donations of both food items and money. Rumors can cause a lot of problems, Betty Culley said. Monday they received donations from two groups. One was from Perry County Market. The other was from First Baptist Church. A lady from the church told Culley she had heard the pantry was closing. I want to obey God and keep feeding hungry people, Betty Culley said. Betty and George Culley met because they shared a mission to feed hungry people. At the time, Betty Culley lived in Maine. She moved to Pinckneyville to marry George Culley and began working with the food pantry. I could never take Georges place, but I can continue his legacy, Betty Culley said. Right now, Least of the Brethren Food Pantry needs donations of both food and money. Betty Culley said they could use donations of breakfast cereal, as well as donations of a variety of other foods. Culley gets food from a St. Louis food pantry. They donate some food to her, and she can buy food items at a reduced cost. Unfortunately, St. Louis is also getting fewer donations. Along with cuts in donations, the people who come to the pantry are hurting because of the recent reduction in food stamps. Families were received more food stamps during the pandemic. That amount was cut back to normal earlier this year. That has placed a burden on families whose children are off school for the summer. Culley also tries to supply some meat to people picking up food at Least of the Brethrens pantry. The meat is kept in freezers at the pantry. Ive got a lot of empty freezers, Betty Culley said. She said the decrease in donations is particularly troubling this time of year. In July, the pantry sees its biggest electric bill, usually costing more than $300. Betty Culley has to keep the pantry area cool enough to store food. That is hard when it has been so hot. Donations can be sent to Least of the Brethren Food Pantry, 407 S. Douglas St., Pinckneyville, IL 62274. To donate food items, call Betty Culley at 618-357-6953. Did you ever wonder where this long-necked fellow came from as you stood at the zoo and observed this unusual neck and shape? The tall, gentle-eyed giraffe is so strange to us that we find it hard to believe that he is a real animal. He amazes you, even when you see him with your own eyes at the zoo. Certainly, he would seem very out of place browsing among the trees in the wild. But there are places where herds of wild giraffe are as ordinary as deer and dogs. We would have to travel all the way to Africa to find the native home of the handsome giraffe. The big shy fellow lives on grassy lands south of the sandy Sahara Desert. He shares his hot and sunny home with the frisky zebra and the bad-tempered rhinoceros, the plumy ostrich and the prowling lion. He may stand 19 feet high, and he claims the title of the Worlds Tallest Animal. His graceful neck may be more than six feet long. But he has only seven neck bones, which is no more than the number of neckbones in a cow or a horse. His backbone swoops down in a steep slope from his head to his tail. The giraffe is a ruminant or cud-chewer. He is distantly related to cows and deer. But the strange okapi is the only cousin close enough to belong in the giraffe family. Like all of the cud-chewers, the giraffe dines only on vegetables. His favorite food is the leafy foliage of the acacia tree. Here and there across the grassy lands there are clumps of these sturdy trees, and here we find the giraffe and his relatives. The big fellow is tall enough to reach the tender twigs from the tree tops, and the strange markings on his velvety coat make him almost invisible in the sun-speckled shade of the African scenery. The giraffe usually strolls along on his cloven feet, keeping a sharp watch for hungry lions. But when he has to, he can outrun a horse. He runs like a camel. Moving his two right feet, then his two left feet. Mrs. Giraffe is not quite so tall as her handsome husband. As a rule, the giraffe family has little or nothing to say, and some people claim that these animals have no voices at all. But mama giraffe gives forth a soft mooing call when junior yells like a lost calf. A baby giraffe stands six feet tall, and he is not fully grown until he is about 8 years old. This is the most information that I could find on this amazing animal, but this gives readers a fairly good outlook on the giraffes background. Remember this when you go to the zoo next time. DYSART, Iowa When Al Schafbuch cut back on plowing his Iowa fields decades ago and later began growing cover crops, he was out to save money on fertilizer and reduce erosion. He got those benefits and saw his soil change for the better, too: dark, chunky, richly organic matter that he said feels like "chocolate cake." There's one more big payoff that benefits everyone: tilling the soil less, and growing more cover crops, can help farmers store more planet-warming carbon in fields. More plants take in more carbon dioxide, and soil microbes breathe out less carbon when undisturbed. That can mean money for participating farmers in the form of carbon offsets: payments that companies can make that support carbon storage in farms and, in theory, balance out their emissions elsewhere. "The more carbon you store from the atmosphere with your crops, and the more crops grown throughout the year, you offset some of your waste, your wasted energy," said Shalamar Armstrong, an associate professor of agronomy at Purdue University. "Because you've stored carbon that would have been emitted (into) the atmosphere." It's an area getting more attention from lawmakers, researchers and industry professionals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced a $300 million investment to monitor agricultural emissions, including by creating a research network to monitor carbon in soil. U.S. Sens. Tina Smith, D-Minn., and Todd Young, R-Ind., introduced a bill that Smith said would support the research needed to "properly credit soil carbon storage." The USDA announcement and legislation are aimed at the difficult question of how to quantify carbon stored in soil. It's an obstacle to overcome if the young and booming soil carbon market is to avoid the scrutiny and skepticism directed at carbon credit markets. "The science piece (of carbon credits) has really lagged behind, particularly when it comes to things like monitoring, reporting and verification," said Cristel Zoebisch, deputy director of policy at climate organization Climate 180. "These are huge obstacles for not just soil carbon sequestration, but really any land-based carbon removal solution." Armstrong has been trying to help fix that problem. He runs a lab where researchers are investigating how farming management affects the amount of carbon in soil across different landscapes. He and others at Purdue have been studying soil samples that date back more than 40 years, comparing different types of tilling and cover crops to determine their long-term effects on carbon storage. It can take years of fieldwork, careful chemistry in the lab and lots of expensive equipment to puzzle that out. He hopes his precise calculations will help farmers make decisions that allow them to receive worthwhile incentives for sequestering carbon while maintaining their existing profits. Other academics worry that even if farmers do get paid for storing soil carbon, it won't solve a bigger problem: that carbon markets often don't work. For offsets to be legitimate, they have to meet four criteria. They have to store carbon that would otherwise be emitted; they have to be verifiable in data; they have to be immediate (planting a tree that might grow up in 20 years doesn't cut it); and they have to be long-lasting, said John Sterman, a professor of management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Better quantifying soil carbon storage through research might make the offsets more verifiable, but it doesn't address other factors. For example, many farmers rent the land they work and can't guarantee that carbon stored on the land will stay put over several decades. Barbara Haya, director of the Berkeley Carbon Trading Project at University of California, Berkeley, has worked on research that she said shows that the effects of carbon offset projects are commonly overestimated, sometimes vastly so. "Carbon trading is a mechanism that has failed miserably over the last 20 years that we really need to be moving away from," Haya said. U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., last month introduced a bipartisan bill to support farmers in improving soil health, with incentives that don't necessarily involve the carbon market. He said farmers in his district also described the benefits of regenerative practices, and many would be interested in participating in carbon markets with "robust" accounting systems. He added that those hoping for serious climate action shouldn't rely only on offsets. "In my opinion, it's really not the silver bullet," Huffman said. "I think offsets are inherently sketchy." Some farmers are moving cautiously. Brad Wetli, an Indiana farmer who collaborates with Armstrong, has been trying techniques that use less tilling and has been planting cover crops like rye for a few years now. He's happy with the way his current fields look but he's still weighing his options with possible carbon credit contracts, doing the math and waiting to see whether the price will be right, since many offset agreements can last for several years. "I'm going to do maybe a field or two at a time," he said," and as I learn more, I'll hopefully incorporate the carbon or carbon credits more into the operation." Participation is down 40% in this agricultural program that protects wildlife, water, and soil Participation is down 40% in this agricultural program that protects wildlife, water, and soil There is less land in the Conservation Reserve Program than there used to be Most counties have seen declines in participation over the past 10 years Grassland establishment and habitat expansion are among the most common programs New changes from the USDA seek to improve participation BECT Institute gets awards PricewaterhouseCoopers has awarded the Institute of Business, Environment, Communication and Transportation at South Carolina State University a $15,000 Digital Enablement Award for the 2023-24 academic year. The award is to invest in technology and software training to enhance the digital skills of students, as well as faculty and staff. The award will support the BECT Microsoft Office Specialist Training and Certification Center in the College of Business and Information Systems, which will provide training and certifications in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access for students, faculty and staff. The center will be able to accommodate up to 500 test takers across campus each year with training and certification exams at no cost. In addition to the MOS Training and Certification Center, BECT will conduct workshops on various software, including QuickBooks and Data Analytics. PwC is a global network of firms delivering assurance, tax and consulting services for businesses. Innovation Education award The Institute of Business, Environment, Communications and Transportation (BECT) received one of 10 inaugural Innovation Education awards of $25,000 from Howard University and PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship. The award was presented on June 16 in Washington, D.C., at the inaugural national conference, Black Commerce: The Future of Entrepreneurship. The goal is to empower the next generation of Black entrepreneurs and expand the resources to enhance the capacity of Black-owned businesses. According to Howard University, The National Center for Entrepreneurship is an innovative resource network focused on enhancing the Black entrepreneurship ecosystem at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and empowering Black entrepreneurs around the country. The National Center enhances the success and growth of Black-owned businesses through providing programming, capital, curriculum, research, and other resources in collaboration with HBCUs and their surrounding community. Four regional centers -- Howard, Clark Atlanta University, Morgan State University and Texas Southern University -- will connect with the other HBCUs to build a Black entrepreneurship ecosystem. Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College will hold two ceremonies honoring its summer 2023 graduates Thursday, July 27, on campus in the colleges Roquemore Auditorium. The 2 p.m. ceremony will celebrate graduates of the colleges medical assisting, physical therapist assistant and radiologic technology programs. Associate of arts, associate of science, business, computer technology, criminal justice, education, engineering and advanced manufacturing technology, and healthcare preparation program graduates will be honored at the 4 p.m. ceremony. Karrie Powell, chief nursing officer of the Medical University of South Carolina in Orangeburg, is the keynote speaker for the 2 p.m. ceremony. Powell has been a nurse for 23 years. She received her bachelors degree in nursing from Charleston Southern University and masters degree in nursing from the University of Phoenix-Sacramento. Powell is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and American Nurses Association, member and state executive representative for the American Organization of Nurses Executives, executive leader on the South Carolina State Board of Nursing, and serves on the board at the Dorchester Childrens Advocacy Center and advisory board for the High School for Health Professions. Dr. Sherisse Jackson, an electrical engineering technology instructor at the college, is the keynote speaker for the 4 p.m. ceremony. Jackson received her bachelors degree in electrical engineering from Clemson University. She later earned a masters degree from Columbia College and doctor of education degree from the University of South Carolina. Jackson is a licensed professional engineer in South Carolina and North Carolina. She has designed electrical systems for architectural and civil projects such as water and wastewater treatment plants, and participated on the design team for emergency lighting at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Jackson was the 2020 winner of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate Dissertation in Practice of the Year Award. She is an editorial board member and publication assistant for CPEDs Impacting Education journal, and was awarded the 2022 Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching and Innovation Excellence at OCtech. She volunteers with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying and the National Science Foundations Black SciGirls Role Model Initiative. Graduation tickets are required for admission. The ceremonies will be streamed live at octech.edu. Fall classes begin Monday, Aug. 14. For more information and to apply, visit octech.edu or call 803-535-1234. (Photo : Jason Redmond / AFP) (JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images) Microsoft has chosen to expand access to Bing AI to include users who are on other browsers in an attempt to test the chatbot's capabilities and limitations. Microsoft's Bing artificial intelligence chatbot and artificial intelligence search co-pilot features will expand access to users on Google Chrome and several other browsers. Now, some select users of Google Chrome can access Microsoft's Bing AI chat and AI-powered search results on desktop browsers. The Director of Communications at Microsoft, Caitlin Roulston, said in an emailed statement that the decision was made as part of the company's testing on other browsers. Microsoft Expands Access to Bing AI The situation comes as, for months, only users logged into Microsoft accounts are given access to the AI chat interface via the Bing app or Microsoft Edge browser. But now, other users can chat with Bing AI using a browser other than Edge after accepting the terms of service and acknowledging the AI chatbot's privacy statement. Despite the expanded access, the Bing AI chatbot can only accept 2,000 input characters on Chrome, half of what it accepts in the Edge browser. Some users who are logged in may also access Bing's AI-powered co-pilot in search results in Chrome, as per Search Engine Journal. Following expanded access to the Bing AI chatbot, initial reports showed that some users could also enable dark mode. Other users on other browsers, such as Safari and DuckDuckGo, could still be limited to the Edge browser, similar to how mobile users are to the Bing app, to access Bing AI features. The latest development marks a significant change in Microsoft's approach regarding Bing AI, as it is now embracing a broader platform for artificial intelligence capabilities. Despite the limitations that new users have access to with Bing AI, it still provides an enriched search experience. Microsoft's efforts in developing artificial intelligence technology suggest a promising future for AI, even though it currently has certain restrictions. However, the new technology's implication for Google Bard and Search Generative Experience is still a mystery. Read Also: Apple Faces Massive $1 Billion Class Action Lawsuit in UK Over Transaction Fees Artificial Intelligence Chatbot Bing AI allows users to use the chatbot to answer questions, provide information, and even compose content, similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT. The rollout to new users comes as a popup notice on the Windows 10 or 11 taskbar, which informs users that Bing AI is available to try in Chrome, according to ZDNet. The situation also comes as Microsoft is famous for trying to get users to use its browser more than any other. The company's policy makes it difficult to avoid prompts or efforts that make switching which browser you can use harder. While Microsoft still wants users only to use its browsers, it can no longer ignore the existence of other browsers, and many users choose to use any of those instead of Edge. If it wants to succeed in the long term, it has to stop blocking people from using what they prefer. Expanding access to Bing AI is the culmination of this effort and provides bigger opportunities, said How-To Geek. Related Article: Using TikTok Text Post Feature: Here's a Step-by-Step Guide @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (TBTCO) - Ty gia VND/USD trong nuoc bat tang theo xu huong quoc te trong tuan qua. Theo cac chuyen gia cua SSI Research, viec duy tri chinh sach tien te phan ky voi cac ngan hang trung uong lon tren the gioi la yeu to tao ra ap luc lon hon oi voi ty gia trong quy III. Tuy nhien, nguon cung ngoai te tich cuc uoc ky vong se giup VND on inh tro lai ve cuoi nam. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). An individual that climbed unrestrained up a waterfall at Rotary Park had to be rescued Tuesday afternoon, Casper Fire- EMS announced. The person fell and was stuck on the shelf in the middle of the falls at about 3 p.m., the statement said. Casper Fire Department and Natrona County Fire District were then dispatched for a traumatic injury. Officials were sent up the trail "to make access from the top" while other units went to the base of the falls to make contact with the individual and establish a command post, the statement said. "Access to the individual was made rapidly..." the statement said. Rescuers confirmed the person had broken his or her leg due to the fall. Two other individuals were found uninjured, but stuck, at the same location, the statement said. Authorities used technical rescue techniques to access, package and lower the injured individual to the base of the falls without incident, the statement said. The unidentified person was transferred to the Banner Wyoming Medical Center ambulance for further evaluation. Afterwards, the other two individuals were lowered to safety using the same techniques. Members of the public are reminded that "climbing unrestrained around the falls is extremely dangerous and should be avoided," the statement said. Proper safety gear and techniques are "a must," and one should consult with an experienced professional and gauge personal levels of experience before attempting such activities. Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in Wyoming, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Star-Tribune app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The public interest will be substantially injured if a judge temporarily suspends his own decision that corner crossing is not trespassing, four Missouri hunters argue in a new court filing. In a 12-page motion filed Friday, the hunters contest an effort by the owner of the Elk Mountain Ranch in Carbon County to stay the June 1 judgment by U.S. Chief District Judge Scott Skavdahl. Ranch owner Fred Eshelman wants Skavdahl to put the judgment on hold while Eshelman appeals the ruling to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. A stay will substantially injure the public who have an interest in public access to public lands, the motion by hunters attorney Ryan Semerad states. That interest is distinct and deep, the motion reads. By stepping from one piece of public land to another at the intersection with two pieces of private ranch property all arranged in a checkerboard pattern the hunters accessed thousands of acres of public land enmeshed in Eshelmans 20,045-acre wildlife-rich property. They never set foot on private land during hunts in 2020 and 2021. Until the Missouri challenge and a 2022 not-guilty verdict in a criminal trial, many landowners and officials, plus segments of the public, considered corner crossing to potentially be trespassing, threatening actors with criminal charges and civil suits. Eshelman filed a $7.75-million civil trespassing suit against the men last year. But Skavdahl ruled against him this summer, concluding corner crossing by foot without touching private land or causing damage is not trespassing. The judge recognized the legality of corner crossing with great care to access public land in the Checkerboard, Semerad wrote. The prevailing party the hunters in this case can immediately act in accordance with a judgment, according to common legal practice. A stay would stall the application of Skavdahls not-trespassing judgment that has been in effect for about seven weeks. The court victories give limited but uncertain protection to corner crossers, attorneys say. Ruling did not change law Eshelmans request for a stay contends that he and ranch employees were at risk for harm from the ruling, citing hateful letters, other vitriolic communication and a postcard from Satan. The ranch is bracing for an influx of corner crossers, some of whom may trespass, seek revenge, damage property or threaten ranch employees, according to the request. The hunters abhor and decry this childish and wholly inappropriate behavior, Semerad wrote about the menacing messages and vulgarities. To those paying attention, please stop. But a stay isnt the answer to the uncouth criticism, the hunters motion states. Defendants do not see how the bad acts of others can be attributed to this courts ruling, the hunters motion reads. Theres no evidence bad acts would grow from the courts order rather than individuals opinions and beliefs, Semerad wrote. Plaintiffs bald assertion that people will not follow the letter of this Courts careful and limited order but will instead use that order as a license to run amok on Plaintiffs property is speculative, the motion states. Further, [s]tays are not granted as messaging tools, Semerad wrote. Backcountry Hunters and Anglers outlined the publics interest in an amicus brief the hunters referenced in their latest motion. The Wyoming chapter of the national group helped raise funds for the civil and criminal defense of the four; Bradly Cape, Phillip Yeomans, Zach Smith and John Slowensky. Backcountry hunters, which boasts 359,000 members, is committed to fair and equal public access to our public lands and waters, the groups amicus brief states. Individuals should not have to roll the dice and potentially subject themselves to the mercy of litigious landowners or local prosecutors just to recreate on public land that they legally are allowed to use. Across the West, 8.3 million acres of public land are corner locked and inaccessible to the public if corner crossing is not considered legal. Eshelman, a North Carolina pharmaceutical magnate, contended the hunters trespassed by passing through the airspace above his property. The four said the federal Unlawful Inclosures Act of 1885 prevents Eshelman from blocking their and the publics access to public land. A lock and chain that Elk Mountain Ranch staff placed between fence posts and across one corner constituted an improper attempt to prevent or obstruct any person from peaceably entering upon any tract of public land in violation of the UIA, the judge wrote. Skavdahl didnt create a new law with his ruling, the hunters attorney said. Instead, the ruling provided much needed clarity that pre-existing law affords public access to otherwise corner-locked lands in the Checkerboard by careful corner crossing, Semerad wrote. Appeal ready Eshelman has not made a strong showing he is likely to succeed on the merits of his pleading, the hunters argue in their case for keeping Skavdahls ruling in place during an appeal. Its not known when Skavdahl might rule on the request for a stay. Meanwhile, Eshelmans appeal itself in the 10th Circuit ran into a speed bump when the court found a possible jurisdictional defect in Skavdahls order and judgment. Skavdahl appears to have cured that with an amendment that would now allow the appeals court in Denver to begin considering the ranch owners challenge to the judges not-trespassing decision. The University of Wyoming acted within its authority when it instituted a one-year tabling ban for a Laramie church elder who directed a sign at a transgender student, lawyers for the school argued Monday in new legal filings. Todd Schmidt, a Laramie Faith Community Church elder, sued UW President Ed Seidel and Dean of Students Ryan ONeil last month challenging the ban and alleging the university violated his civil and constitutional rights, including those to free speech, due process and equal protection, when it suspended him from tabling in the Wyoming Union breezeway last December. While Schmidt and conservative lawmakers have pushed back against UWs decision saying it curbed his First Amendment rights, lawyers for UW from the Cheyenne law firm Hirst Applegate told the court that Schmidt was discriminating and harassing a student, which is not protected speech. In two separate filings, UW asked Freudenthal to throw out parts of Schmidts case and rule that his legal claims did not require immediate restrictions against the school. The University was not targeting any expressive content of Plaintiffs speech. It was targeting the acts of discrimination and harassment, the attorneys wrote. Schmidts due process and equal protection claims do not meet legal standards, the universitys lawyers asserted, while ONeil can only be sued as a university official and not individually because of qualified immunity, which typically safeguards government officials, like law enforcement officers, from personal liability in constitutional cases. The rest of Schmidts legal argument is unlikely to succeed because the university acted within its power and discretion, according to UWs legal team. Freedom of speech and religious expression Last December, Schmidt hung a sign aimed at Artemis Langford, the first transgender student accepted into a UW sorority. Shortly after, the university banned Schmidt from tabling for a year until spring 2023. Schmidt and his lawyers asked U.S. Senior District Judge Nancy Freudenthal to nix Schmidts suspension and prevent the university from acting to censor disfavored views. Specifically at issue are UWs campus and Wyoming Union policies, which outline the universitys discrimination and harassment rules and guide how the university handles tabling in the student union. Schmidt and his lawyers contend that the regulations and the universitys use of them to justify the suspension of Schmidt censor him and discriminate against his religious views and speech. In Schmidts complaint, Douglas Mason, a Pinedale-based attorney, and Nathan Kellum, an attorney with the Center for Religious Expression, portray his tabling and use of the sign directed at Langford as a means of conveying his Christian beliefs and as a way to spur friendly discussions about them. Schmidts Christian faith compels him to evangelize and share the gospel (good news of Jesus Christ) with others, they wrote. Schmidt also believes from the Bible that God created human beings as either male or female, that this sex is fixed from conception and that this sex cannot be changed, regardless of what an individual person believes or wants to do. His lawyers argue that, in addition to the suspension, ONeils direction that Schmidt not single out Langford with the sign also infringed on his rights. The ongoing censorship and fear of reprisal severely limits Schmidts constitutionally protected expression on the UW campus, they wrote. University response Lawyers for UW painted an entirely different picture. The university is not restricting speech but preventing discrimination and harassment against an individual student. Schmidt has consistently created a hostile environment for students and university employees and violated school policies over the roughly 17 years he tabled, UWs attorneys Erin Berry and Robert Jarosh insisted. By 2021, issues with Plaintiffs non-compliance with the Union Policies and Procedures had risen to the level that the University decided it needed to start documenting complaints about Plaintiff, they wrote. According to the schools legal filings, ONeil and university staff warned Schmidt multiple times he was violating university regulations that prohibit discrimination and harassment and require civility when tabling. The multiple warnings and an investigation and report from UWs Equal Opportunity Report and Response Office, which concluded that Schmidt was harassing and discriminating against Langford, were the sole grounds for Schmidts suspension, not his speech or religious views, according to UWs lawyers. The University had the authority to cancel or suspend Plaintiffs ability to use the Universitys buildings, including to reserve tables in the Wyoming Union breezeway, if it concluded that any complaint of an act of discrimination or harassment under UW Regulation 4-2 was substantiated, Berry and Jarosh wrote. Schmidt contends that his free speech rights extend to the Wyoming Union, but UW called the student union breezeway a limited public forum where the university has some ability to control where, when and how speech occurs, a view shared by some legal and freedom of speech experts. UWs defense states that Schmidt can continue to preach on campus, including in the Wyoming Union, he just cant rent a table during the suspension. Schmidts allegations that the university is treating him differently because of his religious views also dont hold up, according to UWs lawyers. Plaintiff has not (and cannot) identify specific organizations or individuals that engaged in actions similar to his and who were then permitted to continue harassing and/or discriminating against University students or employees at tables in the Wyoming Union breezeway, Berry and Jarosh wrote. According to UW, the school was required to act once it determined that Schmidt was discriminating and harassing an individual student by singling out Langford for being transgender. In June 2021, the U.S. Department of Education affirmed that Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in education, applies to gender identity. That conclusion, driven by a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, required UW and other universities to take steps to prevent discrimination on the basis of gender identity, including by installing and following policies to protect those students policies that the university argues Schmidt ultimately ran afoul of. In December, legal and freedom of speech experts told the Star-Tribune that a lawsuit over Schmidts tabling suspension had no clear conclusion. Some said UWs decision likely infringed on Schmidts First Amendment rights, while others said Schmidts actions could qualify as harassment and the university acted within its authority. The latter was the case the universitys lawyers tried to make when they laid out a scenario: Imagine the Wyoming Union breezeway lined with tables, with each table manned by a person or entity singling out an individual University student. Imagine that at each such table, the targeted student is harassed solely based upon membership in a protected class one for her gender, one based on his race, one based on her color, one based on his national origin, one based on a disability, one based on a religion, one based on their sexual orientation, one based on her gender identity. According to Plaintiff, all of that conduct would be protected free speech, and the University would be required to allow it to happen, they wrote. That is not the law. Over $4.6 million was awarded to more than 150 Wyoming organizations as part of a one-time matching grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and 29 Wyoming financial institutions. Recipients included food pantries, recreation clubs, nonprofit housing developers and even some community organizations overseen by local governments. Heres how it worked: financial institutions in Wyoming that belong to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines could apply to have the bank multiply their donations to various organizations by roughly $2.8-to-$1. In all, Wyoming groups received more than 270 grants. About $3.5 million came from the Des Moines bank, with the rest donated from member banks, credit unions and insurance companies. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines didnt break down how much money went to each grant recipient, or what the money would be used for. Julie DeVader, the agencys PR manager, said total grant amounts in Wyoming ranged from $400 to $870,000. The first-of-its kind grant was an unexpected opportunity for many Wyoming organizations struggling to find funding in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, said Rachel Bailey, executive director of the Food Bank of Wyoming. The Food Bank of the Rockies subsidiary received about $214,000 from the program. Right now, with the COVID funding kind of coming to an end and the emergency health declaration coming to an end, there are a lot of services that are winding down, Bailey said. The nearly quarter-of-a-million the Food Bank of Wyoming received came from eight Wyoming banks and credit unions, plus matching donations from the Des Moines bank. Bailey said the hunger relief organization will be using it for general operations purchasing, transporting and storing food, that is. She said the money represents the equivalent of about 441,000 meals. Another beneficiary of the program was the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming, which received $550,000 from the Des Moines bank and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming. Itll be using the money to help integrate more trauma-informed care into the organizations programming, the Star-Tribune reported in early July. (Seven other Boys and Girls Club affiliates also received grants, according to the bank.) For Wyoming to get this much money from the national banking system is unusual, to say the least. The primary purpose of the Federal Home Loan Banks, established by Congress in 1932 as part of the New Deal, is to lend money to financial institutions. The banks are member-owned and regulated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the same agency that regulates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Wyoming falls under the Des Moines region of the Federal Home Loan Bank System, which serves over 1,200 financial institutions across 16 states and territories. It has 32 member institutions in Wyoming, according to its website. Since its inception, the system has helped provide banks with more cash on hand to finance home loans and community investment. Theyre kind of like a bankers bank, said Kim DeVore, president and CEO of Jonah Bank, a Des Moines bank member (DeVore also sits on the agencys board of directors). In addition to lending money, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines reserves about 10% of its annual gross income for competitive downpayment assistance and affordable housing grants. But the bank noticed several places in its jurisdiction where participation in those grants is lacking: Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands. To even up the playing field, it set aside $15 million this year to stand up a one-time matching grant specifically for those states and territories. We would still work through our members they could find organizations or charities or housing groups that they would like to support, said Wil Osborn, the banks chief business officer. There was about a month-and-a-half between when member financial institutions became aware of the grant and when applications were due, DeVore said. I called or emailed every member president in the state, she said. I didnt give them a choice. I told them, Guys, I know you got this email. You need to look at it. And this is the real deal. We have a huge opportunity to funnel in a lot of money into the state. And it seemed to pay off the more than 270 grants awarded to Wyoming far outnumbered those given to other states. By comparison, Utah was granted 120, Idaho, 89 and Hawaii, 21. Osborn said the bank hopes to make a similar grant available next year, but will probably reserve it for other states in its jurisdiction. And then we probably keep rotating this program, he said. In the meantime, the Federal Home Loan Bank hopes to increase Wyomings participation in its affordable housing and downpayment programs. They are doing a whole bunch of outreach to try to increase participation on both the bank side and the actual nonprofit or the housing organization face, DeVore said. There was at least one or two Wyoming applications to those programs this year, Osborn said, though theyre still under review. Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in Wyoming, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Star-Tribune app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Twenty-eight citizens have been authorised to proceed with individual legal actions against the Office of the Police Commissioner for significant delays in the decision-making process concerning their applications for firearm users licences (FULs). The matter came up for hearing yesterday before High Court judge Nadia Kangaloo. (Photo : Kris Connor/WireImage) House Republican committee leaders are expected to subpoena Justice Department and FBI officials this week over alleged interference in Hunter Biden's five-year investigation. The judge presiding over the criminal case against Hunter Biden threatened the first son''s legal team with sanctions for allegedly lying to the clerk's office. The attorney for Hunter Biden is accused of circumventing proper court procedure to remove information about IRS whistleblowers from the proceedings. Tuesday at 9 p.m., Delaware Judge Maryellen Noreika gave Biden's legal team until then to present their case. Hunter Biden's Legal Team Faces Pressure In particular, a member of Hunter Biden's legal team is accused of misrepresenting her identity when requesting the removal of amicus documents from the docket. She allegedly contacted the registrar instead of filing a formal request with the court to have the information sealed. Biden's legal team informed the judge in a letter obtained by Fox News that the attorney who called the clerk accurately represented her affiliation with her law firm. On Wednesday, Biden will plead guilty to two counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax. In 2017 and 2018, the First Son reportedly neglected to pay more than $100,000 in taxes on earnings exceeding $1.5 million. Biden will also enter a pretrial diversion agreement for a distinct felony allegation involving a firearm. Critics have dubbed the plea agreement negotiated by Biden and the Department of Justice a "sweetheart deal," and Noreika has the authority to approve or reject it. The judge's order was issued hours after House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) asked the judge to consider denying Hunter Biden's plea deal with Delaware prosecutors over whistleblower claims that the president's son was given preferential treatment during the nearly five-year investigation. According to The Washington Examiner, the filing included transcripts of interviews conducted with two IRS whistleblowers on May 26 and June 1. The committee's senior attorney, Theodore Kittila, detailed the subsequent hours in an email, which was then summarized in Noreika's order. Bengels is the director of litigation services at the New York law firm Latham & Watkins, where Chris Clark, the younger Biden's counsel, was previously a partner. Noreika wrote that it appears Bengels "misrepresented her identity and the organization for which she worked in an attempt to inappropriately persuade the clerk's office to withdraw the amicus materials from the docket." Hunter Biden is anticipated to enter a guilty plea to two misdemeanor tax charges and participate in a pretrial diversion program that will enable him to avoid prosecution on a separate felony firearms charge. Uncertain is whether Tuesday evening's docket activity will influence Noreika's decision regarding whether to accept the younger Biden's plea, which Republican critics have called a "sweetheart deal." According to a source familiar with the Republican offices' plans, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Kentucky), and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Missouri) are likely to subpoena testimony from 10 federal investigators after Attorney General Merrick Garland ignored a Monday deadline to cooperate. IRS supervisory agent Gary Shapley and IRS special agent Joseph Ziegler, who worked closely on the Hunter case, testified to Congress last week that the Department of Justice "slow-walked" the investigation and that prosecutors appointed by President Biden prevented Delaware US Attorney David Weiss from charging the president's son outside of his district. Weiss allegedly notified investigators on October 7, 2022, that Washington, DC, US Attorney Matthew Graves and Southern California US Attorney E. Martin Estrada had denied him the authority to charge Hunter Biden. Per NY Post, Garland stated in congressional testimony under oath that Weiss had been granted "complete authority" to file charges against Hunter Biden earlier this year. In a letter to Jordan dated June 7, Weiss asserted his "ultimate authority" over the matter. However, the Republican committee leaders noted that Weiss had made "altering statements" in subsequent letters to Congress, claiming first that he "had been awarded ultimate authority" and then that he "would be granted that authority in the future, if necessary, after a specified process." Shapley's attorneys stated that Weiss' Criminal Coordinator, Shawn Weede, and Assistant US Attorney Shannon Hanson were present at the meeting to discuss charges last year. Tom Sobocinski, the FBI special agent in charge for Baltimore, and Ryeshia Holley, his assistant, were also present. Read Also: Florida Ocean Triple-Digit Temperature Recorded, Setting Potential World Record IRS Whistleblowers Accusations Against Hunter Biden's Probe In prior depositions before the House Ways and Means Committee, IRS agents stated that Delaware Assistant US Attorney Lesley Wolf discouraged their team from pursuing interrogation lines that could lead to the president. IRS agents added that Wolf subsequently informed Hunter Biden's defense counsel of a planned investigation of his Northern Virginia storage locker. The Republicans requested transcribed interviews with Graves, Estrada, Weede, Hanson, Sobocinski, Holley, and Wolf. Mark Daly, Jack Morgan, and Stuart Goldberg of the DOJ's tax division were also requested. In a letter dated Monday, the Justice Department proposed to allow Weiss to testify before the Judiciary Committee following the August congressional recess while denying all other requests. In 2017, former President Donald Trump nominated Weiss for the position of United States attorney on the advice of Delaware's two Democratic senators, Chris Coons and Tom Carper. Wednesday morning, 53-year-old Hunter Biden plans to plead guilty to tax misdemeanors related to missed six-figure payments in 2017 and 2018. Shapley and Ziegler assert that the first son avoided at least $2,200,000 in taxes on the $8,300,000 in foreign income he earned between 2014 and 2019. After he lied about his substance use on a gun-purchase form in 2018, the eldest son is also entering a diversion agreement for a felony firearms charge. When the agreement was disclosed on June 20, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who recently hinted at impeachment proceedings over the Hunter investigation, referred to it as a "sweetheart bargain." If approved by Delaware United States District Judge Maryellen Noreika, the first son will serve two years of probation, and his gun charge will be dismissed. Related Article: Hunter Biden Probe: DOJ Offers Investigator To Testify Before Congress @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Arizona Department of Revenue: Arizona Capitol Times, Best Companies Group and BestCompaniesAZ announced that the Arizona Department of Revenue has earned a spot on the 11th annual list of 2023 Top Companies to Work for in Arizona for the second consecutive year. The list is the result of anonymous employee surveys measuring culture, work environment, leadership and employee pride and satisfaction, combined with evaluations of workplace practices, policies, benefits and demographics. Dr. Lisa Kiser: POCN a nurse practitioner and physician associate network in the U.S. is honoring Lisa Kiser DNP, CNM, WHNP, FACNM as the recipient of the 2023 Q2 Community Advocacy Award. The recognition aims to honor and uplift nurse practitioners and physician associates who are making a significant impact on health care while also supporting organizations that advocate for NP/PA community support. As part of this award, POCN makes a donation to the recipients organization of choice. Kiser selected the Southside Worker Center run by the Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson to start a program for women who have migrated to the United States who need to support their families. Kiser, who also recently received the Arizona American Association of Nurse Practitioners State Award for Excellence, brings a wealth of experience to her roles as a certified nurse-midwife, a womens health nurse practitioner, and as an assistant clinical professor at the University of Arizona College of Nursing. She has made significant strides in improving access to health care for uninsured or underinsured women. Additionally, she is a volunteer provider at a free clinic and migrant welcome center, providing essential health care support to immigrant communities. Aaron Rottenstein: Aaron Rottenstein with UBS in Tucson recently received an honorable mention for the Emerging Impact Award in the 2023 Invest in Others Awards. The Invest in Others Awards program recognizes financial advisors who are making a difference with charities across the country and around the world. In addition to being recognized for his leadership, dedication, contribution, inspiration and impact and through his commitment of time, talent and resources, Social Venture Partners International will receive a $2,000 donation from Invest in Others in recognition of Rottensteins charitable work. Eddie Celaya is a breaking news reporter and host of the "Here Weed Go!" podcast. He graduated from Pima Community College and the University of Arizona and has been with the Arizona Daily Star since May 2019. Betty Villegas will replace state Rep. Andres Cano in the Arizona Legislature, the Pima County Board of Supervisors decided in a 3-1 vote Tuesday. Villegas is director of South Tucsons Housing and Community Development department and formerly served as an interim county supervisor after the death of Richard Elias. Shell carry out the remainder of Canos term after the Tucson Democrat resigned on July 4 to attend Harvard Kennedy School to pursue his masters in public administration. The two-year term will end after the November 2024 election. Board Chair Adelita Grijalva put forth the motion to appoint Villegas as the new Legislative District 20 house representative. Her leadership as a Pima County supervisor in 2020 for District 5 helped our community throughout the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, adding that Villegas has extensive professional housing and community development experience. Supervisor Steve Christy, the boards sole Republican, voted against the appointment, while Supervisor Sharon Bronson was absent from the meeting. Supervisor Rex Scott said as a former county supervisor, Villegas knows the countys priorities in the Legislature, including its need for more affordable housing. Supervisor Matt Heinz also said hes encouraged by Villegas experience promoting affordable housing efforts. When a vacancy occurs in the state Legislature, Arizona law holds that the precinct committeepersons of the same political party and legislative district of the resigned member must nominate three qualified replacements to transfer to the Board of Supervisors within five days of the resignation when the Legislature is in session. Supervisors then vote on a replacement. Democratic precinct committee members in LD 20 had to ratify the vote they originally took on July 8 after the Tucson Sentinel reported LD 20 Chair Leslie Stalc initially refused to provide journalists the Zoom information to attend the meeting and that Pima County Democratic Party Chair Eric Robbins acknowledged that the meeting might have been held in violation of public meeting laws. The vote ratification took place on Monday, July 24, to comply with open meeting law. There was an issue that was brought up about the posting of the meeting, we were assured that it was done in compliance. But just to make sure, we had another meeting, a hybrid meeting yesterday to ratify the votes with 51 votes, Grijalva said at the board meeting. Democrats Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales and Rep. Alma Hernandez, the two other members of the state Legislature from that district, said in a letter that they want the candidate selection redone. Villegas received about 26% of the 195 votes at the original July 8 meeting; Lourdes Escalante received about 18% and Elma Alvarez received about 17%. PHOENIX Republicans who hold the Arizona Legislature majority are working to strike a final deal with Gov. Katie Hobbs and leaders of cities, counties and tribes in metro Phoenix over extending a transportation tax, and the outcome has statewide implications. Failure to get a plan out of the Legislature that the Democratic governor will sign and that can win support of Maricopa County voters next year would affect all of Arizona. Thats because the regional planning agency called Maricopa Association of Governments, or MAG, funds its own projects outside the state government general fund using the sales tax proceeds. If Maricopa County voters dont extend the tax for another 20 years, it will go away, after paying for massive expansions of the regions freeway and roads system, bus routes and light rail over nearly four decades. If the tax is extended, proceeds will average about $1 billion a year over the coming 20 years. If it goes away, transportation projects in the other 14 counties will suddenly be competing for limited state transportation dollars with a county that is home to nearly two-thirds of Arizonans. The lack of an agreement on which plan to send to voters remains the sole major issue remaining for the Legislature to address in this years session. The highly unusual session has seen multiple prolonged breaks, including one that will have stretched nearly seven weeks when lawmakers return Monday, July 31. Hobbs vetoed the Legislatures plan for the transportation tax extension in June, siding with MAG, whose plan was eviscerated by GOP lawmakers. Republican House Speaker Ben Toma told Capitol Media Services lawmakers plan to adjourn for the year the day they return Monday, with a potential deal on asking voters to extend the tax, known as Proposition 400, and some administrative types of things all that remain to be accomplished. Tentative deal? Toma and GOP Senate President Warren Petersen both said theres been progress on settling the Proposition 400 extension but stopped short of proclaiming a breakthrough. But Sen. Ken Bennett, R-Prescott, said hes been told a tentative deal is in place, though bill language still needs to be finalized. That squares with Tomas statement that MAG has to come back with an acceptable response for a deal to happen. Unfortunately, I cant tell you if were going to have the deal or not yet, at this point, Toma said in an interview late last week. Weve been waiting for a response back from MAG, and my understanding is theyre waiting for input from some of their people before they respond to us. Getting Toma on board is critical, since new House rules adopted in January by majority Republicans say the speaker must sign off on all legislation before it goes up for a vote. The starting point is really they have to bring us back language or something that we can get the votes for and I guess to be blunt, starting with mine, Toma said. So if they cant get my vote, Im not sure how theyre going to get any others at this point. Hobbs spokesman Christian Slater declined to comment on the status of negotiations. A spokeswoman for MAG also wouldnt comment, and new MAG chair Kate Gallego, mayor of Phoenix, didnt immediately answer requests for comment. Gallego, who took over as MAG chair from Avondale Mayor Kenn Weise last month, said in a news release after being elected as the groups leader that extending Proposition 400 is top priority for the group of 27 mayors, three tribes and two counties. Hobbs took over the lead in negotiations for the sales tax extension in late May, shortly after she signed a state budget for the fiscal year that began July 1 which she negotiated with Republican lawmakers. Rather than adjourn for the year, GOP leaders kept lawmakers in session after the budget was enacted, mainly to keep up pressure on the governor, the first Democrat to hold the office in nearly 15 years. Dispute: Roads vs. mass transit The tax-extension proposal Republican lawmakers sent to Hobbs, which she vetoed, dedicated much more of the estimated $20 billion the sales tax would collect over 20 years to freeway and major road building and maintenance than MAGs plan. It also slashed the portion of the revenue that would go to public transit and barred any from being spent to extend the Phoenix metro areas light rail system. And, it split the extension vote into two parts, one for the road and highway projects and one for light rail maintenance. Also tucked into the GOP-passed plan was a provision requiring the Arizona Department of Transportation to set the speed limit on all Maricopa County freeways at 65 mph or higher. Thats designed to eliminate a 55 mph limit on the portion of Interstate 17 between the Capitol and Dunlap Avenue. Getting a deal on Proposition 400 done in the one day the Legislature plans to be in session next week would be unusual, but Toma said it can be done. And secondly, theres nothing precluding the governor from calling a special session if she so chose, and if we have a deal, Toma said. Rep. David Cook, R-Globe, who chairs the House Transportation Committee, said Tuesday that the agreement is 95% done. (Photo : GREG GIBSON/AFP via Getty Images) Ohio voters will determine in November whether to amend their state constitution to establish a right to abortion. On Tuesday, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced that enough legitimate signatures were submitted to place an amendment to the state's constitution on the ballot in November. The proposed amendment in Ohio would guarantee that "every person has the right to make and carry out reproductive decisions." Abortion Rights Amendment Cleared For Ohio's November Ballot The statewide vote would occur a year after two of Ohio's neighboring states - staunchly conservative Kentucky and the political battleground of Michigan - supported abortion rights via ballot initiatives. According to CNN, Elizabeth Walters, chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, stated after the announcement that it was an "essential victory for Ohio women." Prior to the November election, Ohio voters will participate in a special election on August 8 called by the Republican-controlled legislature to determine whether to raise the current simple majority threshold for amending the state constitution to 60%. Opponents of such a special election include abortion rights advocates and two former Republican governors of Ohio, Robert Taft and John Kasich, who point out that the session is scheduled to occur during the sluggish summer season when turnout is anticipated to be low. At a forum in Dayton last month, Taft referred to it as a "significant error" and added, "This is a type of change that every person who votes in a presidential election should contemplate." Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights, which collected signatures and submitted the petition, said in a statement released Tuesday that sponsors of the August special election "have admitted it was placed on the ballot for one reason: to silence the voices of the overwhelming majority of Ohioans who support reproductive rights and abortion access." The measure's supporters still face another obstacle. Republicans in the state legislature want to make the amendment more difficult to pass, so they have proposed a ballot question that would require 60 percent of voters instead of a simple majority to amend the state constitution. Anti-abortion groups characterize the amendment as "extreme" and have argued that it would allow abortion "until birth" and enshrine a right for minors to undergo gender-transition surgery without parental consent, despite the fact that the amendment allows the state to prohibit abortions later in pregnancy and contains no language regarding gender transition. They implored electors to participate 0in the August special election to make passage of the abortion amendment more difficult, as per NY Times. This month, supporters of the measure submitted more than 700,000 signatures. Local board of elections officials examined these signatures over the past few weeks, discarding duplicates and signatures from individuals who were not registered to vote. Read Also: Hunter Biden Counsel Accused of Lying in Criminal Tax Case; Republicans Seek To Block First Son's Plea Deal Ohio Abortion Rights Measure The proposed amendment would assure that Ohioans have the right to make their own reproductive decisions, including contraception, fertility treatment, continuation of pregnancy, treatment for miscarriage, and abortion. The state could restrict access after viability, which occurs when the patient's treating physician determines that the fetus has a significant chance of surviving outside the uterus if reasonable measures are taken. According to the petition language, abortions could be performed after that point to save the life or health of the expectant woman. After the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, proponents argue that this language is necessary to safeguard abortion access. In the months that followed this ruling, Ohio enacted an abortion prohibition prohibiting physicians from performing abortions after the detection of cardiac activity approximately six weeks into pregnancy. This law has been provisionally suspended, and abortion is now lawful in the state up until 21 weeks and six days gestation. Now, the five-member Ohio Ballot Board must ratify the November ballot language. The board's chairman is Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican candidate for the US Senate. Per USA Today, he has opposed the abortion measure and supported Issue 1 on the August ballot to make amendments to the state constitution more difficult. Related Article: Florida Ocean Triple-Digit Temperature Recorded, Setting Potential World Record @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. PHOENIX Gov. Katie Hobbs is citing new cost estimates for universal vouchers in her latest bid to convince lawmakers to scale back the new program. The total cost of all vouchers may hit $943.8 million in the school year that just started, Hobbs said Tuesday. That is about $319 million more than the budget lawmakers approved and she signed. But the Democratic governor said the rising cost isnt a surprise. She said it has been clear the state pays out up to $800 more for a voucher for a student without special needs than it provides in state aid for the same student in a public school. Thats just part of the problem, Hobbs said. The 2022 law provides universal access to vouchers. That means it allows parents who already were using their own money to send their children to private schools or to teach their children at home to now get vouchers of taxpayer dollars. That has created an average new net cost of $7,223 per student with perhaps more than 40,000 students shifting the cost of their private education to the state, Hobbs said. House speaker disputes figures House Speaker Ben Toma is disputing her figures. The Peoria Republican has been a chief proponent of allowing all parents to get state dollars for private and parochial schools. He is sticking with an estimate that about 68,000 students will be getting vouchers this year, which would put the price tag at about $624 million. By contrast, Hobbs estimates total voucher enrollment will top 97,000, which is where she got the $943.8 million estimate. The governors figures are more in line with those of Republican state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne than Tomas, however. Horne estimated four weeks ago that there will be about 100,000 students who get vouchers, formally known as empowerment scholarship accounts. He put the cost of that at $900 million. Hobbs had no role in creating universal vouchers, having inherited the expanded program when she took office in January. She called in her State of the State speech in January for a repeal of the expansion; legislative leaders ignored it. Efforts to cap year-over-year increases in enrollment fared no better. Now Hobbs is using the new estimates in a bid to pressure lawmakers to make changes, such as requiring students to attend public schools before getting a voucher to transfer. Toma called her figures baseless. Beyond that, he said the focus should not be on the costs but on the policy. Popular with Arizona families Its clear the ESA program is popular with Arizona families and continues to experience growth, a serious frustration for those who oppose school choice, Toma said in a written response. House Republicans support funding each student according to their need, whether they use their funding at a district, charter or an ESA school. Toma also maintains the vouchers are a relative bargain. He said the typical voucher for a student without special needs is about $7,200 a year. By contrast, Toma said the average school district gets more than $13,000 a year per pupil from all sources. That latter figure, while accurate, is misleading. At the very least, it takes into account not only federal aid but also locally collected taxes. Looking only at state funds, the Arizona Association of School Business Officials did its own computations. It concluded that a voucher for an elementary school student costs state taxpayers $425 more a year than basic state aid; for high schoolers the figure is $543 more. Then theres that entirely new cost to the state of students who already were in private schools at their parents expense or being home schooled and not costing taxpayers for their education until now. Toma told Capitol Media Services that does not concern him. Those parents were still paying taxes, he said. And those grandparents were still paying taxes. He took a dig at Hobbs and Democrats, who have argued for years for more education funding, for now complaining about the expenditure. Isnt it ironic that now, all of a sudden, they seem to have an issue with additional money to K-12 just because its not going to the K-12 bucket that they happen to like or prefer, Toma said. Voucher access was expanded last year The rapid growth has occurred because, until last year, vouchers were available only to students who met certain conditions. These included having special needs, being foster children, residents of tribal reservations or attending schools rated D or F. Total enrollment was just shy of 12,000 far short of any of the current projections. All those preconditions are now gone, making any of the 1.1 million students in K-12 schools eligible. In making his own $900 million estimate of voucher costs, Horne sidestepped the question of whether there is enough money in the $17.8 billion state budget to support the increase in the number of private school students now expected to rely on state funds for their education. Right now, were relying on basic state aid, he said, based on the premise that these students actually were going to public schools until now. If we conclude that more is needed, we will have to deal with that at the time. At least part of the reason there has been a big influx of applications for vouchers is due to Horne himself. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: Arizonas border communities are rich in culture and commerce. They serve as hubs for Mexicans coming to work in Arizona, Arizonans heading to work in Mexico, and family members crossing the border daily to attend school, visit family, shop, and vacation. Our ports of entry are economic drivers for our state and region. But while they serve a critically important role in Americas economy, theyre also a main hub for fentanyl trafficking. While billions of dollars in manufacturing and agricultural products come through our ports of entry, so do billions of dollars tied to fentanyl trafficking. My bill, The Buck Stops Here Act, disrupts the supply chain and stops traffickers from laundering their dirty money. When I visited the Mariposa Port of Entry, I saw the fentanyl pills CBP had seized at the port. The size of an aspirin, these drugs do not require stuffing kilos of the product into the doors of cars or the floors of trailers. Traffickers can stash these small, easy-to-hide pills anywhere. In fact, CBP officers in Nogales showed me an older persons walker filled with thousands of pills. Our CBP agents work tirelessly each day to intercept fentanyl as it comes across our ports of entry, but so long as theres a market, traffickers and cartels will make billions all while endangering Arizonans. Thats why any solution to the fentanyl crisis needs to hit the cartels where it hurts: their bank accounts. The Buck Stops Here Act grants the U.S. Treasury Departments Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to go after those laundering cartel money. Under the bill, the Treasury Department can identify and designate the banks, transactions, and accounts connected with fentanyl trafficking. From there, Treasury can act swiftly to seize assets and more effectively criminalize and penalize those entities funding the fentanyl supply chain. While my bill would be a first in the federal governments efforts to go after fentanyl-related money laundering, the concept isnt new. Leading up to the war in Ukraine, Congress through the National Defense Authorization Act granted the Treasury Department similar authority to go after Russian money laundering. And since receiving that authority, Treasury has successfully stopped Russia from cleaning its dirty money. Now we need to apply that same authority to fentanyl traffickers. Im proud of our efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I secured language in this years national defense budget to know the extent the crisis has on our national security. That provision, along with going after the cartels money, is a step in the right direction. Im working with my colleagues in Washington to end the fentanyl epidemic. Ive explained to them what Im hearing from Customs and Border Protection in Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise counties. And Ive seen it for myself the fentanyl crisis is getting worse and worse each year. If we want to keep Southern Arizona a hub for business and continue growing our states economy, the time to act is now. Traffickers have, for too long, made billions while thousands of Arizonans have died. Thats why Im committed to doing everything I can to fight back. The buck stops here. Rep. Ruben Gallego is a Marine Corps combat veteran who served in Iraq. He is a member of Congress for Arizonas third congressional district and sits on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee. Palm Beach Post. July 24, 2023. Editorial: Personal benefits of slavery bring ridicule to Florida How much ridicule can the Sunshine State take? Bad enough our state has a reputation for the bizarre, the insane, the unusual and the unseemly. But, what now passes for state leadership in K-12 education in Florida has gone beyond a bad punch line. Our states an embarrassment. The thought that anyone would believe the nonsense coming out of the Florida Board of Education, that enslavement brought personal benefits to those considered no more than chattel, is preposterous. Yet, that didnt stop the Florida Board of Education last week from making that an official guideline, or Gov. Ron DeSantis from doubling down in support. Pity the teachers faced with having to explain that bit of malarkey to students. Theyre probably going to show that some of the folks eventually parlayed, you know, being a blacksmith, into doing things later in life, DeSantis said Friday, when asked about the guidelines lambasted as whitewash. The guidelines too neatly fit into a political agenda that creates protections for students and workers who might feel guilt, anguish or any form of psychological distress due to race, sex or national origin. The new standards also require younger students to recognize and identify Black luminaries in American history. But that wont go far, given our state laws that have teachers looking over their shoulders if they go too far in explaining the historical significance of those individuals, a still key part to classroom instruction and education. Supporters of the change can argue all they want about how the slavery part was age appropriate and that other parts of the new African American History standards are robust. Theyve lost most sensible people with the absurdity about slavery that dovetails so nicely with the Stop WOKE law and DeSantis flagging presidential bid. The implication that slavery was somehow good for its victims is inaccurate, outlandish and abhorrent. Nothing good came from slavery, Americas original and ongoing sin. Yet, heres our state once again on a national stage facing a thunderous laugh track response to its defense of a teaching standard thats indefensible. South Florida Sun Sentinel. July 22, 2023. Editorial: The Florida insurance crisis demands more than talk and tantrums Farmers Insurance, the latest underwriter to give up on Florida, is leaving some 100,000 policyholders in the lurch. It might appear that Tallahassee has failed again to stabilize a market as essential to homeowners as their mortgages and equity. To hear Gov. Ron DeSantis tell it, Floridas new laws just need more time to show that theyre working. Also needed is a miracle: No major hurricanes this year. Appearing on a conservative talk radio show to tout his presidential campaign, DeSantis said he thinks more insurance companies will invest in Florida after the hurricane season. Knock on wood So, knock on wood, we wont have a big storm this summer. Then I think youre going to start to see companies see an advantage, he said. Despite record heat that has left surrounding oceans figuratively boiling, NOAA a part of the Commerce Department that DeSantis promises to abolish is predicting a near normal hurricane season for the nations most exposed state. Normal has averaged a hurricane a year since 2016, including the catastrophic Category 4 Ian in 2022 from which southwest Florida has yet to recover. Ninos, like the one now developing in the Pacific, inhibit Atlantic hurricanes. But they dont necessarily prevent them, and ocean heat fuels them. If DeSantis wood-knocking fails, it might be obvious sooner than later that the new law making it harder to sue insurance companies and creating an optional $3 billion reinsurance program doesnt resolve other issues. Those include Floridas unique exposure to wind damage and rising costs of repairs. Floridas homeowner insurance premiums are either the highest or second highest in the nation, depending on whos counting. They far exceed the national average and keep rising. No mention of lawsuits Significantly, Farmers did not mention lawsuits in its letter notifying the state Office of Insurance Regulation that it would be limiting its exposure in Florida by dropping an estimated 100,000 of its branded homeowners, auto and umbrella policies. It said its affiliated companies would remain, preserving about 70% of its business in the state. Insurance, although an absolute necessity for nearly everyone and a staple of the economy, is still a commercial business. As such, it is responsible to its stockholders for profits and to its policyholders for maintaining sufficient reserves. But there is no general duty to the public at large as there would be if it were regulated and guaranteed profits like electric and natural gas utilities do. No conceivable law would require a company to do business where it does not care to. Insurance is also the only financial sector that federal law leaves exclusively to state regulation. The quality of that regulation varies. DeSantiss reaction to Farmers announcement was mature compared to that of Jimmy Patronis, Floridas chief financial officer, whose portfolio includes OIR, the Office of Insurance Regulation. Patronis anti-woke tantrum Patronis accused the company of woke policies and virtue signaling that have nothing to do with its decision. (Woke is the new buzzword for anything that some Republicans dont want voters to like.) The CFO said Farmers is well on its way to becoming the Bud Light of insurance, implying that consumers should boycott it. He threatened to have his office of consumer protection investigate Farmers and drag it before the Legislature (which only legislators can do). He accused it of being ungrateful for the new anti-lawsuit laws. When his hissy fit concluded, he hadnt said a word about seeing to a healthier insurance market by making new construction more storm-resistant, by restricting or banning reconstruction in more vulnerable locations, or by imposing pro-consumer, anti-price gouging restrictions on the cost of building materials in the wake of natural disasters. Patronis worked in a family-owned restaurant in Panama City and was a member of the state House when then-Gov. Rick Scott appointed him to replace CFO Jeff Atwater, who resigned. Patronis had no special professional qualifications for the office other than the fact that he was one of Scotts earliest supporters. The chief financial officer actually has little authority over the insurance market. The OIR is housed for administrative purposes in his Department of Financial Affairs, but Patronis has only one vote on the four-member board that appoints the director and oversees the OIR. The others are the governor, the attorney general and the commissioner of agriculture. Michael Yaworsky, the new OIR commissioner DeSantis nominated, was relatively restrained in his letter to Farmers. He complained, reasonably so, that Farmers gave the state no opportunity to consult before announcing its decision. He also acknowledged that Farmers told him it was pulling back across the country and not solely focused on Florida. Echoing DeSantis optimism, Yaworsky cited favorable signs since the new legislation of increased capacity and decreased cost in the reinsurance market and more interest in commercial companies acquiring policies from Citizens Insurance, the state-run carrier of last resort. Farmers announcement cited catastrophic costs at historically high levels and reconstruction costs continuing to climb as the reasons for a pause on writing new homeowners policies. It is hardly the first company to do so. Since 2016, many other small companies have pulled out of Florida and 13 became insolvent. The problem is too broad and too deep for Yaworskys polite rhetoric or Patronis tantrums to solve. Tampa Bay Times. July 21, 2023. Editorial: Florida history lesson: Slavery as an unpaid internship? Here is why Floridas new guidelines for teaching African American history need some work. The guidelines also say that teachers lessons should examine the various duties and trades performed by slaves (e.g., agricultural work, painting, carpentry, tailoring, domestic service, blacksmithing, transportation). Fair enough. Some slaves did, in fact, perform trades and learn skills. But these guidelines de-emphasize the back-breaking, life-shortening fieldwork on the cotton, rice and sugar cane plantations as agricultural work, just one of many trades. In all cases, this was forced labor required of Black people who were enslaved. That should never be downplayed. Trying to humanize slaves and showing school children that enslaved people had inner lives is important. But teaching students that enslaved people could acquire skills doesnt really do that or help students explore anything about their hopes, their dreams or their fears. In fact, teaching that their skills could sometimes be applied for their personal benefit rather misses the point. It runs the risk of making slavery seem somehow more benign than it was. Yes, some slaves were skilled artisans who could earn wages and buy a few things of their own. But they never owned their own bodies. They belonged to the slave master. Think of the enslaved Sam Williams, a skilled ironworker in Virginia in the mid-19th century. When he surpassed the iron production quota required of him by his owner, he earned money that he used to buy his wife a pair of buckskin gloves, a shawl, a silk handkerchief and other presents for his four daughters, his mother and father. A valued and skilled artisan, he still never learned to read and write. He was a family man with a full life. But a slave. Much good can come of teaching details and nuances of slavery, such as Mr. Williams story, discovered through ledgers kept by the iron forge where he worked. An accomplished teacher could bring a slaves humanity alive. Think of Frederick Douglass, who was 20 years a slave and nine years a fugitive until English friends raised $711.66 to buy his freedom in 1845 after he was already a famous orator, author and abolitionist. As a boy, he had seen bloody whippings of fellow slaves. He was taught to read by a woman who inherited him and had never owned a slave before. He became a strong man who helped to build sailing ships. When he had the chance to escape, he took it. Though he had learned skills as a slave that could be applied for (his) personal benefit, the thing he wanted most was to be a free man. Widely considered the most photographed American of the 19th century, he never smiled in a portrait because he wanted to fight the popular myth of the happy slave. Thats why a single phrase in Floridas educational guidelines can be so fraught. Sensitively used, personal benefit might help build a more complex picture of an enslaved persons full life. But it could easily be seen as a ham-fisted attempt to minimize the horror of slavery. The blowback against the new teaching standards has been fierce, including from the vice president of the United States. Supporters of the new guidelines are doubling-down in defense of them, which is exactly backward. They should instead be listening to the concerns and adapting to the legitimate worries of the critics. But this is the distrusting political and cultural climate in which we live. Thats too bad. The real truth and what should be emphasized is that slavery was an abomination that was beyond redemption. That people built their riches on the backs of people they literally owned. Even the slaveholder Thomas Jefferson called slavery a hideous blot and moral depravity. In an early draft of the Declaration of Independence, he blamed King George III for helping to perpetuate the transatlantic slave trade and wrote that in supporting slavery, the king waged cruel war against nature itself. Today, wed call that a crime against humanity. Jefferson, the countrys third president, who fathered children with his own slave Sally Hemings, understood that slavery was an unalloyed, corrupting evil. Florida schoolchildren should, too. Miami Herald. July 19, 2023. Editorial: Why does Florida warehouse disabled kids in nursing homes? For all the wrong reasons No disabled child should grow up in a nursing home. That should be obvious but in Florida, its not. For 10 long years, the state has been in court fighting litigation over its system of care for some of Floridas most severely disabled children. About 140 of these kids medically fragile children do, in fact, live in nursing homes. Another 1,800 are at risk of the same fate. Many of the children require constant care, and parents are forced to leave them in nursing homes. Some spend their entire lives there. Families who want to bring their children home and would be able to do so with government-paid, at-home nursing assistance and medical equipment find themselves caught in what one federal judge called a maze almost impossible for parents to escape. The state has a bewildering system of funding and care involving managed-care providers unaccountable to the state. Few parents in this situation have been able to bring children home, even if the child would be better off there and even if the cost would be similar to what the state spends to keep the child in a nursing-home bed. Now, as the Miami Herald reported, U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks has issued a ruling that offers the strongest hope so far that Floridas system might finally be reformed. He ordered last week that the state impose a series of changes that would require health administrators to provide the nursing that is minimally necessary for these children to go home and to keep a record of any failures to comply. Medicaid generally pays for the care of medically complex children, and costs can run into the millions. The states Agency for Health Care Administration, which oversees the state Medicaid program, has appealed Middlebrooks ruling. In the past, AHCA has argued that the failures to provide adequate care to severely disabled children are the fault of the managed-care companies that contract with the state to provide the services. Decade of battling This long-running battle stems from a lawsuit that said Floridas reliance on nursing homes in this situation is a violation of the childrens civil rights and runs counter to federal laws requiring disabled people to be housed in homes or community settings whenever possible. As the judge wrote in his order, issued after a trial in May, Florida has made it so hard for parents to obtain the needed care and services outside of institutions that few manage it. In other words, its a trap. And one of the biggest problems apparently is that families arent able to get enough hours of nursing care for their children. The judge suggested raising the wages of nurses as a basic step. That would seem to be the least we can do, under the circumstances. The difficulties facing the children and parents in this case are heart wrenching, Middlebrooks noted. The parents love for their children is palpable, and their actions are heroic; they jeopardize their own health, employment and time with their other children in order to care for their medically fragile child in their home. The children stuck in nursing homes can find it to be an isolating, lonely and scary experience. Jade Quinones, who spent four years in a pediatric nursing home in Plantation, is now 19. She communicates by tablet and is an enthusiastic reader. She wants to be a romance author: I mean, what is not to love about love? But she also recounted times, during her nursing home stay, when caregivers didnt keep her clean. She said she felt fear and panic when her breathing equipment became dislodged and she had to wait for someone to help. She became depressed and didnt want to wake up, something that has changed now that she has become one of the lucky ones and gone home. Florida must stop warehousing its most vulnerable children in nursing homes if there are other options. It must stop expecting parents of severely disabled kids, who are already in an unimaginably hard situation, to navigate ridiculous bureaucracy to get the help they need. And it must stop trying to shift the blame to managed-care companies. This is a failure to do the right thing, and the state needs to take on the responsibility to fix it. Orlando Sentinel. July 23, 2023. Editorial: Editorial: How secrecy threatens our water supply Central Floridians take clean, affordable water as their birthright. And for generations, it has been. The vast underground aquifers that supply almost all of Floridas drinking water do a remarkable job of filtering out contaminants from roads, farm fields, lawns and parking lots that cover more of Floridas surface every day. But there are clear signs of big trouble such as the drastic die-off of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon; the algae blooms or thick layers of muck in areas where theyve never been seen before and the increasing number of Florida springs that are reporting unsafe levels of bacteria. Those are just the threats we see. As the Sentinel has reported over the past two weeks in its series Toxic Secret, more subtle chemicals have been unleashed into local water supplies, ones that are hard to detect and even harder sometimes impossible to remove. This creates a true dilemma for responsible water utilities. Central Florida water utilities report that the water they supply is clean and safe to drink even in the areas covered by the T oxic Secret investigation. But across the nation, many utilities have seen reports indicating that their own water supplies have been infiltrated by substances tied to cancer, hormonal disruptions, birth defects and other devastating health conditions. What they lack, in many cases, is good data on how much contamination is too much. What they know is that the cost of state-of-the-art filtration systems might drive utility bills so high that clean water becomes a luxury. There are no easy answers. We wish there were. Forever toxins The Sentinel series focuses on one particular contaminant a compound known as 1,4-dioxane, found in three Seminole County water supplies. In part 3 of the series, writer Kevin Spear refers to the chemical 1,4-dioxane as sinister because of its elusive qualities: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hasnt set limits on it yet, but in quantities considered to be carcinogenic just 10 parts per million its absolutely undetectable by humans. Though it can break down quickly when exposed to air, in Floridas underground system of aquifers its considered a forever chemical that doesnt go away. Conventional water-treatment plants and home filtration systems dont remove it from the water supply. And the cancers its most often tied to wont show up immediately. But the truly sinister thing is this: 1,4-dioxane is just one of a multitude of forever chemicals that can sneak into public water supplies or invade our bodies. Many of them were introduced through careless handling at manufacturing plants, but some can be found in products that homeowners use themselves such as shampoos, household cleaners and home-improvement supplies. Heres just one example, albeit a massive one: If youve ever squirted bug spray at a roach in your shower stall, or washed an old non-stick pan that was flaking, you may have released one of the thousands of chemicals grouped under the heading of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS into the water supply. Some of the chemicals in this group have already been discontinued because of clear ties to cancer and other health problems, but they are still pervasive found in clothing, furniture and even fast-food wrappers. Theyve been detected in hundreds of water supplies across the country. Like 1,4-dioxane, most of these substances arent routinely tested for or filtered out. Moreover, these chemicals can be dangerous in incredibly small concentrations, especially when consumed over long periods of time. To understand what one part per million is, well borrow an example from a TED video by science educator Kim Preshoff: In a truck loaded with 1,250 ears of corn, one part per million would be close to the weight of a single kernel. If youre not worried yet, consider this: Most of the studies of these micro-contaminants isolate and explore one compound at a time. Theres even less data about health outcomes when people consume small quantities of multiple toxins. From openess to advocacy Last week, we criticized local water utilities in Lake Mary, Sanford and Seminole County for not doing enough to inform their customers when 1,4-dioxane was first detected in their water; very few people the Sentinel contacted for comment had heard about it, including some elected officials and clean-water advocates in the affected communities. That could well be the key that unlocks the door to a solution: Getting a notice that says a toxin has been detected, in plain language that most water-utility customers can understand, could spur Americans to demand a more thorough national response to dangerous chemicals. More research, more stringent testing, tougher regulation of industries that use these chemicals in manufacturing and consumer products and funding for advanced municipal water-treatment systems. All this would be beyond the financial scope of one city, one county or even one state. It is, however, worthy of expanded national investment. That wont happen as long as these toxic secrets remain secret. END END Post and Courier. July 19, 2023. Editorial: We hope SC Ports Authority wins, but union victory wouldnt be disaster The dispute over whether union workers or state employees will operate the large ship-to-shore cranes at the Leatherman Terminal in North Charleston has moved from the political branches to the courts, which means the time for over-the-top rhetoric should have ended. Of course thats not how things work in our country with politically charged disputes, and this one is no different. As The Post and Couriers David Wren reports, leading up to a rally last week at the S.C. Statehouse where the dispute will not be resolved the president of the local chapter of the International Longshoremens Association charged that Gov. Henry McMaster was trying to push workers back a century by breaking a signed master agreement between the ILA and the shipping lines in order to drive the wages of dock workers down further towards oblivion and working conditions towards danger. Not to be outdone, reports Skyler Laird, Mr. McMaster suggested that if unionized dockworkers prevail in the states appeal the National Labor Relations Board, to no ones surprise, sided with the union that will hurt South Carolinas economic growth. To allow the union to prevail on their effort at the port would be harmful for the port, a disaster for the state, would send a wrong message to the country and world about doing business in South Carolina and would set us back, the governor told reporters. Although we support South Carolinas so-called right-to-work law, and like Mr. McMaster we disagree with the notion that a S.C. win would take jobs away from the union workers it would merely stop the union from claiming new jobs that traditionally would have gone to state employees we find the governors rhetoric particularly disturbing. Because unlike union representatives, hes the governor, and his comments reflect on our state. To be clear, companies do not locate in South Carolina based on decisions by the National Labor Relations Board or the federal courts. They locate here because of a large variety of factors, one of which obviously is our status as the least-unionized state in the nation. Even if the three-judge panel considering the appeal decides in favor of the union, that will not change. Its absurd to suggest that our state would suffer a disaster or be set back in any significant way even if union dockworkers are able to claim all of the jobs at the underused Leatherman terminal rather than continuing with the hybrid model employed at other S.C. ports and ports in Georgia and North Carolina. Indeed, the closest thing to a disaster or setback in this whole dispute is the fact that the State Ports Authority has not been able to make significant use of the Leatherman terminal, after all the money S.C. taxpayers poured into the facility. The larger disaster would be for that impasse to continue to drag on. Were also disturbed by Mr. McMasters promise that the state will appeal the lower court decision to the U.S. Supreme Court if the union prevails. If the judicial panel that heard oral arguments last month rules in favor of the union, it might well turn out that theres a legitimate reason to appeal. But the fact that we lose a lawsuit is not by itself a legitimate reason to appeal. Please read that last sentence again, and think about it in terms of every court decision you care about. And yes, we realize a lot of you are saying the idea of waiting to read a court decision before deciding whether to appeal is quaint. But it shouldnt be, just as whether we think a decision is legitimate or not shouldnt be made before we read it, or at least understand the legal basis. That part about appeals is particularly true when the decision is being made by our government. We dont have a right to expect anything from the union, which is a private organization to which we and most of our readers do not belong. We do, however, have a right to expect a certain level of behavior from our government, whether we agree with its political goals, as we do in this case, or we dont, as is the case at other times. We should be able to expect that our government will not take up the time of our courts or force private entities to spend money fighting an appeal thats based simply on the fact that we dont like a lower-court decision. For that matter, government shouldnt be wasting court time and opponents resources filing or fighting lawsuits that are based on what we want the law or the constitution to say rather than what they actually say. Yes, thats considered a quaint idea too. But that doesnt make it wrong. Times and Democrat. July 25, 2023. Editorial: Threat posed by hot vehicles is sadly very real If you want to know the danger a hot vehicle can pose to humans and animals, go outside to your car after it has been sitting all day. Get inside and close the door. No air-conditioning. Stay there for five minutes. You will appreciate the danger from the heat. South Carolina has had 22 hot car deaths since 1998. In 2022, there were 33 deaths across the nation affecting children from Idaho to New Jersey and throughout the south from California to Florida. These deaths are 100% preventable, and according to the National Safety Council, each death was linked to one of three primary circumstances: parents or caregivers forget a child in a vehicle, a child gains access to the unlocked vehicle or someone knowingly had a child harnessed or locked in the vehicle. A common misconception is parents dont realize how quickly the temperature will rise in a parked vehicle, said Kevin Poore, program coordinator with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Controls Division of Injury and Substance Abuse Prevention and director of Safe Kids South Carolina. A car can heat up nearly 20 degrees in 10 minutes, and cracking a window doesnt help. DHEC is supporting a Prevent Vehicular Heatstroke educational campaign by distributing Look Before You Lock materials to Safe Kids Coalitions around the state. This includes wrist tags designed to remind a driver to check for a child in the backseat before exiting the car. The tags are designed to be worn on the wrist while driving and only after the child is safely removed from the car does the bracelet get attached back to the harness. The intention is that if a caregiver walks away from the vehicle with this tag still on their wrist, the tags presence will alert the caregiver to the fact that their child is still in the vehicle. Another tip for parents and caregivers to prevent hot car deaths is to remember to ACT: A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving a child alone in a car. Make sure to keep your car locked when youre not inside of it, so kids dont get into it on their own. C: Create reminders. Keep a stuffed animal or other memento in your childs car seat when its empty and move it to the front seat as a visual reminder when your child is in the back seat. Or place and secure your phone, briefcase, or purse in the back seat when traveling with your child. T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life. DHEC Director Dr. Edward Simmer is right: No child or pet for that matter should ever die or be harmed from being in a hot car. By taking some simple steps, parents and caregivers can ensure this never happens. The Look Before You Lock educational materials are available for anyone to download and print at schdec.gov/hotcars. Look Before You Look keychains are available for free, while supplies last, by emailing (email protected). END Two Tulsa restaurants were chosen as winners of the 2023 Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards, which honor the worlds best restaurants for wine. Lowood Modern Woodfire, 817 E. Third St., and the Polo Grill, 2038 Utica Square, were each awarded the Best of Award of Excellence, which honors restaurants where the wine lists offer a wide array of vintages from multiple wine-growing regions, as well as from specific wine producers, and superior presentation of wines at the restaurants. Restaurants that earn this designation typically offer 350 or more selections, and are considered destinations for serious wine lovers. The Polo Grill has long been praised for its superb wine program; in 2022, the restaurant was a semi-finalist for the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Program. Wine Spectator noted that the Polo Grill's wine cellar is strong in wines from California, Washington and Oregon, as well as the Burgundy and Champagne regions of France. Lowood was praised for its cellar that features vintages from California and France. One other Oklahoma restaurant, Boulevard Steakhouse in Oklahoma City, was awarded the Best of Award of Excellence. Three other Oklahoma City restaurants Flint in the Colcord Hotel, Thirty Nine Restaurant in the First Americans Museum and Vast were awarded the Award of Excellence. No Oklahoma restaurant earned the top designation, the Grand Award. A total of 3,505 restaurants received awards this year. Wine Spectator is the worlds leading authority on wine, whose print publication reaches about 3 million readers worldwide. winespectator.com. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Free street party Rock the block with QuikTrip before a Saturday, July 29, Paramore concert at BOK Center. A free street party outside BOK Center will take place before the show. Scheduled from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the street party will feature live music from Van Full of Nuns. People may attend even if they dont have tickets to the Paramore concert. Food trucks, beer, wine, Goldie Links Permanent Jewelry, Hair Tinsel, Rainbow Bowls, Andolinis and yard games will be part of the street party. One Book, One Tulsa The Tulsa City-County Librarys annual One Book, One Tulsa program concludes July 28 with an appearance by Michelle Zauner, author of the memoir Crying in H Mart, which is this years selection. Zauner will take part in a discussion of her book, which deals with growing up Korean American, losing her mother and forging her own identity, in a free event 6 p.m. Friday, July 28, at Central Library, 400 Civic Center. Following her presentation, Zauner will answer questions from the audience and sign books. Zauner is best known as the founder and vocalist of the alternative pop band Japanese Breakfast. Crying in H Mart is her first book. tulsalibrary.org. Jaws at the Aquarium "Jaws, the film that launched the summer blockbuster movie, and prompted millions to think twice before stepping into the ocean, will get a special showing 2 p.m. Sunday, July 30, at the Oklahoma Aquarium, 300 S. Aquarium Drive, in Jenks. Based on the bestseller by Peter Benchley and directed by Steven Spielberg, Jaws is the story of a small coastal town besieged by a great white shark, and the intrepid trio that set out to slay this underwater dragon. It will be shown amid the Western Hemispheres largest collection of bull sharks which, incidentally, was the type of shark that inspired the story in the first place. Each ticket includes complimentary popcorn and a free Sharklahoma T-shirt. Tickets are $15.95-$24.95. okaquarium.org. Land of the Lost tour If you grew up with the live-action Saturday morning dinosaur show Land of the Lost in the 1970s, be aware that Wesley Eure (Will) and Kathy Coleman (Holly) from the show are lost no longer and will embark on a mini-tour of Oklahoma this weekend. Eure and Coleman will be among guests at New World Comic Con, scheduled 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 29, at the fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. On Sunday, July 30, the Land of the Lost duo will make an appearance at the Chicken Shack, a popular Route 66 restaurant in Arcadia. Eure and Coleman will arrive around noon and stay for 2-3 hours, according to an event organizer. Watch out for sleestaks at both tour stops. For information about New World Comic Con, go to newworldcomiccon.org. Long Island Medium The Long Island Medium, Theresa Caputo, is celebrating a 10th anniversary of being on tour. On Saturday, July 29, her current tour will bring her to the Cove, the River Spirit Casinos concert venue. TLCs Long Island Medium aired for 14 seasons. Last year, Caputo starred in Long Island Medium: There In Spirit on Discovery+. She is the host of her own weekly podcast, Hey Spirit!, which was nominated for an Ambie Award in the Best Personal Growth Spirituality category. For tickets to River Spirit events, go to riverspirittulsa.com. After recovering two bodies from inside a pickup truck submerged in Claremore Lake, police say it appears a 27-year-old man killed his ex-wife before turning the gun on himself late Monday. Officers initially had been flagged down at 11:30 p.m. Monday by a person concerned about a possible homicide in the 700 block of Comet Street, Claremore police said in a social media post. Evidence inside a house led investigators to believe someone had been injured, but the residence was unoccupied. Around the same time, another concerned citizen reported witnessing a pickup sinking into Claremore Lake. Police said that when they arrived, officers saw the vehicle become submerged but that responders had to wait until early Tuesday to recover the truck. The bodies of Candace Michelle Kehoe, 26, and George Dakota Gaddy Kehoe, 27, were found inside the pickup, police said. The formerly married couple from Claremore had recently become involved in child-custody issues, according to investigators. During this terrible event, the children involved were safe at a family members home, police said, adding that the Kehoes were connected to the house under investigation on Comet Street. Evidence in the pickup and from inside the house led investigators to the conclusion that Candace Kehoe likely was killed in a violent encounter with (George Kehoe), who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. An investigation into the murder-suicide remains ongoing. One day earlier, a man turned himself in to police related to the deaths of his ex-girlfriend and two other young women who were fatally shot in an east Tulsa apartment. The infant of the man and his ex-girlfriend was also shot but has survived. Late last week, authorities in Verdigris said a woman fatally shot her three children and then herself. Oklahoma saw a 44% increase in domestic violence-related deaths in 2020, when the OSBI found that reports of domestic abuse were at a 20-year high. According to the Violence Policy Center, Oklahoma ranks second in the nation for the rate at which women are murdered by men. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Curtis Killman Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Curtis Killman 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 Related content BOK Financial alleges defective ATMs made by Texas company cost bank $7.3 million in cash A man who had lived in the U.S. just nine months before his arrest has admitted to his involvement in a bank theft scheme called jackpotting, in which an automatic teller machine is forced to dispense cash. Eduardo Jose Mendez Garcia, 19, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Tulsa federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit bank larceny and one count of bank larceny. Mendez Garcia will be immediately deported after serving a nine-month prison sentence under the terms of the binding plea agreement with prosecutors. Garcia also agreed to forfeit cash he possessed when arrested and pay $35,200 in restitution to the bank that owned the ATM. The deal requires judicial approval. Mendez Garcia is accused of being one of nine people seen on surveillance video May 19 milling around a TransFund ATM machine inside a QuikTrip store in the 500 block of North Sheridan Road. The group arrived at the store just after armored truck guards had refilled the machine, according to court records. After tampering with the ATM to get it to dispense unauthorized amounts of cash, the nine took turns withdrawing cash until police arrived after about an hour, scattering the crew. Mendez Garcia, the only one of the nine to be arrested, had $800 in cash on him after he was detained. He told police he had been living in Orlando for the past eight months after arriving there one month earlier from Venezuela. Garcia said he traveled May 17 from Orlando to Tulsa after an acquaintance asked him if he wanted to make money, according to an affidavit submitted by a U.S. Secret Service agent in support of an arrest warrant for Mendez Garcia. Once in Tulsa, the pair met up with others who were all instructed to go to the QuikTrip on North Sheridan where they and others took turns using a credit card to force the ATM to dispense unauthorized amounts of cash. BOK Financial, which owns the machine through its affiliate TransFund, later told police that it lost over $35,000 in cash at the ATM during the one-hour period the group was at the machine. Reasons for the plea agreement include the defendants acceptance of responsibility and his desire to resolve the case as quickly as possible so he can resolve any collateral immigration issues. Conspiracy to commit bank larceny and bank larceny carry maximum statutory sentences of five and 10 years in prison, respectively. BOK Financial has filed two civil lawsuits in Tulsa federal court regarding the ATM thefts: one against the maker of the ATMs and the other against the company that provided insurance coverage for large cash thefts. Nautilus Hyosung America Inc. defectively designed, manufactured and installed its model 5600 ATM with software that failed to provide adequate security against theft, TransFund claims. Both cases are pending, but in court filings Nautilus Hyosung America has denied wrongdoing, citing an agreement that they claim excludes all the types of damages claimed by BOK Financial. The ATM maker also claims that BOK Financial opted not to acquire encryption and security software when it purchased the devices. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Curtis Killman Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Curtis Killman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a one-week stay of an appeals court decision that stripped the city of Tulsa of the right to issue traffic tickets to tribal citizens. The stay came at the request of the city of Tulsa, which a week ago saw a similar request rejected by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. The city is seeking to delay the Wednesday effective date of the appeals courts June 28 ruling, which determined that the city could not rely on a 19th century law to justify its ticketing of tribal citizens following the U.S. Supreme Courts landmark ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma. The city sought the stay while it asks the U.S. Supreme Court to consider reviewing the appellate court ruling. The decision overturned a municipal court ruling that, under the Curtis Act, the city of Tulsa had the jurisdiction to ticket Choctaw citizen Justin Hooper for speeding. The June ruling expanded the reach of the McGirt ruling, which determined that the state of Oklahoma did not have jurisdiction to prosecute tribal citizens for major crimes committed within the Muscogee Nation reservation because Congress had never explicitly dissolved the reservation. The stay was necessary, the city argued, because otherwise, the mandate would require the city to conduct a significant change in the way it proceeds with law enforcement, code enforcement, municipal prosecution and other important aspects of city business, according to a court filing by the city. Since McGirt, numerous issues have surfaced which had lain fallow for more than a century, the city argued in its application to the Supreme Court for a stay. Among them is whether municipalities, like Tulsa, which incorporated pursuant to the Curtis Act of 1898, are empowered to apply municipal ordinances equally to all inhabitants of the city. Both Hooper and tribal officials have argued that Tulsa police can still issue tickets to tribal citizens under cross-deputization agreements already in place with area tribes. Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, who is assigned to the 10th Circuit, stayed the issuance of the mandate until 4 p.m. Aug. 2. He gave Hooper until Monday to file a response to the citys application for a stay. Hoopers attorney argued to the appellate court that the citys request for a stay was not warranted or justified. The only support (the city) provides (for a stay) comes in the form of unsupported allegations of disruption to its government functions and law enforcement that would stem from adherence to the law in this case, said John M. Dunn, Hoopers attorney. Gov. Kevin Stitt issued a statement Thursday regarding the Supreme Court's stay of the appellate court decision. "I am encouraged that the United States Supreme Court delayed the implementation of the 10th Circuits devastating decision in Hooper v. City of Tulsa, Stitt said in the statement. If the Hooper decision stands, the City of Tulsa, using their own words to the Supreme Court, ...will no longer be able to enforce violations of municipal ordinances against Indian inhabitants. "We must operate under one set of rules, regardless of race, heritage or background, and cannot allow Tulsa and much of the rest of eastern Oklahoma to be turned into a reservation." Editor's note: This story was updated after publication to add a statement in response sent Thursday by the office of the governor. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Curtis Killman Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Curtis Killman 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 A federal jury has found a white supremacist gang member guilty of murdering a man in Osage County in 2021. The jury deliberated about eight hours Wednesday before finding Bennie Frank Withrow IV, 37, guilty of the first-degree murder of Dustin Tucker, 31, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office in Tulsa. The jury also found Withrow guilty of discharging a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. Withrow is a member of the Universal Aryan Brotherhood, a white supremacist gang based in Oklahoma prisons, according to prosecutors. The trial was held over seven days in Tulsa federal court. Withrow will serve a no-parole life sentence because prosecutors did not seek the death penalty. He will be formally sentenced at a date to be determined. Tuckers body was found Dec. 20, 2021, on restricted tribal land in Prue, in Osage County. He had been shot multiple times. Prosecutors theorized that Tucker was shot in retaliation for ratting out a drug dealer to police. Withrow denied any involvement in the shooting. Weeks earlier, Tucker and his girlfriend had been stopped by Tulsa police after buying drugs for a friend at a Tulsa residence, according to prosecutors. Withrow allegedly told the girlfriend that he would take care of things after he was informed that Tucker had told police the drug dealers identity. Both Withrow and the drug dealer were affiliated with the UAB, according to government officials. Prosecutors alleged that Withrow shot Tucker while the pair and another UAB member were en route to an Osage County casino on Dec. 9, 2021. Prosecutors claimed that Withrow shot Tucker after he persuaded the other two to get out of the vehicle in a field so they could do some drugs. Tuckers body was found Dec. 20, 2021, on an oil field lease on tribal land held in federal trust for the benefit of the Osage Nation. Tucker was a member of the Cherokee Nation. Withrow was serving a five-year prison sentence when he was charged with Tuckers murder. Withrow, who was released from prison in May 2021, was sent back to prison after he violated the terms of his probation in a 2011 Rogers County drug distribution case. Withrow was among the dozens listed as injured after fights broke out among rival gang members in six Oklahoma prisons in September 2019. He has served time dating back to 2005 for drug-related crimes. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. (Photo : YUKI IWAMURA/AFP via Getty Images) Authorities recovered a "massive amount" of evidence from the "cluttered" residence of Gilgo Beach murder suspect Rex Heuermann. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced that the search of Rex Heuermann's Long Island residence has concluded following the discovery of "considerable evidence" in the Gilgo Beach serial killings. The district attorney stated that it would take "some time" for experts to evaluate the "massive amount of evidence" seized from the disorganized residence, which includes approximately 279 firearms. Gilgo Beach Murders Suspect's Home Search Ends Using ground-penetrating radar, an excavator, and a police dog, investigators had been excavating in Heuermann's Massapequa Park backyard for days, according to Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison on Monday. Authorities have suspected that Heuermann committed the murders in his residence, which is less than a mile from where the women's remains were discovered, as per CNN. Heuermann was apprehended in New York City, where he worked as an architectural consultant, on July 13 and charged with murder in the deaths of three of the "Gilgo Four" - women whose remains were discovered in 2010 along a brief stretch of Ocean Parkway in Gilgo Beach. In the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello, he has pled not guilty. The 59-year-old architect is also the leading suspect in the disappearance and murder of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, but he has not been charged in connection with this case. According to a source involved in the investigation, the disappearances occurred during periods when Heuermann's family was out of town, suggesting that he may have lured victims to the home where he resided with his wife, daughter, and stepson. "We have concluded our examination of the Gilgo residence." Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney told reporters. He refrained from stating whether he believed any murders took place on the Massapequa Park property, according to USA Today. Tierney refused to comment when asked if anyone might have been murdered at Heuermann's residence. The arrest of Heuermann in front of his office in Manhattan was the most significant action in the decades-long investigation into bodies discovered along Gilgo Beach. Read Also: Ohio Voters To Decide About Abortion Rights Protection in November Long Island Serial Killer Case Since his arrest, police have scoured his home and yard for evidence relating to the murders of sex workers as well as any other possible victims. Heuermann has pled not guilty and stated, "I did not do this," according to defense attorney Michael Brown. He is detained without bond. Per NY Times, the suspect's estranged wife and two adult children have vacated the property, and crime scene investigators have spent the past week excavating the backyard and removing a variety of large and small domestic items. As they've worked, the home has become a tourism attraction for true crime enthusiasts and a daily camp for news crews covering the case. In 2010, the victims' corpses were discovered 20 minutes away from the Massapequa Park residence, bound and wrapped in burlap identically. Eleven bodies have been discovered along the miles-long stretch of shoreline on the South Shore, and law enforcement agencies in the region are investigating unsolved cases in which Mr. Heuermann may be a suspect. Tierney stated at a news conference held outside the residence on Tuesday that the authorities executed a search warrant that enabled them to use ground-penetrating technology to detect "a number of disturbances" in the backyard, indicating the presence of concealed objects. The accused serial killer was an architect whose practice included advising co-op directors on construction-related matters. The position granted him uncommon authority. Related Article: Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Hired by Donald Trump for Architect Job at NYC Property @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Related content Coverage of State Superintendent Ryan Walters: Read previous stories and columns from the Tulsa World archives The Oklahoma State Board of Education will be asked not to make a decision regarding Tulsa Public Schools 2022-23 accreditation status at its meeting Thursday morning. On Wednesday around noon, Oklahoma State Department of Education spokesman Matt Langston told the Tulsa World that State Superintendent Ryan Walters will recommend delaying action on Tulsa Public Schools accreditation status to the State Board of Educations August meeting. Langston said Walters had already shared that information with at least one lawmaker and some other concerned parties. TPS is scheduled to start the 2023-24 school year on Aug. 17 a full week before the State Board of Educations regularly scheduled August meeting. Speaking to reporters Wednesday at TPS Education Service Center, Superintendent Deborah Gist said she found out about Walters intent to delay the upcoming accreditation vote via Twitter less than an hour before her meeting with reporters and was not prepared to comment on its potential impact on the start of classes. If that (the delayed vote) holds to be true, then that is something we will have to understand as it unfolds, she said. When reached Wednesday afternoon, Langston said TPS would still be able to start classes on Aug. 17 under its accreditation status from the previous school year. School districts accreditation statuses are subject to annual review. An agenda for Thursdays State Board of Education meeting posted on the State Department of Educations Oliver Hodge Building in Oklahoma City shows that the board is slated to vote on the accreditation status of all the states public school districts. After a press conference Friday outside TPS Education Service Center, Walters implied to reporters that when it comes time to look at TPS accreditation, he will raise the issue of what he perceived to be a threat to a school board members religious freedom. Additionally, at both at Fridays press conference and a town hall event at Trinity Christian School in Lawton on Tuesday night, Walters accused TPS of financial mismanagement. I want to say this, folks, Walters said Tuesday night. I have an absolute huge frustration with Tulsa Public Schools. According to documents obtained by the Tulsa World via an open records request, TPS officials were advised that the accreditation office is recommending that the district as a whole be accredited with two deficiencies for the coming school year. Of the two deficiencies, one was due to a reports late submission. The other, referred to as lack of internal controls, is tied to findings in the districts annual external audit. Accepted by the districts school board in April, that audit flagged about $364,000 in questionable vendor contracts connected to former TPS Talent Management Director Devin Fletcher and indicated that Fletcher circumvented TPS disbursement and conflict of interest policies. Of the $364,000 paid to those vendors, $270,000 came from philanthropic donors. On Wednesday, Gist acknowledged the audit findings and said the district was notified about the additional accreditation deficiency connected to those audit findings in early July almost two months after it had been apprised of its original accreditation recommendation. I have taken full responsibility for the fact that we have handled it, she said of the financial discrepancy. We found it. We reported it. Weve addressed it. Weve done it in every possible way. School accreditation in Oklahoma has six tiers: accreditation with no deficiencies, accreditation with one deficiency, accreditation with deficiencies, accreditation with warning, accreditation with probation and non-accredited. A district or individual campus that is accredited with at least one deficiency means the site in question did not meet at least one standard but that the shortcoming does not detract from the overall quality of the schools or districts educational programs. Conversely, a district or individual campus that is accredited with a warning means the site fails to meet at least one state standard and that the deficiency does detract from the quality of the schools educational programs. Tulsa Public Schools state accreditation was downgraded in July 2022 over an allegation that it violated a state law commonly referred to as House Bill 1775, which limits classroom discussion on race and gender. The district was penalized for an August 2021 professional development session on implicit bias for teachers not students offered through a third-party vendor. Among the interested parties who were notified about the planned delay in TPS accreditation consideration was Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, who previously told the Tulsa World that he had reached out privately to the state superintendent about his relationship with the states largest public school district. Superintendent Walters and I had a good conversation this morning, and he let me know at that time that TPS accreditation would not be decided tomorrow, he said. He said TPS accreditation could be on the agenda for their August meeting. He offered to stay in touch over the next month so he can keep me updated, which I appreciate. Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Reporter Barbara Hoberock and Tulsa World Staff Writer Kevin Canfield contributed to this story. Ryan Walters says he is considering drastic action to fix Tulsa Public Schools "We are going to turn around these districts that have failed our kids," said Oklahoma's state superintendent. " We can fix these problems. We have allocated funds. #oklaed Kevin Canfield Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Kevin Canfield 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 Mayor G.T. Bynum isnt going to jump into the fray between Tulsa Public Schools and State Superintendent Ryan Walters. The mayor and most of the citys other elected officials have had little or nothing to say publicly about the controversies swirling around the school district. And Bynum said Monday that his approach wont be changing. Throughout my time as mayor, I have respected the independence of the three major school districts serving Tulsa. Their boards are independently elected, and their superintendents are professional educators, Bynum said. Each of the superintendents know I am eager to be of help when they identify opportunities for me to do so, and we have worked together well. They are the experts, and I am not going to publicly get out in front of them and tell them how to run a school district. Critical crowd grills Ryan Walters at Lawton town hall Answering a question, Walters spoke of radical gender ideology that says to be fully inclusive kids at an early age need to hear about all kinds of sex acts. #oklaed However, Bynum has reached out to Walters about the conflict privately, he said. Walters has been an outspoken critic of Tulsa Public Schools, both in his role as Oklahoma secretary of education, an appointed position, and as the elected state superintendent of education. Among other things, Walters has claimed that inappropriate sexual material is being targeted to students at TPS as part of a liberal indoctrination. Hes also accused the school district and Superintendent Deborah Gist of having a leftist and woke agenda. In the latest twist, Walters indicated last week that he would look to downgrade TPSs accreditation further after a Tulsa school board member was reprimanded for leading a prayer while in her official capacity during a graduation ceremony. The State Board of Education meets Thursday to consider school accreditations statewide. Bynum is aware of the meeting and said Monday that he has reached out to Walters to learn more about it. My communication with state officials will be directly with them not through the media, Bynum said. I have reached out to State Superintendent Walters to better understand his position and the possible consequences of any action by the State Board of Education. Municipal governments in Oklahoma, Tulsa included, have little power to affect how their school systems operate. But mayors often will throw their support behind school bond packages that fund infrastructure needs or will provide other assistance where appropriate and possible. In early 2016, while Bynum was a city councilor, Tulsans approved $10 million for teacher retention, recruitment and training as part of the Vision Tulsa sales tax package. The services were made available to all three school districts within the city: Jenks, Union and Tulsa. In his first few years as mayor, Bynum made local education a big part of his platform but has seldom highlighted the issue since. On my first day as mayor, we convened the Mayors Education Cabinet, which consists of the three K-12 superintendents, presidents of our higher education and career tech institutions, and pre-K leaders, Bynum said during his first State of the City address in 2017. The purpose of this group is to advise me on ways the city can be more helpful to local educators. A year later, he announced an initiative to bring together local educators, area elected officials and community members to come up with a plan for how Tulsans can improve their education system, from kindergarten through college. We must find a way to put ourselves in a position to act and to establish the best educational system that we can, Bynum said at the time. The Tulsa City Council has not spoken as a group about the Walters-TPS rift, but four councilors did express their concerns last year after three Tulsa school board members walked out of a board meeting. In an email to board members, the councilors urged them to work in good faith to address the needs of the students, families, teachers and staff. Decisions and actions made by School Board Members impact our entire City they certainly have a direct effect on the school community but your work also has major ramifications for our business and residential communities, the councilors wrote. All of us care deeply about what is happening within our local public schools regardless of whether or not we personally have loved ones either students or employees learning or working in them because we understand that schools are community anchors and the heart of our neighborhoods. Often, what happens within our public schools creates consequences that reach far beyond campuses and classrooms. The email was signed by Councilors Lori Decter Wright, Crista Patrick, Vanessa Hall-Harper and Kara Joy McKee. McKee no longer serves on the council. Neither Patrick, the City Council chairwoman, nor Tulsa Public Schools responded to requests for comment. CHARLESTON, W.Va. A half-century ago, the nation's top health experts urged the federal agency in charge of mine safety to adopt strict rules protecting miners from poisonous rock dust. The inaction since fueled by denials and lobbying from coal and other industries has contributed to the premature deaths of thousands of miners from pneumoconiosis, more commonly known as black lung." The problem has only grown in recent years as miners dig through more layers of rock to get to less accessible coal, generating deadly silica dust in the process. One former regulator called the lack of protection from silica-related illnesses stunning and one of the most catastrophic occupational health failures in U.S. history. Now the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration has proposed a rule that would cut the current limit for silica exposure by half a major victory for safety advocates. But there is skepticism and concern about the government following through after years of broken promises and delays. James Bounds, a retired coal miner from Oak Hill, West Virginia, said nothing can be done to reverse the debilitating illness he was diagnosed with at 37 in 1984. But he doesn't want others to suffer the same fate. Its not going to help me Im through mining, said Bounds, 75, who now uses supplemental oxygen to breathe. But we dont want these young kids breathing like we do." The rule, published in the Federal Register this month, cuts the permissible exposure limit for silica dust from 100 to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air for an 8-hour shift in coal, metal and nonmetal mines such as sand and gravel. The proposal is in line with exposure levels imposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on construction and other non-mining industries. And its the standard the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was recommending as far back as 1974. Silicosis is an occupational pneumoconiosis caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica dust present in minerals like sandstone. The U.S. Department of Labor began studying silica and its impact on workers health in the 1930s, but the focus on stopping exposure in the workplace largely bypassed coal miners. Instead, regulations centered on coal dust, a separate hazard created by crushing or pulverizing coal rock that also contributes to black lung. In the decades since, silica dust has become a major problem as Appalachian miners cut through layers of sandstone to reach less accessible coal seams in mountaintop mines where coal closer to the surface has long been tapped. Silica dust is 20 times more toxic than coal dust and causes severe forms of black lung disease even after a few years of exposure. An estimated one in five tenured miners in Central Appalachia has black lung disease; one in 20 has the most disabling form of black lung. Nobody should be dying because of a job they have. United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts Miners are also being diagnosed at younger ages some in their 30s and others with the advanced kind in their 40s. Thats just nuts, said Dr. Carl Werntz, a West Virginia physician who conducts black lung examinations and described cases as skyrocketing. United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts said there's no reason a 35-year-old miner should be diagnosed with a disease that's going to cost him his life. Nobody should be dying because of a job they have, Roberts said. The federal mine safety agency's existing silica standards were developed in the 1970s, around the time of the U.S. Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. Chris Williamson, assistant labor secretary for mine safety and health, said the proposed rule would protect miners health. Miners should never be forced to choose between preserving their health and providing for themselves and their families, he said. West Virginia University law professor Pat McGinley, who was part of a state team investigating the 2010 Upper Big Branch mining disaster that killed 29 miners, called the resurgence of black lung unparalleled when it comes to occupational health failures. In the Upper Big Branch mine, 71% of the 24 miners who received autopsies were found to have black lung. I cant think of any occupation where there has been such devastation thats been ignored by corporations and the government, he said. It's stunning. The new rule is supported by Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Bob Casey and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, and Mark Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia, who pushed for the change and released a joint statement saying protecting miners from dangerous levels of silica cannot wait. The Mine Safety and Health Administration will be collecting comments on the proposal through Aug. 28, with a final rule expected next year. Three hearings scheduled in Arlington, Virginia, Beckley, West Virginia, and Denver. One issue expected to come up: the use of respiratory protection equipment. The National Mining Association, which represents mine operators, wants workers to be permitted to use respirators as a method of compliance with the rule. Andrea Eger Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Andrea Eger 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 Related content Coverage of State Superintendent Ryan Walters: Read previous stories and columns from the Tulsa World archives Gov. Kevin Stitts latest Cabinet secretary of education resigned Tuesday after three months. In April, Stitt replaced controversial Education Secretary Ryan Walters with Katherine Curry, a college professor, with his spokesperson saying Walters remains a close adviser to the governor. Voters in November elected Walters as state superintendent. Upon her resignation Tuesday, Curry said: I valued my time working alongside him (Stitt) and the rest of his cabinet, but the complexity and political environment have led me to the conclusion that I can better serve Oklahomas students and future teachers by dedicating my time and energy to the classroom. I thank Governor Stitt for this honor and I trust that he will continue to fight for whats best for students across Oklahoma. The Governors Office says it will begin a search for a new secretary of education immediately. I deeply appreciated Dr. Currys service to Oklahoma and its students and families, Stitt said in a press announcement. The insight she brought as an educator was invaluable. I wish her all the best as she departs this position and returns to the classroom at Oklahoma State University. The secretary of education oversees 41 boards, agencies and commissions. 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 LAWTON A critical crowd at a Lawton town hall grilled State Superintendent Ryan Walters on Tuesday on his perspectives on issues ranging from the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre to inclusion and indoctrination. About 60 people attended the meeting at the Trinity Christian Academy, which had a police presence. A press conference Walters had held in Tulsa last week had been contentious, with protesters both supporting and opposing his views shouting throughout the event. Folks, for a long time we have had folks that are pushing things on our kids, Walters said at Tuesdays Lawton event. Weve had different politics being forced in the classroom. I want to get that out, and I want the focus to be on your kids being successful. Tulsa's mayor, City Council lie low amid Tulsa Public Schools, Ryan Walters spat Neither has had much of anything to say publicly about the swirling controversies, and it appears it will stay that way. Paula Bowen, an educator in Lawton, told Walters she has been deeply disturbed by some comments attributed to him about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. She said Walters had said racism wasnt an overriding factor in it. I find your comments insensitive, and I think you owe the descendants of the Tulsa Race Massacre an apology, she said. Walters said he appreciated the question but that that is not what he said, adding that that is how some media reported it. It was racists who made the decision to hurt people based on the color of their skin, he said, adding that that is how the history should be taught in classrooms. But I do not believe that you teach students that they are racist because of the color of their skin, Walters said. Janette Garton, who just retired from teaching, asked Walters to provide specific examples of students being indoctrinated, as he frequently claims. She said she and other teachers she knows are teaching the basics. In most classrooms, they dont, Walters maintained. He said that as part of inclusion efforts, some school districts said they were teaching elementary students about homosexuality and other issues. Answering a question from another individual, Walters spoke of radical gender ideology that says to be fully inclusive kids at an early age need to hear about all kinds of sex acts. They need to be told that you can change genders. Hey, folks. This doesnt need to be in a school. It is politization of our schools. It needs to be firmly rejected. Linda Alexander, a retired teacher, asked Walters about the fairness of transferring public dollars to private schools. Walters backed state tax credits for parents who send their children to private schools. It is not equal for a child that comes homeless, hungry and from violence to be in the same situation as someone that their parents can send them to the best of schools, she said. Walters said the funds are taxpayer dollars and should be used to educate the children of taxpayers. He said that while he personally relies on public schools, he thinks parents should have a choice between public and private education for their children. Shelly McKee, principal of Trinity Christian Academy, the private school that hosted the town hall, said her school is not a school for rich, elite families and is not a threat to anyone. We all have the same goal, and that is to give these kids the best possible opportunity at success, and that may look different for every family, McKee said. A woman who identified herself as local pastor said hearing rhetoric about queering the classroom or indoctrination is difficult for her because of the negative impact it has on students and families. She asked Walters to recognize that we are all Gods children and that those children are committing suicide at a rate that is off the charts. She asked him to have compassion. Walters supported a law that required students to use the school restrooms designated for their biological gender. Walters said every child should be treated with dignity. Folks, I also believe we have to stand for truth, he said. We are not going to say boys can go into the girls bathrooms because some identify as a sex different from their biological gender. With 100 million people and over half of the country being Gen Z and millennials, Vietnam is considered one of the most dynamic and pioneering countries in the South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (SAMPMENA) zone, where LOreals local subsidiary is driving innovative solutions and a high sense of social responsibility within the beauty industry. Vismay Sharma, L'Oreal president of South Asia Pacific, Middle East, and North Africa (SAPMENA) In mid-July, Vismay Sharma, LOreal SAPMENA president visited Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. This trip left him with many positive impressions regarding the market potential and the future of the beauty industry in the country. Sharma gave Tuoi Tre News an interview. Vietnam is a big opportunity You have been visiting many markets annually. How do you assess the beauty industry market in Vietnam for this trip? For LOreal, Vietnam is a very strategic market with 100 million people. From an economic perspective, Vietnam has been experiencing rapid growth for many years, and this trend is expected to continue. As the economy flourishes, consumers have more purchasing power, leading to an increased desire to enhance their beauty, health, and well-being. Let's take skincare as an example. The fact that consumers are spending more money on premium (skincare) products and experiences represents a significant opportunity for LOreal, as we invest heavily in research and technology. LOreal Groupe has around 4,000 scientists and is investing at least one billion euros annually in R&D to develop new products with enhanced formulations, and we take pride in introducing these products to Vietnam. We intend to maintain this trend because Vietnam is an important market, having a young consumer base and an increasingly prosperous society, which will drive an increase in demand. All of these factors contribute to our optimism in this market. Where does Vietnam currently stand in your zone? I oversee a region known as SAPMENA, an acronym for South Asia Pacific, Middle East, and North Africa. This expansive area comprises 35 countries and territories where LOreal products are available, spanning from New Zealand to Morocco. Vismay Sharma, LOreal SAPMENA president, says, LOreals subsidiary in Vietnam showcases remarkable dynamism and creativity. Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing markets in SAPMENA, positioning the country as a key player in LOreals strategic planning. The country is a highly digital market, with e-commerce playing a crucial role, including social commerce (selling products through social networks). Vietnamese people are also entrepreneurial and quick to innovate, coming up with new solutions and ideas. LOreals subsidiary in Vietnam showcases remarkable dynamism and creativity, serving as a source of fresh ideas that we then replicate across multiple countries in the region. To put it simply, Vietnam is a significant base to shape the future of beauty and our operations. A prime example is our exploration of social commerce. It was in Vietnam that we first experimented with this concept, refining the model before implementing it in other countries in SAPMENA. So Vietnam holds great importance for us beyond consumer demand and business growth, its spirit of innovation is also a key factor. Beauty tech for good You just mentioned technology and creativity in the beauty industry. How does L'Oreal utilize beauty technology to improve people's lives? Apart from utilizing technology to create better products, we also leverage it to enhance user experiences. For example, our La-Roche Posay brand offers a technology called Spotscan, an AI-based solution developed in collaboration with dermatologists, using actual consumer photos to assess the severity of acne. With this technology, users can gauge the severity of their acne and discover appropriate solutions. The future of the beauty industry will be shaped by technologies, remarks Vismay Sharma, LOreal SAPMENA president. Similarly, with our YSL brand, we have a device that enables users to create their custom lipstick color called Rouge Sur Mesure. For instance, if you take a picture of a dress and want a lipstick color that matches this dress, the device generates a lipstick shade that corresponds to your desired color. And the good news is that it will come to Vietnam. We also have the Beauty Tech for Good program, where we work with startups to innovate and shape a brighter future for the planet, society, and the beauty industry. For example, we partnered with a Swiss startup called Gjosa to develop an innovative showerhead, which breaks water droplets into fast-moving micro drops, resulting in a remarkable 60-percent reduction in water usage within LOreal partner salons. We plan to install this showerhead in approximately 5,000 salons across SAPMENA, saving nearly 800 million liters of water annually. The future of the beauty industry will be shaped not only by quality products but also by technologies that make our lives better. Is L'Oreal collaborating with any startups in Vietnam? We're working with a lot of startups in Vietnam, both for building influence, data, and consumer targeting. And we are continuously seeking additional startups in Vietnam to work with, particularly those with innovative solutions that can assist us in better serving our customers. Vietnam can quickly embrace new innovations because its young and digitally savvy population swiftly adapts to changing circumstances. This provides us with the tremendous energy to explore new opportunities here. Coming to Vietnam, we are filled with enthusiasm as we witness the implementation of novel ideas. Beauty is a resilient industry The COVID-19 pandemic has passed for a year; however, its effects seem to be still evident. Do you believe the beauty industry can continue to thrive? All industries and countries have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the beauty industry also encountered challenges in certain categories, such as makeup and perfume, which are products people commonly use when going out. However, there were good growth categories, such as skincare. As people stayed home and became more health conscious, skincare became a focal point, which explains the attention received on our dermatological beauty product lines like La-Roche Posay. As a corporation with diverse product lines, our business remained resilient during COVID-19. And now that the economy is recovering, we see an opportunity for further growth. It can be said that the beauty industry is a highly resilient industry. Regardless of economic fluctuations, beauty is an industry that is relatively less affected because everyone wants to invest in their health and beauty. Gen Z group is emerging as a new consumer force. This generation not only seeks reliable and effective products, but also demands transparency and social responsibility from the brands they use. How does L'Oreal engage with this customer group? Being young consumers, Gen Z have increasingly demanding expectations. As a father of two Gen Z children, I can personally attest to this (laughs), but I think it's a good thing. The generation is helping corporations demonstrate greater social responsibility. LOreal initiated sustainability efforts back in 2005, says Vismay Sharma, LOreal SAPMENA president. LOreal was committed to sustainability well before it was widely discussed. LOreal initiated sustainability efforts back in 2005 by measuring CO2 emissions from our offices, factories, and warehouses. Currently, we are implementing the LOreal For The Future program for the 2020-30 period. We are being strict with not only our own operations but also with our partners, seeking solutions that have positive impacts on society and the environment. We promote carbon neutrality and reduce plastic waste in our operations. As a case in point, all bottle plastics used by our factories in SAPMENA come from recycled sources. Also in Vietnam, we work with UNESCO to restore natural habitats in a biosphere region. One highly successful program, first initiated in Vietnam and now globally, is LOreals Beauty for a Better Life. As part of our commitment to social responsibility and inclusive growth, we have provided beauty vocational training and enabled over 10,000 women to establish their own beauty salons and become hairdressers. Thus, LOreal has pioneered many programs to support womens role in society and for planet protection since its establishment in the market. However, there seems to be a common misunderstanding regarding the essentiality of the beauty industry, that cosmetics are for the rich or they are non-essential. What can you say about it? Indeed, this is a misunderstanding because beauty is a force for good, desired by everyone, not just the wealthy. Everyone has beauty aspirations and wants to feel confident. Lets take shampoo products as an example: Around 95 percent of consumers in Vietnam use at least one shampoo product. Almost everyone needs and uses shampoos, ranging from expensive to more affordable options that cater to the masses. And I'm not only speaking on behalf of LOreal but also on behalf of the beauty industry as a whole. The beauty industry contributes to job creation, states Vismay Sharma, LOreal SAPMENA president. We do not only create beauty products for people, but we also create jobs. The 10,000 women beneficiaries from the LOreal Beauty for a Better Life program will have an impact on at least 10,000 families, not just themselves. We also provide training for thousands of hairdressers each year, and these hair salons offer services to consumers from all walks of life. The beauty industry contributes to job creation, generates economic activity, and supports well-being that also helps the economy. So beauty has a positive impact on the environment, community, economy, and people's lives. Thats why I am proud to have worked in this industry for almost 30 years. Working in the beauty industry for nearly 30 years, do you find it difficult for men? What has attracted you to the industry? I have worked for L'Oreal for 29 years, since 1994, so I can say that I love working in the beauty industry. However, what attracted me more were LOreals values. I joined the company after realizing that it is committed to empowering employees and that it has high ethical business values. Beauty is a universal need that extends to men and women of all ages, races, and social classes, according to Vismay Sharma, LOreal SAPMENA president. Is beauty for men difficult? I think this question reflects yet another misunderstanding because when I look around in L'Oreal, I see that almost half of the employees worldwide are male and they are thriving. In certain departments, there may be more female employees and vice versa. Ultimately, beauty is a universal need that extends to men and women of all ages, races, and social classes. At LOreal, we have set ourselves the mission of "creating beauty that moves the world." This mission goes beyond simply making lipsticks or skin lotions; it aims to make a significant positive impact on changing lives and preserving the planet. We strive to create opportunities for our employees, consumers, and partners to achieve this mission sustainably and ethically. Thank you for the discussion! Vietnam and Israel have signed a free trade agreement to promote bilateral trade to US$3 billion, remove duties on most products, and facilitate cooperation in other fields including services, investment, technology, and digital transformation. The Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement was inked by Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, in the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, who wrapped up his three-day visit to Israel on the same day. The accord, reached after seven years of negotiation with 12 working sessions, provides a basis on trade in goods, services, and investment; rules of origin; technical barriers to trade; sanitary and phytosanitary measures; customs; trade remedies; government procurement; and legal-institutional issues, according to the Vietnamese ministry. With the free trade deal, the two countries expect to raise their two-way trade to $3 billion or more soon, quite higher than the $2.2 billion last year, which saw an 18 percent year-on-year trade growth rate. Under the agreement, import taxes will be reduced in steps, with Israel ultimately removing duties on 85.8 percent of Vietnamese products while Vietnam will do the same for 92.7 percent of Israeli goods. Currently, Israel is the third-largest buyer of Vietnamese products as well as the fifth-largest trade partner of Vietnam in West Asia. The deal will create a favorable premise for Vietnam to promote its exports not only to Israel but to other markets in the Middle East, North Africa, and Southern Europe. In return, Israeli enterprises will gain more access to ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific region, as well as other major economies that have an FTA with Vietnam, a market of 100 million people. This agreement will not only help promote trade in goods but also boost cooperation in services, investment, technology, and digital transformation, among other fields. By signing the accord, Vietnam has become the first country in Southeast Asia to have an FTA with Israel while the latter is the first nation in West Asia to sign such a pact with Vietnam. The deal, which was signed while the two countries are celebrating 30 years of their diplomatic ties, is the 16th FTA Vietnam has inked with its trade partners around the world. Currently, Vietnam is one of the top 20 economies in terms of international trade, with import and export turnover amounting to over $668 billion in 2021 and nearly $735 billion in 2022, the Vietnam Government Portal reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Three people became the first known fatalities on Tuesday of wildfires that have been raging on the Greek islands for a week, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned of tough days ahead as the blazes destroyed homes and forced tourist evacuations. Two pilots were killed when their Canadair CL-215 plane fighting wildfires crashed on the island of Evia, east of Athens, the air force said. It gave their ages as 34 and 27. TV footage showed the plane dropping water over a fire and then crashing into a hillside and bursting into flames. State broadcaster ERT separately reported that the body of a 41-year-old stockbreeder who had been missing since Sunday was found burned in a shack in a hard-to-reach area on Evia. Smoke rises near the village of Gennadi on the island of Rhodes, July 25, 2023. Photo: Reuters Hundreds of firefighters, helped by forces from Turkey and Slovakia, have been battling blazes that have raged on the islands of Rhodes, Corfu and Evia since Wednesday and resurged in hot, windy conditions, while emergency planes have been flying out tourists. Mitsotakis told ministers on Tuesday that the next days would be difficult, with conditions possibly improving after Thursday. "All of us are standing guard," he said. "In the face of what the entire planet is facing, especially the Mediterranean which is a climate change hot-spot, there is no magical defence mechanism." The high temperatures in Greece are set to rise through Wednesday to exceed 44 Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) in some areas. An assessment by scientists published on Tuesday said human-induced climate change had played an "absolutely overwhelming" role in extreme heatwaves that have swept across North America, southern Europe and China this month. A firefighting plane makes a water drop on the island of Rhodes, July 25, 2023. Photo: Reuters 'Unprecedented ordeal' Lefteris Laoudikos, whose family owns a small hotel in the Rhodes seaside resort village of Kiotari, one of the epicentres of the fire over the weekend, said its 200 guests - mainly from Germany, Britain and Poland - evacuated in rental cars. He said his father, cousin and two others were trying to douse the flames using a nearby water tank. "On Saturday when I saw the wind and that there were no planes, I told everyone 'we're going to burn today,'" he said. "My father saved the hotel. I called him, and he didn't want to leave. He told me 'if I leave there will be no hotel'." John Hatzis, who owns three unaffected hotels in northern Rhodes, said the island needed to welcome back tourists. "After the superhuman efforts to contain the fire we need superhuman efforts to restart tourism now," he said. Rhodes, one of Greece's biggest islands, is among its top summer destinations, attracting about 1.5 million foreign tourists in the summer months. About 20,000 people had to leave homes and hotels in Rhodes over the weekend as the inferno spread and reached coastal resorts on the verdant island's southeast, after charring land, killing animals and damaging buildings. After a blaze in the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, in 2018 killed 104 people, Greece has taken a more proactive approach towards evacuations. But critics say it has not improved its ability to put out fires that are common in summer, though more intense in this year's heatwave. Volunteers try to tackle a wildfire burning near the village of Vati on the island of Rhodes, July 25, 2023. Photo: Reuters The mayor of Rhodes said on Facebook the island was facing an unprecedented ordeal. A prosecutor had launched an investigation into the causes of the fires and the preparedness and response of authorities, ERT reported. It said about 10% of the island's land area had burned. Around 3,000 holidaymakers had returned home by plane by Tuesday and tour operators cancelled upcoming trips. TUI dropped flights to Rhodes through Friday. Tourism accounts for 18% of Greece's economic output and one in five jobs. On Rhodes and many other Greek islands, reliance on tourism is even greater. Vietnam sent congratulations to Cambodia on Tuesday for successfully organizing parliamentary elections for the seventh term on Sunday. Vietnam always wishes its neighbor peace, stability, and prosperity, Pham Thu Hang, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters on Tuesday. Over the past few years, the Vietnam-Cambodia friendship and partnership have flourished to the benefit of the two peoples, peace, and regional stability, Hang underlined. Vietnam congratulates Cambodia on successful parliamentary elections for the seventh term, the ministrys spokesperson stressed. Over 8.2 million people voted in the elections, accounting for 84.6 percent of the total 9.71 million, according to the National Election Committee of Cambodia. The turnout was higher than the two previous elections in Cambodia. More than 89,500 local election observers and 586 foreign ones participated in the election observation process. Among them, some came from the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP). Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, ICAPP affirmed that the seventh-term parliamentary elections were conducted in a transparent, fair, free, democratic, and peaceful manner. Hun Manet, son of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, takes a photo with voters on July 23, 2023. Photo: Reuters The China NGO Network for International Exchanges stressed the elections were peaceful, fair, and transparent, and adhered to international standards of fairness, peacefulness, transparency, and inclusiveness. Prime Minister Hun Sens Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) announced the victory after the elections. Sok Eysan, spokesperson of the CPP, said that the party earned some 80 percent of support from voters. Given the results, the CPP is expected to win 96 percent of the total 125 parliamentary seats. The prime ministers son, Hun Manet, is forecast to get one seat. Hun Manet, a future candidate for the Cambodian prime minister, sent a thank-you letter to voters on Monday, pledging to continue serving the people and the country. The results of the elections will be announced between August 9 and September 4. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong left Austria on Tuesday afternoon (local time) for his visits to Italy and the Vatican at the invitation of Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Pope Francis from Tuesday to Friday this week. Upon his arrival in Italy, President Thuong and his entourage met with officials and staff members of the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy, representatives of the Vietnamese businesses and community, and foreign friends of Vietnam in this EU nation. This is the first time that a Vietnamese head of state has paid a visit to Italy or the Vatican in the past seven years. His visit to Italy takes place while the Southeast Asian and the EU nation celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership. During these trips, President Thuong will hold talks with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella and Pope Francis. The Vietnamese state leader will also meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, President of Chamber of Deputies Lorenzo Fontana, and Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri, in addition to attending the 50th anniversary celebration of the Vietnam - Italy diplomatic ties on Wednesday. During his visit to the Vatican, President Thuong will meet with Pope Francis and Secretary of State of the Vatican Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Le Thi Thu Hang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, remarked that the Vietnam - Vatican relations have advanced positively. Both sides have maintained the exchange of high-ranking delegations and meetings of the Vietnam - Holy See Joint Working Group. This Joint Working Group on March 31 this year held the 10th-round meeting in the Vatican, co-chaired by Deputy Minister Hang and Monsignor Miroslaw Wachowski, Under-Secretary for the Holy See's Relations with States. The Holy See has also sent its non-resident Special Envoy to Vietnam since 2011. The Vietnamese diplomat added that President Thuongs visit to the Vatican will pave the way for new prospects of the Vietnam - Vatican ties in the years to come. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! U.S. sanctions hurt, but backfire sometimes: NYT Xinhua) 13:17, July 26, 2023 NEW YORK, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Economic sanctions can be a tool for successful diplomacy for the United States, but, when not employed well, they can ultimately undermine American efforts to promote peace, human rights and democratic norms across the globe, said an opinion article published by The New York Times (NYT). Policymakers turn to sanctions so frequently -- the United States accounts for 42 percent of sanctions imposed worldwide since 1950, according to Drexel University's Global Sanctions Database -- in part because they are seen as being low cost, especially compared with military action, said the article published over the weekend. "In reality, the costs are substantial. They are borne by banks, businesses, civilians and humanitarian groups, which shoulder the burden of putting them into effect, complying with them and mitigating their effects," the article noted. "Sanctions can also take a toll on vulnerable people -- often poor and living under repressive governments, as academics are increasingly documenting," it said. Officials rarely factor in such costs, said the article, adding that while sanctions are easy to impose, they are politically and bureaucratically difficult to lift, even when they no longer serve U.S. interests. "What's worse, sanctions also escape significant public scrutiny," it added. "Few officials are held responsible for whether a particular sanction is working as intended rather than needlessly harming innocent people or undermining foreign policy goals." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) According to a letter from the department, the U.S. Department of Education is looking into whether Harvard engages in racial discrimination by giving preference to candidates who have connections to donors and alumni. Following a complaint filed earlier this month by three civil rights organizations, the department's Office for Civil Rights launched the investigation, as reported by Reuters. Admission of White Students Favored More? The groups claimed that Harvard's preference for "legacy" undergraduate candidates disproportionately favors white students, in violation of a federal civil rights law. Many schools and universities still adhere to traditional admissions procedures, but since the Supreme Court invalidated measures taken by Harvard College and the University of North Carolina to increase the admittance of non-white students in June, these procedures have come under increased scrutiny. According to the lawsuit, applicants with legacy or donor links to Harvard College, the undergraduate division of Harvard University, are about 70 percent white and have a six- to seven-fold increased chance of admission compared to general applicants. These numbers were derived from Harvard admissions information that was made available to the public following the Supreme Court's decision in the case in June. In the course of its examination, the Education Department is anticipated to gather more recent data. Read also: Harvard Gun Study: The More Guns, The Less Criminal Activity Demand to End Legacy Admissions According to a Harvard representative, the Ivy League institution with its headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is revisiting specific areas of its admissions procedures to ensure that it can continue to enroll a diverse student body in light of the Supreme Court's ruling. (Photo: by Scott Eisen/Getty Images) CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 29: An entrance gate on Harvard Yard is seen at the Harvard University campus on June 29, 2023, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Through a spokeswoman, the Education Department acknowledged that it was conducting an investigation in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which forbids racial discrimination in programs receiving federal funding. Following a few other American higher education institutions that have discontinued legacy admissions in recent years, Wesleyan University and the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus announced they would stop using them in July. At a press conference on Tuesday addressing the federal investigation, Sellstrom and officials from two of the Boston-area civil rights organizations included in the complaint both gave remarks. Colleges should stop using legacy preferences, according to Edward Blum, an opponent of affirmative action whose group Students for Fair Admissions sued Harvard and won last month's Supreme Court decision. Legacy Admissions are Widespread in the US Legacy admissions are a practice in which colleges give special consideration to children of alumni when deciding who to admit. This practice is widespread in the United States, with an estimated 42 percent of private colleges and 6 percent of public colleges using legacy status as a factor in admissions. In recent years, there has been a growing movement to end legacy admissions. In 2018, the University of Chicago announced that it would no longer consider legacy status in admissions. It remains to be seen whether legacy admissions will continue to be a factor in college admissions in the United States. However, the debate over legacy admissions is likely to continue for many years to come. Related article: Harvard to Use AI in Teaching Flagship Coding Class Next Semester @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. One drainage worker died and four others were injured after they were stuck in a sewer system in Binh Chanh District under Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday morning. The incident happened at 3A20 Tran Van Giau Street in Pham Van Hai Commune at 9:20 am, the firefighting and rescue police agency in Ho Chi Minh City said on the same day. Two special-use vehicles and 12 police officers were dispatched to the scene for rescue operations. The rescuers equipped with oxygen masks approached the trench, discovering the body of K.L., 38, and pulling it from the sewer system. The rescuers saved four workers who were suffering injuries in the culvert. They are Vo Huynh Bao Anh, 36, Diep Bao Cuong, 33, Tran Trung Binh, 43, and Ngo Khai Minh, 22. The injured were quickly rushed to Cho Ray Hospital in District 5 for medical emergency. They were identified as employees at a drainage company in the city. The accident occurred while they were draining the sewer system. An official from the Peoples Committee of Pham Van Hai Commune blamed the tragedy on a lack of oxygen. Police are cordoning off the scene to investigate the incident. Ho Chi Minh City Urban Drainage Company Limited had earlier written to the Peoples Committee of Binh Chanh District informing the latter of a plan to drain sewer systems in many streets, including Tran Van Giau, in July. The plan is aimed at emptying the drainage systems and reducing flooding in the district. Police officers are seen working with some eyewitnesses for a probe into a deadly incident at a culvert in Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, July 26, 2023. Photo: Supplied Police officers and rescuers are dispatched to the scene to rescue those who were trapped in a culvert in Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, July 26, 2023. Photo: Supplied Police cordon off the scene where a drainage worker was trapped in a culvert and died in Ho Chi Minh City, July 26, 2023. Photo: Supplied Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Read what is in the news in Vietnam today: Politics -- A high-ranking delegation led by Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong arrived at Fiumicino International Airport in Rome on Tuesday, beginning a working trip to Italy and the Vatican at the invitations of Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Pope Francis. -- Vietnam on Tuesday congratulated Cambodia on successfully organizing its recent parliamentary elections for the seventh term. -- Vietnam and Israel should increase the exchange of high-level visits to further support multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, suggested Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang while paying a courtesy visit to Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday. Society -- A two-year-old boy from northern Tuyen Quang Province was hospitalized in a critical state on Tuesday after his family had attempted to treat his cobra bite using folk medicine. -- The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee has requested relevant departments to explore the possibility of integrating ticketing systems between the citys bus lines and upcoming metro lines. -- A road turned slippery due to a rain on Tuesday afternoon while motorcyclists pulled over to put on raincoats, resulting in a serial collision of at least 15 motorbikes on the Saigon Bridge, a major thoroughfare crossing the Saigon River that connects Thu Duc City and Binh Thanh District in Ho Chi Minh City. At least 25 people were injured. -- Traces of spices detected on a grinding slab and other stone tools unearthed in Vietnam reveal that curry was eaten in Southeast Asia at least 2,000 years ago, CNN reported on Tuesday. Lifestyle -- The UNESCO Center for Conservation of Vietnams Fine Arts and Cultural Heritage was inaugurated in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday. -- Two Vietnamese dishes -- banh cuon (steamed rice rolls with savory fillings) and bo kho (Vietnamese beef stew) -- have been listed among the 100 best rated breakfasts in the world by international food website TasteAtlas. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A court in Hanoi on Wednesday issued the death sentence to a barber who fatally stabbed his girlfriend 25 times. Hoang Van Thanh, the 25-year-old barber in question hailing from northern Thai Nguyen Province, was also sentenced to an additional year in prison for intentionally causing injury. The first-instance judgment showed that in 2020, Thanh was in a romantic relationship with 20-year-old U.T.P., who hailed from northern Lai Chau Province and was working as a nail technician in Hanoi at the time. When Thanh arrived at P.s nail salon on Vuong Thua Vu Street in Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi to pick her up at around 11:15 pm on January 12, 2023, he saw the woman talking with T.T.D., a 28-year-old local. Thanh questioned P. about her situation with D. and was informed that D. was her lover. Thanh then left P. waiting at the nail salon before returning with a newly-bought knife hidden in his coat. The man questioned P. once again about her relation with D. and received silence this time. In anger, he knocked the woman down and used the knife to stab her 15 times. He walked ten meters away, then turned around to check her state. Seeing that P. was still able to make small movements, the man stabbed her another ten times, killing the woman at the scene. While D. attempted to control Thanh, he sustained a stab in his left arm. Thanh then threw the knife at the scene and fled on his motorbike before turning himself in to police in Thanh Xuan District on January 14. The trial panel determined that Thanhs criminal actions were extremely severe, inhumane, and demonstrated a brutal and cruel intent to kill the victim, relentlessly carrying out the crime to its completion. Therefore, they handed down a summary judgment of the death penalty on Thanh. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health is seeking the municipal Peoples Committees approval for an ambulance boat with sufficient medical equipment for first aid for residents in outlying Can Gio District and adjacent areas in the 2023-25 period. The ambulance boat is part of a plan to develop a professional outpatient emergency system in the southern metropolis until 2030. This is also a dream of many generations in Thanh An Island Commune and Can Gio District as a whole. The department said the ambulance ship will be made of aluminum alloy and be equipped with two stretchers, an oxygen supply system, monitors, a portable ventilator, a phlegm suction machine, an automated external defibrillator, tools, and medicines. The ship will have means of communication to contact relevant forces. The ambulance ship will diversify transport services for emergency purposes to meet local residents increasing demands and match the citys geographical characteristics, according to the Department of Health. Local residents transport a patient to a station where a boat is parked in Can Gio District, Ho Chi Minh City for further transport to a mainland hospital. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health proposed a station of waterway ambulance services at a port where the Can Gio Border Guard force garrisons. The municipal healthcare sector will select and train personnel for waterway emergency services. The city will also develop and issue a waterway emergency process with the 115 Emergency Center responsible for medical missions and Can Gio border guards taking charge of operating, maintaining, and repairing the ambulance ship. The Department of Health will weigh expanding the waterway emergency model with an additional station at Bach Dang Wharf in District 1 after assessing the results of the service by 2025. The transport of patients to hospitals on waterways from coastal areas, islands, and remote areas which road and air means of transport cannot reach is necessary, according to the department. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Firefighters in Ho Chi Minh City participated in a fire drill on Wednesday morning at the 194-meter-high Saigon Centre skyscraper in District 1. The hypothetical situation was that a fire broke out at 9:00 am on Wednesday in the B2 basement of Tower No. 2 of the high-rise which includes 43 floors and six basements at 65-67 Le Loi Boulevard, District 1. In the specific situation, gas leaked out in the B2 basement, together with a heat source, resulting in the blaze and an explosion which pulled down auxiliary facilities at a store. Firefighters participate in a fire drill to save 6,300 people inside Saigon Centre skyscraper in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Customers and staff on the fifth floor flocked to an elevator. The elevator later stopped suddenly, leading to many people inside panicking, having trouble breathing, and fainting. The incident also damaged two cars and caused them to burst into flames due to a fuel leak. At the time of the fire, there were 6,300 people inside the building which is some 151,300 square meters in area. The head of the firefighting force at Saigon Centre asked security guards and technicians to respond to the fire at the highest level and informed the Ho Chi Minh City Firefighting Police of the case. After receiving the report, the Firefighting Police immediately dispatched firefighters and vehicles to the scene. Firefighters from the District 1 Police and staff from District 1 Hospital and the District 1 Red Cross Society were also mobilized. Reaching the scene, the firefighters quickly searched for and saved people from the building, extinguished the fire, and prevented it from spreading to adjacent areas. People run out of Saigon Centre skyscraper at 65-67 Le Loi Boulevard, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The Ho Chi Minh City Firefighting Police later reported the incident to higher-level agencies and asked for assistance. The Ho Chi Minh City Police and other departments and agencies sent forces and vehicles to the scene to support the search, rescue, and firefighting efforts. In particular, the Ho Chi Minh City Police detached 887 people from 17 units and supporting vehicles and equipment. Police in District 1, District 3, District 4, District 5, District 7, District 8, District 10, Binh Thanh District, and Thu Duc City seconded 109 vehicles to the scene. The fire was put out after 30 minutes. The firefighters continued to spray water to cool down the building in a bid to prevent the fire from reigniting. Forces saved more than 300 people and instructed the remaining 6,000 people to exit the skyscraper. Many people inside the building have trouble breathing and faint. The incident damaged two cars and caused them to burst into flames. There were 6,300 people inside the building at the time of the fire. The head of the firefighting force at Saigon Centre in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City regulate the fire fighting through a walkie-talkie. Firefighters from the District 1 Police and staff from District 1 Hospital and the District 1 Red Cross Society were also mobilized. Firefighters saved people from the building, extinguished the fire, and prevented it from spreading to adjacent areas. The Ho Chi Minh City Police and other departments and agencies sent forces and vehicles to the scene to support the search, rescue, and firefighting efforts. Forces and vehicles reach the scene to support the search, rescue, and firefighting efforts. The Ho Chi Minh City Police detached 887 people from 17 units and supporting vehicles and equipment. Many firefighters and vehicles were sent to the scene. Firefighters continue to spray water to cool down the building in a bid to prevent the fire from reigniting. Major General Nguyen Thanh Huong, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Police, Major General Le Xuan The, deputy head of the High Command of Ho Chi Minh City, representatives of departments and agencies, and thousands of firefighters and residents in the city joined the fire drill. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam has set a target of mining two million metric tons of rare earths per year by 2030, according to a plan recently signed by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on exploring, exploiting, processing, and using natural minerals in the 2021-30 period. As per the plan, the Southeast Asian nation will complete the exploration of two licensed rare earth mines, Bac Nam Xe and Nam Nam Xe, in Lai Chau Province, located in the northern region, by 2030. Apart from widening licensed mines, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, and Yen Bai Provinces will see new rare earth mines explored. Vietnam will be working to apply technologies to rare earth processing at Dong Pao and Yen Phu mines in Lai Chau and Yen Bai, respectively, while completing the construction of a rare earth processing plant in Van Yen District under Yen Bai. The country will also invest in three hydrometallurgy projects in Lai Chau and Lao Cai Provinces, with a target of annually processing 20,000-60,000 metric tons of total rare-earth oxides (TREO) by 2030. Vietnam plans to build rare earth refining facilities in the two provinces or other localities, with an annual capacity of 20,000-60,000 metric tons of rare-earth oxides (REO) by 2030. The nation will develop new rare earth mines in the two northern provinces in the 2031-50 period, aside from maintaining the mining operations at the current mines. By 2050, the nation will have widened the current mines and raised the capacity of operational projects to hike the output of TREO to 40,000-80,000 metric tons a year and the same volume for REO. A corner of a rare earth mine in Bao Thang District, Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam is pictured after the exploration ended in April 2023. Photo: Quang The / Tuoi Tre Some metallurgy plants will be built to turn out an annual output of up to 10,000 metric tons of rare earth metals per year. Rare earths are a group of elements that play a key role in electronics manufacturing, machine processing, the chemical industry, and farming. Statistics from the United States Geological Survey indicate that Vietnams rare earth reserves accounted for 18 percent of the worlds total in 2022. Dong Pao Mine lies idle nine years after being licensed for mining Despite being licensed for mining in 2014, the Dong Pao rare earth mine in Lai Chau Province, which is the nations largest mine, has yet to be exploited. Lai Chau Vimico Rare Earth JSC told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that poor consumption and limited technologies have hindered the exploitation at the mine. Rare earth minerals mined from the project failed to meet export standards in line with the regulations set by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said a representative of the firm. The General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam said that Lai Chau Vimico Rare Earth JSC is working with some domestic and foreign partners to effectively mine rare earths at the Dong Pao mine. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A two-year-old boy from Tuyen Quang Province, northern Vietnam was hospitalized in a critical state on Tuesday after his family attempted to treat his cobra bite using folk medicine. The family took the patient, named V.A.T., residing in Yen Son District to the Tuyen Quang General Hospital, while he was suffering convulsive fits and losing consciousness, and his left leg was livid. The boys family said that he was taking an afternoon nap on Monday when a cobra bit a toe on his left foot. When he burst into loud wails, his family members detected the cobra and killed it. As the child was playing, eating, and drinking as normal after the bite, the family applied herbs of unknown origin to his thigh to treat his wound. However, the babys leg was bruised the next day and he began to run a high fever and convulsive fits, so his family rushed him to the hospital. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Traces of spices detected on a grinding slab and other stone tools unearthed in Vietnam reveal that curry was eaten in Southeast Asia at least 2,000 years ago, suggesting the earliest known evidence of the dish in the region, CNN reported on Tuesday. The sandstone slab, buried two meters below the surface, was dug up in 2018 at the Oc Eo archeological complex in An Giang Province, southern Vietnam. Researchers analyzed plant remains found on the grinding and pounding tools and discovered traces of turmeric, ginger, fingerroot, sand ginger, galangal, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Some of the ingredients, such as turmeric, are similar to those found in Indian curry, while other components are more distinctively Southeast Asian, including coconut milk and galangal, a spice commonly found in curry pastes in the region but seldom used in Indian curry. We discovered a wide variety of spices that had traveled from different locations to Oc Eo, CNN said in a quote from Dr. Hsiao-chun Hung of the Australian National University, who led the excavation and research. All of these spices reached Vietnam 2,000 years ago, according to Hung, suggesting the earliest known evidence of curry preparation in the Southeast Asian region. Hung said that it was not exactly clear who made curry at the Oc Eo site, but they were likely migrants from India, where the dish originated more than 4,000 years ago, as evidenced by archeological findings, or local inhabitants in Vietnam influenced by South Asian culture. The long-held belief that Oc Eo was a major port city in the ancient kingdom of Funan, dating from the first to seventh century AD, also supported speculation about this early trade contact. This research is the first to confirm that these spices were indeed traded commodities that existed within the global maritime trading networks nearly 2,000 years ago, Hung said. Scientists excavated the stone implements, including mortars and pestles, at the Oc Eo archeological complex between 2017 and 2019, finding them to be of South Asian origin. The researchers were rather surprised to discover that the nutmeg seeds they had excavated at the site were still aromatic two millennia later. The research was published in the journal Science Advances. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! UK drama Anne Boleyn draws upon colour-blind casting with UK actors Jodie Turner-Smith (Queen & Slim), Kris Hitchen, and Barry Ward (Clean Sweep). In the final months of Anne Boleyns life, her struggle within Tudor Englands patriarchal society intensifies immeasurably as her desire to secure a future for her daughter, Elizabeth, clashes with the brutal reality of her failure to provide Henry with a male heir. Episode One Queen Anne Boleyn is pregnant and convinced she will bear Henry a male heir. But Henry has an eye on one of Annes ladies-in-waiting, Jane Seymour, and this realisation blindsides Anne. Events take a turn for the worse after Henry is involved in a near-fatal riding accident and the wolves of the court start circling. 9:30pm Wednesday on SBS. Two part doco series The Soundtrack of Australia, featuring ABC Radios Dr Ann Jones, will invite audiences to open their ears to the sounds of the nation. Part I: In 1977, planet Earth sent a Golden Record of its sounds into space with NASAs Voyager probes. This cosmic calling card inspired ABC Radios nature journalist Dr Ann Jones to create her own version of a golden record of Australian sounds. Australia is a stunning country, but we seldom tune in our ears to how it sounds. Over two episodes, Ann explores how its made, what messages it carries and how humans are harnessing its power. In the first of two parts, Ann examines the nature of sound itself. Ann begins with the iconic sound of an Australian summer: the cicada. Dr Nathan Emery shows how this tiny creature can produce sounds above 100dB, the equivalent to standing next to a jack hammer. Ann doesnt just want to collect sounds, she wants to understand how they are made. Inside an acoustic shed, Aussie beatboxer Tom Thum helps to demonstrate resonance and frequency. Combining his vocal gymnastics with cymatics allows us to visualise the physics of sound. Anns search for authentic sounds of Australia leads her to Didgeridoo maker Kristian Benton to dissect the sonic signature of this unique instrument. Separating out the different frequencies of soundwaves reveals its timbre, the quality that gives the didgeridoo its unmistakable sound. In the Victorian wetlands of Dunghala, Ann explores how sound can reveal hidden worlds. Through the science of eco-acoustics, weve gained fresh insight into one of our most endangered and mysterious species of birds, the Australasian Bittern. In Victorias Sherbrooke Forest, Ann is lucky enough to witnesses a rare event of sound in the making, as a male Lyrebird teaches a youngster their song. This episode ends by looking at the ways humans harness sound. From chanting at the footy to sound techniques used by First Nations people in Songlines, that helps Ann to boost her memory. Production Credit: ABC 8:30pm Tuesday 15th August on ABC. (Photo : KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images) The Atlantic Ocean current that powers the Gulf Stream could disintegrate at any time after 2025, according to new research. A new study reveals that a main driver of the Atlantic Ocean may drastically slow down and then cease to exist in the coming decades. The Gulf Stream is part of the circulation known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Gulf Stream Could Collapse From 2025 The AMOC, which is part of a "global conveyor belt" that transports water around the globe, serves to regulate everything from the rate of sea level rise on the East Coast to the average temperatures in Europe. The premise of the 2004 disaster film "The Day After Tomorrow" revolved around an abrupt shutdown of this ocean current, which a new study indicates could occur between 2025 and 2095. The research, which was published on Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications, employs statistical techniques to identify early warning signs of an AMOC collapse, such as a slowing current and increasing variability. The findings also suggest that the collapse may occur sooner than previously believed, possibly within the lifetimes of many individuals, as per Axios. A breakdown would likely be irreversible and would signify a significant "tipping point" - a critical threshold in the Earth's climate system that, when crossed, will usher in drastic changes. According to climate models, a sudden halt in global warming could result in extreme chilling across a portion of the Northern Hemisphere. The disruption of global rainfall patterns and the intensification of significant floods and cyclones would increase sea level rise in the North Atlantic basin, among other consequences. Scientists believe that a collapse would have enormous socioeconomic consequences for tens of millions of people, severely impacting coastal communities, agriculture, salmon populations, and marine ecosystems. The study observes that detailed observations of this circulation pattern using modern instruments are relatively limited. Using sea surface temperatures to illuminate trends, the scientists extended historical records further back in time. The majority of Africa, the Caribbean, and South American nations, including Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia, would experience soaring temperatures. According to scientists at the University of Copenhagen, if current greenhouse gas emissions continue, this scenario is '95 percent certain' to occur by the end of this century. Per Daily Mail, the experts added that without significant action to combat climate change, the collapse is more likely to occur in 2057, although there is a possibility it could occur in two years. The ocean currents play a crucial role in the Earth's current climate because they redistribute heat, cold, and precipitation between the tropics and the Arctic. To reach their conclusion, the researchers utilized ocean temperature data from the past 150 years and innovative new statistical tools. However, it contradicts the most recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations, which cited climate model simulations indicating that such a change to the AMOC in this century was extremely implausible. Read Also: WATCH: Passage of Israel's Judicial Reform Sparks Wild, Violent Clashes Gulf Stream Collapse's Impact The prediction of the Danish researchers is based on the observation of early warning signals that ocean currents exhibit when they become unstable. Although these have been reported in the past, the development of sophisticated statistical methods has made it possible to predict precisely when a collapse will occur, according to experts. From 1870 to the present, the researchers analyzed sea surface temperatures in a specific region of the North Atlantic. These 'fingerprints' indicate the intensity of the AMOC or Thermohaline Circulation, which has only been accurately measured for the past 15 years. Professor Susanne Ditlevsen of the University of Copenhagen explained, "Using new and enhanced statistical methods, we have made calculations that provide a more accurate estimate of when a collapse of the Thermohaline Circulation is most likely to occur, something we were unable to do before." Prior to the 18th century, the AMOC was relatively stable. After the conclusion of the so-called 'Little Ice Age' in 1850, the current decreased. As a result, the River Thames completely iced over, allowing Londoners to traverse it on foot. It is believed that the last entire shutdown of the AMOC occurred at the close of the last genuine Ice Age, approximately 12,000 years ago, when temperatures in western Europe plummeted by as much as 10C. The latest findings have been published in Nature Communications. Related Article: Florida Ocean Triple-Digit Temperature Recorded, Setting Potential World Record @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Sonia Kruger is one of the countrys busiest TV presenters, with The Voice, Dancing with the Stars, Big Brother, Academy Awards Red Carpet and back to the Logies Red Carpet this Sunday night. No wonder she is nominated for the Gold Logie. This is the second time Ive been nominated, she tells TV Tonight. But its funny, because the other nomination which rarely gets mentioned is the Bert Newton nomination. I mean, yes, to win a Gold Logie would be amazing and just beyond your wildest imagination. But I have a really special relationship with Bert. Those acts of kindness are so rare When Krugers father was in hospital, it was Bert Newton who reached out to her. They didnt know each other but dad was a huge fan of Bert. Dad was in intensive care and Bert must have seen a New Idea story or something about it. He sent me a text message and said, Pass this on to your dad. Get better soon mate, were thinking of you. It was just a lovely message. He didnt have to do that. It just made me think, Wow, those acts of kindness are so rare. So I would be more than happy to take the Bert Newton award. I dont know why but theres just a personal connection for me, with him. Also in the running for the Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter are Hamish Blake, Julia Morris, Scott Cam, Shaun Micallef and Tony Armstrong. Before the ceremony, Kruger will be working the Red Carpet with co-host and new Seven recruit, Dr. Chris Brown. While theres little means of rehearsing the event, Kruger will draw upon plenty of Red Carpet experience and production meetings. Were about to do a production meeting on exactly that: how were shooting the opener to the show, looking at the different interviews that were doing, people who are pinpointed to talk to across the night, how much time you have with each of them. You also want to be able to have a decent chat with them that goes beyond what theyre wearing. The Red Carpet show is generally about half an hour, and you want to see as many people as you possibly can. You also want to be able to have a decent chat with them that goes beyond what theyre wearing. Fashion, of course, is a major part of the show, but just to hear from people about the night, what theyre expecting, the fact that its in Sydney, its on Seven .its just got a different vibe to it this year. Everybodys talking about Barbie the movie. I feel like the other thing theyre talking about is the Logies -or maybe thats just because Im in right in the thick of it! she laughs. Hosts have scripted producers questions but Kruger loves to head off script and draw upon her own connections with talent. Of course in the frenzy of the countrys biggest Red Carpet theres potentially the risk of blanking and failing to recognise new -or even seasoned- talent too. You should have seen the look that he shot me! Its the worst feeling in the world! she admits. The first time I did the Academy Awards, it was for Today Tonight and I managed to score an interview with Alec Baldwin. He chatted with me for quite a while. And as he walked away, instead of saying Alec, I second guess myself about his name and I called him Alex. You should have seen the look that he shot me! Although the Red Carpet takes place mid-afternoon at The Star and is pre-recorded, the quick turn-around means Kruger works largely As Live. With so many stars approaching, theres little room for second takes. I remember doing an interview with Seal. It was supposed to be 30 seconds on the Red Carpet. He spoke for about three minutes. Then they stopped and said, Sorry, Seal, were gonna have to do that again. He was like, No, were not and he just walked away. Its also her first gig with Dr. Chris Brown, whom she describes as intelligent, generous and sharing a similar sense of humour. Ive heard these rumors If the chemistry works on screen, there are already rumours of a possible collective gig on a certain Dancing show for the network too. Ive heard these rumors, I wish I could shed some light on it. But unfortunately, I cant, she insists. I think with the network, you know, Chris is obviously going to be very much in demand. Hes a proven prime time performer, and Im sure theyve got a lot of different plans for him. So I dont think the decisions will remain to be closer to Upfront which is around October. I think Hamish should pay it forward Meanwhile there is one very big event to get through, a long day / night and hopefully a trophy to take home. But if not, who is Kruger tipping? Competing with her for the Gold Logie are Hamish Blake, Julia Morris, Leigh Sales, Mark Coles Smith, Osher Gunsberg and Shaun Micallef. I love the fact that theres an actor, a journalist, presenters, comedians, she says. I think Hamish is still the red hot favourite to take it out. But I think Hamish should pay it forward to me because were buddies! Somebody said to me they think Hamish voted for me, which is really funny. We havent had a woman win the award for seven years, it would be great to see one of the girls take it home. Any of the girls because I love Julia and Leighs extraordinary. Voting for the TV Week Logie Awards continues here. 63rd TV Week Logie Awards Red Carpet 7pm / Ceremony 7:30pm Sunday on Seven Police arrested the fugitive on an international warrant. Photo by: Pacemaker PSNI International Policing Unit officers, working in partnership with German police, extradited the man, aged in his 30s, to Germany. In a statement, the PSNI said the man had been sought for extradition to serve an eight-year prison sentence in Germany for serious sexual offences against children. The fugitive was located the south Belfast area on November 10, 2022, where he was arrested on an international warrant. He appeared before Belfast Extradition Court the same day and was taken to prison. Read More Attempted robbery at knifepoint terrifying experience for north Belfast takeaway staff member Sergeant Davey from the International Policing Unit said: This demonstrates our continued determination and commitment to work with International law enforcement partners to track down wanted persons and bring offenders to justice. "Our message is clear, Northern Ireland is not a safe haven for any wanted persons trying to avoid arrest and the consequences of their crimes. "We will relentlessly pursue those that are trying to delay or deny justice to victims and ensure that they are returned to be held to account. A local runs to avoid the flames of a wildfire in Gennadi village, on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes, south-eastern Greece. (AP) Blazes besieging Greece have reached the outskirts of Athens, with 61 fires breaking out across the country in 24 hours. As high temperatures and wind caused a perfect storm for fires to break out, firefighters and water helicopters rushed to a blaze in Kifissia, just north of Athens, managing to put out the flames and prevent the fire from spreading. Thousands of people have been evacuated from islands including Corfu, Evia and Rhodes, while travel companies have announced flight cancellations to fire-hit hotspots. And wildfires have continued to cause chaos elsewhere in southern Europe and North Africa, with blazes in Italy, Tunisia and Algeria. At least three people have died in Italy and another four in Greece. In north Africa, at least 34 people died in Algeria due devastating forest fires along its Mediterranean coast. Spain's Balearic Islands, also a popular tourist spot, have been put on high alert for wildfires as temperatures crept up to 40C this week. The UK government has also updated its travel advice to areas hit by fires, advising travellers to ensure the correct insurance is in place, and signing up for local emergency alerts. Yahoo News has paused live blog coverage. For more wildfire news please click here Live updates H Wildfire death toll rises More than 40 people have been killed in the wildfires that have hit Algeria, Italy and Greece, with three confirmed deaths in Italy's southern island of Sicily adding to the grim death toll. Algeria alone has seen 34 people killed in the fires that have forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes, with local media reporting the worst hit area n the country is Bejaia. And while some of the blazes there have been brought under control, a huge firefighting effort remains in place to tackle ongoing blazes. News of the deaths come as the Balearic Islands were put on high alert for wildfires as temperatures crept up to 40C this week, while temperatures in fire-hit Greece are expected to reach 44C. H Greek wildfires trigger blasts at ammunition dump. EU agency records a huge carbon emissions spike Wildfires caused explosions Thursday at an air force ammunition dump in central Greece that had been safely evacuated in advance, as strong gusts of wind caused flare-ups around the country. The fires have raged across parts of Greece during three successive Mediterranean heat waves over two weeks, leaving five people dead, including two firefighting pilots, and triggering a huge evacuation of tourists over the weekend on the island of Rhodes. H Extreme weather events are exactly the time to talk about climate change here's why Three tips from climate communication research on how to talk about climate change during extreme weather events. H Era of global boiling has arrived, says UN chief as July set to be hottest month on record Head of World Meteorological Organization also warns climate action is not a luxury but a must as temperatures soar H Is it safe to travel to Greece? Tourism minister makes plea to visitors as wildfires rage As thousands are evacuated from the Greek islands of Rhodes and Corfu, there are concerns over the future of Greeces future tourist industry as sweltering heat and future wildfires could hinder the viability of Greek tourism. H Dangerous US heat wave pushes eastward, capping globe's record July Some 180 million Americans - about half the population of the United States - are under heat watches and warnings, with temperatures and heat index values well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 Celsius) in the forecast until at least Saturday, the National Weather Service said. Officials in New York City, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and other big cities urged people to avoid working or playing outside, to drink plenty of fluids and to check on loved ones and neighbors. The nation's capital was expected to see the heat index, a measure of what the temperature feels like to the human body, reach 107 degrees F (41.7 C). H UK's 2022 weather - which saw 40C temperature record - to become 'typical' Last year's multi record-breaking hot and dry weather will become "typical" in the UK in under 40 years, the Met Office has warned. The remarkable weather of last year - when almost every month was hotter than average, wildfires torched homes and more people died in the summer - was considered extreme. Not only was 2022 the first year in the UK when heat first soared to 40C (104F), shattering the previous record by a significant 1.6C, it was also the warmest year on record. H Extreme heat has probably killed thousands this year, climate scientist says It is still too early to know how many people have died as a result of the extreme heat experienced across large parts of North America, Asia and Europe, but it is probably thousands, said Dr Friederike Otto, a climate scientist from Imperial College London. Also part of the World Weather Attribution, Dr Otto said the heatwaves in southern Europe and North America would have been the statistical equivalent of impossible without human-induced climate change. She described heat as a silent killer affecting the most vulnerable those with pre-existing health conditions or living in poorly-built houses next to traffic-filled roads. H 11 charts that explain the big changes to Britain's weather The Met Office has released an extensive report detailing how conditions in the UK are changing, from sea levels to average temperatures. H July set to be hottest month on record, scientists say July 2023 is on track to be the hottest month ever recorded, and may be the hottest month in the last 120,000 years, scientists have said. Temperature readings of the air and sea as well as losses of Antarctic sea ice have all smashed previous records this summer, manifesting in relentlessly extreme heatwaves and wildfires around the world. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and Copernicus, the European Unions climate watchers, said this July will be the hottest by a significant margin despite looking at data from only the first three weeks. Not only were those weeks the hottest such period on record but they have been so far above the previous monthly all-time high an average of 16.95C compared with 16.63C throughout July 2019 that scientists are virtually certain of seeing the monthly record smashed this year. H France's forests under threat of climate change need billions of euros invested to adapt France needs to invest eight to ten billion euros over ten years to adapt its forests to climate change by planting trees and better managing the land. Introducing a report on the state of Frances forests, Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau on Wednesday evoked the need for intervention on more than a million hectares of forest, at a cost of eight to ten billion euros over the next decade. The cost will be shared between the state and private property owners. Show more If our live blog coverage above does not load, please click the link Watch: First flights due to rescue British holidaymakers fleeing Rhodes wildfires Given Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolans well-known penchant for doing as much as possible practically, its unsurprising that he scouted Los Alamos, New Mexico, as a potential location for his films many scenes set at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Unfortunately, he quickly realized the town wouldnt work for his period film. Chris and his son took a road trip out there, and the present-day Los Alamos is very modernized, production designer Ruth De Jong told IndieWire. Theres a Starbucks on every corner and that sort of thing. So he said, If you want to go see Los Alamos, you can go see it, but Im not interested in shooting there.' De Jong and Nolan scouted various areas in New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado, looking for a location where they could build the town of Los Alamos and get the epic vistas that Nolan desired. They landed on Ghost Ranch, a 21,000-acre retreat in Northern New Mexico that had a nice plateau on which De Jong could build the town; it also had incredible backdrops in every direction. We wanted an overwhelmingly epic location that would help the audience understand what it meant for Oppenheimer to have taken his team to the middle of nowhere with nothing around, she said. More from IndieWire Oppenheimer Melinda Sue Gordon Initially, De Jong planned to build everything, both interiors and exteriors, on that Ghost Ranch location. She drew up an elaborate recreation of Los Alamos, which was then rendered physically as a 3D white model a model so large that it had to be stored in the production office backyard. The idea was for the actors to be able to move from exteriors to interiors in fluid shots, but it was just beyond what we could afford, De Jong said. I mean, you hear Matt Damon say in the movie that they spend two years and $2 billion dollars on the real Los Alamos, and thats 1942 dollars. The government gave them massive resources my resources were a little different. Story continues While the area around Los Alamos looked too contemporary, many of the individual buildings remained period perfect. Some of these buildings have been literally untouched, De Jong said. As the team was trying to figure out how to control the expense of an interior/exterior build, De Jong proposed shooting most of the exteriors on the Ghost Ranch set and most of the interiors at the real Los Alamos. It turned out to be a cost-effective solution that had the added benefit of giving the actors something real to play off of, as it allowed Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt to play out scenes in the house where the Oppenheimers actually lived. The verisimilitude extended to other locations as well: There was a womens dormitory from the 40s that housed a lot of the women that worked there, and we used that for the lab with the bowls of marbles. Combining the exterior set with the practical interiors from the period gave the actors an immersive experience that De Jong felt found its way into their performances. It really impacted them and put them in a great mindset, she said. We wanted to transport them back in time. That philosophy informed even the sets and locations where De Jong took a bit of creative license. You know, we cheated a lot. We did go to Berkeley, but we did a lot of Berkeley in Pasadena. Similar to the way we combined exteriors and interiors in Los Alamos, I could find the same craftsman house in Pasadena that I could find in Berkeley but then utilize the campus in Berkeley. It was always challenging, but at the end of the day Chris and I were just always pushing for authenticity. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The Dutch coast guard confirmed on Wednesday, July 26, that one person was killed and many others were injured in a fire aboard a ship carrying roughly 3,000 cars. The Burning 'Fremantle Highway' Several crew members were forced to abandon the 199-meter Fremantle Highway, which was sailing from Germany to Egypt, when a fire broke out on Tuesday night, July 25. According to Reuters, the burning vessel was doused with water from rescue ships in an effort to put out the flames, but the Dutch coastguard warned that doing so may cause the vessel to sink. It was salvaged by a ship that latched on and stopped it drifting. "The fire is most definitely still not controlled. It's a very hard fire to extinguish, possibly because of the cargo the ship was transporting," said Edwin Versteeg, a Dutch Ministry of Waterways and Public Works spokesman. The coast guard claimed on its website that it did not know what started the fire, although a representative had told Reuters that it started near an electric vehicle. The Fremantle, which set sail from Bremerhaven, was dragged outside of maritime channels, and the coast guard warned that it may now sink. The blaze broke out around 17 miles (about 27 kilometers) north of the Dutch island of Ameland. According to Willard Molenaar of the Royal Dutch Rescue Company (KNRM), who was one among the first on the scene, seven crew members jumped overboard as the fire swiftly spread. Molenaar told Dutch television NOS that one crew member was killed in flames, and many others were hurt when they jumped from the ship's upper decks into the ocean below, Reuters reported. "There was a lot of smoke and the fire spread quickly, much faster than expected ... The people on board had to get off quickly ... We fished them out of the water," he stated. The remaining members of the ship's crew of 23 were safely removed from the burning vessel by use of an airlift. Authorities in the Netherlands said those wounded were being treated for things like broken bones, burns, and difficulty breathing. Coast Guard spokesman Edwin Granneman stated that salvage experts were attempting to figure out what to do about the burning vessel. Japanese ship leasing firm Shoei Kisen, which oversees the Fremantle, said it was coordinating with Dutch authorities to put out the blaze. Also Read: Chinese Vessel Almost Collides With US Navy Ship; 2nd Provocation in a Week? Previous Similar Incidents There have been a series of fires aboard car carriers, and this was the most recent one. Earlier this month, ABC News reported that a fire broke out on a cargo ship carrying hundreds of automobiles. Two New Jersey firemen were killed, and five were wounded trying to put out the fire. In February of last year, a fire on a ship off the coast of Portugal's Azores islands wiped off hundreds of high-end automobiles, according to The Guardian. Also Read: Man Missing After Falling off Cruise Ship Near Florida @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. AK NONG The National Office of Intellectual Property of Viet Nam has recognised the brand ownership for the products of Rock Way coffee and macadamias grown by Dano Farm the first green agro-forestry cooperative of a multi-ethnic community in Quang Son Commune in the Central Highlands. Director of Dano Farm Ta Thi Lien talked to Viet Nam News, stating that the brand was built over three years and aims to boost sustainable and high-value crops for the community of 41 ethnic groups. Lien said the multi-ethnic community had grown 117ha of coffee, of which 5ha was an organic farming practice by 37 households and sandwiched between a macadamia area from 2018. The area also has 42ha of mulberry cultivation used to feed silkworms. She said the organic Rock Way coffee brand has attained UTZ certification, which was launched to bring high-quality products to the global market and spread the impact of sustainable farming practices. She said the ethnic community began growing macadamia nuts to create a green canopy for coffee trees, and they used fermented fruit, fish and silkworm waste to fertilise the coffee instead of chemicals. The Dano Farm cooperative plans to expand the green agro-forestry model to 2,500ha in the next five years as an ecology-based farming model with low-carbon crops. Lien said Dano Farm will begin weaving silk in a traditional method to boost the brand's recognition in the coming years, paving a smooth path for export. She said the cooperative has been seeking partners in Europe and Japan as two key export markets in the future. According to the management board of the UNESCO-recognised ak Nong Global Geopark, organic coffee and craft products will be included in the parks local partnership system as the community is located in the area of the Geopark. The Central Highlands province has developed 135,572ha of coffee farms with an output of 332,620 tonnes per year, earning an export turnover of US$148 million from 102,000 tonnes. VNS HA NOI Vietnam E-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency (VEDA) is developing an e-commerce platform that would act as a national hub connecting all local platforms across the country. A VEDA representative said the platform, named San Viet, would help narrow the e-commerce development gap between provinces and act as a national marketplace for local products, especially OCOPs (products in the One Commune One Product Programme). "San Viet will improve the competitive advantages of local products and help shape a sound e-commerce sector in the country," said the representative. He also said the platform would be outfitted with marketing tools that allow merchants to boost their online sales more easily. Chairman of Vietnam E-Commerce Association (VECOM) Nguyen Ngoc Dung, however, believed that the platform could not transform the e-commerce landscape overnight, given that e-commerce remains a closed book to many OCOP producers in certain provinces. "They don't even know how to sell their products online, let alone make use of delivery and payment systems," said Dung. The chairman said a large-sized e-commerce platform in Viet Nam, on average, processes 800,000 transactions daily. The figure is just a drop in the bucket for the country's vast population of 100 million. He said VECOM would cooperate with local authorities in promoting the growth of e-commerce in the short term. He called on VEDA to dispatch specialists to provinces with slow-growing e-commerce to bring them up to speed. In fact, the situation is not all doom and gloom. There are plenty of provinces that have managed to put e-commerce to good use, such as Bac Giang Province. Its local platform, named San 24h, has become a vibrant marketplace for its local specialties with dozens of millions of transactions having been processed to date. Chairman of Bac Giang Province Le Anh Duong underlined the need for technical support to raise awareness of e-commerce among local farmers. He said the province had aimed to bring all its OCOPs of three stars and above to the national platform in the short term. Can Tho is another city ahead of the curve with its up-and-running local platform Cho nong san Can Tho. Deputy Director of Can Tho's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thai Nghiem said the national platform would be a big push to Cho nong san Can Tho, expanding its customer base considerably. He also said the department was working on a scheme to apply 3D virtual exhibitions to all its local agricultural products on the platform. Le Thanh Dung, director of TSIM Company, said reasonable prices and good services hold the key to the success of an e-commerce platform. Large-sized platforms such as Tiki, Shopee, and Lazada are well aware of that and have launched countless discount programmes to draw in customers. VNS HA NOI Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat on July 25 signed the Vietnam - Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA) in Tel Aviv in the presence of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The two countries started negotiations for the agreement seven years ago and held 12 negotiation sessions. The agreement signing is even more meaningful in the context that the two countries are holding many practical activities to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. Notably, Israel is the first country in West Asia with which Viet Nam has signed a free trade agreement (FTA) and Viet Nam is also the first country in Southeast Asia that Israel has signed an FTA with. Israel is currently one of the leading trade, investment, and labour cooperation partners of Viet Nam in West Asia. The economic structure of Viet Nam and Israel is complementary to each other, and the import and export products of the two countries do not compete directly but complement each other instead. The signing and implementation of the VIFTA will create a favourable premise for Viet Nam to promote the export of its goods to Israel, and at the same time have the opportunity to access Israeli high-tech products, contributing to reducing production and business costs and improving the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods. The agreement consists of 15 chapters and several appendices about trade in goods, services - investment, rules of origin, technical barriers to trade (TBT), sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS), customs, trade remedies, government procurement, and legal institutional framework. With the agreed commitments, the two sides expect that two-way trade will have remarkable growth, reaching US$3 billion and more soon. The agreement will ultimately remove duties on at least 86 per cent of Vietnamese products and 93 per cent of Israeli products, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade. VIFTA is also expected to be a lever to help strengthen the cooperation relationship between the two countries in investment, services, digital transformation, and technology. In addition, the signing and implementation of VIFTA will create a favourable premise for Viet Nam to promote the export of strong products not only to Israel but also to other markets in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Europe. Meanwhile, besides Viet Nam's market of over 100 million people, Israeli goods and technology will have opportunities to access markets in ASEAN countries, Asia-Pacific, and major economies which Viet Nam has signed FTAs with. VIFTA is expected to bring many opportunities for Israeli businesses when investing in Viet Nam. Socially, such investment will help create more jobs in areas in that Israeli investors have interests and invest. VNS American cellist Bryan Charles Wilson will perform at a concert on July 26 at the American Center Hanoi. The concert is held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the US - Viet Nam Comprehensive Partnership Viet Nam News reporter Nguyen Binh interviews the artist about the concert and his love of Vietnamese traditional instruments and music. Could you introduce the upcoming concert? The concert will feature an extraordinary collaboration between renowned musical artists Pham Tra My, Ngo Tra My, Tri Minh, and myself. Together, we will mesmerize the audience with a harmonious blend of classic Vietnamese melodies and original compositions, showcasing a unique fusion of cello, traditional Vietnamese instruments, and modern electronics. How did you prepare for the concert? The preparation for this concert was a delightful and collaborative journey. All the artists gathered to discuss, arrange, and practise together, with the aim of creating a dynamic and captivating performance. Drawing from my album, Tri Am, as well as Tri Minhs compositions, we had a wealth of material to work with. Working alongside such talented artists was a true joy, as we effortlessly connected and vibed on a profound level. I am truly honoured and humbled that I have this great opportunity to work with them. I know how incredibly talented they are and because of this, how busy they are with a myriad of different projects, often all over the world. When we came into rehearsal, lots of times many of us would come in tired, but after playing music together we forged a collaborative bond that helped uplift our spirits and energy. I couldnt ask for better people to work with and I truly hope to continue this partnership with more artistic endeavors in the future. The concert will feature your new album Tri Am. What can you tell us about the album? Tri Am is a heartfelt tribute to Viet Nam's rich and diverse cultural heritage, reimagined through the emotive lens of the cello. The album features beloved classics like Long Me, Tinh ca Tay Bac, Nhat ky Cua Me and Mua Xuan au Tien, infused with the resonant and soul-stirring sound of cellos. By blending traditional Vietnamese instruments and styles with contemporary production techniques, Tri Am offers a fresh and innovative take on ancient musical traditions. Through this musical journey, I aim to transport listeners from the bustling streets of Ha Noi to the awe-inspiring caves of Trang An, all while celebrating the profound beauty of Vietnamese culture through the mesmerizing voice of the cello. This whole album was recorded while I was in America. We left Viet Nam in mid-2019 and of course quickly after, COVID hit the next year, shutting down the whole world. Our family greatly missed the culture and music of Viet Nam and my wife smartly suggested that I do remote collaborations with Vietnamese artists. I was fortunate enough to collaborate with many musicians including an bau artist Tra My, flute artist Nguyen uc Minh and an nguyet Tuan Hoang during that time. It was really at the beginning of COVID when things were extremely dark in America, where we were afraid to leave the house for fear of dying or bringing back this disease to our family. The music was a truly cathartic experience for me where I could focus my energy on something positive to create new and beautiful music within a culture that I loved. This was the true genesis of the album. Tri is about being a true friend who has a deep kinesthetic understanding and connection with someone through music (am). You just immediately know them. You feel their energy and understand their spirit. Our connection to each other sits at the heart of our shared humanity. We know that when the world is a mess, the music is there to nourish all of us. This is how I feel about the collaborations between the cello and Vietnamese music, especially traditional music. Without being extremely well-versed in the technicalities of Vietnamese music, I was immediately able to connect with the musicians and bring about music that evoked true connection and joy. Did you remember when you began a love affair with Vietnamese traditional music? My love affair with Vietnamese traditional music blossomed during my first visit to Viet Nam when my wife and I were dating. While the water puppets show was fascinating, what truly enchanted me was the live band of traditional musicians accompanying the performance. Their mesmerizing sound captivated me immediately. My interest in traditional music grew further when I participated in two FAMLAB workshops, sponsored by the British Council, where we blended traditional and ethnic minority music from Viet Nam with contemporary musical elements. I had the amazing opportunity to work with Nguyen Nhat Ly, Nguyen uc Minh, and Quyen Thien ac, and Trong ai. These programmes taught and inspired me about how to make the connection between traditional Vietnamese music, ethnic minority music, and Western music. You could see that no matter how far away from each other these musical cultures had developed and evolved, there were fundamental connections that tied them together. Uncovering these bonds was a magical experience for me because it helped me not only understand these cultures but to bring about new music that encouraged a great sense of global unity. What Vietnamese instrument do you like most? Do you want to learn to play it? I love cai luong, an tranh, an nguyet, but without a doubt, the an bau holds a special place in my heart. It was the instrument that captivated me during the water puppets show, with its deep, soulful, and expressive sound that resonated with me on a profound level. Much like the cello, the an bau has the power to evoke emotions that are often inaccessible in my everyday life. I was able to connect with Tra My, a professor at Viet Nam Academy of Music back in 2018 and despite her incredibly demanding schedule, she was gracious and kind enough to give me a lesson on the fundamentals of the instrument. I have dabbled in learning to play the an bau, and while I'm no master, I find that my experience with the cello gives me an advantage due to the shared requirement of a keen sense of pitch. You have published three books, will you write a book to introduce Vietnamese traditional music? The idea of writing a book to introduce Vietnamese traditional music is truly intriguing. While I acknowledge that I still have much to learn about this profound musical heritage, it's an excellent concept that I will certainly consider in the future. As I deepen my knowledge, I would be very open to writing a book that teaches Vietnamese traditional music to Western string instrumentalists, while simultaneously focusing on creating new cross-sections for improvisation and composition. Currently, I'm working on a Vietnamese tongue twister book as a gift for my son. The book playfully highlights the challenges of Vietnamese for non-native speakers by showcasing words that appear similar but change meaning with different intonations. My family may find it amusingly crazy, but I believe it's a fun and light-hearted project. How is music important in your life? Music occupies an indispensable place in my life; it's my ultimate passion and source of immense joy. When I'm creating in the studio or performing on stage with the cello, I experience a sense of complete zen. For me, music serves as a profound connection to something beyond words - almost spiritual in nature. It's the medium through which I express my emotions and push the boundaries of cello music, and it brings me an unparalleled sense of fulfilment. Music has also given me the opportunity to connect with so many different people from around the world. Just like the album Tri Am suggests, I've been able to have this unspoken connection and unity with musicians and audiences alike from across the globe. It helps to ground me and remind me that we all are one people, no matter our cultural or geographical differences. Music really is for everyone. I have shared my music with vulnerable populations including those with special needs, war veterans, the elderly, people who are sick, and many more. My goal upon returning to Viet Nam is to expand this and share this spiritual music with all different populations, from the ethnic people in the mountainous areas to the fishermen along the coast of Viet Nam. VNS By Phuong Mai Vietnamese and international designers introduced designs with high standards of creativity and craftmanship celebrating Vietnamese culture and textiles at the Aquafina International Fashion Week (AVIFW) 2023. Ha Noi-based Vu Viet Ha, who is known for creating ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) in natural Vietnamese materials, received a very warm welcome from audiences at the fashion week in HCM City for his new ready-to-wear designs promoting the quintessence of Vietnamese culture. Has collection, which is named Nuoc au Nguon (The Upstream Water), includes ao dai, evening gowns, and formal and casual wear for men and women with patterns inspired by thuy ba (waves) motifs on Vietnamese costumes from the 19th century. The patterns are hand-embroidered depicting the cultural flow towards the future. Ha, who has been involved in the fashion industry for 15 years, said, the Viet Nam International Fashion Week (VIFW) in recent years has highlighted cultural heritage. Through this collection, I bring traditional thuy ba motifs to modern costumes made of Vietnamese ramie. The designer chose Vietnamese ramie, an eco-friendly fabric researched and produced by Thien Phuoc Ramie Group JSC that is durable and easy to volume and dye, for his designs. In particular, he successfully made denim fabric from ramie yarn, which he uses for his ao dai, dresses, jackets and jeans. He also applied modern and hand-crafted techniques in dyeing to create contrasting visual effects, like water flowing on rough surfaces. The 34-year-old designer said, I want to introduce cultural heritage to international audiences at the AVIFW, and contribute to preserving and promoting Vietnamese cultural values and traditions. Ha graduated from the Ha Noi University of Industrial Fine Arts, and took part in classes by late Japanese fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto. He has presented his ao dai collections in numerous fashion shows such as the Vietnam Collection Grand Prix, VIFW, and Hue Festival. At the AVIFW in Ha Noi last November, Ha introduced designs inspired by the Mong peoples fabrics and costumes from his collection Ky gui nguoi Mong vao tuong lai (To the Mong in the Future). He used the Mong peoples linen fabric and traditional patterns as well as their sewing and embroidery techniques to create modern dresses and clothes, while still reflecting cultural values. Vu Thu Phuong, the former model turned fashion designer from the northern province of Nam inh, honoured her hometowns traditional craft of silk weaving with a collection named Green Phoenix for her ready-to-wear brand Phoenix V. Phuongs collection features designs inspired from ao yem (Vietnamese traditional chemise), cut-out dresses, and menswear-inspired items that make women sexy, but still strong. All the designs are made of silk from Co Chat Silk Village in Phuong inh Commune of Nam inh City, which has been known as one of the countrys best-known sericulture and silk villages for hundreds of years. Silk threads are 100 per cent handmade, thin, soft, durable and vibrantly colourful. The village saw its golden days after winning numerous prizes at trade shows and exhibitions during the French colonial era. Silk products made here were so famous that the French built a factory right next to the village. However, silk makers in recent years have struggled to survive, because more and more villagers left for other jobs with better pay. Phuong said, I was born and grew up next to the weaving factory, and saw generations of villagers who worked to preserve the silk weaving craft. Today, traditional looms are gradually disappearing, so I wonder if Vietnamese silk will fade and disappear as well. I believe my fashion thinking needs to be changed to fulfill my duty of preserving my homelands traditional crafts. That is mulberry and silkworm farming and silk weaving at Co Chat Silk Village. Phuong began her career as a model in 2008 after winning a national modeling competition and quickly gained success in the modeling and film industries. In 2010, she launched her own fashion brand Phoenix_V, creating modern and luxurious items for women. She left show business in 2011, but returned as a judge of the Miss Universe Viet Nam pageant in 2019 and 2022. Phuong is currently one of four mentors of the modeling-themed reality TV series The Face Vietnam 2023, a Vietnamese version of American show The Face, which is broadcast every Sunday on Viet Nam Televisions VTV9 channel. Dynamic Sai Gon Fashion designer Christopher Chronis from Australia dazzled fashion fans with his collection inspired from Sai Gons streetstyle during the 1960s and 1990s called Sultry Saigon Nights. The show is part of celebration of the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between Australia and Viet Nam. Through the show, Chronis brought an image of Sai Gon streets to the catwalk with 70 designs for both women and men inspired by disco style, such as flared pants, blazers, crop tops, mini dresses, and jumpsuits in vivid colour such as pink, red, silver, and gold. He used shiny fabrics and materials such as liquid metallic fabrics, sequins and crystals for his clothes that turned the show into a disco party in Sai Gon in 1990s. The images of dragon, phoenix and lotus flower, familiar motifs in Vietnamese culture, were featured in his designs as well. Chronis said through his collection, he sent a message that each individual was unique, standing out in the crowd. The designer has run the Christopher Chronis Designs, Gas Station, and Christos fashion labels for mens and womens fashions. The AVIFW 2023 presented 17 shows by 18 international and Vietnamese designers and fashion brands, the London College for Design & Fashion in Ha Noi, and the Marangoni Fashion Institute in Milan, Italy. Around 1,000 designs were featured, reflecting the shows theme of sustainable fashion. Le Thi Quynh Trang, VIFW president, said the AVIFW 2023 was a great success. Having the theme of 'Shaping the Future', the event introduced Vietnamese natural fabrics as well as culture to the world, taking a further step to elevate the countrys fashion industry to a sustainable fashion market. VNS HA NOI General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong on Tuesday sent a letter of congratulations to President of the Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) and Prime Minister of Cambodia Samdech Techo Hun Sen on the successful 7th National Assembly (NA) election held on July 23. Meanwhile, PM Pham Minh Chinh talked over the phone with his Cambodian counterpart to offer congratulations. Chairman of the Vietnamese NA Vuong inh Hue extended congratulations to President of the Cambodian NA Samdech Heng Samrin. General Secretary Trong and other Party and State leaders of Viet Nam congratulated Cambodian on the successful organisation of the 7th NA election, especially the high turnout of voters and the safety, freedom and fairness of the election that reflected Cambodian voters confidence in the countrys development future. They also congratulated the CPP on its great victory in the election and said the election results once again affirmed the role and stature of the CPP under the leadership of Samdech Techo Hun Sen. The Vietnamese leaders expressed their belief that Cambodia will soon set up a new NA and a new Government to continue leading the Cambodian people on the path of developing a peaceful, stable, and prosperous country that has a growing role and stature in the region and the world at large. Regarding the Viet Nam-Cambodia relations, they said they believe that the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability between the two countries will be intensified further and grow more strongly for the sake of the two peoples, the ASEAN Community, as well as regional and global peace, stability, cooperation, and development. On this occasion, Chairman of the CPV Central Committees Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son also offered congratulations to Chairman of the CPP Central Committees Commission for External Relations, Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia Prak Sokhonn. VNS Rome State President Vo Van Thuong on July 25 (local time) met in Rome with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy and representatives of the Vietnamese businesses and community there, as part of his State visit to the European country. Foreign experts, researchers, members of friendship associations, and Italian friends also joined the meeting. Ambassador Duong Hai Hung said that the 5,000-strong Vietnamese community in Italy keeps close connections in life, has stable legal status, and is highly valued by the host country. Recently, a union of presidents of Vietnamese people's associations in Italy has been established to promote linkage among the Vietnamese associations. President Thuong emphasised that over the past half a century, the Viet Nam-Italy relationship has continuously developed in all aspects. He said he believes that this visit will create a new impetus, intensify political trust, and bring the two countries' relations to a new and more effective level for the development of each country. Briefing the overseas Vietnamese on Viet Nams current situation and its achievements over the past time, the President noted the important contributions by the overseas Vietnamese community, including those in Italy. On behalf of the Party and the State, Thuong thanked Italian friends for their enthusiastic support for Viet Nam over the past years. The President emphasised that the Party and State always consider overseas Vietnamese as an inseparable part of the country. He expressed his hope that overseas Vietnamese in Italy will maintain the traditional cultural identity of the Vietnamese people, pass the Vietnamese language to the next generations, and always turn their hearts and minds to the homeland. VNS The world watched as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang held crucial negotiations five weeks ago in Beijing. However, anyone looking for information about that significant event on the website of China's Foreign Ministry will be disappointed because that meetingand all of Qin's activities as foreign ministerhave been completely removed from the record as a result of a bizarre leadership change on Tuesday that saw Qin abruptly replaced by his predecessor Wang Yi, as reported by CNN. Away From Public View After disappearing from public view in late June without a clear explanation, there had been weeks of concerns and rumors about Qin's fate. The shocking removal was approved by a key authority within China's rubber-stamp legislature. The most recent development in the story, the total erasing of Qin's brief, six-month time as foreign minister and Wang's replacement by him after a promotion late last year, only serves to exacerbate the mystery. In a Disciplinary Probe? In China, where the political system is notoriously transparent and has only become more so under Chinese leader Xi Jinping, unanswered queries regarding official decision-making are common. Senior Chinese officials have in the past vanished from view only to reappear months later with claims that they were the subject of a covert disciplinary probe. (Photo: by Michele Tantussi/Getty Images)) BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 9: Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang addresses the media during a joint Press conference in the German Foreign Ministry on May 9, 2023, in Berlin, Germany. High on the meeting's agenda is reportedly Russia's war in Ukraine, in which China is seeking to play a negotiating role. Foreign Minister Qin Gang will also visit France and Norway. However, Qin's recent circumstances-who is regarded as Xi's trusted aide, one of China's most recognizable officials as the face of its foreign policy, and a former ambassador to the US-have brought those aspects of China's political system into the public eye. The incident's timing, which comes as China has been promoting its leadership as a desirable alternative to that of the West, significantly heightens the potentially negative optics. Last year, Qin was appointed to the position of foreign minister over more qualified applicants, which was considered as an indication of Xi's profound trust in him. Xi had filled China's leadership with his close supporters as he cemented power and began an unprecedented third term as president. Tuesday night, as news of the leadership changes spread via Chinese official media, the country's extensive system for policing public discourse on current affairs sprang into high gear. On the well-known Chinese social media platform Weibo, Qin's removal-related hashtags were banned, including at least one attempt to elude censorship by discussing the decision under a hashtag for a television program set at the time of the historical Qin dynasty in China. However, only posts from verified accounts, primarily from state media or government institutions, were accessible when searching for Wang's appointment on the site on Wednesday morning. User-generated comments were also hidden. Further information regarding the causes of Qin's departure has not yet been made public, and because of this information gap, rumors and speculation have proliferated. When questioned about why Qin missed a diplomatic event earlier this month, a ministry official gave the excuse of "health reasons." When questioned why records of Qin's term as foreign minister were removed during a routine ministry briefing on Wednesday, a spokesperson declined to comment on why Qin was replaced and claimed the ministry website was "updated in accordance with the relevant regulations." Qin currently seems to have kept his State Councilor position, a high-level administration position with domestic responsibility. Read also: China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang Fired; Wang Yi Reassumes Former Post Qin's Absence May Be a Political Move However, elite Chinese political watchers claim that the lack of explanation for his replacement and his removal from the ministry website indicates political motives. If a formal announcement of an investigation into him occurs in the coming months, these motives may become evident. Related article: Qin Gang Missing: Rumors Spread of Chinese Official's Potential Whereabouts @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. TEL AVIV Viet Nam attaches importance to consolidating and further developing friendship and cooperation with Israel, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang told Israeli President Isaac Herzog at their meeting on July 25. At the meeting as part of his official visit to Israel, Deputy PM Quang expressed his pleasure to visit Israel on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Viet Nam-Israel diplomatic relations. To futher promote multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries, Quang suggested the two sides strengthen the exchange of high-level delegations. He affirmed that Viet Nam encourages and creates favourable conditions for Israeli businesses to strengthen cooperation with Viet Nam, especially in areas that Israel is strong and Viet Nam needs such as science - technology and innovation. For his part, President Isaac Herzog expressed his respect for the history, land and people of Viet Nam, and highly valued Viet Nam's role and position as well as its remarkable socio-economic development in recent years. He said that Quangs Israel visit will open up good opportunities to enhance the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. During their meeting, the two sides discussed and agreed on specific measures to improve the efficiency of bilateral cooperation such as implementing the free trade agreement be signed during the visit, raising trade turnover, promoting investment and tourism cooperation, opening a direct route soon, creating favourable conditions for the issuance of visas for citizens of the two countries in order to boost people-to-people exchange and economic cooperation. On this occasion, Quang conveyed the regards and invitation from President Vo Van Thuong to Israeli President Isaac Herzog to visit Viet Nam soon. President Herzog accepted the invitation with pleasure. VNS TEL AVIV Viet Nam and Israel should consider science-technology and high-tech agriculture as priority areas for cooperation, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their talks on July 25 (local time). During the talks part of Quangs official visit to Israel from July 23-25, the Deputy PM said Viet Nam encourages and will create favourable conditions for Israeli businesses. Netanyahu welcomed and spoke highly of the significance of Quang's visit, especially as the two countries are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. He expressed his impression of Viet Nam's socio-economic development achievements, affirming that the country is an important partner of Israel. He said that with complementary advantages, the two sides have great potential to strengthen cooperation in all fields, especially in science-technology and start-ups, innovation, high-tech agriculture, water treatment technology, and medicine. Deputy PM Quang affirmed that Viet Nam always attaches importance to friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Israel, and conveyed an invitation from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to Netanyahu to visit Viet Nam soon. For his part, Netanyahu accepted the invitation, expressed his hope to soon pay an official visit to Viet Nam, and also invited Chinh to pay an official visit to Israel soon. During the talks, the two sides agreed to jointly promote the friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Israel through measures such as increasing the exchange of delegations at all levels; coordinate and support each other at international forums and organisations; promote the exchange of business delegations; organise trade and investment promotion activities; effectively exploit the newly-signed Viet Nam-Israel Free Trade Agreement; and consider the opening of direct flights between the two countries at an early date. Before the talks, they witnessed the signing ceremony of the Viet Nam-Israel Free Trade Agreement. The same day, Quang met Israeli President Isaac Herzog and received representatives of Israeli businesses. On the evening of July 25, he left Israel and headed to Egypt for an official visit. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met Tony Blair, former UK Prime Minister and Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), in Ha Noi on Wednesday. Speaking highly of Blair's contributions to bilateral relations during his working tenure as a UK Prime Minister (1997-2007) and at present, Chinh expressed his hope that his guest will maintain contributions so as to help deepen the two countries relations in all fields, especially as they are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations. He congratulated the UK on joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), affirming Viet Nam's support and willingness to actively coordinate with the country to promote the effective and efficient implementation of the trade deal. Showing his expectation of Viet Nam's development potential, the UKs former PM said that his country always attaches importance to its strategic partnership with Viet Nam and believes that the bilateral ties will grow further in the future. The two sides also expressed their delight at the remarkable progress in cooperation between the TBI and some Vietnamese agencies after their meeting in March. During Blairs visit, the institute plans to sign a cooperation agreement with the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment on attracting high-quality foreign investment and developing a financial centre in Viet Nam. TBI has initially supported Vietnamese ministries and sectors to connect with potential foreign enterprises and investment funds that want to invest in Viet Nam, and is considering opening a representative office in Viet Nam. At the meeting, the two sides also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, especially trends of the fourth industrial revolution, artificial intelligence, the rise of protectionism, and strategic competition. Chinh proposed the two sides strengthen cooperation to grasp and take advantage of opportunities and overcome difficulties and challenges. He also suggested TBI promote the linkages of foreign partners and investors in Viet Nam, including investment funds and corporations from Europe and the Middle East, and assist the country in attracting resources for green growth, emissions reduction and climate change response, and boosting digital transformation. The TBI Executive Chairman agreed with the Vietnamese PMs view on the need to strengthen international solidarity and uphold multilateralism in solving global and universal issues, especially in responding to climate change and disease-related challenges. He affirmed that the TBI will always accompany and support Viet Nam and continue to work with its relevant agencies to implement specific cooperation activities, programmes and projects. VNS ROME Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong and his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella agreed on major orientations to elevate the bilateral strategic partnership during their talks in Rome on Wednesday. Before the meeting, the Italian President chaired an official welcome ceremony for President Thuong at the Quirinale Palace. Thuong thanked President Mattarella for the respectful and warm welcome, affirming that Viet Nam attaches importance to the relationship with Italy while expressing his wish and determination to work with Italy's top leaders to strengthen relations in various fields. The Vietnamese leader emphasised that Viet Nam always remembers and is grateful for the valuable support of the Italian people in the struggle for national independence and unification in the past as well as in national construction and development today. President Mattarella said Italy attaches great importance to Viet Nam's position and role in the Asia-Pacific region. He expressed his impression of Viet Nam's dynamic economic achievements and agreed to strengthen the bilateral strategic partnership, contributing to the sustainable development of each country and jointly responding to global challenges. The two leaders informed each other about each country's situation and discussed directions and major measures to promote the strategic partnership. They also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest. Both leaders expressed their delight at the positive developments of the bilateral relations. The two countries have maintained delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high levels, across various channels. Two-way trade turnover in 2022 reached more than US$6.2 billion. Viet Nam is Italy's largest trading partner in ASEAN and Italy is the Viet Nams leading trading partner. Italy ranks 33 out of 143 countries and territories with direct investment in Viet Nam. Bilateral cooperation in culture, arts, science and technology, education and training have also made significant progress. Italy's Official Development Assistance, for many years, has supported Viet Nam in socio-economic development and helped the country fulfil the UN Millennium Development Goals. The two leaders pledged to step up delegation exchanges at all levels, especially in State, Government and National Assembly channels. The Italian President agreed with Viet Nam's proposal for continuously and effectively implementing the Viet Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement. He also announced that the Italian Parliament ratified the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement. Italy also supports the European Commission (EC) to soon remove the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) yellow card for Vietnamese seafood exports in order to promote economic-trade cooperation and contribute to economic recovery, Sergio Mattarella said. The two presidents agreed to strengthen people-to-people exchanges in education - training, culture - art, tourism as well as partnership between the localities. President Thuong proposed the Italian Government continue to pay attention to and create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to integrate into the host society. The two sides agreed to expand cooperation on security - defence; science and technology while continuing to support each other at multilateral forums, working together to respond to global issues such as climate change and food security. Also during the talks, President Thuong and President Sergio Mattarella discussed a number of international and regional issues such as cooperation between Italy and ASEAN, between Viet Nam, the EU and Indo-Pacific region. The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea), and settling disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). President Thuong invited Italian President Sergio Mattarella and his daughter to return to visit Viet Nam at an appropriate time. VNS LONG AN Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Tuesday requested Long An Province to prioritise all available resources to implement a synchronised and efficient development plan for the province. The plan should follow the model One centre; Two corridors; Three economic and social zones; and Six dynamic axes. The One centre referred to Tan An City while the Two corridors included the Belt Road 3 and 4 corridor and the southern development corridor. The Three economic and social zones consisted of the urban and industrial zone, the zone of high-tech agriculture, tourism and border economy, and the ecological buffer zone. Additionally, the Six dynamic axes included the Belt Road 3 and 4, the National Highway 50B, the parallel National Highway 61B, the My Quy Tay - Luong Hoa - Binh Chanh, the National Highway N1, and the uc Hoa dynamic axis. Completing these goals would enable the province to become a dynamic economic centre in the southern region by 2030 and eventually lead as a prominent industrial province in the country by 2050. PM Chinh was speaking while attending the conference on the master plan announcement and investment promotion of Long An Province on Tuesday. According to the approved Long An Provinces development master plan, the province aims to become a dynamic, efficient, and sustainable economic centre in the southern region by 2030. It would serve as a gateway on the urban-industrial economic corridor of the Mekong Delta, closely connecting with HCM City and the southeast region, and becoming an important cooperation and trading hub with Cambodia. By 2050, Long An envisioned itself as the leading industrial province in Viet Nam and one of the important economic growth poles in the Mekong Delta. During the conference, delegates and investors shared their experiences and proposed recommendations to further attract investment into the province. Long An Province committed to provide domestic and foreign investors with the most favourable conditions to successfully implement projects and ensure sustainable development in the future. The province granted more than 23 investment approval decisions, investment certificates, and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to domestic and foreign investors in various fields. At the conference, PM Chinh stated that Long An possessed diverse and distinct potentials and competitive advantages for rapid and sustainable socio-economic development. This would be an attractive destination for both domestic and international investors. "Long An must transform its potential into resources, address existing challenges, and leverage the province's strengths. It should strive for self-reliance and self-improvement, enhancing the investment and business environment, as well as building a clean and strong political system," he said. PM Chinh stressed that the conference on the announcement of the provincial master plan was a specific step to implement the resolutions of the 13th Party Congress, the resolutions of the Politburo and the National Assembly, and the action programmes of the Government for the development of the Mekong Delta region. The Government leader urged the province to strive to fully utilise its potential and advantages, and create momentum for socio-economic development. This included promoting economic restructuring in line with innovative growth models, enhancing productivity and competitiveness based on the foundation of digital transformation, scientific and technological advancements, and climate change response. Long An should strengthen public-private partnerships, concentrating on investing in socio-economic infrastructure, especially transportation infrastructure, urban systems, industrial zones, and clusters. It should prioritise the development of social housing and housing for workers, facilitating land and administrative procedures, and focusing on logistics development to play a central role in the Mekong Delta region's transit. It should also foster dialogue and promptly resolve difficulties to create favourable conditions for investors, while enhancing efficiency of public services. PM Chinh noted that Long An needed to focus on improving the quality of human resources. It should invest further in education and training, particularly vocational training, to serve the province's key industries and sectors. Additionally, the province should enhance its foreign affairs work, international integration, and focus on strengthening friendly relations and cooperation between Viet Nam and Cambodia, effectively leveraging its role as a trade and cooperation hub with Cambodian localities. The leader also urged the business community and investors to adopt long-term and sustainable business strategies, fulfil their investment commitments, and adhere to cooperation agreements. He emphasised that businesses receiving investment registration certificates and investment approval should promptly complete procedures and accelerate project progress. On the same day, PM Chinh conducted an on-site survey of the Belt Road 3 project in HCM City passing through Long An Province. The road has a length of over 6.8km and was located in Ben Luc District, with a total investment of more than VN4.2 trillion. During the visit, Chinh emphasised the road's significant role in connecting provinces and key economic areas in the southern region. He directed Long An Province to focus on land clearance and address any obstacles and strictly follow the Government's instructions, ensuring sufficient materials for the project. He requested contractors to fulfil their promises and commitments to adhere to the project's schedule while ensuring technical standards, labour safety, and environmental protection. On the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947 July 27, 2023), PM Chinh paid tribute to the fallen heroes at the Martyrs Cemetery in Long An Province and presented gifts to the war invalid Pham Thi Xinh, residing in Ben Luc Town, Ben Luc District, Long An Province. VNS HCM CITY The new renewal policy for e-visas, with a duration of up to 90 days, is approaching its launch date of August 15, attracting the attention of the tourism industry both at home and abroad. According to the online travel platform Agoda, the number of searches about the new visa policy increased by 33 per cent within two weeks after its approval by the Vietnamese National Assembly. The highest increase in searches for accommodation came from France, with a 72 per cent hike compared to two weeks earlier. Other countries such as the Netherlands, New Zealand, Germany, and the US also recorded a rise in interest regarding Viet Nam, ranging from 38 to 45 per cent. Agoda's analysis focuses on long-haul travellers from North America, the EU, Australia, New Zealand, and other long-haul destinations, who face stricter visa policies compared to entry into other Southeast Asian countries and the wider Asia-Pacific region. They often have to take more expensive and longer round-trip flights, making them inclined to plan for longer vacations compared to visitors from nearby regions. The increased flexibility and ease of the visa issuance process, along with promotional efforts and more flight services, have contributed to attracting more tourists to Viet Nam. The data also indicated positive signs towards achieving Viet Nam's target of 8 million foreign visitors by the end of this year. Since the beginning of the year, Vietnam has welcomed about 5.57 million foreign tourists. Following the visa policy change, India rose from eighth place to become the second-largest international market for hotel bookings in Vietnam, only behind the Republic of Korea. Director of the HCM City Tourism Department Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa said the department will partner with relevant departments and agencies to jointly fine-tune the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism development policies in the city. In the first half of this year, foreign tourist arrivals in the city surpassed 1.9 million, up 306 per cent annually and equivalent to 38.8 per cent of the 2023 plan. Meanwhile, the number of domestic visitors exceeded 16.4 million, up 48 per cent year-on-year and reaching 46.9 per cent of the yearly plan. Those who can obtain the three-month visa to Viet Nam are tourists from eligible countries, as well as those travelling for business purposes with a guaranteeing agency or organization in Viet Nam. Foreigners with at least one-year valid on their passport in advance of the trip and those who are not on the list of individuals prohibited from entering Viet Nam as prescribed in Article 21 of the Law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Viet Nam are also eligible. The three-month visa can be obtained via two methods: at the Embassy/Consulate or via a visa on arrival. Depending on the method applicants choose, the price varies from US$25 for a single entry and $50 for multiple entries if applying at the Embassy/Consulate. For a visa approval letter, depending on the policy of each travel/visa agency in Viet Nam, it costs $25 for a single entry and $50 for multiple entries for a government fee plus $25 to $150. VNS South Korean lenders are often contemplating the forming of legal entities in Vietnam, photo Le Toan KakaoBank, South Koreas digital-only bank, last month announced a partnership with Thai financial group SCBX for its substantial fintech investments within the region. The partnership centres around establishing a consortium aimed at obtaining a virtual banking licence in Thailand. The South Korean bank confirmed that both parties would collaborate throughout the consortiums early operations and continue their partnership after securing the licence. KakaoBank is set to hold at least a 20 per cent stake in the consortium, making it the second-largest shareholder. The partnership signifies a mutual conviction in Southeast Asias growth potential, with plans to jointly develop a broad range of financial services. KakaoBanks strategy to leverage its robust expertise in mobile fintech and platform operations aims to consolidate its foothold in Thailand and extend its reach into other Southeast Asian markets. Yun Ho-young, CEO of KakaoBank, expressed enthusiasm about the move. KakaoBank is unwavering in its commitment to forging the future of finance and driving fintech innovation in Thailand in alliance with SCBX. Simultaneously, Vietnam is emerging as a preferred location for South Korean banks aiming to expand their footprint. KB Financial Groups chairman and CEO, Yoon Jong-kyoo, highlighted the importance of glocalisation as a key strategy for the companys global expansion in June, cited Korea Times. If we pursue globalisation based only on our experience in South Korea, it will fail. We must build our competitive edge in each country, Jong-kyoo said. As part of this strategy, the largest banking group in South Korea is targeting the digital banking market in Cambodia while prioritising traditional banking services in Vietnam. On the other hand, Kang Seoghoon, chairman of KDB, conveyed the banks interest in collaborating with Vietnamese firms on high-tech innovations, digital transformation, and green energy initiatives during a visit to Vietnam in June. We intend to establish a KDB branch in Vietnam to support local enterprises in their global expansion, fostering job creation and economic growth, Seoghoon stated. Similarly, IBK, another South Korean financial behemoth, also plans to form a legal entity in Vietnam, targeting small- and medium-sized enterprises. The State Bank of Vietnam is currently reviewing licence applications from new entities, including six South Korean banks such as IBK and KDB, added Vietnams Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai. Other non-banking entities from South Korea are also eyeing Southeast Asia as a key growth market. Hanwha Investment & Securities recently revealed plans to acquire a majority stake in Indonesias Ciptadana Securities and Ciptadana Asset Management, affiliates of the Lippo Group. Pending regulatory approval, this transaction is expected to close by the end of 2023. Elsewhere, non-life group PVI Insurance inked a comprehensive MoU with NongHyup Property and Casualty Insurance on July 11. Under the terms of the agreement, PVI Insurance and NongHyup P&C have committed to expand their cooperation in the field of reinsurance and to leverage their respective client networks and services to strengthen their product and service capabilities. Duong Thanh Francois, chairman of PVI, said, Vietnam and South Korea have elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The Vietnam-South Korea Free Trade Agreement has also significantly boosted trade and investment activities between the two nations. CEO of NongHyup P&C Insurance, Choi Mun Seob said, Through this agreement, we hope that both sides will cooperate closely in the Vietnamese insurance market, jointly develop and create a new profit model. The drive to expand overseas has seen South Korean commercial banks overseas assets grow by over 10 per cent last year. Data from the Financial Supervisory Service as of mid-July reveals that South Korean banks were operating 207 overseas branches at the end of last year, a net increase of three from the previous year. These branches spanned 40 markets. Vietnam hosted the most branches at 20, followed by China at 17, and the US at 16. The total assets held by these overseas branches surged by 10.9 per cent to $203.1 billion at year-end, up from $183.2 billion a year earlier. South Korean DB Insurance acquires 75 per cent stake in Saigon - Hanoi Insurance Corporation DB Insurance continues its expansion in the Vietnamese insurance market with the acquisition of a 75 per cent ownership stake in Saigon - Hanoi Insurance Corporation (BSH), following its recent deal to acquire Aviation Insurance, positioning itself as a major player in the industry. South Korean giants to pour billions of dollars into Vietnam More than 100 MoUs were signed by South Korean and Vietnamese businesses at the Vietnam-South Korea Business Forum on June 23. Indonesia announces Golden Visa policy for foreign companies, citizens, Illustration of an Indonesian visa (Source: asianews.network) Jakarta The Immigration Agency of Indonesia has announced that the golden visa policy will be implemented as early as this July for foreign companies and citizens investing a certain amount of money in the Southeast Asian country. The head of the agency, Silmy Karim, claimed that the policy will benefit the country as visas will be granted selectively. Additionally, companies applying for this visa must invest at least 50 million USD in Indonesia, while inpiduals are required to invest a minimum of 350,000 USD in government bonds. According to Silmy, it is also one of the governments measures to screen qualified foreign tourists. The golden visa is valid for 5-10 years and allows its holder to conduct business and other activities in Indonesia. Indonesian Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno expressed his hope that the golden visa will help attract more foreign investment in many fields and make Indonesia a centre of sustainable economic growth. Based on the definition of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Golden Visa refers to a residence permit scheme through investment, or residency by investment. This policy is implemented by a country through the mechanism of granting residence permits or citizenship to foreign citizens through investment or paying a certain fee. Foreigners with Golden Visa will enjoy exclusive benefits that are not received by visa holders in general, such as easier and faster procedures and requirements for visa applications and immigration matters, mobility with multiple entries, longer stay periods, the right to own assets within the country, and included in the fast-track to apply for citizenship. Indonesia looks to South Asian markets to boost exports Indonesia is targeting non-traditional markets in South Asia such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh to boost exports, whose growth is currently slowing, Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan has informed. Indonesia to launch national crypto exchange in July Indonesia's Commodity Futures Trading Supervisory Agency (Bappebti) has planned to debut a national cryptocurrency exchange in July. Malaysia expands Internet service in remote areas, Illustrative image (Source: Internet) Hanoi Malaysia has issued a license to Starlink, the satellite communications service started by Elon Musk, to provide internet services in the country, particularly in remote areas. Malaysian Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on July 20 that Starlink, which is operated by Musk's SpaceX, would begin by providing its services to schools and higher education institutions. The Malaysian government also prepared to work with satellite communications firms, including Starlink, to ensure 100% internet coverage in populated areas, Fahmi said, adding that around 3% of populated areas in Malaysia face issues with internet access, due to geographical and infrastructure challenges. The announcement comes a week after PM Anwar Ibrahim held a phone call with Musk to discuss his companies investing in Malaysia. The Malaysian government earlier this year announced that his electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla would open an office in Malaysia. It also approved the company's application to import battery-run EVs into the country, as part of a wider government effort to promote sustainable mobility. Malaysia secures 49 bln USD worth of investments Malaysias trade performance continues to improve, driven by different investments including domestic direct investments (DDI) and foreign direct investments (FDI), said the country's Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI). Internship schemes are helping to promote a new generation of talent, photo Le Toan Last week on a business trip to the United States, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung worked with numerous government authorities, organisations, businesses, funds, and large corporations. In talks with New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), the two sides discussed prospects for cooperation in innovation, technology, research and development, and developing a startup ecosystem. The development process of New York City has already moved from an economy based on manufacturing to based on quality services such as finance and communication, and now an economy based on science and technology, Minister Dung said. This is a good model with similar features for Ho Chi Minh City to cooperate with and follow, and we hope that the NYCEDC will continue supporting Vietnam in its socioeconomic development process. Several months ago, NYCEDC launched an offshore wind and waterfront training programme for businesses led by minorities, women, and disadvantaged people. The Women.NYC Network connects women with opportunities in New Yorks emerging industries and growing sectors; and the inaugural Cyber NYC Internship Programme wants to develop and promote the next generation of talent. We work with communities to bring emerging industries to the city, develop spaces and facilities for businesses, empower New Yorkers through training and skill-building, and invest in sustainable and innovative projects, said a NYCEDC statement. The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) delegation also worked with the leaders of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to learn lessons on developing in developing the markets of stocks, bonds, and derivatives, thereby applying lessons learned to the process of building a financial centre in Vietnam. Vietnam needs to have a transparent tax, banking system, and related legal framework that can facilitate all investors, highlighted an NYSE representative. Meanwhile, meeting with the Financial Services Volunteer Corps, a non-profit organisation strengthening financial sectors in developing countries, its CEO and chairman Andrew Spinler and Minister Dung and discussed in-depth expertise on building a financial centre in Vietnam. They evaluated and compared Vietnams features with others financial centres around the world, the necessary and sufficient conditions to build a financial centre, and especially the next steps for Vietnam to realise its key targets. Global investment firm KKR pledged to continue investment and support Vietnam in connecting with international businesses and partners in order to develop a financial centre. The MPI delegation also met numerous large enterprises and corporations, such as members of the Business Council for International Understanding. They include such as AES, CitiGroup, Mitsubishi America, Davidson Kempner Capital Management, and S&P Global, some of whom are interested in the current investment environment in Vietnam. Minister Dung asked them to boost investment cooperation and increase their contribution to Vietnams socioeconomic development and the comprehensive partnership between the two countries. This is an important foundation to strengthen investment and trade cooperation, benefiting both sides, he said. I hope that the US investors will pour money into high-quality projects in Vietnam, strengthening links and contributing to improving Vietnamese enterprises competitiveness in global value chains, he added. Accumulatively as of June, total US registered investment capital in Vietnam reached $11.73 billion for 1,270 valid projects, making the US the 11th biggest foreign investor in Vietnam, according to the MPI. During Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs visit to the US in May 2022, investors from both nations exchanged cooperation deals and trade contracts worth over $30 billion. US widens plywood trade remedy inquiry On May 2, the DOC is set to make a final determination to avoid trade remedies for Vietnamese-imported hardwood plywood. Vietnam aspires to learn about smart city growth from US Vietnam has suggested fostering a US-Vietnam collaboration for the development of smart cities, aiding its future urban planning milestones. US companies ready to commit to large-scale action in Vietnam Vietnam and the United States are set to celebrate 10 years of their comprehensive partnership later this year. Former US Ambassador to Vietnam and current president and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council Ted Osius talked exclusively to VIRs Linh Le about how important the Vietnamese market is to American investors. Groundbreaking ceremony held for new US Embassy in Hanoi Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 15 broke ground on the construction of the new US Embassy in Cau Giay district, Hanoi. In a win for activists, train companies have postponed contentious plans to close almost all ticket offices in England. Proposal to Close Railway Ticket Offices According to Mirror, the train companies suddenly revealed their plans to shut down 974 ticket offices earlier this month. Those who are aged, handicapped, or otherwise unable to utilize the internet or station ticket machines may be adversely affected. To offer customers more time to weigh in on the controversial proposals, rail officials said they would extend the call for feedback by five more weeks. The consultation, which was originally set to finish at midnight on Wednesday, July 26, has now been extended until September 1. This will give opponents of the ideas an additional opportunity to voice their opposition. Reportedly, the crisis negotiations between the Department of Transport and railway operators resulted in a decision to extend the procedure. According to Rail Delivery Group CEO Jacqueline Starr: "Operators are keen to give more people a chance to give their views on the proposals, so they can bring the railway up to date with dramatic shifts in customer buying habits while supporting all its customers as the railway evolves and adapts." See Also: Just Stop Oil Vs. Just Stop Pissing People Off: JSO's Event Crashed by Alarms Attached to Balloons! Getting Feedback From the General Population In a statement to Mirror, independent watchdog Transport Focus CEO Anthony Smith said they had received more than 170,000 comments already. These comments are being recorded and analyzed alongside suggestions from specific railway companies. The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has asked train companies to make consultation materials accessible through big print and braille. "Since plans to close train ticket offices were announced, we have heard in great detail from blind and partially sighted people about the hugely damaging impact that this will have on their ability to travel independently, to buy tickets, and arrange assistance," said Matt Stringer, chief executive of the RNIB. Two handicapped individuals who utilize train services threatened legal action over the consultation. Doug Paulley, who uses a wheelchair and has trouble hearing, and Sarah Leadbetter, who is legally blind, both felt it was discriminatory. They said the public was not given sufficient time to reply to some of the most significant changes to railroad operations in a generation, arguing that they were only given 21 days. It was also reported that five Labour mayors had vowed to sue railway companies unless they immediately halted their plans. Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, warned that extending the "completely flawed" consultation process was not sufficient. Meanwhile, Conservative transport minister Huw Merriman has defended the consultation. He called it "a robust process." A few weeks ago, he made the following statement: "I fundamentally believe that rather than the railway being stuck in the past, the railway needs to adapt and change in the manner that its passengers are doing so." Passengers outside London may fill out this form on the Transport Focus website to voice their opinion. Passengers traveling in and around London are encouraged to provide feedback at ticketoffice@londontravelwatch.org.uk. See Also: Heathrow's Request for Excess Fuel Sparks Concerns About Carbon Emissions @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Funded by Kim Long Nam Group, the towers include unfinished units with a scale of 30-50 floors with thousands of apartments, located next to My Khe Beach in the citys Son Tra district. According to architect Pham Phu Binh, vice president of the Vietnam Association of Construction Consultants, the conversion was to help condotel developers overcome current difficulties because their owners would be granted ownership certificates, but it also causes concern that they would gather a larger population density and put pressure on urban infrastructure and socioeconomic development. With the permission to issue ownership for a condotel, this product still has good potential in the long term. However, only a part of the project should be allowed to be converted to units that are not putting great pressure on urban infrastructure, Binh said. Times Square Danang complex, source: timesquare.com.vn However, he warned that management authorities need to study and consider other possible conversions on a case-by-case basis before approval. It is necessary to determine from the beginning that the type of condotel is not a permanent house but serves the purpose of tourism and short-term stay only. Infrastructure systems in condotel projects are not appropriated for serving thousands of residents in the long term, he added. Meanwhile, Nguyen Manh Khoi, deputy director of Housing and Real Estate Market Management Department under Ministry of Construction, said that the ministry is receiving proposals to adjust condotel projects to housing in many localities with a total up to several thousand units. Ministry bodies are setting up guidelines for this conversion, which type of condotel can be transferred, and which ones cannot. Then local authorities and developers can follow, Khoi said. Figures from the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association said that there are more than 83,000 condotel units nationwide waiting for approval of ownership, mainly at resort complexes that have a lifespan of 50-70 years. With numerous condotels cumulating over the past 10 years, the condotel segment has struggled due to the impact of tourism closures in the past few years, along with legal problems in granting ownership. To remove some of the issues, the government issued Decree No.10/2023/ND-CP, which amends and supplements a number of articles guiding the implementation of the Law on Land and became effective in May. The decree permits tourism accommodation built on commercial and service land to be certified for ownership of land-attached construction works. Therefore, hotel apartments, condotels and officetels, resort tourist villas, and other works for accommodation and tourism on commercial and service land are subjected to be provided ownership if they meet all requirements. Status of condotel ownership may require further direction Although a new decree will allow the issuing of ownership certificates to condotels, experts say the regulations will still be inadequate and need to be supplemented in the near future to create a good enough legal corridor for the thousands of condotels in the market. Condotels, officetels get ownership certificates from May 20 Owners of condotel apartments who fully satisfy the conditions under the land law, construction law and the law on real estate business shall be granted a certificate of ownership of land-attached construction facilities according to the commercial or service land area purpose. Coteccons Construction JSC, Vietnam's leading construction firm, is facing a bankruptcy petition initiated by another construction company, Ricons Construction Investment JSC. The notice of the filing was issued by Ho Chi Minh City People's Court on July 4, according to a recent disclosure by Coteccons. The roots of the bankruptcy filing can be traced back to a complex dispute over an economic contract between the two companies, involving unsettled transactions related to accounts receivable and payable. These debts originated before 2019 when both Coteccons and Ricons were part of a seven-company ecosystem, alongside Unicons, Newtecons, BM Windows, Sol E&C, and Boho. This interconnected business network functioned as a collaborative entity, with each company contributing to a shared operational architecture. As members of this ecosystem, Ricons undertook a number of construction projects in which Coteccons played the role of a subcontractor. These included the Regina Hung Yen project, East Asia project design, and the Golden Palace project, among others. Furthermore, several equipment rental transactions were made between the two companies. The disputes over the outstanding receivables from these deals remain unresolved, largely due to complications in establishing the legal veracity of the documentation and quantifying the exact value of the debts. A parallel situation occurred on projects where Coteccons was the main contractor, resulting in outstanding debts to Ricons, who served as a subcontractor. Notable among these projects are the Newtaco project, Regina Stage 4, Regina Miracle factory, Regina Stage 6, Regina Hung Yen project, Vinfast factory project, and the Simco project. Coteccons has stated that it had sought resolution to these issues, repeatedly requesting direct meetings and written communication with Ricons. However, they claim Ricons failed to provide the requisite legal documentation that matches the claimed debt value. According to the firms announcement, Coteccons is in the process of bidding on key projects of national significance. Despite this discord, Coteccons is seeking a swift and cooperative resolution via arbitration. However, Ricons has shown a lack of collaboration and escalated the issue to court with a bankruptcy petition. Coteccons perceives this move as a strategically timed, rather than spontaneous action. In its 19 years of operation, including two years of restructuring, Coteccons has consciously chosen to step away from the competitive tactics of rumour-spreading and price wars, undergoing a thoughtful examination of the construction sector and resolving to drive change. "As a result, Coteccons suggests that the Ricons contractor collaborate, submit documents that fulfill legal criteria immediately, and assess the worth of debts originating between the two parties so that Coteccons bidding process is not hampered," Coteccons said in its official statement. The firm maintains that this measure is vital to ensure a fair competition and the successful execution of significant national projects. During the 2023 AGM, Ricons' leadership brought up the issue of debt from significant shareholders. They asserted that failure to meet debt payment obligations was contrary to the principle of cooperation and the responsibility of major shareholders. Despite numerous written requests for payment and efforts to discuss the issues at stake, there has been no breakthrough in the deadlock. A Ricons representative said, "When a partner lacked goodwill and cooperation, and neglected commitments, leading to persistent debts, Ricons was compelled to resort to more assertive legal measures. These include seeking the support of state management agencies in safeguarding our legitimate rights and interests." Hoa Lu combo leads pack for Long Thanh The Hoa Lu consortium, comprising major domestic and international firms, brings a blend of diverse expertise, adaptable capacity, and robust finances to the Long Thanh International Airport project, which it said renders it a compelling choice for this landmark venture. Who will secure financial guarantees for Long Thanh's construction consortiums? The disclosed bidding details have shed light on the proposals submitted by three prominent consortiums competing for the valuable Package 5.10 of Long Thanh International Airport's Phase 1 passenger terminal construction project. A bridge is washed out in Cagayan province, Philippines, after a river overflowed due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Doksuri (Photo source: AFP/VNA) Hanoi Strong winds and rain lashed the northern Philippines as Typhoon Doksuri made landfall on July 26, causing rivers to overflow and leaving thousands without power. According to the state weather agency, Doksuri was packing maximum sustained wind speeds of 175 kilometres an hour as it hovered over waters around Fuga Island, off the northern tip of the main island of Luzon. The agency warned of "violent, life-threatening conditions" as severe winds and heavy rain pounded the lightly populated region. Doksuri had been a super typhoon as it swept across the Pacific Ocean on July 25, but weakened as it neared the Philippines. Around 12,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Cagayan province, including 431 in the Babuyan islands, following warnings of 3-m-high storm surges. It was not immediately clear if Doksuri had caused any major damage. The cyclone is expected to brush past Taiwan (China) and make landfall in Chinas Fujian province on July 28. Philippines, WB sign 600 million USD deal for farming modernisation The Philippine Department of Finance (DOF) has signed a 600-million USD loan agreement with the World Bank (WB) for the countrys modernisation and industrialisation of the agricultural sector. Vietnams recurring power shortages, spurred by heatwaves reducing water volumes at hydropower dams and increased demand for cooling, have highlighted the urgency for a clean energy transition and electricity conservation. Niranpal Singh - Managing director BayWa r.e. Energy Solutions Asia-Pacific (left) and Bryse Gaboury - General manager BayWa r.e. Energy Solutions Asia The government issued a directive to urge people to conserve electricity on June 8 and further warned that the power situation will remain challenging for a long time as demand increases due to consumption. For Vietnam, the ideal conditions needed to ensure sufficient electricity generation at the hydropower plants for the countrys needs will be impacted in the coming years due to climate change, which is a significant risk for the country. What worsens it for Vietnam is that renewable energy supply from wind, solar and other sources is still limited. In a recent report in ASEAN Business Times, it was revealed that at the end of 2022, wind and solar energy accounted for around a quarter of Vietnams total energy capacity, but the amount of electricity generated from these sources was only 12.9 per cent of the total power output, according to state-owned utility Vietnam Electricity. Why is this so? It is because the owners of completed wind and solar projects are still locked in negotiations to connect their plants to the national electricity grid and are being hampered. Power cuts can seriously disrupt industrial activities. Given the current issues faced, business continuity necessitates a move towards self-sufficiency models, especially for multinational corporations. Major companies are urged to consider a reduced reliance on the grid and optimise energy usage, while minimising environmental impacts. On-site solar generation, backed by advanced photovoltaic technologies and battery storage, offers a viable solution. This approach not only safeguards against power outages, but reduces energy costs and environmental impacts. With Vietnam committed to transitioning towards clean energy, self-consumption energy models can shape the nations energy landscape. Capitalising on the governments green commitment, companies can take control of their energy needs through these models, serving as a temporary solution until a cleaner future is realised. Given the current backdrop of power shortages, the announcement of the Vietnamese governments Power Development Plan VIII is a shot in the arm for the countrys energy transition. The plan calls for the expansion of renewable energy generation and the development of liquefied natural gas facilities to aid a gradual phase-out of coal-fired power plants. The plan will require $134.7 billion in domestic and foreign investment by 2030 and will lay a pathway for Vietnam to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 as part of Vietnams electricity development plan for this decade. It calls for significant expansion of the countrys electricity grid, more than doubling its capacity from 69GW in 2020 to 150GW by 2030 to ensure national energy security and a burst of economic growth. According to the plan, the government estimates it needs $134.7 billion of funding for new power plants and grids. By 2030, the hope is that wind, solar and other renewable sources (except hydropower) can cover 47 per cent of Vietnams energy needs, an increase from 30.9 per cent currently, with hydropower accounting for 19.5 per cent of the energy mix by 2030, down from 29 per cent in 2022. The government has also committed to building new power transmission lines by 2030 to fully use the capacity of the countrys power plants, with the grid being linked with other countries in the region to enhance electricity change. Vietnam also plans to have half the countrys office buildings and residential houses use rooftop solar power by 2030. There are ways in which the government can further provide the impetus for companies to get on the clean energy transition. Apart from offering subsidies, accreditation and providing green certification as a means of acknowledging their efforts will also encourage the acceleration of the transition. Such accreditation will also help in how companies report their sustainability path, which will also help them acutely, especially if they are exporting their products to the continental markets. The government can really help by ensuring that the bureaucratic bottlenecks are cleared so that companies keen to start on their clean energy journey, can make the change, and swiftly too. Vietnam's energy sector sparks interest from Chinese corporations The energy sector in Vietnam has piqued the interest of Chinese corporations, paving the way for collaborations and potential investments in renewable energy projects. Vietnamese province advocates for renewable energy law Representatives from Gia Lai province emphasised the urgency of enacting a dedicated Renewable Energy Law to overcome regulatory challenges and promote sustainable growth in the country's renewable energy sector. Vietnam's 15 renewable energy transition projects generate 154 million kWh In a significant stride towards renewable energy adoption, 15 transitional renewable energy projects have contributed approximately 154 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity. Hanoi A delegation of about 50 Belgian entrepreneurs is expected to come to Vietnam to seek partners and attend Vietnam International Sourcing 2023, to be held in Ho Chi Minh City from September 13 to 15, said the Vietnamese Trade Office in Belgium and the EU. Vietnam International Sourcing 2023 attracts Belgian companies, photo goglobal.moit.gov.vn The office noted that the entrepreneurs will represent their businesses from the region of Flanders that operates in various sectors, from farm produce, machinery, construction materials to real estate and logistics services. In particular, some have expressed their wish to be further connected with Vietnamese companies in such industries as confectionery and chocolate production, fruit, insulation film and outdoor product manufacturing via Vietnam International Sourcing 2023. The First Vice President of the Belgian Senate, who is also head of the Belgian - Vietnamese Alliance (which promotes bilateral cooperation in all fields, especially economy), is scheduled to deliver a speech at the Vietnam - EU trade forum as part of Vietnam International Sourcing 2023. With bilateral ties increasingly reinforced in multiple areas over the last 50 years, more and more Belgium enterprises have been paying attention to and seeking business chances in Vietnam. Since the start of 2023, many major firms like John Cockerill, IPEI, and DEME have visited Vietnam to explore investment opportunities, a move to help carry out the outcomes of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs visit to Belgium in late 2022. The regions of Flanders and Wallonie are also planning to send business delegations to the Southeast Asian country in the last four months of 2023, according to the trade office. Vietnam International Sourcing 2023 is a series of events aiming to help with domestic enterprises efforts to further engage in global production and supply chains, adapt to the growing trend of international economic integration, and boost connectivity with foreign distribution channels and importers. It features conferences, workshops, business-matching events, Vietnam International Sourcing Expo 2023, and fringe activities help companies improve their capacity and sustainability. This years event attracts unprecedented attention of large enterprises from around the world, said the European - American Market Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Belgian Queen impressed by Vietnams progress in child protection Belgiums Queen Mathilde, who is Honorary President of UNICEF Belgium, wrapped up her three-day visit to Vietnam, which highlighted the Southeast Asian country's significant achievements towards realising child rights as well as the key challenges the most vulnerable children still face. At the signing ceremony. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat on July 25 signed the Vietnam - Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA) in Tel Aviv in the presence of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The two countries started negotiations for the agreement seven years ago and held 12 negotiation sessions. The agreement signing is even more meaningful in the context that the two countries are holding many practical activities to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. Notably, Israel is the first country in West Asia with which Vietnam has signed a free trade agreement (FTA) and Vietnam is also the first country in Southeast Asia that Israel has signed an FTA with. Israel is currently one of the leading trade, investment, and labour cooperation partners of Vietnam in West Asia. The economic structure of Vietnam and Israel is complementary to each other, and the import and export products of the two countries do not compete directly but complement each other instead. The signing and implementation of the VIFTA will create a favorable premise for Vietnam to promote the export of its goods to Israel, and at the same time have the opportunity to access Israeli high-tech products, contributing to reducing production and business costs and improving the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods. The agreement consists of 15 chapters and several appendices about trade in goods, services - investment, rules of origin, technical barriers to trade (TBT), sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS), customs, trade remedies, government procurement, and legal institutional framework. With the agreed commitments, the two sides expect that two-way trade will have remarkable growth, reaching 3 billion USD and more soon. The agreement will ultimately remove duties on at least 86% of Vietnamese products and 93% of Israeli products, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade. VIFTA is also expected to be a lever to help strengthen the cooperation relationship between the two countries in investment, services, digital transformation, and technology. In addition, the signing and implementation of VIFTA will create a favourable premise for Vietnam to promote the export of strong products not only to Israel but also to other markets in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Europe. Meanwhile, besides Vietnam's market of over 100 million people, Israeli goods and technology will have opportunities to access markets in ASEAN countries, Asia-Pacific, and major economies which Vietnam has signed FTAs with. VIFTA is expected to bring many opportunities for Israeli businesses when investing in Vietnam. Socially, such investment will help create more jobs in areas in that Israeli investors have interests and invest. Israel and Vietnam on brink of substantial trade deal An upcoming free trade agreement between Israel and Vietnam is poised to unlock a new era of economic cooperation. Gal Saf, head of the Economic and Trade Mission under the Embassy of Israel in Vietnam, discussed with VIRs Celine Luu the implications of the deal and how it could create a win-win scenario for businesses of the two countries. Israel pact opens up enticing activities across industries Vietnam and Israel will sign a bilateral free trade agreement this month, so the Middle Eastern country can more easily engage in food and agricultural projects in the Southeast Asian market. The MoIT held an emergency conference with the the United Arab Emirates' Embassy to Vietnam on July 25 to prevent commercial fraud transactions as soon as possible. The Africa-West Asia-South Asia Market Trade Office of the MoIT stated on the afternoon of July 27 that a container of star anise destined for the port on July 26 is likely to be lost. Previously, four containers worth $400,000 were lost at the port of Jebel Ali, the UAE. Agricultural products including pepper, cinnamon, anise, and cashew nuts are exported to this market, according to a report from the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA). Transactions from the "same buyer" and "same bank in Dubai, UAE" exhibited symptoms of commercial fraud, the report said. The MoIT recognises that fraud in the Middle East has become more prevalent in recent years, concentrating primarily on small-scale commercial enterprises. When signing sales contracts with Vietnamese companies, foreign businesses frequently request telegraphic transfer terms or issue checks to the mortgage vendor. This is the most prevalent form of deception in the world today. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has also sent a request for assistance to the UAE Embassy in Hanoi In accordance with the contract's payment provisions, all shipments are paid for using the documents against payment (D/P) clause. This means that the seller's bank will transfer the original documents to the buyer's bank, and then the buyer will pay the buyer's bank. After receiving the complete payment, the buyer's bank will simultaneously transfer the funds to the seller's bank. Then and only then may the buyer's bank give over the original documents to the buyer to receive the products. However, if the funds have not been transmitted from the buyer's bank to the seller's bank, the buyer will not be able to acquire the original set of documents at the port. Thus, the aforementioned transactions reveal indications of deception at the bank where the Vietnamese business sent the D/P documents. It is possible these bank officials are implicated in the affair. According to the Africa-West Asia-South Asia Market Trade Office, the MoIT has instructed the Vietnam Trade Office in the UAE to address the aforementioned case as soon as possible. The ministry has sent a note to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dubai Police, UAE Central Bank, and a number of related banks and shipping lines, as well as worked with the relevant Dubai Bank Branch, Dubai Police, and the Jebel Ali Port Authority to file a report on the incident. Vietnam cashew industry flags suspected UAE fraud The Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas) has raised concerns over suspected fraudulent activities impacting one of its members and two other companies, ostensibly perpetrated by a client or financial institution in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Origin fraud hurt Vietnamese steel in the long run International free trade agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) have opened up unprecedented opportunities for Vietnamese steelmakers with the industry forecast to see robust growth. A scientific workshop is held in Hanoi on the implementation of USAID's Identification of Human Remains project. (Photo: VAST) Hanoi The US Ambassador to Vietnam, Marc Knapper, on July 25 visited the Centre for DNA Identification (CDI) under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST). During his meeting with VAST President Prof. Chau Van Minh and Director of the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP) Le Cong Tien, Ambassador Knapper highlighted the productive cooperation between VAST and the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) on improving Vietnam's capability to identify remains from the war under the US Agency for International Developments (USAID) Identification of Human Remains project worth 7.4 million USD. ICMP has been working on developing a modified nuclear-DNA extraction technology to address Vietnam's challenges with heavily degraded remains samples. On July 24, at a scientific workshop that CDI and ICMP held in Hanoi to report about the project implementation, participants focused on DNA extraction capabilities of ICMPs technology and its suitability for subsequent applications. Vietnam, US cooperate in addressing war consequences hinh anh 2 USAID's Identification of Human Remains project helps improve Vietnam's capability to identify remains from the war. (Photo: usaid.gov) Through the International Commission on Searching for Missing Persons, the USAID plans to equip a lab at CDI with advanced DNA equipment, techniques, and materials, enabling the centre to successfully extract usable DNA from highly degraded bone samples. Ambassador Marc Knapper reaffirmed the commitment of the United States in supporting Vietnam's efforts to identify human remains from the war and reuniting identified remains with their family members. USAIDs Identification of Human Remains project aims to improve Vietnam's DNA analysis capabilities and help the country develop a comprehensive system for matching DNA from highly degraded remains with the DNA from families searching for loved ones. This is part of the US Governments Vietnamese Wartime Accounting Initiative, reciprocating over three decades of support from the Vietnamese side in finding and identifying the remains of more than 700 missing Americans in Vietnam. The US and Vietnam are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their Comprehensive Partnership this year. Their close cooperation on the settlement of war consequences is a testament to the two countries' commitment to creating a better future for the two peoples. Mikael Jakobsson, executive director of the Asia Pacific Urban Energy Association What are your thoughts on the energy consumption in Vietnam's urban centres? Well, I think it is in the development phase. It's increasing rapidly with the economy. So, it's really an opportunity to actually bring in sustainable solutions now, when they are growing, rather than trying to solve the problem later. Are there differences in energy consumption between the main cities in Vietnam and other countries in the region? Yes. For example, the cooling demand will increase a lot in Vietnam, but it has not really kicked off yet, except for the industrial sector. When it comes to the cities, I think they will grow considerably if you compare them with Malaysia and Singapore, which have already grown. The air conditioning utilisation here is about 10 per cent or something like that, while it is 80 per cent or something in Malaysia. So it will grow considerably. Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, is using more and more air conditioning. How does this affect Vietnam's emissions reduction target? A lot. Today, globally, 50 per cent of energy is used for heating and cooling. Cooling will overtake heating within 10 years, and it will triple in the coming decades. So that will influence things a lot. But actually, the Vietnamese government is committed to the Montreal Protocol, so they're doing a lot to mitigate this. But it will have an influence, for sure. According to the Ministry of Construction, Vietnam has 833 urban areas, of which two are special, 20 are Grade 1, and the remainder are grades 3 and 4. According to Vietnam's urban development strategy through 2030, approximately half of the country's population will reside in urban areas. Given how the Vietnamese government uses energy now, how do urban area emissions compare to those of other nations in the region? I don't have the exact details or comparisons. I think Vietnam is actually relatively low compared to neighbouring countries, especially if you compare it with Thailand, Malaysia, or Singapore. But of course, there is also manufacturing outside the cities. So, that is something to cope with. Nonetheless, I guess that the target of net-zero by 2050 is quite ambitious. What is the best method for Vietnam to reach its net-zero goal? There is no silver bullet. You have to do many different things. We are promoting sustainable urban energy. So. it's about looking for integrated urban energy systems to integrate heating and cooling, renewable energies, gas, hydrogeneverything integratedand make it as efficient as possible. With the current infrastructure conditions in Vietnam, how does the air conditioning treatment system affect the emission goal. Obviously, everything has to follow. So better building standards, better use of materialsall these kinds of things have to go along with the increasing use of cooling. We have a lot of technology. This is needed for Southeast Asian countries, especially Vietnam, to reduce emissions, right? Technology is no problem, but planning is. It needs municipal planning. Actually, the Vietnamese have a history of planning. So, compared to other countries in the region, more municipal planning is needed: city planning, energy planning, and cooling planning. You need to plan more from a government perspective and then give direction. That's what we see. It works in countries like China, Singapore, and Northern Europe where good planning practises are in place. It works very well. So, planning is super important. Does the fair energy transition in Vietnam need stronger actions from the government? Absolutely. It's just started, and it's kind of not really kicked off. That's something that we have to work very actively on. Weve just come from Indonesia. Vietnam is similar. Vietnam supports Japans initiatives towards net zero emissions: diplomat Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Has participation in the coming Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo will affirm Vietnams resolve to realise its committements on greenhouse gas emission reduction and climate change response, as well as support for the Japanese Governments initiatives towards net zero emissions. ASEAN looks towards net zero emissions The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility jointly held the Southeast Asia Development Symposium themed Imagining a net-zero ASEAN in Indonesias Bali on March 30. With a focus on the future of independent directorship, the forum fostered in-depth discussions and offered a platform for sharing valuable experiences. By spotlighting the pivotal role of independent directors, the forum emphasised the importance of integrity, professionalisation, and continual learning, with calls for a robust approach to navigate the multifaceted terrain of corporate governance. Defining authentic independence Ken Atkinson OBE, independent director and board adviser of the VNIDA, set the stage by voicing concerns that are being increasingly raised by foreign investors scouting the Vietnamese market. "These investors," Atkinson explained, "are meticulously evaluating the corporate governance of potential investments, with special attention to the genuineness of board independence." While posing a question about Vietnam's business environment, a landscape rich with family enterprises, Atkinson said, "Who truly are these alleged independent directors? Could these roles be filled by family members or close allies, thereby undermining the essence of true independence?" In the same vein, Jason Turnbull, a member of the Corporate Advisory Board and managing director of Inspire Advisory Group, emphasised the significance of trustworthiness in corporate governance. "An individual entrusted to keep a company's secrets, and who values honesty above all else, is far more valuable than one who solely relies on skills, knowledge, or networks," said Turnbull. "In Vietnam, the criteria for independent directors takes on even greater subtlety, where the ideal candidate is not only a law-abiding individual but also one who demonstrates meticulous attention to detail," he added. Likewise, Tran Si Chuong, chairman of the Advisory Council at the VNIDA and a renowned economic expert, believed that at the heart of this process lies integrity. Trusting an individual with the company's confidential information demands a rock-solid foundation of honesty. Meanwhile, skills and professional networks, while significant, are considered secondary, Chuong said. Additionally, independent directors should be chosen for their respect for legal norms, ensuring the company's compliance with regulatory standards. In addition, a keen eye for detail aids responsible and effective leadership, he said. Chuong also highlighted the importance of the role of the independent directors, saying, "When you sit as an independent director, the legal responsibility is immense, and it truly is a serious job, not just for show. It requires effort and time to understand the job and the company rigorously." Meanwhile, Trinh Quynh Giao, CEO of PVI Asset Management, discussed the rising trend of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, highlighting its cost implications. Giao noted that despite its global significance, many companies are still assessing whether ESG commitments are opportunities or risks. In the quest for genuine sustainability, businesses must distinguish between real growth strategies and trend-chasing. Understanding a company's expectations and strategic vision is crucial in identifying suitable sustainability measures, she said. Giao also suggested that aligning the goals of the independent director and the company, alongside effective ESG cost management, can drive significant, sustainable growth. This balance requires strategic thought and planning, paving the way for successful navigation through ESG challenges. In an economic landscape that is continually evolving, Vietnam's Securities Law, marking its 17th anniversary, plays a pivotal role in shaping the country's corporate culture. "Despite the decade-long journey, the position and importance of independent directors in Vietnamese firms - both listed and unlisted - remains somewhat obscure," said Hoang Hai Anh, independent director at Rong Viet Securities Company, and also vice president of the VNIDA. Most industry participants are cognizant of the critical role of independent directors. However, within listed and unlisted companies alike, the roles of these board members are not fully clarified, leaving room for confusion and inefficiency, Anh added. Envisioning the future of independent directorship Having spent numerous years in both the public and private sectors, Do Le Hung, independent director and chairman of the Audit Committee at Vinamilk, offered unique insights into the role of independent directors. Vinamilk was one of the first companies in Vietnam to adopt the independent director model, a novelty in the corporate landscape at the time. "With a solid understanding of corporate governance methodology, the role of an independent director can be effectively carried out across different companies," Hung said, "Independent directors should focus on areas like internal audit monitoring, legal adherence, risk management, and personnel issues." Hung went on to say maintaining independence when interacting with the board is a key challenge, advocating persuasion over direct voting in the case of shareholder disagreements, emphasising that shareholders and chairpersons guide the company's direction. Furthermore, Hung proposed that the VNDIA develop independent directorship as a profession, similar to independent audit firms. He cited the Big Four accounting firms (KPMG, PwC, EY and Deloitte) as an example, questioning why there shouldn't be a professional organisation providing independent director services. "If there's an organisation providing such services, listed companies would benefit from the professional, quality assured services of independent directors. These directors would also have a solid base, giving them more confidence in their career paths," Hung said, believing this would benefit listed companies by ensuring professional, quality-assured services. Lastly, he advised aspiring independent directors not to view board membership as a job, but as a professional service provision. "Maintaining one's professional independence is essential to becoming a valuable board member," said Hung. From global perspectives to local experiences - enriching the dialogue on independent directorship In a broader context, Sivananth Ramachandran, director of Research and Advocacy (Asia Pacific), CFA Institute, said that to enhance corporate governance practices in Asian markets, he would make several vital recommendations. Firstly, companies should increase the proportion of independent directors on their boards to ensure effective oversight and decision-making. Encouraging engagement with shareholders can foster better communication and understanding of investor concerns. Lastly, comprehensive training programmes for independent directors are necessary to equip them with the knowledge and skills to navigate related party transactions and complex corporate structures effectively, he stated. Meanwhile, Prof. Mak Yuen Teen, mentor Advisory Council of the VNDIA, and professor of National University of Singapore, shared an example of independent directors in Singapore. Singapore adopted the concept of independent directors in 2000, undergoing several revisions since, emphasising independence from management, business relations, and major shareholders. In the current framework, if the chairman is not independent, the board's majority must be independent directors. Despite these reforms, concerns persist regarding directors' true independence. "Ideal independent directors should have profound industry knowledge, commitment, and backgrounds in areas like startups, sustainability, and digital transformation," said Prof. Mak. A significant highlight of the conference was the official launch and signing ceremony marking a strategic partnership between the VNIDA and the Asian Association of Independent Non-executive Directors (ASIAiNED). ASIAiNED will facilitate the transfer of international knowledge and expertise in independent directorship to VNIDA. Navigating challenges and embracing succession: Insights for Vietnamese family businesses Vietnams family businesses should prioritise the paramount importance of a well-crafted succession plan to secure their long-term success and effectively pass on leadership to future generations. Forging a strong data foundation in Vietnam Industry experts and executives joined forces at a recent conference to delve into the transformative power of data in driving business transformation. These experts also shed light on the critical importance of this endeavour, particularly in relation to Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and their pivotal role in the process. (Photo : MARCOS PIN/AFP via Getty Images) Police and soldiers who invaded a prison in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, following days of unrest, have reportedly discovered scores of bodies. Dozens of people have been killed by a surge of violence in the most dangerous prison in Ecuador, just hours after President Guillermo Lasso declared a 60-day state of emergency throughout the country's prison system. The prosecutor's office increased the death toll from 18 to 31 late Tuesday night after approximately 2,700 soldiers were deployed to assume control of the overcrowded Guayas 1 prison in the port city of Guayaquil. Ecuador Prison Riot According to the report, fourteen people were injured in clashes between rival factions. Through its communications secretariat Segcom, the government announced that "complete control" has been reestablished at the Guayas 1 prison, which shelters over 5,600 inmates. It was reported that approximately 120 prison officers had been released after being held captive in six prisons across the country. There was no official information regarding rumored hunger strikes in some institutions, as per Aljazeera. Earlier, Guillermo directed police and military forces to assert control over the prisons of the South American nation, stating in a decree that Guayaquil inmates used firearms during the disturbance and set gas-fueled fires to facilities. The decree stated that at least one of the violently deceased had been decapitated. Later, in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Lasso said, "With effort, commitment, and continuous labor, we will advance and regain the serenity that organized crime has stolen from us." The government reported that hours after the decree, a new surge of violence broke out in the city of Esmeraldas, where 15 prison guards and two other employees were being held captive at the local jail. According to BBC, the violence rapidly spread to other jails, and dozens of prison guards were taken captive in jails throughout Ecuador. The violence began in El Litoral, the largest men's prison in Ecuador, which is part of the Guayas prison complex in the coastal city of Guayaquil. Many of the over 5,000 inmates are members of Ecuador's most violent groups, including Los Choneros, Los Lobos, Los Tiguereros, and Latin Kings. Numerous recent prison battles between rival factions, many of which have been fatal, have occurred at El Litoral. In April, 12 convicts were killed in a gang-on-gang confrontation at El Litoral, but the deadliest incident occurred in September 2021, when 119 prisoners were killed. The authorities have attempted to alleviate the violence by lodging members of rival gangs in separate wings of the prison, but the prison's overcrowding has made it difficult to separate the warring factions. Saturday's fatal brawl in El Litoral purportedly began between inmates housed in wing eight, where members of the gang Los Tiguerones are incarcerated, and those in wing nine, which is dominated by members of another gang, Los Lobos. Juan Zapata stated that the preponderance of fatalities occurred in the eighth wing. Rapidly, word of the bloody brawl in El Litoral spread to other prisons across the nation. Read Also: Gulf Stream Collapse: Scientists Warn Dire Consequences in 2025 Ecuador Prison Chaos In thirteen prisons, prisoners went on hunger strikes; in at least six prisons, prisoners took officers hostage. This pattern has been observed in previous prison conflicts, and some analysts attribute it to the decision to transfer gang leaders to prisons across the country. The measure intended to reduce congestion in El Litoral and dismantle the prison bands that some of the most violent inmates had established within the Guayaquil jail. However, it appears that the move had unintended consequences, as the transferred prisoners formed new factions in prisons that had not previously experienced such extreme levels of violence. As gang members communicate via mobile phones smuggled into their cells, the attacks on a gang in one jail have since prompted retaliatory attacks in other jails across the nation. There has been very little official information regarding the hostage-taking guardians. The country's prison service announced late Tuesday that 120 prisoners had been released, but local media indicate that 15 officers and two employees at a prison in Esmeraldas province are still being held by prisoners. The prison service had previously stated that the hostage officers were all "in excellent health." There have been no reports of prison officers being injured or killed. President Guillermo Lasso proclaimed a state of emergency in the prisons of Ecuador, allowing the deployment of soldiers and police officers. Related Article: WATCH: Passage of Israel's Judicial Reform Sparks Wild, Violent Clashes @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Stephen Newby, recently named as the first holder of Baylor Universitys Lev H. Prichard III Chair in the Study of Black Worship, sees the interdisciplinary aspect of the position as a way to pass on the legacy and message of Black gospel music. The new chair in the Baylor School of Music complements work done by the Black Gospel Music Preservation Project, housed within University Libraries, and Truett Seminarys programs in Black preaching and worship. The Black Gospel Music Preservation Projects work to create and maintain an archive of Black gospel music from the 1940s through the 1970s dovetails with the seminary emphasis to recognize the purpose and distinctives of Black worship and the music schools attention to composition, in this case the style and form of Black gospel music, Newby said. Newby, a scholar, composer and worship leader, said he sees his position as an ambassador role, a connection role that links the three emphases at Baylor. These things cannot be done in isolation, he said. Newby comes to the new position from Seattle Pacific University, where he had served as associate professor of music, director of composition and director of the schools Center for Worship. In addition to his work at Seattle Pacific, he has taught at the University of Michigan and Trevecca Nazarene University as well as establishing himself as a composer fusing Black gospel and jazz. Newby also has served as minister of music and worship in Seattle and Atlanta. He is collaborating with retired Baylor professor Bob Darden on a biography of gospel music icon Andrae Crouch. This spring, Newby led a musical tribute to Crouch in Waco as part of the annual Pruit Memorial Symposium. He had participated in several past Pruit Symposiums over the years and said his experiences in working with Darden and Baylor helped pave the way to his decision to take the Prichard Chair. Baylors support for the work and mission of preserving decades of recorded Black gospel music stands alone in the field, he said. Honestly, I cant think of any other institution committed to preserving Black worship music, he said. Newby and his wife Stephanie, a real estate agent and developer, already have moved to Waco, and Newby will officially start his position Aug. 1. In a Baylor statement announcing Newbys appointment, School of Music Dean Gary Mortensen said he brings valuable experience and expertise to the faculty. His training has brought forth a rich variety of important works in both secular and sacred genres, Mortensen said. Dr. Newby displays an impressive wealth of knowledge highlighting his research, and it will be a pleasure to watch and listen to Dr. Newby in this new position. PRESS RELEASE As two distinct organizations strongly supporting WWII aircraft and honoring veterans, both the D-Day Squadron (DDS) and Commemorative Air Force (CAF) join forces to host Lt. Col. David Hamilton at EAA AirVenture 2023 starting Thursday, July 27, into Friday, July 28. The two-day affair involves special gatherings and engagements, while also extending the celebration of Hamilton turning 101 years young on July 20. Hamilton will advance his engagements to the flight line, visiting with crews from the DDS and CAF, hes spent time with over the years. As a 21-year-old, 1st Lt. Hamilton piloted aircraft number 14 of the 20 C-47s which took off late in the evening of June 5th, 1944, carrying Pathfinders from the 82nd Airborne to drop behind enemy lines in Normandy, France. Hamiltons Pathfinders made their jump at around 1:00 a.m. on June 6th. The Pathfinders primary mission involved setting up electronic homing equipment to help guide the aerial armada of 800+ additional C-47s that was already on its journey across the English Channel, about an hour behind Hamiltons flight. From those aircraft, 13,000 paratroopers would drop into a living hell that night, to begin the Allied invasion of Europe and help bring about the end of WWII. Hamilton will grace EAA AirVenture with several key engagements beginning with a stroll through the WWII encampment Thursday, July 27 at 9:00 a.m. speaking with reenactors, airshow attendees, and even WWII aircraft crews on the flight line following. Hamilton will be seen in his Class B uniform and Class A uniform throughout the two-day engagement, a site not to be missed. This national treasurer will propel into Friday with an engagement at the CAF Tent in Warbirds at 9:00 a.m. At 1:15 p.m., hes leading with Medal of Honor recipients, an American Airlines sponsored Salute to Veterans parade. It starts in Warbirds and ends at Boeing Plaza with a ceremony. We cannot express how honored we are to host Dave with our friends at the CAF, at the largest gathering of WWII aircraft, aircraft owners, aviation enthusiasts and patriots in the world, shares Eric Zipkin, director of operations for the D-Day Squadron and pilot for C-47 Placid Lassie. Dave joined us in 2019 as we flew 15 C-47/DC-3 type aircraft to Europe from North America to commemorate DDay75 and Berlin70. Many of these aircraft flew during WWII and are D-Day veteran aircraft. He got a chance to fly several of our C-47s, and even pilot a C-47 on the cross-channel formation from Duxford, UK to Normandy, France on June 5, 2019. That was Hamiltons second time flying a C-47 across the English Channel into Normandy. The first was just after midnight for Operation Overlord, June 6, 1944, dropping paratroopers behind enemy lines. The D-Day Squadron, in collaboration with the Commemorative Air Force, will return to Europe come mid-May next year for the 2024 Legacy Tour. DC-3 variants representing WWII and Cold War vintage aircraft will cross the pond from the United States to the United Kingdom, cross the English Channel to Normandy, France, then fly on to Berlin, Germany, Venice, Italy and beyond. This is no easy task, and while nothing can compare to the amount of organization the Allied forces faced in planning for the D-Day invasion, there is still a tremendous amount of preparation, time, and cost involved in recreating this historic anniversary tour. The DDS is currently setting the schedule, organizing appearances across Europe, and serving as Mission Control for the 2024 Legacy Tour a central unit for all operators, crew, and operations. D-Day is often known historically as the beginning of the end of WWII. Our duty is to remember the significance of this event and to ensure that future generations never forget. Today, the D-Day Squadrons mission continues, to perpetuate the sights and sounds of Flying Freedom, and to promote the legacy of the Greatest Generation and the Douglas DC-3s in which they flew. As a key part of the 75th-anniversary celebrations in 2019, paratroopers wore period-correct uniforms and jumped round parachutes just like the soldiers did on June 6, 1944. Lyndse Costabile, D-Day Squadron Executive Director, says, We look forward to replicating this in 2024, as once again, more than 150 parachutists will fill the skies, symbolizing freedom, the sacrifices made during the Normandy invasion, and the overall war effort! It was also a profound privilege for the D-Day Squadron to lead a 15-ship flyover of the American Cemetery and Omaha Beach on June 6, 2019, for the entire world to see, including the U.S. and French Heads of State who were in attendance. Many of the aircraft in the formation were beautifully restored C-47s that had seen battle over the beaches of Normandy in 1944, Costabile continues. We hope that we will have this honor again next year. These restored aircraft are flown by retired service members and seasoned civilian pilots. Our crewmembers are all volunteers who consider it an honor and a privilege to fly these legendary airplanes, adds Jennifer Thomas, membership manager of the DC-3 Society, the membership arm of the D-Day Squadron. As Dave is a national treasure to many of us, so is the legendary Douglas DC-3 that changed the way see and experience air travel today, Thomas continues. The C-47 was the most ubiquitous airplane of the War and performed multiple services in all theatres of operation, including North Africa, Burma, New Guinea, Normandy, Sicily, and Holland. The C-54 and DC-3 were among the aircraft heroically transporting supplies into West Berlin during the Berlin Airlift. Following the successful mission in 2019, the D-Day Squadron has continued to be a presence at multiple flyovers, aviation events, and warbird-themed airshows. The DC-3 Society was launched to actively aid operators and enthusiasts with maintenance, operations, airworthiness, and displays. The Allies won the War, in part, because of their logistical abilities. Its only appropriate that we, as the stewards of these noble aircraft, continue to fly and maintain the very airframes that were the backbone to achieving victory, adds Zipkin. The D-Day Squadron has seven DC-3 type aircraft present at this years show with several planned to fly in the warbird show Friday and Saturday. The aircraft are displayed in warbirds and in vintage with an exhibit set up in vintage at C-47 Miss Virginia, a fully restored DC-3 type by Dynamic Aviation out of Bridgewater, VA. Miss Virginia has aided the D-Day Squadron over the last three years to support the transport of the DDS team, supplies and equipment on site for the show. More about the 2024 Legacy Tour can be found on the D-Day Squadron website here: https://www.ddaysquadron.org/2024-legacy-tour. The proposed timeline for the 2024 mission: May 15-25: Train and cross North Atlantic May 25-31: Europe training and buffer for weather / mechanical May 31-June 2: Events in U.K. (will publicize soon) June 2-7: Normandy and Jump Operations June 7-12: Berlin Airlift June 12-23: Lido Italy/Portugal June 23-30: Return to North America About the D-Day Squadron Born from the 2019 mission to Normandy, the D-Day Squadron (DDS) is a large program of the Tunsion Foundation, an established 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Its focus is on DC-3 operators, WWII commemorations, education, and outreach programming. Programs that function under the DDS are education and outreach, a Young Historians Program and the membership arm of the DDS, the DC-3 Society. The overall purpose of the DDS is to promote DC-3 type aircraft airworthiness, serve members of the DC-3 Society and promote static and flying displays for future generations. The DC-3 Society was born to organize the collective efforts of enthusiasts, pilots, mechanics, and operators to involve the next generation in FLYING FREEDOM. In June 2019, the D-Day Squadron led an American fleet of 15 historic, restored C-47 World War II military aircraft to take part in a flyover of more than 30 international aircraft to drop over 200 paratroopers over the original 1944 drop zones in Normandy commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day. The event honored the citizen soldiers of the War, whose bravery led the Allies to the liberation of France, and then to an end of the devastating War in Europe. The Squadrons education program takes the compelling story of the citizen soldier to audiences at airshows and events off the flight line to honor these brave Americans and ensure their memory and significance are appreciated for generations to come. The groups efforts are funded through the generous tax-deductible contribution of their supporters. In 2024, the DDS will return to Europe for DDay80, Berlin75 and other notable commemorations, a Legacy Tour. To support the D-Day Squadron and its mission, visit www.ddaysquadron.org/donate By Charlotte Bailey Its a sight that many thought might never have happened, certainly not this century: a Luftwaffe fighter once described by Eric Winkle Brown as the most formidable aircraft of the Second World War sharing the apron at RAF Coningsby with two Supermarine Spitfires. However, following the Me262s iconic arrival at this years Royal International Air Tattoo, a special day of seminars and a unique formation flight celebrated the types historic presence in the UK. Made possible by the Airbus Historical team, who described the initiative as a fantastic way of creating emotion, the day also saw the last surviving Mosquito pilot to have engaged the Me262 finally come face-to-face with his one-time foe. Almost eight decades since the Messerschmitt Me262 the first-in-series production jet fighter and one representing a quantum leap in fighter performance (Winkles words again) first threatened the security of the skies, its return to the UK has been met with unrivaled enthusiasm. Not seen against a British backdrop since the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) displayed a captured Me262 in late 1945, the reception the aircraft received on Twitter alone was nothing short of spectacular: many following the aircrafts flight across from Manching through Luxembourg, Belgium, and France before finally touching down Although ten original Me262s exist, none are in airworthy condition. Instead, a 1993 initiative oversaw the construction of ten replica airframes in Texas, the second of which was transferred to the Bavarian-based Messerschmitt Museum of Flight in 2006 (operated as D-IMTT). A collaboration between the Messerschmitt Foundation and Airbus (the latter of whom who help keep nearly 50 vintage aircraft in flying condition), the museums aim in the words of engineer and museum head Mattias Kobler is to keep as many exhibits airworthy as possible, enabling visitors to feel, hear, smell and see aircraft in their natural element: the air. Despite being a replica, the Me262 looks every inch the sleek, shark-like adversary it was envisaged as when, back in March 1940, the German Air Ministry started development of the revolutionary new aircraft. Designated the Silber (Silver), the Me262 became operational with the Luftwaffe in mid-1944, operating from long concrete runways (the airfields which possessed these designated Silberplatze). Although plagued by production productions (notably shortages in raw materials), a total of 1,433 airframes were delivered, and the type is estimated to have downed between 300-450 Allied aircraft for the loss of around 100 of its own. Although D-IMTT remains as sympathetic to original specifications as modern safety criteria allows, one notable difference is the substitution of the two original Jumo 004B powerplants (optimistically estimated to have a maximum 25 hours life, owing to metallurgy complications) for two modern GE CJ610 turbojet engines. Operated to EASA CS-23 certification requirements (and with the Design Organisation Authority now owned by Airbus), a total of 180-plus modifications include upgraded brakes and contemporary cockpit avionics. Not that you could tell by looking at the outside, however. Neither do these subtle modernizations affect the Me262s aerodynamic handling qualities, explains test pilot Geri K12 Kraehenbuel, who possesses nearly 130 hours on the type. The small tail and ailerons compounded by the engines slung under the wings do not make for harmonized controls, with the aircraft prone to experiencing the dreaded Dutch Roll. Id describe it as like dancing with a beautiful lady, he laughs. Everything is fine until one of you treads on the others toes. Kraehenbuels wealth of experience sits in stark contrast to would-be Luftwaffe pilots who, despite Messerschmitts s recommendation of ten hours flight training time, were given just two take-offs and landings before being deemed combat-ready. However, despite the relative inexperience of Luftwaffe pilots, the Me262 nevertheless represented a very deadly foe: something 102-year-old Mosquito veteran Flight Lieutenant Colin Bell DFC experienced first-hand in 1945. On one of his 15 missions over Berlin, a white light in the Mosquitos cockpit alerted Bell to the presence of an adversary on his tail. I knew I had to act immediately because if he got a visual on you, you were dead! explained Bell, who suspected the aircraft to be the mighty 262. The firepower of the Me262 was so formidable that hed turn you into confetti in a single blast. After dropping down from 25,000ft to 10,000ft where the jets 45-minute endurance would be further compromised, Bell finally managed to lose his would-be assailant. During a chat to one [Secret Intelligence Service] officer, he explained that if you couldnt shake off a night fighter then it was possible indeed, probable that it was jet-powered, he explained. I dont know how much faster than the Mossie the 262 was Id heard a figure of 100mph mentioned but he could certainly come up behind me very quickly. Lucky to be alive, Bell went on to complete a total of 150 missions over Germany: thankfully, never meeting the Me262 again. Some 78 years later, as the hangar doors of its UK host the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight rolled open, Bell was finally to come face-to-face with his would-be assailant. After patting the aircraft on one side, he announced: Now I hope I never see the damn thing again! However, if youd like to get up close to the Me262, we can well recommend a visit to its home base in Manching: www.flugmuseum-messerschmitt.com. For more great aviation photography by Chris Hove, visit his Instagram page at @cjh3051photography DES MOINES Another dry but relatively cool week left Iowa farmers with 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sunday, according to the United States Department of Agricultures National Agricultural Statistics Service. Despite dry conditions, the below-average temperatures over the past week provided moisture-stressed crops some relief, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said in a written statement. Though the entire state remains abnormally dry or in some level of drought, and the hottest stretch of July is forecasted this week, initial August outlooks are showing some chances for cooler and wetter conditions. Field activities included cutting hay and harvesting oats. Reports were received of farmers applying insecticides and fungicides. Persistent dry weather has raised concerns regarding crop conditions. Topsoil moisture condition rated 13% very short, 42% short, 43% adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 17% very short, 46% short, 36% adequate and 1% surplus. Corn silking hit 79% this week, six days ahead of last year and three days ahead of normal. Nineteen percent of the corn crop has reached the dough stage, five days ahead of last year and four days ahead of the five-year average. Some reports were received of corn starting to dent. Corn condition rated 63% good to excellent. Eighty-one percent of soybeans were blooming, one week ahead of last year and five days ahead of the average. Soybeans setting pods reached 35%, two days ahead of last year and one day ahead of the five-year average. Soybean condition remained steady at 58% good to excellent. Ninety-three percent of oats were turning color, 11 days ahead of last year and four days ahead of normal. Oats harvested for grain reached 36%, one day ahead of last year and one day ahead the five-year average. Oat condition remained 51% good to excellent. The states second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 86% complete, six days ahead of both last year and the average. The states third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 20% complete, 12 days ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of the five-year average. Hay condition dropped to 37% good to excellent. Pasture condition fell to 24% good to excellent. Pasture and hay growth remain slow and below average, resulting in supplemental feeding of livestock. Weather summary Unseasonably cool conditions continued over Iowa through the reporting period, with negative temperature departures in the four to six-degree range across the state, according to Justin Glisan, state climatologist with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The statewide average temperature was 69.3 degrees, 5.5 degrees below normal. The southwest corner of Iowa experienced three days of widespread and near-normal rainfall with much of north-central and east-central Iowa reporting departures of an inch or more below average. Weekend storms also brought measurable totals to the northeast corner. Weekly rain totals ranged from no accumulation across a large northwest-to-southeast swath of Iowa to 1.50 inches in Adair (Adair County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.18 inch; the normal is 0.99 inch. Sioux City Airport (Woodbury County) reported the weeks high temperature of 89 degrees on the 22nd, four degrees above normal. Fayette (Fayette County) and Vinton (Benton County) reported the weeks low temperature of 48 degrees on the 18th, on average 12 degrees below normal. LA PORTE CITY Outdoor enthusiasts will be without a popular lake for nearly two years as Black Hawk County Conservation creates a cleaner body of water with thriving aquatic life. Casey Lake, located at Hickory Hills Park 12 miles south of Waterloo, will be drained this fall for restoration of the lake and the surrounding area. The county conservation department has been planning to revitalize Casey Lake since it was placed on the Iowa Department of Natural Resources impaired waters list in 2006. Waters on the list have impairments such as E. coli, reduced water clarity, a pH level outside of normal range, fish kills or algae. County Conservation Director Mike Hendrickson said the 39-acre lake has had increased phosphorus levels, resulting in algal blooms and excessive weed growth. When the vegetation eventually dies, it uses oxygen that can change the ecosystem. Fish can suffocate and die. Weve never had that problem in Casey Lake, Hendrickson said. We want to make sure that we dont ever have to experience that. In 2019, the conservation department reached out to the DNR to be a part of its Lake Restoration Program. The program, created in 2006, works across the state to improve water quality and recreational opportunities at publicly owned lakes. As of December, the Legislature had invested more than $139 million in the program, according to the DNR website. Construction for restoration at Casey Lake will cost about $3 million. An additional $800,000 is required for the engineering plans. Hendrickson said 75% of the $3.8 million tab about $2.85 million will be paid with the Lake Restoration Program funds. The remaining amount $950,000 will come from Black Hawk County. The county wont pay for all of that, though, thanks to other local grants and donations. The Black Hawk County Gaming Association contributed $200,000 to the project. The DNRs Fish Habitat Grant and the Young Family Foundation have also given money. In its budget planning, the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors approved $370,000 for the project in the fiscal year that started July 1. During the following fiscal year, the board has allocated $230,000. The first steps of the renovation will focus on the lake itself. The lake is filled with about 190,000 cubic yards of sediment which Hendrickson described as gooey, sludgy dirt. The west side of the lake has the most sediment, resulting in a loss of volume of water. This fall, the lake will be completely drained so the sediment can dry for easier removal. The hardened dirt will be excavated in the winter in order to keep the sediment intact. The conservation department hasnt forgotten about the fish. Hendrickson said at some point the DNR will set a date to relax limits and rules for fishing, allowing people to catch as many fish as they want. The fish not caught will go through the valve draining the lake that leads to Wolf Creek and then into the Cedar River. A date for fishing with the relaxed rules has not been set, but there will be public notices when it is decided. When the fish are gone and the sediment is dried, the dirt will move into an area called a spoil site to ensure those sediments dont return to the lake. Similar to a landfill, the sediment will be buried in the ground. Once it fully dries, the spot will become a pollinator prairie, Planning Administrator Cherrie Northrup said, which will create more habitat insects in the park. Impoundments called BMPs, or better management practice facilities, will also be cleaned up. The park has 12 BMPs, which were built in the early 2000s, but only four will undergo renovation. These are similar to ponds that hold water to filter out sediments that otherwise couldve flowed into the lake. The BMPs have also lost water volume due to the amount of sediment. Hendrickson said once that sediment is removed which also will be taken to the spoil sites the ponds can hold more sediment in the future and may not have to be cleaned up again for 15 or 20 years. As long as we keep these clean, its going to help make this last a whole lot longer, Hendrickson said. With all the vegetation, with the prairie plantings and the watersheds in place, this lake should never fill in the way it has this time. The last step for the lake is to refill it with water and fish, along with the creation of 17 fish habitats. Old trees dug up from the newly constructed spoil sites will be placed at the bottom of the lake for fish to live and swim around. Two of the 17 habitats will be rock mounds. There will also be an effort to make the lake and surrounding areas more visually appealing. Currently, Hendrickson said the shoreline of the lake is choked with weeds, making it hard for those fishing to cast their line from the shore. Those weeds will be removed with the help of a team of goats that will eat the vegetation. Shoreline fishing access also will be improved with the installment of four fishing nodes on the northeastern point of the lake. A fishing jetty that complies with the American with Disabilities Acts also will be installed on the northwest side. The lake also will feature a kayak launch and a boat launch. A stone terrace will also be adjacent to the lake and act as a gathering place. Were giving this lake what we hope is a new lease on life for 50, 75 years, Hendrickson said. It should be a quality fishery (and) a quality outdoor recreation area for generations to come. Thats what we hope to be leaving them when this is all done. Work on the lake and its new amenities, spoil sites and revitalization of BMPs is expected to be completed in early 2025. The lake should be ready for use by that summer. Although the lake will be unusable for about two years, Hendrickson said there will still be plenty to do around the park such as using the trails, camping and visiting the bison and elk. Close Al Finke, the South Unit Ranger at Hickory Hills Park, drives over the Casey Lake dam on Tuesday. The lake, which is maintained by the Black Hawk County Conservation Board, will be drained this fall for restoration. Goats feed on vegetation near the shoreline of Casey Lake at Hickory Hills Park on Tuesday. Little Richard the goat and the rest of the team feed on vegetation near the shoreline of Casey Lake at Hickory Hills Park on Tuesday. Casey Lake at Hickory Hills Park will be drained this fall for restoration. Bison feed in their pen at Hickory Hills Park on Tuesday. Al Finke, the South Unit ranger at Hickory Hills Park, feeds a group of goats that are eating through the brush along the shore of Casey Lake. Vegetation near the shoreline of Casey Lake at Hickory Hills Park, which has been picked through by a group of goats. Goats feed on vegetation near the shoreline of Casey Lake at Hickory Hills Park on Tuesday. Hickory Hills Park and Casey Lake Scenes from Hickory Hills Park and Casey Lake, which will be drained in the fall of 2023 as part of a restoration effort. Al Finke, the South Unit Ranger at Hickory Hills Park, drives over the Casey Lake dam on Tuesday. The lake, which is maintained by the Black Hawk County Conservation Board, will be drained this fall for restoration. Goats feed on vegetation near the shoreline of Casey Lake at Hickory Hills Park on Tuesday. Little Richard the goat and the rest of the team feed on vegetation near the shoreline of Casey Lake at Hickory Hills Park on Tuesday. Casey Lake at Hickory Hills Park will be drained this fall for restoration. Bison feed in their pen at Hickory Hills Park on Tuesday. Al Finke, the South Unit ranger at Hickory Hills Park, feeds a group of goats that are eating through the brush along the shore of Casey Lake. Vegetation near the shoreline of Casey Lake at Hickory Hills Park, which has been picked through by a group of goats. Goats feed on vegetation near the shoreline of Casey Lake at Hickory Hills Park on Tuesday. CEDAR FALLS Growing up in Northeast Iowa, Eugene Holmes thought he knew what it meant to be cold. Then he arrived at Pohang-dong. When I arrived in Korea the 18th of February it was late. The dinner was over so the cook said, Come down after a while and Ill fix something for you, Holmes said. I got two fried eggs on my metal mess kit, went to the mess tent to eat before I got them eaten, they were frozen to the mess kit. Holmes served as a Marine in the Korean War from 1951 to 1952, where he took part in Operation Ripper, the U.N.s push to retake the initiative after Chinese intervention the previous winter erased most of its gains. For his part, Holmes was kept in reserves during the operation. But that didnt spare him from close calls. In one incident a series of explosions held up American forces, leading Holmes and two other Marines to investigate. He credited his demolitions training at Camp Pendleton with saving his life that day. There was a guy named Joe in front, I was in the middle, another sergeant behind me. We were walking along this path, and Im watching the area and what have you because of my demolitions experience and training, and I was watching and all of a sudden I said, Joe, freeze! Holmes said. I said, Joe, youre one step away from a trip wire. That wouldve taken all three of us. Other memories fit neatly into photo albums like the one Holmes keeps in his house. We found that little guy sleeping in our jeep, he said, pointing to a photo of a grinning South Korean boy. He was 15. We got him clothes. We taught him English. He made the greatest interpreter we ever had. The Forgotten War The fighting ceased with the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953. Officially, the war is ongoing, with forces on guard at the 38th Parallel that separates the two Koreas. But 70 years later, the time Holmes and other soldiers spent there remains with them. Outside the military community, it was a conflict that was overshadowed by the full national involvement of World War II and the controversy of the Vietnam War. Its often referred to as the Forgotten War. Richard Sulentic was drafted into the U.S. Army out of Loras College in 1952. He served with a medical company near Panmunjom in the closing months of the war. When he returned home, it was to a muted reception. Well, it was a lot like when they got out of Vietnam and they came home, Sulentic said. During World War II when the vets came home, they had big parades marching down Times Square and honoring them. But when the soldiers came home from Korea and the Vietnam War nothing. Nothing happened like that. It seemed like we were always in the back of the news and we werent really in the forward of the news, Holmes said. But John Lee, former president of the Korean American Society of Iowa, says the fight to preserve freedom for millions of Koreans must never be forgotten. Before coming to Cedar Rapids, Lee performed his compulsory service in the South Korean Army. Prior to his birth, his hometown was overrun by the North Korean Army, resulting in his uncles conscription. His fate is unknown. According to Lee, the invasion is far from forgotten in his homeland and the youths of South Korea grow up hearing stories of the war. Well, 70 years is a long time ... but we heard the story about the war and especially that war that was fought was an ideological war, Lee said. However, 70 years later, we know the human history a little bit about what has happened in the past, so the freedom fighting, it was worth fighting to keep the Korean Peninsula free. In all, there were 40,000 U.N. personnel killed in the war, 36,000 of whom were Americans. Lee says the sacrifices of those American, Korean and other international service members deserve a place of reverence. People these days even young people remember that, how America was dedicated to keeping the freedom of Korea and, of course, keeping the interest and freedom of the world, Lee said. The time Sulentic spent in Korea had a profound impact on how he views the world. He believes no wars should ever have to be fought. But going back to South Korea in the 1990s, he saw firsthand how the country had developed in 40 years. He was amazed at what he saw, a far cry from the small, war-torn villages he drove through in 1953. Well, I was shocked to see how South Korea had become, you know, just like a little United States, Sulentic said. And you still get a few North Koreans coming on down, leaving North Korea and coming to South Korea. Lingering tensions Beyond South Koreas success as a nation after the war, Lee says, the ongoing possibility of another war makes the sacrifices worth remembering. Would you be willing to live under the control of Kim Jong-Uns North Korean leadership? Lee said. My answer is clearly, 110% no! I want a free world. So Im very glad that 70 years ago in that conflict we fought against communism, and that 70 years later the meaning of fighting against it is pretty clear your freedom and people enjoy their freedom these days because someone had the dedication to protect their freedom. Sulentic says he has no animosity toward the people of North Korea. He feels sorry for them. Thats why every now and then you see some of them coming across the line and coming into South Korea, Sulentic said. South Korea is just like any other city in the United States but North Korea, under the dominance of a dictator, they want their finger on everything and control everything. Tensions remain between the United States and North Korea. Last week, North Korea detained a U.S. soldier who intentionally crossed the border from South Korea in an apparent effort to escape being sent home after getting charged with assault. The regime in Pyongyang has made no public mention so far about the fate of the man. On July 18, North Korea fired two missiles into the Sea of Japan as retaliation for an American nuclear submarine docking in South Korea for the first time in decades. It was the third round of launches this month. Surviving veterans who served 70 years ago read such headlines with concern. Its concerning, yes. You think that North Koreas not thinking right. You just dont know what they might do. Hard to tell, Holmes said. But if they did, I think theyd be sorry for it. Close The Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. An etching on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is made of Sgt. John S. Myers for Tim Bahr during local veterans' Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Veterans in the Honor Flight get a front row view of the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Honor Flight members take in "Iwo Jima," the Marine Corps Memorial Statue in Arlington, Virginia. Participants in the Cedar Valley Honor Flight head for the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Veterans and guardians board the plane that will take them to Washington, D.C., in Waterloo on Wednesday. Evan "Curly" Hultman, a retired U.S. Army Reserve major general, talks to visitors from Sen. Chuck Grassley's office at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Hultman was the only WWII veteran on the Honor Flight. Veteran Frank Makinster chats with volunteer Al Doehring and his dog Shamu at the World War II Memorial on Wednesday. Veteran Richard Butts salutes the Honor Guard as he arrives in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday morning. Veterans wait for the buses at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., on Wednesday. They arrived to applause and an Honor Guard that morning. Vietnam veterans Woody White and Robert Bennett pose for a photograph at the World War II Memorial with the Washington Monument in the background on Wednesday. Collection of Photos from the May 11, 2022 Honor Flight Courier reporter Donald Promnitz was on hand for Wednesday's Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. The Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. An etching on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is made of Sgt. John S. Myers for Tim Bahr during local veterans' Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Veterans in the Honor Flight get a front row view of the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Honor Flight members take in "Iwo Jima," the Marine Corps Memorial Statue in Arlington, Virginia. Participants in the Cedar Valley Honor Flight head for the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Veterans and guardians board the plane that will take them to Washington, D.C., in Waterloo on Wednesday. Evan "Curly" Hultman, a retired U.S. Army Reserve major general, talks to visitors from Sen. Chuck Grassley's office at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Hultman was the only WWII veteran on the Honor Flight. Veteran Frank Makinster chats with volunteer Al Doehring and his dog Shamu at the World War II Memorial on Wednesday. Veteran Richard Butts salutes the Honor Guard as he arrives in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday morning. Veterans wait for the buses at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., on Wednesday. They arrived to applause and an Honor Guard that morning. Vietnam veterans Woody White and Robert Bennett pose for a photograph at the World War II Memorial with the Washington Monument in the background on Wednesday. Three separate Winona businesses accepted and unknowingly brought in fake $100 bills to deposit at Wells Fargo Bank last week. In a special announcement Monday, the Winona Chamber of Commerce said businesses should be wary of large bills. Some counterfeits have tell-tale signs. The counterfeit money caught at the bank were old style $100s from 1988, before $100 bills featured a watermark. Additionally, none of the bills had a security strip and, so far, all three bills have had the same serial number. Christie Ransom, Winona Chamber of Commerce president/CEO, said the bills also passed the marker test, making it tricky to determine their authenticity. Im not sure if theres not other banks that are experiencing this as well, Ransom said. They pass the marker test, they look authentic. Ransom said this is the first time the chamber has heard of counterfeit bills. We just want to warn people to watch for it, especially because we deal with businesses of all sorts that do financial transactions that deal with cash, Ransom said. Typically, Ransom said people who pass counterfeit bills will use the fake $100 bill on a small purchase and get a lot of change back in valid currency. Winona Deputy Chief of Police Jay Rasmussen said law enforcement periodically comes across counterfeit bills, but it isnt a frequent thing. Most of the counterfeit bills we are seeing are pretty obviously counterfeit, Rasmussen said. I think people just need to be very observant of the feeling and the way it looks. The bank advised businesses use more than one method to verify the authenticity of cash. Rudy Giuliani acknowledged in a court document submitted on Tuesday that he made "false" comments against two Georgia 2020 election workers who are suing him for bogus accusations of fraud. When conspiracy theorists, as well as then-President Donald Trump and his ally Giuliani, alleged they had committed election fraud in the 2020 presidential election, Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea "Shaye" Moss stated that their lives were flipped completely upside down. Online and by Trump allies, a heavily altered, brief bit of surveillance footage was extensively disseminated as "proof," according to NBC News. (Photo: by Alex Wong/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 19: Former New York City Mayor and former personal lawyer for former President Donald Trump Rudy Giuliani talks to members of the press before he leaves the U.S. District Court on May 19, 2023, in Washington, DC. Giuliani claimed Freeman and Moss were "passing around USB ports like they were vials of heroin or cocaine," but according to the committee report from January 6, they were actually passing a ginger mint. The Jan. 6 committee referred to the pair's treatment as "callous, inhumane, and inexcusable." Freeman testified to the committee that she "lost my sense of security - all because a group of people, starting with Number 45 and his ally Rudy Giuliani, decided to scapegoat me and my daughter Shaye to push their own lies about how the presidential election was stolen." Michael J. Gottlieb, a lawyer at Willkie, Farr & Gallagher LLP and a member of the legal team for Freeman and Moss, said in a statement on Wednesday that they are "pleased with this major milestone" in response to Giuliani's submission. A Giuliani spokeswoman denied the former New York mayor admitted his words were incorrect in a statement released on Wednesday morning, adding that Giuliani "did not contest it in order to move on to the portion of the case that will permit a motion to dismiss." Read also: Rudy Giuliani Rumored To Have Betrayed Donald Trump on Jan. 6 Riot Investigation A Case Dismissed A year-long investigation into alleged election fraud at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta was dismissed by the Georgia State Election Board last month, clearing Freeman and Moss of wrongdoing. This led to Giuliani's petition. The investigation's findings said that the charges of fraud were "unsubstantiated and found to have no merit," based on the work of the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, and the secretariat of state investigators who investigated the alleged fraud. Giuliani has been a controversial figure throughout his career. He has been praised for his accomplishments as mayor of New York City, but he has also been criticized for his aggressive prosecution style and his close ties to Donald Trump. In recent years, Giuliani has become increasingly isolated from the Republican Party, and he has been the subject of several investigations. Despite his controversies, Giuliani remains a significant figure in American politics. He is a skilled lawyer and a charismatic speaker, and he has a long history of public service. Whether he will be able to revive his political career remains to be seen, but there is no doubt that Rudy Giuliani will continue to be a controversial figure for years to come. Related article: Disciplinary Panel Seeks Rudy Giuliani's Disbarment Over False Election Fraud Claims @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. WILMINGTON, Del. President Joe Biden's son Hunter pleaded not guilty Wednesday to two tax crimes after a plea deal with federal prosecutors unraveled during a court hearing following the judge's concerns over the agreement. Hunter Biden was charged last month with two misdemeanor tax crimes of failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes from over $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018, and he was expected to plead guilty on Wednesday after he made an agreement with prosecutors, who were planning to recommend two years of probation. That deal is now on hold. But during the hearing Wednesday, there was a dispute in court over whether the initial agreement gave him protection against any future charges. U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, raised concerns about the language of the deal. The judge gave defense lawyers and prosecutors 30 days to explain why she should accept the initial deal. The collapsed the proceedings, a surprising development because the plea had been carefully negotiated over weeks and included a lengthy back-and-forth between Justice Department prosecutors and Biden's attorneys. The plea deal was meant to clear the air for Hunter Biden and avert a trial that would have generated weeks or months of distracting headlines. But the politics remain as messy as ever, with Republicans insisting he got a sweetheart deal and the Justice Department pressing ahead on investigations into Trump, the GOP's 2024 presidential primary front-runner. Prosecutors said in court Wednesday that Biden remained under federal investigation. Photos: Hunter Biden through the years We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form According to the complaint to the ethics commission, Lombardo used his position as Clark County Sheriff, along with government property, to significantly benefit himself. In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second right in front, visits a liberation war martyrs cemetery in Pyongyang, North Korea Tuesday, July 25, 2023, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the armistice that halted fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) A house stands at a burnt forest near Gennadi village, on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes, southeastern Greece, on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. A third successive heat has struck Greece, amid more evacuations from fires that have raged out of control for days, while the temperature in many parts of the country soaring Wednesday to as high as 46.4C (115 Fahrenheit). (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) FILE - This undated handout image provided by Greece's coast guard on June 14, 2023, shows scores of people on a battered fishing boat that later capsized and sank off southern Greece. The border and coast guard agency Frontex estimated that more than 50,300 attempts were made to enter the EU without authorization from January to May. The bipartisan House committee on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), more known as UFOs, is expected to hold a hearing Wednesday (July 26), with lawmakers promising to look deeper at UAPs following unproven allegations from a former intelligence official that the US military has recovered what was said to be crashed extraterrestrial spacecraft. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) said the committee was launched because the American public "deserves to know" the cause and origin of such UAPs. "[I]t's a national security issue," added Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL). "Can't we tell the Americans it isn't China, it isn't Russia? And if it is...then it is even more questionable that other governments have this technology." Discovery of UAPs Concerning, Witnesses Say Witnesses to the hearing, all of whom are military veterans, are expected to tell lawmakers their discovery of UAPs is concerning enough to be divulged to the public. Former US Air Force intelligence officer David Grusch is expected to testify at Wednesday's hearing. He earlier claimed the US federal government has found alien vessels. Grusch would testify that he became aware of an alleged covert government program to recover and re-engineer crashed alien spacecraft as part of his duties. However, he also acknowledged he did not have firsthand knowledge of the alleged program. He would also base his testimony on information he has been given by individuals with "a longstanding track record of legitimacy and service to this country." Many of the people who shared their evidence with Grusch did so in the form of "photography, official documentation, and classified oral testimony." Meanwhile, a Pentagon spokesperson said the Department of Defense's UAP task force, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), "has not discovered any verifiable information to substantiate" the claims about crashed alien craft. Other witnesses include US Navy veteran David Fravor and Americans for Safe Aerospace executive director Ryan Graves. Fravor, who once flew fighter jets for the US Navy, planned to describe an encounter with UAPs and how it was not investigated properly. He added there was no "oversight" from elected officials on anything associated with the government "possessing or working on craft" which many believe to be from outer space. "This issue is not about full public disclosure that could undermine national security, but it is about ensuring that our system of checks and balances works across all work done in our government using taxpayer funds," he would tell the committee Wednesday based on his opening statement. Graves would also address his own concerns about UAPs as a former Navy pilot, especially as a "national security and an aviation safety problem," according to his opening statement. "The bottom line is, why are we allowing objects in our sky, particularly objects displaying advanced technology, to go unidentified?" Graves planned to tell the committee. "I believe we should pursue these questions about the nature of UAP with a scientific method and an open mind." Read Also: NASA Says 'UFO' Spotted in Las Vegas Likely a Bright Meteor Congress vs. Pentagon on UAPs According to Burchett, he recognized the credentials of the witnesses. "This isn't some good old boy who had too much to smoke or drink in the woods and thinks he spotted something. These are trained pilots," he recently told Fox News. Lawmakers are promising the public the hearing would be the beginning of a long series of clashes between the House and the Pentagon in seeking new details on UAPs. Reps. Burchett and Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) previously traveled to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and had an argument with military officials over potential UAP evidence. The Pentagon denied the lawmakers' request to see any video and to speak with the pilots who might have shot them down because of the lawmakers' lack of security clearances as members of the congressional defense committee, a source told ABC News. However, top Pentagon UAP investigator Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, told ABC News in a recent interview that "nothing has been denied" unto them and played down the possibility of a covert program. Related Article: 'We Can't Handle It': US Congressman Makes Strong Admission After Seeing Classified UAP Videos @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. If you're one of those who shy from the public eye, the grand and glamorous Queen Anne at 2070 San Jose Avenue may not be for you. She's the maison celebre of Alamedapossibly the most photographed and most recognizable Victorian in a city of 4,000 Victorians. She has often been featured in sculpture, paintings, on city phone books, and websites. Hardly a day goes by without some passerby snapping a pic or setting up an easel to capture her likeness. "It's kind of fun, really," says Henry Villareal, who has cherished this gem with his partner, Mark White, for 17 years. "We looked out one time and saw a wedding group out there taking pictures. We opened the door and asked them if they wanted to come up on the porch and take some more. They were thrilled." And that's just the allure of the exterior with its layers of period adornments, witch's caps, gingerbread railings, and wraparound, turreted porch, which is perfect for iced tea time on a lazy summer day. Just wait till you get inside. 2070 San Jose Ave, Alameda, CA www.youtube.com Built in 1893 as the home of David S. Brehaut, this eight-room mansion by architect Charles S. Shaner comes complete with a classic Victorian fainting room, a full attic, and a finished basement that once served the home's 1920's owner, wine merchant Sophus Federspiel, as a speakeasy. There's even a secret room to hide the booze. The home changed hands a couple of times in the '30s, then was owned by the Brown family and their descendants for the following seven decades until Villareal and White purchased it in 2004. When they first walked inside, the couple was surprised to find plain white walls and lots of carpetinglime green shag, in fact, from the mid-20th century. Still, the home had clearly been well-loved and they would go on to develop a close bond with the previous owners. "The son and daughter, Jim and Marsha, of the family who grew up here, they were in their early 60s when they sold it to us," White said. "We wrote a love letter to let them know we'd cherish the house and take care of it." And indeed, loving tributes to the family remain: a photo of Marsha in her old bedroom, and the "Keep Out!" sign carved by Jim on his childhood bedroom door. Over the next 14 years, the homeowners tenderly, painstakingly restored the home to its glory of yore, preserving original details like stained-glass windows and the lincrusta and anaglypta wall coverings along the stairwell. They've added crown moldings and ceiling medallions (hand-painted by White) and dressed every room, ceiling, hallway, nook and cranny with richly toned Bradbury & Bradbury wallpapers, making this showplace a walk-through work of art. Upon arrival, you'll note a brass plaque embedded in the front walkway, announcing the home's historic status. Take the dual curved steps, left to the "tradesmen's entry" and right to the massive wooden front door. Pause for a moment and pretend you've come calling for an elegant soiree. Then enter the foyer and travel back in time, gazing up at the grand staircase. Ten-foot ceilings soar in every space thanks to one-time gaslight fixtures as plenty of airflow was needed above the chandeliers. To the right is a pocket-door passage to the spacious front parlor. Somewhere along the line, the original doors had been removed by early owners (cut up and made into a bar in the speakeasy basement) then replaced with French doors. The couple couldn't have that, so they found some appropriate doors from the era and, during installation, came across an old 1923 newspaper tucked in the pocket space with articles about Prohibition. White put the paper back in where it was, and it's still there. The parlor fireplace, originally coal, now wood-burning, has what looks like a gleaming brass insert but was called a "nightguard" to control the heat from the coal. The tall front windows look out to other Victorians, smaller cottages and bungalows in the lovely neighborhood, all just a quick walk to shopping at the Southshore Center and on down to Alameda's waterfront. The dining room has more tall windows, gold-finished crown molding, sage-green wall coverings and glittering stained-glass windows. There's another fireplace, this one now gas, but with original tile depicting a hunting scene. Across the hall is their favorite room, originally a bedroom, but they call it the library. It's beyond cozy with deep-burgundy-based wallpaper and quotes around the top of the walls: "Pooh! Whispered Piglet. Yes, Piglet? Oh nothing, I was just making sure of you," and "Blue was not necessarily a good bird, but he was a great bird." You'll have to ask Villareal and White about that. At the rear of the first level is the pale-green, tin-ceilinged kitchen that seems sunny even on a cloudy day. They've kept the vintage feel with a corner breakfast nook but reconfigured the fridge's location and stove for modern convenience. Back to the foyer and up the staircase, colored rays of light beam down through more stained glass. At the front of the house you'll find the fainting room, a 10-by-10 space where tightly clad ladies of the era could "have a moment," White said. It now makes for a perfect office. Next to it is a tiny porch that overlooks the witch's cap. And next to that is the primary suite. Each room in the home has its own theme by virtue of the wall coverings. Here it's the Marsh Room with deep blue backgrounds sprinkled with butterflies, dragonflies and reeds. This fireplace has also been converted to gas. There's a jack-and-jill "bathroom" which is really just a small room with a sink that connects to another bedroom, currently used as a sitting room. They call this the Sunflower Room, done up in golds and yellows. This was formerly Jim's bedroom, the one with the fierce warning on the door. Just across the hall is Marsha's room, in a floral theme with hand-painted gold and olive-green moldings. The gorgeous wall and ceiling papers in these last two bedrooms were gifts from Bradbury & Bradbury and used in a photo shoot for their paper patterns. Two unusually narrow doors open off of Marsha's room, one to another small area with a sink, the other to what may have originally been intended as an outdoor porch. Around the corner is the ladder to the attic. Access is tricky, but there's potential for the addition of a media room or other uses. On down the hallway is a bathroom with tub, shower and sink, plus floor tile in robin's-egg blue and a laundry chute. The finished basement and former speakeasy has multiple rooms and as many tales to tell. Here you'll find the pocket-door bar, and there's a small space nearby with a canned goods room, its door hard to distinguish from the rest of the wall. "You could put your illegal booze in here, then close this and slide a shelf over it," White said. "No one would ever know." As far as ghosts go, there are no spirits in the house other than the liquid kind, White and Villareal say. Although there was a time when the door to the speakeasy kept swinging open. They figured it was the husband of the former owner, awaiting the arrival of his wife in the afterlife. "We figured it was Fred. So I stood in the middle of the room and said, 'Fred, Virginia will be coming along soon.' After that, it never opened again." Back up to the kitchen, a small back porch/mudroom leads out to the backyard, where the period theme continues with a traditional Victorian-knot hedge design and traditional plantings of rhododendrons and hydrangeas, all beneath a giant oak. A path leads to the two-car garage with more historical writing on the wall, this time apparently from someone calculating the cost of a 1944 Packard. Though they're all about the history, Villareal and White have brought the home into the modern day with upgrades such as a tankless water heater, upgraded electrical and appliances, gas fireplace conversions, and more. More than anything, they hope new owners will love the place as they do. "We want the same thing the previous family did, somebody to cherish the house," White said. "I don't think you ever really own a house like this. It's more about preserving it for generations to come." Indeed, this celebrated home has more than 120 years of stories to tell and many more to write. Just get used to the paparazzi. Angela Hill Location: 2070 San Jose Ave. (Alameda) Size: 2,851 sqft Bedrooms: 4 Baths: 2.5 List price: $2,375,000 // For more information, contact Liz Rush at Keller Williams, 2070sanjose.com Then, in 2016, she began baking her way across America from her home kitchen. She blogged about her pies, which led to the creation of her new book, 50 Pies, 50 States: An Immigrants Love Letter to the United States Through Pie (June 2023). It contains classic recipes plus recipes with a Fong twist, as well as historical information to help fellow bakers learn more about the United States through its pies, too. Voracious Bake With Stacey Fong shared a crust recipe and two pie recipes from 50 Pies, 50 States for AARP members to try: All-Butter Crust Bakers have their preferences of which fat to use, like lard or vegetable shortening, but Im all about the butter, baby. Scallion Bagel Pie With Lox, Onion and Thinly Sliced Lemon This pie is based on my favorite bagel order and honors my current home in Brooklyn. Blushing Prickly Pear and Apple Pie (Arizona) Blushing apples and candied ginger meld perfectly with the prickly pear for this pie, which is best to bake in late summer through early winter, as thats the peak season for prickly pears in the Northern Hemisphere. When Fong embarked on the project, some of the themes were obvious. Florida? Key lime pie. Same for Massachusetts and its Boston cream. Then, for other states, like North Dakota, Michigan, South Dakota, Oklahoma, I got to kind of deep dive into what makes that state so special, she says. In doing so, Fong learned historical tidbits that go beyond grade school trivia. I found out about all these mining towns in Montana, and how they would eat pasties [pie crust filled with meat and vegetables] that they brought over from England and turn that into pie form, Fong says. Miners would fill half-moon-shaped pastry shells with meats and vegetables on one side and fruit on the other to create a hearty meal that weighed about 2 pounds, Fong writes in her book. Her homage is a sweet and savory recipe with buffalo stew and cherry fillings. Fongs book also pays homage to some of the individuals she encountered while doing her research. For example, South Dakotas wild rice pudding pie, filled with wild rice pudding and sunflower milk, honors Eric Zimmer, a historian from the Black Hills. I wanted an ode to the Indigenous people that were here before everybody else came, and the foods they ate, Fong says. Zimmer helped her focus on using different types of grains and substituting fruit in lieu of sugar as a sweetener. The resulting pie stuns with sunflower-shaped petals made of blue cornmeal crust and a vibrant berry-bergamot topping. The sunflower milk, used in the filling, is easily made with seeds. In America, there are Mexican restaurants everywhere, Chinese restaurants, Vietnamese restaurants, but there's barely any restaurants that serve Native American or Indigenous cuisine, which I think is kind of insane, because I feel like that's the food that I would like to try, says Fong. More Members Only Access Watch documentaries and tutorials, take quizzes, read interviews and much more exclusively for members View More Of course, not everyone will agree with Fongs choice of pie for each state. It doesn't have to be for everybody, she says. And I feel like the discourse and dialogue is what makes this country so interesting, so I'm ready. Some might even say that the freedom to have such disagreements is as American as apple pie. This fall, many older adults will be encouraged to get not one, not two, but three vaccines to protect against three common respiratory viruses that sicken millions of Americans each year and become increasingly dangerous with age. Most are familiar with the annual flu shot roughly half of adults rolled up their sleeves for one last year. The same can be said for the COVID-19 booster, which is once again getting an update in time for fall. New to the menu this year, however, is a vaccine for RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, which is often associated with young kids, but sends as many as 160,000 adults 65 and older to the hospital each year, and kills as many as 10,000. We have learned over the last 20 years that year in and year out, [RSV] probably causes as much illness as influenza, says William Schaffner, M.D., who is with the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and is a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. RSV hit the U.S. especially hard last fall right around the same time COVID-19 and flu cases gained steam. (Early estimates show the flu killed as many as 58,000 Americans in the 2022-2023 season; meanwhile, COVID-19 sent tens of thousands of people to the hospital each week during the fall of 2022.) This led some to dub the viral convergence a tripledemic. It was definitely really, really concerning to watch, says Rachel Presti, M.D, an associate professor of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. This year, though, theres a new tool to help fight back: a vaccine for RSV the first ever. Two versions were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May and are expected to be available by the fall; both are for adults 60 and older. When should you get the RSV vaccine? Health officials are encouraging older adults to talk to their doctor to see whether the RSV vaccine is right for them. If that answer is yes, Presti says, theres no need to delay. As the top student in her pilot training class at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas, 2nd Lt. Jeannie Flynn had earned the right to fly her first choice of aircraft. You can subscribe here to AARP Veteran Report, a free e-newsletter published twice a month. If you have feedback or a story idea then please contact us here. A few days before graduation, the 26-year-old daughter of an Air Force veteran gathered with other new pilots for a conference call to make their aircraft preferences known. The first to choose, Flynn announced: Ill take the F-15E. It was January 1993. The F-15E Strike Eagle had been in service for three years and been used to take out Scud missile installations in Iraq at the start of the Gulf War two years earlier. A male voice on the other end of the line said, Current policy does not allow women to fly combat aircraft. Would you please make another choice? It was the response Flynn expected. The 1948 law that forbade women from flying in combat had been repealed in the wake of the Gulf War, but Pentagon policy had still not changed. She then offered an acceptable choice. Ill take the KC-10 to March [Air Force Base]. Flynn knew the incoming Clinton administration was likely to change the policy, and she wanted it on the record that she really wanted the F-15 fighter she was qualified to fly, rather than the KC-10 Extender aerial refueling tanker. She explained at the time: I am not doing it to cause problems and I dont think I am causing problems by just asking for my first choice. Some of her superiors, she said, had counseled her against fighting the policy because it might damage her career, but she was willing to take that risk. I might win it, but I might also give myself a miserable career. Flynn never trained on the KC-10. Air Force officials, who also knew the policy was likely to change soon, instead sent her to become an instructor in the T-38 Talon, the Air Forces supersonic trainer. The T-38 would keep her high-performance jet skills sharp so she would be ready to transition into fighter training at a moments notice. Quarterly Activities Report 30 June 2023 Perth, July 26, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Horizon Minerals Limited ( ASX:HRZ ) is pleased to provide the June 2023 Quarterly Activities Report. Horizon is an exploration and production company within the Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie regions of Western Australia. A key focus for the Company is on near term production and exploration upside within our 1,100km2 tenement package with multiple drill rigs operating as part of the large-scale new discovery and project generation exploration program. Horizon holds numerous multi - commodity assets including listed investments in the world class 1.8Bt Richmond vanadium project in northwest Queensland. Primary activities during the Quarter included growth drilling at Penny's Find along strike and at depth, and drill planning for resource programs at Monument and Pinner (Cannon), Kestrel and Honeyeater (Binduli) and follow up at Penny's Find. New discovery drilling programs were also developed for Kanowna South and Lakewood. Exploration field work at the core Greater Boorara - Cannon - Golden Ridge project area and Lakewood continued. In addition, the Company has continued to advance the high-grade Cannon, Penny's Find and Rose Hill underground developments, statutory approval work, joint venture assessment and review of further consolidation and divestment opportunities. During the Quarter, funding and mining approval was received for the Cannon underground development, with Penny's Find already approved for potential sequential mining and production. *To view the full quarterly report, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/481Q8M60 About Horizon Minerals Limited Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed. Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline. Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage. Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of Cambodia and one of the world's longest-serving leaders, has declared that he would step down from his position and pass the leadership torch to his son at the beginning of August. In a special broadcast on national television, he stated: "I would like to ask for understanding from the people as I announce that I will not continue as prime minister." Three days after a completely uncompetitive election, in which his party once again won every seat, he made the long-awaited announcement. Retirement From Almost 40 Years in Power After almost 40 years in power, Cambodia's 70-year-old leader Hun Sen has grown more authoritarian. His oldest son, Hun Manet, who was the head of the Royal Cambodian Army until very recently, had been groomed for the position for quite some time. Hun Sen said that his son will become prime minister on August 10, CNBC reported. During the broadcast, he said that he would be leaving office because there could be instability. However, he will continue to serve as the head of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP). Earlier on Wednesday, July 26, official Cambodian media showed Hun Sen going to the Cambodian monarch's palace to announce the dynastic succession. According to BBC News, his 45-year-old son Hun Manet played a pivotal part in campaigning for the July election this year and was often seen at rallies with his father, who has controlled the Southeast Asian country of 16 million people since 1985. See Also: Spain's Left-Wing Coalition Celebrates as Right-Wing Party Fails To Win Majority in Parliament 'Neither Fair nor Free' The recent election in Cambodia was largely seen as inevitable due to the elimination of the only viable opposition party. Both the US and the EU issued comments denouncing the election as being "neither fair nor free." There were 17 further parties on the ballot, but they were all either too small, new, or affiliated with the CPP to be taken seriously by voters. In recent years, Hun Sen has been systematically eliminating political opponents in Cambodia as part of a larger attack on civil space, according to BBC. After years of defeating his opponents, in 2017, he utilized the courts to dissolve the CNRP, another prominent opposition party, and either imprison or exile its leaders. He has also been more repressive against criticism and free speech, closing down the majority of the country's independent media. Threats of closure have been reported by various rights organizations, labor unions, and other groups. Some believe that Hun Manet will lead a less repressive regime and be more receptive to Western calls on human rights than his father. Yet, experts claim he has not shown any signs of becoming more open. Also, Hun Sen has made it very obvious that he would maintain extensive control over the country's administration. See Also: Canada: Meet Olivia Chow First Chinese-Canadian to Serve as Toronto Mayor @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Instagram TV The announcement comes as a surprise considering rumors that the 'One That Got Away' hitmaker planned to exit the show following criticism from fans on multiple occasions. Jul 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Katy Perry isn't exiting "American Idol" just yet. On Tuesday, ABC announced that the "Fireworks" hitmaker will return to the judging table for season 22 of the long-running singing competition series. Katy will be joined by fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie who all resume their roles as judges in the next season, which will premiere in spring 2024. Ryan Seacrest, meanwhile, will also reprise his hosting duty. "American Idol" is set to kick off the audition for the reality competition series on August 2 with the return of "Idol Across America", the live virtual nationwide search for the next singing superstar. The new season, meanwhile, is scheduled to premiere in spring 2024. Katy's return to the show comes as a surprise considering rumors that she planned to exit the show following criticism from fans on multiple occasions. Back in May, Daily Mail reported that the 38-year-old pop star felt that she had been repeatedly "thrown under the bus by the producers." She additionally believed that the show's edit made her appear to be a "nasty judge" and she's concerned that it would affect her career. The "Teenage Dream" hitmaker landed in hot water after allegedly mom-shaming contestant Sara Beth Liebe by joking that the mother of three had been "laying on the table too much." In a TikTok video, Sara claimed that she found the remarks "hurtful." "I think that women supporting and uplifting other women is so cool and I think that mom shaming is super lame. I think that it's hard enough to be a mom and it's hard enough to be a woman," Sara shared. Katy also caught heat for her "condescending" comments on contestant Nutsa Buzaladze, who slept through a rehearsal with her duet partner, Carina DeAngelo. Viewers thought that the mom of one was "so rude and condescending to the contestants unless it's a male cutie then she acts like a teenage fool." Despite the backlash, Katy was reportedly unfazed. "This has been a roller-coaster season with a lot of great talent, so she is just doing her job," a source said earlier this month, noting that Katy "has a unique sense of humor that may not always translate well on camera, but she never has any ill intent" while judging the singing competition. The informant stressed, "She's a mentor and a friend to the contestants." You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity Still recovering after spending a week in the hospital due to severe dehydration and exhaustion, the 'Backdoor' rapper takes to social media to thank fans for their love and support. Jul 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Lil Durk continues to share positive updates on his recovery following a recent health scare. While he's still not cleared to perform, the rapper has shared a new photo via his social media page to show his appreciation for his fans' support. In the since-deleted photo, Durkio sported an off-white T-shirt paired with white distressed jeans and a cap which he put on backward. His giant yellow shoes stood out in the picture as he accessorized with a huge chain and a golden watch. It's not clear when the photo was taken, but the 30-year-old looked fit as he flashed a smile in the image. "The love they show is outstanding," he captioned it. Over on his Instagram Story, the Chicago native went on letting his followers know the progress he made in his recovery. "I'm almost healed I appreciate the energy being on 1000," he posted on Tuesday, July 25. Durk, whose real name is Durk Derrick Banks, revealed earlier this month that he had checked into the hospital on Thursday, July 6 after falling ill in Ohio. The Chicago rapper went to the hospital as a safety measure, but doctors told him the matter was more serious than he and his team realized, and that he needed to be admitted. After spending a week in the hospital, he was discharged, but still not allowed to be back on stage. "I was looking forward to touching all of my European fans, performing this week(end), attending the ESPYs and more but after performing and traveling daily I've become severely dehydrated and advised by my doctors not to travel due to exhaustion," he said in a statement to TMZ, before promising, "Once I get my full energy back, it's back to business which I'm looking forward to. #StillHealing." The Voice has since been forced to cancel several festival appearances and various tour dates, including his headlining gig at the Rolling Loud festival in Miami. "Since I'm still awaiting to get full clearance from my doctors to travel and perform again, I have no other choice but to cancel my headlining Rolling Loud performance," he said in a statement to DJ Akademiks on July 18. He continued, "While I'm home resting, I am looking forward to my two homecoming shows on the 11th & 12th in Chicago. For the rest of the country, I'll be announcing new dates soon. #StillHealing." He has also canceled multiple dates with Kodak Black, NLE Choppa and DD Osama for his upcoming "Sorry for the Drought Tour" and rescheduled other shows. You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity During the tapping of his 'It Is What It Is' podcast with co-host Ma$e and special guest Paul Pierce, the 'Welcome to New York City' rapper stresses that he is straight. Jul 26, 2023 AceShowbiz - Cam'ron has responded to speculations on his sexuality. Having been believed to be gay by many simply for wearing pink clothes, the "Welcome to New York City" rapper, who is also known as Killa Cam, decided to set the record straight. On Monday, July 24, the 47-year-old spitter released via Instagram a video of him addressing the issue. In the clip, he was captured having a conversation with co-host Ma$e and special guest Paul Pierce during the tapping of his "It Is What It Is" podcast. "This all jokes aside, this word to everything I love. Being celebrities and being in the public eye, if you wasn't nobody, nobody would give a f**k," the "Hey Ma" rapper pointed out. "You know how long I had to hear, 'Cam's gay, he wears pink?' " Cam'ron went on to rant, "Bring your mother around, n***a. See if she gives a f**k, n***a. See if your mom gives a whole f**k, n***a. Ill tell her how gay I am. Ill f**k her in the pink mink, n***a. The f**k is you talking bout, n***a?" Cam'ron's video post was quickly flooded with responses. In the comments section, one Instagram user stated, "It's very funny someone would call Cam gay for wearing, when he had the whole world wearing pink for 2 years straight!!! Crazy!!!!" Another chimed in, "S**t I started wearing pink cuz of this n***a. the b***hes loved it." A third added, "Killa had the most p***y gettinest n***as wearing pink! And it was no homo involved at all." A fourth, in the meantime, voiced support by writing, "Nah bro you got some real supporters that will knock it down for you [a smiling face with tears of joy emoji] #PAUSE." This was not the first time Cam'ron responded to speculations over his sexuality. A few years prior, he reacted to actor Faizon Love uploading memes of him suggesting that he is gay. In July 2020, Cam released via Instagram a throwback video of Faizon auditioning for gay roles in a movie. Along with the clip, Cam'ron wrote in the caption, "Now before I post this I have no problem with anybody in the LGBTQ community. I have people from this community in my family/friends/I work with and love ones. I respect all walks of life. With that being said. @faizonlove posted some memes of me being gay. Which I'm not." Cam'ron continued, "But this isn't a meme fat boy. This really u.. #UgotSomeexplainingToDo this the roles u want? I dig it #IaintJudgingTho #UaintOnTrail somebody get him in ['Brokeback Mountain'] 2 please. I don't think he faking.. and did someone creep behind u in this vid? Just askin." You can share this post! Bollywood actor and climate warrior Bhumi Pednekar, is a beacon of compassion and purpose. Known for her powerful performances on the silver screen, Bhumi Pednekar has made a name for herself as a socially conscious actress. She is a generation-defining actor who has earned recognition as one of India's most pioneering performers. Having won 26 acting awards in just 7 years, Bhumi has established herself as one of the best actors that this country has ever seen. Through her films, she has aimed at changing society for the better, championed representation of women in cinema and fought for gender inclusivity, including batting for the LGBTQIA+ community in India. Bhumi Pednekars commitment to creating a sustainable and equitable society goes beyond her acting roles. She is also a leading voice in climate change advocacy, spearheading the hugely lauded social media campaign "Climate Warrior. As an ardent environmentalist, she has wholeheartedly embraced climate conservation as her life's mission. Expressing her thoughts Bhumi Pednekar shared I have always believed that we can leave a positive mark on the world and in our community through our actions. For me, I choose to play strong, free, liberated women who challenge the societal status-quo in films because I would like to change the gaze with which people look at women in India. I choose films keeping in mind how it will push the envelope of content in India. As a human being, Im programmed to question society and champion women. Whether she dons the hat of an actor, environmental advocate or investor, Bhumi Pednekar veers towards stories with a purpose. This is evident in the impactful investments that she is making. She has recently invested into the hospitality sector, joining hands with Chrome Asia Hospitality for Kaia, the groups first boutique hotel in Goa. Her vision for the investment is to build a one-of-a-kind destination that would offer luxury along with sustainable practices. Bhumi added, Im the same human being off-screen or on-screen and I think I have a very strong core belief system. I feel I can use my voice to raise awareness on climate change and mobilise people to protect earth when Im not shooting for films. Now, as I begin my journey as an entrepreneur, Im trying to back people and businesses that are looking to make a difference. My foray into hospitality as an investor with Kaia is to create a community that is looking to travel sustainably. I think as an investor, Im going to back businesses that are looking to have a positive impact on society or on nature. I gravitate to those people and belief systems naturally as it is an extension of my personality. Bhumi Pednekar has been a champion of change globally! She has a deep-rooted passion for the planet. As a climate warrior, she has worked patiently and relentlessly with actual people on the ground to raise awareness on climate change. On her birthday this year, Bhumi Pednekar shared her intention of taking another huge step to further her work towards restoring ecological harmony across India by launching a not for profit organisation The Bhumi Foundation. Today, within digital platforms around 71% of communication happens through SMS, 13% through Rich Communication Services (RCS), 8% through OTT, and 8% through voice. With respect to RCS as a channel, healthcare consumes 25% and is currently positioned at Number 3 after BFSI and retail, said Adithya P Sharma, Vice President, Whistle, while moderating a fireside chat on Digital Communications -- A Catalyst to Healthcare in India, during the Digital Health Summit 2023, organised by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) here today. With this background, the ultimate objective of any brand is customer satisfaction. And all these platforms can be better utilized to enhance the customer experience in all aspects, Mr. Sharma added. IAMAI presented the first edition of the Digital Health Summit, a conference dedicated to exploring the transformative potential of technology in achieving 'Digital Health for all' in India. The theme of the conference was Positioning India as a Global Leader in Digital Healthcare. Set against the backdrop of rapid technological advancements in the healthcare sector, this summit addressed the opportunities, directions, and eventual winners that will shape the next decade. The IAMAI Digital Health Summit 2023 brought together policymakers, regulators, industry experts, thought leaders and innovators to deliberate on the current issues that technology is effectively addressing within the healthcare landscape. Industry leaders and renowned figures from the healthcare sector, including Mr. Prashant Tandon, Co-Founder & CEO of TATA 1mg; Dr. Alexander Kuruvilla, Chief Health Strategy Officer, Practo & Co-Chair, IAMAI Health Tech Committee; Ms. Priya Gilbile, Chief Operating Officer, Manipal Cigna Health Insurance; and Mr. Jayaramakrishnan, Head, Amazon Pharmacy, were among the distinguished attendees at the day-long event held in Delhi. The IAMAI Digital Health Summit 2023 was powered by Whistle, a cloud-based guest messaging service that helps businesses in the hospitality industry communicate with customers, manage tasks, automate workflows, and more on a unified platform. During the fireside chat panelist Priyadarshini Narendra, Vice President, Birla Fertility & IVF highlighted the need for India to have digital consultations for people residing in remote areas so that healthcare could have a bigger outreach. Families in India lack privacy at homes. People find it difficult to open up on topics such as IVF. The biggest advantage of digital healthcare is that you can ask questions to somebody through teleconsultations. It is difficult for patients to go long distances for health consultations, she said. The Digital Health Summit witnessed participation from over 500+ attendees, 150+ companies, 50+ speakers and over 15+ sessions. The summit was conducted at The Lalit, New Delhi. Defense analysts from the UK reveal Russia's Black Sea Fleet is positioning itself to blockade Ukrainian ports after Moscow pulled out of the grain deal after it expired last week. British intelligence reports from its Ministry of Defense detailed Wednesday (July 26) the Russian corvette Sergei Kotov is already patrolling the route between the Bosphorus and the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, which has experienced multiple missile attacks in the past few days. "There is a realistic possibility that it will form part of a task group to intercept commercial vessels Russia believes are heading to Ukraine," the report stated. The grain deal was struck to help secure supply for countries relying on grain from the war-torn country. Under the terms of the agreement, Ukrainian grain was exported via the Black Sea and Turkey's Bosphorus Strait. With the expiry of the deal, fears of famine in poorer countries would become greater. Ukraine is considered the "breadbasket of Europe" before the Russian invasion, exporting 95% of its grain to the world. Since then, wheat and corn prices sharply rose worldwide, the Kyiv Independent reported. Read Also: Ex-Marine Trevor Reed Injured While Fighting in Ukraine, State Department Confirms Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 25 July 2023. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/OgjLYIKpaS #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/laqH5kdIAd Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) July 25, 2023 Gunboats vs. Grain Ships The end of the grain agreement also increased the chances of a major armed conflict in the Black Sea area, the British report added. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned Tuesday (July 25) that Russia might "escalate its campaign to destroy Ukraine's food exports" by targeting civilian ships in the Black Sea. The British Ministry of Defense has been publishing daily information on the course of the Russo-Ukrainian War since it escalated in February 2022. On the other hand, the Kremlin accused Whitehall of conducting a disinformation campaign. Related Article: Russian Missiles Hit Odesa Anew; One Killed, Cathedral Damaged @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Laqshya Media Group, a leading player in Out of Home (OOH) advertising, is delighted to announce the resounding success of the Maharashtra launch campaign for Chandrika, the iconic handmade Ayurvedic soap with a legacy of over 80 years from the esteemed house of Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting. The campaign aimed to introduce Kerala's market leader, Chandrika, to new markets and resonate with a wider audience in Maharashtra. Collaborating with Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, Laqshya Media Group orchestrated an innovative campaign incorporating cutting-edge technologies and strategic approaches. The month-long campaign spread across major cities of Maharashtra with strategically positioned high-impact sites to reinforce Chandrika's heritage and Ayurvedic goodness, elevating its position in Maharashtra while capturing the hearts of new consumers. Laqshyas in-house proprietary tool, SHARP, was the backbone of the campaign's success. This powerful tool allowed the team to identify ideal locations in Maharashtra that aligned with the target audience's preferences. Leveraging SHARP, the team meticulously measured key metrics such as reach and engagement to ensure optimal message delivery. The campaign was executed with impressive creativity, utilizing a strategic mix of formats, including Billboards, Bus Wraps, Digital screens, Railway Station Media, and Metro Media. The strategic media mix optimised budget utilisation and enthralled the audience with captivating 3D visuals that eloquently portrayed Chandrika's rich heritage and Ayurvedic essence. The campaign's creative prominently integrates #ApneDeshKaGlow, forging a deep connection with the audience through diverse out-of-home tools while encouraging dynamic engagement across social media platforms. Chandrika, a highly trusted brand with a rich heritage of millions of loyal customers, particularly in South India, has taken a bold step towards expanding its reach in core markets and attracting new consumers. The world's first Ayurvedic soap, Chandrika, is now available in Maharashtra in a new pack, infused with time-tested Ayurvedic ingredients like coconut oil, sandalwood, and orange oil, providing a unique formula that effectively combats acne, dark spots, and dry skin giving its users a healthy glow. This soap is crafted with immense care over ten days, and this meticulous method has earned the unwavering trust of millions of women. Outdoor is a key component in our media mix as it enables us to precisely target clusters of interest and deliver the intended message. In Laqshya, we found an ideal partner who not just executes campaigns fast and at scale but also makes our executions more impactful. Their creative inputs are invaluable as they understand how to use the medium the best. Chandrikas relaunch campaign needed very specific locations that would garner impact & excitement for the brand, and that has been delivered by Laqshya, said Prasanna Rai, CMO and Head of E-commerce Business, Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting. Amarjeet Hudda, Chief Operating Officer of Laqshya Solutions, added, Collaborating with Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting on this prestigious campaign has been an incredible experience. We are proud to have contributed to Chandrika's legacy and extend its presence to the people of Maharashtra. Making waves internationally right now with its intriguing storyline and powerful performances is Filmmaker Sudhanshu Sarias Sanaa. After having screened at multiple film festivals globally including The Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Film Festival and more, Sanaa is now gearing up for its big Australian premiere at the prestigious Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2023. Hailed as the largest annual celebration of Indian cinema outside of India, IFFM showcases some of the most diverse, inclusive and groundbreaking films year after year encapsulating Indian cinemas true essence. Marking its 14th edition this year, the festival is scheduled to take place from 11th to 20th August. Starring Radhika Madan in the lead, Sanaa will have a special gala screening at the festival. Garnering immense acclaim from both the audiences and critics, Sanaa tells the story of an ambitious woman who is fighting an internal battle caused by unresolved trauma. Honoured with the films screening at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2023, director Sudhanshu Saria said in an official statement, Its been phenomenal taking Sanaa to audiences in all parts of the world and we are all so excited to meet our audience in Melbourne. IFFM has a rich history of bringing pathbreaking cinema to Australia and were proud Sanaa is included on that list this year." Written and directed by the National Award-winning director Sudhanshu Saria, Sanaa is an introspective drama starring Radhika Madan in the lead role along with Soham Shah, Shikha Talsania and Pooja Bhatt. We, at Adgully, have always saluted and honoured women managers and leaders across diverse fields. W-SUITE is a special initiative from Adgully that has been turning the spotlight on some of the most remarkable women achievers in the M&E, Advertising, Marketing, PR and Communications industry. In the refurbished series, we seek to find out how women leaders have been managing their teams and work as well as how they have been navigating through the toughest and most challenging times brought about by the global pandemic. In conversation with Adgully, Shivani Kamdar, Associate Creative Director, SoCheers, speaks about how women leaders are making positive strides in all sectors of the industry, the importance of Positive Communication in challenging times, her P2T2 formula for achieving successful work-life balance, and more. How do you think the role and scope of women leaders have widened in the current market ecosystem? The present market scenario is being redefined by more and more women leaders rising up to the top. Were seeing these multi-taskers make a positive stride in all sectors of the industry. I believe some of the factors that have impacted this growth in enhancing their role and scope, are inclusive opportunities that would include a hybrid working model and dynamic and flexible policies post pandemic; the budding content creator space that made it easy for women to put themselves out there, make their and their brand messages reach the right audience. What has been your major learning from the pandemic period? The whole work from home scenario that the pandemic brought with itself hit businesses across the globe, and ours was no exception. The new normal wasnt as easy to adapt to, but we eventually made it our routine. So for writers, one good thing was that we all could work and write at peace, but it was still no consolation for team ideations, meetings and presentations. So, I realised that well have to increase our communication amongst our team members, and that meant doing weekly catch-up calls, virtual meetings, hosting fun sessions to de-clutter our heads and also retain the team spirit in a way. So, Positive Communication was my first major takeaway. Now, one can only communicate positively if you feel for the other person, can listen to their story and have an empathetic understanding. Everyone went through their own set of turmoil during those two years, having Empathy towards each other felt like the bare minimum we could do. I feel so proud today that we tackled each obstacle as it came, managed to pull off some of the biggest campaigns, onboarded a volley of new clients, and continued to retain these two as core principles even today. What is your mantra for maintaining a successful work-life balance in the new normal? According to you, what makes women the best in crisis management? The key to having a successful work and life balance is in acing P2T2 (thats something Ive formed over the years) P2 stands for Prioritising & Planning, and T2 denotes Task & Time. Four of these, as we can see, are co-related. Sticking to this has helped me, and still does fulfill my passion at work and also run a home. Of course, one cannot achieve this balance without support from both the ecosystems, so I have been lucky enough to have that going for me as I aspired. Coming to Crisis Management, as women, we are more intuitive and hence, our decisions exhibit a more relational behaviour over a rational one, and most of the times its a better way to deal with sensitive issues. Apart from that, I think multitasking comes as second nature to us. What are the five most effective leadership lessons that you have learned? There are many lessons learnt in the due time. I am listing down the top 5 ones that have helped shape an effective leadership: Listening - To understand someones problem or a clients brief, listening is the first and the most basic step. The teams and clients always appreciate a good listener. To understand someones problem or a clients brief, listening is the first and the most basic step. The teams and clients always appreciate a good listener. Balance Appreciation & Criticism - To effectively manage a team, it is essential to strike a balance between playing the role of a supportive and encouraging good cop and a tough but fair bad cop. Additionally, it is important to be receptive to receiving feedback. To effectively manage a team, it is essential to strike a balance between playing the role of a supportive and encouraging good cop and a tough but fair bad cop. Additionally, it is important to be receptive to receiving feedback. Transparency - Whether it concerns someones growth or just a day to day operational thing, maintaining transparency in your communication really puts in that level of trust. Whether it concerns someones growth or just a day to day operational thing, maintaining transparency in your communication really puts in that level of trust. Approachable - When you inculcate the above three pointers, you automatically become an approachable figure for your team, making way for an open and flat leadership structure. When you inculcate the above three pointers, you automatically become an approachable figure for your team, making way for an open and flat leadership structure. Be Hungry - As leaders, I believe its important to remain receptive to learning from others, as it can enhance our edge and bolster our credibility. Gender sensitivity and inclusion in the new normal how can organisations effectively encourage and groom women leaders in challenging times? I support equal opportunities in all aspects of life, just like basic necessities of roti (food), kapda (clothing), and makaan (shelter). Therefore, organisations should implement fair policies that support equal opportunities for career advancement and leadership roles regardless of gender. It is also important to recognise and support personal life events such as weddings and parental leaves for both men and women. Additionally, providing period leaves for women can address their unique health needs and promote equality and inclusivity in the workplace. Therefore, advocating for policies that promote equal opportunities and inclusivity is crucial for creating a fair and inclusive society. 26th July 2023; India: Acclaimed actor and television icon Shweta Tiwari is all geared up to take her audience on an emotional rollercoaster with her upcoming short film, 'Purple' as it is set to release on FNP Media. The film is a poignant exploration of the unbreakable spirit of single parenting, beautifully capturing the essence of love, resilience, and hope. Directed by emerging filmmaker Shubham Sinha, 'Purple' revolves around the life of a single mother, portrayed brilliantly by Shweta Tiwari. The film delves into the joys, challenges, and sacrifices faced by single parents as they create a world filled with love and care for their child. "Shweta Tiwari is a great talent and has always been admired by the audience. Her ability to portray emotions with such depth is truly remarkable. 'Purple' is a project close to our hearts, and we are happy to present this heartfelt film to the audience. It delivers a powerful message about the strength and love of single parents. We believe this film will resonate with viewers and touch their hearts in a special way" shared Vikaas Gutgutia, Founder & MD, FNP Media and Ferns N Petals. FNP Media is a venture of the well-known brand Ferns N Petals, which specializes in the production of short films, web series and TV commercials. Short films produced by FNP Media received love from the audience, like Blind Love, Mazaak, 2100 FT, Gudgudi, Time Time Ki Baat, Almariyaan, Dahej Ka Scooter, etc. All the short films have got the love of crores of viewers. FNP Media's YouTube channel has more than 1.2 million subscribers, which is a big deal in itself. Purple is set to be streamed on Friday, 28th July 2023 on the official YouTube channel of FNP Media. The film The Kashmir Files caused quite a sensation in India in 2022, and now Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and Pallavi Joshi are back with a new series, The Kashmir Files Unreported, which will air on ZEE5 in August. As part of the series' promotion, the creators visited the mesmerising Dal Lake, where they met the warm-hearted Kashmiri people and immersed themselves in the local sightings. The picturesque location served as the perfect backdrop for the creators to reveal their powerful narrative that seeks to uncover the hidden truths of Kashmir's tumultuous history. Kashmir holds a special place in both Vivek and Pallavis hearts as they have spent months researching the history of Kashmir and speaking to Kashmiri Pandits to understand their plight. Hence, kickstarting the promotions in Kashmir, that too on the mesmerizing banks of Dal Lake was truly special for the creators. Enjoying the Dal lake ride and expressing his thoughts on the series Vivek Agnihotri said,Kashmir Files Unreported is like a valuable, important and priceless national archive presented by ZEE5. We started researching in 2018 and it took us 5 years of extensive research to gather our thoughts and necessary data to create the series. With experts, journalists and victims we have tried to showcase it in the most sensitive, authentic and sincere way possible. While living in the hustle and bustle of metro cities, we often forget the core of humanity which is compassion. This series brought me back to the core philosophy of oneness which emerges from the land of Kashmir. In between the fight for partition or divide, we become the victims and forget the core values of kindness and compassion. In the end we are all one. While shooting for The Kashmir Files Unreported the only question I kept asking myself - Is it honest, sincere, right, okay? I wanted to show everything in its raw form and I hope I have given justice to it. Many broken Kashmiri pandit families wrote emails to me saying that the film started their healing process after 32 years. That was very satisfying to hear. Through the series, people will come to know who were the perpetrators of terrorism and I am sure it will impact the younger generation too The Kashmir Files Unreported promises to be a compelling exploration of untold stories, skilfully interweaving real-life anecdotes, survivor testimonies, and authentic archival footage. Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and Pallavi Joshi set out on this journey with the intention of honouring the voices that have gone unheard for far too long. The series covers the historical, ethical, and geopolitical complexities that resulted in the heartbreaking massacre and mass departure of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley in the 1990s. The series stands as a poignant tribute to the tenacity of the Kashmiri Pandit community, a testament to their unwavering spirit in the face of adversity. Warner Bros. Discovery's President of International TV Distribution, Robert Blair, will be stepping down after a remarkable 25-year tenure with the company. This was revealed in an internal memo to staff from Gerhard Zeiler, WBDs president of international. He also said that there wont be any replacement for his role. The decision comes after careful consideration, reflecting a necessary organisational change in the Content Licensing team to streamline operations and improve efficiency. Blair's departure is not a reflection of his performance; rather, it is a strategic shift to refine the company's cost structure and adapt to the ever-changing industry landscape. Before leaving the company this summer, Blair will collaborate closely with Zeiler to further empower the WBD content licensing team. In 2023, the company finds ourselves at a critical point, where the global economy's slow rebound necessitates thoughtful and strategic evolution to ensure sustained success. During his impressive quarter-century journey with WBD, Blair has been instrumental in devising international sales strategies for major titles like Game Of Thrones and its prequel House Of The Dragon. Having joined in 1998 as the General Manager of Canadian Operations, Blair's dedication and leadership led to his promotion to President in 2019, where he played a key role in the Discovery merger. Zeiler praised Blair for his outstanding contributions, having facilitated billions of dollars in annual sales contracts and earned the respect of clients as a tough yet respected negotiator and exceptional leader who nurtured and inspired talents within the organisation. The CBI seized about Rs 1 crore in cash during its searches at the premises of alleged fraudsters impersonating Canadian government officials who coerced their victims into transferring their assets to cryptocurrency on the pretext of providing technical support, officials said on Wednesday. The CBI received inputs about the alleged fraud from the Canadian authorities, following which it registered a case on May 11, they said. The CBI worked on local intelligence and conducted surveillance on the basis of inputs, and a search operation was initiated on Tuesday at the premises of two accused Sahil Pal and Ashish Bhambani, the officials said. CBI conducted searches at different places at the premises of the accused in an ongoing investigation of a case related to Crypto frauds. During searches, a cash of Rs 1 crore (approximately) was recovered from the premises of an accused, a CBI spokesperson said. It was alleged that the accused were impersonating government officials in Canada and utilising this facade to execute their fraudulent activities, the agency said. Their modus operandi involved providing fake technical support consultation to unsuspecting victims and then coercing them into transferring cryptocurrency funds. These ill-gotten cryptocurrency assets were subsequently routed through multiple crypto wallets, ultimately ending up in the perpetrators own crypto accounts, the spokesperson said. To tackle the shortage of police personnel and overburdening the department, the Maharashtra government has decided to recruit 3,000 employees on a contractual basis from the Maharashtra State Security Corporation. This decision has faced disagreement from opposition parties. Meanwhile, former home minister Anil Deshmukh emphasized the issue of missing girls and women in the state, with 19,553 cases reported in the first five months of 2023. According to the home department, the Mumbai police force has a sanctioned strength of 40,623, of which around 10,000 posts of constables and drivers are vacant. While the ongoing recruitment drive will fill 7,076 posts of constables and 994 drivers, there will be a shortage of around 3,000 constables. Meanwhile, Opposition parties have conflicted with contract recruitment in the police force. Leader of the opposition in state legislative council Ambadas Danve said, Youth of the state have been facing unemployment. Instead of giving government jobs to youths in the police department, why does the government want to recruit personnel on a contract basis? It is a totally wrong decision and the police recruited directly as government servants and should be recruited in due process. The 7,076 constables to be recruited will take at least two years to join the force as they will have to undergo training. Until then, the Mumbai police commissioner has been empowered to recruit 3,000 constables from the MSSC on contract for 11 months, the order said. According to Pravin Dixit, the former DGP of Maharashtra, the new hires will not be joining the police force permanently; rather, they will be working for Maharashtra State Security Corporation (MSSC) under an 11-month contract until the actual recruited candidates for the police force return from their training. As required, these contractual candidates will be assigned to banks, metro stations, and other locations. A home department official said, This will help us to fulfil the shortage of the constables in the wake of the heavy chunk of diverted for VVIP bandobast. We are recruiting the personnel from the MSSC following the due process. The process has to be undertaken by Mumbai CP and director general of the MSSC. Additional chief secretary Sujata Saunik said, The decision was taken as per the demand of the Mumbai police commissioner. This has been the third such decision of the Eknath Shinde government to recruit employees on a contract basis. Last year, the government appointed six agencies to recruit technical experts and temporary staff from the open market. Last month, the school education department allowed the recruitment of retired teachers in district council schools until 13,000 newly-recruited teachers joined the service. Former home minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader Anil Deshmukh, through a point of information raised in the legislative Assembly, alleged that 19,553 girls and women have gone missing in the first five months of 2023. He said that earlier information was of 5,610 women that had gone missing from January to May 2023, but as per the revised information the figure is 19,553. Responding to it, Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar directed the state government to look into the matter. Earlier, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had said on July 16, 95% of these women have come back home and the percentage is highest in the country. Upcoming summit in S. Africa to add new impetus to BRICS cooperation, says Wang Yi Xinhua) 13:56, July 26, 2023 JOHANNESBURG, July 26 (Xinhua) -- China looks forward to South Africa hosting a successful BRICS summit and injecting new impetus into BRICS cooperation, Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said here on Tuesday. Wang, who attended the meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in Johannesburg, made the remarks in a phone conversation with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Conveying cordial greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Ramaphosa, Wang noted that this year is the BRICS' "South Africa Year," saying that China supports South Africa in hosting a successful BRICS Summit next month. China believes that South Africa will achieve success in four aspects under Ramaphosa's leadership, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. The four aspects include making good preparation to ensure a successful summit, actively coordinating the positions of all parties to reach consensus on the growth and development of BRICS and opening up new prospects for the BRICS mechanism, Wang said. Meanwhile, China also looks forward to South Africa planning important high-level exchanges between China and South Africa to push their comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, and carrying out a China-Africa high-level dialogue to strengthen China-Africa unity and cooperation and achieve new progress in building a China-Africa community with a shared future, he added. Noting that China and South Africa enjoy a friendship of "comrades plus brothers," Wang said that no matter how the international situation develops, China will firmly stand with South Africa. China supports South Africa in accelerating its development and revitalization, as well as in playing a bigger role on the regional and global stages, Wang said. For his part, Ramaphosa said that South Africa attaches great importance to its relations with China and hopes to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields. Ramaphosa also expressed his thanks to China for supporting South Africa's hosting of the BRICS Summit. South Africa is prepared to ensure that the upcoming BRICS summit will be a complete success, Ramaphosa said. South Africa also hopes to take the summit as an opportunity to push for greater progress in South Africa-China relations and Africa-China relations, he added. During his visit to South Africa, Wang also held talks with South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Six people, including two firefighters, have been injured after a crane belonging to the late James F Lomma's New York Crane & Equipment Corp. dangling 45 stories above New York City caught fire Wednesday morning (July 26). The crane partially collapsed onto a nearby high-rise building in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, which sent panicked New Yorkers scrambling for safety. At least half of the injured were taken to hospital after being hit with debris from the fallen crane. It remained unclear if any of the injured were construction workers. Luckily, all sustained injuries were minor. New York mayor Eric Adams later visited the scene and said the city was lucky the incident happened outside its infamous rush hour. "You see the debris on the street, this could have been much worse. We were fortunate that this was not a busy time of day," he added. Read Also: VIDEO: 4 Dead After Blaze at New York E-Bike Shop Spreads Apartments What Happened? New York Fire Department (FDNY) First Deputy Fire Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer told reporters a crane operator was working in the cabin to lift 16 tons of concrete at a 550 Tenth Ave construction site for a 54-story building. A fire then erupted in the engine compartment, which the operator attempted to put out with a fire extinguisher, but to no avail. He had to flee the scene when the blaze spread. Soon after, the top portion of the crane collapsed, striking a building at 555 Tenth Ave. across the street before crashing to the street below. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Aftermath Once the flames were doused, Pfeifer said over 200 FDNY personnel and a number of New York Police Department (NYPD) officers were deployed at the scene. The NYPD additionally urged New Yorkers to avoid the area, use alternate routes, and expect traffic in the area. New York Governor Kathy Hochul later stated the fire and collapse was "a reminder of the incredible challenges" people face in building the city back. "It's just a reminder of the dangers that so many people are willing to put themselves through and we are the beneficiaries, we the citizens of this great state and city," she added. This was not the first time cranes were caught in an accident. Lomma's New York Crane & Equipment Corp. was connected with the deadly collapse of a crane on the Upper East Side in 2008 but he was acquitted of manslaughter and three other charges after two workers were killed when a bearing cracked on a construction project, causing the heavy machinery to collapse. Related Article: NYPD's Use of AI to Monitor Highway Traffic Raises Legal Concerns @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Dinosaur bones arent the only historical attraction that brought visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History this summer. Four Alabama students participated in a live showcase of their Alabama History Day projects for National History Day at the Smithsonian in June. One student, Ddwayne James-Lockett, worked on an individual documentary and represented Murphy High School in Mobile. Three other students, Zamorie Gipson, ZoRiyah Ray and ShaHollene Smith, worked on a group project and represented Stanhope Elmore High School in Millbrook. Research helps you better connect to the world and your community, Idrissa Snider, the program coordinator for Alabama History Day said. It helps you learn more about yourself. When our students have these aha moments, theyre building their confidence as learners, too. Alabama History Day is a statewide contest organized annually by the Alabama Humanities Alliance. The program gives students a chance to learn how to do primary research and to express their findings creatively. Each student selects a history topic of their choice and then presents what they learn as an artistic exhibit, a dramatic performance, an original paper, a website or a documentary. The theme for 2023 was Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas. Nearly 200 students from across Alabama gathered at Auburn University in Montgomery to compete. From there, more than 40 participating students won first- or second-place honors in their category to qualify for National History Day. A total of 27 Alabama students and educators traveled to Maryland and Washington, D.C. to compete. James-Locketts documentary showcase, titled How Did Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company Help The Future of Mobile, Alabama, touches on 1943 anti-Black rioting in Mobile. He said he set his intention on doing something centered on his hometown. I felt as if Ive lived here my entire life, [but] there are many things I didnt know about the history, James-Lockett said. James-Lockett is a senior at Murphy. His favorite part of the experience was being around students his age and being in an environment with other creative minds telling the history behind something they are passionate about. Always take advantage of the opportunities you have. What started off as something being just a grade turned into an experience of me being able to travel somewhere besides the South, said James-Lockett. If you are good at something, in my case, video editing and putting things within a video, take that talent and put it towards doing something with it. Alabamas contingent during the National History Day parade of states. Courtesy of Phillip Jordan James-Locketts teacher, Sarah Woltring, sponsored his trip. Participation in National History Day is a required component of my 11th grade curriculum, said Woltring. It is awesome when a student is interested and passionate about a topic and that interest is able to translate into an amazing project. Ddwayne is an outstanding student and wonderful person, and should be very proud of his work and accomplishments! Gipson, Ray and Smith, each a senior at Stanhope Elmore, collaborated on an exhibit that centered the history of nine students who integrated Little Rock High School in Arkansas in 1957. Their exhibit was titled, The Little Rock Nine: Frontier in History. Kathy Paschal was the groups sponsoring teacher. The girls were so surprised to be nominated and they considered it to be a great honor, Paschal said. They even got a chance to meet and speak to Carlotta Walls Lanier, the youngest of the Little Rock Nine. The trio say they were intrigued to do this project because of their passion for reminding people of the struggles Black people in America went through. They were filled with curiosity and excitement to connect with other student historians around the country as soon as they stepped foot in D.C. What inspired me to do this project was my grandfather, said Smith. He often mentioned stories of his experiences with slavery and segregation. He passed away when I was thirteen. One of the last memories I have with him is watching a documentary on the Little Rock Nine. That stuck with me. Smith says although their group didnt win a national title, her greatest takeaway was realizing that there was more for her than just this event. Gipson said the research and knowledge she gained about Black history encouraged her to continue to be herself in order to make a difference. She doesnt allow her skin color to make her feel like she cant accomplish her goals, she said. It might not be right away but that doesnt mean give up. It just means you stand strong and keep believing in yourself no matter if the world is against you, said Gipson. Next years National History Day theme will be Turning Points in History. It will also be the 50th anniversary of the event. History Day illustrates how important it is to have young people from around the state, from all types of backgrounds, coming together in a space and putting their unique interests out there, Sniders said. We can learn to have different opinions, outlets, perspectives, or whatever the case may be. And we can respect others opinions and thoughts. National Mustard Day is coming, and Frenchs is going to make it a day to remember. The company is joining forces with Skittles to give mustard lovers all over the country a new Frenchs Mustard Skittles flavor. For the fifth year, Frenchs is celebrating National Mustard Day, which is set for Aug. 5, with a twist on the condiment. In the past, Frenchs has incorporated mustard into donuts and ice cream. With the yellow holiday landing on Aug. 5, we knew we had to outdo ourselves, North America Vice President of Marketing for McCormick & Company Valda Coryat wrote in a statement. We are thrilled to collaborate with Skittles to deliver our beloved Classic Yellow Mustard tang in a new and fun way to Frenchs and Skittles fans alike. Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on The Opening Kickoff on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily. A Hindu guru who is considered a celebrity and statesman in India arrived in Birmingham to lecture Tuesday night at the BJCC Theatre with his message of love, non-violence and peace. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who created the Art of Living programs to teach meditation and breathing techniques in workshops worldwide, said in an interview before his lecture that people who act violently need to get in touch with their inner selves and find peace. No child has come onto this planet being a bad child, Shankar said. We all come to this planet as a bubbling bundle of joy and enthusiasm. Some way, the stress, tension and lack of opportunity to know more about oneself has all led to the place where they will end up. I feel this peace education about our own self, our mind, is essential. Shankar is on a tour of the United States that will feature stops in Nashville and St. Louis after Birmingham. Those who try to solve problems with guns have a problem that can only be healed by finding an inner peace, he said before his program Tuesday night. I understand their predicament, Shankar said. They must be so upset, so sad, so wounded in themselves. Theyre unhappy, you know? We need to get them to find their happiness, give them solace. You are not isolated. You are part of us. Lets all join hands and see what is the problem. There is no problem that cannot be resolved through dialogue, through talking and becoming closer. Shankar is known for teaching breathing techniques that help achieve inner peace. Breath has many secrets to offer, he said. Its connected to our emotion. Its connected to how we feel. There are patterns in your breath. When you are happy, the way you breath is different than when you are disgusted, when you are upset, when you are angry. Your breathing rhythm changes. He trains teachers to help people overcome stress through breathing patterns and meditation. You need to get the stress out of your system, he said. Thats why these techniques are important. Many Americans take yoga classes, and thats a step in the right direction, Shankar said. Yoga, thats good, he said. It helps people. Physical and mental health are very closely linked. Yoga attends to both physical and mental. Shankar has intervened in political disputes and always spends time with both sides in a conflict, looking for common ground, he said. They meditate and find the tranquility within them, and see things from another perspective, he said. Epilogue: A valiant adventure has reached its end. Toybox Bistro, a humble tavern thats fed stomachs and imaginations in Huntsville for seven winters, will close its doors forevermore August 5. Yester-eve, Toybox called upon Facebooks dark magic to make this known to their nearly 8,000 followers within that treacherous online realm. It is with a heavy heart and a few tears that we are making this announcement, Toybox inscribed on their Facebook portal. The truth be told, we are just another victim in the aftermath of COVID. We want to thank everyone who has supported us through the years. We certainly have made some close friends and lots of fans of our quirky hole in wall place. A self-described nerd restaurant, Toybox carved their own legend with whimsical takes on American classics like burgers and hotdogs, decor dripping with sci-fi, comic-book and gaming collectibles, and a solid local-heavy draft beer selection. They opened March 2016 at 513 Jordan Drive. Toybox Bistro's Sonic Gut-Buster hotdog. (Matt Wake/mwake@al.com) Its been a fun place to eat, drink and conspire. Recently, Toyboxs half-pound Sonic Gut Buster clocked in at number four on AL.coms Huntsvilles best hot dogs list. We wrote, Drenched in a family-recipe chili (made with local beer from Yellowhammer Brewing), queso and diced onion. The menu accurately quips antacids sold separately. But the pains worth the gain. Toyboxs burger offerings went from a standard cheeseburger to a far-out version with peanut butter, bacon and ghost pepper. Their signature apps? Waffled mac & cheese and wicked fried pickles. The decor and vibe have been just as big a draw as the food, and maybe more. A fleet of Star Wars toy vehicles are suspended from the dining room ceiling. There are superhero logos and gaming cards underneath the glass tops of the tables and bar. Display cases are filled Dungeons & Dragons manuals, dice and other mementos. Each time I entered Toybox, my eyes were immediately drawn to The Empire Strikes Back AT-AT Walker on top of that case. As we put it in Toyboxs best Huntsville hotdogs blurb, This place isnt for normies whose extent of nerd-dom is dressing up as sexy superheroes for Halloween or watching blockbuster movies. This place is for real-deal got-bullied-for-it-as-a-kid nerds. Here, a fan of geek-culture could literally be surrounded by their childhood. A welcome (albeit temporary) shelter from adulthoods bills, backaches and bummers. Toybox was set up inside a former Beauregards barbecue restaurant. The locations both an easy drive from downtown (and the pop-culture conventions held at Von Braun Center) and just outside the University of Alabama in Huntsville (a campus, lets be honest, never short on nerds). Toybox Bistro founders Bill Bridgmon and Michelle Timon( AL.com file/Michelle Matthews) Toybox was founded by Michelle Timon, who grew up in Florida, and Bill Bridgmon, a lifelong friend, trained chef and restaurant business veteran, who relocated to Huntsville from New Hampshire to launch their restaurant. Huntsville is the land of nerd-dom, Timon told AL.com writer Michelle Matthews in 2018. Everyone has a connection to high-tech industry here. Theyre proud of being nerdy and geeky. The 500 or so collectibles that have adorned the restaurants interior are from Timons late husband Steves collection, which grew to around 10,000 before his circa-2010 death from cancer. Before Toybox, Timon had already lived few lives. Professional photographer. Health counselor. Operator of Hamacon, a Huntsville anime event which ran from 2010 to 2019 and grew in attendance from 300 to several thousand each year. After Steve fell ill, she became his caretaker. In 2018, Timon told AL.com her late husband, would have loved Toybox. It speaks to everyones inner nerd. Toyboxs Facebook post this Tuesday concluded: Our dream was to have a place that anyone could feel comfortable, have a great meal and maybe a laugh or two. We definitely feel that goal was reached. As we close this chapter, we would love to see you one more time to feed you and thank you in person for your patronage. MORE ON HUNTSVILLE FOOD This great Huntsville pizza stand is a local musicians new jam The underdog story behind Huntsvilles hot new taco truck This fantastic Huntsville food truck is the American Dream on wheels Huntsville bistros parking lot is always full for good reason This Huntsville restaurants name may be in jest, but their sushi isnt An archeological dig for a lost childrens cemetery near the Nebraska site of a former Native American boarding school has ended after two weeks and no remains were found. Dave Williams, the states archeologist, said the team searching near the former Genoa Indian Industrial School plans to meet on Zoom with representatives of 40 tribes across the U.S. next week to determine next steps. I would have preferred that we found the children, said Judi gaiashkibos, a member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and the executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs. But we have to remain hopeful. Theyve been gone more than 90 years. I feel like I have to remain steadfast and committed. The search for gained renewed interest after hundreds of childrens remains were discovered at other Native American boarding school sites across the U.S. and Canada in recent years. Dogs trained to detect the odor of decaying remains searched the area last summer and indicated there could be a burial site in a strip of land bordered by a farm field, railroad tracks and a canal. In November, ground-penetrating radar identified four anomalies or areas of disturbed soil beneath the ground surface in the shapes of graves. Williams and his team spent the last two weeks excavating, but didnt find the first anomaly they were seeking, which couldve contained childrens remains. Thats one of the challenges of archaeology, Williams said. We can have a lot of evidence that something should be where we think its going to be. And then once we actually get in and open up the ground and take a look, its not what we expected. Theyll spend the next few weeks reevaluating the data and everything that led them to that location, Williams said, and figure out a new plan in consultation with the dozens of tribes that lost their children to the school. There are three other anomalies nearby. Crews could search for those, pursue other leads or stop the search entirely if the tribes collectively decide thats what they want, Williams said, but he hopes the team can still help the tribes, find the children and bring them to rest in a satisfactory way. Sunshine Thomas-Bear, a member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and the cultural preservation director for the tribe, said she wishes there had been more consultation with the 40 tribes. Shes looking forward to that happening more in this next phase. Nothing was found this time. But perhaps that was because we werent all ready yet, Thomas-Bear said. There were tribes that werent notified, there were tribes that werent there. We believe that everything happens for a reason. I think that if we get on the right track together, perhaps well be more successful. The Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs and the states archeology office sent a letter to the 40 tribes in May describing the plan for the search and requesting input from tribal leaders, gaiashkibos and Williams said. The Genoa Indian Industrial School was part of a national system of more than 400 Native American boarding schools that attempted to assimilate Indigenous people into white culture by separating children from their families, prohibiting them from speaking their Native languages, cutting them off from their heritage and inflicting abuse. The school, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) west of Omaha, opened in 1884 and at its height was home to nearly 600 students. It closed in the 1930s and most buildings were demolished long ago. The U.S. Interior Department led by Secretary Deb Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico and the first Native American Cabinet secretary released a first-of-its-kind report last year that named hundreds of schools the federal government supported to strip Native Americans of their cultures and identities. At least 500 children died at some of the schools, but that number is expected to reach into the thousands or tens of thousands as efforts like the Nebraska dig continue. ___ By TRISHA AHMED Associated Press/Report for America. Ahmed is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. The investigation is ongoing into the weekend traffic death of a 10-year-old Mountain Brook girl, and the police chief on Wednesday said the findings will be presented for possible criminal charges. Annabelle Mullican was killed in a crash Saturday that also injured her mother, anesthesiologist Dr. Sarah Mullican, and her 8-year-old sister, Callie Mullican. On, July 24, 2023, we released details of the events immediately preceding the tragic death of Annabelle Mullican that left the community with lingering questions, Mountain Brook police Chief Jaye Loggins said in a press release. While we address the concerns of our community, we must also preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation. Mountain Brook Police traffic homicide investigators and our detectives have been and continue to investigate this tragic event. The findings of the investigation and evidence will be presented for criminal charges, Loggins said. There is no timeline for this to occur. As this goes on, Loggins said, we continue to mourn with Annabelles family, friends, and community. Annabelle was bright, loving and a joy to be around, Canterbury United Methodist Church posted on Facebook. Our hearts break alongside the Mullican familys as they grieve Annabelles passing. The crash happened about 5:30 p.m. Saturday on Cherokee Road in Mountain Brook. According to a police report, an officer was parked in the driveway of a residence on Old Leeds Road when he saw a white Toyota Highlander coming towards him traveling from Crosshill Road on Old Lees Road at a high rate of speed. The officer clocked the driver now identified as Sarah Mullican with his radar driving 47 mph in a 30- mph zone. The officer followed the SUV and saw it swerve out of its lane several times, the report states. It then turned left onto Cherokee Road, nearly striking a vehicle that it turned in front of, the report states. The officer then activated his emergency equipment and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The officer saw the driver throw a cup out the window along with another unidentified object in the 3500 block of Cherokee Road. The vehicle appeared to accelerate after (the officer) turned his lights and siren on, the report states. The SUV then negotiated the curve as the roadway curved to the right. As the roadway curved back to the left, the vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway. It then struck several trees and overturned before coming to a stop in the ditch on the right side of the road. The crash was recorded on the officers dash cam. It showed that when the SUV ran off the right side of the road, the passengers side of the vehicle struck a tree. The vehicle began spinning before it struck another tree on the passengers side. The vehicle then spun around and overturned as it struck another tree while sliding further down the ditch, according to the report. The SUV then hit a fourth tree with its front bumper before coming to a stop while it was still overturned. Mullican had several abrasions on her arms and legs. She was treated by Mountain Brook Fire on the scene and released. Callie Mullican, 8, also sustained abrasions on her arms and legs. Police believe she was seated in the passengers side backseat, with her seatbelt locked in place, records state. She was taken to Childrens of Alabama. Annabelle was seated in the drivers side back seat. Her seat belt was not locked in place indicating that she was not wearing her seatbelt, according to the report. Annabelle had a major head injury and was unresponsive at the scene, the officer wrote. She was taken to Childrens of Alabama where she was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m. The Jefferson County Coroners Office told police Annabelles fatal injuries included a skull fracture. The report says Sarah Mullican was taken by police to Childrens of Alabama. A search warrant for Dr. Mullicans blood and saliva was later carried out at Brookwood Baptist Medical Center. Dr. Mullican was admitted to Brookwood hospital for a psychiatric evaluation and issued a traffic citation by police for reckless driving. The results of the toxicology report were not immediately available. The Archdiocese of Mobile announced Wednesday that one of its parish priests had been stripped of his duties after he abandoned his assignment. Fr. Alex Crow had served in the Archdiocese since being ordained in June 2021, most recently as the Parochial Vicar at Corpus Christi Parish. Fr. Alex Crow abandoned his assignment in the Archdiocese, Wednesdays statement read. See also: Alex Crow was once in a rock band, underwent minor exorcism as a child His behavior is totally unbecoming of a priest. He has been informed by the archbishop that he may no longer exercise ministry as a priest, nor to tell people he is a priest, nor to dress as a priest. Additionally, the Archdiocese said they had reported Crows actions to the Mobile District Attorneys Office due to the circumstances of his departure. Tara Zieman, Communications Director for the district attorneys office, confirmed they had been contacted regarding Crow. We are aware of the situation and are awaiting more information, Zieman said, although its not immediately clear what the nature of any investigation of Crow would be. There has been rampant speculation regarding the 30-year-old Crow, who some believe has traveled to Spain with a recent McGill-Toolen High School graduate, according to a report by Lagniappe. Crow had also worked at McGill-Toolen and ministered to students there, according to the report. Crow studied demonology and exorcisms and may have traveled with the 18-year-old to Spain to perform an exorcism. Former McGill-Toolen students told Lagniappe Crow would talk to classes about demons and exorcisms. the report stated. Earlier Wednesday, Corpus Christi pastor Fr. Pat Arensberg posted a statement to Facebook confirming Crows departure. It is with great sadness that I announce that Fr. Crow has left the Archdiocese and is no longer the Parochial Vicar at Corpus Christi Parish, Arensberg wrote. Please keep Fr. Crow in your prayers. I also ask that you pray for me and for our parish as we adjust to this unexpected change. Crow attended Holy Family and St. Dominic Catholic Schools before attending McGill-Toolen from 2007-11, according to St. Ignatius Catholic Parish. Crow then attended Spring Hill College from 2011-12 before leaving school to become a musician. I can certainly empathize with those who are estranged from the Catholic Church or from God in general, Crow said in a 2021 Catholic Week post. I also know well the spiritual dangers and intellectual challenges that confront young people, especially while in college. My own journey back to the Church was not easy, but I am grateful for that struggle because it equipped me with the ability to help others find their way back. Ron DeSantis presidential campaign has laid off more than one-third of its staff, the campaign has confirmed to the Miami Herald, part of an additional cost-cutting measure from the governor amid a disappointing start to the GOP primary. Following a top-to-bottom review of our organization, we have taken additional, aggressive steps to streamline operations and put Ron DeSantis in the strongest position to win this primary and defeat Joe Biden, DeSantis campaign manager Generra Peck said in a statement. Governor DeSantis is going to lead the Great American Comeback and were ready to hit the ground running as we head into an important month of the campaign. The campaign let go 38 staffers, a campaign source confirmed. The number includes a handful of campaign workers who were laid off earlier this month. Campaign finance records showed that DeSantis had about 90 staffers working for his campaign. News of the additional layoffs was first reported by Politico. The layoffs are part of a sweeping effort to retool DeSantis campaign as it struggles to make up ground with former President Donald Trump, his chief rival for the 2024 Republican nomination. DeSantis and his top aides laid out their vision for the campaign during a retreat with donors over the weekend, including plans to cut campaign costs and reposition the governor as a leaner, insurgent candidate. DeSantis started off the year on a high note, coming off a nearly 20-point reelection victory that helped jolt him to the top of the list of 2024 Republican presidential contenders. But his standing in the race began slipping as he waited months to formally enter the race and faced a series of attacks from Trump. In the days before he launched his campaign, DeSantis reassured donors that the Republican primary was effectively a two-person matchup between him and Trump, and that he remained the GOPs best hope to defeat Biden in the general election. But a series of early missteps, including exorbitant campaign spending, have rattled confidence in DeSantis chances among some Republicans, who argue that theres still plenty of room for his primary challengers to catch up to him. He has made some significant missteps, Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster who worked on DeSantis 2018 gubernatorial campaign, said. He has spent wildly on aspects of a campaign that do not move polling numbers and hes left the door open to a number of other candidates to get a serious look. Dan Eberhart, a Republican donor whos backing DeSantis presidential bid, insisted that DeSantis is still the only viable alternative to Trump in the primary, but stressed that he desperately needs an early win. Its still a two-person race, Eberhart said. DeSantis needs to make a shift and make a decisive showing in Iowa or its going to be a one-man race. _____ 2023 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A former Alfa agent pleaded guilty Wednesday to mail fraud. Bret Chappell, 44, of Warrior, entered his plea before U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco. As part of his scheme, according to a joint announcement by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, Chappell received funds from victims totaling $862,286.55. Chappell still faces nearly a dozen felony crimes in state court. According to the plea agreement, Chappell was a licensed insurance agent working for Alfa Corporation in Hayden. Between 2019 and 2022, he devised a scheme to defraud numerous victims into surrendering existing Alfa life insurance policies for cash value and buying new Alfa life Insurance policies covering the victims. In one instance, federal authorities say, he convinced an elderly victim that Alfa offered certificates of deposit for purchase, when in fact Alfa is not a financial institution and does not offer certificates of deposit. Nonetheless, Chappell convinced the victim to cash two certificates of deposit from another bank, based on the belief that the victim would receive the product promised by Chappell. Chappell also prepared fraudulent documents that were reported to be issued by Alfa and delivered those fake documents to the victims. Chappell convinced the victims to endorse the checks issued to them by Alfa. However, authorities said, rather than using the funds to buy legitimate policies covering the victims, Chappell deposited the funds into his personal bank account. A sentencing date has not been announced. The maximum penalty for mail fraud is 20 years in prison. In state court, Chappell is charged with 10 felony crimes, including first-degree insurance fraud, first-degree financial exploitation of the elderly and first-degree theft of property by deception. State court records contend Chappells actions led to $66,360 taken from one couple, $201,957 taken from a third victim and $355,200 taken from a fourth victim. Blount County officials previously said Chappell absconded to the Republic of Cuba to avoid extradition, before his February arrest on the state charges. A female was rushed to the hospital Tuesday after she was shot outside a Birmingham restaurant. The shooting happened shortly before 4 p.m. outside Exotic Wings on Green Springs Avenue. Sgt. LaQuitta Wade said there is a possibility that the shooting was accidental between family members. It appears the incident involved a brother and a sister. The female, an adult, was taken to UAB Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police radio communications indicated she was shot in the back. The suspect remained on the scene and has been detained for questioning by detectives. Investigators are focusing their probe on a vehicle parked outside the restaurant. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. Spotify may have revealed the real reason behind its price increase. The popular audio streaming platform revealed during its Q2 2023 earning report that it lost revenue despite a rise in its subscriber count. Spotify recently announced it is raising the monthly subscription fees of its four Premium plans to help it innovate in an evolving market. Suffering From Success Spotify's Q2 2023 was a huge hit. According to its latest earnings report, the company saw its million monthly active users (MAU) climb to 551 million thanks to 36 million new subscribers. While not every new subscriber bought any of its Premium plans, their addition to Spotify's MAUs represents a 27% increase in it - a new all-time high for the company. Despite not everyone in the 36 million new subscribers not getting a Premium plan, the ones that did help the company achieve another record. The company saw 10 million paying subscribers - three million larger than it expected - and grew its subscriber base by 17% year over year. While this record is not an all-time high, it is the best Q2 Spotify ever had since its launch in that regard. As for company revenue, Spotify revealed its revenue grew 11% year over year to $3.54 billion, an amount in line with company expectations. However, this success is tainted by the losses the company incurred during the quarter. Read More: 5 Tech Skills You Need to Learn Before Your 20s Spotify stated it posted an adjusted operating loss of $123.7 million due to the shutdown of its podcast shows, excess real estate, and the severance pay for the employees it laid off as part of its restructuring. You may remember that Spotify has been laying off a number of its employees since 2022 to cut costs and restructure the company to help it become profitable again. The company also axed quite a bit of original podcasts on its platform in the past, such as its "How to Save a Planet," "Crime Show," and "Medical Murders," according to a report from The Verge citing a statement from Spotify spokesperson Grey Munford. Finally, it also revealed it is making less revenue on its monthly subscription charges despite the increase in subscribers. According to a recent report from The Verge, its average revenue per user is around $4.72 - a 6% decline year over year and a slight fall compared to previous figures (around $4.79) during Q1 2023. To Cash In On Its Success Considering the losses Spotify took, particularly in its average revenue per user, it is no wonder it resorted to increasing its subscription fees to help it gain revenue. Its decision to hike Premium plan prices was a move it promised investors, per The Wall Street Journal. Spotify finally implemented its planned subscription fee increase after announcing its intention to do so last week. The company stated in its announcement that it raised its prices to keep innovating in light of the evolving market landscape it found itself in since 2008. Spotify isn't the only one to cash in on its own success as far as its subscriber count is concerned. NBCUniversal also did the same move with its Peacock streaming platform thanks to the company doubling its paid subscriber total from nine million to 20 million subscribers in 2022. Related Article: Spotify Implements Planned Price Increase in Various Countries HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge announced this morning that Birmingham had received a $50 million federal grant that the city plans to use to kickstart a $294 million investment in the Graymont, Smithfield and College Hills neighborhoods, providing 1,000 subsidized, affordable and market-value homes to replace the 900 units of the aging Smithfield Court. This investment represents HUDs commitment to creating new housing for Birmingham residents and communities across the country, Fudge said. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said that when he first ran for mayor, he campaigned door to door in those neighborhoods, and the Smithfield Choice plan addresses their concerns. Since my first day in office my number one priority has been neighborhood revitalization, Woodfin said. It was our choice to make every one of our neighborhoods great places to live. Smithfield Court, which dates to 1937, is one of the nations oldest public housing communities. It will gradually be demolished and replaced with mixed-use housing under the plan. The City of Birmingham submitted a grant application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Developments CHOICE Neighborhood program. When we envision the future of public housing investment, we think of programs like Choice Neighborhoods, Fudge said. These awards promote the innovative collaboration needed to tackle the affordable housing crisis. A community-driven, whole-of-government approach to neighborhood revitalization is what leads to impactful changes in the neighborhoods that need it the most. Birmingham area officials said the $50 million grant was needed to get funding off the ground for revitalization efforts in the historic Smithfield community. Its an honor to be the recipient of the first Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant in the state of Alabama, an award the will support the redevelopment of one of the nations oldest public housing communities and catalyzed total neighborhood revitalization on Birminghams westside, said Dontrelle Young Foster, president and CEO of the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District, which will receive the funds and administer the grant. Not only will this project allow residents to Iive more comfortably and affordably, but it will attract millions in new investments, said U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell. I want to thank Mayor Woodfin, the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District, and the Birmingham City Council for their collaboration on this important project. We are so grateful to Secretary Fudge for traveling to Birmingham and the entire Biden-Harris Administration for continuing to pour into our communities. The plan calls for moving the Smithfield Library from its current location on Center Street on the south side of Eighth Avenue West to a nearby location on the opposite side of Eighth and Center streets where it would be part of a social innovation center on the ground floor of a three-story, mixed-use housing complex on the street corner. The Birmingham City Council approved re-zoning for the plan on June 20 despite complaints from some residents about the planned library relocation. The real estate development working on the project is The Integral Group of Atlanta. Our partnership with the City of Birmingham and the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District reflects our strong resolve to creating housing opportunities, neighborhood connectivity, and exceptional housing design, said Vicki Lundy Wilbon, president of real estate for The Integral Group. By working closely together, we aim to create new housing options in the Smithfield-College Hills Graymont communities while preserving the areas cherished historic buildings, paying homage to its rich heritage. See also: Smithfield Library will move as part of plan to build 1,000 new housing units President Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden, faced new challenges on the eve of a scheduled court appearance Wednesday in which hes set to plead guilty in a deal with prosecutors on tax and gun charges. On Capitol Hill, where Republicans are ramping up their investigations of the president and his son, the GOP chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee took the unusual step of filing court documents urging the judge in Hunter Bidens case to consider testimony from IRS whistleblowers. The whistleblowers alleged the Justice Department interfered with investigations into Biden, a charge that has been denied by the lead prosecutor in the case, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was also appointed by Trump, will consider whether to accept the plea agreement. Judges rarely throw out plea bargains, but the effort to intervene by Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith of Missouri amounted to a high-profile push to raise questions about the deal, which is expected to spare the presidents son from jail time. The dynamics of the case became even more complicated hours after the lawmakers filed their motion. A court clerk received a call requesting that sensitive grand jury, taxpayer and social security information it contained be kept under seal, according to an oral order from Noreika. The lawyer gave her name and said she worked with an attorney from the Ways and Means Committee but was in fact a lawyer with the defense team, a clerk wrote in an email to Theodore Kittila, an attorney representing Smith. When Noreika learned of the situation, she demanded the defense show why she should not consider sanctioning them for misrepresentations to the court. Defense attorneys answered that their lawyer had represented herself truthfully from the start, and called from a phone number that typically displays the firms name, Latham & Watkins, on the caller ID. Jessica Bengels said in court documents that she did speak to two different clerks office employees, which could have contributed to the misunderstanding. The second employee emailed Kittila. Bidens attorneys are still seeking to keep information deemed private out of the public court record. Kittila, though, said he had only filed materials that the committee had already released publicly online. The judge agreed to keep the information sealed for a day to consider the issue. The dustup came hours before Biden is expected to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax charges in an agreement that allows him to avoid prosecution on a gun charge if he meets certain conditions. Republicans have decried the agreement as a sweetheart deal and heard from two IRS agents who claimed the long-running investigation was slow walked and the prosecutor overseeing it was refused broader special counsel powers. Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, a Trump appointee, denied that in a letter to Congress, saying he had full authority over the probe and never requested special counsel status. A spokeswoman for Weiss directed queries back to the court clerks office. Prosecutors in Marshall County have asked a judge to delay the trial for John Cooper, director of the Alabama Department of Transportation, for at least six months. Cooper was arrested June 12 by the sheriffs department and charged with harassment, a misdemeanor. Coopers trial in district court is set for Aug. 2. Related: ALDOT director John Cooper subpoenas Tuberville staffer, Marshall County BOE president in harassment case Marshall County Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Kromann filed a motion Tuesday asking for the delay. Kromann cited a lawsuit filed July 12 between a company Cooper helped found and Gerald Carter, who brought the criminal charges against Cooper describing the lawsuit and the criminal case as having closely related facts. District Judge Mitchell Floyd has not yet ruled on the request. The lawsuit was filed by South Sauty Creek Resort, a corporation founded in 1987 in the small Marshall County town of Langston. Cooper is listed as the resort incorporator, according to records on file with the Alabama Secretary of State. The resort has camp sites and a trailer park, according to the business records. The lawsuit names Carter the complainant in the criminal case as well as Cindy Carter and First Southern State Bank as defendants. At issue, according to the lawsuit, is a property easement that the resort said is an encroachment over and along its property and constitutes a trespass by the defendants. Gerald Carter, Cindy Carter and the bank own property immediately east of the resort property, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit also said Gerald Carter has trespassed upon the lands (of the resort) without consent and after warning. Carter told AL.com that a confrontation with Cooper over the property dispute is what led to the criminal complaint. The lawsuit is asking a judge for declaratory relief and to determine that the resort is the rightful over of the land in dispute. Last week, two individuals joined the lawsuit as plaintiffs Claude Eric Crabtree and Hwaok Ko Crabtree. According to the amended lawsuit, they own property adjacent to Gerald Carter, Cindy Carter and the bank and the defendants have trespassed on the Crabtree property and cleared land for the purpose of providing an entrance and an exit to the Carter property. The Crabtrees have asked for at least $50,000 as well as a court order blocking the Carter property from being subdivided for sale without the proper permits, which the amended lawsuit maintains have not been secured. Rudy Giuliani admits he spewed lies about two Georgia election workers he infamously accused of trying to rig the 2020 election for President Biden. The ex-New York City mayor and current lawyer for former President Donald Trump conceded in a late night court filing that he does not contest the allegations against him made in a defamation lawsuit filed by Ruby Freeman and Shay Moss. (Giuliani) does not contest that such actionable factual statements are false, his lawyers wrote in the signed filing. Despite the admission, Giuliani, 79, insisted that he should not be found liable because the statements did not carry meaning that is defamatory, per se and that they are constitutionally protected statements or opinions. Giuliani is facing possible sanctions from Federal District Court Judge Beryl Howell for repeatedly failing to hand over information demanded by the election workers. It remains to be seen if his latest legal strategy will satisfy the judge. Giuliani was one of Trumps primary mouthpieces in the weeks after the 2020 election and repeatedly spread lies about supposed fraud that could have helped Biden win. He claimed without evidence that Freeman and Moss were caught on video surveillance passing USB drives to help Biden cheat. The pair testified under oath that it was actually a ginger mint. Last month, Freeman and Moss were cleared of any wrongdoing by Georgia investigators. Giuliani faces a slew of legal worries related to his efforts to help Trump overturn the election. He has been questioned by the Atlanta grand jury that might indict Trump and others next month for election interference in the Peach State. The former mayor has also cooperated with special counsel Jack Smith in the Jan. 6 probe of Trump. He was also hit with an unrelated lurid sexual harassment lawsuit in which a business consultant claims he forced her to have sex with him and regularly performed oral sex on him while he spoke to Trump, which made him feel like Bill Clinton. Giuliani says the woman wasnt an employee and they were dating. 2023 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. NASA said today its partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will yield a nuclear-powered rocket as soon as 2027 with the goal of a shorter, faster trip to Mars. Nuclear fission rockets like the one being developed work by splitting atoms and releasing that energy, the same basic process power plants use. The goal is faster rockets that use less fuel leaving more room for scientific equipment. Uranium will be this rocket engines deep space fuel, said Dr. Tabitha Dodson. Dodson leads the program called the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program. There are no facilities to test this rocket on the ground, she said. Lockheed Martin based in Littleton, Colo., will lead development, construction and testing of the engine and BWX Technologies based in Lynchburg, Va., will design and build the nuclear fission reactor that will power that engine. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville is also one of the NASA centers contributing to the new effort, a spokesman said today. We have a lead role with it, NASA aerospace engineer Jason Turpin told AL.com in a March story about rocket engines of the future. We are NASAs space nuclear propulsion lead. If were going to expand or live more permanently on the moon, were going to need three things, Dr. Anthony Calomino of NASA said Wednesday. A communications infrastructure, a power infrastructure and a transport infrastructure. If were looking for a lunar economy it comes down to the masses I have to leave Earth with. Nuclear powered engines are much more efficient, two or three times that traditionally fueled engines, she said. Lockheed Martin lunar exploration Vice President Kirk Shireman said major changes in propulsion have occurred and this engine will usher in a new age for the U.S. and its allies. (Updated July 27 to correct comments about rocket fuel and a longer presence on the moon. Dr. Tabitha Dodson said radium, not uranium, will be the new engines deep space fuel, and Dr. Anthony Calomino of NASA discussed lunar architecture.) One of the more wild events going on today is a hearing by the House Subcommittee on National Security, in which witnesses are expected to give testimony under oath that the United States government is in possession of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) that are derived from intelligent alien originsin other words: alien spacecraft. The star whistleblower testimony will come from former U.S. intelligence official David Grusch, who went public earlier this year via an interview with The Debrief. Grusch claims that alien vehicles have been retrieved by the United States since the 1940s, and that the government is not only in possession of these vehicles but also some of the dead bodies of the beings who piloted the spacecraft. In a press release announcing todays hearings, one of the subcommittees members, Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, said, The status quo on the part of the U.S. government has been to leave the American public in the dark regarding information about UAPs, refuse to answer questions posed by whistleblowers, avoid the concerns Americans have about the possible threats UAPs pose to our national security and public safety, and default to extreme and unnecessary over-classification. If the last few months have taught me anything, it is that this is an issue that matters to Americans. It also impacts the transparency and accountability our government is supposed to grant to the people who it serves. I look forward to bringing this topic to light. The hearing, officially titled Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency, is public. Fast Company 2023 Mansueto Ventures, LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A Montgomery company that applied for a business license with the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission has accused the AMCC of improperly erasing the recordings of its meetings, which the company said could include information relevant to its lawsuit against the agency. Alabama Always LLC, which says it spent $5 million building a medical marijuana cultivating and processing facility in west Montgomery, added the allegation to the lawsuit filed June 22. In its response, the AMCC said it has not erased any meeting recordings since the lawsuit was filed and would not do so while the case is pending. The AMCC said its policy has been to use recordings to create written minutes of meetings and that the Opens Records Act does not require it to preserve the recordings after minutes are approved. The issue of the erased recordings is the latest development in the growing lawsuit over the AMCCs licensing of medical cannabis companies. A total of seven companies that applied for licenses are now part of the lawsuit. The AMCC has acknowledged problems with the licensing process but also accused Alabama Always of trying to circumvent the courts position that discovery in the lawsuit is premature and of improperly asking an AMCC employee about meeting records without an AMCC lawyer present. The Legislature authorized medical marijuana in 2021 and created the AMCC in 2021 to oversee the new industry for Alabama. AMCC officials have said medical cannabis products could be available late this year or early next year but also cautioned that lawsuits could cause a delay. At a long-anticipated meeting on June 12, the AMCC awarded licenses to 21 companies out of 90 firms that applied to cultivate, process, transport, test, and sell medical marijuana. Alabama Always was not chosen. The AMCC named its choices during a brief public meeting after meeting behind closed doors for several hours. On June 16, the AMCC announced it would not issue the licenses from the June 12 meeting because it had found potential inconsistences in the tabulation of application scores. The AMCC did not elaborate on the problem or release the scores to the public. The AMCC had hired the University of South Alabama to help rank the applicants, and USA recruited people to compile the scores. The AMCC said at the June 16 meeting that it was putting a hold on licensing decisions until it could sort out the errors. On June 23, Montgomery County Circuit Judge James Anderson held a hearing and issued an order putting a hold on the licensing timeline, affirming what the AMCC had done at the June 16 meeting and preserving the chance for license applicants to file appeals with the AMCC if they did not receive a license. At that hearing, the judge denied the request by Alabama Always for expedited discovery to obtain depositions and documents from the AMCC to learn more about what the company claims are legal problems and inconsistencies with the licensing process. Anderson said the request was premature. At a second hearing on July 6, AMCC attorney William Webster said the agency had hired an accounting firm to review and verify the application scores. Webster said the AMCC planned to award licenses at its meeting on August 10. On July 14, Alabama Always filed a new motion with the court for expedited discovery and informed the court that an AMCC employee had told an Alabama Always attorney about the policy of erasing meeting recordings after minutes are created. Alabama Always asked the court to issue an order requiring the AMCC to preserve all records of meetings and the licensing and application process. The company said the states Open Records Act prohibited the destruction of the recordings and said rules of civil procedure required the preservation of documents for litigation. The AMCC, in its response filed on July 19, said the Open Records Act did not require preservation of the recordings. The AMCC said that despite the hype over the erased recordings of meetings, there was no loss of information because the minutes were the official record of the meetings. The AMCC told the court the Alabama Always attorney had violated rules of professional ethics by questioning the AMCC employee about the meeting records without a lawyer present. The AMCC asked the court to deny the Alabama Always request for documents and depositions and to restrict Alabama Always representatives from further contact with AMCC employees outside of the presence of counsel. Alabama Always, in a reply filed Monday, said the allegation against the AMCC lawyer was a baseless effort to divert attention from the agencys destruction of potentially relevant evidence in the case. Alabama Always said the AMCC has known the licensing process would be challenged in court since the first case was filed in March. Alabama Always said the requirement to preserve evidence in anticipation of litigation is well established in the law. The company asked the court to require the AMCC to retract the allegation against the Alabama Always lawyer, reject the request to restrict contact between Alabama Always representatives and AMCC employees, and require the AMCC to release the requested information relevant to the application and licensing process. Judge Anderson said at the June 23 hearing that it was his intent to give the AMCC a chance to correct the problems with the license applications. The judge has allowed other companies that applied for licenses to join the lawsuit. Those include Capitol Medical LLC, FFD Alabama Holdings LLC, Specialty Medical Products of Alabama LLC, CRC of Alabama LLC, Sustainable Alabama LLC, and Medella LLC. Read more: Montgomery company ready to grow, process medical cannabis, awaits license More than a month after a 22-year-old former Auburn University student was found dead in an apartment in the U.S. Virgin Islands, authorities there cannot explain the death of Lily Ledbetter. The result of an autopsy performed on the Opelika native did not yield any fruitful information, the islands medical examiner told Fox News. It was basically a negative autopsy, said Dr. Francisco Landron. There is no injury, nothing to explain the cause of the death. However, foul play is not suspected in Ledbetters death, the medical examiner said. Landrons office is awaiting toxicology test results. The 22-year-old woman was in the Virgin Islands working at an animal shelter in St. John, according to her obituary. She was an animal lover and was particularly fond of cats. Her sparkling smile, contagious laugh, and spice for life inspired everyone she met. Knowing Lily, loving Lily, and being loved by Lily were transforming, her obituary stated. Lily lit up a room when she entered. She met no strangers, and her laughter and zest for life were infectious. Ledbetter attended Auburn, where she competed with the universitys Womens Rowing Club. She graduated from Opelika High School in 2019 and had a passion for dancing. To see Lily dance was awe-inspiring. She was absolutely captivating, and her passion illuminated the stage, according to her obituary. Lily was an accomplished, multi award-winning dancer. In dance, Lily was truly free- free to be herself -free to express herself. Virgin Islands police officers responded around 12:33 p.m. local time June 6 to an apartment in the Enighed section of St. John after a citizen reported an unresponsive tenant. Paramedics checked for vital signs, but Ledbetter was pronounced dead at 12:53 p.m. local time. Lebetters family could not be immediately be reached on the investigation into her death. This is a guest opinion colum Every day, I go to work at the VA in Tuscaloosa to conduct life-saving studies to help our veterans. Ive seen the health challenges they face with drug and alcohol addiction; my work looks at ways to improve care options for those battling addiction. I also know the personal health toll cancer can take, having lost my mom, stepdad, aunt and two uncles to the disease and from receiving my own cancer diagnosis in 2015. Our lawmakers need to know they can help more people, including our veterans, access life-saving care. They can start by closing the Medicaid coverage gap in Alabama, which would help four in 10 uninsured veterans gain health coverage. There are several reasons why veterans are more likely to fall into the coverage gap after they complete their service to our country. They often work jobs in the trades and hospitality industries that dont provide health insurance with employment, while being higher risk for complex injuries and health conditions. And some veterans are not eligible for or cannot access care at the VA hospital. In fact, a congressional study done in 2014 found only 40 percent of veterans were enrolled in the VA health system. Some veterans have privacy concerns with VA services or dont want to feel like a burden. VAs can also be hard to reach for veterans who live in rural areas, which is an additional hardship when a family is already dealing with the crisis of cancer. If veterans can get to a VA hospital, the available care is still limited. For example, the VA where I work in Tuscaloosa doesnt offer comprehensive cancer treatment. Additionally, the VA can always cut special programs due to cost and budgetary needs. While I dont claim to represent the VA, I am in a unique position as an employee to have seen some of these issues first-hand. Veterans spouses and kids have also sacrificed for our country, but they often dont qualify for VA assistance. Closing the coverage gap ensures they have reliable health coverage too. Research has illustrated that states that have expanded Medicaid have helped more children get coverage and attained better prenatal and maternal health. No matter how you parse it, closing the Medicaid gap is good for families. Today, I want Governor Kay Ivey to hear that message. She has the power to close the coverage gap in Alabama. Too many veterans will continue to be affected if we dont act. Thats why we at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network put up billboards around Montgomery featuring a veteran in Alabama. Gov. Ivey, we need you to close the coverage gap so 220,000 more Alabamians many of them veterans can access life-saving care. Theyve earned it. Kimberly Alexander is a volunteer for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network who lives in Bessemer. She was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2015. She has lost several family members to cancer and works for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Tuscaloosa. Panther: Blueprint for Black Power is the story of the unexpected birthplace of the Black Panther, a site that changed the course of the nation. But its not where you might expect. Far from Oakland, the Black Panther and its principles came from just outside Selma, Alabama. Lowndes County, Alabama: a county where every single thing Black folks did was an act of rebellion. A county where an all-Black party made it to the ballot in the year 1966. A county that paved the way for revolution. The fourth season of the Murrow Award-winning Reckon Radio examines the first year the Voting Rights Act was put to the test, deep in the heart of the Jim Crow South. Pulitzer Prize finalist Roy S. Johnson and journalist Eunice Elliott tell the story of Lowndes County and the election that shaped politics - and activism - as we know it. Available on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. How will the first election with an all-Black party end? Its Election Day, 1966, and the Voting Rights Act is being put to the test. The Lowndes County Freedom Organizations candidates have canvassed, campaigned and called on Black voters to show up to the polls for the Black Panther - at no small danger to themselves. In the fourth episode of Panther, the ballots are counted. Who will come out on top? There comes a time you have to make up your mind. Are you going to keep on being in bondage? Or are you going to break yourself out of it? Sometimes life is not worth living, if youre going to live in chains. - Lillian McGill, secretary of the Lowndes County Christian Movement for Human Rights Below youll find a full transcript of the episode. TRANSCRIPT: ARCHIVAL TOWNSPERSON 1: The Freedom Organization in this county, we thought that the Democratic or Republican Party, either one of them had become corrupted. That we were organizing a political organization here in this county that isnt corrupted. ROY S. JOHNSON, HOST: Black folks in Lowndes County, Alabama, rural, left behind Lowndes County had decided to form their own political party, separate from the Democrats and Republicans that had shut them out. EUNICE ELLIOTT, HOST: Two sides of the same racist coin. JOHNSON: You know thats right, Eunice. And this new Black party had a bad mascot, the Black Panther. The party also had a name, the Lowndes County Freedom Organization. The next thing a party needs? Candidates. ELLIOTT: And this is where that nominating convention comes in. The Voting Rights Act protected a lot of things, but the right to participate in primaries wasnt one of them. This nominating convention would be the first time most of these people would vote. JOHNSON: Now, pastor Aaron McCall was born and raised in Lowndes. He was only 14 on the day of that nominating convention. Not old enough, of course, to vote, yet he remembers it well. PASTOR AARON MCCALL, GUEST: It was a euphoric day. I mean, remember James Brown had a song that says, Say it loud. Im black and Im proud. I mean, that was a very, very prideful day for us here. And the reason they had had to have that nominating committee here was that the law had said that it had to be held with so many feet of the courthouse or in the courthouse itself. And since the courthouse was already occupied by those who denied, obviously the white supremacists that they want us there, they selected this because we were close enough within the boundaries of what the law said. ELLIOTT: What Pastor McCall is alluding to is a conflict over where the nominating convention could be held. Now, the whites in power in Lowndes County, they looked for any way they could to stymie the LCFOs efforts. Alabama law dictated that nominees had to be elected in a vote held at a public polling site, and the only place that qualified in Lowndes was the county courthouse. And you know they were not going to let the LCFO hold their convention there. JOHNSON: So folks are going to love this Eunice. John Hulett, that president of the LCFO was able to, shall we say, negotiate a solution. He told the county sheriff, the LCFO would be having its convention at the courthouse come hell or high water. Now, the law told Hulett they would do nothing to keep black folks safe. If violence broke out, the sheriff said the LCFO was on its own. Hulett said that was just fine. Black folks were comfortable protecting themselves by any means necessary. ELLIOTT: Now, the Justice Department didnt really like the idea of a shootout in Alabama. So after some back and forth with the state government, it was decided the LCFO would not hold its nominating convention at the courthouse, but theyd have it just down the road in Hayneville, another town in Lowndes County at First Missionary Baptist Church. JOHNSON: Thats Pastor Aaron McCall. That man with all the memories of the nominating convention, thats his church today. ELLIOTT: Im Eunice Elliott. JOHNSON: And Im Roy S. Johnson. This is Panther. ARCHIVAL NEWS ANCHOR: A long anticipated freedom march from Selma to Alabamas capital of Montgomery finally gets underway. MARY MAYS JACKSON, GUEST: If I died, I didnt care because I was dying for a purpose. We were afraid, but I guess the purpose was greater than the fear. JOHNSON: This is Panther, Blueprint for Black Power from Rec and Radio. ELLIOTT: This is the seldom told story of one of the most famous and notorious organizations in the Black Power Movement and its origins in Lowndes County, Alabama. FANNIE LOU HAMER: Is this America, the land of the free and the home of the brave? ELLIOTT: The one in Oakland started out wanting, they heard about us. VIOLA BRADFORD, GUEST: These people wanted to vote. They wanted to pull the lever for the Black Panther and then go on home. And this is what they did. ED MOORE KING, GUEST: We come a long ways, but we got a long ways to go. REVEREND AL SHARPTON: Politicians have been trying to roll back the franchise all across the country, voter ID, early voting, even the number of polling sites have all come under assault. FANNIE LOU HAMER: Because we want to live as decent human beings in America. (THEME MUSIC OUT) MCCALL: I mean people from everywhere, people on canes, people were on crutches. People, I mean, they were just determined to make their voices known and heard. ELLIOTT: That day in May, the church yard was full to the brim. MCCALL: Man, it was hundreds of people, hundreds of people there. They started early in the day and the afternoon. The candidates was around. I mean, there were people who at the risk of their own lives. There were threats out against people showing up. The white people was out in their cars driving by, looking out and seeing who was there. And a lot of people were kicked out of their homes and stuff like that. A lot of the professionals, the teachers and so forth, those who were brave enough to come out and be a part of the movement, they lost their job. They were let go from school system and so forth. But they held on. They stuck it out, and they went on from the time the polls open to the time the poll closed. It was hundreds of people all day long. It was a steady stream. ELLIOTT: That steady stream filed from the line right into the voting booth. MCCALL: Then they would go over to the tables over here, okay, and when they get that, get over here, they would find their names again on this voters roll. And they would check off, and they would hand a paper ballot. And some of the candidates was standing behind the table there where they were actually voting. And every time one of them voted, and that was their first time voting right? And every time one would vote, they would do like a kind of little dance, a little jig, or throw their hands up or something. I did it. Ive done it. ELLIOTT: Now, just try to put yourself there in that dirt yard. Imagine what that choice must have meant. Youre risking your livelihood and your life to make your mark on that ballot. Heres Regina Moorer. REGINA MOORER, GUEST: So you can imagine when they were having this nominating convention in May of 1966 that there was some excitement there. You have these local residents who want to stand up and put their name on a ballot to challenge the status quo, to challenge white supremacy in Lowndes County. So it wasnt an easy decision necessarily politically. It wasnt easy, but they felt that the time had come where they had to do something. JOHNSON: By the end of the day, seven folks were selected to represent the Lowndes County Freedom Organization Party. And they didnt look like any party slate anyone had ever seen, not in Lowndes County. ELLIOTT: For sheriff, Mr. Sidney Logan Jr. JOHNSON: For coroner, Mr. Henry Ross. ELLIOTT: For tax assessor, Ms. Alice Moore. JOHNSON: For tax collector Mr. Frank Miles Jr. ELLIOTT: And lastly, three nominees for Board of Education, Mr. Robert Logan, Mr. John Henson, and Mrs. Willie Mae Strickland. Now, I cant stress enough just how radical of a slate this was. The names on the ballot didnt have long resumes to qualify them for the job. They were for and from the community. And that was what mattered. This was a key philosophy for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee or SNCC, but it was far from what the SCLC, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference was advocating for. MOORER: The thing that SNCC was adamant about was that the people who were going to be on the ballot shouldnt necessarily be the elites. Shouldnt necessarily be the most educated person. And so thats where you saw that sort of divide between SNCC and SCLC and even like some of the black elites trying to determine and articulate whos qualified to run for office. But the Lowndes County Freedom Organization said, No, we need to look like the community that we want to represent. There was still overwhelmingly a lot of residents in this county who did not have college educations. So why would we assume that just because you have a college education that youre the most qualified person to represent these communities? And so Lowndes County Freedom Organization wanted their slate of candidates to look like the people that they were seeking to represent. Because the idea was that if the voters can see themselves in you, then theyre more likely going to support you. JOHNSON: This tension over which Black candidates belong on the ballot is one that stretches down through time, even to today. Should it be regular folk who live and work in the community, or people with the name recognition needed to bring in additional campaign cash? MOORER: And I think that was a part of what made the Black community really rally behind these candidates because these were not people who were deemed to be like the elites. They were the best candidate because they spoke to the constituents, they spoke to the needs of the community, and they understood the community, and they looked like the community. ELLIOTT: And once the names were set to go on the ballot, it was now time to get to work, campaigning to get those names out into the community and getting folks excited to vote. MOORER: And so there was this massive effort to get voters registered in the county. ELLIOTT: That operation looked a lot like what youre probably used to, canvassing, knocking on doors, a whole lot of conversations on a whole lot of porches. LILLIAN MCGILL, GUEST: When you go out there, some people is receptive of you, and some you have to convince, and some youre never going to convince. So you make your mark by trying. But we take certain neighborhoods, and we would go in those neighborhoods for that day. JOHNSON: Registering didnt go quite as smoothly as planned. Remember, the Voting Rights Act was supposed to eliminate all the BS that had for decades gotten in the way, like poll taxes and jelly bean counting. You know what Im talking about. This election was the very first test of that law. It was time to see how the law got put into action. In the beginning, Lillian McGill says, those enforcing the new law were just about as bad as you think. MCGILL: The first day, they only went through eight applications. Nobody passed. The next time, they went through 16, only two people passed. And the next time, we decided then we needed the federal register. They had decided federal registers had to come in. ELLIOTT: Of course, it wasnt until the Feds entered the scene that Black folks were finally able to register, finally able to exercise their legal rights. JOHNSON: Aside from LCFOs nominating convention, there was something else big going on. In May of 1966, Stokely Carmichael was elected chairman of SNCC. He succeeded John Lewis, yes, that John Lewis. Back then, the future congressman was known for supporting non-violence just like his mentor Dr. King. So that election marks more than a change in title for Stokely. It was a revolutionary turning point for SNCC in its philosophy. Think about what we just told you that debate about who belongs on the ballot. That question drove a wedge between SNCC and the SCLC. ELLIOTT: And that wasnt the only thing. As much as Stokely and SNCC believed that a third party was the way to gain control of the county to claim Black power, the SCLC believed the opposite. MOORER: There was this difference between the SCLC and with SNCC. There were members and leaders of the SCLC, particularly Hosea Williams and Albert Turner who were telling Black voters in the Alabama Black Belt to not vote for third party candidates, to vote for the Democratic Party. And there were members of the SCLC who did a tour leading up to the November 1966 election because this was going to be like the test of the Voting Rights Act. So this was going to be the election that proved whether or not the Voting Rights Act actually had teeth. ELLIOTT: As for the question of how to test if the VRA had teeth.. SNCC and SCLC had different answers, and it definitely caused some ripples between the two. MOORER: So members of the SCLC toured the Alabama Black Belt. Dr. King was on this tour with them. Coincidentally, they skipped Lowndes County. They did not include Lowndes County on their tour because they were already basically bashing like Bob Mants and Stokely Carmichael saying that Youre setting these Black voters up for failure. Youre telling them that they can form a viable third party to challenge the Democratic Party in the state. And instead you should be telling them to vote for the Democratic Party. But members of SNCC continued to instill in the voters in Lowndes County that you can have your own third party, you can be a viable candidate, and you can have your own nominating committee. Select your candidates, get them on the ballot. JOHNSON: What you might not know yet is the national reach of the LCFOs work. Stokely Carmichael was by now a national figure, controversial in some circles of the movement, a movement now in transition, but well known in all. Beyond his work in Lowndes, he was on the speaking circuit, stirring crowds all around the country, crowds hungry for his message, hungry for Black power. STOKELY CARMICHAEL: I maintained that every civil rights bill in this country was passed for white people, not for Black people. I knew that I could vote, and that that wasnt a privilege. It was my right. Every time I tried, I was shot, killed or jailed, beaten or economically deprived. So somebody had to write a bill for white people to tell them, When a Black man comes to vote, dont bother him. That bill again was for white people, not for Black people. You need a civil rights bill, not me. I know I can live where I want to live. So that the failure to pass a civil rights bill isnt because of Black power, isnt because of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, is not because of the rebellions that are occurring in the major cities. It is incapability of whites to deal with their own problems inside their own communities. That is the problem of the failure of the Civil Rights Bill. ELLIOTT: And it wasnt just Stokely speaking circuit that spread these ideas. What sometimes gets lost in the history books is how all of these localized movements were interconnected with one another. Members of the LCFO themselves would travel to nearby states to help get more Black voters organized. That was the whole mission of SNCC and the SCLC to facilitate and encourage collaboration and coordination. And there was something else that these localized groups used to follow each other, not just in the South but across the nation. It was a newspaper aptly named The Movement. SNCC published it in an effort to help its members on the West Coast and all around the country stay up-to-date on what was happening in the south. JOHNSON: Those old copies of The Movement are ink stained windows into the work happening in Lowndes County in the 1960s. Its also some of the most honest journalism to be found from those days. Terry Cannon, the white snake field organizer, got his start as a writer with The Movement. TERRY CANNON, GUEST: I went to San Francisco and was working in a project organizing against urban removal, which was basically, as you know, negro removal unsuccessfully, I should say. But the person in charge started a Friends of SNCC Committee for the Bay Area. And he asked me to come down and start a newsletter for the Friends of SNCC. And in doing that, I became a SNCC Field secretary for I think it was $20 a month, and turned that newsletter into The Movement, which was a national newspaper that ran for oh until the early seventies, and was distributed nationwide, and covered most of the major movements going on in the United States. JOHNSON: Youve probably heard the names of two of The Movements readers, Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale, the two men who introduced the Black Panther to Oakland and launched the party as we know it today. CANNON: Stokely Carmichael came out to Oakland to talk to people, to Black students, and nobody was interested. The only people who were interested were Bobby Seale and Huey Newton. And they said, Thats a great idea. Thats what we need here. But of course, their way of going about it was much different. It was sort of like trying to organize SNCC first in Oakland and then trying to organize a mass party. JOHNSON: Heres one of the Black Panther founders himself, Bobby Seale. Even 50 years later, he still had a clear idea of what he was trying to do back in the day. BOBBY SEALE: I wanted to make and do organize a political electoral machine in this city, in community complex, and in cities all across America. Thats what my goal objective was. ELLIOTT: Sound familiar? JOHNSON: The real unifying factor between these movements Eunice was a new concept, a concept coined by Stokely Carmichael, the idea of Black power. It was an idea he conceived through his work with SNCC, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, and the LCFO. CANNON: And they talked about it, and they werent too sure how it would sound. And Stokely used it in a speech, and the response was so positive, people cheering and applauding it that there was no way you could avoid it from that point on. I mean, it wasnt like it came out, and dribbled, and nobody responded to it. It absolutely symbolized where the movement was at that point. They corresponded with a rejection of SNCC and the Civil Rights Movement in general, the subjection to the whims, desires and racist positions of white liberals who were all fine with us registering voters as long as we voted Democratic. ELLIOTT: A good bit of the Black Panthers inspiration came directly from Lowndes carried out west in the pages of The Movement. Lillian McGill will tell you. MCGILL: The one in Oakland started out wanting. They heard about us. The Black Panther was there to be a emblem for us because they had to have one. And when it got all out, how fearful whites were about it. Cause the characteristic of a Black Panther, they thought we were out to kill and do white folk. That was not it. You just had to have a mascot. Huey Newton group decided that they wanted to be a part of it. But we were never a Black Panther party. We were the Freedom Organization with the Black Panther. And I want that distinguished. JOHNSON: A lot of the folks in Lowndes were keen to differentiate between the Black Panther Party of Oakland and the LCFOs work in Lowndes County. ELLIOTT: There were certainly some distinguishing factors there, Roy, but they werent as different as you might think. Heres Regina Moorer again. MOORER: Some of the things that SNCC organizers mentioned when they were rallying and mobilizing voters in Lowndes County, they asked them to think about if you control your county government, you also control like your education systems. You control like your local county healthcare system. What did the Black Panther party do? They were into education programs. They were into healthcare programs for members of the community. So there are a lot of similarities between the things that they wanted to provide for Black communities. They just had different approaches and different approaches about the way that they wanted to go about getting those things accomplished. ELLIOTT: There was one thing in particular that a lot of folks highlighted, and they wanted to be separate from. That was the Black Panther Partys supposed penchant for violence. And they said the LCFO wasnt about it. But heres the thing. Even though the right to arms was certainly not a part of the LCFOs platform, no one in Lowndes was opposed to self-defense. The LCFO might have been a nonviolent party, but its members, well, they did what they had to do to keep themselves safe. MCGILL: Well, I had a gun. I never said I was nonviolent. I dont pick up and go do violence, but I protect myself. My child went to school at Hayneville. Somebody put the word out Them Ns better not come over after our schools and be in the road and sent somebody by here to tell me and make sure I know. I said, Thank you for being so nice, but go back and tell them it wont be only the Black folks blood running in the street. So I put mine on the bus, and the rest of them took theirs. I put mine on the bus and let him go. They came and say, Hell be safe. JACKSON: We had to because things was, I mean, you just didnt know, and you didnt take anything for granted. We were just walking around scared and just like a time bomb ready to go off it. They bothered us. We were ready for them. And sometimes my husband and them used to just ride around and just shoot too. Just let them know that we could shoot too, just shoot. But they rode around with their guns in the back of their trucks too, to let them know they werent scaring us with that. We were not afraid. Im going to tell you, we were not afraid. ELLIOTT: SNCC organizers had policies in place for safety too, even for something as simple as driving down the highway. Heres Terry Cannon again. He wasnt only a field organizer. He also served as Stokely Carmichaels bodyguard in Lowndes. CANNON: When we drove around, Stokely never carried a gun. The only time I understand he was forced to was when he visited Fannie Lou Hamer, and she insisted. She says, No, you dont come into my house without a pistol. But other than that, he didnt. So when we would, we drove several times to Selma, and I was driving, which put him in the odd position of being my bodyguard because in SNCC, nobody was allowed to pass the car on the left because they would shoot the driver, and then everybody would get killed. So if they tried to pass on the right, the person who was in the passenger seat had to hold his, put his body up against the window so that hed catch a bullet in case somebody tried to ambush them. That was sort of the SNCC procedure. So Stokely in that case was in the passenger seat, and I was doing the driving. MCGILL: Everybodys afraid because at that time, youd have to understand the white people, most of them had trucks, and they would have gun racks in a truck. It wasnt fear that Im going to run somewhere. Everybody tell you that. They didnt think I had fear, but I had common sense enough to know you could die, and people had died. So anybody could go loose off the deep end anytime they want to when theyve been killing people at random and nothing happened. It comes a time that you have to make up your mind are you going to come or keep on being in bondage, or you going to break yourself out of it? Sometimes life is not worth living if you going to live and change. ELLIOTT: Each of the two groups fundamentally stood for bucking the status quo. Katherine Coleman Flowers is a renowned environmental justice and climate activist today, but back in the sixties, she was just a little girl in Lowndes County watching the movements change the world around her. CATHERINE COLEMAN FLOWERS, GUEST: I think that the difference between what was happening in Oakland, and around the country, and what was happening in Lowndes County, I think they were both movements that probably struck fear into the status quo because it was changing the status quo. And they both were about self-defense, whether you were in Oakland or whether you were in Lowndes County because the history of racialized violence goes back to the beginning of us coming to this country. So I think the difference is that one was an urban perspective and the other one was a rural perspective. It may have been different if Lowndes County had been in Oakland or in another city versus being in a rural community. So you have to organize different in a rural community. JOHNSON: Urban or rural, city or country, the idea of Black power swept through them both. MOORER: When people talk about what Black power means and what that meant even for the Lowndes County Freedom Organization, I think the idea was to instill in people a sense of owning who they are as individuals, and owning their collective power, as well as their individual power. So the idea of Black power meant that yes, you are a Black person, but that does not mean that you are a person who deserves to be discriminated against, you are a person who deserves to be terrorized. I think Stokely Carmichael is actually the one quoted in the book where he says that, True Black power is when you have people in office who draw their power from the collective community, and are willing to represent the interest of the community. So it was this idea of making sure that people recognize that Black power actually meant something collective, and not necessarily something on an individual level, and not necessarily power for the sole purpose of gaining elected office, but for empowering your communities. So when he talked about Black power in terms of a school board, that meant that now youre going to have equitable access to quality textbooks, quality schools, and transportation for your children, not just that you have people on the school board just say you have a Black school board member. ELLIOTT: Stokely might have been building towards the idea of Black power in Lowndes, but he spoke it into being in the state next door. MOORER: While this party is organizing and preparing for the November 1966 election, we saw Stokely Carmichael leave Lowndes and go to Mississippi to participate in the Meredith March there. And that was the first time he actually uttered the phrase Black power. I mean, what he was building here in Lowndes County was essentially Black power, right, but to actually say it and to get the crowd fired up ... And when he says, What do we want? Black power? And now you have all these people energized, and then now you have the media like, Is this really what youre trying to do? JOHNSON: Now, Black power might be contentious in the zeitgeist today, but in 1966, those two words put one after the other were even more incendiary and brand new. MOORER: And so now you have people wondering, Well, what are you doing for this Lowndes project? Is this really what you want to do? Do you really want to tell these people that their rallying cry is going to be like this notion of Black power? So there were even some candidates who were Lowndes County Freedom Organization candidates who were a little bit concerned. Some of them wrote to him like, What are you doing in Mississippi? What are you doing with all this Black power stuff? So there was even some hesitancy among some of them initially like, Do we really want to market ourselves as being this party thats for Black power? And so you start to see the Lowndes County freedom organization start to embrace this notion of Black power. But then you still see this rift within the Black community where some of the Black residents were not necessarily on board with this idea of saying that this is the party thats going to have a rally cry for Black power. And I think some of that was social and economic pressure. So you had even some of those who were considered to be the Black elites in the county. They were fearful because of economic, social, and political pressures to not necessarily get behind not just a rallying cry about Black power, but also to not necessarily align themselves with the Lowndes County Freedom Organization. JOHNSON: All of these national movements, all of the internal strife, all of the danger, all of the threats to life, they all led to November 8th, 1966, to election day. MOORER: Frederick Douglass he said, Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did, and never will. So the residents in Lowndes County saw that the power structure, meaning that the white power structure in Lowndes County was not going to give up their power. They were not going to concede without a fight. JOHNSON: Thats after the break. ELLIOTT: Viola Bradford was in Lowndes that day to cover the election. She spent the entire day side by side with Stokely Carmichael. BRADFORD: He was up encouraging, very encouraging and upbeat, telling the people, Come on now, just laughing and very ... Hes very charismatic. So he was up, up, up the whole day trying to get people to get up. He was on his job just like that all day from one polling place to another, one house to the other encouraging people, making speeches. Yall go to the polls. We went by this mans house. He was 85 years old and blind sitting on his porch ready for us to take him to the polls. He had never voted. His parents were slaves. And so we all day long, thats what we did from poll to poll. By that night falls, things start changing. We saw Blacks being on the back of pickups trucks been taken to the polling place. I dont know if they were told who to vote for, what to vote for. I dont know. MOORER: What we saw when the white residents saw the high turnout numbers, then those who were sharecroppers, they were rounded up by the people, the white landowners who they sharecropped for, right? And then they were taken to their precinct to vote with the landowner standing like right in the booth behind them, or watching them to make sure that theyre voting for the Democratic Party. JOHNSON: Tensions were high, as were the stakes. Violence elevated as the day wore on. Spirits were high at the start of the day, but then truckloads of sharecroppers, Black folks started rolling in. Black folks brought in to vote for white candidates, Viola remembers. BRADFORD: It was evening because the polls closed at six, something like that seven. It was dark, and I think they were winning. I remember that the candidates then by evening fall, they were losing. And I remember seeing people on pickup trucks with white men driving their sharecroppers to the polls. And Im saying, Oh, that was kind of strange. ELLIOTT: All the miles walked during canvasing, the mass meetings held under threat of bombings or even shootouts, the homes lost to racist landlords, months of hard work, life-threatening danger, and collective organizing. And it all came down to this, staring down that same intimidation theyd fought so hard against. MCGILL: We had a slogan, Pull up lever for the Black Panther, then go home. We knew we had enough people to do it, but we didnt know who was going to vote how, because wed been down that road where people tell you one thing and do something else. JOHNSON: At the end of that long November day in 1966, not a single LCFO candidate had won. BRADFORD: And I remember the tides turned, and they lost. These people wanted to vote. They wanted to pull the lever for the Black Panther, and then go on home. And this is what they did. But it was not enough. When the day was over, not one of the seven candidates of the Lowndes County Freedom Organization had defeated his white opponent. Sheriff Frank Ryles, a Democrat finished ahead of Freedom candidate Sidney Logan, 2,320 to 1,643. Other candidates running under the Black Panther label lost by margins ranging from 273 to 677. ELLIOTT: It was no doubt a pretty severe blow to all those who work so hard or organize. But Joanne Mants stands by their work. JOANNE MANTS, GUEST: You fight for the right for people to make a decision. Now those decisions may not be what my vision is, and their visions may have been different from the beginning. You never know, but you have to work with people where you find them. JOHNSON: This isnt where our story ends though. What came after for the people of Lowndes? Well, thats next time on Panther. KING: It doesnt make me feel good. I dont feel good behind that. I think every person should have the right to vote, and it shouldnt be intimidated. We thought we had to overcome some of them. But it look like they trying to repeat themselves. (THEME MUSIC IN) JOHNSON: Panther is produced by Reckon Radio in partnership with Pod People. Its hosted by me, Roy S. Johnson. ELLIOTT: And me, Eunice Elliott. Our executive producer is John Hammontree with additional writing, reporting, and production for Reckon by Isaiah Murtaugh, Sarah Whites-Koditshek, and R.L. Nave. Special thanks to Kelly Scott, Katie Johnson, Minda Honey, Abby Crain and Tom Bates. JOHNSON: And at Pod People, Anne Feuss, Alex Vikmanis, Matt Sav, Aimee Machado, Ashton Carter, Rebecca Chaisson, John Asante, and Carter Wogahn. Our theme music is composed by Jelani Akil Bauman. ELLIOTT: Head to Reckon.news to learn more about the events featured in todays episode, and please make sure to rate, review, and subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcast. (THEME MUSIC OUT) Pod People transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a Pod People contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of Pod Peoples programming is the audio record. A scene from the space survival film "The Moon" is seen in this photo provided by its distributor, CJ ENM. Yonhap "The Moon" is a visually stunning space survival movie, but its story is highly predictable and often overly dramatic, giving the feeling of an old movie despite its impressive visual effects. Director Kim Yong-hwa's latest sci-fi film takes viewers to the vast universe through an astronaut's struggle to survive and return home after being left in space during an ill-fated lunar exploration mission. Given the success of Hollywood blockbusters like "Gravity" (2013) and "The Martian" (2015), which have explored the space survival theme with compelling stories, what really matters is not whether the isolated astronaut returns home but how. Kim, behind the hit fantasy sci-fi film series "Along with the Gods" (2017-2018), adds personal narratives of main characters to tell a heartwarming human story surrounding the space exploration. However, too many cliches and repeated dramatic moments fail to hit the right balance between its amazing visual effects (VFX) and corny storytelling. Set in 2029, the story follows Korea's second manned lunar exploration mission after a failed one five years earlier, which once again faces disaster as strong solar wind causes a spaceflight to malfunction and take the lives of two crewmembers. Now, Hwang Seon-woo (Do Kyung-soo), a former UDT (underwater demolition team) member, faces a dire situation in space where his oxygen could run out or he could freeze to death. To be saved by another spacecraft, he has to arrive on the other side of the moon at the right angle with limited resources. A scene from the space survival film "The Moon" is seen in this photo provided by its distributor, CJ ENM. Yonhap Behind the rescue effort is Kim Jae-kook (Seol Kyung-gu), who left Korea's Naro Space Center after the failed first lunar project. Kim tries to save him out of a sense of guilt and obligation and seeks help from Han Mun-young (Kim Hee-ae), the director general of a NASA space station and his former wife. Hwang, who volunteered for the project to fulfill his father's failed mission, discovers that Kim is his father's former colleague and expresses hostility toward him at first, but he follows Kim's order. The astronaut overcomes several obstacles to set foot on the moon, but once again, he faces danger and needs help from NASA to return home. Lead actor Do, mostly performing alone in a heavy spacesuit, wholeheartedly commits to every line and moment, portraying complicated emotions, including fear, despair, anger and loneliness. Veteran actors Seol and Kim flawlessly portray desperate moments, but their lines packed with science terms are often hard to catch without subtitles due to radio signals and surrounding sounds. A scene from the space survival film "The Moon" is seen in this photo provided by its distributor, CJ ENM. Yonhap Nancy Pelosi should pipe down after calling the controversial congressional map approved by Alabama lawmakers completely, totally ridiculous, Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said Wednesday. Pelosi, the former U.S. House Speaker and longtime Democratic congressional leader who is still representing the San Francisco area in the chamber, made the comments during an appearance Sunday on CNNs State of the Nation. She has long been a frequent target of Republican attacks. Ledbetter took aim at her on Twitter using the hashtag #PipeDownPelosi. Thanks to [Pelosis] leadership, America is tanking in debt, families have to spend $13,000 more a year, and criminals are running our streets, Ledbetter said. Alabama is doing better than the Feds because we dont take advice from liberal activists like Nancy. Thanks to @SpeakerPelosi's leadership, America is tanking in debt, families have to spend $13,000 more a year, and criminals are running our streets. Alabama is doing better than the Feds because we don't take advice from liberal activists like Nancy. #PipeDownPelosi #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/TfeoMpIwu4 Nathaniel Ledbetter (@RepLedbetter) July 26, 2023 Th new congressional district map that passed Friday and signed by Gov. Kay Ivey was a compromise version approved by Republicans on a conference committee. Like earlier versions of maps supported by the Republican majority in the State House, it does not add a second majority Black district. Friday was the deadline set by a federal court for the Legislature to approve a new map. 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. One-fourth of the states residents are Black, but only one of the seven Congressional districts has a majority Black population. The district 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. Alabamas role in shaping the next Congress through the map has made the states redistricting effort a national focus. Pelosi is not the only California congressional member to weigh in -- House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., spoke with State Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, shortly before Fridays vote. Livingston said McCarthy told him, Im interested in keeping my majority. McCarthys potential influence on Alabama lawmakers was criticized by State Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, who said the House Speaker should chip in on the states legal fees. If my GOP colleagues passed this map because of [McCarthy], I hope they asked him to chip in for the attorneys fees well pay when we lose defending this map in court, England tweeted Friday night. Because we will lose. And it wont be cheapwere talking Lunsford money, not pocket change. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze Wednesday in the middle of a comment he was giving during his weekly press conference. The Kentucky Republican was on Capitol Hill when he paused for roughly 30 seconds, staring straight ahead before colleagues came to his side to ask him if he was OK. Among those who went to his side was GOP Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, who gripped McConnells arm and asked, Hey Mitch, anything else you want to say? Or should we just go back to your office? Do you want to say anything else to the press? According to CNN, he returned to the news conference a few minutes later. When asked by CNN and if his incident was related to his fall earlier this year, McConnell said No, Im fine. A McConnell aide, reports CNN, said the senator felt lightheaded and stepped away for a moment. He came back to handle Q and A, which as everyone observed was sharp, the aide said. McConnell was born in Sheffield in northwest Alabama in 1942. His family lived in Athens until he was 8, then moved to Georgia and Kentucky. Now 81, McConnell has represented Kentucky in the U.S. Senate since 1985. U.S. Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell froze and appeared unwell while speaking at a press conference pic.twitter.com/FURwwSCdZm BNO News (@BNONews) July 26, 2023 Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on The Opening Kickoff on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily. After the highly touted, shamelessly self-promoted Washington Post "investigative" Watergate journalism, thousands of aspiring young people sought to become, like the legendary Woodward and Bernstein, fearless speakers of truth to power, uncovering corruption and cover-up without fear or favor. But fifty years later, these supposed investigative journalists have become the corrupt actors whom they promised to expose. Have our vaunted good guys become dirty cops? It sure looks like it. While this evolution from clean to corrupt has been proceeding apace for fifty years, there is no better incarnation of this perverse role change than the recent journalism concerning ostensible Biden family corruption. There is much room for legitimate, good-faith debate about the strength of evidence against Hunter Biden and, separately, his father Joe. But the debate is properly about the unseemly activities of Hunter and the practiced neglect of same, at the least, by his father. Whatever the strength of evidence, all of it is ugly, worrisome, problematic. There is no way to sugarcoat this: there is a noisome stench emanating from Bidenville that cries out for further investigation. This tableau of potential Biden family corruption amounts to a test of the bona fides of modern "investigative" journalists. Will they investigate facts in a dispassionate way, or will they act as partisan publicity agents covering up wrongdoing, perhaps treason? What results has this test thus far returned? To decide this question, let's first recapitulate the evidence that seems to be uncontroverted, even if not publicized in detail by these supposed watchdogs. In the throes of the "Maidan Revolution," by late 2014, Ukraine had been turned upside-down. To tamp down endemic corruption, which portended the country's demise, the United States took a firm anti-corruption stance, which it could enforce as the main player in granting foreign aid. Vice President Joe Biden then volunteered to be the Obama administration point man for the troubled country. Before he flew to Ukraine, he had a multi-hour White House meeting with Devon Archer, his son's partner in apparent influence-peddling. As Hunter and Archer thereafter maneuvered to pitch potential Ukrainian clients, Hunter sent a lengthy memorandum to one such client, the energy company Burisma, which sounded suspiciously, with jargon, as if it had come directly from a classified analysis of U.S. policy on oil and gas exploration in and around Ukraine. Soon, Attorney General Eric Holder, along with U.K. officials, heralded the London seizure of $23 million in Burisma funds directed to Cyprus for the personal benefit of a Burisma owner and apparent embezzler, Mykola Zlochevsky. After British officials attached the funds, all that was needed was certification by a Ukraine prosecutor that the gain was ill-gotten, in which case the Court would return the money to Ukraine. But, oddly, no Ukraine official, to the British magistrate's stated frustration, ever claimed the money, which was reluctantly forwarded to Cyprus, for the benefit of Hunter's new client. Another Hunter client, Igor Kolomoisky, carried out massive thefts with no apparent pushback. After $1.8 billion in foreign aid was sent to Kolomoisky's large, prominent PrivatBank to help stabilize the Ukrainian banking system, PrivatBank immediately lent that money to shell companies through deposits to PrivatBank's branch in Cyprus, secured by nonexistent contracts monies never again seen. All in all, PrivatBank was looted for $5 billion under Joe Biden's nose, all of which had to be reflated through foreign aid. When President Trump later called on new Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Biden corruption, this was not an empty, partisan request, notwithstanding the president's awkward coloration of it. But Trump likely did not realize that President Zelensky's major benefactor was Igor Kolomoisky, in hindsight rendering Trump's initiative blackly comical, however appropriate. (Kolomoisky, in spite of looting his country's major bank, and stealing foreign aid, did not flee the country until late 2016, as Vice President Biden was leaving office, to return only after Zelensky was elected.) In early 2016, after prosecutor Viktor Shokin, spurred by U.S. ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt, raided Zlochevsky's home in an anti-Burisma investigation, Joe Biden famously had Shokin fired strong circumstantial evidence of the vice president's corruption. A recently unearthed FD-1023 report of a credible informant confirms that Hunter Biden and his father were each promised five million dollars for getting Shokin fired. While the cover-up spin is that Shokin was a shakedown artist, in fact, after he was fired, the strong cases against Burisma were settled for a paltry $7 million. Shifting to China, it is well established that (a) Hunter had a strong relationship with the globally corrupt Chinese energy arm CEFC, on record as a company that bribed foreign officials, and (b) was given ten-percent ownership in the lucrative multibillion-dollar Bohai Harvest Fund, which invested funds from the Bank of China. When Hunter wrote an email threatening a CEFC official who was late in paying him, he warned that his father was sitting next to him. Whether Joe Biden was in fact sitting next to Hunter, the CEFC official was certainly under the impression that Joe was in on the deal, failing which his presence would be a meaningless threat. Now, as specific evidence emerges fleshing out this obvious influence-peddling scheme, the only question is the degree to which Joe Biden willingly participated since, after all, Hunter's clients were purchasing that participation. But in any case, aren't these issues that investigative journalists should be tackling? Let's hark back to Watergate. Richard Nixon was forced out of office by powerful journalism not because he was guilty of the underlying criminal burglary, but because he enabled and participated in the cover-up. His most palpable crime was importuning the CIA to call the FBI off, briefly, its "Mexican money trail" investigation a minor cover-up, but criminal, nonetheless. Showing stronger culpability, the emerging evidence from credible whistleblowers verifies that the Biden administration, through its Justice Department, fixed the prosecution of Hunter, refusing indictments both in D.C. and Los Angeles, allowing statutes of limitation to expire, and refusing proper investigative steps recommended by IRS agents. Given all the above, there is plenty of grist for the mill of our vaunted investigative journalists you know, those same sleuths who breathlessly seized on every morsel suggesting that Donald Trump may have spoken to people with Russian accents. A few examples of the accumulated evidence should suffice. In addition to two credible, experienced whistleblowing IRS agents, and the FD-1023 informant's report, Gal Luft, an American-Israeli think-tank director, in 2019 in Brussels had personally provided DOJ lawyers and FBI agents with specific facts detailing corruption by China of both Bidens. In 2022, to both forestall and impeach Luft's testimony, Biden's Department of Justice issued a sealed indictment of Luft as an unregistered foreign agent violating FARA. When the Luft indictment was recently unsealed, not coincidentally as Luft came forward with an incriminating video, did our watchdog media scream "cover-up" and "witness intimidation"? Not exactly. Former White House spokesman Jen Psaki wondered aloud to Democrat congressman Jamie Raskin whether Republican James Comer had been "co-opted by a foreign agent." Unsurprisingly, Raskin eagerly agreed. The Democrat-leaning Raw Story article, "Theater of the absurd': Raskin compares GOP's Hunter Biden quest to 'Inspector Clouseau" by Brandon Gage, went frther. Rather than viewing the Luft indictment as proof of a Biden retaliatory cover-up, its pundit saw that the indictment "damaged the credibility" of the case against Biden. To Arthur Delaney of the HuffPost, the indictment of Luft for FARA violations demonstrated how weak any FARA claimwould have been against Hunter Biden. The reasoning? Unlike Luft, Hunter did virtually nothing for his pay! How can we say he's a foreign agent if he got his money without providing any apparent services? Thus, according to investigator Delaney, there is a large "hole" in the case against Hunter Biden. We are not making this up. Now that it is to some degree probable that the Bidens were bribed to fire Ukraine prosecutor Viktor Shokin, wouldn't our watchdog media perk up and at least begin an investigation? Well, no. Rather, ace investigators for the New York Times Adam Entous and Michael S. Schmidt summarized the growing evidence in a way that would make a criminal defense lawyer blush: Despite their years of efforts-including Mr. Trump's attempts to muscle Ukraine into helping him sully the Bidens, an escapade that led to his first impeachment-Republicans have yet to demonstrate that the senior Mr. Biden was involved in his son's business deals or took any action to benefit him or his foreign partners. Here is the take on the specific report of a credible informant that both Bidens were bribed to fire Shokin, as seen by Delaney and the HuffPost: Republicans have dubiously claimed that the Burisma connection prompted thenVice President to push for the ouster of Ukraine's prosecutor in 2016 in order to protect thecompany. What is not noted by the Times or the HuffPost is the evidence that such a claim would be "dubiously" made or that the Shokin firing did not benefit Hunter's business partners. How does the New York Times, per Glenn Thrush, depict Luft's explosive video testimony? In a video published by the New York Post last week, Mr. Luft claimed without offeringevidence that he had informed the Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation officials of wrongdoing by the Biden family, prompting what he cast as his persecution. When Mr. Thrush notes that Mr. Luft does so "without offering evidence," it may shock him to learn that when a witness offers his own observations of an event, this is what lawyers and judges call "evidence." Indeed, Luft was offering eyewitness testimony, which constitutes strong direct evidence. This deception is not an isolated misstatement. Riddled throughout reports of the New York Times, CNN, MSNBC, Newsweek, and other outlets is the frequent assertion that there is "no evidence" of corruption against either Biden. Kara Scannell of CNN Politics gives the typical conclusion: "But there's no evidence Joe Biden abused his office to enrich his family." But here is just one piece of evidence for these journalists to chew on. On his laptop from hell, Hunter self-pityingly confides to his daughter that she need not share her income with her father as Hunter himself must. To be sure, Hunter may at the time have been under the influence of some substance. But nonetheless, this is direct evidence against Joe Biden an admission by a co-conspirator properly in evidence against his co-conspirator father. Common sense tells us that corrupt actors do not pay millions for influence without proof of delivery of the influence sought. The millions going to Joe's relatives through a middleman cutout, Rob Walker, laundered through numerous shell companies, is itself evidence of corruption. What conclusions can be drawn about the state of modern, major media investigative journalists? We can safely conclude that these "journalists" see their role as at a minimum aiders and abettors of corrupt partisan cover-ups. But going farther, they seemingly vie, like slippery criminal defense counsel, to create false cover stories behind which corrupt politicians can hide and defraud the public. So, if some wish to assess the lasting impact of Watergate journalism, they should consult our allegedly most trusted news sources, such as the New York Times. But not for the investigations they do, but for those they choose not to do. And in doing so, please keep in mind the dominant trope of Watergate: it's not the crime; it's the cover-up. John D. O'Connor is a former federal prosecutor and the San Francisco attorney who represented W. Mark Felt during his revelation as Deep Throat in 2005. O'Connor is the author of the books Postgate: How the Washington Post Betrayed Deep Throat, Covered Up Watergate and Began Today's Partisan Advocacy Journalism and The Mysteries of Watergate: What Really Happened. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Despite their many outward differences, Islamic authoritarianism and leftist liberalism are, in fact, very similar, especially in that they brook no dissent. Here, Id like to offer a more focused look into their similar modes of operation, especially in the context of belief vs. compliance. For starters, few Muslims -- including some of the most radical -- really care what anyone else, including Muslims, believes or disbelieves about Islam. This may seem counterintuitive; after all, isnt Islam draconian and in your face concerning its beliefs, subjugating and even killing those who reject it and its dogmas? Yes and no. What Islam has always required of both believers and nonbelievers is compliance to its authority. What gets people in trouble is when they say or do anything that can be perceived as a threat to the Islamic order of things. Consider those two draconian laws that have seen the persecution and slaughter of countless through the ages: apostasy and blasphemy. On the surface, they seem to suggest that Islam is concerned with making sure that no Muslim ceases believing in its message (apostasy), and that no one, Muslim or non-Muslim, dares criticize Islam (blasphemy). Upon closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that the ultimate reason Islam fears apostasy and blasphemy is not because they reflect disbelief in and disrespect for Islam, but that, left unchecked, they both culminate in undermining Islamic state and society. Take blasphemy, or speaking against Islam. In his discussion of Koran 5:33, which calls for the crucifixion and/or mutilation of those who wage war against Allah and his messenger [Muhammad] and spread mischief upon the land, the highly revered Ibn Taymiyya (1263-1328) -- the Sheikh of Islam -- once wrote: Muharaba [waging war] is of two types: physical and verbal. Waging war verbally against Islam may be worse than waging war physically -- hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to kill those who waged war against Islam verbally, while letting off some of those who waged war against Islam physically. This ruling is to be applied more strictly after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Mischief may be caused by physical action or by words, but the damage caused by words is many times greater than that caused by physical action It is proven that waging war against Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) verbally is worse and the efforts on earth to undermine religion by verbal means is more effective [Crucified Again, p. 100; emphasis added]. Taymiyya is making a seemingly starting claim: criticism -- mere words -- is more detrimental to Islam than war itself. Why? Because of all the worlds major religions, Islam is by far the easiest to dismantle through critical thinking (hence why Christian/Muslim debates often end with frustrated Muslims beating and even slaughtering their opponents). Built atop an easily collapsed pack of cards -- namely, the very self-serving and opportunistic words and deeds of its founder -- silencing any criticism against Muhammad has, indeed, been essential to Islams survival. Left unchecked, this verbal war will have a snowball effect: other Muslims, exposed to such critical thinking, will also start thinking critically, ultimately rebelling against and overthrowing the Islamic order. It is the same with apostasy. Few Muslim leaders actually care what Muslims believe in their hearts. But if a Muslim apostatizes openly -- which is tantamount to openly saying that Islam is not true -- other Muslims will start thinking about and scrutinizing Islam; other Muslims will be encouraged to reject its claims and, ultimately, rebel against Islamic authority. As one of the Islamic worlds most influential clerics, the late Yusuf al-Qaradawi, once said, If they [Muslim leaders] had gotten rid of the punishment for apostasy [often execution], Islam would not exist today. Now consider how all of this applies to the so-called Left. Every day, and from virtually every official institution and channel -- academia, media, government, etc. -- we are bombarded with very obvious lies, for example, that women can become men, that men can become pregnant, and so on and so forth. Does that mean that most Americans believe this? No. But thats never really been the goal -- to get you to believe what is unbelievable. Rather, the ultimate goal is to condition you never to publicly challenge such sacred dogmas -- that you never openly blaspheme against or openly apostatize away from this new cult, thereby encouraging others to blaspheme and apostatize -- the dreaded snowball effect which every regime fears. As with Islam, the Left cares little if in the quiet of your own mind you refuse to play along. All that matters is that you formally go along -- that you formally acquiesce -- even if through silent though implicit consent. In short, the Left wants you to dread the consequences of openly defying their narrative, one which, like Islam, is also built atop an easily collapsed pack of cards. This is what many miss. They tell themselves, Well, I wont openly say anything against these nonsensical claims concerning gender, pronouns, etc. -- after all, I dont need to be canceled or lose my job. That said, I certainly know better. That may well be true, but by not openly opposing these dogmas, the Left establishes a monopoly on the narrative, which is all that matters. Returning to Islam, we see that it has been and continues to be swift in silencing any public dissent -- to the point that sharia calls for the execution of blasphemers and apostates. As a result, Islam perseveres -- fourteen centuries now and counting -- even though many Muslims have serious reservations in the quiet of their mind if not downright apostasy in their hearts. How long before such sharia-like laws -- I dont mean being canceled, but being imprisoned and possibly executed for openly challenging the Lefts narrative -- are promulgated in the West? Think that cant happen here? Think again. Former generations of Americans could never in their wildest dreams have imagined whats currently happening (as when people get fired or arrested for refusing to disavow science and say a man is a woman and vice versa). If the current trajectory continues unchallenged, where will the West be, and what will the punishments meted out to dissenters be? Such is the plight of the slowly boiling frog. Raymond Ibrahim, author of Defenders of the West and Sword and Scimitar is the Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum. Image: PxFuel As the 2024 presidential election is beginning to cast a growing shadow over the American political landscape, many in the party establishment are quietly looking into replacing Joe Biden as the Democrat Party nominee. But who will they choose to replace Biden and how are they going to force him to either resign or drop out of the race without creating political turmoil for the party? Bidens physical and mental incapacity is becoming increasingly pronounced and the Republican House, with the assistance of numerous whistleblowers, is revealing evermore damning evidence of potential criminality by both Joe and his son, Hunter. The pressure to either force him to resign or drop his candidacy and remain in office is accelerating as the Democrats become increasingly fearful of losing the presidency in 2024. Finding someone to replace Biden is perhaps the least of their problems. While a number of names have been bandied about, an exceedingly flawed Gavin Newsom appears to be the current front-runner. However, there is another potential candidate that sets many Democrat hearts aflutter: Gretchen Whitmer, the 51-year-old, well-spoken and telegenic Governor of Michigan. On July 6, 2023, Politico Magazine published a fawning article extolling Governor Whitmer. Within the article, Whitmer claimed she has no interest in running for president, however: A subsequent announcement, however, made it clear shes willing to try. Whitmer is creating a federal PAC, called Fight Like Hell, to boost Biden and congressional candidates next year. This step could also allow her to assume the role of a leading candidate for the 2024 Democrat nomination, replacing Joe Biden. Jonathan Martin, the author of the Politico article also reveals that many backstage conversations have been taking place with Whitmer. He further exposes the Democrats increasingly shaky strategy of Biden easily winning again in 2024. These backstage conversations have taken place as Bidens approval ratings show little sign of improvement and increasingly appear impervious to external events, for good or ill. Of course, Democrats are betting that the most significant external event of allRepublicans renominating a candidate with more baggage than OHare [Airport] at Thanksgivingwill tip the election again to Biden. Yet even their assumedly strong odds in such a rematch have not soothed Democrats. The angst now percolating among the Democrat hierarchy is also reflected among the rank-and- file Democrat voters, as over 50% are saying they do not want Biden to run for the nomination. If the Democrat establishment succeeds in getting Biden to resign or drop out of the race and the choice is between Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whitmer, Whitmer would, in all likelihood, be the preferred nominee as she will be a formidable presidential candidate pitted against Donald Trump. But finding a new candidate to replace Joe Biden is the easy part, getting him to resign or drop out of the race without triggering a political firestorm may prove to be far more difficult. The Democrats exploited the Covid-19 pandemic to unconstitutionally manipulate state voting laws, expand and abuse mail-in voting, and orchestrate unfettered ballot harvesting in order to place in office perhaps the most incompetent, corrupt, and bribable president in American history. They cannot feign ignorance as virtually every Washington insider knew Biden was an unprincipled buffoon since his early days in the Senate. By foisting this reprobate on America, they also, per the Constitution, granted him the unlimited power to grant pre-emptive pardons to whomever he chooses. Joe, in order to protect himself and his family, will, at some point, exercise his presidential prerogative to issue these pardons. Coupled with the unthinkable specter of Donald Trump winning the 2024 presidential election, the power to pardon also serves as a potential extortion tool in the hands of an unscrupulous Joe Biden in his dealings with Democrat party elites. The revelations emanating from the House of Representative and multiple whistleblowers of Joe and Hunter Bidens alleged criminality have been devastating. A July 12, 2023 poll reveals 56% of Americans (and 40% of Democrats) believe Biden likely took bribes from sources tied to various foreign governments. There is little likelihood these polls, coupled with many that are now showing Trump beating Biden, will change as more potential criminality is being exposed and the White House remains unable to offer any viable explanations. With this evolving political disaster for the Democrats, they will, of necessity, have to either force Joe Biden out of the White House as soon as possible or induce him to drop out of the race and remain in office. The Democrat establishments reluctance to compel a dangerously incapacitated and compromised Joe Biden to resign is the product of both the buffoonish incompetence of his VP successor, Kamala Harris, and of Bidens pardon power. If the Democrats and the legacy media succeed in forcing Biden to resign, he will issue pardons for himself and Hunter et al on his way out the door. Thus, creating a potential political firestorm as the bulk of the citizenry would be incensed over this egregious self-dealing. Resulting in the Democrat Party and its down-ballot candidates being negatively impacted in the 2024 election. Additionally, a Biden resignation would thrust an extraordinarily unpopular Kamala Harris, who is losing to Trump by double digits in every poll, back into the presidential sweepstakes creating potentially more problems for the Democrats among minorities if she is forced off the 2024 ticket. Thus, the Democrat elites would prefer any arrangement which allows Biden to drop out of the race and remain in office. Their ideal arrangement would be to give Biden whatever he wants if he agrees to wait until after Election Day November 5, 2024 to issue pre-emptive pardons. After which the Party elites could feign outrage at his actions. Their anticipation would be that once Joe is out of the race, he will no longer be the center of attention in the campaign. The Democrats and the legacy media would then focus on manipulating the electorate into ignoring the allegations of Biden family criminality by making certain the American people fixate on Trumps specious legal predicaments and the Democrats shiny new candidate running for president. While this cabal is losing faith in Bidens chances in 2024, they are still convinced that regardless of the circumstances surrounding Biden, almost anyone they nominate, but in particular Gavin Newsom or Gretchen Whitmer, could win as long as Donald Trump, entangled in their treacherous web of indictments and trials, is the Republican nominee. There is, however, a high-stakes risk in the strategy of convincing Joe Biden to drop out of the race and remain in office. Can the Democrats and the legacy media keep a lid on the ongoing revelations about alleged bribes and fraud for the next 15 months without exposing their duplicity, thus, infuriating the bulk of the electorate? An ever-increasing percentage of the citizenry is becoming aware of the potential criminality of Joe Biden and the cover-up by the Democrats and the legacy media. If the Republicans do not waver and continue to aggressively investigate and open an impeachment inquiry as well as expose Bidens Democrat enablers, it is highly unlikely that this cabal will be able to control the narrative for an extended period of time. After premeditatively foisting Joe Biden on the American people, it is a supreme irony that the Democrat party elites and the legacy media are now being hoisted on their own petard. Photo credit: Twitter video screen grab (cropped). Did you ever notice that there are two kinds of censorship? There is stuff you are not allowed to hear (or read), and there is stuff you are not allowed to say (or write). Of course. And, no doubt, there is censorship of what you see, or touch, or smell. Five senses, and all. Clearly, when a ruling class is conducting a war, then all information that might raise doubts about the glorious advance to victory must be suppressed. If you didn't notice that in the late War on COVID, then I got a bridge I mean it. No president or Fuhrer or Great Helmsman can permit you to hear a discussion of the justification of his war, or the conduct of his war, or his inevitable victory. If you got to know of any questions about the progress of the war your dedication to victory might flag, and that would clearly weaken the war effort. Thus, in the late War on COVID, the government could not permit back-talk on the COVID origin, or the COVID lockdowns, or the COVID masks, or the COVID vaccines. Why? Because it might have resulted in defeat in the War on COVID. Thus governments all censor narrative that conflicts with the Glorious Victory Narrative, just as we experienced in the late War on COVID. And. if any anti-regime narrative sees the light of day, it is simply dismissed as a Lie. But the other kind of censorship is directed at what people are not allowed to say. Our illustrious Vice President Kamala Harris illustrated this recently when she went to Florida to criticize Governor Ron DeSantis's school history policy. She is outraged that "public school students will now be taught that some Black people received personal benefit from slavery -- because it taught them useful skills." You can see the point. Slavery cannot be anything but an absolute evil. Period. And you are not allowed to say "yes, but," because African Americans are both the noblest people and the most helpless victims since nobility and victimhood were invented. So Charles Cooke's 180-point bullet list is irrelevant. And racist. The current fashion in Narrative Control is weaponizing the word "denier." This started with "Holocaust denier," and it was so successful that anything that challenges the ruling-class narrative is now denier-land, as in "science denier," "climate denier." Actually, the "denier" pejorative is just the middle-ground in the universe of things you are not allowed to say. First, there are insults that you are not allowed to say, as in N-word for blacks, and K-word for Jews, the F-word for gays. I once used the N-word on Blogger in a list of pejoratives used to describe White Trash. Apparently, back in the day, people would say "white N-word" to describe White Trash. Okay, Google, I get it. Pejoratives about White Trash are okay, but not if they include the N-word. Second, comes the fashionable "denier" pejorative. We know all about that. Third, there is the "lie" accusation, as in the "Trump Lies" article on La Wik. With political lies, I always think of Mary McCarthy's famous line about Lillian Hellman: "Everything she writes is a lie, including 'and' and 'the.'" If you don't understand that everything every politician says is a lie, including "and" and "the," I got another bridge to sell you, cupcake. And why do politicians lie? Because we the voters insist upon it. Fourth, there is the "conspiracy theorist" pejorative, as in conspiracy theories about the JFK assassination. You can see that this is not quite as serious as "denier." It's an opinion that no respectable person would ever hold, but, well, what can you expect from the "benighted." Fifth, there is the associating-with-the-bad-people pejorative, as in the criticism of the Sound of Freedom movie as "QAnon-adjacent" or having a "QAnon taint," or the dismissal of any idea as "far right." But I want to suggest that all this is not just scandalous, but interesting. Isn't it interesting how we humans are constantly trying to control the speech of others. Obviously, this is not just the powerful oppressing the powerless; it goes a lot deeper and wider than that. I suspect that at the widest and deepest level it just makes sense that social and talkative animals like humans can't survive if everyone is shooting off their mouths all the time. Especially, when the group is in a fight for survival, and we all have to shut up and get with the program. I have to say that I have got to the point that, whenever I hear of censorship, or denier, or lies, or conspiracy theory, my doggy ears prick up. What is it that powerful people don't want me to know? And why? Then there is a whole universe of women censoring each other. But I am not a biologist. Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class. Image: Public Domain Amore Beauty Park in Osan, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Amorepacific Korean cosmetics giant Amorepacific Group said Wednesday it swung to the black in the second quarter on improved overseas sales. Amorepacific logged a net profit of 29.4 billion won ($23.1 million) in the April-June period, shifting from a loss of 26 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing. Revenue rose 0.4 percent on-year to 1.03 trillion won, and operating income was 11.7 billion won, swinging from a loss a year ago. Amorepacific attributed the swing to the black to an increase in overseas sales, especially in North America and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Last Thursday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made his opening statement before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. He pleaded for respect and compassion in public discourse. He argued for the restoration of 1st Amendment rights. He opposes turnkey totalitarianism, which is technology used to control people. His arguing against censorship led committee Democrats to move to censor Kennedy. Nowadays, Democrats love to decry hate speech. Orwellian translation: Free speech is hate speech. No sooner had Kennedy finished, than he was pounced on by Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Wasserman Schultz is a political whore of the first order, though as a member of Congress shes got company. Kennedy might as well have speechified to the Spanish Inquisitions chief hatchet man. Wasserman Schultz didnt even dedicate a syllable acknowledging the meat of Kennedys statement. Democrats moved to censor him. Wasserman Schultz then moved to have the hearing taken into executive session. Heaven knows, the public might be harmed by counterarguments to the Democrats anti-free speech narratives. Kennedy needed to be flailed. Kennedy is an anti-Semite and racist, she charged. Wasserman Schultz was riding point because shes a Jew, and her being Jewish supposedly lends credibility to the accusation that Kennedy is a Jew-hater. As Kennedy pointed out on Twitter, Wasserman Schultz had tried the same trick on fellow Jew Bernie Sanders. She lost her leadership position at the DNC as a result, though, today, shed probably win a medal. What Kennedy should be learning is that, like Donald Trump, hes now not just targeted to be ostracized. The powers-that-be will persecute him. Attempts to marginalize him were just Step One. Step Two is obliterating his character. Step Three, as an increasing threat to Democrats, Kennedy will be targeted by blue state DAs and/or federal prosecutors. Theyll concoct all sorts of bogus lawbreaking to go after him. Anyone who in any way poses a real or supposed threat to the Democrats and establishments grip on power is in the crosshairs. Parents with beefs at school board meetings, COVID narrative dissenters, pro-life activists, right up to our beleaguered 45th president -- all must be demolished. Wasserman Schultzs smear focused on comments Kennedy made days before about COVID and the development of bio-weapons targeting ethnic populations. In a dinner-table discussion, Kennedy had cited Cleveland Clinic researchers who claimed that COVID hit hardest at Caucasians -- generally -- and blacks, though less so at ethnic Chinese and Ashkenazi Jews. Wasserman Schultz used those comments to tar Kennedy as a bigot. Kennedy never said that COVID was engineered to target ethnicities, only that COVID had a disproportionate impact on some races. He made that point as part of the broader conversation about viruses as bioweapons. Its alleged that theres a competition among nations -- yes, that includes the U.S. -- to develop what would be the equivalent of viral smart weapons. Never mind the Biological Weapons Convention. If the U.S. is in the business of developing biological weapons, it isnt alone. China is suspected of doing so, too, starting with COVID-19. Viral smart weapons may seem like science fiction, but they arent. The ethical considerations of any such pursuit are first-order imperative. The practical considerations of creating and unleashing invisible bioengineered monsters are mind-boggling. The thought of one dark day unleashing viral weapons with the intent of wiping out whole races is awful in ways that nuclear weapons arent. Its dreadful to contemplate scientists working with Frankensteinish intensity in laboratories to destroy large parts of humanity. The establishment has targeted Kennedy for years, specifically Big Pharma has. Hes been tagged an anti-vaxxer for daring to challenge Big Pharmas drug and vaccine moneymaking machines. As a champion of proper vaccine trials, hes on Big Pharmas Most Wanted list. Kennedys relentless challenge threatens a lot of interests tied to pharmaceuticals. Politicians, who, having left office, are paid off for their fealty by sinecures on drug company boards or are rewarded fat consulting contracts. Politicians families and allies, who secure jobs from the drug company leviathans. Lobbyists, who live handsomely off drug company retainers at state capitals and in D.C. And media, which generates handsome profits from a parade of drug and vaccine ads. Kennedy is also conspicuous for favoring a negotiated settlement to the Ukraine war. Settling the war -- and ending the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians and tens of thousands of Russians -- is a big no-no to neocons, neolibs, and the military industrial complex. The military needs a mission and defense contractors need to rake in gobs of taxpayer dollars. War is business. Kennedy poses an unacceptable risk to Biden -- or whoever the monied interests select to replace Biden as he slides further into dementia. While Kennedy securing the Democrat presidential nomination seems a bridge too far, theres a chance that he could run as an independent, foiling Bidens reelection chances or the chances of whoever replaces him. Yes, election rigging is what Democrats do, so thats a big factor, but Kennedy spooks them. They arent frightened without reasons. Years of evidence clearly demonstrate that Kennedy isnt a Jew-hater and racist. We know that Democrats and the establishment manufacture lies to lay waste to political opposition -- or anyone who rates as a threat. Last year, Sharyl Attkisson reported that the FBI intended to plant child porn on her husbands computer to ruin her. What was Michael Flynns federal prosecution about, other than sidelining him as Trumps national security advisor? Flynn knew too much about Obamas machinations. Or Mark Houk, a family man, Catholic, and pro-life activist whose home was invaded by FBI jackboots. He was arrested and cuffed in front of his kids. Houk was later speedily acquitted. Kennedy is questing to move his party back to center-left. That may not excite conservatives, but accomplishing that would be a boon to the nation. Democrats are nowhere near center now. In fact, they keep marching further left -- away from our founding and the Constitution. Though Kennedy isnt crusading against Democrats championing of cultural depravity, he did say to Jordan Peterson that [i]n fact, I think a lot of the problems we see in kids -- and particularly boys -- it's probably under-appreciated how much of that is coming from chemical exposures, including a lot of the sexual dysphoria that we're seeing. He might be partly right. A bigger part is a base culture and morally unmoored progressive parents and schools that are central to mutilating confused kids. While conservatives definitely have differences with Kennedy about key issues, he needs to be regarded as an ally in the fight to protect the bedrock of liberty: Americans 1st Amendment rights. As a civil libertarian, hes calling out Big Brother. Trump now has a kindred spirit in Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Both are being persecuted for the threats they pose vested interests, power-hungry politicians, and shadowy Deep State players. Trump is just further down the road. If Kennedy stays in the fight, his persecution has only begun. J. Robert Smith can be found regularly at Gab @JRobertSmith. He also blogs occasionally at Flyover. He recently returned to Twitter. His Twitter handle is @JRobertSmith1. Image: Gage Skidmore Mitt Romney has what he must consider a clever idea to stop Trump: the 2024 GOP presidential field should coalesce behind a single candidate Ron DeSantis, probably who would then become the Republican presidential candidate and go on to be our 47th president. Anyway, that seems to me to be Sen. Romney's idea, put forward in an op-ed column in The Wall Street Journal, July 25. But see a Morning Consult poll reported online, July 25. This poll gives Gov. DeSantis 16%, followed by Vivek Ramaswamy with 8%, Mike Pence at 6%, Nikki Haley at 4%, and Sen. Tim Scott and Chris Christie at 2% each. That, rounded off, gives the former president 60% and the GOP field some 40%. This observer recalls the days when a 60-40 split would be regarded as a landslide result. How does Sen. Romney twist a result of landslide proportions for Mr. Trump into a win for a forty-percent minority? Or does the senator from Utah allow for the Deep State's usual political skullduggery to prevail over the former president? Simple good political judgment should encourage the Republican presidential field to rally round the party's titular leader, Donald J. Trump who has drawn the vengeful political wrath of local and federal prosecutors in Manhattan and Washington, D.C., and faces additional retaliatory prosecutions from Biden hit man Jack Smith in Washington, D.C., and Fani Willis, Fulton County, Georgia district attorney, reported, surprise, surprise, to be "coordinating on Trump" with Jack Smith. Mr. Romney concluded his puzzling suggestion with this statement, in part: Our party and our country need a nominee with character driven by something greater than revenge and ego[.] If the senator were truly a man of principle, not personal pique, he would recognize that former president Trump has, all along, been driven by dedication to the well-being of the American people not an entrenched oligarchy and is opposed by a political force motivated by revenge and greed. How many millions of tax dollars are to be expended by partisan prosecutions intent on preventing the American people from choosing their next president $25 million? $40 million? Sen. Romney's purposeful obtuseness to the persecution by prosecution of a former president by a political enemy for that enemy's political advancement, to the injury of Mr. Trump, should cause voters to press the delete button on any and all public comments from the Utah senator starting with his call, in The Wall Street Journal, for an anti-Trump coalition of 40% of voters to thwart the rightful support for Mr. Trump of 60% of GOP voters. Sen. Romney's stratagem to block the former president from being our next president may well suit the ambitions of the Despotic Clique but makes no sense. But the past seven or eight years have made clear to the American people that Trump Derangement Syndrome is irrational in its origins and, thereby, a threat not only to the spirit of American democracy, but to national security. Rallying round the besieged candidacy of Donald J. Trump is very much in the national interest. Photo credit: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0 license. The Washington Post has released a story headlined "Arctic Ocean Getting Warm; Seals Vanish and Icebergs Melt." Highlights of the article include seals finding waters too hot, there is a radical change in climatic conditions, temperatures are rising in the arctic, and glaciers are disappearing. Same old story, and I do mean an old story this particular item appeared in 1922. The left has taken umbrage at the circulation of the story on social media because it was embellished with a warning that the sea level would rise and coastal cities would become uninhabitable. It's true that the archived article says nothing about rising sea levels or the habitability of coastal cities. It is also true that the mainstream media have been issuing strident warnings that melting polar ice will render coastal cities uninhabitable. The World Economic Forum lists cities at risk. CBS News informs us there will be zombie towns from rising sea levels. The United Nations considers melting ice a direct threat to humanity. I find myself wondering why anybody would have a problem with the extrapolation of the 1922 article that melting ice will endanger coastal cities, when that's what we've been told for years and years. This is why I prefer actual science, like the discovery that thousands of years ago, glaciers retreated at the rate of one quarter of a mile a day. Apparently, the rate of glacial melt is affected, among other things, by the surface upon which the glacier rests. Thwaites glacier is called the Doomsday Glacier because it contains enough ice to raise the sea level by two feet all by itself if it melts. It was moving at the rate of about half a mile a year before it stabilized on a ridge in the bedrock. No one knows when it might start moving again, but it's only a couple of miles away from smooth flat bedrock. Scientists have learned that smooth flat bedrock allows ice to practically float above the ground, which facilitates sliding into the sea. The more the glacier slides into the sea, the more pieces break off, and the faster it melts. It's simple physics, and it has nothing to do with so-called man-made global warming. Humans are not responsible for the topography of the land upon which glaciers rest. And if we're lucky, the scare-mongers will be as accurate today as they were a hundred years ago. Pandra Selivanov is the author of Future Slave, a story about a 21st-century black teenager who goes back in time and becomes a slave in the old South. Image: Unsplash. Five hundred political figures from around the world, many well known, attended the recent Paris Free Iran summit. Their enthusiastic presence showed that Tom Ridge, the first secretary of U.S. Homeland Security, was correct when he said, "The moment has come for the West to face the truth about Iran." Other political figures also recognize that change is coming to Iran. Anna Firth, a member of the British Parliament: "We are in a moment of major change." Herve Solignac, a member of the French National Assembly: "What is going on in Iran now is the desire for freedom, which is the issue of all the people of the world, and we are fighting for the freedom of all the people of the world." He further added: "The freedom of Iran is our problem and responsibility," and "We share our highest human sentiments with all freedom-seekers." Emanuele Pozzolo, a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, has likened freedom to a flame that should light up the whole world. Image: Maryam Rajavi. YouTube screen grab. Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence: The Iranian regime has proven time and time again that it is incapable of moderating. Every olive branch extended by Western nations over the past 40 years has been unceremoniously broken in two. Only a renewed commitment to maximum pressure can change the future of Iran, and that must include recognition and strong support for the organized Resistance so well represented here today. Peace is only possible through strength. Weakness arouses evil. [snip] Just last month, I was proud to join a group of more than 100 former world leaders calling on President Joe Biden and leaders of the European Union to join us in supporting the Iranian resistance and specifically Mariam Rajavi's Ten-Point Plan. We want peace to come at last to Iran. Supporting the resistance is a prerequisite for peace. The personalities participating in this summit all emphasized a gentle and lofty human spirit that believes that if there is only one captive and prisoner in the world, no one can enjoy the blessing of complete freedom. On July 6, 1941, President Roosevelt sent a message to Congress in which he envisioned a world in which all people had basic freedom (the Four Freedoms speech): His "four essential human freedoms" included some phrases already familiar to Americans from the Bill of Rights, as well as some new phrases: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Western politicians' practicing policies of appeasement and siding with dictators, though, have often damaged many of these human needs and abetted the dictators to harm their people even more. Meanwhile, in Iran, the people are continuing their fight for freedom. In a meeting with members of Italy's Chamber of Deputies, Maryam Rajavi, who represents the MEK, presented the six elements of a sound policy on Iran: 1. Designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization and actively confronting its presence beyond Iran's borders, including in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, etc. 2. Recognizing the Iranian people's right to self-defense against the IRGC and their right to overthrow the regime and establish a democratic republic based on the separation of religion and state. 3. Activating the trigger mechanism and implementing snapback sanctions by reinstating the six UN Security Council resolutions on Iran, including shutting down the nuclear and missile programs that violate UN resolutions and resuming unconditional inspections of nuclear and missile facilities. 4. Referring the regime's dossier of flagrant and systematic human rights violations to the UN Security Council and holding the regime's leaders accountable for 40 years of genocide and crimes against humanity. 5. Severing economic exchanges and imposing comprehensive sanctions on the regime, mainly through an oil embargo and a ban on banking relations, will effectively cut off the regime's financial lifelines that enable domestic repression, nuclear weapons development, terrorism, and regional interference. 6. Declaring the regime as a threat to global peace and security and placing it under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. Hassan Mahmoudi, Iran & Middle East political and economic researcher. If I have the TV on at 7 P.M. P.T. now, I often tune around, since I am not particularly a fan of Greg Gutfeld's nightly satire-comedy program Gutfeld!, which now airs at that early hour in the Pacific Time Zone. Imagine my surprise, then, when I switched to CNN yesterday evening after 7 P.M. P.T. (transcript of that hour is here) and happened upon a segment featuring a Holocaust survivor who was bashing FOX News because one of its hosts had supposedly said something anti-Semitic. After a search online that took only seconds, I saw that the host in question was none other than the aforementioned Greg Gutfeld! In a search at Google News, it appeared that every MSM outlet on the planet was covering Gutfeld's alleged toxic and inexcusable faux pas of saying something totally politically incorrect on Monday on the #1 cable news program, The Five, on which he is a regular co-host. Below are the specifics, as reported in a wide variety of media. In a discussion during The Five on Monday (5 P.M. EDT), liberal co-host Jessica Tarlov made some comments regarding a discussion with her four co-hosts of the new curriculum on the history of race in the U.S. in Florida that the left including VP Kamala Harris is busy criticizing. An article at CBS News's Website (curiously attributed to CNN!) reported it: Jessica Tarlov, a liberal-leaning co-host on "The Five," expressed disapproval of the new history standards and questioned whether arguments used to defend them would ever be made in regard to the Holocaust. "I'm not Black, but I'm Jewish," Tarlov said. "Would someone say about the Holocaust, for instance, that there were some benefits for Jews? That while they were hanging out in concentration camps, they learned a strong work ethic? That maybe you learned a new skill." Gutfeld replied, asking if Tarlov had read the "Man's Search for Meaning," a bestselling book written by psychiatrist Viktor Frankl who was imprisoned during the Holocaust and described the atrocities committed in concentration camps. In his book, Frankl detailed how people can cope with suffering and find meaning in the most horrific of circumstances. "Frankl talks about how you had to survive in a concentration camp by having skills. You had to be useful," Gutfeld told Tarlov. "Utility! Utility kept you alive!" As the late Jack Benny might have exclaimed, "Well!" Greg Gutfeld on The Five, FOX News Channel, July 24, 2023. The one-minute video clip of what Tarlov and Gutfeld said on The Five is here (logging on to a Twitter account may be required to view the video). Video clip from The Five (FOX News) Monday. Co-host Greg Gutfeld is being attacked as anti-Semitic for what he said during a discussion of FL's revised public school history curriculum. Judge for yourself. @greggutfeld #TheFive pic.twitter.com/jIqVy9DctO Peter Chowka (@PChowka) July 26, 2023 If you don't have access to a Twitter account to view the video, it can also be accessed here. CNN via CBS News summarized as well as any other MSM outlet the immediate blowback. Gutfeld's assertion immediately ignited criticism, including from the Auschwitz Memorial, which said in a statement, "Being skilled or useful did not spare [Jewish people] from the horrors of the gas chambers." On Tuesday, the White House weighed in, blasting the right-wing channel over its silence on Gutfeld's comments. "What Fox News allowed to be said on their air yesterday and has so far failed to condemn is an obscenity," Andrew Bates, deputy White House press secretary, said in a statement to CNN. "In defending a horrid, dangerous, extreme lie that insults the memory of the millions of Americans who suffered from the evil of enslavement, a Fox News host told another horrid, dangerous and extreme lie that insults the memory of the millions of people who suffered from the evils of the Holocaust," Bates continued. "Let's get something straight that the American people understand full well and that is not complicated: there was nothing good about slavery; there was nothing good about the Holocaust. Full stop," Bates added. "Americans deserve to be brought together, not torn apart with poison. And they deserve the truth and the freedom to learn, not book bans and lies." A spokesperson for Fox News did not respond to a request for comment. One wonders if this blowback is simply the latest attempt to target a leading FOX News host and program. Last week, FOX News debuted its revised prime-time schedule, and Greg Gutfeld, dubbed "the king of late night" for his successful 11 P.M. E.T. nightly program on the news channel, is winning the 10 P.M. time slot against CNN and MSNBC since his program moved to that earlier hour one week ago. When Tucker Carlson, FOX News's previous #1 host, was around in prime time (20172023), he was the leading target of every leftist, Democrat politician, and competing or angry MSM media outlet on the planet. But now he's gone off to Twitter (AKA X), which is also being targeted in numerous articles, blogs, and broadcasts. Will this latest dust-up become a major issue or amount to a tempest in a teapot? We'll just have to wait and see, I guess. I'll leave it up to the readers to form their own opinions about this. Peter Barry Chowka is a veteran journalist who has covered national politics and the politics and economics of health care, popular culture, and media for over five decades. He is a regular contributor to the BBC Radio and Television. His web page with links to his work is http://peter.media. Peter's extensive American Thinker archive: http://tinyurl.com/pcathinker. Peter's Twitter account is @pchowka. Federal Judge Maryellen Noreika refused to accept the sweetheart plea deal that the Department of Justice was prepared to sign off on with no prison time and only misdemeanor charges. One major issue for Judge Noreika was ambiguity over whether further charges could be brought, or if the agreement immunized Hunter from further charges arising from the issues of the case. Fox News summarizes the discussion in the hearing that lasted 3 hours. The judge pressed federal prosecutors on the investigation and questioned whether there was the possibility for future charges, and asked prosecutors if Hunter Biden was currently under active investigation. Prosecutors said he was, but would not answer specifically what the president's son is under investigation for. Prosecutors on Wednesday, though, said Hunter Biden pleading guilty to the two misdemeanor tax offenses would not immunize him from future charges. At one point, Noreika asked Justice Department prosecutor Leo Wise whether there is an "ongoing investigation here." "There is," Wise said, adding that he could not tell the judge what the investigation was. Noreika asked if the government could potentially bring a charge related to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), to which Wise replied: "Yes." At that point, the original plea deal broke down. Defense attorney Chris Clark said he did not agree with that. "Then theres no deal," Wise said. Clark countered, "As far as Im concerned the plea deal is null and void." Hunter Biden's lawyer Clark had previously told the media that he was immunized from further charges under terms of the deal. I suspect that the DOJ hoped that the judge would not notice or would ignore this point, and then let the matter die with no further prosecutions. Glenn Thrush of the New York Times reports on the annoyance Judge Noreika showed: Judge Maryellen Noreika repeatedly at times angrily said she felt like she was being asked to rubber stamp an agreement she had serious concerns about. The judge also questioned why the agreement on tax prosecutions also included Hunters gun offense, a separate issue. So, now the parties have two weeks to satisfy the judge with a new plea agreement, or else the DOJ must either indict Hunter or drop the case entirely. With the wave of publicity over the rejection of the plea deal, there would be a firestorm if there were no indictment, not that it rules out a complete DOJ default. However, CNN, for instance, went live for hours with coverage of the plea deal, so the medias strategy of ignoring news that is unfavorable to the Democrats probably wont work. The plea deal collapse also heightens attention that will be paid to Devin Archers testimony to Congress next Monday, in which he is expected to repeat his revelation that Joe Biden dialed in to speakerphone conversations with Hunters foreign clients many times directly linking him to the corrupt schemes that paid millions of dollars to shell companies established to hide the payments to Biden family members. I strongly suspect that Hunter desperately wants to avoid any prison time. I dont know if he has actually beaten his addiction, and with his prominence and mouth full of false teeth, he would be a target for prison brutality of the worst sort. His choice of lifestyle suggests that the austerities of prison life would hit him hard. He also desperately wants any plea deal to end his legal liability. But the DOJ prosecutors must fear rejection of a new deal that does not include prison time and which immunizes Hunter from further prosecution, so coming to an agreement in two weeks may be difficult. This entire mess highlights how outrageous it is that a special counsel was not appointed in the matter. The DOJ has an obvious conflict of interest prosecuting the presidents son when there is a potential legal liability for their boss, the POTUS. House Republicans now have an opportunity to continue their investigations with less of a media blackout. Judge Noreika gets my award for courage. She has to continue to live and work in Delaware, a tiny state where Biden cronies and henchmen are everywhere. She is a Trump appointee and has been on the federal bench since 2018. San Francisco, which is short some 500 police officers and is inundated with auto break-ins, burglaries, mass lootings, attacks on elderly people, and tourist robberies as a result, nevertheless had sufficient cops to police changes to Elon Musk's headquarters Twitter sign. According to the San Francisco Chronicle: A worker began removing letters from the decade-old Twitter headquarters sign above San Francisco's Market Street on Monday after the company's name was changed to X. Then, the police showed up. A police officer told The Chronicle that building management had called the police and said they weren't informed about the sign change at 1355 Market St., and work was paused. Police then said there was a misunderstanding, and the worker continued work and removed an "i" from the "@twitter" sign, before stopping again, leaving an "er" on one side of the sign. The city's Department of Building Inspection later said it was trying to determine whether the company now known as X needs a building permit to modify the sign's text. "We received two complaints about this work and are awaiting guidance from City Planning as to whether a permit is needed to change copy (text) on an existing sign," said Patrick Hannan, a department spokesperson. "Removing or relocating the sign would require a building permit." They couldn't send him a letter? They had to call in actual uniformed police officers? In a city that has the kind of problems it has, why the hell should they or anyone care what Elon Musk does with his own street sign? Do they not have tourist muggings to attend to? Is there not a store robbed for the eighth time that has another thief to catch? Is there not another auto break-in or home burglary or carjacking (they had a beaut on Sanchez Street) to resolve? Do they not have an entire western part of the city to police, given that it has about one or two cops for more than a hundred thousand residents? In most of these cases, there is no police action at all, all because of a supposed lack of funds, and a lack of officers, which is probably entirely true. But somehow, they have plenty of police resources to dispatch to a single permit issue. This tells us the absence of policing in that city may be about more than just numbers of cops on the beat. It may be mismanaged priorities from the top. Here are some choice doings going on in San Francisco on the same day, for which no police resources were available: UPDATE: 5 escape with $80K in designer frames from @VeoOptics at Union & Octavia. Eyewear store has now been hit by thieves 6 times in the last 8 months. @SFPD @SFPDNorthern pic.twitter.com/nEYHenM8r9 Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) July 26, 2023 Journalist catches shoplifters mid-segment while reporting on most-robbed Walgreens in the US https://t.co/xQInn33802 pic.twitter.com/bRd5dBUguG New York Post (@nypost) July 25, 2023 Car plummets over Sanchez Street steps in San Francisco "There was a woman pulling out a guy, all bloody, and the guy had a full face mask dressed in black. She was in black, red hair, yelling at them, 'We have three minutes till the cops come!@KPIXtv https://t.co/BSTjO1ZeaW pic.twitter.com/9hCQ70DkgW Betty Yu (@bett_yu) July 25, 2023 A UPS driver shared this video with me of a common sight along his route - what appears to be stolen luggages and belongings tossed near Francisco & Jones in San Francisco. He said this spot near Fisherman's Wharf is a dumping ground for thieves. @KPIXtv pic.twitter.com/0SZVsvMjJQ Betty Yu (@bett_yu) July 25, 2023 Welcome to San Francisco. Driving home last night, I saw a family of four looking somewhat bewildered near the Palace of Fine Arts. Thought they might be tourists who couldnt get an Uber. I stopped to offer them a ride. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/mTouFzCm54 Dan Noyes (@dannoyes) July 25, 2023 Father with an Irish accent was aghast his young kids watched that smash and grab. I had to explain, happens all the time and police cant chase the criminals. If we have enough evidence to make and post this sign, shouldnt we post a police officer there through the day? (2/2) pic.twitter.com/JqI97pbiHc Dan Noyes (@dannoyes) July 25, 2023 And if it was code enforcement that really, really, really worried them, maybe this case would have been a better one for them to be on, which they weren't: Firefighters said a scooter that had been plugged into a charging cable and there was moderate damage to the apartment.https://t.co/7FeuqFkAeD San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) July 26, 2023 Obviously, this is some kind of political persecution of Musk, whom they hate for ideological reasons and are right there ready to harass, and as if they don't have enough businesses fleeing that city as it is. Given the state of the city, it's downright harassment. After all, if someone had stolen the sign, they wouldn't have lifted a finger. But if Musk changes his own sign, well, then, send in the SWAT team. What kind of city allowed criminals to roam free, fails to enforce any serious violent crime as such crimes happen all around, and then becomes johnny-on-the-spot over a supposedly illegal change of a street sign? Only a really nutty one one that doesn't deserve to have big enterprises such as Twitter, or "X," or whatever Musk wants to call it, in its midst. Image: Twitter screen shot. Barack Obama congratulated the librarians of America in a Twitter letter recently for allowing books on library shelves that parents of good conscience don't want their children reading. He claimed that the books he read when he was young, including those by Mark Twain, "helped me develop my own identity all of which would prove vital as a citizen, as a community organizer, and as president." He added: "It's no coincidence that these 'banned books' are often written by or feature people of color, indigenous people, and members of the LGBTQ+ community[.]" Obama never misses a chance to stir the pot, having already set race relations back sixty years during his eight years in the White House. Obama was mocked mercilessly on Twitter. One commenter questioned how books like Gender Queer improved Obama's life. The Daily Wire snapped at Obama with an article by Amanda Harding: "Barack, If you'll sit down and read 'Gender Queer,' then defend making it available to kids, I'll do you the favor of running ads all over the country to let people know. You'll never do it because you know it would disgust normal people that your party wants kids to read it," Robby Starbuck, a former GOP candidate for Congress in Tennessee, wrote, referencing a book that includes illustrations of same-sex sexual activity. The rumor is that pedophile Frank Marshall Davis taught Barack Obama more than any books that Obama is encouraging school libraries to stock on their shelves. Susan Daniels has been a licensed private investigator in Ohio for thirty years and is president of Susan Daniels & Associates. Her memoir, The Rubbish Hauler's Wife versus Barack Obama, is available at Amazon.com. Image: National Archives. One of my oft-repeated statements is that its not the Democrats fault that Trump was unable to achieve so many of his goals and then failed to retake the White House. Instead, it was the Republicans fault because so many constantly blocked him. Thats why its easy to believe what Tucker Carlson told his official biographer, which is that one of those Republicans could have been his own Vice President. It turns out that, during Tuckers stint at CNN, he often interviewed Mike Pence. Tucker spoke about that experience during no-holds-barred conversations with Chadwick Moore, his official biographer. Jordan Schachtal, having had access to a preview copy of the book, reports that Tucker intensely dislikes Pence and views him as a turncoat: In discussing his tenure at CNN, Carlson recalled that Mike Pence was one of the most frequent guests booked on his program. Pence, who was a young, ambitious congressman at the time, was creepy as hell even then, Carlson says. Ive been around him a lot, and always felt that he was a totally sinister figure, craven and dishonest, he tells author Chadwick Moore. Everything about Pence is false. Image: Donald Trump and Mike Pence. YouTube screen grab. Carlson tells the author that he believes Pence purposely sabotaged the Trump Administration over the entire course of his tenure. He believes that the Pence insubordination campaign went into overdrive during the covid hysteria era, when he stood up the infamous White House Coronavirus Task Force, and delivered unprecedented power to Dr. Anthony Fauci. While noting that this does not absolve President Trump from ultimate responsibility for his actions, Carlson perceives Pences role as someone deployed into the administration to undermine Trump and to keep an eye on him. Tucker adds, correctly, that Trump is ultimately responsible for his own decision to abdicate responsibility to Pence and Fauci, but one must remember that, in the early months of 2020, there was very limited data, so Faucis I am the science persona seemed like a reliable policy source. By the end of May, though, when the entire leftist establishment announced that masks, lockdowns, and social distancing didnt apply to riots, the leftist jig was up, and any further reliance on Fauci and the science was foolhardy. But still, if Trump trusted Pence But thats a specific issue. The real point is that Tucker, a man who has met and interacted with every high-profile Republican in America, thinks that Pence was a fifth-column activist. Thats a very interesting issue. No one can accuse Pence of being a leftist. He is, instead, a very specific type of conservative, one with roots in the Reagan era. Reagan was phenomenal and gave America the best decade in modern history, but todays leftists arent the ones Reagan was facing. The Democrat party bears no relationship to the still-patriotic party that had its roots in the working class. The only thing it still has in common is its racism. Now, its a leftist global hegemony that uses race, gender madness, open borders, and climate hysteria to undermine everything that is America. The Vichy Republicansand Tucker believes Pence is in that classare on board with most leftist initiatives, but they cling to a semblance of fiscal responsibility and still have some core conservative values. Pence, for example, is very pro-life. Others still believe in the Second Amendment. These Vichy Republicans believe that they can work with the left on an anti-American foreign policy, open borders, racial divisions, LGBTQ+ rights, etc., while carving out little redoubts in which their pet conservative issues can survive. It was the Vichy Republicans who hated Trump more than they could ever hate the left. In this regard, sibling rivalries are always the worst. Just look at how Hitlers fascists and Stalins communists, both children of socialism, hated each other and, after Hitler violated the secret Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, sought to destroy each other. In the first two years of his administration, Trump had a solid majority in Congress. He should have been able to achieve everything he wanted by working with Congress. Instead, the Vichy Republicans shot him down at every turn, from the border wall to ending Obamacares healthcare market perversions. What should have been the most successful, pro-American presidency in modern history lasted only one term, and the Democrats were able to undo every single successful initiativeall because of Republicans. Thats why its easy to believe Tuckers opinion about Pence and what he did during the Trump presidency. Growing up in a Cuban-American home acquainted me with a lot of the island of Cuba's history. I guess that's normal in immigrant homes, but my parents were the type committed to teaching us how communism destroyed what they lovingly called "la patria" or homeland. Conversations at our family dinners were always about Cuba. My parents would often warn us about leftists by saying "cuidado" or "be careful" because they always tell you what you want to hear. Every time a third-world politician came on TV preaching "injustice," my parents would say one of their favorite lines about the movie that they saw already and didn't end well. Once a year, the topic would be about what they would refer to as Moncada. On this day, July 26, 1953, Fidel Castro and his followers attacked the Moncada barracks in eastern Cuba. The attack was a disaster since more than 60 of the 185 "rebels" involved were killed. Castro and the survivors escaped and were eventually discovered and captured. Castro was tried a few months later and sentenced to fifteen years in prison. He defended himself and turned it into a book. While imprisoned on Isla de Pinos, he wrote letters and continued to plot the Batista regime's overthrow. He also enjoyed prison benefits later denied to the men and women whom he executed or locked up. After having served less than two years, he was released in May 1955 due to a general amnesty. After that, he carried on with his "revolution." My guess is that Batista regretted that amnesty to the end of his life. Castro left Cuba and went to Mexico, met Che Guevara from Argentina, and the rest is the history that we are all too familiar with. Our family conversations about Moncada would often try to answer one question: why did Batista release him? My parents felt that it was a P.R. move and a bit naive. At the same time, my father said that no one thought Castro would harm anyone. I guess most people thought the talk of revolution was finished and the Cuban economy was booming with prosperity. A few years later, my father said it would have been better if Batista had left, too, and the country could have been put back on a democratic track. Today, Cuba is a dictatorship: thousands of executions, millions have taken flight, and no one knows for sure how many died leaving the country in leaky rafts, while many are still sitting in political prisons. The Castro regime never allowed fair trials or free elections, nor did it have a general amnesty to empty the prisons. In short, Castro devastated a beautiful country and a prosperous island. What are Cuba's political prisons like? Read Armando Valladares "Against all Hope." You will learn all you need to know about the legacy of July 26. By the way, you will read that Armando spent years in Villa Maristas, or the name of the political prison that used to be the Catholic school that my brother and I went to. Turning a Catholic school into a political prison to torture political prisoners? What else do you need to know about that regime? In retrospect, July 26 turned out to be a very bad day for Cuba. PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos. Image: Wikimedia Commons via Picryl, public domain. An HMM container ship / Courtesy of HMM By Lee Yeon-woo Competition is heating up to acquire HMM, the largest shipping company in Korea, with four mid-sized conglomerates already expressing interest. According to investment banking (IB) sources, Wednesday, SM Group, LX Group, Harim, and Dongwon Group have reportedly received information memoranda, which provide investors with essential information about HMM, and started to review their potential acquisition. Samsung Securities, which is supervising the sale, will conduct a preliminary bid until Aug. 21. The IB industry anticipates the possibility of various corporations participating in the bid, including even the top 10 major conglomerates. The sale target includes the entire stake in HMM held by Korea Development Bank (KDB), which stands at 20.69 percent, and the Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC), which is 19.96 percent. The stakes up for sale are equivalent to 399 million shares, estimated to be worth up to 5 trillion won ($3.9 billion). As the acquisition entails trillions of won, observers are closely watching the firms' ability to mobilize cash. SM Group, which was the first in the industry to announce its participation in the bid, has already expressed confidence in raising 4.5 trillion won. The group owns several shipping-related affiliates, including SM Korea Line and SM Korea Shipping. Harim, the country's leading poultry firm, is reportedly in discussions to form a consortium with local private equity firm, JKL Partners. In 2015, the joint consortium of two firms acquired the bulk carrier Pan Ocean. Since both SM Group and Harim have already ventured into the shipping industry, acquiring HMM presents an opportunity to expand their businesses and establish a significant presence in the market. The other contenders, LX and Dongwon Group, are expected to procure funds from financial investors. LX foresees synergy with its key affiliate LX Pantos, a global total logistics company. Dongwon Group can also complete a comprehensive distribution chain by acquiring HMM, given it already owns affiliates in the land logistics and port terminal industries. As of Wednesday, only SM Group has publicly declared its intention to acquire HMM. KDB and KOBC stated, "Considering the significant role HMM plays in the national economy, we are planning to transfer management rights to a buyer capable of fostering HMM's sustainable growth." The Google Chromecast patent case has been standing for some time now. After a legal trial, the court found that Google is guilty of the charges laid against it and must pay. Total damages from this case amount to $338.7 million as decided by the court last week. This case brings to light certain software elements on the Chromecast that are patents belonging to a tech company. The exact feature at the centre of this dispute is remote-sharing technology. With this feature, users can stream content across various screens using one device. Touchstream claims ownership of this patent that they say Google stole and has been using for years. Google says that it didnt infringe any patent from Touchstream and the said patents are invalid. However, a court has found Google guilty and is imposing a fine of $338.7 million on the tech giant. Google claims that the Chromecast patent infringement case is invalid In the tech industry, patent infringement cases are a constant feature, with various companies stealing the ideas of others. For clarification, a patent is a licence that gives the sole rights to an invention or idea to an individual or body for some time. Tech companies often use patents to protect their ideas or technological innovations that they are not yet ready to develop. In recent times, Touchstream has taken Google to court over a said Chromecast patent infringement. According to the company, they had the sole rights to this patent back in 2010. Their claim goes on to say that Google met them at this time regarding making use of this patent for Chromecast devices but was denied its request. Advertisement Fast-forward to 2013, Google launched Chromecast devices for media streaming using this patent. Ever since then, Google has proceeded to develop the technology and launch more devices built around this idea. Touchstream is now legally fighting for what they say is rightfully theirs and they seem to have seen a measure of success. The federal jury in Waco, Texas that heard this case, has judged in favour of Touchstream. Google, on its part, is not happy about the $338.7 billion fee the court demands it pay in damages. The tech giant insists that it didnt infringe the patent but developed the software technology on Chromecast streaming devices. Touchstream also claims that certain software features on other Google Home devices are part of their patents. To seek what they will consider a fair trial, Google might be appealing this court decision. More information on this patent infringement case between Google and Touchstream will become available in the coming weeks. Meta has been going rounds with government bodies in recent months over the attempt to convince the company to pay news publishers for their content. Most recently Facebooks parent company has been engaged with the Canadian government. Who back in June signed the Online News Act into law. The law would basically force Meta to pay news publishers a cut of the revenue earned from news shared on sites like Facebook and Instagram. Only prior to things being finalized, Meta said it would remove news content from its websites. Meta then followed through on that promise in late June. Noting that news availability would be ended for all users on Facebook and Instagram prior to the Online News Act taking effect. It then later launched Threads. Where the company said it wouldnt do anything to encourage news on the platform. Now it seems Meta is taking things even further, according to a recent report from The Financial Times. Meta snubs news publishers further by downgrading current affairs on Threads app Its worth reiterating that much of whats going on isnt limited to just Canada. Even if its the most recent country to try and stand up to Metas decisions to forego sharing revenue with publishers. As the Times points out, Meta pulled news from Facebook in 2021 for a brief time. It also said it would pull news from Facebook and Instagram for users in California. Following the states push to enact a similar law to the one in Canada. Advertisement Now The Financial Times states Meta is downgrading current affairs on its Threads app. Widening the gap between Metas relationship with Canada. The Financial Times notes that Metas decisions to refuse talking with Canadian regulators could cost it large sums of money. According to the report Canada made up around $3 billion of Metas $117 billion in annual revenue last year. And now governments across Canada are threatening to pull advertising as a response to Metas pushback on the law. But Meta doesnt seem to be budging. And its willingness to stick it out suggests the company may well take this stance with other countries. In recent reports, groups of publishers banded together in fear that AI might replace the media. You might be wondering why these publishers are banding together and what this act aims to achieve. Well, these publishers fear that they might be out of business due to the way AI is being integrated into the internet. The rise of AI has brought a lot of change to various industries and how they carry out their businesses. Some of these changes are remarkable, but some are actual causes of concern to certain industries. One such industry that is now accusing fingers of AI models is the media. Some top publishing media companies like the IAC, New York Times, News Corp., and Axel Springer might be planning to drag various AI model creators to court. The models these firms are after are the likes of the Bing AI chatbot and Google Bard. But why will anyone want to sue various AI models in court? Reasons why the IAC and friends fear that AI might replace the media The idea of AI replacing the media might sound funny to some people, but its a threat to certain publishers. Barry Diller is at the forefront of the idea of suing companies that train their models using publishers content. His firm, alongside other top publishing firms, could drag AI companies to court. This possible case stems from the fact that AI models might make people not rely on published content again. Normally, if people have questions, they search the internet and a list of publications that answer the question is provided. They now have to select any publication, open it and consume the content, this action will generate some cash for the publisher. Advertisement But publishers now fear that all of that might come to an end with the integration of AI models into the internet. People can now ask these models whatever questions they have, and itd scout the internet in search of answers. Once it finds the answer, it coins it into easy-to-understand sentences, This act might make people not interested in accessing content that publishers post on the internet. If people rely on AI models for answers and not the in-depth research of publishers, meaning these hard workers wont get paid. From the standpoint of these publishers, generative AI models are a threat to their business. With more companies joining the race to roll out generative AI models, publishers are constantly at risk. To save their businesses, these professionals might drag companies that own generative AI models to court. These companies need to assure publishers that they wont lose traffic regardless of AI integrations on the internet. (ANSA) - ROME, JUL 26 - ANSA Agency has added a new international partnership to its portfolio of strategic collaborations following the signing on Tuesday of a new cooperation agreement between the Peruvian news agency Andina and ANSA for the exchange of their respective news content. The partnership, signed by remote in the presence of the Italian Ambassador to Peru Giancarlo Curcio and the Head of the Chancellery of the Peruvian Embassy in Rome Miguel Aleman - consists of the possibility for the partners to use each other's information services for editorial purposes and to develop joint commercial proposals for their clients - media, institutions and companies - in their respective countries. Ambassador Giancarlo Curcio said: "I welcome with great pleasure the signing of the Agreement between the Italian news agency ANSA and the Peruvian news agency Andina. This agreement will allow a significant and increased flow of information between the two nations, deepening and strengthening existing relations based on a deep and lasting friendship, consolidated by the complementary nature of the two economies and the presence of significant communities of compatriots abroad in the respective countries." For the Head of the Chancellery of the Peruvian Embassy in Rome, Miguel Aleman, "The signing of this agreement between two entities of recognised prestige and objectivity is something to be celebrated: firstly, it will encourage the flow and feedback of truthful news from reliable sources, which will reach citizens immediately through the various platforms that Andina and ANSA have; secondly, the prospects of cooperation in communication projects for Peruvian and Italian clients will contribute to increasing knowledge of the two countries and at the same time bring their private sectors closer together, strengthening the strong economic relations that unite Peru and Italy, especially on the eve of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations in 2024." Andina Director General Carlos Alonzo Vasquez Lazo expressed his satisfaction with the agreement: "The signing of this agreement is of the utmost importance for our agency, as it will allow us to enhance our offer of information, disseminating information and events from Italy to Peru and the Latin American region. Likewise, ANSA will be able to use our content to share it with the entire Italian and European community. This synergy will bring a great contribution to the field of information, journalism and national events in both countries". For ANSA CEO Stefano De Alessandri, "This agreement constitutes an important new element in the global network of partnership agreements with agencies around the world, and in particular in a strategic geographical area such as Latin America, where ANSA has been present for 70 years with its own offices and dedicated websites. The aim is to make more and more international news available to our editorial staff and subscribers and, at the same time, to make our content available for distribution in the area; the two Agencies will then share their respective projects and the most successful initiatives in which they have recently invested, in order to pool experiences and results." (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, JUL 26 - The recent fire at Catania airport was likely caused by a printer cable short-circuiting, the fire brigade said Wednesday. The cable may have started the fire that seriously damaged the main terminal of Catania's Fontanarossa Airport on the evening of 16 July, it said. The fire brigade came to this conclusion, yet to be further investigated, in their first report on the fire filed with the Catania public prosecutor's office. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, JUL 26 - President Sergio Mattarella on Wednesday reiterated that efforts must continue to reach a just peace in Ukraine. "There is high anxiety in Italy over the war provoked by Russia in Ukraine and how much it is disturbing the life of the world," said Mattarella while receiving the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vo Van Thuong, at the Quirinale Palace in Rome. "We have talked about the arms race that subtracts energy from other areas. For this reason constant efforts are required for peace, a just peace," continued the president. This, he said, is all the more true "in the light of the dramatic consequences of Russia's decision to suspend the grain agreement: a common effort is therefore urgently needed to arrive at a prospect of peace". (ANSA). The logo of MG Non-Life Insurance is seen on the wall of its headquarters in Gangnam District in southern Seoul in this 2022 file photo. Korea Times file By Yi Whan-woo MG Non-Life Insurance is increasingly drawing attention from multiple potential buyers after it was put up for sale last year, as acquisition of the mid-tier insurer appears a cost-effective means of business diversification. According to market observers, Wednesday, the non-life insurance market is recovering fast compared to the life insurance market which has remained sluggish for years, suggesting acquisition of the insurer could be lucrative in the long term. The insurer has been controlled by state-run Korea Deposit Insurance Corp. since April 2022 after the Financial Services Commission (FSC) designated it an insolvent financial institution. Market observers speculate that, under such state ownership, MG Non-Life Insurance could be sold at a lower than estimated price given Korea Deposit Insurance Corp.'s bid to sell off the tax-financed company quickly. Against this backdrop, Kyobo Life Insurance and three financial holdings companies Woori, Hana and Shinhan have been touted as interested parties for the acquisition. Each of the four said Wednesday that nothing has been determined regarding the possible purchase of MG Non-Life Insurance. But sources familiar with Kyobo Life Insurance say it is "possibly the most interested party" among the four, pointing out that it is pushing to convert itself into a financial holding company. "Transforming into a financial holdings firm requires approval from the financial regulator and advancing to the non-life insurance market can be helpful in proving capability in business diversification," a source explained. Regarding Woori Financial Group, it remains the country's only major banking group that does not have insurers and brokerage houses under its wing. The company accordingly has been pushing to diversify its non-banking portfolios. Shinhan Financial Group and Hana Financial Group are both believed to be interested in MG Non-Life Insurance because their respective non-life insurance businesses are not profitable. In the first quarter of 2023, Hana Insurance posted a net loss of 8.3 billion won and Shinhan EZ General Insurance logged a net loss of 900 million won. Meanwhile, market observers consider the merger of MG Non-Life Insurance can be realized when the ownership dispute concerning JC Partners, a private equity firm, is settled. The largest shareholder of MG Non-Life Insurance, JC Partners has filed a suit against the FSC against its designation of the insurer as an insolvent financial institution. The equity firm also opposes Korea Deposit Insurance Corp.'s sale of the insurer. (ANSA) - ROME, JUL 26 - Europe's fleet of Canadair fireflighting planes is insufficient and needs to be boosted, Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci said Tuesday evening as firefighters continued to battle wildfires in several parts of southern Italy, especially Sicily. "I would like to make an appeal to Brussels, but we will formalise it tomorrow: Europe's Canadair fleet is absolutely insufficient," the minister told TG1 on Rai1. "We cannot plead for an amphibious aircraft to arrive every time. We need to strengthen the European fleet," he added. Wildfires were still burning on Wednesday morning in Sicily in the hills around Palermo and Catania and in Puglia around Vieste and in the Salento area. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, JUL 26 - Minister for Civil Protection and Sea Policy Nello Musumeci will hold an urgent briefing in the Chamber of Deputies (Lower House) at 4pm on Thursday on the fires in Sicily and at Catania airport, Deputy Speaker Sergio Costa announced Wednesday. Wildfires on the Italian island, many believed to be the work of fire starters, have killed at least three people and caused untold destruction of property and crops. The government has vowed to increase protections against fores and hunt down pyromaniacs. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, JUL 26 - Italy's parliamentary anti-mafia commission should debate Rai state broadcaster's decision not to offer a platform to anti-mafia writer Roberto Saviano for a planned new show on the Mob after he called Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini "the organised crime minister" for alleged mafioso-like threats, the opposition centre left Democratic Party PD said Wednesday, alleging that this was part of an ongoing government purge of leftwing voices from the airwaves. Saviano, 43, the bestselling author of the Gomorrah expose on the Neapolitan Camorra mafia, is currently on trial for calling Premier Giorgia Meloni and Transport Minister Salvini "bastards" over a strict immigration policy in which they called NGO run rescue ships "sea taxis" and "cruise ships". The writer, who has been in police protection after Camorra threats since his 2006 work that became an award-winning film and hit TV drama, had previously made acclaimed appearances on a Rai show fronted by a left-leaning host, Fabio Fazio, whose contract has not been renewed, among several leftwingers to leave the broadcaster, mostly voluntarily, since the rightwing government appointed new chiefs as part of Italy's spoils system. Former PD minister and chair Andrea Orlando said Wednesday that the cancellation of Saviano's show on the mafia was a "dangerous signal and a worrisome choice" amid Italy's fight against organised crime. Italian Left leader Nicola Fratoianni said "Rai is now becoming ever more like the TVs of Budapest or Pyongyang" (ANSA). An American author has said it was a bit surprising for her to win the worlds oldest literary prize with a novel which reworks a Charles Dickens classic. Barbara Kingsolver was named as one of the two winners of the James Tait Black Prize, taking the honours in the fiction section for her book Demon Copperhead. She said the award was such a touching tribute to the novel, which is a reimagining of David Copperfield set in the Appalachian Mountains of the US in the late 1990s. Kingsolver said: It feels a bit surprising for the very old and distinguished James Tait Black Prize to recognize the modern, working-class Appalachian voice of my novel. But literature, after all, is meant for all readers, everywhere across all of time. Im deeply honoured by this award. The winners of this years James Tait Black prizes have been announced by the University of Edinburgh (University of Edinburgh/PA) Fellow American Darryl Pinckney was declared the winner in the biography section for his memoir Come Back in September: A Literary Education on West Sixty-Seventh Street, Manhattan. The book tells the story of the New York writers apprenticeship with authors Elizabeth Hardwick and Barbara Epstein, and his introduction to the citys famous literary scene. The literary honours, which both come with a 10,000 prize, have been presented by the University of Edinburgh since 1919 and are the only major British book prizes which are judged by literature scholars and students. Darryl Pinckneys memoir was described as thoroughly absorbing by one judge (Dominique Nabokov/University of Edinburgh/PA) Biography judge Dr Simon Cooke, of the University of Edinburgh, described Pinckneys winning book as thoroughly absorbing, adding it was a vivid, nuanced, and moving tribute to Elizabeth Hardwick, a fascinating portrait of a place, time and milieu, and a profound meditation on memory, friendship and the literary life. Fiction judge Dr Benjamin Bateman, also of Edinburgh University, said Demon Copperhead was a captivating piece of realist literature which is exceptional across all of the dimensions we look for. Andrew Malkinson, who served 17 years behind bars for a rape he did not commit, accused police of scrambling to cover up how he was wrongly convicted for 20 years. The 57-year-old was found guilty of raping a woman in Greater Manchester in 2003 and the next year was jailed for life with a minimum term of seven years. He served 10 more because he maintained his innocence. But his conviction was quashed by senior judges at the Court of Appeal on Wednesday after DNA evidence linking another man to the crime came to light. Addressing journalists gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Mr Malkinson said: Since I was arrested in 2003, the police, the prison system and probation service have been calling me a liar because I denied that I committed the crime. They claimed I was in denial and made me serve an extra 10 more years in prison because I would not make a false confession. I am not a liar. I am not in denial but I will tell you who is Greater Manchester Police are liars, and they are in denial. Andrew Malkinson, who served 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit, reads a statement outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London after being cleared by the Court of Appeal (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Even after this judgment today, I predict we will see them denying responsibility for what happened. We will see them stretching credulity with their excuse-making. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have been scrambling to cover up how they wrongfully convicted me for 20 years. Addressing the victim of the crime he did not commit, he said: I am so sorry that you were attacked and brutalised that night by that man. I am not the person who attacked you but what happened to me is not your fault. I am so sorry if my fight for the truth, as I knew it to be, has caused you extra trauma. I am so sorry that the system let you down. It let us both down. There are no winners in a wrongful conviction case with the exception of the real perpetrator. Everyone gets failed, from the original victim to the wrongfully convicted person. I sincerely hope that you are receiving the support you need and the apology from the police that you deserve. Mr Malkinsons mother Tricia Hose, in her mid-70s, said: Now Andys name has been cleared, suddenly in the public eye, I am no longer a deluded mother. My son is no longer a monster. But what has been done to him cannot be undone. The damage will be with him for the rest of his life and the woman who got attacked has been denied justice, just as my son was. Andrew Malkinson spent an extra 10 years in prison after refusing to falsely confess (Jordan Pettitt/PA) As any parent would, what I want for Andy is a full account of how this happened and for the people responsible for my sons wrongful conviction to be brought to justice alongside the man responsible for this brutal attack. Overturning Mr Malkinsons convictions, for two counts of rape and one of choking or strangling with intent to commit rape, Lord Justice Holroyde said he could leave the court free and no longer be subject to the conditions of licence. At the time of Mr Malkinsons trial, there was no DNA evidence linking him to the crime and the prosecution case against him was based only on identification evidence. But a DNA sample, held by the forensic archive, was tested and found last October to link to another man, who has since been arrested. A decision on whether he will be charged is awaited. Edward Henry KC, representing Mr Malkinson, told the court GMP destroyed the victims clothing and a representative from legal charity Appeal, which has worked on the case, said that without the sample held by the archive, Mr Malkinson would have been denied the chance to prove his innocence. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) admitted Mr Malkinsons conviction was unsafe because the new DNA evidence points to another man, who the court ordered can only be identified as Mr B, and said there must now be a real possibility Mr B will be charged with the attack. The CPS and GMP said in May they would not contest the appeal. Lord Justice Holroyde said other points raised by Mr Malkinsons legal team, about crucial material not disclosed at the time of his trial, raised a number of substantial and important points and the court will take time to consider them and give a decision later in writing. He added: However, we must keep Mr Malkinson waiting no longer to know the outcome of his appeal. The court will decide later whether Mr Malkinsons convictions were also unsafe because of what Mr Henry described as deplorable disclosure failures, which mostly lay at the door of the Greater Manchester Police. They include police photographs of the victims left hand, which supported her evidence that she broke a nail scratching the face of her attacker, and the fact the two eyewitnesses who identified Mr Malkinson had convictions for dishonesty offences and one was a heroin addict. None of this was available to Mr Malkinsons defence team at his trial and Mr Henry said the failure to disclose the photographs deprived Mr Malkinson of his strongest defence point his lack of any facial injury. The barrister also said jurors were misled about the eyewitnesses due to the lack of information about their history. GMP issued an apology to Mr Malkinson after the courts announcement. Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jackson said: We are truly sorry to Mr Malkinson that he is the victim of such a grave miscarriage of justice in being convicted of a crime he did not commit and serving a 17-year custodial sentence. Whilst we hope this outcome gives him a long overdue sense of justice, we acknowledge that it does not return the years he has lost. I have offered to meet with him to personally deliver this apology. We are also profoundly sorry to the victim of this crime, who not only suffered a horrific trauma 20 years ago but also relived the experience during a criminal trial and now may endure additional harm caused by learning that the true offender has not yet been brought to justice. Emily Bolton, director of the legal charity Appeal, said outside court: We of course welcome todays ruling overturning Andys wrongful conviction but the question which should trouble everyone is why it took nearly 20 years to get here. Mr Malkinsons mother Tricia outside the Royal Courts of Justice (Jordan Pettitt/PA) The truth is this case is an indictment of both the Court of Appeal and the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). These so-called safety nets in our justice system missed three earlier opportunities to put this obvious miscarriage of justice right. At a preliminary hearing in May, Mr Henry told the court the CCRC, which investigates possible miscarriages of justice and referred Mr Malkinsons case to the Court of Appeal, has been aware since 2009 there was crime-specific DNA that was not a match for either Mr Malkinson or the victim. But he said at that time the CCRC did not consider it tipped the balance towards a referral to the Court of Appeal. Mr Malkinson previously applied twice for his case to be reviewed by the CCRC but was turned down, eventually being released from prison in December 2020. After his release, advancements in scientific techniques allowed his legal team, supported by Appeal, to provide new DNA analysis that cast doubt on his conviction to the CCRC. The body then commissioned its own testing which found that DNA from the victims clothing matched another man on the national police database. GMP said in January a man had been arrested and released under investigation in light of the new information, but no decision has been made as to whether he will be charged. Andrew Malkinson, who served 17 years behind bars for a rape he did not commit, has called an apology by the police force which handled the original investigation meaningless. The 57-year-old was found guilty of raping a woman in Greater Manchester in 2003 and the next year was jailed for life with a minimum term of seven years. Mr Malkinson served 10 more years because he maintained his innocence, time he said took an extremely heavy toll on his psyche and during which he contemplated suicide many times. His conviction was quashed by senior judges at the Court of Appeal on Wednesday after DNA evidence linking another man to the crime came to light. Greater Manchester Police issued an apology to him following the ruling. Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jackson said: We are truly sorry to Mr Malkinson that he is the victim of such a grave miscarriage of justice in being convicted of a crime he did not commit and serving a 17-year custodial sentence. Whilst we hope this outcome gives him a long overdue sense of justice, we acknowledge that it does not return the years he has lost. I have offered to meet with him to personally deliver this apology. However Mr Malkinson told the BBCs Newsnight programme: The Greater Manchester Police apology its meaningless to me, absolutely meaningless. An apology without accountability, what is that? Its nothing, its nothing, it means nothing. He also said the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which investigates miscarriages of justice in England, only investigated his case after having evidence handed to them on a platter. Mr Malkinson tried to get the body to investigate twice previously but his bid was turned down. He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Thursday that it felt as though he had been kidnapped by the state. Its taken an extremely heavy toll on my person, my psyche, my psychology, my being, my soul. I cant articulate how I even managed to get through it. I was in total shock for the first even a few years. I contemplated suicide many times. Andrew Malkinson reads a statement outside the Royal Courts of Justice after being cleared by the Court of Appeal (Jordan Pettitt/PA) After the ruling, Mr Malkinson told reporters outside the Royal Courts of Justice: Since I was arrested in 2003, the police, the prison system and Probation Service have been calling me a liar because I denied that I committed the crime. They claimed I was in denial and made me serve an extra 10 more years in prison because I would not make a false confession. I am not a liar. I am not in denial but I will tell you who is Greater Manchester Police are liars, and they are in denial. Even after this judgment today, I predict we will see them denying responsibility for what happened. We will see them stretching credulity with their excuse-making. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have been scrambling to cover up how they wrongfully convicted me for 20 years. Addressing the victim of the crime he did not commit, he said: I am so sorry that you were attacked and brutalised that night by that man. I am not the person who attacked you but what happened to me is not your fault. Mr Malkinsons mother Tricia Hose, in her mid-70s, said: Now Andys name has been cleared, suddenly in the public eye, I am no longer a deluded mother. My son is no longer a monster. Mr Malkinsons mother Tricia outside the Royal Courts of Justice (Jordan Pettitt/PA) But what has been done to him cannot be undone. The damage will be with him for the rest of his life and the woman who got attacked has been denied justice, just as my son was. Overturning Mr Malkinsons convictions, for two counts of rape and one of choking or strangling with intent to commit rape, Lord Justice Holroyde said he could leave the court free and no longer be subject to the conditions of licence. At the time of Mr Malkinsons trial, there was no DNA evidence linking him to the crime and the prosecution case against him was based only on identification evidence. But a DNA sample, held by the forensic archive, was tested and found last October to link to another man, who has since been arrested. A decision on whether he will be charged is awaited. Andrew Malkinson spent an extra 10 years in prison after refusing to falsely confess (Jordan Pettitt/PA) The CPS and GMP said in May they would not contest the appeal. The court will decide later whether Mr Malkinsons convictions were also unsafe because of what his lawyer Edward Henry KC called deplorable disclosure failures, which mostly lay at the door of the Greater Manchester Police. They include police photographs of the victims left hand, which supported her evidence that she broke a nail scratching the face of her attacker, and the fact the two witnesses who identified Mr Malkinson had convictions for dishonesty offences and one was a heroin addict. None of this was available to Mr Malkinsons defence team at his trial and Mr Henry said the failure to disclose the photographs deprived Mr Malkinson of his strongest defence point his lack of any facial injury. Emily Bolton, director of the legal charity Appeal, said outside court: We of course welcome todays ruling overturning Andys wrongful conviction but the question which should trouble everyone is why it took nearly 20 years to get here. The truth is this case is an indictment of both the Court of Appeal and the Criminal Cases Review Commission. These so-called safety nets in our justice system missed three earlier opportunities to put this obvious miscarriage of justice right. Ministers have urged banks to learn from the mistakes of NatWest in the wake of chief executive Dame Alison Roses resignation in a row over the closure of Nigel Farages Coutts account. The former Ukip leader went on to demand the resignation of the entire NatWest board and for a cultural change within the industry at large after his campaign resulted in the departure of NatWests top banker. NatWest Group chairman Sir Howard Davies said early on Wednesday that Dame Alison would be stepping down, after both Downing Street and the Treasury expressed their serious concerns about her conduct. Dame Alison had admitted a serious error of judgment by discussing with a BBC journalist Mr Farages relationship with Coutts, owned by NatWest Group. Mr Farage had been crusading against the private bank for shutting down his account a decision taken in part over his political beliefs. Sir Howard had initially said the board members had decided the chief executive retained their full confidence, but that position rapidly changed following the Government intervention. Ministers were quick to welcome the departure of Dame Alison, with calls for the financial sector to take heed of the lessons of the Farage row. A No 10 source said she had done the right thing in resigning and that Rishi Sunak had been concerned about the unfolding situation. Shares in the lending giant fell by 3% in the wake of the resignation, with other banks also seeing their shares hit. Dame Alison was also out of four Government roles, including losing out on her membership of the Prime Ministers Business Council. City minister Andrew Griffith gave the bosses of Barclays, HSBC, Nationwide, Santander and NatWest a dressing down at a virtual meeting on Wednesday morning, with David Lindberg, chief executive of NatWests retail banking wing, filling in for Dame Alison. Mr Griffith made clear to the bankers it is not their job to tell us what to think or what political party we should support as he hit out at the termination of accounts over political views. Nigel Farage has called for a wider cultural change in the banking industry (Jonathan Brady/PA) The bankers accepted the row had impacted upon public trust for the whole sector and committed to not discriminating based on lawful freedom of expression, the Treasury said. In contrast to Mr Farage, the City minister said Sir Howard should not immediately resign as NatWests chairman, as he was already planning to leave, but was not clear about the positions of other members of the board and Coutts boss Peter Flavel. Energy Secretary Grant Shapps welcomed the decision and urged banks against using the politically exposed person (PEP) risk tests, which Mr Farage blamed for his account closure. However, its equally important banks stop applying political (PEP) tests to people (and families) opening new bank accounts too, he added. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that NatWest was in the wrong over the revelation of Mr Farages personal details and that it was right for Dame Alison to resign. He told BBC Radio 5 Live: I certainly dont think anybody should be refused banking services because of their political views, whoever they are. Policing minister Chris Philp said a lot of MPs or their families have been turned down by banking services because of politically exposed persons rules, which cover anyone considered to be higher risk because of their political connection. The rules are set up for the right reasons but MPs quite often get caught by these PEP rules because theyre applied kind of overzealously, he told Sky News. It is not spoken about much but if you look at almost any MP they will have had an experience like this, I think the Nigel Farage case is an extreme one, but Im afraid its not unique. Dame Alisons resignation as chief executive came after an emergency board meeting was called late on Tuesday night to determine her future. It followed days of criticism and questions for the NatWest Group, after Mr Farage presented evidence that his account at Coutts had been closed partly due to his political views conflicting with the banks values. The evidence obtained from the bank through a data request contradicted a BBC News story, which initially claimed the account closure was motivated by commercial reasons only, citing Mr Farages failure to meet a 1 million borrowing requirement. Dame Alison admitted discussing Mr Farages relationship with Coutts in a conversation with the BBCs reporter behind the story, business editor Simon Jack. She conceded that she confirmed the former Ukip leader was a Coutts customer, thinking it was public knowledge, and that he had been offered a NatWest account. The boss insisted she did not reveal any personal financial information about Mr Farage, but admitted having left Mr Jack with the impression that the decision to close Mr Farages accounts was solely a commercial one. Mr Farage responded by saying that the exit of Dame Alison was only a start and that changes need to go further. He told the PA news agency on Wednesday: Anybody on that board that backed that statement that was put out at 17.42 yesterday a totally unsustainable and untrue statement anybody that backed that behaviour should be gone. I think this culture runs deep through the entire banking industry. I think there is a massive anti-Brexit prejudice and I think the whole thing needs to change. The entire industry needs to wake up to the absolutely appalling way it has been treating people all over the country. We bailed these people out and in return they close our branches, they close our personal and business accounts on a huge scale. We need real change here and I am going to go on pushing for it. Dame Alison resigned from Government roles as co-chair of the energy efficiency taskforce and as a member of the net-zero council after being told to step down by Mr Shapps, his department said. A British billionaire whose family trust owns Tottenham Hotspur football club has denied insider trading charges at a US court. Joe Lewis, 86, pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of securities fraud and three charges of conspiracy when he appeared at Manhattan Federal Court in New York on Wednesday. He was indicted in the city for allegedly orchestrating a brazen insider trading scheme, a US attorney previously said. The charges allege he fed corporate secrets to romantic partners, personal assistants, friends and two co-conspirators. Recipients are said to have earned millions of dollars illegally. Tavistock founder Joe Lewis, centre, is surrounded by photographers as he leaves Manhattan federal court (Mary Altaffer/AP) Wearing a grey three-piece suit, the billionaire said not guilty, your honour when asked to enter a plea. Co-conspirators Patrick OConnor, 66, and Bryan Waugh, 64, both pleaded not guilty to seven counts of securities fraud and a conspiracy count at the same court. Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, who announced the charges in a video on Tuesday night, alleged that Lewis had abused his access to corporate boardrooms over several years. He said: Those folks then traded on that inside information and made millions of dollars in the stock market, because thanks to Lewis those bets were a sure thing. Mr Williams described Lewiss alleged behaviour as classic corporate corruption. He added: Now, none of this was necessary. Joe Lewis is a wealthy man. But as we allege he used inside information as a way to compensate his employees or to shower gifts on his friends and lovers. Thats classic corporate corruption. Its cheating, and its against the law. Laws that apply to everyone, no matter who you are. Thats why Joe Lewis has been indicted and will face justice here in the Southern District of New York. The indictment alleges Lewiss investments in various companies gave him control of board seats, where he placed associates who let him know what they learned behind the scenes. Prosecutors say Lewis improperly gave out that confidential information between 2019 and 2021 to his chosen recipients and urged them to profit from it. At one point, according to the indictment, he loaned his two co-conspirators 386,000 each to buy stock in a cancer drug company he knew had received encouraging results from a clinical trial which had not yet been publicly disclosed. Court documents allege OConnor texted a friend in connection with that loan to buy the stock, telling the friend the boss is helping us out and told us to get ASAP, and assured the friend that all conversations on app is encrypted so all good. No one can ever see. Lewis also gave the tip to his girlfriend, his personal assistant, a friend he played poker with and a friend with whom he had a romance, the indictment said. After the company announced the clinical trial data, the stock gained almost 17% in a day, and Lewiss friends and employees all eventually sold at a profit. The co-conspirators repaid the loans at Lewiss request, according to the indictment. Lewis is also alleged to have gleaned some closed-door information about a muscular dystrophy drug company in which he was a major investor. The information allegedly included a planned financial move and some clinical trial news. Lewiss biotech hedge fund signed a confidentiality agreement that prohibited disclosing the information or trading on it. However, he told his girlfriend and co-conspirators to buy the companys stock, the indictment said. Tottenham Hotspur owner Joe Lewis (right) applauds in the stands with chairman Daniel Levy (left) (PA) David Zornow, an attorney for Lewis, said his client had come to the US to answer these ill-conceived charges and would fight them vigorously. He said in a statement: The government has made an egregious error in judgment in charging Mr Lewis, an 86-year-old man of impeccable integrity and prodigious accomplishment. Lewis is the founder and primary investor of Bahamas-based investment firm Tavistock Group. He was ranked 39th in the 2023 Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated worth of more than 5 billion. He bought a controlling stake in Premier League club Tottenham from Lord Alan Sugar in 2001 for 22 million. Lewis officially ceded control of the club last year, with Bahamian lawyer Bryan A Glinton replacing him as a director, according to Companies House. His stake in the club which he held through the ENIC Group alongside Daniel Levy was formally handed to a family trust last year. Family members of Lewis remain beneficiaries of the trust. Lewis, OConnor, from New York, and Waugh, from Lynchburg in Virginia, were all bailed. A chief constable has been suspended and is under criminal investigation following allegations of sexual offences. Will Kerr, Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, is being investigated by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI) and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The PONI said its criminal investigation followed serious allegations of sexual offences against Mr Kerr, formerly the assistant chief constable at the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The IOPC said its investigation, following a referral from the police and crime commissioner of Devon and Cornwall, related to allegations of misconduct. The watchdog will consider whether Mr Kerr may have breached police professional standards relating to the allegations being investigated by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. It is also investigating whether inaccurate information may have been provided as part of a previous vetting process. The Chief Police Officers Staff Association (CPOSA) confirmed Mr Kerr was co-operating with the investigation, which it said related to legacy misconduct matters for which he had not yet been interviewed. Will Kerr pictured during his service with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (David Young/PA) Marie Anderson, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, said: The Police Ombudsman commenced a criminal investigation into serious allegations of sexual offences against a former PSNI senior officer, currently the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall, on June 16 2023, using her own motion powers. The Ombudsman will also consider the circumstances under which the allegations were investigated by PSNI. She said the office had been engaging with the IOPC on cross-jurisdictional issues in recent weeks as well as the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioners Office. Mrs Anderson added: Details concerning the precise nature of the allegations and any early investigative actions remain confidential at this time. Independence and impartiality are central to all Police Ombudsman investigations and the office will be robust in following the evidence to ensure that any police officer in breach of the law and who abuses their position of trust will be held to account. As the investigation is at an early stage, it is not possible to confirm a likely timeframe for its conclusion. The PSNI said it was aware of the ombudsmans criminal investigation and would support the ombudsman as required. Mr Kerr, who worked for the PSNI for 27 years, joined Devon and Cornwall Police in December 2022. On Wednesday, Devon and Cornwalls police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez announced that Mr Kerr had been suspended as chief constable following allegations of misconduct. In a statement, her office said Ms Hernandez had suspended Mr Kerr following allegations of misconduct and had referred the matter to the IOPC. An IOPC spokesman said it had launched an investigation into allegations of misconduct against Mr Kerr following the referral from Ms Hernandez. Our investigation will consider whether Mr Kerr may have breached police professional standards relating to serious criminal allegations currently under investigation by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, he said. We are also investigating whether inaccurate information may have been provided as part of a previous vetting process. We are working closely with PONI and will provide updates when we can. Mr Kerr joined Devon and Cornwall Police in December 2022 (PA) Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that Deputy Chief Constable Jim Colwell would become Acting Chief Constable following Mr Kerrs suspension. Mr Colwell said: I understand our communities will be concerned about the reports in the media today regarding the suspension of Chief Constable Will Kerr KPM by the police and crime commissioner. The PCC suspension of Mr Kerr follows a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. I am keen to reassure the public that we will maintain our focus on delivering the best possible service to our communities. Mr Colwell added: I will be stepping into the role of Acting Chief Constable on an interim basis to ensure consistency of leadership and service delivery of policing across the peninsula. This now remains a matter for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the IOPC to investigate. Mr Kerr has spent more than 30 years in policing and was deputy chief constable at Police Scotland before joining Devon and Cornwall Police. Police Scotland said: Will Kerr left Police Scotland in 2022. These allegations do not relate to his time at Police Scotland and it would be inappropriate to comment further. While serving with the PSNI, Mr Kerr reached the rank of assistant chief constable, leading on both serious crime and counter-terrorism. In 2015 he was made an OBE, and he received the Kings Police Medal in the New Year Honours earlier this year. Ian Drysdale, vice chair of the CPOSA, said: The Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police Force was today suspended in respect of an ongoing inquiry into legacy misconduct matters for which he is yet to be interviewed. CC Kerr recognises and respects the fact that accountability and due process are vital to any investigation, regardless of rank or position. He will continue to co-operate with any investigation and hopes that all matters are expedited so that they can be concluded without further delay. The Co-op has reported that crime, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour in its stores have increased by over a third in the past year. The company revealed there were more than 175,000 incidents in the first six months of this year almost 1,000 every day. One inner city London store was looted three times in a single day. The Co-op warned that this level of out-of-control crime is unsustainable and could see some communities become a no-go area for local stores. The convenience retailer called on police forces and crime commissioners to target prolific offenders and local organised criminal gangs, with many said to operate without fear of being caught. A Freedom of Information request by Co-op showed that police failed to respond in 71% of serious retail crimes reported. The Co-op also revealed that front-line store workers have seen physical assaults increase year-on-year by almost a third and, anti-social behaviour and verbal abuse by a fifth. Matt Hood, Co-op Food managing director, said: We know retail crime is driven by repeat and prolific offenders and, organised criminal gangs. It is an ongoing challenge for all retailers, and in the worst instances can even be described as looting. I have seen some horrific incidents of brazen and violent theft in our stores, where my store colleagues feel scared and threatened. I see first-hand how this criminal behaviour also erodes the very fabric of our communities its hard to over-emphasise how important urgent change is. Co-op has invested significantly in keeping colleagues and stores safe, but we need the police to play their part. Too often, forces fail to respond to desperate calls by our store teams, and criminals are operating in communities without any fear of consequences. Association of Convenience Stores chief executive, James Lowman, said: Our members are at the sharp end, seeing crime in their communities get steadily worse. Shop theft is rising because repeat offenders and organised criminals are targeting local shops to steal goods to resell. This organised criminal activity exploits vulnerable people by getting them to steal to order in exchange for their next fix, funds the illegal drug trade, and harms businesses that provide essential services to communities. The police have to face up to theft, violence and anti-social behaviour in and around local shops. Cracking down on the criminals who account for the majority of this crime against our members would be the most effective way to make our communities safer. Paddy Lillis, general secretary of the shop workers union Usdaw said: Evidence is mounting that retail crime is on the increase. This is very concerning for our members in retail, because shoplifting is not a victimless crime. Theft from shops has long been a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shopworkers and, as the Co-op rightly says, it is often linked to organised crime gangs. Sarah Jones, shadow policing minister, said: After 13 years of Conservative rule, neighbourhood policing has been decimated and criminals are getting away. There are half the number of PCSOs on our streets, charge rates are plummeting, and victims dont see the justice they deserve. Labour will rebuild proper neighbourhood policing with 13,000 extra neighbourhood officers and PCSOs on the streets, putting policing back where it belongs. Only a Labour government will restore law and order in our communities. National Institute for Unification Education President Lee In-bae delivers a lecture at the Korean American Community Center of San Francisco and the Bay Area in San Francisco, July 22. Courtesy of National Institute for Unification Education By Nam Hyun-woo Lee In-bae, the president of the National Institute for Unification Education (NIU), delivered a special lecture on unification last week to Korean American teachers and members of the Korean community in the United States, according to the organization, Wednesday. The lectures were given at the 41st general assembly of the National Association for Korean Schools (NAKS), which was held in San Francisco from July 21 to 22. NAKS is an umbrella federation of Korean schools in the U.S. and has been carrying out educational projects including Korean language, culture, and history education for second and third-generation Korean Americans in the U.S. Beginning this year, the association launched projects to incorporate unification education into its curriculum, as part of efforts to promote the necessity of Korea's unification among ethnic Koreans. On July 21, Lee presented under the theme "the unification policy of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration" to Korean American teachers and others involved in the education industry. Lee lectured on the fundamental direction of unification based on constitutional values and the significance of democratic unification education. On the following day, Lee delivered a lecture and a question-and-answer session with members of the Korean community in Northern California during a separate event at the Korean American Community Center of San Francisco and Bay Area, which was organized by five Korean associations in Northern California. "The interest and support of overseas Koreans are very important in achieving a peaceful and democratic unification of the Korean Peninsula," Lee said, adding the NIU will expand its role to further promote overseas unification education initiatives. "The lectures provided attendees with valuable insights into the unification of the Korean Peninsula and the government's unification policies, and offered chances to ponder how to set the direction of their unification education," the NIU said. On the sidelines of the lecture, the NIU and NAKS signed a memorandum of understanding for promoting overseas unification education and developing educational materials. A coroner will write to the Department for Transport with concerns over older drivers being able to renew their licences by self-declaring they are fit and able to drive after hearing the case of a baby killed in a crash caused by a motorist with undiagnosed dementia. Louis Thorold, five months, was in a pram being pushed by his mother when the elderly driver turned into the path of a van, forcing it on to the pavement where it hit them. Mazda driver Shelagh Robertson, 73 at the time, was on her way home from a shopping trip to Tesco when she caused the crash on the A10 at Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire on January 22 2021. The van driver, who was driving within the 50mph limit, had no time to react, an inquest in Huntingdon was told. Robertson was prosecuted for causing death by careless driving but found not guilty by reason of insanity after a trial at Cambridge Crown Court last year. Jurors were told the pensioner was suffering from dementia, which was undiagnosed at the time. Shelagh Robertson was found not guilty by reason of insanity of causing the death of five-month-old Louis Thorold by careless driving (Joe Giddens/PA) Motorists aged 70 or over are required by law to renew their driving licence every three years, with Robertson renewing hers in May 2017 as she approached her 70th birthday, an inquest was told on Wednesday. This was done by an online application in which she said she was medically fit to drive. Because of the Covid pandemic, Robertsons three-year licence was extended by a year, giving it an expiration date of June 2021 after the crash. Sergeant Mark Dollard, of Cambridgeshire Police, told the inquest: The process for renewing your licence is entirely reliant on honesty and awareness. If you dont have either of them, theres a flaw that can be exploited. Simon Milburn, Cambridgeshire area coroner, said: The obvious way around that is for someone to design a process where theres a formal examination at an appointed time. Chris and Rachael Thorold, parents of baby Louis, outside Cambridge Crown Court following the trial of Shelagh Robertson (Joe Giddens/ PA) Mr Dollard said the current system requires drivers to answer 21 medical questions, with yes or no answers, to renew their licence at age 70. He said if Robertson had been checked by a doctor and the doctor had identified there was the onset of dementia, then (she) may well have not had (her) licence renewed and we wouldnt have had an incident like we had in 2021. The coroner said he will write to the Department for Transport with his concerns. How practical and whether there are resources to put such a system in place is not for me, said Mr Milburn. Louiss father Chris Thorold said there is a gaping hole in the system that you can self-certify. Quite a lot of European countries have these rules in place that require medical examinations, he said. In a statement read to the inquest, Rachael Thorold, Louiss mother, said: Our cognitive health and reaction time changes with time and this needs to be objectively checked. Mrs Robertson hadnt picked up her significant cognitive decline. Mr Milburn concluded Louis died as the result of a road traffic collision, having sustained multiple traumatic injuries. He said he will also write to Cambridgeshire County Council to ask if the speed limit at the crash site, which has already been lowered from 50mph to 40mph, could be further lowered to 30mph and if safety barriers can be installed. Dame Alison or just Ms Rose as she was at the time made history in 2019 when she became the first woman to take the top job at one of the UKs big four banks. She took over a bank from New Zealander Ross McEwan, which had stabilised after the financial crisis nearly killed it. But there were still major challenges for the then 49-year old as she took the reins of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Group. Since becoming boss of NatWest, Dame Alison has been a regular at top meetings in Whitehall (James Manning/PA) Seen as a details-oriented chief executive, in private her employees would say that her grasp of what was going on at the bank could leave them scrambling in response to her questions. After the massive change under Mr McEwan, Dame Alison was seen as a continuity candidate whose consistency and reputation as a reliable banker would help steer the bank through a less turbulent time. In the six years preceding her appointment, the group had seen its headcount reduce from 109,000 to 66,600 and it had withdrawn from 26 of 28 countries. But as she took charge for the first time, it was clear Dame Alison wanted to make an impression, complaining that the bank was still far too complex and that it was difficult to get things done. However, one of her first big marks on the bank was, fairly cosmetically, to change its name from the scandal-ridden RBS brand to NatWest. RBS Group had briefly become the worlds biggest bank prior to the 2008 financial crisis thanks to a spending spree which included buying NatWest in 2000 and Dutch bank ABN Amro in 2007. But by 2020 the eponymous bank had been outshone by NatWest within the group. By then 80% of RBS Groups customers banked with NatWest, not at RBS branches. It did not escape eagle eyes that Dame Alison had also risen up in a 27-year career at NatWest before being appointed chief executive. One of the other key tasks for the chief executive was to oversee a slow transition back to private ownership. When her appointment was announced, the Government still owned 62% of RBS Group, a legacy of the companys financial crisis bailout. It was a steady process and by March last year the Treasury finally reduced its stake in NatWest Group to less than half. Perhaps two outside issues came to dominate much of Dame Alisons time as NatWest Group boss. The first was a gradual switch away from the banks more carbon-intensive business. Just three months into her tenure the group said it would no longer provide funding to oil majors unless they had a credible plan to ensure their businesses were in line with the Paris climate agreement. A large part of Dame Alisons time in charge was overshadowed by the Covid-19 pandemic (Mike Egerton/PA) It followed just days after BP announced a plan to move to net zero, and pre-dated Shells own similar promise. Since then NatWest has announced a series of further ultimatums to its business customers to set in place decarbonisation plans or find another lender. It has also promised billions of pounds in green funding. Dame Alison probably expected to deal with climate issues when she took the top job, but her big unforeseen challenge was the Covid-19 pandemic. Alongside other lenders, NatWest was at the forefront of the Governments plan to prop up the economy during lockdowns. By July 2020, NatWest had already lent 5.8 billion to smaller businesses through the bounce back loan scheme, and a further 2.3 billion in coronavirus business interruption scheme loans. That month NatWest posted a 770 million loss for the first six months of the year, after it set aside a mammoth 2.1 billion to cover loans it thought might go bad largely as a result of the economic shocks of the pandemic. In 2021 NatWest announced it would exit Ireland, eventually deciding to sell Ulster Bank to PTSB. Later in the year it was hit with a 264 million fine in the first-ever criminal prosecution of a bank under UK anti-money laundering laws. In the 2022 New Year Honours list, Dame Alison was recognised for services to financial services. A draft terrorism protection law drawn up after campaigning by the mother of a Manchester Arena bombing victim would not have made a difference to the vast majority of recent attacks, a report says. Martyns Law, named in tribute to 29-year-old Martyn Hett, who was one of 22 people killed at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017, will require venues and local authorities in the UK to have preventative plans against terror attacks. However, the Home Affairs Select Committee has warned the draft Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill would put small businesses and organisations at risk of closure and fail to make a significant impact on preventing attacks. MPs found the current Bill, which has different standards based on venue capacity, would require a local village hall to have certain safety precautions, while an outdoor market in a city centre would not. They said it is a concern that attacks which have occurred in some parts of the UK, such as in Scotland, would not fall into the draft Bills scope. Mr Hetts mother Figen Murray, who has long campaigned for the new rules, said the legislation represented an important step forward when details were published over two months ago. Figen Murray, the mother of Martyn Hett, has campaigned for the new law (James Speakman/PA) However, the committee said after looking at the draft it has serious concerns about the financial burden of requiring venues to have potentially costly safety measures in place. MPs said the Bills aims are unclear, as it was promoted as terror prevention legislation, but instead most of the measures act to reduce the consequences of attacks. Jonathan Hall KC, the UKs independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, told MPs the majority of attacks since 2010 would be out of the Bills scope. The report said: We are concerned to learn that the draft Bill would not have made a difference to the vast majority of the terrorist attacks that have happened in the UK in recent years. This suggests that the draft Bill will not achieve some of its main objectives. The committee called for legislation to be introduced in stages, beginning with larger venues, and cover outdoor events at risk of attack, also urging the Government to ensure mandatory live-saving medical training is offered by premises. It commended Ms Murrays campaigning efforts, saying the Bill has the right intent. Chair Dame Diana Johnson said: We must do all we can to ensure venues are equipped to react to terror threats. But the Government must ensure that the steps they need to take are based on an accurate assessment of risk and not arbitrary capacity figures. We are also concerned that this Bill as currently drafted would fail to make a significant impact in preventing or mitigating the effects of terrorism. For example, in its current form a local village hall would be required to carry out safety precautions while a city centre open-air farmers market or Christmas market would not. This makes little sense and takes no account of the actual terrorist threat they face. Also the costs in money and time required under the Bill could place the very future of some smaller businesses and voluntary organisations at risk. With many venues already struggling with the cost of living, including energy bills, they are ill-equipped to absorb more financial pressure. In particular losing any vital community hubs such as a village hall would be a real blow and represent a win for terrorism, not an effective means of combatting it. After the draft law was published, Ms Murray praised the work of the Home Office, expressing hope it will meet her expectations after years of work. She told the PA news agency in May: I am sure there will be areas that could be improved but I am the kind of person who thinks four years ago we were at the very start of this and look what we have achieved so far. A Home Office spokesperson said: The Government is committed to improving security at public venues and the pre-legislative scrutiny process will ensure we create a strong Bill that delivers on this aim whilst being proportionate. We will carefully review the recommendations of the report and we are committed to introducing the Bill as soon as Parliamentary time allows. A project working to save the endangered Scottish wildcat species has seen 11 kittens born this year with hopes more could follow. It is the second year in a row that baby wildcats have been born at the Saving Wildcats conservation breeding for release centre, which is based at the Highland Wildlife Park outside of Aviemore. So far 11 kittens have been born in four separate litters, with wildcats Droma and Fruin both giving birth to four, as well as two kittens for wildcat Fian and one for Torr. While the new kittens are still vulnerable, it is hoped they could be released into the wild next year. 11 wildcat kittens have been born at our conservation breeding for release centre at @HighlandWPark and there may be more to come! These kittens will play an important role in securing a future for the species. Find out more https://t.co/n8QdACElI9 pic.twitter.com/LH6gZSbZaW Saving Wildcats (#SWAforLIFE) (@SaveOurWildcats) July 26, 2023 And with the species on the brink of extinction, David Barclay, conservation manager at the Saving Wildcats team, said they could play an important role in securing a future for the species. The project, which is led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), has brought together national and international experts in a bid to restore Scotlands critically endangered wildcat population, by breeding the animals and releasing them into part of the Cairngorms National Park. In addition to this, work is also being done to try to mitigate the threats the animals face in the wild. The first releases of kittens born in 2022 began in June this year, with hopes that about 20 cats will be released in both 2024 and 2025 from the conservation breeding for release centre. One of the kittens born at the Saving Wildcats conservation breeding for release centre (Saving Wildcats/Royal Zoological Society of Scotland/PA) Mr Barclay said: Wildcats in Scotland are on the brink of extinction and these kittens will play an important role in securing a future for the species. We know there are 11 kittens from four litters so far and we hope there will be more born in coming weeks. It is still early days for our new wildcat kittens who are vulnerable in their first weeks and months. Over the next year, the wildcats will be prepared for the challenges of life in the wild. Once they are independent and no longer reliant on their mums, they will move into large pre-release enclosures designed to support natural development and reduce exposure to humans and disturbance. He added: Everything we learn from the wildcat releases which have begun this year will help to inform the future releases and ensure they are as successful as possible. British military personnel working behind the scenes are the unsung heroes of the RAF mission in Estonia, according to those on the ground at the Amari Air Base. Hundreds of RAF staff, ranging from pilots and engineers to weaponry experts; are currently deployed at the eastern European air base, tasked with upholding security as part of Natos Baltic air police mission. The Operation Azotize mission began in March 2023 and has seen Typhoon jets intercept unauthorised aircraft from Russia over the Baltic Sea. While the jets cannot be missed during take-off and landing, behind the scenes a whole squad of personnel are working tirelessly to keep the cogs turning. A member of the ground crew checks an RAF Typhoon jet after its return from exercise Jousten Strike at the Amari Airbase in Estonia (Jane Barlow/PA) Nairn-based Sergeant Liam Maitland, unit movements officer currently deployed in Estonia, is tasked with ensuring that all of the Typhoons kit makes it in and out of the country without delay and without it, he said the pilots would be unable to fly their jets. He told the PA news agency that those working behind the scenes are incredibly important. Without everybody below the pilots they wouldnt be able to fly. Its a team effort across the EAW (Expeditionary Air Wing) here to ensure that we succeed. We all have our individual part to play. Without everybody working together as a team we wouldnt succeed. Wing Commander Scott McColl is in charge of the Royal Air Forces 140 Expeditionary Air Wing at the Amari Airbase in Estonia (Jane Barlow/PA) Meanwhile, Air Specialist Class One technician Will Dixon is stationed on the weapon support team, maintaining the munitions and getting them prepared for flight each day. He explained: Id say our role is quite important because if we dont maintain the weapons and they are loaded and theres something wrong with the weapons, for whatever reason, if the pilots had to use them and they didnt work they could be in a lot of trouble. Wing Commander Scottie McColl, who is the commanding officer of 140 EAW, said Operation Azotize would not be successful without every member of the RAF stationed at the Amari base. He said: Recent lessons lessons have shown us the importance of sustainment and adaptation in warfare and all of that is delivered by those that work tirelessly behind the scenes. Every single person that is here is critical in delivering the mission. The members of the Royal Air Force have also been working closely with their Nato allies, including the latest members, Finland. Typhoon jets have been conducting training exercises with the Finnish air force in the Joutsen Strike as part of the overall mission. The former head of the police watchdog faces trial at the Old Bailey next summer for the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl in the 1980s. Michael Lockwood is accused of nine sexual offences dating back to when he worked as a part-time lifeguard at a Humberside sport centre. They are six counts of indecent assault and three counts of rape, all relating to a woman who was aged 14 at the time. The offences are alleged to have taken place between October 1985 and March 1986 when the defendant was aged 25 and 26. Now aged 64, Lockwood appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday before Mr Justice Jeremy Baker for a preliminary hearing. Wearing a maroon tie, white shirt and dark suit, he stood to confirm his identity and then remained standing in the dock throughout the hearing. Former IOPC director Michael Lockwood, 64, arrives at the Old Bailey in central London for the preliminary hearing in his case (Jonathan Brady/PA) The senior judge rejected a prosecution application to transfer the case to the North East circuit where the original offences are alleged to have taken place. He set a trial of up to three weeks at the Old Bailey from July 1, 2024 and a further day-long pre-trial hearing on a date to be fixed in December. The defendant, who has previously indicated not guilty pleas to the charges against him, was granted continued unconditional bail. Lockwood had stepped down as director-general at the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) last December after it emerged he was the subject of a police probe into historical allegations of sexual abuse. The defendant, of Epsom, Surrey, was the first director-general appointed to lead the IOPC when it replaced the Independent Police Complaints Commission in 2018. He was previously chief executive of the London Borough of Harrow in north-west London. Giant hopscotch trails have been painted to celebrate 650 years of Bristol receiving independent rights. The installations, in Queen Square, Castle Park and College Green in the city, feature 650 tiles laid out in the traditional playground game. Each hopscotch has been sprayed onto the grass in white paint, with the hundreds of tiles forming the shape of the numbers 650. The numbers signify the anniversary of King Edward III granting rights and privileges to Bristol by royal charter in 1373. One giant hopscotch is on College Green (Under The Wing Productions/PA) Until this time, Bristol was divided geographically and administratively by the River Avon. The charter gave Bristol and its suburbs jurisdiction independent from authorities in Gloucestershire and Somerset. Vicky Lee, head of Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) said: With the summer holidays just around the corner, weve introduced hopscotch to our green spaces as a free-to-attend and must-do summer activity for families. Hopscotchers can enjoy the unique installation and then take a look around all of the fantastic retail and hospitality businesses nearby. Were looking forward to transforming our city into a giant playground and see Bristolians come together, say Happy Birthday to Bristol and celebrate as a city supporting our local businesses in the process. The trail will run in the city from the final week of July and throughout August. A lack of help for renters stands in stark contrast to Government action to support mortgage holders, a coalition of charities and tenants groups has said as they called on Rishi Sunak to do more. An open letter to the Prime Minister called on him to take seriously the insecurity that is plaguing private renters in England and to speed up the passage of new legislation through Parliament. Signatories to the letter, co-ordinated by the Renters Reform Coalition, include housing charity Shelter, The Big Issue founder Lord Bird, Citizens Advice and Independent Age. They wrote: We saw how quickly your government moved to introduce a Mortgage Charter in response to recent rising interest rates, in order to prevent repossession and ensure mortgage-holders have security in their homes. The Governments record in delivering on security for renters unfortunately stands in stark contrast. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt recently held a summit with mortgage lenders and a new mortgage charter was agreed to support those who are struggling. The letter also lamented the slow progress made by the Renters (Reform) Bill through Parliament, having had its first reading in May and no date having been set for a second. The groups called on this to be expedited and for its contents to be beefed up. The #RentersReformBill should be the beginning of a fairer system; where our homes dont make us sick, and we no longer worry about being unfairly evicted or discriminated against.@MichaelGove, you must make sure the govt prioritises the bill. It cannot be delayed any longer. pic.twitter.com/LRVdo9ow64 Shelter (@Shelter) July 19, 2023 The letter said: More than two months ago, four years since it was first promised, the Government introduced the Renters (Reform) Bill. We welcomed this but we are now left wondering why the bill hasnt been seen since. Moreover, despite many welcome aspects, in order to meet the governments ambition to create a fairer, more balanced private rented sector, the bill must be strengthened this legislation is a once in a generation opportunity to fix renting. With rents rising at record levels, many renters will still be at threat of eviction based on unaffordable rent rises. Your Housing Secretary has said that rent rises of up to 20% and 30% are unacceptable, yet the Renters (Reform) Bill will not prevent these increases happening in many instances. Further, the Bill retains some unsatisfactory aspects of the current system. Renters can still be served an eviction notice through no-fault of their own after four months of a tenancy. If renters are to receive anything resembling the security of other tenures, feeling confident to put down roots in their communities, this needs to be considerably longer. They also called for the two month notice period before tenants can be evicted to be extended, saying it is simply not long enough and is a major cause of homelessness following evictions from their privately rented homes. The letter comes as the latest official homelessness statistics, published on Tuesday, showed that the numbers of households and children in temporary accommodation in England are at record highs. Households in England in temporary accommodation . See story POLITICS Homelessness . Infographic PA Graphics. An editable version of this graphic is available if required. Please contact graphics@pamediagroup.com. Some 104,510 households were in temporary accommodation by the end of March a 25-year high, the Government figures showed. The total number of children in this situation is also at the highest level since records for that measure began in 2004 with 131,370 children living in temporary accommodation as of the end of March this year. The most common reason for households being owed a prevention duty by their local authority aimed at preventing a household threatened with homelessness within 56 days from becoming homeless was that a private rental tenancy had come to an end. This accounted for 14,530 or 38.3% of households and was up by 2.5% from the same quarter last year. Giving a breakdown, the department said the most common recorded reasons were that a landlord was selling or re-letting the property (9,180 households), unknown or other reasons (2,320), and rent arrears due to change in personal circumstances (800). Tom Darling, campaign manager of the Renters Reform Coalition, said: Four years after promising change, and two months after first giving people hope by introducing legislation, the Governments continued delays to the Renters (Reform) Bill are inexplicable. He referred to recent statistics from Shelter which suggested almost 200 families each day are being handed no-fault eviction notices across England. He said: This is the human cost of the Governments lackadaisical attitude to delivering on this key piece of legislation. That is why we as the Renters Reform Coalition and partners have joined together today to write to the Prime Minister and ask why the Government cant seem to see that private renters deserve security in their homes, just like everyone else, and that they deserve it now. The Government has previously stated that it is committed to creating a private rented sector that is fit for the 21st century and works for responsible landlords while strengthening protections for renters. They added: Our priority is ensuring that we get these reforms right. The date for Second Reading of the Bill is subject to parliamentary scheduling and will be announced in due course. The British and Irish governments need to work with a common strategy to exert pressure for the return of the Stormont Assembly, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said. Irelands premier said he regretted that the two governments had not worked more closely over the restoration of the powersharing institutions for quite some time. Mr Varadkar also said he was hopeful that Stormont would return in the autumn, but conceded it was not an expectation at this stage. The DUP collapsed the Stormont executive last year in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements created by the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Windsor Framework struck by London and Brussels earlier this year sought to reduce the red tape on goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK while maintaining the dual market access. However, the DUP has insisted the new accord does not go far enough to address its concerns around sovereignty and the application of EU law in Northern Ireland, and the party is maintaining its blockade of Stormont until it receives further legal assurances from the UK Government. The Stormont powersharing institutions are not operating due to a DUP protest (Liam McBurney/PA) Senior civil servants have been left running Stormont departments in the meantime. Mr Varadkar said he intended to visit Northern Ireland for a round of meetings with political parties next month. He said: Were still working as best we can with the British Government and the five main parties to have the Assembly and executive up and running in the autumn. One thing Im saying very strongly to the British Government is that we need to have a common strategy, that we need to work hand in glove, that we need together to put pressure on the parties to come into government. We havent really had that approach for quite some time, I regret that we dont. Im continuing to say to our UK counterparts that the right way forward is an agreed strategy, hand in glove, hand in hand approach between the British and Irish governments, because thats when Northern Ireland works best, when the British and Irish governments work together, and are honest brokers, and dont particularly take the side of nationalism or the side of unionists, and I would like us to get back to that point. The Taoiseach said he would like to see the Stormont institutions up and running before an investment conference planned for Belfast in September and a British Irish Council meeting in Dublin in November. He said: I think it would be a shame if that wasnt possible. I am also conscious as well that there are electoral cycles here. We have local European elections in June, theres a British general election due next year as well. I think if we dont kind of grab that window that exists in the autumn, therell be a tendency to say lets wait until the elections are out of the way and that opportunity might be lost. I think that would be a real shame. Mr Varadkar said the Irish Government was not party to discussions taking place between the Westminster government and the DUP over post-Brexit trading concerns. He said: I do still hope that well have the Assembly and executive up and running in September; it would certainly be nice to have it up and running for the investment conference. That would be a very positive thing if the Minister for the Economy, the Minister of Finance, the First Minister, deputy First Minister, can be there together, making the case for investment in Northern Ireland together. But theres a difference between hope and expectation. I certainly do hope that we can have institutions up and running in September. I think its fair to say its not an expectation at this stage. He said he had sought assurances that any deal between the UK Government and the DUP would not undermine the Good Friday Agreement and the Windsor Framework. We have that assurance repeatedly, from the prime minister and the Secretary of State (Chris Heaton-Harris). Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he does not think the Irish Government would offer condolences to Russia in the event of Vladimir Putins death. Mr Varadkar was responding to a question relating to Irelands historical foreign policy. He said he did not believe an Irish delegation would be present at the Russian presidents funeral. The hypothetical situation relates to events almost 80 years ago. The Irish Government adhered to a strict policy of neutrality throughout the Second World War. However, then-taoiseach and minister for external affairs Eamon de Valera sparked outrage among the international community when he expressed condolences to Germanys Irish minister Eduard Hempel following Adolf Hitlers death by suicide in 1945. The event caused significant reputational damage to Mr de Valera and the state, and is regarded as an important moment in the history of Irish neutrality. The diplomatic conundrum was dragged into the 21st century this week at a post-Cabinet briefing with Mr Varadkar. While Ireland insists it continues to employ a policy of neutrality, senior government ministers say this relates to being militarily neutral rather than being politically neutral. Rumours have circulated about the health of Russian President Vladimir Putin (PA/Nick Potts) Last week, Mr Varadkar pledged to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes when he visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. He also announced millions of euro in additional funding for humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Following the trip, the taoiseach was questioned about Mr de Valeras actions following the death of Hitler. Asked by reporters if Ireland would offer a similar condolence to Russia in the event of Mr Putins death, Mr Varadkar said: I dont think so. Briefly pausing to consider the theoretical event, he added: Its a good question, I hadnt thought of it before. Mr Varadkar, who was banned from travelling to Russia last year, concluded: I wouldnt imagine wed be represented at the funeral. In November, the Kremlin said it was placing 52 key representatives from Ireland on a sanctions list for expressing what it claimed was Russophobic sentiment. Mr Varadkar was among the officials subjected to the ban by Russia. The Russian embassy in Dublin has been approached for comment. Figure North Korean leader Kim Jong-un places a wreath to pay tribute to Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War and buried at the cemetery of martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers in Hoechang, South Phyongan Province, July 25, in this photo released by the North's Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited cemeteries to pay respects to the country's soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War and to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the armistice, state media said Wednesday. The Korean War ended with an armistice agreement on July 27, 1953. The North calls the war the Great Fatherland Liberation War and designated the armistice signing date as Victory Day. Kim visited the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery in Pyongyang on Tuesday on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, and was accompanied by Defense Minister Kang Sun-nam and other military leaders, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). During his visit, Kim said the "miracle of July 27" is a "great victory of significance in the human history as they inflicted eternally indelible disgrace and defeat on the U.S. imperialism, the chieftain of aggression, and prevented a new world war." It marked Kim's first public appearance in 37 days. He was last seen in public attending a plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party on June 19. Kim also visited the cemetery of martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) in Hoechang County, South Pyongan Province, to pay "high tribute" to the fallen Chinese soldiers on the occasion of the armistice anniversary, the KCNA said in a separate report. Kim stressed that the "great victory won by the peoples of the DPRK and China at the cost of their blood is invariably displaying its great vitality still now, century after century." Top officials accompanied Kim, including his powerful sister Kim Yo-jong and Jo Yong-won, secretary for organizational affairs at the ruling party, as well as Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui. China fought alongside the North against South Korean, U.S. and United Nations troops during the Korean War. Figure North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, bows to pay tribute to the North's soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War and buried at the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery in Pyongyang, July 25, in this photo released by the North's Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap Prison sentences handed to two Just Stop Oil protesters after they scaled a bridge on the Dartford Crossing were the longest given for a peaceful protest case in modern times, the Court of Appeal has been told. Morgan Trowland, 40, and Marcus Decker, 34, were jailed after they used ropes and other climbing equipment to scale the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, causing gridlock when police closed it to traffic last October. At a hearing in London on Wednesday, the protesters lawyers made a bid to challenge the extraordinary length of Trowlands three-year sentence and Deckers jail term of two years and seven months. Daniel Friedman KC, representing the activists, said in written arguments their jail terms were the longest ever handed down in a case of non-violent protest in this country in modern times. The protesters face a wait to discover the outcome of their appeal bid after judges said they will give their written decision at a later date. A trial at Basildon Crown Court was previously told the bridge was shut from 4am on October 17 until 9pm the next day, sparking traffic jams as motorists were forced to use tunnels instead. In April, a jury unanimously found Trowland and Decker guilty of causing a public nuisance. Just Stop Oil previously said sentencing Judge Shane Collery KC was trying to set a precedent and deter people. The environmental campaign group said Decker, a German citizen who it said has leave to remain in the UK, faces deportation after serving his sentence. On Wednesday, Mr Friedman said the protesters have spent nine months locked up, having been in custody since their arrest last October. Just Stop Oil protesters scaled a bridge on the Dartford Crossing last October (Essex Police/PA) The barrister said this amounts to the longest sentence ever served in living memory for someone convicted over a peaceful protest. He described their manifestly excessive sentences as the longest by a very long way for deliberate obstruction of the highway or infrastructure. Mr Friedman said particular caution was needed over sentencing, including in the context of non-violent acts of civil disobedience, even when seriously disruptive of others. In written arguments, Mr Friedman said the sentencing judge handed down jail terms that were a disproportionate interference with the activists rights to free speech and protest. He said: The extent of the deterrent element of the offence was unduly severe, unreasonable, and otherwise likely to have a chilling effect on all protest rather than this type of protest. Mr Friedman also said the sentencing judge was unduly harsh in his approach to the two protesters previous convictions and prospect of rehabilitation. Trowland has six previous convictions relating to protests, while Decker has one, with lawyers for the pair previously saying they would not take part in further disruptive protest. Tom Little KC, for the Crown Prosecution Service, opposed the two mens appeal bids, saying there will be cases in which it is necessary to deter people from offending and further law-breaking. He said the sentencing judge was not wrong in his approach and placed the case in a high level of seriousness, noting its impact, duration and planning. Mr Little said there was a proper basis to impose a sentence which reflected a marked element of deterrent but which would not have a chilling effect on those conducting lawful protests across the country. In a reference to other protest incidents, Mr Little said the court could note the fact that Just Stop Oil protests have not been stopped in the middle of the road as a result of this or in the middle of Lords, or Wimbledon, or the Crucible, or wherever. Structural engineer Trowland, of Islington, north London, and private tutor Decker, of no fixed address, denied causing a public nuisance, arguing it was a protest. Their trial was told the protesters ascended to a point close to 200ft above the road and unfurled a giant Just Stop Oil banner and rigged up hammocks and stayed there. The men came down at about 5.30pm on October 18 with the help of police and a very tall cherry picker crane but the bridge, which links the M25 in Essex and Kent, was not reopened to traffic until later. A heavily pregnant woman was caught up in the disruption and needed urgent medical help, police said (Alamy/PA) Essex Police said those affected by the disruption included a heavily pregnant woman who needed urgent medical help. Another person missed the funeral of their best friend of 35 years, the force said, and a business lost more than 160,000 in earnings. Trowland, wearing a yellow shirt, joined Wednesdays hearing via video-link, sat alongside Decker, who wore a white T-shirt bearing the image of a red beetle. Ahead of proceedings, a crowd of singing and placard-waving supporters gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice in central London to demand the pairs release. Lady Justice Carr, sitting with Mrs Justice Cutts and Mrs Justice Thornton, said they need to reflect carefully before giving their ruling in writing. We are aware of both the potential urgency of the matter and its importance, Lady Justice Carr said. Two Just Stop Oil protesters jailed after scaling a bridge on the Dartford Crossing, causing gridlock when police closed it to traffic, will seek to challenge their sentences at the Court of Appeal. Morgan Trowland, 40, and Marcus Decker, 34, used ropes and other climbing equipment to scale the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links the M25 in Essex and Kent. The bridge was closed from 4am on October 17 last year to 9pm the following day, with jams as traffic was forced to use the tunnels instead, a trial at Basildon Crown Court was previously told. In April, a jury unanimously found the pair guilty of causing a public nuisance. Judge Shane Collery KC later sentenced Trowland at Southend Crown Court to three years in prison, while Decker was jailed for two years and seven months. Just Stop Oil protesters scaled a bridge on the Dartford Crossing in October last year (Essex Police/PA) The protesters are now due to bring bids to challenge their prison sentences at the Court of Appeal in London on Wednesday. Environmental campaign group Just Stop Oil previously said Judge Collery was trying to set a precedent and deter people by jailing two of its activists over the Dartford Crossing protest. Structural engineer Trowland, of Islington, north London, and private tutor Decker, of no fixed address, had denied causing a public nuisance, arguing that it was a protest. Prosecutor Adam King previously told the trial that the protesters ascended to a point close to 200ft above the road and unfurled a giant Just Stop Oil banner and rigged up hammocks and stayed there. He said the men came down at about 5.30pm on October 18 with the help of police and a very tall cherry picker crane but the bridge was not reopened to traffic until later. Essex Police said that those affected by the traffic disruption included a heavily pregnant woman who needed urgent medical help. Another person missed the funeral of their best friend of 35 years, the force said, and a business lost more than 160,000 in earnings. Lawyers for the two men previously said they did not intend to conduct further disruptive protests but Judge Collery said he saw no signs the defendants were any less committed to the causes you espouse than before. The judge said the pair have to be punished for the chaos you caused and to deter others from copying you. He added that protest is tolerated but that in no society can there be a blank cheque in terms of whats permitted. The appeal hearing before Lady Justice Carr, Mrs Justice Cutts and Mrs Justice Thornton is due to begin at 10.30am. A retired British miner is not allowing himself to get his hopes up as Cypriot judges prepare to sentence him for the manslaughter of his terminally ill wife, his daughter has said. David Hunter, 76, may be able to leave prison this week after being cleared of the more serious charge of premeditated murder. The pensioner, from Ashington, Northumberland, had been on trial for killing his spouse of 52 years, Janice, who died of asphyxiation at their home near the coastal resort town of Paphos in December 2021. David Hunter has spent 19 months in custody and his daughter is hoping he will be released within the next few weeks (Joe Giddens/PA) Hunter, who has been in custody for 19 months, told the court she cried and begged him to end her life as she suffered from blood cancer. His legal team will be arguing he should be given a suspended sentence and that there is no point in keeping him in prison any longer. The couples daughter Lesley Cawthorne said the family was apprehensive ahead of the sentencing hearing, which starts on Thursday and is expected to last at least two days. She told the PA news agency: We are hoping for time served or a suspended sentence but are very aware that theres a chance hell remain in custody. Were not counting our chickens. Ms Cawthorne said her father had been quietly relieved since last weeks verdict, but was not especially hopeful about his sentence. He doesnt want to allow himself to get his hopes up. Hes grateful that the judges seem to have understood what they went through and believe that he acted out of love. Michael Polak, director of Justice Abroad, which is representing Hunter, told PA: In this case we are putting forward case law form across common law jurisdictions such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom given that no cases such as this have ever been dealt with in Cyprus. In these jurisdictions, the courts have found that suspended sentences are appropriate where the facts are similar to those in Davids case. Last week the court found in Davids favour on all matters including that Janice had requested that he help her die, that he had acted because of his love for her, and that he then tried to end his own life. We will be submitting to the court that a suspended sentence is appropriate in this case, given the type of offence, Davids age, the fact that he has spent 19 months in custody, and his previous good character. There is no point in keeping David in prison any longer. David Hunter described his wife Janice, who is buried in Cyprus, as his best friend (Joe Giddens/PA) In May, Hunter broke down in tears as he told his trial, which lasted more than a year, that he would never in a million years have taken his wifes life unless she had asked him to. He added: She wasnt just my wife, she was my best friend. Hunter showed the court how he held his hands over his wifes mouth and nose and said he eventually decided to grant his wifes wish after she became hysterical. Six police officers could face criminal charges after a 90-year-old woman with dementia was put in a spit hood, handcuffed and had a Taser pointed at her. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said on Wednesday it is investigating the Metropolitan Police officers for potential criminal offences as well as gross misconduct. The elderly woman was distressed and allegedly spat at one officer when they were called to her home in Peckham, south-east London, on May 9. She was handcuffed, had a mesh spit hood placed over her head and a Taser trained on her before she was taken to hospital still with the handcuffs and spit hood on without being arrested. It is claimed she was left with cuts and bruising to both wrists and one of her arms. The Met referred the case to the IOPC, and a complaint was also made to the watchdog that excessive and unreasonable force was used against the woman, and accused officers of discriminating against the woman, who is black, due to her race, gender, age and disability. Six officers are being investigated for potential breaches of standards of professional behaviour, and the possible criminal offences of assault and false imprisonment. IOPC director Steve Noonan said: We are concerned by some of the actions and decision-making of police officers involved in the detention of this elderly and vulnerable lady, and we recognise this incident has also caused community concern. Its important that an independent investigation takes place to establish the full circumstances. We have been in regular contact with the ladys family to update them on the investigation. Once its complete, we will decide whether to make a referral to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision, and also whether any of the officers involved should face disciplinary proceedings. Investigators have viewed footage from body-worn video and hospital CCTV, as well as interviewing witnesses including medical staff. The Metropolitan Police said the six officers are all based in the forces Central South Basic Command Unit. One has been suspended while the other five are on restricted duties, meaning they have no contact with the public while the investigation is carried out. Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, local policing commander in Southwark, said: It is clear that this will have been a distressing experience for the lady involved and that the circumstances raise a number of questions that need to be answered. While I do not wish to pre-judge this process, officers know that they must be able to justify any use of force or restraint and we will expect that of the officers involved in this incident. They also know that we expect them to show compassion and to adjust their approach in real time according to the circumstances they are faced with. Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Roderic OGorman has said significant assaults in parts of Dublin will cause concern to tourists and local communities but that community work is ongoing to address anti-social behaviour. It comes after the US Embassy in Dublin issued a warning to visiting tourists to keep a low profile in the wake of serious assaults in the capital, including on a US tourist and a Ukrainian actor. Stephen Termini, a US tourist aged in his 50s, was injured in an attack on Talbot Street in Dublin last week while Taoiseach Leo Varadkar met and apologised to actor Oleksandr Hrekov after he required stitches following an assault. A banner has appeared across the Dublin embassys website on Wednesday which warns US tourists on how to be safe. The embassy advises all citizens to be aware of their surroundings and warns against walking alone, especially when it is dark. It warns against wearing or having expensive items on show and states that valuables should not be placed in outer pockets on backpacks. It comes after calls for more gardai on Dublins streets to help people feel safer and limit the number of unprovoked attacks. This week, Mr Varadkar has said this years target of recruiting 1,000 new members to An Garda Siochana (the Irish police), would be a challenge, but there was a need to be tough on public order offences. He said people are being attacked all the time on Irish streets, which is not something we can accept. Speaking on RTE Radio on Wednesday, Childrens Minister Mr OGorman said his department has brought forward significant measures on youth supports and that youth diversion projects are seen as extremely successful in diverting children who may have an initial offence away from custodial sentences and from subsequent reoffending. Undoubtedly there has been some very significant assaults in an area of our inner city and Ive no doubt that causes real concern to people travelling through those parts of the city, but most importantly to the communities living there. Thats why my department is, for example, part of the north inner city initiative that operates to support children, support young people and support communities across the north inner city, all the way from greater investment in early years services towards supporting youth work and youth services in that area. He said community safety partnerships, which will replace the joint policing schemes, will also be a much more structured way for Gardai to engage with the community and voluntary area. He also said the Governments approach was across a number of grounds, including an increased Garda presence. I think there is a very strong focus on all elements of the response to these incidents. I think perhaps maybe some more of the media focus is probably on the Garda numbers, but governments response is on all elements, and particularly in terms of the social supports needed to assist. More than 1.7 billion in child trust funds (CTFs) to help young people financially in early adulthood has not yet been claimed, a cross-party panel of MPs has said. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which scrutinises Government spending, raised concerns that many account holders do not know about their savings or have lost track of them. Nearly a million young adults or 42% of all 18 to 20-year-olds entitled to the money are missing out on it, according to its report. When your child turns 16, they can choose to manage their Child Trust Fund account themselves, but they cant withdraw the funds yet. Help your child learn how to manage their CTF account here https://t.co/v0weqXxJhW pic.twitter.com/cp6TU0VlT2 HM Revenue & Customs (@HMRCgovuk) November 27, 2020 HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) must do more to find and contact those young people, many of whom are from low-income backgrounds, the MPs said. They also said providers, which are earning very high fees of up to 100 million a year for passively managing CTFs mostly composed of Government money, are not doing enough to link up forgotten accounts with their owners. CTFs are long-term, tax-free savings accounts for people born between September 1 2002 and January 2 2011, which they can access when they turn 18. Many children received around 250 each from the state at the time their CTF was started, while those from low-income families or in local authority care received an additional 250. The average value of the unclaimed accounts is around 1,900 each, it is estimated. The committee also said families and carers of young people lacking mental capacity are finding it costly and complicated to access CTFs. PAC chair Dame Meg Hillier said: The aims behind Child Trust Funds are laudable for young people to come into a pot of money on reaching 18, with the promotion of financial literacy and good savings habits. But many young people are unaware that they have money waiting to be claimed. Schemes like these need careful planning so that they are not forgotten at the point when they mature. Our inquiry heard a world of difference can be made to care leavers in particular, with Funds acting as a jump-start into adult life. In an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, our young people need every bit of support we can give them. HMRC still has time to make sure that CTFs are given the chance to be the boost to young peoples futures which they were designed to be. An HMRC spokesperson said: Every 16-year-old is sent information about finding their Child Trust Fund with their National Insurance letter. We also regularly remind people how to check if they have an account. The banks and building societies managing the funds are also responsible for communicating with account holders. We would encourage anyone unsure about their situation to get in touch with their bank or building society as well. People can easily locate their Child Trust Fund accounts online by using the Find my CTF page on GOV.UK. Agents are receiving 20 inquiries on average from renters for every property they have to let, analysis from Rightmove suggests. The website looked at the volume of calls and emails about viewings that an average property is receiving across Britain. The average number of inquiries per available rental property May 2023 was 20, Rightmove said. In May 2019, there were just six inquiries typically per rental property. In north-west England, an average of 30 viewing inquiries are being received per rental property, according to Rightmove (Peter Byrne/PA) In the north west of England, there are now around 30 inquiries typically per rental home. Scotland and the south west of England are also areas where competition appears particularly tight, with 27 inquiries on average per rental home. There have been some suggestions that rising mortgage rates could push some landlords towards selling up. Here is the average number of inquiries per available rental property in May 2023, according to Rightmove: East Midlands, 18 East of England, 24 London, 15 North East, 17 North West, 30 Scotland, 27 South East, 20 South West, 27 Wales, 20 West Midlands, 25 Yorkshire and the Humber, 19 Concerns that some insurance customers are being left in the dark over why their claim has not been fully accepted have been raised by Which? The consumer group commissioned a survey of thousands of car and home insurance customers in November 2022 who had made a claim in the previous two years. More than 800 travel insurance customers were also surveyed in March 2023, who had claimed in the past two years. While the majority had their claims fully paid, the research indicated that some were paid only in part, or were rejected, or were in dispute. One in seven (14%) of car insurance claimants reported that their claim was either partially accepted, rejected or in dispute. This was also the case for more than a fifth (22%) of home insurance claimants and nearly two-fifths (38%) of travel insurance claimants surveyed. Over half (56%) of home insurance claimants and more than four in 10 (43%) travel insurance claimants whose claim was not fully accepted claimed they did not receive an explanation as to why. Which? said that not receiving an explanation for a rejected claim may make it harder to challenge the decision because of the limited information the customer has been told. The concerns were raised as the regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), is poised to introduce a new consumer duty, setting higher and clearer standards of consumer protections, from July 31. One of the outcomes financial firms will need to deliver under the consumer duty is in relation to consumer understanding, with communications needing to be easy to understand for the customer, Which? pointed out. The consumer group said it is concerned that apparent vagueness from some firms could make the process harder for people who are not confident enough to pursue clarification around claims decisions. Sam Richardson, deputy editor of Which? Money, said: No one wants to be in the position where they have to claim on their insurance still less have that claim be turned down. But not getting an explanation for why a claim hasnt been accepted in full isnt just frustrating it puts you, the consumer, at a serious disadvantage. Claimants who dont get the full picture from their insurers will struggle to take their claim to the ombudsman, as they dont have much information to prove where they and their insurer disagree. More than 2,200 car insurance customers and over 1,500 home insurance customers who had made a claim within the last two years were surveyed. Which? commissioned data company Dynata to carry out research on its behalf. An Association of British Insurers (ABI) spokesperson said: Insurance is there to protect you when things go wrong and our data shows that the vast majority of claims are accepted. However, we can appreciate that it is frustrating when a claim is declined and knowing why is crucial. Our members are always looking at ways to improve communication with customers and know that sharing information in a clear, accessible and timely way is vital. If youre unhappy with how your claim has been handled and wish to make a complaint, you should follow your insurers complaints process in the first instance. If youre unsatisfied with the process, you can then contact the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). Insurers will always aim to deal with complaints as swiftly as possible and will work with the FOS to understand where any learnings can be made. Thousands of brand new doctors are being urged to strike just nine days after starting work in Englands hospitals. The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced that junior doctors in England are to stage a fresh four-day walkout amid the ongoing row with the Government over pay. The strike will begin at 7am on August 11 just nine days after Foundation Year 1 junior doctors start their first ever NHS jobs on Wednesday August 2. Every year thousands of Foundation Year 1 doctors in England start their in-hospital training on the same day the first Wednesday in August though some will have shadowed senior doctors for the week beforehand. Junior doctors working for the NHS in England will take strike action for the 5th time from 7am, 11 August to 7am, 15 August. We continue to fight for #PayRestoration and continue to wait for the Government to return to the negotiating table. https://t.co/peTEJ5QgbY pic.twitter.com/FmSJD8T1q5 Junior Doctors (@BMA_JuniorDocs) July 26, 2023 A significant number of these doctors will have signed up to the union before they start their careers and the PA news agency understands these medics will be encouraged to take to pickets along with their new colleagues. The four-day walkout will take place in England between 7am on Friday August 11 and 7am on Tuesday August 15. Junior doctors from the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) announced they will also strike during the same days. It is the latest round of strikes from both junior doctors and consultants, which has led to the cancellation of tens of thousands of NHS appointments. Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chairs of the BMAs junior doctors committee, said in a statement: It should never have got to the point where we needed to announce a fifth round of strike action. Our message today remains the same: act like a responsible government, come to the table to negotiate with us in good faith, and with a credible offer these strikes need not go ahead at all. The Prime Minister has told us that talks are over. But it is not for Rishi Sunak to decide that negotiations are over before he has even stepped in the room. This dispute will end only at the negotiating table. If the Prime Minister was hoping to demoralise and divide our profession with his actions, he will be disappointed. Consultants, along with our specialist and associate specialist colleagues, have covered crucial services during our strikes and those same consultants were also on their own picket lines last week. Mutual solidarity has been on display at hospital picket lines up and down the country: this is a profession united in its refusal to accept yet another pay cut. Junior doctors are not going anywhere however much Government might wish we would. The facts have not changed: we have lost more than a quarter of our pay in 15 years and we are here to get it back. If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned. The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action. pic.twitter.com/BLJbJedgVo George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust (@GEHNHSnews) July 26, 2023 Health service leaders have called for an end to the dispute after figures show that industrial action in England over the last eight months has led to 819,000 appointments, operations and procedures being postponed. Earlier this month the Government announced pay increases for millions of public sector workers, including doctors. It said that junior doctors will receive a 6% rise along with an additional consolidated 1,250 increase, while hospital consultants will receive a 6% rise. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the deal was the final offer and that there will be no more talks on pay. As a result, BMA consultants announced that further walkouts will take place shortly before the August bank holiday, on August 24 and 25. The latest announcement from junior doctors means there will be six severely disrupted days in the NHS in England in August. Commenting on the strike, Miriam Deakin, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, said: August strikes by junior doctors as well as consultants will mark the ninth month of industrial action across the NHS. More strikes will be averted only by the Government and unions sitting down and talking. Patients have seen more than 820,000 routine treatments and appointments put back across the NHS since December due to industrial action which will have a long-lasting effect not just on work to cut waiting lists a Government priority but already low staff morale. Health minister Will Quince said: This is a hugely disappointing move by the BMA, whose continued action will harm patient care and put further pressure on other NHS staff. Were giving doctors in training a fair and reasonable pay rise, as recommended by the independent pay review body, with an average increase of around 8.8% which is above what most in the public and private sectors are receiving. This is expected to increase average pay for NHS doctors in training by 3,800 to around 47,600. Our award balances the need to keep inflation in check while recognising the incredibly important work they do. I urge the BMA to put patients first by ending their hugely disruptive strikes immediately. State department spokesperson Vedant Patel is seen answering questions during a daily press briefing at the department in Washington, U.S., July 25 in this screen captured image. Yonhap China and Russia have a role to play in bringing North Korea to the dialogue table, a state department spokesperson said Tuesday, insisting the two countries are also required to do so as members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the state department, added the United States remains open to engaging with Pyongyang without any preconditions. "Both Russia and the PRC have a potential role they can play, including through the auspices of the U.N. Security Council in which they can use their influence over the DPRK to encourage them to refrain from threatening unlawful behavior, behavior that will not just incite tensions in the immediate region but also the region broadly," he told a daily press briefing, referring to China and North Korea by their official names, the People's Republic of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "They also have a role to play in encouraging the DPRK to return to the negotiating table," the state department spokesperson added. His remark comes after North Korea announced that it has invited Chinese and Russian delegations to events in the country that will mark the 70th anniversary of the armistice agreement signed on July 27, 1953 that brought about a complete cessation of hostilities of the Korean War. Many observers believe the proposed visits by the Chinese and Russian delegations will mark the first known foreign trips to the reclusive North since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic while also indicating closer cooperation between the three countries. China and Russia, both permanent members of the UNSC and close supporters of North Korea, have vetoed about a dozen UNSC attempts to impose sanctions on North Korea for its unprecedented missile provocations since last year. Pyongyang fired 69 ballistic missiles in 2022, a new record for the number of ballistic missiles fired in a single year, despite multiple Security Council resolutions that prohibit the country from developing or using any ballistic missile technology. North Korea has also staged 12 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests since the start of last year, including its latest ICBM test conducted July 12. Patel said the U.S. remains committed to a diplomatic path. North Korea fires a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), July 12, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap NatWest boss Dame Alison Rose has resigned from her position after admitting to being the source of an inaccurate story about Nigel Farages finances. In a statement released early on Wednesday morning, NatWest Group chairman Sir Howard Davies said: The Board and Alison Rose have agreed, by mutual consent, that she will step down as CEO of the NatWest Group. It is a sad moment. She has dedicated all her working life so far to NatWest and will leave many colleagues who respect and admire her. In a statement of her own, Dame Alison thanked her colleagues for all that they have done, adding: I remain immensely proud of the progress the bank has made in supporting people, families and business across the UK, and building the foundations for sustainable growth. Earlier, Dame Alison said she made a serious error of judgment when she discussed Mr Farages relationship with private bank Coutts, owned by NatWest Group, with a BBC journalist. Sir Howard initially said the board members had decided the chief executive retained their full confidence but her position became ever more uncertain after the Chancellor and Downing Street were said to have serious concerns over her conduct. An emergency board meeting was called late on Tuesday night to determine her future, with the announcement of her resignation coming a few hours later. Last week, Mr Farage presented evidence, in the form of a 40-page dossier, that his account at Coutts had been closed partly due to his political views conflicting with the banks values. The evidence obtained from the bank through a data request contradicted a BBC News story, which initially claimed that the account closure was motivated by commercial reasons only, citing Mr Farages failure to meet a 1 million borrowing requirement. The BBC and its business editor Simon Jack apologised, saying the reporting had been based on information from a trusted and senior source but turned out to be incomplete and inaccurate. In a statement, released alongside Sir Howard on Tuesday evening, Dame Alison said: I recognise that in my conversations with Simon Jack of the BBC, I made a serious error of judgment in discussing Mr Farages relationship with the bank. Speaking on his GB News show, Mr Farage accused Dame Alison of breaching the FCAs conduct rules (Jonathan Brady/PA) Believing it was public knowledge, I confirmed that Mr Farage was a Coutts customer and that he had been offered a NatWest bank account. Alongside this, I repeated what Mr Farage had already stated, that the bank saw this as a commercial decision. I would like to emphasise that in responding to Mr Jacks questions I did not reveal any personal financial information about Mr Farage. In response to a general question about eligibility criteria required to bank with Coutts and NatWest I said that guidance on both was publicly available on their websites. In doing so, I recognise that I left Mr Jack with the impression that the decision to close Mr Farages accounts was solely a commercial one. Sir Howard said the overall handling of the circumstances surrounding Mr Farages accounts has been unsatisfactory, with serious consequences for the bank, before promising an independent review, which will be made public. Sheldon Mills, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) executive director for consumers and competition, said it had raised concerns about breaches of confidentiality by Coutts and its parent company NatWest. He also emphasised the importance of a well-resourced independent review to investigate the matter swiftly and fully, adding: On the basis of the review and any steps taken by other authorities, such as the Financial Ombudsman Service or Information Commissioner, on relevant complaints, we will decide if any further action is necessary. Speaking on his GB News show, Mr Farage accused Dame Alison of breaching the FCAs conduct rules, adding: I think there has been complete failure in this regard. The ex-MEP turned broadcaster went on: It is perfectly clear to me that Peter Flavel, the CEO of Coutts, has not done his job at all. It is perfectly clear to me that Alison Rose is unfit to be the CEO of a big group and that Howard Davies, who is supposed to be in charge of governance, has failed as well. Given that we have a 39% stake in this we, the great British public I think at that investor statement on Friday morning, the Government ought to say we have no confidence in this management. Frankly, I think they should all go and that is my conclusion from what weve learned this afternoon. The taxpayers stake in the company has gradually reduced over time due to several share sales by the Government, with the latest bringing its ownership down to 38.6%. A string of Tory MPs, including former cabinet minister David Davis and Saqib Bhatti, the Conservative Partys vice-chairman for business, had also called for Dame Alisons resignation. NatWests board of directors announced that Paul Thwaite, the current chief executive of the companys Commercial and Institutional business, will take over Dame Alisons responsibilities for an initial period of 12 months, pending regulatory approval. The board said in a statement that a further process to appoint a permanent successor will take place in due course. City minister Andrew Griffith will meet Britains largest banks on Wednesday morning to address concerns related to customers lawful freedom of expression. Obese people who want to take a new generation of weight-loss jabs should be prepared to stay on them for life, researchers have suggested. Studies show that people who stop the jabs such as semaglutide can regain much of the weight they have lost. Earlier this year, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommended the use of semaglutide (brand name Wegovy) for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 35 and one weight-related health condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Nice said the jabs should not be taken for more than two years. However, a team of obesity experts argue this guidance is largely based on the cost of the drugs and that people who take them should be prepared to take them long-term for treating their disease. Carel Le Roux, professor of metabolic medicine at Ulster University, told a briefing: These are treatments for the disease of obesity and what happens is, when you treat people effectively, the disease comes under control, and the minute you stop the drug, the disease relapses. He suggested the medical profession was comfortable prescribing for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or high blood pressure, and the same should be the case of managing obesity. He added: The minute we stop the drug, the disease (obesity) relapses, so one of the most important questions we ask our patients now is, are you prepared to take this treatment for the rest of your life? Because if youre not able to do that, you should stop because then we are probably at risk of doing more harm than we are doing good. So its important to reframe this as a disease that we are treating and that these are disease-modifying drugs, not weight loss drugs. John Wilding, a professor of medicine who leads clinical research into obesity, diabetes and endocrinology at the University of Liverpool, said: We do have to think about these medicines as long-term medications despite the fact that, for Nice at the moment, its only two years of treatment. We do know that obesity is a chronic disease and we would never think of just giving somebody a diabetes drug or blood pressure drug for two years and then stopping it because, of course, at that point the disease will recur. We know that happens with obesity. So, I do think we have to think about this as long-term treatment and thats something that is yet to be addressed from a policy perspective. Research results published last year in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism on people who stopped semaglutide showed they regained two-thirds of their lost weight over the course of the next year. Barbara McGowen, professor of endocrinology at Kings College London, said current NHS services were not set up to give the jabs to all those who may benefit from them. She added: With regards to the two-year rule It is just a cost measure rather than a clinical measure. We all agree that obesity is a chronic disease. We feel that these medicines should not be stopped after two years you wouldnt stop a statin, you wouldnt stop a blood pressure tablet. We know from the clinical trials that when medications are stopped, the weight is regained(and) there are psychological issues around weight regained. She said the two-year rule on stopping Wegovy by Nice is just probably not based on science. Prof Le Roux said the two-year rule from Nice was 100% built on health economics. He said the drugs are cost-effective but this cost-effectiveness stops after two years because the drug price continues to go up. He added: The equation is 100% driven by the price of the medication. And as we all know, all drugs become cheaper as time goes on.With more competition in the market, we hope that the drug prices will come down. So I think Nice made the right decision at the time, but we do hope that they will revise that decision, as we get more databut also as prices come down. Semaglutide also comes in a lower dose under the brand name Ozempic for managing type 2 diabetes. Liraglutide (Saxenda) is a different jab available on the NHS as a possible treatment for managing obesity in adults. Asked about the use of all these drugs for cosmetic reasons such as among people who were already a healthy weight Prof McGowan suggested they should not be used inappropriately. It should definitely not be for cosmetic reasons, theres no doubt about that, it should be for health reasons, she said. Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, said: We are aware of more research looking at use of semaglutide over a longer period of time than we have currently recommended. We look forward to the availability of further data, so we consider the longer-term use of semaglutide and establish whether it remains value for money for the taxpayer. Police have laid out plans to drastically reduce the number of mental health callouts dealt with by officers, putting the onus back onto healthcare staff. Some forces in England and Wales currently attend 80% of what a senior officer termed health and social care incidents, and this will be cut to between 20 and 30% within the next two years. Patients detained under the Mental Health Act currently wait with police officers for an average of 12 hours before receiving medical care, but under the plans this will be cut to a one-hour handover window. Policing minister Chris Philp said it is up to each of the 43 police forces in England and Wales along with healthcare boards to work out when and how to put the changes into place. Britains largest force the Metropolitan Police has already said officers will stop responding to mental health callouts from September unless there is a threat to life. In Humberside a pilot called Right Care, Right Person has seen an average of around 1,400 hours per month of police time saved, which Mr Philp said equates to an estimated one million hours per year nationally if similar savings are seen across all forces. He said: The police have been responding to a very large volume of mental health cases, which isnt of course the best thing for the person concerned because what they need is medical assistance, not a police officer turning up. What the National Partnership Agreement does is sets out a framework and an expectation that across the country, police forces will work together with the local NHS, to make sure that people suffering mental health crises get a health response and not a police response. Police will respond to cases where there is a public safety risk or a crime being committed, but not to cases such as welfare checks out of hours, or where a patient has failed to attend an appointment. Mr Philp said he expects forces to use the time saved for more visible patrolling in town centres, faster response times, and more resources for investigating crimes. A joint task force between police and health officials will be set up to monitor implementation of the plans. Rachel Bacon, the National Police Chiefs Council lead for policing and mental health, said that officers would always attend where there was a threat to life or someone was in immediate danger. Individuals told us that the attendance of police officers when they are experiencing health or social care issues has a negative impact and they feel criminalised, she said. It is often the case that attending officers are unable to provide the services which are needed to resolve the situation effectively. There is broad consensus that the polices primary purpose is to maintain peace and to prevent and detect crime. That is what the public rightly expect us to do. Asked about a lack of resources in the health service, Mr Philp said there will be 2.3 billion additional funding per year for mental health services by April 2024, and 150 million to build new facilities. By March 2024 it is expected that 24-hour mental health crisis phone lines will be in place across England and Wales, and over the next two years funding is being put in place for mental health ambulances. NHS Englands national mental health director Claire Murdoch said: It is vital that people experiencing a mental health crisis are given appropriate support and the NHS is committed to working with local police forces and their partners to ensure the right professional responds. Health services and police forces should use this agreement to develop protocols that best meet the needs of their local population, including seeking the views of patients, alongside assessing the additional resources they will need to deliver this. Mark Winstanley, chief executive of charity Rethink Mental Illness, said the plan was right in principle and welcomed the move to bring in the changes over time but added: It remains unclear how its ambitions will be fulfilled and whether the funding, workforce and resource will be in place to enable a whole sector response that can safely meet rising levels of need. Dr Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: It should not be taken as a green light for a unilateral discontinuation of police presence in mental health emergencies. David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Associations community wellbeing board, said: Councils recognise that the police may not always be the most appropriate service to respond to a mental health crisis and so it is good that this is being clarified through this national agreement. However, we are concerned that this is being rolled out too quickly, with inadequate local engagement and partnership working meaning that other agencies risk being unable to pick up any increases in demand for their services. Plans to sharply reduce the number of mental health callouts dealt with by police in England in the next two years are dangerous and could have catastrophic consequences, psychologists have warned. A government directive published on Wednesday means forces in England and Wales will be expected to reduce the number of such callouts officers attend from around 80% to between 20-30%. While patients detained under the Mental Health Act currently wait with police officers for an average of 12 hours before receiving medical care, the plan would bring in a one-hour handover window for medical staff to take over. President-elect of the British Psychological Society Dr Roman Raczka said: We absolutely agree that the vast majority of people in mental health crisis should be supported by trained mental health practitioners, and not the police. However, to withdraw police support within the next two years, at a time when mental health services are already stretched beyond capacity and under resourced after years of chronic underfunding, is simply dangerous. Policing minister Chris Philp said police forces across England and Wales could save up to one million hours a year under the plan (James Manning/PA) The promised investment in mental health services will not deliver trained mental health staff to the front line overnight, particularly bearing in mind the NHSs well-documented recruitment and retention issues. Were extremely concerned that people in crisis will fall between the gaps with potentially catastrophic consequences, with even greater risks to children and young people. Its vital that all mental health trusts receive adequate funding to do this, and that realistic and achievable timeframes are in place to resource and safely deliver this plan across England. The comments came as the national British Transport Police (BTP) announced it will not be adopting the government plan. Policing minister Chris Philp said it is up to each of the 43 police forces in England and Wales along with healthcare boards to work out when and how to put the changes into place, although there will be a taskforce to monitor whether the plan is being implemented. Asked about the lack of resources in the health service, he said there will be 2.3 billion additional funding per year for mental health services by April 2024, and 150 million to build new facilities. By March 2024 it is expected that 24-hour mental health crisis phone lines will be established across England and Wales, and over the next two years funding is being put in place for mental health ambulances. Mr Philp said: The police have been responding to a very large volume of mental health cases, which isnt, of course, the best thing for the person concerned because what they need is medical assistance, not a police officer turning up. What the National Partnership Agreement does is sets out a framework and an expectation that across the country police forces will work together with the local NHS, to make sure that people suffering mental health crises get a health response and not a police response. Britains largest force the Metropolitan Police has already said officers will stop responding to mental health callouts from September unless there is a threat to life. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley is pushing ahead with plans in the next two months for officers to attend mental health callouts only where there is a threat to life (Jordan Pettitt/PA) In Humberside a pilot called Right Care, Right Person has seen an average of around 1,400 hours per month of police time saved, which Mr Philp said equates to an estimated one million hours a year nationally if similar savings are seen across all forces. However, BTP is not going to adopt the national plan and will instead work on its own changes to try to save officers time waiting with patients in A&E. Chief Constable Lucy DOrsi said: We know that vulnerable people, or those in mental health crisis, are often drawn to the railway. Its why responding to these incidents is at the core of who we are as a police force. She went on: The very nature of the environment in which we operate is fundamentally different (from other forces). Were a national force, the railway is a dangerous place, and we have a duty of care to ensure the safety of those who work and travel on the network. Helping those in crisis is at the forefront of who we are and what we do. Police will respond to cases where there is a public safety risk or a crime being committed, but not to cases such as welfare checks out of hours, or where a patient has failed to attend an appointment. Mr Philp said he expects forces to use the time saved for more visible patrolling in town centres, faster response times and more resources for investigating crimes. Mark Winstanley, chief executive of charity Rethink Mental Illness, said the plan was right in principle and welcomed the move to bring in the changes over time. But he added: It remains unclear how its ambitions will be fulfilled and whether the funding, workforce and resource will be in place to enable a whole-sector response that can safely meet rising levels of need. Dr Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: It should not be taken as a green light for a unilateral discontinuation of police presence in mental health emergencies. David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Associations community wellbeing board, said: Councils recognise that the police may not always be the most appropriate service to respond to a mental health crisis and so it is good that this is being clarified through this national agreement. However, we are concerned that this is being rolled out too quickly, with inadequate local engagement and partnership working meaning that other agencies risk being unable to pick up any increases in demand for their services. Protesters will lobby Rishi Sunak to authorise full compensation payments when he gives evidence at the Infected Blood Inquiry on Wednesday. Campaigners will call on the Prime Minister to pay full compensation to those infected and affected by contaminated blood and blood products, as recommended by Sir Brian Langstaff, chairman of the inquiry, in April. Mr Sunak has previously said the Government will wait for the full report into the infected blood scandal before considering whether to extend the compensation scheme for victims. Campaigners want to see the compensation extended to more victims (Victoria Jones/PA) Clive Smith, chairman of the Haemophilia Society, said the Governments failure to act quickly on the compensation has only compounded the suffering of those who have been waiting for this for so long. He added that Sir Brian had accepted in April that it would require significant political will to pay full compensation and that is what campaigners want to see. People who have waited 40 years expect to see a significant demonstration of political will and a commitment to get this done as soon as is practical, he added. Mr Smith said that if the compensation was widened many would be able to see the finishing line was in sight. He said: 25 years ago the Haemophilia Society presented a letter to Tony Blair, yet here we are still arguing and campaigning for the same thing. To finally see the finishing line in sight would give a lot of people some sort of resolution and peace which theyve been campaigning for and fighting for for decades. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is due to give evidence to the inquiry (PA) The Infected Blood Inquiry was established in 2017 to examine how thousands of patients in the UK developed HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products given in the 1970s and 1980s. About 2,900 people died in what has been labelled the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS. Many had the blood-clotting disorder haemophilia and were given injections of the US product Factor VIII. Sir Brian has said an interim compensation scheme should be widened so more people including orphaned children and parents who lost children could be compensated. He said in April he was taking the unusual step of making the recommendation ahead of the publication of the full report into the scandal so that victims would not face any more delays. Under the initial scheme, only victims themselves or bereaved partners can receive an interim payment of around 100,000. The inquiry has recommended the Government establish an arms-length compensation body now, and definitely before the final report is made in the autumn. The Government risks undermining rules to ensure criminals cannot launder their money through UK bank accounts if it makes knee-jerk decisions after Nigel Farages bank account was closed, experts have warned. Proposed changes unveiled by ministers last week could also make it more difficult for politicians like Mr Farage to get an account in the first place, they added. Coutts, a bank for the rich, last month shut Mr Farages account because it could no longer make enough money from him. The Treasury has proposed new rules which would force banks to reveal why they are closing somebodys account (PA) In an internal report it said it had also taken into account his political stance, which it deemed at odds with its purpose. In response, claiming Coutts hampered Mr Farages freedom of speech, the Government quickly said it will force banks to explain why they close accounts and give customers 90 days notice. But this may have a chilling effect on decisions made by banks, said Tom Keatinge at the Rusi think tank who once worked on the teams making these decisions for JPMorgan. So Im a bank. I have been deputised by the money laundering regulations and other laws to look for suspicious activity to basically defend the UK and the financial system from abuse by criminals for money laundering and the like, he said. Now the Government is limiting one of the important tools that I have to achieve that that is being able to close a bank account at 60 days notice without having to give a reason. It will potentially leave banks less willing to take people on, making it harder for so-called politically exposed persons (PEPs) like Mr Farage to get an account in the first place, he said. Whereas on a 50/50 call, I might have given someone a bank account in the past, now Im going to need to be 70/30 because I dont want to go through the process of having to disclose why Im closing an account. That, by the way, might tip them off (to a criminal investigation) because you might send them a letter that reveals you suspect them of being connected with an organised crime group. Oliver Bullough, the author of Moneyland and Butler To The World, echoed Mr Keatinges words. He said the detail in the Governments announcement was slim but it could make banks more unwilling to provide banking services to PEPs. He said when it scrutinised Mr Farage, Coutts did what the Government has been asking it to do for years. Our regulators have been demanding with threats of fines and backed up by our politicians for years and years that banks do a better job of checking the origin of the wealth of their clients and the ongoing relationship with their clients all the time. And so banks have responded to that pressure and the incentives. Coutts was fined in 2012 for oversight failures (Coutts/PA) He said Coutts was fined 8.75 million by the Financial Services Authority in 2012 for, among other things, failing to identify and record all customers who were PEPs. Even if there is no suggestion of wrongdoing as in Mr Farages case PEPs are considered higher risk and banks have a legal duty to keep a closer eye on them. Such checks are vital for helping to combat money laundering through British banks but also mean it is expensive to provide a bank account to PEPs. Therefore banks will sometimes try to avoid offering services to such customers, especially if they are not providing a lot of revenue for the bank. Mr Keatinge said denying bank accounts or shutting accounts has been done for years due to money laundering regulations. When some Somali money service businesses complained a decade ago the Government said it would not intervene in the decision-making of private businesses. Mr Bullough said oligarchs from countries around the world although perhaps not from Russia may follow a similar playbook to Mr Farage if they are denied a bank account. Scientists believe they have solved the puzzle of why diamonds erupt in the Earths surface paving the way for future discoveries of the prized jewel. The team of researchers, led by the University of Southampton, have discovered that the breakup of tectonic plates is the main driving force for the generation and eruption of diamond-rich magmas from deep inside the Earth. Diamonds are hundreds of millions or even billions years old and are formed under great pressure. They are typically found in a type of volcanic rock known as kimberlite which is found in the oldest, thickest, strongest parts of continents such as in South Africa, which was the site of the diamond rush of the late 19th century. But scientists have been baffled as to how they reached the Earths surface until this latest study which is published in the journal Nature. Dr Tom Gernon, associate professor of Earth science at the University of Southampton and lead author of the study, said: The pattern of diamond eruptions is cyclical, mimicking the rhythm of the supercontinents, which assemble and break up in a repeated pattern over time. Diamond ore rock (kimberlite) showing dark crystals (olivine) and fragments of rock that were formed during explosive volcanic eruptions (Dr Tom Gernon/University of Southampton/PA) But previously we didnt know what process causes diamonds to suddenly erupt, having spent millions or billions of years stashed away 150 kilometres (93 miles) beneath the Earths surface. The new research examined the effects of global tectonic forces on these volcanic eruptions spanning the last billion years. Heavy machinery operating within a major diamond mine in South Africa (Dr Tom Gernon/University of Southampton/PA) The team, which included researchers from the universities of Birmingham, Leeds, Potsdam, Portland State, Macquarie, Florence, and Queens in Ontario, used statistical analysis, including machine learning, to examine the link between continental break-up and kimberlite formations. The results showed that eruptions of most kimberlite volcanoes occurred 20 to 30 million years after the tectonic breakup of Earths continents. Dr Thea Hincks, senior research fellow at Southampton, said: Using geospatial analysis, we found that kimberlite eruptions tend to gradually migrate from the continental edges to the interiors over time at rates that are consistent across the continents. They then found that the Earths mantle: the convecting layer between the crust and core was disrupted by rifting (or stretching) of the crust, even thousands of kilometres away. Dr Tom Gernon (University of Southampton/PA) Dr Stephen Jones, associate professor in Earth systems at Birmingham, and study co-author said: We found that a domino effect can explain how continental break-up leads to formation of kimberlite magma. During rifting, a small patch of the continental root is disrupted and sinks into the mantle below, triggering a chain of similar flow patterns beneath the nearby continent. Dr Sascha Brune, head of the geodynamic modelling section at GFZ Potsdam, and a co-author on the study, ran simulations to investigate how this process unfolds. He said: While sweeping along the continental root, these disruptive flows remove a substantial amount of rock, tens of kilometres thick, from the base of the continental plate. Dr Gernon explained that this process led to the conditions needed for the creation of diamond-producing kimberlites. He said: Remarkably, this process brings together the necessary ingredients in the right amounts to trigger just enough melting to generate kimberlites. The scientists say that this understanding of this kimberlite migration helps them understand the locations and timings of past volcanic eruptions and therefore the insight into locating potential diamond deposits. Downing Street and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt are understood to have significant concerns about the position of NatWest boss Dame Alison Rose after she admitted being the source of an inaccurate story about Nigel Farages finances. Dame Alison admitted to a serious error of judgment when she discussed Mr Farages relationship with private bank Coutts, owned by NatWest Group, with a BBC journalist. NatWest Group chairman Sir Howard Davies said that after careful reflection the board members had decided the chief executive retained their full confidence. However, according to Sky News, the bank is now expected to dispense with her services after an emergency meeting was called late on Tuesday night to determine her future. Despite the boards initial backing, it is understood the Chancellor and Downing Street have significant concerns, and Dame Alison has faced calls to resign from Mr Farage and a string of Tory MPs. Former cabinet minister David Davis said Dame Alison had little choice but to resign. Last week, Mr Farage presented evidence, in the form of a 40-page dossier, that his account at Coutts had been closed partly due to his political views conflicting with the banks values. The evidence obtained from the bank through a data request contradicted a BBC News story, which initially claimed that the account closure was motivated by commercial reasons only, citing Mr Farages failure to meet a 1 million borrowing requirement. The BBC and its business editor Simon Jack apologised, saying the reporting had been based on information from a trusted and senior source but turned out to be incomplete and inaccurate. In a statement, released alongside Sir Howard, Dame Alison said: I recognise that in my conversations with Simon Jack of the BBC, I made a serious error of judgment in discussing Mr Farages relationship with the bank. Believing it was public knowledge, I confirmed that Mr Farage was a Coutts customer and that he had been offered a NatWest bank account. Alongside this, I repeated what Mr Farage had already stated, that the bank saw this as a commercial decision. I would like to emphasise that in responding to Mr Jacks questions I did not reveal any personal financial information about Mr Farage. In response to a general question about eligibility criteria required to bank with Coutts and NatWest I said that guidance on both was publicly available on their websites. In doing so, I recognise that I left Mr Jack with the impression that the decision to close Mr Farages accounts was solely a commercial one. Sir Howard said: As she (Dame Alison) recognises, she should not have spoken in the way she did. This was a regrettable error of judgment on her part. The events will be taken into account in decisions on remuneration at the appropriate time. However, after careful reflection the board has concluded that it retains full confidence in Ms Rose as CEO of the bank. The chairman added that the overall handling of the circumstances surrounding Mr Farages accounts has been unsatisfactory, with serious consequences for the bank, before promising an independent review, which will be made public. Sheldon Mills, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) executive director for consumers and competition, said it had raised concerns about breaches of confidentiality by Coutts and its parent company NatWest. He also emphasised the importance of a well-resourced independent review to investigate the matter swiftly and fully, adding: On the basis of the review and any steps taken by other authorities, such as the Financial Ombudsman Service or Information Commissioner, on relevant complaints, we will decide if any further action is necessary. Speaking on his GB News show, Mr Farage accused Dame Alison of breaching the FCAs conduct rules, adding: I think there has been complete failure in this regard. The ex-MEP turned broadcaster went on: It is perfectly clear to me that Peter Flavel, the CEO of Coutts, has not done his job at all. It is perfectly clear to me that Alison Rose is unfit to be the CEO of a big group and that Howard Davies, who is supposed to be in charge of governance, has failed as well. Given that we have a 39% stake in this we, the great British public I think at that investor statement on Friday morning, the Government ought to say we have no confidence in this management. Frankly, I think they should all go and that is my conclusion from what weve learned this afternoon. The taxpayers stake in the company has gradually reduced over time due to several share sales by the Government, with the latest bringing its ownership down to 38.6%. Also appearing on the show, former Brexit secretary Mr Davis said: Im afraid I think that Dame Alison Rose has little choice but to resign. And frankly, Im astonished that the board of directors indicated full confidence in her. Treasury minister Andrew Griffith (Aaron Chown/PA) Alexander Stafford, Tory MP for Rother Valley, tweeted: Absolutely disgraceful that she was briefing and leaking financial details. This breaks all moral, ethical and banking codes. If she has a shred of decency she would do the honourable thing and resign. Saqib Bhatti, the Conservative Partys vice-chairman for business, said: Its shocking to hear that Dame Alison Rose has admitted being the source of the leak of Mr Farages bank details. While its not for politicians to determine what the company should do, her position would appear to now be untenable. City minister Andrew Griffith will meet Britains largest banks on Wednesday morning to address concerns related to customers lawful freedom of expression and Dame Alison is expected to attend. On Monday, Mr Griffith wrote to the chief executives of 19 banks, building societies and digital challengers, asking for a roundtable discussion at the earliest opportunity and warning that regulations around politically exposed persons were being applied in a disproportionate manner by some financial institutions. Frequent SNP rebel Fergus Ewing has described the party as toxic and claimed some in Government or leadership roles have not spoken to him in more than a year. Mr Ewing has become a critic of the leadership of the party in recent months, accentuated by his outbursts from the backbenches against policies including highly protected marine areas (HPMAs), the failure to dual the A9 and the deposit return scheme. The former minister has also criticised the SNP decision to unite with the Scottish Greens, bringing the partys co-leaders into Government as junior ministers. Speaking to the Holyrood Sources podcast, the former minister said he had not heard from some in the partys upper echelons. The atmosphere in Holyrood is not particularly happy now within the SNP group, Im afraid to say, Mr Ewing said. So much so that frankly theres many people in the cabinet and the leadership that havent uttered a word to me or vice versa for well over a year. Its very sad, and I do think they would have done better to have listened to people like me when I set out very detailed, logical, rational objections to some of the policies they have been pursuing. He added: Does that bother me a great deal? Frankly, I dont give a damn, Im not there for a social club, Im not there to have a happy time in the bar. Im there to do a job for Scotland, Im in a privileged position of being a representative of a major, hugely important part of Scotland and if people dont like me or if they dont like my ideas, well thats just tough. Ive reached the stage now where I can see very clearly that I know what needs to be done, I respect others that disagree with me, but Im certainly not going to be deterred simply because theres a bit of a toxic atmosphere amongst the SNP group in Holyrood. The SNP stalwart went on to say he did not believe Yes could win a referendum in the next few years, owing to extremist policies, such as gender self-identification, HPMAs and the deposit return scheme. Fergus Ewing said Humza Yousaf should detach himself from this dalliance with the Greens (Jane Barlow/PA) On Humza Yousafs leadership, Mr Ewing said: Humza is a new leader, he was elected with a narrow mandate, and hes entitled, therefore, to have a shot, to have a chance. But my feeling is that that chance is slipping away from his grasp unless he makes good on the fundamentals, and one of them is our unimplemented promise to the A9 and the A96. The Inverness and Nairn MSP has been outspoken in recent months about the need for the road, which has claimed the lives of dozens of drivers in the past few decades, to be dualled, going so far as to say the First Minister should consider his position if he cannot deliver the road and threatening to revoke his support for the Government should it fail to make progress in the next year. The most serious thing the First Minister should do, Mr Ewing added, was to detach himself from this dalliance with the Greens. He went on to claim that painting the Conservatives as reprehensible during Nicola Sturgeons time in Government was not only wrong, but its a pretty duff political strategy, urging the SNP to be a broad kirk. A party spokesperson said: The SNP is by far the biggest group at Holyrood, so there may be differences of view from time to time. We will continue to work hard to earn the trust of people throughout Scotland. A spokesperson for the Scottish Greens said: The climate emergency is the biggest environmental crisis that this generation and all future generations will ever face. You only need to look to the wildfires and heatwaves engulfing Europe to see the devastating impact. With Scottish Greens in the Government, we will not apologise for the climate action we are taking, whether it is boosting recycling, banning new incineration or investing in our iconic wildlife and nature. Social justice and environmental justice go together. That is why we are working for people, with a 25-a-week Scottish Child Payment that is lifting families out of poverty, free bus travel for everyone under 22 and the biggest expansion of the living wage since devolution. We are very proud of the Bute House Agreement, which was supported by the vast majority of members from both the Scottish Greens and the SNP. A suspended chief constable who is under investigation following alleged sexual offences has said he strenuously denies any allegations of criminality. Will Kerr, Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, is being investigated by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI) and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The PONI said its criminal investigation followed serious allegations of sexual offences against Mr Kerr, formerly the assistant chief constable at the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). He said in a statement: In relation to the statement from the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland in which she named me as being the subject of a criminal investigation into serious allegations of sexual offences, I strenuously deny any allegations of criminality. Will Kerr pictured during his service with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (David Young/PA) I recognise and respect the fact that accountability and due process are vital to any investigation, regardless of rank or position. I will continue to co-operate with any investigation. I hope that all matters will be expedited so that they will be concluded without delay. The IOPC said its investigation, following a referral from the police and crime commissioner of Devon and Cornwall, related to allegations of misconduct. The watchdog will consider whether Mr Kerr may have breached police professional standards relating to the allegations being investigated by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. It is also investigating whether inaccurate information may have been provided as part of a previous vetting process. The Chief Police Officers Staff Association (CPOSA) confirmed Mr Kerr was co-operating with the investigation, which it said related to legacy misconduct matters for which he had not yet been interviewed. Marie Anderson, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, said: The Police Ombudsman commenced a criminal investigation into serious allegations of sexual offences against a former PSNI senior officer, currently the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall, on June 16 2023, using her own motion powers. The Ombudsman will also consider the circumstances under which the allegations were investigated by PSNI. She said the office had been engaging with the IOPC on cross-jurisdictional issues in recent weeks as well as the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioners Office. Mrs Anderson added: Details concerning the precise nature of the allegations and any early investigative actions remain confidential at this time. Independence and impartiality are central to all Police Ombudsman investigations and the office will be robust in following the evidence to ensure that any police officer in breach of the law and who abuses their position of trust will be held to account. As the investigation is at an early stage, it is not possible to confirm a likely timeframe for its conclusion. The PSNI said it was aware of the ombudsmans criminal investigation and would support the ombudsman as required. Mr Kerr, who worked for the PSNI for 27 years, joined Devon and Cornwall Police in December 2022. On Wednesday, Devon and Cornwalls police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez announced that Mr Kerr had been suspended as chief constable following allegations of misconduct. In a statement, her office said Ms Hernandez had suspended Mr Kerr following allegations of misconduct and had referred the matter to the IOPC. An IOPC spokesman said it had launched an investigation into allegations of misconduct against Mr Kerr following the referral from Ms Hernandez. Our investigation will consider whether Mr Kerr may have breached police professional standards relating to serious criminal allegations currently under investigation by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, he said. We are also investigating whether inaccurate information may have been provided as part of a previous vetting process. We are working closely with PONI and will provide updates when we can. Mr Kerr joined Devon and Cornwall Police in December 2022 (PA) Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that Deputy Chief Constable Jim Colwell would become Acting Chief Constable following Mr Kerrs suspension. Mr Colwell said: I understand our communities will be concerned about the reports in the media today regarding the suspension of Chief Constable Will Kerr KPM by the police and crime commissioner. The PCC suspension of Mr Kerr follows a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. I am keen to reassure the public that we will maintain our focus on delivering the best possible service to our communities. Mr Colwell added: I will be stepping into the role of Acting Chief Constable on an interim basis to ensure consistency of leadership and service delivery of policing across the peninsula. This now remains a matter for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the IOPC to investigate. Mr Kerr has spent more than 30 years in policing and was deputy chief constable at Police Scotland before joining Devon and Cornwall Police. Police Scotland said: Will Kerr left Police Scotland in 2022. These allegations do not relate to his time at Police Scotland and it would be inappropriate to comment further. While serving with the PSNI, Mr Kerr reached the rank of assistant chief constable, leading on both serious crime and counter-terrorism. In 2015 he was made an OBE, and he received the Kings Police Medal in the New Year Honours earlier this year. Ian Drysdale, vice chair of the CPOSA, said: The Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police Force was today suspended in respect of an ongoing inquiry into legacy misconduct matters for which he is yet to be interviewed. CC Kerr recognises and respects the fact that accountability and due process are vital to any investigation, regardless of rank or position. He will continue to co-operate with any investigation and hopes that all matters are expedited so that they can be concluded without further delay. A youth concert featuring wartime songs is held at an outdoor theater in Pyongyang to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, July 24, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap North Korea may conduct a much-anticipated military parade as early as midnight Wednesday to mark the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War armistice celebrated in the reclusive country as Victory Day, multiple sources said. Commercial satellite imagery has shown that the North has been preparing for the parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang an event likely aimed at highlighting its military presence and fostering internal unity. "The parade could begin as early as midnight and stretch into the wee hours," a government source told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity. Until 2018, Pyongyang held military parades mostly in the morning. But since the event held to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party in October 2020, it has staged parades at night. A teenager who was stabbed in a Sussex village has died days after the incident as police have arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of murder. The 17-year-old boy was fighting for his life in hospital after being seriously assaulted at an address in Warnham, West Sussex, in the early hours of Sunday, July 23 and died on Tuesday, July 25. Two 16-year-old boys were first arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and one has now been re-arrested on suspicion of murder, while the other is being treated as a witness and will face no further action. A 16-year-old girl and a 52-year-old woman have also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Police officers previously said the incident, on Marches Road, was believed to be an isolated incident, which does not pose a threat to the wider community. Detective chief inspector Kimball Edey, who is leading the investigation from Surrey and Sussexs major crime team, said: Our thoughts are with the victims family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. We know that there were a number of young people in attendance at an event, and are keen to speak to them. Further arrests have been made in this case, and we ask the public not to speculate about the incident on social media as it may jeopardise the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information should report it to Sussex Police via the Major Incident Public Portal here or call 01273 470101 and quote Operation Ketley. People can also provide information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Campaigners have called on the Government to test out a refugee visa allowing people fleeing war and persecution to travel to the UK to apply for asylum. The idea is one of a series put forward by the Refugee Council as alternative solutions to curbing Channel crossings. The charity said its comprehensive plan which it calls the National Refugee Strategy finds safe ways for refugees to reach the UK and upholds the right for people to apply for asylum on UK soil regardless of how they arrive, while also suggesting what deals could be struck with the European Union and France. It came as Channel crossings resumed on Tuesday and continued on Wednesday after poor conditions at sea eased, having stalled arrivals for several days. More than 14,500 migrants have arrived in the UK so far this year after making the journey, provisional Home Office figures show. Meanwhile, plans to move migrants on to the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland, Dorset, have reportedly been delayed again, amid suggestions the first arrivals may now not board until next month. The Refugee Councils recommendations to the Government include: A pilot of a refugee visa which allows people to travel to the UK to apply for asylum. Giving children a chance to join relatives in the UK and tackling financial constraints and other barriers that hinder family reunion. Allowing people with relatives already in the UK to travel from EU member states. Giving the right to work to asylum seekers who have been waiting longer than six months for a decision on their claim. The charitys chief executive Enver Solomon said: The human cost and chaos of the current system have reached shocking levels and we urgently need a new approach. The proposals we set out would go some way towards making the smugglers redundant. When there are safer alternatives for people to travel to the UK to begin their refugee application, the number of people arriving in boats will drop significantly. By putting in place safe routes, achieving agreements with our French and European neighbours, and treating people fairly and with compassion when they reach our shores, we can establish a very different approach from the inhumanity and disorder the Government is overseeing. The charity called on the Government to launch a year-long pilot of a refugee visa similar to schemes used for Ukrainians fleeing conflict at an estimated cost of 50.2 million. The visa would allow people from Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Eritrea and Sudan to apply for permission to travel to the UK to claim asylum, with officials to issue 10,000 visas while the trial is carried out. The plan focuses on some of the most common nationalities to cross the Channel which also have high grant rates of asylum in the UK. Applicants would need to have left their home country before requesting a visa and they would be allowed to submit applications online or at centres set up in neighbouring countries to the one they are fleeing. Basic security and nationality checks would be carried out, with other forms of documentation accepted if the applicant did not have a passport, according to the charity. It called for decisions to take no more than three days and for travel to be arranged once a visa is issued, like in similar resettlement schemes. If someone is refused asylum they could be returned to their home country. A Home Office spokeswoman said: Our priority is to stop the boats. Those in need of protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach rather than risking their lives or paying people smugglers to arrive illegally in the UK. The UK has a strong track record of providing protection to those who genuinely need it and we are committed to exploring new safe and legal routes, but we must first grip the rise in illegal migration. Our Illegal Migration Act is a key part of our work to deter people from making unnecessary journeys to the UK. We are also taking action to ensure all asylum claims are considered without unnecessary delay and remain on track to clear the legacy asylum backlog by the end of the year. The deadline of a public consultation on plans to close nearly all railway station ticket offices in England has been extended until September, the Rail Delivery Group has confirmed. Train operators unveiled proposals earlier this month for mass closures of station ticket offices after Transport Secretary Mark Harper urged them to cut costs. A three-week consultation on the plans was announced on July 5 by the Rail Delivery Group, which said staff would move out of ticket offices, adopting new customer help roles already in place on many parts of the rail network. Consultation on changes to how tickets are sold extended Passengers now have until 1st of September to have their say on the proposed changes. Visit https://t.co/5GZ6Dt243I to find out more about the proposals and respond to the consultation. Rail Delivery Group (@RailDeliveryGrp) July 26, 2023 In a statement issued on Wednesday, Jacqueline Starr, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, said: Train companies have listened to feedback and are extending the time available to respond to the consultation on changes to how tickets are sold at stations to 1st of September. Operators are keen to give more people a chance to give their views on the proposals, so they can bring the railway up to date with dramatic shifts in customer buying habits while supporting all its customers as the railway evolves and adapts. While local plans vary, the aim of the proposals is to bring staff out from behind ticket office windows to offer more help for customers buying tickets and navigating stations. At the same time, ticket vending machines are being upgraded to offer a wider range of fares and we have committed that no customer will have to go out of their way to buy a ticket. The RDG has said the proposals would mean more face-to-face support was available across the network to choose the cheapest tickets and advise on journey planning, as well as support those with accessibility needs. The plans have drawn fierce criticism from groups representing passengers and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT). Responding to the announcement, Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) joint interim general secretary Peter Pendle said: Three weeks was never long enough for a meaningful consultation and Im glad to see the Government backing down on that. Members of the Rail, Maritime, and Transport union at a protest in London (James Manning/PA) TSSA has been clear from the start that ticket office staff are essential for safe and secure travel for vulnerable passengers, especially women, and for an inclusive and welcoming railway for passengers with disabilities. The unreasonably short three-week consultation period looked like a cynical attempt to silence the voices of the most vulnerable rail users in order to rush through savage cuts to our members jobs. Whilst the extension to the consultation is welcome, what rail users really need is for this cynical and unnecessary plan to cut ticket office staff to be shelved completely. In a statement, the RMT described the five-week extension as wholly inadequate and called for the whole disastrous closure programme to be abandoned. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: Although our pressure has forced their hand, it is still a deeply flawed and a wholly inadequate consultation process which we are considering challenging legally in the courts. Our campaign to save ticket offices, protect our members jobs and look out for the best interests of all rail passengers will only intensify in the coming weeks. 20,000 rail workers will walk out on July 29 in pursuit of a negotiated settlement on job security pay, conditions and saving ticket offices. This only serves to demonstrate that the entire process on ticket office consultation is wholly inadequate and the government and @RailDeliveryGrp should now formally abandon the entire ticket office closure programme.#SaveTicketOffices https://t.co/6gEvK8zohW RMT (@RMTunion) July 26, 2023 In a tweet, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham one of five Labour metro mayors preparing to take legal action in a bid to halt the rushed mass closure plan said of the extended deadline: This shows we were right to challenge this flawed process. But its not good enough. The law requires a 12-week consultation. We will continue to pursue our legal action. Watchdogs Transport Focus and London TravelWatch have received more than 170,000 comments since the consultation was launched three weeks ago. Tom Marsland, policy manager at disability equality charity Scope, said: These botched plans will make rail travel impossible or much harder for many disabled people. Extending the consultation doesnt solve that. The Government and rail industry need to go back to the drawing board. The Government must listen to disabled people and halt these plans in their tracks. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: While this is a matter for the industry, it is right that train operators have listened to feedback and extended their consultations, following continued engagement with stakeholders, including accessibility groups. Following the consultations, independent passenger bodies will continue to play a vital role in assessing and shaping proposals. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) welcomed the extended deadline, and said it had raised concerns with the Department for Transport earlier this week about the potential adverse effects the closures could have on disabled and older individuals. The watchdog said it had reminded the department of its obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act, which requires public sector organisations to carefully consider equality when when designing or changing services. EHRC chairwoman, Kishwer Falkner, said: The needs of older and disabled passengers must be properly considered and addressed in any proposed rail ticket office closures. We welcome the decision to extend this consultation to ensure all those who need to can respond properly and express any concerns. Rishi Sunaks Conservatives have backed down from plans to charge journalists 137 to report on the governing partys annual conference. Other British political parties offer free accreditation for journalists but the Tories introduced a fee last year. The move prompted considerable anger and complaints from media organisations. Last month, an open letter signed by nearly 300 news organisations from around the world accused the Tories of setting a dangerous precedent internationally by trying to tax journalists for doing their job. The party defended the charge and said it was necessary to address the cost of security checks for people accrediting but not turning up which it said amounts to tens of thousands of pounds. The cost of accreditation for the conference, in Manchester in October, was set to rise to 880 for journalists applying after the end of July. The decision to drop the charge comes after talks between the Conservatives and news organisations including the Foreign Press Association, the News Media Association, the News Media Coalition and the Society of Editors. In a statement, the media bodies said: Following dialogue between the Conservative Party and industry bodies, we welcome the decision to withdraw the media accreditation fee and refund those that have already paid. As recognised by the party, all party conferences provide a valuable opportunity for political parties to communicate their policies to the public and ahead of an anticipated general election year, the ability of the media to scrutinise and report freely from such events remains especially important and vital for democracy. In agreeing to scrap the fee, the party has asked that journalists and news organisations are mindful of the number of applications they submit to attend the conference. While it is understood that the news agenda often dictates last minute changes, there remains a significant cost and time resource associated with accrediting applications not least for the police. We are grateful to the party for listening to our concerns and acting accordingly. Executive director of the Society of Editors Dawn Alford also welcomed the change, saying: For more than a year, the Society has called on the Conservative Party to re-think plans to charge the media for attending its party conferences. In a democratic society, it is essential that no charging barrier is put in place of the medias ability to report on behalf of the public. Our concern throughout has been the dangerous precedent that any fee could set and its impact on press freedom more widely. We are grateful that, after further dialogue, the party has agreed to drop the charges and we encourage journalists to only apply for places that they intend to use. Andrew Moger, chief executive of the News Media Coalition (NMC), said: This has been a wake-up call and the NMC encourages all newsrooms, big and small, publisher or news agency, to be vigilant and opposed to any fees imposed for accreditation applications by political parties, the world of organised events or more generally. The Tories have extended the deadline for applications for free press passes to August 31. Any media organisations which have paid for accreditation will be offered a refund. The party, in agreeing to scrap the fee, has asked for reporters and media to be mindful of the administrative pressure of applying for conference places that do not end up being used. The Tories said no shows may be charged a levy when applying for future conferences. A Conservative Party spokesperson said: We are pleased to have reached an agreement with a range of trade associations which addresses the concerns of both sides. We believe this revised system will deal with the issues of no shows and prevent non-journalists applying for media passes to evade accreditation charges. British billionaire and Tottenham Hotspur owner Joe Lewis has been indicted in New York for orchestrating a brazen insider trading scheme, a US attorney said. Damian Williams, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, alleged that over several years Mr Lewis had abused his access to corporate boardrooms and given inside information to romantic partners, personal assistants, private pilots and his friends. Those folks then traded on that inside information and made millions of dollars in the stock market, because thanks to Lewis those bets were a sure thing, he added. Mr Williams described Mr Lewiss alleged behaviour as classic corporate corruption. He said: Now, none of this was necessary. Joe Lewis is a wealthy man. But as we allege he used inside information as a way to compensate his employees or to shower gifts on his friends and lovers. Thats classic corporate corruption. Its cheating, and its against the law. Laws that apply to everyone, no matter who you are. Statement of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams on U.S. v. Joseph Lewis pic.twitter.com/9rGTTYVx6h US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) July 25, 2023 Thats why Joe Lewis has been indicted and will face justice here in the Southern District of New York. Mr Lewis, 86, is the founder and primary investor of Bahamas-based investment firm Tavistock Group. He was ranked 39th in the 2023 Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated worth of more than 5 billion. He bought a controlling stake in Tottenham from Sir Alan Sugar in 2001 for 22 million. Mr Lewis officially ceded control of the club last year, with Bahamian lawyer Bryan A Glinton replacing him as a director, according to Companies House. His stake in the club which he held through the ENIC Group alongside Daniel Levy was formally handed to a family trust last year. Family members of Mr Lewis remain beneficiaries of the trust. The Premier League club said in a statement: This is a legal matter unconnected with the club and as such we have no comment. Tavistock Group has been contacted for comment. Tram operators have been told to pay costs totalling nearly 500,000 ahead of their sentencing over the fatal Croydon crash. Seven passengers were killed and many more were injured when a tram carrying 69 people derailed near the Sandilands stop on the morning of November 9, 2016. Transport for London (TfL) and Tram Operations Limited (TOL) have accepted failing in their health and safety duties. On Wednesday, Mr Justice Fraser ordered the companies to each pay 234,404 in costs to the prosecuting authority, the Office of Rail and Road. He also said a statutory victim surcharge of 170 applied, while acknowledging the sum was borderline offensive in cases where there has been a fatality. The court has heard tram 2551 was going three times the 20kph speed limit when it derailed on a sharp corner at Sandilands. The scene of the crash in November 2016 (PA) Driver Alfred Dorris, 49, from Beckenham, south-east London, was cleared after claiming he had become disorientated and thought he was going in the other direction. He blamed the crash on external factors including poor lighting and signage on the approach through the Sandilands tunnel complex. Prosecutor Jonathan Ashley-Norman had asserted the derailment was an accident waiting to happen. He told the court the main failing of the companies was to make a suitable risk assessment of such a high speed derailment happening. He said there were missed opportunities over the years to take a closer look at the Sandilands curve but action was not taken. There was over-reliance on fallible humans and tram drivers were let down by their employer TOL, and by TfL, the court was told. In mitigation, the operators accepted the level of harm in the case was high but argued their culpability was on a medium level. They disputed the derailment was inevitable, arguing nothing like it had occurred on the network over 16 years before. The people who died were Dane Chinnery, 19, Philip Seary, 57, Dorota Rynkiewicz, 35, Robert Huxley, 63, and Philip Logan, 52, all from New Addington, and Donald Collett, 62, and Mark Smith, 35, both from Croydon. Earlier this week, the families of the victims described the devastating impact of their loss. Mr Smiths family, who had sat in court throughout the hearings, described the crash as wholly avoidable. His mother Jean Smith said no amount of money or justice would bring her son back but getting accountability may bring some sense of peace. She said: We have to live with the consequences of other peoples actions for the rest of our lives. Im living a life sentence. It should never have happened. Mr Colletts daughter Tracy Angelo said: We all remain completely devastated and individually we will never be the same again. Mr Huxleys son Adam said he had lost all trust in the tram operators and felt insecurity, anxiety, vulnerability and heartbreak whenever he went past the tram network. He said: Killed whilst travelling to work and due to retire soon Robert and anybody else did not deserve this. Mr Searys widow Vivian said: We need some justice for the seven lives lost and the many people injured. If I had driven my car in a reckless manner there would be consequences. Mr Justice Fraser adjourned the sentencing until Thursday morning, when he is expected to hand the operators substantial fines at the Old Bailey. The UK risks losing its position as a global leader on vaccination as uptake rates for life-saving jabs has declined, MPs have warned. The Health and Social Care Select Committee specifically sounded the alarm over the falling number of children receiving their routine jabs, which protect from illnesses including meningitis, measles and hepatitis B. MPs said that it is unacceptable that people find it difficult to get to vaccination appointments due to practical challenges like the time and location of jab appointments and urged health leaders to improve access. The latest data show that vaccine coverage fell in 13 out of the 14 routine programmes for children up to five years old in 2021/22. And earlier this month, health officials launched a campaign calling on people in London to check their vaccination status after a spike in measles cases. Meanwhile, the group of MPs also said that health officials need to ready themselves to deliver exciting new medicines, warning that it would be incredibly disappointing if the NHS was not prepared to deliver new treatments as and when they become available. They said that innovations such as personalised cancer vaccines are on the horizon and more must be done to ensure patients in England are not forced to wait once they are ready. Their new report also sounds the alarm over a decline in clinical trial activity. Commenting on the report, Steve Brine, chair of the Health and Social Committee, said: Vaccination is the one of the greatest success stories when it comes to preventing infection. However, unless the Government addresses challenges around declining rates among childhood immunisations and implements reform on clinical trials, the UKs position as a global leader on vaccination risks being lost. The UK Health Security Agency issued a warning earlier this month that London risks a measles outbreak of tens of thousands of cases if MMR rates remain low, and weve seen a spike in the capital and in the West Midlands already, so that should be a massive wake-up call. When it comes to developing the medicines of the future, its alarming to hear that industrial clinical trial activity in the UK is at the lowest point to date. One of the challenges is the slowness of bureaucratic processes to set up trials. This and other challenges must be fixed if we are to make the most of our world-leading academic and research expertise. Wildfires in the Mediterranean will clearly happen again and the travel industry needs to rework its plans, it has been claimed. Paul Charles, CEO of travel PR firm PC Agency, called for an overhaul of the Foreign Office travel advice system which left holidaymakers confused and worried about losing their money. It comes after thousands of Britons have been rescued from fire-hit parts of the popular Greek holiday island Rhodes while others are having to cancel planned trips. The Foreign Office has not advised Britons to avoid non-essential travel to the entire island, while some travel companies are continuing to fly holidaymakers to Rhodes as they claim the blazes are not affecting the whole island. Mr Charles said: Sadly were going to have to get used to more incidents like this wildfires in the southern Mediterranean are going to become more common, so the travel industry needs to rework its plans for how to deal with this sort of thing. Consumers will want more reassurance in the future about the hotspot areas that will mean airlines and travel operators will need to have better plans in place for dealing with these sort of crisis and that might mean more flexible refund policies, it might mean putting more resources on the ground in a destination over the summer period so that theyre prepared. I do think the Foreign Office now needs to conduct a complete overhaul of its travel advice system. It failed the industry this week because the advice didnt change and also consumers were caught between a rock and a hard place as they knew they would lose their money if they didnt carry on with their booking and fly into the zones affected. Satellite imagery of wildfires on the island of Rhodes in Greece (Planet Labs PBC) There needs to be a complete overhaul of the Foreign Office travel advice system what its for, how it changes and it needs to be in consultation with the industry. Either they create a whole new system or the Foreign Office doesnt do travel advice and creates a new code of conduct for airlines and travel operators to follow. Its left consumers confused and worried about losing their money. The travel advice from the Foreign Office is not fit for purpose for climate change. Mr Charles added of the wildfires: Clearly it will happen again in the future, if not this year then next year. This is a wake-up call for airlines and travel firms to rethink their response plans in this sort of situation. One of the UKs leading climate scientists, Sir David King, said climate change is set to fuel more severe blazes in the future and tourists planning trips to the Mediterranean should see the Greek wildfires as a big, big warning. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said some travel companies dragged their feet on updating flexible booking policies, making holidaymakers choose between travelling into a natural disaster zone, or sensibly cancelling and losing their money as a result. He added: Without a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office warning against travel to the affected regions, travellers who dont want to go but are refused flexibility to rebook are likely to be left holding the bill for acting sensibly, and will be unable to claim on their travel insurance. It urged holidaymakers due to visit the island in the coming weeks not to cancel now as they may not get a refund. But trade association Abta said the travel industry is well-versed in responding to international events. A spokesperson said: The number one priority has been and always will be peoples health and safety. The response to the wildfires in Rhodes has been a collaboration between the Greek authorities, travel industry and UK Foreign Office. The travel industry is well-versed in responding to international events, particularly in rapidly changing circumstances, with the health and safety of customers the priority. It has clearly been a very difficult and upsetting time for those affected by the wildfires, both in Rhodes and due to travel, and Abta members have been working flat out to support those customers. The purpose of the Foreign Office travel advice is to provide important advice on destinations. Rhodes is a large island and a significant proportion is unaffected by the wildfires, meaning people can and have been able to continue to enjoy holidays in those parts. We know many people want to continue to holiday in Rhodes this week and have done so. Wildfires on the Greek island of Rhodes (Conor Cullen/PA) Tui had carried out five repatriation flights by Wednesday morning and has cancelled all flights to Rhodes up to and including Friday, with holidays scrapped for those going to affected hotels before and on August 11. Passengers due to travel up to and including Sunday for all areas of Rhodes will be offered a fee free amend to another holiday or the option to cancel for a full refund. Flights from Rhodes back to the UK & Ireland are being operated as scheduled. Holiday firm Jet2 said it had cancelled all flights and holidays to Rhodes until Sunday and around 1,000 Britons in affected areas have either flown home or moved to hotels in unaffected parts of the island. It said it will make a decision on what happens beyond Sunday in the coming days. Thomas Cook said holidaymakers who choose to do so continue to arrive in other parts of the island and it has issued refunds for all customers who had booked to stay in Kiotari and Lardos on Rhodes south-east coast up to and including Monday. It added that if those customers no longer wish to travel to Rhodes they can amend their holiday to a different destination or departure date or receive a full refund. Five employees of the Palm Beach County, Florida, school district were charged with failing to report sexual abuse after they were made aware that a teenager had allegedly assaulted a 15-year-old student. Palm Beach Central High School Principal Darren Edgecomb, former counselor Priscilla Carter, teacher Scott Houchins and assistant principals Nereyda Cayado De Garcia and Daniel Snider were arrested Monday after an investigation into the aftermath of the 2021 assault, according to Palm Beach County court records. Although authorities found evidence to corroborate the girls account, her parents declined to file charges because they felt a long legal battle would inhibit their daughters progress, court documents said. The case was cleared in October 2021. But the girls father later contacted the sheriffs office because he felt school officials were criminally negligent in their mandatory reporting obligations. According to a redacted affidavit in Houchins' case, a student wrote a letter detailing concern for a friend who had experienced two sexual assaults and whose mental health was suffering as a result. The letter, which included concerns about self-harm, was given to Houchins on June 16, 2021. Houchins told the sheriff's office that he read the letter and gave it to the school's guidance office, the affidavit read. The 15-year-old girl was then evaluated by a school official, who determined she did not need to be "Baker Acted," which is to be put on an involuntary mental health hold. The affidavit also said the unnamed school official did not ask the child about her sexual assault during the evaluation. The official spoke to someone else, whose name was redacted, and said the guidance office had received a letter that outlined the student's self-harm and suicidal ideation but made no mention of sexual assault. According to the court document, the student attempted suicide over the summer of 2021 at a school function in Washington, D.C. In a separate affidavit filed in Snider's court case, the sheriff's office investigator says Snider was made aware of the assault on Aug. 16, 2021. The girl was then asked to make an official statement to school officials about the assault. Snider did not report the assault to the Department of Child and Family Services, as is required by state law, the affidavit in his case said. The affidavit says an unnamed official "conducted his own investigation" and "would not share his findings" at a meeting three days later. That person also said he did not contact law enforcement because "he felt that sexual assault did not occur based on his own investigation." In that meeting, a person whose name was redacted asked whether they were required to report the assault and wase told the child "should have told her parents and the parents should have reported it to law enforcement," according to the affidavit. The girls parents eventually reported the assault to law enforcement on Aug. 20, 2021, three days after Snider was alerted and months after the girl's friend gave her letter to Houchins. Probable cause affidavits were not immediately available in the court records for Edgecomb, Cayado De Garcia or Carter. The Florida Department of Child and Family Services noted that Florida law names specific occupations as mandatory reporters of child abuse or neglect, including school teachers, counselors and other personnel. There are multiple ways to contact the department through its abuse hotline. "The Abuse Hotline Counselor will determine if the information provided meets legal requirements to accept a report for investigation," the department said in a statement Tuesday. County inmate records show all five of the current and former school personnel were released on bond Tuesday. None of them immediately responded to requests for comment sent to their county email addresses. Angela Cruz Ledford, a spokesperson for the school district, said the employees were moved into positions that do not have student contact. "The allegations involving students occurred off of school property and over a weekend," Ledford said. "However, no matter when or where any alleged assault against a student occurs, our policy aligns with the law, which requires all personnel to report suspected abuse. The district declined to comment on the arrests, citing an open investigation. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. The hotline, run by the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), can put you in contact with your local rape crisis center. You can also access RAINNs online chat service at https://www.rainn.org/get-help. The Digital Public Library of America has launched a new program that provides users with free access to books that are banned in their area. The program, called The Banned Book Club, provides readers with free access to books pulled from shelves of their local libraries. The e-books will be available to readers via the Palace e-reader app. At DPLA, our mission is to ensure access to knowledge for all and we believe in the power of technology to further that access, said John S. Bracken, executive director of Digital Public Library of America, in a news release. Today book bans are one of the greatest threats to our freedom, and we have created The Banned Book Club to leverage the dual powers of libraries and digital technology to ensure that every American can access the books they want to read, he said. According to the news release, the DPLA uses GPS-based geo-targeting to establish virtual libraries in communities across the country where books have been banned. MORE ON BOOK BANS: Booksellers seek to block Texas book ban on sexual content ratings in federal lawsuit Banned books in your area Readers can visit TheBannedBookClub.info to see the books that have been banned in their area. You may be asked to share your location with the website. How to read banned books You can access the Banned Book Club now by downloading the Palace app. Once you've downloaded the app, choose "Banned Book Club" as your library, then follow the prompts to sign up for a free virtual library card. More specific instructions are available here. The Digital Public Library of America has launched a new program that provides users with free access to books that are banned in their area. Obama promotes Banned Book Club Following the announcement of the launch, former President Barack Obama voiced his support for the program on Twitter. .oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;} With so many books being banned across the country, @DPLA has launched The Banned Book Club to give readers access to e-books that have been banned. Learn more at https://t.co/ET5jreRQI4. pic.twitter.com/daWmibHujK Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 20, 2023 1,200 requests to censor library books in 2022: ALA The program launches at a time when the number of demands to censor library books is at a record-high. According to a report from the American Library Association, there were over 1,200 demands to censor library books in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since they began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. The number nearly doubled from the previous year. A book challenge is a demand to remove a book from a librarys collection so that no one else can read it. Overwhelmingly, were seeing these challenges come from organized censorship groups that target local library board meetings to demand removal of a long list of books they share on social media, said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of ALAs Office for Intellectual Freedom, in a news release earlier this year. TO BE OR NOT TO BE ON THE SHELF?: New Florida school book law could restrict even Shakespeare Their aim is to suppress the voices of those traditionally excluded from our nations conversations, such as people in the LGBTQIA+ community or people of color," she said in the release. Caldwell-Stone went on to say that the choice of what to read should be left to the reader, or, in the case of children, to parents, and that the choice does not belong to "self-appointed book police." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to read banned books: Banned Book Club on Palace app Xi calls for high-quality development of armed forces with high-level governance Xinhua) 14:27, July 26, 2023 BEIJING, July 26 (Xinhua) -- As China's Army Day, which falls on Aug. 1, draws close, the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Monday held its seventh group study session on strengthening all-around military governance. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the session. He stressed that strengthening all-around military governance represents a profound transformation in the CPC's philosophy on and methods of running the military, meets the strategic requirements for accelerating the modernization of national defense and the military, and constitutes an important aspect of modernizing China's governance system and capacity. We should fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, and the thinking on strengthening the military for the new era, and follow the military strategy for the new era. We must uphold the Party's absolute leadership over the armed forces, and adhere to the fact that combat effectiveness is the sole and fundamental criterion for all military endeavors. While upholding and improving a socialist military system with Chinese characteristics, we must build a modern system for military governance, and boost the capacity for such governance. It is also imperative to facilitate the high-quality development of the armed forces through high-level governance, so as to provide a strong guarantee for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to achieve the goals for the centenary of its founding. Zhao Dongbin, head of a military law institute under the Academy of Military Sciences, delivered a lecture on the issue and put forward suggestions for work in this regard. Members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee listened to Zhao's lecture attentively, and had discussions thereafter. Xi made an important speech after hearing the lecture and discussions. He pointed out that since the 18th CPC National Congress, in the process of building a strong military, the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission have upheld the Party's absolute leadership over the military, and promoted the exploration and practice of military governance. Through deepening reforms of national defense and the armed forces, promoting the rule of law in the military, and strengthening and improving the strategic management of the military, a series of new systems, mechanisms, laws, regulations and policies have been developed. These have helped us adhere to and develop a socialist military system with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and boost the modernization of our national defense and the armed forces. Xi pointed out that with the evolution of global changes of a magnitude not seen in a century, a new round of sci-tech revolutions and profound changes in military affairs is well underway. The development of our military is in a critical period of achieving the goals for the centenary of the founding of the PLA. It is necessary to recognize the significance of strengthening all-around military governance, boost the sense of mission, carry forward the spirit of reform and innovation, intensify work in this regard, and promote the military building through strengthening military governance. Xi Jinping pointed out that strengthening all-around military governance is a complex systematic project involving all aspects of national defense and military development. It is imperative to strengthen systems thinking, adopt a problem-oriented approach, strengthen the top-level design and strategic planning for military governance, boost governance in all fields, in all links, and at all levels, and promote it in a planned and focused manner. We should intensify our efforts to coordinate the overall situation and strengthen coordination across different departments and areas to see to it that military governance is more systematic, holistic and coordinated. It is essential to strengthen the management and supervision of military expenditure and further strengthen governance in key areas so as to make overall progress through major breakthroughs. It is imperative to advance innovation in strategic management, refine the mechanism that ensures sound demand generation, timely responses and effective implementation, and make professional assessments throughout the whole process so that the management procedures are smooth and efficient, and the overall efficacy of military systems is boosted. High-level departments and senior officials should take the lead in emancipating the mind, innovating working methods and advancing work on all fronts under the guidance of governance thinking. They should strengthen the ability for systematic and rule-based governance, and the ability to govern by solving problems from their root causes and in a holistic way. Importance should be attached to grassroots-based governance, which requires respect for the principal role and pioneering spirit of officers and soldiers. The development at the grassroots should be advanced in an all-around manner so as to achieve overall progress. We should integrate military governance with reform and the rule of law, build on and expand the gains in the reform of national defense and the military. It is essential to deepen military legislation, and strengthen supervision over the enforcement of laws and regulations. Reform should play an active part and so should the rule of law so as to advance military governance in an all-around way. Xi stressed that improving military-civilian governance is integral to strengthening all-around military governance, and is an essential requirement for consolidating and upgrading integrated national strategies and strategic capabilities. Relevant central Party and government departments as well as local CPC committees and governments at all levels should bear firmly in mind the awareness of national defense, and strengthen overall coordination to perform well their duties to promote the development of national defense. The armed forces should communicate and coordinate well with local governments and give full play to the guiding role of military demands in the development of national defense. Xi called for further efforts to optimize systems and mechanisms, improve organizational system, and refine related policies, ensuring a well-functioning, rule-based, and orderly military-civilian work system featuring close collaboration. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Archival footage from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration shows teachers and children carrying textbooks at a refugee camp in Wonju, Gangwon Province, July 27, 1953, the day the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed and came into effect. Courtesy of Korean Film Archive By Kwon Mee-yoo In an archival video from July 27, 1953, the day the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed and came into effect, Korean children and a teacher can be seen carrying textbooks delivered by the U.S. Army to a refugee camp in Wonju, Gangwon Province. "Most footage of the Korean Armistice Agreement captures the moment of signing or the soldiers, but this footage shows how civilians started reconstructing the country right after the ceasefire," Jeong Young-sin, a researcher at the Institute for East Asian Studies at Sungkonghoe University, said during a press conference unveiling a collection of historical footage after the 1950-53 Korean War at the Korean Film Archive (KOFA) in western Seoul, Wednesday. The archival footage, capturing crucial moments of post-war reconstruction in Korea, was discovered through the collaborative efforts of KOFA and the Institute for East Asian Studies at Sungkonghoe University. The videos give a glimpse into Korea's history, offering new perspectives on the resilience of the Korean people during this transformative period. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement and the Korea-U.S. alliance, the two institutes unearthed the footage from the collection of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the University of South Carolina Library. Researchers present archival footage showcasing Korea's post-war reconstruction efforts during a press conference at the Korean Film Archive (KOFA) in western Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap Kim Hong-jun, the director of KOFA, highlighted the project's goal of collecting foreign footage about Korea, offering researchers and the public unique insight through the dynamic elements of moving images. "Archival footage serves as a time capsule, containing comprehensive information of a specific time and place, providing important clues for a deeper understanding of the era," Kim said. The Biden administration on Tuesday said it was canceling $130 million in federal debt for 7,400 students who went to a Colorado college that the government says lied about its successes. "These borrowers were lied to, ripped off and saddled with mountains of debt," President Joe Biden said in a statement. It's not the first time the administration has canceled federal loans for people whom the government believes were misled or short-changed by for-profit colleges: So far, the Department of Education has forgiven $14.7 billion in such debt, spread across nearly 1.1 million borrowers, including for those who attended Corinthian Colleges and ITT Technical Institute, both of which are now defunct. Tuesday's debt relief will be automatic and covers Colorado students of CollegeAmerica who attended between 2006 and July 1, 2020. The effort also comes on the heels of debt relief actions for people who participated in programs like the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and income-driven repayment loan plans, both of which, the Department of Education has acknowledged, were not working as intended for borrowers. MORE: Teachers share how revamped forgiveness program helped with their student loans CollegeAmerica had three locations in Colorado and closed down completely in 2021 after a successful lawsuit brought by the state, according to the Department of Education. (Center for Excellence in Higher Education subsequently appealed.) "CollegeAmerica knowingly took advantage of students by luring them into high-priced, low-quality programs with promises of high-earning potential and job placement that it knew were not attainable," Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a Tuesday news release. "Protecting borrowers from predatory lending and helping Coloradans navigate through student loan burdens will continue to be a priority for our office," he said. The Center for Excellence in Higher Education, which operated CollegeAmerica, could not be reached for comment. The organization sued the Department of Education last year, claiming that the federal government improperly targeted their schools and illegally withheld funds such as reimbursements for student financial aid. The Department of Education is seeking to dismiss the suit. PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington, July 25, 2023. (Susan Walsh/AP) "While my predecessor looked the other way when colleges defrauded students and borrowers -- I promised to take this on directly, and provide borrowers with the relief they need and deserve," Biden said in his Tuesday statement, swiping at former President Donald Trump. "As long as I am president, we will never stop fighting to deliver relief to borrowers, hold bad actors accountable, and bring the promise of college to more Americans." According to the Department of Education, among other misrepresentations, CollegeAmerica was advertising that students would earn high salaries post-grad, when, in fact, graduates earned just $25,000, on average, five years out of school -- less than the salaries of high school graduates. CollegeAmerica also advertised "inflated and falsified job placement rates" of 70%, though the Department of Education said the actual rate was just over half that -- 40%. "This included counting a business administration graduate working as a produce clerk and a medical specialties graduate working as a waiter as successful placements," the Department of Education said. MORE: Biden's Plan B on student loan forgiveness relies on Higher Education Act: What to know In two other examples, according to the department, CollegeAmerica falsely maintained from 2006 to 2010 that one of its programs could "lead to EMT certification" even though "it never offered EMT classes at its Colorado campuses" that would qualify for the state's certification test. And from 2007 until 2017, CollegeAmerica described a financial assistance program, EduPlan, as "affordable" despite knowing "students were unable to afford [the] loans," the department said. The debt relief comes after a multiyear government investigation. Borrowers will have their federal loans canceled regardless of whether they have filed a borrower defense to repayment application, the Department of Education said. That application is a form people can fill out to report schools for misleading their enrollees. People will begin to be notified in August if they are approved for cancellation related to CollegeAmerica and see any remaining loan balances zeroed out as well as credit trade lines deleted, the department said, and any payments they made to the department will be refunded. Biden admin canceling $130M in debt for students who it says were 'ripped off' by Colorado college originally appeared on abcnews.go.com WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden's administration will cancel $130 million in debt for 7,400 student borrowers who enrolled at the now-defunct CollegeAmerica in Colorado from 2006 through July 1, 2020, the Education Department said. CollegeAmerica, a private institution, shut down in September 2020 after an investigation by Colorado's attorney general found it made widespread misrepresentations about the salaries and employment rates of its graduates, the department said in a statement. Biden said in a statement that borrowers at CollegeAmerica "were lied to, ripped off, and saddled with mountains of debt." He said his administration has approved $14.7 billion in relief for 1.1 million borrowers "whose colleges took advantage of them or closed abruptly". Biden has made addressing mounting U.S. student debt a top priority since taking office in January 2021, including by pursuing a plan to provide $430 billion in loan relief. The Supreme Court blocked that plan in a June 30 ruling. Biden has vowed to pursue the relief through new measures. (Reporting by Rami Ayyub; Editing by Chris Reese and Jonathan Oatis) The vessel of the missing Baltimore sailor, who set out to sea with hopes of breaking multiple world records, has been located, according to Mexican authorities, as his wife says she's holding out "hope" that he's found safe after being missing at sea for two weeks. Donald Lawson, a 41-year-old experienced sailor, had planned to travel from Acapulco, Mexico, to Central Americas west coast, through the Panama Canal and to Baltimore, in his a 60-foot racing trimaran called Defiant, but experienced engine issues and headed back to Mexico, his brother Quentin Lawson Sr., 39, said Tuesday. Mexico's Marine Secretary Office said Tuesday they started to search for Lawson on Friday, and his vessel was located 275 nautical miles from Acapulco. However, bad weather conditions amid the Pacific's hurricane season have hindered authorities from reaching it, the spokesperson said. Captain Donald Lawson. (Kim Hairston / The Baltimore Sun / Tribune News Service via Getty Images) There are three boats from the Marine Secretarys Office trying to reach the boat, plus an aircraft. The office noted it's unclear if Lawson is on the boat or not. The office said it is hoping the weather clears up to allow search and rescue crew to reach the boat. NBC News has reached out to the U.S. Coast Guard to confirm the boat sighting. The sailors wife, Jacqueline Lawson, said in a statement Tuesday evening to NBC affiliate WBAL of Baltimore: We are aware of unconfirmed reports that Donalds sailboat, Defiant, may have been spotted by the Mexican Navy. We are not giving up hope and we are remaining hopeful of his return, she said. He is an experienced sailor who is well-equipped to expertly handle these types of challenging weather conditions in the Pacific. We are continuing to pray that Donald will be found and will soon return home safely to his family, friends, and sailing supporters. Lawson wanted to become the first African American to circumnavigate the globe alone in a sailing vessel no longer than 60 feet, his brother said. In his journey, he set off from Acapulco on July 5 and a storm knocked out one of his engines on July 9, his brother said. The U.S. Coast Guard received a report from Lawsons wife on July 21. She told authorities her husband said on July 12 that he was experiencing electrical/mechanical issues with his sail boat and was headed back to Acapulco. The last communication with him was reported to have been approximately 275 nautical miles offshore of Acapulco on July 12, Petty Officer Hunter Schnabel of Coast Guard District 11, based in Alumina, California, said. According to Quentin Lawson, the family last communicated with the sailor on July 13. Quentin Lawson said data from his brothers vessel showed he drastically reduced speed late July 12, when he was traveling with the wind at around 11 knots. But then he changed course and began traveling against the wind, and his speed reduced to 2.9 knots. I believe something happened at that moment, he said. It doesnt make sense to turn out of the wind into the wind when youre on emergency route to turn back. Mexicos Maritime Search and Rescue unit is leading the search and rescue operations, the Coast Guard said. Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy has been with his wife, Yvonne McGuinness, since meeting in the mid-90s while he was working on the stage production of Disco Pigs. The duo tied the knot in 2004, three years after Murphy starred in the 2001 film adaptation of the show. That time, making Disco Pigs, was kind of the most important period of my life, Murphy told The Guardian in 2016, 20 years after the production began. The people I met there remain my closest friends. They shaped me in terms of my tastes, in terms of what I wanted to do with my life. And it was around the same time I met my wife. The couple went on to welcome two sons soon after exchanging vows: Malachy in 2005 and Aran in 2007. Keep scrolling for Murphy and McGuinness relationship timeline: How the Oppenheimer Cast May Have Played a Big Part in Your Childhood From Josh Peck to Jack Quaid 332 Jack Quaid Read article 1996 Murphy and McGuinness strengthened their pond while the actor toured Disco Pigs. She came on tour with us. It was so exciting, 20 years ago or whatever it was we were all just kids, trying to find our way but such a special, special time, Murphy later gushed to The Guardian. Tim Rooke/Shutterstock 2004 The couple wed in 2004. 2005 Murphy and McGuinness welcomed their firstborn son, Malachy. In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies 2007 The duo and their eldest son became a family of four with the addition of son Aran. 2014 After years in London, the family went back to their Irish roots and moved to Dublin. We wanted them to be Irish, I suppose, Murphy told The Guardian two years later of how his sons accents changed once in Ireland. Its amazing how quickly their accents have adapted. James Shaw/Shutterstock 2019 Murphy publicly praised McGuinness in an interview with GQ. I have an amazing wife, and I couldnt do this without her and her understanding, he told the outlet of how his partner supports him in his career. Hunter Bidens plea deal involving tax and gun charges was put on hold Wednesday in a sudden twist that saw the judge presiding over the case questioning the parameters of the agreement reached with the Justice Department. Biden, 53, made his initial federal court appearance in Wilmington, Del., where he was expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of willful failure to pay income taxes as part of a deal announced last month with the Department of Justice (DOJ). The deal is now on hold after U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, a Trump appointee who is overseeing the case, reportedly raised concerns about the scope of Bidens immunity from any potential future charges. Court filings show Biden ended up pleading not guilty to the two tax crimes after Noreika gave the parties 30 days to explain why the deal, which she has to approve, should be accepted. Noreika had raised issues about a related deal in which Biden would agree to enter a pretrial diversion program in connection with a gun charge, according to AP. The charge of possessing a gun while being an unlawful user of a controlled substance normally would carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, but the program would enable Biden to avoid prosecution or pleading guilty if he follows certain conditions. Biden is now required to not possess a firearm, drink alcohol or use controlled substances, court filings indicate. Prosecutors last month announced a plea deal following a five-year investigation into the presidents son, which began before his fathers 2020 campaign. Wednesdays hearing was intended to formalize that agreement in front of the judge, but the three-hour, whirlwind proceeding left the future of Bidens criminal case unresolved. The AP reported Noreika questioned whether the deal would immunize Biden from future charges. Prosecutors, without revealing details, reportedly indicated at the hearing that Hunter Biden remains under active investigation. At one point during the hearing, Noreika reportedly gave the parties time to huddle about the issues during which the plea deal appeared to be in serious jeopardy. I think having you guys talk more makes sense, Noreika said, according to the AP. After raising the concerns, the judge ultimately put the deal on hold as she allowed the parties more time to respond in writing, court filings show. The tax charges are connected to Bidens alleged failure to pay income taxes on time in 2017 and 2018. Court documents indicate he did not pay taxes on time for at least $1.5 million in income he earned each year, creating a tax bill worth more than $100,000 each year. Biden reportedly paid off his tax liability in 2020. The gun charge stemmed from the presidents sons possession of a firearm in 2018 while he used crack cocaine. Biden denied drug use when applying to secure the gun. President Biden has repeatedly defended his son as Republicans pounce on his legal troubles. The White House has consistently distanced itself from the case. The GOP previously attacked the plea agreement as a sweetheart deal, arguing it shows unequal justice for Republicans and Democrats. An attorney for House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) on Tuesday sought to file a longshot amicus brief with the court that urged the judge to consider information from two IRS whistleblowers who recently testified before Congress before accepting the plea deal. The whistleblowers, special agent Joseph Ziegler and his supervisor, Gary Shapley, testified that the Justice Department showed preferential treatment to Biden and slow-walked the prosecution. Republicans have in particular honed in on Shapleys testimony that U.S. Attorney for Delaware David Weiss, a Trump appointee who has overseen the Hunter Biden case, was denied special counsel status to bring charges in other districts. Both Weiss and Attorney General Merrick Garland have denied the account. Wednesdays hearing also followed a series of last-minute, bizarre developments in which the judge accused a member of Bidens legal team of misrepresenting themselves to the clerks office. An administrative staff member at a law firm representing Biden had called the clerks office raising concerns about alleged social security information and other private details contained in the brief filed by Smith, the Ways and Means Committee chairman, on the public court docket. The judge said the staff member had gotten it removed by pretending to be associated with the law firm representing Smith, threatening sanctions. But Bidens team on Tuesday night said the incident was a misunderstanding, claiming the staff member had never misrepresented themselves. There is no indication the matter was raised at Wednesdays hearing. Updated at 5:31 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) A lawsuit accuses West Virginia State Police troopers of using excessive force in tackling and handcuffing a man who was walking along an interstate highway. Edmond Exline, 45, of Hagerstown died at a hospital after the Feb. 12 incident along I-81 near Martinsburg. A State Police statement cited by news outlets at the time said Exline was walking along the interstate when he got into a "struggle" with troopers and became unresponsive. State Police Capt. Eric Burnett in Charles Town said a Taser was used on him. Eddie Exline "He ran into traffic and wouldn't listen to any commands from the trooper," Burnett told The Associated Press in March. The lawsuit says Exline was unarmed and was doing nothing wrong when three troopers tackled and handcuffed him. The troopers' actions "were not taken in good faith and were in violation of clearly established law," it says, adding that "no objectively reasonable police officer could have perceived the force as necessary." Previous reporting: Family says man who died after police struggle on I-81 had mental illness The cause of death and the reason why Exline was on the interstate haven't been disclosed. It's unclear whether he was having a medical or other type of episode. The lawsuit says troopers administered the overdose-reversing drug Narcan several times even though Exline had not overdosed on any narcotics. The lawsuit also names the State Police and was filed in Kanawha County Circuit Court last week on behalf of Edmond Exline II, the executor of his father's estate. The suit, which was first reported by the Charleston Gazette-Mail, does not list the troopers by name and seeks unspecified damages and to force the defendants to undergo additional training. Capt. Robert Maddy, a state police spokesman, said the I-81 incident is the subject of federal and state criminal investigations as well an an internal investigation. He declined to comment on the lawsuit Tuesday. More: WV State Police cite legal exemptions to deny records involving Hagerstown man's death During a briefing in March, Gov. Jim Justice said he had watched police video involving Exline and called it "very very concerning." State Police previously denied a request by the AP to review the video. Justice announced at the time that Exline's death would be part of a sweeping investigation of the State Police due to several alarming incidents, including allegations that a now-dead employee hid a video camera in the women's locker room at a facility in Kanawha County. The governor also appointed a new State Police superintendent. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Maryland man's death on I-81 in WV subject of lawsuit PARIS (AP) Ensconced in a glass cage lined with bamboo shoots, the first panda ever born in France bid adieu to the French zoo where it grew up and set off Tuesday for its new home in China. Named Yuan Meng, the 120-kilogram (264-pound) panda peered out of the cage as staff at the Beauval Zoo south of Paris paid an emotional farewell. Its name means the realization of a wish or accomplishment of a dream. A crowd of well-wishers waved goodbye as the trailer pulling the cage rolled out of the zoo, the words Bon Voyage Yuan Meng painted on its sides. Yuan Meng was born in 2017 to parents at Beauval on a 10-year loan from China. The mother later gave birth to twin pandas. All the offspring are meant to be eventually be sent to China. Yuan Meng's departure was initially delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the trip was long planned, Beauval Zoo director Rodolphe Delord described the day as "heartbreaking.'' Giant pandas have difficulty breeding and so the births were particularly welcomed. There are about 1,800 pandas living in the wild in China and a few hundred in captivity worldwide. While China for decades gifted friendly nations with its unofficial mascot as part of a policy of panda diplomacy,'' the country now loans pandas to zoos on commercial terms. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is in the political spotlight as Democrats and critics attack him for releasing a lightly-redacted document detailing unfounded allegations of Biden family corruption and bribery and conservatives praise his move in the name of transparency. The eight-term senator has had a storied career, particularly on investigative matters, where he has long been considered a champion of whistleblower protections. But critics say his decision late last week to release the tip to the FBI, memorialized in an FD-1023 form, put a chink in that armor. The FBI admonished Grassley and other senators for releasing the form, saying it risks the safety of the confidential source, who claims the Bidens pushed a Ukrainian oligarch to pay them $10 million. I would never have advised him to do that, said Kris Kolesnik, who spent 19 years as Grassleys senior counselor and director of investigations but has come out as a critic against his work in recent years. This is like a new guy, Kolesnik continued, noting that Grassley, 89, spearheaded the oversight efforts against the Reagan administration. We left him quite an oversight legacy, and hes put all that in jeopardy. Between back then and now, its like night and day. According to the form released by Grassley and House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), the FBIs informant known as a CHS, or confidential human source met in 2016 with Mykola Zlochevsky, the CEO of Ukrainian energy company Burisma, who claimed that he made a pair of $5 million payments to the Bidens. He did not specify who was on the receiving end of those alleged bribes. The form relays information on the conversation to an FBI agent but does not assess the veracity of the tip. The informant also claimed that Zlochevsky has 17 audiotapes, including two with then-Vice President Biden and the remaining 15 with Hunter Biden, though a number of Republicans have questioned whether they even exist. There has not been any evidence linking President Biden to the payments or Hunter Bidens foreign work, and the White House has strongly denied any improper action. Grassley said on Thursday that the move was made for the sake of transparency and that Americans can now read this document for themselves, without the filter of politicians or bureaucrats. His office added that it was obtained via legal avenues and downplayed claims by the FBI that the safety of the CHS could be at risk. But that has in no way calmed the waters as Democrats increase their attacks over what they view as unsubstantiated claims that were already dismissed in full by the Trump administration. Democratic staff on the House Oversight Committee wrote in a memo to House Democrats on Monday that Grassley and Comers actions were in brazen disregard of the safety of FBI sources and the integrity of its investigations. More from The Hill Contrary to Republican messaging, the form provides no new or additional support for their corruption allegations against the President or Hunter Biden, the memo says. Instead, its release merely seeks to breathe new life into years-old conspiracy theories, initially peddled by Rudy Giuliani, that have been thoroughly debunked. Grassleys work pertaining to whistleblower protections has long legs that extend well into that universe today. Empower Oversight, an organization of lawyers that includes a number of former Grassley investigatory staffers, has become a key group on this front as it helps whistleblowers navigate the treacherous waters to legally report information to Congress lawfully. However, his recent work has come under the microscope as it has become increasingly politicized. He is transgressing all of the oversight principles we learned back in the day, the No. 1 principle of which is Stay the hell away from politics, Kolesnik said. And hes broken that repeatedly. In a statement, a spokesperson for the senator took issue with Kolesniks claims and said that Grassley calls the shots on his investigation and that anyone whos ever worked for him would know this. He maintains an impeccable reputation for shining a light on facts that the bureaucracy would prefer to keep hidden, said Taylor Foy, a Grassley spokesman. Grassleys Biden investigation stems from government employees who are concerned that politics has infected the nations premier law enforcement agencies. Ignoring these claims would be a failure of Sen. Grassleys constitutional oversight responsibility. Shying away from legitimate oversight because of fear of the political implications, as Mr. Kolesnik suggests, is exactly the type of cowardice that results in a runaway, unaccountable bureaucracy, Foy continued. Thats no legacy anyone who values oversight should pursue, and Mr. Kolesnik should know better. Supporters of the longtime Iowa senator also maintain that he did nothing nefarious by releasing the document. They say that his track record should speak for itself and that if he is harping on a subject, theres a good reason. People willing to analyze his oversight history know that when he says something, you should pay attention because hes not one to shoot from the hip, said Michael Zona, a former Grassley staffer and a GOP strategist, adding that the senator usually knows a lot more than what he says. Pay attention to what hes saying or doing because hes probably ahead of the curve, Zona added. Politically, Grassley is under little pressure to deviate from his current investigatory course. He won his eighth term last fall by a 12-point margin over Democrat Mike Franken. Republicans in his home state believe that his legacy is secure no matter what comes of the current push into the finances and actions of the Biden family. They also say that news of the document did not make much of a dent with Iowans in recent days as their focus is on the ongoing special legislative session on abortion in Des Moines and the parade of 2024 Republican presidential candidates to all corners of the state. To me, I read this and Im like, This is classic Chuck Grassley, said Craig Robinson, a longtime Iowa-based GOP political strategist. This is what he does. I dont view any of this as him being hyper partisan in any way. This is on message for who hes been as a United States senator for decades. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A London jury acquitted Kevin Spacey of sexual assault charges Wednesday. The "House of Cards" actor, 64, was cleared at the conclusion of a four-week long trial that took place in London, beginning June 28. The Academy Award-winner, whose stellar acting career was derailed by sex assault allegations, was accused of sexual offenses against four men in Britain. Tears rolled down Spaceys cheeks as the final not guilty verdict was read. It was his 64th birthday. There were nine charges against Spacey, who pleaded not guilty to all, including multiple counts of sexual and indecent assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. He had faced 13 charges until July 19, when the judge removed four counts that duplicated the same allegations under an older statute. Kevin Spacey arrives outside Southwark Crown Court in London. A jury acquitted the Hollywood star of all nine charges, including sexual assault, which are alleged to have been committed between 2001 and 2013. Three men accused the actor of aggressively grabbing their crotches. A fourth, an aspiring actor seeking mentorship, said he awoke to the actor performing oral sex on him after going to Spaceys London apartment for a beer and either falling asleep or passing out. The accusations date from 2001 to 2013 and include a period when Spacey after winning Academy Awards for "The Usual Suspects" and "American Beauty" had returned to theater, his first love. During most of that period he was artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre in London. Kevin Spacey UK sexual assault trial: Actor's charges, case explained During the trial, the actor said he was a "big flirt" who had consensual flings with men and whose only misstep was touching a mans groin while making a "clumsy pass." Spacey choked up and became teary eyed in the witness box as he described the emotional and financial turmoil that the U.S. accusations brought and the barrage of criticism that followed on social media. "My world exploded," Spacey testified. "There was a rush to judgment and before the first question was asked or answered I lost my job, I lost my reputation, I lost everything in a matter of days." A New York jury last year swiftly cleared Spacey in a $40 million lawsuit by "Star Trek: Discovery" actor Anthony Rapp on allegations dating back three decades. Spacey had viewed the London case as a chance for redemption, telling German magazine Zeit last month that there were "people right now who are ready to hire me the moment I am cleared of these charges in London." Contributing: USA TODAY staff, The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kevin Spacey trial verdict: Actor not guilty of sexual assault charges Wang Yi, China's new foreign minister, attends the 13th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, in this photo released by Xinhua News Agency. AP-Yonhap Experts say replacement could be turning point, but does not signal dramatic change in bilateral ties By Nam Hyun-woo China has replaced outspoken Foreign Minister Qin Gang with his predecessor Wang Yi after speculation mounted over the month-long absence of the outgoing minister from public view. The reasons for the shakeup remain under wraps, but government officials and experts in Seoul said Wang's return offers greater momentum for dialogue to thaw chilled ties between South Korea and China, because the new foreign minister has a deeper understanding of South Korea and a solid network among Seoul's decision makers. China's state broadcaster CCTV announced the replacement during Tuesday's evening news, without explaining the reasons for Qin's removal. Qin had a quick rise to the foreign minister position last year, as his combative rhetoric apparently earned Chinese President Xi Jinping's trust while Beijing pursues a policy described as "wolf warrior diplomacy." Former Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang listens during a press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry at the foreign ministry headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 15. AP-Yonhap Compared to Qin, Wang, who served as foreign minister from 2013 to 2022 and is now director of the foreign affairs arm of the ruling Communist Party, is known for his rich diplomatic experience as Beijing's top diplomat. Wang is also known for his experience in dealing with multiple South Korean presidential administrations, presenting himself at many critical junctures of Northeast Asian diplomacy, such as the six-party talks involving the two Koreas, China, Japan, the U.S. and Russia. In regards to the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, Wang is known to have "a relation of mutual respect" with Seoul's Foreign Minister Park Jin. "A gentleman is better than a wolf warrior in diplomacy," a high-ranking official of the South Korean government told The Korea Times asking not to be named. "For the development of friendly relations between South Korea and China, a gentleman's diplomacy of mutual respect and virtue are more desirable instead of a rude and tough wolf warrior's diplomacy." Sources said Park's favorable relations with Wang have played an important role in their meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Indonesia, on July 14, which was seen as a turning point in the two countries' frayed relations. During the meeting, Wang said, "We want the China-South Korea relations to return to a stable development trajectory and the past 30 years of achievements between the two countries remain untarnished." The meeting ended in a relatively cordial atmosphere, even though they touched upon issues that both countries find sensitive, such as Chinese envoy to South Korea Xing Haiming's controversial remarks on Seoul-Washington relations and Seoul's stance on Taiwan. Foreign Minister Park Jin, left, talks to China's Communist Party's foreign policy chief Wang Yi prior to the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 13. Reuters-Yonhap Two hours before his arrest, Henry Louis Wallace watched professional wrestling on TV with some friends in their east-side apartment and talked of leaving Charlotte. His companions had started worrying about the 28-year-old. Wallace had begun wearing the same clothes for days at a time, and he no longer appeared to have a place of his own. They suspected that he had become a crack addict. On March 13, 1994, Wallace told his companions that he wanted to go home to Barnwell, S.C. Just before 3 p.m., they handed him a Corona and $2 to catch a city bus to the Greyhound station. Yall might not see me no more, Wallace told a friend around that time. He never caught his bus. Two hours later, Wallace was under arrest. A Killer's Long Shadow 30 years ago, Henry Louis Wallace cast a murderous shadow across Charlotte, raping and strangling 10 women before his arrest. Wallace's killings broke up families, stole daughters and sisters from their loved ones and left seven children without their mothers. Starting in 1992, Wallace had murdered with impunity for 22 months, moving like a shadow across the city from victim to victim. In the spring of 1994, a series of back-to-back-to-back killings finally brought him to the attention of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. First came the Feb. 20 murder of Vanessa Mack in west Charlotte. Less than three weeks later, the bodies of Brandi Henderson and Betty Baucom were found in the same east-side apartment complex. All three women had been robbed, raped and strangled. None of their apartments showed signs of a break-in, meaning they had each allowed their attacker into their homes. Most importantly, Mack, Henderson and Baucom had been strangled in the same way, with double ligatures of bras, pillow cases, T-shirts or towels. That the three women died in a similar fashion was striking. In 1993, there had been only six strangulations in Mecklenburg County, less than 5% of the total homicides. Now, police were dealing with their third in less than three weeks. Two pieces of evidence gave the cops their first big breaks. Deputies lead condemned serial killer Henry Louis Wallace to a van to transport him to Death Row in Raleigh on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997. A name and a print First, according to former CMPD homicide detective Darrell Price, Hendersons boyfriend told police that Henderson was so shy that she would have opened her door to only two other people. One was Wallace. Secondly, after Baucoms body was discovered, her Nissan turned up behind a shopping center near her apartment. The interior had been wiped clean. But police found a palm print near the trunk. On March 11, they received a match. The next day, they also had a fourth body. Debra Slaughter, 35, was discovered on her living room floor by her mother. She lived at the Glen Hollow Apartments, about a half mile from where Henderson and Baucom had been killed. Slaughter, too, had been raped and strangled. She also had been stabbed 38 times, and there was a balled-up sock in her mouth. Former Detective Darrell Price says Henry Wallace manipulated crime scenes to keep police at bay. By then, Price and fellow detective Mark Corwin had been pulled off investigating the scenes of the recent killings and given a single task: Find a former fast-food restaurant manager who had come to the city less than three years before and seemed to have female friends all over town. At around 5 p.m., Officers Gilbert Allred and Sidney Wright found Wallace hiding in the bathroom of a friends eastside apartment, not far from where the three latest killings had taken place. He was arrested on an outstanding warrant for shoplifting a $48 sweater at nearby Eastland Mall. Wallace, police were learning, had connections to each of the four women. Hendersons boyfriend was one of Wallaces best friends, and Baucom and Slaughter both worked with Wallaces former girlfriend at the Bojangles on Central Avenue. Wallace also had dated Vanessa Macks sister, Leslie Little. In 1993, Little and Wallace had worked together at the Taco Bell on Sharon Amity. At the police station, according to court documents and Observer accounts at the time, the first sessions of what would be an all-night interrogation yielded little. Wallace was the main suspect, but Price said police did not have enough evidence to charge him with murder. Price and Corwin began their questioning shortly before 7 p.m., talking to Wallace about sports, his jobs, and his family and friends. At 10, the detectives read Wallace his Miranda rights and began to bore in: Why, they asked Wallace, is your hand print on the back of Betty Baucoms car? Why does the man seen in an ATM photo with Macks bank card have an earring with a dangling cross, just like the one in your arrest photo from earlier that day? Wallace kept deflecting. The back and forth dragged on for six more hours. Dont you think its funny that so many people around you are dying of unnatural causes? Price said he asked. That happens to everybody, Wallace replied. Hasnt it happened to you? At one point, Wallace mentioned that he knew detective Tony Rice from the investigation into the 1992 disappearance of Caroline Love, the roommate of Wallaces former girlfriend. A call went out, and at 5 a.m. Rice entered the room. Rice, who had not worked the Wallace case up to that point, asked all those present to bow their heads. While holding Wallaces left hand, the detective led a prayer about thanks and repentance, guidance and forgiveness, and Wallace began to cry. Rice told Wallace it was time to cleanse his soul and tell the truth, no matter what the truth might be. After the amens, Wallace sighed. Lets do it this way, he said, reaching for a pen and pad. Then Wallace began jotting down names. The detectives expected the list to begin and end with the four killings over the last three weeks. But Wallace kept writing. The women Detective Garry McFadden was outside the interrogation room when one of his colleagues exited with Wallaces list. Hes got names that we dont have, McFadden, now Mecklenburg County sheriff, remembered saying. Sheriff Garry McFadden, a former CMPD homicide detective, says police were caught off guard by the sweep of Henry Wallaces killings. Nine names in all. Wallace also used a question mark to account for his first Charlotte victim, the only one he did not know. She was later identified as Sharon Nance, 32, who was found beaten to death in June 1992 near Rozzelles Ferry Road. There was Caroline Love, 20, the roommate of Wallaces girlfriend at the time, who disappeared in June 1992. Wallace helped file the missing persons report. Now, he would lead police to her body. Shawna Hawk, 20, was a college student who was raped and strangled and found floating in the bathtub of her family home on Feb. 19, 1993. Wallace later attended her funeral. Audrey Spain, 24, was Wallaces co-worker and co-manager at the Taco Bell. She was murdered on June 22, 1993. On Aug. 10, 1993, Wallace raped and strangled Valencia Jumper, a 21-year-old college student who was his sisters friend. College student Michelle Stinson, 20, a friend of Wallaces from Taco Bell, was raped, stabbed and strangled on Sept. 14, 1993 in her apartment while one of her sons watched. Then came Mack, Henderson, Baucom and Slaughter. Wallace also confessed to an 11th murder, the 1990 rape and strangulation of 18-year-old Tashanda Bethea in Barnwell. All of the Charlotte victims were Black women between 18 and 35. All had been murdered over the previous 22 months. And all but Nance had known Henry Wallace. During 10 hours of taped confession, Wallace casually shared details how some of the victims fought, scratched or bit him, while others wept and asked for mercy. One fell to her knees and prayed. He raped and killed them anyway. Wallace considered almost all of them friends. He told detectives that their ghosts spoke to him in his dreams. He boasted that he sometimes used a professional wrestling move he described as the Boston choke hold to overpower his victims. After raping them, Wallace said, he would give the women the impression that they were safe, only to strangle them with a piece of their own clothing, a towel or the pillow cases he began smuggling into his crime scenes. He was playing God, Price says. The killer took elaborate steps to hide his tracks, almost toying with police. He explained that with some of his victims, he turned down the thermostats in their apartments to slow down decomposition to confuse investigators as to when the killings occurred. After strangling Valencia Jumper in August 1993, he soaked her body in rum, then put a pot of beans on the stove and turned the burner to high. The medical examiner ruled Jumper died of thermal burns, changing the cause of death to strangulation only after Wallaces confession. He did everything he could to throw us off, Price says. It was almost like he knew how we investigated our cases, and he anticipated what we would think and what we would do. The trial In September 1996, the largest murder trial by number of victims in North Carolina history opened in Charlotte. Wallace was charged with nine counts of first-degree murder, eight counts of first-degree rape and 10 other crimes. Prosecutors asked for the death penalty. (The killing of Sharon Nance did not fit the pattern of the other deaths, and never went before a jury. Likewise, Wallace was charged but never prosecuted for Betheas death.) Defense attorneys Isabel Day and Jim Cooney acknowledged that Wallace committed the Charlotte murders, but they said their clients mental illness and childhood trauma left him incapable of killing intentionally, forming the required intent. Because there was no premeditation, they argued, there couldnt be a death penalty. They also accused the police of illegally obtaining Wallaces confession. District Attorney Peter Gilchrist gave the job of first convicting Wallace then persuading jurors to put him on Death Row to Marsha Goodenow, a veteran homicide prosecutor, and Anne Tompkins, a West Charlotte High School and UNC Charlotte grad who was a few years into her career at the DAs office. Anne Tompkins was one of two Mecklenburg prosecutors who persuaded a jury to send Wallace to Death Row. The prosecutors took six months to prepare. The jury selection and trial ran on for an additional four. Four hundred exhibits were presented, 75 witnesses sworn in. Seven hours of Wallaces taped confession were played in open court. There was so much evidence tucked into files and cardboard boxes that Tompkins fingers were laced with paper cuts before the trial ended. From the start, Tompkins, who later became U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, says she and Goodenow harbored the same fear: How can we keep the jury from becoming numb to so many victims? The trial pushed past Christmas and New Years, the pressure and exhaustion rising for all involved. Tompkins recalls that when she reached for a glass of water before the start of her closing argument, her hand shook uncontrollably. On Jan. 7, 1997, two years and 10 months after his arrest, Wallace was convicted of nine murders. Three weeks later, the same jury sentenced him to death. For each sentence, the name of the victim was spoken aloud. Nine times Judge Robert Johnston read Wallace the required refrain: May God have mercy on your soul. Twenty-six years later, Wallace remains on Death Row. This story includes information compiled by The Charlotte Observer staff in 1994. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Three U.S. Marines found unresponsive in a car at a North Carolina gas station died of carbon monoxide poisoning, the local sheriff's office said Wednesday. Deputies from the Pender County Sheriffs Office found the three men Sunday morning in a privately owned Lexus sedan parked outside a Speedway gas station in the coastal community of Hampstead. Autopsies performed Wednesday by the North Carolina medical examiner's office determined that all three deaths were the result of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the sheriff's office. Sgt. Chester Ward of the Pender County Sheriffs Office told The Associated Press Wednesday that the situation seems accidental. Investigators have found nothing else that shows that its something else, such as suicide. The three lance corporals, identified by the U.S. Marine Corps as Tanner J. Kaltenberg, 19, of Madison, Wisconsin, Merax C. Dockery, 23, of Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, and Ivan R. Garcia, 23, of Naples, Florida, were stationed at nearby Camp Lejeune, located 29 miles (47 kilometers) northeast of the gas station. They were motor vehicle operators with the Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 2 and 2nd Marine Logistics Group. I am saddened by the timeless and tragic death of these three young men, who served our country honorably, Sheriff Alan Cutler said. Our thoughts and prayers remain with their families and colleagues during this time. Ward said the department had received a missing person report early Sunday morning from the mother of one of the Marines after her son failed to arrive on a flight home the night prior. Dockerys mother, Heather Glass of Maud, Oklahoma, said Wednesday that she and another relative had driven to the Oklahoma City airport last Saturday evening to wait for her son to fly home for his grandfathers funeral. When he didnt arrive, Glass daughter started calling North Carolina hospitals and jails while Glass contacted the sheriff's office and her sons sergeant at Camp Lejeune, resulting in a search. Glass said she assumed that her son died from something like carbon monoxide because all three of the young Marines had died. Breathing too much carbon monoxide makes victims pass out. Ward had said Tuesday before the autopsy that the sheriffs office did not suspect foul play. I was just worried that it was something worse, Glass told the AP in a phone interview. Im at peace. I feel at peace because I know he was asleep when he passed, Glass said. Dockery was the youngest of five siblings the rest of them older sisters and grew up in nearby Seminole. Glass said her son joined the Marines for personal growth and so that he could travel, with the possibility of making the military a career. Glass said funeral arrangements were being assembled, with dates based on where her sons body can be released to the family. He was just a kind soul, Glass said. He was liked by everybody. He was a real good kid. ___ Hannah Schoenbaum is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) Some African leaders arrived in Russia for a summit with President Vladimir Putin as he seeks allies amid the fighting in Ukraine, while the Kremlin accused Western powers of outrageous efforts to pressure other African heads of state not to attend. Putin has billed the two-day summit that opens Thursday in St. Petersburg as a major event that would help bolster ties with a continent of 1.3 billion people that is increasingly assertive on the global stage. Today, Africa is asserting itself more and more confidently as one of the poles of the emerging multipolar world, Putin said in a statement released by the Kremlin. The forum will provide a further boost to our political and humanitarian partnership for many years to come. On Wednesday, Putin held one-on-one talks with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and said Russia will more than triple the number of Ethiopian students it hosts and cover their education costs. Ethiopias government has been under pressure from the U.S. and the World Food Program after they made the extraordinary decision to suspend food aid to the country earlier this year following the discovery of massive theft of aid. They seek reforms that involve the government giving up controls over aid distribution. Meanwhile, watchdogs say hunger is rising in areas like the Tigray region that is recovering from two years of conflict. Later in the day, Putin also met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, hailing their growing bilateral trade that accounts for about one third of Russia's trade with Africa. El-Sissi noted that Russia has been building Egypt's first nuclear power plant and emphasized the special character of relations between the two countries. I'm sure that the Russia-Africa summit will achieve significant results," he said. Africas 54 nations make up the largest voting bloc at the United Nations and have been more divided than any other region on General Assembly resolutions criticizing Russias actions in Ukraine. It's the second Russia-Africa summit since 2019. The number of heads of state attending shrank from 43 then to 17 now because of what the Kremlin described as crude Western pressure to discourage African nations from taking part. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov deplored unconcealed brazen interference by the U.S., France and other states through their diplomatic missions in African countries, and attempts to put pressure on the leadership of these countries in order to prevent their active participation in the forum. It's absolutely outrageous, but it will in no way prevent the success of the summit, Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said that while only 17 heads of state will attend the summit, 32 other African countries will be represented by senior government officials or ambassadors. We remain committed to assisting our African partners in every possible way to help them strengthen their national and cultural sovereignty, to play a more active role in resolving regional and global challenges, Putin said in Wednesdays statement. The summit follows Russia's withdrawal from a deal that allowed Black Sea exports, vital to many African countries, a move that drew a strong condemnation around the world and raised new threats to global food security. Russia shrugged off criticism and doubled down by launching a barrage of missile attacks on Ukrainian ports and agriculture facilities. At the same time, Putin has repeatedly pledged that Russia would offer free grain to low-income African countries now that the Black Sea deal has been terminated. I want to give assurances that our country is capable of replacing the Ukrainian grain both on a commercial and free-of-charge basis, Putin said in a statement Monday, asserting that Russia shipped almost 10 million tons of grain to Africa in the first half of the year. Along with grain, another issue likely to be on the agenda will be the fate of Russia's Wagner military company led by Yevgeny Prigozhin following its brief rebellion against the Kremlin last month. Wagner's future will be an urgent issue for countries like Sudan, Mali and others who contract with the mercenary group in exchange for natural resources like gold. Russian officials and Prigozhin have said the company will continue working in Africa. A peace proposal for Ukraine that African leaders have tried to pursue is set to be discussed as well. The summit background will also offer an opportunity to African heads of state who are part of the African Leaders Peace Mission to continue talks with President Putin on the confidence-building measures that will create conducive conditions for a path to peace between Russia and Ukraine, a statement from the South African presidency said Wednesday. ___ Associated Press writers Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow and Cara Anna in Nairobi, Kenya contributed to this report. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The pan-Arab news network Al Jazeera has condemned a recent decision by Egyptian authorities to brand some of its journalists as terrorists. The media outlet, which is owned by the Gulf state of Qatar, said that a number of its Egyptian journalists and presenters had been added to a list of alleged terrorists published in an official newspaper earlier this month following a ruling by the Cairo Criminal Court. Al Jazeera Media Network strongly denounces the recent move by the Egyptian authorities to reinstate a number of its journalists onto a newly crafted terrorism list, the network said in a statement Tuesday. It also called for the release of two reporters Bahaa Al-Din Ibrahim, who was arrested in February 2020, and Rabee Al-Sheikh, who was arrested in August 2021. Both had traveled back to Egypt from Qatar to visit family, the network said. Egypt launched a crackdown on Al Jazeera after the 2013 military overthrow of an elected but divisive government dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood group. Egypt considers the Brotherhood a terrorist group and accused both Qatar and Al Jazeera of supporting it. Egypt revoked Al Jazeeras media credentials, raided its offices and arrested several reporters. The arrest and trial of three Al Jazeera English journalists Australian Peter Greste, Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed sparked an international outcry. The three received 10-year prison sentences, but were later released in 2015. Egypt and Qatar recently restored ties as part of a wider rapprochement among Arab states, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi visiting the country and meeting with its ruling emir in September. In May, Egypt released an Al Jazeera journalist who had been held since 2019. It wasn't immediately clear how many Al Jazeera reporters had been added to Egypt's terrorism blacklist, which is updated every five years. The broadcaster didn't provide specifics, and the newly updated list includes dozens of names. There was no comment from Egyptian officials. U.S. passport holders will be required to have travel authorization to enter 30 countries, ending visa-free travel in Europe for U.S. citizens. (Getty Images) Next year, Americans will be required to obtain travel authorization to enter 30 countries, ending visa-free travel in Europe for U.S. citizens. The European Union announced this week a new security program that would mandate U.S. passport holders to obtain visas before traveling to any of the visa-required countries, including Spain, France and Greece. Here is everything Americans need to know. Application process Before you secure your flights to your European destination, visit the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). The earlier you apply and are approved for the visa, the sooner it will arrive, providing peace of mind. Keep in mind that the new rules will be enforced starting in January 2024. American tourists will be required to obtain a visa from the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). (Photo illustration: Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) The application will require you to provide personal information, including your passport details, your job and where you live, as well as your upcoming travel plans and travel history. The EU encourages those looking to travel to apply before booking flights or hotels in case your application is denied. The visa, which will cost about $8, is similar to the one that European tourists are required to get when traveling to the U.S., which costs $21. Parents and legal guardians can apply for minors. Make sure your passport details are correct on the application (name, passport number, etc.), as you will be denied entry into a European country if any of the information on your visa is not correct. If you have made a mistake on your form, the fastest way to get a visa is to submit another ETIAS application, because a request to correct typos can take up to 30 days to process. If you have submitted an incorrect nationality or passport number, you will be required to pay for another application. Once it's submitted, you will receive an email confirmation for your application with your ETIAS number, which should be kept for future reference. The European Union announced a new security program that would mandate U.S. passport holders to obtain visas before traveling to any of the visa-required countries, including Spain, France and Greece. (Getty Images) Most applicants will receive approval in minutes, according to the EU. However, some applications may take up to four days. You will be notified of the status by ETIAS. If more documentation is required or youre called in for an interview, some applications may take 14 days or 30 days. If you are refused an ETIAS visa, you will be able to appeal the decision. Once approved, your visa will be valid for three years and you can spend up to 90 days in that country. Arrival at border Holding a valid ETIAS authorization does not mean you are guaranteed entry to a country. You will still have to meet the entry conditions of the border police. If you do not meet those requirements, you will be refused entry. UNITED NATIONS (AP) In an escalation of Russias anger at Ukraine and its Western backers, Russia refused to speak at a U.N. Security Council meeting called to discuss Moscows recent devastating attacks on the key port of Odesa immediately following its refusal to extend the Black Sea grain deal. The confrontation began at the start of a council session called by Russia on the divided Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Russias deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky ,protested that Britain, which holds the council presidency, was allowing only two briefers and Moscow wanted a third Archbishop Gideon of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Ukrainian government has cracked down on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church over its historic ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, whose leader, Patriarch Kirill, supported Russian President Vladimir Putin over the invasion of Ukraine. Polyansky accused the UK of bias, censorship and obstruction for limiting the number of briefers. Deputy British ambassador James Kariuki responded that because of a tight time schedule to fit in two council meetings, the UK had offered a compromise to allow a third Russian briefer to submit a statement to the council, which he said was not unreasonable. Polyansky was not satisfied, and Kariuki then put Russias proposal to have the archbishop speak to a vote. Russia got support only from China and Brazil, with the 12 other council members abstaining. Polyansky called the councils refusal to allow the archbishop to speak an egregious example of double standards on human rights and freedom of religion. As a sign of protest, he said, Russia wouldnt speak in the Ukraine-backed council session called by Ukraine to take up the Odesa attacks. The meeting on the Orthodox Church then went ahead. The director of the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations, Nihal Saad, told the council that the division between Ukraines Orthodox bodies has existed for decades. But she said it has been exacerbated since the February 2022 Russian invasion and has "reverberated worldwide as Orthodox churches have struggled with how and whether to take sides. Saad said the heartbreaking damage to Odesas historic church, the Transfiguration Cathedral, caused by a Russian missile strike Sunday was condemned by many, including the U.N. secretary-general. The cathedral is in Odesas historic city center that is a UNESCO world heritage site and had been largely spared since the beginning of the war. Saad lamented that it was one of 116 religious sites damaged since the invasion, according to a preliminary assessment by the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. In her briefing, Saad cited restrictions to freedom of religion by both Russia and Ukraine since the invasion, saying the politicization of religion in the war in Ukraine fuels intercommunal tensions, stokes fear and triggers violence. Polyansky called the devastation to the cathedral a horrible tragedy and reiterated Russias claim that the cathedral was damaged by a piece from Ukraines anti-air defenses not a Russian missile. If a Russian missile targeted the cathedral, he said, then there would be nothing left of the cathedral at all. The Russian deputy ambassador left the council chamber at the end of the session. The council meeting that followed on the Russian attacks on Odesa came days after President Vladimir Putin pulled Russia out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a wartime deal that enabled Ukraine to export more than 32,000 tons of foodstuff to many countries facing the threat of hunger. In addition to severely damaging the cathedral, the Russian attacks crippled significant parts of export facilities in Odesa and nearby Chornomorsk, and destroyed 60,000 tons of grain, according to Ukraines Agriculture Ministry. The council heard from 14 members, almost all condemning the damage to Odesa. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that Russia is hell-bent on preventing Ukrainian grain from reaching global markets and that the world is paying the price for Russias barbaric attacks. She accused Russia of weaponizing grain and cynically using Russian-produced grain as leverage to win the support of other countries. Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya, the last speaker, told the council that Russian missiles, including anti-ship missiles, hit 29 historical and cultural landmarks in Odesa. He said Russias blockade of Ukrainian ports, destruction of their infrastructure, obstruction of grain exports, and intimidation of foreign merchant vessels should be considered an attack on freedom of navigation. These actions also aim at eliminating a market competitor, deliberately raising world food prices and making a profit at the expense of the millions of people around the world who will suffer, Kyslytsya said. A junior Russian diplomat sat in Russias chair during the Odesa session and left the chamber when it ended never having uttered a word. PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) Southeast Asian countries should be given some latitude to engage informally with Myanmar on an individual basis to help resolve a deepening crisis there, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Wednesday. Anwar said he and visiting Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed during talks on the need to strengthen the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in ending the violence that started after Myanmar's army seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government on Feb. 1, 2021. At the same time, Anwar said neighboring countries should be given some flexibility, room and space" to engage with Myanmar on an informal basis. But he said it must not come at the expense of sacrificing the issues of human rights and the treatment of minorities, particularly the ethnic Muslim Rohingya and others. Some ASEAN countries, including current chair Indonesia, have been frustrated with Myanmar's refusal to cooperate with a peace plan forged in 2021 that called for an immediate end to the violence and dialogue to be brokered through an ASEAN special envoy. The 10-member bloc has banned Myanmars generals from attending ASEAN meetings. Thailand has already taken a bilateral route to engage Myanmar. Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said he met earlier this month with Suu Kyi in detention and that she was open to engage in talks. He is the only foreign government official known to have been given access to Suu Kyi. The military government had earlier refused requests by ASEAN special envoys to meet her. Don said his meeting with Suu Kyi was an approach from the friends of Myanmar" to secure a peaceful settlement. Southeast Asian diplomats told The Associated Press that Thailand was taking extra steps to help ease the crisis amid fears that an escalation of violence could drive large numbers of refugees from Myanmar into Thai territory. Marcos, in a joint press conference with Anwar on Wednesday, didn't mention Myanmar by name. But he agreed that countries should be able to use the bilateral route to resolve problems. I think that this will be an important aspect to all the issues that ASEAN is presently facing and to all the issues that the member states are presently worrying about, he said. Myanmar's military takeover and its crackdown on armed resistance has plunged the country into deadly chaos. Western and European governments, including the United States, have imposed sanctions on Myanmars military government and demanded the immediate release of Suu Kyi and other political detainees. Suu Kyi, 78, is serving a total of 33 years imprisonment after being convicted on a raft of charges that her supporters and rights groups say were politically motivated in an attempt to discredit her and legitimize the militarys takeover while preventing her from returning to politics. More than 3,750 civilians, including pro-democracy activists, have been killed by security forces and nearly 24,000 arrested since the military takeover, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights group that keeps tallies of arrests and casualties. Marcos, who arrived Tuesday, will also attend a business event and investment forum before leaving Thursday. WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) The plea deal in Hunter Bidens criminal case unraveled during a court hearing Wednesday after a federal judge raised concerns about the terms of the agreement that has infuriated Republicans who believe the presidents son is getting preferential treatment. Hunter Biden was charged last month with two misdemeanor crimes of failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes from over $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018 and had been expected to plead guilty Wednesday after he made an agreement with prosecutors, who were planning to recommend two years of probation. Prosecutors said Wednesday Hunter Biden remains under active investigation, but would not reveal details. U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, raised multiple concerns about the specifics of the deal and her role in the proceedings. The plan also included an agreement on a separate gun charge Biden has been accused of possessing a firearm in 2018 as a drug user. As long as he adhered to the terms of his agreement, the gun case was to be wiped from his record. Otherwise, the felony charge carries 10 years in prison. The overlapping agreements created confusion for the judge, who said the lawyers needed to untangle technical issues including over her role in enforcing the gun agreement before moving forward. It seems to me like you are saying just rubber stamp the agreement, Your Honor.' This seems to me to be form over substance," she said. She asked defense lawyers and prosecutors to explain why she should accept the deal. In the meantime, Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to the tax charges. The collapsed proceedings were a surprising development in the yearslong investigation, and a resolution that had been carefully negotiated over several weeks and included a lengthy back-and-forth between Justice Department prosecutors and Biden's attorneys. The plea deal was meant to clear the air for Hunter Biden and avert a trial that would have generated weeks or months of distracting headlines. But the politics remain as messy as ever, with Republicans insisting he got a sweetheart deal and the Justice Department pressing ahead on investigations into Trump, the GOPs 2024 presidential primary front-runner. Trump is already facing a state criminal case in New York and a federal indictment in Florida. Last week, a target letter was sent to Trump from special counsel Jack Smith that suggests the former president may soon be indicted on new federal charges, this time involving his struggle to cling to power after his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. Republicans claim a double standard, in which the Democratic president's son got off easy while the president's rival has been unfairly castigated. Congressional Republicans are pursuing their own investigations into nearly every facet of Hunter Biden's dealings, including foreign payments. District Judge Noreika did the right thing by refusing to rubberstamp Hunter Bidens sweetheart plea deal, said House Oversight Committee chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky. But lets be clear: Hunters sweetheart plea deal belongs in the trash. Wednesday's hearing quickly veered into confusion, with Hunter Biden at one point answering yes when asked if he was pleading guilty of his own free will, before later pulling back in moving forward with the plea. The judge said she was concerned about a provision in the agreement on the gun charge that she said would have created a role for her where she would determine if he violated the terms. She argued such a role doesn't exist for judges; the lawyers said they were only asking for the court to play a factfinding role as a neutral party in determining if a violation happened. We wanted the protection of the court, Biden's attorney Chris Clark said. She also raised concerns that the agreement included a non-prosecution clause for crimes outside of the gun charge. The attorneys appeared to squabble over the deal's terms, too, retreating to their corners to discuss the issues, before they met at the prosecutors' table and, at one point, could be heard yelling at each other. Well, well just rip it up! Clark was heard shouting. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The judge also asked Biden to be more specific about his business relationships and to discuss his substance use issues as she combed through the plea agreement. She asked him to name the Ukrainian and Chinese entities referred to without name in the agreement. She also asked him the last time he used alcohol or drugs and whether he was currently receiving treatment. Biden answered June 1, 2019, and said he was not currently in treatment, though he did say he was in an anonymous support program for his substance abuse issues. Hunter Biden is a private citizen, and this was a personal matter for him," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. As we have said, the president, the first lady, they love their son, and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life. This case was handled independently, as all of you know, by the Justice Department under the leadership of a prosecutor appointed by the former president, President Trump. President Biden, meanwhile, has said very little publicly, except to note, "I'm very proud of my son." ___ Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Lindsay Whitehurst and Darlene Superville contributed to this report. Multiple booksellers, publishers and authors filed a lawsuit in Texas on Tuesday over the states soon-to-be enacted law banning sexually explicit content in schools. The lawsuit, led by organizations including the American Booksellers Association and the Association of American Publishers, are going after the Restricting Explicit and Adult-Designated Educational Resources (READER) Act on the grounds it violates the First and 14th amendments of the Constitution. The legislation, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) last month and set to go into effect in September, would require companies selling books to Texas public schools to label certain ones as sexually relevant or sexually explicit. Sexually relevant content would be allowed in schools, but students would need permission from a guardian. Sexually explicit content would be banned from schools and is defined as material that describes, depicts, or portrays sexual conduct in a way that is patently offensive. Companies would have to put these labels on the thousands of books already sold and those that will be sold in the future. If one fails to comply, Texas schools will no longer be able to work with them. It is central to the First Amendment that the government can neither restrain nor compel speech, but this law will force booksellers to label constitutionally protected works of literature and nonfiction with highly subjective and stigmatizing ratings, effectively forcing private actors to convey and act upon the governments views even when they disagree, the coalition of publishers said in a statement. Lawmakers had said during debate that the law could jeopardize classic works such as Romeo and Juliet and even apply to texts such as the Bible. The law is also unfair to local communities who have the right to set their own standards. We would be forced to seek legal opinions about every book we will sell and have sold. We do not have the human or capital resources as a small independent bookshop to comply with the law as it is written, said Valerie Koehler, owner of Houstons Blue Willow Bookshop. The lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas aims to put preliminary and permanent injunctions on the law. Those in support of the bill say its purpose is to protect children from sexually inappropriate content. Schools should not expose, intentionally or accidentally, students to graphic sexual material, said Austin Prochko, deputy campaign manager of Next Generation Texas. HB 900 is a straightforward, conservative way to prevent school libraries from providing sexual material to minors. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Its rare for travelers to hanker for airline food until its in short supply on a 12-hour journey. Crew staffing a British Airways itinerary over the weekend from the Turks and Caicos Islands to London Heathrow were faced with a food shortage when the airline wasnt able to offer its regular meal service because of unforeseen circumstances. Our teams sprung into action and made sure our customers had something to eat, British Airways said in a statement. While the airline didnt elaborate on what it provided to passengers, posts on social media indicate that airline employees made a Kentucky Fried Chicken run during a scheduled stopover in the Bahamas. BA flight 252 took off on July 23 from Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos, stopped in Nassau in the Bahamas and flew on to London. The airline made reference to its unconventional in-flight menu in its pun-ladened statement. We apologise to customers that their full meal service was not available and we had to wing it on this occasion. Were sorry if we ruffled any feathers, the statement said. The airline did not respond to questions about what circumstances led to the lack of in-flight meal service. One social media post referenced an issue with refrigeration. @aktivandrew, a user on Twitter that was recently rebranded to X, posted that @British_Airways just landed @HeathrowAirport after a 12.5 hour flight BA252 from Turks and Caicos with no catering! BA had to serve @kfc at Nassau giving some lucky passengers 1 piece of chicken. The container with the plane catering wasnt chilled so all thrown away!! Another user, @Hanchell, posted a story about the incident from travel site One Mile At a Time, commenting, It was the best KFC Ive ever had. CNN reached out to both social media users but did not immediately receive replies. British Airways gave passengers refreshment vouchers when they arrived in London, the airline said. CNNs David Williams contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Foreign Korean War veterans and their family members pose as they meet for a breakfast meeting at a hotel in Seoul, July 25. Yonhap South Korea will hold a major ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that halted the 1950-53 Korean War in the southeastern city of Busan later this week, the veterans ministry said Wednesday. The ceremony is set to begin at 7:40 p.m. Thursday in the Busan Cinema Center a symbolic site of a former air port, where Task Force Smith, a small U.S. unit, first arrived under a high-stakes mission to stem North Korean advances during the war. On July 27, 1953, the U.S.-led U.N. Command, North Korea and China signed the armistice, halting the fighting in the war, where U.N. forces fought alongside South Korean soldiers to expel North Korean invaders backed by China and the then Soviet Union. Some 4,000 people are expected to join the ceremony, including 170 representatives from 25 countries, including the 22 countries that sent troops or other forms of support to South Korea during the war. Also among them is Dame Cindy Kiro, governor-general of New Zealand. It could have been worse for Karin Strickland. Her wheelchair was damaged during an April flight on American Airlines, but she said that the fact it happened at all left her shaken. I would be considered lucky, which is a weird way to put it because my wheelchair did have damage, I did have issues, but the damage was really minor, she told USA TODAY. It was the scariness of not knowing when they brought it to me if it was going to work or not. Strickland, 52, who has postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, was flying home to Cape Coral, Florida, from a service dog convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, on April 25. After landing at Southwest Florida International Airport, she said her wheelchair was returned to her in banged-up pieces. I gave it to them all in one piece. They brought it up in three different pieces. They dropped it on the ground upside down and two workers were trying to desperately put it back together, she said. I start immediately shaking and trying not to have a panic attack because this expensive piece of machinery is in pieces. Strickland noted that her wheelchair is designed to be taken apart for transportation if necessary, but it was not needed on her flight. She said she wound up having to reassemble her wheelchair in the gate area and assess the damage in front of a crowd of passengers waiting to board the next flight. Karin Strickland with her service dog. They took the pieces and brought them up the gangway and put them in the middle of the gate floor in front of the desk where people would go up and ask questions, she said. I got the wheelchair put together while Im crying and got in it and turned it on and luckily it moved. Ultimately, Strickland found that the basket on her wheelchair was the only piece that sustained significant damage, and she was able to get it replaced by Global Repair Group, which contracts with American Airlines, in a matter of weeks. The airline acknowledged the incident in a statement to USA TODAY. We strive to deliver a positive travel experience for all customers who use mobility devices. A member of our team has spoken with the customer to apologize for any inconvenience, the statement said. Strickland said that although the damage her wheelchair sustained did not affect her ability to use it, her incident still highlights how airlines have room for improvement when it comes to their handling of mobility devices. Wheelchairs arent just luggage that can be thrown around, she said. They need to be treated as medical equipment, not luggage People need these to live their lives. Scuff marks on Karin Strickland's wheelchair, which was damaged on an American Airlines flight in April. Cruising Altitude: Data doesn't show how 'catastrophic' airline wheelchair damage can be How common is mobility equipment damage in air travel? According to the Department of Transportation, airlines "mishandle" on average about 1.5% of the mobility equipment they transport. In 2022, that translated to 11,389 incidents reported by U.S. airlines, up from 7,239 in 2021. This year, USA TODAY wants to highlight what those figures mean for travelers with disabilities. We're looking to track these incidents throughout 2023 with the goal of bringing light to an all-too-common problem. If your own mobility equipment was damaged or lost by an airline this year, please share your story with us using the form below: Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Flyer says it's 'lucky' her wheelchair had only minor damage on AA Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert! REPUBLICANS ARE IFFY ON FENTANYL BOND California Republicans are not entirely sold on a $5.2 billion bond to curb fentanyl overdoses even though a GOP lawmaker co-authored the bill. Assembly Public Safety Committee Chair Reggie Jones-Sawyer, D-Los Angeles, and Vice Chair Juan Alanis, R-Modesto, are pushing Assembly Bill 1510, which would fund substance abuse treatment, harm reduction programs, targeting of high level drug traffickers and more. Jones-Sawyer sees the bond as a comprehensive approach, instead of a bill-by-bill approach to the fentanyl overdose crisis. Alanis is on board, saying he wants to look at solutions on both the front end and the back end of the problem. But Assemblywoman Diane Dixon, R-Newport Beach, and Assemblyman Joe Patterson, R-Rocklin, think a bond measure may not be the best approach. Dixon and Patterson say AB 1510 which would go before voters during the March primary or November general election would take too long to enact and convert into programming. Were asked to watch the long game, Dixon said. And so Im interested in seeing the benefits and accountability of a long game. But right now, we have a fentanyl crisis here today. Dixon, Patterson and Alanis authored Assembly Constitutional Amendment 12, which would enact Alexandras Law and require judges to warn dealers they could face homicide charges if they knowingly sell fentanyl that kills people. The law is named after a 20-year-old woman from Temecula who died after taking half of an oxycodone pill she did not know contained fentanyl. ACA 12 has not yet been assigned to an Assembly committee, and Dixon wants to see public pressure applied to make that happen. She cited the recent outcry over Senate Bill 14 from Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, a child trafficking bill that passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee after a GOP-led campaign. People are now becoming awakened to the failure of the Legislature to launch these bills into the process, Dixon said. Patterson favors some of the bond priorities, but he believes the money for fighting fentanyl should come from the states general fund. He also wants to see more penalties for dealers and accountability for state spending. We should be addressing it at the highest priority, Patterson said. Not a 30-year bond thats going to cost more than twice the amount of money that were going to be borrowing. Id rather take that twice amount and fund it on a regular basis every year, because it is the one of the leading causes of death of Californians. Jones-Sawyer said in a statement that those who favor only harsher penalties are missing the point. Preemptive measures to end demand and actions to help those suffering from addiction save lives and put a stop to the sales of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, he said. Locking up dealers happens after someone has died or their lives have been ruined. Alanis said he knows he will be fielding questions from his Republican colleagues. But he remains confident about the bond measure, and he also isnt done pushing for stiffer punishments for dealers. Ive actually found when I talk with my colleagues in private, or even in committee, that they listen, he said. They respect my background in law enforcement and know where Im coming from on that. ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS TAKE ON OIL-DRILLING REFERENDUM A coalition of environmental, public health and community groups are uniting to take on an oil-backed California ballot measure challenging a recent law that prevents oil drilling near homes and schools. The Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California launched on Wednesday to combat the measure, which will appear on the November 2024 ballot and attempt to repeal Senate Bill 1137. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 1137 in 2022, and it went into effect on Jan. 1. It creates setback requirements for oil and gas wells, preventing the state from approving new drilling within 3,200 feet of hospitals, schools and homes. The California Independent Petroleum Association reportedly spent millions of dollars on a signature-gathering effort to fight SB 1137. The Secretary of States Office announced in February the group had collected enough valid signatures to qualify for the November ballot. The Campaign kicked off with $550,000 in initial contributions, with $500,000 from the Advocacy Action Fund and $50,000 from the Center for Biological Diversity, according to its Form 497 Contribution Report. Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach, who co-authored SB 1137, said the campaigners are fighting for their lives and for a future for all Californians from oil drilling in their neighborhoods. The law passed with overwhelming support from your elected leaders across California to protect communities and bring accountability to Big Oil, Gonzalez said in a statement. And now, we are standing with the Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California to hold Big Oil accountable for the decades theyve spent poisoning our neighborhoods for profit. CALIFORNIA JUDGE THROWS OUT BIDEN ASYLUM RULE Via Gillian Brassil and Michael Wilner A federal judge in California tossed President Joe Bidens new immigration policy on Tuesday, writing that the rules for asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border were unlawful. U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar, who is based in Oakland, California, wrote that the new rules imposed conditions on asylum-seekers did not align with the intent of Congress. The policy was put in place by the Biden administration in response to an historic surge in migrant arrivals at the U.S. southern border, and offered asylum seekers other pathways to legal status into the country while limiting options for entry at border crossings. Before requesting asylum in the United States, migrants must have asked for asylum and prove that it was not granted in another country. Migrants schedule interviews to claim asylum via a mobile application, CBP One, or have a U.S. citizen sponsor them. There are minimal exceptions for health and safety threats. While Bidens immigration policies have been criticized on the political right as too lenient, the California lawsuit was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, which argued they were too harsh. The Biden administration previously said that the rule was coupled with more legal immigration pathways. Responding to the ruling, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the Justice Department would quickly appeal the decision. Tigar stayed the ruling for two weeks to allow the appeal to go forward. We strongly disagree with todays ruling and are confident that the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule is lawful, Mayorkas said in a statement. Read more in The Sacramento Bee. QUOTE OF THE DAY The Legislature weakened itself by not showing up and that relationship between the branches has never been the same. We love to piss on the administration and Gavin, but thats something that was our fault. It was never rectified. - Former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, in the Los Angeles Times. Rendon believes lawmakers departure from the Capitol during the COVID-19 pandemic empowered the Newsom administration. Best of the Bee: SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) A federal lawsuit alleges that health insurance giant Cigna used a computer algorithm to automatically reject hundreds of thousands of patient claims without examining them individually as required by California law. The class-action lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in Sacramento, says Cigna Corp. and Cigna Health and Life Insurance Co. rejected more than 300,000 payment claims in just two months last year. The company used an algorithm called PXDX, shorthand for ''procedure-to-diagnosis," to identify whether claims met certain requirements, spending an average of just 1.2 seconds on each review, according to the lawsuit. Huge batches of claims were then sent on to doctors who signed off on the denials, the lawsuit said. Relying on the PXDX system, Cignas doctors instantly reject claims on medical grounds without ever opening patient files, leaving thousands of patients effectively without coverage and with unexpected bills, according to the lawsuit. Ultimately, Cigna conducted an illegal scheme to systematically, wrongfully and automatically deny members claims to avoid paying for medical necessary procedures, the lawsuit contends. Connecticut-based Cigna has 18 million U.S. members, including more than 2 million in California. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of two Cigna members in Placer and San Diego counties who were forced to pay for tests after Cigna denied their claims. The lawsuit accuses Cigna of violating California's requirement that it conduct thorough, fair, and objective investigations of bills submitted for medical expenses. It seeks unspecified damages and a jury trial. Cigna utilizes the PXDX system because it knows it will not be held accountable for wrongful denials" because only a small fraction of policyholders appeal denied claims, according to the lawsuit. In a statement, Cigna Healthcare said the lawsuit appears highly questionable and seems to be based entirely on a poorly reported article that skewed the facts. The company says the process is used to speed up payments to physicians for common, relatively inexpensive procedures through an industry-standard review process similar to those used by other insurers for years. Cigna uses technology to verify that the codes on some of the most common, low-cost procedures are submitted correctly based on our publicly available coverage policies, and this is done to help expedite physician reimbursement, the statement said. The review takes place after patients have received treatment, so it does not result in any denials of care. If codes are submitted incorrectly, we provide clear guidance on resubmission and how to appeal. Promise Edwards looked out at the crowd of about 70 people who gathered at the community center Monday night and for the second time in nearly 20 minutes she offered both gratitude and regret. If Jacob would have had one single ounce of support and love in his life that he has right now, we would not be standing here today, Edwards said. In front of her, the seats in Jacob Williamsons hometown of Laurens, South Carolina, were filled with friends, family and people who never knew the 18-year-old. Many wore purple T-shirts or had hair streaked with shades of plum, a color symbolizing support for LGBTQ+ youth. Several never met Williamson, but they had heard his story. Williamsons body was found July 4 on the side of a road in Pageland, South Carolina, roughly 8 miles from where 25-year-old Joshua Newton lived in Monroe, North Carolina. Police have charged Newton with first-degree murder and obstruction of justice in Williamsons death, and arrested Newtons girlfriend, 22-year-old Victoria Smith, in connection with the killing. Williamson had been living as a transgender man for about a month when he went to meet Newton, whom he first connected with online, Edwards said. Police say the killing is not being investigated as a hate crime. His family and friends say that Williamson might not have been killed because he was transgender, but he died because he was transgender. Its a small distinction with a gulf of understanding in between. All of the love and support that Jacob is getting right now in his untimely death could have prevented this from ever happening, Edwards told the crowd. Promise Edwards, a longtime family friend of Jacob Williamson, speaks at a vigil for the teen who was killed in July. He felt shunned by his family, Edwards said, and began living with her, a longtime family friend, near the end of May. Edwards and Williamsons mom, Brittney Patterson-Shealy, have been friends since grade school. But they havent really spoken in months, Edwards said, splitting over Williamsons transition. Everything has become complicated. She was not invited to Williamsons funeral, which was held last week in Williamsons birth name, because she refused to stop saying Jacob. In an interview for an article jointly reported by the Observer and The State, Patterson-Shealy made clear that she only uses Williamsons birth name and feminine pronouns. Williamson never knew that organizations like PFLAG Spartanburg existed, Edwards says, but it helped organize Mondays vigil with the help of Uplift Outreach Center, another Spartanburg organization that aims to make LGBTQ+ youth feel welcome. I feel that the sequence of events that led up to his death could have had a very different outcome if he had just been accepted from the beginning, said Amberlyn Boiter, president of PFLAG Spartanburg. He would have been less likely to try to find that love and acceptance somewhere else. Williamson was accepted by a small circle of friends and family, but did not feel accepted by the larger community he was a part of in his conservative, small Southern town. And he was still searching for love. The date he expected to go on last month before being killed would have been his first. Candles and notes to Jacob Williamson from friends and loved ones were left on a table at a vigil for the 18-year-old who was killed in early July. Somebodys life is gone Laurens once gained notoriety because it was known as the home of The Redneck Shop, the self-proclaimed Worlds Only Klan Museum that sold white-nationalist and neo-Nazi paraphernalia until it closed in 2012. The town, itself, is named after a former prominent slave trader. More recently, Laurens has become known as the South Carolina city that earlier this year reelected the states first openly gay mayor. It has an undeniable racist past that has led to a legacy of hate, but its also accepting enough to disregard a local politicians sexuality. Nathan Senn wants to be careful to not make connections where there might not be any, so he speaks with long, thoughtful pauses. The mayor of Laurens, a city of about 9,000 people, has been told that Williamsons murder was not a hate crime. In fact, he didnt know Williamson was transgender at first. The county weekly newspapers July 5 headline said, 2 charged in death of 18-year-old Laurens woman. The report was based on the victims sex and name given by police. Senn is worried the focus on Williamsons gender identity overshadows the starkly horrific details of the murder, itself: A teen was lured from home by someone he met online and killed. Because these are such divisive times and because gender identity doesnt seem to be a factor in this beyond just as a descriptor of the person who tragically passed away, this becomes a story that could do more to divide than bring people together, Senn said. And I think the last thing I would want as a community leader is to cause division or drum up publicity as a result of a tragedy. My concern is just that a story that is truly a personal tragedy becomes something thats centered around identity and identity politics, honestly. Ultimately, I dont want to lose sight of the fact that somebodys life is gone. But the stories are intertwined, transgender advocates say. In 2023, 79 anti-transgender bills have been passed across the country, according to Trans Legislation Tracker. S.C. Sen. Danny Verdin, a Republican who represents Laurens County, was one of the primary sponsors on a South Carolina bill earlier this year that proposed banning gender-transition surgeries, hormone therapy and puberty blockers for people under the age of 18. The bill has not yet come up for a vote in the state Senate. Edwards said Williamson came to her house because he knew she would accept him; she is bisexual and has made a point to tell everyone around her that her home is a safe space. There are not many other places in Laurens or South Carolina that make the same proclamation. Boiter, the PFLAG Spartanburg president who is transgender, said she grew up in Pickens County, near Greenville, South Carolina, and understands the community where Williamson was raised. The fact that I was born in such a rural county is part of what kept me in the closet for over three decades, she said. No Laurens elected officials except the mayor have made public statements about Williamsons death. Senn helped secure the site for the vigil, The Ridge at Laurens, but he did not attend. State representatives were invited, Boiter said, but also did not make an appearance. Laurens Police Chief Keith Grounsell was the only visible city official in the crowd. Attendees at Jacob Williamsons vigil in Laurens, S.C., were handed a program with a portrait drawing of the 18-year-old, and a fan featuring transgender flag colors and the phrase Justice for Jacob. Theyve buried so much Regan Freeman, who attended the vigil, had heard Williamsons story reported nationally but didnt know the teen was from his home county until last week. Theyre so committed to making Laurens look like a happy, small-town place to grow up in that theyve buried so much, Freeman said. Theyve buried so much. And thats been the case for centuries. He grew up in nearby Clinton without knowing anything about the racist history of the county seat. When he learned in college about lynchings in Laurens County that he was never taught about as a child, he was inspired to connect with Rev. David Kennedy. Kennedy is the pastor of the New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church who now owns the Echo Theater, the building where The Redneck Shop once operated. Freeman is now the executive director of The Echo Project, the nonprofit working to transform the former Echo Theater into an education center, museum, and community center. Freeman said hes hopeful the center can open in about three years if full funding is secured. He regrets that it wasnt open for Williamson. The Echo Theater in Laurens, S.C., is the former home of The Redneck Shop, which was the self-proclaimed Worlds Only Klan Museum, until its closure in 2012. Its being converted to a museum and education center. We believe we can fight that kind of legacy of hate and of fear, Freeman said. Were making progress, but I am sorry to say that we werent around (for Williamson). People deserve community and they deserve a network. And it just breaks my heart that this happened. Laurens, Freeman says, is still working to shed its past. Its racist history, of course. But also its unwillingness to accept anyone different. The city might have elected an openly gay mayor, but Senn did not make his sexuality a focus of his campaign. He won reelection in a runoff in March by garnering 54% of the vote. Nathan never really made a point that he was gay in this campaign, Freeman said. So thats true that they did this (elected him), but it wasnt like a referendum on, Should we have a gay mayor? It was just Nathan. No black-and-white answers Edwards said she woke the morning of Williamsons vigil feeling sad. She was remembering all the things she missed about Williamson: His goofy sense of humor, his outgoing happiness, his love of anime and his generous, kind soul. By the time the vigil was over Monday evening, after she had spoken for 20 minutes about her communitys need for acceptance and about the dangers of online dating, she said she felt a million times better. When I looked out and I saw all these people here that were just loving, they just gave me a little bit more hope that there are still some people that care, Edwards said. Im proud of the amount of people that came out to show their love and support. About 70 people gathered for a vigil for Jacob Williamson in his hometown of Laurens, S.C., on July 24, 2023. Here, Promise Edwards, speaks to the crowd. But she also was careful to be inclusive of anyone who might use Williamsons birth name and female pronouns presumably, people like his parents. Its all so complicated. When they speak, theyre speaking from memories that they know, Edwards said. And it is not a disrespectful thing. So I ask that you guys understand that all of us have memories, whether that is with her or with him. The vigil served as a remembrance of Williamson, but it also was a clear plea for acceptance of transgender individuals, in general. Speaker after speaker talked of Williamsons gender identity and the transgender communitys feeling of disconnection and otherness. How a political focus on gender identity is fanning the flames of hatred toward a group of people and causing the tragic death of one teen from Laurens to become centered around a singular aspect of who he was. Boiter knows there are still questions about what led to Williamsons death. Because Williamson might not have been killed because he was transgender, friends and family say, but he died because he was transgender. So often people want a very black-and-white answer on things, Boiter said. What she left unspoken is that few things in life are ever that clear. Two elderly people found burned to death in their home in Italy are among at least 40 people killed as wildfires rage across huge swaths of the Mediterranean. Countries including Italy, Greece and Algeria are deploying thousands of firefighters to battle the devastating fires, which have been fueled by scorching temperatures and strong winds. The highest death toll is in Algeria, where wildfires ripped through 11 provinces in the North African nation, killing at least 34 people, state broadcaster EPTV News reported Monday, citing the countrys interior ministry and local groups. Ten of the victims were soldiers, Reuters reported. More than 8,000 firefighters have been deployed to control the blazes as residents living near forested areas were evacuated, according to EPTV. The situation now appears to be under control, according to Algerias Civil Protection services, which said that it has managed to contain all wildfires, in a statement on Wednesday. A forest fire rages in the mountainous area of Bourbatache, Algeria, on Monday, - Nasri Elyas/AP The Algerian Ministry of the Interior announced at least 34 deaths in multiple forest fires across the country. - Billel Bensalem/APP/NurPhoto/Getty Images Italy, one of the countries hardest hit by extreme heat in Europe, is battling 10 fires in the south of the country including blazes in Sicily, Calabria, Abruzzo and Puglia, where 2,000 people were evacuated from three hotels on Tuesday evening. The fires claimed at least four lives on Tuesday, according to Italian news agency ANSA. A 98-year-old man died as flames reached his home in the coastal city of Reggio Calabria in southern Italy, according to ANSA. In Palermo in Sicily, two people in their 70s were found burned to death in their home near Palermo and an 88-year-old woman died when an ambulance called for her was blocked by the fires. In some parts of Sicily, temperatures reached 47.4 Celsius (117.3 Fahrenheit) on Monday, edging close to the European temperature record of 48.8 degrees Celsius, set in 2021. Italys meteorological agency said that temperatures will dip slightly over the coming days in the south before climbing again towards the weekend. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday that the fires and extreme weather disasters are putting the country to the test. She came short of announcing a state of emergency in the country as many regions are demanding, tweeting that the government had deployed all the means at its disposal. Further west, in parts of Portugal and southern Spain, emergency teams struggled to contain wildfires on Wednesday as residents were evacuated from the affected regions. Outside the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, on Wednesday morning over 500 firefighters remained at the scene of a wildfire that broke out in the Cascais area, according to Portuguese public broadcaster, RTP. Firefighters remained at the scene after the fire was contained. In the Spanish municipality of Tejeda on Gran Canaria, a forest fire broke out on Tuesday in an area where 200 hectares of land had already burned down, according to Spanish public broadcaster, RTVE. Residents watch a fire burning in Capaci, near Palermo, in Sicily, southern Italy, on July 26. - Alberto Lo Bianco/LaPresse/AP An abandoned shed engulfed in flames in the province of Catania, Italy, on Tuesday. - Fabrizio Villa/Getty Images In Greece, the fire service said 61 new wildfires ravaged parts of the country amid sweltering temperatures as high as 46 degrees Celsius (114.8 degrees Fahrenheit). The countrys fire service said on Wednesday that new blazes prompted evacuation orders in some parts of the cities of Lamia and Volos, after nearly 20,000 people were evacuated from homes and tourist resorts in Rhodes over the weekend. The carbon emissions from the blazes are the highest in the past two decades, according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). Around 1 megaton of carbon emissions was recorded from July 1 to July 25, CAMS said, adding that the wildfires are expected to affect the air quality in the region. Maria Feggou, a volunteer with the Hellenic Red Cross fighting the blaze in Rhodes, said that the situation is difficult to describe. Half of the island is in flames, and it seems uncontrollable, Feggou told CNN on Tuesday. In Evia, two pilots aged 27 and 34 died when their aircraft crashed during a firefighting operation over the island, the Greek Air Force said in a statement. Greeces armed forces announced three days of national mourning. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said at a government cabinet meeting on Tuesday that the fires were a tough test for the country. He warned that things will probably get worse, not better, with warmer temperatures, more drought, stronger winds. The Greek weather agency has warned of rising temperatures in some parts of the country, while the island of Crete has been placed under a state of alarm for extreme risk of fire. Flames burn a tree in Vati village, on the Greek island of Rhodes, on July 25. - Petros Giannakouris/AP An aerial view shows burnt vehicles and trees after a fire near Vati, on Rhodes, on July 26, 2023. - Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images In Turkey, forest wildfires ignited Monday night in the southern Mediterranean province of Antalya, according to Antalya Municipalitys statement. Antalyas Mayor Muhittin Bocek said Tuesday, Our efforts to extinguish the forest fire that broke out last night in Antalyas Kemer district continue. Bocek said 180 hectares of land were affected and the fire was hard to bring under control due to the steepness of the area and the strength of the winds, according to the statement. A total of 10 homes near the fire were evacuated as a precaution. Six people are being treated at the hospital for smoke inhalation, according to Turkeys state media Anadolu. Fires have also broken out in Croatia, south of the city of Dubrovnik, according to the Croatian fire service. Around 130 firefighters and two aircraft have been battling the fires, which are now under control, the fire service said in a statement on Wednesday. Scientists are clear that the kind of extreme weather, which is causing destruction across swaths of the Mediterranean, will become more frequent and more severe as long as the world continues to burn planet-heating fossil fuels. Without the human-caused climate crisis, Europes searing heat wave, which has baked several southern European countries and primed the land for wildfires, would have been virtually impossible, according to a report on Tuesday. CNNs Sharon Braithwaite, Radina Gigova, Niamh Kennedy and Vasco Cotovio contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com An endangered monk seal pup found dead on the North Shore of the Hawaiian island of Oahu last month was most likely killed in a dog attack, federal officials said. The pup, tracked by researchers as RS48 but otherwise known as Hoomau Lehua, was born Feb. 23 not far from where she was found dead on June 12, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries said in a statement Thursday. The seal had puncture wounds and other injuries, and officials believe she most likely died from a dog attack. There was no evidence of underlying disease, the agency said. Hoomau Lehua was at least the second monk seal to have been killed on Oahu this year. On March 12, RQ76, also known as Malama, was reported dead on the Westside, not far from the North Shore, NOAA Fisheries said. Malama's likely cause of death was found to be "intentional killing" by blunt force trauma, and a reward is being offered for information leading to a conviction in her death, the agency said. NOAA Fisheries said an off-leash dog was responsible for Hoomau Lehua's death and noted that that would be illegal under Honolulu law, which covers Oahu. Agency officials did not immediately respond to an inquiry about whether it would pursue any potential dog owners in the seals death. Off-leash dog attacks on wildlife are not unusual on Oahu, and at least one other seal has been killed and several have been injured in such attacks, according to NOAA Fisheries. Federal officials estimate the monk seal population to be 1,570, a number representing a decline from the first half of the 1900s but also one that includes an additional 400 seals in the last two decades and a more recent growth rate of 2%. Lack of food has been cited as a culprit in the seals' endangered status. As an endangered species, the monk seal, which is indigenous to the Hawaiian archipelago, is protected under the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and state law. Actions to take, harass, harm, pursue or kill such an animal are prohibited, and those prosecuted under the federal act could face up to a year in federal prison and a $50,000 fine. The nonprofit Hawai'i Marine Animal Response said its volunteers spotted Hoomau Lehua days before her death. "Finding her was incredibly sad for our team since she had been seen only a few days prior, had looked fine, and had been monitored since she was born," it said in a monthly update. The organization helped take the monk seal to a NOAA Fisheries facility for examination. Ethan Slaters co-star has shared her surprised reaction to reports that her former Broadway cast member is dating Ariana Grande. Lilli Cooper, who played Sandy Cheeks alongside Slater in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical from 2016 to 2017, described his new relationship with the Thank U, Next singer as unexpected. I was surprised, she told Page Six on 25 July. I havent spoken to him in a while. Its an interesting coupling, for sure, unexpected. In 2016, Slater was cast in the lead role of Spongebob Squarepants during the shows original Chicago production. The musical later was relocated to Broadway at the Palace Theatre in New York from 2017 to 2018. For his performance, Slater earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. Last week, it was revealed that Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater are dating. The two reportedly sparked a romance while filming director Jon M Chus movie musical adaptation of Wicked in London. Grande plays Glinda in the upcoming film, initially scheduled for release in November 2024, while Slater will play Boq, the love interest of Elphabas sister Nessarose. The news came as a surprise to many, considering the 30-year-old singer recently announced her split from husband Dalton Gomez after two years of marriage. Meanwhile, Slater had been in a relationship with his wife Lilly Jay for 10 years. The former couple were married in 2018 and welcomed a son last year. Ariana and Dalton separated in January, a source told People at the time. She and Ethan recently began dating, and he is separated from his wife. However, Slaters wife was apparently blindsided by reports that the actors are dating. Its horrible. They were high school sweethearts, a source told Page Six. They have a baby! Shes a wreck. Sources also speculated that Slaters connection with Grande is a reason why he and Jay suddenly broke up now when nothing appeared wrong between them. Just last May, the Broadway alum shared a Mother Days tribute in honour of his wife. In an Instagram post featuring a photo of their infant sons hands, he wrote: Happy first Mothers Day to the most loving caring and wonderful mom/person in the world. In November 2022, he celebrated their 10-year anniversary of being a couple with another Instagram post. My best friend. Four years married. 10 together. And this is easily the best (and most bizarre) yet, he captioned a slideshow of himself and Jay over the years. Ariana Grande likes Ethan Slaters posts (Instagram / Ethan Slater) Following reports, fans discovered that Grande had even liked many of Slaters Instagram posts for Jay. He has since made his Instagram private. The Victorious alum married real estate broker Dalton Gomez at her home in Montecito, California, in May 2021. The two began dating in January 2020 and announced their engagement 11 months later. Now, Grande and Gomez have been separated since January and are heading toward divorce, according to TMZ. They reportedly aatried to reconcile their marriage a few months back, but have been having problems since before Grande began filming Wicked in London. One source told People that Grande and Gomez have been quietly and lovingly working on their friendship since their separation. They came to the decision together. They were having problems before January, but they want to remain best friends, a source told Page Six. Theyve been really good friends throughout the entire process, and their friends and families have been trying to protect them. By Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The EU rights watchdog on Wednesday announced a probe into Europe's deadliest shipwreck in years and whether the bloc's Frontex border agency fulfilled its rescue duties when the boat sank off Greece last month killing hundreds of migrants. European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly said her office would review Frontex's internal rules, cooperation with Greek authorities and reports drawn up after the disaster, saying the deaths required close scrutiny. "My office will focus on the role of Frontex as we try to piece together the events that led to the capsizing of the boat and the deaths of at least 500 people," she said in announcing the inquiry into the sinking of the Adriana boat on June 14. "Migration to Europe will continue and it is up to the EU to ensure that it acts in a way that maintains fundamental rights and does not lose sight of the human suffering." Survivors recounted the Greek coastguard's doomed attempt to tow the overloaded trawler. Islamabad said the boat was carrying over 700 people, including at least 350 Pakistanis. The Greek coastguard rescued 104 people but hundreds drowned in one of Europe's deadliest shipwrecks in recent years. Frontex said it would cooperate with the probe. "Frontex sees the rescue of lives at sea as one of its essential roles and provides all the necessary support to national authorities when needed," it said in a statement. The 27-nation EU has turned increasingly restrictive on irregular immigration from the Middle East and Africa since more than a million people - mostly fleeing the war in Syria - arrived across the Mediterranean in 2015. Frontex received more money and powers as the bloc pushed to cut the sudden increase in sea arrivals of people fleeing wars and poverty in less well-off parts of the world. Climate change is also seen as increasingly driving global migration. Irregular immigration all but stopped amid the COVID pandemic. Fewer than 160,000 people made it across the sea last year, according to U.N. data. More than 2,400 died along the way. The issue remains highly sensitive across the bloc, especially ahead of a pan-EU election next June, with governments in countries including Italy, the Netherlands and Poland loudly calling for policies to keep people away. O'Reilly also said she would look into a recent EU deal with Tunisia to stem migration to Europe. (Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Nick Macfie) BRUSSELS (AP) The European Union's official watchdog said Wednesday that it has opened an investigation into the role of the bloc's Frontex border agency in the tragedy off Greece last month that is feared to have killed hundreds of people in the Mediterranean Sea. Migrant crossings in unseaworthy boats organized by human traffickers from North Africa have spiked this year, with massive losses of life. Now, EU ombudsman Emily O'Reilly wants her investigation to make clear to the public who is accountable for these deaths as Frontex has unclear jurisdiction and limits to its authority over member states like Greece when it comes to addressing the needs of those in distress on the high seas. Key questions raised by the tragedy include to what extent the EUs Frontex agency could have been more involved in the rescue, what exactly did it communicate to Greek authorities and what level of responsibility, if any, the agency has for the shipwreck. A tragedy of this magnitude requires all those involved to reflect on their responsibilities and to be clear to the public who is accountable for these deaths," O'Reilly said. As many as 750 people may have been on board the migrant ship that sank in the Mediterranean on June 14, and just over 100 people survived the shipwreck. So far, 82 bodies have been recovered and hundreds of people are missing. Greece has been widely criticized for not trying to save the migrants before the sinking in international waters. Officials in Athens say the passengers refused any help and insisted on proceeding to Italy, adding that it would have been too dangerous to try and evacuate hundreds of unwilling people off an overcrowded ship. Frontex said that it planned to cooperate fully with the investigation. And it clarified its role in any search and rescue mission. Frontex does not coordinate search and rescue operations. This is the responsibility of the national rescue coordination centers, it said. Nevertheless, Frontex sees the rescue of lives at sea as one of its essential roles and provides all the necessary support to national authorities when needed. This means that Frontex vessels conduct search and rescue operations when called upon. The ombudsman's probe comes on top of Greek authorities looking into the responsibilities of their own coastguard in the tragedy. "It has been reported that in this instance Frontex alerted the Greek authorities to the ships presence and offered assistance but it is not clear what else it could or should have done, said OReilly. Any new analysis coming out of the investigation could help those adrift in the Mediterranean in the future, she said. ___ Renata Brito contributed to this report from Barcelona, Spain. South Korean service members cover the casket of a South Korean soldier, killed in the 1950-53 Korean War, during a ceremony to hand over the remains of seven soldiers, held at Hickam Air Force in Hawaii, Tuesday (local time). The ceremony, attended by South Korea's Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command commander Adm. John Aquilino, took place ahead of the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice Agreement which falls on July 27. Courtesy of Kookbang Ilbo South Korea has received the remains of seven soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War from the United States, after they were initially thought to be U.S. war dead and sent to America, Seoul's defense ministry said Wednesday. A ceremony marking the handover of the remains took place at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii on Tuesday (local time), with the attendance of senior South Korean and U.S. officials, including Seoul's Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command commander Adm. John C. Aquilino. The South Korean Air Force's KC-330 tanker transport plane carrying the remains is set to arrive at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, just south of the capital, on Wednesday. It will be escorted by four F-35A stealth jets upon its entry into the country's air defense identification zone, the ministry said. "The handover and repatriation of the troop remains is the fruit of joint efforts by South Korea and the U.S. to fulfill the noble mission to remember the great heroes, who safeguarded the Republic of Korea's freedom, forever, and take responsibility for them until the end," Shin was quoted as saying. Former US Marine Trevor Reed is expected to make a full recovery after being wounded in battle approximately two weeks ago serving alongside Ukrainian forces fighting Russia, a source close to Reed told CNN. Reed is currently receiving medical care in Germany after being evacuated there by MediCare Hubs Kyiv, a German NGO, and FRIDA Ukraine, an Israeli NGO. Reed first traveled to Ukraine on November 1 to fight the invading Russian forces, doing so strictly as a volunteer with no affiliation with the US government, the source said. Reed, who spent nearly three years wrongfully detained in Russia, told friends and family he was motivated to fight by seeing the depths of Russian oppression firsthand as a prisoner, the source said, adding that Reed said he was honored to serve alongside Ukrainian fighters. After Reeds unit successfully pushed back against Russian forces and recaptured about 2 km of land near Bahkmut, the source said, Reed was wounded along with others in his unit. As opposed to what US government sources told another media outlet, Reed did not step on a land mine. He was injured by shrapnel which he got in both his legs. He is recuperating quickly and hopes to be home soon, the source said. The source says that Reed and his family hope the news media can respect their desire for privacy as Reed recovers from his wound. He will tell his story when the time is right, the source tells CNN. Reed was freed from Russian detention in a high-profile prisoner swap in April 2022. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a news conference Tuesday in Tonga said that Reeds fighting in Ukraine shouldnt have any effect on ongoing negotiations aimed at freeing two Americans who remain wrongfully detained in Russia: Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich. As Ive noted before, even with countries where we have profound differences, and almost by definition, countries that are arbitrarily detaining or unlawfully detaining Americans are usually countries with which we have profound differences, we manage to find ways to bring Americans home, Blinken said. Another US official noted that of course they were concerned about the negative implications that Reeds situation would have on negotiations, but stressed that the two issues are wholly separate. State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel and another US administration official stressed that Reed was not engaged in any activities on behalf of the US government. And as I indicated, we have been incredibly clear warning American citizens, American nationals not to travel to Ukraine, let alone participate in fighting, Patel added. Since the beginning of this war, we have warned that US citizens who traveled to Ukraine, especially with the purpose of participating in fighting there, that they face significant risks including the risk of capture or death or physical harm, he said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) - The United States Coast Guard is in talks with Pacific Island countries to expand its maritime law enforcement role by allowing U.S. officers to board and search vessels suspected of illegal activity within their economic zones, officials said. The push to expand the role of U.S. Coast Guard across millions of kilometres of ocean could see U.S. officials board Chinese vessels and comes after an intensification of rivalry in the Pacific between the U.S. and China, which is also seeking to increase its security and fisheries roles. Papua New Guinea (PNG), which U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit this week, the first by a U.S. defence chief, struck the 12th maritime law enforcement agreement between a Pacific Island nation and the U.S. Coast Guard in May. PNG is the furthest country from a U.S. Coast Guard home port to reach such a pact. So-called ship riders, or law officers from PNG, will join the U.S. Coast Guard on patrols of PNG's 2.7 million square km (1 million square miles) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to combat illicit activity. "We provide the legs, if you will, to get out to the further reaches of their EEZ and enforce laws over their sovereign rights," U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Megan Willmann said in an interview on Wednesday. "Whenever PNG wants us, we will try to accommodate that," she said, adding that the goal was for an annual patrol. PNG Prime Minister James Marape has told parliament the U.S. agreement would "establish an expedited mechanism" for consent to board and search vessels suspected of illicit activity, ranging from drug trafficking to fishing. The U.S. announced plans a year ago to battle illegal fishing in the Pacific as part of increased engagement with the region to counter China's security ambitions. U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Commander, Vice Admiral Andrew Tiongson, said on Wednesday a cutter would be relocated to Honolulu this year to focus on the Indo-Pacific, and would start with building partner capacity with Pacific countries. This year, the U.S. Coast Guard patrolled nine of the 12 Pacific Island nations with which it has a ship rider agreement. "We are definitely looking at states that have distant water fleets, and China is one of them," Willmann said of illegal fishing. BOARDING AGREEMENTS Some Pacific Island nations are in talks to go further than ship rider agreements, to allow U.S. officials to board and search foreign vessels in their waters without a local official present, Willmann said. "Ship boarding agreements" would reduce the diplomatic hurdles, and time constraints, the U.S. Coast Guard faces to enter port to pick up ship riders, she said. "A lot of Pacific Island nations are interested in that and so are we. The logistics of picking up a ship rider is complicated," said U.S. Coast Guard captain Angela Cook, legal adviser on the expanded agreements. Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is the first nation to agree to the U.S. Coast Guard boarding vessels on its behalf. FSM's previous president, who stepped down in May, had complained about Chinese research vessels conducting unauthorised surveillance in its waters. Palau also said it had asked the U.S. to step up patrols after apparent surveillance activity by Chinese vessels, which China denied. Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, with closer ties to China, have declined recent U.S. Coast Guard port calls, however. Willmann said the U.S. Coast Guard was waiting for diplomatic clearance to enter Vanuatu, after being unable to refuel there in January on a patrol for illegal fishing. The Chinese navy visited Vanuatu in April to deliver relief supplies. The U.S. is in the process of establishing an embassy in Vanuatu, after recently opening a mission in Solomon Islands, which last year struck a security pact with China that alarmed Washington and its allies. Austin is expected to meet Marape on Thursday to discuss the next steps in the law enforcement deal, and a separate defence agreement. Marape has told parliament the defence deal allows the U.S. to refurbish and develop PNG ports and airports for civilian and military use. (Reporting by Kirsty Needham) By Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China's decision to reappoint its top diplomat Wang Yi as foreign minister one month after former rising star Qin Gang disappeared from public view means Washington will be dealing with a familiar face in its bid to steady relations with its main strategic rival. But Wang's return to a post he held for most of the past decade is unlikely to alter the trajectory of a troubled bilateral relationship or dispel concerns about the opaque workings of President Xi Jinping's government. The removal of Qin, reputedly a Xi protege, on Tuesday came barely half a year after he assumed the role. The 57-year-old former ambassador to the United States and Xi aide took over the ministry in December but has not been seen in public since June 25 when he met visiting diplomats in Beijing. The ministry has said he was off work for health reasons but has given no details. Wang, known in Washington for his sharp intellect and his sometimes aggressive defense of China's positions, has been a fixture in U.S.-China relations for years. Washington-based analysts say Wang's return to the ministry should help China's foreign ministry resume normal operations after weeks of international speculation about Qin's fate. But it is unlikely to yield any major improvement in tense U.S.-China relations, which have hit their lowest point in decades. "None of this changes the structural reasons for friction in the relationship," said Joseph Torigian, an expert on China's Communist leaders at American University in Washington. China's embassy in Washington did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. At a briefing on Tuesday U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said it was up to China to choose its foreign minister and Blinken had met Wang multiple times. A DIPLOMAT WITH SWAY Wang's second stint as foreign minister suggests an eagerness in Beijing for stable U.S. relations ahead of Xi's likely meetings with U.S. President Joe Biden later this year on the sidelines of global summits, including the G20 in India in September and a gathering of APEC leaders in California in November. "With a series of major international meetings coming up, Xi defaulted to someone who has relationships with many of his foreign counterparts," said Rorry Daniels, Managing Director of Asia Society Policy Institute. "In times of uncertainty, China wants continuity and predictability in this position." U.S. and Chinese diplomats are grappling with a range of contentious issues, including China's increasingly aggressive actions over Taiwan, the self-governed island it claims as its own, and the United States' export controls aimed at hobbling China's ability to developed advanced semiconductors. Given these challenges, Wang's seniority in China's ruling Communist Party could be helpful to the U.S. In the Chinese system, the top diplomat is not foreign minister but rather the director of the Chinese Communist Party's foreign affairs commission, a role Wang will continue to hold. Jude Blanchette, a China expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Wang's concurrent perch atop the country's two top foreign policy positions removed a layer of bureaucracy for U.S. interlocutors. And as a member of the Communist Party's 24-man ruling Politburo, Wang is a diplomat with arguably more sway with China's top leaders than his predecessor. Even while Qin was foreign minister, Blinken had contacts with Wang, though exchanges had been frosty at times, particularly after an alleged Chinese spy balloon crossed U.S. airspace and was shot down earlier this year, prompting Wang to scold Washington for its "hysterical" reaction. Still, Wang's reappointment is a sign of problems in China's foreign policy establishment, said Blanchette. "The bigger story here is the sheer unpredictability and opacity of the Chinese system, which can see a top foreign policy official be thrown into a black hole for a month with absolutely zero information from Beijing," he said. On Tuesday, content mentioning Qin was quickly removed from China's foreign ministry website after Wang's appointment. The tab on the website that typically holds the biography of the foreign minister simply read "Updating." The choice of Wang for the role also reflected a lack of good options for Beijing, said Craig Singleton, deputy director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "Simply put, there remains a dearth of seasoned Chinese diplomats that are both trusted by Xi and possess the requisite U.S. experience for this highly visible role," he said. (Reporting by Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Don Durfee and Lincoln Feast) Rudy Giuliani concedes he made defamatory statements about Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss in an effort to resolve their lawsuit against him and to satisfy a judge who has considered sanctioning him. The late-night Tuesday filing from Giuliani says he doesnt contest Moss and Freemans accusations that he smeared them after the 2020 election. Yet the filing says he still wants to be able to argue that his statements about voter fraud in Georgia in the 2020 election were protected speech. Notably, he also refuses to concede that his statements caused damages to Moss or Freeman. The new filing doesnt immediately resolve the case against Giuliani, which had taken a thorny turn for the former prosecutor and New York City mayor after a judge cautioned him earlier this month that he could lose the lawsuit or face severe sanctions for not gathering his own records in a thorough way and turning them over to Moss and Freemans team as they move through the case. The federal judge, Beryl A. Howell of the DC District Court, is still weighing parts of Giulianis filings from Tuesday, which also try to provide explanations for why he didnt search his records more thoroughly. On Wednesday, Howell acknowledged Giulianis concessions in the lawsuit and ordered him to pay more of Moss and Freemans legal fees, after previously ordering him to pay them $90,000. Its also not clear how criminal prosecutors from the Justice Departments special counsels office, who have interviewed Giuliani, will perceive the unusual move Giuliani is making in the lawsuit. Lawyers for Moss and Freeman are set to respond next week in court to many of Giulianis latest statements, though their lead attorney on Wednesday morning called Giulianis concessions a major milestone in the case. Giulianis stipulation concedes what we have always known to be trueRuby Freeman and Shaye Moss honorably performed their civic duties in the 2020 presidential election in full compliance with the law; and the allegations of election fraud he and former-President Trump made against them have been false since day one, their lawyer Michael J. Gottlieb, a partner at Willkie, Farr & Gallagher, said in a statement. Thorny legal approach Giuliani has scrambled in recent weeks to contain consequences he may face from the case Moss and Freeman are pursuing against him. At the same time, he has tried to handle legal issues that are arising in the lawsuit without damaging himself in the other legal situations that present risks around him. In addition to federal and state criminal investigations around the 2020 election that have looked at Giuliani and defamation lawsuits, including Moss and Freemans, Giuliani is also facing disbarment proceedings in New York state and Washington, DC, for false election fraud allegations he surfaced in court on Trumps behalf without verifying them first. CNNs senior legal analyst Elie Honig characterized the move by Giuliani on Wednesday as desperate and trying to cut his losses here. He is now making the remarkable concession: Yes, I lied about them, which you almost never see maybe never see in a defamation case because usually thats the whole ball game, Honig said. But what hes trying to do here is limit his exposure. His phrasing in his court filing makes clear Giuliani is attempting to have his concessions only apply to the lawsuit, in an attempt to avoid consequences from the judge for avoiding turning over documents. In his court filing, Giuliani specifically said he does not contest that assertions he made about the women whom he accused of being part of a vote-manipulation scheme in Georgia were false. Defendant Giuliani concedes solely for the purposes of this litigation that Defendant Giuliani made the statements of and concerning plaintiffs, his filing said. He does not dispute for the purposes of this litigation, that the statements carry meaning that is defamatory per se. Hours after making the filing, a political adviser to Giuliani issued a statement further parsing Giulianis concessions. Mayor Rudy Giuliani did not acknowledge that the statements were false but did not contest it in order to move on to the portion of the case that will permit a motion to dismiss, Ted Goodman, the Giuliani adviser said. This is a legal issue, not a factual issue. Those out to smear the mayor are ignoring the fact that this stipulation is designed to get to the legal issues of the case. Election workers feared harassment In their complaint, Moss and Freeman accused Giuliani of scapegoating them in a fabricated effort to undermine how votes were counted in Georgia in 2020. His statements about them, which they say are all false, included calling them ballot-stuffing criminal conspirators. Giuliani also drew attention to a video of them after the election, which was first posted by the Trump campaign and showed part of a security tape of ballot counting in Atlanta. Giuliani posted on social media and said on his podcast and other broadcasts that the video showed suitcases filled with ballots, when it did not capture anything but normal ballot processing, according to their lawsuit and a state investigation. Georgia election officials have debunked Giulianis accusations of fraud happening during the ballot counting. The mother-daughter duo have been candid about how their lives were impacted by Trump and Giulianis claims that they were guilty of election fraud. There is nowhere I feel safe. Nowhere. Do you know how it feels to have the President of the United States target you? Freeman said last year in a video testimony to the House select committee that investigated January 6. Moss privacy was destroyed when she learned that Giuliani had accused her mother, Freeman, of passing some kind of USB drive to her like vials of cocaine or heroin as part of an elaborate vote-stealing scheme. In reality, the object in question was a ginger mint, she said. In his controversial call when he asked Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find votes, Trump attacked Moss 18 times, and the former president called Freeman a professional vote scammer and a hustler. I felt horrible, I felt like it was all my fault, Moss said during her testimony last year. I just felt like it was, it was my fault for putting my family in this situation. She added that she and her mother are now afraid to even go outside, or to the supermarket after getting threats wishing death upon me, telling me that you know, Ill be in jail with my mother and saying things like be glad its 2020 and not 1920. During Giulianis disinformation campaign about the vote in Georgia, the FBI recommended Freeman leave her home for her own safety, according to the lawsuit. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Paula Reid contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com BONANZA, Ore. (AP) A wildfire that started over the weekend in southern Oregon has burned dozens of homes and caused area residents to lose 911 service and internet, state officials said Tuesday. The Oregon State Fire Marshal said preliminary damage assessments from the Golden Fire east of Klamath Falls showed that 43 residences near the town of Bonanza were destroyed. More than 40 outbuildings were also consumed by fire. The fire marshal said most of the structures are believed to have burned Saturday, when the fire started and spread rapidly in hot weather and gusty winds. Crews were unable to access the structures before Tuesday because of unsafe conditions, the fire marshal said. Sherry Booth told KATU-TV that she lost her home to the fire. She said she was in town when she got a call saying the fire was headed toward it. They were closing everything off, but we know a back way in so we did get to the house," she said. We had to go try to save our animals, and the cops were at the house and they were just telling us to grab our animals, go, go, go. By the time Booth returned home, her house was engulfed in flames. I did have insurance," she said. Were going to see what we can do, what they have to say. The fire also significantly damaged a fiber optic line affecting most of the 8,200 residents in neighboring Lake County, causing a loss of 911 service, internet and phone service. The Lake County Board of Commissioners declared a state of emergency Monday because of the outage and said an estimate for restoring the line wasn't yet known. 911 calls were being rerouted to Klamath County, and county emergency officials have been working with multiple state agencies to restore emergency connections, the commissioners said in statement. Temporary internet towers have also been put up and are providing services, commissioners said. Fire crews also have been coordinating with utility companies that are working to repair damaged infrastructure, fire officials said Tuesday. Our hearts go out to the Bonanza community and those affected by the Golden Fire, said Matt Howard, Oregon Department of Forestry Team 2 incident commander. Our job now is to fully suppress this fire so the recovery process can begin." As of Tuesday morning, the blaze had burned about 3.2 square miles (8.3 square kilometers) and was 9% contained. The cause of the fire is under investigation, the Klamath County Sheriffs office said. According to initial information, the blaze may have started on private property being used to grow marijuana illegally, law enforcement officials said. Crews have made progress on the fire, holding it within its original footprint, although high potential exists for the fire to keep growing because of heat, high winds and available fuel, officials said. Some mandatory evacuations were lowered Tuesday, but several hundred homes are still impacted by evacuations at all levels, officials said. A shelter remained open and served more than 80 people over Saturday and Sunday nights, according to the state fire marshal. An air quality advisory also remains in effect for the central and southern parts of Oregon into at least Wednesday night because of the Bedrock Fire burning between Eugene and Bend and the Flat Fire burning in southwest Oregon. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality spokesperson Laura Gleim said air quality levels will vary between unhealthy and hazardous, improving at times during the day then getting worse overnight, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. An independent panel of experts investigating the 2014 disappearance of 43 students from a rural teachers college in Mexico announced theyre withdrawing from their probe because the government had failed to give them access to vital information. The Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI), a committee of jurists and doctors, are in Mexico to investigate the disappearance of the students, who vanished during a visit to the southwestern city of Iguala. But after presenting their final fact-finding report on Tuesday, the experts said they faced a series of roadblocks, and would be withdrawing from the investigation and leaving the country next week. The failure to provide existing information for the investigation of atrocious events such as these, must be denounced by the Prosecutors Office and investigated to achieve justice, the GIEI report read. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, told a morning press conference on Tuesday that his government was going to continue the investigation. The college-aged students, from a teachers college in Ayotzinapa, disappeared on September 26, 2014, as they traveled through the southwestern city of Iguala to attend a protest in Mexico City. Exactly what happened remains unknown, since most of the missing students were never found. Bullet-riddled buses were later seen in the citys streets with shattered windows and blood. Survivors from the original group of 100 said their buses had been stopped by armed police officers and soldiers who suddenly opened fire. Last August, a Mexican court issued at least 83 arrest warrants for people allegedly involved in the 2014 disappearance, but so far no one has been convicted in relation to the students disappearance. The long list of suspects includes dozens of military commanders, troop personnel, police officers, as well as administrative and judicial authorities, who were accused of organized crime, forced disappearance, torture, homicide and crimes against the administration of justice. The GIEI experts said throughout the different stages of the investigation they faced pressures and obstacles such as lack of information, secrecy and hidden evidence until it reached a critical point in August 2022. The group added that the GIEI was forced to leave the investigation in 2016 and were only invited back in 2020 by the new government of Mexico under President Obrador, who made it a campaign promise to investigate the disappearance. The concealment of that information has contributed not only to the concealing of government responsibilities, but it has constituted in itself a responsibility of the state in the disappearance of these young men, GIEI member Carlos Beristain told reporters on Tuesday. He went on to say that access to information has been partial and another part of it continues to be hidden. Angela Buitrago, another panel member, said the experts were unable to access key intelligence files. That condition was to have all the information that was in the files that had not been opened, such as intelligence files, she said. The reason why we are leaving is because we cannot go further without that information, she told CNNE. Really, we have delivered this report with what could be done, but we cannot move forward without that information so that is the reason why we are leaving Mexico. CNNEs Juan Paz contributed to the report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Iran said Wednesday it gave new details to the United Nations about two sites near Tehran that inspectors say bore traces of manmade uranium, part of a wider probe as tensions remain high over the Islamic Republic's advancing program. The comments by Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran's civilian nuclear program, come as Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers remains in tatters and as Tehran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. Resolving questions from the International Atomic Energy Agency could see Iran avoid further censure as an October deadline approaches that would lift international restrictions on its ballistic missile program as well. Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Eslami said Iran had sent detailed answers to the International Atomic Energy Agency. If those answers are not accepted and there are any ambiguities or doubts, as we have always said, we will clarify and revise the documents, Eslami said in comments carried by state television. We are now in that phase now, and we have given the IAEA more evidence and documents and will give more so that it can move past this issue. The Vienna-based IAEA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. However, Eslami's comments mark a change in tone as Iran has limited inspections, held surveillance footage and taken years to respond to the IAEA after then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the nuclear deal in 2018. Eslami did not name the sites, though the IAEA has identified them as Turquzabad and Varamin just outside of Tehran. At Varamin, the IAEA in a March report said that inspectors believe Iran used the site from 1999 until 2003 as a pilot project to process uranium ore and convert it into a gas form, which then can be enriched through spinning in a centrifuge. The IAEA said buildings at the site had been demolished in 2004. Tehran insists its program is peaceful, though the West and the IAEA say Iran had an organized military nuclear program until 2003. Turquzabad is where the IAEA believes Iran took some of the material at Varamin amid the demolition, though it said that alone cannot explain the presence of the multiple types of isotopically altered particles found there. In 2018, the site became known publicly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed it at the United Nations and called it a clandestine nuclear warehouse hidden at a rug-cleaning plant. Iran denied that, though IAEA inspectors later found the manmade uranium particles there. The IAEA said in May it no longer had questions about a third questioned site called Marivan near Abadeh in southern Iran. In recent months, Iran has pledged to restore cameras and other monitoring equipment at its nuclear sites. That's as Iran's economy has cratered under international sanctions over its program. Meanwhile, Iran likely wants to avoid any dispute at the IAEA as U.N. restrictions on Irans ballistic missile program are scheduled to lift on Oct. 18. Those restrictions call on Iran ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. As Israel plunges deeper into crisis after the countrys parliament passed the first bill of a controversial judicial overhaul, thousands of Israeli army reservists the backbone of the Israeli military are threatening not to show up for work. And Israels leaders are sounding alarms about the countrys readiness for war. The law that came into effect on Wednesday took away the courts power to veto government decisions based on them being unreasonable. Millions opposed the change, according to opinion polls, which critics said would erode the independence of the courts and harm Israels democracy. At the current point in time, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is competent, IDF Chief Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters on Tuesday, but he acknowledged that the countrys military readiness could be affected. If reservists do not show up for a long time, there will be damage to the armys competence. It is a gradual process that will be affected according to the presence of the reservists, he said. The threat is unprecedented in its scope, experts say, and the military has pleaded with reservists to remain in their posts. Members of Israeli security forces guard the al-Aqsa Mosque compound following clashes that erupted during Islam's holy fasting month of Ramadan in Jerusalem on April 5. - Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images The IDF needs you only together will we protect our common home, IDF Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi said Tuesday, addressing reservists who refused to show up for service. Nearly 10,000 military reservists said before the passage of the controversial reasonableness bill on Monday that they would refuse to volunteer for duty if it was passed. And the number of refusers is growing, according to Hagari. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke by phone with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and reiterated the US commitment to Israels security. But he also said that broad consensus through political dialogue was critical to maintain democracy. Chuck Freilich, a senior researcher at The Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv who served for over 20 years in Israels national security establishment, said that Israel is at a historical inflection point, in which extreme measures may have to be taken to endure Israels fundamental character of democracy. Speaking about reservists refusing, Freilich said that on the one hand, it is admirable. But on the other hand, he said, it is a horrible thing for the IDF. It was remarkable, he added, that one of the worlds better militaries is threatening to come apart at the seams over domestic changes. When the vote passed on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the IDF to stay out of any political controversy, saying that the call for refusal harms the security of all citizens of the country. The backbone of Israels military A country that went to war shortly after its founding in 1948, Israel has fought seven wars and engaged in several other smaller conflicts with its neighbors. Every Israeli over the age of 18 who is Jewish, Druze or Circassian must serve in the military, an institution that is deeply entrenched in many Israelis sense of identity and nationhood. Palestinian citizens of Israel and ultra-Orthodox Jews are exempt from swerving, among some others. Yiftach Golov, a disabled IDF veteran and a leading member of Brothers and Sisters in Arms, the IDF reservists and veterans protest movement, said that by definition, the reservists are the backbone of the IDF. They comprise the majority, the bigger fraction of the IDF, Golov told CNN, adding that their strength is not only in numbers, but also in their higher expertise. After completing their mandatory service, soldiers can remain part of the countrys reserve army a force of some 400,000 soldiers who can at any moment be called to serve. Israelis can remain part of the reserve until their forties or sometimes beyond. Among those threatening to quit are more than 1,000 reservists in the Israeli Air Force, whom Golov describes as one the militarys main, major forces, defining its aerial abilities. The Israeli Air Force makes up one third of the IDFs manpower. We feel like we are doing the right thing, and that we are fighting for the democracy of Israel, one reservist, who has been volunteering for 23 years, told CNN at a protest in Jerusalem on Tuesday. Another reservist called on the government to stop the madness, stop the destruction of the army. The military remains a huge part of Israeli society, even while that influence has faded a bit over the years, Freilich said, with more than half of Israeli society today having had some experience in the IDF. For many Israelis, military service is a rite of passage. Freilich says that reservists are likely to return to duty if there is a real national security threat, but their protest nonetheless harms the IDF. This isnt a refusal to serve, he said. These are people who are totally committed to Israels defense, and if there was some sort of security emergency tomorrow, they will all report for duty instantaneously. What theyre saying is that this crisis is so important there is a higher morality they have to report to, he added. Volatile surroundings Israels domestic crisis takes place amid increased tensions at its borders. The country is still formally at war with several of its neighbors, including Lebanon and Syria. Violence regularly flares up between Israeli forces and Palestinians in East Jerusalem and in the occupied West Bank as well as with Palestinian militants in Gaza. After years of calm, tensions also rose across Israels northern border with Lebanon earlier this year, when Israel and militants in southern Lebanon exchanged a barrage of rockets in April. The escalation was the worst between the two sides since 2006. Israel blamed Hamas for the rockets. Some of Israels enemies have been watching the crisis closely. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Monday in a televised speech that Israel is on a path of collapse, fragmentation, and disappearance, Reuters reported. Today, in particular, is the worst day in the history of the entity (Israel), as some of its people say. Israeli police use a water cannon to disperse demonstrators blocking a road during a protest in Jerusalem on Monday. - Mahmoud Illean/AP Netanyahu and others have warned of the dangers of not showing up for military duty, but Golov of Brothers and Sisters in Arms says that this is a divide and conquer tactic by the prime minister. The government will try to create a sense of an opposite world, said Golov, when the patriots become traitors. Freilich said that Nasrallah, Iran, Gaza and the West Bank, would find a lot of joy in watching Israel potentially tear itself apart. But the problem is not with the protesters. The problem is with the government and the prime minister that caused this, he said. He (Netanyahu) is willing to pay any price to move forward with this. Golov sees reservists threatening not to serve as a sign of something much bigger. Now it is only the beginning, Golov said. But you will see this movement now penetrating into the masses of the ground brigades, also known as the army. CNNs Fred Pleitgen contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Parisa Hafezi, Laila Bassam and Nidal al-Mughrabi DUBAI (Reuters) -The crisis sweeping Israel has become a focal point for its enemies across the Middle East who have convened top-level meetings to weigh the turmoil and how they might capitalise on it, sources familiar with the discussions say. Foes including Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah have been crowing at the sight of Israel fractured by the crisis ignited by government moves to overhaul the judiciary, especially threats by reservists to stop showing up for military service. Away from the propaganda being broadcast by groups eager to see Israel's demise, these factions have also been devoting special attention to the crisis at closed-door meetings, perceiving this as a potential turning point for Israel. The subject was discussed at a three-hour meeting last week involving a senior commander from Iran's Quds Force, the arm of its Revolutionary Guards that funnels military support to Tehran's allies, two Iranian security officials and officials from Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, an Iranian diplomat said. After concluding that the crisis had already weakened Israel, they agreed they should refrain from any "direct interference", believing this could give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the chance to shift blame to foreign adversaries. A Hamas source declined to comment on the account, saying there are ongoing discussions between Hamas, Iran and the Quds Force "over the whole situation and to discuss ways to upgrade the work of resistance". Iran's foreign ministry and the Guards' public relations office could not be immediately reached for comment. HEZBOLLAH ON PATROL The upheaval marks one of the most serious domestic crises since Israel was established in 1948, ushering in decades of conflict with Arab countries and Palestinians who want to establish a state in territory occupied by Israel. Israel's parliament on Monday ratified a first bill of the judicial overhaul, limiting the powers of the country's Supreme Court, prompting more protests by Israelis who see the moves as a menace to their democracy. The divisions have seeped into the Israeli military, which has fought numerous conflicts with Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Palestinian factions Hamas and Islamic Jihad, both backed by Iran. Israeli protest leaders have said thousands of volunteer reservists could abstain from duty if the government stays the course, and former senior military officials have warned that Israel's war-readiness could be at risk. A video shared on social media on Tuesday showed elite fighters from Hezbollah mounting a rare patrol directly at the fenced Lebanese border with Israel, according to a Lebanese source familiar with the deployment. The source said the patrol along the rugged frontier, where tensions have been running high of late, had nothing to do with events in Israel. Hezbollah's media office declined to comment. The source said however that Hezbollah officials have discussed the crisis in detail at the highest levels. The group views the crisis as a development to be exploited in the future, the source added. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Tuesday the Israeli military "is combat-ready and will remain combat-ready" despite the protesting reservists, whom he accused of trying to "put a gun to the head of the government". Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in a speech on Monday, said Israel was on a "path of collapse and fragmentation". Iranian Foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani referred to Netanyahu's recently fitted pacemaker when tweeting about the crisis, saying "the heart of the Zionist regime is in deeper crisis than the crisis in the heart of its prime minister". The crisis has come at a time of surging violence between Israel and the Palestinians, particularly in the West Bank, where Israeli troops killed three militants who opened fire on them from a car on Tuesday. Hamas identified them as its members. Sources close to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad say the two groups are monitoring closely the protests in Israel, enjoying the images, and hoping the tensions worsen. But they are also wary of the risk of Netanyahu seeking to divert attention from the domestic crisis through conflict against Israel's enemies that could unite its people. They are following it seriously to assess how this could reflect on them and whether Israel could export its internal crisis, Gaza political analyst Adnan Abu Amer said. (Additional reporting by Tom Perry in Beirut and Ali Sawafta in Ramallah; writing by Michele Kambas and Tom Perry; editing by Mark Heinrich) Wildfires raging in southern Italy fueled by scorching temperatures have claimed the lives of three people in Sicily as firefighters continue to battle fires during a European heat wave. Sicilian regional President Renato Schifani confirmed in a Facebook post the fires had killed three people. Officials with Vigili del Fuoco, Italys National Fire and Rescue Service, said firefighters have responded to more than 1,600 fires in three days between fires burning in Sicily, Calabria and Puglia. Fire crews with the Vigili del Fuoco work to contain fires in Calabria, Italy. (Image credit: Vigili de Fuoco) More than 5,400 firefighters are responding to blazes in southern Italy during temperatures in the triple digits. High temperatures are expected to reach up to 113 degrees in Sicily Wednesday. Wildfires temporarily closed the Palermo Airport in the capital city of Sicily for a few hours when the flames reached the perimeter of the airport. Firefighters continue to monitor those wildfires. Fire crews with the Vigili del Fuoco work to contain fires in Calabria, Italy. (Image credit: Vigili de Fuoco) Video taken by Denise Bishop, who lives in Sicily, shows the "nightmare" of attempting to reach the airport on Sunday. "We drove through so many fires right up to and across the road that I lost count. This is a bad situation," she wrote on Facebook. In the province of Lecce, in Italy's "heel," a vegetation fire consumed pine forests and threatened homes. Firefighters used drones with thermal imaging to monitor the fire. While fires burned in the south, Italys National Fire and Rescue Service has also responded to severe weather in the past two days in northern Italy. Two people were killed, and a teen was injured during severe thunderstorms on Monday. Widespread wind and storm damage was reported across Treviso, Verona, Belluno, Vicenza and Padova provinces. Former National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han / Newsis Security experts express concern about possibility of Trump's return to White House By Jung Min-ho President Yoon Suk Yeol surprised the world earlier this year by mentioning the possibility of South Korea developing its own nuclear weapons in response to growing nuclear threats from the North. However, given the potentially destructive consequences to its economy and alliances, Seoul later came up with an alternative launching the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) with Washington to strengthen the U.S.' extended deterrence commitment to defending South Korea with all of its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons. Yet many of the more than 30 security and defense experts gathered at a seminar on the South Korea-U.S. alliance in eastern Seoul, Wednesday, expressed skepticism and concerns about the sustainability of the NCG, a policy agreement that could be overturned if Joe Biden loses the election next year. In a clear reference to Donald Trump, a Republican contender who has a significant, perhaps insurmountable, lead in polls, former National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han warned that Seoul may not have much time left to take advantage of the NCG, saying the government should make the most out of the opportunity. "There are presidential contenders promoting 'America Firsterism' and downplaying (the value of the) alliance," Kim said at the event organized by Chey Institute for Advanced Studies, a think tank. "Next year's election would determine the U.S. direction between maintaining its importance on alliance and regressing into isolation We should regard the next year and a half (before the election) as a 'golden time.'" During that period, he said the government should develop the NCG into a more sustainable system while learning every detail about the operation of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. "Otherwise, after some photo sessions," he added, the opportunity could be wasted with nothing to show. Donald Trump, former president and the favorite to win the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election, greets supporters as he arrives at New Orleans International Airport in New Orleans, Tuesday. AP-Yonhap WASHINGTON A Jan. 6 rioter who stormed the Capitol while wearing his high school football letterman jacket was sentenced Tuesday to a year and a half in federal prison. Brian Gundersen, of Armonk, New York, had been found guilty of two felony counts of obstruction of an official proceeding and assaulting, resisting or impeding officers. Prosecutors had recommended 46 months in prison. Gundersens public defender, Eugene Ohm, indicated in court Tuesday that his client had underlying mental health issues. Brian Gundersen, of Armonk, N.Y., was identified as a Capitol rioter by his varsity jacket. (via U.S. Justice Department) Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Juman said at the sentencing hearing that Gundersens only regret about the Capitol attack was that it made Donald Trump look bad. Juman said America was not out of the woods even though Jan. 6, 2021, was more than two years ago, adding that Trump was still out there spreading lies about the 2020 election. They are not going to be persuaded by logic, Juman said, referring to those who believed Trumps false claims about election fraud. Prison sentences, on the other hand, would send a message, Juman argued. The prosecutor also seemingly referred to a potential indictment of Trump, saying he was concerned how Gundersen would react to a criminal indictment that comes down against someone he does like. Brian Gundersen, of Armonk, N.Y., was identified as a Capitol rioter by his varsity jacket. (via U.S. Justice Department) Gundersen was arrested in January 2021 after the police chief of North Castle Township, New York, called the FBI and said members of the Byram Hills High School community had seen a varsity jacket from their school in the crowd. Gundersen was identified with the help of the number on his jacket. More than 1,000 people have been arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 attack, and more than 300 have been sentenced to incarceration. On Monday, rioter Peter Stager who assaulted a police officer with a flagpole on Jan. 6 was sentenced to more than four years in federal prison. TOKYO (AP) Nissan plans to invest 600 million euros ($663 million) in Ampere, Renault's electric vehicle and software entity in Europe. The two companies also plan to establish more equal cross-shareholdings in the French-Japanese auto alliance, they said Wednesday. The change will end a disparity that had caused friction between the automakers. Renault Group and Nissan will retain 15% cross-shareholdings in each other, and Renault will transfer 28.4% of its Nissan shares into a French trust, to keep voting rights of each side at 15% of the total, the companies said in a statement. The agreements that have been signed today allow us to step into the next chapter of the alliance, said Jean-Dominique Senard, chairman of the alliance. The change is subject to regulatory approval. When the alliance was set up in 1999, Nissan was on the verge of bankruptcy. The deal initially announced earlier this year also calls for the companies to work together on marketing, vehicles and technology in Latin America, India and Europe. Nissan also announced financial results, which showed that its net profit more than doubled to 105.5 billion yen ($753 million) in April-June. Sales in most markets were robust, offsetting weakness in China, it said. Weakness in the Japanese yen also helped Nissans bottom line. A weak yen raises the value of Japanese companies' overseas earnings when they are converted into yen. Quarterly sales grew 36% from a year earlier to 2.92 trillion yen ($20.8 billion). Nissan lowered its sales forecast for the year through March 2024 to 3.7 million vehicles, down from an earlier projection of 4 million vehicles. That target is still better than the 3.3 million vehicles sold in the previous fiscal year. The Yokohama-based maker of the Leaf EV and Infiniti luxury brands still expects its profit to hold up thanks to the boost from the weak yen. Nissan is forecasting a 340 billion yen ($2.4 billion) net profit for the fiscal year through March 31, 2024. It earlier forecast a 310 billion yen ($2.2 billion) profit. It earned nearly 222 billion yen the year before. The Nissan-Renault alliance has had its ups and downs. Carlos Ghosn, sent in by Renault to lead a turnaround at Nissan, was a star executive until his arrest in Japan in late 2018 on various financial misconduct charges. The alliance, which includes smaller Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motor Corp., has sought to put that scandal behind it. Ghosn now lives in Lebanon, after jumping bail in late 2019. He recently filed a $1 billion lawsuit in Lebanon against Nissan. Lebanon has no extradition treaty with Japan. A hearing date for the case in Lebanon is set for Sept. 18. Ghosn said half the money he is seeking is for damages, while the other half is for compensation including salary, retirement funds and stock options. Nissan has declined comment. Chief Executive Makoto Uchida said reset alliance is moving ahead with its electrification drive. With the finalization of the definitive agreements, we have entered the next phase of collaboration with Renault and Mitsubishi Motors in mutually beneficial areas of innovations, he said. Uchida acknowledged that the China market is a challenge. As the business environment in China is changing drastically and competition is becoming fiercer, it will be difficult to rebuild our business overnight, he said. Nissan's share price fell 1.2% on Wednesday. ___ Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama Map of Japan Japan has the world's third-largest economy, having achieved remarkable growth in the second half of the 20th Century after the devastation of World War Two. Its role in the international community is considerable. It is a major aid donor, and a source of global capital and credit. More than three quarters of the population live in sprawling cities on the coastal fringes of Japan's four mountainous, heavily-wooded islands. Japan's rapid post-war expansion - propelled by highly successful car and consumer electronics industries - ran out of steam by the 1990s under a mounting debt burden that successive governments have failed to address. Japan's relations with its neighbours are still heavily influenced by the legacy of Japanese actions before and during World War Two. Japan has found it difficult to accept and atone for its treatment of the citizens of countries it occupied. Read more country profiles - Profiles by BBC Monitoring JAPAN: FACTS Capital: Tokyo Area: 377,975 sq km Population: 122.4 million Language: Japanese Life expectancy: 81 years (men) 87 years (women) LEADERS Head of State: Emperor Naruhito Japanese Emperor Naruhito Crown Prince Naruhito succeeded to the throne as emperor when his father Akihito abdicated on the last day of April 2019, after a reign of 30 years. Akihito had no political power, but played an important role in working to heal the wounds of a war waged across Asia in the name of his own father, the Emperor Hirohito. He also promoted a more approachable image of the imperial family among the Japanese public, a style that the new emperor is expected to continue. Emperor Naruhito, who studied at Oxford University, has said that his reign will bear the name Reiwa, which "beautiful harmony". Prime minister: Fumio Kishida Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kichida This scion of a political dynasty won a snap election to become prime minister in October 2021 following the resignation of Yoshihide Suga, who had beaten him to the premiership a year earlier. Mr Suga resigned over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, allowing the former foreign minister to take over. Mr Kishida, who is also leader of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, is seen as more liberal than his recent predecessors. His government has been hit by a political scandal related to his party's links to the Unification Church that came to light after the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe in 2022. MEDIA Newspaper reader in Japan Japan's broadcasting scene is competitive and technologically-advanced. While the use of online media and social platforms is ubiquitous, the printed press has a very high readership and is highly trusted. TIMELINE A delegation officially presents Japan's surrender at the end of World War Two Some key dates in Japan's history: 1853 - US fleet forces Japan to open up to foreign influence after over 200 years of self-imposed isolation. 1868 - Empire of Japan proclaimed, and country enters period of rapid industrialisation and imperial expansion. 1894-95 - Japan goes to war with China, and its better-equipped forces win victory in just nine months. China cedes Taiwan and permits Japan to trade on mainland. 1904 - Japan becomes first Asian country in modern times to defeat an European power when it routs Russia in Manchuria. 1910 - Japan annexes Korea after three years of fighting, becoming one of the world's leading powers. 1914 - Japan joins World War One on the side of Britain and her allies, gaining some Pacific islands from Germany. 1923 - Earthquake in Tokyo region kills more than 100,000 people. British Empire ends 21-year alliance with Japan, signalling Western and US apprehension of Japan's growing power in East Asia. 1925 - Universal male suffrage is instituted. The electorate increases fivefold. Late 1920s - Extreme nationalism begins to take hold in Japan as world economic depression hits. The emphasis is on a preservation of traditional Japanese values, and a rejection of "Western" influence. 1931 - Japanese army invades Chinese province of Manchuria, installs puppet regime. 1932 - Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi killed during failed coup by nationalist army officers. Military holds increasing influence in the country. 1936 - Japan signs alliance with Nazi Germany. 1937 - Japan goes to war with China, capturing Shanghai, Beijing and Nanjing amid atrocities like the "Rape of Nanjing", in which up to 300,000 Chinese civilians were killed. 1939 - Outbreak of World War Two in Europe. With fall of France in 1940, Japan moves to occupy French Indo-China. 1941 - Japan launches a surprise attack on US Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. US and main allies declare war on Japan. 1942 - Japan occupies succession of countries, including Philippines, Dutch East Indies, Burma and Malaya. In June, US aircraft carriers defeat the Japanese at the Battle of Midway. The US begins a strategy of "'island-hopping", cutting the Japanese support lines as its forces advance. 1945 - US planes drop two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August. Emperor Hirohito surrenders and relinquishes divine status. Japan placed under US military government. All Japanese military and naval forces disbanded. 1947 - New constitution comes into force, establishes parliamentary system with all adults eligible to vote. Japan renounces war and pledges not to maintain land, sea or air forces for that purpose. Emperor granted ceremonial status. 1951 - Japan signs peace treaty with US and other nations. But there is no peace treaty with Russia, as the legal successor to the Soviet Union. 1952 - Japan regains independence. US retains several islands for military use, including Okinawa. 1955 - Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) formed. Apart from brief interludes, party governs into 21st century. 1956 - Japan joins United Nations. 1972 - Japanese prime minister visits China and normal diplomatic relations are resumed. Japan subsequently closes embassy in Taiwan. Okinawa is returned to Japanese sovereignty, but US retains bases there. 1989 - Emperor Hirohito dies, succeeded by Akihito. 1995 - An earthquake hits central Japan, killing thousands and causing widespread damage. The city of Kobe is hardest hit. A religious sect, Aum Shinrikyo, releases the deadly nerve gas sarin on the Tokyo underground railway system, killing 12 and injuring thousands. 2006 - Parliament approves the creation of a fully-fledged defence ministry, the first since World War Two. 2011 - Huge offshore earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastate miles of shoreline. Damage to the Fukushima nuclear plant causes a radiation leak that leaves extensive areas uninhabitable and contaminates food supplies. 2015 - Lower house of parliament backs bills allowing troops to fight overseas for first time since 1945, prompting protests at home and criticism from China. 2019 - Akihito abdicates and his son Naruhito becomes emperor, 2022 - There is worldwide shock over the assassination of former prime minister Japan Shinzo Abe - the country's longest serving premier. His killing triggers questions over links between politicians and the Unification Church. TOKYO (AP) Japan's population declined in all of its 47 prefectures for the first time in a record drop, while its number of foreign residents hit a new high, reaching almost 3 million people, according to government data released Wednesday, highlighting the increasing role that non-Japanese people play in the shrinking and aging country. The population of Japanese nationals fell by about 800,000 people, or 0.65%, to 122.4 million in 2022 from the previous year, falling for a 14th straight year, according to data from the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry based on residency registrations as of Jan. 1 this year. Japan's total population was 125.41 million, down just over half a million people from a year earlier, and there was a 10.7% jump in foreign residents with addresses registered in Japan, the ministry said. The increase in Japan's foreign population was the biggest year-on-year rise since the ministry started taking statistics in 2013. Foreign residents now account for about 2.4% of Japans population, the ministry said. After peaking in 2008, Japans population has since shrunk steadily due to a declining birthrate. The country saw a record low of 771,801 births last year. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has set tackling the declining births as one of his top policy goals and pledged to secure annual funding of about 3.5 trillion yen ($25.2 billion) over the next three years for a new child care package, which includes child birth and rearing allowances and increased subsidies for higher education. Kishida's Cabinet last month approved a plan to expand the scope of job categories allowed for foreign workers, opening the door for future permanent residency, in a major shift in a country known for its closed-door immigration policy as it struggles with a shrinking population. Experts say the proposed low-birth measures are mostly additional funding for existing ones and dont address underlying problems. They also say that Japan's conservative government needs to do more to raise salaries, improve working conditions and make society more inclusive for minorities and those with non-Japanese roots to attract foreign workers to move to Japan and stay. LONDON (AP) Britain has underplayed and underestimated the threat posed by the Russian Wagner mercenary group and should ban it as a terrorist organization, a powerful committee of U.K. lawmakers said Wednesday. The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said the sanctions imposed by Britain on Wagner are underwhelming" and U.K. authorities have done little to track the private army's activities beyond Ukraine, where it has fought as part of Russia's invading forces. There are serious national security threats to the U.K. and its allies of allowing the network to continue to thrive, said the committee, whose members come from both governing and opposition parties. It said Britain should urgently proscribe the Wagner Network as a terrorist organization," something the Conservative government has so far been unwilling to do. In a 78-page report, the committee said Wagner, which has close ties to the Russian state, operates like an international criminal mafia, fueling corruption and plundering natural resources, especially in Africa, where it provides stability and protection for several authoritarian leaders. It is a significant failing to see the Wagner Network primarily through the prism of Europe, not least given its geographic spread, the impact of its activities on U.K. interests further abroad, and the fact that its wealth creation sits largely in Africa, the report said. It called it deeply regrettable that the U.K. paid little attention to Wagner before 2022, and continues to give so little focus to countries beyond Ukraine. The committee said with "high confidence" that Wagner had conducted military operations in at least seven countries since 2014: Ukraine, Syria, the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, Mozambique and Mali. The lawmakers said Wagner also has business interests in those countries, such as lucrative gold mining operations in the Central African Republic and Sudan, where Wagners gold-smuggling activities enabled huge quantities of gold to bypass the state and flow to Russia. Wagner also has carried out non-military actions such as election interference in Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and South Africa, and there is evidence of the groups involvement in other countries, the committee said. The lawmakers urged the government to move faster and harder to sanction individuals and entities linked to Wagner, calling British sanctions underwhelming in the extreme compared to those imposed by the United States and the European Union. The lawmakers urged Britain to boost aid funding to fragile and conflict-wracked countries to stop them from turning to Russia and Wagner for help. A decision to slash the U.K.s international aid budget from 0.7% to 0.5% of gross national income should be reversed as soon as possible, they said. The report, which drew on research by journalists, government and non-government organizations, testimony from Russia experts and evidence from a former Wagner fighter, said Wagners future was uncertain after leader Yevgeny Prigozhins armed mutiny against Russias top military leaders last month. The rebellion ended within hours when a deal was brokered for Wagner troops to go to Belarus. The lawmakers said Britain should take advantage the confused situation to disrupt Wagner. In the wake of the attempted coup last month, the future manifestations of the Wagner Network are uncertain, said the committees chairwoman, Conservative lawmaker Alicia Kearns. With the network at its most vulnerable and the clock ticking the time for action is now. The Foreign Office said in a statement that Britain had heavily sanctioned the Wagner Group, including its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and several key commanders, limiting their travel and freezing their assets. The U.K. has been one of the leading suppliers of military aid to Ukraine, who have been fighting Wagner forces on the battlefield, it said. We continue to work with our allies to expose and counter their destabilising activities around the world. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (centre) welcomed at an airport in Pyongyang on 25 July A Russian delegation led by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has arrived in North Korea, to be joined by a Chinese delegation later on Wednesday. They will attend Pyongyang's celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, marked typically by massive military parades. The visits are the first of their kind to the North since it shut its borders to try to keep out the pandemic. It is unclear if this signals a change in Pyongyang's border policies. Reclusive North Korea had sealed itself off from all trade and diplomatic ties in early 2020, even with Russia and China, its main economic and political partners. They even cut off imports of essential goods like food and medicine. North Korea has been facing food shortages, which have been made worse by its border closure and strict international sanctions that have been imposed because of its nuclear programme. Some analysts say the inclusion of Chinese and Russian envoys in this year's "Victory Day" parade - as the 1953 Korean armistice is called in the North - hints at a possible loosening of Covid restrictions. It comes weeks after images of North Koreans walking around without masks were shown on state media. The Russian delegation arrived in North Korea late on Tuesday, and received a warm welcome on the tarmac at an airport in Pyongyang. Mr Shoigu walked past a line of saluting soldiers and a red banner emblazoned with the words, "Welcome, Comrade Defence Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu!" in both Korean and Russian. The Chinese delegation will be led by Li Hongzhong, who is part of the Chinese Communist Party's central policymaking committee, and will arrive some time on Wednesday, according to a party spokesperson. China and Russia are both long time allies of North Korea. Beijing had sent troops in the autumn of 1950 to support North Korea in the war against South Korea. The then Soviet Union also supported North Korea in the war. Since the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Russia has remained a natural ally for North Korea because of their mutual dislike for the US. Washington has, in fact, accused North Korea of providing military aid to Russia in its war in Ukraine, a claim that both Pyongyang and Moscow deny. Mr Shoigu's visit also comes against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions between the US and Russia over the Ukraine war. Ties between Beijing and Washington are also frayed because of Taiwan. The US has been trying to talk to Pyongyang after US soldier Travis King fled to North Korea last week. Private King, who was meant to go back to the US to face disciplinary action, ran into North Korea while on a tour at the Joint Security Area (JSA), an area in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that divides North and South Korea. The United Nations Command, which the United States is part of, said on Monday that dialogue had taken place with North Korea over Pvt King, but did not provide any details. By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) - After years of pandemic isolation, North Korea has invited its friends back this week, hosting senior Chinese and Russian delegations for 70th anniversary commemorations of the Korean War and the struggle against the United States and its allies. The visiting dignitaries, which include Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong, are expected to be presented with one of North Korea's signature events: a massive military parade showcasing its latest weaponry. Analysts say the spectacle will likely include the North's nuclear-tipped missiles banned by the United Nations Security Council, where Russia and China are permanent members. The visits are the first known foreign delegations to visit North Korea since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and come as Pyongyang has looked to deepen its ties with Beijing and Moscow, finding common ground in their rivalries with Washington and the West. Thursday's holiday, in which North Korea celebrates what it sees as a victory over U.S.-led allied forces in the 1950-1953 Korean War, provides a chance for Pyongyang to highlight the Cold War days when North Korean troops fought with Chinese and Russian support. North Korea is still technically at war with the U.S.-led alliance after fighting ended in an armistice, rather than a formal peace treaty. "North Korea inviting delegations from both countries seems to be a case of history rhyming, whereby Pyongyang is gearing up to stand up against the West, but perceives the need to maintain relatively balanced ties with both China and Russia," said Anthony Rinna, a specialist in Korea-Russia relations at Sino-NK, a website that analyses the region. Only time will tell if the visits signal a broader easing in North Korea's bans on international travel, which could in theory provide an opening for U.S. officials to negotiate the release of U.S. soldier Travis King, who crossed into North Korea last week, Rinna said. However, it seems unlikely that Pyongyang will seek to engage with Washington any time soon, and may consider itself to be in a full-scale New Cold War with the United States, he added. MILITARY DISPLAYS Images from Russia's defence ministry and North Korean media showed Shoigu being greeted by North Korean defence minister Kang Sun Nam and Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora at the airport, and rows of North Korean and Russia troops. The United States has accused North Korea of providing weapons to Russia during the war in Ukraine, including an arms delivery of infantry rockets and missiles to the Kremlin-backed Wagner mercenary group in November 2022. Pyongyang and Moscow have denied those claims, but Kim has vowed to bolster strategic cooperation between the nations. The military parade in Pyongyang is likely to include as many as 15,000 personnel, and possibly feature new designs of nuclear-capable weapons, said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. Commercial satellite imagery over recent weeks have shown participants practicing, including in downtown Kim Il Sung Square where the event will take place, with large formations showing the number "70" and other slogans, said Dave Schmerler, a researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS). At a training ground outside Pyongyang, military units appeared to be practicing marching around the square track with vehicles behind them, Schmerler added, citing imagery provided to Reuters by U.S.-based firm Umbra, which used radar imaging satellites to peer through cloud cover. 'SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY' Leader Kim Jong Un kicked off commemorations this week with visits to a cemetery for Chinese soldiers who fought in the war, known as the Fatherland Liberation War, state media KCNA reported on Wednesday. The only defence treaty China and North Korea have is with each other. Kim also visited the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery on Monday, KCNA reported, as he praised the soldiers for "inflicting defeat" on U.S. imperialism. Amid international sanctions over North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes - which both Moscow and Beijing voted to impose - China has become by far North Korea's largest trading partner. China's exports to its secretive neighbour in June were eight times higher than a year before. Beijing asserted on Monday that it "strictly" implements U.N. sanctions on North Korea. Russia and China have rebuffed recent attempts by the United States and some European countries to impose new sanctions on North Korea. They have instead pushed for existing measures to be eased for humanitarian purposes and to entice Pyongyang back to denuclearisation talks, which broke down in 2019. Yang said the delegations could signal that long-stalled diplomatic visits could resume. "If North Korea also sends a high-level delegation to China for the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games, it means the resumption of high-level 'shuttle diplomacy' between North Korea and China since the COVID-19 pandemic," he said. (Reporting by Josh Smith; Additional reporting by Minwoo Park; Editing by Michael Perry) SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a cemetery for Chinese soldiers who fought in the Korean War, state media KCNA reported on Wednesday. His visit, accompanied by his powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, comes ahead of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War truce on Thursday, which is celebrated as "Victory Day" in North Korea, often with a grandiose military parade. The move comes as the nuclear-armed, reclusive state has been gearing up for the upcoming ceremony, inviting Chinese and Russian delegations as the first such public visitors since the start of the pandemic. South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities were "closely monitoring" the situation and there had been an increase in manpower and equipment, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff told a briefing on Tuesday when asked about the ceremony. Kim also visited the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery on Monday, KCNA reported, as he touted the soldiers as "inflicting defeat" on U.S. imperialism. The Great Fatherland Liberation War is a name used by Pyongyang to refer to the Korean War. (Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Sandra Maler) By Sergio Goncalves LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal will not compensate telecoms operators for any Huawei or other equipment they may have to swap as a result of a recent decision barring suppliers representing high-security risk from their 5G mobile networks, a top official told Reuters. Mario Campolargo, the secretary of state for digitalisation, said the cybersecurity council CSSC's decision in May was based on an independent, strict security assessment following European Union guidelines and was not directly aimed at banning Chinese suppliers such as Huawei. Europe and the U.S. have concerns that Chinese involvement in critical infrastructure could compromise security. Beijing and Huawei reject such suggestions. The CSSC is the prime minister's consultative body and its deliberation was seen as another blow to efforts by Huawei to enter standalone networks in the 5G market in Portugal and extend existing contracts. The official said "there may be also an indirect implication of these security criteria on 4G networks", on which 5G networks are still largely based, but the CSSC was sounding out operators about any difficulties or challenges with that. Under a law approved last August, Portugal can determine "the exclusion, restrictions on use, or the cessation of use of equipment or services" of telecom companies for security reasons, setting criteria and deadlines for operators to comply. The Security Assessment Commission created within the scope of the CSSC has over the past nine months assessed the security aspects of all existing equipment in Portugal, regardless of "technology, merit or quality", and applied the criteria of the EU 5G security toolbox. It "will take into account an acceptable balance between security and the investments that were made by the operators," said Campolargo, who reports directly to the prime minister and chairs the CSSC. "Because there is this balance between security and the operators' return on investment, Portugal does not consider compensating them for replacing equipment," he said. Portugal's telecoms market regulator ANACOM will be in charge of implementing the deliberation and deadlines would be established on a case-by-case basis, he said. Asked if the deliberation was aimed at Chinese suppliers such as Huawei, he said: "Of course not". The commission had warned of a "high risk" to security of networks involving 5G technology "from suppliers or providers that are headquartered in a country where the government exercises control, interference or pressure on its activities in third countries". It also cited risks when the country is not an EU, NATO or OECD member. Portugal's main operators, Altice, NOS and Vodafone have already said they would not use Huawei's equipment in 5G core networks. Campolargo expected no impact on Sino-Portuguese relationship or Chinese investment after Portugal clarified that the decision was part "of a broader process at European level and that it is a transparent and known process". (Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; editing by David Evans) This photo, provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, shows the revealed identity of 33-year-old Cho Seon, the suspect in a stabbing rampage in Sillim Station that killed one person and wounded three others. Yonhap Police on Wednesday identified the suspect in last week's fatal stabbing rampage in Seoul as a 33-year-old man named Cho Seon. Cho was formally arrested Sunday on charges of murder and attempted murder. He was apprehended Friday after fatally stabbing a complete stranger in his 20s near Seoul's Sillim Station and then attacking three other men in a nearby alleyway. Police disclosed Cho's identity, including photos, citing the gravity and viciousness of his crime. "There is greater public interest in revealing the suspect's identity, taking into account the anxiety felt among people and in terms of preventing similar crimes in the future," a police committee said, adding there was also sufficient criminal evidence against the suspect. On Monday, police found that the suspect had stolen a weapon just 10 minutes before the crime, after which he took a taxi to go on a stabbing rampage near Sillim Station. The suspect reportedly told police he had planned out the crime and that he reset his phone in fear of being busted. Cho told reporters on Sunday that he committed the crime due to unspecified "extreme hardship." According to police, he also said during an investigation that he "wanted to make other people miserable" because he was also living a miserable life. Police said they conducted a psychopathy test on Cho on Wednesday, and are looking into the motive and context of the crime. By law, the identity of a suspect can be disclosed even before conviction when the crime is considered serious, there is enough evidence proving the crime, and the disclosure is necessary for people's right to know and other public interests. (Yonhap) For Sahar McMahon, having her second baby was a completely different experience than having her first. Her postpartum negative mood, low energy and inability to focus were feelings that she had never felt before. With her first daughter, Ophelia, McMahon downloaded an app to her phone to excitedly track the babys month-by-month development, and the pair often would go on playdates with friends. But with her second daughter, Lenora, McMahon felt no motivation to leave their home. She didnt even feel motivated to take a shower. She constantly felt tired, yet she couldnt sleep. McMahon thought that her overwhelming fatigue was simply due to being a new mom. I did not realize that anything going on was postpartum depression, said McMahon, 39, of Queens, New York. I never wanted to hurt myself. I just was existing. There were points where my kids would be screaming. I would leave them screaming in the living room. Id go in my room, close the door, scream into a pillow, and then Id think, What are we doing this for? she said. My whole thought process was very pessimistic, and thats not who I am at all. Late one night in 2021, when McMahon had put her daughters to bed but couldnt fall asleep, she searched the Internet for some help. She Googled her symptoms: loss of energy, crying spells, inability to sleep. I scrolled online, and thats when I found the trial, she said. McMahon, who was by then four months postpartum, immediately signed up to participate in a phase three trial of zuranolone, a postpartum depression medication. When I started the drug, the next day, I woke up and Im like, OK. I immediately just started feeling more like me, McMahon said. Because the trial was a double-blind study, she didnt know at the time whether she was given the medication or a placebo but she says she saw benefits overnight with her mood, energy and motivation to engage with her children. In the weeks that followed, McMahon says, her life changed for the better. It saved my life. It saved my marriage. It saved my kids. Zuranolone, given as a daily pill over the course of two weeks, is in clinical development and has been granted priority review by the US Food and Drug Administration as it considers the pill for approval, according to the makers of the drug, Sage Therapeutics and Biogen. A priority review designation means the FDA will direct overall attention and resources to the evaluation of applications for drugs that, if approved, would be significant improvements in the safety or effectiveness of the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of serious conditions when compared to standard applications, according to the agency. The FDA is expected to make a decision and take action on approval by August 5. Results from the phase three trial were published Wednesday in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The study of 196 women with severe postpartum depression found that those who took a daily 50-milligram dose of zuranolone in a pill for 14 days showed significant improvements in depressive symptoms compared with those who were given a placebo. These improvements were still reported 28 and 45 days later, according to the study, which was funded by Sage Therapeutics and Biogen. The findings are part of a collection of data that will probably be reviewed by the FDA. This was the key second trial that could support FDA approval. We published the first clinical study in 2021, said Dr. Kristina Deligiannidis, a professor at the Institute of Behavioral Science at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in New York, who was lead author of both studies. That previous study of zuranolone, the results of which were published in 2021 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, found that among 151 women with postpartum depression, those taking 30 milligrams of zuranolone daily for two weeks reported greater reductions in their depressive symptoms than those taking a placebo. Those reductions in symptoms were seen within three days and lasted through at least 45 days, according to the study, which was conducted in 2017 and 2018 at 27 sites. In the first study, we tested 30 milligrams, which was associated with good safety and tolerability, good efficacy, Deligiannidis said. Then we replicated these findings in the second trial in the larger sample at the 50 milligrams, and we found very similar efficacy and safety at that dose. In the latest trial, researchers from the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health and other US institutions examined the efficacy and safety of a 50-milligram dose of zuranolone among the 196 women, who were between the ages of 18 and 45. Within the group, 21.9% of the women were Black, and 38.3% were Hispanic. Among the women who took zuranolone, the researchers noticed rapid responses to the treatment as early as day three. The day after the women completed the 14-day treatment course, the researchers found that 57% reported a 50% or higher improvement in their depressive symptoms, compared with 38% of those on a placebo. As the researchers continued to follow the women through 45 days, 61.9% of participants who received zuranolone, compared with 54.1% of those taking a placebo, reported a 50% or higher improvement in their depressive symptoms. Some of the women given zuranolone reported drowsiness, dizziness or sedation. Among the 98 who were given zuranolone, 16 reduced their dosage from 50 to 40 milligrams due to those side effects. Since zuranolone is an acute, 14-day treatment course, the medication is not taken chronically, any side effects should be confined to the short treatment course, Deligiannidis said. In the trial, 26.5% of the women taking zuranolone reported drowsiness, 13.3% had dizziness, and 11.2% had sedation. A smaller share of participants had headache, diarrhea and nausea. The researchers noted that none of the people taking zuranolone had side effects so severe that they lost consciousness, experienced withdrawal symptoms or reported increased suicidal ideation or behavior. No patient deaths were reported. The greatest benefits of zuranolone are its rapid antidepressant effects, short at-home treatment course and generally well-tolerated side effect profile, Deligiannidis said. For many patients, they may only need a short, acute treatment course followed by close monitoring. Sahar McMahon says that she experienced symptoms of postpartum depression after giving birth to her second daughter. - Courtesy Sahar McMahon McMahon said that she did not experience any side effects with zuranolone and that she hopes the FDA approves the drug. It saved my life. It saved my marriage. It saved my kids, said McMahon, who is now doing well along with her husband, 4-year-old Ophelia and 2-year-old Lenora. Just, the ricochet effect of sitting around, gaining weight, watching TV, going to sleep on the couch, not interacting with my kids, letting them figure it out, letting them stay up on iPads and tablets, she said. I cant imagine how much further I could have fallen into a depression. Hopes of expanding access Current treatment options for postpartum depression include standard-of-care antidepressants, but it can take up to 12 weeks to get responses to such treatments. Another treatment option is Zulresso, the first FDA-approved drug in the United States specifically for the treatment of postpartum depression. Zulresso is given as a 60-hour intravenous infusion of the drug brexanolone, and as such, it must be used within a health care setting not at home. Both brexanolone and zuranolone are versions of a naturally occurring substance in the body called allopregnanolone, a neuroactive steroid that is a metabolite of the hormone progesterone. Levels of allopregnanolone can rise dramatically during pregnancy and then abruptly drop after childbirth, potentially contributing to postpartum depression. Neuroactive steroids are naturally made in the brain and are breakdown products of progesterone that protect brain networks from the damaging effects of stress and maintain healthy brain network functioning, Deligiannidis said. So restoring allopregnanolone with medications structurally similar to it, like brexanolone or zuranolone, can help provide some relief to people with postpartum depression. Both drugs work in a similar way; they are just administered differently. The main difference is that Zulresso is given as a single 60-hour infusion, which requires an in-hospital stay, versus zuranolone, which is taken daily by mouth for 14 days at home in the evening, Deligiannidis said. Theres so many of us in the field that are just waiting to have additional options and faster-acting treatments for women. Brexanolone truly is a life-saving medication; however, weve had many challenges with access, to get it to patients, she said. My hope is that with an oral option, an at-home option, that were able to provide similar benefit to more patients rapidly. More needed to tackle maternal mental health crisis The new phase three trial suggests that zuranolone might offer a quick and effective oral treatment for postpartum depression across diverse groups of women, Judite Blanc, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, wrote in an email. Blanc, who was not involved with the new study, praised the diversity of participants, emphasizing that the inclusion of Black and brown women suggests that the findings can be more generalizable. This could be particularly beneficial for women who face barriers to accessing long-term treatments, such as low-income women or those with limited healthcare access. However, from a scientific, social, and ethical standpoint, this clinical trial is not the panacea to tackle the maternal health crisis in the U.S. and globally, Blanc wrote. Medications shouldnt be the first or only line of treatment for mental health conditions, particularly among women, children, and historically oppressed populations, she said. And as the effect of zuranolone reported in the trial was followed only for 45 days among postpartum women who dont breastfeed, Blanc added that we need further studies to assess the long-term impact of Zuranolone, including among breastfeeding mothers, as well as the patient-child interaction. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Joseph Ax (Reuters) - A coalition of booksellers, authors and publishers has sued Texas seeking to block a new state law that bans "sexually explicit" books from public schools. The law, which was passed by the Republican-controlled legislature in May and is set to take effect in September, requires sellers to rate books based on their references to sex and empowers the Texas Education Agency to review those ratings. Vendors that do not participate will be barred from selling any books to Texas schools. Any books rated explicit cannot be sold to public schools and must be recalled from libraries. The law is one of several passed in Republican-controlled states seeking to restrict books that conservatives say contain age-inappropriate content on topics such as sex, LGBTQ issues and race. Critics argue the bans are too subjective and amount to politically driven censorship. The new lawsuit, filed in Austin federal court on Tuesday, asserts that the legislation "compels plaintiffs to express the government's views, even if they do not agree," in violation of the First Amendment's free speech protections. The standards for what constitutes "explicit" material are also unconstitutionally vague, according to the complaint. "As guided by history and U.S. Supreme Court precedent, the government should not dictate what is allowed in the marketplace of ideas," the lawsuit said. Republican Governor Greg Abbott has said the Texas law protects children, declaring that it "gets that trash out of our schools" when he signed it in June. The Texas Education Agency and Abbott's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday. In May, the writers' group PEN America and others sued a Florida school district for banning books dealing with LGBTQ and race issues. Another lawsuit in Arkansas takes aim at a law that requires libraries and bookstores to segregate any material that could be "harmful" to minors in a separate area. The American Library Association reported 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest figure since the organization began tracking such data more than 20 years ago. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Bill Berkrot) Qualities needed for school board In seeking a prospective school board member, the qualities and characteristics should be, or in a stronger sense, shall be, honesty, open mindedness, respect for and devotion to the rule of law, willingness to work productively with each other and the superintendent, ability to make compromises and take others viewpoints into consideration, and of course, above all, keep the students safety and quality of learning paramount. There should not be any need or requirement for the candidate to gain the endorsement of any political party, nor should there be any political bias of same in conducting school board affairs, or intention to promote political agendas. Likewise, there should be no demonizing of students and family lifestyle choices, or attempts to put forth policies that seek to suppress lifestyle choices or cultural learning opportunities. David P. Sisk, Richland Maier working to update city codes Did you know that thanks to Kurt Maier, candidate for Richland City Council Position 6, if you have an overdue library book, you wont be issued a citation or be arrested. That is because Kurt Maier spearheaded the effort through his leadership on the Richland Library Board to decriminalize overdue books. Did you know until recently the staff at the Richland Public Library could not lock the library doors even in the event of an emergency such as an active shooter. Kurt Maier spent much of his tenure on the Richland Public Library Board working to remedy that problem. Kurt is passionate about updating the Richland Municipal Code to bring it into alignment with current needs. He is focused on revising outdated codes that hamper the citys ability to address problems such as the rising cost of housing and an increasing homeless population. His thoughtful analysis of issues, his solutions-based approach to tackling problems, and his commitment to community service make him the ideal candidate for City Council. Kurt Maier is a leader who will listen. Please join us in voting for Kurt Maier for Richland City Council. Karen A. and Kenneth A. Buxton, Richland 3 reasons to boot 3 off school board I support the recall of Richland School Board members Semi Bird, Audra Byrd and Kari Williams because I believe: Public officials should demonstrate prudence in their actions. The rushed vote to make masks optional in the Richland schools demonstrated none. These three blindsided other board members, the administrators and other employees, as well as the parents and students of the district. That is not good governance. Public officials should uphold their oath of office and the rule of law. These three chose to disobey the laws of Washington. Private citizens may choose to engage in civil disobedience when they dont agree with a law; Bird, Byrd and Williams tried to use a government body (the school district) to protest a legal statewide mandate, violating the Open Public Meetings Act in the process. Public officials should be fiscally responsible. They have made it clear they also want the taxpayers to pay for the legal fees they incurred fighting the recall efforts. For these reasons, I am voting Yes on each of the recall measures. Benita L. Brown, Richland These 3 will stop Richland drama Do you want the drama of the Richland School Board to stop? Me, too! Thats why Im voting for Chelsie Beck, Jill Oldson and Katrina Waters. Lets get things back to normal. Just remember B.O.W. on this ballot and again in November, and we wont be bothered by ridiculous headlines about our school board going forward. Barbara Chen, Richlalnd ATLANTA (AP) Rudy Giuliani has conceded that he made public comments falsely claiming two Georgia election workers committed ballot fraud during the 2020 presidential race but is arguing that the statements were protected by the First Amendment. That assertion by Giuliani, who as part of Donald Trumps legal team tried to overturn results in battleground states, came in a filing Tuesday in a lawsuit by Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Shaye Moss. Their lawsuit from December 2021 accused the former New York City mayor of defaming them by falsely stating that they had engaged in fraud while counting ballots at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The lawsuit says Giuliani repeatedly pushed debunked claims that Freeman and Moss mother and daughter pulled out suitcases of illegal ballots and committed other acts of fraud to try to alter the outcome of the race. Though Giuliani is not disputing that the statements were false, he does not concede that they caused any damage to Freeman or Moss. That distinction is important because plaintiffs in a defamation case must prove not only that a statement made about them was false but that it also resulted in actual damage. Moss told the U.S. House committee investigating the Capitol riot that her life was shattered by the false accusations. She said she received hateful and racist messages, some wishing death upon me. Telling me that Ill be in jail with my mother. And saying things like, Be glad its 2020 and not 1920. Freeman said in her testimony: There is nowhere I feel safe. Giuliani's statement was attached to a filing arguing that he did not fail to produce evidence in the case and should not be sanctioned as Freeman and Moss had requested. While Giuliani does not admit to Plaintiffs' allegations, he for purposes of this litigation only does not contest the factual allegations, the filing said. Giuliani political adviser Ted Goodman said in an email Wednesday that the filing was made "in order to move on to the portion of the case that will permit a motion to dismiss." Michael Gottlieb, a lawyer for Freeman and Moss, said in an emailed statement that Giuliani is conceding "what we have always known to be true Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss honorably performed their civic duties in the 2020 presidential election in full compliance with the law; and the allegations of election fraud he and former-President Trump made against them have been false since day one. Certain issues, including damages, still have to be decided by the court. Gottlieb said Freeman and Moss are pleased with this major milestone in their fight for justice, and look forward to presenting what remains of this case at trial. Freeman and Moss filed a motion this month alleging that Giuliani had failed to take any steps to preserve relevant electronic evidence. They know such evidence exists because other people provided it to them, their filing says. They asked U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington to impose sanctions. In the court filing, a lawyer for Giuliani argued that his client did not fail to preserve or destroy any electronic evidence because all pertinent documents were seized by the government and were in their possession, custody, or control. The federal government had executed search warrants at Giuliani's home and office in a separate case in New York and had seized his electronic devices. The records that Moss and Freeman said were not produced have not been in the possession of Giuliani since their seizure in April 2021, according to the court filing, and therefore it is physically impossible for him to have destroyed the evidence. Moss had worked for the Fulton County elections department since 2012 and supervised the absentee ballot operation during the 2020 election. Freeman was a temporary election worker, verifying signatures on absentee ballots and preparing them to be counted and processed. Giuliani and others alleged during a Georgia legislative subcommittee hearing in December 2020 that surveillance video from State Farm Arena showed the election workers committing election fraud. As those allegations circulated online, the two women said, they suffered intense harassment, both in person and online. Moss detailed her experiences in emotional testimony before the members of Congress investigating the Capitol insurrection. The Jan. 6 committee also played video testimony from Freeman during the hearing in June 2022. In a court filing that month, Giuliani asked the judge to toss the lawsuit, arguing the claims against him were barred by First Amendment protections for free speech. Howell rejected that request, allowing the lawsuit to proceed. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who are investigating efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election results, have both shown interest in what happened to Moss and Freeman. Smith's team has subpoenaed Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's office for any Election Day video from State Farm Arena. Willis sought testimony about a curious episode in which prosecutors say a woman traveled from Chicago to Georgia in January 2021 and tried to pressure Freeman into falsely confessing to committing election fraud. The defamation lawsuit originally named right-wing cable news channel One America News Network, its owners and its chief White House correspondent for also pushing the debunked claims. They were dismissed from the suit in May 2022 after reaching an undisclosed settlement with Moss and Freeman. (Reuters) - A military court in Moscow has sentenced a dual Russian-Ukrainian citizen to 22 years in jail for blowing up rail track in Russia's Bryansk region last summer at the behest of Ukraine, the state TASS news agency reported on Wednesday. It said Sergei Belavin, who it said had confessed to his crimes, had been convicted of terrorism and other charges. State prosecutors said Belavin, whom they accused of working for Ukrainian military intelligence, had entered Russia last summer and placed an explosive device on a stretch of railway near Russia's border with Ukraine and Belarus. He had detonated the device on July 9 last year, damaging a passing freight train and the track below, according to investigators. Nobody was injured, but service on the line was disrupted for 10 hours. There was no immediate reaction to the verdict from Ukraine, which rarely comments on attacks inside Russia or on Russian-controlled territory but makes no secret of its desire to disrupt or destroy infrastructure used by the Russian military. (Reporting by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Andrew Osborn) MOSCOW (AP) A military court in Moscow sentenced a dual Russian-Ukrainian citizen to 22 years in a strict regime penal colony on Wednesday for blowing up a railroad track last summer allegedly at the behest of Ukraine. The court also handed Sergei Belavin a fine of 800,000 rubles ($8,875). The July attack in the Bryansk region, which borders northern Ukraine, damaged a freight train traveling from Belarus and the railway track. Belavin was convicted of charges of terrorism and the illegal acquisition, manufacture, transportation and storage of explosives. Belavin, who hails from the embattled city of Sloviansk in Ukraines eastern Donetsk province, carried out the railway attack near the village of Robchik, Russias Investigative Committee said, on behalf of Ukrainian military intelligence. The committee said that Belavin was recruited in 2019 by the Ukrainian Defense Ministrys Main Intelligence Directorate, after which he underwent training in Ukraine to take part in terrorist activities. The committee said that he gained skills in handling explosives and radio-controlled explosive devices, knowledge of intelligence tactics, conspiracy, collection and transmission of information. In May, two further railway attacks on consecutive days derailed freight trains in the Bryansk region, which has also suffered sporadic cross-border shelling during the fighting in Ukraine. By Luc Cohen and Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Wednesday tightened Sam Bankman-Fried's bail conditions by restricting his ability to communicate publicly, and said he will consider jailing him before the trial over the collapse of his FTX cryptocurrency exchange. At a hearing in Manhattan federal court, prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan to detain Bankman-Fried now, saying he had "crossed a line" by sharing his former romantic partner Caroline Ellison's personal writings with a reporter, in what they said amounted to a second instance of witness tampering. Kaplan imposed a "gag order" previously requested by prosecutors for the 31-year-old Bankman-Fried, and gave both sides until Aug. 3 to explain their views on whether jail is necessary for the former billionaire. "I'm very mindful of the government's interest in this issue, which I take seriously," Kaplan said. "Mr. Bankman-Fried, you'd better take it seriously too." Mark Cohen, a lawyer for Bankman-Fried, said his client was trying merely to protect his reputation by communicating with journalists, and that it "really would be almost impossible" to prepare for the Oct. 2 trial if Bankman-Fried were jailed. Bankman-Fried has been largely confined to his parents' home in Palo Alto, California, since his extradition in December from the Bahamas, where he was arrested and where FTX was based. He has pleaded not guilty to charges he stole billions of dollars in FTX customer funds in part to plug losses at his crypto hedge fund, Alameda Research. Ellison, who was Alameda's chief executive, is one of three former members of Bankman-Fried's inner circle who pleaded guilty to fraud charges and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. She is expected to testify against Bankman-Fried. MORE THAN 1,000 CALLS WITH REPORTERS Last Thursday, the New York Times published an article containing excerpts from Ellison's personal Google documents prior to FTX's collapse. She described being "unhappy and overwhelmed" with her job and feeling "hurt/rejected" from the break up of her personal relationship with Bankman-Fried. Though Bankman-Fried acknowledged sharing Ellison's writings with a Times reporter, prosecutor Danielle Sassoon from the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office said it constituted the second time he had tampered with a witness. She cited a January 2023 email to FTX's U.S. general counsel, in which Bankman-Fried proposed entering a "constructive relationship." Sassoon said Bankman-Fried has had more than 1,000 phone calls with journalists. She said this alone did not constitute tampering, but said Bankman-Fried's strategy for rehabilitating his reputation appeared built on discrediting and blaming Ellison. "This latest incident is an escalation of an ongoing campaign with the press that has now crossed a line," Sassoon said, referring to the Ellison writings. "This isn't a First Amendment issue." Sassoon also expressed concern about what Bankman-Fried might have told the best-selling author Michael Lewis, who plans to publish a book about FTX around when the trial begins. Bankman-Fried had previously consented to a gag order, but asked that it also apply to other witnesses such as current FTX Chief Executive John Ray. Ray, a veteran bankruptcy specialist who was named CEO after FTX filed for bankruptcy in November, has since been a strong Bankman-Fried critic. Sassoon said at Wednesday's hearing that prosecutors did not expect to have Ray testify. Later in the day, prosecutors said in a court filing that they would no longer include a charge accusing Bankman-Fried of violating U.S campaign finance laws at his upcoming trial. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Christopher Cushing) By Mark Trevelyan (Reuters) - A century after his father and mother fled Russia to escape the Bolsheviks, renowned mathematician Alexey Sossinsky found history repeating itself when President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. Brought up in France and the United States, Sossinsky moved to the land of his parents' birth in 1957 and carved out a distinguished academic career. But at 85 he is now an exile once more. When Putin launched the war last year, he left with two suitcases in the middle of the night. "I had no hesitation, I immediately did whatever was possible to get out," Sossinsky told Reuters in a phone interview. A former student secured him a plane ticket to Istanbul - the same city where his father fled by ship in 1919 - and from there he travelled to France, where his daughter lives. Fluent in three languages and still delivering classes to students in Russia via Zoom, he now expects to live out his life in exile. WAR AND PEACE The family story that Sossinsky recounts with pride and painstaking detail is a microcosm of Russia's history of upheaval, war and repression going back more than a century. His mother, Ariadna Chernova, was the daughter of Viktor Chernov, a socialist revolutionary who fleetingly served as president of Russia's Constituent Assembly in 1918, before it was dispersed by the Bolsheviks. She fled Russia in 1923 with her mother and sisters. In France she met and married another exile, Bronislav Sossinsky, who had won the highest medal for gallantry in the White Army that fought against the Bolsheviks in Russia's Civil war. Alexey was born in France in 1937. During World War Two, his father fought in the resistance against the Nazis and was a prisoner of war. The family moved in 1948 to New York, where Bronislav worked for the UN. Alexey got his first taste of Russia in the mid-1950s, after the death of Stalin, when the family visited there on holiday. He was surprised at the "absolutely horrid level of life" even in Moscow. But "against all logic" he decided in 1957 to stay on there and study mathematics, a subject in which he believed that Moscow was "the centre of the whole world". By the early 1970s he was an associate professor at Moscow State University and had gained an international reputation in an area of geometry called knot theory. His career took a dive after he and a friend wrote a letter in 1974 defending Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the dissident writer who had been expelled from the Soviet Union. Addressed to a French literary journal, the letter was intercepted by the KGB, and the friend lost his job. Sossinsky was instructed to sign an application form for classes in Marxism-Leninism but could not bring himself to do it. "I tore up that piece of paper, took a blank piece of paper and wrote my resignation from the department - a completely crazy thing to do," he said. He worked for 13 years as an editor at a science journal before he was able to return to academia. "HIDEOUS REGIME" Decades on, he is still speaking out. The West, he says, has dangerously underestimated Putin's "intelligence, cleverness, total immorality and cruelty", his ability to adapt to sanctions and his success in using state media to "hypnotise" the population. "It's absolutely horrible that normal ordinary people support this hideous regime," Sossinsky said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is a hero who has made mistakes but is doing a "fantastic job" overall, he added. Sossinsky says he now wants to die in France, the country of his birth. And he does not expect the Ukraine conflict to be over by then. "I'm very pessimistic because I'm pretty sure the war will not end in my lifetime," he said. "This is the kind of war that nobody is ever going to win." Nevertheless, as decades ago, exile still makes Sossinsky restless. He said he is weighing a brief return, if only to see friends and visit the country cottage outside Moscow where he would ski in winter and swim in a lake in summer. "Surprisingly, my hope is that at some time I will overcome my fear of repression and go back to Russia for the summer - if not next year, then the year after that or the year after that," he said. "My daughter is absolutely panicked by the thought that I will return to Russia and will be put in prison and God knows what. So I have to convince her she should not worry." (Reporting by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Peter Graff) Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, chairman of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, welcomed inmates from several Massachusetts prisons to testify on bills, including parole reforms and mitigating the life without parole sentence for felony murder. Editor's note: James Keown's name was misspelled in an earlier version of this story. BOSTON - State lawmakers heard virtual testimony from more than two dozen incarcerated persons from facilities across the state Tuesday after opening the floor to inmates and allowing them to speak in favor of criminal justice reforms pending before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. Committee chairman Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, noted that the incarcerated persons were able to testify this way in this legislative session due to the intervention of Gov. Maura Healey. He remarked that the committee meetings were not opened to incarcerated people under the previous administration. Inmates allowed to testify from prison The bills ranged from establishing new parameters around parole hearings for lifers, people convicted of felony murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, to a proposal to modernize and strengthen supports for crime victims. The original Crime Victims Bill of Rights was enacted almost four decades ago and needs to evolve to accommodate societal and technological changes, said Stephanie McCarthy, director of policy and legislative affairs at the Massachusetts Office for Victims Assistance. The bill, filed by Rep. Marjorie Decker, D-Cambridge, would improve victim notifications to ensure those affected by crime are informed and up to date about the progress of their case through the justice system and the adjudication of their perpetrators. It could also serve to increase access to services supporting crime victims and strengthen victim statements. The bill could also enhance the collaboration and cooperation between all aspects of the states criminal justice system, improving the working relationship between police, the courts and probation and parole. Changes proposed for sentencing for felony murder Of the list of nearly 50 bills, the companion bills filed by Sen. Liz Miranda, D-Boston, and Rep. Christopher Worrell, D-Boston, an Act to Reduce Mass Incarceration, solicited the most testimony. The bills would allow inmates adjudicated on felony murder charges and serving sentences of life without parole to apply for parole hearings after serving 25 years of their sentences. In testifying to support her bill, Miranda talked about the emotional and financial trauma of incarceration on families. She noted that her district, Dorchester, is the most overpoliced and overincarcerated district in the commonwealth. As she noted the racial discrepancies that plague the Massachusetts criminal justice system, only 22% of the states population identifies as Black, yet 70% of incarcerated teenagers identify as Black. Of the more than 1,000 lifers serving time in Massachusetts prisons, 34% identify as Black. Statistically, Massachusetts aligns with Louisiana in the number of inmates serving life sentences, with 1,059 inmates, men and women, about 15% of Massachusetts prison population. About 39% are over 55. In comparison, New York state has 103 inmates serving life terms. Miranda noted that her life, as the lives of many of her constituents, has been touched by gun violence, incarceration and homicide. Her father and brothers had all served time. Her brother, Michael, 28, was shot and killed outside a Boston nightclub in 2017. When she testified at the trial of her brothers killer, she asked that the man not be sentenced to life without parole. That is a death sentence by another name, Miranda said. Not a 'get out of jail free' card The measure is not designed as a get out of jail free card. Instead it would allow inmates, some adjudicated as teenagers, a chance to appear before a parole board and prove that they have changed. This is an extreme sentence, and it is not just, Miranda said. In discussing the House companion bill, Worrell noted that the incarcerated serving a life sentence have no opportunity to discuss their growth and commitment to reform. The law is broken, Worrell said. Enacted with the repeal of capital punishment, Worrell said it is overused in Massachusetts. Yes, they should serve their time, but they should also be allowed to show their growth and their understanding of the consequences of their actions. Some 28 inmates spoke before the Judiciary Committee, taking their three allotted minutes to discuss the changes they have made in their lives, their commitment to reform and rehabilitation, and their desire to be allowed to speak about to a parole board. 'A slow death sentence' One woman said she killed her stepson. Another woman was charged and found guilty of felony murder under the joint venture clause and sentenced to life without parole after the person who murdered her husband testified against her in court. Its a slow death sentence, said Patricia Olsen, who has served 18 years of her life term. Even if I did seek a parole hearing, its not a guarantee I will be released. Its a second chance, we should be allowed to go home. If the purpose of incarceration is deterrence, punishment, incapacitation and rehabilitation, those goals are often met within that 25-year window, said James Keown, testifying from MCI-Shirley. He told the committee that life without parole is not more humane than the death penalty. If torture is a measure of pain, suffering and time, then life without parole is torture, Keown said, citing the bad food, bad medical attention but most of all, the hopelessness of those inmates incarcerated for life. Its an execution in slow motion. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Massachusetts lawmakers hear directly from inmates on parole reforms President Yoon Suk Yeol awards a Korean War medal to Pfc. Choi Im-rak during a ceremony marking the return of seven South Korean soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War, which took place at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, south of Seoul, Wednesday, after a South Korean Air Force KC-330 transport aircraft carrying the remains arrived from Hawaii. Choi served as part of the Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army program better known as KATUSA during the war and died in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in December 1950 at the age of 19. Joint Press Corps The remains of seven South Korean soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War returned home from the United States on Wednesday, after they were initially thought to be U.S. war dead and sent to America. A ceremony marking the remains' return took place at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, after a South Korean Air Force KC-330 transport aircraft carrying the remains arrived from Hawaii. The latest sets of remains were among those excavated in South and North Korea and sent to the U.S. They were later identified as fallen South Korean soldiers through a joint analysis by the allies. One set was confirmed to belong to Pfc. Choi Im-rak, who served as part of the Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army program, better known as KATUSA, during the war. He died during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in December 1950 at the age of 19. South Korean honour guards carry coffins containing the remains of South Korean soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War, during a repatriation ceremony, at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Wednesday July 26, 2023. The remains of seven South Korean soldiers killed in the Korean War were sent back to their homeland after forensic reviews in Hawaii, a day before the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice Agreement. AP-Yonhap A Tennessee police officer has filed an employment discrimination lawsuit against the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, claiming unlawful denial of employment because of his HIV status, according to the complaint filed Friday in federal court. The plaintiff, who is a current police officer with the Tennessee Highway Patrol and only identified as John Doe, is challenging the legality of what he describes as Nashvilles policy of not employing someone with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as a police officer. The lawsuit argues the policy constitutes a violation of federal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Civil Rights Act. In February 2020, the officer received a job offer from Nashville police on the condition that he pass a medical exam, but when his blood work tested positive for HIV, it was rescinded, according to the complaint. According to the lawsuit, the officers own HIV viral load is fully suppressed and un-transmittable, and he poses no threat of transmission to his co-workers or the community at large. The lawsuit argues the policy in effect categorically bars anyone living with HIV from serving in the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, despite medical advancements that render HIV status irrelevant to a persons ability to perform the duties of a police officer in any capacity. When reached for comment, Allison Bussell, with Nashvilles Metropolitan Department of Law, told CNN they had not been served with the lawsuit as of Wednesday morning, and declined to comment on pending litigation. CNNs Jamiel Lynch contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Vanderbilt University Medical Center is being sued by its transgender clinic patients, who accuse the hospital of violating their privacy by turning their records over to Tennessee's attorney general. Two patients sued Monday in Nashville Chancery Court, saying they were among more than 100 people whose records were sent by Vanderbilt to Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. His office has said it is examining medical billing in a run of the mill fraud investigation that isn't directed at patients or their families. Vanderbilt has said it was required by law to comply. The patients say Vanderbilt was aware that Tennessee authorities are hostile toward the rights of transgender people, and should have removed their personally identifying information before turning over the records. Tennessee has stood out among conservative-led states pushing myriad laws targeting transgender people, enacting some of the nation's most anti-LGBTQ restrictions, even as families and advocates have voiced objections that such policies are harmful, according to the lawsuit, which seeks class-action status on behalf of everyone at the clinic whose private medical records were released to Skrmetti. Against that backdrop, its failure to safeguard the privacy of its patients is particularly egregious," the lawsuit says. The attorney generals office has said the hospital has been providing records of its gender-related treatment billing since December 2022, and that the records have been kept confidential. Elizabeth Lane Johnson, an attorney generals office spokesperson, noted Tuesday that the office isnt a party to the lawsuit, and directed questions to Vanderbilt. VUMC spokesperson John Howser said Tuesday that it's common for health systems to get such requests in billing probes and audits, and the decision to release patient records for any purpose is never taken lightly, even in situations such as this where VUMC was legally compelled to produce the patient records. Many of the patients involved are state workers, or their adult children or spouses; others are on TennCare, the states Medicaid plan; and some were not even patients at the transgender clinic, according to the lawsuit. It says that records for more than 100 current and former patients were sent without redacting their identities. The lawsuit says that since the patients learned that their information was shared, they've been terrified for their physical safety, have had significant anxiety and distress that has impacted their ability to work, has caused them to increase home security measures, and drop out of activities in which they normally would participate." The lawsuit accuses Vanderbilt of negligence that inflicted emotional damage and violated patient privacy protection and consumer protection laws. It seeks monetary damages, improved security procedures, an injunction blocking further release of their records without notice, an acknowledgement by Vanderbilt that it violated its own privacy policy, and an admission that the policy inadequately informs patients of their rights regarding disclosures. The hospital waited months before telling patients their medical information was shared, acting only after the existence of the requests emerged as evidence in another court case. Howser said that at that point, hospital officials thought patients should hear it from them instead of media reports or other ways. The attorney general also requested a slew of additional information, including the names of everyone referred to the transgender clinic who made at least one office visit, as well as people who volunteer for the hospitals Trans Buddy initiative, which aims to increase access to care and improve outcomes by providing emotional support for the clinic's patients. Howser said Vanderbilt's lawyers are in discussion with the attorney general's office about what information is relevant to their investigation and will be provided by VUMC. The attorney general's office made the requests several months after conservative commentator Matt Walsh surfaced videos last September that include a medical center doctor saying gender-affirming procedures are huge money makers for hospitals. Vanderbilt paused all gender-affirming surgeries for minors the next month under pressure from Republican lawmakers and Gov. Bill Lee, who demanded an investigation. Vanderbilt said it had provided about five gender-affirming surgeries to minors each year since its clinic opened in 2018, all to people over 16 who had parental consent. None received genital procedures. Tennessee lawmakers then passed a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. A federal appeals court recently let it take effect after a lower court judge blocked it. ___ Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville contributed to this report. By Karen Lema, Bernard Orr and Yimou Lee MANILA/BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) -At least one person died as powerful typhoon Doksuri lashed the coastline of the northern Philippines with gale-force winds and torrential rain on Wednesday, bursting banks of rivers and leaving thousands without electricity. The rain bands of Doksuri pounded coastal communities, including isolated villages tucked away in tropical forests. Many people had already been pulled to safety ahead of the storm, which brought winds of up to 175 kilometres per hour (108 miles per hour). "We're being battered here," Manuel Mamba, governor of the northern corn-growing Cagayan province, told Reuters. The storm, labelled as a super typhoon by China's Meteorological Administration, is nearly 900 km (560 miles) across and is expected to sustain strength as it continues its course towards Taiwan and the Chinese mainland. The agency has already raised its storm alert to the second-highest tier and the manufacturing hub of Guangdong province warned of the worst storm in a decade. Throughout July, record temperatures have caused havoc across the globe, sparking wildfires in the U.S. and Mediterranean. At the other extreme, scientists say global warming will also make storms wetter, windier and more violent. In the Philippines, at least one person drowned in the province of Rizal so far, the national disaster agency said. More than 4,000 passengers were stranded at ports across the country after sea travel was suspended, the Philippine coast guard said. As of 8 a.m. (0000 GMT), Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau said in the past three hours the typhoon's centre was close to hovering and at a standstill. But China still expects its arrival early on Friday. Doksuri would be second typhoon to make landfall in the Chinese mainland in less than two weeks after Talim slammed into Guangdong on July 17. WARNINGS Taiwanese authorities issued land warnings for several counties and cities in the south including the major port city of Kaohsiung. More than 300 people were evacuated in southern and eastern Taiwan as a precaution as Doksuri was expected to bring up to 1 metre (3.3 feet) of rainfall. Nearly 50 domestic flights and four international flights, as well as many ferry lines, were cancelled, while railway services between eastern and southern Taiwan will be suspended from Wednesday evening. Ferry services to the Taiwanese governed islands of Kinmen and Matsu from the Chinese mainland were all halted. Some train services linking densely populated cities such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hangzhou near China's southern and eastern coasts were suspended. Doksuri is expected to move northwest at a speed of 10-15 kph (6-9 mph) and enter the northeastern part of the South China Sea starting Wednesday night until Thursday morning, said China's Meteorological Administration. State-run Guangzhou Daily reported that it could be the strongest typhoon that has landed or seriously affected eastern Guangdong in the past 10 years. China upgraded its emergency response from Level III to Level II, which implies an oncoming typhoon could severely affect the entire country, according to the State Council's national emergency plan for flood control and drought relief. The meteorological agency has already urged people to stock up on food, necessities and candles as a precautionary measure. (Reporting by Karen Lema in Manila, Bernard Orr in Beijing and Yimou Lee in Tapei; Additonal reporting by Beijing and Shanghai newsrooms; Additional writing by Ryan Woo in Beijing; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) By Brendan Pierson (Reuters) - The Biden administration has asked a federal appeals court to lift an order sharply curbing government officials' communications with social media companies as a lawsuit accusing U.S. officials of seeking to censor certain views about COVID-19 and other topics online makes its way through the courts. In a filing Tuesday evening with the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the administration argued that a lower court judge's July 4 decision was overly broad and would hurt the government's ability to fight misinformation on platforms in a crisis. "The government cannot punish people for expressing different views," lawyers for U.S. President Joe Biden's administration wrote. "But there is a categorical, well-settled distinction between persuasion and coercion. The government must be allowed to seek to persuade people of its views, even where those views are the subject of controversy." U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty in Monroe, Louisiana, said in his July 4 order that federal officials violated the right to free speech under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment when they began asking social media companies such as Meta's Facebook and Google's YouTube around 2019 to limit the spread of posts they considered to be misinformation. His preliminary order came in a lawsuit filed by Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri. Their offices did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The May 2022 lawsuit alleged that U.S. government officials, under both Democratic President Joe Biden and his Republican predecessor Donald Trump, effectively coerced social media companies to censor posts over concerns they would fuel vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic or upend elections. A panel of three 5th Circuit judges is expected to hear the case next month. Doughty's order is temporarily on hold but had barred government agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, from talking to social media companies for "the purpose of urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech" under the First Amendment, with narrow exceptions. (Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; editing by Susan Heavey) The United Kingdom government has been heavily criticized by Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee for underestimating the growth of Russias Wagner private mercenary group, despite it posing a major threat to the countrys interests. In a damning report published Wednesday, the cross-party committee of lawmakers accused the government of viewing Wagner in overwhelmingly European terms, miscalculating its activities in Africa, and imposing deeply inadequate sanctions on entities and individuals linked to the group. We are deeply concerned by the governments dismal lack of understanding of Wagners hold beyond Europe, in particular their grip on African states, said Alicia Kearns, a Member of Parliament and chair of the Committee. For nearly 10 years, the Government has under-played and underestimated the Wagner Networks activities, as well as the security implications of its significant expansion, read the report, titled Guns for Gold: the Wagner network exposed. The document cited a CNN investigation from 2022, which showed how an elaborate Russian scheme was plundering Sudans riches in a bid to fortify Russia against Western sanctions and to buttress Moscows war effort in Ukraine. The report used CNNs reporting as evidence of what it described as a decade of entrenching Russian interests abroad. A CNN investigation released in July 2022 showed the sophisticated gold-smuggling network, drawing on interviews with high-level Sudanese and US officials and troves of documents, it read, calling Wagners operations in Sudan significant. The report assessed with high confidence that Sudan was one of seven countries where Wagner fighters have carried out offensive military operations since 2014, alongside Ukraine, Syria, Central African Republic, Libya, Mozambique and Mali. Wagner essentially operate like a criminal mafia, Kearns said in an interview with Sky News Wednesday. They go into countries, they breed corruption, they breed instability, they steal natural resources and they leave behind them a wake of atrocities. The report criticized the UK government for underestimating the size of these operations, which it said was the result of its viewing Wagner through the prism of Europe, and particularly its footprint in Ukraine. Wagners activities in Ukraine are not representative of the networks operations globally, the report said, adding that it was a significant failing to underestimate Wagners geographic spread and the impact of its activities on UK interests further abroad. Demonstrators march in support of Wagner in Bangui, Central African Republic, on March 22, 2023. - Barbara Debout/AFP/Getty Images/FILE It also criticized the UK government for only beginning to seriously monitor the group after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. It is deeply regrettable that it was not until early 2022 that the Government began to invest greater resource in understanding the Wagner Network, despite Wagner fighters having already conducted military operations in at least seven countries for almost a decade, read the report. The report went on to describe the UKs efforts to sanction individuals and entities linked to Wagner as underwhelming in the extreme, especially considering similar actions taken by the United States and the European Union, which have sanctioned roughly twice as many members of the network. The Government has not told us anything specific that it is doing to challenge the networks influence and impunity outside of Ukraine, the report said. We received no evidence of any serious effort by the Government to track the Networks activities in other countries. It recommended that the UK government urgently proscribe the Wagner Network as a terrorist organization, and move faster and harder to sanction Wagner-linked actors. The report also recommended that the UK work to provide a genuinely compelling alternative to priority countries in need of security partnership, to prevent Wagner taking hold in fragile and conflict-affected countries. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. officials will meet Taliban representatives and "technocratic professionals" from key Afghan ministries during a visit to Doha this week, the State Department said on Wednesday, adding they will discuss economic issues, security and women's rights. Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West and Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights Rina Amiri will travel to Astana, Kazakhstan, and Doha, Qatar, from July 26 to July 31, the State Department said in a statement. In Astana, they will meet with officials from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to discuss Afghanistan, said the statement, which added the U.S. officials will also meet civil society members focused on women's rights. The U.S. officials will meet the Taliban delegation in Doha and discuss humanitarian support for Afghanistan, security issues, women's rights, the Afghan economy's stabilization, and efforts to counter narcotics production and trafficking, the State Department said. The meetings do not "mean any kind of indication of recognition or any kind of indication of normalization or legitimacy of the Taliban," said State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel when asked about the visit, reiterating U.S. concerns about human rights abuses and the marginalization of women and girls in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. "This does not indicate any change in the policy of the United States. We have been very clear that we will engage with the Taliban appropriately when it is in our interest to do so," Patel said. The Taliban returned to power in 2021 when NATO and U.S. forces withdrew after a 20-year conflict. The chaotic evacuation saw thousands of desperate Afghans trying to enter Kabul airport and men clinging to aircraft as they taxied down runways. An Islamic State suicide bomber killed 13 U.S. servicemembers and more than 150 Afghans outside an airport gate. A State Department report last month criticized Democratic President Joe Biden and his Republican predecessor Donald Trump for the pullout, which was negotiated by Trump and executed under Biden. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Additional reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Simon Lewis; Editing by Paul Grant and Daniel Wallis) By Trevor Hunnicutt and Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States condemns efforts to detain or subvert the functioning of Niger's democratically elected government, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Wednesday, and urged the release of President Mohamed Bazoum after he was detained inside his palace. "We specifically urge elements of the presidential guard to release President Bazoum from detention and refrain from violence," Sullivan said in a statement. The White House was monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of U.S. citizens, he added. Presidential guards were holding the Niger president inside his palace in Niamey, the capital, on Wednesday in what neighboring countries called an attempted coup, but which the presidency described as an "anti-republican" movement "in vain." White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters that for now there were no discussions on evacuations of Americans from Niger and said the U.S. was still gathering details about the evolving situation. "It's not entirely clear what's going on," Kirby said. The U.S. would not make any conclusions yet if it considered it a coup attempt, he said in response to a question, adding, "We'll just have to watch and see where it goes." The U.S. State Department said it was in communication with the U.S. Embassy in Niamey. West Africa's main regional and economic bloc, ECOWAS, said it was concerned about an attempted coup d'etat and called on the plotters to free Bazoum. The African Union also condemned what it called a coup attempt and urged the "felon" soldiers involved to return to barracks immediately. The national army was ready to attack the guards if they did not come to their senses, the presidency said in a statement. The United States says it has spent around $500 million since 2012 to help Niger boost its security. "We welcome the strong statements and steps taken by the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union to defend Nigers democracy," Sullivan said on Wednesday. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh, Trevor Hunnicutt and Rami AyyubEditing by Bill Berkrot and Leslie Adler) Kanota, Rajasthan, is a dusty obscure hamlet these days. But it once bridged Indias two ancient kingdoms: the Mughal court in Agra and the Royal court of Jaipur. On this road lies the Villa Palladio boutique hotel and resort. A colorful history Jaipur is known as the pink city for its pastel buildings. The Villa is half an hour away, but it feels like its own world. For one thing, its not pink. Its also not decked out in the floral or geometric patterns Jaipur is known for. Instead, the structure has walls in a shade of scarlet borrowed from the Roman Catholic cardinals, pomegranates inspired by the paintings of Botticelli and palm trees, a symbol of Roman status. The Villa was once a residence of the royal family of Kanota and was converted into a boutique hotel by Italian entrepreneur Barbara Miolini and Dutch designer Marie Anne Oudejans. Both are now Jaipur residents. Miolini grew up in Switzerland, came to Jaipur in 2005 on what was supposed to be a sabbatical, and ended up staying for good. She spent the early years of her career in the Venetian countryside, influenced by historical and architectural references of one of the greatest Italian architects of the 16th century, Andrea Palladio. Palladio was known for combining the elements of Renaissance and contemporary French practices, creating an altogether unique style known as Anglo-Palladianism. Miolini wanted to create something similar, blending the Indo-Mughal and Italian Rococo styles to create something unique. The Jaipur court has been the center of Indian luxury production for nearly 300 years, while Venice was the capital of European luxury for centuries, Miolini says. There is incredible sophistication and presence of history in the aesthetics of both cities, and when conversing, they speak together beautifully. Colors do more than pop in this Villa Palladio bedroom. - Atul Pratap Chauhan Winning over the locals The building that became Villa Palladio has a brief but fantastic story. It was built by the Kanota nobleman Abhay Singh in 1960 in a Rajasthani heritage style, with open pavilions, scalloped arches, courtyards, turrets, and fort-like walls. Miolini says that the structure was in good shape and had been well cared for. This place had a sense of Italian nostalgia for how one would encounter abandoned homes and castles on once-historical routes. I wanted to keep the structural interventions to a minimum. Marie Ann Oudejans, the Jaipur-based Dutch designer who collaborated with Miolini, adds: The countryside has given me visual inspiration: the women in the fields, the royal princesses in their finery and veils. I mixed it with the exuberance of Italian flair. From there, the Villa started taking a shape. The castellated watch towers were converted into guest rooms, painted in candy stripes. Italian sun umbrellas and spindly loungers were installed around a Mughal-style swimming pool. The hard work and attention to detail paid off in a place that can sometimes be unwelcoming to new designs. Jaipur has its own distinct style, Dr. Vibhor Mukul Singh, who has done architectural projects in both Italy and Rajasthan, says. It is indeed challenging to get an acceptance for some foreign architecture here. The key is that Villa Palladio is Italian on the face and at the same time deeply rooted in the land. One way of staying true to the Villas heritage was by involving local craftspeople as much as possible. Miolini explains that the hotels comforters, cushions, rugs, lamps and chairs were all made in Jaipur. In many cases, the local artisans had never been to Italy and didnt know its traditions, but they followed Oudejans handmade sketches to create everything. That didnt come as a surprise to the designers. In our projects, we have realized that simple craftspeople have best understood our design and sensibility, says Miolini. The end result is a place where two countries cooperate rather than collide. Villa Palladio, Abhay Niwas Palace Sumel, Jamdoli Chouraha, Rajasthan 302031, India; +91 141 296 9762 For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) A lawsuit accuses West Virginia State Police troopers of using excessive force in tackling and handcuffing a man who was walking along an interstate highway. Edmond Exline, 45, of Hagerstown, Maryland, died at a hospital after the Feb. 12 incident along I-81 near Martinsburg. A State Police statement cited by news outlets at the time said Exline was walking along the interstate when he got into a struggle with troopers and became unresponsive. State Police Capt. Eric Burnett in Charles Town said a Taser was used on him. He ran into traffic and wouldnt listen to any commands from the trooper, Burnett told The Associated Press in March. The lawsuit says Exline was unarmed and was doing nothing wrong when three troopers tackled and handcuffed him. The troopers' actions were not taken in good faith and were in violation of clearly established law, it says, adding that no objectively reasonable police officer could have perceived the force as necessary. The cause of death and the reason why Exline was on the interstate havent been disclosed. Its unclear whether he was having a medical or other type of episode. The lawsuit says troopers administered the overdose-reversing drug Narcan several times even though Exline had not overdosed on any narcotics. The lawsuit also names the State Police and was filed in Kanawha County Circuit Court last week on behalf of Edmond Exline II, the executor of his father's estate. The suit, which was first reported by the Charleston Gazette-Mail, does not list the troopers by name and seeks unspecified damages and to force the defendants to undergo additional training. Capt. Robert Maddy, a state police spokesman, said the I-81 incident is the subject of federal and state criminal investigations as well an an internal investigation. He declined to comment on the lawsuit Tuesday. During a briefing in March, Gov. Jim Justice said he had watched police video involving Exline and called it very very concerning. State Police previously denied a request by the AP to review the video. Justice announced at the time that Exline's death would be part of a sweeping investigation of the State Police due to several alarming incidents, including allegations that a now-dead employee hid a video camera in the womens locker room at a facility in Kanawha County. The governor also appointed a new State Police superintendent. Korea Coastal Fishermen's Association President Kim Dae-sung at a port in Namhae County, South Gyeongsang Province, in July / Courtesy of Kim Dae-sung Fishermen association chief dismisses concerns about seafood contamination By Ko Dong-hwan YEOSU, South Jeolla Province Fish, shellfish and other marine species in Korean waters cannot be contaminated by the discharge of radioactive water from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant that is likely to begin later this year, the leader of Korea's fishermen's association said. The 70-year-old from the country's southern county of Namhae was concerned that the unproven contamination rumors have dramatically cut domestic sales of seafood, pushing many households in the fishery industry to the brink. Kim Dae-sung, who represents the Korea Coastal Fishermen's Association based in Taean County, South Chungcheong Province, said that even if the controversial radioactive water is released, marine species in Korean waters cannot be contaminated by it because of the direction of ocean currents. He used the Kuroshio Current as an example. "It's a natural order," Kim, who has been in the fishery business for 45 years, told The Korea Times, referring to the world's second-biggest current that flows northward and is part of the greater North Pacific gyre that flows clockwise. "The current flows alongside Japan and joins the Pacific, reaches the United States and dissipates on its way back to Hawaii. There is no way any radioactive Japanese fish can reach Korean waters unless that current flows backward." Kim said that since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster in 2011, in which large amounts of water contaminated with radioactive isotopes were discharged from the reactors into the Pacific, not one contaminated fish from Japanese waters has been found in Korea. He added that whenever he visited Fukuoka in western Japan, he saw trash floating in nearby waters that had apparently drifted over from Korea, whereas he never saw Japanese trash arriving in Korean waters. He said those instances prove two things: fish in Japanese waters cannot reach Korean waters by themselves due to the unchanging ocean current and seafood imports from Japan have been controlled by the Korean government stringently enough to sort out anything with a trace of contamination. Im Jeong-hoon from the country's large fishing trawlers federation explains how ocean currents flow and how the radioactive water discharged from Japan cannot reach Korean waters during a rally in front of Busan Station, July 10. Newsis "Some claim that contaminated Japanese marine life would reach Korean waters as fast as 74 days from the disaster's breakout," Kim said. "But no contaminated fish or anything was found along Korea's east coast that's closest to Japan after the period. And the contamination didn't spread throughout the country after four to five years, either." Kim was angered by those who circulated controversial rumors that have gained traction with protesters pointing his finger mostly at politicians from the country's opposition parties and environmentalists who did not provide any scientific evidence. He said rumors that have scared away customers from fish markets and seafood restaurants, causing an economic setback for the local fishery industry starting about seven months ago. Hit particularly hard were restaurants a major source of revenue for small coastal towns that depend on tourism that are mostly run by fishermen's wives. "These days are harder than when the COVID-19 pandemic struck the country," Kim said. "Tourists visiting coastal regions as well as customers to the restaurants have plummeted." Low demand for seafood has slashed down their value including those caught in Korean waters crab, halibut and rockfish in western waters, croaker and butterfish in the south, and squid, flatfish and octopus in the east, according to Yoo Byeong-seo, secretary-general of the association. He said a flatfish used to be worth 10,000 won ($8.00) per kilogram but has now plummeted to 3,000 won. "Revenue per fishing vessel has been slashed by more than 40 percent since the rumors surfaced, while restaurants lost more than 50 percent of their usual volume of customers," Yoo told The Korea Times. "Many households support themselves by engaging in the fishery business together, with husbands out in the ocean and their wives selling sashimi and seafood in the restaurants. When the rumors held people back from visiting the oceanic tourism sites, the economic impact hit those households hard." Minister of Food and Drug Safety Oh Yu-kyoung, front right, checks scallops imported from Japan which are stored inside the Busan Gamcheon Port Seafood Market, May 25. Newsis Mountain rescuers came to the aid of a woman and her pet parrot in the United Kingdom this week after she became stranded trying to find one of her feathered friends, who was scared off by a peregrine falcon. The woman was part of a group of parrot owners from Derbyshire walking in Eryri, or Snowdonia, in Wales, on Monday, according to Facebook post from the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team. However, a peregrine falcon attacked the group, causing one of the parrots to fly off, rescuers said. Mountain rescue were called out to help a woman who was on a hike with her pet parrot. - Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organization The owners tracker showed it to be high on the upper cliffs of Glyder Fawr and she climbed up to retrieve it, continues the post. Unfortunately the parrot decided freedom was great and flew back down to the group unassisted, leaving the owner and her second bird now stuck. Rescuers climbed to the base of the cliffs and sent a team member up to make the woman safe, it adds. On arrival at the casualty, Jeckyll, the second parrot, perched on her owners rucksack, greeted our team member with a Hello, reads the post. The woman got stuck on high cliffs after attempting to find her parrot. - Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organization Both parrot and owner were then lowered down the cliffs and guided down the mountain, it adds. The episode is vying for the title of the most unusual animal rescue from mountains in the UK. In May, rescuers had to bring a dog down from Scafell Pike, the highest peak in neighboring England, using a stretcher. Despite being quite a large dog at 33kg it was a joy to carry such a relatively lightweight casualty. The casualty remained cool, calm and positively regal throughout, reads the statement from the Keswick Mountain Rescue team. And this was not the first time that rescuers have had to help a dog back down Scafell Pike. In July 2020, a 121-pound St. Bernard named Daisy needed saving after showing signs of pain in her rear legs and refusing to move. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com SYDNEY (Reuters) - New Zealand said on Wednesday it would boost its cyber defences by setting up a lead agency to make it easier for the public and businesses to seek help during network intrusions. The government would bring New Zealand's Computer Emergency Response Team into its National Cyber Security Centre, which it said would help improve the response to cyber incidents. "The cyber security threats New Zealand faces are growing in scale and sophistication," Public Service Minister Andrew Little said in a statement. "Having a single agency to provide authoritative advice and respond to incidents across every threat level is international best practice." About NZ$5.8 million ($3.61 million) of direct financial losses from cyber incidents were reported in the first quarter of this year, according to official data, though the government said the true scale of harm to the economy was underreported. New Zealand has seen a rise in online break-ins recently prompting the country's central bank in May to propose collecting financial data on cyber incidents to better understand cyber risks in the financial sector. Last month, payments solutions provider Smartpay Holdings said it faced a ransomware attack, the latest in a flurry of cyber attacks on companies in New Zealand and neighbouring Australia. ($1 = 1.6067 New Zealand dollars) (Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Sonali Paul) Visiting Europe will get (slightly) more complicated and expensive for most U.S. travelers next year as new visa requirements take effect. According to the official travel site of the European Union, visitors from more than 60 countries that are visa-exempt will be required to apply for European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) approval ahead of their trips starting in 2024. ETIAS visas are not physical documents but are electronically linked to the traveler's passport. U.S. nationals can travel to most E.U. countries without authorization now, but that ease of movement will change with the new law. Meanwhile, visitors from many countries have had to apply for similar approval to travel to the U.S. since 2009. The U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) process is similar to the ETIAS plan. Heres what you need to know: What is the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS)? According to E.U. documentation, ETIAS is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals traveling to any of these 30 European countries. The government adds that ETIAS approval is intended only for short term stays, up to 90 days in any 180 day period. How can you apply for an ETIAS visa? When the ETIAS requirement begins next year, the E.U. will provide applications through an official website and mobile app. To apply, travelers will need to provide their passport information or another travel document to which a visa can be affixed. Parents and legal guardians can apply on behalf of minors in their care. How long does ETIAS approval last? ETIAS approval is valid for three years or until the passport it is registered to expire, whichever comes first. How much will an ETIAS application cost? The ETIAS processing fee is set at 7 euros ($7.74), but applicants younger than 18 or older than 70 can apply at no charge. Too hot to fly? Extreme heat can snarl flights even without a cloud in the sky How long will ETIAS application processing take? According to the E.U., ETIAS approval should come within minutes for most applicants but can take up to 30 days. The government encourages travelers to apply well in advance of any trip and strongly advises travelers to receive their ETIAS approval before purchasing flights or booking hotel stays. Can I be denied entry to a country with a valid ETIAS visa? Yes. According to the E.U., travelers will still be subject to border formalities on arrival, and an ETIAS visa is not a guarantee for entry. Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Do I need a visa to go to Europe? EU to introduce new requirements A sailor from Baltimore who was hoping to shatter multiple world records on his boat has been missing for nearly two weeks and was last heard from off Acapulco, Mexico, his brother and the U.S. Coast Guard said. Donald Lawson, 41, an experienced sailor, set off from Acapulco on July 5 on his 60-foot racing trimaran, and a storm knocked out one of the engines on his vessel July 9, Quentin Lawson Sr., 39, his brother, said Tuesday. Engine trouble prompted Lawson to change course and head back to Acapulco, his brother said. His initial plan had been to travel from Acapulco to Central Americas west coast, through the Panama Canal and to Baltimore, his brother said. Lawson's wife, Jacqueline Lawson, told NBC affiliate WBAL of Baltimore that he had no engine power after a storm and was relying on a wind generator. A few days later, she said, he lost his backup wind turbine. Lawson's family last had communication from him July 13, when he was about 285 nautical miles from Acapulco, his brother said. Quentin Lawson said data from his brothers vessel, Defiance, showed he drastically reduced speed late July 12, when he was traveling with the wind at around 11 knots. But then he changed course and began traveling against the wind, and his speed reduced to 2.9 knots, Quentin Lawson said. I believe something happened at that moment, he said. "It doesnt make sense to turn out of the wind into the wind when youre on emergency route to turn back. Petty Officer Hunter Schnabel of Coast Guard District 11, based in Alumina, California, said Tuesday that Mexicos Maritime Search and Rescue unit was leading efforts to find Lawsons trimaran. Quentin Lawson said his brother, the founder of the nonprofit Dark Seas Project, had goals to break 15 world records, including becoming the fastest person and the first African American to circumnavigate the globe alone in a sailing vessel no longer than 60 feet. He planned to do it in 70 days, much quicker than the American record of 105 days, Lawson told WBAL in April 2020. The same year, he said he was trying to boost participation in sailing among Black youths. He told the station that it was in a youth sailing program that he realized his dream. I went and asked the captain, Hey, how far can you take on a boat like this?" Lawson told the station. "He looked at me and said, Technically, you can sail it around the world. And thats when the light bulb went off. I said at 9 years old I want to sail around the world." Quentin Lawson said that the data from his brother's boat was troubling but that he was a sailor with decades of experience. Im optimistic. But Im a little afraid, he said. Its just not like him to make that sudden movement. With less than a week before a possible strike, UPS and Teamsters reached a tentative agreement Tuesday on a five-year labor contract. The agreement avoided what would have been the largest single employer strike in U.S. history and came after the groups resumed talks earlier this week. Here are five things to know about the agreement and what it means: What to know about the tentative labor contract Fred Zuckerman, General Secretary-Treasurer, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, was talking to UPS workers were at rally at 9:15 a.m. at UPS Worldport ahead of a potential strike on August 1st. July 18, 2023 The contract consensus between the union and the company, which UPS CEO Carol Tome described as a "win-win-win agreement," helped the company and the U.S. economy avoid a potentially crippling blow to the nations logistics network. The tentative agreement features "more than 60 total changes and improvements to the National Master Agreement," Teamsters stated in a release. The union said there were "zero concessions from the rank-and-file." "Teamster labor moves America. The union went into this fight committed to winning for our members. We demanded the best contract in the history of UPS, and we got it, International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Sean M. OBrien said. UPS workers rallied in front of the UPS Centennial Hub ahead of a potential strike on August 1st. July 18, 2023 Does the new contract include a pay raise? Existing full- and part-time UPS Teamsters will get $2.75 more per hour in 2023, and $7.50 more per hour over the length of the contract, Teamsters shared in a news release. Existing part-timers will be raised up to no less than $21 per hour immediately. Existing part-time workers will also receive a 48% average total wage increase over the next five years. Part-time seniority workers making more than this new base rate will also see general wage increases. New part-time employees will start at $21 per hour and move up to $23 hourly. Teamsters shared that part-time general wage increases will be double what they were in the previous contract. The 2022 general wage increase was $1 according to the previous national contract, under the new tentative agreement, this rate would jump to $2. Wage bumps for full-time employees will bring the average top rate to $49 hourly. WEVE CHANGED THE GAME: TEAMSTERS WIN HISTORIC UPS CONTRACT Today, the #Teamsters reached the most historic tentative agreement for workers in the history of @UPS, protecting and rewarding more than 340,000 UPS Teamsters nationwide. #1upic.twitter.com/4Ap3j4XUTD Teamsters (@Teamsters) July 25, 2023 What else is included in the UPS, Teamsters tentative contract Teamsters hailed the tentative five-year contract as overwhelmingly lucrative and filled with dozens of workplace protections and improvements. Here are some of the highlights for union workers from the new national UPS Teamsters contract: Driver classification changes Days off and seasonal work Heat safety in vehicles UPS plans to add more jobs and fill open positions A UPS driver reaches to blow his truck's horn in support as fellow UPS union members hold a practice strike outside Worldport, the largest sorting and logistics facility in America Wednesday morning in Louisville, Ky. The Teamsters Local 89 represents around 10,000 members in Louisville. Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien called for practice pickets nationwide after claiming UPS presented an "appalling economic counterproposal" to the Teamsters during national negotiations for a new labor contract. June 28, 2023 How did local business, government leaders react to new UPS agreement After UPS and Teamsters reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract, many local officials, including Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and Tim Morris, executive director of the Greater Louisville Central Labor Council, reacted with great applause noting the win-win for everyone at the logistics company. "I applaud the company and the union for working to get this agreement done," Beshear said. "It's a win-win for both UPS and Teamsters and means that so many hardworking Kentuckians will have the good wages, benefits and security they deserve." What's next? While the sides have settled on terms of a tentative contract, it must now be voted on and ratified by union members. Representatives from all 176 UPS Teamster locals are set to meet on July 31 to review and recommend the tentative agreement. Locals will also hold meetings with their members to review terms. Electronic voting for members runs Aug. 3-22. And while a strike and its disruptive ripple effects have been averted, this negotiation cycle will have a lasting legacy with the company, said Thomas Goldsby, co-faculty director of the Global Supply Chain Institute at the University of Tennessees Haslam College of Business. (UPS has) made some pretty substantial concessions, and it's either gonna have to be passed along in the form of higher prices to consumers, businesses, or gonna have to be absorbed by UPS, he told The Courier Journal on Monday. I'd expect that it's gonna be a little bit of both, in terms of who's gonna have to carry the burden of what they've already agreed to. Goldsby said hell be interested to see how rates are affected when UPS announces its next general rate increase, which is typically revealed in the fall. Contact business reporter Olivia Evans at oevans@courier-journal.com or on Twitter at @oliviamevans_. Growth & development reporter Matthew Glowicki can be reached at mglowicki@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4000 or on Twitter @mattglo This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: UPS, Teamsters contract agreement: What to know about tentative deal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Both Democratic and Republican senators expressed alarm on Tuesday about the potential for a malevolent use of artificial intelligence, focusing on the possibility of AI being used to create a biological attack. In a hearing before a subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Dario Amodei, chief executive of the AI company Anthropic, said that AI could help otherwise unskilled malevolent actors develop biological weapons. "Certain steps in bioweapons production involve knowledge that can't be found on Google or in textbooks and requires a high level of expertise," said Amodei, whose company worked with biosecurity experts on a study of biological risks arising from AI. "We found that today's AI tools can fill in some of these steps." Amodei said that AI was not yet capable of helping to build a biological weapon, calling it a "medium-term" risk. "By enabling many more actors to carry out large-scale biological attacks, we believe this represents a grave threat to U.S. national security," he said. Subcommittee chair Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, expressed alarm. "The experts building these systems are warning of human extinction," he said in opening remarks. "The goal for this hearing is to lay the ground for legislation. To go from general principles, to specific recommendations. To use this hearing to write laws." Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican, called for safeguards "that will ensure this new technology is actually good for the American people." The hearing takes place days after AI companies including OpenAI, Alphabet and Meta Platforms made voluntary commitments to the White House last week to implement measures such as watermarking AI-generated content to help make the technology safer. Since generative AI, which uses data to create new content like ChatGPT's human-sounding prose, made headlines early this year, lawmakers around the world began considering how to mitigate the dangers of the emerging technology to national security and the economy. (Reporting by Diane Bartz; editing by Jonathan Oatis) The Wagner mercenary group whose leader led a short and abortive mutiny against Russias defense chiefs remains a serious security threat to the West and should be designated a terrorist outfit, a report from Britains Parliament said Wednesday. The report, Guns for Gold: The Wagner network exposed, is the result of a 16-month investigation by the House of Commons foreign affairs select committee, which heard evidence from expert witnesses from across the world, including former Wagner fighters. The committee strongly criticized the British government for underestimating Wagner and not doing enough to counter its influence in countries such as the Central African Republic and Sudan, where it provides security forces but is also accused of brutal unprofessionalism and exploiting natural resources, including gold and diamonds, for huge financial gain. They may present themselves as a highly trained, professional fighting force but their indiscipline, their excessive violence and their financial motivation mean that the network has functioned like an international criminal mafia, fuelling corruption and plundering natural resources, the report concluded. It was wrong to mainly see Wagner through the prism of Europe, the report added. Wagner played a key role in Russias war in Ukraine until its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, led an armed mutiny to within 125 miles of Moscow last month, before turning back. Prigozhin is now in Belarus, where last week he was filmed welcoming Wagner fighters who had fought on the front lines in Ukraine, telling them to prepare to be deployed to Africa. The head of the Russian private army Wagner claims his forces have taken control of the city of Bakhmut after the longest and most grinding battle of the Russia-Ukraine war, but Ukrainian defense officials have denied it. In a video posted on Telegram, Prigozhin said the city came under complete Russian control at about midday Saturday. (Prigozhin Press Service / AP) Prigozhin told the Cameroon-based Afrique Media TV news channel on Tuesday that he had no plans to reduce his operations in the Central African Republic, despite reports earlier this month that hundreds of Wagner fighters were leaving. Some African countries have invited Wagner in to provide security and counterinsurgency operations, but the price they pay instead is that national security is often undermined and democracy weakened, the report said. The only thing they seem to be good at is helping failing regimes cling on to power, said Alicia Kearns, the committees chair and a lawmaker with the ruling Conservative Party. They lie when they suggest that they are good at defeating terrorists, they certainly do not bring stability. Unless, of course, you see stability as complete autocratic rule where civilians are scared of their own countries and brutalized into submission. An image from a video obtained by NBC News appears to show dozens of Wagner operatives in uniform at a military base in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic. (Obtained by NBC News) The report describes Wagner as a sprawling network with close ties to the Russian military and political leadership. A former Wagner fighter, who was not named, told the committee earlier this year that the Russian defense ministry provides ammunition, equipment and transport to the group. Wagner was founded as Russia mounted its invasion of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. It has had a shadowy role supporting Russian military and geopolitical goals in Europe and Africa Prigozhin only admitted in September that he is the groups founder and leader, after years of denials. The Kremlin has always denied its involvement with Wagner. Wagner has ended its operations in Ukraine, where it was fighting in the far east of the country using mostly convicts, some of whom had been released from prison to fight. The charity Russia Behind Bars estimated in January that 80% of the mercenaries recruited from the countrys jails were dead or missing. The United States and the United Kingdom both have economic sanctions on figures linked to Wagner, but Washington has stopped short of banning it as a terrorist group. Companion bills from Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., in June called on Congress to direct the State Department to change its stance, but neither the Senate nor the House has acted on the measures. Wagner helps to facilitate Russias war in Ukraine, the British report said. Jason Blazakis, a terrorism studies professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California, told the parliamentary committee that Wagner was instrumental in realizing Russian President Vladimir Putins ambitions to gain access to natural resources across Africa. Whether gold, oil or diamonds, the Russian Federation has acquired fungible assets that keep the war machine churning in Ukraine, he said. The U.K. and its allies should expose the work of Wagner to dissuade countries from contracting with it the first step of which would be an official terrorist group designation, the British report said. Russian Wagner group (Pierre Crom / Getty Images) However, some warn of the unintended consequences of this. There are a lot of reasons to do it. Its popular because it costs a lot less than peacekeeping forces or a foreign invasion, said Brian J. Phillips, an expert in terrorist organizations at the University of Essex in the U.K. But this group is operating in some really poor countries, such as the CAR, so for a charity like Oxfam, it could complicate things because they dont want to be accused of breaking the law by working with them. By Hanna Kim "Oh, Captain, My Captain." This iconic line from the 1989 movie "Dead Poets Society" has continued to touch the hearts of people worldwide until now in 2023. John Keating, who was being earnestly gazed upon by his students, says, "Thank you, boys, thank you." With those final words, the movie comes to a close. The movie depicted the image of a dedicated teacher within a school and the relationship between the teacher and students. Unfortunately, it is, however, difficult to find a similar portrayal of teachers and students in the present that compares with "Dead Poets Society" and the characters of John Keating and the students. Both the United States and Korea have Teachers' Day. It is a commemoration of respect, reverence and gratitude towards teachers. In Korea, there is a term called "gyogwon" that represents authority of and respect for teachers. Gyogwon encompasses the educational rights and authority of teachers and includes the autonomy of educators, the right to a secure livelihood and the protection of their professional status. It implies that teachers have the right to autonomously educate, free from political or external interference. Is this educational authority well protected in South Korea? Unfortunately, it is not. In 2021, the number of cases where the educational authority of teachers in primary, middle and high schools was violated nearly doubled compared to the previous year, as the number of in-person school days decreased during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and then increased again in 2021. It is not difficult to predict that this trend will continue to increase in 2023, as the transition to full in-person classes takes place. Recently, an unprecedented incident occurred in South Korea. It involved a second-year teacher at Seoul Seo2 Elementary School in southern Seoul's Seocho District, making an extreme decision, followed by another school teacher physically assaulting a student. After the incident, the elementary school teacher became known for the extreme decision made within the school premises and teachers then gathered together to investigate the truth, raising their voices to improve the environment and prevent abuse of authority. Moreover, a flood of malicious complaints and harassment cases from some parents that teachers have experienced is also coming to light. Acts of "gyogwonchimhae," or violation of educational authority, refer to behaviors by educational administration agencies, superiors, colleagues, parents and students that infringe upon and disregard a teacher's right to teach and their social, ethical and professional conduct. A simple search on a portal site will reveal numerous cases where the educational authority of teachers has been violated. Furthermore, on March 7, the investigative journalism program "PD Notebook" focused on cases of educational authority violations. Educational authority violations are becoming increasingly serious. What are the causes? According to the Korean Educational Development Institute last year, the top cause of educational authority violations, as reported by approximately 42 percent of respondents, is the "excessive emphasis on students' rights." Furthermore, it was identified that causes include distrust of schools or teachers by students and their parents, lack of awareness regarding the protection of educational activities, inadequate legal sanctions for infringements on educational activities, and changes in perception regarding the role and status of teachers. The leading cause of educational authority violations is the excessive emphasis on students' rights. The author believes that enhancing the importance of students' rights and protecting them is essential. There are clearly positive aspects, such as reducing corporal punishment and oppressive school cultures. However, it is important to acknowledge that the excessive emphasis on students' rights and the misuse of such rights have resulted in serious mental and physical harm to teachers and made it challenging to ensure the smooth operation of educational activities. It should be recognized that the lack of specific policies to protect the rights of teachers and the absence of alternative measures for life guidance have contributed to these outcomes. Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge that these issues have led to difficulties in life guidance, violations of and ultimately a decline in educational authority. The education system in South Korea is currently going through a transitional phase where the rights of teachers and students are being rebalanced. Respecting student rights is an essential element. What is important is that the rights of students are equally important as the rights of teachers. The concepts of educational authority and student rights are not about opposition, confrontation or conflict. They should coexist harmoniously. Human rights are the rights that every individual, including teachers who educate students, deserve. Teachers are individuals who should be respected as human beings before teachers. Teachers also have the right to be respected as individuals and it is their duty to guide and educate students in a proper manner. The numerous incidents and issues that occur among students, between students and teachers, between teachers and parents and even among parents within the school environment can be seen as another reflection of the problems that Korean society carries. A space where teachers and students come together in trust is the school. Educational authority is restored within the realm of trust and students grow. Education is built upon trust. The education system in South Korea needs healing. Schools need to be restored. Education is the future of South Korea and, ultimately, the future of the world. ) is a professor at the Department of Education at Chongshin University who majored in educational administration at Ewha Womans University. She served as a teacher, a researcher at the Korea Educational Development Institute and a research professor at Tsinghua University in China. Hanna Kim ( hannakim14@chongshin.ac.kr YEREVAN, JULY 27, ARMENPRESS/BTA.The passengers to be handled by Varna Airport in 2023 are expected to increase by 24% compared with 2022, the seaside airport's Executive Director Dimitar Kostadinov said on Wednesday. Kostadinov and Varna Mayor Ivan Portnih welcomed the airport's passenger No. 1,000,001 for this year. The Executive Director predicted that the number will reach 1.8 million by the end of the year. It will be about 20% lower than in the pre-pandemic 2019, the strongest year for Bulgarian tourism. Passenger One Million and One was logistics manager Milena Giusto, who arrived from Vienna with her 11-year-old daughter Rebecca. Milena received an official welcome, complete with flowers and gifts. This year, low-cost carrier traffic is more than half of total air traffic via Varna Airport for the first time in history, Kostadinov said. According to him, charter flight programmes account for 20% of traffic, compared with 70% in the past. As usual, passengers from Germany are most numerous. Their number is expected to reach 600,000 by the end of the year, which will be commensurate with the 2019 level. Travellers from Poland and Austria have increased from 2022. Kostadinov went on to say that Varna Airport has started drafting its winter programme. Fourteen winter destinations have been confirmed so far, and the number may reach last year's level of 17. The airport is carrying on with the implementation of its investment programme. Three taxiways are to be renovated and a photovoltaic solar power station is to be built. Technological upgrades are underway. They are relatively modest and not so visible to passengers, but they are important for the smooth operation of the airport and the quality of its services, Kostadinov said. (This information is being published according to an agreement between Armenpress and BTA.) The INDIA parties face their most severe test in Uttar Pradesh, the countrys most significant state electorally. The new Opposition coalition INDIA possesses two tendencies that could be at odds with one another, although it may be possible to finesse the obstacles. Whats noteworthy is that the primary consideration of the parties in seeking to come together is the desire to be on the same side, and seen to be on the same side, in mounting an electoral challenge to the Narendra Modi government, which all view as a crypto-dictatorship. Most also see it as outright communal. This is the ideological side of the 26 parties which signed on to INDIA in Bengaluru. The trickier political side is how to reach satisfactory arrangements to avoid the division of anti-BJP votes in Lok Sabha constituencies. The first job is to identify such constituencies state-wise, and try to avoid potential one-upmanship. Even in states where the parties opposed to the BJP are already in an alliance, as in Bihar and Maharashtra, the smoothness of the process of seat adjustments must be worked at even if the ideological glue holds. The wisdom of the party leaderships will be on test as these large states are also important for the BJP in the numbers game. In a very different category are West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, where there is a single dominant anti-BJP regional party. In the former, will chief minister Mamata Banerjee be forthcoming in parting with seats and make a reasonable offer to the CPI(M) and Congress for the sake of keeping intact a larger ideological framework? In the best interests of the Opposition coalition which, while holding promise, is still a work in progress, dominant anti-BJP parties in all states will have to adopt a give and take outlook. This is different from the initial proposition advanced by the Trinamul Congress and Akhilesh Yadavs Samajwadi Party that the dominant challenger to the BJP in each state should be left free to decide -- in effect have a veto. As a practical quid pro quo, the CPI(M) and Congress should accommodate the TMC and SP in states where they matter more. Tamil Nadu is perhaps the least problematic state for INDIA. Like in West Bengal, there is only one important regional anti-BJP player which runs the state government: DMK. It has had few difficulties with allies, the Congress and the Left, over the years. In Kerala, however, the CPI(M) and its Left allies and the Congress are entrenched rivals. Any serious friction between them on seats may help the BJP, which is way behind in electoral arithmetic but has gained sufficient following of late to make its presence felt. The INDIA parties face their most severe test in Uttar Pradesh, the countrys most significant state electorally, and is the BJPs strongest pocket of influence after Gujarat. The main anti-BJP regional formation, the Samajwadi Party, has core strength, but it is weaker than before. In western UP, the Rashtriya Lok Dal led by Jayant Chaudhry may be better placed than earlier due to its link with the peasantry during the farmers agitation that forced the Modi government to backtrack on key policy intended to benefit big business. Where will an aspiring Congress figure in UPs Opposition scheme? The question may prove important. The party has shown very weak results in Assembly polls recently, but had performed creditably in the Parliament polls of 2004 and 2009, surprising foes and friends. After Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra yielded a widely perceived major shift of the minorities vote towards it, the Congress fortunes are thought to have revived countrywide, including in UP. A rising tide lifts all boats and associating with the changed Congress can benefit all its associates. In return for accommodation shown in UP, the Congress must make room for its INDIA partners from UP in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. In the event of a non-deal, the BJP will once again have the best chance in the nations largest state, although in todays changed circumstances, the saffron party cant be certain it can repeat its 60-plus score out of 80 in the 2019 election. This is mainly due to the widespread perception -- after the BJPs recent Himachal Pradesh defeat and its trouncing in Karnataka by the Congress, leading to the loss of two state governments, and the vertical rise in Rahul Gandhis stature -- that the appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJPs only vote-catcher, has slipped. With Mr Modi appearing weaker, it is unlikely that UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, for whom communalism drips from every pore, can fill the void for the BJP in a national election. The BJPs other top leaders have been sidelined. The PMs natural tendency is to centralise power, to give no quarter to rivals, and to seek to stultify senior colleagues. Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh both former party presidents -- are examples. Home minister Amit Shah is in a category all his own. A combination of Mr Modis Hanuman -- and sometimes hatchet man -- he is not viewed as an independent factor nationally or even in his home state of Gujarat (although his political acumen and efficiency are feared). Perhaps this is due to the numerically miniscule Jain community he comes from. When in Bengaluru the Opposition coalition grew from 17 parties (in Patna) to 26, Mr Modi led the meaningless gesture of hurriedly convening a bunch of 38 mostly sub-regional parties and factions to show an enhanced NDA. This betrays his and the BJPs nervousness in the face of INDIA, although the latter has its inner contradictions. Why be nervous? The reasons are several. But the most immediate is the fact that, in the states where the BJP had a traditional presence, it won most, and in some cases all, the seats in 2019. The only movement now possible is downward. The reason: the Modi governments cumulative policy effects in nine years have been bleak. Denied the oxygen of hype and propaganda provided by the bulk media and Sangh Parivar-controlled social media, the shortness of the governments reputation would have been on view earlier. At any rate, the government is now appearing in its true light. It is harder now to cover up the lived experience of the people through an appeal to communal sentiment. And rampant sexual crimes against women by prominent ruling party individuals and groups -- notably our most acclaimed women wrestlers, and the recent cases of Manipurs women that have come to light -- and the PMs unheeding silence even on such a matter, have bruised our collective social and cultural self-esteem and epochal values system. The scale can be seen to be tipping away from the establishment. by Arundathie Abeysinghe As Chinese influence grows in the country, the link would give India access to the key ports of Trincomalee and Colombo. It remains an ambitious project and not without technical problems and socio-economic risks, but the step forward took place at a significant moment in a political key: the first official visit to New Delhi by the president of Sri Lanka. Colombo (AsiaNews) - The governments of India and Sri Lanka have signed an initial agreement to lay the foundations for the construction of a bridge that connects the continent to the island's key ports: Trincomalee and Colombo. The work would also include a possible pipeline from southern India to Sri Lanka. Analysts are of the opinion that the bridge connection between the two neighboring countries could favor dialogue in the Indian Ocean region. In fact, although New Delhi has always had solid ties with its southern neighbor, Sri Lanka has become a land of conquest of China and its companies, thanks to its strategic position in the Indian Ocean. Ski Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe was welcomed to India last week for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the Indian Foreign Minister Vinay Mohan Kwatra, the "land" connection between the countries was proposed again by the president of Sri Lanka, who had already presented the same project to India when he was prime minister between 2002 and 2004 The difference is that this time he has found an ally in Modi. The bridge would be built over Palk Strait, a particular conformation known as Adam's Bridge, 33 kilometers long. The bridge would rest on this seabed which in some points is less than 10 meters deep. For comparison, the Channel Tunnel between France and the United Kingdom crosses the sea for around 38 kilometres. Political analyst Anuradha Senanayake explains to AsiaNews that "the plan also provides for a short-term strengthening of passenger ferry services between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka. Connectivity between India and Sri Lanka, sea and air links are already strong, with the bridge the interpersonal ones will increase. In any case, I believe it is necessary to study the feasibility of the proposed bridge, see the advantages for both countries and carry it forward". According to academic Sampath Malaslaekara "due to the increase in Chinese naval presences in the Indian Ocean, during the meeting Modi also raised his concerns for India's security - given the tensions with Beijing - aiming to keep Colombo in sphere of influence of New Delhi". On the infrastructure front, Sri Lankan computer engineers Harin Mirihella and Randesh Bandara are of the opinion that when India and Sri Lanka are connected with a land bridge, there will also be disadvantages for Sri Lanka: many Indian professionals enticed by the quick connections and lower cost of living they might relocate their businesses. Sri Lankans may also be missing out on job opportunities in several fields, including the IT sector, where many projects are currently being managed by Indian tech giants." As part of the meeting between Modi and Wickremesinghe, the two countries signed five agreements on renewable energy, including an energy contract for Sampur Solar Power, which includes economic development projects in the Trincomalee district and an agreement for the use of the system Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India in Sri Lanka by Vladimir Rozanskij In the past year in Tajikistan, eight journalists and bloggers were sentenced to sentences ranging from 7 to 21 years for collaboration with prohibited organisations. Radio Ozodi collected testimonies from their families. One of them managed to get a letter out of solitary confinement, where he complained of being subjected to psychological pressure and torture. Dusanbe (AsiaNews) - Over the past year in Tajikistan, eight journalists and bloggers have been sentenced to various terms ranging from seven to 21 years, all for collaborating with banned organisations. Humanitarian organisations have made several appeals to the government in Dushanbe for their release, but the authorities have ignored their requests. The families of the journalists, along with all their friends, hope to see their loved ones again sooner or later. The problem of the families is not only emotional, as the lives of many people depend on the earnings of the convicts. The wives are nevertheless proud, in the rare meetings allowed by the prison authorities, of the courage with which their husbands face this ordeal, but they still have to answer their children's questions about their father's return. Radio Ozodi interviewed some of these family members to understand how they deal with their anxieties. The 26-year-old Abdullo Gurbaty has only a 10-month-old son, Masud, whom he has practically not yet been able to see, having been sentenced in late 2022 just as he was just born. The court found him guilty of violence and insulting the constituted authorities, adding the charge of participation in a prohibited association, resulting in seven and a half years of deprivation of liberty. His wife, Muborak Kosimzoda, explained that she is trying to accept the harsh reality and move on, taking her son with her as soon as she is granted an appointment with Abdullo: 'we want to support him, we tell each other not to despair, and thanks to Allah we try to resist'. She herself works as a journalist, and now lives with her in-laws, who are certain of their son's innocence and support him in everything. Gurbaty has been working for the past three years providing video and photo-reports to the 'Asia-Plus' agency, and has his own Facebook page where he has often discussed the problems of Tajik society, also with strong expressions. Joining him as a co-author is Daler Imomali, who came to journalism eight years ago from the theatre scene, also ending up behind bars with ten years on his back, for completely fabricated accusations of malfeasance. Unlike his colleague, Daler has three grown-up children, who had to move to the village with their grandparents, leaving their rented flat in the capital. Daler's mother, Sodigul Bobieva, was last able to see her son at the end of June, and remembers the difficult times of the civil war, when she lost five more children; she later had to struggle to raise the remaining two on her own, and now history repeats itself with her daughter-in-law and grandchildren. Imomali is in poor health and endures detention with difficulty. His mother and relatives try to get him medicine in prison, but he still does not complain. Prison visits are at most once a month, and his wife and children can stay for a couple of days. There are also internal competitions among the inmates, and whoever wins gets the chance for a few more visits from family members. Daler's wife, Zajtuna Inojatova, is a good seamstress, and somehow manages to provide food for her children, sadly stating that 'this is the time when everyone has to worry about their own life, and one cannot share the burdens of others'. Another testimony collected by Ozodi is that of Khabisa Jatimova, mother of another convict, Zavkibek Saidamini, who in turn took her daughter-in-law and grandchildren to the countryside: "who would take care of them in Dushanbe?" she explained. Zavkibek's brother takes care of the family's upkeep, hoping to be able to hold out for the seven years of the journalist's sentence, who was also imprisoned on 'completely non-objective' charges, according to his family members. Together with him in the Khudzansk prison, another colleague, Abdusattor Pirmukhammadzoda, also sentenced to seven years, is also serving his sentence. Last October, he managed to get a letter out of his solitary confinement cell, where he complains of being subjected to psychological pressure and torture, to force him to admit his guilt, which he considers 'fabricated'. He, too, has had to entrust his wives and children to his brother Abdukarim, who sends the money and cannot do much else, especially as the family also lives quite far from the prison, and cannot even afford the travel expenses for visits. Freedom of expression is a mirage in Tajikistan, and the only way out is family solidarity. The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has ordered Yunus to pay US$ 1 million in unpaid taxes from funds he donated to some trusts. In the coming months, he will be in court to answer questions about alleged labour law violations by Grameen Telecom, a company he chairs. A Janus figure, the social banker has been praised for his contribution to development, but also criticised by many Bangladeshis for the inflexibility of his bank vis-a-vis vulnerable borrowers. Dhaka (AsiaNews/Agencies) The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has ordered economist Muhammad Yunus, known as the founder of microfinance, to pay US$ 1 million in back taxes on a donation of US$ 7 million. Praised for his work eradicating extreme poverty in some parts of Bangladesh, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize laureate has become a divisive figure in his country, taken to court in recent months over alleged violations of labour laws. While some, especially abroad, see him as the "banker of the poor", Bangladeshs Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has publicly chastised him, going so far of accusing him of sucking blood from the poor. The Supreme Court dismissed our petition," said Sarder Jinnat Ali, a lawyer who represents the 83-year-old economist and social banker. Bangladeshs highest court in fact upheld a lower court ruling ordering Yunus to pay 150 million taka after he donated 767 million takas to three charitable trusts, the Professor Muhammad Yunus Trust, the Yunus Family Trust, and the Yunus Centre between 2011 and 2014. The microcredit scheme developed by Yunus in the 1980s is based on a format of small loans to enterprising individuals who would not otherwise qualify for credit from traditional banks. With this idea in mind, he set up the Grameen Bank; however, Christian missionaries had already preceded him by creating credit unions providing similar financial services back in the 1920s. Ver several decades, PIME missionary Fr Giulio Berutti, who died from COVID-19 in 2021, developed and managed several cooperatives of this type in the Diocese of Dinajpur. The purpose of traditional banks is profit; ours is to help the poor, especially women, by encouraging them to become productive with their work. The Grameen Bank initiative follows the example of Christian missions, both Catholic and Protestant, he told Mondo e Missione a few years ago. "Yunus set up a real bank, but in Bangladesh he is criticised for excessive inflexibility towards those unable to repay their loans, thus plunging into despair the less capable and the more short-sighted of the poor, the clergyman added. In addition to tax issues, Yunus is facing a number of court cases for violating labour laws as chairman of the Grameen Telecom company; the latter has been accused of not regularising staff, failing to grant earned leave, and not distributing a 5 per cent share of profits to employees. Yunus is co-accused with the company's former managing director, Ashraful Hasan, directors Nurjahan Begum, and current managing director Mohammed Shahjahan. The trial followed an inspection by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) and several postponements. This is not the first time that Yunus' activities have come under fire from the Bangladesh government. The countrys anti-fraud agencies ordered extensive probes into his companies after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina blamed the economist for the World Bank pulling out from a project to build a bridge near the capital Dhaka following allegations of corruption. In June of last year, after the bridge was inaugured, Hasina said that Yunus should be "dipped into the river". by Shafique Khokhar Human rights groups report that more than 10,000 women and girls have been victims of sexual violence in Pakistan in the first four months of the year, especially among religious or ethnic minorities. The latest cases include a chilling attack against a child in Sahiwal district. Lahore (AsiaNews) In early July, Javeria, a seven-year-old girl, was raped in Chichawatni, a rural subdistrict (Tehsil), in Sahiwal district, in what is the latest and most chilling example of violence against women. This problem is widespread in Pakistan, with tens of thousands of cases each year, affecting mainly girls and women from ethnic and religious minorities, this according to local human rights activists. Javeria is from a Christian family. On the day of the attack, she had gone to a store to buy certain things. When she did not return, her father, Javed Masih, started looking for her, eventually finding her in an abandoned building while a man was raping her. The man fled the scene but was later apprehended by police, while the girl was admitted to Sahiwal District Hospital for a few days. Voice for Justice, a Pakistani organisation that provides legal aid to those who cannot afford it, offered to represent Javeria, whose family is destitute. Like Javeria, girls from to religious minorities are specifically targeted because they are less likely to receive help from police and other officials in the search for justice, Voice of Justice chairman Joseph Jansen explained. "Often in these cases the culprits are not prosecuted and police agents tend to side with the people from the majority religion, i.e. Muslims, he lamented. For women's rights activist Farhat Rasheed, Pakistan's culture of impunity encourages perpetrators to commit violence and rape, "We urgently need for the government to take decisive action in enforcing the laws and setting precedents while punishing the culprits, she said. Far too often, connections are used to gain favourable outcomes because of close ties between law breakers and those who rule. I'm fine, as I'm very fortunate to own my home I own, but I'm feeling the pinch on my mortgage with other inflation costs I rent and it's expensive, but it could be worse I'm seriously considering leaving the valley if something doesn't give Vote View Results Aspen City Council members Sam Rose, Mayor Torre and John Doyle listen to a presentation from city staff on Tuesday. The council voted unanimously to name the Aspen Daily News the citys official newspaper of record. 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. Senior citizens of Seoul learn how to better use smartphones with the help of robots. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government Gov't to subsidize robot developers, ramp up services, support tech innovation By Ko Dong-hwan As Seoul becomes an aging society, the city is running out of working hands while the population is in ever greater need of medical and welfare services. The widening gap in supply and demand for the city's labor force can be offset by the use of robots, the city government has announced. The Economic Policy Division under the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Economic Policy Office said Monday that the city is entering the phase of an ultra-aging society starting in 2025. To counter the trend, the city said it will start nurturing robotic developers, employing robots in broader service sectors and investing in relevant technologies. Under the three major directions to be completed by 2026, the city authority will launch 15 sub-projects and invest over 200 billion won ($156 million) in total during the period. The announcement came as the city currently accounts for 18 percent of the country's entire revenue generated from robotic businesses, claiming the biggest share of the domestic market for robots. As of 2021, the country's robotic market was scaled at 5.6 trillion won with over 2,500 companies and over 31,000 employees in the industry. Seoul accounts for almost 1 trillion won with over 400 relevant firms and almost 6,000 employees. Kim Tae-kyun, chief of the Economic Policy Bureau, said that robots are the city's "new future growth engine and effective tools to resolve the growing social problems." He added that through the city government's latest initiative, the city will foster more robot-friendly environments such as the Suseo Cluster slated to open in the future and support robotic firms' innovative growth and further popularize robotic services. Children listen to a robot telling a story at a daycare center in Seoul. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government To provide the necessary financial boost to the startups and other robotic firms that are still in their early stages of development, the city authority said they will prepare a "robot industry growth fund" worth 200 billion won by 2026 to help the companies with their research and development projects. Another 10 billion won will be prepared for the same year to provide grants to the top companies regarded to have the highest potential and feasibility. The city authority also plans to prepare 700 robotic field experts by 2026. The workforce will be educated and put into practice through the Digital Innovation Park that opened in the city's southern district of Gangnam in 2022. With the new initiative, the city government is putting robots to work in a broader range of service sectors. The authority said those sectors will be divided largely into public services which seek to implement robots in the public sector that has traditionally been overseen by humans and private robotic businesses which will diversify the range of services where robots can play pivotal roles and thus improve convenience for humans. A computer graphic image of the Seoul Robot and AI Museum that will open in Chang-dong, Dobong District in March 2024 / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Kansas College With Auto Restoration Program Gets $1B Donation from Anonymous Source Written by Christopher Smith, Motor1.com Published July 26, 2023 For students and faculty at McPherson College in central Kansas, the future just got a bit brighter. One might say it's a billion times brighter---or greener---thanks to a jaw-dropping gift of $1 billion from an anonymous donor. The college located in McPherson, KS, shared the news in an announcement July 21. The unnamed individual offered a double-match challenge to the college's fundraising efforts, pledging $2 for every $1 donated by others through June 30. The donor initially set a cap at $500 million, but then the school exceeded expectations by raising $342 million. In turn, the donor exceeded the cap and then some, offering a cool $1 billion to the college. With the pre-existing endowment and other commitments factored in, McPherson College will have an endowment of nearly $1.6 billion, the largest of its kind for any small college in the U.S. This is obviously extraordinary news, but it garners special attention in the motoring world because of McPherson's comprehensive automotive restoration program. The school website states it's the only four-year bachelor's degree program of its kind in the nation, offering emphases in historic auto tech, restoration management, communications, restoration design and auto restoration tech. We aren't just talking about rebuilding old Buicks, either. Another generous donor previously gifted a classic Ferrari to the school. Students are preparing a 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet they restored for the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d' Elegance taking place in August. They aren't just showing it off---they're going with plans to win. The endowment will go towards expanding academic programs and helping with college affordability. It's called the Ward-Burkholder Endowment, named after two school alumni who went on to teach at McPherson. "Today is historic, not just for McPherson College, but for all small liberal arts colleges in America," said McPherson College President Michael 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." Founded in 1877, McPherson College offers more than 40 areas of study and hosts approximately 800 students. We thank Motor1.com for reprint permission. Length of Rental Decreases Year-Over-Year for First Time Since Start of Pandemic Published July 26, 2023 Enterprise released Length of Rental (LOR) data for the second quarter of 2023, showing a 0.3-day decrease---from 17.7 days to 17.4---compared to the same quarter last year, the first dip in LOR year-over-year since the initial stages of the pandemic. It was also a 1.5-day decrease from the first quarter of this year, when LOR was 18.7 days, which fits historical seasonal trending of a decrease from the first quarter to the second quarter. While positive, these results continue to reflect the new normal, as the LOR for the second quarter in 2021 was 13.2 days. Alaska recorded the highest overall LOR in Q2 at 22.7 days, followed by Georgia (20.5), Colorado (20.2) and Louisiana (20.1). Hawaii had the lowest LOR with 13.1 days. North Dakota and Iowa were next-lowest at 13.3 days each, with DC (13.5) and Nebraska (13.9) completing the states under 14 days. Interestingly, the gap between the highest---Alaska---and lowest---Hawaii---LORs was 9.6 days, compared to a gap of 9.0 days in Q2 2022. In the contiguous 48, the gap was 7.2 days between Georgia (20.5) and Iowa and North Dakota (both 13.1). In Q2 2022, this gap was 8.9 days between Louisiana and North Dakota. Only three states saw a year-over-year increase of a day or more: Minnesota (+1.4), New Mexico (+1.2), and Montana (+1.0). Eighteen additional states saw increases while five other states were flat. Notably, 24 states, plus Washington, D.C., saw decreases. Rhode Island (-2.0), DC (-1.9) and Louisiana (-1.8) had the largest decreases. John Yoswick, editor of the weekly CRASH Network newsletter, said: Were seeing a number of trends that could account for some---though not a lot---of decline in LOR, at least for now. Shops backlog of work tends to drop in the spring, and this year was no exception. The national average backlog was 4.7 weeks in Q2 2023, down from 5.8 weeks the prior quarter. "Prior to the pandemic, the typical second quarter decline in backlog was about three days. This year, the drop was almost eight days, and the percentage of shops that could schedule a job in two weeks or less increased 14 percentage points to 27%," Yoswick continued. "While that is the highest percentage of shops with a normal backlog since October of 2021, it is still far from the pre-pandemic second quarter average of 72 percent. Nearly half of all shops (46%) were still scheduling work four or more weeks into the future. That is a significant decline from 60% in the first quarter of this year, but also far from the typical 7% with that length of backlog pre-pandemic. According to PartsTraders Chief Innovation Officer Greg Horn, The overall Q2 2023 measure of median plus two standard deviations of delivery days for all part types was actually lower overall in Q2 2023 compared to Q2 2022; several state-level increases align with the LOR results. States that saw increases in overall LOR in Enterprises data, such as Arkansas, Florida, Georgia and Minnesota, also saw similar trends when comparing parts delivery days. Parts delays are still a significant factor in repair time and length of rental, and shops are making a great effort to schedule repairs for drivable vehicles to maximize shop throughput. Its also important to consider the impact from the luxury segment, both ICE and EV. Ryan Mandell, director of claims performance for Mitchell International, shared some insight: Luxury make repair frequency increased nearly half a point to 13.28% of all repairable estimates in Q2 2023 compared to Q2 2022 (12.79%). On average, luxury vehicle estimates are written for nearly two additional labor hours (1.83) compared to common make vehicles, as well as an additional 1.3 replacement parts. Mandell also shared an important consideration about calibrations, which impact overall repair time: The frequency of ADAS calibrations increased from 11.28% in Q2 2022 to 16.11% in Q2 2023. Drivable For rentals associated with drivable repairs, LOR in Q2 2023 was 15.5 days, a 0.3-day increase. Alaska also had the highest drivable LOR in Q2 2023 at 18.8 days. Georgia (18.6), Tennessee (17.8) and Louisiana (17.7) were the next-highest. The lowest drivable LOR for was found in North Dakota (10.5), Hawaii (11.3), Iowa (11.6) and D.C. (11.8) The highest year-over-year drivable increases were found in Minnesota (+1.6), Alaska (+1.5) and New Mexico (+1.2). Three other states (Washington, Arkansas and Utah) had increases of one day or more. A total of 39 states had drivable increases, with only three flat and eight states, plus D.C., showing drivable decreases. Non-Drivable LOR for non-drivable claims was 25.6, a 0.8-day decrease from Q2 2022. Montana had the highest LOR at 36.0 days, a 3.1-day increase. Next highest was Alaska (35.4), followed by Colorado (32.2). All told, eight states had non-drivable LOR greater than 30 days, with six more states at 28 days or higher. Oregon (31.5) had the highest increase at 3.3 days. Positively, only 13 states had non-drivable LOR increases, while 37 states plus D.C. had decreases. Compare this to Q2 2022, when every single state and D.C. had an increase of at least 1.2 days. The lowest non-drivable LOR belonged to New York at 21.1 days, followed by D.C. (21.2), Iowa (21.6) and Nebraska (21.9). Delaware had the highest decrease, down 3.4 days. Rhode Island (-3.2), D.C. (-2.5) and Indiana (-2.4) also saw significant decreases. Rivian to Turn Kentucky Coal Mine into Solar Energy Center Written by Maria Merano, Teslarati Published July 26, 2023 Rivian plans to convert the Starfire Mine in Kentucky to a solar energy center. The conversion is estimated to be a $1 billion solar project. The Starfire Mine was once one of the largest coal mines in the U.S. It will be one of Kentuckys largest renewable power projects once converted. Rivian will work on the Starfire project with renewable energy power producer BrightNight and The Nature Conservancy. Shifting our energy system toward carbon neutrality goes beyond electrifying the roughly 1.5 billion vehicles in the global fleet, said Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe. We must also support the decarbonization of our energy infrastructure through the responsible deployment of renewable energy. We are thrilled to collaborate with organizations like The Nature Conservancy and BrightNight to bring Starfire to life and help create a scalable model for a modern grid that provides reliable, affordable and carbon-free energy for all. Once complete, the Starfire coal mine will be the BrightNight Starfire Renewable Energy Center, which Rivian and its collaborators hope will have an 800 MW capacity to support the power consumption of 170,000 households annually. BrightNight plans to construct a 20-mile transmission line for the project, enabling an additional 1GW of clean power generation for the site. Rivian is one of the most innovative and forward-thinking manufacturers in America, and we are proud that they have chosen BrightNight and the Starfire Renewable Energy Center to help achieve their sustainability goals, BrightNight CEO Martin Hermann said. Together, we are transforming a coal mine, reinvesting in a region eager to continue its role as an energy leader, and demonstrating the incredible impact of corporate power procurement. The development will happen in four phases. Phase 1 is expected to start in 2025 with initial construction. Rivian has committed to purchasing 100 MW of renewable energy from Phase 1 of the project buildout. The EV automaker has already signed a power purchase agreement with BrightNight. We thank Teslarati for reprint permission. SUV MPV While in other regions, there's at least the Zephyr executive mid-size luxury sedan based on the latest Ford Mondeo, at home in the United States, folks can only buy the Corsair luxury compact crossoverbased on the Ford Escape, the Nautilus two-row mid-size CUV based on the Ford Edge, the slightly larger three-row Aviator (related to the Ford Explorer), and the ubiquitous full-size Navigator and Navigator L that share their underpinnings with the massive Ford Expedition.So, what could make fans return to Lincoln instead of buying something like the Cadillac CT5? Surely, a sedan, one would say. But remember, they already tried that with the second revival of the Continental nameplate. As such, maybe what works like a charm (especially in V-Series and Blackwing) form for Caddy does not pay off handsomely for Lincoln, too.Or, at least, that is the opinion of someone dwelling across the imaginative realm of digital car content creators. Jim, the virtual artist known as jlord8 on social media, has a soft spot in his CGI reel for family-oriented passenger cars he recently imagined the return of the Buick Roadmaster, as well as a sliding-door Nissan Quest plus a Ford Aerostar revival.Now, another van is coming to digital life in the form of the wishful-thinking Lincoln Wayfinder. I am not sure if the pixel master is an avid video gamer and got inspired by the upcoming free-to-play, character-based, action-MMO set for early access on Sony's PlayStation 5 and PCs on August 15 this year, but the chosen nameplate is great.The virtual vehicle, on the other hand, is not so much. Sure, it takes after the current Lincoln design language, especially the Zephyr, at the front but the profile and rear are that of a classic minivan. Plus, what's up with those bulges set in place of regular or hidden door handles? And remember, MPVs are basically an endangered species, with just a handful of automakers offering such models on the US market.In the end, it feels like a van that came two decades late at theparty, frankly. All in all, that does not mean this pixel master doesn't know how to entice us with something quirky. Just take the second post embedded below as an example he combined the Chevy Lumina APV with the C4 Chevy Corvette ZR1 and came up with a 'bread van' that would have sold like hotcakes during the crazy 1990s! Oh, well, digital artists are odd at times and maybe that's part of why we love them so much. Aviation enthusiasts who were lucky enough to attend this year's EAA AirVenture event in Oshkosh witnessed a historic flight that paves the way for self-flying electric aircraft operations in the future. It looks like 2023 has been a great year so far for US-based electric air taxi manufacturers. Most of them are closer than ever to certification and have reached important milestones during the first half of this year.It was now time for the Boeing-backed Wisk Aero to be in the spotlight. The startup's Generation 6 aircraft nailed what it claims to be the first-ever public demonstration of a fully-autonomous fixed-wing eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing).Every July, aviation enthusiasts gather at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for one of the greatest events in the world. EAA AirVenture brings hundreds of thousands of people who want to see an incredible variety of aircraft in action. This year's edition will likely be one of the best in history. Wisk Aero wrote history only two days into the airshow with a groundbreaking flight demonstration.Wisk claims it was the first successful public demonstration of a fully-autonomous air taxi with a fixed-wing design. After more than a decade of research and development, Wisk introduced its sixth-generation aircraft as the world's first autonomous, electric four-seat air taxi. The latest version , which carried out the historic demonstration at Oshkosh, boasts a wingspan under 50 feet (15.2 meters) and a larger, more comfortable cabin with enough room for four passengers and carry-on luggage.Sporting a lift plus lift/cruise configuration, this eVTOL promises a 90-mile (144 km) range with reserves, a cruising speed of 110 knots (126.5 mph/203 kph), and a cruising altitude of 2,500 to 4,000 feet (762 to 1,219 meters) above ground level.The most important characteristic of this fixed-wing eVTOL is what Wisk calls "autonomous flight with human oversight," which means that autonomy in the air is combined with ground-based human supervision. Wisk says it wants to offer "the best of both worlds" to increase safety. A simplified design (with as few moving parts as possible) and multiple redundant systems also contribute to optimal safety. This recent milestone at the 2023 EAA AirVenture feels natural to this AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) company. In 2017, Wisk claimed to be the first one in the US to complete the successful autonomous flight of an eVTOL for passenger transportation.Unlike other air taxi manufacturers aiming for piloted air taxi services, at least during initial operations, Wisk is bold enough to go straight for the self-flying holy grail. Earlier this year, it became a fully-owned Boeing subsidiary, confirming that it's on the path to success.As for the historic demonstration at Oshkosh, more details will be coming up later this week. Honda has recently started to announce it will sell the e:Ny1 in Europe. What reads like a new disease code is actually an electric Chinese SUV the Japanese brand will import to indirectly replace the Honda e. Anyone familiar with how things started will have only one conclusion for the sad end of this story: the market is a ruthless king. In other words, carmakers cannot risk selling vehicles just because they were praised as concepts. EV kW Photo: Honda Photo: Honda kWh BEV Photo: Honda SUV ICE The Honda e is the culmination of a tale that began in 2017 with the Urbanconcept. Some people trace it back even further to the 2009 EV-N concept, but that one gave birth to another car, the 2012 N-One. That said, they may share a few design elements and characteristics, but that's it. The Urban EV is the real origin of the electric production vehicle.Visitors of the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show and journalists alike cheered loudly for Honda to give the Urban EV a chance in assembly lines. The Japanese carmaker eventually decided the applause would translate into sales and gave the Honda e the green light. Its production version was presented at the last Frankfurt Motor Show, held in 2019.The small electric hatchback allegedly faced resistance from some Honda executives who must now be repeating "I told you so" triumphantly in the company's corridors. The battery electric vehicle (BEV) was urban, with a small battery pack and a limited range. Still, it was also a driver's car: rear-wheel drive, 50:50 weight distribution, a low center of mass, and a happy motor delivering up to 113(152 hp).For a vehicle that was only 3.89 meters (153.3 inches) long, that could have been more than enough if it was not for its weight. The Honda e tipped the scale between 1,513 kilograms (3,336 pounds) and 1,543 kg (3,402 lb). However, that was not the issue with the electric city car: being small and expensive was probably what killed it.In Europe, prices started at around 30,000 ($33,160 at the current exchange rate). The only version still for sale in Portugal is the Honda e Advance, which costs 43,000 ($47,530). That's what Tesla currently charges for an entry-level Model Y in the US. If it does not make sense on the other side of the pond, that is even truer in the Old Continent: sales were disappointing, as charming as the Honda e was.Ironically, this is precisely the sort of car that Transport & Environment wants European governments to force automakers to sell. The organization believes smaller BEVs with consequently tinier batteries will reduce demand for raw materials. As I said in a previous text , that is an indirect defense of hybrids and plug-in hybrids, on top of being irrealistic: nobody will manufacture cars that do not sell. Those willing to risk that will eventually face a bitter reckoning. The Honda e turned into a vivid confirmation of how true that was.According to some websites, Honda no longer delivers new units of the electric city car, only those that are already in the inventories and were left unsold. That suggests production stopped at some point, but I was not able to confirm that. Whether that is correct or not, the deal is that the Japanese company will not develop a new generation or a replacement for the Honda e. Anyone willing to buy an electric vehicle from the automaker will have to make do with the e:Ny1, which makes it the de facto substitute for the city car.Autocar interviewed Rebecca Adamson, head of cars for Honda UK, and the executive said the company will focus on SUVs because "that's where the market is." She also denied the Japanese carmaker will have any vehicle in the same market segment as the Honda e in the UK. In Japan, kei cars are even smaller and still have a relevant participation in sales due to the country's legislation. Anyway, BEVs do not do very well in Honda's homeland.The e:Ny1 is an electric version of the HR-V made in China, but it is not clear which of its two joint ventures in that country is responsible for the car. Dongfeng Honda makes the e:NS1, while GAC Honda makes the e:NP1. One of these companies changed the badge of the electric HR-V they manufacture and started shipping the car to Europe. In essence, all three are the same vehicle, with the same 68.8battery pack. Being Chinese does not make the new Hondaaffordable: in Portugal, the e:Ny1 costs 54,750 if reserved until July 31. However, it would probably be more expensive if made in Japan.Unwillingly, Honda gave us the best possible example of where the BEV shift is leading us. Instead of a tiny and charming vehicle made in Japan, what we will get is anmade in China because production volumes and costs matter more than anything else in this transition process. Would the Honda e have done better if it was powered by an internal combustion engine () and cost half of what the Japanese carmaker charged for its BEV? That's very likely: most people still calculate the cost-benefit of any purchase.Whenever you see a concept car and dream to see it in dealerships, make sure you'll have the funds to buy one as soon as it reaches the market. It may be your only chance to have that auto show piece in your garage before the automaker realizes how insane it was to believe all the praise would turn into money. It has been widely known for some time now that high-power charging networks are essential to the transition to zero-tailpipe emission powertrains. Electric vehicles (EVs) cannot succeed in replacing internal combustion engine-powered cars without them. But here's yet another proof that no matter how good your EV might be, it will eventually make you think about filling up with gas again. Or, in a blow to some auto brands, it might force you to reconsider the make and model of your EV. kWh Photo: Maysrem / Bring a Trailer Owning an (expensive) EV in the US? Not as electrifying as one may think kW Photo: Maysrem / Bring a Trailer EV Electrify America's chance at redeeming itself Photo: Out of Spec Motoring on YouTube Figuring it out Photo: Out of Spec Motoring on YouTube Moving on Photo: Out of Spec Motoring on YouTube Photo: Out of Spec Dave on Twitter Colorado to Connecticut Lucid Air Road Trip @RateYourCharge thread #1. Not starting off good here AT ALL. Plug and charge failed 2 times, signet surge kicked in and I invented a dance called the Signet Surge with new words to Old McDonald that you will have to see in my road pic.twitter.com/pDG53aggwv Out Of Spec Dave (@OutofSpecDave) July 22, 2023 Imagine you are getting ready for a 2,000-mile road trip with one of the world's most awesome sedans the Lucid Air Grand Touring. It's fast, spacious, comfortable, filled with the coolest amenities, and has enough range to make you confident about venturing onto the open roads.The car is basically a luxobarge dedicated to people who love comfort, want cool stuff available at their fingertips, and don't want to own a German-made automobile.With 800 hp, a 112-battery good for an EPA-rated 520 mi on a full charge, and the 900V architecture enabling impressive charging speeds (adding around 200 mi of range in under 20 minutes), this dual-motor all-wheel-drive sedan has a starting cost of $138,000 and is trying to sway you away from things like the Tesla Model S, Mercedes-Benz EQS, or the BMW i7 The Saudi-owned but US-based brand even offers its customers one or two years of complimentary charging through a partnership with Electrify America. And that's where things start to "surge" in the wrong direction.A YouTuber from the Out of Spec crew decided to embark on a 2,000-mile journey from Colorado to Connecticut. His Lucid chosen for this adventure was nearly perfect. The vehicle would have theoretically required five or six quick stops at the most to recharge the generous energy storage unit.Since the Lucid Air Grand Touring can take advantage of the best DC fast chargers out there (350-stalls), the man wouldn't have had to spend more than 30 or 40 minutes plugged in. Besides that, the vehicle tells the driver when and where they should recharge for the most efficient trip possible via the infotainment system. As such, a road trip like this wouldn't theoretically require any serious planning beforehand. All he had to do was follow the navigation.But you already know things went south because you read the title of this article.Let's rewind for a bit.Around three months ago, we were telling you about an EV Cannonball record attempt that didn't work out. The vehicle used for that fast drive across the United States, from New York City's Red Ball Garage to the Portofino Hotel & Marina in California, was the exact same one as the unit chosen for this "casual" trip to Connecticut. We're putting quotation marks on "casual" because traveling with anis still a pain for most drivers.To summarize, the attempt remained an attempt. The team, although well prepared, could not establish a new EV Cannonball record. Whilst some may be inclined to blame the car, traffic, or law enforcement for slowing down the crew and making them fail, the main reason was that the charging network was unable to work correctly in most cases. They even accounted for possible damaged stalls, but it wasn't enough.Now, let's return to the Colorado to Connecticut trip.The same very capable Lucid Air Grand Touring got put through a somewhat shorter trip than the coast-to-coast one. However, the owner figured out right after starting the journey that it would be unnecessarily lengthy.He plugged in the car at under 10% state of charge (SoC) and immediately saw that the rate at which the EV was pulling electrons from the grid kept oscillating. The charging speed changed every second or even faster. It stabilized for a few minutes, starting at 22% SoC, and returned to this erratic behavior after 35% SoC.This issue isn't unique to Lucid vehicles, but it seems to affect all-electric cars with battery packs with a voltage of at least 800V. For example, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 owners have reported similar issues online. Even Genesis owners experienced the same outcome because all these South Korean vehicles are built on the E-GMP platform But there are other models affected by the rapidly oscillating charging speed. Porsche Taycan, for example, is also experiencing similar problems. However, since the vehicle operates in a different voltage range than the Lucid and the Hyundai models, it's far less affected by the phenomenon known as "Signet Surge."Nobody knows exactly what causes the charging rate to spike and drop so fast and often, but it seems to affect older Electrify America stalls made by SK Signet. Hence the nickname given to this phenomenon. It's also possible that some ABB chargers may have rendered similar outcomes.Some people think it's a software-related problem; others blame the stalls' power modules. However, a couple of things are evident at the time of writing.One, nobody knows how to fix the Signet Surge issue without replacing all the stalls with new ones or overhauling the software suite.Two, despite reports of having to replace their fried Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) under warranty from Hyundai owners, it's unclear if the rapidly oscillating charging speed can lead to severe problems or costly battery management system (BMS) repairs.All that's known is that vehicles capable of charging very fast may be susceptible to the Signet Surge, thus having to spend more time plugged in.Three, some EVs may not be able to charge as fast as possible at some Electrify America stalls.Four, the reputation of Electrify America has suffered so badly that car buyers have coined the term "non-Tesla EV." The Supercharger network's reliability has others regretting their choices.The Lucid Air Grand Touring owner continued his trip and experienced the same phenomenon at other charging stations."The Lucid is great, EA and Signet are not. So sad actually. This monster road tripper is being hampered by this ridiculous EA partner of theirs. This is really serious," said the driver.Fortunately, on the last leg of the journey, he found a newer Electrify America station where ABB -made stalls worked as expected and dispensed electrons at a swift rate only 82 minutes were needed for a 7% to 100% charge. Keep in mind that most EVs slow their charging rate considerably after the 80% threshold.Now, it's clear that Electrify America has a lot of work to do. Besides the Signet Surge, people also complain about slower-than-advertised charging speeds. That's bound to make road-trippers upset.The problem with non-Tesla EVs today is that they don't enjoy a comprehensive and reliable charging network. But with the numerous incentives coming from the federal government, the interest of EV makers to provide their customers with reliable DC fast chargers, the fossil fuel giants entering the EV charging space, and the industry-wide switch to Tesla's charging portThings are certainly looking interesting for consumers and, sadly, bleak for Electrify America.Finally, this article must be perceived as something other than a dig at Electrify America. I firmly believe this Dieselgate-born charging network will become a strong competitor for Tesla's Supercharger. Still, it cannot reach its potential by estranging prospective customers, especially those with free charging deals with their vehicle acquisition!Someone buying an EV for the first time and expecting to live with it like with a gas-powered car may experience disappointment and frustration, which will only alienate them from believing in a zero-tailpipe emission future.It's time to get together, Electrify America (and VW)! BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis are coming for you through their Ionity-like alliance for the US, while Tesla is out there making people jealous they didn't buy a NACS-equipped car SUV Just like it did almost the entire year, Toyota is building up massive hype for the newest release they intend to bring to the US market. So, after major introductions like the 2024 Grand Highlander three-row mid-size crossoveror the fourth generation N400 Toyota Tacoma, here's the exact date when the curtain drops behind the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser.The 2024 Tacoma will have its big debut on the silver screen in a superhero movie the Blue Beetle underdog, but we bet that no one will care about the August 18 apparition because the all-new Land Cruiser for America drops a few days earlier, on August 1. At long last, some enthusiasts will say, even though it hasn't been long since Toyota dropped the previous iteration in favor of only bringing the J310 Lexus LX on the market.Also, make no mistake this 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser for the US market is vastly different from the J300 Land Cruiser sold in other parts of the world, although both will most likely share the same underpinnings thanks to the use of the TNGA-F body-on-frame platform. Instead, the rumor mill thought this to be the next Land Cruiser Prado (or series 250) because, at the same time, Toyota also promised a new Land Cruiser for Europe with the initial return teaser for America.This is the third snippet of the rugged SUV and also the first to say its name after the second one only showed a dazzling silhouette that was facing off into the limelight with a decades-old FJ40 forbear . Toyota is probably telling us something and they made that clear with this final teaser depicting the front fascia of the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser having a vintage-style conversation with an FJ62 Land Cruiser now.Obviously, the modern iteration will take ample inspiration from the long line of predecessors note the rectangular-shaped LED headlights, the egg-crate style of the radiator grille, or the big 'TOYOTA' letters taking the place of the regular oval-shaped logo at the front. Additional details can't be made out, but as far as we can tell, the next Land Cruiser for America will be delightfully off-road-focused, at least in TRD and TRD Pro guise.No worries, the wait will not last long as "something great is on the horizon. The all-new Toyota Land Cruiser will make its world debut on August 1," at 9:20 PM EDT (6:20 PM PDT). That's when we will see the all-new SUV in all its glory and gauge our first impressions based on the relationship with the 2024 Lexus GX and the rest of the members of the TNGA-F family.Update: While scouring the vastness of social media for additional signs of 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser we also came by this video teaser showing a glimpse of the SUV's rear with a clear view of the taillight and separate opening for the rear door's glass. Plus, has anyone noticed the adventurous filmmaker was in the middle of wilderness with just a tent by his or her side? We Are China Party official hailed as skillful harvester at contest (People's Daily App) 15:13, July 26, 2023 An opening ceremony for durum wheat harvest was held in the Inner Mongolia Bayannur national agricultural high-tech industry demonstration zone on Sunday. Guangming village, part of the zone, hosted a fun game: a hand-cutting wheat contest. Zhao Junling, a Communist Party of China official from Linhe district in Bayannur, competed and seemingly impressed the villagers. The 52-year-old official definitely knows his business, Chinese internet users commented. (Produced by Di Jingyuan and Dong Feng) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Samsung Electronics Mobile Experience Division President Roh Tae-moon introduces the company's new foldable smartphones during the Galaxy Unpacked event at COEX in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics Galaxy Unpacked held in Korea for 1st time By Park Jae-hyuk Samsung Electronics unveiled its fifth-generation foldable smartphones featuring more flexibility, during the Korean firm's signature Galaxy Unpacked event held for the first time on its home turf rather than in a major city overseas as per previous events. At the 27th Galaxy Unpacked event in Seoul, Wednesday, the tech giant presented the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Z Fold 5 foldable smartphones, both of which are equipped with "flex hinges" designed to disperse external shocks and reduce creases. "Already, half of smartphone users say they are considering foldables for their next upgrade," Samsung Electronics Mobile Experience Division President Roh Tae-moon told hundreds of journalists and influencers from around the world, emphasizing that Samsung's Galaxy series is leading the fastest growing category. He also stressed that the new foldable smartphones are durable enough to endure tough conditions and are equipped with superior batteries and the most intelligent cameras. Samsung enhanced the durability of its new foldable smartphones by using thicker shockproof layers and props behind their displays, as well as adding IPX8-rated water resistance, armor aluminum frames and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 scratch-resistant display materials. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, left, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 foldable phones are on display in this file photo. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics Another type of flexibility seen in Samsung's new foldable smartphones is the "FlexCam" mode, which allows users to take hands-free photos and videos. This function was introduced when the company released the previous version of the Z series. Those who use the Z Flip 5, a clamshell-style foldable phone, will be able to express their uniqueness with the 86.1-milimeter "Flex Window," according to Samsung, as the exterior cover screen, which is larger than that of the previous version, will enable users to enjoy a greater variety of functions without unfolding their phones. Samsung said the "Flex Window" can match with watch faces for the Galaxy Watch 6 smartwatch line and can be decorated with the Flipsuit Cases and the near-field communication technology-based Flipsuit Cards. The company made the Z Fold 5 phone lighter and thinner, while improving its battery efficiency and performance. The S Pen Fold Edition, which allows the use of a stylus, has been slimmed down to 4.35 millimeters from the previous version's 7.4 millimeters. Samsung plans to release the new foldable smartphones in Korea on Aug. 11, while receiving pre-orders from Aug. 1 to 7. For the Korean market, the Z Flip 5 comes in two capacities: 256-gigabytes and 512-gigabytes, and they are priced at 1.39 million won ($1,090) and 1.52 million won, respectively. The Z Fold 5 will come in 256-gigabyte, 512-gigabyte and 1-terrabyte versions, which are priced at 2.09 million won, 2.21 million won and 2.46 million won respectively. During the event, Samsung also disclosed its Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic smartwatches, which provide comprehensive health care functions. The Galaxy Watch 6 has especially drawn attention since Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min was seen wearing the new smartwatch at Incheon International Airport earlier this month. The Galaxy Tab S9 tablets were also unveiled with upgraded displays and speakers that can provide users with a more immersive experience. BTS' Suga, front row center, attends the Galaxy Unpacked event at COEX in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap Porsche wants to produce the iconic 911 as an ICE model for as long as possible. This was the main reason the German carmaker insisted the European Union exempt cars running on synthetic e-fuels from the 2035 ICE ban. The 911 will be the only ICE model left standing as Porsche plans to gradually electrify its lineup by 2030. EV ICE Many of the problems the Volkswagen Group faces today in its electrification push can be attributed to Porsche's bets on synthetic e-fuels. After Porsche's boss Oliver Blume became Volkswagen Group's CEO in 2022, manyplans were put on hold. This is why Audi's EV program has essentially stalled, while the Porsche Macan EV is years behind schedule. In the meantime, the aging MEB vehicle architecture share among different brands is the only one in production, although it's not doing great. Sales of the Porsche Taycan are also dwindling, and a replacement is still years away.In light of these delays, it's no wonder that Blume is trying to keep the combustion-engine models running for as long as possible. His company has caused uproar in the European Union after forcing the redrafting of the EU's 2035ban to exempt cars running on synthetic e-fuels. Porsche is heavily invested in e-fuels , with a production facility in Chile that started production last December. Although Porsche claims that its e-fuels business is unrelated to the EV plans, it's not hard to connect the dots.Despite these behind-the-scene moves, Porsche claims that switching to electric mobility will continue at full speed. Porsche wants electric vehicles to make up 80% of sales by 2030, after electrifying the Macan, followed by the 718 sportscar and the best-selling Cayenne. One model that won't ditch the combustion engine for an electric motor is the iconic 911. The Elfer will always have a combustion engine, as Porsche's Oliver Blume announced in 2020, before even dreaming of becoming the Volkswagen Group's CEO.Thanks to the EU changing rules to allow combustion vehicles powered by synthetic fuels after 2035, the Porsche 911 is guaranteed to have a longer-than-expected career as an ICE model. This has been confirmed by Porsche e-fuels team leader Karl Dums. "Our strategy in the first place is switching to electric mobility and ... we will produce the 911 as long as possible with a combustion engine," Dums told Reuters. The 911 accounted for 13% of Porsche sales in 2022.Porsche is not the only carmaker pushing for an EU e-fuels exemption , with Ferrari being another prominent promoter. In fact, it was Germany and Italy that forced the EU to amend the legislation to allow e-fuels to be used past 2035. Synthetic fuels are made from captured carbon dioxide and renewably-produced hydrogen, a process that its proponents claim makes it carbon neutral. Still, burning any fuel, including hydrogen, generates a wide range of harmful gases , including NOx.Porsche, frankly, is in a predicament as the world turns to electrification. This is not only a solution for reducing pollution but a superior and more efficient form of transportation. Porsche's EV program is stuck in the past, and if the 80% of EV sales target is achieved by 2030, it will be 80% of very few sales. Its ICE models are already speeding on a road that leads nowhere as the world moves away from burning fuels. Stefan Johansson, who raced for McLaren in Formula 1 in 1987 after Gerhard Berger took his place at Scuderia Ferrari, took the 750S at speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour. That's a little over 320 clicks for those who prefer the metric system, with Johansson reaching this exhilarating speed on a closed highway.Pictured in picturesque Sun Valley, Idaho, the 750S is McLaren's lightest series-production car to date. Emphasis on series production because the limited-run Senna is much lighter. It's also the pokiest series-production Macca yet, packing 740 force-fed ponies.Codenamed M840T, the midship twin-turbo V8 is a torquey engine as well, promising 590 pound-feet (800 Nm) at full chatter. Over in the United States, the British automaker quotes a 0-to-60 acceleration of 2.7 seconds. 124 miles per hour (make that 200 kilometers per hour) takes merely 7.2 seconds. The spider and coupe both top 206 miles per hour (332 kilometers per hour), besting the Artura by a single mile per hour.On the other hand, bear in mind the Artura features a twin-turbo V6 with plug-in hybrid assistance. It's not as potent (671 horsepower), and it's a heavier vehicle as well (3,303 pounds or 1,498 kilograms compared to 3,062 pounds or 1,389 kilograms). Despite featuring an electric motor within the transmission's bell housing, the Artura's 531 pound-feet (720 Nm) of torque plays second fiddle to the V8-engined sibling.The Woking-based outfit has recently signed a multi-year contract with Ricardo for next-generation V8 powertrains, including both hybrid and non-hybrid versions. By the end of the decade, the heir apparent of the 750S will certainly switch to a hybridized setup.Sold out well into 2024 stateside, the mid-engine supercar costs $324,000 in coupe flavor. The spider is $345,000 from the outset, excluding the $5,500 destination charge fee. Customer deliveries in the United States will commence by the end of 2023.Similar to its predecessor, the 750S also uses a dual-clutch transmission. McLaren says that it's better in every respect, having optimized the gearing and revised the kickdown control strategy. Built around a carbon-fiber monocoque, the 750S features Proactive Chassis Control linked-hydraulic suspension with get this softer springs up front and stiffer springs out back.PCC III is a rather clever and complicated system, for it combines the passive coil springs with semi-active dampers and a hydraulic roll circuit instead of anti-roll bars. McLaren has also made a few changes in order to mitigate bump steer. Pirelli P Zero tires come standard, with Corsas and Trofeo Rs available as options.Designed for 90-plus-octane dinosaur juice, the new 750S comes with a standard vehicle warranty of three years and no mileage limitation. McLaren further includes a three-year maintenance and service plan. Following this period, owners can purchase extended warranties available in 12- and 24-month flavors. 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. The Armenian government announced on Tuesday that it will try to send 360 tons of flour, cooking oil, sugar and other basic foodstuffs to Karabakh to alleviate severe food shortages there caused by the blockade. Government officials expressed hope that Russian peacekeepers will escort the relief supplies to the Armenian-populated region. Nineteen Armenian trucks carrying them reached the entrance to the Lachin corridor late in the afternoon but remained stranded there in the following hours, with Baku refusing to let them though an Azerbaijani checkpoint controversially set up there in April. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry condemned the aid convoy as a provocation and encroachment on Azerbaijans territorial integrity. A senior aide to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said Yerevan should renounce territorial claims to his country and stop impeding the restoration of Azerbaijani control over Karabakh. The official, Hikmet Hajyev, said Karabakh should be supplied with basic necessities from Azerbaijan proper and the town of Aghdam in particular. There is no other way! tweeted Hajiyev. Karabakhs ethnic Armenian leadership has rejected the proposed Azerbaijani supply line. It maintains that Baku should comply with a Russian-brokered ceasefire that mandates unfettered commercial traffic through the only road connecting Karabakh to Armenia. Meanwhile, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian defended the attempted delivery of the humanitarian aid. We cannot turn a blind eye to the situation that Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh are currently facing, Pashinian wrote in a late-night tweet. The 360 tons of vitally important foodstuff sent to Nagorno-Karabakh is exclusively for humanitarian purposes. The shortages of food, medicine, fuel and other essential items in Karabakh have worsened significantly since Baku completely blocked on June 15 relief supplies that were carried out by the Russian peacekeepers and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said last week that Karabakh is on the verge of starvation and called for stronger international pressure on Baku. 26 July 2023 12:30 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more When the former Karabakh clan was in power in Armenia, murders, corruption, political persecution and a number of criminogenic situations became almost commonplace in the country. On October 27, 1999, the joint murder of Karen Demirchiyan, the former prime minister of Armenia, and Vazgen Sargsyan, the commander of the Armenian army at that time, deepened the political turmoil in the country. The rift between the people and the government deepens, crimes become widespread, and arbitrariness begins to reign in the country. Thus, Armenia becomes the worst place of human rights and centre of criminal groups. Over time, this trend begins to reverse its direction along an imaginary course. Nikol Pashinyan, who is young but weak in political sphere, takes over power through the Velvet revolution by creeping into Western millionaires' favour. During Pashinyan's coming to power, various criminal incidents took place, but the new prime minister was able to cover up these cases with certain competence. Pashinyan frustrated the population in terms of human rights. Many in Armenia and the world thought and expected that after Pashinyan the dire situation in human rights will change positively. However, this did not change many stereotypes in Armenia's traditional political system. It is worth noting that prior to Pashinyan's ascending to power, Armenia was one of the most repressive countries in the world and fascism reigned in the country. Not just ordinary citizens, but also minority groups and cultural heritages of different nations were subjected to oppression and vandalism. Take thousands of Azerbaijanis and Muslim Kurds, for example. They were expelled from Armenia at the end of the 1980s and at the beginning of the 1990s. Besides, every four Russians, the compatriots of the strategic ally of Armenia, out of five were obliged to leave the country in the 1990s. Even the Russian Orthodox Church which was built in the village of Kuropatkino of Khojavand region in 1894 was subjected to vandalism and demolished. Besides, Armenians destroyed the cultural heritages of other nations or turned them into animal stalls. Armenian Markar Melkonyan's book "My brother's Road" describes Armenia's attitude to a human being as follows: An Azerbaijani is chained and held captive like a dog. They throw food in front of him like a dog. One day, an Armenian holding an Azerbaijani captive beheaded him. However, nightmares don't leave him alone every day. He goes to the Armenian priest and says: is it a sin to cut off a dog's head? The priest asks: a two-legged dog or a four-legged dog? Armenian killer (Kechal Sergey) says: two-legged dog And the priest answers the question, "If it is a two-legged dog, it is not considered a sin." If this is the attitude of a nation towards a human kind, then it is not worth talking about the situation inside it. Armenians tried to alienate all ethnic peoples throughout history by conducting politics worse than fascists. After expelling other nations and turning multiethnic Armenia into a monoethnic country, the government started to oppress ordinary Armenians as well. Citizens were arrested without any court, tortured, and even killed. Take Poghos Poghosyan, who was beaten to death by the bodyguards of then President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan. The bodyguard was sentenced to a year of probation. Even the victims were forced to give up and not appeal to relevant organizations for investigation. The countrys Investigative Committee provided details on the incident. The case of David Simonyan, a resident of Yerevan, exemplifies it. On April 1, 2007, David Simonyan was hospitalized with the wound. The police in Yerevan closed the case hastily claiming that his friend Arthur Ghevondyan shot him inadvertently with the gun found in the street. Later, it was uncovered that David Simonyan was shot by Hayk Sargsyan, the nephew of the third president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan. The peak of such crimes in Armenia is the slaughtering of eight protestors in the meeting held against the rigged election won by the Karabakh clique in 2008. It should be highlighted that nobody was punished for the mass killing. Later, the second president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan said that the Armenian government deliberately did it and if we [the Armenian government] had not killed them Azerbaijan would have taken advantage of the protests. Frankly speaking, his words prove the prominent saying which claims that dictators need external enemies for suppressing discontent in the society. The list of crimes relating to the violation of human rights before Pashinyan can be prolonged, but the list is so big that unfortunately, one article is not enough to shed light on all of them. Of course, Pashinyan used these crimes against the Karabakh clique in 2018 when he called the citizens to rush to the streets. Believing Pashinyan would change the then-current situation, the citizens supported him and the Karabakh clique was forced to descend from power. However, Pashinyan swallowed his words, and nothing has changed so far. It should be highlighted that according to the media outlets over 70 people died in 2018-2022. One of the noisy killings was the murdering one of the protestors in November 2020. Local Armenian media claimed that the corpse found in Yerevan belonged to the man who had sat in the armchair of the speaker of the Armenian Parliament. Sashik Sultanyan, a citizen of Armenia of Yezidi origin was punished over his interview with an international media outlet. The guilt of the Sashik was to voice the discriminations that Yezidis encountered in their daily lives. Self-styled democratic country Armenia turned a blind eye to the pleas of international organizations to drop a criminal case against Sashik Sultanyan. According to international human rights organizations, more than 200 criminal cases have been initiated on charges of grave insults against officials since 2021. It is worth noting that the violation of human rights in Armenia also impedes the integration process initiated by Azerbaijan. Recall that Armenian anti-war activists were harshly punished and pro-war propaganda was supported by the Pashinyan government during the 44-day in 2020. Besides, according to Armenian journalist Roman Bagdasarian a grocer in the territories controlled by separatists in Karabakh was punished for selling products made in Azerbaijan. Silencing pro-peace activists and punishing people who want to deal with Azerbaijan is the biggest obstacle before the peace process. In the end, we can conclude that following this politics Armenian government paves the road for devastation. It is no secret that over 30 percent of Armenians have left Armenia over the past 30 years. Day by day the population of Armenia goes to decline. If the process continues in this way, after 60 years no Armenian will be left in the country . --- Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 July 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more The return of of internally displaced persons to their ancestral lands liberated from Armenian occupation arduously continues. Within the framework of the Great Return Programme initiated by President Ilham Aliyev, 19 more families comprising 89 people were relocated in Azerbaijan's Lachin district. The citizens were escorted from the Garadagh district of Baku in a ceremony attended by Azerbaijani officials. The residents of Lachin will be settled in their native houses, where they once lived before the occupation. All houses have been restored or repaired as part of the reconstruction works being carried out in the region. Work in this area is already being successfully continued and every time new families return to their homeland. all this is a part of a big project that is being implemented rapidly in Azerbaijan. But there is still much work to be done. Economist Eyyub Karimli, who shared his views on the continuous resettlement of people to territories freed from occupation and infrastructure works there, commented to AZERNEWS. "As you know, according to the state's "Great Return" programme, which will continue until 2026, more than 10 thousand people will be resettled on the liberated lands, and I believe that Lachin will be further developed till 2026, as the residents need infrastructure, housing, and other needs, and for this purpose the state has allocated more than 12bn manat from the budget, to improve life and build infrastructure, and in this context, I am sure that the resettlement of residents will be continued even further." Thus, 152 families (591 people) have been provided with permanent residence in Lachin. The great programme of the head of state has given fresh breath of life to the territories, and hope for a better life to the IDPs who are delighted of being back to their native lands. "I wish Allah's mercy to our martyrs and good health to our veterans. Our mighty Army under the leadership of the supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev has kicked the enemy out of our land. I believe that better days are waiting for us," a resident returning to Lachin told with great happiness. Talking about the infrastructure projects as well as the latest technological advantages built in Lachin, the expert also noted that more things will be done for the new residents and all the needs of the people will be met. "As you know, the infrastructure and the houses built in Lachin are built at the highest level. Due to new technologies meeting the highest standards, environmentally friendly houses, energy-renewable resources, as well as the airport will be built in Lachin in the near future. Works on the construction of smart villages as well as smart cities in the Lachin district are also underway. Besides, favourable conditions have been created for the resettled families. Schools and houses have been built, state institutions have been created to create job opportunities for the residents," the expert added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 July 2023 17:30 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more Armenia, in its traditional way, sets aside all possible means and embarks on impossible paths. But they forget one thing, that time is passing against them. As a result of continuous provocations by Armenia, many secrets plans of the separatist forces were revealed with the construction of the state border checkpoint on the Lachin road. It turned out that according to the claims of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Yerevan's absence of involvement in all illegal act of the separatists is just a lie. One of the other lies was the attempts of the separatists to establish illegal military posts on the territory of Azerbaijan through carrying ammunitions from the Armenian territory. Today, the separatist forces trying to do illegal things on the territory of Azerbaijan, hiding behind the Russian peacekeeping soldiers, make stupid and worthless statements on behalf of the Armenian minorities there under the pretext of the border checkpoint on the Lachin road. Puppet ministers and officials of an unrecognized and so-called state make inappropriate statements and even shamelessly make peaceful people rise up. However, the Armenian minorities living in Karabakh supported the proposal to use the Aghdam road as an alternative to the Lachin road. In addition, the President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel personally supported the proposal of Azerbaijan to use the Aghdam road for the supply of food and humanitarian aid to the Armenian minorities living in Karabakh. The other day, some footage were spread about artificially closing the Aghdam-Askaran road going to Khankendi with concrete blocks. The separatist leaders, standing in the background of the event, once again demonstrated their shamelessness and pushed the kids and teenagers onto the roads. This was the last resort of the Armenian separatists. Because the end of the road is clear - Araik Harutyunyan, Ruben Vardanyan and others like him know that one day they will answer for their illegal actions behind the bar of the court. Thus, the refusal of Armenians to use this road is a political speculation and an indication of a racist approach. The quality of food products to be imported from Azerbaijan is not inferior to the quality of products coming from the territory of Armenia. On the contrary, it is quite high-quality and reliable. So, Armenians have no sound argument to make an excuse. If we look at it from another logical approach, it can be said that it is logistically more profitable to supply food to the Armenian minorities living in Karabakh via the Aghdam road. Because if we approach it mathematically, the distance from the Lachin border checkpoint to Khankendi is more than 50 km. Moreover, considering the landscape of the road that goes through many terrains, time loss and fuel costs, it turns out to be quite expensive here. Aghdam road is shorter, that is, only 25 km, and besides the landscape of roads makes transportation cheaper, comfortable and faster. In addition, Armenia should seriously consider that food products sent from its territory enter the territory of another country. At this time, the question arises, why should the goods paid for VAT in Armenia be brought to the territory of Azerbaijan under the name of humanitarian aid, and why should Armenia profit from this? The other side of the issue is related to the senseless stubbornness of the separatists, which causes the ordinary people to suffer. For example, if the separatist forces stop their illegal activities in Karabakh, the standard of living in Khankendi will undoubtedly be higher than it is. Imagine, either a small community turns into a tool in the hands of a group of political players, or to live as normal citizens in the sovereign territory of a developed state of the South Caucasus so let them think, which one is better? Of course, this question refers to a society with an intelligent rational mind and a reasonable way of thinking. Indeed, time waits for nobody. With each passing day, the separatist forces are moving towards a time when they will one day disappear completely. But is it worth regretting when that time comes? --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 July 2023 11:15 (UTC+04:00) On July 25, 2023, the President of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), Rovshan Najaf, met with Gyorgy Bacsa, Executive Vice President for Strategic Operations and Corporate Development, Member of the Management Board of MOL Group of Hungary, Azernews reports, citing SOCAR. At the meeting, it was emphasized that the bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Hungary is successfully developing in various directions, including in the field of energy. In this regard, satisfaction was expressed with the long-term cooperation and efficient partnership relations with the MOL Group company, in which the MOL Group company successfully participated in the Azeri-Chirag-Deep-Guneshli and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Main Export Pipeline projects, Azerbaijan oil- it was said that it made a valuable contribution to the development of the gas industry. Within the framework of the meeting, existing and potential opportunities for cooperation between the parties were reviewed, and opinions were exchanged on other issues of mutual interest. --- 26 July 2023 11:55 (UTC+04:00) The 5th meeting of the joint intergovernmental commission on economic and humanitarian cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Kyrgyz Republic was held in Cholpon-Ata on 26 July, Azernews reports. The delegation of the Republic of Azerbaijan headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ali Akhmedov took part in the meeting. First, a meeting was held in a narrow structure between the Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Commission from the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Akhmedov, and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Chairman of the Commission from the Kyrgyz side Bakyt Torobayev. The meeting touched upon topical issues on the bilateral agenda. Then, a meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission was held with the participation of heads and plenipotentiary representatives of relevant state structures of the two countries. A.Ahmedov thanked the Kyrgyz government for holding events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of a national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev. The sides expressed satisfaction with the comprehensive development of Azerbaijani-Kyrgyz friendly relations and strategic partnership. It was underlined that active political dialogue and personal contacts between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan ensure high dynamics in the whole range of bilateral cooperation. The positive dynamics of trade and economic relations were also noted with satisfaction during the conversation. The 19 percent growth of trade turnover by the end of 2022 also testifies to this. In addition, the sides expressed a common position that the volume of mutual trade does not correspond to the level of economic development and existing potential of the two countries. In this regard, the sides noted the importance of preparing and signing a comprehensive program for the development of bilateral cooperation for 2023-2028. The sides also expressed support for the promotion of mutual investments, and in this context highly appreciated the completion of the procedure for the establishment of the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyz Development Fund. A.Ahmedov spoke about the favorable investment environment in Azerbaijan. The Kyrgyz side was informed that the developed infrastructure and protection of investments at the state level make our country attractive from the investment point of view. During the meeting, the dynamics of cooperation in the field of transport and transit were positively assessed. According to the results of 2022, freight traffic between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan has grown about 1.7 times, and transit freight traffic has doubled. The relevance of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, known as the Middle Corridor, was noted. The parties agreed to carry out a coordinated digitalization of the Middle Corridor, as well as to increase its attractiveness in order to attract additional cargoes to this transport direction. The two sides also discussed prospects for the development of bilateral relations in the fields of renewable energy, agriculture, tourism, cultural, humanitarian, and other spheres. Both sides expressed readiness to continue constructive dialogue on the whole range of mutually beneficial cooperation. At the end of the meeting, A.Akhmedov and B.Torobayev signed the Protocol of the 5th meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic and Humanitarian Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Kyrgyz Republic. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 July 2023 13:18 (UTC+04:00) During his visit to Bucharest, the Minister of Energy, Parviz Shahbazov, and the Minister of Energy of Romania, Sebastian Ioan Burduja, held a meeting, Azernews reports, citing the ministry. The meeting emphasized the importance of the mutual visits of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Romania for cooperation between the two countries and the multifaceted and intensive development of relations in the field of energy, the strategic importance of the development plans related to the Caspian Sea - European Union Green Energy Corridor for the Azerbaijan-Romania energy partnership, and the importance of the rapid implementation of the work envisaged by the Memorandum signed within the establishment of the green energy corridor. At the same time, the ministers discussed the contracts on natural gas supply and the importance of regular relations between Romgaz and SOCAR. SOCAR's activities in Romania are highly appreciated, and the importance of the development of this activity from the point of view of market competitiveness and energy security was underlined. Several other issues arising from bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the energy sector were also reviewed at the meeting. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Remodeled architecture firm NOMAL in Seoul / Courtesy of NOMAL By Kim Jae-heun POSCO has launched the Steel ContiNew project, which repurposes abandoned houses as sustainable spaces like coffee shops and restaurants using iron that can be recycled indefinitely, the company said Tuesday. The word "steel" in Steel ContiNew is intended to have a dual meaning, as the word is a homonym of "still" in Korea. As well as referring to the metal, it also indicates that it will "still" continue being used in the future. This is also in line with the concept of projects that aim to transform structures that have fallen into disuse into sustainable buildings. "Korea is currently facing a big problem with the decreasing population due to low birth rates, especially in rural areas. The increase of abandoned houses is a social issue," a POSCO official said. "Based on the company's management ideology of 'Corporate Citizenship: Building a Better Future Together,' we have launched the Steel ContiNew project to cope with this issue using iron." Steel ContiNew is not simply a remodeling project for empty buildings. POSCO aims to regenerate entire villages by changing them into coffee shops and restaurants to attract tourism. The steelmaker applied Pos-H, a customized welded steel H-beam, to structures as the basis for remodeling abandoned houses. Pos-H is more economical and tremor-proof than other H-shaped steel beams. It can be manufactured in sizes optimized for various needs. For the roof and exterior of buildings, the company plans to use corrosion-resistant PosMAC steel that has a 20-year warranty. In particular, the solar roof made of PosMAC can be installed by overlaying it on an older roof. Solar modules can also be used without additional structures such as support fixtures increasing stability and minimizing harm to the environment. 26 July 2023 10:11 (UTC+04:00) The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan has been granted new powers in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports. In this regard, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev approved Constitutional law "On the amendments to the Constitutional law "On the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) of the Republic of Azerbaijan". According to the document, the Ombudsperson will be able to perform monitoring functions and an independent monitoring mechanism to promote the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ensuring equality and preventing discrimination. Besides, the Ombudsperson can analyze the process of implementing state programs, strategies, national action plans and concepts in the field of human rights, submit his conclusions and proposals to the organization that monitors and evaluates in the relevant field. According to the law, 30 days before the expiration of the powers of the Ombudsperson, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan nominates three persons to the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan for the election of one of them as a new Ombudsperson. The Parliament will make a decision on the election of the Ombudsperson within 15 days. At the same time, the Commissioner for Human Rights is obliged to inform the applicant in writing about the measures taken and the results of the consideration of the complaint within 10 working days. In the previous law, this period was five working days. In addition, when considering a complaint about a violation of the right to receive information, the Ombudsperson may require information owners to provide the necessary information (documents, materials) or copies thereof. The requested information (documents, materials) must be submitted to the Ombudsperson within five working days. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 July 2023 10:53 (UTC+04:00) As part of the IDEF23 16th International Defence Industry Fair held in Istanbul. Azerbaijans Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov and Chief of the State Security Service, Colonel General Ali Naghiyev have met with Turkish Minister of National Defense Yashar Guler, Azernews reports with reference to the Ministry of Defense. During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state of cooperation in military, military-technical, military-educational, military-medical and other spheres as well as further development of the work done in this area. At the end of the meeting, the sides exchanged gifts. --- 26 July 2023 15:02 (UTC+04:00) The Russian Federation, Azerbaijan and Armenia will continue to work on preparing further meetings, in 2023 a summit of the leaders of the three countries is planned, Azernews reports. This is stated in the comments of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the results of trilateral negotiations with the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, published on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry. We will continue vigorous work on preparing further meetings, including plans to hold another summit of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia this year, Russian FM said. The Russian side also suggested starting a trilateral dialogue through parliamentarians. At the same time, the Russian minister expressed hope that the discussions held today will help give a positive impetus to the negotiation process in other areas as well. The closest result at this stage is the achievement of an agreement in a trilateral working group headed by three deputy prime ministers who are engaged in agreeing on specific issues of unblocking transport communications in the region. In this context, prospects will also open up for the implementation of promising projects in the transport sector, which already have not only a regional, but also a broader character," the Russian Foreign Minister said. According to the head of the department, Moscow expects that the signing of a peace treaty will be the culmination of a large negotiation process between Baku and Yerevan. We expect that the signing of this agreement will be the culmination of a large negotiation process, which will draw a line under the efforts of Armenians and Azerbaijanis, initiated during their tripartite meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lavrov said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 July 2023 15:23 (UTC+04:00) The Azerbaijani-Kyrgyz Development Fund will start operating this autumn, Azernews reports, citing the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Bakit Torobayev, who announced it at the 5th meeting of the joint intergovernmental commission on economic and humanitarian cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan. Access to paid information is limited Find the plan that suits you best. 26 July 2023 14:40 (UTC+04:00) On July 25, Azerbaijani Defence Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov and senior staff of the Ministry took part in the opening ceremony of the 16th International Defence Industry Exhibition IDEF-23 in Istanbul, Azernews reports. The Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan informed on Tuesday, that the Ministry's senior staff familiarised themselves with weapons, equipment and military means exhibited at the stands of ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, DEARSAN and other companies. Within the framework of the visit, Colonel General Z.Hasanov held a meeting with the Minister of Industry and Technology of Turkiye Mehmet Fatih Kajir. At the meeting, the prospects of military-technical cooperation were discussed, and a detailed exchange of views was held on other issues of mutual interest. In conclusion, a ceremony of mutual gift-giving took place. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 July 2023 17:41 (UTC+04:00) The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry and Turkish company TUSAS have signed an agreement on the modernization of Su-25 attack aircraft, Azernews reports. The signing ceremony was held within the framework of the 16th International Defence Industry Exhibition "IDEF-23" in Istanbul, APA's correspondent in Istanbul reports. The document was signed by Deputy Minister of Defence of Azerbaijan - Head of the Main Department of Military-Technical Supply Agil Gurbanov and General Manager of TUSAS Temel Kotil. Azerbaijan Expands Military Ties with Turkiye, Signs Agreement on Su-25 Modernization Azerbaijan has significantly increased its military ties with Turkiye in recent years, culminating in the signing of the Shusha Declaration on Allied Relations between the two countries. As part of this agreement, Azerbaijan has signed an agreement with a Turkish company to modernize its fleet of Su-25 Frogfoot attack aircraft. The Turkish defense industry is integrating precision ammunition and undertaking structural and avionic upgrades to the Su-25s. This includes the integration of the Winged Guidance Kit (KGK) developed by TUBITAK-SAGE, which was recently tested with success. The KGK-83 has a maximum range of 60 nautical miles (110km+) when launched from a high altitude, and a maximum range of 20 nautical miles (37km+) when launched from a low altitude. The modernization project is expected to boost the export potential of the Su-25s and is part of a larger effort to integrate NATO-standard national ammunition into the Soviet-origin aircraft. The project is expected to be completed in the near future, with Azerbaijan's Minister of Defense Zakir Hasanov observing the shooting. Turkiye has also helped Baku modernize its Su-25s to make them compatible with Turkish and locally-made armaments, including Turkiye's SOM cruise missile. In September-October of 2022, there were rumors that Turkiye had planned to buy 50 Su-25s built by the Republic of Georgia. Georgia has ambitious plans to build a brand new Su-25 variant without any Russian components called the Ge-31 Bora, and Azerbaijan could finance the project and contract Tbilisi Aircraft Industries to build a Ge-31 variant to its specifications. Overall, Azerbaijan's agreement with a Turkish company to modernize its Su-25s is part of a larger effort to expand its air force with affordable acquisitions from neighboring Turkiye and Georgia. This could include the Hurkus, Hurjet, M-346, JF-17 Thunder, and possibly even the Ge-31 Bora. Such an arrangement could work out for everyone involved, providing Azerbaijan's air force with a fleet of factory-fresh attack jets and Georgia the money it needs to make the Ge-31 a tangible reality, while also providing Turkiye's arms industry with yet another lucrative contract. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 July 2023 14:20 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the inauguration of a new pipe rack, water pumping stations of Shimal Power Plant and Shimal Small Hydropower Plant owned by AzerEnerji Open Joint Stock Company in Baku. First, a video highlighting the works carried out in connection with hydropower plants in Azerbaijan was screened. President of AzerEnerji Open Joint Stock Company Baba Rzayev informed the head of state of the works carried out. President Ilham Aliyev was also informed of Shimal Small Hydropower Plant. The small hydropower plant of 300 kW was built in the area of Shimal Power Plant with a total capacity of 800 MW located in the Shuvalan settlement of Baku. The construction of the small hydropower plant was carried out by local experts. About 2.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity will be produced by this plant. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 July 2023 17:00 (UTC+04:00) On July 26, 2023, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Azerbaijan Sridharan Madhusudhanan, Azernews reports. In the meeting, Hikamet Hajiyev noted that the Azerbaijan is concerned about the expanding of military cooperation between Armenia and India and the spread of photos and videos in the media about the transportation of Indian-made weapons systems to Armenia through Iran in recent days. The official of the Presidential Administration emphasized that India's supply of lethal weapons to this country at a time when Azerbaijan is negotiating a peace agreement with Armenia paves the way for the militarization of Armenia and the escalation of the situation, and creates obstacles to the establishment of sustainable peace and security in the South Caucasus region. It is also incompatible with India's self-proclaimed foreign policy based on the norms and principles of international law, as well as the historic "Bandung Principles" of the Non-Aligned Movement, which this country is also represented by. Hikmet Hajiyev called on the Indian ambassador to bring the serious concerns of the Azerbaijani side to the attention of official Delhi and to reconsider India's decision regarding the supply of lethal weapons to Armenia. The Indian ambassador said that the point raised by the Azerbaijani side will be conveyed accordingly and noted the importance of holding a dialogue between the two countries to discuss issues of concern in bilateral relations. Hikmet Hajiyev said that Azerbaijan is always open to dialogue with India. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 July 2023 17:24 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Biot on the occasion of his re-election as President of the country, Azernews reports. The letter reads: Esteemed Mr. President, I cordially congratulate you on your re-election as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. I believe that we will make joint efforts to develop relations between Azerbaijan and Sierra Leone on the basis of friendship in line with the interests of our peoples and continue our fruitful cooperation within multilateral institutions, including the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. I wish you the best of health, happiness, and success in your future responsible activities for the sake of welfare of your friendly people. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 July 2023 19:55 (UTC+04:00) Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov has signed a decree to approve the master plan of the city of Jabrayil, Azernews reports. The master plan envisages the development of the city until 2040. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang, fourth from left, poses with foreign professionals at the Korea Press Center, Wednesday. Yonhap By Lee Kyung-min Foreign employees of local chip, automotive and telecommunication titans called on the government to ease visa extension and mortgage policies, according to the industry ministry, Wednesday. They said the government should establish a recruitment website to help highly skilled foreign workers access timely job information, and revise social benefit programs to better represent the interests of hard-working, tax-paying non-Koreans. Also needed is revision of the ID verification system whereby non-Korean names are too long to be entered in their entirety. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said employees of Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Hyundai Motor and SK Telecom as well as grad students at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Ulsan National Institute of Science & Technology (UNIST) attended a discussion organized to share difficulties experienced by non-Korean industry experts seeking long-term or permanent settlement in Korea. The attendees said the current visa stay period one year for E-7 holders should be extended and simplified. They said they are required to prepare the same paperwork every year for the same application, a rather unnecessary and time-consuming process, according to the ministry. Taking out a mortgage is a major headache for them, especially when compared to living in university dormitories. Applying for dormitories provided by universities or employers is no problem, but buying a home is too expensive and taking out a jeonse loan is extremely complicated, according to the participants as cited by the ministry. Jeonse is a home renting system unique to Korea whereby tenants pay a refundable lump-sum deposit to a landlord instead of monthly rent. They said a growing number of foreigners are finding it even difficult to take out jeonse loans nowadays, as nationwide jeonse fraud scandals over the past few months led to suicides of a number of young victims, resulting in tightened rules on borrowing and returning jeonse deposits. The foreign workers said they sometimes felt alienated from the country's social benefit programs which almost always exclude foreigners, even though they pay taxes. They recommended the establishment of a website and a job center providing information about local firms and their hiring needs, since most foreign students do not have access to up-to-date, accurate information. Many said the country's Korean name-based ID verification system needs an update to support long foreign names. Chief among reasons they chose Korea to study and seek job opportunities were access to global top high-tech players in the chip, automotive, digital and science industries as well as research institutes. They said Korean colleges do not discriminate against foreigners at their place of work, schools and research labs and that they were given a chance to engage in the same work and research as Koreans do, evaluated on the same criteria. Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang said the government will provide assistance to meet the said needs of the foreign employees. "The government will outline measures to better accommodate foreign workers with expertise, and make Korea a global hub for excellent foreign workers," he said. 26 July 2023 20:05 (UTC+04:00) As reported by the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan, an attempt is being made by Armenia to sabotage the Lachin state border checkpoint by concentrating vehicles for the purpose of political manipulation and propaganda, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories included in the Karabakh economic region Emin Huseynov, Azernews reports. Emin Huseynov noted further that the Republic of Azerbaijan has declared at various levels that the Aghdam-Khankendi road can be used to transport goods to the areas where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily stationed. It is completely incomprehensible why people who call themselves representatives of the self-styled regime are refusing to use the Barda-Aghdam road, which is undergoing reconstruction after occupation and allows goods to be delivered more quickly and efficiently. The purpose is nothing but to stage a political show and speculation. We reiterate that the Aghdam-Khankendi road is open for the transportation of goods. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 July 2023 22:41 (UTC+04:00) Large areas of the Mediterranean sweltered under an intense summer heat wave on Tuesday and firefighters battled to put out blazes across the region, Azernews reports, citing world media. In Algeria, at least 34 people have died. In Croatia, flames came within 12 kilometers of the medieval town of Dubrovnik late on Tuesday. Greece has been particularly hit hard, with authorities evacuating more than 20,000 people in recent days from homes and resorts in the south of the holiday island of Rhodes. Close to 3,000 tourists had returned home by plane as of Tuesday, according to figures from the Transport Ministry, and tour operators have canceled upcoming trips. Two firefighting pilots died when their plane, which had been dropping water, crashed on a hillside close to the town of Karystos on the island of Evia, east of Athens. Italy suffered a twin pounding from the elements when severe storms battered the north, killing a woman and a 16-year-old girl scout, while southern regions sweltered. In the south, a bedridden 98-year-old man died when fire swept through his home. Fires also swept across Portugal and Spain's Gran Canaria. In the U.S., the ocean waters around South Florida soared to typical hot-tub levels this week, according to government data. A weather buoy in the waters of Manatee Bay recorded a high of 38.44 degrees Celsius late Monday afternoon, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data. On land, heat warnings were issued for stretches of the desert southwest, in central Texas, and north into the Midwest. Extreme weather throughout July has caused havoc across the planet, with record temperatures in China, the U.S., and southern Europe sparking forest fires, water shortages, and a rise in heat-related hospital admissions. Without human-induced climate change, the events this month would have been "extremely rare," according to a study by World Weather Attribution, a global team of scientists that examines the role played by climate change in extreme weather. The heat, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius, is well in excess of what usually attracts tourists who flock to southern European beaches. The high temperatures and parched ground sparked wildfires in countries on both sides of the Mediterranean. Several dozen firefighters were using aircraft to battle a wildfire that had broken out close to the Nice international airport in southern France. In northern Africa, Algeria was fighting to contain devastating forest fires along its Mediterranean coast in a blaze that has already killed at least 34 people. Fanned by strong winds, fires also forced the closure of two border crossings with neighboring Tunisia. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 July 2023 15:44 (UTC+04:00) The Russian Foreign Ministry commented on Canada's joining the European Union (EU) monitoring mission in Armenia (on the border with Azerbaijan), Azernews reports, citing the ministry's report. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a briefing today that "the appearance of Canadians in Armenia is a clear confirmation that the EU, which has completely lost its foreign policy independence, is busy serving the interests of the United States and NATO". Zakharova stressed that the EU monitoring mission in Armenia is subordinated to the task of geopolitical confrontation with Russia and does not prevent clashes on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. "There is certainly no talk about any contribution to the normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan. All this confirms our assessments that one of the main mechanisms of de-escalation should be the work of the bilateral commission on the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 July 2023 19:00 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more The ongoing slander of the separatist regime of the Armenian authorities is receiving a blow of truth. Armenia has repeatedly complained to many world organizations that Azerbaijan is allegedly helping to block the Lachin road, the only way to deliver humanitarian aid to the inhabitants of this region, as though there is no food, medical aid, etc. Whose interests and pressure does the public of Armenia indulge? Azerbaijan has repeatedly suggested to provide humanitarian aid to the residents of Khankendi, but Armenians decided to refuse it, in favor of separatists, they demanded Armenian provisions and humanitarian aid from Yerevan, this is discrimination and racism. Armenian blogger Roman Bagdasaryan poured out the truth in a video in which he exposed the ringleaders of the illegal regime in Khankendi, who claim "famine" in the zone of temporary responsibility of peacekeepers in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. According to the blogger, most of the problems were created artificially by the separatist ringleaders, namely Araik Harutyunyan. "Today's Karabakh clan is a collection of criminals who clearly understand that their place is behind bars. You don't care deeply about people. You want to shake the power in Armenia, you want to save your criminal skin, you want to save your property in Russia," Baghdasaryan said. According to the blogger, humanitarian aid in the amount of 50 packets of cigarettes was found in Vitaly Balasanyan's possession, and he and Araik sold a packet of cigarettes for 900 drams. This proves once again that the power structures of the Armenian authorities are not interested in and do not care about the life of their citizens. "Why are you deceiving the whole world, Araik? You have plenty of cigarettes, take them out and distribute them to people! Don't create an artificial agenda," Bandasaryan stated. The blogger also noted that all Armenian villages in Karabakh are stocked with food and there is no "famine." "The 'famine' is artificially created because Araik Harutyunyan and Ruben Vardanyan should have used the billions they received from Armenia to purchase enough quantities of both paraffin and petrol so that food could be transported from villages to towns." "Are you saying that there are no fresh potatoes in Karabakh? Is that what you want to tell the people of Armenia? Who are you deceiving? The word "hunger" should not be said, there is no hunger, there is an artificially created situation by Araik. Roman added that Khankendi is provided with products, (curd, sour cream, and milk) when Araik together with Bako Sahakyan took away cows from people, and that they have farms in Noragyukh. "Yes, you have to queue, these products are not available in large quantities, but Stepanakert they are pulling, that's right Araik, why are you lying? Your farm in Noragyukh produces tonnes of milk. Right now the shops in Karabakh have coffee, tea, ketchup, mayonnaise, pizza bases, full of everything," Baghdasaryan accused. The blogger also touched upon a question that was asked at the press conference by a Karabakh Armenian, through a female journalist. "Who are you Pashinyan, a traitor or a failed politician?" "And who are you? "You are those people who have no shame to such an extent that after the first Karabakh war, you went and dug the ground, pulled gold teeth out of people's graves, and sold them in the gold market in Yerevan. And you, committed this sin that we all have to pay for, for what you have done," Roman Baghdasaryan said. "As for Araik Harutyunyan, he will be on his knees like a nice guy talking to whoever he needs to talk to and when he needs to. Araik has so many crimes that he understands that he can go to jail in Baku or in Yerevan. Araik doesn't care about people, he thinks about his business, about his life. You know, Araik is such a person who cannot put anyone in jail - neither Hovhannovsky (Samvel Karapetyan - ed.), nor Samvel Babayan, nor Vitaly Balasanyan, because they are his accomplices. They killed people together with someone in Shusha prison. This was by order of Araik, Bako and Arkady Ghukasyan. With other people, he looted seven districts, including Lachin, Kyalbajar, and Gubatly. He cannot punish his accomplices. That's why there is lawlessness in Karabakh, they are all like five fingers of one hand." "A very embarrassing situation has developed today. The whole world heard that a large consignment of drugs was found in Vitaly Balasanyan's house. Now we have to explain to the whole world how it happened that the former 'secretary of the security council' is involved in drug distribution. And from here we can come to the conclusion that all of them (separatist leaders - ed.) are engaged in the possession and distribution of drugs. Not only the whole world knows that they are looters, that they killed 1780 people in Shusha prison, now it also knows that they are drug dealers," Baghdasaryan said. He stressed that the Azerbaijani authorities will never go for dialogue with bandits and drug traffickers. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 26 July 2023 22:50 (UTC+04:00) Priority directions for the Asian Infrastructure Investment Banks upcoming activities in Georgia and topics of the domestic economy were discussed in a meeting between the Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili and Konstantin Limitovskiy, the Vice President of AIIB, the Ministry said on Wednesday, Azernews reports, citing Agenda. Davitashvili gave Limitovskiy an overview of the countrys overall economic situation as well as details on the open investment environment and ongoing and future projects, noting Georgia could play a significant role in strengthening ties between countries and economies in the Black Sea region and fostering an ideal investment environment at the Eurasian crossroads. He also said the Georgian Government was focused on making efficient use of the long-term potential for structural changes and significant infrastructure projects. The Minister noted the Black Sea submarine electricity cable project - intended to connect the grids of the South Caucasus and European Union member states - as well as the deep sea port project in the countrys Black Sea town of Anaklia, initiatives for creating a new and faster maritime corridor between China and Europe by the use of the South Caucasus, efforts in restoring the role of the historic Silk Road trade route and more. On his part, Limitovskiy emphasised his institutions positive and fruitful cooperation with Georgia while also expressing the Bank's readiness for further development. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals. High 96F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear early, then a few clouds later on. Low 71F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/selecting-hooks-plastic-baits.html Fishing Gear Tips Image A well-stocked terminal box will have many different hook sizes, shapes, and styles. The hook is one of the most critical tools in bass fishing and can significantly impact how your soft plastics act and how well you hook bass. There are now many different styles, gauges, brands, and a host of specialty hooks. Mark Davis has seen many changes to hooks in his nearly four decades as a professional angler and shares his years of insight on hooks for this article. "They've changed a lot over the year, especially with more styles to choose from," he said. "It used to be just a straight shank and an offset style, and they weren't sharp out of the package; you had to sharpen every one before you fished with them. Now, they are chemically sharpened and ready to go. Those are some of the biggest differences between hooks now and back then, and they keep coming out with better stuff all the time." Selecting The Right Hook For The Job Davis keeps things pretty simple regarding hooks and is well-known for his skills with soft plastic baits, notching several big wins over the years, including the Bassmaster Classic, with three Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles. "You can make hooks as simple or as complicated as you want, but at the end of the day, for Texas and Carolina-Rigs, my staple hook is a standard offset round bend. It works well for those two techniques, but there are some exceptions with certain baits and specialty stuff." Image A standard round bend and one with a wider gap will cover most of your bases with soft plastic baits. According to Davis, each of the major hook brands on the market deserves a spot in your tackle box as each excels with different hooks. He also cautions to pay close attention to the actual size of the hooks and not just the size printed on the packaging. "You need to use different brands because no one manufacturer makes every hook you need," he said. "The other thing is that every brand sizes their hooks slightly differently, and there is no standard. BKK, for instance, runs about half a size smaller than a similar hook from Gamakatsu in the same size. Here are some of Davis' insights for the right hook for several popular techniques. Texas-Rigs When fishing thinner-bodied baits, Davis likes a round bend but will go to an extra-wide gap style when fishing a bulkier creature bait like a When fishing thinner-bodied baits, Davis likes a round bend but will go to an extra-wide gap style when fishing a bulkier creature bait like a Strike King Rage Bug "When using a bulker bait, you want that wider gap to give the bait somewhere to go on a hookset," he said. "If the gap isn't wide enough, you will miss some fish. I typically use a 5/O and like the heavier gauge hooks because I generally use heavier line when fishing these baits and don't want the hook to bend out." When fishing soft stick baits, Davis generally chooses a 5/0 offset round bend worm hook because the bait lends itself to a bigger hook. "Each particular lure is different, and I always try to get away with the biggest hook I can without overpowering the bait, and these baits will hold a bigger hook very well," he said. Image A Texas-rigged plastic is hard to beat and will remain pretty weedless. Davis uses specialty oversized hooks for bigger worms, like those over 10 inches long. "I always carry some of these that have a longer shank," he said. "I'll use a 7/O or even 11/O for a huge worm because you don't want a hook that's too short, or you will miss a lot of fish." Carolina-Rigs Davis is a master with the "C-Rig" and says that using the wrong hook size is one of the biggest mistakes that anglers make. "I want a hook as light and small as I can get away with to have still enough there to hook them," he said. "With the Carolina-Rig, the bait is behind the weight and not floating, it's gliding, and a hook that's too big will have your bait dredging the bottom. I also like thinner hooks to allow the baits to glide more." Neko and Wacky Rigs Davis fashions his hooks for these techniques. He starts with a straight shank 2/O O'Shaughnessy hook and ties a weedguard with a piece of 80-pound monofilament. "That's an excellent hook for a Neko or wacky rig," he said. "I get out my jig vise, tie my weedguard, and add some glue, which will hold up all day. The ones with a weedguard from the companies don't hold up." Drop-Shot Rigs Davis will employ two different hook styles when fishing a drop-shot, either the same hook that he uses for Neko and Wacky Rigs and threading the bait onto the hook or using a standard drop-shot style hook and nose-hooking the bait. Image Choosing the right hook for the job will lead to more hooked bass. "When I am fishing in northern fisheries when there isn't a lot of cover, a regular drop-shot style hook is great for smaller soft plastics and finesse worms," he said. Soft jerkbaits and swimbaits Davis switches it up for these lure styles and prefers a hook with a spring to secure the bait. "I like a spring lock for certain techniques, like when I'm speed reeling a Strike King Caffeine Shad or reeling in a Strike King Shadlicious swimbait," he said. "They do a better job of keeping your bait rigged in place. I'll also use this hook when skipping docks, where the bait hits the water hard on each cast." As Davis said at the beginning, you can make your hook selection as straightforward or as complicated as you'd like to, but adjusting the hook style and size can make a big difference in hooking and landing more bass. Samsung Biologics' third plant in Songdo, Incheon / Courtesy of Samsung Biologics Samsung Biologics on Wednesday reported its second-quarter net profit jumped more than 21 percent from a year earlier largely thanks to large-scale new contracts. Net profit for three months ended in June was 185 billion won ($145.1 million) on a consolidated basis, up 21.6 percent from a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing. The operating profit was 253.4 billion won, up almost 50 percent from 169.7 billion won a year ago, and sales rose 33 percent on-year to 866.2 billion won. Samsung Biologics posted the record-high sales in the first half, raising 1.59 trillion won. The earnings exceeded market expectations. The average estimate of net profit by analysts stood at 171.9 billion won, according to a survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. Samsung Biologics attributed the increased net profit to signing of large-scale long-term contracts and full operation of three of its factories here. In the second quarter, the company won contract manufacturing organization deals with global pharmaceutical giants, including Roche, Pfizer and Novartis. The company said its subsidiary Samsung Bioepis also saw an improvement in sales. (Yonhap) This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal . The author of this post is Kevin Garcia Galindo Two distinct but almost textually identical bills banning ESG investment criteria have passed their respective legislative bodies, signaling the strong possibility that either bill becomes law.The bills in question are Senate Bill 737 and House Bill 750 - both short titled Address ESG Factors - and so far both of them have passed their respective legislative bodies.Both bills would essentially banas well asfrom being used by state agencies and state pension plans.On May 3rd, SB 737 cleared the Senate on party lines with a 30-20 vote and HB 750 passed the House with a vote of 76-41. Additionally, HB 750 was discussed by the Senate Commerce and Insurance committee Tuesday afternoon.Outlawed uses of these ESG or ETI standards include using them to either screen potential investments or manage assets in state pension plans, as well as using them to hire, fire, or evaluate state employees.Rep. Celeste Cairns, R-Carteret, sponsor of HB 750, told Carolina Journal.he added.All of this comes as the Biden administration is asking a federal judge to throw out a lawsuit against the Department of Labor over a rule that allows retirement plans to consider ESG factors when selecting investments.Last December, current state treasurer and candidate for governor, Dale Folwell, called for the firing of BlackRock CEO Larry Fink in a statement, citingand loss of confidence due to ESG investing.Folwell wrote in his statement.According to a study done by the Harvard Law School forum on corporate governance, as of March 2023, at least seven states have either enacted laws or adopted regulations that prohibit or discourage public entities from using ESG factors when investing state resources.So far, however, only two states, Idaho and North Dakota, have passed anti-ESG laws. Other states like Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, and Mississippi have only enacted policies or statements from either state treasurers or state attorneys general.the Harvard Law study stated.Sen. Daniel, R-Buncombe, sponsor of SB 750, told CJ concerning the corporate embracement of ESG, thathe added, citing an NC employee satisfaction survey.Both SB 737 and HB 750 define ESG criteria asMore comprehensively, ESG is a framework meant to captureaccording to a report from accounting and consulting firm Deloitte. This means companies instituting this framework have to report their environmental, social, and governance impact. This in turn is meant to help investors make investment decisions based on ESG pillars, which include environmental, social, and governmental impact.Broadly, the environmental pillar of ESG means reporting air, water, and ground pollution for companies. The social pillar refers to reporting how companiesand the governance pillar refers to reporting shareholders rights and diversity, according to the Deloitte report.Both SB 737 and HB 750 define economically targeted investments (ETI) requirements asAdditionally, both bills also designate requirements that gradeto fall under ETI requirements.According to RBC Global Asset Management, a global investment management firm, ETIs are best categorized as a type of investment meantSen. David Craven, R-Anson, presented HB 750, during the Senate Commerce and Insurance committee Tuesday.Sen. Natasha Marcus, D-Mecklenburg, said that it was in her understanding that the business community opposes this bill.Marcus said.Sen. Gladys Robinson, D-Guilford, also questioned why ETI was included in HB 750, and whether it was an effort to stop investment in companies led by women or minorities.Craven responded to Robinson by clarifying the ETI portion of the bill was added as a preemptive measure and that the bill only affected government entities.Craven stated.Sen. Marcus asked whether state pension fund investments could take into account issues like energy transition and securityCraven said.Senate Bill 737 now sits in the House Rules Committee for consideration and House Bill 750 has been referred to the Committee on Pensions, Retirement and Aging. This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal . The author of this post is Grant Lefelar On Tuesday, Governor Roy Cooper and other members of the North Carolina Council of State met for their monthly meeting to discuss a wide range of issues, including a controversial bill allowing for Blue Cross Blue Shield NC's organizational restructuring.Hosted by N.C. Agricultural Commissioner Steve Troxler at the recently built Agricultural Sciences Center in Raleigh, Council members State Treasurer Dale Folwell and Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, both Republicans, voiced their concerns on House Bill 346, which allows Blue Cross Blue Shield NC to restructure and create a non-profit holding company.The bill recently passed both chambers of the General Assembly with bipartisan support and has been sitting on Cooper's desk since June 1, awaiting action. Cooper has ten days to sign or veto it, or it becomes law without his signature.Both Folwell and Causey, who have vocally opposed the bill over concerns that it will cause consumers to pay higher premiums, used the meeting to appeal directly to Cooper to consider amendments proposed by Causey which were not added by the legislature.said Folwell directly to Cooper.Causey suggested that lobbying from Blue Cross NC heavily influenced H.B. 346's passage in the General Assembly.said Causey.Following the Council of State meeting, Folwell held his monthlycall where reporters asked if he'd heard back from lawmakers on the amendments to the Blue Cross NC bill.said Folwell.Other Council members attended the meeting in person: Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, State Auditor Beth Wood, Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Catherine Truitt, and Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson. The meeting took place as the General Assembly negotiated details of the state budget, which will affect initiatives undertaken by Council members and their departments in the upcoming fiscal year.Attorney General Josh Stein, currently running for the 2024 Democratic nomination for governor, attended the meeting virtually.Two participants in the meeting, Robinson and Folwell, are currently running for the Republican nomination in the upcoming gubernatorial election. Despite their rival candidacies, the meeting was strictly state business.Folwell provided the only discordance to the meeting by opposing the approval of property acquisitions by the state over transparency concerns.said Folwell.Secretary Marshall used her remarks to tee up an upcoming visit to the state by the U.S. Ambassador to Moldova Kent Logsdon and his Moldovan counterpart Viorel Ursu as part of the N.C.-Moldovan Bi-Lateral Partnership. Marshall's support for Moldova indicates continued Executive Branch support for the former Soviet state in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Moldova shares a border with Ukraine and has accepted Ukrainian refugees fleeing from the war.Insurance Commissioner Causey highlighted the State Property Fire Insurance Fund, which paid over $23 million for damages caused to state property. Major fires named in the meeting agenda include over $4 million in damage caused by a laundry fire at Sampson Correctional Institute in March 2022. Also, a mini-fridge fire at UNC's McColl Building in August 2021 caused over $300,000 in damage.Education Superintendent Catherine Truitt did not deliver a report during the meeting.Robinson led the meeting in honoring the 79th anniversary of the Normandy landings, with Cooper similarly ending the session by praising servicemen and women both past and present.Following the meeting's conclusion, members took a group photograph with political rivals, Cooper and Robinson, standing side by side.The next N.C. Council of State meeting is scheduled for July 11, 2023. All council positions will be up for statewide election in 2024. I will depend on my Democratic Socialist politicians to continue to march hard toward the Left to provide Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for all who think and do as they are told. I will defend the Constitution of the United States of America, and support all elected leaders who pledge to protect and insure the continued sovereignty of this Representative Republic. I am very concerned about maintaining my current life style without working. I was told that as long as I vote Democrat, I had nothing to worry about ... but now I worry. 223 total vote(s) What's your Opinion? Refusing banking services due to a customer's political views is under heavy fire in the UK, as the major banking group that includes the 331-year old bank that closed the accounts of Brexit leader Nigel Farage for his political views saw its stock plunge 3% in a public backlash and its CEO forced to resign. CEO Allison Rose has had to resign her 5 milliion pound ($5.2 million) a year position and there are calls for the entire board of the banking group to resign. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have gotten personally involved in demanding that banks cease and desist from their "woke" culture of looking at the political views of customers. The cabinet minister whose department covers banking convened a virtual banking summit with major bank CEOs, reading them the riot act over "woke" culture. He demanded that the banks agree to a policy of "non-discrimination based on lawful freedom of expression" and all did so. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12339725/NatWest-carnage-shares-plunge-boss-Alison-Rose-forced-quit-Nigel-Farage-banking-scandal-calls-rest-board-ministers-read-riot-act-banks-woke-culture.html https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2023/07/27/bankers-read-riot-act-as-uk-govt-looks-outlaw-political-debanking-in-farage-fallout/ https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/farage-vows-to-uncover-the-truth-about-banking-scandal/ Meanwhile, de-banking for political views is also happening in the United States with no pushback here: https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/07/jp-morgan-suddenly-shuts-down-bank-accounts-mercola/ The California Supreme Court has resurrected a case that could impact whether or not insurers can punish physicians for referring patients to out-of-network providers, according to a July 25 report from Medscape. The case, which first entered the courtroom in 2012, was filed by the California Medical Association, which alleges that one of the nation's largest health insurers, Aetna, illegally retaliated against physicians who sent patients to out-of-network clinics. On July 17, the California court unanimously agreed to resurrect CMA v. Aetna after an appeals judge killed it claiming that CMA had no standing to sue Aetna. The suit alleges that Aetna harassed and fired contract physicians who referred patients to out-of-network ASCs. Aetna, now part of CVS Health, has declined to comment on the ruling, according to the report. "The practice of threatening physicians who refer patients to out-of-network providers is unlawful, and we are pleased that the court agrees that CMA has the right to challenge these practices in court," CMA President Donaldo Hernandez, MD, told Medscape. College Admissions Visitors Center at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., July 6. Reuters-Yonhap The U.S. Department of Education is investigating whether Harvard racially discriminates by favoring applicants with ties to donors and alumni in its admissions process, according to a letter from the agency. The department's Office for Civil Rights opened the probe following a complaint filed earlier this month by three civil rights groups, who argued that Harvard's preference for "legacy" undergraduate applicants overwhelmingly benefits white students, in violation of a federal civil rights law. Many colleges and universities use legacy admissions policies, but they have drawn renewed scrutiny since June, when the Supreme Court struck down race-conscious policies adopted by Harvard College and the University of North Carolina to ensure more non-white students are admitted. Applicants with legacy or donor ties to Harvard College, the undergraduate school of Harvard University, are nearly 70 percent white, and six to seven times more likely to be admitted than regular applicants, according to the complaint. Those statistics were calculated from Harvard admissions data that became public as a result of the case that the Supreme Court decided in June. The Education Department is expected to collect more current data in the course of its investigation. A Harvard spokesperson said the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Ivy League school is reviewing aspects of its admissions policies to ensure it can continue admitting a diverse student body following the Supreme Court's decision. "Harvard remains dedicated to ... redoubling our efforts to encourage students from many different backgrounds to apply for admission," the Harvard spokesperson, Nicole Rura, said in a statement. The Education Department through a spokesperson confirmed it had an open investigation under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars race discrimination for programs receiving federal funds. The agency had no further comment. Wesleyan University and the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus announced they would stop using legacy admissions in July, following a handful of other U.S. higher education institutions that have ended them in recent years. "Simply put, Harvard is on the wrong side of history," said Oren Sellstrom, the litigation director of Lawyers for Civil Rights, the Boston-based group representing the civil rights groups who prompted the Education Department investigation. Proponents of affirmative action hold signs during a protest at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, July 1. AFP-Yonhap A former nurse at the Oregon Department of Corrections was found guilty of sexually assaulting nine inmates at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville (Ore.). Tony Klein was convicted of 17 counts of depriving his victims of their constitutional right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment by sexual assault and four counts of perjury, according to a July 25 news release from the Justice Department. Mr. Klein served as a nurse at the women's prison from 2010 until January 2018. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Former gynecologist Robert Hadden, MD, who has been accused of sexually abusing several patients over the course of about 25 years, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, according to a July 25 news release from the Justice Department. Dr. Hadden was formerly employed by Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. He was indicted on charges related to cases in which four patients traveled between states for their gynecological appointments and were sexually abused. Prosecutors alleged in the 2020 indictment that Dr. Hadden assaulted "dozens of female patients, including multiple minors" between 1993 and 2012, CBS News reported. The trial includes viable evidence relating to 40 victims; however, a U.S. probation office pre-sentence report estimated the total number of potential victims as "at least approximately 245," CBS News reported. In addition to 20 years in prison, Dr. Hadden must face a lifetime of supervision after his release. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a $400 special assessment fee, according to the Justice Department. A spokesperson for Columbia University's Irving Medical Center said in a statement to CBS News that the hospital "is profoundly sorry for the pain that Robert Hadden's patients suffered and his exploitation of their trust." Johanah Napoleon, former president and owner of the Palm Beach School of Nursing in West Palm Beach, Fla., has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for awarding at least 7,600 fake diplomas, according to a July 25 report from Medscape. In addition to the prison time, Ms. Napoleon has been ordered to pay $3.5 million in fines, $2.6 million of which she has already paid. Ms. Napoleon was originally charged in 2021 along with two owners of nursing schools in Maryland and Virginia. She pleaded guilty to selling fake degrees for between $6,000 and $18,000. The Florida Board of Nursing shut down her school in 2017 for its low passing rate on the national licensing exam. Purchasers of the fake degrees received transcripts showing they had completed coursework. Some of the 2,800 buyers passed the national licensing exam, becoming registered nurses around the country. Originally, the sentencing guidelines for Ms. Napoleon recommended four years, but her lawyer requested a lower sentence due to her cooperation with the ongoing federal investigation. She will appear as a government witness in a November trial against 14 defendants in the case involving the Palm Beach School. State boards have been trying to locate nurses who received fake degrees, with the New York nursing board asking 903 nurses in March to either submit proof of appropriate education or surrender their licenses. As consumer interest in shopping malls has continued to decrease since the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare systems have started to fill the unused space. To date, space in more than 32 malls nationwide has been turned into healthcare facilities. Here are four ASCs opening in former department stores: 1. Camden, N.J.-based Cooper University Health Care has unveiled a $150 million ambulatory care center with an ASC in a former Sears department store in Moorestown, N.J. 2. An ASC opened by the University of Rochester Medicine Center for Orthopaedics and Physical Performance Surgery Center in Henrietta, N.Y., replaced a vacant Sears store in The Marketplace Mall. 3. New York City-based NYU Langone Health plans to build 700,000 square feet of ASCs in former Sears, Burlington and Lord & Taylor stores. 4. A former Sears store in Ontario, Ohio, is being converted into a medical office building with a pain management facility. An Ohio dental practice will relocate to an expanded office to make room for more staff and patients, crawfordcountynow.com reported July 26. Upper Sandusky-based Fay Family Dental Care will relocate to a larger building in August. Practice owner Morgan Fay, DDS, told the news organization that the new space will feature eight hygiene rooms instead of four. The practice also hired a third dental hygienist. The dental practice provides a variety of services for adult and pediatric patients. Once relocated, it will offer nitrous oxide and expand its hours starting Sept. 5. UCHealth Highlands Ranch (Colo.) Hospital broke ground on a $119 million expansion project, adding two new buildings to the hospital that is regularly at capacity. On the top floor of an existing building, the hospital is adding 31,687 square feet of space for additional beds and operating rooms. The hospital is also building a 194,000-square-foot tower that will add 14 more emergency room beds, according to a July 24 UCHealth news release. The hospital expects to complete the construction in late 2025. UCHealth officials said that they hope the added space keeps local patients from having to travel to Aurora, Colo.-based Anschutz Medical Campus. "Our beds are full all the time, our operating rooms are fully booked," Merle Taylor, UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital president, told the Douglas County News-Press. "We do need more space and we are recognizing that people want to be here in this hospital." Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signed a bill into law July 24 that will license all freestanding birth centers allowing them to more seamlessly operate throughout the state, according to a news release. "This new law will help combat gaps in access to maternal health care that are preventing patients from receiving the care they need," Mr. Lamont said in a statement. "These birth centers can open and operate independently, creating an alternative that makes accessing this essential care easier and more convenient and giving parents more choices on where to receive their birthing care." When the legislation was introduced in the state's house and senate, it passed unanimously both times, according to the release. The signing of the law comes as multiple reports from agencies including the CDC, the World Health Organization and many others have cited that maternal mortality continues to be an ongoing crisis, often worse for mothers of color. At the same time, birth centers and maternity units across the U.S. are continuing to close at high rates, leaving areas without access to needed care. Connecticut's new law aims to make the situation better in the state and will prioritize four key aspects: The weather. It's a topic that doesn't come up often in hospital news reporting, but this summer is set to be one of the hottest on record, and many hospitals are already grappling with the consequences of extreme heat. "We're overcrowded with patients," Frank LoVecchio, DO, an emergency medicine physician at Valleywise Health Medical Center in Phoenix a city that has seen a record 25 straight days of temperatures above 110 degrees told NBC News in a July 16 report. At the time, 20 percent of patients seen in the emergency room were there for heat-related issues. "I've been working here since 1996, this same hospital, and this is one of the worst summers because we've had so many days in a row [of] this super warm weather." New Mexico is on track to break records for heat-related emergency department visits, according to state health department data cited by local news outlet KRQE. CDC data also indicates the number of heat-related illnesses and emergency department visits in the U.S. have increased year over year. As of July 25, more than 40 million people in the U.S. were under heat advisories. Temperatures were set to hit or exceed 110 degrees in cities such as Palm Springs, Calif.; Phoenix; and Las Vegas. El Paso, Texas, has also seen a record 39 days with temperatures above 100 degrees. In addition to capacity strain, persistent high temperatures may also affect hospital operations and finances. For one Texas hospital, keeping air conditioning systems running during a heat wave means extra monitoring and maintenance work, according to local news outlet KETK Overall, rising global temperatures and extreme heat cost healthcare about $1 billion each summer, new findings estimate. Amazon Web Services is entering the healthcare artificial intelligence race with the launch of its new AWS HealthScribe tool designed to generate clinical documentation. The tool uses both speech recognition and generative AI to save clinicians time with paperwork. After generating a summary of the conversation between clinician and patient, the results can be uploaded to the EHR. HealthScribe cites every line of generated text from the original conversation to allow clinicians to review for accuracy before uploading. Amazon joins tech disruptors Google and Microsoft in piloting healthcare AI programs designed to save clinicians time. HealthScribe is HIPAA-eligible, according to a July 26 AWS news release. AWS customers 3M Health Information Systems, Babylon Health and ScribeEMR are already using the tool. "Our healthcare customers and partners tell us they want to spend more time creating innovative clinical care and research solutions for their patients while spending less time building, maintaining, and operating foundational health data capabilities," Bratin Saha, vice president of machine learning and AI Services at AWS, said in the release. "That is why AWS has invested in building a portfolio of AI-powered, high-performance, and population-scale health applications so that clinicians can spend more time with the patients during the face-to-face or telehealth visits Adventist Health St. Helena (Calif.) is looking for a partner to promote its services and improve its financial situation, the St. Helena Star reported July 25. Steven Herber, MD, president of the hospital, told the publication it is in talks with several potential partners, but did not identify any of them due to confidentiality agreements. Challenges arising from the pandemic including nurses and physicians retiring, local hospitals competing for s small pool of healthcare workers and the rising cost of labor led Adventist Health St. Helena to begin a new search for a partner, according to the report. The hospital's parent company, Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health, believe that a new partner could help Adventist Health St. Helena market some of its high-acuity services, such as orthopedics and atrial fibrillation, to patients beyond its local area. "We've got capacity. We've got these wonderful programs, but we're not as busy as we could be or need to be," Dr. Herber told the Star. "A partner might help us get the word out more effectively." Figure Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the CPC Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, attends the 13th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 25. Xinhua-Yonhap China named veteran diplomat Wang Yi its new foreign minister on Tuesday, removing former rising star Qin Gang after a mysterious one-month absence from duties barely half a year into the job. Qin, 57, a former aide to President Xi Jinping and envoy to the United States, took over the ministry in December but has not been seen in public since June 25 when he met visiting diplomats in Beijing. The ministry has said he was off work for health reasons without giving details, sparking speculation and drawing attention to the secrecy often surrounding China's Communist leadership and decision making. Qin's successor Wang, 69, was also his predecessor, holding the post from 2013-2022 as ties frayed with rival superpower the United States to a point Beijing described as an all-time low. He has filled in for Qin during his absence and this week represented China at a national security advisers' meeting of BRICS countries in Johannesburg. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Qin on June 18, on the first visit by America's top diplomat to China in five years. The U.S. State Department said then they held "candid, substantive, and constructive" talks and Blinken invited Qin to Washington to continue discussions. Blinken subsequently met Wang on the sidelines of a regional meeting in Jakarta in Qin's absence. Chinese state media did not say why Qin was removed and China's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Xi signed a presidential order to make the decision effective, state news agency Xinhua reported. "The lack of an explanation opens more questions than provides answers," said Ja Ian Chong, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore. "It also underscores the opacity and unpredictability, even arbitrariness in the current political system." Qin's apparent disappearance was not the first unexplained absence of a Chinese official. Industry minister Xiao Yaqing vanished from public view for nearly a month last year before it was revealed he was being investigated for corruption. Then newly elected Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang takes his oath during a session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, March 12. AP-Yonhap Key lines of communication U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told a regular briefing on Tuesday it was up to China to choose its foreign minister and Blinken had met Wang multiple times. "We will continue to engage with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other Chinese officials, and we continue to believe that keeping lines of communication (is) incredibly important," he said. Asked whether Blinken's invite to Qin to Washington would be extended to his successor, Patel said: "Ultimately it would be for the PRC to announce any travel to the United States." Qin was one of China's youngest foreign ministers, enjoying a meteoric ascent that analysts attributed in part to his closeness to Xi. He was twice foreign ministry spokesman, between 2006-2014, and chief protocol officer from 2014-2018, overseeing many of Xi's contacts with foreign leaders. He was posted to Washington as ambassador in July 2021, after a period of unusual public vitriol between U.S. and Chinese officials. Wang retakes the foreign ministry helm as China seeks to re-engage with the world after years of COVID-induced isolation, as a mooted economic recovery fails to gain hold, and Beijing spars with Washington over issues from Ukraine, Russia and Taiwan to trade and technology disputes. "The choice of Wang Yi is rational," said Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center in Washington. "To convey a sense of stability and credibility, China needs to select someone who is senior, authoritative and impeccable." Figure US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, shakes hands with Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China's Central Committee Wang Yi during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers Meeting in Jakarta, July 13. AFP-Yonhap Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems completed the sale of one of its hospitals in April and signed definitive agreements to sell six others this year, pending regulatory approvals. On April 1, the for-profit system sold Plateau Medical Center in Oak Hill, W.Va., to Vandalia Health headquartered in Charleston, W.Va. for $92 million. CHS is also selling the Medical Center of South Arkansas in El Dorado to South Arkansas Regional Hospital. Definitive agreements were also struck for the sale of Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in Mooresville, N.C., and Davis Regional Medical Center in Statesville, N.C., to Winston-Salem-based Novant Health for about $320 million. CHS' most recent transaction is the proposed sale of three Florida hospitals to Tampa General Hospital for approximately $290 million. The hospitals include Bravera Health Brooksville, Bravera Health Seven Rivers in Crystal River and Bravera Health Spring Hill. During CHS' first-quarter earnings call, president and CFO Kevin Hammons said the system is considering potential divestitures to "provide opportunities to pay down debt as well as allow opportunities to reinvest resources to areas of our portfolio to further accelerate their long-term growth in earnings." CHS comprises 77 owned or leased affiliate hospitals across 15 states, according to its website. But the health system offloaded dozens of hospitals from its portfolio in recent years. In 2016, CHS began refining its portfolio with the spinoff of Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health, which included 38 hospitals and its hospital management and consulting business. Over the next three years, CHS sold or closed dozens of hospitals. Selling off hospitals and their associated assets helped reduce CHS' debt load. The health system had $13.88 billion in long-term debt when it announced its divestiture plan at the end of 2017. Since then, its net debt has shrunk substantially. Part-time work in healthcare has accelerated since the pandemic and systems are finding new ways to manage the shifting workforce. Part-time physicians have fluctuated throughout the last two decades. In 2005, only 13 percent of physicians were working 20 to 29 hours per week, compared with 2011, when part-time physicians made up 21 percent of the physician workforce. Now, systems are seeing more physicians reducing their work to part-time hours, but often by small amounts. Full-time physicians are classified as 1.0 FTE, and many are reducing their status to 0.8 or 0.9. "That's not uncommon," Melissa Love, vice president of professional staff services at New Orleans-based Ochsner Health, told Becker's. "We see requests where people are looking for a little extra time in their life, but they're not trying to dial back to a dramatic part-time change. They might adjust their FTE by point one to be able to allocate more time in their day for things outside of work." Kim Moore, MD, chief medical officer at Tacoma, Wash.-based Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, said 25 percent of physicians in its workforce across specialties hold a part-time schedule. At UNC Health Rex in Raleigh, N.C., 19 of its 59 hospitalists are part time. Of them, five were hired part time and 14 reduced their clinical hours over the years, Meera Udayakumar, MD, chief medical officer of the system, told Becker's. Of those 19 part-time physicians, 14 are women. However, female physicians are not the most common demographic reducing hours. Leaders at four systems told Becker's that most physicians who request part-time status are either nearing retirement or looking to improve their work-life balance. "I think people have gotten a taste of more balance in their life and they're like, 'Why am I sacrificing all of this to an institution?'" Doug Bruce, MD, chief clinical integration officer at Cleveland-based MetroHealth, told Becker's. Dr. Moore added that "part-time work is particularly advantageous for providers who are looking for more work-life balance, who need flexibility to manage family situations such as caring for a sick family member or who may be looking to reduce their workload in preparation for retirement." There are also a number of physicians who reduce clinical hours to take on administrative positions, Dr. Udayakumar said. While some leaders credit part-time work with keeping physicians in the fields, they grapple with how to keep morale up while still providing patient care. The benefits of part-time work include reduced burnout and physicians willing to stay in their roles for longer, but the reduced hours can leave systems scrambling to meet patient demands. However, leaders do not expect part-time physicians to disappear. "We might have this old-fashioned idea of physicians spending all their time at work and not having time for anything else family or hobbies until they retire. That model is not sustainable," Dr. Udayakumar said. "We need to be flexible and make healthcare a career that people want to go into and want to stay in for as long as possible." "I think people are looking for more, certainly in the physician world," Robert Hart, MD, chief physician executive at Ochsner Health, told Becker's. "I think people are looking for more work-life balance than what traditionally medicine has offered and technology is going to make that better. We already see lots of opportunities to create work-life balance with telemedicine and AI." Physicians who provided medical misinformation that affected patient's care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic have seen few consequences, The Washington Post found. The Federation of State Medical Boards, a nonprofit that represents all U.S. state medical boards, warned in July 2021 that physicians could risk their medical licenses by furthering COVID-19 misinformation online and in the media. The Post analyzed disciplinary records from medical boards in all 50 states. At least 20 doctors nationally were disciplined for complaints of COVID-19 misinformation between January 2020 and June 2023. Five of those physicians lost their medical licenses, with one revoked and four surrendered. Medical boards in at least 14 states had taken disciplinary action against one or more physicians. The discipline of 20 physicians reflects a small portion of the number of complaints medical boards fielded about COVID-19 misinformation over three years. The Post's requests to the boards returned at least 480 COVID-misinformation-related complaints. By the end of 2021, two-thirds of state medical boards reported an increase in the number of COVID-19 misinformation complaints coming in. Many of the complaints related to physicians' promotion of ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19. The drugs have been disproved as effective treatments for the virus and are not recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration. "State boards can only do limited things," Humayun Chaudhry, DO, president of FSMB, told the Post. "The most common refrain I hear from state licensing boards is they would like to have more resources meaning more individuals who can investigate complaints, more attorneys, more people who can process these complaints sooner to do their job better." Medical boards' decisions are not unilateral, and several states have passed laws to thwart medical boards' oversight the last two years. No organization monitors how many physicians have been penalized for spreading COVID-19 misinformation. An Idaho jury ordered Ammon Bundy, Diego Rodriguez, the People's Rights Network, Freedom Man Press, and the Bundy campaign for governor to pay $52.5 million to Boise-based St. Luke's Health System and other plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging harassment and intimidation against St. Luke's and its team members, according to statements from the health system and its legal counsel. On July 24, the jury found the defendants liable for defamation, among other claims, the legal counsel for St. Luke's said. Defendants are required to pay $26 million in punitive damages and $26.5 million in compensatory damages. Mr. Bundy founder of far-right group the People's Rights Network was ordered to pay the plaintiffs $6.2 million in compensatory damages and $6.15 million in punitive damages, and Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Bundy's associate, was ordered to pay $7 million in compensatory damages and $6.5 million in punitive damages. "Taking legal action is not something we take lightly. But standing up to the threats, bullying, intimidation, disruption, and self-serving actions of the defendants was necessary. Inaction would have signaled that their menacing behavior was acceptable. Clearly, it is not, and the jury's decision validates that fact," Chris Roth, president and CEO of St. Luke's, said in a news release after the jury's decision. The decision is a result of a lawsuit filed in May 2022 related to a protest over an infant's care that prompted a hospital lockdown. The lawsuit alleges Mr. Bundy and his supporters threatened hospital workers and disrupted health services while protesting the hospitalization of the infant grandson of Mr. Rodriguez. St. Luke's downtown Boise hospital went on lockdown March 15, 2022, after Mr. Rodriguez's then 10-month-old grandson was brought to the hospital for treatment following police determination that the infant was in "imminent danger." The infant, who was first treated at the hospital earlier in March for severe malnourishment and discharged March 4, 2022, was placed in the custody of the state after police said his parents failed to bring him to follow-up medical appointments. St. Luke's Health System alleges that Mr. Bundy and Mr. Rodriguez "acted in concert with the other defendants to launch a knowingly dishonest and baseless smear campaign that claimed Idaho state employees, the judiciary, the police, primary care providers and the St. Luke's parties engaged in widespread kidnapping, trafficking and killing of Idaho children." The health system also said the defendants asked followers to protest at the hospital to disrupt the hospital's operations, which resulted in the hour-long lockdown. Protests also took place at the health system's Meridian, Idaho, campus. Mr. Bundy, who was a gubernatorial candidate at the time, and Mr. Rodriguez essentially forfeited the case after failing to appear in court or respond to a judge's orders, according to the Idaho Statesman. This means the case went to the damages portion of the trial. "The Ada county courts are embarrassing," Mr. Bundy texted the Idaho Capital Sun after the order. "This recent verdict confirms everything I have been saying. I am glad I did not participate and legitimize this mockery of justices." Mr. Rodriguez, in an email to the Idaho Capital Sun, said he attempted to participate in the court process and called the lawsuit "frivolous." "This entire lawsuit is a slap in the face to everyone who cares about freedom and the Constitution, as [is] our constitutional right to freedom of speech and to just plain tell the truth," he said, repeating accusations that the health system "kidnapped" his grandson. Mr. Rodriguez vowed to continue "to publish the truth" on his websites "no matter if the final judgment is for a billion or a gazillion dollars." St. Luke's said any monetary damages awarded by the jury to St. Luke's or Mr. Roth will be donated to St. Luke's Children at Risk Evaluation Services. Robert Hadden, MD, a former OB-GYN physician at New York City-based Columbia University, who was convicted of sexual abuse earlier this year, was sentenced July 25 to 20 years in prison, according to a July 25 news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. Dr. Hadden was convicted on four counts of enticement and inducement to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity, each of which carries a five-year maximum sentence. "Under the guise of medical treatment, Robert Hadden sexually abused and assaulted numerous patients for approximately 25 years, exploiting them in vulnerable moments for his own sexual gratification," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated in the release. Dr. Hadden also spoke for the first time during his sentencing after his attorneys submitted a request on his behalf to do so July 24. "I just want to say that I'm very sorry for all the pain I have caused," he said according to the New York Daily News. "Thank you." As a result of Dr. Hadden's misconduct, multiple New York hospitals settled for $165 million with 147 former patients who cited the former gynecologist as the perpetrator of sexual abuse in October 2022. A physician was injured July 25 by a gunman who fired inside of a Texas medical building, Fox News reported. Police received a call around 12:17 p.m. to Cedar Hill, Texas-based Methodist Family Health Center about a person with a gun in the building. A minute later, the dispatcher heard a gunshot, Spectrum News 1 reported. Police arrived to find a physician laying on the ground in front of the center and witnessed the suspected shooter get into a car and drive away. Police chased the suspect for about a block before he crashed into another car, CBS News reported. The Cedar Hill Police Chief Ely Reyes said multiple officers were on scene at the crash and observed the suspect with a long gun. Five officers "discharged their firearms at the suspect," he said, and the wounded suspect was removed from his vehicle. Officers began life-saving measures until medics arrived and the suspect was transported to Methodist Dallas Medical Center, where he was in stable but critical condition. The injured physician was also taken to an area hospital and is in stable condition, according to the report. Becker's has reached out to the system for comment and will update this story if more information becomes available. As the nursing shortage grows, stressing an already burned out workforce, the remedy of retention has become obvious to hospital executives, but some nurses say they're often left out of conversations about this solution. What they really want may not always be wellness programs or appreciation days that hospitals develop. 2023 is different. The nursing workforce is no longer navigating the challenges of a global pandemic, but rather recovering from one. The pandemic brought many challenges and weaknesses in U.S. healthcare to light, but three years later, some say there may be a disconnect. Defining 'wellness' for nurses can help define retention Several hospitals and health systems have established wellness programs to support nurses, but is it enough? "When I was the CNO in a hospital setting, we hired a consultant to come in and do a burnout survey for us with all of our nursing team members," Patti Artley, DNP, RN, chief nursing officer at Medical Solutions, and former chief nursing officer at the Medical University of South Carolina said. "We found that the units were not all in the same place. There were some units that maybe didn't have as much COVID impact, or they were not challenged as much by ratios because they had vacancy. Regardless of whatever the issues were, we recognized a lot of variability in what their needs were. Some were as basic as they really need to get their breaks and their lunch, whereas others were more concerned about self actualization and said they needed more joy in their work. Our nurses needed different things in different places to support their wellness." Celeste Armstrong, RN, an operating room nurse leader at MidState Medical Center in Meriden, Conn., told Becker's she has found the same thing. Wellness looks different for nurses in different units, who have different backgrounds, needs and desires. "I've had multiple members of my staff tell me that they've actually accessed our work mental health services and found counselors through the program, which was actually surprising to me, because I've also heard people say, 'I just don't have time to do that,'" Ms. Armstrong said. But, there is another piece of the puzzle, she explained. Nurses leave because they lack support and finding out what they really want and need is the ultimate retention strategy. "Whether that be supporting them in their continued education, making sure they have all of their supplies, making sure they have all the resources and knowledge necessary to be able to do their job. I also need to be flexible because people need to have balance, Ms. Armstrong said. "They need to be able to step away from work and fill themselves up because nursing is a really difficult job. So I really try to be mindful of allowing people time off of work when we can get them time off of work. That in itself is a big retention strategy." Preparing for new nurses' wants and needs More than 18 percent of nurses quit within their first year on the job, according to the American Nurses Association. New nurses are interested in continuing their education, work-life balance, and mental health, leaders say, which is in line with similar desires expressed by Gen Zers in the American workforce. Understanding this and preparing accordingly can help hospital and health system leaders recalculate how to attract, support and retain the newest members of the nursing workforce. "More nurses are enrolling in graduate level educational programs to increase their knowledge and to have opportunities to seek employment in advanced practice roles and leadership positions," Francine Laterza, EdD, RN, the director of nursing and an assistant professor at St. John's University in Queens, N.Y. told Becker's. "These opportunities can lead to higher job satisfaction, increased salaries, maintenance of work-life balance and overall wellbeing. Support of advanced nursing education is crucial to maintaining a thriving, professional nursing workforce and decreasing burnout." Working 12-hour shifts, weekends, nights and holidays is something leaders at hospitals and in academia could also work to better prepare new nurses for, Dr. Artley said. "I think one of the things that hospitals have to really be working on is how do they expand the number of clinical sites. I was constantly pressed in an academic medical center to expand those," Dr. Artley said. "I recognize the limitations that exist, but I think we really have to determine a path more creatively for shifts on weekends and holidays if necessary. Nursing is not just a Monday through Friday day shift, and I think approaching clinicals in this way would also prepare the nursing students for those off shifts. You don't come out of college working day shift and not working weekends and that can be challenging. I think that that's something we have to be able to do to better prepare new nurses for." Pfizer told hospital buyers that 65 of its products "may experience continued or new supply disruptions in the near term" because less than three months' worth of supply is in the market. In a letter dated July 21 two days after a tornado struck one of its largest drug manufacturing plants Pfizer said the "three-month inventory threshold represents an abundance of caution based on the information available today and is not reflective of any estimates of production restart." The list includes multiple drugs already in shortage, such as blood pressure drug dobutamine, blood thinner heparin, common antibiotic dextrose, and local anesthetics lidocaine and bupivacaine. Before the tornado hit the Rocky Mount, N.C.-based facility, Pfizer told the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists it expected its shortages of heparin to resolve between July and August and dobutamine in August. There is no estimated resupply date for dextrose. In early July, Pfizer predicted some bupivacaine solutions to be unavailable until March 2025. The company also forecast its lidocaine shortage to slowly resolve between July and October 2023. It's unclear if or how these shortages will be affected. The tornado mostly damaged the plant's warehouse, but the manufacturing side is closed as officials assess structural integrity and transfer finished product to other distribution centers. A physician in Tamarac, Fla., began to perform surgery on a patient's incorrect knee, almost exactly 21 years after performing surgery on the wrong hip of another patient, according to a July 25 report from the Miami Herald. Richard Berkowitz, MD, is an orthopedist specializing in hip and knee reconstructive surgery and has now been fined for medical mistakes during both of these surgeries. The most recent case occurred Feb. 24, 2020, when a patient was supposed to get a left knee replacement, and Dr. Berkowitz began making an incision in the patient's right leg. Once the surgical staff notified him that the surgery was supposed to be on the opposite knee, Dr. Berkowitz halted the procedure and obtained consent from the patient's family to begin correctly operating on the left knee. The state's board of medicine approved a settlement, posted July 17, totaling $15,443 in fines. Dr. Berkowitz was fined $10,000 for a wrong site surgery and $5,443 to reimburse the Florida Department of Health's case costs, according to the report. Aside from fines, Dr. Berkowitz is required to take a continuing medical education course on wrong site surgeries and a risk management course, both spanning five hours long. Additionally, Dr. Berkowitz must offer 50 hours of medical services free of charge and give a lecture to hospitals discussing wrong site surgeries. An official reprimand has also been issued against his license, according to the report. Dr. Berkowitz's first medical mistake occurred Dec. 12, 2000, when he performed a percutaneous pinning of a patient's incorrect femur. Dr. Berkowitz realized he had performed the surgery on the wrong hip while the patient was in recovery and then brought the patient back into surgery and pinned the left hip. Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting on economic issues via a video conference at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, July 25. AP-Yonhap Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to visit China in October, planning his visit to coincide with a "One Belt, One Road" forum, Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov told reporters on Tuesday, according to the Russian state news agency TASS. China has become Russia's most significant ally since early last year, when the West's already strained ties with Moscow were chilling further as Putin was preparing to send his armed forces into Ukraine. Putin last visited Beijing just before the invasion, which Russia calls a "special military operation", and together with Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a "no limits" partnership that has extended into economic, trade, political and military areas. China has declined to blame Moscow for the war and condemned Western sanctions on Russia, even as it has profited by securing discounts for oil and gas that Russia no longer sells to Europe, and watched Russia increasingly use its yuan as a reserve currency, in preference to the U.S. dollar. Xi in turn came to Moscow in March, sealing a series of economic and other agreements with his "dear friend" Putin. China presented a paper in Moscow calling for a de-escalation and eventual ceasefire in Ukraine, but Kyiv and its Western allies rejected the plan, saying it would lock in Russian territorial gains. (Reuters) Project could help Belfast firm win orders and create more jobs Harland & Wolff has said a shipbuilding credit guarantee scheme launched by the UK government could help it create more jobs Belfast shipbuilder Harland & Wolff could create more jobs as it hopes to benefit from a new Government-backed scheme to aid the purchase of UK-built ships. The Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme (SCGS) would help buyers access finance to buy UK-built vessels and upgrade existing ships, with the government acting as guarantor for lenders. The UK Department for Business and Trade claimed the scheme would create hundreds of UK jobs, including in Belfast, and contribute millions of pounds to the UK economy based on the demand for commercial shipbuilding. John Wood, Harland & Wolff CEO, said: Were delighted to welcome the launch of the Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme. The scheme will help UK shipbuilders to compete, win orders, and create new high-quality jobs across the country. We look forward to using the scheme as both a customer and builder. Its a core deliverable from the National Shipbuilding Strategy, and we are committed to working with colleagues in government and across industry to accelerate its delivery so we can realise the objective of a competitive, innovative, and sustainable shipbuilding enterprise. As well as Belfast, Harland & Wolff also has two yards in Scotland and another in Appledore, Devon. The ailing Belfast business was bought out of administration in 2019 by InfraStrata plc, which subsequently rebranded its entire business as Harland & Wolff. The SCGS is part of the 4bn National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh, aimed at boosting the shipbuilding sector, which the government said contributes 2.8bn a year to the UK economy and supports 42,000 jobs. Nusrat Ghani, Minister for Industry and Economic Security, said: With cutting-edge vessels designed and built here in the UK, this will be a boost to high-skilled careers and every company involved in the supply chain for shipbuilding, helping us to grow the economy. Nusrat Bhani, Minister for Industry and Economic Security The SCGS will guarantee a percentage of the value of loans used to purchase, refit, retrofit or repair vessels, sharing the risk with lenders to encourage offers of finance to UK vessel owners and operators. It said that as well as supporting a vast supply chain and skilled jobs across the UK, shipbuilding also delivers world-leading capabilities for the Royal Navy, making a significant contribution to national security. The scheme was announced as Harland & Wolff continues negotiations to complete a 200m refinancing facility with UK Export Finance and a syndicate of private lenders and commercial banks. The facility is expected to complete in early autumn 2023 though the company warned that failure to raise the funds would cast significant doubt on its ability to continue as a going concern. The business reported a loss of 70.35m in 2022, rising from 25.5m, in financial results announced at the start of this month. However, revenue had risen by 51% to 27.96m. Its role in a 1.6bn Ministry of Defence contract to help build three fleet solid support vessels is expected to earn around 750m but work is not due to start until 2025. It has said it will create 900 jobs in Belfast to fulfil the contract. Belfast will be in charge of final assembly, following design in Bath and build work in Spain Harland & Wolff has said that it plans to invest 77m in the Belfast shipyard and add a total of up to 1,200 shipyard jobs in Belfast and Appledore in order to carry out the contract. Jack Gleeson will star as Wentworth in BBC's The Famous Five (BBC) Game of Thones star Jack Gleeson will make a return to acting in a BBC adaption of Enid Blytons The Famous Five, almost ten years after he announced he was quitting Hollywood. The actor, who was born in Cork, famously played the evil King Joffrey Baratheon in HBOs hit fantasy series which was primarily filmed in Northern Ireland. After his character was dramatically killed off in the series in 2014, Gleeson revealed he would be stepping back from acting to focus on academia as he was not deriving as much enjoyment from acting as he used to. Read more Second Game Of Thrones prequel series ordered by HBO However, he will now step back in front of the camera in the literary adaption which is being helmed by famous art house director Nicolas Winding Refn, whose films include Drive and The Neon Demon, Gleeson will star as Wentworth in the series, which famously follows young five explorers as they find themselves caught up in mysteries and adventures. The Famous Five will be played by Diaana Babnicova as George, alongside Elliott Rose as Julian, Kit Rakusen as Dick, and Flora Jacoby Richardson as Anne. The fifth member is dog Timmy, who will be played by Bearded Collie cross Kip. The series is set to debut on the BBC, and will be based on Enid Blytons 21 stories which were published between 1942 to 1962 however which specific story the series will take inspiration from is unknown. Filming is currently underway in the south of England. Depending on scheduling, the series may not mark Gleesons official return to acting as he will next be seen in thriller In the Land of Saints and Sinners with Northern Ireland actors Liam Neeson and Ciaran Hinds. The action picture, which has been nicknamed Irish Avengers due to its cast, follows an assassin who is targeted while staying a sleepy Irish village. Alongside Gleeson, Hinds and Neeson, the film also stars Kerry Condon and Connor MacNeil. It will debut next month at the Venice Film Festival and is due to be released on Netflix in the UK and Ireland next year. One of Dame Alisons first big decisions was to ditch the name RBS Group in favour of NatWest Group (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Dame Alison or just Ms Rose as she was at the time made history in 2019 when she became the first woman to take the top job at one of the UKs big four banks. She took over a bank from New Zealander Ross McEwan, which had stabilised after the financial crisis nearly killed it. But there were still major challenges for the then 49-year old as she took the reins of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Group. Since becoming boss of NatWest, Dame Alison has been a regular at top meetings in Whitehall (James Manning/PA) Seen as a details-oriented chief executive, in private her employees would say that her grasp of what was going on at the bank could leave them scrambling in response to her questions. After the massive change under Mr McEwan, Dame Alison was seen as a continuity candidate whose consistency and reputation as a reliable banker would help steer the bank through a less turbulent time. In the six years preceding her appointment, the group had seen its headcount reduce from 109,000 to 66,600 and it had withdrawn from 26 of 28 countries. But as she took charge for the first time, it was clear Dame Alison wanted to make an impression, complaining that the bank was still far too complex and that it was difficult to get things done. However, one of her first big marks on the bank was, fairly cosmetically, to change its name from the scandal-ridden RBS brand to NatWest. RBS Group had briefly become the worlds biggest bank prior to the 2008 financial crisis thanks to a spending spree which included buying NatWest in 2000 and Dutch bank ABN Amro in 2007. But by 2020 the eponymous bank had been outshone by NatWest within the group. By then 80% of RBS Groups customers banked with NatWest, not at RBS branches. It did not escape eagle eyes that Dame Alison had also risen up in a 27-year career at NatWest before being appointed chief executive. One of the other key tasks for the chief executive was to oversee a slow transition back to private ownership. When her appointment was announced, the Government still owned 62% of RBS Group, a legacy of the companys financial crisis bailout. It was a steady process and by March last year the Treasury finally reduced its stake in NatWest Group to less than half. Perhaps two outside issues came to dominate much of Dame Alisons time as NatWest Group boss. The first was a gradual switch away from the banks more carbon-intensive business. Just three months into her tenure the group said it would no longer provide funding to oil majors unless they had a credible plan to ensure their businesses were in line with the Paris climate agreement. A large part of Dame Alisons time in charge was overshadowed by the Covid-19 pandemic (Mike Egerton/PA) It followed just days after BP announced a plan to move to net zero, and pre-dated Shells own similar promise. Since then NatWest has announced a series of further ultimatums to its business customers to set in place decarbonisation plans or find another lender. It has also promised billions of pounds in green funding. Dame Alison probably expected to deal with climate issues when she took the top job, but her big unforeseen challenge was the Covid-19 pandemic. Alongside other lenders, NatWest was at the forefront of the Governments plan to prop up the economy during lockdowns. By July 2020, NatWest had already lent 5.8 billion to smaller businesses through the bounce back loan scheme, and a further 2.3 billion in coronavirus business interruption scheme loans. That month NatWest posted a 770 million loss for the first six months of the year, after it set aside a mammoth 2.1 billion to cover loans it thought might go bad largely as a result of the economic shocks of the pandemic. In 2021 NatWest announced it would exit Ireland, eventually deciding to sell Ulster Bank to PTSB. Later in the year it was hit with a 264 million fine in the first-ever criminal prosecution of a bank under UK anti-money laundering laws. In the 2022 New Year Honours list, Dame Alison was recognised for services to financial services. The outside seating area of Mourne Seafood in Belfast that was burnt overnight (Photo: Mourne Seafood) The owner of a popular Belfast restaurant says he is disgusted after it was targeted in a suspected arson attack. Mourne Seafood Bar said its outside eating area will be closed for the foreseeable future after tables were destroyed in the blaze, however its inside facilities remain open. Restaurant owner Bob McCoubrey said it was "bad news for his business. The restaurant is based at Bank Street in the city. Picture showing picnic tables burned and debris scattered across the ground. Outside seating area of Mourne Seafood in Belfast destroyed following arson attack The PSNI confirmed they attended the scene of the incident at around 4.40am on Wednesday alongside crews from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and said the fire is being treated as arson. The restaurant confirmed its indoor dining area will be open to customers as normal, but the outside area will be closed for the foreseeable future. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph looking over the aftermath of the arson, Mr McCoubrey said it is not what we needed coming up to their busiest summer period. "This is when our outside area becomes very important to the business, so yeah bad news this morning he added. We are still waiting for the police to confirm [what happened] but from talking to neighbours and from what they have seen on the cameras it would appear to be just a random arson attack carried out in the middle of the night. "There is camera footage of two people running away. Read more New restaurant and bar opens at Belfast golf club "What we will do is we will accommodate everyone who has booked outside and sort them to dine inside this weekend. Inside is not affected so the Mourne Seafood Bar will operate as normal. "Then we will sit down and decide whether it is worth fixing this up for this summer or not. "The rest of the business operates and normal and we will probably look at extending our opening hours to make up for the damage out here. Mr McCoubrey said it would probably cost about 15,000 to get the outside facility operational again for the summer, but questioned if it was worth spending the money, given it is late July. He said the outside area had proven very popular with customers, particularly tourists. SDLP MLA Matthew OToole condemned those responsible for the incident. "So many people from Belfast, as well as visitors from further afield, will be horrified to see this happen to a true local treasure and star of the Irish seafood scene, he said. He said he despaired at the actions of a few idiots. Other users on social media offered their support to the business, with BBC NI weatherman Barra Best tweeting: Sorry to see this. Fellow city centre restaurant Fish City added: This is absolutely awful. Business is tough enough without having to deal with this. If theres anything we can do, just let us know. A PSNI spokesperson said: Police received a report of a fire in the Bank Street area of Belfast at around 4.40am on Wednesday 26th July. It is believed a bin was set alight, which spread to a gazebo and a store. Officers attended alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service who extinguished the fire. This is being treated as arson. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101. A Co Londonderry couple due to be reunited with their family this morning after their nightmare holiday to Rhodes have spoken of their relief to be returning home. Warren Edwards (31) and wife Sarah, from Limavady, enjoyed an idyllic summer break until Saturday, when wildfires began wreaking havoc on the island. They managed to get a seat on the first repatriation flight back to Belfast, which was due to depart at 11pm local time last night. Two planes from Rhodes were expected to land at Belfast International overnight. We are feeling very relieved and are looking forward to seeing our loved ones again, Mr Edwards told the Belfast Telegraph. Read more Rhodes residents fight wildfires with towels and branches The weary traveller described how what started as a fun day on the beach on Saturday ended in chaos as fast-spreading flames approached the resort. The wind speed was increasing throughout the day and the temperature was around 36C, Mr Edwards said. In the distance we saw dark smoke billowing and getting worse by the hour. We could see the embers start to rise in the distance, and you could tell the atmosphere was changing. People were becoming worried. Warren Edwards (31) and his wife Sarah (31) The holidaymakers were aware of fires raging in the mountainous centre of the island but never expected they would be in danger on the shore. By the afternoon people in nearby towns and villages had received emergency alerts ordering them to evacuate. The couples hotel was transformed into a refuge shelter as mass panic broke out. Electricity and water were turned off to persevere resources, Mr Edwards said. By that evening the hotel was filled with hundreds of people who had been evacuated from areas north of our location. It was a surreal sight. Read more NI tourists among thousands forced to flee wildfires ravaging Rhodes As embers and ash rained down on the resort, Mr and Mrs Edwards watched in horror as the situation worsened. We arrived back to the hotel from the beach at around 10pm to scenes of people running and panicking, he said. Children were crying and staff were shouting that the hotel was to be evacuated. We were moved in buses to a hotel 10km further south, but we were among the last to arrive and there was no space anywhere. An aircraft drops water in Vati Parents used sun lounger cushions to create makeshift beds for their children. Evacuees were also told there was no food or bottled water. One staff member spent an night filling empty bottles from the tap while the stranded tourists found a spot on the ground outside to sleep. The following morning they were told the hotel did not have the ability to feed everyone. They then queued for almost three hours in a shop to buy water and biscuits. The couple were later transported through the charred terrain by Jet2, passing scenes of devastation along the way. Read more Resorts evacuated as blaze rages out of control on Greek island of Rhodes After arriving at a hotel in Pefkos, they were told that roads into and out of the coastal village were closed, meaning they were trapped there with smoke rising on all sides. They were then moved to another hotel closer to the airport before securing a flight home. Mr Edwards praised Jet2 representatives and local residents for doing all they could to look after people. Despite the ordeal, the husband and wife consider themselves lucky. They encountered a man who had to flee the beach in swimwear with his family. He lost his flip-flops along the way and had to walk barefoot for more than four hours with two young daughters and a pushchair. Another gentleman dragged his luggage across the beach for as long as he could before abandoning it, Mr Edwards said. Buses were going to different places, and where you ended up depended on which bus you were on. Families became displaced, with women and children being removed first. Separately, two pilots aged 34 and 27 died yesterday after their fire-fighting aircraft plunged to the ground near Athens. The low-flying military plane, which had no ejector system, is thought to have clipped a tree branch while combating flames in the town of Karystos. Read more Rhodes: NI honeymoon couple describe fleeing burning hotel and walking miles on beach to rescue boat Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has declared three days of mourning for the countrys armed forces. State broadcaster ERT showed the aircraft disappearing into a canyon before a fireball emerged. They offered their lives to save lives, Mr Mitsotakis said in tribute to the pilots. Satellite images have revealed the extent of damage caused by fires on Corfu where evacuations are under way. No deaths have been reported there, with only derelict buildings destroyed in what the deputy mayor described as the fire of the century. Separately, at least 34 people died and thousands were forced to leave their homes because of wildfires in Algeria. Flames have also surrounded Palermo in Sicily amid the relentless heatwave, which sent the mercury soaring into the 40s earlier this week. The local airport was temporarily forced to shut for a time as the apocalyptic scenes unfolded. At least six people were treated for smoke inhalation in Turkeys Antalya coastal region, where families have been forced to flee from wildfires. Firefighters in Croatia are also battling flames, with a plane being used to drop water on a mountainside in Zupa Dubrovacka to contain one particularly concerning blaze. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was last night facing pressure from the Lib Dems to hold an emergency Cobra meeting on the matter, with MP Layla Moran accusing the Tory leader of a failure of leadership. The European Union has sent 500 firefighters, 100 vehicles and seven planes from 10 member states to Greece. Turkey, Israel, Egypt and other countries have also sent help for the relief effort. Lone wolf bomber Christine Connor has appeared in court accused of assaulting three prison officers. Connor is serving 20 years for a 2013 murder attempt on a police officer. She appeared at Newtownards Magistrates Court today via video link from Hydebank Wood detention centre. No details were read to the court other than for a police officer to say she could connect the accused to the three assault charges. Connor, dressed in a black top, stayed silent throughout, refusing to recognise the court. A prison staff member confirmed that they could hear the court proceedings clearly via the video link. Defence solicitor Oliver Roche confirmed his client understood the charges against her. Connor was charged with two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm and one count of assault on April 7 this year. The incident is believed to have happened after Connor refused to come back in from the prison yard where she was sunbathing. Having heard that Connor is a sentenced prisoner, District Judge Mark Hamill adjourned the case to August 23. Connor was convicted of attempted to murder a police officer in 2013. She lured them to the scene by making a bogus 999 call claiming to be the victim of domestic violence. The court heard at the time she was not aligned with any group and had planned the attack with the assistance of a man from England who she lured into sending her the parts for improvised grenades by catfishing him with pictures of a Swedish model. An American man was also duped into sending her hundreds of dollars to support a group she claimed to lead called United Struggle. Both men later took their own lives, one before his case could be heard the other after hearing that Ms Connor had pleaded guilty. The Belfast woman made two attempts at murdering police officers on two separate dates and both involved her making hoax 999 calls to lure them to where she was hiding. The first attempt did not result in injury, although the improvised explosive device (IED) did detonate. Connor used this failed attack as a trial run for the strike on May 28, when she threw two IEDs at officers from the lane beside the house she had lured officers to. In the second incident, a bogus 999 call lured PSNI officers to the Crumlin Road in the early hours of May 28. When officers attended a house in the area a pipe bomb was thrown at them from a nearby alleyway. At the scene police found evidence linking Connor to the attack, including a hoodie top which bore her blood, as well as a shopping bag containing her phone and gloves with her DNA on them. She was first convicted in 2017 and sentenced to 16 years in prison. The decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal the following year, after judges ruled Connor's purported admissions were ambiguous and should not have been used in evidence. Connor was convicted of attempted murder and possession of explosives following a second trial in August 2020. In January 2021, senior judges ruled that the 20-year term imposed at that time was unsustainably generous and increased it by five years. She is currently housed in a specially built facility in Hydebank Wood detention centre. The dissident republican refused to be housed in the main prison population, claiming she is a political prisoner. She was the sole inhabitant of the 500,000 Fern 4, before being joined in August 2020 by Sharon Rafferty Jordan and Amanda McCabe, also known as Mandy Duffy, who are awaiting trial on New IRA membership as part of Operation Arbacia. A display demonstrates the Black Hornet drone at the Defense and Security Equipment International trade show in London, Britain, Sept. 16, 2015. Reuters-Yonhap The U.S. Department of Defense announced $400 million in additional security assistance for Ukraine on Tuesday, including air defense missiles, armored vehicles and small drones, as Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russia grinds on. The new aid package, which was first reported by Reuters, will include for the first time U.S. furnished Black Hornet surveillance drones made by Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies. The Norwegian-built Hornet is being used in Ukraine through donations by the British and Norwegian governments, the company said. FLIR Unmanned Aerial Systems was awarded a $93 million contract in April to provide the small reconnaissance drones to the U.S. Army. In addition, the weapons aid package includes munitions for Patriot air defense systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASMS), Stinger anti-aircraft systems, more ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers and a variety of other missiles and rockets. The assistance is funded using Presidential Drawdown Authority, or PDA, which authorizes the president to quickly transfer articles and services from U.S. stocks without congressional approval during an emergency. The material will come from U.S. excess inventory. This is the 43rd security assistance package approved by the United States for Ukraine. More than $43 billion in U.S. military aid has been provided since Russia's invasion in 2022. Commenting on the aid announcement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted Russia's attacks on Ukraine ports and Ukrainian infrastructure since withdrawing from the Black Sea Grain Initiative last week. "Russia could end this war at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks against Ukraine's cities and people. Until it does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for as long as it takes," Blinken said in a statement. The Black Sea grain deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey a year ago to combat a global food crisis worsened by Russia's invasion. Ukraine and Russia are both leading grain exporters. Britain said on Tuesday it had information indicating Russia's military might start targeting civilian shipping in the Black Sea, while the European Union pledged to help Ukraine export almost all its farm produce via rail and road. (Reuters) A 7.5 million project to transform the Ballysillan Playing Fields in north Belfast has been approved despite environmental concerns. Belfast City Council is to foot most of the bill to upgrade the playing fields off Ballysillan Road into what it describes as a landmark public park, and work will begin soon after elected representatives at the councils recent Planning Committee meeting voted the application through. However during the debate at City Hall, councillors raised questions about the materials being used for a new pitch and childrens play area, with one councillor suggesting it showed incompetency on behalf of the council that the materials could not be named to elected representatives. The plan involves environmental improvement works and upgrades comprising refurbishment of the existing bowling pavilion, a new intermediate floodlit 3G pitch, new childrens play facilities, and a new open-air community event space. There will also be new fenced dog exercise areas, a new pump track, as well as new and improved pathways. There will be work to expose parts of the existing culverted river, creating a new channel and flood attenuation area, to create a wetland habitat. The plan also involves new street furniture including canopies, shelters, picnic tables, seats, lights, cycle stands, fences and bollards. There will be improvements to the existing allotment area including path and vehicle track resurfacing, new polytunnels and shed, and landscape interventions including planting, woodland management, resurfacing and regrading. Additional funding has been provided by the Department for Infrastructures Living With Water Programme and the Department for Communities. The application is by Belfast City Council, and was recommended to councillors for approval at the City Hall Planning Committee meeting by council officers. However, there was no unanimity over the application, with both the Green Party and Alliance voicing concerns over the use of microplastics in the plan for a new 3G pitch, and materials being used for the surface of a new childrens play park. A similar debate was raised in the same meeting over Ulster Rugbys application for a new 3G pitch at the Kingspan stadium, with councillors complaining of the plans outdated use of microplastics, which would have to be replaced later this decade with incoming EU laws. During the Ballysillan application, Green Councillor Aine Groogan said: Overall, the plans look pretty good, and are welcome, but I again I have environmental concerns, over the 3G pitch, and the childrens play area, because similar materials are often used in those areas as well. Could I get clarity that the same infill is to be used for this pitch (as the Kingspan stadium), or are we using organic material? A council officer replied they would be using rubber infill granules but could not clarify the exact material used in the 3G or the surface of the children play areas at the meeting. The officer suggested signing off on the plan and discussing the materials later with relevant statutory authorities for agreement. Councillor Groogan replied: This really really concerns me. We dont know how we are properly assessing the risk of environmental harm in planning applications, and the impact our planning decisions are having on our environment. Particularly during our climate and biodiversity emergency, this is serious. She said there were questions of competency as to how the planning application was made, if the specific materials could not be named to councillors. Alliance Councillor Tara Brooks suggested the council adopt a policy of having construction environment plans for every 3G pitch application, involving details of management of microplastics and synthetic infill as a condition for approval. She said the Ballysillan application was a fantastic plan which she would support with that proviso. Her proposal for the application to be approved only with a construction environment plan failed, with four votes in favour, and 15 votes against. DUP Alderman Dean McCullough proposed the application be approved. He told the chamber: I am perplexed around this 3G pitch debate. We have been installing 3G pitches in this city for years and years. Ballysillan needs a 3G pitch, it is a vital asset in a community that has long been left behind. And a credit to the officers and their diligent work. Alderman McCulloughs proposal passed with 15 in support, one vote against, and two no votes. Councillor Groogan said: This is not about resources going into our community, I absolutely want to see the upgrade. My point is clearly around how our planning system is not fit for purpose. This to me just highlights how our processes are completely broken. We are legally bound to uphold the environment. We literally do not know what materials are being used on this pitch, and we are supposed to be assured of the competency of this application, and that it wont cause environmental harm? If we cant get it right, on something as simple as this, what assurances do we have on larger applications? It is a disgrace. It is (not the fault of) council officers, it is the statutory consultees. The NI Executive, in line with the rest of the UK, agreed in September 2021 that folic acid should be added to non-wholemeal wheat flour, meaning that foods made with flour will actively help avoid potentially life-threatening spinal conditions in babies every year. Lord Dodds has hit out after the Government indicated that it is set to leave Northern Ireland behind in its plans to prevent life-threatening brain and spinal conditions in foetuses. The proposal to mandate the fortification of non-wholemeal flour with folic acid may not apply in NI until Stormont is restored, ministers heard yesterday. Members of the House of Lords heard from peers that the delay on implementing the change in other parts of the UK had been inordinate and that action is needed. They were told that more babies are being born with avoidable illnesses as a result. Read more Pioneering treatment from Northern Ireland firm could aid 2 million people with spinal injuries worldwide Health Minister Lord Markham reiterated the Governments intention to bring forward legislation on the issue next year, but he also warned that, without an Executive in place in NI, the change could end up only applying in Great Britain. He said it was his understanding that the change would require the co-operation of the devolved nations, adding: Thats why were not able to proceed in Northern Ireland without their involvement. The plan is, as a result of that, that we will go forward GB-only if we have to. Wed prefer we dont do that. Last night, Nigel Dodds insisted there is no reason why NI should be left out of the plans. The DUPs leader in the House of Lords, whose son Andrew died with spina bifida in 1998, has campaigned on the issue for many years and last night vowed he would not give up. The NI Executive, in line with the rest of the UK, had agreed that folic acid should be added to non-wholemeal wheat flour, Lord Dodds said. The direction of travel was set by the then Health Minister in 2021. Therefore there is no political or other reason why legislation cannot include NI. The peer, who is married to DUP MLA and former Economy Minister Diane Dodds, lost their son just before his ninth birthday. In 1996, a plainclothes RUC officer was shot by the IRA as he guarded Mr Dodds as he visited Andrew in hospital in Belfast. Stormont is not currently functioning as the DUP has said it will not restore power-sharing without further legislative assurances around NIs place within the UK internal market. However, Lord Dodds said many people in NI would find it hard to believe that the region would be left out of UK-wide plans to require folic acid to be added to flour to support spine and brain development in the womb. It would seem incredible to people here that the UK Government can introduce legislation to end the lives of babies in NI, where there is no agreement to do so, but cannot introduce legislation to protect the lives of babies, where there is agreement to do so, he said. I have long helped campaign on this issue and we will not be letting [it] drop. The lives of so many children depend on it. Read more Ulster Unionist deputy leader absolutely rules out any pacts with DUP ahead of Westminster election The NI Executive, in line with the rest of the UK, agreed in September 2021 that folic acid should be added to non-wholemeal wheat flour, meaning that foods made with flour will actively help avoid potentially life-threatening spinal conditions in babies every year. Gluten-free foods and wholemeal flour would be exempt. Then-Health Minister Robin Swann said at the time that the importance of folic acid at pre-conception and during pregnancy is well-evidenced, as he hailed the potential to bring significant public health benefits. In NI we have a higher incidence of birth defects due to folic acid deficiency, which disproportionately impacts on those living in areas of higher social deprivation, he added. The measures could prevent around 200 neural tube defects a year around 20% of the yearly total. New legislation is expected early in 2024. A leading bishop has warned that in less than 20 years there will be fewer than 10 priests covering 85 churches across the Clogher diocese. The issue was detailed in a pastoral letter penned by the Bishop of Clogher, Larry Duffy. Bishop Duffy said a meeting was held last month to review where we are as a diocese and where we must head over the immediate future and into the next 10 to 20 years. Considerable research was undertaken ahead of that meeting and it made for very sobering reflection, he said. The truth is that we cannot continue to operate and provide pastoral ministry across our diocese in the same way as we do now or as we did in the past. We have to look at a whole new model. The figures given to us indicate that if we continue as we are, in less than 20 years there will be fewer than 10 priests covering the 85 churches across the whole diocese from Bundoran on the Atlantic to Inniskeen and Killanny near Dundalk. In his letter, reported by the Fermanagh Herald, Bishop Duffy said at most there will be just one priest ordained in the diocese over the next seven years. These facts alone will mean less Masses. But the other point that emerged from the June meeting was that we are far too dependent on our priests for not just pastoral care but for administration, property maintenance, planning and governance of parishes, he said. Also, the impacts of the continuing pressures on the wellbeing of clergy cannot be ignored; in fact, that has to be a priority area for immediate attention. The leading cleric said the community needs to move away from being clergy-dependent to one that is broader in terms of recognising, utilising and honouring the vocation and varied gifts of all the baptised and which will, over time, allow for really effective and meaningful co-responsibility in the Churchs mission. The issue of a shortage of priests is not a new problem. Last month it was warned that the problem could result in no one being available to conduct funeral Mass for families in some parts of Northern Ireland. The leader of the Ulster Unionist party has called for stronger action from the PSNI when it comes to commemorating terrorists as he condemned a Shankill Butchers plaque as appalling. Doug Beattie told BBC Radio Ulsters The Nolan Show that the mural on Glenwood Street honouring the UVF dead and similar tributes across the region are a sad indictment of our society. "These people who put these plaques up may come out with the argument we have a right to remember our dead but the reality is they dont have the right to stamp all over the graves of victims or leave the victims families traumatised, he said. Lenny Murphy, his brother John Murphy, Robert Basher Bates and John Townsley are listed among the names on the plaque. They were key members of the notorious gang which unleashed a seven year campaign of terror from 1975 and often slashed the necks of their victims, usually after hours of torture. Its appalling, Mr Beattie said. All of these things are appalling." The UUP leader called for the response from police, the justice system and society to be an awful lot stronger when it comes to commemorating terrorism on all sides. "There are more plaques and commemorations in Northern Ireland to those who were terrorists and made victims than there are to the victims themselves and that in itself is pretty disgraceful thats a sad indictment, Mr Beattie said. He stressed that "its not just in loyalist communities and loyalist paramilitaries this is right across the board. "We see time and time again people standing up and commemorating IRA terrorists and republican terrorists and that needs to stop as well, he added. Mr Beattie described the Shankill butchers as psychopathic murderers who used the conflict as cover to get their sick kick out of torturing people to death. "This is where we need people to be absolutely clear and consistent there is no difference between a UVF terrorist and an IRA terrorist. "There is no difference between commemorating one or the other and it needs to stop. These plaques need to be taken down. The crimes of the Shankill Butchers were so gruesome they caused fear and revulsion in a city already numbed by violence. The gang was responsible for at least 23 murders with eight Protestants among their victims. Graffiti with his name and crosshairs was painted on the wall of Newtownards courthouse overnight A judge has vowed he will not be intimidated after a gang calling itself the Real UFF daubed a threat on Newtownards courthouse. The threat against Mark Hamill came ahead of a number of cases which were scheduled to be heard at the courthouse on Wednesday morning. Mr Hamill is one of the longest serving and most senior district judges in Northern Ireland. Graffiti with his name and crosshairs was painted on the wall of Newtownards courthouse overnight. The threat was condemned as absolutely disgraceful. Real UFF threaten district judge ahead of a number of court appearance in Newtownards Mr Hamill said the incident was an existential threat to the rule of law in Newtownards and added: If anyone thinks that by damaging the court and behaving in this way that the court will be intimidated, I can say this court is not going to be intimidated. Local independent councillor Stephen Irvine strongly criticised the threat. I completely deplore and condemn the graffiti placed on the court by the drug dealing gang who call themselves the Real UFF, he said. This attack comes following the gang threatening to shoot and bomb women and kids, threatening community workers and elected representatives, engaging in a show of strength in flagrant breach of the Terrorism Act and now threatening our district judge. This latest incident is an orchestrated effort by the drug dealing gang to inflame the court in order to negatively interfere with bail applications to be made by some of those on remand for peacefully protesting against the drugs gang. The PSNI have facilitated and protected this drugs gang for long enough. When will they finally deal with these criminals and restore law and order? They attack property facing the police station, brazenly threaten women and children, parade around in balaclavas and Real UFF coats and now believe they can threaten judges without consequence. The local loyalist community stand four square behind Judge Hamill and repeat the call for the PSNI to deal with this drug dealing gang of parasites. There are around a dozen loyalists appearing in court this morning, charged in connection with removing paramilitary murals from Weavers Grange estate. Sources claim the graffiti is designed as a crude way of negatively influencing bail applications. Amnesty Internationals Patrick Corrigan said: This threat is a disgraceful and sinister attempt to intimidate a judge from doing their job. Judges and the wider legal profession play a crucial role in upholding the rule of law and defending human rights for all." SDLP justice spokesperson Sinead McLaughlin said the threat was absolutely disgraceful and must be roundly condemned. "Nobody should be subjected to threats for simply doing their job and any attempt to intimidate a member of our judiciary or influence the rule of law must be treated with the utmost seriousness, she said. Ms McLaughlin noted how the legal profession faced threats during the Troubles. She added: This threat will evoke painful memories for many people in Northern Ireland, with a number of legal professionals sadly losing their lives during our troubled past. "My thoughts are with Judge Hamill, his family and anyone who has been affected by this threat. The name of district judge Mark Hamill was daubed outside Newtowards Courthouse alongside a crosshair (Rebecca Black/PA) Graffiti appearing to threaten a judge has appeared on a court building in Northern Ireland. The name of district judge Mark Hamill was daubed on the wall on Newtownards Court in Co Down alongside a crosshair. A number of windows were also smashed at the building. It is the second time the court building has been targeted since a long-running feud between rival loyalist factions in the area began. A number of properties in the Co Down town and surrounding areas have been attacked in the feud between opposing drug gangs. A number of windows were smashed in the attack at Newtownards Courthouse in Co Down (Rebecca Black/PA) The Chair of the Bar of Northern Ireland Moira Smyth KC said it was vital that individual judges and the judiciary as a whole are free from external pressure and threat. She added: Judges must be able to decide cases solely on the evidence presented in court in accordance with law. Judicial independence is the foundation of the rule of law and democracy. It underpins every citizens right to fair proceedings in our courts. An attack or threat made against any member of our judiciary is an attack on the rule of law and our democracy and is condemned without equivocation. SDLP MLA Sinead McLaughlin condemned the threatening graffiti (Brian Lawless/PA) SDLP justice spokesperson Sinead McLaughlin condemned the threat. She said: Nobody should be subjected to threats for simply doing their job and any attempt to intimidate a member of our judiciary or influence the rule of law must be treated with the utmost seriousness. Any attempt to impede justice from taking its course through threats or anything else will fail and those responsible will be held accountable. Amnesty Internationals Northern Ireland director Patrick Corrigan said in a social media post it was a disgraceful and sinister attempt to intimidate the judge. He added: Judges and the wider legal profession play a crucial role in upholding the rule of law and defending human rights for all. Solidarity to District Judge Mark Hamill and colleagues. The PSNI has appealed for information over the incident. A spokesperson said: Police are investigating a report of criminal damage to premises at Regent Street in Newtownards. A report was received shortly before 8am today, Wednesday 26 July, that a number of windows had been smashed and graffiti sprayed on a wall. Its believed that the damage was caused overnight. Enquiries are continuing, and police are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area between approximately 6pm yesterday, Tuesday 25 July, and 7.30am today, Wednesday, to contact 101, quoting reference number 292 of 26/07/23. Joint strategy can get Executive running by autumn: Taoiseach The British and Irish governments need to agree a common strategy to exert pressure for Stormonts return, the Taoiseach has said. Leo Varadkar expressed regret that London and Dublin had not worked more closely on restoring the power-sharing institutions for quite some time. He was hopeful that Stormont would return in the autumn but conceded it was not an expectation at this stage. Mr Varadkar will visit Northern Ireland to meet the political parties next month. One thing Im saying very strongly to the British Government is we need to have a common strategy, we need to work hand in glove, we need together to put pressure on the parties to come into government, he said. We havent really had that approach for quite some time. I regret that we dont. Im continuing to say to our UK counterparts that the right way forward is an agreed strategy, a hand-in-hand approach between the British and Irish governments, because thats when Northern Ireland works best, when the British and Irish governments work together, are honest brokers and dont particularly take the side of nationalism or of unionists. I would like us to get back to that point. The Taoiseach said he would like to see Stormont up and running before an investment conference in Belfast in September. That would be a very positive thing if the Minister for the Economy, the Minister of Finance, the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister can be there together, making the case for investment in Northern Ireland together, he added. But theres a difference between hope and expectation. I certainly hope we can have institutions up and running in September. Its fair to say its not an expectation at this stage. Read more Northern Ireland and the Republic should be there for one another, like all good neighbours Mr Varadkar was conscious of electoral cycles coming into play. We have local European elections in June. Theres a British general election due next year as well, he said. If we dont grab that window that exists in autumn, therell be a tendency to say, Lets wait until the elections are out of the way. and that opportunity might be lost. That would be a real shame. The Taoiseach said he had sought assurances that any deal between London and the DUP would not undermine the Good Friday Agreement or the Windsor Framework. Separately, a House of Lords select committee report on the Windsor Framework shows the DUPs boycott is a waste of time, Doug Beattie has claimed. The UUP leader said the document highlighted how the partys refusal to restore devolution was having no effect on the protocol or negotiations. However, the TUV said the report from the Lords sub-committee on the protocol, which is dominated by Remainers, actually proved a boycott was the only option for unionists. The document concludes that the framework, agreed by London and Brussels in February, is an improvement on the protocol, but problems remain. Read more Varadkar pledges unwavering solidarity with Ukraine on day-long visit to Kyiv Mr Beattie said: The Lords sub-committee report has outlined what we have known for some time that boycotting the devolved institutions has had no effect on the protocol or the negotiations. We have to deal with the stark reality that the Windsor Framework will be implemented whether Stormont is up and running or not. As we approach winter, once again we are of the belief that it would be better for all the people of Northern Ireland that Stormont was providing stability and delivering for all. We must make Northern Ireland work to safeguard our position within the UK. If, as they have intimated, [the] Government is not going to reopen negotiations on the framework, what is Plan B? If its direct rule ministers, as some eagerly wish for, be in no doubt Dublin will have a greater say in what happens in this part of the UK. Its incumbent on all unionists to return to the Executive as soon as possible to provide good government for the people of Northern Ireland and challenge the framework from within. Read more Why Stormont will be in cold storage for foreseeable future But TUV councillor Timothy Gaston said: One would not expect a Lords committee dominated by Remainers to produce anything which reinforced the unionist position on the protocol. Nevertheless, that is exactly what the report published on the Windsor Framework does. The spin from the Prime Minister and Secretary of State has been totally exposed by a report which highlights that in important respects, and in particular for the non-retail sector, the Windsor Framework will be more burdensome than the protocol as it has operated to date with various grace periods and derogations. The report acknowledges that there has been no substantive change to the Court of Justice... as the final arbiter of EU law falling within the scope of the Windsor Framework. In short, it has been confirmed that Windsor is indeed the whitewash TUV always said it was and no unionist could look upon this as anything approaching a sustainable basis to return to Stormont. Andrew Malkinson outside the Royal Courts of Justice after clearing his name (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Andrew Malkinson, who served 17 years behind bars for a rape he did not commit, accused police of scrambling to cover up how he was wrongly convicted for 20 years. The 57-year-old was found guilty of raping a woman in Greater Manchester in 2003 and the next year was jailed for life with a minimum term of seven years. He served 10 more because he maintained his innocence. But his conviction was quashed by senior judges at the Court of Appeal on Wednesday after DNA evidence linking another man to the crime came to light. Addressing journalists gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Mr Malkinson said: Since I was arrested in 2003, the police, the prison system and probation service have been calling me a liar because I denied that I committed the crime. They claimed I was in denial and made me serve an extra 10 more years in prison because I would not make a false confession. I am not a liar. I am not in denial but I will tell you who is Greater Manchester Police are liars, and they are in denial. Andrew Malkinson, who served 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit, reads a statement outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London after being cleared by the Court of Appeal (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Even after this judgment today, I predict we will see them denying responsibility for what happened. We will see them stretching credulity with their excuse-making. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have been scrambling to cover up how they wrongfully convicted me for 20 years. Addressing the victim of the crime he did not commit, he said: I am so sorry that you were attacked and brutalised that night by that man. I am not the person who attacked you but what happened to me is not your fault. I am so sorry if my fight for the truth, as I knew it to be, has caused you extra trauma. I am so sorry that the system let you down. It let us both down. There are no winners in a wrongful conviction case with the exception of the real perpetrator. Everyone gets failed, from the original victim to the wrongfully convicted person. I sincerely hope that you are receiving the support you need and the apology from the police that you deserve. Mr Malkinsons mother Tricia Hose, in her mid-70s, said: Now Andys name has been cleared, suddenly in the public eye, I am no longer a deluded mother. My son is no longer a monster. But what has been done to him cannot be undone. The damage will be with him for the rest of his life and the woman who got attacked has been denied justice, just as my son was. Andrew Malkinson spent an extra 10 years in prison after refusing to falsely confess (Jordan Pettitt/PA) As any parent would, what I want for Andy is a full account of how this happened and for the people responsible for my sons wrongful conviction to be brought to justice alongside the man responsible for this brutal attack. Overturning Mr Malkinsons convictions, for two counts of rape and one of choking or strangling with intent to commit rape, Lord Justice Holroyde said he could leave the court free and no longer be subject to the conditions of licence. At the time of Mr Malkinsons trial, there was no DNA evidence linking him to the crime and the prosecution case against him was based only on identification evidence. But a DNA sample, held by the forensic archive, was tested and found last October to link to another man, who has since been arrested. A decision on whether he will be charged is awaited. Edward Henry KC, representing Mr Malkinson, told the court GMP destroyed the victims clothing and a representative from legal charity Appeal, which has worked on the case, said that without the sample held by the archive, Mr Malkinson would have been denied the chance to prove his innocence. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) admitted Mr Malkinsons conviction was unsafe because the new DNA evidence points to another man, who the court ordered can only be identified as Mr B, and said there must now be a real possibility Mr B will be charged with the attack. The CPS and GMP said in May they would not contest the appeal. Lord Justice Holroyde said other points raised by Mr Malkinsons legal team, about crucial material not disclosed at the time of his trial, raised a number of substantial and important points and the court will take time to consider them and give a decision later in writing. He added: However, we must keep Mr Malkinson waiting no longer to know the outcome of his appeal. The court will decide later whether Mr Malkinsons convictions were also unsafe because of what Mr Henry described as deplorable disclosure failures, which mostly lay at the door of the Greater Manchester Police. They include police photographs of the victims left hand, which supported her evidence that she broke a nail scratching the face of her attacker, and the fact the two eyewitnesses who identified Mr Malkinson had convictions for dishonesty offences and one was a heroin addict. None of this was available to Mr Malkinsons defence team at his trial and Mr Henry said the failure to disclose the photographs deprived Mr Malkinson of his strongest defence point his lack of any facial injury. The barrister also said jurors were misled about the eyewitnesses due to the lack of information about their history. GMP issued an apology to Mr Malkinson after the courts announcement. Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jackson said: We are truly sorry to Mr Malkinson that he is the victim of such a grave miscarriage of justice in being convicted of a crime he did not commit and serving a 17-year custodial sentence. Whilst we hope this outcome gives him a long overdue sense of justice, we acknowledge that it does not return the years he has lost. I have offered to meet with him to personally deliver this apology. We are also profoundly sorry to the victim of this crime, who not only suffered a horrific trauma 20 years ago but also relived the experience during a criminal trial and now may endure additional harm caused by learning that the true offender has not yet been brought to justice. Emily Bolton, director of the legal charity Appeal, said outside court: We of course welcome todays ruling overturning Andys wrongful conviction but the question which should trouble everyone is why it took nearly 20 years to get here. Mr Malkinsons mother Tricia outside the Royal Courts of Justice (Jordan Pettitt/PA) The truth is this case is an indictment of both the Court of Appeal and the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). These so-called safety nets in our justice system missed three earlier opportunities to put this obvious miscarriage of justice right. At a preliminary hearing in May, Mr Henry told the court the CCRC, which investigates possible miscarriages of justice and referred Mr Malkinsons case to the Court of Appeal, has been aware since 2009 there was crime-specific DNA that was not a match for either Mr Malkinson or the victim. But he said at that time the CCRC did not consider it tipped the balance towards a referral to the Court of Appeal. Mr Malkinson previously applied twice for his case to be reviewed by the CCRC but was turned down, eventually being released from prison in December 2020. After his release, advancements in scientific techniques allowed his legal team, supported by Appeal, to provide new DNA analysis that cast doubt on his conviction to the CCRC. The body then commissioned its own testing which found that DNA from the victims clothing matched another man on the national police database. GMP said in January a man had been arrested and released under investigation in light of the new information, but no decision has been made as to whether he will be charged. The elderly woman allegedly spat at one officer when they were called to her home in Peckham (PA) Six police officers could face criminal charges after a 90-year-old woman with dementia was put in a spit hood, handcuffed and had a Taser pointed at her. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said on Wednesday it is investigating the Metropolitan Police officers for potential criminal offences as well as gross misconduct. The elderly woman was distressed and allegedly spat at one officer when they were called to her home in Peckham, south-east London, on May 9. She was handcuffed, had a mesh spit hood placed over her head and a Taser trained on her before she was taken to hospital still with the handcuffs and spit hood on without being arrested. It is claimed she was left with cuts and bruising to both wrists and one of her arms. The Met referred the case to the IOPC, and a complaint was also made to the watchdog that excessive and unreasonable force was used against the woman, and accused officers of discriminating against the woman, who is black, due to her race, gender, age and disability. Six officers are being investigated for potential breaches of standards of professional behaviour, and the possible criminal offences of assault and false imprisonment. IOPC director Steve Noonan said: We are concerned by some of the actions and decision-making of police officers involved in the detention of this elderly and vulnerable lady, and we recognise this incident has also caused community concern. Its important that an independent investigation takes place to establish the full circumstances. We have been in regular contact with the ladys family to update them on the investigation. Once its complete, we will decide whether to make a referral to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision, and also whether any of the officers involved should face disciplinary proceedings. Investigators have viewed footage from body-worn video and hospital CCTV, as well as interviewing witnesses including medical staff. The Metropolitan Police said the six officers are all based in the forces Central South Basic Command Unit. One has been suspended while the other five are on restricted duties, meaning they have no contact with the public while the investigation is carried out. Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, local policing commander in Southwark, said: It is clear that this will have been a distressing experience for the lady involved and that the circumstances raise a number of questions that need to be answered. While I do not wish to pre-judge this process, officers know that they must be able to justify any use of force or restraint and we will expect that of the officers involved in this incident. They also know that we expect them to show compassion and to adjust their approach in real time according to the circumstances they are faced with. Psychologists have warned the plan could leave vulnerable people to fall through the gaps with potentially catastrophic consequences (Gareth Fuller/PA) Plans to sharply reduce the number of mental health callouts dealt with by police in England in the next two years are dangerous and could have catastrophic consequences, psychologists have warned. A government directive published on Wednesday means forces in England and Wales will be expected to reduce the number of such callouts officers attend from around 80% to between 20-30%. While patients detained under the Mental Health Act currently wait with police officers for an average of 12 hours before receiving medical care, the plan would bring in a one-hour handover window for medical staff to take over. President-elect of the British Psychological Society Dr Roman Raczka said: We absolutely agree that the vast majority of people in mental health crisis should be supported by trained mental health practitioners, and not the police. However, to withdraw police support within the next two years, at a time when mental health services are already stretched beyond capacity and under resourced after years of chronic underfunding, is simply dangerous. Policing minister Chris Philp said police forces across England and Wales could save up to one million hours a year under the plan (James Manning/PA) The promised investment in mental health services will not deliver trained mental health staff to the front line overnight, particularly bearing in mind the NHSs well-documented recruitment and retention issues. Were extremely concerned that people in crisis will fall between the gaps with potentially catastrophic consequences, with even greater risks to children and young people. Its vital that all mental health trusts receive adequate funding to do this, and that realistic and achievable timeframes are in place to resource and safely deliver this plan across England. The comments came as the national British Transport Police (BTP) announced it will not be adopting the government plan. Policing minister Chris Philp said it is up to each of the 43 police forces in England and Wales along with healthcare boards to work out when and how to put the changes into place, although there will be a taskforce to monitor whether the plan is being implemented. Asked about the lack of resources in the health service, he said there will be 2.3 billion additional funding per year for mental health services by April 2024, and 150 million to build new facilities. By March 2024 it is expected that 24-hour mental health crisis phone lines will be established across England and Wales, and over the next two years funding is being put in place for mental health ambulances. Mr Philp said: The police have been responding to a very large volume of mental health cases, which isnt, of course, the best thing for the person concerned because what they need is medical assistance, not a police officer turning up. What the National Partnership Agreement does is sets out a framework and an expectation that across the country police forces will work together with the local NHS, to make sure that people suffering mental health crises get a health response and not a police response. Britains largest force the Metropolitan Police has already said officers will stop responding to mental health callouts from September unless there is a threat to life. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley is pushing ahead with plans in the next two months for officers to attend mental health callouts only where there is a threat to life (Jordan Pettitt/PA) In Humberside a pilot called Right Care, Right Person has seen an average of around 1,400 hours per month of police time saved, which Mr Philp said equates to an estimated one million hours a year nationally if similar savings are seen across all forces. However, BTP is not going to adopt the national plan and will instead work on its own changes to try to save officers time waiting with patients in A&E. Chief Constable Lucy DOrsi said: We know that vulnerable people, or those in mental health crisis, are often drawn to the railway. Its why responding to these incidents is at the core of who we are as a police force. She went on: The very nature of the environment in which we operate is fundamentally different (from other forces). Were a national force, the railway is a dangerous place, and we have a duty of care to ensure the safety of those who work and travel on the network. Helping those in crisis is at the forefront of who we are and what we do. Police will respond to cases where there is a public safety risk or a crime being committed, but not to cases such as welfare checks out of hours, or where a patient has failed to attend an appointment. Mr Philp said he expects forces to use the time saved for more visible patrolling in town centres, faster response times and more resources for investigating crimes. Mark Winstanley, chief executive of charity Rethink Mental Illness, said the plan was right in principle and welcomed the move to bring in the changes over time. But he added: It remains unclear how its ambitions will be fulfilled and whether the funding, workforce and resource will be in place to enable a whole-sector response that can safely meet rising levels of need. Dr Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: It should not be taken as a green light for a unilateral discontinuation of police presence in mental health emergencies. David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Associations community wellbeing board, said: Councils recognise that the police may not always be the most appropriate service to respond to a mental health crisis and so it is good that this is being clarified through this national agreement. However, we are concerned that this is being rolled out too quickly, with inadequate local engagement and partnership working meaning that other agencies risk being unable to pick up any increases in demand for their services. A man takes a nap as the central business district is shrouded by haze in Singapore, on Sept. 23, 2019. Singapore executed a man Wednesday, July 26, 2023, for drug trafficking and is set to hang a woman Friday the first in 19 years prompting renewed calls for a halt to capital punishment. AP-Yonhap Singapore executed a man Wednesday for drug trafficking and is set to hang a woman Friday the first in 19 years prompting renewed calls for a halt to capital punishment. Mohammed Aziz Hussain, 56, was hanged at Singapore's Changi Prison and has been buried, said activist Kirsten Han of Transformative Justice Collective, which advocates for abolishing the death penalty in Singapore . A citizen of the city-state, he was sentenced to death in 2018 for trafficking around 50 grams (1.75 ounces) of heroin, Han said. Saridewi Djamani, a 45-year-old Singaporean woman, is due to be hanged Friday after she was convicted and sentenced in 2018 for trafficking around 30 grams (1.05 ounces) of heroin, the group and other human rights organizations said. Han said the last woman known to have been hanged in Singapore was 36-year-old hairdresser Yen May Woen, also for drug trafficking, in 2004. "Singaporean authorities must immediately stop these blatant violations of the right to life in their obsessive enforcement of misguided drug policies," Adilur Rahman Khan, secretary-general of the International Federation of Human Rights, said in a statement. If Djamani's is executed as planned, Singapore will have executed 15 people for drug offences since it resumed hangings in March 2022 , an average of one execution every month, Transformative Justice Collective, Amnesty International and seven other groups said in a joint statement. Anyone citizens and foreigners alike convicted of trafficking more than 500 grams (17.64 ounces) of cannabis and 15 grams (0.53 ounces) of heroin faces the mandatory death penalty. Human rights groups, British business mogul Richard Branson and the United Nations have urged Singapore to halt executions for drug-related offenses as increasing evidence shows the death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent. But Singapore authorities insist that all prisoners get due process of law and that capital punishment remains key to helping halt both drug demand and supply. The joint statement by Transformative Justice Collective and other groups noted that Law Minister K. Shanmugam reportedly acknowledged in a 2022 interview that Singapore's harsh policy on drugs has not led to the arrest of the so-called drug kingpins. "Instead of disrupting drug cartels the government of Singapore deliberately retains capital drug laws that, in practice, operate to punish low-level traffickers and couriers, who are typically recruited from marginalised groups with intersecting vulnerabilities," the statement said. The groups said Singapore is out of step with the global trend of more countries moving away from capital punishment. Neighboring Thailand has legalized cannabis while Malaysia ended the mandatory death penalty for serious crimes this year. The groups urged Singapore to halt all executions and instead pursue effective measures to humanely address drug trafficking in the country. (AP) PSNI says it is aware of investigation Former PSNI assistant chief constable Will Kerr has "strenuously" denied any allegations of criminality after an investigation was launched into alleged sexual offences. The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is probing claims against Mr Kerr, the suspended chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police who previously served in the PSNI and RUC for 27 years. Mr Kerr said: "In relation to the statement from the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland in which she named me as being the subject of a criminal investigation into serious allegations of sexual offences, I strenuously deny any allegations of criminality. "I recognise and respect the fact that accountability and due process are vital to any investigation, regardless of rank or position. "I will continue to co-operate with any investigation. I hope that all matters will be expedited so that they will be concluded without delay." Mr Kerr has been removed from his post as head of Devon and Cornwall Police while an investigation gets underway. Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson confirmed a criminal investigation into "serious allegations of sexual offences" has been launched. The Chief Police Officers Staff Association said Mr Kerr was co-operating with the investigation, which it said related to "legacy misconduct matters" for which he had not yet been interviewed. The allegations relate to Mr Kerrs time in Northern Ireland. The PSNI said it was aware of the investigation and will support the Ombudsman as required. As PSNI assistant chief constable, he was the lead for both serious crime and counter terrorism. He was awarded the OBE in 2015, whilst ACC with PSNI, and received the Kings Policing Medal in the last New Year Honours. Mr Kerr's Twitter account has been deleted within the last 48 hours. Ms Anderson is liaising with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which investigates police complaints in England and Wales. She used her own motion powers to launch the investigation on June 16 into the former senior PSNI officer. The Ombudsman will also consider the circumstances under which the allegations were investigated by PSNI, a statement from her office said. The office has been engaging with the IOPC on cross-jurisdictional issues in recent weeks, as well as with the office of the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Details concerning the precise nature of the allegations and any early investigative actions remain confidential at this time. The statement added that independence and impartiality are central to all the Police Ombudsmans investigation. The office will be robust in following the evidence to ensure that any police officer in breach of the law and who abuses their position of trust will be held to account, she said. As the investigation is at an early stage, it is not possible to confirm a likely timeframe for its conclusion. Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Alison Hernandez confirmed Mr Kerr was removed from his role. She said he had been suspended following allegations of misconduct. The Commissioner has referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which has confirmed it will commence an investigation." Mr Kerr was appointed Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police in December 2022. He was appointed by Ms Hernandez following a rigorous selection process following the retirement of Shaun Sawyer. Devon and Cornwall Police said deputy chief constable Jim Colwell would become acting chief constable following the suspension of Mr Kerr. Mr Colwell said: "I understand our communities will be concerned about the reports in the media today regarding the suspension of Chief Constable Will Kerr KPM by the Police and Crime Commissioner. "The PCC suspension of Mr Kerr follows a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. "I am keen to reassure the public that we will maintain our focus on delivering the best possible service to our communities. "We have thousands of dedicated and professional officers, staff and volunteers within our force and strong leadership throughout which, when pulled together, mean we can continue to make improvements at pace to provide our communities with the highest levels of service they deserve." Mr Colwell added: "I will be stepping into the role of Acting Chief Constable on an interim basis to ensure consistency of leadership and service delivery of policing across the peninsula. "This now remains a matter for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the IOPC to investigate." A spokesman for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said: "Following assessment of a referral from the Police and Crime Commissioner, we have decided to investigate allegations of misconduct against the Chief Constable of Devon & Cornwall Police, Will Kerr." A PSNI spokesperson said: The Police Service of Northern Ireland is aware of a Police Ombudsmans criminal investigation and will support the Ombudsman as required. Police Scotland said: "Will Kerr left Police Scotland in 2022. These allegations do not relate to his time at Police Scotland and it would be inappropriate to comment further." Ian Drysdale, vice chair of the chief police officers staff association (CPOSA), said: "The Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police Force was today suspended in respect of an ongoing enquiry into legacy misconduct matters for which he is yet to be interviewed. "CC Kerr recognises and respects the fact that accountability and due process are vital to any investigation, regardless of rank or position. "He will continue to cooperate with any investigation and hopes that all matters are expedited so that they can be concluded without further delay." While serving with the PSNI, Mr Kerr reached the rank of assistant chief constable, leading on both serious crime and counter terrorism. In 2015 he was made an OBE, and he received the King's Police Medal in the New Year Honours earlier this year. Mr Kerr had spent much of his policing career working at a senior level in different organisations across the UK. While at Police Scotland he was responsible 16,500 officers and staff throughout the country and oversaw both the criminal justice portfolio, and the partnership, prevention and community wellbeing portfolio. At least two people were killed and thousands of others displaced as Typhoon Doksuri blew roofs off rural houses, flooded low-lying villages and toppled trees in the northern Philippines, officials said (AP) Typhoon Doksuri blew ashore on a cluster of islands and lashed northern Philippine provinces with ferocious wind and rain on Wednesday. At least two people were killed and thousands of others displaced as it blew roofs off rural houses, flooded low-lying villages and toppled trees, officials said. The typhoon slammed into Fuga Island before dawn and later hit another island in Cagayan province, where nearly 16,000 people were evacuated from high-risk coastal villages and schools and workplaces were shut down as a precaution as Doksuri approached. Rescuers evacuate pigs to safety in Laoag city, Ilocos Norte province, northern Philippines (Bernie Sipin Dela Cruz/AP) They were among tens of thousands of people in northern provinces who were affected by flooding and other problems caused by the typhoon, which has a 435-mile (700km) wide band of wind and rain, disaster-response officials said. A 17-year-old resident in the northern mountain city of Baguio died when a huge mound of soil loosened by heavy rain hit and buried his house, city officials said. In Isabela province, also in the north, an older woman selling bread on a bicycle cart died when she was hit on the head by a coconut tree that suddenly fell because of strong wind whipped up by the typhoon, a police report said. Residents try to prevent their boats being swept away by a swollen river (Bernie Sipin Dela Cruz/AP) Doksuri weakened slightly but remained dangerous and lethal with sustained winds of 109mph (175kph) and gusts of up to 149mph (240kph). It was blowing near the island town of Calayan off Cagayan before nightfall on Wednesday, forecasters said. Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba told the Associated Press by telephone: Our northern coastal towns are being battered. Im receiving reports of tin roofs being blown away and flooding that could not drain out probably because of tidal surges coming in from the sea. A damage assessment will be carried out after the typhoon passes, but Mr Mamba said he fears there could be extensive damage to Cagayan Valleys corn and rice farms, which have already been battered by a months-long dry spell before Doksuri hit. A police officer looks at landslide damage caused by Typhoon Doksuri in a residential area of Baguio City, northern Philippines (AP) At least four towns lost power due to the onslaught and six bridges were impassable due to flooding, Cagayan officials said in an initial damage report. An advisory from the countrys weather bureau warned that violent, life-threatening conditions are expected to continue on Wednesday over north-western Cagayan and the outlying Babuyan Islands as well as the northern mountainous regions of Apayao and Ilocos Norte provinces. Coast guard personnel used rubber boats and ropes to evacuate villagers, who were trapped by brownish, waist-level floodwater in their houses in a village in Bacarra town in Ilocos Norte. Rescuers use a rubber boat to evacuate residents to higher ground in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte province, northern Philippines (Philippine Coast Guard/AP) Thousands of inter-island ferry passengers and cargo truck drivers, along with nearly 100 passenger and cargo vessels and motor bancas, were stranded in several ports where a no-sail order was imposed but most were able to proceed with their trips as the weather improved, the Philippine coast guard said. The typhoon has been enhancing seasonal monsoon rains in central and northern provinces, including in the densely populated capital region of metropolitan Manila. It was forecast to move away from the northern Philippines on Thursday and barrel north-westwards to graze past Taiwans south-western coast before hitting south-eastern China later this week. A man negotiates neck-deep floodwater in his village in Ilocos Norte province, northern Philippines (Bernie Sipin Dela Cruz/AP) Although it is not poised for a direct hit, Doksuris outer bands brought heavy rain and strong winds to Taiwans eastern coast on Wednesday. Trains were cancelled between Kaohsiung and Taitung cities in the south, while ferries to outlying islands have also been suspended. Taiwans Central Weather Bureau reported gusts up to 123mph (198kph). Typhoon Doksuri ripped off roofs from homes, flooded low-lying village and knocked out power (Philippine Coast Guard/AP) Meanwhile, Taiwan has continued to hold its annual Han Kuang military exercises. The military carried out its first-ever drill at the civilian Taoyuan International Airport on Wednesday morning, according to local media. The drill stopped air traffic for an hour while the military simulated stopping an invasion targeted at the airport. The writing is on the wall for those who hoped that Stormont would be back in September, and its not a message the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland will welcome. Shahriar Alam, Bangladeshs state minister of foreign affairs (center), flanked by Acting Foreign Secretary Khurshed Alam and Public Diplomacy Department Director General Sehli Sabreen, discusses his meeting with foreign ambassadors at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, July 26, 2023. Bangladeshs foreign ministry warned Western countries on Wednesday to not engage in undiplomatic behavior through public criticism ahead of national polls, after officials met with ambassadors from 13 countries who had collectively condemned an assault on an independent candidate. The government hit back as it faces growing international scrutiny over the climate for free speech as well as free and fair polls in the run-up to the next general election, which is due in December or January. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party are looking to extend their uninterrupted rule over the South Asian nation since 2009. During Wednesdays meeting at a government guest house with the envoys from the United States, United Kingdom, France and other countries, Md. Shahriar Alam, the state minister for foreign affairs, said he handed them a letter of protest over their joint statement issued last week. This noon, we invited the 13 ambassadors who in violation of all diplomatic rules and norms issued a joint statement on the independent candidate of the Dhaka-17 by-election, Ashraful Alam. We have expressed our displeasure at their behavior beyond diplomatic norms, he told reporters. The other ambassadors who attended the meeting represented Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the European Union. An independent candidate, Ashraful Alam (also known as Hero Alom), was allegedly assaulted by a group of men at a polling center in the Dhaka area during a by-election for a parliamentary seat in that constituency. The victim, a YouTuber known for commenting on social issues in the country, was challenging an incumbent with the Awami League. Two days later, the ambassadors issued their joint statement, which bluntly said that violence has no place in the democratic process. We call for a full investigation and accountability for the perpetrators. Everyone involved in the upcoming elections should ensure that they are free, fair, and peaceful, the statement said. Wednesdays meeting took place two months after the U.S. government announced a visa ban for individuals believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh. Shahriar Alam, the foreign ministry official, said the 1961 Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations prevents diplomats from interfering in the internal affairs of the host countries. Before the issuance of the joint statement on July 19, the government arrested two people for the attack and the media published it on July 18. But the diplomats called for taking legal action which was uncalled for and unnecessary, he said. Shahriar Alam accused the diplomats of not valuing the prompt action of the government. So, the question remains about the objectivity and intentions of the joint statement, he said. Following the meeting, the congregation of diplomats did not speak to reporters outside the venue. The state minister said the ambassadors defended their action and said the statement was aimed at strengthening Bangladeshs democratic system. But we are not convinced by their explanation. We have reminded them that they should follow the Vienna Convention, and not repeat such practice, Shahriar Alam said without elaborating who defended the joint statement at the meeting. The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka did respond to a BenarNews request for comment. As we have said many times, we support Bangladeshs goal of holding free, fair and peaceful elections. To that end, we joined with other foreign missions to condemn the violence against Hero Alom and to call for a full investigation and bring the perpetrators to account, spokesman Bryan Schiller said. We note that a number of arrests have been made in the case. Such violence has no place in the democratic process. Opposition speaks out The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said the ruling Awami League was challenging Western diplomats over the visa ban. On Wednesday, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNPs secretary-general, questioned why the government had summoned the diplomats after they spoke out in favor of a healthy democratic system in Bangladesh. The Awami League government and the subservient Election Commission had arranged two sham elections in Bangladesh. They are going to hold the next general elections in rigged ways. The government condemned the U.S. and other western countries as they have been calling for holding the next elections in an impartial way, he told BenarNews. There is no democratic system and no atmosphere for holding fair elections in Bangladesh. I think the Western diplomats, through issuing the statement on the attack on Hero Alom, have played their role in restoring the democratic system in Bangladesh, he said. The BNP and its supporters have been staging huge anti-government protests lately to demand that Hasinas government step aside to make way for a neutral caretaker government ahead of the election, but the Awami League has refused to budge on this. Bangladesh photographer and activist Shahidul Alam speaks with BenarNews journalists in Dhaka, Dec. 9, 2018. [Mehg Monir/BenarNews] Meanwhile on Tuesday, a prominent Bangladeshi photographer and press freedom activist delivered a virtual lecture to the Wilson Center, a Washington think-tank, headlined To Speak or not to Speak: Rights and Democracy in Bangladesh. Critical thinking is illegal in the country, said Shahidul Alam, who was incarcerated for more than 100 days in 2018 after speaking out about student-led protests over road safety. There is no level playing field in Bangladesh for elections, he said. The ruling party is not expected to establish a caretaker government ahead of the vote, he noted, adding that the Awami League is aware that it likely would lose power under a caretaker election. And that is the reason they dont want an election-time neutral caretaker government. Because they want to be in power forever, he told those attending the online lecture. Public votes no longer matter to return to power for the ruling party to return to power since they took control of all sectors, he said. Millions of voters never got a chance to vote in the last 15 years. Mahbub Leelen in Washington contributed to this report. This combination of pictures created on April 25, 2023, shows logos of online platforms, applications, social networks and technology and IT companies. A forthcoming Indonesian regulation that would force online content distribution platforms to share revenue with media companies will harm the press and limit the flow of information, one such distributor, Google, has warned. The regulation will ensure good journalism by giving a committee comprising Press Council members, academics and government officials the authority to decide what content can appear on these platforms, the government says in defense. Google, which has complied with similar rules in the European Union and Australia, said it had communicated its views to the Indonesian government. [T]he latest draft of a news regulation in Indonesia, if implemented without change, would be unworkable, Michaela Browning, Googles Asia-Pacific vice president for government affairs and public policy, wrote in a blog post Tuesday. Instead of promoting quality journalism, it could restrict public access to diverse sources of news by giving powers to a single, non-government body to decide what content is allowed to appear online and which publishers are allowed to earn revenue from advertising. The draft Presidential Regulation on Digital Platform Companies Responsibility to Support Quality Journalism has been submitted for the presidents signature, a senior official at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology told BenarNews. It contains provisions on cooperation between global platforms and press outlets, a committee to oversee the rule, and funding for quality journalism. The rule would require online platforms to remove news that violates journalistic ethics, and press law, and is copied from elsewhere without permission. It would also require them to share data on user activity from news content owned by press outlets. But Google says the rule would limit the news available online by favoring a few publishers over thousands of others. Indonesia has more than 170 million internet users, and a vibrant and diverse media landscape with more than 47,000 registered news outlets, although traditional media is seeing declining revenue. But the country also faces challenges because of low media literacy and rampant misinformation. The rule is therefore meant to ensure media sustainability and quality journalism, said Usman Kansong, a director general at the communication and information technology ministry. The rule only limits news that breaks journalistic ethics and the press law, not all news, he told BenarNews. Press Council Chairwoman Ninik Rahayu concurred, adding that the rule would be a vital step that safeguards good journalism. This rules main goal is for the state to ensure that the public gets accurate and credible information and to foster a healthy environment for quality journalism, she said in a statement on July 21. Indonesias proposed rule is similar to those adopted by other countries, such as Australia and the European Union to address the imbalance of power between global online platforms and local news publishers. They also seek to protect media diversity, good journalism and public interest Google had last year agreed to pay more than 300 publishers in the European Union for their news, and signed a similar agreement in Australia in 2021, although it said last month it planned to block Canadian news on its platform there, joining Meta. For media observer Agus Sudibyo, it was a simple matter of sharing revenue. Media companies produce content that drives traffic on online platforms. That traffic earns these platforms money, so they ought to pay the content producers.Publishers rights exist in the European Union and Australia. Google accepted them, why not accept it in Indonesia? he told BenarNews. It will improve the media ecosystem, because there is content sharing that also makes good revenue sharing. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) walks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Perdana Putra Building complex with the Putrajaya Mosque in the background, in Putrajaya, Malaysia, July 26, 2023. Malaysia and the Philippines on Wednesday discussed giving fellow ASEAN states more latitude in pursuing individual and informal approaches for dealing with the post-coup crisis in Myanmar. The question of how to handle the repressive and recalcitrant Burmese junta has divided the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) after member-state Thailand engaged with Myanmars military at least four times lately. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told reporters that he and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. discussed ASEAN and Myanmar at a bilateral meeting in Kuala Lumpur. We did touch on Myanmar to strengthen the five-point consensus of ASEAN, but also give some flexibility, room and space for neighboring countries to engage on an informal basis, Anwar said during a joint press conference with Marcos afterwards. Anwar added that if this were to take place it must be done without sacrificing the issues of human rights and the treatment of minorities, particularly Rohingya and other Burmese minorities in Myanmar. The Philippine president, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday afternoon for a two-day visit, did not mention Myanmar but, according to the Associated Press news agency, he said that in general ASEAN countries should be able to use bilateral means to solve problems. I think that this will be an important aspect to all the issues that ASEAN is presently facing and to all the issues that the member states are presently worrying about, AP quoted him as saying. ASEANs five-point consensus, a roadmap to restoring peace in Myanmar, has been ignored by the junta, which agreed to the plan two months after it toppled an elected government in February 2021. All along, the junta has cracked down on mass protests, killed nearly 4,000 people and arrested thousands more, according to human rights groups. Aside from barring junta representatives from its meetings, ASEAN has been widely criticized for failing to make much headway in moving Myanmar towards peace. Malaysias former foreign minister, too, panned the consensus last year, saying it needed to be thrown out and that a new, time-bound plan with enforcement mechanisms should be formulated. The Thai government, meanwhile, broke ranks with ASEAN and has engaged in talks with Myanmars military. Earlier this month, in a shock announcement, Thailands foreign minister said he met secretly in prison with Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who was jailed after the Feb. 1, 2021, military coup. The meeting, Thailand said, was approved by the Myanmar junta and the imprisoned leader. Last month, Thailand also held another meeting with Myanmars junta-appointed foreign minister, representatives of India and China, as well as from ASEAN members Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The Burmese and Thai militaries are said to be close, and the outgoing Thai PM is a former army chief. Malaysia, Singapore and ASEAN 2023 chair Indonesia skipped that meeting. The Malaysian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that its ministers prior commitments were the reason he couldnt attend. But it added that ASEANs five-point consensus remained the gold standard and bloc unity along with support for the ASEAN chair must be demonstrated. Legitimacy for junta? Anwars comments Wednesday about exploring individual member-states approaches to the Myanmar crisis, therefore, mark a change in Malaysias position. His comments also followed a joint statement from ASEAN foreign ministers this month that reflected the divide within the bloc by noting that a number of ASEAN member states viewed the Thai meeting in June as a positive development. Anwars rethink probably resulted from a realization that the situation seems to have become deadlocked, said Lee Pei May, a political expert at the International Islamic University Malaysia. When the agreed-upon solution doesnt yield the expected results, its essential to be open to exploring alternative approaches to find a resolution that benefits everyone involved, she told BenarNews. This is one of the reasons why I believe Anwar has suggested that informal engagement with the Myanmar regime could be the way forward. An informal approach gives neighboring countries and the junta more flexibility to discuss and find common ground, May said. Thus, it is up to the wisdom of each countrys leader how they want to engage with Myanmars junta, she added. But another analyst, Chong Ja Ian, of the National University of Singapore, warned of the perils of informal approaches. [T]he issue is how much legitimacy do ASEAN or its members wish to extend to the junta. Will the junta use any contact or assistance to boost their legitimacy and the legitimacy of their actions, including on human rights abuses? he told BenarNews. If there is engagement, what tangible outcomes do such engagement bring for the people of Myanmar or ASEAN? Or are they really photo opportunities for politicians? Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China via AP Chinas rubber-stamp parliament removed Foreign Minister Qin Gang from power on Tuesday after his unexplained absence from public view during the past month fueled intense speculation and online rumors. Wang Yi, who outranks Qin and serves as President Xi Jinpings top foreign policy aide, was reinstated as foreign minister, according to a short statement made on CCTV, the Chinese state broadcaster. He previously served in the role from 2013 to December 2022. Qins ouster as foreign minister took place amid heightened tensions between China and the United States, its rival superpower, over Taiwan and the territorially contested South China Sea. The announcement followed a hastily convened session of Chinas Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress, or NPCSC, to discuss unspecified personnel matters, or bills of appointments and removals. Replacing the 57-year-old Qin as foreign minister required NPCSC action. He was last seen in public during a meeting of senior diplomats from Russia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka on June 25. Qin is presumed to be under liuzhi retention in custody a regulated and legalized system for disappearances and holding of Chinese Communist Party members, state functionaries, those within academia, state-owned enterprises or state-media, local contractors, or anyone related to any of the above. I think he is gone, Willy Wo-Lap Lam, a senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation and expert on Chinese politics, told the Sydney Morning Herald. His career is finished. There is no way that he will be allowed to resume his position. Qin, Chinas ambassador to the United States before his ascension to the foreign minister role in December, had developed personal relationships with his foreign counterparts that will have to be rebuilt. There will also be the complex issue of whom his friends and allies are within the Foreign Ministry, with some, or all of them, likely being required to step aside. That could lead to bureaucratic friction and delays to key foreign ministry tasks. Heading the list of the latter are a possible Xi-Biden November summit. Whatever the reasons for Qins dismissal and rumors will likely continue to circulate disruptions to Chinas diplomatic exchanges are expected to continue. Recently, the British foreign minister and the European Unions top diplomat both shelved their scheduled visits to China. Palace whispers Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson initially cited health reasons to explain Qins disappearance from the public eye, but rumors of an affair with a celebrity TV broadcaster have circulated on Chinese social media. Beijing is more than ever a city of palace whispers. The upper echelons of CCP power are opaque to outsiders, but when its movers and shakers make a wrong move, they can disappear only to reappear later facing charges of corruption or immorality. Theres usually no recovery from a fall from grace. Since 2018, more than 57,000 people are believed to have disappeared under the liuzhi system. Examples, according to watchdog Safeguard Defenders, include actress Fan Bingbing, Supreme Court judge Wang Linqing, former Chairman of Interpol Meng Hongwei, possibly internet mogul Jack Ma, as well as numerous foreign citizens, including Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig. A personal favorite of Xi, Qins ascent was remarkably rapid by Chinese standards. Now it has come to a close. He rose from the role of ambassador of the U.S. to foreign minister in only 17 months. Qin Gang was single-handedly pulled up the ranks by Xi. Any problems with him will reflect badly on Xi too implying that Xi failed to choose the right person for the job, Deng Yuwen, a former editor of a Communist Party newspaper who now lives in the U.S., told CNN. Qins travails A Washington Post opinion piece on Tuesday speculated that Qin likely fell victim to infighting inside Chinas top leadership clique, which is notoriously fratricidal. Qin has a huge number of enemies inside the government, one senior U.S. official told Josh Rogin of the Post. He was a marginally talented person, who, just through being close with Xi, catapulted up. Its widely known that Qins rapid ascent was due to his personal relations with Xi, which are said to have bloomed after Qins wife gave Xis wife a gift of homemade mooncakes. His rise was so meteoric, its rumored that many in the inner sanctum of party politics are jealous, and the 69-year-old man who now has his job, Wang Yi, is said to be his chief rival. Qin struggled as Beijings envoy to Washington from July 2021 to January 2023. The Biden administration interacted with him seldom, pegging him as a wolf warrior diplomat with no interest in stabilizing relations. While he was granted occasional meetings with White House and State Department officials, he had almost no engagement with cabinet secretaries and struggled to establish contacts on Capitol Hill. One diplomat described Qin as shut out in Washington partly as retaliation for the lack of access given to U.S. ambassador to China Nicholas Burns. When asked during a press briefing to comment on Qins removal as foreign minister, a State Department official in Washington replied, It is up to China to decide who their foreign minister is. As you know, Secretary Blinken has met with Wang Yi on multiple occasions, including on his most recent trip to Jakarta as well as while he visited Beijing prior to that, Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters on Tuesday. We will continue to engage with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other Chinese officials, and we continue to believe that keeping lines of communications [is] incredibly important. And its an important avenue to manage this relationship responsibly, which is something that the international community expects of us. This report was produced by Radio Free Asia (RFA), a news service affiliated with BenarNews. Savang Phaleuth, a human rights activist and member of the Free Laos group, is seen in this June 2022 photo. Laos has released a Thailand-based human rights activist whom authorities arrested in April when he returned to Laos to visit family, sources with knowledge of his case told Radio Free Asia. Savang Phaleuth had been working in Thailand for years and was a member of the Free Laos group. On April 20, he attempted to travel to his hometown in Laos Savannakhet province but was arrested for his political campaign work, RFA reported at the time. He was released last month, a source who requested anonymity for safety reasons told RFAs Lao Service. At the present time, Mr. Savang has been released, the source said. He returned to live with his family in Thailand. Savang was arrested because he had two nationalities and carried two passports, and was a member of an anti-Lao government organization in Thailand, a Lao official said. Other members of the Free Laos group told RFA that it was unlikely that authorities arrested Savang for having dual nationality. It was more likely that there were political charges, they said. Savang was not the first Thai-based activist to be arrested when returning to Laos. In 2017, Somphone Pimmasone, Lodkham Thammavong, and Soukane Chaithad, were arrested when they entered Laos. They were charged with criticizing the Lao government online while working abroad and for taking part in a protest outside the Lao embassy in Thailand. The three were handed prison terms described by rights groups as harsh at a secret trial in April of that year. In another case, democracy activist Od Sayavong vanished under mysterious circumstances in Bangkok in 2019 after posting a video clip online criticizing the government. Listed as a person of concern by the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR because of his advocacy for democracy and human rights, his whereabouts remain unknown. This report was produced by Radio Free Asia, a news service affiliated with BenarNews. Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailands billionaire former prime minister, gestures during an interview in Hong Kong, March 25, 2019. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will return from 15 years of self-exile next month, his daughter said Wednesday, amid a political impasse that has gripped the country since the May general election. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, one of the Pheu Thai Partys three prime ministerial candidates, said her father would return to the country in about two weeks. I dont quite believe what I am writing but my father is coming back on Aug. 10 to Don Mueang Airport, Paetongtarn wrote, referring to one of Bangkoks two airports. Myself and everyone in our family feel a mixture of worry and happiness. But we respect our fathers decision. Thaksin, a billionaire businessman and populist former prime minister, was ousted in a military coup in 2006. He fled Thailand in 2008 after being sentenced to 12 years in jail on four different charges, including for corruption and tax evasion. His younger sister, Yingluck, was elected prime minister in 2011, but thrown out in another coup, this time led by then-Gen. Prayuth Chan-o-cha, Thailands current caretaker prime minister. Prayuth told reporters on Wednesday that he was not aware of any deal being struck between authorities and Thaksin. Deputy national police chief Surachate Hakparn said Thaksin would be subject to the judicial process upon his planned return, Reuters reported. Thaksin remains popular in Thailand and is still thought to hold considerable influence over domestic politics, particularly among rural voters in the north and the northeast the stronghold of the Pheu Thai Party. His return to Thailand comes amid a period of deep political uncertainty for the Southeast Asian nation. Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the youngest daughter of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, attends a press conference at the partys headquarters in Bangkok, May 15, 2023. [AFP] Efforts to establish a coalition government by the election-winning Move Forward Party have hit major roadblocks, with top prime ministerial nominee Pita Limjaroenrat rebuffed twice by Thailands Parliament. After the double blows, Move Forward said it would back a Pheu Thai candidate, but the speaker of Thailands Parliament on Tuesday indefinitely postponed this weeks scheduled vote for the position. Over the weekend, Pheu Thai leaders met with pro-royalist parties from the former military regime, including Bhumjaithai, United Thai Nation and the Chat Thai Pattana Party. All have refused to join a coalition government that includes Move Forward, due to its ambitions to amend the royal defamation law. Thannapat Jarernpanit, assistant professor of political science at Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University, said Pheu Thai was prioritizing Thaksins return over forming a new government. We cannot deny that the reason Pheu Thai is so slow to form a government is that its primary goal is to bring Thaksin home, she said. Isa Gharti, a political analyst at Chiang Mai University, said Thaksins return after 15 years would be a crucial moment. She said it could affect the formation of a Pheu Thai-led government, as Thaksin would face fierce opposition from pro-royalist activists and some Move Forward party supporters. His presence could also see Move Forward pushed out of a new governing coalition, Isa said. The government formation will be in the hands of the old clique, she said. Indian opposition parties move no-confidence motion against gov't over strife-torn Manipur state Xinhua) 16:24, July 26, 2023 NEW DELHI, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The opposition Indian National Congress (INC) which has the backing of several other parties Wednesday moved a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi-led government in India's lower House of Parliament, locally called Lok Sabha. The notice on a no-confidence motion was filed by INC leader Gaurav Gogoi amid the ongoing impasse in the parliament over the situation in strife-torn state of Manipur. Since the beginning of the monsoon session on July 20, noisy protests in both houses of the Indian parliament - Rajya Sabha (upper house) and Lok Sabha - have marred the normal functioning. The opposition parties have been demanding a statement from Prime Minister Modi in the parliament over the situation in Manipur. The opposition parties which have got united under the name of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) believe the move will get the prime minister to speak on the situation in Manipur on the floor of the house. A separate no-confidence motion has also been filed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which is not a part of the INDIA coalition. Modi's government, which enjoys the majority in Lok Sabha, faces virtually no threat from this no-confidence motion. Opposition parties argue although the no-confidence motion is bound to fail the numbers test, they will be able to corner the government on the Manipur issue during the debate. If the speaker of Lok Sabha admits the motion, this will be the second no-confidence motion against the Modi government. The first one was moved by the TDP (Telugu Desam Party) in 2018 over the non-allocation of adequate funds to Andhra Pradesh. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Bennington, VT (05201) Today Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High around 80F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low 58F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. 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. WILLIAMSTOWN Williamstown Theatre Festival officials say mounting a season similar to its 2019 schedule, a pared down version of it, would cost $1.6 million more to produce today. It's an amount that isn't feasible or even sustainable, now that it's abandoned it's previous "summer stock" model, in which most apprentices paid to participate in the program and worked long hours in exchange for the experience of learning from seasoned professionals, including Broadway and Hollywood stars, and networking opportunities. One fine morning as I amble along the road listening to the woodland birds hidden by a filagree of summer leaves, I see a large dark shape placidly sitting on a thick branch of a dying ash tree near the edge of the woods by the pond. Theres another perched nearby. Both are sitting perfectly still. Immediately I think of the larger resident hawks: red-shouldered, broad-winged and red-tailed. The closer I get I notice the bird is large and rather dark all over. Hmmm maybe a wild turkey, though its too early in the year for them to be gobbling fermented grapes, a favorite fall activity for them. Soon, I realize that the red I am seeing is the head of a turkey vulture, a bird more often seen soaring than sitting. The two large dark creatures turn to watch me as I watch them. Up close and personal, one would never mistake this bird (even though it does have a hooked bill) for a hawk, with that scrawny, featherless head on a large hunched-over body. Even when vultures are soaring above, their form and flight is rather distinct. The head looks too small for its body and the long broad wings are more often than not spread wide dihedral, meaning in a v shape, as they sail about. There are 23 species of vultures across the globe, some in danger of becoming extinct. In the Americas, there are 7 species, two of which are found in our area. Vultures, strictly carrion eaters, have an amazing sense of smell and keen eyesight. Throw a corpse in a field and the vultures will come. Curiously, the new world vultures walk rather than hop as the old world vultures do. Even weirder is that these birds poop on their feet on very, very hot days to cool them off. Turkey vultures, Cathartes aura, are fairly common in the Berkshires, joined of late by the black vulture, Coragyps atratus, a very similar, but slightly smaller bird with a grey-black head. Both species were late arrivals to our area. Ralph Hoffmann in his 1904 field guide does not mention either. In the "Annotated List of the Birds of Berkshire County, Massachusetts," David St. James notes that the first breeding pair of turkey vultures in the state was recorded in Tyringham in 1954. Vultures are not elaborate nest builders. In fact, they are not house proud at all. No protective twigs or branches, woven, stacked or otherwise. These birds lay their eggs, either one or two, on the ground under bushes, in the back of caves, on cliffs. Vultures are late bloomers, choosing a mate when they are 6 to 8 years old. They are monogamous and are very attentive mothers spending up to 120 days tending their youngthe first instance, perhaps, of a helicopter mom. In "The Birds of Long Island,"(1844), J.P. Giraud Jr. states that these birds are rarely seen on Long Island, N.Y., but are more common in New Jersey where they were reported nesting in Cape May. These stupid, indolent birds present a loathsome sight. When I was growing up on Long Island, a turkey vulture was a bird of note, whose sighting would be passed along verbally by phone call or by letter from one local birder to another. Back then, no instant rare bird alert, no looking at the e-Bird app for up to the minute sightings. In "Birds of Massachusetts," (1927), Forbush lists a number of sporadic sightings in the state in all seasons save the winter, indicating that they were possibly migratory. In contrast to Giraud, Forbush mentions that these scavengers are chiefly beneficial. Many books and field guides from the 20th century taxonomically listed the turkey vultures with predators even though there was never, ever, a recorded instance of these birds attacking any living thing. It is not a raptor, does not act like a hawk, falcon, eagle or kite. With the help of DNA studies, experts came to realize that vultures are more closely related to storks and herons. These new world birds are now found in guides between the storks/herons and the hawks. Turkey vultures are almost year-round residents in our area, migrating up in early spring and spreading northward even to Canada to breed. Some stay throughout the winter. Their cousins, the black vultures, are venturing farther and farther north, a few single records being noted in the late 20th century, many more sightings now these last 20 years. Whenever I see a colony or wake of vultures, I always check the species. Often they are in mixed flocks, but are easy to tell apart. The turkey vultures underwings have a nice dark v on a pale grey background; while the black vulture has all black underwings with pale grey only on the tips. The turkey vulture holds the wings rather high when dihedraling, while the black vulture keeps the wings only slightly dihedral. When fairly close, the red head of the turkey vulture is quite apparent in contrast to the dark head of the black vulture. Dont be fooled, though, young turkey vultures have gray-black heads, too. What many people think of when you mention vultures is death, for these birds are strictly carrion eaters. They do not attack humans, animals, domestic or wild. They do not eat grain or any vegetative crops. They are, as Forbush says, chiefly beneficial. Not destructive at all. From the earliest of time, vultures have been recognized as purifiers, for many cultures ceremonially gave the bodies of their dead to vultures. Up to fairly recently, in the towers of silence in India, vultures gathered to strip the corpses and to send these souls along to the next life. The 'towers of silence still exist, but more than 90 percent of vultures in India have been unintentionally poisoned by the drugs given to the sacred cattle. One study showed that one dead cow could poison more than 100 vultures, leading to the near extinction of various vulture species. In other cultures, corpses required a proper burial with a funerary washing, ceremonially carried to the burial spot, then cremated and interred. If the body was stripped by vultures, there would be an 'unhappy afterlife for the disembodied soul. These angry dead souls would reach out into the world of the living causing any number of problems. In the Cherokee culture, vultures were magical, bringing light and fire to the world. They believed that sometimes vultures were cunning and not to be trusted, but most if their legends have them as helpful and insightful. Throughout history, vultures came to represent the good and the bad. They were believed to have curative powers, for their body parts were incorporated in many a Materia Medica, old- time pharmacies. They were believed to predict the future especially when they followed marching armies as if they knew many deaths would occur. They were correct! So on your walks, if you happen to see a vulture or two they are not harbingers of doom, but our partners in cleaning up the environment. This Story in History is selected from the archives by Jeannie Maschino, The Berkshire Eagle. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated some of the areas that GE is cleaning up. The river cleanup ends at Rising Pond in Great Barrington. The Environmental Protection Agency's permit for the Rest of River cleanup has survived a legal challenge from two environmental groups. In a ruling Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit rejected arguments put forth by Housatonic River Initiative and Housatonic Environmental Action League. The two groups sought to reverse the agreement reached in 2020 between General Electric Co. and the five towns Lenox, Lee, Stockbridge, Great Barrington and Sheffield through which the Housatonic River flows. GE is on the hook for the $576 million cleanup and the First Circuit's ruling obligates the company to proceed with the work. The so-called Rest of River cleanup plan will dredge riverbed sediment containing toxins from a heavily contaminated 10-mile stretch of the Housatonic in a bid to protect public health and the environment. The work will pick up from Fred Garner Park in Pittsfield and proceed downstream through Lenox, Lee, Stockbridge and Great Barrington. Work to clean up a 1.5-mile stretch of the river upstream of Fred Garner Park was finished in 2007. Attorneys for the groups argued that the deal reached between GE and the five towns in 2020 was brokered without sufficient public input. But judges on the 1st Circuit found otherwise. Some who oppose the cleanup plan say they're disappointed, but not surprised, by the court's decision. They also say that the town of Lee will continue to fight against the cleanup plan that involves trucking more than 1 million cubic yards of low-level toxic sediment to a landfill in town. About 100,000 cubic yards of sediment containing higher levels of PCBs will be removed to an out-of-state facility. U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal said the ruling means the Rest of River cleanup "can now move forward" and that "impacted communities will soon be able to access a beautiful Housatonic River free of risks stemming from the contaminated waters." "I applaud the community leaders whose advocacy brought this project to fruition, and I look forward to working with my local, state, and federal colleagues to ensure GE upholds its obligations," Neal said. GE dumped PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, into the river from its Pittsfield plant for more than 40 years. The environmental groups argued in June that the decision to deposit most of the contaminated soil in the proposed landfill was arbitrary and capricious. But the judges shot down the arguments put forth by lawyers for the Housatonic River Initiative and Housatonic Environmental Action League. They did, however, praise the groups' efforts as "commendable," and emphasized the need for the EPA to carefully monitor the cleanup to ensure GE's compliance as well as to continue working with the affected communities. The agency will continue doing so and ensuring "we implement the cleanup in the best way possible," said David W. Cash, EPA New England Regional Administrator, in a statement. "EPA is confident in the remedy selection and thankful for the ruling, which allows the cleanup of the river and restoration of this valuable and treasured resource to proceed," he added, noting that the agency's mission is to "protect human health and the environment." The groups challenged the 2020 permit in court on a number of grounds that included the way in which GE would clean up the toxic sludge, the companys plan to landfill it in Lee and that the EPA should have required GE to clean the removed sludge before disposal. The groups also took issue with the EPAs sediment sampling methods and conclusions. The court sided with the EPA. Tim Gray, of Housatonic River Initiative, said the town is about to refile its lawsuit against the Bayer pharmaceutical company on grounds that Monsanto which Bayer bought in 2018 manufactured and sold PCBs to GE despite allegedly knowing since the 1950s that PCBs were toxic. It could have a great effect on everything, Gray said of the lawsuit. We dont have faith in the [cleanup] plan, said Lee Select Board Chair Bob Jones, speaking to what he says is the popular sentiment in town. Jones said Lee is opposing the cleanup plan alone, since the other Rest of River towns continue to support the agreement that Lee officials also signed off on in 2020. Jones said the town doesn't want to rescind the agreement, but simply wants to discuss changing some elements of the cleanup plan. Jones pointed to GE's wealth. GE, he said, sold its airline leasing company for $24 billion in 2021. GE's decision to deposit most of the waste in the Berkshires would save it around $200 million, Jones noted. So when they say its about money, theyre right, he said. It's not about an effective cleanup of the river. It's not about the health and safety of the people in the river corridor. This is simply politics and money. And the people in the Berkshires will continue to pay for GEs bad behavior over the past eight decades. Joe Durwin is a local historian specializing in research on residential and commercial properties for owners in Berkshire County. He can be reached at berkshirehomehistorian@gmail.com. Talking Points Memo: The failure of the Biden administration is only getting more and more obvious by the day. Heres three major agencies that are falling apart. President Biden snaps at reporter for asking about Hunters text messages. SCOTUS rules on states control over elections and agrees to hear case on wealth tax. Bill renews calls for investigation into Zuckerbergs efforts into the 2020 presidential election. Former Prosecutor Cully Stimson on his new book Rogue Prosecutors: How Radical Soros Lawyers are Destroying Americas Communities. Reuters releases report that says all living US Presidents descended from slaveholders all expect Donald Trump. Smart Life: pickleball injuries This Day in History: International Body Piercing Day Final Thought: Leaving money to kids, charities & friends In Case You Missed It: Read Bill's latest column, "They're Not Victims" It's the 'Summer Reading Special!' 'Killing the Killers,' Killing the Legends,' and 'Killing Crazy Horse' all for $32.95. We'll also give you a FREE 'Team Normal' hat. 'Team Normal!' gear is 15% for a limited time. Go to BillOReilly.com now and order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and its Professional Board for Emergency Care vehemently condemn the violent acts targeting paramedics in Tshwane last weekend. In each of these shocking attacks, emergency care professionals were targeted and hijacked when responding to hoax distress calls that lured them to secluded areas where they were ambushed, kidnapped and robbed of their valuables. There has been a sharp increase in attacks on emergency-care workers in Gauteng and various other parts of the country. Emergency care requires immediate response to save lives; currently the situation is getting more dire with some areas classified as hotspots where responses to emergency calls require armed escort by either the police or private security firms. As a result, this interferes with the services that are being provided by the emergency care services and it puts the lives and wellbeing of the public at risk. We are outraged by these latest brutal acts and call on law-enforcement authorities to move swiftly in apprehending the perpetrators of these crimes. Should the public have any information regarding these acts of violence, the Board is requesting assistance in reporting the perpetrators to law enforcement," said Simpiwe Sobuwa, chairperson of the Professional Board for Emergency Care. Excitement is brewing in South Africa as Afribiz Media, a prominent media company, has been announced as the official media and public relations partner for Miss World South Africa. The news was revealed by businesswoman and television producer Carol Bouwer, the owner of Carol Bouwer Productions (CBP), which recently obtained the license to organise and host the prestigious Miss World SA pageant. The decision to host the event in the vibrant township of Soweto has sparked enthusiasm and optimism for the local residents and businesses. Bouwer, speaking at the Soweto Investment Conference, disclosed that the South African leg of the globally acclaimed pageant will take place at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, a stone throw away from Soweto. Previously, the license to host Miss World SA had been held by Sun International, organisers of the renowned Miss South Africa pageant. However, this new development sees CBP taking over the responsibility and privilege of sending a representative to the Miss World pageant. Bouwer elaborated on the significance of holding the pageant in Soweto, expressing her desire to utilise the opportunity to empower local businesses. Rather than relying on traditional venues like Sandton, Bouwer aims to bolster businesses in Soweto by encouraging visitors to stay in local accommodations like BnBs during the Miss World SA pageant. Soweto's selection as the host venue carries a meaningful message. Bouwer emphasises that the decision reflects a commitment to addressing social challenges and investing in underprivileged areas. By bringing such a high-profile event to Soweto, there is a hope to positively impact the local community and create opportunities for economic growth. Nasrec Expo Centre was chosen as the ideal location for its accessibility, allowing attendees from all over the country, including Vereeniging and Pretoria, to easily attend the event. Bouwer's vision is to blend an authentic African experience with a global appeal, showcasing the nation's rich culture and heritage without compromising its international standing. Aspiring contestants still have a chance to enter the pageant, with entries closing in just a few days. The pageant is scheduled for the end of October, with the exact date yet to be announced. The winner of Miss World SA will represent the nation on the global stage at the international competition taking place in December in India. Bouwer believes that this pageant will be a significant driver for tourism in the country. The crowned winner will serve as an ambassador, promoting South Africa's beauty, diversity, and potential to a global audience and potentially altering outdated perceptions of the nation. The collaboration with Afribiz Media as the official media and public relations partner is set to enhance the pageant's reach and impact. With their expertise in media and PR, Afribiz Media will work closely with Carol Bouwer Productions to bring a fresh perspective to the event, ensuring extensive coverage and positive publicity. In conclusion, the Miss World South Africa pageant's move to Soweto and the partnership with Afribiz Media mark a new era for this prestigious event. By fostering economic growth in Soweto and showcasing the nation's culture, the pageant aims to be a force for positive change in South Africa. With the support of Afribiz Media and Carol Bouwer Productions, the pageant promises to be a truly memorable and empowering experience for all involved. The Food For Mzansi Group, a leader in the digital news publishing sector, has announced its achievement of six esteemed nominations in the 2023 Bookmark Awards. These nominations were unveiled by the IAB South Africa, on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of this highly regarded event. The Bookmark Awards, a landmark celebration of excellence in digital innovation, technological advancements, and creative executions, sets the benchmark for interactive medias impact on marketing. Demonstrating the groups dedication to innovation and excellence, the Food For Mzansi Group has received multiple nominations across various categories. In the Specialist Publisher Sites category, the group has been acknowledged for their digital publications, Food For Mzansi and Health For Mzansi, contending with formidable competitors including News24s CrimeCheck and News24 Impact Report. The Food For Mzansi Group further solidified its dominance in the email newsletters and marketing category, earning three nominations for their exceptional newsletters: Farmers Inside Track, Health For Mzansi, and Stories of Change. Notable competitors in this category include News24s Good morning, SA and AfrikaBurn. The group's live event content was also recognised, with a nomination for the 2022 edition of the Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba held at Hotel Sky in Johannesburg. Other prominent finalists in this category include Joe Public for a captivating Chicken Licken event and Ogilvy South Africa for their commendable Castle Lager campaign, Bread of the Nation. The finalists were meticulously chosen by a panel of distinguished industry experts, led by Khensani Nobanda, the jury president for the Bookmarks and group executive for marketing and corporate affairs at Nedbank. Ronelle Louwrens, a senior executive at the Food For Mzansi Group, lauded this recognition: Our nominations across these various categories underscore our dedication to delivering impactful digital content and services. Our presence in the Bookmark Awards marks our position as a key player in the digital marketing landscape in South Africa, and we couldn't be prouder. The winners of the 2023 Bookmark Awards will be officially announced at a ceremony at Vodacom Dome in Midrand, Gauteng, on Thursday, 27 July. About Food For Mzansi Group: Since its inception in November 2018, the Food For Mzansi Group has won 15 global media awards, including Africas best digital news website for Food For Mzansi. In the last two years, its sister publication Health For Mzansi was announced as the continents Best Gen Z publication and also won the Best News Podcast category in 2023. Business rescue proceedings are a mechanism to facilitate the rehabilitation of a company that is financially distressed. Such proceedings are primarily aimed at restoring a company to solvency that should not be abused by a company with no prospects of being rescued to avoid a winding-up or to obtain some respite from creditors. On 21 July 2023, the SCA handed down judgment in the matters of PFC Properties (Pty) Ltd v Commissioner for the South African Revenue Services and Others (Case no 543/21) and Brita De Robillard NO and Another v PFC properties (Pty) Ltd and Others (Case No 409/22) [2023] ZASCA 111 (21 July 2023). In PFC Properties (Pty) Ltd v Commissioner for the South African Revenue Services and Others (Case No 543/21), the SCA had to consider an appeal against a final order of liquidation granted by the Pretoria High Court against PFC Properties (Pty) Ltd (PFC) in favour or the South African Revenue Service (SARS). In Brita De Robillard NO and Another v PFC properties (Pty) Ltd and Others (Case No 409/22), the SCA had to consider an appeal against an order granted by the Pietermaritzburg High Court in terms of which it dismissed a business rescue application, as well as a postponement application for the business rescue application. Background The facts of the matter are briefly as follows. SARS issued a liquidation application in the Pretoria High Court against PFC as a result of PFCs failure to pay SARS VAT and income tax to the combined value of approximately R57 million. The trustees of the insolvent estate of Mr De Robillard successfully applied to intervene in the winding-up application. Shortly after the winding-up application was launched, PFC changed its registered address from an address in Gauteng to an address in KwaZulu-Natal. PFC failed to file an answering affidavit in the winding-up application and a few days prior to the hearing of the winding-up application, the trustees of the De Robillard Family Trust (the DRFT), as the sole shareholder of PFC, launched a business rescue application in the Pietermaritzburg High Court to place PFC into business rescue. One court day prior to the hearing of the winding-up application, PFCs attorney filed an affidavit contending that, in terms of section 131(6) of the Companies Act, 2008 (the Act) SARS was precluded from proceeding with the winding-up application until the business rescue application was adjudicated upon, on the basis that section 131(6) of the Act suspended the liquidation application, because business rescue proceedings only begin once the court makes an order to that effect in terms of section 131(1) of the Act. The affidavit failed to address the allegations in the founding affidavit in the winding-up application. SARS sought leave, in terms of section 133(1)(b) of the Act to proceed with the winding-up application, submitting that the Court had a discretion in terms of that section of the Act to proceed with the application. A final winding-up order was granted by the Pretoria High Court on 13 April 2021. Both SARS and the trustees of the insolvent estate of Mr De Robillard opposed the business rescue application and filed detailed answering affidavits. The trustees of the DRFT failed to deliver a replying affidavit and failed to enrol the business rescue application for hearing. SARS accordingly applied for the application to be heard, and it was enrolled for hearing on 8 October 2021. One month prior to the hearing of the opposed business rescue application, the DRFT trustees filed an application to postpone the hearing thereof, on the basis that an appeal was pending against the final winding-up order, which rendered the business rescue application moot, alternatively, not ripe for hearing. The Pietermaritzburg High Court held that the pending appeal against the final winding-up order did not preclude it from determining the business rescue application, taking into account the timing of the business rescue application, and that the affidavits filed by SARS and the trustees of the insolvent estate of Mr De Robillard, to which there was no response, were a reliable and useful indication to assess the bona fides of the DRFT trustees and the prejudice to other parties. In light of the prejudice that PFCs creditors would suffer on account of a delay, the lack of prospects of success of the business rescue application and the authorities, the application for postponement of the business rescue application was refused with costs. PFCs counsel then informed the court that they had no instructions to argue the business rescue application and left the court room. The business rescue application itself was then heard (and dismissed) in their absence. Findings by the SCA The appeals against the final winding-up order and the dismissal of the business rescue application were heard jointly by the SCA as they related to one another. The main issue before the SCA was whether the conduct on the part of PFC and the DRFT trustees in launching the business rescue application constituted an abuse of court process. The SCA held that the business rescue application, whilst properly dismissed by the Pietermaritzburg High Court, should not even have been considered by reason of its use in a scheme of abuse, and that the launching of the business rescue application was a stratagem. The registered address of PFC had suddenly been changed to an address in KwaZulu-Natal to enable the DRFT trustees to launch the business rescue application out of the Pietermaritzburg High Court. Further, the DRFT trustees had failed to file a replying affidavit in their own application or enrol the matter for hearing, which was indicative of the fact that they had no intention of prosecuting the application to conclusion. This was further emphasised by the fact that at the hearing of the business rescue application, counsel for the applicants left the court room once the postponement application was refused. Over and above that, the DRFT trustees failed to make out a case that there was any reasonable prospect of rescuing PFC. In considering the conduct of the DRFT trustees and PFC, the Court referred to the recent decision by the Constitutional Court in Villa Crop Protection (Pty) Ltd v Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH [2022] ZACC 42; 2023 (4) BCLR 461 (CC), which dealt with the fate of proceedings launched by a party with an ulterior motive, in which the Constitutional Court held, inter alia, that The behaviour of the litigant may be so tainted with turpitude that the court will not come to such a litigants aid. and It is the abusive conduct of the litigant that, in a proper case, may warrant the exercise of the courts power to non-suit such a litigant. The SCA held that the conduct of the DRFT trustees and PFC was so tainted with impropriety that the Court must use the power it has to safeguard the integrity of its process. The applicants in the business rescue application were therefore non-suited. Consequently, the SCA held that the business rescue application could not have suspended the liquidation application because the former was tainted by abuse. As a result of the non-suiting of the applicants, the business rescue application was not made as envisaged in section 131(6) of the Act and thus, the moratorium never came into operation and did not suspend the winding-up proceedings. The SCA held that the liquidation order granted by the Pretoria High Court was therefore unassailable and both appeals were dismissed with costs. Conclusion The decision by the SCA reflects that the abuse of business rescue proceedings in circumstances where there is no reasonable prospect of rescuing a company will not be tolerated, and the court, when faced with a situation where it is evident that the business rescue application is being used as a stratagem to delay or avoid winding-up, has the power to safeguard the integrity of its process by non-suiting the applicants in such an application. Authors: "Honestly, I was sick as a dog, but felt so much better after talking some meds, to the point of going to town with a friend and, can you believe it, we ended up joining a march! And that is the honest reason why you saw me on television when I told you I could not come to work because I was sick!" Abuse of sick leave is neither novel nor rare. When revellers are having a blast in the wee hours of the morning and one of them bemoans the fact that they must report for work in a couple of hours, chances are someone will suggest that they just book off sick the next day. Reports show more than 145 countries in the world provide paid sick leave as an employee entitlement. According to an article on Hello Flamingo, abuse of sick leave is calculated to cost companies in the United States around $1,685 per employee annually, for a total cost of $225bn per year. In South Africa, the Occupational Care South Africa revealed recently that this kind of absenteeism cost the economy between R12-16bn per year. The Human Capital Review noted that it could be higher than this, reaching almost R20bn annually. It seems clear that employers have reason to take a dim view of sick leave exploitation. Sick leave itself is not a new phenomenon. The tombs of ancient Egypt were not only built by slaves but also by skilled artisans who slaved away to construct and decorate the burial places for kings. Texts (papyrus, not WhatsApp) from the New Kingdom Period, 15501070 BCE, show that these craftsmen were still given rations and other benefits during periods of illness where they were unable to work. According to an article by a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University, Anne Austin, it seems that even centuries ago there was an appreciation of the benefit of taking care of sick workers. Various studies have shown that: Workers without paid sick leave are less likely to obtain preventative medical care, including cancer screenings and influenza vaccinations. Employees who can take paid sick leave are less likely to experience workplace injuries. Taking sick leave reduces the risk of spreading illness, whether it is through employees staying at home and not infecting their colleagues or parents staying at home to take care of sick children and then not sending the kids to school where they infect other children. Almost a third of surveyed employees have indicated that they have contracted the flu from a fellow employee. Taking care of the sick is a central tenet of many cultures and religions. Research confirms that the state, employers and employees alike benefit from the provision of paid sick leave. But should this extent to our rowdy party-going colleague who heroically resists the urge to take the next Uber home so that they can be at work on time the next day? Should we be more magnanimous when someone uses a sicky to attend a political party rally, or a rugby match? Will the courts require us to be less uptight about how we view dodgy sick leave claims, and expect us to cut employees some slack if they call in sick rather than ask for a days leave when they dont want to come in to work but are not truly sick? What the courts say In two recent decisions, our courts have come down decisively on the side of showing no tolerance for sick leave abuse. In both the 2021 Labour Appeal Court judgment (Woolworths v CCMA and others [2021]) and the 2023 Labour Court decision (SARS v CCMA & Others), the courts reviewed and set aside arbitration awards handed down by the employment tribunal where the tribunal wrongly concluded that the employees ought not to have been dismissed. The message from the courts is clear: dishonest conduct destroys the relationship of trust between employer and employee. Where employees advise employers that they are not fit enough to come to work but then partake in other activities that belie their inability to report for duty, such conduct is dishonest and warrants dismissal from service. As stated by the LAC: "The employee acted dishonestly in absenting himself from work on the basis that he was too ill to perform his duties but then travelled for at least an hour to support his local rugby team, knowing full well that he would be paid for the day." And: "This lenient approach to dishonesty cannot be countenanced. The third respondent held a relatively senior position within the organisation of the applicant at Humansdorp. He was palpably dishonest, even on his own version. He expected to get away with the enjoyment of attendance at a rugby match on the basis of claiming sick leave and then enjoying the benefits thereof. This is dishonest conduct of a kind which clearly negatively impairs upon a relationship of trust between an employer and employee. It is clear that the relationship of trust as a result of his initial unreliability and now dishonest conduct had broken down..." False impressions Employees often seem to labour under the misapprehension that the employer merely has to accept their absence due to their stated illness and that it is almost impossible for the employer to show that they were not ill, in fact. This perception is clearly wrong and is likely to cost mistaken employees their jobs. When evaluating the reason the employee provided for not attending work against the employers reason for concluding that the employee malingered, a hearing chairperson, tribunal arbitrator, or judge will consider the two conflicting versions in the light of the probabilities. While it will typically be difficult for an employer to show conclusively that an employee was not genuinely sick, that is not the test; the employer merely needs to show that the employees stated reason for taking sick leave is less probable than the employers conclusion (that the sick leave request was bogus). Employees who think that they can get away with abusing sick leave because, even if theyre ill, surely they can go to the shops to get food, or to the pharmacy to pick up medicine, and how is that different from joining a march or attending a rugby match, not only miss the point but are also likely to miss their job when a court concludes that their dismissal was fair. As the appeal court stated in SARS v CCMA: "Mametja submitted that the policy of Sars does not suggest that a person who is indisposed cannot run errands like going to the nearby grocery store to buy bread. It is unnecessary for the policy to regulate such minutiae. Because, an employment relationship is predicated on trust, Sars expects its employees to be truthful and honest. In this particular case, Mathebula created the false impression that he was too ill to come to work. The fact that he was seen at the protest march is sufficient evidence to expose his false impression." Zero tolerance Employees who are dishonest should not expect sympathy from our legal system. Whether this abuse manifests in stealing from the employer or falsely stating that they are sick and cannot come to work, is largely immaterial: the impact is the same in that it breaks down the trust inherent in that relationship. It does not only come at a cost to employers who pay employees for wrongfully taking time off; it also impacts other colleagues who dutifully come to work and must pick up the slack of truant colleagues. Employers can take heed of the clear message from our courts: they need not tolerate such abusive practices and may take swift and stern action against malingering employees. When seeking time off, honesty is the best policy. When calling your manager, do not fib about your health; it may be better to just admit that your stated eye problem is that you just cannot see yourself coming to work today. On Friday 21 July 2023, OFM treated listeners, clients, and staff to a private screening of the Barbie movie as the worldwide phenomenon hit the global circuit. In the week before, OFM, central South Africas number one commercial radio station painted the airwaves pink with a fun Barbie Movie competition where listeners shared their special Barbie memories for a chance to win seats at the premiere. OFM also hosted a Barbie Movie Music Day on Friday, focusing on the films soundtrack and listeners shared more nostalgia. One lucky listener also won a limited edition Margot Robbie Barbie doll to add to their collection on this day. Guests came dressed to impress and the theatre was an explosion of glitter, pink and Barbie themed outfits. OFM presenter Jaco de Waal even dyed his hair pink for the occasion! OFM programme manager Tim Thabethe hails Barbie as the biggest movie release of 2023. Everyone in the OFM target audience has engaged with this legendary fashion toy in some way or the other. So to celebrate with a full week of hype, to dedicate Friday's music playlist to Barbie and be part of an international movie premiere, ticked all the right boxes to surprise and delight the OFM target audience. For more information email az.oc.mfo@gnitekram. The tourism sector is getting back on its feet. Prior to 2020, the sector accounted for 8% of GDP and given the strong growth the industry is showing, the government is hoping to it reaches 10% by 2030. Over the same time period, the sector has set itself an audacious target of attracting 21 million visitors annually. While those goals may be lofty, they can be achieved by harnessing the power of strong strategic partnerships. By teaming up and integrating with solution-driven companies, hotel partners can supercharge the growth of the tourism sector and turn tall ambitions into tangible results while making a positive contribution to the country's economy. Collaboration is key Collaborating with the government and the relevant industry bodies is a crucial component in the quest to achieve the ambitious goals set for the tourism sector and hoteliers can play an important role in this. By actively engaging with government initiatives, hotel owners can align their strategies and efforts with the national agenda. This includes participating in tourism campaigns, supporting local initiatives, and contributing to sustainable tourism practices. Open lines of communication and partnership between hoteliers and government stakeholders can go a long way toward fostering an environment of shared goals and mutual support. As key stakeholders, hotels can also actively contribute to shaping the policies, regulations, and infrastructure development that will ultimately drive the industry forward. Teamwork makes the dream work Strategic partnerships help propel the tourism industry forward and foster innovation. Hotels can leverage the unique capabilities their partners possess to boost business outcomes by teaming up. For example, 20 months ago, Sun International partnered with booking technology firm Profitroom. Since then, Sun International has secured 50,000 direct bookings. By working together closely and acting on the constant feedback loop they had initiated, Profitroom and Sun International have been able to turn their partnership into a net positive for the South African hospitality industry. Partnerships and innovation go hand in hand and a high tide raises all boats Collaborating with external partners, such as technology providers, enables hotels to tap into fresh ideas, cutting-edge technologies, and emerging trends. By joining forces, hotels can co-create innovative solutions, enhance guest experiences, and streamline operations. Any hotel looking to take advantage of the sectors growth should be considering how they can leverage strategic partnerships to grow their revenues. These partnerships offer numerous benefits including expanded market reach, access to new customer segments, and increased brand visibility. By joining forces with complementary businesses, hotels can tap into untapped markets, attract a wider audience, and drive more bookings. As with the example of Sun International, finding the right partner can yield incredible results. Fostering strong partnerships within the tourism industry is not just about making hotels money. The sector is a major employer, and its continued growth will go a long way toward helping the country alleviate the current youth unemployment crisis. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the South African hospitality industry can create 800,000 jobs over the next decade if all goes well. Considering that, it becomes clear that building dynamic, resilient partnerships is how we help realise the promise everyone knows South Africa has. Authored by Jeff Louderback via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), Days after a House hearing on censorship that saw Democrats attempt to prevent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from testifying, a new Harvard-Harris poll showed that he has a higher favorability rating than any other presidential candidate. Democrat presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a hearing with the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 20, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Mr. Kennedy has a net favorable rating of 47 percent and a net unfavorable mark of 26 percent according to the survey, which was released on July 23 and conducted from July 19 to July 20 among 2,068 registered voters (pdf). Poll respondents said that former President Donald Trump has a favorability rating of 45 percent compared to a 49 percent unfavorability number. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has a 40 percent favorable rating and 37 percent unfavorable, and President Joe Biden has 39 percent favorable and 53 percent unfavorable rating, also lagging behind Mr. Kennedy. Mr. Trump would win the Republican primary and defeat Mr. Biden in a general election, according to the survey, with a 45 percent to 40 percent margin. Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. holds his right hand up as he is sworn in for a hearing with the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 20, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) The former president would top vice president Kamala Harris 47 percent to 38 percent, the poll showed. The survey did not indicate what would happen in a head-to-head matchup between Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Trump. Dismissed as a longshot candidate by many political pundits, Mr. Kennedy also had the highest net favorability of all 2024 presidential candidates in a June poll from The Economist/YouGov. Mr. Kennedy was viewed favorably by 49 percent of the respondents, which translates to a net favorability rating of 19 points. He was seen as unfavorable by 30 percent. Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump had 45 percent and 43 percent of the respondents view them in a favorable way. Mr. Bidens net favorability rating was minus 7 while Mr. Trump had a minus 10 net favorability rating. Bipartisan Support Mr. Kennedy continues to draw bipartisan support in his campaign. A July 20 House Judiciary Committee hearing examining the federal governments role in censoring Americans was marked by explosive exchanges between Democrats and Republicans about Mr. Kennedys comments on vaccines and the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Kennedy was a star witness at the hearing on the weaponization of the federal government. Republicans defended Mr. Kennedy and said the Democrats outcry over his presence at the hearing amounted to censorship. Democrats criticized Republicans for giving Mr. Kennedy a megaphone to talk about his views on vaccines. Mr. Kennedy also defended himself against claims that he made antisemitic remarks at a recent event. In a secretly recorded video leaked to the media, Mr. Kennedy was heard describing how some research reported that the COVID-19 virus disproportionately affected Caucasian and black people while being comparably mild for Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people, who Mr. Kennedy suggested had a stronger immune response to the virus. Mr. Kennedy also mentioned how bioweapons could potentially be designed to harm certain ethnic groups over others. Democrats and other critics of Mr. Kennedy condemned the comments as racist and antisemitic. Mr. Kennedy has vehemently denied the allegations. On Twitter, he said he never, ever suggested that the COVID-19 virus was targeted to spare Jews and called for a newspaper article on the video, which he said was false, underhanded, and inflammatory, to be retracted. Discarding his prepared statement and speaking extemporaneously at the congressional hearing, Mr. Kennedy addressed charges of racism and antisemitism in his opening remarks. In my entire life, I have never uttered a phrase that was racist or antisemitic, he said, citing his record of support for Israel. I have fought more ferociously for Israel than anybody, but I am being censored here through this target, through smears, through misinterpretations of what Ive said, through lies, through association, which is a tactic that we thought had all been dispensed with since the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s, Mr. Kennedy added. Attempt to Close Hearing From the Public Following Mr. Kennedys opening remarks, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) introduced a motion to move the hearing into executive session, which would have closed the hearing from public view. Mr. Kennedy has repeatedly made despicable antisemitic and anti-Asian remarks as recently as last week, Ms. Wasserman Schultz said, citing a section of House rules that she said Mr. Kennedys comments violated. According to the rules, a committee can move into executive session if public airing of the testimony would tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person, or otherwise would violate a law or rule of the House. Mr. Kennedys comments about COVID-19 violated these rules, Ms. Wasserman Schultz said. In a recorded vote, all 10 Republicans present at the hearing voted to shelve Ms. Wasserman Schultzs motion. All eight Democrats present voted against it. On the Sunday morning news circuit, Mr. Kennedy continued to defend himself against accusations of antisemitic remarks. The charges that I made these statements that were antisemitic, all of those statements are taken out of context, he told Fox News. 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 areis simply another way that Im being, that the DNC, etc., and its allies are using to silence me, to marginalize me, to make me look crazy, to make me look like a bad person. The censorship continues today, he said. When I made my campaign, my announcement speech on April 19 in Boston, YouTube took it down after five minutes. I never mentioned vaccines. I never mentioned anything. Read more here... The Attorney General of the U.S. Virgin Islands, armed with highly effective legal talent from the law firm, MotleyRice which stakes its reputation on its boldness has filed new documents in its federal lawsuit against the largest bank in the United States, JPMorgan Chase. The new documents are, indeed, breathtakingly bold. The U.S. Virgin Islands attorneys have clarified to the court that they plan to show in a trial scheduled for October that JPMorgan Chase not only facilitated the sex trafficking of underage girls by Jeffrey Epstein but that the bank actively participated in Epsteins sex-trafficking venture from 2006 until 2019. That is a very explosive assertion. For starters, it throws up a giant red flare as to why the American public has heard nothing from the criminal division of the U.S. Department of Justice about a criminal case against the bank for laundering money for Epstein. The case brought by the U.S. Virgin Islands is a civil case. The U.S. Virgin Islands filed hundreds of pages of new court documents on Monday and Tuesday. Most of the exhibits have been filed under seal. A Memorandum of Law arguing for partial summary judgment in the case, however, is only lightly redacted and makes the following points: Even if participation requires active engagementthere is no genuine dispute that JPMorgan actively participated in Epsteins sex-trafficking venture from 2006 until 2019. The Court found allegations that the Bank allowed Epstein to use its accounts to send dozens of payments to then-known co-conspirators [redacted] provided excessive and unusual amounts of cash to Epstein; and structured cash withdrawals so that those withdrawals would not appear suspicious went well beyond merely providing their usual [banking] services to Jeffrey Epstein and his affiliated entities and were sufficient to allege active engagement. The U.S. Virgin Islands has previously alerted the court to the unfathomable sums of hard cash that Epstein was able to take from the accounts he maintained at JPMorgan Chase without the bank filing the legally mandated Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) to law enforcement. In the new filing, it has tallied up the giant pile of cash, writing as follows: Between September 2003 and November 2013, or approximately ten years, JPMorgan handled more than $5 million in outgoing cash transactions for Epstein ignoring its own policy discouraging large cash withdrawals. The U.S. Virgin Islands attorneys cite to internal emails at JPMorgan Chase showing that employees at the bank were aware of Epsteins [c]ash withdrawals made in amounts for $40,000 to $80,000 several times a month while also being aware that Epstein paid his underage sexual assault victims in cash. JPMorgan Chases active participation in the Epstein sex trafficking ring was also alleged in a separate class action lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase brought by lawyers David Boies and Bradley Edwards on behalf of Epsteins victims. At a March 13 court hearing in the case, Boies argued in open court that JPMorgan Chase had used a private jet owned by the banks hedge fund, Highbridge Capital, to transport girls for Epsteins sex trafficking operation. A January 13, 2023 amended complaint filed by Boies law firm provided the following details on that allegation: As another example of JP Morgan and [Jes] Staleys benefit from assisting Epstein, a highly profitable deal for JP Morgan was the Highbridge acquisition. In 2004, when Epsteins sex trafficking and abuse operation was running at full speed, Epstein served up another big financial payday for JP Morgan. Epstein was close friends with Glenn Dubin, the billionaire who ran Highbridge Capital Management. Through Epsteins connection, it has been reported that Staley arranged for JP Morgan to buy a majority stake in Dubins fund, which resulted in a sizeable profit for JP Morgan. This arrangement was profitable for both Staley and JPMorgan, further incentivizing JP Morgan to ignore the suspicious activity in Epsteins accounts and to assist in his sex-trafficking venture. For example, despite that Epstein was not FINRA-certified, Epstein was paid more than $15 million for his role in the Highbridge/JP Morgan deal. Moreover, Highbridge, a wholly-owned subsidiary of JP Morgan, trafficked young women and girls on its own private jet from Florida to Epstein in New York as late as 2012. With the criminal division of the U.S. Department of Justice sitting on its hands in this matter, and the Boies/Edwards lawsuit on behalf of victims now settled for $290 million by JPMorgan Chase with victims lawyers getting $87 million in legal fees and $2.5 million in expenses while victims are guaranteed nothing other than a requirement to release their claims there is no assurance that the American people will ever hear the hard facts about sex trafficking via a corporate jet owned by the largest bank in the United States. Thus, it is becoming critically important that the U.S. Virgin Islands actually bring its case to trial in a public courtroom and not fold like another cheap suit by accepting a pile of tainted money from JPMorgan Chase. If the U.S. Virgin Islands wants to make good on its promise to serve the public interest, its hundreds of sealed documents need to get unsealed during the trial instead of serving as an incentive on the court docket for JPMorgan Chase to pay up to keep the documents sealed. In its latest filings, the U.S. Virgin Islands also note that JPMorgan Chase didnt just bank Epsteins accounts but it also banked all the girls and women publicly alleged in 2006 to be recruiters, accomplices, or victims and regularly transferred monies into these accounts from Epstein to buy everyones silence. In the case of Epsteins accomplice-in-chief, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is now serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in the sex trafficking ring, the new filing notes that JPMorgan Chase made over $25 million in payments to Maxwell from Epstein. What was the bank getting out of all of its sleazy dealings with Epstein? The U.S. Virgin Islands makes a very credible case that the bank was getting lots of profits both from trading in Epsteins own accounts as well as his referrals of rich clients to the bank. The Memorandum of Law filed on Monday notes that Epstein was bringing in over $8 million in revenues to the Private Bank the top revenue and nearly double the amount of the next highest client. As for the client referrals that Epstein made to the bank, the U.S. Virgin Islands writes as follows: In 2003, Epstein was, by double, the top revenue generator in the Private Bank, and the source of Google co-founder Sergey Brin (one of the largest [relationships] in the Private Bank, of +$4BN), Glenn Dubin (billionaire founder of Highbridge), and many other ultra-wealthy clients and connections, which would come to include Bill Gates, Leon Black, Larry Summers, the Sultan of Dubai, Prince Andrew, Ehud Barak, Thomas Pritzker, Lord Peter Mandelson, and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Among that client referral list above, Leon Black, the co-founder and former CEO of private equity firm Apollo Global Management, is facing a current lawsuit in federal court over allegations he violently raped one of Epsteins victims in Epsteins upper East Side mansion in Manhattan when she was 16. The alleged victim suffers from mosaic Down Syndrome according to the lawsuit. This is only the latest in multiple charges of sexual assault that have been lodged against Black. (But, once again, the silence from the criminal division of the U.S. Department of Justice is deafening.) Reporter Matt Goldstein broke the story last Friday in the New York Times that Leon Black had quietly settled charges with the U.S. Virgin Islands earlier this year with a payment of $62.5 million. Another rich, powerful man on Epsteins client referral list to JPMorgan Chase is Prince Andrew, who settled claims last year of sexually assaulting Epsteins sex slave, Virginia Giuffre, when she was 17 and loaned out to him by Epstein. The monetary details were not disclosed. In a BBC interview in 2022, Giuffre said she was passed around like a platter of fruit for sex with Epsteins powerful friends. Wall Street On Parade has been reporting for years on how the systemic culture of JPMorgan Chase is to ignore the law in pursuit of profits. One striking example was investigated by the U.S. Senates Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. The Subcommittee got its hands on internal emails at JPMorgan Chase showing that when a young recent graduate of a law school submitted his resume to the bank, and bragged about finding a loophole that could be gamed by the bank to extract obscene profits from the California electric market, an executive at the bank wrote: Please get him in ASAP. The bank hired the young recruit and deployed the strategy. The bank was eventually fined $410 million in penalties and disgorgements by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). It was also revealed during the Senate hearing into the matter that while JPMorgan was being investigated, it continued to engage in other manipulative electricity schemes, a total of 11 in all. The Senate report noted that FERC officials told the Subcommittee that in the years since Congress gave FERC enhanced anti-manipulation authority in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the CAISO and MISO regulators had never before witnessed the degree of blatant rule manipulation and gaming strategies that JPMorgan used to win electricity awards and elicit make-whole payments. (See our report: JPMorgan Rushed to Hire Trader Who Suggested on His Resume That He Knew How to Game Electric Markets.) Gaming electric markets is, of course, a trivial matter for a bank that has admitted to five criminal felony counts since 2014, which includes laundering money for the largest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history (Bernie Madoff) and rigging the market for U.S. Treasuries the market that the U.S. government uses to pay its bills. Throughout this unprecedented crime spree and non-prosecution agreements and deferred-prosecution agreements generously lavished on JPMorgan Chase by the bizarrely forgiving U.S. Department of Justice, the Board of Directors of the bank has kept Jamie Dimon in place as both Chairman and CEO. For the conflicts of interest between the bank and its Board that might explain that lack of action, see our report here. Now Dimon and specific members of the Board of Directors also find themselves being sued directly for their role in facilitating Jeffrey Epsteins crimes. The lawsuit has been brought by two pension funds on behalf of shareholders. The lawsuits theory of the case is that specific members of the Board of JPMorgan Chase put their heads in the sand and ignored that the bank had become a cash conduit for Jeffrey Epsteins child sex trafficking ring because they were hoping that their own business ties to Epstein would go unnoticed. The pension fund case, the Epstein victims case that was settled last month for $290 million, and the U.S. Virgin Islands case, are all before the same judge, Jed Rakoff, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York a District Court where Big Law is known for getting sweet deals for Wall Streets recidivist miscreants. Representing the Board Members who have been named in the latest lawsuit brought by the pension funds is Big Law firm, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. For background on how Paul Weiss services Wall Street, see our report: Meet the Lawyer Who Gets Citigroup Out of Fraud Charges and The Untold Story of the Paul Weiss Internal Investigation that Didnt Catch a Massive Stock Fraud and Judge Issues Scathing Rebuke of DOJ and Law Firm, Paul Weiss. Last Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee (Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government) held a hearing to examine the federal government's role in censoring Americans, the Missouri v. Biden case, and Big Tech's collusion with out-of-control government agencies to silence speech. While the Committees chair, Jim Jordan of Ohio, and his fellow Republican members welcomed the testimony of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the Committees minority (Democrat) members did everything in their power to censor the hearing. Ranking Member of the minority, Stacey Plassketa non-voting delegate to the House from the United States Virgin Islands' (USVI)began by asserting that presidential candidate RFK, Jr.s speech is not protected by the First Amendment: Many of my Republican colleagues across the dais will rush to cover that they have Mr. Kennedy here because they want to protect his free speech. This is not the kind of free speech that I know of. Free speech is not an absolute. The Supreme Court has stated that. And others free speech that is allowedhateful, abusive rhetoricdoes not need to be promoted in the halls of the peoples house. These folks have a plan. They want to give expression to the most vile sorts of speech here in this committee room because it prepares the ground for their own conspiracy theories and pseudoscience. And they apparently dont care how many people are hurt or die as a consequence of their actions. Because nothing, nothing is more important to them than power. As I wrote in my recent Substack post for the Kennedy Beacon, Plasketts assertions are an expression of the same strategy deployed by every dictator in historynamely, to dehumanize a dissident by characterizing his opinions as vile and dangerous. By the dictators logic, the dissident is not free to express his opinions because they pose a threat to the body politic. While such assertions are couched in the benevolent sounding language of protecting the citizenry, the true threat the dissident poses is not to the citizenry, but to the dictators power. Assuming the role of Grand Inquisitor at the hearing was Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.). She began by motioning the Committee to move into executive session, thereby closing the hearing to the public. She made this motion on the grounds that RFK, Jr.s remarks about COVID-19 at a recent press event are harmful to the public. Readers who are interested in the reality of these remarksas distinct from the mainstream medias blitz of mendacious propaganda about themmay consider reading my Substack post about it. In a nutshell, RFK, Jr. mentioned the vast medical literature about genetic variations in the ACE-2 receptor that cause some ethnic groups, especially Chinese and Ashkenazi Jews, to be less susceptible to severe COVID-19 illness than other ethnic groups. Following the Committees rejection of Rep. Wasserman Schultzs motion, she characterized RFK, Jr.s recent remarks as perpetuating a longstanding anti-Semitic trope that Jews are responsible for infectious disease outbreaks. She then claimed (with perfect humbug) that she wanted to give the witness a chance to correct his statements and repair some of the harm that hes helped cause to the Jewish people. Her idea of giving the witness a chance was making grossly distorted representations of what he has purportedly said in the past, and then interrupting him every time he tried to set the record straight. Such methods of interrogation have been employed by every dictators kangaroo court in history. The following video presents the key points of the Inquisitor Shultzs rude accusations, and a detailed rebuttal to each. For further reading about the hearing, see my full Kennedy Beacon post about the hearing, which is accompanied by my recent interview about censorship with Dr. Aaron Kheriaty. Anthony Fauci, Former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, attends an event with First Lady Jill Biden to urge Americans to get vaccinated ahead of the holiday season, during a COVID-19 virtual event with AARP in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC, December 9, 2022. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) Last week Public and Racket revealed that top researchers privately believed a lab leak was plausible despite claiming to rule it out in a hugely influential March 2020 paper, The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2. These revelations have led to growing calls by neutral observers for Nature Medicine to retract the paper. Im not a big petition guy, said statistician Nate Silver, but if Nature isn't ready to retract this paper on their own that's a big L for their credibility and about as clear a sign as you can get that they're elevating politics above science. Roger Pielke, Jr., a leading science policy expert, wrote, The case for retracting Proximal Origins is overwhelming because we now know, undeniably, that it was seriously flawed and misleading. Yet on July 22, Nature Medicines editor-in-chief, Joao Monteiro, told The Telegraph that a retraction was not warranted because the paper was a point of view and not a research study. In 2020, however, Nature Medicine and the papers authors presented Proximal Origin as a peer-reviewed analysis, not as an opinion piece. Then-director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Anthony Fauci, upheld the paper as definitive scientific research, and the World Health Organization (WHO) used it as a basis for ruling out deliberate bioengineering in its own origins investigation. It appears that Nature Medicine is framing this paper as a point of view because the authors private Slack messages show that they had major misgivings about their own evidence and findings. The question now turns to why the scientists decided to rule out any laboratory-based scenario despite privately recognizing that such a scenario was, indeed, highly plausible. As Public documented, the process of writing Proximal Origin was a scramble for intermediate species first, ferrets, and then pangolins to explain how the virus could have jumped from bats to humans. And even then, the scientists did not fully believe their own explanation. In April 2020, two months after the pre-print of Proximal Origin, Kristian Andersen and the other authors still had doubts about the zoonotic spillover hypothesis. The authors now claim that their decision to mislead the public and conceal information was simply scientists doing science, but the discrepancy between their public and private statements is simply too large to justify. Good scientists frequently make painstaking observations before they can come to conclusions. Data must be collected, often multiple times. Analyses must be conducted and re-conducted to ensure that the findings are sound. There are good reasons for such patience. Science has for years been in what is known as a replication crisis. Efforts to replicate the findings of even famous studies have repeatedly failed, in multiple disciplines. And the cost to scientists reputations and careers of rushing to judgment is high, as the recent demands for the retraction of Proximal Origin show. So why, then, did the Proximal Origin scientists risk their reputations by pushing forward with a poorly-reasoned paper? For their three months of discussion, the authors were keenly aware of the political implications of a lab leak. If anyone accused China of releasing the virus, it would be a shit show, Andrew Rambaut of the University of Edinburgh said. But political concerns alone do not explain the authors decision to publish. They knew that completely discounting a laboratory-based scenario was unwise and that they lacked sufficient evidence to do so. As to publishing this document in a journal, I am currently not in favor of doing so. I believe publishing something that is open-ended could backfire at this state, Andersen wrote on February 8, 2020. I think its important that we try to gather additional evidence including waiting on the pangolin viral sequences and further scrutinize the furin cleave site and O-linked glycans before publishing. We know though, that the group never did find conclusive pangolin sequences. Unfortunately the pangolins dont help clarify the story, Andersen wrote on February 20, three days after the authors published their pre-print. If Andersen didnt get the evidence he said was needed, why did he publish? The authors were also aware of the fact that misrepresenting the data would be unethical. On February 9, Robert Garry of Tulane University argued that not addressing accidental infection in a lab would look like a cover up. And again, on February 17, Garry asserted that ruling out accidental release would lead to cries of COVER-UP. So why did the Proximal Origin scientists end up jeopardizing their status and esteem by rushing to publish a paper they knew was misleading? And who ultimately pushed them to engage in this cover-up? ^ Original-Research: Samara Asset Group plc - von GBC AG Einstufung von GBC AG zu Samara Asset Group plc Unternehmen: Samara Asset Group plc ISIN: MT0001770107 Anlass der Studie: Research report (Anno) Empfehlung: Buy Kursziel: 4.14 EUR Kursziel auf Sicht von: 31.12.2024 Letzte Ratinganderung: Analyst: Matthias Greiffenberger, Julien Desrosiers Samara Asset Group is actively ramping up its investments in the fund-of-fund approach. Samara Alpha Management launches flagship fund, promising attractive risk-adjusted returns. In June 2023, Samara Asset Group (formerly: Cryptology Asset Group) sold its entire stake in Block.one, a crypto company, for $118.9 million, resulting in a profit of about $52 million. Following this, they distributed dividends of EUR1.30 per share, a total payout of around EUR74 million. Despite Block.one selling a significant portion of its Bitcoin holdings, leading to a slight discount on the liquid asset value, Samara's new strategy sees the allocation of $50 million for fund-to-fund investments over the next year and a half. This aligns with their objective to become a reliable institutional-grade investor. Samara, leveraging the successful launch of Samara Alpha platform, aims for an annual expected return of 25% to 35% with its market-neutral fund-of-fund strategy. The strategy will exploit inefficiencies in traditional capital markets, especially in the crypto landscape, to generate alpha and high returns, while reducing exposure to underlying assets and volatility. Retail investors' limited access to such opportunities has led Samara to hold onto its investments, except for small illiquid ones. Samara Alpha operates as an independent subsidiary of Samara Asset Group, managing its funds independently with external members and limited partners. Shareholders also participate in Samara Alpha's potential success. While the subsidiary's valuation is currently based on cost basis, strategic investors are being sought to increase its value. A potential share capital increase could involve strategic investors who would invest alongside Samara Asset Group. Samara Asset Group has invested $10 million in the flagship market-neutral multi-strategy fund launched by its subsidiary, Samara Alpha Management. This US-based asset management subsidiary specializes in leveraging market inefficiencies in the budding digital asset space, with a goal to yield appealing risk-adjusted returns. Led by Chief Investment Officer Adil Abdulali, the firm operates with a diversified digital asset managers portfolio. We have estimated the total valuation of investments for Samara Asset Group to be EUR227.15 million. Factoring in an increased net debt and holding costs of EUR-17.28 million (an increase from the previous EUR-15.22 million), we have estimated a comprehensive Net Asset Value (NAV) for the company, which now stands at EUR209.87 million. This translates to EUR4.14 per share. With the current share price standing at EUR2.18 (Xetra on 25th July 2023 at 10:02am), there is considerable upside potential. Consequently, we maintain a 'Buy' rating. Die vollstandige Analyse konnen Sie hier downloaden: http://www.more-ir.de/d/27411.pdf Kontakt fur Ruckfragen GBC AG Halderstrae 27 86150 Augsburg 0821 / 241133 0 research@gbc-ag.de ++++++++++++++++ Offenlegung moglicher Interessenskonflikte nach 85 WpHG und Art. 20 MAR Beim oben analysierten Unternehmen ist folgender moglicher Interessenkonflikt gegeben: (5a;5b;6a;7;11); Einen Katalog moglicher Interessenkonflikte finden Sie unter: http://www.gbc-ag.de/de/Offenlegung +++++++++++++++ Date and time of completion of the study: 25.07.2023 (2:15 pm) Date and time of the first distribution: 26.07.2023 (10:00 am) Validity of the target price: until max. 31.12.2024 -------------------ubermittelt durch die EQS Group AG.------------------- Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung bzw. Research ist alleine der Herausgeber bzw. Ersteller der Studie verantwortlich. Diese Meldung ist keine Anlageberatung oder Aufforderung zum Abschluss bestimmter Borsengeschafte. Quelle: dpa-Afx Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Zanu PF party has surpassed its set targets of 2018 with the agriculture sector now an US$8 billion industry this year up from US$2 billion while the mining sector boomed from a US$2,8 billion to surpassing the US$12 billion mark by the end of the year. The major turnaround in all sectors with active Government support has meant that the Zanu PF manifesto is just more of the same with a lot of major infrastructure development coming up completed in the next five years. Power deficits have been dealt with through several power sources that include the Hwange Units 7 and 8, which are now both on stream, while small hydro-electricity projects from dams that are being constructed in every province will be supplying their local communities. Key infrastructural projects have been completed including dualisation of the Beitbridge Border Post, busy Harare-Beitbridge Highway, construction of the New Parliament, expansion of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport. Among other flagship projects is Gwayi-Shangani dam proposed in 1912, with actual works commencing when President Mnangagwa came to power in 2017. Several other dams have been commissioned as Chivhu, Marovanyati Dam in Buhera, Muchekeranwa Dam in Marondera. Construction of Kunzvi Dam will add more capacity for the Greater Harare Metropolitan area, especially the most water deficient areas on the eastern side, although full water supply needs the Harare City Council, opposition led for more than two decades, to restore the full capacity created by former Zanu-PF dominated councils to its water works, now working on around half blast. New towns are emerging in Mvuma and the once marginalised areas like Kanyemba and Binga are being modernised with irrigation schemes. Twenty new civil registry offices for e-passports have been opened across the country with more on cards as the Government brings services to the people leaving no one and no place behind. Through use of devolution funds schools, clinics are being built targeting the remotest parts of the country. President Mnangagwas chief election agent, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, shared the successes during the Linda Muriro show on Star FM titled, Pursuit of free and fair polls: examining Zims legal and political environment. We are saying whatever we have been doing, that is our manifesto. Look at infrastructure development, what we have done to our roads, built Beitbridge Border Post, new Parliament, all the developments that are happening. In Agriculture you can mention we have done a lot to take the agricultural sector from a US$2 billion industry to an US$8 billion. We had given ourselves that the mining industry must be a US$12 billion industry by 2023, we have surpassed that, he said. Minister Ziyambi added that: All that those are our selling points to say give our candidate (President Mnangagwa) another chance to take us to another level so we dont need those flowery manifestos that are much ado about nothing. Under the leadership of President Mnangagwa this year Zimbabwe produced a record tobacco crop in 198 years, with 85 percent of it coming from smallholder farmers of whom 60 percent are beneficiaries of the highly viable Land Reform Programme. In as many years food security is guaranteed as Zimbabwe is on the verge of exporting wheat as barely a year it realised a record wheat harvest since the crop started being produced commercially in the country in 1966. The Zanu PF chief election agent said their manifesto is a living document, their deeds are what they are speaking about to say that Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo. Everything that we are doing is centred on ourselves. We do not have any foreigner who is coming to assist us to build the majority of the things that we are doing, he said. Minister Ziyambi said Zanu PFs manifesto this time around is their work nothing else. We are the incumbent, the party in power. We produced a blueprint for the National Development Strategy when His Excellency came into power in 2018 we said lets start writing our manifesto now so we have several projects that we did that we make reference to. Those in the opposition that aspire to get into power will write flowery manifestos where they will say literally anything. Ourselves we are pointing to things that we are doing to our vision 2030 to say in terms of national development strategy we aspire to get to that level, he said.Tobacco Farmers Union Trust president Mr Victor Mariranyika said smallholder farmers who benefited from land reform are doing well in tobacco growing, adding that the crop is the biggest agriculture foreign currency earner which needs a practical action approach when growing it. We are happy that smallholder farmers are contributing more in growing the crop. This means that farmers are using the land very well. Good agronomic practices are also key to enhancing productivity. We applaud the work done by farmers this season, he said. Mr Mariranyika said several smallholder farmers lives have totally positively changed, adding that production costs should not rise to ensure that farmers get a profit. It is good for the farmers to benefit from what they grow. We are guaranteed a good harvest this time. Farmers get their inputs on time and this helps to scale up production of the crop. We hope this production will also scale up next season, he said. Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) president Dr Shadreck Makombe said smallholder farmers were doing well adding that those who had become successful in the sector were adhering to planting dates. We are looking forward to a bumper harvest this season in wheat as well as in tobacco. Planting dates are crucial in all crops. We are positive that there is significant growth in our industry. Herald Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command of Army Lt General Upendra Dwivedi and others during Vijay Bhoj, a cultural programme, ahead of 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas celebration at Drass, in Kargil, Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Photo: PTI/PRO (DEFENCE) DRAS, LADAKH (PTI): Chief of Army Staff Manoj Pandey today said the dangers and challenges before the armed forces are likely to get more complex in the future and India needs to be ready to face them. The Chief of Army Staff said the armed forces should prepare for the future keeping in mind the possible challenges. "Dangers and challenges before us are likely to get complex in the future, we need to be ready," General Pande told reporters at the Kargil War Memorial here on the occasion of the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas. "We have been working on adaptive, resilient and responsive processes. Our Army will emerge as a technology-enabled and future-ready force to deal with security challenges," he said. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code Microsoft on Tuesday reported fiscal fourth-quarter profit of $20.1 billion, or $2.69 dollars per share, beating analyst expectations for $2.55 per share. It posted revenue of $56.2 billion in the April-June period, up 8 per cent from last year. Analysts had been looking for revenue of $55.49 billion, according to FactSet Research. Advertisement Chief executive Satya Nadella said the company remains focused on leading the new AI platform shift. Organisations are asking not only how but how fast they can apply this next generation of AI to address the biggest opportunities and challenges they face safely and responsibly, he said in a statement. Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella (Noah Berger/AP/PA) Advertisement Microsoft was an early mover in this years hype around generative AI tools that can help people write documents and create new images and other media. It capitalised on its multibillion-dollar investments in ChatGPT-maker OpenAI to launch a chatbot for Microsofts Bing search engine and similar tools tailored to its business customers. Advertisement Macquarie analyst Sarah Hindlian-Bowler said investors have been focused on Microsofts early revenue from those AI investments, the performance of the Azure cloud computing platform and the likelihood that Microsoft will close its deal to buy video game company Activision Blizzard, which could help boost gaming revenue and drive more users to the Xbox game system and other Microsoft platforms. More than 18 months after announcing the $69 billion deal, Microsoft is still negotiating with a British antitrust regulator over concerns it will harm competition. Advertisement The US Federal Trade Commission also opposed the transaction but lost a court fight to stop it. We still expect a successful close as the company works toward an amenable solution that satisfies the UKs concerns, Ms Hindlian-Bowler said in an analyst note ahead of Tuesdays earnings. Microsoft does not reveal the total revenue for its Azure business, though a document inadvertently disclosed during its recent court fight with the FTC showed it as $34 billion last year, Ms Hindlian-Bowler said. Microsoft has declined to comment on that number. While AI has captivated the attention of the public and investors, Microsoft is also still heavily reliant on its personal computing business centred around the licensing fees paid by the makers of computers running its Windows software. Advertisement Advertisement Worldwide PC sales in the April-June quarter dropped 16.6 per cent from the same time last year, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of year-over-year decline, according to market research group Gartner. However, the market is starting to stabilise and demand could grow again in 2024, Gartner said. Microsoft has laid off hundreds of workers in recent months, including many around its headquarters in Redmond, Washington, according to notices it sent to government agencies. That is on top of the 10,000 employees, almost 5 per cent of its workforce, that it cut earlier this year. Two lead cases out of some 50 in which international protection applicants are seeking High Court damages from the State over being left homeless on arrival here will be heard later this year. The two cases were chosen by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland on Wednesday following submissions from several lawyers acting in the 50 or so actions over whether the circumstances of their clients merited being chosen as lead cases. Advertisement Earlier this year, the court ruled that the Minister for Integration's failure to provide material reception conditions for a homeless Afghan asylum seeker was not in compliance with EU (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018.and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. As a result, that applicant and several others left in similar conditions, sought damages. The State opposed the actions. Ms Justice Hyland said she had considered submissions from the minister and lawyers acting for a number of the other plaintiffs in what were now some 50 cases before the court. Advertisement She decided the first lead case should be that of a young man who had psychological problems because of his circumstances in Afghanistan and who was in a car accident on his way to Ireland in which a number of people were killed. Advertisement It was also one of the first cases brought over international protection applicants being left homeless on arrival in Ireland and had similarities to a number of other cases in which aggravating factors had been identified, she said. The second lead case had less serious factors but represented similarities in other cases, she said. The court's determination in these two lead cases will set out the principles which will guide decisions in the other cases, she said. She adjourned the two lead cases for hearing in November and gave directions for exchange of documents between the parties in advance of the hearing. She adjourned the other cases to December for mention. The Government are considering an electricity interconnector with Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands The Minister for the Environment, Eamon Ryan, welcomed Cabinet approval of a new policy statement on electricity interconnection which plans to make Ireland central to Europes energy future. Advertisement The proposed plans will see Ireland increase its electricity interconnection capacity and explore new interconnection opportunities with Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands as well as further connections to both Great Britain and France. Electricity interconnectors provide a way to share electricity between countries and proposed new interconnection developments, aligned with the States growing renewable energy sector, could allow Ireland to become a net exporter of electricity. The National Policy Statement on Electricity Interconnection was approved by Cabinet on Tuesday and outlines how a state-directed approach will ensure integrated forward planning, enabling the necessary infrastructure to unlock significant green energy export opportunities. Advertisement Irelands offshore energy potential makes it central to Europes shared energy future. Advertisement The role of interconnection will increase in importance as the renewable energy sector becomes a larger proportion of supply in the Irish and European electricity system, both in relation to the import and export of electricity. They said increased interconnection helps balance electricity supply and demand between countries and provides a valuable back-up power supply for when electricity systems have reduced capacity. The key aspects of Irelands new policy on electricity interconnection include: Specifically supporting a further connection to Great Britain by 2030 beyond the completion of the Greenlink interconnector; To provide consideration to the following further projects: a second connection with France beyond the Celtic Interconnector; a connection to Spain; a further connection to Great Britain beyond 2030 and a connection to Belgium or the Netherlands; A commitment to develop an Offshore Transmission Strategy and to explore the potential for multipurpose interconnectors in order to maximise export opportunities and facilitate offshore renewable energy development; The Integration of interconnector forward planning with new phases in offshore renewable energy developments, including supporting inputs into proposed Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs) at local and regional areas; Consideration will also be given to further interconnection required to support the export of renewable electricity in the context of other uses, such as green hydrogen. Speaking about the plans, Minister Ryan said: Increased electricity interconnection will be a key enabler in our growing use of renewable energy. It will also play an important role in our transition to become a net energy exporter, making Ireland central to wider European energy plans. The integrated forward planning approach outlined within this policy statement, will be aligned with offshore renewable energy forward planning, enabling the delivery of necessary infrastructure to facilitate our energy ambitions." A judge has dismissed a no-insurance prosecution against an e-scooter owner after being told it is impossible for the third-level student to get insurance for his e-scooter. At Ennis District Court, Judge Mary Cashin dismissed the no insurance case against UL student, Mezis Emenikeonu (27) of The Courtyard Student Village, Castletroy, Limerick. Advertisement Judge Cashin said that it was not safe to convict e-scooter drivers for no insurance as the Government is currently bringing in legislation to address the issues around e-scooter use. Speed check Garda Ken Butler gave evidence of operating a speed check on the N18 going into Shannon on July 29th last year when he clocked Mr Emenikeonus e-scooter going at a speed of 20km per hour driving up the hard-shoulder at the N18 at Clonmoney near Shannon. A third-level student at the University of Limerick (UL) at the time, Mr Emenikeonu was making his way to work at the local Supermacs in Shannon. Advertisement Garda Butler told Mr Emenikeonu to stop and after Mr Emenikeonu was unable to provide evidence of insurance or a licence, Garda Butler seized the e-scooter. Advertisement Solicitor for Mr Emenikeonu, Billy Loughnane said that he had no argument with Garda Butler over the facts of the case. However, Mr Loughnane told Judge Cashin that it would be unfair to convict his client. Insurance Mr Loughnane told the court that it was impossible for Mr Emenikeonu to obtain insurance for the e-scooter and is still impossible for him to get insurance. Mr Loughnane said that it was in the programme for Government that road traffic legislation would be introduced for e-scooters. Advertisement He said: The Governments 2023 legislation on e-scooters hasnt come into effect as secondary legislation is required and is to follow, and it seems that wont be ready until the end of year or early next year. Mr Loughnane said that it cost Mr Emenikeonu 150 to retrieve his e-scooter from the gardai, but that he hasnt used it since. Mr Loughnane said that Mr Emenikeonu usually got to Shannon from Limerick by bus and e-scoot from the Shannon bus-stop to Supermacs. Mr Loughnane said on July 29th last, Mr Emenikeonu got off the packed bus one stop early to make way for a wheelchair user and that is how Mr Emenikeonu found himself e-scooting on the hard-shoulder leading into Shannon. Mr Loughnane said that the e-scooters have not been insurable before by insurance companies as they were not classified, but they are now classified as powered personal transporters. Judge Cashin stated that she was dismissing both the no insurance and no driving licence summons against Mr Emenikeonu. A Kerry pimp who was jailed for 11 years for twice raping a sex worker and sending her graphic messages over Snapchat to prevent her from giving evidence will stay in jail after he failed in his bid to overturn his conviction. Emmet O'Connor (30) from Shronemore, Rathmore, Co Kerry, was found unanimously guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in December 2020 of two counts of rape as well as organising prostitution and intimidating a witness by sending her a drawing of a headless woman hanging upside-down from a tree. Advertisement He had denied all charges. In April 2021, Mr Justice Michael White sentenced O'Connor to eight years' imprisonment for rape and anal rape, to two years for organising prostitution - to run consecutively with the rape sentences - and to another consecutive year for the intimidation offence. Advertisement At his trial, the jury of six men and six women heard evidence that OConnor told gardai that he had rough sex with the victim at her home but insisted it was consensual and typical of their sexual relationship. The woman told the jury that she and OConnor had consensual rough sex a year earlier but that on September 25th, 2017, she did not consent and was crying and begging him to stop. Advertisement The woman told the trial of how he grabbed her, putting her over his shoulders and brought her upstairs in her home, threw her on the bed and twice raped her, ignoring her pleas for him to stop. O'Connor later sent Snapchat messages depicting a naked male with wearing a crown and holding up a woman's severed head with the words "karma" and "suffer" attached. Cannon ball He further sent images of a decapitated female body and a cannon firing a cannon ball with the words "fresh" and "skank" attached above the sentence "I guess it takes a special type of rape victim to want to stay close to her rapist". In dismissing the appeal on Wednesday, Ms Justice Tara Burns said the Court of Appeal rejected the appellant's submission that the evidence of both the complainant's sister and a Ruhama counsellor together amounted to a repetition of complaint that could have prejudiced O'Connor. Advertisement Advertisement Ms Justice Burns said the complaint to the victim's sister "simply recorded the fact that the complainant had been raped, whereas the second complaint gave further detail as to what had occurred". Ms Justice Burns said the complaints were not repetitive or similar in nature and that, "of importance, the complaints were made in very close proximity to each other and the incident itself". Ms Justice Burns said the two complaints were "significant in terms of assessing the consistency of the overall complaint made" and that their probative value outweighed any prejudicial effect complained of by the appellant. "The court does not accept this proposition," said Ms Justice Burns. "The trial judge's direction in relation to recent complaint evidence was clear. An error does not arise in the manner in which the trial judge directed the jury," said Ms Justice Burns. Advertisement Regarding the ground of appeal concerning the forensic evidence, Ms Justice Burns said the investigating guard told the trial she had mistakenly believed that the complainant's clothing had been washed before she gave them to the investigating team - a situation which would not necessitate forensic analysis. On foot of the investigating guard's evidence the clothing was then tested and admitted into evidence, albeit three years after the rapes. Advertisement Ms Justice Burns said the issue of the forensic testing of the clothing became a "live issue" for the defence in the case, even though there was no presence of semen found. The complainant had told the court that O'Connor had worn a condom during the rapes and taken it with him, which he denied. Advertisement Ms Justice Burns said the Court of Appeal did not see any error with how the trial judge dealt with the "unusual situation which had arisen". Forensic analysis "The forensic analysis was still capable of taking place. Having been conducted, it was appropriate that the results of the examination be adduced in evidence," said Ms Justice Burns. "The question posed by the appellant to the effect that it was not known what the result of that forensic analysis would have been was now answered. Furthermore, the appellant could either have requested the forensic analysis or have obtained the services of another expert. No prejudice arose for the appellant in this regard," said Ms Justice Burns. Ms Justice Burns said the Snapchat posts at issue were "self-evidently of a very concerning nature" and said that O'Connor had acknowledged they were directed at the complainant. Ms Justice Burns said the trial judge correctly directed the jury in relation to the constituent elements of the offence of intimidation. Ms Justice Burns then dismissed all grounds of appeal against the convictions. At the Court of Appeal, Michael Lynn SC, for O'Connor, had submitted that the trial judge erred in allowing the evidence of two witnesses to go before a jury without a sufficient warning that their evidence went only towards the consistency of the complaint and not towards its corroboration. Mr Lynn said that another ground of appeal was the introduction into the trial of late forensic evidence, after an error was noticed by gardai that an analysis had not been compiled regarding the woman's underwear. Mr Lynn said his client felt a "serious grievance" in the late introduction of the evidence in the trial in the interest of fairness. "It was too late. The perception is that it is unfair, and we had put our best foot forward," submitted Mr Lynn. Mr Lynn said the witness intimidation amounted to a Snapchat picture of a drawing done by O'Connor that the jury had questioned. Mr Lynn said the judge did not adequately explain the possible issue of O'Connor's intent when sending the message. A man in his 30s has been extradited from Northern Ireland to Germany to serve an eight-year prison sentence for sexual offences against children. He was located by PSNI officers in the south Belfast area on November 10th of last year, where he was arrested on an international warrant. Advertisement He appeared before Belfast Extradition Court the same day and was taken to prison, and today he has been returned to Germany where he will begin his sentence. The PSNI said: "Northern Ireland is not a safe haven for any wanted persons trying to avoid arrest and the consequences of their crimes." Advertisement Minister for Children Roderic OGorman has said he is concerned at the shortage of social workers which he acknowledged has led to delays in assessments and growing waiting lists. Mr OGorman was commenting on a Hiqa report into child and welfare services in the Dublin South West, Kildare and West Wicklow service area which said that children who alleged abuse, inappropriate contact and sexual assault had been left on waiting lists for months. Advertisement Speaking on RTE radios Today Show, Mr OGorman said that the fact that any children were awaiting a significant period of time was a concern and his Department was engaging with social workers in that area. We have a very significant problem in terms of the recruitment of social workers. "There is a real pressure there right now. We have about 1600 social workers across Tusla, and we are having difficulties in terms of recruitment and retention. Advertisement Mr OGorman said the report did find that those children who were in most urgent need were seen within the requisite time in terms of their assessment. Advertisement Nevertheless, additional social workers have been put in place now to deal with both the intake of new cases and also new team leads have been put in place as well to provide greater levels of coverage in terms of social work. The wider piece of work and it's work that's relevant to all areas around the country is hiring more social workers. "That's through the graduate entry programme that Tusla has initiated through bringing agency social workers into social work as full time social workers, through adding social work to the list of critical skills. Tusla continues to hire social workers from abroad. Mr OGorman said that the issue of fostering children was also being addressed with 90 per cent of children who are in care in Ireland in foster care, a rate that is much higher in Ireland than other European countries. Advertisement He had engaged extensively with groups representing foster carers who wanted the foster care allowance increased in this years Budget along with a new foster care framework. In a statement, the HSE said they welcome the publication of the final report of the Mental Health Commission (MHC) on the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). This report comes after a long process in which the HSE was happy to engage in, with much work done since the publication of an interim report last January. "We are pleased to see the report acknowledge the hard work and dedication of many working in this complex service are, one for which there is increasing demand. "We know that there is inconsistency across the country and that must be part of our continuous improvement plans. "We acknowledge the real concerns the report raises in areas such as service delivery, staffing and governance as well as specific concerns regarding children and young people in the care of CAMHS. "We are genuinely sorry for anyone who has had a bad experience of our services." They said the steps they are taking include: The progressing of a new HSE Child and Youth Mental Health Service improvement programme; The establishment of a new national office for Child and Youth Mental Health which will lead out on this programme to provide leadership, oversight and enhanced governance to services; The appointment of both a National Lead and a National Clinical Lead (CAMHS Psychiatrist) for Child and Youth Mental Health to lead this office and the service improvement programme. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said Minister for Transport Eamon Ryans major review of rail infrastructure makes the case for further investment in roads. The divergence between the two Coalition party leaders on infrastructure investment follows the publication of the All-Island Rail Review on Tuesday. Advertisement The 25-year plan called for new lines, electric trains and faster services to connect major cities north and south of the border. After bringing the report to Cabinet, Mr Ryan told reporters it represented a new age of rail. Advertisement This country, back in the 1920s, had probably the most dense rail network in the world. Were going to add to whats existing and bring back high-speed rail, frequent rail, rail freight, better balanced regional development. If all 30 recommendations were implemented in the coming years, it would cost an estimated 36.8 billion, with 27.6 billion to be provided by the Government. Advertisement The Green Party leader said: Its not cheap, but at the same time not doing it would be incredibly expensive. Our country would be gridlocked, our emissions would be rising this gives us a better alternative, a transport system that works for everyone. Advertisement However, the Fine Gael leader said he believed the report made the case for further investment in road networks as there would only be small increases in rail usage under the plan. The review says that investment could boost the total number of passengers travelling by train from 3 to 6 per cent, and freight transported by rail would increase by 1 to 10 per cent. Advertisement The Taoiseach said this finding proved that more investment in roads would be needed to meet demand from an increasing population and expanding economy. He said: Even if we do everything that they say we could do by 2050, the amount of freight going by rail will go from 1 per cent to 10 per cent. So still 90 per cent of freight will go by road and the percentage of people who get around by train commuters, passengers will go from 3 per cent to 6 per cent. Advertisement So, this still means 94 per cent of people travelling by road or by footpath, even if we did all of these things that are in that plan between now and 2050. Advertisement Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks to the media at Government Buildings (Cillian Sherlock/PA) The Taoiseach said: That makes the case, to me, for more road investment. He said the railway plan was really ambitious, but added: There are limitations in a country of this size. Asked about these comments on Tuesday, Mr Ryan said the 10 per cent figure for rail freight was a starter target, and that he absolutely sees the demand being above that figure. He said: Im absolutely confident when we provide the service, the business community, which know they have to decarbonise, will roll in behind that. The same with public transport numbers, every single occasion where weve provided new public transport services, the public flock to it so dont see that as a limit on ambition. Thats actually the bare minimum of what we need to do. Mr Ryan added: I believe when we create a freight option in Dublin Port, a real one, and in Rosslare, and in Cork and Waterford and in Limerick, we will see that switch to freight way beyond 10 per cent. That was set as an indicator of the medium-lower average is in the European Union were currently at 1 per cent. Minister Eamon Ryan (Liam McBurney/PA) He acknowledged that the All-Island Rail Review was ambitious, but said that we wont stop there. Advertisement Mr Ryan added: I dont believe that will be the limit of our ambition, and I believe in a world that is changing the way this world is changing, because of climate change, no-one can set a restriction in terms of how were going to go. We know we have to decarbonise and I believe itll be easier in particular in the haulage sector to do that via rail freight, rather than any other method. So I expect us to blow through that sort of ambition to go far (further). He said in addition to that, Ireland had an obligation to boost its rail network in order to reduce its emissions. While the State's greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 1.9 per cent in 2022 overall, missing the target of 6/7 per cent, emissions in the transport sector of the economy increased by 6 per cent. The 25-year plan called for new lines, electric trains and faster services to connect major cities north and south of the border (PA) We need to lower our emissions for transport, they went up last year, they have to start coming down radically, Mr Ryan said on Tuesday. Those indicative figures, 10 per cent of rail freight, was just set out as a starter as to what we could achieve. We have to make sure that in every area, were investing for the future. By the time this investment is rolled out by 2050, were going to be in a world that is changing. Advertisement Thats going to require every country to play its part in stopping the burning of this planet. And that inspires the vision. Its one of future sustainability where were actually green in everything were doing. Both Russia and China are sending government delegations to North Korea this week for events marking the 70th anniversary of the armistice that halted fighting in the 1950-1953 Korean War. The visits suggest North Korea is further opening up after years of pandemic isolation and is eager to showcase its partnerships with authoritarian neighbours in the face of deepening nuclear tensions with Washington, Seoul and Tokyo. Advertisement North Koreas state media said on Wednesday that a Russian delegation led by defence minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday evening, where they were greeted by senior North Korean officials including defence minister Kang Sun Nam. Mr Shoigus ministry said the delegations visit will help strengthen relations and mark an important stage in the development of bilateral co-operation. North Korea has been preparing huge celebrations for the anniversary (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) Advertisement Chinas ruling Communist Party is also sending a midlevel official, Li Hongzhong, in hopes of restoring exchanges between the allies. Advertisement North Korea has been preparing huge celebrations for the anniversary that are likely to be capped off by a military parade in the capital, Pyongyang, where leader Kim Jong Un could showcase his most powerful, nuclear-capable missiles designed to target neighbouring rivals and the US. Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency said that Mr Kim and his top defence and foreign policy officials visited two cemeteries, including one for Chinese troops who died while fighting alongside North Korea during the war. Mr Kim expressed gratitude for the Chinese soldiers who dedicated their lives to repel imperialist aggression, calling them martyrs who would be immortal in the hearts of the Korean people. Advertisement North Korea launched the Korean War, an unsuccessful attempt to conquer its southern rival. No peace treaty ending the conflict has ever been signed, and the border between the Koreas remains one of the most tense in the world. The North still celebrates the armistice as a victory in the Grand Fatherland Liberation War. The conflict brought in forces from the newly created Peoples Republic of China, aided by the then-Soviet air force, while South Korea, the US and troops from various countries under the direction of the United Nations battled to repulse the invasion. Advertisement Some experts say North Korea might ramp up its weapons tests around the anniversary of the armistice on Thursday, July 27th. Advertisement North Korea has conducted three separate rounds of missile firings since last week, apparently in protest of the United States sending naval vessels, including a nuclear-armed submarine, to South Korea in a show of force. President Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden, faced new challenges on the eve of a scheduled court appearance on Wednesday in which he is set to plead guilty in a deal with prosecutors on tax and gun charges. On Capitol Hill, where Republicans are ramping up their investigations into the president and his son, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee took the unusual step of filing court documents urging the judge in Hunter Bidens case to consider evidence from Internal Revenue Service (IRS) whistleblowers. Advertisement The whistleblowers allege that the Justice Department interfered with investigations into Biden, a charge that has been denied by the lead prosecutor in the case, who was appointed by former president Donald Trump. US District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was also appointed by Mr Trump, will consider whether to accept the plea agreement. Advertisement Judges rarely throw out plea bargains, but the effort to intervene by Ways and Means chairman Jason Smith of Missouri amounts to a high-profile push to raise questions about the deal, which is expected to spare the presidents son a jail sentence. Advertisement If the plea deal is accepted, Hunter Biden could be spared time behind bars (Andrew Harnik/AP) The dynamics of the case became even more complicated hours after the politicians filed their motion. A court clerk received a call requesting that sensitive grand jury, taxpayer and social security information it contained be kept under seal, according to an oral order from Judge Noreika. The lawyer gave her name and said she worked with an attorney from the Ways and Means Committee but is in fact a lawyer with the defence team, a clerk wrote in an email to Theodore Kittila, an attorney representing Mr Smith. Advertisement When Judge Noreika learned of the situation, she demanded the defence show why she should not consider sanctioning them for misrepresentations to the court. Defence lawyers said their lawyer had represented herself truthfully from the start, and called from a phone number that typically displays the firms name, Latham & Watkins, on the caller ID. Jessica Bengels said in court documents that she did speak to two different clerks office employees, which could have contributed to the misunderstanding. The second employee emailed Mr Kittila. Advertisement Hunter Bidens lawyers are still seeking to keep information deemed private out of the public court record. Advertisement Mr Kittila, however, said he had only filed material that the committee had already released publicly online. The judge agreed to keep the information sealed for a day to consider the issue. The dust-up came hours before Biden is expected to plead guilty to misdemeanour tax charges in an agreement that allows him to avoid prosecution on a gun charge if he meets certain conditions. Republicans have decried the agreement as a sweetheart deal and heard from two IRS agents who claimed the long-running investigation was slow walked and the prosecutor overseeing it was refused broader special counsel powers. Advertisement Delaware US Attorney David Weiss, a Trump appointee, denied that in a letter to Congress, saying he had full authority over the probe and never requested special counsel status. A spokeswoman for Mr Weiss directed queries back to the court clerks office. A Nasa power outage disrupted communication between Mission Control and the International Space Station on Tuesday. Mission Control could not send commands to the station or talk to the seven astronauts in orbit. Advertisement The power outage hit as upgrade work was under way in the building at Houstons Johnson Space Centre. Space station programme manager Joel Montalbano said neither the astronauts nor the station were in any danger and that back-up control systems took over within 90 minutes. The crew was notified of the problem through Russian communication systems, within 20 minutes of the outage. It is the first time Nasa has had to fire up these back-up systems to take control, according to Mr Montalbano. He said Nasa hoped to resolve the issue and be back to normal operations by the end of the day. Advertisement Advertisement Nasa maintains a backup control centre miles from Houston in the event a hurricane or other disaster requiring evacuations. But in Tuesdays case, the flight controllers stayed at Mission Control since the lights and air-conditioning still worked. Samsung has unveiled new versions of its foldable smartphones, which the firm says are more durable and versatile than ever, as it looks to entice more phone users to switch to the folding handsets. The fifth-generation devices the Galaxy Z Flip5 and Galaxy Z Fold5 both include a redesigned hinge and screen protection, both of which can better absorb shock from drops, the technology giant said. Advertisement In 2019, Samsung was the first major smartphone manufacturer to launch a mass market folding phone, arguing that such devices gave users the ever-larger smartphone screens they desired without making the device itself much bigger. Samsung is looking to reaffirm its position as the market-leader with its new updated foldable phones (Samsung/PA) Since then, many other phone manufacturers have entered the foldable space as it has become more mainstream, including Google, who announced the first Pixel Fold earlier this year. Advertisement Samsung is now looking to reaffirm its position as the market-leader with its updated foldables. Advertisement On the Galaxy Z Flip5, the outer cover screen known as the Flex Window has nearly doubled in size compared to the previous generation, which will offer new notification and customisation options to users. While the larger Galaxy Z Fold5 is thinner and lighter than previous generations, Samsung says, alongside a long-lasting battery and improved productivity features. Advertisement James Kitto, Samsung UK and Ireland vice president, head of MX division, said: We know that when customers get our latest foldable devices into their hands, with their innovative design and industry leading features, they wont want to put them down. Few other possessions work as hard as the phone in your pocket, and they are integral to our daily lives. Advertisement Not only do you expect that they withstand the daily demands from a durability perspective, but you want your smartphone to reflect your personality. We have a device for every kind of taste and lifestyle. From Galaxy Z Flip5 one of the worlds most pocketable smartphones; to the multi-tasking powerhouse that is Galaxy Z Fold5, we cant wait for people to experience them and join the flip side. Advertisement In response to the launch, Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, said: The competitive landscape for foldable smartphones has intensified, and Samsung needed to step up. Advertisement The Galaxy Z Flip5 and Galaxy Z Fold5 offer iterative improvements over their predecessors with the most important development being the introduction of the Samsung Flex Hinge, which enables a zero-gap design which has become a common element on rival devices. The star of the show is the Galaxy Z Flip5. Although its not the first flip foldable to have a large external display, the 3.4-inch cover screen is striking and a significant upgrade to the 1.9-inch display on previous models. Expanding the feature set of the outside screen will make it more likely that users will choose to carry out quick interactions without having to unfold their phones. CCS Insights research shows that the durability of foldable smartphones is a major concern for consumers considering a purchase. 25 per cent of people surveyed said they were worried about damaging or breaking it. On this basis, Samsung is moving in the right direction with both new devices featuring IPX8 water resistance with screens that are 20 per cent more durable. Samsung confirmed that the two new smartphones would be available to pre-order from Wednesday and would go on sale from August 11th. British billionaire and Tottenham Hotspur owner Joe Lewis has been indicted in New York for orchestrating a brazen insider trading scheme, a US attorney said. Damian Williams, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a video released by his office: Today Im announcing that my office, the Southern District of New York, has indicted Joe Lewis, the British billionaire, for orchestrating a brazen insider trading scheme. Advertisement We allege that for years Joe Lewis abused his access to corporate boardrooms and repeatedly provided inside information to his romantic partners, his personal assistants, his private pilots and his friends. Those folks then traded on that inside information and made millions of dollars in the stock market, because thanks to Lewis those bets were a sure thing. Advertisement Statement of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams on U.S. v. Joseph Lewis pic.twitter.com/9rGTTYVx6h Advertisement US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) July 25, 2023 Mr Williams described Lewiss alleged behaviour as classic corporate corruption. Advertisement He said: Now, none of this was necessary. Joe Lewis is a wealthy man. But as we allege he used inside information as a way to compensate his employees or to shower gifts on his friends and lovers. Thats classic corporate corruption. Its cheating, and its against the law. Laws that apply to everyone, no matter who you are. Thats why Joe Lewis has been indicted and will face justice here in the Southern District of New York. Lewis, 86, is the founder and primary investor of Bahamas-based investment firm Tavistock Group. Advertisement He was ranked 39th in the 2023 Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated worth of more than 5 billion. He bought a controlling stake in Tottenham from Sir Alan Sugar in 2001 for 22 million. The Premier League club and Tavistock Group have been contacted for comment. The water temperature at the tip of Florida has hit hot tub levels, exceeding 37.8 degrees for two days in a row. Meteorologists said it could potentially be the hottest seawater ever measured, although there are some issues with the reading. Advertisement Just 26 miles (40km) away, scientists have seen devastating effects from prolonged hot water surrounding Florida devastating coral bleaching and even some death in what had been one of the Florida Keys most resilient reefs. A turtle swims near coral, some partially white or pink, that are signs of bleaching, at Cheeca Rocks off the coast of Islamorada, Florida (Andrew Ibarra/NOAA/AP) Climate change has been setting temperature records across the globe this month. Advertisement Weather records for seawater temperature are unofficial, and there are certain conditions in this reading that could disqualify it for a top mark, meteorologists said. But the initial reading on a buoy at Manatee Bay hit 38.4 degrees on Monday evening, according to National Weather Service meteorologist George Rizzuto. Advertisement On Sunday night the same buoy showed an online reading of 37.9 degrees. It seems plausible, Mr Rizzuto said. That is a potential record. Advertisement Experimentally outplanted corals near Miami in January 2023, left, and the same coral in July 2023, after suffering from bleaching (Allyson DeMerlis/Michael Studivan/NOAA/University of Miami/AP) While there are no official water temperature records, a 2020 study listed a 37.6 degrees mark in Kuwait Bay in July 2020 as the worlds highest recorded sea surface temperature. Mr Rizzuto said a new record from Florida is plausible because nearby buoys measured in the 36.7-37.2 degrees range. Advertisement Yale Climate Connections meteorologist Jeff Masters said: This is a hot tub. I like my hot tub around 100F/101F (37.8/38.3 degrees). Thats what was recorded yesterday. Hot tub maker Jacuzzi recommends water between 37.8 and 38.9 degrees. Weve never seen a record-breaking event like this before, Mr Masters said. But he and University of Miami tropical meteorologist Brian McNoldy said that, while the hot temperatures fit with what is happening around Florida, it may not be accepted as a record because the area is shallow, has sea grasses in it and may be influenced by warm land in the nearby Everglades National Park. Advertisement Nevertheless, Mr McNoldy said: Its amazing. Scientists have seen devastating effects from prolonged hot water surrounding Florida coral bleaching and some death (Andrew Ibarra/NOAA/AP) The fact that two 100F measurements were taken on consecutive days gives credence to the readings, he said. Water temperatures have been in the upper 90s in the area for more than two weeks. Advertisement There are not many coral reefs in Manatee Bay, but, elsewhere in the Florida Keys, scientists diving at Cheeca Rocks found bleaching and even death in some of the Keys most resilient corals, said Ian Enochs, head of the coral programme at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. NOAA researcher Andrew Ibarra, who took his kayak to the area because of the hot water, said: I found that the entire reef was bleached out. Every single coral colony was exhibiting some form of paling, partial bleaching or full out bleaching. Some coral had even died, he said. This is on top of bleaching seen last week by the University of Miami as NOAA increased the level of alert for coral problems earlier this month. A dead coral at Cheeca Rocks off the coast of Islamorada, Florida, in July 2023 (Andrew Ibarra/NOAA/AP) Until the 1980s coral bleaching was mostly unheard of around the globe yet now weve reached the point where its become routine, Mr Enochs said. Bleaching, which does not kill coral but weakens it and could lead to death, occurs when water temperatures pass the low 30 degrees, he added. This is more, earlier than we have ever seen, he said. Im nervous by how early this is occurring. Advertisement It comes as sea surface temperatures worldwide have broken monthly records for heat in April, May and June, according to NOAA. And temperatures in the North Atlantic are off the charts as much as 5-6 degrees warmer than normal in some spots near Newfoundland, Mr McNoldy said. A $450 million project to create a luxury apartment tower overlooking Sydneys Hyde Park has been given the green light. Developer Central Element and equity partner MaxCap Group have received approval for their development application from the City of Sydney. The former Hyde Park Inn will be transformed and rebadged as 271 Elizabeth Street. A render of the proposed redevelopment of 271 Elizabeth Street. Under the approved plans, 262-266 Castlereagh Street and 271-279 Elizabeth Street will be amalgamated. Central Element, co-owned by McGrath director Shane Smollen, bought the Hyde Park Inn on Elizabeth Street and a small office building behind it for $95 million from RSL NSW in December 2020. The new mixed-use, 55-metre apartment tower will be designed by architects Murcutt Candalepas and comprise 16 storeys, of which 42 apartments will be across 14 floors. There will also be ground-floor retail and five basement levels for 27 parking spaces and 58 bicycle parking spots and end-of-trip facilities. Well let you know what the docs reveal, with great care of course, when that maximising approach is brought to bear on our request. A LITTLE SURGERY Loading Just days after CBD brought news of financial woes at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, its chief executive officer John Biviano has resigned. The leadership change was explained to members in a four-sentence message sent at 9.14pm on Monday evening. College president Kerin Fielding wrote Biviano was stepping down to pursue other opportunities after nine years of service as acting CEO from 2015 and CEO since 2019. John contributed to the activities of the College over that time and ensured that the College continued to carry out its activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was a challenging time for us all, the letter, seen by CBD, said. We wish him well for the future. We wrote on Monday the colleges finances are close to flat-lining, and the leadership were forced to apologise after stitching up two successive deficits of more than $10 million. The college had been living beyond its means, Fielding and vice-president Owen Ung told members. Surgeons have been quietly questioning the leadership of the college for some time one singling out expenses on technology as excessive. I think some accountability might be in order! Yet RACS insists the departure is not linked to the sea of red, and backs the colleges plan to help the organisation grow sustainably into the future. DIRECTOR DISASTER For an organisation that promotes itself as the gold standard for corporate governance, youd be forgiven for expecting more from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. The institute recently had to issue a letter of apology to recent graduates for a minor printing error that caused certificates to be sent to hundreds of the wrong recipients. Firstly, we sincerely apologise for this error, which arose from a processing problem at our printing supplier, the letter, seen by CBD, said. The institute comforted its graduates by confirming that only first and last names were included no other personal information. Nevertheless, for the confidentiality and security of all our participants, we kindly request you destroy the certificate you received. Contacted for comment, the institute said 358 people have been impacted. They accepted responsibility and outlined their rectification plan. Tick, tick. The link to the AICD report on data and privacy is broken... Credit: The Age But the message had slightly changed. Rather than only first and last names being impacted this time it was in most cases. There were a smaller number of cases where the persons role/title was also conveyed. Thankfully, no emails, phone numbers or other contact details were disclosed, were told. You can hear a sigh of relief. No certificate was provided to any course participant who had not achieved a pass, the institute said. Well, that seems like a low bar. We thought to suggest institute directors take a refresher course on their own material and found a report on its website titled The New Governance of Data and Privacy by Malcolm Crompton and Michael Trovato. But somewhat ironically, when you try to click on the link its broken. MONEY FOR WATER The property escapades of serial entrepreneurs Garrett and Stephanie Jandegian are proof theres money to be made from selling fancy water and COVID-19 rapid antigen tests. Last year, the pair purchased a five-bedroom home in Sydneys Bellevue Hill for an estimated $27 million. This week, theyve lodged a development application to conduct $7 million in renovations on the same property. Youd think if you were to be crowned with the most expensive purchase of the year in Australias most lucrative suburb, the house in question would have to be pretty perfect. But alas, the pair seek to build a new basement for underground parking, a swimming pool and associated landscaping and it wont come cheap. Stephanie Jandegian was a contestant on the reality TV hit So You Think You Can Dance Although they declined to comment about their businesses on this occasion, Stephanie the former Sydney bureau chief of Nines A Current Affair and one-time So You Think You Can Dance contestant told this masthead last year they made their money through Garretts alkaline water business Aqualove. But there is one demographic that has been hitherto unrepresented: the demographic that uses the word hitherto and doesnt watch much reality TV. Senior citizens. There is dating behind a screen ( Love is Blind ), dating while nude ( Naked Attraction ), dating for people with autism, ( Love on the Spectrum ), dating as a parent (My Mum Your Dad) and dating to end your engagement ( The Ultimatum ). After 21 long years, the focus has shifted from young hopefuls searching for true love to savvy influencer types seeking to boost their sponsorship opportunities. And the market is flooded: The Bachelor , The Bachelorette and Bach in Paradise are competing with Married at First Sight, Love Island, Indian Matchmaking, Jewish Matchmaking , and Fboy Island . But now, for the first time, this group is getting its own dating show. The Golden Bachelor has been announced in the US and he is 71, deeply tanned and searching for a partner with whom to share the sunset years. As a middle-aged woman, Im psyched for The Golden Bachelor, as are many of my cohort. For the first time, we will see people our age and older instead of our childrens age on a dating show. Our enthusiasm, however, may not be shared by the 20- to 30-somethings who make up the traditional Bachelor franchise audience. Most young adults regard late-in-life dating with disinterest at best, and mild horror at worst. The participants arent as cute, the banter is less meme-worthy, and no young person wants to be reminded of Mum or, god forbid, Grandma having sex. The grandfather from Indiana is searching for a partner with whom to share the sunset years. Credit: ABC USA Still, the producers have given it a red-hot go with the inaugural Golden Bachelor, Gerry Turner, a retired restaurateur from Indiana. Gerry is handsome, a grandfather, and best of all a widower. He is a catch all round, but it is his widowhood that is the jewel in his Golden crown. A widower has baggage, of course, but his baggage is far more palatable than that of the ageing divorcee. He may harbour cherished memories of his late wife, but this just proves his capacity to commit. He has endured tough times and grief, he isnt muttering about his crazy ex, and he hasnt gone through a fiscally ruinous divorce. And when he is also attractive, buff and financially secure, he truly is the needle in the haystack. But Jones was given the clear message, as recorded in the daily diary he kept at the time, that Nauru does not want to see an exodus of detainees, for whom the Australian government pays very handsomely. This mastheads Home Truths investigation with 60 Minutes has revealed that Home Affairs contracts, worth billions of dollars to run Australias offshore detention regime on Nauru and in Papua New Guinea, were marred by suspect payments to entities linked to senior Nauruan politicians. Jones, who has never spoken out before for fear of breaching his employment contract, says now that this gave the Nauruans an incentive to keep as many suffering people on the island as they could. Corruption and politics and business run hand in hand. So deep pockets need to be filled, he said. A single act of compassion For three weeks in August 2018, Jones, a Queensland-based family doctor, was the most senior medico on the tiny Pacific island holding hundreds of Australias immigration detainees. It was a time when psychological and physical distress was escalating, particularly among the children. Medecin Sans Frontieres reported that children were suffering from the rare and potentially fatal resignation syndrome. Former Nauru Regional Processing Centre doctor Chris Jones. Credit: Wolter Peeters The Australian government was trenchantly resisting any attempt to bring people out. The then home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, argued that a single act of compassion could be enough for people smuggling to begin again, and prime minister Scott Morrison said transfers ran the risk of inviting more people to risk their lives at sea. It was the precursor of the following years medevac debate. Jones says that after his arrival on Nauru on August 5, 2018, many of the children aged 11, 12 and 13 he was treating had been detained for five years. Their every moment showers, meal times, movements was timed and monitored by Australian contractors in ways they say were humiliating and debilitating. All were called by their boat number, not their name a policy he denounces as dehumanising. Among Jones patients were a 12-year-old girl refusing food and fluids; two brothers aged 11 and 13 who were hospitalised after swallowing washing powder; and an 11-year-old girl who had poured a can of petrol over her head and then sat toying with a lighter. Her father was eventually able to remove it from her. Wrecked cars on Nauru, which remained poverty stricken in 2018 despite the billions Australia spent there. Credit: Chris Jones One child I saw, the only time hed get up would be to have a bowel motion. Otherwise, he just wet the bed if he needed to go, Jones says. Once the situation became clear to him, Jones wrote to his boss that unless there was a change in policy he would quit because he could not bear the responsibility of a child dying on his watch. He copied the message to his local MP, the former Liberal member for Fadden, Stuart Robert. Jones recorded Roberts response in his diary: that because he was an original signatory of Operation Sovereign Borders he would not support refugee or asylum seekers gaining access to Australia. Loading The patient who stuck most in Jones mind was a 13-year-old Lebanese boy who was on hunger strike. The boy had abdominal pain and blood in the urine, but it was his mental distress that most troubled Jones. The options for treatment of serious conditions at the time were for Border Force to agree to send patients to hospitals in either Taiwan or Papua New Guinea, then, once they were stable, to return them to Nauru. Their remit was that nobody would be allowed to go to Australia, Jones says. They feared that civil rights lawyers and humanitarians would gain access to them and prevent their return to Nauru. The Home Affairs statement said that decisions on location of treatment were guided by clinical advice ... on a case-by-case basis according to clinical need. But the doctor said he spent an hour and a half in the boys room with his mother and his brother trying to persuade him to go to Taiwan while the boy just laid curled up in the corner on the floor saying hes not going hed rather die than be transferred. The arm of a mother on Nauru whose child had been transferred off. She believed she would never see him again. Credit: Chris Jones After considerable wrangling, Jones got the boy to Brisbane with his older brother as his guardian. The response from the site manager, his bosses and the Australian Border Force officials was, he wrote, quite hostile. I wasnt there to try to get everyone off [the island]; I was trying to look after them, Jones insists. I thought that Nauru wasnt the right place to be treated and [it was] not the right sort of treatment they were getting. Afterwards, when Jones went to see the boys mother, she believed she would never see her sons again. She was planning her own suicide. Loading She is wearing a long-sleeved blouse, Jones wrote in his diary, but I noticed words written on her forearm and hand when she stretched over to pour some tea. They are desperate words of fear ... she wants people to be able to read these words ... when they find her dead body. Over his three weeks on Nauru, Jones says, he got 30 people off to Australia. Many more followed. The day Jones was kicked off, August 31, 2018, Malcolm Turnbull resigned from parliament after losing the prime ministership to a putsch from Dutton then Morrison. The subsequent byelection brought independent Kerry Phelps to parliament, on a campaign of introducing a medevac scheme to offshore detention. Jones said that, considering how much Australian taxpayers had spent to run offshore detention, he was shocked at how rundown and poor the infrastructure was on the island. Over the past six years, several billion dollars have flooded into Nauru; there should be a thriving middle class, but 90 per cent of the dwellings are poorly built, maintained and shabby, he noted in his diary. The hospital for local people on Nauru in 2018. Credit: Chris Jones There appears to be no accountability, no auditing of what money comes in, where it goes, who spends it, and what it is spent on. Reporting in this masthead and 60 Minutes this week has revealed details of how offshore detention sent millions of dollars to companies linked to local politicians on Nauru and Manus Island in return for services. More was made by the contractors themselves, Broadspectrum and later Canstruct, which have reported tens or hundreds of millions of dollars in annual profits. In a big jail When asked about all that money, Betelhem Tibebu Zeleke, one of Naurus earliest asylum seeker residents, said, We didnt get nothing. She was taken to the tiny Pacific island in its early days in November 2013, after she arrived by boat in Darwin. She was the only Ethiopian there and the only speaker of her language, Amharic. A translator could not even be found for her initial interview with Home Affairs. Betelhem Tibebu Zeleke. Credit: Eddie Jim For the first six months on Nauru, she says, I didnt know where I was. During her time there, she was in a tent that she described as a hot plastic bag, with no door; four people, no privacy. An Orthodox Christian, she could not even get a Bible sent to her for consolation. Some of the suspect payments on Nauru identified by the Home Truths investigation have focused on supply of water. Tibebu Zeleke, along with other refugees interviewed off the record, says one of the hardest things was that showers were limited to two minutes a day, strictly policed by guards and the water cut off. Loading She remains traumatised by the sound of walkie-talkies, which the guards carried at night and during their 5am, pre-dawn patrols. The radio, it woke you up ... torch on your eyes, and especially when someone suicides wed hear the radio running. We feel scared, whats happening? Whats happening? She, like the people helped by Jones, was sent off Nauru after just 15 months because her mental health had broken down. Tibebu Zeleke is in Australia now on a temporary visa. She is working in Melbourne but cannot study and must renew her visa every six months. Every time, she says, shes told she will never become a permanent resident. Criminal defence lawyer Mahmoud Abbas is undergoing surgery after being shot in the driveway of his south-west Sydney home in what police have branded a brazen and targeted attack. Abbas, 30, stumbled back to the house in Greenacre with wounds to his torso and leg after his unknown attacker or attackers shot him about 10.25am as he climbed into his car. Inside the home on Narelle Crescent, the lawyer called paramedics himself. Abbas was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition and is undergoing emergency surgery, Bankstown Police Area Commander Detective Superintendent Adam Johnson said on Wednesday afternoon. Johnson said the shooting was targeted and one attacker, if not more, was on the run. He confirmed Abbas was known to the police, although not adversely, and that other people were inside the family home at the time of the shooting. Transport Minister Mark Bailey described the incident as a wake-up call to the government and those charged with delivering the $6.7 billion underground rail project. He said the incident had shaken his confidence in the projects safety practices. If I was a worker on this project, Id be concerned, he said. Transport Minister Mark Bailey said if he were a worker on the project, he would be concerned. Credit: Tony Moore This has been a very shocking incident and I want to make sure that we protect our workers on this project. Why it matters Cross River Rail is one of Australias biggest megaprojects, with an expected price tag of $6.3 billion. That cost was revised in April, up $960 million from the previous estimate. Cross River Rail Delivery Authority chief executive Graeme Newton and Transport Minister Mark Bailey at the northern portal site last week. Credit: Cameron Atfield Four new underground rail stations Dutton Park, Woolloongabba, Albert Street and Roma Street will be added to the rail network. Injuries at the worksites have been relatively minor, with Tuesdays incident the most serious to occur. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Bailey defended the safety record of the project. To this date, this incident aside, the number of injuries on this project per millions of working hours has actually been a lot lower than the industry average, he said. He said he had visited the site on Wednesday morning to better understand what happened to the worker, but was unwilling to go into details until Workplace Health and Safety had completed its investigation. He said he would continue to work with unions. Four of those incidents resulted in minor injuries two to the hand, one to the ankle and an injury related to heavy lifting. But union safety concerns went beyond immediate injuries members walked off the Woolloongabba worksite in 2021 because of the potential release of dangerous silica dust during tunnelling. In 2021, Queensland Workplace Health and Safety said since the Cross River Rail project began, 246 notices had been issued for incidents at multiple sites, including 186 improvement notices, 33 stop-work notices, 26 infringement notices and one electrical safety protection notice. What key players said CFMEU state secretary Michael Ravbar said the incident on Tuesday would not have happened had properly enforced safety protocols been in place. Our thoughts and any support we can offer are with the family, friends and colleagues of the injured worker, he said. Off the job: Cross River Rail workers in the CBD on Wednesday morning. Credit: Tony Moore His welfare, and that of those directly impacted by this inexcusable incident, are our main priority right now. We have been warning the state government since the start of this project that safety standards were grossly inadequate, and that a culture of fear and intimidation used by lead contractor CPB and some of its shoddy subcontractors leaves many workers too frightened to speak up on safety or other issues. Ravbar said workers were concerned there were now 300 breaches raised by Queenslands Workplace, Health and Safety and there was a climate of bullying from major contractors to stop safety issues being raised. CFMEU assistant state secretary Jade Ingham met with the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority to deliver workers demands, which include a union voice on workplace safety across the 13 work sites. Ingham referred to a Queensland Workplace, Health and Safety report given to CPB contractors last month that was very critical of scaffolding. He said safety issues were raised daily. It is the government that now has to step in and behave like the grown-up in the room. Ravbar said union officials had raised safety concerns with Bailey. Earlier on Wednesday, Bailey conceded safety had been raised during construction. Later, he told reporters he had concerns. The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority, when asked how many notifiable accidents had occurred in 2022 and 2023, said the projects workplace record was better than the industry average. Washington: US President Joe Bidens dog Commander bit or otherwise attacked Secret Service personnel at least 10 times between October 2022 and January, including one incident that required a hospital visit by the injured law enforcement officer, according to records from the Department of Homeland Security. President Joe Bidens dog Commander looks out from the balcony during a pardoning ceremony for the national Thanksgiving turkeys at the White House in Washington. Credit: AP The conservative activist group Judicial Watch on Tuesday released nearly 200 pages of Secret Service records that it obtained through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. The group said it filed suit after the agency, a division of DHS, failed to respond adequately to its request last December for records about biting incidents involving the purebred German shepherd. The group said it filed the request after receiving a tip about Commanders behaviour. Commander is the second dog owned by Biden to behave aggressively, including biting Secret Service personnel and White House staff. They eventually sent the first dog, a German shepherd named Major, to live with friends in Delaware after those incidents. ICYMI: Weve rounded up eight brands that launched in Malaysia this year that you may have missed. To say the least, 2023 has been a hectic year, especially for the beauty space. As the industry continues to recover post-pandemic, weve been blessed with countless new beauty launches and South-East Asia expansions. Honestly, its been a little hard to keep up! Thats where we come inweve compiled some of our favourite new beauty brands (or, at least new to our corner of the Earth). So, if youre looking for your next indulgence or youre just hoping to stay on top of your beauty headlines, weve got you coveredahead, find all the new-to-Malaysia brands that launched in 2023: Sol de Janeiro This Brazilian brand is a celebrity fave, having garnered a star-studded following that includes the likes of Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber. Youll likely recognise the brand from its viral Bum Bum Cream (pronounced boom boom), but its humble lineup does cover both body and hair care too. SHOP HERE Sigi Skin This Singaporean brand officially launched in Malaysia back in May after having made waves across the industry for its vegan, superfood-infused and clinically-proven formulations. Included among the brands highly-rated lineup is a niacinamide and avocado-infused sunscreen, a kale and glycerin-infused cleanser, a plumping chamomile-infused hydrating mist, and much more! SHOP HERE Melixir If youre looking for effective and ethical vegan products, we have good news: Korean cult brand Melixir is here with a stellar lineup of incredible K-Beauty products, inspired by Asian medicinal plants and thoughtfully crafted for sensitive skin. Our favourite pick from the lineup? The Vegan Airfit Sunscreen SPF50. SHOP HERE Aromatica This Korean aromatherapy brand made its debut in Malaysia in late March of this year and has since garnered a loyal local followingfor good reason. Leveraging natural, essential oil-based formulations for the hair and skin while placing sustainable practices at its core, its your new go-to for guilt-free indulgence. SHOP HERE Rituals This Dutch wellbeing house opened the doors to its first-ever store in Mid Valley Megamall earlier this year, bringing its impressive roster of wellness and body care products to our neck of the world. From its cult-favourite foaming shower gels to its signature scented candles, Rituals is built on the ethos of transforming humdrum daily routines into mindful moments of self-care. Rituals Cosmetics is located at G-036, Ground Floor, Mid Valley Megamall. &Other Stories & Other Stories made its Southeast Asia debut last year, and have only ramped up the hype for 2023 with the launch of its beauty range. Available exclusively through Zalora, the range is comprised of fragrance, bath and body products, as well as a small limited-edition Eau de Toilette collectiona fine addition to any vanity. SHOP HERE Rabanne Makeup While the Maisons celebrated fragrance collection has long been available on our shores, the brand only recently announced the launch of its first-ever makeup collection to accompany its big rebrand. Rabanne Makeup is inspired by the luxury houses pioneering fashion legacy, with four collections to kick it off: Eyephoria for the eyes, Rouge Rabanne for the lips, Nudes for the complexion and Arts Factory for the artistry-inclined. Stay tuned for updates on Rabanne Makeups Malaysia launch. This list will be updated with new launches. In the meantime, click here for more beauty reads. Planview, the leading platform for digital connected work from portfolio planning to delivery, today announced a first-to-market offeringDigital Product Insightsthat combines portfolio management and agile planning with delivery insights from value stream management (VSM) and objectives & key results (OKRs). Planview is the first and only company in the market to provide organizations with connected, data-driven visibility across the lifecycle of a strategy, effectively connecting software delivery to the business with a comprehensive view of impact and objective performance. This announcement delivers on Planviews digital connected work mission by giving companies a concrete way to break down organizational silos with a single view of shared metrics and business outcome insights. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230724740437/en/ Connect software delivery to business outcomes with visibility across the lifecycle of your strategy from planning to delivery to business impact. Use proactive and predictive value stream management insights to pivot plans and drive on-time delivery (Graphic: Business Wire) For far too long, a black box has existed between business strategies and how software is delivered against them, said Razat Gaurav, CEO of Planview. To thrive in todays fast-paced environment, the entire C-Suite, from CEO to CFO to CTO, need shared, real-time, actionable data regarding the health of their entire organizations business and digital transformation initiatives. Planview delivers an innovative way to leverage predictive delivery insights and sentiment details and put them back into portfolio, value stream, and team plans, helping organizations create faster feedback loops that yield better decisions and deliver better outcomesultimately shining a light on that black box. One of the key data inputs into the new Digital Product Insights is AI powered sentiment analysis, which crawls comments for positive, negative or neutral language to provide a holistic view of plan performance, to further support proactive, data-driven decision making and confident delivery predictability. Connected, multi-level objectives and key results are another critical data source, providing end-to-end organizational goal alignment embedded inside the solution for context to the strategy, planning and work happening within the organization. The combination of strategy, planning, and delivery insights in a single view is instrumental to driving digital transformation success and customer value, said Mik Kersten, CTO, Planview and author of the bestselling book Project to Product: How to Survive and Thrive in the Age of Digital Disruption with the Flow Framework. With this offering we are providing a better way to connect portfolio management and agile planning to the delivery engine, giving organizations a powerful, data-rich consolidated view into how their delivery teams are impacting business outcomes. The typical reporting within a software organization is retroactive, reactive, and disjointed. To truly pivot and make capacity planning and funding decisions, organizations need to be able to continuously feed delivery and process insights into the portfolios, value streams, and teams as work is happening. This new capability gives us a way to do that, using delivery feedback to pivot plans, processes, and capacity to yield more value and efficiency, while also ensuring organizational alignment with shared objectives and key results. These are things you just cant do when your systems, teams, and tools are disconnected and out of alignment, he added. Complementing this functionality, Planview is announcing two additional innovations focused on delivering data-driven visibility to further strengthen the connection between software delivery and business outcomes. Planview Universal Connector , available through select Planview partners, extends connectivity across the enterprise toolchain, allowing organizations to continue their use of in-house or industry specific applications as part of their value delivery, while seamlessly connecting into the entire Planview ecosystem. This addition promotes efficiency and value continuity, further enhancing Planviews ability to provide holistic, data-driven visibility across the software delivery lifecycle. , available through select Planview partners, extends connectivity across the enterprise toolchain, allowing organizations to continue their use of in-house or industry specific applications as part of their value delivery, while seamlessly connecting into the entire Planview ecosystem. This addition promotes efficiency and value continuity, further enhancing Planviews ability to provide holistic, data-driven visibility across the software delivery lifecycle. Roadmaps for Teams help organizations translate plans into visual timelines for achieving their business outcomes and completing deliverables. Used in conjunction with Digital Product Insights, interactive roadmaps aid in driving and aligning product direction and expectations throughout delivery. Planview is a Leader in the 2023 Gartner Magic QuadrantTM for Strategic Portfolio Management. The company was also named a leader in The Forrester Wave: Value Stream Management, Q4 2022. For more information about how Planview is driving Portfolio Management, Agile Planning, and Value Stream Management convergence, attend the companys webinar Connect Portfolio Management and Agile Planning to Your Delivery Engine with Value Stream Management on Aug. 17 at 9:30 a.m. CT. Register here. Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Strategic Portfolio Management, Anthony Henderson, Daniel Stang, John Spaeth, Shailesh Muvera, Woojin Choi, 25 April 2023. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, and MAGIC QUADRANT is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartners research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About Planview Planview has one mission: to build the future of connected work, from ideas to impact. Planview helps organizations accelerate the achievement of what matters most, supporting our customers from need to speed, from passion to progress, and from overhead to optimization. Our connected platform of solutions underpins the business and digital transformations of more than 4,500 customers globally, including 59 of the Fortune 100. Planview empowers enterprises to improve time-to-market and predictability, increase efficiency to unlock capacity, and ensure their most strategic initiatives deliver the desired business outcomes. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230724740437/en/ Rubrik has announced it has officially opened a new office in Cork with plans to scale up investment in the region and open the doors for future talent through local university partnerships. The data security company will move its current office in the IDA Ireland Science and Technology Park to a larger space to accommodate its sustained growth in Ireland and Europe. Intern And Graduate Programs The expansion will enable the company to continue fostering future talent through intern and graduate programs with local universities, including University College Cork and Munster Technological University. Machine Learning Rubrik uses Zero Trust Data Security to help organisations achieve business resilience against cyberattacks, malicious insiders, and operational disruptions. The Rubrik Security Cloud, powered by machine learning, secures data across enterprise, cloud, and SaaS applications. Cork Celebration Headquartered in California, Rubrik opened in Cork in 2017, and has continued to grow in the area. To commemorate the expansion, Rubriks Chief Customer Officer, Giri Iyer, was joined by Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath TD for a ribbon cutting ceremony last Friday. 'Continued Investment' "Cybersecurity, and recovering from ransomware in particular, is a top concern of both the business and government sectors at the current time and Rubrik is an established leader in the industry," said Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath. He added, "I am pleased to see Rubrik experience such strong growth since its establishment in Cork in 2017 and I welcome its continued investment in nurturing talent, underpinned by its close partnership with local universities. 'Double Headcount' Chief Customer Officer at Rubrik, Giri Iyer added, The depth of talent we are able to access in Ireland has driven significant local growth. When we originally announced expansion to the region in 2018 we had plans for 50 new jobs in Cork. "Since then, we have nearly doubled this headcount across engineering, customer support, and sales." Source: www.businessworld.ie Across China: China-Europe freight trains facilitate NEV exports Xinhua) 16:44, July 26, 2023 URUMQI, July 26 (Xinhua) -- With a loud train whistle echoing through the air, a freight train loaded with more than 260 new energy vehicles (NEVs) slowly pulled out of the Horgos Port in northwest China, and prepared to head to Uzbekistan. In the first half of this year, a total of 18,000 NEVs were exported through the Horgos Port in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, mostly via China-Europe freight trains, marking a 3.9-fold increase compared to the previous year, the Horgos Customs said. "The China-Europe freight train has provided us with a new pathway for exporting automobiles," said Li Ruikang, manager of Sino-Worlink Special Cargo Railway Logistics Co., Ltd. Li added that 25 percent of the vehicles exported by his company are through railway transportation, with the efficient customs clearance process being a crucial factor in their decision to utilize the China-Europe freight train. Based on vehicle type, weight, dimensions and other details, relevant facilitation measures for customs clearance have been formulated by the Horgos Customs, significantly reducing clearance time and lowering costs for car manufacturers. Currently, the majority of automobiles transported through the Horgos Port, one of China's closest ports to Central Asia and Europe by land transport, come from provincial-level regions such as Chongqing, Sichuan and Guangdong, destined for countries along the Belt and Road, including Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The China-Europe freight train service that started operations in 2011 has offered a secure and reliable channel between Asia and Europe, transporting a variety of goods ranging from IT products and automobiles to wines and coffee beans. An increasing number of NEV exporters are turning to China-Europe freight train service due to its stable and smooth transportation environment, multiple routes and stops, said Lyu Wangsheng, an official from Horgos Customs. In January, a freight train carrying 50 NEVs departed south China's Guangzhou metropolis for Europe. It's the first China-Europe freight train departing from Guangdong Province that is exclusively for Chinese-made NEVs. Guangzhou Customs has opened a green channel for NEV exports to ensure smooth logistics and supply chains. As global pressure to reduce carbon emissions and energy crises intensify, many countries are embracing policies that support the adoption of NEVs. Leveraging its industrial chain advantages, China's export of new energy vehicles has witnessed significant growth. In the first half of 2023, China exported 534,000 NEVs, expanding 160 percent from a year earlier, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Due to the persistent rains, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao directed state Education Minister Sabita Indra Reddy on Tuesday to proclaim a two-day holiday for all schools in the state. All schools have been declared closed on July 26 and 27. Telangana chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has asked state education minister Sabitha Indra Reddy to announce two days of holiday for schools and institutions in the state due to the irregular weather conditions, according to a circular sent to the state education department. Heavy rains has caused rivers in Uttarakhand and coastal areas such as Maharashtra to overflow in various places. Even though the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted significant rains for western and central India in the next days, several Gujarat towns such as Rajkot and Gir Somnath remained waterlogged. Siam City Cement posts 1Q23 revenue of THB1188m in Vietnam ICR Newsroom By 26 July 2023 Thailand-based Siam City Cement Co (SCCC) has posted a revenue of THB1188m (US$34.5m) from its Siam City Cement Vietnam business in Vietnam in the first quarter of 2023. This represents a 33.6 per cent YoY drop. EBITDA of the Vietnamese operations was -THB52m in the 1Q23, compared with THB371m in the 1Q22. As a result, the EBITDA margin declined from 20.7 per cent in the 1Q22 to -4.4 in the 1Q23. However, signs of recovery have been seen, according to the company, with moderate growth in the future expected, subject to the real estate sectors recovery. But for the rest of the year, tight liquidity in the Vietnamese market is forecast to continue impacting on the demand for building materials in the country. SCCC operates 5.2Mta of cement capacity and 1.6Mta of clinker capacity in Vietnam, which was the companys largest overseas market in 2022 with a revenue of THB8442m, up 42 per cent YoY. In December 2022, Siam City Cement Vietnam started construction of its second production line, located in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. The Thi Vai grinding project is valued at US$35.7m and is the second investment in the southern coastal province. Published under Charlie Mix, the geographic information system director for the University of Tennessee at Chattanoogas Interdisciplinary Geospatial Technology Lab (IGTLab), was the recipient of a Cartography Special Interest Group Excellence Award for A 21st Century Park System for Chattanooga, Tennessee at the recent 2023 Esri User Conferenceone of two awards won by the IGTLab.Esri, an international supplier of geographic information system software, web GIS and geodatabase management applications, annually holds a user conference.This years event had more than 18,000 attendees.Mr. Mix recalled getting tasked with a tall order earlier this year when he met with Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors Administrator Scott Martin about a map for the city agencys new planwhich aims to have all residents capable of walking to a park or some open space within 10 minutes. It also seeks to connect residents and park visitors with the natural ecosystem that Chattanooga sits within.His exact request was, Can you make a map for our parks plan that people will be inspired by 100 years from now the same way that we are at the Nolen map? Mr. Mix said. So I was like, Thats a tall order. And then I was like, Let me just use that for inspiration.That inspirationlandscape architect John Nolens 1911 General Features of a Park System for Chattanooga, Tennesseewas turned into an award-winning map.John Nolen drafted a parks plan in 1911 that established many of the parks that we see today in Chattanooga, Mr. Mix explained, so this is seen as the next iteration of Chattanoogas park systema very visionary, aspirational parks plan.Mr. Nolen studied under noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, the co-designer of New Yorks Central Park.So I took Nolens hand-drawn map and used his color palette and applied that using modern 21st-century cartography techniques, Mr. Mix continued. Thats where the inspiration for that map came from, paying a nod to our history while looking forward to the future.All the data in there was collected, analyzed and processed through spatial data science.The parks plan map wasnt the only UTC award winner coming out of the Esri competition.A City of Trees: Assessing Urban Tree Canopy with GIS and Remote Sensing for Chattanooga, Tennessee earned second-place accolades in the Communicating Science Spatially category. The map was authored by Mix, Assistant GIS Director Nyssa Hunt, recent UTC graduate Will Stuart (the recipient of a masters in environmental science), and Biology, Geology and Environmental Science Associate Professor Azad Hossain. City Council members were told Tuesday that charging all Short Term Vacation Rentals (STVRs) a commercial tax rate could add up to $253,000 per year to the city coffers. The city is considering whether those who operate the rentals in commercial zones should be paying at a 40 percent rate of assessed value rather than the residential 25 percent rate. Ms. Haley said 336 parcels were identified as rentals in commercial zones still being assessed at 25 percent. She said the city might be limited on certain collections, including the 11 parcels that are in TIFs (Tax Increment Financing zones) and those in multi-family. City Attorney Phil Noblett said the Tennessee Court of Appeals at the end of June ruled that it was appropriate for Sevier County to be charging condo rentals there at 40 percent. He said officials are waiting to see if that decision will be appealed on to the Tennessee Supreme Court. He said it would give Assessor Marty Haynes "a little more comfort" to begin the higher assessments here if the Sevier County case is finalized in favor of the county. Councilman Darrin Ledford said large corporations who have bought up multiple residential STVRs only pay at the 25 percent rate. "Wow, what an advantage they have," he said. Council Vice Chair Jenny Hill said for affordable housing the 40 percent rate "adds $100 a month in payments to every door." Chris Anderson of the mayor's office said after a nearly year-long moratorium on new STVRs was lifted there were zero applications the first week after the ban lifted. He said since then there have been 30 absentee owner applications and eight homestays. While investigating an unrelated matter, an officer received a call regarding a suspicious person in an apartment building on Hollyberry Lane. A caller reported a strange white male thumping on walls in the stairwell of the building. When the officer was 50 yards from the building, they could hear a man screaming from inside the stairwell. The officer found the doorway was cracked open and found a shirtless man dancing and mumbling to himself. The officer made their presence known and asked the man to step outside. He identified himself and said he was waiting for his mother who resided in a certain apartment. A quick look at the apartment numbers and the officer knew that no such apartment number existed in the building. The officer spoke with the reporting person who said that HCSO had evicted everyone from a certain apartment about a week ago and that he has never seen the man before in his complex. The officer inspected the west entry door of the apartment and found a lawful eviction and seizure notice affixed to the door. The officer quickly detained the man to further investigate why he was in the building he had no reason to be in and why he offered up a lie instead of the truth. The officer learned that the man was previously evicted from an adjacent building and had no reason to return to the complex; however, no documentation was found which formally trespassed him from the location. The officer ran the man for warrants and found a non-extraditable out of Georgia but nothing local. The man apologized for lying but was freaked out since he had recently been released from jail. The officer formally trespassed him from the location and he promised not to return again for any reason. He was released and the officer saw him leave the area with no further disruption. * * * Police were called to Big Lots at 2020 Gunbarrel Road to trespass a woman, at the managements request. * * * An officer conducted a traffic stop in the 4300 block of Jersey Pike in regard to a white Chevy Malibu with registration not coming back on file. The officer spoke with the driver and passenger. The passenger was extremely upset. The driver said there was a firearm in the car. Police determined the firearm was not stolen and the car was a rental. Everyone was released. * * * A man at Hampton Inn at 74 Starview Lane told police when he returned to his car in the morning, he found his right front passenger window was destroyed. The man believed the damage to be around $1,000. He said nothing was taken. The officer didnt see anything strewn about the vehicle. The man said he would press charges if police were able to locate the person who did it. There was another vehicle that was parked next to the mans car that was broken into but that person didnt want to have police called. Police will continue to investigate this incident. * * * The owner of Southern Lighting reported that there was damage to a box truck at Pak-Rat storage at 7363 Lee Hwy. He said the previous night the master lock he had on the back door of the box truck was cut. Nothing appears to have been taken from inside the truck. * * * Police were called to check on a black male wearing black and white checked shorts checking vehicle doors, possibly looking to steal, in the parking lot at 1120 Houston St. The reporting person said the man left, walking north on Market Street. Police found a man matching the description walking north at the 900 block of Market Street. He said he wasnt attempting to break into vehicles, however, he was acting very nervous. The officer ran the man through NCIC and he came back negative for warrants. * * * A man on E. 23rd Street told police he received a phone call from a man asking him to send $200 to El Salvador due to a shipment being stuck at import. The man said the caller knew his name and the address to his business. Once the man refused to assist, the caller told him, "If you don't help I will beat your ---." The man said the caller told him his name and that he owns a Hispanic store in East Ridge. The man located the callers information via Facebook, however, is not sure if the man in East Ridge is actually the caller making the verbal threats. The man said he didnt want to prosecute at this time. Police will investigate further. * * * A woman on Rivoli Drive called police and said she left her car parked at 9 p.m. the previous night and discovered that morning the back window was smashed out. It didnt look like the vehicle was entered. * * * The manager of Asian Buffet at 6901 Lee Hwy. told police a woman was causing issues and wouldnt leave the restaurant. The woman said the manager was treating her differently because of her race. The manager said she was not but apologized anyway. The manager requested that the woman be trespassed. The woman was informed of this and understood she is not welcome back. * * * Police responded to a disorder at Little Caesars at 4632 Hwy 58. The manager said a woman had been terminated and was refusing to clock out and leave. An officer spoke with the woman and told her she had to leave, and she complied. Once outside the restaurant, the woman was told the manager wanted her trespassed and she was no longer welcome on the property. It was at this point the woman began claiming she wanted to file a harassment report. She said the manager was harassing her by lying that she wasn't doing her job well. She stated an instance where her manager told her to clock out if she was going to take a break, which she didnt like. The officer told her that wasnt a police matter and if she would like to file a grievance, she should do so with her chain of command. Riding with his grandfathers on service calls, Jason Taylor spent most of his childhood learning the family business in the HVAC/R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration) industry. After college, Mr. Taylor spent more than ten years working for L&B Appliance Sales and Service, the family business started by his grandparents, Lloyd and Betty Taylor, in 1974. Now, Mr. Taylor gives back to the community and teaches HVAC/R and electro-mechanical classes for Cleveland State Community College.A Bradley Central High School graduate, Mr. Taylor earned a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice at Tennessee Wesleyan University in 2009. After graduation, he joined the family business full time. He worked on the service side of the business, expanding the appliance service to include all major household brands.When asked how he went from criminal justice to refrigeration, Mr. Taylor said, Its all Ive ever done. My grandfathers on my mothers side and my dads side were in refrigeration. I spent all my summers working and goofing off and tearing stuff up and being told to fix it. Ive always had a knack for it.Once the service side of the business was growing, Mr. Taylor expanded into the heating and air service. Looking for employees, he came to Cleveland State to learn more about the HVAC/R certificate program. Hal Taylor was the instructor at that time, and he enrolled in the program. I learned a great deal from Hal, and I developed a great relationship with him. I took the one-year certificate program even though I was working full time in the business, said Mr. Taylor. You can always learn something new. He hired one of his classmates and came back as a guest speaker for future classes.In 2017, Mr. Taylor was hired as an adjunct instructor for the program, then in 2020 he was hired full time in the Advanced Technologies Department. He teaches the one-year technical certificate in HVAC/R and a two-year program in electro-mechanical.Along with these programs, Mr. Taylor teaches the HVAC/R Bootcamps and contracted training for the Workforce Development Department at Cleveland State. Partnering with City Fields, the American Job Centers and the Bradley County Justice Center, he taught five bootcamps this year. During the 90-hour program, students earn their Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Section 608 certification. The next bootcamp starts in August.Mr. Taylor teaches these programs in the Cleveland State HVAC Lab at the Partners in Industry and Education (PIE) Center in Cleveland. The state-of-the-art lab provides the resources for hands-on training.Jason brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to the classroom. He has deep roots in this community, and the work we do in Workforce Development allows him the opportunity to invest back into that community, said Heather Brown, director of Workforce Development. Jason is a valuable asset to the Workforce Development Department at Cleveland State.When asked about his role at L&B now, Mr. Taylor smiled and said, I show up for lunch. He also helps out with technical support when needed. With three full-time technicians in the business, two are from the Cleveland State program.Never once in my life did I see myself teaching. I always wanted to be a science teacher, but I thought, I cant do that. Here I am, teaching a science, said Mr. Taylor. " I love my community. I want to see everyone succeed and use my knowledge in air-conditioning and refrigeration to help build a workforce in the area. Cleveland State allows me to do exactly that."Mr. Taylor and his wife, Stefanie, live in Cleveland with their two children, Katherine and Luke.For more information about HVAC/R Bootcamps or specialized training opportunities, contact Ms. Brown at hbrown@clevelandstatecc.edu or 423-614-8793. Point Park, atop Lookout Mountain and part of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, is waiving the entrance fee on Friday, Aug. 4, to celebrate the three-year anniversary signing of the Great American Outdoors Act.The Great American Outdoors Act was signed into legislation in 2020, establishing the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund and guaranteeing permanent funding for the existing Land and Water Conservation Fund. Supported by revenue from energy development and oil and natural gas royalties, these funds provide nearly $2 billion per year to make significant enhancements in national parks to ensure their preservation and provide opportunities for recreation, education and enjoyment for current and future visitors.Mark this historical conservation legislation by visiting Point Park on this fee free day to indulge in the views of the Chattanooga Valley from 2,100 feet above, hike the Lookout Mountain Battlefield with 30 miles of trails while learning the significance of this area during Americas Civil War in what became known as, The Battle Above the Clouds.During the day, park rangers will be available at the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center from the hours of 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.to answer questions and provide information about the park and the Battles for Chattanooga. Ranger-led tours of Point Park are scheduled at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. County Commissioner Steve Highlander is proposing a pause of up to 18 months on rezonings along Hunter Road. He said Hunter Road is a narrow, dangerous road with numerous wrecks and heavy traffic congestion. "It takes me an hour and a half to go about seven miles taking my two grandsons to school." The resolution says: A Resolution imposing a temporary pause in the granting of rezoning requests for a period not to exceed 18 months in the unincorporated area of Hamilton County, Tennessee, for parcels fronting and/or having access to Hunter Road (from State Highway 58 to Mountain View Road), in order to allow a comprehensive study to be conducted by the Regional Planning Agency as to the needed and recommended zoning and infrastracture requirements for services therein." The County Commission is due to take up the resolution next Wednesday. Plastic waste is a problem on our beaches. Hence, it is largely removed in a coordinated manner within a few weeks. However, it can litter other coasts of the world for many months to years due to unregulated waste disposal. Often the garbage on the beach is simply burned and a special form of plastic waste is created: so-called plastiglomerate. This "rock" is made up of natural components, such as coral fragments, held together by the melted and reconsolidated plastic. A new study by a German-Indonesian research team at Kiel University has now demonstrated, using field samples from Indonesia, that such rocks pose an increased environmental risk to coastal ecosystems such as seagrass beds, mangroves or coral reefs. The melted plastic decomposes more quickly into microplastics and is also contaminated with organic pollutants. The researchers recently published the findings in the journal Scientific Reports. Dr Amanda Utami (right, BRIN) and Dr Lars Reuning (left, CAU) jointly collected field samples in Indonesia and studied them in collaboration with researchers from Kiel University. Dwi Amanda Utami, BRIN "Until now, there have been rather basic studies describing the formation of plastiglomerates. With our results, we have shown for the first time how plastiglomerate differs from other plastic waste and can make better statements about its environmental impact", says first author Dr Amanda Utami, who works as a scientist at Indonesia's largest science organization (BRIN, Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional) and came to Kiel on a three-month fellowship. The research work was made possible by funding from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and cooperation between BRIN and scientists in the Kiel Marine Science (KMS) priority research area at Kiel University. New insights through international cooperation If plastic waste is burnt directly on the beach, this melting and burning process produces the plastiglomerate "rock", in whose plastic matrix the carbon chains are degraded. This chemically degraded plastic weathers more rapidly into microplastics through exposure to wind, waves and sediment grains on the beach. The incomplete combustion process releases new pollutants from the plastic that first settle on the plastic and are then released into the environment. These contaminants often have higher ecotoxicological relevance than the parent plastic, are potentially bioavailable, and thus can be introduced and enriched in the food chain. Scientist Utami collected a total of 25 field samples from beaches on Panjang Island on the western side of the Indonesian island of Java and analyzed them in the laboratory together with researchers from Kiel University. One of them is Dr Lars Reuning, Utami's scientific host in Kiel and second author of the study: "Our analyses show that Plastiglomerates are contaminated with organic pollutants. Even though further results on bioaccumulation are still pending, they can be classified as potentially carcinogenic to humans." Reuning is a member of the Paleontology Research Group at the Institute of Geosciences at Kiel University. The working group, led by Professor Miriam Pfeiffer, is also involved in the German Research Foundation's (DFG) Earth Science Priority Program 2299 "Tropical Climate Variability and Coral Reefs." Chemical investigations of pollutants in the Kiel laboratory The researchers first differentiated the plastiglomerate samples according to optical criteria into less strongly as well as more strongly melted or burned samples and extracted volatile pollutants with the help of solvents. These analyses, which were carried out in Professor Lorenz Schwark's Organic Geochemistry Group at the Institute of Geosciences, revealed, for example, contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phthalates, which are used as plasticizers for plastics. Experts consider both classes of substances to have a high potential for causing cancer. The research team also used physicochemical methods and comparison with databases to characterize the nature of polymers such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) or their mixtures. They conducted measurements using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in the working group of Professor Gernot Friedrichs at the Institute of Physical Chemistry at Kiel University to investigate the degree of weathering. Outcome: Areas that were already visibly more exposed to the burning process also showed a greater degree of weathering and oxidation. Numerous effects on coastal ecosystems possible "To better assess environmental damage, we are currently researching the exact composition of the organic pollutants associated with the plastic, such as organophosphorus compounds, says geochemist Schwark. Also of interest is the tendency of the plastiglomerates to decay easily. "Normally, photo-oxidation by UV light affects the top layer of plastics. But thermo-oxidation by burning the plastic waste significantly alters the internal structures of the material as well", says geoscientist Reuning. In the future, numerous coastal ecosystems of tropical waters off Indonesia as well as worldwide will be affected by Plastiglomerates. Studies already show that organic pollutants are also transferred to corals or other marine organisms and can thus have a negative impact on ocean health. Further studies are therefore also looking at other ecosystems such as seagrass beds, mangroves or organisms living in the sediment. Learning to Keep My Mouth Shut By: Alisha Headley In the multitude of words, sin is not lacking, but he who refrains is lips is wise. - Proverbs 10:19 How many times has your mouth got you in trouble? My mouth has got me in trouble countless times. Whether it was with coworkers from work, my friends and family, or with my husband -- nothing good comes out of talking too much. But if youre a female, let alone a female like me who craves connection, thats typically done through talking. So even the thought of refraining my lips seems like an impossible task. My husband even jokes with me that hes said more words in the last three years of knowing me (because I love talking), that he has said in the entire thirty years combined before he met me. True story! One of the reasons I love to write, is its my way of talking on paper. So, as you can imagine, keeping my mouth shut is a difficult concept to me. As an effort to be more obedient in my Christian walk with the Lord, I decided I needed to ask the Lord for wisdom to learn how to hold my tongue. Over and over through the Bible, there are Scriptures that says a truly wise man uses few words (Proverbs 17:27) Not only is sin lacking with few words, but Scripture says watching your words and holding your tongue saves you a lot of grief. (Proverbs 21:23) I want to be wise. I want to eliminate sin from my life and show my obedience to the Lord. I want to save myself from unnecessary grief. And we can do this by watching our words and holding our tongue. How do I live life loving to talk and connect while also keeping my mouth shut? 1. Choose your words wisely. You cant take back words. Once they are out, they cant return. And as we all may have experienced, they can be damaging. As the tongue has the power of life or death (Proverbs 18:21). Learn to pause, measure your words wisely, and think before you speak. 2. Wrestle with God before you wrestle with man. This is something that has transformed how I deal with people. Whenever I am frustrated with just about anything in life, I take some time first to wrestle the situation with God. I could choose to argue with the person through my words because I want to be heard or perhaps, I am just defending myself. But again, words and how you respond can be detrimental. Walk away if you must, and wrestle with God handing the situation over and ask for wisdom from the Holy Spirit on how to respond. 3. Dont let the enemy fool you. Some of us think if we are talking to other Christians or even our mother about a friend, thats its ok because we are looking for Godly advice and prayer. But be careful, as talking often, typically turns into gossip. Gossip typically turns into judging which both isnt honoring to God. Consider who you talk to, and who you allow to talk to you. Its so easy to get caught up in entertaining talk, but nothing good comes from it. Proverbs 20:19 says a gossip betrays confidence, so avoid anyone who talks too much.. Learn to pray vs talking it out with a friend. Lets honor the Lord in our speech. Choose our words wisely and when we feel we have every right to speak and voice our concerns, lets wrestle with God first. Lets pray about it, and hear from the Holy Spirit how we should approach the situation. My goal for this year is to become wiser and it starts with keeping my mouth shut. Alisha Headley is a writer and speaker who has a desire to meet the everyday woman in her everyday life with biblical truth. Healing from a chapter of life consumed with lies she once believed about herself, she is inspired to point women to Christ to experience the freedom and power to overcome those lies with the truth written in Gods word. Alisha is a proud wifey and dog mama living in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can follow her blog by visiting her website or connect with her on facebook + instagram. In 1992, the American evangelist Billy Graham flew to Pyongyang to meet face to face with Kim Il Sung, the founding leader of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. Mounting tensions between the United States and North Korea did not prevent Graham from preaching in two of the citys official churches, meeting with church leaders and seminarians from around the country, and presenting Kim one of his books. Two years later, Graham returned against the wishes of the US government. I was told that war could break out at any minute. Thats how dangerous it was, he said afterwards. Graham, a staunch anti-communist, was interviewed on national television and visited Kim Il Sung University, where he spoke in front of 400 students and faculty. One of my reasons for going at this time was to express my concern for peace in the region and to make whatever small contribution I could to better relations between our two nations, he said later of his visit. American Christians have a long and complicated history with this part of the world. For decades, the US has had a significant military presence in South Korea. Prior to the Korean War, which began in 1950, hundreds of missionaries spread the gospel throughout Korea, which was one undivided peninsula for centuries. This month marks the 70th anniversary of the 1953 Korean War armistice, an agreement which ended the military fighting but left the Korean people divided into two isolated countries without a peace treaty. Given the US history of intervention and presence in this part of the world, and following the lead of Korean people working for peace and gaining inspiration from Grahams courage, American Christians have a responsibility to assist in ending the longest unresolved separation of a people in modern history. Crossing borders of division Korea has always been a part of my life. I grew up in Seoul, South Korea, the son of Presbyterian missionaries. From 2014 to 2019, I led six teams into North Korea for humanitarian work. Hundreds of US missionaries like my parents worked alongside the Korean people before, during, and after the war. While at times complicated by serious failings and misuses of power, missiologists often regard these 140 years as one of the most effective periods of mission history. Grahams trips in the 1990s opened the door for Christian humanitarian agencies to serve in North Korea, many of which worked for decades after. Unlike the missionaries before them, these agencies dont plant churches, dont do evangelism, and dont distribute Bibles. But for 25 years, these humanitarian agencies have been at the forefront of relief and development work in the countryfrom Christian Friends of Korea and its superb tuberculosis work to Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), where I currently work, providing food and medicine to support children recovering in hospitals and bringing North Korean agricultural experts to the West. Article continues below The work of these faith-based agencies echoes the ministry of Bible characters who, sensing Gods tug, crossed borders of division with a willingness to take risks and engage face to face with a person or community their people feared or didnt understand. Jacob went to Esau seeking to heal their broken relationship (Gen. 32:333:17). Esther risked her life to plead the case of her people before the king. In Jesus most famous parable, the Samaritan crossed the road to a stranger in distress, regardless of his ethnic identity or religious affiliation (Luke 10). Following the call of the Holy Spirit, Peter went to the Roman military center of Caesarea to engage a commander named Cornelius (Acts 10). These stories reveal not only courage, but a virtue rarely practiced in our time: empathy. Because news about North Korea largely focuses on the threat of nuclear attack or tense political relations, few Americans may see the country beyond the risk it might pose to the US. Meanwhile, with 70 years of no peace agreement, no encounters with North Korean people and few at the diplomatic level, Americans have had little opportunity to learn more from the 26 million people (a population around the size of Australia) living there. A lack of empathy for the other side poses the greatest danger in the North Korea and US relationship, one US general told me, not military buildup. North Koreans dont understand Americans and the way we think, he said. And Americans dont understand North Koreans and the way they think. As the Bible stories demonstrate, practicing empathy doesnt mean pretending everything is okay. Meeting North Koreas leader didnt change Billy Grahams mind about realities he disagreed deeply with. But empathy does mean doing more than condemning and criticizing. It requires curiosity about the dangerous other to engage them as human beings, to understand why they do what they do, and to meet face to face not only to speak but to listen. Article continues below Few American Christians will have the opportunity to personally travel to North Korea to serve people with vulnerabilities alongside the dedicated doctors, nurses, and kitchen workers there. But all of us can work to provide what Mennonite peacemaker John Paul Lederach calls critical yeast, small but powerful actions that interrupt histories of distrust and hostility. Providing critical yeast For many US Christians, the first step in embracing a role as critical yeast is by learning, lamenting, and praying. This starts by educating ourselves about the Korean War. Many of us know far too little about the conflict that falls between World War II and the Vietnam War. But for the Korean people and Americans with Korean heritage, the war changed their lives and those of their loved ones forever. In 2020, 100 Korean American Christian leaders signed a statement of lament, asking American Christians to mourn the aftermath of the Korean War. Four million people died (including two million Korean civilians and 32,000 US troops) and millions of Koreans were separated from their families by the war and remain so even to this day, with the people of North and South Korea nearly completely isolated from each other. Peter Cha at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Soong-Chan Rah at Fuller Seminary, and Eugene Cho at Bread for the World were among the statement drafters. We believe that God is faithful, and that the arc of the universe in Gods victory in Christ bends toward justice, reconciliation, and beloved community, they wrote. We pray that someday all Korean people will be able to return to the birthplaces of their ancestors, to meet face-to-face across the peninsula, and to recognize each other as sisters, brothers and image-bearers of God. Second, US Christians can provide critical yeast through financial and prayer support to faith-based humanitarian agencies, which are a face of compassion to vulnerable people in North Korea. Such organizations worked in North Korea for over two decades until the COVID-19 closure of North Korean borders in 2020. Due to hostility between the US and North Korean governments, staff and volunteers from organizations like MCC, American Friends Service Committee, Samaritans Purse, and World Vision are among the few Americans who have regularly visited North Korea. Article continues below Through working alongside North Korean counterparts in areas such as health and agriculture, these Americans challenge the narrative that reduces the country to a hostile enemy by interfacing with North Koreans as fellow human beings, traveling through the country together and eating together. Supporting such individuals and their organizations in work with their counterparts is one way we can strategically extend our resources and compassion to people with vulnerabilities in North Korea. Third, US Christians can consider the American governments involvement in the Korean peninsula and the responsibility we bear as citizens to influence public policy. As the Korean American statement drafters put it succinctly, the prophetic call of the church is to speak truth to power, and that can call us to political action. Due to its role in the Korean War, the United States must be a signer of a peace agreement to end the war. Christians can pray for, raise awareness of, and rally around the signing of such an agreement. And we can support laws like the Divided Families Reunification Act, which supports family reunion opportunities for American families and their relatives in North Korea. While isolation and punitive pressure efforts (including sanctions) on North Korea have been vigorously applied, especially regarding human rights and nuclear weapons, they have failed to change the situation. Diplomacy guided solely by pressure, which doesnt seek to understand how the threatening other thinks, is dangerous and lacks moral imagination. As Nobel Peace Prize winner and Christian political leader Nelson Mandela of South Africa put it, When we dehumanize and demonize our opponents, we abandon the possibility of peacefully resolving our differences, and seek to justify violence against them. The fact that the United States and North Korea have no diplomatic relationsno ongoing channels of communication, negotiation, and trustis dangerous. Disagreements, misunderstandings, and threats can easily escalate into conflicts and increase the risk of war. Indeed, the US has diplomatic relations with many other nations it is in high tension with, such as China. One critical yeast moment occurred in 1971, when an American ping-pong delegation visited China. Friendship matches led to cultural exchanges and planted seeds for eventual diplomatic relations, like Republican president Richard Nixons visit in 1972 with totalitarian leader Mao Zedong. The leaders met at a time when China had nuclear weapons, and the relatively recent Korean Warwhich the Chinese call Resisting America and Assisting Korea Warhad led to the deaths of 180,000 Chinese soldiers. Article continues below In 1995, just 20 years after the Vietnam War, the United States established diplomatic relations with Vietnam, which is still a communist state. Since then, Vietnam War veterans including the late senator John McCain have become leaders in reconciliation initiatives between veterans on both sides. If China and Vietnam, why not North Korea? Fourth, we can provide critical yeast by following the lead of courageous South Korean Christians working across the divide. To be clear, just as American Christians disagree about how to address the history of racism, South Korean Christians deeply disagree about how to engage North Korea. For some the North is perceived as an enemy nation. For many in the younger generation, it is another country. Meanwhile, others view the North as a family member to pursue healing with. One of my mentors in peacemaking work was Syngman Rhee (no relation to the first South Korean president) who served as the first Asian American moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Rhee grew up in Pyongyang, and after communist troops killed his father, a pastor, during the war, his mother sent him and his brother to the South, where he joined the military. After later immigrating to the US, Rhee went to seminary and joined the civil rights movement. As a Presbyterian church leader influenced by Martin Luther King Jr., Rhee was one of the first Korean Americans to visit North Korea in 1978. His mission was not only to cross divides, but to see if his family was still alive after 28 years of separation and no contact. His mother had passed away only three months earlier, but Rhee was briefly reunited with his siblings. When Rhee returned to South Korea, some called him a traitor and communist lover. Yet as Rhee said to me once, Chris, reconcilers are called to be bridges. And bridges get walked on from both sides. Other South Koreans are following that call. For example, Bae, Min Jeong a young South Korean woman I know, didnt grow up feeling the trauma of the divided Korean peninsula. For her, North Korea was another country. Article continues below In college, however, she joined an InterVarsity Korea visit to the ChinaNorth Korea border. During a boat ride to view the North, she was instructed not to reveal she was Korean, and was full of fear. Suddenly, for the first time in her life, she saw two North Koreans up closetwo soldiers sitting on a beach. They put down their guns by the river, waved at the boat, and offered a greeting in Korean. One of them looked exactly like my younger brother, she said. Only then did I understand that we are one people. Minjeong said she just cried and waved my hand. When she returned to the South, she redirected her life toward a passion for reconciliation. Not natural, normal, or inevitable When I was growing up in South Korea in the 1970s, two groups of Americans were ever-present: missionaries and military personnel. While the Western missionaries have since left and South Korean churches have for decades been sending missionaries across the world, over 28,000 US troops are still stationed in South Korea, including the largest US military base on foreign soil. The truth is, the United States has indelibly shaped the ecclesial, military, and economic landscape of the Korean peninsula. As some of my South Korean friends say, We think of the United States as a Northeast Asian nation. My friend Sue Park-Hur, a Mennonite pastor with ReconciliAsian, often reminds me that the Korean divide should concern not only Korean Americans, but all Americans; war is not just our past. This 70th anniversary year of a divided Korean people leaves US Christians with a responsibility and call. As the first US missionaries to an undivided Korea knew, that divide is not natural, normal, or inevitable. Pursuing humanitarian cooperation and constructive diplomacy doesnt erase deep disagreements, but it connects us to a deeper call. As the Korean American Christian leaders put it, We believe our deepest motivation to engage the Korean divide as followers of Christ is not political or economic but as peacemakers and agents of reconciliation, following Jesus costly way of the crossof discipleship, forgiveness, and justice which restores broken relationships. Given its potential to trigger a devastating war, the situation on the Korean peninsula is one of the most dangerous peace and security issues facing our planet today. In 1994, when the Clinton administration was seriously considering war with North Korea, Grahams visit helped defuse the situation because he was able to help North Korea's leader and President Clinton understand better what the other was saying. Article continues below Graham told reporters, My prayer is that the trip might have made some contribution to peace in a complex and potentially dangerous part of East Asia. At this historic and volatile moment, its time for the American church to follow in Grahams footsteps to take diplomatic and border-crossing risks. Chris Rice is director of the Mennonite Central Committee United Nations Office in New York City, and was previously co-founding director of the Duke Divinity School Center for Reconciliation. His new book is From Pandemic to Renewal: Practices for a World Shaken by Crisis (InterVarsity Press). A few weeks ago, I arrived at the airport a little early to pick up a friend and decided to pull over in the emergency lane to wait. I knew it wasnt the right thing to do, but there were 20 cars already there, so I figured my decision wasnt too bad. Moments later, however, I heard a siren and saw police car lights in my rearview mirror. Without warning, my hands began to tremble, my breathing quickened, and my legs started to shake. I called my husband and told him what was happening. My body was going into full-fledged panic mode. As the officer approached, I could barely catch my breath. Images of Black men and women shot for minor offenses raced through my mind. Would I be labeled as a criminal who broke the law, or as a mother, wife, and minister who served the Lord? Would I be lumped into the countless names of Black people who have died for misdemeanors, or would I be among the privileged few who escaped alive? By the time the officer came near to my car, I could barely see. He stood at a short distance, asked me to breathe, and helped me to calm down. With my husband still on speaker phone, I finally found the words to say, Im sorry. What followed in my mind was, Please dont hurt me. In that moment of panic, I could not distinguish the kind officer in front of me from everything I had seen on the news. My traffic citation gave the other offending cars an opportunity to drive off and, when he finally left, I began to cry. I cried for all of the Black men and women who begged for their lives and still died. I cried for Manuel Ellis, Philando Castile, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Alton Sterling, and so many more. The list grows by the day. During a recent traffic stop near Circleville, Ohio, an unarmed man named Jadarrius Rose was pulled over for a missing mud flap and then attacked by a police dog. As I watched the horrific video, I wept again. This time, the tears triggered pictures of Walter Gadsden being attacked by a police dog during a civil rights protest on May 3, 1963, in downtown Birmingham. A black-and-white photo shows a police officer holding a young Black high school student by his clothes as a dog rips at his flesh. This image is in my bones, in books on my coffee tables, and accessible to my children online. This story and others are in my head and in my body, passed down from generations of traumatized ancestors whove gone before me. Im left to ask: How can we understand things that simply dont make sense? How can we find healing from generations of embodied pain? Most importantly, how do we change the system so that Black people dont get choked during an arrest, shot for misinformation, suffocated for small crimes, or mauled over a missing mud flap? Article continues below The answer is neither in defending so-called Blue Lives nor in defunding the police. The answer is now and has always been in Jesus Christ. By drawing on faith, I am not minimizing the deep social and political disfunctions that allow racism to persist, or the Jim Crow tendencies that continue long after laws are gone. Instead, I am tapping into the strength that empowered civil rights leaders to march while being blasted by fire truck hoses. I am calling on the power that drove my great-great-grandparents to transition from slavery to freedom for the sake of their childrens children. I am trusting in the presence of Christ and the great cloud of witnesses who believe in his name. Standing up for justice is the calling of the church in times like theseand always. Those of us who are Black Christians are responsible for naming and tending to the pain thats triggered every time we see racist tragedies in the news. Ignoring this moment in history only exacerbates the mental health problems that often plague our communities. When communal trauma goes unaddressed, it hides in the recesses of our minds and turns into fears we knowingly and unknowingly pass on to our children. Instead, we need to speak Gods Word of healing over Black bodies and minds in ways that inspire action and revive hope. Statistics are unnecessary for those of us who carry in our hearts the experience of being black in this country, writes Esau McCaulley in his CT cover story on Paul and police ethics. He continues: The United States, historically and in the present, has failed to protect us. It has used the sword to instill a fear that has been passed down from generation to generation in black homes and churches. That dread, however, has never had the final word. Instead, black Christians have reminded themselves not to fear those who can only kill the body. At our best and most Christian moments, we have demanded our birthrights as children of God. The same message of hope needs to be proclaimed in other churches as well, not just Black ones. They too will be suffering because of this news. They too are called to lament the brokenness of this world, tend to the pain of brothers and sisters who suffer directly, and demand accountability and change in our systems. Article continues below Sometimes its easy to overlook Black trauma as something that happens to them and not us. When this happens, Christians miss an opportunity to exercise the biblical language of communal lament. It draws us closer to others and most importantly to the suffering of our Lord. As the church, we are called to stay in solidarity with those who grieve and carry the burdens of those who suffer. That means refusing to be desensitized by incidents of police brutality in Black communities and being willing to do somethinganythingabout it. Nicole Massie Martin is the Chief Impact Officer at Christianity Today. [ This article is also available in Portugues. ] A few years ago, the faith community Russell Moore lovedand the country he respectedseemed to be becoming unrecognizable. As Moore looked at his surroundings, a metaphor from The Lord of the Rings came to mind. Had the Shire, the place he loved and believed to be home, really been the evil realm of Mordor all along? On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, CT director of podcasts Mike Cosper interviews Moore about his new book, Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America. Moore talks about changes in the political landscape, church culture, and his own life over the past decade. He and Cosper discuss deconstruction, the difference between losing faith and losing religion, and how misogyny can become intertwined with poor theology. Their conversation also covers tribalism, Christendom in America, and how to respond to cynicism or despair. Turn up the volume for a rich conversation filled with humility, discernment, and wisdom for living hopefully in a broken world. And tune in to the next several episodes as Moore hosts specific conversations with exciting guests about navigating the Christian faith in confusing times. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Grab a copy of Russells new title, Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America, here! If youre able, join us for a live event hosted by Beth Moore in Houston on August 9. Click here for details. Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to questions@russellmoore.com. Click here for a trial membership at Christianity Today. The Russell Moore Show is a production of Christianity Today Executive Producers: Erik Petrik, Russell Moore, and Mike Cosper Host: Russell Moore Producer: Ashley Hales Associate Producers: Abby Perry and Azurae Phelps CT Administration: Christine Kolb Social Media: Kate Lucky Director of Operations for CT Media: Matt Stevens Audio engineering by Resonate Recording Video producer: Abby Egan Theme Song: Dusty Delta Day by Lennon Hutton Solga Kim grew up singing the popular Korean folksong Our Wish Is Reunification. Part of the lyrics goes like this: Reunification carried out with all heart and soul / Reunification will revive our nation. But the tunes heartfelt desire for peace and unity between North and South Korea does not seem to be a melody that the Korean church often sings today. Peace in the Bible in Korea is often translated as personal inner peace, and it is rare for churches to preach the peace of the Bible in connection with the relationship between North and South Korea, said Kim, a teacher who lives in Incheon, South Korea. In my lifetime, I have never heard a church talk about reunification or peace between North and South Korea. The two countries have been divided since July 27, 1953, when an armistice agreement was signed at the close of the Korean War that called for all military forces to be withdrawn, hostile activity to be suspended, and prisoners of war to be repatriated. The two countries, however, have never signed a peace treaty and are technically still at war. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the armistice agreement. But today, reunification seems more like a pipe dream as young generations of South Koreans are becoming increasingly disinterested in being part of a unified Korea. While interviews and surveys by CT suggest that Christians in South Korea are largely supportive of reunification, they hold differing ideas about how to accomplish it. Gen Z and millennial Christiansotherwise known in Korea as the MZ generationare lackluster in their support due to social and economic pressures. Korean churches also lack consistent effort and awareness in promoting reunification as a key concern for congregants. But some Christians are taking concrete steps toward this long-held dream, whether through pursuing language integration or providing creative educational approaches to educate young minds on Gods heart for the Korean people. Youthful sentiments According to a 2020 survey, Gen Z South Koreans are relatively apathetic regarding reunification and experience little affinity with North Koreans. Only 12 percent view North Korea in a positive light. Nearly half (47.1%) of people in their twenties said that unification was not necessary, compared to 23.8 percent of people in their forties, according to a 2021 survey. When CT sent a questionnaire to a Korean Christian chat group to gather Gen Z responses about their attitudes toward reunification, 15-year-old Seo Yoon Jin responded, I dont think its necessary. Unification would be good culturally, but many conflicts are expected due to economic and ideological confrontations. Rather, I think that if [South and North] Korea end the war and become divided, it will make the relationship between the two countries better, she wrote. Jin is not the only teenager who thinks that complete separation between North and South Korea is an ideal outcome. Many young South Koreans regard North Korea as a poor, totalitarian state whereas the South is wealthy and democratic, and find that this economic disparity cannot be resolved well. No data on Christian attitudes toward reunification is available, but In-cheol Shin, a biblical theology professor at Korea Baptist Theological University, believes the proportion of MZ Christians who support reunification is approximately 20 to 25 percent. Shin believes that this percentage will continue to shrink, and attributes the decline to a lack of church investment in promoting reunification. Im 57 at the moment. At one time, the church strongly educated [people] that we need reunification and that North and South Korea is one country. Now, the church is not interested in reunification, he said. Previous generations of South Koreans felt that reunification was a task imbued with ethnic, economic, and spiritual meaning, said Nam Sang-deuk, director of youth training at the Fourth River Project. Current generations, however, may view unifying North and South Korea as a risk for several reasons, Nam said. Firstly, many young South Koreans view faith as a personal relationship with God rather than as a way to impact society. Secondly, most have never set foot in North Korea and have only met defectors, whereas older generations came from hometowns in the communist country. Thirdly, because of the churchs inconsistent messages, reunification is seen as a political rather than religious issue. MZ Christians CT interviewed say they hope to see the North and South unified, but they acknowledge broad apathy amongst their peers and an inclination toward individualism that may well reflect the hollowness of their support. The idea of reunification just lingers in our thoughts or is sometimes brought up in a conversation, and the end result is usually [along] the lines of, we should be grateful, we should pray for them, reunification is an important matter, wrote Shins son Dongmin, a 27-year-old Hanyang University business administration graduate, in an email to CT. I think most young South Korean [believers] fall victim to surviving the busy life and intense competition of South Korean society just as much as non-believers. When it comes to reunification, young Koreans around me tend to consider their individual needs ahead of considering the perspective of reunification on a larger scale, added 27-year-old Sun-Woo Kim, a movie director who attends Union Presbyterian Church in Seoul. Discourse on unification can feel like a luxury for those in their 20s who are being pushed to the brink in their livelihoods, from issues such as high rates of unemployment and skyrocketing real estate prices, said Seoul National Universitys political science professor Kang Won-taek. Making peace A shared Christian faith was historically one of the bonds that continued to connect Koreans after the armistice. As Christianity Today noted in 1972: Before the division as many as two-thirds of Koreas Christians were northerners, and some of South Koreas largest congregations are refugee churches. One of the best known of the refugees, Dr. Han Kyung-chik, pastor of Seouls 9,000-member Yung-nak Presbyterian Church, has said that had the Korean War been pressed to a successful liberation of the north, he believes that 80 per cent of the norths 15 million people would have turned to Christ. Between 1988 and 1992, South Koreans helped build two churches in Pyongyang, and in 2008 helped fund the rebuilding and expansion of one of the congregations, write Sebastian C.H. Kim and Kirsteen Kim in A History of Korean Christianity. Among the most high-profile evangelicals to advocate for unification was Ik Hwan Moon, Presbyterian minister and New Testament scholar, who translated the Bible into Korean. Moon, who wrote the well-known poem I Will Go to Pyongyang, infuriated South Korean politicians when he actually did and was arrested after returning home. Many older Christian leaders, many of them originally from the North, were skeptical of engaging communist North Korea and, in Kim and Kims words, were strongly opposed to any compromise with North Korea and were actively anti-Communist. Their dislike of the government did not extend to the people. During food shortages and famines in the late 1980s and mid-90s in North Korea, conservative Christians and Pentecostals sent millions of dollars of aid to the North. The Reconciling Christianity movement would soon emerge after a 1988 declaration issued by the National Council of Churches in Korea on national reunification and peace. Proclaiming 1995 as the Year of Jubilee in this declaration brought the issue of reunification to the fore and challenged even conservatives to move from evangelism to humanitarian work and peacemaking, write Kim and Kim. Furthermore, as a call for redistribution of the land, jubilee was linked to the ongoing struggle for justice for the poor which, after democratisation, became the concern of evangelical as well as progressive churches. In spite of this push toward peacemaking prospects, South Korean Christians today remain divided on how reunification can be achieved, as A History of Korean Christianity outlines: Christian approaches to reunification can be summarised in three positions: unification as part of an anti-Communist campaign and mission agenda (conservative Christians), promoting dialogue between the two nations (progressive Christians) and involvement in a supportive and sharing humanitarian campaign (some conservative and most progressive Christians). Seunghoon Song, a pastor in his late thirties who was born and raised in South Korea and currently lives in Vancouver, Canada, does not think reunification should occur by military force or by war. Neither does he think assimilationwhere North Korea becomes bankrupt and suddenly surrenders to the Southwill work because it is unrealistic to expect that two countries that have been separate for 56 years can accomplish this successfully. Reunification ought to take place peacefully, emphasized Song, who cited Ephesians 2:14 as his guiding verse for how the wall between North and South Korea can be demolished: For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. Other South Korean Christians CT interviewed agree that a more biblical understanding of peace is needed in pursuing reunification. Shin, the biblical theology professor, argues that Jesuss teachings in the Gospel of Matthew depict the power of pacifism through inclusion, forgiveness, and love. In todays context, where South Korean men are sent for compulsory military service, talking about peaceful reunification may be difficult as they learn to regard North Korea as their enemy, say some of the South Korean Christians CT interviewed. But Shin is convinced that displaying Christ-centered love is one way of overcoming the animosity and hateful bias between North and South Korea. If the purpose of Jesus teaching to love your enemy can be interpreted as loving your own people, it can be an emotional ideology for the people of the two Koreas who are repeating the pain of confrontation and conflict, he wrote in a 2020 paper. Mapping the future For some Christians and churches in South Korea, reunification is not a far-off dream but a sought-for reality they are working towards every day. Yoido Full Gospel Church runs a unification diocese that serves North Korean defectors by helping them to integrate into South Korean society. Missionaries from South Korea or from the Korean diaspora live in China, close to the North Korean border, to minister and evangelize to North Korean defectors. Song, the Korean pastor in Canada, was formerly with the Far East Broadcasting Corporation in South Korea, which sends radio broadcasts of Christian messages to North Korea. Kim, the teacher in Incheon, has heard mostly negative stories about how churches in the South evangelize to their North Korean neighbors. North Korean defectors in South Korea are often encouraged to become Christians and share their testimonies at church. In doing so, sometimes they receive a financial reward. It is very regrettable that North Korean defectors build a relationship with the church through an economic transaction rather than a personal encounter with God, she said. Outside of the church, some Christians have decided to advocate reunification within their particular areas of influence. Bosun Kang is an assistant professor in Korean education from Daegu University who is researching language differences and integration between North and South Korea. Besides the economic and social disparity between North and South Korea, language differences add another layer of cultural separation. For instance, the most common Bible translation in South Korea is the New Revised Standard Version (), whereas North Korea uses their version of the Joint Translation Bible, which was created by South Korean Protestants and Catholics in 1977 (). For example, the word God is written as hananim () in South Korea, but it is written as haneunim () in the North Korean Bible, said Kang. Kang sees his work in language integration as a God-given vision that may solve the division between North and South. He has worked with North and South Korean scholars to produce a shared dictionary of terms in both languages, an idea that was initiated by Korean Bible translator Ik Hwan Moon. While the dictionary was supposed to be published in 2013, the project is now on hold because of worsening relations between the two countries and the pandemic, says Kang. Despite that setback, Kang is working on ways to educate South Korean students to systematically learn about language differences between the North and South at school. Only when the language differences between the two Koreas are accurately identified and integrated will it be possible to communicate accurately between the people of the two Koreas, he said. Educating and reforming young minds is also a priority for Nam, Fourth River Projects youth training director. Nam currently runs the Three Seas Center, which holds camps or visits for South Korean students and North Korean refugees. So far, about 1,000 youth between the ages of 12 and 18 have visited the center, and they are seeing an increasing number of visits by public schools and by teenagers who live abroad, said Nam. During their time there, students will talk about the history and pain of the Korean peninsula and that Gods heart toward this land is not a divided land, but a unified land, and this speaks of restoration, said Nam. They also meet with missionaries who have served or visited North Korea and go on prayer hikes together. Nam faces several challenges in his work promoting reunification. Generation Z and millennial Korean Christians do not have time. Most of the education on unification conducted by Christianity and churches is event-oriented. And the events are mostly information-oriented or preaching meetings. While running a camp for North Korean refugee school students and middle and high school students from the Fourth River Projects River of Life school, which shuttered in 2020, a North Korean defector was puzzled, as no one had asked where he had come from and how he had arrived in the South. A River of Life school student replied, Im curious, but just coming here with you is enough! The attitude of the River of Life School students was very touching. We opened our hearts to each other by accepting them as they are rather than seeing them from a certain point of view as North Korean defectors, said Nam. Ezekiel 37 describes the conditions that must be premised in order to become a united nation. That is, dry bones must come to life. It is true that in order to achieve unification, I, my family, and the church, who are like dry bones, need spiritual revival, said Nam. Therefore, what we need to prepare for unification is to become people of God who are full of prayer and love. MZ South Korean Christians like movie director Sun-Woo Kim echoed Nams hope-filled convictions. I believe there will be a successful reunification if we choose to rely on the Holy Spirit and work through the Spirit, he said. I believe one soul is more precious than an entire nations economy. Additional reporting by Julian Chae and Morgan Lee [ This article is also available in . ] Corrie ten Boom story 'The Hiding Place' to hit theaters, tells profound story of forgiveness A stage adaptation of "The Hiding Place," which tells the remarkable story of Corrie ten Boom and her courageous family during the horrors of World War II, will hit the big screen, reaching a nationwide audience with the message of hospitality, forgiveness and unwavering faith. The play, adapted from ten Boom's memoir for the stage by A. S. Peterson and directed by Matt Logan, was filmed live for cinema audiences at the Soli Deo Center in Nashville, Tennessee, during a four-week run to sold-out audiences in 2022. And next month, it will hit theaters for three nights only. "The Hiding Place" follows ten Boom (Nan Gurley) and her family, including her father, Casper, and her sister, Betsie, as they quietly resist the evils carried out by the Third Reich in 1940s Haarlem, Holland, fueled by their love of God and their neighbor. In an interview with The Christian Post, Peterson said "The Hiding Place" is more than a historical tale set against the backdrop of World War II; it's a timely story that speaks to the human heart, encouraging viewers to confront their own choices, beliefs and capacity for love and forgiveness. "One of the things that I think is so remarkable about the ten Booms is they were committed to fighting the war with hospitality," he said. "They were committed to kindness, to loving their neighbors at the risk of their own safety. They were willing to love people that believed other than they did, which is a really remarkable thing. The world needs more of that." "As Christians, we're called to love our neighbors," he continued. "The Bible doesn't say, 'Love your neighbors if.' It just says, 'Love your neighbors.' The ten Booms are such a great example of how that works out and can actually change the world. If you followed the family trees of the refugees that they saved, there is a whole, exponentially growing section of the world that wouldn't exist without them. And that's thanks, exclusively, to their attempts to love their neighbor, without concern for their own safety." The stage adaptation of "The Hiding Place" was initially commissioned by a theater company in Houston, honoring the memory of the late Jeannette Clift George, who founded the company and starred as ten Boom in the 1975 biographical film "The Hiding Place." Peterson said he subsequently embarked on a journey to bring "The Hiding Place" to Nashville, where it became an even fuller realization of the story's power. "What we've captured on film is actually 'The Hiding Place' 2.0," he said. "In a lot of ways, it's the same show, but it is an evolution of that show in ways that I'm really excited about. It's the fuller realization of the show." A Christian herself, Gurley said bringing ten Boom to life had a "profound impact" on her. She delved into the life and writings of ten Boom and immersed herself in video footage of the late author speaking to capture her Dutch accent authentically. "She's an icon of the faith," Gurley said. "It caused me to think, 'What would I do if I had to die on a hill, if my life was at stake? If I had that choice, be true to what I believe the Lord is calling me to do or compromise, what would I do? Which is very sobering." She stressed that "The Hiding Place" seeks to tell the ten Booms' story honestly, highlighting how Corrie struggled to forgive and show mercy in the face of evil. "Betsie kind of was more fully formed spiritually at the beginning than Corrie; Corrie struggled, as I would have struggled with, 'Why is this happening if God is sovereign? And truly He is, then why is He allowing this?' And then at the end, 'How in the world do I forgive?' We get to see Corrie do this in the play, and now thankfully, in the film, as well." Just as Corrie ten Boom's journey unfolded through hidden obedience, the play urges viewers to find courage and faith in their own lives, ready to face any crossroads that may come their way. Viewers are confronted with a challenge: to be faithful and obedient, to make choices aligned with their beliefs and to embrace "long obedience" in the same direction. Still, Logan stressed that "The Hiding Place" seeks to be art, not propaganda. Rather than dictating what audiences should think or feel, the play presents a true story that leaves space for personal interpretation. "Propaganda is telling you what to think," he said. "Even if it's great, it's telling you what to draw from something, whereas art is leaving space for your interpretation, and bringing truth to the surface and allowing it to hit you and any realm of your life that it resonates." Peterson expressed his desire for audiences to view the ten Booms as witnesses whose testimonies hold invaluable lessons. Rather than dismissing their experiences as unimaginable, he urged viewers to trust the testimony of those who have endured and let it impact their lives positively. "I think one of my big takeaways from the show, and the thing that I hope a lot of people will take away is a new understanding of what a witness is," he said. "In the Church, we tend to hear words like 'witness' and 'testimony' a lot. And we assign them a sort of Christianese meaning. ... I spent a lot of time thinking about Corrie and Betsie, and they talk a lot about 'witness' and 'testimony.' And it forced me to recognize the fact that these are actually legal terms; a witness is a person who gets up on the stand, swears an oath on the Bible to tell the truth and then talks about the evidence that they've seen." "When I encounter a story like the ten Booms, and I'm baffled by these people's ability to love one another in the context of a concentration camp, when I'm baffled by their gratitude for fleas, when I'm baffled by their ability to forgive Nazis my real job is to trust the cloud of witnesses that surround me and listen to the witness on the stand who's given a testimony because they've been in a place that I have not." "The Hiding Place" will show in select North American theaters Aug. 3 and Aug. 5 only before a one-day theatrical run in various international territories on Aug. 16. Tickets are available now at thehidingplacefilm.com. I was dead inside: Ex-astrologer on bold mission to slay evil, demonic forces after escaping witchcraft, New Age Tailah Scroggins felt dead inside. After growing up in a Christian home, she somehow fell into the occult, embracing astrology, witchcraft and the New Age. But after embarking on a dark journey and losing the will to live, she had an incredible interaction with Jesus that changed everything. Today, Scroggins is an online evangelist, writer, and truth-teller on a mission to help others escape evil. She recently shared her story with Billy Hallowells Playing With Fire Podcast, explaining how she was raised in a Christian home and believed in God before stumbling into the occult. READ ALSO: Another Genocide: As Nagorno-Karabakh Horrors Continue, Expert Warns Some of Worlds Oldest Churches Are in Dire Danger She said she was first introduced to the New Age in high school when someone she trusted in her family told her about astrology. They had this big textbook of everything astrology, and they were like, This describes my personality so perfectly look what it says about you,' Scroggins said. I was caught off-guard, and I remember I was like, But how can this be true? If God created all of us and he made our personalities, how can a planet dictate my future or dictate my personality?' She said this was the first seed of deception the devil planted in her life, and her perspective started to shift. With her family friend stating God created astrology as a system He put in order, she started down what she now believes was a dangerous path. Listen to Scroggins story: They provided me some explanation that was totally false, but I didnt know the word of God enough, Scroggins said. I knew a lot about God, but I didnt know what the Bible said about the occult about the darkness, about the battle. I just knew the good things, and so I became an astrologer. Scroggins spent 11 years as an astrologer, describing it as her worldview and life. Still, she attended church and clung to some Christian ideas. She said the entire experience opened her up to so much deception and confusion as she lived life as a lukewarm Christian plagued by her occultic practices. As Scroggins entered college, she said she was disappointed in God, feeling frustrated He hadnt answered her wants and whims on her timeline. Its spiritual immaturity, she said of her perspective at the time. We dont trust Gods timing, and so Im young, Im 18 at this time, and Im mad Im mad that God didnt open the door that I wanted Him to open, and thats just kind of part of being a baby Christian. Her spiritual immaturity also led her to join in on the party lifestyle. Scroggins said the enemy lied and she took his bait and began down a negative path, getting drunk every weekend. The more I rebelled and lived in this party lifestyle, the more I craved astrology, the witchcraft, the divination, and all of that, Scroggins said. It was like this hunger exploded it was like this black hole I needed to be consuming it. She said depression soon took hold and suicidal thoughts reigned. Scroggins would find herself crying for two hours every day for no reason, as she grappled with the emptiness left by the abandonment of her relationship with the Lord. Scroggins added, It was like I had no reason to live. READ ALSO: Im Still in Awe: Dwayne The Rock Johnson Stuns Pastor With Surprise Visit to Help Expectant Mom A family friend aware of her situation ended up intervening and the experience brought Scroggins true healing. The woman was at Scroggins home one day, and she candidly spoke with the then-college student. She just looked at me one day, and she said, Today is the day of your freedom, and I said, OK, I dont know what that means, but I have no will to live,' Scroggins recalled. I hadnt attempted to do anything or take my life, but I was dead inside. And so I was like, You can pray and do whatever you want to me because theres nowhere else for me to go. Im already at rock bottom, and so she prayed for me. Those invocations, which Scroggins described as deliverance prayers, had a profound impact. Scroggins said they cast every spirit of death and depression out, and she immediately felt huge weights being lifted off. She now believes the entire experience was supernatural, leading her to a fruitful and meaningful relationship with Christ. The depression never came back, the suicidal thoughts never came back ever, she said. Its been over six years. I was delivered. Scroggins continued, God completely healed me, set me free. Over time, she abandoned her occultic practices and clung close to Jesus. A few years later, though, she found herself alarmed by how many others were being enraptured by the same world she had escaped. Scroggins said she was shocked during COVID-19 to see how interest in witchcraft, Tarot cards, crystals, and the occult exploded online. It grieved me because that was my story, she said. I was into New Age. I was into the false spirituality in witchcraft. Realizing she had been set free by Jesus, she decided to counter occultic videos getting millions of views with content of her own that would instead point people toward Jesus. I was like, Im gonna share my testimony, and Im going to expose astrology. Im going to expose the New Age, Im going to expose all of it,' she said. And I just started telling people what I went through and what God saved me from. And what came into my life when I started doing those practices and it was all evil. Listen to Scroggins explain her journey and why shes openly shared her testimony. This article was originally published by CBNs Faithwire. Nick Vujicic challenges 'delusional' American Church to repent: 'Demons are laughing in your face' We have 100,000 churches in $498B in debt for buildings that are half empty. Half a million kids are waiting for an adoptive mom and dad. Where are we? ORLANDO Evangelist Nick Vujicic has issued an urgent call to what he sees as an increasingly delusional American Church: Repent and speak boldly against pressing issues like abortion, porn addiction and sex trafficking before its too late. I think most churches are delusional, the 40-year-old Life Without Limbs founder told The Christian Post in a sit-down interview during the annual National Religious Broadcasters Convention. I don't pray for revival; I pray for repentance. I don't think America deserves a single more blessing from God; not one. We need to repent. And not only do we need to turn away from things, but we also need to equip and encourage the Church to go toward this: How do you stay out of your pornographic addiction? How do you now engage the one family in the church [that] ends up fostering and adopting? It ain't rocket science to preach to 8 billion people, he continued. We can have an army of churches coming together and teaching people how to evangelize and do street evangelism, just like we did years ago. When was the last time you heard a pastor say to his church: This is what you say to someone about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is how you share your testimony in three minutes. This is the reaction that you give to someone who's Islamic who tells you that we're serving the same God. We don't even talk about that anymore. Vujicic, who has traveled to 78 countries and preached to crowds as large as 800,000 people, expressed concern over the state of many American churches, noting that a significant number are burdened with massive debts while the country faces pressing social issues. We have 100,000 churches in America that represent $498 billion worth of debt for buildings that are half empty, he emphasized. We have half a million kids waiting for a foster mom and dad or an adoptive mom and dad. Where are we? Churches must stand up and serve as the hands and feet of Jesus, he said, working on the ground level to tackle issues. He urged Christians to actively participate in city councils, school boards and other local political committees to use their voice for good. Christians [need to go to] school boards, he said. Instead of just complaining about what's happening in your school districts, go and get your church to be a part of that. I really believe with media, politics and business, it's Christians being the light in the dark place. He also stressed the importance of pastors tackling sensitive topics like pornographic addiction in the Church and sex trafficking from the pulpit: This is a problem; we need to start talking about this, he stressed. There are many things that we need to talk about. I hope that this wakes us up as a people of God, to come together in unity like never before, pray for our country, pray for a man of God to lead our country and put our country back under God, he said. Vujicics passion for the Gospel is evident in his ongoing efforts to create positive change in society. His ministrys program "Champions for the Brokenhearted" trains churchgoers to support those dealing with trauma and pain in a small group setting, helping them heal and find strength in Christ. We're training the average person going to church who has a heart for veterans, foster kids, women with PTSD from abortions that they've never told anybody about, to actually have a small group that's thematically based on a situation they've gone through to heal the brokenhearted, he said. I think the American Church hasn't stopped to heal the saved people. When you're healed, now youre complete [and strength comes] out of the overflow to then go help someone else in need. I think it's important. I think we need to go back to the basics, he said. But evangelism begins in the home, he said. As a devoted father of four, Vujicic emphasized the importance of communication and open dialogues with children. He encouraged parents to seek out resources, like videos and testimonies, to reinforce biblical values. He applauded those addressing controversial topics like gender identity and sexual orientation, adding: I'm thankful for the remnant that is speaking out. Go out and feed them the truth. Weve got to grow a little bit more of a strong spine and tell them the truth; tell them the truth in love, he said. Open communication is also key to building strong families, he added, and creating an environment where children feel loved, cherished and encouraged daily. One out of three girls in America have been sexually abused. One out of five boys have been sexually abused. Think about that. It's unbelievable, he said. Fentanyl everywhere. Kids are dying at parties, getting high, getting drunk like never before. We've got to be watching, be a little bit more strict. But then tell them the truth. Have conversations with them. In a society that places little value on family, the evangelist urged Christians to invest in nurturing strong family bonds: Like never before, demons are rockin out unapologetically laughing in your face, he warned. So pray, learn how to pray. Learn how to connect with your kids, teach them stuff, show them things. Tell them every day, You're beautiful. Tell them to dream big. Tell them to go further than you, he added. Tell them, because they wont if you dont." 3 times men allowed to be housed in women's prisons harmed, impregnated inmates Triple murderer of women and child moved to women's prison Amid ongoing concerns about housing men with female inmates, reports have surfaced that a male triple murderer who identifies as a woman is threatening and harassing women at the prison where hes serving his sentence. The 68-year-old inmate is a man named David Chester Warfield who goes by the name Dana Rivers. Last month, a judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Warfield was allowed to be incarcerated at the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, California, following his conviction in the murder of Charlotte Reed and Patricia Wright, a lesbian couple, and their 19-year-old son, Benny Diambu-Wright. As The Washington Free Beacon reported, female inmates have complained about how Warfield has treated them since his arrival. According to the Beacon, women in his housing unit allege that he stares at them in a way that makes them uncomfortable and talks to them in a demeaning manner. He also allegedly forces the women in his housing unit to push him around in his wheelchair. "Rivers has been a problem since he rolled in the door," one inmate told the outlet. "He is trying to control the women, saying he gets to bypass everything special treatment." A former employee at the prison, Tomiekia Johnson, also told the Beacon that a fellow inmate had noticed Warfield leering at her. Johnson said she lost her job in the prison after filing a complaint in 2021 against a California law allowing men to be housed in womens prisons. "I think its a slap in the face, because as much as they know Ive been vocal about being housed with predators, and how much they target me, and how much its a known fact that they harass me and provoke me, for them to put him in the building with me is beyond negligent," Johnson said. "I feel betrayed by the prison for doing this." The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation did not respond to The Christian Posts request for comment. As The Berkeley Scanner reported in June regarding the male inmates crimes, Warfield was accused of shooting and stabbing Wright and Reed multiple times in the bedroom of their home. The couples son managed to run outside the house before being shot in the torso and collapsing in the street. Judge Scott Patton oversaw the trial that resulted in Warfields conviction and called the murder the most depraved crime that Ive handled in the criminal justice field in 33 years." Patton sentenced Warfield to 150 years in prison without the possibility of parole. The inmate previously made national headlines in 1999 after he was fired for openly discussing "sexuality and the importance of gender self-determination" with his students at Center High School in Sacramento County. The Center Unified School Board maintained that the former teachers gender identity was not the reason for his dismissal. Several parents had objected to Warfield revealing to his class that he had been sodomized at a young age and that he was planning to undergo a sex change. Due to Senate Bill 132 in California, which the state implemented in 2021, Warfield was able to request a transfer to a womens prison to serve his sentence because he identifies as female. Warfield is also not the only man who identifies as a woman who has been housed in a women's prison. Here are three other cases where men who were allowed to be transferred to womens prisons harassed, beat or impregnated female inmates. 1 2 3 4 Next Cause of fire at Rand Paul's office remains unknown as senator looks for answers The cause of a fire at a building housing a Kentucky office of Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., remains unknown as investigators continue to search for answers as to what started the blaze that impacted a handful of buildings in downtown Bowling Green. A Saturday Facebook post from the Bowling Green Fire Department provides a detailed account of a fire that engulfed the building located at 1029 State Street and nearby buildings early Friday morning. The office building houses Paul's local office and a local law firm. A picture of the aftermath posted to the department's Facebook page Friday shows an upper story of the building, with the numbers "1029" visible at the front entrance, partially collapsed. The department elaborated on the extent of the damage in the Saturday Facebook post. "Yesterday at 01:45, BGFD responded to multiple reports of smoke and fire coming from the Presbyterian Church on State Street. Soon after these calls, more units were dispatched for a fire alarm at 1025 State Street," the Saturday Facebook post stated. "A two story commercial structure was found with heavy fire involvement and turbulent smoke. Due to the advanced stages of this fire and the type of occupancy, a second alarm was activated which put additional units on the incident." A notice on Paul's website states that "My Bowling Green office is temporarily closed." Shortly after arriving at the scene, fire officials discovered that "fire was involved beyond the address of the fire alarm, but also at 1029 and 1023 State Street." The intense, 17-hour effort to control the blaze resulted in the shutdown of the surrounding streets and more than six dozen Bowling Green Fire Department personnel responded to the scene. "Portions of the building began to deteriorate, including collapse of the roof, weakened exterior walls, and collapse of portions of exterior walls. This caused the structure to be very unstable and forced crews to remain in a safe zone throughout the incident," the Facebook post reads. "Once the fire was placed under control, it was determined that the structure was unsafe for any entry. A contractor was immediately notified to begin demolishment of the structure," the department added. In an appearance on Fox News Monday, Paul said that local officials "haven't told us how the fire started or what they believe started the fire yet." "This was a big fire. It consumed about a city block," he said. "It took 31 firefighters, six fire engines in order to contain the blaze. The hope was to not let the country courthouse [across a narrow alleyway] catch fire. Four buildings that are contiguous, that all abut each other, caught on fire." Host Laura Ingraham opened her interview with Paul by noting that the senator has faced "many threats" over the years and that one of his staffers was stabbed earlier this year. Paul said his office has turned over the video footage to investigators. "Whether or not our footage will help in the investigation of this, there is some other commercial footage from around there as well. But I haven't heard any results from the investigation," he said. Paul announced in a March 27 statement that one of his staff members was "brutally attacked" in broad daylight in Washington. He expressed gratitude that "the suspect has been arrested" while requesting "privacy so everyone can focus on healing and recovery." The stabbing and office fire comes nearly six years after Paul was assaulted at his home in Bowling Green and less than three years after he was "attacked by an angry mob" following then-President Donald Trump's acceptance speech for the Republican Presidential nomination in 2020 at the White House. The 2017 assault, which Paul described as an "unfortunate event," led to the senator suffering "six broken ribs" and a "pleural effusion." The Bowling Green Fire Department indicated that "the investigation into the cause of Friday's fire remains ongoing by BGFD and [the Bowling Green Police Department]," adding, "We will be working alongside the [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms] as they have [begun] their own investigation." Court hears plea from Calif. parents seeking to use education funds to send kids to religious schools A federal court heard oral arguments in a case surrounding Californias prohibition on federal and state funds designated for children with special needs from going to religious schools, in this case, two Jewish schools. A religious liberty law firm argues that California's restriction is unconstitutional. The court heard arguments in the case of Loffman v. California Department of Education, where six Jewish parents and two Jewish schools are suing the California Department of Education, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, the Los Angeles Unified School District and its Chief of Special Education, Equity and Access Anthony Aguilar, over their refusal to allow families with children that have special needs to use federal and state funds designated for such students to attend private religious schools. The complaint was filed in March in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is representing the plaintiffs in the litigation, said in a statement shared with The Christian Post that Californias campaign against Jewish children with disabilities and the schools they want to attend is shameful and unconstitutional. Becket Senior Counsel Laura Wolk Slavis added, We argued in court on Friday that the government cannot exclude religious people and schools from a public benefit simply because they are religious. Plaintiffs Chaya and Yoni Loffman, Los Angeles-based Jewish parents of a child who has disabilities, said, We want to educate our son in a safe, supportive learning environment that meets his unique needs and upholds our shared religious beliefs. They lamented that California is forcing our family to choose between raising our son in our faith tradition and providing him the help he needs to reach his full potential. Becket contends that the refusal to allow the plaintiffs to use federal funds to attend the Jewish schools of their choice constitutes a violation of the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, which it describes as a federal law ensuring that all children with disabilities can receive an education that meets their unique needs. According to the law firm, IDEA funds help pay for the cost of staff training, special education programs, assistive technology, and other services. IDEA is designed to ensure all children can receive a free and appropriate education, including in private schools when public schools cannot meet their needs, Becket added. Polling conducted by Becket in February 2023 found that a majority of both Californians (59%) and Americans (62%) believe that the government should provide money for children with disabilities to attend whichever school is best equipped to serve each child, regardless of the schools religious or secular identity. By contrast, 28% of Californians and 26% of Americans think that the government should provide money for children with disabilities to attend private schools, but only if the private schools are not religious. The remaining 13% of Californians and 12% of Americans insist that the government should not provide any money for children with disabilities to attend private schools. An equal share of Americans (38%) and Californians (38%) described themselves as unsure when asked if public schools are doing a good job meeting the needs of children with disabilities. Pluralities of Californians (39%) and Americans (40%) expressed concern that public schools were not meeting the needs of children with disabilities. Just 24% of Californians and 22% of Americans were confident that public schools were effectively meeting the needs of children with disabilities. Becket compiled the data in the poll based on two separate surveys, one examining the opinions of more than 1,000 Americans and the other measuring the attitudes of more than 1,000 Californians. The court is expected to issue a ruling in the case of Loffman v. California Department of Education in the coming months. In recent years, courts have repeatedly ruled in favor of parents seeking to use government funding at religious schools, most recently in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Carson v. Makin. In the Carson decision, the court ruled 6-3 that the state of Maines exclusion of religious schools from a program that provides public tuition assistance to help parents send children to a school of their choice violated the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Demon Buster Florida Rep. Kim Daniels addresses I thank God for slavery comments Florida state Rep. Kimberly Daniels who is renowned in Christian circles around the world as the Demon Buster, has responded to growing criticism about her role in developing new black history standards in that state after the emergence of a 15-year-old clip of her declaring to a church that I thank God for slavery. The Thank God for Slavery political ploy was taken out of context from a message I preached 15 years ago. The message was not about slavery but about overcoming obstacles in life as a believer of Jesus Christ, Daniels said in a statement to The Christian Post Tuesday. Taking it out of that setting and putting it in any other context is simply slanderous. In the 18-second clip from her 15-year-old message, Daniels appears to be crediting historic slavery for her Christian faith. I thank God for slavery. I thank God for the crack house. If it wasnt for the crack house, God would have never been able to use me how he used me now, said Daniels, a former at-large city councilwoman from Jacksonville, who also leads the nondenominational Spoken Word Ministries. If it wasnt for slavery, I might be somewhere in Africa worshiping a tree. History shows, however, that Christianity existed in Africa long before it spread to the West. Christianity first arrived in North Africa, in the 1st or early 2nd century AD. The Christian communities in North Africa were among the earliest in the world, the BBC noted. Legend has it that Christianity was brought from Jerusalem to Alexandria on the Egyptian coast by Mark, one of the four evangelists, in 60 AD. Daniels currently sits on the board of the African American History Task Force, which helped to develop the black history standards that were approved last week for public school students in the state. The standards include a line about teaching how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. In her statement to CP, Daniels acknowledged that even though she was appointed to the task force by Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, I never participated in any conversation about the state's Black History standards. I was never consulted about these standards. I disagree with and would have immediately challenged and resisted any notion that slavery was a benefit to African Americans, the Florida Democrat said. I am a Black woman who was born in the early 1960s. I understand the atrocities of racial oppression and Jim Crow. I lived it. Last Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris denounced the states new black history curriculum as propaganda. They dare to push propaganda to our children, she said in Jacksonville according to the Associated Press. 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? Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is also a Republican presidential candidate defended the new black history standards as a defense against left-wing indoctrination. He said while he was not involved in developing the standards, what 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. From diaper benefits to child tax credits: GOP states weigh new protections for families post-Roe Several Republican-controlled state legislatures have begun to push for expanded protections for mothers and children in low-income households, particularly in areas where abortion is now illegal or severely restricted after the U.S. Supreme Court determined that the U.S. Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. Following the overturn of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide last summer, an analysis by FiveThirtyEight shows that at least six of the 14 states where abortion is completely or almost entirely illegal have enacted or are considering various measures that would increase support for pregnant women, mothers or young children. Meanwhile, seven other Republican-controlled states with less-restrictive abortion laws are considering similar measures. For example, the Republican-controlled Mississippi state legislature passed Senate Bill 2212, with the lower chamber passing the bill last week. The bill awaits a signature from Republican Gov. Tate Reeves. The measure would extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for new mothers from 60 days to a year. Following the court's ruling last June, a trigger law went into effect in the Magnolia State outlawing all abortions, with exceptions for cases of rape or incest or if the pregnancy threatens the mother's life. In Wyoming, a law completely banning abortion went into effect in July and is currently being challenged by the courts. Last week, the state's Republican Gov. Mark Gordon signed House Bill 4, extending Medicaid coverage for postpartum mothers from 90 days to 12 months. The legislation is expected to help between 1,000 and 2,000 low-income Wyoming mothers, according to a statement on the governor's website. During a public signing ceremony for the bill, Gordon called the Medicaid expansion a "signature piece of pro-life legislation." Other Republican-controlled states, including Montana and Tennessee, have considered some additional benefits for women and families, though some have faced opposition. Montana has weighed a permanent, refundable $1,200 per-child tax credit for working families that make $56,000 per year or less proposed by Gov. Greg Gianforte. The governor also proposed a $7,500 adoption tax credit. The proposed child tax credit was tabled in the House Appropriations Committee committee, although it initially passed the House Taxation Committee with bipartisan support. According to Montana Public Radio, some Republican lawmakers would rather focus efforts on broader tax relief instead, as Gianforte's proposed budget impacting low-to-middle-income residents that would more than double the state's earned income tax credit has advanced in Senate Bill 121. In Tennessee, where performing abortions is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison, Gov. Bill Lee has proposed adding a diaper benefit to the state's Medicaid program so that the cost of diapers would be covered during the first two years of a child's life for mothers eligible for Medicaid. Tennessee would become the first Medicaid program in the United States to enact such a measure, Lee said in his February State of the State address. Lee also wants to create a $100 million grant program for nonprofit crisis pregnancy centers that assist women facing unplanned pregnancies, encouraging them not to abort their unborn children. He also seeks $18.7 million to increase the income threshold for pregnant women and caregivers to expand access to the state's Medicaid services and $4.7 million to extend postpartum health coverage under TennCare. Lee seeks $10.25 million for grant funding to expand adoption and foster care services. "Pro-life is much more than defending the lives of the unborn," Lee said in his speech. "This is not a matter of politics. This is about human dignity." Regarding Republican support for spending plans aimed at women and families, polling shows that the political party remains divided about using government funds to fund social benefits for women and children. According to an Institute for Family Studies survey conducted by YouGov of 2,557 American adults between Oct. 20 to Nov. 3, 2022, 41% of Republican parents said they'd support a plan to "increase state spending on low-income pregnant and new mothers, including expanded Medicaid coverage of prenatal and postnatal health care." Thirty-eight percent opposed these measures. Regarding paid family leave, 71% of all parents assessed in the survey and 54% of Republican parents somewhat or strongly supported a federal program to provide new moms six weeks of paid parental leave. The study's results were weighed based on age, gender, race/ethnicity, years of education and region. After Roe's reversal, Republican Mississippi State Rep. Becky Currie, who authored the state's 15-week abortion ban that ultimately led to the Supreme Court taking up the case that overturned the 1973 decision, emphasized that legislators have a responsibility to enact pro-family policies. Currie, who raised two daughters as a single mom throughout most of her working life, told The Christian Post in an August interview that she can empathize with women struggling to make ends meet without help from their baby's father. Currie called for lawmakers to ensure that pregnant women can access healthcare services, make adoption more affordable, and enforce child support laws, so men are held accountable for the children they help create. During the interview, Currie advocated for extending Mississippi's Medicaid for postpartum mothers from 60 days to a year, a proposal the legislature has now embraced. "You know, when you have a baby, your life is turned upside down," she said. "So we want that mother to get back to the doctor and get the care that she needs. She may have postpartum depression. These are just things that we need to be supportive of our moms more than we are." Megachurch founder James MacDonald says PTSD was factor in alleged assault of woman Founder of Harvest Bible Chapel in greater Chicago, James MacDonald, who is facing seven years in prison for allegedly attacking a 59-year-old woman in a California parking lot and causing her great bodily harm, said he was struggling with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder when the incident occurred. MacDonald, 62, made the confession in a recent interview with Baptist News Global. According to counselors Ive been to, Ive been diagnosed as having symptoms of PTSD, he said. Ive done a lot of counseling with Henry Cloud, and hes helped me understand two very important sentences. The first one is first they idolize you. And then they demonize you. The American Psychiatric Association defines PTSD as a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, series of events or set of circumstances. An individual may experience this as emotionally or physically harmful or life-threatening and may affect mental, physical, social, and/or spiritual well-being. MacDonald, who was ousted from HBC on Feb. 12, 2019, after making "highly inappropriate recorded comments" on a radio program as well as "other conduct" under a cloud of allegations of financial abuse and bullying, told BNG that the stress of leading a megachurch had impacted his general well-being so much he wanted to quit months before he was fired. I would say by 2015 and 2016, I was in some pretty serious decline, he told BNG. I was trying to resign. I would say regularly in elder meetings, Im not doing good, this is too much for me. But, you know, I was the rainmaker, and they were very reluctant to let me go. And in 2017, I went to a ministry recovery center in Edmonds, Washington, and I was there for a month. I shouldnt have come back. I should have stayed out for at least a year right then, but, you know, theres all this pressure and everything like that. So I came back Nov. 1, 2017, and I was gone from the church about 15 months later. MacDonald said his very public downfall that followed his years of struggling as a megachurch leader broke him. All this broke me down, broke me down, broke me down to where Im just like, I cry every day, he said. I cant take anything. My threat response is completely trashed. I have no ability. If somebody brushes past me in the mall, I have to literally stop and make myself know thats not the same as someone drawing a gun on me. It was in this condition, according to MacDonald, that he had the confrontation with the woman in the California parking lot. In the complaint filed against MacDonald in the Superior Court of California in San Diego, he is charged with assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury. The complaint alleges that on March 22, MacDonald did unlawfully commit an assault upon Barbara Bass by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, in violation of PENAL CODE SECTION 245(a)(4) and also did willfully and unlawfully use force and violence upon the person of Barbara Bass resulting in the infliction of serious bodily injury on such person, in violation of PENAL CODE SECTION 243(d). According to Kraut Law Group, a serious bodily injury means a serious impairment of one's physical condition. Such injuries may include loss of consciousness, concussion, bone fractures, impairment of an organ or body part or a wound that requires extensive stitches. A statement from the city of Coronado Police Department said at around 10:15 a.m. on March 22, MacDonald was attempting to parallel park his truck in the 900 block of Orange Avenue when he struck the vehicle parked in front of him which was occupied by a 59-year-old woman later identified as Bass. When Bass got out of her car to talk with MacDonald, things escalated quickly, police said. As the woman got out of her car to talk to the man, he jumped out of his truck and attacked the victim. As he was assaulting the woman, his truck rolled backwards striking the vehicle parked behind him. Witnesses came to the victims aid and stopped the man from leaving the area, the statement said. Officers arrived on scene, arrested the suspect, and also found a stolen handgun inside his truck. The victim was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. The roadway was closed for approximately 1 hours while officers investigated the incident. MacDonald, however, doesnt appear to remember attacking the woman and told BNG, I think I blacked out. I barely touched the lady in front of me. She jumped out of her car and came running at me. And I was so startled that I jumped out of my car and didnt even put it in park, he said. And it rolled into the person behind me, and I reached toward this lady. And what I think weve been able to piece together, there isnt a video, but I think I blacked out and I fell. The reason I know is because I fell to the ground. I never put my hands underneath me. James MacDonalds son launches church near Harvest Bible Chapel following claims he's unfit to lead Luke MacDonald, son of the controversial founder of Harvest Bible Chapel in greater Chicago, James MacDonald, launched a new evangelical church on Sunday, following claims by some that he's unfit to lead. James MacDonald, who was ousted from Harvest Bible Chapel for "highly inappropriate recorded comments" he made on a radio program as well as "other conduct" on Feb. 12, 2019, touted the first service of his sons Good News in the Neighborhood church on Instagram last Friday. The service was held at the Chez Hotel in Arlington Heights which is about 5 miles from Harvest Bible Chapels Rolling Meadows campus. My son Luke MacDonald, his wife and 4 children are starting a new church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago Good News in the Neighborhood. They are working hard to do what good ministry is in every generation: Holding fast to the Word of God and pioneering fresh ways of reaching people, James MacDonald wrote in his Instagram post. If you have been out of church or are looking for a new church, Kathy and I highly recommend you to check it out in-person or online THIS SUNDAY, March 7, 2021. Luke MacDonald noted on the churchs website that we are an evangelical church in the sense that we believe the things the evangelical church believes, but not in the sense of having a fixed political ideology. He also noted that before starting Good News in the Neighborhood, he served as an associate pastor at Faithful Central Bible Church, a historic African American congregation in Los Angeles. He also served at Harvest Bible Chapel for 13 years as a pastor leading a number of youth initiatives as well as being an executive pastor. A report by independent journalist Julie Roys published last November painted Luke MacDonald as an unfit leader who has an aggressive leadership style. The report cited accusations that he exhibited bullying behavior, urinated during a meeting, threw chairs in a rage, and failed to report the alleged abuse of a minor in the megachurchs youth ministry. The Christian Post reached out to Luke MacDonald for comment on the allegations on Wednesday but he was not immediately available to respond. Roys reported that Alex George whose father, Dan George, was an elder at Harvest told her that Luke MacDonald urinated into a cup while interviewing him for a job at the church in December 2012. George, who was a part-time youth worker with the church at the time, was seeking a full-time position with Harvests junior high ministry. While interviewing with Luke MacDonald in his office, he said the former megachurch pastors son removed a cup from his desk, then he heard what sounded like Luke MacDonald urinating into the cup. I asked him, Are you peeing in that cup? To which he said, Yeah, pretty nonchalantly, and moved on as if it wasnt an issue, George told Roys. Luke MacDonald allegedly then placed the cup of urine on his desk and told George he could make him do anything he wanted. George responded no, and he was fired from his part-time job shortly after that. Kevin Rowan, who first started attending Harvest around 2004, when he was 16, and volunteered as a musician, told Roys that Luke MacDonald regularly bullied him, telling him, for example, that he had a s--- voice, and would never lead worship on the main stage. The big thing is just the way they talked about people, Rowan said, the way they treated people even in just conversations. ... Its like playing a game: We can get whoever we want to do whatever we want. No one has value unless we assign it. Rowan recounted once challenging Luke MacDonald and his brother, Landon, about the abuse, and the former became enraged and started swearing and taking the chairs and throwing them. His experience, he said, left him suffering from something his counselor likened to PTSD. When youre a 16-year-old and trying to find your identity and you have all this s--- youre dealing with from a church ... that stuff messes with you at your core, Rowan said. Retired pastor confesses to killing fellow pastors 8-year-old daughter nearly 50 years ago David Zandstra, an 83-year-old retired pastor living in Marietta, Georgia, has confessed to kidnapping and killing a fellow pastors 8-year-old daughter, Gretchen Harrington, nearly 50 years ago as she walked to summer Bible camp, Delaware County District Attorney in Pennsylvania Jack Stollsteimer announced. The murder of Gretchen Harrington has haunted members of law enforcement since that terrible day in August 1975. The families of victims often say that their lives are forever altered into the before time and the after time. Gretchens murder created a before time and an after time for an entire community and for an entire county, Stollsteimer said in a press statement Monday. This heinous act left a family and a community forever changed. At long last I can announce today that her killer David Zandstra has admitted to his crime. Justice has been a long time coming, but we are proud and grateful to finally be able to give the community an answer. Zandstra was charged with criminal homicide, murder of the first, second and third degree, kidnapping of a minor and the possession of an instrument of crime, Stollsteimer said. At the time of the murder, Zandstra was pastor at Trinity Church Chapel Christian Reform Church located at 140 Lawrence Road in Marple, Pennsylvania. Gretchens father was the pastor at The Reformed Presbyterian Church located at 144 Lawrence Road in Marple. Gretchens father raised an alarm when his daughter failed to show up for a camp session at the Trinity Church property. Zandstra contacted the Marple Police Department at 11:23 a.m. that day to report Gretchen missing. About a month later, on Oct. 14, 1975, Gretchens skeletal remains were found in Ridley Creek State Park. Among his roles at the camp, Zandstra was partly responsible for shuttling the campers between the two church properties. He was noted to use either a white or blue Volkswagen bus or his green Rambler station wagon. Investigators said a witness reported during the initial investigation that they saw Gretchen talking with the driver of either a green station wagon or a two-tone Cadillac, but Zandstra denied seeing the girl on the day she disappeared. A crack in the case eventually came on Jan. 2, when an individual only mentioned as CI#1 in a complaint, who was best friends with Zandstras daughter, alleged he would grope her in the groin area during sleepovers when she was 10. When CI#1 told Zandstras daughter what happened, she acknowledged that her father did that sometimes. She further recalled that she had written in her diary in 1975 that another child from her class was almost kidnapped twice, and she believed Zandstra was likely the culprit. Investigators found Zandstra in Marietta and confronted him with the sexual misconduct allegations on July 17. After initially denying his crimes, police say Zandstra admitted to killing Harrington. He admitted to offering Gretchen a ride and taking her to a nearby wooded area. The defendant stated that he had parked the car and asked the victim to remove her clothing. When she refused, he struck her in the head with a fist. The victim was bleeding, and he believed her to be dead. He attempted to cover up her body and left the area, the release said. Lieutenant Jonathan Sunderlin of the Pennsylvania State Police praised the generations of investigators that refused to give up on solving the murder. Justice does not have an expiration date. Whether a crime happened 50 years ago or five minutes ago, the residents of the Commonwealth can have confidence that law enforcement will not rest until justice is served, he said. This case has been investigated by generations of detectives, and they all are owed a debt of gratitude for never giving up. Young woman files $1M suit against doctors who left her maimed after trans surgery A young woman who suffered temporary confusion about her gender in her youth is suing the doctors and surgeons who she says botched her body, leaving her maimed and in pain after an elective double mastectomy when she was a teenager. She's accusing the medical professionals of sending her down a path of permanent physical disfigurement and worsening psychological distress. Soren Aldaco, a 21-year-old detransitioner, alleges that when she was 17 and struggling with a variety of mental health issues, doctors prescribed her cross-sex hormones after only one appointment and subsequently encouraged her to mutilate her body by severing her breasts to have a flat chest in an attempt to look more masculine. A copy of the complaint first obtained by The Texan and filed Friday in the Tarrant County District Court of Texas names Del Scott Perry, Sreenath Nekkalapu, Barbara Rose Wood, Richard Santucci, Ashley DeLeon, Crane Clinic LLC, Texas Health Physicians Group, Three Oaks Counseling Group LLC, and Mesa Springs LLC as the defendants. Aldaco is seeking more than $1 million in damages. According to the complaint, Aldaco had struggled with gender dysphoria from an early age. Other issues that she says also impacted her mental health were familial problems, the death of a grandmother and ridicule from her peers. Because she hit puberty earlier than her peers, Aldaco said she felt insecure about her body and began believing that she might be trans after talking to other trans-identified individuals online. In December 2017, Aldaco experienced a mental health episode that resulted in her parents checking her into Mesa Springs Psychiatric Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, around January 2018. There, she was treated by Dr. Nekkalapu, who allegedly pressed Aldaco to discuss her gender identity by asking questions about transgenderism, despite the teenagers requests not to discuss the topic. The complaint further alleges that Aldaco felt pressured at age 15 to confess her gender identity to the doctor for the first time. Nekkalapu reportedly did not conduct a comprehensive psychobehavioral examination or review the teenagers existing mental health issues before concluding that Aldaco should embrace a trans identity, according to the suit. In 2019, Aldaco attended a trans support group, Trans-Cendence International, where she met Dr. Perry who reportedly had a reputation for prescribing testosterone "upon request." After meeting Aldaco for the first time during a 30-minute appointment, Perry allegedly prescribed the synthetic opposite-sex hormones on Jan. 28, 2020. The complaint further notes that the long-term consequences of using cross-sex hormones in minors remain unknown. According to The American College of Pediatricians, the side effects of puberty blockers include "osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment and, when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility." Last month, Englands National Health Service announced it would restrict puberty-blocking drugs as a "treatment" for gender dysphoria, advising medical professionals to consider other forms of medical intervention that are not invasive and experimental body-mutilating procedures. The lawsuit also accuses Perry of failing to address Aldacos mental health issues or discuss potential alternatives to cross-sex hormones. In addition, the lawsuit claims that Perry did not inform the teenager about the risks associated with taking opposite-sex hormones. As a result of taking the hormones, Aldaco reportedly started to experience severe complications, but Perry continued prescribing the hormones. After another medical professional advised Aldaco to stop taking the hormones instead of affirming her as Perry did, the girl dismissed the doctor as a bigot. To Soren, the advice coming from the doctors seemed less certain, less emphatic, and thus less persuasive than the gender-affirming medicalization course Perry had laid out for her, the complaint explains. The young woman would continue taking cross-sex hormones until November 2021. Perry was not the only medical professional who encouraged Aldacos transition, as the teen had begun talking with her therapist, Wood, around July 2020. According to the suit, Wood used false statements in a letter recommending the teenager for a double mastectomy at the Crane Clinic in Austin. Another defendant named in the suit, Dr. DeLeon, and the other Crane Clinic practitioners are accused of failing to conduct a review to assess the girls suitability for an elective double mastectomy. The providers also allegedly did not ask for medical records from Aldacos previous medical providers or therapists. Aldaco recalled that she was in extreme pain after the operation and she took pictures of her nipples literally peeling off of her chest, which she sent to Dr. Santucci who was monitoring her recovery. The suit claims that "Santucci negligently supervised Sorens problematic recovery, leaving Soren with horrible post-surgical complications and resulting disfigurement that continue to affect Soren to this day. When her emergency post-surgical complications arose, Soren immediately reached out to Dr. Santucci, who downplayed her horrible complications and insisted to her that the complications were 'normal.' " As a result of the botched surgery, Aldaco was forced to undergo emergency surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Hospital in Dallas, for which she had to pay out of pocket. The Crane Clinic CEO agreed to reimburse Aldaco in the amount of $421.31 if she agreed to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Aldaco refused to sign the agreement or accept the money, according to the complaint. After her experience, Aldaco realized that neither the testosterone nor the double mastectomy had helped her feel entirely comfortable in her body. After conducting some research in November 2021, Aldaco concluded that the defendants had subjected her to an experimental form of treatment and that there were other people like her who were also persuaded that transitioning would help them. Ultimately, what Soren realized is that over the rocky course of her adolescence, what she needed was an unbiased doctor, not an idealogue, the complaint concludes. And upon these realizations, she immediately felt and understood the wrongs she had suffered at the hands of the Defendants. With this lawsuit, Soren now seeks redress for those wrongs. What has happened to the soul of America? Is it too late for us? Will our nation recover from this moral death spiral we seem to find ourselves in? Twenty years ago, 86% would have said they were proud of their country. Today that number is at 60%. Why this precipitous drop? Most Americans seem to intuitively understand the basic problem a whopping 74% of all Americans say the state of moral values in the U.S. is poor. Thats nearly double what it was two decades ago. And what are those moral values based on? Simple answer: They are based on faith in God. A Wall Street Journal poll that was just done revealed that for Americans in 1998 religion was very important to them. That number has now dropped to 39%. Thats called cause and effect. In 1963, corporate reading of the Bible recitation of the Lords Prayer was declared unlawful in the United States. Just three years later, things had gotten so bad in our nation that TIME magazine asked this question on their cover, Is God Dead? Is this a mere coincidence? I dont think it is. The problem is, America has forgotten about God. Even more, we have gone out of our way to push God out of every aspect of our lives. The fact of the matter is no country lasts forever. Rome once was the reigning superpower on earth, with the most powerful military anywhere. But before Rome collapsed externally, it collapsed internally. In The Complete Story of Civilization historian Will Durant said of Rome, A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself within. The essential causes of Romes decline lay in her people, her morals, her class struggle, her failing trade, her bureaucratic despotism, her stifling taxes, her consuming wars. Sounds familiar, doesnt it? We see a similar pattern in America today. Our greatest enemies are not necessarily on the outside but on the inside. With woke ideology permeating academia, the media, the culture and even the government we find ourselves going the wrong way fast. However, the difference between Rome and the United States is that we initially built this nation on a Judeo-Christian foundation. But we have strayed dramatically from the original vision of our Founding Fathers that produced this place we call the United States of America. I think we would do well to look at the soul of our nation right now. What once was freedom of religion seems to have become freedom from religion. Our society has succeeded in getting God out of our schools, our sporting events, our public places, and our workplaces. But heres what we need to remember: The freedom we enjoy today is built on the foundation of absolute truth. And when you remove that foundation, this freedom actually can turn into anarchy. We need Gods help. My belief about the future of our nation is that we have two choices before us: one is judgment and the other is revival. If we do not have revival, then judgment is inevitable. I hope and pray for at least one more nationwide spiritual awakening in our nation. Back in the late 60s when the country seemed to be imploding, talk of revolution was in the air. And then the unexpected happened a revolution came. It was not a political or moral revolution, but a spiritual one. TIME magazine declared it The Jesus Revolution. It was a full-blown spiritual awakening. A film by that same title was released early this year and it became a smash hit in theaters not only here in the United States but also around the world. The movie tells the story of my testimony and that of my wife, Cathe, as we lived through a tumultuous time in our countrys history. Will we ever have another Jesus Revolution in America again? Perhaps. Our nation desperately needs one. Our young people are hurting like never before. Social media is like gasoline poured on an already out-of-control fire. Depression and feelings of hopelessness have skyrocketed among teens. Teen suicide and teen depression are on the rise. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among young Americans. Our young people need help. They need God. We all do. I do see some promising spiritual signs in our nation right now. In early July, we had a two-night event called the Harvest Crusade at the Honda Center in Southern California. Over 32,000 people, many of them very young packed into an arena with thousands turned away. Thousands of Christians worshipped God together with one voice and I shared a message of hope from the Gospel. In two days, 3,735 people made a profession of faith to follow Jesus Christ. Another 200,000 plus watched live online with 3,000 making a profession of faith. That to me is a very hopeful sign. But what happened the next weekend was mind-blowing. We held a Jesus Revolution Baptism at Pirates Cove beach, the site of the baptisms from the days of the 1960s Jesus movement, and 20,000 people showed up. In the heyday of the Jesus Revolution, we did not have crowds like this. This is unprecedented. It is something fresh and new that God is doing. Thousands stood in a line that was a half-mile long patiently waiting for hours to be baptized. When it was all said and done, we baptized 4,500 people. This may be the largest mass baptism in history. At the very least, it is certainly one of the largest. This is significant for two reasons. First of all, it happened in this day and age of cultural collapse. And the majority of those baptized were very young. Second, it happened in California of all places. Not in the Bible Belt. Not in the south where there is a Church on every corner. California is where the last great spiritual awakening happened. Will it also be the site for the next one? I hope and pray so. I have hope for the soul of America. But lets start as individuals and make sure we have a relationship with Jesus Christ. We can change this nation for the better, one person at a time, and one soul at a time. Yes, its true that many have forgotten God. But He has not forgotten us. Calls for Christian ministry's bank account to be reopened after Nigel Farage banking row A Christian ministry is calling on Barclays Bank to reinstate its account in the wake of the Nigel Farage Coutts accounts row that led to the resignation of NatWest boss Alison Rose. The Core Issues Trust (CIT) and its partner ministry, the International Federation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice (IFTCC), were informed by Barclays in July 2020 that their banking facilities were being discontinued. Last month, Barclays agreed to pay them 20,000 in compensation plus legal costs, but has still not given any reason for why it closed their accounts. Despite agreeing the settlement last month, the accounts remain closed. CIT founder Mike Davidson said he was "very encouraged" that the Farage row had exposed "how far reaching" the issue of banking discrimination is, as he warned that "banks are suppressing Christian freedoms" too. He called on Barclays Bank to issue a full apology for closing the accounts and to reinstate them. "We are looking into options for how we can continue to hold Barclays to account and will press on to find out why they took the decisions they did," he said. "It is clear that anyone who does not bow down and pledge allegiance to the Pride flag could have their account closed and be forced to become a 'non-person' in this country." He added, "We will continue to speak out and support the freedom of individuals to voluntarily seek professional or pastoral care to change identities and behaviours. This is not a matter that banking corporations should to seek to control, influence or suppress." The CIT and IFTCC have been targeted by LGBT activists because they advocate for therapeutic choice for people struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria. During a campaign of harassment in 2020, they received hundreds of nuisance calls and intimidating messages, including a text to Mr Davidson expressing the hope that staff and family members would be raped and killed. Mr Davidson's appeal for the reinstatement of the CIT and IFTCC bank accounts is backed by over 72,000 people who have signed a petition on CitizenGo. Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which supported the CIT and IFTCC in their claim of unlawful discrimination, said: "It is now high time, especially following recent revelations, that Barclays apologise and reinstate the accounts." She added, "If banks and other service providers placate hardened activists by removing bank accounts from good and law-abiding customers who are being targeted because of their Christian faith then we're in a very dark place in this country." The closure of Farage's Coutts account sparked a major row over free speech after the former UKIP leader claimed it was because of his political views. The BBC reported an unnamed source "familiar with" the Coutts decision as saying that the account was closed because Farage fell below the financial threshold for an account with the prestigious bank, which is owned by NatWest. Days later, Farage wrote in The Telegraph that he had obtained a dossier from the bank using a subject access request that showed his account was closed because he did not "align with their values". The BBC has since apologised for its original report and Rose resigned as NatWest CEO after admitting to being the story's source. Windrush pioneer and Pentecostal Credit Union founder Carmel Jones passes away Tributes have been paid to Rev Carmel Jones, a prominent figure of the Windrush Generation, after he passed away on Saturday following a period of ill health. Rev Jones was a much loved Pentecostal church minister and founder of the Pentecostal Credit Union (PCU), which he created in 1980 to help the black community achieve economic self-reliance, and access loans and other financial services at a time when these were difficult to obtain from Britain's established banks and building societies. The loans helped many black church organisations buy their buildings, including AME Zion Church, Ruach City Church in Brixton, and the New Testament Church of God. Paying tribute, Bishop John and Pastor Penny Francis, joint leaders of Ruach City Church said, "Rev Carmel Jones was a trailblazer, a pioneer, and a legend - you could also say he was the church's black banker! He was a special confidant and friend to me personally. "When I look at all the acquisitions of Ruach City Church, it started with Rev Carmel Jones, who gave us our first mortgage when our high street bank turned us down. "As a young pastor, starting a church from the ground up, Rev Jones was the first person to give our church a loan." In addition to establishing the PCU, Rev Jones was the founder of the New Assembly Of Churches and the RESCUE Training organisation that provided vocational and employment training for ex-offenders. He was one of Britain's first black prison chaplains, ministering in several London prisons and Heathrow Airport. Rev Ade Omooba and Dionne Gravesande, co-chairs of the National Church Leaders Forum, described him as an "exceptional man whose indomitable spirit and unwavering faith blazed a trail of inspiration for countless lives". "As the visionary founder of Pentecostal Credit Union and a distinguished black Christian pioneer, he empowered a black British community with financial inclusion and spiritual guidance," he said. "Rev Carmel Jones' legacy resonates through generations, symbolising resilience, compassion, and an unyielding commitment to uplifting others. "His profound impact on society and unwavering dedication to bridging the gap will forever remain etched in the hearts of those he touched. May his soul rest in perfect peace, and may his legacy continue to inspire.'' Bishop Delroy Powell, of the New Testament Assembly, said, "Rev Carmel was an exemplary leader, a disruptive visionary and a stalwart among his peers in the Pentecostal church movement in the UK. He will be sorely missed and long be remembered." Rev Jones was part of the Windrush Generation, arriving in the UK from Jamaica in 1955 at the age of 17. He came from a large family with five siblings, and church was an important part in his upbringing. Growing up, he was an altar boy in an Anglican church in Jamaica. When he came to the UK, he found an Anglican church in Clapham but was told not to come back and he instead joined the Church of God in Christ UK, a Pentecostal church that he was later ordained in and remained a lifelong member of. In 2020, the church that had rejected him when he first came to Britain - St Paul's, Clapham, in south London - held a service where they publicly apologised to him for the racism he experienced. Rev Jones graciously accepted the apology stating, "I was a boy of 17, when I encountered here one of the first of many acts of racial prejudice that subsequently occurred in my life. "It provided the inspiration that led me to founding the Pentecostal Credit Union 25 years later. It led me to the Pentecostal Church, where I still am today and lastly, but certainly not least, it led me to meeting the woman who has been by my side for the last 63 years." Rev Jones was married to Iveline for 65 years and they had three children together. He is survived by his wife, two children, grandchildren and his extended family. Barren deserts in NW China's Xinjiang turning into major production base of green electricity People's Daily Online) 09:29, July 26, 2023 As the new energy industry picks up, barren desert areas in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where not even a blade of grass grows, are yielding rich fruits in the generation of electricity using renewable energy sources. Aerial photo taken on Aug. 22, 2021 shows heliostats at a photothermal power station in Hami, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Gao Han) Boasting extraordinary advantages of rich wind and solar energy resources, Xinjiang has vigorously boosted the development of renewable energy sources to continuously promote the adjustment of its energy structure in recent years. By speeding up the construction of large-scale wind power and photovoltaic (PV) power bases in sandy areas, rocky areas and deserts, the region has realized the large-scale and intensive development and utilization of new energy sources and constantly expanded its new energy industry. As of July 13, Xinjiang's total installed capacity of new energy hit 50.26 million kilowatts (kW), according to data from the State Grid Xinjiang Electric Power Co., Ltd. In the first half of the year, the newly installed new energy capacity in the region reached nearly 7.02 million kW, which is 10.5 times higher than the same period last year. So far, Xinjiang has completed the construction of a new energy base with an annual power generation capacity of over 10 million kW in Hami city, and built more than 10 new energy clusters, with each having an annual power generating capacity of more than 1 million kW, said Li Chenyang, head of the regional energy bureau. A good number of major new energy projects with a combined capacity of more than 70 million kW are under construction in the region, according to Li. In the Hami high-tech industrial development zone, the first phase of a project on the manufacturing of single-crystal silicon rods and N-type silicon wafers has entered the final phase of construction. With a designed annual capacity of 10 gigawatts (GW) of single-crystal silicon rods and N-type silicon wafers, and an investment of 4.02 billion yuan, ($560 million), the first phase of the project is expected to provide about 1,300 jobs for local people and produce 1.7 billion yuan worth of products a year, said Zhou Yanming, manager of the project. In Fukang city, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang, the construction of a multi-energy complementary project invested by Luneng Group, a Chinese real estate and new energy conglomerate, is in full swing. The project features a development model that combines PV power generation and photo-thermal power generation with desertification control, which will fully magnify the ecological and economic benefits, according to Xu Tao, executive manager of the project. When completed, the project will help address desertification on 37,000 mu (2,467 hectares) of areas and comprehensively improve the economic efficiency of the local new energy, culture, tourism, agriculture and animal husbandry, and energy storage industries, Xu noted. By advancing the coordinated development and fostering synergy between its new energy industry and other related industries, Xinjiang has significantly extended, improved and enhanced its new energy industry chain, accelerating the formation of a complete industry chain of the new energy industry. Li said the region has rolled out policies to facilitate the development of the new energy industry and related industries, ramping up efforts to promote the high-quality development of pumped-storage hydropower projects, establishing and improving new-type energy storage facilities, and advancing the construction of projects integrating power supply, grid, load and energy storage to ensure the systematic and coordinated development of various links of power generation, transmission, storage and consumption. These favorable policies have attracted many large companies to the region. Since 2022, more than 70 well-known Chinese companies, including China Huadian Corporation and China Energy Engineering Corporation, have settled a host of PV power projects in the region, putting the local new energy industry on a fast track of development. As an important base of China's west-to-east power transmission program, Xinjiang has also made continuous efforts to expand its channels for power transmission and improve market mechanisms, so that its green energy sources can benefit more people across the country. The region will soon kick off an ultra-high voltage direct current power transmission project that sends electricity from Hami to southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. The project is expected to increase the annual amount of electricity supplied by Xinjiang to other regions of the country by more than 40 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh). In the first five months of the year, Xinjiang sent about 16.72 billion kWh of electricity produced from new energy sources to other regions of the country, which accounted for more than 30 percent of the total amount of electricity transmitted from the region during the period. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Digital transformation is key in building Europes resilience and sustainability Huawei As a committed partner of digital Europe, Huawei builds innovative ICT infrastructure and works with customers and partners to accelerate the digital transformation of enterprises, aiming to drive economic prosperity and build a sustainable, digital Europe. Ernest Zhang, President, Huawei Enterprise Business Group in Europe In Europe, Huawei dives deep into scenarios and works with partners to support the regions digital and green transition strategy. It was 2021 when the Europe Commission proposed the Digital Decade policy program, aimed at guiding Europes digital transformation through 2030 with the purpose of achieving a digitally-skilled population, secure and sustainable digital infrastructures, digital transformation of businesses, and digitalisation of public services. Governments across Europe have made it their key aim to increase digital integration into their citizens daily lives. Applying the latest innovations to various industries is a core part of Europes aim to reap multiple efficiency gains and enhance the productive potential of its economy. Aligning with Europes Digital Decade policy, Huawei works closely with partners in Europe to support the regions digital and green transition strategy, committed to supporting Europes economic recovery, the success of its industry, and enabling sustainable development. Innovating Digital Infrastructure In Europe, For Europe As a committed partner of digital Europe, Huawei uses its connectivity, computing, and cloud technologies to find the right technology for the right scenario, support customers in furthering their digital transformation, and unleash the power of digital. In the education industry, immersive teaching scenarios such as webcasts, distance education, and virtual reality (VR) are becoming increasingly popular as new teaching methods emerge. Schools are upgrading and reconstructing their existing network architecture to build leading education platforms and provide comprehensive education services. For instance, a middle school in Denmark deployed Wi-Fi 6 using Huaweis CloudCampus solution. This facilitates deeper collaboration across the schools as both the faculty and students can easily connect to the network from anywhere on the campus and through various devices, from mobile phones to computers. During major events, they can also enjoy uninterrupted Wi-Fi services even if they are densely populated. Another would be a Dutch university, which deployed Huaweis high-density Wi-Fi 6 solution on the campus to achieve better coverage and higher performance, providing better network services for more than 20,000 students. The test result showed that Huaweis solution had 50% higher performance than expected in high-concurrency scenarios. Meanwhile, it has become a standard within the hospitality industry to build eco-friendly hotels and reduce environmental impact. For an 18-hectare resort in Italy that receives more than 2,000 tourists each day during the peak summer season, it deployed an innovative two-layer network architecture that supports multi-network convergence with Huaweis All-Optical Campus Solution to improve service experience and achieve sustainability goals. Its investments paid off: the eco-friendly and energy-saving passive optical network (PON) helped the resort reduce annual carbon emissions by more than 6,500kg, equivalent to planting 300 trees in a year. At the same time, tourists can easily connect to the network within the resort from anywhere, eliminating network complains entirely. Huawei is also making a difference in Europes healthcare. A large hospital in southern France that sees admissions growing by 30% each year, was in urgent need to upgrade its legacy IT systems. Since deploying Huawei OceanStor Dorado, the hospitals storage latency has fallen by 30%, performance has increased by 40%, and O&M has been streamlined, saving up to 30% in costs. According to the hospitals data centre architect, Huawei storage enables hospital services to remain uninterrupted no matter what happens. With fast, reliable systems in place, TUHs staff can now focus on what they do best, delivering the kind of quality care its ever-growing number of patients depend on. In traditional industries, Huawei uses advanced technology to help customers implement digital transformation. An agricultural company in Spain is committed to optimising its digital infrastructure and integrating its business process in an effort to improve consumer service quality. However, as its business continues to grow, the existing network is stretched in capacity and performance: its network architecture cannot support the fast provisioning of new applications. Huaweis SDN solution automates network connectivity and shortens provisioning by virtualising and integrating compute resources, decoupling the logical network from the physical data centre, upgrading to 10G and 40G connections with Huawei CloudEngine switches, and leveraging centralised visibility and enhanced O&M tools. The companys CTO added that with SDN technology, we modernised the data centre network and started our digital transformation journey. This gives us the capability to align business applications and service needs with the network infrastructure in a fast, flexible and secure way. From medical institutions to schools and hotels, digital technology is accelerating innovation in thousands of industries in Europe. Huawei Closing the Digital Skills Gap The European Commissions 2022 Digital Economy and Society Index shows that more than 37% of the European workforce lacks basic digital skills, and only 54% of 16- to 74-year-olds in the EU have basic digital skills. Separate to digital and intelligent transformations, developing digital talent and improving digital literacy is an enormous challenge for all countries. The EUs Digital Decade policy program aims to train 20 million ICT specialists and equip 80% of adults with basic digital skills by 2030. To address the skills gap created by accelerated digital transformation across all industries, Huawei leverages its successful ICT practices to build talent alliances, standardise talent requirements, upskill professionals, and demonstrate the value of digital talent in Europe. Huawei is committed to nurturing and training more talented ICT specialists and becoming the fertile soil out of which digital talent in Europe grows. By 2022, Huawei had already built more than 200 ICT academies in partnership with local universities, and these academies had more than 10,000 students. This has been a crucial stepping stone in the careers of many specialists in Europes ICT industry and it has supported the development of a thriving digital economy. Shaping a Greener Digital Environment In addition to achieving digital transformation, the European Commission plans to make the region more energy independent by 2030. The two transformation processes are deeply interlinked. Huawei believes that ICT will be crucial in the green development of industries across Europe. With more than 20 years of service experience in Europe, Huawei is enabling investment in data communications, green storage, and optical networks, in the context of the two transformation processes: In data communications: Huawei uses its Wireless Intelligent Network Architecture (WINA) to create more sustainable campus IT infrastructures, yielding a 30% reduction in annual electricity consumption with a more streamlined infrastructure. In green storage: Huawei leverages high-density designs, system convergence and data deduplication and compression technologies to build a new generation of green data centres. In optical networks: Huawei enables the rollout of fibre to help enterprises reduce power consumption, save energy and reduce carbon emissions, aiming to achieve low-carbon and sustainable development for Europe. To fulfill the objectives of the Digital Decade and stay competitive in the global technology race, Europe can further leverage the partnership with tech company such as Huawei, who is making a difference in infrastructure, talent, and green development under the commitment to be in Europe, for Europe. Huawei continues to explore new opportunities for digital transformation and finds the best technical solutions for industries. At the same time, it also strives to work with global partners to launch the latest innovations and provide digital transformation solutions. Visit this site for more details. About the Author Mr. ZHANG Lin (Ernest) President, Huawei Enterprise Business Group in Europe Mr. Zhang joined Huawei in 1996. He used to be President of the Enterprise Business in Southeast Asia, Vice President of the Enterprise Business Global Sales Dept. Martha Heller, CEO of IT executive recruiting firm Heller Search Associates, recently spoke with Nallappan about dynamic cloud architecture, cloud cost containment, developing a cloud-conscious culture, and why it makes sense to give engineers financial goals when giving them ownership over their cloud estates. Read the full interview here for more insights. On company cohesion: You need to develop a cloud-conscious culture by bringing in new leaders who have a FinOps mindset and a focus on security. Its also important to bring the software groups together. We have consortia for DevOps, security, and cloud, so the developers can talk to each other and not reinvent every time. Developers love to build their own tools, but thats not necessary in the cloud. On FinOps in action: Our on-prem software testing labs were running different operating systems and hardware combinations because every customer is unique. We had to test each combination, and we were allocating those costs to the software businesses. When I moved the labs to the cloud, I told the engineers to move only what theyre working on right now. When they need more cloud services, theyre empowered to get them; they dont need to ask my permission. But I also gave them financial goals and visibility into the costs of the tools. When we were in data centers, IT would buy the hardware, and because they knew they needed headroom, theyd overbuy and allocate those costs to the businesses. Today, the engineers themselves are empowered to buy only what they need, and to hit their own financial goals. Those savings are a part of the P&L and have a positive impact on the engineers bonuses. FinOps has also helped to change the sunk cost mentality. The engineers know that if they bring cloud costs down, they contribute to their businesss P&L and their bonus goes up. On managing software business operations: In our hardware business, the COO runs the supply chain. My role in the software business is similar. I manage the external cloud platform as a partner to the businesses. My job is to liberate the engineers in the businesses to do incremental innovations and not boil the ocean. At Broadcom, each software division is run by a GM responsible for the P&L. I work across all the software divisions and manage three things: DevOps, the tools used to build the software; the cloud platform, which developers build the software on; and SaaS operations, which run that. Since the divisions all use the same platform and tools, we can leverage common software operations so customers have a similar experience. We have multiple divisions but a common toolset and platform. Software is software, and while the user experience and transactions layer might be different in each division, there are commonalities in the layer below. As head of software business operations, I manage the noncore elements of the software so the lines of business can be free to manage the core. My role is part of the revenue, not the cost. On mistakes to avoid: Companies should avoid the lift-and-shift approach and understand that you cant refactor every application on day one. To rightsize your move to the cloud, you need people who know the cloud, but these arent the same people whove been managing your on-prem environment for the last 20 years. Its also important to understand that in your first year in the cloud, your costs will be higher than in years two, three, and four, but youll be able to do incremental innovations. With on-prem data centers, you innovate once in five years because thats how data center technology refresh works. With the cloud, you innovate every quarter, month, and week. Thats the beauty of the cloud. We bring the developers together so they can be proud of what they do and share it. With FinOps, we shift their pride to saving money and contributing to customer outcomes. The first platform is Command, a core agent-facing CRM that supports Keller Williams agents and real estate teams. The second cloud-native application, called Command Market Center, is a CRM solution for the companys brokerages and market centers globally, Cox says. The third application is its consumer-facing digital platform, called kw.com, which can be customized and be made available through franchise owner branded sites linking agents to local customers. Finally, the IT team developed a digital market center that offers event management as well as training and education content. Like rivals, Keller Williams will not provide a hardened ROI on a process that is only one part technology and still largely relationship-based between agent and customer. But Cox and Djuric do know that 82% of Keller Williams agent have been active on the homegrown CRM application in the past 90 days and can deduce the high value of their data from that statistic alone. Weve been on a journey for the last six years or so to build out our platforms, says Cox, noting that Keller Williams uses MLS, demographic, product, insurance, and geospatial data globally to fill its data lake. We have made a tremendous investment in this integrated architecture that sits on the cloud and are aggressively innovating on top of that. Cox says his data team has rationalized its data architecture, combining multiple data lake instances into smaller data lakes so we know what data we have and can make it more accessible, he says. Many technologies fall under the AI umbrella, and Cox and Djuric say the IT team is pushing harder on refining advanced analytic capabilities, including predictive modeling, as well as machine learning and AI inclusive of generative AI, Cox says. One simple use of generative AI, for instance, requires teaching agents how to list their properties in more descriptive ways than in the past. The gen AI model will save agents time and create better listings. Generative AI engines like ChatGPT will create better and well-crafted descriptions for new listings and put more time on the agents calendar, Cox says. Will the real estate industry become wholly consumer-driven like CarMax? Franchisees remain compliant with real estate regulators in each region but are free to innovate. Still, Cox says residential real estate transactions will remain a largely human relationship business unless consumers find it more productive to use technology to buy and sell home. Technology is a huge differentiating driving factor, and this is an extremely data-rich business and high transaction volume business, Cox says. But the sanctity of the relationship between and agent and their client we take very seriously. There is no intent to disintermediate or get in front of that fiduciary relationship. Real estate technology on the move IDC maintains that residential real estate falls into the domain of the personal and consumer services vertical industry. This industry sector has spent among the least on digital transformations over the past several years, with construction spending roughly $42.6 billion in 2022, resource industries $82.1 billion in 2022, and personal and consumer services at $82.6 billion in 2022. Re/Maxs Ligon acknowledges the real estate vertical is tough to track because it is fragmented, with each state reporting to its own Board of Realtors. Additionally, there are hundreds of different MLS listings on different platforms and roughly 100 different CRMs independent franchisees use. The top three industry clouds Inside Real Estate, Lone Wolf, and Constellation are likely used by between 65% to 70% of agents, Ligon estimates. His is a service business and he is only serving the real estate franchisees, their brokers and agents, and a separate mortgage business. But he and others agree that the industrys use of technology will only continue to grow in volume and sophistication as AI tools evolve and data from many sources continues to accumulate in data lakes. At the end of the day, we are a real estate company powered by our own proprietary technology, but its going to shift, Keller Williams Cox says of the overall industrys use of technology. In the next few years, I think youll find us talking about our technology more aggressively. Suppose you have an international apparel company that manufactures and sells shirts. But lets focus on just one shirt to start. Following common industry practice, you have the shirt manufactured in one country. The raw materials for manufacturing come from another country. And when the shirt is completed, its distributed to a third country to be sold in a store. When raw materials, components, or finished products move between countries or regions, theyre subject to customs in each country/region. Items (raw materials to finished product) must be classified according to the World Customs Organization (WCO), each receiving a different classification number to clear the gate. Classification gets even more complicated A shirt usually comes in multiple sizes. So, a classification number needs to be maintained (in the system) for each size. Add to the other classification numbers for location, materials, components, and the finished shirt. The result? You have a vast amount of parts and numbers to deal with, eating up time and energy. And thats just for one shirt. Now, imagine a company such as VF Corporation with millions of products under 13 brands, including The North Face, Timberland, Jansport, Dickies, and Vans Off the Wall, requiring classification across six jurisdictions/regions. Seasonal products add more than 1 million revised, updated, or new products each year. Consider the number of classifications that must be made and recorded for all regions, products, raw materials, components, factories, and distribution centers worldwide. If thats not enough to make a head spin, government regulations are constantly changing, with tariff schedules for determining classification updated regularly. Those updates must be noted and acted upon as well. It all adds up to companies spending lots of time and energy staying up to date and compliant. And the consequences of failure can be significant. Incorrect or missing global trade classifications can lead to overpayment of duties or even worse to fines imposed by customs authorities or products rejected by customs, potentially affecting a companys supply chain and causing reputational damage to your company. Outfitting its operation with a Deloitte solution VF Corporation was looking to improve its global process to deal with the high volume of trade classification requests. The company needed a solution that could accelerate the process, increase compliance and auditability, and ensure accurate results. At the time, it took an average of one minute to store a classification result in VF Corporations system. Times the minute by just 100,000 items, and you can see that even a partial number of requests could keep employees extremely busy storing instead of thinking about and optimizing the companys operation. The solution needed the capability to handle approximately 50 attributes that impact global trade classification and be flexible enough to accommodate variants such as different product sizes. It had to be scalable and deployable for global use, integrate with the companys SAP Global Trade Services (GTS) environment, and be easy to use. Deloitte Belgiums TradeClassifier solution provided the perfect fit. Made to order Headquartered in Brussels, Deloitte Belgium is an affiliate of Deloitte NSE LLP, offering audit, risk advisory, accounting, tax and legal, financial and legal, consulting, and financial advisory services. Deloitte decided to build its TradeClassifier solution on the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) based on the platforms easy deployment and integration with artificial intelligence (AI) technology, as well as its scalability. The integrated solution, which includes Amazon Web Services (AWS), automates classification and reclassification in case of product changes or updates. Users can quickly and easily perform tasks with a smart, end-to-end workflow. Suiting up to fly With TradeClassifier, VF Corporation can process a substantially higher volume of classificationsperforming more work with the same or fewer resources. It takes only two full-time employees to efficiently and accurately handle 3.1 million classifications annually, close to 1,000 per hour during operation. In addition to the increased number of classifications, the total lead time for each classification has decreased. As a result, processing can start up to 24 hours earlier than before to be more proactive. Recognized for its design With the success of TradeClassifier, Deloitte received a classification of its own: Finalist in the 2023 SAP Innovation Award, now celebrating its 10th anniversary. Check out Deloittes Innovation Awards pitch deck. Te invitam la una din cele doua instruiri la care vei invata jocul KeepCool Primeste notificari pe email Nota bene: Adresele email cu extensia .ru nu sunt acceptate. Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland is looking into allegations raised about a recently registered religious charity that shared content about witches. Mountain Of Fire And Miracles Ministries (MFM) Belfast, which was registered last month, has been criticised for sharing a Facebook post in April about five kinds of witches or familiar spirits from a sermon. The comments shared were by Daniel Olukoya, pastor and former chairman of MFM International, a Pentecostal charity registered in the UK. In a blog post, the National Secular Society said the promotion of the idea of witches could lead to the spiritual abuse of children and vulnerable adults accused of being witches. It was also noted that pastor Raphael Olushola Peters made a Facebook post on the charitys account last November that called homosexual relations a sin. In the same post, he references another pastors comments about sinful abortion, transgenderism and homosexuality. A spokesperson from the regulator said: The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland is aware of recent media articles regarding the charity Mountain Of Fire And Miracles Ministries Belfast and is looking into the allegations which have been raised. Civil Society approached MFM Belfast for comment, but did not receive a response. Background In 2018, the Charity Commission for England and Wales opened a statutory inquiry into MFM International after it repeatedly failed to submit financial information to the regulator on time. MFM International oversees 40 separate branches, but the regulator questioned the adequacy of the trustees oversight and control over the individual branches. The year before, an undercover investigation by the Liverpool Echo alleged one of the churchs branches was recommending a homosexuality cure. The Charity Commission said its inquiry into the charity remains ongoing. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, More than 60 workers at Citizens Advice Hull and East Riding (CAHER) will go on strike for the first time, workers union Unite has announced. The charitys workers voted to strike after CAHER refused to increase wages in line with the National Joint Council (NJC) pay scales, which recommended a 1,925 rise on all pay points from 1 April 2022. The strike is set to take place over four days between 31 July and 11 August. CAHER said that its trustees will continue to engage with the union and hope an outcome everyone is happy with can be reached swiftly. Unite: Our members are right to strike Unite said that CAHERs staff will strike on 31 July, 7 August, 9 August and 11 August and that if the dispute is not resolved more strike action will be scheduled. Some of CAHERs services will not be available during the strikes, but the charity said that it will provide telephone, webchat and email advice on most affected days to meet demand. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: For two decades, Citizens Advices workers in Hull and East Riding have dutifully accepted the NJCs pay recommendation, despite it resulting in years of real terms pay cuts. But now, the charity is reneging on that agreement because they say the offer is too high. This is totally unacceptable and duplicitous behaviour by an organisation that can afford to pay. Our members, who are struggling with rising costs and are being treated appallingly by their employer, are right to strike. Our members jobs, pay and conditions are this unions top priority and Citizens Advices workforce will receive Unites total support. Unite regional officer Mike Wilkinson added: Our members care about the work they do and are not highly paid for it. They would rather be helping their clients than be on the picket line. Citizens Advice, however, has left them with no choice but to strike. The charity needs to implement the NJCs pay award, or this dispute will escalate. CAHER: We would like to be a place where everyone feels valued and supported In an online statement , CAHER confirmed that it has received advanced notice from Unite of planned strike action and has been in negotiations with the union to agree a pay award for the year 2022 to 2023. The trustees put forward what they believe to be an affordable pay offer, within the financial constraints placed upon them by the Charity Commission and managing a regional charity of our size. Regrettably, the union declined the offer and balloted its members on strike action, it said. CAHER received notification on 4 July 2023, that the majority of union members had voted in favour of strike action. We are sorry it has reached this stage. We acknowledge this is difficult for everyone. The trustees will continue to engage with the union, and we hope an outcome everyone is happy with can be reached swiftly. CAHER said that it would like to be a place where everyone feels valued and supported. Our trustee board are engaging with the Union and this is part of achieving that environment. Every day we see the huge strain the cost-of-living crisis is putting on people. We know our staff who provide a vital service supporting our communities are not immune from this, it added. In the year to March 2022, the charity had an income of 3.21m and employed 103 staff. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, In 2020, a group of Black staffers at Free Pressa nonprofit that advocates for diverse, independent media ownership and equitable access to technologyarrived at a realization about fixing the media industry. We just came to understand that the transformation thats really needed in order to achieve a just media system is grounded in reparations, Collette Watson, one of the staffers, said. At the time, neither Free Press nor many other media advocacy groups were prescribing such a step. And so the Black caucus, as the group of Black staff at Free Press were known, decided to create a project to familiarize people with the idea. That October, the group formally launched the initiative, called Media 2070, with a collection of essays that charted the American medias roots in chattel slavery; the technological evolutionsfrom radio and television to social mediathat have been shaped by laws of racial hierarchy; and, most important, the ways in which reparations could redress these and other harms. The year 2070 is a deadline, of sortsthe groups goal is to have completely transformed the media industry by then. The project launched at a moment when many news organizations were grappling with their own track records around race, CJR included. Since then, representatives of Media 2070 have continued the conversation, speaking at conferences, hosting seminars with universities, and producing a documentary feature, among other engagements. This year, to coincide with Juneteenth, the project launched the Black Future Newsstand, a physical news booth, at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, showcasing over a dozen media outlets and projects published by Black journalists, writers, and artists. The newsstand was a collaboration with the Black Thought Project, an organization that creates media installations. The New York Amsterdam News, a Black-owned newspaper founded in 1909, worked with Media 2070 to create a special package for the project, incorporating stories from its archives about both the media (Television: To build a Black image, from 1979) and reparations (Black reparations movement presses on with its demands, from 1992). The newsstand project also featured newer publications such as Reparations Daily (ish), a newsletter by the journalist Trevor Smith that covers reparative justice. Last week, I spoke with Watson, who is now the director of Media 2070, about the Black Future Newsstand, how the project is advocating for media reparations after three years of existence, and how its thinking about this moment in the journalism industry. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity. FM: How has Media 2070s thinking around interventions, shifting cultural conditions, and dreaming up newsrooms of the future developed since you launched three years ago? CW: The biggest idea that we have surfaced in this time is the idea of institutional care. We released a pledge in 2021, in which we called on newsrooms and media organizations to intentionally care for Black journalists and Black communities. We live in a patriarchal society, so the word care can feel very soft and intangible, but if you look at the pledge, youll see that the ways in which were talking about care are very tangible. We are calling on media organizations to, for instance, not use police press releases as the single source on stories regarding our communities. Were calling on media organizations to avoid adultifying Black childrenas they did in this recent story, for example, that criminalized Black children for breaking into a public pool in Baltimore, as opposed to thinking through the lens that white children often get to benefit from, which is why these pools are not accessible to children in this community during one of the hottest summers on record. In that story, you can see how, when we begin to see the full humanity of Black people, there are so many other issues that we begin to understand more fullyissues of climate or public infrastructure, for example. We created a Media Care Collaborative that is in its infancy but consists of various groups coming together to really think about what it means to exhibit care within our media system as an act of repair. We understand that the harm that has taken place isnt just about moneythough thats a huge part of it, because a lot of media profit has been built off of anti-Blacknessbut has been spiritual; its been generational and cyclical. Our pledge calls for institutions to take up policies, whether it be paid leave or underwriting mental health support or other ways in which Black journalists can begin to get the support they need as they undertake reporting on traumatic beats and are called upon regularly to be in situations that subject us to direct harm. It really brings that sort of humaneness and wholeness that is often denied to journalists and media makers. Sign up for CJR 's daily email This feels very relevant to some of the things that are happening in media now: layoffs, the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, publications shutting down. It all feels connected to the idea of media reparations and creating a more equitable media landscape. What are your thoughts on how media reparations connect to this moment? One thing that I find comforting about the reparations framework is that it grounds us in the knowledge that nothing is new. We have been herewe have been in times of pain and hopelessness and fear over and over again in this society. When you look at the state of the journalism industry, you have to understand that its built on toxic soil. The earliest media in this country were the colonial newspapers, and they stayed afloat on revenues from advertisements for the sale of enslaved African people. That is how those newsletters, as they were called, were able to stay afloat to circulate the ideas of the American Revolution. Fast-forward to the next great media innovation, which was radio and then television. The Federal Radio Commission, which later was superseded by the Federal Communications Commission, issued the first broadcasting licenses to white men under Jim Crow. And so the wealth of NBC, CBS, ABC stems from those roots. When you know that, from the beginning, racial hierarchy was baked inand that an understanding that some humans labor could be stolen and exploited has always been a part of the business modelits not hard to get to a time when everybodys labor is exploited and stolen. So we understand media reparations as an invitation to a completely new and sustainable media ecosystemone that has moved away from racial capitalism and is defined by new economic models, besides just being a good old for-profit corporation. There are co-ops and other types of collaborative models; theres community ownership. All of these, though, need to be grounded in direct processes of repair, and in local communities. When you look at the closure of newsroomswhen you look at hedge funds buying up local papers, leaving entire geographical areas with no local journalists holding power to accountyou understand that this current mass-media system is not concerned with localism, and how directionally oppositional it is to the true purpose of journalism as a service which is supposed to inform people. Does Media 2070 have ideas for how to advance media reparations at the federal level? Ill give you a state-level example. The state of New Jersey created a Civic Information Consortium using revenues from the sale of broadcast spectrum, which is public property. Hundreds of millions of dollars came from that auction; public funding was then dedicated to a consortium led by universities. It was an initiative that was public in nature, but one that located the importance of race-specific, equitable disbursement of those funds to local media and projects. Now, that project does not describe itself as reparative and is not a response to the harms of chattel slavery and racial discrimination, but its an example of what happens when people in a community demand that the public sector invest in quality local news and information: the public sector responds and does actually invest those resources. We have called on the FCC to investigate its history of racism and policymaking. Our hope is that, through that investigation, the need will emerge for Congress to get behind this type of fund and make it a reality. We also have called on media philanthropy to increase its funding of Black and Indigenous POC media by tenfold because, right now, Democracy Fund studies show that only a very small percentage of philanthropic funding toward journalism and media is dedicated to so-called ethnic media. How did the Black Future Newsstand come about? People often think of reparations as pie in the sky. But we know that reparations have happened for many communities, including Japanese communities, Jewish communities, and Indigenous communitieslike the Land Back movement, which is growing every day. So we know that were next; were in line, too. Reparations are inevitable, but how do we live into that? What does it look and feel and sound and taste like? We know that media is the site of so much cultural generationmedia is how we figure out whats cool; whats true and whats not. So we realize that, in order to understand a future where reparations are real, we need to understand the media of that time. And in order to truly understand it, we need to be able to walk inside it, put our hands on it, feel it. So out of that conversationof What would a future media that we deserve look like?came the idea: lets do a custom installation. And from directly naming it on the nose, Black Future Newsstand, the idea just kept growing. What are some of the different publications that were included in this? We had the Jackson Advocate, Umber and Slumber out of Oakland. We had CRWN MAG representing Black womens perspectives through the lens of our hair; really broad perspectives on lifestyle and politics and everything in between. It was really important to include New York Amsterdam News, which is the nations oldest currently operating Black newspaper. We were able to collaborate with them on a special insert for Juneteenth called Black Future News, which has archival pieces, alongside what we call speculative journalism pieces, in which members of the Media 2070 cocreator team actually wrote journalism from the future, from a time where reparations are real. So you can see a piece from 1920, a piece from 1990, and a piece from 2070 all together in conversation on the printed page of the New York Amsterdam News. Other notable stories: ICYMI: The American soldiers who made movies in Pyongyang Update: Weve clarified our description of the Black Thought Project. Feven Merid is CJRs staff writer and Senior Delacorte Fellow. CAIRO (AP) An international team began siphoning oil out of a decrepit oil tanker off the coast of Yemen on Tuesday, the United Nations chief said, a crucial step in a complex salvage operation aiming to prevent a potential environmental disaster. For years, many organizations have warned that the neglected vessel, known as SOF Safer, may cause a major oil spill or even explode. The ship-to-ship transfer of oil which has started today is the critical next step in avoiding an environmental and humanitarian catastrophe on a colossal scale, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement. More than 1.1 million barrels of oil stored in the rusting tanker were being moved to another vessel the U.N. purchased, he said. The oil transfer came after months of on-site preparatory work and is scheduled to be completed in less than three weeks, the U.N. said. The Safter tanker was built in the 1970s and sold to the Yemeni government in the 1980s to store up to 3 million barrels of export oil pumped from fields in Marib, a province in eastern Yemen. The ship is 360 meters (1,181 feet) long with 34 storage tanks. It is moored 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from Yemens western Red Sea ports of Hodeida and Ras Issa, a strategic area controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels who are at war with the internationally recognized government. The vessel has not been maintained for eight years and its structural integrity is compromised, making it at risk of breaking up or exploding. Seawater has entered the engine compartment, causing damage to the pipes and increasing the risk of sinking, according to internal documents obtained by The Associated Press in June 2020. For years, the U.N. and governments of other countries as well as environmental groups have warned that if an oil spill or explosion occurs, it could disrupt global commercial shipping through the vital Bab el-Mandeb and Suez Canal routes, causing untold damage to the global economy. The tanker carries four times as much oil as was spilled in the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster off Alaska, one of the worlds worst ecological catastrophes, according to the U.N. The potential clean-up bill alone could easily run into the tens of billions of dollars, Guterres said. The replacement vessel, now named the Yemen, reached Yemens coast earlier this month and the salvage team managed on Saturday to safely berth it alongside the Safer. The transfer of the oil to the Yemen will prevent the worst-case scenario of a catastrophic spill in the Red Sea, but it is not the end of the operation, David Gressly, U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, said Monday. After transferring the oil, the Yemen vessel will be connected to an undersea pipeline that brings oil from the fields, Achim Steiner, administrator of the U. N. Development Program, told the AP on Sunday. Steiner said the Safer tanker would be towed away to a scrapyard to be recycled. The U.N. chief said about $20 million is still needed to finish the salvage operation, including cleaning and scrapping the tanker and removing any remaining environmental threat to the Red Sea. Top photo: The Safer tanker is seen on Monday, June 12, 2023, off the coast of Yemen. A senior United Nations official says a salvage team is set to begin siphoning oil out of the decaying tanker moored off the coast of Yemen. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman, File) Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Attorney involvement is one of the most critical determinants of ultimate claim costs. Significant costs include time from correspondence iterations, depositions, defense attorney costs, etc. These are present in determining whether the plaintiffs attorney can negotiate a higher-than-usual settlement. Before we talk AI, lets dig in a bit on why claimants tend to hire attorneys in the first place. An experienced personal injury attorney can help navigate the complexities of the legal system, negotiate with insurance companies, and build a strong case, which may lead to a higher settlement or award for the claimant. Here are some reasons why claimants with legal representation may receive higher claims benefits: Legal expertise: Attorneys are familiar with the laws and regulations that govern slip-and-fall claims and can help establish liability and prove damages. They can identify and gather crucial evidence to support the claimants case and ensure that all procedural requirements are met. Negotiation skills: Personal injury attorneys have experience negotiating with insurance companies and can advocate for their clients best interests. They can help prevent claimants from accepting lowball offers and ensure they receive fair compensation for their injuries and damages. Access to resources: Attorneys often have access to a network of expert witnesses, medical professionals, and other resources that can help build a strong case for the claimant. These resources can be crucial in proving the extent of injuries, establishing liability, and demonstrating the accidents impact on the claimants life. Ability to take the case to trial: While most slip-and-fall claims are settled out of court, taking a case to trial can serve as a bargaining chip during negotiations. Insurance companies may be more willing to offer a fair settlement if they know an attorney is prepared to litigate the case if necessary. Experience with claim valuation: Experienced personal injury attorneys have a better understanding of the potential value of a claim, which can help ensure that claimants receive appropriate compensation for their injuries and damages. Claimants are not required to hire attorneys to pursue their claims against insurance carriers or the company responsible for the injury, but they often do. Settlements for typical slip-and-fall accidents in California range between $15,000 and $50,000. Evidence suggests this range starts at $45,000 in Florida and goes much higher. Its unclear whether injured parties receive higher claim benefits when an attorney is involved. Attorneys claim this is the case and advertise relentlessly to make their point. But some carriers dispute this. Studies show that for ordinary injury claims, injured parties may sometimes receive lower settlements after attorney fees are deducted than what the carrier would settle the claim for if dealing directly with the claimant. Regardless of whether a claimant will benefit from hiring an attorney, figures like this list of seven high-dollar settlements reached in injury claims are enough to entice many people to hire one. $18 million for fall in manhole A man walking in an alley behind a store in Brooklyn fell into an open manhole. The opening had no warning signs or barricades, and the man suffered severe head, neck and back injuries. He sued the city of New York for negligence and was awarded $18 million as compensation for his medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. He sustained spinal injuries and permanent disability from the accident. $12.2 million for slip outside Miller Mart A woman slipped and fell on a patch of ice outside a Miller Mart in Pennsylvania. She sustained serious back, neck and shoulder injuries, requiring multiple surgeries. The store owner was found liable for failing to remove the dangerous patch of ice from the property. The woman received $12.2 million in compensation for her medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. $11 million slip and fall at gas station A man slipped and fell while walking into a gas station in Texas due to a slippery substance on the floor that the store attendant had not cleaned up. He suffered severe injuries, including fractured vertebrae, which resulted in him being bedridden for several months. The court found that the gas station had been negligent in not providing a safe environment for its customers and awarded the man $11 million to cover his medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. $11.1 million for falling off a ladder A construction worker in California was using a ladder to reach a rooftop and subsequently fell off the ladder, suffering catastrophic injuries. The court found that the construction company had failed to exercise reasonable care in providing a safe working environment for its employees and awarded the worker $11.1 million in compensation for his medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. $10 million for slipping on wet floor at grocery store A woman slipped on a wet floor while shopping at a grocery store in Maryland. She suffered serious injuries, including broken bones and facial fractures, which required multiple surgeries. She sued the grocery store chain for negligence and was awarded $10 million as compensation for her medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. $2 million for a fatal fall at Wilson College A student at Wilson College in Pennsylvania fell from a fifth-floor balcony and died. An investigation found that the college failed to provide adequate safety measures on the balcony, such as handrails or guardrails. The court awarded the victims family $2 million in compensation for their loss. $1 million for falling down stairs A woman slipped and fell down stairs at an apartment complex in Massachusetts, suffering serious injuries, including broken bones, torn ligaments, and a severe head injury. She sued the property owner for negligence and was awarded $1 million as compensation. AI Is the Edge Insurance Carriers and Captives Need Artificial intelligence (AI) can help insurance companies minimize the cost of general liability injury claims by streamlining various processes and providing valuable insights to support decision-making. When it comes to reducing the severity of claims, techniques such as machine learning, natural language processing, anomaly detection, clustering, and time-series analysis can be used to build models that triage claims at the first notice of loss, predict which claims will be litigated, and discover fresh insights from relationships in unstructured data contained in medical bills, doctors reports, and the plethora of other documents associated with injury claims. An emerging technology under the umbrella of AI is generative AI. GAI applies what it learns from creating a language model of the subject at hand, in this case, casualty claims, and guides adjusters to take specific actions supported by explanatory text statements. One way to think of GAI is that it integrates insights from the other AI techniques mentioned and communicates them to adjusters in an easy-to-understand manner. Triaging a claim is essential in predicting how complex and severe it will likely become over time. Today, triage models built from a carriers data can assist in assigning the claim to the appropriate adjuster. By working with an AI software as a service (SaaS) provider, a carrier can combine their data with anonymized data from other carriers and captives to make their models more robust. The best of these models works not only with FNOL data but also updates its scores and alerts daily that new information appears on the claim file. Similarly, models focused on predicting the probability of litigation by the injured party work with FNOL and all subsequent data. Once an attorney represents a claim, the best litigation models score plaintiff attorneys on the outcomes they have achieved on similar claims. They can even score defense counsel, in-house or out-of-house, to find which attorneys perform best from a defense perspective against the attorney a claimant has chosen to represent them. Another type of model that leverages natural language processing of scanned and digital documents to uncover valuable items and relationships among them in unstructured data is now emerging. The best of these is revolutionary and works as a second set of eyes on the myriad paper and digital forms and other documents that healthcare providers, pharmacies, hospitals and clinics generate. Like triage and litigation models, the best performing models of this type act in the background and process new information when it becomes part of the claim file. The Way Forward With AI There are many misconceptions about how to get started with artificial intelligence. You cannot throw a bunch of data into a computer and expect sensical output. Data needs to be standardized and cleaned as much as possible. Leaders and workers from multiple disciplines need to be engaged in the initiatives success and present to contribute their expertise. These disciplines include claims, information technology, data management, finance and operations. Lack of alignment and support will lead to substandard outcomes. Change management needs to be handled deftly and effectively. Its best to engage front-line workers (like claim adjusters) whose work will be impacted by artificial intelligence from the get-go to maximize the probability that they will accept and use the new approach. Finally, a strong measurement system needs to be agreed upon, created and utilized to establish, as best as possible, the impact the artificial intelligence system is having. While developing an artificial intelligence system in-house may be desirable, AI can be outsourced to an advisory or software company in the insurance space. If the vendor is experienced and has many successful implementations, this can be a more cost-effective approach to your AI strategy. As mentioned before, there are SaaS providers of insurance AI that have established successful track records. As many homegrown technology solutions and new processes get bogged down (double the estimated time and triple the estimated price is an axiom Ive heard before), selecting a vendor may be more cost-effective. Some can even get you up and running with AI within three months. So, choose wisely! Conclusion General liability coverage is fraught with many claims that can be very costly for insurance companies to settle. Artificial intelligence is one weapon carriers and self-insureds can use to combat lengthy claims and high-dollar settlements. Several components of a comprehensive strategy need to be in place to leverage artificial intelligence. Carriers can try to develop these capabilities in-house or can rely on third-party software as a service providers who can often get them up and running faster. BAY VILLAGE, Ohio -- Like all Americans, Dr. Edward Horvath was horrified and angered when terrorists attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. When the War on Terrorism widened with the invasion of Iraq in 2003, he knew the military would need doctors to treat the combat wounds that would occur in great numbers. The Bay Village resident had a wife, three children and a medical practice at the VA Clinic, but he was willing to sacrifice it all to serve his country. He explained his desire to do his patriotic duty to his father, Edward Sr., a World War II veteran who fought in the Italian campaign: Dad, Im the son you and Mom raised me to be. There was one difference between Horvath and most of the other Americans signing up -- he was 57 years old. Horvath recounts in unsparing detail his three deployments to Iraq, extending to 2014, in Good Medicine, Hard Times, published last year by the Ohio State University Press. The book, which has been reviewed by The Wall Street Journal and other publications, provides a little-revealed picture of medical personnel during the Iraqi conflict. It was no easy assignment at the rear. In Iraq, there was no safe place, said Horvath, soon to turn 77 and a staff physician at the Cleveland VA. The war was going on across the street. We were getting rocketed and mortared and shot at. I spent many anxious moments in bunkers where explosions were going off all around me. Traveling the countrys roads in convoys, facing possible ambush and IEDs (improvised explosive devices), was even more dangerous, he said. Like other veterans, Horvath suffered the psychological and emotional trauma of witnessing and treating the horrible injuries to troops, Iraqi adults and children -- and even terrorists. I brought the war home with me, he says in the book. But he never wavered from his mission to take care of the neighbors kid. Horvath had already served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, but he never went overseas and he felt a measure of guilt. I felt I had missed my war, he said. I felt this was something I should have done. It was an experience I should have had, and I missed it. He grew up hearing his fathers war stories and had always expected to follow in his footsteps. He attended medical school at The Ohio State University and his career included stints with BP and General Electric, as well as the VA. When his own sons asked what they should do following the 9-11 attacks, he told them, I expect youll do what I did and your grandfathers did, and defend your country. Both sons have had long careers as Navy officers, and his daughter is a physician. Horvath wanted to set an example for his sons as he contemplated his own future. When he told his wife, Joy, what he wanted to do, she went bonkers and questioned whether he was having a midlife crisis. When he had exhausted all his other rationales, he tried a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor and told her, This is the most fun an old guy like me can have without having an affair. She told him to sign up the next day. She became my strongest supporter, Horvath said. Bank in the ranks The Navy wouldnt allow him to re-enlist because of a neck injury, but the Army took him right away, glad to have a physician with his experience. Horvath had kept in excellent physical shape and could endure carrying a 60-pound pack and completing three-mile runs in the rain. Not many people my age could have survived it, he said. I could keep up with anything the young whippersnappers could do. He was sent to the infamous Abu Ghraib prison, which had been Saddam Husseins torture chamber and the recent scene of abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. personnel. He was told he would be the personal physician to Hussein, then on trial and the most hated man in the country, and likely the target of assassination attempts. That assignment was scrapped. Hussein was later convicted and hanged. Dr. Edward Horvath during one of his three deployments to Iraq, where he treated American soldiers, Iraqi civilians and even suspected terrorists. He volunteered when he was 57 and served until 2014. (Photo Courtesy of Dr. Edward Horvath) Horvath would find he was quite literally treating the neighbors kid when Christopher Fraser arrived at his hospital. Fraser, with the 101st Airborne, had fallen 35 feet from a helicopter during a night training mission. He miraculously survived with minor injuries. But while in the hospital, he complained of abdominal pain. Horvath realized from the X-rays that Fraser had ruptured his spleen. Emergency surgery saved Frasers life. Before the procedure, Horvath asked where Fraser was from, and he told him Lakewood -- only a couple of miles from the doctors Bay Village home. During his last deployment, at the rank of colonel, Horvath was responsible for the medical care of more than 20,000 U.S. soldiers at the hospital near Tikrit. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit for his service. Back home, he resumed his home life and practice at the VA. He believes his experiences help him relate better to the needs of veterans. During his first two deployments, Horvath had kept a journal about his experiences. This and other recollections became Good Medicine, Hard Times. One Gold Star Mother told Horvath that she had never understood her sons warrior heart until she read his book. Was the sacrifice worth it? Horvath has stayed in touch with Fraser, who during one call held up his newborn son to the phone so the doctor who had saved his life could hear the babys cries. It was another serendipitous encounter that convinced Horvath that he had made the right decision to serve. At the Cleveland airport, on his way to his final assignment, Horvath was feeling despondent, sure that he would never see his wife again. At the checkout counter, the clerk noted his uniform and asked if he was on his way to Iraq. She said her son had served there, was injured when he fell from a helicopter and a doctor saved his life when he ordered emergency surgery. It was Frasers mother. When she realized Horvath was this life-saving physician, she embraced him and said, My little boy came home because of you. At that moment, all the hardship, privation, separation, danger and fear Id experienced became worthwhile, Horvath writes. At least on that one fateful day in Iraq, I accomplished what Id set out to do -- caring for the neighbors kid. Information is at www.goodmedicinehardtimes.com. The book is available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Read more from the West Shore Sun. COLUMBUS, Ohio Ohio girls in grades six through 12 will get free feminine hygiene products at school, thanks to a provision in the recently enacted two-year state budget. The budget sends $5 million to schools over the next two years to purchase sanitary pads, tampons and other menstruation products. The provision was bipartisan, and inserted into the Ohio budget as a Senate amendment backed by state Sens. Nickie Antonio, a Lakewood Democrat and Senate minority leader, and Stephanie Kunze, a Columbus-area Republican. WASHINGTON, D. C. - House Judiciary Committee Republicans led by Ohios Jim Jordan on Wednesday accused Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of everything from treason to doing the bidding of drug cartels. Jordan, a Champaign County Republican, declared that record numbers of people entering the country illegally, terrorists and fentanyl have crossed the southwest border during President Joe Bidens 2.5-year administration, and the influx of immigrants has overwhelmed border communities and cities thousands of miles away. Nothing about the Biden administration policy is safe, orderly or humane, said Jordan. The committees top Democrat, New Yorks Jerrold Nadler, countered that the Biden administration has deported or expelled over 2.5 million people in the last two years, nearly as many people as President Barack Obama deported in his entire eight years in office, and that border apprehension numbers are down 70% of what they were just 10 weeks ago. He said Mayorkas is aggressively enforcing immigration laws, while opening additional legal pathways for refugee processing. He said drugs are largely coming into the country through official ports of entry and are being brought in overwhelmingly by U.S. citizens. Georgia Democratic Rep. Hank Johnson noted that 88% of those arrested for fentanyl trafficking are U.S. citizens. He accused Republican extremists of trying to sell an apocalyptic fantasy, that the border is out of control, that drugs are flowing in freely, that terrorist are freely entering the country and Latino immigrants are coming to rape, rob and murder our families, when white nationalist ideology that lies beneath such rhetoric is actually the greatest threat to the nation. He cited mass shootings at an El Paso Wal-Mart, and at synagogues in California and Pennsylvania, as evidence. Mayorkas told him that the language of invasion certainly fuels the threat landscape that we encounter. Mayorkas denied claims that the border is open, but said the immigration system has been broken for as long as I can remember. Efforts to manage the U.S. border securely and humanely are working despite the broken system, he said, noting that unlawful entries between southwest border ports of entry have decreased by more than half from their peak. Under President Bidens leadership, we have led the largest expansion of lawful, safe and orderly pathways for people to seek humanitarian relief under our laws, at the same time, imposing tougher consequences on those who instead resort to the ruthless smuggling organizations that prey on the most vulnerable, Mayorkas said. He said the Biden administration secured the first increase in border patrol agent hiring in more than a decade and its campaign to disrupt and dismantle human smuggling networks has resulted in the arrest of nearly 14,000 smugglers He said the Department of Homeland Security is also taking bold and decisive action to counter the cybersecurity threat from nation states like the Peoples Republic of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, and from cyber criminals around the world who target our critical infrastructure and seek to hold schools, hospitals, police departments, and other institutions vital to our daily lives hostage for ransom. Republicans repeatedly said the nations border control policies facilitate fentanyl trafficking, with Floridas Matt Gaetz claiming the Mexican government is captive to the cartels, and Mayorkas is as well. Im not sure exactly what you do at the Department of Homeland Security other than great harm, agreed Louisianas Mike Johnson. After Mayorkas told New Jerseys Jeff Van Drew that he would not resign from office, Van Drew thundered that he should be impeached. The fentanyl killing thousands of Americans every year is a direct result of your dereliction, declared Colorado Republican Ken Buck, who said his constituents believe Mayorkas is a traitor. When people die of fentanyl poisoning, it is your fault. Mayorkas said we grieve the loss of any life, but noted that the challenge of fentanyl is not new and has been escalating for more than five years. He said China is responsible for the deaths because many of the precursor chemicals and the pill press equipment used in its manufacture originate there. We in the Department of Homeland Security, with our federal partners, are taking it to the traffickers to an unprecedented degree through innovative operations targeting criminals, Mayorkas said. Sabrina Eaton writes about the federal government and politics in Washington, D.C., for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Two Ohio cities have been named among the Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S., according to a new report from Livability.com. Parma, Ohio, and Cincinnati, Ohio, each made Livability.coms list, which is in its 10th year of ranking the top 100 best places to live in the U.S. RELATED: Two Ohio restaurants named Top 100 Burger Spots in the US Parma, Ohio, ranked 35th on the list with an overall livability score of 767. Whats particularly special about Parma is its laid-back, hometown feel. With kitschy lawn flamingos, neighborhood corner bars and family-owned restaurants, its vibe is a little old-school in the best way, Livability.com says in its rankings. With unique neighborhoods like Ukrainian Village and Polish Village hosting community festivals, Lenten fish fries and delicious homemade pierogies, its hard not to feel at home here. RELATED: 3 Ohio metro areas among most likely to be impacted by newly invasive species, report says Cincinnati, Ohio, meanwhile, ranked 81st on the Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S. list with a livability score of 712. Whats particularly impressive about Cincinnati is that despite these incredible amenities, the citys housing market remains highly affordable, Livability.com says in its rankings. With a median house price of $205,389 and a low cost of living, its become an attractive option for young people looking to purchase their first home. The top-ranking city on Livabilitys Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S. is Johns Creek, Georgia, with a livability score of 877. Fayeteville, Arkansas, rounded out the list at the No. 100 spot with a livability score of 686. RELATED: Three Ohio towns make Top 50 Mosquito Cities list: See where The top 10 cities to live in in the U.S., according to Livability.com, are: 1.) Johns Creek, GA (877 livability score) 2.) Flower Mound, TX (872) 3.) Carmel, IN (866) 4.) Broomfield, CO (855) 5.) Sugar Land, TX (854) 6.) Cary, NC (849) 7.) Overland Park, KS (849) 8.) Fishers, IN (848) 9.) Naperville, IL (841) 10.) Troy, MI (837) RELATED: Two Ohio doughnut bakeries named Top 100 US Donut Shops 2023 Livability.com conducted its rankings by only considering cities with populations between 75,000 and 500,000, as well as only cities with a median home value of $500,000 or less. The outlet partnered with Applied Geographical Sciences to curate its list using numerous data points, including economy, housing and cost of living, transportation, environment, safety, amenities, education, and health. Livabilty.coms full rankings of Top 100 Places to Live in the U.S. 2023 can be found online. ATLANTA -- Last week, Floridas Department of Education unveiled newly revised state standards for teaching African American history. The revisions were necessitated by a 2022 Florida law, the Stop W.O.K.E. Act, which prohibits instruction that could prompt students to feel discomfort about a historical event because of their race, sex or national origin. As anticipated, the revisions generated a substantial amount of criticism. One guideline in particular is consistently highlighted by those decrying the changes. The guideline says that Floridas middle schoolers should be taught that slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. The guideline is undeniably true. A person who learned to work with metal while enslaved did indeed develop a skill which, in some instances, could be applied for his or her personal benefit. However, one must ask what it benefits Floridas children to teach them that slavery, though morally reprehensible, benefited slaves in some instances. If a Jew in a concentration camp learned how to dig graves a skill which could be applied for personal benefit no one would argue that children should learn about that, too, during the Holocaust lesson. Theres no reason to debate the justification for the revision. The justification is in the Stop W.O.K.E. Act. Under that law, classroom instruction cannot make students feel discomfort about a historical event because of their race. In other words, white students cannot be taught about slavery in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. It makes sense, then, that -- to make them feel comfortable when learning about slavery - they are also taught that, at least in some instances, the slaves were better off for it. Knowledge of our history matters. For one, it can teach us lessons that we can apply in the present. As the old adage goes, Those who dont know their history are doomed to repeat it. Additionally, history can inspire and motivate. Learning what our predecessors accomplished, the things they built, the obstacles they overcame, the discoveries they made, the trials they persevered through, can instill in us a tremendous sense of pride and fortitude that we can rely on or tap into as we forge our own path. Thus, what we teach about our history, and how we teach it, goes a long way towards setting (or resetting) our current course. America has always struggled with how to teach its history. Many of us were taught that Christopher Columbus discovered America. He didnt. We were taught to revere Columbus as an explorer but were never taught about those who paid the cost of his exploration: the many Indigenous people who were enslaved and forced to mine for gold, or work on plantations, or shipped back to Spain. We were never taught about how Columbus exploration brought disease that decimated the Indigenous population. We were taught to revere the Founding Fathers for their vision in conceiving of a United States of America, their courage in their willingness to fight for its establishment, and their sense of morality in founding a nation upon the principle that all men are created equal. We were not taught that many of these men owned slaves as they protested to Britain about their own perceived subjugation. We were not taught that these men, like Columbus, forced others to pay the cost of their exploration. Profits were made off the backs of slaves, from labor performed on land stolen from Indigenous people. We were taught about the importance of the transcontinental railroad, which linked the United States from east to west. The completion of the railroad facilitated westward expansion and American economic development. We were taught about the two railroad companies that built the railroad, the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroad companies, and the ambitious businessmen who ran those companies. We were not taught about those who bore the cost: the 15,000 to 20,000 Chinese immigrants who toiled for less pay and were assigned the more dangerous tasks during the railroads completion. Put simply, America has always had difficulty with facing its full history. One that takes into account the perspectives of those who suffered at the expense of those we lionize. One that recognizes that the most consistent feature of American greatness is the sacrifice of the humanity of some number of nameless people for the sake of achieving it. Many of us reject Florida for its failures in presenting African American history (the keyword being American). Yet, I see the problem as a larger one. Consider the blockbuster movie Oppenheimer. It also presents American history in a flawed manner. J. Robert Oppenheimer was a brilliant scientist who led the Manhattan Project, which was the U.S. government initiative to develop the worlds first nuclear weapons. As part of the project, a secret laboratory was built in Los Alamos, New Mexico, called the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Hundreds of scientists, including Oppenheimer, and their families lived at the laboratory while the secret project was underway. As we all know, the Manhattan Project eventually resulted in the development of the atomic bomb. That much we were taught in school. What we were not taught is who paid the cost. The federal government required a large swath of land to build the Los Alamos NationL Laboratory. People were on the land where the government wanted to build the laboratory. There was a school, a ranch, and Hispanic homesteaders who owned land in that area. White entrepreneurs who owned the school and the ranchland were paid $225 per acre and $43 per acre, respectively. The Hispanic homesteaders were paid between $7 and $23 per acre for their land, according to a National Park Service article. Some families said they were forced off their property by gunpoint. The Trinity test, the culmination of the Manhattan Project, was the first successful detonation of an atomic bomb. Those who lived near the test site, which was also in New Mexico, were not warned that a nuclear test was being conducted. After the detonation, locals were told there had been an explosion at a dump. A 2020 National Cancer Institute study found that up to a thousand people may have developed cancer from the Trinity test fallout. Im not saying that the Oppenheimer movie should not have been made. It is worth remembering who Oppenheimer was and what he accomplished. Im only submitting that, in telling the story of the development of the atomic bomb as one centered around Oppenheimer, we continue our pattern of excluding from our historical retellings of American greatness those who paid the greatest cost in achieving it. Eric Foster is a columnist for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com. That pattern, in my view, is more pernicious than any revision of standards that Florida engages in to fight the so-called culture wars. By continually failing to acknowledge the high price paid for greatness, we leave ourselves unable to fully reflect on the choices made in the process. It is in that reflection that we learn the lessons of history. If the goal is to change this course, we must change how we tell our story. History is complicated. But I think we can handle processing it completely and accurately. We are complicated, too. Eric Foster, a community member of the editorial board, is a columnist for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com. Foster is a lawyer in private practice. The views expressed are his own. To reach Eric Foster: ericfosterpd@gmail.com 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 opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. Microsoft (MSFT) reported a strong fiscal-fourth-quarter result, but a softer revenue outlook for the next quarter and commentary about higher expenses for the new fiscal year sent shares lower in after-hours trading. We still believe the stock moves higher this year and are raising our price target. Revenue increased about 8% year over year to $56.19 billion, beating analysts' forecasts of $55.47 billion, according to estimates from Refinitiv. Adjusted earnings-per-share (EPS) increased 15% from last year to $2.69, beating analysts' estimates of $2.55, Refinitiv data showed. Bottom line Microsoft wrapped up its fiscal year on a high note with beats or an in-line result across nearly every single line item that we focus on. Revenues beat across the board, Azure's revenue growth decelerated in line with expectations, and companywide operating margins expanded nicely from last year. However, it looks like Microsoft has to enter into a little bit of an investing phase over the next four quarters to scale up to meet demand for its AI products. The company is committed to driving operating leverage and managing spending to keep margins flat in this period. But these higher costs didn't immediately translate into revenue upside for the current quarter. This issue, coupled with generally high expectations, is why the stock is down 3.75% in after-hours trading, though this decline pales in comparison to the stock's 46% rise year to date. While we cannot fault anyone who wants to take profits after the stock's giant move to a more than $2.6 trillion market cap this year, the softer revenue may only be a short speed bump in this growth story. On the conference call, CFO Amy Hood said "growth from its AI Services will be gradual as Azure AI scales and our copilots reach general availability dates." Therefore, growth may be more back-weighted in the second half of the company's fiscal year. And we know Copilot, Microsoft's generative AI assistant for Microsoft 365 products, isn't cheap at an additional $30 per month per user. This news sent shares to a new all time high . With the AI story still strong over the long term, we think the stock can continue to chug higher the rest of the year. We are increasing our price target to $400 from $320. Quarterly results It was a near clean sweep of beats across all three main reporting segments, with the only miss for operating income in the "more personal computing segment." Arguably Microsoft's most closely watched segment is intelligent cloud, where revenues grew 15% from last year thanks to a 26% increase (27% in constant currency) in Azure and other cloud services revenues. Azure revenue growth is the single most important line item and its results and commentary often sway sentiment around the stock. The 27% constant currency growth rate was in line with analyst forecasts and comes in at the top end of the 26% to 27% forecast management provided last quarter. But there may have been some bullish investors looking for more upside given MSFT's rise this year. One reason people have become more bullish around Microsoft's cloud business is the integration of artificial intelligence. The company said this evening that more than 11,000 organizations are using Azure Open AI services, meaning almost 100 new customers were added every day in the quarter. Interest in AI, as well as general demand for Azure's cloud solutions, drove the average annualized value of large long-term Azure contract to the highest value in company history. in addition, Microsoft saw a record number of $10-million-plus contracts for Azure in the quarter. Parts of the more personal computing division is still challenged due to weakness in the PC market. But total revenues fell a little less than expected, at 4%, mostly due to a 12% decline in Windows OEM revenue and a 18% drop in devices revenue growth. That was partially offset by an 8% increase in search and news advertising revenue. The quarter marked the fifth straight period in which Windows OEM revenue declined year over year, but the 12% drop was an improvement from the 28% decline one quarter ago. Gaming revenue grew 2%, with Xbox content and services revenue up 6%, offset by a 13% decline in Xbox hardware. Microsoft's gaming business will get a nice boost if and when it closes its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. As a reminder, last week the two companies extended their merger agreement deadline to October. In the productivity and business processes segment, revenue increased about 10% from last year thanks to a 15% increase in Office 365 Commercial Revenue growth. Office 365 Commercial seat growth grew 11% from last year, a steady rate that disproves the view that widespread corporate layoffs (especially at tech companies) would negatively impact Office 365 seats, which essentially represent the number of business users given access to digital software. Office Consumer Products and cloud services revenue increased 3% from last year and Microsoft 365 consumer subscribers increased to 67 million, up from 65.4 million at the end of the March quarter. Note: Constant currency growth rates help strip out fluctuations in foreign currency, namely a strong U.S. dollar, to provide a clearer financial picture. Guidance Management's outlook was slightly weaker than expected, causing the stock to fall in after-hours trading. On the top line, only the midpoint of the outlook for the productivity and business processes business was higher than estimates. More personal computing was the biggest miss, with guidance assuming no significant changes to demand for the PC market. Cloud revenue barely missed at the midpoint, but the consensus falls within management's range. Microsoft sees Azure revenue growing 25% to 26% in constant currency, including roughly 2 points from all Azure AI services. This was actually better than the 24.3% growth rate expected on FactSet. And it's good news that the cloud computing industry is starting to see signs of stabilization. In constant currency, Azure grew 31% two quarters ago to 27% in the reported quarter and now expected to be around 25.5% in the current quarter. Still, management was hesitant to call when the growth deceleration will end. In addition to the top line miss, management provided a view on margins for the full fiscal year and that was a small disappointment. To support the continued growth at Azure and new AI initiatives, Microsoft will have to ramp up spending. Capital expenditures, specifically for data centers, CPUs, GPUs, and networking equipment, are expected to increase sequentially over the next four quarters to meet demand. This may be good for a company like Nvidia (NVDA) because its chips are needed to support growth in the cloud. But the market was anticipating operating margin expansion for the upcoming year so the stock will be dinged for it. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long MSFT. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Satya Nadella, chief executive officer of Microsoft Corp., gestures as he speaks during the Microsoft Decoded conference in Mumbai, India, on Feb. 22, 2017. Flipkart has chosen Microsoft's Azure public cloud computing service in new a strategic partnership, Nadella said. Amit Madheshiya | Bloomberg | Getty Images Laura Modi wasn't looking for a reason to quit her job as she walked the aisles of her local pharmacy at 3 a.m. she just wanted to find something to calm her crying newborn. Instead, hidden between a rack of magazines and discounted bottles of sunscreen, she found a multi-million dollar business idea: organic baby formula. It was 2016, and Modi had given birth to her daughter just five days earlier. The Airbnb exec wasn't producing enough milk to breastfeed her newborn, and she was baffled by the fact that many of the baby formulas available in San Francisco, where she lived at the time, had corn syrup or palm oil among their first ingredients. "I was exhausted and resentful that I failed at breastfeeding and had to resort to a second-best option, a formula with ingredients I wouldn't want to consume myself," Modi, now 38, recalls. What's more, it was the opposite experience Modi expected to have as a new mom. "I anticipated joy, coupled with a bit of exhaustion and exhilaration through it all," she says. "I never once thought I would be feeling this immense disappointment and sadness over feeding my child." That same year, Modi dove headfirst into a research rabbit hole, studying the ins and outs of the baby formula industry, and was shocked to find that the nutritional standards of formula had not been significantly updated since the 1980s. The global infant-formula market is expected to be valued at over $100 billion by 2032. In 2017, when Modi's daughter turned one, she decided to quit her job as Airbnb's head of hospitality and set out to create a baby formula with cleaner ingredients. Today, Modi is a mother of three and the co-founder and CEO of Bobbie, a company that sells FDA-approved infant formula that's made with organic milk and doesn't contain fillers, corn syrup, antibiotics, palm oil or maltodextrin, a white, starchy preservative. To date, Bobbie has raised over $140 million. A single 14-ounce can of formula costs $25.99, and is sold on Bobbie's website and Target stores throughout the U.S. as well as Target.com. In 2022, Bobbie's revenue topped $84 million, despite last year's nationwide shortage of baby formula, which was triggered by supply chain issues and the discovery of the life-threatening pathogen cronobacter in powdered formulas. When the formula shortage hit in early 2022, Bobbie closed its subscription service to new customers for about eight months a difficult decision that Modi says allowed the company to "continually and reliably" serve its existing customers. Below, Modi discusses how she found the confidence to leave her tech job, what it's like to have a baby while running a company, and where she sees the future of the formula industry heading. LONDON Britain's wealthiest man, Gopichand Hinduja, condemned the U.K.'s departure from the European Union, but threw his backing behind Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's ability to revive the country's ailing economy. The Indian-born British billionaire, who is chairman of Indian conglomerate the Hinduja Group, said that the U.K.'s efforts to forge new trade partnerships would provide a much needed boost for the country and reestablish Britain as an "excellent" place to invest. "The step taken of Brexit was not good for the U.K.," Hinduja told CNBC's Tanvir Gill in London on Monday. Britain voted to leave the European Union in 2016 and formally exited the bloc at the end of Jan. 2020. "To correct it, now they have gone to these 11 countries. This will help," he said, in reference to deals including the recently signed Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. None of those partnerships will be more valuable to the U.K. than its forthcoming free trade arrangement (FTA) with India, according to Hinduja. "The biggest help the U.K. can get is from India, because India's economy, by 2027, will be the third largest in the world," he said. Hinduja said he had revised forward his growth projection for India's economy currently the world's fifth largest from 2030 based on his instincts and experiences. Britain and India last week concluded their 11th round of negotiations for a free trade agreement, which has faced several setbacks amid differences on some major tariff lines and investment protection rules. Hinduja, who is not involved in negotiations, said that bureaucracy had been the "biggest problem," but he added that the ultimate benefits for the U.K. would be wide-reaching. "There will be a lot to be done in technologies, in infrastructure, in health, in education and, especially, in defense side the U.K. is very interested," he said. WASHINGTON Members of the Senate Banking Committee jostled Wednesday over whether the leading U.S. consumer protection agency has the power to curb so-called junk fees that affect millions of consumers every year. Republican lawmakers have accused the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of operating outside of its jurisdiction by enforcing the Biden administration's proposals to crack down on the charges. Democrats have defended the agency's ability to target the much-maligned fees and shield consumers from what they call burdensome costs. The committee's first hearing comes as the Biden administration takes a range of steps to root out junk fees, which the CFPB says includes credit card late fees, overdraft fees and surcharges on ticket purchases. Among other actions, the agency recently fined Bank of America $150 million for charging its customers multiple overdraft fees. The GOP criticism comes amid a sustained Republican effort to claw back the CFPB's powers. The agency "is undertaking a name and shame campaign to coerce banks who were following the established prudential standards for the crime of listening to their previous federal regulators," said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., ranking member of the subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection. The CFPB has drawn Republican ire for a variety of proposals to curb the charges, including a plan to cap credit card late fees at as little as $8. In his testimony, Brian Johnson, managing director of financial regulatory consultancy Patomak Global Partners, said the CFPB "has been the most enthusiastic among regulators" in targeting junk fees. Johnson, who served as the CFPB's deputy director under former President Donald Trump, accused the agency of "indiscriminately attacking a growing list of common financial services fees, no matter that they are lawful and fully disclosed." Democrats argued the power to target junk fees fits within the CFPB's core duties. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a critical figure in creating the CFPB, said the agency has effectively deterred banks from collecting billions in predatory fees from consumers. "Name your favorite big bank: Bank of America, Wells Fargo , JP Morgan Chase ... and chances are that the CFPB has caught them red-handed engaging in any one of these tricks, at least once, and sometimes all at the same time," Warren, D-Mass., said. "The banks claim that these fees help consumers by allowing banks to offer overdraft protection to those who want it." "And let's not forget, these are the same banks that are bankrolling the attacks on the CFPB," Warren added. JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo declined to comment. A Bank of America spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment from CNBC. Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry testified that overdraft fees do not benefit customers as banks claim. "The truth is they hit families of color harder and often result in account closures, leaving them unbanked," Henry said, adding that 90% of those who pay overdraft and nonsufficient fund fees "generally pay three or more a year while earning less than $50,000." Henry also contended big banks can't be trusted to act in the best interest of consumers on their own. Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Georgia Democrat and chair of the subcommittee, said that junk fees serve to keep "hardworking Americans" out of the financial system and on the margins of the economy. "We must hold these businesses accountable when they use their profits off the backs of hardworking Americans and ensure that they are not looking at these customers as easy targets to be taken advantage of with onerous and opaque fees," Warnock said. New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during an interview on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., February 28, 2022. New York Mayor Eric Adams met with a small but influential group of tech executives last year at the swanky Le Pavillon with a clear message: Tech should stay and invest in the city because he's allied with their industry. Since then, however, Adams' often-positive relationship with New York's tech community has soured in some ways. In the view of some key members of the New York tech community, much of that stems from Adams and his administration failing to live up to the tight relationship they appeared to promise the industry before and after he was sworn in early last year, according to people familiar with the matter. Some leading tech officials, including some executives from Airbnb and Uber, have grown tired of meetings with Adams and members of his administration that they believe have led to few concrete results, according to people briefed on the matter. These revelations come as Adams' unfavorable ratings rise among New Yorkers, according to a new poll. Reached for comment on this story, Adams' press team provided a statement defending his track record on tech. "Mayor Adams strongly believes we must harness technology to address some of the most pressing issues facing our city and his record, 18 months into his term, speaks for itself," the statement says. It also notes a wide range of initiatives, including how Adams appointed the city's first chief technology officer and how he has "overseen the rollout of the MyCity platform to streamline access to public benefits programs and issued rules to permit drone usage for private use as well as for city agencies." Adams' team also pointed to the work they've done with the tech sector to bring more jobs to New York. Adams' team also referred CNBC to two New York tech leaders: Andrew Rasiej, the chairman of NY Tech Alliance, and George Fontas, the CEO of tech lobbying shop Fontas Advisors. NY Tech Alliance is a massive tech trade group with 60,000 members, according to their website. Rasiej pushed back on the notion that Adams relationship with New York's tech community has soured. He sees Adams as the first mayor that "truly understands how technology can be implemented" and pointed to Adams creating the Office of Technology and Innovation. Rasiej said that having that new agency and a chief technology officer running it was a better move for Adams that just appointing a deputy mayor because the CTO is in charge of all of the city's technology under one office rather than just a portfolio of agencies under one deputy mayor. "I think the tech community should be grateful that they have a Mayor who is focused on making sure technology serves and reaches all New Yorkers equitably," Rasiej said. "It's unfortunate that some companies feel they aren't getting enough and the same attention they get from Washington through their lobbyists and donations." Fontas, who has lobbied for his tech clients in New York politics for years, told CNBC that just because a company doesn't get what they want from their meetings, doesn't mean it's on the Adams administration to appease their concerns. "Ultimately, the city's perspective is we have millions of people that we're managing but we're also managing an over $100 billion budget," Fontas said. "The city's goals might not always align with where your corporation wants to be. It really is incumbent on the company to align their goals to the city's success." Josh Gold, a spokesman for Uber, told CNBC: "We are committed to working with the Mayor to continue to advance the City's recovery." An Adams City Hall spokesperson told CNBC that while they don't comment on private conversations, many of the city's regulations on short-term rentals and rideshare companies predate Adams' administration. A spokesperson for Airbnb did not return requests for comment before publication. Gap announced Wednesday it's poached a top Mattel executive to be its new CEO as the apparel giant seeks to reverse an ongoing sales slump and regain its relevancy in the fashion industry. Richard Dickson, president and chief operating officer at Mattel, was chosen as Gap's top boss after a yearlong search that began last summer when former CEO Sonia Syngal left the company. Since then, Gap's chairman, Bob Martin, has been serving as interim CEO during a longer-than-expected search for a successor. During a May earnings call, Martin told investors he didn't expect to hold the position of interim CEO as long as he had. Dickson, who has been a member of Gap's board since November 2022, will leave his current position at Mattel on Aug. 3 and start the new role on Aug. 22, earning an annual base salary of $1.4 million. Martin will remain chair of the board. "Gap Inc. is a portfolio of iconic brands, known for having defined American style with bold thinking and making quality fashion accessible to millions. But it's the work ahead that excites me most - the chance to work hand-in-hand with the teams to evolve Gap Inc. for a new era," Dickson said in a statement. "Under Bobby's leadership, the team has begun to truly reset the company for long-term success, establishing a new foundation that I'm eager to build on." Martin called Dickson "a perfect fit for Gap." Gap shares gained nearly 8% on Wednesday after the news. During his tenure with Mattel, Dickson is credited with reviving the Barbie franchise and growing the toymaker's other top brands, including Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price, according to Mattel. Goldman Sachs has named India-listed electricity producer NTPC a "top pick" in the power sector and expects the stock to soar by more than 30% over the next 12 months. The Wall Street bank also named SJVN , a public-sector-utility stock, as a buying opportunity due to the company's "exponential renewable capacity addition plans." The two companies are among India's largest power generators and are set to participate in the government's push into solar, wind, and hydropower over the next few years. "We believe India's electricity sector is going through a generational shift as the country looks to balance the economic growth with decarbonization," Goldman Sachs analyst Nikhil Bhandari told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia". In a research note to clients on July 18, Bhandari said that India's power sector has two key themes: an economics-driven transition to round-the-clock renewable projects, and a looming peak power deficit caused by rising demand despite the addition of more power projects. Bhandari also told CNBC that India has a unique opportunity in green hydrogen thanks to the viability of round-the-clock renewable electricity. He said India's lower electricity costs make the economics of green hydrogen more compelling versus other large economies like China. "In certain use cases, we estimate India's round-the-clock renewable energy cost at about 27% lower than China on a levelized basis, which we believe is driven by a higher solar irradiation, as well as a fully integrated transmission grid," he said. "This is unlike China, where we feel around the clock renewable electricity will be more economical towards the end of the decade." Goldman has a 12-month price target of 265 Indian rupees ($3.24) on NTPC, representing more than 30% upside from the current share price. It sees NTPC, a majority state-owned entity, as a winner in the power transition thanks to its "structural advantage" of low-cost debt. "Both, NTPC and SJVN can raise long term debt at 200-250bps lower cost than their private counterparts, in what is essentially a funding game," Bhandari said. Shares of SJVN have already risen past Goldman's price target of 55 Indian rupees and now carry a downside risk of 6%. Despite this, Goldman said it liked SJVN's renewable energy growth plans backed by inexpensive financing, as well as the medium-term earnings potential from commissioning two large power plants. In contrast, Goldman initiated coverage of Tata Power with a "sell" rating and target price of 190 rupees, representing a 13% downside from current levels. Bhandari said Tata Power faces headwinds from declining global coal prices that will pressure earnings. The bank also sees limited catalysts for growth in Tata's renewable energy business after its partial sale this fiscal year. CNBC's Michael Bloom and Naman Tandon contributed to this report. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, speaks during an interview in Redmond, Washington, March 15, 2023. Four leading artificial intelligence companies launched a new industry group on Wednesday to identify best safety practices and promote the technology's use toward great societal challenges. The group underscores how, until policymakers come up with new rules, the industry will likely need to continue to police themselves. Anthropic, Google , Microsoft and OpenAI said the new Frontier Model Forum had four key goals, which Google outlined in a blog post: 1. Advancing AI safety research to promote responsible development of frontier models, minimize risks, and enable independent, standardized evaluations of capabilities and safety. 2. Identifying best practices for the responsible development and deployment of frontier models, helping the public understand the nature, capabilities, limitations, and impact of the technology. 3. Collaborating with policymakers, academics, civil society and companies to share knowledge about trust and safety risks. 4. Supporting efforts to develop applications that can help meet society's greatest challenges, such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, early cancer detection and prevention, and combating cyber threats. Organizations that meet several criteria can join the group. Those include developing or deploying frontier models, or "large-scale machine-learning models that exceed the capabilities currently present in the most advanced existing models, and can perform a wide variety of tasks," Google said in its blog post. They also must show a commitment to safety "through technical and institutional approaches." The group said in the coming months, it would create an advisory board of diverse backgrounds to guide its priorities. The founding companies will consult civil society organizations as it comes up with its governance design and funding. The effort comes as policymakers weigh what appropriate guardrails on the technology could look like, without hindering innovation and ceding the country's position in the AI race. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has been spearheading an effort to create an AI legislative framework, while many other bills tackling specific slices of the technology's impact have already been introduced. The White House has also been hosting meetings with industry leaders and AI experts and recently announced that leading companies agreed to a voluntary pledge for developing AI safely. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. WATCH: How A.I. could impact jobs of outsourced coders in India When Rick Nucci was five years into his CEO job, he realized something important: The way he spoke to employees was hurting his company more than helping it. Nucci co-founded Guru, a 150-employee Philadelphia-based enterprise software startup, in 2013. He'd launched a startup before a cloud software startup called Boomi, which was acquired by Dell in 2010 and then sold for $4 billion in 2021 but he'd never been a CEO. He quickly realized that his words "carried a certain weight" as everyone's boss, he says. Wanting to keep morale high, he constantly praised employees' successes and avoided commenting on failures. In a sense, Nucci discouraged a specific kind of toxic atmosphere, where rampant aggressive criticism results in downtrodden employees. By doing so, he put Guru on a path to a different type of toxic workplace, he says where a lack of honest and clear communication could lead to languishing projects and frustrations boiling over. "I trained myself to be extra careful with my words," Nucci tells CNBC Make It, adding: "What I thought I was doing was helping them by not hammering them by being like, 'Here's the great thing about what you did.'" His reluctance to offer honest feedback trickled down to his employees: Workers began using the phrase "cheer pressure" to describe the compulsion they felt to avoid critiques in the name of relentless positivity, Nucci says. It often took multiple rounds of meetings for Nucci and his team to get on the same page. Guru moved too slowly for its clients, leaving Nucci "squirming" in his seat, he says. He'd then direct his frustration toward his employees, he adds. Here's how he learned that he was part of the problem, and the two skills he says he adopted to help prevent toxicity from taking root in his workplace. Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, pleaded not guilty to federal tax charges Wednesday pending a judge's approval of a revised plea deal his lawyers hashed out with prosecutors in court after an initial deal collapsed. Biden's original agreement to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax charges fell apart amid a dispute over how his plea would impact an ongoing government investigation, NBC News reported. The 53-year-old Biden had initially appeared in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, to enter a guilty plea a month after federal prosecutors first revealed the criminal tax charges against him. His attorneys had reached a separate pretrial diversion agreement with prosecutors on an unrelated firearms charge, those court filings showed. But that plan fell apart under scrutiny from Judge Maryellen Noreika about the details of the plea deal. Prosecutors said the agreements on the tax and gun charges were distinct but during the hearing, Hunter Biden said he wouldn't agree to plead guilty to the tax charges without the diversion program and dismissal of gun charges, according to NBC News reporters in the courtroom. Noreika, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, had pressed the prosecutors with questions after they indicated that their investigation into Biden is ongoing. That answer appeared to prompt confusion about the possibility that more charges could be brought down the road a situation Biden's attorneys said they had not agreed to. Noreika put the proceedings on hold as she asked the parties to work out their dispute. After 1 p.m. ET, Biden entered a plea of not guilty, pending the approval of a revised plea deal. Noreika said she wanted written answers to certain provisions in the new agreement, and had concerns about her role in the proposed deal. The breakdown in court marked the latest development in the controversies surrounding Hunter Biden, who has dealt with substance abuse and other issues that have provided fodder for the president's Republican critics to investigate his son. A White House spokeswoman responded to questions about Wednesday's courtroom drama by emphasizing that Hunter Biden was a private citizen and this was "a personal matter for him." "The president, the first lady, they love their son and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life," Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at a daily press briefing. "This case was handled independently, as all of you know, by the Justice Department under the leadership of a prosecutor appointed by the former president," she said. That prosecutor, U.S. Attorney David Weiss, revealed last month that the younger Biden agreed to plead guilty to two counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax. A court document detailing the charges alleged that Biden did not pay any federal income taxes in 2017 and 2018, despite having made more than $1.5 million annually and owing more than $100,000 in federal taxes each of those years. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) reaches out to help Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) after McConnell froze and stopped talking at the microphones during a news conference after a lunch meeting with Senate Republicans U.S. Capitol 26, 2023 in Washington, DC. WASHINGTON Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell abruptly froze and was briefly unable to speak at a Senate press conference Wednesday, prompting his colleagues to rush in and help him walk a few feet away from the cameras. The chilling moments came during the Senate GOP leadership's weekly press conference in the Capitol, where McConnell, 81, was standing at a lectern when he fell silent all of a sudden. Fellow senators appeared to quickly realize what was happening to the Kentucky Republican, and within moments Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso and South Dakota's John Thune stepped in to support McConnell's elbows. Thune and Barrasso walked the GOP leader off to one side of the long, marble hallway, but after a few minutes, McConnell returned to the lectern and finished the press conference. He dismissed reporters' questions about his health, however, and whether his brief inability to speak or move was related to a concussion the senator had suffered earlier this year. "No. I'm fine. I'm fine," McConnell replied. NBC News' Frank Thorp captured the incident on camera. A McConnell aide later sought to play down the scary moment, telling NBC that the Republican senator merely "felt light headed and stepped away for a moment." The staffer noted how McConnell "came back to handle Q and A, which as everyone observed, was sharp." The incident Wednesday occurred four months after McConnell suffered a serious fall at a Washington hotel that fractured his rib, in addition to giving him a concussion. After a week in the hospital, McConnell was released to rehab and spent the next month recuperating at home before he was able to return to the Senate in mid-April. It was unclear whether McConnell received any medical treatment after the Wednesday incident. Any significant change to McConnell's health would have potentially major political implications for Congress and the White House. This is especially true given how narrow each party's margins are in the House and Senate. In the unfortunate event that McConnell were unable to lead the GOP caucus on a daily basis, or cast in-person votes in the Capitol, there is no obvious successor waiting to take his place. This potential leadership vacuum was on stark display Wednesday when a reporter asked McConnell whether he had "anybody in mind to replace you when you're no longer conference leader?" McConnell did not respond. Instead, he just smiled and walked away. While Wall Street's expectations are lower this corporate earnings season, there are still several stocks Morgan Stanley said could rise in the near term. The start of next week will mark the halfway point of this earnings season, with almost a third of the S & P 500 constituents set to report their results. Pharmaceutical names Merck and Pfizer are set to release their earnings Tuesday, as is chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices . Tech giants Amazon and Apple are also on deck to report that week. Morgan Stanley's estimates for second-quarter earnings are down 9% year to date and flat sales growth, which the firm attributes to lagged and elevated costs. The firm's equity strategist Michelle Weaver wrote in a Wednesday note that second-half earnings should accelerate after the second quarter, with a rebound in 2024. "Recent guidance highlights that demand weakness is starting to show in certain pockets (particularly in goods-oriented sectors), while services oriented pockets have seen more durable guidance. At the same time, some companies are indicating a deceleration in pricing power that, up to this point, had helped offset higher costs," she added. With this in mind, the firm screened for stocks that it expects to drive upward on a near-term catalyst. Take a look at some of the names, and where analysts see them headed next. Amazon is one of Morgan Stanley's top picks for this earnings season. The firm believes potential catalysts include positive earnings revisions and its AWS Summit on cloud computing and generative artificial intelligence. "We think upward revisions to North America profits, driven by shipping and fulfillment cost per unit efficiencies, combined with a more durable consumer and a potential reacceleration of AWS revenue in 3Q/2H23 provides a favorable backdrop as we head into the second half," said analyst Brian Nowak. He added that multiple appreciation and earnings revisions could drive the stock upward. Amazon shares have popped more than 50% year to date. The company is scheduled to report after the close on Aug. 3. Yum Brands , which operates restaurant chains including Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, is another one of the firm's favorite names this earnings cycle. Analyst Brian Harbour is overweight on shares, citing its "attractive valuation" and strong fundamentals relative to other large franchised fast-food restaurants. Harbour thinks a better bottom line in the second quarter and stronger sales trends should result in less risk of the company repeating its first-quarter miss . "We view YUM's sales momentum, China recovery, durable development outlook, leadership in technology and exposure to emerging markets as key drivers of the stock. With fairly good visibility into 2H23/2024 earnings under its 98% franchised model and franchisee health strong, we believe risk reward skews favorably," Harbour said. The stock has gained 7% in 2023. Yum is expected to report on Aug. 2. Web development platform Wix could see tailwinds from its recent AI-coupled product announcements, according to analyst Elizabeth Porter. "The combination of recent underperformance, better-than-anticipated impact from AI, insider buying, stability in web trends and achievable Q2 revenue guidance for 11% growth YoY (up from 10% in Q1 on a 4-point easier compare), creates an undemanding set-up into the Q2 print, in our view," Porter said. However, she noted that concerns over the macro environment and longer-term concerns over competitive pressure on AI have weighed down the stock. Shares are up 11% year to date. Wix is set to report on Aug. 3. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. In this article NWG-GB Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Jonathan Bachman | Getty Images LONDON NatWest Group CEO Alison Rose resigned after a media storm over the termination of Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage's bank account by sister lender Coutts. Rose admitted Tuesday to having discussed the details of Farage's account with a BBC reporter and having thus been the source of a controversial story for which the national broadcaster has since issued an apology. Initially, the board reiterated its support for her to stay on as CEO, but at 2 a.m. London time Wednesday the bank announced her immediate departure by mutual consent. In a statement, Rose said she remained "immensely proud of the progress the bank has made in supporting people, families and business across the U.K., and building the foundations for sustainable growth." The controversy NatWest is 39% owned by the British taxpayer following the 2008 crisis, heightening the public interest in the bizarre saga. "Despite a stellar performance as the first woman to take the helm of a U.K. bank, her mistake in discussing sensitive customer details with a journalist broke a sacred trust with the British public and her decision to step down was the only viable path," said Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell. "She will be a loss, having worked her way up the ranks and championed diversity and inclusion in the sector with a huge focus on getting more women in financial services. But NatWest is no ordinary bank, it is still almost forty percent owned by the U.K. taxpayer, and the political and regulatory ramifications of this episode are likely to ripple out for months to come." Farage was informed last month that Coutts a high-end private bank and wealth manager requiring clients to hold a minimum of 1 million ($1.29 million) in investments or borrowing, or 3 million in savings planned to cut ties with him. Alison Rose, NatWest chief executive, (right) departs 10 Downing Street in London, after meeting with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. James Manning | PA Images | Getty Images He subsequently filed a subject access request to obtain a dossier the bank held on him which he then published, claiming it showed the bank account was being terminated due to his political views. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and several members of his Conservative government issued statements condemning the bank and characterizing the termination of Farage's account as an affront to free speech. Farage was offered an alternative account at regular main street bank NatWest, but declined. His critics maintain that although frequent references are made to Farage's political profile and controversial views, the reasons outlined for allowing the banking relationship to lapse were primarily commercial, and he was not "de-banked" as he claims. The dossier Minutes from the Wealth Reputational Risk Committee at Coutts on November 2022 state that Farage's mortgage was due to expire in July 2023, at which point "on a commercial basis" it would not look to renew and therefore recommended winding down the banking relationship. Without the mortgage, the bank indicated that Farage's account value would fall below its commercial criteria. The committee recommended exiting the relationship in July, but was at the time seeking to retain Farage as a client barring any "flash points" that might pose further "reputational risk." Coutts said that upon expiry of Farage's mortgage repayments, it "did not have the appetite to renew his mortgage or provide banking facilities" and had therefore implemented an "exit plan" that allowed for the bank to terminate Farage's account earlier in the event of further controversy in the meantime. "The Committee did not think continuing to bank NF [Nigel Farage] was compatible with Coutts given his publicly-stated views that were at odds with our position as an inclusive organisation," the minutes added. "This was not a political decision but one centred around inclusivity and Purpose." An update from March 10 this year noted that Farage's account had "been below commercial criteria for some time and upon review of Nigel's past public profile and connections, the perceived risks for the future weighed against the benefit of retention, the decision was taken to exit upon repayment of an existing mortgage." Farage's politically exposed person status conferred by British banks to high-ranking public figures who may be susceptible to bribery was downgraded to "lower risk" as he is "no longer associated with any political party" since stepping down as Brexit Party leader in 2021. Part of the client analysis from Coutts contained within the 40 pages of personal data, highlighted an array of news articles alongside Farage's own media appearances and tweets, determined that the "values" he promotes did not align with the bank's. "Particularly given the manner in which he states (and monetises) those views - deliberately using extreme, hatful[sp?] and emotive language (often with a dose of misinformation) - at best he is seen as xenophobic and pandering to racists, and at worst, he is seen as xenophobic and racist," it said. "He is considered by many to be a disingenuous grifter and is regularly (almost constantly) the subject of adverse media." LONDON - June 16, 2016: Then-UK Independence Party Leader (UKIP) Nigel Farage poses during the launch of a national poster campaign urging voters to vote to leave the EU ahead of the EU referendum. DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images Farage is a longtime ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, vocal supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and prominent figure in the British hard right, having previously led the U.K. Independence Party (UKIP) and the Brexit Party. The documents note long lists of controversial statements and activities, including his filming of migrants arriving in dinghies via the English Channel and reference to migrant boat arrivals as an "invasion," and his blaming of violence in the city of Leicester last year on lawmakers who "promoted multiculturalism." Coutts acknowledged that Farage's commentary "remains within the law regarding hate speech and arguably on the right side of 'glorifying or promoting harmful behaviour' (although we should be mindful of the role the 'illegal immigrant / invasion' rhetoric plays in contributing to discrimination and in some instances, violence, against migrants)." The fallout Farage told Sky News on Wednesday that he was "shocked with the vitriol" contained within it, and is calling for the resignation of the entire NatWest Group executive board along with a regulatory overhaul of Britain's banking sector. British economist and financial author Frances Coppola, in a blog post Tuesday, agreed that the language in the bank's risk assessment was "mostly negative and at times possibly defamatory," and said now-ousted CEO Rose was right to apologize directly to Farage before her departure. However, Coppola argued that the bank was "absolutely right to conduct such an assessment and fully entitled to reach the conclusions that it did," with the Coutts risk assessment noting that there is an "extra cost attached to managing the accounts of high profile individuals such as NF." "Assessing the risk and cost of a customer is a commercial judgement. And reputational risk is hugely important to a bank like Coutts. It is wholly unreasonable to argue that they should not have taken account of - or even evaluated - the risk to them of doing business with a person as controversial as Nigel Farage," Coppola argued. "Why should a bank accept the extra cost that you create for them if you don't borrow from them and don't keep enough liquid savings with them to support their lending to other people? And why should it keep your account open when you don't meet its published criteria, given the reputational risk and general aggravation you cause?" LONDON - June 26, 2020: Private bank and wealth manager Coutts and Company, founded in 1692, and the eighth oldest bank in the world, displays support for Pride month at its offices in London. Dave Rushen/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images A Rolls Royce jet engine on display at the Rolls-Royce aircraft jet engine production and repair facility in Blankenfelde on February 28, 2023 near Berlin, Germany. LONDON Shares of Rolls-Royce rocketed to their highest level since the start of the pandemic Wednesday morning after the British aerospace and defense firm raised its full-year profit guidance and said it would vastly outperform expectations for its half-year results. The company said it now anticipates full-year underlying operating profit will sit between 1.2 billion ($1.55 billion) and 1.4 billion, up from a previous guidance of 800 million to 1 billion, as the impact of a vast cost-cutting and business "transformation" program takes effect earlier than predicted. Market consensus is currently for a 934 million underlying operating profit, the company said. It added that it sees its first-half underlying operating profit, due August 3, coming in at just over double analyst expectations of 328 million. Rolls-Royce's share price was 19% higher at 12:39 p.m. BST. The company's shares have taken a battering over the last three years at times even entering "penny stock" territory below 1 largely because of the Covid-19 hit to the aviation sector, as well as the knock-on effects on aircraft orders and the number of hours its engines were in use. Rolls-Royce makes engines for Airbus and Boeing. Rudy Giuliani, former lawyer to Donald Trump, speaks to members of the media as he leaves federal court in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, May 19, 2023. Rudy Giuliani conceded in a court filing Tuesday that he made "false" statements about two Georgia 2020 election workers who are suing him over baseless claims of fraud that he made against them. "Defendant Giuliani, for the purposes of litigation only, does not contest that, to the extent the statements were statements of fact and other wise actionable, such actionable factual statements were false," Giuliani wrote in a signed stipulation that he said was intended to "avoid unnecessary expenses in litigating what he believes to be unnecessary disputes." Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea "Shaye" Moss, have said their lives were turned upside down when conspiracy theorists, as well as then-President Donald Trump and his ally Giuliani, claimed they had committed election fraud in the 2020 presidential election. A heavily edited, brief clip of security footage was widely circulated online and by Trump allies as supposed proof. Giuliani had claimed that Freeman and Moss were "passing around USB ports like they were vials of heroin or cocaine." In reality, as reflected in the Jan. 6 committee report, they were passing a ginger mint. Freeman testified to the committee that she "lost my sense of security all because a group of people, starting with Number 45 and his ally Rudy Giuliani, decided to scapegoat me and my daughter Shaye to push their own lies about how the presidential election was stolen." The Jan. 6 committee called the duo's treatment "callous, inhumane, and inexcusable." Michael J. Gottlieb, partner at Willkie, Farr & Gallagher LLP who serves on the legal team of Freeman and Moss, said in a statement Wednesday that they are "pleased with this major milestone" in response to Giuliani's filing. "Giuliani's stipulation concedes what we have always known to be true Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss honorably performed their civic duties in the 2020 presidential election in full compliance with the law; and the allegations of election fraud he and former-President Trump made against them have been false since day one," Gottlieb said. "While certain issues, including damages, remain to be decided by the court, our clients are pleased with this major milestone in their fight for justice, and look forward to presenting what remains of this case at trial." In a statement Wednesday morning, Ted Goodman, a Giuliani spokesman, disputed that the former New York mayor acknowledged his statements were false and added that Giuliani "did not contest it in order to move on to the portion of the case that will permit a motion to dismiss." "This is a legal issue, not a factual issue," Goodman said. "Those out to smear the mayor are ignoring the fact that this stipulation is designed to get to the legal issues of the case." The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment. The filing by Giuliani comes after Georgia's State Election Board last month dismissed its yearslong investigation into alleged election fraud at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, clearing Freeman and Moss of wrongdoing. The fraud claims were "unsubstantiated and found to have no merit," the investigation concluded, reporting on the work of the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and investigators from the Secretary of State's office vetting the alleged fraud. Josh Cradduck contributed. Semiconductors are a key focus in the technology trade war taking place between the U.S. and China. The Senate overwhelmingly backed legislation Tuesday that would require U.S. firms to notify the Treasury when investing in advanced Chinese technology on national security concerns. That's a toned-down version of the initial Outbound Investment Transparency Act introduced two years ago, which called for restricting investment and attracted a fair amount of pushback, according to a Senate aide. The latest legislation, which does not require review or investment curbs, still faces a process before it can become law. It is one of several measures in a protracted backlog of proposed legislation policymakers on the Hill are rushing to clear ahead of a month-long recess in August. The bill comes as President Joe Biden has long been expected to issue an executive order that would restrict U.S. investment in high-end Chinese tech. The aide told CNBC that this executive order could be more far-reaching than what legislators are able to pass at this time. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment after office hours. Snapchat founder and CEO Evan Spiegel holds up a Pixy drone at a session during the Viva Technology show in Paris on June 17, 2022. Snap shares plunged on Wednesday, falling 14% as analysts and investors recoiled from a weaker-than-expected forecast for the current period. Overall sales declined 4% year over year. Snap is regarded by some analysts as a bellwether for digital marketing spend, which has struggled of late but is experiencing a modest recovery. The broader social media industry has become "harder" to forecast in, CEO Evan Spiegel said in an interview with CNBC's Julia Boorstin on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley maintained a $6.50 price target and an underweight rating on the social media stock. "Revenue continues to be challenged," Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak said in a Wednesday morning report. "The cost to compete for ad dollars and engagement also continues to rise," Nowak noted. Bank of America analyst Justin Post reiterated a neutral rating and an $11 price target. Despite "signs of smaller advertiser traction, we continue to prefer other stocks in the Online media group given Snap's usage (time spent) pressure," Bank of America said. The company has faced a slowing advertising market and daily active user growth, despite big bets on artificial intelligence technology. Like many tech peers, it has laid off 20% of its global workforce. Snap shares are up 18% year to date, but they've plunged significantly since reaching $73 in November 2021. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. Here are the stocks making headlines on Wednesday, July 26. Microsoft The Xbox owner saw its shares slide 3.7% after issuing quarterly revenue guidance that fell short of analysts' expectations. The soft revenue outlook was partly due to weakness in the segment that contains Windows software. Microsoft did report earnings and revenue that beat Street estimates for the calendar second quarter, however. Alphabet Shares of the Google parent rose 5.8% after Alphabet beat analysts' revenue and profit in the second quarter. The parent company of YouTube reported $1.44 in earnings per share on $74.6 billion of revenue. Analysts surveyed by Refinitiv were expecting $1.34 per share on $72.82 billion of revenue. Boeing The aerospace company's shares jumped 8.7% and hit a new 52-week high after its second-quarter earnings announcement. Boeing's revenue of $19.75 billion topped analysts' estimates of $18.45 billion, according to Refinitiv. The company also reported an 82-cent-loss per share, while Refinitiv analysts had estimated a loss of 88 cents per share. WW International Shares of the weight loss company soared 16% after an upgrade to overweight from Morgan Stanley. The bank highlighted WW International's recent acquisition of Sequence, which analyst Lauren Schenk said will aid growth by providing exposure to weight loss drugs. Texas Instruments Shares dropped 5.4% as investors focused on the company's guidance for the current quarter. Texas Instruments said to expect between $1.68 and $1.92 in earnings per share in the current quarter, meaning much of the range was below the $1.91 estimate of analysts polled by FactSet. Meanwhile, the company guided revenue to between $4.36 billion and $4.74 billion against a FactSet consensus estimate of $4.59 billion. However, the company's second quarter results exceeded analysts' expectations. Visa The credit card stock slipped less than 1% after Visa beat estimates for its fiscal third quarter. The company reported $2.16 in adjusted earnings per share on $8.12 billion of revenue. Analysts surveyed by Refinitiv were looking for $2.12 in earnings per share on $8.06 billion of revenue. The company did report that payments volume growth was slowing slightly. Chubb Shares of the insurance company jumped more than 5% after a stronger-than-expected second-quarter report. The company posted $4.92 in adjusted earnings per share, above the $4.41 expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv. The net premiums written for property and casualty lines came in at $10.68 billion, above estimates of $10.64 billion. Spotify The music streaming company's shares gained 6.2% Wednesday. Shares closed 14% lower Tuesday after Spotify's second-quarter results missed analysts' expectations. Deutsche Bank wrote in a Wednesday note that the post-earnings selloff created an attractive entry point for investors. PacWest Shares of the community bank surged nearly 27% after it agreed to be acquired by Banc of California in all-stock deal, which includes $400 million in equity from Warburg Pincus and Centerbridge. The combined holding company will operate under the Banc of California name. Shares of Banc of California rose less than 1%. Investors looking for ways to bet on crypto should look closer at a software company with a unique balance sheet, according to TD Cowen. Analyst Lance Vitanza initiated coverage of MicroStrategy at outperform, saying in a note to clients on Wednesday that the stock was the "best way for institutions to acquire exposure to bitcoin." "MSTR is a leading provider of [business intelligence] software, but with a twist: it uses all its retained earnings and then some to buy and hold bitcoins. This is not a short-term trading strategy but rather reflects a belief that ultimately, bitcoin will prove a superior store of value relative to metals and fiat currencies. We see MSTR as an attractive vehicle for investors looking to gain Bitcoin exposure," the note said. Microstrategy's stock comes without some of the fees associated with ETFs or buying bitcoin outright, while its underlying business and balance helps provide downside protection, according to Vitanza. According to a securities filing , MicroStrategy held 152,333 bitcoins on its balance sheet as of June 27, at an aggregate purchase price of roughly $4.5 billion. The company's market cap is less than $6 billion. The stock has actually outperformed bitcoin this year, rising more than 200%. But Microstrategy's shares are down more than 40% since November 2021, which is when bitcoin hit its record high. MSTR 5Y mountain Shares of MicroStrategy are still below their highs from 2011. The company has also seen drama in its C-suite. Michael Saylor the company's executive chairman, former CEO and a bitcoin booster was accused of tax evasion by the DC attorney general last year. Meanwhile, the company's chief revenue officer resigned on July 5. The volatile stock is covered by just a handful of Wall Street firms. Vitanza's price target of $520 per share is the highest among the analysts that do cover the stock, according to FactSet, and is 19% above where shares closed on Tuesday. The potential positive catalysts for MicroStrategy's stock includes some boosts for bitcoin more broadly, such as the approval of a spot bitcoin ETF and an upcoming halving, according to the note. MicroStrategy is also pushing for accounting rule changes related to bitcoin that could improve its reported numbers. A driver rides hands-free in a Tesla Motors Inc. Model S vehicle equipped with Autopilot hardware and software in New York. The California attorney general's office is investigating Tesla , seeking information from customers and former employees about Autopilot safety issues and false advertising complaints, CNBC has learned. Greg Wester, the owner of a 2018 Tesla Model 3, filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission in August 2022 regarding "phantom braking" sudden, automatic braking by a car for no apparent reason that he experienced when using the company's driver assistance systems, or Autopilot, on the highway. Wester also told the FTC that he felt misled by Tesla after paying thousands of dollars for the company's premium driver assistance option, marketed as Full Self Driving, or FSD, in the U.S. By the second quarter of this year, an analyst with California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office left Wester a voicemail seeking to interview him about the issues referenced in the complaint. Wester shared the voice message with CNBC, and provided a copy of the FTC's automated response acknowledging receipt of his complaint. CNBC confirmed that the person who called from the California AG's office works as an analyst there. The government employee did not request confidentiality in the voicemail. The California attorney general's press office issued the following statement to CNBC on Wednesday: "To protect its integrity, we're unable to comment on, even to confirm or deny, a potential or ongoing investigation." Phantom braking, a known issue that Tesla customers have complained about to federal agencies for years, can leave drivers susceptible to being rear-ended, among other dangers. Musk has long promised investors and customers that features and functions would be added to Tesla vehicles over time, via over-the-air software updates, that would turn their cars into self-driving or autonomous vehicles. On Tesla's second-quarter earnings call, Musk called himself "the boy who cried FSD." To this day, Tesla has not delivered a self-driving car and sells "level 2" systems, which require an attentive driver behind the wheel who is ready to steer or brake at any time. "Tesla should offer customers the option to receive a full refund of Autopilot features if they are unsatisfied with the product," Wester said in an interview. In purchasing FSD, he said, "we bought a full autonomy product and we received a driver monitoring product with partial autonomy." Wester isn't the only Tesla customer to be contacted by analysts with the attorney general's office after voicing safety and related concerns. A former Tesla employee whose family owns a 2021 Model 3 with the FSD option was contacted by email in July 2023 by a senior legal analyst in the California AG's consumer protection division. In the email, reviewed by CNBC, the analyst said she was seeking information from the person for an unspecified but active investigation into Tesla. The former Tesla employee, whose identity is known to CNBC, asked to remain unnamed to protect his privacy. The person had previously voiced concerns about Autopilot and FSD safety issues at Tesla and publicly. Tesla didn't respond to CNBC's request for comment. The FTC declined to comment. It's not unusual for law enforcement offices in the U.S. to obtain consumer complaints filed to the FTC via an online database called the Consumer Sentinel Network. According to the federal agency's website, the network "gives law enforcement members access to reports submitted directly to the Federal Trade Commission by consumers" and to other reports shared by "data contributors." In its second-quarter financial filing, Tesla said it receives "requests for information from regulators and governmental authorities, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, the SEC, the Department of Justice ('DOJ') and various state, federal, and international agencies." While the company has previously identified "requests from the DOJ for documents related to Tesla's Autopilot and FSD features," Tesla has not disclosed that the California attorney general was investigating the company. "Should the government decide to pursue an enforcement action, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on our business, results of operation, prospects, cash flows and financial position," Tesla said in the filing. California has been Tesla's largest U.S. market for its electric vehicles and is home to the company's first vehicle assembly plant, in Fremont. The company relocated its corporate headquarters to Austin, Texas, from Palo Alto, California, in 2021. The California Department of Motor Vehicles has been investigating Tesla's driver assistance systems for years and has formally accused the company of deceptive practices in marketing its Autopilot and FSD technology. WATCH: Tesla's limited product line makes pricing power key to growth Tilray Brands shares spiked Wednesday after the Canadian cannabis producer reported a narrower loss for its fiscal fourth quarter than a year ago and a solid revenue beat. The stock closed nearly 15% higher Wednesday. While a Canadian company, Tilray has been positioning itself to be a leader in the U.S. adult-use cannabis market, but its plans have been hindered by the lack of major action on banking reform and federal legalization. Tilray said its net loss for the three months ended May 31 was $119.8 million, or 15 cents a share, an improvement from the year-ago period when it lost $457.8 million, or 99 cents a share. Analysts polled by Refinitiv, however, expected a loss per share of just 5 cents per share. Meanwhile, revenue soared 20% to $184.2 million, up from $153.3 million in the year-earlier period. That came in well above analysts' expectations of $154 million, according to Refinitiv. Here are the biggest calls on Wall Street on Wednesday: Morgan Stanley reiterates Amazon as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's bullish on the e-commerce giant's earnings next week. "We are ~13%/14% ahead of street 2Q/2023 EBIT and expect upward revisions to street EBIT numbers following the 2Q print driven by shipping and fulfillment cost per unit efficiencies as AMZN reaps the benefits of its regional fulfillment network which it rolled out in 1Q23." Deutsche Bank upgrades Spotify to buy from hold Deutsche said in its upgrade of Spotify that the selloff is "overdone." "After the YTD rally, very crowded long positioning, and with the pricing catalyst now in the rearview mirror, we think investors are taking a 'shoot first, ask questions later' approach. However, we came away from the print modestly more constructive, as top-of-funnel metrics continue to outpace expectations, 3Q gross margin guide came in above consensus, and operating losses narrowed once again." Read more about this call here. Barclays reiterates Apple as equal weight Barclays said it's expecting an in-line quarter when Apple reports earnings next week. "We see in-line June-Q as better Services and stable iPhones offset weaker non-iPhone hardware categories. Sep-Q looks to be at risk due to IP15 delay and some units shifting to Dec-Q." Raymond James downgrades Target to market perform from strong buy Raymond James said in its downgrade of the stock that it's "losing topline momentum." "Our change in opinion reflects our belief that QTD sales & traffic trends have remained soft after taking a step down early in the quarter and suggest Target is losing topline momentum." Bank of America names NXP Semiconductors as a top pick Bank of America said the semiconductor company has the chops to navigate a tough environment. "While macro remains in flux, we believe NXPI's 1) portfolio diversity, 2) ability to pass along rising input costs, and 3) secular autos content growth is helping them navigate the current environment." Morgan Stanley downgrades RTX to equal weight from overweight Morgan Stanley said in its downgrade of the stock that risk/reward seems "balanced" right now. "We downgrade RTX to Equal-weight from Overweight as we see balanced risk reward." Morgan Stanley upgrades WW International to overweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley said shares of the company formerly known as Weight Watchers are underappreciated. "We see an undervalued turnaround story with thematic exposure given the combination of a reaccelerating core business in addition to faster than anticipated traction in WW' s new GLP-1 telehealth brand Sequence." Read more about this call here. Needham reiterates Netflix as hold Needham said its checks show investors are feeling more "bearish" after the company's earnings report last week. "Since reporting earnings last week, our incoming call volume regarding NFLX has shifted decidedly more bearish." Citi reiterates Eli Lilly as buy Citi raised its price target on the stock to $525 per share from $360 and says it has a "continued commitment" to the stock. "While our standard DCF-derived valuation does not imply significant upside to LLY, we recognize that the stock is driven by near-term earnings momentum." Deutsche Bank adds a catalyst call buy on Goodyear Tire Deutsche said the company's agreement with Elliot Management to add to Goodyear's board will unlock shareholder value. "We are adding Goodyear to our short-term Catalyst Call Buy List, as we believe the agreement announced yesterday to add to its Board of Directors, as suggested by Elliott Management, and even more so, the constitution of a Strategic and Operational Review Committee to explore strategic options for the company, could potentially help unlock considerable shareholder value." Citi opens a positive catalyst watch on Restaurant Brands Citi opened a positive catalyst watch on shares of the owner of brands like Burger King and says it sees a rally in shares heading into earnings on August 8. " QSR has lagged the market over the past 3 months as shares have digested some of the initial excitement around management changes and the Reclaim The Flame program." Bank of America reiterates Microsoft as buy Bank of America said it's standing by its buy rating after the company's robust earnings report on Tuesday. " Microsoft reported overall resilient Q4 results with revenue upside of $800mn across the broader lines of businesses." Read more about this call here. Morgan Stanley reiterates Disney as overweight Morgan Stanley lowered its price target on the stock to $105 per share from $110 and says the Hollywood strike is weighing on the industry. "Linear TV pressures and a maturing streaming market lead us to lower our DIS /WBD/FOXA/PARA estimates. Hollywood's labor strikes are a highly visible manifestation of the stress in the ecosystem and add additional uncertainty." Citi reiterates Meta as a top pick Citi said Meta is a top pick heading into earnings on Wednesday afternoon. "As revenue reaccelerates, we look for margins to expand as we monitor Meta's capex (though we expect capex guidance for '23 to be unchanged). Meta is our top pick across the Internet sector and we reiterate our Buy rating and $360 TP." TD Cowen initiates Microstrategy as outperform TD said in its initiation of the business intelligence company that it's "an attractive vehicle for investors looking to gain Bitcoin exposure." "This is not a short-term trading strategy but rather reflects a belief that ultimately, bitcoin will prove a superior store of value relative to metals and fiat currencies. We see MSTR as an attractive vehicle for investors looking to gain Bitcoin exposure." JPMorgan reiterates Alphabet as overweight JPMorgan said it's standing by its overweight rating on the stock after Tuesday's earnings report. " GOOGL posted solid 2Q results w/upside across the board. Yes, expectations were somewhat muted going in, but these were clean results and GOOGL struck the right notes as it emphasized AI leadership, advertising stabilization & innovation, & progress on the cost structure." Read more about this call here. JPMorgan adds United Airline to the focus list JPMorgan said the airline has "greater potential upside." "We are adding UAL to the AFL (analyst focus list) (Value Strategy) as international travel tailwinds coupled with a multi-year pilot and aircraft shortage continue to add to our conviction that the Big 3 (DAL, UAL, AAL) can continue their outperformance against domestic-centric carriers for some time." Morgan Stanley reiterates General Motors as overweight Morgan Stanley said the stock's weak reaction to Tuesday's GM earnings report is a "headscratcher." "The market was ready to 'sell the news' given concerns of over-earning into UAW negotiations." Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Council Bluffs, Iowa, July 7, 2023. Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he will take the witness stand and "have fun" at what he predicted will be "the trial of the century" as he faces an expected federal indictment over his efforts to reverse his loss in the 2020 election. "We'll have fun on the stand with all of these people that say the Presidential Election wasn't Rigged and Stollen," Trump wrote on his social media site, misspelling the final word. "THE TRIAL OF THE CENTURY!!!" added Trump, who is seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. He has been fundraising for his campaign off the potential indictment. Trump in separate Truth Social posts Wednesday repeated claims that he is the victim of "prosecutorial misconduct" and an effort by the Department of Justice to interfere in the 2024 election. Trump was indicted earlier this year by a federal grand jury in South Florida on dozens of criminal counts related to his retention of classified government records after leaving the White House, as well as his efforts to prevent officials from recovering those documents. He has pleaded not guilty in that case, which was brought by special counsel Jack Smith. The trial is set to begin in late May. Last week, Trump announced that his lawyers had been notified by Smith that he is a target of the separate criminal investigation of his and his allies' efforts to overturn his electoral loss to President Joe Biden in 2020. Separately from Smith's investigation, a Georgia prosecutor is investigating Trump for potential crimes related to interfering in that state's 2020 presidential election. Trump's boast about taking the witness stand at a trial in either election-related case, if he is indicted, could prove empty. It is rare for defendants in criminal cases to testify, because of the risk that their credibility will be damaged on cross-examination by prosecutors. In a criminal case, the burden of proof is on prosecutors to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and defense attorneys routinely remind juries of that fact, as well as their clients when they advise them not to testify. Trump did not take the witness stand at his recent civil trial where he was accused of defaming and raping the writer E. Jean Carroll. He also didn't show up in federal court in New York for that case, which ended with jurors finding him liable for sexually abusing Carroll and for defaming her. The jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $5 million in damages. Trump, who denies sexually assaulting Carroll, is appealing that verdict. In addition to the federal criminal trial on the documents charges, Trump is set to stand trial in New York state court in Manhattan in late March on charges of falsifying business records related to a 2016 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels by his then-personal lawyer Michael Cohen. Trump has pleaded not guilty in that case, which is being prosecuted by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. Follow our live coverage of Trump's arraignment on four counts related to the 2020 election. Soldiers march at the Victory Day military parade to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory in the Great Patriotic War, at Moscow's Red Square, on May 9, 2023. Russia on Tuesday expanded its military conscription base after a vote to raise the upper age limit from 27 to 30 passed in the lower house. The bill, once signed into law by President Vladimir Putin, is expected to add 2.4 million men to Russia's forces and will prohibit conscripts from leaving the country once they are called up for duty. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that he would not tolerate corruption or treachery in affairs of state as the country continues to wage its war against Russia. Zelenskyy's appeal, shared in his nightly address, came after the arrests of a military recruitment official accused of mass embezzlement and of a parliamentarian suspected of collaborating with Russia. On the front lines, Kyiv said Tuesday that its military had made small advances against Russian forces in parts of southern Ukraine, moving forward toward the southeastern village of Staromayorske in the Donetsk region. Meantime, Russia's Ministry of Defense said it had destroyed two unmanned Ukrainian boats engaged in an attack on one of its Black Sea fleet patrol ships. A logo on the UniCredit SpA headquarters in Milan, Italy, on Saturday Jan. 22, 2022. Italian bank UniCredit on Wednesday raised its net profit and shareholder reward targets for the year after posting much stronger than expected quarterly results as higher rates lifted revenues. UniCredit said it now expects a 2023 net profit of at least 7.25 billion euros ($8 billion), compared with more than 6.5 billion earlier. It plans to return at least 6.5 billion to investors through share buybacks and dividends, versus a previous goal of at least 5.75 billion. It guided for similar profit and distribution targets in 2024. Italy's only bank deemed of global systemic relevance by industry supervisors said net income for April-June came in at 2.3 billion euros, well above a 1.86-billion-euro average forecast in a bank-gathered analysts' consensus. Revenues jumped by a quarter yearly, to 5.97 billion euros, topping analyst forecasts, boosted mainly by the gap between rates charged to lend and the still very low rates paid on deposits. While weakening on a quarterly basis, income from fees and trading also surpassed expectations. Taking over at UniCredit in 2021 as the bank emerged from years of restructuring, CEO Andrea Orcel has focused on maximising profits in relation to capital, so as to be able to reward investors and drive the share price higher. The core capital ratio rose by more than half a percentage point to 16.64%% in the quarter, well above expectations in part thanks to a reduction in risk weighted assets (RWAs). UniCredit improved its outlook for loan impairments in the year, saying cost of risk, which measures writedowns in relation to RWAs, was now seen below 25 basis points versus 30-35 earlier. Packages of the weight-loss drug Wegovy from the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk lie on the sales counter in a Danish pharmacy. U.K. health authorities on Wednesday said they are reviewing obesity and diabetes drugs like Novo Nordisk 's Wegovy and Ozempic after some patients who took the treatments reported thoughts of suicide or self-harm. The probe into potentially life-threatening side effects comes as the drugs skyrocket in popularity in the U.S. and draw heightened investor interest for helping people achieve dramatic weight loss over time. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, in a statement to CNBC, did not indicate when it expects to complete its review of safety data on the treatments. Authorities in the European Union launched a similar investigation of the drugs earlier this month. The MHRA said the review includes all obesity and diabetes drugs available in the U.K. Aside from Ozempic and Wegovy, it includes Novo Nordisk's other weight loss drug Saxenda. Other diabetes drugs like AstraZeneca 's Bydureon, Eli Lilly 's Trulicity and Sanofi 's Lyxumia are also included in the probe. Those drugs are all part of a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic a hormone produced in the gut to suppress a person's appetite. GLP-1s can also help manage Type 2 diabetes because they encourage insulin release from the pancreas, lowering blood sugar levels. "Patient safety is our top priority," the MHRA said in a statement to CNBC. "We will carefully consider all available evidence and communicate any further advice to patients and healthcare professionals as appropriate." Novo Nordisk said in a statement that it received a review request from the MHRA on Monday. The company said a "response will be provided within the requested timelines" of the review. Sanofi said in a statement that it was aware of the review and is working with the MHRA. The company added that its pharmacovigilance monitoring system, which tracks adverse drug effects, has not identified any safety concerns associated with GLP-1s. AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the MHRA's review. Reuters first reported the review. "Tipflation" could be blamed on tablets or the post-pandemic economy but consumers seem to be giving in to the pressure and leaving more cash behind. Sure, most Americans report feeling negative about tipping, but service workers are earning exponentially more in gratuity than before the pandemic, according to payroll provider Gusto. From March 2020 to May 2023, hourly wages only rose 18%, compared with a 42% increase in tip earnings, the company found. "I like tipping mainly because I have a couple of friends that work in the food industry," Saad Kabir, a recruitment coordinator at New York City Public Schools, tells CNBC Make It. "Businesses are hurting right now, so they're just passing the buck to consumers." The trend seems to be at its height in bars. Bar workers, who on average earn just above the federal minimum wage in base pay, now make an average of $13.33 per hour in tips, both of which are up from the pandemic, according to Gusto. Of the 300,000 small and medium-sized businesses included in the analysis, bar workers made more in tips than employees in other service industries. Some consumers say they don't mind tipping bartenders at least 20% because of the amount of labor that goes into the job mixing the drinks, interacting with customers and sometimes serving tables. "I feel like it's the most gruesome job to work in a bar, just running back and forth all night," investment consultant Haley Truchan tells CNBC Make It. The Manhattan-based 24-year-old says she almost always tips 20% at bars. Kabir agreed, saying he tips upwards of 40% for particularly good bar service. "Bartenders, to me, are like unpaid therapists," Yonas Haile, a 32-year-old NYC resident, says. In his experience, bartenders have to know menus, pairings and provide cultural insight to visitors. He's even tipped 100% on bar tabs in the past, he says. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26) A proposed resolution seeking to raise China's sea incursions before the United Nations General Assembly failed to hurdle the Senate on Wednesday following opposition from Senator and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano. After a two-hour debate that blurred party lines, senators instead set a closed-door meeting on Monday to further discuss the issue. Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros' proposal urges the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to file a resolution at the UNGA calling on China to stop its harassment of Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea. "Taking this to a vote before the United Nations, knowing the stakes, knowing who we are up against, is us telling the Filipino people that we will not cower in fear, that we will fight for them," the deputy minority leader said in her sponsorship speech at the plenary. Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri backed Hontiveros' resolution, but this was challenged by Cayetano, who served as DFA secretary from 2017 to 2018 during Rodrigo Duterte's presidency. "If the intention is to condemn and to make a stand, unanimous tayo, pero pag nagsabi ka na ng strategy, dalhin natin sa UN, kailangan pag-usapan 'yan," Cayetano said. [Translation: If the intention is to condemn and to make a stand, we're unanimous, but if you talk of strategy, like bringing it to the UN, that needs to be discussed.] Taking a strategy different from the administration's policy may weaken the Philippines' position in the long-standing dispute with China, Cayetano said, even as Zubiri asserted the Senate's independence from the executive. "If we simply pass this resolution, tapon sa UNGA, madidisappoint lang tayo. The UNGA is for consensus. It is not for highly contentious issues like this baka maging negative pa sa atin ito later on," Cayetano said. [Translation: If we simply pass this resolution and it is rejected in the UNGA, we'll just be disappointed. The UNGA is for consensus. It is not for highly contentious issues like this This might just negatively impact us later on.] "If countries close to China vote against us, they will not implement this, it will make our PCA arbitration ruling even weaker," he added. Hontiveros clarified that her resolution is simply a call to the DFA, acknowledging that the executive still has the final say. She stressed that the point of rallying the international community is to further strengthen the Philippines' resolve. Zubiri likewise said the problem with bilateral talks is the lack of "goodwill measures" on the side of China. "Mahirap ang kumausap sa isang bansa na hindi naman matino [It's hard to talk to a country that is unreasonable]. You started with your speech by saying that it was a phrase from the Bible. Unfortunately, our friends from China do not believe in God nor do they believe in the Bible," Zubiri told Cayetano. Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda agreed on the need to discuss the country's strategies in an executive session, while Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said both sides have a point. To settle the issue, Zubiri said the Senate will have an executive session on Monday. He invited Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency Director General Ricardo de Leon to shed light on the matter. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26) The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has launched a website to help car owners track their new vehicle plates and address the problem of over a million unclaimed replacement plates. We prepared a [website] that can be accessed by those who have not received the replacement plates and by just inputting their plate number malalaman nila kung nasaan sya (they will know where it is), Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista told CNN Philippines' The Source on Wednesday. The website can be accessed through https://ltoplatereplacement.com/. Earlier, the Commission on Audit (COA) reported that 1.79 million pairs of license plates worth over 800 million remain unclaimed at the Land Transportation Office (LTO). These replacement plates were already paid for by car owners upon their renewal of vehicle registration. The COA noted that of the remaining 2,561,629 pairs of replacement plates, LTO produced only 764,514 pairs as of end-2022. Of the manufactured plates, only 506,059 pairs were released to various regional offices while the remaining ones are still with the LTOs Plate Making Plant. Bautista said one of the reasons why the plates are still unclaimed is because the owners are not notified that these are already available. Since these are only replacement plates, some vehicle owners did not feel the urgency of claiming theirs because they still have their old plates, he added. According to Bautista, the DOTr has completed uploading information of some areas, including the National Capital Region-East, Caraga, and the Cordillera Administrative Region. The DOTr aims to complete uploading information of all 1.7 million license plates in a month. Bautista also said the agency hopes that all these license plates will be claimed by the end of the year. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26) The government-run Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is stepping up efforts to encourage private practitioners to join its roster of primary care providers. At the hearing of the House health committee on Wednesday, PhilHealth spokesperson Dr. Albert Domingo said only 12% or 249 out of 2,161 primary health care providers accredited by the state health insurer are from the private sector. Domingo cited the low fee of 750 per enrolled patient that PhilHealth pays to a private health provider yearly as a reason some health care practitioners aren't interested in becoming its partner as a primary care provider. He added that the voluminous requirements for accreditation could also be a factor. Data presented by PhilHealth at the hearing showed that 1,096 private health care establishments are accredited by PhilHealth, while 776 are government funded institutions. Domingo said PhilHealth is working on adjusting contractual arrangements and fees paid to private health care providers. Efforts are also underway to provide them with technical assistance to make accreditation easier, he added. Under PhilHealth's primary outpatient health care program, enrolled members can avail of free medical consultations, drugs and laboratory tests from accredited providers. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26) Authorities have found inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) the decapitated body of an inmate reported to be missing for days, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said. Yung katawan nya nahanap na 'yan sa Sputnik compound, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told CNN Philippines The Source on Thursday. The inmate reported missing last July 15 was identified as 25-year-old Michael Cataroja. Remulla said authorities are now looking for the prisoners head. During this process, other remains were also discovered inside a septic tank in the national penitentiary, the DOJ chief noted. Prison authorities tapped the expertise of the National Bureau of Investigation and the K9 Force of the Philippine Coast Guard for the search and rescue of Cataroja. The cadaver dogs, trained to detect decomposing flesh, led to the discovery of the chopped-up body parts hidden in the septic tank, the BuCor said in a statement Wednesday. Remulla said an investigation is ongoing to determine how many bodies were dumped in the septic tank. "We are investigating, iniimbestigahan namin lahat ng pangyayari. I'm expecting a comprehensive report at the end of the day from Director General Catapang," Remulla told reporters during an ambush interview on Wednesday, referring to Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. [Translation: We are investigating everything that happened.] Other details were not disclosed, but Remulla said they might need the help of forensic anthropologists. "Sketchy pa lahat (everything is sketchy), everything is still in the exploratory stage and we're still trying to find out, trying to get to the bottom of everything," he explained. "We still have to find the timeline pa kaya wala kaming mako-conclude (so we cannot make any conclusion yet)." Remulla last week ordered a search for the missing PDL. Asked what was the possible motive behind Catarojas death, he said the inmate allegedly had many debts and had a feeble mind. Remulla said the incident proves the urgent need to build more regional prison facilities to decongest the NBP. Lawmakers from the ACT-CIS party-list led by Rep. Erwin Tulfo filed a resolution seeking a probe into the incident. House Resolution 1136 filed by Erwin and Jocelyn Tulfo with Edvic Yap called on the appropriate House panels to investigate the relevant government agencies in charge of the custody and rehabilitation of persons deprived of liberty. Last year, prison authorities discovered nearly 200 unclaimed bodies of inmates at an NBP-accredited funeral parlor. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 27) The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is looking forward to "expand footprint" in the Western Pacific, including the possibility of holding more joint maritime drills as a "trusted partner" of regional allies. "To be a partner, you have to be trustedour footprint is expanding a little bit here to help us be that trusted partner," Coast Guard Pacific Area Commander Vice Admiral Andrew Tiongson told journalists across the region on Wednesday. The USCG official said the US is also recalibrating its "national-level strategy" to counter threats, including "those who don't subscribe to the international norms and standards." "I'm hoping to actually increase our presence through adaptive force packaging and certainly with the Indo-Pacific support cutter that is coming into theater," Tiongson said. He referred to a refurbished 270-foot medium endurance cutter that will be deployed to Hawaii within "the fall to winter time frame," which he said will "do nothing but Pacific area missions." It remains unclear whether the cutter will also be sent to perform joint patrols with its regional counterparts, including the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), which has repeatedly accused China and its coast guard and militias of resorting to "dangerous maneuvers" and other aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea. "We are working together right now and we have been for a while. But what is new, is that we are becoming more and more multilateral," Tiongson said. "Togetherness is strength when it comes to maritime governanceSeeing the threats and challenges through their (allies') eyes-- understand what they're seeing, trying to collaboratively work, (and) to get after those threats and challenges," he added. READ: More details on eyed US-PH-Japan trilateral cooperation in South China Sea 'soon' - US official According to Tiongson, the USGC's interventions with regional counterparts also aim to "get a thorough understanding of what they are trying to solve and to try to assist as much as possible." Tiongson cited the role of USCG, as well as the coast guards of Japan and South Korea, in helping contain the oil spill in Mindoro, following the sinking of a tanker early this year. They also provide training and advice to the PCG on how to resolve the environmental disaster. "I think what we are doing is sending a powerful message by conducting exercises, training with each other," Tiongson said, "I think all of that makes us stronger together." 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. B&B managers inject vitality into rural China People's Daily Online) 13:19, July 26, 2023 B&B managers are contributing to rural revitalization in China and injecting new vitality into rural areas by providing customized services in accommodation, catering, local natural environment, culture and lifestyle to tourists. In just a few years, the number of B&B managers in China has surpassed 1 million. A manager of a B&B hotel arranges tea sets in Ershilipu village, Luozhuangzi township, Jizhou district of north China's Tianjin Municipality. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) Lin Bo is the manager of a B&B hotel in Shitang township, Wenling city, east China's Zhejiang Province. According to a customer surnamed Zhang, Lin invited her and her friends to drink tea one day before checking in and introduced the local customs and travel routes to them. "Lin told us many details we werent aware of when we made our travel plans. Thanks to him, we have nothing to worry about," Zhang said. "B&B managers have direct contact with customers. They serve as bridges between B&B hotels and customers, and as carriers of B&B hotels' design concepts. They determine the quality of B&B hotels," said Miao Weixiang, an instructor at a training center for B&B managers in Moganshan township, Deqing county in Zhejiang province. Moganshan township currently has 883 B&B hotels, and about 5,000 people are currently working in the B&B industry. In 2022, B&B hotels in Deqing county received 7.45 million customers, with revenue reaching 2.97 billion yuan (about $410.6 million). Zhejiang currently has 22,000 certified B&B hotels, which employ 150,000 people and generate an annual revenue of more than 10 billion yuan. Last year, 2,574 people from eight cities including Hangzhou and Ningbo in Zhejiang took tests to become B&B managers, and 2,331 people obtained certificates, according to an official with the Zhejiang provincial department of human resources and social security. China's Ministry of Education approved a major related to B&B management and operation in 2021. To date, about 30 vocational colleges offer the major. "Graduates in the major will become important sources of B&B managers," said Zhang Yi, a professor at the Tourism College of Zhejiang. The thriving B&B industry has boosted the development of rural tourism and helped villagers fatten their wallets. In Xiantan village, Moganshan township, dried bamboo shoots, a local specialty, offered by a B&B hotel are a favorite with customers. Xu Langyue, a B&B manager of the hotel, said many of the dried bamboo shoots were provided by local farmers and some customers bought the local specialty. Xu added that B&B managers play a vital role in promoting agricultural products. To attract and retain B&B managers, Deqing county offers rewards and subsidies to those who attend local training sessions and pass the assessment, gives allowances to those who obtain skill level certificates, and provides settling-in allowances and employment subsidies for highly skilled B&B managers, said Fei Jiamin, an official with the county's bureau of human resources and social security. "The new profession of being a B&B manager can attract more young people to return or move to the countryside to contribute to rural revitalization," said Zhang. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Perhaps Steve Jobs was right to limit the amount of time he let his children use iPhones and iPads a tradition Apple maintains with its Screen Time tool, which lets parents set limits on device use. Now, an extensive UNESCO report suggests that letting kids spend too much time on these devices can be bad for them. Baked in inequality and lack of social skills Thats the headline claim, but theres a lot more to the report in terms of exploring data privacy, misuse of tech, and failed digital transformation experiments. The report also suggests smartphones should be banned from schools to prevent cyberbullying and to improve learning outcomes. It says excessive use of these devices may be linked to reduced educational performance and could impact emotional stability among kids. Thats perhaps what tech leaders including Jobs and Microsofts Bill Gates already knew. It seems particularly relevant as employers everywhere flock to explore generative AI that Unesco warns that it is critical to ensure digital tech supports humans, rather than replacing them. While thats essential to society in general, in education it matters to ensure children grow up with good social skills. A lot of potential, but risks cannot be ignored The digital revolution holds immeasurable potentia,l but just as warnings have been voiced for how it should be regulated in society, similar attention must be paid to the way it is used in education, warns Unesco Director-General Audrey Azoulay. Its use must be for enhanced learning experiences and for the well-being of students and teachers, not to their detriment. Keep the needs of the learner first and support teachers. Online connections are no substitute for human interaction. In particular, it warns that simply throwing tech at students does not improve learning outcomes if teachers dont lead on using the devices. (This is effectively the same argument Apples former vice president for education, John Couch, always made.) It also warns that children need to learn how to live both with and without tech to be effective and must learn how to approach digital information with a critical eye. Basic literacy is critical in an information age, the report warns, pointing out that those with better reading skills are far less likely to be duped by a phishing email, for example. Children are being turned into data But children are also being turned into data, while wider use of tech in education could well widen existing cultural and wealth barriers. When it comes to data, just 16% of countries guarantee data privacy in education by law, while as many as 89% of 163 education products could survey kids. Thirty-nine of 42 governments providing online education during the pandemic fostered uses that risked or infringed on childrens rights," the report said. It also warns of a potentially fatal skills gap. For example, most nations dont yet give teachers adequate training on using digital tools in schools and hardly any provide cybersecurity guidance. That's even as 5% of all the ransomware attacks occuring worldwide are aimed at the education sector. It should be of particular concern that so many online tools aimed at children are inherently insecure. Its an argument Apple has made for years, and a problem it seeks to challenge with app review and privacy warnings at the App Store. Access is not equally shared Theres a cultural dimension to digital education in that greater than 90% of higher educational content online is in English, which leaves non-English speaking cultures less able to access key tools. But even when teachers learn how to use and secure these technologies, and content is made available in local languages, access remains a major barrier to attainment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Unesco estimates more than half a billion children lost access to education because they lacked access to the internet and/or computing devices. It is interesting that this access to technology is precisely the challenge outgoing Jamf CEO Dean Hager now seeks to spend his life to resolve. The report also warns against some of the more evangelical claims around tech in education, observing, When the evidence only comes from the technology companies themselves, there is a risk it may be biased. And we arent yet ready for educational AI As we prepare for the cultural impact of artificial intelligence (AI), Unesco observes a big weakness in government response. (Thats not entirely surprising, given the weak proposals governments have provided thus far.) Digital literacy and critical thinking are increasingly important, particularly with the growth of generative AI. Additional data attached to the report show that this adaptation movement has begun: 54% of surveyed countries have defined the skills they want to develop for the future. But only 11 out of 51 governments surveyed have curricula for AI, the report claims. Will AI prize the human? We still don't know. Please follow me on Mastodon, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe. Companies that participated in a four-day workweek experiment have further reduced the amount of time employees are on the clock six months after the studys end. The companies also continue to see increased productivity and benefits, according to new data from the pilot program. The non-profit 4 Day Week Global found that companies average working hours continued to fall after the six-month pilot program ended in February. For companies who took part in the experiment, the average four-day workweek started from a baseline of 38 hours. At the end of the trial, average weekly hours totalled 33.85. In the intervening months, theyve dropped to 32.97, down almost a full hour from the six-month mark. Crucially, this reduction was not achieved via increased work intensity, where people had to speed up and cram five days of tasks into four. Instead, they operated more efficiently and continued to improve these capabilities as the year progressed, Dale Whelehan, CEO at 4 Day Week Global, said in a statement. Immediately after the pilot program ended, 92% of the companies indicated they planned to continue with the truncated work schedule because the benefits were so clear. Only two companies involved in the project said they would definitely not continue with the shorter workweek. A better work-life balance for workers According to the updated data, workers remained highly positive about the change over the past six months, continuing to give the change a nine out of 10. Self-rated physical and mental health measures have also improved since the beginning of the study in 2022, with employees also reporting better work-life balance. The study, performed by the non-profit and several universities, was the largest of its kind; it involved 61 companies and about 3,000 workers. Including a previous study of companies in US and Ireland, a total of 91 companies with about 3,500 workers completed pilot programs testing out a shorter workweek. During the study, businesses decreased their weekly schedules by six hours on average, from about 41 to 35 hours per week per employee. Businesses that agreed to provide data on their results reported an 8% increase in revenue during the trial period and a 38% increase from the same period a year earlier, according to the researchers. "Almost all companies that move to a four-day week do three main things: radically shorten and reform meetings; use technology more thoughtfully and mindfully; and redesign the workday to build in distinct periods for focused work, meetings and social time, Whelehan said in an email response to Computerworld. These are all things we assist companies with on our pilot program, ahead of launching their trials." Studies show that the average worker loses two to three hours each day to badly structured meetings, poor technology implementations and simple distractions, according to Whelehan. So, the four-day week is already here, we just cant see it because its buried underneath these outdated practices, he said. Kickstarter, the US-based crowdfunding platform provider, launched its four-day week study in 2021, and found the most profound impact was on employee retention. Weve seen very few people choose to depart the company since the implementation of our four-day week," Jon Leland, chief strategy officer at Kickstarter, said in a statement. "This has dramatically improved our ability to meet objectives and key results every quarter. While we were lucky to hit 70% prior to our pilot, we now hit more than 90%. Its easy to think that a company might have to sacrifice some ambition to implement a four-day week, but we have only increased the scale of our ambition since its adoption, Leland said. According to a 2022 global survey of 3,600 employees by Gartner Research, a four-day workweek appears to be the most popular attractor among new and innovative benefits to recruit talent." Additionally, 63% of candidates selected four-day workweek for the same pay as a top five benefit that would attract them to a job (that number jumps to 74% for respondents in the US), according to Gartner. Employees now see themselves working at Kickstarter in two years at nearly twice the rate as before our pilot, Leland said. Relatedly, employee engagement is up by 50%. People are more energized and dedicated to their work. They are using their extra time to pursue creative projects, take care of their families, or rest, allowing them to come to work each week with more energy and creativity. Skepticism remains Micah Remley, CEO at workplace management software maker Robin Powered, said he views 4 Day Work Weeks new data with skepticism especially in the context of technology and other innovation-type workers. While task-oriented jobs might have room for more efficiency, knowledge workers cant afford to have their hours slashed and still produce at the same rate, he said. Ive been following that research some, Remley said. "If Im in a customer service role and my job is to just answer a certain number of calls per hour, or if Im in a copy writing job and I have to write a certain number of hours a week, theres probably some dead time in there. If I can do it more efficiently in there, thats what the four-day workweek is. In those cases, he continued, Im getting rid of dead time and Im condensing it down to four days a week and getting just as much done. Im happier as an employee and the employer got just as much done. Thats their thesis." Conversely, if a software developers week is reduced from five to four days, their productivity is bound to suffer because in an innovation role, time is often spent brainstorming ideas with teams, Remley argued. Im not actively coding a project, but Im working things out. I may not have really produced anything that Thursday afternoon, but man lightning struck Thursday night, and then Friday morning I could write that piece of code in a super articulate way, Remley said. Thats why Im saying I skeptical that four-day workweeks apply to creative industries and innovation economies. Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic will be the founding members of the Frontier Model Forum, an umbrella group for the generative AI industry. The group plans to focus on safety research, as well as the identification of best practices, public policy, and use cases for the rapidly advancing technology that can benefit society as a whole. According to a statement issued by the four companies Wednesday, the Forum will offer membership to organizations that design and develop large-scale generative AI tools and platforms that push the boundaries of whats currently possible in the field. The group says those frontier models require participating organizations to demonstrate a strong commitment to frontier model safety, and to be willing to contribute to advancing the Forums efforts by participating in joint initiatives. The statement outlines three main goals for the immediate future. The first is identify best practices to mitigate the potential risks from generative AI, including reliance on erroneous results, creation of information designed to accomplish illegal or harmful ends, and more. The second is to coordinate scientific research into safety measures for AI, including mechanistic interpretability, scalable oversight, and anomaly detection. Finally, the forum hopes to promote communication between corporations and governments to bolster safety and development. Companies creating AI technology have a responsibility to ensure that it is safe, secure, and remains under human control," Brad Smith, Microsoft vice chair and president, said in a statement. "This initiative is a vital step to bring the tech sector together in advancing AI responsibly and tackling the challenges so that it benefits all of humanity. "It is vital that AI companies especially those working on the most powerful models align on common ground and advance thoughtful and adaptable safety practices to ensure powerful AI tools have the broadest benefit possible," said Anna Makanju, OpenAI's vice president of global affairs, in a statement. "This is urgent work and this forum is well-positioned to act quickly to advance the state of AI safety. The wildfire-like popularity of generative AI has prompted widespread debate about how the technology should be governed and regulated, with the EU close to becoming the first western government body to pass an AI Act. That law has come under fire from business and tech leaders who decried a bureaucratic approach to regulation in an open letter. That helped lead to the advent of the Frontier Model Forum, which represents the industrys attempt to regulate itself instead of simply awaiting government edicts. The pace of change in generative AI tools has been rapid, given the legal issues it raises. OpenAI, in particular, has been the target of legal action in the US, notably in civil court over its possible use of copyrighted material for model training. One such suit, whose plaintiffs include comedian and author Sarah Silverman, alleges that AI companies use copyrighted works for training without credit, compensation or consent. Nor do civil suits represent the limit of generative AI providers legal troubles in the US. The US FTC has reportedly opened an investigation into OpenAI for its handling of customer data, and has asked the company to provide a detailed explanation of its business practices. SGIFF supports Film Fund recipients to help capture stories unique to Southeast Asia Highlighting their efforts to develop Southeast Asian cinema and create a space for its narratives and content, the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) revealed its list of eight selected regional documentaries and short films receiving grants from the SGIFF Film Fund. Films from Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore were chosen in recognition for their potential to contribute to the development of Southeast Asian content through their distinctive narratives and perspectives. The SGIFF Film Fund comprises the Tan Ean Kiam Foundation-SGIFF Southeast Asian Documentary Grant (SEA-DOC) and SGIFF Southeast Asian Short Film Grant (SEA-SHORTS) that aim to champion Southeast Asian works, supporting independent cinema and serve as a Kickstarter to propel independent filmmakers forward. (from left) Ukrit Sa-nguanhai (Thailand), Joanne Cesario (Philippines), Nong Nhat Quang (Vietnam), and Tonny Trimarsanto (Indonesia). Photo courtesy: SGIFF The Tan Ean Kiam Foundation-SGIFF Southeast Asian Documentary Grant (SEA-DOC) grants four mid-length or feature documentaries in various stages of production and post-production annually. This year, the selection committee has chosen three production projects that will each receive SGD 30,000 in cash. One post-production project will also receive a grant of SGD 20,000. With the SEA-DOC grant, the Tan Ean Kiam Foundation said it hopes to support Southeast Asian documentary filmmakers to continue capturing stories that are unique to the region. Documentary filmmaking unveils truths, bridges generations, and shapes our collective consciousness. With this grant, we hope to empower filmmakers to craft stories that echo the pulse of society, igniting conversations that will transform and inspire change. said Tan Keng Leck, Vice Chairman of the Tan Ean Kiam Foundation. Stories that have been selected for this edition of the SEA-DOC grant include documentaries on anti-communist propaganda, the preservation of precious untold histories, a usual family reunion with an unusual plot twist, and the sensitivities of discrimination in a conservative society; this years winners are a reflection of the depth and diversity of talent here in Southeast Asia, an official statement read. The selection committee received almost 68 submissions and commended the four projects for handling their stories with creativity and craft. Grant winners The Itinerant by Ukrit Sa-nguanhai (Thailand): 1966, in the middle of a long trip for an anti-communist itinerant film screening in rural Thailand. The itinerant film troupe finds a mutilated dead body in the Mekong River that resembles a dead body found in the present day but has gone missing. The selection committee cited, During the Cold War, USIS propaganda films were screened in northeastern Thailand as an attempt to influence and control the consciousness of rural villagers by blurring the lines between fiction and reality. The Itinerant revisits these past realities through fictionalised recreations, interviews, and storytelling, bringing to light forgotten histories that were once thought to be mere fiction. Ukrit Sa-nguanhais experimental methods and clear documentary style inspire confidence that the films research will be compelling and textured. Invisible Labour by Joanne Cesario (Philippines): The return of the Marcos family to the presidential palace amid the economic crisis, the documentary looks at the importance of preserving the history of massive labour struggles that fought for democratic rights and led to the downfall of Martial Law and its continuing relevance to the present struggle of Filipino workers. The selection committee cited, Empowering and complexly layered, Invisible Labor reflects on the Philippines recent and politically unstable past, reclaiming a version of history that is actively being erased. The titular Labour refers to that Carlito Piedad, a janitor whose singular efforts led to the preservation of an audiovisual collection of peoples resistance during the period of Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos. Joanne Cesario keenly positions film as a collective tool and a tool for collectivity by drawing attention to the potential and necessity of archiving as resistance. Baby Jackfruit Baby Guava by Nong Nhat Quang (Vietnam): When an unplanned baby enters the lives of a conservative mother, mentally ill daughter, and detached gay son, the dysfunctional trio travels back in time through their diaries to mend ruptured bonds, rewrite memories, and prepare for a new cycle of motherhood. A creative documentary exploring the cycle of motherhood, plotted by the present with stories and sounds of the past. The selection committee cited, Baby Jackfruit Baby Guava commands an intimate glimpse into familial dysfunction. Nong Nhat Quang delves deep within the loving yet complicated parent-child relationships infused with patriarchal customs by reflecting on generational trauma and queer discrimination. Nong definitively represents a new wave of young Vietnamese filmmakers who are unafraid of introspection. Courageously, he peers into his personal history, bringing a new hope of solidifying a stronger future, reclaiming the narrative for himself and his family. Under the Moonlight by Tonny Trimarsanto (Indonesia): Nur (40 years old) is a transgender who works as a cook in an Islamic School Al Fatah in Kota Gede, Yogyakarta. This school is a bit unique as all the students are Transgenders. The selection committee cited, Through its sensitive and observational style, Under the Moonlight addresses a politically urgent topic the discrimination suffered by the LGBTQ+ community under religious conservatism in Indonesia. Focusing on an Islamic school in Yogyakarta, where every student is transgender, the search for true acceptance begins. Under the Moonlight is exemplary in its empathetic perspective. Tonny Trimarsanto demonstrates a considered and respectful approach to the subjects, earning their trust and allowing all audiences to connect to their individual stories and lives. (from left) Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan (Philippines), Chonchanok Thanatteepwong (Thailand), Giselle Lin (Singapore), Taufiqurrahman Kifu (Indonesia). Photo courtesy: SGIFF SGIFF Southeast Asian Short Film Grant (SEA-SHORTS) Supported by C47 Investment and White Light Post, the SGIFF Southeast Asian Short Film Grant (SEA-SHORTS) is awarded to four short films this year. Each recipient will receive a cash grant of SGD 4,000 from C47 Investment, and post-production support worth SGD 4,000 from White Light Post. The selection committee received almost 265 entries. Selecting stories ranging from an enigmatic scene that unfolds deep within a lush tropical jungle, to a gripping parasitic odyssey, to a tender story of growing pains and finally an unexpected meeting that threads myth with new realities, these stories all aim to enthral and captivate as a collection of diverse and intriguing films from Southeast Asia. This year, the SEA-SHORTS grants are awarded to: Vox Humana by Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan (Philippines): In the middle of a tropical jungle, a dreary sight unfolds: in a state of limbo and uncertainty tend to their gear, amuse themselves with twigs, and engage in a surreal exchange of animal sounds towards each other - lost in translation as they crawl and claw at each other. The selection committee cited, The emotional weight of Indigenous presence on the Philippine Islands is meticulously composed in Don Josephus Raphael Eblahans latest imagination, where visual styles rarely used in framing Indigenous bodies are employed as an expression of resistance. Complex themes of modernity, authority, and ecological collapse, lodged within the story dynamics of a jaded zoologist and a Feral Man accused of murders, unravels patiently in the hands of an ingenious filmmaker brimming with compassion. Termite Life by Chonchanok Thanatteepwong (Thailand): An island woman comes to a town, full of mayflies to meet old friends in the rainy season, starting to cross between the dream and the reality. The selection committee cited, By invoking the corporeal horrors of a mayflys mutation into its termite form, Chonchanok Thanatteepwong dreams up a dreadful scenario where an island woman experiences spiritual and physical intrusions during a visit to the city. Termite Life's sensual yet grotesque bodily detail lingers across metaphysical planes of consciousness to arouse an overwhelming atmosphere of mystique and dissonance. The promise of an assured sensorial treatment and its allegorical provocations of a parasitic urban world makes Chonchanoks latest project a palpable prospect to behold. Children's Day by Giselle Lin (Singapore): With Children's Day fast approaching, eight-year-old Xuan contemplates what to wear on that day, all the while navigating her place in school and at home. The selection committee cited, The simpler the idea, the greater the directorial precision and intuition necessary for the right execution. With sincerity, Childrens Day provides a window for international audiences to peek into the vulnerability of a young girl navigating the wonders and adversities of growing up. Giselle Lins tender and personal story will inspire other short film directors, reassuring them that filmmaking does not always rest on creating big ideas. Instead, stories can be told by observing and meditating on the simplest things that surround us. The Storytellers by Taufiqurrahman Kifu (Indonesia): In the afternoon, four young people accidentally meet in the red zone, a forbidden area that once eliminated thousands of people. There, they each wanted to find something. When evening came, they were met with something else. The selection committee cited, Taufiqurrahman Kifu subverts history by threading a traditional myth with new realities. He presents specific local knowledge against subjective interpretation, creating a new look at the past and achieving a newly defined status quo. Through a mix of poetic fiction, 3D animation, documentary sequences, and hybrid media, Kifu searches, alongside the protagonists of the film, for something buried within History. The Storytellers give the different narrative lives, vertical, horizontal, transverse balance; casting a spell over all audiences alike. 07/26/2023 Image via Rite Aid A new class action lawsuit alleges that Rite Aid disclosed the personal and health information of its website to major website and social media companies without those visitors express consent. The lawsuit claims that when consumers visit RiteAid.com to make a request for a prescription to be filled, tracking tools invisible to the user, but embedded into the website secretly sent all kinds of personal information to Meta, Google, TikTok and other companies. That information purportedly included the persons name, phone number, email address, birthdate, their Rite Aid client ID numbers, the services selected, assessment responses, patient statuses, medical conditions, treatments, provider information, and appointment information. Why would Rite Aid, Google, Meta, etc. need this information? Just like they need it for most everything else: to enhance their ability to more effectively target advertising opportunities. As the case tells it, Rite Aid can also capture and disclose visitors names, email addresses, phone numbers, IP addresses, device IDs and Facebook IDs, which anyone can use to quickly and easily locate, access and view an individuals Facebook profile, ClassAction.orgs Kelly Mehorter said. Tech companies are under particular scrutiny because they already have access to a massive trove of information about people, which they use to serve their own purposes, including potentially micro-targeting advertisements to people with certain health conditions, the lawsuit states, adding that Rite Aids actions have affected millions of Rite Aids customers. Information about a persons physical and mental health is among the most confidential and sensitive information in our society and the mishandling of such information can have serious consequences including, but certainly not limited to, embarrassment, discrimination in the workplace and denial of insurance coverage. ConsumerAffairs reached out to Rite Aid for its position on this lawsuit, but did not immediately hear back. Privacy policies vs. reality As ConsumerAffairs has reported before, just because a privacy policy says one thing, that doesnt mean its a certainty. This lawsuit alleges pretty much the same thing that Rite Aids purported data-sharing is different from what it claims on RiteAid.coms privacy policy. However, the companys privacy policy does leave the door open a bit, stating that we may otherwise continue to share your personal information with our affiliates and service providers, and as otherwise directed by you, for the purposes described in our Policy. What that means exactly is unclear. ConsumerAffairs asked Rite Aid for an explanation, but did not get an immediate response. The policy also stated that it may charge a reasonable fee to comply with a privacy request. Are we making any headway with consumer privacy? A little At present theres no national privacy law that protects everyone in the U.S., but one by one, individual states are trying to pick up that slack, not necessarily in a blanket policy way but certainly in some vertical niches. Matt Voda, CEO of OptiMine, a company that prioritizes consumer privacy, tells ConsumerAffairs that while most Americans know their data is being collected by the various sites they interact with, most of them have zero idea how that information is being used. The sale and purchase of American data is a billion-dollar industry, made simpler by the fact that users consent to it with the click of a button, Voda said. In an attempt to combat this, he points to Massachusetts which is set to become the first state to ban the sale of consumers location data. Its "Location Shield Act which has not yet been officially approved is designed to give consumers more location privacy and control over location data that is collected by mobile apps and websites. Upon passing this act, Massachusetts consumers will have a choice to opt in or out of location data collection, which is a significant new consumer right in terms of privacy. Dont live in Massachusetts? Not a problem, Voda says, because no matter where you live, you have this much of this ability right now. Consumers can go into their phone's privacy settings and turn on/off location data collection for each app installed on their phone, he told us. "The main difference is that these settings are buried deeper into phone settings and app makers can require the collection of this data for use of the app or service. With the Location Shield Act, app makers will no longer be able to require the collection of location data as a pretext for using the app or service. 07/26/2023 Businesses are always asking for feedback in the form of surveys and many consumers love to give their opinion, especially if there is some kind of reward for doing so. This week the ConsumerAffairs-Trend Micro Threat Alert identified a steady increase in the Costco Survey Scam, used by scammers impersonating the wholesale warehouse to lure consumers with the promise of a free Samsung QLED 8K UHD smart TV. Trend Micro's research team detected 215 logs on July 22. And its not the only survey scam targeting consumers. Apple Survey Scam Trend Micro's research team identified scammers impersonating Apple to invite victims to participate in short surveys and provide an expensive TV set as a reward. The top five states being targeted are Texas, California, New York, North Carolina and Florida. Scammers love to use Apple as a lure due to the companys popularity, with the latest being a survey scam offering a high-end TV as the prize, Jon Clay, Trend Micros vice president of Threat Intelligence told ConsumerAffairs. The scammers prize is the victims personal information or to steal their money and/or credit card information. Clay says the offer of too-good-to-be-true prizes for a survey should be a major red flag since no company gives away rewards like that for filling out a survey. Fake Avast Scam The Trend Micro research team found scammers impersonating Avast to send customers device alerts and ask them to click the Fix now button. The scammers prompt victims to upgrade their security suits and fill out their credit card information to activate the protection and remove all the security threats. The top five states being targeted are California, Virginia, Texas, Colorado and Arizona. This is a play on the old tech support scam. Previously scammers impersonated Microsoft when they contacted computer users to tell them they had a security issue. Clay says there is nothing wrong with the targets computer. Consumers who receive an alert that their computer is infected should be cautious when the fix is to upgrade to a paid version, he said. If the consumer isnt using a security product, there are many free options to scan their computer, like Trend Micros Housecall free scanner. Dating Scam The Trend Micro research team identified scammers using dating with Russian girls as bait and sent emails to invite victims to join for free. Trend Micro detected 365 logs on July 23. Valentine's Day is still a long way off but scammers are using the lure of romance to target men. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow says it receives reports almost every day of fraud committed against U.S. citizens by internet correspondents professing love and romantic interest. In many cases, the fictitious person in Russia asks the U.S. citizen to send money or credit card information for living expenses, travel expenses, or visa costs. Investment Scam Trend Micro identified scammers pretending to be a Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nigeria director, inviting mail receivers to join a business project with benefits. Trend Micro detected 2,572 logs on July 23. Trend Micro also found scammers impersonating a Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Nature Resource representative, inviting email receivers to invest in a fake fund. Trend Micro detected 2,238 logs on July 23. Recent investment scams have generally involved cryptocurrency but this scheme looks more like the early internet scams that originated in Nigeria. In June the U.S. extradited a Nigerian national who was allegedly running a similar scheme from France. In most of these operations investors are required to put up money in advance to take part. Travel Scam Between April 1-July 23, the Trend Micro research team identified 2,244 travel-related scam URLs, which increased by 5.2% compared to the past weeks. Trend Micro found 3 fake Airbnb login pages, with over one-third of the victims from Oregon (32.73%). The top five states being targeted are Oregon, Virginia, Washington, Pennsylvania and Illinois. Travel scams may not fade away at the end of the summer because of the sheer number of people who are eager to get away from home for a while. In the U.S. fake booking sites continue to separate travelers from their money. When using a search engine to find accommodations, look at the links closely before clicking. The links at the top of the search thread may not always be legitimate. Oppenheimer seems to have entered the summer as the living irony of a movie about a bomb thats anything but. Its historical enough to make it feel like a movie that is Very Smart and Thoughtful, but it still has at least one big explosion to activate our lizard brain. Its also a fun look at when the academic, bookish study of physics suddenly spills over into violence. Of course, this isnt the first time a test-tube jockey has ended up with a kill count that would make Chris Kyle blush. Scientists through the ages have developed plenty of technology that, whether they planned for it or not, ended up used in the great human tradition of murder. Sure, not many of them can hold a candle to the scale of J. Robert Oppenheimer, but in terms of pure ick factor, there are a few second-place contenders. Here are five scientists who, like Oppenheimer, ended up with plenty of blood on their hands. 5 Louis Fieser Public Domain He subjected plenty of people to the same fate as that cigarette. Youre going to find a common thread here, which is that most of these scientists werent pure murder-makers. A lot of the time, they are also credited with discoveries that have kept people alive, whether pursued out of guilt or just pure happenstance and curiosity. The chemist Louis Fieser has a couple helpful compounds under his belt, like blood-clotting agent vitamin K and cortisone, which is probably floating around your dads arthritic knees as we speak. Advertisement Its something else that hangs over his head a little more unpleasantly, however. Fieser is also sometimes called the father of napalm. Most famously used in Vietnam, it was an answer to some psychopaths complaint that when people caught on fire, they were too easy to put out. Napalm is fuel mixed with gelling agents, forming an incendiary substance that sticks to targets, whether architectural or human and screaming. Its a highly controversial weapon, in that most countries find it abhorrent and cruel, and the U.S. was still using it in Iraq in the aughts. Fieser isnt full I am become death about it, though. He does say he was outraged to find it was being used on people, as he thought it was only going to be used on buildings. Which makes sense, if you think a Harvard chemist isnt aware of what lives in buildings. Advertisement 4 Fritz Haber Photographisches Institut der ETH Zurich Maybe the most Nazi scientist-looking Nazi scientist of all time. Again, with German chemist Fritz Haber, lets look at the good before we look at the very, very bad. Haber is credited with figuring out how to synthesize ammonia from hydrogen and nitrogen. This, combined with the work of Carl Bosch, led to the Haber-Bosch Process, which skyrocketed the worlds ability to produce crops through more effective, mass-produced fertilizers. It, in fact, landed him a Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1918. Usually, if you put a dent in literal world hunger, youd think youd be one of historys all-time good guys. One of his other projects, though, was the exact opposite. Haber also developed chemical weapons (yikes) for the Nazis (double yikes). Most notably, his research led to the development of Zyklon B, the gas infamously used to exterminate groups of Jews in Nazi concentration camp showers. This was despite the fact that Haber was Jewish himself. I think we can all agree: what a fucking putz. Advertisement Advertisement 3 Alfred Nobel Public Domain Boy, the army sure does want a lot of dynamite! I wonder what they re up to? Yes, that Alfred Nobel. The Peace Prize one. I know, its a bit confusing. The fact is, that the entire establishment of the Nobel Prize was a bit of a mea culpa by Nobel himself from guilt over his development of dynamite. Sure, a couple blasting caps might look like small potatoes once Oppenheimer took out a good bit of Japan, but at the time, he was wracked with guilt. When his brother, Ludvig Nobel, died, a French newspaper got the two mixed up and published a pre-mortem obituary of Alfred that called him a merchant of death. When he saw himself saddled with such a decidedly evil job description, he decided to change his legacy. He dedicated his fortune to establishing the Nobel Prizes, hoping that he could undo inventing the best way to blow people up. I have to think hed be pretty happy with the results. Advertisement 2 Thomas Midgley No Known Copyright My bad, Earth. Unlike the earlier entries, the scientist Thomas Midgleys inventions werent ever tied directly to violence. It wasnt an intent to harm but instead a lack of critical knowledge that puts him squarely in the historical doghouse. If you research him, youre likely going to find some incredibly unglowing reviews of his work that call him things like The Most Harmful Inventor in History. Advertisement So what did this all-time champions of oops invent? Bullets? Cigarettes? Modern health insurance? No, Midgley was the mind behind two separate innovations that would be high on the list of things wed ask time travelers to scrub from the past. First was leaded gasoline, which researchers have found lowered the average IQ of the entire American population by two to three points. His other invention was CFCs, or chlorofluorocarbons, meaning that hes at least partly responsible for global warming. Advertisement Most people want to be remembered fondly after their death, but Id at least settle for the New York Times never saying, There may be no other single person in history who did as much damage to human health and the planet. There are certain monuments that are must-sees for any trip across these great United States: the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, the Chicago bridge where the Dave Matthews Band bus unloaded 800 pounds of feces onto an open-air tour boat. Those are great and all, but we know what youre thinking: What if those monuments fucked? Good news, fellow traveler. All across the country, there are memorials to its historys greatest men and moments that will bring new meaning to the phrase rock hard. Advertisement 6 Shirtless Lincoln Abraham Lincoln wasnt known as a hottie and even joked about it extensively, but as one of the few presidents you can claim as your favorite without getting much pushback, theres no reason we cant retcon his abs a little. To that end, in L.A.s Spring Street Courthouse, theres a massive statue of Mr. Lincoln, shirtless and ripped, carrying a book with one hand and coyly thumbing his waistband with the other. The Young Lincolns eight-foot height puts the average visitor right about at dick level, and his downward gaze lets you know thats in no way a coincidence. This is only all that weird in a modern context. In 1941, when the statue was created, it was all the rage to have the hots for Lincoln, even if that required a bit of colorful reimagination. The statues body is actually modeled on the artist, James Lee Hansen, who explained that it was topless because from a sculpturing standpoint, its better to show the body without any clothes. Strangely, he neglected to explain why its better to show the body with snug-fitting khakis. 5 Hey, Girl Lincoln The Young Lincoln was far from the only bizarrely sexualized depiction of Lincoln or even the only one named The Young Lincoln. In Chicagos Senn Park, a 13-foot bronze statue smolders from on high, with its shirt unbuttoned halfway down its chest and sleeves rakishly pushed up to its elbows, leaning to one side and abashedly pawing a book as if to say, Hey, girl, you caught me reading about justice and how to please a woman. Like the other Young Lincoln, it was created during the Lincolnmania of the 1940s, but it wasnt installed in the park until 1997, after the family of the artist, Charles Keck, donated it to the Chicago Public Library. Before that, it was presumably stored deep within the worlds largest nightstand. 4 Toga George Washington Before all those Young Lincolns, however, was Horatio Greenoughs George Washington, commissioned in 1832 for the centennial of the first presidents birthday. The towering 12-foot statue depicts a fiercely perched Washington, holding a sword and wearing his typical outfit of an artfully draped sheet that bares his rippling pecs for all to see. Greenoughs creation caused a normal amount of fuss among Washingtons loyal public. He explained that the presidents 18th-century uniforms would have looked dated, so he sculpted him as the powerful Zeus, but they didnt think a toga was befitting the fatherest of Founding Fathers. Still, they put up with it for some reason until 1908, when Congress voted to move the statue to the Smithsonian because, no shit, he looked cold. We cant go around letting Americas daddy get shrinkage. 3 Beckoning Benjamin Franklin As we saw with Lincoln, context is crucial when it comes to sexy monuments. For example, this statue of Benjamin Franklin on a bench in Glendale, California didnt always appear to be leering at you over the top of his famous bifocals. When it was installed in 1990, Big Ben was depicted holding a cane and perusing a copy of the Declaration of Independence. There are similar statues in Philadelphia, all over California and countless other locations. Sometime in the early 2000s, though, someone in Glendale figured out how to pry Franklins accessories from his cold, dead fingers, presumably to sell as scrap metal and earn a special place in Toby Keiths vision of hell. Now, with nothing in his hands, Franklin looks like hes beckoning you over to sit on his lap and let him put his arm around you and/or pointing to the ground between his legs, where he thinks your knees should go. Advertisement Advertisement 2 The Ripped Monitor Memorial John Ericsson was a Swedish engineer who designed the first ironclad warship commissioned by the U.S. Navy during the Civil War, the U.S.S. Monitor, which ended up being involved in the wars first battle fought with such ships. This is not him. After all, engineers dont tend to have that body-fat percentage. The statue, built in the 1930s by Antonio de Filippo and located in Brooklyns Msgr. McGolrick Park, instead depicts a heroic male pulling a rope attached to a capstan, though his languid pose would be extremely inefficient for such work, symbolizing Ericssons role in military-maritime technology and honoring the memory of the men of the Monitor. They were apparently all male models. An OpSec slip-up revealed the actual IP address of the threat actors behind the JumpCloud hack, according to a report by Madiant. The cybersecurity firm attributed the intrusions to UNC4899, a North Korean threat actor, with a history of targeting companies within the cryptocurrency vertical. "Mandiant assesses with high confidence that UNC4899 is a cryptocurrency-focused element within the DPRK's Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB)," Madiant said in the report. JumpCloud provides its cloud directory platform to more than 180,000 organizations across 160 countries. The researchers also uncovered additional infrastructure as a PTR record was never changed from a previous operation. Mandiant has previously identified the domain wasxxv[.]site being used by North Korean threat actors. Exposed IP address North Korea's RGB units utilize a series of Operational Relay Boxes (ORBs) with commercial VPN providers to obscure their source addresses. These relays seem to be shared among units under the RGB umbrella, according to Mandiant. UNC4899 utilized various VPN providers as a final hop in their attack, the most common being ExpressVPN, but connections to NordVPN, TorGuard, and many other providers have also been observed. Researchers warn about a spike in attacks against poorly secured Microsoft SQL (MSSQL) Servers by a dual-ransomware gang known as Mallox. Security firm Palo Alto Networks reports a 174% increase in the number of Mallox attacks this year compared to the last half of 2022. The Mallox ransomware group claims hundreds of victims, the Palo Alto researchers said in a report. While the actual number of victims remains unknown, our telemetry indicates dozens of potential victims worldwide, across multiple industries, including manufacturing, professional and legal services, and wholesale and retail. MSSQL as a point of entry for ransomware attacks The Mallox gang typically breaks into networks by compromising publicly exposed MSSQL servers that have weak credentials. The groups favorite method is using dictionary-based brute-force attacks that use a list of known or commonly used passwords. Once inside, the attackers execute a command line and PowerShell script that pull down additional scripts and eventually the Mallox payload from a remote server and execute them on the system. Some of these files include updt.ps1, system.bat, and tzt.exe. The system.bat script which gets renamed to tzt.bat creates a username SystemHelp and enables Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) access for it. This gives attackers an alternative method of connecting to the machine. The tzt.exe file, which is the Mallox payload, is executed using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), and it attempts to disable and remove the legitimate sc.exe and net.exe processes. It then tries to delete Volume Shadow copies to prevent data recovery and uses Microsoft's wevtutil command-line utility to clear application, security, and system event logs to prevent forensic analysis. Additional routines involve terminating processes and services associated with security products to evade detection, bypassing the Raccine anti-ransomware program and preventing system administrators from loading the System Image Recovery feature via bcdedit.exe. The Mallox sample analyzed by Palo Alto Networks encrypted files using the ChaCha20 algorithm and appended the .malox extension to the encrypted files. However, the attackers used other file extensions in the past including .FARGO3, .exploit, .avast, .bitenc, .xollam, as well as the victims' names. Canadian Dollar, USD/CAD, Technical Analysis, Retail Trader Positioning IGCS Update US Dollar has been stabilizing against the Canadian Dollar Retail traders increased bearish USD/CAD exposure of late This is a hint that the price trend may soon reverse higher Recommended by Daniel Dubrovsky Get Your Free USD Forecast Get My Guide Following a string of losses, the US Dollar appears to be stabilizing against the Canadian Dollar of late. In response, retail traders have responded by increasing downside exposure in USD/CAD. This can be seen by taking a look at IG Client Sentiment (IGCS). This gauge often acts as a contrarian indicator. With that in mind, is the Canadian Dollar about to relinquish some of its progress against the Greenback? USD/CAD Sentiment Outlook - Bullish The IGCS gauge shows that about 64% of retail traders are net-long USD/CAD. Since the majority of them remain biased higher, this suggests that prices may continue lower down the road. However, downside exposure has increased by 2.08% and 18.47% compared to yesterday and last week, respectively. With that in mind, recent changes in positioning hint that the current price trend may soon reverse higher. Canadian Dollar Daily Chart With that in mind, what are key levels to watch for in USD/CAD looking ahead? Immediate resistance appears to be the combination of a near-term falling trendline from May and the 1.3226 inflection point. A breakout higher would expose the July 7th high of 1.3387. That said, even a push upwards towards this point will not be enough to overturn the broader bearish technical bias. That is being maintained by another falling trendline, which is from March see chart below. Breaking above this point would offer a stronger bullish bias, especially if retail traders continue to increase bearish USD/CAD exposure. Otherwise, a turn lower from here places the focus on immediate support. That is a range between 1.3093 and 1.3139. Clearing under places the focus on the September low of 1.2954. Recommended by Daniel Dubrovsky The Fundamentals of Breakout Trading Get My Guide Chart Created in Trading View --- Written by Daniel Dubrovsky, Senior Strategist for DailyFX.com News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Respected City veteran Chris Blackhurst As mea culpas go, it was pretty comprehensive. After three weeks of refusing to admit she was the source of the untrue story about Nigel Farage, last night Dame Alison Rose finally came clean. Belatedly conceding that she did leak the story which alleged that Farage had been 'debanked' by the exclusive Coutts because he had insufficient funds Dame Alison said she had made a 'serious error of judgment' in discussing the matter with the BBC's business editor Simon Jack at a lavish charity dinner. The CEO of NatWest, which owns Coutts, insisted she had not divulged any 'personal financial information' about Farage, but did admit she left Jack with the impression that the decision to close his accounts was 'solely a commercial one'. She went on to claim that she was not aware when she spoke to Jack that Coutts had also commissioned a 40-page dossier on Farage, and further apologised to the former MEP for the 'deeply inappropriate language' it contained. Let's step back for a minute. The head of a bank with a market capitalisation of just under $30 billion blurted out some defamatory and damaging allegations at a glitzy event at a five-star hotel, while getting her facts wrong to boot. What on earth is a person like that doing running a FTSE 100 company? We are simultaneously urged to believe that Dame Alison was not made aware of an extremely dodgy dossier on a public figure produced by her most high-profile subsidiary. If that's true, then the incompetence is even more profound. As mea culpas go, it was pretty comprehensive. After three weeks of refusing to admit she was the source of the untrue story about Nigel Farage, last night Dame Alison Rose (pictured) finally came clean Belatedly conceding that she did leak the story which alleged that Farage (pictured) had been 'debanked' by the exclusive Coutts because he had insufficient funds Dame Alison said she had made a 'serious error of judgment' in discussing the matter with the BBC's business editor Simon Jack at a lavish charity dinner Under the circumstances, you might have assumed that the final line of Dame Alison's statement last night would read something like: 'And so, with regret, I have informed the board of my resignation with immediate effect.' Astonishingly, though, she said no such thing. How would you feel if you learned that the chief executive of your bank had sat down with a leading BBC journalist and cheerfully nattered away to him about your financial situation? I'm guessing you would be incandescent at such a flagrant breach of customer confidentiality. You would be well within your rights to demand a full explanation and also to demand the resignation of the executive concerned. After all, in banking, privacy is or should be sacrosanct. So how on earth did we get to this sorry state of affairs? On July 3, Jack, Auntie's 215,000-a-year business editor, went to a charity dinner in the Grand Ballroom of the Langham Hotel, handily across the road from Broadcasting House. There, he happened to find himself sitting next to Dame Alison, one of the most powerful people in British banking. The following day, Jack wrote a piece for the BBC's news website and proceeded to tweet it to his 64,000 followers. He claimed the former Ukip leader had lost his Coutts accounts simply because he wasn't rich enough to be kept on as a customer. Now, given that the subject of this story was Farage an outstanding political operative and communicator the BBC's libel lawyers would have been hyper-sensitive to the potential ramifications. They knew that if they got it wrong, Farage would rightly come for them with a vengeance and milk the mistake for all it was worth. We now know that Jack went back to his source to double-check that she was happy for him to publish the information. Dame Alison repeated that she was. Once the dossier which clearly concluded that Farage's political views did not match the bank's woke values came out, the BBC and Jack finally apologised. 'The information on which we based our reporting on Nigel Farage and his bank accounts came from a trusted and senior source,' said Jack. 'However, the information turned out to be incomplete and inaccurate. Therefore I would like to apologise.' Farage accepted with good grace, saying: 'If a very senior source gives you a good story, of course you run it. There's no question about that. Some will say the BBC could have acted more quickly but there's no fault or blame.' No, Farage is aiming his ire squarely at Coutts and its parent. 'This now goes right back to the NatWest banking group,' he said. 'Somebody in that group decided that it was appropriate, ethical and legal to leak details of my personal financial situation. 'That, I think, is wrong at every level and that's where the spotlight should be now.' He's right. His treatment has been appalling. If I were a Coutts customer, I would be withdrawing my money immediately. Coutts is a 331-year-old institution supposedly famed for integrity and discretion. But now it stands accused not only of digging into the political views, public statements and social media posts of one of its clients with a view to 'cancelling' him, but of then attempting to orchestrate the mother of all cover-ups. As U.S. President Richard Nixon famously learnt to his cost during the Watergate scandal, such damage-limitation exercises often turn out to be worse than the original offence. Dame Alison is clearly hoping that with her statement last night along with commissioning a full review of the bank's processes on account closures she can somehow cling on to her job. I believe she is wrong. She has previously claimed in a letter to Farage: 'Freedom of expression and access to banking are fundamental to our society and it is absolutely not our policy to exit a customer on the basis of legally held political and personal views.' Subsequent events have shown this to be nonsense. Dame Alison is insulting the intelligence of her own customers and the rest of us by expecting anyone to believe it. Instead, what clearly happened was that Coutts' oh-so-progressive staff did not agree with Farage's politics. Presumably few of them voted as did Farage and 52 per cent of the country for Brexit. Once the dossier which clearly concluded that Farage's political views did not match the bank's woke values came out, the BBC and Simon Jack (pictured) finally apologised Farage simply did not fit with the bank's splendid aspirations to be a beacon of diversity and wokery (some of us thought its job was to lend out money at interest). So he had to go. When Coutts' staff commissioned their report on him, they clearly did not appreciate that he could serve them with a formal 'Subject Access Request' once he knew of their decision: a move that would require them to hand over the material they had gathered on him. As sheer incompetence goes, this is breathtaking. It speaks of a culture of rank complacency and arrogance. What on earth are Coutts' blue-blooded clients who have included many members of the Royal Family to make of it? Dame Alison may argue that she runs NatWest, which is much bigger than Coutts, and could not be expected to be familiar with every aspect of the private bank's day-to-day activities. But anyone with an ounce of credibility as a business leader must have known that 'exiting' Farage would have caused a massive political row. Dame Alison remains in post for now. But whatever the board's professions of 'full confidence' in her, arrived at 'after careful reflection', ultimately it is for the bank's shareholders its owners to decide who stays and who should go. And NatWest's biggest shareholder is the British Government, which owns 39 per cent of the business thanks to the taxpayer bailout at the height of the 2008 banking crisis. So do you think she should stay? As everyone in the City knows, a fish rots from the head. For the sake of your own dignity and the reputation of the banking giant you have risked disgracing, Dame Alison, you must step down. During 'Pride Month' in 2021, Sir Keir Starmer recorded a video addressed to the LGBT+ community. The Labour leader boasted: 'We're committed to updating the GRA [Gender Recognition Act] to introduce self-declaration for trans people.' Fast forward two years and Anneliese Dodds, Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, has unequivocally backtracked on this controversial policy, which would have allowed any biological male to self-identify as a woman. In a Guardian article on Monday outlining Labour's new approach, Dodds who has refused to submit to questioning from the media about this policy shift wrote that 'sex and gender are different'. She stressed that formal medical diagnosis would still be needed for trans people to receive gender-affirming treatment on the NHS if Labour wins the next election. James Esses is a writer, commentator and co-founder of Thoughtful Therapists During 'Pride Month' in 2021, Sir Keir Starmer (pictured with Angela Rayner at Pride in London in July 2022) recorded a video addressed to the LGBT+ community Calculating The U-turn prompted Women and Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch to call upon Sir Keir to 'apologise' for his 'hypocrisy', demanding: 'Will he tell us why he has changed his mind? Will he admit that he was wrong?' At first glance, you could be fooled into thinking that Labour's U-turn was a positive intervention a triumph for feminists who have long pointed out the obvious dangers that self-ID poses to women-only spaces such as prisons and rape centres, and indeed to women's sport. But dig beneath the surface, and it's clear that the Labour party will still push a regressive and divisive ideology should it ever win power. Dodds's own language made this clear. She still took time to lambast the 'calculating cynicism' of 'desperate' Tories who, she said, were trying to 'descend into the gutter' over transgender issues. I find Dodds's doublespeak deeply troubling as someone who has been a victim of gender ideology at its most toxic. In 2021, then three years into my five-year Masters' degree in Psychotherapy at the 'Metanoia Institute', accredited by Middlesex University, I received an email expelling me from my course. The reason? I had lodged a public petition, which subsequently received 10,000 signatures, raising concerns about the medicalisation of children with gender dysphoria. This petition attracted a vicious backlash on social media from the trans-rights lobby, and my career plans were extinguished overnight. I am currently fighting enormously expensive and time-consuming litigation on the basis of discrimination against my beliefs, protected under the Equality Act 2010. So I am highly sceptical that Labour's proposals to 'reform' trans rights will help anyone, like me, who has been cancelled by this vociferous lobby including countless feminists who have lost their jobs and been cast out. Let's look briefly at the details of Labour's proposals. Dodds plans to abolish the current system, under which a panel of independent doctors decides on whether or not to award a 'Gender Recognition Certificate' (GRC) to someone with gender dysphoria. Crucially, under these rules, the applicant does not know the identity of the doctors, which allows them to make their decision fairly and in private. Under Labour, a single doctor chosen by the applicant, and a registrar instead of a panel, could award the certificate. This gives all the power to the person who wants a GRC. It also means an applicant could simply attend one of Britain's many private gender clinics (often run by self-professed trans activists) and pay a few hundred pounds to receive a diagnosis, possibly even after a single telephone conversation. Given the granting of a GRC is used to justify biological men entering female-only spaces, the stakes are incredibly high. Currently, the legislation requires applicants to have lived in their 'acquired gender' for at least two years. This is to ensure applicants are genuine and have no ill-motive. Labour proposes to remove this requirement altogether and replace it with a 'reflection period' of unspecified length. Once again, vital safeguards are being diluted. Labour has further pledged to scrap the requirement for 'spousal consent', on the grounds that this is 'outdated'. Currently, a full GRC cannot be awarded to an individual without their spouse's consent, unless and until any existing marriage is annulled or ends in divorce. (An 'interim certificate' can still be granted.) This important provision upholds the dignity of the spouse. Without it, they might not even be aware of the application. A wife could wake up and find she was married to another 'woman' without knowing about it. There's a final issue that deeply troubles me. There is no mention whatsoever of children's welfare save for Anneliese Dodds re-emphasising Labour's support for 'transition-related healthcare'. Given growing evidence of irreversible physical and emotional harm caused to some children through medical 'transitioning' for gender dysphoria, this shows scant concern for youngsters' wellbeing. Fast forward two years and Anneliese Dodds (pictured), Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, has unequivocally backtracked on the controversial policy of introducing self-ID, which would have allowed any biological male to self-identify as a woman Ploy Yes, Labour's U-turn is welcome. But, if the Labour Party has indeed now rowed back from 'self-ID', it is as clear as day that this is not in moral defence of biological reality and women's rights. Instead, it is a nakedly political ploy. Dodds and Starmer have no doubt studied the SNP's attempts to force through 'self-ID' north of the border a bizarre decision that helped to precipitate Nicola Sturgeon's downfall. Self-ID was a disastrous policy in Scotland clearly opposed by the majority of the Scottish people. The Labour Party knows it wouldn't stand a chance in an election if it ran on a similar ticket. But the unfortunate truth is, despite the new U-turn, the Labour Party has been captured by an ideology with minimal respect for women's rights. Last month, Starmer and Dodds met with senior figures from Stonewall (the controversial charity that is in my view hell-bent on pushing gender ideology, often to the detriment of women, children and gay people) to discuss 'inclusion'. In April, Starmer stated that '99.9 per cent of women . . . haven't got a penis,' implying that one in 1,000 women does. He has never rowed back on this extraordinary claim. Hounded At a 2022 LGBT awards ceremony, Starmer, in a keynote speech, pledged to introduce tougher 'hate crime laws' which could end up criminalising someone for 'misgendering' another person. The evidence continues. Labour has refused to defend robustly its own MP, Rosie Duffield, after she spoke out against the dangers of gender ideology. In April, Duffield said she felt 'isolated, hounded and harassed' after speaking out for women's rights and added that there had been an 'absolute lack of support' from her own colleagues, including many who privately agreed with her, during years of 'toxic' abuse. Yet the party has continued to indulge MPs like the Corbynista Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who in January snarled at the Tory MP Miriam Cates in Parliament, calling her 'transphobic'. (The same man who told parents who see their children according to biological reality that they are guilty of 'abuse' and 'forcing a sex on their child'.) All this from the party that has the audacity to accuse others of waging 'culture wars'. The truth is, over recent years, the Labour party has shifted almost beyond recognition. It has abandoned its founding principles and is now fixated on identity politics at the expense of voters who care about women's safety, child safeguarding and freedom of speech. Dodds's shoddy new bid might be dressed up as reform. But the truth is it's a dangerous and sinister step. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. This is sinister. The Global Majority sounds like a phrase invented by a deranged cult leader or the villain in a superhero movie. In fact, it is the chilling jargon adopted by King's College London and other institutions to separate white people from the rest of humanity. Staff at the prestigious university were invited last week to sign up for free tai chi classes, to 'tackle chronic stress triggered by racism'. But the registration form made clear the aim was to ensure that 'the participants are all from global majority backgrounds' (my emphasis). A memo went even further. It stressed the sessions were restricted to 'staff who identify as black/people of colour/global majority' a term for the ethnic groups which constitute approximately 85 per cent of the world's population. The implication was crystal clear: 'No whites.' NANA AKUA: 'The Global Majority' sounds like a phrase invented by a deranged cult leader The language of racial segregation in British universities is spreading and is already being echoed in schools and civic organisations. Talk of the Global Majority is the latest and most insidious development. This system lumps together all non-white people and I find it as frightening as it is offensive. One woman in particular is to blame for this ugly phrase. Rosemary Campbell-Stephens, who seized on the phrase in 2003 and has trumpeted it ever since, is a black British academic, now living in semi-retirement in Jamaica. At an event for University College London (UCL) last year, she described herself as 'an anti-racist, Pan-African paradigm shifter'. A shameless egotist, Campbell-Stephens's pronouncements would be comical if they weren't so poisonous. She attacks 'white people, primarily white men, who supposedly hold the social, political and economic power' as an 'elite minority'. This minority, she claims, is 'aided and abetted across the globe by those who are not white but want desperately to appropriate whiteness to share in the spoils'. In other words, those like me who happen to be black but who don't detest all white people are traitors. 'The white elite,' she adds, are 'in their final death throes,' but meanwhile, the 'third world' (her words) is 'occupied territory created for the Global Majority'. As if to prove satire isn't dead, Ms Campbell-Stephens's loathing for the 'first world elites' did not prevent her from accepting an MBE, a Member of the Order of the British Empire award, from the Queen in 2015. Ms Campbell-Stephens later excused this hypocrisy by explaining she saw the honour as a tribute to her 'activism'. In her profile on the LinkedIn website for professionals, she declares her personal pronouns to be 'we' and 'us'. She really imagines she is speaking for everyone who isn't white either that or she thinks she is Queen Victoria. King's College London ran an event offering tai chi classes for those facing racism Incredibly, this woman is not only a visiting fellow at UCL, but her 2021 book, Educational Leadership And The Global Majority: Decolonising Narratives, is now required reading at Birmingham University's School of Education. 'I could not be more proud of my work at UCL,' she announces on LinkedIn. 'It was described as groundbreaking: I describe it as soul-shaking. I am rarely in my lane. I add value. I am.' You might think the views of one obscure academic can't have a major impact on society but last November, Westminster council announced it was replacing the acronym BAME (Black And Minority Ethnic) with her preferred phrase 'Global Majority'. BAME is a ghastly term. But Global Majority is even worse: even more militant and divisive, defining white people as the enemy of everyone else and clearly implying that even though white British people are in a large majority in this country, since whites are a global minority, their culture, history and world view should not hold sway here. Like so much Left-wing orthodoxy, it is also steeped in anti-Semitism, because Jews are not included in this Global Majority. I despise any system that categorises me by the colour of my skin. It is restrictive, destructive and belittling. All my life I've expected people to judge me on my abilities and my force of character and because I insisted on it, most people did. Of course, like many others, I've experienced discrimination. But this is the way I see it: those who see me as inferior because I'm black are invariably too ignorant to be worth my time. Now I believe some black people are worsening the situation especially academics on ego trips, who judge everybody on skin colour. They preach this Global Majority theory, the obnoxious and ridiculous notion that everyone who isn't white is automatically the victim of oppression. I always warned that the Black Lives Matter (BLM) brigade would do immense harm. The scale of the social damage is worse than everything I feared. Author and educator Rosemary Campbell-Stephens MBE Backed by the Labour party, the BBC, the social media vigilantes and even the police, BLM has spread the doctrine that white oppression is the cause of all evil: racism, war, poverty, everything. Whites caused it all, it dictates, and however much they apologise, however deeply they are taught to hate themselves, they can never atone for their guilt. This is harmful to everyone not just white people. It is also a calumny, one propagated by bitter zealots with their own agendas. I have a message for Ms Campbell-Stephens: the only Global Majority I'm part of is the human race. All of us are descended from ancestors who evolved in Africa half a million years ago. That's not a political statement, it's basic anthropology. I refuse to be defined by the fact I'm 'not white'. To tell me I'm essentially the same as a Chinese woman, or an Inuit, or a Pakistani, or anything but an Anglo-Saxon, on the basis that my skin is black, is repugnant. I spent some time growing up in America, where this pernicious ideology was already spreading. The most humiliating day of all my school years came when a well-meaning teacher explained to the class that the black girls were descended from slaves and the white girls probably had ancestors who were slave-owners. I was furious. Even at my age, I knew this was an ignorant simplification. It ignored the fact that some of my ancestors might have been slave traders themselves many black Africans were. But even if it were true, it has no bearing on who I am. And it should never affect how other people regard me. The grim reality is that since BLM, this type of identity politicking is commonplace. As a result, when I've visited schools to give inspirational talks, all too often I've seen self-imposed segregation. The black children hang together, the Asian children keep to themselves, the white children are with other white pupils. An atmosphere of mutual mistrust prevails. My daughter confirms that this is increasingly the case at her school. And no wonder, if the curriculum is based on encouraging some groups to resent the others. We are ingraining racism into an entire generation and I fear it will be impossible to eradicate. The young are being damaged for a lifetime. It's cynical and callous of people to build their careers around promoting division, and then expect applause for it. They are perpetuating discrimination for their own narrow advantage. People practice Tai Chi at the Bund in the morning on January 3, 2022 in Shanghai, China Here's my prescription for this madness. All terminology that divides us should be abolished. The ugly word 'BAME', scooping people together into 'ethnic minorities', makes no sense. It defines us according to wherever we happen to be living. According to its twisted logic, I am part of this lazy minority grouping because 82 per cent of Britons are white. But what becomes of my identity if I visit Ghana, where my parents were born? Suddenly, I'm not in the minority. Does that make me a different person? Of course it doesn't. If I visit India or Japan on holiday, I'm in the minority again but all the Indians and Japanese are not, until they visit the UK. It's lunacy. Ms Campbell-Stephens rails against the 'wilful colour-blindness' in British education, which she equates to 'white ignorance'. She is completely wrong. The only way to end racial inequality is to see and treat everyone as equal, regardless of their skin colour. Being colour-blind used to be essential for all people who regarded themselves as decent and tolerant. Now, apparently, it's the badge of racism. I'll carry on being colour-blind and stand up to anyone who peddles racial division, whatever new jargon they invent to disguise it. Their faces are some of the most well-known in the world thanks to their glittering Hollywood careers - but while you may consider yourself something of a celebrity know-it-all, does that A-list knowledge extend to the offspring of your favorite stars? With the 'nepo baby' generation on the rise, the world has come to recognize a whole new host of celebrities who are following in their famous parents' footsteps with careers in movie, TV, and fashion. But even those A-list offspring who have eschewed a life of fame and fortune in favor of more low-key careers cannot escape the uncanny resemblance that they bear to their celebrity parents. Here, FEMAIL challenges you to put your Hollywood know-how to the ultimate test to see if you can identify the parentage of these famous children - from the budding model daughter of one of the 90s most infamous catwalk stars to the bodybuilding actor who rejected his father's infamous last name. Read More: The steps you need to take to avoid losing THOUSANDS to criminals A cybersecurity expert has revealed how sharing photos from the airport as you prepare to go on holiday could put you at risk. Amir Tarighat, chief executive of cybersecurity firm Agency, revealed hackers can gain access to personal information about you from your boarding pass. The New Yorker claimed people can find your address, phone number and email address from the information on your travel document. He told USA Today people mistakenly think the limited amount of information on a boarding pass isn't enough for scammers to use, but that's not the case. 'Attackers can very easily bring up the rest of the things they need to know about you from public records, like your date of birth, your address, phone number,' he said. Amir Tarighat, who is the CEO of cybersecurity firm Agency, from New York, revealed hackers can actually gain access to other information about you from your boarding pass (stock image) This information can also be cross referenced with previous data breaches. He said scammers could also use the information that you're going on holiday to infiltrate your workplace. 'They can use that information in social engineering, phishing and spam emails to other employees who work at the company and say, like, "Amir's in Paris this week", or whatever, and use that information to get you to do something,' he explained. This could involve giving them access to data or an account, or sending them money. Tarighat stressed the importance of having preventative measures in place, such as two-factor authentication on all accounts and strong passwords. The warning adds to previous advice from an Australian tech expert who revealed a simple step to follow to avoid losing thousands of dollars to cyber criminals. Alex Hope said it was vital for all online users to use the two-factor authentication security process when typing in their personal login details. 'That way each person has their own email (address), password and then you will also be sent a six-digit unique code (in a text message) before logging in,' he said on Sunrise. 'It makes it harder for hackers to (potentially) access your details.' Two factor authentication provides an extra layer of security to protect against account hijacking. It also leaves users feeling at ease when they are using personal or business financial websites. In March 2020, Hope attracted global headlines after successfully uncovering the details of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott (pictured) from his Qantas boarding pass in just 45 minutes Hope also stressed the importance of not inadvertently uploading personal details on different forms of social media. 'I would try to avoid posting any information which could easily identify you,' he said. 'Never post things like your email, personal address or phone number.' In March 2020, Hope attracted global headlines after successfully uncovering the details of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott from his Qantas boarding pass in just 45 minutes. It followed the politician sharing a snap of his boarding pass on Instagram. Top tips to protect yourself online *Enable Two-Step Authentication * Check a Sites Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificate * Dont Save Financial Information on Shopping Sites *Be Careful Who You Trust * Create Strong, Unique Passwords Advertisement Speaking on a blog post, Hope revealed he was able to access Mr Abbott's personal information by simply using the booking reference printed on the boarding pass. 'In seconds I had Tony Abbott's passport number, phone number and weird Qantas messages about him,' Hope said. 'Anyone who saw that Instagram post could also have them.' Hope then got in contact with Mr Abbott's staff, Qantas and the Australian Signals Directorate, who all thanked him for bringing the issue to their attention. He also spoke to Abbott personally about his online 'detective work', which Hope labelled 'humanising.' 'When I'd collected myself from various corners of the room, he (Abbott) asked if there was a book about the basics of IT since he wanted to learn about it. 'It made me realise that even famous people are just people too.' he told SBS' The Feed. Hackers can use personal details to access people's online banking accounts, or pose as them for internet transactions. A mother claims she was left humiliated after water park staff told her she wasn't allowed to breastfeed her baby in the lazy river. Tiffany Francis, from Georgia, took to Facebook to explain what happened at Rigby's Water World in Warner Robins, Georgia. The mother-of-two revealed she'd brought her 11-month-old son to the water park's lazy river so she could nurse him to sleep because he 'likes motion.' However a lifeguard approached her and said she wasn't allowed to breastfeed in the water. After questioning this she spoke to a manager who claimed it was a 'courtesy to other people' that she wasn't allowed to breastfeed and cited the park's rules against food or drink. Tiffany Francis, from Georgia, said she was left humiliated after water park staff told her she wasn't allowed to breastfeed her baby in the lazy river (stock image) In the post, which racked up over 1,000 likes, she explained: 'I have never in my years of being a breastfeeding mother had one single negative comment made to me about breastfeeding while out in public. I've had supportive comments from random people, but today was a different day. 'I went to Rigby's Water World today with my family. My son is 11 months old and when it was getting to be his nap time, like I do every visit, I got in the lazy river to nurse him to sleep. 'He likes motion to sleep, he sleeps well in the car or swing, so he will also sleep in the lazy river. At home he always nurses to sleep. So he was latched and a lifeguard (Caleb) told me 'ma'am you can't breastfeed in the lazy river'. 'I kind of laughed because I thought he was just making a joke in very poor taste. Then he got on the radio and had a lady come and tell me I wasn't allowed. I was trying to pull the baby off but when baby is latched, he's latched. 'I asked her if it was posted somewhere and she told me that it was posted in the rules out front so I got out of the lazy river, and I went to read the rules. 'Of course there was nothing stating anything about children, except for babies needed to wear swim diapers (which he was). So I asked at the entrance to speak to a manager about it to see where I could see that it was a rule and they sent me someone from guest services so after explaining the situation to her, she said she could get the water park manager. 'The manager Steve Brown came and told me it's as a courtesy to other people that I can't feed my son, so I asked it's just a made up rule, because it's not posted anywhere? It's just something that they decided to say was a rule. So then he smartly said well it says no food or drinks in the water. I asked so my boobs aren't allowed in the water?' According to the woman, she then asked for her family's season passes to be refunded however the park refused. She took to Facebook to explain what happened at Rigby's Water World in Warner Robins, Georgia She continued: 'So I left because my son needed to take a nap and I wasn't allowed to nurse him to sleep. 'Imagine all the bodily fluids being excreted into the water but they're worried about breast milk when the baby was latched, my breast was out of the water, and the milk was only going into baby's mouth. 'But really it wasn't even about him eating in the water it was about it making other guests uncomfortable. 'As a courtesy to our other guests'. I left crying, because I was told I couldn't feed my child which by the way it is against the law to tell a mother they can't breastfeed their child. But sure let's worry about offending people by feeding a child. 'Also in the lazy river, I saw several other mothers with their kids asleep in their laps, the kids heads on their moms chests. My situation looked just like theirs, my breast wasn't exposed. 'My son's face was covering everything. So without looking extra hard you'd think he was just asleep on my chest. But somehow I made people uncomfortable by doing the most natural thing I could do for my child, while just trying to let him nap. Mind you, this was also at a water park where most people are wearing very little clothing but my son and I were offensive. 'I'm just so upset and appalled and wanted to give a heads up to all the other moms out there that this is how breastfeeding moms are treated at Rigby's Water World. You're also not allowed to bring snacks in for the baby, so I was told today. I guess they'd rather babies just go hungry.' Many people rushed to the comments in disbelief and anger about the situation According to Georgia state law, which states that the 'breastfeeding of a baby is an important and basic act of nurture,' a mother is allowed to 'breastfeed her baby in any location where the mother and baby are otherwise authorised to be'. Many people rushed to the comments in disbelief and anger about the situation. One person wrote: 'By LAW - YOU ARE ALLOWED TO BREASTFEED WHERE EVER A WOMAN IS PERMITTED!!!!' Another said: 'This is awful! People of all ages are urinating in the water, and theyre worried about breastmilk?' While someone else wrote: 'Just wanted to come here to say from what Ive read of the story I support you 100%. I know what its like to try to feed in public placesits hard and babies just want their milk.' According to Today, Rigby's Water World revised its breastfeeding policy within hours of the incident and apologised to Francis for the 'misguided' policy. 'We had a policy in place that didn't allow breastfeeding in the river that was in line with the health department's standard on no eating or drinking in the pools,' said Steve Brown, vice president of operations at Rigby's Water World. 'When I was made aware of the law that mothers can breastfeed anywhere they're allowed to be, we reviewed our policy, reaching out to other experts who operate aquatic facilities,' he says. 'From there, we decided to allow our guests to breastfeed in the pools, should they choose.' Viewers of eerie BBC drama The Sixth Commandment have called for its star Eanna Hardwicke to win awards for his disturbing portrayal of murderous Fraudster, Ben Field, as the series concludes. Hardwicke, 26, plays the real-life criminal, who is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of Peter Farquhar after convincing him to write Field into his will, in the four-part series written by Sarah Phelps. As the series concluded on BBC One last night, viewers watched Field convicted of Farquhar's murder, but acquitted of the attempted murder of Farquhar's neighbour, Ann Moore-Martin. After watching the conclusion of the series, viewers took to Twitter to praise all aspects of the distressing drama - pointing to Hardwicke's performance in particular. They called for the Irish actor to be recognised alongside his big name co-stars, Timothy Spall and Anne Reid, for his portrayal as the manipulative Field. Viewers have praised Irish actor Eanna Hardwicke, 26 (pictured) for his performance as murderous fraudster Ben Field in The Sixth Commandment as the BBC series comes to an end One person wrote: 'Good grief... the acting in The Sixth Commandment is phenomenal.' They continued to praise Spall and Reid, adding: 'Eanna Hardwicke is also incredible as Ben. Just give it all the awards now. BBC drama at its VERY best.' The drama tells the true story of clergyman and university professor Peter Farquhar, who develops a close bond with Field while teaching him English, and later falling in love with him. However as the relationship between the pair develops, Peter begins to suffer psychotic episodes, exhaustion and dizzy spells. Eanna starred alongside Anne Reid (pictured) who played Ann Moore-Martin, an elderly woman who developed a romantic relationship with Field Taking to Twitter to praise Hardwicke, viewers said he was 'utterly brilliant' as the creepy, narcissistic Field After a long period of ill-health that sees him collapsing and falling down the stairs with a black eye, he spends time in a care home where he makes a miraculous recovery, before suddenly passing away at home. Following Peter's death, viewers watch Field move in on his neighbour, Ann Moore-Martin, with whom he strikes up another romantic relationship. Over a series of visits, he is shown to be growing closer to Anne, asking her about why she is single, kissing her cheek and bonding with her over religion. But her niece Ann-Marie quickly grows concerned as Field starts spending more time with the older woman and their relationship develops. Terrified her aunt is in danger, Ann-Marie travels to the older woman's home, where she finds Anne has suffered a fall and quickly takes her to hospital. Viewers praised Hardwicke on Twitter and called for him to receive the same recognition as his big name co-stars Field tries to visit Anne's house, but Ann-Marie confronts him, and tells him to leave, as well as leaving his key to the property. Police came to visit Anne, where she tells them she saw Field putting white powder into her drinks. But tragically, overnight before the investigation can go any further, Anne dies. After Ann-Marie raises her suspicions about Field, a police investigation begins and Field is arrested for and charged with the murder of Peter Farquhar and the attempted murder of Ann Moore-Martin. Throughout the court process, Field shows little contrition and admits to being 'cruel' to Peter by drugging him throughout their relationship - but denies murdering him. Watching Hardwicke's eerie performance as the killer, viewers have been left stunned by his range and ability to play such an evil character and took to Twitter to praise him, calling for him to receive the same recognition as his co-stars. One viewer wrote: 'Eanna Hardwicke is a revelation. Twenty-six years old, and sorry BBC iPlayer but to say the series stars Timothy Spall and Anne Reid (both of whom are very good) is really unfair on Hardwicke. 'He may not have been known but is will be now. Stunning talent.' Another impressed viewer said: 'For those that hate the BBC, watch The Sixth Commandment and realise your opinion needs to be questioned. 'Eanna Hardwicke's performance is the creepiest I've seen since Richard Attenborough in 10 Rillington Place. Marvellous.' One viewer, who described the acting all around as 'superb', said: 'Eanna Hardwicke is incredible: plays a mix of cool, sinister, creepy, bland, and narcissistic, with such skill. Scared the life out of me!' Elsewhere people called for Hardwicke and the rest of the cast to win awards for their performances, praising the entire ensemble and production for a triumphant drama. 'The Sixth Commandment was truly something else,' one said. 'One of the best one-off dramas I have ever watched. The awfulness of it being based on a true story though... those poor people.' Another said: 'Although he was playing a real life evil b*****d, Eanna Hardwicke deserves an award or some recognition for his portrayal of that monster because he absolutely nailed it.' The father of British Airways flight attendant Lucie Blackman, who was killed in Tokyo after she went missing in 2000 at the age of 21 has spoken of the 'sheer blind panic' he felt when he learnt she had vanished. Tim Blackman, who travelled out to Japan to search for his 21-year-old daughter when she vanished more than two decades ago, has recalled his agony as he waited for answers as to Lucie's whereabouts in a Netflix documentary exploring her disappearance and murder. Lucie, from Kent, vanished from the Japanese capital on 1st July 2000 while she was living and working there for British Airways. Despite an investigation involving 100 officers from Tokyo Metropolitan Police, her dismembered body was not discovered until February 2001, with an arrest finally made two months later. Joji Obara, a millionaire property developer from Tokyo, was charged in 2002 with drugging, raping and killing the young woman. However, he could not be convicted of murder as Lucies body was so badly decomposed. He was cleared of manslaughter due to a lack of evidence but later found guilty of her abduction, dismemberment and the disposing of her body in 2008 at the Tokyo High Court after the Blackman family appealed. To this day, Lucie's cause of death is still unknown. Speaking in Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case, which landed on Netflix today, Tim Blackman has recalled the moment he realised his daughter had vanished. 'I was immediately thinking, well, there must be some rational explanation, some reason why she's not been able to get in touch,' he said. 'There were three or four more calls and I knew that something had gone wrong. 'That feeling of complete blind panic just crashes in on you.' After being told his daughter had vanished, Tim jumped straight on a plane to Tokyo where he hoped to help the police with their investigation and bring Lucie home. However as the documentary explores, he found himself at odds with the Japanese authorities as he did his best to keep Lucie's case in the spotlight. Tim Blackman, whose daughter Lucie was murdered by a Japanese millionaire property developer after she went missing in 2000, has spoken of the 'blind panic' he felt when he first learnt she had vanished Lucie Blackman had moved to the Japanese capital to work for British Airways, but quit her job and began working as a hostess in a swanky nightclub Joji Obara, a millionaire Japanese property developer living in a wealthy area of Tokyo, is serving a life sentence for abducting Lucie and dismembering her body He recalls speaking on camera for the first time in his life and having no experience of appearing on television, but added he put his nerves aside to do what was necessary to find Lucie. 'You just get on with it because you're trying to find your child,' he says. The documentary explores how the Tokyo Metropolitan Police force was put under pressure to solve the case of a missing British woman as it gained increased media coverage as Tim called press conferences and befriended journalists to ensure there was a continued focus on finding Lucie. American journalist Jake Adelstein who was based in Japan at the time and developed a friendship with Tim, describes him as a 'very flamboyant showman who would use his charisma to stir up things so that something got done'. Clips are played of Tim being told off by Japanese police officers, who were at loggerheads with the desperate father, as he took matters into his own hands and put up posters of Lucie on lampposts around the city. He also held a meeting with then-UK prime minister Tony Blair, who stopped off on his way to a G7 summit in Japan to meet with Tim and discuss Lucie's disappearance. As well as documenting the police investigation into Lucie's disappearance, the film also recalls Lucie's bright, bubbly nature, which is much missed by her family. Tim says of his daughter: 'Lucy was our first born child and she completely transformed our lives. 'She was very special in the family. She was very quick witted; she influenced many people around her. 'I think many people who knew her as she was growing up as a girl orbited around her light, like she was very much the centre of things.' He added it was a 'big deal' that she decided to become a flight attendant and move to Japan - which she had thought would be the best way to see the world and travel as much as possible. However, she soon stopped working for the airline and instead took on a hostess job at a high-end club in the city. The documentary explores the world of hostessing, a line of work in which women are paid to socialise with wealthy men in clubs while eating and drinking with them. Experts speak about the career as a lucrative option for young women in the city who could earn up to $50 an hour wining and dining with the men in the clubs. However it also uncovers a darker underbelly where women are at risk of sexual assault and exploitation at the hands of such powerful men. The film also explores the case of Carita Ridgway, an Australian nightclub hostess who was raped and murdered in Tokyo in 1992 by Obara. Obara is currently serving a life sentence over Lucie and Carita's deaths, as well as a string of rapes on other women. In 2018, Tim Blackman said he would do everything in his power to ensure Obara was kept in jail for as long as the law allows, when he was asked about the possibility that his daughter's killer would be up for parole. The father said the feeling of anguish and anger had not subsided since her death, and described Obara as a 'monster'. He said: 'Every day you think about what she'd be doing now, whether she would be married, whether I'd have grandchildren by her now. It leaves a constant chasm of emptiness when you lose someone young like that.' Tim added: 'You hear this word closure. But it just doesn't exist in these sorts of cases. The notion that you just shut the door on that part of your life just doesn't happen. As a father you don't want to put that burden down.' The Princess of Wales has been accused of making 'disappointing' jewellery choices, but fans of the high street will disagree - with the royal regularly championing budget buys that make it easy for devotees to emulate her style. Former Vogue International editor Suzy Menkes, 79, accused Kate of appearing indifferent to the collection of rare and precious jewels she is privileged to wear and said she doesn't have the same 'joy' about jewels as her mother-in-law Camilla, 75. But Kate has continued to prove she can work a wide-range of brands, often combining designer outfits with more low-key earrings. From attending events as glitzy as the BAFTAs to greeting important figures, the Princess has been seen sporting jewellery from Zara, H&M and Accessorize. While attending the BAFTAs earlier this year at Royal Festival Hall the Princess was wore an 18 pair of earrings from Zara, which she paired with an Alexander McQueen one-shoulder gown. The gold cascading floral earrings cost less than 20 The Princess of Wales wore a 2.10 pair of Accessorize mini hammered 'door knocker' dropped earrings on a visit to the Foundling Museum in London this year. She matched them with a black polo neck and recycled a long-line navy coat and a favourite pair of 130 Jigsaw trousers Earlier this year in February the high street princess was seen wearing an 18 pair of earrings from Zara, which she paired with an Alexander McQueen one shoulder gown. The pair of gold cascading floral earrings, described by the retailer as 'floral-shaped metal dangle earrings with rhinestone applique' and have a 'push-back closure', cost less than 20. The Princess of Wales arrived at her Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey in December looking perfectly polished, donning a burgundy coat dress, believed to be designed by London-based designer Eponine. Eagle-eyed royal watchers would have noticed as she stepped out for the 'Together at Christmas' event, however, that she had matched the elegant outfit with drop ruby earrings. Kate, who loves a bargain, bought them from Accessorize for 14, pairing them with matching gloves, a clutch and burgundy heel. Kate arrived at her Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey looking festive but perfectly polished in a burgundy coat dress, believed to be designed by London-based Eponine. It was paired with drop ruby earrings from Accessorize for 14 The Princess of Wales wore a 6 pair of gold drop earrings from H&M as she attended an evening reception at the Guinness Storehouse's Gravity Bar in Dublin, Ireland. Proving she can work with both designer and budget brands she matched the earrings with a dazzling green dress created by The Vampire's Wife As she spoke to TV presenter Ant McPartlin for the launch of Taking Action on Addiction (formed by a consortium of charities) the Princess wore a 845 red Christopher Kane skirt and a 225 Ralph Lauren jumper. She matched this with 14 carat gold-plated twisted hoop earrings from online shopping brand ASOS costing less than 20 On a separate occasion while launching TV presenter Ant McPartlin's Take Action on Addiction campaign back in 2021, she was seen wearing a pair of 14 karat gold plated twisted hoop earrings from online shopping brand ASOS, once again costing less than 20. She paired this with a customised 845 red Christopher Kane skirt and a 225 Ralph Lauren jumper, while she spoke to the presenter about how he was in a 'bad' place by the time he sought help for his drug and alcohol issues. It seems Kate's love of high street brands is also rubbing off on other members of the royal family, with Camilla taking a leaf out of her book. On other occasions Kate was seen supporting smaller brands, including Zeen, where she wore some of the designer's colourful earrings that cost less than 5. While she is often pictured wearing elements of high street brands, the value of her wardrobe overall soared in 2022. In 2020, the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Bradford, where they made Kulfi milkshakes at MyLahore. She wore a 90 black and white flowing dress from Zara, and paired with a green and white pair of Zeen earrings, that she wore on the royal tour of Pakistan in 2019 Kate pictured while speaking to students from Hampton Hill Junior School at Hampton Court Palace in 2019. She paired a 260 midi dress from Sandro with earring displaying cluster rose pink petal shaped stones in gold-tone metal from Accessorize During a visit to Islamabad in 2016, Kate wore a traditional kurta with trousers and a scarf made by local fashion designer Maheen Khan. The outfit was completed by a pair of beaded chandelier earrings from Zeen, a Pakistani women's clothing line When the Princess of Wales attended the Back to Nature Festival at RHSWisley, she wore a pair of 5 Accessorize drop-earrings with scalloped edges and intricate cut outs. These were set off with a 1,635 designer floral dress by Emelia Wickstead The Princess wore an impressive 176,664 worth of new clothes in the course of the year as the pandemic came to an end and regular Royal engagements resumed. It marked the Royal's most expensive year to date, with a host of new outfits on show - beating 2017 when she wore 119,000 of new outfits. This was a sharp contrast to 2021 where the royal had slashed her new wardrobe total, wearing 48,845 worth of new clothing. She did, however, continue re-wear and recycle some of her older, more loved pieces, including staples from Zara, Hobbs and Mango. For so long, it lay in the corner of my living room, unloved and dusty. Much of the time it was forgotten, partially hidden under the couch; an element of my house now as redundant as the salad spinner and the talcum powder given to me for Christmas in 2011. But then, last year, my landline telephone suddenly returned to being a vital component of my life to the eventual enragement of my partner, but, no doubt, to the delight of the BT billings department. Because, if you want to have an affair in the 21st century, only a fool would rely on digital tools. Wives have an infuriating habit of checking the call, text and email history on mobiles for evidence of extra-marital shenanigans. Take Amy Nuttall, the Emmerdale actress who has apparently taken back her cheating husband Andrew Buchan, with the stipulation that she should have access to his phone at all times. She clearly isn't clued up on the covert capabilities of the landline or that love rats are increasingly going under the cover of analogue to hide their infidelities be it landlines, letter-writing or, if you can find one, a phonebox. Rob Crossan, pictured, opens up about the rise of people using landlines to have romantic affairs As well as helping you avoid detection, these pre-digital methods feel thrillingly defiant and romantic in an age of fast-click emojis. I speak from experience. I had been dating Susie for around six months when a strange, atavistic noise began shrilling from under the sofa one evening. Certain this would be either a spam call or a wrong number, I gingerly picked up the white receiver, ready to vent spleen at a call centre operative in Gateshead. 'Is that Rob?', said a voice that immediately made my stomach lurch in a strangely uplifting way. It was an ex-girlfriend. Not just any ex-girlfriend, but the girl (who exists in every man's life) that could categorically be classed as The Lost Girl. This was the woman I gleefully tumbled into love with nine years previously, in an era when my landline still saw occasional use. Having both recently turned 30, we had enjoyed five lustful months together, until she lost her job and decided to move to another country to embrace a rural existence. Smart, funny, unreliable and several hundred fathoms above me in terms of attractiveness, my brief relationship with The Lost Girl had revived for me those sickly, serotonin-high feelings of ardent love that I thought had vanished for good back in my late adolescence, evoking the heightened emotions of gasping sex on summer nights in single beds and afternoons drinking cider. I even wrote her a poem, for God's sake. The Lost Girl, as she explained on my landline, had returned to the UK three months ago. I wanted to stay aloof. I wanted to tell her how content I was. I wanted to tell her that my life no longer really had room for her. But the truth was that Susie didn't stand a chance. Inevitably, excitement trumped guilt and we made plans for dinner. Over tapas it became clear The Lost Girl wasn't quite as beholden to misty-eyed nostalgia as me. In fact, she was starkly forthright about the best way for those intent on modern romantic deceit to proceed. if you want to have an affair in the 21st century, only a fool would rely on digital tools. Stock image used 'People think their mobile phones are like the beach, and the tide will wash away the footprints,' she told me over that dinner which, inevitably, led to the beginning of our affair. 'Now I only use my mobile for work stuff.' She had a point. I'd lost count of the amount of people I knew who had, either professionally or personally, been 'caught' in acts of skulduggery thanks to an email or WhatsApp trail of messages. These implicated them squarely in the act of everything from fiddling their work expenses to lying over promised donations to a friend's charity triathlon. The smart move, The Lost Girl told me, if we were to continue seeing each other for more than just platonic 'catch-up' drinks, was to keep our mobile phones and laptops in fact anything other than our landlines entirely absent from our infidelity. Our interactions should be exclusively analogue. This wasn't an entirely benevolent act. The Lost Girl had, since moving back to the UK, already started dating someone who she wanted to keep in the dark. Susie wasn't really the type to prowl through my mobile messages while I was taking a shower. But my reliance on analogue-only tech did, I feel, give me an added layer of protection against being caught out. Nobody can trace who you've been calling on a landline if you press 141 before the number you wish to dial. The fact that I worked from home and we didn't live together made things easier, of course. But it soon became apparent that, even when Susie was at my place for an overnight stay, it wasn't difficult to make an occasional late-night call to The Lost Girl without getting rumbled. Why? Well, there's something about the landline that lends itself to a sotto voce intonation. There are few things more reassuring, and redolent of being in a black-and-white film noir, than murmuring into a phone late at night. I'd completely forgotten how quietly you can talk on a landline and still be heard. We've all been yelling into our mobiles, with its concomitant misfiring reception, for so long we now think the volume at which we speak is normal. To have an affair, only a fool would rely on digital tools And should any call from The Lost Girl ever happen at an inconvenient time, we agreed that it would be terminated by my flatly stating: 'I'm happy with my existing provider' before replacing the receiver. It's worth stating at this point that guilt over my affair was assuaged by clear indications from Susie that she was, to use dating parlance, 'just not that into me'. The whole escapade took me back to the mid-1990s when, as a teenager, I would stretch the white cord to snapping point, hiding in the downstairs toilet. Thus, I succeeded in avoiding my parents' Shrek-like ears, while I navigated my way past a sequence of (inevitably) suspicious fathers reluctant to let any unknown boy speak to their daughters. It turns out I'm not alone in turning to retro tech to conceal nefarious activities. One former colleague used a local phonebox, and even resorted to writing letters during his extra-marital affair, which, in a pleasingly dramatic flourish, were swiftly burnt by each party after reading. 'It does feel incredibly romantic to reject tech,' he told me naturally in person rather than via email. 'I was so unhappy in my marriage, and while I was getting to know the woman I'm now with, we found the 'back to nature' element of running out in the rain to a phonebox and using the landline late at night added to the strength of our feelings for each other.' For my colleague, there was a happy ending. He got a divorce and married his true love. Whereas, for me, The Lost Girl became, within two months, The Flighty Girl as she took a job in California. Was I heartbroken all over again? Not really, second time around. At least the break-up was done over a landline, too a crucial lesson that a secret analogue life isn't all rainbows and warming nostalgia. It does feel incredibly romantic to reject tech Any possible further travails as an 'ana-rogue' were stymied by my delayed feelings of guilt. Eventually, I confessed all to Susie. Astonishingly, she hadn't picked up on my analogue deviousness, but she understandably dumped me. Yet I've been left with the knowledge that retro-tech can, if you're prepared to make swinging cutbacks with your morality, be rather helpful in masking your behaviour. A landline, a phonebox, or a briskly destroyed letter leave fewer traces that can come back to bite you. So has anyone got a landline number for Andrew Buchan? I feel sure I can advise him on what to do should he be foolish or rotten enough to conduct another affair under the nose of Ms Nuttall. All I need is a phonebox and an inexhaustible supply of 20p pieces . . . Susie's name has been changed. When my older sister phoned to break the news, I fell apart. Our mother was 86; I knew she would die one day, but it was the cause that changed everything. My sister's voice cracked as she said: 'She killed herself.' My reaction was visceral, triggering a sharp stab of pain in my stomach that crippled me and lingers on even now. I fell to the floor, crying: 'It hurts!' And it did it actually physically hurt. Weirdly, the physical pain over-rode the emotional impact. I managed to continue for days after that with hardly any emotion at all, other than anger. It was a fury that caused me to punch walls and cry out: 'Why, Mum?' My mother had often made me angry in life, too. I loved her, but she was the most complicated woman I have ever known. She suffered from mental illness most of her adult life, which was compounded by alcoholism, self-absorption and a tendency towards drama and negativity. Juliet Sullivan opens up about the impact of her mother's suicide at 86 years old. Both pictured together But she'd been as fit sober for seven years and happy as could be expected when I'd last seen her, six weeks before her death in March this year. I never imagined her life would end in such a brutal way. A mother's suicide feels so intensely personal; like she abandoned me, like I am somehow responsible. And as such I find myself enmeshed in a permeating darkness; a whirling cycle of anger, sadness and guilt that I cannot climb out of. Did she feel my sister and I had failed her in some way was this the worst punishment a mother could give? One of my daughter's best friends summed it up when he said: 'She was never going to fade away. It was always going to be a big drama.' So it was. And we are left to pick up the shattered pieces. There was no hint in Mum's early life of her troubled future. She had a normal, happy childhood with amazing parents and a stable family home. She met my dad in a pub when she was in her mid-20s and they married soon afterwards. They settled in Brighton, East Sussex, and went on to have my sister; I followed three years later. My dad was the love of her life, but their union was doomed. He was an athlete a former professional racing cyclist who had a fierce drive and ambition. She was a glamorous, opinionated heavy smoker and drinker who worked in pubs. I was only eight when it ended in divorce. I remember the night my dad left; I felt a crushing sense of emptiness and fear. Juliet, left, with her older sister. Here, she opens up about how her mother's suicide affected her Mum sank in to a depression that I was too young to recognise or understand. Five years later I came home from school to find my grandma crying. She had found Mum unconscious in the bathroom after taking pills. At 13, I was too young and self-absorbed to feel sympathy it was more fear, confusion and a profound sense of betrayal. Mum was sectioned and placed in a psychiatric ward, a bleak, soulless sanitorium filled with the desperate and disturbed, where she remained for two years. My sister and I moved in with our dad, who had remarried and had two more children. The first time we visited the hospital, we both gasped at the sight of our once-glamorous and voluptuous mother, now pale, weak and emaciated in a floor-length floral nightdress. Im in a whirl of anger, sadness and guilt She sat chain-smoking on her bed, staring at us with sunken, glassy eyes, telling tales of power-crazed nurses who were trying to steal her house. In shock, I remember asking Grandma if we still had a house.It was all so terrifying and unsettling. I was adrift, without a mother to guide me, not knowing if she would ever get well, not understanding any of it. My dad was busy with his business and his new family, and I took advantage of that by giving up on school and focusing on drinking and boys. By the time Mum was discharged, I was 15 and living the life of a wild and troubled teenager. I had a string of unsuitable boyfriends and when one of them suggested I run off with him to live in Finland when I was 16, I left a note saying: 'Dear Mum, I have gone to live in Finland for a while.' Unbelievably, my dad did not object to this excursion (I never understood this), and my mum had no choice. I felt maybe unfairly that she had not been there for most of my teenage years and had no say in them now. I lived in Finland for six months and then returned to live with Mum. She had been given her old job back in a pub after she came out of hospital and I became aware of how much she was drinking. One day I returned home to find drunken chaos in the house a group of people from the pub were arguing loudly in the front room, empty bottles scattered on the floor. Offended by my obvious disapproval, one of her friends suggested that having teenage daughters was the reason Mum had turned to drink. Not one to hide my feelings, I shouted: 'She isn't a mum to me!' Somehow her friends saw me as the enemy. Chameleon-like, she could switch between bitter, vitriolic mother to sweet, mistreated victim, depending on who was paying her attention. Strangers from shop and restaurant workers, to people on the street whom she had befriended were often won over by this glamorous, hilarious, energetic woman. Sometimes they would say to me, 'your mum is amazing!' and I would respond with a half-hearted and bemused smile. Many family events whether a birthday, Christmas, wedding or a plain old Monday evening were marred by a drunken drama. Sometimes it was funny, because Mum was entertaining she would sing and dance but mostly it would end in tears, hers and sometimes mine. Even though I could have walked away from my relationship with her many times, I tried hard to maintain it. In my early 20s, I strove to make up for the time we'd lost. I wanted her to be my best friend, and we would talk about everything from boyfriends to aspirations. We partied together and laughed a lot; we shared a self-deprecating and sarcastic sense of humour. But if she could make something about her, she would. After I met my husband, she refused to come to my hen weekend in Ireland, claiming I had upset her in a game of Scrabble. She also refused to come to the evening party of my wedding, claiming she was ill. When I got the chance to run away again, I did, emigrating to Canada in my mid-30s with my husband and two children. He was English but had grown up in Vancouver and had family there. I hoped that by moving I'd find the happy family life I'd never had. Initially, putting a bit of distance between us improved my relationship with Mum. I would phone her and she would write often. I have hundreds of her letters. She also spent holidays with us and I'd sometimes stay with her when I returned to England. Wed scream at each other then hug and laugh We could speak our minds and often did to the point where we would be screaming at each other one minute, then hugging and laughing the next. As she grew older, her depression worsened. She miraculously became (and stayed) sober seven years ago, when a family friend persuaded her that her self-destructive behaviour was life-threatening. She had passed out in the street, just metres from home, and had been found by a neighbour who thought she was dead. The friend took her to Alcoholics Anonymous and from that day on she never again touched a drop of alcohol. This was a huge feat after some 40 years of alcoholism, but she never faced the demons that led her to drink so much in the first place. After she gave up alcohol, she became desperate, unhappy and lonely. I felt the burden of this keenly. Some phone conversations were filled with nothing but silence. She would sometimes slam the phone down on me and I would feel helpless and guilty. She felt guilt also. She would often ask if my childhood had a negative impact on me. I lied to protect her, not wanting to admit the extent of the trauma. In January this year, she came to Canada for a month. We went to concerts, walked on the beach, went for dinners, coffees and dog walks. We laughed, we cried, we argued. She was fit and mostly physically healthy, and she seemed happy as happy as she ever could be. When I said goodbye to her at Vancouver Airport, I could never have imagined that six weeks later she would take her own life. She returned to her little house in Brighton and sank into a deep depression. This was not unusual, but this time she stopped eating. I sent a delivery of frozen food to her; it went into the freezer to be left untouched. Confusion crept into her brain and she became convinced, wrongly, that she had dementia. She had lived with advanced macular degeneration for years, but a routine eye appointment just before she died revealed that she was almost blind and her eyes would only get worse. She told my sister and me that she felt confused and desperate. My sister took her to see a doctor, who asked her if she felt suicidal. My mum replied: 'I want to die but I am not going to do anything.' There was nothing, apart from a history of threats and failed attempts, to suggest that she actually wanted to end her life. But that afternoon she did just that. She took the rings from her fingers, laid them out symbolically alongside her other jewellery and swallowed a whole load of pills that had been prescribed five years ago to treat her bipolar. There was no note. Ironic considering she was a world-class letter writer. How I now needed one of those letters some form of explanation. But, of course, her failing eyesight meant she couldn't see to write, so I can forgive her this. In the absence of an explanation, all I can do is imagine, guess and surmise. What was she thinking when she did this? Was it a cry for help that went wrong, or a final deliberate act of desperation? And then there are other dark and invasive thoughts: Did she instantly regret it? Did she suffer? Did she intend to make her daughters suffer? Flying back from Canada for Mum's funeral was the hardest thing I have ever done. I was acutely aware that suddenly I was no longer anyone's daughter, my dad having died in 2016. There is an undeniable sense of freedom in my mum's passing for her, certainly, but also for me. She was not the sort of woman to go quietly I no longer feel the burden of guilt about being 5,000 miles away when she said she was lonely. I did often suggest she come to live in Canada, even though I knew it would be difficult. Despite her struggles, Mum had a good life. She was loved, even though she didn't always make it easy. My husband said her final act was brave and I suppose a part of me agrees. She was not the sort of woman who would go quietly into the night. She went on her own terms, in the theatrical style that defined her. Meanwhile, though I do not want to be defined by my mother's suicide, I find myself consumed by it. And it is a lonely, isolated, fearful place to be. In the aftermath, people don't really know what to say to me. And why would they? At a party recently, I found myself laughing as I told my mother's tragic story. I have no idea why; I think it is because when the words come out of my mouth, they sound so ludicrous, so utterly unbelievable that even I don't believe them. Four months on, my anger and guilt is gradually subsiding. That said, it is making way for something much worse: regret. My mum loved to tell stories from her life they were often self-centred and repetitive, and at the time they bored and irritated me. But the truth is, I would be very happy to listen to those stories now. For confidential support if you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts, call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a branch or go to samaritans.org She might have grown up as a royal but former Princess Mako of Japan is proving she's just like us as she was spotted riding public transport in New York City. The 31-year-old daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and niece of reigning Emperor Naruhito was seen navigating the bus network with her commoner husband in new photos obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com. Mako made headlines around the world in 2021 when she sensationally forfeited her royal status to marry her college sweetheart, 31-year-old Kei Komuro. The couple were seen snuggling up to each other at the bus stop on Tuesday as they waited for their ride to arrive, with the pair both looking intently at something on Kei's phone. The former Princess Mako of Japan was seen out and about in New York City with her husband, Kei Komuro The pair were seen snuggling up as they rode public transport on Tuesday For the outing, they were casually dressed with Mako in a white peasant top, black wide-leg pants and simple ballet flats. Meanwhile her beau wore a gray polo shirt, light-wash jeans and black-and-blue sneakers. To beat the New York heat on Tuesday, that saw temperatures soar to 86F, the couple had their hair pulled back in low buns. In other photos, they are seen donning face masks as they climb onto a bus and sat side-by-side with Kei's arm wrapped around Mako's shoulders. On the same day, the couple appeared to enjoy a spot of retail therapy as they wandered in and out of shops. At one point, Kei is spotted carrying a brown paper bag from surf brand Faherty. The pair continue to appear loved up as throughout the outing they are seen holding hands with Kei also placing a protective arm around Mako. They married in a civil ceremony back in 2021 and Mako moved to New York City to live with her husband. Mako leaned on her husband as the couple waited at the bus stop while peering at his phone For the outing, they were casually dressed with Mako in a white peasant top, black wide-leg pants and simple ballet flats The affectionate couple were seen holding hands while Kei carried a Faherty bag Kei reached out for his wife's hand as they donned face masks before boarding the bus The couple peered out of the bus window on their day out. Mako gave up her royal status to wed Kei It's been reported Mako works as an unpaid volunteer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art It's been previously reported they live in a luxury one-bedroom apartment and are believed to financially independent. The former princess was entitled to a $1.3 million payout from the Japanese government after giving up her noble status, but she turned it down. Mako had reportedly been making use of her background in art history by serving as an unpaid volunteer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 'She has specifically been involved in preparing an exhibition of paintings inspired by the life of a 13th-century monk who traveled throughout Japan as he introduced Buddhism,' according to a 2022 Japan Times article. Mako has a degree in art and cultural heritage from Japan's International Christian University, where she met her husband. She went on to study art history at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland before receiving her master's in art museum and gallery studies from the University of Leicester in England. The couple married in a civil ceremony (pictured in 2021) and she declined the $1.3 million payout from the Japanese government after giving up her noble status Mako has a degree in art and cultural heritage from International Christian University in Japan, where she met her husband. The pair pictured walking down the street holding hands At times Kei put a protective arm around his wife as they went from store to store Mako was seen looking through the clothing racks at one shop, with her husband close behind Kei passed the New York bar exam after taking it for the third time in October last year Meanwhile her husband passed the New York bar exam after taking it for the third time in October last year. Kei is a graduate of Fordham University law school and has a job at a New York law firm. Upon marrying him, Mako had to give up her place in the Imperial Family. All Japanese princesses relinquish their royal status upon marriage as there is only male succession. Other princesses have married commoners and left the palace. But the reaction to Kei and Mako was especially frenzied, much of it focusing on whether he would be able to support his wife. Mako's uncle Emperor Naruhito also married a commoner, Harvard graduate Masako, who suffered from depression in the cloistered imperial life. Former Emperor Akihito, Naruhito's father, was the first member of the imperial family to marry a commoner. The family holds no political power but serves as a symbol of the nation, attending ceremonial events and visiting disaster zones. NATO's eastward expansion into Asia-Pacific region unattainable People's Daily Online) 14:13, July 26, 2023 Cartoon by Gou Ben The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit was recently held in the Lithuanian capital city of Vilnius. NATO's eastward expansion into the Asia-Pacific region was put on the summits agenda. Nikkei Asia reported that NATO had planned to establish a liaison office in Tokyo, but because some member states opposed the idea, NATO deferred the decision until this fall or beyond. In recent years, NATO has been attempting to expand its reach to the Asia-Pacific region. As a product of its Cold War mentality, NATO's attempt to expand to the Asia-Pacific region undoubtedly causes major risks to the region and even the world. NATO is urged to quit the outdated Cold War mentality, ditch the wrongdoing of seeking absolute security, and stop sowing chaos in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Instead of making excuses for its military expansion, NATO should play a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in the world. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi put on an affectionate display in Saint-Tropez this evening. The couple were pictured in a loving embrace as they waited for a boat at a port near the trendy restaurant Club 55. Prince Andrew's eldest daughter, 34, looked effortlessly elegant in a cream midi dress featuring a pretty rose print. The elegant evening frock had a V-neck cut, voluminous sleeves and a feminine A-line skirt. The glamorous royal completed her ensemble with a woven clutch and a pair of nude pumps. Princess Beatrice, 34, and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 39, pictured waiting for a boat at a port in Saint Tropez this evening Meanwhile, her husband of two years looked dapper in a loose-fitting white linen shirt and tan slim-fitting trousers. The father-of-two, 39, was pictured wearing a pair of brown loafers and tortoiseshell sunglasses. Before boarding their boat, Edo was pictured with his arms loving wrapped around his wife as she leaned into him. The couple appeared to be happily engaged in conversation at the docks and were seen beaming at one another. When their boat was ready to board, Edo chivalrously allowed his wife to step in first. July has turned out to be a busy month for the couple - who have been spotted at several events together. Two weeks ago, the pair enjoyed a day at Wimbledon - where they had seats in Centre Court's Royal Box alongside Lady Sarah Chatto and Princess Michael of Kent. Over the weekend, the couple attended Edo's step-sister's wedding in Cumbria with their daughter Sienna and Edo's son Wolfie, from his relationship with architect Dara Haung. The couple were seen looking cosy after a dinner trendy restaurant Club 55 on their holiday to Saint Tropez The couple - who recently celebrated their second wedding anniversary - put on a loved up display at the dock Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 39, looked dapper in a loose-fitting white linen shirt and tan slim-fitting trousers. Princess Beatrice, 34, and Edoardo Mozzi Mapelli, 39, pictured at the port in Saint Tropez this evening Prince Andrew's eldest daughter, 34, looked effortlessly elegant in a cream midi dress featuring a pretty rose print When their boat was ready to board, Edo chivalrously allowed his wife to step in first before then joining her The couple appeared to be happily engaged in conversation at the docks and were seen beaming at one another The glamorous royal, 34, completed her ensemble with a woven clutch and a pair of nude pumps Beatrice and Edoardo Mozzi Mapelli's 22-month-old daughter was asked to be a flower girl for Phoebe Williams-Ellis, 29, and Raoul de Lantsheere. Meanwhile, Edo's seven-year-old son Wolfie is said to have performed the role of pageboy during the ceremony. Whilst Sienna arrived at the church with her parents, Wolfie - who was wearing braces - remained with the other pageboys before joining them later. The youngster is said to have arrived at the ceremony at St Oswalds church in Kirkoswald, Cumbria in a tractor. In 2020, Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi asked his three-year-old son to be the Best Man at their intimate Windsor wedding. As a result of Covid restrictions, the wedding, originally scheduled for May 29 , took place on July 17 with just close family present. Former Vogue editor Suzy Menkes has been slammed by royal fans after saying the Princess of Wales was a 'disappointment' in her approach to jewellery. The 79-year-old, from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, made the scathing comment on the latest episode of her podcast Creative Conversations. But fans have quickly come to the royal's defence, praising her for wearing a mix of high-end and affordable pieces. 'The Princess of Wales has an excellent eye for accessories, and her earrings collection is stunning - particularly because she often promotes small businesses by wearing their jewellery. She has just the right mix of affordable and high-end jewellery in her wardrobe,' wrote one. 'I think people forget that Catherine is a young modern princess. And likewise she has her own personal style that quickly becomes a designer's success,' added another. Pictured: Kate Middleton, 41, wore a pair of diamond and emerald earrings at a state dinner during her tour of Jamaica last March Suzy Menkes (pictured), 79, from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, made the scathing comment on the latest episode of her podcast Creative Conversations The prominent critic - who was awarded an OBE by the late Queen for her contribution to fashion journalism in 2014 - invited British Vogue's jewellery editor Carol Woolton onto the show, where they discussed the Princess of Wales' recent outfits. She accused Kate, 41, of appearing indifferent to the collection of rare and precious jewels she is privileged to wear and said she doesn't seem as passionate about jewels as her mother-in-law Camilla, 75. Suzy said: 'The Princess of Wales is a bit of a disappointment about jewellery. She gives the impression that she only puts it on when she absolutely has to. 'I imagine her looking beautiful in one of those gowns behind the scenes and then pulling a face as if to say, 'Do I have to wear this?' 'She doesn't give any sense of adoring jewellery and being pleased to put it on.' The fashion critic highlighted how Queen Camilla - who visited the Monica Vinader headquarters on Monday- seems much more interested in gems. But fans have quickly come to the royal's defence, praising her for wearing a mix of high-end and affordable pieces Suzy added: 'She doesn't seem to have Camilla's joy at wearing jewellery.' However, the critic remains on the fence about whether Kate's attitude towards jewellery will change as she edges closer to the throne. She continued: 'We now have a new Queen, so presumably she has a first opportunity to look at the jewels. 'We can imagine that the next in line to the throne's wife would be something that was very special, so will we see Catherine wearing jewellery that is more dramatic, that is more personal to her? 'I don't know. I can't help feeling with things of beauty, you either love it or you don't.' Left: Kate wearing Princess Diana's pearl earrings to attend her first state banquet at Buckingham Palace with her new title last November. Right: The mother-of-three wore a pair of 17.99 ZARA rose gold dangly earrings with pretty ornate leaves to the annual BAFTAs in London Since marrying into the Royal Family, the Princess of Wales has worn a mixture of jewels from the Royal Collection and other items snapped up from the high street. In November 2022, Kate wore a pair of Princess Diana's diamond and pearl drop earrings to attend her first state banquet at Buckingham Palace with her new title. In March, the mother-of-three wore a pair of 17.99 ZARA rose gold dangly earrings with pretty ornate leaves to the annual BAFTAs in London. Last December, it was reported that Prince William had bought Kate a pair of 100 earrings from high street brand Sezane - which she wore to attend the church service at Sandringham. Suzy's verdict may come as a shock to royals, as she was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth in 2014. Menkes, who served as an editor at Vogue International until October 2020, has defined her career by being frank and fearless. Vogue has had close ties to the Royal Family for years - as the Princess of Wales famously appeared on the front cover of British Vogue in 2016 to mark the 100 year anniversary. In July 2019, the Duchess of Sussex also guest-edited the September issue of Vogue - and put 'trailblazers' on her front cover, including Greta Thunberg and Jane Fonda. The Princess of Wales, 40, pictured outside St Mary Magdalene church on Christmas Day wearing the 100 earrings her husband had bought her The Queen (right) admitted her grand-daughters were 'incredibly jealous' of her as she toured the headquarters of British design success Monica Vinader (left) yesterday Suzy adds more salt to the wound of the royals' approach to their bejewelled pieces by further criticising the family for not being candid about how some of the jewels in the royal collection were acquired. She added: 'It's one of these strange secrets. It's not discussed, and I can see why because some of the pieces are dubious. They came from India. 'I won't say they were stolen but they were perhaps given and taken by the British Royal Family, they weren't stealing it but they were taking over a country at that time and thought and taking jewels they thought were an attractive thing to take back to England with them.' Queen Camilla admitted her grand-daughters were 'incredibly jealous' of her as she toured the headquarters of British design success Monica Vinader yesterday. Catherine, then Duchess of Cambridge, attends a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace for a visit from the Dutch royals in 2018. She is wearing the Lover's Knot tiara and the wedding necklace of Queen Alexandra, wife of Edward VII Camilla, 76, visited the headquarters of the eponymous firm in Norfolk - where she had also earlier stopped by a horse sanctuary - which was started by Ms Vinader and her sister in a converted forge next to her home just 15 years ago but is now worth nearly 100 million. The company prides itself on its green credentials and was last year awarded the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development - the last in the late Queen Elizabeth's name. Gushing about the brand, Camilla told the designer: 'My grandchildren - well my granddaughters - are incredibly jealous of me being here today.' She added, laughing: 'They follow you [on social media]. When they found out that I was coming here they started dropping quite a lot of hints about things they would like for their birthdays.' A British man revealed the 'surprising' behaviours that annoyed Italians on his Tuscan holiday - and the one 'innocent' act that almost got him kicked out of a restaurant. Ben Reid, from England, recently spent a few weeks on holiday around Italy and learned that many locals were quite specific about their food. The English man was constantly chastised for making 'adjustments' to his meals - such as dipping his croissant in coffee, and pouring water into his espresso. Ben eventually started 'trolling' strangers with bizarre acts by using a pair of scissors to cut spaghetti in a restaurant and eating pizza from the crust. He also sprinkled parmesan over seafood and received a stern 'talking to' by a passer-by. Ben Reid, from England, recently spent a few weeks on holiday around Italy and learned that many Italians were quite specific about their food Surprising behaviours that will make Italians hate you Breaking spaghetti in half before boiling it Dipping a ham and cheese croissant in coffee Sprinkling parmesan on seafood Pouring water into an espresso shot Eating pizza crust-first Going to a restaurant and using scissors to cut spaghetti Advertisement Ben posted a series of videos on his popular TikTok account about his 'crimes against Italy' and public reactions. The first showed him seated at a cafe with a ham and cheese croissant and a latte. Ben dipped his croissant in the coffee, eliciting a gasp from a man behind him who continued to 'side-eye' Ben's peculiar choice of dip. Another short clip saw him sprinkle parmesan over shrimp, which caused a man to stop in his tracks and look at Ben with disgust. 'I'm counting my days,' the British man joked. Ben also jokingly defended his choice to eat pizza crust-first, and claimed that 'a good crust is better than pizza itself'. However, the act that evoked the most condemnation was cutting spaghetti with scissors. Two waiters actually went up to Ben and told him he 'wasn't allowed' to consume his food like that. 'You have to roll the pasta with your fork, you cannot cut it with scissors. People will think you're an idiot,' the waiter said, and then confiscated the scissors. A British man revealed the 'surprising' behaviours that annoyed Italians on his Tuscan holiday - and the one 'innocent' trait that almost got him kicked out of a restaurant Many sided with the Italian strangers. 'As an Italian, I feel pain. Why would you take scissors to a restaurant?' a man asked. 'Gosh, the waiter looked like he was going to call the police on you,' another wrote. 'You're risking your life by pulling these stunts,' a third said. 'This isn't about being Italian, it's about morality.' But others couldn't see the problem with Ben making his meals more suited to his tastes. 'Let the man eat his food how he wants to,' a woman wrote. 'Poor guy, spaghetti is hard to eat,' a second said. 'Adding water to espresso is a valid drink,' a woman revealed. 'It's called an Americano.' Disney collector cards are now available at Woolworths Woolworths shoppers can now start collecting cards from the Disney collectables range. With every $30 shop customers will receive one Disney 100 Wonders Collector Cards pack from the Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars franchises. The collector cards feature characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, and include fan-favourites characters like Mickey Mouse, Woody, Captain Marvel, and Grogu. Each pack has three cards, and Woolies has also placed 100 individual prints of a limited holographic 'ultra rare' Walt Disney card at random. The latest range was introduced to commemorate Disney's 100th anniversary and shoppers will receive one card at the checkout or with their online shop. Woolworths has announced the launch of a brand new Disney collectables range, and the highly coveted item is sure to send shoppers into a frenzy Woolies has also placed 100 individual prints of a limited holographic Walt Disney card The leading Australian supermarket has also listed a range of Disney-inspired recipes shoppers can follow, including Olaf toast, Ratatouille and Mike Wazowski-inspired toast Shoppers can also access bonus packs when they buy participating products, with a limit of three bonus packs per participating brand per shop. Woolworths Senior Manager Collectibles & Continuity, Paul Stibbard, told FEMAIL the new cards follow the success of items like Disney Ooshies and Fix-ems. 'Our new Disney 100 Wonders Collector Cards give our customers the chance to bring home a special treat as part of their regular grocery shop. 'Our customers of all ages love Disney, and for those who are also passionate about card-collecting, this is an extra reward when they shop with us.' The Disney 100 Wonders Collector Cards are kerbside recyclable, and are made from FSC certified paper and use water soluble inks and a water soluble coating. The leading Australian supermarket has also listed a range of Disney-inspired recipes shoppers can follow, including Olaf toast, Ratatouille and Mike Wazowski-inspired toast. A confused American visitor says the the Australian dating scene 'culture shock' still frustrates her, months after moving Down Under. Tate recently moved to Melbourne but is having a hard time adjusting to the city's dating and nightlife norms. The American expat shared that she's used to going to bars in cities like Los Angeles and Arizona and having strangers offer to buy her drinks - but she's had no such luck in Australia. 'Australian men just sit back, and I think it's so weird,' she said in a video. 'At first, I felt like I was so ugly, and I couldn't understand why lots of men weren't approaching me.' Tate, from the US, recently moved to Melbourne but is having a hard time adjusting to the city's dating and nightlife norms Tate shared her experiences in a short clip, and revealed why the change left her feeling rejected. 'One of the first nights I went out in Australia, I left the bar feeling so defeated,' she said. 'In America, it is very common for men to approach you and offer to buy you a drink. Sometimes, it's too aggressive. I've been out in Arizona and Los Angeles where men will come up to you, grab your arm, and tell you they're buying you a drink.' But everything changed when she moved to Australia. 'It's so different here,' she said. 'Men kind of sit back, let you approach them more, and they're not as aggressive with it.' 'After one of the first few times I went out, I felt like I was so ugly, I was like 'Why are these guys not approaching me?' 'That sounds very conceited, but going from what I know, I just thought it was so weird that guys weren't approaching any girls.' Tate said an Australian friend had to explain that Aussie men rarely offer to buy drinks for women they don't know. The American was not only 'shocked' by the behaviour, but left out of pocket, having not been accustomed to paying for her own drinks. 'There were times I'd go out in America and wouldn't even bring my wallet or card or anything because we would scheme, scam, and look for men,' she joked. 'Everyone would do this, it was such a cultural norm,' Tate said. 'The guys wouldn't expect anything for it - most of the time you wouldn't get guys who were berating you for not giving them something afterwards.' But she suspected Australian men would react differently to a similar situation. 'If a guy in Australia were to buy you a drink and you didn't engage in a conversation or want to go home with him, they'd be confused and [wonder why they bought you a drink] in the first place.' A confused American revealed that the biggest 'culture shock' about dating in Australia still haunts her months after moving Down Under Many Americans and Australians agreed with Tate, revealing they too had observed the different norms on opposite sides of the Pacific. 'I literally had the same experience when I first got here, my ego was shattered,' another US expat revealed. An Australian said, 'I went overseas and men came crawling out of the walls to buy every woman drinks.' '100 per cent, I was shocked by how many men in America were just giving me free drinks, it was wild,' another Aussie wrote. But some Australian commentators were bewildered by the American dating standards. 'Why would anyone buy a stranger a drink without at least expecting a conversation?' a man asked. 'Cost of living is through the roof,' another said. 'Drinks are way too expensive for that.' 'In Australia, if a girl asks me to buy them a drink at a club, I get her to buy me the first round,' a man revealed. High street supplements won't make your boobs any bigger, experts insisted today on the back of harmful claims sweeping social media. TikToks from women raving about bee pollen's supposed breast-enhancing benefits have racked up millions of views. Users brag how their boobs have 'never looked better' after taking the 5 product, which can be crushed into smoothies, sprinkled on cereal or simply swallowed whole. Sharing before and after photos detailing their transformations, others have claimed they can 'testify' the supplement 'definitely works'. But the claims currently doing the rounds on TikTok and beyond were today called out as 'pathetic, harmful and dishonest' by experts to MailOnline. Other warned it may even be unsafe. Sharing before and after photos, model Elly Bear showed TikTok a photo of her wearing a bikini top before starting to take bee pollen. In a second clip during the same video, she is wearing the same swimsuit top two weeks into her trial In one video watched 1.3million times, influencer Ivey Cross, claimed adding bee pollen in her drinks had contributed to breast growth. 'It dawned on me that I have been using this consistently for like, two or three weeks,' she told her 42,500 followers. 'Two nights ago, I went to put on my Skims bra, and I always keep it at the same adjustment, and I was like, "oh, my gosh, this is kind of tight", so, I had to loosen it up a little bit.' She added: 'I've been eating so much bee pollen. So I've just made another bee pollen smoothie for the girls' Bee pollen boasts an impressive nutritional profile, including fibre, essential amino acids, vitamin C, copper and iron. Advocates say the animal product has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, helping to stop the growth of microorganisms including bacteria and relieve stress. But the claims currently doing the rounds on TikTok and beyond were today called out as nonsense by experts. Other warned it may even be unsafe Bee pollen does boast an impressive nutritional profile, as it is high in vitamin C, calcium and iron. Research has shown the animal product is also rich in phytoestrogens oestrogen-like compounds derived from plants, that mimic the actions of the body's hormone. But other sources high in the substance also include cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and brussel sprouts, meaning they would supposedly offer the same effect. Grains including oats, rice, barley and quinoa and seeds and nuts like flaxseed or almonds are also rich in phytoestrogens. Deanne Jade, principal of the National Centre for Eating Disorders, told MailOnline: 'This trend is pathetic and harmful and dishonest, what more can we say.' What is bee pollen and how can you consume it? Everything you need to know about the supplement Bee pollen is collected and processed from plants as the insects carry out their vital task of pollinating plants and flowers. It can be used in supplements or sprinkled over salads and its champions claim it has a number of health benefits. Described by devotees as natures secret ingredient, bee pollen is now available to buy online, including at Neal's Yard Remedies and Holland & Barrett and on the high street. Advocates say the animal product has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, helping to stop the growth of microorganisms including bacteria and relieve stress. Others promote its ability to lower cholesterol, improve metabolism and even increase sex drive, but limited research has only been conducted on animals. Limited research has shown bee pollen to have some effects on female hormones. There are however no large clinical studies that support the use of bee pollen for breast growth. Like many plant-based substances, studies on bee pollen's medicinal value are limited. Research has also shown there are a number of safety concerns surrounding bee pollen, which has been reported to cause allergic and even anaphylactic reactions. Advertisement She added: 'The concerns we have are for people who believe this.' Meanwhile, Dr Sheryl Ross, an obstetrician gynecologist from California and author of She-ology, a guide to women's intimate health, asserted there was no scientific evidence to support the claims bee pollen increases breast size. Speaking to Yahoo Life, she said breast size was 'ultimately determined by hormonal influences during puberty, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause,' and can be influenced by 'genetics, exercise, age and weight'. The animal product also falls under the category of a supplement as it is not registered as having a medicinal use. It has neither been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which polices the safety of medicines in the UK or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which carries out the same function in the US. Tom Quinn, director of external affairs at the eating disorder charity Beat, told MailOnline: 'People affected by eating disorders often struggle with negative body image and may turn to medication or supplements to change their appearance. 'However, they are often unregulated and can be very dangerous, so we'd advise anyone thinking about using them to speak to their GP or care team first.' As well as being sold with promises of growing bigger breasts, TikTok users also claim bee pollen can boost fertility and improve mood. Advocates of the supplement on the social media app recommend taking it daily by sprinkling it on food, such as porridge, smoothies and fruit. In one video watched 1.3million times, influencer Ivey Cross, claimed adding bee pollen in her drinks had contributed to breast growth. 'It dawned on me that I have been using this consistently for like, two or three weeks,' she told her 42,500 followers. 'Two nights ago, I went to put on my Skims bra, and I always keep it at the same adjustment, and I was like, "oh, my gosh, this is kind of tight", so, I had to loosen it up a little bit.' She added: 'I've been eating so much bee pollen. So I've just made another bee pollen smoothie for the girls.' Meanwhile, model Elly Bear told TikTok on her seven day update after taking the supplement daily, that her breasts 'have never looked better'. She added: 'This is the largest they've ever been in my life. 'They look so good. Not to be weird but I've never had that before in my life, never.' Limited research has shown bee pollen to have some effects on female hormones. One 2015 study involving just 46 patients found the animal product could alleviate hot flushes and 'other menopausal symptoms' including dizziness and abdominal pain in breast cancer patients. Scientists from Ortenau Hospital in Offenburg, Germany claimed this was 'likely' due to phytoestrogen. In another small trial involving 54 menopausal women in 2005, 65 per cent of volunteers experienced a reduction in hot flushes when taking bee pollen, compared with 38 per cent in the placebo group. The scientists from the University Hospital of Copenhagen in Gentofte, Denmark, concluded the supplement 'significantly reduces hot flushes and certain other menopausal symptoms when compared to placebo'. In another viral TikTok video watched 193,000 times TikToker @thatgirlashbash who boasts over 102,000 followers, said 'I think it's working'. She added: 'From the research that I've done, it can take up to a couple of months which completely makes sense and that's probably what I'm aiming for. I highly recommend it' Meanwhile, in a video watched 14.2million times, influencer Camila Elle said 'I've been taking bee pollen for months now and I can testify that it does make your boobs grow bigger.' Speaking to her 667,000 followers, she told the video: 'I've been eating this almost every day. I just put a spoonful on top of my yoghurt, on top of smoothies, overnight oats. I just put it on everything. I had originally brought it because my immune system sucked and I always got sick.' She added: 'If anyone wanted a testimony, here it is' However, there are no large clinical studies that support the use of bee pollen for breast growth. Like many plant-based substances, studies on bee pollen's medicinal value are limited. In a video posted on the app, Dr Sermed Mezher, an NHS registrar in general practice, said: 'All the reports of this working, have come from individual people's stories which are prone to bias.' The medic from London added: 'That's why studies in controlled environments would need to be done to prove this. 'The truth is though, this is unlikely to do anything except making bees angry and potentially reducing your ability to naturally produce estrogen.' Dr Karan Raj, a doctor whos known for dispelling medical misconceptions on TikTok, responded to two videos on the app of people claiming that bee pollen had grown their boobs. 'Supposedly, bee pollen is rich in phytoestrogens. These are naturally occurring plant chemicals which are meant to mimic oestrogen in the body,' he said. Breast tissue 'is one of the most hormone-sensitive areas in the body' and 'can fluctuate in size due to various influences', he added. However, 'there is no scientific evidence to suggest that bee pollen can increase the size of the biological airbags,' he concluded. In another viral TikTok video, watched 193,000 times, TikToker @thatgirlashbash who boasts over 102,000 followers, said: 'I think it's working'. She added: 'From the research that I've done, it can take up to a couple of months which completely makes sense and that's probably what I'm aiming for. I highly recommend it.' Advocates say the animal product has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, helping to stop the growth of microorganisms including bacteria and relieve stress. Others promote its ability to lower cholesterol, improve metabolism and even increase sex drive, but limited research has only been conducted on animals. Meanwhile, in a video watched 14.2million times, influencer Camila Elle said: 'I've been taking bee pollen for months now and I can testify that it does make your boobs grow bigger.' Speaking to her 667,000 followers, she told the video: 'I've been eating this almost every day. I just put a spoonful on top of my yoghurt, on top of smoothies, overnight oats. I just put it on everything. 'I had originally brought it because my immune system sucked and I always got sick.' She added: 'If anyone wanted a testimony, here it is.' But experts warned that, as with any supplement, there are other potential risks to using bee pollen. Bee pollen can cause new allergic reactions, Dr Mezher said. Studies have also shown consumption could cause an allergic reaction in people with bee or honey allergies. This could include feeling light-headed, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. Websites advertising the product, including Holland & Barrett, Neal's Yard Remedies and Bulk, also include warnings over avoiding bee pollen if people are allergic to bee stings, honey and bee products. Testing for allergies should also always be carried out first, they advise. People have been using the anti-obesity jabs as an aesthetic weight-loss method Fat Brits have been warned they may need to take miracle slimming jabs for life, or risk having the pounds pile back on. Semaglutide, available as Ozempic and Wegovy, has been hailed as a monumental breakthrough in the war on obesity. It works by using a synthetic hormone to trick the brain into feeling full and helping people slim. But studies show semaglutide users can regain much of the weight they have lost as soon as they stop taking them. Professor Carel Le Roux, an expert in metabolic medicine at Ulster University, told a briefing today: 'These are treatments for the disease of obesity. Ozempic is available on the NHS as a treatment for managing blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. In May, it was also approved for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy but is yet to launch in the UK due to supply issues 'When you treat people effectively, the disease (obesity) comes under control. 'The minute you stop the drug, the disease relapses.' It comes amid pleas for slim Brits not to jump onto a celeb-inspired craze to use the weight loss jabs. At the same briefing today, a panel of obesity experts warned unnecessary demand threatens to interrupt supply for type 2 diabetics. Ozempic licenced only for treating diabetes is the only semaglutide available in the UK currently. In May, it was also approved for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy but is yet to launch in the UK due to supply issues. The delay has led to a rise in 'off-label' prescribing, where medications are issued for something other than its intended use. But this is exacerbating shortages and means diabetes patients are struggling to get hold of it. Tougher prescription guidelines are needed to tackle 'inappropriate' usage, obesity scientists said. Earlier this year, NHS watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommended Wegovy for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 35 and one weight-related health condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Nice said the jabs should not be taken for more than two years. However, experts argue this guidance is largely based on the cost of the drugs and that users should be prepared to take them longer-term. Wegovy and Ozempic work by triggering the body to produce a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 that is released naturally from the intestines after meals A UK study found that people who used Wegovy experienced rapid weight loss, dropping 18% of their weight over 68 weeks. They regained two-thirds of that weight, or 12% of their original body weight in the year after dropping the weekly injections. Experts says the drug needs to be used over a lifetime to keep off the pounds Professor Le Roux suggested the medical profession was comfortable prescribing for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or high blood pressure, and the same should be the case of managing obesity. He said: 'The minute we stop the drug, the disease (obesity) relapses, so one of the most important questions we ask our patients now is, "are you prepared to take this treatment for the rest of your life?". 'Because if youre not able to do that, you should stop because then we are probably at risk of doing more harm than we are doing good. 'So, its important to reframe this as a disease that we are treating and that these are disease-modifying drugs, not weight loss drugs.' Professor John Wilding, an expert who leads clinical research into obesity, diabetes and endocrinology at the University of Liverpool, said: 'We do have to think about these medicines as long-term medications despite the fact that, for Nice at the moment, its only two years of treatment. 'We do know that obesity is a chronic disease, and we would never think of just giving somebody a diabetes drug or blood pressure drug for two years and then stopping it because, of course, at that point the disease will recur. 'We know that happens with obesity. So, I do think we have to think about this as long-term treatment and thats something that is yet to be addressed from a policy perspective.' Research results published last year in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism on people who stopped semaglutide showed they regained two-thirds of their lost weight over the course of the next year. There have also been reports of people suffering significant side effects from the drug, sometimes for years after they stopped taking it. NHS figures show 64 per cent of British adults are overweight, with more predicted to grow fatter in the future. Despite being hailed as one of the most powerful pharmaceutical tools to date, experts have warned it is not a 'magic pill' or miracle fix all. Trials have shown that users can rapidly pile pounds back on once they stop taking the fat-fighting drug and it can trigger a variety of nasty side effects. Users commonly complain of nausea, constipation and diarrhoea after taking the medication In a bid to tackle obesity and cut waiting lists, the NHS is launching a two-year pilot scheme to explore ways to make obesity medication available outside hospital. It will see semaglutide injections given to tens of thousands. Semaglutide was nicknamed Hollywood's worst kept secret when it burst onto the scene, with fans including Elon Musk and Jeremy Clarkson. Even Kim Kardashian was rumoured to have used it to rapidly lose 16lbs (7.3kg) to fit into Marilyn Monroe's iconic 'Happy Birthday Mr President' dress at the 2022 Met Gala. Ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also revealed he took the 'wonder drug'. Writing in his first column for the Daily Mail, Johnson told how he hoped it would stop his late-night 'fridge raids for cheddar and chorizo'. However, he admitted it 'didn't work for me'. Rishi Sunak was heckled as he told victims of the infected blood scandal their decades-long wait for compensation would have to continue. The Prime Minister came face to face with protesters and campaigners at the inquiry into what happened, and what recompense they should receive. But angry audience members accused him of 'not listening' and laughed sarcastically en masse when he said work to settle the issue was continuing 'at pace'. The spectacle of shouting down a sitting Prime Minister giving evidence prompted a rebuke from inquiry chairman Sir Brian Langstaff, who urged them to abide by the 'tradition of respecting the witness'. One woman walked out in tears as the Prime Minister said he could only speak about 'the Government I'm responsible for'. The Prime Minister came face to face with protesters and campaigners this afternoon at the inquiry into what happened, and what recompense they should receive. Pictured, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak giving evidence to the Infected Blood Inquiry At least 2,900 NHS patients - including young children - died from being infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s. Pictured, demonstrators outside the Infected Blood inquiry in London today, holding placards urging the Government to recognise all victims of the NHS infected blood scandal A timeline of the contaminated blood scandal which began in the early-1970s 1972: NHS starts importing large batches of Factor VIII products from United States to help clot blood of haemophiliacs. 1974: Some researchers warn that Factor VIII could be contaminated and spreading hepatitis. Late-1970s: Patients continue to be given Factor VIII, with much of the plasma used to make the product coming from donors such as prison inmates, drug addicts and prostitutes. 1983: Governments in both the UK and the United States are told that Aids has been spread through blood products. Mid-1980s: By now the blood products such as Factor VIII, were being heat-treated to kill viruses, but thousands of patients had already been infected. 1991: Blood products imported from US are withdrawn from use. The government awards ex-gratia payments to haemophiliac victims threatening to sue. 2007: Privately-funded inquiry into scandal set up by Lord Archer of Sandwell but it does not get offical status and relies on donations. 2008: Penrose Inquiry launched, but victims claim the seven-year investigation was a 'whitewash'. 2017: Independent inquiry into contaminated blood scandal announced by Prime Minister Theresa May. April, 2019: Infected Blood Inquiry starts hearing evidence. Advertisement It followed a series of questions from inquiry lawyer Jenni Richards KC about a lack of compensation for victims since former Paymaster General Penny Mordaunt wrote to then-Chancellor Mr Sunak in early 2020, urging him to organise payouts as soon as possible. Mr Sunak said he was not aware of her letters at the time, as they were dealt with by officials. At least 2,900 NHS patients - including young children - died from being infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s. Many others continue to live with serious medical conditions caused by tainted blood products. It has been described as the worst treatment scandal in the history of the health service, yet those infected and affected by it have been forced to fight for a compensation body to recognise their suffering and loss. Sir Brian announced in April he was taking the unusual step of publishing the recommendation that bereaved parents and children of victims should receive immediate 100,000 interim compensation payments ahead of the publication of the full report into the scandal so that victims would not face any more delays. The inquiry has also recommended that the Government establishes an arms-length compensation body soon. An independent report by Sir Robert Francis recommended victims should eventually be compensated for physical and social injury, the stigma of the disease, the impact on family and work life, and the cost of care, while the parents, siblings and children of victims who have now died should also receive payouts, he said, Inquiry chairman Sir Brian's final report is expected later in the year. Giving evidence to the inquiry in central London this afternoon, in front of an audience of around nearly 500 people infected and affected by the scandal, Mr Sunak accepted people had to wait decades for compensation. But he said it would not be appropriate to settle compensation fully until the final report was completed. He said: 'Before making final decisions there is the context in which those decisions need to be made, so understanding the full context of the inquiry's findings about what has happened over the preceding decades is important for a variety of policy reasons. 'That's why the Government would ordinarily wait to have the final report, so it has a full set of findings to make decisions on. 'There is good legal precedent and reasons for that and rational decision-making would suggest that is the right thing to do.' He said he was unable to put a timescale on when compensation would be sorted. Mr Sunak said: 'I do not want to add to what I believe to be a litany of broken promises and dashed expectations of everyone in this room and everyone watching (online) has had to endure for years, if not decades. Giving evidence to the inquiry in central London this afternoon, in front of an audience of around nearly 500 people infected and affected by the scandal, Mr Sunak accepted people had to wait decades for compensation. But he said it would not be appropriate to settle compensation fully until the final report was completed. Pictured, demonstrators hold placards picturing victims of the NHS infected blood scandal as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is questioned inside by Inflected Blood inquiry, in London 'It is hard for me to give a precise time frame on exactly when and how these things will be resolved.' But he said the interim 100,000 payouts and the acceptance of a moral case for compensation was an example of his Government's 'desire to see this through'. Mr Sunak described the scandal as 'a tragedy which should not have happened and we must right the wrong'. In his witness statement to the inquiry, he said: 'The Government is committed in responding to this inquiry's final report when it is published and I understand that work is underway across government to ensure that a substantial response on a full compensation scheme can be included. 'I am aware of the complexities of preparing an adequate compensation scheme, including the likely need for primary legislation. 'As is the usual process for managing policy decisions, this work is being led by other ministers and I will be sighted in relation to the scope of the scheme and intended response at the appropriate stage when they have a formal set of recommendations to make based on their expertise.' The Government agreed last summer to make the first interim compensation payments of 100,000 each to about 4,000 surviving victims, and bereaved widows. But while some victims have received financial support, not all have been fully compensated. Campaigners fear the Government is dragging its feet over the issue by not yet establishing a full compensation framework for all those affected. Both Jeremy Quin, the current lead minister sponsoring the inquiry, and Penny Mordaunt, one of his predecessors as Paymaster General, this week told the inquiry the Government was determined to resolve the issue. Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is due to give evidence on Friday. Mr Sunak's appearance comes ahead of an anticipated grilling at the Covid Inquiry in the autumn, at which his time as Chancellor during the pandemic will be scrutinised. MARTIN BEARD: No wonder Rishi Sunak was jeered, when tainted blood victims like me have had to wait decades for justice There were two telling moments at today's Infected Blood Inquiry at which the Prime Minister was giving evidence when Rishi Sunak was jeered by the audience. Once when he prevaricated on whether it was good enough that there were still no plans to give compensation to the 30,000 people and their grieving families whose lives were, like mine, ruined by tainted blood. And secondly when the Prime Minister insisted the Government's work on this issue was moving 'at pace'. Thirty-seven years after I was told, as a teenager, that I had been infected with HIV from contaminated blood products issued by the NHS, it remains enormously frustrating to see yet another Prime Minister insist that we are a priority, that what happened to us was an 'appalling scandal' and yet at the same time failing to make any real progress. Every four days someone affected by this dies a tragedy Sunak acknowledged. There were two telling moments at today's Infected Blood Inquiry at which the Prime Minister was giving evidence when Rishi Sunak was jeered by the audience And the longer the Government delays making a decision on compensation for which it has already accepted there is a moral case the fewer individuals and their families will see justice in their lifetimes. That only compounds the agony. Here, again, Sunak has failed to give us any answers. Not that an official wall of silence is any surprise to us. It was in 1986, when I was 17, that I learned that I'd been infected with HIV three years previously. A doctor at North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary bluntly told my Mum and I: 'I see you have HIV.' It was a hammer blow. I was predicted to live just two years. Doctors at Birmingham Children's Hospital, where I'd been previously treated for haemophilia, had failed to tell me that the blood clotting agent, Factor VIII, with which I had been injected, was contaminated with the virus. Another cousin like me, infected with HIV from contaminated blood died, aged 34, from AIDS. At his funeral, I felt as if all eyes were on me, wondering if I would be next. In the Eighties, medical professionals treated me like a leper; I lost my job on an electronics-assembly line when colleagues found out my status; and I haven't been able to have relationships. Liz Gardner (left) and Meg Parsons holding pictures of their brother Robert Gibbs outside the Infected Blood Inquiry in London. Mr Gibbs died aged 21 after finding out he was HIV positive aged 15 The only real one I ever had ended because I knew she wanted to have children and I couldn't risk infecting her. Of course, an HIV diagnosis these days is very different, as many people living with the virus have long and normal lives because of effective treatment, and they cannot pass the virus on. I know I'm fortunate to still be here, aged 54, when so many are not. Some died very young, without a life of any kind. And that is, by anyone's measure, wrong. I understand that the Government can scarcely afford the billions it may cost to put this scandal right and I'm grateful for the work done to date (I received 100,000 as an interim compensation payment last year). But I fear that an election which could come next year could only kick the can further down the road. Only survivors, and those who lost spouses, have received any money to date. People whose children died who have never received any payments need to be given the compensation they deserve, too. And a genuine apology would go a long way, with an acknowledgement of the cover-up by politicians and NHS staff. Perhaps then the community which has suffered for so long can get on with what remains of their lives. Martin Beard is a campaigner and speaker for tainted blood victims There were two telling moments at today's Infected Blood Inquiry at which the Prime Minister was giving evidence when Rishi Sunak was jeered by the audience. Once when he prevaricated on whether it was good enough that there were still no plans to give compensation to the 30,000 people and their grieving families whose lives were, like mine, ruined by tainted blood. And secondly when the Prime Minister insisted the Government's work on this issue was moving 'at pace'. Thirty-seven years after I was told, as a teenager, that I had been infected with HIV from contaminated blood products issued by the NHS, it remains enormously frustrating to see yet another Prime Minister insist that we are a priority, that what happened to us was an 'appalling scandal' and yet at the same time failing to make any real progress. Every four days someone affected by this dies a tragedy Sunak acknowledged. The Prime Minister came face to face with protesters and campaigners this afternoon at the inquiry into what happened, and what recompense they should receive. Pictured: Rishi Sunak giving evidence to the Infected Blood Inquiry Demonstrators hold placards picturing victims and reading message related to the NHS infected blood scandal as Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is questioned by Inflected Blood inquiry, in London, on July 26, 2023 And the longer the Government delays making a decision on compensation for which it has already accepted there is a moral case the fewer individuals and their families will see justice in their lifetimes. That only compounds the agony. Here, again, Sunak has failed to give us any answers. Not that an official wall of silence is any surprise to us. It was in 1986, when I was 17, that I learned that I'd been infected with HIV three years previously. A doctor at North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary bluntly told my Mum and I: 'I see you have HIV.' It was a hammer blow. I was predicted to live just two years. Doctors at Birmingham Children's Hospital, where I'd been previously treated for haemophilia, had failed to tell me that the blood clotting agent, Factor VIII, with which I had been injected, was contaminated with the virus. Another cousin like me, infected with HIV from contaminated blood died, aged 34, from AIDS. At his funeral, I felt as if all eyes were on me, wondering if I would be next. In the Eighties, medical professionals treated me like a leper; I lost my job on an electronics-assembly line when colleagues found out my status; and I haven't been able to have relationships. Liz Gardner (left) and Meg Parsons holding pictures of their brother Robert Gibbs outside the Infected Blood Inquiry in London. Mr Gibbs died aged 21 after finding out he was HIV positive aged 15 Demonstrators hold placards reading message related to the NHS infected blood scandal as Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is questioned by Inflected Blood inquiry, in London, on July 26, 2023 The only real one I ever had ended because I knew she wanted to have children and I couldn't risk infecting her. Of course, an HIV diagnosis these days is very different, as many people living with the virus have long and normal lives because of effective treatment, and they cannot pass the virus on. I know I'm fortunate to still be here, aged 54, when so many are not. Some died very young, without a life of any kind. And that is, by anyone's measure, wrong. I understand that the Government can scarcely afford the billions it may cost to put this scandal right and I'm grateful for the work done to date (I received 100,000 as an interim compensation payment last year). But I fear that an election which could come next year could only kick the can further down the road. Only survivors, and those who lost spouses, have received any money to date. People whose children died who have never received any payments need to be given the compensation they deserve, too. And a genuine apology would go a long way, with an acknowledgement of the cover-up by politicians and NHS staff. Perhaps then the community which has suffered for so long can get on with what remains of their lives. Martin Beard is a campaigner and speaker for tainted blood victims 'Give the people what they want,' is a commonly used expression. But Japanese luxury car maker Lexus doesn't appear to have taken much notice of this phrase as it looks set to deliver a new model that goes completely against the grain of market demand. With SUVs selling in droves, drivers have turned their back on some vehicle segments. And none more so than Multi Purpose Vehicles (MPVs), which many manufacturers have completely omitted from new car line-ups or plan to ditch in the not too distant future. Yet Lexus has done the complete opposite with the arrival of its latest model, the LM people carrier. But it isn't a budget-friendly MPV for big families; instead it's a 'Luxury Mover' with a massive widescreen TV that costs over six figures. Lexus' new MPV limo: The Japanese premium car brand has confirmed its new LM people carrier will be sold in Britain - and it will be priced between 90,000 and 113,000 The LM isn't a budget-friendly MPV for big families; instead it's a 'Luxury Mover' with a massive widescreen TV for its A-list passengers to enjoy in complete comfort While 'MPV' stands for multi-purpose vehicle, think of the Lexus LM as a mega pricey van. It start from 89,995 in the UK and the most expensive variant is a whopping 112,995. Three variants will be available from launch - and all of them have the enormous grille at the front. The striking LM was first unveiled in full-production form by Lexus at this year's Shanghai motor show. But this week the UK arm of the company has confirmed it will be sold in Britain As has been the way for Toyota and Lexus in recent years, power comes from a petrol-electric self-charging hybrid drivetrain. This comprises a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a supplementary electric motor and compact battery allowing for short distances without producing tailpipe emissions - though how far hasn't yet been clarified. READ MORE: Nine cars unveiled at Shanghai motor show 2023 alongside the Lexus LM Power is delivered to all four wheels via an E-Four electronic system via a CVT automatic gearbox, with a maximum output of 246bhp. With such a modest output, don't expect to be breaking any speed records in the new Lexus bus. It is limited up to 119mph, though the Japanese company hasn't confirmed what the zero to 62mph time is. Despite being a hybrid, it's not the greenest model on the planet with CO2 emissions of 152 to 163g/km - and its price tag definitely means it will be hit with the expensive car tax subsidy for the first five years. Average fuel consumption depends on spec and how many seats you choose, ranging from 47 to 51mpg. An MPV for red carpet events rather than school runs Since its official unveiling at the Shanghai motor show back in April, Lexus says it has already secured UK reservations 'into double figures'. So not hundreds, then. But while the LM might looks like a massive family wagon to rival the likes of Mercedes' V-Class and the Volkswagen Multivan - which are among only a few traditional people carriers left on the market in 2023 - it's instead aimed at a totally different clientele. It could be viewed as a roomier alternative to luxury saloon limos, like the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. While the LM might looks like a massive people carrier to rival the likes of Mercedes' V-Class and the Volkswagen Multivan it's instead aimed at a totally different clientele and will compete with limos like the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Lexus calls it a 'first-of-its-kind model that offers the luxury features and ultra-refined performance of a limousine in a spacious people carrier package'. That means it aimed at high-end shuttle service providers to whisk A-listers to red carpet events and to and from airport lounges, rather than mums on the mid-afternoon school run. Comfort for back-seat occupants is the LM's prime objective, with Lexus stating: '...passenger wellbeing is prioritised in everything from the design and functionality of the seating to precise control of the on-board atmosphere and quietness that has a natural and reassuring quality'. This explains why the LM comes with the choice of a conventional seven-seat layout or the option for a limo-like four seat configuration. Choose the latter and you can kick back in business-class-style armchairs in the rear cabin, which is sectioned off from the driver and front-seat occupant by a partition that's equipped with active noise cancellation technology. Lexus says the LM is a 'first-of-its-kind model that offers the luxury features and ultra-refined performance of a limousine in a spacious people carrier package' The business-class-style sears can fully recline to horizonal. A control panel for the infotainment system sits in a centre console The TV in the back of the LM has a split-screen feature, so rear-seat passengers can watch two different types of content on the same display with the corresponding audio played through the speakers in each headrest. There are also flip-down monitors in the ceiling The divider also houses a massive 48-inch HD screen for watching content on the go and a glass panel that can be dimmed for complete privacy. The monitor has three viewing modes: full screen, cinema or split screen, with the latter allowing two back-seat passengers to watch different content on the same display with the corresponding audio played through the headrest of their seat. It also has a forward-facing camera so big-wig back-seat passengers can host Zoom conference calls from the comfort of their plush seats on the move. Beneath the monitor there are individual left and right side glove boxes and a refrigerator for beverages. The power seats have 'semi-aniline' leather upholstery and 'Ultrasuede' inserts. Not only can they fully recline to horizontal to become comfy beds but also offer seven different massage programmes. Between the rear chairs is a long centre controls including a smartphone-style control panel for the infotainment options. Above the huge TV screen is a glass panel with noise-cancelling tech to divide the front cabin from the rear The glass panel can be switched from clear to dimmed to provide complete privacy for those travelling in the back There's plenty of tech and luxury up front for the driver and front-seat passenger In the back there are twin fixed sunroofs, power sunshades and a sophisticated 'Climate Concierge' system using thermal sensors to precisely control and direct heating and ventilation to the occupants for the most relaxing experience available on four wheels. Individual folding tables pop out of the outer arm rests and there is a number of device-charging solutions with USB ports and wireless charging trays hidden in the side panels. The infotainment package can be upgraded includes the Lexus Link Pro multimedia system, a 23-speakers with 3D Surround Sound audio and individual 14-inch monitors that fold down from the ceiling. First deliveries are expected to arrive around the end of the year, though you might need to tune into celebrity award ceremonies to see one in the flesh. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Defence Minister Rajnath Singh joined the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations on Wednesday at Drass town of Ladakh where he paid tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives in the defence of the country. Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on this day since 1999 when regulars of Pakistan Army were dislodged from Tiger Hill and other strategic heights they had occupied on the sly after crossing the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan had kept denying that its regulars were involved in the aggression and as a result of this, they refused to accept the bodies of its soldiers killed in action with the Indian Army. The Defence Minister arrived in Drass earlier in the day to mark the solemn occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas. As a gesture of honor and respect, he laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial, paying tribute to the courageous soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the 1999 Kargil War. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, also joined in commemorating the war heroes by laying a wreath at the memorial. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, and Indian Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar also paid respects by laying wreaths at the Kargil War Memorial on this significant day. Army Chief General Manoj Pande had also offered his heartfelt tribute at the memorial, acknowledging the indomitable spirit and sacrifice of the soldiers who fought in the Kargil War. Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed on July 26 each year, is a time to honor the bravery and valor of the Kargil War heroes, who led 'Operation Vijay' to a triumphant conclusion for the Indian Armed Forces. The day serves as a poignant reminder of the unwavering dedication and courage displayed by the soldiers who safeguarded the nation's integrity and sovereignty during the conflict The defence minister met the families of the martyrs and as a mark of respect presented each family a memento and a shawl. Saluting the resolve and the high morale of the country's defence forces, Rajnath Singh said on his Twitter page, "We know that as long as you are protecting us on the borders, no one can even have the courage to raise their eyes towards India. "Not only Kargil, but many times since independence till today, your bravery has made the country proud from time to time. J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said on his Twitter page, "On Kargil Vijay Diwas,I pay tribute to valiant soldiers & officers who displayed magnificent valor & made supreme sacrifice for the motherland. I humbly bow down to the families of our Kargil War heroes. We're forever indebted to them for their sacrifices & service to the nation." Shaura Sandhya was also organised at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass town where 559 lamps each symbolising a Braveheart were lit at the Veer Bhoomi. "Kargil Vijay Diwas is a reminiscence of the undaunted bravery & courage of the #Bravehearts who inscribed a golden chapter in history, with their blood & sacrifice. They gave a befitting reply to the enemy's misadventure and a resounding victory to this #Nation," the Army said on its Twitter page. To commemorate the sacrifices of India's bravehearts, a motorcycle rally reached Drasson Tuesday. Highlighting the message carried by the rally, the Armys northern command said, "On the eve of 24th #KargilVijayDiwas, the 25 steely riders of #Nari Sashaktikaran Women's Motorcycle Rally, braved all odds across treacherous terrain & weather and completed their 1000 km journey at #Kargil, truly epitomising & re-living the bravery, determination and extraordinary sacrifices, displayed by our gallant soldiers in the #KargilWar 24 years ago. The Rally was flagged in by #LtGenUpendraDwivedi, #ArmyCdrNC, who saluted their bravery, sense of purpose and contribution to #NationBuilding." There is the acrid stench of a stitch-up between NatWest and No 10 over the handling of the latest scandal in the Nigel Farage affair. It is inconceivable that Howard Davies, NatWest chairman, has decided not to sack Dame Alison Rose after admitting that she was the source of the BBC story about Farage's account, without the Prime Minister's blessing. After all, the Government or rather we the taxpayer is the biggest shareholder in NatWest. Either No 10 or the Treasury probably both must have been consulted over whether NatWest should keep Dame Alison in her role or sack her. Inexcusably, NatWest wants her to stay but for the most pathetic reasons. NatWest chairman Howard Davies has decided not to sack Dame Alison Rose after admitting that she was the source of the BBC story about Nigel Farage's account Indeed, the statement put out late yesterday by Davies with the backing of the independent non-executive directors and the board is a weasel defence of Dame Alison, describing her conversation with BBC journalist, Simon Jack, as 'a regrettable error of judgement on her part'. Really? An error of judgement? Is it only an error of judgement to reveal the financial details of one of the most high-profile political characters of the last few decades to Britain's only publicly-owned broadcaster? Maybe Dame Alison and Jack had enjoyed too much of the hospitality at that fateful dinner at London's Langham Hotel. Rose's words were careless and flippant rather than an error of judgement. Bankers don't have quite such a precise equivalent of the medical profession's Hippocratic Oath but client confidentiality and my word is my bond is pretty good to be getting on with. And Dame Alison blew her bond. The former chairman of the Financial Services Authority no less, Davies, goes on to say that: 'The events will be taken into account in decisions on remuneration at the appropriate time.' This rather suggests that NatWest believes that the betrayal of a client by the bank boss can be compensated for by paying Dame Alison less money? That is laughable and rather supports the view that bankers are even more greedy than we think they are. Dame Alison's own mea culpa was just as pathetic. She also says her comments to Jack about Farage were an 'error of judgement'. Dame Alison has to step down to show that the bank has the very highest of ethical values and accountability. She defends herself by saying she thought it was general knowledge that he banked at Coutts, but even so confirmed it, going further, telling Jack he had been offered a NatWest account. Even that is breaking client confidentiality. The fact that she had not seen the Coutts Wealth Reputational Risk Committee the dossier which names Farage as a Brexiteering, Novak Djokovic supporting grifter of dubious racist values is simply irrelevant. She should have said nothing. What is interesting is that the Financial Conduct Authority the City's main watchdog is taking a much harder line than the Government or NatWest itself. Sheldon Mills, consumer and competition director, appears to be putting feet to the fire. Encouragingly, Mills says the FCA has already raised concerns with NatWest and Coutts about the allegations of breach of customer confidentiality, adding that NatWest's review must be well resourced and have access to all information. Then it will decide what action to take. Good. Both Davies and Dame Alison conclude their statements with more apologies, and the promises of independent reviews to 'ensure this doesn't happen again'. They also both profess great affection for each other. Davies saying what an outstanding leader Dame Alison has proved to be while she says it's been the privilege of her life to work for the bank. Both these sentiments can be true, and she has proved to be a good banker. Yet if my word is my bond means anything at all, Dame Alison has to step down to show that the bank has the very highest of ethical values and accountability. Heads should also roll at the most senior levels at Coutts particularly those responsible for allowing such a cack-handed mess to occur. A debt agency is chasing me for more than 2,000 after a fraudster used my company name and address to open an account with payment service Worldpay. Every time I contact Worldpay, it promises to deal with the matter. But then, a few months later, I get another letter from the debt agency demanding money. I am at my wits' end worrying about my credit rating, bailiffs coming to my home and my company name being used fraudulently. J.R., London. Stress: A reader is worrying about her credit rating, bailiffs coming to her home and her company name being used fraudulently Sally Hamilton replies: This whole sorry saga began when you received a Worldpay card payment machine out of the blue at your business address. You returned the device as you do not use card machines for your pet accessory business. You sell your wares through an online marketplace, which handles all the payments for you, or directly to shops, which are billed quarterly and pay you by bank transfer. Some weeks after you returned the card machine, you started receiving letters from Worldpay about chargeback requests from the credit card companies of customers who had seemingly been tricked into paying for goods they never received. You repeatedly called Worldpay, telling them they were barking up the wrong tree as the email, bank account and phone number used to create the account did not match yours, and it appeared the fraudster was male, while you are female. Eventually, your pleas were heard. Worldpay assured you the issue would be dealt with, and a note was put on your file to indicate someone else had used your business name. You thought the matter resolved until Oriel, a debt collection agency, came after you for 2,613 in November last year. You pleaded with this firm to contact Worldpay and hoped the nightmare was over, until yet another demand landed on your doormat a few weeks ago this time for 2,090. Scam Watch Households should be vigilant when submitting tax reports, HM Revenue & Customs warns this week. Criminals use tax credit renewals and other deadlines to try to trick people into sharing their banking and other personal details. Fraudsters will typically send out emails or text messages claiming that your details aren't up to date and that you risk losing out on payments that you are due unless you respond with personal details. HMRC says: 'If a phone call, text or email is unexpected, do not give out private information or reply, and do not download attachments or click on links.' The taxman is also urging people not to share their login details with anyone. You can report suspicious texts to HMRC by forwarding them to 60599. Report suspicious emails and WhatsApp messages to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. Read more on the Government website. Oriel refused to engage with you this time because it said your email address did not match the (fraudulent) one on their records. You thought filing a police report might help, but identity theft is not a crime, according to crime reporting agency Action Fraud. Bizarre as this seems, it says it becomes a recordable crime only when a thief uses the stolen information to commit fraud and make a financial gain. You also fear your personal finances and job prospects could be affected by the misuse of your identity. You have been accepted for a job in the police force, pending the usual credit checks. But you are worried this could scupper your chances. To make matters worse, you are preparing for major surgery. The last thing you need is debt collectors hounding you. I was more than happy to intervene and prodded Worldpay to put an end to your misery. Within a few days, the company confirmed what you and I knew already: that the offending account had been set up using impersonation fraud. It also confirmed that it had taken action to clear your credit record and said you would not be troubled by debt collectors any longer. A spokesman for Worldpay says: 'The company was made aware of a client that received collection notifications related to identity theft. Upon a correct identity verification, we were able to work directly with the client to resolve the issue. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused.' Anyone in your position should check their credit files for suspicious activity, such as applications for loans they didn't make. The three main agencies you can use to do this are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Identity theft can be hard to prevent. Fraudsters often buy personal or business information that has been stolen in an online data breach, or glean it in other ways, such as through social media or 'phishing'. This is where crooks send out dodgy emails or text messages that trick recipients into giving away personal information or bank details. Do not click on suspicious messages and change your passwords regularly. You did the right thing by reporting the incident to the police, as the information could help them pursue the crooks responsible. Why is Virgin Media still billing me if I have cancelled my contract? I contacted Virgin Media in March to cancel my phone and broadband contract. In May, I realised I was still being billed. As a pensioner on a fixed income, I am unable to sustain these charges. Please help. C.C., Cleveland. Sally Hamilton replies: On my request, Virgin Media had a root around to see what had gone wrong and spoke to you directly to get the facts. It turns out you had asked to switch your landline to Sky in early March but had done this by going to Sky directly. You informed Virgin a few days later but Sky had already contacted Virgin about moving your service. This caused your Virgin account to be frozen, which it says meant it couldn't act on your cancellation instruction. Virgin said it asked you to call back once your Sky phone line was active. This you did on April 26. Since it takes 30 days to disconnect a customer's service, the process wasn't completed until nearly the end of May, which is why you received a bill. Virgin agreed to refund your final bill of 105 as a gesture of goodwill, along with 24 credit. Even though Virgin followed procedure in your case, it has recently been fending off an avalanche of complaints from customers struggling to cancel their contracts. This month, regulator Ofcom announced an investigation into the provider following complaints about the barriers to cancelling contracts. In its defence, Virgin said the rate of complaints from customers wishing to end contracts had halved in the past year and it added that it would be working with Ofcom throughout its investigation and continue improving its complaints process. A way to avoid this kind of hassle when cancelling a contract is to give your firm 30 days' notice before switching. A Virgin Media spokesman says: 'We would advise any customer who wants to move any service to another provider to let us know in advance so that we can take the necessary action and avoid any unnecessary delays.' I purchased two tickets to a Taylor Swift concert for my teenage daughter and her friend. When I bought them online there were no warnings to say it was a lead booker event which means the person who books the tickets has to attend. In fact, the Ticketmaster website stated there were currently no lead booker events. Ticketmaster has now changed its website and notified everyone that this is a lead booker event and, if the lead booker is not present, entry to the concert will be denied. Surely they cannot enforce this policy as I wasn't made aware of it at the point of purchase? Francis Gordon, London. Ticketmaster has changed its website and notified everyone that Taylor Swift's concert is a lead booker event and, if the lead booker is not present, entry to the concert will be denied Dean Dunham replies: When you bought the tickets, you entered into a contract under the terms and conditions shown to you prior to your purchase. In the case of Ticketmaster, these terms are referred to as its 'Purchase Policy'. Following purchase, the terms of the contract can only be changed if both parties agree or if the terms and conditions state that a change can be made after the event and you are made aware of this. Ticketmaster has clearly changed the terms of your contract 'after' you purchased the tickets. While it has the right to do this within its Purchase Policy, you will also have the right now to demand a refund if the need for the lead booker to be present inconveniences you. Is it true you can only claim a refund for a faulty car within seven days of purchase? Earlier this month I bought a used Ford Focus from a local car dealership. Last week I broke down on the M6 and was recovered by the AA. The mechanic told me the car had several problems and advised me to take it back to the dealership. I did this and asked for my money back but the dealership told me 'you can only claim a refund for a faulty car... if you make the claim within seven days of purchase or delivery of the vehicle'. Is this true? William Green, Birmingham. Dean Dunham replies: Absolutely not. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 provides consumers with the right to reject goods (including vehicles) if they are found to be faulty within the first 30 days following the date of purchase or delivery, whichever falls later. This is known as 'the short-term right to reject'. This means your dealership's terms and conditions are simply not binding, as the 30-day period for rejecting faulty goods cannot be cut short. Can Saga start charging me to keep receiving its magazine? Several years ago I signed up to a 'lifetime' monthly subscription to receive Saga Magazine in the post. Now Saga wants to renege on this and either change my subscription to a digital one or make me pay an annual fee of 29.95 if I want to continue receiving the print issue. Can Saga do this? Keith Temple, Winchester. Dean Dunham replies: I recommend that you contact Saga and request a copy of the terms and conditions. Unless the terms specifically give Saga the right to cease providing 'print' copies of the magazine without a further charge, this change will amount to a breach of contract. If this is the case, you and other subscribers will be entitled to carry on receiving the print version without an extra charge or get your lifetime subscription fee back. LVMH is cashing in on booming demand in China even as business in the US slows. The French luxury fashion conglomerate, whose brands in include fashion labels Givenchy, Celine, Stella McCartney and Louis Vuitton, said total revenues rose 17 per cent to 36billion in the first half of the year. The jump came as a 24 per cent rise in sales in China offset a mere 3 per cent increase in the US. Blockbuster: American actress Zendaya is the new face of Louis Vuitton LVMH, which also owns Christian Dior and Tiffany, said customers in the US were holding off on buying expensive handbags and jewellery due to economic uncertainty. By contrast, it is cashing in on huge postpandemic growth in China where consumers are once again enjoying life free from lockdown curbs. Chief financial officer Jean-Jacques Guiony, said: 'Last year, the group was pulled up by the United States because China was slowing down. 'And this year, the United States is slowing down, yes, but we are drawn by Asia. This geographical balance is absolutely fundamental.' He added: 'The global mood is not one of revenge buying like we saw in 2021 and 2022, so we're talking more about normalisation than anything else. We have no visibility, we are not pessimistic and don't have a reason to be in China. In the United States, we see it's not as good as it was.' The company is run by Bernard Arnault, the world's second-richest man whose fortune is estimated by Forbes to be 181billion. Last night Arnault said: 'LVMH achieved outstanding results during a six-month period of ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainty. 'Thanks to the desirability of our brands, we approach the second half of the year with confidence.' 888 has appointed a boss weeks after its licence was placed in jeopardy over Kenny Alexander's grab for power. Per Widerstrom, the former head of Eastern European gambling group Fortuna, will take over as chief executive of the betting giant in October. Earlier this month, investment vehicle FS Gaming, backed by former Entain boss Alexander has put him forward as chief executive. New boss: Per Widerstrom will receive annual fixed pay of 676,000 FS Gaming which owns a 6.6 per cent stake in 888 also pushed for Lee Feldman and Stephen Morana to be named as the chairman and chief finance officer. Both held senior roles at GVC before it was rebranded Entain in 2020. But 888 rejected the changes over fears that the gambling watchdog could revoke its licence or fine it. Regulators had expressed concerns over the changes because of the ongoing four-year HMRC investigation over possible breaches of the Bribery Act from Entain's former subsidiary in Turkey. Roberta Ciaccia, an analyst at Investec, said Widerstrom was a good pick for the 888 boss. The 57-year-old will receive annual fixed pay of 676,000 and will be eligible to receive bonuses and performance share plan awards. 888 executive chairman Lord Mendelsohn said Widerstrom 'was the clear standout candidate to lead the group'. The founders of Wandisco saw more than 50million wiped off their paper wealth after the software group's shares returned to trading after a four-month suspension. In March the company uncovered 'significant, sophisticated and potentially fraudulent irregularities' regarding revenue and sales bookings last year. Wandisco then warned its revenue for 2022 could be as low as 7million rather than 19million. As a result, shares were suspended while the group launched a probe into the matter. Wandisco shares crashed 96% as they returned to trading after a four-month suspension The stock, which resumed trading on AIM yesterday, crashed 96.3 per cent, or 1261p, to 49p having closed at 1310p on March 9. David Richards and Yeturu Aahlad set up the company in 2005. Richards, who owns 1.84million shares, saw the value of his stake tumble from 24million to 901,600. And Aahlad, who owns 2.48million shares, saw his paper wealth plunge from 32.6million to 1.22million. Richards and finance boss Erik Miller quit on April 3 but Wandisco insisted this was unrelated to the independent investigation by advisory firm FRP which found millions of pounds of revenue and sales bookings for 2022 were 'false'. FRP also found a senior employee was responsible for the errors. Wandisco actually made 7.4million in revenue last year instead of the 18million recorded in January, while its bookings totalled 8.7million rather than the previously declared 97million. In May the group said it would slash its global workforce by around 30 per cent. London's blue-chip index was on course for a sixth consecutive session of gains as the FTSE 100 rose 0.17 per cent, or 13.21 points, to 7691.8 and the FTSE 250 grew 0.03 per cent, or 4.9 points, to 19149.88. Stock watch: Wickes Wickes will return 25million to investors through share buybacks as it cheered signs of a recovery in under-pressure DIY sales. The chain, which also trades as a builders' merchant, said while still lower year-on-year, DIY sales were beginning to show an 'improving trend' in its second quarter. Wickes shares have dropped in the last year Wickes posted a 3 per cent rise in sales in the three months to the end of June, marking a turnaround after a 1.8 per cent fall in the first quarter. Shares shot up 6.6 per cent, or 8.4p, to 135.4p. US corporate giants sounded a positive note over UK stocks, with BlackRock saying British equities were attractive while Goldman Sachs added that sectors such as banking and energy could rebound if sentiment in global markets improve. Croda International maintained its forecasts despite a 21.9 per cent fall in sales to 880.9million in the first half of 2023 while profit plunged 79.8 per cent to 128.7million. But profit for this year should still come in between 370million and 400million. Shares rose 4.7 per cent, or 268p, to 5930p. Miners rallied amid hopes that China could outline a stimulus package to prop up its economy. Antofagasta added 6.6 per cent, or 102.5p, to 1657p, Anglo American gained 4.8 per cent, or 115.5p, to 2506p, Rio Tinto rose 4.2 per cent, or 217p, to 5394p and Glencore inched up by 0.7 per cent, or 3.4p, to 482.05p. Auto Trader shares slid 2.3 per cent, or 15.2p, to 634.8p after JP Morgan lowered its rating on the online car dealer's stock to 'underweight' from 'neutral' and reduced the target price to 555p from 630p. Shares of Daily Mirror owner Reach shares surged 19 per cent, or 13p, to 81.55p as it said it remained on track to cut costs by 5 per cent to 6 per cent this year and meet market forecasts on profit. The upbeat outlook came even as the company, which also owns the Daily Express and Daily Star, saw its profits fall to 6.7million in the six months to June 25, down from 32million a year earlier. And digital sales fell 16.1 per cent to 60.8million following a move by Facebook to change the way it displays news content. Compass Group revenues rose 15 per cent in the three months to the end of June. That meant the food caterer remained on track to increase its revenue by around 18pc by the end of September. Shares fell 5.2 per cent, or 110p, to 2016p. Bridgepoint sank after investment income fell 67 per cent in the first half of the year to 12.7million. Shares in the private equity group fell 9.8 per cent, or 20.7p, to 190.5p. AMTE Power shares rocketed 213 per cent, or 8.5p, to 12.5p as the Scottish battery cell maker made progress in securing necessary funds to keep its business afloat. He says criticism of cap prices is unconvincing Australians are slugged more than twice the price for gas than Americans, despite both countries being exporters of the energy source. For Victorians, who are the largest consumers in Australia, gas cost $10.82 per gigajoule on Tuesday, while Americans were only paying $4.25/GJ. Energy Economics and Financial Analysis expert Kevin Morrison told Daily Mail Australia the major difference between the two gas producers was the amount of US competition. 'In the US, you have the big companies such as Chevron and Exxon as well as the likes of Shell are there in a major way,' Mr Morrison said. 'In Australia, the biggest coal seam gas producers are three consortiums in Queensland, and the majority of the gas they produce goes offshore.' Australians are paying more than double the price for natural gas than Americans do despite both countries being exporters The other major gas producer for eastern Australia is the joint venture between Exxon and Woodside in the Gippsland Basin region of southeast Victoria. 'They and the Queensland consortiums control three-quarters of the gas reserves in eastern Australia,' Mr Morrison said. 'If you have a handful of producers, they would know what each other is doing, and they would be able to keep the markets from being too flushed with gas.' In December last year, the Albanese government legislated a price cap on gas of $12 per gigajoule for 12 months and has since extended this to 2025. The gas sector heavily criticised the move saying the cap and a new code aimed at ensuring a 'fairer' supply would cripple investment. Woodside chief executive Meg O'Neill told a conference of major oil and gas producers in May that the market interventions would likely backfire. 'When there's uncertainty around the market in which we're investing, it gives us pause,' Mr O'Neill said. An energy expert says the difference with the American gas market is the amount of competition compared to Australia Mr Morrison was not convinced. 'I think they are stretching it,' he said. 'The price they are getting is more than double what they would be in the US operations for selling the same molecule of gas. 'Somehow, here in Australia, it is not quite enough, but they would be more than happy to accept a price anywhere near that in the US.' 'If you look through the balance sheets for any gas producer in Australia their costs of production are nowhere near $12 per gigajoule. 'They have a really healthy margin built in at that price. 'These complaints reflect the power of the industry they just don't like being told what to do.' Mr Morrison said there were many industrial gas consumers who are operating on much thinner margins. 'Going up to $12 a gigajoule will impact their operations, their margins and their ability to supply their products to their consumers,' Mr Morrison argued. Other gas-producing regions such as the Middle East or Indonesia, ensure their citizens get cheap energy. 'If we take the Middle East as a whole, it's all state-controlled,' Mr Morrison said. Energy Economics and Financial Analysis expert Kevin Morrison said gas distributors have been making big profits 'The locals feel that oil and gas is a natural right. It's all subsidised, so they pay next to nothing.' Another factor that drives up prices for Australian consumers are the charges gas distributors charge to use their pipelines. Even though a regulator sets the amount distributors can charge Mr Morrison said the gas distributors got a very sweet deal with generous margins protected by the guidelines. 'They are pretty well guaranteed profits,' Mr Morrison said. 'Let's just say pipeline company A want to spend a $100 million on their network, they are guaranteed an X per cent return. 'Let's say it is eight per cent, that means they are guaranteed $8 million 'If company A says "next year we want to spend $200 million" they are guaranteed a profit of $16million. So it just goes up like that. 'The more you spend the more money you get back.' Distributors can also get away with gold-plating their networks by inflating the amount they need to invest. 'They can come up with any technical reason that could blindside somebody who doesn't have the technical capabilities the company has,' Mr Morrison said. Another potential problem are the close ties between the handful of huge gas networks and the regulator. 'There's a revolving door,' Mr Morrison said of staff moving from the regulator to high-paying jobs in the industry. 'It applies in the oil sector as well. I am sure you find it in any regulated industry.' Australia only has around two per cent of the world's known gas reserves but that more than meets local demand with 80 percent of the resource going to nations such as Japan and Korea. In June competition watchdog the ACCC warned southeast Australia could face gas shortages over winter if local suppliers didn't put more aside for domestic use. Around 80 per cent of the natural gas produced in Australia is liquefied for expert to Asian countries (pictured Origin Energy's Australia Pacific liquefied natural gas facility at Curtis Island in north Queensland) Mr Morrison thought this risk was overblown. 'These reports come out about two to three times a year and they seem to always come to the same conclusion that we are looking at a shortage,' Mr Morrison said. 'But these shortages never actually eventuate. He pointed out Australia's exports had fallen. 'The exports from Gladstone and the three energy consortiums to customers in the Asia Pacific are down about four per cent this year,' he said. 'It's been quite a drop-off from South Korea and Japan and while China is buying a little bit more it is still well down on where it was two years ago. 'Therefore if they aren't exporting as much where is that gas going? Surely that gas could come into the domestic market.' The ACCC is predicting a surplus of gas for 2024 that Mr Morrison said would equal the annual amount consumed by South Australia. Mr Morrison said the West Australian gas market is almost entirely separate to the east coast's. 'There's no pipelines traversing across the continent, it would just cost too much even though people have been talking about it for the last 50 years,' he said. In Western Australia the state government sets aside an amount of gas for the state's use. 'They have some very large industrial consumers, we all know Western Australia is a big producer of natural resources,' Mr Morrison said. 'There's some big companies involved, the likes of Alcoa, so they aren't sweating on where the gas is going to come from as the industrial or residential users can do on the east coast.' Mavka have produced counterfeit 50 ruble notes spread all around the occupied territories in a campaign to undermine Russian propaganda Hundreds of 50 Ruble notes are appearing across the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine - from Melitopol, Berdyansk and Tomak in southern Ukraine all the way to Sevastopol and Yalta in Crimea. But these are no ordinary Russian banknotes. In fact, they are part of a campaign designed to undermine the Russian occupation by a Ukrainian, all-female and non-violent resistance group that emerged in the Russian-controlled city of Melitopol late last year. Applying intricate graphic design skills, the women have doctored the traditional 50 Ruble note to turn what was once a tool of Russian oppression into a symbol of Ukrainian defiance, carrying a powerful message to any of the occupiers who may think they are lucky to stumble across the 'free money'. The group is called Mavka, after the female forest spirit from Ukrainian and Russian folklore and mythology. Mavka is a long-haired woman, typically seen as a temptress figure who lures men into the woods and to their deaths. Mavka is using its activists on the ground to spread the bank notes at great personal risk. If caught they could be arrested, imprisoned or worse. Hundreds of the counterfeit banknotes, which look similar to the original, are appearing across the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine They are appearing outside Russian banks on fences, by the side of roads and even by the sea. As soon as they occupy a territory, the Russians force the locals to start using Russian currency instead of the Ukranian hryvnia. As far as Moscow is concerned, this is key to integrating the territories into the Russian Federation. This is why Mavka has targeted the notes as one of the ultimate symbols of Russia's oppressive occupation. At the centre of the note in its traditional form stands a female figure: the Monument of Neva, that sits in St Petersburg, seen holding a sceptre. But the activists have turned the sceptre into perhaps the ultimate symbol of the Ukrainian nation: the Trident (tryzub). The figure has also been given a floral headdress, in the Ukrainian style, and carries the familiar facial features of the Mavka character. At the centre of the note in its traditional form stands a female figure: the Monument of Neva, that sits in St Petersburg, seen holding a sceptre. But the activists have turned the sceptre into perhaps the ultimate symbol of the Ukrainian nation: the Trident (tryzub) In the top left corner of the note is the symbol for the Bank of Russia. But 'bank of Russia' has been changed to 'Bank of angry Mavka'. The Russian note has a line at the top saying 'Banknote of Russia' and at the bottom saying 'Fifty Roubles'. These lines now read 'This is not Russia' and 'You are in Ukraine!' In the bottom left-hand corner, the note reads 'counterfeiting will be prosecuted'. This has been changed to read 'the Rouble is as worthless as Putin's threats to Prigozhin'. It is a calculated jibe that mocks the tumbling Russian currency which has fallen significantly since the start of the all-out invasion in February of last year. But more than that, it strikes at the heart of the Russian leadership's weak point. It a month since Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, launched an aborted coup against the Russian leadership by marching his army almost 750km up southern Russia, and getting almost to Moscow before he announced he was calling the attempted rebellion off. It a month since Yevgeny Prigozhin, pictured, the head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, launched an aborted coup against the Russian leadership by marching his army almost 750km up southern Russia, and getting almost to Moscow Putin had threatened to deal mercilessly with the rebels, but in the end he was forced to make a deal: offering Prigozhin and his men immunity in exchange for standing down. What makes matters worse is that he was forced to use his henchmen and mini-me, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko as the go-between. The notes are part of a campaign designed to undermine the Russian occupation across the occupied territories by the all-female, non-violent resistance group called Mavka They are appearing outside Russian banks on fences, by the side of roads and even by the sea (pictured) To hammer the point home, the bank note's serial number has been changed to 240623 - 24 July 2023, the date of the attempted coup. The two letters that go before the number have been changed to MC, the initials for the phrase Marsh Spravedlivosti, or March of Justice, which is what Prigozhin labelled his march. The work of Mavka's activists is now spreading throughout Ukrainian online spaces. The group's Telegram is filled with photos of the notes in key points around the occupied towns and cities with messages of support from Ukrainians. One activist took a photo of one of the Mavka notes right in front of the National Bank of Russia in Simferopol in occupied Crimea. 'Ukrainian women are giving their verdict on the Orcs. Support the women's resistance movement!' read one comment. 'My awe at the bravery of these women,' read another. And it is not only the Ukrainians who are reacting. Russians are outraged. The Russian news website Crimean News ran an article dedicated to furiously 'debunking' the banknotes, and then posted the piece on its own Telegram channel. It told its audiences that banknotes 'parodying' Russian rubles with a 'message' had appeared in Simferopol, Yalta, Sevastopol, as well as in other cities of 'new constituent entities of the Russian Federation'. The photo, it added, was published by the' Ragul - slang for a backwards, rural person- Telegram channel 'Evil Mavka'. By way of description, it informed its reader that 'in Ukrainian mythology, Mavka is an evil zombie, very similar to the undead girl crawling out of the TV in the movie 'The Ring'.' Thundering impotently, it called on people to 'write to the organisers of the action'. But it hasn't stopped Mavka's work. The group has printed hundreds of the notes and are continuing to bravely spread them in defiance of Moscow's oppression. Since it launched late last year, Mavka has launched several campaigns. Mavka has targeted the notes, one of the ultimate symbols of Russia's oppressive rule as occupied territories are forced to use the rubles as currency. Mavka has a simple message: across the Russian-occupied territories Ukrainian women are angry. Pictured: One of the notes appearing outside a bank One, entitled Mavka's kitchen, was launched with a video of one of the activists pouring a laxative powder into a beer bottle. While the group kept the exact details of what they did with the bottles a secret, they made it clear that they had the means of delivering the bottles straight to the Russian military. Mavka has a simple message: across the Russian-occupied territories Ukrainian women are angry. They are angry at Russian occupation; they are angry at Russian sexism; and they are harnessing this anger to undermine and disrupt Russian oppressors. Mavka resistance fighters prepare laxatives to add to beer destined for Russian military There are many stories emerging from the war in Ukraine, but one is of increasing female agency across the nation. Just like here, during the two world wars, women across Ukraine are stepping up to do work once considered the exclusive preserve of men. They are doing everything from military roles to becoming drivers and fixers for journalists. And now they are on the frontlines of Ukraine's resistance to Russia. Fearless and defiant. 'This too shall pass.' So reads the silver ring Kevin Spacey has been wearing to court to stand trial for sexual assault which a jury today dismissed. With two Oscars for his performances in American Beauty and The Usual Suspects under his belt, the Hollywood star was at the peak of his powers when bombshell allegations of sex offences were levelled against him six years ago. His once-glittering career suddenly went into freefall, as he suffered the humiliation of being sacked from hit Netflix series House of Cards and being edited out of the Sir Ridley Scott film All The Money In The World, as well as vast financial losses. Yet he always remained confident that he could reverse his fortunes, once remarking in an interview: 'In ten years, it won't mean anything. My work will live longer than I will, and that's what will be remembered.' And today, a jury at Southwark Crown Court has cleared Spacey of offences involving grabbing, squeezing, and touching of four victims' genitals and buttocks over their clothing between 2005 to 2013, mostly during his time as Artistic Director at London's Old Vic theatre. Born in New Jersey, Spacey rose from being the son of an abusive father to become a legend of the silver screen whose back catalogue includes blockbusters Seven and LA Confidential. Spacey now faces the challenge of rebuilding his acting career. As for the Old Vic, it is unknown whether the star will be reinstated. Spacey (pictured leaving Southwark Crown Court today after the not guilty verdicts were announced) remained confident he could revive his acting reputation despite allegations against him He was first awarded the Academy Award for best supporting actor in 1996 for his role as Roger 'Verbal' Kint in the mystery thriller The Usual Suspects (above) Spacey poses with his Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in The Usual Suspects in 1996 (left). Right: Spacey posing with his Best Actor Oscar for American Beauty in 2000 The Hollywood star, 64, began his career on the stage before trying his hand at film and TV, with great success. During his time on Broadway he picked up a Tony Award in 1991 for best featured actor in a play for his performance as 'Uncle' Louie in Lost In Yonkers, and the best actor Olivier Award in 1999 for The Iceman Cometh. He was first awarded the Academy Award for best supporting actor in 1996 for his role as Roger 'Verbal' Kint in the mystery thriller The Usual Suspects. Kevin Spacey was sacked from House Of Cards and then suffered the humiliation of being edited out of the Sir Ridley Scott film All The Money In The World A few years later he picked up the coveted best actor Oscar in 2000 for the dark drama American Beauty, when he played Lester Burnham, an advertising executive who has a midlife crisis when he becomes infatuated with his teenage daughter's best friend, played by Mena Suvari. For his role as Frank Underwood in hit Netflix political drama series House Of Cards, he was awarded a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and was nominated for a series of Emmys. In 2017, following allegations of sexual misconduct against Spacey, streaming giant Netflix cut ties with the actor. The sixth and final season of the show was released in 2018 without his involvement. Born in New Jersey to Kathleen and Thomas Fowler, Spacey previously described his father as a 'white supremacist' and 'neo-Nazi'. During a court appearance in New York last October, the actor was asked if he has been private about his personal life during his career. 'I grew up in a very complicated family dynamic,' he said, saying rants by his father when he was young led him to hate bigotry and intolerance. 'My father was a white supremacist and neo-Nazi,' Spacey added. 'It meant that my siblings and I were forced to listen to hours and hours of my father lecturing us about his beliefs.' As allegations piled up and his acting roles came to a halt, the hit to Spacey financially was equally devastating. In crime thriller Seven, Spacey played a gruesome serial killer, who was tracked down by characters played by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman Kevin Spacey also starred as corrupt US police officer Jack Vincennes in LA Confidential (1997) Spacey starred as villain Lex Luthor in 2006 film Superman Returns Spacey as alien Prot in 2001 science fiction film K-Pax, which also starred Jeff Bridges Spacey as Larry Hooper in 2009 film The Men Who Stare at Goats. He is seen above with co-star George Clooney During his time as director of the Old Vic Theatre, Spacey starred in several plays, including Richard III in 2011 (above) His most famous recent role came in Neflix drama House of Cards, which charted villainous Frank Underwood's rise to the US Presidency His defence costs for the UK trial alone were put at more than 1m, a figure dwarfed by US legal fees. Even worse, two years ago an arbitrator ruled his alleged sexual misconduct amounted to a breach of contract and he was told to pay 25.5 million to the producers of House of Cards - a production from which he was sacked. Spacey lost an appeal to overturn the ruling last year, though whether or not he has handed over the cash remains unclear. When the court asked Spacey about his financial situation, he answered: 'I have got no money coming in and I have had a lot of legal bills and I have not paid it all off and I still owe money.' The actor sold his Los Angeles mansion for 8.5million shortly before the scandal broke. Spacey speaks to the media outside Southwark Crown Court today after being found not guilty of sexual assault The Old Vic Theatre in London, where Spacey served as artistic director He still owns a 2.5million penthouse flat in an exclusive London tower block overlooking the Houses of Parliament - where he stayed during the court case. As for the Old Vic, a London theatre that Spacey headed for 11 years, it is unknown whether the star will be reinstated. In 2017, when allegations against the actor emerged, the Old Vic said 'no complaints' or allegations were ever received about Spacey either during his tenor or since he left. It came after Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp claimed Spacey sexually assaulted him at his New York apartment in 1986 when he was 14 and Spacey was 26. At the time The Old Vic issued a longer statement which said: 'We are deeply dismayed to hear the allegations levied against Kevin Spacey, who was Artistic Director from 20042015. 'Inappropriate behaviour by anyone working at The Old Vic is completely unacceptable. 'We aim to foster a safe and supportive environment without prejudice, harassment or bullying of any sort, at any level.' Hunter Biden will plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges in federal court on Wednesday in a deal panned as a slap on the wrist for the president's scandal-hit son. He will admit his crimes to a judge at 10am in Wilmington, a city filled with Biden family history and in a courthouse named after a man his father defeated back in 1972. As part of the 'sweetheart deal' he is set to avoid jail and get probation for not paying taxes owed, and will have charges he lied on a gun form while addicted to drugs wiped. He could have faced up to 12 months in prison for the tax crimes and 10 years for the firearms charges. But the agreement that will likely see him avoid time behind bars has sparked fury from Republicans and been put in the spotlight by whistleblowers claiming he got preferential treatment during the five-year investigation. Hunter's attorneys are set to do all the talking, and he may only be heard when he gives his guilty plea. On Wednesday night, he flew alongside his 'sugar brother' and lawyer Kevin Morris in a private jet from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. Hunter Biden is set to plead guilty to two tax charges in federal court in his former hometown of Wilmington on Wednesday Overseeing the historic moment and the culmination of a years-long probe will be Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was at the center of drama on Tuesday night after she threatened Hunter's lawyers with sanctions. It was alleged that Hunter's lawyers sought to remove testimony from IRS whistleblowers about the Justice Department's lackluster criminal investigation into his tax offenses from the court docket. But Hunter's lawyers blamed allegations they conspired to a lie simply to an 'unfortunate misunderstanding'. Noreika is a Donald Trump appointee who advanced with the blessing of two Democratic senators, retiring Sen. Tom Carper and Sen. Chris Coons, who is a member of Biden's campaign 'national advisory board.' Adding to the intrigue is a clash over an effort by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Smith asking the court to toss Hunter's 'sweetheart' deal and his claim that Hunter's lawyer's firm made a misrepresentation to the clerk in order to remove testimony from the court docket. Hunter's lawyer denied the accusation. The drama has drawn the national media spotlight, and the Caleb Boggs Federal Courthouse is already planning an overflow room to accommodate the spike in interest. Boggs is the Republican Biden beat by 3,162 votes five decades ago although the two didn't end up as rivals. Biden called him a 'decent guy' at a fundraiser in January, in a contrast with the MAGA Republicans he regularly denounces, and who have organized inquiries into his son's business dealings. 'I won against a guy he was a decent man; he supported me the next time I ran. His name was J. Caleb Boggs. He was a mainstream Republican. He was one of the guys who was very deeply engaged in setting up the situation in terms of the affordable excuse me, the environmental legislation. He was a he was a decent guy,' Biden said. Meanwhile Biden has said little about his son's criminal case beyond insisting he is 'proud' of how he is turned his life around since the depths of drugs and sex addiction. Now, he is facing mounting questions about his involvement with his son's business deals. DailyMail.com breaks down what to expect during Hunter's first day in court: The courthouse where Biden will plead is named for the late Sen. Caleb Boggs, the Republican whom Biden defeated in 1972 Hunter will make plea in city filled with Biden milestones Hunter's appearance in court, which Republicans have blasted as a sweetheart deal, takes place just four blocks from the historic Hotel Dupont, where Biden launched his 1972 campaign. His humiliation comes in a city steeped in Biden lore and Biden remembrances. There is the Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Railroad Station, which is how Hunter will arrive should he be commuting from Washington, where he has frequently turned up at the White House even amid congressional probes. Should he chose to drive to keep a low profile, there is the Biden Welcome Center just off I-95. A Biden lawyer didn't respond questions about whether he would speak to the public after his plea. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wouldn't say if any family members would accompany the first son, though she noted the president would be in D.C. and the first lady is out of town in Paris. 'Im just not going to get into anything thats related to Hunter Biden,' she said Tuesday. 'Hes a private citizen.' Judge Maryellen Noreika will oversee the hearing and could overrule prosecutors' recommendations on sentencing Biden was the youngest senator when he was sworn in. His son Hunter, 48, is pleading guilty to tax charges and avoided a gun charge Biden has called Caleb Boggs, who died in 1993, a 'decent' Republican What will happen Wednesday? Will the judge follow prosecutors' recommendation of probation? Hunter Biden is expected to play a very small part in Wednesday's events. He must appear in person at the federal courthouse. Prosecutors will spell out exactly the charges to which he is pleading guilty. At one point, the judge will ask Hunter to enter his plea, making it part of the official record. But his lawyers will do most of the talking in court. He will have to satisfy the judge that he is making the plea willingly and that he is aware of the consequences of his decision, including giving up his right to a trial. This will likely consist of a series of yes or no questions. The main action will be watching to see whether the judge accepts the no-jail recommendation put forward by prosecutors, who have already negotiated with Hunter's lawyer in advance. She is likely to agree with prosecutors' recommendation of probation, but she could reject it. She also could give the defendant a tongue-lashing for his failure to pay should she choose. Hunter Biden's plea comes days before his friend Devon Archer is set to testify before Republicans in Congress probing his finances Pleading guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges for failure to pay in a 'sweetheart deal' - and gun charges getting wiped A document U.S. Attorney David Weiss filed with the court last month states that the criminal information charges the defendant with tax offenses 'namely two counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax,' as well as 'one count of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.' That came during a troubled time for Hunter Biden. Hallie Biden, the widow of his late brother Beau Biden, threw the weapon into a trash can behind a grocery store, Politico reported. She and Hunter were in a romantic relationship at the time. Hunter has acknowledged his struggles with drugs and alcohol during the period. Said Biden lawyer Christopher Clark: 'With the announcement of two agreements between my client, Hunter Biden, and the United States Attorneys Office for the District of Delaware, it is my understanding that the five-year investigation into Hunter is resolved.' The court pleading takes place in a city that will soon host Biden's reelection campaign, according to a senior White House official although to date his relatively small operation has been running out of Washington, D.C. It is also the same city where Hunter reportedly brought his infamous laptop for repairs in an event that continues to have reverberations, with Biden nemesis Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) just last week sharing blocked out nude images and accusing the president's son of trafficking women across state lines for prostitution. The judge is a Trump appointee who gave to Hillary during a failed Biden run Judge Noreika donated to Hillary Clinton in 2008, when Biden was among the longshot Democrats challenging the frontrunner. He also gave to the late Republican Sen. John McCain, a Joe Biden friend, and to the Democratic campaign arm in 2009. Senate Democrats helped push through the stimulus package and Obamacare after Barack Obama tapped Biden as his running mate. On the presidential level, she gave $1,000 to then-New York Sen. Hillary Clintons 2008 campaign for the Democratic nomination. She later donated $2,300 to the eventual 2008 Republican nominee, then-Arizona Sen. John McCain. She donated to the subsequent GOP nominee as well, giving $2,500 to Mitt Romneys presidential campaign in 2012. Noreika also financially supported Sen. Tom Cotton, a conservative Republican from Arkansas, during his campaign in 2014, when he unseated an incumbent Democratic senator. And she donated $1,000 to Pennsylvania GOP Sen. Rick Santorum in 2005. She also donated $1,000 in 2009 to the Senate Democrats campaign arm, the DSCC. Weiss, a holdover from the Trump administration who Biden kept on in a move meant to demonstrate his independence, has been overseeing the politically charged probe. Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday met AAP MP Sanjay Singh, who was suspended for the remainder of the Monsoon Session for 'unruly behaviour' in Parliament and told him "you have our full support". According to party sources, Sonia Gandhi after arriving in Parliament met Singh, who has been sitting in protest in the Parliament campus near the Mahatma Gandhi statue for the last two days. The source said that during the meeting, Sonia Gandhi told Singh that he has their full support. Singh was suspended on Monday for the remainder of the Monsoon Session as he entered into the Well of the House and was demanding for a detailed discussion on Manipur violence. Since Monday, he has been sitting in protest against his suspension in the Parliament premises. Several Opposition MPs of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) have been participating in the protest with Singh during the day and night. The Opposition MPs have been demanding for a detailed discussion on Manipur violence in both the Houses of Parliament and have also been demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue in Parliament. Kevin Spacey said he is 'humbled' after being dramatically cleared of sexually assaulting four men today following a high-profile trial in which Sir Elton John gave evidence in his defence. The double Oscar winner, who marks his 64th birthday today, was overcome with emotion when the jury at London's Southwark Crown Court returned not guilty verdicts on all counts. Spacey was accused of abusing his fame and power to carry out nine sex attacks on four men during his tenure as artistic director of the Old Vic theatre. But he insisted the claims were 'madness' and accused the claimants of 'lying for money'. On the steps of the court after the verdicts were delivered, the US actor thanked the jury, his legal team as well as his loyal manager and longtime friend Evan Lowenstein for standing by him. He said: 'I imagine that many of you can understand that there's a lot for me to process after what has just happened today. But I would like to say that I'm enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts, carefully, before they reached their decision. 'I am humbled by the outcome today. I also want to thank the staff inside this courthouse, the security, my legal team and Evan Lowenstein for being here every day.' The allegations not only shredded what had been a glittering showbiz career but also had major financial implications, with the star told to pay 25.5million to the producers of House of Cards after he was sacked. He has also been landed with at least 1million in defence fees and suffered the humiliation of being edited out of the Sir Ridley Scott film All The Money In The World. Earlier in the trial Spacey told the jury: 'I've lost everything.' Two of the men involved in the case are known to also be suing Spacey in the civil courts. But the verdict ends criminal proceedings against him, raising the prospect that he could soon return to screens after being shunned by Hollywood for the last six years. Speaking on the steps of the court after the verdicts were delivered, Kevin Spacey thanked the jury, his legal team and his loyal manager and longtime friend, Evan Lowenstein Kevin Spacey leaves Southwark Crown Court today after being cleared of all charges in his sex assault case A court sketch showing Spacey dabbing his eyes after the not guilty verdicts came through Following the not guilty verdicts, Spacey placed his hand on his chest, looked at the jury and mouthed 'thank you' twice before they left the room. Reacting to celebrations in the public gallery, Mr Justice Wall said: 'The members of the public gallery will stop reacting, or I will throw you out.' He commended the jurors, saying: 'Every case I have to do has its own difficulties. In your case this pressure came from the fact that this was a case attracting significant attention and you were like fish in a goldfish bowl.' Mr Justice Wall said Spacey was free to leave the dock, and after the jury had left the room, the star embraced his legal team and wiped tears from his eyes. Jurors rejected the prosecution's claims that Spacey had 'aggressively' grabbed three men by the crotch and had performed a sex act on another man while he was asleep in his flat. READ MORE - What now for Kevin Spacey as he's cleared of sex assault claims? Advertisement In one case, the court was told Spacey allegedly grabbed another man's crotch 'like a cobra' after meeting him at a West End theatre in the mid-2000s following an alleged 'barrage of vile comments'. Under questioning from Spacey's lawyer, Patrick Gibbs KC, the complainants all denied either seeking financial gain, attempting to further their career or giving false accounts to the jury. As perhaps the most high-profile victim of the MeToo Movement, Spacey had described how his 'world exploded' and he 'lost everything in a matter of days' in 2017 after being accused of making sexual advances to American actor Anthony Rapp when he was just 14. The allegation, which Spacey was later cleared of, led to an avalanche of claims from at least 30 men in America and Britain. A review at the Old Vic identified alleged inappropriate behaviour towards 20 men, but Spacey was never convicted of any criminal offence. After a five-year Scotland Yard investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service charged the House of Cards star with a series of sex attacks on four men between 2001 and 2013. But Spacey maintained his accusers were motivated by 'money, money and then money', with one accuser filing a claim for 500,000 in compensation. The jury of nine men and three women took 12 hours and 26 minutes to announce its verdict. Three alleged indecent assaults and four sexual assaults were dated between 2001 and 2004. The five further offences that were alleged against him range from between 2005 to 2013. Throughout the trial Spacey was sure of his innocence, repeatedly denying all the charges against him. Spacey was sacked from House Of Cards and then suffered the humiliation of being edited out of the Sir Ridley Scott film All The Money In The World His depiction of Frank Underwood in House of Cards, which won him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor Spacey poses with his award for Best Supporting Actor in The Usual Suspects in 1996 As allegations piled up and his acting roles came to a halt, the hit to Spacey financially was equally devastating. His defence costs for the UK trial alone were put at more than 1m, a figure dwarfed by US legal fees. Even worse, two years ago an arbitrator ruled his alleged sexual misconduct amounted to a breach of contract and he was told to pay 25.5million to the producers of House of Cards - a production from which he was sacked. Spacey lost an appeal to overturn the ruling last year, though whether or not he has handed over the cash remains unclear. When the court asked Spacey about his financial situation, he answered: 'I have got no money coming in and I have had a lot of legal bills and I have not paid it all off and I still owe money.' The actor sold his Los Angeles mansion for 8.5million shortly before the scandal broke. The actor on screen in The Usual Suspects, a neo-noir mystery film directed by Bryan Singer Spacey picked up the coveted best actor Oscar in 2000 for the dark drama American Beauty, when he played Lester Burnham He still owns a 2.5million penthouse flat in an exclusive London tower block overlooking the Houses of Parliament - where he stayed during the court case. As for the Old Vic, a London theatre that Spacey headed for 11 years - it is unknown whether the star will be reinstated. Before the controversy broke Spacey had an assistant, an agent, a publicist, a manager, a personal trainer and a bodyguard. In the wake of the scandal, his publicist Staci Wolfe quit working for him, as did his agents at CAA. Only Mr Lowenstein, appointed as his manager in 2016, remains. Spacey began his career on the stage before trying his hand at film and TV, with great success. During his time on Broadway he picked up a Tony Award in 1991 for best featured actor in a play for his performance as 'Uncle' Louie in Lost In Yonkers, and the best actor Olivier Award in 1999 for The Iceman Cometh. He was first awarded the Academy Award for best supporting actor in 1996 for his role as Roger 'Verbal' Kint in the mystery thriller The Usual Suspects. A court sketch showing Spacey looking at the jury after being found not guilty Spacey with his manager and longtime friend Evan Lowenstein (left), who he thanked today in a statement outside court A few years later he picked up the coveted best actor Oscar in 2000 for the dark drama American Beauty, when he played Lester Burnham, an advertising executive who has a midlife crisis when he becomes infatuated with his teenage daughter's best friend, played by Mena Suvari. However, he is arguably best known for his starring role as Francis 'Frank' Underwood in hit Netflix political drama series House Of Cards. He was awarded a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and was nominated for a series of Emmys. In 2017, following allegations of sexual misconduct against Spacey, streaming giant Netflix cut ties with the actor. The sixth and final season of the show was released in 2018 without his involvement. Spacey was also cut from Sir Ridley Scott's thriller All The Money In The World after filming had wrapped, with Christopher Plummer having to reshoot scenes at the last minute when he was brought in to replace him. Despite being found innocent, Spacey now faces an uphill battle to rebuild a career that was all but ended by the claims against him Born in New Jersey to Kathleen and Thomas Fowler, Spacey previously described his father as a 'white supremacist' and 'neo-Nazi'. During a court appearance in New York last October, the actor was asked if he has been private about his personal life during his career. 'I grew up in a very complicated family dynamic,' he said, saying rants by his father when he was young led him to hate bigotry and intolerance. 'My father was a white supremacist and neo-Nazi,' Spacey added. 'It meant that my siblings and I were forced to listen to hours and hours of my father lecturing us about his beliefs.' Budget online retailer Temu has sued rival Shein in the US, alleging the company violated anti-trust laws by strong-arming suppliers into exclusivity agreements. In recent years, the China-based e-commerce apps have surged in popularity with US shoppers, offering fast fashion, makeup and household goods at ultra-low prices. But both companies have accused the other of illegal conduct as they battle to gain American customers. Temu sued Shein in a Massachusetts federal court on July 14, accusing the company of locking over 8,000 companies into agreements and forcing Temu to pull 10,000 products from the site. Meanwhile in March, Shein, which was established in 2012, sued Temu in Illinois for copyright and trademark infringement. Temu is the number one free shopping app in both Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store, beating out e-commerce giant Amazon and well-established companies such as Walmart. But what is the online shopping megastore, and how are its products so cheap? In recent years, the China-based e-commerce apps have surged in popularity with US shoppers, offering fast fashion, makeup and household goods at ultra-low prices What is Temu? The Chinese-based company is an e-commerce app where you can find really low prices on a huge variety of products, from clothing to makeup, accessories, toys, home appliances, power tools and furniture. Like rival Shein, it is part of the fast-fashion world, where products are frequently replaced with new designs according to demand. Temu is owned by Pinduoduo Inc., a popular e-commerce site in China. It launched in the US in September 2022 with an advertising campaign which included a $45 billion Superbowl ad. How are Temu products so cheap? Suppliers to Temu hold almost no inventory, but rather generate thousands of new designs, produce small production runs and adapt styles depending on customer feedback - all on a razor-thin margin. This allows them to charge prices as low as $2 for sunglasses, or $3 for a T-shirt. The Chinese-based company is an e-commerce app where you can find really low prices on a huge variety of products, from clothing to makeup, accessories, toys, home appliances, power tools and furniture According to the US House Select Committee, Temu can make its products so cheap to US consumers because it operates under the de minimis loophole, which allows imported packages valued under $800 to evade import duties and taxes and receive less oversight from US customs. Temu says it keeps its products affordable by connecting customers directly to suppliers, while the company handles the shipping of items. This means the company does not own the products listed on its website, but rather acts as a liaison between shoppers and sellers. Does Temu ship to the US? The products are mostly manufactured in China, which means the company can keep prices very low for the consumer, and are then shipped to the US. This means it can take several weeks to receive the product after ordering - and the company says items are not expected to ship for seven to 15 business days. Temu is the number one free shopping app in both Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store Is Temu a legitimate site? The app has raised some suspicions among customers who question whether its ultra-low prices are indicative of a scam. In the past year, customers have filed nearly 600 complaints against Temu with the Better Business Bureau, according to Bloomberg, where it currently has a C-minus rating. While it is a legitimate site, US lawmakers have raised concerns over the labor practices at the company - and at rival Shein - accusing the firms of not fully complying with complying with bans on goods from China's Xinjiang region. A Congressional report released in June accused Temu of failing to maintain 'even the facade of a meaningful compliance program' that seeks to prevent goods made by forced labor from being sold on its platform. 'American consumers should know that there is an extremely high risk that Temu's supply chains are contaminated with forced labor,' the report said. New legislation would prevent discrimination by the White House The GOP lawmakers say Biden administration is the 'most pro-abortion White House in history' A group of GOP lawmakers are working to prevent the Biden administration from 'punishing' pro-life states who are not promoting access to abortion. Senator James Lankford (R-OK), who has called the Biden administration the 'most pro-abortion White House in history,' is leading the charge by introducing a new bill Wednesday. The legislation would prevent discrimination by the White House - which Republicans accuse of blocking millions in taxpayer-funded family planning grant money from going to pro-life states and their agencies. 'This bill stops HHS discrimination against states that value the life of every child and ensure access to high quality and affordable health care,' Lankford told DailyMail.com exclusively. The bill states that in awarding funding until Title X of the Public Health Service Act, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 'may not discriminate against eligible states, individuals, or other entities for refusing to counsel or refer for abortions.' HHS under the leadership of Sec. Xavier Becerra is violating his own stated goal to 'protect and strengthen equitable access to high quality and affordable health care,' says Lankford Lankford: 'The Biden Administrations obsession with increasing the number of abortions in America is so extreme they are willing to deny needy Oklahomans healthcare access unless Oklahoma agrees to promote abortion' Lankford's push in the Senate comes after Biden's HHS suspended $4.5 million from Oklahoma's Department of Health because the agency refused to refer residents for abortions. The senator said the state has an 'obligation' to abide by laws, and therefore it is 'absurd' that the administration would enact this punishment on Oklahoma's health department for following federal statute - which 'explicitly forbids' using federal funds to refer for abortions. Federal statute forbids Title X being used in programs where abortion is a method of family planning. Many Oklahomans, especially those in rural areas with limited access to affordable health care, rely on Oklahoma State Department of Healths family planning program, which is funded through Title X grant awards,' Lankford continued. 'But the Biden Administrations obsession with increasing the number of abortions in America is so extreme they are willing to deny needy Oklahomans healthcare access unless Oklahoma agrees to promote abortion.' The senator said the family planning program that receives the grant provides services such as cancer screening, pregnancy prevention, breast exams and depression screenings and referrals. Therefore, HHS under the leadership of Sec. Xavier Becerra is violating his own stated goal to 'protect and strengthen equitable access to high quality and affordable health care,' says Lankford. Sens. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., and Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., joined Lankford in supporting the legislation. Last week, the White House announced that President Biden will veto a defense bill passed by House Republicans if he is presented with it in large part due to its anti-abortion provisions. HHS Sec. Becerra shakes hands with President Joe Biden Sec. Xavier Becerra's department has a stated goal to 'protect and strengthen equitable access to high quality and affordable health care' Democrats have warned that the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will hurt military recruitment because it limits access to abortion for troops, restricts transgender care service and bans consideration of diversity issues. Republicans included several amendments on social issues as part of their effort to purge what they see as 'woke' policies from the armed services. That included an amendment from Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, to prohibit the Pentagon from helping to pay for travel for abortion services. In the Senate, Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville has prevented over 200 military promotions from moving forward as a means of protest over the Pentagon's abortion policy. Former Kentucky college student Rayanna Brock is being called the 'Queen of Chaos' after a string of at least 11 arrests - but questions remain as to who exactly she is. The 23-year-old has gained notoriety in recent weeks - thanks to a series of mugshot that laid bare her various arrests, the first of which occurred when she was just 18. The offenses range from shoplifting to terrorism - as well theft of a firearm in January 2023. Her latest mugshot - as they all do - shows her grinning widely after being cuffed in 2020 for making terror-related threats. Seemingly enjoying her time in the spotlight - as the smiles on the booking photos suggest the Kentucky native has been sharing reports covering her portfolio of mugshots over the past week. In interviews, she blamed the steady stream of arrests on a combination of drugs and her upbringing, during which she saw firsthand the horrors of homelessness, drug use, and her own parents' repeated arrests. Over time, her exploits saw her expelled from three different schools, and booked several times. Here's what we know thus far: Rayanna Brock, known as the Queen of Chaos, has revealed the context behind her 11 viral mugshots, including an expulsion from Eastern Kentucky University The 23-year-old has gained notoriety in recent weeks - thanks to a series of mugshot that laid bare her various arrests, the first of which occurred when she was just 18. Rayanna's latest mugshot, taken on January 16 this year following her arrest for theft of a firearm, is seen here Who is Rayanna Brock - and why is she in the news? Born in the Blue Grass State, Brock was raised by her grandparents in Stanford, and both of her parents are currently behind bars. In 2017, when she was 17, her life was further uprooted after her guardians died suddenly within months of each other. The development left Brock, then just a high schooler, on the streets, and forced to 'couch hop' in order to survive. She explained to The Messenger how the tenuous arrangement hurt her academically, and how she repeatedly miss school. 'Where I was living was so far that the buses didn't reach the house, and I didn't know where I was staying half the time,' she explained. Despite this, Rayanna was accepted into her first college - a private Christian university in Kentucky, Georgetown College - with help from her teachers. It was there that her shady track record began - with the then-teen quickly expelled after being caught with LSD. Rayanna's first mugshot was snapped on March 6 2018 in Boyle County KY, after she was arrested for wanton endangerment of a police officer, evading cops, and shoplifting Rayanna was pictured by police on January 7, 2019, after she was arrested in Fayette, KY, for violating the terms of her probation for the first offenses Her second mugshot came just hours later, at 1am on March 7 2018 in Boyle County, KY, seemingly for the same offenses as the day before Brocks mugshot from Sept. 16, 2020, for contempt of court and libel Rayanna was pictured September 16 2020 with greased back blond hair after being arrested for contempt of court/ libel - an image she described on Instagram as her 'favorite mugshot' Later that year, Brock experienced her first arrest - this time for wanton endangerment of a police officer, evading cops, and shoplifting items costing less than $500. The events would serve as pseudo catalysts for her behavior in the years to follow, which resulted in at least ten more arrests and two more expulsions. After that initial bust, Brock began collecting her mug shots, following arrests for offenses that range from more shoplifting to grand theft auto. That chronicle of 'chaos' appeared last week on a widely viewed Instagram reel- thrusting the easy on the eyes wrongdoer into internet stardom. The photos show her various grins after each arrest, with Brock - who goes by 'thequeenofchaos23' on TikTok - picking one of them as her 'favorites.' On Tuesday, as onlookers online continued to be captivated by a combination of her crimes and good looks, she opened up about her RAP sheet, and shared how she ended up with that many arrests in the span of just five years. Why was she arrested so many times? Speaking to DailyMail.com, Brock explained how her addiction to Xanax played a part in her repeated crimes - as well as the relaxed attitude she exuded in the mugshots that eventually ensued. 'I was on Xanax,' she said, mentioning her latest arrest involving the theft of a police car -before crashing it and returning it to her dormitory. 'Honestly, every time I've been to jail, its Xanax,' she added of the popular prescription drug, which is used to treat anxiety but is often abused. 'They just make me do crazy things. Like stealing troopers' hats and cars.' The Stanford native also explained how she was arrested after threatening to beat up her then-boyfriend's ex in July 0f 2020 - when she was charged with stalking and making terroristic threats. Brock is seen in a mugshot on March 9, 2021, after being charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and criminal mischief EIght days after her first December 2021 arrest - on the 15th - Brock's photograph was taken by police again with the note 'serving time' listed under her charges On November 26, 2021, Rayanna has her mugshot taken for failure to appear at a police station or courthouse as required under the conditions of previous arrests 'I was dating this guy for a long time... He ended up going to prison,' she recalled in a phone interview. 'The mother of his kid and I had been getting into it for months on end and I ended up threatening her. I can't even really remember what I said -I was on Xanax really bad at the time... I threatened to come to her house .. her parents' house. She continued: 'She ended up calling an EPO [Emergency Protection Order] out with me, ... So, yeah, a lot of people thought I was a terrorist, but it was really just me and this girl were into it. She clarified: 'I basically threatened to like fight her.' Brock also claimed it was her grandparents' deaths in 2017 that sent her on the downward spiral - which she said finished back in January, after another arrest for a firearm theft charge. She has since gotten sober, and blamed that slip-up - as well as others including the theft of a Kentucky trooper's hat and taser in December 2021 - on drugs. She added that her grandparents took her in as a child before her parents' arrests, and that they were a source of happiness for her amid an otherwise dismal upbringing. Her incarcerated parents, she said, had issues with drugs and are in and out of jail. 'I did not grow up rough with [my grandparents], but obviously I still tried to have a relationship with my mom and dad growing up,' she told DailyMail.com of what she believed spurred her questionable behavior. 'Anytime I was around them, I had to be my rough side.' In the years that followed, the legal troubles did not stop with her admission into Georgetown college in Kentucky; she was suspended after she was caught with LSD. She then was accepted to Western Kentucky University - but was kicked out for stealing around her dorm. In March of 2021, she was expelled from Eastern Kentucky University after she stole a car and parked it in front of her dorm. When the cops showed up, they found shrooms and weed in her dorm. The one-woman crime waves other offenses would also include 'wanton endangerment of a police officer,' stealing a firearm, and several more drug offenses. Has she been convicted, and what's her excuse for her behavior? After years of turbulent behavior, Rayanna now says she has turned her life around, telling DailyMail.com Tuesday she has found a support system in her boyfriend, stepfather and other friends. After blaming her run-ins with the law on a fatal cocktail of drugs, bad parenting, and post traumatic stress, she said she plans to return to school and will be telling her story on her now booming TikTok in the weeks to come. In regard to her litany of offenses - and any prevailing charges associated with them - she revealed Tuesday that despite her lengthy criminal past, Rayanna has been able to keep most of her record clean. Speaking to DailyMail.com, she claimed the only infraction she is still facing stems from a violation of her probation after her latest charge for a firearm theft. She added her addiction addiction intensified after she was kicked out of EKU, and that she spent 10 months doing meth and heroin while homeless. Now sober, she said she gets drug tested every month, and has done since that arrest January. After blaming her run-ins with the law on a fatal cocktail of drugs, bad parenting, and post traumatic stress, she said she plans to return to school and will be telling her story on her now booming TikTok in the weeks to come. A mugshot for allegedly disposing of a firearm on July 19, 2022, is seen here She aired her hopes to go back to school, and eventually serve her hometown community and help young adults who don't have a support circle avoid a fate like her own. 'I would really like to do something with youth counseling, mental health counseling,' Brock said, adding, 'My high school counselor really saved my life and helped me get into school. If it wasn't for her, I don't even know where I'd be now.' Now working as a waitress, she added of how she came to live a life of crime: 'A lot of people don't realize, but personally, in my town where I'm from, most everybody in this town is a drug addict. 'So these kids, you know, they're going to school and everyone just expects them to do well, Right? And that's great. But no one really cares about what they're doing.' After being expelled from Western Kentucky University and Eastern Kentucky University, she hopes to reenroll in another college in the fall. Top executives at JPMorgan Chase callously joked about Jeffrey Epstein's penchant for underage girls after keeping him as a client following his initial arrest, newly released emails reveal. Internal correspondence included in a lawsuit against the investment bank show the disgraced financier's taste for minors was so widely-known among staff, it became the butt of a running joke in company communications. In one email obtained by DailyMail.com, former chief executive Jes Staley casually quipped about Epstein's pedophilia with another executive while describing the wide age gap between couples in the audience of a recent concert he attended. 'Last night went to the Huggy Bear concert,' he wrote to Mary Erdoes on August 27, 2006. 'The age difference between husbands and wifes (sic) would have fit in well with Jeffery (sic). What a joke.' Emails obtained by DailyMail.com show former executive Jes Staley casually cracking jokes with colleagues about ex-client Jeffrey Epstein's taste for minors JPMorgan is suing 66-year-old Staley seen here with Epstein, former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers and Bill Gates to have him cover its losses in the victims' and US Virgin Islands cases. The picture was taken in 2011 after Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution from underage girls in 2008 In an August 2006 email, Staley referenced Epstein's pedophilia to describe the wide age gap between the 'husbands and wifes' in the crowd at a Huggy Bear concert Erdoes replied informing Staley that JPMorgan bankers were 'laughing about Jeffrey' and making 'lots of comparisons to JE'. Additional emails also show other JPMorgan executives making light of Epstein's sex abuse with one joking that the Union Club, a private member's club in New York, was like the financier's house only 'more tasteful and with fewer nymphettes'. Staley, 66, was chief executive of JPMorgan's exclusive private bank, which had retained Epstein as a client from 1998 until 2013. He became head of London-based Barclays bank in 2015 until he was forced out in 2021 over his links to Epstein. The email exchanges were released in court filings against the bank by the US Virgin Islands, where Epstein owned a private island and carried out much of his criminal activity. The US territory is suing JPMorgan for at least $190million, claiming it turned a blind eye to Epstein's sex trafficking and enabled it by allowing him and his co-conspirators to retain bank accounts. The bank denies the allegations, and a trial date has been set for October. JPMorgan is also separately suing Staley to have him cover its losses in the victims' and US Virgin Islands cases. Staley's email to Erdoes came two months after Epstein was first arrested by police in Palm Beach, Florida, for unlawful sex with minors. He would ultimately serve just 15 months in jail as part of a now infamous sweetheart plea deal. He was even allowed to work from home for six days a week during that sentence. The emails appear to show JPMorgan was so familiar with Epstein's eye for young girls that staff even cracked jokes about him hanging out with then-16-year-old Miley Cyrus. But the bank failed to cut ties with him because he was such a lucrative client. Paedophile Jeffrey Epstein (pictured in 2005) invited ex-Barclays Bank boss Jes Staley to meetings with top UK Government officials after he was released from jail for sex crimes, an internal investigation has revealed JPMorgan has attempted to to pin any blame on former executive Jes Staley, who had close ties with Epstein and once referred to their friendship as 'profound,' according to court filings JPMorgan countered that the US Virgin Islands itself was to blame for Epstein's sexual abuse of young women and teenage girls, saying the territory used its powers to enable these crimes The filing states that Epstein introduced Google founder Sergei Brin to the bank and that he was a source of 'many other ultra-wealthy clients and connections' for JPMorgan, including Bill Gates, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, the sultan of Dubai, and billionaire hedge funder Glenn Dubin, among others. The US Virgin Islands wants a judge to declare that JPMorgan participated in Epstein's sex trafficking and obstructed law enforcement. The bank meanwhile has countered that the USVI was also to blame for allowing Epstein's sexual abuse of young women and teenage girls, as officials looking out for their own interests made the territory 'a haven for Epstein's criminal activity.' Both sets of accusations were made in dueling Monday night filings in Manhattan federal court. The US Virgin Islands has already received more than $105million from Epstein's estate, and reached a settlement with billionaire Leon Black, a former Epstein friend. On Wednesday Bloomberg reported that Black who is accused of raping an autistic teenage girl at Epstein's townhouse in 2002 had paid Epstein $158million between 2012 and 2017 in a series of 'extraordinary' transactions that are now being scrutinized by the Senate Finance Committee. Investigators are probing whether or not Black owes taxes on the payments to the late pedophile, who killed himself in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Last month, JPMorgan agreed to pay $290million to settle a separate lawsuit by dozens of Epstein accusers. In a previous hearing in the case, lawyers for Epstein's victims claimed that Staley took part in the abuse claims he denies. On September 2, 2009, Epstein emailed an unknown person to state that 'jes staley is staying at the berkeley hotel in London tonight'. On June 16, 2010, Staley wrote to Epstein: 'Is she free tonight?' Epstein replied: 'Call me'. In an extract of a deposition that Staley gave for the case, he admitted knowing that Epstein had a massage room at his New York property and that he had been given a 'tour of the whole house'. The new court filings come as current JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has waged legal war against Staley The court filings were revealed as part of a case brought against Jeffrey Epstein (pictured in 2017) by the government of the US Virgin Islands, where he maintained a private island Staley was asked if he recalled 'promoting' Jamie Dimon, the current boss of JPMorgan to 'head up the Treasury Department', which appears to refer to recommending him to become Treasury Secretary. Staley said he was 'not aware of that'. Asked about an email which discussed getting Epstein an 'exemption to the felon policy', Staley said he wasn't sure what it was about. A February 2011 episode of Law & Order SVU which was obviously based on Epstein set off a panic at JPMorgan, the emails reveal. Executives became 'more anxious to get Jeffrey Epstein out of the bank', the emails show, with some asking for their concerns to be escalated. Other bankers were more blunt about Epstein and called him 'scum' and a 'known child sleaze', yet JPMorgan did not sever ties with him until 2013. Emails previously revealed as part of the case showed Staley making suggestive references to Disney princesses in messages to Epstein. Between 2008 and 2012, Staley exchanged around 1,200 emails with Epstein from his JPMorgan email account, it is claimed. These communications show a 'close personal relationship and 'profound' friendship between the two men including when Epstein was in jail. On November 1, 2009, while Epstein was serving his sentence, Staley emailed him while staying on Little St. James, his Caribbean island. He wrote: 'So when all hell breaks lose (sic), and the world is crumbling, I will come here, and be at peace. Epstein had owned two private islands within the US Virgin islands, including Little St. James (above) where he infamously brought many young women and girls 'Presently, I'm in the hot tub with a glass of white wine. This is an amazing place. Truly amazing. Next time, we're here together. I owe you much. And I deeply appreciate our friendship. I have few so profound'. On December 4, 2009, Staley told Epstein via email: 'I realise the danger in sending this email. But it was great to be able, today, to give you, in New York City, a long heartfelt, hug'. The next day, Epstein wrote to Staley: 'You were with Larry, and I had to put up with . . .' and attached a picture of a young woman, which is redacted in the court document. Staley responded: 'Don't tell me, a French wine', Epstein replied: 'Always thoughts of alcohol'. Among the other emails was one sent in July 2010 from Staley to Epstein. It read: 'Maybe they're tracking u? That was fun. Say hi to Snow White'. Epstein responded: '(W)hat character would you like next?' When Staley said 'Beauty and the Beast', Epstein replied: 'Well one side is available'. Staley's lawyer has previously said that his emails with Epstein were 'innocuous' and that they were not using 'code words'. His representatives have previously said he had no involvement in any of Epstein's crimes. At one point, the lawsuit's filer found out that 17 of 30 days in November 2021 were blocked off to her while Disney was still selling single day tickets The Magic Key holders argued that Disney's marketing of the most expensive ticket option said the $1,400 ticket has 'no blackout dates' Disneyland has settled a $5 million lawsuit by passholders who claimed they were deceived into thinking they would get unlimited park days Disney has settled a lawsuit with passholders who sued the company after alleging they had been deceived by the marketing of the Magic Key Disneyland pass. The Dream Key pass cost Jenale Nielsen of Santa Clara County, California $1,399 and was advertised as having no blackout dates at the time of purchase. In reality, when Nielsen tried to book a reservation for November 2021, she found that 17 days were completely unavailable, including every weekend date. She later filed a lawsuit after she and other Magic Key holders found single-day ticket purchasers were favored over them. In 2022, Disney World passholders also filed a lawsuit in Florida, made similar allegations against the conglomerate regarding ticketing and reservations. Disney has settled a lawsuit with passholders who sued the company after alleging they had been deceived by the marketing of the Magic Key Disneyland pass The Dream Key pass cost Jenale Nielsen, shown here, of Santa Clara County, California $1,399 and was advertised as having no blackout dates at the time of purchase According to local reports, the motion for court approval of the class action settlement will occur on August 31. It is currently unclear how much the plaintiffs will receive - and theme park blog Mice Chat reported that they should not 'expect to get rich'. In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, Disney officials said they are pleased the situation has been worked out among the parties. 'We are satisfied that this matter has been resolved,' Disney officials said. At the time of purchase, the Dream Key pass was the most expensive pass option. Nielsen and her attorneys argued that the language advertising 'no blackout dates' made the Santa Clara County woman believe she could visit the park whenever she wanted. It was only after she began doing more research that she noticed the unfair treatment of passholders compared to single-day tourists. 'As a frequent Disneyland visitor, Ms. Nielsen thought it was unlikely that all tickets and/or reservations for both Disneyland and California Adventure had already been sold for 17 of the 30 calendar days in November 2021,' the lawsuit said. When she went to buy a single-day ticket for the same days in November, she found reservations available for both Disney California Adventure and Disneyland. 'The problem was that Disney had decided to block out reservations so that they were only available to new purchases and not available to Dream Key pass holders,' court documents said. Disney has since discontinued the Dream Key and replaced it with the Inspire Key. The Inspire Key - now the park's most expensive annual pass - costs $1,599. The pass offers numerous perks including discounted food and merchandise, free parking, free PhotoPass pictures, and the ability to hold six reservations at a time. Magic Key passes - of which there are multiple tiers - began in August 2021 after the previous annual passport system was discontinued during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit out of California is eerily similar to one filed in 2022 by passholders at Disney World in Florida. In October, the pair claimed unfair treatment when it comes to their purchase. The suit, filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, was brought by the passholders who said the company is favoring single-day tickets. The lawsuit out of California is eerily similar to one filed in 2022 by passholders at Disney World in Florida. Pictured: Magic Kingdom in a file photo In that class-action suit, the filers shared their concerns with the reservation system which required both passholders and short-term ticketholders to claim a spot. 'Platinum Pass holders and Platinum Plus Pass holders cannot make reservations to go to a Disney theme park, even though there are single day passes available for purchase,' the lawsuit stated. In May, Disney officials announced that most of the park's single-day and multi-day reservation systems would be going away in 2024. Annual passholders will still have to make reservations to secure their spot. Corporate giants are abandoning their empty city offices with staff still nestled at home during working hours. In central Sydney the Commonwealth Bank plans to vacate its prestige office space in Darling Park Tower 1 and will also let go two floors of office space in Darling Square next year. Other imposing buildings that dominate the Sydney CBD skyline are increasingly being hollowed out. Westpac is relinquishing nine floors, or about 16,000sq m of space, at its Kent Street office, while KPMG and Lendlease have each handed back a whole floor each Barangaroo Tower 3. Grosvenor Place is about half empty while the Citigroup Centre and Australia Square building have 13 vacant floors between them. The Commonwealth Bank is moving out of its Darling Harbour offices located in central Sydney Real estate firm JLL says more than 14 per cent of Sydney CBD offices are vacant and in one part of Sydney, one in five central business district offices are empty. Social researcher Mark McCrindle said city centre offices in particular were more likely to stay empty as more professionals could continue working from home several days a week. 'It's the central CBDs of our cities where it's been harder to get the numbers back,' he told Daily Mail Australia earlier this month. 'Even at best, we'll end up with 80 per cent of the pre-Covid occupancy in our CBD offices.' The acres of empty space could lead to commercial rates dropping at a time when residential rents are skyrocketing. The story of empty city centres is being reflected in other capital cities such as Melbourne, where 16 per cent of office buildings are vacant. While working from home was a trend vastly accelerated by the Covid pandemic it has now become entrenched practice for many businesses and government agencies. Sydney's Grosvenor Place is about half empty as once office workers continue to stay home In a deal with their public service unions the federal government has agreed not to impose limits on the number of days its 176,000 employees can work from home. This is despite the federal government spending $1.54billion - or $9,459 per worker - on office rent every year, with many of those desks now empty all or most of the time. Federal government agencies are required to 'lean towards' approving WFH requests with a presumption they should be approved. They can only refuse after genuinely trying to reach agreement and there are reasonable business grounds not to approve. Workers can challenge a refusal in the Fair Work Commission. However, a backlash is growing from employers who believe that productivity is suffering. The Commonwealth Band recently ordered its 49,000 employees to return to the office for at least half their week. However, this created such an employee backlash that the Financial Services Union challenged the return-to-office order by formally asking the Fair Work Commission to side with employees. The emptying of city centres has had a devastating effect on small businesses set up to meet the needs of commuters. Barangaroo's Vessel restaurant has had to axe three-quarters of their staff since the pandemic broke out, down from 11 to just 4, with no hope of recovery Vicky Vardis of Barangaroo's Vessel restaurant has had to axe three-quarters of her staff since the pandemic broke out, down from 11 to just four, with no hope of recovery. She's also facing a double-whammy of rocketing food costs along with the dwindling customer base. 'We had to pay $240 for 10 kilos of green beans at the market this week,' she revealed. 'We used to pay $1 a kilo. 'I'm having to get the chefs to change all the recipes, so we don't actually lose money.' Shorter working weeks in the city are hurting revenue. 'People are only in the office from Tuesday to Thursday now - Mondays and Fridays are dead. It's hard. Really hard. Business is down 70 per cent,' she said. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre blamed stress for a series of biting incidents at the jowls of President Joe Biden's German Shepherd Commander. On Tuesday, emails obtained by Judicial Watch came to light that show Secret Service agents discussing 10 biting incidents - including Commander biting seven people in the last four months. Jean-Pierre laughed Tuesday afternoon when she was asked about the dog - and if he would be retired to live with family friends as Major, the Bidens' previous dog with a biting problem, did. 'As you all know, the White House complex can be unique and very stressful. That is something I'm sure you can all understand,' Jean-Pierre said giggling. 'It is unique and it is stressful for all of us. So you can imagine what it's like for a family pet or family pets, more broadly.' She added that the first family was 'working through ways to make the situation better for everyone' by repeating much of what was in a statement released by the East Wing. President Joe Biden with first dog Commander in the South Court Auditorium. Judicial Watch released emails from Secret Service agents detailing 10 biting incidents involving the dog Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre laughed when asked about Commander and said Tuesday afternoon: 'The White House complex can be unique and very stressful,' adding 'So you can imagine what it's like for a family pet?' 'I don't have any specifics on any changes to Commander's whereabouts,' Jean-Pierre also said. Earlier, the first lady's communications director Elizabeth Alexander had also called the White House a 'unique' and 'stressful environment.' She said the first family has been 'partnering with the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff on additional leashing protocols and training, as well as establishing designated areas for Commander to run and exercise.' 'According to the Secret Service, each incident referenced was treated similarly to comparable workplace injuries, with relevant notifications and reporting procedures followed,' she added. 'The President and First Lady are incredibly grateful to the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff for all they do to keep them, their family, and the country safe,' she said. One agent was sent to a local hospital after the 22-month-old Commander bit them on the arm and leg, and one was attacked when Biden let him off his leash. The agent also had to use a steel shield to fend him off from another attack. Officers called the dog 'freaking crazy,' argued he would have been 'put down' if he didn't belong to the Bidens and said he needed a muzzle. On November 10, 2022, Jill Biden 'couldn't regain control' of Commander as the dog charged another member of the Secret Service. The same month, the German Shepherd clamped down on an agent's arm, resulting in him needing to seek medical treatment. Other scary incidents detailed in the emails were when Commander was off of his leash roaming the White House grounds. The Bidens welcomed Commander to the executive residence as a puppy in December 2021. He was a birthday gift to President Biden from his brother James and sister-in-law Sara. Revelations of the German Shepherd's behavior issues and aggression isn't the first time a White House pet has sparked safety concerns. Another one of the Bidens' German Shepherds, Major, who also bit staff and Secret Service agents, was moved out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 2021 and re-homed with 'family friends'. Major made history as the first rescue dog to make it to the White House as a first pet. A November 10, 2022 incident report from a USSS White House Division Officer notes that Commander 'bit me on my left thigh and then ran back toward the First Lady.' 'I went to the White House Medical Unit to get the injury examined by a professional,' they added in the redacted email obtained by JW. 'I am currently experiencing bruising, tenderness, and pain in the bite area.' According to another email sent on November 3, 2022, a Secret Service agent wrote to colleagues: 'Commander bite [sic] UD [Uniform Division] officer [redacted] at post [redacted] two times, one time in the upper right arm and a second bite on the officer's thigh. WH [White House] medical treated the officer and made the decision to have [redacted] transported to [redacted] Hospital'. Later that day, a Uniform Division captain said Commander was up to date on all its vaccines. The next day another email elaborated on what happened: 'Officer [redacted] advised that 'Commander' came down the stairs and walked toward [redacted]. 'Officer [redacted] advised [redacted] was sitting with [redacted] arms crossed and Commander bite [sic] [redacted] arm (tricep area) then when [redacted] stood up Commander bite [sic] in the leg (quad area). 'Officer [redacted] stated that the usher did not control the dog and was telling Officer [redacted] to not back up. 'Officer [redacted] advised that Commander came after [redacted] again and [redacted] had to use a steel cart to sheild [sic] [redacted] self from another attack. Officer [redacted] advised [redacted] was in a considerable amount of pain.' The agent was then put on restricted duty for three days on advice from doctors. The White House is now giving Biden's younger dog extra training after being involved in 10 White House and Delaware attacks in recent months Biden has now had three German Shepherds as first pets during his presidency. Champ, whom Biden is petting above, passed in June 2021. Major (on left) also bit staff and Secret Service agents and re-homed with 'family friends' in 2021. The Bidens then adopted Commander, another German Shepherd A Uniformed Division officer then emailed the attack victim on November 5, 2022, to ask how he was doing and called Commander 'stupid'. 'Doing alright [redacted]? That's freaking crazy that stupid dog rolling my eyes [redacted].' The victim replies: 'My leg and arm still hurts. He bit me twice and ran at me twice.' One month later, an officer with the Uniformed Division sent an email with the subject line: 'Matters of Extreme Concern,' and noted that the group of those attacked or feeling threatened by Commander needed to 'address the issue ASAP collectively.' In October 2022, a Uniformed Division officer wrote to colleagues: 'Commander has been exhibiting extremely aggressive behavior. 'Today, while posted, he came charging at me. The First Lady couldn't regain control of commander [sic] and he continued to circle me. I believe it's only a matter of time before an agent/officer is attacked or bit.' He would have bit me today if I didn't step towards him a couple different times. It was bad enough that the agent on the detail asked if I got bit just so you're aware. The colleague says: 'What a joke [redacted] if it wasn't their dog he would already have been put down freaking clown needs a muzzle hope you get to feeling better [redacted].' Then on December 11, 2022, a Secret Service Special Agent in the Presidential Protective Division was attacked after Biden apparently let the dog off the leash. 'The injuries included a bite to the left forearm resulting in bruising and approximately a 1 cm cut and a bite to the right hand on the thumb resulting a 1 cm cut. I received treatment from White House Medical from LTC [redacted]. The injuries were [redacted] and I returned to work the rest of my shift.' The first couple welcomed Commander to the White House as a puppy in December 2021 Anthony Guglielmi, Secret Service chief of communications, told DailyMail.com: 'For the past several Presidential administrations, the Secret Services has navigated how to best operate around family pets and these incidents are no exception. 'We take the safety and wellbeing of our employees extremely seriously. Agency employees are encouraged to report any job-related injuries to their immediate supervisors for appropriate documentation. As such, we are aware of past incidents involving first-family pets. These instances were treated similarly to comparable workplace injuries, including relevant notifications and reporting procedures followed.' 'While special agents and officers neither care for nor handle the first family's pets, we continuously work with all applicable entities to minimize adverse impacts in an environment that includes pets.' This is the terrifying moment a mass brawl erupted on the streets of a Spanish strip dubbed 'Sin Street'. Footage shows revellers violently smashing chairs over each other's heads and launching bottles and other missiles across the street in the coastal town of Sitges, Catalonia. The shocking street fight took place on Primer de Maig Street - one of the town's main nightlife strips - in the early hours of Sunday morning. The street is widely dubbed 'Pecat' - or 'Sin Street' - and is a popular destination at night for holidaymakers including Brits. The horrifying scenes reportedly stemmed from a fight between a bouncer at one of the venues and a passerby - but it quickly escalated into a massive altercation involving around 30 to 40 people. This is the terrifying moment a mass brawl erupted on the streets of a Spanish road dubbed 'Sin Street' in recognition of its wild nightlife Footage shows revellers violently smashing chairs over each other's heads and launching bottles and other missiles across the street in the coastal town of Sitges, Catalonia The footage shows brawlers striking each other with chairs, tables, glass bottles, stools, and metal bars. It also shows how Catalan police officers, known as Mossos d'Esquadra, and local cops were powerless to break up the fight or make arrests. During the mass fight, two Mossos d'Esquadra suffered dislocated joints, while a local cop received cuts from being hit by a flying glass bottle. No arrests were made and no suspects have been identified, as those involved in the melee quickly dispersed from the scene. Paramedics who tended to some of the wounded - including the local police officer - said all the injuries they treated were minor. The Mossos d'Esquadra is now investigating the incident, which was not the only drama in Catalonia that night. Another scuffle that took place in Salou, another town popular with Brits, saw several youths attack bouncers with glass bottles outside the Kiss nightclub. The attack began when the young people tried to get into the club without paying the entry fee and the bouncers noticed and tried to turn them away. The footage shows brawlers striking each other with chairs, tables, glass bottles, stools, and metal bars Catalan police officers, known as Mossos d'Esquadra, and local cops were powerless to break up the fight or make arrests Despite the police presence, revellers continued to attack one another in ugly scenes in the early hours of Sunday morning Sitges (pictured) is a town near Barcelona in Catalonia. It is famous for its beaches and wild nightlife However, instead of leaving, the teenagers tried to force entry by throwing glass bottles at the bouncers, with the staff immediately retaliating. The suspects started running as soon as they spotted the police arriving on the scene. One - an 18-year-old - was arrested and taken to hospital with an injury to his face, while the others managed to escape. He is accused of resisting and disobeying an authority figure. Sitges is regarded as one of Spain's favourite resort destinations and is just over 20 miles away from Barcelona. It's known for its scenic beaches, vibrant nightlife and has often been described as the Saint-Tropez of Spain. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday paid tributes to the soldiers who fought the 1999 war with Pakistan on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas. In a tweet, the President said, "Today, on the glorious occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, all the countrymen remember the victory achieved by the extraordinary valor of our armed forces. On behalf of a grateful nation, I pay tribute and bow to the memory of the fighters who paved the way for victory by sacrificing their lives to protect the country. Their heroic stories will always inspire generations to come. Jai Hind." The Prime Minister in a tweet said, " Kargil Vijay Diwas brings to the fore the heroic saga of those wonderful bravehearts of India, who will always remain an inspiration for the countrymen. On this special day, I bow down and salute him from the bottom of my heart. Jai Hind." While remembering the soldiers, Shah said, " Kargil Vijay Diwas is the day of victory for the honor of crores of countrymen. It is a day to pay tribute to all the mighty warriors who defended every inch of their motherland with their sky high spirits and steely determination like a mountain. With their sacrifice, the brave soldiers of India not only kept the pride and glory of their motherland, but also kept their traditions of winning alive. "On behalf of the grateful nation, I salute your dedication to keep the integrity of the country intact by hoisting the tricolor proudly again on the inaccessible hills of Kargil," Shah added. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday paid tributes to the soldiers who fought the 1999 war with Pakistan, on the occasion of 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas. In a tweet, Kharge, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said, "Greetings to the valiant soldiers of our Armed Forces, their families and to all the fellow Indians on Kargil Vijay Diwas. Salutations to the martyrdom of our bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice defending our motherland in the Kargil War. We are proud of them. Their unflinching courage and valour shall inspire generations. Jai Hind." Recalling the supreme sacrifices made by the soldiers, Gandhi tweeted in Hindi, "Salute to all the brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice protecting India's border on Kargil Vijay Diwas. The country will always remain indebted to them. Jai Hind." Several programmes are being held across the country to mark the day. Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on July 26 to commemorate the war that was fought between May 1999, and July 26, 1999, against Pakistan intruders, who in the winters of 1998 had entered the Indian territory across the Line of Control and occupied fortified defences overlooking the NH 1A in Kargil's Drass and Batalik Sectors of Ladakh region with an aim of dominating all military and civil movements. A council litter warden has been slammed for following an 87-year-old woman with a walking frame before pouncing and fining her 150 the second she dropped her cigarette butt. CCTV footage reveals the 'jobsworth' enforcement officer appearing to spy on Bertha Quinn while standing by a tree in Romford, East London. He then approaches the elderly woman to tell her she dropped the butt. It comes as councils issued a record number of on-the-spot fines last year after banning everything from feeding birds to climbing trees, a recent report found. The video, which was posted on TikTok, caused fury as Ms Quinn was not given a chance to pick up the litter before she was landed with the penalty notice. Four more council workers were spotted nearby in the area at around 10:45am on Monday, according to The Sun. CCTV footage reveals a 'jobsworth' enforcement officer (left) appearing to spy on Bertha Quinn (centre in the grey coat) while standing by a tree in Romford, East London Meanwhile outraged locals defended the 87-year-old, arguing she may have been physically incapable of picking up the butt. One person wrote on TikTok: 'Preying on the vulnerable.' Another said: 'I'm disgusted.' The council has a zero-tolerance policy to littering, according to officers. Auctioneer Mick Tomlin, 73, who filmed the incident, said: 'We see this lady walk past every day. 'She's a lovely customer and had come in to buy a second-hand pair of slippers. 'I don't believe she intended to litter but was targeted and followed by officers hoping to catch her out. 'Maybe instead of paying five employees to spy on people, the council should solve the problem by putting that money towards fixing the lack of bins here.' Ms Quinn was informed that the fine would be reduced to 125 for early payment, but she did not have enough money. 'She actually got a bit wobbly on her feet thinking about having to pay all that money. It was really upsetting,' said Mr Tomlin, who put a video of the incident on TikTok. Romford MP Andrew Rosindell said he was horrified by the footage, according to The Sun. He then approaches the elderly woman to tell her she has dropped her cigarette butt He still has faith the public will vote Yes Anthony Albanese has shot down calls to postpone the referendum for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament in order build more support. The Prime Minister said that he still has faith Australians will support his proposal when they vote on a referendum to enshrine an Indigenous advisory body to Parliament in the constitution in the final quarter of 2023. 'If not now, when? (That's) the question to be asked,' Mr Albanese reportedly told a Sky News documentary about The Voice. Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg, who is in favour of a Voice, is among Yes supporters who urged the PM to delay a referendum because he 'fears the process has not yielded enough consensus to garner a Yes vote'. 'There is a problem with the product, and I don't think marketing can probably fix it,' he said last week. The Prime Minister still has faith the Australian public will support his proposal when they go to the polls Mr Bragg told Radio 2GB's Ben Fordham he is concerned about the implications of a defeated attempt at reconciliation. 'I think it would be worth considering recalibrating at this stage to save the concept and deliver a successful referendum,' he said. 'I don't think there is enough centre ground to sustain it.' Critics have also suggested the PM split his proposal into two parts - a referendum for constitutional recognition and a legislated Voice to Parliament. Doing so would all but guarantee bipartisan support and is considered a 'safer' option among conservative voters and politicians, but Mr Albanese said it would be an insult to the Uluru Statement from the Heart. 'The First Nations Constitutional Convention came together at Uluru in 2017, after an extensive process, going back five years of consultation and thousands of meetings,' he said. 'This is the form of recognition that we want. We don't just want symbolism, which is important. We want something more than that. We want a recognition in a way that gives us a voice, that enables us to move forward, that enables us to have that practical change to close the gap. Polling shows support is slipping for the Voice across Australia 'And to my mind, if people say, "I want you to recognise me in this particular way", it would be somewhat contradictory to say, "Yes, we'll recognise you, but we'll do it in the way that we want, not the way that you've asked for".' Mr Albanese has repeatedly described the Voice is a 'modest' proposal which will bring Australia closer together. But critics have suggested it will 'reracialise' Australia and divide the nation. READ MORE: Jacinta Price breaks down in tears as she reveals the sickening violence her family has suffered because of her opposition to The Voice Extreme heatwaves and icy winters could become increasingly common due to climate change, experts have warned. Temperatures of up to 48C have swept across Europe, sparking devastating wildfires in popular Greek tourist destinations. Researchers believe temperatures of over 40C, seen for the first time in the UK last year, will become increasingly common unless greenhouse gas emissions are curtailed. World Weather Attribution, a group of scientists from the UK and the Netherlands, said heatwaves will become more severe and frequent until we stop burning fossil fuels. Its research revealed that without human-induced climate change, the heatwave in southern Europe would have been statistically impossible. Rhodes burns for a seventh day. A weeklong wildfire on the Greek resort island has sparked mass evacuations with thousand of Brits abroad - but some are still attempting to get there An aerial view shows the rubble and destruction in a residential area following a large blaze the previous day, on July 20, 2022 in Wennington, Greater London as temperatures hit 40C The group added that heatwaves are now expected once every 15 years in the US and Mexico, once every ten years in southern Europe and once every five years in China. READ MORE: Shocking before and after pictures show scale of destruction in Rhodes after wildfires ripped through luxury hotels, shops and homes in packed Greek island Advertisement Liz Stephens, a climate professor at the University of Reading, said: 'The temperatures recorded during the recent heatwave across southern Europe would have been impossible without climate change. 'This extreme weather in Southern Europe is not the "new normal". Heatwaves will get over 1 degree hotter again within 30 years even if the goals of the Paris Agreement are met.' The warning comes ahead of a major Met Office report on the state of the UK's climate later this week. Meanwhile extreme heat continues to sweep across Europe, North America, North Africa and Asia, causing devastating wildfires in Greece. June was the world's hottest month on record, while China experienced its hottest day ever at 52.2C. Figures released today from the Office for National Statistics suggest the UK's residence-based greenhouse gas emissions actually fell 1.4 per cent during the first quarter of this year compared to 2022. Dr Candice Howarth of the London School of Economics said the UK is not prepared for extreme heat, adding that local authorities, emergency services and utility companies 'only just managed' during the record temperatures last year. While climate change is most commonly associated with extremely hot temperatures, a landmark study also suggests that a change in ocean currents could see Europe plunged into an icy freeze. The study, published in Nature Communications, warned an Atlantic Ocean current that brings warmth north from the tropics could collapse 'any time' from 2025. Her tax was calculated in a fair way An expert has poured cold water on the complaint of a woman who took to social media to lament the ATO asking her for an additional $13,000 in tax when she had hoped for a rebate. Harry Dell, a tax lawyer from Sydney, slammed the lack of awareness around taxes in a response to Marina Askew-Panetta, a group sales manager from the Gold Coast. Ms Askew-Panetta was distraught after discovering that after paying $48,000 in taxes over the last fiscal year, she owed another large chunk that she likened to a sour Christmas present. Mr Dell broke down exactly why it was fair for the government to ask her to pay the same rates as everybody else. Working on what little details were available to him, Mr Dell first estimated Ms Askew-Panetta likely annual income, depending on student loans. Marina Askew-Panetta discovered that after paying $48,000 in taxes over the last fiscal year, she owed another $13,000 - which she likened to a sour Christmas present Harry Dell, a tax lawyer from Sydney, broke down exactly why it was fair for the government to ask her to pay the same rates as everybody else Ms Askew-Panetta took to the internet asking for help to understand the disparity between her understanding and what lay before her on the ATO website. 'Can someone please explain to me how I've paid $48,000 in tax, and apparently I [still] owe them $13,034.95,' she said in a video uploaded to TikTok. 'Merry f****** Christmas babe, Im f****** shaking.' Mr Dell was happy to answer the call and explained that based on her tax bracket, and whether she had told her employer about potential HECS debts, it made sense. 'So, I wake up and I see this rubbish and now I have to make a video about basic maths,' Mr Dell said in his response. Mr Dell broke down the estimates of her salary based on the tax she had already paid and what she still owed. Based on whether she was repaying student loans such as a HELP loan or a HECS debt, her pay cheque would likely fall around $160,000 with repayments, or $195,000 without repayments. The effective tax brackets for repayments on a HELP loan landed at 39 per cent, and without was 32 per cent. 'Is this fair? Everyone else on that income has to pay the same amount,' Mr Dell said. Mr Dell did however give Ms Askew-Panetta the benefit of the doubt concerning HECS debts. He explained that if she had failed to tell her employer about repayments for that then she would have owed roughly $16,000 less in taxes, which were withheld on her commissions. In the end Mr Dell closed out with an offer to help Ms Askew-Panetta file her tax returns with full comprehension. 'I'm happy to have a look at her tax return and tell her how the tax return works for her and what her problem likely was,' he said. Working with what little details were available to him, Mr Dell worked out that Ms Askew-Panetta likely earned between $160,000 to $195,000, depending on student loans Those in the comments shared Mr Dell's argument about people paying their fair share when it comes to tax time. 'The amount of people who dont understand how PAYG [pay as you go] works at tax time is astounding,' one person said. 'Youre not stitched up. Its called tax. Because you earn a lot,' another added. The confusion around HELP loans and HECS debts is a problem for a lot of fresh graduates upon joining the workforce. Employees must tell their employers about any student debts so that they can take a certain amount of income in order to meet repayment obligations. These sums are held by employers until tax time in a PAYG system, which are then paid in bulk without the need for employees to worry about them. Withholding these amounts is a way to avoid people being unnecessarily pushed into higher tax brackets because of their seemingly higher earnings, Mr Dell mentioned. Ms Askew-Panetta now has until November 21 to repay the $13,000 to the ATO before they start charging her interest on the debt. Plans to ban gas boilers will impose costs on families, Michael Gove admitted yesterday, as he hinted at a rethink. The Housing Secretary said he would provide breathing space for landlords, who face having to upgrade the energy performance of their properties by 2025 under current rules. And he suggested there could be a wider rethink of plans to phase out gas boilers in favour of costly heat pumps. Under current proposals, the installation of new gas boilers will be outlawed from 2035, forcing households to replace their heating systems. Gas boilers will be banned in all new build properties from 2025, despite mounting concern about their cost. Minister for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove (pictured), has said he will give landlords 'breathing space' on gas boilers policy Mr Gove yesterday said this was one area that I do think that we need to review. Landlords are due to be required to upgrade the energy efficiency of their properties from a minimum of Band E to Band C by 2025 for all new lets, prompting warnings that many may remove them from the market altogether. Energy Secretary Grant Shapps warned this month that the dream of simply replacing gas boilers with alternatives powered by hydrogen was unlikely to work leaving heat pumps as the main alternative. READ MORE: Lord Frost claims climate change could be beneficial for Britain Advertisement Asked whether the ban on gas boilers would place excessive costs on households, Mr Gove told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: It is certainly the case that phasing out gas boilers and moving, at the moment, towards heat pumps, does impose costs. We are looking at how we can mitigate the impact on individuals. There are different ways to decarbonise heating in peoples homes. There is a particular pressure on the private rented sector - they have to move faster than others to meet energy efficiency standards. I think we are asking a little too much of them and we will therefore give them a greater degree of breathing space. Rishi Sunak ducked questions this week about whether he remains committed to the timetable for phasing out gas boilers. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (pictured) has signalled a shift in the government's approach Signalling a shift in the governments approach yesterday, the Prime Minister said that in future the UKs Net Zero ambitions would be pursued in a proportionate and pragmatic way that doesnt unnecessarily give people more hassle and more costs in their lives. Downing Street later said the 2035 target remained in place. But ministers are concerned that the high cost and unpopularity of heat pumps will make the target unworkable. Last year, just 55,000 heat pumps were sold in the UK. At the current rate it would take more than 400 years to replace the UKs stock of 23 million gas boilers. A cafe owner fed up with the youth crime crisis has blasted Annastacia Palaszczuk - issuing an extraordinary call for her to 'grow a set -' in a furious rant on live TV which left Sunrise hosts stunned. Tribe Coffee Co owner Mark Hardingham unleashed on the Queensland Premier on Wednesday morning after his Brisbane-based coffee cart business was targeted by young thieves for the third time in 12 months. It was one of several businesses targeted by a group of armed teenage thieves driving around in an allegedly stolen Audi across the state's south-east on Sunday. Dubbed as the 'part-time premier', Ms Palaszczuk was spotted south of the Tweed River border on the weekend attending the Splendour in the Grass festival in Byron Bay as her state faces a youth crime and costs of living crisis. Mr Hardingham didn't hold back when asked by Sunrises hosts Matt Shirvington and Natalie Barr if he had a message for Ms Palaszczuk. The business owner urged Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) to 'stop gallivanting around' 'Toughen up! Stop gallivanting around, around the world and telling everyone how good you are,' he fumed. 'And actually grow a set and look in your own backyard. It's not just in this area, it's right up the coast. 'You know, you hear of it happening in Townsville, you hear it happening in other cities.' Mr Hardingham pleaded for Ms Palaszczuk to intervene before it's too late. 'She needs to knuckle down and grow a set and actually do something about it because it's gonna get to the point where someone's gonna get hurt, physically hurt and yeah, you know we obviously we don't want it to get to that point,' his rant continued. 'No one, no one wants it to get to that point. So she needs to do something now. 'Crack down on it now before it gets all that happens and before something worse happens.' Tribe Coffee Co owner Mark Hardingham (right) didn't hold back on his feelings about the Queensland Premier, leaving Matt Shirvington (left) stunned by the on-air rant Sunrise co-host Nat Barr described the business owner's rant as 'tough words' for the Premier Shirvington appeared to look stunned by the on-air rant and extended an invitation to the Premier to appear on the show and respond to Mr Ingram's comments. Barr added: 'Tough words from Mark there, weren't there?' Mr Hardingham's cafe business had been targeted by thieves three times in the last year. The most recent incident was captured on CCTV on Sunday morning when a female worker was allegedly threatened at gunpoint and had her handbag stolen while opening up a coffee cart at Ascot in Brisbane. Two teens have since been charged. Mr Hardingham said the female worker is still shaken by the incident three days later and is yet to return to work. He added the crisis has reached a point where it's now beyond a joke. 'As a small business owner, as any small business can confirm, it's hard enough to get staff. It's hard enough at the moment with cost of goods going up and all this stuff going on in the background,' he said. 'It's not helping, mate she needs to step up and do something about it.' The Simpsons has built up a reputation for predicting the future - and the dramatic rebranding of Twitter could be yet another event the hit show has got right. Billionaire Elon Musk, 52, revealed the latest shake-up to the social media platform in a series of tweets last week after purchasing the company in 2022. The famous blue bird logo has been replaced with an X and the X.com domain now directs users to the Twitter website. But over a decade ago, a 2012 episode of the The Simpsons shows Homer using an app that resembles the new logo. The scene has now gone viral on social media after eagle-eyed fans spotted it and were left in disbelief. The Simpsons has built up a reputation for correctly predicting the future and the dramatic rebranding of Twitter could be another event the hit show has gotten right A 2012 episode of The Simpsons shows Homer using an app that resembles the new logo. The scene went viral on social media after eagle-eyed fans spotted it Billionaire Elon Musk, 52, revealed the changes in a series of tweets last week and it is the latest shake-up to the social media platform since he purchased it last year It aired nine years ago in the episode 'Ned n Ednas Blend Agenda' and the plot is based on Ned Flanders secret marriage to Edna Krabappel. Homer is seen scrolling through his smartphone and there is an app on the home screen which looks extremely similar to Twitter's new X logo. There were some photoshopped versions which appeared to show the X logo but these are fake and it was pointed out by fact-checking website Snopes. The Simpsons is well known for predicting a number of events including the coronavirus pandemic and Donald Trump's presidency. It has run for 33 years and touched on a wide range of topics over its 750 episodes which makes seem like it has covered absolutely everything. Musk's affinity for the letter X in both his professional and personal life has been growing for 25 years, though he has rarely ever given a reason. Now one of the largest social media apps is known by the singular letter that has long been a Musk obsession. 'Looking forward to working with Linda to transform this platform into X, the everything app,' Musk recently wrote on Twitter, referencing new CEO Linda Yaccarino. He renamed Twitter as X on Monday and unveiled a new logo for the social media platform, a stylized black-and-white version of the letter. Cops were briefly called to Twitter's San Francisco HQ on Monday after a worker began tearing down letters from the building's iconic sign a day after Elon Musk rebranded the platform to 'X'. Musk has explained his reasoning for the dramatic rebrand of Twitter, telling users he plans to turn the social network and messaging application into an 'everything app'. The billionaire said it was time to 'bid adieu' to the old logo, and told a user on his platform: 'Twitter was acquired by X Corp both to ensure freedom of speech and as an accelerant for X, the everything app.' Promising that the Twitter rebrand will be more than just a logo change, but a complete overhaul of the app, he added: 'This is not simply a company renaming itself but doing the same thing.' Musk is promising to turn it into a one-stop-shop for social media and financial services - which he says means the old name no longer makes sense. The famous blue bird logo has been replaced with an X and the X.com domain now directs users to the Twitter website A worker is seen removing the letters from the Twitter sign that is is posted outside the company's headquarters in San Francisco on Monday Cops were briefly called to Twitter's San Francisco HQ after a worker began tearing down letters from the building's iconic sign a day after Musk's announcement One of Musk's first ventures was known as X.com, first launched by Musk as an online banking and financial services platform in 1999. A year later, he was forced to step down from his role as CEO of the firm. 'Everyone tried to talk him out of naming the company that back then because of the sexual innuendos, but he really liked it and stuck with it,' said Ashlee Vance, the author of Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future, about the X.com domain, according to NPR. Three years later, he made $165 million when the site, by then merged with PayPal, was bought by eBay. Musk would later buy the domain X.com back from PayPal in 2017. That site now directs people to Twitter. 'Thanks PayPal for allowing me to buy back X.com! No plans right now, but it has great sentimental value to me,' Musk wrote on Twitter in 2017, That domain was Musk's first major use of the letter X, but not his last. Musk is also the founder and CEO of SpaceX, which is formally known as Space Exploration Technologies Corporation. He founded the company in 2002 and it recently launched its $3 billion - a test flight which was deemed a great success even after it burst into a spectacular ball of flames. Musk's affinity for the letter X in both his professional and personal life has been growing for 25 years He has explained his reasoning for the dramatic rebrand of Twitter, telling users he plans to turn the social network and messaging application into an 'everything app' SpaceX and even NASA all hailed the mammoth new rocket's maiden flight as 'exciting' and a success. Musk was particularly buoyant in the aftermath vowing to launch again 'in a few months'. Tesla, where Musk is CEO, sells the Model X, which went on commercial sale in 2016. The car, a mid-sized luxury crossover SUV is recognizable by its falcon doors. 'The idea being that the Tesla models would spell out the word 'sexy,'' said Tim Higgins, the author of Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk, and the Bet of the Century. However, Ford owned the right to the Model E, which forced Musk to turn to the Model 3 - which is 'kind of a backwards E,' Higgins noted. Musk also infamously brought the letter into his personal life, giving his son the letter as a nickname. He and his former partner, the musician Grimes, raised eyebrows in May 2020 when they revealed the name of their newborn son: X A-12. The billionaire is said to have given the little boy, three, the nickname X for short. Soon after he was named, X A-12 had his name changed to X A-Xii following a violation of California's naming laws around which alphanumeric characters can be used. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday informed the House that he has received the no-confidence motion from Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi under rule 193. The motion says that it has no trust in the central council of ministers. Once the Speaker announced the receipt of the no-confidence motion, he sought to know the number of MPs who supported the move. All the Congress, Left, TMC, JD(U), National Conference, NCP, AAP, Samajwadi Party, and Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs stood up to show their support to the proposed no-confidence motion. As soon as the Speaker allowed laying of papers and introduction of bills, the Congress-led opposition members jumped into the well of the House, protesting over the Manipur situation. Amid protests, Congress MP Manish Tewari expressed his objection to the introduction of the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha. He said that the bill was a transgression to the right to privacy. RSP MP N.K. Premachandran objected to the introduction of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 in the Lower House. He alleged that the proposed legislation will only benefit multinationals. He sought withdrawal of the bill. The Union cabinet on July 12 had cleared the bill, which will allow private sector to bid for mining critical minerals like Lithium. Both the bills, however, were introduced in the Lok Sabha along with various other legislations. However, as the opposition members continued with their protests, seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence in the Lok Sabha and his response to the situation prevailing in Manipur, the Speaker adjourned the House till 2 p.m. Before adjourning the proceedings, he admonished the opposition, especially the Congress, for not maintaining the dignity of the House. "Despite ruling for so many years, you haven't learnt how to maintain dignity of the House?," Birla said while addressing the opposition benches. A top barrister who last night accused Rishi Sunak of 'playing politics' for condemning crooked asylum lawyers has stood twice to be a Labour MP. Sam Townend KC, vice-chairman of the Bar Council, yesterday criticised the Prime Minister's response to a Mail investigation exposing the law firms charging thousands of pounds to submit false asylum claims. The silk blasted Sunak for using 'damaging rhetoric' which 'undermines the rule of law'. But the Mail can reveal that Mr Townend has not only worked as a Labour councillor in Lambeth, London, but that he was also selected as a Labour Party parliamentary candidate in two general elections. He ran to be the Labour MP for Reigate in 2005 and then again for the Bristol North West seat in 2010. He lost both seats to the Conservatives. Sam Townend KC, vice-chairman of the Bar Council, yesterday criticised the Prime Minister's response to a Mail investigation exposing the law firms charging thousands of pounds to submit false asylum claims Commenting yesterday on the Mail's explosive investigation which showed lawyers willing to make fake asylum claims for illegal immigrants, Sunak said: 'This is what we're up against. 'The Labour Party, a subset of lawyers, criminal gangs - they're all on the same side, propping up a system of exploitation that profits from getting people to the UK illegally.' In response, Mr Townend said: 'Lawyers are not beyond reproach, and all professions have individuals who commit misconduct and are dishonest. Regulators are there to discipline them. 'The comments by the Prime Minister, however, are clearly an attempt to play politics with the legal profession. This damaging rhetoric undermines the rule of law, trust in lawyers and confidence in the UK legal system and is to be deplored.' The family of a teenager who took her own life have launched a landmark legal case against a student convicted of abusing her. Emily Drouet, 18, died at New Carnegie Court student halls in Aberdeen in 2016 after being subjected to a campaign of abuse by student boyfriend Angus Milligan. He later admitted assaulting and abusing her and was sentenced to carry out 180 hours of community service. Now, Emily's family have lodged a civil case against him under 'loss of society' law, which can be used to claim compensation for the death of a close relative resulting from negligence. Emily Drouet, who took her own life after being attacked and abused by partner Angus Milligan Emily's mother, Fiona Drouet, is listed as one party in the case, which called at the Court of Session on May 30. Milligan is listed as the other. A judge has yet to decide whether a three-year time bar applies to the case before it can proceed further. Ms Drouet told the Press & Journal: 'If successful it would be a landmark case in hopefully ensuring suicides that follow domestic abuse are investigated and the perpetrator held responsible.' Emily Drouet enrolled on a law degree at Aberdeen University in September 2015 and a month later started dating Angus Milligan, who lived yards from her in halls. Her parents said they missed warning signs hinting their daughter was suffering early into the relationship. 'Hindsight is a great thing, looking back there were signs but we put it down to students being tired and partying,' Ms Drouet said in 2017. Emily avoided eye contact with her parents when she came home from university, which they say was down to Mulligan's emotional abuse. In March 2016, Drouet had sent a text to a friend confessing to engaging in a sexual act with a family friend and member of Milligan's family, stressing she did not want him to find out. Milligan then appeared at his girlfriend's apartment, where he grabbed her by the neck. Eight days later, she was found dead in her apartment, having taken her own life. Fiona Drouet and Germain Drouet speak about their daughter on 'This Morning', July 19, 2017 Angus Milligan, who assaulted 18-year-old Emily Drouet after finding out she had engaged in a sex act with one of his relatives and a family friend during their relationship Milligan appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court in May 2017 where he admitted sending Emily grossly offensive and menacing messages, grabbing her by the neck, choking her, slapping her and shouting abuse at her. By July, he had been sentenced to 12 months' supervision and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work. He was expelled from Aberdeen University after the conviction, but later given a place at Oxford Brookes University. In 2019, Ms Drouet launched a substantial damages claim to show that Miss Drouet 'isnt responsible for her death'. Ms Drouet, who said the campaign isn't about the money, told The Sun: 'We want to get justice for her as we feel we didnt get it through the criminal courts.' For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details. Rapper and actor Ice Cube said he refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19 because he felt the science was too experimental - despite the decision costing him a $9 million film role. The 54-year-old was revealed in November to have turned down the comedy Oh Hell No, where he was set to star alongside Jack Black, and on Tuesday night he told Tucker Carlson why - insisting he never set out to become the poster child for the anti-vax movement. 'I never want to be controlled,' he said, speaking to Carlson in the back of a car as it drove around the rapper's native Los Angeles. Asked by Carlson why he refused to get vaccinated, he said: 'It wasn't ready. It was six months, kind of rush job. And I didn't feel safe.' Rapper and actor Ice Cube, 54, spoke to Tucker Carlson for an episode that aired on Tuesday Ep. 10 Stay in your lane: our drive through South Central LA with Ice Cube. (next episode: Ice Cube sits down with us at his studio) pic.twitter.com/cUgCh2xccH Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) July 25, 2023 Carlson and the rapper drove around Los Angeles for their interview, with Ice Cube sharing his thoughts on the COVID vaccination, politicians, and the lack of progress in South Central LA He asked Carlson if he got vaccinated, and Carlson laughed and said: 'Of course not.' In April 2022, after months of dodging questions as to whether he had complied with Fox News's own vaccination policy, Carlson told an audience at a San Diego County megachurch that he was not vaccinated against COVID. Carlson said on Tuesday that 'they told you it was safe'. Ice Cube, real name O'Shea Jackson, replied: 'I know what they said. I heard what they said - I heard them loud and clear. 'But it's not their decision. There is no repercussions if they are wrong. I get all the repercussions if they are wrong.' He said it was not a difficult decision, despite the money from which he walked away. Some reports suggest the Inglewood-born star is worth $160 million. 'I wanted to be an example for my kids. Make sure they didn't take it either. I was willing to stand on my convictions.' The rapper is seen showing Carlson around Los Angeles Carlson said that Ice Cube was 'attacked' for his stance, and showed a clip from SNL which spoofed the rapper's decision. 'I never told anyone not to get vaccinated, publicly. That was never my message to the world,' said Ice Cube. 'I didn't even want people to know whether I got vaccinated or not. I was pretty upset that that even came out. I was just going to quietly not take it and deal with the consequences as they came.' Carlson asked whether he knew anyone who had been adversely affected by the COVID vaccine. 'I do, and they suffer every day, and it's hard to watch,' he replied. 'Sometimes you have to let people know what's going on, and move the needle. If it's true, why can't I say it?' The rapper is pictured with one of his five children. He said he did not get vaccinated because he wanted to set an example As they drove around South Central LA, Carlson asked the rapper whether he supported any political figure. Ice Cube in October 2020 drew criticism for working with the Trump campaign on bringing out the black vote. Trump's senior campaign advisor Katrina Pierson tweeted: 'Shoutout to @icecube for his willingness to step up and work with @realDonaldTrump Administration to help develop the #PlatinumPlan. Leaders gonna lead, haters gonna hate. Thank you for leading.' The rapper later clarified that he had approached Democrats and Republicans, but Democrats told him they had to wait until after the election - while Trump's side agreed immediately. But he expressed criticism of Democrats, saying they hadn't done enough to put forward a plan for African Americans, while noting that Trump had altered his proposal after receiving input from him. 'I don't believe in politicians. Politicians have hidden agendas. The more money you give them, the more they listen to you,' said Ice Cube. 'Politicians only really pay attention to the people who give them money,' he said. Ice Cube told Carlson he was initially hopeful about Barack Obama, saying: 'For the first time, I felt proud that America took that step.' He added: 'So that was a moment in time. But then you look around, years go by, and not much changed for people I know, people I care about. 'It didn't change with Bush, with Clinton, elder Bush, Reagan, Carter. So at the end of the day, it's still the same as it was.' Carlson asked if the election of Obama was symbolic. 'Yes,' said the rapper. 'In a lot of ways, yes.' The US soldier who deserted his army post in Afghanistan only to be captured and tortured by the Taliban has had his 2017 court-martial conviction for desertion thrown out by a US federal judge. Bowe Bergdahl walked off his post in Afghanistan in 2007, endangering his comrades who went out to search for him. Bergdahl, now 37, was later convicted in 2017 of desertion, leaving him with a dishonorable discharge, reduction in rank to the lowest enlisted pay grade and an effective fine of $10,000. Tuesday's ruling, which is subject to appeal, vacates that court-martial conviction. Reggie Walton, a U.S. district judge, said military judge Jeffrey Nance, who presided over Bergdahl's court martial proceedings in 2017, failed to disclose his application at the time to become a federal immigration judge. That could create the appearance of potential bias, given then-President Donald Trump's denunciations of Bergdahl, Walton ruled. The court noted that there was no finding of actual bias. US soldier Bowe Bergdahl (pictured at Fort Bragg at a pretrial hearing in 2016), who deserted his army post in Afghanistan only to be captured and tortured by the Taliban, has had his 2017 court-martial conviction for desertion thrown out by a US federal judge. Bergdahl watches as one of his captors displays his identity tag to the camera at an unknown location in Afghanistan, July 19, 2009 'This case presents a unique situation where the military judge might be inclined to appeal to the president's expressed interest in the plaintiff's conviction and punishment when applying for the immigration judge position,' Walton wrote. The Army did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The military judge who handed down Bergdahl's conviction, Jeffrey Nance, could not be reached for comment. Geoffrey Corn, a retired Army officer and military law expert at Texas Tech University School of Law, said the ruling left a big question for the U.S. Army. 'Do they bring him back to active duty and retry him? I highly doubt that will happen, but it might,' Corn said. Bergdahl was freed in a prisoner swap in May 2014 involving the release of five Taliban leaders held by the United States in a deal that drew heavy criticism from Republicans. Bergdahl said he left his post on June 29, 2009, hoping to report leadership issues in his unit. His disappearance triggered a risky search by fellow soldiers. Walton noted that Nance, then an Army colonel, had stated during proceedings that he was a 'a terminal Colonel, which means I'm not going anywhere but the retirement pastures.' Army Sgt Bowe Bergdahl (pictured in an undated photograph) was charged with desertion in 2017 Reggie Walton (pictured), a U.S. district judge, said military judge Jeffrey Nance, who presided over Bergdahl's court martial proceedings in 2017, failed to disclose his application at the time to become a federal immigration judge But Nance even submitted one of his orders in the Bergdahl case as his writing sample in his application to become a federal judge, according to the ruling. Walton also took the opportunity to warn politicians about commenting on ongoing cases - in apparent reference to Trump, who declared Bergdahl a traitor who should be executed. 'The Court notes that what occurred in this case illustrates why individuals aspiring for public office and those achieving that objective should not express their desired verdict,' he wrote. During Bergdahl's court-martial trial in 2017, he tearfully apologized to those hurt by his actions after the court heard testimony from the wife of a soldier who was paralyzed in combat while searching for him. 'I would like everyone who searched for me to know it was never my intention for anyone to be hurt, and I never expected that to happen,' Bergdahl told the court, his voice choked with emotion. 'My words alone can't take away their pain,' he added. Bergdahl talked in detail about the torture he endured from the Taliban-aligned Haqqani network, which captured him after he left his post, during his testimony at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in 2017. He said that due to repeated escape attempts, he spent four out of the five years in a cage, and upon release his muscles had wasted away so much he could barely stand. He also described being beaten with copper wire and suffering severe stomach distress due to the filthy conditions he was made to live in. 'The worst was the constant, just the constant deterioration of everything. The constant pain from my body falling apart. The constant screams from my mind,' he said. 'It was the years of waiting to see whether or not the next time someone opens the door if that would be the person coming to execute you.' That experience has left him so traumatized that he must sleep with a flashlight and check his door three times before he can go to bed. National Guard Master Sgt Mark Allen (pictured) was shot in the head during an insurgent ambush During the trial, Allen's wife Shannon (pictured together with their daughter after the incident) testified. He was left unable to speak and is paralyzed over much of his body He also has flashbacks that can be unpredictably triggered by everyday smells such as perfume or garbage, he said. His remarks came after several days of emotionally charged testimony from the soldiers who were wounded in the search for him, and their families. The last to testify for the prosecution was Shannon Allen whose husband, National Guard Master Sgt Mark Allen, was shot in the head during an insurgent ambush. He was left unable to speak and is paralyzed over much of his body. Mrs Allen's voice faltered when she referred to the brain injury's effect on his interactions with their daughter, who was an infant when he was wounded. The former UC Davis student who police say went on a stabbing spree in California appeared at Yolo Superior Court in Woodland looking disheveled after not showering for three months and going on a hunger strike. Carlos Reales Dominguez, who was charged with murder in the stabbing of two people and the attempted murder of a third, showed up in court wearing a green safety vest with his overgrown long black hair covering his face. The Yolo County Superior Court Jurors will ultimately decide if he is mentally competent to participate in a criminal trial. His attorney, Yolo County public defender Dan Hutchinson, said he would present evidence that proves Dominguez began showing signs of schizophrenia toward the end of his freshman year. 'He sits there each day in his empty cell, unclothed, unmedicated, untreated for his mental illness,' he said of Dominguez, who is observed every 15 minutes because he is on suicide watch. Carlos Dominguez appears at Yolo Superior Court in Woodland, Calif., on Monday, July 24 Dominguez pictured at the time of his arraignment on May 5th Dominguez pictured during his last appearance in court on June 20 appearing gaunt and unkempt Dominguez was charged with murder in the stabbing of two people and the attempted murder of a third. He was arrested on May 4 Authorities said Monday that Dominguez has not showed since his arrest in May 'He has not showered a single time and if he ever has brushed his teeth nobody appears to have seen that,' he added. To be found mentally unfit to stand trial, the defense must show that Dominguez is unable to understand court proceedings, assist his attorney in his defense, and understand his own status in the criminal proceeding. But prosecutors argue against this defense and claim Dominguez is 'toying with the system' and he deserves to face a criminal trial. Frits van der Hoek, Yolo County deputy district attorney, told jurors his team will present evidence showing that the former student is not incompetent and is only acting unfit for trial intentionally. He added that the court-appointed expert who claimed Dominguez was unfit for trial needed more time to analyze him. If the jurors find Dominguez unfit to stand trial, he would treated at a state mental health hospital instead of continuing with a criminal trial. The jury selection began Monday. Potential jurors were asked questions about schizophrenia, mental health disorders, and the death penalty. Dominguez, who sat emotionless on Monday as the judge and the lawyers addressed potential jurors, was a third-year student of the University of California, Davis. He was expelled April 25 when prosecutors claimed he was responsible for three stabbings on or near the campus. His attorney, Yolo County public defender Dan Hutchinson, said he would present evidence that proves Dominguez has been showing signs of schizophrenia The Yolo County Superior Court Jurors will ultimately decide whether he is mentally competent to participate in a criminal trial Dominguez was arrested on May 4, a week after the first body was found. He was charged in the murder of a 50-year-old homeless man and a 20-year-old UC Davis student. He also attacked a homeless woman in her tent but she survived. The wave of attacks began with the fatal stabbing of 50-year-old David Breaux, known as the 'Compassion Guy' who was killed in Central Park on the bench where he often slept. Davis police said it was a 'particularly brazen attack' and there were no eyewitnesses. Breaux, who was a fixture in the community for over the past decade, was 'instrumental' in the addition of a 'Compassion Bench' at the corner of 3rd and C Streets in 2013. 'The death of David Breaux is utterly and completely devastating,' Davis Mayor Will Arnold said. 'Many of us knew David. We talked with him. We shared in his vision for a kinder world. We connected on what it means to be human and humane.' The bench is where he would ask people their definition of the word 'compassion.' He later published his notes as a collection of anonymous writings. 'Like so many of you, I am grieving the death of David Henry Breaux, known as the 'Compassion Guy.' ... David led a life with real purpose, to connecting humanity for the greater good, something we should all aspire to do,' the UC Davis chancellor said in a statement. A person was apprehended by police soon after 5pm on Wednesday on a quiet, tree-lined street just a block from where a student was killed on Saturday On Saturday, another stabbing took the life of UC Davis senior Karim Abou Najm. The 20-year-old computer science major was on his way home when he was killed at Davis' Sycamore Park The wave of attacks began with the fatal stabbing of David Breaux, known as the 'Compassion Guy' who was killed on the park bench where he often slept On April 29, UC Davis senior Karim Abou Najm, 20, was on his way home from an undergraduate awards ceremony at around 9:15 pm when he was fatally stabbed. Then on the morning of May 1, a 64-year-old woman was stabbed through a tent at a homeless encampment at around 11:46 pm. She was left in critical condition but survived. Police confirmed that Dominguez was stopped by several patrol officers on Wednesday evening and that he spoke with them and agreed to come back to the station. In his backpack they found a 'large hunting-style knife' that was consistent with witness accounts of the attacks and with the weapon police were looking for. Michael Shearer, who has lived in Davis since 1998, told the Sacramento Bee at the time that he saw police apprehend Dominguez while walking his dog on the said evening. 'There was a guy walking along and a whole bunch of police cars came down Pine Street and they stopped a guy who fit the description, carrying a backpack,' he told the newspaper. He said the person arrested matched the description provided by witnesses of some of the stabbings - a person with dark, shoulder-length hair and wearing black Adidas track pants. 'There wasn't any altercation, but they talked to him for five or 10 minutes and then they put him in the police car and they drove away,' he added. The suspect was first spotted by somebody who was walking through the park at around 3:30 pm and saw someone matching the attacker's description sitting alone in the children's playground. 'He made eye contact with me and came toward me rather briskly,' the man, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Davis Enterprise at the time. 'He was walking around sort of aimlessly, which I thought was odd,' said the witness, who 'kept an eye on him' as he wandered through the park and through the neighborhood to the east. A memorial set up at the compassion bench in Davis to honor David Henry Breaux, 50, who was found stabbed to death last week. He was a fixture in the community for over a decade Volunteers from the Yolo County Search and Rescue Team look for evidence from the stabbing murder of Karim Abou Najm near Sycamore Park in Davis, California Shearer said if the person is the culprit, he was surprised that he would have come back to the scene. 'I wouldn't be back here if I were him. That makes no sense. So he must have a mental illness or some problem,' he told the Bee. Shearer said the spate of stabbings had frightened the entire community. 'Everybody's terrified,' he added. 'Really, I mean, this isn't normal, and it's so arbitrary. You just don't know.' Pytel said police were called to the most recent stabbing where an unidentified 64-year-old woman 'was able to provide a description of the assailant and she was able to tell us what happened'. Isaac Chessman and Christine Berrios, a couple in a neighboring tent, told KCRA they heard the woman screaming for help. Chessman added that he believed he encountered the suspect earlier that day. 'So we're sitting in front of the tent, and I said, 'Babe, this isn't feeling right,' and I see a dude run across the way and started running, but he would stop along every tree to blend in with the tree because it's dark. I noticed that because that's something you would do if you're scoping something out,' he said. 'I said, 'Hey bro,' and he starts walking normal, and then I said, 'You look like the dude they've been describing that's been stabbing people.' He takes off and I started to take off after him and my wife is like, 'Don't leave me here',' Chessman said. The debate over the Indigenous Voice to Parliament has taken another nasty turn with a Yes vote advocate telling a Jewish lobby group 'to go back to Jerusalem' after they spoke out against the proposed body. Twitter account Justice Aunties aimed the racial slur at the Australian Jewish Association (AJA), which earlier this month stated their strong opposition to the Voice. 'Leave your farken religous views out of a referendum to make a constitutional change,' the Tweet read. 'If you don't like the laws in this country then go back to Jerusalem & continue your attacks on Palestinians, because we wont tolerate them on First Nation Australians.' Robert Gregory, who is the AJA's Director of Public Affairs, said this type of racial attack has grown more frequent. The debate over the Indigenous Voice to Parliament continues to grow more acrimonious with this tweet aimed at a Jewish lobby group that opposes the proposal 'We have seen a surge in online division and intolerance since the Voice was proposed,' told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday. 'I think many in the Jewish community as well as members of other immigrant communities are very concerned by this rhetoric and worry that their rights will be threatened if the Voice is passed. 'Radical supporters of the Yes campaign are doing their cause no favours with their intolerance.' Justice Aunties is a non-profit advocacy group set up by Awabakal/Gaewegal Elder Aunt Tracey Hanshaw, who lives in the NSW city of Newcastle. Aunt Tracey featured in a March episode of ABC show Q&A when she asked leading No vote campaigner Jacinta Price why as a 'woman of Aboriginal descent' she was voting against such a significant advancement for my people'. 'Surely in your heart you want First Nation's peoples to take their rightful place in this nation's history?' Ms Hanshaw asked. In opposing the Voice earlier this month, AJA President Dr David Adler said since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese touted the constitutionally recognised body at a Jewish event in Melbourne other Jews have suffered 'elevated online abuse'. Aunt Tracey Hanshaw appeared on the ABC's Q&A program in March challenging No vote campaigner Jacinta Price He argued many in the Jewish community 'feared the introduction of race-based laws in Australia'. 'The creation of unique political rights or advantages for one ethnic or racial group will inevitably cause resentment and friction,' he said. The AJA, which is known for its pro-Israeli lobbying, also accused 'some of the leading pro-Voice activists have expressed extremist views including hostility towards Israel'. Dr Adler sits on the board of conservative lobby group Advance Australia, which drew fire after taking out a full-page ad in the Australian Financial Review earlier this month. The ad featured a cartoon depiction of Voice advocate Thomas Mayo that was widely decried as 'racist' by Voice supporting politicians such as Liberal MP Matt Kean and Teal independent Zali Steggall. Despite Mr Albanese insisting the Voice will be a 'historic unifying moment' the debate over it has grown increasingly rancorous. Australian Jewish Association President Dr David Adler (pictured right) shakes hands with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton On Sunday top No campaigner Warren Mundine said the racist and vile abuse he has received had driven to make two attempts to take his own life. However, this claim gained no sympathy from left-wing political commentator Paul Bongiorno who claimed Mr Mundine was using alleged mental health struggles as a political weapon. 'This is transparent, blatant politics. Hardly worth a second of sympathy. Only the gullible and opportunistic racists will fall for it,' he wrote. Following criticism the veteran journalist made a mocking apology 'OK I got it wrong. Warren deserves a lot of sympathy for playing blatant politics with his mental health,' he wrote. Aunt Tracey has been contacted for comment. Rosie Duffield has accused Keir Starmer of wavering on transgender issues - saying the party needs 'clarity' before the next election. The MP for Canterbury spoke after the shadow women and equalities secretary, Anneliese Dodds, revealed the Labour party has deserted Nicola Sturgeon's gender self-ID law in Scotland, according to The Telegraph. Sir Keir previously planned to alter the law to enable transgender people to declare their own gender without a medical diagnosis if he were elected as Prime Minister. This would have aligned with Sturgeon's policy. Ms Duffield told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: 'I'm reading the same policy announcements that everyone else is reading and I haven't been party to any of the detail.' She added: 'When I see the full detail I'll understand what they're proposing but it looks, broadly speaking, as though they're going in the right direction, and basically have just sort of agreed with myself and other feminist activist groups [and] with what we've been saying for the last few years.' Rosie Duffield (pictured) has accused Keir Starmer of wavering on transgender issues as she embraced Labour's draw back on gender self-identification Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) previously planned to alter the law to enable transgender people to declare their own gender without a medical diagnosis if he were elected as Prime Minister. This would have aligned with Sturgeon's policy The shadow women and equalities secretary, Anneliese Dodds (pictured), revealed the Labour party has deserted Nicola Sturgeon's gender self-ID law in Scotland, according to The Telegraph In a recent article for the Guardian Ms Dodd said a formal diagnosis from a doctor will still be needed for people to change their gender. In January Rishi Sunak confirmed he would block Nicola Sturgeon's controversial gender identity legislation from becoming law. In an unprecedented move, the Prime Minister said he would prevent the Holyrood legislation from receiving royal assent after warnings it would cause UK-wide legislative chaos. Mr Sunak's dramatic action swiftly set up a fresh row with Ms Sturgeon's SNP-led administration in Edinburgh. His decision was announced just hours after the First Minister insisted it would be an 'outrage' if Westminster halted reforms passed by the Scottish Parliament last month. He has faced calls to step away from the No campaign A prominent No campaigner for the Voice to Parliament has doubled down on his controversial call to enforce blood tests for people to prove their Aboriginality. Former Labor MP Gary Johns has advocated for genetic testing for Indigenous people in order to obtain 'race-based benefits' and welfare payments. It has resulted in critics slamming Dr Johns as a 'racist', with calls for the No campaign to ditch him. But the former politician and president of Recognise a Better Way - one of a number of groups campaigning against the Voice - defended his stance during an interview with conservative commentator Andrew Bolt on his Sky News Australia program. 'The law is that you have to prove descent,' he said after stating that he wouldn't apologise for his comments. 'Now how do you measure descent in a culture that doesn't have a written record often? You have to prove it by blood, or now a DNA test.' 'If you want a race-based system, where by you get benefits because of your ancestry, then at some stage you have to measure.' Dr Johns said people were 'embarrassed' by having to ask 'about the measurement'. He has called for 'race-based benefits and programs' to be scrapped so 'embarrassing discussions' about blood tests can be avoided. 'I'm saying nothing more than this is already the law,' he added. 'Why should it (benefits) be based on race? It's such an awful concept, but if you're going to do it, you're going to have to measure it, you're going to have to say who is and isn't an Aboriginal person - at the moment we're too afraid to ask.' Dr Johns expressed his view on this in his book, The Burden of Culture, which was published last year. In the book he wrote: 'If the current three-part test on Aboriginality is to remain then, just as Aborigines insist in native title claims, blood will have to be measured for all benefits and jobs.' Services Australia requires a form to be filled out to prove you're of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent if you have insufficient identity documents. The form requires an authorised referee to complete questions and sign off on the document. An authorised referee is someone who is a chairperson, Secretary or CEO of an incorporated Indigenous organisation, Community Development Programme provider, school principal or counsellor, Minister of Religion, Health professional in Aboriginal medical services, Services Australia staff or government employee. Dr Johns' comments have sparked widespread outrage from politicians and officials committed to the Yes vote (pictured, the public participating in 'The Long Walk' from Melbourne to Canberra to support a Yes vote) Dr Johns (pictured) believes 'race-based benefits and programs' should be scrapped to avoid 'embarrassing discussions' about blood tests Dr Johns' comments have sparked outrage from politicians and officials committed to the Yes vote. Liberal MP Matt Kean demanded Dr Johns step down from the No campaign, describing his views as 'extreme' and 'beyond the pale'. Teal independent MPs Allegra Spender and Monique Ryan also expressed concerns about his role in petitioning for a No vote. But Indigenous Voice critic Warren Mundine, who is leading the Fair Australia No campaign, said calls for Dr Johns to step down were unwarranted. Daily Mail Australia has approached Dr Johns for comment. The referendum for the Voice to Parliament will be held sometime between October and December this year. The water temperature at the tip of Florida may have set a world record after it hit hot tub levels and exceeded 100F for two days in a row. Meteorologists said it could potentially be the hottest seawater ever measured, although there are some issues with the reading. Just 26 miles away, scientists have seen devastating effects from prolonged hot water surrounding Florida - devastating coral bleaching and even some death in what had been one of the Florida Keys' most resilient reefs. Climate change has been setting temperature records across the globe this month. Weather records for sea water temperature are unofficial, and there are certain conditions in this reading that could disqualify it for a top mark, meteorologists said. The water temperature at the tip of Florida may have set a world record after it hit hot tub levels and exceeded 100F for two days in a row. The initial reading on a buoy at Manatee Bay hit 101.1F (38.4C) on Monday evening (pictured) The water temperature at the tip of Florida may have set a world record after it hit hot tub levels and exceeded 100F for two days in a row. Pictured: Beachgoers at Hollywood Beach in Florida on 10 July But the initial reading on a buoy at Manatee Bay hit 101.1F (38.4C) on Monday evening, according to National Weather Service meteorologist George Rizzuto. On Sunday night the same buoy showed an online reading of 100.2F (37.9C). 'It seems plausible,' Mr Rizzuto said. 'That is a potential record.' It comes as the Sunshine State continues to swelter through the hottest summer on record. Miami's heat index - which takes into account humidity and air temperature - has hit 100F for 44 days in a row, a record. While there are no official water temperature records, a 2020 study listed a 37.6C (99.7F) mark in Kuwait Bay in July 2020 as the world's highest recorded sea surface temperature. Mr Rizzuto said a new record from Florida is plausible because nearby buoys measured in the 36.7C-37.2C (98F-99F) range. Yale Climate Connections meteorologist Jeff Masters said: 'This is a hot tub. I like my hot tub around 100F/101F (37.8C/38.3C). That's what was recorded yesterday.' Hot tub maker Jacuzzi recommends water between 37.8C and 38.9C (100F and 102F). 'We've never seen a record-breaking event like this before,' Mr Masters said. But he and University of Miami tropical meteorologist Brian McNoldy said that, while the hot temperatures fit with what is happening around Florida, it may not be accepted as a record because the area is shallow, has sea grasses in it and may be influenced by warm land in the nearby Everglades National Park. This photo provided by the University of Miami Coral Reef Futures Lab, shows fire coral and staghorn corals with bleaching, tissue loss, and recent mortality on Thursday Nevertheless, Mr McNoldy said: 'It's amazing.' The fact that two 100F measurements were taken on consecutive days gives credence to the readings, he said. Water temperatures have been in the upper 90s in the area for more than two weeks. There are not many coral reefs in Manatee Bay, but, elsewhere in the Florida Keys, scientists diving at Cheeca Rocks found bleaching and even death in some of the Keys' most resilient corals, said Ian Enochs, head of the coral programme at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. NOAA researcher Andrew Ibarra, who took his kayak to the area because of the hot water, said: 'I found that the entire reef was bleached out. Every single coral colony was exhibiting some form of paling, partial bleaching or full out bleaching.' Some coral had even died, he said. This is on top of bleaching seen last week by the University of Miami as NOAA increased the level of alert for coral problems earlier this month. Until the 1980s coral bleaching was mostly unheard of around the globe yet 'now we've reached the point where it's become routine', Mr Enochs said. Bleaching, which does not kill coral but weakens it and could lead to death, occurs when water temperatures pass the low 30s Celsius (upper 80s Fahrenheit), he added. 'This is more, earlier than we have ever seen,' he said. 'I'm nervous by how early this is occurring.' It comes as sea surface temperatures worldwide have broken monthly records for heat in April, May and June, according to NOAA. And temperatures in the North Atlantic are off the charts - as much as 5C-6C (9F-11F) warmer than normal in some spots near Newfoundland, Mr McNoldy said. A leaked German intelligence document claims Ukraine's counter-offensive is failing to make meaningful progress as the army is not fully harnessing western training. The confidential insight obtained by Bild assessed that Ukrainian soldiers trained by western forces are showing 'great learning success' but let down by superiors. It warned the military tends to promote soldiers with fighting experience over those with NATO training, meaning some have 'considerable deficiencies in leadership'. It also remarked on 'deficiencies' in 'the application of management processes... which sometimes lead to incorrect and dangerous decisions'. A senior defence source in the British military told The Telegraph commented on the Bundeswehr leak, saying it was not helpful to 'unduly criticise Ukraine'. 'They [Ukrainians] certainly have plenty of problems, but I don't think this German accusation is one of them,' they said. Ukrainian soldiers conduct operations to target trenches of Russian forces through the Donetsk Oblast amid Russia and Ukraine war in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on July 24, 2023 Ukrainian servicemen fire a D-20 howitzer towards Russian troops at a position near the front line town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine July 11, 2023 On July 24, the Institute for the Study of War assessed that Ukraine's ongoing counteroffensive 'cannot be expected to be fast and easy'. The public policy research organisation observed the difficulties in sustaining a push through Russian lines given the time Russia had to regroup and prepare. The recent assessment also pointed to Ukraine's lack of air superiority and limited air defences - both topics that have come up as Zelensky pushes for more western aid. Thirdly, ISW noted the advance would be constrained by Russia 'optimising its operations', slowing its own advances to preserve personnel. Meanwhile, senior defence official Admiral Sir Tony Radakin claimed earlier this month Russia had lost half of its combat abilities since the start of the war. 'Last year, it fired 10 million artillery shells, but at best, can produce 1 million shells a year. It has lost 2,500 tanks and, at best, can produce 200 tanks a year.' Russia's organisation has further been undermined by clashes between the armed forces and Wagner Group, the mercenary company supporting Russia's war effort that turned and appeared to march towards Moscow late last month. Radakin said in July that Kyiv's strategy of attrition was steadily wearing away Russia's defences. He also noted the limits of Ukraine's air defences and munitions holding back the counter-offensive. Ukrainian President Zelensky said last week that the offensive would soon 'gain pace'. Some 100 square miles of territory has been recovered since the push was launched around two months ago. A Ukrainian soldier is standing in front of a Marder infantry fighting vehicle at the German forces Bundeswehr training area in Munster, Germany, on Feb. 20, 2023 A Ukrainian soldier holds a drawing as they support their frontline in the direction of Avdiivka, July 20, 2023 Western nations currently express concerns about what appears to be joint training exercises between Wagner Group forces and Belarusian forces on the Polish border. Poland recently moved 1,000 troops towards Belarus to bolster security. The Polish government has pledged to set up a sapper battalion nearby to strengthen NATO's eastern flank and secure the Suwaki Gap. The Gap - a space between Poland and Lithuania, separating Belarus from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad - is considered a point of vulnerability as, if overwhelmed, it could cut off the Baltic States from their western allies. Silence from the King on Historic England's warning that the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey could lose their Unesco world heritage status because of the threat to their Thames views from the proposed five 73-metre-tall tower blocks at Lambeth. Once upon a time this would have roused Charles to take up arms as the nation's arbiter of taste. As Prince of Wales he managed to scupper a multi-billion-pound redevelopment of Chelsea Barracks and the National Gallery's 'monstrous carbuncle' extension. In his address to the nation after the death of the Queen, he said: 'It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply.' Has Charles now to sit on his hands? In his address to the nation after the death of the Queen, he said: 'It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply.' Has Charles now to sit on his hands? Frank Skinner was taken aback when the Duchess of Edinburgh, after urging him to keep his day job following his Royal Variety Performance stint, wrote him a letter of apology. 'I was really impressed by it,' he says, 'That someone like that gives a s*** about anything anyone thinks or says.' Take a bow, Sophie. PM Margaret Thatcher was startled mid-spout at a dinner party when she declared: 'Buy a big house when you first get married and then you don't have to move.' Telly curmudgeon Anne Robinson interjected: 'Not everyone can afford a big house when they first get married.' Robinson got the full Iron Lady death stare. 'I bet,' said the PM, 'you've made some money out of houses while I've been in office.' Confesses the former presenter in The Oldie: 'By golly, I had. In the eighties, flipping west London properties paid far better than journalism or being a quiz-show host.' Kate Winslet's rage exceeds gas mark five at the anonymous movie tycoon who offered her finance for her pet project if she appeared in his flick. Rages Kate: 'So that sh***y way of thinking is what we still have to change: these men in positions of power who think they are doing us a favour,' adding: 'No, you are not doing me a favour, it's not a hobby. We deserve to be on an equal footing with these men.' Deep breaths, Kate. Kate Winslet's rage exceeds gas mark five at the anonymous movie tycoon who offered her finance for her pet project if she appeared in his flick Thespians frequently complain about hanging around sets during interminable filming. But not Juliet Stevenson, making BBC thriller Wolf. She spent a considerable time dangling upside down from the ceiling. 'I did all of that! Every day they'd hang me upside down on this weird seesaw,' she tells Radio Times, adding: 'But I love the physical side of acting. In some ways, the more extreme, the better.' Superannuated Squeaker John Bercow joins former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond's Edinburgh Festival show 'The Ayes Have It! The Ayes Have It!' What's the half-litre-sized show-off been up to since he stepped down four years ago? Clearing his throat to record personalised video messages. Order! Order now at 86 a pop. A one-year-old girl has drowned in just nine inches of water left at the bottom of a kiddie pool at her Louisiana home. Nevaeh Fugate and her four-year-old sibling were playing in the backyard of their Kenner home on Thursday night when a dog knocked the toddler into the pool. It had been mostly drained but still had about nine inches of water left on the bottom, a spokesman for the local police department told KVUE. 'It was only nine inches of water in that pool,' Kenner Police Department spokesman Michael Cunningham said. 'It is a tragic event.' The children's grandfather was supposed to be watching the children at the time and may now face negligent homicide charges. Nevaeh Fugate drowned in nine inches of water that was left in a kiddie pool in her backyard Thursday night Fugate was just 1 years old when she drowned Thursday night. She still had a pulse when she was pulled from the pool, but later died @svndyyyd99 My baby man my baby my baby my world has completely fell apart ! My sweet rough and tough angel bra why man why original sound - ALLI Police said they received a call about a drowning at around 8.15pm on Thursday, and when officers arrived at the scene of the Davidson Place home, a 4-year-old explained what had happened. Cunningham said that when Nevaeh was pulled from the pool, she still had a pulse, but she later died. Her grieving mother, Sandra Fugate, has full custody of her four children but said her father was watching them at the time. Authorities say an investigation into Nevaeh's death is ongoing. It will include further interviews with the four-year-old witness and a toxicology report from the adult. Charging decisions could hinge on those results, but KVUE legal analyst Joe Raspanti said the 'largest charge that they can bring in this case' is likely negligent homicide, which carries a zero to five-year penalty. 'That would be the one that, if they're looking to try and put him in jail, that they would charge him with,' Raspanti said, though he noted that negligent homicide is more often charged in relation to deadly car crashes. In the meantime, Sandra, who has described herself as a struggling single mom of four, is trying to raise money for Nevaeh's funeral. She created a GoFundMe almost immediately following Nevaeh's death on Thursday, writing: 'I need help with giving her a proper, meaningful burial, anything would help.' As of Tuesday evening, it had raised more than $2,000. Sandra Fugate has full custody of her children, but she said her father was watching them at the time of the drowning Thursday night Sandra is now trying to raise money for her young daughter's funeral service Sandra has described herself as a struggling single mother of four children Sandra's recent Facebook posts reveal the depth of her grief. On July 21, the morning after the toddler's death, she shared photos of her baby girl writing: 'My precious angel, I don't under[stand] why God allows some things to happen, I just don't get it. '[I'd] rather be gone baby girl, I wish I [could] have gave you my air from my lungs baby,' she wrote, adding: 'I can't process and I cant believe this. I just want to wake up and it be a dream.' In another post later that day, Sandra said she was 'just so angry with life, with God, with myself, and I'm so sorry Nevaeh my sweet angel, I'm so sorry baby. 'I just want to hold you again, I want you to hug mommy again, just lay your head on me again baby,' she continued. The following day, Sandra also posted that she is 'trying so hard to be strong for Nova, Krewe and Amiri,' her other children. 'My heart hurts so much, like I thought it hurt when I lost my momma, but losing my baby, not my baby, God, I just can't process this,' she wrote. 'I'm supposed to be [their] protector and I've failed her, I've failed everyone.' On Tuesday, she also wrote: 'God, please hold onto my babies tight. They don't understand and they don't deserve to lose [their] baby neither.' Sandra has been sharing her grief in posts on Facebook, saying she can't process her daughter's untimely passing Nevaeh's drowning death came just two days before an unidentified seven-year-old boy in Slidell, Louisiana drowned in a home's above-ground pool. Little information has been released about the case, but St. Tammany Parish coroner Dr. Charles Preston said the drowning death appeared to have happened when the boy was left 'temporarily unattended.' 'Sadly, these deaths occur all too often, and each and every one of them is avoidable,' Preston said. Officials and local doctors are now warning parents and guardians to keep a close watch of their children around water, with pediatrician Dr. Anna Suessman saying drownings can happen even in shallow water. 'If a younger infant who doesn't even know how to roll over yet, can't prevent themselves, can't get themselves up and out of the water, if they are surrounded by water in their nose and mouth area, they suffocate in that water,' she explained. The doctor says she employs strict water precautions with her own children. 'First of all, you have to have a vocal response from an adult saying, "Yes, you can enter"' the water, Suessman said. 'Feet first always. And then it depends on if you are wearing swimmies, who's watching. 'It really should be an adult in constant eyesight with no phones or any other distractions,' she said. Drowning is the most common cause of death for children four and under, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are an average of 11 drownings each day in the United States. Even near-drownings can leave victims with long-term disabilities from brain damage, experts warn. A 'suspicious' car was spotted parked in the street moments before a leading criminal defence lawyer was shot in his driveway, shocked neighbours told Daily Mail Australia. Emergency services were called to the home of solicitor Mahmoud Abbas in Greenacre shortly before 10.30am on Wednesday after he was shot by 'an unknown person' in the torso and leg. Police believe the shooting was targeted. Mr Abbas was treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition. It's understood he is currently undergoing emergency surgery. The shooting occurred on the same street where underworld figure Mahmoud 'Brownie' Ahmad was shot dead while visiting an associate in April 2022. Daily Mail Australia understands police are investigating witness reports that a suspicious Toyota Yaris was seen parked in the street moments before the shooting. Shocked residents recalled hearing three gunshots, followed by sirens minutes later. Mahmoud Abbas (pictured) has been rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds The lawyer was shot outside his home in Greenacre on Wednesday morning. Pictured is the crime scene Mahmoud Abbas (pictured arriving at the hospital) is believed to be in a serious but stable condition 'There was a Toyota Yaris with two women sitting in it out the front of the house. It was there about 10 minutes before the shooting,' one neighbour told Daily Mail Australia. 'I wonder if they were keeping an eye out then their accomplice has come and attacked.' Footage from the scene minutes after the shooting shows the street cordoned off with several police cars and an ambulance in attendance. Another video show a conscious and alert Mr Abbas lying on a stretcher outside his home being treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital. Dozens of detectives have swarmed the street and were set to spend Wednesday afternoon interviewing neighbours as a police dog scoured for possible evidence. A female relative holding a baby was seen leaving Mr Abbas' house and was escorted by police to a car. 'Investigations are in their infancy; however it's believed to be a targeted incident,' a police statement read. Police were expected to give an update at 2pm. One neighbour said they first thought the gunshots was from a car backfiring. 'It's just awful. It's happened again. That's the same street where the shooting was last year,' one woman said. A boy, 15, who lives in the street, was walking to school when he heard gunshots and then saw police cars racing down the street. 'I heard bang, bang, bang and I thought "oh no. It's happened again",' he said. Another man who did not want to be named said he heard what sounded like three firecrackers going off. He did not know Mr Abbas personally but said he had seen the lawyer's young family in the neighbourhood. 'They seemed like a nice young family,' he told Daily Mail Australia. Mahmoud Abbas (pictured) was treated for gunshot wounds before he was rushed to hospital Neighbours recalled seeing a 'suspicious vehicle' parked in the street shortly before the shooting. Pictured are detectives at the crime scene The Greenacre street remains a crime scene with police dogs scouring for evidence Mr Abbas was gunned down in the same street underworld figure Mahmoud 'Brownie' Ahmad was shot dead in April 2022 Mahmoud Abbas (left) is one of Sydney's leading criminal defence lawyers Local detectives are being assisted by the State Crime Command's Criminal Groups and Raptor Squad in the investigations. It comes just days after three people were shot in an industrial area of the same suburb at 2.15am on Sunday. Mr Abbas specialises in criminal law and has represented a range of high profile Sydney identities including former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer and accused members of an ISIS-inspired terror cell. The Abbas Jacobs Lawyers website is currently down online. Mr Abbas also represented the four men who allegedly abducted a Hamze associate from the northern beaches. He started his career working for well-known criminal defence lawyer Brett Galloway and is the son of a farmer from the NSW Snowy Mountains. Mahmoud Abbas was gunned down in the driveway of his home on Wednesday morning Detectives (pictured) spent the afternoon interviewing nearby residents Mahmoud Abbas (pictured being treated by paramedics) was gunned down in his driveway Underworld figure Mahmoud 'Brownie' Ahmad (pictured) was shot dead while visiting an associate in the same Greenacre street Aussie superannuation funds are becoming hot property for the financial titans of Wall Street. US financiers are being attracted to the estimated $3.5trillion of assets that have accumulated as a result of Australia's mandatory super contribution laws, which see that amount grow by $1billion every week. Recently American private equity firm KKR & Co partnered with Australia's UniSuper to invest in European mobile towers, while late last year US fund Churchill Asset Management attracted $370million from sector giant AustralianSuper. Melbourne-born Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman, who has been credited with steering the financial giant into hugely profitable waters since the storms of the Global Financial Crisis, is seen as a key player in leading the US rush Down Under. Mr Gorman and his investment-management chief Dan Simkowitz regularly speak with superannuation executives in Australia, it was revealed in the Australian Financial Review this week. Melbourne-born Morgan Stanley chairman and CEO James Gorman has bolstered Australia's reputation in the New York money markets 'The market is on a growth trajectory,' Morgan Stanley managing director of Australian investment Daniel Vanden Boom said. Mr Vanden Boom said his bank was working with local super funds to co-invest in areas like infrastructure and property. 'Our engagement on these topics has never been higher,' he said. American financial news service Bloomberg ran an enthusiastic article on Tuesday about the opportunities for US financial firms in Australia. On its Instagram profile, Bloomberg promoted that article under the headline 'Wall St hunts for its next trillion-dollar whale in Australia' and stated that super funds 'are raking in more money than they know what to do with'. The article quotes the Australian branch of the US funds manager Franklin Templeton declaring that super funds are 'a huge market'. 'It's meaningful and you need to be in it,' the group said. Giant fund manager Australian Super is entering into agreements with major US financial players From the Australian end, super managers are keenly aware of the American interest. 'There are a lot more managers coming to Australia seeking capital from Aussie funds because this is one of the few areas that's growing,' Con Michalakis, deputy chief investment officer for the $100billion hospitality fund Hostplus, told the AFR. The amount of money going into super is only set to grow with bosses having to deposit 11 per cent of employee wages into retirement funds from July 1 this year, up from 10.5 per cent previously. The rate is going up again to 12 per cent by the end of 2025, which is forecast to triple the assets under management to $10.5 trillion by 2040. Australian super savings, which were made compulsory for all wage earners by the Keating Labor government in 1992, already amount to a whopping 6.9 per cent of gross domestic product, more than three times the OECD average. This has meant Australia has become a net exporter of capital with the nation not able to contain the amount of money looking for investment. Some of the bigger funds, such as the $250billion goliath AustralianSuper, are opening offices in London and New York to find investment opportunities. Wall St giants are viewing Australia as a growth opportunity with compulsory super continuously growing the funds looking for investment Mr Gorman's stellar 13-year run at the helm of Morgan Stanley, due to end some time in the coming year, has also helped burnish his home country's reputation as he has bolstered the bank's assets to $15 trillion. Such is his lustre that when he announced his upcoming retirement in May Morgan Stanley stock dropped by two per cent. Mahmoud Abbas, a lawyer to Sydney's underworld has been gunned down in broad daylight in what police believe was a targeted shooting in the city's south-west. Emergency services were called to a home in Greenacre shortly before 10.30am on Wednesday after the solicitor was shot by 'an unknown person' in the torso and leg. He was treated at the scene of his sprawling, luxurious house by paramedics and taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition, it's understood he is currently undergoing emergency surgery. Mr Abbas was gunned down on the same street where underworld figure Mahmoud 'Brownie' Ahmad was shot dead while visiting an associate in April 2022. A crime scene has been established and investigations continue. Mr Abbas tied the knot with a lavish reception Sydney lawyer Mahmoud Abbas was taken to hospital in a serious condition The 31-year-old is a partner at a Sydney law firm Who is Mahmoud Abbas? Mr Abbas is a partner with Abbas Jacobs Lawyers, where he works with his brother, Mohomed and business partner Andrew Jacobs. Mr Abbas has represented a range of high profile Sydney identities including former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer, ex-NRL player Jamil Hopoate and accused members of an ISIS-inspired terror cell. He also represented the four men who allegedly abducted a Hamze associate from the northern beaches. Mr Abbas grew up in the Bankstown area and attended Bass High School before studying a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Commerce at Western Sydney University. 'He and his brother were popular, they were both really into legal and business studies,' a former student told Daily Mail Australia. 'His family are pretty well respected in Muslim community.' Mr Abbas lives in a sprawling, luxury home (pictured) in Greenacre Mr Abbas (pictured left) represented Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer Mr Abbas started his career working for well-known criminal defence lawyer Brett Galloway and is the son of a farmer from the NSW Snowy Mountains. Photos show Mr Abbas reaping the rewards of a career in law - travelling on glamorous international holidays, riding jetskies and posing with luxury vehicles. A source said Mr Abbas is accustomed to the finer things in life and in the past has travelled with former client Salim Mehajer. 'He flies first class and travels private jets, ' the source said. Mr Abbas was a wolrld traveller and accustomed to the finer things in life The incident happened about 10.30 am on Wednesday when a gunman opened fire on Narelle Crescent Why was Mahmoud Abbas shot? It is still unclear why Abbas was shot in broad daylight. 'Investigations are in their infancy; however it's believed to be a targeted incident,' a police statement read. Local detectives are being assisted by the State Crime Commands Criminal Groups and Raptor Squad in the investigations. This is the latest in a string of shootings, after three people were shot Mayvic Street, Greenacre on Sunday morning. Man, believed to be in his 60s, pulled from water An elderly man has died in hospital despite the efforts of multiple rescue crews to save him after the swimmer was pulled from the surf on Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach. The incident occurred about 10am when offficers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were called to Bondi Beach, Bondi, following reports a person had been pulled from the water. The 82-year-old man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to St Vincents hospital in a critical condition, where he later died. A report is being prepared for the coroner. The incident occurred about 10am when offficers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were called to Bondi Beach, Bondi, following reports a person had been pulled from the water A Toll Rescue ambulance helicopter and at least a dozen police officers were scrambled to Bondi Beach in the city's exclusive Eastern Suburbs on Wednesday morning after a man got into trouble in the water Paramedics were seen attending to the man who appeared to have blood on his forehead Earlier, a Toll Rescue ambulance helicopter and at least a dozen police officers had scrambled to the location after reports of a man getting into trouble in the water. Paramedics were seen attending to the man, who appeared to have blood on his forehead. A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance told Daily Mail Australia: 'NSW Ambulance was called to the vicinity of the life guard tower on Bondi Beach this morning just after 9am. 'Paramedics crews attended to a man at the beach.' The patient was conveyed by road to St Vincents Public Hospital at Darlinghurst. NSW Police said early reports indicated the man had suffered a medical episode. An officer was pictured comforting a woman in distress on the promenade. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the term Western Europe'' has come to mean all European countries west of Russia. This newly expanded western Europe saw enormous economic growth in the formerly Russian (Soviet) dominated states of what was once considered eastern Europe, not just because it was dominated by Russia, but because the east European economies and armed forces were controlled by the Soviets. After 1991 this control was gone and what was once East Europe integrated its economies with the rest of Europe to create a new economic superpower. By 2008 the new Europe had a combined economy worth $16.2 trillion versus $14.7 trillion for the United States. After that American economic growth accelerated at a faster pace than the new Europe so that by 2022 the U.S. economy was worth $25 trillion compared to $19.8 trillion for the European economies. This sort of thing was nothing new. Over a century ago European nations were surprised to discover that the American economy was growing at a much faster rate than Europes and that disparity kept growing, helped by the self-inflicted setbacks caused by two World Wars that both began in Europe and didnt end until the Americans got involved. After World War II (1939-45) the United States made an enormous and highly successful effort to help European nations rebuild their shattered economies. This played a major role in the combined European economies briefly overtaking the Americans for a few years after 2008. The Americans soon recovered the lead and the main reason for that was the United States was a single country and economy while in Europe the total economy was a combination of many countries. Europe realized this was a problem many years earlier and after decades of effort created the economic EU (European Union) to give Europe more of a single market. This was a big help but the American economy was always a singular operation with a common language and political system. The member states of the EU, and their major companies, are unable to coordinate their economic decisions as effectively as the United States. The EU made European economies more prosperous and more cooperative with each other and for a while that put the combined EU economies ahead of the United States. That didnt last because the economic unity found within the United States was still stronger than that of the EU. The larger American economy depends on foreign trade with customers worldwide. The United States has no common borders with most of its trading partners and developed large armed forces, especially after World War II, to safeguard naval access with distant trading partners. This meant American military spending was the largest in the world. Most foreign trading partners were fine with that because the Americans were defending two-way trade routes. Currently American military spending is about $800 billion a year compared to about $330 billion for all European nations. Since the end of World War II in 1945, the Americans have had the largest fleet and the best trained and equipped air and ground forces in the world. All the American forces are volunteers and they have regularly demonstrated their effectiveness in numerous small conflicts, some only requiring the use of air power. The American navy ensures that the ground and air forces can reach distant combat zones safely, along with a steady stream of supplies. American allies in Europe, the Middle East and Far East benefit from this because they can always depend on the Americans to deliver aid when needed. This is one reason why most nations of the world consider themselves American allies or at least reliable trading partners. The Americans are not seeking to dominate foreign countries, but to keep the trade going, The Americans have learned that getting involved with distant wars is a losing proposition and try to avoid it as much as possible. Such involvement is often difficult to avoid, especially in Europe where American allies assume that they can always rely on American support. This is what is happening in Ukraine, where most of the foreign aid is coming from the United States. Being the largest economic and military power in the world makes these foreign efforts unavoidable. A man who took part in ice-fuelled, sexual escapades with sheep inside a school's shed was not in his right mind at the time of the offence, a court has been told. George Danakis, 44, had been awake for five days when he was caught with his pants down by officers after having sex with a male sheep at St Marys High School in Sydney's west in May 2022. Teaching staff had caught him on CCTV after they suspected that someone had been breaking into their milking shed after hours. Police found Danakis with his pants down sexually engaging with the male sheep while a female goat was observed to be in a state of shock beside them on May 18. Danakis pleaded guilty at Penrith District Court to damaging property, bestiality, possessing bestiality material, break and enter and possessing an unauthorised firearm before he was sentenced to over three years behind bars. George Danakis, 44, had been awake for five days when he was caught with his pants down by officers after having sex with a male sheep at St Marys High School in Sydney's west in May 2022 A female goat was observed to be in a state of shock as the man had sex with the sheep (stock image) Footage that the teaching staff had compiled was used as evidence against Danakis during his trial. The court was told that he was recorded herding two goats into a gated area on May 6 before he was filmed a week later walking around the same shed naked from the waist down. When officers found Danakis 11 days later he told them that he was in the shed at the time looking for his phone and that he had removed his pants to urinate. A phone belonging to Danakis was found in the sheep paddock on June 24, but it only added to his troubles when police searched it. Content pertaining to bestiality was stored on the phone alongside a photo of him holding a pump action shotgun which he did not have permits for. Danakis' methamphetamine use leading up to his arrest, combined with his affinity for enjoying 'sheep on the side', led to 'the state of the mind in which he did what he did', his defence lawyer told the court on Tuesday. Danakis displayed 'sexual deviance', the court was told, which made him lose all inhibitions. His lawyer shared that Danakis had told his psychiatrist that he was only attracted to animals while under the influence of the drug because it increased his sex dive. Danakis did eventually admit to his psychiatrist that he was 'pretty much into bestiality' after seeing it on the internet, but that he still liked women. The court heard that Danakis was diagnosed with schizophrenia and that he had stopped taking his prescribed medication in the weeks before his actions. However it was agreed between the prosecution and defence that this was not a 'causal' factor toward offending, and that his 'paraphilic disorder' of attraction toward animals and his substance abuse were key factors. In determining an appropriate sentencing for the crimes, Judge Sophia Beckett cited a lack of case law which could be referred to and the curiosity of the crimes. Danakis was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for his offences. Teaching staff at the school had caught him on CCTV after they suspected that someone had been breaking into their milking shed after hours Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says his office is now investigating airlines for 'unrealistic scheduling' The industry is currently short about 32,000 commercial pilots, mechanics and air traffic controllers, according to an analysis by CBS News Aviation experts predict Americans may face another decade of persistent flight cancelations and delays amid ongoing staffing shortages Americans may face another decade of persistent flight cancelations and delays amid a desperate staffing crisis. The industry is currently short about 32,000 commercial pilots, mechanics and air traffic controllers, according to analysis by CBS News. Airlines have struggled to keep up with a post-COVID travel surge, which has caused major travel disruptions over the past two years. And experts say the trend is likely to continue, as it takes years to train airline professionals and because pilots must retire by law at the age of 65 and air traffic controllers at 56. US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says his office is now investigating airlines for 'unrealistic scheduling,' or listing more flights than carriers can safely accommodate. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says his office is investigating airlines for 'unrealistic scheduling' or listing more flights than they have the staff for Travelers have faced major flight delays and cancelations over the past two years as the aviation industry struggles to meet the demand of a post-COVID surge despite a staff shortage. Travelers are seen here watching the flight screens at JFK Airport in New York City on December 23 The persistent flight delays and cancelations have caused long lines at the airports. People are pictured here waiting in line at the security check in at JFK on June 30 Airlines had already been struggling to retain employees for years before the COVID pandemic hit, but the problem became significantly worse in the aftermath, when airlines drastically cut back their routes and laid off thousands of workers. Many of those who remained decided to seize the opportunity to take an early retirement or leave the industry altogether. Then when worldwide travel resumed as normal in 2022 and 2023, the airlines found themselves without enough employees to meet the pent-up demand. The industry is now short about 17,000 pilots, and Wichita State University emeritus professor Dean Headley who publishes the annual Airline Quality Ratings said airlines can only train about 1,500 to 1,800 pilots each year. Training a pilot can also take two years or longer, and cost more than $100,000. At the same time, some current pilots will be forced to retire when they hit the age of 65. Because of that mandatory retirement, aviation consultant Oliver Wyman predicts the industry will be short 24,000 pilots by 2026 before the gap slowly closes. Headley also said, 'Some of the predictions I'm hearing is that the pilot shortage won't be resolved until 2032 or something like that.' A CBS News analysis of employee data also found that the aviation industry is short about 12,800 certified and trained mechanics. Boeing estimates that the US alone will need 178,000 mechanics to meet the demand, and more than 600,000 worldwide. 'This is the big unsung shortage that nobody talks about,' said Kathleen Bangs, a spokeswoman for flight tracker FlightAware. 'Most people don't understand that about half of all airline maintenance is done overseas. So we outsource a lot of that maintenance, and I think it's going to be challenging. 'We have to figure out a way how do we attract young people to become mechanics, which are critical, but also at the same time they're outsourcing ore and more of their work?' Proper training and certification can take 18 months to two years to complete, and Wyman says there will be a shortage of some 18,000 mechanics in the coming years. The industry is also facing a shortage of about 3,000 fully-certified air traffic controllers, who are legally required to retire at the age of 56. A June 21 report by the US Department of Transportation's Inspector General revealed that in 20 of 26 critical control towers, staffing fell well below the Federal Aviation Administration's own minimum 85 percent threshold with one tower in New York City at only 54 percent of its staffing. The aviation industry is short 17,000 pilots after many were laid off, took an early retirement or quit during the pandemic. Those who remained said they were forced to work long hours to make up the demand. Delta pilots are seen protesting the conditions last year Passengers are seen here waiting in line to check in at Miami International Airport on December 23 amid widespread flight cancelations and delays Travelers lined up at a security checkpoint at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport last month, as more than 31,000 flights were canceled nationwide The staffing shortages have already caused major travel disruptions over the past two years. A CBS News analysis of data provided by FlightAware found that the number of delays caused by airline issues jumped from 5.2 percent in 2018 to 7.6 percent in 2023. The pressure has been especially evident in the days surrounding holidays, when many Americans travel to visit their loved ones. In the days following Christmas and New Years thousands of flights were delayed across the United States amid the spread of the highly contagious Covid-19 Omicron variant. Many pilots and flight attendants called in sick after testing positive for the virus or were forced to quarantine due to contact with someone who has the virus leaving carriers with staffing shortages and forcing them to delay or cancel flights. And over just four days last month, from June 24 through June 27, 31,850 flights were delayed representing one-third of all flights nationwide. Airlines also canceled another 6,346 scheduled flights, representing on in every 17 flights being canceled outright. The number of delays during that time period was 25 percent higher than it was just one year prior, and when compared to the same period in 2019, the number of cancelations was up 374 percent. United Airlines passengers suffered the most cancelations, leaving them stranded in airports and standing in long lines to rebook flights, with some saying they were forced to wait several days for their checked bags. Several airlines have now pulled out of several markets. In a letter to the US Senate Commerce Committee on June 21, the Regional Airline Association said airlines had left 73 markets since 2019 and 321 airports have lost some service. According to its data, 61 airports lost more than half their flights, and 16 airports lost all their major commercial flights. 'So people [who] are not at a major airport will find that their flight schedules have been reduced simply because they don't have enough people to put in an airplane to fly it somewhere.' Thousands of travelers tried making a last ditch effort to get to their destinations for the Fourth of the July holiday this year Two days before Christmas, travelers were seen stuck at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where they slept on the floors A passenger rested at Newark Airport as flight delays and cancelations hindered travel for the July 4 holiday Lawmakers have been pushing for the airlines and federal officials to do something about the crisis for more than a year now. Last June, Sens. Edward J. Markey and Richard Blumenthal - who are part of the Senate Commerce Committee - wrote letters to the CEOs of 10 different airlines demanding corrective action. They asked the CEOs to 'take immediate action' to reduce travel disruptions, and demanded information about how each airline decides which flights to cancel and the number of consumer refunds requested and granted. Then in December, a bipartisan group of 34 state attorneys general wrote to leaders in Congress telling them that Buttigieg's department had 'failed to respond and to provide appropriate recourse' for an increasing number of flight delays and cancelations where passengers were not compensated. The letter said state attorneys general have little authority to hold airlines accountable so without adequate action from the Department of Transportation (DoT), major airlines have been able to 'mistreat' customers. 'Americans are justifiably frustrated that federal government agencies charged with overseeing airline consumer protection are unable or unwilling to hold the airline industry accountable and to swiftly investigate complaints submitted to the Department of Transportation,' the August letter states. They suggested the Department of Transportation require airlines to advertise and sell only flights that they have adequate personnel to fly, and to perform regular audits of airlines to ensure compliance and impose fines on those that do not comply. Passengers were stranded for days at a terminal at New York City's LaGuardia Airport in December, after thousands of flights were delayed Delayed travelers wait for air traffic to resume at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport ahead of the July 4th holiday weekend in Arlington, Virginia Travelers who experienced flight delays were forced to search through mounds of luggage at Chicago Midway International Airport on December 26 Buttigieg now says his office is actively investigating several airlines for its conduct, telling CBS News: 'If an airline is knowingly flying an unrealistic schedule, there are going to be consequences. 'We have active investigations underway right now with regard to that,' he said. 'We take that very seriously because when you sell a ticket to a paying customer an you make a profit off that, you better be ready to do everything in your power to service that ticket. And we're also going to hold you responsible for what happens if you can't,' the Transportation Secretary warned. His office confirmed that Southwest is among the carriers being investigated, but declined to name any other airlines involved in the probe or offer a timeline. Southwest faced major backlash late last year, when it canceled 14,042 flights, representing over 80 percent of its flight schedule, due to software issues and a lack of staffing. Desperate passengers were forced to sleep in terminals surrounded by growing mounds of lost luggage as the airline barred passengers from rebooking flights through December 31. In a statement, Airlines-4-America, an association that represents seven of the nation's largest carriers said the airlines have since 'reduced their schedules to reflect current operating realities,' adding that they are 'hiring aggressively to make sure they have the right people in the right place at the right time. 'US airlines recognize the importance of securing a pipeline of new employees pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and others and have established new pilot training programs, enhanced recruitment efforts and implemented programs to address financial hurdles,' the statement read. A woman who was arrested with her husband after police discovered six horrifically abused children, including two locked in a cage, has claimed he was also abusing her and she was scared for her life. Two children, aged nine and eleven, were found locked in a dog cage and four more severely beaten in a Las Vegas apartment following a domestic violence callout on June 11. Travis Doss, 31, and his wife Amanda Stamper, 33, were both arrested after she called the police from a nearby drugstore and said she was scared of him and made comments 'regarding the childrens welfare'. Doss was charged with more than 40 offenses, including several counts of child abuse, and for sex trafficking his wife. While Stamper is facing seven charges of child abuse, one for each child. In a jailhouse interview on Tuesday, she said the physical abuse against her and her six stepchildren increased in the weeks before they were arrested and that she told 911 dispatchers the children were being abused. Amanda Stamper, 33, who was arrested with her husband after police discovered six horrifically abused children, including two locked in a cage, claimed he was also abusing her and she was scared for her life Travis Doss, 31, and his wife were arrested after she called the police from a nearby drugstore and said she was scared of him and made comments 'regarding the childrens welfare' One of the children had 'two black eyes that were swollen shut, multiple marks and bruises all over his body, and he was emaciated,' police said. The child was in such a state that his father thought he had beaten him to death. Doss and Stamper, who is currently pregnant, shared the one-bedroom, apartment with seven children under the age of 11, all of whom are fathered by Doss. A seventh child, a two-year-old girl, the only biological child he shares with Stamper does not appear to have been present at the time. Asked why she did not call the police sooner, Stamper told the Las Vegas Review Journal: 'I was scared for my life and my other kids and my family. 'Its hard for people to understand that unless youre in that situation.' 'I tried to stop him anytime he did anything, he would just attack me,' she told 8NewsNow. Stamper claimed he was also abusing her and forcing her to have sex with people for money. A detective testified during the grand jury hearing that Doss told police he disciplined a boy who was locked inside the cage for stealing food from the refrigerator or trash can, according to the court transcripts. Authorities were told by a doctor that he would have died if he was not taken to University Medical Center and a nurse said 'this is the worst case of abuse she has seen in 13 years'. Doss allegedly admitted to child abuse in a police interview, according to the arrest report. But he later denied the allegations during an interview from jail and said: 'Im innocent and I would like my lawyer to be present.' Stamper told police Doss would hurt his children using a heavy wok, extension cords and belts, court transcripts state. Amanda Stamper, 33, (left) and Travis Doss, 31, (right) have been indicted on child abuse charges and have both pled not guilty Doss was charged with more than 40 offenses, including several counts of child abuse, and for sex trafficking his wife Amanda Stamper, who is facing seven charges of child abuse, one for each child, alleges she was sex trafficked and violently abused by Doss 'She said they have, quote, like a million marks on them,' a detective said during the hearing. She said she moved from Atlanta to Las Vegas with Doss in January 2018 to earn money as a sex worker but felt she did not have a choice. Stamper testified that her husband would threaten to take their child away from her and that he also beat her. Doss was pursuing a career as a rapper under the name 'Trap Montana' and he also posted videos of his children on social media. There was an active warrant out for his arrest in South Carolina when he was arrested by officials in June. North Myrtle Beach police said he was wanted for aggravated assault. Stamper was also arrested by police in January in connection to a warrant for violating federal probation related to drug charges in Tennessee. Disturbing footage, first obtained by 8NewsNow, shows officers attempting to enter the bolted apartment before discovering the dreadful conditions within. Once officers had entered their flashlights revealed children locked in cages while a pitbull roamed free. Las Vegas Police discovered six severely abused children including two locked in a dog cage in a one-bedroom apartment last month Asked why she did not call the police sooner, Stamper told the Las Vegas Review Journal : 'I was scared for my life and my other kids and my family' Doss admitted to child abuse in a police interview, according to the arrest report. But he later denied the allegations during an interview from jail and said: 'Im innocent and I would like my lawyer to be present' The officers led the children out of the apartment into the daylight where they began to detail their abuse, including being beaten by their father with belts, cords and even a frying pan. The emaciated child in the cage said he was not given sufficient food despite being a 'big boy now' and would have to share 'one large fry from McDonalds' with his siblings or eat food 'in the trash'. 'He hit my face in the cage because I was squished up trying to get out of the cage because I didnt do anything and I was freaking out,' the child tells officers in the video. The horrifying discovery occurred after police were called to a Walgreens store across the road from the apartment where Stamper was hiding from her husband because 'he threatened to kill her', 8News Now reported. Stamper's public defender said that she had not beaten the children herself, as 'if she had done anything, she would have been subjected to serious, serious abuse.' Prosecutors said they were aware that Stamper worked as a sex worker at Doss direction but that she was aware of the alleged abuse. Both Doss and Stamper appeared in court on Tuesday, and have pled not guilty. The next hearing is scheduled for August 1. A Gold Coast building firm has gone under, leaving over 500 apartment owners in limbo. GCB Constructions, a family-owned firm founded in the 1980s and based in Varsity Lakes, collapsed into administration on Wednesday, with staff losing their jobs. It comes a day after the Queensland Building and Construction Commission suspended its licence for 'failure to pay debts'. GCB Constructions has been unable to carry out any building work, including any projects in progress, since late yesterday. The company was working on residential projects on the Gold Coast including $182m Marine Quarter Apartments at Southport and the fifth tower in the $200m Vantage project at Benowa. GCB Constructions, a family-owned firm founded in the 1980s and based in Varsity Lakes, collapsed into administration on Wednesday, with staff losing their jobs It comes a day after the Queensland Building and Construction Commission suspended its licence for 'failure to pay debts', forcing all work to stop on its sites, including the $200m Vantage project at Benowa (pictured) Administrators David Stimpson and Adam Kersey of SV Partners have been appointed to pick through GCB Constructions' finances. 'We have terminated the staff, work has ceased on all the sites, which was pretty much inevitable given the licence suspension yesterday,' Mr Stimpson told the Gold Coast Bulletin. 'We are hoping to transfer some of the projects, those that essentially have profit and will provide a return. 'We're working to secure the sites and ensuring the company's assets are secure is a priority.' Mr Stimpson said GCB had property assets and was owed substantial amounts of money he hoped could be secured for creditors. The firm is subject to multiple court actions for alleged unpaid debts, including a wind-up application. GCB Constructions managing director Trent Clark previously said he was 'determined and confident' of overcoming financial struggles which have plagued the company since May. For example, GCB had started construction of Drift Main Beach, which was supposed to reach 30 levels and include 46 apartments, however a falling out with developer GDI Group found both parties in court. Daily Mail Australia approached GCB Constructions for comment. Adam Profke, Master Builders Queensland Gold Coast regional manager, told the ABC the firm's collapse would have a 'massive, knock-on effect for the community'. 'Potential unit and apartment owners certainly want to move into their apartments and it's no secret on the Gold Coast we have a housing shortage,' said Mr Profke. 'The more apartment housing stock that we bring online obviously frees up space for people renting and other apartments. So there's a big, massive, knock-on effect for the community.' Local doctor James Ellingford is one of those affected. He purchased a three-bedroom corner apartment in the second tower of the $182m Marine Quarter project at Southport. He previously told the Gold Coast Bulletin he intended to rent it out before moving in and says he has a 'thousand questions'. 'I'm very disappointed,' he said. 'It's a damn shame it just means we're in a sort of limbo while we see what happens.' In May, the firm faced workers deserting sites after subcontractors claimed invoices were not being paid. GCB Constructions managing director Trent Clark previously said he was 'determined and confident' of overcoming financial struggles which have plagued the company since May. A wealthy paedophile who owes his victim more than $5million in compensation has not paid a cent after offloading all his assets while he was in jail. John Wayne Millwood, an art collector who ran a pathology services firm in Tasmania, pleaded guilty to maintaining a sexual relationship with someone under 17 and was jailed for a maximum of four years in December 2016. He had abused his victim, known as ZAB, under the guise of medical examinations in the 1980s when the boy was aged between ten and 15. On the same day Millwood was sentenced he began selling or giving away assets worth millions of dollars, having been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer. He was released from prison in 2019. Paedophile art collection John Wayne Millwood has failed to pay his victim more than $5million in compensation. He says he offloaded all his assets because he thought he would die in prison. Millwood is pictured with his daughter Sarah, who received most of his assets In December 2021, the Tasmanian Supreme Court ordered Millwood pay his victim $5.313million in compensation, but he has not produced a cent of that money. The 77-year-old, who was once feted in Tasmanian society, has been declared bankrupt and is living off a pension of $1,200 a fortnight. Bankruptcy trustee Sheahan Lock Partners is attempting to recover Millwood's assets through the Federal Court so that his victim can be paid. Millwood, who was described by the Tasmanian Parole Board as 'narcissistic and morally bankrupt', gave evidence to that Federal Court hearing on Wednesday about why he divested his assets. Property, shares and superannuation were transferred to his daughter Sarah Millwood in a scheme which also benefited his former partner Sonia Finlay and her son Duncan Finlay. Millwood told the Federal Court his divestment of his assets was not prompted by an anticipation of a compensation claim against him. He said he owed his daughter and Ms Finlay money. Millwood said he had not been made aware before his sentencing in December 2016 that his victim had sent a letter to his lawyers indicating an intention to seek compensation. He further said his guilty plea was only made on his understanding there was a deal with the Director of Public Prosecutions that he would not serve any time in jail. 'That was the deal,' Millwood told the court. 'I thought it was done, otherwise I would not have pleaded guilty. It was a total shock.' John Wayne Millwood has also claimed he had a deal with prosecutors that he would not go to prison for maintaining a sexual relationship with a person under 17 He said the giveaway of his assets had been prompted by his spreading cancer and the belief he would soon die, and he had instructed his accountant Ken Davey to therefore begin transferring assets to his daughter. 'When I died I didn't want anything left in my estate,' Millwood told the court. 'I didn't speak to Mr Davey about divesting my assets - I spoke to him about getting my affairs in order as per my will.' Millwood said he did not give Mr Davey specific instructions about how to distribute his assets, and was unaware he had made gifts totalling $880,000 on the day he was sentenced. 'I gave instructions to get my affairs in order and I think that's abundantly clear,' he told the court. 'The process of how that occurred was left to others.' 'At the end of the day I wanted my daughter to be the major beneficiary of this, which she was.' Asked how he intended supporting himself without any assets once he left jail, Millwood said he had not believed that was a prospect. Calls to have this bronze statue - commissioned by Millwood of famed painter John Glover - removed arose after his imprisonment amid claims it looked more like him than the artist 'By the grace of God I'm here today but [the cancer's] still spreading,' he told the court. Millwood, who had operated Sonic Healthcare before his arrest, thought it likely he would live with his former partner if he got out of jail. 'One is never certain of death but even if I didn't think I'd survive I was aware Sonia had purchased a house in Hobart,' he said. Millwood said he first learnt his victim might make a compensation claim against him from newspaper reports in 2018. By the time Millwood was released in 2019 he was broke, having transferred his superannuation fund of approximately $1.5million to his daughter. 'I was expecting to die,' he said. 'I wanted everything done before I died.' Millwood helped establish the John Glover Society in honour of the famed 19th landscape painter and was instrumental in the erection of a statue to the artist at Evandale in Tasmania's north. Members of the society have campaigned to remove the statue which critics claim looks more like Millwood than Glover. Grace Tame slammed wealthy paedophile John Wayne Millwood after he declared bankruptcy and avoided paying court-ordered compensation to his victim The businesswoman who opened Australia's first 'alcohol free bottle shop', calling herself a 'disruptor' and planning to create a booze-free drinks empire has been dealt a staggering blow as her business plunges into administration. Irene Falcone opened her non-alcoholic bottle shop franchise 'Sans Drinks' at Freshwater on Sydney's Northern Beaches in May 2021, selling booze-free wines, spirits and premixed mocktails. She had projected that she her business would make $20million in the first five years and in a video for prospective backer Westpac about 'brewing up success' she expressed hopes the business would 'expand really rapidly.' 'We do have plans for six more stores in Sydney and 20 across Australia in the next three years,' Ms Falcone said. 'I love being a disruptor - I love disrupting. And there's nothing more exciting than opening up a non-alcoholic bottle shop right across the road from our friends at Vintage Cellars. 'I was in the paper the other day and there must have been 10 or 20 comments on there saying I was going to broke in a week.' The critics may have been mean-spirited but were not far wrong. She shut her original store - which was deliberately opposite a regular bottle shop - in November, and closed her second store at Warringah Mall last month. Irene Falcone (pictured) opened her non-alcoholic bottle shop franchise 'Sans Drinks' at Freshwater on Sydney's northern beaches over two years ago in May 2021 The alcohol-free bottle shop sold booze-free wines, spirits and premixed cocktails. Ms Falcone will continue to sell her products, currently stored in a Brookvale warehouse, online Ms Falcone told Daily Mail Australia she once had dreams of rivalling Dan Murphy's but that her business took a hit after being 'attacked' by supermarket giants. She claims that her idea was copied by major chains, and their sales of the same non-alcoholic drinks she stocked gave her stores no point of difference. 'I was shocked at how fast Woolworths and Dan Murphy's jumped on my idea. They jumped on it so fast, with so much gusto,' she said. 'They went very hard after the brand that I was selling and my concept.' With non-alcoholic wines and spirits now available in supermarkets throughout cities, foot traffic at her specialist stores dropped significantly. Ms Falcone said months such as Feb Fast and Dry July - where Australians swear off alcohol to raise money for charity - would normally see her business boom. In previous years, she claimed to have seen lines out the door - but the absence of queues this year was a troubling sign. '(I thought) two peak periods of not drinking were not turning a dial for me - I need to step in now until this snowballs into something out of my control,' she said. Ms Falcone told Daily Mail Australia she once had dreams of rivalling Dan Murphys but that her business took a hit after being 'attacked' by supermarket giants The businesswoman claims that her idea of alcohol free drinks was copied by major supermarkets who started selling the same non-alcoholic brands as her Ms Falcone sought voluntary administration - needing a 'professional who can oversee my business' - with the hope the restructure would save the business and even enable it to thrive, albeit on a smaller scale that initially envisaged. 'I fought really hard. I genuinely thought I had a David and Goliath story against the big boys,' she said, pointing to booze giants Dan Murphy's and BWS. 'I'm open to anyone coming to save me. I'm still so passionate,' she continued. 'There is genuinely a place out there (for a business) that specialises in non alcoholic drinks. 'I'm hoping that I can ride through this storm and find a niche where I can survive alongside these big boys. I'm a fighter but I need help now. 'There's very few people who could do it on their own. I bit off more than I can chew.' Footage allegedly showing several instances of dog abuse over the course of almost three weeks has sparked an investigation into the greyhound racing industry in one Australian state. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas reacted to the footage by announcing that he will launch an independent inquiry into the state's industry within a month. The footage, which was captured by a drone and published via ABC, showed greyhounds being allegedly kicked, punched and almost ran over by a quad bike. The alleged incidents were filmed over the property of well-known trainer Tony Rasmussen, although it is not alleged that he was involved in any way. Greyhound Racing South Australia (GRSA) had retained its ability to self-regulate, unlike every other state, following a Four Corners investigation into live baiting in greyhound training. Footage allegedly showing several instances of abuse of dogs over the course of almost three weeks has sparked an investigation into the greyhound racing industry Mr Malinauskas said that he was 'really angry' about the footage, and that assurances from the industry that trainers aren't abusive can no longer be blindly trusted. 'It's patently inhumane and it needs a strong response,' Mr Malinauskas told reporters from the Advertiser. 'The book needs to be thrown at this individual for what they have done. We were told that this type of behaviour didn't happen and now we find out that it does. 'I can't rely on those assurances anymore when we see footage like this.' The premier was determined to explore if the problem might be systemic, and said that South Australians needed to have confidence that the industry is humane. Those within the industry welcome the investigation, which they hope will improve transparency and accountability among trainers, GRSA told Daily Mail Australia. 'Like everyone, we are appalled by this vision as it goes against everything we stand for as a sporting community,' a spokesperson said. 'Both trainers on the property have been suspended with immediate effect, pending a formal interview. Mr Rasmussen is not one of these trainers. He also told the ABC one of the men in question no longer worked for him. 'GRSA Animal Welfare Officers inspected the property this morning and are satisfied with the current welfare of all dogs.' The dogs will be removed from the property in the coming days and placed at other training facilities given the suspension of the trainers, the spokesperson confirmed. The alleged incidents were filmed over the property of well-known trainer Tony Rasmussen (pictured), although it is not alleged that he was involved in any way Greyhound Racing South Australia had retained its ability to self-regulate, unlike every other state, following a Four Corners investigation into live baiting in greyhound training Greens Legislative Councillor Tammy Franks told the Advertiser that the drone footage was sickening and that she welcomed news of an independent inquiry. 'We have an industry that regulates itself, so we really don't know (how often these incidents are happening),' Ms Franks said. She referenced recent scandals including the Four Corners expose which have revealed questionable practices taking place within the industry in her state. Over the summer trainers were found to be racing dogs in 41 degree temperatures which led to severe backlash from the community. Without community pressure, Ms Franks said that the behaviour was unlikely to change. No criminal charges have been laid in relation to the drone footage, however South Australia's RSPCA has confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that they are now inspecting the footage. 'RSPCA inspectors are now assessing the footage to determine the most appropriate action,' a spokesperson said. 'At this early stage of the investigation the identities of those in the footage has not been confirmed.' A Texas couple is suing a Maryland man for $75,000 after he allegedly planted hidden cameras inside multiple rooms of an Airbnb they rented in August 2022. The lawsuit, filed by Kayelee Gates and her fiance, Christian Capraro, alleges an invasion of privacy perpetrated by the property owner Christoper Goisse. The couple stumbled upon the hidden cameras in the bathroom while engaging in intimate relations, causing them immediate distress and shock, according to court documents. Recalling the distressing moment, Gates said, 'I went into pure panic, pure shock mode.' The couple was 'intimate while in the shared bathroom' then 'laid down on the bed, put a movie on and began to relax,' according to court documents obtained by Fox 5. A Texas couple, Kayelee Gates (right) and her fiance Christian Capraro (left), is suing a Maryland man for $75,000 after he allegedly planted hidden cameras in their Airbnb The couple stumbled upon the hidden cameras in the bathroom while engaging in intimate relations, causing them immediate distress and shock, according to court documents It was at this point that they noticed a smoke detector positioned above the bed in the center of the ceiling and another one in the corner, arousing their suspicion. Upon closer inspection, they discovered that these smoke detectors were, in fact, what they believe to be cleverly disguised hidden cameras. Their suspicions grew when they found an identical device in the bathroom. 'Like, I can feel my heart start beating really heavy and fluttery whenever I start thinking about a situation. Whenever I start thinking about the situation I get a little shaky even talking about it.' Gates expressed the emotional turmoil that came following the unsettling revelation of the surreptitiously placed cameras, stating, 'I definitely have had many cry sessions about it.' Describing feelings of 'embarrassment, humiliation, disgrace, and loss of dignity,' Gates said she left the Airbnb immediately to seek accommodation at a hotel and promptly reported the matter to the police. In response to their report, law enforcement officers investigated the residence and found another video recording device camouflaged as a smoke detector in the basement, where another guest was staying. Dan Whitney, a Maryland attorney, voiced concerns about the potential dissemination of the recorded material, stating, 'Now it's a Pandora's box of uncertainty.' 'Once that box is open, once that recording is made, it's impossible to know where it went, who sent it, has it been shared, has it gone on the internet?,' he added. Upon closer inspection, they discovered that these smoke detectors were, in fact, cleverly disguised hidden cameras Goisse had denied any wrongdoing when confronted about the incident a year ago by Fox 5. He suggested the possibility that the guest might have planted the devices themselves, before reporting the matter to the police. The lawsuit contends that Goisse obstructed the investigation by refusing to allow the Montgomery County Police Department to search his twin brother Larry's bedroom, which had been locked at the time. The suit goes on to claim that Larry emerged later, after potentially destroying evidence. The incident has left the couple with lingering anxieties about their privacy. Gates said: 'It gives me the heebie-jeebies not knowing if someone looks at me weird if there's a potential they have seen it. That always lurks in the back of my head every time I meet somebody.' In response to the distress caused by this incident, the Texas couple is seeking $75,000 in damages to address the stress and strain they have endured. The Airbnb owner, Goisse, has 30 days to respond to the lawsuit. Katelyn Boss (left) and her friend Rachel Horman (right) received a full refund and a free seven day stay in another Airbnb property earlier this month when they claimed to have found a 'spy camera' that had filmed them undressing by the mirror The TikToker claimed the hidden camera was pointed towards the mirror to get a full view of the bedroom in their Airbnb. The social media influencer later said Airbnb had decided to 'close the case' and that she was still unsure whether any cameras were found Earlier this month, two women called the cops after 'finding spy camera in AirBnB that had filmed them undressing by the mirror.' In footage posted on the social media site, Katelyn Boss, 22, uncovers the suspected camera concealed in a light fitting in a rental property in Miami, Florida. In the video, which now has 12.5 million views, the social media manager films while her friend, Rachel Horman, 22, calls 911. The two friends from Utah noticed something suspicious about the about the bedroom light fittings before taking a closer look. The influencer claimed one of the lights was pointed towards the bedroom mirror, in front of which the pair had both changed their clothes. Airbnb gave the two friends a full refund and paid for a week's stay in an entirely new property - but the social media influencer later said Airbnb had decided to 'close the case' and that she was still unsure whether any cameras were found Despite continued IEA (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) government denials, they appear to be tolerating the presence of al Qaeda personnel as well as TTP (the Pakistani Taliban). TTP support was expected but IEA insists it will not tolerate any Islamic terror groups. They are either lying or simply dont have much control in many parts of the country. UN officials supervising aid deliveries noticed al Qaeda training camps in five provinces in addition to many more safehouses. Suicide bombers are being trained and indoctrinated for use outside Afghanistan. Some are being sent to Western countries where they can hide among the many Afghan refugees fleeing IEA rule. The IEA is also continuing to impose more lifestyle restrictions similar to those they enforced in the 1990s. This includes a ban on listening to live or recorded music. The IEA also censored what could be shown by Afghan TV stations. This meant no shows that had women with uncovered faces as well as no music. The IEA wants women appearing in public to wear the burqa (covers everything except the hands and eyes.) Many rural Afghans support some of these urban ideas, especially education for girls and more education in general. Beyond that these rural Afghans tend to be more conservative than those living in urban areas. The IEA is having a hard time coping with the current Afghanistan, which is quite different from the one they ruled before September 11, 2001. When the IEA took power, the national population was at least 33 million, which is 57 percent more than two decades ago when the Taliban were driven from power. Kabul is the largest city, with about half the urban population. The last time the Taliban were in charge (2001) Kabul had a population of half a million but twenty years later that has increased ten times to five million. Despite the population growth, over two-thirds of the population still lives in the countryside but rural Afghans are not as conservative as they were in the 1990s. Afghanistan has growing problems with Pakistan but increasingly friendly relations with India and China. The oldest Afghan-Pakistan issue is the Pakistani militarys lucrative participation in Afghanistans drug trade, which the current Taliban government claims it is trying to shut down. This effort has had some success. Over 90 percent of Afghan poppies are produced in one Afghan province; Helmand. Then as now, neighboring Pakistan cooperates to make this work because essential chemicals must be imported to refine the opium into heroin. Pakistan is also the most effective route to worldwide drug markets via Pakistani airports and its seaport in Karachi. Afghanistans other neighbors (Iran, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) are very hostile to the drug smugglers. Afghanistans northern neighbors, all former Soviet republics, have long received armed assistance from Russia to combat the drug smugglers. Unlike the 1990s, the Pakistani military, which created the Taliban in the 1990s and has sought to control them ever since, has encountered unexpected problems. Back in 2021, shortly after the IEA took control of Afghanistan, then Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan repeated his belief that foreign nations, including the United States, would eventually have to recognize the Taliban IEA government and resume diplomatic and economic relations with Afghanistan. That was a minority opinion in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Kahn was taking a lot of heat from Pakistanis who have seen their incomes fall or disappear because money from Afghanistan stopped coming into Pakistan due to the end of nearly all Western aid after the IEA took over Afghanistan in 2022. Some Pakistani officials considered the Taliban and various Islamic terrorist groups another failed investment. Pakistan long supported the Taliban and believed this would enable it to take control of Afghanistan and shut down Islamic terrorists and separatist groups in Afghanistan that attacked Pakistan. That did not happen. The Taliban were also supposed to provide stability for Pakistani investments and trade. China was willing to make major investments in Afghanistan if conditions were stable. That has not happened and Pakistan gets most of the blame. There is some international cooperation with the IEA in areas of mutual interest. The most obvious one is Islamic terrorism, which is also a problem for the IEA. The primary Islamic terror threat in Afghanistan is from ISK (Islamic State Khorasan), which was formed in Afghanistan during 2015, with the help of ISIL leadership in Syria, to handle ISIL activity throughout the region (Central Asia, Iran, Pakistan and India). ISK found they were most effective if they confined their operations to Afghanistan and Pakistan, which they have been doing since 2019. The United States does not believe the IEA controls all of Afghanistan and, until it does, the IEA is deemed not the legitimate government of Afghanistan and is not entitled to access to $7 billion in Afghan central bank funds on deposit in foreign banks. This money originally belonged to the IRA (Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) government that the IEA deposed in 2021. This money was held in foreign banks to reduce corruption and was frozen because no one would recognize the IEA as the successor to the IRA. Countries in the region expect the IEA to collapse in a few years, which will leave the country a narco-state without any central government. The Americans will not reopen its embassy in Afghanistan until the IEA can demonstrate that it actually governs Afghanistan. Over two billion dollars worth of American aid has been sent to Afghanistan since the IEA took power. The United States halted normal aid because of the uncertain status of the IEA but continued aid programs for Afghanistan on a case-by-case basis. The U.S. still does not have diplomatic relations with the IEA and the aid is monitored via the foreign aid groups that manage disbursement of aid throughout Afghanistan. The IEA is desperate for foreign aid to replace the much larger amounts the previous IRA government had received. IEA assured foreign aid donors that it would not interfere with the distribution of aid but did so anyway. The most obvious example of interference is the IEA ban on Afghan women working for foreign aid agencies, and putting additional restrictions on who could receive aid. It was increasingly common for the IEA to back off on agreements with foreign aid groups over how aid was to be distributed and used. The main problem was that IEA decisions were subject to modification by prominent imams (religious authorities) who have the authority to order the IEA to modify or cancel decisions on religious grounds. Other foreign donors remain active, moving over $10 billion in aid, mainly food, to areas of Afghanistan where there is little food and not much IEA presence. Not all of this aid gets through, even though it is desperately needed and even the families of men in various armed groups are going hungry. There have been droughts in the past few years and many Afghan farmers are losing all or most of their crops. Despite that the IEA does not care how local officials use the food aid. That means some of the food aid is sold. The IEA needs cash more than it needs food air so a lor of the food aid is sold on markets, with most of the proceeds going to the IEA. China has still not established much presence in Afghanistan and is seeking to establish security in areas where it wants to open mines and export copper and lithium. China is offering multi-billion dollar deals to the IEA if there is security for the mines and export and supply routes. These deals remain works in progress. July 21, 2023: Inside Afghanistan, the only organized opposition to IEA rule was a successor to the 1990s Northern Alliance. This anti-Taliban group reassembled in 2022 as the NRF (National Resistance Front) and appeared to be a major threat to IEA rule and possibly something that was more than the IEA could handle. NRF leaders blame the United States and the former IRA government. Both misjudged and mishandled efforts to deal with the ISIL and TTP (Pakistani Taliban) presence inside Afghanistan. Now the resistance to the revived Taliban rule in Afghanistan is opposed by an updated version of the pre September 11, 2001 Afghan resistance. This time the United States is not interested in trying to remove a pro-Islamic terrorist government in Afghanistan. Some of the NRF leaders are sons of successful Northern Alliance commanders. Iran threatened to provide more support to the NRF than they gave the Northern Alliance. By late 20221 the NRF dominated Panjshir province (northeast of Kabul) and believed they could resist any IEA attack. That was optimistic because IEA forces suffered some losses initially but soon turned that around and inflicted heavy losses on NRF in terms of gunmen, territory and local support. Now the NRF is based in northern neighbor Tajikistan and conducts raids into Afghanistan. This was not a repeat of the 1990s when the Northern Alliance dominated the Panjshir Valley (a 90-minute drive from Kabul) right up to the defeat of the Taliban government after September 2001. Northern Front leaders became members of the IRA government and now their sons reassembled as the NRF, which had some initial success but no staying power. Not enough Panjshir Valley residents willing to die opposing the ruthless IEA government. July 20, 2023: The three nations (China, Russia and Pakistan) that have the most economic activity with Afghanistan are urging the IEA to help Afghanistan as well as the IEA by allowing women to work and not continuing to impose more restrictions on women. The latest restriction is the IEA order to close all beauty parlors in Afghan cities. This was not received well by Afghan women, and there were several public protests by women which the IEA suppressed without killing anyone. Afghans consider it more important to crack down on the drug cartels and Islamic terror groups that currently operate freely. So far the IEA has ignored these suggestions. In response, the world largely ignored the IEA and Afghanistan and blocked IEA access to billions of frozen funds in foreign banks. There is a similar reluctance to deliver food aid, because IEA might divert some of it to markets, where it can be sold at high prices. July 8, 2023: Iran executed two Afghan men by hanging. The two were convicted of participating in the 2022 attack on a Shia shrine in the city of Shiraz in southern Iran. The attack killed 13 pilgrims and wounded over 40 more. Police quickly captured the two Afghan attackers alive. July 6, 2023: In the east (Kunar province) IEA security forces carried out several operations near the Pakistan border that killed Sanaullah Ghafari, the head of ISK (Islamic State Khorasan) and six of his armed followers. ISK was formed in Afghanistan during 2015, with the help of ISIL leadership in Syria, to handle ISIL activity throughout the region (Central Asia, Iran, Pakistan and India). ISK found they were most effective if they confined their operations to Afghanistan and Pakistan, which they have been doing since 2019. July 1, 2023: In the southwest (Nimroz province), across the border in Pakistan (Baluchistan) there is frequent separatist violence caused by Baluchi gunmen who maintain bases across the border in Afghanistan and carry out most of their attacks against Pakistani targets. There is a similar situation in the southeast (Khost province) where TTP (Pakistani Taliban) gunmen cross into Pakistan (North Waziristan) and attack Pakistani soldiers. This is not supposed to happen because the IEA assured Pakistan that there would be no sanctuaries for the TTP groups in Afghanistan. The TTP bases still exist in Afghanistan and those TTP men regularly cross into Pakistan to carry out attacks. June 27, 2023: The UN claims it has documented 1,095 violent deaths in Afghanistan since the IEA took control in late 2021. The UN had earlier reported 3,035 deaths in 2020 when the IRA was in charge and under attack by what would become the IEA. In 2020 there were still foreign troops in Afghanistan and foreign aid paid to support Afghan several hundred thousand men in the security forces. Their main task was to fight the Taliban and other armed outlaws that were active. Some of these armed men worked for the drug cartels and some still do. The primary source of violent deaths now are Islamic terrorists and some local self-defense groups. The IEA is trying to create a security force but that process is proceeding slowly. June 16, 2023: During the first six months of 2022, the invasion of Ukrainians killed more Russian troops than Afghans did during ten years of fighting in Afghanistan during the 1980s. The Afghan war cost the Russians 15,000 dead while the fighting in Ukraine has so far killed more than three times that number (about 47,000). The Ukrainians were better armed than the Afghans and there were more Ukrainians fighting more Russians in Ukraine than there were well-equipped Russians fighting poorly armed Afghan irregulars in Afghanistan. Russia has been actively involved in only two wars since World War II (1945) and the death toll in Ukraine has angered many Russian civilians back in Russia. Russians saw no justification for the invasion of Afghanistan that began at the end of 1979 and even less justification for going into Ukraine in early 2022. In both wars, Russian leaders had convinced themselves that victory would come quickly and with little loss. Losing the Afghan war played a role in the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. The current losses in Ukraine has many Russians talking of another government collapse. A man who maintained his innocence as he spent 17 years in jail for rape will today hear whether the Court of Appeal will quash his conviction after new DNA evidence emerged pointing to another potential suspect. Andrew Malkinson, 57, was jailed in 2004 after being found guilty of raping a 33-year-old mother-of-two next to the M61 in Little Hulton, near Manchester, a year earlier. He was finally released on a strict life licence in December 2020. He was jailed for life with a minimum term of seven years but remained in prison for a further 10 because he maintained he was innocent, claiming more recently 'no one should have to suffer what I've been through'. At the time of his trial, there had been no DNA linking the former security guard to the case. And the jury, who convicted Malkinson on a majority verdict, were asked to make their decision solely on identification evidence. Andrew Malkinson, 57, (pictured outside the Royal Courts of Justice earlier this year) was jailed in 2004 after being found guilty of raping a 33-year-old mother-of-two next to the M61 in Little Hulton, near Manchester. His case will be heard at the Court of Appeal today E-fit of the suspect in the rape case (left) and a mugshot of Malkinson shortly after he was arrested (right) In January this year, Malkinson's case was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, after the new evidence was discovered. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed in May that they will not contest Mr Malkinson's appeal, and the court may quash his conviction at today's hearing if it decides it is unsafe. Speaking following the police's statement, Mr Malkinson said: 'I've suffered incalculably for the last 20 years as a result of my wrongful conviction, and I continue to suffer each day. 'I have always known I am innocent. Finally, the prosecution has acknowledged my conviction should not stand. 'Of course, it is still the Court of Appeal's decision to grant me justice. I sincerely hope they will give serious consideration to the disclosure failures which denied me a fair trial. 'The police must be made accountable - no one should have to suffer what I've been through.' The court still has to determine the outcome and scope of the appeal, despite the lack of resistance. His case will be heard from 10.30am this morning by Lord Justice Holroyde and two other judges. While his main ground of appeal is the fresh DNA evidence, his lawyers told the court at a preliminary hearing in May that there were photographs of the victim's hands, corroborating her evidence that she scratched her attacker and broke a nail, which were not disclosed at the time of Mr Malkinson's trial. They also said there is evidence that one of the key identification witnesses was a 'long-term user of heroin', which may have affected his memory, but that was not known by Mr Malkinson or his legal team at trial. At the preliminary hearing in May, Edward Henry KC, for Mr Malkinson, told the court the CCRC had been aware since 2009 that there was 'crime specific' DNA which was not a match for either Mr Malkinson or the victim. However, he said at that time the CCRC 'did not consider it tipped the balance towards a referral' to the Court of Appeal. But in October last year, the sample was found to be a partial match for another man, who the court ordered can only be identified as Mr B. Mr Malkinson previously applied twice for his case to be reviewed by the CCRC, but was turned down, eventually being released from prison in December 2020. After his release, advancements in scientific techniques allowed his legal team, supported by legal charity Appeal, to provide new DNA analysis that cast doubt on his conviction to the CCRC. The body then commissioned its own testing which found that DNA from the victim's clothing matched another man on the national police database. GMP confirmed in January that a man had been arrested and released under investigation in light of the new information, but no decision has been made as to whether he will be charged. A major plumbing company has collapsed owing as much as $36million to creditors - and had just $61 in its bank account when it went into liquidation, documents reveal. Richstone Group Pty Ltd went into liquidation in June after a failed restructuring attempt to keep the business afloat with all 150 staff losing their jobs - before they were later employed by a new contractor. Administrator David Coyne from insolvency firm BRI Ferrier said in a document filed with the corporate regulator, ASIC, that the business appeared to have failed because of a failure to pay off its debts. Richstone Group started up in 2003 - one of Victoria's largest plumbing firms - was placed in administration in March this year, along with seven other related companies including Richstone Plumbing Pty Ltd. Richstone Plumbing Pty Ltd owed secured creditors just under $3million, according to a report filed with ASIC last month, while over 100 unsecured creditors are owed $32.5million. Staff are meanwhile believed to be owed up to $816,000 including in unpaid wages and superannuation, while $14million is understood to be owed to the Australian Tax Office. Richstone Group Pty Ltd went into liquidation in June after a failed restructuring attempt to keep the business afloat. The company worked on the Metro Tunnel Project in Melbourne The company had prided itself on 'making a difference through plumbing sustainability'. Richstone had carried out plumbing services to high-rise apartment blocks and other building developments around Melbourne. It was also actively working on the $12.6billion Metro Tunnel Project in the Victorian capital. Peter Krejci, the other administrator for the company, had earlier shared to LinkedIn that he was 'delighted' to have facilitated the restructuring of the firm. The company had prided itself on 'making a difference through plumbing sustainability' 'I am delighted to have facilitated a restructure of the Richstone Group, Victoria's largest privately owned plumbing contractor saving 150 jobs and averting the chaos, delay and costs to its customers that would have inevitably ensued had it ceased trading without a sale,' he wrote in March. 'The Group is currently active on several major projects across Melbourne. 'The restructure, as an initial step in the Voluntary Administration of the Group, was approved by the Victorian Supreme Court confirming that the sale of the Group's business and assets to a related entity was done for value and in the best interests of creditors.' The majority of the business' assets had been sold off by liquidators for $4.8million. Richstone Group blamed worsening market conditions and the Covid pandemic for their revenue plummeting from $65million to just $25million in the past financial year. Calls to the business went unanswered on Wednesday while the company's website has been removed. Richstone staff are believed to be owed up to $816,000 including in unpaid wages and superannuation, while $14million is understood to be owed to the ATO (pictured tradies working at Metro Tunnel Project in Melbourne Director Shannon Egglestone said in June the company had faced 'circumstances beyond our control'. 'We know how hard all Australians are doing it right now and we are also aware of the possible ripple effect an event like this can have on our industry,' he said at the time. 'We have been undergoing a restructure so that we can continue to support our staff, customers and suppliers. 'Our business which had a general annual turnover of $45 million for the past 5 years started to suffer because of circumstances beyond our control. 'Material costs against fixed priced contracts, construction industry inefficiencies due to the worldwide pandemic and cuts to credit lines.' Nigel Farage today warned banks who have refused him accounts that they could suffer the same fate as NatWest. The former Ukip leader vowed to step up his war on 'woke' culture at financial institutions after Dame Alison Rose was forced to quit. He insisted the dramatic departure overnight was 'a start' - saying the rest of the board should now go for trying to save Dame Alison despite her admission that she briefed the BBC about his 'debanking'. But Mr Farage said the issues went even wider, sending a stark message to others who were blocking him over political views. 'To the 10 banks that have thus far refused to have me as a customer - think again. 'This has happened to NatWest. Unless you change your culture, change your views, get rid of your prejudice over Brexit and other issues, then it could happen to you too.' Dame Alison Rose initially tried to cling on to her 5million-a-year post despite dramatically admitting she was behind the leaking of a customer's financial details. But she finally fell on her sword in the early hours of the morning following an extraordinary intervention from the PM and Chancellor, who made clear their 'significant concerns'. The taxpayer still has a big stake in NatWest following the Credit Crunch bailout of forerunner RBS. Shares in NatWest fell by 3 per cent in early trading this morning, while other banks were also hit - with Lloyds down 3 per cent despite a surge in half-year profits. Nigel Farage has vowed to step up his war on 'woke' culture at financial institutions after Dame Alison Rose was forced to quit NatWest is engulfed in a full-blown crisis today after its chief executive Dame Alison Rose (pictured) was forced to quit over briefing the BBC about Nigel Farage's 'debanking' Mr Farage was in good spirits as he was seen out and about near his home in Kent this morning Mr Farage said: 'She's gone, and that's a start, but I have to say that (Coutts chief executive) Peter Flavel (NatWest chair) Howard Davies it was the board that sanctioned this culture that talks about diversity and inclusion, and actually is very divisive,' he said. 'In my case, as you can clearly see, pretty poisonous stuff. I think any board member that endorsed that statement last night, where they said 'yes, she breached confidentiality, but she can stay in her post' frankly, I think the whole board needs to go.' Senior Tories lined up behind their long-term political foe in the battle against 'woke' banking culture. Former Cabinet minister David Jones said of the board: 'Only yesterday they were declaring full confidence in her. How can they expect customers, shareholders and the taxpayer to retain confidence in them?' A No 10 source said Rishi Sunak 'was concerned about the unfolding situation. The source said: 'Alison Rose has done the right thing in resigning. 'Everyone would expect people in public life whether that's in a business leadership role or otherwise to act responsibly and with integrity.' City minister Andrew Griffith - who was due to hold a summit with banking chiefs including Dame Alison this morning - wrote on Twitter: 'It is right that the NatWest CEO has resigned. 'This would never have happened if NatWest had not taken it upon itself to withdraw a bank account due to someone's lawful political views. That was and is always unacceptable. 'I hope the whole financial sector learns from this incident. Its role is to serve customers well and fairly not to tell them how or what to think.' In a round of interviews this morning, police minister Chris Philp said MPs often faced the same issues. 'It's unacceptable that Mr Farage has been refused banking facilities by ten different banks,' he said. 'As I said, we believe in free speech and we believe in political freedom and that means people, regardless of their political views, should be able to access banking services, including Mr Farage. 'Of course, there's a whole load of rules about money laundering, which is separate - we don't want to offer banking services to people who have stolen money or have purloined it in other countries. That's a different issue. This is about political freedom. 'And that's why the city minister is meeting banks today to forcefully reiterate the point.' Dame Alison stepped down with immediate effect in the early hours of this morning after admitting she was the source who told the BBC Mr Farage's account had been closed because he did not have enough money in it. It is not clear whether she will receive any payoff. The board of NatWest Group held emergency talks into the night on her future after she apologised for her 'serious error of judgment' in speaking to the broadcaster's business editor Simon Jack. Bosses at the bank, which is 39 per cent owned by the government, were locked in a power struggle after NatWest chairman Sir Howard Davies criticised her 'regrettable' action but said yesterday the bank's board had 'full confidence' in her. But the position embarrassingly reversed early this morning after pressure was piled on the beleaguered banking boss by No 10 and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. Responding to the volte face, Mr Farage said: 'Anybody on that Board that backed that statement that was put out at 17.42 yesterday, a totally unsustainable and untrue statement, anybody that backed that behaviour, should be gone.' Howard Davies, chairman of the NatWest Group Board, said in a statement: 'The Board and Alison Rose have agreed, by mutual consent, that she will step down as CEO of the NatWest Group. It is a sad moment. 'She has dedicated all her working life so far to NatWest and will leave many colleagues who respect and admire her.' Dame Alison said: 'I remain immensely proud of the progress the bank has made in supporting people, families and business across the UK, and building the foundations for sustainable growth. 'My NatWest colleagues are central to that success, and so I would like to personally thank them for all that they have done.' NatWest's board of directors also announced that Paul Thwaite, the current chief executive of the company's Commercial and Institutional business, will take over Dame Alison's responsibilities for an initial period of 12 months, pending regulatory approval. The board said in a statement that a further process to appoint a permanent successor will take place 'in due course'. The resignation comes after Dame Alison apologised last night, ending a week of speculation by conceding that she had discussed Mr Farage's de-banking with Mr Jack at a charity dinner. The following day the BBC reported that Mr Farage was dropped as a Coutts customer due to a lack of wealth. However, the ex-MEP later exposed the real motivations by lodging a 'subject access request' with NatWest for his personal data. The 40-page dossier showed staff at Coutts, which is owned by NatWest Group, wanted to 'exit' Mr Farage because his political views did 'not align' with the lender's values. Mr Jack has apologised to Mr Farage for the information from a 'senior and trusted source' turning out to be 'incomplete and inaccurate'. Dame Alison said in a statement: 'I recognise that in my conversations with Simon Jack of the BBC, I made a serious error of judgment in discussing Mr Farage's relationship with the bank. Believing it was public knowledge, I confirmed that Mr Farage was a Coutts customer and that he had been offered a NatWest bank account. 'Alongside this, I repeated what Mr Farage had already stated, that the bank saw this as a commercial decision. 'I did not reveal any personal financial information about Mr Farage. In response to a general question about eligibility criteria required to bank with Coutts and NatWest I said that guidance on both was publicly available on their websites. 'In doing so, I recognise that I left Mr Jack with the impression that the decision to close Mr Farage's accounts was solely a commercial one.' Dame Alison said she was not part of the decision-making process to close Mr Farage's account. She said she was informed in April that it was done 'for commercial reasons', but was 'not in receipt of' the dossier compiled by Coutts staff to justify closing his account when she spoke to the BBC journalist. Admitting she was 'wrong to respond to any question raised by the BBC about this case', she extended her 'sincere apologies' to Mr Farage and her NatWest colleagues. Last week she apologised for the 'deeply inappropriate comments' made in the document, which branded Mr Farage a 'disingenuous grifter'. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) had raised the possibility of taking 'further action'. Sheldon Mills, the watchdog's executive director of consumers and competition, said: 'We made clear our expectation that these issues should be independently reviewed and note today's statement from the NatWest Group Board confirming this will happen.' Mr Mills stressed the need to 'investigate what happened swiftly and fully'. Dame Alison finally fell on her sword in the early hours of the morning following an extraordinary intervention from the PM (right) and Chancellor (left), who made clear their 'significant concerns' Comes two days after Stan Grant said he would not return to show The boss of the ABC's Q+A has quit just 48 hours after it was revealed former host Stan Grant was permanently stepping away from the show. Executive producer Erin Vincent announced on Wednesday her departure from the program which she has led for the last three years. She posted on her Instagram account that 'after 14 years at the ABC the time has come for something new'. 'I have had so many amazing opportunities at the ABC, leading so many passionate and talented people,' she wrote, according to The Australian. The ABC's Q+A executive producer Erin Vincent announced on Wednesday her departure from the program which she has led for the last three years It comes just two days after the corporation revealed Stan Grant would not be returning to host the show after suffering racist abuse Ms Vincent will become chief executive at Melbournes The Wheeler Centre, a literary and publishing centre. Her departure comes two days after the ABC revealed that Grant will not return to front the show after suffering a barrage of racism when he appeared on a panel discussing colonialism ahead of King Charles' Coronation. The ABC's news director Justin Stevens said Grant, 59, will continue to work on new projects for the national broadcaster. 'We want to do all we can to support Stan and ensure he continues to play a major role in Australian media,' Mr Stevens said on Monday. 'He has the ability to lead our media toward a kinder and more constructive conversation. In Wiradjuri 'dyiraamalang' means a teacher and leader. 'Stan Grant, a proud Wiradjuri man, is both of those things and I'm looking forward to seeing what he does into the future.' Patricia Karvelas has taken over the role as Q+A host until the end of the year. The ABC reportedly received more than 1,000 complaints for its allegedly 'disrespectful' May 6 Coronation coverage, which linked the British monarchy with the dispossession of Aboriginal people since 1788. In the wake of the coverage, Grant said he had been subjected to 'relentless racial filth' with viewers targeting him because he is Indigenous. 'The ABC has this year lodged an official complaint with Twitter about the relentless racial filth I am subjected to,' he said. 'I am not beyond criticism. I occupy a privileged and prominent place in the media I should be critiqued. Stan Grant is pictured with wife Tracey Holmes 'And I am not thin skinned. Aboriginal people learn to tough it out. That's the price of survival. 'For years I've been a media target for racism and paid a heavy price. For now, I want no part of it I'm walking away. 'For how long? I don't know. I don't take time out because of racism I won't give racists the satisfaction.' Grant also took aim at the ABC, saying he had not felt supported. 'Not one ABC executive has publicly refuted the lies written or spoken about me,' he said. 'I don't hold any individual responsible; this is an institutional failure.' Grant remains on paid leave and when he does return to work he will 'move on to new projects', an ABC spokesperson said. Police have admitted they fear for the safety of a 12-year-old schoolgirl who has been missing for more than 24 hours from one of Australia's ritziest suburbs. Pepper Stern vanished around 11.15am on Tuesday after she was last seen on residential Girilang Avenue in exclusive Vaucluse in Sydney's eastern suburbs. It is understood she has been living at a home in a nearby street in the harbourside millionaires' row before she disappeared. She was last seen outside a business, police sources said. More than 24 hours after the alarm was raised, police have found no trace of her with officials telling Daily Mail Australia: 'We are concerned for her safety.' A desperate search has been launched for 12-year-old Pepper Stern (pictured) last seen on a quiet street in one of Sydney's most exclusive suburbs Shocked residents on Girilang Avenue said they were disturbed by the girl's disappearance but had not seen or heard anything unusual at the time she vanished. Palatial houses on the quiet street sell for up to $10million, while upmarket units easily command a $1million price tag. It's not clear why she was in the area at 11.15am on a school day. The street where Pepper vanished intersects with busy New South Head Road which is bustling with cafes and shops, but no-one there said they saw anything either. Pepper Stern vanished around 11.15am on Tuesday after she was last seen on residential Girilang Avenue (pictured) in exclusive Vaucluse in Sydney's eastern suburbs The local community rallied around the search for the missing girl, with social media posts from Jewish House organisation and several rabbis begging the public's help. A Jewish school in the eastern suburbs also posted an alert on Instagram for her, but later stressed Pepper was not one of their pupils. Pepper is said to be 162cm tall with long brown curly hair and was last seen wearing black tracksuit pants, an orange jumper, and white joggers. She is also known to frequent the Glebe area in the city's inner-west. The race is on to prevent the sinking of a cargo ship off the Dutch coast which is carrying almost 3,000 vehicles, including 350 Mercedes-Benz, as it burns out of control with an electric car believed to be behind the deadly fire. At least one crew member died and others were injured after fire ripped through the Fremantle Highway, a 18,500-ton car-carrying vessel. Rescue helicopters and boats evacuated 23 crew members from the Panamanian-registered ship. Officials have said there are 'many' wounded. Some suffered broken bones, burns and breathing problems and were taken to hospitals in the northern Netherlands, emergency officials said. Seven crew members jumped overboard and were rescued from the water, while the rest were airlifted by helicopter. Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that all the crew were Indian. This afternoon, the ship was said to be burning out of control in the North Sea and rescue vessels were working to save it from sinking close to one of the world's most important migratory bird habitats. 'Currently there are a lot of vessels on scene to monitor the situation and to see how to get the fire under control,' coast guard spokeswoman Lea Versteeg told the Associated Press in a telephone interview. 'But it's all depending on weather and the damage to the vessel, so we're currently working out how we can make sure that... the least bad situation is going to happen.' Asked if it is possible the ship could sink, Ms Versteeg said: 'It's a scenario we're taking into account and we're preparing for all scenarios.' Early this afternoon, two ships were alongside the freighter hosing down its sides in an attempt to cool them, the coast guard said, but firefighters were still unable to attempt to extinguish flames on the ship and smoke was billowing out of its hold. Smoke is seen from a freight ship in the North Sea, about 17 miles north of the Dutch island of Ameland, on Wednesday afternoon Ships were pictured alongside the freighter hosing down its sides in an attempt to cool them This afternoon, the ship was said to be burning out of control in the North Sea and rescue vessels were working to save it from sinking The Fremantle Highway (shown on fire) is a 18,500-ton car-carrying vessel which had almost 3,000 vehicles on-board when it caught fire overnight Rescue vessels are seen spraying water on the Fremantle Highway that caught fire overnight At least one crew member died and several others were injured after the fire on the car carrier ship off the Dutch coast early Wednesday, the coastguard said Ms Versteeg added that the ship is carrying 2,857 cars, of which 25 are electrical. She said this 'made the fire even more difficult. It's not easy to keep that kind of fire under control and even in such a vessel it's not easy.' The ship's Japanese owner, Shoei Kisen Kaisha, said it was working in cooperation with the local authorities of the Netherlands, a salvage company and a ship management company. 'We will keep on endeavouring to extinguish the fire and recover the situation as soon as possible,' the company said. 'There is no information on oil pollution due to this incident as of now.' The company expressed 'sincere condolence' for the death of the crew member. It is not yet known how they lost their life. Images taken from shore showed a long plume of grey smoke drifting over the sea from the stricken ship. One towing ship managed to establish a connection with the freighter to hold it in place. Ms Versteeg went on: 'We hope that the fire will be under control or will die out and that we can get the vessel in a safe location, but it's all uncertain what's going to happen now.' The coast guard said in a statement that salvage companies and water authorities are 'looking at the best ways to limit the damage as much as possible'. Authorities in Germany were also on alert, German news agency dpa reported. At least seven crew members jumped overboard and were rescued from the water, while the rest were airlifted by helicopter Images taken from shore showed a long plume of grey smoke drifting over the sea from the stricken ship 'We are monitoring the situation,' a spokesman for the German sea disaster command in the northern city of Cuxhaven said, adding that they have offered support to the Dutch authorities. He said rescue ships and task forces are ready to help if needed, but that no decision has been made on whether to send them. 'Around midnight the Coast Guard received a report that the Fremantle Highway is on fire,' the Dutch coastguard said earlier on Wednesday. 'The crew tried to put out the fire themselves, but failed. Unfortunately one person died and several others were injured.' The coastguard said the incident happened about 17 miles (14.5 nautical miles) north of the northern island of Ameland. Images taken from shore showed a long plume of grey smoke drifting over the sea from the stricken 650-foot ship. Rescue helicopters and boats evacuated 23 crew members from the Panamanian-registered car-carrying vessel, with officials saying 'many' are wounded Images taken from shore showed a long plume of grey smoke drifting over the sea from the stricken 650-foot ship All crew were evacuated to the nearby Dutch port of Lauwersoog after failing to extinguish the blaze on the vast ship bound for Egypt. Officials added the Fremantle Highway was still on fire, and emergency services are present near the blazing ship. 'The blaze is still raging on board,' the coastguard said, adding that the ship was listing. Salvage vessels were on the scene trying to put out the blaze and prevent the ship from sinking, the NOS national broadcaster said. Specialised firefighters were called from Rotterdam, who would be taken to the ship by helicopter. But the fire developed so quickly that it was no longer safe to bring them on board. A tug vessel has however managed to attach a cable to the stricken ship to prevent it from drifting and blocking an important sailing route into Germany, the NOS said. 'We are taking into account all scenarios,' a coastguard official told the NOS. The coastguard said it received reports that the ship was on fire at around midnight. The cargo ship was transporting 2,857 cars from Bremen, Germany to Port Said, Egypt, 25 of which were electric cars. It was one of the electric cars that caught fire, a spokesperson for the coastguard told Reuters. 'Currently there are a lot of vessels on scene to monitor the situation and to see how to get the fire under control,' coast guard spokesperson Lea Versteeg said. 'It's carrying cars, 2,857 of which 25 are electrical cars, which made the fire even more difficult. It's not easy to keep that kind of fire under control and even in such a vessel it's not easy,' he added. Authorities in Germany were also on alert, German news agency dpa reported. Images released by the coastguard showed the burning ship on Wednesday Images released by the coastguard showed the burning ship on Wednesday 'We are monitoring the situation,' a spokesman for the German sea disaster command in the city of Cuxhaven said. They added that they had offered support to the Dutch authorities. He said rescue ships and task forces were ready to help if needed, but that no decision had been made on whether to send them. The Fremantle Highway is close to Ameland, one of four ecologically sensitive Frisian islands, situated in the Waddensee area just north of the Dutch mainland. Also called the Frisian Islands, the area has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has a rich diversity of more than 10,000 aquatic and terrestrial species. This included more than 140 species of fish of which some 20 spent their entire life in the tidal areas along the islands' famous mud flats. The area also has a large seal and porpoise population. Should the Fremantle Highway sink, 'it would be a disaster of the highest order,' the daily tabloid De Telegraaf said. 'Currently several parties including salvagers and the Dutch authorities are looking at minimising the damage as much as possible,' the Coast Guard said. Some 340 containers tumbled off one of the world's largest container ships after a storm in the same area in early 2019, littering kilometres of pristine coastline with plastic and polystyrene. The most serious incident in recent times off the busy Dutch coast happened in December 2012 when the Bahamian-flagged car carrier Baltic Ice collided with a container ship and sank. Eleven sailors were killed in that incident. In 2022, a fire-ravaged US-bound cargo ship that was transporting thousands of supercars including Porsches sunk in the middle of the Atlantic. The Felicity Ace sank about 250 miles off Portugal's Azores Islands as it was being towed, just 13 days after a fire broke out on board. The ship was transporting electric and non-electric vehicles, it was reported at the time. Suspicion fell on lithium batteries used in electric vehicles. Porsche lost 1,117 cars on the ship, Audi claimed a loss of 1,944 vehicles, Bentley lost 189, Lamborghini lost 85, and Volkswagen lost 561 cars. Pictured: Two Coast Guard helicopters involved in the rescue operation on the Fremantle Highway ship are at The Hague Airport All crew were evacuated to the nearby Dutch port of Lauwersoog after failing to extinguish the blaze on the ship bound for Egypt The ship was also carrying fifteen Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae supercars, with a rough retail price of more than $500,000 each. And earlier this month, two firefighters died in the US after getting trapped while battling a huge blaze of a cargo ship carrying 5,000 cars to Port Newark. Responding to the initial blaze, firefighters found five to seven vehicles already on fire when they reached the 10th floor of the cargo ship on July 5. The blaze quickly extended to the 11th and 12th floors, and as firefighters were pushed back by the intense heat, two of them were lost. MasterChef star Gregg Wallace has defended his new Channel 4 spoof documentary about cannibalism from a social media backlash after users branded the show 'disgusting'. The TV chef's controversial new programme The British Miracle Meat, a satirical documentary about a factory which manufactured 'engineered human meat', has come under fire after Twitter users branded the show 'very poor taste'. The show is understood to be a take on satirist Jonathan Swift's 1729 essay A Modest Proposal - which suggests that poor Irish families donate their children to rich English landlords for food. However, there was no warning given ahead or during the broadcast to reassure viewers that it was fictional. Responding to the backlash, Wallace, 58, said: 'It's satire - so I suppose that was the point. Everybody was an actor. I was acting. None of it was real.' He told the Telegraph: 'I thought at some point people would fall about laughing but they didn't. People asked how I could put my name to this documentary but I didn't - it wasn't a documentary.' The MasterChef judge, 58, appeared on The British Miracle Meat on Monday night The satirical documentary is about a factory which manufactured 'engineered human meat' Speaking on Radio Five Live, Wallace made it clear he was playing a role and had been given a script. He said he didn't expect people to think it was real. Also, writing in The Sun newspaper he told viewers: 'Before you start firing off a letter of complaint to Channel 4, Ill let you in on a little secret. 'Nothing in the show was as it seemed. In fact, the whole thing was made up.' He explained how it was inspired by satirical essay A Modest Proposal, in which Swift is saying the poor of Ireland should sell their children to the rich as food as a way of highlighting a real problem. Wallace said that like Swift's 1729 essay, the Channel 4 programme was merely a 'wild satire' but intended to highlight issues about the future of food. 'While it was a complete fantasy, we wanted to raise important questions about the nations relationship with food and what those struggling with the cost of living are being asked to do in order to stay afloat,' he said. After the show aired, confused viewers took to Twitter to discuss the programme. 'Are you watching the British miracle meat on channel 4...it's got to be a joke?! Human meat,' one tweeted. 'Who is watching Gregg Wallace, The British Miracle Meat, I feel sick.' another echoed. One viewer added: 'What the fresh h**l are we being subjected to on @Channel4 now?' Wallace made it clear he was playing a role and had been given a script Unimpressed: Confused and 'disgusted' viewers took to Twitter as the programme debuted, criticising Channel 4 for airing a show in such 'very poor taste' One wrote: 'I hope they start putting disclaimers on this satirical cannibalism show before eating the poor ends up in the government's next election manifesto.' However, Gregg took to his Instagram Stories to subtly address the backlash by posting a promo picture from the show. Emphasising the fictional aspect of the programme, he wrote: 'Thank you for watching. I really enjoyed my first ever acting job!' He also hinted viewers should lighten up about the show, by posting another photo with the simple caption: 'Satire'. The show saw Gregg interviewing 'donors' who were selling their flesh to fictional firm 'Good Harvest' as a solution for cash-strapped families. The human tissue was then seen growing in labs into larger slabs of meat - which could be used to make steaks, burgers and sausages. But MPs slammed the show as a 'bad taste' take on the cost-of-living crisis and criticised Channel 4 bosses for failing to warn audiences its subject was not real. Emphasising the fictional aspect of the programme, he wrote: 'Thank you for watching. I really enjoyed my first ever acting job!' He also hinted viewers should lighten up about the show, by posting another photo with the simple caption: 'Satire' Billed as a solution for cash-strapped families, MasterChef host Gregg Wallace interviewed donors who were selling their flesh to fictional firm Good Harvest. The human tissue was then seen growing in labs into larger slabs of meat - which could be used to make steaks, burgers and sausages At one point in the show Gregg and chef Michel Roux Jr were seen tasting the steaks and the two Michelin-starred chef licked his fingers as he cooked Viewers followed Gregg as he visited Good Harvest's HQ where staff explained how pieces of flesh were harvested from humans and grown into edible meat. The TV star was then seen visiting donors including a 67-year-old retired receptionist who agreed to have flesh taken from her buttock and thigh in order to fund two weeks' energy bills. Good Harvest's chief executive later revealed the firm's premium range comes from the flesh of children aged six and below - with a promotional video which billed the womb as 'nature's oven'. A Channel 4 spokesman said: 'This 'mockumentary' is a witty yet thought-provoking commentary on the extreme measures many people are being forced to take to stay afloat in our society during the cost-of-living crisis. 'Channel 4 has a long and rich history of satire and has often used humour as an accessible way to highlight society's most important issues.' Meghan and Harry have supported a report calling for an end to gender stereotyping - in a 30-year-long echo of the Duchess's now-famous dishwashing advert letter. The Sussexes lent their backing to a new research paper, which also called for adverts to 'break the gender binary'. It gave examples of what could be done as showing women mowing the lawn and fixing the sink or men doing the cooking. The biennial State of the World's Fathers report also urges a better representation of 'diverse family formations, including LGBTQIA+ parents and non-nuclear families'. It also recommends more openness about 'male vulnerability' and show men 'showing emotions and giving affection'. Meghan and Harry have supported a new report calling for an end to gender stereotyping Report gave examples of what could be done as showing women mowing the lawn and fixing the sink or men doing the cooking The report was created by US charity Equimundo from research across 17 countries and surveys of thousands of men and women. Part of the report bears an uncanny resemblance to an issue the Duchess took up when she was a child. Aged 11, Meghan wrote to Procter & Gamble to object to sexism in a dish soap advert which included the line: 'Mothers around America are fighting greasy pots and pans.' She asked them to change the advert to 'people all over America' and the company subsequently amended the language. She appeared in an interview in 1993, saying she was 'furious' at the advert for P&G's Ivory Clear. She added: 'When they heard this, the boys in my class started saying, ''Yeah, that's where women belong - in the kitchen''.' Recalling the letter in 2018, she said: 'Truth be told, at 11 I don't think I even knew what sexism meant.' She continued: 'I just knew that something struck me internally that was telling me it was wrong. Aged 11, Meghan wrote to Procter & Gamble to object to sexism in a dish soap advert which included the line: 'Mothers around America are fighting greasy pots and pans' Meghan appeared in an interview in 1993, saying she was 'furious' at the advert for P&G's Ivory Clear 'And using that as my moral compass and moving through from the age of 11, at that age I was able to change this commercial.' She added: 'It really set up the trajectory for me to say, if there was a wrong, if there is a lack of justice, and there is an inequality, then someone needs to do something. And why not me?' A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess's charitable organisation Archewell said of Equimundo's new report: 'The 2023 data shows that men are increasingly involved in caregiving and would like to increase their care work at home, although deeply ingrained social norms and a lack of supportive policies and power structures discourage them from doing so. 'The report recognizes care work as the bedrock of society, and calls for continued advancements towards gender equality. It also emphasizes the need for media representation that normalizes men's caregiving roles. 'The Archewell Foundation is proud to have supported this report, as well as Equimundo's continued work to promote gender equality around the globe.' by Austin Bay July 26, 2023 Donald Rumsfeld got scorched by media rubes for saying:"You go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wishto have at a later time." But he was right, and his instant maxim certainly applied to America's response to 9/11's surprise attacks. You certainly go to war with your navy as it is, not what it could be in eight to 12 years. Building warships, training naval ship and air crews, modernizing fleet support facilities and maintenance operations: The complex enterprise of creating a war-winning fleet has a very long lead time. Is a war with China likely? We are in what is now sometimes called the "Davidson window of vulnerability" versus China. In 2021 former Indo-Pacific Combatant Commander Adm. Phil Davidson told the Senate Armed Services Committee China's leaders were "accelerating their ambitions to supplant the U.S." and might attack within the next six years -- 2027. Davidson, the commander who would fight that war, thinks we are not prepared to win a war with China in the western Pacific. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., has served on the Armed Services committee for several years. Credit Wicker with seeing China's naval forces expand while the U.S. Navy shrinks. In 2017 he tried to kick-start naval and commercial shipbuilding with an act to expand American maritime industrial capacity. On May 3, Wicker gave a Senate speech that begins with a blunt warning: "I come before the Senate today to discuss the United States Navy's ability to deter conflict in the Pacific. As China's navy has grown, ours has shrunk -- and we are running out of time to tilt the balance of power back toward the United States and to ensure that deterrence does not fail in the Western Pacific." Deterrence. Scipio Africanus, the Roman general who defeated Hannibal, put it this way: "If you want peace, prepare for war." War in the western Pacific would be a naval war. Wicker believes U.S. forces can no longer demonstrate the overwhelming military strength and preparedness it takes to convince Chinese leaders that they would lose a war with America. More from Wicker's speech: "China's rising strength on the seas is a direct threat to international peace and security. Their ability to control the major sea lanes strikes at the heart of free and market-based economies in Asia and across the globe. For a few minutes today, I will outline that threat, our lack of preparedness, and what it will take for us to deter China from acting irresponsibly." Wicker quoted U.S. naval theorist Alfred Thayer Mahan: "Whoever rules the waves rules the world." Then added "Beijing knows a great navy is a necessary step in their march for regional dominance." The senator describes a war for national survival. In late 1992 I was serving as a strategic war-gaming consultant in the Secretary of Defense's Office of Net Assessments. Net Assessments director, the great Andrew Marshall, gave his consultants a long-term thought experiment: How could the U.S. fight and win a war for national survival against China circa 2020 or 2025? We've thought a lot and done much -- but haven't done enough. The "hull deficit" -- the shortage of warships and support vessels -- is real. Wicker pointed out that in 2030 China will have a fleet of 440 warships. The U.S. Navy? Perhaps 290. Wicker got into the nitty specifics of modern naval warfare, such as the number of missile-carrying vertical launch systems (VLS, also called vertical launch cells) China's ships will carry. These launchers "are the primary offensive tool of any navy. A recent analysis found Beijing has more vertical launch cells than the U.S. and our allies combined." Wicker then excoriated the Biden administration's shipbuilding program as being inadequate and "ceding control of the western Pacific to the dictator, Xi Jinping, and his communist fleet." Harsh words but the facts and Chinese aggressive behavior warrant them. What do we do to close the window of vulnerability? I'll discuss Wicker's recommendations and other options next week. A British woman has been found dead in the Turkish province of Antalya two days after she was reported missing. The 74-year-old British citizen, whose name remains unknown, was discovered unresponsive at the side of a road in a wooded area near the Asmaca district of Antalya. Medical teams called to administer aid pronounced her dead at the scene. Turkish media reported the woman was a resident of the popular coastal resort town of Alyana and had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, but the cause of her death has not yet been established. A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out by coroners at the Alyana Municipality morgue this week. An FCDO spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We have not been approached for consular assistance, but our staff stand ready to support British Nationals overseas 24/7.' A top detective who brought depraved killer Benjamin Field to justice has revealed how the sadist whose brutal murder of a gay lecturer is the subject of a new BBC drama kept a diary about all the cruel things he did to his victims. DCI Mark Glover was part of the unit that investigated 'cold and calculated' Field over the mysterious deaths of two retirees including Peter Farquhar in Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire, in 2015. Field, 32, duped Mr Farquhar, 69, into changing his will and then tried to make his death look like accident or suicide. He was also accused of plotting to kill 83-year-old Ann Moore-Martin, an ex-headmistress, but was found not guilty - although he did admit attempting to defraud her. Police became involved in Mr Farquhar's death after Ms Moore-Martin died, and realised that Field was implicated in both. Officers later found a staggering trove of notes relating to both Ms Moore-Martin and Mr Farquhar which showed how Field seduced Ms Moore-Martin and she gave him thousands of pounds - which he claimed he needed to help his brother. The killer's heinous crimes are currently being dramatised in BBC show the Sixth Commandment, starring Timothy Spall, Anne Reid and Jonathan Aris. DCI Glover said: '[His notes were] a bit of everything. It wasn't in chronological order like most diaries - it was more like a notebook. They were his thoughts, ideas, what he had done - all those kinds of things. The amount of material we seized in house searches was phenomenal. It's not just what I call physical material, but digital material. 'Not only did Ben keep diaries himself but he typed everything out on computers so we had a mass of digital information to download and go through.' A top detective who was part of the team that brought depraved killer Benjamin Field to justice says the case was unlike any other. DCI Mark Glover was part of the unit that investigated 'cold and calculated' Field over the mysterious deaths of two retirees in Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire. DCI Glover is depicted in the Sixth Commandment by Jonathan Aris (right) Field (right) was eventually found guilty and jailed for life with a minimum of 36 years for the murder of 69-year-old Peter Farquhar (left) Field is portrayed by 26-year-old Irish star Eanna Hardwicke DCI Glover, a former officer with Thames Valley Police, has revealed Field's case was different to the other murders he probed during his 30-year career. He said: 'This case was very different in that in most murders, you know what has happened - you just have to prove it. 'But, in this case, you had a hypothesis as to what had happened, but no proper evidence at that time to support it. 'You had a feeling but not all the evidence to back it up. It was frightening if our hypothesis was correct.' Mr Farquhar's 2015 death was initially thought to be an accident or suicide, and Field - with whom he was in a relationship - was not suspected. But police became involved after the death of Ms Moore-Martin - and realised via his notes that Field was implicated in both. His heinous crimes are currently being dramatised in BBC show the Sixth Commandment. Mr Farquhar is portrayed by Timothy Spall Field is portrayed in new BBC drama The Sixth Commandment by 26-year-old Irish star Eanna Hardwicke (above in the role) Field was arrested in 2019 - and DCI Glover said it became clear the killer was a narcissist. He said: 'We called it the "Ben Field roadshow". Whatever he did, he tried to take control and dominate. 'He was softly spoken and polite, and all the things that people found attractive about him. 'It was all about him trying to take control of the situation and us trying to take the control away from him and controlling him in some way.' Anne Moore-Martin, 83, was Field's second victim. She too was seduced by the criminal. She is portrayed in the drama by Anne Reid, 88 Peter Farquhar and Anne Moore-Martin lived in the sleepy village of Maids Moreton in Buckinghamshire Field was eventually convicted and jailed. A court heard he carried out a sustained 'gaslighting' plot aimed at making Mr Farquhar question his sanity. The victim's drinks were topped up with bioethanol and poteen, a high strength Irish alcohol, and his food was laced with drugs. Jurors were also told Field 'suffocated' Farquhar when he was too weak to resist - killing him. Ms Moore-Martin was found to have died of natural causes, but Field had defrauded her. Despite devoting months to case, DCI Glover said the investigating team did not celebrate when Field was sent down. He retired in May 2018 in the midst of the investigation, but returned as a civilian investigator. DCI Glover said: 'It is funny. You are always relieved to get the conviction and that the jury has agreed with you. 'People often think you go out and party to celebrate but you don't you feel quite flat after it. 'There aren't any winners really, Ben Field has gone to prison for 36 years but there are two families who are devastated by it. 'Two deceased people, one of which he was found guilty of murdering. It is good to get the conviction but a very strange feeling afterwards.' Mr Farquhar, who had struggled with his sexuality for years, had taught English at the private Manchester Grammar School before moving to the prestigious Stowe in 1983. He was head of English there for 21 years, before deciding to retire in 2004 so he could write novels. Left: Spall as the English teacher Undated handout photo issued by Thames Valley Police of Peter Farqhuar (right) and Benjamin Field Viewers were blown away by Timothy Spall's performance as Peter Farquhar, a gay academic murdered by a churchwarden, in new drama The Sixth Commandment last night However it's not long before Peter's health begins to decline, and he falls down the stairs in his home The former detective praised the details of the Sixth Commandment's production and says he hopes the series educates the public about the warning signs of manipulative and controlling behaviour. He said: 'The biggest thing about it is education because everybody thinks that elderly people are vulnerable through physical or mental health. 'Whereas actually, this highlights that they can be lonely for a whole load of reasons. 'Sexual orientation, religion, all those kinds of things can make people vulnerable as well. 'I really hope and like to think that came through and people are sat at home thinking about their own relatives and things like that. 'Ben was 26 when he was in a relationship with Ann who was 83. If there are people at home sat at home thinking about relationships that they know of and start questioning it and some good comes of it then that's a positive.' Russia warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin kept a secret harem of barely legal women in St Petersburg before his armed mutiny against Vladimir Putin, a report has claimed. 'The mercenary boss likes his girls on the younger side but he also has an eccentric obsession with exchanging bodily fluids with virgins,' according to independent Russian news and investigative outlet The Insider. A woman who 'sold her virginity to billionaire Prigozhin when she was 18' and now regrets the decision said the Wagner private army boss 'believes having sex with first-time partners prolongs his youth'. The revelations come one month after the Wagner chief led a band of mercenaries in an uprising against Russia's defence ministry that saw them seize the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and bear down on Moscow before calling off the mutiny. Wagner fighters have since entered Belarus and are helping to train Belarusian military units while Prigozhin, 62, appears to have temporarily secured his safety amid a deal with the Russian president. Russia warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin (pictured) kept a secret harem of barely legal women in St Petersburg before his armed mutiny against Vladimir Putin's regime, a new report has claimed Prigozhin's pimps allegedly took the girls to the Sogaz clinic in St Petersburg for medical checkups and 'virginity examinations' Russian investigative outlet Insider claimed Prigozhin kept a harem of 'barely legal' girls at the Solo Sokos hotel in St Petersburg Masha, who allegedly sold her virginity to Putin's crony Yevgeny Prigozhin when she was 18 The allegations against the Wagner supremo, who some believe had ambitions to be Russian president, are stark and detailed. 'Before his downfall and exile to Belarus, Prigozhin used to keep a rotating harem of very young (a little over 18) girls in rented rooms at the Solo Sokos Hotel in St. Petersburg,' alleged The Insider. A 'sex workers' union representative told the media outlet that 'he had sex without a condom' because 'he believed that this is how he exchanges energy, fluids'. 'It's as if he receives a charge of vitality from them,' they said. A woman named only as Masha said she lost her virginity to the Wagner chief in 2019 when she was 18 and living in his home city St Petersburg. 'I was deeply depressed and had to go to the hospital,' she said. 'At that time, I met another girl, around my age, and she had been kicked out of her home and she really needed money. 'She asked me if I would like to sell my virginity for 40,000 rubles.' The amount was at the time the equivalent of $623 or 482. 'I was like, ''OK, let's'', although I didn't need the money that much myself.' Masha was introduced to Prigozhin's pimp, another woman in her 30s with long, dark hair, at a cafe on Nevsky Prospekt, St. Petersburg's main avenue, said The Insider. 'She said I had to go to the clinic to have my virginity checked. I was sent to the Sogaz clinic, right there on the other side of Nevsky Prospekt.' The ownership of this clinic has been linked to Putin's elder daughter Maria Vorontsova, 38, and known to treat VIPs including Prigozhin. 'At the reception desk, you had to say a password - ''women's sports'',' said Masha. This indicated it was a hymen inspection ordered for Prigozhin. 'After Masha's virginity was confirmed, she was sent to the Solo Sokos Hotel on Vasilyevsky Island on the western side of the city,' said the report. 'It seems like there were always rooms reserved for him and the girls and there were always people who supervised them,' the woman told the publication. 'There were girls, not virgins, whom he paid 5,000 rubles [$78] for sex. They were the ones who told me that it was Prigozhin. They hadn't seen him for several days.' She claimed to have known at the time about Prigozhin and his private army, as well as his troll farms spouting pro-Putin propaganda on the internet. 'In complete shock, I went to the hotel room and waited for him,' she said. 'He started knocking on the wrong door and thought that I was not opening it. He got angry.' One of the clinics allegedly used to examine girls for Prigozhin's harem is linked to Putin's daughter, Maria Vorontsova (pictured) Masha, who allegedly sold her virginity to Putin's crony Yevgeny Prigozhin when she was 18 Putin and Prigozhin (right) had long been allies prior to Prigozhin's mutiny against the Russian defence ministry Yevgeny Prigozhin stands in front of his soldiers holding Russian and Wagner Group flags in Bakhmut, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine A local resident walks past members of Wagner group in Rostov-on-Don, on June 24, 2023 When he finally arrived, she 'sat motionless on the bed'. 'Everything was very fast,' she said. 'He just left the money in a pile on a chair.' He also told her to 'be nicer' complaining of a 'dour expression' on her face as he took her virginity. 'Even with my insane personality, selling my virginity to Prigozhin was a bit over the top,' she said. 'I felt really down. I remember that day I was thinking about not being late for a doctor's appointment at the psychiatric hospital.' The Insider alleged: 'Masha was one of countless women Prigozhin has visited at the Solo Sokos, where his underlings kept a ready supply of them. 'The virgins, Masha learned, he dubbed ''shampoo'', after the disposable bottles found in hotel bathrooms. 'You open them and then toss them away.' Prigozhin was nicknamed Putin's chef after coming to prominence staging Kremlin banquets and winning lucrative Russian government catering contracts. A Soviet-era prisoner convicted of robbery, he branched out into troll farms and built his mercenary army, which amid the war in Ukraine recruited tens of thousands of jail inmates, offering them a pardon if they stayed alive at the front line for six months. An earlier leak on Prigozhin since his armed mutiny saw how he kept a cupboard full of wigs at his mansion. He used the wigs and fake beards for disguises in Africa and the Middle East as he furthered Putin's interests and deployed Wagner forces. One disguise showed him as an Employee of the Ministry of Defence in Sudan, another as an assistant diplomat from Abu Dhabi. In a third he was mocked up as a Senior Lieutenant from Benghazi in Libya. The versatile Prigozhin - whose Wagner forces have been used in many countries - also posed as a colonel from Tripoli, a 'merchant from Syria', and a field commander named Mohammed. A Liberal Party MP will reveal to in an internal investigation that he was so distraught at the height of a relationship breakdown with an ex-federal MP he attempted suicide. Taylor Martin, 32, has temporarily stood aside from the Liberal Party room after ex-federal MP Lucy Wicks, 50, complained about 'hundreds' of allegedly abusive texts he had sent her. Mr Martin had previously worked as a staffer for Ms Wicks and was in a relationship with the her before he won a seat in the NSW Parliament in 2017. Their secret affair ended in 2019, allegedly triggering a series of furious expletive-laden text messages from Mr Martin to Ms Wicks. Her complaints are now being investigated by a senior counsel brought in by party bosses. A source close to Mr Martin has told the Daily Telegraph that he was 'not in a good headscape', while sending the messages. Taylor Martin, 32, has stood down from the Liberal Party after it was revealed former Central Coast MP Lucy Wicks, 50, had complained about his alleged hate campaign Mr Martin plans to tell investigators that his mental state had degraded to a point where he had attempted to take his own life while at a heightened emotional state. In one text from Mr Martin in January 2021, he allegedly told her: 'Go stay in your world of f***ing make-believe, you f***ing pig ignorant b***h.' The texts were revealed by the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday after copies were passed on by a supporter of Ms Wicks. Others branded her a 'f***ing idiot', 'a pig', a 'dumb s***', 'f***wit' and 'a sicko' among several abusive terms. Mr Martin allegedly told her to 'shut up you dumb s***' and 'listen to yourself, you absolute c*** of a person'. Others added: 'This s*** is why I'm so angry at you stop talking to me like this while you kill me you f***wit. 'You bitch. You don't even try and get it. You f***ing b***h. Listen to yourself. Don't say such lies to me, you s***.' Mr Martin said he will cooperate fully with the independent inquiry, but blamed the outbursts on his youth. The NSW politician allegedly called his ex-lover a 'dumb c***' and a 'f***ing bitch' in a series of abusive foul-mouthed texts which have been revealed for the first time A source close to Mr Martin has claimed that he attempted suicide after his mental state had degraded following the ending of his relationship with Ms WIcks 'I was young and inexperienced and I found myself involved in a situation that was way beyond me,' he said in a statement. 'There were heated words during my attempts to go separate ways that I sincerely regret. 'It was an ugly and undignified parting of ways. If I could undo any hurt that has been caused I would do it in a heartbeat. 'I am so sorry and apologise unreservedly to everyone that has been caught up in it.' His official Facebook profile has also been taken offline. Ms Wicks hired Mr Martin eight years ago when he was 24 and he later became the youngest member in parliament when he took his NSW upper house seat from Mike Gallacher in 2017. Their relationship ended in 2019 and Ms Wicks alleged that she has been abused by Mr Martin for five years. Ms Wicks's supporter told the SMH the abuse had scared the MP into silence because 'he had such control over her.' They added: 'She was terrified of his reaction.' Lucy Wicks (pictured) hired Mr Martin eight years ago when he was 24 and he later became the youngest member in parliament when he took his NSW upper house seat in 2017 She finally made her confidential complaint to the Liberal Party in October 2021 before losing her seat Robertson in the May 2022 federal election. She had held the seat since September 2013. Ms Wicks spoke out publicly about the abuse at the weekend after she was outed as the victim by Ben Fordham on 2GB on Friday without her permission. 'My complaint to the Liberal Party was in relation to serious concerns including behaviour in the workplace, in the party and in political interactions,' Ms Wicks said. 'It includes allegations that I was physically threatened and received hundreds of demeaning, degrading, and abusive texts. 'During that five-year period, I was continually exposed to highly aggressive barrages of verbal abuse, which included threats to destroy my reputation if I spoke up.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Wicks and Mr Martin for comment. For confidential 24-hour support in Australia call Lifeline on 13 11 14. A man convicted of murder following a 30-hour drug binge has argued a jury should have found him too intoxicated to determine intent. Hasan Fazlilar, who murdered Donovan Mileham in 2015 after partying together at the Kings Cross strip club Love Machine, will remain behind bars after losing an appeal to overturn his 26-year sentence. Lawyers argued Fazlilar, who consumed liquor and the drugs ice and cocaine before shooting Mr Mileham in the leg, may not have intended to pull the trigger after threatening him with a revolver he regularly kept in his waistband and calling him a 'dog'. A Supreme Court ruling delivered on Wednesday rejected the appeal, finding there was no reasonable doubt Fazlilar deliberately shot the DJ with the intention of causing serious harm. Hasan Fazlilar, who murdered Donovan Mileham in 2015, will remain behind bars after losing an appeal to overturn his 26-year sentence The pair had been partying at a strip club in Sydney's Kings Cross until the early hours of Saturday 14 November, when they returned to a hotel room together and proceeded to do more drugs and drink Chivas Regal whisky. At some point in the afternoon of that day, Fazlilar located a number saved in Mr Mileham's phone under the description 'police crime', leading to a confrontation between the pair. Fazlilar approached Mr Mileham, who was sitting on a couch and grabbed him, pointing a revolver he was known to carry at the man's temple and calling him a 'dog', suggesting he believed him to be a police informant or similar. He then lowered the gun and fired it into Mr Mileham's upper thigh, severing a blood vessel and killing him within minutes. Another man, who was also in the room at the time of the shooting, gave evidence of the events which helped convict Fazlilar. Lawyers for Fazlilar argued the jury ought to have had reasonable doubt as to whether firstly, he deliberately fired the gun, and secondly whether it was accompanied by an intent to cause grievous bodily harm. They argued in written submissions to the court there was 'very little evidence' Fazlilar deliberately fired at Mr Mileham's leg. The pair had been partying at strip club, Love Machine (pictured), in Sydney's Kings Cross until the early hours of Saturday 14 November, when they returned to a hotel room together and proceeded to do more drugs and drink Chivas Regal whisky Lawyers argued Fazlilar, who consumed liquor and the drugs ice and cocaine before shooting Donovon Mileham (pictured) in the leg, may not have intended to pull the trigger after threatening him with a revolver he regularly kept in his waistband and calling him a 'dog 'There was a substantial body of evidence from which the jury ought to have inferred that the applicant was significantly intoxicated,' the submission stated. 'The Court should entertain a reasonable doubt that the applicant had the intention to cause grievous bodily harm, let alone kill.' A panel of justices found Fazlilar did not express regret as could be expected if shooting Mr Mileham was accidental, and that his intoxication did not preclude him from intending to seriously wound his victim. 'It is common experience that people who are affected by drugs or alcohol, even to a very high degree, may form the intent to harm others very seriously,' the ruling stated. Investigators are reopening a forensic probe into the unsolved murders of an elderly couple discovered shot dead and hidden under hay bales at their farmhouse nearly 30 years ago. Officers believe advanced DNA techniques could be the key to unlocking the mystery behind the deaths of Harry Tooze, 64, and his wife Megan, 67. The couple were killed at their rural home in Llanharry, near Bridgend, on July 26, 1993, and their bloodied bodies later found hidden under hay bales in a cowshed. Today, on the 30th anniversary of the double-murder, police have launched a new review of the case and brought in one of Britain's top forensic experts Dr Angela Gallop to help. Dr Gallop is credited with cracking many of the UK's most notorious cases including Lynette White whose killer Jeffrey Gafoor convicted of murder in 2004 16 years after her death. Harry Tooze, 64, and his wife Megan, 67, were killed at their home in Llanharry, near Bridgend, on July 26, 1993, and their bloodied bodies later found hidden under hay bales in a cowshed Megan Tooze, 67, was found dead alongside her husband wrapped in a carpet in a cowshed at their home Forensic experts explore the crime scene in the rural south Wales farmhouse where Harry and Megan Tooze were killed in 1993 She also helped bring serial killer John Cooper, who was behind the Pembrokeshire coastal murders, to justice. Mr and Mrs Tooze were found dead with gunshot wounds at Ty Ar y Waun Farm. READ MORE: Breakthrough in cold case murder of shopkeeper who was found mysteriously murdered in her store 42 years ago as two pensioners are arrested Advertisement That Monday morning, they had left the farm to visit a Tesco supermarket in Llantrisant and collect their pensions before arriving back home at 11am. At around 1.30pm, two gunshots were heard by neighbours, but this was not considered to be unusual due to it being a farm. Police were called after a regular phone call from their only child, Cheryl Tooze, went unanswered. Miss Tooze had first rung her parents' neighbour Owen Hopkins to ask if he would check on them. When he phoned back to say they were not at home and suggested calling the police, Miss Tooze said her partner Jonathan Jones was driving from their home in Kent and would be there shortly. Mr Hopkins called 999 at around midnight, prompting officers to attend the farmhouse and search the scene. Mr Hopkins saw Mr Jones a short time later inside the property. Officers eventually discovered the bodies of Mr and Mrs Tooze in a cowshed adjoining the farmhouse. They had both been shot in the back of the head from about a metre away with a 12-bore double-barrelled shotgun. The couple's only child Cheryl Tooze and her partner Jonathan James, aged 35 at the time, who was subsequently convicted and then acquitted of Mr and Mrs Tooze's murders Police officers, pictured in 1993 with sniffer dogs along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, investigating the murders of Harry and Megan Tooze They had been covered in carpet and hidden under hay bales. Police believe they were not killed in the cowshed, but were likely to have been carried there after their deaths. READ MORE: Police reopen probe into mysterious deaths of brother and sister 46 years ago as case is linked to The Bullseye Killer who was jailed for life after being caught out on popular teatime TV quiz Advertisement Items in the house, such as a teacup and saucer and a shirt laid out for Mr Tooze in the bedroom, led detectives to believe the suspect was someone known to the couple and that they had perhaps been expecting them. Miss Tooze was at work during the killings but Mr Jones's alibi was less ironclad and suspicion turned towards him. Two days after her parents were killed, Miss Tooze made an appeal to the public with her partner sitting beside her. She said: "If there's anyone out there who knows anything in connection with the brutal murder of both my parents please contact the police, please help find the person who has destroyed my life, my mum and dad were my life. They may as well have killed me too for all my life is worth now." Hundreds of calls to police followed with people offering information, but the killings remained a mystery. The police appeared to be no further forward until five months later, when Jonathan was arrested and police announced they weren't looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation. Pictured here is are barrels that had been found and painted white by a member of the public near the site of the murders of Megan and Harry Tooze One red and one blue shotgun cartridge found during searches near the site of the murders of Megan and Harry Tooze Dr Angela Gallop is credited with cracking many of the UK's most notorious cases, including serial killer John Cooper, who was behind the Pembrokeshire coastal murders The then 35-year-old, who was a self-employed recruitment consultant, told police on the day of the killing he taken the day off work and went into their hometown of Orpington to look for office space to rent - but police could not find anybody who had seen him that day. His partial thumbprint was also found on the cup and saucer that had been found in the living room, and his trial heard it was that fingerprint that had led to his arrest. The prosecution claimed he wanted access to the couple's 150,000 inheritance as Cheryl was an only child, but his defence said the fingerprints could have got there after Jonathan went to the farm to help police. He was found guilty, and jailed for life in 1995, but in a strange twist of events, the judge who sentenced him wrote a letter to the Home Secretary saying he had "significant doubt" about the conviction. In a copy which was sent to Jones' barrister, Mr Justice Rougier said he was surprised the jury convicted Jones for the murders, and that if Jones was guilty he was exceptionally cunning. It gave Jonathan Jones, who was by now married to Cheryl with a baby son, fresh hope for freedom and a year later, his conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal. After an independent review of the murders in 2000, a new team of detectives was brought in to reinvestigate the deaths in November 2001. Between November 2001 and January 2003, officers from South Wales Police's Specialist Search Unit searched the area around Mr and Mrs Tooze's farmhouse, including a nearby iron ore mine and a disused quarry. In 2003 it was announced that the team of detectives, led by Detective Chief Inspector Brent Parry, were joining the hunt for the killer. Although a number of new leads were generated following the appeal, no-one was charged. Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Mark Lewis said: 'We hope that by using the latest modern forensic techniques we can deliver justice for Harry and Megan. 'As is usual in such reviews, no outcomes can ever be guaranteed. 'This case has affected many people over the years and our aim is to find the answers to the unanswered questions which remain about their deaths 30 years on,' he added. 'Even with this passage of time I appeal to anyone who has any information about the murders to come forward and speak to police.' Det Supt Lewis added: 'Even in the past five to 10 years scientific techniques have moved on so far. 'This was the shooting of two people in their 60s, on a summer's day in broad daylight, there is a high possibility that the killer is known to someone. They owe it to the family and to the community of Llanharry to bring them closure.' Information can be submitted to the investigation via online public portal here. An NHS nurse has sparked outrage after apparently faking a headache to leave her 'hubby and kids' in Disney World before searching Tinder for 'some hotel room fun'. The married mother's Tinder bio says she was holidaying in Disney World in Orlando, Florida, with her family until 8 June and looking for 'short-term fun' while away. The cheeky dating profile suggests she faked having a 'headache' to 'stay at the hotel' for some 'hotel room fun' while her family enjoy the resort. A Tinder user later matched with the holidaymaker and claimed the nurse confirmed she was there with her husband and children. The 41-year-old's controversial dating profile sparked a row on social media where hundreds of commenters expressed their shock. An NHS nurse was slammed on social media for apparently faking a headache to leave her 'hubby and kids' at Disney World before searching Tinder for 'some hotel room fun' The NHS nurse's Tinder profile says: 'On a Disney World vacation with my family and looking for some hotel room fun whilst I send them off to the parks and I stay at the hotel due to 'having a headache''. 'Here until 8th June x,' the dating app profile adds. The screenshot later garnered more than 800 likes, comments and shares after being posted on Facebook by a fellow Tinder user. The user who spotted it claims he matched with the holidaymaker to 'verify what she meant by family'. He claimed the woman confirmed that she was in fact at Disney World with her husband and kids. The Tinder user wrote: 'D*ck > Disney (husband and kids). 'Not averse to helping with a 'headache', but I wouldn't do that to another man and his kids,' he said. 'So I did match with her just to verify what she meant by 'family'.' The controversial Tinder bio quickly kicked off a row on social media, as Facebook users decried the nurse's behaviour as 'disgusting'. The mother's Tinder bio says she is looking for 'short term fun' while on a vacation to Disney World Social media users also hit back at the critics as they questioned claims that the nurse was 'cheating'. Some Facebook users even suggested that the author of the post had been 'rejected' by the nurse and was being petty. 'I feel like he got rejected and is butt hurt about it. I don't know, that's just the vibe I get,' one Facebook user said. 'He probably thought he was in for sure and then she got a better offer,' a second person added. A third said: 'This group has become overrun by dudes looking for something to be mad about.' A fourth added: 'Who said anyone is cheating? I think this is awesome, I hope she got some lol.' A fifth commented: 'Get it girl. She could mean that she's with kids or extended family. Cheating isn't implied.' A sixth joked: 'Disney [World] and thousands of ratty kids would give me a 'headache' too.' Facebook users were quick to express their shock at the NHS nurse's Tinder bio as they called her behaviour 'disgusting' However, several users were quick to condemn the 'cheating' nurse, and accused opposing posters of doing 'mental gymnastics' to justify her behaviour. One said: 'I'm so confused by people defending this behaviour. It's disgusting.' A second added: 'Wow, how awful - I hope she gets busted!' A third commented: 'Why is everyone being so suspicious and mean about this? 'I'm cynical generally, but that profile seems to be implying exactly what he's saying. Wack.' A fourth added: 'Anyone willing to do that to their family is trash. I don't care if it's a dude or chick.' A fifth said: 'I don't see how people can't see she's clearly cheating. And mocking with the use of a headache? Blergh.' A sixth said: 'The hurdle jumping to defend this mess is wild. The picture she painted is pretty damn clear. [The] husband is taking the kids to the parks. 'Stop with the mental gymnastics to justify this!' Ferocious storms have hammered Europe in recent days with Italy being hit by an 'apocalyptic' supercell and a deadly 135mph tornado tearing through Switzerland - while wildfires continue to rage in southern holiday hotspots. The tornado struck the Swiss city of La Chaux-de-Fonds on Monday, killing at least one person and injuring 15 others. Footage emerged today showing relative calm before a ferocious squall barrelled through, tearing up trees and sending debris flying. Similar vicious winds have damaged cities from Berlin to Milan and across to Romania's Oradea, killing several people and leaving a trail of destruction. Italy's Udine region, 60 miles to the north-east of Venice, experienced the rare supercell phenomenon on Tuesday, with a cyclone hundreds of feet wide looming over the town of Codroipo and with flashes of lightning emanating from inside. Further south on Italy's Almalfi coast, unusually powerful waves crashed up against a beach, sending people running from the shore and rocking yachts on the water. As powerful wind and huge hail battered swathes of the continent's northern regions, wildfires were burning in at least nine countries as millions living in southern Europe continued to experience extreme heat. SWITZERLAND: This is the moment daylight disappeared in seconds as a ferocious 135mph tornado tore through Switzerland destroying everything in its path as wild weather extremes continued to hammer Europe ITALY: The Udine region, 60 miles to the north-east of Venice, experienced a rare supercell phenomenon on Tuesday, with a cyclone hundreds of feet wide looming over the town of Codroipo, with flashes of lightning emanating from inside (pictured) Hells Bells! Some more perfectly normal European Summer weather in Switzerland this afternoon pic.twitter.com/6jiC9dfAM6 Dave Throup (@DaveThroup) July 24, 2023 GREECE: A firefighting plane makes a water drop as a wildfire burns in the village of Gennadi, on the island of Rhodes, July 25 GERMANY: Cars are seen crushed under a fallen branch in Berlin, July 24 ROMANIA: Debris is seen flying off a roof from footage captured inside a car A map shows the temperature difference between north and south Europe, with dark red denoting hotter temperatures A map showing the fire danger forecast across Europe for July 26, with red representing danger and extreme danger In Portugal, locals and firefighters scrambled to put out a fire at a natural park near a beach resort, while in Croatia fires set off old landmines near the historic city of Dubrovnik. Italy's southern island of Sicily has also been devastated by wildfires that have killed three elderly people, its regional president said today, with footage from the country's roads showing scenes of people driving to safety down fire-flanked roads. Meanwhile, blazes continue to wreak havoc in Greece with efforts to contain them yesterday resulting in the deaths of two pilots. SWITZERLAND Monday's tornado 'unfortunately caused the death of one person in their 50s following the toppling of a construction crane', Neuchatel police said. The storm passed through quickly but the strong winds caused significant damage. Vehicles were damaged or destroyed, roofs were torn off, street furniture was blown away and trees were uprooted. Footage showed a cloud rolling in over the lush, green Swiss countryside. As the fog enveloped the settlement, the winds suddenly picked up, causing trees to almost topple over and hail to fall. Officials said a wind speed of 135 miles per hour was recorded on Monday 'under a storm cell which suddenly strengthened when arriving in the region'. Neuchatel police urged people not to expose themselves to risks such as falling tiles or trees, and warned further storms were likely. SWITZERLAND: Fog is seen rolling in over a Swiss town as a storm arrives suddenly As cars, buildings and trees are enveloped in fog, the wind suddenly picks up Trees are seen being blown around in the strong winds in the storm in Switzerland Police officers and firefighters work next to a fallen crane after a violent storm swept through the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds, July 24 An uprooted tree is seen in Le Cret-du-Locle near La Chaux-de-Fonds, western Switzerland on July 24 after a violent storm swept through A view of damages following a storm in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland July 24 ITALY Meanwhile in Sicily, the charred bodies of a couple in their 70s were found in their burnt-out home on the outskirts of Palermo, the regional capital. Another woman in her late 80s died in the Palermo province after an ambulance was unable to reach her home due to fires. In a message on Facebook, Sicilian President Renato Schifani said 'scorching heat and unprecedented devastating fires' had turned Tuesday into 'one of the most difficult days in decades'. SICILY: Residents look at flames burning in Capaci, near Palermo, in Sicily, southern Italy, Wednesday, July 26 A man tries to extinguish a wildfire in the Sicilian village of Altofonte, near Palermo, Sicily Italian civil protection personnel burn out fires in Capaci, near Palermo in Sicily The convent of Santa Maria di Gesu, where the relics of San Benedetto il Moro are kept, is damaged by fire in Palermo, Italy, July 25 Flames are seen on the side of a road through the window of a vehicle driving in Sicily Italian firefighters said they battled nearly 1,400 fires between Sunday and Tuesday, including 650 in Sicily and 390 in Calabria, the southern mainland region where a bedridden 98-year-old man was killed as fire consumed his home. Fires were still burning on the hills around Palermo on Wednesday, with Canadair planes back in operation to try to douse the flames. Large areas of the Mediterranean have been sweltering under an intense summer heatwave on Tuesday, causing deadly blazes across the region. Sicily is a major tourist destination but a fire inside a terminal building last week caused the near-total closure of its biggest airport in Catania on the east of the island. Palermo airport was also closed for a few hours on Tuesday because of a wildfire nearby. 'I hope that tourist flows in the areas affected by the fires will not suffer losses,' Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci, a Sicilian, told the La Stampa newspaper. 'The risk ... is there and it is understandable'. The government was set to meet in Rome later Wednesday to declare a state of emergency in regions affected by natural disasters and introduce a special furlough scheme for workers most exposed to the heatwave. While Italy's south is battling with wildfires, the country's northern Lombardy region saw a powerful storm accompanied by heavy hail. This caused flooding and power outages and was blamed for the deaths of two people, including that of a 16-year-old girl at a scouts' camp crushed by a falling tree. Officials have reported tornadoes, while a rare supercell opened in the skies above the town of Codroipo, in the Italian province of Udine. Pictures of the phenomenon showed what looks like a fissure in the sky underneath black clouds. Meteorologists say supercells form when hot air meets cold air, and release large amounts of energy in a short time. Meanwhile, residents of Milan were surveying the mess after the dramatic overnight storm and winds of over 100 kilometres per hour. 'It all happened around 4 or 5 AM (0200-0300 GMT) this morning, it was very short but very intense, it knocked down several trees ... with the wind gusts they took off and broke up,' witness Roberto Solfrizzo, 66, told Reuters. On Italy's Amalfi coast, unusually powerful wave crashed against a pier, sending people running for safety. In the background, boats can be seen being rocked by the strong tide A man desperately tries to extinguish the flames that have started a fire with a bucket of water in the Aci Catena area 20 km from Catania on July 25 This picture released by the Italian firefighters shows wildfires in the region of Palermo in Sicily This picture released by the Italian firefighters shows wildfires in the region of Palermo in Sicily, Italy, Tuesday July 25 A car completely destroyed by flames in the territory of Aci Catena, Catania, July 25 Firefighters desperately try to extinguish the flames that erupted in the intense heat in the Aci Catena area 20 km from Catania on July 25 In a sign that temperatures were finally easing, only two cities - Catania in Sicily and Bari in southern Puglia - were on a government heatwave 'red alert' list for Wednesday, down from 17 the previous day. CROATIA Across the Adriatic in Croatia, dozens of firefighters battled a wildfire near the country's picturesque southern city of Dubrovnik, authorities said on Wednesday, with water-bombing planes dispatched to help contain the blaze. The fire near Dubrovnik was reportedly some 7.5 miles from the famed medieval city in the Zupa Dubrovacka municipality. The blaze broke out late Monday but had not triggered any evacuations of the nearby population, according to the firefighters association. Around 130 firefighters were working to contain the flames that had been spread by strong winds on Tuesday. Local media reported the fire also triggered landmines to explode in the area. During the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Dubrovnik was besieged and shelled by Serb forces, leading several areas in the city to be damaged while swathes of its outskirts are still contaminated by landmines. The UNESCO-protected city dates back to the 7th century and features a maze of churches, palaces and fountains perched above the shimmering Adriatic. Dubrovnik has long been a hub for tourism and a cruise ship magnet but also gained notoriety in recent years after portions of the hit HBO series 'Game of Thrones' was filmed in the medieval walled city. Known as the Pearl of Adriatic, the city attracts more than a million tourists annually. Last week, at least five people were killed after violent thunderstorms swept across Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia following days of scorching temperatures in the Balkans. Fires also swept across Portugal and Spain's Gran Canaria, and several dozen firefighters were using aircraft to battle a wildfire that had broken out close to Nice international airport in southern France. GREECE In Greece, officials are expecting scorching heat on Wednesday as crews continue their work to douse deadly wildfires. GREECE: Flames and smoke rise as a wildfire burns near the village of Gennadi, on the island of Rhodes, July 25 A photo shows a fire as it burns vegetation into the village of Gennadi on the Greek Aegean island of Rhodes, on July 25 People take photos of a firefighting helicopter filling water from a pool, in the village of Gennadi, on the island of Rhodes, Greece, July 25 At least 100 firefighters were working to contain the flames on Evia, Greece, where on Tuesday two pilots were killed when their water bomber aircraft crashed. Pictured: The crash site Rescuers operate at the site where a firefighting plane crashed after a water drop as a wildfire burns in Platanistos on the island of Evia, Greece, July 25 Thousands of people have evacuated as Greek authorities struggle against flames on three major fronts, including the tourist islands of Rhodes and Corfu. Greece is used to summer heatwaves, but is experiencing one of the longest ones in recent years, according to experts. The civil protection ministry has warned of an extreme danger of fire in six of the country's 13 regions on Wednesday. Wildfires, which have been burning in several parts of the country for more than 10 days, were ravaging the tourist islands of Rhodes, Corfu and Evia. At least 100 firefighters were working to contain the flames on Evia, where on Tuesday two pilots were killed when their water bomber aircraft crashed. The body of a third victim was also found on Evia. Authorities have evacuated tens of thousands of people from fire areas in Greece, including many tourists. PORTUGAL Aided by local residents, hundreds of Portuguese firefighters scrambled on Tuesday to put out flames sweeping across a natural park near the popular holiday destination of Cascais, with strong winds complicating efforts to tackle the blaze. The wildfire started at 5 p.m. (1600 GMT) in a mountainous area that is part of the Sintra-Cascais natural park, which covers around 56 square miles of land and is located west of the capital Lisbon. Backed by 189 vehicles, more than 600 firefighters were brought in after the fire erupted. Water-bombing planes also battled the blaze but had to stop operating as the night set in. At one of the villages affected by the fire, desperate local residents took matters into their own hands as they tried to protect their homes with buckets of water and hosepipes, as strong winds fanned the flames. PORTUGAL: A fire burns a forested area in Alto do Alvide, Cascais, Portugal, July 25 Local residents use buckets with water to try to slow down flames approaching their houses in Alcabideche, outside Lisbon. Tuesday, July 25 An helicopter discharges water on the flames as the fire advances in Alcabideche, outside Lisbon on Tuesday, July 25 Firefighters battle the flames in Alto do Alvide, Cascais, July 25 An Air Tractor, left, and a Canadair, firefighting airplanes, pass each other while working on a wildfire burning near houses in Alcabideche, outside Lisbon, Tuesday, July 25 Left: Smoke rises, as seen from a moving vehicle, following a wildfire in Cascais, Portugal July 25. Right: Smoke rises, following a wildfire in Cascais, Portugal July 25 'The fear now is that it will get to the houses,' said 34-year-old Ines Figueiredo as smoke filled the air. 'We try to help as much as we can with buckets (of water)... but it's not worth much.' Mayor of Cascais Carlos Carreiras said gusts of up to 60 kph were the biggest challenge ahead, and that a number of people had been evacuated as a precaution. Residents used wheelchairs to help evacuate those with mobility problems. 'They (firefighters) do what they can,' said Miguel Medeiros, a local resident who has helped fight the flames. 'It's difficult for everyone.' No houses have been damaged and no major injuries have been reported, according to authorities. EU data shows Portugal, which has so far escaped the recent heatwave causing deaths and destruction across southern Europe, is usually one of the bloc's worst-hit countries by wildfires. Elsewhere in Turkey, authorities evacuated a dozen homes and a hospital as a precaution on Tuesday after a wildfire raged through a rugged forest area near the Mediterranean resort of Kemer, in Antalya province. A hospital and a dozen homes were evacuated as a precaution in the coastal town. At least 10 planes, 22 helicopters and hundreds of firefighters were deployed to extinguish the fire as meteorologists warned temperatures could rise several degrees above seasonal averages. Five helicopters with night-vision capabilities worked through the night, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Authorities said residential areas were not under threat in the Kemer in the Mediterranean coastal province of Antalya. Another wildfire in the western province of Manisa, was brought under control a day after it burnt at least 14 homes. Wildfires also broke out in the countryside around Syria's Mediterranean port city, Latakia, with the authorities using army helicopters to try to put them out. Extreme weather throughout July has caused havoc across the planet, with record temperatures in China, the U.S. and southern Europe sparking forest fires, water shortages and a rise in heat-related hospital admissions. SPAIN: Smoke is seen rising over the mountain tops in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, July 25 A wildfire rages, in the area of Pico de las Nieves, on the Canary Island of Gran Canaria, Spain July 25 A helicopter works to extinguish a wildfire, in the area of Pico de las Nieves, on the Canary Island of Gran Canaria, Spain July 25 A fire burns land near houses in Valsequillo, Canary Islands, July 25 Without human-induced climate change, the events this month would have been 'extremely rare', according to a study by World Weather Attribution, a global team of scientists that examines the role played by climate change in extreme weather. The heat, with temperatures topping 40 C (104 F), is well in excess of what usually attracts tourists who flock to southern European beaches. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said his country was one of those on the front line against climate change, with no easy solution. 'I will state the obvious: in the face of what the entire planet is facing, especially the Mediterranean which is a climate change hot-spot, there is no magical defence mechanism, if there was we would have implemented it,' Mitsotakis said. Wildlife experts are preparing to lead dozens of whales back into deep waters after 52 died in a mass stranding event on a West Australian beach. Rescue efforts continue after the mammals stranded themselves at Cheynes Beach, 60km east of Albany in the state's south. WA's Parks and Wildlife Service released a video on Wednesday showing volunteers and staff in the water with the remaining 45 whales, preparing to lead them off shore. Experts are analysing the whales' behaviours and will look to herd the surviving pod away from the rocky bay once they have regained strength, incident controller Peter Hartley said. 'Once the whales show signs that they're improving, starting to move and are able to swim freely, we will release them ... as a group,' he said. A group of wildlife experts and volunteers are preparing to release 45 pilot whales after they became stranded on Cheynes Beach in Western Australia on Tuesday (pictured) 'We're optimistic - we've got to be optimistic in this game. It's highly stressful for all the people here ... and you've got to have something to hold on to.' The large, huddled pod of long-finned pilot whales was spotted swimming perilously close to Cheynes Beach on Tuesday morning. Wildlife conservation officers became concerned as the pod began drifting closer to the beach. A drone camera captured the pod forming a loose heart shape while in the water, in what is believed to be pure coincidence. By 4pm a large stretch of the shoreline was covered in floundering mammals. Parks and Wildlife Service staff, including Perth Zoo veterinarians and marine fauna experts, arrived to monitor the whales overnight and began grouping stranded whales before refloating them together on Wednesday. Officials initially estimated 70 whales, before the tally was lifted to 97. Crews have been inundated by hundreds of offers of help, with Parks and Wildlife staff asking the public to stay away. There are a number of hazards in the area, including large, distressed and potentially sick whales, sharks, waves, heavy machinery and vessels. A total of 52 whales had died overnight, having been spotted on Monday about 100m offshore in an unusually large formation before becoming beached (pictured) The rescue group were waiting for the whales to regain their strength so they can navigate nearby hazards such as sharks, waves and vessels Wildlife experts have speculated the unusual behaviour of the whales could be an indicator of stress or illness within the pod. Macquarie University wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta said it remained a mystery why whales stranded themselves. 'The fact they were in one area, very huddled and doing really interesting behaviours and looking around at times, suggests something else is going on that we just don't know,' she told AAP. What set it apart from previous events was the availability of footage showing the animals before they stranded, she said. A whale may have been sick or the pod might have become disorientated but it was unlikely they were trying to avoid predators, Dr Pirotta said. Griffith University researcher Olaf Meynecke said of all whales, dolphins and porpoises, pilot whales were most prone to mass strandings. The whales are highly social animals and maintain complex familial relationships with their pods from birth. Dr Meynecke described a kind of ripple effect that can occur when some individuals get stressed. 'The stress seems to build up. They are so closely bonded it's almost like they are stressing each other out and they are so bound together they will just go in as a bubble.' Dr Pirotta said the whales had a 'follow-the-leader type mentality' that could be the reason behind mass strandings. Holidaymakers in Tenerife have been slammed as 'sunbed warriors' after they were spotted laying out loungers at 6.30am - three-and-a-half hours before the pool was due to open. Dad-of-two Matthew Vine, 46, was stunned when he was sat having a coffee on the balcony and spotted keen sunbathers preparing their beds. He filmed guests brazenly dragging the beds away from where they were chained up overnight to reserve their perfect spot for the day, and urged the early risers to 'go back to bed'. Matthew was on a two-week holiday in Puerto De Santiago, Tenerife, Spain, in June, with his wife, Sarah, 46, a waitress, and his two children - Charlie, 11, and Holly, seven. He said this was a daily occurrence on their break at the Globales Suneo Tamaimo Tropical hotel, where staff have vowed to try and find 'solutions' to restore order. Matthew Vine filmed guests dragging the beds away from where they were chained up overnight to reserve their perfect spot for the day, and urged the early risers to 'go back to bed' Holidaymakers were seen flocking to the poolside so early they had to set up their own loungers, on June 2 - despite the fact that it didn't even open until around 10am He filmed holidaymakers flocking to the poolside so early they had to set up their own loungers, on June 2 - despite the fact that it didn't even open until around 10am. Matthew, a company director, from Wetherby, West Yorks., said: 'It was massive - there were two pools and plenty of sunbeds. 'When we went down around 9am there were still plenty of beds to go around. 'I took the video around 6.30am when people started to lay out their beds - which were still chained up at the time. 'I never did it, but I did enjoy laughing at them - why not just wait? 'I think they see one do it and panic sets in - suddenly they're all doing it.' A representative of the hotel said: 'It is forbidden to reserve sunbeds in all our hotels, it is verbally indicated to guests when checking in, and in the sunbathing areas it is also indicated with signs. 'We are doing our best, including measures such as the one you can see in the video, chaining sunbeds so that people do not come to book sunbeds at unseemly hours despite the fact that we have enough sunbeds. No compromise: Holidaymakers made the dash to claim the best sunbeds ahead of their opponents 'This is not a problem unique to our hotel, but is repeated in many hotels. 'We are looking for solutions to this problem that do not cause even bigger problems, although all this would not be necessary if people took heed of our indications.' Holidaymakers across Spanish resorts this summer have been fighting for poolside sunbeds in an increasingly documented phenomenon on TikTok. In Mallorca, TikToker John McGowan filmed what he called the 'towel police' taking revenge on hotel guests who had tried to reserve sunbeds. The staff member appeared fed up as he swiftly clears away towels and inflatables used to hog beds by the pool at the Viva resort on the Spanish island. Hoards of holidaymakers were spotted making the mad dash to secure a good spot by the pool It is generally accepted in Spanish resorts that a towel left on a sunbed is claimed by its owner for the entire day. The origin of this rule is not known, though it is thought to be a German invention. But now desperate attempts to secure the perfect sunbathing spot appear to have got out of hand, with tourists running for the deckchairs and even leaving their towels in 'queues'. Hilarious footage shows guests at the four-star Spring Hotel Bitacora, Playa de las Americas in Tenerife, waiting next to their resort's swimming pools before rushing in to nab the best spots. The Mallorca hotel's 'sunbed police' are captured getting revenge on guests who have reserved loungers Dad-of-two Matthew Vine, 46, was stunned when he was sat having a coffee on the balcony and spotted keen sunbathers preparing their beds Brits armed with swimming togs and sun cream raced past rival holidaymakers with a grim determination to secure their place in the sun for a day. Some are reported to have queued for 90 minutes first thing in the morning - waiting for some unknown signal before stampeding past their fellow tourists for the best sun loungers. Meanwhile, at the Camp de Mar in Majorca a holidaymaker was shocked to see next-level towel reservation after sunbed hogs puts their towels down on the floor at the entrance to the pool area. Photos show beach bags and towels placed in an orderly queue leading to the closed-off pool area so hotel guests can secure their sun bed the moment that it opens. Oppenheimer has been praised by film critics and viewers alike for its depiction of the race to produce the atom bomb. The production focuses on scientist Robert J Oppenheimer as he led the Manhattan Project, which ultimately built the deadly weapons that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. But, whilst Cillian Murphy's star turn as the troubled physicist has been hailed, experts have criticised how the wrong American flag was used in the film. Scenes depicting the celebrations after Japan's surrender and the US victory in the Second World War show Oppenheimer being applauded by an audience wielding the flag. But eagle-eyed viewers pointed out the flags have 50 stars rather than 48, even though Hawaii and Alaska did not become US states until 1959. New film Oppenheimer has been highly praised by critics and viewers alike for its depiction of the race to produce the atom bomb. But eagle-eyed viewers have criticised the production for using the current US flag, with 50 stars, in scenes set in 1945, when there were 48 states Taking to Twitter, the popular Fake History Hunter account, which is run by historian Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse, posted a photo of the scene and said: 'Oh dear. Spot the mistake in 'Oppenheimer'. How sloppy' Taking to Twitter, the popular Fake History Hunter account, which is run by historian Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse, posted a photo of the scene and said: 'Oh dear. Spot the mistake in 'Oppenheimer'. How sloppy.' She added: 'Just in case you're not sure. The US flag changed many times, the one in the film is not the one they had during the 1940s.' Ms Teeuwisse also pointed out how the same mistake had been made in 2019 film Jojo Rabbit, and 1977 epic A Bridge Too Far. TV film Restless, which stars Rufus Sewell and was released in 2012, also featured the common error. Other social media users also pointed out the mistake. One wrote: 'Blooper in "Oppenheimer". This scene, set in 1945 had 50-star flags, but Alaska and Hawaii hadn't yet become states.' Another said: 'I'll be that guy and complain they used 50-star flags in a scene set in 1945.' President Franklin Delano Roosevelt makes an address above the US flag - then featuring 48 stars - after his 1945 election victory The current 50-star US flag was adopted in July 1960, 11 months after Hawaii was admitted to the Union. Above: President John F Kennedy delivers a State of the Union address in front of the flag in January 1963 Other social media users also pointed out the mistake. One wrote: 'Blooper in "Oppenheimer". This scene, set in 1945 had 50-star flags, but Alaska and Hawaii hadn't yet become states.' The current 50-star US flag was adopted in July 1960, 11 months after Hawaii was admitted to the Union. Hawaii's absorption into the US came seven months after Alaska became a state. The flag with 48 stars had been in use since 1912, after New Mexico and Arizona had become states. After Alaska was admitted, a 49th star was added to the flag, but this was only in use for a year. Alaska became a state nearly a century after being bought from Russia. The US paid $7.2million for the territory in 1867. In 1912, it became an incorporated US territory and during the Second World War the Alaskan Aleutian Islands were occupied by Japanese troops. Its path to statehood took decades due to opposition both in Alaska and the US Congress. Hawaii, which lies off the west coast of the mainland US, was annexed under President William McKinley in 1898. It was granted self-governance in 1900 but efforts to make it a state were frustrated for six decades before their eventual success. Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan, was released in cinemas last week. Robert J Oppenheimer, who is depicted by Cillian Murphy in Christopher Nolan's new film, was the man who led the project that developed the atomic bomb. Above: At the test ground for the atomic bomb near Almagordo, New Mexico; Murphy as the scientist The world's first atomic bomb (above) was detonated in New Mexico in July 1945. In the second afterwards, Oppenheimer said: 'I am become death, destroyer of worlds,' as he quoted from the Hindu scriptures A photograph of Hiroshima shortly after the bomb, Little Boy, was dropped on August 6, 1945 Rave reviews: Oppenheimer features an all-star cast and is led by Cillian Murphy Starring alongside Murphy are Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Junior and Matt Damon. The world's first atomic bomb was detonated at the now-famous Los Alamos test site in New Mexico in July 1945. Less than a month later, the pioneering, devastating technology was used twice in Japan, acts which ended the Second World War but took as many as 170,000 lives in the process. Oppenheimer, who had come a long way from troubled younger days which saw him try to kill his own lecturer with a poisoned apple, felt soon afterwards that he had 'blood on my hands'. He would ultimately suffer a devastating career downfall when he was wrongly claimed to have been a Communist sympathiser who passed secrets to the Soviet Union. An addict whose battle to get herself clean from drugs was chronicled in before-and-after pictures faces was facing jail today for scarring her cousin's girlfriend. Ashley Cole, 31, slashed Georgia Skelton's forehead with the fighting knife after labelling her a 'man-head' and a 'dirty lesbian' during an ugly street confrontation. She later posted a defiant message on Facebook denouncing her cousin Kayleigh Wain and Miss Skelton as 'snitches' for going to police and boasting she was 'feeling fantastic.' The message read: 'Getting ready for court because my so-called cousin the snitch turns up to my flat with her bird. Somehow her bird's wig got split up. Do not know how that happened, it was not me. Pair of snitches.' The attack occurred four years after Cole, from Widnes, Cheshire managed to kick her heroin and cocaine habits when she was locked up for preying on a mentally ill man for his disability living allowance and other benefits. At the time she was labelled a 'slave to drugs' by her own lawyer but subsequent pictures she posted on social media illustrated how a life off drugs had improved her appearance and put a smile back on her face after a 2017 mugshot highlighted her addictions. Cole was labelled a 'slave to drugs' by her own lawyer and looked serious ill in this old picture Cole's journey back to health were chronicled in pictures of her looking healthy after drug hell This week Cole was convicted of assault in her absence after Miss Skelton and Miss Waine testified. She eventually turned up to court after the verdict was given - and was told she faced two and a half years behind bars when she is sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court next month. The attack occurred at Cole's flat on May 12, 2021, after Miss Skelton had arrived to pick up Miss Wain who had just collected one of her children from school. Warrington JPs were told Miss Skelton had an argument with Miss Wain earlier in the day and wanted to 'clear the air.' Miss Skelton told the hearing: 'I got out of the car and walked towards Kayleigh because she was coming out of the flat. Then I just saw Ashley Cole through the glass of the door shouting things. 'She was shouting towards me, obviously towards my sexuality which she always has anyway. She was calling me a 'd***', a 'man-head', things like that. Obviously I am upset but I tend not to let people bother me. 'Kayleigh told me to ignore what she was saying and was telling her to go back to the flat. As I stepped back, I lost my balance because there was a little grass verge behind me. Kayleigh tried to obviously save me but fell back as well. She fell on top of me. Ashley Cole is pictured outside Warrington Magistrates Court ahead of the case hearing ictured is Ashley Cole as she battled to herself clean after a serious and dangerous drug habit 'Before we had time to get up I looked up and Ashley was there. I did not even know she was there. I saw her fix something to her hand. I could not see exactly what it was. I saw her fix something. Then I saw her swing towards my head, the front of my head. The pain was really bad. 'At first, she got me here where the scar is. Obviously, I have screamed because of the impact. She has then gone behind me and swiped at the back of my head. I was a bit out of it because I just felt this thud, sharpness and the impact. 'It was not until I stood up, I felt I could not see because the blood was pouring down my face. Ashley was panicking and getting back to the building and trying to get the door open. She managed to get back to her flat. 'Kayleigh ran after her and thought she would keep up with her. But she knew not to leave me and was also on the phone to an ambulance.' She was shown a screengrab of Cole's Facebook message which was followed by a winking emoji with a tongue sticking out and a middle finger emoji. Also in the message was a long string of emojis including another winking emoji, starry eyes, an exploding head, a bandaged head, and at the end a middle finger. 'That means she is just rubbing it in my face,' Miss Skelton said when asked what she thought Cole meant by the message. When asked what she thought she had been hit with, she added: 'The hospital told me they thought it was a dagger, they knew it was a bladed weapon.' Miss Wain said: 'Georgia and I were just talking because we'd had a row that day. But Ashley was shouting things to Georgia calling her a 'man-head' and a lesbian. She was quite aggressive and she looked quite mean. 'I didn't want things to escalate so I asked Ashley to go back upstairs but I stumbled and I fell on the top of Georgia and we both fell backwards on the grass. Ashley then came out of nowhere and I heard Georgia scream in pain and when I looked there was all this blood,' she said, 'I saw Ashley's hand go past me. It happened so quickly. I knew something had happened. 'I saw the hand go past me and Georgia made that horrible noise. Ashley went to run off. As I got up I tried to follow her and ask 'What have you hit her with?' Georgia stood up but there was this blood all over her face. When asked about the Facebook post, Miss Wain said that she thought Cole was 'just trying to be clever'. Will Griffin prosecuting said: 'This was a fairly serious offence and the starting point is two years and six months. The aggravating feature is that a weapon was present. The ambulance staff said that a dagger was used.' Following the evidence of the two women, the magistrates said they were satisfied that the prosecution had proved its case. A warrant was issued for Cole's arrest but later appeared in court claiming had encountered difficulties getting the bus after going to the pharmacist. JP Michael Danaher told her: 'We have found you guilty in your absence. This matter is so serious that it is going to be sent to the crown court for sentencing. The court will take an exceptionally dim view if you are late.' A mother who wanted to take her own life first smothered her three daughters to death 'out of love' because she didn't want to leave them behind, a court has heard. Lauren Anne Dickason, 42, is on trial in the High Court in Christchurch charged with murdering her daughters - Liane, 6, and twins Maya and Karla, aged 2. The girls were found dead at their home in Timaru on New Zealand's South Island on September 16, 2021, by their father Graham Dickason after he returned home from a work function. Dickason has admitted to killing her children but denies it was murder, with her defence claiming she is not guilty by reason of insanity. Her lawyer Anne Toohey on Wednesday told the court her client was 'disturbed' and suffering severe postpartum depression, the New Zealand Herald reported. 'All of the defence experts agree that there was an altruistic motive That means that Lauren killed her children out of love,' Ms Toohey told the court. Lawyer Anne Toohey said her client Lauren Anne Dickason (pictured), 42, 'killed her children out of love' Dickason is on trial in the High Court in Christchurch charged with murdering her three young daughters - Liane, 6, and twins Maya and Karla, both 2 (family pictured together) 'In her mind, she was killing them out of love - she was killing herself and she didn't want to leave the children she was so sure this was the right thing to do she persisted.' She told the court Dickason was 'in a dark place' and struggling to cope with feelings of inadequacy as a mother. 'She decided to kill herself and she felt that they were all better off dead,' Ms Toohey told the court. Dickason's mother Wendy Fawkes gave evidence on Wednesday. She said her daughter loved her children, but shortly before the family emigrated from South Africa to New Zealand she was concerned her daughter would have a 'breakdown'. The retired teacher and her husband Malcolm have attended every day of the trial, leaving only once when pathologist Dr Martin Sage gave evidence about the children's post mortems. Ms Fawkes said her daughter had changed, stopped communicating and was very flat in the lead up to the alleged murders. 'I was extremely worried about her... I've never seen Lauren in such a bad mental state. (She) became more distant... in her messages to me she told me how broken she is.' Dickason has admitted to killing her children but denies it was murder, with her defence claiming she is not guilty by reason of insanity The family had only been in New Zealand for a few weeks when Dickason killed her children. She had previously lost a daughter called Sarah when she was 18 weeks pregnant, after 17 rounds of IVF treatment. The prosecution acknowledges Dickason suffered from serious depression, but maintains she knew what she was doing when she killed her three girls, the court heard. Crown Prosecutor Andrew McRae alleged the mother was an angry, frustrated and resented 'how the children stood in the way of her relationship with her husband'. He told the court Dickason killed her children 'methodically and purposefully, perhaps even clinically'. On Tuesday, a police interview was played to the court where Dickason said she killed one of her twins first because she was the 'worst behaved'. Dickason said Karla had been 'really horrible' to her, biting and hitting her and 'throwing tantrums 24 hours a day'. The officer who conducted the interview told the court Dickason was 'polite' and 'articulate' and willingly engaged with police throughout questioning. On the night of the alleged triple murder, she smothered the girls around 20 minutes after her husband left for a work event. She said the children were jumping on couches and not listening to what she was telling them and so she went to the garage, saw some cable ties and thought, 'That could possibly work'. In the interview she told police: 'I have been thinking about it for sure last night something just triggered me', and so she put them all together in a room before using the cable ties on them. But that attempt was unsuccessful, so she suffocated them. The girls were found dead at their home in Timaru on New Zealand's South Island on September 16, 2021, by their father Graham Dickason after he had returned home from a work function Dickason told police she then tucked each of them into their beds, pulling the blankets over their heads, fully aware that they were dead. 'Then I decided I had to do something with myself and I ran through the house and none of the knives were sharp and then I just started drinking my medication that I could find. I wanted to die.' In the lead-up to the killings, she said she had been getting only two hours of sleep a night, was losing weight due to stress, had not felt normal for a couple of months before the incident and that moving to New Zealand had only exacerbated issues. She described the day she killed the girls as her 'first day off' in four months, telling police after killing them she just climbed into bed with a hot water bottle and processed everything that had happened. In the interview, Dickason said she had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder in 2015, had post-natal depression after the birth of both her older daughter and then the twins and had been medicated for years before stopping in early 2021. The killings were described by the prosecutor as 'methodical, purposeful and perhaps clinical' She also admitted to having thoughts of harming her children in the past and had told her husband on three occasions that she was scared as she had considered hurting their daughters. Throughout the video interview being played in court Dickason sat with her head in her hands. Earlier in the trial the jury heard Dickason had carried out several searches regarding how to overdose children and what the lethal or fatal quantities of specific drugs were for kids. The trial is expected to run for at least another two weeks with experts to speak on whether they believe Dickason was insane. For confidential 24-hour support in Australia call Lifeline on 13 11 14. North Korea rolled out the red carpet for Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu this week amid suspicions his visit to Pyongyang will see him secure new weapons and ammunition for a 'long war' in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin's right-hand man is on a three-day visit to the repressive state, where he will participate in celebrations commemorating the 70th anniversary of the signing of the 1953 Korean War armistice, North Korea's 'Victory Day'. Shoigu, dressed in a general's uniform, stepped off his plane to be greeted by the Russian national anthem and hundreds of uniformed soldiers holding placards welcoming him to Pyongyang earlier this week. A high-level Chinese delegation, led by Politburo member Li Hongzhong, was also welcomed. During their time in North Korea, the Russian and Chinese officials will witness a military parade showcasing dictator Kim Jong-un's arsenal of nuclear weapons. But it is thought the purpose of Shoigu's visit may be to boost the supply of artillery shells for his forces in Putin's war in Ukraine. This picture taken on July 25, 2023 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency shows Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (centre) arriving at Pyongyang International Airport Shoigu, right, is welcomed by North Korean Defence Minister Kang Sun Nam in Pyongyang on Tuesday The guard of honour of the Korean People's Army stand under a banner with the inscription 'Welcome, Comrade Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu' Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (2nd left from) attends a ceremony of the official meeting of the Russian delegation with the participation of the guard of honour of the Korean People's Army Analysts say the spectacle of military might presented by the hermit kingdom's Kim Jong-un will include the North's nuclear-tipped missiles banned by the United Nations Security Council, where Russia and China are permanent members. The visits are the first known foreign delegations to visit North Korea since the pandemic began, and come as Pyongyang has looked to deepen ties with Beijing and Moscow, finding common ground in rivalries with the West. Images from Russia's defence ministry and North Korean media showed Shoigu being warmly greeted by North Korean defence minister Kang Sun Nam and Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora at the airport. The US has accused North Korea of providing weapons to Russia during the war in Ukraine, including an arms delivery of infantry rockets and missiles to the Kremlin-backed Wagner mercenary group in November 2022. Pyongyang and Moscow have denied those claims, but Kim has vowed to bolster strategic cooperation between the nations. The Moscow Times reported Russia is using North Korean weapons to shore up deficits in Ukraine in exchange for help with Kim's nuclear programme. Park Won-gon, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said the fact Russia's defence minister flew to Pyongyang while his country was at war is 'very significant'. The visit comes as Putin is reportedly preparing for a 'long war'. The Russian president acted this week to swell the numbers of young men he can conscript, extending the compulsory draft age by three years and cracking down on exemptions and the ability to evade military service. A close ally Col-Gen Andrey Kartapolov, a Russian MP and loyalist parliamentary defence committee chairman, told the legislature: 'This law was written for a big war, for general mobilisation.' This picture taken on July 25, 2023 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 26 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) visiting the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War This picture taken on July 25, 2023 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 26 shows war veterans and citizens laying wreaths at the Patriotic Martyrs Cemetery in Sinmi-ri, Pyongyang on the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War FILE - This photo provided by the North Korean government, shows what it says is Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missiles during a military parade to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea on Feb. 8, 2023 Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un's military parade in Pyongyang is likely to include as many as 15,000 personnel and possibly feature new designs of nuclear-capable weapons, said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. Commercial satellite imagery over recent weeks showed participants practising, including in Kim Il Sung Square where the event will take place, with formations showing the number '70' and other slogans, said Dave Schmerler, a researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS). At a training ground outside Pyongyang, units appeared to be practising marching around the square track with vehicles behind them, Schmerler added, citing imagery provided to Reuters by US-based firm Umbra, which used radar imaging satellites to peer through cloud cover. Kim kicked off his commemorations this week with visits to a cemetery for Chinese soldiers who fought in the war, known as the Fatherland Liberation War, state media KCNA reported on Wednesday. The only defence treaty China and North Korea have is with each other. Kim also visited the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery on Monday, KCNA reported, as he praised the soldiers for 'inflicting defeat' on US imperialism. Amid international sanctions over North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes - which both Moscow and Beijing voted to impose - China has become by far North Korea's largest trading partner. China's exports to its secretive neighbour in June were eight times higher than a year before, and Russia and China have rebuffed recent attempts by the United States and some European countries to impose new sanctions on North Korea. Sir Keir Starmer today revealed he has told London mayor Sadiq Khan to 'reflect' on his planned expansion of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in 'frank' talks. The Labour leader said he had spoken to fellow Labour politician Mr Khan in the wake of last week's by-election in Uxbridge and South Ruislip. His party failed to win Boris Johnson's former parliamentary seat off the Tories amid a fierce backlash against Mr Khan's ULEZ expansion. The vote was seen as an effective referendum on the issue, and Sir Keir admitted it had forced him to seek talks with the London mayor. But, in a radio interview this morning, the Labour leader again refused to say whether he personally thought the planned ULEZ expansion should still go ahead. It came as the revolt against Mr Khan's plans widened. Hertfordshire County Council told the mayor it won't allow any ULEZ signage or enforcement cameras to be put up within its boundaries. The council also threatened legal action over the zone's expansion, which is currently the subject of judicial review. Sadiq Khan is pursuing plans to expand ULEZ - which charges drivers a 12.50 daily fee for vehicles not meeting minimum requirements - to all London boroughs from late August Hertfordshire County Council has told the London mayor it won't allow any ULEZ signage or enforcement cameras to be erected within its boundaries Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to Mr Khan, his fellow Labour politician, about the ULEZ backlash in the wake of last week's by-election in Uxbridge and South Ruislip Mr Khan is pursuing plans to expand the existing ULEZ, which charges drivers a 12.50 daily fee for vehicles not meeting minimum requirements, to all London boroughs from late August. It would see ULEZ grow to three times its current size with new borders reaching Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey. But there has been widespread outcry at the plans to add to drivers' bills during the cost-of-living crisis. Sir Keir told BBC Radio 5 Live this morning that people having to pay more to drive their cars during the current crisis would be 'very, very difficult for many, many families'. 'I want Sadiq to reflect on it and I've spoken to him,' he added. 'This is being rolled out and I want him to reflect on that rollout because of the impact its having on people. 'Theres a law in place, as you know, that requires the Mayor of London to take measures to reduce air pollution. 'So, the law is actually driven by the Government and the first ULEZ scheme was actually introduced by a Tory mayor. 'This has been politicised, but, actually, it is about air pollution. I want him to reflect and look at the scheme, and see whether there are things that can be done to make it easier for people. 'I spoke to him immediately after the by-election, I'd been talking to his team beforehand.' Asked whether he and Mr Khan had shared a 'frank exchange of views', Sir Keir replied: 'Yes, of course. I've got a lot of respect for the mayor of London, I've known him a very, very long time.' Pointing to one measure that could ease financial pain on drivers, Sir Keir added: 'If we make it easier for them to change their car with a proper scrappage scheme, then that massively helps people... but the Government at the moment wont do it.' But asked whether he personally thought the ULEZ expansion should still go ahead, Sir Keir dodged the question. 'I realise why youre putting this to me in this way,' he said. 'We cant pretend that this is a simple political decision, you can just say "yes, no" without regard to the legal context. 'If the law requires a measure to be taken, it is not in the gift of the mayor to say, "Im simply not going to do it". So, hes got to do something. 'What Im working with him on and asking him to reflect on is, "in this scheme is there more that we can do to help people?", and thats an ongoing discussion.' Earlier this month, in another BBC interview, Sir Keir had refused six times to say whether or not he backs postponing the ULEZ expansion. ULEZ is set to expand to three times its current size with new borders reaching Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey In a letter to Mr Khan, Hertfordshire County Council leader Richard Roberts told the London mayor his ULEZ expansion 'cannot be supported' by the local authority. Mr Roberts said his Tory-led council took the importance of tackling air pollution 'incredibly seriously'. But he pointed to the cost-of-living crisis, an insufficient scrappage scheme for those with non-compliant vehicles, and a lack of public transport alternatives as reasons for the council's opposition to the current plans. 'In Hertfordshire, many residents, families and businesses are telling us that they are dealing with the tightest squeeze on their finances in over a generation,' he wrote. 'The simple fact of the matter is that at this time many people with non-compliant vehicles, often the lowest paid in society cannot afford to upgrade their cars, are not eligible for the scrappage scheme and have no viable public transport alternatives. 'With Transport for London's plans to develop existing car parks in outer London... the option for those in Hertfordshire who may wish to drive to a public transport node and use public transport is also being hampered. 'Such actions create an appearance of a policy implemented in a disjointed way, which in turn leads to the suspicion that this is simply another tax grab on the motorist.' Mr Roberts informed Mr Khan that Hertfordshire County Council will therefore 'not permit any ULEZ signage or enforcement cameras to be located within the boundary of the county'. He also demanded the mayor extend the scrappage scheme to include those counties surrounding Greater London. 'We will consider our options in relation to legal action pending the outcome of the ongoing judicial review,' he added. 'I would personally ask that you pause the expansion of the zone and look to redraw the zone boundary to align with outer London public transport hubs, providing those who cannot upgrade their vehicle with public transport options before having to absorb the proposed 12.50 per day cost of the expanded zone.' A spokesperson for Mr Khan said: 'Transport for London and City Hall are working closely and collaboratively with the local authorities concerned to install the infrastructure needed. 'The mayor has been clear that while the decision to expand ULEZ was an incredibly difficult one, he could not stand by and do nothing while around 4,000 Londoners die prematurely each year due to air pollution, children are growing up with stunted lungs and thousands of people in our city are developing life-changing illnesses, such as cancer, lung disease, dementia and asthma. 'Nine out of ten cars seen driving in outer London are compliant and won't need to pay a penny. 'For anyone who is affected, help is available including thousands of pounds for people on low incomes, charities, small businesses, disabled Londoners and anyone in receipt of child benefit. 'Sadiq is committed to the expansion but is always listening and is happy to look at any new ideas for ways to mitigate the impact of expanding the ULEZ on Londoners while still tackling air quality and the climate crisis. 'He has listened to Londoners throughout this process and continues to do so and he has already made a number of changes to expand the scrappage eligibility scheme, from the end of this month.' Whats that mantra we should all live by? Something about glass houses and not throwing stones? Well, yesterday, the sound of shattering glass was deafening. Suzy Menkes, formerly of the International Herald Tribune, latterly of Vogue online - a woman who is old enough to know better and really should rethink her hair do - saw fit to lob a missile at Catherine. 'She doesnt have Camillas joy, said 79-year-old Menkes in a podcast. The Princess of Wales is a bit of a disappointment about jewellery. She gives the impression that she only puts it on when she absolutely has to. The Princess of Wales wears 25 Zara earrings for this year's British Academy Film Awards. Liz Jones says Kate has no need of 'priceless bling' and remains in-touch with the rest of us Queen Mary, great grandmother to King Charles, was famous for her love of expensive jewellery Princess Catherine is more than happy to wear expensive jewellery for state occasions. She is pictured in the Lover's Knot tiara and Queen Alexandra's wedding necklace An expensively jewelled Kate at a State Banquet in November Kate took a very different approach with schoolchildren in Pakistan in 2019 - choosing 7.50 beaded chandelier earrings from Zeen Well, yes! That is Catherines modus operandi, and one of the reasons we love her. The Princess of Wales sparks joy whenever she makes a public appearance not just for her impeccable wardrobe, make-up and demeanour, but with her diplomatic use of jewellery. She realises she is not Queen Mary, or even Queen Elizabeth II (who by the way gave Menkes her OBE, a nice bit of bling Im sure Menkes only removes in the bath). Times have changed, belts have been tightened. Yes, of course Kate wore the four-strand pearl choker with a diamond clasp and the Bahrain pearl earrings for the Queens funeral. But on anything other than a State occasion, Kate will choose something modest, even high street. She knows that the ordinary people she spends 99 per cent of her time meeting at close quarters will be dazzled sufficiently by her smile, with no need of priceless bling. She is attainable, touchable - which is what we love about her. Even for her first Christmas walk as the Princess of Wales, Catherine wore a pair of Sezane earrings, a gift from William costing just 100. She chose the brand again for Ascot last month. Catherine puts meaning before a price tag. When she was given a pair of 25 earrings by a mother who had not long lost her teenage daughter to suicide, Kate continued to wear them for her more intimate meetings with other mums. Kate will honour Diana by wearing her jewellery at important events: the pearl and diamond earrings for the Coronation, for example. Or the three-strand diamond necklace, given to the late Queen by her father, King George, in 1950. Catherines choices are about feeling the warmth from the women who went before her on her own skin. Kate was happy to wear Dianas engagement ring exactly as it was. (Meghan, in contrast, seemed unhappy with the ring that Harry had carefully designed - and set about 'upgrading' it). Kate's dazzling smile is quite enough, says Liz Jones. Here she wears 5 metal earrings from Accessorize Kate's Accessorize earrings in detail. They are not the sort of thing that Queen Mary would have worn Kate was happy to accept the gift of Diana's engagement ring as it was. She did not seek to alter or improve it Kate ensures the provenance of every jewel is impeccable; she will never make the mistake of wearing blood diamonds. Suzy Menkes seems not to have the word playful in her lexicon. But that's the word the rest of us had in mind when Catherine arrived at the BAFTAs wearing not just an Alexander McQueen gown we had seen before, updated with opera gloves, but a pair of chandelier earrings from Zara costing 25 quid. Could Kate have joked with the stars and pinched Williams bottom at the BAFTAs had she been toiling under the weight of jewels made heavy by history? I very much doubt it. A businesswoman has admitted she is in a 'complete muddle' after racking up Clean Air Zone fines of almost 3,000. Cleo Burrows began receiving notices in April after a trip through a Clean Air Zone in Bristol meant she had to pay the required 9 charge for a non-compliant vehicle. According to the Bristol City Council website, the daily charge can be paid up to six days before travel, on the day of travel, or within six days after travel. Failure to pay the daily charge results in a penalty charge notice of 120 - reduced to 60 if paid within two weeks. Ms Burrows mistakenly believed she had six days to pay just the initial charge after each enforcement letter and they quickly began piling up. Cleo Burrows from Bristol has accumulated nearly 3,000 worth of Clean Air Zone fines A map of Bristol's Clean Air Zone, which came into effect at the end of October 2022 Now, she's learned about the system the hard way after being landed with dozens of fines totalling 2,900. Ms Burrows said: 'I'm a really fair person and I own a diesel car which is not compliant so I have to pay the diesel charge to travel into Bristol. 'I don't have an issue with that at all. I have a small business and I'm really busy so when CAZ started, I thought I had a safety net of getting a letter and having six days to pay. READ MORE: Why millions of Londoners will ignore ULEZ and continue using their cars despite massive expansion of the daily 12.50 fee in August Advertisement 'I had been working a lot and was shocked when I got this letter saying I would have to pay 60. I started getting a whole bunch of letters coming almost every day from April up until June,' she said. 'I called them and was really shocked to hear that I have fines of over 2,900. It was such a massive shock. I thought the letter gave you six days to pay. 'I find it all a bit complicated and I have so many letters now that I feel so confused. 'It's got me in a complete muddle,' she said. Ms Burrows added that the council had offered to set up a payment plan for her to settle the fines, but even that was unaffordable for her. She said: 'I also go into London regularly but you can open an account with ULEZ and put your card details. 'Every time I go to London the charge is automatically debited which makes it much easier. I have a hectic schedule and often work from 7am to 7pm, but now I'm being vigilant and trying not to go through town. It's been so stressful.' According to the Bristol City Council website, the daily 9 charge can be paid up to six days before travel, on the day of travel, or within six days after travel. Failure to pay the daily charge results in a penalty charge notice of 120 - reduced to 60 if paid within two weeks When Bristol's CAZ was implemented in November 2022, there were temporary exemptions for local vehicles to give residents time to prepare. These included private passenger cars, vans or LGVs not registered with a business, which had a temporary exemption until 1 April 2023. Bristol City Council has been approached for comment. READ MORE: TfL has issued 400million in Ulez fines within 16 months Advertisement In November last year, it was revealed the city's CAZ scheme was plagued with faulty cameras, resulting in drivers hundreds of miles away receiving letters. One motorist from Liverpool believed his car's number plate had been cloned and quickly informed the police after receiving a letter from Bristol City Council. The City Council admitted its Clean Air Zone cameras, which monitor which cars pass through the designated area, may be misreading registrations. The council sent letters to drivers using vehicles that had been triggered by the new cameras on the edge of the Clean Air Zone during a three-week period in September. The letters warned them that, while they weren't being fined for that trip, they would be if they make the same journey into the Clean Air Zone after the scheme starts on November 28. Drivers who have never visited Bristol have been receiving warning letters for driving through the city's 'Clean Air Zone', due to faulty cameras misreading number plates But a number of motorists have complained to Bristol City Council over the stress caused despite never having visited the city before. One motorist from West Wales said she visited her local police station because she was worried her vehicle had been cloned, while another driver from Merseyside said he would be demanding 300 compensation for the time and stress involved after receiving the letter. Bristol City Council said their advice to anyone who appears to have been sent a letter in error is to just ignore it, but the council has admitted there is a problem with the cameras not being able to correctly identify some letters on vehicle registration plates. This is the chilling 999 call a husband made confessing 'I think I've just killed my wife' after stabbing her 171 times when she decided to end their marriage. In the 20 minute call, Mihai Hurmuz-Irimia can be heard saying he isn't a 'danger to anyone, except my wife' after brutally murdering Katie Hurmuz-Irimia, 40, at their home in Wallingford, Oxfordshire. The 29-year-old killer claimed to call handlers that he had he 'blacked out' and his 'head was like "boom"' as he 'stabbed her, all over the place'. But it was alleged in court that after killing Katie, he showered and watched television before 'calmly' making the call to report what he had done. Despite denying murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility, he was found guilty following a seven-day trial at Oxford Crown Court and now faces life imprisonment. It emerged Hurmuz-Irimia had taken two grams of cocaine on the night of the attack, just days after the couple had returned from a trip to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary. Mihai Hurmuz-Irimia, 29, (pictured) 'calmly' called the police after murdering his wife Katie Hurmuz-Irimia, 40, (pictured) just days she accused her husband of 'ruining' their holiday to Bournemouth The court heard that the couple had returned from a trip to Bournemouth, which turned out to be a shambles after Hurmuz-Irimia 'ruined' their holiday with his drunken behaviour. It was then that she told him their marriage was 'well and truly over'. A few days later, on August 30 last year, Hurmuz-Irimia launched the frenzied attack that left his wife with 171 stab wounds - so catastrophic that they were unsurvivable. The court heard that there were so many wounds that, in places, pathologist Dr Charlotte Randall was only able to estimate the wounds in a particular area of the body. Pictures of the flat were presented to the jury showing their home left in a blood-splattered mess. While the victims body had been obscured in the photographs, large pools of blood on the floor around her were still clearly visible. There was extensive bloodstaining in the bedroom, where the attack began, and in the hallway where her body was found face-down on the ground. Other bloodstaining evidence suggested that her husband had walked into the living room following the attack, sat down on the sofa and used the TV remote. It is believed that after the murder, he took a shower, leaving his heavily bloodstained boxer shorts on the bathroom floor. The jury were also played the 20-minute recording Hurmuz-Irimia had made to emergency services in which he told them: ' Hello, I think I've killed my wife.' In the 20 minute recording, which was released by police after being played to the jury, he said 'I stabbed her - all over the place.' He then tells the operator: 'I need to be locked up. I'm crazy. My head told me to do something. I done it.' He later adds: 'I told you my brain is wrong. There's a lot of blood in the hallway. Can't even look at it.' 'I just like blacked out. Like my head was like 'boom'.' When asked to reassure the handler he won't be a danger to police or himself when they arrive, he responds: 'I'm not a danger to anyone. 'Well, I am obviously to my wife but...' Mihai Hurmuz-Irimia, 29, (pictured) denied murder on the basis of diminished responsibility The couple, who met 10 years earlier on a night out in Reading, had spent the Bank Holiday weekend celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary at a hotel in Bournemouth. But after Mihai, who a couple of years earlier was arrested on suspicion of threatening his wife with weapons, spent the Saturday night getting drunk in the hotel bar with off-duty members of staff, his wife sent a series of frustrated messages. She told him, bluntly: 'As far as I'm concerned we are over. This is meant to be our family holiday not you drinking with the staff.' The couple, however, seemed to be on better terms the following day, during which period they sent 'loving' messages on their return to Wallingford on the Monday afternoon, when both attended a barbecue at Katie's mother's home. Later that evening, Hurmuz-Irimia twice took the couple's dog out for a walk, during which period he was said to have bought cocaine, later taking two grams of the Class A drug. The defendant, who denied murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility, showed no emotion when the jury returned its verdict on 25 July after just three and a half hours of deliberations. Hurmuz-Irimia claimed he had been suffering from an emotionally unstable personality disorder In his closing speech to the jury on Monday, prosecutor John Price KC suggested the motive for the killing was 'easy to find'. He suggested the defendant was 'resentful' of attempts by his wife to make him stop drinking. Police and paramedics at the scene of the couples Oxfordshire home in August last year A forensics officer seen at the couple's Wallingford home after Katie was murdered Mr Price said: 'This was a killing of a woman for which this defendant was fully responsible and he has tried to conceal that responsibility by lying or by refusing to state was really happened. 'This killing, we submit, was undoubtedly murder. And that is the verdict we would [ask] you to return.' Following his guilty verdict, Detective Chief Inspector Jon Capps, of Thames Valley Police's Major Crime Unit, said that Hurmuz-Irimia had shown 'horrific levels of violence'. He said: 'After killing Katie we believe he showered and watched some television before calmly calling the police to report what he had done. 'The call to the police was all about him; a self-serving attempt to gain sympathy and portray himself in a better light. He subsequently gave no account in his police interview or at trial, leaving Katie's family searching for answers. 'Katie was a much-loved mum, daughter, sister, aunty and friend who was well liked in the community in which she lived. 'Her family are still coming to terms with what happened. They have sat through the trial to be there for Katie but in doing so have heard days of distressing evidence which no family should have to experience.' He is set to be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday, June 27. Remanding him in custody, Judge Ian Pringle KC said: 'The sentence will be one of life imprisonment but I need to set a term, a minimum term, which you need to serve before being eligible to apply for parole.' Police are probing possible ties between Gilgo Beach murders suspect Rex Heuermann and the 2006 murders of four sex workers found lined up dead in a sewage ditch in nearby Atlantic City. The arrest of Heuermann, the suspected Long Island serial killer, has prompted cops to reexamine numerous cold case investigations across the country, including the death of four sex workers in the New Jersey city. On November 21, 2006, the body of Kim Raffo, 35, was discovered by two women who were walking behind the Golden Key Motel in Egg Harbor Township, just west of Atlantic City. Police arrived only to discover the remains of four more women in the same sewage ditch: Tracy Ann Roberts, 23, Barbara Breidor, 42, and Molly Dilts, 19. Just like those suspected to have been killed by Heuermann, the victims of the so-called 'Eastbound Strangler' were also believed to be sex workers - as police now reconsider the case in light of the Long Island serial killer investigation. Manhattan architect Rex Heuermann (pictured), 59, is charged with three murders connected to the Gilgo Beach serial killer, and is the prime suspect in a fourth victim's murder Four years before the first Long Island victim was found, police found four women strangled in a sewage ditch behind a motel in Egg Harbor township on November 20, 2006. The victims were (clockwise from top left): Kim Raffo, 35; Tracy Ann Roberts, 23; Molly Jean Dilts, 20; and Barbara V Breidor, 42 As police discovered the additional three bodies, just yards away from Raffo they noted that they were each in a different stage of decomposition. This suggests that they were killed at different times. Their bodies were displayed in the same manner - face down, pointing east, and barefoot. Police believe all four women, who were sex workers, were strangled. Unlike the Long Island case, the 'Eastbound Strangler' suspect still hasn't been identified nearly 15 years later. But police are now probing whether the cases are connected and if Heuermann could be the identity of both serial killers. Heuermann, a 59-year-old architect from Long Island and worked in Manhattan, was charged earlier this month with killing at least three women and burying their remains on a remote stretch of beach highway. The arrest of Heuermann earlier this month, marked a stunning breakthrough in the long-stalled cold case that first drew headlines in 2010, when police began searching for a missing woman, Shannon Gilbert, near Long Island's Gilgo Beach. Instead, they discovered ten sets of human remains scattered along a long barrier island. The dead included eight women, one man and a young child. The now demolished Golden Key Motel in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., is pictured in November 2006. Four bodies were found behind the motel On November 21, 2006, the body of Kim Raffo, 35, was discovered by two women who were walking behind the Golden Key Motel in Egg Harbor Township, just west of Atlantic City Heuermann, who has pleaded not guilty, was charged with killing three of the women - Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, and Megan Waterman. He is the prime suspect in the death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes. The bodies of the four women were found along the same quarter-mile (0.4-kilometer) stretch of Ocean Parkway. Heuermann has not been accused in connection to the other remains, and police have suggested the deaths may be the work of multiple killers. In South Carolina, where Heuermann's brother lives, police are seeking 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. Authorities also seized a Chevrolet Avalanche, which Heuermann had transferred to his brother in 2012, from the property. The vehicle was spotted by a roommate of one of the victims shortly before her disappearance, a tip that ultimately proved crucial in helping police make an arrest. Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison, who worked in the task force that led to the arrest of Heuermann, told ABC 7: 'Shame on us if we don't look into Las Vegas, South Carolina, even Atlantic City. We've got to make sure if anyone has any information.' Investigators stand near the Rex Heuermann residence, who was arrested as the Gilgo Beach serial killer earlier this month Authorities continue to work at the home of suspect Rex Heuermann, bottom right, in Massapequa Park, July 24 A total of 11 bodies, mostly women, have found along the Gilgo State Park remote beach area starting in 2010 At a press conference outside the Massapequa Park home where Heuermann lived with his wife and two kids, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said police had found a 'tremendous amount of information' during their search It comes after police completed the search of Heuermann's Long Island home, authorities said Tuesday, as they ended a 12-day hunt for evidence that involved ripping up the yard and the discovery of a basement vault containing hundreds of weapons. At a press conference outside the Massapequa Park home where Heuermann lived with his wife and two kids, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said police had found a 'tremendous amount of information' during their search. He declined to describe the bulk of the material, but said there was not a 'singular piece of evidence' that jumped out to him. The search turned up at least 279 weapons kept inside a thick basement vault large enough for a person to walk into, Tierney said. Police took boxes of additional evidence from the house, which he described as a 'very cluttered environment.' An effort in recent days to dig up the backyard in search of possible clues about where the murders were committed did not yield any 'large items of evidence,' he added. A coalition of law enforcement agencies have been pouring over the property since July 14, when Heuermann was arrested and charged with killing three women. South Africa: President Ramaphosa arrives in Russia Dikeledi Molobela St. Petersburg, Russia - President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in St. Petersburg in the Russian Federation to lead South Africas participation in the 2nd Russia-Africa Summit, which takes place on Thursday and Friday. President Ramaphosa is accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor and Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni. The summit, which aims to foster mutually beneficial cooperation and partnerships between Russia and the African continent, was first convened in October 2019, with a commitment to continue meeting every three years. In a statement on Wednesday, The Presidency said the 2nd Summit is expected to consider four declarations and a three-year Action Plan, which will be presented for consideration. These submissions will focus on strengthening cooperation between Russia and African States in politics, security, trade, science, IT, humanitarian support, education, culture, sports, youth and the environment. The declarations seek to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism, the prevention of an arms race in outer space and information security, the Presidency said. Scheduled side events at the summit will include an exhibition to showcase investment opportunities in Russia and Africa, an innovation space to demonstrate new technologies and a Business Development and Social Partnership Zone for networking between the heads of global corporations, government officials, business and the media. The summit background will also offer an opportunity to African Heads of State, who are part of the African Leaders Peace Mission, to continue talks with Russias President Vladimir Putin on the confidence-building measures that will create conducive conditions for a path to peace between Russia and Ukraine. The Presidency said South Africa will use the summit backdrop to further engage Russia at a bilateral level to finalise the contents and substance of the upcoming BRICS summit. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-07-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. An art dealer has been ordered to pay out 111,000 after losing a court fight over a missing piece of abstract modern art, likened by a judge to a giant 'burnt digestive biscuit'. Bosco Sodhi's two-and-a-half-metre wide mixed media abstract painting 'Untitled in red 2011' went 'missing' after being loaned to London art dealer Esperanza Koren in 2012. Ms Koren - whose professional address is a 4.7m apartment in swanky Cadogan Square, Kensington - was later sued for 100,000 euros by the owners of Barcelona-based gallery Principal Art, who own the painting and for whom Ms Koren formerly worked as an agent licenced to exhibit and sell artworks. They claimed that she had promised to buy the painting for that sum during an exchange of WhatsApp messages in 2013, but then failed to pay and subsequently said she didn't know where the artwork was. Now she has been ordered to pay 111,000 in damages and court costs to the gallery's owners Principal Art SL by Judge Alan Saggerson, who said of the painting: 'It would seem to have the appearance of a burnt digestive biscuit. This is of value to some in some quarters of the world.' Bosco Sodhi's 'Untitled in red 2011' was described in court by Judge Alan Saggerson Central London County Court heard that Ms Koren formerly acted for the gallery as an agent and had been loaned a 'large set' of paintings to exhibit, with a view to selling them in 2012. One of the paintings was 'Untitled in red 2011' by Mexican artist Bosco Sodhi, a large round abstract painting with a cracked textured surface built up using natural pigment, sawdust, wood pulp, natural fibers, water and glue. However her stint representing the gallery was 'unsuccessful' and she was asked to return the unsold works, the judge said. But when she sent the set of paintings back, the Bosco Sodhi piece was not among them. A representative of the gallery sent her urgent WhatsApp messages asking for its return, saying he had secured a buyer in Miami who would pay 100,000 euros for it. Esperanza Koren, pictured outside Central London County Court has been ordered to by 111,000 to a gallery which owned a work by renowned Mexican artist Bosco Sodhi But Ms Koren did not return the painting, instead replying on WhatsApp and offering to buy the artwork for that sum. The artwork is now 'missing,' said Judge Saggerson, whilst lawyers for the gallery told him that still no money has been received a decade later. Gallery bosses argued that the WhatsApp messages formed a legally binding contract for her to personally buy the painting from them for 100,000 euros. The court heard that a gallery employee identified only as 'Carlos' had messaged Ms Koren, saying: 'The large red Bosco is missing. Do you know where it is?' 'This refers to the burnt digestive biscuit picture,' the judge commented. The employee's message continued: 'I arrive Tuesday to Miami. I have a client who pays me 100,000 euro. I don't want to miss the opportunity. I need the red painting which I have sold. I have a client who pays 100,000 euros. He thinks it is a fantastic painting.' Ms Koren had responded: 'Ok I pay you this price. Call me,' the judge said. Questioning Ms Koren in court, he asked: 'Where is this painting? I want to know where the painting is at the moment. It belongs to them, so where is it? 'It is clear that you agreed to buy this painting for 100,000 euros.' Ms Koren, representing herself, told him: 'At the moment, I don't know where it is.' Denying entering into a contract to buy, she added: 'I said "I want this", but people can change their mind. They are just WhatsApp messages. I don't now have the money. 'You are not forced to buy something if you say you are going to, then you change your mind. 'At the moment I don't know where is the painting,' she said, also submitting that the picture was 'overpriced' at 100,000 euros. The judge said: 'That is a submission with which I readily agree.' However he added: 'You agreed to pay 100,000 euros. It doesn't matter what the market value is.' Lawyers for the gallery told the judge: 'The contract was with the defendant. She hasn't paid. The amount is due and outstanding and on that basis we are seeking summary judgment.' Ms Koren went on to ask for an adjournment of the summary judgement application or for it to be dismissed and the case proceed to a full trial. But the judge refused, saying: 'If you cant explain now why this is not a contract, you are not going to be any better off in 12 months' time.' The judge said Ms Koren had offered to buy the painting personally, not on behalf of a company. 'Establishing that Ms Koren has a real prospect of defending the action is not a particularly challenging threshold to cross,' he said. 'However I'm entirely satisfied in this case that what at the defendant puts forward cannot be described as anything more than fanciful, much of which might be characterised as "Micawberisms", that is attempting to delay the evil day of judgment, hoping that something will turn up. 'I do find it extraordinary that the defendant affects to have no recollection whatsoever of the whereabouts of the painting, where it ended up and with whom. 'The inevitable inference is that she used it as security for other debts and has lost track of its whereabouts. 'Her submissions have such a hollow ring that I am granting judgment today for the sterling equivalent of 100,000 euros,' the judge concluded. He awarded judgment for 86,500 in damages, plus 6,500 interest and 18,000 costs - a total of 111,000. Mexico City born artist Bosco Sodi, 53, specialises in 'impressive abstract painting,' with influences including Jackson Pollock and Paul Rothko. The surface of each thickly encrusted painting is built up by hand over the course of one or two days. Once he begins a painting, he does not rest until the process is complete, he has said. Describing his process, he has said: 'When I am making a painting, I don't stop. I don't eat, I don't sleep after the preparations are made and the first layer is put down. It's a continuous action, like a performance.' A 54-year-old man has been charged with her kidnapping They have searched for Ms Bao since her disappearance last week A missing real estate agent who was believed to have been kidnapped earlier this month is now feared dead. Detectives in New Zealand have been searching for Yanfei Bao, 44, since her disappearance on Trevor St, Hornby, in western Christchurch, at about 10am on July 19. A man arrested at Christchurch airport with no luggage and one-way ticket to China on Sunday was later charged with the alleged kidnapping of Ms Bao. Police now believe that Ms Bao has died and have deployed dive squads in the Halswell River, 30km south of Christchurch, following a possible sighting of the accused man's silver Mitsubishi sedan. New Zealand police have announced investigations into a missing real estate agent, Yanfei Bao (pictured), have transitioned into a suspected case of homicide Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves told a media conference on Wednesday that the decision to commence a homicide investigation came after developments in recent days. 'We've always held grave concerns for her wellbeing, but as the week has progressed, and in particular developments over the last couple of days, we are now launching a homicide investigation,' Det Insp Reeves said. 'We have today informed Ms Bao's loved ones of the development, and we know it is the news that they did not want to hear.' Ms Bao was last been seen at a property at Trevor St which she was intending to sell to a prospective buyer. Police are conducting forensic investigations at the property of 'significant interest' but will not disclose any information about the site. 'I won't go into what I think has happened at that address, just that it is of significant interest to us and has certainly helped shape the investigation now,' Det Insp Reeves said. The car of the man charged with Ms Bao's disappearance, a silver Mitsubishi sedan, was seen on Trevor St at the same time Ms Bao was there, police will allege. A dive crew has been deployed to the Halswell River (pictured) after developments were made in the case of Ms Bao in recent days, with officers in wetsuits diving into the murky waters Police were unclear into what led them to believe that Ms Bao had died, but were keeping an open mind into what has happened to her A police dog was seen accompanying investigators as they trudged through the muddy brown waters that have risen after recent rain. Police in wetsuits were also seen diving into the murky waters and operating what appeared to be underwater cameras. Investigators have received over 170 submissions of information from the public since it was first reported last week. They are still urging any information relating to locations of the Mitsubishi sedan between July 19 and July 22. A neighbour to the man charged in Ms Bao's disappearance told Stuff the car was always at the property, despite last Wednesday and Thursday. The car was next seen by the neighbour on Friday, with it's boot and doors open for several hours before disappearing on Saturday. Labour descended into chaos over the Nigel Farage de-banking scandal today as Rachel Reeves slammed No10 for forcing the NatWest boss to quit. The shadow chancellor complained Alison Rose had faced 'bullying attitudes' - hinting that she might have been a victim of sexism. Another frontbencher griped that ministers had been 'so quick' to intervene against the 'business leader'. But divisions at the top of the party were laid bare as Keir Starmer backed the dramatic departure of Dame Alison, insisting NatWest 'got this one wrong' and she 'had to resign' after briefing the BBC on details of Mr Farage's finances. Keir Starmer (right) backed the dramatic departure of Dame Alison Rose, insisting NatWest 'got this one wrong' and she 'had to resign'. But Rachel Reeves (left) suggested that Dame Alison might have been a victim of 'bullying' Sir Keir's MPs complained about No10 putting pressure on the NatWest boss to quit over the row with Nigel Farage (pictured last night) Dame Alison initially attempted to cling on last night, before falling on her sword No10 and the Chancellor voiced 'significant concerns' last night after the bank's board voiced confidence in Dame Alison despite her admission that she briefed the BBC on details of Mr Farage's finances. That was seen as sealing her fate, and she resigned hours later. Sir Keir's scramble came as his MPs took aim at Downing Street rather than the outgoing NatWest boss. Ms Reeves - often seen as one of the leader's closest allies - struck a starkly different tone, telling Channel 4 News: 'I don't like, some of the frankly, what I see as bullying attitudes towards her. 'She's the first female chief executive of NatWest. She took over at a time when that bank had real big problems. 'It seems to me that Alison Rose, has done a good job turning that bank around. Let me say this. 'If I was in the Treasury at the moment, rather than Jeremy Hunt and his Conservative ministers, I'd be spending my time this summer trying to ensure that families in Scarborough, like the ones I've spoken to today, are properly protected during this cost of living crisis rather than picking a fight with banks on behalf of Nigel Farage.' Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott also pointed to Dame Alison's status as the first female CEO of a big-four bank. 'Sole woman sacked from leadership of NatWest in the overblown row over Farage's bank account,' she tweeted. Shadow trade secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said Dame Alison's position was a 'matter for NatWest' rather than for the Government to intervene. With a 38.6 per cent stake, the Government remains the biggest shareholder in NatWest after the taxpayer bailed out the bank during the 2008 financial crisis. But Mr Thomas-Symonds questioned why No10 and the Treasury heaped pressure on Dame Alison when they were 'slow to act' in pushing out scandal-hit ministers. He told Sky News: 'It's astonishing, isn't it, to see last night the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Prime Minister under pressure from outside weighing in so quickly against a business leader like Dame Alison Rose? 'When you think about the situations we've had in Government, whether it's with Nadhim Zahawi, whether it's with Gavin Williamson, whether it's with Dominic Raab, when the Government certainly hasn't been holding itself to that same standard. 'When it comes to dealing decisively with colleagues in Government, the Prime Minister has invariably been slow to act but when it came to this situation last night with a business leader they moved straight in. 'If only the Government would hold itself to the same standards of speed, I'm sure we'd be in a much better position generally.' He added: 'It was a matter between Dame Alison Rose and the NatWest board. The Chancellor and the Prime Minister never showed such a desire to intervene when they had their own problems.' Darren Jones, who chairs the Commons Business and Trade Committee, argued that the intervention was because of the 'power Farage seems to have over the Tories'. Darren Jones, who chairs the Commons Business and Trade Committee, argued that the intervention was because of the 'power Farage seems to have over the Tories' Mr Farage was in good spirits as he was seen out and about near his home in Kent this morning The Labour MP said he does not question that Dame Alison 'did something wrong' but asked why 'the PM got involved'. He acknowledged the public stake in NatWest, but also referred to the Government's complete ownership of the Post Office. Mr Jones tweeted: 'Has the PM told the CEO to pay back bonuses based on false accounts? Or asked him to resign? No. Spot the difference?' Mr Jones later clarified that Boris Johnson had asked the P&O chief to quit. However, speaking to Nicky Campbell on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sir Keir said: 'NatWest got this one wrong. And that's why Alison Rose had to resign.' Asked if he felt sorry for Mr Farage, he said: 'Yeah, he shouldn't have had his personal details revealed like that. 'It doesn't matter who you are, that's a general rule.' A No 10 source said Dame Alison 'has done the right thing in resigning', saying the Prime Minister 'was concerned about the unfolding situation'. 'Everyone would expect people in public life whether that's in a business leadership role or otherwise to act responsibly and with integrity,' they added. Tory ministers including Energy Secretary Grant Shapps also welcomed Dame Alison's resignation. City minister Andrew Griffith said: 'This would never have happened if NatWest had not taken it upon itself to withdraw a bank account due to someone's lawful political views. That was and is always unacceptable.' British Airways staff had to serve KFC after an issue with the in-flight meal. Video footage shows cabin crew handing out fried chicken to passengers on Flight BA252, which set off from Turks and Caicos before stopping off in Nassau in the Bahamas while en route to London on Sunday. Flight crew had to buy several buckets from the fast food giant in Nassau and share portions out in the Boeing 777's economy and business class cabins, with eight hours and 20 minutes left of the 12-hour trip. Catering carts were not properly chilled, meaning that food which had been scheduled to be given out during the trip was no longer usable, The Sun reports. Video footage posted on social media shows cabin crew using tongs to hand out the fried chicken during Flight BA252, which set off from Turks and Caicos before stopping off in Nassau in the Bahamas while en route to London on Sunday The flight crew had to buy several buckets from the fast food giant while in Nassau and share portions out in the Boeing 777's economy and business class cabins. as passengers were facing another eight hours and 20 minutes of their 12-hour trip The flight was an hour late taking off after staff made the large takeaway order. Instagram user Ian Morgan uploaded footage of staff doling out the chicken, writing: 'A 12 hour flight from Turks and Caicos and @british_airways had forgotten food for all their passengers so on the scheduled stop at Bahamas they got KFC buckets and handed out ONE chicken leg per passenger.' The social media user branded the incident an 'absolute disgrace', claiming cabin crew then said they would be 'handing out vouchers'. Other commenters stuck up for BA, saying the intense heat had spoiled the food and the airline did not want to risk getting the whole flight sick. 'I think BA did the best they could, given the circumstances,' the user wrote. Passengers were also reportedly offered refreshment vouchers in London to compensate for the disruption to usual service standards. A BA spokesman, clearly seeing the humorous side of the situation, said: 'Our teams sprung into action and made sure our customers had something to eat. 'We apologise to customers that their full meal service was not available and we had to wing it on this occasion. We're sorry if we ruffled any feathers.' Shocking footage shows the moment a 130ft-high wooden Buddha was engulfed in flames and burnt to the ground in China. Video shows fire raging at the Great Buddha Temple in Shandan, north-west Gansu province, with a giant wooden structure at the centre of the complex ablaze. The Grand Hall of the Dafo (Big Buddha) monument, a seven-storey, 90ft-wide outbuilding of the temple, stood little chance against the raging inferno. It housed a giant clay Buddha, China's largest, which was exposed and appeared partly damaged in social media images of the aftermath of the fire. The monument, a seven-storey, 90-foot-wide outbuilding of the temple, stood little chance against the raging inferno Pictures of the aftermath show the giant clay Buddha, which is seated on a huge lotus leaf, rising out of the ashes of its cremated protective wooden cover While the wooden structure was decimated, the temple ruins, some of which date back as much as 1,500 years, were not damaged in the fire, authorities said. A total of 46 firefighters and nine fire trucks battled the blaze on Monday morning, and the fire was fully contained by 10am. The cause of the fire is, as yet, undetermined, and is being investigated by authorities. Pictures of the aftermath show the giant clay Buddha, which is seated on a huge lotus leaf, rising out of the ashes of its cremated protective wooden cover. The Buddha is around 155 feet tall while the flower is 10 feet high. The statue was built in 1998 as a replica of an original which is believed to have dated back to around 425AD. The temple was first built during the Northern Wei Dynasty, which spanned the years 386-534. A view of damage caused from a fire in the wooden structure of the Grand Hall of the Dafo (Big Buddha) Temple in Zhangye, Gansu Province The cause of the fire is, as yet, undetermined, and is being investigated by authorities A total of 46 firefighters and nine fire trucks battled the blaze on Monday morning, and the fire was fully contained by 10am It then underwent a number of renovations during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The attraction had a 4A grading - the second-highest level for tourist sites in China. The original version was damaged during China's Cultural Revolution, a decade-long social upheaval in the 60s and 70s which saw organised religion targeted and almost two million people killed. A statement released on Tuesday confirmed that there were no casualties in the fire and that the temples cultural relics remained undamaged. A police force took part in a Pride parade bus featuring drag act named after a Class A drug to hand out sweets to children. South Wales Police sent two PCSOs to join the rainbow-festooned vehicle alongside cabaret performer Coco Aine, whose real name is Jack. The event, organised by Neath Port Talbot Pride, also featured a Labour councillor who posed up for pictures on the day. The South Wales force was so proud of its involvement it had posted a picture on social media of the occasion, but was forced to delete it after an onslaught of criticism. And after critics suggested it was inappropriate the councillor who also took part - Charlotte Galsworthy admitted she may have reconsidered it if she had known more about the bus tour. South Wales Police sent two PCSOs to join the rainbow-festooned vehicle alongside cabaret performer Coco Aine, whose real name is Jack Neath Port Talbot Pride declined to comment when approached by MailOnline about the bus She confessed to The Sun: 'I had never met him (Coco Aine) before. I just knew him as Jack. He didn't hand any sweets to kids. 'There were two PCSOs on the bus and we just went around handing out water bottles and lanyards. 'The whole thing was two hours, it was really bad weather and we stopped twice and there was nobody there. I think we met eight people in total and we already knew them. 'Would I have done things differently if I'd known? I probably would have.' Neath Port Talbot Pride declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. Coco Aine , pictured here performing in character, could not be reached for comment The South Wales force was so proud of its involvement it had posted a picture on social media of the occasion, but have now deleted it The June 30 event was organised by the group and the first time it has happened in the town, based in the steelworks for the occasion. South Wales Police had tweeted: 'Port Talbot NPT are on the Pride bus . . . if you see the bus stopped, come and say hello.' NPT in this case is an acronym for Neath Port Talbot but can also often mean Neighbourhood Policing Team. Toby Young, of the Free Speech Union, said of the event: 'This is all too typical of police forces. 'They spend far too much time and money on fostering good community relations with woke identity groups, and not enough on catching criminals.' The force has come under some criticism before over the amount it has spent on Pride-related items. South Wales Police defended attending the bus and says it does a lot of work with the community South Wales Police has spent thousands on rainbow liveries and even has this Pride theme car It is said to blown 24,000 on rainbow flags, face paints, LGBTQ badges and whistles. South Wales Police told MailOnline: 'South Wales Police works hard to engage with all our communities and local Neighbourhood Policing Teams regularly attend community events. We do this to establish trust and to ensure that the public have confidence in reporting crime or seeking our help. 'The LGBT+ community is an important part of the diverse culture of the communities of South Wales, and we engage with the LGBT+ community to show an appreciation of the challenges they face, opening a dialogue and helping to build trust. 'We expect our communities to be respectful when commenting on our social media channels and posts may be deleted should they become a platform for people to post offensive comments.' The TaxPayers' Alliance suggested: 'With the police precept on the rise, hard-pressed taxpayers expect to see precious resources focused on fighting crime.' Coco Aine could not be reached for comment. A spokesperson for Neath Port Talbot Council said: 'The council welcomed the community organised Pride festival as part of its ongoing support for diversity and equality but did not fund events or hire a bus.' Sir Keir Starmer today admitted Labour had 'reflected' on the fierce row over gender recognition reforms in Scotland as he confirmed a U-turn on self-identification for trans people. The Labour leader outlined how, if his party wins power at the next General Election, he will seek to 'modernise' gender recognition laws. But Sir Keir stressed he now wanted to 'keep it a medical process' and did not think 'self-identification is the right way forward'. It marks a reversal on the Labour leader's past support for the introduction of self-identification for those seeking legal recognition of a new gender. Sir Keir's new stance also puts him at odds with Scottish Labour, who have said they continue to back the 'de-medicalisation' of gender recognition in Scotland. Sir Keir Starmer admitted Labour had 'reflected' on the fierce row over gender recognition reforms in Scotland as he confirmed a U-turn on self-identification for trans people Nicola Sturgeon, the ex-SNP leader, last year introduced the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill in a bid to make it easier for trans people to legally obtain a new gender But there was a fierce backlash against Ms Sturgeon's proposed reforms and, while it was passed by MSPs at Holyrood, the bill was blocked from becoming law by Rishi Sunak In 2021, Sir Keir Starmer used a video marking Pride to say Labour was 'committed to updating the GRA (Gender Recognition Act) to introduce self-declaration for trans people' In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Sir Keir conceded the controversy over the Scottish Government's recent attempts to change gender recognition laws had forced his rethink. Nicola Sturgeon, the ex-SNP leader and former Scottish first minister, last year introduced the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill in a bid to make it easier for trans people to obtain a gender recognition certificate, which is legal recognition of their acquired gender. The legislation attempted to introduce a system of self-declaration for obtaining a GRC and remove the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria. But there was a fierce backlash against Ms Sturgeon's proposed reforms and, while it was passed by MSPs at Holyrood with Scottish Labour's support, the bill was blocked from becoming law by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The row over the bill was also accompanied by widespread fury at high-profile cases of transgender prisoners in Scotland being held in women's jails. Sir Keir this morning denied he had attempted to 'sneak out' Labour's new stance on self-identification through a Guardian article written by party chair Anneliese Dodds this week. 'Firstly, a woman is an adult female, so let's clear that one up,' he said. 'Secondly, in relation to the process - we had by-elections last week... we finished that and then we went to Nottingham for a three-day national policy forum. 'It's where the Labour Party grinds through its policy and at the end of that we have agreed policy... on a whole range of issues, including on gender recognition. 'It gave us the chance to reflect on what happened in Scotland recently in relation to gender recognition and to be clear that we want to modernise the legislation.' Quizzed about Scottish Labour's continued support for the 'de-medicalistion' of gender recognition processes, Sir Keir replied: 'We don't agree. We don't think that self-identification is the right way forward. 'We've reflected on what happened in Scotland.' The Labour leader admitted the row over transgender prisoners in Scottish women's jails was an 'aspect of what was going on in Scotland'. 'We've set out that we want to modernise the process, get rid of some of the indignities in the process, keep it a medical process,' he added, as he outlined his party's position. 'We've always said, I've continued to say, and Sunday, when we completed our policy forum, allowed us to be clear that there should be safe places, safe spaces, for women, particularly in relation to violence against women and girls.' Pressed to name his specific concerns about why 'safe spaces' are needed, Sir Keir said: 'I think it's more that biological women who have been subjected to violence against women and girls want a safe space where they can feel safe.' Pushed to be more specific, the Labour leader said they want a 'safe space where they can feel that they are properly supported and protected'. Scottish Labour said earlier this week that it remained committed to the 'de-medicalisation' of the process for trans people to obtain legal recognition in their preferred gender. Paul O'Kane, the party's social justice spokesman at Holyrood, said 'Labour is committed to modernising and reforming the outdated and intrusive Gender Recognition Act, as well as ensuring exemptions in the Equality Act are upheld. 'Scottish Labour continues to support the de-medicalisation of the process in Scotland.' In 2021, Sir Keir had used a video marking Pride to say his party was 'committed to updating the GRA to introduce self-declaration for trans people'. Elon Musk has been accused of taking over the @x Twitter account from a San Francisco photographer who says 'they just took it' as part of Musk's rapid rebrand of the social media platform. Gene X Hwang held the @x Twitter handle from 2007 until it was taken over on Tuesday by the official account of X - Musk's new brand for Twitter. Mr Hwang had previously said he would be willing to sell the @x account to Musk as the rebrand appeared to be on the horizon. But instead, the photographer said he simply received an email on Tuesday telling him that the account handle had been taken by the company. It came amid Musk's rebrand of the company that saw the Twitter logo killed off on Monday, replacing the world-recognized blue bird with a white X, as the tycoon accelerates his efforts to transform the social media giant. Gene X Hwang held the @x Twitter handle from 2007 until it was taken over on Tuesday by the official account of X - Musk's new brand for Twitter Elon Musk has been accused of taking over the @x Twitter account from a San Francisco photographer Gene X Hwang 'They just took it essentially - kinda what I thought might happen,' Mr Hwang told The Telegraph. As Musk took to Twitter on Sunday night to announce 'soon we shall bid adieu to the twitter brand,' Mr Hwang retweeted the post with a cold sweat emoji. He said despite not being offered money for the account handle, he was offered new X merchandise and a meeting with the rebranded social media company's management. Mr Hawng told the publication in an email: ' They did send an email saying it is the property of 'x' essentially.' Users have no legal rights over their handles on the social media platform. However, within the terms of service that users are required to agree to before setting up their account, the company says it will only remove account handles in cases of trademark infringement. Musk does own the x.com domain name, but it is unclear what trademarks he possesses. After X acquired @x, Mr Hwang was ascribed a different handle: @x12345678998765. Tweeting from the new @ for the first time, Mr Hwang wrote: 'All's well that ends well.' Elon Musk has been accused of taking over the @x Twitter account from a San Francisco photographer. Musk is pictured at the Viva Technology conference at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre in Paris, France, June 16 Twitter's new logo is seen projected on the corporate headquarters building in downtown San Francisco Sunday night Single letter Twitter accounts have previously sold for tens of thousands of dollars. The majority of the accounts with a one character handle were created in the company's infancy when few knew of Twitter. The user of @n said they were offered $50,000 (39,000) for their account. But many of the other single letter accounts are suspended. This would likely be due to the many attempts to hack them. After buying Twitter, Musk had said that he wanted to create a super-app inspired by China's WeChat, which would function as a social media platform and also offer messaging and payments. 'You basically live on WeChat in China because it's so usable and helpful to daily life, and I think if we can... get close to that at Twitter, it would be an immense success,' he told a company town hall meeting in June last year. The company's chief executive Linda Yaccarino, who Musk hired last month, said Sunday that the social media platform was on the cusp of broadening its scope. 'X is the future state of unlimited interactivity - centered in audio, video, messaging, payments/banking - creating a global marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities,' she tweeted. The company's new logo was seen adorning its San Francisco headquarters on Sunday night Musk changed his profile picture to the company's new logo on Sunday night, which he described as 'minimalist art deco,' and changed his Twitter bio to 'X.com' Twitter's logo change was greeted with criticism, as well as nostalgia for what had become a symbol for the social media age. Martin Grasser, one of the original designers of the blue bird logo, wrote that it was intended to be 'simple, balanced, and legible at very small sizes.' Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, who signed off on the design in 2012, replied to Grasser with an emoji of a goat, meaning 'greatest of all time'. The new logo was projected onto the facade of the company's San Francisco headquarters on Sunday night, hours before the company began removing the Twitter sign on the building. US media reported that the San Francisco police paused the removal to investigate a possible unpermitted street closure, but determined that no crime was committed. One of the soldiers who served alongside Bowe Bergdahl and joined the perilous hunt for the missing serviceman in Afghanistan said he was deeply 'frustrated' that a judge had overturned the results of a court-martial. Josh Cornelison, 34, told DailyMail.com: 'The mind boggles because eight years later he's basically free of any repercussions because of a loophole, somebody else's mistake. 'He potentially gets reinstated. He could get his benefits back, backpay, anything that anyone who was discharged honorably gets.' Cornelison, who served as an E4 specialist medic in Second Platoon, Blackfoot Company of the First Battalion, 501st Regiment, said Bergdahl should face a fresh trial. His platoon-mate walked off his base in Afghanistan in June 2009 and was held by the Taliban for almost five years before being released in a prisoner swap. Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl sparked a manhunt when he went missing in Afghanistan. On Tuesday, his dishonorable discharge and conviction were thrown out by a fresh ruling Josh Cornelison served alongside Bergdahl in Afghanistan: 'The mind boggles because eight years later he's basically free of repercussions because of ... somebody else's mistake' He described being beaten and tortured. He spent months locked in a cage or chained to a bed. In 2017, he pleaded guilty before a military judge to charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. He was reduced in rank, dishonorably discharged and effectively fined $10,000. However, the case had become a political cause for President Donald Trump, who called for Bergdahl to be executed. And the military judge, Jeffery R. Nance, then an Army colonel, did not disclose that he had applied for a job with Trump's Justice Department. On Tuesday, US District Judge Reggie B. Walton said that amounted to a possible conflict of interest. His 63-page decision threw out all of the judge's rulings after October 27. 'This case presents a unique situation where the military judge might be inclined to appeal to the president's expressed interest in the plaintiff's conviction and punishment when applying for the immigration judge position,' he wrote. Bergdahl watches as one of his captors displays his identity tag to the camera at an unknown location in Afghanistan, July 19, 2009, in a video 'Taliban five': The terror leaders traded for Bergdahl were (top, from left): Abdul Haq Wasiq, Khirullah Said Wali Khairkhwa, Mohammad Nabi Omari; and (bottom from left): Mohammad A Fazl, Mullah Norullah Noori Bergdahl, in white, boards a helicopter in eastern Afghanistan after his 2014 release Legal scholars said that left the Army with a quandary. To retry him, he would have to be brought back to active duty. Cornelison said he was intensely 'frustrated' by the outcome. 'I was I was there day in day out, every single hour, every single day for three months looking for Bowe Bergdahl and then, for it all, just to be kind of swept clean, after a f***-up by some some judge who didn't have to deal with the kind of day in and day out grind that we all went through ...' he said by phone from his home in Sacramento, California, his voice tailing off in disbelief. He and his platoon mates blame Bergdahl for injuries and a death sustained during the search. With U.S. activity high in the Afghan province of Paktika, he said the Taliban simply had more targets to shoot at. Master Sgt. Mark Allen was shot in the head in June 2009. He suffered life changing injuries and died in 2019. Master Sgt. Mark Allen, seen here with friends, was shot in the head during the search for Bergdahl. He died in 2019 Bergdahl later said he was intending to trek to another military post to report wrongdoing in his unit. But medics later said he was suffering from a 'sever mental disease or defect' at the time, and his platoon mates suggested he may have seen himself as a character in an action thriller. Bergdahl ended up in the custody of Al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network. A deal brokered by the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar eventually brought him home, but at the cost of releasing the Taliban insurgents from the military prison complex at Guantanamo, Cuba. Four are now serving in the Taliban's Afghan government. Republicans condemned the deal, saying it came at too high a price, bringing a political dimension to the case. Cornelison, who served four years in the Army, said some people might think Bergdahl had already suffered enough from his years of captivity. 'It is important to remind people now, eight years later, that there were real people on the ground looking for him every single day,' he said. 'Especially us being his platoon. So he was one of our 30 guys that you're supposed to be able to rely on for literally everything.' A real-life 'Barbie' is accused of running a 'sect' and putting her followers at risk of poisoning. Valeria Lukyankova - who has 2.5 million followers across several social media accounts - has suddenly this week closed a 13-a-month 'club' where she is alleged to have put her fans at risk with dangerous advice. Known for years as the Ukrainian Barbie, she also styles herself as alien princess Amatue, and is facing a probe by the Russian police and prosecutors office despite being an avid Putin supporter. Among the accusations against her is one that she has urged her followers to drink turpentine to rid their bodies of parasites. Another claim is that she urged her female fans to breathe over mercury because 'paranormal abilities and memory of past lives awaken'. Valeria Lukyankova has been known for years as the Ukrainian Barbie, and also styles herself as alien princess Amatue Valeria Lukyankova has 2.5 million followers across several social media accounts Lukyankova is facing a probe by the Russian police and prosecutors office despite being an avid Putin supporter Lukyanova allegedly seeks to encourage women to rid themselves of 'parasites' that do not exist Women were also urged to 'make tampons with tar and essential oil of grapefruit' to make their sexual organs smaller, said a leading critic Katya Konasova, a blogger and Youtuber who specialises in exposing fake healers. Lukyanova seeks to encourage women to rid themselves of 'parasites' that do not exist, said Konasova. 'Turpentine is used in the chemical industry. It should not be used inside the human body,' she said. 'Lera [Valeria] is convinced that a scary either worm or octopus lives in everyone's body, something with tentacles that destroys your will and dominates [you],' she said. 'Real-life Barbie' Lukyanova - now believed to be 37 - closed her private Rex Deus club this week 'If you got scared, don't you fear - Lukyanova has a private club in which they will open your 'third eye' too.' It is this private club Rex Deus that the wannabe Barbie has this week closed. Lukyanova - now believed to be 37 - posted a rambling explanation: 'Why did I close the Rex Deus club? 'Rex Deus helped thousands of people to find themselves, to learn their mission, to learn how the world works, to master quantum technologies, and to apply them in daily life. 'Every day I receive words of gratitude from the members of the club. 'Despite this, I realised that I cannot do it anymore. 'I have to share information with even more people. 'We did a lot of research in rejuvenation in the recent years [...] this information can not fit into the old club.' One commenter said the real reason was that Konasova had exposed her. Leading critic Katya Konasova, a blogger and Youtuber who specialises in exposing fake healers For years, Lukyanova has denied having plastic surgery to create her distinctive looks Another said: 'How do you sleep at night knowing that you poison people and scam them out of money? 'So pretty but so rotten inside.' One woman follower is highlighted saying that after following Lukyanova she 'wanted to drink turpentine'. 'I listen to myself now, and I am terrified,' she said. 'It saved me that I couldn't find turpentine anywhere. 'I tried her cocktails, not cocktails but smoothies, a garlic one, I literally vomited. One person said they followed Lukyanova's advice and ended up with severe anaemia 'People mostly do it voluntarily, they sincerely believe [her] and are ready for anything. 'People listen to [her advice] and put their lives at risk.' An aide to this Barbie is called Anastasia who - despite having no medical education - is her proponent for cleaning the body of parasites. Anastasia is also accused of threatening critics in the club, once saying: 'If some bas**** says even a [negative] word regarding our cleansing, expresses doubt, I will flush you down the toilet, do you understand? 'Or about me or Valeria.' In 2014, Lukyanova arrived in Crimea to boost tourism to the region soon after it was annexed by Vladimir Putin Konasova said: 'What is scary, is that after these threats people are actually afraid to share the dark stuff that happens there. 'This reminds me a lot of a sect. 'Such sects should be banned and closed, so that Lukyanova and her accomplices stop making money from it.' In 2014, Lukyanova arrived in Crimea to boost tourism to the region soon after it was annexed by Vladimir Putin. 'I tend to cut off anything I don't need,' she said at the time. She prides herself on her Barbie look which she put down to 'Breatharianism' - surviving on 'cosmic micro-food', otherwise known as air and light 'The next step is to cut off Ukraine entirely, because all I get here is s***. 'Why waste myself on this?' She is now believed to be in Mexico. For years, Lukyanova has denied having plastic surgery to create her distinctive looks - other than a boob job - while priding herself on her Barbie look which she put down to 'Breatharianism' - surviving on 'cosmic micro-food', otherwise known as air and light. 'All genetics came to me from nature, except my breasts,' she said. 'I lost weight and, unfortunately, I have very small breasts. 'I had to increase my size to feel like a normal girl. One commenter named Tatiana said: 'The worst thing about Lukyanova's sect is how it puts pressure on the psyche' 'But I didn't subject myself to other plastic surgery.' She claims to have out of body experiences which take her to other planets. She explained: 'I travelled to other planets, which are very far away. 'They have not been discovered by our scientists, but they exist. 'I communicated with extraterrestrial intelligence and beings and understood other universes.' One commenter named Tatiana said: 'The worst thing about Lukyanova's sect is how it puts pressure on the psyche, keeping people at bay so they don't tell anyone, advising dangerous things under the guise of health benefits. Lukyankova has suddenly this week closed a 13-a-month 'club' where she is alleged to have put her fans at risk 'As a healthy and seemingly sane person, I felt uneasy from what she was saying. 'And at the same time, this is excellent bait for everyone who has various forms of eating disorders, because these people have a desire to cleanse themselves of everything 'harmful', and lose weight with all sorts of cleansing, despite the consequences for the body.' Another called diamond2494 said: 'I was in this sect and barely survived after such experiments.' She followed Lukyanova's advice and ended up with severe anaemia, she said. Railway services, airports and doctors are all set to go on strike during the month of August. The set of strikes comes shortly after bus, train drivers, junior doctors and civil servants went on strike in July. Here is a full list of all the strikes, when they are happening and how they will affect you. Unions across several sectors including healthcare and education are striking this month Train Strikes Members of the ASLEF, Britain's union for train drivers, will be striking from Monday 31 July until Sunday 5 August. They are also set to take action from Monday 7 August until Saturday 12 August. This will also mean that ASLEF workers will not be working overtime. The following railway companies set to be effected include: Gatwick Express Greater Anglia - including Stansted Express Great Western Railway Great Northern Southern Thameslink TransPennine Express South Western Railway - including the Island line Chiltern Railways It is possible that because of the strikes services and short notice cancellations may be experienced before you travel. It is advisory to check the relevant railway companies' timetable before making your journey: Great Western Railways that run also run Cardiff, Wales, to London Paddington (as pictured) will likely be affected including numerous other railway operators West Midlands Railway Southeastern Northern London Northwestern Railway LNER East Midlands Railway CrossCountry Avanti West Coast Despite these railway operators being affected by industrial action, the Caledonian Sleeper, Elizabeth line, Grand Central, Hull Trains, Heathrow Express, London Overground, Merseyrail, ScotRail, Transport for Wales and c2c will continue to operate. You can check your journey prior to travelling via the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner if you click here. Doctor strikes As disputes over NHS pay continue, junior doctors are set to take to the picket lines and strike for four days. This comes after they were awarded a 6% pay rise by the governement and a sum of 1,250. The government said there will be no more discussions. Junior doctor members of the BMA took industrial action in a bid for a 35% pay increase on July 13. They will take to the picket lines again from 11 until 15 August The junior committee of the British Medical Association has declared the fresh strike will begin in England from 7am on Friday 11 August until Tuesday 15 August. Consultants also previously had staged a two day walkout on 20 and 21 July. Since December, more than 651,000 have been delayed because of striking throughout the NHS. Many more are expected according to the i. Airport strikes Industrial action in August could also going to disrupt the skies too, as hundreds of Gatwick Airport staff set to strike during the Summer holidays - which is the busiest period of the year. Unite union member from, DHL Services, GGS, ASC and Menzies Aviation were going to take to the picket lines from 28 July until 1 August and then again from 4 until 8 August. Airport strikes may affect a busy Gatwick airport as families start going on their Summer holidays (as pictured) But a new pay deal, that includes a wage increase of 43% for some staff - means the first set of strikes at the end of July had been called off. Now, Menzies Aviation, GGS and DHL will not be striking later this week. Only ASC workers are still set to take action, however they they may call it off depending on how the outcome of their pay vote. EasyJet has already cancelled 1,700 in preparation for the strikes and you may be affected if you are travelling via easyJet, Ryanair, TUI, WestJet, British Airways or Wizzair. It is always best to check with your airline if your journey is going ahead. There is still a possibility that your flight may be disrupted on the following days: The UK has recorded multiple confirmed sightings of the insects this summer Experts have called on Brits to remain 'vigilant' following multiple sightings of Asian hornets across the UK. The hornets, which are native to south east Asia, were spotted in Dover, Kent, in the sixth sighting of the invasive insects since April this year. The stinging insects, which are considered an invasive species, have been spotted throughout the UK including in Plymouth and in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Insect experts are now calling on the public to report any sightings, over concerns they could pose a serious threat to Britain's honey bees. The experts from DEFRA, however, warned people not to approach any potential nests due to the dangers the black and yellow hornets pose. Experts have called on Brits to remain vigilant of Asian hornets following multiple sightings across the country The invasive species was first spotted in Britain in 2016 and there have now been multiple sightings this year Defra's warning comes after a single Asian hornet was captured near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in Northumberland this April. READ MORE: Now brace for return of Asian hornets! Warning issued after invasive insects with nasty sting are spotted in the UK for first time in five months Advertisement Since then, there have been multiple confirmed sightings of the insects throughout Kent, including one that resulted in the destruction of a nest in Dover. The sightings of the insects in Kent this summer marked the first confirmed sighting of Asian hornets in the county in four years. Asian hornets, which are smaller than the UK's native hornets, prey on honeybees and therefore a pose a major threat to honeybee populations. Although Asian hornets do not generally pose any more of a threat to humans than native British wasps or hornets, they show aggression if their nests are disturbed. In east Asia, the hornets are responsible for dozens of deaths each year. They have also been linked to multiple deaths in Europe since first arriving in France in 2004. It is believed Asian hornets first arrived in France after being shipped over from China in a box of pottery. In the following years, thousands of Asian hornet nests have been discovered across France, while the invasive insects have also spread across Western Europe too. The invasive insects were first spotted in Britain near Tetbury, Gloucestershire in September 2016 in a sighting that resulted in a nest being destroyed. Asian hornets have been spotted multiple times this summer in locations throughout the UK Honeybees, and the honey produce, contribute more than 690 million to the UK economy each year, according to Friends of the Earth. UK honeybee population have fallen sharply over recent decades, due to loss of habitats, pesticide use, invasive species, and climate change. Defra's Chief Plant and Bee Health Officer Nicola Spence said reported sightings would help the UK government agency 'take swift and effective action to stamp out the threat posed by Asian hornets'. 'That's why we are working at speed to locate and investigate any nests in the area following the confirmed sightings in Kent.' 'While the Asian hornet poses no greater risk to human health than other wasps or hornets, they can cause damage to honey bee colonies and other beneficial insects. 'Please continue to look out for any Asian hornets and if you think you've spotted one, report your sighting through the Asian hornet app or online. 'Asian hornet nests will be smaller at this time in the year but we are still asking people to be vigilant.' Those payments are now being probed by the Senate Finance Committee Between 2012 and 2017, he gave Epstein $158million 'for financial advice' Black is accused of raping the teenage girl at Epstein's home in 2002 Billionaire private equity titan Leon Black paid Jeffrey Epstein $158million between 2012 and 2017 in a series of 'extraordinary' transactions that are now being scrutinized by the Senate Finance Committee. Black, who is accused of raping an autistic teenage girl at Epstein's townhouse in 2002, claimed the payments were for advice on trust and estate planning, tax issues and the operation of his family office. All of them came after Epstein was jailed for soliciting prostitution from underage girls in Palm Beach, Florida. He was sentenced for those crimes in 2008 in a sweetheart deal and was released from prison in 2009. Now, investigators are probing whether or not Black owes taxes on the payments to the late pedophile, who killed himself in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Jeffrey Epstein (left), Pepe Fanjul (center) and Leon Black (right) in 2005 in New York City. Black and Epstein have deep ties that led to Black's resignation from his financial firm in 2021. DailyMail.com is informed that Mr Fanjul only met Epstein on one occasion and before Epstein was charged In a letter obtained by Bloomberg, Senator Ron Wyden said Black was not forthcoming about the 'extraordinary' payments to Epstein that 'far exceeded those paid to other professional advisors'. There are resounding questions over why Black - a successful financier in his own right who is the co-founder of money management firm Apollo - turned to Epstein, whose credentials were less impressive, for advice. When investigated by a law firm hired by Apollo in 2021, Black said he was under the 'misconception' that the payments were tax deductible. The report indicates that many of the transactions were to do with tax avoidance advice after Apollo went public in 2011. Black resigned from Apollo in 2021 after his deep ties to Epstein were revealed. The investigation by the law firm also revealed that Epstein advised Black on how to sell portions of his $1billion art collection. Part of the payments included a $20million fee Epstein was given for advice that the letter claims saved Black $600million. He had wanted three times as much - $60million - and a dispute over how much he was to receive helped end their friendship. Yesterday, Black was named as the defendant in a federal lawsuit filed in Manhattan by the unnamed woman who says he raped her in 2002 when she was 16 at Epstein's home. Leon Black, 71, with wife Debra in 2017. He has dismissed three allegations of sex abuse by Epstein victims now as 'frivolous' lies One of Epstein's massage tables in his home on the Upper East Side where the girl says Black raped her She says he pinned her down after requesting a massage - an Epstein M.O. - then sodomized her with sex toys until she bled. In her complaint, she was described as having mosaic Down syndrome and a developmental age of 12. Black's attorneys dismissed the lawsuit as 'frivolous', claiming he'd never met the woman in question. 'He never met this woman,' attorney Susan Estrich told Reuters. 'He doesn't know her at all. We're confident the lawsuit is totally uncorroborated by any evidence. It has nothing to do with Leon Black.' This is the third time he has been accused of sexual abuse. Epstein's Manhattan townhouse, where he entertained the rich and famous, and abused young women He was previously sued by Russian model Guzel Ganieva who claimed he raped her after years of sexual abuse, and Cheri Pierson who claimed he raped her in Epstein's home. Both their lawsuits were dismissed. In the US Virgin Islands, where Epstein had another home and where investigations into his abuse of girls continues, Black reached a $62million settlement to avoid any possible lawsuits. His attorney did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment about the payments this morning. He has been married to his wife theater producer wife Debra since 1982 and the pair have four children together. NatWest is engulfed in a full-blown crisis today after its chief executive was forced to quit over briefing the BBC about Nigel Farage's 'debanking'. Shares have plunged by 3 per cent, wiping hundreds of millions of pounds off the group's value, amid calls for the whole board to go over the scandal. Dame Alison Rose initially tried to cling on to her 5million-a-year post despite dramatically admitting she was behind the leaking of a customer's financial details. But she finally fell on her sword in the early hours of the morning following an extraordinary intervention from the PM and Chancellor, who made clear their 'significant concerns'. The taxpayer still has a big stake in NatWest following the Credit Crunch. Meanwhile, City minister Andrew Griffith has read the riot act to other banks about 'woke' culture at a virtual summit. They have all signed up to 'non-discrimination based on lawful freedom of expression'. Mr Farage hailed the departure as a 'start' - but adding 'the whole Board needs to go' after backing her abortive attempt to stay in post. Senior Tories lined up behind their long-term political foe in the battle against 'woke' banking culture. However, Mr Griffith insisted he did not think chairman Sir Howard Davies should quit. NatWest is engulfed in a full-blown crisis today after its chief executive Dame Alison Rose (pictured) was forced to quit over briefing the BBC about Nigel Farage's 'debanking' The board of NatWest Group held emergency talks into the night on her future after she apologised for her 'serious error of judgment' in speaking to the broadcaster's business editor Simon Jack about the bank's treatment of former Ukip leader Nigel Farage (pictured) Dame Alison finally fell on her sword in the early hours of the morning following an extraordinary intervention from the PM (right) and Chancellor (left), who made clear their 'significant concerns' A spat between Mr Farage and Grant Shapps was referred to in the Coutts dossier, but the Energy Secretary said today that his long-time foe had been treated 'outrageously' Dame Alison stepped down with immediate effect in the early hours of this morning after admitting she was the source who told the BBC Mr Farage's account had been closed because he did not have enough money in it. It is not clear whether she will receive any payoff. The board of NatWest Group held emergency talks into the night on her future after she apologised for her 'serious error of judgment' in speaking to the broadcaster's business editor Simon Jack. Bosses at the bank, which is 39 per cent owned by the government, were locked in a power struggle after NatWest chairman Sir Howard Davies criticised her 'regrettable' action but said yesterday the bank's board had 'full confidence' in her. But the position embarrassingly reversed early this morning after pressure was piled on the beleaguered banking boss by No 10 and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. Responding to the volte face, Mr Farage said: 'She's gone, and that's a start, but I have to say that (Coutts chief executive) Peter Flavel (NatWest chair) Howard Davies it was the board that sanctioned this culture that talks about diversity and inclusion, and actually is very divisive,' he said. 'In my case, as you can clearly see, pretty poisonous stuff. I think any board member that endorsed that statement last night, where they said 'yes, she breached confidentiality, but she can stay in her post' frankly, I think the whole board needs to go.' He added: 'Anybody on that Board that backed that statement that was put out at 17.42 yesterday, a totally unsustainable and untrue statement, anybody that backed that behaviour, should be gone.' READ MORE: Moment furious Nigel Farage snaps at BBC's 'condescending' host Nick Robinson Nigel Farage snapped at 'condescending' BBC presenter Nick Robinson today during a fiery live radio debate following his NatWest triumph. The former Ukip leader delivered a furious retort when Robinson asked whether he was going to use the 'de-banking' row as a platform for a return to frontline politics. Mr Farage was incensed by the host goading that he had already failed to become an MP seven times, saying he was 'not having this'. Advertisement Mr Farage told MailOnline last week that he had been refused bank accounts in the UK since being cut off by Coutts. He said this morning that the fate of Dame Alison should be a message to other institutions. 'To the ten banks that have thus far refused to have me as a customer - think again,' he told GB News. 'This has happened to NatWest... this could happen to you too.' A No10 source said Dame Alison is no longer a member of Rishi Sunak's business council. She has also been asked to step down from the government's Energy Efficiency Taskforce and Net Zero Council. The No10 source said: 'Alison Rose has done the right thing in resigning. 'Everyone would expect people in public life whether that's in a business leadership role or otherwise to act responsibly and with integrity.' Speaking to broadcasters after his virtual summit with banks, Mr Griffith backed Sir Howard to stay in place. 'No, the chairman of NatWest is already stepping down. There's already a search under way, as you know, for his replacement,' he said. 'We should let that continue and then in due course, obviously, the bank will need to appoint a new chief executive. It is important that lessons are learned. It's not the duty of banks to tell us what to think and what political views we can have. 'My view is we have a wonderful financial sector in the UK, but what it should do is be focused on delivering the best job it can for customers and doing that well and doing that fairly.' But Mr Griffith was less categorical on whether Coutts boss Peter Flavel should go. 'Well, as I say, there should be lessons learned,' he said. 'That's the key point here. The board and Alison have decided that the right thing to happen is that she moves on, she resigns. 'It is absolutely important, the Government has been crystal clear throughout that no-one should be de-banked because of their political opinions or something within the law that they have said.' The Treasury said the bank bosses at the meeting had committed to 'the principle of non-discrimination based on lawful freedom of expression.' They also said they would bring their policies in line with the Government's planned reforms as soon as possible. The new rules will mean banks have to give 90 days' notice before closing an account and spell out the reasons for shutting it down. Banks can avoid giving reasons if doing so would interfere in a criminal investigation. How a bank would do this without alerting a customer to an ongoing criminal investigation was not explained. The meeting was attended by Barclays UK chief executive Matt Hammerstein, HSBC UK boss Ian Stuart, Philip Robinson, a managing director at Lloyds, Nationwide boss Debbie Crosbie, NatWest retail banking head David Lindberg, Santander UK boss Mike Regnier, Sheldon Mills from the Financial Conduct Authority and James Babbage from the National Crime Agency. Sir Howard, chairman of the NatWest Group Board, said in a statement early this morning: 'The Board and Alison Rose have agreed, by mutual consent, that she will step down as CEO of the NatWest Group. It is a sad moment. 'She has dedicated all her working life so far to NatWest and will leave many colleagues who respect and admire her.' Dame Alison said: 'I remain immensely proud of the progress the bank has made in supporting people, families and business across the UK, and building the foundations for sustainable growth. 'My NatWest colleagues are central to that success, and so I would like to personally thank them for all that they have done.' NatWest's board of directors also announced that Paul Thwaite, the current chief executive of the company's Commercial and Institutional business, will take over Dame Alison's responsibilities for an initial period of 12 months, pending regulatory approval. The board said in a statement that a further process to appoint a permanent successor will take place 'in due course'. The resignation comes after Dame Alison apologised last night, ending a week of speculation by conceding that she had discussed Mr Farage's de-banking with Mr Jack at a charity dinner. The following day the BBC reported that Mr Farage was dropped as a Coutts customer due to a lack of wealth. However, the ex-MEP later exposed the real motivations by lodging a 'subject access request' with NatWest for his personal data. The 40-page dossier showed staff at Coutts, which is owned by NatWest Group, wanted to 'exit' Mr Farage because his political views did 'not align' with the lender's values. Mr Jack has apologised to Mr Farage for the information from a 'senior and trusted source' turning out to be 'incomplete and inaccurate'. Mr Farage was in good spirits as he was seen out and about near his home in Kent this morning Dame Alison said in a statement: 'I recognise that in my conversations with Simon Jack of the BBC, I made a serious error of judgment in discussing Mr Farage's relationship with the bank. Believing it was public knowledge, I confirmed that Mr Farage was a Coutts customer and that he had been offered a NatWest bank account. 'Alongside this, I repeated what Mr Farage had already stated, that the bank saw this as a commercial decision. 'I did not reveal any personal financial information about Mr Farage. In response to a general question about eligibility criteria required to bank with Coutts and NatWest I said that guidance on both was publicly available on their websites. 'In doing so, I recognise that I left Mr Jack with the impression that the decision to close Mr Farage's accounts was solely a commercial one.' Dame Alison said she was not part of the decision-making process to close Mr Farage's account. She said she was informed in April that it was done 'for commercial reasons', but was 'not in receipt of' the dossier compiled by Coutts staff to justify closing his account when she spoke to the BBC journalist. Admitting she was 'wrong to respond to any question raised by the BBC about this case', she extended her 'sincere apologies' to Mr Farage and her NatWest colleagues. Last week she apologised for the 'deeply inappropriate comments' made in the document, which branded Mr Farage a 'disingenuous grifter'. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) had raised the possibility of taking 'further action'. Sheldon Mills, the watchdog's executive director of consumers and competition, said: 'We made clear our expectation that these issues should be independently reviewed and note today's statement from the NatWest Group Board confirming this will happen.' Mr Mills stressed the need to 'investigate what happened swiftly and fully'. Dame Alison's public apology to Mr Farage came a day after both the BBC and business editor Simon Jack (pictured) said sorry to the politician-turned-broadcaster The distraught daughters of an 89-year-old woman who was bashed to death by a dementia patient say it would not have happened if the care centre had been properly staffed. Joan Hobbs was beaten 'black and blue' with a walking frame by a male resident at the IRT Thomas Holt Aged Care Centre in the southern Sydney suburb of Kirrawee. Her daughters, Erin Mulholland and Terri Hobbs, who are both nurses, say they don't blame the man who killed their mum, but they're demanding action so it doesn't happen to someone else. The 86-year-old man, who like Joan was a dementia patient, went into her private room last week and bashed her in a 'horrendous' ordeal. Ms Mulholland had cared for her mum for six years and never wanted her to have to go to a nursing home. Joan Hobbs (pictured) was beaten 'black and blue' with a walking frame by a male resident at the IRT Thomas Holt Aged Care Centre in the southern Sydney suburb of Kirrawee But her mother's dementia got worse and doctors advised the family that she needed full-time care. The family never thought another dementia patient would kill their mum in a place meant to keep them safe. 'Eight weeks later, she's dead,' Ms Mulholland told 7News. On July 17 the family woke to a text from staff at the care centre and rushed to Sutherland Hospital, where they saw the 'devastating' reality of what had happened to their mum. She suffered severe injuries that left her face 'black and blue' and bones 'shattered all the way down' one arm. 'When I saw the physical condition she was in, the injuries, I just, you know, fell apart,' Ms Hobbs said. 'Her left eye was swollen shut, you could see wounds on her arms, like defence wounds.' Ms Mulholland said they had no choice but to 'sit with her and wait until she died because nothing else was going to happen'. Joan suffered severe injuries that left her face 'black and blue' (pictured) and bones 'shattered all the way down' one arm 'I'm just mortified, absolutely stunned that something like this could happen,' she said. 'She wouldn't understand what was happening, how frightened she must have been, terrified in those final moments.' Ms Hobbs added that she 'wouldn't wish this upon my worst enemy, to see your mum hurt like that.' Channel 7 reported that the elderly man who attacked the retired social worker had only been at the centre for two days, as a respite patient in a locked dementia ward. The sisters say the system failed their mum and needs to be fixed. 'There are not enough nurses on the floors and that's a government issue they need to address,' Ms Mulholland said. 'We need more nurses per patient. How many more have to die before we do something?' They don't want charges laid against the man who killed their mother, and 'hold no malice' against a family they are sure is already suffering. 'There's nothing that can change what happened to mum now, but there is something that we can do to change what happens for other people in the future,' Ms Hobbs said. Her daughters, Erin Mulholland and Terri Hobbs (pictured), who are both nurses, say they don't blame the man who killed their mum The family is now making funeral plans for their beloved mother, who would have turned 90 next week. 'She was an intelligent, beautiful, compassionate woman,' Ms Mulholland said. 'It was just a really, really sad ending to a lovely woman's life,' Ms Hobbs added. The incident has been reported to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and a police investigation is also underway. Daily Mail Australia has contacted IRT Thomas Holt Aged Care Centre for comment. A Metropolitan Police officer who pepper-sprayed a serial robber as he dangled from a tower block drainpipe 100 feet above the ground has been spared jail after being convicted of assault. PC Luke Wenham, 31, blasted Carl Cumberbatch twice as he tried to escape at Albert Barnes House in Elephant and Castle, south London. Cumberbatch momentarily lost his footing and was temporarily blinded, clinging to the drainpipe with one hand. PC Wenham's career is now in ruins after he was convicted of two counts of common assault at Westminster magistrates' court. The officer had sobbed as District Judge Louisa Cieciora told him there was an 'obvious risk' of Cumberbatch falling to his death following his trial last month. But he showed no emotion as he was sentenced to a 12-month community order. Dramatic footage shows a police officer pepper spraying a serial robber The robber dangled from a tower block drainpipe 100 feet above the ground He was also sentenced to a 15-day rehabilitation activity and will be subject to a three month electronically monitored curfew between the hours of 9pm and 6am. He must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay court costs of 739. Judge Cieciora told Wenham: 'I think your culpability falls into the highest category, the victim was deemed vulnerable due to the location of the assault. 'The actual physical harm seemed to be minor, but the risk of further harm was extremely high. 'I accept this was not a deliberate or malicious use of power.' Footage released by the IOPC shows PC Wenham using the spray twice as Cumberbatch, wanted for several robberies, clambers down the side of the building. When police arrived at the 12th floor flat Cumberbatch barricaded his door with furniture and officers had to force entry on 17 August last year. Cumberbatch then dashed to the window and scrambled down the drainpipe. 'It was between the 12th and 10th floors that PC Wenham sprayed Mr Cumberbatch with irritant spray from the window of flat 73,' said Tom Broomfield, prosecuting. 'A member of the public filmed what was happening. It clearly shows PC Wenham calling Mr Cumberbatch's name...while he is on the side of the building holding on to the pipe. 'In response Mr Cumberbatch looked up to where PC Wenham was calling from and then PC Wenham deployed the spray in the direction of Mr Cumberbatch whilst Mr Cumberbatch had hold of the pipe with only one hand. 'That appeared to result in Mr Cumberbatch momentarily losing his footing. 'At least one of Mr Cumberbatch's feet appears to lose contact with the pipe after spray had been deployed.' Cumberbatch managed to climb down onto the balcony of flat 44 on the sixth floor After he was sprayed the first time, Mr Cumberbatch continued to shimmy down the pipe to a flat on the eighth floor. PC Wenham then sprayed the suspect again from another bottle. Cumberbatch managed to climb down onto the balcony of flat 44 on the sixth floor. PC Wenham and his colleagues then began a 'very lengthy discussion of negotiation' with Mr Cumberbatch as he repeatedly threatened to leap to his death. Cumberbatch was finally arrested later that afternoon. In a statement read to the court Cumberbatch said he was climbing down the pipe when he heard someone call his name and he naturally looked up. 'I heard someone shout 'Carl' and it's a natural instinct to look up, and I got sprayed in the face with gas. 'It was hard to hold on, if I let go, I would fall off...I was unarmed and I think it was wrong for the police to do that...I think only the adrenaline kept me holding onto the pole. 'I couldn't see anything; I couldn't see my foot or anywhere I could go...I put my head down because it was burning, and it hurt. 'The officer kept spraying onto the top of my head.' Cumberbatch was later convicted of 11 charges of robbery, two of criminal damage and two counts of racially aggravated public order. PC Wenham told the court it was a 'high risk situation' and that he believed his use of pepper spray was 'completely reasonable' in order to avoid risk to the wider public. He said his main concern was to save the residents of the block of flats from the potential harm Cumberbatch presented due to his history of violent offending. 'I was just concerned for occupants in that address and anyone in the stairwell, anyone off to work and children off to school, I believed he was going to do anything he could to avoid capture,' he said. Guy Ladenburg, defending, said: 'If there is the case of an abuse of power it shouldn't been seen to escalate or aggravate the sentence as there is a counterbalance, the officer was put in a high risk situation and it was his responsibility to deal with. 'This is someone who, since age of 18, has wanted to be a police officer and who has been a determined and diligent officer since that. 'This is not someone who has misused their powers by way of pattern or character. 'It is a decision any police officer might make incorrectly in the heat of the moment.. this was not gratuitous or cynical use of power it was the officer trying to do what he thought best and he acknowledges he got it wrong...' PC Wenham, of Dartford, Kent, denied but was convicted of two counts of common assault after a one-day trial. Mr Cumberbatch claimed in a statement read to the court the incident left him 'scared of the police', leading to nightmares about him falling. He went on: 'My son could have been left without a dad, my family would have been without me.' The victim added: 'It feels like they tried to kill me.' Ms Cieciora did not accept Mr Cumberbatch's account of the physical injuries he received. Guy Ladenburg, defending, said the victim only suffered 'minor physical and psychological harm'. He described Wenham, who has a 14-month-old daughter, as a 'determined and diligent' public servant who 'sincerely wants the best for the public'. Mr Ladenburg said Wenham has accepted he will likely lose his job as a result of the conviction. Judge Cieciora earlier told the officer: 'Mr Cumberbatch was obviously, from his history, a violent offender, he was known to evade officers and known to use force. 'He was willing to climb down a pipe of unknown quality at a significant height to not be arrested. 'For both offences you acknowledge there was an obvious risk of Mr Cumberbatch falling. 'And you admit its not disputed the spray causes certain reactions; involuntary spasms, legs to become weak, tense muscles and so on, and you admit those were possible reactions. 'You admit you aimed the spray intending to cause the reactions known to be caused by the spray. 'I could not accept your account you used the spray as a distraction to cause Mr Cumberbatch to move onto the balcony and be inconvenienced by the spray. 'I am sure you are aware it would not simply cause an inconvenience...and you would be aware it would include the risk of death. 'For both incidents it cannot be said the use of force was reasonable, proportionate or necessary, I therefore find you guilty of both offences.' Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, in charge of policing Southwark and Lambeth, said: 'Officers know that their actions will be held to account and where any use of force is deployed, must always consider whether it was necessary and proportionate to the circumstances. 'It is clear in this case that not only was PC Wenham's response completely disproportionate to the situation he faced but also, by doing what he did, he put a member of public at risk of harm. 'PC Wenham has let down not only himself but many hardworking police colleagues who strive to improve trust and confidence with our communities. 'I am pleased that this matter was put before a jury to make a decision following a careful consideration of all the facts.' IOPC director Steve Noonan said: 'At the time he was sprayed, the man was not posing an immediate risk to the officers or anyone else. 'It is clear that in spraying the man twice at considerable heights, PC Wenham exposed him to the genuine risk he may have lost his grip on the pipe and fallen, which would have likely had fatal consequences.' Australians could soon be using a national digital ID that would hold all of your information, acting as a Medicare card, driver's licence, passport and holding Centrelink details. A universal ID was first planned by the Coalition and has now been taken up by the Albanese government. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said the ID, which would allowing licences and other forms to be verified online by external organisations, could be rolled out within a year. There has already been backlash towards the proposed ID, but on Wednesday Ms Gallagher told the Australian Financial Review's Government Services Summit that the program should be up and running by mid-next year. A universal ID was first planned by the previous Coalition government and has now been taken up by the Albanese government. An example of what the ID might look like is pictured 'That's a pretty tight timeframe, so I don't want to be held to that. But that's kind of my roadmap,' she said. The Finance Minister said many Australian states are already using digital services to access IDs such as driver's licences and a nationally-regulated service would be an extension of that. 'We've got the system, it's just not regulated and not in a shape I think that will allow us to drive it forward and give the interoperability and the economy-wide benefits that come from having a national system, but we're very committed to it,' she said. Ms Gallagher said the service would not be a new card or number but ID forms will be compiled into one system in an 'easy, secure, voluntary and efficient way'. Existing state and territory apps would all work together with the new plan, she said. The minister did, however, admit that the idea is a 'contested' one, with petitions already circulating in opposition to it over cybersecurity and data retention concerns, and from anti-government groups. The plan is also likely to be controversial given it is coming after several major cyberattacks in Australia in the past 18 months, including at Optus, Medibank and financial services provider Latitude. Australians could soon be using a national digital ID holding all their government issued identifications, such as Medicare, driver's license and Centrelink information. A woman is pictured looking at a mobile phone Poll Would you like to see a national digital ID for Australia? Yes No Not sure Would you like to see a national digital ID for Australia? Yes 178 votes No 1327 votes Not sure 79 votes Now share your opinion 'We've seen this, particularly coming out of Covid-19 you know, theories, conspiracy theories about what government's trying to do,' Ms Gallagher said. But she said the plan was to allow Australians to have control of their information. 'It is about securing your information and protecting your information and ensuring that you know, when that information is shared, it's done under a regulated system,' she said. In the UK last February, former prime minister Tony Blair was accused of pushing a 'creepy' plan for every Briton to be issued with a digital ID as part of a 'reshaping of the state around technology'. Former Conservative Party chairman Jake Berry branded the proposal as 'a creepy state plan to track you from the cradle to the grave'. Campaign group Big Brother Watch condemned Mr Blair for 'reviving failed proposals for an intrusive mass digital identity system and a database state'. But a poll by YouGov revealed more than half of Britons (54 per cent) would support the introduction of a system of national ID cards in the UK. In the US, the American Civil Liberties Union published an article headlined 'Digital IDs might sound like a good idea, but they could be a privacy nightmare.' Finance Minister Katy Gallagher (pictured) said the ID allowing licences and other forms to be verified online by external organisations could be rolled out with a year 'Digital is often touted as the "future" and many people cast such a transition as inevitable. But digital is not always better - especially when systems are exclusively digital,' the article warned. There has been a swift response online to Ms Gallagher's plan, and so far it has not been positive. 'Political parasites have been pushing for an Australia id card for decades, sly b******s,' said one commenter. 'I bet Katie Gallagher's proposed Digital Australia ID card will have provision to add a social credit rating on it in the future,' wrote another. Constantly scrolling through TikTok videos on your cell phone instead of chatting with your spouse may be a sign of marriage troubles, new research shows. The Institute for Family Studies (IFS), a conservative study group, has detected links between chronic smartphone use and marital woes. A survey of 2,000 married Americans aged between 18-55 found that excessive cell phone use was linked to less sex, relationship problems, and a greater fear of divorce. Many respondents said they were unhappy with 'phubbing,' as it is known, which combines the words 'phone' and 'snubbing.' Younger couples have a harder time putting down phones and chatting over a glass of wine Researchers asked 2,000 married Americans aged between 18-55 The survey comes amid growing concerns that Americans, especially children, are addicted to their phones and social media apps, and that their mental health is suffering as a result. Wendy Wang, who led the research, said the findings were a 'cause for alarm and a call for serious solutions.' Poll Do smartphones make your family life worse? Yes No Maybe Do smartphones make your family life worse? Yes 228 votes No 18 votes Maybe 25 votes Now share your opinion 'Our research finds that phone addiction within marriage is linked to fewer date nights, less sex, less marital happiness, and increased chances for divorce,' Wang added. More than one-third of respondents said their partner was often on the phone or some other screen when they wanted to chat or do something as a couple. Income is a factor. Fully 44 percent of poorer couples said they struggled with phone use, against 31 percent of richer types. Younger couples are also more likely to be distracted by their phones at home. Those complaining of excessive cell phone use were more likely to describe marriage woes. Only about six in 10 adults whose spouse was often on the phone said they were 'very happy' with their relationship. For those without a smartphone problem, that figure was 81 percent. Overusing cell phones was linked to less sex and bigger fears about divorce Couples with cell phone issues are also more likely to say they were heading to a divorce. More than a quarter of couples with the smartphone issue say they're pessimistic about their marriage's chances, against 7 percent among those without the difficulty. Researchers found that couples with cell phone issues also had problems in the bedroom. They had sex less frequently than others, and had fewer date nights. Still, researchers admitted that phones may not be the root of the problem. An unhappy spouse could just be playing Wordle or tweeting relentlessly to avoid speaking with their partner. But smartphones are 'engineered to be addictive' and 'it is naive to assume that adults would be totally immune to their design,' said the seven-page study. 'The most likely scenario is that marital difficulty and addiction to smartphones are reinforcing each other, and that without breaking out of the smartphone addiction the underlying marital problems will be exacerbated to the breaking point,' it added. Couples with problems should set ground rules about spending time together and using smartphones, researchers said. Couples need to know when to put down their phones Some should even consider downgrading to basic phones that only let users talk, text and email. IFS said social media firms should cut addictive features from their platforms, such as infinite scroll. A separate survey by OnePoll has found that smartphones are derailing family life in other ways. The study of 2,000 parents found that six in 10 admitted they spent five hours each day on electronic devices, compared to just four hours of quality time with their kids. America's top doctor recently warned that social media presents a 'profound risk of harm' for children and called for 'action to protect kids. US surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy said in a health advisory that the country was experiencing 'a national youth mental health crisis' and pointed towards social media as one of the main culprits. Evidence has mounted for years that smartphones and social media were detrimental to youths, due to highly sophisticated algorithms which can promote self-harm and other dangerous content to young users. The US Supreme Court may be recovering from an ethics scandal and controversy overt last year's ruling on abortions, with public approval for the conservative-led court rising four percentage points since May, new polling shows. A Marquette Law School Poll found that 45 percent of adults surveyed approve of the job the court is doing, up from 41 percent in May and 38 percent at this time last year after the constitutional right to abortion was overturned. The new data come after justices last month effectively ended the use of race as a factor in college admissions and axed Democratic President Joe Biden's $400 billion student loan forgiveness plan. The court took a popularity hit with last year's ruling overturning the right to abortions Support for the court has picked up since it rules against affirmative action in university admissions Marquette's pollsters surveyed more than 1,000 adults from July 7-12, with a margin of error of four percentage points. Nearly a third of respondents said they had a great deal or a lot of confidence in the court, which is up from a quarter in May's poll. The public largely supported the court's blockbuster rulings in the latest session. Half of all respondents backed the court's decision on affirmative action, and 37 percent favored the ruling on Biden's plan for student loans, which critics said would force taxpayers to pick up the tab for others. The landmark decision dashed Biden's plan to forgive $10,000 in debt for borrowers earning less than $125,000, and up to $20,000 for those with Pell Grants. His administration has since tried to erase student debts in other ways. The White House this week forgave $130 million in student debt for 7,400 borrowers who attended CollegeAmerica, a now-defunct institution in Colorado that allegedly misled borrowers about their loans and career prospects. Meanwhile, only 35 percent favored the court's decision to back a Christian graphic designer and rule that she had a free speech right to refuse to create a wedding website for same-sex couples. The polling suggests the court may also be turning the page on the scandal involving Justice Clarence Thomas. The lower approval score recorded in May came as the court was roiled by reports that Thomas had accepted luxury trips and other perks from a Republican donor, which he never reported on his financial disclosure forms. At that time, only 26 percent of respondents said the justices' honesty and ethical standards were high or very high. That grew to 32 percent in July, but voters were divided. A third of respondents rated the justices' honesty and ethical standards as average, while roughly another third rated them as low or very low. A British pensioner had her 7,000 Rolex stripped off her wrist by a balaclava-clad robber while holidaying in Italy, according to local media. The tourist, 82, was walking in Naples with her husband when the thief grabbed her arm and ripped the watch off her. The robbery took place around noon on the via Cesario Console near the seafront, Quotidiano Nazionale reports. Despite a passerby attempting to intercept the thief as he ran away, he was able to make off with the pricey Rolex Oyster. The robber reportedly jumped on a moped driven by a getaway driver to evade capture. A British tourist, 82, was walking in Naples with her husband when a thief grabbed her arm and ripped her Rolex off her (stock image) The Carabinieri of the Chiaia station are now investigating the incident and the victim is said to have been unharmed. The grab is just one of a string of thefts targeting foreign tourists in the popular coastal city, with another pensioner also robbed there yesterday. After the incident involving the unnamed British couple, a 73-year-old Serbian woman had her shoulder bag ripped off her in the city centre. The culprit, a young man, grabbed the bag from her in the Piazza Municipio and immediately fled. Luckily in this case an officer on a motorcycle saw the incident and set off in pursuit of the man. The 23-year-old was caught and the pensioner's bag returned to her. Tourists have also fallen victim to watch thiefs in the northern city of Milan, which is popular with UK travellers. In the city last August, a 42-year-old British tourist had his 9,227 Rolex lifted off his wrist after he joined a dance in the street with three boys. Milan is a popular holiday destination for British tourists, but pickpockets frequent the streets On the streets of Porta Nuova, a hub of clubs and other nightlife venues, three boys reportedly of North African origin approached the tourist on Sunday, offering him illegal drugs. The tourist refused, but then inexplicably ended up dancing with the three boys, in what Milano Today described as a form of ballet. After the dance was over, the tourist realised his watch was missing. He quickly contacted the police and reported the theft. In early July 2022, another thief stole a 59,000 watch from a man in central Milan. Department of Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas is testifying before the House Judiciary Committee today as Republicans mull impeachment for Biden's top immigration official for his role in facilitating the southern border crisis. Lawmakers are grilling the secretary on the massive numbers of migrants and drugs that have flowed into the U.S. by way of the southern border under the Biden administration. The hearing comes one day after a federal judge blocked President Biden's new border policy which tightened restrictions on migrants claiming asylum. It had been credited with slashing the number of illegal crossings. The hearing quickly became heated as Ranking Member Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., accused Republicans of using the proceeding 'as a predicate for a completely baseless attempt to impeach Secretary Mayorkas.' 'They will do so at the behest of the most extreme MAGA Republicans,' Nadler added. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced articles of impeachment against Mayorkas in May for his 'willful admittance' of illegal migrants, drug and human traffickers, terrorists and deadly fentanyl across the southern border. Republicans are also mulling opening impeachment inquiries against Attorney General Merrick Garland and President Biden himself over alleged 'special treatment' the Department of Justice gave his son Hunter during the criminal investigation into the president's son. Migrants wave as they walk near concertina wire in the water along the Rio Grande border with Mexico in Eagle Pass, Texas, on July 16, 2023 Migrants who crossed the Rio Bravo river are stopped by the U.S. National Guard Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., threatened an impeachment inquiry of President Biden on Tuesday if he did not get full cooperation from federal agencies in the House investigations of Biden family business deals. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Calif., added Wednesday at the hearing: 'I want to make clear that this is an oversight hearing, not an impeachment hearing.' Republicans immediately attacked Mayorkas' policies at the border and slammed Biden's top official for failing to stop individuals in the terrorist database from entering the U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., asked Mayorkas where 140 individuals on the terrorist watch list who crossed into the U.S. via the southern border are located now. The border chief declined to answer the question directly, saying he would get back to the committee with a response after the hearing. 'There wasn't an answer to the status of the 140,' interjected Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, sparking outrage from Democrats who said he was speaking out of turn. The lawmakers alai sparred with Mayorkas over the technical definition of having 'operational control' of the border. Mayorkas maintained that the 'border is not open' and the flow of fentanyl is a 'challenge' that the administration is continuously working on stopping. He admitted that under the Secure Fence Act's official definition of 'operational control,' DHS does not have 'operational control' of the border - but added that no administration in history has. However, Mayorkas told Rep. Lee that 'as we define that term, congresswoman, we do.' Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, accused Mayorkas of lying under oath last year when he said the administration in fact had 'operational control of the border' under the Secure Fence Act definition. 'This is a pattern' of 'lies,' accused Roy. 'And there are real people impacted by that.' Roy also brought up the misleading statements Mayorkas made during the investigation of the border patrol 'whipping' incident from 2021. According to uncovered emails, Mayorkas knew border agents did not whip Haitian migrants - two hours before he said the images were 'horrifying' and pushed the narrative. Chairman Jordan sent a letter to Mayorkas on the eve of Wednesday's hearing asking for specific details and data related to the 'administration's immigration policies and programs.' 'Unfortunately, during your testimony last year, you were unable to provide specific data or information and, to this date, you still have not provided substantive responses to some Members questions from that hearing,' wrote Jordan. Jordan requested data on border encounters and releases by DHS. He specifically asked for how many illegal migrants have requested asylum, how many have been released into the interior of the U.S., how many have been removed, 'Accordingly, if the Department is unable or unwilling to provide this data in advance of the hearing, as we requested, we ask that you come to the hearing prepared with this data,' he continued. Earlier this month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) expanded the number of migrants it allows into the U.S. at the Mexico border via its CBP One mobile app. The federal agency said it will now allow 1,450 migrants to book appointments each day via the app, which enables migrants to register asylum claims and enter the U.S. Asylum seekers that show up at the border without having secured an appointment are subject to a 'common-sense condition' and will likely will be turned away. On May 12 - the day Title 42 restrictions ended - CBP began processing 1,000 appointments per day and in June it increased that number to 1,250. Title 42 was a Covid-era policy introduced in 2020 by then-president Donald Trump which granted authorities the ability to turn asylum seekers away from the border on the grounds they could bring the disease into the county. Between its expiry on May 12 and June 23, more than 49,000 migrants presented at Southwest border ports to claim asylum, according to CBP. However, the most recent data from the CBP suggests the new measures by the Biden administration have been working. Border agents encountered about 144,000 people trying to cross in June, 30 percent down on the month of May. Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, sent a letter to Mayorkas on the eve of Wednesday's hearing asking for specific details and data related to the 'administration's immigration policies and programs' The hearing comes one day after a federal judge blocked President Biden's new border policy which tightened restrictions on migrants claiming asylum The Department of Justice this week also launched legal action against Texas to remove barriers installed in the Rio Grande River. An administration official accused GOP Gov. Greg Abbott of playing dangerous 'political games' with the lives of people trying to reach safety. Abbott appeared to relish the action, saying in a statement just before the Department of Justice made its move: 'Texas will see you in court, Mr. President.' He had large plastic buoys installed in the river earlier this month near the city of Eagle Pass, amid a series of measures designed to deter people from crossing. The Biden administration says he had no right to take such action. These astonishing aerial pictures show the scale of devastation caused by a wildfire on the Greek island of Rhodes after flames ripped through a luxury hotel. The endless blazes have forced thousands to flee their resorts, with some facing 12-hour walks to safety as they were chased to the coasts and beyond by roaring flames and thick black smoke in the scorching heat. The wildfires have triggered the largest evacuation ever in Greece - as thousands of Brits desperately try to get home. Locals and firefighters are continuing their fight to get the fires under control which have been burning through several parts of Greece for more than 10 days. In the aerial photos of the Lindian Village Beach Resort in Kiotari, the pool appears as an oasis in an otherwise burnt-out landscape. These astonishing aerial pictures show the scale of devastation caused by a wildfire on the Greek island of Rhodes after flames ripped through a luxury hotel. In the aerial photos of the Lindian Village Beach Resort, the pool appears as an oasis in an otherwise burnt-out landscape To one side, an area of forest is completely blackened after being destroyed by the fire which also made it to the water's edge Before the fires: The Lindian Village Beach Resort in Rhodes is seen in this aerial image displayed on the Jet2Holidays website, showing what the pool area looked like before To one side, an area of forest is completely blackened after being destroyed by the fire which also made it to the water's edge. Down one side of the pool, canopies that would typically have guests lounging underneath have been burns away with only black wooden beams remaining. Sun loungers and other items have also been destroyed, leaving only ash in their place. A small structure, which appears to have been a pool bar before the wildfires, has also been destroyed, with just the shell of the building left standing. The images show that parasols at the beach have also been destroyed, as has another beach bar further down the coast from the hotel. The Lindian Village Beach Resort is operated by Hilton, and is advertised by package holiday providers such as Jet2Holidays. It is currently listed as being temporarily closed 'due to the wildfires' on its website. Greece has battled over 600 fires in the past 12 days, the government said Wednesday, with temperatures expected to hit between 43-46 degrees Celsius in central and southern Greece, according to the national meteorological service. A beach bar near the hotel was also destroyed in the fires on the Greek island Greece has battled over 600 fires in the past 12 days, the government said Wednesday, with temperatures expected to hit between 43-46 degrees Celsius in central and southern Greece 'Today is the most difficult day in terms of the heat, complicating the fight against existing fires and making new fire outbreaks more likely,' fire department spokesman Ioannis Artopios told Skai radio. Storms are forecast for Thursday. Greece is used to summer heatwaves, but is experiencing one of the longest ones in recent years, according to experts. The civil protection ministry has warned of an extreme danger of fire in six of the country's 13 regions on Wednesday, fearing more blazes that have ravaged Rhodes, as well as other tourists islands such as Corfu and Evia. But while holidaymakers have fled, those living and working in Rhodes will face a mammoth battle to get the tourist hotspot back to its former self. Slide me Shocking before and after pictures have shown the sheer scale of destruction in Rhodes after terrifying wildfires ripped through luxury hotels, shops and homes on the packed Greek island resort. Pictured: The Gre Cafe has been burned in Kiotari The four-star Princess Sun hotel has also fallen victim to the destructive wildfires in Greece This is what the Princess Sun Hotel looked like before it became ravaged by destructive flames Slide me Satellite views of Kiotari, Rhodes show the sheer level of damage from the wildfires this month Many hotels are set to be closed for at least the next fortnight - some all summer - leaving an estimated 30,000 Brits in limbo who are set to descend on the Greek island in the coming weeks. READ MORE: Before and after satellite photos show shocking effects of Rhodes wildfires with green rolling fields and mountains reduced to charred scorched earth Advertisement More astonishing before and after photos highlight the scale of damage caused by the inferno - especially in Kiotari, a tranquil beach resort known for its all-inclusive hotels. The stunning four-star Princess Sun Hotel in Kiotari has been transformed into a blackened shell of its former beauty. Just a week ago, holidaymakers were basking in sunshine and relaxing across the three swimming pools and spa. The hotel, which has 214 newly revamped rooms, describes itself as a resort that 'welcomes guests in a warm and friendly ambience, ideal for families and couples'. In stark contrast today, the hotel has been reduced to charred scorched remains as wildfires swept down from the mountains and engulfed large parts of the island. Left behind is melted furniture, a scorched playground and burnt luggage which was left behind amid the frenzy of evacuations. The Gre Cafe, also in Kiotari, has also been devastated by the roaring flames and black smoke. What was once a classic Greek pristine white cafe with wooden tables and chairs outside now looks completely derelict. Slide me This row of shops in Kiotari has also been destroyed by the wildfires which have relentlessly engulfed Rhodes for more than a week The idylic coastline is popular for many tourists who are used to seeing sun loungers in front of the crystal clear waters But now the sand has changed colour, sun loungers have been destroyed and buildings need urgent repair Chairs have been burned and discarded on the floor, while the building itself has been covered in black ash and smoke. Lindos Imperial Resort and Spa, in Kiotari, was another one of the hotels evacuated when wildfires swept through the Greek island. A video shared on TikTok showed the resort's scorched poolside area and charred sun loungers. Lindos Imperial said it is 'temporarily out of operation until further notice' as a result of the ongoing wildfires. The resort-studded coastline, known for its crystal waters and clear blue skies above, is now a ghost town. The beaches have been left deserted - the sand blackened by the ash and the boardwalks destroyed. It's not just hotels that have suffered. People's livelihoods have been devastated by the fires, with many homes burned to a cinder. Cars parked outside the Kiotari shopping mall have also been completely ripped apart by the terrifying flames that have forced 30,000 to flee the resort island by sea, land and air. Desperate residents, many with wet towels around their necks to stave off the scorching heat, used shovels to beat back flames approaching their homes on Sunday, while firefighting planes and helicopters resumed water drops at first light. Kiotari shopping mall before wildfires (left) and now (right). Two cars have been completely incinerated The European Union has sent 500 firefighters, 100 vehicles and seven planes from 10 member states, while Turkey, Israel, Egypt and other countries have also sent help A burnt beach bar can be seen near the village of Kiotari. The boardwalk along the beach is completely destroyed Vassilis Kikilias, the minister for climate crisis and civil protection, said: 'For the 12th day, under extreme conditions of heat and strong winds, we are fighting non-stop on dozens of forest fire fronts... The Greek Fire Service has battled more than 500 fires - more than 50 a day.' Tragically, a Greek air force water-dropping plane crashed while diving into a wildfire in southern Greece on Tuesday, killing both pilots. The crash occurred on the island of Evia, and was aired in a state television broadcast that showed the low-flying CL-215 aircraft disappearing into a canyon before a fireball was seen moments later. The air force said the pilots, aged 34 and 27, both died in the crash. The plane had no ejection system. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis cancelled a planned visit to Cyprus for Wednesday, and three days of mourning were called for Greece's armed forces. 'They offered their lives to save lives,' Mitsotakis said of the pilots. The European Union has sent 500 firefighters, 100 vehicles and seven planes from 10 member states, while Turkey, Israel, Egypt and other countries have also sent help. Contributing nations included Italy which was dealing with its own fires and extreme weather at home. On the island of Sicily, Palermo's international airport temporarily shut down as flames from a wildfire approached. Android owners with older devices have been warned that their phones will be more susceptible to hacking following a system change next week. From August, Google is set to end its support for phones running a particular kind of older software, which means security on the devices will be weakened. Google announced on an Android Developers Blog that it will discontinue support for the Android 4.4 KitKat software, which was first released 10 years ago. This impacts 47 devices currently on the market from electronics giants including Samsung, Sony and Huawei. As of this month, the device count using the decade-old software is below 1 percent, according to Google, but if you are in the habit of holding onto phones for a long time then the change may affect you. From August, Google is set to end its support for phones running a particular kind of older software, which means security on the devices will be weakened Google announced that it will discontinue support for the Android 4.4 KitKat software, which was first released 10 years ago Other manufacturers had already stopped supporting devices running Android KitKat, meaning that some people using this software already had their phone security weakened. But the decision by Google Play - the tech giant's app store - means that there will be no protection from corrupt apps, putting phones at a much higher risk of hacking. Google Play Protect scans billions of installed apps each day across billions of Android devices to keep users safe from threats like malware and unwanted software. In 2022, Google prevented 1.43 million policy-violating apps from being published on Google Play, the company said in a Security Blog. As there will be no more Google Play updates on the software from next month, apps and services available to download onto devices will also be limited. The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini LTE GT-i9195 is among the devices which could become more susceptible to scams The Huawei Ascend Mate 2GB RAM is also among the 47 devices which are affected It comes amid a fraud epidemic in the US - as Americans lost $10.3 billion to internet fraud last year. Fraudsters typically send messages that appear to come from reputed organizations to try and dupe unsuspecting victims into handing over personal information such as bank details, credit card information or even a social security number. Telecoms giant Verizon earlier this year revealed common scams to look out for. Attackers will often try to play with your mind by asking you to take immediate action, Verizon warned. If a message is asking you to do something urgently, it is likely to be a con. The Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police has been suspended amid a criminal probe into 'serious allegations of sexual offences', it has today been claimed. The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has confirmed it has launched an investigation into Will Kerr's alleged actions. The news of the top cop's suspension comes just eight months after he was appointed as the regional chief of Devon and Cornwall. Details of the allegations are confidential. A statement from Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson said: 'The Police Ombudsman commenced a criminal investigation into serious allegations of sexual offences against a former PSNI senior officer, currently the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall, on 16 June 2023, using her own motion powers. 'The ombudsman will also consider the circumstances under which the allegations were investigated by PSNI. Will Kerr, who joined Devon and Cornwall Police in December 2022, was suspended by Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez 'The office has been engaging with the IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) on cross-jurisdictional issues in recent weeks, as well as with the office of the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner. 'Details concerning the precise nature of the allegations and any early investigative actions remain confidential at this time. 'Independence and impartiality are central to all Police Ombudsman investigations and the office will be robust in following the evidence to ensure that any police officer in breach of the law and who abuses their position of trust will be held to account. 'As the investigation is at an early stage, it is not possible to confirm a likely timeframe for its conclusion.' Will Kerr, who joined the force in December 2022, was suspended by Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez. A statement issued by her office on Wednesday afternoon said: 'Pursuant to section 38(2) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, Alison Hernandez, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, has suspended the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, Will Kerr OBE KPM, following allegations of misconduct. 'The commissioner has referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which has confirmed it will commence an investigation.' Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed deputy chief constable Jim Colwell would become acting chief constable following the suspension of Mr Kerr. Will Kerr (pictured), who joined the force in December 2022, was suspended by Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez. Mr Colwell said he understood 'our communities will be concerned' at news of the suspension. He said: 'I am keen to reassure the public that we will maintain our focus on delivering the best possible service to our communities. 'We have thousands of dedicated and professional officers, staff and volunteers within our force and strong leadership throughout which, when pulled together, mean we can continue to make improvements at pace to provide our communities with the highest levels of service they deserve. 'Public trust and confidence are at the very heart of our ability to police effectively and we are incredibly proud that in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly we have the support of our communities.' He added it was now 'a matter for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the IOPC to investigate'. A spokesman for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said: 'Following assessment of a referral from the Police and Crime Commissioner, we have decided to investigate allegations of misconduct against the Chief Constable of Devon & Cornwall Police, Will Kerr.' Ian Drysdale, vice chair of the chief police officers staff association (CPOSA), said: 'The Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police Force was today suspended in respect of an ongoing enquiry into legacy misconduct matters for which he is yet to be interviewed. 'CC Kerr recognises and respects the fact that accountability and due process are vital to any investigation, regardless of rank or position. 'He will continue to cooperate with any investigation and hopes that all matters are expedited so that they can be concluded without further delay.' Mr Kerr has spent more than 30 years in policing and was deputy chief constable at Police Scotland before joining Devon and Cornwall. He served with the Police Service of Northern Ireland for more than 27 years and reached the rank of assistant chief constable there, leading on both serious crime and counter terrorism. In 2015 he was made an OBE, and he received the King's Police Medal in the New Year Honours earlier this year. The couple and a third man allegedly drugged, tortured and robbed a man Guarizo had met via a transvestite dating app in May A Brazilian transsexual influencer and her boyfriend were taken into custody Tuesday after they were accused of allegedly torturing and robbing a businessman she met on a transvestite dating app. Vitoria Guarizo, 25, and her partner Gabriel Meneses allegedly stole more than $8,669 from the victim who was lured to her Sao Paulo apartment back on May 18. A police report indicated that on the night of the ambush, Guarizo, who has over 1 million Instagram followers, told the man, whose name has not been released, that she had just arrived from Dubai and that she was 'sad because her ex had beaten her.' The victim visited Guarizo's home in the southern Sao Paulo neighborhood of Moema and was pummeled by two men, including Meneses, when he walked into Guarizo's room. Vitoria Guarizo, a transsexual influencer, was taken into custody with her boyfriend on Tuesday after a businessman accused them and a third person, who remains on the run, of torturing and robbing him in May Police said that Vitoria Guarizo had $105 transferred into her account after her boyfriend and another man beat the victim, a businessman, she met on a transvestite dating app The man was drugged and tortured with hot knives and a blowtorch. He was hit multiple times on the head as he was instructed to hand over passwords to his banking accounts. The suspects transferred $105 to Guarizo's account and $4,017 into Meneses account. The other suspect, who has not been arrested, had $4,439 wired into his account. The rest of the money was distributed among several other people. The businessman eventually fell unconscious and woke up inside his car that was abandoned somewhere in the city. 'The investigation found that the two arrested in the operation participated in a robbery in May in which they forced a man to ingest psychotropic substances and used torture methods to make him transfer about (40,000 Brazilian reais),' the Sao Paulo Public Security Ministry said in a statement. 'In the property where they were, the police seized cell phones, computers, drugs and various medications used to sedate the victims, in addition to a Jaguar model car.' Brazilian trans influencer Vitoria Guarizo was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday Vitoria Guarizo was arrested by the Sao Paulo Civil Police on Tuesday on robbery and torture charges Guarizo's press office issued a statement indicating that her apprehension was only temporary and that the defense team was still looking into the accusations. 'So far, our client's arrest is only temporary for 15 days and Vitoria is collaborating with the investigations, clarifying the facts, confident that she will prove her innocence,' the statement said. 'The process, however, runs in secrecy of Justice and the defense still is taking note of the accusations. Finally, Vitoria Guarizo's defense ensures that all facts will be clarified and certain that the truth will prevail!' Guarizo's lawyer, Dr. Larah Rainov, told Brazilian outlet iG that she was scheduled to appear before a judge at a custody hearing Wednesday. The construction firm that owns the crane that collapsed near Hudson Yards in Manhattan on Wednesday is the same company that owned a crane which collapsed in 2008, killing two workers. James Lomma, the late founder of the New Jersey-based Lomma company, died in 2019 after being instructed by a jury to pay $96million to the families of the two doomed construction workers. Lomma often referred to himself as the 'King of Cranes.' In 2008, a Lomma crane collapsed on East 91st street killing its operator Donald Leo, 30, and construction worker Ramadan Kurtaj, 27. According to testimony at a 2012 criminal trial over the deaths, the crane's quick-fix replacement bearing - the huge metal ring that supports the mechanical rotation of the crane - was a cheap, Chinese-made option that Lomma opted to use. The bearing had been welded together so poorly that it cracked into two pieces just five weeks after it was installed. Everything above the bearing, including the crane's cab, where Leo was, fell 140 feet to the street below. James Lomma, the late founder of the New Jersey-based Lomma company, died in 2019 after being instructed by a jury to pay $96million to the families of the two doomed construction workers The scene at East 91st street following the May 30, 2008 Lomma crane collapse, which killed two construction workers Leo was instantly crushed to death, and Kurtaj, who was hit on the ground by falling debris, died five hours later in the hospital. Lomma was found not guilty of manslaughter by a New York judge, and was cleared of all other charges relating to their deaths. He had faced a potential maximum of 15 years behind bars. Prior to his 2019 death at the age of 73, Lomma had refused to pay the victims' families after declaring bankruptcy. Infamously, he refused to sell his $4.6million private plane to repay his creditors - including the estates of the deceased construction workers. Attorneys for the families, however, argued in 2017 that Lomma had a personal net worth of $200million but would not fork over a single jury-mandated penny. Prior to his death, Lomma filed to challenge the 2015 jury verdict. The jury award was eventually slashed to $35million. In September of 2017, a five-judge Appellate court panel wrote that they found the initial awards to be 'excessive.' Kurtaj and Leo were killed when the Lomma crane collapsed during construction on East 91st street in May of 2008 - their families successfully sued James Lomma in civil court A large Lomma crane lies in this intersection on the Upper East Side after it collapsed in this Friday, May 30, 2008 The Lomma logo is visible on the crane that collapsed in Manhattan's Hudson Yards on Wednesday The debris is seen spewing on to the streets of Hudson Yards on Wednesday morning Wednesday's collapse occurred around 7.30, just as morning commuter traffic picked up. The Lomma crane caught fire, collapsed, and struck the side of another skyscraper before falling onto a Manhattan street. Terrifying video footage shot Wednesday morning on the corner of 43rd Street and 10th Avenue showed the crane collapse and strike a glass residential skyscraper opposite - while people staying in nearby hotels were quickly evacuated. People covered in blood were stretchered into ambulances as screams rung out from construction workers and commuters on ground level, eyewitnesses said. Six people, including two firefighters, were injured after the building equipment suffered dramatic failure on 41st Street and 10th Avenue near Hudson Yards. The collision shattered windows in the building, with debris then falling onto 10th Avenue. Residents and workers in the area were seen running for their lives as the fiery crane blazed in the sky above them. It is unclear what caused the blaze in the engine cabin area of the crane. A couple of newlyweds celebrated the start of their marriage by climbing one of Britain's most inaccessible peaks in their wedding outfits. Mark Lyons and his wife Victoria got married on 17 July, in a ceremony on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, before climbing the notorious mountain to take wedding photos. The couple from the Scottish borders made the 3,000 foot journey up the infamous Sgurr Dearg before scaling the notorious Inaccessible Peak that sits on top of it. The 50-metre tall rock formation that marks the mountain's peak is considered to be Britain's hardest summit and a 'holy grail' for climbers. The newlyweds were, however, able to make their way to the top in full wedding attire, before jetting off to Portugal for their honeymoon. Mark Lyons (right) and his wife Victoria (left) climbed one of Britain's most inaccessible peaks to take wedding photos The couple (pictured) climbed the Inaccessible Peak on Sgurr Dearg on the Isle of Skye in their wedding outfits The adventurous newlyweds climbed the notorious peak after getting married on the Isle of Skye's Glen Brittle beach Mr and Mrs Lyons first met in 2010, before getting engaged in the Atlas Mountains, in Morocco and getting married on Skye's Glen Brittle beach earlier this month. In 2018 the couple successfully climbed the Inaccessible Pinnacle, which is also known as 'Inn Pinn', in a trip that later inspired their wedding ceremony. The Inaccessible Pinnacle that sits on the top of Sgurr Dearg means the mountain is considered the hardest Munro to climb in its entirety and the only one which requires actual rock climbing abilities. For reference, a Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height of more than 3,000 feet. The couple's wedding saw them get married on Glen Brittle beach just below the Cuillin mountain range. The following day, they decided to climb the Inn Pin for a second time after their first trip in 2018, accompanied by their wedding photographer. The couple and their photographer, Becy Stabler, then hiked 3,000 feet up the Sgurr Dearg Munro carrying their outfits. The couple got married before making the 3,000 foot journey to the top of the Munro to take wedding photos The newlyweds climbed up the Isle of Skye's Sgurr Dearg with their wedding photographer Becy Stabler The Inaccessible Peak at the top of Sgurr Dearg is known as a 'holy grail' for Scottish climbers Sgurr Dearg is a mountain in the Isle of Skye that is considered to be one of Britain's most challenging climbs The couple then swapped their climbing gear for wedding outfits, just below the Inaccessible Pinnacle, before scaling the summit wearing climbing helmets. Mark, from the Scottish Borders, said: 'We were married in Glen Brittle just below the Cuillin mountains and due to our special memories of the original climb we decided to revisit in our wedding attire the following day. 'Glen Brittle beach is such a spiritual place held between the Cuillin mountains and the Sea of Hebrides. 'The day was manifested with beautiful atmospheric conditions, sun and mist and a light breeze helped keep the midges at bay. 'The Inaccessible Pinnacle sits over 3,000 feet up on the Sgurr Dearg Munro so we hiked and scrambled for over two hours carrying a heavy load of climbing equipment, ropes, a wedding dress and a suit up the side of the mountain. 'The mountain climb was spectacular, the mountain held us and gave us an amazing show all the way to the top. The couple previously climbed Sgurr Dearg and scaled the Inaccessible Peak in 2018 The Inaccessible Peak is a 50 metre tall rock formation that sits on top of Sgurr Dearg The couple swapped their climbing gear for wedding attire to climb the final stretch of the summit After finishing their climb the newlyweds later jetted off to Portugal to enjoy their honeymoon 'On the Inaccessible Pinnacle there was a handful of fellow climbers, one of whom took the photo that started all the interest. 'The love and all the congratulations that came with this is beautiful and we thank everyone for their best wishes.' Mark added: 'The wedding dress and suit held up well until we had an impromptu swim in the loch sat in Coire Lagan on the walk out. 'The climb would never have happened if we weren't perfectly happy we could do it safely in the conditions that were given and our use of the necessary safety equipment carried. 'We would climb the Inn Pin again but will never repeat it dressed up. Naked maybe?' Rudy Giuliani has admitted to smearing Georgia election workers with false statements that they were trying to rig the election for Joe Biden in 2020 by pulling ballots out of suitcases. Giuliani, who was part of Donald Trump's legal team trying to overturn the results in battleground states, conceded he had defamed Ruby Freeman and Wandrea 'Shaye' Moss. The pair sued the former New York City mayor for defamation over his allegations they engaged in election fraud while counting ballots at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The lawsuit says Giuliani repeatedly pushed debunked claims that Freeman and Moss - mother and daughter - pulled out suitcases of illegal ballots and committed other acts of fraud to try to alter the outcome of the race. Though Giuliani acknowledges in the filing that the statements were false, he does not concede that they caused any damage to Freeman or Moss. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is photographed arriving at court in May, as he was being sued by election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss for defamation Wandrea 'Shaye' Moss (left) is comforted by her mother Ruby Freeman (right) as she testified before the House select committee on January 6 last June. The two women sued Giuliani for defamation after he cast them in an election fraud conspiracy theory That distinction is key because plaintiffs in a defamation case must prove not only that a statement made about them was false but that it also resulted in actual damage. Giuliani's statement was attached to a filing arguing that he did not fail to produce evidence in the case and should not be sanctioned as Freeman and Moss had requested. 'While Giuliani does not admit to Plaintiffs' allegations, he - for purposes of this litigation only - does not contest the factual allegations,' the filing said. Giuliani political adviser Ted Goodman said in an email Wednesday that the filing was made 'in order to move on to the portion of the case that will permit a motion to dismiss.' Michael Gottlieb, a lawyer for Freeman and Moss, said in an emailed statement that Giuliani is conceding 'what we have always known to be true - Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss honorably performed their civic duties in the 2020 presidential election in full compliance with the law; and the allegations of election fraud he and former-President Trump made against them have been false since day one.' Giuliani pushed a narrative that the mother and daughter were passing a USB drive to one another, engaging in fraud. Moss gave tearful testimony to the House select committee on January 6 last June and explained that her mother had handed her a 'ginger mint.' Shaye Moss is photographed receiving a 2022 Profile in Courage Award at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, Massachusetts in May 2022 Moss also detailed the racist comments she received online after Giuliani made she and her mother household names. 'It was just a lot of horrible things in there,' Moss said. 'Threats, a lot of threats wishing death upon me. Telling me, that I will be in jail with my mother and saying things like, be glad it's 2020 and not 1920.' Certain issues, including damages, still have to be decided by the court. Gottlieb said Freeman and Moss are 'pleased with this major milestone in their fight for justice, and look forward to presenting what remains of this case at trial.' Freeman and Moss filed a motion this month alleging that Giuliani had failed to preserve evidence. They asked U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell to impose sanctions. In the court filing, a lawyer for Giuliani argued that Giuliani did not fail to preserve or destroy any electronic evidence 'because all pertinent documents were seized by the government and were in their possession, custody, or control.' A 45-year-old woman convict is set to be hanged in Singapore on Friday July 28, marking the first time a woman will be sent to the gallows in the country in nearly 20 years. The woman, who has been identified by local rights organisation Transformative Justice Collective (TJC), was sentenced to death in 2018. But who is the woman set to be hanged? What crime did she commit that resulted in her being hit with the death penalty? Read on below for everything you need to know about the first woman to be hanged in Singapore in nearly two decades. A 45-year-old woman convict is set to be hanged in Singapore on Friday July 28, as she is the first woman to be sent to the gallows in the country in nearly 20 years (file image of an activist protesting an executioning Singapore in 2021) Who is the woman set to be hanged in Singapore? Saridewi Djamani, 45, is set to be sent to the gallows and become the first woman to be executed in Singapore since 2004 when 36-year-old hairdresser Yen May Woen was hanged for drug trafficking, said TJC activist Kokila Annamalai. 'Once she exhausted her appeal options it was a matter of time that she would be given an execution notice,' said Kirsten Han, a journalist and activist who has spent a decade campaigning against the death penalty. 'The authorities are not moved by the fact that most of the people on death row come from marginalised and vulnerable groups. The people who are on death row are those deemed dispensable by both the drug kingpins and the Singapore state. This is not something Singaporeans should be proud of', she said, according to The Guardian. Singapore imposes the death penalty for certain crimes, including murder and some forms of kidnapping, with the country adamant that it serves as an effective crime-stopping measure. At least 13 people have been hanged so far since the Singaporean government resumed executions following a two-year hiatus in place during the Covid-19 pandemic. Why was the woman in Singapore given the death penalty? Ms Djamani was sentenced to death in 2018 for trafficking around 30 grams of heroin. Tragically, she is not the only individual facing the death penalty for an offence related to drug trafficking. Mohd Aziz bin Hussain, 56, was convicted of trafficking 50 grams of heroin is also scheduled to be hanged on Wednesday at the Southeast Asian city-state's Changi Prison. At least 13 people have been hanged so far since the government resumed executions following a two-year hiatus in place during the Covid-19 pandemic. One of them is Nazeri Lajim, who was executed for drugs trafficking on July 22, 2022 (pictured: his sister putting flowers on his grave at a cemetery in Singapore) Rights watchdog Amnesty International has urged Singapore to halt the impending executions. 'There is no evidence that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect or that it has any impact on the use and availability of drugs,' said Chiara Sangiorgio, a death penalty expert at Amnesty. 'As countries around the world do away with the death penalty and embrace drug policy reform, Singapore's authorities are doing neither', Ms Sangiorgio added. Prison officials are yet to confirm TJC's claim of the two upcoming executions, which are just days away. The company is currently offering up to $900,000 for a single AI-related job Netflix has advertised a high-paying AI position with an annual salary of up to $900,000 - as actors and writers continue to strike and demand better safeguards against technology that may jeopardize their jobs. Officially billed as a product manager position for the firm's machine learning department, the job boasts a pay range of $300,000 to $900,000, and can be worked remotely anywhere on the West Coast. They will be responsible for enhancing Netflix's burgeoning machine-learning platform (MLP), the listing states - while utilizing AI to 'create' content as opposed to using it to generate recommendations for users. The listing, aside from showing the lavish spending now being allocated to AI programs, illustrates Netflix's continued commitment to integrating artificial intelligence across its various business sectors. It also comes as several execs insisted it is 'just not realistic' to pay striking actors more, as they continue to call for better wages and regulations on studios' use of the budding technology. Netflix has advertised a high-paying AI position with an annual pay of up to $900,000. The job, which can be worked remotely anywhere across the West Coast, illustrated Netflix's continued commitment to AI - even as actors threaten to bring Hollywood to a standstill Officially billed as a product manager position for the firm's machine learning department, the job boasts a salary range of $300,000 to $900,000, and can be worked remotely anywhere on the West Coast It also comes days after studio heads insisted it is 'just not realistic' to pay striking actors more, as they continue to call for better wages and regulations on studios' use of the budding technology 'The Machine Learning Platform (MLP) provides the foundation for all of this innovation,' an excerpt of the Machine Learning/AI Product Manager listing reads. It adds that the position 'offers both machine learning and artificial practitioners across Netflix the means to achieve the highest possible impact with their work,' by making it easy to develop, deploy and improve various machine-learning models. 'We are creating a new Product Management role to increase the leverage of our Machine Learning Platform,' it adds of the new position. In terms of compensation, posters at the Silicon Valley-headquartered streaming giant wrote: 'We carefully consider a wide range of compensation factors to determine your personal top of market.' It continues: 'We rely on market indicators to determine compensation and consider your specific job, skills, and experience to get it right. These considerations can cause your compensation to vary and will also be dependent on your location.' It then adds: 'The overall market range for roles in this area of Netflix is typically $300,000 - $900,000.' Posted just days ago, the offer is not the only new Netflix listing promising a hefty payday for an AI job - with an another asking for a technical director specializing in generative AI at its gaming studio. They will be paid somewhere between $450,000 and $650,000, the listing notes, a range that accounts for total compensation as opposed to just base salary. As is the case in the other advertisement, the listing touted Netflix's Los Gatos offices for having 'a unique culture and environment', and gave applicants the opportunity to provide information about their 'race, sexual orientation... [and] gender identity' to help secure the role. Posted just days ago, the offer is not the only new Netflix listing promising a hefty payday for an AI job - with another asking for a technical director specializing in AI at its gaming studio The listings, aside from showing the lavish spending now being allocated to AI programs, illustrates the Silicon Valley's firm continued commitment to integrating AI across its various business sectors, despite the ongoing double strike by Hollywood's actors and writers Actors are now criticizing co-CEOS Ted Sarandos (left) and Greg Peters (right) for working to build a 'godless AI army' that could endanger thousands of actors' careers While only posted recently, the listings are already prompting a stark response, as many remain skeptical - or outright incensed - over the new technology. Among the outraged was striking SAG-AFTRA member Rob Delaney, who accused Netflix of using the eye-watering salaries to help build a 'godless AI army' that he said will eventually put thousands of actors out of work. 'So $900k/yr per soldier in their godless AI army when that amount of earnings could qualify thirty-five actors and their families for SAG-AFTRA health insurance is just ghoulish,' Delaney, who stars in the now delayed Deadpool 3, told The Intercept. 'Having been poor and rich in this business, I can assure you there's enough money to go around,' the 46-year-old Black Mirror star continued, citing how 87 percent of the roughly 165,000 active actors in Hollywood make less than $26,000 a year. 'It's just about priorities.' The actors' criticism comes days Disney CEO Bob Iger branded actors demands for better pay as 'not realistic' - while attending an exclusive media event in Idaho's Sun Valley. Delivered on July 13 - two days after Iger was spotted touching down in the Gem State in a multimillion-dollar private jet - the remark was followed by another polarizing assertion from the well-paid exec, in which he posited that another month of striking would have a 'very damaging' effect on the film and TV industries. The actors' strike, which began last week, come in addition to a protest currently being leveled by The Writers Guild of America, which called a work stoppage May 2 Experts say the dual actors-writers' strike could last for months, forecasting fewer movie releases and more re-runs early next year if the situation is not resolved by September Numerous big-budget films that had been in the works were forced to shut down immediately. Affected productions included the anticipated sequel Deadpool 3 The interview - which came days after an unnamed executive told Deadline that studios were seeking to wait out the less moneyed writers until they 'start losing their apartments' - quickly incited outrages, and elicited a response from SAG president Fran Drescher. Speaking to Bernie Sanders last week, the 45-year-old former Nanny star tore into the well-paid exec, after talks for a solution between the striking actors and writers and studio fell apart in Washington, DC. She also brought up how he made some $27million this past year and is currently being paid tens of thousands daily to run his multibillion-dollar company, which, unlike Netflix, has declined to go into specifics about the nature of their investments into AI. However, in a recent earnings call, the CEO alluded to some of the efforts currently being made to integrate AI into their business model. 'Were already starting to use AI to create some efficiencies and ultimately to better serve consumers,' Iger said, as recently reported by journalist Lee Fang. 'But its also clear that AI is going to be highly disruptive, and it could be extremely difficult to manage, particularly from an IP management perspective.' He added, 'I can tell you that our legal team is working overtime already to try to come to grips with what could be some of the challenges here.' Among the actors demands are protections against their scanned likeness being used by AI without adequate compensation or permission - a concept Delaney likened to a recent episode of Black Mirror he starred in. In it, actress Salma Hayek finds herself locked in a bitter struggle with a studio that repeatedly uses her scanned digital likeness against her will. Speaking to the Intercept, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, chief negotiator for the actors union, added 'They propose that our background performers should be able to be scanned, get paid for one days pay and their company should own that scan... and be able to use it for the rest of eternity in any project they want with no consent and no compensation.' Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, chief negotiator for the actors union, decried studios like Netflix for not adhering to actors' demands involving AI at a protest Tuesday in New York's Times Square The criticism comes days after Disney CEO Bob Iger branded actors demands for better pay and protection from AI using their likenesses as 'not realistic' on July 13 Those comments were delivered two days after the CEO - who makes an estimated $27 million per year - was spotted touching down in the Gem State in a multimillion-dollar private jet. Iger has also said his company is investing in AI-fueled content creation Speaking from the picket rally Tuesday in Times Square, he added: 'This strike is the result of big corporations that refuse to treat our members fairly. And its not okay 'We are standing up and we are saying "No" to thatThis is a united membership who are standing together and are saying "No" to an unfair deal. Are saying No to disrespect from these companies.' As of Wednesday, both strikes were still in full effect. Insiders now expect the historic stoppage to persist for at least the next several weeks, potentially throwing a monkey wrench in upcoming releases like Delaney's Deadpool 3. Other affected productions included the anticipated sequel Gladiator 2, as well as the Tom Hardy-led Venom 3. Twisters - an update to the 1996 movie starring Daisy Edgar-Jones - was also put on pause. TV series such as Sydney Sweeney's Euphoria were also not spared, with the show's season three pushed back to 2025. Last week, three prominent studio chiefs predicted if the situation is not resolved by Labor Day, Americans can expect less movie releases and more re-runs early next year. Irn-Bru supplies could be at risk of 'drying up' as nine days of driver strikes have been announced for next month over pay disputes. Unite has said its trucker and shunter drivers at AG Barr's production and distribution centre in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, will down tools for 24 hours over the course of nine days, starting on August 11 and finishing on October 6. A continuous ban on overtime is set to start on August 8. The union said the drivers are 'essential' to the supply of the company's products, which includes Irn-Bru, but AG Barr has said it has contingency plans in place. It has said the dispute involves around 10 members of staff. Unite union has warned that supplies of the popular drink Irn-Bru could 'dry up' as a result of the strikes The workers involved previously backed strike action by a majority of 83 per cent, after the offered five per cent wage increase was rejected Trucker and shunter drivers at AG Barr's production and distribution centre in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, will down tools for 24 hours over the course of nine days The workers involved previously backed strike action by a majority of 83 per cent, after the offered five per cent wage increase was rejected. Irn-Bru is a popular carbonated soft drink, which is mostly associated with Scotland. It is bright orange, and has been the top-selling drink in the north for over a century, having been introduced to the market in 1901. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, said: 'Supplies of Irn-Bru could dry up in a few weeks due to the key role our members carry out for AG Barr. 'The company is cash rich with 52.9 million chilling in the bank. Yet, they are offering our members a significant, real-terms pay cut when they can easily afford to pay more. 'We will back our members all the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.' An AG Barr spokesperson said: 'We're disappointed in the decision by around 10 of our Scottish based HGV1 drivers to take industrial action. 'We made an offer that we believe is fair and competitive - in line with what has been agreed with our other employees. We believe we have a responsibility to be fair to everyone. 'We have contingency plans in place to maintain customer service and we will continue to work with Unite representatives and Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) to find a positive and constructive resolution.' Elderly motorists should have their fitness to drive tested, a coroner has warned, after a 74-year-old with undiagnosed dementia caused a crash that killed a baby. Cambridge coroner Simon Milburn will write to the Department for Transport with his concerns after Louis Thorold, five months, died in his pram when Shelagh Robertson, then 73, veered into the path of a van, forcing it on to the pavement where it hit the baby and his mother. Mazda driver Ms Robertson was on her way home from a shopping trip to Tesco when she caused the crash on the A10 at Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire on January 22, 2021. The van driver, who was driving within the 50mph limit, had no time to react, an inquest in Huntingdon was told. Ms Robertson was prosecuted for causing death by careless driving but found not guilty by reason of insanity after a trial at Cambridge Crown Court last year. Shelagh Robertson, 73 at the time, (pictured) was on her way home from a shopping trip to Tesco when she caused a crash that killed baby Louis Thorold on the A10 at Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire on January 22, 2021 Louis Thorold, five months, (pictured) was in a pram being pushed by his mother Rachael Thorold (right) when pensioner Ms Robertson turned into the path of a van, forcing it on to the pavement where it hit them Jurors were told the pensioner was suffering from dementia, which was undiagnosed at the time. Motorists aged 70 or over are required by law to renew their driving licence every three years, with Robertson renewing hers in May 2017 as she approached her 70th birthday, an inquest was told on Wednesday. This was done by an online application in which she said she was medically fit to drive. Because of the Covid pandemic, Robertson's three-year licence was extended by a year, giving it an expiration date of June 2021 - after the crash. Mr Milburn, Cambridgeshire area coroner, said: 'The obvious way around that is for someone to design a process where there's a formal examination at an appointed time.' Mr Dollard said the current system requires drivers to answer 21 medical questions, with yes or no answers, to renew their licence at age 70. He said if Ms Robertson had been 'checked by a doctor and the doctor had identified there was the onset of dementia, then (she) may well have not had (her) licence renewed and we wouldn't have had an incident like we had in 2021.' Mr Milburn added: 'How practical and whether there are resources to put such a system in place is not for me.' Sergeant Mark Dollard, of Cambridgeshire Police, told the inquest: 'The process for renewing your licence is entirely reliant on honesty and awareness. 'If you don't have either of them, there's a flaw that can be exploited.' Louis's father Chris Thorold said there is a 'gaping hole in the system - that you can self-certify'. Baby Louis was born through IVF after his mother Rachael had struggled to get pregnant for five years Louis's parents Chris and Rachael Thorold pictured outside court in 2022 'Quite a lot of European countries have these rules in place that require medical examinations,' he said. In a statement read to the inquest, Rachael Thorold, Louis's mother, said: 'Our cognitive health and reaction time changes with time and this needs to be objectively checked. 'Mrs Robertson hadn't picked up her significant cognitive decline.' Baby Louis was born through IVF after his mother Rachael struggled to get pregnant for five years Mr Milburn concluded Louis died as the result of a road traffic collision, having sustained multiple traumatic injuries. He said he will also write to Cambridgeshire County Council to ask if the speed limit at the crash site, which has already been lowered from 50mph to 40mph, could be further lowered to 30mph and if safety barriers can be installed. A statement said Sweden looked like 'a country hostile to Islam and Muslims' Sweden is at a 'heightened threat' of terror attacks after recent Koran burnings in the country sparked widespread protests in the Muslim world, its domestic security service said on Wednesday. The agency, known by its acronym SAPO, said the burning and desecration of religious books in Sweden, and ongoing disinformation campaigns on social media and elsewhere, have negatively affected the country's reputation. A recent string of public desecrations of the Koran by a handful of anti-Islam activists in Sweden and most recently in neighbouring Denmark has triggered anger in many Muslim countries, and among Muslim communities residing in the Nordic nations. There is no law in Sweden specifically prohibiting the burning or desecration of the Koran or other religious texts. The image of Sweden has changed 'from a tolerant country to a country hostile to Islam and Muslims, where attacks on Muslims are sanctioned by the state and where Muslim children can be kidnapped by social services,' SAPO said in a statement. This risks fuelling threats against Sweden 'from individuals within the violent Islamist milieu', the agency said, adding that the current risk of terrorism in Sweden remains at an elevated level, at three on a five-point scale. Demonstrators burn the Swedish flag during a protest against the insult to the Koran in Stockholm, in Tehran, Iran July 21, 2023 Yemenis participate in a protest denouncing the burning of Islam's holy book, the Koan, in Sweden and Denmark, on July 24, 2023 in Sana'a, Yemen Kashmiri Shiite Muslims protest denouncing the burning of the Koran in Sweden Protesters chant slogans against Sweden in front of the countrys embassy in Tehran, Iran 'It's a serious situation that we're in,' Susanna Trehorning, SAPO's deputy head of counter-terrorism, told Swedish public broadcaster SVT. 'It's a heightened threat and an attack can occur within the framework of a heightened threat.' Like many Western countries, Sweden does not have any blasphemy laws. The right to hold public demonstrations is strong in Sweden and protected by the constitution. Blasphemy laws were abandoned in the 1970s. Police generally give permission for public gatherings based on whether they believe an event can be held without major disruptions or risks to public safety. Civil Defence Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin said on Wednesday that the Koran desecrations have made Sweden a target of malicious influencing campaigns 'by states and state-like actors with the aim of damaging Swedish interests and ultimately Swedish citizens'. He debunked claims that the Swedish government grants permission for people to burn Islam's sacred text or other religious books, something that 'is factually incorrect'. A participant lifts a copy of the Koran, in response to the burning of a copy of Islam's holy book in Sweden, as Iraqi Shiites in costumes re-enact events of Ashura, a ten-day period during the Muslim month of Muharram to remember and mourn the seventh century killing of Prophet Mohammed's grandson Imam Hussein, in al-Kifah district in central Baghdad, on July 25, 2023 Yemenis participate in a protest denouncing the burning of Islam's holy book, the Koran, in Sweden and Denmark, on July 24, 2023 in Sana'a, Yemen Demonstrators march in a rally denouncing the burning of the Koran, Islam's holy book, in Sweden in Yemen's Huthi-held capital Sanaa on July 24, 2023 'No state permits are issued for burning,' he told reporters at a news conference. 'The state guarantees the right to freedom of expression but does not sanction political messages. Sweden has no tradition of burning holy scriptures. 'On the contrary. Sweden is a secular country where religious freedom is a cornerstone and where there is respect for different beliefs.' European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, in a statement on Wednesday, condemned the religious book desecrations in Sweden and Denmark, saying the acts 'by individual provocateurs only benefit those who want to divide us and our societies'. 'Respect for diversity is a core value of the European Union. This includes respect for other religious communities,' the EU's top diplomat said. 'The desecration of the Koran, or of any other book considered holy, is offensive, disrespectful and a clear provocation. Expressions of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance have no place in the European Union.' A man who served 17 years behind bars for a rape he did not commit was today cleared by the Court of Appeal - then furiously accused the state of kidnapping him for nearly two decades and slammed the police as 'liars'. Andrew Malkinson, 57, was wrongly found guilty of the 2003 attack on a woman in Greater Manchester. The following year he was jailed for life with a minimum term of seven years but remained in prison for a further 10 because he maintained he was innocent. But his appeal against his conviction, which centres around new DNA evidence that recently emerged pointing to another potential suspect, who the court ordered can only be identified as Mr B, was today successful. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) admitted the conviction was unsafe because of this, and said there 'must now be a real possibility' Mr B will be charged with the attack. It ended a miscarriage of justice Mr Malkinson described as a 'false fantasy' he was forced to live by the authorities. He said outside court today in a speech seething with anger: 'I came to the police station in 2003. I told the officers I was innocent - they didn't believe me. 'I can to the Crown Court in Manchester in 2004. I told the jury I was innocent - they didn't believe me. 'I came to this appeal court in 2006 and told them I was innocent - they didn't believe me. 'I applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which is supposed to investigate miscarriages of justice and told them I was innocent. Mr Malkinson said outside court that he had known he had been innocent for the past 17 years Andrew Malkinson arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, ahead of his hearing at the Court of Appeal earlier today Andrew Malkinson, 57, (pictured) was found guilty of the 2003 attack on a woman in Greater Manchester and the following year was jailed for life with a minimum term of seven years but remained in prison for a further 10 because he maintained he was innocent 'They didn't investigate and they didn't believe me. Not once, but twice. 'Today we told this court I was innocent and finally they listened, but I have been innocent all along for each of those 20 years that came before today. Nothing that any police officer, court or commission said about me since 2003 changed that reality. 'You are here to gather news, that declaration from the bench behind me is not news to me. When a jury finds you guilty when you are innocent, reality does not change. You know you did not commit the crime. But all the people around you start living in a false fantasy universe and treat you as if you are guilty: the police, prison officers, probation officers, prisoners, journalists, judges. 'As a minority of one you are forced to live their false fantasy. On August 2, 2003, I was kidnapped by the State. It has taken nearly 20 years to persuade my kidnappers to let me go. 'Seventeen years, four months and 16 days of that time was spent in prison. 'All that time the real preparator, the real dangerous person was free. 'Now I am left outside this court without an apology, without an explanation, jobless, homeless, expected to simply slip back into the world. 'I spent 17 years on my guard against every threat, 17 years counting down the minutes to lock-up so I could be behind my door and safe from other prisoners - but not safe from my own mind. 'Imagining I would die there. Perhaps murdered in the kitchens by a fellow prisoner. Or left to die of hypoglycaemia in my cell in the night. Or being driven insane by the system and dying at my own hand.' Mr Malkinson outside the Royal Courts of Justice, London, on May 3, 2023. He had his conviction for rape referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) over new DNA evidence Speaking outside court, Mr Malkinson added: 'Told every day that I was a liar, I sought the uncomplicated truths of science and mathematics through the Open University. 'Told every day that I was a violent monster, I sought tiny respites through Buddhism and meditation. Told I was in denial about my offending behaviour, I read everything I could about a justice system that was in denial about its mistakes. 'Since I was arrested in 2003, the police, the prison system and probation service have been calling me a liar because I denied I committed the crime. They claimed I was in denial and made me serve an extra ten years in prison because I would not make a false confession. 'I am not a liar. I am not in denial, but I will tell you who is. Greater Manchester Police are liars and they are in denial. 'Even after this judgement today, I predict we will see them denying responsibility for what happened. We will see them stretch credulity with their excuse making. 'Greater Manchester Police have been scrambling to cover up how they wrongfully convicted me for 20 years. 'Rather than investigate the multiple leads they were given by the public, they made a horribly traumatised woman look at a lineup with me in it, even though I didn't match the description she had given of her attacker. 'They exploited a hopeless heroin addict and his girlfriend, both with dishonesty convictions, having them tell the jury they identified me. 'They unlawfully withheld crucial evidence which would have helped my defence. Once I began appealing the police unlawfully destroyed the victim's clothing that I was demanding be re-tested along with other evidence, not just once, but three times.' 'And all this time, the person who really did this horrific crime has been at large - and this means it is not just me who has been denied justice. It is the victim.' Addressing the victim of the rape he did not commit, Andrew Malkinson said: 'As this is my only chance to say something to her, please allow me to address her directly. 'Sitting in my prison cell, I used to wrack my brains as to how you could say you were so sure it was me when I knew it was not. 'I read all I could and learned about how fraught with risk the process of line-up identification is when someone has been subject to trauma. I wondered if the police "helped" you to pick me. 'Since my release, I have had the privilege of being introduced to an American woman called Jennifer Thompson, a rape survivor who was caught up in a wrongful conviction, and she has helped me at least begin to try to understand what you went through that night, and what it has been like for you since. 'I am so sorry that you were attacked and brutalised that night by that man. I am not the person who attacked you, but what happened to me is not your fault. 'I am so sorry if my fight for the truth, as I knew it to be, has caused you extra trauma. I am so sorry that the system let you down. It let us both down. 'There are no winners in a wrongful conviction case with the exception of the real perpetrator. Everyone gets failed, from the original victim to the wrongfully convicted person. 'I sincerely hope that you are receiving the support you need and the apology from the police that you deserve.' Outside the court, the mother of Andrew Malkinson called for those responsible for her sons wrongful conviction to be brought to justice. A statement from Trisha Hose, 70, read out by Sue Beere from the legal charity Appeal said: I have always known he did not do this terrible crime. 'The first time I got to talk to him after his arrest he said "when they test the DNA they will know I am innocent. He has been saying this same thing ever since. 'For nearly 20 years people have assumed that I was just a loyal but deluded mother in denial about what my son was capable of doing. 'I knew the system had got it wrong, but it seemed like there was nothing I could do about it. 'As a mother, not being able to help your child when they are in desperate, desperate need was the most painful experience you could imagine.' Ms Hose's statement continued: 'When Andy was convicted in 2004, to me it was just like someone had pushed me into an abyss and I was just falling, no one could hear me crying out for help, I couldnt see the bottom of this abyss, it was just black. 'No one was listening to me. I was in that much shock I actually lost my voice. I couldnt speak. 'And then as the months turned into years, I was just hoping that someone would hear us and throw us a line, a rope to climb back out of this dark pit. 'But ropes were dangled and then pulled back up again before we could get to them. 'Finally, we found a rope we could reach, and that was the people at the law charity Appeal. 'It was them who saved my son, not this court, or the commission, or the system.' Trisha Hose's statement concluded: 'And now Andys name has been cleared, suddenly in the public eye, I am no longer a deluded mother. 'My son is no longer a monster. 'But what has been done to him cannot be undone. The damage will be with him for the rest of his life, and the woman who got attacked has been denied justice, just as my son was. 'As any parent would, what I want for Andy is a full account of how this happened, and for the people responsible for my sons wrongful conviction to be brought to justice alongside the man responsible for this brutal attack.' At the preliminary hearing in May, Edward Henry KC, representing Mr Malkinson, told the court the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates possible miscarriages of justice and referred Mr Malkinson's case to the Court of Appeal, had been aware since 2009 that there was 'crime-specific' DNA which was not a match for either Mr Malkinson or the victim. However, he said at that time the CCRC 'did not consider it tipped the balance towards a referral' to the Court of Appeal. In October last year, the sample was found to be a partial match for another man, who the court ordered can only be identified as Mr B. Mr Malkinson previously applied twice for his case to be reviewed by the CCRC but was turned down, eventually being released from prison in December 2020. After his release, advancements in scientific techniques allowed his legal team, supported by legal charity Appeal, to provide new DNA analysis that cast doubt on his conviction to the CCRC. The body then commissioned its own testing which found that DNA from the victim's clothing matched another man on the national police database. GMP confirmed in January that a man had been arrested and released under investigation in light of the new information, but no decision has been made as to whether he will be charged. Mr Malkinson's mother Trisha Hose outside the Royal Courts of Justice today after he was cleared Mr Malkinson's half-sister Sarah embraces him after he was cleared of rape after 17 years Reading a statement outside the court, Emily Bolton, the director of legal charity Appeal which helped Andrew Malkinson, said: 'This case represents a terrible double injustice that must never be repeated. 'Lets be clear on what has happened: Greater Manchester Police caused an innocent man to be wrongly imprisoned for over 17 years. They withheld crucial evidence, denying Andy a fair trial. They then unlawfully destroyed key exhibits, nearly denying him the DNA test results which have established his innocence beyond any doubt. 'Greater Manchester Police also utterly let down the victim of this brutal crime. Their deeply flawed investigation failed to bring to justice her real attacker, compromising public safety in the process. 'The public deserves better. The police must face full accountability for their actions.' She added: 'We of course welcome todays ruling overturning Andys wrongful conviction but the question which should trouble everyone is why it took nearly 20 years to get here.' 'The truth is this case is an indictment of both the Court of Appeal and the Criminal Cases Review Commission. These so-called safety nets in our justice system missed three earlier opportunities to put this obvious miscarriage of justice right.' Kate Green, Greater Manchester deputy mayor for policing, crime, criminal justice and fire, said: 'What Mr Malkinson has been put through, and the pain and stress caused to him, is truly awful and my deepest sympathies are with him. 'It has come far too late, and he will never get the last 20 years back, but I hope this outcome can finally offer him some relief. 'My thoughts are also with the victim of this horrific offence who, after 20 years, finds herself once again looking for the person responsible to be brought to justice for what they did, and she is now having to relive that trauma again. 'This is a shocking miscarriage of justice, and I would urge Government - as I will be doing with Greater Manchester Police and local criminal justice partners - to look at this case in close detail to examine what lessons need to be learnt across the criminal justice system to prevent another innocent person having to go through something like this again.' Emily Bolton, the director of legal charity Appeal, continued: 'Faced with compelling DNA evidence proving Andy's innocence, the Court of Appeal had no choice today but to finally throw out his conviction. 'But in its judgment, the court abdicated its responsibility to scrutinise and address the evidence disclosure failures that resulted in Andys wrongful conviction in the first place. 'Our message to our parliamentarians is this: "reform these institutions. Make them transparent and accountable. Force them to apologise and learn the lessons from Andys case". 'Otherwise, we will see more wrongful convictions, more trauma, more justice denied. 'Appeal is a small legal charity. We spent thousands of hours on this case, only a tiny fraction funded by Legal Aid. We commissioned DNA testing. We interviewed witnesses. We took the police to court twice to get disclosure. We were only able to do this work with the help of our generous supporters. 'I want to especially thank all those who have donated their time or money to Appeal and to Andys case, and in particular: Edward Henry KC, junior counsel Max Hardy and pro-bono staff at Ropes and Gray; Latham and Watkins; Mishcon de Reya; and Morrison Foerster.' Greater Manchester Police's Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jackson issued an apology to Mr Malkinson and the rape victim today. She said: 'We are truly sorry to Mr Malkinson that he is the victim of such a grave miscarriage of justice, in being convicted of a crime he did not commit and serving a 17-year custodial sentence. Whilst we hope this outcome gives him a long overdue sense of justice, we acknowledge that it does not return the years he has lost. I have offered to meet with him to personally deliver this apology. Mr Malkinson said it has been 20 years since he was arrested and it has 'taken a huge toll on his life' 'We are also profoundly sorry to the victim of this crime, who not only suffered an horrific trauma 20 years ago, but also relived the experience during a criminal trial, and now may endure additional harm caused by learning that the true offender has not yet been brought to justice. We are absolutely committed to following all new lines of enquiry to ensure the right person is held accountable for harming her. 'Whilst this case tragically led to the wrong person being convicted, these instances are thankfully very rare. Following an appeal heard by the Court of Appeal in 2006, and two reviews by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), a full and thorough review of the original investigation was carried out by GMP. The force has and will continue to fully cooperate with any further reviews of this case and action will be taken if it is found that anything could have been done differently. 'In the vast majority of cases, the processes our officers follow lead to a case being presented to the CPS whereby the suspect and evidence collected were relevant to the crime committed. The evidence presented by GMP and the CPS at court between 2003-2004 was subject to a full criminal trial before a jury, who ultimately reached the final guilty verdict. Sadly, in this case it is now clear that the wrong person was convicted. 'Due to new forensic evidence, following developments in forensic technologies, there is a live criminal investigation in which a suspect remains on bail. We cannot comment further on that matter at this time. 'We are sorry that in this case, the judicial process failed, and the wrong man was convicted. We are determined to work with our colleagues in the CPS to ensure all new evidence is fully examined and that the person truly responsible is convicted and the victim of this horrific crime receives the justice deserved.' This is the shocking moment Harrison Ford's celebrated stunt double set himself alight during a high profile SAG-AFTRA strike in Georgia. Stunt coordinator Mike Massa, who worked as Ford's stunt double in the recently released 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny', walked out in front of a crowd of cheering actors and writers with his grey jacket ablaze on Monday. Massa, 55, marched out with flames consuming his back while holding a picket sign that read: 'SAG-AFTRA ON STRIKE!' The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists are currently conducting a high-profile strike after failed contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Massa told the Washington Post he agreed to the 18-second stunt 'to make a point, and I think it did', he said. Mike Massa, 55, set himself on fire in a daring stunt at a SAG-AFTRA strike in Georgia The stunt coordinator worked as Ford's stunt double in the recently released 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny'. Pictured: Massa (left) with Harrison Ford on the set of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015 'Which is, look at the risk an individual took just to stand onstage and go, "Hey, look, were fighting for our rights, and we want you to pay attention to us and believe in us"' he told the publication. Actors and stunt performers across the country began to strike on July 14 after negotiations over their demand for better wages and better protection surrounding the use of artificial intelligence. The combined actors and writers strike has ground Hollywood to a halt. Under the rules of a strike SAG-AFTRA, members are not able to film any movie or TV series, take part in any press or film premieres, or promote anything at this month's San Diego Comic-Con. The announcement marked the first strike for actors from film and television shows since 1980. It is also the first time two major Hollywood unions have been on strike at the same time since 1960, when Ronald Reagan was the actors' guild president. Hollywood stars such as Michael Shannon, F. Murray Abraham and Melissa Joan Hart turned out to stand in solidarity with fellow union members at the SAG-AFTRA rally held in New York yesterday. Tuesday morning saw members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists come together for a star-studded 'Rock the City for a Fair Contract' rally on day 12 of the ongoing strike action. Stunt doubles have joined actors and writers on strike after talks over wages and other benefits and protections broke down with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers Stunt actor Mike Massa on the make up set of 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' as Harrison Ford Mike Massa prepares to perform as Harrison Ford's double on the set of Star Wars: The Force Awakens which was released in December 2015 The likes of Brendan Fraser, Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston, Steve Buscemi, Christian Slater, Matt Bomer, and Chloe Grace Moretz were in attendance as they took turns to encourage the crowd with rousing speeches. Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com during the rally, Boardwalk Empire star Michael Shannon shared a defiant message of support to union members as he stated: 'We can take these clowns down, they're nothing. They don't know how to do anything, they just take all our money and rob us blind. Were going to beat them.' MBABANE The swearing-in of the re-appointed members of the Revenue Appeals Tribunal Eswatini (RATE) will see tax appeals being dealt with and finalised. The seven members were sworn-in by Justice Sifiso Sibandze, Judge President of the Industrial Court of Appeal yesterday. These members were the same members who established the organisation three years ago and have been re-appointed to serve again for yet another three years. Powers They were re-appointed by the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, while exercising his powers conferred by Section 3 (2) of the Revenue Appeal Tribunal Act No. 13 of 2019. The members are Mbuso Simelane, John Henwood, Sandile Dlamini, Ntombenhle Shongwe, Fikile Dlamini, Musa Hlatshwayo and Khethiwe Dlamini. In an interview with this publication, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RATE Nelsiwe Hlophe said there were over 10 cases pending with the tribunal, which were being attended to during the first term of office of the members. Re-appointed She said unfortunately while the members were still dealing with the cases, their term of office elapsed. She said, therefore, now that the members had been re-appointed and sworn-in, they would be able to continue with the cases and finalise them. She highlighted that at least four cases were finalised by the organisation since its inception. She stated that it was worth noting that in the first term of office, the members were still busy establishing the organisation as it was new and the establishment processes were still ongoing. Hlophe said re-appointing the same members would be of good use as they were experienced and knew the organisation in and out, hence would help in finalising the establishment processes. Experience Speaking during the swearing in ceremony, Hlophe said she believed the members would continue to perfectly contribute to the RATE with their vast professional experience. She said members were expected to continue with their mandate of adjudicating the tax appeal cases, which most of them had hearing dates to avoid backlog of cases. The CEO highlighted that the RATE is a newly-established organisation, mandated to determine tax appeals emanating from the decision of the commissioner general. Significance Hlophe said in recognition of the significance of the responsibility bestowed on the members who serve the Tribunal, one of the code of ethics requires that, upon entering office, take the oath. The oath is an important ceremonial gesture signifying the official start to the members term in office. Members are expected to continue with their mandate of adjudicating the tax appeal cases, which most of them have hearing dates to avoid backlog of cases, said the CEO. Disturbing photos show the ruined terrace of a luxury New York City apartment tower after it was struck by a burning construction crane. Shattered glass littered the ground and metal beams were strewn across the roof of 555 10th Avenue near Hudson Yards after a hydraulic fluid leak caused the crane to spark into flames, with 12 injured on the ground. Planters filled with ornamental grass were also destroyed, with the soil once contained within them scattered across the luxurious deck of the building. Much of its glass safety railing was also wrecked by the falling crane, offering a vertigo-inducing new vista for anyone working on the clean-up scene. Several exterior windows of the tower were also smashed, although a building spokesperson said no-one inside had been injured. Residents had to evacuate and were not allowed back in until after 4pm ET. This photo shows the damage inflicted of a terrace on 555 10th Avenue on Manhattan after it was struck by part of a burning crane on Wednesday morning Planters and soil were strewn across the roof deck of the luxury 55-story tower, which was struck by a huge lump of burning metal after a hydraulic fluid leak caused the crane to catch fire A view from the top of 555 10th Avenue towards 550 10th Avenue. It is the luxury 47-story condo tower that the crane was working on when it collapsed Another snap shows shattered panes of glass on the exterior of the building. No-one inside was injured, but the tower was evacuated until around 4pm ET Wednesday The crane was working on another residential building directly across 10th Avenue at 550 10th Avenue. It caught fire and collapsed after a hydraulic fluid leak. A total of 12 people have been injured. Two of the victims are in a serious condition - including one of the two firefighters who are among the injured. Fluid from the engine compartment leaked onto a heated metal plate, which in turn sparked a flame and caused the crane to collapse on to an opposite residential skyscraper near Hudson Yards. The cause of the flaming crane cab was reported by New York Daily News - who also said that the equipment's permits and inspections were all up to date. A fire department worker gazes over the balcony of 555 10 Avenue towards Times Square on Wednesday afternoon Pictured: Part of a building that was impacted by the crane's collapse. Fluid from the engine compartment leaked onto a heated metal plate, which in turn sparked a flame and caused the crane to collapse on to an opposite residential skyscraper near Hudson Yards Pictured: The crane on fire. The fire heated up the cable of the crane, which was holding 16-tonnes of concrete, causing it to snap and trigger the collapse, FDNY deputy commissioner explained The crane is seen collapsed on the street following the ordeal this morning DailyMail.com first published an image of the shaken construction worker who was operating a crane moments before it was engulfed in flames and collapsed. The crane operator attempted to put out the fire but fled the cab once he realized the blaze was too large, according to co-workers who identified him on Wednesday morning. He appeared shocked and shaken after the ordeal, and declined to comment when approached by a DailyMail.com reporter. Co-workers said he initially tried fighting the blaze, but evacuated when it grew too big. The worker used a ladder to climb down the crane, then fled using a stairwell of the construction site it was attached to. On Wednesday morning, the crane he was inside caught fire, collapsed, and struck the side of another skyscraper before falling onto a rush-hour Manhattan street as terrified commuters ran for their lives. Another construction worker, Richard Paz, told DailyMail.com that a cable hauling wet concrete up to the top of the building site overheated just before the fire. The crane operator noticed that the mechanics had stopped working, he said, because a computer system shut it down when the cable started burning out. The crane operator (pictured) who attempted to put out the fire but fled the cab once he realized the blaze was too large, looked shocked and shaken after the ordeal It was at this point the worker realized there was an issue and got out of the cab. Once it got to a point where he couldn't extinguish the flames himself, he fled. The blazing crane was attached to a luxury 47 story apartment building under construction at 550 10th Avenue, with the 16-tonnes of concrete it was carrying also smashed onto the street below. It was seen striking the side of the 55-floor 555 10th Avenue apartment building opposite, although one eyewitness claims that tower was only struck with wet cement and was not seriously-damaged. Terrifying video footage shot Wednesday morning showed the crane collapse and strike a glass residential skyscraper opposite - while people staying in nearby hotels and apartment blocks were quickly evacuated. People covered in blood were stretchered into ambulances as screams rung out from construction workers and commuters on ground level, eyewitnesses said. Over 200 firefighters rushed up to a nearby balcony and desperately battled the inferno - which blazed 500 feet above the Manhattan skyline this morning. The crane is owned by New Jersey-based Lomma, whose late founder James Lomma was ordered to pay $96 million to two construction workers killed when another of his cranes collapsed in 2008. A worker told DailyMail.com that the clean up is likely to go into the night. A large yellow crane to remove the destroyed cement mixer, boom and crane is sitting in wait at the police line until theyre given the all clear for building 555 - which was impacted as the machinery fell apart. One worker said: 'Our guys cant remove the crane without the all clear. 'It will likely take till tonight to clear the road and then well remove the crane. 'I cant be sure how long that will take. He added that most of the debris which exploded out of the cement bucket were rocks placed into the cement to enable the curing process. A burning Manhattan construction crane is pictured collapsing and striking the side of a residential skyscraper on 10th Avenue, sending debris spraying onto the sidewalk below The crane operator, identified to DailyMail.com by his colleagues, noticed that the mechanics had stopped working - because a computer system shut it down when the cable started burning out Firefighters are seen spraying water on the crane in a bid to stop the fire People were seen fleeing the scene as the fiery crane burned in the sky above them. The blazing crane was attached to a tower under construction The FDNY posted an image of their firefighters tackling the blaze this morning The dramatic fire this morning caused debris to spew all across the Manhattan street He died in 2019 aged 73. DailyMail.com has contacted Lomma Corp. for a comment on Wednesday's collapse. Residents and workers in the area were seen running for their lives as the fiery crane blazed in the sky above them. The formal cause of the blaze in the engine cabin area of the crane has not yet been disclosed. The dramatic incident sent debris spraying onto the streets - injuring multiple people below - while storefronts had their glass shattered. The fire heated up the cable of the crane, which was holding 16-tonnes of concrete, causing it to snap and trigger the collapse, FDNY deputy commissioner explained. Residents living with a view of the scene told DailyMail.com they heard screams from the construction workers at around 7.15am. The crane controller was still inside the structure when the fire broke out and he escaped via the wooden plank below about five minutes later. He tried to put out the fire, but was unable as the flames swelled. The fire then took hold and the top half of the crane collapsed at around 7:30am. It broke off and smashed into 555 Ten, an apartment building across the street, then hit the ground. The resident told DailyMail.com: 'We saw stretchers and ambulances so there are injuries on the ground. The stores under have also had all their windows broken. 'Weve now been evacuated from our building.' It is unclear what caused the blaze in the cabin area of the crane The debris is seen spewing on to the streets of Hudson Yards on Wednesday morning Firefighters from the FDNY stand on a nearby balcony to spray the crane The crane was seen ablaze from other parts of Manhattan #fire #nyc #hudsonyards you can see the top piece of it collapse around approx the 40-second mark pic.twitter.com/k78wiJEGXu Paula Pant (@AffordAnything) July 26, 2023 That collision appeared to shatter windows in the building, with debris then falling onto 10th Avenue, as terrified commuters screamed and ran from the collapse Residents living with a view of the scene told DailyMail.com they heard screams from the construction workers at around 7.15am An FDNY truck is seen on the streets of Hudson Yards as emergency services rushed to put the blaze out A construction crane is pictured ablaze in Manhattan on Wednesday morning The Fire Department New York confirmed in a statement: 'FDNY units are currently operating at a crane collapse and fire at 550 Tenth Avenue in Manhattan.' Eric Adams was at the scene of the destruction this morning. NYC Mayor's Office said in a statement: 'FDNY units are currently operating at a crane collapse and fire at 550 Tenth Avenue in Manhattan. 'Please avoid the area of 10th Avenue and 11th Avenue from West 41 Street to West 42 Street. Please use alternate routes and expect traffic in the area.' Adams said in a conference from 10th Avenue: 'As you can see from the debris on the street, this could have been much worse.' He said the city were fortunate that this didn't happen at a busier time of day. First deputy fire commissioner Joseph Pfeifer said: 'At 7.25am this morning, we got a report of a fire in the engine compartment of the crane. 'We're talking about the engine compartment above the roof line, about 45 stories up. FDNY firefighters gather following the collapse of the crane Rescue baskets are prepared by first responders at the site of a construction crane fire First responders spray water on tall construction crane Firefighters carry hoses as they deal with a construction crane fire and collapse in New York 'As our fire units responded to the scene, it collapsed. The top part of the crane, the boom, and a 16-tonne load crashed to the ground. 'At that point, we had injuries to civilians and firefighters but they were minor. We have four injuries to civilians, and two to our firefighters. Minor injuries. 'Most of the fire has been extinguished, but presently we have a fifth-alarm fire assignment, over 200 firefighters at the scene.' A construction worker described how he immediately evacuated his team from the deck and stairwell when he realized the fire broke out. Irakli Klarje, who lives on the 39th floor of 5510 10th Street, said that he thought there was an earthquake when he first heard the noise on Wednesday. 'The building shook, so I thought an earthquake was happening. 'I thought, what the hell is going on.' He said he saw the huge plumes of black smoke from the crane - and then he called 911. People staying in hotels nearby also said they were evacuated because of the inferno. Heidi Elmore wrote on Twitter: 'Welcome to New York. Crane next to my hotel is on fire and collapsing so we had to evacuate.' Another close-up image shows the crane ablaze and billowing black smoke into the clear morning sky. A spray of water being hosed onto the flames is visible on the left Eric Adams was at the scene of the destruction this morning A photo shot from uptown shows the crane ablaze with the skyscrapers of Hudson Yards behind it Firefighters were seen at the scene - as tourists were rushed out of their hotels People walk on with the destruction from the crane in the background Firefighters and investigators stand around the debris, which littered the Manhattan street Videos shared by the FDNY showed firefighters on the balcony of a nearby building spraying the burning crane in a bid to put out the flames. It's understood that the I beam securing the crane structure was compromised and went up in flames. The situation, which started just after 7am this morning, is a multiple-arm fire - indicating that the blaze is severe and is difficult to contain. 550 10th Avenue - the building that the crane was attached to - is a luxury rental tower consisting of 453 homes. The 47-story tower is under construction, but will have over 20,000 sf of indoor and outdoor amenity space, as well as neighborhood retail on the ground floor. The building is being designed by Handel architects. And 555 10th Avenue, directly across the street, is the building that the crane crashed into. It is a 56-story luxury apartment block with a pool on the rooftop - and has one of the city's most exclusive observation deck experience at 650 feet over the new Midtown West. No one was injured at 555 10th Avenue this morning, it was confirmed. An RAF Chinook helicopter missed an illegally flown drone by just 42 ft as it was flying over central London, a report has revealed. The twin rotor helicopter was flying at height of just 1,100ft when a passenger, described as an 'experienced aviator', spotted the device. The drone was reported to be 30ft below and 30ft to the left of the helicopter as it flew along a designated flightpath following the River Thames at Rotherhithe, south east London. A report by UK Airprox Board which assesses near misses rated it as a most serious Category A incident where there was a serious risk of collision. The close call at 5pm on May 3 this year happened as the Chinook pilot was returning to base. An RAF Chinook narrowly missed an illegally flown drone while flying over central London (File photo: An RAF Chinook helicopter) The report said: The passenger was at the rear of the cabin, owing to poor into-sun visibility and haze from the cockpit. The passenger reported that a quadcopter of 50cm-1m size passed 30ft below and 30ft to the left of the aircraft. They reported seeing a flash of red colouring. It was not clear whether the drone was stationary or moving. No other member of the operating crew saw the UAS (unmanned aircraft system). The passenger revealed the drone sighting during a debrief session after the Chinook had landed. The report went on to say that air traffic controllers had not given any indication of drones being authorised for use in the area. The report did not reveal the speed of the Chinook at the time of the incident, but the distinctive helicopters used for transporting soldiers and military hardware have a top speed of 200mph. The drone operator is believed to have been flying at an illegal height as drones are normally restricted to a maximum altitude of 400ft in the UK. It is believed that they were never traced, but if caught they could have been charged with endangering an aircraft which carries a maximum jail sentence of five years. A passenger in the RAF helicopter spotted the drone just feet away (File photo: An RAF Chinook Helicopter lands at London's Royal Victoria Dock) The UKAB report stated that the pilot had rated the risk of collision as being high. It added: In the Boards opinion the description of the object was sufficient to indicate that it could have been a drone. The Board considered that the pilots overall account of the incident portrayed a situation where providence had played a major part in the incident and/or a definite risk of collision had existed. The incident follows a series of other reported near misses between drones and passenger aircraft in skies above the UK. Most cases are thought to involve rogue operators flying their devices to illegal heights after by-passing maximum altitude software to try and get dramatic videos of aircraft flying by. Pilots have repeatedly warned of the danger of drones smashing cockpit windows or damaging jet engines, especially during critical times before landing or just after take off. It comes as another blow for high streets struggling with the cost of living The discount department store announced three closures to occur in August The Original Factory Shop has become the latest retailer to announce imminent store closures. After closing two stores in May, the chain has announced that three more branches will close in August. The discount department store sells a range of fashion, homeware, toys and more - including its own lines and offering discounts on high street prices. It stocks luxury brands such as Hugo Boss, Clinique, Armani and Calvin Klein, offering up to 70 per cent off big brands. The Original Factory Shop was founded in 1969, quickly becoming a staple name on the High Street and it now has around 190 stores in the UK. The Original Factory Shop has become the latest retailer to announce imminent store closures (stock image) The three branches set to close on August 26 are located in Mildenhall, Suffolk; Bodmin, Cornwall; and Chepstow, Wales The three branches set to close on August 26 are: Chepstow, Wales Mildenhall, Suffolk Bodmin, Cornwall In May it also closed stores in Bideford, Devon and in Stourport. But there is good news for other areas of the country as the Original Factory Shop opened a new outlet in East Yorkshire this week and another opening has been announced for Nairn, Inverness. Councillor Andy Neal, who represents the Queensway ward in Mildenhall, told Suffolk News: 'Losing The Factory Shop is a big hit for Mildenhall and there is not another shop like them in the town. 'Its a very poor decision for our town and I can only hope the shop does not remain empty for too long.' The news comes as yet another blow to an already-struggling High Street as the cost of living crisis has seen several retailers shut their doors. Boots is closing 300 stores this summer, while Argos will close seven next month. The difficulties have arisen as businesses have been trying to bounce back after the pandemic and have faced rising costs of staying open, including mounting energy bills. The cost of living crisis has also meant shoppers have less disposable income. A spokesperson for The Original Factory Shop said: 'We have over 190 stores across the UK and are planning on opening more over the coming months. 'Unfortunately, we have taken the decision to close our Chepstow, Mildenhall and Bodmin stores at the end of August. 'For the last few weeks, we have been consulting with colleagues at these stores and are working hard to support all of those affected.' MailOnline has contacted The Original Factory Shop for comment. Legal experts believe she could face a year behind bars or a hefty fine Carlee Russell's fantasy story about being abducted could land her in hot water Carlee Russell could face up to a year behind bars if cops decide to charge her for fabricating her kidnapping during her police interview, a legal expert has revealed. Nursing student Russell, 25, captured headlines after she went missing while on a 911 call on July 13, during which she reported finding a toddler by the side of the road. After she turned up two days later claiming that a man with 'orange hair' abducted her, she told police that she had been kidnapped and spun an elaborate tale about escaping to her freedom. However, she later admitted she'd made the whole saga up, confessing in a written statement that the kidnapping never occurred and it was 'a mistake.' The fantasy story could now land her in hot water, as a legal expert said he believes that she may be facing a slew of charges for lying to police. 'Depending on what she told law enforcement and what agency she told it to she could be looking at obstruction of justice. She could be looking at filing false police reports. All of which in Alabama are class A misdemeanor,' said attorney Edward Merrell to ABC3340. Russell vanished from a highway and sparked a nationwide manhunt for her, that ended days later when she returned alone to her home Russell's attorney Emory Anthony gave a muted update on the case after speaking with Hoover Police about the 25-year-old on Tuesday morning. Russell has previously apologized to cops for the fraud. Anthony said he was still in discussions over any potential charges being filed, adding that authorities were still trying to 'identify some things about where we go from here - responsibilities that we need to take care of.' While Russell's legal team await the next stages, Merrell posited that she is facing charges that could come with a year-long jail sentence, or a fine of up to $6,000. Attorney Edward Merrell (pictured) said Russell could be facing serious criminal charges for the hoax 'She could be found liable civilly,' Merrell added. 'Based on the amount of resources that were exhausted, the feds could come in and ask for a bill. 'The city could ask for a bill, whoever participated in it could ask that she have to pay back the resources and time.' Merrell said as Russell faces potential legal jeopardy, her lawyers should focus their arguments on her mental health at the time of the call to give her the best chance in court. 'As a defense attorney you want to mitigate those penalties. Trying to point out to the prosecutors what her mental condition was at the time. And show that most likely she wasnt thinking,' he continued. 'Try to avoid the long-term effects like a jail sentence. She may be looking at pleading to something in order to avoid a jail sentence.' Russell has faced severe public scrutiny in the time since she was exposed as a liar, losing her job in a spa and being dumped by her boyfriend as a result. After Russell 'disappeared' on July 13, her ex-boyfriend Thomar Simmons (pictured together) had posted frantic appeals for information on social media and then made a supportive post once Russell returned home. He has now spoken out to say he is 'disgusted' with her hoax In a statement posted to his Instagram on Monday, Simmons said he was 'blindsided' by his ex-girlfriend's fabricated story Russell's lawyer Emory Anthony (pictured) released a statement admitting that the kidnapping never occurred and his client made 'a mistake' Russell was reported missing on July 13, after making a bizarre phone call to 911 in which she claimed she found a toddler on the side of a highway The development comes as Russell's ex-boyfriend spoke out following the headline-grabbing hoax, saying he is 'disgusted' with her lies. Thomar Simmons took to Instagram on Monday night to condemn the 26-year-old, saying he 'd been 'blindsided' by her fantasy story about being abducted. He said her web of lies had 'created hurt, confusion and dishonesty' and revealed the pair had split following her bombshell confession. Simmons had previously led the charge to find Russell after she 'vanished' on July 13, posting frantic appeals for information as an urgent multi-agency search was launched. However, after she was exposed, he has since deleted his social media posts supporting her, but he has also erased every photo of the pair together on social media. He has also unfollowed her. In his statement on Monday, Simmons claimed he was 'made aware of the false narrative after coming to the defense of my ex Carlee Russell. 'Carlee's actions created hurt, confusion and dishonesty,' Simmons wrote in a statement on Instagram Monday night. He continued: 'Myself and my family's nature was to react in love and genuine concern,' he explained. 'We are disgusted [by] the outcome of this entire situation. 'I strongly feel exactly like all of you, blindsided with Carlee's actions,' Simmons continued, noting that the investigation is still ongoing 'but with all of the recent information and her confession now, we gain closure with this situation.' Simmons went on to thank 'all my family, friends and the nation for [your] support through this. 'The severity in this matter has not been overlooked, and I deeply respect the genuine support shared during this situation,' he concluded. 'Please continue to keep us in your prayers.' Carlee returned home 49 hours after going missing following a frantic multi-agency search Russell, 25, claimed she was abducted on July 13, and then spun an elaborate story of escaping for her freedom. She later admitted to making up the claims Angela Harris, who campaigns to help raise awareness of abductions after her own daughter was kidnapped and murdered in 2019, helped search for Carlee Russell. She ominously claimed that the truth will emerge eventually about the baffling Russell case Emory Anthony, attorney for Carlee Russell, issues statement 'My client has given me permission to make the following statement on her behalf: 'There was no kidnapping on July 13, 2023. My client did not see a baby on the side of the road. My client did not leave the Hoover area when she was identified as a missing person. My client did not have any help in this incident, but this was a single act done by herself. 'My client was not with anyone or at any hotel during the time she was missing. 'My client apologizes for her actions to the community, the volunteers who were searching for her, to the Hoover Police Department and other agencies, as well as to her friends and family. 'We ask for your prayers for Carlee as she addresses her issues and intends to move understanding that she made a mistake. 'Carlee again asks for your forgiveness and prayers.' Advertisement Questions remain unanswered over Russell's motive for faking her abduction, and little has been confirmed over her whereabouts for the 49 hours that she was missing. Russell stopped cooperating with police after returning home, but initially told police she was taken by a white man with 'orange hair' who appeared from the trees on the side of I-459 after she saw a 'baby boy in a diaper' walking along the road. After she dramatically reappeared, one of the women who spearheaded the search ominously claimed that the truth 'will come out'. Angela Harris, whose 19-year-old daughter Aniah Blanchard was kidnapped and brutally murdered in 2019, made the claim in an emotional 10-minute TikTok statement after Russell's reappearance. Following her appearance, Russell then refused to sit for a second interview with cops. Before a scheduled meeting on Monday, her lawyer read a statement admitting to the hoax. Investigators also determined Russell researched the Liam Neeson movie 'Taken' and whether she was too old for an Amber Alert, plus searched for a one-way bus ticket to Nashville. She disappeared on July 13 after leaving work at Woodhouse Spa in Birmingham, Alabama at around 8:20pm. She had stolen a bathrobe and toilet paper, and stopped to pick up food for her and her mother. Just over an hour later, Russell called 911 claiming to have found a child wandering the side of Interstate 459. After calling 911, Russell reportedly called her sister-in-law to tell her she was going to check up on the child. The family member lost contact with her at about 9:36pm but the line remained open. Responding officers located Russell's abandoned car along with her cell phone, her purse, wig and apple watch in the nearby area, but no sign of her or a child. Hoover Police said they never received any other calls of someone missing a small child. Two days later, Russell returned, alone, to her family's home. An Idaho judge has ruled that Tammy Daybell's aunt will be allowed to speak at Lori Vallow's sentencing next week. Vallow, 50, was convicted on May 12 in the 2019 killings of her children, Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, and conspiracy to commit the murder of her husband Chad Daybell's former wife Tammy Daybell. Tammy's aunt, Vicki Hoban, had requested to represent Tammy at the sentencing, which Judge Steven Boyce originally denied but then granted special permission for her to give a victim impact statement after Tammy's mother passed away in June. However, on Friday, Vallow's defense team filed a motion asking that Hoban be prevented from giving a statement because Idaho law only recognizes 'immediate' family members as victims. An aunt is not considered an immediate family member. In a zoom hearing on Wednesday, Judge Boyce denied the motion and ruled that Hoban would be permitted to give a victim impact statement at the sentencing. Vallow appeared on camera from the Madison County Jail but said nothing as she stared ahead with her fist propped under her chin. She will be sentenced for her crimes at 9am mountain time on Monday in Fremont County, Idaho. Lori Vallow, 50, was convicted in the deaths of her children, Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, and conspiracy to commit the murder of her husband's former wife, Tammy Daybell Judge Steven Boyce on Wednesday denied a motion from Vallow's defense team asking that Vicki Hoban, Tammy Daybell's aunt, be denied permission to give a victim impact statement Vallow's attorney Jim Archibald argued that because Tammy Daybell's father and sister had submitted statements, then Hoban's statement was no longer needed and she no longer had that right. 'The law specifically excludes aunts so if Tammy Daybell has nobody speaking on her family's behalf, I think the court's current order would be appropriate,' Archibald said. 'Now that Tammy Daybell's sister and father have spoken I think there is no provision for the court to consider an aunt a victim to speak on behalf of the Tammy Daybell family.' The motion filed on Friday showed that Tammy Daybell's sister, Samantha Gwilliam and her father, Ron Douglas, had submitted statements, with Douglas stating that he would be speaking on behalf of his now-deceased wife. Chad and Tammy Daybell pictured before she was murdered in October, 2019 Vallow's children, Tylee and JJ disappeared in September 2019, but their remains were not discovered until June 2020 - in the backyard of her new husband Chad Daybell The 'charred remains' of Tylee Ryan, 16, and JJ Vallow, seven, were found at the couple's home in Salem, Idaho. Pictured: Investigators searching the property on June 9, 2020 Judge Boyce pointed out that when he granted Hoban special permission, he was under the impression that no one else would be issuing statements on behalf of Tammy. 'What I don't find is any limiting language stating that this designation as a representative can only apply if there's an absence of anyone else to make a statement,' Boyce said. 'There's nothing in the statute that a designated representative has to only be appointed under certain circumstances.' Three other family members are expected to provide statements on behalf of the victims on the day of Vallow's sentencing, though it's not known at this time who will actually speak in court. Vallow's oldest son Colby Ryan - who is also JJ's brother - is expected to give a statement, along with JJ's grandmother Kay Woodcock and the child's designated representative, Summer Shiflet, who is also Vallow's sister. Vallow's son Colby Ryan, who is also JJ's brother, is expected to give a statement Monday JJ's grandparents, Larry and Kay Woodcock, led the national campaign to find the missing kids. They were in court throughout the trial and endured harrowing evidence about the murders JJ's grandfather Larry Woodcock was elated with the verdict after Vallow was convicted in May Vallow herself will also have an opportunity to speak before Judge Boyce hands down the sentence. It's a chance for her to speak without objection or cross-examination. She chose not to take the stand in her defense at her trial. Last month, Vallow's request for a retrial was denied after her attorneys tried to argue the jury that convicted her were influenced by 'outside sources'. Vallow was found guilty in May of killing her children, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, in September 2019 after believing they had become 'zombies' when she fell in love with doomsday predictor Chad Daybell. Prosecutors successfully argued that she became obsessed by ideas of an incoming apocalypse, and the only way to save her children's souls so they could be among 144,000 people who would survive was to kill them. However, Vallow's defense team argued that instructions given to the jury were confusing, and at least one of the jurors knew information about her crimes that were not entered into evidence. The retrial request was fueled by an interview one of the jurors gave with East Idaho News shortly after the double murder trial. Lori Vallow (center) had a request for a retrial denied by a judge in June. She is pictured with her attorneys as she is convicted of murder on May 12, 2023 Vallow will be sentenced for her crimes at 9am mountain time on Monday in Fremont County Chad Daybell, pictured during a court hearing in August 2020, built a following as a religious fantasist who warned of an impending apocalypse. He faces his own murder trial in April 2023 In that interview, juror Saul Hernandez noted details about the death of Vallow's husband Charles that were not mentioned in court. Vallow's attorneys also alleged that changes in the original indictment should justify a new trial, which they argue occurred without proper notice from the prosecution. The prosecution countered that any changes to the indictment can be made at any time before the prosecution rests, reports Idaho News 6. Judge Boyce, who also presided over Vallow's blockbuster trial, rejected the motion, and said there is no indication the indictment's change had any impact on the trial or its outcome. Vallow's husband Chad Daybell will not attend his wife's sentencing hearing, but it's likely he will be able to view the proceedings from where he is locked up at Fremont County Jail. Daybell faces similar charges in the murders and his trial is set for April 1, 2024. He faces the death penalty. Since Heuermann's arrest in mid-July, swarms of grief-tourists and true crime fans have flocked to the quiet residential street The Long Island village of Massapequa Park may buy the home of accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann in order to ward off so-called grief tourists. In the weeks since Heuermann's July 13 arrest for the infamous murders of three women, the modest Long Island family home has been non-stop swarmed by reporters, camera crews, and curious onlookers of all kinds. At a community meeting on Monday night, village Mayor Daniel Pearl and Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder attempted to address the ongoing issue. Those who live in the surrounding area 'have a lot of concerns in terms of quality of life, their safety, and their property,' Pearl said. He said that his office is in the process of looking into purchasing the First Avenue home, where the alleged killer lived for three decades. Its market value sits at around $635,000, according to Zillow. If bought, it would likely be demolished to discourage ghouls from seeking souvenir photos, or stealing items to sell. 'Legally, were getting everything lined up so the village is prepared to move forward when the time comes,' he said, without elaborating. 'No Standing, No stopping' signs went up around the house of accused Gilgo Beach murderer Rex Heuermann's home on Wednesday morning The Village of Massapequa Park is looking into buying the modest home to ward off future grief-tourists and true crime aficionados who will continue flocking to the residential area once the police presence is gone The small-ish six-room home was purchased for $170,000 in 1994, and is worth an estimated $635,000 today. At present, officers are stationed around the property at all hours to ward off unwanted visitors. The property is also under 24-hour video surveillance. Wednesday morning, members of the Nassau county police were stationed around the Heuermann home ready to issue a summons to anyone who stopped or slowed down by the house. DailyMail.com saw three people get pulled over before noon, one of whom was a woman driving with a baby in an infant carrier strapped in the backseat. She seemed surprised when an officer handed her a ticket, apparently not knowing what she had done wrong. She cooperated with the officer but said: 'I know this is BS.' She told DailyMail.com: 'I didnt even look at the ticket - my husband will take care of it,' and then drove off. Another driver was pulled over and ticketed for 'impeding traffic.' Village Mayor Daniel Pearl said: 'Legally, were getting everything lined up so the village is prepared to move forward when the time comes,' he said, without elaborating All sorts of curious onlookers have flocked to the scene to observe the chaos around the Heuermann residence as law enforcement agencies continue their probe into the property Richard Wajda, 51, was issued a summons for having his cell phone in his hand while driving About 40 No Stopping No Standing Any Time signs went up in the area around the alleged killer's home on Wednesday, as law enforcement began giving out tickets for lingering Nassau County Police will slap grief tourists seen lingering outside the Long Island home of suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann with a $150 fine Richard Wajda, 51, was issued a summons for having his cell phone in his hand while driving. 'I literally just drove past it and didnt stop but then realized this must be the house,'' he said. 'Then I saw the flashing lights.' 'I didnt know the serial killer lived right there,' he continued. 'My mother is in the hospital. I am here from LA while she was in the hospital I was just driving around. I was on my to see the Amityville Horror house and just got back from Jones Beach and the Massapequa mall. 'The cop told me that I was getting a ticket for using my cell phone and I sat there for 15 minutes.' He said he had been using his GPS and was then told by a cop that they are putting up signs forbidding people from driving around the house. After looking it up, he said they were issuing fines between $50 and $150 for anyone deemed to be causing a nuisance or even taking photos, despite Americans' First Amendment rights to do so. 'I am annoyed because I live in Hollywood and I am used to the paparazzi all around and I am used to it but this is ridiculous,' he said. After receiving his ticket, Wajda left in a hurry, saying: 'I dont want to see those cops anymore. All morning, construction teams from Massapequa Park Village have been putting up 'no stopping' and 'no standing any time' signs on the streets near the Heuermann home. DailyMail.com tallied the precise number at 37. Some local residents drop off bagels for the police presence that have been manning the perimeter of the house for days A driver is given a ticket Wednesday for 'impeding traffic' on the block where Rex Heuermann's house is Heuermann, 59, was arrested on July 13 in connection with the murders of three women who were killed more than a decade ago in the Gilgo Beach area. He is the primary suspect in the killing of the fourth of the 'Gilgo Four,' though he has not been charged The first victim, Melissa Barthelemy, 24, was discovered by Suffolk County Police on December 11, 2010. The body of Megan Waterman, 22, was found two days later Maureen Brainard-Barnes was 25 years old when she went missing (left). Amber Lynn Costello was 27 years old. Their bodies were found near Barthelemy's the same day Heuermann, 59, was arrested on July 13 in connection to the grisly murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello whose remains were found in Gilgo Beach in 2010. He has pleaded not guilty. Since his bombshell arrest in Manhattan, the once quiet block where the married father-of-two lived, has become the scene of a media circus and a popular destination for crime junkies. Dozens of people from all parts of Long Island and further abroad have been seen stopping to catch a glimpse of the active crime scene, as forensic teams comb the Massapequa Park home for evidence. But locals say the influx of visitors has made their lives hell, and they're fearful of how much worse it'll get when police conclude their investigation at the property this week. At Monday's meeting, Commissioner Ryder encouraged the public to be mindful of taking pictures or videos of the active crime scene. 'We are going to ask people not to get involved and take pictures. There is plenty of pictures from the internet you do not have to stand in front of the house,' he said. 'We are going to give the community back their neighborhood that has been under siege for the last several days. 'We want people to go back and have their quality of life that they have here in Massapequa Park.' Though he commended the press for being cooperative, as well as the Massapequa Park residents, he noted that the rules also apply to media. The alleged killer, who is also the lead suspect in the 2007 disappearance and subsequent murder of the fourth Gilgo Beach woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, is due to appear in court on August 1. He is also being investigated for the murders of six others whose bodies were found in Gilgo Beach in 2011. A Colorado Springs family of two adult sisters and a teenage boy who planned to live 'off grid' were identified as the mummified bodies found at a remote campsite earlier this month. Christine Vance, 41, Rebecca Vance, 42, and Rebecca's 14-year-old son, were found dead in or around a tent about 1,000 feet from a campsite in the Gunnison National Forest, Gunnison County Coroner Michael Barnes said on Tuesday. Officials have not named the teen because he is a minor. Barnes said the bodies, two of which were found inside the tent and one outside, showed signs of malnourishment, were decomposed and partially mummified. The cause of death has yet to be determined, but Barnes said the family likely died from starvation, freezing temperatures or carbon monoxide poisoning from trying to make fire to stay warm. Family members told officials the trio embarked on a trip last summer and planned to live 'off the grid.' It's believed they started their trek in July 2022 and then died over the winter. Christine Vance, 41, Rebecca Vance, 42, and Rebecca's 14-year-old son, all of Colorado Springs, were identified as the bodies discovered earlier this month. This photo was taken just days before they left for their journey last summer The first of the three bodies was reported to authorities on Sunday afternoon when a hiker came across the campsite around 20 miles from the small town of Gunnison. The first of the three bodies was found by a hiker on July 9 outside a tent not far from the Gold Creek Campground, about 20 miles from the small town of Gunnison. Deputies responded to the area and discovered two more bodies inside the zipped-up tent. At the campsite alongside the bodies were empty food cans, books and a restroom area, Barnes said. The only food found at their shelter was a single package of ramen. The wooded area is remote but it's not unusual for hikers and backpackers to set up camp nearby, Sheriff Adam Murdie of Gunnison County said earlier this month. But it was rare for people to die there, he added. It appeared they had begun to build a 'lean-to' type shelter but not finished by the time last year's harsh winter began, he added. 'I wonder if winter came on quickly and suddenly they were just in survival mode in the tent,' Barnes said. 'They had a lot of literature with them about outdoor survival and foraging and stuff like that. But it looked like they supplied at a grocery store.' Authorities did not find any vehicle or firearms at the campsite with the bodies. Barnes said the sisters had been 'discouraged with the state of the world' in recent years, according to family members' accounts, and that's why they set off to permanently live off the grid in the remote area. 'She went for good intentions,' Rebecca Vance's stepsister Trevala Jara told the New York Times. 'She thought she was protecting her son and our sister, Christine, because she didn't want them to get wrapped up in what the world was coming to in her eyes.' It's not unusual for hikers to set up camp in the area near where they were found, Sheriff Adam Murdie of Gunnison County said. But it was rare for people to die there, he added Officials said the sisters had been 'discouraged with the state of the world' in recent years, and set off last summer to permanently live off the grid in the remote area Jara said Rebecca did not believed in conspiracy theories but became fearful of the world and after the pandemic, she decided that they'd live a better life in the woods. Rebecca talked with her family about her plans, which involved living off the land, growing her own food, and being totally disconnected from the world - a place for her teenage son to be safe from the pandemic, the news and politics. Her sister Christine Vance decided to join the mother and son on their journey 'because she thought that if she was with them, they had a better chance of surviving,' Jara said. 'Me and my husband, we tried to stop them,' Jara added, her voice breaking. Jara said she hopes her family's tragic story will help others think twice before considering living off the grid because of fear. She said she hoped that her family's story would prompt others to think twice before choosing to live similar lifestyles off the grid. 'I know this world is scary,' Jara said. 'But don't let that fear, that doubt, all of that take over.' A disgraced Wisconsin prosecutor winked at a secret camera while he was having sex with three women, including one he was prosecuting who he had promised leniency to. Daniel Steffen, 52, was an assistant district attorney in Burnett County, Wisconsin, when he filmed the three victims. In one of the recordings, seen by investigators, Steffen is heard promising a woman he was prosecuting in a case leniency in exchange for sex, the criminal complaint states. Steffen gave the woman his personal cell phone number which he used to invite her to his home, where they had sex 'several' times as well as during work hours at his office, according to the complaint. The complaint states that while he secretly filmed one of the women, named as Victim #1, Steffen stuck his tongue out, winked at the camera several times and repeatedly asked the victim: 'Who's in charge?' during the intercourse. Former Wisconsin prosecutor Daniel Steffen has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for secretly filming women he was having sex with, including one he was prosecuting. Pictured: Steffen in his mugshot Steffen, 52, was an assistant district attorney in Burnett County, Wisconsin, when he filmed the three victims. Pictured: Steffen when he worked at Burnett County DA's office The crimes date between 2018 and 2020 and were exposed after a witness told investigators that Victim #1 'openly talked about having sexual relations with a Burnett County ADA in exchange for leniency on criminal cases.' 'While the defendant and Victim #1 are still engaged in sex, the defendant looks at the camera, sticks his tongue out, and winks several times,' and can be heard repeatedly telling the victim, 'Whos in charge?' the complaint reads. When questioned by investigators Victim #1, who was in court after violating an order of protection against her childs father, initially denied having relations with Steffen. She later admitted to it after she was told of the recording investigators had found on Steffen's iPad. Steffen also secretly recorded another woman whom he had told could avoid charges for hitting a mailbox. The former prosecutor's sentence was handed down by St. Croix County Circuit Judge Scott Nordstrand. In addition to his prison time, Steffen has been ordered to serve two years of extended supervision, four years of probation and placement for 10 years on Wisconsins sex offender registry. A poor turnout by African leaders at a key Russian summit will heap fresh humiliation on President Putin. Some African leaders arrived in Russia today for Moscow's second Russia-Africa summit while the Kremlin accused the US and other Western powers of 'outrageous' efforts to pressure many other heads of states from attending. Set for Thursday and Friday in St Petersburg, only 17 heads of state will take part, fewer than half of the 43 who attended the first in 2019, while 32 other African countries will be represented by senior government officials or ambassadors. The event comes after Russia destroyed Ukrainian grain warehouses on the Danube River in a drone attack on Monday, targeting a vital export route for Kyiv in an expanding air campaign that Moscow began last week after quitting the Black Sea grain deal. The presidents of Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo are among those not attending the summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during a meeting on the sidelines of Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg, Russia, July 26, 2023 Officials and volunteers clear the rubble of buildings damaged by the attack in Odessa, Ukraine on July 24, 2023 A view of the damaged site after Russian missile attacks in Odessa, Ukraine on July 25, 2023 Kenya's president, who is also a no-show, called the disruption to global grain supplies 'a stab in the back' for the Horn of Africa, where millions are under threat of starvation. Both Russia and China have been looking to increase their influence in Africa. China has purchased infrastructure on the continent for access to rare minerals. Russia has extended its influence in Africa with military deals, at times in return for mineral assets. Putin has billed the two-day summit as a major event that would help bolster ties with a continent of 1.3 billion people that is increasingly assertive on the global stage. Africa's 54 nations make up the largest voting bloc at the United Nations and have been more divided than any other region on General Assembly resolutions criticising Russia's actions in Ukraine. Putin waves during a family photo with heads of countries taking part in the 2019 Russia-Africa Summit at the Sirius Park of Science and Art in Sochi, Russia, on October 24, 2019 'Today, Africa is asserting itself more and more confidently as one of the poles of the emerging multipolar world,' Putin said in a statement released by the Kremlin. 'The forum will provide a further boost to our political and humanitarian partnership for many years to come. It will serve as a crucial event for Russian-African relations, making them even more comprehensive and far-reaching.' On Wednesday, Putin held one-on-one talks with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and said Russia will more than triple the number of Ethiopian students it hosts and cover their education costs. Ethiopia's government has been under pressure from the US and the World Food Program after they made the extraordinary decision to suspend food aid to the country earlier this year following the discovery of massive theft of aid. They seek reforms that involve the government giving up controls over aid distribution. Meanwhile, watchdogs say hunger is rising in areas like the Tigray region that is recovering from two years of conflict. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his South Africa's counterpart Naledi Pandor shake hands after a joint news conference following their talks in Pretoria, South Africa on January 23, 2023 Later in the day, Putin is set to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. 'We remain committed to assisting our African partners in every possible way to help them strengthen their national and cultural sovereignty, to play a more active role in resolving regional and global challenges,' Putin said in Wednesday's statement. The end of a deal that has allowed Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea to global markets, including Africa, is set to dominate the agenda at the summit. Russia pulled out of the deal earlier this month, saying a promise to allow Russian exports had not been honoured. Over a year, the deal allowed around 33 million tonnes of grain to leave Ukrainian ports, helping to stabilise global food prices and avert shortages. In the last few days, Moscow has sought to reassure African partners, saying it understands their 'concern' on the issue. The Kremlin has said that 'without any doubt' it is ready to export grain for free to African countries that need it. Putin has said Moscow could return to the agreement but only if the part of the deal allowing Russian grain and fertiliser is fully implemented. The Odesa Transfiguration Cathedral is seen heavily damaged following Russian missile attacks in Odesa, Ukraine, on July 23, 2023 Russia's withdrawal from the deal drew strong condemnation around the world and raised new threats to global food security. Moscow shrugged off criticism and doubled down by launching a barrage of missile attacks on Ukrainian ports and agriculture facilities. Along with grain, another issue likely to be on the agenda will be the fate of Russia's Wagner military company led by Yevgeny Prigozhin following its brief rebellion against the Kremlin last month. The mercenary group has been a major player in the security sphere in Africa but its failed mutiny against Russia's military leadership last month has cast doubt on the future of the group's operations on the continent. Wagner's future will be an urgent issue for countries like Sudan, Mali and others who contract with the mercenary group in exchange for natural resources like gold. Russian officials and Prigozhin have said the company will continue working in Africa. A peace proposal for Ukraine that African leaders have tried to pursue is set to be discussed as well. 'The summit background will also offer an opportunity to African heads of state who are part of the African Leaders Peace Mission to continue talks with President Putin on the confidence-building measures that will create conducive conditions for a path to peace between Russia and Ukraine,' a statement from the South African presidency said on Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov looks on during a Russian-Ethiopian meeting at the Konstantin Palace on July 26, 2023 in St Petersburg, Russia Since the start of the Ukraine offensive, Russia has sought to strengthen diplomatic and security ties with Africa. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has been on two tours of the continent so far this year, trying to win over leaders to Moscow's side by emphasising Russia's support against Western 'imperialism'. Experts say the push for more Russian influence in Africa is seen mainly in a series of security contracts and through assistance on social media campaigns. French President Emmanuel Macron has accused Moscow of seeking Africa's 'destabilisation' - a charge quickly rejected by Russia which has in turn pointed to France's colonial past. African leaders have for their part sought a higher profile role in the diplomacy around the conflict in Ukraine. A delegation of African leaders visited Moscow and Kyiv last month to urge both sides to cease hostilities but the initiative had little effect. The summit in St Petersburg comes a month ahead of a summit of leaders of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) which is due to take place in Johannesburg. South Africa has said that Putin, who is the subject of an international arrest warrant for his actions in Ukraine, will not be attending in person. A man in his 20s with distinctive tattoos has been shot dead in Sydney overnight in what police fear is the latest targeted attack in an escalating gang war - as witnesses reveal grisly details from the scene of the violent shooting. The 28-year-old man was found with several gunshot wounds on Broughton Street in Canterbury, south west Sydney, at about 2am on Thursday morning. The victim, who is yet to be formally identified, was treated by paramedics for gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen but died at the scene. At the scene on Thursday an abandoned vape lay in the road near the body of the man who was clad in grey track pants and white runners. A burnt-out white Holden Commodore was found on Beaconsfield Avenue in nearby Kingsgrove, in south Sydney, shortly after the 'targeted' shooting. The car was found alight at about 6am on Thursday morning. A second car, a Lexus, was found burnt out on Dunrossil Avenue in Casula at about 3.20am. It remains unclear if the cars are linked to the shooting. Police will probe whether the victim had links to drug supply and if he had plans to meet up with two men when he was shot dead, police sources say. Canterbury resident Chani woke up and heard a round of gunshots from the execution murder before racing to check on his children. 'I heard boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. It was coming from the middle of the street,' she told Daily Mail Australia. Forensics were seen photographing the shooting victim's bloodied body on Thursday The 28-year-old man was found gravely injured on Broughton Street in Canterbury, south west Sydney, at about 2am on Thursday morning (pictured, forensics at the scene) The victim, who is yet to be formally identified, was treated by paramedics for multiple gunshot wounds but died at the scene A burnt-out white hatchback (pictured) was found on Beaconsfield Avenue in nearby Kingsgrove, in south Sydney, shortly after the shooting 'I don't know if he was out there walking or whatever but they got him in the open. 'I got up straight away to see where my kids were. Sometimes they get up in the middle of the night and go to Canterbury Kebabs, so I was worried. 'I'm still shaken. It was scary. His body's still lying there while they do whatever, the forensics I guess.' Another neighbour said she heard 'seven or eight gunshots' and then the 'screech of tyres on the road... a car taking off'. The young woman said she and her partner were woken by the sounds and 'immediately' knew it was gunfire. 'He rang the cops but they were already on the way,' she said. Neighbour Carlo said he was about to leave home for the local pub just before 2am when he heard 'pop, pop, pop, pop, pop'. 'And then the sirens and lights came and I couldn't get up there. It's open till 4am normally,' he recalled. Carlo said the corner where the shooting happened was 'known for drug deals'. Kon, the first person to call police about the shooting, said he heard five shots at 1.57am and when he called the cops they had been unaware, but rang him back minutes later to say 'it's a fatality'. 'I know guns, I play with guns, it was a pistol,' said Kon, who lives 700m away. 'I didn't dial 000, I called the LAC at Ashfield straight up. They called me back at 2.01am to say he was dead.' Kon, the first person to call police about the shooting, said he heard five shots at 1.57am and when he called the cops they had been unaware The 28-year-old victim was shot in the upper chest and abdomen at about 2am on Thursday Neighbour Carlo said the corner where the shooting happened was 'known for drug deals' The man had multiple tattoos, including a 'sleeve' on his right arm and leg tattoos The 28-year-old shooting victim had multiple tattoos, including a 'sleeve' on his right arm and leg tattoos. His chest and torso were heavily inked with designs including a distinctive tattoo of a helicopter hovering above a structure which could be a prison yard or village. NSW Police said the shooting was 'believed to be a targeted incident'. It comes just hours after leading criminal defence lawyer Mahmoud Abbas was shot in his driveway in Greenacre at about 10.30am on Wednesday morning. The first incident occurred just a 10 minute drive from the second shooting. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting the two incidents are linked. Mr Abbas was shot in the right leg and stomach outside his home on Narelle Crescent and was treated at the scene by paramedics. He was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition. NSW Police believe the shooting was targeted. The shooting occurred on the same street where underworld figure Mahmoud 'Brownie' Ahmad was shot dead while visiting an associate in April 2022. It comes just days after three people were shot in an industrial area in Greenacre at 2.15am on Sunday, with one man requiring life support. NSW Police are expected to announce a new taskforce to investigate the shootings after five people were shot across the city in as many days. Leading criminal defence lawyer Mahmoud Abbas (pictured outside the Downing Centre Court in Sydney) was shot in his driveway in Greenacre on Wednesday morning Republicans took a victory lap at a dramatic turn of events in Hunter Biden's trial Wednesday that saw the first son's plea deal implode when a judge warned him he could still be charged for crimes relating to his overseas business deals. 'I think all of America is concerned about Biden Inc. getting special treatment,' Speaker Kevin McCarthy told DailyMail.com shortly after the news broke. 'This now gives an opportunity for when David Weiss said he wanted to prosecute on other jurisdictions and other items, we can go back and see that,' he said. A pair of IRS whistleblowers testified before Congress that Department of Justice prosecutors had allowed the statute of limitations to expire on earlier tax crimes despite having evidence to prosecute. He called on the Biden family to 'waive' the statute of limitations on Hunter's potential earlier tax crimes. 'I'd like to see the Biden family waive that statute of limitations and look at everything, just like every other American would do. Hopefully today that's what's being done.' Republicans took a victory lap at a dramatic turn of events in Hunter Biden's trial Wednesday that saw the first son's plea deal implode when a judge warned him he could still be charged for crimes relating to his overseas business deals According to federal law a private litigant can waive the statute of limitations in relation to a suit against himself. Oversight Chair James Comer claims the unraveling of the plea deal proves he was right all along. He has consistently said that Hunter Biden is still in legal jeopardy for his business deals with Ukraine and China. 'Everything that I've been coming out and saying to you all has proven true. I said there was an investigation ongoing, [Ranking Democrat] Jamie Raskin said there wasn't. Does anyone doubt there is an ongoing investigation now?' Comer told reporters. 'We're talking about very serious crimes, at the very least, the president's son committed, and he [Biden] has always said he had no knowledge of his son's business dealings.' 'Thank God for the IRS whistleblowers,' Comer said. Joseph Ziegler and Gary Shapley, who took the lead on the IRS probe into Hunter Biden, testified to Comer's committee last week that the Biden family had obtained $17 million in foreign income through a series of shell companies. Shapley and Ziegler claimed their investigation 'supported felony and misdemeanor tax charges,' which were ultimately not brought against the president's son Hunter due to political pressures. 'I believe that even the judge saw today that this was a substandard investigation. But at the end of the day, I'm investigating Joe Biden,' the Oversight chair said on Wednesday. Hunter Biden has unexpectedly pleaded not guilty to tax and gun crimes after his 'sweetheart' plea deal collapsed in a sensational court hearing. The scandal-hit first son is also still on the hook for any crimes linked to foreign deals with China and Ukraine after the judge dramatically rejected the first agreement that would have shielded him from future charges and seen him avoid jail. Hunter had arrived at federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, expecting to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and walk away with a slap on the wrist. But in a stunning turn of events, the first agreement unraveled and the latest plea deal over his failure to pay taxes and lying about his crack cocaine addiction when he bought a gun was put on hold. Hunter initially said 'yes, your honor' when asked by the judge if he would plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors and admitted he's been to rehab six times in 20 years for addiction to alcohol and drugs. The hearing then turned when the Department of Justice lawyers warned Hunter he could still be charged for potential violations for failing to register as a foreign agent over his shady deals - which Republicans say involve his father Joe. At that news - delivered by top prosecutor Leo Wise - Hunter's attorney Chris Clark snapped that the deal was 'null and void'. Hunter Biden could be on the hook for more criminal charges related to his business deals with China and Ukraine after prosecutors and his legal team negotiated a limited new plea deal - because their first agreement sensationally collapsed There were signs of trouble from the get-go, when U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika allowed she had 'concerns about the diversion agreement.' She asked Wise if he had ever seen a diversion agreement 'so broad that it encompasses crimes in a different case.' 'What happens if I reject this plea?' she asked. 'I dont mean to violate the separation of powers or do anything (un)constitutional.' When she pressed the parties on areas of confusion, Clark said he didnt agree with the governments characterization. 'Then theres no deal,' Wise said in court. 'As far as Im concerned the agreements null and void,' Clark weighed in. That set off another round of talks after the judge agreed to give them more time, with the government and Team Hunter getting behind it once again. The case unraveled after a dramatic 24 hours in which Hunter's attorneys were threatened with sanctions over an alleged prank call to remove bombshell testimony from an IRS whistleblower from the docket. His lawyers claimed it was a simple mistake. At the start of the sensational hearing, Hunter stepped out of a motorcade in silence with a police escort and walked across the sidewalk alongside his legal team and surrounded by Secret Service agents. He walked into the federal court in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, alongside his 'sugar brother' and lawyer Kevin Morris - who was seen smoking a bong during a visit from the president's son last week. Hunter revealed to the judge that he was first treated for alcohol abuse in 2003 and was last in an in-patient facility in 2018. He then insisted he's been sober since 2019 when warned he faced random drug testing under the conditions of his release. Prosecutors had recommended probation for Hunter for not paying between $1.1 million and $1.5 million in federal taxes in 2017 and 2018, despite his substantial income from Ukrainian and Chinese energy companies. They also scolded him for continuing to 'spend wildly' on his lavish lifestyle while he had the funds to pay back what he owed. Hunter walked into the federal court in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, alongside his 'sugar brother' and lawyer Kevin Morris (left) - who was seen smoking a bong during a visit from the president's son last week He could have faced up to 12 months in prison for the tax crimes, and ten years for lying about his crack cocaine addiction on a federal form when buying a gun. But the agreement sparked fury from Republicans who demanded the judge block it. The deal had also been under intense scrutiny over the bombshell testimony from the whistleblowers claiming he got preferential treatment during the five-year investigation from U.S. Attorney David Weiss. Former IRS and FBI agents had come forward to claim they were blocked from conducting a proper investigation into Hunter. They also alleged that senior officials tipped off Secret Service agents that they wanted to interview the president's son. The president's scandal-hit son said 'yes, your honor' when asked by the judge if he was going to plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors, and admitted he's been to rehab six times in 20 years for addiction to drinking and drugs Kevin Morris, the lawyer who helped Hunter pay off $2million in delinquent taxes, walks behind the president's son on the way into the courthouse Law enforcement secure the area outside the federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, ahead of Hunter Biden's court appearance on Wednesday Hunter allegedly lied on a firearm report (above) required for his gun transaction. A photo of the form shows he answered 'no' when asked if he was an 'unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance Last Thursday, Hunter's attorney Kevin Morris was seen smoking from a bong in public view. He has been revealed as one of the buyers of Hunter's artwork The night before his hearing, Hunter flew alongside Morris in a private jet from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. That same evening, Judge Noreika was at the center of drama after she threatened Hunter's lawyers with sanctions. But Hunter's lawyers blamed allegations they conspired to a lie simply to an 'unfortunate misunderstanding'. A picture from Hunter Biden's leaked hard drive shows him posing naked while holding a semi-automatic handgun by his side 'The matter under consideration appears to stem from an unfortunate and unintentional miscommunication between a staff member at our firm and employees of the Court. We have no idea how the misunderstanding occurred, but our understanding is there was no misrepresentation,' Matthew Salerno wrote to Judge Noreika on Tuesday evening. He claimed that Jessica Bengels, the Latham staffer accused of pretending to be from another law firm, has a phone number which should show up as 'LATHAM' on the clerk's caller ID, indicating she was calling from the legal firm Latham & Watkins. Salerno attached an affidavit from Bengels, in which she claimed she initially called a court clerk called Julia, from her Latham phone, identified herself truthfully, but was later called back by a different clerk, Samantha. At around 11.54am, another Court employee called my Latham & Watkins phone number (which I believe she knew through caller ID) to let me know she would be removing the material from the docket, Bengels wrote. She did not ask which law firm I was affiliated with, and at no time during this call did I mention anything about my law firm affiliation. I believe there may have been some confusion when Julia passed the information on to the other Court employee, resulting in a mistaken understanding that I had called from Mr. Kittilas firm. I am completely confident that I never indicated that I was calling from Mr. Kittilas firm or that I worked with him in any way. She was referring to Theodore Kittila, the attorney representing the GOP House Ways and Means Committee. Hunter Biden's many controversies have been a headache for his father's presidential term and could be weaponized by Republicans in the 2024 race. The president and his son are pictured together in August 2022 The misdemeanor charges Hunter is facing stem from the unpaid taxes, and lying about his drug use when he bought a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver in October 2018. Delaware, where the First Son purchased the 0.38 caliber pistol, makes any buyer answer a series of questions before they can lay their hands on a weapon. One from the 2018 application asks if the applicant uses or is addicted to drugs. The box is clearly checked 'no.' When Hunter was first charged, the president and first lady said they were 'proud' of him. However, the White House has avoided discussing Hunter's legal troubles by claiming he is a private citizen or referring questions to the Department of Justice. His lawyer Christopher Clark said last month: 'I know Hunter believes it is important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of turmoil and addiction in his life. 'He looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving forward.' Three U.S. Marines who were found unresponsive in a car parked at a North Carolina gas station died of carbon monoxide poisoning, the local sheriff's office said. The lance corporals, identified by the U.S. Marine Corps as Tanner J. Kaltenberg, 19, of Madison, Wisconsin, Merax C. Dockery, 23, of Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, and Ivan R. Garcia, 23, of Naples, Florida, were stationed at nearby Camp Lejeune. Deputies with the Pender County Sheriff's Office found the three men Sunday morning in a privately owned car outside a Speedway gas station in Hampstead. Autopsies performed Wednesday by the North Carolina Office of Medical Examiner determined that all three deaths were the result of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the sheriff's office. The sheriff's office did not immediately make clear whether their deaths were accidental, but an investigation is ongoing and deputies said there isn't believed to be a threat to the public. Lance Corporal Merax Dockery, one of the three Marines found dead, had entered active duty in June 2020 and like his comrades posted pictures to social media of himself in uniform Tanner J. Kaltenberg, 19, of Madison, Wisconsin, entered active duty in May 2021 Ivan R. Garcia, 23, of Naples, Florida, held the same position as the other two deceased men in the same regiment, and began active service in July 2019 The men were found at the Speedway gas station on the U.S. Highway 17 in Hampstead, roughly 40 minutes from where they were stationed at Camp Lejeune 'I am saddened by the timeless and tragic death of these three young men, who served our country honorably,' Sheriff Alan Cutler said. 'Our thoughts and prayers remain with their families and colleagues during this time.' The sheriff's office said a woman called 911 at 8:22 a.m. on Sunday morning to report her son, who was stationed at Camp Lejeune, had not shown up for a flight in Oklahoma. She said she had spoken with a supervisor in his unit and that someone was en route to the location to see if they could locate him. Another call came in at 9:03 a.m. with information that the missing person had been found dead inside a vehicle along with two other Marines. All three Marines were motor vehicle operators with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group. 'My deepest sympathy and condolences are extended to the family, friends, and colleagues of Lance Cpl. Kaltenberg, Lance Cpl. Dockery and Lance Cpl. Garcia,' Brigadier General Michael E. McWilliams, the men's commanding general said in a statement earlier this week. 'Our focus is providing the necessary resources and support to those impacted by their tragic loss as they navigate this extremely difficult time.' All three Marines were motor vehicle operators with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group Lance Corporal Merax Dockery posted online photos of himself in uniform Dockery also posted pictures of himself with a weapon while on deployment Heather Glass wrote 'I will forever love you son' accompanied by her favorite photo of Dockery Lance Corporal Merax Dockery entered active duty in June 2020 and like his comrades proudly posted pictures of himself in uniform, some while holding weapons, others in what appears to be on duty in a desert. Other pictures show his interests outside the military, including playing guitar and skateboarding. Following the news of his death, Dockery's mother, Heather Glass, wrote on Facebook next to a picture of her son wearing a Stetson style hat: 'My favorite picture of Merax... I will forever love you son'. Lance Corporal Tanner Kaltenberg entered active duty in May 2021 and recently posted on social media about enjoying a 'fun' deployment to Setermoen Leir in Norway. Alongside pictures of himself in military gear against the backdrop of the Northern Lights and snowy mountains the teenager wrote: 'I couldn't really post these in Setermoen Leir cause I would've gotten in trouble but we are coming down to the last days of deployment and it has been a blast. Kaltenberg entered active duty in May 2021 and recently posted on social media about enjoying a 'fun' deployment to Setermoen Leir in Norway Kaltenberg posted recent pictures of himself in military gear against the backdrop of the Northern Lights and snowy mountains of Norway Kaltenberg's sister Brianna Windisch wrote a heartbreaking tribute to her brother on Tuesday He described how despite the cold he enjoyed taking part in the training exercise including conducting 'the longest convoy in marine corps history across borders'. Adding: 'All in all it was a fun a** deployment.' Kaltenberg's heartbroken sister Brianna Windisch wrote on Facebook on Tuesday: 'Our whole world is flipped upside down right now. I miss you fiercely bro it's never goodbye, it's see you later. I love you so much' alongside a sweet picture with her brother's arm around her. Ivan Garcia, held the same position as the other two deceased men in the same regiment, and began active service in July 2019. Garcia also posted pictures of himself in military gear, including in a recent post where he posed on a Tucker Sno-Cat. The Lance Corporal also posted several pictures of himself with a silver four door car with distinct interior moderations. Dockery appears to be pictured inside the bejeweled vehicle from Garcia's posts Garcia made several social media posts about his vehicle, showing off its modified interior Dockery appears to be pictured inside the bejeweled vehicle from Ivan's posts On Tuesday, Garcia's aunt Rosely posted a collection of sweet photos with her nephew with the devastating caption, translated from Spanish: 'My boy, my love, what a void you have left, and look how you came without knowing it was the last trip I would see you.' His bereaved aunt added: 'Now who will I fight with? Who will I scold? Today I cant believe he is not here, oh my god, how painful my beautiful boy, why did you leave me'. The sheriff's office said the investigation is ongoing. 'This is an ongoing investigation. There does not appear to have ever been any threat to members of the community. More information will be released as we are able to do so,' according to a sheriff's office release. Hunter Bidens lawyers and prosecutors expected a routine hearing Wednesday when they arrived in court with a carefully negotiated deal to keep the president's son out of prison. Instead, they found themselves turning on each other under the glare of a federal judge who was determined to pick apart their agreement. It was a tense and unexpected episode in a three-hour ordeal that had the presidents son stroll into a courtroom in his former hometown only to watch the plan to put his tax problems behind him crumble before his eyes. The clash came after federal judge Maryellen Noreika lodged a series of attacks against the agreement that would have the president's son plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors and avoid prosecution on a gun charge. 'I don't know what you're trying to accomplish,' Biden lawyer Chris Clark told prosector Leo Wise, in a jab he made well within earshot of DailyMail.com at the front of the courtroom as the haggling was underway. 'You can't get around that,' Wise countered, picking apart part of his argument. 'Then we'll rip it up!' Clark responded. The back-and-forth took place after Judge Noreika's questioning put the deal that would allow Hunter to avoid jail time for failure to pay taxes on the skids. 'Then we'll rip it up!' Hunter Biden's lawyers clashed with prosecutors after a federal judge put his plea deal under scrutiny Noreika warned lawyers the deal was unprecedented and possibly unconstitutional, and could prevent prosecutors from going after Biden for other crimes in the future. She insisted she was acting in Hunters interest by making sure he knew exactly how much protection he would - or would not - get under the deal. But she also unloaded on it, sometimes in personal terms about the position it put her in as an arbiter. 'You keep telling me that I have no role I shouldn't even be reading this thing,' she vented. Her admonitions forced a tense negotiation after the judge left her courtroom. Teams of lawyers faced off in talks an hour into the hearing. They had to hash out among themselves what exactly they had agreed to it, then sell it to a judge who was increasingly skeptical. The end result ended in a politically perilous delay for Joe Biden's campaign set to be helmed from Wilmington in a state Biden represented for decades and got the government to say its probe of his son was 'ongoing.' It all happened under the eyes of U.S. Secret Service agents, who were there to protect the president's son. Biden lawyer Abbe Lowell had made sure to reserve space for them up front, after bumping a lawyer for the House Ways and Means Committee Chairman, who had been involved in yet another clash by filing a brief in the case that had sent the judge fuming over alleged misconduct by Hunter's team Tuesday night. 'Find me a good seat,' said the lawyer, Ted Kittila, after nestling in with his tote bag inscribed with the initials of his law firm. 'I'll get you a reasonable seat,' countered Lowell, directing him to the back of the other side of the room, away from his team and the high-stakes huddling to come. The judge said the unprecedented nature of the agreement forced her to step in. But bizarrely, she also said she sympathized with the presidents son. 'Mr. Biden, I know you want to get this over with,' she told him at the end of the three-hour slugfest which had the effect of pushing off Hunter's plea, and extending his legal woes into late summer and the fall as his father gears up his presidential reelection campaign. That keeps Biden's legal woes in the spotlight even as his father's nemesis Donald Trump faces potential indictment related his election overturn effort. Her questioning of Biden also called attention to his battles with addiction he mentioned six stints at in-patient rehab and the contours of his lucrative business deals with a Ukrainian energy firm and a now bankrupt former massive Chinese conglomerate. She repeated many of the startling amounts he earned for his business activities even while battling addiction. It was clear minutes into the hearing that the judge was not going to accept the deal and move on. She made known her concerns about how the gun charge was being handled, and kept open the possibility she could accept or reject Biden's plea. The team of lawyers soon took their dispute to the back of the courtroom, where they would ultimately unify but find themselves confronting a relentless inquisitor in Judge Noreika. Hunter's expressions grew increasingly dour as the situation deteriorated. When she wasn't blasting the agreement, the judge was quizzing the lawyers on why she should accept it. It was only about halfway through that she lost her focus. 'I forgot my glasses,' she said. She dispatched a court aide to get them, but said she didn't want her to open the back door and 'freak people out.' Biden lawyer Chris Clark threatened to 'rip up' an agreement then asked a judge for more time to reach an understanding with prosecutors 'You can't get around that,' federal prosecutor Leo Wise told Hunter Biden's team during tense negotiations over the precise nature of a plea deal they already negotiated It was a shock to the president's son, who had put on a display of confidence and politeness inside the courtroom. He sported a smart suit and made a point of shaking hands with lawyers seated on the government's side of the courtroom, always calling the judge 'hour honor' and answering directly. He caught her attention when he said under questioning he would not accept the plea deal if he didn't also get the non-prosecution assurances incorporated in the gun agreement. But as the judge's disposition became clear and the deal appeared to come apart, he suddenly betrayed a look of concern. For one of the few times during the three-hour drama, he placed his hand on a microphone and looked back toward dozens of reporters who were scribbling down the stunning turn of events. But the deal did not immediately blow up. In fact, much of the drama inside the Caleb Boggs Federal Courthouse featured an alliance of defense lawyers and prosecutors defending their handiwork against slicing comments by the judge. Clark would soon pat his client on the back, in a possible indication that the deal was back on. The discussions appeared to bring some additional clarity to what the sides did and did not agree to. Judge Noreika wanted to know if there were any potential crimes prosecutors could still charge Hunter with even after the deal. She also raised a series of objections to a 'diversion agreement' that would allow Hunter to avoid prosecution for lying on a gun purchase form. She fumed repeatedly that she was not a 'rubber stamp.' When she came back in court, Wise had to defend the agreement, which congressional Republicans had already slammed as a 'sweetheart deal.' Both teams had to answer to flaws she pointed out. 'What happens if I reject the plea?' the judge wanted to know, on grounds that it included an agreement not to prosecute. Wise admitted there is 'the possibility that additional charges could be brought.' He said there was an 'ongoing' investigation, then added cryptically, 'I'm not in a position where I can say' what they pertained to. 'You seem to be asking for the imprimatur of the court for the agreement,' the judge vented. She also complained that the lawyers said she did not have a role in approving the type of plea they negotiated but also that they gave her a role in serving as referee if Hunter were to be found in breach of the gun diversion agreement. 'I guess I'm supposed to rubber stamp,' she complained. The jockeying came in a bizarre hearing where the president's son not only had to state his full name, but spell it out. 'B-I-D-E-N,' he told the judge. He had a team of lawyers before the bench, but another four including high profile defense attorney Abbe Lowell and three other lawyers sitting behind them. Also there was 'sugar bro' Kevin Morris, who paid Hunter's outstanding tax bill, which was a condition of resolving the matter. His name didn't come up in court, and he declined to take a question from DailyMail.com when approached. Hunter told the judge it was a loan but that he hadn't made any payments. Morris also offered counsel to Hunter, who looked increasingly dejected as the hearing wore on. At one point they exchanged a friendly but partial gimme-five gesture, although their hands only breezed together. Following the round of pressure from the judge, Wise acknowledged that the feds couldn't bring serious tax evasion charges under the agreement. But they could hit Hunter for potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which prosecutors used against Trump-world figures in the last administration. That prompted yet another clash between the lawyers. 'As stated by the government now, I don't agree what the the government said,' Clark said in court. 'Then there's no deal,' snapped Wise. 'Where does that leave us?' asked the judge. 'As far as I'm concerned, the plea agreement's null and void,' said Clark. But when the judge started talking about a next hearing in 30 days, it was Clark who asked to try to 'take 10 minutes' to try to resolve differences. They ultimately did but not to the judge's satisfaction. Biden unexpectedly pleaded not guilty to tax and gun crimes after his 'sweetheart' plea deal collapsed in a sensational court hearing. The scandal-hit first son is also still on the hook for any crimes linked to foreign deals with China and Ukraine after the judge dramatically rejected the first agreement that would have shielded him from future charges and seen him avoid jail. Hunter had arrived at federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, expecting to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and walk away with a slap on the wrist. But in a stunning turn of events, the first agreement unraveled and the latest plea deal over his failure to pay taxes and lying about his crack cocaine addiction when he bought a gun was put on hold. Hunter initially said 'yes, your honor' when asked by the judge if he would plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors and admitted he's been to rehab six times in 20 years for addiction to alcohol and drugs. The hearing then turned when the Department of Justice lawyers warned Hunter he could still be charged for potential violations for failing to register as a foreign agent over his shady deals - which Republicans say involve his father Joe. At that news - delivered by top prosecutor Leo Wise - Hunter's attorney Chris Clark snapped that the deal was 'null and void'. Hunter Biden could be on the hook for more criminal charges related to his business deals with China and Ukraine after prosecutors and his legal team negotiated a limited new plea deal - because their first agreement sensationally collapsed There were signs of trouble from the get-go, when U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika allowed she had 'concerns about the diversion agreement.' She asked Wise if he had ever seen a diversion agreement 'so broad that it encompasses crimes in a different case.' 'What happens if I reject this plea?' she asked. 'I dont mean to violate the separation of powers or do anything (un)constitutional.' When she pressed the parties on areas of confusion, Clark said he didnt agree with the governments characterization. 'Then theres no deal,' Wise said in court. 'As far as Im concerned the agreements null and void,' Clark weighed in. That set off another round of talks after the judge agreed to give them more time, with the government and Team Hunter getting behind it once again. The case unraveled after a dramatic 24 hours in which Hunter's attorneys were threatened with sanctions over an alleged prank call to remove bombshell testimony from an IRS whistleblower from the docket. His lawyers claimed it was a simple mistake. But the matter put the judge in a fighting mood, and she demanded Hunter's team provide an explanation by 9pm Tuesday night. The incident did not come up in open court Monday. At the start of the sensational hearing, Hunter stepped out of a motorcade in silence with a police escort and walked across the sidewalk alongside his legal team and surrounded by Secret Service agents. He walked into the federal court in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, alongside his 'sugar brother' and lawyer Kevin Morris - who was seen smoking a bong during a visit from the president's son last week. Hunter revealed to the judge that he was first treated for alcohol abuse in 2003 and was last in an in-patient facility in 2018. He then insisted he's been sober since 2019 when warned he faced random drug testing under the conditions of his release. But in one potentially damaging admission under questioning by the judge, he admitted he was sober when he filed his 2018 return, which was due in October 2019 after an automatic extension. 'And you were sober at the time?' she asked him. 'I was, your honor,' Biden replied. He said he was 'utting my life back together' and there was a 'flood of an enormous amount of deadlines.' Prosecutors had recommended probation for Hunter for not paying between $1.1 million and $1.5 million in federal taxes in 2017 and 2018, despite his substantial income from Ukrainian and Chinese energy companies. They also scolded him for continuing to 'spend wildly' on his lavish lifestyle while he had the funds to pay back what he owed. Hunter walked into the federal court in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, alongside his 'sugar brother' and lawyer Kevin Morris (left) - who was seen smoking a bong during a visit from the president's son last week He could have faced up to 12 months in prison for the tax crimes, and ten years for lying about his crack cocaine addiction on a federal form when buying a gun. But the agreement sparked fury from Republicans who demanded the judge block it. The deal had also been under intense scrutiny over the bombshell testimony from the whistleblowers claiming he got preferential treatment during the five-year investigation from U.S. Attorney David Weiss. Former IRS and FBI agents had come forward to claim they were blocked from conducting a proper investigation into Hunter. They also alleged that senior officials tipped off Secret Service agents that they wanted to interview the president's son. The president's scandal-hit son said 'yes, your honor' when asked by the judge if he was going to plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors, and admitted he's been to rehab six times in 20 years for addiction to drinking and drugs Kevin Morris, the lawyer who helped Hunter pay off $2million in delinquent taxes, walks behind the president's son on the way into the courthouse Law enforcement secure the area outside the federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, ahead of Hunter Biden's court appearance on Wednesday Hunter allegedly lied on a firearm report (above) required for his gun transaction. A photo of the form shows he answered 'no' when asked if he was an 'unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance Last Thursday, Hunter's attorney Kevin Morris was seen smoking from a bong in public view. He has been revealed as one of the buyers of Hunter's artwork The night before his hearing, Hunter flew alongside Morris in a private jet from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. That same evening, Judge Noreika was at the center of drama after she threatened Hunter's lawyers with sanctions. But Hunter's lawyers blamed allegations they conspired to a lie simply to an 'unfortunate misunderstanding'. A picture from Hunter Biden's leaked hard drive shows him posing naked while holding a semi-automatic handgun by his side 'The matter under consideration appears to stem from an unfortunate and unintentional miscommunication between a staff member at our firm and employees of the Court. We have no idea how the misunderstanding occurred, but our understanding is there was no misrepresentation,' Matthew Salerno wrote to Judge Noreika on Tuesday evening. He claimed that Jessica Bengels, the Latham staffer accused of pretending to be from another law firm, has a phone number which should show up as 'LATHAM' on the clerk's caller ID, indicating she was calling from the legal firm Latham & Watkins. Salerno attached an affidavit from Bengels, in which she claimed she initially called a court clerk called Julia, from her Latham phone, identified herself truthfully, but was later called back by a different clerk, Samantha. At around 11.54am, another Court employee called my Latham & Watkins phone number (which I believe she knew through caller ID) to let me know she would be removing the material from the docket, Bengels wrote. She did not ask which law firm I was affiliated with, and at no time during this call did I mention anything about my law firm affiliation. I believe there may have been some confusion when Julia passed the information on to the other Court employee, resulting in a mistaken understanding that I had called from Mr. Kittilas firm. I am completely confident that I never indicated that I was calling from Mr. Kittilas firm or that I worked with him in any way. She was referring to Theodore Kittila, the attorney representing the GOP House Ways and Means Committee. Hunter Biden's many controversies have been a headache for his father's presidential term and could be weaponized by Republicans in the 2024 race. The president and his son are pictured together in August 2022 The misdemeanor charges Hunter is facing stem from the unpaid taxes, and lying about his drug use when he bought a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver in October 2018. Delaware, where the First Son purchased the 0.38 caliber pistol, makes any buyer answer a series of questions before they can lay their hands on a weapon. One from the 2018 application asks if the applicant uses or is addicted to drugs. The box is clearly checked 'no.' When Hunter was first charged, the president and first lady said they were 'proud' of him. However, the White House has avoided discussing Hunter's legal troubles by claiming he is a private citizen or referring questions to the Department of Justice. His lawyer Christopher Clark said last month: 'I know Hunter believes it is important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of turmoil and addiction in his life. 'He looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving forward.' MANZINI The Ministry of Health has deployed 48 nurses and laboratory technologists to test the public for cholera in health facilities. The programme was supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which collaborated with the ministry in the deployment of the personnel. The health practitioners, according to a statement by the WHO, started working last week Monday. It was said they were to test and investigate cholera related cases, following an increase in acute watery diarrhoea cases recorded in the countrys health facilities as of late 2022 till April 2023. Statement The statement said WHO deployed a team from the regional office to help the country in terms of readiness to the first cholera case that had been confirmed at that time. WHO in its statement said while the team was in the country, a second case was recorded which showed that there was circulation of cholera in Eswatini, more so because the second case was not linked to the first one. Based on this, the team from the WHO Regional Office recommended that we develop an acute watery diarrhoea testing strategy so that we can rule out Cholera, said Dr Lonkululeko Khumalo, the WHO Emergency, Preparedness and Response (EPR) Officer. It was said that WHO further supported the roll-out of the testing strategy by providing financial support for the engagement of the 48 staff members. Dr Khumalo said an analysis was conducted to ascertain which facilities reported high numbers of acute watery diarrhoea cases, to inform the deployment of the staff. It was reported that a total of 24 facilities were identified in all the four regions. We engaged 24 nurses and 24 laboratory technologists who were deployed in the 24 selected facilities to ensure that all cases of acute watery diarrhoea are tested for cholera. We have also helped in the procurement of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) which are used at the lowest level to confirm. If the samples are positive to the RDT, it is referred for culture to confirm if it is cholera. Testing Dr Khumalo reported that the testing had yielded a lot of results, in that, all acute watery diarrhoea cases were screened and tested. Meanwhile, Eswatini has developed a public health handbook as well as Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to guide the operations of the Emergency Operating Centre EOC). WHO and other partners reportedly supported the country in establishing the handbook. It was said both the handbook and the SOP were validated during a meeting in Manzini last week. Head of the EPR Unit in the Ministry of Health Dr Masitsela Mhlanga said there was need for proper coordination to ensure that the EOC was ready for all the emergencies in the 11 pillars. The EOC is the engine room for public and thus, it should be well coordinated, he said. The handbook is envisaged to guide in terms of the roles of the staff at the EOC. Furthermore, WHO Consultant Dr Paul Abiodun said WHO had set-up public health emergency operation centres in all countries to manage public health emergencies. Emergencies He said this would help to predict any incoming emergencies. Dr Abiodun said putting in place the handbook and SOP would enable the public health emergency operation centre to function well. Any occurrence of an emergency will be easily managed because we have the handbook, he said. The operation centre has colours that help to determine which stage of the pandemic the country is at. If there is no threat, the colour remains green- at watch mode. If something is looming in nearby countries, we activate the alert mode which is yellow, and once we record a case in the country, we activate the response mode which is red. The red colour triggers that all those responsible for responding should start running, said Dr Mhlanga. It was said that WHO was closely monitoring the countrys capacity to activate the response mode within 120 minutes after a case had been reported. A 93-year-old man became the oldest person to climb the Half Dome in Yosemite National Park this month after training by scaling his 17-floor senior facility. Everett Kalin, a retired professor from Oakland, California, made the historic trek alongside son Jon Kalin, 57, and granddaughter Sidney Kalin, 19, earlier this month. The 16 mile round trip hike is nearly 9,000 feet above sea level and is described as a 'great challenge to many hikers' on Yosemite's website. A video of the elderly man reaching the top posted to TikTok by Sidney has gone viral, accumulating 2.8 million likes and more than 15 million views. The man's latest accolade now joins a list of other accomplishments including skydiving for his birthday at the age of 91. Everett Kalin (pictured) became the oldest person to hike Yosemite National Park's half-dome at the age of 93 when he completed the trek alongside his son and granddaughter Sidney Kalin (left), Everett (middle), and Jon Kalin (right) took several days to reach the top @sidneykalin July 18th, Everett Kalin became the oldest known person to climb Yosemites Half Dome at 93 years old. Words cannot describe how proud I am. Opa, it was an honor to take on this trip with you. I hope this stands as a lesson to everyone that you are never too young or old to achieve your dreams. M83 Outro Versaille Intro - yaten82 The Half Dome is located 8,800 feet above sea level and 5,550 feet above Yosemite Valley The group with Everett cheered him along as the elderly man reached the top of the Half Dome after a grueling hike to the summit. He told local outlets that the idea to climb the landmark just 'came to him' and that his son Jon - an avid backpacker - said it sounded like a plan. The 93-year-old man said he started training after talking with his wife Clara who gave him the permission to pull off the risky hike. After that, he immediately began training by walking up and down the stairs at their senior living facility, he said. Despite being nearly 20 miles roundtrip and even tough for some of the most experienced hikers, Jon said his father couldn't be stopped. 'Kept going stretch by stretch, further and further, and just incredible to see him assembling those cables,' Jon said. Furthermore, Everett said he wasn't in as bad of shape as he though he might be. 'I guess I was pleasantly surprised that when I got up there, I did not feel like I was huffing and puffing so much. As we went up, it felt pretty good,' explained Everett. 'I guess I was pleasantly surprised that when I got up there, I did not feel like I was huffing and puffing so much. As we went up, it felt pretty good,' explained Everett (pictured) 'It was spectacular for the three generations of us to be together enjoying it all at once,' said Jon (pictured) who carried all of the supplies with Sidney Everett began training for the hike by scaling his 17-floor senior-living facility The process getting up to the top was not as easy, however. 'I didn't fully realize how tricky it would be, especially at my age,' he said. Everett said the worst part was hiking the subdome, which does not have cables for assistance along the way and is steep and slick. According to Sidney, who spoke with SF Gate, Sidney and Jon had to hold on to Everett at one point to keep him going. Even with the struggles, the former professor kept moving forward. 'He's stubborn as a mule. When he sets his mind to something, he's going to do it,' Jon said. '... He kept proving me wrong every step of the way.' The trio took a few days to break up the hike and reached the peak on July 18. All together, the group hiked for 13 hours to complete the incredible task. 'It was spectacular for the three generations of us to be together enjoying it all at once,' said Jon, who carried all of the supplies with Sidney. 'Yeah, that was great!' Everett added. Everett's son and granddaughter kept all of their hiking equipment with them so that their loved one would only have to worry about himself and his water bladder. Upon finally reaching the top, the group was not only met with a wave of accomplishment, but a large crowd of fans who cheered and congratulated them The 16 mile hike is described as a 'great challenge to many hikers' on Yosemite's website Upon finally reaching the top, the group was not only met with a wave of accomplishment, but a large crowd of fans. 'There were tears in everyone's eyes,' Jon said. 'It was like paparazzi, everyone taking videos and photos. It was unreal. I'm choking up just talking about it now. The power of seeing him was so much joy and inspiration.' Everett said it is an experience hell never forget. 'One of the crazy things both on the trail and the night before was we met tons of people who were looking at me and asking, "How old are you?"' he said. 'I said 93, and they wanted to take my picture,' he continued. A Yosemite official told SF Gate that the park does not keep the age of hikers but that at 93, Everett may be the oldest to complete the challenge. The viral video posted by Sidney has touched the hearts of people around the world who congratulated Everett and thanked him for inspiring them. 'Well done Everett and well said Sidney,' wrote hiking equipment brand REI. 'Going to send this to my dad who said hes too old to have dreams. Amazing accomplishment Everett! Youre an inspiration,' another added. Ministers last night urged regulators to throw the book at corrupt immigration lawyers exposed by the Mail. In an unusual step, Rishi Sunak and Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk said the 'appalling' conduct uncovered by this newspaper must be met with the 'full force of sanctions'. In a letter to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), a copy of which has been seen by the Mail, Mr Chalk said the practices exposed were 'unacceptable and must stop'. He called on the watchdog to conduct an urgent review of the sector to root out corrupt behaviour. The move was echoed by the Prime Minister, who said immediate action was needed to restore public confidence. Mr Sunak said: 'While the vast majority of lawyers take their professional responsibilities seriously, these allegations of exploitation and unscrupulous practice brought to light by the Mail are truly shocking and it is vital that those found to be abusing their position face the full consequences of their actions. 'I am determined to rebuild the public's confidence that it is their country and their government who should decide who comes here, not people looking to profit from undermining our laws. 'That's why this Government will continue to strain every sinew to end the abuse of our system and stop the boats.' In an unusual step, Rishi Sunak (pictured) and Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk said the 'appalling' conduct uncovered by this newspaper must be met with the 'full force of sanctions' VP Lingajothy (pictured) asked for 10,000 to invent a horrific back story to use in the asylum application Rashid Ahmad Khan (pictured) told our covert reporter he cant help him apply for asylum if he doesnt say his life is in danger back home' and told him to lie to the Home Office Malik Nazar Hayat (pictured) told our reporter the whole process would cost 5,500 in cash, a price he insists is a steal from his usual fees of 12,000 to 15,000 for similar cases The interventions followed this newspaper's damning investigation into the activities of unscrupulous lawyers charging thousands of pounds to submit false asylum claims for illegal immigrants. Some law firms are charging up to 10,000 to invent stories of torture, death threats and modern slavery designed to help clients claim asylum. The investigation found legal staff readily agreeing to help submit false claims, in apparent contravention of the solicitors' code of conduct. The Mail has handed over its evidence to the SRA, which is looking into the allegations. The independent watchdog said it would take action if it found evidence that solicitors or firms have acted in ways that contravene its rules and their duty to act legally and uphold the law. In his letter to SRA chairman Anna Bradley, Mr Chalk said 'robust' action was needed to retain public confidence in the immigration system, which he said was a 'top priority for Government'. He said he was 'appalled' by the 'apparent abuse of the system by individuals relied upon to give legal advice'. 'I would strongly encourage you to use the full force of sanctions available to you against solicitors where there is a finding of a breach,' he said. 'It is vital that we show the public and the majority of honest and professional solicitors that this kind of abuse of the system will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.' Mr Chalk said solicitors were 'critical to the operation of a fair and robust immigration system'. But he added: 'Any examples of practices which fall short of the high ethical standards we expect of solicitors risk serious disruption to the immigration system, tarnishing the reputation of those working in this area, and critically undermining public confidence.' The SRA has the power to levy substantial fines and even shut down law firms with immediate effect. Crucially, it can also refer rogue lawyers to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, which can levy unlimited fines and strike off solicitors, leaving them unable to practise. However, a loophole in the law means that while migrants can face criminal sanctions for submitting false claims, it is much harder to prosecute their lawyers. Mr Chalk urged the SRA to reopen a review of the immigration law sector, which previously raised concerns but found that 'overall, we were satisfied with the quality of service being provided'. Mr Chalk said the Mail's investigation 'suggests that there are still firms operating that are not compliant', adding: 'As I'm sure you will agree, this is unacceptable and must stop.' Policing minister Chris Philp called for immediate action against those involved. 'The Mail's reporting exposes disgraceful conduct fraudulent conduct by these so-called immigration lawyers,' he said. 'They are... fabricating these asylum claims, doing it potentially on quite a wide scale. It's completely unacceptable for these lawyers to be committing what seems to me to be fraud, getting people to submit totally fabricated accounts.' In a letter to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), a copy of which has been seen by the Mail, Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk (pictured) said the practices exposed were 'unacceptable and must stop' Ministers last night urged regulators to throw the book at corrupt immigration lawyers (Muhammad Azfar Ahmad pictured) exposed by the Mail The Lord Chancellor's robust intervention stood in stark contrast to the response from the Bar Council, which triggered a backlash this week when it attacked Mr Sunak for criticising corrupt immigration lawyers. READ MORE: Fury as the Bar Council attacks Rishi Sunak after the Prime Minister criticised immigration lawyers exposed by the Mail as trying to help migrants falsely claim asylum Advertisement The PM accused 'the Labour Party, a subset of lawyers (and) criminal gangs' of being 'on the same side, propping up a system of exploitation that profits from getting people to the UK illegally'. The Bar Council's vice-chairman, Sam Townend KC, accused the PM of 'playing politics with the legal profession' in a way that 'undermines the rule of law'. But Tory MPs urged the body to focus on the wrongdoing exposed by the Mail. Former minister Brendan Clarke-Smith said: 'The Bar Council should be supporting him in challenging this immoral and in some cases illegal behaviour, not criticising him for standing up for the British people and the integrity of our legal system.' Mr Philp said: 'The PM was right to criticise what happened as robustly and roundly as he did. Regardless of what your views are on immigration, I think everybody would accept that having lawyers concoct totally fabricated claims to try and cheat our system is morally abhorrent.' Among the rogue legal advisers we exposed was V P Lingajothy, who asked for 10,000 to invent a horrific backstory to use in the asylum application, including claims of sexual torture, slave labour and imprisonment. After the Mail approached the south London firm he was representing, he was sacked. Legal authorities suggested those exposed by the Mail's investigation could fall foul of Section 25 of the 1971 Immigration Act, which prohibits facilitating illegal migration. But this is thought to apply only to those who help the act of unlawful entry, not helping the illegal immigrants after they have arrived. A desperate search has been launched for a 33-year-old LA attorney who vanished in the downtown area 20 days ago - as his family fears he may be 'hospitalized and unidentified'. Aaron Davidson, 33, was last seen at a home in the 200 block of South Grand Avenue on July 6. In a statement posted to Twitter the Los Angeles Police Department said that the lawyer's 'family is concerned for his safety, or that he may be hospitalized or unidentified.' Aaron Davidson, 33, was last seen at a home in the 200 block of South Grand Avenue on July 6 The Los Angeles Police Department said that the lawyer's 'family is concerned for his safety, or that he may be hospitalized or unidentified.' Davidson was last seen at a home in the 200 block of South Grand Avenue on July 6 Police have pleaded with the public to come forward if they have any information regarding the possible whereabouts of Davidson The LAPD described Davidson as a 5ft 5" white male with brown hair and brown eyes, weighing approximately 170 pounds. 'The Los Angeles Police Department and the family and friends of Aaron Davidson are requesting the public's assistance in locating him' the statement reads. 'Aaron was last seen on July 6 2023, at a resident in the 200 block of South Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles.' Davidson, is a graduate of Chapman University, Fowler School of Law in Orange, and an active member of the California Bar. He is currently a Litigation Associate at the firm Lobello Lamb Lewis & Riley LLP, which he joined in December 2019, according to his LinkedIn page. Police have released two recent photographs of Davidson to aid the public with the search. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre rejected the notion Wednesday that the White House has changed its wording when discussing President Joe Biden's relationship with Hunter Biden's foreign business deals. Jean-Pierre tried avoiding discussing the first son's dramatic day in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware by reading a statement about the case at the top of the briefing. But she was still peppered with questions about whether the president had been in touch with Hunter and his legal team as his plea deal collapsed, what the president thought of Hunter being charged with illegal firearms possession - and what the president was doing Wednesday, as he had no events on his public schedule. Real Clear Politics' Philip Wegmann pointed out to Jean-Pierre that previous statements distancing the president from his son's overseas businesses said the two had never discussed those opportunities, while more recently the White House line has been that Joe and Hunter were never in business together. 'Why the updated language?' he asked. 'Nothing has changed. Nothing has changed on this. Nothing has changed on this,' the press secretary insisted. 'You could ask me a million different ways on this question, nothing has changed.' Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre rejected the notion Wednesday that the White House has changed its wording when discussing President Joe Biden's relationship with Hunter Biden's foreign business deal New testimony is expected to come out from Hunter's business partner Devon Archer, who will tell Congress that Hunter would put business associates on speakerphone with his father. What's unclear is whether the now-president approved of these calls. Hunter's plea deal crumbled when prosecutors on Wednesday said it didn't mean he couldn't face future charges - potentially related to the foreign business deals under investigation. The first son was supposed to avoid jail time by admitting to felony gun possession, a charge related to him lying about his drug use on a form to buy a firearm in 2018. When asked Wednesday if President Biden believed someone who is charged with possessing a firearm illegally should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, Jean-Pierre tried batting the question away. 'I think I know where this question is going,' she said. 'And I'm just going to continue to say as it relates to the case that we're seeing in Delaware, I'm just going to not speak to that.' 'It is an independent matter,' she added. Hunter Biden is captured outside the federal courthouse Wednesday in Wilminton, Delaware as an expected plea deal fell apart She said it was up to the Department of Justice to decide charges. Trying again, CBS' Weijia Jiang noted how Biden, as a politician, has worked on legislation to keep illegal guns off the streets. 'So when someone possesses one illegally,' she asked. 'What does the president believe should happen to them?' Jean-Pierre, at that point, acknowledged Jiang had accurately described Biden's record, but still wouldn't bite. 'The president has been very clear - you just laid out where his position has been, what his policies have been, what he was able to pass into law - I'm going to be very mindful here,' she said. 'I'm going to be very careful because I see where this question is going and I'm just going to refer you - as this has been an independent investigation, it's overseen by the Department of Justice -I'm going to let them speak to this as they're moving forward.' Jean-Pierre said she hadn't spoken to the president by Wednesday's briefing, but said he had been 'busy.' He had no public events on his schedule, though she detailed some of the meetings and conversations he had, including participating in a podcast interview. Asked if he'd been in touch with his son, or his son's legal team, and how much of the day he'd spent paying attention to the unprecedented court case, she demurred providing details. 'Look, I don't have anything to share,' she told CNN's Jeremy Diamond. 'I would refer you to - on this particular issue - I would refer you to Hunter's representative, I would refer you to the Department of Justice.' 'I don't have anything to share beyond what I shared at the top of this briefing,' she noted. She had kicked off the briefing by telling journalists they should reach out to Hunter's representative or the Department of Justice. 'I know many people have been following the news in Delaware today and are going to have a lot of questions,' she said. 'Hunter Biden is a private citizen and this was a personal matter for him.' She noted how the president and first lady Jill Biden 'love their son and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life.' Jean-Pierre pointed out the 'indepndent' nature of the investigation, referencing how it was carried out by a prosecutor who was 'appointed by the former president, President Trump.' Frantic search efforts will continue for a 12-year-old girl who was last seen nearly 48 hours ago in one of Sydney's most affluent suburbs. Pepper Stern was last seen on Girilang Avenue in Vaucluse, in the city's east, at about 11.15am on Tuesday. She had been living at a home in a nearby street before she disappeared - but it remains unclear why she was in the area on a school day. NSW Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia the schoolgirl was still missing as of 9.30am on Thursday and local MPs have now joined the hunt for the youngster. Vaucluse NSW MP Kellie Sloane and federal MP Allegra Spender both shared details of the missing girl on their social media platforms as fears grow for her safety. 'I've been on the phone to local police this morning and they are still concerned for her welfare,' added Ms Sloane. 'Please share this information so we can ensure Pepper is safe.' Fears are growing for missing schoolgirl Pepper Stern, 12, who was last seen on Girilang Avenue in Vaucluse, Sydney's east, at about 11.15am on Tuesday Pepper was last seen outside a Vaucluse business but is also known to frequent Glebe in the city's inner west, police sources have revealed. The street where Pepper vanished intersects with busy New South Head Road which is bustling with cafes and shops, but no-one there said they saw anything either. The local community rallied around the search for the missing girl, with social media posts from Jewish House organisation and several rabbis begging the public's help. A Jewish school in the eastern suburbs also posted an alert on Instagram for her, but later stressed Pepper was not one of their pupils. Pepper had been living at a home in a nearby street before she disappeared - but it remains unclear why she was in the area on a school day (pictured is Girilang Avenue) Shocked residents on Girilang Avenue said they were disturbed by the girl's disappearance but had not seen or heard anything unusual at the time she vanished. Palatial houses on the quiet street sell for up to $10million, while upmarket units easily command a $1million price tag. Now 48 hours after the alarm was raised, police have found no trace of her with officials previously telling Daily Mail Australia: 'We are concerned for her safety.' Pepper is said to be 162cm tall with long brown curly hair and was last seen wearing black tracksuit pants, an orange jumper, and white joggers. The collapse of Hunter Biden's original plea deal on Wednesday doesn't just drag out his legal issues. It also presents more problems for his father, Joe Biden. The president will now face more headlines and questions involving his drug-addict son's case as he hits the 2024 campaign trail. On Wednesday morning, it seemed like Hunter would be quickly in and out of the federal court house in Delaware, having pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors for failing to pay between $1.1 and $1.5 million in taxes in 2017 and 2018. But as soon as he stepped in front of Federal District Judge Maryellen Noreika, any expectations the 'sweetheart' deal - in which he would have avoided jail time and been immune from future prosecutions - quickly fell apart. Hunter Biden departs the U.S. Federal District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, where his plea deal was thrown out Wednesday The unraveling of the agreement between prosecutors and the defense team means Hunter could now face more charges. It also means that Hunter is likely to face additional prosecutions down the road. Those may include any crimes related to his business deals with Ukraine, Romania and China that raked in millions of dollars. And Republicans say Joe was at the center of them. During the plea hearing, Hunter admitted that he obtained over $600,000 from a Chinese company, and was in business with one of their associates. 'My partner was associated with a Chinese energy company called CEFC,' Hunter told the federal judge. When asked the name of his partner, Hunter responded: 'I don't know how to spell his name, Yi Jianming is the chairman of that company.' That directly contradicted a statement President Biden made on the campaign trail in 2020 that his son has never 'made money' from China. In addition, some of the future charges Hunter could be facing puts the sitting president in a tough position. 'Today District Judge Noreika did the right thing by refusing to rubberstamp Hunter Biden's sweetheart plea deal,' said House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., who is leading the congressional investigations into the Biden family's business dealings. He added that the Department of Justice 'revealed Hunter Biden is under investigation for being a foreign agent.' If it turns out that the DOJ pursues charges against Hunter under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), as Comer alluded, that would create an even bigger headache for the president. FARA violations carry hefty prison sentences and sharp penalties. In 2018, former President Donald Trump's associate Paul Manafort was sentenced to 18 months in prison for FARA violations related to his business work in Ukraine. The department has not confirmed directly that it is pursing charges for Hunter for failing to register as a foreign agent while conducting his overseas business dealings, but House Republicans have stacked up a mountain of evidence linking him and his father to deals in China, Romania and Ukraine. The White House has maintained the president was never 'in business' with his son, but the GOP have ramped up their investigation with testimonies from whistleblowers and a slew of other evidence. It includes a threatening WhatsApp message Hunter is said to have sent to a Chinese businessman in 2017, using his father as leverage. 'I am sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled,' Hunter Biden allegedly wrote. 'Tell the director that I would like to resolve this now before it gets out of hand, and now means tonight. Two IRS whistleblowers who testified to Congress last week also confirmed that the Biden family has accepted over $17 million in foreign payments, with over half going to Hunter Biden. In addition, Hunter's ex-business partner Devon Archer is expected to testify on Monday before Comer's committee and reveal that Joe participated in at least 24 of Hunter's business calls - which may directly implicate the president in his son's unregistered foreign schemes. To make matters worse, Sen. Chuck Grassley published a bombshell FBI document last week detailing an alleged $10M bribery scheme between Joe Biden, 'stupid' Hunter, and a Ukrainian oligarch. According to the conversation between a confidential source and Burisma CFO Vadim Pojarski in 2015, Hunter was hired onto the Ukrainian company's board to 'protect us, through his dad, from all kinds of problems.' Burisma CEO Mykola Zlochevsky told the source: 'It costs 5 (million) to pay one Biden, and 5 (million) to another Biden.' Zlochevsky added that, although Hunter 'was stupid,' and his (Zlochevsky's) dog was smarter, he was needed on the board 'so everything will be okay.' Republicans recently revealed an intricate web of shell accounts and fake companies involving the Biden family. They are narrowing in on over $10 million received by Biden family members from foreign actors, including a previously undisclosed $1 million in Romanian-linked payments. Hunter walked into the federal court in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, alongside his 'sugar brother' and lawyer Kevin Morris (left) - who was seen smoking a bong during a visit from the president's son last week In addition, the lawmakers are digging into a 'web' of 20 companies created while Joe was vice president and pushing anti-corruption efforts abroad. The Biden family corruption and influence peddling has benefitted at least 12 family members, Comer has said - and includes wires to some of Biden's grandchildren. In total, President Biden and his son's business dealings far exceed $25 million in foreign payments, Republicans have said, and could reach upward of $40 million. Comer has accused Hunter of violating FARA and the Mann Act, money laundering, racketeering and committing wire fraud. The top Republican says Hunter can expect between six to 10 criminal referrals by the end of his investigation into the first son and his family. GOP Rep. Claudia Tenney said the plea deal being thrown out gives the Republicans' investigation more power. 'But this is really bigger. It's about Joe Biden, because guess what? Blowing up this plea deal means we can go back and get more information,' she said Wednesday on Fox Business. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is even mulling opening an impeachment inquiry into the president because he has 'lied to the American public' about his son's business deals. He is waiting to set a date or timeline until additional information is uncovered. A former British rapper, who was long thought to be be one of the ISIS Beatles, has been found dead in his prison cell in Spain. Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary, 32, had been tried earlier this month at a court in Madrid on suspicion of heading an itinerant jihadist cell he allegedly formed after leaving Syria, and was awaiting the verdict. He is understood to have been found dead at a prison in El Puerto de Santa Maria in Cadiz, south west Spain. One unconfirmed local report said his body presented no obvious signs of any violence. An internal Spanish Prison service investigation will now take place and his family will be given the right to hold their own autopsy aside from the official post-mortem to establish the exact cause of death. A separate probe will be carried out by a court in the town of El Puerto de Santa Maria. A former British rapper once believed to be the ISIS killer 'Jihadi' John has been found dead in his prison cell in Spain Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary, 32, had been tried earlier this month at a court in Madrid on suspicion of heading an itinerant jihadist cell he allegedly formed after leaving Syria, and was awaiting the verdict Rapper Abdel Bary (pictured), aka L. Jinny, covers his face as he sits in the dock during the first hearing of his trial at Audiencia Nacional Court, in Madrid, Spain He was arrested with two men described as aides less than a week after they were smuggled on to a beach on Spain's south-east coastline in April 2020. Abdel Bary was born in Egypt but schooled in London. He was stripped of his British citizenship after allegedly joining ISIS and was charged after a long-running investigation sparked by his arrest at a hideaway rented flat in Almeria. Investigating judge Maria Tardon concluded in her written ruling outlining her decision to charge him that he had been smuggled into Spain by boat with two Algerian men less than a week before he was located and held. He was warned before his trial at Madrid's Audiencia Nacional court, which finished on July 14, he could face nine years in prison if convicted. On the opening day of his trial he denied all terrorism charges against him, insisting he had never been in the Syrian city of Raqqa before claiming he went to the country for humanitarian reasons. Prosecutors said in a pre-trial indictment that the former British national, the son of Adel Abdel Bari who confessed to murdering more than 200 people in a series of Islamist bombings in Africa, used bitcoin to buy stolen or cloned bank cards on the Dark Web. He was accused of posing for a photo with a severed head in the Syrian city of Raqqa with the caption 'Chillin' with my homie or what's left of him' in August 2014 Prosecutors said in a pre-trial indictment that the former British national, the son of Adel Abdel Bari who confessed to murdering more than 200 people in a series of Islamist bombings in Africa, used bitcoin to buy stolen or cloned bank cards on the Dark Web He is understood to have been found dead at a prison in El Puerto de Santa Maria in Cadiz, south-west Spain. One unconfirmed local report said his body presented no obvious signs of any violence Abdel Bary emerged as a key suspect in the hunt for the man dubbed Jihadi John (pictured) filmed putting a knife to American journalist James Foley's throat before boasting of having carried out his beheading. The Jihadi was later revealed as Mohammed Emwazi His alleged accomplices, named before the trial as Abderrazak Seddiki, 30, and Kossaila Chollouah, 27, were accused in a pre-trial indictment of playing other key roles in the fraud including carding which is a type of credit card scam in which a criminal steals or fraudulently uses credit card details to buy prepaid gift cards. Abdel Bary was alleged to have posted an image of himself holding a severed head on Twitter. He was accused of posing for a photo with the head in the Syrian city of Raqqa with the caption 'Chillin' with my homie or what's left of him' in August 2014. He was also a key suspect in the hunt for the man dubbed Jihadi John filmed putting a knife to American journalist James Foley's throat before boasting of having carried out his beheading. The executioner was subsequently named as Londoner Mohammed Emwazi in February 2015. The alleged terrorist, who at his trial showed he had put on considerable weight since his arrest, denied it was him with the severed head. Insisting he and his family had lived in the UK for more than 30 years and completely adopted a Western lifestyle, Abdel Bary told the court trying him: 'Al Qaeda and all the radical extremists I hate them. I don't agree with their ideology or actions.' Abdel Bary claimed to be a Syrian national called Ahmed Mohamed Al Oulabi when he was held in Almeria in April 2020. Reports at the time said he was arrested after police spotters identified him by his ears when he opened a second-floor door to receive a kebab takeout from an Uber Eats delivery man. He moved to London from Egypt after his father was arrested and tortured in the latter country when Abdel Bary was six years old. After his release, the family moved to the United Kingdom and applied for political asylum. Before becoming radicalised and leaving Britain Abdel Bary made a name for himself as a rapper, called L Jinny, and some of his music was played on Radio 1. He has previously been identified as a possible member of a group of four Islamic terrorists known as 'The Beatles' because of their British accents, who guarded, tortured and beheaded foreign hostages in Syria. One Spanish report has suggested Abdel Bary was intending to return to the UK when coronavirus lockdown was over. But respected Almeria-based daily Ideal reported at the time of his arrest he picked Almeria as a 'Plan B' hideout after the onset of the Covid-19 crisis and lockdown scuppered his initial plans to reach Catalonia. Barcelona has a large and well-integrated Muslim community but has been identified in the past as a hotbed for Islamic radicals. A Spanish National Police spokesman said at the time of Abdel Bary's detention: 'National Police officers have developed a counter-terrorism operation which has culminated in the arrest in Almeria of one of the most wanted Daesh Foreign Terrorist Fighters in Europe. 'Another two people have been arrested and the authorities are currently working to establish their identity and their relationship with the other man.' As well as membership of a criminal organisation he was also charged with fraud. Abdel Bary was found dead at El Puerto III Prison in Puerto de Santa Maria this morning. Prison guards are said to have discovered his lifeless body after he failed to answer a wake-up call. He had returned to the prison after his trial in Madrid where he spent several days in a local jail. The judge who blew up Hunter Biden's plea deal on Wednesday told the noted artist and former Ukrainian energy executive that he must look for a job as part of the conditions of his release. Biden appeared in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, for what was expected to be little more than a formality after he accepted a plea deal last month settling tax and gun charges. But the agreement collapsed under the scrutiny of Judge Maryellen Noreika. Instead, the 53-year-old son of the president pleaded not guilty to the charges and must now wait for a new deal over his failure to pay taxes and lying about a drug addiction when he bought a gun. In the meantime, he was allowed to go free so long as he stays away from alcohol, submits to drug tests when requested, and informs the court of any changes of address. As a condition of his release, Judge Maryellen Noreika said Wednesday that Hunter Biden must look for work, as well as stay away from all alcohol and drugs Biden was released from court according to a series of standard conditions The court order, signed by Biden and the judge, also requires that he 'continues or actively seeks employment.' Biden has a varied employment history. After graduating from Yale Law School in 1996 he joined a bank holding company, M.B.N.A. After a stint at the Department of Commerce he was taken on as a consultant by M.B.N.A., at a time when his father was helping the credit card industry win passage of a law making it harder for consumers to file for bankruptcy protection - an issue that raised red flags for Barack Obama's campaign when it vetted his father for vice president. He went into business with his uncle James in 2006, when they bought international hedge fund Paradigm Global Advisers. And in 2008, soon before his father became vice president, he launched a consultancy company, Seneca Global Advisors, that advised companies looking to expand overseas. This period is under intense scrutiny by Republicans who believe he cashed in on his father's position. He joined the board of a China-based private equity fund and the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma. At the same time, he was struggling with drink and drug addictions. And emails recovered from his laptop revealed he had mounting debts and unpaid taxes. In 2020, it emerged that Biden had embarked on a new career. Some of his paintings have been listed for sale at $500,000 despite being the work of a new painter In 2020, newly sober, it emerged he had embarked on a new career: Artist. Some of his larger scale works have been listed for sale at $500,000 but that only generated new controversies, amid questions about whether deep-pocketed buyers might think they were buying White House favors. Details of his release and the job hunt emerged after a dramatic twist in his legal fortunes. Biden had arrived at federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, expecting to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and walk away with a slap on the wrist. But in a stunning turn of events, the first agreement unraveled and the latest plea deal over his failure to pay taxes and lying about his crack cocaine addiction when he bought a gun was put on hold. Hunter initially said 'yes, your honor' when asked by the judge if he would plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors and admitted he's been to rehab six times in 20 years for addiction to alcohol and drugs. The hearing then turned when the Department of Justice lawyers warned Hunter he could still be charged for potential violations for failing to register as a foreign agent over his shady deals - which Republicans say involve his father Joe. At that news - delivered by top prosecutor Leo Wise - Hunter's attorney Chris Clark snapped that the deal was 'null and void'. Hunter Biden could be on the hook for more criminal charges related to his business deals with China and Ukraine after prosecutors and his legal team negotiated a limited new plea deal - because their first agreement sensationally collapsed There were signs of trouble from the get-go, when U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika allowed she had 'concerns about the diversion agreement.' She asked Wise if he had ever seen a diversion agreement 'so broad that it encompasses crimes in a different case.' 'What happens if I reject this plea?' she asked. 'I dont mean to violate the separation of powers or do anything (un)constitutional.' When she pressed the parties on areas of confusion, Clark said he didnt agree with the governments characterization. 'Then theres no deal,' Wise said in court. 'As far as Im concerned the agreements null and void,' Clark weighed in. That set off another round of talks after the judge agreed to give them more time, with the government and Team Hunter getting behind it once again. The case unraveled after a dramatic 24 hours in which Hunter's attorneys were threatened with sanctions over an alleged prank call to remove bombshell testimony from an IRS whistleblower from the docket. His lawyers claimed it was a simple mistake. But the matter put the judge in a fighting mood, and she demanded Hunter's team provide an explanation by 9pm Tuesday night. The incident did not come up in open court Monday. At the start of the sensational hearing, Hunter stepped out of a motorcade in silence with a police escort and walked across the sidewalk alongside his legal team and surrounded by Secret Service agents. He walked into the federal court in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, alongside his 'sugar brother' and lawyer Kevin Morris - who was seen smoking a bong during a visit from the president's son last week. Hunter walked into the federal court in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, alongside his 'sugar brother' and lawyer Kevin Morris (left) - who was seen smoking a bong during a visit from the president's son last week Hunter revealed to the judge that he was first treated for alcohol abuse in 2003 and was last in an in-patient facility in 2018. He then insisted he's been sober since 2019 when warned he faced random drug testing under the conditions of his release. But in one potentially damaging admission under questioning by the judge, he admitted he was sober when he filed his 2019 return. For his 2017 and 2018, he said he was in the throes of addiction, which he acknowledged in his autobiography. Prosecutors had recommended probation for Hunter for not paying between $1.1 million and $1.5 million in federal taxes in 2017 and 2018, despite his substantial income from Ukrainian and Chinese energy companies. They also scolded him for continuing to 'spend wildly' on his lavish lifestyle while he had the funds to pay back what he owed. He could have faced up to 12 months in prison for the tax crimes, and ten years for lying about his crack cocaine addiction on a federal form when buying a gun. But the agreement sparked fury from Republicans who demanded the judge block it. The deal had also been under intense scrutiny over the bombshell testimony from the whistleblowers claiming he got preferential treatment during the five-year investigation from U.S. Attorney David Weiss. Former IRS and FBI agents had come forward to claim they were blocked from conducting a proper investigation into Hunter. They also alleged that senior officials tipped off Secret Service agents that they wanted to interview the president's son. The president's scandal-hit son said 'yes, your honor' when asked by the judge if he was going to plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors, and admitted he's been to rehab six times in 20 years for addiction to drinking and drugs Kevin Morris, the lawyer who helped Hunter pay off $2million in delinquent taxes, walks behind the president's son on the way into the courthouse Law enforcement secure the area outside the federal court in Wilmington, Delaware, ahead of Hunter Biden's court appearance on Wednesday Hunter allegedly lied on a firearm report (above) required for his gun transaction. A photo of the form shows he answered 'no' when asked if he was an 'unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance Last Thursday, Hunter's attorney Kevin Morris was seen smoking from a bong in public view. He has been revealed as one of the buyers of Hunter's artwork The night before his hearing, Hunter flew alongside Morris in a private jet from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. That same evening, Judge Noreika was at the center of drama after she threatened Hunter's lawyers with sanctions. But Hunter's lawyers blamed allegations they conspired to a lie simply to an 'unfortunate misunderstanding'. A picture from Hunter Biden's leaked hard drive shows him posing naked while holding a semi-automatic handgun by his side 'The matter under consideration appears to stem from an unfortunate and unintentional miscommunication between a staff member at our firm and employees of the Court. We have no idea how the misunderstanding occurred, but our understanding is there was no misrepresentation,' Matthew Salerno wrote to Judge Noreika on Tuesday evening. He claimed that Jessica Bengels, the Latham staffer accused of pretending to be from another law firm, has a phone number which should show up as 'LATHAM' on the clerk's caller ID, indicating she was calling from the legal firm Latham & Watkins. Salerno attached an affidavit from Bengels, in which she claimed she initially called a court clerk called Julia, from her Latham phone, identified herself truthfully, but was later called back by a different clerk, Samantha. At around 11.54am, another Court employee called my Latham & Watkins phone number (which I believe she knew through caller ID) to let me know she would be removing the material from the docket, Bengels wrote. She did not ask which law firm I was affiliated with, and at no time during this call did I mention anything about my law firm affiliation. I believe there may have been some confusion when Julia passed the information on to the other Court employee, resulting in a mistaken understanding that I had called from Mr. Kittilas firm. I am completely confident that I never indicated that I was calling from Mr. Kittilas firm or that I worked with him in any way. She was referring to Theodore Kittila, the attorney representing the GOP House Ways and Means Committee. Hunter Biden's many controversies have been a headache for his father's presidential term and could be weaponized by Republicans in the 2024 race. The president and his son are pictured together in August 2022 The misdemeanor charges Hunter is facing stem from the unpaid taxes, and lying about his drug use when he bought a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver in October 2018. Delaware, where the First Son purchased the 0.38 caliber pistol, makes any buyer answer a series of questions before they can lay their hands on a weapon. One from the 2018 application asks if the applicant uses or is addicted to drugs. The box is clearly checked 'no.' When Hunter was first charged, the president and first lady said they were 'proud' of him. However, the White House has avoided discussing Hunter's legal troubles by claiming he is a private citizen or referring questions to the Department of Justice. His lawyer Christopher Clark said last month: 'I know Hunter believes it is important to take responsibility for these mistakes he made during a period of turmoil and addiction in his life. 'He looks forward to continuing his recovery and moving forward.' Paramedics and an air ambulance rushed to two police officers who were injured in a stabbing in Manchester earlier today. Specialist forensic crime scene investigation (CSI) officers also attended the scene on Wood Road on the border of Whalley Range and Stretford. Reportedly one officer was taken to hospital but neither have sustained life-threatening injuries, according to the Manchester Evening News. A cordon was put in place and a moped-type bike could be seen on the floor. An eyewitness said when they drove past at 16:20 they could see some damage to the kerb and nearby wall. Two police officers are believed to have been stabbed in an incident in Manchester earlier today A cordon was put in place and a moped-type bike could be seen on the floor, according to eyewitnesses They added that 15 minutes later the scene had been cordoned off and 'loads' of police cars were in attendance. 'I could see further police and unmarked police coming from further down the road and then the helicopter which sounds like it just left,' they said. Another witness mentioned seeing 'lots of commotion' and 'blue lights' at around 4:30pm today. They added the air ambulance was seen landing nearby. The cordon was lifted shortly before 7:45pm with the road now re-opened. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have been contacted for comment. Specialist forensic crime scene investigation (CSI) officers also attended the scene on Wood Road on the border of Whalley Range and Stretford It was not meant to end this way. For Sir Howard Davies, the chairmanship of NatWest was supposed to top off the silky ascent by a boy from Manchester to the pinnacle of the establishment. The 72-year-old, who is paid more than 750,000 a year by the high street lender, had planned to step down with dignity next summer. Instead, his tenure at the bank looks doomed to an ignominious end as some shareholders are demanding that he quits now. Detractors will find it a delicious irony that the downfall of this arch-Remainer he has described Brexit as a 'significant mistake' comes at the hands of former UKIP leader Nigel Farage. Chair of NatWest Howard Davies leaves BBC Broadcasting House in London, January 15, 2023 Until this week, Davies was the invisible man, nowhere to be seen as the storm raged, even though a key part of a chairman's job description is to restore order in a crisis. Then, when he did finally pop his head above the parapet, he first declared 'full confidence' in chief executive Dame Alison Rose, only to change his view dramatically soon afterwards. READ MORE: More trouble for NatWest as privacy regulator probes whether bank boss broke confidentiality rules amid row over Nigel Farage's Coutts account Advertisement It was one of the most mortifying U-turns in corporate history. The more so because Sir Howard is a man of undisputed intelligence with decades of experience. An avid Man City fan, he flaunts his culture-vulture credentials at the slightest opportunity. He is a professor at the elite French university Sciences Po and is fond of telling people that, when in Paris, he resides in an apartment in a 'passage fleuri'. These picturesque flower-filled alleyways were once home to working class artisans but are now achingly desirable, with prices to match. On top of his day jobs, he is a prolific writer, peppering his articles with highbrow references. Even a piece about Silicon Valley Bank in Management Today magazine comes with an allusion to TS Eliot's The Waste Land. His wife, Prue Keely Davies, who he describes as a 'lapsed journalist', previously worked for the BBC another ironic twist, given the role the broadcaster played in his woes. He is also a devotee of jazz pianist Brad Mehldau, whose latest album 'The Folly of Desire' is about the limits of sexual freedom in a post #MeToo age and sets poems by Blake, Goethe, Shakespeare and Auden to music. As one observer put it: 'Like many clever people, Davies is capable of getting things very wrong.' For this is not the first time he has been closely involved in a public debacle. In 2011, he quit as head of the London School of Economics after it accepted funding from a foundation controlled by the son of the late Libyan strongman General Gaddafi. Then-chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland, Sir Howard Davies arrives for a meeting at 11 Downing Street on September 2, 2019 in London, England Before taking the chairman's job at the bank in 2015, Davies was deputy governor of the Bank of England and head of City regulator the Financial Services Authority. He knows full well that customer confidentiality is sacrosanct in banking, equivalent to a doctor's Hippocratic Oath. He should have recognised instantly that, having leaked information about Nigel Farage's finances, Alison Rose could not continue as the leader of NatWest. Now this consummate grandee finds his own future under a cloud. MANZINI - Patients of health facilities under the ENHI could be in for a shock as the institution is in the process of implementing reviewed user fees, some going up to 200 per cent. Eswatini Nazarene Health Institutions (ENHI) is a major player in the health care sector in Eswatini as it services about 40 to 50 per cent of the countrys population. The ENHI health facilities include the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital, which is located in the densely populated region of Manzini and about 20 other Nazarene Community Clinics, which operate across the four regions of the country. According to a source within the Nazarene health institutions, the ENHI management is in the final stages of finalising the process of reviewing its user fees. The source claimed that according to the proposal, which is still being deliberated upon, the increment could range between 50 and 200 per cent, depending on the services. Worth noting is that the source said the final reviewed fees would be implemented on August 1, 2023. Departments He said some of the departments which would be affected by the proposed changes include user fees at the Outpatient Department (OPD), which is paid by patients in order to access their OPD cards. It is worth mentioning that currently, patients pay E20 at the OPD. Again, according to the insider, at the theatre, the fees for major and minor procedures would increase. At the moment, he said a major procedure cost E150, while a minor one, like dislocations, among others, were done for E50. The source claimed that the ENHI management had covered a lot of ground in terms of engaging stakeholders. He said the final step which the management was working on, was getting an approval from Cabinet. Meanwhile, ENHI Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Raymond Bitchong, said they were still finalising their stakeholder engagement regarding the matter. In that regard, he asked not to comment about it until they concluded their stakeholder engagements. When pressed further about the proposed fees, he said these were being reviewed and amended as they consulted the various stakeholders. He said it could be possible that any document that this publication might have received (regarding the proposed fees) was likely to be outdated and might misinform the public. Once finalised, the revised fees will be displayed openly at our facility, the CEO said. He then highlighted that as an institution, they already issued a statement to inform members of the public about the implementation of the reviewed fees, starting from August 1, 2023. In the statement, the acting CEO highlighted that they were in the process of implementing cost and revenue improvement initiatives. He said the institution was a non-profit public entity and had been operating under a major deficit for a long time. He said the inflow, which consisted of a subvention from government and other income (mainly patient fees), had been perennially lower than total operating costs. To make ends meet, from month to month, he said the institution had all along been using funds which were raised from default payments (pay-as-you-earn (PAYE), pension fund and the stretching of creditor obligations). However, he said as the costs continued to escalate at a rate higher than income, due to recently enforced lighter controls by the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) and growing creditor demands, the institution had no alternative, but to implement stringent measures to reduce costs and increase revenue. In terms of cost reduction, the acting CEO said personnel emoluments at ENHI constituted the single highest cost at 73 per cent of total cost and 88 per cent of total income. He said due to this heavy weighting, the wage bill constituted a major portion of the savings required (five to eight per cent). To this end, he said emergency consultations had been held with staff, covering those costs that had been prioritised for rationalisation, which included the outsourcing of staff transport, cleaning services and freeze on recruitment. He added that others included discretionary overtime, rationalisation of on-call allowances, reorganisation of wards to optimise service provision and other measures. However, it is worth highlighting that the issue of on-call allowances is still pending before the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. The administration proposed that the payment of on-call allowances should be capped at 108 hours per month and if they had worked more than that, they would take the extra hours as days off. Another option that was put on the table was that if they did not sign for the proposal and worked over 108 on-call hours, they would get 50 per cent of the total claim. All along, they were paid for all hours worked. The medical staff challenged the proposal and approached the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for its intervention. Other costs targeted for rationalisation include electricity, water, telephone and non-critical maintenance, among others, Dr Bitchong said. Optimisation He added that optimisation of the benefits and savings from the Solar Energy Project also marked a key component of the targeted savings. After that, he said in order to achieve break even, the funds generated from cost savings would have to be backed-up by an estimated 90 per cent increase in the combined contribution generated from the income stream (patient fees, recoveries and other sources). He explained that while every effort was made to minimise the impact, their patients and the public were advised that the fees payable for services at the RFM Hospital and the 20 ENHI community clinics around the country, would be readjusted, effective from August 1, 2023. SWADNU, MAWU frown upon proposal MANZINI - The Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) and Medical and Allied Workers Union (MAWU) have frowned upon ENHIs proposal. SWADNU Secretary General (SG) Mayibongwe Masangane said, according to their analysis, the management of ENHI seemed to be ready to steal from the poor in their quest to purportedly enrich themselves. He said government was subventing this entity using taxpayers money and if it was (allegedly) used to enrich a few, it meant stealing from the poor. Paying for medication, mainly for non-communicable diseases as they trouble the elderly who have been paying taxes for a long time, is not right, the unionist said. In that regard, he said this was part of the capitalist agenda of privatising the health care system. On the same note, sources within MAWU said they believed that the ENHI, as an institution that was receiving a subvention from government, was supposed to be taking care of the poorest. DNA testing has helped identify the human remains of a teenage boy found buried on an abandoned Indiana farm in 1983, the child was murdered by serial killer Larry Eyler, nearly 40 years ago. The 16-year-old boy, who was previously known as Adam Doe, has been identified as teen Keith Lavell Bibbs, one of many victims believed to have been murdered between 1982 and 1984 by Larry Eyler, otherwise known as the 'Highway Killer.' Eyler confessed to at least 20 killings before he passed away from AIDS-related complications 10 days after falling ill while detained at Pontiac Correctional Center in 1994 where he was on death row. The Newton County Coroner's Office, the DNA Doe Project along with the Indiana State Police and the Identify Indiana Initiative confirmed the remains are identified as those of Keith Lavell Bibbs, who was killed in July 1983, on Tuesday. 'This significant breakthrough comes after years of exhaustive efforts, and it brings closure to a case that has puzzled investigators and haunted families for decades,' Pam Lauritzen, a spokesperson for the nonprofit DNA Doe Project, said in a media release. Larry Eyler police photo. Eyler confessed to at least 20 killings before he passed away in 1994 at an Illinois prison where he was on death row Human remains found at an abandoned Indiana farm have been identified as teen Keith Lavell Bibbs, a 16-year-old who was murdered by serial killer Larry Eyler nearly 40 years prior Scott McCord, the coroner of Newton County Indiana, shows boxes holding remains of unidentified bodies believed to be victims of serial killer Larry Eyler in Morocco, Indiana The coroners office has been working to get Bibbs' remains sent to his family for burial on Tuesday, according to Newton County Coroner Scott McCord. McCord said the family is requesting privacy while they mourn the victim. 'Everything's done except for getting him back home,' he told The Associated Press on Tuesday. 'It's been a long road getting all those kids identified.' Bibbs was the last of four victims found buried in October 1983 at the abandoned farm about 60 miles southeast of Chicago to be positively identified. The three other young men have been previously identified as Michael Bauer, John Bartlett and John Ingram Brandenburg Jr. Bibbs' DNA was 'highly degraded' and investigators spent more than two years repeatedly trying to create 'a workable DNA profile' to compare to databases used for forensic cases, the DNA Doe Project said in a news release. In January, the nonprofit said a team of investigative genetic genealogists had finally made progress unraveling Bibbs' 'complex family tree,' leading to his identification. In April of 2021, a corpse found at an abandoned Indiana farm in 1983 also was identified as a victim of serial killer Larry Eyler thanks to DNA technology. John Ingram Brandenburg Jr. of Chicago had previously been identified only as 'Brad Doe' when four human bodies were discovered buried in a shallow grave on an abandoned farm in rural Lake Village in Newton County, Indiana on October 18, 1983. Two of the other bodies, Michael Bauer and John Bartlett, were previously identified. Brandenburg, called 'Johnny' by his mother, had been drugged and killed by Eyler. Eyler was on death row for the 1984 murder of Danny Bridges, a 15-year-old boy, at the time of his death. Brandenburg, whose age was not given, was identified using DNA and genetic genealogy after the Newton County Indiana Coroner's Office and prosecutors reached out to the DNA Doe Project for help in 2019. The project uploads DNA samples from unidentified crime victims to GEDMatch, a public database of samples of genetic material, to try and put a name to unclaimed remains by identifying potential relatives. 'While my heart breaks for this family, Im thankful that they finally have some of the answers theyve waited so long for, and I hope this brings them peace,' Rebecca Goddard, a Newton County prosecutor, said in a statement Sunday from the DNA Doe Project. The coroner's office said Brandenburg's family had been contacted and authorities would not release further information until relatives gave further permission. Eyler was known as the 'Highway Killer' because many of his victims' remains were found dumped close to the US Interstate network. He grew up in Crawfordsville with an alcoholic father and stepfathers who physically and emotionally abused his mother and his three siblings, the Chicago Reader reported in 1992. Dr. Lyle Rossiter, a forensic psychiatrist that was hired by Eyler's attorney to profile her client, had called it one of the worst cases of child abuse he had seen in 20 years as a psychiatrist. Eyler himself claimed that he was essentially water boarded by one of his stepfathers who would punish him by running his head under hot water. Gera-Lind Kolarik and Wayne Klatt, the authors of the book Freed to Kill: The True Story of Serial Murderer Larry Eyler, wrote that he realized he was gay when he hit puberty. Eyler is said to have been able to come out to his family, but reportedly kept his sexuality a secret from other acquaintances. He did not graduate high school but obtained a GED and joined a monastery before taking a series of low paying jobs including as private security guard in the Marion County General Hospital. Larry Eyler pictued in court. Eyler's attorney released his confession to 20 more of the killings after his death from AIDS-related complications 10 days after falling ill while detained at Pontiac Correctional Center Scott McCord, the coroner of Newton County Indiana, shows photos of the crime scene where four bodies were found in 1983 Larry Eyler is shown in Indianapolis in 1982 during his horrific killing spree Eyler started to become a regular in the Indianapolis gay community and developed a reputation for rough sex that would see him beat and even cut some of his conquests. He first became known to police in 1978 when he allegedly picked up a marine named Craig Long, then-19, who was hitchhiking before threatening him with a knife while pulling off his pants, according to the Chicago Reader. The marine later testified that he was able to get away briefly before Eyler stabbed him in the chest and fled. Long was paid a check of $2,500 by Eyler's alleged accomplice Robert Little, to sign a release not to press charges, and Eyler was acquitted. Eyler lived rent-free in condo with Little, a library science professor whom he had first met in 1974. Then three bodies turned up in Lake County, Illinois in the spring and summer of 1983 with a person who called Indiana State Police identifying Eyler as the murdered, but cops did not have enough evidence to back up the arrest, the Chicago Reader reported. Eyler is known to have committed a minimum of 21 murders and one attempted murder between 1982 and 1984 plying his captives with alcohol and sedatives before restraining, murdering, and even disemboweling some of them before discarding their bodies. One of Eyler's first victims is believed to have been Jay Reynolds, a Kentucky resident, who was found stabbed to death at the bottom of a ditch along U.S. Highway 25 in March 1982, the Chicago Tribune reported. Eyler then allegedly strangled Delvoyd Baker, 14, a possible victim not included in official tallies whose body was dumped his body on the side of the road north of Indianapolis, according to a document from the Radford University Department of Pyschology obtained by Murderpedia. Craig Townsend, 21, who miraculously survived after he was drugged, was beaten and left naked in a field on October 12, 1982. Just 11 days later, Eyler abducted and stabbed 19 year-old Steven Crockett to death. An autopsy revealed he had been stabbed 32 times. Edgar Underkofler, 26, disappeared from his home in Rantoul, Illinois on October 30 but his body was not discovered until March 4, 1983. In November, Eyler killed bartender John Johnson, 25, whose body was discovered one month later in Lowell, Indiana, the Chicago Tribune. Eyler was ultimately arrested for the first time on September 30, 1983 in Lowell, Indiana for a routine traffic violation while with a young hitchhiker. Investigators obtained a search warrant to search his truck and Little's home and obtained call logs that showed Eyler had made collect calls to Little's home at times when victims were believed to have been murdered. Tire treads observed where the body of another victim, Ralph Calise, was dumped matched his vehicle. Calise's body was discovered in a field outside of Lake Forest, Illinois with his pants down around his ankles. Eyler was charged with Calise's murder on October 29 and his bond being set at $1 million. But a judge later ruled that Eyler's detention was illegal and he was released from custody in February 1984 after his family and Little paid a reduced bond. Steven Agan was also killed by Larry Eyler. Eyler also confessed to the murder of Steven Agan before his death, the Chicago Tribune reported A sketch from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shows what Brandburg was believed to have looked like before his identity was discovered John Ingram Brandenburg Jr. of Chicago had previously been identified as a 'Brad Doe' when four human bodies were discovered buried in a shallow grave Eyler later moved to Chicago where he lured Daniel Bridges, 16, to his apartment around 10.30pm on August 19, 1984. Bridges was a friend of another of Eyler's victims, Ervin Gibson - whose body was found on April 15, 1983. Bridges was bound to a chair and was tortured before he was then stabbed to death and cut up into eight pieces inside Eyler's apartment in Chicago. His body was found by a janitor named Joe Balla on August 21, 1984 in an alley, the Chicago Reader reported. Ballad had arrived to the building around 6am to take out the trash and saw different bags than those typically used by the residents. 'I was very pissed off a little bit. So I opened one up, ripped it open. . . . I was very curious what the hell I am throwing out,' the Chicago Reader reported. He found a human leg inside. 'Why me? 'Why I have to see those things?' he said. Other janitors had reportedly seen Eyler place the bags in the dumpster the day before. Eyler was charged with Bridges' murder on August 22 - but denied knowing anything about the crime. The serial killer was tried in Cook County, Illinois, before Judge Joseph Urso on July 1, 1986. It only took three hours of deliberation for the jury to return its verdict. Judge Urso later sentenced Eyler to death by lethal injection. Eyler later agreed to voluntarily confess to killing Calise in 1990 but alleged that Little had helped him with that killing. Little later faced trial and was acquitted. Eyler also confessed to the murder of Steven Agan before his death, the Chicago Tribune reported. 'If I break up, it's because I'm nervous. I'm guilty. I'm guilty,' Eyler told Vermillion County Judge Don Darnell in 1990. Eyler claimed that Little had recorded the crime on 35mm film, the outlet reported. Eyler's attorney released his confession to 20 more of the killings after his death from AIDS-related complications 10 days after falling ill while detained at Pontiac Correctional Center. But he continued to deny being responsible for the deaths of Bridges as well as Jay Reynolds and Eric Hansen. 'It was amazing to see. I told my buddy I wanted to fly it,' said Commander Fravor Former intelligence officer hinted US government had murdered to keep secrets A former intelligence officer today suggested people have been murdered by the US government as part of the conspiracy to keep UFOs a secret in a bombshell hearing held by Congress. David Grusch - a former high-ranking intelligence official - is one of three military whistleblowers who testified under oath that they had firsthand encounters or knowledge about secret government programs involving technology that is 'non-human.' He claimed that the US has been in possession of UFOs since 'the 1930s' and has been secretly back-engineering them and carrying out a public disinformation campaign to prevent the details from leaking publicly. At one point during the first-of-its-kind hearing, Representative Tim Burchett (R-Tenn) asked Grusch: 'Personally, have you heard anyone [has] been murdered?' Grausch said: 'I have to be careful answering that question. I directed people with that knowledge to the appropriate authorities.' Grusch was sworn in Wednesday, along with Ryan Graves, an esteemed former pilot, and Navy veteran fighter pilot Commander David Fravor, who witnessed the 2004 'Tic Tac' UFO. Opening the hearing this morning, Rep Burchett promised their testimonies would be a landmark moment in uncovering 'the biggest cover-up in history.' Ryan Graves, a former pilot, Air Force and intelligence agency veteran David Grusch and Navy veteran fighter pilot Commander David Fravor have been sworn in and are ready to share their experiences The hearing kicked off with opening statements from Representative Tim Burchett (R-Tenn), who said: 'We are going to uncover the UFO coverup' Grusch also claimed that he had been told by multiple credible intelligence officials that the US government had recovered non-human aircraft that had biological pilots inside them. The former US Intelligence agent also said that he knows of 'multiple colleagues' who were physically injured by UFOs either after encountering them or working on them as part of these special access programs. Kicking off the hearing, Burchett described the hearing as 'historical.' 'I'd like to thank these three brave witnesses here. They took an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and, dagnammit, they're doing it.' 'We're not bringing little green men or flying saucers into the hearing sorry to disappoint about half of y'all we're just going to get to the facts. 'We're going to uncover the cover-up, and I hope this is just the beginning of many more hearings and many more people coming forward about this.' House lawmakers held the hearing to pressure the executive branch to release more information about unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) or UFOs, as Burchett prefers. This significant event is the first time these three men, or any individual, have sworn under oath about UFO encounters. Graves, a former F-18 pilot with over a decade of service in the U.S. Navy, was the first to give opening statements. 'My testimony is based on information I've been given by individuals with a long-standing track record of legitimacy and service to this country, many of whom have shared compelling evidence in the form of photography, official documentation and classified oral testimony to myself and many various colleagues,' Grusch told lawmakers, stating he was driven to share it by a 'commitment to truth and transparency.' Grusch claims one of these alien spacecraft crashed in Northern Italy in 1933 and was secreted away by Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. Pictured is a handwritten memo claiming to describe the crash An artist's impression of the alleged 1933 UFO crash outside Magenta in northern Italy shows a craft shaped like a saucer 'I am asking Congress to hold our government to this standard and thoroughly investigate these claims,' he said. 'But as I stand here under oath now, I am speaking to the facts as I have been told them.' He told the committee that he and more than 30 aircrew members and veterans have experienced UAPs, unidentified aerial phenomena, along with members of Congress who have confided in him. Graves said, as an F-18 pilot in the Red Rippers, their squadron was 'split by UAP' during a training mission near Virginia Beach in 2014. He described the object as 'dark gray or black inside a transparent sphere.' It was about 15 feet in diameter and came within 50 feet of the lead aircraft. The mission commander ended the flight, and the squadron submitted a safety report, Graves continued to explain. 'This story is more common than we expect,' Graves said: 'more than 30 witnesses had told his group about similar sightings.' 'Often, they are veterans with decades of flying experience,' he added. Graves also said, 'UAPs are in our airspace but are grossly underreported.' Grusch spoke next, providing details about how the US government has 'intact and partially intact' extraterrestrial vehicles. David Fravor discussed the Tic Tac-shaped object seen in the sky over California on November 10, 2004 Video of what the Navy could trace of the object was leaked in 2017, and the Pentagon declassified the case in 2020 He has previously said the US has run a top-secret UFO retrieval program for decades and claimed the 'Vatican was involved' in the first-ever UFO crash. David Grusch - a former high-ranking intelligence official - is one of three military whistleblowers who testified under oath that they know firsthand about secret programs involving technology far surpassing the US' capabilities Grusch said last month that the first recovery of a UFO was in Magenta, Italy, in 1933, and Mussolini's Italian government held it until 1944 through 1945 when Pope Pius XII tipped America off about it. 'Due to my extensive executive level intelligence support duties, I was cleared to literally all relevant compartments and in a position of extreme trust both of my military and civilian capacities,' Grusch said during Wednesday's hearing. 'I was informed in the course of my official duties of a multi-decade UAP crash retrieval and reverse engineering program to which I was denied access to that additional read-on when I requested it.' Representative Glenn Grothman asked Grusch if he firmly believes the government has possession of UAPs, to which the former intelligence officer responded, 'sbsolutely.' And he said that is based on interviews with at least 40 witnesses. Asked where the craft are, he added: 'I know the exact locations and those locations were provided to the inspector general ... I actually had the people with the firsthand knowledge provide a protected disclosure to the Inspector General.' Grusch also said he had faced brutal retaliation after coming forward about his firsthand accounts of UFOs. 'I do have knowledge of active planned reprisal activity against myself and other colleagues. 'There were certain colleagues of mine that were brutally administratively attacked. It makes me very upset as a leader to see that happen to other co-workers and superiors of mine in the last three years,' Grusch added. Fravor also said there are multiple witnesses coming forward that say that they have first-hand knowledge [of UFOs]. Marine claims he and five comrades saw a flying saucer being loaded with weapons while serving in Indonesia in 2009 (sketch of the event) Ryan Graves told the committee that he and more than 30 aircrew members and veterans have experienced UAPs, unidentified aerial phenomena, along with members of Congress who have confided in him Fravor reminded the world about his infamous 2004 encounter with the 'Tic Tac' UFO. 'I'd like to say that the tic tac object we engaged in 2004 was far superior to anything that we had at the time, have today or looking to develop in the next 10 years, he said 'How do you account for that response? That seems like a bizarre response,' Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin asked. 'I call it administrative terrorism. That's in their quiver or tool in the toolbox to silence people, especially the career government servants who care about their career, care about their clearance, their reputation, to climb the ladder, and when you threaten that flow, that career path, a lot of people back off, but I'm here to represent those people,' Grusch said. Fravor reminded the world about his infamous 2004 encounter with the 'Tic Tac' UFO. 'I'd like to say that the tic tac object we engaged in 2004 was far superior to anything that we had at the time, have today or looking to develop in the next 10 years, he said. 'If we, in fact, have programs that possess this technology, it needs to have oversight from those people that the citizens of this country elected in office to represent what is best for the United States and best for the citizens.' Fravor described the Tic Tac object as being 'perfectly white, smooth and had no windows,' with 'two little objects that came out of the bottom.' READ MORE: Pentagon whistleblower says the Vatican is aware of the existence of non-human intelligences and helped the US retrieve a downed UFO from Italian dictator Mussolini at the end of WW2 David Grusch said the UFO was partially intact and held at a secure airbase until the US retrieved it following the collapse of the fascist Italian regime. Advertisement 'It was amazing to see. I told my buddy I wanted to fly it,' Fravor said during the first-of-its-kind hearing. 'I'm not like a UFO fanatic that's not me. But I will tell you that what we saw with four sets of eyes over five minutes, still, there's nothing we have nothing close to it,' he said. 'It's just an incredible technology.' When Fravor was asked if he knew of any similar technology on Earth, he responded: 'Nothing that can come down from space, hang out for three hours and then go back up.' He continued to explain that he and his squadron witnessed a UAP drop from 80,000 feet nearly twice the ceiling of their F-18 fighter jets down to the ocean's surface, where another craft seemed to be churning up the sea. 'Then it raced off past their rendezvous point three times faster than their jets,' he said Fravor also said there are multiple witnesses coming forward that say that they have first-hand knowledge [of UFOs], which may have been a reference to a former Marine who claims he and five comrades saw a flying saucer being loaded with weapons while serving in Indonesia in 2009. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Michael Herrera claims that while guarding an airdrop of aid supplies outside Padang in October that year, his six-man unit stumbled across a hovering octagonal craft in apparent use by clandestine US forces. All three whistle-blowers on Wednesday agreed UAPs are collecting reconnaissance information, probing our capabilities and said they are 'potentially' providing an existential threat to the US. And each of the men agreed that if the craft became hostile, they and their crew would not have the capabilities to defend themselves. These questions were asked by Representative Andy Ogles, who confirmed there is a clear threat to the national security of the US and urged Congress that it needs to be aware of such activities following the answers. Burchett gave his closing argument: 'Youve endured criticism and derogatory remarks. So God bless yall. We made history today.' Britain's record-breaking summer last year which saw the country endure its hottest day in history was 'a sign of things to come' for the UK's climate, scientists have warned. Scientists say the extreme heat is an example of what we can expect to see in future unless greenhouse gas emissions are brought under control. The hot, dry summer of 2022 led to Britain enduring 104F (40C) temperatures for the first time ever, with a high of 104.5F (40.3C) in Coningsby, Lincolnshire. Last year was also the hottest ever in the UK, according to Met Office records dating back to 1884. Not only that, but it eclipsed the Central England Temperature record - the longest-running series in the world - which stretches back to 1659. Heating up: Britain's record-breaking summer last year which saw the country endure its hottest day in history was 'a sign of things to come' for the UK's climate, scientists have warned. The graph shows Britain's maximum temperatures throughout last year Scientists say the extreme heat is an example of what we can expect to see in future unless greenhouse gas emissions are brought under control STATE OF THE UK CIMATE 2022: KEY FINDINGS 2022 was the warmest year on record in the UK, being 0.9C above the 1991-2020 average 40.3C, recorded at Coningsby, Lincolnshire, on July 19, was the highest temperature ever recorded in Britain Winter, spring, summer and autumn in 2022 all ranked among the top 10 warmest seasons since 1884 All the top 10 warmest years for the UK since 1884 have occurred in the 21st century The last decade (2013-2022) was 0.3C warmer than the 1991-2020 average and 1.1C warmer than 1961-1990. It is the warmest 10-year period on record since 1659 2022 was also the warmest year since 1870 for sea surface temperature Advertisement These milestones for the UK climate show the direction of travel over the coming decades, the Met Office said, adding that as long as greenhouse gases continue to be emitted unchecked the Earth will keep heating up. Mike Kendon, climate scientist at the Met Office and lead author of its new report, called State Of The UK Climate 2022, described the 40C mark as 'a real moment of climate history'. 'This was a rare event in the context of the current climate but our extremes of temperature are changing faster than our mean temperature and we know that climate change increases the frequency, duration and spatial extent of heat waves,' he said. On our current emissions trajectory, 2022 would be considered a cool year by the standards of 2100, Mr Kendon added. Professor Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, said: 'If you look at future climate projections, we are on a path to go for hotter, drier summers. 'So 2022 for me was very much a sign of things to come in future years with our changing climate.' The Met Office report, which tracks the progress of the UK's changing climate each year, revealed that temperatures are rising above 96.8F (36C) more frequently than in the past. Between 1961-1990 the highest temperature recorded was 88.3F (31.3C); between 1991-2020 it was 92.3F (33.5C); between 2013-2022 it was 96.2F (35.7C) and in 2022 it was 104.5F (40.3C). Record-breaking: 2022 was the warmest year on record in the UK, being 0.9C above the 1991-2020 average. It was also the first year when the annual mean temperature exceeded 10C Data from a citizen science project called Nature's Calendar was also included to track how plants and animals are responding to the changing seasons. Fritha West, a research scientist with the Woodland Trust and one of the report's authors, said 2022 had a mild February and a warm October which meant an early spring and a late autumn. Leaves were on the trees for 16 days longer than the 1999-2021 average and some flowers and insects emerged days earlier than usual. Last year was also a relatively dry year, though not as extreme as 1976, and while summers are getting hotter and drier, the year-long climate trends show the UK is getting wetter generally. Five of the 10 wettest years in the UK since 1836 have occurred in the 21st century and the UK saw its wettest February, April, June, November and December on record in the years after 2009. Five of the 10 wettest years in the UK since 1836 have occurred in the 21st century and the UK saw its wettest February, April, June, November and December on record in the years after 2009 Since the 1900s, the sea level around the UK has risen by around 18.5cm, with roughly 11.4cm of that over the past 30 years (1993-2022) Sea levels are also continuing to rise due to the melting ice sheets in the polar regions with long term trends showing the rate has doubled in recent years compared to the 20th century, said report author Dr Svetlana Jevrejeva of the National Oceanography Centre. The UK's top political parties have openly talked about watering down their environmental policies after the narrow victory of the Conservatives in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election, which many put down to opposition to the Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion plans. Dr Jevrejeva said in response: 'It is important which path we choose and which scenario we follow, but sea level will rise for the next few hundred years in any case. 'It just depends on what kind of rate of sea level rise we will see, because heat is already in the ocean and ice sheets have already started to lose ice mass and the glaciers are disappearing. 'To get to equilibrium point it will take a few hundred years. We try to communicate our science and to make clear our understanding of what could happen. 'That's our role and that's what we do.' Despite being a girl's best friend, the formation of diamonds has baffled experts for more than a century. But now, scientists believe they've solved the puzzle of these precious gems once and for all, explaining why they 'erupt' from the Earth's surface. The University of Southampton-led study has unveiled that tectonic plates breaking apart deep inside Earth is the main driver behind diamond-rich magmas. Believe it or not, diamonds are often hundreds of millions or even billion years old with their formation triggered by 'kimberlite' volcanoes. 'The pattern of diamond eruptions is cyclical, mimicking the rhythm of the supercontinents, which assemble and break up in a repeated pattern over time,' Dr Tom Gernon, associate professor of Earth science at the University of Southampton and lead author said. Believe it or not, diamonds are often hundreds of millions or even billion years old with their formation triggered by 'kimberlite' volcanoes 'But previously we didn't know what process causes diamonds to suddenly erupt, having spent millions or billions of years stashed away 150 km (93 miles) beneath the Earth's surface.' READ MORE: Scientists use laser flashes to make tiny DIAMONDS out of plastic bottles To mimic the 'diamond rain' formation that occurs within ice giants, scientists fired a high-powered laser at polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic - a hydrocarbon materiel commonly used in single-use packaging - and witnessed the growth diamond-like structures. Advertisement Diamonds form as carbon atoms crystalise below the Earth's crust in extremely hot and highly pressurised conditions. They are typically found in a type of volcanic rock known as kimberlite which is usually located in the oldest and thickest parts of continents. South Africa, Tanzania, Angola, and Siberia are among numerous places that are home to kimberlite - with many rushing to find diamonds there during the 19th century. As part of the new study, scientists examined the impacts of global tectonic forces on these volcanic eruptions spanning the last billion years. The team, which included researchers from Birmingham and Leeds, primarily used statistical analysis and machine learning to do this. The ground-breaking results showed that eruptions of most kimberlite volcanoes actually took place 20 to 30 million years after the tectonic breakup of Earth's continents. Dr Thea Hincks, senior research fellow at Southampton, said: 'Using geospatial analysis, we found that kimberlite eruptions tend to gradually migrate from the continental edges to the interiors over time at rates that are consistent across the continents.' Researchers also found that the Earth's mantle - a convecting layer between the crust and core - was disrupted by stretching of the crust, even thousands of kilometres away. The Earth's mantle is a convecting layer (pictured) located between the crust and the core Dr Gernon (pictured) said: 'The pattern of diamond eruptions is cyclical, mimicking the rhythm of the supercontinents' South Africa (pictured), Tanzania, Angola, and Siberia are among numerous places that are home to kimberlite Dr Stephen Jones, associate professor in Earth systems at Birmingham said: 'We found that a domino effect can explain how continental break-up leads to formation of kimberlite magma. 'During rifting, a small patch of the continental root is disrupted and sinks into the mantle below, triggering a chain of similar flow patterns beneath the nearby continent.' Dr Gernon explained that this process led to the conditions needed for the creation of diamond-producing kimberlites. He said: 'Remarkably, this process brings together the necessary ingredients in the right amounts to trigger just enough melting to generate kimberlites.' This new understanding of kimberlite has the potential to help scientists better understand the nature of past volcanic eruptions too, which may provide insight for future diamond discoveries. Roxy Jacenko is downsizing her wardrobe and lucky fans can snap up her designer hand-me-downs for a great price. The 43-year-old PR queen - who previously said she never wears the same pair of shoes twice - took to Instagram on Wednesday to post photos of the for sale items. The brunette bombshell is offloading a selection from her luxury apparel collection at a significant discount, meaning fans have the chance to score a huge bargain. Some of the pre-loved items for sale include a $6700 Gucci black jacket selling for just $500 and a $2500 Fendi mini bag going for $1200. She also lists a stylish pink button down Gucci minidress, which was only worn twice, for $650 and a pair of red Louis Vuitton ballet flats for $450. Roxy Jacenko (pictured) is downsizing her wardrobe and lucky fans can snap up her designer hand-me-downs for a great price Roxy clarifies that the items have barely been used and tells interested buyers to email her directly to discuss a sale. The beauty may be looking for some extra spending money as she was spotted throwing away thousand of dollars worth of alcohol over the weekend as she prepares to relocate with her family to Singapore. Dressed in black leggings and an oversized top, the PR queen spent Sunday offloading unwanted items into a skip bin outside her newly-sold mansion in Sydney's affluent Vaucluse. The 43-year-old PR queen - who previously said she never wears the same pair of shoes twice - took to Instagram on Wednesday to post photos of the for sale items. Some of the pre-loved items for sale include a $6700 Gucci black jacket (pictured) selling for just $500 They included several unopened bottles of Champagne, including Maison Mumm reserve worth $190, and Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blancs worth $170. She also binned two customised bottles of liquor - a $104 flask of Don Julio Tequila with Roxy's name on the label, and a $68 bottle of Hendricks Gin with her husband Oliver Curtis' initials. Roxy didn't stop there - she also threw away several beach towels emblazoned with the Porsche logo, each worth around $150, and two dog beds. She also lists a $2500 Fendi mini bag for $1200 At one stage, Roxy was joined by Oliver, 38, and son Hunter, eight, who were walking their family dogs around the lawn. It comes as Roxy ties up the last few ends of her life in Sydney ahead of her one-way trip to Singapore. The Sweaty Betty PR founder revealed in June she was looking forward to leaving her celebrity status back home in Australia. 'No one knows me there [in Singapore], no one has any preconceived idea of who or what I am, no one has any expectation, and best of all, no one actually cares!' she told the Sydney Morning Herald. Other items include a stylish pink button down Gucci minidress, which was only worn twice, for $650 Teresa Giudice was called out by her fans for over-editing her latest Instagram snaps to the point that she looks 'unrecognizable'. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star, 51, showed off her impossibly smooth visage in a number of photos shared to her social media on Monday, which saw her wearing a busty pink jumpsuit with sultry cutouts. The snaps were taken at a Barbie-themed birthday party which Teresa who recently shut down rumors that her marriage to Luis Ruelas, 49, is on the rocks attended with a number of her pals, including RHONJ co-star Jennifer Aydin. Fans quickly jumped into the comments to note how the mom-of-four appeared to have zero wrinkles in the flawless snaps. 'Unrecognizable,' one person wrote, while another added, 'Way too much filter considering you look ZERO like that.' 'Unrecognizable': Teresa Giudice was called out by her fans for over-editing her latest Instagram snaps to the point that she looks 'unrecognizable' 'Girl leave the facetuning alone,' someone else chimed in. 'Omg Teresa enough with the FaceTune.. you look like a cartoon character. Youve had a whole face transplant and look like a completely different person. Why do you still need filters?' another follower inquired. Other comments continued to accuse the reality star of using editing apps to alter her photos, writing, 'What in the face tune is this' and 'Photoshop and FaceTune have entered the chat.' 'Looks like her face was photoshopped on the body,' another person added. 'Please be real. Stop fixing you pictures!!!!' another fan begged. Others questioned if Teresa was using the popular weight loss drug Ozempic since she appeared 'super skinny' in the photos. 'Holy Ozempic!' someone commented, while another added, 'maybe shes born with it maybe its Ozempic.' 'Teresa appeared to celebrate the new Barbie film with her outfit and the caption of the post, which read, 'Come on Barbie lets go party.' Wow! The star, 51, showed off her impossibly smooth visage in a number of photos shared to her social media on Monday, which saw her wearing a busty pink jumpsuit with sultry cutouts Barbie: The snaps were taken at a Barbie-themed birthday party which she attended with a number of her pals, including RHONJ co-star Jennifer Aydin Flawless: Fans quickly jumped into the comments to note how the mom-of-four appeared to have zero wrinkles in the flawless snaps FaceTune? 'Way too much filter considering you look ZERO like that' while another begged 'Omg Teresa enough with the FaceTune' It's not the first time Giudice has faced criticism from fans who believed she was photoshopping her snaps. She was recently compared to a 'wax' figure in a photo of her and husband Luis Ruelas. The pair have been making the most of their summer, and on Monday, Ruelas posted a video of Teresa boarding a private jet for a family vacation to Mykonos, Greece. 'I LOVE YOU . #mykonos #familytime #summer2023 #happyanniversary,' Ruelas wrote in the caption of his video post on Instagram. In the video, Teresa showed off her fit figure in a grey tank top, a pair of light green and grey striped pants, and a pair of tan-colored open-toe platform Gucci slippers. Their one year wedding anniversary falls on August 6. He also tagged his wife, his son Louie Jr., and two of Giudice's daughters, Gia and Milania, in the post. It comes after Teresa shut down rumors that her marriage to Luis who has been accused of stalking his ex fiance is 'shaky' and 'on the rocks.' During the June 21 episode of her podcast Namaste B$tches, she told co-host Melissa Pfeister, 'There's no such thing.' She added: 'I love and adore him so much. Like, no. Nothing shaky.' Changing appearance: It's not the first time Giudice has faced criticism from fans who believed she was photoshopping her snaps; Pictured 2022 'Wax figure': She was recently compared to a 'wax' figure in a photo of her and husband Luis Ruelas Critics: Fans argued that she and Ruelas, 48, looked like 'wax people' in the snaps The couple met and began dating in July 2020 but didn't confirm their relationship until December of that year, when Teresa made their relationship Instagram official by posting a photo wrapping their arms around each other while at a restaurant. They got engaged in October 2021 and got married on August 6, 2022, in a lavish ceremony that was filmed for a Bravo special. The pair's blended family consists of Louie's two sons, Nicholas and Louis Jr., from his previous marriage, and Teresa's four daughters, Gia, Gabriella, Milania, and Audriana (from oldest to youngest), from her previous marriage to ex-husband Joe Giudice. The blended family's upcoming vacation to Mykonos comes just a few days after the couple attended the rapper Drake's concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Karlie Kloss shared a sweet behind-the-scenes video from her maternity shoot Tuesday on social media. The model, 30, along with her husband Joshua Kushner, welcomed her second son, Elijah Jude, July 11. The couple are also parents to two-year-old son Levi. The shoot appeared to take place on a rooftop in New York, where the supermodel is based with her family. The runway beauty added a glamorous touch, dressing in a black off the shoulder gown that clung to her curves. Glamorous: Karlie Kloss looked glamorous in a black off the shoulder dress with a thigh high slit as she posed for her maternity shoot ahead of the birth of her second child. The model share some behind-the-scenes video on social media Tuesday The expectant mother was able to showcase her toned legs in a thigh high slit and wore her dark tresses in loose waves. The overall theme of the video was mostly low key, with the doting mom including cuddles with a shirtless Levi. The tyke wore only a diaper and his long hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. Karlie donned a pair of low waist jeans and a black bra top for some of the photos, proudly displaying her baby bump. The doting mom added a white button down shirt for other shots in which she and her toddler played with trucks and snacked on watermelon. Another sweet pose featured Karlie wearing a pair of cream toned satin pajamas with boxer shorts, a triangle bikini top and the white shirt standing next to Levi with the New York skyline behind them. Comments were closed on the video post, but photos from the shoot elicited elated comments from her friends and fans. 'So so so beautiful,' wrote model Barbara Fialho. Baby bump:Karlie donned a pair of low waist jeans and a black bra top for some of the photos, proudly displaying her baby bump Play: The doting mom added a white button down shirt for other shots in which she and her toddler played with trucks and snacked on watermelon Pajamas: Another sweet pose featured Karlie wearing a pair of cream toned satin pajamas with boxer shorts, a triangle bikini top and the white shirt standing next to Levi with the New York skyline behind them Family leave: Karlie has joined the #passpaidleave campaign to provide paid family leave for new parents and others who need to care for a sick family member for up to four weeks. The US is one of the few industrialized nations without such a policy in place 'Beautiful mama,' was the comment from i-D France editorial director Claire Thomson-Jonville. Karlie and her husband, Joshua, have been married since October 2018. He is the brother of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former President Donald Trump. In a June 2023 interview with Glamour, Karlie promoted a campaign to pass the first-ever national paid family leave policy in the US. More than 120 industrialized nations around the world have such a program in place, but the US is one of the exceptions, along with Australia and New Zealand. Karlie told the outlet that she wasn't well informed about the issue until after giving birth to her oldest child. The fact that one in four women have to go back to work two weeks after giving birth is a stat that is unfathomable and really devastating,' she said. Guy Fieri opened up about a traumatic experience from his past, as he was a passenger in a vehicle that flipped over amid a drunk driving accident, killing the person next to him. The TV personality, 55, went into detail Tuesday on the Now What? with Brooke Shields podcast about the deadly incident, which occurred in Las Vegas when he was 19 in the late 1980s. 'I was in a fatality car accident when I was 19 when I was in college,' the Columbus, Ohio native said. 'I wasn't driving, I was in the backseat.' The Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives host and restaurateur at the time was a college student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, when he and a group of members of the military went to watch drag boat races after camping out nearby. 'Unfortunately, I was with a bunch of guys andwe were drinking,' he said. The latest: Guy Fieri, 55, opened up about a traumatic experience from his past, as he was a passenger in a vehicle that flipped over amid a drunk driving accident, killing the person next to him. Pictured earlier this month in Las Vegas The Food Network personality got into the details of what had happened, saying that 'this guy saw a cop and he was drinking ... and he took off and we got chased and the car flipped.' Fieri said the accident 'was horrific,' adding, 'The guy next to me was killed.' Fieri said that 'everybody [in the accident] was messed up,' and that he had to be airlifted for medical treatment amid the carnage. 'I did go Flight for Life in the helicopter and the whole thing,' he said. Fieri said that the people he was with in the accident were 'all in the military together' - and claimed that he had been 'the one that was driving.' He said that when he awoke in a hospital, he'd been 'handcuffed to the gurney.' Fieri recalled a series of events stemming from the tragic incident, as he had to tell his parents, who got him legal representation, and was arrested while in his dorm room. 'It was going bad after worse because everybody was saying that I was, you know,' Fieri said, adding that authorities were aware he was not driving at the time of the deadly crash. The TV personality was pictured earlier this month at the opening of a restaurant in Las Vegas Fieri, seen in a presentation for Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront in May, said that the person next to him in the vehicle perished in the crash Fieri said that his father chastised him him in the wake of the incident, telling him to 'cut the s***,' focus and behave like a responsible adult moving forward. Fieri described to Shields his mindset moving forward from the disastrously experience. 'I was like, okay - my family didn't have any money. I'm not the smartest kid - didn't get the best grades,' he said. 'But if I'm going to win, I'm going to win based upon how hard I play and how disciplined I am and how driven and how controlled I am. 'And if I do that then I have a better chance at getting through this.' Fieri said he has carried over the guarded lesson to parenting his sons Hunter, 26, and Ryder, 17. 'It's things I teach my kids all the time: Don't trust anybody to drive you,' he said. 'Don't trust what anybody puts in a drink and gives it to you. Don't trust if anybody tells you that this is safe or this is smart. 'You have to be the master of your domain. You have to be in control of your environment.' Muscat-based Ticket Travel & Tourism company has signed an agreement with Omans premier SME development company Sharakah to receive bill discounting solutions. As per the agreement, Sharakah will deliver customised services to meet short-term investment requirements and improve cash flow and business liquidity. SME company Ticket Travel & Tourism offers exceptional and distinctive travel experiences to its customers, said a statement. Sharakah aims to support Ticket Travel & Tourism by actively contributing to the realisation of the company's future strategies and plans. Additionally, it will leverage partnership programmes designed to provide support specifically for small and medium enterprises, thereby reaping mutual benefits. Nasser, CEO of Ticket Travel & Tourism, said: We are thrilled and grateful to receive support from Sharakah, an eminent company, to facilitate our bill discounting process. Looking ahead our plans involve focusing on the inbound market to attract more tourists to Oman. Our goal is to provide the local market with personalised, high-quality experiences that we would personally enjoy ourselves. As an Omani SME, we pride ourselves on competing with high standards, delivering exceptional quality to our customers. We prioritise building strong global ties to secure the best costs for our clients. Our commitment to customer service is unwavering, offering 24/7 support to guide our clients throughout their journey. Ali bin Ahmed Muqaibal, CEO of Sharakah, said: We recognise the companys potential and are impressed by the owners dedication. The companys inherent potential, coupled with the commitment we have witnessed, has raised our expectations for its prospects. We firmly believe our Bill discounting solutions will steer the SMEs to grow and evlevate their performance. Sharakahs Bill discounting scheme encompasses a 120-day credit period, offers a facility for SMEs engaged in providing products or services to large public or private sector organisations, allows for investment amounts ranging from OMR 25,000 to 200,000, requires a minimum business existence of one year, mandates the submission of audited financials, and provides for the annual renewal of the revolving limit. Since its establishment in 2017, Ticket Travel & Tourism has made significant strides in the Omani market, capturing the interest of Omani travellers who choose their services for various destinations. Currently, Ticket Travel & Tourism offers over 22 approved travel destinations, and their goal is to expand their offerings to encompass more than 30 destinations by the end of 2023. TradeArabia News Service Joey King enjoyed a 'Steve-themed' bachelorette party with her friends ahead of her upcoming nuptials with fiance Steven Piet. The Lie actress, who will turn 24 on Sunday, and her guests dressed up as various well-known 'Steves' for the celebratory occasion. King's bachelorette weekend was hosted in Napa Valley, California, and she's been using social media to document the festivities. On Tuesday she shared video footage of her and her pals in their versions of Steve on Instagram and TikTok. Joey wrote in her Instagram caption to 18.7 million followers, 'I love all my Steve(n)s.' Clever: Joey King enjoyed a 'Steve-themed' bachelorette party with her friends ahead of her upcoming nuptials with fiance Steven Piet The bride-to-be dressed as her director fiance, donning gray trousers, a short-sleeved maroon shirt, and beige suspenders. The movie star additionally wore a pair of dark-rimmed eyeglasses and she pulled her hair back. Two of her friends arrived as the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, showing up in black turtlenecks and jeans. Someone else dressed up as the beloved, nerdy 90s sitcom character Steve Urkel. Another party guest chose to portray Steve Irwin, while someone else chose to be Steve from Blues Clues. One of the Los Angeles native's friends was an iteration of Aerosmith's Steven Tyler. And finally, someone else had the idea to be daredevil Steve-O from MTV's reality series Jack***. An earlier social media post showed Joey and her close friends at Cakebread Cellars. Bride-to-be: King's bachelorette weekend was hosted in Napa Valley, California, and she's been using social media to document the festivities Steve Jobs! On Tuesday she shared video footage of her and her pals in their versions of Steve on Instagram and TikTok Happy camper: Joey wrote in her Instagram caption to 18.7 million followers, 'I love all my Steve(n)s' One snap showed the Bullet Train star in a white veil and a cream-colored halter neck dress. King met Piet on the set of her hit TV series The Act, and they began dating in September 2019. The 32-year-old filmmaker popped the question in February 2022, which King announced in an Instagram post shortly after. 'I never knew happiness could be so powerful that it can take the air from your lungs, overwhelming every part of you that you cant help but feel your eyes well from the undeniable joy,' she wrote. 'I never knew that a person's presence and heart could feel like a real home,' she added. 'I never knew love could be so unquestionably beautiful. I never knew until you. The date was 2/2/22 when you asked me to marry you and made me the luckiest lady alive,' she noted. 'I love you more than an Instagram caption could ever do justice. Hanging out with you forever sounds like a real dream, so lets do it,' she finished. Cute: One of the actress' buddies dressed up as Steve Irwin, while another was Steve from Blues Clues Rocker: One of the movie star's friends showed up as Steven Tyler of the band Aerosmith Happy couple: The duo will soon become mister and missus Joey used Steven's May birthday as another opportunity to express her love for her man. Sharing a slew of photos with Piet, she wrote, 'To the man who, when I lay my eyes on him, makes my breath catch from how lucky I feel that hes mine. 'How does one describe a person like you? I dont fully know. What I do know is that the world became a better place the day you were born. Happy birthday Stevie P. Your love is my happy place.' The post currently has 1.3 million likes from the star's devoted fanbase. Michel Barrymore has discussed his showbiz comeback as a TikTok star and successful theatre director. The former TV host, 71, revealed that he was the 'busiest and happiest' he had ever been after winning praise for new West End show Laurel and Chaplin. Michael was previously one of the UK's top stars but his decades long career ended after the death of Stuart Lubbock in 2001 following a party at his Essex home. He told The Daily Star that despite the 'sh**ty bits' that had happened in his life he had never lost his passion for performing. Saying: 'I can't tell you how happy I am now. I'm the busiest I've ever been and I'm the happiest I've ever been'. Back with a bang: Michel Barrymore, 71, has discussed his showbiz comeback as a TikTok star and successful theatre director Congrats: The former TV host revealed that he was the 'bustiest and happiest' he had ever been after winning praise for new West End show Laurel and Chaplin 'I am probably the fittest I've been, too. I walk a lot, I eat well and I do what I love. I'm 71 and I feel fitter than I was when I was 40 when I was drinking and all that, ' Michael is co-directing the new production 'Laurel & Chaplin The Feud' at the Cambridge Theatre in London about the rivalry between two of the world's biggest entertainers, Stan Laurel and Charlie Chaplin. It will tell the 'true story of teenage best friends' whose relationship broke down when silent movie star Chaplin found fame in Hollywood. Photographs and video show a proud Michael on stage with cast members as he faced an audience on opening night yesterday while receiving a standing ovation. He thanked everyone and told the audience he'd 'never been so busy' and 'never been so happy'. This comes more than 20 years after a young man was found dead in his swimming pool following a house party and Michael practically disappeared from public life. The TV presenter lost his job at ITV shortly afterwards in 2003, and he was rarely seen again until he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in January 2006 - managing to finish in second place. A series of career revival attempts followed but they were often overshadowed by the ongoing investigation into the death of Stuart Lubbock. Between that year and 2019, Barrymore and others were arrested and questioned on multiple occasions, but no charges were ever filed and the star ultimately sued Essex Police for wrongful arrest, although he dropped his compensation claim of 2.4m after a court ruled he was due 'nominal' damages. But the TV personality has been taking his career back into his own hands by building a loyal fan base on the social media app TikTok. Former fame: Michael was previously one of the UK's top stars but his decades long career ended after the death of Stuart Lubbock in 2001 following a party at his Essex home (pictured on his show Strike it Lucky in 1986) Gen z: But the TV personality has been taking his career back into his own hands by building a loyal fan base on the social media app TikTok Impressive: Barrymore posts multiple videos per day and has amassed 1.7million followers, many of whom leave him messages of love and support Barrymore posts multiple videos per day and has amassed 1.7million followers, many of whom leave him messages of love and support. 'You really are living your best life right now and clearly loving it,' wrote one admirer under his latest video, 'So happy for you.' Another said: 'You'll always be the funniest man... we love you mister Barrymore, I wish you all the happiness in the world.' He repeatedly shares old clips from his television shows Kids Say The Funniest Things and Strike It Rich, which aired on ITV between 1998 and 2000 and from 1996 to 1999 respectively. One fan commented: 'This is the kind of TV we need on screen today! My face hurts from smiling and laughing... you're truly fab!' Barrymore is no stranger to the stage, having performed sell-out shows before his career collapsed in 2001 when Lubbock, 31, was found dead in the swimming pool of his Essex mansion after the star hosted a late-night party. Barrymore has always denied any knowledge of what happened. MailOnline has contacted Barrymore's representatives for comment. Jackie 'O' Henderson broke down in tears live on-air during her radio show on Wednesday as she listened to Kyle Sandilands, 52, talk about witnessing domestic violence as a child. Sandilands played an emotional tune in the background as he told his crying co-host how he watched his father being dragged away by police after an incident at the family home. While Henderson sobbed, Sandilands remained dry-eyed and calm as he re-called the harrowing ordeal. The shock jock played Johnny O'Keefe's 1964 hit 'She Wears My Ring' and revealed it was his father's favourite song, before sharing the personal story. 'Its sad. I thought if I ever did my life story it would start with this song and full on domestic violence with two little children playing with a train set pretending that nothing was wrong,' he said on his KIIS FM radio show. Jackie 'O' Henderson broke down in tears live on-air during her radio show on Wednesday as she listened to Kyle Sandilands , 52, talk about witnessing domestic violence as a child 'Ive got shocking memories, like horrible memories. And then the police would show up and dad would get carted away.' Sandilands told listeners not to feel sorry for him, before joking: 'Weve got Taylor Swift tickets to give away later.' This is not the first time the multi-millionaire radio star has discussed his troubled upbringing on the top-rating radio show. Back in February, Sandilands broke down in tears when he took a call from a listener named Michael who asked if he should invite his absentee father to his wedding. Kyle then shared his own story of his estrangement from his dad, who died of cancer in 2016. 'I took my mum's side and I tortured my dad for years. When he came back around I made it as difficult as possible for him,' Kyle admitted. 'I actually got off on sad he was, and how much he tried to make good. I actually enjoyed watching him suffer because I felt that he needed to suffer like we did.' 'I regretted it and I thought, what a waste of time that was. Now that he's gone, we can't speak, he can't say anything.' Sandilands played an emotional tune in the background as he told his crying co-host how he watched his father being dragged away by police after an incident at the family home 'I regret it, and my brother regretted it,' he went on, adding that he had discussed his father with his sibling just three days ago. 'What a waste of time, and we could have had it with him. You never get over it, you continue to torture yourself and you regret your actions,' an emotional Kyle admitted. Kyle's father Peter Sandilands passed away in 2016, following a battle with liver and bowel cancer. At the time, Kyle told his radio listeners that he and his dad had made amends towards the end. Trying his best to hold back emotion, he told said: 'We had a great relationship at the end there.' 'But it's the regret of like 10 years in the middle somewhere, where it was a bit forced. He was trying to get us back and I was pretending it was alright but it was just messy.' Kyle is pictured here, far right, with his mother Pam and brother Chris The Queensland-born personality said his parents kicked him out of home as a teenager after he threw a wild party, when he was interviewed by Andrew Denton on Enough Rope in 2007. He explained that his mother and stepfather kicked him out, and when his father also turned him away after he showed up at his place, he lived on the streets 'for a bit under a year'. 'They said they looked [for me], um, but they couldn't have looked too far cause I really was still around the same suburbs that we grew up in,' he said. 'I felt that I couldn't [go home]. They said get out you're not welcome back here.' 'I have a great relationship with them now although this cloud still looms, so it's never been discussed fully. No one's ever cried. No one's ever said sorry.' Kyle's father, a part-time Brisbane bus driver, refuted Kyle's claims when speaking to the Daily Telegraph in 2009. 'He always did have a home but he couldn't get on with his stepfather and his behaviour at that time went from bad to worse,' he said. Australia's most sexually-active woman has revealed some of the kinkiest and craziest requests she receives from fans. Annie Knight, who works as an OnlyFans creator, detailed some of her strangest custom video requests from her subscribers on TikTok recently. 'The craziest request I ever received was a three-page essay of like a script, written out with exact lines that I had to read,' the 26-year-old explained. 'The whole thing probably would've taken me three hours to film because it was so detailed,' she continued. 'And the script was about me being this guy's best friend's wife and that he was coming over to help me with something, and the best friend was out and I really wanted him.' Australia's most sexually-active woman Annie Knight (pictured) has revealed some of the craziest requests she receives on OnlyFans Annie said she 'didn't judge' the man for wanting her to play out his extremely specific fantasy, but ultimately she had to decline because the scripted was far too detailed. 'I'm not that good of an actress,' she said, admitting that the man had offered her $500 to do it. In another video, the leggy blonde shared an even more bizarre request. 'I just had to film a video of me waking up, pretending like I'm a man who has just woken up in a woman's body,' she explained, likening it to the movie Freaky Friday. 'The craziest request I ever received was a three-page essay of like a script, written out with exact lines that I had to read,' the 26-year-old explained on TikTok recently Annie appeared on The Kyle and Jackie O Show this week to discuss her X-rated antics, and boasted of sleeping with 300 men and women in the span of a single year. 'I'm down to try anything,' she said, confirming she does 'pretty much everything' on her OnlyFans account. Annie confessed to bedding five different people in one day, explaining she finds men on dating apps and also has a roster of 'regulars' she romps with. 'I feel empowered afterwards,' she said. 'Sex makes me feel good. It's meant to make you feel good.' Annie appeared on The Kyle and Jackie O Show this week to discuss her X-rated antics, and boasted of sleeping with 300 men and women in the span of a single year The beauty went on to tell a story about sleeping with an incredibly well-endowed man 'who was quite girthy'. Taking things even further, Annie boasted about having sex 'under a restaurant table' while out on a date. 'We'd finished dinner and were up to dessert,' she said cheekily. She also said sometimes when she's out in public she 'can't wait' to have sex and will have to drag a lover to the bathroom to take care of things. Angelina Jolie stood by Iranians 'defending basic rights and freedoms' on Tuesday in a social media post. The 48-year-old actress and humanitarian took to Instagram to call attention to the situation in Iran following the death last September of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the country's morality police. Jolie shared an image of a woman wearing clear glasses with tears running down her eyes in the colors of the Iranian flag along with the words, 'Woman, Life, Freedom'. 'Respect and solidarity to Iranian women and men for their courage in defending basic rights and freedoms, and thinking of those imprisoned or facing prosecution - as in other situations where freedom of expression is restricted or denied - including #ElahehMohammadi #NiloofarHamedi #NargesMohammadi #ToomajSalwhi,' Jolie wrote in the caption for her roughly 14.5 million followers. Jolie in her hashtags referenced Elaheh Mohammadi, 36, who was imprisoned in September 2022 for reporting on Amini's funeral. Hamedi, 30, also was imprisoned for reporting on Amini's hospitalization and death. Showing solidarity: Angelina Jolie, shown in October 2021 in Italy, stood by Iranians 'defending basic rights and freedoms' on Tuesday in a social media post Narges Mohammadi, 51, is an Iranian human rights activist who is serving a 10-year prison sentence for 'spreading anti-state propaganda' and has remained vocal despite her imprisonment. Salehi, 32, is an Iranian hip hop artist who was sentenced to six years in prison for participating in the 2022 Iran protests following Amini's death. Jolie also took to Instagram last September to raise awareness about anti-government protests in Iran by sharing images of women demonstrating. 'Respect to the brave, defiant, fearless women of Iran. All those who have survived and resisted for decades, those taking to the streets today, and Mahsa Amini and all young Iranians like her,' Jolie wrote in the caption. 'Women don't need their morals policed, their minds re-educated, or their bodies controlled. They need freedom to live and breathe without violence or threats. To the women of Iran, we see you #WomanLifeFreedom #MahsaAmini,' she added. Jolie began her humanitarian work after filming the 2001 film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in war-torn Cambodia. She contacted the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and went on field visits in Africa before being named as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in August 2001. Jolie has been on dozens of field missions in more than 30 countries and was promoted in 2012 to the rank of Special Envoy to High Commissioner Antonio Guterres. Basic rights: 'Respect and solidarity to Iranian women and men for their courage in defending basic rights and freedoms, and thinking of those imprisoned or facing prosecution - as in other situations where freedom of expression is restricted or denied - including #ElahehMohammadi #NiloofarHamedi #NargesMohammadi #ToomajSalwhi,' Jolie wrote in the caption for her roughly 14.5 million followers Humanitarian work: Jolie is shown in January 2018 in Belgium holding a press conference as part of her work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Custody death: The actress called attention to the situation in Iran following the death last September of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, shown in an undated photo, while in the custody of the country's morality police She resigned from the ambassadorship in December 2022, but pledged to continue to advocate for refugees. Jolie has six children including Maddox, 21, Pax, 19, Zahara, 18, Shiloh, 17, Knox, 15 and Vivienne, 15. She was in a 12-year relationship with ex-husband Brad Pitt, 59, but they separated in September 2016 after two years of marriage and both were declared legally single in 2019 amid divorce proceedings. Iranian authorities claimed that Amini after being detained for not wearing a hijab properly had a heart attack at a police station, collapsed and fell into a coma before she was taken to a hospital, but women detained with Amini reported that she was severely beaten and died as a result of police brutality. Amini's death sparked a series of protests against the government, which cracked down against protesters with violence that killed an estimated 476 people. Lauren Phillips has given fans an up-close glimpse at her new engagement ring. The huge diamond sparkler could be seen on the hand of the KIIS FM host, 41, in a video released on her radio show's social media account. In the video, Lauren actually appeared to spill her bottle of water over the ring while fumbling for the beverage in the studio. It comes after Lauren announced her engagement to multi-millionaire partner Paul O'Brien live on-air on Monday. The TV and radio presenter shared the exciting news with her co-host Jase Hawkins, and spoke about the surprise proposal in Mykonos. Lauren Phillips [pictured] has given fans an up-close glimpse at her new engagement ring O'Brien runs high-end aviation charter group AVMIN and has several celebrity clients, including Matt Damon, his wife Luciana Barroso, Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky. 'We went to Europe for the holidays. We had a few days in Rome just the two of us and I thought if he was going to propose, it would've been the two of us,' she began. 'Then we went to Mykonos and met up with all of our friends and turns out I was the only person who didn't know about it. He proposed in front of all our friends. I had no idea and then next minute he was down on one knee.' The huge diamond sparkler could be seen on the hand of the KIIS FM host, 41, in a video released on her radio show's social media account Phillips announced her engagement to multi-millionaire partner Paul O'Brien live on-air on Monday The brunette beauty said the public proposal was such a surreal experience that at first she thought Paul was teasing her. 'I think I thought he was joking. It was an out of body experience. I don't think I even looked at the ring. I just hugged him and cried and then we stood up and we all celebrated.' She could not contain her joy when discussing the ultra-romantic proposal. 'Everyone said, "you didnt say yes," and I'm like "of course it is a yes!" We then called my family who were at home at the time. He asked my dad. He is a gentleman,' she added. The TV and radio host, 41, shared the exciting news with her co-host Jase Hawkins and told him about O'Brien's romantic European proposal. Pictured: Lauren and Paul The notoriously private couple have been dating since early 2020 and now live together in Byron Bay. Paul previously dated former Sunrise host Samantha Armytage from 2018 - 2019. Lauren started dating Paul while she was living in Melbourne at the start of the Covid pandemic in early 2020. 'We went to Europe for the holidays. We had a few days in Rome just the two of us and I thought if he was going to propose, it would've been the two of us,' she began But when Victoria's lockdown took hold in July that year, she relocated to Byron Bay. There, she reportedly moved in with Paul while continuing to work as the weather presenter for Weekend Today - a role she has since quit to focus on her radio career. Before her relationship with Paul, Lauren was married to TV producer Lachlan Spark for a year, and they confirmed their split in December 2018. Sir Paul McCartney and wife Nancy have adopted a rescue dog they renamed Jet. The 81-year-old Beatles star and Nancy, 63, proudly posed with Jet in an Instagram post shared on Sunday by Los Angeles-based animal rescue the Labelle Foundation. Paul and Nancy wore matching white T-shirts as they happily sat together while posing for a cute picture with their new pet. 'Cheers to Rover (now Jet)!! We are so proud of this little pup for finding his fur-ever family!! Thank you @paulmccartney and Nancy for opening up your home and supporting animal rescue,' the caption read. Another photo showed Nancy smiling in a sleeveless green dress while holding Jet as they sat together outside on porch steps. Animal rescued: Sir Paul McCartney and wife Nancy have adopted a rescue dog they renamed Jet Paul and Nancy got married in 2011 and both have children from previous relationships. Nancy has son Arlen with her ex-husband Bruce Blakeman, while Paul has children Stella, James, Heather and Mary with late ex-wife Linda McCartney and daughter Beatrice McCartney, 19, with ex-wife Heather Mills, 55. The Labelle Foundation rescue is dedicated to helping pets find loving forever families, saving homeless animals from euthanasia, and educating the public on the importance of responsible pet ownership. The Beatles bassist and songwriter and legendary Hollywood director Steven Spielberg, 76, were spotted on Monday taking in the new Oppenheimer movie at a theater in the Hamptons. Paul and Steven both own homes in the Hamptons area and have been friends for many years. They were both seen to be in good spirits while chatting together outside of the movie theater. The director and musician have been friends for many years, with Steven opening up earlier this year to BBC Radio 4 about how a Beatles song Paul wrote helped his love life in college. A series of photographs taken by Sir Paul recently went on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Fun photo: Another photo showed Nancy smiling in a sleeveless green dress while holding Jet as they sat together outside on porch steps Cute couple: Paul and Nancy, shown in June in London, got married in 2011 and both have children from previous relationships. Beatles photos: A series of photographs taken by Sir Paul, shown last December in London, recently went on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London. The music icon took the photos during The Beatles' early days, and Sir Paul offered them to the gallery - which has reopened to the public following three years of refurbishments - after he stumbled across the images in 2020. Dr Nicholas Cullinan, the gallery's director, said: 'The McCartney exhibition is very interesting. 'Actually Sir Paul approached us I think back in 2020 and said he had found these photographs which he remembered taking but thought had been lost. And so we sat down with him and began going through the photographs and they are really extraordinary.' Sir Paul took the photos between December 1963 and February 1964, and they include behind-the-scenes shots of the band's first TV appearance in the US. Khloe Kardashian commanded attention on Instagram on Tuesday as she shared new photos in a hot pink look. The 39-year-old reality television personality - who shared snaps of daughter True and niece Chicago last week - wrote in the caption of the post, 'Living in a Barbie world.' The entrepreneur plugged her clothing brand Good American as she hopped on the doll-inspired trend. The mother-of-two flaunted her trim physique in a body-hugging bodysuit and clinging pants. In a second post she simply tagged her company in the caption, along with a lips emoji. New post: Khloe Kardashian commanded attention on Instagram on Tuesday as she shared new photos in a hot pink look Fantasy: The 39-year-old reality television personality wrote in the caption of the post, 'Living in a Barbie world' The fashion-forward star coordinated her look with a pair of slouchy, soft pink, knee-high leather boots. She looked busty in her sleeveless, low-cut bodysuit, and in two of the photos she added a light wash denim trench coat. Kardashian's frosty blonde locks were arranged in a center part that exposed her dark roots. The lengthy locks were styled in uniform waves that cascaded over her chest and down her back. In the second and third pictures uploaded by Khloe, she posed on a couch designed to look like red lips. The Hollywood fixture looked typically gorgeous in a fully made up face, and she rocked her signature extra long, pointy-tipped nails. Days earlier, Khloe appeared on social media in the same look as she promoted the pieces in a video clip. 'This is our Pop Off Pink collection,' Khloe said in the snippet as she showed off the ensemble. 'And we all know I love myself some pink,' she added. Footwear: Khloe teamed her bright co-ord with a pair of slouchy, knee-high, soft pink leather boots Go-to look: Earlier this month Khloe stunned in a similar look as she rocked pink catsuit with thigh-high suede pink boots for a trip to Barbie World with sister Kim Kardashian, daughter True, and nieces Dream, Stormi, and Chicago It's not the first time the Los Angeles native has combined the hot pink trend with a figure-hugging getup. Earlier this month she stunned in a pink catsuit with thigh-high suede pink boots. She pulled out the eye-catching getup for a trip to Barbie World with her daughter True Thompson, 5, and nieces Dream, 6, Stormi, and Chicago, both 5. Joining her was big sister Kim Kardashian, 42, who is also no stranger to the pink craze. For the outing, Kim sported a low-cut black bodysuit and thigh-high hot pink boots with white stripes. But earlier this year she compared herself to the pink Power Ranger as she wowed in a sleeveless, mock neck catsuit in the popular hue. The fashionista added super tall boots in the same color and texture as the one-piece. Kim flaunted her take on the viral style in a shape-accentuating piece from her SKIMS range. Trend: Back in April, Khloe's older sister Kim rocked a similar look as she wore a catsuit from her SKIMS line Proud mom: Also on Tuesday, Khloe shared adorable footage of daughter True dancing Also on Tuesday, Khloe - who is also mom to almost one-year-old son Tatum - shared adorable footage of True and Dream dancing. Taking to her Instagram Stories, the former Keeping Up With The Kardashians star shared multiple clips of the little girls performing to Christmas music. She could be heard giggling with delight as she recorded the choreographed moves and cheered the girls on. Dream is her younger brother Rob Kardashian's daughter, and the only child of the next Kardashian generation to inherit their famous last name. She's never been afraid to show off her incredible figure. And Emily Ratajkowski put her phenomenal frame on full display as she posed in a tiny white bikini for a sizzling Instagram post on Wednesday. The model, 32, wowed in a sexy two-piece as she reclined on a sun lounger while snapping selfies. Other stunning snaps in the post showed Emily posing braless in a tight tube top, while she also flashed her bottom in a sheer black dress. Referencing her recent departure from having brunette locks, she captioned the post: 'being a redhead isa mood.' White hot! Emily Ratajkowski put her phenomenal frame on full display as she posed in a tiny white bikini for a sizzling Instagram post on Wednesday Emily's post comes amid her on-again romance with DJ Orazio Rispo, whom she was first linked to last year. The model 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. DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that she was locked in conversation with Tom Brady during billionaire Michael Rubin's Fourth Of July party in the Hamptons. Striking: Other stunning snaps in the post showed Emily posing braless in a tight tube top Hot mesh! She flashed her bottom in a sheer black dress in a sexy snap taken from behind Radiant redhead: Referencing her recent departure from having brunette locks, she captioned the post, 'being a redhead isa mood' However Tom has since taken up with Russian model Irina Shayk, whose dating history features Kanye West, Bradley Cooper and Cristiano Ronaldo. Sebastian, whose credits include the Adam Sandler vehicle Uncut Gems, had a courthouse wedding to Emily in 2018. 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. Hello there: Emily also shared a video dashing around New York City in a lace-trimmed dress Blooming lovely: Emily draped her statuesque figure in a clinging floral mini dress Zoe Foster Blake will soon make a red carpet appearance at The Logies. And the star, 42, gave fans a behind the scenes look at her glam on Wednesday, ahead of the event at The Star in Sydney on Sunday. Taking to Instagram, Zoe shared a selfie after visiting Melanie Grant skin and undergoing a number of treatments. The star flaunted her natural radiance after a pricey facial peel, sonophoresis and the use of an LED light. Sonophoresis is an ultrasound used to drive molecules into and across the skin. Zoe Foster Blake, 42, showed off her natural beauty on Wednesday as she visited celebrity facialist Melanie Grant ahead of this year's Logies. Pictured Zoe let her followers know she would be using PICO laser to work on her pigmentation in follow up sessions. 'A do-it-all post-trip (pre-Logies) facial to clean out grubby clogged skin, brighten and juice up: peel, sonophoresis and LED lamp,' she wrote. Zoe's husband Hamish Blake is again a contender for the prestigious Gold Logie this year, after winning it last year. Zoe recently revealed her next career move after suffering a huge financial blow after the major shareholder of her Go-To range recorded a $100million loss. The star flaunted her natural radiance after a pricey facial peel, sonophoresis and the use of an LED light. Sonophoresis is an ultrasound used to drive molecules into and across the skin The entrepreneur said in March she is now planning on writing another novel, which she shared on Instagram. She wrote in the caption: 'Tell me you're writing a novel without telling me you're writing a novel.' Zoe, who has already published 10 books, then revealed what she does to help keep her focused on writing. 'This is a LOT harder than it used to be for me due to phone addiction and making children,' she said. The entrepreneur recently revealed she is now planning to write another novel. The mother-of-two shared the news on Instagram by posting a photo of several empty coffee cups 'I write first thing [in the morning] as soon as the kids are at school and use no social media beforehand.' She also said she puts her phone on 'do not disturb mode', listens to binaural beats before starting and aims to get at least 40 minutes of writing done. The career announcement comes after the major shareholder of her Go-To skincare range recorded a $100million loss. She sold 51.5 per cent of the business she founded to beauty products conglomerate BWX for $89million in 2021, and had been expected to sell her remaining share to the same company for a similar amount. The announcement comes after the major shareholder of her Go-To skincare range recorded a $100million loss However, the value of her share was written down by $30million in December after BWX recorded a staggering $336million loss during the 2021-22 financial year. BWX revealed last month it bled another $100million in the first half of the current financial year with the company's chief executive Rory Gration stepping down. The latest loss is expected to again severely reduce the value of Foster-Blake's 48.5 per cent share of Go-To, with BWK retaining the option of buying her stake, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. New Delhi, July 25 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said in the Lok Sabha that he has written letters to leaders of Opposition in both the Houses-- Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, that the government was ready for discussion on Manipur issue. I have written to leaders of Opposition of both the Houses that I am ready to discuss the Manipur situation in detail. It is my request to the opposition to create a favourable environment in the house for a discussion on this very sensitive issue, Shah said. The Home Minister accused the opposition of not having any interest in women's welfare issues so it was very obvious to raise the slogans. I have requested opposition to create a favourable atmosphere in the house for a discussion on this very sensitive issue. I am ready for any length of discussion. The government has no fear, whoever wants to discuss Manipur can discuss it, he said. The opposition has constantly demanded for discussion on Manipur situation in Parliament and Prime Minister Narendra Modis statement in the house. Amid uproar by opposition on the fourth day of the monsoon session of Parliament over Manipur issue, Lok Sabha was adjourned till 11 am tomorrow. Today, the house proceedings began amid pandemonium on Manipur issue as the opposition demanded a detailed discussion on this. Several opposition MPs raised slogans in the house and demanded a statement from Modi on Manipur issue. UNI CM CS2030 Coldplay have announced the European leg of their Music Of The Spheres world tour to huge excitement. The shows will be in summer of 2024 but the presale has already been and gone. Demand has been so high that Chris Martin and his bandmates have added 12 extra dates on top of the original 16 that were scheduled. This has doubled the number of gigs which will be in Dublin, taking the total up to four. Find out how to get tickets to see the My Universe stars live by reading on. Exciting: Coldplay have announced a set of new dates for their 2024 European tour, with the final four nights in Dublin Popular: Coldplay sold 1.4million tickets for their 2023 UK and European tour which kicked off in May Coldplay add two extra Dublin dates The Irish capital was originally due to host Coldplay for two nights in 2024 - August 29 and 30. However, as was the case in most of the ten European cities on the Music Of The Spheres world tour, demand was so high that extra dates have been added. This means that the band will now also be playing a further two nights at Croke Park - September 1 and 2. The group's Instagram story read: 'Due to huge demand in the presale, a third Dublin show has been added.' This was swiftly followed by the announcement of the fourth a couple of hours later, so if you are keen to see the band in Dublin your chances have been boosted significantly. The presale for all four nights has now passed, with the general sale beginning on July 28. How to get Coldplay tickets for their European tour General sale for all the cities on the European leg of Coldplay's world tour begins on Friday, July 28 at 10am local time. The band have confirmed they will be making a limited number of Infinity tickets available for the concerts. Infinity Tickets are cheaper tickets for people who can't afford Coldplays usual ticket price. For the Dublin shows, they will come in at 20 each, and must be bought in pairs. The one drawback is that you cant choose where you sit, so might left be right at the back or near the front - which is a big difference at Croke Park. Hot property: the band have announced an extra 12 dates across Europe,, on top of the 16 originally scheduled The first opportunity to get a ticket has already passed, with July 25's presale lasting no time at all. The general sale begins at 10am local time for all cities on Friday, July 28. You can purchase tickets on Ticketmaster here. Given the obvious demand in the presale, it would be wise to have your finger on the metaphorical buzzer on the dot of 10am if you want a decent chance of securing a place in the Croke Park crowd. Coldplay's 2024 European Dates After the presale, the number of dates has nearly doubled, going from 16 nights to 28. See the full list below. Coldplay Music Of The Spheres Wolrd Tour European dates City Venue Dates Athens Olympic Stadium June 8, 9 Bucharest Arena Nationala June 12, 13 Budapest Puskas Arena June 16, 18 Lyon Groupama Stadium June 22, 23, 25 Rome Stadio Olympico July 12, 13, 15, 16 Dusseldorf Merkur Spiel-Arena July 20, 21, 23 Helsinki Olympiastadion July 28, 30, 31 Munich Olympiastadion August 15, 17, 18 Vienna Ernst-Happel-Stadion August 21, 22, 24 Dublin Croke Park August 29, 30, September 1, 2 BTS star Jimin has thanked Ryan Gosling for giving him a piece of cultural history - Ken's guitar from the Barbie movie. In a message to the actor, Park Ji-min, 27, known mononymously as Jimin, congratulated Ryan, 42, on his 'big release,' and added that he was excited to see Barbie himself. This is a result of Ryan following through on his promise made before the film's release to donate the instrument to the K-pop star who had worn one of the Ken's outfits in an old music video for Permission To Dance. Jimin said on Instagram: 'Hi Ryan and hi Ken, it's Jimin. Congrats on your big release. My fans are excited to see your video, so thank you so much. 'I could see that you look great in my outfit. Thank you for this guitar. I really love it and I look forward to watching Barbie. Go, Barbie!' 'Humble offering': BTS star Jimin has thanked Ryan Gosling for giving him a piece of cultural history - Ken's guitar from the Barbie movie 'Go Barbie': Jimin posed with his new acquisition in his video thanking Ryan, and said that the actor looked great in his outfit He said, in an Instagram post from the film's profile: 'I noticed that your Permission To Dance outfit is the same as my Ken outfit in the upcoming movie.' The outfit in question was worn by Ken after he and Barbie travelled to the real world and realised they could do with some more understated outfits. 'I have to give it to you you wore it first,' Ryan added. 'You definitely wore it best, and there's an unspoken Ken code that if you bite another Ken's style, you have to give them your most prized possession.' The guitar is Ken's black acoustic instrument seen as the enlivened doll performs a cover of Matchbox Twenty's song Push in the movie, sung by Ryan himself. Jimin accepted the donation gladly and thanked the La La Land star in a video of his own. Far from being upset that Ken had taken his style, Jimin captioned the video by saying 'thanks for having my outfit in #BarbieTheMovie! You rocked it.' He certainly did - as the movie has been a global hit, smashing this year's record for a film's debut. Twinning: The actor donned the outfit in this year's Barbie movie (left), whereas it was worn by Jimin in BTS' 2021 music video for Permission To Dance (right) Harry Jowsey revealed he doesn't want to 'sleep around' anymore and is looking for a 'normal' girl to settle down with. The Too Hot To Handle star, 26, who once claimed to have slept with 200 women, said he was tired of getting his 'heart broken' by influencers in LA. He added he 'made so many mistakes' in his past relationships and is ready to apply the lessons he learned, reported The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday. 'My biggest goal in my next relationship is I am dating to marry. The next person I am dating, I am fully 110 per cent, that is my person so I want to make sure of it,' he said. 'I have made so many mistakes and learnt all the lessons I need to learn. I am done having my heart broken.' Harry Jowsey, 26, (pictured) revealed he doesn't want to 'sleep around' anymore and is looking for a 'normal' girl to settle down with The OnlyFans star later added: 'I think I just need to go back to Australia and find someone wholesome in a small town.' The Queensland-born influencer, who shot to fame on Too Hot To Handle in 2020, famously dated Francesca Farago on the series. After their split, he jetted off to Los Angeles and moved on with fellow Australian reality star Georgia Hasserati. The Too Hot To Handle star who once claimed to have slept with 200 women, said he was tired of getting his 'heart broken' by influencers in LA The confession comes after Harry revealed last September he wants to go 'Hemsworth level' legit thanks to his OnlyFans career. The Aussie reality star told the Daily Telegraph he wants to return Down Under to raise his children 'like Chris Hemsworth'. He added that he won't do 'porn' but his content is 'set to get more explicit' and that he's 'made a few million' from the adult site. 'I want to build a legit fanbase,' he added, revealing he is taking acting classes, and hiring people to manage his investment funds. The Queensland-born influencer previously revealed he's 'slept with 200 women' but his goal is to 'beat his mum's number' which is also in the 200s. Sir Mick Jagger thanked his fans for their well wishes on Wednesday as he turned 80 years old. The Rolling Stones front man shared a youthful image by photographer Mark Seliger on Instagram to mark his milestone birthday. In the image, he was wearing a burgundy satin suit over a brown polka dot shirt and sunglasses as he beamed with his trademark smile. His bandmate Ronnie Wood, 76, was the first to pay tribute to the icon, taking to Twitter on Monday morning. Sharing a gallery of images, he wrote: 'Happy 80th birthday to @mickjagger!.' Sir Mick Jagger turns 80! Rolling Stones rocker Ronnie Wood has paid tribute to the front man as he hits his milestone birthday, (Mick pictured in 2007) 'Thanks so much': Mick shared this caption alongside the image of himself Sharing a gallery of images, Ronnie Wood paid tribute to the rocker and wrote: 'Happy 80th birthday to @mickjagger! ' Playing the keys: Bandmate Keith Richards, 79, followed suit, sharing a video message and writing: 'Long may we keep saying this to each other, Happy Birthday , Mick. Love, Keith' Laughter is the best medicine: Joking that he is slightly younger than Mick, he jibed: 'And... give me a call, let me know what it's like' Bandmate Keith Richards, 79, followed suit, sharing a video message and writing: 'Long may we keep saying this to each other, Happy Birthday , Mick. Love, Keith.' Joking that he is slightly younger than Mick, he jibed: 'And... give me a call, let me know what it's like.' Sean Lennon took to the comments section to post some hand clapping emojis while rock band Primal Scream posted some lightning bolts. Piers Morgan wrote: 'Happy birthday Sir Mick!' Nile Rodgers shared a picture of Mick in the studio and wrote: 'Happy Birthday @MickJagger.' MailOnline has learned that Mick will be celebrating his big day with a private dinner just for family and friends. A host of celebrities have paid tribute to Mick with the Telegraph noting some of the lovely things his fellow musicians have said about him over the years. The Who's Roger Daltrey said: 'You're never going to out-front Mick Jagger, he's the best frontman there's ever been. There's no competition at all. Nice moment: Lots of celebrity friends, including Nile Rodgers, Piers Morgan, Primal Scream and Sean Lennon have been sending birthday wishes to Mick 'There's Mick and then the rest of us are somewhere down the line.' Bob Geldof said: 'He was, is and I believe forever will be, the greatest showman, the greatest frontman of any rock 'n' roll band ever.' Adding that he first saw the Stones perform in 1964, he said: 'I was smitten then and now, I owe my entire life, attitudes, ambitions, tastes and more to that blissful smelly epiphany. And I want to now thank this 80-year-old genius for all of that.' In June 2019, Mick famously returned to the stage for the first time since undergoing heart surgery two months before, as the Rolling Stones resumed their U.S. tour Mick had heart valve replacement surgery using a technique pioneered by Professor Alain Cribier. His surgery method, transcatherter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR, allows surgeons to swap a patient's cardiac valves without resorting to open heart surgery and cracking open their chests. As a result, recovery times are far quicker. The most common and serious of valve diseases, age-related aortic stenosis occurs when the valve narrows and hardens with calcium deposits. Valve replacement has historically been done by opening the chest surgically, stopping the heart, and placing the patient on a heart and lung blood machine - all, of course, under general anaesthesia. Love: Mick is engaged to his long-term love, ballerina Melanie Hamrick - pictured together in June Past love: Model Jerry Hall has four children with the Rolling Stones rocker A look back: He was married to Bianca Jagger from 19711978 but it was not to last More than 200,000 such procedures are performed every year worldwide, according to NewHeartValve, in Britain. Cribier's technique, done under local anaesthesia, is minimally invasive by comparison and has far shorter recovery times. A surgeon or cardiologist accesses the femoral artery with an incision near the groin to insert a catheter fitted with a replacement valve inside a collapsed stent, and a balloon for inflating it. The new heart valve, once expanded, pushes the old one out of the way and takes over the job of regulating blood flow. 'It has revolutionised patient care in this area,' Montpellier-based cardiologist Stephane Cade told AFP. Mick was born on July 26, 1943 in Dartford, Kent. His mother Eva Ensley Mary was a hairdresser, his father Basil Fanshawe 'Joe' Jagger competed in gymnastics, and Mick's younger brother Chris is also a musician. Mick and bandmate Keith Richards became friends in primary school, when they shared a love of rhythm and blues. Mick studied business at the London School of Economics before deciding to form the band. Shanina Shaik stunned in a strapless black swimsuit as she attended her model pal Sara Sampaio's iconic Barbie-inspired birthday bash in Malibu on Monday. Victoria Secret's model Sara put on a lavish display in the iconic Barbie Malibu Dream House, hosted by Airbnb, to celebrate her 32nd birthday. Sara sent temperatures racing in a pink cut-out swimsuit as she posed up a storm for some sizzling snaps. The model was full of smiles as she took to Instagram to share photos from her special day. She changed into four different Barbie-inspired outfits as she posed in each iconic room. Come on Barbie, let's go party! Shanina Shaik stunned in a strapless swimsuit as she attended her pal Sara Sampaio's iconic Barbie-inspired birthday bash at the Barbie Dream House Malibu on Monday Sensational: Victoria Secret's model Sara put on a lavish display in the iconic Barbie Malibu Dream House, hosted by Airbnb, to celebrate her 32nd birthday WOW: Sara's lavish birthday party was hosted in the Dream House (pictured) which is located in Malibu, California In one photo she turned into a real-life Barbie doll as she stood frozen on the stand dressed in pink thigh cut-out jeans. And another snap, Sara changed into a very glamorous attire in a pink satin maxi dress for a evening dinner. The influencer upped up the ante with a huge pair of hooped earrings with Barbie stencilled in the middle of them. Sara looked as happy as ever as she rocked a pair of animated sunglasses while taking a bite out of the uncut cake. Captioning her post, she wrote: 'What a birthday!!!!! Thank you and for hosting me at the dream Malibu dojo mojo casa house. Life in plastic is fantastic!' Meanwhile, Victoria Secret's model Shanina, 32, stunned against the pink theme in a black and white swimsuit. She looked nothing short of sensational while putting on a leggy display in her sexy snaps. Also in attendance at the party was Sara's close pal Georgie Flores, 26, who helped host the iconic bash. Beaming: The model was full of smiles as she took to Instagram to share photos from her special day Unreal: In one photo she turned into a real-life Barbie doll as she stood frozen on the stand dressed in pink thigh cut-out jeans Glam: Sara changed into a very glamorous attire in a pink satin maxi dress for a evening dinner Gorgeous: Sara sent temperatures racing in a pink cut-out swimsuit as she posed up a storm for some sizzling snaps Lavish: Victoria Secret's model Shanina, 32, stunned against the pink theme in a black and white swimsuit Hardcore fans: The ladies have been totally inspired by Barbie due to the release of the movie, starring Margot Robbie, which came out on July 21 She looked chic in strapless baby pink dress that had a thigh-high split detailing and a feather trim embellishment. The DreamHouse is located in Malibu, California, an oceanfront mansion that, 'features panoramic views and serves as the perfect backdrop for Kens picture-plastic paradise.' Fans were in awe of Sara's lavish Barbie themed birthday party which happened to fall on the week the Barbie movie released. Commenting: 'I think the fact that both you and Selena Gomez had Barbie themed bday parties is absolutely iconic' 'Pretty big flex on opening weekend' 'Omggg love the look!! You look like a true barbie' 'Love the Barbie themed birthday party as a celebration for the Barbie movie' 'This barbies is SLAYING the house down' Cillian Murphy has insisted that no actor 'likes' filming sex scenes but tells how he believes they were 'vital' to include in new movie Oppenheimer. The actor, 47, stars as the titular character, scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer in the Christopher Nolan-directed biopic, which was released in cinemas on July 21. The hotly-anticipated film features an intimate scene between Cillian's character and Florence Pugh, who portrays psychiatrist and Communist Party member Jean Tatlock. The characters were romantically involved prior to, and during, Oppenheimer's marriage to wife Katherine 'Kitty' Oppenheimer, who is played in the historical drama by Emily Blunt. 'Awkward': Cillian Murphy has insisted that no actor 'likes' filming sex scenes but tells how he believes they were 'vital' to include in Oppenheimer Steamy: The actor, 47, stars as the titular character, scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, and has an intimate scene with Florence Pugh, who portrays psychiatrist Jean Tatlock, in the film Speaking about the intimate moments, Cillian described filming sex scenes as 'the most awkward possible part' of any actor's job and said nobody likes shooting them. But he insisted that his sex scenes with Florence, 27, were completely 'vital' in Oppenheimer as he stressed the importance of the characters' relationship. He told GQ Magazine: 'I think they were vital in this in this movie. I think the relationship that he has with Jean Tatlock is one of the most crucial emotional parts of the film. 'Listen, no one likes doing them, they're the most awkward possible part of our job, but sometimes you have to get on with it.' It is not the first time that Cillian has stressed the importance of his intimate scenes with Florence as he previously described them as 'f***ng powerful'. Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Cillian insisted that while Florence's role in the film is relatively short, the steamy scenes were needed and were not 'gratuitous'. He said: 'Those [sex] scenes were written deliberately. He knew that those scenes would get the movie the rating that it got. 'And I think when you see it, it's so f***ng powerful. And they're not gratuitous. They're perfect. And Florence is just amazing.' Important: Cillian insisted that his sex scenes with Florence, 27, were completely 'vital' in Oppenheimer as he stressed the importance of showing the characters' relationship Affair: The characters were involved prior to, and during, Oppenheimer's marriage to wife Katherine 'Kitty' Oppenheimer, who is played in the historical drama by Emily Blunt Christopher Nolan also told how he was 'appropriately nervous and appropriately careful' in his first time filming sex scenes for the movie. The Oscar-nominated filmmaker, 52, spoke with Insider about making the motion picture, which arrived in cinemas on Friday. 'Any time you're challenging yourself to work in areas you haven't worked in before, you should be appropriately nervous and appropriately careful and planned and prepared,' the London native said of the love scenes. He told the outlet that the scenes played an 'essential part' in establishing the relationship between Oppenheimer and Tatlock, whose link to the American Communist Party led to suspicion of Oppenheimer being a Soviet spy. 'When you look at Oppenheimer's life and you look at his story,' Nolan said, 'that aspect of his life, the aspect of his sexuality, his way with women, the charm that he exuded, it's an essential part of his story.' Christopher said 'it felt very important to understand their relationship and to really see inside it and understand what made it tick without being coy or allusive about it'. The scenes earned the movie a 15 rating in UK cinemas, due to its 'infrequent nudity and sexual content', according to the BBFC. Since the movie hit cinemas, it was revealed that nude scenes of Florence in the film were censored in several countries worldwide to secure the film's release. While the uncensored version shows Florence lounging topless in a hotel room chair, audiences in the Middle East and India were presented with a discreetly placed computer-generated black dress covering her body down to the thigh. Shooting: It comes after Christopher Nolan said he was 'appropriately nervous and appropriately careful' in his first time filming sex scenes for the movie Censored: Since the movie hit cinemas, it was revealed that nude scenes of Florence in the film were censored in several countries worldwide to secure the film's release Other cinemagoers in Bangladesh and Indonesia also reported that the scene had been altered, according to Newsweek. The film contains several sex scenes involving Florence and Cillian, and viewers in various countries took to social media to confirm they were heavily edited. Scenes featuring explicit content regularly undergo editing to ensure a smooth release in countries with strict censorship rules on nudity and adult themes. For example, movies aiming for a 'U/A certification' in India must adhere to certain standards, allowing moderate adult themes with parental guidance for children below 12 years of age, according to India's Central Board of Film Certification. Actress Samantha Morton has claimed Harvey Weinstein tried to destroy her career when she was in her early twenties The actress, 46, accused the disgraced producer who is currently in jail after being found guilty of sex crimes of threatening to make sure she would 'not work again' after she turned down an approach to be in his 2000 romantic comedy About Adam, which starred Kate Hudson, Stuart Townsend and Frances OConnor. She recalled on The Louis Theroux Podcast: 'I said, "I don't like it. I think the film is really misogynistic and I don't want to be part of it".' The Minority Report actress said the casting director then told her: 'You dont say no to Harvey.' But Samantha stressed she wasnt rejecting the producer, just the film and was issued with a chilling warning when she refused to change her stance. Speaking out: Samantha Morton has claimed disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein tried to destroy her career after she turned down a part in his romantic comedy About Adam, (pictured in 2019) She said: 'I [then] had a phone call saying, "You can't say no." The "no" wasnt being listened to. So they kept coming back with this role and I was told unequivocally, 'Youre not going to work again unless you do this role. Im going to make your life hell. You will not work again' - Weinstein pictured in October 2022 She said: 'I had just worked with Stuart Townsend on Under The Skin. It was just not interesting to me. I was uber-polite. 'I [then] had a phone call saying, "You can't say no." The "no" wasnt being listened to. So they kept coming back with this role and I was told unequivocally, 'Youre not going to work again unless you do this role. Im going to make your life hell. You will not work again.' The Whale actress refused to give in and admitted she felt her decision cost her roles on some of Weinsteins later films, including being passed in favour of Lena Headey for a role in 2005s The Brothers Grimm opposite Matt Damon and Heath Ledger after the producer deemed her 'unf****able'. Samantha said: 'It made me question why he was anti-me?' She then remembered the About Adam warning. She added: 'I forgot about it because it was years earlier. And then all these years later, I realised that [when] I get an offer, get a letter from a director, if Miramax or then the Weinstein Company had anything to do with it, it was just awful for me. 'He had a reason, a deep-seated reason, to just try and destroy my career He categorically couldn't, because I kept working, doing independent cinema all over the world.' No offence: Samantha had stressed she wasnt rejecting the producer, just the film and was issued with a chilling warning when she refused to change her stance - (pictured in December 2022) Throughout her early childhood, Samantha grew up in various children's homes. At 13 years old, during her stay at one of her homes, she was abused by her care workers who she trusted and the police did nothing about her case. In her view the care system for young people is still 'completely broken', 'beyond repair' and 'has to be completely re-thought from the ground up'. Because of her experience, she confesses that she 'always felt like an outsider, being and growing up in care, being a child of the state'. She says she loved living in New York because she felt as though everyone was accepted there, a feeling that she never experienced in the UK as a child. Going on to discuss her love of America, Samantha admits how she also preferred working in the US and how the sets always felt 'more comfortable'. She comments that, as a young woman on film sets in the UK, she was often asked to do things that 'wouldnt happen now' and got a reputation for being 'tricky'. She states 'I didnt have the skillset to articulate when I was uncomfortable or when something didn't feel right'. She said that she 'never had these problems in America'. Meanwhile, disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was given a 16-year prison sentence in February. Shamed: Weinstein was once a powerful media mogul before scores of women came forward to accuse him of rape and sexual assault in 2017 The once powerful media mogul, 70, was found guilty of rape and two other counts of sexual assault at a trial in Los Angeles in December after previously being sentenced in 2020 for sex crimes in New York City. He said: 'It is incredible to be convicted for a crime I wasnt even present for. I am innocent. I never raped or assaulted anyone. Weinstein, who continues to maintain his innocence, added that the actress he was convicted of raping, 'perjured herself at least three times and then sued for money, when she said on the stand that she would "never.'" 'I was never with her. Her entire claim thing was a setup for a money grab,' he added. Weinstein was already serving a 23-year sentence for separate rape and sexual assault convictions in New York when he was found guilty of rape, forcible oral copulation and sexual penetration by foreign object of an unnamed Russian-born Italian model. His latest sentence - which will only begin when he completes his New York sentence - came after a rape at the Mr C Beverly Hills Hotel in February 2013. As the judge revealed his fate on Thursday, Weinstein - who is now almost certain to die behind bars - moaned: 'I maintain that I'm innocent. 'I never raped or sexually assaulted Jane Doe 1. I never knew this woman, and the fact is she doesn't know me.' 'Please don't sentence me to life in prison,' he begged Judge Lisa B Lench, to no avail. 'I don't deserve it. There are so many things wrong with this case.' He will now serve the 16 years in addition to the 21 years left in his New York sentence. That would mean that Weinstein would be extradited to California to serve his 16 years behind bars in the state at the age of 91 - if he's still alive at that age. Should Weinstein make it to the end of his California sentence, he'd be released aged 107. But he still claims he is innocent, and his lawyers tried to argue in court on Thursday that Weinstein was the victim of an unfair trial. And his spokesman says the sentence is 'cruel' given Weinstein's age and failing health conditions, vowing that his conviction will be overturned. Sigourney Weaver has told how she is keeping any feelings about becoming a grandmother 'in check' because her child is 'ambivalent' about having kids. The actress, 73, will soon be appearing on screen portraying a grandmother in new TV drama The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, which is slated for release on August 4. When asked if she wants to be a grandmother, Sigourney said her child Char, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, isn't sure about having kids with the 'world being the way it is'. She told Saga Exceptional: 'Well, I try to keep those feelings in check because my offspring is very ambivalent about all that, with the world being the way it is.' Sigourney shares her only child Char, 33, with her husband Jim Simpson, who she tied the knot with in 1984. Future: Sigourney Weaver has told how she is keeping any feelings about becoming a grandmother 'in check' because her child is 'ambivalent' about having kids The Avatar star also told how she relishes being an auntie to her many nieces and nephews as she gushed over how much she loves spending time with her family. She said: 'I cherish being with my nephews and nieces and their rather large families is that, as someone who has worked a lot in her life, I love being with my family and enjoying the strength of the family.' But Sigourney admitted she wishes they all lived closer to her, adding: 'My feeling is that I'm a far-away kind of aunt and that is very frustrating, because I can only interact with them in certain ways and see them when I can.' Elsewhere, Sigourney also spoke about how her child Char is non-binary and confessed she was 'very happy' when they decided not to pursue a career in acting. 'They are nonbinary,' she told the Sunday Times of her child Char. 'They teach at Columbia, digital storytelling, bots, misinformation, they are someone who is excited about AI and not frightened about it. 'They were not at all interested in doing what I do. That made my husband and me very happy.' Sigourney is set to return to screen next month playing grandmother June in new Prime Video series The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, which was filmed in Australia. She spoke to Marie Claire Australia about her time shooting Down Under and told how she became fast friends with Leah Purcell, who plays her on-screen partner Twig. Sigourney told how when filming wrapped, Leah gifted Sigourney a donation to a refuge for orphaned joeys, as the actress is 'obsessed with kangaroos'. Offspring: Sigourney said her child Char (pictured in February 2020), who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, isn't sure about having kids with the 'world being the way it is' Family: Sigourney shares her only child Char, 33, with her husband Jim Simpson (all pictured in February 2020), who she tied the knot with in 1984 She told the publication: 'I've been given gold, I've been given diamonds, I've made some big money over the years... but this is the best gift in the world.' The last time Sigourney was in Australia shooting a project was in 1982, when she filmed The Year of Living Dangerously in 1982 with Mel Gibson. This time, she got to take her husband Jim, who 'lit up' when she told him about her new project in Australia. However, he was left disappointed when he discovered he wouldn't be able to surf where they were filming in Hunter Valley. She went on: 'I had no idea that we were going to be in the upper Hunter Valley, which is about as far away as you can get from the surf if you're in New South Wales! But he made it work. And we had a glorious time.' You can read the full interview with Sigourney on Exceptional's website. For years, Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have enjoyed family holidays together at their adjacent luxury villas on the Algarve. But now things are set to get even more awkward between the warring pair after Schofield has revealed will not sell his Portuguese home and will continue to enjoy sunshine breaks there. It means that there is set to be an awkward meeting for the at war pair summer this summer because Holly is currently spending her summer at her 2 million holiday home with television producer husband Dan Baldwin and their three children. Sources say that Schofield is also planning a trip at his villa which is situated on the exclusive resort despite his and Hollys bust up which began when he didnt tell her about his brothers court case which saw him being found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage boy over a three-year period. Schofield told MailOnline: We have absolutely no intention of selling our family home in Portugal. EXCLUSIVE: Are Holly and Phillip set for an awkward run-in? Schofield is planning a trip to his Algarve villa which is next to the 2m holiday home where she is currently staying Fun in the sun: Sources say that he will continue to holiday there as he, his wife Stephanie and their two daughters Molly, 30 and Ruby, 27, absolutely love it there' Meanwhile, sources say that he will continue to holiday there as he, his wife Stephanie and their two daughters Molly, 30 and Ruby, 27, absolutely love it there. One said: Phil loves his time on the Algarve and will be going back there very soon which obviously means there is a very big chance that he will run into Holly. It is very sad, they enjoyed some really happy and fun times there together but why shouldnt he go back? They both own their homes and neither will be backing down. Can you just imagine how awkward it will be though? Phillip is desperately sorry for hurting Holly and essentially ending their friendship, he has apologised to her but equally it is hard for her to forgive it all. Schofields holiday home boasts a swimming pool, beach views and a spacious terrace where he has previously entertained Holly, 42 and her family. They were once so close that Schofield would enjoy dinners with Dan, while Holly would have girls nights with her former co-stars daughters and wife Stephanie. Both Phillip and Holly have shared pictures of their holidays on their social media, along with other stars such as Declan Donnelly and his wife Ali Astall and Bradley Walsh. Holly jetted out to the Algarve in May after Schofield was ousted from This Morning. All change: They were once so close that Schofield would enjoy dinners with Dan, while Holly would have girls nights with her former co-stars daughters and wife Stephanie Posh: Schofields holiday home boasts a swimming pool, beach views and a spacious terrace where he has previously entertained Holly, 42 and her family - he says he has no plans to sell Break: Holly jetted out to the Algarve in May after Schofield was ousted from This Morning Earlier this year: Phillip was ousted from This Morning after his fall out with Holly. Two weeks later he left her devastated after he admitted that he had had an affair with a much younger runner on This Morning and then lied to The Mail On Sunday about it - (Pictured together in May) She was seen soaking up the sunshine with her parents Linda and Brian and her sister Kelly. Earlier this year, Phillip was ousted from This Morning after his fall out with Holly. Two weeks later he left her devastated after he admitted that he had had an affair with a much younger runner on This Morning and then lied to The Mail On Sunday about it. Holly then said that he former friend had also lied to her about the affair - which took place while Phillip was still living with is wife - when she asked him about it. Sources say that their friendship is irreparable. Abbie Chatfield is no stranger to the limelight. And the star, 28, courted attention yet again on Wednesday when she slipped into a skimpy gold bikini. Taking to Instagram, Abbie left little to the imagination as she posed on her knees on the floor. The star showcased her toned belly and ample chest in the racy selfie, and accessorised her look with a blue hat. Abbie happily flaunted her pert derriere in a second image, as she contorted her figure for the perfect shot. Abbie Chatfield is no stranger to the limelight and the star courted attention yet again on Wednesday when she slipped into a skimpy gold bikini. Pictured 'Honestly I just found these hot photos I took of myself in Perth so I thought I would share. Ur welcome,' she captioned the photos. The raunchy images come after Abbie joked she was 'concerned' about 'how hot' she would look at the upcoming Logie Awards. 'Actually worried for how hot I'm going to look at the Logies next week. Conservative media is going to flip LMAO', she wrote next to a close-up photo of herself clutching her brow in stress. Abbie, who will be presenting a Logie award on-stage, then shared a follow-up post explaining why she was so fearful. Abbie happily flaunted her pert derriere in a second image, as she contorted her figure for the perfect shot 'As we know my t*ts get like 2 cup sizes bigger during my period, and it's probs going to come this week so... get ready for peak period t*tties on TV. Nip slip likely x.' Abbie's wardrobe warning comes a year after she made her big Logies debut in a silver gown and feathered shawl. Hours before the event, Abbie had revealed in an Instagram video that she'd forgotten to bring underpants and needed to rush off and buy some before walking the red carpet. Addressing her followers in an Instagram Story post on Saturday, the Bachelor star said she was concerned about how 'hot' she is going to look for the upcoming Logie Awards 'As we know my t*ts get like 2 cup sizes bigger during my period, and it's probs going to come this week so... get ready for peak period t*tties on TV. Nip slip likely x,' she wrote 'I've forgotten undies. I've forgotten undies,' said the Bachelor in Paradise star. 'I've got to run to the Cotton On Body in the Oasis and I have to get f**king... I have no undies, I have no undies,' she laughed in the video. Following last year's Logies, Abbie revealed on her It's A Lot podcast that she'd also burst into tears before getting dressed for the red carpet. Abbie explained that she'd felt overwhelmed ahead of TV's night of nights because her frock was 'so nice' and she wasn't used to dressing so extravagantly. Abbie's wardrobe warning comes a year after she made her big Logies debut in a silver gown and feathered shawl. (Pictured at the TV Week Logie Awards in 2022) 'I was crying... I was like, "I just feel like I shouldn't be in this dress," because the dress was so nice,' she said. 'I just panicked, and also everyone just always calls me "attention-seeking" and now I'm rocking up to the red carpet with a feather cape that's four metres long,' she said of her show-stopping dress. Despite her initial reservations, Abbie composed herself and wore the dress on the red carpet. Courting attention, she also underwent two more outfit changes during the night. 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. Helen Skelton looked gorgeous in a blue jumpsuit as she was pictured leaving BBC morning Live on Wednesday. The 40-year-old looked very glam as she got windswept hair accessorising her outfit with some gold chunky necklaces and matching bracelet. The presenter donned a full face of makeup for her show as she finished the outfit with a cute pair of leopard print slip-ons. She beamed from ear to ear as she faced the breeze while clutching her phone in one hand. The pictures come after it was revealed Helen is putting the marital home she once shared with ex-husband Richie Myler on the market. Windy! Helen Skelton, 40, looked slightly windswept in gorgeous blue jumpsuit as she left the BBC studios on Wednesday morning Gorgeous: The presenter looked the picture of glam as she showcased her slim figure in the ensemble The star announced her split from England and Leeds Rhinos rugby league star Richie, 33, in April last year. A source told the Mirror: 'Helen has moved on with her life and feels its time to start with a clean slate. 'Shes put the house they shared on the market and is looking for a new place she can move to with the kids in the coming months.' Since his split from Helen, Richie has gone on to have a baby with new girlfriend Stephanie Thirkill, 32, the daughter of Leeds Rhinos President Andrew. Former Strictly Come Dancing star Helen and Richie married in 2013 and moved into their Yorkshire property together seven years later. The ex-couple poured cash into a various renovations on the property until they split last year. Months later, Helen - who is mother to sons Ernie, eight, Louis, five, and 16-month-old daughter Elsie who she shares with Richie - appeared on Celebrity Yorkshire Auction House and said she'd 'sold a load of stuff' as she cleared her life out. Earlier this week the mother shared a sweet video with her children to Instagram as she celebrated turning the big 40. Looking glam: The presenter donned a full face of makeup for her show as she finished the outfit with a cute pair of leopard print slip-ons Celebrating 40: Earlier this week, Helen shared a sweet video on holiday in the Lake District with her children to Instagram as she celebrated turning the big 40 Family time: The clip showed her and her children swimming and paddle-boarding as they had fun at the lake (pictured with her sons Ernie, eight, and Louis, five) Cute: Helen is also mother to 16-month-old daughter Elsie End of the road: It comes as Helen is moving on from her ex-husband Richie Myler by putting the marital home they once shared on the market Posting a selection of memories from her recent holiday in the Lake District with her family, the clipped showed her and her children swimming and paddle-boarding as they had fun at the lake. She captioned the post ' Milked it. Celebrated. Grateful for another spin around the sun. Marked the actual big bday doing things that make me smile with people that make me smile.' Joking about her age she wrote: 'If anyone asks you how do you feel about turning forty? Suggest they watch the 90s Meryl Streep/Goldie Hawn film Death Becomes Her.' Friends including Laura Whitmore, Laura Wright and Urika Jonsson rushed to wish the star a happy birthday as Laura Wright wrote 'Love this, love you'. Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews looked in good spirits as they soaked up the sun during a trip to the beach in Sotogrande, Spain on Tuesday. The married couple were all smiles as they went for a dip in the sea before going for a stroll along the beach where they were joined by some friends. Vogue, 37, looked incredible for the outing as she put her jaw-dropping figure on display in a white bikini. The skimpy partment highlighted the presenter's toned abdomen while she also sported a baby pink cap. Styling her blonde locks into an updo, Vogue added to her look with a pair of gold hoop earrings. Fun in the sun: Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews looked in good spirits as they soaked up the sun during a trip to the beach in Sotogrande, Spain on Tuesday Looking good: Spencer, 34, showed off his muscular physique as he went shirtless in a pair of beige swimming shorts Spencer, 34, showed off his muscular physique as he went shirtless in a pair of beige swimming shorts. Vogue shared a snap of the couple enjoying their trip abroad on Monday, writing: 'Holidays with my I feel like Ive been looking forward to this trip since January its been a busy year so far so enjoying every second with my family.' The couple, who have been married since 2018, are parents to Theodore, four, Gigi, two, and baby Otto, 15 months. It comes after the couple made a racy confession in their recent podcast, with Spencer revealing exactly how much sex they have together. The loved-up pair admitted they'd had sex every single night for the past few weeks. Despite being busy working parents to their three young children, insisted they made time for each other in the bedroom. Vogue told the couple's Spencer & Vogue podcast listeners about a statistic she recently read: 'Couples are having sex less than ever before - 30% less than our parents.' Spencer was quick to interrupt, exclaiming: 'Not in our house! Okay, I'm going to put something out there and it's going to upset a lot of parents.' Flawless: The skimpy partment highlighted the presenter's toned abdomen while she also sported a baby pink cap Sensational: Styling her blonde locks into an updo, Vogue added to her look with a pair of gold hoop earrings Holiday: Vogue was also joined by a female pal during the outing Overjoyed: Vogue shared a snap of the couple enjoying their trip abroad on Monday, writing: 'Holidays with my ' 'You and I have sex all the time, ok, so listen to this - we have sex quite a lot, don't we? We're on a real hot streak,' he confessed. 'The last three or four weeks - there's probably only about two nights where we haven't had sex,' Spencer added. Vogue did caveat the confession though, explaining that they were going through a 'hot streak'. 'We're on a hot streak - it doesn't mean we're always going to be on a hot streak. I now regret the sex chat,' she laughed, joking that her husband was headed for 'a cold streak' if he carried on spilling about their sex life. Vogue recently revealed she has paused her therapy sessions and has said how she is in a 'very good place' with her husband. The Irish model candidly revealed that 'things are great' between herself and Spencer as she gushed over their marriage. Family: The couple, who have been married since 2018, are parents to Theodore, four, Gigi, two, and baby Otto, 15 months Confession: The loved-up pair admitted they'd had sex every single night for the past few weeks Frisky: Despite being busy working parents to their three young children, insisted they made time for each other in the bedroom Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Vogue told how she hasn't felt that she needs her therapy sessions at the moment and has said things are going so well with Spencer. 'We're in a very good place at the moment.' She also said: 'I'm not feeling like I need [therapy] at the moment.' 'I always have it on the back burner because I've found someone I really enjoy talking to. It's good to have when you need it.' Vogue doesn't have therapy because of her marriage. The TV personality also admitted she has not ruled out having any more children with Spencer. 'It's definitely not a permanent no, I don't know yet, but not anytime soon,' she revealed, when asked if they plan to have more children. 'Trying to organise three kids is a lot, we have a wonderful nanny but I wouldn't leave somebody with three kids, so it's like trying to organise our time so we're always there with them. 'So I think Otto would have to be a lot older, it's very full on. I don't know how my mum did four! I'll be grateful for it when they're older.' While Kerry Katona has much to celebrate with the joyous news that she's taking another trip down the aisle, her road to romantic bliss has been quite the rocky one. The Warrington native has already made three trips down the aisle, with each marriage coming to a tumultuous end. And with a handful of relationships in between, it's fair to say that the star now deserves her shot at happily ever after. Below is a list of the star's marriages and relationships. BRIAN McFADDEN (1999-2004) It was a match made in pop heaven when Kerry and BrianMcFadden met while their respective bands, Atomic Kitten and Westlife, toured together in 1999. Such a whirlwind was their romance that Brian proposed within three months of the pair getting together and they welcomed their daughter Molly in 2001. A lavish celebrity wedding followed in 2002, and a year later, they welcomed their second daughter, Lily-Sue. But, alas, it wasn't meant to be, as in 2004 the couple announced their separation amid allegations Brian had cheated on Kerry with a lapdancer. Heartbroken Kerry was granted a quickie divorce. DAN CORSI (2004) Kerry very briefly got back together with her ex, Dan Corsi, who she first dated in 1998. During their time together, they visited Kerry's native Warrington and were also seen partying up a storm at London hotspot-of-the-moment Pangaea. Dan boasted about bedding the star, saying: 'Spending the night with Kerry was all I hoped it would be. I thought she'd find it hard to be with someone else after being with Brian for five years, but it felt natural.' However, friends reportedly feared that Dan was just cashing in on Kerry's fame, amid reports he still lived with his ex, while simultaneously texting another former flame. It took just six weeks of rekindled romance before Kerry, feeling that it was too soon after the breakdown of her marriage to embark on another relationship, reportedly dumped Dan over the phone. Surprisingly, her ex-husband Brian publicly shared his opinions on Dan, telling The Mirror at the time: 'I've known him for a while and I know he's not the one for her. I don't want her to get hurt. Despite everything that's gone on, I just want her to be happy.' DAVE CUNNINGHAM (2005) In huge contrast to her glitzy showbiz marriage, Kerry embarked on a romance with her former childhood sweetheart, Dave Cunningham, with the couple announcing their engagement in 2005. However, it wasn't long before their relationship hit the rocks, with the pair getting into a furious row while holidaying in Spain, amid rumours Dave had been seeing his ex-girlfriend behind her back. A source told People at the time: 'Kerry is devastated. After everything she has gone through this year she truly believed Dave could be her saviour. Then the shocking revelations about his ex emerged.' MARK CROFT (2005-2010) Six weeks after her split, Kerry was swept off her feet by taxi driver Mark Croft. He proposed in 2006 after just six weeks of dating, and they tied the knot on Valentine's Day 2007. Their marriage produced two children: daughter Heidi and son Maxwell. However, the union came about during a tumultuous time in Kerry's life, as she watched her fortune (which once peaked at 6.8million) dwindle to the point that she was declared bankrupt. During her marriage, she also made her infamous appearance on ITV's This Morning, where her slurred speech prompted concern among viewers. She ultimately admitted to a cocaine addiction, as she confessed: 'I hated my life. I'd lie in bed for three days in a row doing cocaine with Mark. We did coke in our en suite and had a lock on the door. The kids knew if the bathroom door was locked they mustn't come in.' After having even considered suicide during their marriage, the couple split in 2010. Mark would later admit that he 'bled Kerry dry' during their ill-fated relationship. GEORGE KAY (2012-2017) It appeared that a change of fortune was on the cards for Kerry 2012, when she met George Kay, who at the time was working as her driver. Sparks flew between the pair, prompting former rugby player George to pop the question at the top of Blackpool Tower in April 2013. exactly one year later, more joy was brought into their home when Kerry gave birth to their daughter Dylan-Jorge. A trip down the aisle followed in September 2014, and it seemed that Kerry had finally found the elusive One. But trouble entered their relationship just two months after the wedding, when George was hospitalised after showing 'signs of a stroke', leaving Kerry struggling to cope. Her struggles in dealing with George's behaviour led to the couple splitting, though they would eventually get back together and renew their wedding vows. However, things would eventually come to a complete end in 2017, amid accusations of domestic violence on George's part. But the heartbreak didn't end there, as in July 2019, George unexpectedly passed away aged 39. JAMES ENGLISH (2017) It took just weeks for the star to embark on a new relationship following her spit from George. Showing she was a woman of the times, Kerry went Instagram official with her handsome new boyfriend James English in 2017. And while the numerous posts of herself spending time with the Scottish comedian were shared on social media, the pair soon quietly went their separate ways within just two months. In fact, their split was so quiet that it wasn't noticed until the star spoke about being a singleton once again. Lincoln Younes debuted a drastic new look on Wednesday after he took to his hair with a pair of clippers. The former Home and Away star, 31, posted a photo of his haircut to Instagram, showing off his completely shaved head. Where once he had luscious dark locks and a clean shaven jaw, the Aussie actor has now traded in his classy aesthetic for an edgy buzz cut and rough stubble. The Last King of the Cross star struck a smoldering pose for his elevator selfie, capturing the picture, 'Buzz, buzz,' before tagging his hair stylist Madison Voloshin. Lincoln's new look comes after he sparked romance rumours with his Last King of The Cross co-star Courtney Clarke in April. Lincoln Younes, 31, (pictured) debuted a drastic new look on Wednesday after he took to his hair with a pair of clippers The former Home and Away star posted a photo of his haircut to Instagram, showing off his completely shaved head. Where once he had luscious dark locks and a clean shaven jaw, the Aussie actor has now traded in his classy aesthetic for an edgy buzz cut and rough stubble The pair were spotted spending time together in Sydney as they went out for lunch in Double Bay. Lincoln and Courtney, 24, were seen laughing and chatting as they joined a friend at the establishment. After enjoying their meal at the restaurant, the duo held hands as they walked along the path. The Last King of the Cross star struck a smoldering pose for his elevator selfie, capturing the picture, 'Buzz, buzz,' before tagging his hair stylist Madison Voloshin Lincoln and Courtney both starred in the new Paramount+ biopic Last King of The Cross. The 10-part series tells the story of brothers John and Sam Ibrahim, who were prominent figures in the Kings Cross nightclub district. Lincoln played the lead role of John Ibrahim in the series. In January, the actor told Stellar magazine he researched the nightclub owner and even visited his home to learn more about him before filming the series. Dennis Quaid has lifted the curtain on his past cocaine addiction - and the 'white light' moment that drove him to seek treatment in 1990. Amid his movie stardom in the 1980s, he found himself in the grip of a spiraling drug problem that landed him in the rehab he calls 'cocaine school.' In search of a way to 'fill the hole' left by drugs, Dennis explored a variety of religious texts before returning to the Christian faith of his upbringing. Now the 69-year-old, who married his fourth wife Laura three years ago, has declared that he is 'the happiest I've ever been.' Covering the latest issue of People, the Postcards From The Edge star said: 'I'm grateful to still be here, I'm grateful to be alive really every day.' Throwback: Dennis Quaid has lifted the curtain on his past cocaine addiction, which reached its nadir in the 1980s; pictured 1984 'Happiest I've ever been': Covering the latest issue of People, the Postcards From The Edge star said: 'I'm grateful to still be here, I'm grateful to be alive really every day' Dennis enjoyed his first flush of celebrity in 1979 when he appeared in his breakout movie Breaking Away, a coming-of-age film about recent high school graduates. As he moved into the 1980s, he rose to prominence through such pictures as The Right Stuff, The Big Easy and Great Balls Of Fire! However, the drug-fueled whirl of the era's showbiz milieu was evidently impossible to resist for Dennis, who plunged into a cocaine addiction. Explaining that drugs were included on 'some movie budgets,' Dennis once said: 'You know, I was doing cocaine pretty much on a daily basis during the 80s.' He told Megyn Kelly during her stint on the Today show: 'I spent many, many nights screaming at God to take this away from me. I'll never do it again, because I've only got an hour before I've gotta be at work.' During an interview with Larry King on CNN decades ago, Dennis claimed that 'cocaine at that time was considered harmless.' He recalled reading doctors in magazines 'saying, it is not addicting. It is just - alcohol is worse. So I think we all fell into that. But that's not the way it was.' Now, in People, he looked back on the moment he decided to stop, sharing: 'I remember going home and having kind of a white light experience that I saw myself either dead or in jail or losing everything I had, and I didn't want that.' At the piano: As he moved into the 1980s, he rose to prominence through such films as The Right Stuff, The Big Easy and Great Balls Of Fire! (pictured) Coming out of it: Dennis is pictured in 1990, the year he went to the rehab he calls 'cocaine school' and successfully got clean and sober Dennis revealed: 'I was in a band and we got a record gig. They broke up the night they got it, and they broke up because of me, because I was not reliable.' He checked into rehab and reconnected to Christianity, on the grounds that addicts fall back on the drugs 'to fill a hole inside us. When you're done with the addiction, you need something to fill that hole, something that really works, right?' The year he sobered up, 1990, he attempted to reassure his mother Juanita by penning the Christian song On My Way To Heaven. His aim in writing the musical number was 'to let her know I was okay, because I wasn't okay before then,' Dennis explained. In his post-cocaine quest to find religion, Dennis initially sampled multiple options, poring through the Bhagavad Gita and the Koran. However, it was ultimately the Christian faith he was reared on that managed to provide him the solace he needed in the absence of drugs. 'That's when I started developing a personal relationship. Before that, I didn't have one, even though I grew up as a Christian,' he shared. While promoting his new album Fallen: A Gospel Record For Sinners, Dennis looked back at the religious music from his childhood. Duo: Dennis is married to his fourth wife Laura Savoie, a relationship that has hit the headlines for years on account of her being 39 years younger than he; pictured last month in Italy 'I grew up at the Baptist church; I love the hymns that I remember from being a kid. The songs are self-reflective and self-examining, not churchy. All of us have a relationship with God, whether youre a Christian or not,' he said. Reflecting on the 'struggle' of addiction, he said: 'We're all looking for the joy of life, and drugs give that to you and alcohol and whatever it is for anybody give that to you really quick. Then they're fun and then they're fun with problems, and then they're just problems after a while.' He mused: 'That's really what we're looking for, the joy of life, which is our gift, actually, the relationship with God that we all have. It's at the bottom of it, the joy of being alive' - which he got 'back to' by sobering up. Dennis is married to his fourth wife Laura Savoie, a relationship that has hit the headlines on account of her being 39 years younger than he. He has previously been married to Carrie actress PJ Soles, rom com star Meg Ryan and Texas realtor Kimberly Buffington. His eldest son Jack Quaid, whom he shares with Meg, is 31 years old, which makes him senior to his latest stepmother. Kimberly and Dennis, who went through multiple splits and reconciliations before their final divorce, share 15-year-old twins Zoe and Thomas. Dennis announced late in 2019 that he had gotten engaged to Laura - and then over the summer of 2020 they eloped in Santa Barbara. Throwback: He has previously been married to Carrie actress PJ Soles, rom com star Meg Ryan and Texas realtor Kimberly Buffington; he is pictured with Meg in 1996 They had initially planned a full wedding in Hawaii and although that idea was scrapped by the coronavirus pandemic they tied the knot in 2020 anyway. 'I didnt go out looking for an age gap or someone really younger than me,' he insisted to the Guardian during their engagement. 'I met her at a business event and then the relationship developed. You have no control over who you fall in love with,' he argued. 'I dont fall in love easy. But I cant let what a few people think control all that. Ive been married three times and this is the final one, I know it is. I feel like I have a real partner in life,' said the The Parent Trap actor. After the wedding, he told the Today show with his signature grin that 'there's 30-something years between us and we just don't even notice it. You know, it's, we - never related to someone in my life better than we do.' He added: 'It's just, we have such a great relationship and, you know, love finds a way wherever it is, and you never know when love is coming who that's gonna be and you have no control over it and we just couldn't be happier.' Fans took their anger to social media to ask when new episodes will be shown He proudly credited Susan with 'changing the show forever' and the 'rule book' America's Got Talent viewers have furiously hit out at the reality series for airing a 'useless' episode that featured judge Simon Cowell sharing his all-time favorite auditions, instead of any new talent. While fans of the show tune in every week to watch fresh talent take to the stage and audition for the judges, this Tuesday they were left sorely disappointed when they were greeted not by a myriad of interesting acts and performances but rather by a 'filler' episode that rounded up Cowell's top 16 auditions from America's Got Talent and Britain's Got Talent over the years. Viewers were quick to air their gripes about the on-screen surprise - which saw Cowell naming the likes of British stars Susan Boyle and Musa Motha, and American Archie Williams as being among his top 'water cooler moments' from past seasons. 'No one asked for this,' one disgruntled viewer commented on Instagram, while another raged: 'Useless episode, just stop with these clip shows already and bring judge cuts round back.' During the show Simon Cowell's top audition picks included 62-year-olds Susan Boyle and Archie Williams as well as 27-year-old Musa Motha Simon proudly credited Susan with 'changing the show forever' and the 'rule book' Other fans began demanding answers from broadcaster NBC - questioning when they can expect the next round of fresh auditions to be aired. 'What? So what about the rest of auditions????' one person wrote, while another questioned: 'When is AGT back with new episodes???' 'Why are so many of these clips from last year lol,' a third chimed in. 'Not feeling this Simon's favorite all time auditions episode,' another person added on Twitter. 'Just found out #AGT is going to be a recap with Simon Cowell's favorite acts here. I don't want recaps. I want to see the competition being played here,' one tweeted. However not everyone was outraged by the introduction of a round-up episode, with some viewers praising the nostalgic feel of the top 16 round-up. 'Loved #AGT it was fun watching some of Simon's memorable moments and some from #BGT too,' one said. Another added: 'I AM SOOO GLAD YOU ARE DOING THIS SPECIAL!!! IT is fantastic. I LOVE it. Thx.' Fans took to social media to share their anger about AGT showing a 'useless' episode instead of new auditions During the special airing Simon spoke about what made this picks stand out from the rest. Simon Cowell's top 16 auditions 1: Susan Boyle from BGT 2: Musa Motha from BGT 3: Mayyas from AGT 4: Men With Pans from AGT 5: Archie Williams from AGT 6: Shin Lim from AGT 7: Zurcaroh from AGT 8: Drake Milligan from AGT 9: Sacred Riana from AGT 10: Ben Lapidus from AGT 11: Ashleigh & Pudsey from BGT 12: Avery Dixon from AGT 13: Calum Scott from BGT 14: Tape Face from AGT 15: Chapel Hart from AGT 16: Ichikawa from BGT Advertisement 'It is sometimes talent, sometimes it's the audience, sometimes it's just the surprise, but, you know, I've got to admit, I love all that. I think it's what makes the show,' he said. At the top of Simon's list was was Susan, an on-screen audition that he said came as a 'no brainer' to him. He proudly credited Susan with 'changing the show forever' and the 'rule book,' as he charmingly watched the throwback clip of her singing for the first time. He noted that she is the reason that he argues to 'never judge a book by its cover,' thanks to her 'magical' performance. Number two on Simon's list was dancer Musa who lost a leg during his childhood battle with cancer. He got the first ever group Golden Buzzer and Simon said that his audition was 'one of the most incredible auditions' he's ever seen 'in his life.' Number five on the list was Archie, who shared a very emotional story about spending 37 years being incarcerated for a crime he didn't commit. Thanks to DNA samples he was finally exonerated. He emotionally sang Elton John's Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, and received a well-deserved standing ovation. Simon shared: 'He sang with such passion and he chose that song with that lyric. I'm like ''My god, what must you be thinking right now after that,'' when he saw the audience, you know after what he went through.' The judge says he wasn't unaware that those kind of tragedies happen prior to hearing Archie's story. Simon was joyful to see that there was 'something positive at the end' of the 'horrible story.' LaKeith Stanfield and his love Kasmere Trice announced on Wednesday that they had gotten married. The 31-year-old Haunted Mansion actor and the 29-year-old model also shared that they had welcomed their first child together to People. So far, the newlyweds are not revealing either the sex or name of the baby. LaKeith and Kasmere shared their jubilant engagement news on Instagram back in late December, which coincided with his former girlfriend Taylor Hurd revealing that he had fathered a daughter with her, which she claimed he was attempting to conceal. 'Theres life before being a parent, and then theres life being a parent. It completely changes,' the Atlanta star mused. Making it official: LaKeith Stanfield, 31, and his fiancee Kasmere Trice, 29, revealed they had gotten married and also welcomed their first child together on Wednesday to People; seen in March in West Hollywood Sweet: The lovebirds got engaged in late December of 2022, just before Kasmere's birthday while on an island vacation In addition to his daughter with Hurd, LaKeith also has a second daughter from another previous relationship, with both being under seven, according to the publication. The acclaimed actor's privacy about his personal life and his family continued when it came to tying the knot, so he and Kasmere wed in secret and kept their new child under wraps until sharing the news now. 'We decided early on we wanted to protect our baby as much as we can for as long as possible,' Kasmere said. Her new husbanded added of their philosophy: 'Being in the public eye can be something thats amazing, but it can also be something that is very hard on you. There needs to be things that exist that are sacred and not for consumption for everybody.' However, they decided to speak up about their family now to have a sense of control over the publicity. 'We want to be the ones to tell our story. Were bringing our family forward so we may inspire others,' LaKeith continued. The two met while LaKeith was visiting Canada to work on a project. 'We were just feeling each other out, like maybe this will be a cool friend,' he recalled. 'As love does, it just smacked us out of nowhere. Im working on my music, writing and writing, and then this person who I was seemingly writing about pops up in my life. It was strange.' Although he was apparently anxious about getting back into dating, he decided to take a chance on Kasmere. 'I released myself to the love,' he said sweetly. By December, just before Kasmere's birthday, he popped the question while they were vacationing on an island, and he noted that he was by her side when she gave birth, though he didn't specify when their child was born. 'All I ever tried to do in those crazy moments, like when she was in labor, was be a support system. That and figure out how many ice chips I needed to give her,' he said. New life: 'Theres life before being a parent, and then theres life being a parent. It completely changes,' LaKieth said. He also has two daughters under seven from previous relationships Meet cute: He met Kasmere, a model, while working in Canada. Despite being anxious about starting a new relationship, he went for it. 'I released myself to the love,' he said; seen in October 2022 in NYC She wasn't at all concerned about raising a child with him, though, as she said she had already seen 'the father in [him] before I was even having our baby.' Although LaKeith is usually tight-lipped about his other two daughters, he gushed that they were 'so fun and so smart.' However, he found it difficult to raise children from multiple relationships while in the public eye. 'Sometimes, when things can get difficult, you have to remember that whats most important is the child, and that were pushing ourselves to grow, so we can reflect back to them the good things,' he said. But he added that things were going smashingly for the new family so far. 'We've manifested this beautiful family,' he said. 'I want to spend the rest of my life with her.' LaKeith is one of the most acclaimed rising stars in Hollywood today. His big breakout role came in 2012 with the acclaimed indie drama Short Term 12, after he previously appeared in the short film of the same name that preceded it. He played the troubled resident of a mental health institution. The film also helped launch the careers of its leads Brie Larson and John Gallagher Jr., and future stars Kaitlyn Dever and Rami Malek also got important early boosts from it. He followed that with roles in acclaimed films including Selma, Dope, Straight Outta Compton and Get Out. He took on a lead role in the controversial satire Sorry To Bother You, and he had supporting parts in the critical and commercial successes Uncut Gems and Knives Out. Even though he's already an in-demand actor in films, Stanfield has also managed to carve out a niche for himself in television, where he stars with Donald Glover and Brian Tyree Henry in the hit FX series Atlanta. Impressive: Stanfield has starred in acclaimed films including Short Term 12, Selma, Get Out, Sorry To Bother You, Uncut Gems, Knives Out, and Donald Glover's Atlanta series (pictured, with Glover and Brian Tyree Henry) Comedy: Stanfield's next film is the upcoming Disney movie Haunted Mansion, inspired by the spooky attraction of the same name; seen with (LR) Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish and Owen Wilson Stanfield's next film is the upcoming Disney movie Haunted Mansion, inspired by the spooky attraction of the same name. However, he hasn't been able to publicize the film due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which forced him and the rest of the cast, which led Disney to populate the premiere with its costumed characters from Disneyland instead of stars in a last-ditch effort to save the event. Although publicity for the big-budget film is on hold, LaKeith shared that he's happy to have some downtime to focus on his music project Htiekal (which is just his first name spelled backward). 'Its an opportunity for me to be expressive in a way that Im not always able to,' he said of the synth-soul musical identity. Katie Price has hit back at a fan who asked 'what have you done?' after she revealed her new lips in a Tik Tok live on Wednesday. The former glamour model, 45, addressed the confusion as she explained 'It's where I had that scar revision redone. It's really swollen.' 'I had my lips done so all round here is really swollen at the minute,' she said as she gestured to her whole mouth area.' Katie was filming on the social media platform to sell clothes from her JYY London range and was determined not to let her swollen appearance deter her, despite comments from some shocked viewers. She said: 'I look a bit weird, but I don't care. I will present myself whatever I look like to you guys.' 'I look a bit weird, but I don't care': Katie Price, 45, hit back at fans as she showed off her very swollen lips after more filler in a Tik Tok Live on Wednesday Back at it again: The star last got a boost of filler in April as she achieved her 3D butterfly lips The Tik Tok video comes after the mother-of-five appeared on the Saving Grace podcast earlier this week. Proving she doesn't care what she looks like, Katie appeared in the interview alongside Tik Tokker Grace Barry with her nose bandaged up after her most recent surgery in Berlin. Katie has now had the bandages removed and headed straight to the clinic for a top up of her lop filler and Botox. Sharing the procedures with her fans on Instagram the star lay back at the clinic as the aesthetician injected her lips with filler and administered botox. Katie explained: 'Oh my god I've just had my anti-wrinkles done. My new lips done, and I've got my new nose. I'm feeling refreshed. Not bad for 45.' This bout of filler comes after she got her lips enhanced earlier this year in April, in a bid to achieve the 3D butterfly lip look. Before the tweakment, Katie told her followers: 'Hey guys, so guess what I'm doing to my face today. 3D lips. Love it! 'I've put so much numbing cream on I think they'll just droop down cause I don't like needles.' More filler: The 45-year-old revealed she had had scar revision redone, hence why it was swollen Healing: Katie has now had the bandages removed after her latest nose job Worried mother: Katie's mother has pleaded with her daughter to stop going under the knife as she fears she'll end up looking like 'the Bride of Frankenstein' Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Aesthetics nurse at @am.aesthetics, Alexandra Haq gave her expert opinion on the butterfly lips trend saying: 'The technique involves vertical injections of lip filler to add height to the lips and define the Cupid's Bow in the same way as Russian lips. 'After the filler has been injected, the lips are strip-taped, with the goal of preventing filler migration, and allowing the filler to settle in position giving the lips high-definition. 'An interesting step used in some butterfly lip filler treatments is the use of Hylase (filler dissolver injections) immediately before re-injecting fresh lip filler. 'After dissolving, a spatula is used to push the 'melted' filler down into the lips and to prevent the newly injected lip filler from migrating. She warned: 'The use of Hylase and dermal filler in the same appointment as well as injecting filler into the lips vertically makes the butterfly lip technique a higher-risk treatment.' Bandaged up: Katie appeared on the Saving Grace podcast earlier this week where she revealed the incredible cost of the most expensive thing she's ever bought 'New face': Laying back at a clinic, she was joined by an aesthetician who could be seen injecting her lips with filler and administering botox 'Refreshed: Katie showed off her new look on Monday after undergoing a nose job, lip lift and anti-wrinkle injections Katie's mother recently pleaded with her daughter to stop going under the knife as she fears she'll end up looking like 'the Bride of Frankenstein'. After two decades in the spotlight, Katie is almost unrecognisable from the naturally pretty teenager who burst on to the modelling scene at the age of 16. Katie has undergone an array of procedures over the years, including rhinoplasty, veneers, facelifts and 16 boob jobs. Writing in her upcoming autobiography, The Last Word, Amy Price, 71, expressed her fears over the 'ridiculous and dangerous' procedures that Katie has undergone. She went on to note that while Katie doesn't change her appearance to attract men, there is a pattern of going under the knife when her relationships are in crisis. Back in February, the mother of five had her 16th breast augmentation in a bid to have the 'biggest in Britain. Britney Spears has removed a host of 'nasty' content about her mother Lynne and her sister Jamie Lynn from her tell-all memoir, The Woman In Me, after reconciling with her estranged family members just months before the book is due to be published. According to a source who is very close to the 41-year-old popstar, Britney had originally vented in her book about her 'anger' over the way in which her family members handled her 13-year conservatorship. However in recent weeks, she has 'let all of this go' and made the decision to remove the harshest passages from her memoir in the hopes that it will help her to 'heal' her relationship with Lynne, 68, and Jamie Lynn, 32. 'Britney was not asked by Lynne or Jamie Lynn to remove some of the nasty stuff she'd written about them,' the source revealed to DailyMail.com. 'It was her own choice to do this.' The popstar was released from her 13-year conservatorship - which saw her father Jamie, 71, handed complete control of her life - in November 2021, and when she began writing her book, the source says she was still dealing with feelings of resentment towards her family for the way they acted during that time. 'When [the book] was written, Britney did not have contact with [Lynne and Jamie Lynn],' the insider explained. 'She was angry, desperate for answers and had just come out of 13 years of living hell. She didn't understand why they didn't save her. Britney Spears' book The Woman In Me is coming in October and a source tells DailyMail.com that the 41-year-old pop star has removed some 'nasty stuff' about her mother and sister The source says that it was Britney's 'own choice to take out' things about her mom Lynne, 68, and sister Jamie Lynn, 32, after she recently reconciled with both ladies Britney made amends with Jamie Lynn (in 2017) this month. After years of back and forth the source says that 'Britney and her made a pact to not ever throw each other under the bus' 'But she has since let all of this go. She is healing and her mom and sister are helping, and healing, too. Her relationship with Jamie Lynn is the best it has ever been.' To that end, Britney has even come to an agreement with her younger sibling not to publicly bash one another - after the pair got into an ugly and drawn out slinging match that lasted months. 'Britney and Jamie made a pact to not ever throw each other under the bus and keep everything family related within their three-woman family,' the source shared. 'There will be no more books after this.' Britney's tumultuous relationship with her younger sister Jamie Lynn, which was made worse by scathing accusations Jamie Lynn made in her 2022 book, Things I Should Have Said, is 'the best it's ever been,' the source claims. 'Britney and Jamie made a pact to not ever throw each other under the bus.' Last week, Jamie Lynn gushed about her older sibling after the two reconciled several week ago on the set of Jamie Lynn's Zoey 102 reboot. When asked about her relationship with Britney by Variety, Jamie Lynn said, 'I have nothing but absolute love for every single one of my family members. If I learned anything from last year, being so open and feeling like I had to defend myself at times, I dont feel like theres anything else that I need to say. 'I just have to leave it where it is because those conversations are meant to be personal. All I can focus on now is my girls, my husband and the work that Im doing.' Two months prior to her breaking bread with Jamie Lynn, in May, Lynne flew from Kentwood, Louisiana to Los Angeles to pay a surprise visit to Britney at her home in Thousand Oaks. The stage mom's efforts proved to be worth it, as they sat down for 30 minutes and were able to hash out their issues and undue the damage that was caused by the horrific 13-year conservatorship. At the time, a source told DailyMail.com exclusively that Lynn's only objective was to reunite her two daughters, stating that she would 'not rest' until it was done. With the help of her mom Lynne (pictured leaving Britney's house on May 24) and Jamie Lynn, Britney 'is healing and her mom and sister are helping, and healing, too,' says source During an emotional recent interview Jamie Lynn put a stop on family talk, stating, 'I have nothing but absolute love for every single one of my family members' Reunited: Britney announced that she had reunited with Jamie Lynn in this Instagram post 'Lynne is begging Britney to make amends with her sister Jamie Lynn now,' the insider shared. 'They are both leaning towards a yes. Lynne knows that Britney does miss her sister and she told her that the feeling is obviously mutual.' Britney ahs been getting prepared for the upcoming release of her memoir, which has already hit #1 on Amazon - three months ahead of it's release. The book will be released by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, which engaged in a major bidding war last year to secure the rights. According to a press release from Gallery Books, the memoir is set to reveal 'for the first time her incredible journey (and) strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history.' The publisher also claimed the book 'illuminates the enduring power of music and love and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms.' It further describes The Woman In Me as 'a brave and astonishingly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith and hope.' The book will reportedly cover not just the difficult 13-year conservatorship, but also Spears' rise to fame and her prime years as a performer. According to Variety, the deal for the memoir was said to be 'record-breaking,' and the agreement is believed to be worth as much as $15 million. The memoir was also reported to have been delayed in May of this year over concerns from two unnamed A-list stars who wrote letters to the publisher about their potential portrayal in the book. Spears has previously said that she was opting to skip interviews with high-profile figures including Oprah Winfrey in favor of telling her story in her own words. The Woman In Me can already be preordered from multiple stores via Simon & Schuster. Justin Timberlake and his wife Jessica Biel listened to one of his songs in the car in an Instagram reel she posted this week. The Hollywood power couple have been married since 2012 and are the proud parents of two sons, Silas, eight, and Phineas, who turns three this summer. Jessica's new video showed her enthusiastically mouthing along to Justin and Coco Jones' remix of the latter's song ICU. 'My boyfriend can sang, y'all! He can sang!' said the Minnesota-born actress with a southern twang, turning the camera toward her husband. Justin, showing off his toned arms in a t-shirt while he drove, laughed as Jessica cooed: 'You can sang, baby, you can sang!' Having a ball: Justin Timberlake and his wife Jessica Biel listened to one of his songs in the car in an Instagram reel she posted this week Such fun: Justin, showing off his toned arms in a t-shirt while he drove, laughed as Jessica cooed: 'You can sang, baby, you can sang!' Jessica started dating Justin in 2007, five years after the bitter collapse of his headline-grabbing relationship with Britney Spears. Justin and Jessica briefly split in 2011 but quickly reunited, and the following year they made it down the aisle in a ceremony in southern Italy. Their marriage, however, fell under searing scrutiny in November 2019 when Justin was spotted at a New Orleans bar holding hands with actress Alisha Wainwright. The pair were enjoying their off-hours from shooting a move called Palmer when the public display of affection occurred. Justin issued an Instagram apology for his 'strong lapse in judgement,' explaining that he 'drank way too much that night and I regret my behavior.' He wrote on the social networking platform: 'I apologize to my amazing wife and family for putting them through such an embarrassing situation, and I am focused on being the best husband and father I can be.' Jessica and Justin presented a united front in the wake of the scandal, laughing and smiling as they surfaced for a romantic stroll together in New York. In January 2020, an Us Weekly source claimed they were in therapy and that Justin was 'trying his hardest to prove himself' to his wife. Celebration: Last October, Jessica celebrated her 10th wedding anniversary by revealing that she and Justin had renewed their vows in Italy that summer They secretly welcomed little Phineas into the world together that summer, waiting until January 2021 to break the news to the world. Last October, Jessica celebrated her 10th wedding anniversary by revealing that she and Justin had renewed their vows in Italy that summer. 'Being married to you is the adventure of a lifetime!' she wrote on Instagram .'Run it back, baby. RUN IT BACK. I love you.' Justin, meanwhile, marked the romantic occasion on Instagram by gushing: '10 years aint enough! You make me a better husband and father every day! I love you so much you beautiful human! Run it back!' Ryan Reynolds cheekily looked back on his jaw-dropping The Proposal nude scene with Sandra Bullock as he marked her 59th birthday on Wednesday. The actor, 47, who starred as a hapless assistant forced into a marriage of convenience with his scary boss, played by Bullock, in the 2009 film, shared a clip of the movie's racy naked scene as he lauded the 'stunning' star. He wrote: 'Happy Birthday to the inimitable and stunning Sandra Bullock! For your birthday this year, I got us both intimacy coordinators. 'And an HR department. And clothing?' The hilarious scene in the film saw Bullock's character looking for a towel after getting out of the shower, before a vicious dog approached her. Unbeknownst to her, Reynolds' character had stripped off in the other room to take a shower after a run, with the naked pair colliding with one another and falling over on top of each other. Oh my: Ryan Reynolds cheekily looked back on his jaw-dropping The Proposal nude scene with Sandra Bullock as he marked her 59th birthday on Wednesday Back in 2021, Bullock humorously recalled an incident from the set of the film while appearing on the About Last Night podcast with Adam Ray, and noted that the event involved the actor accidentally making his naked groin visible to the film's cast and crew. The actress began the conversation by expressing that she and the Deadpool star had been friends for an extended period of time prior to appearing in the film. 'Ryan and I have known each other since we were prepubescent. We go way, way, way back,' she joked. Bullock went on to note that the scene in question was filmed with the utmost privacy out of respect for the film's performers. 'We had to do the naked scene that day and...we had a closed set, which means no one's allowed to be on there, just hair and makeup coming in to fluff and hide,' she recalled. The Academy Award-winning actress then noted that she and her costar had been given protective coverings prior to shooting the scene. She stated: 'Ryan and I have these flesh-colored things stuck to our privates, my hair is strategically over the nipples and Ryan's little not little, at all! It's just whatever's there, and I don't know because I didn't see it, I didn't look!' The actress also expressed that Reynolds' private parts had been 'stuck wherever it needed to be stuck.' Wow: The actor, 47, who starred as a hapless assistant forced into a marriage of convenience with his scary boss, played by Bullock, in the 2009 film, shared a clip of the movie's racy naked scene as he lauded the 'stunning' star Bullock pointed out that she and her costar were not placed in comfortable positions and that they were not able to move around in between takes. 'When they'd say cut, we couldn't really move. He was on his back with his knees up, and I'm on the floor just sort of resting on his knees, just waiting, and you don't wanna look and we couldn't really move,' she said. The Crash star then recalled that Reynolds' groin was left exposed by his positioning. She stated: 'Then, I hear Anne Fletcher from the darkness go, "Ryan, we can see your ball sack!" I'm like, "Oh God!" because you wanna look down but I'm like, "Don't look down. Don't look down."' Bullock noted that, although many of the friend's crew members looked around to get a better glimpse at the actor's private parts, she was slightly annoyed by the director's actions. She stated: 'Everyone in the darkness spun around to see if they could find a monitor. I was like, "Anne, there's a way to present that information"' The actress downplayed the severity of the situation and noted that she chalked it up to an unfortunate incident. 'But in friendship, you just didn't care; it wasn't my business to look, it's just there, and then Anne just bringing everyone's focus to that area,' she said. The scene: Unbeknownst to her, Reynolds' character had stripped off in the other room to take a shower after a run, with the naked pair colliding with one another and falling over on top of each other She stated that the Green Lantern star 'was just so cool. Unflappable. He is absolutely unflappable.' Bullock specifically noted that she only agreed to work nude in the pursuit of comedy and that she was not interested in doing so in any other context. She recalled: 'I was like, "I will do this naked scene only if I can be humiliated and funny." You will not see me trying to attempt being sexy naked in real life or onscreen. There's just no point in it!' She added: 'It was for that reason, with a friend that you trusted comedically, and safety-wise I knew I was in the presence of safety.' Adrien Brody and Georgina Chapman looked loved-up as they arrived to Club 55 in Saint Tropez for lunch on Wednesday. The actor, 50, and fashion designer Georgina, 47, are enjoying a sunny getaway with friends Natasha Poly and her husband Peter Bakker. Adrien appeared in great spirits as the group arrived by boat to the beachfront club, which is popular among a whole host of stars including Elton John and Joan Collins. The Peaky Blinders star cut a casual figure in a grey T-shirt, shorts and flip flops, while Georgina looked stylish in a silk jungle print dress and a black woven bag. The couple linked arms as they departed the boat after a fun trip to sea with model Natasha, businessman Peter and their children; daughter Aleksandra Christina and son Adrian. Sweet: Adrien Brody and Georgina Chapman looked loved-up as they arrived to Club 55 in Saint Tropez for lunch on Wednesday Happy: Adrien appeared in great spirits as the group arrived by boat to the beachfront club, which is popular among a whole host of stars including Elton John and Joan Collins Adrien and Georgina, who is the ex-wife of Harvey Weinstein, 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 two, 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: '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.' The designer divorced Weinstein after ten years of marriage in 2017, when more than 90 women made accusations of sexual assault against him. Smitten: The couple linked arms as they departed the boat after a fun trip to sea with model Natasha, businessman Peter and their children; daughter Aleksandra Christina and son Adrian Casually-clad: The Peaky Blinders star cut a casual figure in a grey T-shirt, shorts and flip flops, Holiday: The actor, 50, and fashion designer Georgina, 47, are enjoying a sunny getaway with friends Natasha Poly and her husband Peter Bakker Love story: Adrien and Georgina, who is the ex-wife of Harvey Weinstein, have been publicly dating since March 2020 Their divorce settlement is believed to have been between $15 million and $20million. Georgina, who shares daughter India and son Dashiell with Weinstein, previously told Vogue that she has 'moments of rage' about her estranged husband's behaviour. Glamorous: Georgina looked stylish in a silk jungle print dress and a black woven bag Romance: The Oscar-winning actor and the fashion designer were reportedly set up by Danish model Helena Christensen in April 2019 Out at sea: The group arrived by boat Cameron Diaz was spotted chatting with a pal in a rare sighting of the actress on Tuesday. The superstar, 50, beamed with happiness while with a friend at a valet parking station in Beverly Hills. She wore a black collared button down, billowing trousers, and slipped her pedicured feet into a pair of buckled sandals. Her hair was scooped up into a no-fuss bun and smart peachy frames rested over her complexion. It comes after Diaz wrapped her comeback film Back In Action with Jamie Foxx, 55, who has been back in the public eye following his mysterious health scare. Good times: Cameron Diaz was spotted chatting with a pal in a rare sighting of the actress in Beverly Hills on Tuesday She seemed in great spirits as she chatted with her friend, and appeared to be paying her valet fare as she had some cash in hand. The actress also had her phone handy and kept the rest of her essentials inside a small black bag slung over her shoulder. It all comes after Cameron wrapped filming on Back In Action, her new film with Jamie. The movie marked her return to Hollywood following a years-long retirement. However, a mysterious illness took Jamie off the set in April, and he was admitted to the hospital. Concerns about Foxx's health began on April 12 when his daughter announced in an Instagram post that he had a medical emergency while filming in Georgia but was 'already on his way to recovery'. At the time of having to abort filming, Foxx was said by the LA Times to only have had eight days of shooting left. Days after his absence, Diaz was seen filming with his body double. Details on his condition remained sparse, but Jamie finally updated fans on his recovery last week in an emotional video informing fans he is not 'blind' or 'paralyzed.' He has also been seen out in public numerous times this past month, and last week filmed a commercial in Las Vegas. Jamie's health scare came a few weeks after he returned to the set of Back in Action following reports he had a 'meltdown' that allegedly caused his co-star Cameron to want to quit acting again, though the pair were photographed days later in a return to filming. Casual: She wore a black collared button down, billowing trousers, and slipped her pedicured feet into a pair of buckled sandals Paying it forward: She seemed in great spirits as she chatted with her friend, and appeared to be paying her valet fare as she had some cash in hand It currently remains unclear what the status of the movie is - although it's understood that while the bulk of filming had been completed, it still has to go through post-production. In June, a close friend of Cameron's admitted to DailyMail.com that even the actress 'wasn't sure' what was going on with the project, adding that the starlet 'wasn't very proud of it' because of all the on-set drama that had transpired in the lead-up to Jamie's hospitalization. 'Cameron has not spoken to Jamie at all and does not know anything other than what she hears,' the insider revealed. The actress was - according to her friend - ready to quit acting for a second time when problems started occurring behind the scenes of Back In Action. The ongoing issues are said to have caused Cameron and Jamie to get into heated arguments on-set. Co-stars: It comes after Diaz completed her comeback film Back In Action with Jamie Foxx; pictured 2014 Their disagreements were reportedly never resolved prior to Jamie's hospitalization, and the friend said that Cameron was suffering from huge 'guilt' over the fact that she and her pal never 'made amends'. Although filming for Back In Action is finished, the source added that there are 'major setbacks in post production' for the Netflix-funded movie, noting that even Cameron isn't sure what will happen with the project. In late June, it was reported that Cameron was 'shocked and saddened' by Jamie's health crisis. A source told People: 'One day they were working together, and the next he was just gone. 'She wanted to be supportive and help out in any way, but his family has kept his status very quiet.' Natasha Poly displayed her toned physique in a black crop top as she stepped out with husband Peter Bakker and their children in St Tropez on Wednesday. The supermodel, 38, cut a stylish figure in the tie front blouse as she made her way to celebrity hotspot Club 55 with her family and actor Adrien Brody. She teamed the number with a pair of white wide legged trousers which she cinched in at the waist with a chunky black belt. Natasha toted her belongings around in an eye catching woven pearl handbag and shielded from the sun behind a pair of dark sunglasses. The beauty completed her summery outfit by styling her long dark tresses in a neat low bun. Family getaway: Natasha Poly displayed her toned physique in a black crop top as she stepped out with husband Peter Bakker and their children in St Tropez on Wednesday Stylish: The supermodel, 38, cut a stylish figure in the tie front blouse as she made her way to celebrity hotspot Club 55 Walking barefoot across the jetty, Natasha was all smiles as she chatted with her youngest child Adrian, four, while her daughter Aleksandra, ten, walked in front. Peter went for a casual outfit, sporting a navy T-shirt which he teamed with coordinated shorts and flip flops. The family were spotted arriving by rib to the celebrity hotspot as they departed the boat alongside actor Adrien. The appearance comes after Natasha enjoyed a super-yacht day out with her nine-year-old daughter Aleksandra in Saint-Tropez last week. The model showed off her taut physique, opting for a black triangle bikini with a string tie detail. Her blonde locks were sleekly swept back in a tight bun, as the beauty appeared bare-faced for the day. She shielded her eyes with a pair of dark tinted sunglasses, adding a gold charm decorated necklace and a complementing bangle. Heading for a dip, Natasha made her way into the clear blue water as she was snapped making her way down a metal stepladder from the yacht. Summery: Natasha toted her belongings around in an eye catching woven pearl handbag and shielded from the sun behind a pair of dark sunglasses Holiday: Walking barefoot across the jetty, Natasha was all smiles as she chatted with her youngest child Adrian, four, while her daughter Aleksandra, ten, walked in front Casual: Peter went for a casual outfit, sporting a navy T-shirt which he teamed with coordinated shorts and flip flops Arriving: The family were spotted arriving by rib to the celebrity hotspot as they departed the boat alongside actor Adrien Sun-soaked: The group soaked up the sun as they arrived at Club 55 by rib Pals: Academy Award winner Adrien cut a casual figure in a T-shirt and shorts while his girlfriend Georgina Chapman opted for a black patterned dress Her daughter enjoyed dipping in and out of the water too, sporting a purple and orange swimsuit as she sat on an inflatable water flamingo. The youngster's tresses were drenched as she enjoyed a fun-filled day on the water, as her mother brought over a white towel. Natasha shares Aleksandra with her Dutch businessman husband Peter Bakker, as the pair are also parents to three-year-old Adrian Grey. The pair have been together for over a decade, and are frequent visitors to St. Tropez - even tying the knot there at the lavish Byblos Hotel in 2011. The luxe ceremony took place over three days in the French hotspot, with 200 guests in attendance. Natasha and Peter, who are thought to meant while the Russian model was just 18 years old, have been spending some time country-hopping around Europe, after being spotted in Portofino just last week. Teresa Giudice showed off her enviable bikini body as she packed on the PDA with husband Luis Ruelas in Mykonos this week - ahead of their first wedding anniversary. The RHONJ star, 51, looked smitten with Ruelas, 48, as the pair locked lips on the sand - ahead of marking their one year milestone on August 6. Teresa flaunted her taut midriff and ample cleavage in a white string bikini with multicolor trim as she strode down the sand. The star flaunted her toned legs and pert posterior in a matching pair of high-waisted bottoms and accessorized with a white cowboy hat. Teresa wore her raven locks sleek and straight and sported a glamorous palette of make-up, with false lashes and pink lipgloss. Cute couple: Teresa Giudice showed off her enviable bikini body as she packed on the PDA with husband Luis Ruelas in Mykonos this week - ahead of their first wedding anniversary Fabulous at 51: Teresa flaunted her taut midriff and ample cleavage in a white string bikini with multicolor trim as she strode down the sand Luis showed off his hunky frame as he went shirtless in a pair of orange swimming trunks. The pair have been joined by Luis' sons and two of Teresa's daughters Gia and Milania. The couple met and began dating in July 2020 but didn't confirm their relationship until December of that year, when Teresa made their relationship Instagram official by posting a photo wrapping their arms around each other while at a restaurant. The couple got engaged in October 2021 and got married on August 6, 2022, in a lavish ceremony that was filmed for a Bravo special. The pair's blended family consists of Louie's two sons, Nicholas and Louis Jr., from his previous marriage, and Teresa's four daughters, Gia, Gabriella, Milania, and Audriana from her previous marriage to ex-husband Joe Giudice. The blended family's upcoming vacation to Mykonos comes just a few days after the couple attended the rapper Drake's concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Teresa uploaded a series of pictures from the July 21 concert on her Instagram account that showed the couple having a blast at the concert with her four daughters and her fellow Real Housewives of New Jersey co-star Dolores Catania and Catania's boyfriend Paulie Connell. Last month Teresa shut down rumors that her marriage to Luis - who has been accused of stalking his ex fiance - is 'shaky' and 'on the rocks.' Leggy: The star flaunted her toned legs and pert posterior in a matching pair of high-waisted bottoms and accessorized with a white cowboy hat Hot couple: Luis showed off his hunky frame as he went shirtless in a pair of orange swimming trunks Delight: The pair looked in good spirits as they larked around together Cheeky: The star showed off her toned frame as she enjoyed a dip Smile: The pair sweetly held hands as they holidayed in Greece Cheers: The pair sipped on wine as they walked along the shore Busty: Teresa showed off her cleavage in her skimpy bikini Stunning: The beauty showed off her toned legs and posterior in the surf Smitten: The star looked smitten with her husband in several social snaps During the June 21 episode of her podcast Namaste B$tches, she told co-host Melissa Pfeister, 'There's no such thing.' The Real Housewives of New Jersey star added: 'I love and adore him so much. Like, no. Nothing shaky.' She laughed and said, 'I mean, maybe we shake together when we dance, but that's about it,' she quipped without skipping a beat. 'That's the only time we're doing any shaking, you know?' Pfeister pointed out that the savvy fans of the Real Housewives franchise have speculated that the Bravolebrity would deny that her marriage was in trouble because it is a story line on the next season of RHONJ. Glamour: The star sported a full face of make-up for her time at the beach Animated: Teresa appeared to shriek as she walked into the water Off they go: The pair were seen walking hand-in-hand down the beach Beach day: Teresa looked sensational for her day at the beach Radiant: The star showcased her enviable frame as she soaked up the sun Glow: The star looked stunning as she enjoyed a a dip Beach day: The duo looked delighted as they enjoyed their vacation Daughter: Teresa's eldest daughter Gia, 22, (left) was on the trip 'No and, believe me, I don't play like that,' Giudice said. 'I play like what's really going on in my life. I don't need a storyline. I have a lot going on.' She continued: 'You know, I have my cooking channel, my YouTube cooking channel, that's doing amazing. I have my podcast with Melissa. I have a lot going on with the children.' Before meeting Ruelas, Teresa went through a very public and messy divorce from her ex-husband Joe Guidice. Travis Scott's planned concert at Egypt's famed Giza pyramids has been cancelled due to 'complex production issues' just two days before the planned show date - Live Nation confirmed in a statement on Wednesday. Scott's UTOPIA show was due to go ahead on July 28 - but Live Nation announced they have pulled the plug on the show in a statement on Twitter. This comes just eight days after Live Nation denied the gig was cancelled after the Egyptian Syndicate of Musical Professions said it would not allow Scott's planned concert. The syndicate made the rare move citing offense to 'traditions,' as well as safety concerns in the wake of Scott's Astroworld festival disaster that left 10 people dead in 2021. Live Nation's statement reads: 'We regret to inform you that the Utopia show, originally scheduled for July 28th at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt is cancelled. 'Unfortunately, despite highest efforts, complex production issues meant that the show could not be constructed in the desert. Axed: Travis Scott's planned concert at Egypt's famed Giza pyramids has been cancelled due to 'complex production issues' just two days before the planned show date - Live Nation confirmed in a statement on Wednesday. The rapper was pictured in Cannes in May 'We understand that this news is disappointing and not the outcome any of us desired. 'Refunds will be issued to all ticket holders at their point of purchase. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this cancellation may have caused and appreciate your understanding. 'We remain committed to bringing exceptional live performances to fans and hope to have the opportunity to do so in the future.' On Tuesday July 18, Live Nation told Billboard in a statement: 'There have been no changes to Travis Scott's show in Egypt. 'Any reports to the contrary are false. We can't wait to celebrate Utopia with you in Egypt!' International music stars often perform at the feet of Egypt's famed pyramids near the capital Cairo. The Egyptian Syndicate of Musical Professions rarely opposes such events, but in recent years has spearheaded a fight against musical genres deemed improper in Egypt, with rap a frequent target. Egypt has also increasingly opposed what it views as a 'rewriting' of its history, finding fault with African-American movements that claim cultural affiliation to the ancient pharaohs. International music stars often perform at the feet of Egypt's famed pyramids near the capital Cairo. Pictured earlier this month Not to be: Scott's UTOPIA show was due to go ahead on July 28 - but Live Nation announced they have pulled the plug on the show in a statement on Twitter The union, which oversees all matters relating to live or recorded music in the Arab world's most populous nation, said in a statement on Tuesday that Scott's concert would 'go against our traditions.' The union said it does not intervene in any musical performances so long as they 'do not undermine the ancestral customs and traditions of the Egyptian people.' The union's Dr. Mohamed Abdullah said that union leaders sought to cancel the license 'after examining social media opinions and feedback ... which included authenticated images and information about peculiar rituals performed by the star during his performance.' Abdullah said the rituals were in contradiction of 'our authentic societal values and traditions ... which goes against the cultural identity of the Egyptian people.' Abdullah cited the organization 'as the entity responsible for issuing licenses for music and singing concerts in Egypt in a statement regarding the decision over Scott,' according to Egypt Today. Abdullah said the union 'has set conditions and regulations to safeguard the customs and traditions inherited by the Egyptian people.' It however does not specify which 'rituals' the union attributes to the hip-hop heavyweight, who is currently on a world tour. Egyptian union leaders sought to cancel the license 'after examining social media opinions and feedback ... which included authenticated images and information about peculiar rituals performed by the star during his performance.' (Pictured earlier this month in London) Scott was seen onstage on the tragic evening of November 5, 2021, when a crowd surge led to the deaths of 10 fans The union also cited 'the safety and protection of the audience,' less than two years after 10 people were killed following a crowd surge at Scott's Astroworld music festival on November 5, 2021 at NRG Park in the rapper's native Houston. In the tragic incident, 10 victims ranging from the ages of nine to 27 died from compression asphyxia amid the crowd surge, which left almost 2,400 people in need of medical help. Last month, a grand jury announced that the rapper born no criminal responsibility in the deadly incident, as a 19-month probe came to an end. Scott's attorney Kent Schaffer told Billboard said that the ruling handed down by the grand jury signified that Scott was 'not responsible for the Astroworld tragedy.' Schaffer said, 'This is consistent with investigative reporting by numerous media outlets and federal and state government reports that have squarely placed the onus for event safety crises on organizers, operators and contractors - not performers.' The rapper 'has been inaccurately and wrongly singled out, despite stopping the show three separate times and being unaware of the events as they were unfolding,' his lawyer said, adding that Scott and his camp were 'hoping for the government efforts to focus on what is most important - stopping future heartbreaking tragedies like Astroworld from ever occurring again.' Emily Ratajkowski proved to be her own best advertisement as she showed off latest Inamorata collection on Wednesday. In a series of new snaps, uploaded to her swimwear line's official Instagram, the 32-year-old could be seen lounging on her living room floor as she rocked a white two-piece, which was complete with a halterneck and ruched detailing. As she put on her sensational bikini body on full display, the mother-of-one rested her head on one hand and stared directly into the camera. The I Feel Pretty actress sported a glowy natural makeup look consisted of highlighter, lip gloss and blush for a flush of color on her cheeks. Her sexy top, featuring a criss-cross strap back, retails for $95, while her thong bottoms are available for $85. Bombshell: Emily Ratajkowski proved to be her own best advertisement as she showed off latest Inamorata collection on Wednesday Emily's post comes amid her on-again romance with DJ Orazio Rispo, whom she was first linked to last year. The model 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. DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that she was locked in conversation with Tom Brady during billionaire Michael Rubin's Fourth Of July party in the Hamptons. Bikini babe! In a series of new snaps, uploaded to her swimwear line's official Instagram, the 32-year-old could be seen lounging on her living room floor as she rocked a white two-piece, which was complete with a halterneck and ruched detailing Modeling: Her sexy top, featuring a criss-cross strap back, retails for $95, while her thong bottoms are available for $85 However Tom has since taken up with Russian model Irina Shayk, whose dating history features Kanye West, Bradley Cooper and Cristiano Ronaldo. Sebastian, whose credits include the Adam Sandler vehicle Uncut Gems, had a courthouse wedding to Emily in 2018. 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. His eye for youthful beauty is no secret. But now Leonardo DiCaprio can combine business with pleasure whenever he hotfoots it to London. In recent weeks, the Oscar winner, 48, has been repeatedly spotted at the trendy Chiltern Firehouse restaurant with Coventry-born supermodel Neelam Gill who, incidentally, is the same age as 28-year-old model Gigi Hadid, with whom he was linked last year. But its not just a beautiful woman bringing him to the capital. I can reveal that the star, said to be worth 230million, has put a hefty part of his fortune into British firm LCI, which crafts vegan trainers (or sneakers, as it calls them in a nod to the U.S. market) from recycled bamboo, foam and rubber. The company also recycles 20 plastic bottles into every pair it makes. LCI was founded in 2021 by a quartet of Londoners including Emmanuel Eribo and its footwear has been spotted on the feet of, among others, actress Lily James and Princess Eugenie. Leonardo DiCaprio is one of our investors, Eribo, 40, tells me, praising the undisclosed lump sum investment. Leonardo DiCaprio, said to be worth 230million, has put a hefty part of his fortune into British firm LCI, which crafts vegan trainers from recycled bamboo, foam and rubber. He is pictured wearing the shoes in Saint-Tropez, France earlier this month One of the firm's founders, Emmanuel Eribo, praised DiCaprio's 4million investment and says the actor is an 'absolute blessing' to have on their team. Leonardo DiCaprio is pictured wearing LCI in New York City earlier this month Hes an absolute star and sees the world the same way we see it. Its been an absolute blessing having him on the team. You cant ignore its a British brand and hes betting on it. He didnt need to do this theres definitely something in there that is tugging on him. If I could say things about Leo, Id probably use two words: genuine and kind. You can care about the world and still want good things, adds Eribo. Meanwhile DiCaprio of the partnership: 'I am proud to be an investor in LCI, a brand dedicated to minimizing its environmental impact, and centred around creating cruelty-free, ethical footwear. NeNe Leakes is a single woman again. The Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 55, said she is on a break with boyfriend Nyonisela Sioh. During an interview with Carlos King on his Reality with the King podcast on July 24, the Bravo celebrity said: 'Today, we are taking a break. We've been taking a break. 'It's things I'm not happy with, things he's not happy with. It's just not working at the moment,' she said. The Never Make the Same Mistake Twice author - who got candid about her son Byron Bryant's struggles with addiction - then joked: 'He is single so if any of the ladies out there want to holla at him, go right ahead.' Done: NeNe Leakes is a single woman again. The Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 55, said she is done with boyfriend Nyonisela Sioh Over: During an interview with Carlos King on his Reality with the King podcast on July 24, the Bravo celebrity said: 'Today, we are taking a break. We've been taking a break. 'It's things I'm not happy with, things he's not happy with. It's just not working at the moment,' she said. Seen in 2022 Hot stuff: Leakes attends the 2022 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater in 2022 The couple have been dating since late 2021 when they were spotted holding hands as they left a restaurant in Miami Beach. The now former couple met through NeNe's RHOA cast mate Cynthia Bailey's ex-husband, Peter Thomas. The couple made their red carpet debut at the 2022 BET Awards and she opened up to Extra about how Nyonisela had helped her get through the death of her husband Gregg Leakes. 'I can't say [Nyonisela] hasn't helped me put a smile on my face,' she said at the time. And she went on to talk about how she was able to find joy again, saying: 'You have to be willing to be happy, and you have to make a lot of changes within yourself.' It hasn't been all smooth sailing though. In June 2022, TMZ reported that Nyonsiela's estranged wife Malomine Tehmeh-Sioh sued NeNe for $100,000 for causing her 'emotional distress, humiliation and even loss of affection for Sioh and accused her of breaking up their marriage.' At the time, NeNe released a video refuting Malomine's claims, saying: 'And ain't nobody out here stealing husbands. Are they? I would never. Nobody wants to steal nobody else's problems, honey.' And NeNe also had something positive to say about the year and a half she spent with Nyonsiela. Her former love: Leakes and her late husband Gregg Leakes attend The Linnethia Lounge grand opening weekend in Duluth, Georgia in 2021 Privacy please: 'My next relationship will be absolutely private,' she told the podcast host. 'This was the most public I think I've ever been in any relationship. Seen in June 'My next relationship will be absolutely private,' she told the podcast host. 'This was the most public I think I've ever been in any relationship. 'It's more public than Gregg's. And I just feel like it's just best to be private.' And she knows exactly what she's looking for in her next boyfriend. 'I know from dating Nyoni, and Nyoni has a great career and makes great money I just want my guy to make more money than me. I really do,' she shared. Justin Bieber bared one of his tattooed arms when he was spotted indulging in a smoke break out in sweltering Los Angeles this week. Holding his phone in an Urban Sophistication case, he was seen enjoying a stroll and a chat with the 19-year-old Australian pop act The Kid LAROI. Their latest sighting comes about two years after Justin, 26, and The Kid LAROI collaborated on the hit duet single Stay. Despite the high temperatures, Justin threw a brightly colored hoodie on over his white undershirt, though at one point he pulled an arm out of its sleeve. He accessorized with a purple trucker hat that complemented his shorts and rounded off the look with Nike sneakers and a String Ting wristlet. Out and about: Justin Bieber bared one of his tattooed arms when he was spotted indulging in a smoke break out in sweltering Los Angeles this week Nearly five months ago, Justin caused a sensation by canceling all of his 2023 tour dates following a string of postponements. When he previously delayed the performances in 2021, he revealed that the move was necessitated by his battle with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. The condition has caused Justin to experience facial paralysis, which he went viral for after showing his fans the effects on social media. In February, when he revealed he was scrapping the 70 shows he had scheduled for this year, he shared that he had to 'take time to rest and get better.' He revealed on his Insta Stories: 'After resting and consulting with my doctors, family and team, I went to Europe in an effort to continue with the tour. I performed six live shows, but it took a real toll on me.' Meanwhile, Justin and his wife Hailey were noticeably absent this May at the Met Gala, the glittering annual bash known as 'fashion's night out.' Held in memory of the waspish designer Karl Lagerfeld, this year's fete marked the first time Hailey skipped the Met Gala in eight years. Although she has refrained from addressing her absence in public, her decision comes after rumors of a feud with her husband's ex Selena Gomez. When Justin and Hailey attended the Americana-themed Met Gala together in September 2021, onlookers chanted: 'Selena!' at them. This past October, Selena and Hailey cozied up to one another for the cameras at the Academy Museum gala, suggesting they had buried the hatchet. Company: Holding his phone in an Urban Sophistication case, he was seen enjoying a stroll and a chat with the 19-year-old Australian pop act The Kid LAROI The look: Despite the high temperatures, Justin threw a brightly colored hoodie on over his white undershirt, though at one point he pulled an arm out of its sleeve By this February, however, Hailey found herself denying claims that she had taken a swipe at Selena on TikTok, and speculation exploded that the pair were on the outs. Then in March, Selena wrote on social media: 'Hailey Bieber reached out to me and let me know that she has been receiving death threats and such hateful negativity.' She declared: 'This isn't what I stand for. No one should have to experience hate or bullying. I've always advocated for kindness and really want this all to stop.' Hailey responded in kind, writing on her Insta Stories: 'I want to thank Selena for speaking out, as her and I have been discussing the last few weeks how to move past this ongoing narrative between her and I.' (The Center Square) The Senate Committee on the Judiciarys Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law held a hearing Tuesday on the principles for artificial intelligence regulation. The hearing comes after President Joe Biden convened with seven major companies last week to make commitments to regulate the widespread use of AI, including investing in responsible AI research and development, establishing policies to safeguard peoples rights and safety, and forming trustworthy AI systems with the major development companies. While the Biden administration received some praise for recognizing the need to act quickly, Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said that these commitments are unspecific and unenforceable." "A number of the most serious issues say that they will give attention to the problem,'" he said. "All good, but its only a start. Witnesses at the hearing gave a timeline of two years or less before Americans see the most severe dangers of AI, especially since the technology is advancing so quickly. AI is already having a significant impact on our economy, safety, and democracy, Blumenthal said. The dangers are not just extinction, but loss of jobs, one of the worst nightmares that we have. Each day these issues are more common, more serious, and more difficult to solve, and we cant repeat the mistakes we made on social media, which was to delay and disregard the dangers. Blumenthal and several others in the hearing expressed concern that the human population could be wiped out in a few years due to the steady increase in AIs autonomy. Dario Amodei, Chief Executive Officer for ethical AI company Anthropic, said that AI was able to semi-unreliably instruct users on steps to make biological weapons. These steps can not be found on Google or other search engines. Amodei warned that in two years AI would be advanced enough to fully list the instructions to make bioweapons, enabling many other actors to carry out large-scale biological attacks. He suggested that the U.S. secure the AI supply chain from semiconductor manufacturing equipment to chips, create a safety testing and auditing program for new AI models, and give significant funding to those safety programs. The balance between mitigating AIs risk and maximizing its benefits will be a difficult one, but Im confident that our country can rise to the challenge, Amodei said. Stuart Russell, a professor of Computer Science at U.C. Berkeley, said that Large Language Models like ChatGPT did not make up the entirety of AI, but were simply a puzzle piece hinting to an incredibly lucrative overall product. I have estimated a cash value of at least $14 quadrillion for this technology, Russell said. A huge magnet in the future pulling us forward. Russell also warned that AI will pose a serious threat to humanity once it outstrips our feeble powers, and that we have done very little to safeguard against that so far. Social media algorithms were trained to maximize clicks and learned to do so by manipulating human users and polarizing societies, he said. But with LLMs, we dont even know what their objectives are. They learn to imitate humans and probably absorb all too human goals in the process. Russells suggestions included a kill switch that would have to be used if systems break into other computers or try to replicate themselves. Senator Blumenthal compared the advancement of AI to that of Americas Manhattan or Apollo projects. AI is here and beware of what it will do if we dont do something to control it, Blumenthal said. The Senate plans to pick up the suggestions talked about in the hearing and use them as the groundwork for more comprehensive legislation for AI regulation. A specific timetable has not yet been announced. LONDON (AP) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Wednesday he was committed to paying out compensation swiftly to thousands of people affected by the country's infected blood scandal, which saw more than 2,000 patients die after contracting HIV or hepatitis from transfusions of tainted blood in the 1970s and 1980s. But Sunak, who was testifying before an independent inquiry into the public healthcare scandal, was heckled by survivors and affected families when he did not give a clear answer on when full payments will be paid out. The Infected Blood Inquiry was established in 2017 to examine how thousands of patients in the UK were infected with HIV or Hepatitis C through contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s. An estimated 2,400 to 2,900 people died in what is widely described as the worst treatment disaster in the history of Britains state-funded National Health Service. The contaminated blood was linked to supplies of a clotting agent called Factor VIII, which British health services bought from the U.S. Some of the plasma used to make the blood products was traced to high-risk donors, including prison inmates, who were paid to give blood samples. Hundreds of survivors and affected families - some of whom have worked for decades to lobby for government compensation - packed into a London hotel conference room Wednesday as Sunak gave evidence to the inquiry. Sunak acknowledged that victims of what he called an "appalling scandal" had been let down by successive governments over the years. His government was "making progress in resolving the years of injustice," he stressed. "This is an appalling scandal that has gone on for decades," Sunak told the inquiry. "This is not just about historic wrongs. People are suffering and being impacted today." "Over a succession of not just years, but decades, justice has been denied to people. They havent received the recognition that they need and deserve," he added. The inquirys chairman, retired judge Brian Langstaff, told Sunak that affected families needed real action from his government. "They recognize the evidence theyve heard this week of work being done but there arent any details. There is no timeline. There is no structure yet in place," Langstaff said. The government said last year that survivors and bereaved partners of those who died will receive 100,000 pounds ($129,000) as interim payment. Langstaff recommended in April that compensation should be expanded to include more people whose lives were blighted by the scandal, such as parents who lost their children. But Sunak reiterated that authorities will wait for the inquiry's full report to be concluded before considering whether to extend the compensation plan for victims. The final report is expected later this year. Clive Smith, chairman of the Haemophilia Society, said delays in the compensation have "only compounded the suffering of those who have been waiting for this for so long". "People who have waited 40 years expect to see a significant demonstration of political will and a commitment to get this done as soon as is practical," Smith said. Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:NUS Get Free Report) Director Andrew D. Lipman sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.99, for a total transaction of $57,980.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 58,625 shares in the company, valued at $1,699,538.75. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Nu Skin Enterprises Stock Up 3.5 % Shares of NUS stock traded up $1.00 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $29.90. 867,660 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 536,941. Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. has a 52 week low of $28.14 and a 52 week high of $47.31. The business has a 50 day moving average of $32.92 and a two-hundred day moving average of $38.11. The company has a market capitalization of $1.49 billion, a PE ratio of 18.77 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a current ratio of 2.08, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. Get Nu Skin Enterprises alerts: Nu Skin Enterprises (NYSE:NUS Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The company reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.33 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $481.50 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $477.49 million. Nu Skin Enterprises had a net margin of 3.68% and a return on equity of 14.13%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 20.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.76 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. will post 2.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Nu Skin Enterprises Dividend Announcement Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nu Skin Enterprises The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 7th. Investors of record on Friday, May 26th were given a dividend of $0.39 per share. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.22%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 25th. Nu Skin Enterprisess dividend payout ratio is 101.30%. A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Trilogy Capital Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Nu Skin Enterprises by 22.9% in the 2nd quarter. Trilogy Capital Inc. now owns 9,322 shares of the companys stock valued at $267,000 after purchasing an additional 1,740 shares in the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Nu Skin Enterprises in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $379,000. PAX Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Nu Skin Enterprises by 4.5% in the 2nd quarter. PAX Financial Group LLC now owns 13,271 shares of the companys stock valued at $441,000 after purchasing an additional 566 shares in the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System boosted its stake in shares of Nu Skin Enterprises by 13.9% in the 2nd quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 26,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $870,000 after purchasing an additional 3,200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Nu Skin Enterprises in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $347,000. 89.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Nu Skin Enterprises in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $39.33. About Nu Skin Enterprises (Get Free Report) Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops and distributes various beauty and wellness products worldwide. It offers skin care devices, cosmetics, and other personal care products, including ageLOC LumiSpa and ageLOC LumiSpa iO, ageLOC Body Spa; and nutricentials skin care products. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Nu Skin Enterprises Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nu Skin Enterprises and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Highwoods Properties (NYSE:HIW Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY23 earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of $3.69-3.81 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $3.79. Highwoods Properties Trading Down 0.5 % NYSE:HIW traded down $0.14 on Tuesday, reaching $25.37. The stock had a trading volume of 749,092 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,102,238. Highwoods Properties has a 12-month low of $19.45 and a 12-month high of $35.78. The company has a market cap of $2.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.80 and a beta of 1.16. The firms fifty day moving average is $22.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $24.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 1.32. Get Highwoods Properties alerts: Highwoods Properties Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.88%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 18th. Highwoods Propertiess payout ratio is currently 132.45%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Institutional Investors Weigh In On Highwoods Properties Several analysts have issued reports on HIW shares. SpectralCast reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Highwoods Properties in a research report on Tuesday, May 30th. Morgan Stanley restated an equal weight rating and issued a $22.00 price target on shares of Highwoods Properties in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. StockNews.com began coverage on Highwoods Properties in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. 888 restated a maintains rating on shares of Highwoods Properties in a research report on Tuesday, May 30th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $22.00 target price on shares of Highwoods Properties in a research note on Friday, June 30th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $27.71. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. CENTRAL TRUST Co grew its position in shares of Highwoods Properties by 76.6% in the third quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 1,095 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 475 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of Highwoods Properties during the first quarter worth $27,000. Quantbot Technologies LP lifted its stake in shares of Highwoods Properties by 165.3% in the 2nd quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 2,181 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $74,000 after purchasing an additional 1,359 shares during the period. First Manhattan Co. acquired a new stake in shares of Highwoods Properties during the first quarter worth $100,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd lifted its stake in Highwoods Properties by 82.8% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,298 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $105,000 after buying an additional 1,041 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.72% of the companys stock. About Highwoods Properties (Get Free Report) Highwoods Properties, Inc, headquartered in Raleigh, is a publicly-traded (NYSE:HIW) real estate investment trust (REIT) and a member of the S&P MidCap 400 Index. The Company is a fully-integrated office REIT that owns, develops, acquires, leases and manages properties primarily in the best business districts (BBDs) of Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Nashville, Orlando, Raleigh, Richmond and Tampa. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Highwoods Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Highwoods Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kimco Realty (NYSE:KIM Get Free Report) will post its quarterly earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, July 27th. Analysts expect Kimco Realty to post earnings of $0.39 per share for the quarter. Individual that are interested in registering for the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link. Kimco Realty Stock Down 1.7 % Shares of KIM opened at $20.60 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 3.11, a current ratio of 3.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. The stock has a market cap of $12.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 86.34, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $19.35 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $19.76. Kimco Realty has a 12 month low of $17.34 and a 12 month high of $23.89. Get Kimco Realty alerts: Kimco Realty Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 22nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 8th were given a dividend of $0.23 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 7th. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.47%. Kimco Realtys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 383.35%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kimco Realty Analysts Set New Price Targets Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Advisor Partners II LLC boosted its position in Kimco Realty by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Advisor Partners II LLC now owns 26,152 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $554,000 after acquiring an additional 495 shares during the period. Ethic Inc. raised its stake in Kimco Realty by 10.0% in the first quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 8,955 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $221,000 after buying an additional 817 shares during the period. Public Sector Pension Investment Board boosted its holdings in shares of Kimco Realty by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 143,845 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,809,000 after purchasing an additional 860 shares in the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. raised its position in Kimco Realty by 9.4% during the 1st quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 11,940 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $225,000 after purchasing an additional 1,028 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund boosted its stake in Kimco Realty by 5.0% during the 3rd quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund now owns 22,164 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $408,000 after purchasing an additional 1,050 shares during the last quarter. 89.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Kimco Realty from $26.00 to $24.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on shares of Kimco Realty from $24.00 to $22.00 in a research report on Monday, May 15th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Kimco Realty in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Kimco Realty from $18.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, July 20th. Finally, Argus decreased their target price on Kimco Realty from $27.00 to $22.00 in a research report on Monday, May 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $22.46. About Kimco Realty (Get Free Report) Kimco Realty Corp. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in New Hyde Park, N.Y., that is one of North Americas largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air shopping centers. As of December 31, 2018, the company owned interests in 437 U.S. shopping centers comprising 76 million square feet of leasable space primarily concentrated in the top major metropolitan markets. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Kimco Realty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kimco Realty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Robert Half International (NYSE:RHI Get Free Report) issued an update on its second quarter earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of $0.76-0.90 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $1.13. The company issued revenue guidance of $1.48-1.58 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $1.69 billion. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on RHI shares. StockNews.com lowered Robert Half International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday. UBS Group initiated coverage on Robert Half International in a research report on Wednesday, May 31st. They issued a buy rating and a $82.00 price target for the company. Finally, Redburn Partners initiated coverage on Robert Half International in a research report on Tuesday, June 20th. They issued a neutral rating and a $76.00 target price for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $80.22. Get Robert Half International alerts: Robert Half International Stock Performance Shares of NYSE RHI traded up $0.12 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $80.21. 1,135,750 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,013,995. Robert Half International has a 1 year low of $64.65 and a 1 year high of $89.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 1.35. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $73.52 and a 200 day moving average of $75.91. Robert Half International Announces Dividend Robert Half International ( NYSE:RHI Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The business services provider reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.13 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.72 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.71 billion. Robert Half International had a return on equity of 39.94% and a net margin of 8.57%. The firms revenue was down 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.52 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Robert Half International will post 4.29 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 25th were paid a $0.48 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 24th. This represents a $1.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.39%. Robert Half Internationals payout ratio is 34.04%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Waverly Advisors LLC bought a new position in Robert Half International in the 1st quarter worth approximately $206,000. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC bought a new position in Robert Half International in the 1st quarter worth approximately $201,000. qPULA Trading Management LP bought a new position in shares of Robert Half International during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $200,000. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P boosted its position in shares of Robert Half International by 28.5% during the 1st quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 1,706 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $195,000 after acquiring an additional 378 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its position in shares of Robert Half International by 435.9% during the 1st quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 2,401 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $193,000 after acquiring an additional 1,953 shares during the last quarter. 89.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Robert Half International (Get Free Report) Robert Half International Inc provides talent solutions and business consulting service in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company operates through three segments: Contract Talent Solutions, Permanent Placement Talent Solutions, and Protiviti. The Contract Talent Solutions segment provides contract engagement professionals in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal and administrative, and customer support. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Robert Half International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Robert Half International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Berenberg Bank reaffirmed their buy rating on shares of Shell (LON:SHEL Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Monday, Marketbeat.com reports. The brokerage currently has a GBX 2,850 ($36.54) price target on the stock. SHEL has been the subject of several other research reports. Barclays restated an overweight rating and issued a GBX 3,500 ($44.88) target price on shares of Shell in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Royal Bank of Canada set a GBX 2,900 ($37.18) target price on Shell in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on Shell from GBX 2,907 ($37.27) to GBX 3,268 ($41.90) and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 10th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Shell from GBX 2,750 ($35.26) to GBX 2,800 ($35.90) in a research report on Monday, June 19th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Shell from GBX 2,950 ($37.83) to GBX 2,750 ($35.26) in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Shell has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of GBX 3,007.30 ($38.56). Get Shell alerts: Shell Stock Down 1.4 % LON SHEL traded down GBX 33 ($0.42) on Monday, reaching GBX 2,410 ($30.90). The company had a trading volume of 5,814,625 shares, compared to its average volume of 10,844,439. The stock has a market capitalization of 161.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 508.67, a P/E/G ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.54. The companys fifty day moving average is GBX 2,334.77 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 2,389.32. Shell has a 52-week low of GBX 2,082 ($26.70) and a 52-week high of GBX 2,613.50 ($33.51). Shell Dividend Announcement Shell Company Profile The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 26th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 18th were issued a dividend of $0.29 per share. This represents a yield of 0.99%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 18th. Shells dividend payout ratio is presently 1,945.03%. (Get Free Report) Shell plc operates as an energy and petrochemical company Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, the United States, and Rest of the Americas. The company operates through Integrated Gas, Upstream, Marketing, Chemicals and Products, and Renewables and Energy Solutions segments. It explores for and extracts crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids; markets and transports oil and gas; produces gas-to-liquids fuels and other products; and operates upstream and midstream infrastructure necessary to deliver gas to market. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Shell Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shell and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. (TSE:WDO Free Report) Equities research analysts at Desjardins issued their Q2 2023 earnings per share estimates for shares of Wesdome Gold Mines in a note issued to investors on Thursday, July 20th. Desjardins analyst J. Sclodnick expects that the company will post earnings of $0.03 per share for the quarter. The consensus estimate for Wesdome Gold Mines current full-year earnings is $0.03 per share. Get Wesdome Gold Mines alerts: Wesdome Gold Mines (TSE:WDO Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, May 10th. The company reported C$0.02 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$0.05 by C($0.03). The firm had revenue of C$76.70 million for the quarter. Wesdome Gold Mines had a negative return on equity of 5.35% and a negative net margin of 8.02%. Wesdome Gold Mines Stock Performance Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group set a C$8.00 price objective on shares of Wesdome Gold Mines and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Monday, June 19th. National Bankshares boosted their price objective on Wesdome Gold Mines from C$8.75 to C$11.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Shares of WDO stock opened at C$6.81 on Monday. Wesdome Gold Mines has a 52 week low of C$6.00 and a 52 week high of C$11.33. The companys 50 day moving average price is C$7.33 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$7.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 12.74, a quick ratio of 0.37 and a current ratio of 0.84. The company has a market capitalization of C$1.00 billion, a P/E ratio of -48.43 and a beta of 0.56. Wesdome Gold Mines Company Profile (Get Free Report) Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. explores and develops of gold deposits in Canada. The company produces gold in the form of dore bars, as well as silver as a by-product. It holds interest in the Eagle River Mine and the Mishi Mine in Ontario; and the Kiena Mine in Quebec. The company was formerly known as River Gold Mines Ltd. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Wesdome Gold Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wesdome Gold Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of Hawaii (NYSE:BOH Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday. The bank reported $1.12 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.11 by $0.01, Yahoo Finance reports. Bank of Hawaii had a net margin of 23.76% and a return on equity of 18.03%. The business had revenue of $243.01 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $170.52 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.38 EPS. Bank of Hawaii Price Performance BOH traded up $2.54 on Wednesday, reaching $57.37. The company had a trading volume of 517,443 shares, compared to its average volume of 864,088. Bank of Hawaii has a 52-week low of $30.83 and a 52-week high of $85.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.49, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a current ratio of 0.73. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $43.94 and a 200 day simple moving average of $55.74. The company has a market cap of $2.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.88, a P/E/G ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.97. Get Bank of Hawaii alerts: Bank of Hawaii Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 31st will be paid a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.88%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 30th. Bank of Hawaiis dividend payout ratio is currently 55.56%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Insider Buying and Selling at Bank of Hawaii Several analysts have recently issued reports on BOH shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Bank of Hawaii to a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st. Odeon Capital Group initiated coverage on shares of Bank of Hawaii in a research note on Wednesday, June 7th. They issued a sell rating and a $31.00 target price for the company. TheStreet lowered shares of Bank of Hawaii from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Piper Sandler increased their price target on shares of Bank of Hawaii from $45.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered shares of Bank of Hawaii from a market perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $47.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Tuesday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and three have assigned a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Bank of Hawaii presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $52.80. In other news, Director Alicia E. Moy bought 4,200 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 1st. The shares were purchased at an average price of $47.90 per share, for a total transaction of $201,180.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 10,482 shares of the companys stock, valued at $502,087.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director Robert W. Wo, Jr. acquired 6,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 1st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $39.85 per share, with a total value of $259,025.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 42,539 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,695,179.15. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Alicia E. Moy acquired 4,200 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 1st. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $47.90 per share, with a total value of $201,180.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,482 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $502,087.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have acquired 11,700 shares of company stock worth $492,495 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 2.11% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bank of Hawaii Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of BOH. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its holdings in Bank of Hawaii by 160.9% in the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 647 shares of the banks stock worth $50,000 after buying an additional 399 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its holdings in Bank of Hawaii by 72.4% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 707 shares of the banks stock worth $59,000 after buying an additional 297 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd increased its holdings in Bank of Hawaii by 27.9% in the 1st quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 710 shares of the banks stock worth $60,000 after buying an additional 155 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its holdings in Bank of Hawaii by 91.0% in the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 938 shares of the banks stock worth $79,000 after buying an additional 447 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its holdings in Bank of Hawaii by 16.3% in the 4th quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,387 shares of the banks stock worth $108,000 after buying an additional 194 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.72% of the companys stock. About Bank of Hawaii (Get Free Report) Bank of Hawaii Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Bank of Hawaii that provides various financial products and services in Hawaii, Guam, and other Pacific Islands. It operates in three segments: Consumer Banking, Commercial Banking, and Treasury and Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers checking, savings, and time deposit accounts; residential mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, automobile loans and leases, personal lines of credit, installment loans, small business loans and leases, and credit cards; private and international client banking, investment, credit, and trust services to individuals and families, and high-net-worth individuals; investment management; institutional investment advisory services to corporations, government entities, and foundations; and brokerage offerings, including equities, mutual funds, life insurance, and annuity products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Hawaii Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Hawaii and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR Get Free Report) will be announcing its earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, July 27th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.76 per share for the quarter. Carrier Global has set its FY23 guidance at $2.50-2.60 EPS.Investors interested in listening to the companys conference call can do so using this link. Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $0.52 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.05 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.54 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect Carrier Global to post $3 EPS for the current fiscal year and $3 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Carrier Global alerts: Carrier Global Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:CARR opened at $53.91 on Wednesday. Carrier Global has a 12-month low of $33.10 and a 12-month high of $55.58. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03. The companys 50 day moving average price is $47.35 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $45.34. The firm has a market cap of $45.01 billion, a PE ratio of 18.18, a PEG ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 1.39. Carrier Global Dividend Announcement Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 23rd will be paid a dividend of $0.185 per share. This represents a $0.74 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 22nd. Carrier Globals dividend payout ratio is currently 25.00%. Several brokerages have recently issued reports on CARR. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on Carrier Global from $47.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Carrier Global from $45.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $49.00 target price on shares of Carrier Global in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Carrier Global from $53.00 to $54.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Carrier Global from $45.00 to $52.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Carrier Global has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $50.67. Insider Buying and Selling at Carrier Global In related news, insider Jurgen Timperman sold 138,956 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred 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 document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.38% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Carrier Global Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of CARR. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Carrier Global by 29.2% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 16,359 shares of the companys stock worth $750,000 after purchasing an additional 3,700 shares during the period. Panagora Asset Management Inc. raised its position in 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 purchasing an additional 10,445 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Carrier Global by 23.2% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 7,493 shares of the companys stock valued at $343,000 after purchasing an additional 1,412 shares during the last quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. boosted its position in shares of Carrier Global by 22.7% during the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 65,241 shares of the companys stock worth $2,992,000 after buying an additional 12,089 shares during the period. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in 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 in the last quarter. 86.33% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. 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. Recommended Stories 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. Azul S.A. (NYSE:AZUL Free Report) Investment analysts at Seaport Res Ptn cut their Q3 2023 earnings per share estimates for Azul in a research report issued on Thursday, July 20th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst D. Mckenzie now expects that the company will post earnings of $0.05 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.10. The consensus estimate for Azuls current full-year earnings is ($1.53) per share. Get Azul alerts: Azul (NYSE:AZUL Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 15th. The company reported ($0.99) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.42) by ($0.57). The business had revenue of $862.07 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $930.89 million. Azul Stock Up 0.3 % A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Raymond James upped their target price on shares of Azul from $12.00 to $14.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st. Barclays upgraded shares of Azul from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and upped their price target for the company from $8.00 to $14.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Azul from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $6.90 to $11.00 in a research note on Monday, May 22nd. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Azul currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $11.34. AZUL traded up $0.03 during trading on Monday, reaching $11.66. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,430,273 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,998,584. Azul has a 1 year low of $3.82 and a 1 year high of $13.86. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $11.38 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $8.18. The company has a market cap of $4.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.00 and a beta of 1.47. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Azul Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Raymond James & Associates bought a new stake in shares of Azul in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $424,000. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. purchased a new stake in Azul in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Perpetual Ltd raised its position in shares of Azul by 19.3% during the 2nd quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 2,901,385 shares of the companys stock worth $39,720,000 after purchasing an additional 469,511 shares during the last quarter. American Trust raised its holdings in Azul by 83.1% in the 1st quarter. American Trust now owns 35,335 shares of the companys stock valued at $253,000 after acquiring an additional 16,034 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Long Focus Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Azul by 1.4% in the first quarter. Long Focus Capital Management LLC now owns 2,240,000 shares of the companys stock worth $16,016,000 after acquiring an additional 30,000 shares in the last quarter. 2.30% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Azul Company Profile (Get Free Report) Azul SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides scheduled air transportation services in Brazil. As of December 31, 2022, the company operated approximately 1,000 daily departures to 158 destinations through a network of 300 non-stop routes with an operating fleet of 177 aircraft and a passenger contractual fleet of 194 aircraft. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Azul Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Azul and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit The ARTery is a large Co-Op Gallery with 17 talented artists and artisans located in the Front Street Building in downtown Dayton. Their NEW Visiting Artist for August is Frank Brenner, who specializes in painting and drawing. The gallery also welcomes their NEW ARTery Member, Bob Pricer who is a talented contemporary woodworker. Highlighted Artist of the Month is JoAnne Vincent, a creative and experienced Custom Jeweler. Come meet these artists and the rest of the 17 members with work currently on display at the ARTery Gallery, First Friday from 5-9 pm and 3rd Sunday from 12-4 pm throughout the year. Jo Anne Vincent is a first-class custom jewelry designer who has been honing her skills for more than 16 years. Vincent has always loved art and had a very creative spirit. After retiring from thirty years in art education and teaching kindergarten, she decided to throw her energy and talent toward designing and creating custom jewelry to fulfill her creative drive and artistic vision! The jeweler shared, I have always had an eye for design and color and a desire to both Be and Create something different and unique to stand alone. Vincent LOVES Color, and as her eyes dance across her raw materials, she begins to imagine all the possible combinations of colors, patterns and textures in order to make beautiful, pleasing and balanced pieces. She draws inspiration as she surveys a collection of gems and polished stones like agate, turquoise, opal, and lapis to name a few. Vincent also uses pearls, beaded beads from Bali, hand-blown glass from California, sea glass, and even unusual coins to make her unique and fashionable jewelry. She often travels the country to attend a variety of rock and gem shows, and continues her search for future pieces when she travels internationally. Her newest additions to her current jewelry collection are fashionable leather cord necklaces and bracelets showcasing a lovely pendant or beautiful stone that she embellishes with copper, brass, and sterling. Vincent stated with a sparkle in her eye, there is nothing more fulfilling than having a customer be as excited about a piece as I am, so we hope you will make your way up to the ARTery gallery this month and see JoAnnes incredible display of work! Vincent has a large following of her work, and often draws a crowd at her display in the ARTery Gallery at Front Street. Over the years, she also participates as a vendor in events like the Dayton Arcade Halfway To Hollydays which is July 20 & 21 this year, Hyde Park in Cincinnati, the Vinoklet Art and Wine Festival near Cincinnati in September, and the Dayton Art Institute Oktoberfest she has been invited to attend for 15 years. The ARTery Gallery hopes you can take time out to come meet Jo Anne Vincent, Bob Pricer and Frank Brenner this month, check out their work as well as the rest of the Gallery. The ARTery Gallery currently has 17 Artists and Artisans with work on display including Watercolor, Acrylic, and Oil Painting, Digital Fine Art, Photography, Printmaking, Mixed Media, Ceramics, Mosaics, Custom Jewelry, Fiber Art, Woodworking, and Sculpture with styles ranging from Traditional to Contemporary. This talented group of artists share a large gallery space located in the Front Street Building in downtown Dayton, Door B-C, on the 3rd floor. The Gallery is Open each Month 1st Friday 5 - 9 pm & 3rd Sunday, 12 - 4 pm. Please follow us on Facebook for changes to our regular Open times as well as Special Holiday days, hours, and extra events throughout the year The ARTery at Front Street. *Current ARTery Artists include: Fabienne Bee, Alison Bour, Rosalie Campbell, Samantha Farkas, Bob Farley, Charlene Fox, Jim Hayes, Gae Helton, Bonnie Kuntz, Sarah Maxwell, Bob Pricer, Ashley Simons, Ryan Taylor, Jo Anne Vincent, Leonard Williams, and David Zawisa. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lays a wreath to pay homage to Kargil War martyrs on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, at War Memorial in Dras, Ladakh (PTI Photo) New Delhi: On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tributes to soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for India's victory over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil war. Kargil Vijay Diwas brings to the fore the bravery of India's unparalleled warriors who will always remain a source of inspiration to the people of the country, the prime minister said in a tweet in Hindi. "Jai Hind," Modi said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Kargil War Memorial here and paid tributes to soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the 1999 war. Singh laid a wreath at the memorial. He also visited the tombstones near the memorial placed in memory of the fallen soldiers. The minister will interact with Army officers and jawans before returning to New Delhi. The Indian Army had launched a fierce counterassault to push back Pakistani forces that had stealthily occupied important heights in Ladakh in 1999. Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed to mark India's victory over Pakistan. Brave mothers raise brave son On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Col Joy Dasgupta, one of Hyderabads Kargil Bravehearts, decorated with Sena Medal, visited the war site at Kargil with his octogenarian mother. Telangana State Secretariat. (Photo: Twitter) HYDERABAD: Tension prevailed in the Telangana Secretariat premises in Hyderabad on Wednesday noon after Telangana Police constable aspirants laid siege to the building. The constable aspirants were protesting against the implementation of GO46. They expressed concern over GO46, saying aspirants, especially those belonging to rural belts would suffer if it were to be followed in the recruitment process. They demanded that the Telangana government cancel GO46 and recruitment to be done as per the old rules. They stated that this would benefit candidates from the rural belt of the state. The police rushed to the scene and tried to stop the candidates from gheraoing the Secretariat. The police reportedly detained a few candidates following an altercation. It is said that more than 50 aspirants had assembled in the secretariat. Security has been beefed up around the Telangana Secretariat and a few areas have been cordoned off. The police department, meanwhile, was in a fix when their own home guards protested demanding regularising their service. The home guards protesting at the Indira Park said that the government have promised to regularise their services a long ago, but nothing happened. "We work equally with the police force but without any benefits, except the salary we are paid. We are paid like daily wagers, while we serve the department round the clock," they said. They have given representations to ministers, top brass in the department, but there is no response, they lamented. They were detained and shifted to nearby police stations and left off later on a personal surety. Lisa Allardice in The Guardian: To say that Patchett is evangelical about books is no mere cliche. In one of her essays, she compares her zeal to that of a Hare Krishna devotee she met many years ago who spent every day proclaiming his love of God to strangers in Chicago airport. I would stand in an airport to tell people how much I love books, reading them, writing them, making sure other people felt comfortable reading and writing them. As a book nerd, who was raised by nuns and believes most people are essentially fairly decent, Patchett is neither cool nor edgy. But she gets to hang out with Hollywood royalty, and is friends with pretty much every living American writer you care to mention (Barbara Kingsolver, Elizabeth Gilbert, Lorrie Moore, who lives in the next block when she is in Nashville). She even knows President Biden a little bit. I deeply love the president. Hes spent his life as a public servant. He works tirelessly on behalf of the people, she says. And his wife is a fantastic reader. More here. Hyderabad is all geared up to combat the heavy rains that are expected to lash the city from the afternoon. (DC) HYDERABAD: With school holidays, phased logouts in the IT Park Zones, and traffic and rescue teams on high alert, Hyderabad is all geared up to combat the heavy rains that are expected to lash the city from the afternoon. Hyderabad has been put on a red alert by the IMD for Wednesday as heavy to very heavy rains with intense spells and strong winds of around 12 kmph will be experienced in the city limits and neigbouring areas. As an impact, Hyderabad will experience massive water-pooling on roads and low-lying areas, traffic congestion, drainage clogging, wet and slippery roads as well as power-supply disruptions. Weather enthusiast T Balaji also posted a weather forecast on Twitter, "Strong rains started in east Telangana, will move into Central Telangana as the day progresses. Strong rains will start from afternoon and rains expected in Hyderabad from the afternoon, which will get heavier by night". As of 10 am today, IMD recorded light rains and thundershowers with a speed of around 40 kmph in the districts of Adilabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Jangaon, Kamareddy, Khammam, Kumaram Bheem, Medak, MEdchal-Malkajgiri, Muugu, Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda, Nirmal, Hanamkonda, Rangareddy, Warangal, Hanamkonda and Yadadri Bhuvangiri. Heavy rains with wind speeds of around 41-61 kmph were reported in the districts of Jagtial, Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Jogulamba Gadwal, Karimnagar, Mahbubababd, Mancheria, Peddapalle, Rajanna Sircilla, Siddipet and Wanaparthy. The government also declared a two-day holiday for all educational institutions in the state in light of the expected heavy rains. Following the order, all educational institutions in the city, several schools, and colleges remained closed on Wednesday. A couple of schools have taken to online classes so as to finish their syllabus on time before assessment exams get disturbed. Also, most of the IT companies have asked their employees to work from home, even as others work towards following the staggered timings. Cyberabad Traffic Police issued an alert to the citizens on Twitter with a warning, "All people should be alert due to heavy rains today and tomorrow. Go out only if necessary. Do not stay in dilapidated buildings. Do not go near overflowing drains and ponds in the suburbs". Meanwhile, as many as 70 lakh messages were sent out by the GHMC since Tuesday to alert the citizens about heavy rains and thunderstorms. As far as the twin reservoirs, the water board opened 4 gates of Himayat Sagar releasing 2750 cusecs of water, while Osman Sagwar was at 3.253 TMC against the FTL of 3.90 TMC with an inflow of 1200 cusecs. Helpline numbers: Dial 100 for emergency Hyderabad Traffic Police: Whatsapp number 8712660652 Cyberabad Traffic Police: Whatsapp number 9490617346 Rachakonda Traffic Police: Whatsapp number 8712662465 GHMC Disaster Response Force Assistance on flood rescue and tree falling 040-21111111 and 9000113667 Vidhan Soudha Kalaburagi: Senior Congress leader and Aland MLA BR Patil has called for a comprehensive inquiry into a letter that recently went viral on social media, purportedly signed by 11 MLAs. The letter alleges that ministers in the state have been demanding money in exchange for sanctioning funds for constituency-related work. The letter bears the letterhead of BR Patil, adding to the seriousness of the matter. Taking the letter's content seriously, BR Patil took the matter to the Superintendent of Police Isha Pant on Tuesday evening, urging a thorough investigation. According to Patil, some unscrupulous individuals might have manipulated his old letterhead to create an illusion of discord between him and the district in-charge minister, all for their political gain. In a complaint to the SP, Patil stated that his signature was forged in the letter. He sought a thorough investigation into the matter. Patil clarified that the letterhead used in the alleged letter bears his previous address in Shanthi Nagar, while he has been residing at Akkamahadevi Colony for the past four years. "The letterhead bears my previous address in Shanthi Nagar, whereas I have been residing in Akkamahadevi Colony for the past four years. My current letterhead, however, reflects my new address. It has been alleged that the letter was delivered to the Chief Minister on July 24. However, on that very day, I was in Kalaburagi, having arrived from Bengaluru," he explained. Emphasizing the seriousness of the situation, Patil urged for a comprehensive investigation to identify those responsible for creating the fake letter and spreading it through the media. He demanded that strict legal action be taken against the culprits. Telangana BJP president G. Kishan Reddy addresses a press meet in Hyderabad on Wednesday. HYDERABAD: The moving of the no confidence motion in the Parliament by Congress, BRS and AIMIM parties has exposed "a triangular love story in Telangana" between these parties, which have been "together in the past, are together now, and will be together in future too," Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said on Wednesday. Calling the no-confidence motion a "Delhi drama that should make it clear to the people the agenda of the opposition parties," Kishan Reddy said people in Telangana. On AIMIM president and Lok Sabha member Asaduddin Owaisi signing the no-confidence motion submitted by the BRS party, "it is not surprising that MIM has signed on the motion submitted by BRS party. The MIM claims it controls the steering, accelerator and brakes of the BRS governments car," Kishan Reddy said. "MIM is a tail party, this is like the tail wagging the animal," he said. "It is only the BJP which never allied with these three parties and people have realized now that only the BJP can provide an honest, transparent and effective governance in Telangana under Modis overall leadership," he added. The Modi government is ready to discuss law and order situation in the country, he said, adding the government is ready to discuss how the situation was during the UPA rule too including the number of incidents related to terrorism, communal clashes, curfews, how much RDX was found and how many train blasts occurred and how many lives were lost. "The opposition is not ready to discuss and so finally, they came up with the no-confidence motion idea," he said. BJP national vice-president DK Aruna, meanwhile, said that the Congress and BRS parties have yet again demonstrated by seeking to move no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modis government that all they indulge is Delhi mein dosti, galli me kushti. In a statement, Aruna said the coordinated action by the two opposition parties shows that "Congress and BRS are one and the same, and they work together. Only to cover up their own failures do they separately throw mud at the BJP. Their history proves that they are inseparable and will be together in future too." Meanwhile, former state BJP president and Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar took aim at the two opposition parties, and the AIMIM, saying "friendship day has come early" for the parties. Taking to Twitter, Sanjay said, "BRS+Congress+AIMIM want to celebrate Friendship Day 10 days in advance at Parliament by moving no confidence motion." He said Modi had, way back in 2019, predicted a no confidence motion against him in 2023. "The opposition will be defeated," Sanjay said. TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy. (Photo: Twitter) Hyderabad: TPCC president and Congress MP A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday approached the Telangana High Court, complaining that the HMDA and Hyderabad Growth Corridor Ltd were not providing information to his RTI application seeking details on the award of the Outer Ring Road toll on a 30-year contract to IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd. Revanth Reddys petition will be heard by the High Court on Thursday. The action comes after the HMDA approached the Civil Court against Revanth and a gag order was issued, prohibiting him from making comments on the issue, until August 3. He has now challenged this order in the High Court. The project was awarded on a toll-operate-transfer (TOT) model for `7,380 crore, which, he alleged was a low value as the tender was awarded without disclosing the base price, i.e., the initial estimated concession value. The same remains unknown to date, Revanth submitted. Revanth Reddy submitted that he filed the RTI application on May 1, seeking details related to the TOT. However, on May 23, the managing director of HGCL furnished partial information, he said. He also submitted that he was restrained by the police when he tried to meet the Principal Secretary on the issue. On June 14, Revanth again filed an RTI application, seeking tender details, including reports prepared by transaction advisors, the decision of the council of ministers to keep the duration of the lease period to 30 years and total revenue earned in 2021-22 and 2022-23. But, he is still awaiting a response to the application. He said that besides not providing the information, the HMDA moved the Civil Court against him over his statements, comments and posts on the issue and sought an injunction order. The Civil Court allowed the HMDA`s petition and issued a gag order, restraining Revanth Reddy and his associates from "making/publishing any false, incorrect and defamatory/scandalous/libelous statements against HMDA" until August 3. In his affidavit to the High Court, Revanth said that although there is the remedy of statutory appeal, he could not avail of the same as the posts of Chief State Information Officer and Information Officers have been vacant for several days, with little chance of the posts being filled in the next 45 days. Further, he brought to the notice of the court that the office memorandum issued by the Union government in 2022, about the consolidated guidelines on official dealings among the administration, MPs and state legislatures, stating that this entitled him to promptly get the information from the government department concerned. Revanth Reddy said that though the memorandum is in vogue, authorities of HGCL were not providing the information for his RTI application. "The amount that both defendants have benefited from their criminality has been highly contested, but thanks to the hard work of our dedicated team and that of the National Crime Agency, we have been able to uncover the full extent of their corruption, Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Proceeds of Crime Division, said. Among the real-life struggles he tapped were his bouts with drug addiction, which he brought to his best known role for The Wire. The TV series, which aired from 2002 to 2008, was set in Baltimore and told the story of the narcotics trade from the perspective of criminals, police and the people caught between them. Around 8,000 students belonging to SC/ST community dropped out from IITs, IIMs and NIITs in 5 years Across the IITs, over 186 SC students dropped out of their studies in 2019, 287 in 2020, 318 in 2021, 229 in 2022. He said water security is a major global issue and its prudent usage and conservation is a shared responsibility. Doval mentioned instances of weaponisation of water and stressed the need for complete transparency and unhindered information sharing with respect to shared cross-border water resources. The politicisation of water needs to be countered, he said. Bihar: Environment dept asks employees not to use petrol or diesel vehicles once a week from August Preyashi said climate change is here and people are already experiencing the effects of it. Marandi, also a former Union minister, had on February 17, 2020, merged his Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) with the BJP in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Ranchi. He was unanimously elected as the leader of the BJP Legislative Party on February 24 of the same year. "We have decided to institute a pilot project in Chhattisgarh and if it is successful, there will be cross-barriers of bamboo instead of steel. It will be eco-friendly and tribals will get work in tribal areas. Bamboo is available in the northeast in abundance," the minister said amid a din created by the opposition members over the Manipur issue. Meanwhile, Youth League State General Secretary P K Firoz said the worker who raised the provocative slogan has been expelled from the organisation. In a statement, Firoz said Abdul Salam from Kanhangad Municipality was expelled from the Youth League as he raised slogans that are against its ideology. He also said the worker shouted the slogans deviating from the printed version given to the workers for raising during the march. Fortis (TSE:FTS Get Free Report) is set to issue its quarterly earnings data before the market opens on Wednesday, August 2nd. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of C$0.63 per share for the quarter. Fortis (TSE:FTS Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 3rd. The company reported C$0.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$0.82 by C$0.09. The firm had revenue of C$3.32 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$3.02 billion. Fortis had a return on equity of 7.28% and a net margin of 12.85%. Get Fortis alerts: Fortis Stock Performance Shares of TSE:FTS opened at C$57.40 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of C$27.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.42, a PEG ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.19. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is C$57.00 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$56.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 127.94, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a current ratio of 0.68. Fortis has a one year low of C$48.45 and a one year high of C$62.00. Fortis Announces Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 1st were given a $0.565 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 16th. This represents a $2.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.94%. Fortiss dividend payout ratio is currently 76.87%. A number of research firms recently commented on FTS. UBS Group decreased their target price on Fortis from C$54.00 to C$53.00 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. National Bankshares boosted their target price on shares of Fortis from C$56.00 to C$57.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Scotiabank lifted their target price on shares of Fortis from C$58.00 to C$60.00 in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Raymond James upped their target price on shares of Fortis from C$58.00 to C$65.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, CSFB cut their price objective on shares of Fortis from C$62.00 to C$61.50 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Monday. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned 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 C$58.46. About Fortis (Get Free Report) Fortis Inc operates as an electric and gas utility company in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean countries. It generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 443,000 retail customers in southeastern Arizona; and 102,000 retail customers in Arizona's Mohave and Santa Cruz counties with an aggregate capacity of 3,328 megawatts (MW), including 68 MW of solar capacity and 250 MV of wind capacity. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Fortis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fortis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Games Workshop Group PLC (LON:GAW Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday after the company announced a dividend. The company traded as high as 114.80 ($147.20) and last traded at 114.70 ($147.07), with a volume of 19137 shares. The stock had previously closed at 113.10 ($145.02). The newly announced dividend which will be paid on Monday, September 11th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 3rd will be given a GBX 145 ($1.86) dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 3rd. This represents a yield of 1.28%. This is an increase from Games Workshop Groups previous dividend of $120.00. Games Workshop Groups payout ratio is currently 8,290.82%. Get Games Workshop Group alerts: Games Workshop Group Trading Down 0.4 % The firm has a market cap of 3.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,897.96, a PEG ratio of 0.41 and a beta of 1.33. The business has a fifty day moving average of 102.76 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 9,659.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 19.77, a quick ratio of 2.33 and a current ratio of 3.65. Insider Buying and Selling at Games Workshop Group Games Workshop Group Company Profile In other Games Workshop Group news, insider Kevin Rountree purchased 149 shares of Games Workshop Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 19th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 9,767 ($125.23) per share, for a total transaction of 14,552.83 ($18,659.87). 2.40% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. (Get Free Report) Games Workshop Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, distributes, and sells miniature figures and games in the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Core and Licensing. The company offers games under the Warhammer: Age of Sigmar and Warhammer 40,000 names, as well as Horus Heresy, an off shoot of Warhammer 40,000. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Games Workshop Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Games Workshop Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SG Americas Securities LLC increased its position in RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:RNR Free Report) by 436.3% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,366 shares of the insurance providers stock after purchasing an additional 5,179 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLCs holdings in RenaissanceRe were worth $1,275,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC purchased a new position in RenaissanceRe in the 4th quarter worth approximately $140,549,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of RenaissanceRe in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $40,533,000. Boston Partners lifted its stake in shares of RenaissanceRe by 10.5% during the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 1,837,088 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $339,086,000 after acquiring an additional 174,682 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in RenaissanceRe by 80.7% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 374,127 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $68,926,000 after purchasing an additional 167,109 shares during the period. Finally, ARGA Investment Management LP boosted its position in shares of RenaissanceRe by 27.1% in the 4th quarter. ARGA Investment Management LP now owns 758,870 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $139,807,000 after purchasing an additional 161,611 shares in the last quarter. 93.15% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get RenaissanceRe alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CEO Kevin Odonnell purchased 13,020 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 26th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $192.00 per share, with a total value of $2,499,840.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 296,025 shares of the companys stock, valued at $56,836,800. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 2.10% of the stock is owned by insiders. RenaissanceRe Stock Performance NYSE RNR traded down $1.01 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $200.53. 878,283 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 412,108. RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. has a 12-month low of $124.18 and a 12-month high of $223.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.31. The business has a 50 day moving average of $191.45 and a 200-day moving average of $199.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -55.85 and a beta of 0.43. RenaissanceRe (NYSE:RNR Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The insurance provider reported $8.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $7.58 by $1.21. The firm had revenue of $2.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.96 billion. RenaissanceRe had a negative net margin of 1.61% and a positive return on equity of 11.89%. The businesss revenue was up 17.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $5.51 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. will post 23.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. RenaissanceRe Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were given a dividend of $0.38 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $1.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.76%. RenaissanceRes payout ratio is currently -41.99%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on RenaissanceRe from $170.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, March 31st. Jefferies Financial Group raised RenaissanceRe from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the company from $234.00 to $238.00 in a report on Thursday, May 25th. Morgan Stanley started coverage on RenaissanceRe in a report on Tuesday, June 20th. They set an equal weight rating and a $222.00 price target on the stock. BMO Capital Markets upgraded RenaissanceRe from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $198.00 to $216.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th. Finally, TheStreet downgraded RenaissanceRe from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Thursday, June 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $221.40. RenaissanceRe Profile (Free Report) RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Property, and Casualty and Specialty segments. The Property segment writes property catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance and excess of loss reinsurance to insure insurance and reinsurance companies against natural and man-made catastrophes, including hurricanes, earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis, as well as winter storms, freezes, floods, fires, windstorms, tornadoes, explosions, and acts of terrorism; and other property class of products, such as proportional reinsurance, property per risk, property reinsurance, binding facilities, and regional U.S. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RNR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:RNR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for RenaissanceRe Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for RenaissanceRe and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. County Derry Dad of the Year has been the lucky recipient of an entirely free grocery shop courtesy of Lidl Northern Ireland, after taking part in a thrilling supermarket sweep style competition in their local Lidl NI store. In honour of Fathers Day 2023, Lidl Northern Ireland launched a special Fathers Day campaign asking families across the region to nominate the father figure in their life to be named Lidl Northern Irelands Dad of the Year, highlighting on social media the Lidl things that make their dad so special. Across the region, a total of six worthy dads one in each county were selected as Lidl Northern Irelands Dad of the Year, giving them the opportunity to win an entire food shop as they took part in their very own Daddy Dash. On Sunday July 23 2023, County Derry dad, Stephen Begley, took on Lidl Northern Irelands Daddy Dash in his local Magherafelt store. Nominated on social media by wife Emma Begley for being the best dad to their children Eilish, Owen and Arthur, the worthy winner took on the two-minute timer to bag as many of the familys favourite items as possible and walked away with a trolley worth 242.51. Emma and Stephen Begley pictured with their children; Arthur, Eilish and Owen Commenting on the Daddy Dash competition, Magherafelt Store Manager Gillian Dickson said: It was a pleasure to welcome the Begleys to the Magherafelt store to take on Lidl Northern Irelands Daddy Dash and see just how much fun they had cheering on their dad. This was a great initiative to celebrate the amazing dads out there who we see in our store every day and it was a fantastic opportunity to bag their shop for free." Dominic Og McGlinchey and members of the McGlinchey and McNeil family are currently in Brussels with their Primary Solicitor, Ciaran Mulholland, to discuss with delegates in the European Parliament the murders of Dominic Senior and Mary McGlinchey. The couple's son, also called Dominic, witnessed the murder of both his parents. Originally from south Derry, ex-INLA 'chief of staff' Dominic McGlinchey was shot dead in Drogheda, County Louth, on February 10 1994. A former member of the IRA, in an 1983 interview he claimed to have killed 30 people during the Troubles. His wife Mary was also killed while bathing their young children at their home in Dundalk, County Louth, seven years prior, on January 31 1987. The family previously launched judicial review proceedings in relation to both murders against the office of the Commissioner of An Garda Siochana and Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee. Commenting on the latest developments, Ciaran Mulholland of Mulholland Law, said: "This is an important opportunity for us to raise awareness about the ongoing legal issues surrounding these cases, and to ensure that the voices of the victims and survivors are heard at the highest levels of government arising from our Troubled past in Ireland.." Just last month, Sinn Fein councillor for Causeway Coast and Glens council and brother of Dominic Snr, Sean McGlinchey, said he is "horrified even at this stage of the peace process" by the approach of authorities in Dublin. Councillor McGlinchey said: "There are many victims and survivors from the recent conflict on this shared Island that still are denied justice. "There is no monopoly on victimhood and there should never be any superiority with survivors, however my nephew is still denied any form of justice or access to achieving the truth into the gruesome and heinous murders of his parents." After Asus and Lenovo, Google might join the league and offer a larger foldable device, according to reports. Google launched its first foldable device, Pixel Fold in the I/O 2023. Google I/O is the companys annual developer conference held in Mountain View, California. Now, the tech-giant seems to have bigger plans in the segment and might soon unveil bigger devices with the foldable feature. Digitimes, in its recent report, cited upstream supply chain sources, to reveal that Google can bring out its foldable tablet soon. They further revealed that if Google is really planning to release their tablet then we could spot it at the Google I/O by next year. Also read: Google Pixel Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs Oppo Find N2 Flip: What's your choice? Digitimes further added in its report that it's not just Google, even Apple is considering releasing a foldable tablet in the market. But, the supply chain source had confirmed with Digitimes that they had been working with Apple on foldable iPhones for many years. Despite that, none of the prototypes had entered the mass production phase. The source further added that the chances of seeing a foldable iPhone next year are pretty low. At the same time, rumours about foldable Macs and iPads have been doing rounds on the internet for a while now. Also read: Pixel Fold gets teased ahead of Google IO showcasing key features of the Google foldable However, they didnt provide any more hints to the two devices. We will have to wait and see what the two tech-giants have in mind for the foldable segment. The Galaxy Unpacked event is finally here and it brings along a lot of cool Samsung products. Samsung has rolled out the latest generation of Galaxy S series tablets along with Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5 and more in the Galaxy Unpacked event. The launch event took place in the home country, in Seoul, South Korea. The Galaxy Tab S9 series includes two models; the Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9 Plus and Galaxy S9 Tab Ultra. Lets see what the Galaxy S Tab series has to offer this year. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 The Galaxy Tab S9 features a 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with the support of up to 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the customised Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that is paired with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. It is packed with a 8400mAh battery. Furthermore, it boasts a 13-megapixel primary camera on the back and a 12-megapixel selfie shooter on the front. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is launched at a starting price of $799 (approx. 65,000). Also read: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Z Fold 5 launched: Should Motorola and Oppo be scared? Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is equipped with a 12.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display that supports 120Hz refresh rate. The high-end tablet comes with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy SoC coupled with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. On the camera front, it has a 13-megapixel primary camera and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens on the back. On the front, it features a 12-megapixel sensor. It packs a 10,090mah battery. Samsung rolled out the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus at a starting price of $999 (approx. 80,000) Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra This is the top variant of Galaxy Tab S9 series and it comes with the same display type and processor but it has a huge battery, more storage and four cameras. It has a huge 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with up to 120Hz refresh rate. It comes with a customised Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. It offers up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage and packs a big 11,200mAh battery. Talking about the camera, the tablet has dual camera setups on both sides. It has a 13-megapixel primary camera and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens on the back. Along with that, it features two 12-megapixel sensors on the front. This premium tablet starts from $1,199 (approx. 1,00,000). Also read: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series launch delayed: Expected to release next year The tablets are now available for pre-order on Samsung's official website. However, the Indian prices are not revealed yet. Additionally, Samsung will also offer you the S-pen along with the Galaxy S9 Tablets and they feature the IP68 rating against dust and water. However, the exciting news is that the company has made some major changes in this years Galaxy Tab S9 series. The South Korean company has upgraded the display type in Galaxy Tab S9 series from Super AMOLED to Dynamic AMOLED 2X. Apart from that, it has also featured its famous Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy in the tablet lineup. This processor was also used in the Samsung Galaxy S23 series. Edge computing security issues attract attention amid AI application development boom ChatGPT has taken the world by storm, bringing unprecedented AI experiences to numerous consumers. This highlights the continuous development of AI technology and its rapid proliferation in people's daily lives. Meanwhile, with the vigorous development of technologies such as 5G, IoT, and cloud native computing, the concept of edge computing has also emerged to provide the best online experience for Internet users. Traditional AI applications involve using the Internet to upload raw data to large cloud servers for analysis. However, with the increasing number of IoT devices, this often leads to issues such as raw data leakage, insufficient network bandwidth, and communication delays. Therefore, when cloud AI is deployed in smart manufacturing, smart transportation, and other scenarios, there may be a significant degradation in service quality as devices may not work together properly, potentially causing traffic accidents, industrial safety hazards, and other problems. For this reason, using edge computing servers to analyze data locally to mitigate such problems is a popular option in the market today. However, with the rapid proliferation of AI services, the issue of potential information security risks has also come to the fore. Hacker groups have begun launching attacks on AI applications such as ChatGPT to steal large amounts of sensitive data. Edge computing security has therefore become a major challenge that needs to be addressed in the development of AI services. Dr. John K. Zao, the founder and chairman of FiduciaEdge Technologies, pointed out that existing information security solutions can be roughly divided into three categories. The first category includes the use of virtual private networks (VPNs), firewalls, and other mechanisms to protect data in transit. The second category deals with security mechanisms for websites and databases to ensure the security of data in storage. The third category aims to implement appropriate information isolation in the trusted edge computing environments to protect those data in use. Trusted edge computing is becoming increasingly important as more manufacturers are now running AI applications on their sites to analyze the raw data collected from the IoT devices installed on their production lines. Focusing on Edge Computing Security and Protecting Computing Processes and Data Privacy The explosion in the ubiquity of IoT devices has accelerated the rapid development of edge computing and changed the nature of data processing in industries such as smart manufacturing, smart healthcare, smart transportation, and social media. Against this backdrop, Dr. John K. Zao, a former Principal Member of Technical Staff of the Internet pioneer BBN Technologies and the founding chairman of the IEEE 1934 & 1935 International Standard Working Group on Edge/Fog Computing and Networking Architecture, teamed up with Professor Ching-Yao Huang of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, as well as senior managers from Foxconn, Hewlett-Packard, KPMG, and ARM to establish FiduciaEdge Technologies in early 2021. FiduciaEdge focuses on the development of trusted edge computing and data privacy protection technologies. The company has been providing data security and privacy protection platforms as well as AIoT edge computing solutions to domestic and foreign government agencies, large enterprises, and medical institutions. Dr. Zao pointed out that FiduciaEdge is betting on the booming AIoT market, and thus deployed its flagship product, FiduciaEdge Computing Platform (fECP), on the NVIDIA Jetson Edge AI platforms. The patented Trusted Rich Execution Environment (T-REE) instantiated by fECP in the Edge AI nodes that can protect both the raw data and the AI programs and models in GPU and DLA from disclosing to other programs running on the same machine. The computing processes running in the T-REEs are also protected from cyberattacks while conducting secure and private information exchanges only with authorized peers. Deployed among the 5G Smart Lampposts in Taiwan and Hong Kong, FiduciaEdge's Trusted Edge Computing technology has become an information security benchmark for the critical infrastructures in the smart cities. At the International Security Conference West Trade Show (ISC West 2023), FiduciaEdge and its strategic partner Vecow announced the release of the VHub Trusted Edge AI Computing System. This system integrates the FiduciaEdge Computing Platform (fECP) with Vecow's EAC-5000/EAC-3000/EAC-2000 industrial computers to provide a turnkey, trusted Edge AI computing solution. The system can run Cloud-Native AI applications on the NVIDIA NGC Catalog on Vecow's NVIDIA Jetson Xavier/Orin series industrial computers, providing users with AI model confidentiality and user data privacy protection from the cloud to the edge. The VHub systems aim at helping their customers to improve their information security capabilities and to comply with the EU GDPR and the US Cybersecurity Act. Diversifying Capital Sources to Lay Down the Foundation for Long-Term Development FiduciaEdge has also been very successful in its fundraising. The company has already attracted capital from the National Development Fund and the Taiwan Venture Capital Association. It also entered into a strategic partnership with a well-known Taiwan industrial computer manufacturer. Dr. Zao said that FiduciaEdge aims at taking advantage of the endless opportunities in the Edge Computing Security market by forming strategic partnerships with key players in this field. In addition, FiduciaEdge maintains an operational presence in the Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA) and regularly participates in TTA's information security-related events to identify strategic partners for potential collaboration opportunities. In the future AIoT applications, data will be owned by its creators, while analytics will be performed under usage control through authorization. In the face of this emerging digital economy, FiduciaEdge is actively transforming itself from a solution provider to a service provider to seize the market opportunities and lay down the foundation for long-term development. Dr. John K. Zao, Founder and Chairman of FiduciaEdge Technologies Photo: Company Features of FiduciaEdge's Trusted Edge Computing solutions Photo: Company Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Texas Instruments' 2Q23 results show confidence in 300mm wafer strategic focus Texas Instruments (TI) reported its Q2 2023 results on July 25. The IDM saw US$4.53 billion in revenue and US$1.72 billion in net income. Despite a 3% sequential increase in Q2 revenue, it dropped 13% from a year ago, owing to the weakness across all TI end markets, with the exception of automotives. For Q3 2023, TI expects revenue between US$4.36 - US$4.74 billion. Compared to Q1 2023, TI pointed out that the markets for personal electronics and automotive chips were both up low-single digits. Communications equipment was down mid-teens, while enterprise systems was down mid-single digits. The industrial market was flat. In Analog sector, sales declined 18% sequentially to US$3.2 billion. Embedded Processing saw sales increasing 9%, reaching US$894 million. Dave Pahl, TI's vice president and head of investor relations, noted in the earnings call that the vast majority of TI's products are available for immediate shipment. Whenever demand rises, the company will have product available as well as the capacity behind it to support the demand, Pahl said. When it comes to its embedded business, Pahl expressed confidence in future growth and market share gain over the long term, noting that TI is putting in place the internal capacity to support that growth. "That is a position that we haven't been in for quite some time," said the TI vice president, who pointed to the greater supply constraints faced by TI over the last two years in the embedded market, forcing the IDM to rely on foundries. "Now if a customer wants to give us an order at lead time, those lead times over the cycle haven't changed that much. So they can place that order or if they need inside of that, they can -- for the vast majority of the products, have it available," the vice president pointed out. Though Pahl indicated that a supply and demand imbalance will always exist somewhere, "those hotspots are closing and closing pretty quickly." As TI brings on capacity every quarter, the company gains more flexibility to meet the customer demand. Given TI's emphasis on internal manufacturing and more 300mm capacity than competitors, Pahl said that the company's pricing strategy hasn't changed, and "nothing unusual" is going on with pricing. Nevertheless, the TI vice president indicated that "cancellations remain at elevated levels," and that customers are continuing to work down inventories to get that more in line with their demand. As a part of TI's long-term 300mm manufacturing roadmap to support customers for decades to come, the IDM undertook the construction to build a 300mm fab in Utah, next to another existing 300mm fab, in February 2023. Construction of the new fab is expected to begin in the second half of 2023, with production as early as 2026. Four new 300mm wafer fabs are also under construction in Sherman, Texas. To complement its expanding manufacturing capacity, TI is also building two new assembly and test facilities in Malaysia, in line with the IDM's plan to grow internal assembly and test operations to more than 90% by 2030. According to TI, its global manufacturing footprint includes 12 wafer fabs, seven assembly and test factories, and multiple bump and probe facilities across 15 worldwide sites. The US Embassy in Dublin has reminded American tourists to exercise "god personal security" when visiting Ireland, following a serious assault on an American tourist in Dublin. "With a number of recent incidents reported in Irish media, the U.S. Embassy in Dublin reminds U.S. citizens to exercise good personal security practices while traveling," it said in a message on its website. US tourist Stephen Termini, who is from Washington DC, was attacked on Dublin's Store Street in the past week. The 57-year-old is currently being treated at Beaumont Hospital for serious injuries. "Travelers should safeguard valuables, such as credit cards and passports, and refrain from carrying large amounts of cash. The U.S. Embassy Dublin encourages all citizens to be aware of their surroundings, especially when traveling in unfamiliar places, crowded locations, empty streets, or at night," the Embassy said. It urges US citizens to please follow good security practices at home and while traveling and to dial 1-1-2 or 9-9-9 for emergency medical or police support in Ireland. The embassy urged people to review personal security best practices and to be aware of their environment. It also advises people to avoid walking alone, if possible, especially during hours of darkness. US tourists should not wear or display expensive jewelry or watches and avoid carrying large amounts of cash, the Embassy advises. It also reminds people to avoid placing passports, cash, cell phones, or other valuables in the outer pockets of backpacks or purses or on tables in public places. American tourists are advised to be cautious of your surroundings Tourists should also be vigilant in relation to pickpocketing and mugging as snatch and grab theft of mobile phones, watches and jewelry can occur. Look up locations before you travel to them. Do not leave bags unattended in restaurants, pubs, hotel lobbies, and parked cars. Most reported thefts occur at crowded tourist sites, at airports, car rental agencies, on public buses, trams, and trains, and at the major railway stations. Visitors to Ireland are urged to be conscious of their personal safety and belongings and are urged to "keep a low profile". Albania announces results of its first wind auction, launched in 2021 EBRD Renewable Energy Programme creates an enabling framework for projects, increasing private sector participation in Albania SECO provides funding for technical assistance and regulatory work in the energy sector The government of Albania has announced the results of the countrys first utility-scale bidder-selected site auction for onshore wind. Three bidders have been awarded capacity, totalling 222.48 MW, under the countrys third renewable energy auction and the first for onshore wind. The successful bidders are Total Eren with a bid of 44.88/MWh for a capacity of 75 MW; Guris with a bid of 74/MWh for 74.88 MW; and Verbund with a bid of 74.95/MWh for 72.6 MW. With Total Erens bid, the result marks another record price for the country and the Western Balkans region. Albania launched the auction in 2021, with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy running the tender. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has helped the Albanian authorities introduce competitive procurement processes for renewable energy projects. Gianpiero Nacci, EBRD Director, Sustainable Business and Infrastructure, said: Albania has made remarkable progress towards meeting its renewable energy targets and implementing auctions. We are very pleased to have supported the first wind auction in the country with bidder-selected sites and look forward to launching the 300 MW solar auction. This success is a game changer for Albania, a testament to what can be achieved with the right policy framework and a government committed to delivering on their renewable energy targets. Ekaterina Solovova, EBRD Head of Albania, added: We continue to be a strong partner to the Albanian authorities. We are proud to be the anchor financier of the Karavasta project, the first successfully auctioned solar plant in the country, and stand ready to continue leveraging financing for renewable energy, especially when we see solid and mature projects coming through as a result of sector reforms. The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has provided funding for the technical assistance that covers the new tender , as well as for work on energy sector regulation that will enable renewable energy sources to be deployed. SECO is also financing the upcoming 300 MW solar auction. Albania has led the way in the region by successfully running renewable energy auctions to accelerate the use of renewable energy. Since 2020, Albania has awarded 240 MW of solar energy, with record low prices in the region, and 222.48MW of onshore wind. A further 300 MW of solar power will be awarded in the coming months. This brings the total capacity supported by the EBRD through the Renewable Energy Programme to over 460MW, which reflects about 20 per cent of the countrys current total transmission grid capacity. The EBRD is also working with the government of Albania to assess the countrys offshore wind potential, with the intention of further diversifying the energy mix, and continues to work on key improvements to the regulatory framework. The EBRD Renewable Energy Programme is an important tool for driving systemic change by creating an enabling environment for the development of renewable energy projects and increasing private sector participation in Albania. The auctions have attracted new and credible private investors and developers, both international and national, boosting the sectors competitiveness. Since the first auction, the number of bids has increased significantly, with highly reputable international and national developers expressing interest in the process and the growth of renewable energy in Albania. The Renewable Energy Programme has created a more supportive and stable regulatory framework and introduced transparent and competitive bidding processes for renewable energy projects. As a result, Albania is benefiting from low prices of electricity sourced from renewables at a time of global disruptions and high prices. The Bank has been helping Albania develop a sustainable and diversified energy sector through policy discussions with government, technical legal assistance and investment. It is a leading institutional investor in the country, having invested 2 billion in over 140 projects to date. EBRD provides 25 million guarantee facility, partly supported by European Union, to enable 100 million of new financing by KredoBank EBRD opens a limit of up to 25 million available under the EBRDs Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) to expand access to trade finance to Ukrainian enterprises Beneficiaries will be agribusiness and companies in other critical industries The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting food security and other critical industries in wartime Ukraine with a new risk-sharing agreement for KredoBank, a subsidiary of PKO Bank Polski, as well as opening a TFP limit for guarantees and cash advances to enhance the Ukrainian banks product offer. Under the risk-sharing agreement signed today in London between the two institutions, which have an existing relationship, the EBRD provides a 25 million unfunded risk-sharing instrument, which covers 50 per cent of the credit risk of newly originated financing provided by KredoBank up to a total value of 100 million, subject to a portfolio cap of 50 per cent. The EBRDs facility is provided in two equal tranches. The risk-sharing facility will help KredoBank to provide access to finance for Ukrainian companies operating in critical industries such as primary agriculture and agricultural services, food processing, transport and logistics, retail and pharmaceuticals. It will also help safeguard food security and preserve livelihoods in Ukraine, where core economic sectors have been severely impacted by Russias invasion last February. In addition, 15 million of the total 100 million covered portfolio will be available to finance long-term investments of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in technologies and equipment to EU standards, including investments in sustainable and green technologies, under the SME Competitiveness Programme in the European Union's (EU) Eastern Partnership (EaP SMEC). By joining the EBRD EaP SMEC programme, KredoBank and its clients will also benefit from expert advice in the form of training and support provided by consultants. Eligible borrowers will receive grant support in the form of investment incentives upon the completion of their investment projects. We are pleased to continue our strong cooperation with KredoBank. The resilience and adaptability of Ukrainian entrepreneurs in particular in the agri-food sector have been absolutely remarkable, in the face of the uncertainty and destruction brought by the war. Our new risk-sharing facility will enable KredoBank to narrow the lending gap, ensuring that companies have consistent access to finance to help clear bottlenecks in the trade of food and agriculture products, said Francis Malige, MD Financial Institutions. This spring, Russian attacks meant that nearly a quarter of sowing land in Ukraine could not be sowed. Ukrainian business is working in extreme conditions and requires loans to keep going. As part of a big financial group, PKO Bank Polski, KredoBank already helps Ukrainian firms continue working in wartime. The new EBRD risk-sharing programme will open new opportunities to increase the volumes of loans and support critically important industries, said KredoBank Chairman Jerzy Jacek Szugajew. The help of international institutions such as the EBRD is invaluable, as they have the appropriate mandate and funds needed to implement assistance activities. According to the calculations of PKO Bank Polski, the World Bank and the government of Ukraine, by 2032 Ukraine may need financing of up to US$ 750 billion. That is why this and each subsequent agreement on financial support for the Ukrainian economy is extremely important, said Andrzej Kopyrski, PKO Bank Polskis Deputy Chief Executive Officer. The EBRD facility will be supported by a 50 per cent donor-funded first-loss risk cover as part of the Banks resilience package arrangements.The latest risk-sharing facility brings the total volume of enabled financing to 468 million under similar guarantees since the start of the war. The EBRD has also opened a limit of up to 25 million available under its Trade Finance Programme (TFP). By participating in the Banks TFP programme, KredoBank will step up support to Ukrainian exporters and importers. The TFP will equip KredoBank with an important financial instrument which will strengthen its expertise in trade finance and address an increased demand from local businesses to support foreign trade. Boosting Ukraines food security during the war is one of the EBRDs five strategic priorities for the country. The Bank is also supporting trade, energy security, vital infrastructure and the pharmaceuticals industry and has committed to investing up to 3 billion in the country in 2022-23. The EBRD was swift to condemn the Russian invasion and pledged to stand by Ukraine. In early April 2022, the EBRDs Board of Governors voted to suspend open-endedly the access of Russia and Belarus to EBRD finance and expertise, and the Bank has closed its offices in both countries. As well as a resilience package for Ukraine and neighbouring countries affected by the war, the EBRD has pledged to help finance Ukraines reconstruction once conditions permit. KredoBank is a leading bank in the western part of Ukraine, ranked 14th by total assets (US$ 1.1 billion). KredoBank is wholly owned by PKO Bank Polski SA, the largest systemically important bank in Poland, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. University College Cork (UCC) and Munster Technological University (MTU) have showcased the progress their project iEd Hub has made at the recent Higher Education Authoritys (HEA) conference at the Convention Centre Dublin. The iEd Hub is an educational consortium featuring the Cork regions universities, enterprise stakeholders, and leading industries in the health and life sciences sector focused on creating an innovative and agile platform to prepare next-generation graduates to excel in industry. At the event, the HEA presented its mid-term evaluation report on the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 3, providing an evaluation of the 24 projects funded by the HEA as part of the 300m five-year plan which aims to increase capacity in higher education to provide skills-focused programmes designed to meet priority skills needs. The report shows that the programme is exceeding targets on the creation of new courses, with over 1,000 created 800 more than the initial target. Over 4,000 additional student places have been achieved through direct funding, with a significant number still expected as projects mature. The report, prepared by Indecon International Economic Consultants, was presented at the Collaboration Nation: Linking Higher Education and Enterprise event, which was attended by Further and Higher Education Minister Simon Harris. Speaking at the event, Mr Harris said: It is imperative that we remain agile and open to new solutions as an economy, and projects such as the 24 on display in Dublin are testament to what can be achieved with proper support and serious ambition. Ireland is uniquely positioned to become a world leader in educational innovation and the collaboration fostered by HCI Pillar 3 between higher education institutions, local SMEs and global multinationals shows we are on the right path. This collaboration is key, as companies know best what they need, and as we match these needs with individual upskilling and learning, we empower all sides to thrive. It is satisfying to see the bravery and ambition of those involved in funding Pillar 3 rewarded with such early promise. LOCAL authority tenants in the Noonans Road and St Finbarrs Road flats have welcomed a visit by the chief executive of Cork City Council, Ann Doherty, the assistant chief executive, Brian Geaney, and the city architect, Tony Duggan, which lasted over two hours on Monday night. During the visit to the flats, which residents have said have been forgotten by the council for decades, Ms Doherty apologised to residents and said she was shocked at conditions there. While visiting homes on Noonans Road and St Finbarrs Road, members of the executive saw first-hand homes which are covered in mould and damp, prone to rodent infestation, and suffering from structural damage. William OBrien, a community activist who has been highlighting the poor conditions in the flats, said it was good that Ms Doherty and other member of the executive had visited the flats. When one local resident who is 10 told Ann Doherty that when she sees a bus coming, she hides because she doesnt want people to know she lives in Noonans Road, that really hit me, Mr OBrien said. I said to Ms Doherty that that girl could one day be the Lord Mayor or the chief executive. Children in Noonans Road need to have the same opportunities as children anywhere in the city. Local Councillors and City officials who visited buildings affected by dampness in Noonan's Road and St Finbarrs Road in Cork.Included are William O'Brien, Chairman Residents Assoc; Cllr Dan Boyle; Cllr Mick Nugent; Cllr Fiona Kerins, Cllr Shane O'Callaghan. Cllr Paudie Dineen, Cllr Mick Finn, Cllr Sean Martin, Brian Geaney, Deputy CE Cork City Council; Tony Duggan, City Architect; Ann Doherty, CE Cork City Council; Cllr Terry Shannon, Cllr Thomas Maloney and Cllr Colette Finn, Deputy Lord Mayor. Picture: Howard Crowdy This is a human rights issues affecting local authority social housing tenants living in our community. Equal opportunity and quality living conditions are basic human rights, he said. Arses need kicking over poor living conditions at Noonan's and Finbarr's Road, says Cork City Council chief executive https://t.co/OzaYQHdkGG EchoLive.ie (@echolivecork) July 25, 2023 Sandra Murphy, a local who was there to support her neighbours, said Ms Doherty had appeared genuinely shocked at conditions in the flats. She does seem shocked, but the conditions here are shocking. I just hope they can see what they need to do for people, and do it as soon as possible, she said. "They need to move people out, knock the flats, and rebuild." Fine Gael councillor Shane OCallaghan, who is chair of the Cork South Central ward, welcomed the visit and paid tribute to William OBrien and the local residents for their work in highlighting issues in the flats. I think visiting the area personally has brought home to the executive the urgency of addressing the problems here, and that visit is testimony to the advocacy which has brought this matter to the fore, Cllr OCallaghan said. Local Councillors and Cork City officials meeting with local residents of Noonan Road and St Finbarrs Road in Cork recently. Picture: Howard Crowdy Cllr Dan Boyle of the Green Party, said that despite the great shame that the flats had been allowed to fall into such disrepair, there was a sense of movement now, and he felt residents and councillors were united in a common purpose. We need to get this moving between now and the end of the year, and we have an opportunity here to make things better for all of the residents, he said. A UK trade union leader with strong Cork connections is set to be honoured with the 2023 Spirit of Mother Jones Award. Mick Lynch, who was appointed general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) in 2021 is to be recognised for his fight to defend his members working conditions and pay while striving to protect public and community services. Mr Lynch, whose father hailed from Cork city, will receive the award at the Dance Cork Firkin Crane on Thursday at 4pm. The event will take place as part of the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival. The Londoner was selected for his efforts to unify working people for a common purpose and to prevent divisions in working-class solidarity. Spokesperson for the Cork Mother Jones Committee James Nolan explained why it was so keen to honour Mr Lynch. We believe that Mick Lynch by his direct action, solid analysis, straight talking and plain speaking in defence of workers and union rights has won him widespread support and respect among working people, he said. His precise fact-based arguments and his eloquence in his media performances in the face of Tory Party opposition in the UK in relation to the support for public services such as the railways, the National Health Service and public services, has ensured admiration and support among many people as they recognise the validity of his comments. He described how Mr Lynch embodies the spirit of the festival adding. With Cork roots in the city centre, Mick Lynch continues to represent the fighting rebel spirit and tradition of his fellow Cork emigrant, Mary Harris, known as Mother Jones, who in earlier generations fought for social and trade union justice. The Cork Mother Jones Committee is proud to honour the Cork diaspora which leads the fight for the living. Now in its 11th year, the last British trade union leader to receive a Spirit of Mother Jones was the late Dave Hopper of the Durham Miners Association in 2016. Previous recipients include Gareth Peirce, Fr Peter McVerry, Louise OKeeffe, Antoinette Keegan, and Don OLeary. Mary G Harris Jones was born in 1837 but only became known as Mother Jones from 1897 onwards. She was an Irish-born American who became a prominent union organiser, community organiser, and activist. The Spirit of Mother Jones Award was introduced to recognise members of the Cork emigrant diaspora who continue to fight for justice and fair play around the world. CHRISTMAS shoppers parking on the top floor of a multi-storey car park in Cork were shocked to see a naked 30-year-old man. There was drug paraphernalia in the area and there was a woman present with the naked man, Sergeant Pat Lyons said at Cork District Court. The incident happened on the top floor of the car park at 4pm during Christmas week. Hassan Baker, of MacCurtain Villas, College Rd, pleaded guilty to a charge of engaging in threatening, abusive, or insulting behaviour arising out of the incident. Sergeant Pat Lyons said: On December 20, 2022, Hassan Baker was naked on the top floor of the Q car park on Wandesford Quay, Cork. He was in the company of a female in this public place. There was a lot of drug paraphernalia in their immediate vicinity. The car park was quite busy and there were many cars parked and being driven in and out of the top floor. Garda Vincent McCarthy arrested Hassan Baker. Eddie Burke, defending, said at Cork District Court: The incident itself is somewhat unusual. He was caught in an undressed state in a public place. He gave absolutely no difficulty. It was just the offence it caused to people driving in the area. He obviously should not have been in this state of undress. He is 30 now. He is living at home with his mother. He has serious head injuries as a result of being the victim of a serious assault. Mr Burke said the that as a result of that injury, Baker was due to attend for continuing speech therapy after his court appearance. Judge Kelleher said he would not interfere with that therapy session and put sentencing back to September 12. A West Cork farmer said he is terrified that proposals to reduce nitrates derogation stocking levels will cost him his livelihood and spell the end for rural Ireland. Patrick OSullivan, who has been running the family farm in Drimoleague for 30 years, explained that he will make plans to wind down operations if forced to cut his herd. His concerns relate to a proposed decrease from a maximum stocking rate of 250kg of nitrogen per hectare on dairy farms to 220kg. The measures would see a dramatic cut to the current herd sizes of small farmers. The beef and dairy farmer said he will be forced to lose between 12 and 15 cows out of his 75-strong herd of cows if the measures come into effect. This, he explained, would be unviable and may lead to him being wiped out by larger farming businesses. It isnt just me who is going to lose out, he told The Echo. Its all my neighbours and farmers across the country too. If we are going to be offered 400 and 500 an acre for our land well be gone. Our only option is to rent out the land to the big fellas. Thats whats going to happen. Its going to happen all over the country. Id love to keep doing what Im doing but it seems like that might not be possible anymore. Mr OSullivan said he feels that farmers are being unfairly scapegoated. Its devastating to see what has been happening with the last year and a half. Its like we (farmers) have caused all the pollution to the lakes and rivers in Ireland. If they follow through with the proposals, it will break my heart as Im a third generation farmer. The West Cork man said he has been doing everything in his power to mitigate environmental impact. He listed some of measures he has been taking to promote sustainability on his farm. Ive enough slurry storage from the middle of October to April 1 and all my drains are fenced off. I have done everything right down through the years. Soil sampling is also something Ive been very conscientious about. I have been soil sampling the land every three years for the last 30 years. I think soil sampling is the key to getting the water quality right, yet there is no department official even mentioning it. Mr OSullivans concerns follow a report courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency highlighting the high levels of nitrates in groundwater and estuaries and rivers located in the south-east, midland, as well as eastern and south-west regions. This means that many farmers would have to reduce their organic nitrogen stocking rate to 220kg in 2024 under the derogation. The land gets poorer the further down West Cork you are. It seems okay in theory to have 15 cows and grow our grain and have our own feed but we cant do that because the land just isnt good enough. Meanwhile, Fianna Fail TD Christopher OSullivan spoke of the anxiety among farmers. I really feel for farmers like Patrick because they are so afraid of what the future holds, he said. We have to be conscious of the unintended consequences of reducing the stocking rate from 250 to 220. Its really going to be that farmer that is milking 60 or 70 cows who is going to be most impacted. In this instance, because many farmers dont have the option to buy up extra land to get within the stocking rate, their only option is to reduce cattle numbers, therefore potentially making the farm unviable. All this will result in is bigger neighbouring farmers buying up the same land so well achieve very little from an improvement of the water quality point of view and even less from the point of view of trying to sustain small family farms. Obviously, we need to do everything we can do improve our rivers and water quality but this is nothing more than a blunt instrument that will have unfortunate and unintended consequences. YOUTH mental health charity Jigsaw is finding itself struggling under the pressure of increased demand and a lack of funding. Jigsaw provides a range of early intervention primary care services and supports across the country. The launch of Jigsaws latest report highlighted new data that revealed its community-based services provided help to a total of 36,360 young people last year. This was in response to a consistent rise in the number of referrals amounting to a rise of up to 70% since 2017. Jigsaw also continues to experience significant growth in demand for its online services, with over 500,000 visits to jigsaw.ie in 2022. This was a 104% increase on the previous year. A rise in the numbers of live chat and email-based support sessions were also evident. Sinead Rose, Youth and Community Engagement Worker at Jigsaw Cork expressed concerns about the level of demand for its services. What is clear from our data is that we are working to maximum capacity, she said. In 2022, across our Cork services we had 898 referrals and offered 3,614 appointments. Across Jigsaws services we are seeing an increase in demand, and as we seek to grow and offer more support our challenge is to keep up. Worryingly, this is part of a wider trend reflected across Irelands mental health support services, and put simply, it is not sustainable Sophie Kathryn, who is a recent psychology graduate and previous Jigsaw service user said: Jigsaw is so important because it offers support early. It doesnt make any sense that only 5% of our total health budget is ringfenced for mental health in Ireland. Investment in keeping people well, rather than waiting until they are very unwell makes far more sense, she said. "The current approach is akin to only treating heart disease after a cardiac arrest it's short-sighted, piecemeal and simply not good enough. Those involved with the charity are now calling for the government to act on their warning to ensure that there is sufficient funding to support young people with mental health issues. A 23-year-old Cork man has appeared before the Special Criminal Court charged with membership of the IRA and having hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Daniel Sheehan appeared before the three-judge, non-jury court on Tuesday following his arrest in Cork that morning. Sheehan, of Churchfield Avenue, Churchfield, Cork, is charged with the membership of an illegal organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, at a location within the State on June 3, 2022. He is also accused of having in his possession 263 rounds of ammunition in such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have it in his possession or under his control for a lawful purpose in a shed at Churchfield Avenue in Cork city on the same date. Detective Garda Geraldine Daly gave evidence of arrest charge and caution. Det Garda Daly told the court she identified herself to Daniel Sheehan at 10.41am this morning on Anglesea Street in Cork. Arrest The Detective Garda said she arrested Mr Sheehan under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act on suspicion of having committed scheduled offences, namely membership of the IRA on June 3, 2022, and under section 27 (A) of the Firearms Act in relation to possession of 263 rounds of various ammunition in a shed at his home address. Det Garda Daly said she informed Mr Sheehan that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that he be brought before the next sitting of the Special Criminal Court where he was to be charged with these offences. She said she then explained the charges to Mr Sheehan in ordinary language. The detective said before he was brought before the court, she handed Mr Sheehan a true copy of the charge sheet. After Mr Sheehan was formally charged before the court, Detective Garda Daly served the defendant with the Book of Evidence. Bail Defence counsel, Patrick McCullough BL, said it was his understanding that bail conditions had been agreed. He also made an application for legal aid, which was granted by the court. Solicitor Michael ODonovan, acting for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said there was consent to bail subject to a number of conditions. Mr Justice Alexander Owens remanded Mr Sheehan in custody with consent to bail to appear again before the court on October 9. By Cillian Sherlock and Grainne Ni Aodha, PA A review on expansion of the railway network across the island of Ireland has recommended widespread changes, including increasing top train speeds and reviving abandoned lines. The All-Island Rail Review, published on Tuesday, recommended reinstating the Western Rail Corridor between Claremorris and Athenry and the South Wexford Railway. It also recommended extending the railway into Co Tyrone running from Portadown to Dungannon, Omagh, Strabane and Derry, on to Letterkenny in Co Donegal. Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said the analysis of the line shows that it does stack up, it makes real sense, theyre all significant towns, they would hugely benefit by being connected by rail. So Im hopeful, subject to agreement with the Northern Ireland administration, that that line can and will be built. It would also seek to reinstate the Antrim to Lisburn line with a station at Belfast International Airport. The 25-year plan examines electrification of the rail network, for faster and more frequent trains as well as new routes for passengers and freight. If all 30 recommendations were implemented in the coming years, it would cost an estimated 36.8 billion, with 27.6 billion to be provided by the Irish government. The Department of Transport said this was an annual capital investment of a billion euro a year above existing plans, and roughly equivalent to peak annual investment in the motorway network in the late 2000s. After bringing the report to Cabinet, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan told reporters: Its a new age of rail. Eamon Ryan (Liam McBurney/PA) This country, back in the 1920s, had probably the most dense rail network in the world. Were going to add to whats existing and bring back high-speed rail, frequent rail, rail freight, better balanced regional development. Its not cheap, but at the same time, not doing it would be incredibly expensive. Our country would be gridlocked, our emissions would be rising this gives us a better alternative, a transport system that works for everyone. The review also recommended developing the railway to boost connectivity in the North Midlands, from Mullingar to Cavan, Monaghan, Armagh and Portadown. Short-term recommendations include hourly services between major cities across the island and one train every two hours between other centres. Although upgrading railways to major cities was recommended to ensure that train journeys are faster than the car, the review found that benefits of a 300kph network would be significantly outweighed by the cost. Two tracks or four tracks should also be implemented in some areas, and rail freight access at Dublin Port should also be developed, it said. Mr Ryan, speaking to reporters after Cabinet approved the publication of the report, said he had a meeting on Monday with Irish Rail which is confident it can revive the Foynes line the year after next. A lot of what this is doing is using the existing assets that are not being used. That section for Wexford to Watford, weve maintained that line for the last 10 years when it wasnt being used, and the line from Watford to Limerick Junction, its there in name, but not really in reality. Well, lets use that service, lets use that line. By reintroducing that we connect to the port, we go to every single business along that line and say, Do you want your goods transported out of the country in a low-carbon, sustainable way? And Im absolutely convinced the answer to that will be yes. The review was launched by Mr Ryan and Northern Irelands then minister for infrastructure Nichola Mallon in April 2021. Mr Ryan said a Northern Ireland Executive would be needed to agree the full document, as some of the big spending elements are in that region. A strategic environmental assessment is out for consultation and expected to be finalised next year, and rail freight analysis will be needed for Dublin Port, Rosslare and Limerick Junction. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, Mr Ryan said a new Atlantic rail corridor would bring low-carbon transport for businesses. The Green Party leader said: Early parts of the last century, we probably had the best rail network in the world. Weve let it lapse. Weve lost lines, weve given up on rail freight. We dont have connection to the north west. And what the report says is, we bring back rail. We bring back rail as a way of getting better balanced regional development. Mr Ryan said rail freight could be running within the next year or two and the Waterford-Rosslare and Claremorris-Athenry lines could reopen by the end of the decade, adding that they are the missing pieces in the jigsaw. By Cillian Sherlock, PA Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said people are being attacked all the time on Irish streets as he acknowledged it will be very hard to meet the target of recruiting 1,000 gardai this year. His comments come after a number of high-profile assaults in Dublin, including on a US tourist and a Ukrainian actor. Mr Varadkar said that when the victim is from overseas, it sometimes gets more coverage than when it is an Irish person who was assaulted. However, he added: Sadly, there are Irish people residents in the country being attacked all the time on our streets and thats not something we can accept. The safety of Irelands streets has come into sharp focus following the assaults, with the Taoiseach saying people feel that Irish cities deteriorated during Covid-19 and did not recover. He said: We shouldnt be telling people that X area or Y area is dangerous, they shouldnt go there. Thats totally the wrong approach, in my point of view. We have to make sure that all public places in our cities and towns are safe for people to walk. The Taoiseach said the recent assaults show the need to be tough on public order offences. He said this would involve increased use of CCTV, a more visible Garda presence on streets, tougher sentences, and increased resources for courts and prisons. Mr Varadkar said part of the response also needs to tackle underlying issues of poverty, addiction and deprivation. People should feel safe in our towns and cities and at night-time and shouldnt be afraid that if they go out at night, that theyre going to be subjected to a serious assault or perhaps even worse, he said. The Taoiseach said Ireland is a safe place relative to other countries but added that more needs to be done to improve public order. He said: A lot of people dont feel safe on our streets because theyve heard things that have really happened. Its not just a perception, its rooted in reality. Mr Varadkar said new classes of Garda recruits are regularly entering the Templemore college. He said a significant number of the latest graduating class will be assigned to the Dublin inner-city. However, Mr Varadkar said there were fewer than 100 Garda recruits passing out this week despite a target of 200. The Taoiseach said: It is going to be difficult to reach the 1,000 target. Were not departing from it and part of my meeting with the Garda Commissioner next week will be seeing what we can do to improve recruitment. He said there are suggestions around improving the training allowance, earlier retirement, and allowing people to enter the force after the age of 35. Mr Varadkar said there was anecdotal evidence of delays within the Public Appointments Service also. 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. Wildfires are spreading in nine Mediterranean countries, killing dozens of people and causing thousands to evacuate. Heat waves and dry vegetation have created conditions for the wildfires to spread, and the extreme heat has been made more likely because of climate change, scientists say. Algeria has experienced the highest death toll of 34 people, as the BBC reported. Temperatures in Algeria have reached around 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius), The Guardian reported, and witnesses to the wildfires described them as being like a blowtorch. Parts of Rhodes, a Greek island, have been evacuated because of the wildfires, with more than 20,000 people fleeing, and others have had to evacuate from Sicily and Puglia in Italy and Melloula in Tunisia. I will state the obvious: in the face of what the entire planet is facing, especially the Mediterranean which is a climate change hot-spot, there is no magical defense mechanism, if there was we would have implemented it, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said. Two pilots who were working to control flames in Greece using water-dropping planes died when the plane crashed into a hillside, Reuters reported. More than 600 firefighters were tasked with putting out a wildfire near Lisbon, Portugal, and about 130 firefighters were handling a fire near Dubrovnik, Croatia that had caused landmines to explode. Firefighters in Italy have worked on about 1,400 fires from Sunday to Tuesday, most of which were in Sicily and Calabria. As The Local reported, Renato Schifani, regional president of Sicily, was planning to ask the Italian government to declare an emergency on Wednesday during the ministers meeting. In addition to the fires in the southern part of the country, northern areas of Italy have experienced deadly 70 mph (110 kmh) winds, tornadoes, torrential rain and hail. The storms have killed multiple people, including a 16-year-old girl who was on a summer camping trip. We are experiencing in Italy one of the most complicated days in recent decades rainstorms, tornadoes and giant hail in the north, and scorching heat and devastating fires in the center and south, Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci said, as reported by the BBC. The extreme temperatures and dry conditions, as well as the resulting wildfires, have been made more likely by human-caused climate change, said a study from World Weather Attribution. Unless the world rapidly stops burning fossil fuels, these events will become even more common and the world will experience heatwaves that are even hotter and longer-lasting, World Weather Attribution said in a statement. Russia's exit from Black Sea grain deal may raise Asian food prices Analysts predict that Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal could lead to higher food prices in Asia, but the immediate impact is expected to be limited due to reduced imports from Ukraine and increased supply from other countries, Al-Jazeera reported. Under the Black Sea deal, Asia imported 46% of grain and foodstuff shipments, while Western Europe and Africa accounted for 40% and 12%, respectively. China emerged as the largest recipient of exports, taking 7.7 million tonnes, or nearly a quarter of the total, as per UN figures. These imports include 5.6 million tonnes of corn, 1.8 million tonnes of sunflower seed meal, 370,000 tonnes of sunflower oil, and 340,000 tonnes of barley. Oksana Lesniak, head of the Asia-Pacific Bureau at the Centre for Global Studies Strategy XXI in Kyiv, noted that around 30% of China's corn imports originate from Ukraine, serving various purposes, including food, cooking oil, and animal feed. Pavlo Martyshev, a researcher at the Centre for Food and Land Use Research at Kyiv School of Economics, said that while the end of the grain deal might impact food security in Asia by driving up grain, oilseed, and vegetable oil prices, the region is better positioned to handle the situation compared to regions like Africa. Martyshev reassured that Asian countries, including China, possess the financial capability to maintain sufficient food supply despite potential price increases, which may not be the case for some African nations. He also mentioned China's proactive approach to diversify its imports, as evidenced by a 2022 agreement with Brazil to import corn. This diversification strategy ensures a degree of food security since Brazil is currently experiencing exceptionally high harvests. Martyshev cautioned that global grain prices are expected to rise in the coming months due to the collapse of the deal and other factors like extreme weather conditions attributed to climate change. At present, the impact on food prices remains subdued as northern hemisphere countries are harvesting new crops, ensuring adequate grain supplies for all. - Al-Jazeera Vietnam approves world's first commercial vaccines against African swine fever Vietnam has approved the domestic commercial use of two locally developed vaccines, NAVET-ASFVAC and AVAC ASF LIVE, against African swine fever (ASF), the world's first commercial vaccines to combat ASF, Reuters reported. NAVET-ASFVAC was co-developed by Navetco Central Veterinary Medicine and US scientists, and AVAC ASF LIVE was developed by AVAC Vietnam JSC. With the approval of these vaccines, the possibility of international sales could emerge, heralding a significant breakthrough in combatting the global disruption caused by African swine fever, which has severely impacted the US$250 billion global pork market. ASF has caused immense losses, with China, the world's largest swine producer, experiencing a devastating outbreak in 2018-19, resulting in the loss of about half of its domestic swine population and estimated losses of over US$100 billion. The government's statement revealed that Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture has instructed the companies to devise production plans for both domestic sales and potential exports. The vaccines underwent rigorous testing, with over 650,000 doses administered to swine herds in 40 provinces, showing an impressive efficacy rate of 95%. Looking beyond Vietnam, US Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack expressed that precautionary purchases could be of interest in the US, despite the country having been spared from ASF so far. - Reuters USDA leads agribusiness trade mission to Malaysia and Singapore Alexis Taylor, the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, is set to spearhead an agribusiness trade mission to Malaysia and Singapore from October 30 to November 3, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service reported. US exporters keen on participating in the trade mission can now apply through USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service. Alexis Taylor said that Malaysia and Singapore offer stability and tremendous opportunities to further expand US trade in the region. She noted the growing consumer demand for American products in both countries, making the timing of this agribusiness trade mission especially opportune. The mission will provide US exporters a valuable opening to strengthen relationships with local importers. During the trade mission, participants will visit Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, where they will engage with key importers and gain insights from government and industry leaders about local market conditions. They will also have one-on-one meetings with potential customers and the chance to visit local retail stores and food manufacturers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the markets. Malaysia heavily relies on imports of essential agricultural products, including wheat, rice, protein meal, dairy products, beef, and various deciduous and citrus fruits. In 2022, US agricultural and related products exports to Malaysia reached US$1.13 billion. Consumer-oriented products accounted for nearly half of the total US food and agriculture exports to Malaysia, reflecting the surging consumer demand and thriving food service sector. Soybeans, processed fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, and prepared foods also remain popular in the country. Malaysia's status as a major food processing hub enables re-exporting throughout Southeast Asia and beyond. Singapore, being a vital logistical hub, serves as the headquarters for numerous key buyers of agricultural and food products in the Asia-Pacific region. US agricultural exports to Singapore recorded remarkable growth, surging by 190% from 2012 to 2022, reaching a record US$1.4 billion in 2022. Despite its small size and urbanisation, Singapore relies on food imports from various suppliers. As a high-income country, it offers a sophisticated market for numerous US consumer-oriented products. - USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Second outbreak of bird flu confirmed People are reminded not to touch sick or dead birds after another positive case of the highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed in a wild seabird on Tuesday. More than 300 dead birds, including seagulls, guillemots and gannets, have been collected from local beaches by the Department for Environment, Food and Agriculture since 11 July. Although it is not feasible to test all the birds, all five of the samples sent to the UK for testing have come back positive for the H5N1 strain, which has killed hundreds of sea birds in the UK in recent months. Clare Barber MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture said: 'People should take extra care when visiting coastal areas and avoid contact with sick or dead marine life as the virus is contagious and can be passed from birds to other animals, such as seals. The risk to people remains low and well-cooked eggs and poultry are safe to eat.' No restriction zones have been introduced as the virus has not been found in kept or farmed birds. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023: Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, Watch 6, Tab S9 and more Samsung is showing off its next generation of foldables in Seoul. Samsung has finally announced its next generation of foldable smartphones, and a whole lot more. The company hosted its first ever Galaxy Unpacked event from its hometown of Seoul, South Korea overnight, and, in addition to the Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5, we also saw a new Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Tab Ultra. Engadget's Richard Lai was on the ground in South Korea, supported by Mat Smith from a satellite event in London, England. The show's over now, but you can relive their liveblog here, or check out our first hands-on previews and comparison posts below. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2023 in-depth coverage Honda's E electric car went on sale in the summer of 2020 in Europe and Japan, offering those who want a cute and compact vehicle a zero-emission option. The retro-styled EV could be the only model in its line, though, because the automaker apparently has no plans to produce more cars of the same size. At the launch event of e:Ny1, Honda's new electric SUV, Honda UK executive Rebecca Adamson told Autocar: "There wont be more cars the size of the Honda E. I can say that confidently." Adamson also said that Honda chose to focus on electric SUVs, because that's where the market demand in the UK is. "It's a market-led product line-up. As long as thats where the market is, we will continue to be SUV driven," the executive said. Indeed, the car has several SUVs in its current lineup, which will soon include the e:Ny1. At a business briefing in April, Honda also said that it's building a mid-to-large-size EV based on its e:Architecture platform that will go on sale in North America in 2025. As another clue that Honda was going to put its focus on electric SUVs, it said it was further developing its vehicle OS for use with mid-to-large-size EVs. The Honda E was relatively well-received for its stylish looks, but it has a small battery and has a pretty short range at 137 miles. It was meant for city and suburban use only, not for long stretches of road with no charging stations in sight. As for the e:Ny1, it's a compact SUV with a range of 256 miles and a fast charging capability that enables it to go from 10 to 80 percent in 45 minutes. It's only the brand's second pure EV after Honda E meant for release in the European market. A firefighting plane has crashed in southern Greece, killing both crew members, as authorities are battling fires across the country amid a return of heat wave temperatures. The crash occurred on the island of Evia and was aired in a state television broadcast that showed the low-flying aircraft disappearing into a canyon before a fireball was seen moments later. The plane had no ejection system. July 26, 2023 By Ben Weingarten , RealClearInvestigationsJuly 26, 2023 GOP lawmakers and other conservative critics are working to expose and fight a secretive executive order by President Biden to expand voter participation in elections, which they suspect has become a powerful government-wide complement to private left-wing election financing that could tip the 2024 campaign illegally and unfairly in Democrats favor. Cast as a civil rights measure issued as the nation marked the 1965 Bloody Sunday police beatings of voting-rights marchers outside Selma, Ala., the president's 2021 directive orders every federal agency, more than 600 in all, to register and mobilize voters particularly people of color and others the White House says face challenges to exercise their fundamental right to vote. It further orders the agencies to collaborate with ostensibly nonpartisan nonprofits. Since issuing the order, critics claim, the Biden administration has stonewalled efforts to scrutinize its implementation by often ignoring document requests and litigating to shield relevant records. The critics, including members of Congress, state officials, and government watchdog groups, say the executive branch is attempting to federalize elections with an end-run around constitutionally prescribed state control over voting in many cases using the resources of agencies with missions unrelated to registering voters. Some have labeled the presidents order Bidenbucks, evoking Zuckbucks Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chans funneling of some $400 million through two nonprofits into election offices across the country during the 2020 election. That money often flowed to left-leaning nonprofits managing critical aspects of election administration that were considered crucial to Biden's winning the White House. In a notable recent defeat for conservatives, Judge Beryl Howell of the D.C. District Court, an Obama appointee to the generally liberal jurisdiction, on July 18 dismissed Freedom of Information Act requests from the America First Legal Foundation, siding with administration arguments that the records in question were exempt as privileged presidential communications. Trying to pry strategy documents loose, America First had sued nearly a dozen non-responsive agencies, ranging from the Departments of Agriculture, Education, and Health and Human Services to the Environmental Protection Agency. Left-leaning think tank Demos, which in late 2020 drafted a blueprint for the order, estimates that if fully implemented, it could generate 3.5 million new or updated voter registrations annually. Even a far more modest increase could dramatically impact the 2024 presidential election, considering that recent contests have been decided by just thousands of votes in several states. Critics say the order could violate laws including the Administrative Procedure Act, barring agency actions in excess of statutory jurisdiction and the Hatch Act, curbing political activities by federal employees. Their concerns are driven in part by the fact that the directive appeared to be cribbed from the Demos white paper. Two ex-Demos executives one of whom helped write the paper departed for the Biden administration for roles positioning them to push for the order. Republican House members raised the alarm about this issue in a January 2022 letter requesting documents from administration officials, calling the order nearly identical to a federal election takeover plan crafted by the radical left-leaning group known as Demos. Months later, on the first anniversary of the order, Demos revealed it had worked extensively with federal agencies as well as state partners to implement the order, noting that it did so in close partnership with the ACLU and other allies. Conservatives say their fears of federal government collusion with supportive progressive groups appear to have already been substantiated. In ongoing FOIA litigation against the Justice Department, the Foundation for Government Accountability obtained an email between the White House Counsels Office and numerous agency officials regarding a July 2021 Agency Listening Session apparently led by Civil and Voting Rights Organizations. The email includes a roster of advocates. These include representatives from progressive groups such as the ACLU, the George Soros-affiliated Open Society Policy Center, and the Southern Poverty Law Center; labor unions including the AFL-CIO and AFSCME; and a coterie of identity-focused organizations such as the Arab American Association, Black Voters Matter, and UnidosUS. RealClearInvestigations contacted over a dozen prominent private groups supporting the order, some of which were represented at that meeting, but only one responded to its queries. The Project on Government Oversight, a self-described nonpartisan independent watchdog, indicated it had not met with federal agencies regarding the executive order, undertaken any activities to advance it, nor planned to do so during this election cycle. It publicly supported the executive order, according to a spokesperson, because access to voting is a critical way to hold public officials accountable. The organizations that did not respond ranged from the Center for American Progress to politically powerful public-sector unions, including the American Federation for Teachers, the National Education Association, and AFSCME. Also not responding were Fair Fight Action, founded by unsuccessful Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. RCI also posed a series of questions to Demos centering on concerns expressed by lawmakers and others about its involvement in the order including a report that it helped the Indian Health Service register and mobilize voters. It did not respond. Promoting voter registration and participation i.e., mobilizing voters is an inherently political act for a partisan president, Tarren Bragdon and Stewart Whitson of the Foundation for Government Accountability wrote in a recent Wall Street Journal Op-Ed. The resulting efforts can be directed at groups expected to vote for the presidents party and may take the form of pressure to support the party or its policies. Likewise, Hans von Spakovsky, manager of the Heritage Foundations Election Law Reform Initiative and a former member of the Federal Election Commission, recently submitted congressional testimony indicating that the kinds of activities contemplated under the Biden administrations executive order risk confusing and intimidating vulnerable members of the public who are applying for federal benefits into thinking they have to register and vote for the political party in control of the White House to ensure their applications for benefits are not declined. In addition to its largely successful efforts in court to date to stave off greater disclosure, the Biden administration has rebuffed Republican lawmakers numerous oversight inquiries into the order. The administration has refused to produce agency-specific strategic plans that would comprehensively capture the orders scope and has remained largely silent about which third-party groups agencies are coordinating with to execute the order, and on what grounds a key area of concern among the directives critics. RCI asked a White House spokesperson why the administration was withholding the strategic plans. RCI also asked if the Biden administration would share details about agencies coordination with third-party groups, and how the administration would respond to concerns raised by critics that the order codifies a de facto Democrat get-out-the-vote effort. The White House did not respond. What is clear, based on the details that have emerged about the order, is that the Biden administration is proceeding with its implementation, undeterred by critics. In March, near the two-year anniversary of the order, the administration released a characteristic summary statement noting that agencies as diverse as the Department of Education, Defense, and the Indian Health Service have carried out efforts ranging from making voter registration information and materials more readily available on agency websites, in documents, and across their offices, to successfully designating themselves as voter registration agencies. Previously, agencies from the Departments of Labor, Housing and Urban Development, and Agriculture disclosed generally some of the ways they were working to comply with the order, including seeking to drive voter registration via job training centers, public housing authorities, and child nutrition programs. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Education, and the Department of Agriculture are exceptions in having provided cursory responses to the many questions posed by lawmakers regarding the order. Much of what little is known publicly about the directive has been captured in progress reports released by its left-leaning champions aimed at persuading the administration to accelerate and broaden its efforts to implement it. Myriad left-leaning organizations are urging the administration to more fully implement it in the run-up to the 2024 election. They propose, for example, that the U.S. Marshals Service provide eligible individuals in federal pre-trial detention access to high-quality voter registration services and assistance voting; that the Department of Education incorporate voter registration opportunities into the federal student aid process; and that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offer voter registration services at or immediately after all naturalization ceremonies. Republicans have recently advanced legislation to combat the executive order. The Republican-led House is seeking to neuter the executive order via appropriations. As currently drafted, the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill would defund the order. Perhaps more significantly, the House Administration Committee recently introduced the American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act, which it touts as the most conservative election bill to be seriously considered in the House in a generation. Among the almost 50 bills contained in the legislation is the Promoting Free and Fair Elections Act. That bill, sponsored by New York GOP Rep. Claudia Tenney, co-chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, would nullify the Biden executive order. Progressive supporters of the directive panned the provision. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights wrote that it strongly object[s] to the ACE Acts attempt to thwart implementation of the Biden executive order. Voter registration remains a hurdle for many eligible voters, particularly people of color, the group said. Real confidence in elections comes from ensuring that all Americans have the freedom to vote unimpeded by discriminatory rules. Notwithstanding such opposition, the ACE Act would seem poised to pass the House given the support shown by leadership, including its sponsorship by Speaker Kevin McCarthy and its more than one hundred other co-sponsors. But, as Roll Call noted, its outlook is bleak in the Democrat-controlled Senate. There, Republican Sen. Ted Budd or North Carolina has introduced companion legislation to Rep. Tenneys. Any such efforts are likely to prove fraught in a divided government. Republicans majority in the House, however, does arm them with subpoena powers. RCI asked several relevant committees whether they might use such authority to compel the executive branch to respond to their requests. Wisconsin GOP Rep. Bryan Steil, Chairman of the Committee on House Administration, which has jurisdiction over federal elections, told RCI that he will continue to demand answers from the agencies on how they are implementing the [executive order] while touting the ACE Act. A spokesperson for the committee told RCI its members were not satisfied with the responses [to oversight requests] weve received so far noting that in some instances it had not received responses from agencies at all and that the committee was planning to send a battery of follow-up requests in the near-term. UPDATE, AUG. 8: Containment on the Colt Fire has increased to 39% as crews were able to take advantage of quieted fire behavior from the moisture and mop-up on residual heat on the northeast and eastern edges. The current size of the fire is 7,179 acres with 506 total personnel working to fight the fire. Air operations will be using two unmanned aerial systems (UAS drones) over the coming days to map out areas of heat within the fire area. The UAS aircraft is best able to pick up areas of heat within the fire late at night and early in the morning due to lower air temperatures at these times. For this reason, the temporary flight restriction (TFR) for the fire area (FDC 3/7867) has been extended from 8am-10am to a full 24-hour restriction. Today, crews will continue to mop-up remaining residual heat along the fire's northern and eastern edges between Colt Lake and Beaver Lake. They will also continue to construct lines west to Sunset Ridge on the south flank and heavy equipment will assist crews with additional line construction on the northwest corner of the fire. UPDATE, AUG 7: The Colt Fire remains at 25% contained as of Monday morning at 9:22am. Northern Rockies Team 5 sent out a press release saying while rainfall in the area decreased fire activity, it also limited firefighters' ability to access roads in certain areas of the fire. Crews were able to mop-up some residual heat from much of the fire's northern and eastern edges. Right now, crews are continuing to mop-up residual heat. Heavy equipment will search for opportunities to construct line further along the fires southwest edge near Sunset Ridge. Hand crews will again be in the area, searching for a path to continue the line beyond the ridge. Along the southern edge of the fire crews will continue to construct handline above West Fork Clearwater River. Aircrafts will be available to assist firefighters as needed as long as conditions allow. The release says showers and thunderstorms may return this afternoon, bringing with them a risk of heavy downpours, lightning, and gusty outflow winds. While the rain has lessened fire activity for the time being, fire activity is expected to increase later in the week as temperatures rise and relative humidity's decrease. This incoming warm weather with possible gusty winds will increase the chances of larger fuels burning, as the dryness of these fuels is still near record lows. UPDATE, AUG. 6: The Colt Fire is now 25% contained as of Sunday morning. Crews are working to mop-up residual heat along the fires north perimeter from Beaver Lake to Colt Lake. On the east side of the fire, heavy equipment will begin constructing line from Sunset Ridge east, continuing the progress of the line constructed by hand crews. Firefighters will continue constructing handline along the south edge of the fire Sunday, as weather permits. The fires forward progression has been slowed by recent rain, with growth mainly contained to the southwestern portion of the fire. While the fire will likely exhibit creeping and smoldering behavior in the coming days, single tree torching is possible if the fire burns into large areas of unburned ground fuels, the Northern Rockies Team 5 reported. As the weather warms towards the middle of the week, with less precipitation anticipated, an increase of fire activity is expected. UPDATE, AUG. 5: The Northern Rockies Team 1 transitioned command of the Colt Fire to the Northern Rockies Team 5 Saturday. Monsoonal moisture in the upper atmosphere and cloud cover of the fire area subdued fire activity Friday, however, persistent dry conditions at the surface keep the potential for fire spread high. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity with a chance of rain are being forecasted for the weekend. Acreage was reportedly added to the fire Friday, however, there was no overnight infrared mapping flight to verify the increase. The following are the planned actions Saturday: In the southwest corner of the fire heavy equipment and crews will continue to construct indirect control lines. Along the west side, crews will prepare roads and handlines and use hose lays to secure and mop up the fire edge. On the north and east sides of the fire, personnel will patrol, hold, and mop up where needed. Crews that have been working from east to west on the south side of the fire north of the West Fork of the Clearwater River will continue handline construction. The crews are working in steep terrain and the handline construction is slow and steady. Helicopters will be used to cool hot spots and slow fire spread. Operations personnel from both teams will work together on all sides of the fire to transfer knowledge and situational awareness to provide for a safe and efficient team transition. The Missoula County Sheriffs Office has issued the following evacuations and closures: Residents on Beaver Creek Road (near the summit) are under an Evacuation Warning. Mile marker 31 (Beaver Creek Road at the intersection of Hwy 83) south towards Seeley Lake to mile marker 27, and including residences in Rovero Flats, are under an Evacuation Warning. Residences beginning at mile marker 27, south end of Rovero Flats, to mile marker 25.5 (the intersection of the West Fork of the Clearwater Road and Hwy 83) are under an Evacuation Warning. Residences on the north and south ends of Lake Inez are under an Evacuation Warning. The east side of Lake Inez, along Hwy 83, is not under any Warning or Order. UPDATE, AUG. 4: The Colt Fire is burning an estimated 7,179 acres and is 23% contained as of Friday morning. Fire activity was the highest in the southwestern corner due to persistent dry conditions over the area, the Northern Rockies Team 1 reports. Cooler temperatures, higher humidity and a chance of rain are forecasted for the area in the coming days. Crews on the southwest corner of the fire are working to keep the fire north of Sunset Ridge. Engines are patrolling, holding and mopping up along the north and east side of the fire. Helicopters are being used to cool hot spots and slow fire spread. The Structure Protection Group will continue structure protection assessment work in the Lindbergh Lake area and will be patrolling the Highway 83 corridor and other identified structure zones. The following evacuation and closures are in pace according to the Missoula County Sheriffs Office: Residents on Beaver Creek Road (near the summit) are under an Evacuation Warning. Mile marker 31 (Beaver Creek Road at the intersection of Hwy 83) south towards Seeley Lake to mile marker 27, and including residences in Rovero Flats, are under an Evacuation Warning. Residences beginning at mile marker 27, south end of Rovero Flats, to mile marker 25.5 (the intersection of the West Fork of the Clearwater Road and Hwy 83) are under an Evacuation Warning. Residences on the north and south ends of Lake Inez are under an Evacuation Warning. The east side of Lake Inez, along Hwy 83, is not under any Warning or Order UPDATE, AUG 3: The Colt Fire is now 6,860 acres large and 19% contained as of Thursday morning. The Northern Rockies Team 1 says fire personnel in the southwest corner will be re-evaluating the locations planned for indirect control line construction and adjusting those actions based on where the spot fire moved. On the forest road systems west of the fire, heavy equipment and crews will work on linking roads and control lines together forming indirect control lines. Along the north side, east side (Forest Road 646), and southeast corner firefighters will continue to hold and mop up along the line. On the south side, and north of the West Fork of the Clearwater River, four crews will continue to build fire control line moving from east to west. These crews may camp closer to the line to decrease travel time. Helicopters and airplanes will continue to be used to keep the fire checked up on the west side and southwest corner. The Lindbergh Group will continue structure assessments as well as look for indirect control line opportunities that would have the highest opportunity for success ahead of the fire. A night shift of engines will patrol and monitor fire conditions. The following evacuation and closures are in pace according to the Missoula County Sheriffs Office: Residents on Beaver Creek Road (near the summit) are under an Evacuation Warning. Mile marker 31 (Beaver Creek Road at the intersection of Hwy 83) south towards Seeley Lake to mile marker 27, and including residences in Rovero Flats, are under an Evacuation Warning. Residences beginning at mile marker 27, south end of Rovero Flats, to mile marker 25.5 (the intersection of the West Fork of the Clearwater Road and Hwy 83) are under an Evacuation Warning. Residences on the north and south ends of Lake Inez are under an Evacuation Warning. The east side of Lake Inez, along Hwy 83, is not under any Warning or Order UPDATE, AUG. 2 AT 11:14 A.M.: The evacuation orders in the areas of Rovero Flats East and Rovero Flats West have been lifted Wednesday, the Missoula County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook. Those areas are now under evacuation warning. MCSO said residents may notice law enforcement taking down the red order cards and replacing them with yellow warning cards. MCSO shared a map reflecting evacuation status in the identified zones: Red means the zone is under evacuation order, yellow means warning and green means pre-identified zones in the event the fire approaches those areas. Currently, there are more zones that have been pre-identified and are in green: Fawn, 83 N, 83 S, Boy Scout N, and Boy Scout S. For the more updated information on wildfires in Montana, visit mtfireinfo.org. UPDATE, AUG 2: The Colt Fire is burning 6,860 acres with containment at 19% Wednesday morning. The Northern Rockies Team 1 reports a high-pressure ridge weather system is keeping smoke from nearby and far away wildfires in the area. In addition, the ream is reporting warm, dry weather could lead to active fire behavior, Wednesday. The following actions are planned for the day: On the southeast corner and east side along Forest Road 646 (Colt/Uhler Road) firefighters will continue to hold and mop up along the line. Patrol and mop up will also continue in areas on the north side of the fire. In the northwest corner crews will continue to construct indirect line working to connect between Colt and Beaver Lakes. Along the west side crews and equipment will access the area and start working to prepare Forest Road 9570 as an indirect control line. Access routes have been found and an attempt will be made to bring equipment into the southwest corner if fire activity safely allows. Helicopters will continue to be used to keep the fire checked up on the west side and southwest corner. On the south side, and north of the West Fork of the Clearwater River, crews will move from east to west working on fire control line construction. These crews will start to spike camp closer to the line to decrease travel time. The night shift of engines will patrol and monitor fire conditions. Evacuation warnings and orders: Residents on Beaver Creek Road (near the summit) are under an Evacuation Warning. Mile marker 31 (Beaver Creek Road at the intersection of Hwy 83) south towards Seeley Lake to mile marker 27, and including residences in Rovero Flats, are under an Evacuation Order. Residences beginning at mile marker 27, south end of Rovero Flats, to mile marker 25.5 (the intersection of the West Fork of the Clearwater Road and Hwy 83) are under an Evacuation Warning. Residences on the north and south ends of Lake Inez are under an Evacuation Warning. The east side of Lake Inez, along Hwy 83, is not under any Warning or Order. The list of current closures includes: Forest Road 906 (closed at Highway 83) Rainy Lake Campground access road 4357 (closed at Highway 83) Rainy Lake Campground Alva Lake Campground access road (closed by gate at Highway 83) Alva Lake Campground Lakeside Campground access road (closed by gate at Highway 83) Lakeside Campground Lake Inez Campground Forest Road 646 (closed at the junction of FSR 552; FSR 4354; Forest Road 552 (beyond the turn off to west side Lake Inez access Forest Road 5407 and 463 closed beyond the West Side snowmobile trailhead (these roads access the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Marshall Wildlife Management Area and Lake Marshall) Temporarily closing the Forest System Road loops of the Clearwater (FSR 4370 and 4353) and Richmond (FSR 667 and 720) For the more updated information on wildfires in Montana, visit mtfireinfo.org. UPDATE, AUG. 1: The Colt Fire grew an additional 527 acres, burning 6,704 acres total with containment increased to 8%. According to Inciweb, fire activity continued Monday due to increasing temperatures and decreasing relative humidity. Fire crews continued holding efforts on all sides of the fire. Crews held the fire line and looked out for hot spots on the southeast corner, helicopters cooled hot spots where necessary. On the east side, personnel mopped up and put effort into raising containment along Forest Road 646, Colt/Uhler Road. Firefighters will resume holding, securing and mopping up Forest Road 646, Colt/Uhler Road. Crews on the north side, crews and equipment worked to hold along the existing fire lines and resumed building control lines. Crews will work a mix of indirect line preparation along Forest Road 906, holding the existing lines and looking out for fire spots. Crews on the west side took the chance on working on a direct fire line upslope from Colt Lake. Aircraft dropped fire retardant to slow fire spread on the southwest corner, and will continue to be used in this area if necessary. On the west side of the fire, there is a plan in place for access and indirect control line building on the west side of the fire, and according to Inciweb, "These plans will start to be implemented as crews can be shifted from other parts of the fire area." On the south side, crews will be working on direct control line moving east to west while north of the West Fork of the Clearwater River. A group will resume evaluating structure protection. Evacuations and closures: The Missoula County Sheriffs Office Evacuation Warning and Order summary: Residents on Beaver Creek Road (near the summit) are under an Evacuation Warning. Mile marker 31 (Beaver Creek Road at the intersection of Hwy 83) south towards Seeley Lake to mile marker 27, and including residences in Rovero Flats, are under an Evacuation Order. Residences beginning at mile marker 27, south end of Rovero Flats, to mile marker 25.5 (the intersection of the West Fork of the Clearwater Road and Hwy 83) are under an Evacuation Warning. Residences on the north and south ends of Lake Inez are under an Evacuation Warning. The east side of Lake Inez, along Hwy 83, is not under any Warning or Order. If conditions rapidly change an Evacuation Order may be issued with no prior notice or warning. Home and property owners in the surrounding area should remain vigilant and prepared. Have an evacuation plan for family, pets, and livestock; sign up for emergency alerts at Smart911.com; and be familiar with the Missoula County evacuation process and what an order and warning means by clicking on the following link: https://www.missoulacounty.us/government/publicsafety/officeofemergencymanagement/evacuationinformation. For evolving Evacuations and Warnings please visit the Missoula County Sheriffs Office Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MissoulaCountySheriffsOffice . The Lolo and Flathead National Forests have closed several forest roads, areas, and campgrounds near the fire area for public safety. The list of current closures includes: Forest Road 906 (closed at Highway 83) Rainy Lake Campground access road 4357 (closed at Highway 83) Rainy Lake Campground Alva Lake Campground access road (closed by gate at Highway 83) Alva Lake Campground Lakeside Campground access road (closed by gate at Highway 83) Lakeside Campground Lake Inez Campground Forest Road 646 (closed at the junction of FSR 552; FSR 4354; Forest Road 552 (beyond the turn off to west side Lake Inez access Forest Road 5407 and 463 closed beyond the West Side snowmobile trailhead (these roads access the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Marshall Wildlife Management Area and Lake Marshall) Temporarily closing the Forest System Road loops of the Clearwater (FSR 4370 and 4353) and Richmond (FSR 667 and 720) UPDATE, JULY 30: Containment on the Colt Fire grew to 6% by Sunday morning. Fire growth was reported, however, the exact figure is unavailable. Moderate growth is expected Sunday with the fire moving through the heavy dead and down surface vegetation. The following are the planned actions for Sunday, according to the Northern Rockies Team 1 update: On the southeast corner of the fire personnel will continue firing operations and secure the line north of the West Fork of the Clearwater River and tie in with Forest Road 646 (Colt/Uhler Road). Crews will continue to hold and mop up along the eastern control lines along Forest Road 646. On the north side, crews will hold and secure the fire along Forest Road 4356 and look for opportunities for fire control line from Colt Lake to Beaver Lake. North and South Structure Protection will assist with burning operations and holding operations on the east and southeast sides of the fire. Structure Group remains ready to respond for structure protection as needed. A night shift of engines and personnel will patrol and monitor fire conditions. Helicopters and airplanes will be used to drop water and retardant on the fire as needed. The Missoula County Sheriffs Office has the following evacuations and closure orders in place: Residents on Beaver Creek Road (near the summit) are under an Evacuation Warning. Mile marker 31 (Beaver Creek Road at the intersection of Hwy 83) south towards Seeley Lake to mile marker 27, and including residences in Rovero Flats, are under an Evacuation Order. Residences beginning at mile marker 27, south end of Rovero Flats, to mile marker 25.5 (the intersection of the West Fork of the Clearwater Road and Hwy 83) are under an Evacuation Warning. Residences on the north and south ends of Lake Inez are under an Evacuation Warning. The east side of Lake Inez, along Hwy 83, is not under any Warning or Order. UPDATE, JULY 29: The Colt Fire is 5,475 acres large and 3% contained as of Saturday morning. Fire behavior is expected to be moderate with the active fire edge moving through the heavy dead and down surface vegetation. On Saturday, crews will hold and secure the eastern control lines along Forest Road 646 (Colt/Uhler Road) as well as on the north side of the fire where burning operations have taken place, according to the Northern Rockies Team 1. On the southeast corner, crews will continue burning operations and work on securing that area and tying in with Road 646. On the south side, crews will look for potential control features north of the West Fork of the Clearwater River. To the north, the Heavy Equipment Task Force will continue working on control line preparation along the Beaver Creek Road. South Structure Protection will conduct structure assessments and protection work at Lake Inez. A night shift of engines and personnel will patrol and monitor fire conditions. Helicopters and airplanes will be used to drop water and retardant on the fire as needed. The following evacuation and closures are in place by the Missoula County Sheriffs Office: Residents on Beaver Creek Road (near the summit) are under an Evacuation Warning. Mile marker 31 (Beaver Creek Road at the intersection of Hwy 83) south towards Seeley Lake to mile marker 27, and including residences in Rovero Flats, are under an Evacuation Order. Residences beginning at mile marker 27, south end of Rovero Flats, to mile marker 25.5 (the intersection of the West Fork of the Clearwater Road and Hwy 83) are under an Evacuation Warning. Residences on the north and south ends of Lake Inez are under an Evacuation Warning. The east side of Lake Inez, along Hwy 83, is not under any Warning or Order UPDATE, JULY 28: Pilots are being reminded of a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in the area of the Colt Fire. The closure is for firefighting aircraft to safely work the fire. In addition, the Condon air strip has been closed for general aviation as it is being used as a firefighting helicopter base. Overnight, the Colt Fire was estimated to have grown to 5,252 acres, according to an update from the Northern Rockies Team 1. Fire behavior Friday is expected to be low to moderate with the active fire edge moving through the heavy dead and down surface vegetation. Torching and spotting are possible in the subalpine fir and lodgepole pine. Fridays planned actions include: Crews will continue burning operations along Forest Road 646 (Colt/Uhler Road) to secure the north and east flanks of the fire. On the south side, crews will continue to secure the spot fires, construct direct hand line towards the west, and assess road systems for potential control features near the West Fork of the Clearwater River. A Heavy Equipment Task Force and crews will continue working on vegetation removal and control line preparation along the Beaver Creek Road on the north side of the fire. South Structure Protection will continue structure assessments and protection work at Lake Inez. A night shift of engines and personnel will patrol and monitor fire conditions. Helicopters will be used to drop water on the fire as needed and where they can be most effective The following are current evacuations and closures from the Missoula County Sheriffs Office: Residents on Beaver Creek Road (near the summit) are under an Evacuation Warning. Mile marker 31 (Beaver Creek Road at the intersection of Hwy 83) south towards Seeley Lake to mile marker 27, and including residences in Rovero Flats, are under an Evacuation Order. Residences beginning at mile marker 27, south end of Rovero Flats, to mile marker 25.5 (the intersection of the West Fork of the Clearwater Road and Hwy 83) are under an Evacuation Warning. Residences on the north and south ends of Lake Inez are under an Evacuation Warning. The east side of Lake Inez, along Hwy 83, is not under any Warning or Order. UPDATE, JULY 27 AT 9:56 AM: The Colt Fire has grown more than 500 acres since Tuesday, for a total of 4,937 acres burned. Fire containment is at 0% Thursday. An update from the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 1 says fire activity remained moderate on Wednesday even as temperatures started trending a few degrees warmer and relative humidity levels started dropping a few points lower. Temperatures in the area of the fire are expected to range from mid60s to high70s Thursday depending on the location of the fire, with relative humidity levels as low as 20%. Fire behavior is expected to be moderate. Crews will be doing the following planned actions Thursday, according to the update: Crews will continue to secure the spot fires on the east flank of the fire and continue to burn ground vegetation in select locations between the fires edge and Forest Road 646 (Colt/Uhler Road). On the south side, crews will work to hold fire spread by constructing direct hand line where appropriate and continue to assess road systems as potential control features near the West Fork of the Clearwater River. On the north side of the fire a Heavy Equipment Task Force and crews will continue working on vegetation removal and control line preparation along the Beaver Creek Road. The north and south Structure Protection Groups will conduct structure assessments, remove fuels, and install water handling equipment where needed. Helicopters will be used to drop water on the fire and have been very effective when needed. As fire suppression work continues, firefighter and public safety remain the number one priority. The following evacuations and closures are in place by the Missoula County Sheriffs Office: Residents on Beaver Creek Road (near the summit) are under an Evacuation Warning. Mile marker 31 (Beaver Creek Road at the intersection of Hwy 83) south towards Seeley Lake to mile marker 27, and including residences in Rovero Flats, are under an Evacuation Order. Residences beginning at mile marker 27, south end of Rovero Flats, to mile marker 25.5 (the intersection of the West Fork of the Clearwater Road and Hwy 83) are under an Evacuation Warning. Residences on the north and south ends of Lake Inez are under an Evacuation Warning. The east side of Lake Inez, along Hwy 83, is not under any Warning or Order. UPDATE, JULY 26 AT 9:55 AM: A dry cold front along with cooler temperatures and lighter winds provided for moderate fire activity in the area of the Colt Fire the last couple of days. An update on the size of the fire was not provided Wednesday morning as cloud cover prevented an overnight infrared mapping flight from gathering information. Fire behavior is expected to be moderate Wednesday as personnel continue working on securing spot fires on the east flank and begin to burn ground vegetation in select locations between the fires edge and Forest Road 646 (Colt/Uhler Road), an update from the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 1 said. At this time, the following forest roads, areas and campgrounds near the fire area have been closed: Forest Road 906 (closed at Highway 83) Rainy Lake Campground access road 4357 (closed at Highway 83) Rainy Lake Campground Alva Lake Campground access road (closed by gate at Highway 83) Alva Lake Campground Lakeside Campground access road (closed by gate at Highway 83) Lakeside Campground Lake Inez Campground Forest Road 646 (closed at the junction of FSR 552; FSR 4354; Forest Road 552 (beyond the turn off to west side Lake Inez access Forest Road 5407 and 463 closed beyond the West Side snowmobile trailhead (these roads access the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Marshall Wildlife Management Area and Lake Marshall) Temporarily closing the Forest System Road loops of the Clearwater (FSR 4370 and 4353) and Richmond (FSR 667 and 720) The Missoula County Sheriffs Office has issued the following evacuation warnings and orders: Residents on Beaver Creek Road (near the summit) are under an Evacuation Warning. Mile marker 31 (Beaver Creek Road at the intersection of Hwy 83) south towards Seeley Lake to mile marker 27, and including residences in Rovero Flats, are under an Evacuation Order. Residences beginning at mile marker 27, south end of Rovero Flats, to mile marker 25.5 (the intersection of the West Fork of the Clearwater Road and Hwy 83) are under an Evacuation Warning. Residences on the north and south ends of Lake Inez are under an Evacuation Warning. The east side of Lake Inez, along Hwy 83, is not under any Warning or Order. UPDATE: Tuesday, July 25 at 2:19 p.m. The Colt Fire is burning an 4,390 acres as of Tuesday and remains 0% contained. Fire personnel will be leading a public meeting Tuesday from 78 p.m. at the Seeley Lake Elementary School gym. The meeting will be streaming online via the Colt Fire Facebook page. UPDATE: Monday, July 24 at 11:08 a.m. The Colt Fire has nearly doubled in size Monday, now burning nearly 3,000 acres. According to Inciweb, the Colt Fire is 2,927 acres big and is still zeropercent contained as of Monday morningthe size of the fire grew by 1,352 acres within two days. The fire is lightningcaused. Sunday fire activity was moderate with faint winds and stable air in the area, according to Inciweb. More fire crews and equipment are responding to the fire. Crews resumed placing an indirect fire line along Forest Road 646, northeast area of the fire, by clearing out brush and ground vegetation. In the south, west and north areas, personnel were scoping out road systems for access and opportunities to build direct or indirect fire lines. The Structure Protection team were doing assessments and preparations for sturcture protection along Highway 83 and near the lakes south and east of the fire. Air crews were scooping water on areas of the fire. The National Weather Service put out a Red Flag warning in place from 2 p.m. to midnight Mondaypilots and public boaters on Seeley Lake and Lindbuergh Lake are asked to keep away from firefighter aircrafts when they are scooping water from lakes. Inciweb said crews finished clearing brush ground vegetation and improved access along Forest Road 646. Crews will be working on the north and south parts of the fire to open existing roads and start building fire lines in places with high chances of containing the fire. According to Inciweb, north side of the fire is demonstrating more difficulties for access the Structure Protection team is continuing structure assessments and preparations. Aircraft will keep scooping water depending on if the flying conditions are still safe. With the Red Flag warning in place, fire personnel will be assessing escape routes and safety zones with an increased awareness of fluctuating weather and fire activity. Weather conditions are forecasted with low humidity levels at 30 percent and strong winds of 20 milesperhour with 30 mileperhour wind gusts blowing over the fire area. The following evacuations are in place, according to Inciweb: Residents on Beaver Creek Road (near the summit) are under an Evacuation Warning. Mile marker 31 (Beaver Creek Road at the intersection of Hwy 83) south towards Seeley Lake to mile marker 27, and including residences in Rovero Flats, are under an Evacuation Order. Residences beginning at mile marker 27, south end of Rovero Flats, to mile marker 25.5 (the intersection of the West Fork of the Clearwater Road and Hwy 83) are under an Evacuation Warning. Residences on the north and south ends of Lake Inez are under an Evacuation Warning. The east side of Lake Inez, along Hwy 83, is not under any Warning or Order. The following closures are in place: Forest Road 906 (closed at Highway 83) Rainy Lake Campground access road 4357 (closed at Highway 83) Rainy Lake Campground Alva Lake Campground access road (closed by gate at Highway 83) Alva Lake Campground Lakeside Campground access road (closed by gate at Highway 83) Lakeside Campground Forest Road 646 (closed at the junction of FSR 552; FSR 4354; Forest Road 552 (beyond the turn off to west side Lake Inez access Forest Road 5507 and 463 closed beyond the West Side snowmobile trailhead (these roads access the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Marshall Wildlife Management Area and Lake Marshall) Temporarily closing the Forest System Road loops of the Clearwater (FSR 4370 and 4353) and Richmond (FSR 667 and 720) UPDATE: Monday, July 24 at 9:29 a.m. Smoke was moving through several valleys Sunday night and into Monday morning due to the Colt Fire burning northwest of Seeley Lake. Air quality is at unhealthy conditions from Lake Inez through Condon Monday morning. Missoula CityCounty Air Quality Specialist Sarah Coefield said in a release air quality in Seely Lake is overall moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups. The smoke drifted all the way down to the Potomac Valley where air quality is at unhealthy for sensitive groups, and reached the Mission Valley where air quality sits at unhealthy for sensitive groups. "Due to overhead smoke mixing down to the valley floors, air quality for those near the Colt Fire may get a bit worse this morning before it gets better," Coefield said in the release. However, Coefield said the air quality is expected to get better by Monday afternoon. "The high pressure ridge that caused our hot temperatures these last several days is breaking down and that will create a turbulent atmosphere, which means air will be more capable of moving up and down and shaking it all around. For the short term, this is good, because it means smoke should easily lift out of the valleys by this afternoon and folks should see decent air quality." But, Cofield said there will be heavy winds a significant portion of Monday afternoon and a lot of Tuesday. A red flag warning is in place over the Colt Fire, with winds picking up over the course of Monday from the south, southwest and west. Coefield said fire activity and a big column of smoke is expectedfast winds may be heading towards the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Smoke is expected to impact the Highway 83 corridor, and northwest breezes are expected to push smoke to Seeley and Salmon lakes. Southerly winds are likely to spread the fire north bringing more overnight smoke into the Swan Valley, Coefield said. In Missoula, Frenchtown, Lolo, air quality improving is based on how the weather affects the fires in Idaho. "One of the smoke models thinks the Little Bear Fire is going to get feisty and send smoke to Lolo. The Little Bear Fire has been slowly fiddling around in a previously burned over area, but based on heat detections, it has started picking up acreage. It may see enough wind and activity today to send smoke our way, so keep an eye out," Coefield said. The Little Bear Fire has been increasing acreage, and there may be enough wind to push smoke towards the Missoula area. Coefield said the general haze throughout Missoula County is due to fires burning in the region and is fluctuating air quality from good to moderate Monday morning; but, Coefield said the air quality should not be a huge worry by Monday afternoon. UPDATE, JULY 23: Another 500 acres have been burned by the Colt Fire overnight Saturday, making the fire a total of 1,575 acres in size. As of Sunday afternoon, containment on the fire is still at 0% and the fire is active on all sides. Brent Olsons Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1 assumed command of the fire Sunday morning and additional fire personnel and equipment have been arriving and are being integrated into fire operations. The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for Monday, July 24. The Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1 warns that hot, dry, and windy conditions may lead to critical fire weather conditions on existing or new fires. The Missoula County Sheriffs Office have issued the following evacuation warnings and evacuation orders: Residences on Beaver Creek Road (near the summit) are under an Evacuation Warning Mile marker 31 (Beaver Creek Road at the intersection of Hwy 83) south towards Seeley Lake to mile marker 27, and including residences in Rovero Flats, are under Evacuation Order Residences beginning at mile marker 27, south end of Rovero Flats, to mile marker 25.5 (the intersection of the West Fork of the Clearwater Road and Hwy 83) are under Evacuation Warning. USFS has issued emergency closures of Rainy Lake Campground and the main Lake Alva Campground and Lakeside at Alva Residences on the north and south ends of Lake Inez are under an Evacuation Warning. The east side of Lake Inez, along Hwy 83, is not under any Warning or Order The Red Cross shelter at the Ovando church is going on standby. If you are evacuated due to the Colt Fire and need shelter, you can call the Red Cross at (406) 2151514. The following are the planned actions for Sunday according to the Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1: Crews will work on clearing vegetation along the Colt and Beaver Creek Roads to improve fuel break areas. On the south and east areas of the fire, personnel and crews will be looking for direct and indirect opportunities to prepare containment lines and fuel breaks. Direct and indirect fire suppression tactics will be assessed and prepared to be implemented as fire conditions allow. Structure protection assessments and preparations will continue. As new crews arrive, they will be safely orientated to the fire area and begin working where safe to do so. Firefighter and public safety are the number one priority as this fire response transitions into longer duration suppression work. Air resources will be used as needed to slow fire spread and cool down areas of heat. UPDATE, JULY 22 AT 5:00 PM: An evacuation warning has been issued for residents on the east side of Lake Inez, specifically those residences on Beargrass Ln. and West Lake Way. Residents are being warned that due to the possibility of rapidly changing conditions, an evacuation order may be issued with no prior warning. The Missoula County Sheriffs Office is asking people to not stop along Highway 83 for the safety of firefighters and first responders. Missoula County 911 reports that the Red Cross shelter at the Ovando church is on standby due to lack of demand. If you are evacuated due to the Colt Fire and need shelter, you can call the Red Cross at (406) 2151514. UPDATE, JULY 22 AT 10:38 AM: Overnight, the Colt Fire has grown to about 1,000 acres as active fire behavior continues on all sides. Predicted burning conditions anticipate the fire to continue to grow, the Montana DNRC reported. Ground crews are continuing to perform structure protection northeast of the fire while aviation resources continue suppression efforts by cooling hotspots and slowing the fires rate of spread. An Evacuation Order is still in place for residents along Highway 83, between mile marker 27 and 31(Rainy Lake to Summit Lake). An evacuation warning has also been issued for residents along Highway 83, between mile marker 15.5 and 27. Those evacuated due to the fire can go to a Red Cross shelter that has been set up at the Blackfoot Community Bible Church in Ovando at 209 Birch St.. A Complex Incident Management Team will be inbriefed Saturday to assume command of the fire Sunday. Multiple aviation resources including four CL415 super scoopers,one very large air tanker, and multiple large air tankers. Fire managers are using all available tools to suppress the, for lives, homes, property. People are being reminded to not fly drones while crews are working on a fire after a drone incursion happened in the area Friday. It is a criminal misdemeanor in Montana to fly drones that interfere with fire suppression efforts, with a fine of up to $1,500 and the potential of being charged with firefighting costs. According to the Montana DNRC, the following are the planned actions for Saturday: Crews will continue working along Colt Road, clearing vegetation, and creating a stronger fuel break. Engine crews will continue structure assessment in the Summit Lake housing area. Incoming resources will start clearing vegetation along the Beaver Creek Rd. Aviation resources will continue suppression efforts by cooling hotspots and slowing the fires rate of spread. The Missoula CityCounty Health Department is donating air purifiers to daycare, nursing homes and community businesses as the fire season begins. UPDATE, JULY 21 AT 6:00 PM: Red Cross has been contacted and is working to secure a location for those evacuated by the Colt Fire, according to the Missoula County Sheriff's Office. If you have questions, you may contact them at 1800REDCROSS or, in Montana, at 4062151514. UPDATE, JULY 21 AT 3:45 PM: Residents along Highway 83, between mile marker 27 and mile marker 31 (Rainy Lake to Summit Lake) have been ordered to immediately leave the area. The Missoula County Sheriff's Office is reporting incident conditions present an immediate threat to people in the area. For evacuation information, you can call 2584636. UPDATE, JULY 21: An evacuation warning has been issued for residents along Highway 83, between mile marker 27 and mile marker 31 (Rainy Lake to Summit Lake) due to the Colt Fire. The Missoula County Sheriff's Office is warning the conditions can change quickly and that if fire activity increases, emergency personnel may not be able to make personal notifications. InciWeb is reporting the Colt Fire grew to about 200 acres Friday due to late afternoon fire conditions. Crews reengaged the fire Friday morning after having to back off due to the increased activity. A Complex Incident Management Team has been ordered to manage the fire and will be debriefed Saturday and take formal control of the fire Sunday. As of Friday afternoon, the fire is not contained and is active. SEELEY LAKE, Mont. - A 15 acre fire is burning in dense timber northwest of Seeley Lake. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation reports the Colt Fire was detected July 18 and is burning about 15 miles northwest of Seeley Lake. It was reportedly started by lightning. At this time, the fire is on land managed by the Lolo National Forest but under Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation fire protection and is currently 0% contained. Firefighters are working the perimeter of the fire with chainsaws to create a break in fuels (saw line)and finding success with aerial resources committed to the fire. No structures are threatened and no evacuations are in place, however, the public is being told to avoid the Beaver Lake and Colt Lake areas where crews are actively working. UPDATE 5 PM: Great Falls Fire Rescue (GFFR) released more information in relation to the National Laundry Fire on Monday night. After GFFR arrived on scene, firefighters noticed smoke coming from the roof of the building. Firefighters entered the building through a door on the East side of the building and were met with heavy smoke and no visibility. When entry was made into the building, firefighters encountered two males in the building who were National Laundry employees attempting to put the fire out. The employees had been notified of the alarm activation by the fire alarm monitoring company. Both employees were escorted out of the building and assessed by GFES, but both employees refused any further medical care on completion of the medical assessment. After firefighters reentered the building, they discovered the fire was being held in check by the building's sprinkler system. Even with the sprinkler system keeping the fire in check, firefighters did have a tough time getting the fire knocked down, but they were able to get it fully under control. The cause of the fire has been determined to be the spontaneous combustion of mop heads. There are numerous fires that have been documented as being caused by the spontaneous combustion of mop heads at laundry facilities, as noted in Spontaneous Ignition Fires in Laundries by Jim Everitt. Fire damage in National Laundry was limited by the presence of the fire sprinkler system. Without this system in place, the entire complex could have been lost. As of now, total damages to National Laundry have not been determined, and they are working to get the business reopened. GREAT FALLS, Mont. - A fire at a laundry company in Great Falls is under investigation Tuesday. Firefighters responded to National Laundry at 700 Crescent Circle at 11:05 p.m. Monday. Great Falls Fire Rescue (GFFR) said in a Facebook post there was smoke and fire when they arrived. Firefighters were able to quickly put out the fire, and another crew worked to ventilate the building. The degree of damage to National Laundry is unknown. GFFR said there is more information to come. At the end of June, the State Departments Defense Security Cooperation Agency gave the green light to the Royal Canadian Air Force to purchase up to $6 billion worth of P-8A Poseidon submarine-hunting aircraft, the U.S. Navys most sophisticated land-based maritime patrol plane. The announcement came just two days after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returned from a trip to Iceland to discuss common concerns about Arctic security. NATOs Nordic states including prospective new member Sweden voiced increasing worries not only about the Russian presence in the far north but the meaning of Chinas declaration that it considers itself a near Arctic nation with a regional interest. The United States, too, has long urged the Trudeau government to bolster its contributions to North American defense. Yet Ottawa may have waited too long. Not only is State Department approval just the first step in the bureaucratic process of procurement and Trudeau is under domestic pressure to purchase a similar-but-less-capable aircraft from Canadian maker Bombardier but the U.S. Navy, under increasing budget pressure, has for several years wanted to stop buying the P-8A. Thats bad news for other American allies, too; the British Royal Navy has acquired 9 P-8s and has expressed an interest in possibly acquiring six more. Terminating the program would also leave the U.S. Navy with fewer sub-hunters than it needs. The decision to cease buying Poseidons also ignores one of the most profound lessons of the Russo-Ukraine War: The Western defense industrial base is dangerously atrophied. Right now, there are 161 P-8s in service worldwide. In addition to the U.S., the UK, Australia, Norway, New Zealand, and India are operating the plane. The bulk of the 161 are flown by the US Navy, with Boeing having delivered 117 and a total of 128 on contract. In the spring of 2018, the Navy set a warfighting requirement for the P-8s of 138. So, the Navy is ten planes short of that requirement. Thats not great, but it could have been worse: the only reason the fleet was even close to what it should be is that, in the 2021 budget, Congress added 9 additional aircraft to the Navys acquisition program. The Pentagons intent was to stop procuring P-8s at 118a full 20 planes short of what the Navy stated it needed. This tightrope act has been repeated several times. For the past three years, the Defense Departments budget request had no new monies for closing the existing gap. But, thanks to the budget deal struck in the course of negotiations between the White House and Congress over the debt ceiling, this could well be the year where the safety net is removed. While the House Armed Services Committee has added two new P-8s in its markup of the 2024 Pentagon budget, the Senates version of the bill accepts the administrations decision to stop buying the plane. Of course, the final reckoning will come during the appropriations process, where Congress allocates actual dollars. However, to fail at the authorization stage would likely mean curtains for the program. Hence, the House needs to hold firm in conference to its addition of the two P8s. Ionically, and in contrast to so many other defense procurements, the Poseidons program has been a relative model of management and engineering efficiencybeing both delivered on time and under budget. Of course, it helps that Boeing has built more than 11,000 737 airframes, including the larger and more efficient 737-700, the platform for the P-8s electronics and weaponry. However, Boeings production lines have almost entirely pivoted to the 737-MAX family, a substantially different airframe. The Pentagon undoubtedly hopes that foreign sales of the P8s will keep the old production line at Boeing up and running until some magical time in the future when the Navy can get back to addressing the existing gap between the fleet size and the existing warfighting requirement. But, as noted, there is no sure foreign contracts actually on the books right now and procurement of Lot 12 of the P8s will be completed this year and, with the lots completion, it is the end of the line. There is no successor system in sight. The shortfall in the P-8A fleet is especially troubling given the sorry state of U.S. Navy submarine readiness. In recent weeks, Ronald ORourke, the dean of naval analysis for the Congressional Research Service, released his periodic assessment of the state of the fleet. He found that fully 37 percent of the Navys fleet of 50 attack submarines designated as SSNs were undergoing long-term maintenance or waiting to do so and thus idle and unable to go to sea. The unreadiness rate has roughly doubled over the past decade and has risen above 30 percent every year since 2018. Wrote ORourke: [T]he number of SSNs in depot maintenance or idle has substantially reduced the numberoperationally ready at any given moment, reducing theforces capacity for meeting day-to-day mission demands and potentially putting increased operational pressure on SSNs that are operationally ready. It naturally also places increased stress on the P-8A fleet to be operationally present. Anti-submarine warfare is a complex of systems from underwater sensors, satellites to surface combatants to patrol aircraft to attack submarines. Handicaps or shortcomings in any one element can degrade the overall system. And while the Congress added P-8s in the FY 20and FY 21 budgets, those will go to creating two naval reserve squadronsobviously useful in a contingency but less so to meet day-to-day requirements. Since its introduction to active service a decade ago, the P-8A fleet has been busyand increasingly so. The Navy keeps half of the planes on the East Coast, at Jacksonville, Florida, and the other half at Whidbey Island, Washington, just north of Seattle. As with Navy ships, these are homeports, not operational locations and the P-8s are deployed forward across both the Atlantic and Pacific. U.S. regional commanders have an almost insatiable appetite for the planes and, indeed, for intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance systems of all sorts which is already difficult to satisfy. In contrast with the P-3, the P-8As faster airspeed and longer range enable it to cover a wider area in a single mission. Nevertheless, the number of P-8A squadrons is less than half the size of the P-3 Cold War fleet, whileclimate change notwithstandingthe worlds contested seas and oceans have not shrunk. Arguably, the stated requirement of 138 P-8sa requirement set before Russias invasion of Ukraine and the uptick in Chinese maritime aggressiveness in the South China Sea and in the waters around Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippinesis too low to start with. Todays missions frequently take patrolling P-8s into contested airspace, such as Beijings claimed East China Sea Air Defense Zone or the skies over the Black Sea. There, they attract the attention of potentially hostile combat aircraft. Both Russian and Chinese fighters periodically buzz the planes in a menacing fashion, coming in some cases within a few feet. A Poseidon flying over the Black Sea in April 2022 was asked by Ukrainian armed forces to identify the cruiser Moskva, then the flagship of Russias Black Sea Fleet, and confirm its location. Shortly thereafter, two Ukrainian cruise missiles sank the ship. In sum, it is also almost certain that the true requirement for sub-hunting and maritime patrol aircraft is substantially understated by the Navy. To begin with, there is the rapidly rising challenge of the Chinese navy, both in the surface and sub-surface domains. According to the Pentagons most recently published review of Chinese military, Beijing has placed a high priority on modernizing its submarine fleet, to become not just a regional but a global power. This means transitioning from older diesel designs augmented by a handful of nuclear-powered attack and ballistic missile boats to quieter designs with more modern acoustic systems and weapons, relatively quiet diesel-powered (air-independent propulsion) submarines and a higher proportion of longer-range nuclear-powered boats. Having expanded its nuclear submarine construction capacity, The [Chinese navy] will likely maintain between 65 and 70 submarines through the 2020s, replacing older units with more capable units on a near[ly] one-to-one basis, concludes the report. Chinese surface warships are also increasingly active even in the South Atlantic and, closer to home, the Chinese coast guard is becoming equipped with more powerful vessels. And, if that were not enough to worry about, Chinese maritime militias routinely harass commercial shipping and fishing boats of other regional nations, including those of U.S. treaty allies. Russia, too, has taken care to maintain and modernize its submarine fleet of nearly 60 boats. In addition to traditional ballistic missile, diesel-electric and nuclear attack submarines, the Russians have built two massive mothership subs that carry one or two deep-sea submersibles that pose a threat to seabed communications cables or pipelines like Nordstream 2. Russia has also upgraded newer boats, including its quieter diesel sub, with Kalibr cruise missiles, long-range weapons used extensively in the war against Ukraine in strikes against cities and civilian targets. But perhaps most important, the number of potential maritime hotspots is increasing exponentially, as Canadian, and Nordic concerns about the Arctic and the war in the Black Sea indicate. For the United States, what was the Pacific theater has become the Indo-Pacific, emphasizing the criticality of Indian Ocean sea lanes and communications cables which hug the South Asian coastline to international commerce; perhaps not surprisingly, India wants to purchase as many as 24 P-8s. Add in, US Navy concerns over Russian attack submarines once again operating in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and keeping track of Iranian and North Korean submarines, and the menu for P-8A keeps expanding and not getting smaller. Its true enough that unmanned underwater and above ocean vehicles and platforms may well contribute substantially in the future to the anti-submarine warfare mission. But when and how much is still not known. Moreover, those platforms are no substitute for the command and control and the integration of sensor data that the P-8A can provide. Add in the Poseidons capacity to carry stealthy, longer-range air-to-surface cruise missiles, along with a variety of other modern counter-surface and anti-submarine munitions, and you have a stand-off, naval Swiss army knife that cant help but complicate an adversarys operational planning. In other words, the Navys myopic and budget-driven decision to terminate P-8A production is momentous, with geostrategic consequences far above and beyond the sea services immediate needs. Further, if there is a single lesson of defense industrial policy of the post-Cold-War years, it is that halting current procurements is either a false economy or a pretense of innovation; divesting to invest, as Pentagon propaganda has it, is still divestment, a net loss of both capacity and time. It is also a strong disincentive to defense companies to spend their own money to sustain research, factories, or work forces. The Congress seems about to make itself a party to this error; while the House Armed Services Committee authorized two P-8s in its version of the annual defense policy bill, it is anyones guess that such money will actually be appropriated, thanks to the caps on defense imposed by the recent debt-ceiling negotiations. And since the Senates version of the authorization act did not grant authority for additional P-8s, the candle is nearly snuffed out. As a practical matter, to keep the line open and supplies coming from subcontractors, Boeing needs to be building approximately one P-8A a month. If the Congress can squeeze out the funds for two more Poseidon planes, and Canada responds with an order that follows on rather than aiming at the end of the decade, its possible the line can be kept open. But the Navys game of acquisition chicken is one that others should refuse to play. Its a problem for U.S. maritime security and allies who, belatedly, have recognized the need to rebuild their anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities. Giselle Donnelly and Gary Schmitt are senior fellows at the American Enterprise Institute. The Navy is all in for DEI. At the Navy website if one clicks on who we are, one of the first things that shows up is diversity and equity. It must be important to show up so prominently. The Navy Diversity and Equity website page says: I AM A SAILOR. WE ARE A TEAM. THIS IS OUR NAVY. When Sailors feel included, respected and empowered, they will be more ready to win wars, deter aggression and maintain freedom of the seas. -ADM Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. The Navy offers no evidence to support the CNOs statement. It is not clear how the statement actually relates to diversity or equity. It does mention feeling included a form of inclusion but in a vague sort of way. In my 34 years in uniform, I dont recall at any time being asked my feelings. Must be a new thing. I doubt the Peoples Republic of China military leaders ask how their people are feeling? The Navy I served in stressed toughness, stamina, perseverance, physical fitness, strength, courage, honor, and commitment. My feelings were secondary and that was well understood by me and my shipmates. I have been literally eyeball to eyeball with the Soviets in the North Atlantic tracking a Yankee class submarine. Rest assured that former enemy had our full attention and our crew devoted no time to feelings. I have no doubt our current adversaries are just as potentially dangerous to our way of life as was the former Soviet Union. The Navy ought to focus on our real threats instead of touchy-feelie nonsense like sailors feelings. The Navy is a combat force whose job it is to break things and kill people when and where called upon to do so. Those whose personality or psyche demand constant attention to feelings probably ought to find something else to do. Lets look at diversity How diverse should the Navy be? It doesnt say. The fact is, the Navy is already about as diverse as any institution anywhere. The 2021 DOD report on demographics for Navy shows: American Indian/ Alaska Native Asian Black Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander Multiracial Unknown White Enlisted 2% 6% 19.4% 1.3% 6.7% 4.4% 60.3% Officer 1.1% 5.9% 7.9% 0.5% 5.1% 3.3% 76.2% USA (2020) [1] 1.1% 6 12.4% 0.2% 8.4% --- 61.2% DODs 2021 demographics shows the Navy has 114,100 enlisted personnel and 13,361 officers that identify as a minority. The Navy is already diverse. 37% of the Navy is from a measured racial demographic group leaving 63% that identify as white which matches the percent reported nationally in the 2020 Census. That is more diversity than the national average. An anomaly hidden from view is the Hispanic segment of the military. You will note that there is no category for Hispanic in the table above. Actually, 17.7% of the active DOD force is Hispanic but you would never know that from the figures above because it is not reported. The US census does not count Hispanics as a minority. Instead, they are considered a different ethnic group. According to Pew Research Center data published in 2021, 58% of Hispanics consider themselves to be white with the remainder identifying as some other color.[1] This unique accounting obfuscates the fact that the US military is even more diverse than appears to the naked eye when viewing DODs reports of racial groups. In fact, over 350,000 Hispanics serve in the military and add considerably to the diversity of the total force. Other than a slight underrepresentation of black officers, the Navy is at or exceeds the national demographic of racial diversity. This begs the question, what is all the fuss about diversity? The Navy is diverse! There is no need to become even more diverse than the Navy already is. Millions of dollars and precious time are being devoted to a problem that is outside of the Navys ability to control. Nay, you say. what about the shortfall in black officers? What about it? The Navy is devoting a lot of time and effort into trying to recruit blacks to join the Navy to become officers, but the gap remains. One must ask the question, Why? It is not because of discrimination because there are already thousands of black officers so there is obviously no barrier to blacks becoming officers. What is lacking is blacks who want to become naval officers. No amount of incentives or handwringing over a slight under-representation of blacks in the naval officer ranks is going to change a situation that obviously has other causes. Even the small shortfall is actually not the Navys fault as is brilliantly and eloquently analyzed and explained in detail by CDR Phil Keuhlen in Task Force One Navy Final Report: "The Emperor's New Clothes" Redux. According to government graduation data there are more than 200,000 black college graduates each year. The problem is that very few of these qualified people have an interest in serving in the Navy. We ought to be curious about why. It is not because of discrimination as DODs own internal reports document that fewer than 2% of the 3.4 million that serve in DOD consider racism to be a problem. Lets look at equity The Navy DEI webpage goes on to say Putting on a uniform doesnt mean sacrificing who you are. America's Navy values diversity, equality, and inclusivity striving to build a community of service members who accurately reflect the rich makeup of our country. Our belief is that with hard work and determination, anyone, from anywhere, has the power to be successful in the Navy. The Navy uses the word equity earlier twice and then in the next paragraph, the word equality is used. Which is it? These two things are not the same. Equity means equal outcomes regardless of merit. Equity is a term associated with social justice advocates who want equal outcomes for everyone regardless of merit. Is the Navy really advocating equal outcomes? How does that even work in a military organization with rigid technical requirements that dictate practices for safety reasons and for warfighting effectiveness? Military organizations are rigid, structured top-down organizations whose fixed chains of commands and methods demand uniformity, strict discipline, and consistency in order to function with any kind of efficiency. Adopting equity in a military chain of command is deadly and dangerous and will get people killed. Equality is equal opportunity based on merit, which is and has been the law of the land for a long time. Equality should be the Navys mantra, not equity. The Navys use of both terms may confuse those who visit their website? Is the Navy using both terms to conflate the two words into meaning the same thing in order to stimulate interest in the Navy? Lets look at inclusion What does that even mean? In one section putting on a uniform is the first thing said. The word uniform is telling! It absolutely proves the Navy strives for uniformitythats why you wear a uniform. Everything top to bottom in the Navy is about uniformity. Ships and aircraft are built to uniform specifications. The way things are done is based on time-tested uniform best practices. Individuality is not allowed because that leads to bad outcomes and people dying. Putting on the uniform is absolutely about giving up your individuality while that uniform is on. You absolutely must sacrifice who you are to join the Navy most of the time. On duty you must conform to the Navys uniform standards for dress, behavior, operational excellence and a thousand other things. When you are off duty, then you have time to be yourself. While on duty, you belong to the Navy, you are included by wearing a common uniform, the same one at the same time as everyone else does. When you get up in the morning, you look at the Plan of the Day and it tells you what the uniform of the day is. How inclusive is that? We are all exactly on the same page and the uniform reminds you every day that you are part of something bigger, something important. What does the use of the word inclusion imply? Are there some fields in the Navy that only white people have? Of course not. The Navys use of the word is purely political, and politics should have no place in the Navy. It is used to show that the Navy has gotten with the program and is using the same language as the larger society and as desired or even dictated by the political left. But, how does that make for a better Navy.using politically charged terminology? It doesnt! It has no place in the Navy and only serves to introduce doubt and dissension and make the Navy a less effective force. A cursory search reveals the popular origin of the use of the word in todays parlance. Where you find the term used is in colleges and universities where the political philosophies of the left are preached, including in Critical Theory, Critical Legal Theory, and Critical Race Theory. Conclusion There is no place in the Navy for the politics of DEI. The Navy is already diverse. The data is not in doubt. Equity has no place in the Navy. The Navys moral and practical foundation is a merit- based organization focused on being able to fight and win the nations wars at sea and projecting power ashore. Equity undermines merit. Dilution of merit in favor of equity will get people killed. Anyone telling you anything different is mistaken and should be ignored. Inclusion is a phantom and is word play from the political left. When you join the Navy, you are included by the very uniform you wear which is the same for everyone. The UCMJ guides your conduct and demands fair and equal treatment of all. The oath you swear to uphold has as its foundation the Constitution. Equal protection is guaranteed in the 14th Amendment and has been upheld by the Supreme Court many times including recently in the Harvard and UNC cases on college admissions. Nothing more is required. DEI adds nothing of value to our Navy. If just wastes resources and causes division within the ranks. Brent Ramsey is a retired Navy CAPT. He was a military advisor to Congressman Mark Meadows 2016-2020. He is the author of dozens of published articles on national defense. Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 56F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Now that grain markets have roared higher on spreading drought across much of the 18 important corn and soybean states, prices have become choppy on any idea we will get rain. Last week, both July and December corn futures actually lost a little over nine cents as late-week weather forecasts predicted good coverage of scattered rain over much of the Midwest. This followed a week when most areas got a little, but all of the farmers were worried. If we take a look back, we have seen September corn futures (we will switch our cash bean basis to September futures this week) trade a low of $4.92 1/4 on May 17 and a high of $46.24 3/4 June 21. That is a recent range of $1.32 1/2. In a similar time, the November soybeans (cash buyers are using September and November futures now for basis) went from a low of $11.30 1/2 May 31 to a high of $13.78 June 21, a range of $2.45 1/2. Given the recent prices, it would be easy to say they were too cheap a few weeks ago, but it remains to be seen if we are looking at a good price now. If timely rains continue, the party is over. If we get dry in some areas for a week at a time, we have room to move up. Ohio crops I had a long talk with a Knox County reader this morning, and I reminded him that even in the Big One in 1988, the party was over when it rained, if I remember the date right, on July 3. Normally, even in drought markets, we see the corn highs in June, and June is about over when you read this. The crop can get worse, but the market goes up on premature fear. That Knox County farmer said his corn was not knee-high yet, which is short for him. On the good farms in Northeast Ohio, it has been knee-high for a week, but it is not growing fast. I am told some soybeans have brown spots in the fields, and as far as I know, this is not from disease, but from poor emergence in powder conditions. The corn roots are still going down, looking for moisture. The beans are trying to live in the first inch or two. Progress report The crops we see are being fairly reflected in the U.S. Department of Agriculture crop progress report, out every Monday. We have seen declines in condition for several weeks. Two weeks ago, Ohio was one of the worst, but we escaped that dubious distinction this week. We actually have a combined rating of the good and excellent categories of 66%. I am surprised it is that high, actually. The nation as a whole is rated at just 50% good and excellent, down 5% from last week. Last year our rating was 67% at this time. Another reflection of conditions is that one prominent observer has cut his yield estimate another bushel, to 177 bpa. Remember, if we finish with that yield, we have a lot of acres, and we would still add to carryout. If you are scared to get on to the pricing wagon, remember, that in that 1988 year, we still ended up with something like 85% of the original estimated crop production. The 81 acres behind my mothers house tasseled overnight after that July 3 rain and managed to put out 50 or 60 bushels. These are some of the awful memories that I measure markets by, and this one will come out better than that, partly because our planting practices are better and partly because we are not as bad off now as we were with the weather then. Soybeans We always say that it is August weather that is most critical for soybeans, as they set pods and fill them, regardless of plant height sometimes. This may be why the USDA soybean crop ratings are still as good as the corn, even though we are seeing some poor stands and very short growth so far. Ohio came out today with ratings for soybeans of 61 good plus 5 excellent, for a 66% total. The nation as a whole is only at 51%, down three percent from last week. That compares to 65% last year at this time. Other factors There are other fundamental factors in the market to talk about. One interesting one is the idea that the Black Sea shipping agreement will not be renewed, as Russia thinks they are getting put at a disadvantage with it. They probably are, as the Ukrainians are determined to export by rail through Poland if they have to. Meanwhile, wheat prices were up June 27 on the Chicago Board, as a knee-jerk reaction to political problems in Russia over the weekend. The Wagner Group, a large, nasty mercenary army supposedly controlled by Russia and doing their dirty work without the benefit of Russian insignia on otherwise Russian uniforms, revolted as the leadership got into a shouting match with the regular Russian army and started to march on Moscow. Things have cooled off, but the temporary reaction to war news is always to increase the value of food grains until the truth is traded instead of the rumor. There are other minor items, such as an upturn in possible soybean sales to China. The most interesting news to me, and to the future production costs on the farm, is that, even though we saw crude dip below the magic $70 per barrel that the administration said they would use to refill the petroleum reserve, that reserve is now reported at 290 million barrels, the lowest since 1983. It has been emptied to moderate the rise in gasoline and diesel, and it is not being refilled yet. CF Fertilisers has announced it will permanently close its Co Durham ammonia plant, with the NFU calling the move 'concerning' at a time of global volatility. The decision by the fertiliser manufacturer comes after 10 months of the Billingham-based plant not being in operation. Last year, CF Fertilisers said it had to temporarily close the site as ammonia production was "uneconomical". But now the firm has confirmed it will permanently close the factory as producing ammonia "will not be cost-competitive for the long-term". Ammonia is a key raw material in the production of nitrogen fertiliser and its production is energy intensive. In 2021, British farmers used just over 3.5m tonnes of fertiliser products. Of this, 1.4m tonnes was ammonium nitrate, 213,000 tonnes was urea and 492,000 tonnes was UAN (urea ammonium nitrate). NFU deputy president, Tom Bradshaw said the decision was "a concerning one and exposes our fertiliser market further to global volatility". He urged the government to analyse the impact of the site's closure on the UK farming industry. "Availability of fertiliser is a crucial element of domestic food security and relying on importing ammonia from global markets exposes British fertiliser production to possible long-term risks. "Its important that government now look closely at how this shift to a reliance of imported ammonia could impact our domestic food production and highlights the need to maintain access to all nitrogen fertiliser products including urea. The companys proposal to permanently close the ammonia plant at its Billingham Complex could result in up to 38 redundancies at the site. A statement by CF Fertilisers said: CF Fertilisers has made this proposal due to its forecast that producing ammonia at Billingham will not be cost-competitive for the long-term compared to importing ammonia due primarily to projected high natural gas prices in the UK relative to other regions and the impact of carbon costs. "The company believes that ample global availability of ammonia for import... will enable more cost-competitive and efficient production and sales of ammonium nitrate fertiliser and nitric acid for its UK agriculture and chemicals customers moving forward." The CLA has pledged to help ex-personnel secure long-term jobs in the rural economy after becoming the first rural group to sign the Armed Forces Covenant. The CLA, which represents thousands of rural businesses in England and Wales, said the move would offer "potential opportunities" for former service personnel "in all parts of the English and Welsh countryside". The covenant is a promise to show support to those who have served in the armed forces and help ensure they will be treated with fairness and respect in society. As part of it, landowners and farmers who are members of the CLA will be encouraged to employ veterans of the armed forces. The CLA is now one of more than 10,000 signatories of the Covenant in the UK. It comes as many rural businesses are facing a challenge in recruitment in a wide range of roles owing to a shortage of domestic labour and restrictions around overseas workers. CLAs director general, Sarah Hendry CBE: Many of our members have a special bond with the armed forces, are former armed forces personnel, and many already employ military veterans. "I am proud not only to support the principles of the covenant, but of the opportunity to make a difference by creating openings in the dynamic rural business community which needs talented, versatile, committed and dependable employees. Former CLA President and army officer Ross Murray, who manages a diversified rural business in Monmouthshire, said the rural environment was often a second-home to them. He said: Servicemen and women share high values, a wide capability range and the perfect blend of an ability to work in a team and also independently." Another pledge as part of the Covenant is to share information to facilitate rural businesses to increase work with the military community. It also looks at linking-up national and regional frameworks that currently support military veterans to improve the physical and mental well-being of veterans when they leave the forces for a new life. Brigadier Nick Thomas welcomed the move: Former military personnel come with discipline, commitment and a wide range of transferable skills. They are structured, devoted to working independently within successful teams. "A special competence is their unique capacity to size-up the health and safety implications of what they do, and also to understand and mitigate the impact of their work on the environment. A new on-farm project designed to reverse the decline in the population of one of Scottish farmlands most loved birds is reporting significant early progress. Led by SAC Consulting, part of Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), the group behind the campaign includes farmers, who have come together to boost the population of lapwings. Population figures for the birds had plummeted across Scotland in recent years, despite being the focus of agri-environmental schemes. Farmland is critical for the birds future as they nest in a variety of rural habitats including wetlands, grasslands and crops. SAC Consultings senior consultant, Jennifer Struthers said: As the birds' nest on the ground, they can be prone to predation, disturbance from curious livestock and agricultural operations. "The result is they typically experience very low breeding success. However, a glimmer of hope has emerged through a nesting management trial which has been led by the Clyde Valley Wader Group (CVWG) with funding from NatureScot. Lapwings had very high levels of hatching success in the plots which were specifically introduced onto the farms to help them. About 75% of nests hatched across five trial fields, compared to typically 20% or less in grazed pasture. Kenny Johnstone from Boghouse and Eastertown farms at Crawfordjohn has been heavily involved in the project from the beginning. He said: The Clyde Valley Wader Group has given stakeholders a much more productive, reactive, honest and enjoyable environment to work together in the best interests of wader birds. Having seen the success of a local brassica plot in the area for lapwings, we were happy to try a brassica crop on an 18-acre field at Eastertown farm which we hoped would also benefit our farming business. We have been able as a group with funding to be flexible with grazing and ploughing to encourage as much nesting and hatching success as possible and are delighted the results are looking good." RSPB Scotlands senior conservation advisor, Dan Brown said the campaign had followed 600 nests in the last few years. "Using trail cameras and tiny devices that record nest temperatures, weve massively improved our understanding of where and why nests did well, and where they dont," he said. This new data, combined with regular meetings and discussions with the farmers involved and the SAC Consulting team, allowed us all to discuss key issues and start developing trials." Patrick Laurie, a Galloway farmer who is part of the national Working for Waders forum, said the campaign was a significant piece of work. Crucially, it has been designed by farmers to work alongside existing businesses, and it shows that while farmers are often blamed for the decline of biodiversity on farmland, the truth is that they are part of the solution. "The farmers involved in the Clyde Valley Wader Group have put a huge amount of time and resources into this project, and their determination to make it work has been hugely encouraging. The next step for the campaign group will be to expand the trial onto a greater number of farms to further refine the management. A survey of young farmers undertaken by Scottish agricultural charity RSABI has highlighted many of the factors which affect mental health. A total of 114 young people in agriculture aged from 16 to 30 took part in the survey, showing that the biggest challenge affecting their mental health were long work hours (30%). Other challenges were a reluctance to talk about feelings (18%), isolated location (16%), the cost of going out (15%) and shyness (11%). A further 6% were unsure how to meet people. The importance of meeting up with others at events and shows shone through clearly, with 98% of respondents rating attending the Royal Highland Show as important for their mental health. RSABI provides support to people of all ages in Scottish agriculture, with demand for the service trebling during the past year. However only 36% of young farmers surveyed were aware that the charity offers free counselling. The young farmers who took part in the survey were also asked if they felt they would know how to support someone close to them who was struggling with their mental health. While 68% of young farmers said they felt they would know how to support a friend, neighbour or relative struggling with their mental health, around 32% would simply not know how to respond. Carol McLaren, chief executive of RSABI, said: Having the RSABI stand located at the SAYFC centre at this years Royal Highland Show created the ideal opportunity to survey young farmers. "The fact we were sharing our location with Andy and Lynda Eadon, who lost their son Len to suicide last year, also highlighted the need to focus on better understand young farmers mental health. We know that social anxiety among young people, aggravated by lockdown during Covid, is a major issue that young farmers and indeed many older people in the farming community, are now struggling with." Ms McLaren added: We are encouraging people not to hesitate to reach out to RSABI but everyone in the agricultural community can play an important part in encouraging positive mental health by actively looking out for people who might be at risk of feeling lonely or low. "Just contacting someone or other small acts of kindness can make a huge difference and could even save a life, although you may never know it. The existence of UFOs is an "open secret" in the US military. US military men know about the existence of UFOs A trio of high-ranking Air Force and intelligence veterans are set to discuss their knowledge of the flying objects under oath in a landmark US Congress hearing on Wednesday (26.07.23). Lieutenant Ryan Graves, a former pilot with more than a decade of service in the US Navy, is to testify that his squadron regularly noticed unidentified craft when they were stationed off the coast of Virginia in 2014. Congress will also hear testimony from intelligence agency veteran David Grusch who made extraordinary claims about an illegal UFO crash retrieval programme last month. Republican politician Tim Burchett, who is part of the UFO committee, said: "The Pentagon and Washington bureaucrats have kept this information hidden for decades, and we're finally going to shed some light on it. "We're bringing in credible witnesses who can provide public testimony because the American people deserve the truth. We're done with the cover-ups." A 72-year-old drug dealer has been jailed over the death of Michael K. Williams. Michael K. Williams died in September 2021 The Wire actor died from an accidental overdose in September 2021 and now Carlos Macci has been jailed for 30 months and will then undergo three years of supervised release, with the first year as an inpatient in a drug treatment facility after pleading guilty to charges including distributing narcotics and conspiring to possess. He told the judge: I would like to say, your honour, Im sorry for what has happened. Earlier this month, The Wire creator David Simon urged the judge in Manhattan to show some leniency towards Macci, insisting no possible good could come from sending the man to jail. He wrote in a letter for the New York Times newspaper: What happened to Mike is a grievous tragedy. But I know that Michael would look upon the undone and desolate life of Mr. Macci and know two things with certainty: First, that it was Michael who bears the fuller responsibility for what happened. No possible good can come from incarcerating a 71-year-old soul, largely illiterate, who has himself struggled with a lifetime of addiction. And the Boardwalk Empire actors nephew Dominic Dupont who found Michaels lifeless body in his Brooklyn apartment - also admitted he was concerned about the possibility of the drug dealer going to prison. He said during the sentencing: It weighs heavy on me to see someone be in a situation hes in. I understand what it is to be system impacted. The Lovecraft Country actors death was previously ruled as being due to acute intoxication by the combined effects of fentanyl, p-fluoro-fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. Dominic previously discussed finding his uncles body after calling to see him when he grew concerned he hadnt had contact from Michael for some time. He told Red Table Talk: "I was shopping with my wife... "We made the decision to go to his house and I went upstairs, opened up his door, and it was quiet Michael always played music that wasn't the case." Dominic walked into Michael's apartment and called his name but didn't get an answer. He recalled: I went upstairs, opened up his door, it was quiet. Michael always played music. That wasnt the case. I stuck my head in and said, Uncle Mike, are you in here? And I observed him deceased. I immediately called 911 and they said, Listen, do you want to start some compressions? And I said, Im telling you hes deceased. Hes gone. Hes cold." Kevin Spacey wept in court as he was cleared of all charges at the conclusion of his sex assault trial in London. Kevin Spacey cried in court as he was cleared of sex assault charges A jury at Southwark Crown Court found the Hollywood actor not guilty on all nine counts of sexual offences and the 'House Of Cards' star was seen crying as he stood in the dock listening to the jury forewoman read out the verdicts. Spacey was seen hugging his manager and members of his legal team and thanking court staff as the trial reached its end on Wednesday (26.07.23). He was cleared of seven charges of sexual assault, one charge of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and one charge of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity. Spacey had initially been facing 12 charges - which he denied - but the others were struck out. He previously told the court he had "lost everything" due to the allegations against him. During his testimony last week, he told the court: "There was a rush to judgment and before the first question was asked or answered I lost my job, I lost my reputation, I lost everything in a matter of days." The actor went on to claim that he had been left mostly without work as a result of the legal battle and still "owes money" in legal fees. He also seemed to apologise to gay men for coming out at the time the allegations emerged but hadn't understood the controversy of announcing his sexuality amid a scandal. He said: "With a few exceptions over the last five, six years, I have not been able to work. Ive had no money coming in and Ive had a lot of legal bills and things to fight against, and I havent paid it all off so I still owe money. Members of the LGTBQ+ community were upset because I came out while I was responding to an accusation now I understand why it was read that way, but I hadnt put those two things together." During the trial, Spacey was accused of performing a sex act on an alleged victim while he slept but claimed in court that the complaints made "no logical sense" and instead claimed that they had a "consensual" evening together. He told the court: "I remember the end of the evening and that was what struck me in my mind because we had a consensual and, I believe, a very nice and lovely evening If he regretted it immediately I dont know, I cant speak for him, but something was weird it was strange. "I dont remember [if we had any physical contact] but I know the way I am with someone and I would never be behaving in the way he claimed it makes no logical sense. I think we were very comfortable with each other." Another alleged victim had told the court about an incident in the late 2000s, claiming that Spacey had taken "things further" and drugged him but the 'American Beauty' star claimed that while they had had a sexual encounter, things went "weird" shortly afterward and the man "hurriedly left" the scene. He said: "We had had a sexual encounter after which I had gone to the bathroom and I came back from the bathroom and it was like something had changed. The person that I had this intimate moment with was suddenly awkward and fumbling and I dont want to say ran out but hurriedly left. And it felt very odd. "I felt like maybe he was making an excuse and it concerned me and my memory is that I called this person to make sure they were OK and they were OK." Kevin was also accused of grabbing a man's crotch like a cobra after a barrage of vile comments when the pair worked at a West End theatre in the mid-2000s, but dismissed the accusations as "madness" and claimed to not even recognise a photograph of the alleged victim. He said: "Its madness! It never happened. I never said any of the things that he claims I said to him and wouldnt and never have to anyone in my life." Earlier in his testimony, Spacey alleged that he had a "very fun time" with them but had "respected" that they did not want to go any further and admitted that he had touched them, insisting that it was not in a "violent" manner. He said: "Im a big flirt. He made it clear that he did not want to go any further and that happens at times, and you just respect how far someone wants to go. I cant remember specific conversations we had but I remember the tone, I remember the atmosphere, I remember the laughter. We had a very fun time together. [I touched him] but it did not happen in a violent aggressive way." Israel and Vietnam yesterday signed a free trade agreement in Tel Aviv. The Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA) will ultimately remove duties on at least 86 per cent of Vietnamese products and 93 per cent of Israeli products, according to the Vietnamese ministry of industry and trade. It is expected to see two-way trade reaching $3 billion soon. Israeli minister of economy and industry Nir Barkat and Vietnamese minister of industry and trade Nguyen Hong Dien signed the agreement in the presence of Vietnamese deputy prime minister Tran Luu Quang and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel and Vietnam have signed a free trade agreement that will remove duties on at least 86 per cent of Vietnamese products and 93 per cent of Israeli items. The FTA is likely to see two-way trade reaching $3 billion and create a conducive atmosphere for Vietnam to promote exports to other markets in the Middle East and North Africa and southern Europe. Negotiations for the FTA started seven years ago. Israel is the first country in West Asia with which Vietnam has signed an FTA and Vietnam is also the first country in Southeast Asia that Israel has signed an FTA with, a news agency reported. The agreement comprises 15 chapters and several appendices about trade in goods, services, investment, rules of origin, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, customs, trade remedies, government procurement, and legal and institutional framework. The FTA is also expected to create a conducive atmosphere for Vietnam to promote exports to other markets in the Middle East and North Africa and southern Europe. Israeli goods and technology will also get scope to reach markets in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) What can you tell us about Malegaon? Adarsh Gourav got a breakout role in The White Tiger. He carved his way out of obscurity in the critically acclaimed Ramin Bahrani directorial alongside Priyanka Chopra and Rajkummar Rao. Piggybacking on the films success, Gourav went on to star in the popular sci-fi show, Extrapolations, which boasted of a star cast comprising Meryl Streep, Sienna Miller, Kit Harington, Matthew Rhys, David Schwimmer and Forest Whitaker. The BAFTA-nominated actor is set to star in the Bollywood film Kho Gaye Hum Kahan with Ananya Panday and Siddhant Chaturvedi. Fame and global stardom doesnt rock his world. Its the process of becoming his character which excites him. His voice is filled with wonder as he describes his process of getting into the skin of a character. Excerpts from a heart-to-heart interview with the talented actor who is making waves both in India and abroad.Its the sci-fi aspects of it and the discussions around climate change. The story of my episode is told through two individuals who have never met each other, both criminals. How they come together for this journey, which changes their outlook on life permanently from the crux of the episode. For me, it was a compelling story of two strangers on a journey, one of whom is an eternal optimist and the other is an eternal pessimist. What ensues is life-changing for both of them.Back then, I wasnt aware of the other cast members, not that it matters. But its a bonus when you find out that theres Meryl Streep, David Schwimmer, Tobey Maguire, and Edward Norton. But for me, it was more about the story and Ritchie Mehta directing it.Diversity will always be dependent on consumption patterns. All the studios, channels and platforms have recognised India as a big market. Not just India but all of the Asia Pacific and Africa as well. Being diverse at the moment is necessary because people from all over the world consume the content thats being made. So when you cast more diverse faces and the more diverse your writing is, the characters become more palatable for people who are watching. Ten years ago, an actor like me from India did not have these opportunities. I recently heard Ishaan Khatter was doing a project with Nicole Kidman. Its amazing that all of us from this generation are getting these opportunities and making the most of them. I think the need of the hour is to have more writers from the subcontinent who are more involved in the writing and creating process for these shows. Thats when our characters will start getting more diverse.For me, storytelling doesnt necessarily have to be set in the truth, which is why you always have that warning before you watch something that all characters are fictitious. What I feel about India and as an Indian is a completely different thing.The reason Gaurav is so angry and talks very curtly is because he has shut himself out of the world. He doesnt believe in anything anymore. That loss of belief comes from a deep sense of personal loss. In a conversation that Gaurav has with Neel, where hes asked what his family does and why he wasnt in the war, he says, Im agro-exempt, and my whole family committed suicide. Thats when you realise who his man is and where hes coming from. For me, I really wanted to understand that sense of loss where theres nothing to look forward to in life anymore. I wanted to meet farmers and widows to prepare for this role. They are so cut off from the world, living in these tiny pockets where all they care about is survival and where the next plate of food is going to come for them and their children. I will never truly understand them. For me, it was just a project where I went for a day or two and spoke to them. Sometimes it feels selfish because you remind them of the pain that theyve gone through. But the older I grow, the more I realise that I need to give back to society. Doing things like this makes me more aware of my surroundings and more sensitive towards people.Its like any other process. If an author is writing a book, he will need to know what hes writing about. I feel its my quest for the truth that takes me to these places. Sometimes its like Im more interested in this than in shooting. When Im trying to find out about the person that Ill be playing, theres nothing there to contain me. I feel free and liberated.Emotionally, it does get heavy. But I feel that any form of art that you deeply love will be emotionally heavy. Its not possible to detach yourself from what you do. For those weeks and months, Gauravs problems became my problems, and his insecurities became my insecurities. Things that made him happy made me happy. Some things stick with you and then you move on to the next and become another person. That keeps happening.What has changed is access. Its gotten easier for me to work with the writers and directors I want. Now I can tell them, My name is Adarsh, and theyll say, Hello, Adarsh. Weve seen you in The White Tiger. So that has changed. I want access to every person I admire and look up to across the world. That is something that will be meaningful to me.Theres Guns & Gulaabs directed by Raj and DK which is a pulpy show about the opium trade where I play a flamboyant character. Theres Kho Gaye Hum Kahan backed by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti. Its contemporary and modern. Currently, Im shooting for Malegaon where Im a director who wants to make films without having any budgets. That is what fuels me. I want to do things that take me to unexpected places.Both Ananya and Siddhant are fantastic human beings and amazing actors. I was so grateful because they are such giving people. You know a lot about a person by the way they treat people around them and both of them are wonderful. Ananya is extremely observant and sharp. She knows everything thats happening in a room. Actors sometimes forget to listen because were so interested in talking about things and ourselves. Ananya is the opposite. Shes a great observer and listener. Siddhant is like a volcano of talent. Every time I meet him, he tells me about something new that he has done. Hes got an incredibly creative soul.Working with Raj and DK is so much fun. They work back-to-back. I have never seen them take a single days break since the time I gave my audition for Guns & Gulaabs. That was one and a half years ago. But when you meet them, you never see them jaded or worn out. Im just in awe because I see burnt-out people all around me, including myself. But to have vigour and excitement for everything makes me wonder, How are they doing it? Working with them was precious. For all the stories they tell, once you go on set, its such a light atmosphere. You never hear them raise their voice, theyre constantly joking and having fun.Malegaon is my second collaboration with Tiger Baby after Kho Gaye Hum Kahan. The story is about a bunch of people from a small town where everyone is obsessed with the idea of cinema but kisi ke paas paise nahi hai. So how do these people end up making a film? Its not easy to release a film and make sure its a hit while competing with films from Bollywood. Films from all industries release there in theatres, so how do you make a production where the makers and cast are from Malegaon with a limited budget? Its fascinating, so I instantly gravitated towards the story.I want to be available for everything and everywhere. I truly feel like I want to be a citizen of the world. If theres a film being made in Zimbabwe and they have a potential character who is Indian, If the director imagines me and doesnt mind casting someone from Mumbai, I want to be there. Everything about a story is personal. If it takes me to different countries with all these beautiful directors and writers, it cant get any better than that. So yes, I do want to be a global star. Javed Akhtar Extortion Case: In a major development, a Mumbai court has dismissed the extortion charges against Javed Akhtar in the case involving actress Kangana Ranaut and actor Hrithik Roshan. The legal trouble dates back to 2016 when Akhtar had invited Kangana and her sister Rangoli Chandel to his house. During a television interview in 2020, Kangana Ranaut, however, made allegations against Akhtar and claimed that he had threatened her for speaking out about the issue. She had accused Akhtar of pressuring her to apologize to Hrithik Roshan and also mentioned that he warned her of dire consequences if she didn't comply. Subsequently, she filed extortion charges against the lyricist. COURT'S RULING IN FAVOUR OF JAVED AKHTAR However, the recent court ruling stated that asking for a written apology does not constitute "valuable security". A magistrate was quoted as saying by India Today, "Asking a person to give a written apology will not come under the definition of valuable security....because no legal right is created, extended, transferred, restricted, extinguished or released." Kangana's plea alleged that "the accused, with a malafide intention and ulterior motive, called her and her sister Rangoli Chandel at his house in Juhu in the month of March 2016 and criminally intimidated and threatened the complainant (Kangana Ranaut) as well as forced her to tender a written apology to the co-star thereby forcefully seeking to create a document (valuable security) in favour of her co-star." Prior to this, Javed Akhtar had filed a defamation lawsuit against Kangana Ranaut in response to her claims made during a 2020 interview after the tragic demise of Sushant Singh Rajput. ALLEGATIONS AGAINST JAVED AKHTAR BY KANGANA RANAUT IN HER 2020 INTERVIEW Kangana Ranaut in her 2020 interview was quoted as saying, "Once Javed Akhtar called me to his house and told me Rakesh Roshan (father of Hrithik Roshan) and his family are very big people. If you don't apologize to them, you will have nowhere to go. They will put you in jail, and eventually, the only path would be that of destruction... you will commit suicide. These were his words. He shouted and yelled at me. I was shaking in his house." Narayana Murthy's Remark On Kareena Kapoor Garners Reaction: An old video of Infosys founder, Narayana Murthy, critiquing Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor's behavior with fans on a flight resurfaced, and it caused a stir on social media. The video from IIT Kanpur's interaction earlier this year, shows Murthy expressing his disappointment over Kareena's response to her fans and admirers. In the video, Narayana Murthy recounts an incident where he was seated next to Kareena Kapoor on a flight from London. He said that he saw numerous fans approaching the actress to greet her, but she did not acknowledge their greetings. This left the tech mogul disappointed! Here's What Narayana Murthy Said About Kareena Kapoor Khan Narayana Murthy said in the old video, "The other day I was coming from London, and next to me was Kareena Kapoor, sitting in her seat. So many people came to her and said hello. She didn't even bother to react. I was a little bit surprised. Whoever came to me, I stood up, and we discussed for a minute or half a minute - that's all they were expecting." However, Sudha Murthy, the Infosys Foundation chairperson, defended Kareena and said, "She has a million admirers. She must have been tired... Murthy, a founder, a software person, will have maybe 10,000 (fans), but a film actor will get a million." Narayana Murthy then added, "That is not the issue. The issue is that when somebody shows affection, you can also show it back, in however cryptic manner you can. I think that is very important. These are all ways to reduce your ego, that's all." Netizens React To Narayana Murthy's Video Praising Murthy a user wrote, "Just proves that education and upbringing and family background play a major role." Another commented, "That's why nobody will even remember who Kareena is just after her glamour is gone. On the other hand, people are and people will remember you even after hundred years from now." A third user recalled her horrific experience of meeting the actor and wrote, "She used to be my favourite actress until 10 years ago. We were on the same flight. All I said was 'hello' all excitedly, and she called the crew and made it look like I was harassing her. I had not even asked for a picture. I have never felt so humiliated. I have never seen anyone turn ugly that fast in my head." Gautam Rode & Pankhuri Awasthy Blessed With Twins Photo Credit: Knotting Bells Renowned television couple Gautam Rode and Pankhuri Awasthy have all the reasons to be on cloud nine. After all, they are the new parents in the town. Gautam and Pankhuri, who have been married for over five years, have been blessed with twins on July 25, 2023. For the uninitiated, Gautam and Pankhuri announced the pregnancy in April this year in the most adorable manner with a glimpse of their love story. Ever since then, the mom to be has been sharing beautiful glimpses of her pregnancy journey as she enjoyed every bit of her maternity period. Gautam Rode & Pankhuri Awasthy Announce Pregnancy With An Adorable Video; Mom To Be Gauahar Khan Reacts And while Gautam and Pankhuri have been eagerly waiting to hold their little wonders in their arms, the day is finally here and they have welcomed a baby boy and a baby girl. While the new parents can't keep calm about the arrival of their babies, the Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai actress took to social media to share the news with her fans and penned a sweet note. Pankhuri shared a post which read as, "Twice Blessed. We have been blessed with a baby boy & a baby girl. Arrived July 25, 2023. Hearts brimming with joy and gratitude. We joyously announce the start of our journey as a family of four! Thankful for all the love & blessings. Gautam & Pankhuri". The post was captioned as, "As we embrace this new chapter as a family of four, we are filled with heartfelt gratitude for the love and blessings showered upon us". Soon after the couple made the announcement, they were inundated with best wishes from celebs like Devoleena Bhattacharjee, Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya, Bharti Singh, Mohsin Khan, Aamir Ali, Hiba Nawab etc. Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai Actress CONFIRMS Expecting TWINS With Actor-Hubby, Says 'We Didn't Share...' Earlier, Earlier, Pankhuri had revealed how she had been manifesting to have twins. "I used to often tell Gautam how it would be great to have twins... we don't have to get pregnant again and in one pregnancy, you get two babies. So, when the doctor informed, I was extremely happy and felt blessed. Gautam, who was sitting behind me, looking at the monitor, was spellbound and had no words," she was quoted saying to the Time of India. Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai Update: After a stint of around eight months in Harshad Chopda and Pranali Rathod starrer YRKKH, TV star Jay Soni is finally set to say goodbye to his popular character of Abhinav. He entered Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai at the beginning of this year after the leap and has been winning hearts with his performance since then. Main Villain Is Manjiri...: Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai Fans REACT As Makers Confirms Jay Soni Aka Abhinav's EXIT Recently, the show's producer Rajan Shahi confirmed Jay Soni's exit from the long-running family drama and praised him for playing a pivotal part in it. Not just that, he even hinted that the reunion of Abhimanyu and Akshara are on the cards now. JAY SONI ON ABHINAV EXIT FROM YEH RISHTA KYA KEHLATA HAI Amid all this, Jay Soni has finally opened up about his exit from Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. Talking to ETimes, the actor stated that he feels it's the right time to move on from the character of Abhinav. Already Saved...: Mohit Malik's Fans REACT As Baatein Kuch Ankahee Si Launch Date & Time Slot Get Revealed He said, "When I was offered the show, I had not thought much, just went ahead because of the production house and the fact that it was a long-running show. But, as I approached the character I figured that it was not an easy task. It took me some time to establish my character amongst all the other characters who had already established themselves in the show. I was this simple guy-next-door in the show and I am glad that my work and character found so much love with viewers. Yesterday, soon after the exit was announced, I got many messages from people expressing shock and sadness. But, I feel it is time now to move on." JAY SONI IS GLAD THAT ABHINAV DIDN'T TURN NEGATIVE IN YRKKH REUNION! Sumbul Touqeer Khan's Imlie Co-Star To Play Her FATHER In New Show Kavya; DEETS Out Jay Soni also opened up about the response he got for his performance as Abhinav and revealed that he's glad the character didn't turn negative. "The fact that viewers still saw scope in my character and felt that there is more to be explored around it, is a compliment and I would not have want to leave the show when it was over time. Also, it was good that my character was not turned negative or a psychopath," he added. Well, his fans are surely going to miss seein Jay Soni as Abhinav. Keep watching this space for more updates! Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 25, 2023) - NuGen Medical Devices Inc. (TSXV: NGMD) (the "Company" or "NuGen") is pleased to announce it has entered into a distribution agreement for its needle-free InsuJet medical device and consumables with Sol-Millennium Medical Inc. ("Sol-M") of Chicago, Illinois USA, for a term of five years which NuGen estimates the value at approximately $204 million dollars with estimated gross margins of 72%. Sol-M is now the preferred distributor of InsuJet in Canada, Brazil, France and Spain where Sol-M has an extensive existing business footprint in the safety syringe and the diabetic supply business and where InsuJet is approved for sale as a medical device. Sol-M will be required to fulfill minimum yearly purchases to maintain its five-year distribution rights which NuGen estimates to be approximately $132 million dollars. "Today's announcement of our $204 million, 5-year distribution agreement with Sol-M at 72% gross margins represents the beginning of the global rollout of our B2B business. InsuJet is approved for sale as a medical device in 42 countries and our agreement with Sol-M represents only 4 countries where we are approved for sale as a medical device," commented Richard Buzbuzian, CEO. "This agreement offers investors great leverage to the diabetic healthcare space. With anticipation, we look forward to reporting to shareholders additional wins in Q3." Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA, Sol-M are global leaders in the diabetic industry with five offices around the world. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, we sold over 2 billion safety syringes annually, so it is fair to say we know our market well. At Sol-M, we believe InsuJet is a game changer for how insulin soon will be administered by diabetics around the world," commented Liang Lin CEO at Sol-M. "Needle or no needle? How would you prefer to take your insulin? It's a simple question and we believe almost any diabetic would reply 'needle free please'. We are delighted to be working with Richard and the NuGen team in what is truly a global disruptive opportunity for diabetics to become needle free in their treatment of their diabetes. InsuJet is the needle-free solution for millions of diabetics who suffer daily with their injections." National country-wide rollout of InsuJet in each of Canada, Spain, France and Brazil will occur in Q1 of 2024. In Canada, Spain, France and Brazil, InsuJet will be available for purchase in all major pharmacies, grocery stores, hospitals, diabetic clinics and offices of endocrinologists and diabetic nurse practitioners. The combined diabetic population of these four counties is estimated at 8,803,807 people.1 The total addressable market of these four countries is estimated to be $7.923 Billion based upon a $900 lifetime value2 of InsuJet and an aggregate diabetic population as described below. Market Statistics3: Canadian Market: Population: 38,781,291 Diabetes prevalence: 7.7% Estimated insulin users: 865,986 Spanish Market: Population: 47,519,628 Diabetes prevalence: 10.3% Estimated insulin users: 1,419,411 French Market: Population: 64,756,584 Diabetes prevalence: 5.3% Estimated insulin users 995,309 Brazilian Market: Population: 216,422,446 Diabetes prevalence: 8.8% Estimated insulin users: 5,523,101 Share consolidation Until the Company makes an application to uplist to a senior stock exchange, a share consolidation is not expected to occur before this time, if at all. About Sol-M Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA, Sol-M are global leaders in the healthcare industry with five offices around the world. Sol-M is a high-growth global medical device company committed to improving the safety and well-being of healthcare workers and their patients with the design and development of innovative safety-engineered medical devices. Sol-M is one of the world's largest designers and distributors of needles, syringes and diabetic supplies, offering a broad portfolio of patented products with global brand recognition such as Sol-Care for safety sharps, Sol-M for conventional medical devices and Sol-Guard for immunization products. Website: www.solm.com About NuGen NuGen is a specialty medical device Company that is marketing and selling its next-generation InsuJet needle-free injection system designed to improve the lives of millions of diabetics. InsuJet is approved for sale in 42 countries around the world. For further information, please visit: Websites: www.insujet.com and www.nugenmd.com Instagram: @NuGenMD Twitter: @NuGenMD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nugenmd/ For further information, please contact: Tony Di Benedetto Executive Chairman (416) 791-9399 tony@nugenmd.com Richard Buzbuzian President & CEO (647) 501-3290 richard@nugenmd.com To arrange a media interview with Nugen Medical Devices, please contact: Morna Gorman (416) 553-1732 morna@nugenmd.com Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Notice Regarding Future Oriented Financial Information and Financial Outlooks To the extent any forward-looking information in this presentation constitutes "future-oriented financial information" or "financial outlooks" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, such information is being provided to demonstrate the impact to the Company with potential market penetration and the reader is cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose and the reader should not place undue reliance on such future-oriented financial information and financial outlooks. Future-oriented financial information and financial outlooks, as with forward-looking information generally, are, without limitation, based on the assumptions and subject to the risks set out above. The Company's actual financial position and results of operations may differ materially from management's current expectations. Such information is presented for illustrative purposes only and may not be an indication of the Company's actual financial position or results of operations. The forward-looking information contained herein was prepared by the management of the Company based on information available at the time this press release was prepared. Unless otherwise stated, information in this press release is current as of July 25, 2023. This press release may contain certain financial performance measures that are not recognized or defined under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), which measures are "Non-GAAP Measures". As a result, this data may not be comparable to data presented by other companies. The Company believes that any Non-GAAP Measures included in this presentation are useful indicators of performance and are specifically used by management to assess the current and future performance of the Company. Non-GAAP Measures should be considered together with other financial information prepared in accordance with IFRS to enable readers to evaluate the Company's performance and prospects in a manner similar to the Company's management. Accordingly, any Non-GAAP Measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Any third-party information contained herein has not been independently verified. No warranties or representations can be made as to the origin, validity, accuracy, completeness, currency or reliability of the information. The Company disclaims and excludes all liability (to the extent permitted by law), for losses, claims, damages, demands, costs and expenses of whatever nature arising in any way out of or in connection with the information in this press release, its accuracy, completeness or by reason of reliance by any person on any of it. 1 Source: Population by Country (2023) - Worldometer (worldometers.info), Countries ranked by Diabetes prevalence (% of population ages 20 to 79) (indexmundi.com) and Estimate-of-Insulin-Use-in-Type-2-Diabetes.pdf (haiweb.org). 2 For each InsuJet device sold, the lifetime value per unit including consumables to be purchased over the span of approximately 3.5 years is approximately $900. 3 Source: See footnote No. 1. /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES./ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174903 Regulatory News: NHOA (NHOA.PA, formerly Engie EPS) announces its First Half 2023 Results and the Q2 2023 Trading and Operational Update. At Group level H1 Revenues and Other Income at 116 million, up +48% year-on-year Backlog and Purchase Orders at June 30 2023 amounts to c. 270 million, up +89% year-on-year 2023 Revenue Guidance Update: Full Year Revenue Guidance upgraded to 250-280 million (previously 220-280 million) 2023 EBITDA Guidance: Management expects 2023 EBITDA at Group level (excluding Atlante) to range between -6m and 5m, with therefore the ambition to reach EBITDA breakeven at year end First Half 2023 has been a turning point for all business lines: NHOA Energy , marks once again unparalleled H1 results with: 100.8 million Revenues and other Income, up +38% year-on-year Positive EBITDA of 1.1 million, with a 5-10 million EBITDA guidance for this business line by year end Backlog at 211 million, up +48% compared to H1 2022 Last-12-month Order Intake over 250 million 1.4GWh of projects under construction and 228MWh of projects online totaling c. 1.6GWh Pipeline stable at over 1 billion , marks once again unparalleled H1 results with: Free2move eSolutions , the JV with Stellantis, reached: Revenues and other income of 13.1 million, as to say +159% year-on-year and 4x revenues booked in Q1 2023 Outstanding Purchase Orders at 30 June 2023 of c. 58 million , the JV with Stellantis, reached: Atlante , is ahead on the expected guidance for 2023 with: Over 3,200 Points of Charge (" PoC ") already online and under construction as at 30 June 2023, achieving six months earlier the results envisaged for year-end Over 1,200 PoC already online and serving customers on a daily basis Over 3,700 additional sites in the pipeline Utilization Rate, c. 2.4% in the second quarter for Italy, France and Spain Occupancy Rate, c. 20.7% in the second quarter for Portugal , is ahead on the expected guidance for 2023 with: "NHOA has delivered its strongest first half ever, in all business lines, bringing Group revenues up by +48% to 116 million and increasing visibility towards the new full-year targets of 250 to 280 million revenues and EBITDA breakeven at Group level, excluding Atlante. NHOA Energy performed remarkably well with 5 energy storage projects online in the first half of the year, 250 million rolling order intake and over 1.6GWh in 4 continents, while expanding in new key geographies, like the United Kingdom, with the newly awarded 130MWh projects for Eku Energy. Atlante keeps the roll-out of its fast and ultra-fast charging network in Southern Europe at record speed, achieving six months earlier than expected more than 3,200 points of charge online and under construction in over 1,000 sites, and most importantly running at 2.4% utilization rate and 20.7% occupancy rate. Free2move eSolutions starts to show its ability to scale-up the e-mobility market, with revenues in the second quarter achieving 4 times those of the first quarter, looking forward to a remarkable 2023 with 58 million outstanding purchase orders", commented Carlalberto Guglielminotti, CEO of NHOA Group We achieved this remarkable performance thanks to the tremendous commitment of our teams, over 500 people of 38 nationalities inspired by the same mission: fighting climate change by fostering the energy transition to clean energy and sustainable mobility, with the goal of being a global technology leader, shaping a sustainable future for the next generations. This is the mission we live by, and these are the people who will continue to grow along with NHOA in the context of the new People Strategy and thanks to the NHOA Elite Program presented in June 2023, which will provide training and support with world-class experts for physical wellbeing, mental balance and performance optimization". First Half 2023 Key Figures Revenues and Other Income as of 30 June 2023 amount to 116 million, up 48% compared to H1 2022. Increase in Revenues and Other Income is mainly driven by the 100.8 million realized by NHOA Energy and are mainly related to: the second storage system in HePing, Taiwan, 311MWh, in early stage of commissioning the 200MWh Kwinana storage project with Synergy in Australia, in the final stage of commissioning the 2 Peruvian projects, for a cumulated capacity of 67MWh, of which the first one is already operational while the second is still under construction the third project in Suao, Taiwan, for a total capacity of 123.6MWh Free2move eSolutions contributes for 13.1 million to the Group's consolidated Revenues and other income, of which 9.7 million come from the delivery of the purchase orders signed in 2022 (14% of the total). Atlante closed H1 2023 with Revenues and other income of 2.0 million. The 14.8% Gross margin including non-recurring item is mainly due to the revenue mix, where NHOA Energy's turnkey contracting business model weights heavier than the e-Mobility and EV Fastcharging Network business lines, however, growing volumes of Free2move eSolutions and Atlante are positively impacting and progressively improving total Gross margin. Backlog of NHOA Energy totals 211 million, represented by 1,413MWh in Australia, Taiwan, China, Latin America, US and Europe, up 48% compared to H1 2022. The 16% decrease compared to the Backlog communicated in the Q1 2023 Trading and Operational Update is due to the Revenues recognition as of 30 June of projects that were still in Backlog at that time and the impact of commodity-indexed price formulas. The Pipeline of NHOA Energy stands at 1,035 million, stable year-on-year, while decreasing by 16% compared to the pipeline announced in the Q1 2023 Trading and Operational Update. Given the over 250 million Order intake in the last 12 months (+13% vs Q1 2023), this represents an approx. 25% conversion rate. Personnel costs reached 23.4 million, more than doubling compared to 11.6 million in H1 2022, mainly due to the increase in headcount. As of 30 June 2023, NHOA Group has 522 employees1 (from 38 nationalities) compared to 359 in H1 2022. The strengthening of the workforce is mainly due to the consolidation of Atlante in four countries and to NHOA Energy's global growth and is in line with NHOA Group's roadmap and Masterplan10x. Capital investments increased to 42.3 million, largely comprised of investments in the roll-out of the Atlante network. R&D investments amounted to 5.8 million and represent 5% of the consolidated Revenues. Other Operating Expenses increased by 163%, amounting to 10.4 million, compared to 3.9 million in H1 2022, expressing an organic growth mainly driven by the consolidation of NHOA Energy's subsidiaries in America, Australia and Taiwan, the addition of Free2move eSolutions North America for Free2move eSolutions and the growth of Atlante which has now consolidated its platform in Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. EBITDA including non-recurring income represents a 16.6 million loss in H1 2023, compared to a 5.8 million loss in H1 2022, due to the increase in operating expenses and in personnel costs, mainly due to a natural effect of the investments that NHOA made on Atlante, which remains a capital-intensive business whose benefits are expected to contribute to the bottom line in the following years. Excluding Atlante, the EBITDA would represent a 7.2 million loss. Free2move eSolutions has started the delivery of the devices from purchase orders in Q2 2023 and improvement of its EBITDA 2023 is expected for H2. NHOA Energy confirmed its positive EBITDA that amounts to 1.1 million, despite a doubling of personnel cost in order to establish the global origination and execution platform that will bear results over the next few years. 1 Including secondments to NHOA. Non recurring expenses and Incentive Plan account for 1.0 million and 1.9 million, respectively; the first one is mainly due to European Commission grant under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program application support, the opening of the new legal entities in new countries and M&A activities, while the second is mainly related to the accrual by per IFRS 2 related to Long Term Incentive Plan approved by the Board of Directors in 2022, without any impact from a cash flow perspective. EBIT and Net Result as of 30 June 2023 stand, respectively, at -24.6 million and -26.7 million, compared to -9.3 million and -11.6 million of the previous year as of 30 June 2022. Net Financial Position stands at -75.8 million as at 30 June 2023 compared to 4.2 million as at 31 December 2022, mainly reflecting the investment of the Group in Atlante and the capital deployed by NHOA Energy to support projects in execution. Taking into account the 47.3 million of cash deposits and cash collateral posted to guarantee securities on projects in execution, the Net Financial Position would amount to -28.5 million. Guidance Update2 2023 Revenue Guidance Update: given the increased visibility of Revenues recognition of NHOA Energy, the conversion of the Purchase Orders of Free2move eSolutions in Revenues successfully started in Q2 2023 and the Utilization/Occupancy rate trend in Atlante, Full Year Revenue Guidance is upgraded to 250-280 million (previously 220-280 million). The revised guidance is based on the following key assumptions: no delays in NHOA Energy supply chain delivery schedule; no major impact from contract commodity indexation mechanisms and currency variation; and delivery (and the corresponding revenues recognition) of at least 75% of the Purchase Orders of Free2move eSolutions by year-end, in line with the trend started in Q2 2023 2023 EBITDA Guidance: as a result of the revised 2023 revenue guidance and the increased visibility of Revenue recognition of NHOA Energy and the conversion of the Purchase Orders of Free2move eSolutions in revenues, Management expects 2023 EBITDA at Group level (excluding Atlante) to range between -6m and 5m, with therefore the ambition to reach EBITDA breakeven at year end. Guidance of the 2023 EBITDA of NHOA Energy continues to be at 5 to 10 million. 2 See also Chapter 11 of NHOA's 2022 Universal Registration Document for more details on the assumptions underlying this guidance, and Chapter 3 on the risk factors that could negatively impact its achievement. First Half 2023 results by business line Information by operating segment (amounts in k Euro) NHOA Energy Free2move eSolutions Atlante Corporate Total Revenues 100.633 13.107 1.927 0 115.666 Other Income including non recurring 204 3 93 4 304 TOTAL REVENUES AND OTHER INCOME 100.837 13.110 2.019 4 115.970 Cost of goods sold (89.030) (8.556) (1.229) 4 (98.811) GROSS MARGIN FROM SALES 11.807 4.554 790 8 17.159 on Revenues and other income 11,7% 34,7% 39,1% 204,9% 14,8% Personnel costs (8.764) (6.588) (6.310) (1.737) (23.399) Other operating expenses (1.932) (3.246) (3.914) (1.259) (10.351) EBITDA 1.111 (5.279) (9.434) (2.988) (16.590) Amortization and depreciation (2.177) (1.266) (757) (117) (4.318) Impairment and write down 0 (793) 0 0 (793) Stock options and Incentive plans (899) 0 (270) (764) (1.933) EBIT excluding non-recurring items (1.965) (7.338) (10.461) (3.869) (23.633) Non recurring expenses and Integration costs (119) (116) (654) (73) (962) EBIT (2.084) (7.454) (11.115) (3.942) (24.596) Net financial income and expenses (229) (276) (197) (1.698) (2.401) Income Taxes 310 (3) 0 0 307 NET INCOME (LOSS) (2.004) (7.733) (11.313) (5.640) (26.689) NHOA Energy NHOA Energy, NHOA Group's business line dedicated to energy storage, confirmed EBITDA-positive also in H1 2023, with 1.1 million of EBITDA realized over 100.8 million of revenues and other income, despite a doubling of personnel cost in order to establish the global origination and execution platform that will bear results over the next few years. In the first semester of 2023 Revenues and Other Income grew by +38% year-on-year, in line with expectations. During H1, NHOA Energy saw the commissioning of several advanced projects in the portfolio, while the first project in Australia (200MWh) is also approaching the finish line and the Heping Big Battery project (311MWh) in Taiwan that has provided the largest contribution in terms of Revenues. Backlog for NHOA Energytotalizes 211 million, 16% lower compared to Q1 2023 mainly due to the significant portion of Backlog converted into revenues during the H1 2023 and the impact of commodity-indexed price formulas. Backlog is represented by 1.4GWh in USA, APAC, Europe and South America. In the first semester of 2023 NHOA Energy was awarded two contracts in the UK for a total capacity of 130MWh by EKU Energy. Five projects entered operation in H1 2023, including the two fast reserve projects in Italy for an aggregated capacity of 41.1MWh, one of the 2 Peruvian storage systems (31MWh) and one of the storage systems in Massachusetts for Kearsage Energy. Pipeline for NHOA Energy is stable at over 1 billion, and continues to improve in quality: NHOA is shortlisted in 6 projects with very promising short-term conversion prospects. Gross Margin stands at 11.7% and its improving, due to the profitability profile of the project portfolio. NHOA Energy confirms EBITDA positive, at 1.1 million in H1 2023, while continuing to invest aggressively in geographical expansion and talent acquisition. After the opening of the subsidiaries NHOA Australia and NHOA Americas in 2022, establishing 2 crucial centers for the commercial expansion in Australia and the whole American continent, NHOA Energy continued on this trend by opening in H1 2023 two other geographical subsidiaries NHOA Taiwan and NHOA UK, to better follow the Asian and Great Britain markets, as testified by the recent subscription of a contract for the supply of two battery storage systems for an aggregate capacity of 130MWh in the UK. NHOA Energy's Graduate Program, the talent program launched on April 1st 2022, in which 10 new young talents had been hired and immediately trained by experts of the field and top management, has been replicated in 2023 and is assuming a primary role in the expansion of NHOA Energy's origination and execution platform. As planned, part of the talents of the first class have been already moved, together with senior team members, in the geographical subsidiaries, taking NHOA Energy's philosophy and competences all over the world and integrating them with local expertise. EBIT excluding non-recurring and Net Result are both still negative by 2.0 million, after posting depreciation and amortization of 2.2 million. Free2move eSolutions Free2move eSolutions, NHOA Group's business line dedicated to e-mobility products and services in joint venture with Stellantis, after a transitional 2022, with a change in leadership and a general streamlining and refocusing of its operations, had a positive H1 2023. Free2move eSolutions Revenues and Other Income, indeed,raised more than 2.5 times on a year-on-year basis, reaching 13.1 million, mainly due to the opening of the American subsidiary Free2move eSolutions North America. Most importantly 13.1 million represents four times the revenues booked in the first quarter of 2022, while recording a 34.7% Gross Margin, increasing visibility towards unparalleled results in 2023. EBIT excluding non-recurring stands at -7.3 million and Net Result stands respectively at -7.7 million. Atlante Atlante, NHOA Group's business line dedicated to EV fast and ultra-fast charging network, is continuing its successful path to 2025 targets, reaching six months in advance the target foreseen for FY 2023 with 3,215 points of charge online and under construction as of 30 June 2023 and a pipeline of more than 3,700 additional sites. Highlights of H1 2023 for Atlante include the inauguration of its largest station to date, the e-mobility hub at To Dream, the new innovative urban district in Turin, with more than 130 fast and ultra-fast points of charge; the signing of important partnerships like the one with Groupe Duval in France for more than 180 fast and ultra-fast charging points across the country and the one with Avanza Food in Spain and Portugal, and the award of 87 fastcharging points to be deployed on French highways for Vinci Autoroutes, as recently announced. During H1 2023 Atlante's team continued the development of its proprietary energy management system, leveraging on the 15 years of know-how developed by NHOA, and unveiled the exclusive design of Atlante's charging station design, in partnership with Bertone Design (New Crazy Colors), one of the world's most renowned design, architectural planning and all-around creativity companies. Revenues and Other Income for H1 2023 amount to 2.0 million. EBITDA of -9.4 million reflects the investments in the roll-out of the EV fast and ultra-fast charging network, including the technology platform and the organization already structured to own and properly operate one of the largest networks of charging stations across Southern Europe, consistently with Atlante's 2025 ambitious targets and with the common purpose of the Group to push forward the energy transition. Atlante now counts 134 people in 4 countries. EBIT excluding non-recurring stands at -10.5 million and Net Result stands respectively at -11.3 million. Q2 2023 Trading and Operational Update 2022 2023 Q1 2023 TRADING AND OPERATIONAL UPDATE Notes Data in H1 2022 (as restated) FY 2022 Q1 2023 H1 2023 Q2 3-months period Var% vs 30 Jun 2022 (as restated) Var% vs 31 Mar 2023 NHOA GROUP Consolidated Sales[1][3] m 78,1 165,7 37,1 116,0 78,9 +48% +113% Consolidated Cash and Credit Lines available for withdrawal (1) m 151,7 74,7 107,7 82,0 -24%* *-5% on a like for like basis compared to Q1 2023 calculation BY BUSINESS LINE Notes Data in H1 2022 FY 2022 Q1 2023 H1 2023 Q2 3-months period Var% vs 30 Jun 2022 Var% vs 31 Mar 2023 NHOA ENERGY Sales[1] m 73,0 153,6 33,4 100,8 67,5 +38% +102% Backlog (2) m 143 301 252 211 +48% -16% 12-month Order Intake (3) m 208 244 227 250 +20% +10% Online Capacity[2] MWh 98 126 126 228 +132% +81% Projects Under Construction (4) MWh 751 1.384 1.384 1.413 +88% in line Pipeline (5) m 1.031 1.043 1.234 1.035 in line -16% Projects in which NHOA is shortlisted 5 3 5 6 Notes Data in H1 2022 (as restated) FY 2022 Q1 2023 H1 2023 Q2 3-months period Var% vs 30 Jun 2022 (as restated) Var% vs 31 Mar 2023 eSolutions Sales[1][3] m 5,1 11,4 2,5 13,1 10,6 +159% +318% Manufacturing Capacity PoC 2.750/week 2.750/week 2.750/week 2.750/week 2.750/week Notes Data in H1 2022 FY 2022 Q1 2023 H1 2023 Q2 3-months period Var% vs 30 Jun 2022 Var% vs 31 Mar 2023 Sales[1] (6) m N/A 0,6 1,2 2,0 0,8 -33% Utilization Rate[4] (7) N/A N/A N/A 2,4% 2,4% Occupancy Rate[5] (8) N/A N/A N/A 19,7% 20,7% Sites Online and Under Construction[6] (9) 59 554 846 1.062 +1.700% +26% PoC Online and Under Construction[6] (10)(11) 932 2.088 2.628 3.215 +245% +22% Italy N/A N/A 43% 43% France N/A N/A 25% 23% Spain N/A N/A 6% 11% Portugal N/A N/A 25% 23% o.w. PoC online[6] N/A N/A 1.037 1.263 +22% o.w. PoC already built and waiting for grid connection[6] N/A N/A 390 306 -22% o.w. PoC Secured Under Construction[6] N/A N/A 1.201 1.646 +37% Sites Under Assessment[6] (12) 1.455 2.165 3.005 2.493 +71% -17% Sites Under Development[6] (13) 164 569 1.071 1.229 +649% +15% [1] Sales refers to Revenues Other Income. H1 2023 Sales refers to (unaudited) Revenues Other Income as at 30 Jun 2023 [2] Starting from Q2 2023, the Online Capacity KPI is expressed in MWh and not in MW. Please refer to additional notes for further details [3] Please note that Consolidated Sales at Group level and Sales at Free2move eSolutions level include the restatement of 4.1 million for H1 2022, to reflect the correction of errors in the recognition of revenues by Free2move eSolutions for the first six months of FY2022 [4] Utilization Rate indicator applies to Italy, France and Spain and is calculated first at station level as the ratio of (a) kWh sold divided (b) the maximum available power (i.e. the grid connection) multiplied by 18 hours (being the assumed daily maximum charging hours) per number of days in the relevant period. The ratios are then aggregated, weighted by the stations' available power. Note that stations' utilization data is only included in the calculation after a phase-in period of six months and for DC fastcharging only [5] Occupancy rate indicator applies to Portugal where, due to the different market regulation, as CPO, Atlante is paid for the usage of its infrastructure "by minute". Please refer to note 8 for further details [6] Includes Ressolar Network and AC PoCs mainly inherited from KLC Ressolar Notes to the Q2 2023 Trading and Operational Update (1) Cash and Credit Lines available for withdrawal represents the cash in the bank accounts of NHOA Group, coupled with the cash credit facilities approved and available for drawdown as of the relevant reporting date. From Q1 2023 we excluded from this indicator cash deposits and cash collateral posted to guarantee securities projects in execution (2) Backlog means the estimated revenues and other income attributable to (i) purchase orders received, contracts signed and projects awarded (representing 100% of Backlog as of the date hereof), and (ii) Project Development contracts associated with a Power Purchase Agreement, where the agreed value is a price per kWh of electricity and an amount of MW to be installed (nil at the date hereof). When any contract or project has started its execution, the amount recognized as Backlog is computed as (A) the transaction price of the relevant purchase order, contract or project under (i) and (ii) above less (B) the amount of revenues recognized, as of the relevant reporting date, in accordance with IFRS 15 (representing the amount of transaction price allocated to the performance obligations carried out at the reporting date). (3) 12-month order intake represents the cumulated value of new purchase orders received, contracts signed and projects awarded in the 12 months preceding the relevant reporting date. (4) Projects Under Construction is an indicator representing the capacity equivalent of Backlog, in terms of signed turnkey supply or EPC contracts and therefore excluding Project Development contracts associated with a Power Purchase Agreement, (please see Note (2) above). (5) Pipeline means the estimate, as of the release date, of the amount of potential projects, tenders and requests for proposal for which NHOA Energy has decided to participate or respond. On a quarterly basis NHOA Group will disclose in its Trading Operational Updates the number of projects in which NHOA Energy is officially shortlisted. (6) Sales include the data coming from the recent acquisition of the e-mobility business unit of Ressolar S.r.l. ("Ressolar") and the recent acquisition of the majority stake in Kilometer Low Cost S.A. ("KLC (7) Utilization Rate indicator first published in Q2 2023, applies to Italy, France and Spain only and is calculated first at station level as the ratio of (a) kWh sold divided (b) the maximum available power (i.e. the available grid connection) multiplied by 18 hours (being the assumed daily maximum charging hours) per number of days in the relevant period. The ratios are then aggregated, weighted by the stations' available power. Note that stations' utilization data is only included in the calculation after a phase-in period of six months and for DC fastcharging only. (8) Occupancy Rate indicator applies to Portugal only where, due to the different local market regulations, as Charge Point Operator (CPO) Atlante is remunerated for the usage of its infrastructure "by minute". Occupancy rate is therefore calculated on a 24-hour basis, first at station level as the ratio of (a) minutes of charging sessions sold divided (b) total number of minutes in the relevant period. The ratios are then aggregated, weighted by the stations' available power. Note that stations' occupancy data is only included in the calculation after a phase-in period of six months. (9) Sites Online and Under Construction, includes, as of the relevant reporting date, the number of sites already operational, already installed but waiting for grid connection, secured and under construction. Please note that this performance indicator includes sites with AC points of charge, mainly coming from the KLC and Ressolar acquired networks. (10) PoC Online and Under Construction, includes the points of charge already operational, as of the relevant reporting date, already installed but waiting for grid connection, secured and under construction. Please note that this performance indicator includes AC points of charge, mainly coming from the KLC and Ressolar acquired networks. (11) Of the PoC Online and Under Construction performance indicator the geographical and construction phase split are provided, including the AC points of charge, mainly coming from the KLC and Ressolar acquired networks. (12) Sites Under Assessment includes the total number of sites, as of the relevant reporting date, which are actively pursued after prospecting activity and following a first internal screening for high level feasibility. At this point, the full contractual documentation remains to be finalized and signed, all the required permits have not yet been awarded and construction has not started. (13) Sites Under Development, includes sites for which a more detailed feasibility activity commences, including detailed discussions with site owners and exchange of documentation. For the sites included in the "under development" performance indicator there would be a reasonable degree of confidence that they can be converted into stations within the next six months (subject to interconnection and timely delivery of hardware). Additional notes Online Capacity Starting in H1 2023 online capacity is stated in MWh of energy storage capacity as opposed to MW of power capacity, as historically reported. Storage systems are increasingly sized towards the time shift of bulk volumes of renewable energy from periods of overgeneration to period of higher residual reliance of fossil-based generation. Their storage capacity volume is therefore a more significant indicator rather than their power rating, indicative of their speed of charge or discharge of such volumes. NHOA Group's first half 2023 results and Q2 Trading and Operational Update, with the Group's technology, global competitive positioning, vision to 2030 and a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of energy transition markets will be the subject of Capital Markets Day 2023, scheduled for July 26, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. CEST. Login details and the presentation will be available on the Company's website nhoa.energy NHOA NHOA S.A. (formerly Engie EPS), global player in energy storage, e-mobility and EV fast and ultra-fast charging network, develops technologies enabling the transition towards clean energy and sustainable mobility, shaping the future of a next generation living in harmony with our planet. Listed on Euronext Paris regulated market (NHOA.PA), NHOA forms part of the CAC Mid Small and CAC All-Tradable financial indices. NHOA, with offices in France, Spain, United States, Taiwan and Australia, maintains entirely in Italy research, development and production of its technologies. For further information, go towww.nhoa.energy follow us on LinkedIn follow us on Instagram Forward looking statement This release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are not undertakings as to the future performance of NHOA. Although NHOA considers that such statements are based on reasonable expectations and assumptions at the date of publication of this release, they are by their nature subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual performance to differ from those indicated or implied in such statements. These risks and uncertainties include without limitation those explained or identified in the public documents filed by NHOA with the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF), including those listed in the "Risk Factors" section of the NHOA 2022 Universal Registration Document. Investors and NHOA shareholders should note that if some or all of these risks are realized they may have a significant unfavorable impact on NHOA. These forward looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, including the verbs or terms "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "intends", "may", "plans", "build- up", "under discussion" or "potential customer", "should" or "will", "projects", "backlog" or "pipeline" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts and that are to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the impacts of the war in Ukraine and the current economic situation pandemic on NHOA's business operations, financial results and financial position and on the world economy. They appear throughout this announcement and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding NHOA's intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, NHOA's results of business development, operations, financial position, prospects, financing strategies, expectations for product design and development, regulatory applications and approvals, reimbursement arrangements, costs of sales and market penetration. Important factors that could affect performance and cause results to differ materially from management's expectations or could affect NHOA's ability to achieve its strategic goals, include the uncertainties relating to the impact of war in Ukraine and the current economic situation on NHOA's business, operations and employees. In addition, even if the NHOA's results of operations, financial position and growth, and the development of the markets and the industry in which NHOA operates, are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. The forward-looking statements herein speak only at the date of this announcement. NHOA does not have the obligation and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements. 1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 1.1 Consolidated Income Statement CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT (amounts in K Euro) 30/06/2023 31/12/2022 30/06/2022* Revenues 115.666 164.220 77.118 Other Income including non recurring 304 1.466 1.026 TOTAL REVENUES AND OTHER INCOME (including non recurring income) 115.970 165.686 78.143 Cost of goods sold (98.811) (150.627) (68.401) GROSS MARGIN FROM SALES (including non recurring income) 17.159 15.059 9.742 on Revenues and other income 14,8% 9,1% 12,5% Personnel costs (23.399) (30.617) (11.611) Other operating expenses (10.350) (17.383) (3.932) EBITDA excluding Stock Option and Incentive Plans expenses, including non recurring income (1) (16.590) (32.941) (5.801) Amortization and depreciation (4.318) (7.022) (2.723) Impairment and write down (793) (5.977) (165) Non recurring expenses and Integration costs (962) (2.829) (369) Stock options and Incentive plans (1.933) (1.596) (217) EBIT (24.596) (50.364) (9.276) Net financial income and expenses (2.401) (3.851) (1.127) Income Taxes 307 1.971 (1.212) NET INCOME (LOSS) (26.689) (52.244) (11.615) Attributable to: Equity holders of the parent company (22.497) (38.577) (9.787) Non-controlling interests (4.192) (13.668) (1.828) Basic earnings per share (0,88) (1,51) (0,38) Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding 25.534 25.534 25.534 Diluted earnings per share (0,88) (1,51) (0,38) (1) EBITDA excluding Stock Option and Incentive Plans expenses is not defined by IFRS. It is defined in notes 5.5 of the Consolidated Financial Statements *The H1 2022 figures have been restated for the item described in note 2.6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements 1.2 Consolidated Statement of Other Comprehensive Income OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (amounts in K Euro) 30/06/2023 31/12/2022 30/06/2022* NET INCOME (LOSS) (22.497) (38.577) (9.787) Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations and other differences (988) 511 323 Other comprehensive income not to be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods (net of tax) 47 (40) Actuarial gain and (losses) on employee benefits (103) 439 436 Other comprehensive income (loss) for the year, net of tax (1.044) 910 759 Total comprehensive income for the year, net of tax (23.541) (37.667) (9.028) Attributable to Equity holders of the parent company (23.541) (37.667) (9.028) *The H1 2022 figures have been restated for the item described in note 2.6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements 1.3 Consolidated Balance Sheet ASSETS (amounts in K Euro) 30/06/2023 31/12/2022 30/06/2022* Property, plant and equipment 76.310 52.068 32.564 Intangible assets 33.109 15.418 18.887 Other non current financial assets 13.307 13.144 4.347 Other non current assets 47 60 60 TOTAL NON CURRENT ASSETS 122.773 80.690 55.859 Trade and other receivables 74.723 28.487 14.243 Contract assets 5.069 16.770 9.782 Inventories 20.349 18.099 8.118 Other current assets 68.405 29.753 16.051 Current financial assets 44.959 18.495 31.567 Cash and cash equivalent 55.550 47.386 90.606 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 269.057 158.990 170.366 TOTAL ASSETS 391.830 239.681 226.225 EQUITY AND LIABILITIES (amounts in K Euro) 30/06/2023 31/12/2022 30/06/2022* Issued capital 5.107 5.107 5.107 Share premium 180.589 180.589 180.589 Other Reserves 6.298 5.073 4.479 Retained Earnings (133.361) (93.843) (93.991) Profit (Loss) for the period (22.497) (38.577) (9.787) TOTAL GROUP EQUITY 36.136 58.349 86.397 Minorities interest 1.557 5.749 17.463 TOTAL EQUITY 37.693 64.098 103.861 Severance indemnity reserve and Employees' benefits 2.038 2.636 2.210 Non current financial liabilities 5.954 3.922 14.981 Other non current liabilities 15.833 15.867 16.908 Non current deferred tax liabilities 24 16 16 TOTAL NON CURRENT LIABILITIES 23.848 22.441 34.116 Trade payables 48.174 61.920 23.906 Other current liabilities 141.197 33.126 26.013 Current financial liabilities 140.918 58.096 38.329 TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 330.289 153.141 88.249 TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 391.830 239.681 226.225 *The H1 2022 figures have been restated for the item described in note 2.6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements 1.4 Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (amounts in K Euro) Share Capital Premium Reserve Stock Option and Warrants plan reserve Other Reserves Retained Earnings (Losses) Profit (Loss) for the period Total Group Equity Minority interests TOTAL EQUITY Net Equity as of 31 December 2021* 5.107 180.589 4.969 (961) (67.066) (27.213) 95.425 19.291 114.716 Previous year result allocation 35 (27.248) 27.213 (19.291) (19.291) Non controlling interests 19.291 19.291 Loss for the period (9.787) (9.787) (1.828) (11.615) Total comprehensive income 436 323 759 759 Net Equity as of 30 June 2022** 5.107 180.589 4.969 (490) (93.991) (9.787) 86.397 17.463 103.861 Previous year result allocation 9.787 9.787 (17.463) (7.677) Change in consolidation perimenther (576) (576) (576) Other movements 1.166 1.166 1.166 Non controlling interests 19.417 19.417 Loss for the period (38.577) (38.577) (13.668) (52.244) Total comprehensive income 3 148 151 151 Net Equity as of 31 December 2022 5.107 180.589 4.969 104 (93.843) (38.577) 58.349 5.749 64.098 Previous year result allocation (38.577) 38.577 (5.749) (5.749) Other movements 1.327 1.327 1.327 Non controlling interests 5.749 5.749 Loss for the period (22.497) (22.497) (4.192) (26.689) Total comprehensive income (103) (941) (1.044) (1.044) Net Equity as of 30 June 2023 5.107 180.589 4.969 1.328 (133.361) (22.497) 36.135 1.557 37.694 *The 2021 figures have been restated for the item described in note 2.6 of the 2022 Consolidated Financial Statements **The H1 2022 figures have been restated for the item described in note 2.6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements 1.5 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows CASH FLOW STATEMENT (amounts in K Euro) 30/06/2023 31/12/2022 30/06/2022* Net Income or Loss (26.689) (52.244) (11.615) Income Taxes (307) (1.971) 1.212 Amortisation and depreciation 4.318 7.022 2.725 Impairment and write down 793 5.977 164 Stock option and incentive plans impact 1.933 1.596 217 Defined Benefit Plan (598) 428 3 Non-cash variation in equity opening 1.224 1.065 (1.127) Non-cash variation in bank accounts (552) 151 Working capital adjustments Decrease (increase) in tax assets 100 (100) Decrease (increase) in trade and other receivables and prepayments (73.980) (35.889) (955) Decrease (increase) in inventories (2.251) (14.616) (4.635) Increase (decrease) in trade and other payables 94.332 47.580 5.674 Increase (decrease) in non current assets and liabilities (526) 461 8.101 Net cash flows from operating activities (2.303) (40.341) (337) Investments Net Decrease (Increase) in intangible assets (6.583) (8.097) (5.774) Net Decrease (Increase) in tangible assets (21.198) (34.437) (13.535) Changes in consolidation perimeter (14.520) Net cash flows from investments activities (42.301) (42.535) (19.309) Financing Increase (decrease) in bank debts 79.705 729 (7.978) Minorities cash injection 4.700 7.600 7.600 Decrease (increase) in current financial assets (30.520) (5.908) (18.980) Decrease (increase) in non-current financial assets (163) (940) Translation differences (988) 511 323 Lease liabilities 33 5.459 6.476 Net cash flows from financing activities 52.768 7.452 (12.558) Net cash and cash equivalent at the beginning of the period 47.386 122.811 122.810 NET CASH FLOW FOR THE PERIOD 8.164 (75.424) (32.204) NET CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE END OF THE PERIOD 55.550 47.386 90.606 *The H1 2022 figures have been restated for the item described in note 2.6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230725280120/en/ Contacts: Press Office: Claudia Caracausi and Davide Bruzzese, Image Building, +39 02 89011300, nhoa@imagebuilding.it Financial Communication and Institutional Relations: Chiara Cerri, +39 337 1484534, media.relations@nhoa.energy SANDY SPRINGS (dpa-AFX) - UPS (UPS) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the union representing about 330,000 UPS employees in the U.S., have reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement. UPS noted that the five-year agreement covers U.S. Teamsters-represented employees in small-package roles and is subject to voting and ratification by union members. According to Teamsters, the tentative 2023-2028 UPS Teamsters National Master Agreement include: Existing full- and part-time UPS Teamsters will get $2.75 more per hour in 2023, and $7.50 more per hour over the length of the contract. Existing part-timers will be raised up to no less than $21 per hour immediately, and part-time seniority workers earning more under a market rate adjustment would still receive all new general wage increases. General wage increases for part-time workers will be double the amount obtained in the previous UPS Teamsters contract - and existing part-time workers will receive a 48 percent average total wage increase over the next five years. Wage increases for full-timers will keep UPS Teamsters the highest paid delivery drivers in the nation, improving their average top rate to $49 per hour. Current UPS Teamsters working part-time would receive longevity wage increases of up to $1.50 per hour on top of new hourly raises, compounding their earnings. New part-time hires at UPS would start at $21 per hour and advance to $23 per hour. The creation of 7,500 new full-time Teamster jobs at UPS and the fulfillment of 22,500 open positions, establishing more opportunities through the life of the agreement for part-timers to transition to full-time work. On July 31, representatives of the 176 UPS Teamster locals in the U.S. and Puerto Rico will meet to review and recommend the tentative agreement. Locals will conduct member meetings and Teamsters will have several weeks to vote on the offer electronically. Member voting begins August 3 and concludes August 22, Teamsters said. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Top 3 Energie-Dividendenaktien Im neuen Energieboom von kontinuierlichen Ertragen profitieren. Wir zeigen hier, von welche drei Aktien Sie profitieren konnen. Hier klicken Empowers businesses and their customers to make informed decisions that align with their sustainability goals CHICAGO and STOCKHOLM, Sweden, July 25, 2023, the leading Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) partner for manufacturers, is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest innovation focusing on sustainable product sales: Environmental Footprint Configuration. This groundbreaking addition to Tacton CPQ is set to revolutionize the manufacturing industry by empowering businesses and their customers to make informed decisions that align with their sustainability goals. Carbon footprint goals and regulations continue to be a critical focus for companies worldwide. Based on interviews with customers, Tacton sees manufacturers at risk of losing revenue if they cannot provide ESG data as part of their quotes. The risk is up to 5% reduction in revenue without ESG data and a potential for approximately 25% increase in revenue with the inclusion of ESG data. Tacton's Environmental Footprint Configuration comes at a pivotal time. This much-needed capability will enable manufacturers to understand the environmental impact of configured products. Now, manufacturers can not only report environmental impact of products to regulatory organizations but also inform their prospects on choosing optimal products with readily available carbon emissions data for configured products. With Environmental Footprint Configuration, product specific environmental impact data is generated via an interface with life cycle assessmentusing their software SimaPro for LCA data. SimaPro is a robust source of data built over 30 years of use by research institutions and companies across 80 countries. With LCA data and Environmental Footprint Configuration, Tacton CPQ equips manufacturers with comprehensive emissions data spanning Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, enabling them to quantify and optimize the environmental impact of their products throughout the entire product lifecycle. From material selection and energy consumption during use to transportation and end of life disposal, businesses can now make environmentally conscious decisions enabled by configuration. Tacton's Environmental Footprint Configuration will deliver unmatched business value. Manufacturers will now be able to: Have instant availability of emissions data per product for reporting. Generate new revenue and higher margin opportunities with lower environmental impact offerings. Avoid manual LCA calculations for reporting or selection of products. Configure products fast and visualize the CO2 emissions for that configuration. Integrate with any LCA database. "With the introduction of Environmental Footprint Configuration, Tacton is revolutionizing what it means to offer sustainable products in the industrial space," said Bo Gyldenvang, Chief Executive Officer at Tacton. "We believe emission data transparency will drive innovation and drive manufacturers to develop more sustainable products. We are proud to offer manufacturers a powerful tool that can easily optimize environmentally sound product configuration online, giving manufacturers the ability to provide differentiated and sustainable solutions to their customers." Environmental Footprint Configuration will be available for purchase as an option in Tacton CPQ as of August 2023. Watch this video to learn more about this innovative CPQ capability . Additionally, to help educate manufacturers on environmental regulations and the potential business benefits of offering sustainable products, Tacton will be offering readiness workshops starting Q3 2023. About Tacton Tacton is a leading SaaS company trusted by global manufacturers. Tacton Trusted Configuration simplifies sales for manufacturers of complex products. Tacton's Configure, Price, Quote software is named a Leader by Gartner in the Magic Quadrant for CPQ Application Suites and is recognized for its advanced product configuration and visualization capabilities. Tacton's founders pioneered computer-based product configuration which today powers Tacton CPQ and CAD Design Automation. Since 1998, Tacton is trusted by global customers such as ABB, Daimler, MAN, Scania, Siemens, Xylem, and Yaskawa. It is co-headquartered in Chicago and Stockholm, with regional offices in Karlsruhe, Warsaw, and Tokyo. Follow Tacton on LinkedIn and Twitter . About PRe PRe Sustainability helps companies turn sustainability strategy into action, through fact-based consulting services, training and software solutions based on life cycle thinking. Organizations reach out to PRe to measure, improve and communicate their sustainability performance. PRe's flagship product is SimaPro : life cycle assessment (LCA) software. SimaPro gives sustainability experts, product designers and decision-makers the power to gain insight into the environmental performance of products and services, to define hotspots and to drive positive change. For over 30 years, SimaPro has been among the leading professional LCA software packages - used by industries, consultancies, and research institutes in more than 80 countries. Follow PRe on LinkedIn . Tacton Media Contact: TactonPR@bocacommunications.com Masterplan10x 2025 and 2030 update Regulatory News: In light of the Masterplan10x published on 23 July 2021, NHOA Group (Paris:NHOA) releases an update on the plan and strategic ambitions during Capital Markets Day 2023. During the event Carlalberto Guglielminotti, NHOA Group CEO, together with Giuseppe Artizzu, NHOA Energy CEO and Stefano Terranova, Atlante CEO, will present a comprehensive analysis of the evolving energy transition markets and an update on NHOA Group's results, technology, competitive global positioning, and vision towards 2030. 2023 Guidance Update Given the outstanding results registered in H1 2023, NHOA Group has updated 2023 Guidance as follows: 2023 Revenue Guidance Update: given the increased visibility of Revenues recognition of NHOA Energy, the realization of the Purchase Orders of Free2move eSolutions in Revenues successfully started in Q2 2023 and the Utilization/Occupancy rate trend in Atlante, Full Year Revenue Guidance is upgraded to 250-280 million (previously 220-280 million). The revised guidance is based on the following key assumptions: no delays in NHOA Energy supply chain delivery schedule; no major impact due to indexed contracts on raw materials and currency fluctuations; and delivery (and the corresponding conversion into revenues) of at least 75% of the purchase orders of Free2move eSolutions by year-end, in line with the trend started in Q2 2023. 2023 EBITDA Guidance: because of the revised 2023 revenue guidance and the increased visibility of Revenue recognition of NHOA Energy and the conversion of the purchase orders of Free2move eSolutions in revenues, Management expects 2023 EBITDA at Group level (excluding Atlante) to range between -6m and 5m, with therefore the ambition to reach EBITDA breakeven at year end. Guidance of the 2023 EBITDA of NHOA energy continues to be at 5 to 10 million. Road to Masterplan10x Targets and ambitions 2025-2030 At Group level for 2025 Consolidated Revenues are targeted to reach 700 million with the ambition to have an EBITDA margin of c. 15%. 2030 Consolidated Revenues at Group level are targeted between 3 and 4.4 billion with EBITDA margin target set above 20%. NHOA Energy NHOA Energy Revenues target for 2025 is set for at least 400 million with EBITDA of at least 40 million. For 2030, NHOA Energy targets to reach at least 1 billion revenues with EBITDA of at least 100m. Atlante Atlante envisages for 2025 Revenues at around 100 million with EBITDA margin set around 15%, with 5,000 points of charge online. For 2030, Atlante Revenues target is set between 1.5 and 2.2 billion with EBITDA margin target around 50%. The ambition in terms of points of charge online and under construction for 2030 remains of 35,000, with in parallel a fully funded targeted scenario that envisages 22,000 points of charge. The assumptions needed to fulfill the 2030 fully funded 22,000 points of charge target is the following: Funding strategy: 150-200 million coming from the 2023 capital increase Positive EBITDA from 2025 enabling Atlante to raise bank financing in line with market practice debt to EBITDA ratios 30% of the annual Capex to be funded via public grants and funding programs, e.g. the European Commission-driven Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Market environment: Electric vehicle adoption in line with current market expectations (e.g. Bloomberg New Energy Finance) Low-double digit utilization rate and consistent occupancy rate Additional assumptions needed to escalate from the 22,000 fully funded target to the 35,000 ambition are the following: Funding strategy: Potential strategic partners available to co-fund the roll-out of the Atlante network Additional operating cashflows and related leveraged structure driven by: Electric vehicle sales acceleration in line with EU targets set within the Fit-for-55 objectives Utilization rate ranging from mid to high teens, in line with market peer expectations In general, in the period ranging from 2023 to 2030, additional capital expenditure is expected to range between 75 thousand per fastcharger, and around 130 thousand per fastcharger integrated with storage and powered by solar energy. Free2move eSolutions NHOA expects for Free2move eSolutions, the joint venture with Stellantis, a Revenues target for 2025 at least of 200 million with EBITDA margin in the high teens. For 2030, NHOA envisages Free2move eSolutions Revenues target to reach at least 500 million revenues with EBITDA margin in the high teens. Additional and more detailed assumptions underlying the 2023 guidance and the 2025-2030 targets and ambitions above are set out in Chapter 11 of NHOA's 2022 Universal Registration Document. Chapter 3 of the 2022 Universal Registration Document also sets out the risks factors that could negatively impact the achievement of these guidance, targets and ambitions. NHOA Group NHOA S.A. (formerly Engie EPS), global player in energy storage, e-mobility and EV fast and ultra-fast charging infrastructure, develops technologies enabling the transition towards clean energy and sustainable mobility, shaping the future of a next generation living in harmony with our planet. Listed on Euronext Paris regulated market (NHOA.PA), NHOA forms part of the CAC Mid Small and CAC All-Tradable financial indices. NHOA, with offices in France, Spain, United States, Taiwan and Australia, maintains entirely in Italy research, development and production of its technologies. For further information, go towww.nhoa.energy follow us on LinkedIn follow us on Instagram Forward looking statement This release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are not undertakings as to the future performance of NHOA. Although NHOA considers that such statements are based on reasonable expectations and assumptions at the date of publication of this release, they are by their nature subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual performance to differ from those indicated or implied in such statements. These risks and uncertainties include without limitation those explained or identified in the public documents filed by NHOA with the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF), including those listed in the "Risk Factors" section of the NHOA 2022 Universal Registration Document. Investors and NHOA shareholders should note that if some or all of these risks are realized they may have a significant unfavorable impact on NHOA. These forward looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, including the verbs or terms "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "intends", "may", "plans", "build- up", "under discussion" or "potential customer", "should" or "will", "projects", "backlog" or "pipeline" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts and that are to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the impacts of the war in Ukraine and the current economic situation pandemic on NHOA's business operations, financial results and financial position and on the world economy. They appear throughout this announcement and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding NHOA's intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, NHOA's results of business development, operations, financial position, prospects, financing strategies, expectations for product design and development, regulatory applications and approvals, reimbursement arrangements, costs of sales and market penetration. Important factors that could affect performance and cause results to differ materially from management's expectations or could affect NHOA's ability to achieve its strategic goals, include the uncertainties relating to the impact of war in Ukraine and the current economic situation on NHOA's business, operations and employees. In addition, even if the NHOA's results of operations, financial position and growth, and the development of the markets and the industry in which NHOA operates, are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. The forward-looking statements herein speak only at the date of this announcement. NHOA does not have the obligation and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230725302832/en/ Contacts: Press Office: Claudia Caracausi and Davide Bruzzese, Image Building, +39 02 89011300, nhoa@imagebuilding.it Financial Communication and Institutional Relations: Chiara Cerri, +39 337 1484534, media.relations@nhoa.energy Financial service organizations face uphill battle to comply with Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) required by January 2025 News Summary SecurityScorecard examined 240 of the largest financial institutions in the European Union to assess cyber risk 84% of European Union's financial institutions have been exposed to a fourth-party breach 82% of retail banks experienced a third-party breach in the last year, and 8% suffered from a breach in their own domain SecurityScorecard today announced the release of a new report on the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). The report analyzes 240 of the largest financial institutions in the European Union that must comply with the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) by January 2025. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230725718494/en/ (Graphic: Business Wire) Key takeaways include: 78% of financial institutions experienced a third-party data breach in the past year. In the wake of attacks such as MOVEit and SolarWinds, cybersecurity regulations are increasing the need for comprehensive approaches to manage vendor risk and ensure compliance. In the wake of attacks such as MOVEit and SolarWinds, cybersecurity regulations are increasing the need for comprehensive approaches to manage vendor risk and ensure compliance. 84% of financial institutions have been exposed to a fourth-party breach - illustrating how a vast web of unseen risks are hiding in plain sight. Visibility across the entire third-and fourth-party ecosystem is mission-critical, yet organizations lack consensus on how to measure and track fourth-party risk. - illustrating how a vast web of unseen risks are hiding in plain sight. Visibility across the entire third-and fourth-party ecosystem is mission-critical, yet organizations lack consensus on how to measure and track fourth-party risk. Just 3% of the third-party vendors analyzed were breached - which underscores the massive butterfly effect that hackers are just starting to take advantage of. Spotlights a single supply chain attack's dramatic impact on the threat landscape. Supply chain attacks attract cybercriminals because when widely used software is compromised, attackers gain access to potentially all organizations that use that software. which underscores the massive butterfly effect that hackers are just starting to take advantage of. Spotlights a single supply chain attack's dramatic impact on the threat landscape. Supply chain attacks attract cybercriminals because when widely used software is compromised, attackers gain access to potentially all organizations that use that software. 18% had a cybersecurity 'C' rating or below, making them four to seven times more likely to suffer a breach than those with an 'A' rating. Seven factors that drive cyber risk and can be predictive of a breach, including endpoint security; patching cadence; ransomware score; DNS health; IP reputation; cubit score; and network security. "If nearly 20% of the most well-resourced financial entities in the EU have grades of C or worse, then it's likely that the overall cyber resilience for other financial entities is actually much lower," said Matthew McKenna, Chief Sales Officer, SecurityScorecard. "Financial entities need a trusted view of security risk. SecurityScorecard dynamically discovers risk across a customer's attack surface, including their third- and fourth-party ecosystem, to dramatically reduce the risk of a compromise." Cyber risk by financial vertical: Retail banks at highest risk 82% experienced a third-party breach in the last year, and 8% suffered from a breach in their own domain. 82% experienced a third-party breach in the last year, and 8% suffered from a breach in their own domain. Insurance firms have the lowest security scores - 24% have a 'C' security rating or below, and 78% reported a third- or fourth-party breach. - 24% have a 'C' security rating or below, and 78% reported a third- or fourth-party breach. Private equity firms prioritize cybersecurity No breaches on their own domains, and achieved the highest ratings with only 9% at a 'C' rating or below. DORA implications for third-party risk management Managing third-party risk is a core theme of DORA and the EU approach to digital cyber risk more broadly. DORA requires financial entities to identify and assess all third-party risks. This includes threats to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and systems, as well as risks to the financial entity's ability to continue operating in the event of a third-party incident. "Who financial entities choose to trust and how they sustain that trust are essential factors for the resilience of the EU's financial services sector," said Dan Morgan, Senior Government Affairs Director, Europe APAC, SecurityScorecard. "Financial institutions must adopt an objective, standard measurement for third-party cyber risk to inform regulatory decisions, reduce cyber incidents, and comply with regulations, such as DORA in the EU." Research Methodology SecurityScorecard examined the cybersecurity profiles of the largest 240 financial institutions, including their third- and fourth-party vendor operations in Europe in 2023. This aggregates into an ecosystem of 26,142 domains. The top 240 were determined by current revenue, assets under management, or gross written premium. The 240 financial institutions included private equity, asset management, retail banks, Insurance, and pension funds. This financial institution ecosystem was scored and analyzed against reported data breaches to demonstrate the cybersecurity posture of the financial market in the lead-up to the full implantation of DORA in January 2024. SecurityScorecard ratings offer easy-to-read A-F ratings across ten risk factors (network security, DNS health, patching cadence, cubit score, endpoint security, IP reputation, web application security, hacker chatter, leaked credentials, and social engineering). Each factor has a numerical weight, which reflects the severity or risk that the factor contributes to an organization's overall cybersecurity posture. SecurityScorecard utilizes machine learning to optimize the weights of its risk factors. This data-driven approach maximizes the correlation between SecurityScorecard scores and the relative likelihood of a breach. Organizations with an 'A' rating are 7x7 times less likely to experience a cybersecurity breach. SecurityScorecard continuously monitors the threat landscape and evaluates new data sources and new analytics to better reflect cybersecurity risk. Resources Read more about actions organizations can take to comply with DORA by downloading the new report. See the 2023 Cyentia Institute third- and fourth-party financial service report here. Find more about SecurityScorecard's scoring methodology. Follow SecurityScorecard on LinkedIn. About SecurityScorecard Funded by world-class investors, including Evolution Equity Partners, Silver Lake Partners, Sequoia Capital, GV, Riverwood Capital, and others, SecurityScorecard is the global leader in cybersecurity ratings, response, and resilience, with more than 12 million companies continuously rated. Founded in 2013 by security and risk experts Dr. Aleksandr Yampolskiy and Sam Kassoumeh, SecurityScorecard's patented rating technology is used by over 25,000 organizations for enterprise risk management, third-party risk management, board reporting, due diligence, cyber insurance underwriting, and regulatory oversight. SecurityScorecard makes the world a safer place by transforming the way companies understand, improve and communicate cybersecurity risk to their boards, employees, and vendors. SecurityScorecard is listed as a free cyber tool and service by the U.S. Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Every organization has the universal right to its trusted and transparent Instant SecurityScorecard rating. For more information, visit securityscorecard.com or connect with us on LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230725718494/en/ Contacts: Charles Simon PR Manager, EMEA SecurityScorecard charles.simon@securityscorecard.io Lunit strengthens presence in the Middle East by supplying AI-powered breast screening solution to Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group for the next three years SEOUL, South Korea, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lunit (KRX:328130.KQ), a leading provider of AI-powered solutions for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, continues its rapid expansion across the Middle East with a new supply contract. Following its recent collaboration with Seha Virtual Hospital earlier this month, Lunit today announced the signing of a commercial contract with Cloud Solutions, a subsidiary of Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group (HMG), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Under the agreement, Lunit will supply its AI solution for mammography analysis, Lunit INSIGHT MMG, to Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group for the next three years. HMG intends to integrate Lunit INSIGHT MMG into the diagnosis systems of medical institutions across the Middle East, analyzing hundreds of thousands of mammography images annually. In addition to the supply contract, Lunit and Cloud Solutions will collaborate to enhance Lunit's AI-powered solutions based on Cloud Solution's cutting-edge cloud AI platform. This collaboration aims to further optimize Lunit's offerings and provide an even more advanced and seamless experience for the Kingdom. The agreement between Lunit and Cloud Solutions is set to deliver high-quality medical services to patients across the Kingdom, addressing pressing challenges such as doctor shortages or medically underserved populations. Furthermore, this partnership will contribute to the Kingdom's national cancer screening program, building on the success and impact of Lunit's collaboration with Seha Virtual Hospital. To further innovate breast screening for patients in Saudi Arabia, Lunit also plans to introduce Lunit INSIGHT DBT, an AI-powered 3D Breast Tomosynthesis analysis solution, to HMG later this year. The advanced capabilities of Lunit INSIGHT DBT will provide more precise diagnostics compared to traditional 2D breast imaging, contributing to early detection and improved treatment outcomes. Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group is the largest provider of comprehensive healthcare services in the Middle East, with 20 medical sites spread across Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain. "We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Lunit, marking the first AI-based healthcare service available in Saudi Arabia," said Dr. Fatina Al Tahan, Senior Consultant at Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group. "Breast cancer represents the most common cancer in the Saudi Arabia population in general. With Lunit's AI solution, we expect significant innovation in healthcare services and improved patient outcomes with early detection of breast cancer." "We are delighted to bring our AI-powered cancer solutions to Saudi Arabian patients through Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group. The partnership holds tremendous potential for Lunit as the healthcare transformation in the Middle East is on the rise and gathers momentum," said Brandon Suh, CEO of Lunit. "Our goal is to enhance cancer diagnosis and treatment outcomes by further providing innovative AI-powered solutions to healthcare providers throughout the Middle East." According to Data Bridge Market Research, the medical imaging market in the Middle East, which surpassed USD 20 billion in 2021, is projected to exceed USD 30 billion by 2029, with an expected CAGR of 5.5% from 2022 to 2029. With Saudi Arabia accounting for 52.3% of the share in the Gulf Cooperation Council, this collaboration holds immense potential for Lunit's expansion and impact in the region. About Lunit Lunit is a deep learning-based medical AI company on a mission to conquer cancer. Our focus is on developing AI solutions for precision diagnostics and therapeutics, ensuring the right diagnosis, and treatment, at the right cost for each patient. Lunit is devoted to developing advanced medical image analytics and AI-based biomarkers via cutting-edge technology. Founded in 2013, Lunit has been acknowledged around the world for its advanced, state-of-the-art technology and its application in medical images. Its technology has been recognized at international AI competitions surpassing giants like Google, IBM, and Microsoft. As a medical AI company grounded on clinical evidence, the company's findings are presented in major peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Clinical Oncology and JAMA Network Open, and global conferences including ASCO and AACR. After receiving FDA clearance and the CE Mark, our flagship Lunit INSIGHT suite is clinically used in approximately 2,000 hospitals and medical institutions across 40+ countries. Lunit is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea with offices and representatives worldwide. For more information, please visit lunit.io Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2161847/Jaemin_Oh__center__VP_Business_Development_Lunit_signs_contract_Abdulelah.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1576401/Lunit_CI_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lunit-accelerates-expansion-across-middle-east-by-bringing-ai-solution-to-dr-sulaiman-al-habib-medical-group-middle-easts-largest-healthcare-provider-301885935.html FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Deutsche Bank AG (DB) Wednesday said its profit before tax for the first half of the year increased 2% year-on-year to 3.3 billion euros, highest first-half figure since 2011. Profit before tax excluding nonoperating costs was up 21% to 4.0 billion euros. Net profit, however, declined 7% to 2.261 billion euros, reflecting a higher tax rate. Revenues for the first half increased 8% from the comparable period last year to 15.089 billion euros. For the first six months, Corporate Bank net revenues were up 30% to 3.9 billion euros, and Private Bank net revenues net revenues climbed 10% to 4.8 billion euros. Investment Bank net revenues, however, were down 15% to 5.1 billion euros and Asset Management net revenues were also declined 10% to 1.2 billion euros. For the first six months, provision for credit losses was 772 million euros. Citing uncertain economic conditions, Deutsche Bank said it expects full-year provisions for credit losses to be at the higher end of its communicated range of 25-30 bps. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Limassol, Cyprus--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Praxis Tech, a leading payment orchestration platform headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus, and Modulus, a US-based developer of ultra-high-performance trading and surveillance technology, are thrilled to announce their strategic partnership. Now, all clients using the Modulus Exchange Solution will automatically have access to Praxis payment technologies. By combining Praxis' cutting-edge payment solutions with Modulus' powerful trading and surveillance technology, this collaboration is set to revolutionize the landscape of global equities, derivatives, and digital asset exchanges. Praxis Tech and Modulus Strategic Partnership To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9276/174773_praxis1en.jpg "This is something that clients have been increasingly clamoring for in recent years. As the crypto investor universe gets wider, and as Main Street buys in further, it is critical that exchanges offer a fiat onramp. Praxis gives operators that leg up to be able to onboard new cryptocurrency investors without the complex technical difficulties that are sometimes associated with the industry. That's a game changer for exchange operators, and we're excited to be able to offer that to all Modulus clients as part of our white label package," says Modulus CEO Richard Gardner. "Since Praxis was founded in 2014, we have perfected our technology and developed a loyal and actively growing client base. And just as importantly, we have been developing a network of partners who share our vision of innovation, technology and commitment to excellence, and this is exactly what Modulus embodies. We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Modulus whose robust solutions have played a pivotal role in powering some of the most sophisticated trading platforms in the market. We look forward to serving Modulus' clients and helping them power their payments," says Praxis Co-Founder and Director Amit Klatchko. Praxis has earned a reputation as a trailblazer in the payments industry since its launch in 2014 with its flagship product - Cashier. In 2022, Praxis uplifted its brand from Praxis Cashier to Praxis Tech, to reflect its expanded offering of new products - Praxis Direct (API) and Hosted Payment Fields (HPF). In the past year, reducing decline ratios and decline recovery have been among the company's top priorities, with its new products, such as BDCC (Background Dynamic Currency Conversion), Smart Routing, Transaction Decline Recovery with Open Banking and Retry on Insufficient Amounts. Currently Praxis integrates with 540+ PSPs and 1000+ alternative payment solutions, supporting over 200 currencies (fiat and crypto). Modulus, on the other hand, has a distinguished track record of developing ultra-high-performance trading and surveillance technology. Founded in 1997, Modulus developed a suite of sophisticated trading solutions. From equities to derivatives and digital assets, Modulus' technology is renowned for its speed, scalability, and accuracy, setting new standards in the industry. This strategic partnership brings together two industry leaders, each contributing unique expertise to create a seamless and comprehensive ecosystem for businesses operating in the global financial markets. Praxis' payment orchestration platform will be integrated with Modulus' advanced trading technology, offering market participants an unprecedented level of efficiency and convenience. About Praxis: Praxis Tech Ltd is a Payments Technology Software company, helping companies simplify global expansion and optimize their payments infrastructure. They have grown exponentially over the past few years and are a top payments orchestration platform for merchants looking to grow their business, expand into new global markets and integrate with multiple payment solutions. Currently Praxis integrates with 540+ PSPs and 1000+ alternative payment solutions, supporting over 200 currencies. Learn more at: https://praxis.tech/ About Modulus: Since 1997, Modulus has provided advanced financial technology products and services to financial exchanges; brokerages; trading firms; hedge funds; and educational, governmental, and non-profit institutions throughout more than 100 countries. The company's products and services reach millions of users around the world. Modulus is the largest holder of fintech IP on the planet. Learn more at: https://www.modulusglobal.com Media Contacts: Modulus Chief Communications Officer Charles Catania: chuck@modulus.io Praxis Head of Marketing Sofia Mashovets: media@praxis.tech To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174773 SYDNEY and DUBLIN, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SEAtS Software, an Irish Education Success Software company, has officially marked their expansion into the Australasian market at Enterprise Ireland AN/Z's Annual Business Lunch in Sydney earlier this year. The lunch was attended by Irish Government Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Simon Coveney, along with Dr Orlaigh Quinn, Secretary General of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; H.E. Tim Mawe, Ambassador of Ireland to Australia; and Consulate General of Ireland to New South Wales, Rosie Keane. SEAtS Software is known for being the first to develop and use intelligent AI tools to rapidly surface potential underlying issues affecting student wellbeing, retention and outcomes at the scale and speed large institutions need. The SEAtS platform has expanded to include surfacing actionable scheduling and space utilisation insights to drive sustainability and energy cost reductions across campus. They currently support a number of leading institutions across Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. With the expansion, SEAtS hopes to partner with more institutions in the region to improve student success outcomes and campus management processes. In collaboration with their strategic partners, SoftwareOne, SEAtS' modern education technology enables institutions to reach their goals. Benefits include improving access and inclusion, student engagement and student retention, as well as enhancing campus systems and sustainability. Commenting on the expansion, SEAtS CEO Noel Dooley said "SEAtS success and expansion is further evidence of the global application and benefits of our software for universities, colleges, schools, and their students. We would like to thank Enterprise Ireland and our local partners for their invaluable support and assistance." "The response to the value that SEAtS Software can provide to third level institutions and their students in the local market has been really positive and we expect great success for them here. The higher education market in Australia and New Zealand is highly competitive, especially for international students, so being able to offer a superior support experience for students is a great advantage" said Enterprise Ireland's Judith Harrington, Market Advisor in Digital Technologies. SEAtS are now supporting multiple employees working within the region, with a goal to recruit more as their operations grow. SEAtS build education success software to manage learning, wherever it happens. Whether in the classroom, lecture hall, or online; our mission is to empower our customers to help their students and learners to achieve to their true potential and best possible student experience on a safe and sustainable campus environment that embraces and supports diversity. SEAtS is a Microsoft Education Alliance and Gold Preferred Solution Partner. Find out more: www.seatssoftware.com Enterprise Ireland is Ireland's national export agency. With over 30 offices worldwide, our local sectoral specialists work with customers to understand their unique challenges and match them with Irish suppliers that can deliver leading edge products and services. Our goal is to simplify and enhance the purchase process for customers and build successful, long-term business relationships between international companies and Irish suppliers. Find out more: www.irishadvantage.com Contacts: Australia - Ciara Reilly, +61493495207, creilly@seatssoftware.com UK & IRE - Rodrigo Osorno, +353 834 235 917, rosorno@seatssoftware.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2161036/SEAtS_Software.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/irish-edtech-seats-software-celebrates-their-expansion-into-the-australian-market-301885027.html Campers to have more choice of rural, independent sites New legislation permits 'pop-up campsites' in England to stay open for longer. "Biggest improvement to UK camping since sleeping bags" Landowners can welcome campers for up to 60 days without permanent planning permission (previously 28 days). The change - coupled with benefits, including insurance and online bookings, from platforms such as Hipcamp - makes it more viable for landowners to host campers, opening up new areas of countryside for campers to discover. LONDON, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- From today (Wednesday 26th July), landowners in England will be able to offer camping for up to 60 days each year, more than doubling the previous limit of 28 days. This follows approval from the English parliament to update permitted development rights for campsites in England ( the new Class BC amendment ). The new '60-day rule' applies to temporary sites with 50 pitches or less, and also specifies that toilet and waste disposal facilities must be provided. "This is the biggest improvement to UK camping since the invention of all-season sleeping bags", said Jonathan Knight, UK head of Hipcamp.com, the global marketplace for camping and glamping. "The extended period makes it much more attractive to landowners across England to welcome campers. It's also a boon for campers, who will now have a greater choice of places to visit." "We're already seeing pop-up campsites on Hipcamp taking advantage of this rule change to extend their season. We're also seeing a spike in new enquiries from potential hosts interested in our insurance and marketing to fast-track their pop-up campsite". Hipcamp host Patrick Hillier from Great Haywood Canalside Campsite , said: "It's hugely positive to allow pop-up campsites to open for a time-period that better matches all the main holidays in the year. We now plan to open for 39 days this summer and next season will be open for 60. It's an exciting change and will also bring more custom to the local pubs, farm shops, and other businesses along our stretch of the Trent & Mersey Canal." For more information on the UK's best camping and glamping head to hipcamp.com . Notes to Editors: Full details on the new legislation here. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2161512/Hipcamp.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hipcamp-stays-set-to-open-for-longer-as-english-law-changes-301885592.html LONDON (dpa-AFX) - NatWest Group plc (NWG, NEG.L), on Wednesday, announced that Alison Rose has agreed by mutual consent to step down as Group Chief Executive with immediate effect. Howard Davies, Chairman of the NWG Board stated: 'The Board and Alison Rose have agreed, by mutual consent, that she will step down as CEO of the NatWest Group. It is a sad moment. She has dedicated all her working life so far to NatWest and will leave many colleagues who respect and admire her.' Alison Rose said: 'I remain immensely proud of the progress the bank has made in supporting people, families and business across the UK, and building the foundations for sustainable growth. My NatWest colleagues are central to that success, and so I would like to personally thank them for all that they have done.' For an initial period of 12 months, and subject to regulatory approval, the Board has appointed Paul Thwaite, the current CEO of the Commercial and Institutional business, to take over the responsibilities of leading NatWest Group. A further process will take place in due course to appoint a permanent successor, the company added. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. CHICAGO, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Agricultural Pheromones Market is projected to reach USD 8.2 billion by 2028 from USD 3.9 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 16.2% from 2023 to 2028 according to a report published by MarketsandMarkets. The use of pheromones as an integrated pest management strategy by farmers and market participants has increased because of technological improvements and innovations in agricultural practices. These synthetic pheromones that resemble natural one's help attract or gather insects. They are employed for a variety of things, including enticing, mass trapping, interfering with mating rituals, and other things. Due to the negative effects of conventional pesticides on the environment, human health, and creatures, pheromones have swiftly become a preferred alternative to traditional pesticides for agricultural pest management. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=11243275 Browse in-depth TOC on "Agricultural Pheromones Market" 200 - Tables 100 - Figures 300 - Pages The sex pheromones segment of the type segment accounted for the largest share of the agricultural pheromones market in 2023 in terms of value. Due to its efficiency in reducing insect populations and raising crop yields, sex pheromones are becoming more and more in demand in the agricultural pheromones market. Insects' mating routines are drawn to and disrupted by sex pheromones, which lowers their number and lessens crop damage. Farmers are increasingly using this eco-friendly strategy as a means of pest control because it is chemical-free and sustainable. The mating disruption segment of the function segment accounted for the largest share of the agricultural pheromones market in 2023 in terms of value. Due to its efficiency in pest control without largely depending on chemical pesticides, mating disruption segments are in high demand in the agricultural pheromones industry. By preventing pests from reproducing, mating disruption tactics help to lessen crop loss and pest population growth. This ecologically friendly strategy fits with the expanding customer demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable agriculture practices. The dispenser's segment of the mode of application segment is accounted to have the largest share in the agricultural pheromones market. As precision agriculture techniques are more widely used, which call for the focused and regulated release of pheromones, the dispenser's section of the agricultural pheromones market is expanding. Dispensers give farmers a quick and easy way to apply pheromones, enhancing insect control and crop yields. The fruits & nuts segment of the crop type segment is accounted to have the largest share in the agricultural pheromones market. Due to rising consumer demand for organic and sustainable farming methods as well as the efficiency of pheromone-based solutions in minimizing crop damage and increasing yields in fruit and nut production, the fruits and nuts section of the agricultural pheromones market is expanding. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=11243275 The Asia Pacific region accounted for the largest growing market, in terms of value, of the global agricultural pheromones market in 2028. Due to several variables, the market for agricultural pheromones is expanding in North America. As farmers look for alternatives to chemical pesticides, there is first a growing awareness of and adoption of sustainable farming practices in the area. Second, the demand for organic produce and governmental laws are pushing the need for efficient pest control techniques. Additionally, improvements in pheromone-based solution research and development have raised their affordability and efficacy, further boosting the market in North America. The key players in this include Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd (Japan), BASF SE (Germany), Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Japan), Biobest Group NV (Belgium), The Wonderful Company LLC (US), Russell IPM (UK), ISCA Technologies (US), Trece Incorporated (US), Bedoukian Research, Inc. (US), Pherobank (Netherlands), Koppert Biological Systems (Netherlands), Gowan Company (US), InVivo (France), Bio Controle (Brazil), and ATGC Biotech Pvt Ltd. (India). Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=11243275 Browse Adjacent Reports @ Agriculture Industry Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Agricultural Biologicals Market by Function, Product Type (Microbials, Macrobials, Semiochemicals, Natural products), Mode of Application (Foliar Spray, Soil & Seed treatment), Crop Type (Cereals & Grains, Fruits) & Region - Global Forecast to 2028 Plant Growth Regulators Market by Type (Auxins, Cytokinins, Gibberellins, Ethylene), Crop Type (Cereals & Grains, Fruits & Vegetables, Oilseeds & Pulses, Turf & Ornamentals), Formulation, Function and Region - Global Forecast to 2028 Post-Harvest Treatment Market by Type (Coatings, Ethylene Blockers, Cleaners, Fungicides, Sprout Inhibitors, Sanitizers), Crop Type (Fruits, Vegetables and Flowers & Ornamentals), Origin (Natural and Synthetic) and Region - Global Forecast to 2028 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/pheromone-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/pheromone.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/agricultural-pheromones-market-worth-8-2-billion-by-2028--exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-301886030.html TERRAOIL SWISS AG / Key word(s): AGMEGM TERRAOIL SWISS AG: Terraoil Announces Results of Annual General Meeting 26.07.2023 / 09:34 CET/CEST Terraoil Announces Results of Annual General Meeting All Resolutions for the Annual General Meeting Passed with over 93% Support Steinhausen, Switzerland, July 26, 2023 - Terraoil Swiss AG ("Company"), an energy company with a strong focus on the Mediterranean is pleased to announce that the Annual General Meeting for fiscal year 2022 was held as scheduled on July 13, 2023 at Theater Casino, Zug, Switzerland. Shareholders were provided with an update on the current activities of the Company followed by the formal meeting for the fiscal year 2022. Details of the Company's operational and financial developments were shared with all attending. All of the business matters before the shareholders were passed by over 93% of the votes cast at the meeting. The shareholders' resolutions can be accessed at https://terraoil.swiss/publications . Chief Executive Officer, Peter Krempin commented: "Once again we had tremendous support from our shareholders for the team's efforts in driving the Company towards success. Details of our important commercial developments and the restructuring that is taking place with a view toward a future listing of the Group's shares were provided to those in attendance and there was a deep sense of excitement surrounding the Group's future. Once again, I thank all stakeholders for their patience and support toward making the Group a success story." If you are an Terraoil shareholder and would like additional information, contact Peter Krempin either via email investors@terraoil.swiss or by telephone at +41 71 544 01 20. About Terraoil Swiss AG Terraoil is an international energy company with a focus to identify and advance business opportunities in the upstream oil and gas and renewable energy sectors in the Mediterranean region. https://terraoil.swiss Terraoil forward-looking statements This media release serves informational purposes and constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation or an advertisement to buy any shares of Terraoil Swiss AG in any jurisdiction. This media release does not constitute a prospectus within the meaning of Article 35 et seqq. of the Swiss Federal Act on Financial Services. In addition, investors should seek advice from their bank or their financial adviser. This media release and the information contained therein are not being issued for the purpose of selling shares in the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, or the European Economic Area and must not be distributed within or to such countries or via publications with a general circulation in such countries. This media release contains forward-looking statements such as projections, forecasts, and estimates. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results, performance, or events to differ materially from those anticipated in this media release. Readers should therefore not rely on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this media release are based on the views and assumptions of Terraoil Swiss AG as of this date and Terraoil Swiss AG does not assume any obligation to update or revise this media release. End of Media Release Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - MAX RESOURCE CORP. (TSXV: MAX) (OTC Pink: MXROF) (FSE: M1D2) ("Max" or the "Company") is pleased to report the appointment of Mr. Bruce Counts as Vice President of Exploration. Mr. Counts stated, "I am honoured to join Max's exploration team and contribute to advancing the Company's CESAR Copper-Silver project in northeastern Colombia. I had the privilege of visiting the project twice and observed the high-priority targets in the field. I am confident that the CEASAR project has the potential to host several tier-one copper-silver deposits, and Max has the team and resources necessary to make CESAR a success." Mr. Counts continued, "The sheer magnitude of the mineralized system at CESAR is impressive. Max has identified 21 compelling targets within three distinct districts that cover a 90-km stretch of the CESAR basin. Our exploration team will soon commence a regional airborne magnetic and radiometric survey over the length of the project. This data will assist the work the Company is doing to prepare the highest-priority targets for drilling, and aid with prospecting for additional copper occurrences in this underexplored part of Colombia." CEO of Max Resource Brett Matich stated, "We are delighted to have attracted a VP of Exploration of Bruce's experience and calibre. Bruce will lead our exploration efforts in derisking the 188 square km of mining concessions and 1,000 square km of applications acquired by MAX over the last three years. Mr. Counts has over thirty-years of experience in international mineral exploration, project development and deposit evaluation. Over the past twenty-years he has been a founder and director of several publicly listed companies as well as holding executive positions at the corporate and operational level. Mr. Counts has been responsible for the exploration and development of numerous projects across a range of commodities that include copper, gold and diamonds. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Geological Engineering from the University of British Columbia and is a registered Professional Geoscientist. Figure 1. CESAR Project. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/174939_maxfig1.jpg Figure 2. AM Discovery To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/174939_93c0b60a947069f0_004full.jpg Background Max's CESAR Project lies along the copper-silver rich CESAR Basin in NE Colombia. This region provides access to major infrastructure resulting from oil & gas and mining operations, including Cerrejon, the largest coal mine in South America, held by global miner Glencore. Max's twenty-one mining concessions collectively span over 188-km (refer to Figure 1). In 2022, Max executed a 2-year co-operation agreement with Endeavour Silver Corp. (TSX: EDR, NYSE: EXK), which assists to expand its 100% owned landholdings, Endeavour will hold an underlying 0.5% NSR. AM District Starting in the far north of the Jurassic basin, classic stacked red bed outcrops with extensive lateral continuity have been rock sampled over many kilometres within the AM District. Highlight values of 34.4% copper and 305 g/t silver have been documented in the sedimentary red bed sequences. The Company confirmed that stratiform mineralization continues at depth with two scout drill holes completed earlier this year (see Max News Release dated April 4, 2023). In addition, Colombian field crews continue to discover and sample new mineralized outcrops including at the recently identified AM-7 target (Max News Release dated May 25, 2023 and Max - News Release dated June 22, 2023). Conejo District Midway south, the Conejo District is the most recent to be recognized and is characterized by structurally controlled mineralization hosted in intermediate and felsic volcanic rocks. Numerous mineralized outcrops have been discovered over a distance of 3.7km at the primary target in the district with surface samples averaging 4.9% copper. No drilling has been conducted at Conejo but it has emerged as an area of focus for the Company. URU District Mineralization within the URU District is hosted in intermediate volcanic rocks and is structurally controlled, similar to deposits in the Central African Copper Belt. At URU-C, a 9.0m of 7.0% copper and 115 g/t silver surface discovery was confirmed at depth by drill hole URU-12, which intersected 10.6m of 3.4% copper and 48 g/t silver. At the URU-CE target, 750m to the east, 19.0m of 1.3% copper discovered in outcrop was confirmed by drill hole URU-9, which intersected a broad zone of copper oxide returning 33.0m of 0.3% copper from 4.0m, including 16.5m of 0.5% copper (see Max News Release date January 24, 2023) CESAR Target Evaluation Max has identified and is evaluating 21 targets along the CESAR 90-km belt for potential drill testing. The Company is focused on expanding, refining, and prioritizing these targets in preparation for a drill program. Initial efforts have been concentrated on those targets with the greatest size potential with work that includes the following field activities: Systematic chip and channel sampling of the mineralized outcrops. Detailed geological and structural mapping of each showing. Trenching where possible to expose additional mineralization. Target scale prospecting and soil sampling. Ground geophysical surveys. Regional Exploration Max has demonstrated that the Cesar basin is fertile for copper-silver mineralization over a large area; however, only a fraction of the basin has been explored. As a result, Max has dedicated on of its geological teams to regional exploration with the goal of discovering additional copper-silver prospects over 1,000 sq-km. Qualified Person The Company's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release was reviewed and approved by Tim Henneberry, PGeo (British Columbia), a member of the Max Resource advisory board, who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101. About Max Resource Corp. Max Resource Corp. (TSXV: MAX) is a mineral exploration company advancing the newly discovered district-scale CESAR copper-silver project. The wholly owned CESAR project sits along the Colombian portion of the world's largest producing copper belt (Andean belt), with world class infrastructure and the presence of global majors (Glencore and Chevron). In addition, Max controls the RT Gold project (100% earn-in) in Peru, encompassing a bulk tonnage primary gold porphyry zone, and 3-km to the NW, a gold bearing massive sulphide zone. Historic drilling in 2001, returned values ranging 3.1 to 118.1 g/t gold over core lengths ranging from 2.2 to 36.0-metres. Max is proactive, with the corporate goal of transitioning the CESAR basin towards the mining of copper, the key metal for Colombia's transition to clean energy. The safety of our people and the communities where we operate is most important. We conduct exploration in a manner which supports protection of ecosystems through responsible environmental stewardship. Source: NI 43:101 Geological Report RT Gold Project for Max Resource Corp. by Luis Rodrigo Peralta, Mar. 8, 2023. NI 43:101 Geological Report Rio Tabaconas Gold Project for Golden Alliance Resources Corp. by George Sivertz, Oct.3, 2011. For more information visit: https://www.maxresource.com/ For additional information contact: Tim McNulty E: info@maxresource.com T: (604) 290-8100 Rahim Lakha E. rahim@bluesailcapital.com Brett Matich T: (604) 484 1230 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 Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for Max Resources Corp. described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174939 BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Just Eat Takeaway.com (JET.L) posted a first half pretax loss of 317 million euros compared to a loss of 3.54 billion euros, prior year. The Group recorded a net loss of 258 million euros, mainly driven by the non-cash amortisation of intangibles acquired through business combinations. Loss per share was 1.19 euros compared to a loss of 16.34 euros. Total adjusted EBITDA was 143 million euros, compared to a negative adjusted EBITDA of 134 million euros, prior year. First half revenue declined to 2.59 billion euros from 2.78 billion euros, previous year. Total GTV was 13.22 billion euros, a decline of 6% in constant currency. The company expects GTV change to be between a decline of 4% and an increase of 2% year-on-year in 2023, with a return to growth skewed towards the end of the year. The company also expects a positive adjusted EBITDA of approximately 275 million euros in 2023. Just Eat Takeaway.com projects free cash flow before working capital to turn positive in mid-2024. The long-term objectives for Just Eat Takeaway.com remain unchanged. Also, the Management, together with its advisers, continues to actively explore the partial or full sale of Grubhub. For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Application submitted in coordination with Migros to commercialize Aleph Cuts in Switzerland Aleph Farms, a cellular agriculture company that enhances sustainability, food security and animal welfare in our food systems, today announced that it has submitted an application for regulatory approval to the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) with the goal of selling the world's first cultivated beef steaks under the Aleph Cuts brand in Switzerland. The submission is part of Aleph's collaboration with Migros, Switzerland's largest food enterprise, which has been instrumental in assessing the country's specific regulatory approval process. Aleph Farms is leveraging the expertise and infrastructure of leaders in food production, including Migros, which first invested in the company in 2019, to help accelerate scale-up, go-to-market activities and commercialization of Aleph Cuts worldwide. Together, Aleph and Migros have since conducted extensive consumer research in Switzerland and navigated the intricacies of the country's regulatory landscape for novel foods. As part of their agreement, the two companies will continue to develop a go-to-market strategy that involves distribution and commercialization of Aleph Cuts through fine dining food service channels in Switzerland. "Food systems affect everyone, and it will take a coordinated effort between regulators, innovators and incumbents to ensure food security in a way that helps humanity live within its planetary boundaries," said Didier Toubia, Co-Founder and CEO of Aleph Farms. "At Aleph Farms, we carefully consider partnerships that reflect our core values and sustainability commitments. Together with Migros, we are establishing the cow cell as the third category of food products from cattle, alongside beef and milk. We look forward to working closely with Switzerland's Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office to enable access to both high-quality nutrition and world-changing innovation." Switzerland is a country with a high affinity for innovation. According to research conducted jointly by Aleph Farms and Migros, 74% of Swiss consumers are open to trying cultivated meat and are motivated to try it chiefly by curiosity and a desire to align with principles like sustainability and animal welfare. Alongside sustainable animal agriculture, cellular agriculture can help increase resilience and stability in the supply of animal proteins and fats to diners in Switzerland. In addition, acceptance by Swiss consumers known for a quality-conscious attitude towards food can contribute further to cultivated meat's growing momentum worldwide. Later this year, Aleph Farms plans to launch Aleph Cuts in Singapore and Israel in limited quantities and offer exclusive tasting experiences curated with select partners, pending regulatory approvals. Aleph's regulatory team is working in similar fashion with regulatory authorities in numerous markets around the world, including Switzerland, in order to ensure compliance with respective safety requirements. About Aleph Farms Aleph Farms, an Israel-based cellular agriculture company, enhances sustainability, food security and animal welfare in our food systems by diversifying the supply and decentralizing the production of quality animal proteins and fats as a complement to sustainable animal agriculture. Founded in 2017, the company unveiled the world's first cultivated thin-cut beef steak in 2018, the world's first cultivated ribeye steak in 2021, and cultivated collagen in 2022. Under its product brand, Aleph Cuts, the company is launching its first product, the cultivated Petit Steak, grown from non-modified cells of a premium Black Angus cow. For its contributions to climate leadership including a net zero commitment made in 2020, the company has received top accolades from the World Economic Forum and the United Nations. For more information, follow Aleph Cuts on Instagram and Facebook, Aleph Farms on Twitter and Linkedin, or visit www.aleph-farms.com. Access our press kit here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726122722/en/ Contacts: Natalee Gibson alephfarms@songuepr.com The firm will deploy FlexTRADER EMS to provide sophisticated automation capabilities across equities, derivatives, and fixed income. FlexTrade Systems, a global leader in multi-asset execution and order management systems, today announced that European execution platform leader, Amundi Intermediation, has selected FlexTRADER EMS to consolidate all asset classes traded onto a single, scalable, multi-asset EMS platform. Amundi Intermediation, the execution business subsidiary of Amundi Asset Management, additionally acts as an outsourced execution provider for Asset Managers, Private Banking, and Insurance companies, which globally executes approximately 5 trillion across all asset classes for around 60 clients. Consolidation of front office technology and automation initiatives are currently in sharp focus for global buy-side institutions to streamline and optimize execution workflows in equities and extend the efficiencies to other asset classes, including fixed income. FlexTrade's FlexTRADER EMS solution will be deployed as Amundi Intermediation's global, centralized EMS platform to deliver cross-asset trading capabilities to over 60 dealers within its international investment hubs across trading desks in Paris, Dublin, Singapore and Tokyo. The move is designed to deliver dealers a common, robust set of tools and processes to handle cross-asset trading and execution efficiently. Further, by deploying FlexTRADER EMS, Amundi Intermediation's dealing teams will benefit from sophisticated automation tools to streamline order and workflow management through FlexAlgowheel across all asset classes, enabling the firm to scale up its trading volumes alongside business growth efficiently. With the move to deploy FlexTRADER EMS, Amundi Intermediation will use FlexTrade's unique fixed-income capabilities to bring more automation and electronification to their bond executing operations. Amundi Intermediation will replace existing multi-platform processes through a single fixed-income EMS and deliver an aggregated view of the market and bilateral connectivity to liquidity providers. Further, using FlexTrade's Fixed Income Smart Order Router (FISOR), its bond dealers can enrich their automation capabilities using consolidated pre-trade data to ensure best execution. The project will be delivered in multiple phases, with equities and derivatives now live and in production across Amundi Intermediation's global trading desks. Fixed income will be deployed by the end of the year 2023. Andy Mahoney, Managing Director, EMEA at FlexTrade, noted: "We are delighted to welcome Europe's largest execution platform to FlexTrade. Proactively choosing to consolidate onto a single platform is a strategic vision to ensure Amundi Intermediation's execution operations have the core trading technology platform its businesses need to deliver the best outcomes to its clients. Notably, Amundi Intermediation will also leverage our fixed-income capabilities, further validating the growing trend in the market to electronify bond trading activities." About FlexTrade Systems FlexTrade Systems is a global leader in high performance multi-asset execution management and order management systems for equities, fixed income, foreign exchange, futures, and options. A pioneer in the field, FlexTrade is internationally recognized for introducing FlexTRADER, the world's first broker-neutral, execution management trading system, which allows clients to completely control and customize their execution workflows through a comprehensive ability to search/access liquidity while maintaining the confidentiality of their trading strategies. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726633077/en/ Contacts: Iain Smith Iain.Smith@FlexTrade.com o: +44 (0)20 3757 9311 HVDC interconnection to secure power transmission and support new renewable electricity generation with the country's largest electricity transmission project Zurich, Switzerland, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all, today announced it has been selected as preferred technology provider of SSEN Transmission and National Grid, to supply two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations to interconnect the Scottish and English power grids. The energy transition requires a collaborative effort that can only be achieved with advanced technologies and new ways of working. In appointing Hitachi Energy as their preferred technology provider, SSEN Transmission and National Grid secure best-in-class technology and future production capacity in a rapidly growing market. For Hitachi Energy, this enables investment in new production capacity and to undertake large-scale recruitment drives. It also strengthens collaboration, standardization of solutions, and synergies between projects. The integration of renewables requires solutions that make the grid resilient, stable, and flexible. Hitachi Energy's innovation and long development of voltage sourced converter (VSC) power electronics and control and protection (MACH) technologies meet the requirements alongside many other landmark grid integration projects. Eastern Green Link 2 will consist of two 525-kilovolt (kV) bipole VSC converter stations connected by 440 kilometers of subsea cable and 70 kilometers of underground cable, making it the longest HVDC link in the UK. The link will efficiently supply a total of 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity, which is enough to power around two million UK homes.1 The link will help to secure power transmission in the northern UK and support the integration of new renewable electricity generation in Scotland, as part of the UK's Net Zero Strategy.2 As much as 11,000 MW of offshore wind capacity is possible in Scottish waters by 20303, and HVDC transmission will play a large part in bringing this vast amount of renewable power to shore and south, to communities across the country. "The UK's Net Zero Strategy has ambitious targets which will require vast amounts of new renewable generation. Electricity will be the backbone of the entire energy system," said Niklas Persson, Managing Director at Hitachi Energy's Grid Integration business. "Our pioneering HVDC technology will ensure that this electricity will reliably and efficiently get where it's needed most." "This is another important milestone for EGL2 which is part of the new network infrastructure required to help the UK meet its net zero and energy security ambitions," said Sarah Sale, Deputy Project Director of National Grid. "Along with cabling bidder and formal joint venture announcements, this is another key part of the project which is now in place and ready for the delivery phase. We look forward to working in collaboration with Hitachi Energy and BAM as the project continues to progress." "The converter stations at either end of the cable will play a crucial role in making the power transported subsea suitable for transportation around the onshore transmission network - getting Hitachi Energy and BAM in place to deliver that technology is great for the project," said Ricky Saez, the EGL2 Project Director from SSEN Transmission. "BAM is delighted to work in collaboration with Hitachi Energy on this vital renewable energy project for National Grid and SSEN Transmission," said Huw Jones, Executive Director of BAM Nuttall. "The converter stations will enable the transmission of green energy from areas of offshore wind generation to centers of population, supporting the UK's net zero ambitions and providing better energy security. We look forward to engaging with local communities and suppliers in Aberdeenshire and North Yorkshire, supporting BAM's vision to deliver sustainable infrastructure for our clients, stakeholders, and the communities in which we work." Hitachi Energy is collaborating with BAM, a construction company that designs, builds, and maintains sustainable buildings and infrastructure, to provide the civil and installation scope for the project. The collaboration with BAM will leverage the core competencies of the two companies to deliver a best-in-class solution for the project. Hitachi Energy pioneered commercial HVDC technology almost 70 years ago and has delivered more than half of the world's HVDC projects. 1 https://www.nationalgrid.com/electricity-transmission/network-and-infrastructure/segl2 2 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy 3 https://www.gov.scot/publications/offshore-wind-policy-statement/ 4 Modular Advanced Control for HVDC HVDC website: https://www.hitachienergy.com/offering/product-and-system/hvdc Photo captions: North Sea Link Blyth Converter Station UK Eastern Green Link 2 -END- About Hitachi Energy Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We serve customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain. Together with customers and partners, we pioneer technologies and enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future. We are advancing the world's energy system to become more sustainable, flexible and secure whilst balancing social, environmental and economic value. Hitachi Energy has a proven track record and unparalleled installed base in more than 140 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ around 40,000 people in 90 countries and generate business volumes of over $10 billion USD. https://www.hitachienergy.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/hitachienergy https://twitter.com/HitachiEnergy About Hitachi, Ltd. Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT. Attachments Lead, South Dakota--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Dakota Gold Corp. (NYSE American: DC) ("Dakota Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to report it has completed its metallurgical testing/validation drill program at the Richmond Hill Gold Project ("Richmond Hill") ahead of schedule and under budget. All holes have been logged, sampled, and shipped off for initial assays. A total of twenty-nine drill holes were completed for the program, and of those, results from sixteen of the holes have been returned to date: five of these holes were reported previously by the Company (see June 8 and June 15, 2023, press releases) and eleven additional drill holes are reported here. Assay results for the remaining thirteen holes of this program are pending. Drill Hole Highlights (See Table 1): The latest drill results generally confirmed the grade and intercept thickness expectations compared to historical drilling completed by LAC Minerals USA LLC. However, several holes exceeded the thickness and grades of the model, indicating there are untested parts of the system that are open along strike and at greater depth than previously understood. These drill holes include: RH23C-036 intersecting 0.060 oz/ton over 65 feet (2.06 grams/tonne over 19.8 meters) RH23C-039 intersecting 0.069 oz/ton over 36 feet (2.37 grams/tonne over 11.0 meters) RH23C-045 intersecting 0.024 oz/ton over 112.3 feet (0.82 grams/tonne over 34.2 meters) RH23C-046 intersecting 0.042 oz/ton over 96.7 feet (1.44 grams/tonne over 29.5 meters) Program results have provided new insights into the major structures controlling brecciation and gold mineralization. This knowledge has provided new direction for step-out drilling in known breccia bodies to the north of the current drilling, and for new exploration drilling under the younger sedimentary cover in the Carbonate Camp area. The Richmond Hill metallurgical testing/validation drill program remains on schedule to produce a compliant S-K 1300 Resource in the first Quarter of 2024. This will incorporate 880 historical drill holes with the current drill results. This phase of drilling at Richmond Hill has produced results consistent with expectations with approximately 80,000 feet of drilling completed to this date. James Berry, Vice President Exploration of Dakota Gold, said, "We are pleased how quickly and smoothly this validation drilling program was completed and thank our employees and contractors who contributed to its safe, successful, and rapid completion. The latest drill results continue to validate and extend the mineralization characterized by historical drill programs. In addition, the new geologic information from the core drilling is being used to update the geologic deposit model, which was based on reverse circulation rotary drilling and limited largely to near surface mineralization in the Cambrian sedimentary section. This new information will be essential for use in future mineral resource estimations. We continue to be impressed by the size and strength of the Richmond Hill breccia pipe mineralization. Several excellent targets remain outside of our current drilling area which we think will further expand this unique gold mineral system." Exploration Update: All twenty-nine of the recent drill holes completed at Richmond Hill were drilled as part of a Dakota Gold's metallurgical testing/validation drilling program, and the results continue to both confirm and extend mineralization within the central breccia pipe areas (target footage 34,924 ft / 10,583 m). Bulk samples for ten of the holes with assay results have already been selected by the Company's metallurgical contractor and shipped to a test facility in Canada where metallurgical characterization and recovery testing is being conducted. Additional material from the remaining drill holes with pending assays will also be shipped once results are returned and results are evaluated. Drilling at Richmond Hill will now shift to exploration in other areas of the property including testing beneath the historical Richmond Hill breccia pipe, other breccias and structural intersections along the north-south structural corridor and targets in the Carbonate Camp area. Table 1. RH23C-030, RH23C-035, RH23C-036, RH23C-039, RH23C-040, RH23C-041, RH23C-042 RH23C-043, RH23C-044, RH23C-045 and RH23C-046 Drill Results (Imperial / Metric Units) Hole # From To Depth Interval* Gold From To Depth Interval* Gold Mineral Type ft ft ft ft oz/ton m m m m g/t RH23C-030 311.2 329.9 193.7 18.7 0.070 94.9 100.6 59 5.7 2.40 Tert 370.0 390.0 221.7 20.0 0.018 112.8 118.9 67.6 6.1 0.62 Tert 415.0 424.8 240.8 9.8 0.075 126.5 129.5 73.4 3.0 2.57 Tert RH23C-035 105.3 124.6 69 19.3 0.020 32.1 38.0 21 5.9 0.69 Tert 133.4 176.7 86.4 43.3 0.022 40.7 53.9 26.3 13.2 0.75 Tert 189.0 199.5 116.2 10.5 0.023 57.6 60.8 35.4 3.2 0.79 BX 308.2 364.8 190 56.6 0.023 93.9 111.2 57.9 17.3 0.79 BX RH23C-036 130.0 171.5 67.1 41.5 0.028 39.6 52.3 20.5 12.6 0.96 Tert 185.0 250.0 91.4 65.0 0.060 56.4 76.2 27.9 19.8 2.06 Tert 305.0 409.0 136.8 104.0 0.036 93.0 124.7 41.7 31.7 1.23 Tert 450.4 495.0 205.9 44.6 0.025 137.3 150.9 62.8 13.6 0.86 BX 530.0 539.0 248.4 9.0 0.037 161.5 164.3 75.7 2.7 1.27 Tert 555.0 570.0 261.8 15.0 0.023 169.2 173.7 79.8 4.6 0.79 Tert 590.0 737.3 278.6 147.3 0.038 179.8 224.7 84.9 44.9 1.30 Tert 765.0 781.0 334.4 16.0 0.029 233.2 238.0 101.9 4.9 0.99 Tert 825.0 860.0 356.1 35.0 0.022 251.5 262.1 108.5 10.7 0.75 Tert 975.0 1015.0 428.6 40.0 0.026 297.2 309.4 130.6 12.2 0.89 Tert 1070.0 1100.0 485.4 30.0 0.029 326.1 335.3 147.9 9.1 0.99 Bx 1275.0 1285.6 701.2 10.6 0.037 388.6 391.9 213.7 3.2 1.27 BX 1395.4 1425.2 829.8 29.8 0.031 425.3 434.4 252.9 9.1 1.06 Tert RH23C-039 0 42.5 0 42.5 0.020 0 13.0 0 13.0 0.69 BX 133.5 145.3 60.1 11.8 0.027 40.7 44.3 18.3 3.6 0.93 BX 196.4 232.4 88.3 36.0 0.069 59.9 70.8 26.9 11.0 2.37 Tert 250.3 273.7 106.7 23.4 0.023 76.3 83.4 32.5 7.1 0.79 Tert 292.8 305.5 120.6 12.7 0.035 89.2 93.1 36.8 3.9 1.20 Tert 358.6 455.0 142.7 96.4 0.037 109.3 138.7 43.5 29.4 1.27 BX 480.1 544.4 183.2 64.3 0.025 146.3 165.9 55.8 19.6 0.86 BX 562.6 790.4 207.1 227.8 0.020 171.5 240.9 63.1 69.4 0.69 BX 837.0 845.8 297.9 8.8 0.023 255.1 257.8 90.8 2.7 0.79 BX 920.0 971.8 324.3 51.8 0.016 280.4 296.2 98.8 15.8 0.55 BX 1054.5 1063.1 426 8.6 0.030 321.4 324.0 129.8 2.6 1.03 BX 1086.0 1163.0 454.4 77.0 0.020 331.0 354.5 138.5 23.5 0.69 BX 1780.8 1800.4 1006.5 19.6 0.039 542.8 548.8 306.8 6.0 1.34 BX RH23C-040 171.5 234.7 108.8 63.2 0.023 52.3 71.5 33.2 19.3 0.79 Tert 675.3 689.7 455.6 14.4 0.017 205.8 210.2 138.9 4.4 0.58 Tert 884.0 901.4 624.6 174 0.022 269.4 274.7 190.4 5.3 0.75 Tert 954.0 1000.0 686.1 46.0 0.044 290.8 304.8 209.1 14.0 1.51 Tert RH23C-041 0 62.1 0 62.1 0.020 0 18.9 0 18.9 0.69 Tert 168.3 227.0 168.3 58.7 0.025 51.3 69.2 51.3 17.9 0.86 Tert 236.4 281.6 236.4 45.2 0.026 72.1 85.8 72.1 13.8 0.89 Tert 689.6 703.5 689.6 13.9 0.018 210.2 214.4 210.2 4.2 0.62 BX 1049.5 1076.8 1049.5 27.3 0.018 319.9 328.2 319.9 8.3 0.62 BX 1099.2 1129.3 1099.2 30.1 0.019 335.0 344.2 335 9.2 0.65 BX/Tert 1163.3 1181.6 1163.3 18.3 0.021 354.6 360.2 3354.6 5.6 0.72 BX RH23C-042 164.0 183.9 110.8 19.9 0.017 50.0 56.1 33.8 6.1 0.58 Tert 232.6 250.5 158.6 17.9 0.027 70.9 76.3 48.3 5.4 0.93 Tert 259.4 341.7 176.3 82.3 0.026 79.1 104.2 53.7 25.1 0.89 Tert 377.8 398.4 276.5 20.6 0.033 115.2 121.4 84.3 6.3 1.13 Tert 484.9 500.0 368.2 15.1 0.016 147.8 152.4 112.2 4.6 0.55 Tert RH23C-043 167.6 176.9 113.7 9.3 0.019 50.8 53.6 34.7 2.8 0.65 Tert 236.5 249.7 157.2 13.2 0.018 71.7 75.7 47.9 4.0 0.62 Tert 263.3 274.0 172.8 10.7 0.041 79.8 83.0 52.7 3.2 1.41 Tert 404.5 458.3 250.8 53.8 0.025 122.6 138.9 76.4 16.3 0.86 Tert/BX 541.2 556.0 336.2 14.8 0.023 164.0 168.5 102.5 4.5 0.79 Tert 588.0 600.5 359.2 12.5 0.024 178.2 182.0 109.5 3.8 0.02 Tert RH23C-044 38.0 134.8 31.2 96.8 0.031 11.6 41.1 9.5 29.5 1.06 Tert 144.4 157.0 133.7 12.6 0.029 44.0 47.9 40.8 3.8 0.99 Tert 1170.0 1180.4 1005 10.4 0.051 356.6 359.8 306.3 3.2 1.75 Tert RH23C-045 48.3 65.5 47.8 17.2 0.021 14.7 20.0 14.6 5.2 0.72 BX 88.2 101.3 78.1 13.1 0.017 26.9 30.9 23.8 4.0 0.58 Tert 112.2 123.8 95.6 11.6 0.017 34.2 37.7 29.1 3.5 0.58 BX 324.0 359.1 240.4 35.1 0.022 98.8 109.5 73.3 10.7 0.75 Tert 369.0 424.0 272.3 55.0 0.033 112.5 129.2 83.0 16.8 1.13 Tert 457.8 570.1 340.6 112.3 0.024 139.5 173.8 103.8 34.2 0.82 Tert 595.0 615.0 485.2 20.0 0.018 181.4 187.5 147.9 6.1 0.62 Tert 952.3 978.0 836.9 25.7 0.022 290.3 298.1 255.1 7.8 0.75 BX 997.0 1007.0 888.4 10.0 0.018 303.9 306.9 270.8 3.0 0.62 Tert 1501.1 1511.1 1290.6 10.0 0.018 457.5 460.6 393.4 3.0 0.62 BX RH23C-046 29.1 49.0 21 19.9 0.017 8.9 14.9 6.4 6.1 0.58 Tert 364.4 417.8 240.5 53.2 0.023 111.1 127.3 73.3 16.3 0.79 BX 445.9 458.0 326.1 12.1 0.033 135.9 139.6 99.4 3.7 1.13 Tert 473.9 517.6 355.4 43.7 0.029 144.4 157.8 108.3 13.3 0.99 Tert 1060.2 1129.5 774 69.3 0.021 323.1 344.3 235.9 21.1 0.72 Bx 1150.1 1246.8 843.6 96.7 0.042 350.6 380.0 257.1 29.5 1.44 BX 1285.0 1337.3 941.1 52.3 0.024 391.7 407.6 286.8 15.9 0.82 BX 1353.5 1385.0 986.7 31.5 0.034 412.5 422.1 300.7 9.6 1.17 BX 1396.6 1449.7 1012.8 53.1 0.023 425.7 441.9 308.7 16.2 0.79 BX 1465.4 1476.3 1057.1 10.9 0.022 446.7 450.0 322.2 3.3 0.75 BX *True thickness is unknown. Abbreviations in the table include ounces per ton ("oz/ton"); grams per tonne ("g/t"); feet ("ft"); meter ("m"); Tertiary ("Tert"); and Breccia (Bx). Figure 1. Plan View of Dakota Gold Corp. Richmond Hill Drill Holes with Highlighted Gold Intercepts. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/174907_ec97598dc434b8c2_002full.jpg Figure 2. Cross Section View of Richmond Hill Drill Holes RH23C-036, RH23C-041 and RH23C-046. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/174907_ec97598dc434b8c2_003full.jpg Figure 3. Cross Section View of Richmond Hill Drill Hole RH23C-040. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/174907_ec97598dc434b8c2_004full.jpg The Company currently has four drills operating on its properties in the Homestake District of South Dakota, with two drills operating at the Maitland Gold Project ("Maitland") and two drills operating at Richmond Hill. The Maitland drills are targeting Homestake-hosted and Tertiary gold mineralization and the Richmond Hill drills are targeting Tertiary breccias and replacement mineralization. Richmond Hill is located 2.3 miles west of Maitland and 1.5 miles north of Coeur Mining, Inc.'s Wharf Mine. The Wharf Mine produced 79,768 ounces at 0.021 oz/ton gold in 2022. About Dakota Gold Corp. Dakota Gold (NYSE American: DC) is a South Dakota-based responsible gold exploration and development company with a specific focus on revitalizing the Homestake District in Lead, South Dakota. Dakota Gold has high-caliber gold mineral properties covering over 46 thousand acres surrounding the historic Homestake Mine. The Dakota Gold team is focused on new gold discoveries and opportunities that build on the legacy of the Homestake District and its 145 years of gold mining history. Subscribe to Dakota Gold's e-mail list at www.dakotagoldcorp.com to receive the latest news and other Company updates. Shareholder and Investor Inquiries For more information, please contact: Jonathan Awde, President and Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1 604-761-5251 Email: JAwde@dakotagoldcorp.com Qualified Person and S-K 1300 Disclosure James M. Berry, a Registered Member of SME and Vice President of Exploration of Dakota Gold Corp., is the Company's designated qualified person for this news release as defined in Subpart 1300 - Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations of Regulation S-K and has reviewed and approved its scientific and technical content. The ranges of potential tonnage and grade (or quality) disclosed above in respect of the Richmond Hill Gold Project are conceptual in nature and could change as the proposed exploration activities are completed. There has been insufficient exploration of the Richmond Hill Gold Project to allow for an estimate of a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a mineral resource. The disclosure above in respect of the Richmond Hill Gold Project therefore does not represent, and should not be construed to be, an estimate of a mineral resource or mineral reserve. Quality Assurance/Quality Control consists of regular insertion of certified reference materials, duplicate samples, and blanks into the sample stream. Check samples will be submitted to an umpire laboratory as the drill program progresses. Assay results are reviewed, and discrepancies are investigated prior to incorporation into the Company database. Samples are submitted to the ALS Geochemistry sample preparation facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Gold and multi-element analyses are performed at the ALS Geochemistry laboratory in Vancouver, British Columbia. ALS Minerals is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited lab. Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the execution and timing of our planned exploration activities, our use and evaluation of historic data, our ability to achieve our strategic goals, the state of the economy and financial markets generally and the effect on our industry, and the market for our common stock. The foregoing list is not exhaustive. For additional information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements, we refer you to the risk factors included in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KT for the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 2022, as amended, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents that we file with the SEC. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. These statements speak only as of the date of this communication, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. We do not give any assurance that we will achieve our expectations. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174907 LEEDS, England, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- thebigword, a leading global language solutions provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking achievement in its pursuit of delivering exceptional language services to clients worldwide. Leveraging their state-of-the-art AI automated Telephone Interpreting (TI) platform, thebigword has been able to connect 98% of TI platform users to a qualified interpreters within 22 seconds. Throughout history, language barriers have presented challenges across various industries. However, thebigword's commitment to innovation has resulted in the development of a cutting-edge platform that utilises automation to effectively bridge these gaps, enhancing communication between individuals and businesses across the globe. With the surging demand for multilingual support, thebigword's automated TI platform emerges as an industry game-changer. This revolutionary technology empowers clients with access to on-demand language services, connecting them to thousands of professional interpreters proficient in an array of languages - all in real-time. thebigword's TI platform delivers a service level of over 98%, guaranteeing high-quality and reliable language interpretation services, irrespective of time and the client's requested language. The platform swiftly connects clients with qualified interpreters in 22 seconds, significantly reducing wait times and streamlining communication processes. The company's network of qualified interpreters cover a wide range of languages, meeting the diverse needs of clients seeking interpretation support worldwide. Understanding the importance of real-time language support, thebigword's TI platform operates 24/7, providing round-the-clock assistance just a phone call away. Joshua Gould, thebigword's Chief Executive Officer, expressed immense pride in the team's efforts and dedication to revolutionise language services with this achievement. He stated: "Breaking the language barrier is at the core of our mission and showcasing 98% service levels whilst connecting clients with interpreters in less than 22 seconds through our TI platform, is a testament to our commitment. We are thrilled to provide our clients with unparalleled language solutions that drive efficiency, improve communication and foster greater global collaboration." Mark Rice, Global Managing Director of thebigword Interpreting added: "Through a substantial investment in automation with best-in-class telephonically development, we have raised standards to a level that was previously unimaginable. As we continue to progress, I am excited at the future enhancements we have in the pipeline to further break to the records of service level expectations in the industry." In the US, over 70% of language requests are for a single language, Spanish. However, in Europe, language solutions providers encounter challenges as on-demand requests exhibit extreme diversity. The most requested languages usually account for less than 15% of the daily demand, intensifying the complexity of providing on-demand interpreting services. About thebigword: thebigword is a leading global language solutions provider, delivering a wide range of language services to clients across multiple sectors. With decades of experience, the company has earned a reputation for excellence and innovation in the language industry. Offering interpretation, translation and language technology solutions, thebigword continues to empower organisations to thrive in multilingual environments. Media Enquiries: Lauren Hockney Global Head of Marketing Lauren.Hockney@thebigword.com www.thebigword.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2161341/thebigword_logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/breaking-language-barriers-thebigword-connects-clients-to-interpreters-within-22-seconds-through-technology-platform-301885431.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Sun Summit Minerals Corp. (TSXV: SMN) (OTCQB: SMREF) announces that an evacuation order has been issued south of the town of Houston in response to an uncontrolled wildfire in the region. Exploration activities have been temporarily suspended and all personnel have been demobilised from site until the situation improves. Highlights Work has commenced for multi-stage exploration program: Exploration is focused on step-out drilling at Buck Main, targeting new zones of potential high-grade and bulk-tonnage mineralization in previously untested areas (see June 8, 2023 news release). In addition, surface exploration includes detailed mapping, prospecting, and sampling in high-priority targets, including prospective new ground (see June 27, 2023 news release). Assay and geochemical analyses underway: Core samples from three completed drill holes, half of a fourth drill hole, and 230 samples from surface exploration have been sent to the lab for assay and geochemical analyses, with results expected shortly. No significant delays anticipated: The Company does not expect the wildfire to have a significant impact on the 2023 exploration program, which will resume as soon as it is safe and permissible to do so. Sharyn Alexander, Sun Summit's President stated: "We have temporarily suspended our exploration activities at the Buck Project to ensure the safety of our employees and contractors. We are closely monitoring the wildfire development in the region and are in regular contact with local authorities. The safety of our employees, contractors, and the local community is our top priority, and we extend our gratitude to the firefighters and emergency personnel working to control the wildfire. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep the market updated as the wildfire situation evolves." To date, three diamond drill holes have been completed at Buck Main, with a portion of a fourth drill hole recovered, for a total of 1,219 core samples. The drill rig is currently on site and has not been demobilized. Extensive surface exploration has been conducted in the area of Mt Morice and CR (recently acquired from Teck; see June 1, 2023 news release), with over 203 rock samples, 17 silt samples, and 10 soil samples (for a total of 230 samples) collected by the field crew in high-priority areas. All drill core and surface samples have been shipped to the lab for assay and geochemical analysis. The Company is not aware of any damage or loss to infrastructure and will continue to monitor the situation and respond accordingly as the situation evolves. National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure This news release has been approved by Sun Summit's Vice President Exploration, Ken MacDonald, P. Geo., a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators. He has also verified the data disclosed, including sampling, analytical and test data, underlying the technical information in this news release. Community Engagement Sun Summit is engaging with First Nations on whose territory the Buck Project is located and is discussing their interests and identifying contract and work opportunities, as well as opportunities to support community initiatives. The Company looks forward to continuing to work with local and regional First Nations as the project continues. About the Buck Project The Buck Project is situated in a historic mining district near Houston, B.C., with excellent nearby infrastructure that allows for year-round, road-accessible exploration. The project is host to the Buck Main intermediate-sulfidation epithermal-related gold-silver-zinc system. Most of the mineralization drilled to date at Buck Main consists of long, continuous zones of disseminated and breccia-hosted, bulk tonnage-style gold-silver-zinc. Vein-hosted, high-grade mineralization has also been intersected near the center of Buck Main. Exploration at the Buck Project is focused on investigating the lateral and vertical extent of gold-silver-zinc mineralization at the Buck Main system, and to define additional drill targets across the entire land package through systematic exploration programs. About Sun Summit Sun Summit Minerals (TSXV: SMN) (OTCQB: SMREF) is a mineral exploration company focused on expanding its gold, silver, and zinc discovery at its flagship Buck Project located in north-central British Columbia. Sun Summit is committed to environmental and social responsibility, with a focus on accountable development and building respectful and beneficial relationships with Indigenous and local communities. Further details are available at www.sunsummitminerals.com. For further information, contact: Sharyn Alexander President info@sunsummitminerals.com Roger Blair Acuity Advisory Corp., Corporate Communications rblair@acuityadvisorycorp.com Tel. 778-588-9606 Forward-Looking Information Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements, which involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences, without limiting the generality of the following, include: risks inherent in exploration activities; the impact of exploration competition; unexpected geological or hydrological conditions; changes in government regulations and policies, including trade laws and policies; failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals from government authorities; volatility and sensitivity to market prices; volatility and sensitivity to capital market fluctuations; the ability to raise funds through private or public equity financings; environmental and safety risks including increased regulatory burdens; weather and other natural phenomena; and other exploration, development, operating, financial market and regulatory risks. Except as required by applicable securities laws and regulation, Sun Summit disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174895 Augment's First-of-a-Kind Bespoke Approach Attracts Top Industry Talent Augment, an innovative reinsurance solutions broker offering bespoke solutions to its partners, today announced appointments to strengthen its executive team, with Charlie Love joining as Chief Financial Officer and Henry Mikrut joining as Head of Rating Agency Advisory. Love will lead the group's finances and operations, continuing Augment's growth trajectory while engaging with stakeholders across the business. Mikrut will deepen Augment's advisory bench, helping partners improve strategy and insurance enterprise functions. "With advances in technology and data analytics, it's a fascinating time to be in the reinsurance industry," Love said. "I'm excited to join Augment, which is committed to combining new innovative approaches with deep expertise, driving insurance and risk management to better serve clients." Love has a track record of value creation within both publicly owned and private equity-backed enterprises, with a deep background in finance and operations experience across the insurance sector. Prior to Augment, Love was interim Group CFO at insurance distributor Abacai, after successful tenures as Group CFO at Miller Insurance Services and Specialist Risk Group, providing insurance solutions and advice for difficult-to-place risks globally. Earlier in his career, Love spent nearly a decade in various roles at management consulting firm Aon Benfield, rising to CFO for UK and EMEA operations. He is a board member of British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) International and Wholesale Members Advisory Board, and a Panel Member for the Bank of England. "Our team is focused on understanding our partners' competitive advantages and operating landscape, their strategic directives and options, and how we can best provide exceptional intellectual capital and servicing to help position our clients for success," Mikrut said. "I'm excited to be joining an innovative, talented group of peers. Thoughtful deployment of technological advancements, advanced data analytics and well thought out and efficient capital utilization strategies are paramount to consumers thriving in our industry." Mikrut has extensive experience in advising and consulting for businesses in the insurance and reinsurance sector(s). With decades of experience in the reinsurance broker advisory and financial analysis space, he previously held tenure as Senior Advisor in the Private Equity firm Alvarez Marsal. Earlier in his career, Mikrut was Executive Vice President, Global Head of Rating Advisory, and Co-Chair of the Analytics Board at JLT Re, which was later acquired by Marsh McLennan. Augment launched in July, announcing access of up to $100 million in funding from Altamont Capital Partners. For more information, visit the company's website at www.augmentrisk.com. About Augment Augment is a risk capital and reinsurance solutions broker, focused on designing and placing bespoke protections for a variety of clients. With a wide range of solutions, Augment creates growth and equity value through tailored transactions to deliver long term capital and partnerships. Augment's expertise extends beyond (re)insurance, allowing the company to disrupt the value chain and build creative, value-accretive solutions for individual client needs. For more information, please visit www.augmentrisk.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726270492/en/ Contacts: Jill Harding jill@cmand.co CMAND for Augment Positions Wellfield to wholly own Canada's second qualified digital asset custodian, subject to final registrations and regulatory approvals. Significant untapped opportunity to monetize Wellfield Capital's base of high net worth and institutional customers. Provides custodial capabilities for Wellfield's plan to enable VaultChain Gold on public blockchains. Enables Wellfield to capture custodial demand (via Brane Trust) and non-custodial demand (via Wellfield Capital) as the decentralized finance and digital real world asset ecosystems continues to evolve. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Wellfield Technologies Inc. (TSXV: WFLD) (OTCQB: WFLDF) (FSE: K8D) (the "Company" or "Wellfield") today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") with Brane Inc. ("Brane") and Big Index Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Brane (together with Brane, the "Vendors") to acquire all of the issued and outstanding securities of Brane Trust Company Ltd. ("Brane Trust"), and certain other assets, including but not limited to, all of the owned intellectual property, of the Vendors (collectively, the "Purchased Assets"), aiming to establish and operate Canada's second qualified digital asset custodian (the "Transaction"). Brane Trust, a wholly owned subsidiary of Brane Inc., is a trust company regulated by the Alberta Ministry of Treasury Board and Finance (the "Alberta Government") for the purpose of digital asset custody. Incorporated in October 2021, Brane Trust is in the process of registration with the Alberta Government, which, once completed, will result in Brane Trust becoming a regulated custodian for digital assets. Under Wellfield's ownership, Brane Trust will continue the process to become a "qualified custodian" as such term is defined in National Instrument 31-103 - Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations, and National Instrument 81-102 - Investment Funds, enabling Brane Trust to provide industry-leading, regulated custody for crypto asset trading platforms and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Brane Trust will operate independently under Wellfield's ownership, with a distinguished board of directors dedicated to ensuring custodial best practices, including industry-leading protection of client assets through regulatory compliance, strict segregation of duties, and secure technology. Pursuant to the Definitive Agreement, the Company will acquire the Purchased Assets in exchange for the issuance by the Company of: (i) a $8,400,000 convertible debenture (the "First Convertible Debenture"), convertible at any time, at the option of the Company (the "Conversion Right"), into such number of common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Common Shares") equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the principal amount to be converted by (b) the conversion price, at the sole direction of the Company, of either: $0.25 per Common Share; or the maximum applicable discounted market price according to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"); (ii) a $1,350,000 convertible debenture (the "Second Convertible Debenture", and together with the First Convertible Debenture, the "Convertible Debentures") convertible at any time pursuant to the Conversion Right, according to the same terms as the First Convertible Debenture; (iii) cash payment of $150,000; and (iv) the assumption and payment of approximately $90,000 outstanding liabilities of Brane Trust (collectively, the "Consideration"). The Consideration represents an agreed upon value of approximately $9,990,000. Pursuant to the terms of the Definitive Agreement, the First Convertible Debenture will mature 2 years after closing of the Transaction, bear interest at a rate of 0% per annum and will be convertible at any time pursuant to the Conversion Right, and the Second Convertible Debenture will mature 6 months after closing of the Transaction, bear interest at a rate of 0% per annum, will be repayable at any time at the option of the Company in cash and convertible at any time pursuant to the Conversion Right. Closing of the Transaction is subject to a number of customary conditions, including receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, in particular the approval of the Alberta Government and the TSXV. The Convertible Debentures will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. INFOR Financial Inc. and Front Financial Inc. acted as financial advisors to the Vendors in connection with the Transaction. Management Commentary Levy Cohen, CEO of Wellfield, commented, "Wellfield sees the future of capital, transactions, and liquidity firmly embedded in blockchain and decentralized technologies, but we also understand and anticipate consistent demand from high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors for reliable digital asset custody services. With the acquisition of Brane Trust, we position Wellfield to offer this discerning client base the best of both worlds: access to the best of decentralized finance and, when needed, the reassurance of having their assets safeguarded by a regulated custodian. As we continue to execute on our institutional decentralized finance strategy, we are excited to enrich our offerings to sophisticated investors and institutional customers and to welcome Brane Trust to Wellfield." Adam Miron, Chair of the board of directors of Brane Trust, expressed, "Today marks a pivotal moment in the journey of Brane Trust. This acquisition by Wellfield underscores the progress we have made and the trust we have earned in the burgeoning realm of digital asset custody. We have been extremely impressed with Wellfield's vision, their team, and what they are building. We are thrilled to become part of their ongoing journey and are excited about the unique potential this partnership holds. This is just the beginning of a transformative era in digital asset management and custody services." Matt Pierce, President of Brane Trust, added, "Our new relationship with Wellfield will build on the extensive work we've done to establish Brane Trust as a trusted, independent custodian for digital assets. We look forward to setting a new industry standard for excellence in safeguarding digital assets, while realizing new opportunities through Wellfield's commitment to research, development, and innovation." Transaction Benefits Through the acquisition of Brane Trust and subject to regulatory approvals, Wellfield is expected to be well positioned to realize strong synergies, revenue-generating potential, and competitive differentiation, including: revenue from custody fees earned through regulated, third-party custody of digital assets for accredited investors; a wholly owned custodial solution for Wellfield's innovative digital real world asset products, including VaultChain Gold; and augmenting Wellfield's institutional sales capabilities and value proposition through affiliation with a respected, regulated custodian. Regulatory trends in the U.S., Canada, and around the world point to the growing importance of qualified custody in the digital asset sector. Combining Wellfield's unique combination of real-world assets and decentralized services with a qualified custody offering is expected to create a powerful value proposition that does not yet exist in the marketplace. About Wellfield Technologies Wellfield is an R&D focused Fintech company that operates on public blockchains including Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Company operates a regulated platform that onboards customers globally at scale, leveraging its proprietary decentralized technology to offer highly disruptive on-chain self-custody solutions. Wellfield operates through two brands: Coinmama, which with a growing base of more than 3.5 million registered users, is one of the most trusted and enduring global brands operating in the crypto space; and Wellfield Capital, which the Company announced in late 2022 to meet the needs of institutional users and professional investors. Join Wellfield's digital community on LinkedIn and Twitter, and for more details, visit wellfield.io. About Brane Inc. Founded in 2017, Brane Inc. is a carbon neutral Canadian fintech company, helping institutional clients unlock the opportunities of blockchain and digital assets. Brane Vault, its core digital asset custody technology, is third-party certified to stringent global standards including ISO 27001, ISO 27017, and NIST CSF Tier 4. Brane has been recognized as one of Canada's Best Workplaces in Financial Services and Start-Ups categories by Great Place to Work, and one of Canada's 10 Best and Brightest New Innovators by Canadian Business magazine. For further information contact: Wellfield Technologies Inc. Levy Cohen, CEO levyc@wellfield.io Ryan Graybill, Investor Relations ryan.graybill@wellfield.io Cautionary Notice on Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" ("forward-looking information") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding: the closing of the Transaction; the receipt of approvals from the TSXV and the Alberta Government for the Transaction; Brane Trust becoming registered by the Alberta Government and a regulated custodian for digital assets; Brane Trust continuing the process to become a qualified custodian under applicable securities legislation; the ability of Brane Trust to provide regulated custody for crypto asset trading platforms and exchange-traded funds; post-Transaction closing objectives of the Company and business; the independent operation of Brane Trust; the Company's ability to realize strong synergies, revenue-generating potential, and competitive differentiation through the acquisition of Brane Trust; the expectation of additional revenues; the anticipated strategic, operational and competitive benefits of the Transaction, receiving applicable regulatory, corporate and approvals associated therewith, which are based on the Company's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs, which may prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking information necessarily involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual performance and results in to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the successful completion of the Transaction; the receipt of required corporate and regulatory approvals, including approval by the Alberta Government and the TSXV; the failure of the Transaction to result in the anticipated benefits; the ability of the Company to raise additional capital to fund future operations; compliance with extensive government regulations, domestic and foreign laws and regulations adversely affecting the Company; the decentralized finance industry generally, in Canada and abroad; and general business, financial market, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive and readers are encouraged to review the disclosure documents accessible on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information. All information contained in this news release with respect to Brane was supplied by Brane, for inclusion herein, and the Company and its directors and officers have relied on Brane for any such information contained herein. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) has approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release, nor do they accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174947 87% of global brands believe sustainability information about consumer purchases will be a must-have before 2030 Clarity AI, the leading sustainability tech platform announces it has partnered with Aspiration, a top global climate finance company, to launch sustainability assessment solutions for consumer use cases. This unique partnership will deliver effective and accessible solutions to consumer platforms (e.g. e-commerce, retail banks, supermarkets, etc.) to help end users measure and reduce their carbon footprint and understand the sustainability performance of merchants by combining Clarity AI's high-quality, transparent data and tools with Aspiration's best-in-class carbon removal projects. How the climate solution works Customers will be able to assess the sustainability of the brands they buy and their current spending habits based on Clarity AI's personalized data tracking and AI capabilities helping them to identify ways to positively change their purchasing patterns. Clarity AI's technology will also provide sustainability insights at the individual retailer level. Leveraging its coverage of over 40,000 companies and more than 160 industries (the broadest in the market), Clarity AI calculates the impact of a consumer's spending and helps them understand company-specific sustainability information rather than broad, industry-level spending trends. It also provides recommendations on how consumers can maximize the impact of their purchases and actions. Based on this data, Aspiration will offer customers the opportunity to mitigate their carbon footprint by purchasing credits from high-quality, nature-based climate solutions that are rigorously vetted to deliver real, tangible impact that contributes toward the path to net zero. Aspiration will also offer customers the opportunity to contribute to carbon removal projects with benefits beyond climate impact such as biodiversity improvements and job creation for underrepresented communities. This approach allows users to support projects that align with their values in broader environmental and social dimensions. High customer demand for carbon data on purchases and mitigation strategies can be met with high-quality carbon credits During a recent Clarity AI-hosted event for over 900 global brands (including Citigroup, eBay, and Target), companies revealed which sustainability metrics were most important to their customers. Amongst the food and beverage, fashion, and electronics sectors which accounted for 65% of responses carbon emissions were the most critical metric, with 60% of respondents saying that their customers wanted to see this information. Additionally, 87% of attendees believed sustainability information about consumers' purchases will be a must-have before 2030, with 44% of them believing it will be a must-have by 2025. This consumer demand for quality sustainability information is increasing in line with the number of tools available to support sustainability projects, including carbon removals between 2020 and 2021 the carbon market saw year-on-year growth of 164%. However, rigorous quality control is critical to driving impact. Aspiration implements best-in-class standards when it comes to vetting carbon removal and avoidance projects on average, less than one in five projects Aspiration reviews through its diligence process make it into its pipeline of approved projects. This solution from Clarity AI and Aspiration aims to empower customers to understand the impact of their purchasing decisions and the opportunity for them to take effective action. Rebeca Minguela, Founder CEO of Clarity AI commented: "We believe that customers need and want to act, and they need data and tools to do so. They need to seamlessly see the carbon footprint of their purchases and trust that information. Then they need to easily offset those and get recommendations on how to maximize their impact going forward. Partnering with Aspiration, we can satisfy all those criteria and help consumers find a path to a more sustainable future." Olivia Albrecht, CEO of Aspiration commented: "The best way to transition to a low-carbon economy is for businesses, consumers, and communities to work collectively to achieve climate goals. The solution we're providing through our collaboration with Clarity AI is all about giving consumers access to climate data and the tools to take action right at their fingertips via their mobile apps." About Clarity AI Clarity AI is a sustainability technology platform that uses machine learning and big data to deliver environmental and social insights to investors, organizations, and consumers. Clarity AI's capabilities are an essential tool for end-to-end sustainability analysis related to investing, corporate research, benchmarking, consumer e-commerce, and regulatory reporting. As of June 2023, Clarity AI's platform analyzes more than 70,000 companies, 420,000 funds, 201 countries, and 199 local governments, which represents more breadth than any other player in the market. One way Clarity AI delivers on its mission to bring societal impact to markets is by ensuring its capabilities are delivered directly into clients' workflows through integrations with partners like BlackRock Aladdin, Refinitiv an LSEG business, BNP Manaos, CACEIS, and SimCorp. Additionally, Clarity AI's sustainability insights reach more than 150 million consumers across more than 400,000 merchants. Clarity AI has offices in North America, Europe, and the Middle East, and its client network manages tens of trillions in assets and includes companies like Invesco, Nordea, BlackRock, Santander, Wellington, and BNP Paribas. About Aspiration Aspiration Partners is a high-impact climate finance company working at scale to help enterprises, consumers, and investors achieve their climate goals. Founded in 2013, the company sources, monitors, and invests in carbon removal projects across the globe to generate high-quality carbon credits. Every project in Aspiration's portfolio is held to the most rigorous standards, ensuring each drives tangible, positive impact for people and the planet. Aspiration is a certified B Corp, a member of Project Drawdown, 1t.org, Climate Pledge and many other critical industry groups dedicated to accelerating climate action. For more information, visit Aspiration.com or Aspiration.com/business. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726278134/en/ Contacts: Media Contact Edelman clarityAI@edelmansmithfield.com Company Highlights Commitment to Technological Advancements and AI-driven Innovation with Expanded Operations at Wilmington, MA facility WILMINGTON, Mass., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Locus Robotics, a global leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for warehouse automation, today broke ground for its new global headquarters in Wilmington, Massachusetts. The expansion stands as a re?ection of the company's remarkable growth and its unwavering commitment to future innovation in the rapidly advancing field of warehouse automation. "We're thrilled to break ground on our new headquarters in Wilmington," said Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics. "This is a signi?cant milestone that re?ects our robust growth trajectory and our dedication to revolutionizing the warehouse automation sector with cutting-edge, AI-driven robotics solutions." The nearly 200,000 square foot/18,580 square meter facility in the Boston area will serve as the hub for Locus Robotics' expanding global operations and will house Locus's dynamic team of engineering, manufacturing, and operations professionals dedicated to driving innovation in robotics warehouse automation. The space also provides room for future expansion and growth. With its AI and data science-driven LocusONE Warehouse Automation Platform at the core of the Locus solution, the company continues to empower labor-strapped 3PL, retail, health care, and manufacturing businesses to optimize productivity in their operations, reduce costs, and stay competitive in the rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape. The LocusONE Warehouse Automation Platform enables the smooth orchestration of enterprise-scale multiple robotic form factors within a single coordinated platform. LocusONE optimizes robotic task allocation, route planning, and resource use, while delivering real-time insights into warehouse operations. Faulk also emphasized the company's goal of contributing further to the local economy. "Our new facility will stimulate job creation and innovation within the region, aligning with our vision of fostering world-class technological advancement and economic growth," Faulk added. With this new milestone, Locus Robotics reiterates its commitment to delivering game-changing solutions that enable businesses to optimize their warehouse operations, enhance productivity, and meet the evolving demands of the market. The groundbreaking of the new headquarters lays a solid foundation for the company's continuous growth and future innovations, a?rming Locus Robotics' position as a global leader in warehouse automation. About Locus Robotics Locus Robotics is the world's leading AI-driven, enterprise-level, warehouse automation solutions, incorporating powerful and intelligent autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that operate collaboratively with human workers to dramatically improve product movement and productivity 2-3X. Supporting more than 100+ of the world's top brands and deployed at 250+ sites around the world, Locus Robotics enables retailers, 3PLs and specialty warehouses to e?ciently meet and exceed the increasingly complex and demanding requirements of today's ful?llment environments. Named to the Inc. 500 two years in a row, and winning over 17 industry and technology awards, the Locus solution dramatically increases order ful?llment productivity, lowers operational costs, and improves workplace quality, safety, and ergonomics for workers.??? Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2161670/Locus_Robotics_2.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1440363/Locus_Robotics_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/locus-robotics-breaks-ground-for-new-global-headquarters-laying-foundation-for-innovation-and-growth-301886023.html New research by Nova Credit shows immigrants into the UK consistently wait longer and are treated differently from UK-born applicants when applying for essential credit services Delays and refusals stem from the lack of access financial services providers have to applicants' credit histories 'left behind' in previous countries More than half of UK immigrants will apply for more credit in next 12 months, with a fifth seeking mortgage finance UK's 10m-strong immigrant population is a creditworthy expansion opportunity hiding in plain sight of lenders Immigrants to the UK have poorer experiences from their would-be financial services providers than UK-born counterparts as a result of their lack of available credit history, according to new research published today. The report titled '10 million UK immigrants a market opportunity hiding in plain sight,' draws on independent research commissioned by Nova Credit, the cross-border credit bureau, and conducted among 1,000 working age adults who immigrated to the UK within the last ten years. The research finds that, for two in three (66%) immigrants, the process to receive credit products takes longer than it should due to applicants' lack of UK credit history. Over half (55%) feel they have been treated differently because of their lack of UK credit history, and an even higher proportion (59%) have been told by lenders and financial services providers that they would be treated differently. Only one in four (26%) of immigrants who moved to the UK in the last ten years have experienced fully online processes to access credit products and services. There is a significant disparity between the experience of credit applicants who have newly arrived in the UK, and people who have lived and worked in the UK for many years. This imbalance arises when an individual moves to a new country, leaving their credit history behind in their previous country. Without access to this credit history, lenders must either automatically decline the application, or manually process immigrants' applications for new finance which often ends in a decline as well. Gaining access to an applicant's previous credit history provides lenders a more accurate view of a consumer's financial situation. The lack of visibility into previous credit history means that immigrants often wait longer or pay more to receive the essential credit products and services they require to establish their new lives in the UK, such as credit cards, car finance or phone contracts. Despite these challenges, the majority (59%) of immigrants start to look for a credit card within three months of moving here; 65% look for a rental property within one month; and 60% seek mobile phones within a week. Collin Galster, Non-Executive Director of Nova Credit UK, comments: "The widespread adoption of online, automated application, underwriting, and approval processes have transformed the experience of British residents seeking credit. Unfortunately, these improvements haven't reached the millions of people each year who cross borders to establish new lives overseas. This isn't the fault of lenders themselves, but a result of credit reporting systems that were built within national siloes systems that fail to meet the needs of an increasingly globalised and integrated world." The 2021 Census shows that 1 in 7 people living in the UK (10 million) were born overseas. More than a quarter of respondents (26%) to Nova Credit's survey earn over 40,000 the average UK wage and half (45%) cite work (either their own or their partner's) as the primary reason to move to the UK. 80% of them expect to be in the UK for at least four years, with half (50%) expecting to live here for at least a decade. Only 1 in 10 (10%) immigrants believe access to credit has not become harder as a result of the current challenging economic conditions; and over half (55%) worry that, in light of these conditions, any further credit applications they make will be refused on account of being a newcomer with limited UK credit history. Despite these concerns, more than half (53%) expect to apply for additional credit in the next 12 months, reinforcing the need for cross-border credit access; a fifth (21%) of these will require credit in the form of mortgage finance specifically to buy new homes. Matt Davies, Head of UK Market Development at Nova Credit, adds: "The UK immigrant population is a fundamentally crucial market segment for UK financial services to serve in a better way. These are creditworthy, credit-hungry individuals who constitute a market opportunity hiding in plain sight from lenders and other credit providers continually seeking new market segments. Serving underserved communities like UK newcomers doesn't just solve for financial inclusion; it is socially responsible while creating vast business growth potential for the lenders that take the plunge." The UK immigrant population is one of the fastest-growing demographics in the country. Every year, more than 800,000 people are granted long-term visas to work or study in the UK. This data tallies with research from the Office of National Statistics that predicts that 100% of the UK's annual net population growth will come from immigrants by 2035. The data-driven report also explores the emotional and lifestyle impacts of credit difficulties on UK newcomers. For those interviewed for the research, the greatest impact of these difficulties accessing credit were: a feeling of isolation and difficulty making friends (39%), inability to afford a good enough standard of accommodation (37%) and a long commute to work or study (35%). Davies concludes: "The incoming Consumer Duty directive from the FCA marks a golden opportunity to level the playing field and address how well UK financial services are treating a huge population of people living, working, and contributing socially and economically to the country. Without doubt, responsible lenders are treating their customers fairly, but Consumer Duty may help spark greater innovation that makes the experience consumers receive more equitable regardless of their backgrounds." Note to Editors The full report, '10 million immigrants: a market opportunity hiding in plain sight' can be read here: https://go.novacredit.com/ukmktresearch About Nova Credit Nova Credit is a consumer-permissioned credit bureau whose products help businesses make more fair and informed decisions on millions of 'thin file', no credit history or new-to-country applicants. Nova Credit UK is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nova Credit, and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The Nova Passport (known as Credit Passport outside of the UK) unlocks cross-border credit bureau data to help businesses underwrite new-to-country newcomer populations. Businesses partner with Nova Credit to approve more applicants without taking on more risk, and consumers are empowered to put their best foot forward in their applications. Since launching in 2016, the company has developed partnerships with credit bureaus in over 20 countries globally, counts American Express, HSBC, Verizon and SoFi among its US and international customers, and has helped unlock consumer-permissioned access to over 2 billion credit profiles. Nova Credit is backed by investors including Kleiner Perkins, General Catalyst, Index Venture and Canapi as well as executives from Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Citi. www.novacredit.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726515779/en/ Contacts: Carmen Dixon carmen@mountviewcomms.com +44 (0)7717 278846 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / VMware released its 2023 Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) Report, sharing progress and demonstrating its commitment to creating a more sustainable, equitable and secure digital world. The report provides benchmarks toward the goals outlined in its 2030 Agenda, a decade-long ESG commitment that guides business actions across VMware. As VMware's technology services and solutions have grown, so too has its commitment to driving ESG results, prioritizing smarter and more focused actions that can help achieve desired outcomes for employees, customers and all stakeholders. This includes engineering a more sustainable multi-cloud experience for our customers, reducing VMware's emissions to achieve net zero, empowering diverse and distributed workforces, and being a trusted supplier that ships secure, privacy-aware solutions built on a responsible supply chain. "Throughout our ESG journey, we have continually pushed ourselves to implement a smarter, systemwide approach while staying true to our core intent of serving the needs of our customers while growing our own resiliency," shared Nicola Acutt, Chief Sustainability Officer and VP of ESG at VMware. "We remain laser-focused on achieving our 2030 commitments and continuing forward by prioritizing innovation and impact." The theme of this year's report is 'Smart Impact', reflecting VMware's strategy to focus on where the company can deliver the most significant results and drive outcomes for customers, partners, employees and the world. Some of these results include: Launched the Green Score feature in VMware Aria Operations Cloud, which provides recommendations for customers to further optimize energy and carbon in their cloud environments? Expanded the VMware Zero Carbon Committed initiative by adding 24 VMware Cloud Services Provider partners committed to renewable energy, reaching a total of more than 50 partners Enhanced VMware Anywhere Workspace solutions with VMware Workspace ONE Mobile Threat Defense to provide customers with added security for their distributed workforce Met near-term science-based targets as of fiscal year 2023 to reduce Scope 1 & 2 and Scope 3: Employee Commute absolute emissions Improved diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) representation with 33 percent of global hires self-identifying as a woman, and 16 percent of U.S. hires self-identifying as an underrepresented minority Achieved a 100 percent malware protection score with VMware Carbon Black Cloud Endpoint Standard in an independent cybersecurity test by AV-Comparatives 1 Added company-wide DEI goals as a component of funding for all bonus-eligible employees Read VMware's full 2023 ESG Report Media Contact: corporatepr@vmware.com 1 AV-Comparatives. "Business Security Test 2022 (March-June)." July 10, 2022. Read More View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from VMware on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: VMware Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/vmware Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: VMware View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/770402/VMware-Publishes-2023-ESG-Report-Demonstrating-Smart-Impact-Progress WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. Department of Education has canceled $130 million in debt for thousands of student borrowers who attended CollegeAmerica in Colorado. As per a directive issued by the department, 7,400 students who enrolled at the Denver, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs campuses of CollegeAmerica during 2006-2020 will no longer have to pay the remainder of their federal student loans. The amount of money that they have already paid back will be refunded. 'This announcement means a clean slate for thousands of students hurt by CollegeAmerica's widespread misconduct,' said the U.S. Department of Education's federal student aid chief Richard Cordray. An investigation conducted by the Colorado attorney general's office found that CollegeAmerica's parent company, the Center for Excellence in Higher Education (CEHE), made widespread misrepresentations about the salaries and employment rates of its graduates, the programs it offered, and the terms of a private loan that it offered. The college was shutdown after the fraud practice was detected. 'These borrowers were lied to, ripped off, and saddled with mountains of debt,' President Joe Biden said in a statement on the Student Debt Relief action in Colorado. 'While my predecessor looked the other way when colleges defrauded students and borrowers - I promised to take this on directly, and provide borrowers with the relief they need and deserve,' he said in apparent reference to former President Donald Trump. 'As long as I am president, we will never stop fighting to deliver relief to borrowers, hold bad actors accountable, and bring the promise of college to more Americans,' Biden added. The Biden Administration has so far approved $14.7 billion in relief for 1.1 million borrowers whose colleges took advantage of them or closed abruptly. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Top 3 Energie-Dividendenaktien Im neuen Energieboom von kontinuierlichen Ertragen profitieren. Wir zeigen hier, von welche drei Aktien Sie profitieren konnen. Hier klicken DUBAI, ARAB EMIRATES / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Metaverse Architecture Biennale (MAB) "Presence of the Future" is going to become the biggest event connecting the industries of design, business and technologies in the immersive internet. This event will take place on Sept. 21-24, bringing together top creators worldwide to manifest the significance of architecture and design in reshaping web3 and the Metaverse as a powerful platform for business. Inspired by the Venice Biennale and Expo, the Metaverse Architecture Biennale showcases virtual pavilions and worlds created by architects standing in the avant-garde of digital design with such names as HWKN, Killa Design, LAVA, PLP, ATRIUM, Soomeen Hahm, Spaces DAO, DA!, Il Prisma, SA lab, iheartblob, Mariana Cabugueira Studios and Illusorr. Decentraland and W3rlds, two prominent metaverse platforms, will serve as venues, creating an immersive experience for visitors. Attendees will have the opportunity to teleport between these two worlds, exploring virtual pavilions, engaging in interactive exhibits, and connecting with a global community of creators. The First Metaverse Architecture Biennale is a visionary initiative that will serve as a platform for showcasing the innovative potential of the Metaverse and exploring its impact on various industries. During four days, participants will have the opportunity to engage with virtual pavilions created by top designers, attend captivating talks and performances, and discover advanced solutions for businesses in the Metaverse. The event will feature renowned architectural firms, industry leaders, and visionary creators who are at the forefront of this digital revolution. Open call for virtual creators is already launched to choose global talents and to showcase their projects among the big names at the Biennale. "We aim to redefine the role of architecture and design in shaping the future of the Metaverse. We truly believe that architecture will play an integral part in the creation of the Metaverse, as graphic design played in shaping the internet we use today," said Sergey Nadtochiy, co-organizer and curator of MAB. "This event will not only showcase the remarkable creativity of our global community but also serve as a platform for exploring the limitless possibilities that the Metaverse offers to businesses worldwide," added Irina Dubovik, co-organizer of MAB. With over 50,000 expected visitors, 10 major companies, and an open call for awards, this event presents a unique chance to contribute to web3 technologies and gain exposure to a global audience. Stay up-to-date with the most popular digital magazine for architecture & design culture Designboom, as Biennale primary media partner will cover the program and share exclusive info breaks. Visit the official website at metaversearchbiennale.com to learn more about partnership opportunities and to register for the event. Join us to be part of the future! The MAB Organizers team, W3rlds, Dearch Space, Metancy, and Web3 Digital Marketing, is a leading force in the field of architecture and design, dedicated to pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation, with a deep passion for embracing emerging technologies. Contact Information Sergey Nadtochiy sergey@dearch.space +972534718840 Irina Dubovik id@web3dgm.com +375293333981 Related Files 4.jpg Plan (1).jpg SOURCE: Metaverse Architecture Biennale View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/770396/The-First-Ever-Metaverse-Architecture-Biennale-Presence-of-the-Future-2023-Unites-Global-Creators-to-Reshape-Web3-and-the-Metaverse NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Benevity Quiet giving is on the rise The global economic downturn is placing pressure on companies to tighten budgets and consider pullbacks across areas of spend, with financial investment in corporate programs related to purpose and impact being put to the test. In spite of this pressure, companies remain committed to being a force for good - but more quietly than in the past two years. In 2023, we expect fewer bold statements from companies on every hot-button issue and more compassionate action and communications focused on their employees and the local communities where they can make a more pronounced impact - a trend we're calling "quiet giving." Quiet Giving [ kwi-?t giv-i? ] verb How companies will demonstrate their corporate purpose during difficult times, characterized by turning their focus inward to center investments on their employees and local communities Companies are investing close to home Companies will be leaning in to support those closest to them, namely employees who are experiencing personal challenges related to the economy - increased costs of living, decreased well-being, plunging productivity, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and difficulty maintaining a sense of connection to their colleagues, communities and company. 90% of CSR leaders say companies should spend more time acting on social justice issues through their own practices and programs versus making bold statements. This new inward focus will manifest through different types of social investments than in years past. In 2023, companies are forecasting the largest increase in investment in employee climate action programs, followed by employee learning and social action programs; diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives; employee resource groups (ERGs) and volunteering. Volunteering, which was a bright spot for corporate purpose programs in 2022, will move further into the limelight in 2023 because it offers an answer to many of the challenges facing employees, communities and companies right now. Company-led volunteering initiatives provide an opportunity for employees to meaningfully connect with each other and make an impact in local communities that sorely need support. Doubling down on employee volunteering programs can help to address the labor shortage nonprofits are currently experiencing. And research in the Journal of Happiness Studies has shown that spending time in service to others can improve well-being, which can come as a restorative reprieve for many during difficult times. Upward investment in employee programs: 1. Employee climate action programs 2. Employee learning & social micro-actions 3. DEI initiatives 4. Employee resource group budgets 5. Employee volunteering While companies will prioritize the needs of their people, they will also remain resolute in maintaining their social investments - serving as a critical source of support through grants and partnerships with nonprofits serving vulnerable populations. Top 5 areas with increase granting focus: 1. Locally focused causes and nonprofits where employees live and work. 2. Black, Indigenous, and other people of color-led organizations and causes focused on equity and justice. 3. Grants aligned with the strengths of the business. 4. Initiatives mitigating the negative impacts of the economy on underserved populations. 5. Organizations addressing systemic problems like homelessness and food insecurity. Despite the downturn, we can take comfort in knowing that most companies are maintaining their investments to support key populations and issues and causes close to home while continuing to back their people in making a positive impact at work and out in the world in the ways that matter most to them. Companies who have been committed to purpose for the long term understand the resilience and value it brings to their stakeholders and communities, and they know that now is not the time to pull back. Discover the top five emerging societal and industry trends shaping the future of CSR, DEI and ESG in The State of Corporate Purpose 2023. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Benevity on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Benevity Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/benevity Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Benevity View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/770401/The-State-of-Corporate-Purpose-2023-Trend-2-Quiet-Giving-Is-on-the-Rise LONDON , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- JK Tech, a global IT services and solutions company is pleased to announce its strategic partnership with OneShield, a leading provider of innovative insurance technology solutions. This collaboration with JK Tech aims to augment OneShield's delivery, reinforcing their commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences. As the insurance industry continues to evolve and adapt to rapidly changing market dynamics, there is an increasing demand for cutting-edge technology solutions. OneShield has been at the forefront of this transformation, offering a comprehensive suite of cloud-based core systems and digital engagement solutions to help insurance carriers streamline their operations, improve efficiency, and enhance customer satisfaction. "We are delighted to join forces with OneShield in this strategic partnership," said Aloke Paskar, President and CEO at JK Tech. "By combining our technical expertise with their industry-leading solutions, we are poised to deliver exceptional results and drive successful outcomes for insurers, insurance start-ups, and MGAs. This collaboration strengthens our commitment to providing cutting-edge technology and Hyperautomation solutions that meet the evolving needs of the insurance industry." Leveraging JK Tech's skilled resources, OneShield aims to enhance its delivery team's capabilities and increase its capacity to undertake large-scale projects. By combining the domain knowledge and industry-leading technology solutions of OneShield with JK Tech's technical proficiency, the partnership aims to accelerate the deployment of transformative digital solutions for some of the leading carriers in the North American P&C insurance space. OneShield's CEO, Cameron Parker, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, "We are thrilled to partner with JK Tech to strengthen our delivery team and expand our capabilities. This collaboration enables us to effectively meet the evolving needs of our customers, offering faster time-to-market, enhanced scalability, and increased innovation in technology initiatives. From digital transformations to technical projects for insurance start-ups and MGAs, we are committed to empowering our clients across the entire spectrum of the insurance industry." About JK Tech JK Tech is a next-generation Digital and Business Consulting provider enabling clients globally to navigate their Digital Transformation. The organization stands by its vision of being 'committed to a superior experience' with its customers, its people, and its social environment. JK Tech offers specialized capabilities across Healthcare, Retail & Consumer Products, and Insurance with its niche Hyperautomation solutions leveraging Data and Analytics that help improve their performance and create lasting value across its enterprises. To learn more, visit www.jktech.com About OneShield OneShield provides business solutions for P&C insurers and MGAs of all sizes. OneShield's cloud-based and SaaS platforms include enterprise-level policy management, billing, claims, rating, relationship management, product configuration, business intelligence, and smart analytics. Designed specifically for personal, commercial, and specialty insurance, our solutions support over 90 lines of business. OneShield's clients, some of the world's leading insurers, benefit from optimized workflows, pre-built content, seamless upgrades, collaborative implementations, and pricing models designed to lower the total cost of ownership. Our global footprint includes corporate headquarters in Marlborough, MA, with additional offices throughout India. For more information, visit www.OneShield.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1513832/3012700/JK_Tech_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/jk-tech-and-oneshield-announce-strategic-partnership-to-enhance-delivery-team-capabilities-301886232.html Saguenay, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - First Phosphate Corp. (CSE: PHOS) (OTC Pink: FRSPF) (FSE: KD0) ("First Phosphate" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the positive results of its Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on the Lac a l'Orignal Property (the "Property" or the "Project") located 84 km northeast of Saguenay, Quebec, Canada. First Phosphate acquired and negotiated a 100% royalty free interest in the Property in 2022. The PEA provides a viable case for developing the Property by open pit mining for the primary production of a phosphate concentrate and secondary recovery of magnetite and ilmenite concentrates. First Phosphate is a mineral development company fully dedicated to extracting and purifying phosphate for use in the production of cathode active material for the Lithium Iron Phosphate ("LFP") battery industry. Highlights (all dollar amounts in Canadian dollars on a 100% project ownership basis unless otherwise indicated): The Project would produce annual average of 425,000 tonnes of beneficiated phosphate concentrate at over 40% P2O5 content, 280,000 tonnes of magnetite and 97,000 tonnes of ilmenite over a 14.2 year mine life. The Project generates a pre-tax internal rate or return (IRR) of 21.7% and a pre-tax net present value (NPV) of $795 Million at a 5% discount rate at June 30/23 approximate 18 month trailing average phosphate price and long term consensus magnetite and ilmenite prices. The Project generates an after-tax internal rate or return (IRR) of 17.2% and an after-tax net present value (NPV) of $511 million at a 5% discount rate at June 30/23 approximate 18-month trailing average phosphate price and long term consensus magnetite and ilmenite prices. The Project would generate an after-tax cash flow of $567 Million in years 1-5, resulting in a 4.9-year payback period from start of production. The Company has an MOU in place with Prayon Technologies of Belgium for up to 400,000 tonnes of annual phosphate concentrate offtake as well as a long-term purified phosphoric acid toll processing agreement. The Project benefits from nearby road access and electrical power line, year round accessible deep sea Port of Saguenay at 107 km by four season road. The PEA used Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources in its calculations. The Project has no outstanding royalties or financing streams registered against it. "We are very pleased with the results of this Preliminary Economic Assessment of our Lac a l'Orignal property and its timely completion. Our strategy to keep capex low and mine size controlled echoes these PEA results nicely,' says First Phosphate President, Peter Kent. "We're now in a position to prudently evaluate next steps for the Company as we continue with our mission to apply a partnership-based approach to integrate vertically from mine to value-added production of purified phosphoric acid and LFP cathode active material for the North America LFP battery industry." PEA BASE CASE FINANCIAL SUMMARY (all dollar amounts in $Canadian unless otherwise noted, presented on a 100% ownership basis): Pre-Tax Net Present Value (5% discount rate) $795 Million After-Tax Net Present Value (5%) $511 Million Pre-Tax Internal Rate of Return 21.7% After-Tax Internal Rate of return 17.2% After-Tax Payback 4.9 Years Preproduction Capital $550 Million Sustaining Capital $130 Million Mine Life 14.2 Years Process Plant Throughput 10,500 tpd Concentrate Prices Phosphate (40% P2O5) $367/t USD Magnetite (69% Fe) $95/t USD Ilmenite (39% TiO2) $250/t USD Exchange Rate $CAD:$USD $1.32 PEA TECHNICAL SUMMARY Mine Life 14.2 years Mine Plan Tonnage 54.0 Million tonnes Process Plant Feed Grade P2O5 4.91% Fe2O3 22.62% TiO2 4.14% Strip Ratio (Waste:Process Plant Feed) 1.7:1 Operating Cost (per tonne of process plant feed) $30.43 Pit-Constrained Mineral Resource Estimate (1-4) at 2.5% P2O5 Cut-off Class Tonnes (M) P2O5 (%) Contained P2O5 (kt) Fe2O3 (%) Contained Fe2O3 (Mt) TiO2 (%) Contained TiO2 (Mt) Indicated 15.8 5.18 821 23.90 3.8 4.23 0.67 Inferred 33.2 5.06 1,682 22.55 7.5 4.16 1.38 Note: P2O5 = phosphorus pentoxide, Fe2O3 = iron oxide/ferric oxide, TiO2 = titanium dioxide. Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration. The Mineral Resources in this Technical Report were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions (2014) and Best Practices Guidelines (2019) prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council. Figure 1 - Lac Orignal Project - Optimized Pit Shells To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8917/174806_b00d00acd48efa5e_001full.jpg The mining plan uses conventional truck/shovel open pit methods employing 90-tonne capacity haulage trucks and shovels equipped with 10 cubic metre buckets. The open pit will be mined over a period of 14.2 production years and one year of pre-stripping. Mineralized material will be transported by haulage trucks to the nearby process plant, and waste rock will be stored at a facility located at 1 (one) kilometer southeast of the open pit. Mining will be conducted at an initial rate of 8 Million total tonnes per annum (Mtpa), and will reach a peak of 14 Mtpa based on process plant feed and waste rock removal requirements. The process plant feed is contained within an optimized subset of the Mineral Resource set out in the table above. The open pit contains 54.0 Mt of process plant feed (inclusive of mining dilution and loss factors) averaging 4.91% P2O5, 22.62% Fe2O3 and 4.14% TiO2. The process plant feed is associated with 91 Mt of waste rock and overburden resulting in an overall life-of-mine strip ratio of 1.7:1. It is notable that all Mineral Resources considered for mining are in the Indicated and Inferred classifications. No backfilling of the mined-out open pit with either waste rock or tailings is planned, which will allow potential open pit wall pushbacks and future mining if economic conditions become favourable. Extensive metallurgical testing was carried out at SGS, Quebec City. The test work has indicated process recoveries of phosphate, magnetite and ilmenite to be reasonably high and relatively consistent. The most recent tests focused on circuit stability and maximizing concentrate recovery. Tailings and waste rock management is designed for closure and the elimination of concerns for acid drainage or metal leaching. Initial Capital Costs ($Canadian Millions) Pre-Stripping 30 Processing Plant 215 Tailings Management Facility 42 Indirects, EPCM and Owner's Costs 110 Site and Port Infrastructure 62 Contingency 91 Total Initial Capital 550 Sustaining Capital ($C Millions) Mining 46 Processing Plant 6 Tailings Management Facility 56 Contingency 22 Total Sustaining Capital 130 LOM Operating Costs ($C per tonne) Mining Cost per tonne mined material (waste and mineralized material 2.77 Mining Cost per tonne plant feed 7.48 Processing Cost per tonne plant feed 12.60 G & A per tonne plant feed 1.67 Tailings Management 1.85 Concentrate Handling and Transport 6.83 Total Cost per tonne plant feed 30.43 The Project site is within the Mashteuiatsh, Essipt and Pessamit First Nations, which confers certain rights to aboriginal peoples in the area. First Phosphate recognizes the traditional rights of Indigenous people and acknowledges the exercising of treaty rights to preserve their cultural identity and customs. As such, since acquisition of the Property, First Phosphate has continued to regularly meet with communities to acquire information and incorporate feedback into the Project decision-making process. First Phosphate is striving to ensure these partnerships have a mutually beneficial outcome and to maintain strong and long-lasting relationships. First Phosphate and its' predecessors have been engaged in consultation and negotiations with a number of aboriginal communities with respect to the Project since 2022. Qualified Persons The scientific and technical disclosure for First Phosphate included in this News Release have been reviewed and approved by Gilles Laverdiere, P.Geo. and Mr. Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET. Messrs. Laverdiere and Puritch are Qualified Persons under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects. Mr. Puritch is independent of First Phoshate. About First Phosphate Corp. First Phosphate is a mineral development company fully dedicated to extracting and purifying phosphate for the production of cathode active material for the Lithium Iron Phosphate ("LFP") battery industry. First Phosphate is committed to producing at high purity level, at full ESG standard and with low anticipated carbon footprint. First Phosphate plans to vertically integrate from mine source directly into the supply chains of major North American LFP battery producers that require battery grade LFP cathode active material emanating from a consistent and secure supply source. First Phosphate holds over 1,500 sq. km of royalty-free district-scale land claims in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean Region of Quebec, Canada that it is actively developing. First Phosphate properties consist of rare anorthosite igneous phosphate rock that generally yields high purity phosphate material devoid of high concentrations of harmful elements. About P&E Mining Consultants Inc. P&E was established in 2004 and provides geological and mine engineering consulting reports, Mineral Resource Estimate technical reports, Preliminary Economic Assessments and Pre-Feasibility Studies. P&E is affiliated with major Toronto based consulting firms for the purposes of joint venturing on Feasibility Studies. P&E's experience covers over 400 NI 43-101 Technical Reports including First Phosphate's Lac a l'Orignal NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate which was completed in November 2022. For additional information, please contact: Peter Kent, President peter@firstphosphate.com Tel: +1 (647) 707-1943 Investor Relations: investor@firstphosphate.com Media Relations: media@firstphosphate.com Website: www.FirstPhosphate.com Follow First Phosphate: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FirstPhosphate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-phosphate -30- Forward-Looking Information and Cautionary Statements Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that the Indicated Mineral Resources will be converted to the Probable Mineral Reserve category, and there is no certainty that the updated Mineral Resource statement will be realized. The Mineral Resource Estimate contained herein may be subject to legal, political, environmental or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of such Mineral Resources. See the Resources Report, once filed, for more information with respect to the key assumptions, parameters, methods and risks of determination associated with the foregoing. The PEA is preliminary in nature, includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The PEA is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. See below and the Technical Report for more information with respect to the key assumptions, parameters, methods and risks of determination associated with the foregoing. Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under 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", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements relating to: the Company's commitment to producing high purity phosphate materials at full ESG standard under a low carbon footprint; the Company's plans to integrate directly into the functions of certain major North American LFP Battery producers; the Company's proposed development of its land claims in the Saguenay Region; the results of the PEA, statements regarding the impact and implications of the economic statements related to the PEA, such as future projected production, costs, including, statements with respect to Mineral Resource Estimates, recovery rates, IRR, NPV, mine life, CAPEX, payback period, sensitivity analysis to mineral prices, timing of future studies including the pre-feasibility study, environmental assessments (including the timing of an environmental impact study) and development plans, the Company's understanding of the project; the potential to extend mine life beyond the period contemplated in the PEA, opportunity to expand the scale of the project, the development potential and timetable of the project; the estimation of Mineral Resources; realization of Mineral Resource Estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future exploration; costs of future activities; capital and operating expenditures; and success of exploration activities. Forward-looking information in this press release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company's ability to producing high purity phosphate materials at full ESG standard under a low carbon footprint; the Company's ability to integrate directly into the functions of certain major North American LFP Battery producers; the Company's ability to develop its land claims in the Saguenay Region; accuracy of the results of the PEA; accuracy of the statements regarding the impact and implications of the economic statements related to the PEA, such as future projected production, costs, including, statements with respect to Mineral Resource Estimates, recovery rates, IRR, NPV, mine life, CAPEX, payback period, sensitivity analysis to mineral prices, timing of future studies including the Pre-Feasibility Study, environmental assessments (including the timing of an environmental impact study) and development plans; the Company's ability to carry out its plans for its projects; the ability of the Company to extend mine life beyond the period contemplated in the PEA; the ability of the Company opportunity to expand the scale of the project; the ability of the Company to carry out the development potential and timetable of the project; the accuracy of the estimation of Mineral Resources; the Company's ability in realizing its Mineral Resource Estimates; the Company's ability in carrying out the timing and amount of estimated future exploration; the accuracy of costs of future activities; the accuracy of the Company's capital and operating expenditures estimates; and the Company's ability to carry out and achieve successful exploration activities. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the Company's inability to produce high purity phosphate materials at full ESG standard under a low carbon footprint; the Company's inability to integrate directly into the functions of certain major North American LFP Battery producers; the Company's inability to develop its land claims in the Saguenay Region; inaccuracy of the results of the PEA; inaccuracy of the statements regarding the impact and implications of the economic statements related to the PEA, such as future projected production, costs, including, statements with respect to Mineral Resource Estimates, recovery rates, IRR, NPV, mine life, CAPEX, payback period, sensitivity analysis to mineral prices, timing of future studies including the Pre-Feasibility Study, environmental assessments (including the timing of an environmental impact study) and development plans; the Company's inability to carry out its plans for its projects; the inability of the Company to extend mine life beyond the period contemplated in the PEA; the inability of the Company opportunity to expand the scale of the project; the ability of the Company to carry out the development potential and timetable of the project; the inaccuracy of the estimation of Mineral Resources; the Company's inability in realizing its Mineral Resource Estimate; the Company's inability in carrying out the timing and amount of estimated future exploration; the inaccuracy of costs of future activities; the inaccuracy of the Company's capital and operating expenditures estimates; and the Company's inability to carry out and achieve successful exploration activities. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174806 HIGHLIGHTS MOU signed with Whitesand First Nation Exploration permit issued for Falcon West Lithium Project in Ontario - logistics to commence exploration program are underway Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Volta Metals Ltd. (CSE: VLTA) ("Volta" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining a framework for collaboration on the Phase 1 Exploration Program for Falcon West, Crescent Lake and Junior Lake Lithium Projects with Whitesand First Nation (Figure 1). Figure 1. Volta Lithium properties in northwest Ontario To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9598/174873_189380774451f8c3_001full.jpg Kerem Usenmez, CEO, commented, "Volta is committed to working collaboratively and respectfully with all Indigenous groups and creating a mutually beneficial working relationship to explore in Indigenous traditional territory. With signing of the MOU with the Whitesand First Nation, we look forward to beginning the exploration program on our flagship Falcon West and nearby projects. We acknowledge Whitesand, Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek and Aroland in their commitment to protect and enhance the land and resource-based economy within their traditional territory. I would like to recognize the Whitesand First Nation and Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek for their cooperation and support of the permitting process." Exploration Permit Company received its exploration permit for Falcon West Lithium Project, which will be valid for 3 years. The permit allows the Company to complete all customary exploration work up to and including drill testing on its flagship Falcon West Lithium Property. Falcon West Lithium project The property covers an area of 13 km2 (1,311 hectares) and is located 73km east of Armstrong, Ontario and accessed by year-round logging roads (Figure 1). Geologically it is located within the Caribou Greenstone Belt and covers the Wabigoon-English River Sub-province Boundary Zone, a structural setting favourable for the development of lithium bearing pegmatites as evidenced by recent discoveries by Green Technology Metals (Figure 2). The initial program will focus on mapping and sampling the extent and orientation of the known Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum (LCT) pegmatites that returned values of up to 1.95% Li2O over 1 m- (see company's June 19 press release). Documented Li pegmatites, based on historic data, occur over a 150m x 600m area and mineralization remains open for expansion. The Company considers the property to be underexplored with good to excellent potential to expand and/or discover additional lithium enriched pegmatites. Contingent on results this initial field work will aid in planning future drilling programs as part of Phase 2 follow-up. Crescent Lake Initial mapping, prospecting and sampling is planned for the 32 Km2 (3,159 hectares) Crescent Lake Property, which covers the potential northward extension of the Crescent and Zig Zag pegmatites within a 1.2 x6 km area of favourable mafic volcanic and tonalitic rocks (Figure 2). Figure 2. Regional location and claim boundaries for Falcon West and Crescent Lake Properties To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9598/174873_189380774451f8c3_002full.jpg Qualified Person This technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Andrew Tims, P.Geo., who is an independent Qualified Person (QP) as defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The QP and the Company have not completed sufficient work to verify the historic information on the Properties, particularly regarding historical exploration, neighbouring companies, and government geological work. For more information about the Company, view Volta's website: voltametals.ca. ABOUT VOLTA METALS LTD Volta Metals Ltd. (CSE: VLTA) is a mineral exploration company focused on lithium, cesium and tantalum, and is based in Toronto, Ontario. It has optioned and is currently exploring a critical minerals portfolio of lithium, cesium and tantalum projects in Northwestern Ontario, which is considered to be one of the most prolific emerging hard-rock lithium districts in the world. To find out more about Volta, and its flagship Falcon West Project, please visit voltametals.ca. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD For further information, contact: Kerem Usenmez, President & CEO Tel: 416.919.9060 Email: info@voltametals.ca Website: voltametals.ca Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to product development, plans, strategies and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, including the receipt of all necessary regulatory and CSE approvals, authorizations and consents and corporate and shareholder approvals required in connection therewith; Corporation's share options, including the timing thereof; the Optioned Properties, including whether any such properties will be further explored or developed; the makeup of the Resulting Issuer's management team upon completion of the Transaction; the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Resulting Issuer; and the anticipated benefits and results of the Transaction. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Corporation's expectations include: the failure to satisfy the conditions of the CSE and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Corporation with securities regulators; the fact that LICAN's interests in the Optioned Properties are options only and there is no guarantee that such interest, if earned, will be certain; the future prices and demand for lithium; and delays or the inability of the Corporation to obtain any necessary approvals, permits and authorizations required to carry out its business plans. The reader is 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 Corporation. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Corporation will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174873 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Emperor Metals Inc. (CSE: AUOZ) (OTC Pink: EMAUF) (FSE: 9NH) ("Emperor") is pleased to announce the resumption of drilling operations at the Duquesne West Gold Project. The drilling activities had temporarily ceased between June 4th and June 30th due to a provincial ban on work in response to the significant forest fires in the Province of Quebec. CEO John Florek commented: "We are excited to have resumed our fully funded, +7,000 m drilling campaign now that the province-wide wildfire ban on field exploration has been lifted. Our program was designed to test several new scenarios developed from Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) Models which highlighted evidence of the controls to mineralization following several gold-rich trends along a known plunge. Our drilling targets are designed to add ounces through several strategies based on our new understanding of these controls. Our exploration goals are to enhance grade and ounces internal to the deposit, to discover additional ounces external to the deposit, and to fill any data gaps in areas of trending gold-rich mineralization (See Figures 1 and 2). Strategically located near Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, there are many opportunities for additional growth and discovery at the margin of this high-grade gold deposit on this property. Numerous mines are located nearby within a district dominated by Agnico Eagle, and Newmont. We have a tremendous opportunity to continue creating value on this property." Figure 1: Phase 1 Targeting To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8461/174892_647d410c144b7ad0_001full.jpg Figure 2: Examples of historic drill intercepts To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8461/174892_647d410c144b7ad0_002full.jpg Highlights Based on knowledge gained from in-house A.I. modelling, additional drilling permit applications were submitted on May 4th and granted on June 26th.. The additional permits will provide optionality to the Phase 1 drilling program as results emerge. Permits were also received for drilling in areas close to wetlands. Emperor's initial ~+7,000 meter Phase 1 Drill Program began on May 9th and a province-wide wildfire ban went into effect during the drilling of the second diamond drill hole. Geological processing for the first two holes was completed and samples have been sent to SGS Laboratories in Lakefield, ON. Drilling resumed on June 30th and the first three diamond drill holes have now been completed: DQ23-01: 1,068 meters DQ23-02: 834 meters DQ23-03: 948 meters Drilling has commenced on the fourth diamond drill hole, DQ23-04. The 2023 field program is expected to run until the end of September and complete 10 diamond drill holes of about 700m each on average, for a total of about 7,000m. To date, 3,000m have been completed. Each hole is carefully planned using the most current information and interpretation of results. About the Duquesne West Gold Project The Duquesne West Gold Property is located 32 km northwest of the city of Rouyn-Noranda and 10 km east of the town of Duparquet. The property lies within the historic Duparquet gold mining camp in the southern portion of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in the Superior Province. Under an Option Agreement, Emperor agreed to acquire a one hundred percent (100%) interest in a mineral claim package comprising 38 claims covering approximately 1,389 ha, located in the Duparquet Township of Quebec (the "Duquesne West Property") from Duparquet Assets Ltd., a 50% owned subsidiary of Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. (TSX: GMX). For further information on the Duquesne West Property and Option Agreement, see Emperor's press release dated October 12, 2022, available on SEDAR. The Property hosts a historical inferred mineral resource estimate of 727,000 ounces of gold at a grade of 5.42 g/t Au.1,2 The mineral resource estimate predates modern CIM guidelines and a Qualified Person on behalf of Emperor has not reviewed or verified the mineral resource estimate, therefore it is considered historical in nature and is reported solely to provide an indication of the magnitude of mineralization that could be present on the property. The gold system remains open for resource identification and expansion. Reinterpretation of the existing geological model was created using A.I. and Machine Learning. This model shows the opportunity for additional discovery of ounces by revealing gold trends unknown to previous workers and the potential to expand the resource along significant gold-endowed structural zones. 1 Watts, Griffis, and McOuat Consulting Geologists and Engineers, Oct 20, 2011, Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate Update for the Duquesne-Ottoman Property, Quebec, Canada for XMet Inc. 2 Power-Fardy and Breede, 2011. The Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) constructed in 2011 is considered historical in nature as it was constructed prior to the most recent Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (CIM) standards (2014) and guidelines (2019) for mineral resources. In addition, the economic factors used to demonstrate reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction for the MRE have changed since 2011. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to consider the MRE as a current MRE. Emperor is not treating the historical MRE as a current mineral resource. The reader is cautioned not to treat it, or any part of it, as a current mineral resource. QP Disclosure The technical content for the Duquesne West Project in this news release has been reviewed and approved by John Florek, M.Sc., P.Geol., a Qualified Person pursuant to CIM guidelines. About Emperor Metals Inc. Emperor Metals Inc. is an innovative Canadian mineral exploration company focused on developing high-quality gold properties situated in the Canadian Shield. For more information, please refer to SEDAR (www.sedar.com), under the Company's profile. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS s/ "John Florek" John Florek, M.Sc., P.Geol President, CEO and Director Emperor Metals Inc. For further information, please contact: Mr. Alex Horsley, Director Phone: 778-323-3058 Email: alexh@emperormetals.com Website:www.emperormetals.com THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HAS NOT APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENT OF THIS PRESS RELEASE CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CERTAIN STATEMENTS MADE AND INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN MAY CONSTITUTE "FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION" AND "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF APPLICABLE CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES SECURITIES LEGISLATION. THESE STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION ARE BASED ON FACTS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO THE COMPANY AND THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT ACTUAL RESULTS WILL MEET MANAGEMENT'S EXPECTATIONS. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION MAY BE IDENTIFIED BY SUCH TERMS AS "ANTICIPATES", "BELIEVES", "TARGETS", "ESTIMATES", "PLANS", "EXPECTS", "MAY", "WILL", "COULD" OR "WOULD". FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN ARE BASED ON CERTAIN FACTORS AND ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE ESTIMATION OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND RESERVES, THE REALIZATION OF RESOURCE AND RESERVE ESTIMATES, METAL PRICES, TAXATION, THE ESTIMATION, TIMING AND AMOUNT OF FUTURE EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT, CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS, THE AVAILABILITY OF FINANCING, THE RECEIPT OF REGULATORY APPROVALS, ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS, TITLE DISPUTES AND OTHER MATTERS. WHILE THE COMPANY CONSIDERS ITS ASSUMPTIONS TO BE REASONABLE AS OF THE DATE HEREOF, FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION ARE NOT GUARANTEES OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE AND READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON SUCH STATEMENTS AS ACTUAL EVENTS AND RESULTS MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE DESCRIBED HEREIN. THE COMPANY DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS OR INFORMATION EXCEPT AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174892 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - ArcWest Exploration Inc. (TSXV: AWX) ("ArcWest") is pleased to announce 2023 exploration plans for its Todd Creek copper-gold (Cu-Au) project, located in BC's Golden Triangle. The program, with an approved expenditure of $2.8 million, will be funded by Freeport-McMoRan Mineral Properties Canada Inc. ("Freeport"), as per an earn-in agreement announced March 10, 2023. A map of Todd Creek mineral claims that are subject to the Freeport earn-in agreement is available for download here. ArcWest's 100% owned Todd Creek Cu-Au project adjoins Newcrest Mining's Brucejack mine property (Fig. 1).; in March 2022, Newcrest acquired Pretium Resources and its Brucejack mine in a transaction valued at CAD $3.5 billion. On May 14th, 2023, Newmont announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Newcrest in a $19 billion transaction, resulting in the creation of the world's largest gold miner. The Todd Creek project is also situated approximately 40 km southeast of Seabridge Gold's giant KSM-Iron Cap porphyry Cu-Au deposits and Tudor Gold's Treaty Creek Au-Ag-Cu project. Collectively, the KSM-Iron Cap and Treaty Creek deposits represent one of the largest Au-Cu concentrations in North America. Contained metal within Proven plus Probable Reserves at KSM-Iron Cap total 38.8 million ounces (oz) Au, 183 million oz Ag and 10.2 billion pounds of copper (www.seabridgegold.com). Tudor has released a measured plus indicated resource estimate for Treaty Creek totaling 17 million oz Au and 93 million oz Ag (www.tudor-gold.com). A technical presentation for the Todd Creek project is available for download here. Tyler Ruks, President and CEO of ArcWest commented, "ArcWest looks forward to advancing our Todd Creek project with Freeport, one of the world's largest copper miners. Freeport's exploration team has a track record of global copper-gold discoveries that have proceeded to mine development. ArcWest's Todd Creek project is host to one of the largest underexplored copper-gold systems in BC's Golden Triangle, and Freeport's funding of the project is a testament to its potential for hosting a world class copper-gold deposit. In addition to a large mapping and sampling campaign, the 2023 Todd Creek exploration program will include an IP and MT survey by Dias Geophysical of the 12 km long by 3 km wide highly gossanous corridor of variably altered and Cu-Au mineralized lithologies that underlie the west side of Todd Creek valley. The planned survey, using the DIAS32 resistivity/IP system, is a candidate for the largest 3D IP survey ever completed in British Columbia. The Todd Creek corridor is host to widespread Cu-Au occurrences; these are interpreted to be the product of a large and highly underexplored porphyry Cu-Au system with potential to host multiple Cu-Au mineralized centres. We are especially looking forward to completing follow up work in the Ice Creek area, where recent compilation of historic data has located a large population of strongly Cu-Au mineralized rock samples in an undrilled area, with multiple samples returning assays in excess of 1% Cu and 1 g/t Au. Importantly, some of the strongly Cu-Au mineralized samples in this undrilled target area are described in historic reports as altered porphyry. A distinct magnetic anomaly underlies this untested zone, which is situated to the west of historic drilling and IP geophysical surveys. Mapping and sampling on the property will be completed with support from Charlie Greig and his team, who have a track record of porphyry Cu-Au discovery in northwestern BC. As VP Exploration of GT Gold, Charlie and his team are credited with the discovery of the Saddle North porphyry Cu-Au deposit. In 2021, Newmont announced the acquisition of GT Gold and its Saddle North project in a transaction valued at nearly $400 million. ArcWest is in discussions with multiple mining companies regarding potential earn-in agreements for our additional copper-gold projects." Todd Creek Project: A Highly Underexplored Cu-Au System The 12 km by 3 km highly gossanous north-striking corridor on the west side of Todd Creek valley ("the Todd Creek corridor") is underlain by variably Cu-Au mineralized and altered volcanic, intrusive rocks and associated breccias of Early Jurassic age. The corridor is interpreted to be the product of a large and highly underexplored porphyry Cu-Au system of KSM-Iron Cap age; potential exists within the corridor for the discovery of multiple Cu-Au mineralized centres. A map of the 2023 planned 3D IP survey area, including the locations of known Cu-Au mineralized target areas and the results of a 2020 short-wave infrared interpretation, is shown in Fig. 2. Historical drilling at Todd Creek has intercepted significant Cu-Au mineralization at multiple zones throughout the corridor, with intercepts up to 29.75 m of 0.27% Cu and 3.61 g/t Au at the South Zone, intercepts up to 20.95 m of 0.55% Cu and 1.78 g/t Au at Ice Creek, and intercepts up to 12.65 m of 1.58% Cu and 7.61 g/t Au at Fall Creek. The South Zone is host to a non-43-101 compliant historic resource calculated by Noranda Inc. ("Noranda") totaling 207,000 tonnes grading 5.48 g/t Au (Hemlo Gold Mines, 1988 Annual Report). The South Zone is open in multiple directions. ArcWest's re-logging of historic drill holes with significant Cu-Au intercepts has resulted in the identification of previously unrecognized porphyry-like veins in multiple zones on the property. At the Orange Mountain target area, shallow inclined holes intercepted Red Chris-like banded quartz-magnetite-chalcopyrite veins. Variably altered volcanic rocks in the South Zone and Fall Creek target areas are host to strongly Cu-Au mineralized zones comprising quartz-hematite/jasperoidal silica-chalcopyrite veining and associated breccias. This style of mineralization may be similar to that at the Hod Maden project in Turkey (SSR Mining/Lidya Mines/Horizon Copper) and K92 Mining's high grade Kora North project in Papua New Guinea. Recent work by K92 suggests that high grade Cu-Au mineralization at Kora North is genetically related to nearby, recently discovered porphyry Cu-Au systems. This suggests potential at Todd Creek for the discovery of porphyry Cu-Au mineralization in the vicinity of the South and Fall Creek zones. Much of the Todd Creek corridor remains unexplored. Data from a 2020 hyperspectral survey outlined several large zones of sericite-iron oxide alteration and coincident colour anomalies which to date have yet to undergo even first pass prospecting. These zones include the southwestern extension of the Yellow Bowl zone, a 2 km long alteration zone west of Orange Mountain, and a large area two km southeast of the VMS zone. The 2023 program will include the first ever mapping and sampling of these highly prospective areas. ArcWest's corporate and project specific technical presentations are available for download from www.arcwestexploration.com. About ArcWest Exploration Inc. ArcWest Exploration is a project generator focused on porphyry copper-gold exploration opportunities throughout western North America. The company is in possession of seven 100% owned copper-gold projects throughout BC's premier porphyry copper-gold districts. These include ArcWest's Todd Creek and Oweegee Dome projects, which are two of the largest and most prospective land positions for copper-gold exploration in BC's prolific Golden Triangle. Oweegee Dome neighbours Seabridge Gold's supergiant KSM-Iron Cap-Snowfield porphyry copper-gold deposit and Todd Creek adjoins Newcrest Mining's Brucejack mine property. Several ArcWest projects are currently being advanced through earn-in and joint venture agreements; this includes an agreement with Freeport-McMoRan Mineral Properties Canada Inc. to advance ArcWest's 100% owned Todd Creek copper-gold project. The project generator model allows ArcWest to advance multiple exploration projects simultaneously; enhancing its chances of discovery while minimizing shareholder dilution. The company is managed by an experienced technical team with a track record of discovery and a reputation for attracting well-funded parties, including Freeport-McMoRan, Robert Friedland group companies, ITOCHU, Antofagasta and Teck. For further information please contact: Tyler Ruks, President and CEO at +1 (604) 638 3695. Qualified Person ArcWest's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Nigel Luckman, PGeo, Chief Operating Officer, who serves as a Qualified Person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101. Investors are cautioned that ArcWest Exploration Inc. has not verified the data from the KSM-Iron Cap, Treaty Creek, Brucejack, Hod Maden and Kora North deposits. Further, the presence and style of mineralization on these properties is not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization on the ArcWest Exploration Inc. property. Historical assays from exploration programs on its properties have not been verified by ArcWest but have been cited from sources believed to be reliable. This news release contains statements about ArcWest's expectations and are forward-looking in nature. As a result, they are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although ArcWest believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them as actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and ArcWest undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174898 MyoPax has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its regenerative cell therapy in Exstrophy-Epispadias Complex (EEC). MyoPax aims to repair the congenital muscle defect associated with EEC using its cutting-edge highly regenerative muscle stem cell product. EEC is a severe newborn condition within the uro-rectal congenital malformation spectrum impacting continence, sexual and renal function. MyoPax's cell therapy uses patient-specific muscle stem cells, harnessing their regenerative potential through a proprietary and patented stem cell technology to repair the patient's urinary sphincter muscle defect. The first-in-human MuST trial is being conducted in Germany with sponsorship from the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin under the guidance of Prof. Simone Spuler. Prof. Wolfgang Rosch, renowned expert and pediatric urologist, will lead one of the study centers at the Hospital Barmherzige Bruder St. Hedwig in cooperation with the University of Regensburg: "This novel approach has the potential to profoundly change the treatment of Exstrophy-Epispadias Complex. We look forward to participating in the upcoming clinical trial and working together towards the goal of improving the lives of these young patients and their families." The FDA's Orphan Drug Designation represents a significant milestone, reaffirming the company's commitment to advancing innovative solutions for rare diseases. This designation provides MyoPax with several benefits, including market exclusivity and assistance with clinical trial protocols. "We are delighted to receive FDA Orphan Drug Designation for our regenerative cell therapy for Exstrophy-Epispadias Complex," stated Dr. Verena Schowel-Wolf, CEO of MyoPax. "This recognition validates the potential of our groundbreaking technology to address unmet medical needs and improve the lives of patients living with muscle disorders." About the MuST trial, registered under NCT04729582 EEC is a rare, complex congenital malformation of the genital and urinary organs. A defined sphincter muscle defect causes urinary incontinence and can be only incompletely corrected by current treatment, which requires multiple reconstructive surgeries and lifelong management. The first-in-human trial with the lead candidate (Satori-01) targets this orphan disease and current unmet need. The phase 1/2a trial is aimed at repairing the EEC sphincter defect and will investigate both safety and efficacy. The trial is sponsored by the Charite Universitatsmedizin and financed by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the ForTra GmbH of the Else-Kroner-Fresenius Foundation. About Orphan Drug Designation: The Orphan Drug Act defines rare diseases as those affecting fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States. Enacted by Congress in 1983, this legislation aims to encourage the development of medications for treating such diseases. The Orphan Drug Designation program grants orphan status to drugs and biologics intended for rare diseases that satisfy specific requirements. This designation brings along various incentives, which include tax credits for eligible clinical trials, exemption from user fees, and potential for a seven-year period of market exclusivity following approval. About MyoPax: MyoPax is a biotech start-up recently founded in Berlin and Copenhagen with a focus on innovative regenerative therapies for debilitating muscle disorders. It was spun out of the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin and the Max Delbruck Center in the Helmholtz Association and joined the BioInnovation Institute in Copenhagen with pre-seed funding. Leveraging its proprietary muscle stem cell technology and cutting-edge gene editing technologies, MyoPax aims to transform the treatment landscape and the quality of life for patients affected by muscle disorders. https://myopax.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726215606/en/ Contacts: For media inquiries, please contact: Name: Verena Schowel-Wolf, CEO of MyoPax Email: info@myopax.eu Puts Focus on Carrier Responsiveness - Digital Communication Improves Adjusters' Timeliness, Efficiency BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / The 2023 Hurricane season puts added pressure on carriers servicing the Florida Homeowners market now that the passing of Senate Bill 2-A has amended Florida's Prompt Pay Laws. Among the new law's provisions, the statute mandates carriers to acknowledge, resolve and pay new claims faster. Customer claims issues, especially after Hurricane Ian, led to public frustration and ultimately forced the State to pass a law that cuts in half-from 14 days to seven-the time carriers must respond to new claims. Response time can be especially challenging after a hurricane as CAT events typically result in a higher claims volume. To comply, adjusters need powerful tools to handle claims at this large scale. Hi Marley, creators of the only digital collaboration platform built for the P&C insurance industry, recently researched the correlation between a claim adjuster's responsiveness and its effect on the customer experience and claims handling process. The research analyzed customer data tied to a representative sample of 100 high caseload adjusters from across Hi Marley's carrier partners, including more than 2,500 customer satisfaction survey responses, conversation length and cycle times. The study found that adjusters who engage with customers quickly at the start of the claim are more likely to take an empathetic approach, provide timely service and sustain excellent communication throughout the claims process. By using text messaging, the most responsive adjusters could document the claim earlier, letting the carrier triage events at the time of an incident; this increases the adjuster's capacity to serve more people in a timely manner, which is crucial following a CAT event. Whether it's proactive notifications, submitting a claim or asking questions, Hi Marley found that text messaging has many benefits for both policyholders and insurance carriers when disaster strikes. Offering text messaging during catastrophic events, like hurricanes, allows policyholders to contact their insurer anytime, from anywhere, and get support quickly in a time of need-better enabling carriers to comply with the new regulations. Hi Marley can help with Florida's stricter communication requirements. The Hi Marley Insurance Cloud enables carriers to easily send and receive media files via text messaging, including photos, videos, PDFs and other important documents. The platform also helps carriers remain compliant by automatically uploading transcripts to the claim file and keeping all communications with the policyholder in a single communication thread. The platform's translation feature is another Hi Marley tool built for speed and efficiency. It allows all parties to communicate in their preferred language, automatically translating messages in real time. Adjusters can communicate directly with the claimant, keeping the conversation going to improve responsiveness and get to a resolution faster. With the Hi Marley Insurance Cloud, carriers servicing the Florida homeowners' market can also mitigate loss exposure by sending proactive notifications via text messaging to policyholders about tips and checklists to prepare for catastrophic events before they occur. The outreach can also include real-time updates. Insureds can also report damage to their property via text and provide all the information needed to open the claim. The policyholder can use their phone to easily document damage, share files, coordinate site visits with adjusters and keep the claims moving forward, saving costs and improving cycle times. Other parties in the insurance ecosystem can also be added to the Hi Marley conversation to collaborate and eliminate phone tag and wasted time passing messages to others. This compresses the claims cycle time even further. "Hi Marley's Collaboration platform is a valuable tool for accelerating outreach and facilitating the claims process in catastrophic situations-especially in high-risk states like Florida," said Jay Guden, Senior Vice President of Business Operations & Partnerships at Hi Marley. "Hi Marley offers a variety of benefits to ease compliance. The ability to collaborate with multiple parties on a claim in a single text thread while leveraging Hi Marley's various productivity tools gives adjusters additional capacity when it's needed most. The result is compressed cycle times, better customer service, improved outcomes and lower carrier costs during extreme events." About Hi Marley Hi Marley is the intelligent communication platform for the insurance industry. Built by people who know and love insurance, the platform enables hassle-free texting across the entire ecosystem, empowering insurance professionals and delighting policyholders. Hi Marley's industry leading analytics deliver novel insights that fuel continuous improvement. The solution is built for the enterprise - fast to deploy, easy to use and seamlessly integrates with other core systems. Hi Marley empowers the world's leading insurance carriers to reinvent the customer and employee experience. Learn more at www.himarley.com. Contact: Escalate PR for Hi Marley himarley@escalatepr.com SOURCE: Hi Marley View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/770316/New-Florida-Law-Mandates-Carriers-To-Resolve-Claims-Faster TAIPEI, TAIWAN / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / The 2023 CTBC Fintech Summit, being the first of its kind, showcased the vibrant innovation scenes in local fintech ecosystem. Co-organized by Business Weekly Taiwan and CTBC Financial Holding Co., Ltd. (CTBC Holding), the summit, taking place on July 6th, focused on topics of financial innovation and sustainable development with "Fintech for Good" as the theme. During the event, Business Weekly and CTBC Holding extended a special invitation to international fintech and independent market analyst Chris Skinner to share his views on the future trends in fintech. Other industry, government, and academic specialists also participated enthusiastically. Overall, the event was a great success with over 2,500 in-person and online participants attending the event. Among the guests of honor to the summit, Business Weekly Taiwan is proud to have the Deputy Minister of National Development Council, Shien-Quey Kao; Director General of Administration for Digital Industries, Jang-Hwa Leu; Director of Fintech Research Center, College of Commerce, National Chengchi University, Professor Jennifer L. Wang; President of CTBC Financial Holding, James Chen; Chief Technology Officer of CTBC Financial Holding, Titan Chia, all of whom attended the summit with the goal of strengthening and supporting fintech innovation. Shien-Quey Kao, the Deputy Minister of National Development Council, expressed that the dual transitions to a Net Zero carbon footprint and digitalization are a matter of national competitiveness, and even more so, are a lifeline for the operations of all Taiwan's enterprises. Domestic financial and technological enterprises play a crucial role in leading all other industries in this dual transformation, and among them, CTBC is a model and standout enterprise among all of Taiwan's businesses. In his opening remarks, President of CTBC Financial Holding, James Chen, stated that as the most internationalized financial institution in Taiwan, CTBC strives hard from multiple angles to comply with the government's policy to promote the digital transformation of Taiwan's financial sector, bringing Taiwan in line with international banking standards. In the post-COVID era, industrial digitalization not only refers to the ability to transform and to innovate, but more importantly, it refers to adaptability and the need to conceptualize in terms of sustainability. Technology has had a massive impact on the financial sector and CTBC Financial Holding has welcomed these challenges quickly and with open arms, hoping to incorporate the concept-driven core tenets and spirit put forth by global financial tech trend development specialist Chris Skinner in his work Digital for Good, advancing CTBC Financial Holding with the company putting forward its own ideas and starting the conversation, leading Taiwan's financial sector through the company's continued contribution towards digital transformation as well as sustainable development issues. Chris Skinner, who has travelled to Taiwan all the way from Poland to have insightful discussions on how financial organizations can consolidate technology and sustainability, believes that "banks aren't going to disappear." Future technologies will be a force for good. Through supervisory mechanisms, they will possess far more improved protective mechanisms, guaranteeing consumer rights and interests and continuing to maintain competitive market advantages. Skinner's remarks attracted lots of enthusiastic engagement between him and the audience. During the panel discussion, CTBC Financial Holding Chief Technology Officer, Titan Chia, sat down with National Chengchi University Fintech Research Center Director Jennifer L. Wang, General Manager of Microsoft Taiwan Sean Pien and Partner at McKinsey & Company Charles Tan to explore topics such as the feasibility and implementation of global trends in digital innovation; the impact of AI on the financial sector, and ESG goals and financial innovation from the perspectives of different sectors and industries. The second half of the CTBC Financial Holding Fintech Summit was dedicated to remarking on innovative results, with the special invitation of Jang-Hwa Leu , Director General of Administration for Digital Industries. Director Leu shared his expertise on government policies concerning the importation of third-party payment laws and regulations and the latest adjustments to electronic signature regulations and also made special mention of CTBC Financial Holding's enthusiastic participation via the company's example of its support and promotion of the digital transformation of small and medium enterprises through the Tcloud Marketplace. To date, Tcloud Marketplace has already helped grow more than 40,000 businesses, effectively raising the level of entrepreneurial digitalization, aiding the government and financial sector in launching the best demonstration of innovative financial services. In focusing on concrete results in innovation, CTBC Financial Holding has created its own "Tech Innovation Arsenal", utilizing more than 50 AI models such as video verification, facial recognition and augmented ID comparison for automated user registration of buy-now-pay-later feature. "ROBO GO", another popular application, can recommend personalized products and offers; other applications share anti money-laundering and anti-fraud news, and send anti-counterfeit user protection notifications. Additionally, CTBC Financial Holding has gone to great lengths to build a highly efficient and safe-to-use value supply chain, working from its block chain technology, integrating the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) of its enterprise customers. All of the processed data is encrypted and unable to be changed at random. Enterprises can transfer data across organizations and financial institutions, and can also trust the veracity of said data, quickly providing financing options to companies. Through automatic analysis and auditing, pairing process robots, and trade volume exceeding more than five times its past amount, CTBC Financial Holding is fulfilling the needs of an ever-growing number of enterprise customers. In integrating international innovations, CTBC Financial Holding has come out with six scenarios for use in tandem with the exclusive Apple Messages for Business app, including branch smart guidance, charity smart ambassador, store smart services, stadium smart assistant, conference smart reception, marketplace smart guidance. CTBC Financial Holding also extended an invitation to Carl Wegner, CEO of the leading digital trade finance platform, Contour, to give a talk explaining CTBC Financial Holding's experience in pairing with 20 international banks to create the world's largest blockchain trade and finance platform. CTBC also invited Carl-Johan von Uexkull, Chief Commercial Officer of the green tech startup, Doconomy, to discuss the carbon footprint-reducing services performance of both CTBC's ATM X LINE Personalized Service and Renewables Trading Blockchain Platform with Chih-Shan Luo, Senior Vice President of CTBC Bank. As the partner of CTBC Financial Holding, Business Weekly Taiwan is happy to see the advancement of its future-facing fintech technology as it strides towards sustainable development, receiving international recognition and accolades. CTBC has been bestowed with the honors of The Asset's digital finance award, Global Finance's "Best Bank" ranking for all of Taiwan, and over 135 domestic and international award nominations for 2023. Such accomplishments demonstrate CTBC's international standard of performance in financial innovation. CTBC will continue on its path of promoting digital transformation and the use of fintech in the future, with a spirit of sustainable development at its core, achieving a bright future for everyone. Media Contacts: Business Weekly Taiwan AC Lee +886-2505-6789 EXT.5166 ac_lee@bwnet.com.tw SOURCE: Business Weekly Taiwan View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/770424/Business-Weekly-Co-hosted-the-2023-CTBC-FinTech-Summit-to-Show-Prosperous-Perspectives-for-the-Future-of-Fintech-in-Taiwan OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) said Wednesday that it has agreed to indirectly acquire all the outstanding common shares of Dialogue Health Technologies Inc. for $5.15 per share. The equity value of Dialogue is $365 million on a diluted basis. The transaction will be financed with cash and is expected to close in 2023. Dialogue healthcare team caters to nearly 2.8 million members across 50,000 organizations. RBC Capital Markets served as the financial advisor and Torys LLP acted as the legal counsel to Sun Life. Currently, shares of Sun Life are trading at $ 52.67 down 0.25% or $0.13 on the New York Stock Exchange. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Denver, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - CBD of Denver (OTC Pink: CBDD) today announced that it has filed with FINRA to change the Company's name to Berliner Innovations. The Company also increased the number of authorized shares it may issue to 7 billion. Additionally, Paul Gurney has resigned from the board. CBDD's corporate counsel has filed all necessary paperwork with FINRA starting the process to change the Company's name and trading symbol. This is a continuation of the process that new management began with the acquisition of Libra 9 and the restructuring of the wholesale CBD business. The Company also has increased the number of authorized shares to 7 billion. This was done to allow the Company to issue shares to certain investors who had previously invested in the Company. Those shares will be restricted when issued. It additionally allows the Company to issue shares in conjunction with acquisitions and to pay board members in shares in order to preserve cash for operations. Effective July 12, 2023, Paul Gurney resigned from the board of directors. Mr. Gurney had previously resigned as CEO. The company is also pleased that board member Nick Sprung has become more active with the Company and the company looks forward to working with Nick and benefiting from his expertise and contributions. On the business front the Company is expanding the roll out of the Magic Lappen to Edeka stores throughout Germany and is pleased to announce we currently service more than 125 locations with our goal to get to 600 locations as soon as possible. Reaching 600 locations enables the Company to be a preferred vendor with Edeka which should increase sales. We are pleased with the consumer acceptance of the Magic Lappen and we are receiving reorders from many of our current customers. This is a testament to the quality of our products, and we look forward to their continued support. "Axel is committed to expanding this amazing product through brick-and-mortar stores and online. I look forward to seeing it available throughout Europe in the future," said board member Robert Roever. The Company is also pleased to announce the Anti Slip division has had its best 1 day sign up with 10 new business opportunities. Please visit www.berlinr13.de for additional information about our Anti Slip product. The company's existing wholesale CBD business has experienced consecutive quarter-over-quarter growth for the past three quarters, and we expect this trend to continue in the immediate future. The company has also engaged a few of the original salesman from the past and look forward to their contributions. As we explore new initiatives to improve margins in this historically low margin business, we will provide further details on these initiatives. Countries across Europe are in the process of legalizing Cannabis. Malta started in the beginning of this year with Cannabis Clubs. Germany has published its first draft how to legalize cannabis and the final draft could be out as early as August. We apologize for the postponement of our Shareholder Update Call as CEO Axel Reinke has been ill. Our goal is to hold the call as soon as possible, and the Company is pleased to announce that Nick Sprung will be on the call. Call in information will be available on the Company's website where shareholders will also be able to submit questions. Follow Magic Lappen on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok for more information and updates. Follow The Magic Lappen on Instagram: @themagiclappen or shop on our website: The Magic Lappen Visit our corporate Website of Berliner Innovation: www.berlinerinnovation.de and the innovative Anti-Slip product: www.berlinr13.de. For questions, please submit to investors@libra9.de About the Magic Lappen The Magic Lappen provides maximum shine, streak free drying, and only requires water - no chemicals or detergents. The Magic Lappen is also chemical-free and lint-free; cleaning of all smooth and shining surfaces is robust and durable with a leather-like feel. Its innovative structure enables high absorption of dirt, dust, and grease and can be washed many times at 60. The product is vegan and ecofriendly. About CBD of Denver, Inc. CBD of Denver, Inc. is focused on acquiring profitable assets at attractive valuations to create value for shareholders. The company's team is dedicated to sourcing high-margin, innovative products that align with its values. Information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or future financial performance, involving known and unknown risks and you should not place undue reliance on these statements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events. We assume no obligation publicly about update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174957 The digestive bitters market is driven by the availability of a greater range of items to consumers through e-commerce channels and the increased expenditure on R&D activities. PORTLAND, Ore., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Digestive Bitters Market by type (True Bitter, Aromatic Bitter, and Nutritive Bitter), Packaging (Plastic Bottle, Tetra Pack, Cans and Glass Bottle), and Distribution Channel (Supermarket, Convenience Store, Over the Counter, and Online Store): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the global digestive bitters market was valued at $1,350.1 million in 2022, and is projected to reach $2,090.2 million by 2032, registering a CAGR of 4.5% from 2023 to 2032. Request Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/75344 Prime determinants of growth The digestive bitters market is driven by the availability of a greater range of items to consumers through e-commerce channels and the increased expenditure on R&D activities. The rising bitter deficiency syndrome in American countries use of digestive bitters to cure digestive problems .The increasing alertness of consumers towards the 'self-treating' and 'self-directed' approach surged the demand for digestive bitters. Moreover, the increase in numbers of proactive consumers have increased the demand for digestive bitters as it can be consumed at the initial stage of any digestive problems to prevent them from becoming acute. However, the growing challenges in the regulatory environment restrict the market growth. Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2023 $1,350.1 Million Market Size in 2031 $2,090.2 Million CAGR 4.5 % No. of Pages in Report 270 Segments covered Type, Packaging, Distribution channel, and Region. Drivers Rise in 'bitter deficiency syndrome' in North American countries. The growing number of 'self-directed' or 'self-treating consumers. Rising frequency of proactive approaches toward treatment and prevention. Increase in the cost of health care. Opportunities Rising investment in R&D activities Increased e-commerce channel proliferation Restraints The growing challenges in the regulatory environment Risk of counterfeit products Rise in deceptive advertising The aromatic bitter segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period Based on type, the aromatic bitter segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly half of the digestive bitters market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The growing interest of consumers in natural products as an alternative to conventional medication for numerous health concerns along with increased awareness regarding gut health, have driven the sales of aromatic digestive bitters. Moreover, the pleasant aroma of the aromatic digestive bitters along with numerous flavor profiles has gained consumer attention. The true bitter segment is observed as the fastest-growing segment, registering a CAGR of 5.3%. Buy This Report (270 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @https://bit.ly/3Kf2mrY The glass bottle segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period Based on packaging, the glass bottle segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly one-third of the digestive bitters market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The demand for glass bottle has increased as it provide a visually appealing presentation which enhances the overall appeal of the product to the consumers. They are also environmentally friendly as they can be easily recyclable and have less impact on the environment. The tetra pack segment is observed as the fastest-growing segment, registering a CAGR of 5.1%. The supermarket segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period Based on distribution channel, the supermarket segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly one-third of the digestive bitters market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The availability of different brands of health products along with different formulations of products, is driving the growth of this segment significantly. The increasing popularity of supermarkets due to the convenience provided by them for offering a wide range of products under one roof along with arranging ample parking space with timeless operations is making them a favored option for shopping. The online store segment is observed as the fastest-growing segment, registering a CAGR of 5.1%. The availability of a greater range of items to consumers through e-commerce channels has enhanced the market's awareness of digestive bitters. Consequently, with the entry of more brands and innovative products, the market has become more competitive. In addition, the e-commerce platforms have given small and independent consumers a platform to buy products. Europe to maintain its dominance by 2032 Based on region, Europe held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for around two-fifths of the digestive bitters market, and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period. Europe is a mature market with a high demand for herbal products for the purpose of medical treatments. The inclination of Western culture towards herbal solutions for aiding purposes has increased the implementation of digestive bitters in the region. Asia-Pacific is observed as the fastest-growing region, registering a CAGR of 5.0%. This is attributed to the increase in the volume of sales for herbal products. Enquire Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/75344 Leading Market Players: Venus Bioceuticals Pvt. Ltd., Quicksilver Scientific, Inc. Urban moonshine Herbal Supplies Pty Ltd Granary Herbs Ltd St. Francis Herb Farm Botanica Zizia Botanicals Arete Earth Based Wellness Equinox Botanicals Flora Health Shop Hella Cocktails. Bittersberg Nature's Way. Nanton Neutraceuticals Ltd The report analyzes government regulations and policies to provide information on the current market trends and suggests future growth opportunities globally. Furthermore, the study highlights Porter's five forces analysis to determine the factors affecting the market growth. These factors include trading prices, intense competition, end users, manufacturers, and suppliers. To understand the market, drivers, restraints, and opportunities are explained in the report. Trending Reports in Food and Beverages Industry Canned Food Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026 Canned Lamb Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2023-2032 Coconut Products Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026 Fast Food Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2020-2027 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies, and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/food-and-beverages Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/digestive-bitters-market-expected-to-reach-2-1-billion-globally-by-2032---allied-market-research-301886343.html CHICAGO, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Monitoring Tools Market is anticipated to incorporate AI and ML, improved security and compliance features, cloud-native support, and a focus on observability in the future. Furthermore, IoT monitoring, seamless interaction with other IT tools, and enhanced user experience-focused monitoring are all likely to become commonplace in monitoring systems. The Monitoring Tools Market is estimated to grow from USD 24.5 billion in 2023 to USD 63.7 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 21.1% during the forecast period%, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Monitoring tools are software applications that track and analyze the performance, health, and availability of IT infrastructure components. They offer specialized functionalities such as network monitoring, server monitoring, application performance monitoring (APM), cloud monitoring, log monitoring, security monitoring, and capacity planning. These tools provide real-time insights into CPU usage, network traffic, response times, and other vital metrics, aiding in issue detection, troubleshooting, and optimization. They offer customizable dashboards and visualization to present data in a visually appealing manner. Browse in-depth TOC on "Monitoring Tools Market" 280 - Tables 55 - Figures 350 - Pages Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=156908970 Scope of the Report Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 2017-2028 Base year considered 2022 Forecast period 2023-2028 Forecast units USD Million/Billion Segments covered Offering, Type, Infrastructure Monitoring, Application Performance Monitoring (APM), Security Monitoring, End User Experience Monitoring, Vertical, and Region Geographies covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America Companies covered Microsoft (US), Google (US), AWS (US), IBM (US), Cisco (US), Dynatrace (US), Splunk (US), Solarwinds (US), Netscout (US), New Relic (US), Logic Monitor (US), Paessler AG (Germany), Netreo (US), ManageEngine (US), Idera (US), Sematext (US), Datadog (US), Icinga (Germany), Nagios (US), Zabbix (Latvia), Sentry (US), UptimeRobot (Malta) and many more. Healthcare & Lifesciences to account for higher CAGR during the forecast period The Monitoring Tools Market in the Healthcare & Life Sciences vertical has witnessed significant growth and innovation in recent years. With the increasing complexity and demands of the healthcare industry, monitoring tools have become invaluable in ensuring the efficient delivery of patient care, optimizing processes, and enhancing overall operational effectiveness. Monitoring tools in this sector encompass a wide range of technologies and solutions designed to monitor various aspects of healthcare and life sciences, including patient health, medical devices, drug development, and clinical trials. In the healthcare industry, monitoring tools are used to track vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation, providing healthcare professionals with real-time data for accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions. These tools enable remote monitoring, allowing patients to be monitored from their homes, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits, and improving patient convenience. These tools play a vital role in improving healthcare outcomes, enhancing patient care, and ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medical devices and treatments. As the industry continues to evolve, collaboration between healthcare providers, technology companies, and regulatory authorities will be crucial to address challenges and drive further innovation in monitoring tools for the healthcare and life sciences sector. Request Sample Pages @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=156908970 Services Segment to account for higher CAGR during the forecast period The market for Monitoring tools is bifurcated based on offering into software and services. The CAGR of services is estimated to be highest during the forecast period. Professional and managed services have a significant impact on the Monitoring Tools Market by offering a range of valuable services to businesses. Professional services providers assist with the implementation, configuration, and customization of monitoring tools, ensuring optimal functionality and alignment with specific business requirements. They provide consulting and advisory services, guiding organizations in selecting the right monitoring tools and developing effective monitoring strategies. These providers also offer training and educational programs, equipping businesses with the necessary knowledge and skills to utilize monitoring tools effectively. Managed services providers, on the other hand, offer ongoing monitoring and management of infrastructure and applications, relieving businesses of the burden of maintaining and optimizing their monitoring environment. They provide proactive monitoring, incident management, and performance optimization, ensuring efficient operations and minimizing downtime. These services enhance the effectiveness of monitoring solutions, allowing businesses to focus on their core activities while ensuring their monitoring needs are met by skilled providers. Asia Pacific to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period The CAGR of Asia Pacific is estimated to be highest during the forecast period. Monitoring tools is rapidly growing in Asia Pacific, which includes China, India, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN, and ANZ (Australia and New Zealand). Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market for monitoring tools. In this region, monitoring tools technologies are utilized for rural and agricultural development. The region encompasses a diverse range of countries, including but not limited to China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Southeast Asian nations. The increasing adoption of digitalization and the growing importance of data-driven decision-making across various industries, such as IT, telecommunications, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing, have been key drivers of the Monitoring Tools Market in the region. Several factors have contributed to the rise in demand for monitoring tools in Asia Pacific. The surging number of internet users, mobile phone subscribers, and connected devices has created a vast pool of data that requires efficient monitoring and analysis. The escalating cybersecurity threats have prompted organizations to invest in advanced monitoring solutions to safeguard their networks, infrastructure, and sensitive information. The Asia Pacific region is witnessing a dynamic vendor landscape, with both local and international monitoring tool providers vying for market share. To gain a competitive edge, vendors are investing in product innovation, scalability, and ease of integration with existing systems. Top Key Companies in Monitoring Tools Market: Major vendors in the global Monitoring Tools Market are Microsoft (US), Google (US), AWS (US), IBM (US), Cisco (US), Dynatrace (US), Splunk (US), Solarwinds (US), Netscout (US), New Relic (US), Logic Monitor (US), Paessler AG (Germany), Netreo (US), ManageEngine (US), Idera (US), Sematext (US), Datadog (US), Icinga (Germany), Nagios (US), Zabbix (Latvia), Sentry (US), UptimeRobot (Malta), Atera (Israel), Better Stack (Czech Republic), Sumo Logic (US), Checkmk (Germany), Exporise (US), ITRS (UK), Riverbed Technology (US), Nlyte Software (US). Inquiry Before Buying @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=156908970 Recent Developments: In June 2023, IBM acquired Apptio, this acquisition to advance IBM's existing resource optimization, observability, and application management offerings, maximize value for clients and drive significant synergies across several IBM growth areas. In March 2023, Cisco and Lightspin are aligned with a common goal to help customers modernize their cloud environments with end-to-end security and observability from build to runtime. In February 2022, Netscout announced the availability of nGeniusEDGE Server, a comprehensive, plug-and-play solution that provides customers with the visibility and insights they need to ensure a high-quality end-user experience regardless of where employees work.. In April 2021, ManageEngine launched RMM CENTRAL WHICH is a unified remote monitoring and management solution for managed service providers. In November 2020, Datadog and Google will grow a relationship with Datadog's first European Google Cloud data center to now include new regions, making it even easier for organizations to access and implement Datadog's monitoring and security platform. Monitoring Tools Market Advantages: Real-time insights into the functionality and state of numerous systems, applications, and networks are provided through monitoring tools. Organisations can immediately detect and address problems thanks to this visibility, reducing downtime and increasing uptime. Potential concerns can be found before they become serious ones with the aid of monitoring technologies. Organisations can avoid expensive downtime and service interruptions by identifying and fixing problems as soon as they arise. Monitoring tools support keeping an eye on how resources like CPU, memory, and disc space are being used. Organisations are able to deploy resources efficiently thanks to this data, preventing resource waste and ensuring optimal utilisation. Monitoring tools help with capacity planning by examining historical performance data. Based on consumption patterns and trends, organisations may forecast future resource needs and prepare for scalability. Monitoring tools help service-oriented firms satisfy service level agreements (SLAs) by giving information on system uptime and performance. Customer satisfaction is increased and a good reputation is maintained when SLAs are met. Tools for monitoring can automate some processes and send alarms when predetermined thresholds are crossed. The IT staff can respond quickly to events and take the necessary action thanks to this proactive strategy. Tools for monitoring provide useful measurements and statistics that support data-driven decision-making. Based on quantitative findings, organisations can utilise this information to strategize, prioritise investments, and make improvements. By following and inspecting crucial processes and data, monitoring technologies assist assure compliance in sectors with rigorous regulatory requirements (such as healthcare and finance). Monitoring technologies help organisations save money overall by enhancing performance, avoiding downtime, and automating procedures. Monitoring tools aid in locating problems that can have a detrimental effect on user experience. Quickly resolving these problems makes customers happier and increases brand loyalty. Report Objectives To determine and forecast the global Monitoring Tools Market by offering (software and services), type, infrastructure monitoring tools, application performance monitoring tools, security monitoring, end user monitoring tools, vertical, and region from 2023 to 2028, and analyze the various macroeconomic and microeconomic factors affecting the market growth To forecast the size of the market segments with respect to five main regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), the Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Latin America To provide detailed information about the major factors (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges) influencing the growth of the Monitoring Tools Market To analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the overall Monitoring Tools Market To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high-growth segments of the Monitoring Tools Market To profile the key market players; provide a comparative analysis on the basis of business overviews, regional presence, product offerings, business strategies, and key financials; and illustrate the competitive landscape of the market To track and analyze competitive developments, such as mergers and acquisitions, product developments, partnerships and collaborations, and research & development (R&D) activities, in the market To analyze the impact of recession across all the regions across the Monitoring Tools Market Browse Adjacent Markets: Analytics Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: App Analytics Market - Global Forecast to 2028 Geospatial Analytics Market - Global Forecast to 2028 Mobile Apps and Web Analytics Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Decision Intelligence Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Data Pipeline Tools Market - Global Forecast to 2027 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. 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Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/monitoring-tools-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/monitoring-tools.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/monitoring-tools-market-worth-63-7-billion-by-2028---exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-301886031.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Rome Resources Ltd. (TSXV: RMR) (FSE: 33R) ("Rome" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has fully exercised the second option under its option agreement with CoTinCo Minerals Projects International LLC dated the 15th day of August 2022, as amended the 6th day of June 2023 (the "CoTinCo Option Agreement"). As a result, Rome has increased its earned undivided indirect interest in and to exploration permit PR 15130 from 25% to 51%. Pursuant to the CoTinco Option Agreement, Rome initially acquired a 25% undivided interest in and to exploration permit PR 15130 (see the Company's news release dated February 6, 2023). Rome has now acquired a further 26% indirect interest in PR 15130 (for a total indirect interest of 51%) by funding additional exploration expenditures totalling CAD$1,750,000 at exploration permit PR 15130 and by issuing a total of 6,000,000 RMR shares, of which 2,000,000 RMR shares were issued to Mark Gasson, the Company's president; 2,000,000 RMR shares were issued to Dr. Andreas Reitmeier and 2,000,000 RMR shares were issued to Klaus Eckhof. The 6,000,000 RMR shares are restricted from trading until November 26, 2023 and, in addition thereto, are subject to escrow provisions. About Rome Resources Rome Resources Ltd. is a mineral exploration company that holds indirect interests in two contiguous properties, PR 15130 and PR 13274, which are situated in the Walikale District of North Kivu Province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and that are prospective for tin, copper and zinc mineralization. These properties, which are collectively referred to as the "Bisie North Tin Project", are located within 8 km of Alphamin Resources Corp.'s Mpama North tin mine, which is the world's highest grade tin mine with an average grade of 4.5% tin that currently produces 4% of the world's tin supply. Rome's exploration team discovered Alphamin's tin deposits and Rome intends to fund exploration on the Bisie North Tin Project up to the completion of a definitive feasibility study. Contacts Investors / Shareholders Mark Gasson President, CEO & Director P: (604) 687-6140 Media E: info@romeresources.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The information in this news release may include certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Although Rome Resources Ltd believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, Rome Resources Ltd disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174961 Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The United States has announced a new security assistance package to help Ukraine protect its people from Russian attacks. The latest round of U.S. military aid focuses on important capabilities to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses, including additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems and NASAMS. The package also has more artillery rounds, anti-aircraft systems, several dozen armored personnel carriers, and over 28 million rounds of small-arms ammunition, all of which will arrive in Ukraine soon. Authorized by U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken, this package contains $400 million worth of arms and equipment from Department of Defense stocks. Announcing this at a routine media briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, 'We will continue to support Ukraine as they stand up to Russian brutality and defend their country as long as it takes.' The capabilities in this package include: Additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS); Stinger anti-aircraft systems; Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds; 120mm and 60mm mortar rounds; 32 Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers; Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles; Javelin and other anti-armor systems and rockets; Hornet Unmanned Aerial Systems; Hydra-70 aircraft rockets; Tactical air navigation systems; Demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing; Over 28 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades; Night vision devices and thermal imagery systems; and Spare parts, training munitions, and other field equipment. Jean-Pierre said that Trevor Reed, an American citizen who was injured while participating in fighting in Ukraine, has been evacuated to Germany with the support of an NGO, and that he is receiving medical care there. Russia had, last week, bombarded Ukrainian port cities such as Odesa. And on Monday, Russia destroyed Ukrainian grain warehouses on the Danube River. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Facile.it, a leading Italian online brokerage and price comparison platform, helping customers save time and money by comparing prices on key areas of their household spending, today announces the appointment of Maurizio Pescarini as new CEO effective as of October 1, 2023. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726211638/en/ Maurizio Pescarini (Photo: Business Wire) Maurizio has 25 years of experience within the insurance and banking industries, most recently as CEO of Genertel and GenertelLife where he successfully led a digital transformation generating significant value for customers and other stakeholders. He started his career as a consultant at Accenture before transitioning to leadership roles at Aviva, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena and Generali with an emphasis on driving growth and innovation across digital business models. Tobias Stuber, who during his tenure as CEO has played a fundamental role in the continued remarkable growth trajectory and development of Facile.it, making it the second unicorn in Italy, will remain in his current role until September 2023. Maurizio Pescarini commented: "I have been very impressed by Facile.it and how it has established itself as a leading Italian consumer brand over the past years with an entrepreneurial spirit and a clear value proposition for its customers. I strongly believe in the future potential of the company and I am delighted to be joining this exceptional team as it pursues its next phase of growth." Christian Lucas, Facile.it Chairman and Co-Head of EMEA at Silver Lake, commented: "We are very excited to be partnering with Maurizio, who is a dynamic and accomplished executive who will bring tremendous leadership experience to the company. His excellent track record and demonstrated ability to drive growth in digital consumer facing businesses makes him an excellent fit for the company during a period of continued investment to accelerate growth. At the same time, we would like to thank Tobias for all of his important contributions to Facile.it and his role in laying the groundwork for its strong position today." Tobias Stuber, CEO of Facile.it, commented: "It has been a great pleasure to lead Facile.it over the past years and to work with an outstanding team dedicated to our mission of helping customers take better decisions every day. I would also like to thank the majority shareholder Silver Lake, and Oakley Capital, for their outstanding partnership during my tenure and I wish all the best to Maurizio in his new role." About Facile.it Facile.it is a leading Italian online brokerage and price comparison platform, helping over 4 million customers every month to save time and money by comparing prices across key areas of their household spend. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Milan, the company has built a leading brand and a scaled omni-channel distribution network based on a market-leading tech platform. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726211638/en/ Contacts: Ufficio Stampa Facile.it SpA Andrea Polo Yuri Griggio Alessandra Arosio 02.55550.180/154/208 348.0186418- 327.0440396 335.6373666 ufficiostampa@facile.it WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has started implementing a project to prevent a massive oil spill from a supertanker off Yemen's Red Sea coast with the removal of more than 1 million barrels of oil from the decaying vessel. The FSO Safer has been at risk of breaking up or exploding for years. A major spill from the vessel would result in an environmental and humanitarian catastrophe. Under the supervision of experts, 1.14 million barrels of oil is being pumped into the replacement vessel Yemen in a ship-to-ship transfer that is expected to take 19 days to complete. The oil transfer operation is carried out by marine salvage company SMIT, a subsidiary of Boskalis. After its arrival at the site on May 30, SMIT has stabilized the 47-year-old Safer. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: 'The ship-to-ship transfer of oil which has started today is the critical next step in avoiding an environmental and humanitarian catastrophe on a colossal scale.' Meanwhile, the United States urged the international community - including the private sector - to come together to support this critical project to prevent a catastrophic oil spill in the Red Sea. The United States has been a leading supporter of UN efforts to address the threat posed by the Safer tanker over the last two years, having provided $10 million for the operation. An additional $22 million is needed to complete the operation and address all residual environmental threats posed by the tanker, according to a State Department estimate. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Top 3 Energie-Dividendenaktien Im neuen Energieboom von kontinuierlichen Ertragen profitieren. Wir zeigen hier, von welche drei Aktien Sie profitieren konnen. Hier klicken CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / HeyAuto, Canada's digital automotive ecosystem, introduces Dealer Portal, an all-in-one digital automotive platform for boosting sales, streamlining operations, and enhancing customer satisfaction. HeyAuto is Canada's go-to platform for automotive - providing the industry with innovative tools to stay ahead of the curve and connected to their customers. Launching the Dealer Portal adds to the comprehensive suite of tools and innovations to enhance dealership operations and sales success with HeyAuto. "At HeyAuto, your success is our drive, and Dealer Portal will have an immense impact on overall operational efficiency, profit growth, and customer satisfaction for dealers," says HeyAuto President, Brett Jones "Dealers can quickly implement our "a la carte" style solution and start reaping the benefits without disrupting their current operations, adding value to their businesses in an instant". HeyAuto is an automotive ecosystem made up of a suite of products and services to help dealers stay better connected to their customers and help car owners take control of their automotive ownership experience. HeyAuto Dealer Portal features include: TeamProfiles - Provides the ability to assign customers to sales representatives, team management tools, and streamlined sales processes for business success. InventoryPro - Organizes inventory in a user-friendly, always accessible format making it easy for dealerships to integrate. Spotlight - Designed to put dealers and their businesses on the map, increase visibility, attract more customers and maximize profits. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) - Consolidates and organizes customer data and provides dealerships with access to unlimited leads, allowing dealers to expand their reach and find new customers. AutoTrusted - Dealers can verify reviews as they come in, ensuring accurate and real feedback, creating trust with potential customers. KeysForTrees - Combining the power of HeyAuto's Glovebox and the global impact of OneTreePlanted, KeysForTrees is the easiest way for dealers to show their commitment to sustainability and differentiate themselves. Glovebox - Offers a suite of tools that allow dealers to further their customer relationships past the point of sale with communication through personalized offers. Glovebox also allows dealerships to target specific customer segments and track customer behavior and preferences, enabling data-driven decisions to improve profitability and market share. AutoBids - Connects dealers with private sellers to populate their inventory and deliver high-quality leads. AutoCleared - Through the power of Privacy4Cars, HeyAuto offers dealers the patented technology to clear data from vehicles to protect privacy, provide peace of mind and boost profit. Chat - Allows dealers to stay in contact with their customers with user-friendly and real-time chat. Dealer Portal will enable dealerships to fully customize their subscription by hand-picking the services they need. From inventory management and marketing tools to loyalty retention and environmental initiatives, dealers can tailor their experience to streamline operations, enhance the customer experience, and increase loyalty. The launch of the Dealer Portal consolidates dealer responsibilities and customer relationships into one easy-to-use, must-have multi-tool. With this launch, HeyAuto is excited to help dealerships use innovative tech solutions to drive more business and success. Learn more about Dealer Portal and request a demo here: https://dealer.heyauto.com/ ABOUT HEYAUTO HeyAuto is an automotive technology ecosystem, offering "a la carte" style micro-services that dealerships can plug and play to offer a more connected experience for their customers. For consumers, HeyAuto enables a "Full-Service" car ownership experience that greatly enhances the overall consumer journey. HeyAuto is transforming the overall customer experience for both consumers and dealerships. Learn more at https://heyauto.com/ CONTACT Caroline Sawamoto Investor Relations Phone: 1 (833) 947-5227 Email: caroline@irlabs.ca Amie-Lynn Mitchell Product Marketing Manager Phone: 1 (844) 439-2886 Email: amie@vividtheory.com SOURCE: HeyAuto Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/770347/Empowering-Dealers-Across-Canada-HeyAuto-Launches-its-Game-Changing-Dealer-Portal NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / BCW, the leading global communications agency, announced today that it has entered into an exclusive partnership with Limbik, a top information defense technology company rooted in cognitive artificial intelligence (AI), to provide clients with advanced identification and mitigation solutions against weaponized information. The first offering from the partnership is BCW Decipher powered by Limbik to help clients anticipate and dismantle message threats in today's post-factual environment. "The team at Limbik has developed a truly groundbreaking cognitive AI platform to determine the believability, virality, foreign influence and potential for impact of emerging narratives," said Chad Latz, Global Chief Innovation Officer, BCW. "Together, we offer an exceptional one-two punch for clients around the world with Decipher thanks to Limbik's ability to predict, source and assess potentially damaging content coupled with BCW's world-class expertise in crisis counsel and corporate reputation management. In today's world, this is a must-have service as weaponized information - whether from foreign actors, adversaries, disgruntled individuals or generative AI - can have a debilitating impact on an organization's reputation, stock price and indeed, ability to function." BCW Decipher powered by Limbik works by integrating message-level believability classification and predictive virality indicators. The result is a robust framework for evaluating the potential impact of different types of content across defined audience segments that is based on observable, repeatable data. Determining an audience's level of commitment to a particular topic and artifact believability to the platform can make predictions about future impact. "There are a lot of analytics solutions, but companies, organizations, and even governments around the world still struggle to identify disinformation, a threat that only grows with generative AI," said Zach Schwitzky, CEO and Co-Founder of Limbik. "Our cognitive AI platform predicts the believability of a narrative and if its likely to drive action - the two most important metrics when considering impact to your business or brand. This partnership with BCW, and its capacity to use our data solution to launch communications efforts to protect brands, is game-changing in terms of building organizational resilience. BCW Decipher powered by Limbik combines sourcing and assessing the potential for damage with industry-leading crisis preparedness and mitigation communications solutions. Together, we can help clients stop weaponized information from disrupting a business." In February 2023, BCW launched BCW Navigate, an advisory service led by a multi-disciplinary team of experts who support C-suite clients on all aspects of using artificial intelligence - from the regulatory to the ethical and the wider public conversation. About Limbik Limbik is a cognitive AI company which has developed PFI ("Potential for Impact"), the first platform engineered to proactively identify information threats and optimize response options. PFI is deployed by democratic governments, forward-thinking NGOs, and leading businesses to combat the risk of weaponized information. With offices in the United States, Canada, and the European Union, the Limbik team are veterans of Madison Avenue, the U.S. government, academia, and venture-backed technology companies. For more information, visit www.limbik.com. About BCW BCW is the global communications agency built to move people. BCW partners with clients in the B2B, consumer, corporate, crisis management, healthcare, public affairs, purpose and technology sectors to set strategic direction for all communications and create powerful and unexpected ideas that earn attention. Through an "earned-plus" offer - earned media plus paid media, creative technology, data, AI and an expanding suite of innovative capabilities - BCW moves people with power and precision to move its clients forward. BCW is a part of WPP (NYSE: WPP), a creative transformation company. For more information, visit www.bcw-global.com. # # # View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from BCW Global on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: BCW Global Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/bcw-global Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: BCW Global View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/770456/BCW-Introduces-Cognitive-AI-Solution-Against-Weaponized-Information Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) -Hypercharge Networks Corp. (NEO: HC) (OTCQB: HCNWF) (FSE: PB7) (the "Company" or "Hypercharge"), a leading, smart electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions provider, is pleased to announce that, in collaboration with Brilliant Lighting Solutions ("Brilliant Lighting"), it will be installing 135 Level 2 charging stations across 16 multi-unit residential budlings located in Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, Surrey, and Langley, British Columbia. Installation is due to be completed by the end of 2024. Brilliant Lighting is one of the Company's channel partners under its Preferred Partner program. Brilliant Lighting, is one of Canada's fastest growing lighting solutions providers and offers a wide range of LED lighting and EV charging solutions for residential and commercial locations. With over 20 years of background working with strata teams and strata property managers, Brilliant Lighting will manage the installation of all chargers and infrastructure requirements. "With the home being the most popular location to charge an EV, we are thrilled to partner with Brilliant Lighting to bring Hypercharge to more residential buildings across the Lower Mainland," said Chris Koch, Head of Growth & Partnerships at Hypercharge. "As demand for electric vehicles continues to rise, we strategically plan for site growth from day one, ensuring our charging infrastructure keeps pace with the evolving needs of both residents and site management." Brilliant Lighting worked in partnership with Hypercharge to secure BC Hydro and CleanBC's EV charging rebate for this installation, which is funded by the Government of British Columbia's Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, and the Government of Canada. -##- About Hypercharge Hypercharge Networks Corp. (NEO: HC) (OTCQB: HCNWF) (FSE: PB7) is a leading provider of smart electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions that offers turnkey technology to multi-unit residential and commercial buildings, fleet operations, and other rapidly growing sectors. Driven by its mission to accelerate EV adoption and enable the shift towards a carbon neutral economy, Hypercharge is committed to providing seamless, simple charging solutions by offering industry-leading equipment and a robust network of public and private charging stations. Learn more: https://hypercharge.com/. On behalf of the company, Hypercharge Networks Corp. David Bibby, President & CEO Investor Relations: Kelsey Letham | Head of Investor Relations invest@hypercharge.com 604-881-1730 Media Contact: Kyle Green | Senior Marketing Manager kyle.green@hypercharge.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 Hypercharge's EV installations and the timing related thereto. 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 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 NEO Exchange Inc. nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in policies of NEO Exchange Inc.) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174969 Regulatory News: ORPEA SA (the "Company") (Paris:ORP) today announces its consolidated revenue for the 1st half of 2023. While occupancy rates of retirement homes in France remained below expectations, the 2nd quarter of 2023 confirmed the trend observed in the 1st quarter of 2023, with growth of +11.1% vs. the same period last year. This is the result of an overall increase in occupancy rates, with the exception of France, an increase in installed capacity with the contribution of recently opened facilities, and the effects of price increases, which were particularly marked in Central Europe. Overall, sales for the first half of 2023 totaled 2,539 million, corresponding to year-on-year growth of +10.7%, mostly organic. As a reminder, and as indicated in the press release published on July 13th, the Company anticipates lower sales growth and a substantial lag in EBITDAR generation for the full year 2023, in the range of -15% to -20% compared with the EBITDAR forecast of 881 million set out in the November 2022 Updated Business Plan communicated to the market on May 12th, 2023 (i.e. EBITDAR 2023 of between 705 million and 750 million). With regard to the financial restructuring process, the Company reminds that the Accelerated Safeguard Plan ("Plan de Sauvegarde Acceleree"), as approved by the Nanterre Specialized Commercial Court (link) on 24 July through a cross-class cram down, provides for the implementation of three capital increases, starting in the last quarter of 2023 and after the lifting of the last condition precedent1, which will result in a massive dilution for existing shareholders. After these operations, and in the absence of reinvestment, they would hold around 0.04% of the capital, with a theoretical share value of 0.02. In m Quarterly figures Half-year figures (30 June) Q2 2022 Q2 2023 Change o/w organic2 H1 2022 H1 2023 Change o/w organic2 France Benelux UK Ireland 712 769 +8.0% +4.6% 1,391 1,489 +7.0% +5.2% Central Europe 294 335 +14.0% +13.3% 577 658 +13.9% +12.9% Eastern Europe 109 129 +18.7% +18.9% 210 250 +19.2% +19.3% Iberian Peninsula and Latam 59 69 +18.4% +17.7% 114 139 +21.4% +19.7% Other countries 0,9 1,8 ns ns 1,9 3,6 ns ns Total revenue 1,175 1,305 11.1% +8.8% 2,295 2,539 +10.7% +9.1% 1. Q2 2023 revenue Revenues reached 1,305 million in the 2nd quarter of 2023, a year-on-year increase of +11.1%, including organic growth of +8.8%. Continuing from the 1st quarter of 2023, activity in the 2nd quarter is up in all geographical areas, thanks to average occupancy rates that are generally up and the contribution of facilities opened in the last 12 months. 2. H1 2023 revenue For the first half of 2023, revenue amounted to 2,539 million, up +10.7% compared to the 1st half of 2022, of which +9.1% organically. The overall level of activity in clinics both in France and internationally, as well as in retirement homes outside of France, is increasing. This evolution is illustrated at the global level, by an average occupancy rate up +136 bps compared to the 1st half of 2022, at 82.7%. In the France Benelux UK Ireland area, revenue amounted to 1,489 million over the 1st semester, up +7.0% (including +5.2% on an organic basis) compared to the first half of the previous year. In France, nursing home activity remains far from historical levels, with an average occupancy rate of 83.4% over the period as a whole, down on the same period last year (86.0%). Clinics (Medical and Rehabilitation Care, Mental Health), on the other hand, are experiencing an increase in activity levels, illustrating the diversity of activities and specialties developed within the facilities, in the various regions where the Group is active. Elsewhere in the region, Belgium benefited from the inclusion of 19 new facilities in its scope of consolidation, and business grew despite the closure of seven facilities in Brussels, while the Netherlands posted sustained growth thanks to the ramp-up of new facilities. In Central Europe, sales rose by 13.9% (+12.9% organic) to 657 million over the half-year. Germany and Switzerland reported good activity momentum over the half-year, with occupancy rates up in both the retirement homes and clinics. In Germany, the good momentum also reflects the premium positioning on this market. In Eastern Europe, sales rose by 19.2% to 250 million over the half-year, benefiting from a marked increase in the occupancy rate of facilities opened over the past 12 months. In the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America region, sales came to 139 million for the first half, up 21.4%, mainly on an organic basis, reflecting a marked increase in occupancy rates in Spain, the region's main contributor. Average occupancy rate by geographical areas Average occupancy rate Quarterly figures Half-year figures Q2 2022 Q2 2023 Change H1 2022 H1 2023 Change France Benelux UK Ireland 83.4% 82.5% (91)bps 84.2% 83.1% (105)bps Central Europe 79.4% 82.0% +268bps 78.7% 81.8% +304bps Eastern Europe 81.9% 85.8% +387bps 81.4% 84.6% +323bps Iberian Peninsula and Latam 75.3% 81.8% +647bps 74.8% 82.5% +766bps Other countries ns ns ns ns ns ns Total group 81.2% 82.4% +118bps 81.3% 82.7% +136bps 3. Update on the ash and debt position at June 30th, 2023 The Group's cash position at June 30, 2023 is estimated at 527 million (unaudited figure), in line with expectations, for a net financial debt of 9,328 million (including accrued interest of 184 million; unaudited figure and excluding other IFRS adjustments). Over the 2nd half of 2023, liquidity requirements until the completion of the Accelerated Safeguard Plan will be covered by additional financing arranged by the Group's main banking partners. In particular, tranche D1B of 200 million should be drawn down by early August 2023, all conditions precedent having been met. About ORPEA ORPEA is a leading global player, expert in providing care for all types of frailty. The Group operates in 21 countries and covers three core businesses: care for the elderly (nursing homes, assisted living facilities, homecare and services), post-acute and rehabilitation care and mental health care (specialized clinics). It has more than 76,000 employees and welcomes more than 267,000 patients and residents each year. https://www.orpea-group.com/en ORPEA is listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN: FR0000184798) and is a member of the SBF 120, MSCI Small Cap Europe and CAC Mid 60 indices. Disclaimer forward-looking information This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those included or incorporated by reference, regarding the Group's future growth and profitability that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties relate to factors that the Company cannot control or accurately estimate, such as future market conditions. The forward-looking statements in this press release constitute expectations of future events and should be treated as such. Actual events or results may differ from those described in this document due to a number of risks or uncertainties described in the Company's 2022 Universal Registration Document, which is available on the Company's website and on the AMF website (www.amf-france.org). 1 The final condition precedent is the purging of appeals lodged against the waiver of the Caisse des Depots-led consortium's obligation to launch a takeover bid for ORPEA shares, granted on May 26, 2023.The decision by the Paris Court of Appeal is expected in the 4 quarter of 2023. 2 Organic growth of Group revenue reflects the following factors: 1. The year-on-year change in the revenue of existing facilities as a result of changes in their occupancy rates and per diem rates; 2. The year-on-year change in the revenue of redeveloped facilities or those where capacity has been increased in the current or year-earlier period; 3. Revenue generated in the current period by facilities created during the year or year-earlier period, and 4. the change in revenue of recently acquired facilities by comparison with the previous equivalent period View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726101372/en/ Contacts: Investor Relations ORPEA Benoit Lesieur Investor Relations Director b.lesieur@orpea.net Toll-free number for shareholders: 0 805 480 480 Investor Relations NewCap Dusan Oresansky Tel: 01 44 71 94 94 ORPEA@newcap.eu Press Relations ORPEA Isabelle Herrier-Naufle Press Relations Director Tel: 07 70 29 53 74 i.herrier-naufle@orpea.net Image7 Charlotte Le Barbier // Laurence Heilbronn 06 78 37 27 60 06 89 87 61 37 clebarbier@image7.fr lheilbronn@image7.fr Revenue In m - unaudited consolidated data 2023/24 2022/23 Change at constant scope* and on a constant forex basis Total change Q1 143.3 122.0 +11% +17% * Excluding PEN Partnership, consolidated since 8/1/2022; and Coeus Consulting, consolidated since 10/1/2022. Quarterly revenue shows +11% organic growth In Q1 of the 2023/24 fiscal year (April 1 to June 30, 2023), Wavestone generated a consolidated revenue of 143.3m, a strong increase of +17%. As a reminder, Wavestone continued to benefit in Q1 2023/24 from the consolidation of the UK consulting firms PEN Partnership and Coeus Consulting - consolidated, respectively, since August 1 and October 1, 2022. Despite a very unfavorable working day impact over the quarter (-2.9%), Wavestone's organic growth stood at a solid level of +11% (at constant scope and exchange rates), supported by the increase in the firm's headcount at the end of the 2022/23 fiscal year. Staff turnover rate returns to its normative level, and slowdown in recruitment activity At June 30, 2023, Wavestone had 4,348 employees, compared with 4,406 at the end of March - the end of the 2022/23 fiscal year, showing a decrease typical of this period of the year. This progression also reflects the firm's decision to reduce recruitment over 2023/24, due to a more uncertain business environment and the fall in staff turnover rate. At June 30, 2023, staff turnover, on a rolling 12-month basis, stood at 15%, compared with 16% over the whole of the 2022/23 fiscal year. Recovery in the consultant utilization rate in Q1 at 73%; average sales prices up by +1% During Q1 2023/24, the firm began to progressively restore its consultant utilization rate, which had experienced a significant drop during the previous quarter. As anticipated, it stood at 73% over the period, compared with 71% in the previous quarter and 73% for the whole of the 2022/23 fiscal year. The average daily rate reached 896 over the quarter - an increase of +0.7% compared with the average sales price for the whole of the 2022/23 fiscal year (890). At constant exchange rates, the average daily rate increased by +1.0%, to 899. The order book increased slightly to 4.2 months at the end of June 2023, compared with 4.0 months at March 31, 2023. Start to the year that exceeded expectations; prudent approach maintained for the rest of the year Wavestone saw a buoyant start to the 2023/24 fiscal year - slightly ahead of its business plan. The period just ended reflects the recovery in the consultant utilization rate and a fall in staff turnover rate. Prices remain strongly positioned. The economic slowdown is marked by increased volatility and a wait-and-see attitude from decision makers on committing expenditure to consulting projects. The firm expects this trend to continue and remains vigilant for potential signs of a slowdown in demand, sector by sector. Against this backdrop, Wavestone is maintaining the intensity of its business development activity, while confirming a more cautious approach than last year in terms of recruitment. Confirmation of the 2023/24 annual objectives At the end of the first three months of the fiscal year, Wavestone confirms its financial objectives for the 2023/24 fiscal year: to achieve organic growth at least equal to that of the 2022/23 fiscal year (+7%), despite an unfavorable working day impact (-1.6% over the whole of the fiscal year). By integrating the effect of the full-year consolidation of PEN Partnership and Coeus Consulting, Wavestone is targeting a revenue of over 580m, which represents total growth of +9% for an EBIT margin of about 15%. As announced at the end of May, it should be noted that profitability over H1 of the fiscal year will be penalized by an unfavorable working day impact of -2.4% compared with H1 of the previous fiscal year. These objectives are calculated on a constant forex basis and exclude new acquisitions. The firm is also pursuing its activity on external growth, giving priority to the UK and the US, but without ruling out tactical purchases in other geographies. Project to combine Wavestone and Q_PERIOR to create a European consulting champion On July 25, 2023, Wavestone and Q_PERIOR, a consulting leader in the German-speaking market (Germany, Switzerland, Austria), announced the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding to join forces and create a European champion in the consulting market. Present in 8 German cities and 11 countries worldwide, with a strong European presence (Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the UK), as well as in North America, Q_PERIOR has 1,410 employees (as of March 31, 2023). Since 2019, Wavestone and Q_PERIOR had established a partnership to develop commercial synergies by capitalizing on their complementarities (geographical, sectoral presence and expertise). Building on the success of this collaboration, the two firms now aim to build a new player, one of Europe's leading consultancies from day one, by combining the capabilities of over 5,500 employees. By March 31, 2023[1], the new group would represent combined annual revenue of 818.4m, with an EBIT margin of 12.4%. By 2025, the new group would target revenue, excluding new acquisitions, of around 1 billion for the 2024/25 financial year, and EBIT of at least 130 million, an increase of over 70%[2]. In the longer term, the new group would aim to develop at an average annual growth rate of 15%, combining organic and external growth, and would target a normative EBIT margin of around 15%. For more information on this combination project and its terms and conditions, read the press release dated July 25, 2023: Wavestone and Q_PERIOR intend to join forces to create a European consulting champion. Next events: Combined Ordinary and Extraordinary Annual General Meeting: Thursday, July 27, 2023, at 9am; and H1 2023/24 revenue: Monday, October 30, 2023, after Euronext market closing. About Wavestone In a world where knowing how to drive transformation is the key to success, Wavestone's mission is to inform and guide large organizations in their most critical transformations, with the ambition of a positive outcome for all stakeholders. This ambition is anchored in the firm's DNA and summarized in its signature approach -"The Positive Way." Wavestone brings together more than 4,000 employees in Europe, the United States, and Asia. Wavestone is listed on Euronext Paris and recognized as a Great Place to Work. Wavestone Pascal Imbert CEO Tel.: +33 (0)1 49 03 20 00 Justine Brosset Financial Communication Tel.: +33 (0)1 49 03 20 00 Actus Mathieu Omnes Investor and Analyst Relations Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 67 36 92 Deborah Schwartz Press relations Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 67 36 35 1 based on combined IFRS 12-month figures to March 31, 2023 for Wavestone (audited) and December 31, 2022 (unaudited) for Q_PERIOR. [2] compared with Wavestone's EBIT in 2022/23, which stood at 77.0 million. ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: ymtyY5icl22Uy5ueYsptbZaWmmdnmGOXapSbxmmbZ8rJnJ6RnW1kbZSeZnFil2Vr - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-81205-2023-06-402-ca-communique-ca-t1-202324-en.pdf Regulated Information - Denominator Atlas Special Opportunities, LLChas converted 6convertible bonds in Oxurion resulting in a EUR 150,000capital increase. This is part of Atlas Special Opportunities, LLC's EUR 20 million Capital Commitment1 that will allow Oxurion to focus on progressing its novel and differentiated back of the eye drug candidate targeting potential market opportunities of over USD 5billion. Leuven, BELGIUM,Boston, MA, US-July 26, 2023- 08.00 PM CET - In accordance with article 15 of the Belgian Act of May 2, 2007 on the disclosure of major participations in issuers of which shares are admitted to trading on a regulated market and regarding miscellaneous provisions, Oxurion NV (Euronext Brussels: OXUR) (the "Company" or "Oxurion"), announces the below information, following the issuance of 97,826,086 new ordinary shares on July 26, 2023, for a total amount of EUR 150,000, as the result of the conversion of 6 convertible bonds, pursuant to the Capital Commitment entered into with Atlas Special Opportunities, LLC. Following completion of the capital increase through the conversion of the convertible bonds, the total number of shares issued by Oxurion amounts to 1,524,093,238 outstanding ordinary shares carrying voting rights (compared to 1,426,267,152 outstanding ordinary shares previously). This number will be used as the denominator for the calculation of the percentages of shareholdings. Therefore, Oxurion publishes the following updated information: Share capital (EUR) 81,006,161.32 Total number of securities with voting rights (all ordinary shares) 1,524,093,238 Total number of ordinary shares (= denominator) 1,524,093,238 Number of outstanding, granted rights to subscribe to securities carrying voting rights not yet issued: 591,500 subscription rights ("SRs") issued on November 20, 2017, entitling their holders to subscribe to a total number of 591,500 securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares); 60,000 SRs issued on December 23, 2020, entitling their holders to subscribe to a total number of 60,000 securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares); 972,250 SRs issued on April 14, 2021, entitling their holders to subscribe to a total number of 972,250 securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares); 532,500 SRs issued on September 22, 2021, entitling their holders to subscribe to a total number of 532,500 securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares); 614,249 SRs issued on December 30, 2021, entitling their holders to subscribe to a total number of 614,249 securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares); 180 convertible bonds issued on March 14, 2023, April 20, 2023, May 22, 2023, and June 15, 2023, entitling its holder, Atlas Special Opportunities, LLC, to subscribe to a total number of securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares) in accordance with the terms and conditions of these convertible bonds pursuant to the Subscription Agreement entered into between the Company and Atlas Special Opportunities, LLC on March 1, 2023; and 100 convertible bonds issued on December 20, 2021, entitling their holders (Kreos Capital VI (UK) Limited, Pontifax Medison Finance (Israel) L.P. and Pontifax Medison Finance (Cayman) L.P.) to subscribe to a total number of securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares) in accordance with the terms and conditions of these convertible bonds as attached to the Agreement for the provision of a Loan Facility entered into between the Company, Kreos Capital VI (UK) Limited, Pontifax Medison Finance (Israel) L.P. and Pontifax Medison Finance (Cayman) L.P., on November 21, 2021 (as amended from time to time). END About Oxurion Oxurion (Euronext Brussels: OXUR) is a biopharmaceutical company developing next generation standard of care ophthalmic therapies, which are designed to improve and better preserve vision in patients with retinal disorders including diabetic macular edema (DME), the leading cause of vision loss in working-age people, as well as other conditions. Oxurion intends to play an important role in the treatment of retinal disorders, including the successful development of THR-149, its novel therapeutic for the treatment of DME. THR-149 is a potent plasma kallikrein inhibitor being developed as a potential new standard of care for the up to 50% of DME patients showing suboptimal response to anti-VEGF therapy. Oxurion is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, with corporate operations in Boston, MA. More information is available at www.oxurion.com. Important information about forward-looking statements Certain statements in this press release may be considered "forward-looking". Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and, accordingly, entail and are influenced by various risks and uncertainties. The Company therefore cannot provide any assurance that such forward-looking statements will materialize and does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or any other reason. Additional information concerning risks and uncertainties affecting the business and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement is contained in the Company's Annual Report. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of Oxurion in any jurisdiction. No securities of Oxurion may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. state securities laws. For further information please contact: Oxurion NV Tom Graney Chief Executive Officer Tel: +32 16 75 13 10 tom.graney@oxurion.com (mailto:tom.graney@oxurion.com) Michael Dillen Chief Business Officer Tel: +32 16 75 13 10 michael.dillen@oxurion.com (mailto:michael.dillen@oxurion.com) US Conway Communications Mary T. Conway m (mailto:mtconway@conwaycommsir.com)tconway (mailto:mtconway@conwaycommsir.com)@conwaycommsir.com (mailto:mtconway@conwaycommsir.com) 1Press releaseOxurion, 02/03/2023 Attachments CLEARWATER, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers is pleased to announce that our client, Maria Garcia, recently obtained a $3 million dollar settlement from the Pinellas County School Board after being struck by one of its school buses. Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers - Clearwater Law Firm Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers - Clearwater Law Firm The collision left Ms. Garcia with catastrophic injuries and extensive financial losses. She spent two long months in Bayfront Hospital's Trauma Center recovering from her injuries. Ultimately, she sustained injuries to her brain, spine, internal organs, pelvis, and ribs. Ms. Garcia sustained injuries to her brain, internal organs, pelvis, and ribs. Now disabled, Ms. Garcia continues to experience chronic pain due to her injuries. She cannot walk for more than a few feet at a time and requires a walker to maintain her balance. The Legal and Political Process The Pinellas County School Board admitted liability for Ms. Garcia's injuries and agreed to the $3 million settlement in May of 2022. However, Florida's sovereign immunity damage caps limited Ms. Garcia's compensation to $200,000. Roman Austin pursued a claims bill on Maria's behalf, seeking to override the damage caps. Claims bills must be approved by the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. These bills must also be signed by the Florida Governor. The firm retained consultants and lobbyists to guide the bill through the halls of the legislature Senator Darryl Rouson and Representative Linda Chaney sponsored the Senate and House Bills (Senate Bill 4, and House Bill 6017). On January 27, 2023, founding attorney Mark Roman, a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, and his partner, John Austin, presented the case to hearing officers in Tallahassee. Maria and her family testified at the hearing about the impact the bus accident has had on her life. The hearing officers provided a favorable recommendation for the bill, and after making its way through several House and Senate committees, the bill received approval from all committees with nearly unanimous votes. Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 4 into law on June 9, 2023. A Favorable Conclusion Roman Austin is happy to report that Maria Garcia recently received a payment in the amount of $3,000,000. Maria Garcia can finally begin to rebuild her life. Roman Austin was honored to fight for Maria Garcia and her family. We are grateful to the Florida legislature and Florida Governor for helping our client obtain justice after her bus accident. Media Contact: Company Name: Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers Address: 1811 N. Belcher Road Suite I-1 City: Clearwater State: Florida Zip: 33765 Country: United States Phone: (727) 787-2500 Website: https://romanaustin.com Contact Information Carol-Lynn Roman Marketing Manager croman@romanaustin.com (727) 787-2500 SOURCE: Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/770491/Roman-Austin-Personal-Injury-Lawyers-Obtains-a-3-Million-Dollar-Settlement-After-Passage-of-Claims-Bill NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Lenovo, a global technology powerhouse and employer of 77,000 workers around the world has been recognized as a best place to work for disability inclusion by the Disability Equality Index (DEI), the world's most comprehensive benchmarking tool for the Fortune 1000 and Am Law 2001. The robust analysis engaged experts across Lenovo's Human Resources, Real Estate, Marketing, Security and Supplier Diversity teams to measure workplace inclusion. This is the third consecutive year that Lenovo has been ranked as a best place to work for disability inclusion, and the second year the company received a 100% score on the index. In 2023, 485 corporations, including 71 Fortune 100, 207 Fortune 500, and 249 Fortune 1000 utilized the DEI to benchmark their disability inclusion efforts, with 'best place to work' reserved for those that scored 80 or higher on the index. "Businesses have the power to drive the global advancement of disability inclusion, and we're thrilled to see more companies than ever leverage the Disability Equality Index to measure their progress. We recognize these top-scoring companies as a 'Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion' for their passion and efforts to lead the way in creating greater equity for people with disabilities in the workplace, marketplace, and supply chain," said Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability: IN. In 2020, Lenovo set a goal to expand its disability strategy to eight markets by 2025. Today, Lenovo's diversity and inclusion team has already met this goal while growing Lenovo's understanding of disability in its workforce, including notable efforts for disability inclusion in its Brazil and India, in addition to employee resource groups for people with disabilities and their allies in Europe and the United States. Lenovo also supports organizations that promote accessibility through its global philanthropy. "I'm proud to see Lenovo's continued investment in accessibility, from the growth of our employee resource groups to disability inclusion in our marketing efforts," commented Calvin J. Crosslin, Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer and Lenovo Foundation President at Lenovo. "We're committed to disability inclusion in our workforce, and inclusion in the DEI from Disability: IN signals to all of our teams that we're on the right track." In addition to this recognition, Lenovo has recently been awarded for its workplace inclusion by the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and a Best Employer for Diversity. You can learn more about Lenovo's efforts to provide an inclusive workplace and innovate for inclusion on Lenovo StoryHub. About Lenovo Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a US$62 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #171 in the Fortune Global 500, employing 77,000 people around the world, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver smarter technology for all, Lenovo has built on its success as the world's largest PC company by further expanding into growth areas that fuel the advancement of 'New IT' technologies (client, edge, cloud, network, and intelligence) including server, storage, mobile, software, solutions, and services. This transformation together with Lenovo's world-changing innovation is building a more inclusive, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub. About the Disability Equality Index The Disability Equality Index (DEI) is a comprehensive benchmarking tool that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions that they can take to achieve disability inclusion and equality. Each company receives a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion." The DEI is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation's largest disability rights organization, and Disability:IN, the global business disability inclusion network, to collectively advance the inclusion of people with disabilities. The organizations are complementary and bring unique strengths that make the project relevant and credible to corporations and the disability community. The tool was developed by the DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse group of business leaders, policy experts, and disability advocates. Learn more at: www.DisabilityEqualityIndex.org. About the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) AAPD is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power for people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the 60+ million Americans with disabilities. Learn more at: www.aapd.com. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Lenovo on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Lenovo Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/lenovo Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Lenovo View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/770526/Lenovo-Receives-Top-Score-As-Best-Place-To-Work-for-Disability-Inclusion BOISE, ID / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Albertsons Companies [NYSE:ACI] today announced that it earned a 100 on the Disability Equality Index (DEI), securing the designation as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion." "We are incredibly proud to share that Albertsons Companies earned a score of 100 on the DEI, especially on this historic day that the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law 33 years ago," said Monique Lanaux, GVP, Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Officer. "As one of the largest retail employers in the country, we are honored by this recognition and pledge to put people first by caring for our associates' well-being and investing in their personal and professional growth." The DEI is a joint initiative of Disability:IN, the global organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business, and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). The report is the world's largest and most comprehensive benchmarking tool for the Fortune 1000 to measure disability workplace inclusion policies and practices. Each participating company receives a score on a scale of zero to 100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as "Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion". The 2023 DEI measured: Culture and Leadership; Enterprise-Wide Access; Employment Practices; Community Engagement; Supplier Diversity; and Non-U.S. Operations. Since 2012, Albertsons Companies Foundation has donated more than $60 million to nonprofit organizations focused on supporting people with disabilities including the Special Olympics, Easter Seals, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Best Buddies. Support ranges from volunteer time, event participation and in-kind products, along with generous donations from customers at the register. Additionally, the company's portfolio of grocery banners offers more than 500 products and nearly 200 brands from certified disability-owned business enterprises, including service-disabled veteran disability-owned business enterprises. "Businesses have the power to drive the global advancement of disability inclusion, and we're thrilled to see more companies than ever leverage the Disability Equality Index to measure their progress. We recognize these top-scoring companies as a 'Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion' for their passion and efforts to lead the way in creating greater equity for people with disabilities in the workplace, marketplace, and supply chain," said Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN. Albertsons Companies launched the diverseABILITY associate resource group last fall for associates with diverse abilities, their caretakers and allies. This internal group provides education, awareness and celebration opportunities throughout the year to build belonging and connection. The Disability:IN 2023 DEI report is available at https://disabilityin.org/2023-dei-report/. About Albertsons Companies Albertsons Companies is a leading food and drug retailer in the United States. As of June 17, 2023, the Company operated 2,272 retail food and drug stores with 1,726 pharmacies, 401 associated fuel centers, 22 dedicated distribution centers and 19 manufacturing facilities. The Company operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia with 24 banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets and Balducci's Food Lovers Market. The Company is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2022, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the Company contributed more than $200 million in food and financial support, including more than $40 million through our Nourishing Neighbors Program to ensure those living in our communities and those impacted by disasters have enough to eat. About the Disability Equality Index The Disability Equality Index (DEI) is a comprehensive benchmarking tool that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions that they can take to achieve disability inclusion and equality. Each company receives a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion". The DEI is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation's largest disability rights organization, and Disability:IN, the global business disability inclusion network, to collectively advance the inclusion of people with disabilities. The organizations are complimentary and bring unique strengths that make the project relevant and credible to corporations and the disability community. The tool was developed by the DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse group of business leaders, policy experts, and disability advocates. Learn more at: www.DisabilityEqualityIndex.org. About Disability:IN Disability:IN is a global organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business. More than 500 corporations partner with Disability:IN to create long-term business and social impact through the world's most comprehensive disability inclusion benchmarking and reporting tool, the Disability Equality Index (DEI); best-in-class conferences and programs; expert counsel and engagement; and public policy leadership. Join us at disabilityin.org/AreYouIN AreYouIN. About the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) AAPD is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power for people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the 60+ million Americans with disabilities. Learn more at: www.aapd.com Contact: media@albertsons.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Albertsons Companies on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Albertsons Companies Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/albertsons-companies Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Albertsons Companies View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/770543/Albertsons-Companies-Earns-Top-Score-on-2023-Disability-Equality-IndexR MUMBAI, INDIA and NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Nucleus Office Parks, the operating platform for Blackstone Real Estate's wholly owned offices in India, announced today its commitment to the WELL at Scale Initiative and received the prestigious WELL Performance Rating at 15 of its properties, making it the largest real estate portfolio globally to achieve the WELL Rating. WELL at scale is the scalable application of WELL Building Standard (WELL) strategies across an organisation or a real estate portfolio. WELL is developed by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the global authority on healthy buildings and organizations, to help companies measure and improve health performance. Nucleus was awarded the WELL Performance Rating following the successful completion of third-party performance review, including on site testing, sensor monitoring and/or occupant surveys, confirming the properties had met the feature specific intents and requirements. The WELL Performance Rating serves as a roadmap for organizations to demonstrate excellence in occupant experience and building performance across key indoor environmental quality (IEQ) indicators related to air quality, water quality, thermal comfort, acoustics and lighting. Quaiser Parvez, CEO at Nucleus Office Parks said, "Prioritizing the well-being of employees and tenants is crucial for creating a healthy and productive work environment. Being recognized as the largest real estate portfolio globally for our WELL Performance Rating is a significant achievement for us at Nucleus Office Parks. By maintaining a strong focus on well-being, we aspire to create a thriving and successful community within our real estate portfolio." "We applaud Blackstone and Nucleus Office Parks for achieving the WELL Performance Rating across the Nucleus portfolio." said Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, IWBI. "Through this significant achievement, one that exemplifies global leadership and a deep commitment to people-first places, Nucleus Office Parks is promoting healthier, more productive workplaces by deploying WELL's evidence-based strategies to support and sustain their employees' health and well-being." Some of the initiatives to promote well-being at Nucleus Office Parks include implementing an advanced filtration system, sourcing clean water, and designing the lighting system to replicate natural light. "The WELL Performance Rating leverages dynamic human and building performance metrics to enhance the experience of the people inside," said Prateek Khanna, Chief Operating Officer, IWBI. "Achieving the WELL Performance Rating communicates to employees across Nucleus Office Parks that their buildings are working to prioritize their well-being and meeting the leadership benchmark for health established by WELL, the world's premier healthy building standard. By participating in WELL at scale, Nucleus joins global brands leading the charge to prioritize, deliver and benchmark health and well-being impacts across their entire organization. To date, thousands of companies in more than 120 countries, including many of Fortune 500, use WELL as an evidence-based roadmap. ### About Nucleus Office Parks Nucleus Office Parks is the operating platform for Blackstone Real Estate's wholly owned offices in India. Nucleus Office Parks' current portfolio includes 20 million square feet of Grade-A commercial spaces spread across Mumbai, Bangalore, NCR, Chennai and Ahmedabad. Connect with Nucleus Office Parks on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram. About the International WELL Building Institute The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the world's leading organization focused on deploying people-first places to advance a global culture of health. IWBI mobilizes its community through the administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL) and WELL ratings and certifications, management of the WELL AP credential, the pursuit of applicable research, the development of educational resources and advocacy for policies that promote health and well-being everywhere. More information on WELL can be found here. International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL Portfolio, WELL Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rating, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Equity, WELL Performance Rated, WELL Performance Rating, Works with WELL, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries. Media contact: For International WELL Building Institute: Media@wellcertified.com For Nucleus Office Parks: Dr. Deepa Jayaraman deepa.jay@outlook.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from International WELL Building Institute on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: International WELL Building Institute Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/international-well-building-institute Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: International WELL Building Institute View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/770549/Nucleus-Office-Parks-Joins-the-WELL-at-Scale-Commitment-and-Becomes-the-Largest-Real-Estate-Portfolio-Globally-To-Achieve-the-WELL-Performance-Rating NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / GRI has recently become a member of the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC), an organization conformed by purchasers, suppliers, advocates, and experts committed to driving positive impact through the power of procurement. SPLC connects members to sustainable procurement know-how and provides subject matter proficiency in the design and execution of sustainable procurement strategies to hundreds of organizations globally. With GRI's attention on Sustainability in the supply chain, cooperation with SPLC is a natural alliance. In addition, GRI is excited to participate in SPLC's Assessment Working Group, where we can lend our expertise in reporting to the development of a Sustainability Assessment tool offered by SPLC. In support of this burgeoning partnership, we wish to emphasize the forthcoming 2023 SPLC Summit and extend our invitation to all those engaged in Procurement to attend.In 2023, procurement and supply chain management will be front and center in driving sustainability. Jumpstart your sustainable procurement program and evolve from good intentions to real impact at the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council Summit 2023, August 14-16, in Atlanta, GA. With panels on Scope 3 Climate strategy, interactive workshops on strategic program development, program development training tracks, and expert private, public, and higher ed leaders sharing their experiences and practical insights, the SPLC Summit offers a wealth of learning, proven strategies to follow, and supportive connections for your sustainable procurement journey. Secure your spot today: summit23.sustainablepurchasing.org If you would like to learn more about GRI's focus on supply chain, including the implementation of a global Innovation Lab focused on supply chain and other critical aspects of running a sustainable business, please contact us directly at northamerica@globalreporting.org. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from GRI in North America on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: GRI in North America Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/gri-north-america Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: GRI in North America View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/770563/GRI-Joins-Sustainable-Purchasing-Leadership-Council-SPLC-for-Collaborative-Impact-in-Procurement VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSX:NDM)(NYSE American:NAK) ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company" or "NDM") announces that the State of Alaska filed today a motion in the United States Supreme Court. The Motion for Leave to File a Bill of Complaint forcefully argues that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") veto of the Pebble Project breaches a contract (the Cook Inlet Land Exchange) involving Alaska and the United States and violates the federal statutory recognition and implementation of that land exchange. It also argues that the veto violates the Administrative Procedure Act because the veto is arbitrary and capricious. Finally, it argues that the veto-which withdraws 309 square miles in the Bristol Bay region from use for mining purposes-is an unconstitutional taking without just compensation. The Bill of Complaint seeks injunctive relief requiring EPA to withdraw its veto and seeks monetary damages for breach of contract and the unconstitutional taking without just compensation. "The Bill of Complaint filed by Alaska is a welcome development in the long Pebble saga," said Ron Thiessen, President and CEO of Northern Dynasty. "Northern Dynasty strongly, and I mean very strongly, supports all of the arguments set forth by the State and we congratulate the State for bringing these claims directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. Northern Dynasty intends to prepare and file with the Supreme Court appropriate briefs to support the State's case." Mr. Thiessen continued, "In the mid 1970's, a three-way land exchange was negotiated between the U.S. Government, the CIRI Native Alaskan Corporation ("CIRI") and the State of Alaska. The U.S. Government received land to create Lake Clark National Park. CIRI received land with valuable natural resources allowing it to become a profitable entity for its Alaska Native shareholders. The State of Alaska received land in the Bristol Bay region-where the Pebble Project is located-for the specific purpose of developing the mineral potential of that land. The EPA veto is the U.S. Government reneging on that deal. Both the U.S. Government and CIRI got the value they bargained for; if the EPA veto is not withdrawn, the U.S. Government has taken back the value the State of Alaska bargained for." The U.S. Constitution gives states the right to seek direct jurisdiction in the U.S. Supreme Court for complaints against the federal government. The Court has interpreted this clause in the Constitution as giving it discretionary jurisdiction and set out several tests that must be met before the Court will accept such a case. The papers filed by the State of Alaska clearly show that those tests are met and that the Court should grant jurisdiction to hear the case. The State of Alaska also contends that such jurisdiction is not discretionary and the Court must accept jurisdiction of this case. It is anticipated that the Court could decide as early as October whether to hear this case. "The litigation filed by Pebble in 2014 made many of the arguments the State makes in this Supreme Court filing," added Mr. Thiessen. "Unfortunately, the court never reached a ruling on the merits of that case; it was dismissed because the proposed EPA veto was not yet deemed final. We believed then, as we do now, that the facts and law relied upon by the State of Alaska make a powerfully persuasive case for forcing EPA to withdraw the Pebble veto now that it is deemed final. It is Northern Dynasty's intention to support the State in its claims before the Supreme Court and, if necessary, to file actions in the lower courts to raise these and other reasons why the EPA veto must be withdrawn." About Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Northern Dynasty is a mineral exploration and development company based in Vancouver, Canada. Northern Dynasty's principal asset, owned through its wholly owned Alaska-based U.S. subsidiary, Pebble Limited Partnership, is a 100% interest in a contiguous block of 1,840 mineral claims in Southwest Alaska, including the Pebble deposit, located 200 miles from Anchorage and 125 miles from Bristol Bay. The Pebble Partnership is the proponent of the Pebble Project, an initiative to develop one of the world's most important mineral resources. For further details on Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Project, please visit the Company's website at www.northerndynastyminerals.com or contact Investor services at (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114. Review Canadian public filings at www.sedar.com and U.S. public filings at www.sec.gov. Ronald W. Thiessen President & CEO U.S. Media Contact: Dan Gagnier, Gagnier Communications (646) 569-5897 Forward-Looking Information and Other Cautionary Factors This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under applicable provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. All statements in this presentation, other than statements of historical facts, which address permitting, development and production for the Pebble Project are forward-looking statements. These include statements regarding (i) the mine plan for the Pebble Project, (ii) the political and public support for the permitting process, (iii) the ability to successfully appeal the negative Record of Decision and secure the issuance of a positive Record of Decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the ability of the Pebble Project to secure all required federal and state permits, (iv) the status/merit of the EPA Final Determination and the actions of the EPA with respect to its Final Determination with respect to the Pebble Project; (v) exploration potential of the Pebble Project, (vi) future demand for copper, gold and other metals, and (vii) the potential addition of partners in the Pebble Project. Although NDM believes the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way be construed as guarantees that the Pebble Project will secure all required government permits, establish the commercial feasibility of the Pebble Project, achieve the required financing or develop the Pebble Project. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by NDM as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Assumptions used by NDM to develop forward-looking statements include the assumptions that (i) the Pebble Project will obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use and other licenses without undue delay, (ii) any feasibility studies prepared for the development of the Pebble Project will be positive, (iii) NDM's estimates of mineral resources will not change, and NDM will be successful in converting mineral resources to mineral reserves, (iv) NDM will be able to establish the commercial feasibility of the Pebble Project, (v) NDM will be able to secure the financing required to develop the Pebble Project, and (vi) the EPA's Final Determination will ultimately not be successful in restricting or prohibiting development of the Pebble Project. The likelihood of future mining at the Pebble Project is subject to a large number of risks and will require achievement of a number of technical, economic and legal objectives, including (i) obtaining necessary mining and construction permits, licenses and approvals without undue delay, including without delay due to third party opposition or changes in government policies, (ii) finalization of the mine plan for the Pebble Project, (iii) the completion of feasibility studies demonstrating that any Pebble Project mineral resources that can be economically mined, (iv) completion of all necessary engineering for mining and processing facilities, (v) the ability of NDM to secure a partner for the development of the Pebble Project, and (vi) receipt by NDM of significant additional financing, to fund these objectives as well as funding mine construction. NDM is also subject to the specific risks inherent in the mining business as well as general economic and business conditions. Investors should also consider the risk factors identified in its Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and included in the Company's annual report on Form 40-F filed by the Company with the SEC on EDGAR (www.sec.gov), as well as the risk factors set out in the Company's subsequent public continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR and EDGAR. The National Environment Policy Act Environmental Impact Statement process requires a comprehensive "alternatives assessment" be undertaken to consider a broad range of development alternatives, the final project design and operating parameters for the Pebble Project and associated infrastructure may vary significantly from that currently contemplated. As a result, the Company will continue to consider various development options and no final project design has been selected at this time. For more information on the Company, Investors should review the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and its home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com. SOURCE: Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/770561/Northern-Dynasty-Alaska-takes-EPA-to-the-Supreme-Court-over-Veto Building on its international expertise in climate adaptation, Ricardo is delivering adaptation planning and resilience support to Europe's regions and local authorities Ricardo, a global strategic environmental and engineering consulting company, is leading the EU Mission Implementation Platform for Adaptation to Climate Change (MIP4Adapt), providing support to the European Commission and everyone delivering the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. The Mission is focused on supporting European regions and local authorities to accelerate their adaptation to climate change and building climate resilience. This is of vital importance given the fact that the impacts of climate change are already happening, and more regularly as evidenced by extreme weather events already increasing in magnitude and frequency which are having direct and indirect impacts on our environment, society, and economy. In turn, these impacts may increasingly lead to transnational spill-over effects on international trade, resource competition, regional conflict, migration, and the spread of pests and diseases. Ricardo's experts across Europe are working closely with the European Commission in delivering MIP4Adapt which is the result of a public procurement process with the work commitment starting in 2023 and running until 2025. MIP4Adapt's core team also includes experts from: Fresh Thoughts Consulting, Icatalist, the European Federation of Agencies and Regions for Energy and Environment FEDARENE, and Joanneum Research, as well as experts from across Europe able to deliver technical assistance to the regional and local authorities in all 27 EU Member States. In leading MIP4Adapt, Ricardo is facilitating the development of a community of practice to promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences and enable regional and local authorities across Europe to strengthen coordination and collaboration around climate adaptation. The community includes the 308 regional and local authorities that are signatories to the Mission Charter, covers approximately 40% of Europe's land area and population, and is committed to striving towards climate resilience by 2030. In addition, it comprises relevant EU-funded research and innovation projects, the European Commission and other relevant European institutions, national authorities, and Friends of the Mission, including research institutions and businesses. Through MIP4Adapt, Ricardo is also delivering technical assistance to the regional and local authorities that are Charter signatories. This includes helping them to: develop their climate adaptation plans; identify appropriate climate adaptation demonstration projects; identify and access suitable finance and funding for implementation of their plans and demonstration projects; and stimulate engagement and mobilisation of citizens and stakeholders in climate adaptation. Richard Smithers, Director of MIP4Adapt and Ricardo's international lead on climate adaptation said: "Ricardo's delivery of MIP4Adapt builds upon our support for the European Commission over the last decade regarding development and implementation of the EU Adaptation Strategy. It also draws on Ricardo's wide-ranging experience of supporting all aspects of climate adaptation planning at all scales in over 40 countries beyond Europe, and on the expertise of our wider team. Through our leadership of MIP4Adapt, our desire is to help to amplify the Mission's overall impact across mainland Europe, so it is greater than the sum of individual actions." Ends Notes to editors: About the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change Further information about the Mission and MIP4Adapt can be found at the Mission Portal, Visit https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/en/mission About the core team for MIP4Adapt Ricardo's core team for MIP4Adapt also includes experts from Fresh Thoughts Consulting (leading access to the best available knowledge, tools and methods in association with the European Environment Agency), Icatalist (leading on stakeholder and citizen engagement), the European Federation of Agencies and Regions for Energy and Environment FEDARENE (supporting networking between regional and local authorities) and Joanneum Research (fostering links between the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change and the four other EU Missions). About Ricardo Ricardo plc is a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company, listed on the London Stock Exchange. With over 100 years of engineering excellence and employing close to 3,000 employees in more than 20 countries, we provide exceptional levels of expertise in delivering leading-edge and innovative cross-sector sustainable products and solutions. Every day, we enable our customers to solve the most complex and dynamic challenges to help achieve a safe and sustainable world. Visit www.ricardo.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726541878/en/ Contacts: Kathryn Bellamy Group Senior Communications Manager Ricardo plc Email: kathryn.bellamy@ricardo.com Telephone: +44(0)7921 941824 Foodiverse, a Spanish food company, received an investment from Taylor Farms, a Salinas, California-based grower and producer of salads, vegetables and healthy fresh foods. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. This transaction, which is expected to close in the upcoming weeks, is currently awaiting ratification by the Spanish National Markets and Competition Commission and is subject to necessary bank regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Both companies will become partners through a capital increase that will provide Taylor Farms a significant share in Foodiverses capital. Taylor Farms entry as Foodiverses shareholder will enable the collaboration and creation of synergies as well as the exchange of best practices with both market leaders commitment to sustainability, quality, innovation, and food safety. Moreover, it will promote their continuous growth and the development of new products tailored to meet the demands of consumers. Led by Jesus Gomez, CEO, Foodiverse covers the entire food production chain, from the seed itself all the way to consumers tables. Over the last few years, the group has incorporated companies in their respective markets such as the Spanish companies Agromediterranea (2014) and Comfresh (2021), Thurlander Salate (2018) in Germany, Josef Muller Gemuse (2019) in Switzerland, and Novanatura (2019) and Ortoverde (2021) in Italy. Foodiverse currently boasts 9 production plants in Europe, a distributor and marketer in Spain, and 17 farms throughout Spain and Italy where the company manages over 2,800 hectares every year and provides employment for more than 2,500 people. Sales revenue in 2021 amounted to 327m. The groups product range consists of vegetables straight from the fields and fresh-cut produce, including salads and ready-to-eat fresh fruit, ready-to-cook or heat vegetables and dishes, as well as vegetable drinks and snacks, which are distributed to more than 400 clients in 22 countries. It has its own brands: Freshkia and Freshkia BIO, Sun&Vegs and BIO Sun&Vegs. Led by Bruce Taylor, Founder and CEO, Taylor Farms Taylor Farms is a North American producer of salads and healthy fresh foods with production facilities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Foodiverses multinational operations in Spain, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy will continue to be managed by the Foodiverse team and its President Joaquin Ballester and CEO Jesus Gomez. FinSMEs 26/07/2023 Leah Sutton London, UK-based venture capital firm Balderton Capital announced the appointment of Leah Sutton as Chief Portfolio Talent Officer. Sutton will be responsible for providing support and advice for the 100+ active companies within Baldertons portfolio, focusing on recruitment, culture and organisational strategy. She brings over two decades experience and a passion for helping founders hire world-class teams, develop their leadership teams and scale their organisations. Sutton was previously SVP of Global HR at search company Elastic (ESTC), and has over two decades worth of experience in human resources and people management. In her seven years at Elastic, she led the company through 10x people growth, including an IPO and six acquisitions. Prior to Elastic, Sutton led HR at Plum Organics, a high growth food start-up, through an acquisition by Campbell Soup Company. She also held various roles at Bloom Energy (BE), including a stint in Bangalore as the HR leader for India and Asia Pacific, and was also a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa. Sutton holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and an MBA from Berkeleys Haas School Business. The appointment follows the launch of Baldertons Founder Wellbeing and Performance Platform, as the firm continues to strengthen its portfolio support services. The firms portfolio support team consists of experts in talent, legal, finance, ESG and marketing, as well as an Executive in Residence programme for further specialist support. FinSMEs 25/07/2023 Natural disasters like the recent cyclone Biparjoy have far-reaching effects on various aspects of society, including the economy. While the immediate consequences are visible in terms of infrastructure damage and disruptions, there are underlying factors and unique perspectives to consider. In this article, we delve into the economic implications of Biparjoy and explore how it has showcased the preparedness and resilience of Indias economic infrastructure. Biparjoy triggered a mass evacuation event where almost 1,70,000 people were evacuated combined in India & Pakistan, however luckily the cyclone weakened into a deep depression over Gujarat, and a crisis that couldve been majorly avoided. The evacuation efforts carried out during Biparjoy highlight Indias preparedness to manage such risks. For example, the industrial complex at BHUJ efficiently stopped operations and evacuated its workforce, demonstrating the proactive approach of both companies and government bodies in safeguarding capital and human lives. Additionally: The worlds largest refinery complex operated by Reliance, had stopped shipping diesel and oil products. This facility ships 704,000 barrels/ day Adanis operations at Indias busiest port, Mundra Port were also suspended to brace for the cyclones impact to mitigate the cyclones impact, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing safety measures. The cyclones impact extends beyond immediate infrastructure damage, affecting multiple industries. Agriculture faced a decline in output as farmers were advised to stay indoors, leading to a cascading effect on related sectors such as food processing and manufacturing. The tourism sector suffered due to the closure of tourist destinations in Gujarat, resulting in a loss of revenue. Manufacturing was also affected, with factories being shut down, causing a loss of production and employment. Transportation faced disruptions as roads and railways were closed, hindering the movement of goods and people. Furthermore, power plants were temporarily shut down, resulting in power outages in some areas. Natural disasters act as catalysts for innovation and resilience. They necessitate the development of robust disaster management systems, the adoption of sustainable practices, and the exploration of new ways to mitigate risks. Industries and communities affected by such disasters often find themselves compelled to reimagine processes, invest in technology-driven solutions, and implement preventive measures. These efforts contribute to building a more resilient economy that can better withstand future adversities. Biparjoy serves as a reminder of the significant economic impact that natural disasters can have. While the immediate consequences are evident, the long-term effects on industries, agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure cannot be overlooked. However, these challenges also present opportunities for innovation, resilience, and sustainable practices. By learning from such events, strengthening disaster management systems, and investing in mitigation strategies, we can better prepare ourselves for future natural disasters and minimise their impact on our economy and society as a whole. While the immediate effects are evident, such as damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and disruptions in supply chains, there are also some unique views to consider: This allowed India to show how prepared our economic infrastructure is to manage such risks. For instance, the entire Industrial Complex at BHUJ was stopped and evacuated which shows how ready the companies there were along with the pro-active approach of the government bodies, ensuring the protection of capital and people. More specifically, in the past, cyclone Amphans impact on the economy cost India over 1.16 lakh crore in May 2020. Luckily this cyclones impact was not as harsh as was expected, which probably could have the potential to pause the current bull run. The cyclone might have a ripple impact on multiple industries: Agriculture: Farmers were asked to stay indoors and not to venture out into the fields. This led to a decline in agricultural output, which had a knock-on effect on other sectors of the economy, such as food processing and manufacturing. Tourism: Tourist destinations in Gujarat were closed, leading to a decline in tourism revenue. Manufacturing: Factories in Gujarat were closed, leading to a loss of production and jobs. Transportation: Roads and railways were closed, disrupting the movement of goods and people. Power: Power plants were shut down, leading to power outages in some areas. Interestingly, natural disasters can act as catalysts for innovation and resilience. They push industries and communities to find new ways to mitigate risks, develop better disaster management systems and invest in more sustainable practices. The author is smallcase manager and Principal Partner at financial consultancy Craving Alpha. 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. Christopher Nolans recently released film Oppenheimer chronicles the journey of the renowned scientist J Robert Oppenheimer- the father of atomic bombs. His fascination towards the Hindu scripture Bhagavad Geeta is known to many people close to him and even Nolan himself. The scientist is said to have studied Sanskrit at Berkeley. In the film made on his life, theres a reference to the Bhagavad Geeta but the scientists Indian connect and roots could be related to the countrys first Prime Minister too- Jawaharlal Nehru. This revelation has been made by author Nayantara Sahgal in her book Jawaharlal Nehru Civilizing A Savage World. The author is Nehrus niece and in the book, she has written about that one phone call that was made by Oppenheimer during the time of the Non-Alignment Movement amid the battle between USA and USSR. According to Sahgal, Oppenheimer delivered a secret message through Bengali poet and academic Amiya Chakravarti. What was the message? And the quote- Oppenheimer wants you [Nehru] to know that work of a most horrible and deadly nature is being done on the atom bomb, that step by step America is deliberately moving towards a war of annihilation. The recent promises given by Truman and Attlee regarding the atom have resulted in research for a weapon of the same deadly quality which will be kept secret and used INSTEAD of the atom. Its also suggested that the scientist begged India to maintain its foreign policy as he didnt want any more catastrophe after Hiroshima-Nagasaki. What about Nehru? The new biography of Homi J Bhabha by Bakhtiar K Dadabhoy states Nehru did invite Oppenheimer after his trials and even extended immigration prospects to India. Indian citizenship to Oppenheimer? After controversial downfall of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb, PM Nehru offered him Indian citizenship. According to a report published in The Hindustan Times, Julius Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb, was offered Indian citizenship by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1954 after the famed American physicist was shunned by his own country. But her didnt consider the offer. But I do not think Oppenheimer considered the offer seriously because he was a deeply patriotic American, Kai Bird, the co-author of the book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer, told Hindustan Times in an interview. According to the recent reports, Meghan Markle is horrified with Prince Harry for reaching out to Prince William and Kate Middleton. The report also claims that the Duke of Sussex have even discussed possible return to the U.K. Royal author Tom Bower told GB News that the Duchess of Sussex will be completely against their familys move to the U.K. According to royal author Meghan Markle is not on speaking terms with the Prince and Princess of Wales. Bower said, I dont think he can come back. Hes caused so much damage to the family and the concern now is that if he does return, he could well damage it even further. I think Meghan wouldve been horrified by Harrys suggestion. Shes not close to William and KateI would imagine the last thing shed want to do is return to England to live in a small, poky flat in Kensington Palace. The royal rift between Prince Harry and Prince William On the other hand, he royal rift between Prince William and his estranged brother, Prince Harry, shows no signs of healing as the latter attempts to extend an olive branch. Despite their shared history, the once-close siblings have been at odds since Prince Harry stepped back from his official royal duties. In a recent revelation, royal biographer Tom Bower has cast doubt on the possibility of a reconciliation. Bower suggests that should Invictus Games founder Harry, now 38, propose a truce to his brother and sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, aged 41, it may meet with rejection. According to Bower, the Duke of Sussexs actions have caused significant damage to the royal family, making it difficult for him to return to the fold. Harrys offer will ultimately be rejected. I doubt William and Kate can forgive Harry, Bower asserted in an interview with OK! magazine. He believes that the wounds are too deep to be easily healed, further complicating the chances of a reunion between the brothers. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan Markle, departed for California in 2020, citing struggles with royal life. Since then, they have embarked on various projects, including a memoir titled Spare by Harry and a documentary on Netflix called Harry & Meghan, in which they openly shared their experiences. Amidst rumours of Harry attempting to reach out to his brother to end the feud, a source claimed that Prince William was taken aback by the unexpected call. Uncertain about how to respond, the Prince of Wales reportedly remained hesitant about the prospect of reconciliation. According to marca.com, despite the challenging circumstances, whispers of a potential ceasefire surfaced when an insider shared that Harry expressed his willingness to bury the hatchet and consider a return to London. Reportedly, Harry and Meghan are open to serving under King Charles, indicating a possible return to royal duties. Meghan doesnt want to return to London According to reports, even if Harrys proposal were to be entertained, it seems Meghan Markleis not eager to return to her former life in London. According to Bower, the former actress, who is now settled in California, is not close to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. London was just a stepping stone for her. I would imagine the last thing shed want to do is return to England to live in a small, poky flat in Kensington Palace, Bower commented. Meghan Markle are reportedly considering the possibility of relocating to a new residence in Los Angeles. Rumours suggest they are exploring the idea of purchasing a property in the picturesque region of Malibu, which would bring them closer to the heart of Los Angeles. Currently residing in their 11.4-million (120 crore) mansion in Montecito, it can take them up to three hours to travel to central Los Angeles. Its reported the Sussexes could be making a move to the coast just outside central Los Angeles, home to some of the biggest names in Hollywood, according to The Express UK. They are in the early stages of buying a mansion in the area, considered one of the most sought-after regions in the US. And its less than an hour away from central Los Angeles and Beverly Hills which, as a source told the outlet, is one of its biggest selling points. According to reports published in the The Express UK, Meghan knows parts of the region from being there as a kid. It is uncertain if they will sell Montecito or just add a Malibu spot to buy. The move consideration comes as Meghan is shifting gears and focus back to Hollywood with WME, the source added. Royal family will absolutely welcome the prince home Prince Harry has been called the prodigal prince for years. Charles will take him back home with open hands. William will also welcome him back; after all they are brothers. On the other hand, ex-royal staff believes that Meghan Markle brainwashed Prince Harry and tied him down to the California mansion. On a lighter note sky news also mentioned that probably Harry was whipped. Paul Burrell, Princess Dianas former butler claims Prince Harry will return to the UK for good but without Meghan Markle. According to a Mirror report, the late queen also believed that Harry will return to her when Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have quit the Royal Family in favour of a life away from the spotlight, moving to LA with son Archie. China on Tuesday (25 July) replaced its foreign minister Qin Gang with his predecessor, top diplomat Wang Yi. The development came amid speculations swirling around Qins month-long absence from public view. A close aide of President Xi Jinping, Qin was last spotted in public on 25 June, when he held talks with his counterparts from Russia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka in Beijing. Qins whereabouts remain a mystery, with Beijing being tight-lipped about sharing any information about his disappearance and eventual removal. Lets take a look at the sudden ascent and fall of Chinas rising star. The unexpected rise of Qin Gang Born in the northern city of Tianjin in 1966, Qin spent the majority of his career in diplomatic service. According to Reuters, he studied International Politics at the prestigious University of International Relations in Beijing. After graduation, he entered diplomatic service. He joined the ministry of foreign affairs in 1992, serving in various capacities at Chinas embassy in the United Kingdom from 1995-2005, reported Reuters. He came back to Beijing in 2005. Qin was appointed as the foreign ministry spokesman twice, between 2006 and 2014. As a spokesperson, he was known for his wolf warrior diplomacy. Wolf warriors are those Chinese diplomats who aggressively defend Beijings assertive foreign policy. The Diplomat magazine described Qin as one of the first Chinese foreign ministry celebrities for his biting remarks. According to an instance cited by CNA, when asked about US rock band Guns N Roses album Chinese Democracy, he had said: Not many people are fond of this kind of music because its too loud and noisy. Besides, you are a mature adult, arent you? Analysts believe Qins stars started rising when he was the foreign ministrys chief protocol officer between 2014 and 2018, noted CNA. In this role, he arranged Xis interactions with foreign leaders, which is believed to have provided him the opportunity to get close to the president. Considered Xis protege, Qin was promoted to vice minister of foreign affairs in 2018. He replaced Cui Tiankai in July 2021 as Chinas ambassador to the United States. Although Qin came to recognised for his criticism of the West, he also expressed willingness to work with the US, following a dip in relations between the two countries. As he arrived in Washington as ambassador, he declared that the relations between China and the US held great opportunities and potential, reported Reuters. Those of us in the press corps who have known Qin for years have seen a deft, wily player who knows how to bend with the prevailing wind from Beijing, Melinda Liu wrote in a profile for Foreign Policy magazine. Qin Gangs fall from grace Qins elevation to the Chinese Communist Partys powerful Central Committee last November had put him in a prime position to become the next foreign minister. His ascension as the foreign minister last December, at 57, made him one of the youngest officials in the country to hold that position. As per Reuters, analysts viewed his taking over the post as a likely step by China to stabilise ties with the US, which are at their lowest. Hes (Qin) been promoted because, like others, he is very faithful to Xi Jinping, Jeffrey Moon, president of China Moon Strategies and a former US consul general in Chengdu, told South China Morning Post (SCMP) last year. But on relations with the US, he has not moved things very far. Qin was made a state councillor in March, which, according to CNA, is a senior position in the state bureaucracy. In late June, things started going south for this rising star. As America and China kicked off measures to reduce tensions, Qin met US secretary of state Antony Blinken in Beijing last month, just a week before the now-former foreign ministers disappearance. On 11 July, Chinas foreign ministry said Qin could not attend a meeting in Indonesia for health reasons, reported Reuters. It did not share any more information. Wang, Chinas foreign policy adviser, filled in for Qin in the meanwhile. Speculations about Qins disappearance have continued to surface, with some attributing it to an affair with a female television presenter and a child born out of wedlock in the US. ALSO READ: Ill-health or love affair? Why has Qin Gang been removed as Chinese foreign minister? Due to the opaqueness of Chinas political system, experts say it cannot be determined which of the reasons might be behind his fall from grace. Wu Qiang, an independent academic and political commentator in China, told Deutsche Welle (DW) last week that the abrupt disappearance of Qin is highly troublesome since it indicates that Beijing may be moving closer to a mystical and unpredictable form of autocratic leadership. The whole situation underlines that the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) system might not be as streamlined and stable as one might assume, Moritz Rudolf from Yales Paul Tsai China Center said, as per CNA. Qins sudden elevation may have also ruffled feathers in Beijing. The quick rise of Qin Gang might have created some resentment among other senior people within the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rudolf added. Analysts say Xi, who was behind Qins ascension, is unlikely to share the blame for his aides fall. Whatever Qins ultimate sin, it will be framed as a betrayal of Xi rather than Xis misjudgment in appointing Qin in the first place, Jude Blanchette, Freeman chair in China studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told The Washington Post. Qins political future now hangs in the balance, as references to him are already being taken down from the Foreign Ministry website. If he will retain his position as state councillor and on the CCPs Central Committee remains to be seen. With inputs from agencies Pakistan can play dirty. They are now targeting students in India. Many pupils, including those of Army Public Schools across India, are getting calls and WhatsApp messages from Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs), luring them to join particular social media groups and share sensitive information. Some individuals pose as school teachers and target students by asking them to join new class groups and sending them one-time passwords. Once the students join the groups, they are asked to share sensitive information, army sources told PTI. These suspected PIOs are calling and sending messages by initially giving reference to something known to the students to convince them that it is their teachers who are contacting them. Callers seek to obtain sensitive information about the families of the children, their teachers, and their daily routines. In response, schools and colleges have since been requested to suspend existing school groups on WhatsApp in case they have been compromised. Army officials have also been working closely with school authorities to promote awareness and take cautious measures to protect children. We take a closer look. Seeking sensitive information According to The Indian Express, the Army Welfare Education Society is learnt to have flagged in an advisory that students have been receiving calls and WhatsApp messages from two mobile numbers in particular. Since Monday (24 July), students have been receiving calls and WhatsApp messages from Pakistani intelligence operatives from two numbers which are 8617321715, 9622262167, sources in the security establishment told Hindustan Times. According to an advisory issued by the principals of Army Public Schools, the PIOs are asking students about details like their fathers job, school routine and timings, teachers names, uniforms etc. The primary targets of these attacks are students living in border regions, where cross-border infiltration efforts are more common. The cyber hackers intend to use the proximity of these regions to sensitive facilities as a strategic advantage to obtain access to critical information. Stay vigilant The security establishment in Jammu and Kashmir has expressed concern over this new low adopted by the neighbouring nation. Schools and colleges are requested to sensitise teachers and students about this. It asked the parents of the students to remain vigilant about the suspicious calls. A spokesperson for the Indian Army said, We are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with relevant authorities to counter these cyber threats effectively. It is essential for parents and schools to educate students about responsible online behaviour and reporting any suspicious activities, reports Free Press Journal. As per a report in India Tv, similar calls have also been received by army schools in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. With inputs from PTI Oppenheimer, the epic new movie directed by Christopher Nolan, takes audiences into the mind and moral decisions of J Robert Oppenheimer, leader of the team of brilliant scientists in Los Alamos, New Mexico, who built the worlds first atomic bomb. Its not a documentary, but it gets the big historical moments and subjects right. The issues that Nolan depicts are not relics of a distant past. The new world that Oppenheimer helped to create, and the nuclear nightmare he feared, still exists today. Russian president Vladimir Putin is threatening to use nuclear weapons in his war in Ukraine. Iran is doing everything it can to develop nuclear weapons. China is expanding its nuclear arsenal. Hostile governments like China are stealing US defence technologies, including from Los Alamos. Also Read: Oppenheimer: The outrage over Bhagavad Gita in sex scene and I am death quote Charges that Oppenheimer was a Soviet spy and a security risk a major focus of the movie have been disproved. In December 2022, the Biden administration posthumously voided the US Atomic Energy Commissions 1954 decision to revoke Oppenheimers security clearance, calling that process biased and unfair. Declassified records reveal that Soviet spying on the US atomic bomb effort advanced Moscows bomb program, but Oppenheimer was no spy. Oppenheimers perspective Oppenheimer joined the Manhattan Project, a nationwide effort to build an atomic bomb before the Nazis developed one, in 1942. The scientists he led at the Los Alamos site were probably the most talented group of minds ever assembled in a single laboratory, including 12 eventual Nobel laureates. Also read: Who was Oppenheimer? What was his link to Hinduism? In 1954, at the height of the McCarthy era, Oppenheimer was accused of being a Communist and even a Soviet spy. Whats the truth? We know that in the 1930s, and until 1943, Oppenheimer was a Communist sympathiser. His brother Frank and his girlfriend Jean Tatlock belonged to the Communist Party of the United States, and Oppenheimers wife Katherine was a former member. For Oppy, as his students called him, Marxism was intellectually interesting, but it was also practical. Oppenheimer saw communism as the best defence against the rise of fascism in Europe, which, being of Jewish heritage, was personal for him. By 1943, however, Oppenheimers support for Communist Party causes shifted evidently, as he realised the enormity of his mission to produce an atomic bomb. That year, Oppenheimer helped US Army security officers identify scientists he believed were communists. Russian overtures Oppenehimer was a top target for Soviet intelligence, which assigned him the code names CHESTER and CHEMIST. He was also being cultivated by Soviet intelligence officers. But being targeted and cultivated for recruitment is not the same as being a recruited spy. As the movie shows, in 1943, Oppenheimers academic colleague at the University of California, Berkeley, Haakon Chevalier, told Oppenheimer that a British scientist working in San Francisco could relay information to the Soviets. Oppenheimer rejected the approach, but for reasons that remain unclear, he did not inform authorities for several months. Also Read: Oppenheimer: Why the father of atomic bomb was offered Indian citizenship by Nehru? Over the ensuing years, Oppenheimer provided at least three versions of the story, sometimes involving his brother Frank. It seems likely that Robert was trying to protect his brother from Army security. Archives made available after the Soviet Unions collapse now establish beyond doubt that Oppenheimer was not a Soviet agent. In fact, Soviet intelligence reports about the Manhattan Project reveal that at key points, Stalins spy chiefs were frustrated that their operatives had not recruited Oppenheimer. But the Russians did penetrate the Manhattan Project the greatest security breach in US history. All the Kremlins men Multiple scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project provided critical information about US atomic bomb research to the Soviet Union. Oppenheimer focuses on Klaus Fuchs, a brilliant theoretical physicist who fled from Nazi Germany to Britain and became a British naturalised subject. From the time he started to work on Britains wartime atom bomb project, Fuchs was in what he later described as continuous contact with Soviet intelligence, providing theoretical calculations that were necessary to build the atom bomb. General Leslie Groves, the military commander of the Manhattan Project, later blamed the British for failing to identify Fuchs as a Soviet spy. Thats correct. But the declassified dossier on Fuchs from Britains security service, MI5, shows that at the time, the agency did not have any positive, reliable evidence of Fuchss communism. MI5 knew that Fuchs was anti-Nazi, but not that he was pro-Soviet. As discussed in the book, Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East and West, other spies at Los Alamos included a prodigious scientist, Theodore Ted Hall (code name MLAD, or Young); Julius Rosenberg (code name ANTENNA, later LIBERAL); David Greenglass (BUMBLEBEE, CALIBER). Other Soviet spies, like the British scientist Alan Nunn May, worked in other parts of the Manhattan Project. These men had multiple motives for betraying US atomic secrets. They were communist true believers and thought atomic weapons were too powerful to be held by one country alone. Moreover, they had a (misguided) defence that the Soviet Union was Americas wartime ally, so they were only delivering secrets to an allied government. But as Nolan correctly shows in the movie, when Chevalier approached Oppenheimer with the same argument, Oppenheimer retorted that it was still treason. Also Read: Why Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer is the most important story of our time Soviet espionage inside the Manhattan Project would change history. By the end of World War II, Stalins spies had delivered the secrets of the atomic bomb to the Kremlin. This accelerated Moscows bomb project. When the Soviets detonated their first atomic weapon in August 1949, it was a replica of the weapon built at Los Alamos and dropped by the Americans on Nagasaki. Even now, nearly 80 years later, secrets about Soviet nuclear espionage are still emerging. One Soviet agent whose espionage has only recently been revealed is George Koval (code name DEVAL), an American engineer who was drafted into the Manhattan Project, where he worked on polonium bomb initiators at a facility in Dayton, Ohio. After Koval died in 2006, at the age of 93, Russias ministry of defence disclosed that the initiator for the first Soviet atomic bomb was prepared to specifications provided by Koval. Putin posthumously honored Koval as a Hero of Russia, offering a champagne toast in his honour. New targets If Nolans film inspires audiences to read the deeply researched biography of Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin, which inspired Nolan to make this movie, or other accounts of the Manhattan Project or the Cold War, they will find that the underlying tissues of science and espionage remain alive. Today, the world stands at the edge of technological revolutions that will transform societies in the 21st Century, much as nuclear weapons did in the 20th Century: artificial intelligence, quantum computing and biological engineering. Watching Oppenheimer makes wonder whether hostile foreign governments may already have stolen keys to unlocking these new technologies, in the same way the Soviets did with the atom bomb. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The fascination of Indians with Swiss watches continues, with the imports of these luxury timepieces surging 21 per cent in the first half of 2023, reported Mint. According to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, a Swiss watch industry trade association, imports reached 98.5 million Swiss francs (about Rs 933 crore) from January to June this year, as compared to 81.2 million francs (about Rs 766 crore) a year before in the same period. June alone accounted for 20 million Swiss francs worth of imports this year, the Mint report added. In 2021, Indias imports of Swiss watches were reported at Rs 59.1 million francs (around Rs 557 crore) in the first six months. Lets take a brief look at the origin of the Swiss watch industry and why affluent Indians love these timepieces. How Swiss watches came to be While it wasnt Switzerland that made the first portable watch, the European country has emerged to dominate the luxury watch market across the globe. Peter Henlein, a clockmaker who lived in Germanys Nuremberg in the early 16th Century, is credited for developing small watches that could be worn as pendants or attached to clothing, noted The New York Times (NYT). It was around this time that Huguenots or French protestants who followed the teachings of theologian John Calvin fleeing persecution in their country came to Switzerland, bringing their watch-making skills to Geneva. However, it took around 300 years for the Swiss to challenge the dominance of their European neighbours in watchmaking, as per the NYT report. It was French watchmaker Jean-Antoine Lepines 1770 invention of a simplified flat calibre, which helped produce thinner pocket watches, that propelled Switzerlands rise in the industry, the report added. By the 1800s, the Swiss were using Lepines calibre, to kickstart mass production of watches. While they were exporting watches, the Swiss were still not known for high-quality products. As per NYT, things took a turn by the end of the 20th Century. They started to produce a good quality watch at a mid-range price, David Christianson, author of the book Timepieces: Masterpieces of Chronometry, told the American newspaper in 2014. This continued through World War I, he added. After wading through the quartz crisis in the 1980s with the help of Swiss-Lebanese entrepreneur Nicolas G Hayek, the co-founder of Swatch Group, the Swiss watch industry has since come to dominate the luxury timepieces market. ALSO READ: New Apple Watch with ECG support threatens the Swiss watch industry: Report Why do rich Indians love Swiss watches? From not delivering quality watches to being one of the best manufacturers, the Swiss have come a long way. Swiss watches, a status symbol, have become synonymous with wealth and luxury. The Swiss have that image of producing quality at the highest level, as Germans have the image of producing the best cars in the world, Georges Kern, former chief executive of the Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen, told NYT in 2014. And you cannot just copy this. The brand reputation of Swiss watches, along with endorsements by well-known celebrities, have added to the allure of these timepieces for Indian buyers, noted DailyO. Luxury watches are also considered giftable items. Pushpa Bector, senior executive director and head of DLFs retail division, told Business Standard (BS) that this is the reason for the growth of several foreign watch brands in India. As per the Mint report, luxury stores in Indian malls, such as Emporio and The Chanakya in New Delhi, have seen an 80-100 per cent surge in the luxury watch category. In April this year, Economic Times (ET) reported, citing the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry data, that Swiss watch exports in India reached a record high in 2022. The country imported Rs 1,722.88 crore worth of Swiss watches last year, a 19.6 per cent jump from Rs 1,438.84 crore worth of watches imported in 2021. India ranked 23rd among the countries for most Swiss watch exports. This rise came after a drop in demand for Swiss watches due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the ET report, relaxing COVID-19 rules and reopening the economy spurred a rebound in the economy and stock market, triggering a rise in the wealth of upper-class Indians. This may have further increased the sales of luxury watches in the country. With fast growth rates, India has been the talking point of the Swiss watch industry. The last two years have been the best ever in terms of sales of Swiss watches in India. Though our base is small, with discretionary spending going up, we expect sales of luxury watches to go up, Pratiek Kapoor, head of marketing and operations, Kapoor Watches, an NCR-based watch retailer, told ET earlier. With inputs from agencies The logjam in Parliaments Monsoon Session over Manipur continues. On Tuesday, home minister Amit Shah in letters to Opposition leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asked the Opposition to rise above party lines and cooperate with the Centre to discuss the issue in Parliament. But what does this logjam in Parliament cost the Indian taxpayer? Lets take a closer look: Time wasted, low productivity First, lets briefly look back at the recently concluded Budget Session which took place from 31 January to 6 April and 14 February to 12 March. As per News18, the Lok Sabha functioned for a mere 45.9 hours out of its slated 133.6 hours and the Rajya Sabha worked for 32.3 hours out of its allotted 130 hours. The Financial Express reported that no bills were passed in the first half of the Budget Session. The second half of the Budget Session was even worse than the first half, according to Financial Express. The Lok Sabha ran for a minuscule 1.45 hours of its slated 36 hours, while the Rajya Sabha functioned for just 2.78 hours out of its scheduled 35.50 hours in the second half. In all, the Budget Session saw its lowest productivity in five years, as per News18. Indian Express quoted a report by PRS Legislative Research (PRS) as saying: Entering the final year of its term, the 17th Lok Sabha has functioned for 230 sitting days so far. Of all the Lok Sabhas that completed the full five-year term, the 16th Lok Sabha had the lowest number of sitting days (331). With one more year remaining in the term, and 58 average sitting days a year, the 17th Lok Sabha is unlikely to sit for more than 331 days. This could make it the shortest full-term Lok Sabha since 1952. Indian Express quoted MoS Parliamentary Affairs Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal as saying the Lok Sabha overall recorded a productivity of 34 per cent, while the Rajya Sabhas productivity was 24.4 per cent during the entire Budget Session. The newspaper quoted Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar as saying the productivity in the Budget Sessions first half was 56.3 per cent compared to an abysmal 6.4 per cent in its second half. Dhankhar pegged the House productivity at just 24.4 per cent. Lets ponder over the dismal performance of the House and find a way out, Dhankhar added. But recent history shows the logjam has seemingly become a trend. As per Indian Express, the Lok Sabha in 2022 functioned for 177 hours, while the Rajya Sabha did so for 127.6 hours. In 2021, those figures were at 131.8 hours and 104 hours respectively. In 2020, the Lower House functioned for 111.2 hours and the Upper House for 93.8 hours. Monetary cost Financial Express quoted ex-Lok Sabha secretary general PDT Achary as pegging the cost of running Parliament at Rs 2.5 lakh per minute. Achary told the newspaper this comprises the building upkeep as well as electricity, water, petrol, and food bills, parliament security, salaries and allowances of MPs, their bodyguards, parliament staff and all employees involved directly or indirectly. The newspaper in March estimated the cost of the Parliament logjam in the Budget Session at Rs 10 crore over just six days. The 2021 logjam in Parliament was projected to have cost the taxpayer around Rs 133 crore. What do experts say? News18 quoting from a piece entitled The Cost of Parliamentary Disruptions by Chakshu Roy, head of legislative and civic engagement initiatives at PRS, notes that a decline in the productivity of Parliament impairs its ability to effectively perform the duties that have been entrusted to it by the Constitution. With Parliament being disrupted routinely, Members of Parliament (MPs) are not able to ask ministers tough questions during question hour to assess the work that their ministries are doing. With disruptions eating into the time available for parliamentary business, adequate time is not available for debating legislation. As a result, bills either get passed without effective debate or remain pending in Parliament. With Parliament meeting for a fewer number of days and with its productivity falling on account of disruptions, MPs are not able to raise matters of urgent public importance and bring it to the attention of the government, Roy wrote. But Roy noted that theres money than just money at stake. Speaking to Financial Express in March, Roy said the failure to have constructive debates to address contentious issues should concern all of us as citizens. When Parliament does not function, laws needed to address challenges in governance are not legislated, the government gets away with minimal scrutiny over its functioning, and MPs lose out on the opportunity to represent the interests of their constituents. A larger cost still is the loss of faith in the institution of Parliament and its role in upholding Indian democracy, Roy added. Proceedings in both Houses of Parliament remain disrupted ever since the Monsoon session began on July 20 with the Opposition parties demanding a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Manipur violence before a discussion. The Opposition has tried to corner the government on the Manipur violence after a video of a 4 May incident appeared on social media recently showing two women stripped and paraded naked by a mob. The Manipur Police has arrested several accused seen in the video. The police said a case of abduction, gang rape and murder has been registered at the Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district. More than 160 people have lost their lives and several have been injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on 3 May. With inputs from agencies In the 2004 film The Day After Tomorrow, a shutdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) which includes the Gulf Stream spells disaster for humanity. The science fiction film was at the time criticised for its scientific inaccuracies. But now, less than two decades later, scientists are saying it could actually happen. Researchers in a study in the peer-reviewed British journal Nature Communications are warning of a possible halt of the Gulf Stream by the middle of this century or even after 2025 because of man-made climate change. But what is the Gulf Stream? How does it work? And what could be the consequences for humanity? Lets take a closer look: What is it? How does it work? As per the UK Met Office website, the Gulf Stream is a warm and swift Atlantic Ocean current. The Gulf Stream begins in Florida, before moving along the eastern coastlines of the US and Canada and then crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Europe. The Gulf Stream makes the climate of Western Europe warmer far warmer than it otherwise would be. The Gulf Stream is a tiny part of the large, worldwide AMOC. Scientists describe the AMOC as a giant ocean conveyor belt that moves water from Greenland south to beyond the tip of Africa and into the Indian Ocean. Warm, salty water near the surface moves north and mixes with cold, fresher water near Greenland. As that water cools and sinks it drives a slow circulation of the oceans that is critical to global climate, affecting the location of droughts and frequency of hurricanes. It also stores heat-trapping carbon dioxide deep in the ocean. The faster it moves, the more warm water gets sent into the depths to cool. The AMOC itself helps control among other things sea level rise and the temperatures in Europe. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation really is one of our planets key circulation systems, Niklas Boers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, told USA Today. What does the study say? According to USA Today, the study, which relies on ocean data from the past 150 years, predicts that the Gulf Stream will stop between 2025 and 2095. The study pegs the odds of this happening at a 95 per cent certainty. Using new and improved statistical tools, weve made calculations that provide a more robust estimate of when a collapse is most likely to occur, something we had not been able to do before, study co-author Susanne Ditlevsen, a professor at the University of Copenhagen, told the outlet. The blame, as ever, lies with climate change. Study co-authors Peter and Susanne Ditlevsen explained to USA Today, Greenhouse gas emissions cause global warming, which speeds up the melting of Greenland ice. The melted freshwater entering the North Atlantic can then disrupt the AMOC, potentially causing major climate disruptions. When the increased meltwater from Greenland enters the North Atlantic, its freshwater, which is lighter than the salty seawater around it, the Ditlevsens said. This excess freshwater can disrupt the normal sinking of the salty water, weakening or even shutting down the AMOC. If the AMOC collapses, it can have far-reaching effects on weather patterns and ocean currents, leading to significant climate changes. According to Vox, scientists say such a scenario would potentially be irreversible and as such would be a major tipping point for Earths climate. I think we should be very worried, Peter told The Guardian. This would be a very, very large change. The AMOC has not been shut off for 12,000 years. What could be the consequences for humanity? Experts say the possible shutting off of the Gulf Stream would have a dire impact on humanity. Penny Holliday, head of marine physics and ocean circulation at the UKs National Oceanography Centre, told Politico this would be the end of global climate as we currently know it. The Northern Hemisphere would witness freezing temperatures. Sea ice would begin heading towards Europe from the North Pole. Rainfall patterns would change across the planet leaving some continents parched and others drenched. This would lead to dramatic change in every nations ability to provide enough food and water for its population, Holliday added. As per The Guardian, the situation would worsen for the already endangered Amazon rainforest and Antarctic ice sheets. As per USA Today, Europe could experience an ice age. Cities such as Boston and New York would face a sea-level rise and Americas East Coast would be facing stronger storms and hurricanes. Peter de Menocal, the president of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, told CNN such an outcome would affect every person on the planet its that big and important. Menocal was not involved in the study. But not everyone agrees with the studys findings. Michael Mann, of the University of Pennsylvania, told USA Today,, Im not sure the authors bring much to the table other than a fancy statistical method. History is littered with flawed predictions based on fancy statistical methods; sometimes theyre too fancy for their own good. Politico quoted Niklas Boers of the Technical University of Munich as calling the study modelling heavily oversimplified. On Tuesday, the studys authors themselves said some of their assumptions were uncertain. Vox also noted that the study contradicts the latest UN IPCC report on climate change which states that an AMOC shut down this century is very unlikely. Michael Mann, a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania who has published research on AMOC told Vox while the methods were questionable, the results are plausible. I think the authors in this case are on to something real, Mann told Axios. We could be talking decades rather than a century. With inputs from agencies The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has called for prohibiting smartphones in schools, citing classroom disruption and to prevent cyberbullying. A UNESCO report released on Wednesday (26 July) said that evidence showed there is a negative link between uncontrolled use of mobile phones and educational performance, reported The Guardian. The digital revolution holds immeasurable potential but, just as warnings have been voiced for how it should be regulated in society, similar attention must be paid to the way it is used in education, UNESCO director-general, Audrey Azoulay, said. Its use must be for enhanced learning experiences and for the wellbeing of students and teachers, not to their detriment. Keep the needs of the learner first and support teachers. Online connections are no substitute for human interaction, she added. UNESCOs findings come at a time when countries have started banning smartphones in classrooms. However, opinions are divided over imposing a complete ban on the device which became a prominent source of education for the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lets take a closer look. Rise and rise of smartphones Mobile phones have become an everyday necessity. Be it making payments or bookings, using social media, or even seeking academic resources, it is hard to carry out tasks without a smartphone in this day and age. According to Statista, the total number of smartphone users worldwide is expected to reach more than 525 crore by 2023. The growth is likely to continue till 2028. India is predicted to have more than one billion smartphone users this year, reported BusinessLine. According to a report in Exploding Topics, people around the world spend an average of three hours and 15 minutes on their phones daily. At 5 hours 47 mins, Filipinos spend the maximum amount of average time on their mobile phones globally, while Japan spends the least 1 hour 39 mins, reported DataReportal. Countries restricting mobile use in schools As kids in several countries are getting smartphones at a younger age, they are taking their devices to school. Recently, many nations are imposing bans on mobile phones in classrooms. The Netherlands will ban mobile phones from classrooms in 2024. As per BBC, it is not a legal ban but may become so eventually. Finland announced a similar measure last month. We will make the necessary legislative amendments to enable more efficient restrictions in cases such as the use of mobile devices during the school day so that pupils and students can better concentrate on teaching, the government said in late June, as per The Telegraph. Schools in United States Ohio, Colorado, Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia and California banned the devices in class this year. Several schools in the US have had a cellphone ban since 2020, as per The Washington Post. China halted the use of mobile phones in schools in February 2021 to crack down on internet and games addictions as well as help students focus on their studies, reported South China Morning Post (SCMP). Schools in Australias Tasmania introduced a mobile phone ban in 2020. In 2018, France prohibited mobile phones for elementary and middle school students to increase concentration in classrooms and tackle cyberbullying. While India does not have a legal ban on smartphones in schools, state governments and school administrations take their own call on the matter. The United Kingdom (UK) has earlier supported banning mobile phones in schools. Pros of banning cellphones in schools Those who call for a ban on digital devices in schools often say they cause distraction in classes. Studies have also confirmed this argument. According to a 2015 London School of Economics research, banning mobile phones at schools resulted in higher test scores, with low-performing students benefiting the most. Restricting mobile phone use can be a low-cost policy to reduce educational inequalities, the study said, as per CNBC. Research published by the University of Chicago found that the mere presence of cellphones reduces the cognitive capacity of people. A previous study conducted in Spain said that banning mobile phones in schools led to a fall in bullying incidents. Similar results were found by researchers in Norway. However, a Sweden study did not find any detrimental effect of banning mobile phones, as per The Conversation. Justifying the mobile phone ban, Dutch education minister Robbert Dijkgraaf said earlier in July: Even though mobile phones are almost intertwined with our lives, they do not belong in the classroom. Students must be able to concentrate there and be given every opportunity to learn well. We know from scientific research that mobile phones disrupt this. ALSO READ: Put that Mobile Down: How using smartphones as kids can cause mental health issues Arguments against the ban Not everyone agrees that a complete mobile ban is a solution, especially in an increasingly digital age. Those against the ban say smartphones can help students learn better in schools, allowing them to become self-sufficient learners, as per CNBC. In 2014, a UNESCO study found that smartphones in developing nations could help millions to read who have no access to educational and reading material. According to the report on mobile readers in developing countries, about 62 per cent of respondents said they were reading more using their mobile phones. The report suggested that mobile reading could potentially benefit women living in countries where they face cultural or social obstacles to accessing books, reported Time magazine. Research by the University of Warwick in 2017 found that mobile phone apps can revolutionise school learning in developing countries where educational resources are scarce. Moreover, mobile phones also act as a mode of communication between parents and their children in schools, and thus, some families encourage pupils to carry the devices for safety reasons. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the UKs Association of School and College Leaders, told The Guardian: Banning mobile phones entirely from school premises would raise some practical concerns, for example for parents wanting to contact their children while travelling between school and home. Some pupils will also use phones as payment methods on public transport. Some also point out that enforcing such bans have its own challenges. Speaking to Wired magazine, Tess Bernhard, a former high school biology teacher, called a complete ban on devices an extremely blunt tool, one that seems like a huge irony as during COVID-19 students became accustomed to using phones for submitting assignments and interact with teachers at homes. Instead of banning phones outright, schools could consider introducing mobile phone use policies which develop childrens digital skills and resilience by teaching them about the benefits as well as the risks of mobile phone use, Sarah Rose and Jennifer Taylor, senior lecturers at Staffordshire University, argued in their piece for The Conversation last year. French high school teacher Philippe Watrelot, who headed an education research group, says such bans are ineffective. It would be better to take a positive view rather than a prohibitive one. Yes, children need to concentrate better in school. But we should be using phones as a tool for learning, and if anything, we should try to make phones banal rather than make them more enticing by banning them, Watrelot told NPR in 2018. Wildfires are wreaking havoc in the Mediterranean. On Tuesday, many regions experienced a severe summer temperature, as firemen worked to put out fires across the region. At least 34 have died in Algeria. In Croatia, flames came within 12 km (7.5 miles) of the medieval town of Dubrovnik late on Tuesday. Greece evacuated more than 20,000 people in recent days from homes and resorts in the south of the holiday island of Rhodes. Fires swept across Portugal and Spains Gran Canaria. Italy has also been affected hard. As the countries are battling massive wildfires that have ripped through homes and resorts, killing dozens of people in nightmarish scenes that have become a staple of summer in the Mediterranean. We take a look at the deadliest wildfires in the region since 2000. Algeria in 2021 and 2022 More than 90 people, including 33 soldiers, were killed in dozens of wildfires in Algeria in August 2021. The government blamed arsonists and a blistering heatwave for the blazes, but experts also criticised authorities for failing to prepare for the annual wildfire season. In August 2022, massive blazes killed 37 people over several days in northeastern El Tarf province, near the border with Tunisia. More than 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) went up in smoke in El Kala National Park, a UNESCO-listed heritage spot famous for its rich marine, dune, lake and forest ecosystems. Greece in 2007 and 2018 In Greeces worst-ever fire disaster, 102 people died when wildfires swept through homes and vehicles in the coastal town of Mati near Athens in July 2018, leaving only charred remains. The majority of the victims were trapped by the flames as they sat in traffic jams while trying to flee. Others drowned while trying to escape by sea. Also Read: How did the Greece wildfires start? Where are they spreading? In 2007, a 12-day inferno starting in late August killed at least 67 people and destroyed 800 homes across the southern Peloponnese peninsula. The flames engulfed most of the regions olive groves. The Aegean Island of Evia was also badly affected. In all 77 people died that summer due to fires. Portugal in 2017 The deadliest wildfires in Portuguese history broke out in the central Leiria region during a heatwave in June 2017 and burned through hills covered with pine and eucalyptus trees for five days. Many of the 63 people who died became trapped in their cars while trying to escape. In October, a new series of deadly fires broke out in northern Portugal, killing another 45 people as well as four in neighbouring Spain. Those fires were chiefly blamed on arsonists. Israel in 2010 The worst inferno in Israels history raged through Carmel Forest, south of the coastal city of Haifa for four days, in December 2010, killing 44 people and destroying hundreds of homes. Also Read: How and why wildfires are scorching Europe Most of the victims were prison guards trapped in their bus as they raced to help evacuate a prison from the approaching flames. With inputs from AFP What started as a lockdown love story ended in the gory climax. In Assam, 25-year-old Nazibur Rahman Bora allegedly murdered his 24-year-old wife whom he became friends on Facebook. He even kill her parents after which he surrendered before police with their 9-month-old baby in his arms. Nazibur and Sanghamitra became friends on Facebook during the nationwide lockdown in 2020 following which they got married and eloped to Kolkata. The duo became friends on Facebook during the nationwide lockdown in 2020 following which they got married and eloped to Kolkata. The couples turbulent relationship The relationship between the couple witnessed a number of hardships with Sanghamitras parents forcing her to come home. The parents were displeased with Sanghamitra for secretly marrying Nazibur, a mechanical engineer. A few months later, her parents, Sanjeev Ghosh and Junu Ghosh, registered a complaint against their daughter, accusing her of theft. Sanghamitra remained in judicial custody for over a month following which she returned to her maiden home in Golaghat. The couple eloped for a second time in 2022 and stayed in Chennai for five months. After spending some time in the southern city, the couple returned to Golaghat in August. This was the time when Sanghamitra got pregnant. Nazibur and Sanghamitra had a son in November 2022 and lived together at the formers residence. Sanghamitra accuses Nazibur of torturing In March this year, Sanghamitra left Naziburs home with their infant to live with her parents. She registered a complaint against her husband, accusing him of torturing her. A case of attempt to murder was filed against Nazibur which eventually led to his arrest. He was, however, released on bail after 28 days. After coming out of jail, Nazibur demanded to meet his son, a bid that was rejected by Sanghamitras parents. In April, Naziburs brother even filed a complaint against Sanghamitra and her parents for allegedly assaulting Nazibur. The dispute between Sanghamitra, her family and Nazibur came to a head on Monday with the accused murdering his wife and in-laws. According to the police, Nazibur used a machete to kill the victims. The bodies of Sanghamitra and her parents were found laying in a pool of blood at their residence. A case of murder and house trespass has been registered against the accused, Assam police chief GP Singh tweeted. India is no stranger to festivals. There are festivals galore throughout the calendar year ranging from January to December. Being a diverse country with multiple communities, there is a festival for every season. During the ongoing monsoon season, there are famous monsoon festivals in India that have different names and myriad customs. One such festival is Aadi Perukku, also known as Aadi Monsoon Festival. This Tamil traditional festival is celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month of Adi. According to the calendar, the month began on 16 July and will end on 16 August. The Sri Muthumari Amman Temple, located in Samathrmapuram in Theni district of Tamil Nadu has been celebrating this festival in a unique manner. This year, the temple authorities decided to add a modern twist to the festival. Goddess Muthumari has been seated on a bullet bike, inside of a stage or platform, for the devotees. She has been decorated with huge garlands and ornaments. Currency notes have been placed on the flowers, to show devotees will be showered with prosperity during this season. The novel idea has grabbed the attention of the devotees, who are visiting to offer prayers to the goddess. Goddess Muthumari Amman is believed to be the divine consort of Lord Subramanya. Muthumari Amman is worshipped as a virgin deity as she is considered a child. It is believed that the devotees who want to get married offer a grain of gold at her feet, instead of the traditional offering of a mangal sutra. She is depicted with four hands holding a trident, skull, serpent and damaru (a small drum). Tamil Nadus Aadi Monsoon festival is dedicated to Goddess Aandal Nachiar, as the pooram Nakshatra in the month of Aadi is the birthday of the goddess. In India, various unusual places of worship are often found, some are built based upon strange belief systems as they are associated with mysterious stories or legends. A bill to nominate two members, including a woman, from the Kashmiri migrant community and one member from the displaced persons from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Introducing the bill on behalf of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the bill provides for representation of Kashmiri migrants, displaced persons from PoK and Scheduled Tribes in the legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir so as to preserve their political rights as well as their overall social and economic development. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 provides for the following, namely: to insert new sections 15A and 15B in the Act so as to nominate not more than two members, one of whom shall be a woman, from the community of Kashmiri Migrants, and one member from Displaced Persons from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir, to the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir; and amendments to sub-sections (3) and (10) of section 14 of the Act which are of consequential in view of completion of delimitation process in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, according to the statement of objects and reasons. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019) was enacted with for the reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, which was bifurcated into Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The statement of objects and reasons noted that at the time of the militancy in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in the late 1980s, particularly in Kashmir in 1989-90, a large number of people migrated from their ancestral places of residence in Kashmir province, particularly the Kashmiri Hindus and Pandits along with a few families belonging to Sikh and Muslim communities. Initially, all the migrants were moved to Jammu. Later on, some migrants chose to go to other parts of the country, namely Delhi, Bengaluru and Pune. As per the data available with the government of Jammu and Kashmir, there are currently 46,517 families having 1,58,976 persons registered with the Relief Organisation of the government of Jammu and Kashmir, who have got registered over a period of last three decades. In the wake of the 1947 Pakistani aggression in Jammu and Kashmir, 31,779 families migrated from Pakistan occupied areas of Jammu and Kashmir to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Of these, 26,319 families settled in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and the remaining 5,460 moved out of Jammu and Kashmir to other parts of the country. Further, during the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971, 10,065 more families were displaced from Chhamb Niabat area. Of these, 3,500 families were displaced during the 1965 war and 6,565 families during the 1971 war. As such, a total of 41,844 families were displaced during 1947-48, 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, according to the statement of objects and reasons. The delimitation commission, while undertaking the delimitation process of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, received many representations from the Kashmiri migrants as well as from the displaced persons from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir regarding reservation of seats in the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to preserve their political rights and identity, they said. The delimitation commission, after considering the matter in depth, recommended for representation of communities of Kashmiri migrants and displaced persons from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir in the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by way of nomination, noted the statement of objects and reasons. As per sub-section (4) of section 14 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, 24 seats in the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have been reserved for the people residing in the area of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir under illegal occupation of Pakistan. The said seats shall remain vacant until the area under the occupation of Pakistan ceases to be occupied and the people residing in that area elect their representatives. The representation of the Kashmiri migrants and the displaced persons from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir in the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall be given on lines of section 15 of the Act, which provides for the representation of women, according to the statement of objects and reasons. On completion of delimitation process, the delimitation commission had published orders with regard to the delimitation of the assembly and parliamentary constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir. As per these orders, the number of seats in the legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir has been increased from 107 to 114 with reservation of nine seats for Scheduled Tribes for the first time. The Centre on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court seeking extension of tenure of Enforcement Directorate Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra. Centre moves Supreme Court seeking extension of term of Enforcement Directorate Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra. SC will hear it on July 27. SK Mishras term will end on July 31 as ED Director as per the Supreme Court judgement pic.twitter.com/RoNgeDtgzS ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2023 The top court will hear the matter on 27 July. As per the Supreme Court judgement, Mishras term will end on 31 July. Earlier this month, a bench of Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol had directed Mishra to quit on 31 July four months before his third extension ends in November. The court had ruled that the two extensions given to him in November 2021 and November 2022 were illegal, according to a Scroll report. On Wednesday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged a bench headed by Gavai to urgently hear a plea seeking a revision of the judgment. The court agreed to take up the case at 3.30 pm on Thursday. Mishra had first been appointed as the Enforcement Directorate director for a period of two years on November 19, 2018. In 2020, his tenure was extended for a year by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government. In September 2021, the Supreme Court had directed the government not to extend Mishras tenure any further. But despite the ruling, the government introduced two ordinances to ensure that the directors of the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation could have tenures of up to five years. This enabled Mishra to continue for another year. In November 2022, the government again extended the 1984-batch Indian Revenue Service officers tenure for a year. He was to remain in office till 18 November, 2023, according to the notification issued by the government. With inputs from agencies Amid a chaotic couple of days in the Parliament, Congress on Wednesday submitted a no-confidence motion against the ruling BJP government in the Lok Sabha. The motion was filed by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi after a collective decision was made by the Opposition alliance I.N.D.I.A on Tuesday. The Opposition acknowledged that despite the possibility of getting outnumbered in the Lok Sabha, a no-confidence motion is a way to seek a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on various issues including the violence in Manipur. This No Confidence Motion is a political move with a political purpose a political move which will bring resultsThe No Confidence Motion will compel him (Prime Minister) to come to the Parliament. We need a discussion on the issues of the country, especially on Manipur, inside the Parliament. Forget the numbers, they know the numbers and we know the numbers.., CPI MP Binoy Viswam said. Manickam Tagore, Congress Whip in Lok Sabha said, Yesterday it was decided. Today, the Congress partys leader is moving it. We wanted to break the arrogance of Mr Modi. He is behaving as an arrogant person not to come to the Parliament and make a statement on ManipurWe feel that it is our duty to use this last weapon. Since last week, when the Monsoon Session began, the Opposition has been demanding in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha a detailed discussion on the Manipur violence and a statement from the Prime Minister on the issue. The two Houses have seen repeated adjournments since the commencement of the monsoon session of Parliament on July 20. The government has proceeded with some legislative business amid opposition sloganeering. BJP hits back Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that the Opposition played a similar move against BJP ahead of the 2019 general elections. People have confidence in PM Modi and the BJP. They (Opposition) had brought a similar no-confidence motion last term (ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls) as well and the people taught them a lesson, he said. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said, Let them file a no-confidence motion. The government is ready to deal with any situation. We do want a discussion on Manipur. Before the Parliament went into session, they put forward a demand for a discussion on the Manipur situation. When we agreed to a discussion, they brought up rules and other issues to stall proceedings in the Parliament. When we reached an agreement on the rules, they put forward another demand that the PM issue a statement on Manipur in Parliament. These are merely excuses, he added. With inputs from agencies Delhis special court on Wednesday sentenced former Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda to four years imprisonment in connection with the case relating to irregularities in the allocation of a coal block in Chhattisgarh. The court also sentenced his son Devender Darda and M/S JLD Yavatmal Energy Pvt Ltds Director Manoj Kumar Jayaswal to four years imprisonment in the case. Besides, the court also announced three-year jail term for former coal secretary HC Gupta, and two senior public servants KS Kropha and KC Samria. Special Judge Sanjay Bansal had on 13 July held all of them guilty in the case which shook the then Manmohan Singh government. The court convicted them under offences under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code and under the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. However, the court acquitted the accused under 409 IPC (Criminal Breach of Trust by Public Servants). Earlier, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told the court that JLD Yavatmal Energy Limited got Fatehpur East Coal Block in Chhattisgarh as part of the alleged criminal conspiracy by misrepresentation facts on the eligibility conditions. According to the CBI, this is the thirteenth conviction in the Coal Scam related case. With inputs from agencies A Delhi Court has issued a summon to Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, an accused in a case related to the alleged Pul Bangash killing during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and asked him to appear in court on 5 August. Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi took cognizance on CBIs charge sheet filed against Tytler in which the agency alleged that he incited, instigated and provoked the mob gathered at Pul Bangash Gurdwara Azad Market on 1 November, 1984, that resulted in the burning down of the gurdwara and killing of three Sikhs Thakur Singh, Badal Singh and Guru Charan Singh. The order was passed by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vidhi Gupta Anand. On 20 May, the CBI filed a charge sheet in Rouse Avenue Court. The judge on Wednesday said, I take cognisance of the charge sheet. On 1 November, 1984, a day after the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, three people were killed and a gurdwara was torched in the Pul Bangash area in the national capital. The CBI said it has invoked charges under Sections 147 (rioting), 109 (abetment) read with 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), among others, against Tytler. With inputs from agencies National Commission for Women (NCW) member Kushboo Sundar said on Wednesday that she was heading to Udupi in Karnataka to look into the issue of alleged recording of a video of a female student in a paramedical college washroom by her fellow students. An FIR has been registered against three girl students of the college, identified as Shabhnaz, Alfiya and Aleema, over the incident. They have been suspended from the college Netra Jyothi Institute of Allied Health Sciences for allegedly filming a fellow student using a mobile phone inside a washroom. The NCW member said the incident was extremely saddening. The issue has also triggered a political row, with the BJP announcing a statewide protest on Thursday demanding the arrest of the three Muslim students involved in the filming of a Hindu girl. In a tweet, Kushboo Sundar said, Heading to Udupi to look into the issue where girls were filmed in a washroom by their fellow girl college mates. It is extremely saddening to see children indulging in such activities. As a @NCWIndia member, I will be looking into the matter, speaking with the students, meeting the cops and visiting the college too. Nobody can play around with the dignity of women. Heading to Udupi to look into the issue where girls were filmed in a washroom by their fellow girl college mates. It is extremely saddening to see children indulging in such activities. As a @NCWIndia member, I will be looking into the matter, speaking with the students, meeting KhushbuSundar (@khushsundar) July 26, 2023 Earlier in the day, former Karnataka CM and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai said that the police is not taking any action even after lodging an FIR in the case, claiming that they are under tremendous political pressure. Police is not taking any actionThey wanted to take action against the girl who raised an alarm, the whistleblower, rather than the culprits. After a hue and cry, they have lodged an FIR. State Govt is saying it is fake news. If it is so, why were three girls suspended and why is there an apology letter?Police have failedThey are under tremendous political pressure. I urge them to work without any political pressure, said the former Karnataka Chief Minister. On July 19, three Muslim students were suspended by a private paramedical college for recording a video of their classmate when she was in the washroom. The incident came to light when the Hindu student told her friends, who informed the college management. The college management in turn informed the police about the incident and handed over the phone to the police. According to a Hindustan Times report, the incident took a communal turn with the right-wing groups claiming that the suspended students, who were Muslims, used hidden cameras to shoot private videos of Hindu girls, in order to circulate them among Muslim men as part of the Jihadi conspiracy. The Udupi police has, however, strongly denied these claims. With inputs from agencies Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday assured that the culprits behind the recent triple murder in Golaghat district will be brought to book. On Monday, a man killed his wife and her parents over some family issues, and later surrendered before the police. Sarma also visited the family of the deceased, and asserted that a thorough investigation would be carried out in the case, and the guilty would not be spared. Even Ankita, who is the sister of the victim, was beaten up by the accused husband and his family. In this regard, she had written a letter to me. But I did not get it, probably due to a lockdown at that time, the chief minister told reporters. Asked if the family members of the husband were also involved in the murder, Sarma said the police should investigate further beyond the confession made by the accused. A proper investigation will be conducted, and I hope that further details will be revealed after that, he said. Later, Sarma tweeted that the Assam government stands firm in its commitment to make the society a zero-crime place with a resolve that no criminal shall escape justice. Meanwhile, Assam Director General of Police Gyanendra Pratap Singh said instructions shall be complied with regarding the investigation into the case. We would ensure foolproof chargesheet against the perpetrator/s and abettors. Lapses in the investigation of earlier cases, including validity of the marriage certificate adduced in previous investigation, shall also be looked at, he said. According to the police, the accused was in jail for assaulting his wife earlier and after he was released, he came home and again started a quarrel. He then killed his wife and the parents-in-law. After committing the crime, the accused reached the Golaghat Police Station with his nine-month-old son and surrendered. A nations victory over another country is commemorated with pride and honour by its people. As a tribute to such a momentous occasion, Kargil Vijay Diwas or Kargil Victory Day is marked annually on 26 July to mark Indias immaculate triumph against Pakistan in the 1999 conflict. The day pays homage to Indian soldiers staunch bravery and sacrifices during the intense three-month-long war. The 1999 war received extensive media coverage with journalists providing real-time updates from the front lines to the public. History of Kargil war The war took place in Kargil district along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between India and Pakistan. As part of Operation Vijay, the Indian army defeated their Pakistani counterparts in the area. The military engagements helped drive out Pakistani troops while reclaiming Tiger Hill and other outposts. As the war progressed, soldiers encountered several challenges, with some battlegrounds situated at over 18,000 feet. This presented imposing challenges for both sides due to the harsh weather and terrain conditions. However, the Indian Air Force (IAF) played a crucial role in providing air support to ground forces by launching several successful airstrikes. Tensions first erupted when the countries conducted nuclear tests in 1998. Prior to the war, the Lahore Declaration, signed in February 1999, aimed at improving relations between India and Pakistan. However, it was ultimately weakened by the war. Celebrations Kargil Vijay Divas is commemorated annually in memory of Indian soldiers who died in battle. Every year, on 26 July, the Prime Minister of India commemorates the brave soldiers who lost their lives in Kargil war at the Amar Jawan located near the India Gate in New Delhi. Significance Nearly 21 years ago, it was on this day that the Indian Army recaptured all the Indian posts in Kargil that had been occupied by Pakistans army. The Kargil War led to the loss of as many as 527 Indian soldiers. It ended on 26 July 1999, when India successfully pushed back Pakistani forces from occupied positions. Since then, this day has been observed as Kargil Vijay Diwas to remember the supreme sacrifice made by Indian soldiers during the Kargil War. In the years following the Kargil War, the relationship between India and Pakistan changed forever . The two neighbouring countries were involved in a significant conflict in 1971 that resulted in Bangladeshs birth, have experienced ongoing tensions in recent years. With both countries attempting to engage in peace talks and reduce tensions in the aftermath of the conflict. Twenty-four years ago, on this day, 26 July, Indian Army troops recaptured all the Indian posts in Kargil that had been occupied by the Pakistani army and brought to an end to the war that had been raging since May. Since then, this day has been celebrated across the country as Kargil Vijay Diwas to honour the war heroes. On Wednesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid a wreath at the memorial to pay tributes to the soldiers who laid down their lives in the 1999 Kargil war. Speaking at the Kargil War memorial in Dras Ladakh, he said, We were backstabbed by Pakistan the war was imposed on India. I salute our brave sons who put the country first and sacrificed their lives. PM Narendra Modi also paid tributes to the soldiers. Kargil Vijay Diwas brings to the fore the bravery of India's unparalleled warriors, who will always remain a source of inspiration to the people of the country, he said. As the country marks this solemn occasion, we take a look back at the story behind the famous words Yeh Dil Maange More uttered by Kargil War hero Captain Vikram Batra and how they became the slogan for the Kargil War. A catchy tagline The slogan Yeh Dil Maange More was first released as a tagline for Pepsi in 1998. The ad film at that point featured an up-and-coming Shahid Kapoor, with the cast of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherji, and Kajol, in an extended dance sequence. The slogan was the brainchild of Anuja Chauhan at JWT. This was the Indian version of the Ask For More commercial by Janet Jackson for Pepsi. The phrase became extremely popular, especially with the youth whom Pepsi was targeting, and it became a part of the everyday lexicon in India. Later, in 2018 former chief of the Pepsi business for communications firm JWT Rohit Ohri also named Yeh Dil Maange More as his personal favourite advertising campaign.Yeh dil maange more had more heart than the other slogan. This was because Ask for more was more about asking for more of a drink and Yeh dil maange more was more about wanting more from life and thus had a deeper and richer meaning, he was quoted as saying in an interview to Business Standard. Becoming synonymous with Vikram Batra If the slogan was catchy, it was immortalised and holds a special place in the hearts of Indians today, thanks to Captain Vikram Batra who was later christened Shershah for his brave exploits during the Kargil War. Initially planning to join the Merchant Navy, Vikram Batra, hailing from Bandla Gaon in the Palampur district of Himachal Pradesh, changed his mind last minute and enrolled into the Indian Army. He was commissioned into the 13 JAK Rifles, an infantry regiment well known for its intrepid soldiers and numerous battle exploits. When the Kargil War broke out in May 1999, his battalion received orders to move to Dras. After leading a series of successful attacks, the toughest challenge was when Batras Delta company was tasked to capture Point 5140 on Tololing. The peak was the highest point on the Tololing Ridge and one of the most arduous and crucial peaks in the Drass region. On 19 June 1999, Batra, who realised that the steep cliffs do not provide any cover against the enemys line of sight, decided to lead his company from the opposite side to surprise them. Once he was discovered, Batra hurled two grenades at the Pakistanis machine gun posts, forcing the enemy to retreat. He led hand-to-hand combat and killed three soldiers. By this time, Batra was seriously wounded, but he did not give up. He continued to lead his men to the peak of the hill where they regrouped with the rest of the company and captured the peak. At 4.35 am on 20 June, after having killed eight soldiers and captured one heavy artillery gun a tired Batra radioed his command post, uttering the four words Yeh Dil Maange More. Batra reiterated the slogan during an interview with reporter Barkha Dutt for NDTV. My companys success signal was Yeh Dil Maange More. The guys were so highly charged up that they wanted that more bunkers should have been there and we would have got more chaps, he told Dutt in the interview, thus turning those four words into a national motto. Im often asked which assignment has shaped me most-my answer always- the privilege to report the Kargil war. On #KargilVijayDiwas goosebumps to this day recalling Vikram Batra saying Yeh Dil Maange More to me & here- a trip to Kargil with his twin Vishal https://t.co/AIsbzqZ4rT barkha dutt (@BDUTT) July 26, 2022 The capture of Point 5140 subsequently led to other success stories. After that ordeal, Batra along with his pack, fought and won the adjoining peaks. Amid thick fog, he with his men began a precarious climb to peak 4875 at a height of approximately 16,000 feet. On 7 July, at Point 4875, Vikram called his Commanding Officer again, just to say, yeh dil maange more. As if in answer, the enemy launched a counterattack, and Vikram rushed to rescue an injured officer. His subedar begged Vikram not to go, saying he would, his father recounts, adding, but Vikram told him: Tu baal-bacchedar hain, hat ja peeche. (You have children, step aside). He lunged forward to save the soldier when a bullet pierced through his chest. By the morning, India won back Peak 4875 but lost Vikram Batra. Param Vir Chakra for bravery His bravery, fighting skills and leadership earned him the countrys highest award for valour, the Param Vik Chakra on 15 August 1999. His father GL Batra received the honour for his deceased son from the President of India, the late KR Narayanan. As India celebrates its victory in Kargil, one cant help that the outcome of the war could have been very different if it wasnt for the likes of Captain Vikram Batra. Long live his bravery! With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Kargil War was a conflict between India and Pakistan that took place from May to July 1999 in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir. The war concluded with India successfully pushing back the Pakistani forces, and reclaiming the occupied positions. Some interesting facts about the Kargil War: Cause: The Kargil conflict was triggered by Pakistans decision to send infiltrators into the Indian territory. These infiltrators occupied strategic high points along the Line of Control (LoC), aiming to cut off the vital supply route from Srinagar to Leh and thereby escalating tensions in the region. Tactics: The response by the Indian military was a combination of ground operations and airstrikes. They launched a three-pronged offensive to drive out the Pakistani intruders, and utilised a mix of infantry, artillery, and air support to dislodge the enemy. Harsh Terrain: The terrain in the Kargil sector is rugged and mountainous, with altitudes exceeding 18,000 feet. The extreme weather conditions and high altitude posed immense challenges in conducting military operations. Important Operations: 1. Operation Vijay: This was the code name for Indias military action to recapture the occupied posts and rid the region of infiltrators. 2. Tiger Hill: One of the most strategically significant operations. Tiger Hill was a heavily fortified Pakistani position, and its capture by the Indian Army was a turning point in the war. 3. Battle of Tololing: Another crucial operation where Indian troops faced tough resistance but eventually managed to secure the position. 4. Operation Safed Sagar: This was the codename for the Indian Air Forces (IAF) airstrikes against Pakistani positions. The IAF conducted numerous airstrikes to support the ground forces. Diplomacy: During the conflict, the international community played a crucial role in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation. The United States and other countries put pressure on Pakistan to withdraw its troops from Indian territory. Pakistans actions were widely condemned internationally, and the United Nations passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. Aftermath: The conflict highlighted the need for improved intelligence and vigilance along the LoC. It also underscored the significance of diplomatic efforts in preventing further escalation. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has asked officials to examine the request of a Congress MLA to withdraw cases against innocent youths and students, who were arrested under false cases in connection with protests and riots in the citys D J Halli and K G Halli, Shivamogga and Hubballi among other places. The opposition BJP has sharply reacted to this and has accused the Congress government in the state of giving clean chit to the communal criminals of one community and playing to the tune of Jihadists and PFI terrorists. Parameshwara has, in a July 19 note to Principal Secretary-Prisons, Civil Defence and Auxiliary Services (PCAS), Home Department, cited a request letter by Narasimharaja MLA and former Minister Tanveer Sait in this regard. It has been requested that innocent youths and students have been arrested under false cases in connection with protests and riots in Bengalurus D J Halli and K G Halli, Shivamogga, Hubballi and other places, and to withdraw cases in accordance with rules, after review. It is instructed to take necessary action in this regard after review, the Home Ministers note said. Hitting out at the government and the Home Minister, Karnataka BJP in a tweet said, It seems that @DrParameshwara is functioning hanging a board that they (government) will give a clean chit to the communal criminals of one community! Is there anything more shameful than this? This letter proves that this government is playing to the tune of Jihadists and PFI terrorists. BJP will continue to fight against all kinds of anti-Hindu policies of #JihadiSarkara . Noting that DJ Halli and KG Halli riots were one of the worst in which the rioters set the police station on fire, Senior BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal tweeted, Siddaramaiah Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla on Wednesday accepted the no-confidence motion moved against the Centre by Opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A). On behalf of INDIAs grouping, the motion was brought to the House by Congresss Lok Sabha Deputy and North east leader Gaurav Gogoi. I will discuss with the leaders of all parties and inform of you of an appropriate time to take this up for discussion, the Lok Sabha Speaker said. The Congress and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on Wednesday submitted notices seeking a no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on the Manipur issue. The decision to move the trust motion comes after the Parliament's monsoon session, which began on 20 July, continue to face disruption due to the demand of Opposition for PM Modi's statement on the ethnic violence in Manipur. What's next? As per rules of the Lok Sabha, at least 50 MPs have to accept the motion after which the Speaker will accordingly announce a date for discussion, which has to happen within 10 days. According to the Parliament rules, any no-confidence notice submitted before 10 am has to be taken up on the same day. However, those aware of the matter said the it was unlikely to be taken up in lower house for discussion on Wednesday. What is no-confidence motion? One of the crucial Parliament process, a no-confidence motion allows the Opposition to challenge the government's majority and ability to govern the country. What happens if no-confidence motion is passed? If the no-confidence motion is passed, the ruling government must resign. However, if the government wins the vote on the no-confidence motion, the motion is defeated and the government remains in power. Who can move a no-confidence motion? Any member of the Lok Sabha can move a no-confidence motion, but it should be supported by at least 50 members of the House. A trust motion has to be in writing and must have signature of the member moving it. It must be submitted to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha on any day on which the House is sitting. After receiving the no-confidence motion, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha decides whether to admit the motion for discussion and debate. If admitted, the Speaker then decides on the date and time for the discussion. The no-confidence motion is then debated in the Lok Sabha. The motion is moved by the member who submitted it, and the government has to respond to it. Procedure of vote on a no-confidence motion After the government's response, the Opposition gets chance to speak and following the debate, the Lok Sabha votes on the no-confidence motion. The motion gets passed if it is supported by a majority of the members of the House. The first no-confidence motion against the Modi government on 20 July, 2018, was defeated. It was submitted by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) lawmaker Srinivas Kesineni. With inputs from agencies With people on the internet terming landlords extreme intervention before lending their houses to tenants as peak-Bengaluru moments, the reality behind the move is justified by a city-based CEO. In one of the harrowing moments, Deepak Shenoy, the founder and CEO of Bengaluru-headquartered financial services, Capital Mind, described a personal experience based on a shared news clipping on X, formerly known as Twitter. The post mentioned the risks associated with real estate. The user captioned the post: This still happens. Very few people talk about this risk in #realestate. Check out the post: This still happens. Very few people talk about this risk in #realestate. pic.twitter.com/MU4QJHhStO Neil Borate (@ActusDei) July 25, 2023 The newspaper highlighted the end of an ordeal through a story from The Times of Indias Bengaluru edition about how an elderly man reclaimed his flat from defaulting tenants after a four-year gap. Based on the report, a bounced cheque worth Rs 1 lakh was deposited by the couple who rented the flat in 2019. The post garnered over 8.7 lakh views. Sharing the story, Shenoy wrote about a personal setback faced by their family. The CEO described how his mother had to rush to the courthouse for two years for the same. Describing the scenario, he wrote: To evict a tenant who refused to pay rent after the first month. Furthermore, it took the Shenoy family two years to get a court order, then three months to actually evict the fraud before the cops were brought in. As a result of the traumatic experience, his mother decided to sell all real estate and currently lives in the only house she owns. He further added: Real estate is not something that works for us. More money has been made in the market with far lesser hassle, by us. Check out the post: The post has amassed over 7.6 lakh views. Check out some of the responses below: What are the red flags in your experience if someone wants to rent out their place? Your observations can help people, asked one user. What are the red flags in your experience if someone wants to rent out their place? Your observations can help people. Pun_Tweets (@Pun_Tweets) July 25, 2023 To which Shenoy replied: The problem is in the legal system. Mostly people are honest there will be difficult-to-identify rotten eggs, but if the legal system is fast, no problem renting them. The problem is in the legal system. Mostly people are good there will be difficult-to-identify bad eggs, but if the legal system is fast, no problem renting to them Deepak Shenoy (@deepakshenoy) July 25, 2023 Another user, objecting to Shenoys perspective said: Far more money has been made by the majority of Indians in real estate. Very few have made significant equity wealth. Real estate works for most. Far more money has been made by majority of Indians in real estate. Very few as a percentage have made significant wealth in equity. Real estate has worked for most VaibhavAggarwal,CFA (Follow for Honest Advice) (@Finprofz) July 25, 2023 In response, the CEO said: Too bad, we made far more in equity. Dont care about the rest, please fight your case and be happy. Too bad, cos we made far more in equity. Don't care about rest, please fight your cases and be happy Deepak Shenoy (@deepakshenoy) July 25, 2023 The event came to light after several cases of tenants sharing details of gruelling interviews by landlords before renting their place have come forward. As a mark of protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi not making a statement on the Manipur issue in Parliament, all Members of Parliament (MPs) belonging to the oppositions Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will be dressed in black when they attend Parliament on Thursday. A no-confidence motion against the government by the Congress on behalf of the opposition alliance was admitted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla today. Mr Birla said a date for a discussion on the motion will be decided after consulting the leaders of all parties. The opposition has often resorted to wearing black to register their protest against the government on various issues. The opposition has been demanding that PM Modi make a statement on the Manipur issue in Parliament before a debate on the matter can be taken up. With the opposition and treasury bench members not relenting, a logjam was prevailing in both houses. The Monsoon session that began on July 20 is scheduled to conclude on August 11. More than 160 people have lost their lives and several hundreds have been injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3. With inputs from PTI. Hitting back at Congress-led Opposition alliance which brought a no-confidence motion against the Centre in Lok Sabha, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday said the rivals similar move ahead of the 2019 polls backfired and the people of the country taught them a lesson in the subsequent general elections. #WATCH | Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi says, People have confidence in PM Modi and BJP. They brought a No Confidence Motion in the last term as well. People of this country taught them a lesson. pic.twitter.com/GCemoT5gLT ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2023 Speaking to reporters ahead of the fifth day of the ongoing Monsoon Session, on Wednesday, Joshi said, People have confidence in PM Modi and the BJP. They (Opposition) had brought a similar no-confidence motion last term (ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls) as well and the people taught them a lesson. Earlier, on Wednesday, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, who represents the Northeast in the Lower House, filed the no-confidence motion against the Centre on behalf of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A). RJD MP Manoj Jha said that though the numbers are not in their favour, perhaps under the pretext of no-confidence motion, PM Modi can be made to speak something. We know that the numbers are not in our favour but democracy is not just about numbers. Manipur is burning and people are waiting for the PM to speakPerhaps under the pretext of No Confidence Motion, he can be made to speak something. That will be the biggest achievement, said Jha. #WATCH | RJD MP Manoj Jha says, We know that the numbers are not in our favour but democracy is not just about numbers. Manipur is burning and people are waiting for the PM to speakPerhaps under the pretext of No Confidence Motion, he can be made to speak something. That pic.twitter.com/jDUmZjVkjG ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2023 Congress MP K Suresh said even though the government is saying they are ready for the discussion in the House, they are not making the atmosphere conducive for the same. I.N.D.I.A partners unanimously decided to move a no-confidence motion against the NDA government. The government, Home Minister and Defence Minister are saying that were ready for the discussion in the House, but they are not making the atmosphere in the House for discussion. PM is not coming to the House and sitting every day in his chamber, meeting media and having BJP parliamentary party meetingsWe have enough numbers to move a no-confidence motion against the government, said the Congress. #WATCH | I.N.D.I.A partners unanimously decide to move a no-confidence motion against the NDA government. The government, Home Minister and Defence Minister are saying that were ready for the discussion in the House, but they are not making the atmosphere in the House for pic.twitter.com/v44j6zXlqf ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2023 Responding to the Oppositions move, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the government was ready for every situation. Let them file a no-confidence motion. The government is ready to deal with any situation. We do want a discussion on Manipur. Before the Parliament went into session, they put forward a demand for a discussion on the Manipur situation. When we agreed to a discussion, they brought up rules and other issues to stall proceedings in the Parliament. When we reached an agreement on the rules, they put forward another demand that the PM issue a statement on Manipur in Parliament. These are merely excuses, the Union Minister said. #WATCH | Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal says, Let the No Confidence Motion come, Government is ready for every situation. We do want a discussion on ManipurBefore the commencement of the session, they wanted a discussion. When we https://t.co/mR8A6ZMAiP pic.twitter.com/djP6QlsMAw ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2023 Earlier in the day, Defence Minister trained his guns at the fledgling alliance of opposition parties, saying that calling itself I.N.D.I.A alone wont expunge their previous actions from the collective public consciousness. Taking to Twitter, the Defence Minister said, The Opposition alliance has changed its name in an attempt to shed its checkered past. Renaming itself as I.N.D.I.A wont expunge their previous actions from the collective public consciousness. Singh added that the people will come to realise the Oppositions propaganda and will vote against the alliance in the Lok Sabha elections next year. Opposition members have resorted to protests and sloganeering in both Houses, forcing repeated adjournments, since the commencement of the Monsoon Session on 20 July. As many as 26 Opposition had earlier come together under the alliance called I.N.D.I.A. With inputs from agencies Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the redeveloped India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) complex, which will host the G20 leaders meeting in September. PM Modi also performed inaugural hawan at ITPO complex also known as the Pragati Maidan complex. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitates Shramjeevis at the ITPO complex in New Delhi pic.twitter.com/DqamScjySp ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2023 ITPO has a campus area of approximately 123 acres and is Indias largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination. In terms of the covered space available for events, the redeveloped and modern IECC complex finds its place among the top 10 exhibition and convention complexes in the world, rivalling colossal names such as the Hannover Exhibition Centre in Germany, the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) in Shanghai, they said. The magnitude of the IECCs stature and infrastructure is a testament to Indias capability to host world-class events on a grand scale. At Level 3 of the Convention Centre, a grand seating capacity of 7,000 individuals awaits, making it even larger than the seating capacity of approximately 5500 of the iconic Sydney Opera House in Australia. This impressive feature establishes the IECC as a venue fit for hosting mega conferences, international summits, and cultural extravaganzas on a global scale. The Exhibition Halls offer seven innovative spaces for showcasing products, innovations, and ideas. What she has done is very shameful, said Gaya Prasad, father of Anju, mother of two children, who travelled to Pakistan where she married her Facebook friend Nasrullah after converting to Islam. Anju (34), a married Indian woman born in Kailor village of Uttar Pradesh and staying in Rajasthans Alwar district, became friends with 29-year-old Pakistani man, Nasrullah on Facebook in 2019. She had travelled to Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province last week legally from India via the Wagah-Attari border. As per an official document, the Ministry of Interior sent to Pakistans High Commission in New Delhi, Anju had been granted a 30-day visa, valid for Upper Dir only. Dont have any relations with Anju We dont have any relations with her (Anju). The moment she left India, we cut off all ties with her I had never imagined that my daughter can do something like this What she has done is very shameful, Irate father of Anju told the media. #WATCH | Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh | Gaya Prasad, father of Anju who travelled to Pakistan says, We dont have any relations with her (Anju). The moment she left India, we cut off all ties with herI had never imagined that my daughter can do something like thisWhat she has pic.twitter.com/aN0YvI8RpM ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2023 As good as dead for us Gaya Prasad further said that Anju is no more (alive) for us. Asked whether his family would appeal to the Indian government to bring Anju back, Prasad said he would do no such thing. I prayto let her die there, he added. Should have divorced her husband first Disappointed and angry Prasad said Anju should have divorced her husband in India before getting married to her Pakistani friend Nasrullah. The way she ran away leaving her two children and husband behind. she did not even think of her children. If she wanted to do this, she should have divorced her husband first, he said. Parsad also said his family had no information about Anjus plan of converting to Islam. Anju ruined future of her two children Anju is the mother of two children a 13-year-old girl and a five-year-old boy. What will happen to her children, her husband? Who will take care of her children? She has ruined the future of her children and her husband. Who will take care of her kids.We will have to do it, Prasad said. Was Anjus family aware of her marriage plan? Prasad told that Anju was not on speaking terms with him, and just spoke to her mother. I dont know how she got the passport, when she got the visa, he said. Prasad on Monday described his daughter as mentally disturbed and eccentric. A pretty girl Anju from india in pakistan and says Pakistan is Beautiful Country pic.twitter.com/zre8a6G2LM Beautiful Pakistan ( Holiday Travels Pakistan) (@LandofPakistan) July 25, 2023 On Tuesday, Anju converted to Islam and now has a new name, Fatima. She got married to Nasrullah in a local court of a district and sessions judge. Nasrullah and Anjus marriage was solemnised today and proper a Nikah was performed after she converted to Islam, senior officer at Moharrar City Police Station in Upper Dir district Muhammad Wahab told PTI. Geo News report quoted Malakand Division Deputy Inspector General Nasir Mehmood Satti saying that Anju has been shifted to home from the court under police security. Nasrullah is a science graduate from a University in Sheringal and is the youngest among five brothers. On Tuesday, Anjus husband Arvind told the media that she left home on 20 July on the pretext of going to Jaipur to meet a friend, but later the family came to know that she was in Pakistan. Arvind said he was hopeful that she would return home. Anjus incident is very similar to Seema Haiders case. Seema, a Pakistani mother of four, illegally entered India to live with Sachin Meena, a Hindu man she got in touch with while playing PUBG in 2019. With inputs from agencies The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday stayed the ASI survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque premises till 27 July. The bench of Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker passed the order saying that the matter will be heard of Thursday at 3:30 pm. The High Court passed the order while hearing the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committees challenge to the Varanasi District Judges 21 July ASI Survey order of the Gyanvapi Mosque. Anjuman Mosque Committee on Tuesday moved the HC challenging the order of the Varanasi Court directing the ASI to survey the mosque premises (except for Wuzukhana). The order was passed on an application filed by four Hindu Women Worshippers who have been seeking year-round access to worship inside Mosque premises. Allahabad High Court stays till tomorrow ASI survey of Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi ASIs Additional Director today filed an affidavit in Allahabad High Court stating that during the survey there will be no damage to the structure. The ASI survey will not take place till pic.twitter.com/3CLCKGoktY ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) July 26, 2023 On 24 July, the Supreme Court stayed the ASI survey till 26 July, 5 pm so as to allow some "breathing time" to the Masjid committee to approach the Allahabad High Court. During the hearing on Wednesday, the High Court expressed its "strong doubts" regarding the work to be carried out by the ASI at the Mosque premises. The observation was made by the bench of Justice Diwaker after the ASGI (appearing for the ASI) failed to explain the court the exact methodology of the proposed survey. As per a report by LiveLaw, the ASGI on Wednesday made efforts to clarify to the Allahabad High Court that it would be using the Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) method without causing any damage to the structure as per the Varanasi Court's order, the bench was not convinced. On Tuesday, the Anjuman Mosque Committee moved the Allahabad High Court, challenging the order of the Varanasi Court directing the ASI to survey the mosque premises (except for wuzukhana). The order was passed on an application filed by four Hindu Women Worshippers seeking year-round access to worship inside Mosque premises. On Monday (24 July), the Supreme Court stayed the ASI survey till 26 July, 5 pm so as to allow some "breathing time" to the Masjid committee to approach the Allahabad High Court. With inputs from LiveLaw Two people have been arrested from Rajasthans Bharatpur for allegedly making sextortion calls to Union Minister Prahlad Singh Patel. The mastermind is still absconding and a hunt is on to nab him, a Delhi Police officer said. The incident was reported to the Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora by Union of State for Jal Shakti and Food Processing Industries Prahlad Singh Patels personal secretary, Alok Mohan, in the last week of June. After registering the FIR, the crime branch of Delhi Police arrested two men Mohammad Vakil and Mohammad Sahib from Bharatpur in the first week of July. The mastermind, Mohammad Sabir, is still absconding and a hunt is on to nab him, the Delhi Police officer said. During the investigation by the Crime Branch, it was revealed that the arrested men were part of an organised gang involved in sextortion calls and blackmail activities. As per the complaint, the accused made a direct WhatsApp video call to Prahlad Patel on his mobile number when he was visiting his village in Madhya Pradesh Patel received the video call from an unknown number in which the caller played a porn clip with the intention of blackmailing him. Patel immediately disconnected the call. He then received a call in which the caller threatened to release his video clip on social media, an officer said. Patel then immediately informed the police who traced the two phone numbers from which he got the calls. It was found that the call was made from a number registered in the name of Mohammad Sabir, a resident of Bharatpur, and to an address in Assam. The investigation team got to know that one SIM was used in 36 International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, while the other one was used in 18 IMEI numbers, the officer said. The police said it laid a trap with the assistance of local police informers and arrested two accused. Police recovered one of the cellphones from which the video call was made and sent it for forensic examination, an officer said. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Wednesday said the UPA which is now trying to hide under the name I.N.D.I.A is the alliance that refused to acknowledge Kargil Vijay Diwas from 2004 to 2009, adding that their MPs believed that Kargil was NDAs war. Today we celebrate the Kargil Vijay Diwas in which 527 soldiers sacrificed their lives while 1363 soldiers were wounded in the Kargil war. We observe Kargil Vijay Diwas to give a message to Pakistan about all their misadventure. Today we must understand that the UPA which is trying to hide under the name INDIA alliance is the party that refused to celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas from 2004 to 2009, said the minister. #WATCH | Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar says, Today we celebrate the Kargil Vijay Diwas in which 527 soldiers sacrificed their lives while 1363 soldiers were wounded in the Kargil war. We observe Kargil Vijay Diwas to give a message to Pakistan about all their misadventure. pic.twitter.com/IoV19tPCzh ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2023 He said that UPA MPs believed that Kargil was NDAs war. They refused to acknowledge Kargil Vijay Diwas for five years. This is the party that questioned air strikes and surgical strikes done by Indian security forces No matter how many names you change the political ideology will be the same, added Chandrasekhar. The Indian Army had launched a fierce counterassault to push back Pakistani forces that had stealthily occupied important heights in Ladakh in 1999. Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed to mark Indias win over its neighbour. With inputs from agencies Mathura: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said his state was at number one in terms of tourist arrivals and was drawing more visitors than Goa. Addressing a gathering in Mathura, he said, Today UP is drawing the maximum number of tourists. Earlier Goa was at number one and Uttar Pradesh at number three. But last year 80 lakh tourists went to Goa and seven crore devotees came to Kashi (Varanasi) and six crore devotees visited the Braj area. According to a statement issued by the state government, the chief minister inaugurated a PET-CT scanner machine for cancer patients at Ramakrishna Mission Charitable Hospital. Poor patients will benefit from the availability of the PET-CT scanner, he said. The chief minister said that a lot of changes have taken place in the health sector in Uttar Pradesh in recent times. Earlier, if a poor person was suffering from cancer or any other serious illness, it was very difficult for them to get treatment. But under the Jan Arogya Yojana, health insurance of Rs 5 lakh is being made available to poor people now, he added. An amount of Rs 3,400 crore has been provided for the treatment of the poor through the Ayushman Bharat yojana and free dialysis facility is being provided in 72 out of 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh, he said. Earlier only 36 districts had the facility of ICU beds but today it is being provided in every district hospital of the state. Apart from this, medical consultation is also being made available in remote villages through tele-consultancy, the chief minister said. Adityanath also offered prayers at the famed Banke Bihari Temple in Mathura and wished for the welfare of the people of the state. The chief minister also held a review meeting with officials and public representatives. He surveyed the flood-affected areas in Mathura by helicopter. He directed officials to take all necessary measures related to relief and rescue operations. He also directed the officials to assess the crop loss due to the flood as soon as possible and provide financial help to the affected farmers. The area near Ecotech 3 remains submerged due to an increase in the water level of Hindon River. Around 300 vehicles were struck due to waterlogging on Tuesday. In the wake of the rising water level, the authorities have moved the nearby residents to safe shelters to protect them any misshaping. The rising river water resulted in the flooding of several houses located in the low-lying areas of Noida. The water level of Hindon River has been rising for the last 3 daysit is currently stable but we need to be alert for the next 24 hours, Manish Kumar Verma, the District Magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar said Tuesday. #WATCH | Noida, Uttar Pradesh | The area near Ecotech 3 remains submerged due to an increase in the water level of Hindon River. Latest drone visuals from the area. pic.twitter.com/7GHCz1m3fE ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2023 According to district administration officials, a large number of people residing in the floodplains of the Hindon River have been affected by the rivers overflow, and they have been relocated to shelter homes. District Magistrate Manish Verma, along with Additional District Magistrate Atul Kumar and Deputy Commissioner of Police Anil Kumar Yadav, conducted visits to assess the situation at shelter homes in Chhijarsi, Chotpur, and Haibatpur. Noida MLA Pankaj Singh also visited the affected villages, engaging with local residents and government authorities. Schools in Noida, Greater Noida closed due to rains All schools up to class 12 in Noida and Greater Noida will remain closed on Wednesday due to rain and waterlogging, the Gautam Buddh Nagar district administration said. Parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) received heavy rains this morning, leading to waterlogging in several areas. Due to rains and waterlogging, District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma has ordered closure of all schools up to Class 12 for today, District Inspector of Schools Dharmveer Singh said. With inputs from agencies On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, four MIG 29 aircraft were flown past the Kargil War Memorial in Drass, Ladakh. Earlier today, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid homage to the soldiers who lost their lives during the Kargil War of 1999. Today is the 24th anniversary of the Kargil War. Watch the video here: Singh laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial in memory of the fallen brave hearts in the icy heights of Kargil. Joining him was the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan who also laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial in tribute to the fallen soldiers in the Kargil conflict. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Kargil heroes in New Delhi. Kargil Vijay Diwas brings to the fore the heroic saga of those wonderful brave hearts of India, who will always remain an inspiration for the countrymen. On this special day, I bow down and salute him from the bottom of my heart. Long live India! he tweeted. , ! Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2023 Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said while addressing audiences in Ladakh said, Salute those brave sons, who sacrificed everything for the protection of the motherland. I salute those brave sons who put the nation first and did not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for it. #WATCH | Ladakh: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, I salute those brave sons, who sacrificed everything for the protection of the motherland. I salute those brave sons who put the nation first and did not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for it. #KargilVijayDiwas2023 pic.twitter.com/faZZg7NeOz ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2023 A war is not just between two armies but between two nationsEven after winning the war on 26 July 1999, if our forces did not cross the LoC, it is only because we are peace-loving, we believe in Indian values, and we have a commitment to international law, he added. With inputs from agencies Death slogans were raised in Kerala by members of Muslim League in Kanhangad in Kasaragod district at a protest rally held against the Manipur violence. The members of Muslim League, part of Congress-led UPA alliance, through their slogans, made a direct threat against Hindu believers in the name of Manipur issue. The slogans raised were, will hang you in front of temples and burn you alive. A controversy erupted over the protest rally for the proactive sloganeering by a section of protesters. Following the row, the Muslim Youth League issued a statement stating that its member and Kanhangad-native Abdul Salman, who raised the slogan, has been suspended by the party. It is an unpardonable mistake, said the Muslim Youth League in the statement. Are Hindus & Christians safe in Kerala? asks BJP BJP leader Amit Malviya shared the video of the rally where the provocative slogans were raised, Youth wing of the Indian Union Muslim League, an ally of the Congress, held a rally in Keralas Kasargode, and raised vile anti-Hindu slogans, threatening to hang them (Hindus) in front of Temples and burn them alive, the BJP leader said. Hitting out at Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Malviya said: They wouldnt have dared to go this far had the Pinarayi government not been supporting them. Are Hindus and Christians now safe in Kerala? Not so long ago, at another rally, a 7-year-old boy, perched on his fathers shoulder, had raised slogans, asking Hindus and Christians to keep rice, flowers and camphor ready for their last rites. Kerala is now the new pit of rabid radicalisation, the BJP leader said. Youth wing of the Indian Union Muslim League, an ally of the Congress, held a rally in Keralas Kasargode, and raised vile anti-Hindu slogans, threatening to hang them (Hindus) in front of Temples and burn them alive They wouldnt have dared to go this far had the Pinarayi pic.twitter.com/lFV5caJ18C Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 26, 2023 Also Read: Rahul Gandhi says Muslim League a 'secular party', BJP retorts 'it's his compulsion to remain acceptable in Wayanad' Condemning the incident, Kerala BJP said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi must be held accountable for the actions of the party he calls secular. We strongly condemn the shocking footage from the Kanhangad protest. The chants of "We will hang you in temples" and "We will burn you alive" by the Muslim League, aimed at Hindus, are utterly reprehensible and cannot be justified. @RahulGandhi must be held accountable for the pic.twitter.com/KIZPakreyo BJP KERALAM (@BJP4Keralam) July 26, 2023 The protest rally was over the violence in Manipur which erupted on 3 May after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Meiteis, who mostly live in the Imphal Valley, account for about 53 per cent of Manipurs population, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mainly in the hill districts. On 20 July, Reuters reported that a BRICS currency would not be on the agenda of the blocs 15th summit, which is going to be held in Johannesburg this August. Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said that the currencies would very much remain a national issue for a long time to come, while the South Africas Central Bank governor also pointed to the banking and fiscal union along with macro-economic convergence required for the purpose. When in 2001, Goldman Sachs economist Jim ONeill thought a set of emerging economies would come to dominate the world by 2050, he thought of four: Brazil, Russia, India and China, and this was the undergoing idea that led to the formation of the group which became a cohesive geopolitical bloc only by 2009 and was joined by South Africa in 2010. The aim of the organisation was to give reality to the rise of the rest and to ensure more plurality in world economic, investment and financial models. In fact, the purpose behind the formation of New Development Bank, a BRICS response to the hegemony of Bretton Woods twins, was to mobilise resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging markets and developing countries. It was as such very much of a response to the unipolar world having the US as the only superpower both strategically and financially. This organisation was seemingly a reactionary step against the arm-twisting of third world growing economies done by an economic model spearheaded by the IMF and World bank seemingly dominated by the US, being Eurocentric in nature. Clearly the organisation stood for multilateralism and a more diverse and inclusive global financial system. But over time things changed, in March 2013, Xi Jinping took over the office of Chinese President from Hu Jintao and the doctrine of Peaceful Rise gave the way to a more assertive Chinese Dream. This got even more evident in the second presidential term of Xi, from 2018 onwards, which oversaw trade war starting just a few months before the official beginning of Jinpings second tenure, the advent of the democratic Biden administration in the US, COVID-19 pandemic and finally Russia-Ukraine war. These events even more pronounced the tightening of the global system drifting away from multilateralism. In Xis third presidential term it, China seems to be more overtly competing for the global position vis-a-vis the US. This is even more visible in the way it seeks to dominate the agenda of the multilateral organisation it is a part of. But before we emphasise this, the Biden administration deserves credit for pushing Russia even more into the Chinese fold. This has been especially benefiting for China, as it gets Russian support in crucial multilateral institutions to create a more anti-West and pro-authoritarian orientation in these organisations, further helping China to realise its vision across the world central Asia, Indo-Pacific, Middle East etc. The very recent example is Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, where China pushed for Xi Jinpings pet project Belt and Road Initiative, clearly indifferent if not aversive to the concerns of New Delhi (the host of the summit) about the fact that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (a part of BRI) violates Indias territorial integrity and sovereignty. And editorials of Communist Party of Chinas mouthpiece Global Times call Indias refusal to sign the paragraph affirming support to BRI and Economic Development Strategy for 2030 which had too many Chinese catchphrases as peculiar clearly showing the outlook that SCO interests are coterminous with that of China. An article stated: Indias distinctive character, combined with its wariness, vanity, and desire to compete with China, has created an unusual sensitivity or even rejection of Chinas voice. World knows how China uses debt diplomacy, assertive voice and military threat to push for its interests across the geopolitical arenas. And, coming to India, clearly Indian advocacy to its strategic autonomy, multilateralism and rule-based international order apart from that a democratic governance is what discomforts China, which is very eager to be accepted as a superpower and quite wishful in creating a Chinese Century. In quest of this eagerness, it sought to push for a more bilateral world as a multipolar world might translate more into an Asian Century and as historically evident, China knows its preferences very well as compared to any other player in global politics. In such a case, it drops a huge responsibility on India and also on other BRICS nations to ensure that the ideals for which the institution was established should not be compromised to favour the domination of a particular member over the international sphere. Reportedly, China is a driving force behind expansion of BRICS and further de-dollarisation. According to writer Prashant Prabhakar Deshpande, The Chinese government is pushing nations around the world to join the bloc and accept the soon-to-be-released currency with the intention of dethroning the US dollar from its global reserve status. Russia and China are also said to be fast-tracking a payment technology that could make trading with the yet-to-be-released BRICS currency easier. Expectedly, India would have pressed for a well-defined criterion for the proposed addition of new members instead of admitting members solely on recommendation basis. However, a recent article in businessline states that India might soften its stance. India should better weigh all the considerations, but it must realise the broader dream of Dragon of world domination using forums like SCO and BRICS. India, being a voice of the global south, fifth largest economy, fastest growing major economy of the world, and a firm supporter of a multipolar world; must not allow China to dominate the dialogue of global politics for its utter self-interest and satisfaction of self-centrism. 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. The end of Chinese economic woes is not near. The much-awaited stimulus that was expected to be announced by Chinese top decision makers in their politburo meeting on 24 July, 2023, didnt come and the road ahead now looks bleak for the Chinese economy. Chinese economy going downhill China has the second largest economy in the world after the United States. But it is facing some fundamental challenges that are becoming more and more formidable with passage of time. The June quarter numbers are already bad and it appears that China is moving towards the worst now. Official data shows that the Chinese economy grew just 0.8 per cent in the April-June quarter. It is much below the growth rate of 2.2% that was attained in the first three months of 2023. Exports are slowing down and domestic demand is tepid. In June alone, the overall foreign trade growth fell about 6 per cent; the exports slumped 8.3 per cent and imports were down by 2.6 per cent. In May, the Chinese retail sales grew at 12.7 per cent but in June this growth rate came down to 3.1 per cent. If you combine this with the fact that household deposits in China grew at a rate of 18 per cent in the first six months of 2023 as compared to the previous year, it is a clear sign that consumers are getting more and more inclined to saving money rather than spending it. This would adversely affect the domestic demand and further slowdown the Chinese economy. This is also an indicator that Chinese themselves are feeling uncertain about their future and hence saving more to counter this uncertainty. Joblessness in China is hitting new highs and especially the younger ones in rural areas are facing the heat. The proportion of those unemployed and aged between 16 and 24 rose to a record 21.3% in June this year. Chinese debt crisis It is ironic that while China is known for laying debt-trap for the other countries, the country itself is caught in a vicious cycle of debt. Its debt to GDP ratio is already more than 280 per cent. Most of the developed economies have this number at around 256 per cent. Chinas debt to other countries stands below six per cent of its GDP. A break-up of Chinese debt components shows that its local governments have almost one-third debt of Chinas overall GDP. The financial affiliates of these local bodies carry a debt of around 40-50 per cent of Chinas economic output. These financial affiliates provide financing through debt to the local bodies and are commonly known as Local Government Financing Vehicles (LGFV). According to a Rhodium group report on Chinese debt (June 2023), LGFVs alone hold over 59 trillion yuan in interest-paying debt and payables, around 50% of GDP. Other explicit and implicit local debts through schools, hospitals, and other institutions may bring the total closer to 100% of GDP. But the scope and implications of the local debt crisis are much wider and larger than conventional wisdom suggests. The report warns, LGFVs current financial conditions resemble those faced by property developers in 2017 and 2018. Even investors who believe in Beijings financial commitment to LGFVs do not expect those implicit guarantees to last forever, because of the size of the debt burden. Eventually, LGFVs may default. Meltdown of Chinese property sector The Chinese real estate or property sector has been one of the key engines of its growth over the last three decades and it has been facing a severe meltdown. It contributes almost a quarter of its GDP and it has been a drag on the overall Chinese economy for the last couple of years. This meltdown had started around two years ago when the second largest real estate developer in China, Evergrande group, defaulted on its dollar bond payment in December 2021. This had a cascading effect and the property sector collapsed like a pack of cards as most of the players were using debt to expand and had over-leveraged their positions leaving little room for manoeuvring. Add to this the fact that Chinese local bodies and several other government institutions had also joined the party over-leveraging land parcels to raise huge debts when property prices were rising through the roof. The poster boy of the Chinese property sector Evergrande is now struggling with debt restructuring in its fight for survival. It carries $330 billion debt. This is the largest debt carried by any real estate developer currently in the world. It has posted a combined loss of $81billion for the year 2021 and 2022. Goldman Sachs has already said in a recent client note that the recovery in the Chinese property sector is likely to remain sluggish. Quoting Goldman Sachs, a Reuters report in June 2023 highlighted, A shrinking land bank and sluggish property demand are likely to hamper the plans of a growing number of private Chinese developers who are restructuring their debt to revive their fortunes, developers and restructuring advisers have said. Goldman Sachs said it expected more measures to support the sector, including a further easing in credit conditions for homebuyers, additional cuts to mortgage rates and mortgage down-payment ratios, as well as a further relaxation of restrictions on home purchases and resales in large cities, it added. None of these measures have been implemented. The 24-member politburo meeting was expected to come out with a package to resolve the Chinese economic crisis. Presided over by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the politburo decided to step up the macroeconomic adjustments. This can be broadly interpreted as the Chinese governments strategy to support not through a much-expected stimulus but through a policy framework. But the fact is that President Xi has little room for implementing new economic policies. China has already overstretched itself. The world probably missed out earlier that as Chinas growth was skyrocketing, so was its debt making this growth model unsustainable. Unless this model is changed, the Chinese growth story would ultimately result in sudden collapse of the Chinese economy. And that might not be faraway. The writer, an author and columnist, has written several books. He tweets @ArunAnandLive. 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. Prime Minister Narendra Modis capped his June 2022 visit to the United States not only with a State Dinner but also with his second address before a Joint Session of Congress. Indians should be proud. Modi joins an elite club of foreign leadersEgyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and South African President Nelson Mandelawho have twice received the honour. Only British Prime Minister Winston Churchill has spoken before the entire Congress more. President Joe Biden was right when, standing beside the prime minister, he described the thoroughly bipartisan support that exists all across the United States for the friendship and partnership between India and the United States, and the bilateral partnership as among the most consequential in the world, that is stronger, closer, and more dynamic than any time in history. While some analysts and academics used Modis presence to criticize aspects of his administration or express concern about Indias democratic trajectory, such complaints were irrelevant to the bigger picture. Modis visit and the reception he received were less about Modi as a person and more about India itself. The cooperation and trust that today characterise US-India ties were unimaginable a quarter century ago. The partnership could grow exponentially over the next quarter century. While there is no shortage of ambition to grow and tighten ties so long as they remain symbiotic and do not infringe on either countrys sovereignty and national interest, neither Washington nor New Delhi are investing in a key foundation of future ties. Ensuring that there is a nucleus among the next generation of Americans with the cultural and linguistic abilities to invest ably and operate effectively across the Indian subcontinent. English may be an official language of India, but it is not the only one. To reach the entire Indian market and communicate effectively requires mastering not only Hindi but many regional languages as well. Certainly, American provincialism is at fault. American schools have long given foreign language study short shrift. Only half of American middle (upper primary) schools actually teach a foreign language. Those that do most often offer only French and Spanish, or perhaps German. More affluent school districts and prestigious private schools might also offer Chinese. A greater proportion of American high school students study language, but non-European offerings are limited. The Advanced Placement exam, an optional national exam to provide American high school students an opportunity to demonstrate mastery and earn college credit, offers seven language tests. Chinese and Japanese are the only non-European options. The problem is not just language proficiency but also cultural fluency. Consider American students studying abroad. In the academic year 2015/16, the last year for which data is available, just over 325,000 Americans studied abroad. Of the top ten destinations, the top five were all European countries. China was number six, and Japan 10. Only 4,181 American students studied in India, or a mere 1.3 per cent of the total. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, that number plummeted further. It also stands in stark contrast to Indias world-ranked universities like Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, the Indian Institute of Science in Karnataka, or Jadavpur University in West Bengal. The paltry Indian language and study abroad options in American schools contrast sharply with the previous growth of Japanese and Chinese offerings. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, many Americans studied Japanese believing Japans economic expansion would continue. Americans scrambled to learn Japanese assuming it would give them a leg up in international commerce. Japanese automobile manufacturers, for example, opened plants across the United States and needed American managers who could communicate both on the assembly line and to headquarters. Japans largely demographic-driven economic slowdown juxtaposed with Chinas economy going into overdrive as it capitalised on its demographic dividend. While some of the prominence of Chinese language and culture in both secondary schools and universities across America was organic, either Chinese-American community demands or proxies for the Peoples Republic of China itself seeded much of it. The Chinese government sought to grease the wheels by funding various programs and seeding Confucius Institutes to promote (Communist) Chinese culture and used its financial influence to try to shape a new generation of Americans to be less distrustful and more accommodating of Communist Chinas perspectives toward Tibet, Taiwan, and perhaps even Aksai Chin. Indeed, studying Chinese seemed a good investment for Americans seeking to enter a more competitive, tighter job market given Chinas status as the worlds largest country and its economic engine. China however in the 2020s increasingly appears like Japan in the 1980s. In April 2023, the United Nations announced that Indias population would likely surpass Chinas 1.4 billion people. The estimate made headlines around the globe, but many newspapers and websites missed a more important component of the UN calculations: Chinas population will continue to fall as Indias rises. By 2100, Chinas population could fall below 800 million, while Indias population is likely to be almost double that. Both Americans and Indians appear enthusiastic at the potential for greater economic and trade ties. President Xi Jinpings bellicosity and erraticism have led bankers to abandon Hong Kong and Shanghai for Singapore. Western economies likewise look to transplant their supply chains from China to India. Apples recent success appears the first raindrop in a coming monsoon. To reach that potential, however, it is time for both Indians and Americans to think strategically. Americans preparing for the second half of the 21st century should be studying Hindi instead of Mandarin and Bengali instead of Cantonese. American universities should reflect that more people speak Marathi or Telugu than Italian, a language for which Americans can earn Advanced Placement credit. Indian universities should encourage Americans of all ethnicities to study abroad in Indian universities and establish two-way secondary school exchange programmes. Hindu and Indian lobby groups in the United States should agitate for high school Hindi programmes and seek an Advanced Placement exam in the language. Prestigious American universities should have India and South Asia programmes as robust and well-funded as China and East Asian departments. Any investment by philanthropists, foundations, or corporations in this linguistic and academic infrastructure will pay dividends for generations to come. Bilateral ties have had enough rhetoric and declarations of intent. It is time to build the foundation for a rock-solid future. The author is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC. 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. Apple is gradually establishing itself as a significant player in the Indian market, with the company making substantial investments to bolster sales and production within the country. According to research conducted by Counterpoint, India has now become Apples fifth-largest market for iPhones, surpassing both Germany and France during the second financial quarter that concluded in June. While the United States, China, Japan, and the UK continue to be the leading markets for Apple, Indias significance is growing. During Q2 2023, India accounted for approximately 4 per cent of Apples iPhone sales. Though the exact number of units sold in India was not disclosed by Counterpoint, it was noted that there was a remarkable 50 per cent year-on-year growth in iPhone sales in the country. Additionally, Apples market share in the Indian phone segment has also been on the rise, increasing from 3.4 per cent last year to 5.1 per cent now. Apple CEO Tim Cook had previously expressed his optimism about Indias potential earlier in the year. He mentioned achieving an all-time iPhone revenue record in India during Q1 2023 and highlighted the dynamism and vibrancy of the market. Cook also acknowledged the expansion of Apples operations in India to better cater to the growing number of customers. Morgan Stanley analysts recently predicted that India would be a crucial driver of Apples revenue over the next five years, projecting that the country could contribute 15 per cent of the companys overall revenue during that period. To capitalize on the Indian market, Apple has been making significant investments in the country as it seeks to diversify its production locations beyond China, which faced setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company plans to increase its iPhone production capacity in India from 7 per cent in 2023 to 18 per cent in 2025, partly influenced by tax incentives offered by the Indian government. Notably, Tata Group, a prominent Indian conglomerate, is finalizing its deal to take over Wistron Corps factory in Karnataka, making it the first Indian company to produce iPhones in the country. To enhance accessibility to its premium iPhones, Apple is also focusing on improving its distribution channels in India. The company already operates an online store and has recently opened two physical stores in Delhi and Mumbai. Two more stores are expected to be launched in India by 2025. These efforts demonstrate Apples commitment to establishing a strong presence and tapping into the growing potential of the Indian market. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson made a visit to the Brazilian space research centre INPE on Wednesday, where he proposed an extension of satellite partnerships between the United States and Brazil. The primary objective of this collaboration would be to effectively monitor and prevent the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. During the visit, Nelson announced NASAs plans to launch a new satellite called NISAR in January, which will be a joint effort with India. This advanced satellite will be capable of capturing detailed images from beneath the forest canopy, enabling authorities to detect signs of undergrowth burning, a practice that poses a threat to the survival of large trees in the rainforest. The Science Minister of Brazil, Luciana Santos, accompanied Nelson during his tour of INPE headquarters and provided insights into Brazils space program. She also highlighted their existing partnership with China, involving the launch of satellites for agricultural and environmental monitoring since 1999. Presently, Brazil relies on satellite imagery for Amazon monitoring. However, cloud cover often hampers the accuracy and timeliness of these images. Nelsons visit aims to enhance Brazils capabilities by introducing advanced NASA satellites that will significantly improve their understanding of rainforest dynamics. After meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia, Nelson expressed gratitude for Brazils continuous efforts to preserve the Amazon rainforest. Drawing from his own experience as an astronaut 37 years ago, Nelson recollected witnessing the destruction of the rainforest through the naked eye, observing distinct colours indicating the damage from his spacecraft window. Looking forward, NASAs upcoming satellite launches in early 2023 will greatly enhance its ability to monitor and comprehend the ongoing environmental changes in the Amazon rainforest. During his South American trip, Nelson also plans to visit Argentina and Colombia, further strengthening international partnerships in space exploration and environmental preservation. Microsoft reported a significant 20 per cent increase in quarterly profits, which has bolstered its position in the competition against rivals like Google, Amazon, and Meta (parent company of Facebook) in the field of selling the latest artificial intelligence technology. The software giants fiscal fourth-quarter profit reached $20.1 billion, equivalent to $2.69 per share, surpassing the analysts expectations of $2.55 per share. Moreover, it achieved a revenue of $56.2 billion in the April-June period, marking an 8 per cent increase compared to the previous year and exceeding the forecasted revenue of $55.49 billion. Despite the positive financial results, Microsofts CEO, Satya Nadella, acknowledged that the AI features added to their existing products, such as cloud computing services, workplace software, and Bing search engine, have not yet had a significant impact on their financial outcomes. However, the company has been actively investing in generative AI tools, capitalizing on its investments in OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, to launch a Bing chatbot and other AI tools tailored to business customers. Microsoft is also planning to charge $30 per user for its new AI Copilot, which integrates with software like Word, Excel, and email. The companys stock experienced a slight drop in after-hours trading despite beating Wall Streets expectations for profit and revenue. Investors have been closely monitoring Microsofts early revenue from AI investments, the performance of its Azure cloud computing platform, and the potential closure of its deal to acquire video game company Activision Blizzard, which could drive more users to Xbox game systems and other Microsoft platforms. Microsofts cloud business segment, with a 15 per cent growth, was the highest-earning in the quarter, generating $24 billion in sales. The flagship Azure platform, along with other cloud services, contributed significantly to this growth. The companys productivity software business, led by its Office suite, saw a 10 per cent increase in sales, reaching $18.3 billion for the April-June quarter. Although AI has captured the attention of the public and investors, Microsofts personal computing business, centred around licensing fees for Windows software, remains a crucial revenue stream. This segment earned $13.9 billion in the quarter, down 4 per cent from the previous year, partly due to a decline in PC shipments. However, Gartner suggests that the PC market may stabilize and see growth again in 2024. While Microsofts business-oriented approach has provided some insulation from economic challenges, the company has still undergone workforce reductions, including layoffs of hundreds of workers near its headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Earlier this year, Microsoft cut around 10,000 employees, amounting to almost 5 per cent of its workforce. Samsung has introduced its latest lineup of devices featuring folding screens, including the popular Z Flip phone, along with new water-resistant premium tablets and Galaxy Watch smartwatches. The unveiling event took place in South Korea, Samsungs home country, where they showcased the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5. In addition to the smartphones, Samsung also unveiled the Tab S9 series of Android tablets, which are equipped with water-resistant features to enhance durability and usability. Samsung also had an all-new Galaxy Watch 6 series to offer. Samsungs latest range of devices showcases the companys commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology and offering consumers cutting-edge products with exciting new features. Galaxy Fold 5 The Galaxy Z Fold 5 boasts several notable improvements over its predecessor, making it the thinnest and lightest Fold device to date, as per Samsung. The Z Fold 5 features a larger 6.2-inch cover screen, utilizing a Dynamic AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2316 x 904. This results in an aspect ratio of 23:9 and a refresh rate of 120Hz, providing a smooth and vibrant display experience. The main display has also been enhanced, now measuring 7.6 inches and featuring a Dynamic AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2176 x 1812. This offers an aspect ratio of 21:18 and a refresh rate of 120Hz, ensuring excellent visuals and fluid interactions. Under the hood, the Z Fold 5 runs on Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, coupled with 12GB of RAM and the option for up to 1TB of internal storage. This powerful combination delivers impressive performance and ample storage capacity for various tasks and multimedia files. The Z Fold 5 includes a 4400mAh battery with support for 25W wired fast charging, enabling users to charge the phone up to 50per cent in just 30 minutes. The phone boasts an IPX8 rating, indicating water resistance, providing added protection against water exposure. On the software side, the Z Fold 5 will ship with Android 13 out of the box, customized with Samsungs One UI 5.1.1, offering a smooth and intuitive user interface. As for the camera setup, the Z Fold 5 features a 10MP front-facing camera on the cover screen, suitable for selfies and video calls. Additionally, it has a unique 4MP under-display camera on the main screen, ensuring an uninterrupted display experience. At the back of the device, there is a versatile triple-camera module, comprising a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 50MP wide-angle camera, and a 10MP telephoto camera. This advanced camera system allows users to capture high-quality photos and videos in various scenarios, providing creative freedom in photography. Overall, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 brings together a host of improvements and features, making it an appealing choice for users seeking a cutting-edge folding smartphone experience. With the Google Pixel Fold entering the market in July at a similar price point, Samsung faces real competition for these cutting-edge devices. The success of the Z Fold 5 will be crucial for Samsung to maintain its dominance in the rapidly evolving and highly competitive smartphone market. Galaxy Flip 5 The Galaxy Z Flip 5 features a noticeable change with its larger cover screen, now measuring 3.4 inches and utilizing a Super AMOLED 60Hz display. This enhancement provides users with more screen space to view notifications and control phone functions conveniently. The main screen has also been improved, now offering a 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz and a ratio of 22:9. This results in a smooth and vibrant display experience, perfect for various tasks and multimedia consumption. Similar to the Z Fold 5, the Z Flip 5 is powered by Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platform, combined with 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. This setup ensures impressive performance and sufficient storage capacity for various applications and files. To keep the phone powered, the Z Flip 5 features a 3,700mAh dual battery with support for 25W wired fast charging, allowing the phone to reach 50% charge in just 30 minutes. The phone boasts an IPX8 rating, signifying water resistance, adding an extra layer of protection against water exposure. On the software side, the Z Flip 5 ships with Android 13 out of the box, customized with Samsungs One UI 5.1.1 interface, offering a seamless and user-friendly experience. At the back of the device, there is a dual-camera module, comprising a primary 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor and a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera. This camera setup provides versatile photography options, allowing users to capture stunning images in various scenarios. Galaxy Tab 9 Samsungs premium Android tablet series has taken a significant step forward with the introduction of water resistance in its next generation. The Tab S9, S9+, and S9 Ultra all share the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, offering powerful performance. They also feature slick AMOLED displays, support for stylus input, and options for 5G connectivity. The main differentiating factor among these tablets is their screen size, ranging from 11 inches to 14.6 inches on the diagonal. As strong competitors to the premium iPads, these Samsung tablets run on advanced Android software, allowing them to function as laptop replacements. They can connect to external monitors, providing a versatile computing experience. For those seeking a more traditional laptop setup, optional keyboard case accessories are available for these tablets. Galaxy Watch 6 Samsung has made significant improvements to its smartwatch line, addressing some of the common pain points associated with these devices. The Galaxy Watch 6 now features faster chips, increased memory, and larger batteries, enhancing overall performance and battery life. The smartwatch is available in four different sizes, each equipped with 20 per cent larger displays, providing users with a better viewing experience. Notably, the Classic versions mark the return of Samsungs popular physical rotating bezel, offering a convenient and intuitive way to interact with the watch. The watches are equipped with a new quick-release watch strap system, similar to the one found in the Apple Watch, allowing users to easily change the straps to match their style or activity. Additionally, the Galaxy Watch 6 runs on the next-generation Wear OS 4 software, ensuring a seamless and up-to-date user experience. Samsung has committed to providing at least five years of updates for these watches, ensuring that they remain relevant and functional for an extended period. Galaxy Flip 5 & Galaxy Fold 5 Price in India The price of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 starts at $1,799, whereas the Galaxy Flip 5 starts $999 in the US. Samsung has announced that they will be revealing the Indian prices of the devices pretty soon, but a very recent leak has suggested that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 may have a starting price of Rs 95,000, while the Galaxy Z Fold 5 could start at Rs 1,43,500 in India. Considering what the US prices are, these look pretty accurate, unless Samsung decides to tweak the pricing a little, at the last moment. A video of US President Joe Biden has emerged on social media, showing him making a statement about ending cancer. The clip is from his speech at the White House, where he discussed efforts to increase insurance coverage for mental health care. During his speech, Biden emphasised the importance of expanding access to mental health treatment, highlighting the lessons learned from the pandemic that demonstrated the need for more support. He mentioned an interesting question hes often asked: If you could do anything at all, Joe, what would you do? To which he replied, Id cure cancer. He explained that people were surprised by his choice because they dont believe its achievable, but he firmly stated, We can end cancer as we know it. Watch: US President Biden: I said Id cure cancer they looked at me like, why cancer? Because we can. We ended cancer as we know it.pic.twitter.com/yzG2RQwnqQ The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) July 26, 2023 The video of this speech was shared on social media, particularly by conservatives, including Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert. Some who viewed the video believed that President Biden said he had ended cancer as we know it. However, upon careful listening, it appears that Biden might have slurred the words can and end together during his sentence, leading to the misunderstanding. In an earlier incident, Biden mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Vladimir during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. He quickly realised his error and corrected himself in the following sentence. With inputs from agencies Following the unexpected removal of the previous foreign minister Qin Gang, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that he anticipates working well with Chinas incoming foreign minister. Ive also known Wang Yi for more than a decade. Ive met with him repeatedly, AFP quoted Blinken as saying in reference to the new top diplomat. I anticipate being able to work well with him as we have in the past. It is important for us to manage this relationship responsibly. That starts with diplomacy, that starts with engaging, and I will work with whoever the relevant Chinese counterpart is, Blinken added. Blinken said it was Chinas sovereign decision to remove Qin, who had not been seen in public since 25 June. Chinas foreign minister Qin Gang was removed from office on Tuesday, state media reported on Tuesday, after not being seen in the public eye for a month. Chinas top legislature voted to appoint Wang Yi as foreign minister as it convened a session on Tuesday, state media outlet Xinhua said. Qin Gang was removed from the post of foreign minister. The report did not give a reason for Qins removal but said President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to enact the decision. Qin had been seen as a confidant of President Xi and many analysts attributed his recent fast rise through the diplomatic ranks to their relationship. China has remained tight-lipped for weeks about the fate of Qin, who has not been seen in public since 25 June when he met Russias deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko in Beijing. His absence sparked a storm of speculation that he had been removed from office or was subject to an official investigation. Qin Gang was ambassador to Washington. I got to know him when he was ambassador. I had constructive conversations with him in his role as foreign minister and I wish him well, Blinken said. With inputs from agencies Red light therapy has become a trending topic on TikTok, with videos featuring the hashtag #redlighttherapy gaining immense popularity. These videos showcase users using red light to enhance their skins appearance, asserting that it can be beneficial for acne, aging, and hair loss issues. However, it is essential to recognise that red light therapy is not merely a passing TikTok fad; it has earned approval from dermatologists as a legitimate treatment method. It is important to differentiate the therapy from harmful UV rays emitted by the sun, which can cause skin aging and cancer. Red light falls within the visible light spectrum, typically around 600 nanometers in wavelength. Preliminary evidence suggests that red light might also aid in managing acne and aging by regulating skin oil production and enhancing collagen production. For optimal results, it is advisable to consult a board-certified dermatologist before attempting red light therapy. At-home red light therapy devices, such as masks, can be used, but caution is necessary. One should only purchase devices from reputable companies or those recommended by their dermatologist, and strict adherence to the provided instructions regarding usage frequency and duration is crucial to prevent skin damage. Eye protection is equally important during red light therapy. With inputs from agencies The population of Japanese nationals is experiencing rapid decline, while a sudden rise of nearly 3 million in foreign residents can be spotted, government data showed on Wednesday. The data shared indicates the Japanese population across the country is ageing and highlights the increasing significance of foreign nationals in compensating for the declining population. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of Japanese citizens decreased for the 14th consecutive year, with approximately 800,000 fewer people, bringing the total to 122.42 million as of January 1, 2023. For the first time, the number of Japanese residents fell in all 47 prefectures, the data showed. The number of foreign nationals living in Japan was a record 2.99 million, a 10.7% increase from the previous year, the biggest year-on-year increase since the ministry began tracking the data a decade ago. As of Jan. 1, 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic spread around the world, there were 2.87 million foreigners living in Japan. Japans total population fell to 125.42 million, a decrease of about 511,000, the new data showed. The population has fallen every year since peaking in 2008 due to a low birth rate, reaching a record low last year. The government aims to address the problem by various means, including employing more women, the top government spokesperson said. To secure a stable workforce, the government will promote labour market reforms to maximise the employment of women, the elderly and others, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has made reversing the sliding birth rate a top priority and his government, despite high levels of debt, plans to earmark 3.5 trillion yen ($25 billion) a year for child care and other measures to support parents. A group of Tokyo-based public think tanks said last year that Japan needed about four times as many foreign workers by 2040 to achieve the governments economic growth forecasts. Tokyo had the most foreign residents with 581,112 of them, or 4.2% of the capitals population. ($1 = 141.0800 yen) With inputs from Reuters An additional Station House Officer (SHO) was killed and several others injured after a bomb blast in an under-construction mosque in the Ali Masjid area of Khyber district, ARY News reported on Tuesday. Khyber is a district in the Peshawar Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. As per the initial investigation, the incident seems to be a suicide bomb blast. The deceased additional SHO was identified as Adnan Afridi, police said, adding wounded persons have been shifted to a local hospital for medical assistance. It was learnt that the district Khyber Police has conducted an intelligence-based operation over the information of the presence of two terrorists in the under-construction mosque in Jamrud. One of the terrorists blew himself up when the police tried to arrest him while the other terrorist fled the bombing site. However, the security forces successfully arrested him, according to ARY News. The cases of a bomb blast in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are on the rise. The province is continuously facing terrorists attack. In the past year, from June 18, 2022, to June 18, 2023, there were 665 terror attacks in the province, including 15 suicide bombings, The Dawn has reported. In North Waziristan tribal district alone, 140 terror operations comprising eight suicide bombings, 37 IED and three hand grenade explosions, five rocket attacks, and 85 fire incidents were reported, according to the list of Motive Wise Terrorism Incidents published by the provincial police. The list, a copy of which is available with Dawn, said 81 terror attacks took place in the Dera Ismail Khan district and that included 70 firing incidents, seven IED and two grenade explosions, and one suicide and rocket attack each, The Dawn reported. The Dawn is a Pakistani Daily that provides information on Pakistans social, economic, financial and security updates. Pakistans Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has dismissed reports that he is the front runner for the post of caretaker prime minister, saying such talks are premature and consultations have not yet begun. In an interview with a private television channel on Tuesday, the 73-year-old leader said the ruling alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) would decide on the appointment. The mainstream media in Pakistan had reported the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party is considering proposing Dars name as the caretaker prime minister of the cash-strapped country once the term of the current National Assembly ends next month. Dars name came into focus as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government mulled changes in the Elections Act 2017 to empower the upcoming caretaker set-up to take decisions beyond its constitutional mandate, with a view to ensure continuity of the recently rolled out economic plan and expedite the process aimed at receiving foreign investment in state-owned entities, The Express Tribune newspaper reported on Sunday. Dar said he would accept the leaderships decision on the appointment, but noted that the caretaker setups powers should be enhanced, Geo News reported. He said the interim governments tenure should be 90 days, not 60 days as sources have indicated that the PDM-led government may dissolve assemblies before their term ends, providing the caretaker setup 90 days. He added that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is responsible for holding polls in a transparent manner. Under Pakistans Constitution, polls are to be held within 60 days if the National Assembly completes its term. But if the assembly is dissolved prematurely, even if by a day, it would give the government 90 days to conduct elections. The caretaker prime minister will administer the country until a new government is formed after the general elections. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has reportedly shown reluctance in backing Dar. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has also dismissed reports that Dar is being considered for the post, saying no one close to the top PML-N leadership the Sharif family would be picked as the interim prime minister to ensure that fingers are not pointed at the caretaker setup. Meanwhile, strong opposition from both friends and foes forced the government to defer for one day its plan to give unbridled powers to the caretaker set-up, as part of electoral reforms, the Dawn newspaper reported. Under the plan, the text cleared by the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms was to be passed through a shortcut, with the last-minute addition of a controversial clause to enlarge the scope of the caretakers, which would have allowed them to decide on urgent matters. An election amendment bill already passed by the National Assembly, which could not be passed by the Senate within 90 days, was placed on the agenda of the joint sitting on Tuesday, the report said. The government wanted the long list of electoral reforms to be passed through an amendment in the same bill and even parliamentarians were unaware of the changes introduced, it said. Former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani raised a procedural objection, saying that under the rules, a clear days notice was required if amendments were to be moved in a bill on the agenda, it added. Defence Minister Asif also agreed that the bill be deferred for a day. The National Assembly speaker deferred the bill to give lawmakers time to read the amendments. Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu along with his military delegation arrived in North Korea for a three-day visit on Tuesday, TASS News Agency reported citing Moscows defence ministry. The Russian delegation was ushered in with an official welcoming ceremony at the Sunan international airport (Pyongyang), reported TASS News Agency. The Russian defence minister was welcomed by North Korean Defence Minister Kang Sun-nam, it added. The Russian delegation will take part in festivities dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. This visit will help strengthen Russian-North Korean ties and will be a milestone in the development of cooperation between the two countries, the ministry added. Earlier, North Korean state media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported that the minister will pay a congratulatory visit to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korean peoples victory. Chinese Communist Party official Li Hongzhong, who is part of the partys central policymaking committee and holds a leadership position in the top body of its rubber-stamp Parliament, will also lead a delegation to Pyongyang this week, according to KCNA. Both Russia and China are Pyongyangs longtime allies. Back in 1950, China helped North Korea by sending a quarter million troops into the Korean Peninsula. More than 180,000 Chinese troops died in the Korean War, or what Beijing calls the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, as per CNN. The Soviet Union also supported North Korea during the war and over the decades Moscow has been a staunch ally for North Korea, especially as the two share a joint animosity towards the West. The China and Russian delegations visit came at the time amid simmering tensions between North Korea and South Korea and its US ally. US and South Korea have condemned Pyongyangs missile test several times, and on several occasions, Washington and Seoul have deployed military assets like nuclear-capable submarines and bombers. The tensions increased as last week US soldier Pvt Travis King illegally entered the North Korea after crossing its border with the South Korea, where he was assigned to US Forces Korea and had been on the Joint Security Area (JSA) tour as a civilian. King was facing disciplinary action and was meant to go back to the US. He is believed to be the first US soldier to cross into North Korea since 1982. On 17 July, the United Nations Command (UNC) deputy commander, Gen Andrew Harrison, said a conversation has commenced with North Korea over King. But Pyongyang does not seem to be responding to Washington directly, reported CNN. With inputs from agencies North Koreas Kim Jong Un has discovered new ways to replenish his depleted coffers, allowing him to disregard financial incentives intended to persuade the country to return to the negotiating table and continue with the development of his nuclear program. With assistance from the Soviet Union, his grandfather, state founder Kim Il Sung, assumed power. Now, as North Korea gets ready to commemorate the armistice that ended the Korean War on 27 July, 1953, it must once more give credit to Russia. The United Nations said last month that Russia has started supplying oil to North Korea again for the first time since 2020. That comes after grain supplies were resumed earlier. Although it is impossible to predict what is moving in the opposite direction, the US government and unaffiliated analysts agree on one key point: North Koreas massive stockpiles of weapons, according to a Bloomberg report. These measures alone wont be enough to revive a broken and isolated economy. However, aid from Russia is ensuring the economy remains stable enough to run, along with the restoration of economic relations with China and other money streams like cybercrime, allowing Kim to continue defying the international community, added the report. North Korea always manages to find a way to survive, Bloomberg quoted Rachel Minyoung Lee, a regional issues manager at the Vienna-based Open Nuclear Network who worked as an analyst for the CIAs Open Source Enterprise for almost two decades, as saying. There is no indication that it would return to nuclear talks anytime soon, added Lee. Russia and China are showing their support for Kim by sending high-profile delegations to North Korea to mark the anniversary the first such visits by foreign envoys since the Covid-19 pandemic. The Russian group headed by Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu arrived Tuesday night and received a welcome from top cadres. The Russian delegation was ushered in with an official welcoming ceremony at the Sunan international airport (Pyongyang), reported TASS News Agency. The Russian defence minister was welcomed by North Korean Defence Minister Kang Sun-nam, it added. Pyongyang rejects accusations of supplying arms to Russia According to the Bloomberg report, Pyongyang, which has been banned from arms sales for about 15 years, rejects accusations it is supplying Russia. Yet the White House in December said it had evidence North Korea completed an initial arms shipment to the Wagner Group for use in Ukraine that included infantry rockets and missiles. One item that North Korea has and Russia likely wants is 152 mm artillery shells. These are interoperable with the Soviet-era weaponry thats been pushed back into service in Ukraine. The Kremlins war machine has been burning through thousands daily, according to the report citing Jamestown Foundation research group, and has been scrambling for supplies as the conflict continues. North Korea possesses untold stores of munitions that could run into millions of rounds for an arsenal that has for decades held Seoul under the threat of devastation. North Korea would likely jump at the chance to offload some of its stockpile at a hefty price, the report quoted weapons expert Joost Oliemans, who co-authored the book The Armed Forces of North Korea, as saying. Exactly how much theyd get would be down to their ability to negotiate. For example, if North Korea sold shells at $1,000 each, selling 250,000 would be equal to about 1% of its GDP, according to Bloomberg News calculations. Thats a conservative estimate because high demand has driven up prices, with the 155 mm shells used by NATO forces priced at about $3,000 each. Trade picks up Given that both North Korea and Russia are subject to UN sanctions, both seek to conceal exactly how much trade is going on. But there are numerous signs that activity is picking up. In late 2022, the two countries restored a rail link that had been suspended for nearly three years, according to satellite images including those from November that show a train crossing from Russia into North Korea and stopping at a freight handling station. Kang Mi-jin, a North Korean defector who now runs a company in South Korea that watches the economy of her former home, told Bloomberg that her contacts report that Russian sugar has made its way into markets in recent months. Its been warily received since its coarser and a darker color than what North Koreans are used to, Kang said. There are also indications of increased activity with China after the two countries reopened their main rail link last year that had been closed since Covid. Traffic between the Chinese border city of Dandong and North Koreas nearby city of Sinuiju can be watched on the streets in China. With inputs from agencies In a major setback for former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Pakistan Supreme Court has turned down his request to halt the criminal proceedings against him in the Toshakhana corruption case. The case revolves around allegations that Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, deliberately concealed information about gifts he received and retained from the Toshakhana during his tenure as the Prime Minister. These gifts, received from foreign officials during official visits, were allegedly sold during his premiership, with the total value exceeding Rs 140 million (USD 635,000). Following the rejection of relief in the case by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Khan, aged 70, approached the apex court seeking intervention. However, the Supreme Courts decision has further complicated his legal situation in the corruption case. The Election Commission of Pakistan on October 21 last year, disqualified the former prime minister in the Toshakhana case for making false statements and incorrect declaration. In May, a trial court rejected Khans petition challenging the maintainability of the case and indicted the PTI chief, who denied all the allegations of misdeclaration of gifts. Subsequently, Khan challenged the trial courts decision before the IHC, which sent the case back to the trial court for re-examination. On July 8, the trial court concluded that the ECPs petition is maintainable and proceeded further against the former premier who then approached the apex court for relief. During Wednesdays hearing, Justice Yahya Afridi of the two-member bench remarked that the apex court will not interfere in the trial courts matters in the Toshakhana corruption case. However, it urged the IHC to decide three of Khans pending petitions challenging the courts decision to return the matter to the trial court after his lawyer Khawaja Haris informed the bench that there are multiple petitions related to the jurisdiction of the trial court and transfer of the Toshakhana case pending in the high court, the Express Tribune newspaper reported. Khan is facing more than 140 cases across the country and faces charges like terrorism, violence, blasphemy, corruption and murder since he was ousted from power in April last year after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China and Afghanistan. With inputs from PTI. The UNs Education, Science and Cultural Agency (UNESCO) has asked all schools across the world to ban the use of smartphones to tackle classroom disruption as well as protect children from cyberbullying. A report published by the global education body has provided evidence-backed proof that excessive use of smartphones has led to reduced educational performance. It also said that high levels of screen time have a detrimental effect on schoolchildren. The call for a global ban on smartphones in schools, UNESCO said, sends a clear message that digital technology, including artificial intelligence, should be used for catering to a human-centred vision of education and never replace in-person interaction with teachers. The digital revolution holds immeasurable potential but, just as warnings have been voiced for how it should be regulated in society, similar attention must be paid to the way it is used in education, said Unescos director general, Audrey Azoulay. Its use must be for enhanced learning experiences and for the wellbeing of students and teachers, not to their detriment. Keep the needs of the learner first and support teachers. Online connections are no substitute for human interaction, she added. What does the report recommend? In the report, UNESCO listed a number of ways smartphones can serve as a negative link between students and their well-being Excessive use of smartphones in the classroom or at home could lead to distraction and can have a negative impact on their learning. The report cited case-based evidence from countries like China which have set boundaries for the use of technology as a teaching tool. The country has limited the use of smartphones to 30 per cent in schools with students instructed to take regular screen breaks. Countries that have banned smartphones in school France: The French government banned the use of smartphones in primary, junior and middle schools in 2018. Although pupils are allowed to bring their devices to school, they are instructed not to get them out until they leave. The education ministry said at the time, Its good that children are not too often, or even at all, in front of a screen before the age of seven. However, the ban received some backlash from the French head teachers union. This new announcement from the [education] ministry leaves us dubious because were having trouble understanding what is the real issue here. Netherlands: The Dutch government in July announced the ban of devices including mobile phones from classrooms to prevent disruptions in learning. The ban would come into effect next year. The government, however, has made some exceptions for students with medical needs or a disability. Even though mobile phones are almost intertwined with our lives, they do not belong in the classroom, said Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf. He added, Students must be able to concentrate there and be given every opportunity to learn well. We know from scientific research that mobile phones disrupt this. Finland: In an effort to promote a focussed learning environment in schools, the government in Finland passed a law banning mobile phones in schools in July. The government will reinforce the powers of teachers and principals to intervene in activities that disrupt teaching during school hours, the government said in a statement. We will make the necessary legislative amendments to enable more efficient restrictions in cases such as the use of mobile devices during the school day so that pupils and students can better concentrate on teaching, it added. Tasmania: In 2019, the Tasmanian government mobile phones in schools in a bid to reduce distraction and encourage interaction among students. The policy requires students from Primary School to Year 12 to have their phones off and away all day during school hours. A federal judge on Tuesday overturned US President Joe Bidens 10-week-old asylum policy, rejecting the heart of the administrations effort to get migration across the southern border under control. Judge Jon Tigar of the US district court in San Francisco said the policy to force asylum seekers to apply for admission to the United States from their home countries or from countries they pass through on the way was unlawful. His ruling could again force the US government to accept the asylum claims of any petitioner who crosses into the country, the policy that has been in place for decades, Tigar said. That potentially could spark a new surge of migrants to the US-Mexico frontier, after a decline for the past two months. Tigar though immediately suspended his ruling for 14 days to give the Biden administration time to appeal it. The Justice Department quickly filed a notice of appeal and said that in the meantime it would seek a longer stay on implementation of Tigars decision. The rules the Biden administration put in place in May are a lawful exercise of the broad authority granted by the immigration laws, the department said. The appeal could keep the policy in flux for months, with the case possibly ending up in the Supreme Court. End of Covid-19 controls The ruling came in a case brought by the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant and other migrant advocacy groups after the Biden administration announced on May 16 its new approach, aimed at stemming the up to 200,000 migrants trying to cross the southern border each month. They argued the Biden policy effectively presumes asylum ineligibility for those at the border. Biden implemented it to replace the use of Title 42, a Covid-19 pandemic rule that had been used since 2020 to summarily block entry of migrants as a matter of public health. Despite that rule, last year border authorities interdicted more than two million people seeking to enter the United States, either illegally or via asylum applications. The sheer number became a major political issue for Biden, with opposition Republicans accusing him of lax border policies. With Covid border controls lifted, Biden sought to diminish the flow by instituting a more rigid process for asylum seekers. If at the border, they would have to use a smartphone app to obtain an interview appointment, which could take weeks if not months. Elsewhere, they would have to request asylum from their home country or at special centers in countries they pass through. Meanwhile people who crossed the border without going through the process would automatically lose the opportunity to gain asylum. In all cases, the policy raised the burden of proof for the applicants and left them facing long waits for rulings. Bidens policy however did create exceptions for unaccompanied children crossing the border, and for citizens of certain countries like Haiti and Ukraine offered a separate formal parole process. The policy had a quick impact: the number of border patrol interdictions or encounters with migrants fell from 212,000 in April to 145,000 in June, according to Customs and Border Protection figures. But Tigar found fault with Bidens policy on several points. It did not comply with the Immigration and Nationality Acts rules on asylum, and said that legally it was inconsistent due to the exceptions it offered. The Biden policy is therefore arbitrary and capricious, Tigar said. He also said it had been instituted in a rush, bypassing the legally required 60-day review period for such a complex policy. In Southern Greece on Tuesday, a tragic incident occurred as a Greek air force water-dropping plane, involved in firefighting efforts, crashed during an attempt to combat a wildfire. The crash resulted in the loss of both pilots lives. The viral video captured the moment when the bright yellow CL-215 aircraft released water over the island of Evia. Tragically, the planes wingtip got caught in a tree branch, leading to the aircraft crashing and erupting into flames upon impact with the ground. Both pilots, aged 34 and 27, lost their lives in the crash. reported The Associated Press. Watch: In response to this event, Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis decided to cancel his planned visit to Cyprus on Wednesday, and the countrys armed forces declared three days of mourning to honor the fallen pilots. The Prime Minister paid tribute to the pilots, acknowledging the dangerous nature of their daily firefighting missions and vowing to continue the fight against the destructive wildfires. The wildfires have been a major concern for authorities, and the extreme heat wave temperatures have only worsened the situation across the country. Greece has been facing a third successive heat wave, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday. Strong winds have further fueled the fires, leading to evacuations in various regions. The exact cause of the wildfires remains uncertain, but the prevailing dry conditions and the scorching summer heat create the conditions for fires to start and spread rapidly if not swiftly contained. In recent days, several people across Greece have been arrested or fined for unintentionally starting fires. With inputs from agencies The internet is a fascinating place for people to showcase their newly achieved skills or keep a record of their day-to-day adventures. While trying something new can be challenging and hard at first, it is the only path to discovering unknown experiences. However, it is crucial to understand the circumstances in which the stunt has been achieved, without rushing to take up the same task in zest from the comfort of ones home. Sharing a similar exhilarating ride, Zee, a travel blogger shared recent adrenaline-inducing memories from his visit to Northern Pakistan. In one of the viral clips, he traverses the famous Passu or Hussaini Bridge in Hunza valley, located in Pakistans Gilgit-Baltistan region. Stretching at approximately 1 Kilometer, the bridge, claimed to be around 70 years old, is used by locals to cross to the village on the other side. The aerial view of Zees clip, shot by fellow traveller Paul Erik, shows a breathtaking view as he slowly crosses the bridge made of wooden planks with cracks. There are also ropes on the sides of the bridge for balance. An attractive tourist destination, Borith Lake beneath is surrounded by imposing mountains and a narrow wooden bridge connects it to the other side. He captioned the post: Crossing the worlds most dangerous foot bridge in Pakistan. Check out the post: View this post on Instagram A post shared by zee (@zeeteevee_) The post amassed over 78,000 likes. Check out some of the comments below: One user wrote: I was there last week! Im impressed that anybody built it to begin with. That must have been a lot of work, maybe even costing lives, said another. A user added: Its not as scary as you portray it to be. Several others appreciated the bloggers achievement with clapping emojis and red hearts. The huge gaps between wooden planks make it one of the most difficult suspension bridges to cross with only a rope beside for balance. The treacherous Hunza River stream just beneath the bridge adds to the peril of crossing it. However, it is not the bloggers first experience dealing with fear. On the same trip, he shared a two-hour Jeep ride on the edge of cliff. Describing his point of view of travelling on one of the worlds most difficult roads, he captioned the post: Most sections dont have room for 2 cars. Drivers often need to reverse to let other Jeeps pass by. Check out the clip: The video garnered over 26,000 likes. Taiwanese technology giant Pegatron Corporation is planning to expand its manufacturing base in Tamil Nadu, India, according to a report from Deccan Herald. The companys chairman, T H Tung, indicated during a meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin that they are considering expanding their existing facility in the state. Pegatron, a major supplier to Apple, entered India in 2021 under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme and established its unit in Singaperumalkovil, near Chennai, with an investment of Rs 1,100 crore. The unit, which started operations in September last year, is responsible for assembling flagship iPhones like the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14, similar to its Taiwanese counterpart Foxconn. This move by Pegatron to expand in Tamil Nadu aligns with Apples earlier announcement of shifting some of its operations out of China to countries like India. During the inauguration of the Singaperumal Koil plant, Chief Minister Stalin had expressed hope for further investments from Pegatron in the state. A person familiar with the matter stated that Pegatron is in talks to invest more in India and expand its Chennai facility. The existing site is spacious enough to accommodate the expansion, eliminating the need for additional land acquisition. Pegatron is planning to invest more in India. We have been talking to them to ensure that they further invest in Tamil Nadu by expanding their Chennai facility. Todays meeting has set the tone for further talks between the two sides. We can expect forward movement in the coming months. This development holds significant implications for Indias manufacturing sector, as it may attract more investment and generate employment opportunities. With Pegatrons proposed expansion in Tamil Nadu, Indias position in the global technology manufacturing landscape is likely to strengthen further. Source Adani Data Networks and Vodafone Idea have sought an extension from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for the deadline to launch 5G services, as reported by financialexpress. Adani Groups Challenge Deploying 5G Network Adani Group is facing hurdles in deploying a 5G network in the 26 GHz band for its captive networks. This has prompted the company to request an extension for meeting the minimum obligation. On the other hand, Vodafone Ideas 5G services launch has been delayed due to funding limitations. The company is currently unable to fulfill its minimum rollout obligation and has requested additional time. The DoT has confirmed that it has received extension requests from companies regarding their 5G rollout obligations. The requests are currently under examination. Vodafone Ideas Progress and Plans Vodafone Idea is in the testing phase of its 5G services in cities like Delhi and Pune. Currently, the company has deployed 36 tower sites, and the commercial deployment will commence after finalizing equipment orders. Vodafone Idea is dedicated to expanding its 4G coverage and capacity, especially in its 17 priority circles, despite the delay in the launch of 5G. The company intends to introduce 5G services once it has secured sufficient funding. Status of Other Operators 5G Deployment Both Bharti Airtel and Jio have not yet deployed 5G networks in the 26 GHz band, primarily due to the lack of a supportive device ecosystem. According to the guidelines set by the government, it is mandatory for telecom operators to launch 5G services in both metro and non-metro circles, which entails providing services in a minimum of one area in metro circles and one city in non-metro circles. According to data from the DoT as of July 2, Jio and Airtel have made significant strides, deploying a total of 275,256 5G BTS (base transceiver station) in over 6,200 towns. On the development of the 5G rollout deadline, Telecom Secretary K Rajaraman stated: At this point in time, we are examining several requests from companies for an extension of the minimum 5G rollout obligation. On the launch of 5G, Vodafone Idea CEO Akshaya Moondra commented, The Minimum rollout obligation (MRO) is more of a compliance requirement, and we will work on that, but our focus is on achieving wider coverage. Source Iti doresti o presa libera si independenta, care nu da inapoi cand vine vorba de respectarea standardelor profesionale, refuza sa se lase cenzurata, sustine independenta justitiei, transparenta decizionala si valorile democratice. Alege sa o sustii. ShockOne has long been a George playlist favourite, with his latest track 'Heart on Fire' with Pauline Herr getting plenty of spins and 2020's 'Follow Me' still making an impact three years after its much-anticipated release. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe CIA, Western agencies snooping via Apple devices, warns Russian official Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 July 2023 6:12 PM The speaker of the upper chamber of Russian parliament, Valentina Matvienko, has suggested that officials should never use Apple devices at work due to the threat of surveillance by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other Western spy networks. Matvienko said during a session on Tuesday that the devices were a risk in terms of national and personal security. "It's clear why people are ditching iPhones. At the very least, they certainly cannot be used for work purposes, because our non-partners [Western nations] are snooping after the entire world," she said Matvienko noted that she and other Russian senators were not banned from bringing Apple devices into parliament because "it would not matter, since we mostly conduct public hearings." "But when we hold sessions behind closed doors, where a certain level of secrecy is required, no phones at all are allowed, not just iPhones," she added. Some Russian agencies have previously expressed concern about Apple's popularity and the potential for the firm to give backdoor access to its devices to the US intelligence community. Last month, the security service FSB accused the CIA of infecting thousands of iPhones with malware to spy on users. The targets included Russian and foreign diplomats, it said. The agency claimed that Apple was "providing the American intelligence services with a wide range of opportunities to survey any persons of interest to the White House." Several thousand phones made by Apple were infected with the malware, according to the FSB. The FSB said that in addition to impacting domestic users, the malware also targeted foreign numbers and wireless subscribers who use SIM cards registered with diplomatic missions and embassies in Russia. The discovery is more proof of the close cooperation between Apple and the US intelligence community, the FSB said, adding that "the declared policy of ensuring the privacy of personal data of Apple users has nothing to do with reality." The FSB also accused Apple of "providing the American intelligence services with a wide range of opportunities to survey any persons of interest to the White House, including their partners in anti-Russian activities, as well as their own citizens." According to multiple media reports, a number of firms around the world offer clients services in breaching iPhone defenses to extract information or conduct surveillance. In some cases, most notably with the Israeli spy kit Pegasus, developers were accused of exposing people's phones to some leaders who would then go after their political opponents, foreign officials, and journalists. Smartphones infected with Pegasus can be turned into a listening device. In addition, the spyware allows the user to read the target's messages, access their photos, track their location, and even turn on their camera without their knowledge. In recent months, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) launched a campaign on social media platforms to recruit Russian nationals disaffected by the military operation in Ukraine as spies and agents. The Washington Post earlier reported that the CIA was attempting to recruit employees of the Russian embassy in Washington by means of sending social media ads to smartphones. In November last year, a report by the Wall Street Journal revealed that the US spy agency has been seeking to recruit Russian nationals frustrated with the course of war in Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President chaired the State Defense Council meeting President of the Republic of Lithuania July 24, 2023 On Monday, President Gitanas Nauseda chaired a meeting of the State Defense Council to discuss the integration of Lithuania's power grid into the Continental European network, the national armed defense concept, long-term support for Ukraine, and issues related to the structure and development of the Lithuanian defense system required for establishing a division. The Minister of Energy, Dainius Kreivys, and the CEO of Litgrid, Rokas Masiulis, outlined Lithuania's preparations to synchronize its electricity system with Continental Europe. The State Defense Council instructed the Government to reach a written agreement with the Governments of Latvia and Estonia on joint withdrawal of the three Baltic States from the Russian-controlled BRELL contract, with the final date for synchronization set for February 2025. The State Defense Council approved a long-term support plan for Ukraine presented by the Minister of National Defense, Arvydas Anusauskas, which includes not only supplying weapons that Lithuania possesses but also delivering newly procured weaponry and providing training and rehabilitation for Ukrainian troops. Changes to the national armed defense concept were approved in line with the new generation of regional defense plans agreed at the Vilnius NATO Summit, where collective rather than individual defense is projected from the early stages of a possible crisis. The State Defense Council also discussed the need for military training grounds, stating that Lithuania needs an additional military training area for maneuvers by a brigade-size military unit. The President's Communication Group NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout: General Kurilla Visits Pakistan Armed Forces U.S. Central Command USCENTCOM July 25, 2023 Release Number 20230725-01 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TAMPA, Fla. -- From July 23-25, General Michael 'Erik' Kurilla, USCENTCOM commander visited Pakistan to meet with senior military leaders, gain a better understanding of the security situation, and strengthen the military-to-military relationship between USCENTCOM and the Pakistan Armed Forces. On July 23rd, in small group meetings at the Army House in Rawalpindi, General Kurilla met with General Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan's Chief of the Army Staff, and other senior military leaders. Discussions focused on strengthening the military-to-military relations between the Pakistani Armed Forces and USCENTCOM with particular focus on counter terrorism, military trauma combat casualty care, security cooperation, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance opportunities. On July 24th, General Kurilla traveled to Pakistan's National Counter Terrorism Center to meet with the Major General Asad Nawaz Khan, the Pakistani Director General of Military Training, Brigadier Suleman Khalid, the Commandant of the National Counter Terrorism Center, and to visit the Pakistani Army Sniper School. Discussion focused on combined Pakistan and USCENTCOM counter terrorism training opportunities, and the training management process of the Pakistani Army. The visit included a live fire assault demonstration and sniper range and weapon overview. "Every time I visit the Pakistan military I am impressed with the professionalism, commitment, and competence of everyone I meet," General Kurilla said. "CENTCOM views the US-Pakistan relationship on its own merits, and I am committed to strengthening this important partnership that dates back over 75 years." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USARCENT's 1st TSC Demonstrates Autonomous Vehicles in Kuwait U.S. Central Command July 25, 2023 By Capt. Richard Moore U.S. Army Central CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT -- The 1st Theater Sustainment Command, a subordinate command of U.S. Army Central, demonstrated three autonomous vehicles at the Udairi Range Complex near Camp Buehring, Kuwait, on 25 July, 2023. This is the first time these ground-breaking systems were publicly displayed in the U.S. Central Command region. The vehicles, three Palletized Loading Systems or "PLS", are intended to decrease risk during combat operations by reducing the manpower required by traditional, non-autonomous systems. PLSs are ten wheeled logistics vehicles first introduced in the early 1990s. They are designed to transport palletized loads or containers in support of both combat and non-combat operations. USARCENT is testing the new autonomous operating systems installed on these PLSs over the coming months in various locations in the CENTCOM region. During the demonstration, the autonomous vehicles navigated a short off-road course without Soldiers giving driver inputs to the trailing vehicles. "Based on our experience, these autonomous vehicles allow a smaller number of Soldiers to accomplish larger missions," said Brig. Gen. Maria A. Juarez, 1st TSC Deputy Commanding General. "We gained insights during these tests into possible future technologies that remove Soldiers from harm's way while enhancing distribution capabilities." Task Force 39, the USARCENT organization focused on innovation and modernization, organized the testing facilitated by sustainment personnel from the 1st TSC's 371st Sustainment Brigade. The vehicles arrived in Kuwait in early July and will be incorporated into various exercises over the next several months. The unique environment of northern Kuwait provided an opportunity to test the vehicles in an incredibly difficult climate. "Our units and Soldiers train and perform their assigned missions in challenging terrain and environments, from moving equipment from ports across the CENTCOM area of operations to tactical movement in a field setting," said Lt. Gen. Patrick Frank, the USARCENT Commanding General. "The driver's training we are conducting with the autonomous vehicle PLS trucks presents our Soldiers with the ability to be on the cutting edge of innovation and apply industry leading technology to the battlefield. The U.S. Army and CENTCOM are driving this approach to innovation and modernization." Previously tested on a smaller scale in the United States, USARCENT is incorporating these autonomous vehicles into sustainment units in Kuwait to provide a greater quantity of real-world data. "USARCENT and CENTCOM are leading the way in innovation for the Department of Defense," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ricky Horne, USARCENT's senior ordnance ground maintenance officer who helped organize the testing. "We are excited to test ground-breaking technologies, like autonomous vehicles, within our organization to generate the most realistic tests results possible." United States Army Central is the U.S. Army Service Component Command for United States Central Command and is responsible to the Secretary of the Army for the support and administration of more than 12,000 Soldiers, including those assigned to joint task forces and embassies, across the 21 countries in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Cernochova: Czech Republic and Germany share perception of current major threats Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic 25.7.2023 Author: by Jiri Taborsky, Press Section Federal Minister of Defence of Germany Boris Pistorius was at a two-day visit to the Czech Republic. He and Minister of Defence Jana Cernochova visited the National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror in Prague and later at the Ministry of Defence, they discussed present and future defence cooperation. The visit of the Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany is another landmark in Czech-German relations as Boris Pistorius is the first German Minister of Defence who visited the crypt of the Saints Cyril and Methodius Cathedral, the place where Czech paratroopers were resisting siege during World War II. Besides the crypt, the Minister visited the cathedral and laid flowers by the Memorial to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror. Both countries are closely interconnected not only economically and culturally but also in the field of defence. Germany is a strategic partner of the Czech Republic. The Strategic Dialogue between the Czech Republic and Germany initiated in 2015 also testifies to their close relations. "The Czech Republic is not only one of our most important neighbour states in Europe. We share a state border that is 814 kilometres long. This border is primarily a unifying element. At the same time, it offers many opportunities for strategic-political and defence cooperation in order to prevent the worst case scenario. That is the reason why this long border is so important for cooperation, both on the military level and in terms of armament. We have common exercises and procurements, like in the case of the 77 Leopard tanks," Minister Pistorius stated. Regular meetings of the working group on Security and Defence take place at the level of Defence Ministries. Ministers agreed on upgrading the representation of the meetings to the deputy minister level. Over the past months, in connection with the conflict in Ukraine, cooperation between the two states has intensified. Czech and German servicemembers are deployed together in Multinational Battlegroups in Lithuania and Slovakia. Germany is planning to strengthen its presence in the eastern flank of NATO even further. In June, Minister Pistorius announced that Germany will be permanently deploying a brigade equivalent force of 4,000 troops in Lithuania. "Germany represented NATO's eastern flank until the end of the Warsaw Pact. We could always rely on our NATO partners in defence of our security and freedom. Therefore we understand well the importance of having allies and protecting the new eastern flank," Pistorius said. Minister Cernochova and her German counterpart agreed to continue to strengthen cooperation, with emphasis on common activities on the eastern border of the Alliance and common training of armed forces. They also shared experience regarding the recruitment of new service personnel. Czech Republic and Germany are stepping up support for Ukraine According to Minister Cernochova, the meeting confirmed that both Ministers share their views on the worst threats of today. "Our countries are and will be supporting war-torn Ukraine so that the country regains its losses and expulse Russian aggressors from its territory," the Minister added. She also appreciated Germany's broadening support for Kyiv. They agreed on supporting the attacked country for as long as it takes. Germany sent to Ukraine, besides other equipment, howitzers, multiple rocket launchers, Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and the Patriot missile system. Prior to the recent NATO Summit in Vilnius, German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz promised another package of military support of 2.7 billion euros, which also includes 30 Leopard 2A5 battle tanks. Consequently, further support amounting to 700 million Euros was announced at the summit, including two more Patriot systems and 25 Leopard 1A5 tanks. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, the Czech Republic ranks among significant donors and suppliers of military aid. In the last six months alone, 24 tanks, 17 infantry fighting vehicles, and 645 antitank guided missiles were sent to Ukraine. Last year, the MoD provided 38 tanks, 55 infantry fighting vehicles, 4 aircraft, and 13 self-propelled cannon howitzers. Although both representatives concurred that the main focus should be on Ukraine, they also discussed the situation in Sahel in Africa. "The Sahel is a territory where Czechs and Germans stand shoulder-to-shoulder. We both believe it would be a mistake to retreat and turn a blind eye to the situation there," Minister Cernochova said. She added that there are new possibilities for cooperation in the Sahel. Leopard tanks In addition to the 15 Leopard 2A4 tanks which will be taken over by the Czech Armed Forces by the end of the year, the Czech Government authorised the Minister of Defence to negotiate potential procurement of the Leopard 2A8 tanks. Germany has already agreed that the Czech Republic join the German Framework Agreement for the acquisition of the Leopard 2A8 tanks. The Czech Republic is considering purchasing up to 77 Leopard 2A8 tanks. The price will depend on the number of countries joining the agreement. According to the German Minister, it is "a very crucial and positive step". "We are really pleased, because, in case of need, this increases mutual defence capability. The Czech Republic has been for a long time our most important security and defence partner in central Europe," Boris Pistorius said at the joint press conference at the Czech Ministry of Defence. Germany plans to replace the Leopard 2A6 tanks with the more recent version 2A8 and the Czech Republic could join the project. German Ministry of Defence intends to be the so-called central contracting authority that would arrange communication with the manufacturer, KMW, for all participating states. According to Berlin, this should streamline the whole process. Another advantage is a unified configuration which will allow serial production and, consequently, lower prices. Tanks will only differ in communication equipment, paint, and national markings. "The main goal of the project is to make our heavy brigade fully interoperable in compliance with the NATO standards," Minister Cernochova stated. In her opinion, the contract could be signed in the first half of 2024 and the first tanks could be delivered in 2027. As with other contracts, the Czech Republic strives for maximum involvement of the national industry. "The involvement of the Czech defence industry is essential for us and it will influence the decision of the government as for our participation in this cooperative project," Minister Cernochova added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address July 25, 2023 Transcript Sabrina Singh, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary, Holds A Press Briefing Sabrina Singh, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY SABRINA SINGH: Hey, good afternoon, everyone. Can you hear me okay? (UNKNOWN): Yup. MS. SINGH: Great. All right, well again, good afternoon. Thanks for joining us today. This is Sabrina Singh, deputy press secretary. I have a few items to pass along at the top, and then we'll be happy to get into your questions. This morning, Secretary Austin just took off for his eighth visit to the Indo-Pacific region where he'll visit Papua New Guinea and Australia. Secretary Austin's visit to Papua New Guinea marks the first visit by a secretary of defense to the country. Following this visit, he will then travel to Australia and join Secretary Blinken to meet with their counterparts for the 33rd annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations, and then will meet with U.S. and Australian service members participating in the largest military exercise between the United States and Australia, Talisman Sabre. Also today, the department announced its 43rd drawdown of equipment from DOD inventory for Ukraine since August, 2021. Today's $400 million commitment in security assistance includes additional air defense munitions, artillery and other ammunition -- other ammunition, armored vehicles, anti-armor weapons and other equipment to help Ukraine counter Russia's ongoing war of aggression. Also today, the White House announced the nomination of Derek Chollet as the department's Under Secretary for Policy. Mr. Chollet brings extensive experience from his time at the White House, his time at the Department of Defense and most recently, as the counselor of the Department of State. The Under Secretary for Policy is the key policy advisor to the secretary and provides vital strategic guidance in support of U.S. national security interests worldwide. And last week, President Biden announced his intent to nominate four military leaders to key roles, including Admiral Lisa Franchetti to Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Samuel Paparo to be commander of the Indo-Pacific Command, Vice Admiral James Kilby to VCNO and Vice Admiral Stephen Koehler to be commander of Pacific Fleet. These military and civilian leaders are currently held up in the United States Senate by Senator Tuberville and as this list of nominees grows, we're continuing to see the impacts on our readiness and national security. And finally, tomorrow, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of President Harry Truman signing of Executive Order 9980 and 9981, which desegregated the federal government and Armed Forces. The event will be held tomorrow at 10:00 A.M. in the Pentagon courtyard. Speakers will include Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks and other senior Pentagon leaders. Press with access to the Pentagon are, of course, invited to attend the event, but the event will also be livestreamed on defense.gov. And with that, I'd be happy to turn to your questions. We will first go to Lita, A.P. Q: Thanks, Sabrina. A question on the overflight of Syria, Russian aggression that just happened again. Can you talk to us a little bit about what the Pentagon thinks is the reason for the increased Russian activity, particularly since it seems to be getting a bit more dangerous with the manned aircraft last week, and now, with the flare that struck the drone today. Is there a sense that this -- what this is related to, why this is happening? MS. SINGH: Thanks, Lita, for the question. You know, I can't speak for the Russians and why they're continuing to engage in this unsafe, unprofessional behavior, but we are seeing, I would say, an increase in that. Just on the 23rd we -- as you mentioned, we had a Russian fighter aircraft fly very dangerously close to one of our MQ-9 drones that was on a Defeat ISIS mission. You know, it's just yet again another blatant disregard of how to operate and flies in the face of operating safely and professionally, and continues to distract from our mission there, which is to defeat ISIS. And I think we've said this before, but the Russians know where we operate. There's no excuse for how their forces continue to harass our MQ-9s after years of U.S. operations in the area. And so again, we call on the Russians to conduct their ways in accordance with international law. Okay, Howard Altman, War Zone? Q: Yeah, so hey, thanks, Sabrina. I just want to go back to a question I'd asked last week and kind of update it. Ukraine says that the Russians are advancing towards the Oskil River near Kupiansk, which is territory they liberated back in September. How concerned is the Pentagon that the Russians can mount a serious offensive of their own in that region? And how could that affect Ukraine's counteroffensive? Thanks. MS. SINGH: Thanks, Howard, for the question. You know, I would let Ukrainians speak to their operations and how they're conducting their operations on the ground. The Ukrainians have been making slow, but steady progress along the east and in the south. But in terms of their operations and where Russians are positioning their forces, I'd let the Ukrainians speak to how they plan to respond and how they plan to (inaudible) counteroffensive. Q: But what's the Pentagon's sense of how Russia can mount its own offensive in that region? MS. SINGH: Again, I -- I think I answered that one, Howard. Again, I'd let the Ukrainians really speak for themselves and how they are conducting their operations on the battlefield. Our focus is, again, on providing Ukraine with the security assistance that they continue to need in their counteroffensive, and also in the long term. You heard me announce at the top of this call that this is the 43rd presidential drawdown of equipment. They're receiving more artillery, more air defense, and that's what we're really focused on. So I'll go ahead and leave it at that. Okay, next up, Phil Stewart. Q: Hi. Could you -- we saw the readout from the call between Secretary Austin and his Israeli counterpart. Could you give us a sense whether the Secretary is concerned about military readiness in Israel as a result of the unrest and protests there? And could you elaborate a little bit about his message to his counterpart about acting against settler violence against Palestinians? Thank you. MS. SINGH: Thanks, Phil. So in terms of our readiness or any force posture changes, nothing has changed on our end. We still view Israel as a partner in the region. So nothing has changed in terms of our presence and how we conduct operations or exercises with Israel. In terms of what else was said on the call, I'd let the readout speak to itself. I know that is probably not a satisfying answer for you but I would just let the readout speak for itself and if you haven't gotten it, it should be on our website as well. Q: Thanks -- MS. SINGH: -- I'm sorry, did you have another question? Q: No, I was just more interested in -- in the Secretary's view on Israeli military readiness. Does he believe that, you know, protests by, you know, Israeli reservists and things -- you know, are undermining their own military readiness and this controversy there could undermine Israeli military readiness, not U.S. readiness? MS. SINGH: I'm sorry. Q: Thank you. MS. SINGH: Yeah, sorry if I misunderstood that. You know, I'd let the Israelis speak to their own military readiness. I can only comment on our own and our partnership with Israel, and nothing has changed. You know, we remain a committed partner to the region and ensuring stability, and so I'd leave it at that. Okay, next up, we'll go to Will Dunlop, AFP. Q: Hi, Sabrina. Two questions. First, just following on from Lita's question, do these unsafe incidents over Syria have the potential to kind of spiral out of control into conflict between the U.S. and Russia? And I'm just trying to get a sense of how dangerous are they? And then second, there was a report from Germany today that the country only has 20,000 155 millimeter rounds in its inventory. Is this a source of concern for the United States, that those numbers would be that low? Thank you. MS. SINGH: Thanks, Will. On your first question, I mean, again, we are seeing increased incidents or increased activity with Russian aircraft and our own military aircraft but, you know, what I would say is we do not seek escalation, we do not seek war with Russia, but there's no excuse for Russian forces' continual harassment of our MQ-9s, especially after years of operating within the region and after years of also being very clear on what our goals are, which is the enduring defeat of ISIS. So we will continue to urge Russian forces in Syria to cease their reckless behavior and adhere to standards of behavior that are expected of a professional Air Force, so that we can resume our focus on the enduring defeat of ISIS. And on your -- I'm sorry, your second question was on Germany and an announcement that they made? Could you repeat that question? Q: So actually, there was a report out of Germany that -- from Der Spiegel that the country's artillery shell inventory was down to 20,000 155 millimeter rounds. Is that -- is that a source of concern for the United States? MS. SINGH: Well, you know, I -- I'm not going to speak for what Germany has on stocks and -- or on their shelves. What I can say is we've seen an incredible commitment from Germany, from the United States, from other allies and partners in the region on making sure that we are flowing aid and security assistance to Ukraine at an incredibly rapid pace. We know that that has certainly stressed our defense industrial base but we are confident in terms of what we have. And the Secretary has -- is comfortable with the 155 ammunition and readiness for both U.S. training and for any future contingencies, and we continue to work with the defense industrial base to ramp up production but also work with our allies and partners in the defense industrial base to help increase our stockpiles. Great. I will go next to Caitlin Kenny. Q: Hi, thank you. Kind of a similar question -- on the military aid drawdowns, have any of the military services recently raised concerns to OSD that they would soon not be able to provide more munitions or equipment because their stockpiles were getting low to the point that it was getting to the reserves for training and conflict contingencies? Thanks. MS. SINGH: Thanks, Caitlin. Every package that is put together is done so at the table with all of our services involved. We have meetings where our services can weigh in on what they have available on their shelves, and then of course the Secretary and the Chairman have conversations with the President, with the White House on what we feel comfortable in getting to Ukraine. We are always going to maintain a level of our readiness while also being able to support Ukraine, but the services absolutely have a voice at the table and weigh in when it comes to packages, weigh in on what capabilities can be flowed to Ukraine, and continue to -- we continue to assist Ukraine with what it has. And, you know, one of the things that the President continues to say and the Secretary continues to say is that we are with Ukraine for the long haul. And so we are going to continue to assess -- continue to assess what we can flow to them without dropping below our own readiness levels. Q: Great. I'm asking, in those conversations, is it coming to the point now where the military services are saying "hey, we can't give any more spare parts of X, Y, or Z or certain munitions" kind of in, like, the next couple of drawdowns that you might be planning? MS. SINGH: Well, Caitlin, I'm not going to get into private conversations that happen at the table here at DOD but what I can say is every service is represented at that table and weighs in with their concerns and considerations, and that goes directly to the Secretary and the Chairman and they make those decisions along with the services on what they can -- what they can take off their shelves and what they can get to Ukraine or, in consideration for future security packages, like long term packages, such as USAIs, that we just rolled out one last week, and I'll leave it at that. All right. Turning to Lara Seligman, Politico. Q: Hi, Sabrina. Thanks for doing this. Two questions. One, do you have an update on Private Travis King? Can you give us an update on whether you've heard back from the North Koreans about his status? And then two, separately, I'd like to ask just about the F-16 training for Ukrainians. Do you have any timeline on when that training will begin and also when the aircraft are slated -- you expect they will arrive in the country? MS. SINGH: Hey, Lara, thanks so much for the questions. So -- I'm going to take your last question first. On the F-16 training, as you know, Denmark and the Netherlands have announced this -- their coalition, that they would begin training Ukrainian pilots. They're hoping that it will start this summer and will likely take place in Europe. But beyond that, I just don't have much of an update in terms of timing. And I know you're probably already tracking this, but just in case, the United Kingdom did say that it would deliver basic flying and language training, which will begin within a few weeks. But in terms of any aircraft delivery or any additional timelines, I just don't have anything for you today. In terms of Private King, unfortunately we have not heard anything back from the DPRK on how he's doing, on his well-being, on where he is. We -- our priority is to bring him home. We want to bring him home. We are working, through the interagency, to do just that. But, unfortunately, we have had no contact with the DPRK on anything in regards to Private King. Q: Thank you. MS. SINGH: Yeah. Janne? Janne, are you there? Q: Can you hear me? MS. SINGH: Yep. Q: Yeah. Thank you, Sabrina. I have two questions. North Korea invited the Chinese Communist Party delegation and the Russian defense minister to an event on the 70th anniversary of the Armistice Agreement on the 27th. Do you see the gathering of North Korea, China and Russia as something to be concerned about? And I follow up with second question. MS. SINGH: Okay. In terms of the gathering that you're referring to, again, the DPRK is of course entitled to invite whoever they want to, to their country. We remain concerned about their continued violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions. But that's one of the reasons why you know our alliance with the Republic of Korea is so strong. But I would, you know, let DPRK speak to their intentions more about that meeting. And I'm sorry. You had another question? Q: Yes. On the -- Private King, it's a tradition, the deputy commander of(the UNC started talking with North Korea through the JSA (inaudible) phones. Is there any possibility that dialogue will progress to negotiations soon? MS. SINGH: Well, thanks, Janne. As I mentioned to Lara, there has been no progress in terms of any negotiation or any type of communication with North Korea. Our priority, as I know you've heard me say, but I'll say it again, remains to bring Private King home. But we have not had any contact or outreach from North Korea at this time. Q: According to -- we're informed that North Korea say they not responsible for repatriating Private King, who was not abducted and voluntarily chose North Korea. How will you respond to this? MS. SINGH: Sorry, Janne. I would just -- again, I have nothing more to provide at this time. We remain concerned about Private King and of course continue to try and work through not only our building but through the interagency on engaging with the DPRK but have had no response or no outreach back them at this time. Q: Thank you. MS. SINGH: Okay. I'm going to move on to Chris Gordon. Q: Thanks, Sabrina. Does the Pentagon believe there's any cooperation with Iran and Russia to harass U.S. forces in the CENTCOM region? How deep does Iran and Russia's military partnership go? And then, secondly, could some of the forces headed to CENTCOM due to Iran and to deter Iran be used in Syria to protect U.S. forces there and deter Russia? MS. SINGH: In terms of the coordination, on your question, between Iran and Russia, I don't have anything to speak to in terms of that these are coordinated events with our MQ-9 aircraft and Russian pilots or Russian aircraft. I don't have any indication to -- any indication that says this is a coordinated effort between Russia and Iran. In terms of assets to the region, again, the assets were moved to the CENTCOM AOR, specifically to address what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz and the continued activity that we're seeing by Iranian Navy ships harassing vessels, commercial vessels, other countries' ships and, you know, as we've said before, this pattern of destabilizing behavior is contrary to international law, and it's incredibly disruptive to regional security. That's why we announced the deployment of additional assets to help support maritime security. Now, of course, you know, it at the commander's discretion how, if he feels that these assets need to be moved or need to be used in a different way in a different part of the region, of course that is at the commander's discretion. But the reason these assets were flown, or flowing in, into the region right now, is specifically to address what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz. Q: Okay, thank you. MS. SINGH: Yeah, no problem. Heather, with USNI? Q: Thanks so much. I saw the drawdown came out today, and I wanted to see what conversations are happening between the U.S. and Ukraine about what's going on with the Black Sea and the grain deal, and if the U.S. has any additional comment about whether or not they'll be sending anything to help with keeping grain flowing from Ukraine? MS. SINGH: Thanks, Heather, for the question. I'm glad you brought that up. At the -- again, at this time, we continue to urge Russia to return to the grain deal. By withdrawing from the deal, Russia's putting an incredible -- I mean, millions of people at risk of going food-insecure and increasing food hunger. And we've already seen the ramifications of Russia withdrawing from the grain deal, with prices spiking. And so we have urged Russia to return to the grain deal. But there is not a plan in place to have U.S. assets move into the Black Sea. Again, Vladimir Putin continues to choose to engage in an unjust, unprovoked war in Ukraine and is going to put millions of lives at risk by withdrawing from this grain deal. And we're talking about, you know, many of the countries in the global south that already are food-insecure. So we're going to continue to urge Russia to return to the grain deal. And, you know, again, as I mentioned today, our focus is on making sure Ukraine has what it needs on the battlefield. So as you saw, we rolled out our 43rd presidential drawdown package, and that's what we're going to continue to focus on. Q: Has Ukraine asked for any assets for the Black Sea? MS. SINGH: Again, we're in consultation with Ukraine on any type of security assistance package that we put together. So every package is done in coordination with Ukraine, but I'm not going to get into more specific conversations on that. Tony, Bloomberg? Tony, are you there? Okay. Last question we have is from Konstantin, Military Times. Q: Thanks, Sabrina. MS. SINGH: Yeah. Q: On Private Travis King, obviously, you know, you're -- it's been a week and you guys have not heard anything. I guess my question would be -- does the Pentagon have a next step, an escalation if next week we're still in the same place of nothing heard? MS. SINGH: Thanks, Konstantin. Look, I'm not going to get ahead of anything -- any hypotheticals or anything that we haven't announced. We continue to pull all levers of government in our diplomatic channels to try and engage with North Korea. You've heard from my NSC colleagues that there's been contact through Sweden. We continue to engage through UN Command to, you know, see -- to further engage to see if the DPRK will respond to our ongoing outreach, but unfortunately, we just have not heard back anything at this time. Q: Got you. And just a quick follow-up -- are you able to offer any more detail on the timeline or the sense of events that led to Private King sort of leaving the airport and ending up at the DMZ in the first place? MS. SINGH: So that's -- those are great questions. I would refer you to Army for more information. As I mentioned, I think last week, Army counter-intelligence is conducting an investigation, in partnership with USFK. So I would direct you to them for more information on the timeline of events. Q: Got it. Thank you. MS. SINGH: Great. All right, thanks, everyone. Really appreciate the time today, and have a happy Tuesday. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3470613/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address July 25, 2023 By C. Todd Lopez , DOD News Austin First Defense Secretary to Visit Papua New Guinea This morning, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III departed Washington on a multiday trip to the Indo-Pacific region. The first stop is in Papua New Guinea. He'll be the first U.S. defense secretary to visit the island nation, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said during a press briefing today. Following his visit there, Austin will travel farther south to Australia. "He will ... join [Secretary of State Antony Blinken] to meet with their counterparts for the 33rd annual Australia/United States ministerial consultations," Singh said. "Then he'll meet with U.S. and Australian service members participating in the largest military exercise between the United States and Australia: Talisman Sabre." According to the Australian defense minister, this year's Talisman Sabre involves 13 nations and more than 30,000 military personnel; it will span about two weeks. Exercise operations will take place in Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, New South Wales and Norfolk Island. U.S. Continues Support for Ukraine Also today, the Defense Department announced the 43rd presidential drawdown of U.S. military equipment that will go to support Ukraine's efforts to defend its sovereignty against the illegal Russian invasion that began in February 2022. The $400 million package includes, among other things, additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems; Stinger antiaircraft systems; additional ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS; 32 Stryker armored personnel carriers; Javelin and other anti armor systems and rockets; and over 28 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades. Since the Russian invasion began, the U.S. has provided more than $43 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. "One of the things that the president continues to say and the secretary continues to say is that we are with Ukraine for the long haul," Singh said of the latest security assistance package. "We are going to ... continue to assess what we can flow to them without dropping below our own readiness level." Force Desegregation Tomorrow, Singh said, DOD will also commemorate the 75th anniversary of the desegregation of the U.S. armed forces. On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981, directing equal treatment and opportunity for all members of the U.S. armed forces without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. As part of the commemoration, Singh said, the department will host an event in the Pentagon courtyard that which features Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks and other DOD leaders as speakers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Norway: second Norwegian financial contribution to the European Peace Facility European Council / Council of the European Union Council of the EU Press release 25 July 2023 The EU and the Kingdom of Norway signed today a transfer agreement for a voluntary financial contribution of Norway to the assistance measure under the European Peace Facility (EPF) for supplying military equipment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Responding to Ukrainian needs, Norway dedicated the amount specifically to deliveries of ammunition and spare parts for Leopard II tanks. The EU and Norway's combined efforts in providing military assistance to Ukraine is a model example of how synergies can have a multiplying effect on our support to Ukraine as they are fighting against the Russian aggression. Together with our partners, we will continue to assist Ukraine in every way we can, for as long as it takes. It is also yet another confirmation of the close EU - Norway cooperation on security and defence matters. - Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy On 14 February, the Norwegian government announced its decision to support the assistance measure for Ukraine through the European Peace Facility with a voluntary financial contribution of NOK 250 million (approximately 22 million). Today's signature formalises this decision and ensures that the agreement can enter into force and Norway can effectively contribute to the supply of military equipment for Ukraine. This is the second time that Norway makes a financial contribution to the European Peace Facility, thereby effectively increasing its total contribution to NOK 400 million (approximately 36.5 million). It is a confirmation of Norway's close cooperation with the EU on security and defence matters and its firm support for Ukraine in defending its freedom and sovereignty. Background On 31 October 2022, the Norwegian government announced its decision to support EUMAM Ukraine with a voluntary financial contribution of NOK 150 million (approximately 14.5 million) to the European Peace Facility. It was the first time ever that a third country made a financial contribution to the EPF. The European Peace Facility was established in March 2021 to finance all Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) actions in the areas of military and defence, with the aim of preventing conflict, preserving peace and strengthening international security and stability. In particular, the European Peace Facility allows the EU to finance actions designed to strengthen the capabilities and capacities of non-EU countries and regional and international organisations relating to military and defence matters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran welcomes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks: FM Amirabdollahian IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 25, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian voiced the Islamic Republic of Iran's support for the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Amirabdollahian made the remarks in a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirsoyan in Tehran on Monday. "The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes and evaluates as positive the peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the recent progress in the negotiation process," the Iranian foreign minister said during the meeting. During the meeting, the two foreign ministers discussed the current developments in the South Caucasus region, including the peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and ways to expand bilateral relations. Referring to the last year visit of the Prime Minister of Armenia to Tehran and the important agreements reached during his meeting with Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, Amirabdollahian said that one of the goals of today's meeting was to follow up on the agreements reached by the two countries. He emphasized the acceleration of the implementation of the agreed projects in various fields of trade, energy, transportation and consular affairs. Referring to the important position of the Caucasus in the neighborhood policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iran's constant support for strengthening convergence and cooperation between the countries of the region, Amirabdollahian emphasized that Iran welcomes the peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the recent progress in the negotiation process and evaluates it positively. Pointing to the necessity of the root resolution of disputes in order to achieve sustainable peace in the region, Amirabdollahian considered the most effective way to achieve comprehensive peace through regional dialogues and mechanisms, including the 3+3 mechanism, and emphasized that the transformation of the Caucasus region into a field of conflict and competition between powers makes the path to peace more difficult. Mirzoyan also stressed the importance of the relations with Iran, and referred to the agreements reached by the leaders of the two countries last year in Tehran and emphasized the need for the implementation of these agreements as soon as possible, especially the activation of the Persian Gulf-Black Sea corridor and the implementation of agreements in the field of energy exchange between the two countries. Referring to the peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the importance of establishing peace and stability in the region, he described the cooperation between the two countries of Iran and Armenia in this field as constructive and beneficial to the region. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cambodian authorities investigating voters who spoiled their ballot Police say they're targeting 44 people believed to have incited people to vandalize ballots in protest. By RFA Khmer 2023.07.25 -- Police in Cambodia were moving forward with investigations into opposition activists who destroyed their ballots to protest the exclusion of the Candlelight Party from Sunday's parliamentary election. Authorities in Banteay Meanchey province near the Thai border sent local Candlelight Party official Chao Veasna to provincial prison for pre-trial detention on Tuesday after he posted a photo of his spoiled ballot on social media, according to his daughter. Six other people were detained by authorities on Sunday in similar cases, questioned and released. Police have threatened to take legal action against anyone who continues to post messages on the spoiled ballots. Authorities told Radio Free Asia that they were targeting 44 people who allegedly incited people to vandalize the ballots under exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy's order. Prime Minister Hun Sen posted a voice message on Sunday demanding that opposition activists who posted photos of spoiled ballots publicly apologize. "We recognize all of the faces of those who are in the country," he said. "But I ask that you don't need to be afraid. You can come forward to confess to the authorities and to the National Election Committee. Otherwise, legal action will be taken against you." Photos of dozens of spoiled ballots were posted on Sam Rainsy's Facebook page on Sunday. Candlelight Party activist Phorn Phanna, who lives in Thailand, told RFA that posting photos of ballots is a citizen's right. The protests show that people are unsatisfied with Hun Sen's election, he said. "I have made no mistake. I just used my right as a citizen to express my discontent over the fake election," he said. "I have the right to appeal to people to spoil the ballots to make the Hun Sen regime badly embarrassed." 'The expression of the people' Sok Ey San, the spokesman for the ruling Cambodian People's Party, estimated that the number of spoiled ballots across the country was between 200,000 and 300,000. Exiled opposition leader Mu Sochua told RFA on Tuesday that the number could be more than 400,000. Mu Sochua is the vice president of the banned Cambodia National Rescue Party, which had been the country's main opposition party until late 2017 when the Supreme Court dissolved it after it made substantial gains in local communal elections. There were reports of spoiled ballots by CNRP supporters in the last parliamentary election in 2018. The Candlelight Party, which includes many of the same supporters as the CNRP, was disqualified from this year's election in May by the NEC, which cited inadequate paperwork. "The CNRP thanks the people who went to the polls and spoiled the ballots, and in some locations wrote out their messages," Mu Sochua said. "This is the will - this is the expression of the people who are the voters." A Siem Reap resident told RFA on condition of anonymity that she was forced to go to polls by local authorities. She said she wrote on her ballot to express her pain as a Cambodian citizen - not because of anything Sam Rainsy said. "I was like other people who find no party that they love," she said. "So they crossed out the ballot because they trust no other party except the opposition Candlelight Party." Sok Ey San said the 400,000 number cited by Mu Sochua probably includes some ballots that didn't come from opposition protesters. "A number of invalid ballots were incorrectly ticked or marked by senior people, or by poor eye-sight people, or by some uneducated people," he said. Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Edited by Matt Reed. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks at talks with Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov, Moscow, July 25, 2023 25 July 2023 16:37 1493-25-07-2023 Esteemed Mr Bayramov, my friends. I am delighted to see you in Moscow again. We often talk in our capitals and other places when attending multilateral events. We would like to use this meeting to resolve one of the most important problems in our region - achieving long-term stabilisation in the South Caucasus. We are convinced that the shortest road to this is the implementation of the provisions of the trilateral statements by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. A number of additional documents are being prepared for consideration by our leaders. We would like to focus on the implementation of the top-level agreements on signing a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan. We are ready to facilitate this as much as we can, in part by providing a platform for signing this treaty. However, other issues concerning Nagorno-Karabakh and everything related to it deserve regular attention. I am referring to the humanitarian situation that is now receiving much attention and many comments from the international community. We appreciate that our Azerbaijani friends understand the need to ensure the rights and security of the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. This is one of the central issues. We would like to use this opportunity to discuss bilateral relations and the implementation of top-level decisions made during the regular meetings between our presidents. Russian-Azerbaijani ties are making steady headway. On July 7 of this year, Moscow hosted yet another meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation. We are expanding our trade and have launched joint projects with regional or even global implications, for instance, the North-South international transport corridor. We are both Caspian nations. We will concentrate on supporting and invigorating the cooperation mechanisms on the Caspian Sea, in part, on regional security issues. I am referring to the 3+3 consultative regional platform that has been approved by all participants at the initiative of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks at talks with Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, Moscow, July 25, 2023 25 July 2023 17:36 1494-25-07-2023 Esteemed Mr Mirzoyan, My friends, We are grateful to you for accepting our invitation to come to Moscow for organising another trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia. Before this meeting, we have a good opportunity to have a bilateral conversation and discuss both Russia-Armenia relations and various regional issues. We certainly are paying special attention (as we have been in the past few days) to settling the situation with the Lachin corridor and Nagorno-Karabakh in general. We want to facilitate the resolution of the acute humanitarian problems that have emerged there. The Russian peacekeeping contingent has every opportunity to do this, but it is difficult without the cooperation of the parties. We are ready to promote the implementation of the entire package of trilateral agreements between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia and the Prime Minister of Armenia, which were achieved in the past few years. We consider it important to move ahead on all tracks of Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation, including the unblocking of transport and economic connections, resolving delimitation issues and developing dialogue between public organisations and experts. We are ready to do all we can for this purpose. We are hoping to especially emphasise the Baku-Yerevan draft peace treaty. We have a number of considerations that, we hope, will be of some use. We will discuss the bilateral agenda, as well as the CSTO, the CIS, and the EAEU. We have many interesting joint economic and cultural projects. Our trade continues growing. We have started holding Russian Culture Days in Armenia every year. This event was again held in June of this year. This is an important contribution to our joint efforts to strengthen our allied relations and a common humanitarian and language space in the interests of our people. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Wagner group has not and cannot deliver long-term security in West Africa: UK statement at the Security Council Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on West Africa and the Sahel. 25 July 2023 Let me start by congratulating SRSG Simao on his appointment and thank him and ECOWAS Commission President Touray for their briefing. I will make three points focusing on democracy, security and humanitarian issues. First, while welcoming the democratic progress in parts of the region, the United Kingdom is concerned by democratic uncertainty and shrinkage of civic space in some countries. Progress towards the restoration of constitutional governments in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea has been too slow. We need to redouble our collective efforts to hold transitional administrations to account on election timetables. We urge UNOWAS to continue supporting countries to conduct free and fair elections and note with concern the recent election discrepancies in Sierra Leone. Second, we remain concerned about the Sahel region's deteriorating security situation and instability, including the risk of its spreading to the coastal states. We look forward to the SG's forthcoming transition plan for MINUSMA, including how UNOWAS can support Mali's transition and peace agreement. The United Kingdom remains committed to protecting civilian rights. That is why we are concerned by the damage being done by the Russian mercenary group Wagner across the region. Their track record proves Wagner has not and cannot deliver long-term security. From Mali to Ukraine, and even Russia, all Wagner offers is chaos and destruction - and it is civilians who suffer most. Now, that President Putin has acknowledged Wagner is funded by the Russian state after years of denial, we call on Russia to hold accountable those responsible for its human rights abuses, rapes and killings. We welcome increased regional security coordination, including the Accra Initiative. We encourage efforts that provide coordinated and targeted support, including those that are complementary to wider regional initiatives. The UK is also reinforcing African security through our contributions to multilateral peacekeeping and conflict prevention. And our bilateral security partnerships, including with Ghana and Nigeria and bilateral humanitarian and development funding. Third, the humanitarian situation in the Sahel remains dire, including pockets of famine in Burkina Faso. It is essential humanitarian actors are allowed safe and unimpeded access. And as we've heard today, the humanitarian and security challenges are exacerbated by climate change. In closing, we look forward to continuing working in partnership with UNOWAS and ECOWAS to help address these complex regional challenges and build regional peace and security. We join those members in calling for adoption of a PRST [Presidential Statement] to underpin our support for the mission of UNOWAS. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address KECSG Completes Certification Exercise Alongside NATO Allies US Navy 25 July 2023 From Petty Officer 2nd Class Mo Bourdi ATLANTIC OCEAN -- The Dwight D. Eisenhower (IKE) Carrier Strike Group (CSG) recently certified for deployment after successfully completing a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX). "The IKE Carrier Strike Group exhibited professionalism, teamwork, and determination as they tackled numerous challenges across a wide range of missions to include interoperability with our allies," said Rear Admiral Max "Pepper" McCoy, commander, CSG-4. "It is CSG-4's mission to ensure our naval forces are ready to sail, fight, and win, and the IKE Carrier Strike Group is ready." The 24-day COMPTUEX led by CSG Four (CSG-4) assessed IKE CSG's ability to respond as an integrated, cohesive team through a series of increasingly challenging scenarios. Equally as important, the CSG-4 team provided training and mentorship to increase warfighting capability and capacity. "This team has proven itself resilient, prepared to execute, and capable of carrying out its missions across all warfare areas in short order," said Rear Adm. Marc Miguez, commander, CSG-2. "Each unit and its crew in the strike group has been laying the groundwork for months in preparation for this, and it's clear - this team is combat-ready." The Italian Navy Carlo Bergamini-class frigate ITS Virginio Fasan (F 591) completed COMPTUEX with the IKE CSG to exercise NATO alliance integration as U.S. Navy forces have been making a deliberate shift from interoperability to interchangeability. Fasan and her crew previously operated as part of Carrier Strike Group 10, George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group during their deployment the Naval Forces Europe-Naval Forces Africa area of responsibility. "COMPTUEX gave us the opportunity to sharpen our skills through complex exercises with our allies in the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group," said Italian Navy Cmdr. Fabio Casamassima, commanding officer of Fasan. "We were able to exercise leadership of key warfare areas within the IKE strike group, which gave our Sailors opportunities to train, improve and work directly with their American counterparts. By focusing on mission, teamwork, and goal to achieve, we built on an already strong foundation between our navies and countries. This experience represented a valuable opportunity to improve and strengthen the partnership between Italy and the United States." During COMPTUEX, IKE CSG - including Fasan - rehearsed a transfer of authority (TOA) of command and control between U.S. 2nd Fleet and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), NATO's rapidly deployable joint headquarters in Portugal. The strike group used NATO reporting procedures, messaging formats and chat capabilities, reinforcing command and control and aligning communications channels to ensure a seamless process in the event of a crisis. An ongoing series of exercises that include NATO integration support the development of interchangeability of Allied forces, and improve vital, Allied maritime command-and-control linkages. "They threw everything at us including the kitchen sink, and our Warrior Sailors threw it right back at them," said Capt. Christopher Hill, IKE's commanding officer. "I am super proud of this team and for the hard work everyone has put in to make IKE the best damn ship in the Navy." The IKE CSG is an integrated combat weapons system that delivers superior combat capability to deter, and if necessary, defeat America's adversaries in support of national security. Dwight D. Eisenhower is the flagship of CSG-2. CSG-2 is comprised of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW 3), Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22, the Information Warfare Commander, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taliban Enforcing Ban on Afghan Beauty Salons By Ayaz Gul July 25, 2023 Taliban authorities in Afghanistan enforced a nationwide ban on beauty parlors Tuesday after the expiration of a one-month deadline for owners to close the businesses, leaving tens of thousands of women without work in a country grappling with poverty. Since returning to power nearly two years ago, the hardline Taliban have placed sweeping restrictions on the rights of women, barring them from education, public spaces and most forms of employment. Beauty parlors were one of the few remaining employment opportunities for Afghan women, and a rare public place for them to socialize. Many of their workers were said to be the sole source of income for their households. The ban puts out of business roughly 12,000 female-run salons, including 3,000 in the capital of Kabul, employing an estimated 60,000 women, according to an Afghan association of the owners. The Taliban Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Propagation of Virtue had given beauty salons one month to close, saying they were offering services forbidden by Islam. A ministry spokesman in a subsequent statement explained that parlors caused economic hardship for grooms' families when brides are taken to these facilities during wedding ceremonies. He asserted that too much make-up would also prevent women from proper ablutions for prayer, while implanting hair and plucking eyebrows are against Sharia, or Islamic law. The edict outraged owners and beauticians, leading to a couple of rare protest rallies, urging authorities not to deprive them of their only source of earning. Last week, Taliban security forces fired shots into the air and used fire hoses in Kabul to forcefully disperse dozens of women protesting the ban. The United Nations and human rights groups have opposed the restriction on Afghan beauty parlors. The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan in a recent statement called on the Taliban to reverse the edict, warning it would adversely affect the national economy and undermine support for women's entrepreneurship. "The Taliban ban on beauty parlors removes another vital space for women's work at a time when they're struggling to feed their families, eliminates one of the few refuges for women outside the home & further transforms the country into a cruel & extreme outlier in the world," Rina Amiri, the U.S. special envoy for Afghan women, girls and rights, said on Twitter after the Taliban announced they would ban beauty salons. The restrictions on Afghan women's rights to public life have drawn strong international criticism, with the U.N. denouncing the Taliban administration as "gender-apartheid regime." No country has recognized the Taliban government, citing their treatment of women. The fundamentalist de facto leaders justify their policies, saying they are aligned with Afghan culture and Sharia, claims scholars in the rest of Islamic countries dispute and reject. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tension Between Sudan, Kenya's Ruto Impedes IGAD Mediation Effort in Sudan By Michael Atit July 25, 2023 Analysts say a spat between Sudan and Kenya is hurting regional efforts to mediate an end to the war in Sudan. This week a Sudanese general accused Kenyan President William Ruto of favoring the paramilitary forces battling the Sudanese army, after Ruto suggested deploying East African peacekeeping troops to Sudan. Anwar Ibrahim Ahmed, an Ethiopian political analyst who monitors the Horn of Africa region, says a recent uptick in tensions between Sudanese army leaders and the Kenyan government could hinder efforts to restore peace and stability in Sudan. He adds that members of the East African bloc IGAD will have to consider a grievance raised by Sudan over Kenyan President William Ruto. Ruto leads an IGAD sub-committee, called the Quartet Group, tasked with mediating an end to Sudan's 3-month-old war. Sudan's government has repeatedly accused Ruto of having business ties with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Ruto denies the allegations. However, Sudanese leaders have refused to cooperate with the Quartet Group until he is replaced. Ibrahim said IGAD is supposed to have a speedy response to Sudan's rejection of Ruto's role as head of the Quartet Group, and said IGAD should have intervened with a new mechanism in response to the demands of Sudanese military leaders, in order to prevent further tensions. On July 10, the Ruto-led Quartet Group proposed deploying a regional coalition of peacekeeping troops in Sudan to protect civilians and secure humanitarian corridors. Sudanese army leaders rejected the move as an "invasion." Addressing the Sudanese Engineering Corps over the weekend in Omdurman, Lieutenant General Yasser al-Atta, assistant commander-in-chief of the Sudan Armed Forces, criticized Ruto for interfering with Sudanese internal affairs. He said the Sudanese army is capable of defending its own country and routing what he described as armed "mercenaries." Al-Atta challenged Ruto to face the Sudanese army. "President Ruto should leave East Africa reserve forces alone, and instead he should come along with the Kenyan army to face us," al-Atta said. On Monday, Kenyan Foreign Minister Alfred Mutua responded cautiously to the remarks, which were reported by the TRT Africa channel, saying that Kenya has yet to get the full context of what al-Atta said. Mutua indicated the government cannot rely on information shared through social media to respond to an issue with diplomatic implications. "We cannot verify the authenticity of the video or whether the Sudanese army officer actually made these statements," he said. Zaheer Jhanda, a member of Kenya's national parliament, condemned al-Atta's statement. In a video shared on social media and seen by VOA, Jhanda said Ruto's intention is to ensure that peace prevails in Sudan and people have access to aid. He said Kenya has no interest in who governs Sudan but the people must be protected. "Our business with Sudan is not about who leads Sudan, our business is to ensure that the humanitarian corridor is open so that the people in Sudan should not die. They should be given food; they should be given medicine." Mekki El Moghrabi, a Sudanese former diplomat to the U.S., downplayed the tensions between the two countries, saying Kenya has enough internal issues to solve. He said the statement of al-Atta was not a surprise to many Sudanese because of the long military rule in Sudan. "Maybe for Kenyan people this is new. But for Sudanese; because they have long history with war, it is normal for army leader to defend the country by strong speeches," he said. The United Nations said more than 3 million people have been displaced due to the conflict in Sudan both internally and across the border into neighboring countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nigerian Opposition Party Calls for Probe of Foiled Attack on Candidate By Timothy Obiezu July 25, 2023 Nigeria's main opposition party on Monday called for an investigation after security forces arrested two alleged Boko Haram militants believed to be plotting to attack the party's presidential candidate. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it believes attackers were planning to kill the party's presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in his home, slay innocent citizens and cause chaos. The arrests Sunday came amid continued court battles over the outcome of Nigeria's February presidential election. The PDP alleges that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party won through election fraud, which it denies. The PDP also alleged that the arrests might be connected to the ruling party's recent warning to the judiciary. The APC last week urged the judiciary to be careful with any ruling on the February elections, saying a wrong decision could unleash anarchy in Nigeria. The PDP claimed the ruling party was trying to start violence as an excuse to impose emergency rule in Nigeria. On Sunday, Adamawa state police operatives arrested two men inside Abubakar's residence. Police said the men admitted to being members of Islamist extremist group Boko Haram on a mission to bomb the place. The police have handed the suspects over to the military for more investigation. Phrank Shuaibu, Abubakar's spokesperson, said Abubakar is a target because the PDP has presented a strong case in court against the February election results. "We don't see it as a coincidence," Shuaibu said. "We do not need the services of a clairvoyant to assert a case as to what is happening. We're sure that they're stuck, we're sure that they're frustrated by the trove of evidence we have before the court. The only thing they have on their plate right now is to see how they can attack the life of Atiku Abubakar." The PDP and the Labor Party have been challenging the election that put the ruling party's Bola Tinubu in the president's office. The PDP accused the APC of manipulating the election process to retain power and is calling for security reinforcements around Abubakar. But the ruling party dismissed the claims. APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka said the PDP is making baseless accusations. "It's very unfortunate that the Peoples Democratic Party will trivialize something as serious as suspected terror attack to politicize an incident that is still at the early stages of investigation," Morka said. "It just shows the depth to which the PDP has descended in its utter confusion and loss. I think that's just the height of irresponsibility." Abubakar has not commented on the alleged assassination attempt. The Presidential Election Petition Court, meanwhile, is expected to rule soon on the PDP's challenge to the election. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hun Manet Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-serving leaders, said 26 July 2023 he will resign and hand power to his eldest son after almost four decades of hardline rule.The former Khmer Rouge cadre has run the kingdom since 1985, eliminating all opposition to his power, with opposition parties banned, challengers forced to flee and freedom of expression stifled. His Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won a landslide victory in an election with no meaningful opposition, taking 82 percent of the vote, paving the way for a dynastic succession to his eldest son that some critics have compared to North Korea. Prime Minister Hun Sen told a Chinese television station that his eldest son could become prime minister as soon as three weeks after the parliamentary elections 23 July 2023 I am walking on the right path to secure country stability for younger generations, he said in the interview with Chinas Phoenix TV that aired on 20 July 2023. 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 weve had yet to a definitive public confirmation about the timing of the handover of power, author and journalist Sebastian Strangio wrote on Twitter. 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. 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 cant 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. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has groomed his eldest son as a potential successor ever since that son, Hun Manet, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point almost 20 years ago, and is confidently predicting his ruling Cambodian Peoples Party will remain in power for another 100 years. Analysts say, though, that that rise is far from certain and Lieutenant General Hun Manet who also heads the army will have to negotiate the CPP politburo, factionalism, a fickle public and China to win enough support to govern this one-party state. Hun Sen has political ambitions for his son, but it remains to be seen if those are shared by others in the Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP). Hun Manets elevation through the military ranks was swift, and his appointment as chairman of the CPPs youth wing, alongside a political mission to China, and his fathers authoritarian rule, had further fueled talk about his political ambitions. Hun Manet graduated from West Point Military Academy in the United States in 1999 and received his Ph.D. Economics from the University of Bristol, UK in 2007. This is different from a father who has been in office for more than 30 years, but has received little education and has the support of Vietnam before he took office. Hun Sen had promised that he will not let his son replace him. In a 2008 statement, he called Cambodia a democracy that had no place for nepotism in politics. Lieutenant General Hun Manet, eldest son of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, wrapped up his 10-day U.S. tour 20 April 2016 amid street protests by Cambodian Americans, leaving behind a community seemingly more divided than ever. Gen. Manet was forced to withdraw from the annual New Year's parade in Long Beach at the beginning of his visit when he was met with lively demonstrations. Im protesting because Im not satisfied with Hun Sen and Hun Manet for abusing and killing Cambodian people, selling land to the Vietnamese, and selling their consciences, said Khim Any Yorn, a protester at the parade April 10. We are not happy to let him join the parade in the U.S. because it's the land of democracy and his hands are stained with Cambodian blood, so we dont welcome him. Gen. Manet, a senior military commander who headed the country's elite counterterrorism unit, explained why he withdrew from the parade. What benefit do I get if I attend? he said. Getting thrown at with eggs and stones is not important, but the most important thing is our whole nation. Tens of thousands of people will go to see the parade and there will be cameras there to take pictures of what is Khmer [culture]. Our people take that opportunity to showcase what Khmer [culture] is. If there is a protest, it will dominate what will be shown... Therefore, it brings shame to the whole nation. Throughout his U.S. tour, Manet defended his father's record, saying people should remember the role the sitting prime minister played in bringing peace and national reconciliation to the country. His U.S. trip included stops in Olympia, Washington; Houston, Texas; and Lowell, Massachusetts. His last stop in Lowell was also met with a protest before he headed to Canada. On the last day of Hun Manet's visit, he was served with court documents by American private investigator Paul Hayes, who was hospitalized after allegedly being thrown to the ground by one of the general's bodyguards outside a restaurant in Long Beach, California. Hayes' subpoena was tied to the wrongful imprisonment lawsuit brought in court by Meach Sovannara. Meach Sovannara was serving a 20-year sentence for taking part in a protest in Phnom Penh in late 2014; he is one of 11 activists jailed on insurrection charges for clashing with police over the closure of a protest site in the capital. Hun Manet's bodyguards were accused of assaulting a process server attempting to hand them legal papers. Hayes' attempt to bring the subpoena to Hun Manet's attention were sufficient to qualify as having served the documents. Hun Sen returned his country to being a one-party state in 2018 elections, widely derided as a sham, when the CPP won all 125 seats in the National Assembly, the lower house of the countrys Parliament. Victory was assured after the main political opposition party was banned, independent newspapers were closed or sold to government-friendly interests and human rights activists were jailed or fled. Prior to the 2018 elections, Hun Sen, 67, said, despite health concerns, he would lead Cambodia for another 10 years, until he is 75. He has also eschewed the West and its criticisms while forging closer ties with China, which had invested billions of dollars in Cambodia. The last thing China wants in any country that borders China is something thats going to affect stability and order and cause any sort of repercussions and resonances thats might come back over the border at them. Whenever theres a leadership transition, or about to be, China makes it clear to its friends who it doesnt like, who it sees as anti-China, and who it would object to. Chinas got to be convinced that Hun Manet will carry on like his father and protect Chinas interest and that the transition would not be destabilizing. King Norodom Sihamoni appoints Lieutenant General Hun Manet as Commander of the Army on September 6. 2018, replacing General Meas Sophea, who was appointed Senior Minister in charge of special missions. Mr. Hun Manet is also the Deputy Commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the Commander of the Counter-Terrorism Unit. Gavin Greenwood, an analyst with A2 Global Risk, a Hong Kong-based security consultancy, told VOA that in raising Hun Manets potential succession, legitimate questions about Hun Sens rule are also raised, ranging from the prime ministers health to military loyalty. Its always where the trouble is now, in places with a strong ruler. Its very rarely that the masses coming up from the bottom who are the threat, its the people around you, he said, adding the leadership talk was one way keeping the troops in line. Carl Thayer, emeritus professor with the University of New South Wales, said in 2020 that by grooming his son for leadership through political appointments but playing down his prospects in public, Hun Sen was limiting any potential rivals for the leadership. The minute Hun Sen says that; thats the anointed one, then it gives the opposition, disgruntled forces the opportunity to attempt to organize and block it. So to keep everybody guessing is probably the better game that there is, he said. As CPP president, in June 2020 Hun Sen appointed Hun Manet to the position of the partys central youth leader. He was already a member of the CPPs standing committee along with 34 other party veterans. Following the appointment, the CPP promoted 23 younger officialsall of whom are the children of the partys senior leaders and have close ties to Hun Manetas members of its Youth Standing Committee. Despite his age, Hun Manet is a three-star general who held the positions of deputy commander-general of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), army commander, commander of the anti-terrorism special forces, and deputy commander of bodyguards. Hun Sen said 22 June 2020 he was grooming his eldest son Hun Manet to take over leadership of the country but had no plans to step down for another decade, confirming long-held suspicions that the strongman intends to establish a dynasty. Speaking during an inspection of a construction site for the new Phnom Penh International Airport in Kandal provinces Kandal Stoeung district, Hun Sen also vowed that his ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) would rule the country for as long as a century. Hun Manet is not the only candidate [for Prime Minister] within the CPPthere are a lot of candidates, he said. Yet, as his father, I have to support my son and train him so that he is capable [for this position]. If he cannot be like his father, at least his capacity should match that of his father by 80 or 90 percent. But Hun Sen acknowledged that whether Hun Manet, 43, ultimately becomes prime minister or not rests with voters. He said First, within the partywhether it can accept his candidacy or notand secondly, he needs to be elected by the people. Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen said 01 December 2021 he expects his son Hun Manet to succeed him in office, making the statement, he said, to end speculation about other possible contenders for the job. Speaking at a ground-breaking ceremony in Sihanoukville, Hun Sen who has ruled Cambodia for more than 35 years said that while others may run for election to the post, his son has his full support. Who would dare to oppose this? Hun Sen will die someday, so why not let his son take over? he asked. Hun Sen defended the idea of establishing a political dynasty. "Even Japan has its own dynasty, like (former prime minister) Abe. His grandfather was prime minister and he had visited Cambodia. Abe's father was a foreign minister and Abe was a prime minister," Hun Sen said. Hun Sen said he would not support Cambodian defense minister Tea Banh and interior minister Sar Kheng, both seen by some as possible future candidates, to move up to his own position. They are expected now to continue in their jobs until they retire. Hun Manet, 44, the eldest son of Hun Sen and his wife Bun Rany, had already been made a three-star general in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces despite his age. He has commanded the countrys army since 2018. Hun Sen on 06 December 2021 walked back recent statements vowing exclusive support for the candidacy of his son to someday replace him in office, saying the contest is still open. Analysts said that Hun Sen, who has held power in Cambodia for more than 35 years, may have softened his stance over fear of provoking a damaging rift within his ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP). Speaking at the opening of a new national road in southeastern Cambodias Prey Veng province, Hun Sen said that he himself will run for reelection in any case in 2023. Hun Sens son Hun Manet, 44, will not be eligible to run for the countrys top political job until 2028, he said, adding that the CPP at that time should have at least four candidates contending for the post. I can say that Hun Manet will be one of the candidates. This does not mean that hell be the only candidate, Hun Sen said. He also urged the son of the current Defense Minister Tea Banh, the son of Interior Minister Sar Kheng, and the son of the National Assemblys first vice-president Cheam Yeap to compete for the position. Their opportunity to run will not come before 2028, though, and will probably be sometime between 2028, 2029, and 2030. They will have to wait, he said. In March 2023, 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 cant 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 in 2022 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 25 July 2023 - Day 517 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 since 18 July 2023, Russia has conducted greater numbers of long-range strikes against Odesa and other areas of southern Ukraine. These attacks have featured an unusual number of AS-4 KITCHEN missiles, a 5.5 tonne weapon originally designed to destroy aircraft carriers. Damage has included several grain silos at Chornomorsk Port, south of Odesa, as well as the historic city centre. On 24 July 2023, Russia extended one way attack drone strikes to the docks on the Danube River, approximately 200 metres from the Romanian border. Between August 2022 and June 2023, when the Black Sea Grain Initiative was still in force, Russia generally refrained from striking civil infrastructure in the southern ports. Since Russia failed to renew the deal, the Kremlin likely feels less politically constrained, and is attempting to strike targets in Odesa because it believes Ukraine is storing military assets in these areas. Since the start of the war, Russia's strike campaign has been characterised by poor intelligence and a dysfunctional targeting process. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day July 25, Russian forces launched 1x missile and 49x air strikes, launched more than 40x MLRS attacks on Ukrainian cities and Ukrainian Armed Forces. Unfortunately, there are victims among the civilians, houses and other infrastructure were destroyed. The threat of missile and air strikes remains high across Ukraine. During the day, 20x combat clashes took place. Volyn' and Polissya axes: no significant changes detected. Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russian forces maintain an enhanced military presence. They carried out an airstrike at Veterinarny of the Kharkiv Oblast. Russian forces shelled with mortars and artillery more than 20x settlements, in particular Semenivka, Chernihiv Oblast; Vilna Sloboda, Svarkove, Stepne, Basivka, Mogrytsia, Pokrovka and Oleksandrivka in the Sumy Oblast and Guryev Kozachok, Graniv, Vovchans'k, Bochkove, Budarky in the Kharkiv Oblast. Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian soldiers are firmly on the defensive. Russian forces carried out an airstrike at Novoselivsky of the Luhansk Oblast. Krasne Pershe, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Kup'yans'k, Kislivka, and Berestov of the Kharkiv Oblast were under artillery and mortar fire. Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the south of Dibrova, Luhansk Oblast. They carried out an airstrike at Spirnyi of the Donetsk Oblast. Nevske in Luhansk Oblast and Tors'ke, Verkhn'yokam'ians'ke, Spirne and Rozdolivka in Donetsk Oblast were shelled by artillery. Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled Russian attacks at Stupochky and near Diliivka of the Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces launched airstrikes at Klishchiivka and Diliivka. More than 10x settlements, including Vasyukivka, Orihovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivs'ke, Chasiv Yar, Pivnichne of Donetsk Oblast, were shelled by Russian artillery. Avdiivka axis: under heavy fire from the Russian aircraft and artillery, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled attacks by Russian troops in the vicinities of Avdiivka. Russian forces shelled more than 10x settlements, in particular, Novokalynov, Avdiivka, Lastochkine, Vodyane and Karlivka of the Donetsk Oblast. Mar'inka axis: the defense forces continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops in the area of the city of Mar'inka. Krasnohorivka, Maksimilianivka and Georgiivka of the Donetsk Oblast were shelled by artillery. Shakhtars'k axis: Russian forces carried out an air strike in the Makarivka area and shelled more than 10 settlements, including Novomykhailivka, Vugledar, Novoukrayinka, Velika Novosilka of the Donetsk Oblast. Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russia is concentrating its main efforts on preventing the further advance of Ukrainian troops. Carried out airstrikes at Levadny and Malaya Tokmachka of the Zaporizhia Oblast. More than 20x settlements, including Novoandriivka, Levadne, Malynyvka, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Stepove, Lobkovo and Kam'ians'ke of the Zaporizhia Oblast, were shelled by artillery; Dudchany, Beryslav, Kozats'ke, Molodizhne, Antonivka, Komyshany, Kizomys, Stanislav of the Kherson Oblast Defense Forces of Ukraine continue offensive operations on the Melitopol' and Berdyansk axes, are equipping captured positions. Ukrainian Air Force conducted 8x strikes on Russian personnel, weapons and military equipment concentrations. Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed Ka-52 helicopter, 5x Russian strike UAVs of the "Shakhed-136" type and 2 x operational-tactical reconnaissance UAVs. Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit manpower, weapons and military equipment concentration, 7x artillery units at firing positions, 2x electronic warfare stations and 2x anti-air systems. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the AFU continued unsuccessful attempts to conduct offensive actions in Donetsk, Krasny Liman and South Donetsk directions. In Donetsk direction, the active actions by the defending units, aviation and artillery of the Yug Group of Forces, eight enemy attacks have been successfully repelled near Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Zaitsevo, Pervomaiskoye, Maryinka and Kleshcheevka (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, the units of the 28th, 54th mechanised, 80th airborne assault brigades of the AFU and the 107th Territorial Defence Brigade have been eliminated close to Grigorovka and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, ammunition depots of the enemy 3rd Assault Brigade and the 4th Battalion of Operative Purpose of the National Guard of Ukraine have been destroyed close to Grigorovka and Spornoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses were up to 280 Ukrainian servicemen, three tanks, five armoured fighting vehicles, eight pickup trucks, one Polish-manufactured Krab self-propelled artillery system, two Msta-B howitzers, three Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and one U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar station. In Krasny Liman direction, as a result of competent and well-coordinated actions of the Tsentr Group of Forces, four enemy attacks have been repelled close to Nevskoye, Novovodyanoye (Lugansk People's Republic) and Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). In the course of successful counterattack actions, units of the 15th Motorised Rifle Brigade under the skilful command of Lieutenant Colonel Builov liberated Sergeevka. The total advance of our troops was up to four kilometres along the front and up to two kilometres deep into the defending enemy troops. Close to Serebryansky forestry, units of the 234th Airborne Assault Regiment, commanded by Guards Colonel Vasilyev, have repelled an enemy attack, inflicted a fire damage on the AFU units and started counterattack actions. Acting competently and coherently, the servicemen rapidly advanced 1.5 kilometres deep into the AFU defence. The activities of one Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group have been suppressed near Terny (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, 21st, 63rd and 67th mechanised brigades of the AFU and the 5th Brigade of Operative Purpose of the National Guard of Ukraine have been also hit close to Terny, Torskoye and Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Ammunition depots of the 44th Motorised Infantry Brigade and the 100th Territorial Defence Brigade of the AFU have been destroyed near Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and Novolyubovka (Lugansk People's Republic). The enemy losses were up to 190 Ukrainian servicemen, six armoured fighting vehicles, five pickup trucks, two D-20 howitzers, one D-30 gun, two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and one U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station. In South Donetsk direction, as a result of active actions by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces, four enemy attacks have been successfully repelled close to Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The 110th Territorial Defence Brigade's manpower and hardware have been hit close to Novoivanovka (Zaporozhye region). In Zaporozhye direction, as a result of active actions by units, Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as artillery, 33rd and 47th mechanised brigades, the 35th Marine Brigade of the AFU, the 108th and 129th territorial defence brigades close to Zeleny Gai, Mirnoye, Orekhov, Malaya Tokmachka and Pyatikhatki (Zaporozhye region). In addition, the activities of three Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been suppressed near Dorozhnyanka (Zaporozhye region). Ammunition and fuel depots of the AFU 33rd Mechanised Brigade and the 15th Brigade of Operative Purpose of the National Guard of Ukraine have been destroyed near Malaya Tokmachka and Orekhov (Zaporozhye region). The enemy losses were up to 140 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, four armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system, UK-manufactured FH-70 howitzer, two D-20 guns, as well as Giatsint-S howitzer. In Kupyansk direction, as a result of active actions by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces, manpower and hardware of the 14th and 43rd mechanised brigades of the AFU and the 103rd Territorial Defence Brigade have been hit close to Molchanovo, Petropavlovka, Berestovoye, Kislovka (Kharkov region) and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic). The enemy losses were up to 35 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, two D-20 howitzers, and one U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station. In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 60 Ukrainian servicemen, ten motor vehicles, and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 113 AFU artillery units at their firing positions, manpower and hardware in 122 areas. In addition, a temporary deployment of foreign mercenaries has been hit near Vyazovok (Cherkasy region). Depots of ammunition, weapons and military hardware, delivered to Ukraine from Western countries have been destroyed close to Chudnov (Zhitomir region). In addition, the command posts of the 42nd and 63rd mechanised brigades and the AFU 35th Marine Brigade have been hit close to Pervomayskoye and Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). Air defence facilities have destroyed a Ukrainian Air Force's Mi-24 helicopter close to Novodarovka (Zaporozhye region). 10 HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system projectiles have been intercepted. In addition, 22 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been intercepted close to Lisichansk, Popasnaya (Lugansk People's Republic), Petrovskoye, Lozovoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Energodar, Zeleny Gai, Balochki and Sladkaia Balka (Zaporozhye region). In total, 457 airplanes, 244 helicopters, 5,258 unmanned aerial vehicles, 426 air defence missile systems, 10,889 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,139 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,604 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 11,888 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 26 July 2023 - Day 518 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russia's Black Sea Fleet has altered its posture since Russia pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI), in preparedness to enforce a blockade on Ukraine. The modern corvette SERGEY KOTOV, has deployed to the southern Black Sea, patrolling the shipping lane between the Bosphorus and Odesa. There is a realistic possibility that it will form part of a task group to intercept commercial vessels Russia believes are heading to Ukraine. The BSGI has moderated the involvement of the Black Sea in the war: there is now the potential for the intensity and scope of violence in the area to increase. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day July 26, Russian forces launched 3x missile and 28x air strikes, launched more than 10x MLRS attacks on Ukrainian cities and Ukrainian Armed Forces. Unfortunately, there are victims among the civilian population, residential buildings were destroyed. The threat of missile and air strikes remains high across Ukraine. During the day, 25x combat clashes took place. Volyn' and Polissya axes: no significant changes detected. Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the Russian forces maintain an enhanced military presence. They shelled more than 20x settlements, including Semenivka, Yasna Polyana, Chernihiv Oblast; Vilna Sloboda, Stepne, Basivka, Mogrytsia, Pokrovka of the Sumy Oblast and Veterinarne, Strelecha, Hlyboke, Kolodyazne of the Kharkiv Oblast. Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive actions south of Novoselyvsk, Luhansk Oblast. Dvorichna, Zapadne, Tabaivka, Topoli of the Kharkiv Oblast were subjected to Russian artillery and mortar attacks. Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the area south of Dibrova, Luhansk Oblast. The settlements of Nevske and Bilogorivka in Luhansk Oblast and Torske, Verkhnokamianske and Spirne in Donetsk Oblast were hit by artillery fire. Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled Russian attacks in the north of Khromovo, east of Druzhba, and north of Klishchiivka. Russian forces launched an airstrike in the Klishchiivka area of the Donetsk Oblast. More than 10 settlements, including Vasyukivka, Orihovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka and Chasiv Yar of the Donetsk Oblast, were affected by Russian artillery shelling. Avdiivka axis: under heavy fire from the Russian forces' aircraft and artillery, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled the attacks of Russian troops in the vicinities of Avdiivka. Russian forces shelled more than 10x settlements, in particular, Novokalynov, Stepov, Avdiivka and Severny of the Donetsk Oblast. Mar'inka axis: the defense forces continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops in the area of the city of Mar'inka. Russian forces launched an air strike near Krasnohorivka. Kurakhivka, Krasnohorivka, Georgiivka, Mar'inka and Pobyeda of the Donetsk Oblast were shelled by artillery. Shakhtars'k axis: Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to restore lost positions at Staromayorsky of the Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces carried out airstrikes at Blagodatny of the Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces shelled more than 10x settlements, including Vugledar, Prechistivka, Zolota Niva, Velyka Novosilka, and Blagodatne in the Donetsk Oblast. Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russia is concentrating its main efforts on preventing the further advance of Ukrainian troops. They carried out airstrikes at Novodanilivka, Malaya Tokmachka, Pyatikhatok in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and Antonivka in the Kherson Oblast. More than 30x settlements, including Malinivka, Hulyaipole, Stepove, Lobkovo, and Kam'ians'ke of the Zaporizhia Oblast, were shelled by artillery; Nikopol', Dnipropetrovs'k Oblast; Dudchany, Beryslav, Kozatske, Molodizhne, Antonivka, Kizomys in the Kherson Oblast and Ivanivka in the Mykolaiv Oblast. Defense Forces of Ukraine continue offensive operations on the Melitopol' and Berdyansk axes, and are equipping captured positions. Ukrainian Air Force conducted 11x strikes on Russian personnel, weapons and military equipment concentrations, and 2x on anti-air defense system. Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit 9x artillery units at firing positions and 2x command posts of the Russian occupiers during the day. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the AFU continued attempts to conduct offensive actions in Donetsk, Krasny Liman and South Donetsk directions. In Donetsk direction, as a result of coordinated actions of the defending units in close cooperation with aviation and artillery of the Yug Group of Forces, four enemy attacks have been successfully repelled close to Belogorovka, Severnoye, Maryinka and Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, AFU units have been eliminated close to Bogdanovka, Spornoye and Avdeevka (Donetsk People's Republic). Two ammunition depots of 28th and 110th mechanised brigades of the AFU have been destroyed near Dyleevka and Avdeyevka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses were up to 210 Ukrainian servicemen, seven armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, two U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery systems, three Polish-manufactured Krab self-propelled artillery systems, D-20 and D-30 guns, and one U.S.-manufactured M119 howitzer. In Krasny Liman direction, units of the 15th Motorised Rifle Brigade of the Tsentr Group of Forces continued offensive operations near Sergeevka (Lugansk People's Republic). The advance was up to three kilometres along the front and 2,700 metres deep into the enemy defence. As a result of actions by aviation, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems, four AFU attacks have been repelled close to Chervonaya Dibrova and Raigorodka (Lugansk People's Republic), and Serebryansky forestry area. In addition, AFU manpower and hardware have been hit close to Novovodyanoye (Lugansk People's Republic), and Torskoye, Yampolovka, and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The activities of one Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group have been suppressed near Terny (Donetsk People's Republic). One ammunition depot of the AFU 66th Mechanised Brigade has been destroyed near Novolyubovka (Lugansk People's Republic). The enemy losses were over 190 Ukrainian servicemen, five armoured fighting vehicles, four pickup trucks, two howitzers: D-20 and D-30, three Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and one U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station. In South Donetsk direction, as a result of actions by defending units, with reliance on competently installed mine obstacles, Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces, one enemy attack forward Nikolskoye (Zaporozhye region) has been repelled. AFU manpower and hardware have been hit close to Storozhevoye and Neskuchnoye (Donetsk People's Republic). In Zaporozhye direction, one enemy attack forward Rabotino has been repelled. Two tanks, one Giatsint-B howitzer, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system have been destroyed. In addition, as a result of combat actions by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as artillery, AFU units have been hit near Malaya Tokmachka, Yablokovo and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region). One AFU sabotage and reconnaissance group has been destroyed near Lugovskoye (Zaporozhye region). From the morning of 26 July the enemy resumed intensive offensive actions in Orekhovo direction. The enemy has conducted a massive attack with the forces of three battalions, reinforced by tanks. The courageous and professional actions of units of the 810th Marine Brigade and the 71st Motorised Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorised Rifle Division repelled all AFU attacks. The positions were held. In the course of the battle, 22 enemy tanks, 10 infantry fighting vehicles, one armoured fighting vehicle and more than 100 Ukrainian servicemen have been destroyed. In Kupyansk direction, units of the 7th Motorised Rifle Regiment of the Zapad Group of Forces, using the results of the shelling, conduct successful offensive operations in Kuzemovka direction. The troops have taken more advantageous positions. The enemy losses were up to 135 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, one U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system, Msta-B and D-20 howitzers, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station. In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 40 Ukrainian servicemen, five motor vehicles, and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system. One ammunition depot of the AFU 124th Brigade of the Territorial Defence of Ukraine has been destroyed near Zelenovka (Kherson region). Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 104 AFU artillery units at their firing positions, manpower and hardware in 128 areas. Two command posts of AFU 21st mechanised and 79th airborne assault brigades have been hit near Ivanovka and Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Air defence facilities have intercepted seven HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system projectiles and two Storm Shadow cruise missiles. In addition, 13 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed close to Karmazinovka, Zolotaryovka, Rubezhnoye (Lugansk People's Republic), Verkhnekamenskoye, Yevgenovka, Yampolovka, Krasnaya Polyana (Donetsk People's Republic), Chumatskoye and Dibrova (Zaporozhye region). In total, 457 airplanes, 244 helicopters, 5,271 unmanned aerial vehicles, 426 air defence missile systems, 10,942 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,139 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,624 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 11,906 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Three Foreign Nationals Sentenced for Operating an International Fentanyl Trafficking Organization Tuesday, July 25, 2023 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Three foreign nationals were sentenced in the District of North Dakota for their roles in an international fentanyl distribution conspiracy. Daniel Vivas Ceron, 43, of Colombia, was sentenced today to 27 years in prison. According to court documents, Ceron - while in prison in Quebec, Canada - was the leader and organizer of an international criminal enterprise that distributed large amounts of fentanyl. Using a contraband cell phone from inside the prison, Ceron and co-conspirator Jason Joey Berry, 40, of Montreal, Canada, arranged shipments of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues from China to Canada and the United States as part of the criminal enterprise. The distribution of these substances in the United States led to 15 overdoses, four of which were fatal, and 11 of which caused serious bodily injury. On July 24, Berry was sentenced to 24 years in prison. Berry coordinated the acquisition of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues from China, the receipt the drugs in Canada, and the further distribution of fentanyl products to the United States. On July 17, co-conspirator Xuan Cahn Nguyen, aka Jackie, aka Jackie Chan, 43, of Point-Aux-Tremble, Quebec, Canada, was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Nguyen assisted Berry and Ceron in acquiring fentanyl, distributing the drugs to the United States, and collecting the narcotics proceeds. "The defendants whose sentences we are announcing today purchased fentanyl from global suppliers in China and elsewhere and conspired to sell it here in the United States," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "These cases reflect the Justice Department's commitment to going after every link in this global supply chain and to holding accountable those who profit from this deadly drug at the expense of families in North Dakota and across the country." "The sentences announced in these cases are the result of partnerships across the U.S. government and with allies around the world to disrupt and dismantle the global supply-and-delivery chain flooding fentanyl across borders," said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. "Today's sentences also represent hard-won justice for the victims of this international trafficking enterprise, their loved ones, and their communities. The Department of Justice is grateful to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for their invaluable assistance in this case. We must continue to work hand-in-hand with our partners in Canada and Mexico to fight the deadly threat posed by fentanyl in North America." "These defendants are responsible for fentanyl poisoning deaths in North Dakota and several other states, and today's strong sentence ensures accountability for those crimes," said U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider for the District of North Dakota. "This result is a credit to the tireless work and seamless cooperation exhibited by our office's prosecution team and their law enforcement partners in North Dakota, across the country, and in Canada." "Disrupting large drug trafficking networks, like the Ceron Network, is vitally important to our ongoing effort to combat the fentanyl crisis in America and save innocent lives," said U.S. Attorney Natalie Wight for the District of Oregon. "Networks like these span jurisdictions and stopping them requires robust coordination among many domestic and international partners." "Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) plays a pivotal role in disrupting the flow of illicit narcotics at every point in the drug supply chain - we will continue to work collaboratively and aggressively with our partners wherever transnational criminal organizations source and manufacture these deadly substances that earn substantial profit by selling this poison across the communities we seek to protect," said Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of HSI. "HSI continues to advance its broad strategy to combat illicit opioids and today's sentencings are one more testament to that commitment." Operation Denial has led to 31 defendants charged in the District of North Dakota and three defendants charged in the District of Oregon. The investigation has resulted in nearly $1 million in cash and property forfeited from members of the organization. In addition to Ceron, Berry, and Nguyen, defendants sentenced or convicted in this case include[1]: District of North Dakota Jameson Robert Sele, 20, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, was sentenced on July 27, 2015, to three years in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Ryan Jon Jensen, 20, of Grand Forks, was sentenced on Feb. 2, 2016, to 20 years federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in serious bodily injury and death; two counts of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death; distribution of a controlled substance resulting in serious bodily injury; and money laundering conspiracy. David Todd Noye Jr., 18, of Grand Forks, was sentenced on Jan. 25, 2016, to three years and three months in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Joshua Tyler Fulp, 20, of Grand Forks, was sentenced on Jan. 26, 2016, to 12 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in serious bodily injury and death. Kain Daniel Schwandt, 19, of Grand Forks, was sentenced on Jan. 25, 2016, to three and a half years in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Brandon Corde Hubbard , 40, of Portland, Oregon, was sentenced on Sept. 14, 2021, to 22 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in serious bodily injury and death; distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death; and money laundering conspiracy. 40, of Portland, Oregon, was sentenced on Sept. 14, 2021, to 22 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in serious bodily injury and death; distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death; and money laundering conspiracy. Braden James Foley, 28, of Olympia, Washington, was sentenced on Nov. 21, 2016, to two and a half years in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. Amanda Schneider, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, was sentenced on Jan. 17, 2019, to one year and three months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. Danny Gamboa, 21, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, was sentenced on Feb. 27, 2019, to two years and one month in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. Keveen Nobre, 29, of Providence, Rhode Island, was sentenced on April 17, 2019, to two and a half years in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. Robinson Gomez, 35, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was sentenced on April 17, 2019, to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. David Campbell, 58, of Plantation, Florida, was sentenced on April 17, 2019, to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. Elizabeth Ton, 27, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, was sentenced on March 8, 2019, to three years and five months in prison for money laundering conspiracy. Louis Bell, 31, of Port St. Lucie, was sentenced on April 18, 2019, to 17 years in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. Anthony Gomes, 34, of Woonsocket, was sentenced on July 30, 2021, to 30 years in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, distribution of a controlled substance resulting in serious bodily injury and death, and money laundering conspiracy. Jose Pinto, 64, of Pawtucket, was sentenced on Jan. 20, 2022, to time served and two years of supervised release for tampering with evidence. Eugenia Pinto, 64, of Pawtucket, entered into a pre-trial diversion agreement on Nov. 18, 2021, for a term of one and a half years after admission to obstruction of justice and evidence tampering. Steven Pinto , 40, of Pawtucket, was sentenced on Oct. 14, 2021, to 33 years in prison for continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to distribute and import controlled substances, and obstruction of justice. 40, of Pawtucket, was sentenced on Oct. 14, 2021, to 33 years in prison for continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to distribute and import controlled substances, and obstruction of justice. Vannek Um, 45, of Montreal, pleaded guilty on March 14 to money laundering conspiracy. Vannek Um is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 8. Marie Um, 42, of Montreal, was convicted in April of conspiracy to distribute and import controlled substances resulting in serious bodily injury and death and money laundering conspiracy. Marie Um is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 5. District of Oregon Channing Lacey, 30, of Portland, was sentenced on Aug. 28, 2017, to 11 years and three months in prison for one count of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in serious bodily injury to three individuals and one count of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death. Carissa Marie Laprall, 25, of Portland, was sentenced on Jan. 30, 2020, to time served with five years of supervised release for three counts of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in serious bodily injury. Steven Fairbanks Locke, 41, of Portland, was sentenced on Sept. 4, 2017, to time served and a term of supervised release for use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug offense. On Aug. 31, 2021, the U.S. Department of State offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of People's Republic of China (PRC) national Jian Zhang, a fugitive in this transnational investigation. Additional fugitives from China include Na Chu, 37, Pulandian City, Liaoning Province, China; Yeyou Chu, 36, Pulandian City, Liaoning Province, China; Cuiying Liu, 62, Dezhou City, Shangdong Province, China; and Keping Zhang, 62, Dezhou City, Shangdong Province, China. Homeland Security Investigations; North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; IRS-Criminal Investigation's St. Louis Field Office; Grand Forks Narcotics Task Force; Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Portland Oregon Police Bureau - Drugs and Vice Division, Portland HIDTA Interdiction Task Force; Oregon State Police; and the Grand Forks Police Department investigated the case. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing foreign evidence and the extradition of four Operation Denial defendants: Nguyen, Berry, Vannek Um, and Marie Um. Assistant Deputy Chief Kaitlin Sahni and Trial Attorney Imani Hutty of the Criminal Division's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher C. Myers for the District of North Dakota, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Kerin for the District of Oregon prosecuted the case. Operation Denial is an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into the international trafficking of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues and was significantly aided by the national and international coordination led by the multi-agency Special Operations Division. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF. The investigation started on Jan. 3, 2015, with the overdose death of Bailey Henke in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and eventually led to the indictment, and subsequent conviction, of multiple defendants. [1] Ages reflected are ages at the time of sentencing. Topics: Drug Trafficking Opioids Components: Office of the Attorney General Criminal Division Criminal - Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section Criminal - Office of International Affairs Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Office of the Deputy Attorney General Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces USAO - North Dakota USAO - Oregon Press Release Number: 23-807 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HIGH COST OF INVESTIGATING CYBER CRIME India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Home Affairs Posted On: 25 JUL 2023 4:58PM by PIB Delhi 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The States/UTs are primarily responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes including cyber crime through their Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). The law enforcement agencies take legal action as per the provisions of law against persons involved in cyber crime. The Central Government supplements the initiatives of the States/UTs through advisories and financial assistance under various schemes for their capacity building. To strengthen the mechanism to deal with cyber crimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner, and to make optimum use of the resources thereby bringing down the cost of cyber crime investigations, both for the State LEAs as well as the victims, the Central Government has taken steps which, inter-alia, include the following: Established 'Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre' (I4C) to deal with all types of cyber crime in the country, in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. The 'National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (Investigation)' has been established at New Delhi to provide early stage cyber forensic assistance to Investigating Officers (IOs) of all State/UT Police both through online and offline modes. Launched a Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) platform, namely 'CyTrain' portal for capacity building of all the stakeholders, police officers, judicial officers and prosecutors through online courses on critical aspects of cyber crime investigation, forensics, prosecution, etc. along with certification. Training curriculum has been prepared for police personnel, public prosecutors and judicial officers for better handling of investigation and prosecution and States/UTs have been requested to organize training programmes accordingly. 36118 LEAs, 2022 Judicial Officer and 2240 Public Prosecutors have been trained by Ministry of Home Affairs, State Government and BPR&D. The 'National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal' (https://cybercrime.gov.in) has been launched to enable public to report incidents pertaining to all types of cyber crimes, with special focus on cyber crimes against women and children. Cyber crime incidents reported on this portal, their conversion into FIRs and subsequent action thereon are handled by the State/UT Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) concerned as per the provisions of the law. The 'Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System' has been launched for immediate reporting of financial frauds and to stop siphoning off funds by the fraudsters. A toll-free Helpline number '1930' has been operationalized to get assistance in lodging online cyber complaints. vii. Under the Cybercrime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) Scheme, financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 122.24 Crore has been provided to all State/UTs essentially to develop capabilities of Law Enforcement Agencies in terms of investigation tools and man power, which are aimed at bringing down the cost of investigating cyber crime. Seven Joint Cyber Coordination Teams have been constituted covering the whole country based upon cyber crime hotspots/ areas having multi jurisdictional issues by on boarding States/UTs to enhance the coordination framework among the LEAs of the States/UTs The 'National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (Evidence)' has been set up at Hyderabad to provide the necessary forensic support in cases of evidence related to cyber crime, preserving the evidence and its analysis in line with the provisions of IT Act and Evidence Act; and reduced turnaround time. Ministry of Home Affairs has also provided central assistance under 'Assistance to States & UTs for Modernization of Police' Scheme to the States & UTs for the acquisition of latest weaponry, training gadgets, advanced communication/forensic equipment, Cyber Policing equipment etc. This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Ajay Kumar Mishra in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha. ***** RK/AY/SM/AKS/RR/817 (Release ID: 1942474) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Local company wins government grant to secure F-35 Joint Strike Fighter work 25 July 2023 A Melbourne company will use a $1.5 million Australian Government grant to buy a next generation machining centre to secure more work on the global F-35 Program. A key supplier to the aerospace and defence industries, Lovitt Technologies will also use the grant to train staff and upgrade equipment and software. A machining centre is an advanced, fast, computer-controlled machine that can perform multiple operations like milling, boring and drilling. Lovitt Technologies is the first recipient of Defence's Joint Strike Fighter Industry Support Program - Production and Modernisation Grant, which provides local companies up to 50 per cent of the money they need to develop new or improved capabilities to secure work from the lucrative program. More than 70 Australian companies have already benefitted from over $3.7 billion in global F-35 production and sustainment contracts. Australia plans to have 72 fifth-generation, F-35A Lightning II aircraft combining air-to-air, strike and ground attack capabilities. Head of Aerospace Systems Divisions, Air Vice-Marshal Graham Edwards AM CSC, said Defence wanted more skilled Australian workers to benefit from long-term jobs from the F-35 Program and strengthen Australia's defence industry. "These commercial contracts and grants create great opportunities and flow on economic benefits to small and unique Australian businesses through supply chain work," Air Vice-Marshal Edwards said. The grant scheme will introduce a new capability to Australia to manufacture larger and more complex components for the F-35 Program, which will also benefit other Defence programs. "Australian industry is poised to increase its contribution to the global F-35 Program, which has more than 930 aircraft with an expected global fleet of over 3000," Air Vice-Marshal Edwards said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Talisman Sabre kicks off with a bang 25 July 2023 Soldiers from Australia, the United States, Japan, and South Korea conducted a combined joint live-fire demonstration at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area on July 22 to launch this year's Exercise Talisman Sabre. The event showcased multi-domain capabilities and the interoperability of allied forces with integrated artillery, attack aviation, ground assault force, and command and control at the largest bilateral military exercise between the US and Australia. Commander 1 Brigade Brigadier Nick Foxall said the event was important, not just for the missile-firing, but for the opportunities to work with each other. "Being able to work with another military or another nation is about the human connectivity, and that is what this event is all about," Brigadier Foxall said. The US firepower consisted of the M142 high mobility rocket artillery system (HIMARS) and M777A2 howitzers, with an aerial assault from the F-35B Lightning II, AC-130, AH-IZ Viper, and the AH-1 Super Cobra. US Commander 1st Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Field Artillery Brigade, I Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Alex Kerr, said "the uniqueness of participating in the demonstration with five partner nations, and the complexity of the training for our soldiers, is invaluable". During the live-fire, the participating countries trained for complex, multi-domain warfare scenarios that replicated current and potential future global security challenges. The exercise is a major undertaking that reflects the strength and priority of alliances, strategic partnerships, and ongoing military-to-military relationships. Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Greg Bilton said the live-fire exercise tested coordination. "You've seen some weapon systems fire, but what you haven't seen behind the scenes is the multinational command and control and coordination, the targeting and planning that comes with being able to execute it," Lieutenant General Bilton said. The high-value training opportunities provide service members with an opportunity to share best practices and enhance warfighting tactics. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China, Trade and Security to Dominate Australia-New Zealand Talks By Phil Mercer July 26, 2023 Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is making his first official visit to New Zealand on Wednesday. Trade and security, as well as China's ambitions in the Pacific, are expected to be on the agenda. This year the two countries are celebrating 80 years of diplomatic relations. Although separated by the Tasman Sea, Australia and New Zealand have close bonds. Cultural, social and economic ties run deep. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he wants to "strengthen the special relationship." His counterpart, Chris Hipkins, believes that bilateral ties are the strongest they've "been in decades." There has, though, been friction over Canberra's deportation of New Zealanders convicted of serious crimes. The government in Wellington complained that deportees often had tenuous ties to New Zealand. That policy is, however, being softened. Since the start of July, it's also been easier for New Zealanders living in Australia to gain citizenship. Trade will be on the agenda as the two countries celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Closer Economic Relations Free Trade Agreement. In 2009, New Zealand and Australia also signed a Free Trade Agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations a or ASEAN a regional grouping of 10 countries. Analysts say that China's diplomatic, trade and military ambitions in the Pacific region will also be discussed by the two leaders during Albanese's two-day visit. Last year, Beijing struck a policing agreement with Solomon Islands, a mostly Melanesian archipelago north-east of Australia. China failed, however, to persuade other island nations to join a broad regional accord. But Professor John Blaxland from the Australian National University told VOA that China will continue to pursue its ambitions. "We are facing what I would describe as unrestricted competition. China has not given up. China is playing the long game," said Blaxland. "China has considerable interests a economic and other interests, strategic interests a in the Pacific that go beyond the Solomon Islands, and they are enduring. And they happen to rub up against the interests of Australia and New Zealand and other partners like the United States." Australia's left-leaning government was elected in May 2022, and has made concerted efforts to diffuse tensions with China. They have been enflamed in recent years over various political disputes, including democracy in Hong Kong, freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and threats to Taiwan. Trade sanctions imposed by China on a range of Australian commodities have also damaged the relationship, but analysts say that high-profile ministerial meetings have seen tensions ease. China is Australia's biggest trading partner, but Canberra's long-standing military alliance with the United States has been a source of antagonism with Beijing. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Government of Canada awards contract for the Strategic Tanker Transport Capability project National Defence News release July 25, 2023 - Ottawa - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces In support of Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada is committed to providing members of the Canadian Armed Forces with the modern equipment they need to deliver on a wide range of operations, at the best value for Canadians. Today, on behalf of the Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence announced that the Government of Canada has awarded a contract to Airbus Defence and Space S.A. to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force's CC-150 Polaris fleet. Following an open, fair and transparent procurement process, it was determined that Airbus Defence and Space S.A. was the only qualified supplier that met the project requirements. The contract with Airbus, valued at approximately $3.6 billion (excluding taxes), is for a fleet of nine aircraft. It includes the acquisition of four new Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft along with the conversion of five used A330-200 aircraft. These used aircraft were procured through separate procurement processes with significant cost savings and provide best value for Canadians. The existing CC-150 Polaris fleet has been operating for over thirty years and is nearing the end of its service life. The new fleet is anticipated to operate into the 2050s. As a multi-role aircraft, the CC-330 will provide the RCAF with increased flexibility to fulfill a variety of missions with the same aircraft. The primary role of the fleet will be air-to-air refuelling, while simultaneously being equipped to airlift large numbers of Canadian Armed Forces personnel and their equipment in support of operations and training activities within Canada, and around the world. With some reconfiguration, this multi-role aircraft can be equipped to perform specialized aeromedical evacuation missions. Additionally, the CC-330 aircraft will increase the RCAF's ability to respond to unexpected operational requirements such as domestic or international emergencies or humanitarian relief missions. One of the used aircraft will be configured to provide secure transport of high-ranking government officials. Once delivered, these aircraft will be designated as the CC-330 Husky and will improve the Royal Canadian Air Force's flexibility, responsiveness, interoperability with allies and partners, communications security and self-protection. They will also allow Canada to meet future challenges and ongoing commitments to collective defence with our allies through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and to the defence of North America through North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) operations. The additional air-to-air refuelling initiative is an integral part of Canada's investments in NORAD modernization that will allow the RCAF to enhance Canadian sovereignty operations, including in the Arctic. The aircraft will be able to refuel not only current and future Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) fighter aircraft including the F-35, but also fighter aircraft used by the US as part of NORAD and by NATO partners. The acquisition of this capability represents a significant opportunity for Canada's aerospace and defence industry. Through the Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy, Airbus will expand their presence in Canada, contribute to the growth of Canadian supply chains and create highly skilled jobs. Quotes "As autocratic regimes threaten the rules-based international order, there is a pressing need to modernize the capabilities of the Royal Canadian Air Force in support of North Atlantic Treaty Organization and North American Aerospace Defense Command operations. The Strategic Tanker Transport Capability brought forward today with the contract award for renewed air-to-air refuelling, strategic transport and aeromedical evacuation capabilities, will deliver modern equipment for our Canadian Armed Forces, who put their lives on the line every single day to defend our shared continent with the US, and support our allies in time of need." The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence "I am pleased that today's contract award announcement to Airbus Defence and Space S.A. will enable our government to continue to provide the Royal Canadian Air Force and its members with the advanced equipment they need to do their job, at the best value for Canadians." The Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister of Public Services and Procurement. "This announcement builds on decades of partnerships between Airbus and Canada. Our government will be leveraging meaningful and long-term economic benefits to Canada through the Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy to foster innovation in our aerospace industry and lead to the creation of high-value jobs across Canada." The Honourable FranAois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Quick facts The Royal Canadian Air Force's current Polaris fleet, which is based in Trenton, Ontario, consists of five CC-150 Polaris. The current fleet is aging and cannot effectively perform all of its operational requirements, which has resulted in decreased mission flexibility. The inclusion of the additional air-to-air refuelling (AAR) initiative announced as part of Canada's investments in NORAD modernization mandates the STTC fleet to deliver a capability that supports a NORAD readiness posture. With the increased scope of the additional AAR initiative, the fleet size will grow by three aircraft (from the originally anticipated six CC-330) to meet this mandate and to effectively support any of the RCAF strategic missions concurrently. The CC-330 Husky aircraft will provide an in-flight or air-to-air refuelling capability that will be able to refuel not only current and future RCAF aircraft, but also existing fighter aircraft used by NATO partners and the US as part of NORAD. In addition, the contract covers a full suite of training services, including the most advanced training devices such as a full flight simulator, to prepare and maintain crew readiness as part of the modernization of the Canadian Armed Forces' air operational training infrastructure. The name Husky has been chosen for the CC-330 due to its long history with the RCAF's 437 (Transport) Squadron, which will operate the new multi-role aircraft. The hardy Husky dog is known for its great endurance and ability to withstand cold weather, its unwavering dependability and overall toughness. Since 1944, the Husky has served as the mascot for the squadron, and the Husky emblem proudly adorns the Squadron Crest, symbolizing the spirit and values embodied by this remarkable breed. Additionally,during local training flights, 437 Squadron aircraft currently use the callsign "Husky." In July 2022, two used A330-200 aircraft were procured for $102 million USD (excluding taxes), while the remaining three were purchased in July 2023 for $150 million USD (excluding taxes). These aircraft were procured through competitive contracts awarded to International AirFinance Corporation. Additionally, four new aircraft are being procured from the original aircraft manufacturer Airbus Defence and Space S.A. The STTC project has the potential to contribute over $145 million annually to Canada's gross domestic product and close to 1050 jobs annually for Canadian industry and value chain partners over a thirteen-year period (direct and indirect). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Strategic Tanker Transport Capability Project and NORAD Modernization National Defence Backgrounder July 25, 2023 - Ottawa, Ontario - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Since 1992, the CC-150 Polaris aircraft and its crews have provided outstanding service to Canada. The roles of this fleet include providing air-to-air refuelling to our fighter fleet and our Allies and partners aircraft, providing cargo and personnel airlift, strategic Government of Canada personnel transport and aeromedical evacuations. Canada's Defence Policy identified that the Strategic Tanker Transport Capability (STTC) project will replace the CC-150 Polaris fleet and enhance the RCAF's air mobility and air-to-air refuelling capacity. The importance of replacing this key capability was further emphasized through NORAD modernization efforts. The aim of the STTC project is to replace the Polaris with a modern fleet able to support an increase in our refuelling capability, and sufficient aircraft to support simultaneous operations for extended periods from different locations. This will enable Canada to meet current and future NORAD and NATO commitments. The CC-150 Polaris aircraft will be replaced by the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space of Madrid, Spain. This new fleet, named the CC-330 Husky, is estimated to have a life expectancy of thirty years. NORAD Modernization - Additional Air-to-Air Refuelling The additional air-to-air refuelling initiative is an integral part of Canada's investments in NORAD modernization announced by the Minister of National Defence in June 2022. This additional capability has been accelerated to align with the STTC project and is now included in its project scope. This initiative will allow the RCAF to enhance Canadian sovereignty operations, including in the Arctic. It will strengthen Canada's air-to-air refueling support to NORAD and allow other STTC assets to support NATO commitments and provide support to fighter training. The aircraft will be able to refuel not only current and future Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) fighter aircraft, but also fighter aircraft used by the US as part of NORAD and by NATO partners. Both the CF-18 and the F-35A aircraft are compatible with the CC-330 aircraft. Other Roles of the CC-330 Husky The aircraft will be able to airlift large numbers of Canadian Armed Forces personnel and their equipment in support of operations and training activities within Canada, and around the world. This will enhance the transport capacity provided by the CC-177 Globemaster and CC-130J Hercules fleets, allowing for the more efficient movement of personnel and equipment. As a multi-role aircraft, the CC-330 Husky will provide the RCAF with increased flexibility to fulfill a variety of missions with the same aircraft. The primary advantage is that it can perform the important air-to-air refuelling role (delivery of fuel in-flight through employment of either the boom or hose and drogue refuelling methods) while simultaneously being equipped to perform the most common strategic airlift mission (the transport of large numbers of troops or passengers) with no reconfiguration of the aircraft required. With some reconfiguration of the main floor cabin, this multi-role aircraft can be equipped to perform specialized aeromedical evacuation missions, which includes the ability to care for and transport critical and non-critical patients. Additionally, the CC-330 Husky aircraft will increase the RCAF's ability to respond to unexpected operational requirements such as domestic or international emergencies or humanitarian relief missions. New and Used Aircraft The CC-330 Husky fleet will be composed of nine aircraft based on a mix of new (four) and used (five) aircraft that have been purchased from the commercial market and configured as follows: Air-to-air refuelling and strategic airlift (operational grey livery): A minimum of eight aircraft will be true multi-role aircraft and will provide air-to-air refuelling, perform strategic airlift of troops or passenger transport and be configurable to deliver specialized aeromedical evacuation when required. Government of Canada aircraft (white livery): One of the used aircraft will deliver a strategic airlift capability that provides secure transport of high-ranking government officials. If this aircraft is converted to a Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) a total of up to nine aircraft could perform air-to-air refuelling. The COVID-19 pandemic had sweeping effects on the aviation sector, and research revealed that market conditions were favourable for the procurement of used aircraft that met specific technical conditions, had sufficient life remaining and were suitable for conversion to the STTC configuration. Incorporating used aircraft into the STTC fleet will achieve millions of dollars in cost savings for Canadians. The procurement of used aircraft for this capability is a viable option given that military rates of annual flight hour consumption are typically less than commercial rates. Thus, a used commercial aircraft that has a modest number of hours flown on it can still achieve a full military service life of thirty years. Several other militaries, such as those of Australia, Spain and France, have either already adopted used aircraft or are actively incorporating used aircraft into their fleets for this particular capability because of the greater value for money this strategy can bring. Canada has procured via competitve processes, five used A330-200 aircraft. The first two are currently undergoing pre-delivery scheduled maintenance, painting and preparation for acceptance expected in summer and fall 2023 respectively while the other three were recently contracted for delivery in 2024. The first used aircraft will be delivered with a similar livery (i.e. paint scheme) to the current CC15001 Polaris aircraft providing strategic Government of Canada transport, and will be accepted and ferried to Canada this summer. The first two used aircraft are expected to enter to RCAF service in fall 2023 following aircrew conversion training. Infrastructure New infrastructure will be required to house the new fleet of aircraft, which will be constructed at two main operating bases, one in eastern and the other in western Canada; and at least one NORAD forward operating location. The locations for all three remain to be determined. A decision on the location of main operating base in eastern Canada is expected later this year, with subsequent location decisions to follow. The RCAF has selected Ottawa International Airport as the location for interim operations of the first two used CC-330 aircraft. In-Service Support The long-term sustainment of the CC-330 fleet will be sourced through a separate competitive procurement process that was initiated in the fall 2022 with contract award expected in 2025. While the long-term in-service support program is being defined, competed and established, an interim in-service support solution has been arranged to provide the maintenance and engineering services needed to support the RCAF's operation of the used A330-200 aircraft. Green Policy and Training The STTC project will comply with all relevant environmental regulations, respect the Department of National Defence's commitments to environment and sustainable management and align with the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy and policy commitments in the Greening Government Strategy (GGS) and the Policy on Green Procurement. The Department of National Defence (DND) is committed to modern green building design standards that consider life-cycle impacts from design to disposal. New infrastructure (and retrofitted infrastructure as applicable) will be developed to sustainable design standards in accordance with the new DND Green Buildings Directive to minimize impact on the environment. The construction and operation of infrastructure will consume some resources, however the design and construction of infrastructure will be in accordance with the Green Buildings Directive, which is aimed at reducing the environmental impacts associated with buildings, including water and energy consumption. With the increased fleet size and NORAD readiness posture that comes with the additional air-to-air refuelling initiative, DND will be acquiring a full mission flight simulator capability. The use of a simulator to conduct training flights to maintain aircrew currency will significantly reduce aviation fuel usage, which will have the corresponding benefit of reducing green house gas emissions. Having a domestic simulator will also eliminate the travel expenses associated with sending aircrew internationally to complete initial and recurrent training. The development of the Request for Proposal for the long-term In-Service Support of the CC-330 fleet will incorporate Government of Canada environmental objectives as well. Industrial and Technological Benefits The Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, including the value proposition, will apply to this procurement to leverage economic benefits for Canada equal to the value of the contract. Through the ITB Policy, the STTC project will leverage investments and business activities in support of Canada's key industrial capabilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Top legislature appoints officials, reviews law Global Times Wang Yi appointed as foreign minister, Pan Gongsheng as central bank governor By GT staff reporters Published: Jul 25, 2023 10:35 PM China's top legislature voted to appoint Wang Yi as foreign minister and Pan Gongsheng as central bank governor, as it convened a session on Tuesday. Qin Gang was removed from the post of foreign minister he concurrently held; Yi Gang was removed from the post of governor of the People's Bank of China, according to a decision adopted at the fourth session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC). President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to effectuate the decision. Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the session, which opened on Tuesday morning. A draft amendment to the Criminal Law was reviewed at the session. The amendment focuses on better implementing the Party Central Committee's principles and policies regarding the fight against corruption and the protection of private enterprises in accordance with the law. It refines stipulations concerning the crime of offering bribes as well as corruption conducted by private enterprise personnel. On Tuesday afternoon, Zhao presided over a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee before the closing meeting of the session. The closing meeting, attended by 169 members of the NPC Standing Committee, approved the personnel appointments and removals. Wang Yi, a 70-year-old veteran diplomat who served as the Chinese ambassador to Japan from 2004 to 2007, began his career in the foreign ministry in 1982. Besides working in the foreign ministry, Wang also served as director of the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee, and minister of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council from 2008 to 2013. Between 2013 and 2018, Wang served as the minister and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of the foreign ministry. From 2018, he served as the State Councilor, member of the Leading CPC Members Group of the State Council, and foreign minister before Qin took up the position in 2022. Qin was promoted to the vice minister of the Foreign Ministry in 2018 and three years later became Chinese ambassador to the US. He arrived in the US in July 2021 to take his post as Chinese ambassador. He was appointed as Chinese foreign minister, according to a decision made by the 13th National People's Congress Standing Committee, on December 30, 2022. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Networks should not be a new battlefield for digital iron curtain: senior Chinese diplomat Global Times By Global Times Published: Jul 25, 2023 01:56 PM The networks should be a big stage where a hundred flowers bloom, not a new battlefield engaging in a digital iron curtain, Chinese senior diplomat Wang Yi said while attending the 13th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in Johannesburg, South Africa, which began Monday. The meeting, which is scheduled to last from Monday to Wednesday is part of a series of BRICS meetings taking place ahead of the BRICS Summit in South Africa from August 22 to 24. Aside from BRICS countries, delegates representing a record 45 countries will also join the dialogue, local media reported. Wang, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and also director of the Office of the CPC Central Commission for Foreign Affairs said at the meeting that cyber security is an important cornerstone of national security and in the face of common challenges, we should strengthen strategic communication, clarify the direction of cooperation, and safeguard common interests. The senior Chinese diplomat put forward four suggestions for maintaining network security, including the practicing of true multilateralism and fully listening to the legitimate concerns of developing countries to build a fair and reasonable cyberspace; opposing any form of scientific and technological hegemony and cyber hegemony to build an open and inclusive cyberspace; opposing attempts to use cyberspace to carry out "color revolutions" to build a safe and stable cyberspace, building a vibrant cyberspace; ensuring openness, security and stability of global information and communication production and supply chains. Wang also stressed that China attaches great importance to the issue of cyber security by actively participating in global network governance, representing China's contribution to maintaining global data and network security. China is willing to strengthen exchanges and deepen cooperation with emerging market countries and developing countries, and make continuous efforts to promote the reform of the global cyber governance system and build a community with a shared future in cyberspace, said Wang. The meeting, held under the theme of "Cybersecurity is increasingly becoming a challenge for developing countries," is being attended by Minister in the Presidency of South Africa Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Chief Adviser of the Presidency of Brazil Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval of India, and representatives of Belarus, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Burundi, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Cuba and other countries. They said the global network governance system should be reformed and improved to increase the representation and voice of developing countries. BRICS countries and the "Friends of BRICS" should work together to address traditional and non-traditional security challenges such as cyber security, create a mutually beneficial, inclusive and secure international environment, achieve common security and development, and promote global peace and prosperity. On Monday, Wang also held bilateral meetings with senior officials from other BRICS countries. While meeting with Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Wang said China-Russia relations have withstood the test of international challenges and become more mature, resilient and vigorous. China is ready to work closely with Russia and other BRICS countries to further strengthen BRICS cooperation in a bid to safeguard the common interests among developing countries. Wang also met with Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Akbar Ahmadian, Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim, chief advisor of the Presidency of Brazil, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor and Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to exchange views on bilateral and regional issues. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi stresses strengthening all-around military governance People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:14, July 25, 2023 BEIJING, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has stressed the need to strengthen all-around military governance. Presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Monday, Xi called for promoting high-quality development of the armed forces with high-level governance. The session was convened ahead of China's Army Day, which falls on Aug. 1. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on July 25, 2023 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Hubei Media Group: UN Secretary-General AntAnio Guterres said at the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment on July 24 that "global food systems are broken", vulnerable people are paying the price and we must change ways of food production and consumption. What's your comment? How will China safeguard global food security? Mao Ning: We noted the remarks by Secretary-General AntAnio Guterres. In a world facing sluggish economic recovery and interwoven global challenges, the problems of poverty and hunger are far from being resolved. The international community needs to attach high importance to food security and explore effective solutions through cooperation. As the world's largest food producer, China grows a quarter of the world's food with less than 9 percent of the world's arable land and feeds 1.4 billion people. This in itself is a major contribution to global food security. China has offered its solution and taken its action on global food security. In the Global Development Initiative (GDI) proposed by President Xi Jinping, food security is listed as one of the eight priority areas of cooperation. China has put forward the cooperation initiative on global food security under the G20 framework. China has provided more funding and experts and undertaken more projects than any other developing country under the framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization's South-South Cooperation Programme.aChina has carried out agricultural cooperation with more than 140 countries and regions, and provided more than 1,000 agricultural technologies to other developing countries, driving up local crop yield by 30 to 60 percent on average. Chinaahas trained over 14,000 technicians on hybrid rice technology from over 80 developing countries. China has helped launch 13 demonstration villages on agricultural development and poverty reduction in Africa to help fellow developing countries boost their capacity in agricultural production and securing food security.a Food security is fundamental to human survival. China stands ready to work with the rest of the world to advance the GDI, enhance cooperation in food security and poverty reduction and contribute more to efforts towards a world free of hunger and poverty. AFP: A Chinese party and political delegation headed by member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Li Hongzhong will start visiting the DPRK on July 26 and attend commemorative activities for the 70th anniversary of the armistice of the Korean War. Will he meet with the DPRK leader? Mao Ning: The CPC International Department has issued an announcement of the vice chairman's visit to the DPRK.a China and the DPRK are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers. Our two parties and the two countries have had a good tradition of friendly exchanges. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the armistice of the Korean War. Having a high-level Chinese delegation visit the DPRK and mark the occasion shows the high importance both sides attach to our bilateral ties. We believe this visit will contribute to the sound and stable growth of bilateral relations, to regional peace and stability, and to creating conditions for the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issues.a Details about this visit will be released in a timely way in due course. Please check back for updates. China News Service: During a recent interview with a UK media organization, Japan's State Minister of Defense Toshiro Ino claimed that if the Chinese mainland takes military action on Taiwan, Japan very possibly will provide Taiwan with some kind of support, not sure though whether it is going to be in the form of defence equipment or logistical support. Do you have any comment on this? Mao Ning: Taiwan is China's territory. The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, which brooks no interference by any external force. The remarks of the incumbent high-level official of Japan's defence department constitute blatant interference in China's internal affairs in disregard of the basic norms governing international relations and the principles set out in the four political documents between China and Japan and have a damaging effect on the political foundation of China-Japan relations. China strongly disapproves of and firmly opposes this and has made serious dAmarches to Japan. For half a century, Japan exercised colonial rule over Taiwan and committed notorious crimes to the Chinese people. Given the grave historical responsibilities Japan bears for those crimes, it is all the more important for Japan to act prudently and draw lessons from the history. What makes Japan think it is in a position and has the confidence to make such unwarranted remarks on Taiwan? I want to stress that the complete reunification of the motherland is the common aspiration of all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation and an unstoppable historical trend. No one shall underestimate the strong resolve, will and capability of the Chinese people to defend the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We urge Japan to stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question. Those who play with fire will eventually get burnt. CCTV: China and the EU put out the Joint Press Release yesterday following the Fourth EU-China High Level Environment and Climate Dialogue. Could you share more details with us? Mao Ning: On July 4, Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang and European Commission Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans co-chaired the fourth EU-China High Level Dialogue on Environment and Climate in Beijing and reached extensive common understandings. The latest dialogue is a concrete step to follow up on the important common understandings of the Chinese and EU leaders. It demonstrated both sides' readiness to step up practical cooperation, outlined key next-steps, added new dimensions to the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and sent a positive signal of China and the EU working together on climate change, biodiversity loss and other global challenges. We stand ready to enhance communication and coordination with the EU, deepen cooperation in key areas and make green the most distinctive color of China-EU cooperation. RIA Novosti: According to Italian media reports, Italy intends to withdraw from the Belt and Road Initiative and will not renew the MOU. What's China's comment? Mao Ning: Belt and Road cooperation began as a new platform for China-Italy practical cooperation. It has achieved mutually beneficial results in a range of areas. It is in both sides' interests to further tap into the potential of our Belt and Road cooperation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China appoints Wang Yi as foreign minister after removing Qin Gang Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 July 2023 1:43 PM China says it has removed Foreign Minister Qin Gang from his post following his disappearance for a month, replacing him with his predecessor Wang Yi. The Xinhua news agency reported that "China's top legislature voted to appoint Wang Yi as foreign minister ... as it convened a session on Tuesday," adding that "Qin Gang was removed from the post of foreign minister." The announcement comes as Qin, who was appointed as foreign minister in December, had not been seen in public since June 25 when he met visiting Russian, Vietnamese, and Sri Lankan foreign ministers in Beijing. After the 57-year-old diplomat missed an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, China's foreign ministry later said he couldn't attend for "health reasons". Wang filled in for Qin during his absence which took place without explanation. The 70-year-old diplomat will now retake the role he held between 2018 and 2022. Wang began his career in the foreign ministry in 1982, became the counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Japan in 1989, and then the minister counselor in April 1993. He then was appointed as the deputy director general of the Department of Asian Affairs at the ministry in 1994 and then the director general of the Department of Asian Affairs from 1995 to 1998. He served as the Vice Minister and CPC Central Committee member of the ministry from 2001 to 2004 before he was appointed Chinese ambassador to Japan. Wang also served as the director of the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council from 2008 to 2013. Between 2013 and 2018, Wang served as the minister and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of the foreign ministry, and since 2018, he served as the State Councilor, member of the Leading CPC Members Group of the State Council, and Minister of Foreign Affairs before Qin took up the position in 2022. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran welcomes China's balanced policy in West Asia: Top security official Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 July 2023 10:48 AM The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) has emphasized that Tehran appreciates Beijing's sound policy toward West Asia, praising China's contributions to regional peace. "In addition to its huge economic benefits, Iran's cooperation with China sets the ground for regional security as well," Ali-Akbar Ahmadian stated during a meeting on Monday with China's top diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of the 13th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and Representatives in South Africa. He further pointed out that Iran seeks to "strengthen its ties with independent and friendly countries across Asia, particularly China." Ahmadian also underlined the significance of identifying mechanisms to achieve the common interests of aligned countries. "We believe that multilateral cooperation helps to strengthen regional and international peace and stability, and further sets fertile ground for the protection of global peace and development of nations," added the senior Iranian official. Iran is China's strategic partner: Yi For his part, China's top foreign affairs official expressed his country's readiness to further strengthen mutual cooperation with the Islamic Republic, insisting that Tehran is Beijing's "strategic partner." Yi further vowed that China will continue to support Iran in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security, reiterating Beijing's opposition to any foreign interference in Tehran's internal affairs. China remains Iran's largest trading partner while both countries have been among the top targets of illegitimate US-led economic and political sanctions. They have enjoyed close ties in recent years, particularly after the United States reinstated sanctions on the Iranian economy in 2018 after unilaterally withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal. The two countries signed a 25-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement in March 2021 in an attempt to strengthen their long-standing economic and political alliance. The deal was announced during President Xi Jinping's visit to Tehran back in 2016. It sets the outlines of China-Iran cooperation in political, cultural, security, defense, regional, and international domains for the next 25 years. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's foreign minister removed from power Qin Gang's month-long absence has been mysteriously unexplained by Chinese officials. By Chris Taylor for RFA 2023.07.25 -- China's rubber-stamp parliament on Tuesday removed Foreign Minister Qin Gang from power after his unexplained month-long absence from public view sparked intense speculation and online rumors. Wang Yi, who outranks Qin and serves as President Xi Jinping's top foreign policy aide, was reinstated as foreign minister, according to a short statement made on China's state broadcaster, CCTV. He previously served in the role from 2013 to December 2022. The announcement followed a hastily convened session of China's Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, or NPCSC, to discuss unspecified personnel matters, or "bills of appointments and removals." Replacing Qin as foreign minister required NPCSC action. He was last seen in public during a meeting of senior diplomats from Russia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka on June 25. Qin is presumed to be under liuzhi - retention in custody - a regulated and "legalized" system for disappearances and holding of Chinese Communist Party members, state functionaries, those within academia, state-owned enterprises or state-media, local contractors, or anyone related to any of the above. "I think he is gone," Willy Wo-Lap Lam, a senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation and expert on Chinese politics, told the Sydney Morning Herald. "His career is finished. There is no way that he will be allowed to resume his position." The fact that the decision has been a month in the making is a sign of how serious the move is. Qin, China's ambassador to the United States before his ascension to the foreign minister role in December, had developed personal relationships with his foreign counterparts that will have to be rebuilt. There will also be the complex issue of whom his friends and allies are within the Foreign Ministry, with some, or all of them, likely being required to step aside. That could lead to bureaucratic friction and delays to key foreign ministry tasks. Heading the list of the latter are a possible Xi-Biden November summit. Whatever the reasons for Qin's dismissal - and rumors will likely continue to swirl - disruptions to China's diplomatic exchanges are expected to continue. Recently, the British foreign minister and EU's top diplomat have both shelved their scheduled visits to China. Palace whispers China's foreign ministry spokesperson initially cited "health reasons" to explain Qin's disappearance from the public eye, but rumors of an affair with a celebrity TV broadcaster have circulated on Chinese social media. Beijing is more than ever a city of palace whispers. The upper echelons of CCP power are opaque to outsiders, but when its movers and shakers make a wrong move, they can disappear only to reappear later facing charges of corruption or immorality. There's usually no recovery from a fall from grace. Since 2018, more than 57,000 people are believed to have disappeared under the liuzhi system. Examples, according to watchdog Safeguard Defenders, include actress Fan Bingbing, Supreme Court judge Wang Linqing, former Chairman of Interpol Meng Hongwei, possibly internet mogul Jack Ma, as well as numerous foreign citizens, including Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig. A personal favorite of Xi, the 57-year-old Qin's ascent was remarkably rapid by Chinese standards. Now it has come to a close. He rose from the role of ambassador of the U.S. to foreign minister in just 17 months. "Qin Gang was single-handedly pulled up the ranks by Xi. Any problems with him will reflect badly on Xi too - implying that Xi failed to choose the right person for the job," Deng Yuwen, a former editor of a Communist Party newspaper who now lives in the U.S., told CNN. Qin's travails A Washington Post opinion piece on Tuesday speculated that Qin "likely fell victim to infighting inside China's top leadership clique, which is notoriously fratricidal." "Qin has a huge number of enemies inside the government," one senior U.S. official told Josh Rogin of the Post. "He was a marginally talented person, who, just through being close with Xi, catapulted up." It's widely known that Qin's rapid ascent was due to his personal relations with Xi, which are said to have bloomed after Qin's wife gave Xi's wife a gift of homemade mooncakes. His rise was so meteoric, it's rumored that many in the inner sanctum of party politics are jealous, and the 69-year-old man who now has his job, Wang Yi, is said to be his chief rival. Qin struggled as Beijing's envoy to Washington from July 2021 to January 2023. The Biden administration interacted with him seldom, pegging him as a "wolf warrior" diplomat with no interest in stabilizing relations. While he was granted occasional meetings with White House and State Department officials, he had almost no engagement with cabinet secretaries and struggled to establish contacts on Capitol Hill. One diplomat described Qin as "shut out" in Washington partly as retaliation for the lack of access given to U.S. ambassador to China Nicholas Burns. Reacting to the news of Qin's removal Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the move was China's "sovereign decision," adding that he had "constructive conversations" with his Chinese counterpart and wished him well, the AFP news agency reported. Blinken said he expected to "work well" with Qin's replacement, Wang Yi. "It is important for us to manage this relationship responsibly," Blinken said. "That starts with diplomacy, that starts with engaging, and I will work with whoever the relevant Chinese counterpart is." Updated to add Blinken reaction. 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 Chinese Parliament Appoints Wang Yi As Foreign Minister Sputnik News 20230725 Ilya Tsukanov Wang, 69, is a career diplomat, administrator and politician with decades of experience as a diplomat representing China abroad going back to the 1980s. Before Tuesday's promotion, he served as the director of the office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party, effectively making him China's top diplomat. The Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress parliament has announced the resignation of Foreign Minister Qin Gang, and has appointed Wang Yi as his successor. Wang has already previously served as China's foreign minister for nearly a decade, taking up the job in March 2013 and holding it until December 30, 2022, after which he was replaced by Qin, 57, who held the post for just 205 days, the shortest tenure in the People's Republic's history. Tuesday's shakeup also saw American-trained People's Bank of China Governor Yi Gang, 65, removed after a five-year tenure and replaced by Chinese economist and monetary policy expert Pan Gongsheng, 60, who has also had prior research experience at Western universities including Cambridge and Harvard. Media speculated intensely about Qin's whereabouts for nearly a month after he was not seen in public for weeks after meeting with Vietnamese, Russian and Sri Lankan diplomats in late June. Chinese officials cited health reasons to explain his absence, and emphasized that the Asian nation's "diplomatic activities are under way as usual." Qin served as Chinese ambassador to the United States for 17 months between 2021 and early 2023, and as vice minister of foreign affairs between 2018 and 2021. Tuesday's decision comes a day after a meeting of the Chinese Communist Party's Politburo - the country's top decision-making body, on Monday. Who is Wang Yi? Wang is the third-longest serving foreign minister in the PRC's history, with his nine year, nine month tenure surpassed only by Qian Qichen (1988-1998) and Marshal Chen Yi (1958-1972). Born in Beijing in 1953, Wang served in the Northeast Construction Army Corps in China's Heilongjiang province, which borders Russia, for eight years after graduating from high school in 1969. In 1977, he enrolled at Beijing International Studies University, one of China's most prestigious schools, studying Japanese. Joining the Communist Party in 1981 and graduating in 1982, he began his career as a diplomat, serving in the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo between 1989 and 1994. Fluent in Japanese and English, he would also become a visiting scholar at the Institute of Foreign Relations at Georgetown University between 1997 and 1998, concurrently with his work as director general of the Foreign Ministry's Department of Asian Affairs. Wang was promoted to Foreign Affairs vice minister in 2001, served as ambassador to Japan between 2004 and 2007, and director of the Taiwan Office of the CPC's Central Committee between 2008 and 2013. The veteran diplomat became a member of the Politburo in October 2022. During his first tenure as foreign minister between 2013 and late 2022, Wang proved instrumental in promoting Chinese President and CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping's international agenda, from the ambitious One Belt One Road infrastructure project, to the Asian nation's promotion of institutions like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as alternatives to the US-led unipolar world order, to Beijing's advancement of its strategic cooperative relationship with Moscow. In February 2023, on the one year-anniversary of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, Wang outlined a 12-point peace plan, which proposed the cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and prisoners of war, a halt to unilateral sanctions, respect for sovereignty and rejecting the promotion of the security of some countries at the expense of others. President Putin expressed openness to discussing China's peace plan, but Ukraine and its Western sponsors rejected it out of hand, citing China's warm relationship with Russia. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese Spy Ships Monitor Australia War Games By Phil Mercer July 25, 2023 Chinese surveillance ships are moving in to monitor the largest ever military drills involving the US and Australia. Defense officials expect the high-tech spy ships to remain outside Australia's territorial waters during "Talisman Sabre." Thirty thousand military personnel from more than a dozen countries are participating in "Talisman Sabre," including troops from Canada, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Australia is monitoring two Chinese surveillance ships. One is reported to be stationed in international waters off Shoalwater Bay in the state of Queensland where it's closely monitoring the drills. Australia has made contact with the Chinese vessel, which gave a "courteous response" according to a senior Australian military officer. Professor John Blaxland, head of International Security and Intelligence Studies at the Australian National University's Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, believes that surveillance of the war games has become routine for China. He told VOA that it will make Australia and its allies more alert to any potential threat in the future. "China is a potential adversary," he said. "China is looking to collect information and that in doing so it plans to be in a position potentially to use it against us. That is having a very much a sobering effect on military practitioners in the army, navies and air forces of all those participating nations. So, yes, it is sobering, yes, it is plausible that it could be used against us and it is to a certain extent meant to intimidate. But it is in a sense part of healthy competition, really." Drills are taking place in the states of Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales, as well as the Northern Territory. "Operation Talisman" began a decade ago. This year's event is the largest in terms of its geographical area and the number of countries taking part. It includes amphibious landings, ground force maneuvers, air combat and maritime operations. Soldiers from Australia, the United States, Japan, and South Korea carried out a joint live-fire demonstration at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland on July 22 to launch this year's war games. United States Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, said in a July 21 statement that the exercise "increases our ability to work together in the countering challenges we may face here in the Indo-Pacific region." The drills are scheduled to run until early August. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Central bank governor pledges allegiance to Constitution People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 11:07, July 26, 2023 BEIJING, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Pan Gongsheng, newly appointed governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), made a public pledge of allegiance to the Constitution at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday. Pan was appointed at the fourth session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), which was held on Tuesday. The ceremony was chaired and overseen by Xiao Jie, vice chairperson of the NPC Standing Committee, and senior NPC and PBOC officials were in attendance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's top legislature holds session, foreign minister, central bank governor appointed People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:18, July 26, 2023 BEIJING, July 25 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature voted to appoint Wang Yi as foreign minister and Pan Gongsheng as central bank governor, as it convened a session on Tuesday. Qin Gang was removed from the post of foreign minister he concurrently held; Yi Gang was removed from the post of governor of the People's Bank of China, according to a decision adopted at the fourth session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC). President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to effectuate the decision. Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the session, which opened on Tuesday morning. A draft amendment to the Criminal Law was reviewed at the session. The amendment focuses on better implementing the Party Central Committee's principles and policies regarding the fight against corruption and the protection of private enterprises in accordance with the law. It refines stipulations concerning the crime of offering bribes as well as corruption conducted by private enterprise personnel. On Tuesday afternoon, Zhao presided over a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee before the closing meeting of the session. The closing meeting, attended by 169 members of the NPC Standing Committee, approved the personnel appointments and removals. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China, N.Korea 'to stand close' when US military presence worsens Peninsula tensions Global Times By Yang Sheng Published: Jul 25, 2023 11:31 PM Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, will lead a Chinese Party and government delegation to North Korea on Wednesday, the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee announced on Tuesday. The delegation will attend activities in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, said the announcement. Li, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, is the most senior Chinese official to visit North Korea since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chinese experts said the visit is proof of the unbreakable relationship between China and North Korea, with high-level mutual trust and cooperation when the world is in turbulence and the Korean Peninsula situation is becoming more tense, due to the increasingly provocative US military presence including the latest deployment of nuclear-powered submarines in the region. Mao Ning, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at the routine press conference on Tuesday that "China and the DPRK are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers. Our two parties and the two countries have had a good tradition of friendly exchanges." This year marks the 70th anniversary of the armistice of the Korean War. Having a high-level Chinese delegation visit North Korea and mark the occasion shows the high importance both sides attach to our bilateral ties, Mao noted. "We believe this visit will contribute to the sound and stable growth of bilateral relations, to regional peace and stability, and to creating conditions for the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issues," Mao said. Han Xiandong, a professor at the China University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times on Tuesday that "in 2013, when commemorating the 60th anniversary of the armistice of the war, China also sent a senior delegation led by Li Yuanchao, then Chinese Vice President. He was also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee at that time, just like Li Hongzhong." A key difference is that the delegation led by Li Yuanchao in 2013 was called "a Chinese delegation" while the delegation led by Li Hongzhong this time called "a Chinese Party and government delegation," Han told the Global Times, saying that this shows the two countries highly value the ties between the two Parties and are willing to comprehensively develop the traditional relationship. As Soviet Union was another key party who was involved and contributed to the armistice 70 years ago, Russia announced on Tuesday that it will send a senior delegation led by Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu to North Korea, who will visit from Tuesday to Thursday. According to TASS, the delegation will take part in "festive events marking the 70th anniversary of the DPRK's Victory in the Fatherland Liberation War of 1950-1953 (also known as the Korean War)." Russia's Defense Ministry said in the announcement that the Shoigu's visit "would contribute to strengthening bilateral military ties and mark an important stage in the development of cooperation between the two countries." Wang Junsheng, a research fellow in East Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the 70th anniversary of the Armistice of the Korean War comes at a very special time, as the international environment is in turbulence caused by severe competition and confrontation among major powers. Apart from the ongoing Ukraine crisis in Europe, the shadow of bloc confrontation has emerged in Northeast Asia due to the increasing interactions and provocative activities made by the US and its two regional allies South Korea and Japan, Wang noted. "In addition, after the three-year pandemic, North Korea still maintains its strict border controls, so at this special time, the visit of a delegation led by Chinese senior official is a signal to the world that China and North Korea will keep standing with each other to jointly overcome challenges on all fronts, and will jointly safeguard world and regional peace," Wang said. According to the Associated Press, North Korea "fired two short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern sea," the South Korean military said Tuesday, adding to a recent streak in weapons testing that is apparently in protest of "the US sending major naval assets to South Korea in a show of force." The US deployed a nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea on July 18 for the first time in four decades. On Monday, a US nuclear-powered submarine arrived in South Korea, only days after the first US nuclear-armed submarine's deployment, Reuters reported. When Washington is being increasingly provocative, worsening the situation in the Peninsula by taking more aggressive military actions, the US and its Western allies are trying to push China to ramp up pressure on North Korea. Reuters reported on Saturday that, "the Group of Seven, European Union and three other countries" - Australia, New Zealand, South Korea - plan to appeal to China for help to "stop North Korea evading United Nations sanctions by using Chinese territorial waters," according to their letter seen by Reuters on Friday. Mao, the Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, said on Monday that "When it comes to the implementation of the Security Council's resolutions, China has always earnestly fulfilled its international obligations." Han said "on one hand, the US is adding fuel to the fire, while on the other, the US is asking China to put out the fire. This is ridiculous, ironic and arrogant." In developing ties with North Korea, China has its unbreakable and unshakeable determination no matter how the international and regional situation changes, Han noted. "The future development of China-North Korea relations will not only benefit the two countries, but will also benefit the shared interests of the region and contribute to world and regional peace," Wang said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Military Delegation to Visit DPRK Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, July 25 (KCNA) -- At the invitation of the Ministry of National Defence of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), a military delegation of the Russian Federation led by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu will pay a congratulatory visit to the DPRK on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War. The visit will mark an important occasion in further developing the traditional DPRK-Russia friendly relations in keeping with the demand of the times. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea reopens hot spring resort, but only the rich and connected benefit Admission is pricey and must be paid in foreign currency, making it a 'pipe dream' for most. Reported by Son Hyemin and Park Jaewoo for RFA Korean 2023.07.25 -- Authorities in North Korea have reopened a lavish hot spring resort to the public that was shuttered for more than three years due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to residents of the secretive hermit kingdom. The resort, located about a two-hour drive east of the capital Pyongyang in South Pyongan's Yangdok county, boasts recreational facilities that include indoor and outdoor soaking pools as well as horseback riding parks, on a nearly 500-acre site. "Yangdok Hot Springs Resort has been open since July 15 and business has resumed," said a source in South Pyongan who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke to RFA Korean on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. The source said that the resort was closed amid a national emergency quarantine just two months after it opened in January 2020 as part of a tourism promotion project ordered by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to earn foreign currency for the regime. Its reopening 40 months later is part of a number of measures aimed at easing COVID-19 quarantine controls that began in early July, including the lifting of restrictions on domestic travel and an end to the mandatory use of facemasks, the source said. While foreign tourists are not yet permitted to visit the resort due to ongoing pandemic restrictions, she said, "anyone in North Korea can go to Yangdok Hot Springs." Anyone with close ties to the regime and plenty of foreign currency to spend, that is. US$10 will get you a ticket to the resort, which includes access to the baths and drinks for one day, she said, while accommodations range from US$10 to $100 per night, depending on the meals and drinks provided. "The cost is too high," the source said, adding that ordinary citizens would never be able to afford entry even if they had the required foreign currency, let alone the cost of lodging. Exceptions for the politically connected A second source in South Pyongan confirmed to RFA that the Yangdok Hot Spring Resort had been reopened "in the middle of the month," adding that "anyone with money [in foreign currency] can go." But he said that exceptions are being made for the politically connected. Officials, war veterans, and citizens who have been recognized at the national level for meritorious conduct are eligible for free 15-day vacation tickets to the resort, which include admission, lodging, food, and alcoholic beverages, the source said. Additionally, residents of the capital and "innovators" at state-owned companies can purchase 15-day tickets to the resort that include three meals and access to one hot springs bath each day, at the state-set price of US$12. All other North Korean citizens must pay market prices to enter and stay at the resort, he said. "We don't know the breakdown of free hot spring vacations, government-price hot spring vacations and market-price vacations, but those paying market prices in foreign currency exceed far more than half of the total visitors," the source said. "Yangdok Hot Springs Resort was built for the purpose of earning foreign currency. Domestic tourists as well as foreign tourists [when eventually permitted] are required to pay the price in foreign currency. However, to the general public, visiting the resort is a 'pipe dream.'" Tourism in North Korea Reports of the resort's reopening came a week after an American soldier in South Korea scheduled for disciplinary action crossed into North Korea in the Joint Security Area or JSA, at Panmunjom, where soldiers of both Koreas are stationed, sometimes facing each other. The soldier, Pvt. Travis King, was on a civilian tour of the JSA and crossed the Military Demarcation Line into North Korea without authorization and is believed to be in custody there. When asked whether the incident would further delay North Korea's reopening of the country's borders to foreign tourists, a tourism and travel agency official noted that not even most North Koreans who were outside of the country before the COVID-19 lockdown have been able to return. "There are still thousands of them stuck abroad," said the official, who requested anonymity in consideration of his country's relationship with North Korea. "Before they have been able to return home, the start of North Korean tourism [to foreigners] is long off." The official said that while it was "looking positive" for foreign tours to begin again this year, he believes that "early to mid-2024" is now more likely. He also predicted that the incident at the border would mean "trouble for JSA tours" organized by South Korean companies, noting that King had joined such a group prior to his crossing. "They are already often canceled for whatever reason, so this is certainly going to be something that might affect them," he said. A representative of KTG, which operates tours to North Korea, agreed that the border incident would likely "have a bigger effect on those arranging the tours in South Korea" and suggested that such agencies might "modify the way tours are conducted." But he said that the crossing was unlikely to "have had a big effect on [North Korea] tourism" for when the country does eventually reopen its borders. Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Matthew Reed. Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting of National Security Advisor with his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the BRICS NSAs' Meeting India - Ministry of External Affairs July 25, 2023 National Security Advisor Shri Ajit Doval, KC met H.E. Wang Yi, Member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Political Bureau and Director of the Office of the CPC Foreign Affairs Commission on the sidelines of the BRICS NSAs' Meeting in Johannesburg on 24 July 2023. During the meeting, NSA conveyed that the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China boundary since 2020 had eroded strategic trust and the public and political basis of the relationship. NSA emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to fully resolve the situation and restore peace and tranquility in the border areas, so as to remove impediments to normalcy in bilateral relations. The two sides agreed that the India-China bilateral relationship is significant not only for the two countries but also for the region and world. Johannesburg July 24, 2023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU prohibits the export to Iran of drones and components used in their construction and production Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland 25.7.2023 The EU adopted a new regime of sanctions, prohibiting the export from the European Union to Iran of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and their components. The new regime complements the previously adopted EU sanctions against Russia and Iran. Iran has supported Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia has received UAVs from Iran and used them against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. The new sanctions regime complements the previously adopted EU sanctions against Russia and Iran. It also aims to prevent the circumvention of EU sanctions against Russia. The new regime bans the export to Iran of UAVs and components used in their construction and production as well as the provision of related services or funding. The national competent authority, which in Finland is the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, may grant exceptions from this prohibition for medical or humanitarian reasons when the conditions for an exception are met. The regime also contains a humanitarian exemption for certain listed entities. Under the new sanctions regime, persons may be banned from entering and transiting the territory of the EU and the funds and economic resources of persons and entities may be frozen. In addition, no funds or economic resources may be made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of persons and entities on the EU's sanctions list. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran naval forces receive dozens of cruise missiles IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 25, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian naval forces have received dozens of new long-range cruise missiles, named after Iraqi anti-terror commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was assassinated along with Iran's iconic commander Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad in 2020. The Iranian Navy and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy took delivery of the "Abu Mahdi" cruise missiles in a ceremony attended by senior commanders on Tuesday. The Abu Mahdi cruise missile, with a range of over 1,000 kilometers, has been produced by the Aerospace Industries Organization of Iran's Defense Ministry. It can destroy mobile naval targets and is capable of covering a wide range of operations while streaking at low altitudes to evade enemy radars The cruise missile is able to destroy all types of ships, frigates and destroyers thanks to its high destructive power and the explosives in its warhead. Abu Mahdi is the first long-range cruise missile that uses artificial intelligence to plan its flight path and has the ability to pass over natural and artificial obstacles as well as the enemy's radar and defense systems. Speaking at the ceremony, Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said the new missile will expand the area that can be protected by Iran's defense systems several times compared to the past. "In line with the defense doctrine of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the improvement of its missile and defense power, we are witnessing today the joining ceremony of the long-range Abu Mahdi cruise [missile], which is a strategic system that we can call unparalleled," he said. Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of the IRGC Navy, also addressed the ceremony, saying the cruise missile will in practice disable the enemy's warplanes which are carried by aircraft carriers within the range of the missile. "One of the things that this missile can do is to repel the enemy, and it can drive the enemy away from our coasts," he added. 4354**7129 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran not accept any geopolitical changes, shifting borders of countries in region: President ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Tue / 25 July 2023 / 12:14 Tehran (ISNA) - Emphasizing the necessity of solving regional issues by the countries of the region, Iran's President stated, "The intervention of outsiders only complicates the issues, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, by supporting the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, hopes that these talks will establish and strengthen peace and security in the region as much as possible". Speaking in a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, Ebrahim Raisi stressed the necessity of solving regional issues by the countries of the region and stated, "Foreign interference only complicates the issues, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, by supporting the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, hopes that these talks will establish and strengthen peace and security in the region as much as possible". The President also stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not accept any geopolitical changes and shifting the borders of the countries in the region, adding, "Iran supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all the countries in the region". President Raisi emphasized the importance of improving the level of relations between the two countries as much as possible and added, "The Islamic Republic of Iran does not see any obstacle to the development of relations with Armenia". In this meeting, Ararat Mirzoyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, while appreciating Iran's positions regarding the developments in the Caucasus region, stated, "Armenia will never become a platform for anti-Iranian actions and always emphasizes on the development of regional security and peace". The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia considered relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran to be very important for his country and emphasized on increasing diplomatic relations between the two countries and strengthening and deepening the relations between them. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian naval forces take delivery of homegrown 'Abu Mahdi' cruise missile Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 July 2023 10:39 AM The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy have taken delivery of domestically designed and manufactured "Abu Mahdi" cruise missile, which features state-of-the-art technologies suitable for electronic warfare. The indigenous missile was supplied to the two naval forces during a ceremony on Tuesday with defense authorities in attendance. Abu Mahdi naval cruise missile has reportedly been developed by military experts at Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), a subordinate of the Iranian Defense Ministry and a leading high-tech complex headquartered in Tehran. It is said to be the first homegrown long-range naval cruise missile that employs artificial intelligence in the software for designing the missile's flight path and the command and control systems. The missile can penetrate into natural and artificial barriers, as well as the enemy's radar and defense systems and strike designated targets from different directions. Due to the incorporation of highly destructive explosive materials in its warhead, Abu Mahdi can destroy all types of ships, frigates, and destroyers. It can be fired from the depths of the Iranian soil toward moving targets in the sea using an advanced integrated navigation system and a powerful propulsion system. Abu Mahdi is the first long-range naval cruise missile in Iran that uses dual-mode active and passive seekers. The technology enables the missile to counter the enemy's electronic warfare and increases its stealth capabilities when approaching the target and hitting it. All this happens with the enemy not having noticed the missile and missing the opportunity to give a timely response. Its launcher can load and fire missiles in the shortest possible time and can launch several projectiles in quick succession and from different directions toward a specific target, with the missiles hitting the designated target all at once. The missile can be fired from all types of mobile and fixed launch pads, and its navigation system is capable of updating the target's final position during the cruise. The military achievement has been named after the former deputy head of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units who was assassinated along with top Iranian anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike ordered by former President Donald Trump near the Baghdad International Airport in January 2020 'Abu Mahdi renders enemy aircraft carriers useless' Commander of the IRGC Navy Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said one of the main features of the new missile is keeping the enemy away from the Iranian coasts and rendering its aircraft carriers useless. He explained that if an Iranian military vessel sails 1,000 kilometers offshore and launches an Abu Mahdi missile, the enemy's aircraft carrier will have to retreat at least 1,000 kilometers further away to evade the long-range naval cruise missile. "This means that the fighter jets on board that aircraft carrier will be rendered useless," he said. "We can fire the Abu Mahdi missile from deep inside the country. The missile has a dual seeker and performs successfully against the enemy's electronic warfare," the general said. 'Abu Mahdi to boost naval defense range' The Iranian defense minister said the indigenous Abu Mahdi missile will increase the country's naval defense range by several times. Speaking at the ceremony, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said that the missile, with a range of 1,000 kilometers, enjoys pinpoint accuracy and very high destruction power, can cross geographical barriers and cruise at low altitudes, is radar-evading and can counter the enemy's electronic warfare, and employs artificial intelligence in its flight path design software. "With the mass production of Abu Mahdi missile, we will be able to fire at the enemy's moving targets in the sea from the depths of the Iranian soil and entirely hidden places at the maximum operating pace, and completely destroy the enemy's ships, frigates and destroyers," he said. Iranian military experts and engineers have in recent years made remarkable breakthroughs in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient. Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran's defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiations. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has repeatedly called for efforts to maintain and boost Iran's defense capabilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India says will use all means to facilitate Iran's BRICS membership Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 July 2023 8:07 AM The national security advisor of India has said New Delhi will use every means and opportunity at its disposal to facilitate Iran's accession to the BRICS group of emerging countries including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Iran's membership in BRICS would expand its economic and political capacities, Ajit Kumar Doval said in a Monday meeting with Ali-Akbar Ahmadian, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, on the sidelines of a BRICS national security meeting. He said India will use every means available to smooth the way for Iran's full membership in the bloc. The two-day 13th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security opened on Monday in Johannesburg, South Africa. The BRICS Group includes the world's emerging economies -- Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa -- and is often viewed as an alternative to Western economic and political hegemony. The five-nation bloc accounts for 42 percent of the global population and about 26 percent of the world's economy, according to the South Africa-based Institute for Security Studies. Iran is among dozens of countries that seek membership in the BRICS and has submitted a formal application to join the body. Ahmadian, for his part, pointed to the long-established and friendly relations between Tehran and New Delhi, urging increased all-out relations between the two countries. He also said Tehran and New Delhi hold common positions and concerns in regard to the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, expressing Iran's readiness to develop cooperation with India in this regard. Chabahar port development Elsewhere in his remarks, Doval said Chabahar Port in southeastern Iran plays a key role in boosting economic relations between the two countries. He also called for the removal of existing obstacles on the path of the seaport's development. The Iranian security chief also pointed to Chabahar port as a symbol of Tehran-New Delhi cooperation and called for quicker implementation of agreements between the two countries in the fields of transportation, energy, and banking. Chabahar port, located in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province, is the country's only oceanic port in the Gulf of Oman and holds great economic and political significance. To improve the country's maritime trade Iran has taken serious measures for the development of the port. In 2016, India, Iran, and Afghanistan signed a trilateral agreement to give New Delhi access to Kabul and Central Asia via the port. Later, in a separate deal, Iran and India agreed to install and operate modern loading and unloading equipment including mobile harbor cranes in Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar. However, Iranian authorities say they are not satisfied with the pace of work carried out by Indian companies at Shahid Beheshti terminal in Chabahar as well as in the infrastructure projects connecting the port to the wider transportation network in Iran. This comes despite the fact that New Delhi has received exemptions from American sanctions on Iran to be able to develop the port. Last month, Ali-Akbar Safaei, head of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization, said that in an earlier visit by an Indian delegation to Iran, the two sides have agreed to settle the differences regarding the long-term contract for the development of the Chabahar Port. Non-Aligned Movement Doval also highlighted the role of the Islamic Republic of Iran and India in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), voicing New Delhi's readiness for closer cooperation with Tehran to play greater roles at the international forum. Ahmadian also said that utilizing the capacities that NAM holds is among the priorities of Tehran's foreign policy. With its 120 member states, the NAM is the largest grouping of countries outside of the UN, making it an important role player in global and multilateral affairs. Earlier this month, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian who visited the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to take part in the Ministerial Meeting of the NAM said the movement lends a "unique scope" to expand multilateralism and tackle new global challenges. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Warns of Missile Power as US Parks Amphibious Strike Group Near Its Shores Sputnik News 20230725 Ilya Tsukanov The Pentagon announced last week that it would deploy additional warships and a Marine expeditionary group to the Persian Gulf to "deter" Iran following a spate of tanker seizure incidents. Tehran has warned that the presence of non-Persian Gulf adjacent states' militaries in the strategic body of water would not facilitate regional security. Commanders from Iran's Army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have commented on the US's decision to beef up its presence in the Persian Gulf, and warned that the Islamic Republic will take measures necessary to protect itself. "Considering the control and capabilities of its Armed Forces in regard to navigation and aviation security in the Persian Gulf region, Iran reserves the right to make the necessary deterrent arrangements in compliance with the rules and regulations of international law, and will exercise its inalienable rights accordingly," Army Commander-in-Chief Abdolrahim Mousavi said Monday, speaking on the sidelines of a major aerial drill, commenting on the Pentagon's plans to deploy warships to the Gulf. "The Americans have come and gone from the region for many years with their bogus illusions, but the security of the region will become sustainable only with cooperation among regional countries," Mousavi stressed. Separately, at a ceremony on Tuesday related to the delivery of a new advanced naval cruise missile to the IRGC Navy, Commander Alireza Tangsiri said that enemy vessels will be forced to stay thousands of kilometers away to avoid finding themselves in the missile's crosshairs. "We can fire the Abu Mahdi missile from deep inside the country. The missile has a dual seeker and performs successfully against the enemy's electronic warfare," Tangsiri said. Iran characterizes the Abu Mahdi as "among the best missiles of its class in the world in terms of targeting, high destructive power, and passage through geographical obstacles and enemy defense systems," and says the missile, which has a range of over 1,000 km, will dramatically increase the country's maritime reach. "Since the missile has a very low flight ceiling and a very long range, it can hardly be tracked," Commander Tangsiri said. The new missile is named after Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the late Iraqi militia commander who was slain in a US assassination strike in Baghdad in January 2020 alongside IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, who was on a secret peace mission in the country aimed at normalizing relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Gulf Tensions Tensions in the Persian Gulf surged earlier this month after the US announced the deployment of F-16 fighter jets and A-10 ground attack aircraft to patrol the strategic body of water after a string of ship seizures by Iran for maritime traffic violations and attempted oil smuggling. Last Thursday, the Pentagon announced the deployment of two amphibious warships and thousands of Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Gulf on Defense Secretary Austin's orders. "Through these actions, the United States is demonstrating commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation and deterring Iranian destabilization activities in the region," the Pentagon said in a statement, using the same 'freedom of navigation' line it uses to justify the illegal deployment of warships, aircraft and troops thousands of miles from America's shores to Chinese-claimed waters in the South China Sea. Last week, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani emphasized that "Iran monitors with sensitivity any illegal and unconstructive act that affects the security of the region," and would "pay special attention to any provocative and illegal moves, especially near its borders." Iran has one of the largest and most technologically advanced militaries in the Middle East, and is equipped with an assortment of domestically-designed and manufactured missiles, warships, and air defense systems designed specifically for asymmetric warfare against a much larger and more powerful foe. The country has demonstrated repeatedly in recent years that it will not tolerate violations of its air and sea space, knocking a $220 million US spy drone out of the sky over the Strait of Hormuz in June 2019. The Persian Gulf is one of the most strategically important bodies of water in the world, with ship-based oil cargoes accounting for approximately 20-30 percent of consumption passing through its waters daily. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chief of the General Staff's Address to the IDF Israel Defense Forces "Our responsibility for readiness and unity" 24.07.23 IDF Editorial Team "The IDF's purpose has not changed over the course of the past 75 yearsato defend the State of Israel, ensure its existence and achieve victory in times of war. The IDF was established in a time of crisis, out of a necessity to ensure the existence of the State of Israel. This need has not changed to this day. The strength of the IDF lies in the quality of its service members, the high level of readiness for war and .internal and external unity As we begin a complex week, I would have liked to address the need for a high level of readiness due to the current situational assessment; I would have liked to address the subject of safety, following difficult incidents that have occurred recently, however certain urgent matters outweigh other important ones. I would like to talk to you about the importance of unity and our readiness in times of dispute. We have tried to stay out of the current discourse, but given its current prominence in Israeli society, we got caught up in it and our unity was impaired. It is our duty to prevent these cracks from widening. I will not address the essence of this dispute in Israeli society; it is legitimate. The role of the IDF is to defend the State of Israel so thata among other thingsawe are able to handle disputes under safe conditions. When a dispute spills over into the ranks of the IDF, and cracks begin to emerge, an infantry soldier might make the mistake of thinking that an IAF pilot will not assist him because of this dispute. An IAF pilot might make the mistake of thinking that it is possible to not prepare and maintain the necessary combat readinessawhen in practiceait might soon be necessary. These are dangerous cracks. We were trained on the ideals of comradery; on land, in the air and at sea. Remember the fighter pilots in the Yom Kippur War, 50 years ago, who flew at a low altitude in order to assist ground forcesasome of them did not alter their course even after they were hit. Remember them today, the pilots who went in 17 years ago to evacuate the wounded, while risking their lives, in the Second Lebanon War. Think of ground forces soldiers, who witness a pilot carrying out an emergency mid-flight evacuation in enemy territory; the forces will do everything in their power to maneuver, reach, and rescue them before the enemy arrives. Just three weeks ago, our combat helicopter pilots descended to a very low altitude in order to assist IDF Ground Forces with injured soldiers in the Jenin Camp. The pilots were so intent on assisting the ground forces that they lowered their flight path beyond the designated safe limits in order to identify the enemy. We will always operate together, help each other, and above allaprotect Israel's civilians. These ideals have always been clear, and we will continue to maintain them. Even if there are disputes, unity is a sacred value. Service in the IDF is both a duty and a great privilege, whether it be in active duty and in the reserve forces. If we don't have a strong and united defense force, if Israel's best do not serve in the IDF, we will no longer be able to exist as a country in the region. Therefore, no service members have the right to say that they will no longer serve, nor do they have the right to not report for duty or refuse an order. I call on all reservists, even in these complex days, to separate civil protests from reporting for duty to the security services. The calls to not report for duty harm the IDF and its readiness. Our reservists are very dear to us and they greatly contribute to Israel's security. I appreciate everyone, even those who have made difficult decisions with a heavy heart, and signed with a trembling hand that they will not report for duty; I call on them to return to service. The criticism towards this decision of some of the reserve personnel should be expressed with respect, without forgetting all that they have done for our country, for us and with us. These days, almost two thousand years after the destruction of the Second Temple, the IDF is strong thanks to its people, its capabilities, and above all, thanks to its valuesathe values of the IDF Code of Conduct, according to which we operate and will continue to operate in the future. We don't have other service members, and we don't have another IDF. It is never too late to correct this. We must mend this situation, for there is no other way without internal and external unity. This is all of our responsibility and first and foremost it is my personal responsibility as Chief of the General Staff. This is the only way we can maintain the IDF's purpose: to protect the country and ensure its existence." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli doctors call strike, reservists threaten to quit over 'judicial reforms' Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 July 2023 10:25 PM Israeli doctors have announced a 24-hour strike and army reservists threatened to refuse to report for duty to protest Knesset (the Israeli parliament)'s earlier approval of a key part of a hugely unpopular "judicial overhaul" plan. The Israel Medical Association called the walkout around the occupied territories, though not in the holy city of al-Quds, on Tuesday. The Tel Aviv Regional Labor Court ordered the doctors to return to work, but the physicians said they would not remain silent. "Tomorrow, the physicians will go back to work, but I can say that thousands of them are not going to be silent...," said Hagai Levine, chairman of the Israeli Association of Public Health Physicians. An increasing number of army reservists have, meanwhile, been threatening to quit reserve duty to similarly convey their opposition to the overhaul scheme. "There has been an increase in requests to halt reserve duty," Brigadier General Daniel Hagari told Israeli reporters in remarks confirmed by a military spokesman. "If reservists do not report for duty for a long duration, there will be damage done to the preparedness of the military," Hagari said, adding this would be "a gradual process." The regime's legislature approved the first bill of the plan in a tumultuous session on Monday that saw the opposition legislators walking out in protest and shouting "for shame!" The bill prevents the regime's Supreme Court from striking down the Israeli cabinet's decisions if it deems them to be "unreasonable." It is part of a broader scheme that Netanyahu announced in January as means of supposedly curbing, what he called was, decades of undue political interference by judges. The scheme's opponents, however, argue that it will remove necessary checks on the power that is wielded by the politicians. They also accuse Netanyahu, who is on trial on several counts of corruption charges, of trying to use the scheme to quash possible judgments against him. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Caspian Is Shrinking, And Kazakhstan Has Front Row Seats By Ainur Saparova, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service July 25, 2023 AQTAU, Kazakhstan -- Azamat Sarsenbaev, an activist from the Kazakh Caspian Sea city of Aqtau, is trying to bring attention to a problem that is closing in on residents of his city at the same time as their only water source recedes further into the distance. "Ten years ago we would swim around 200 meters in order to get to these rocks," Sarsenbaev told RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, recalling his childhood. "Now we are standing on them." There is no doubt that the Caspian Sea -- the world's largest enclosed body of water that is shared by Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan -- is shrinking. And because Kazakhstan's section of the Caspian is among the shallowest, it is no surprise that authorities here are scrambling to deal with severe consequences that are no longer far off on the horizon. Earlier this summer, Aqtau officials announced a state of emergency in relation to the recession of the shoreline -- a measure intended to accelerate mitigation efforts. Kazakh Environment Minister Zulfiya Suleimenova acknowledged the scale of the problem on the day of the June 8 announcement, citing "climate change as an exogenous factor" and upstream "regulation" of rivers that flow into the lake, such as the Russian-originating Volga and the Ural, as the main causes. Sarsenbaev is less diplomatic. While acknowledging that Kazakhstan needs to use water more efficiently, he argues that the construction of multiple dams and other industrial objects along the Russian parts of those two rivers is causing big problems for Kazakhstan. "They stop the water flow. And if less is coming in from the rivers, the Caspian will keep shrinking," he said, dismissing the idea popular among many Aqtau residents that the latest plunge is the result of time-honored tectonic shifts under the seabed. Geological changes have caused sudden shoreline recessions in the past -- including in the late 1970s -- but "a lot has changed in 50 years," Sarsenbaev argued. Aqtau: A City On The Edge Experts say the Caspian's most recent shrinking phase began around 2005. In the last few years, the rate of recession has increased, reaching a visibly critical low. According to Nature, a British scientific journal, the Caspian Sea's levels are projected to fall by nine to 18 meters "in medium to high emissions scenarios" before 2100. The drop is "caused by a substantial increase in lake evaporation that is not balanced by increasing river discharge or precipitation," the authors of a paper published in 2020 said. Indeed, current trends suggest that both of those balancing factors may now be in decline. The need for immediate action is not lost on Murat Igaliev, deputy director of the Mangyshlak Atomic Energy Combine (MAEK), an energy complex that comprises a decommissioned nuclear power plant -- thermal power plants that provide heat and electricity for Aqtau -- and a plant that desalinates water for the town where more than 200,000 people live. MAEK, in turn, depends on Caspian Sea water drawn from a water intake channel. In an interview with RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, Igaliev said that 590 meters of the channel was submerged in 2005, compared to just 145 meters now. During a harsh winter last year, part of the channel froze, contributing to a drop in power generation, while in the long-run, problems at the aging MAEK threaten the viability of Aqtau as a city. The urgent reconstruction work required for the channel is part of the reason the authorities declared a state of emergency over the Caspian. Igaliev said it is vital to find a contractor to begin preparatory work for dredging as quickly as possible and determine "what equipment is better to use so as not to harm the marine ecosystem." In addition to the former Soviet "closed town's" existence, declining water levels in the Caspian put the work of seaports central to the so-called "middle corridor" -- a cross-Caspian trade route that bypasses Russia -- into jeopardy. Kazakhstan's traditionally sleepy ports of Aqtau and Quryq have seen demand for their services increase in the wake of the Ukraine war, as some shippers look for alternatives from routes that traverse Russia, which has been hit hard by international sanctions. Kazakhstan, in turn, is keen to boost modest oil exports across the Caspian as far as possible in order to ease a near-total dependence on a troubled pipeline that sends Kazakh oil to international markets by way of the Novorossiysk-2 Marine Terminal in Russia. But the director of the Aqtau port, Abay Turikpenbaev, said the shallow waters near his port had already impacted the work of oil tankers, which can no longer be loaded to capacity. Turikpenbaev noted that from January 1, 2022 to January 1, 2023, the water levels at the port fell 30 centimeters, significantly more than the average of 5-10 centimeters in recent years. If that trend continues, dredging work will have to be carried out in order to prevent the port from falling into disuse, Turiqpenbaev told RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, bemoaning a lack of research into the problem by Kazakh institutions. For Quryq, some 70 kilometers from Aqtau, the problem is less pressing, given that the port, which was opened in 2017, occupies a position on the shore where the water is deeper. Nevertheless, Quryq's port director Serik Akhmetov said the port is already planning for a worst case scenario. "There are forecasts that the sea will recover. There are also predictions of the opposite. But we cannot sit back and wait. We are currently negotiating with Belgian and Greek dredging companies. We have been dealing with this question for the last six months," Akhmetov said. Is Russia To Blame? Scientists have few doubts that a drying Caspian will have major impacts -- ecological and socioeconomic -- on its five littoral states and the wider region. The most obvious evidence for that is the fate of the Aral Sea, once one of the largest inland bodies of water in the world. The Aral catastrophe, driven by the Soviet Union's cotton-growing policies in Central Asia, bequeathed a mostly dried up lake that split off into separate Kazakh and Uzbek sections. And the tragedy still haunts neighbors further afield, as dust storms from the dried parts of the lake travel across borders, lacing farmland in countries like Turkmenistan with salt. But the degree, timing, and nature of the Caspian impact will vary from littoral state to littoral state, making collective action harder to guarantee. This is a challenge insofar as the effects are less immediate for Moscow, whose Volga River alone accounts for around 80 percent of the Caspian's inflow, with the Ural and other Russian rivers playing important secondary roles. During the Soviet Union's industrialization drive in the 1930s, systematic damming along the Volga was seen as a factor in a sudden drop in the Caspian's sea levels that was later corrected by a spell of strong precipitation. And Kazakh experts believe Russia is now intensifying its use of upstream water, hastening the rapid decline of the northeastern Caspian that also hosts Kazakhstan's economically vital Qashagan oil field. Former Water Minister Nariman Qypshaqbaev told RFE/RL's Kazakh Service that he believed state officials who sign and oversee the current transboundary water-sharing agreements with Russia had not done their duty in regards to the Caspian. "If seven billion cubic meters of [water from] the Ural were still entering the Caspian [each year], then the Ural would not be as shallow [in Kazakhstan] as it is [today]," Qypshaqbaev argued, referencing an agreement that he said was in place during his time as a minister more than two decades ago. Nowadays, Qypshaqbaev claimed, Russia only guarantees Kazakhstan its agreed share of the Ural's water for farming and other economic activities, marking the end of the idea that "both sides are responsible for the water going into the Caspian, because the Caspian is common." Written by Chris Rickleton based on reporting by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/caspian-sea-shrinking- kazakhstan/32518243.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran ready to help reconstruction of Libya: FM IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 25, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has expressed satisfaction with the establishment of peace and Security in Libya, voicing Tehran's readiness to help the reconstruction process of the country. Amirabdollahian made the remarks in a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday with his Libyan counterpart Najla Mangoush. He elaborated on the real status of women in Iran, criticizing the Western double standard approach to the women's rights issue and exploiting the case as a means to serve their own political objectives. In the meantime, the Libyan foreign minister said she was happy with her Tehran visit which is the first visit to Iran by a high-ranking Libyan official in 17 years. Mangoush believed that the trip is indicative of the resolve on both countries to further enhance bilateral relations. The two foreign ministers expressed satisfaction with the recent developments in relations between the two countries, including the upgradation of the level of Libya's diplomatic mission in Tehran to ambassador level, the reopening of Iran's embassy in Tripoli, and the relaunch of a shipping line between the two countries. Amirabdollahian and Mangoush mutually refuted the desecration of the Holy Quran in two European countries. 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran ready to expand relations with Libya ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Tue / 25 July 2023 / 17:51 Tehran (ISNA) - Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Libyan counterpart Najla Mangoush held a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday. While expressing his satisfaction with the establishment of security and stability in Libya, Amir-Abdollahian expressed Iran's readiness to expand relations with this friendly country, stressing that Tehran is ready to assist Libya in its reconstruction projects. The Iranian top diplomat criticized the West's double standard and political exploitation of women's rights, while explaining the true position of women in Iran. Amir-Abdollahian also condemned the desecration of the holy Quran in Sweden and Denmark, stressing the importance of solidarity and unity among Islamic countries worldwide in this regard. Najla Mangoush, for her part, expressed her satisfaction with the visit to Tehran, which was the first high-ranking Libyan official visit to Iran in nearly 17 years, stating that it reflects the two countries' willingness to develop appropriate relations. During the meeting, both sides agreed to expand cooperation in various fields, including the establishment of a joint high commission, the formation of political consultation committees, strengthening economic relations, scientific and technological cooperation, and holding specialized exhibitions. They also praised recent developments in their diplomatic relations, including the upgrade of Libya's diplomatic representation in Tehran to ambassadorial level, the reopening of the Iranian embassy in Tripoli, and the resumption of shipping between the two countries. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNICEF appeals for funding as record 300,000 children enrolled in Bangladesh Rohingya camps People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 17:02, July 24, 2023 DHAKA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Against the odds of displacement, fires burning down learning centers, and Cyclone Mocha's wrath, classrooms in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh are filling up Sunday with children, excited on the first day of school. Thanks to expanded education opportunities for teenagers and girls, a record 300,000 children are enrolled for the 2023-24 school year, said the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in a statement on Sunday, adding it appeals for 33 million U.S. dollars to urgently support education for the refugee children here. According to the statement, the new academic year marks the first time Rohingya refugee children of all ages will study under the Myanmar Curriculum. Since its launch in 2021, this formal curriculum has gradually been expanded, with grades 3-5 and grade 10 opening on Sunday for the first time in the Cox's Bazar refugee camps, significantly increasing learning opportunities for older and younger children, said the statement. "Rohingya refugee children want to learn, and to turn their hopes and dreams for a better future to actual potential," said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF representative to Bangladesh. "The single most important ingredient for ensuring a safe and dignified return of these children to Myanmar is ensuring that they can continue their education while they are here in Bangladesh," said Yett. "I urge our partners and donors to stand by UNICEF as we deliver on our promise to provide education for every Rohingya refugee child." One million refugees, half of them children, have lived in the densely populated camps in Bangladesh since 2017 when they fled violence in neighboring Myanmar. Education for Rohingya refugee children is provided through 3,400 learning centers as well as through community-based learning facilities, according to UNICEF. In addition to the new opportunities for older children, a dedicated campaign has brought more than 13,000 children who were out of school into the classroom. Efforts to support adolescent girls to continue their education are key to the record attendance this year, according to the statement. Due to social norms, parents are often reluctant to send girls to school once they reach puberty. In response, UNICEF and its partners have worked closely with the refugee community to demonstrate to parents the benefits of education for girls, to provide girls-only classrooms, and to organize chaperoning by female mentors, said the statement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Junta will extend emergency rule to double down on repression: experts The regime wants to legitimize brutal tactics it hopes will pave the way for elections. By RFA Burmese 2023.07.25 -- Myanmar's junta will extend a state of emergency in the country ahead of a deadline at the end of the month, experts said, in a bid to pave the way for an election through increased political repression and crackdowns on dissent. The junta has announced three consecutive six-month extensions of emergency rule in Myanmar since the military seized power in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup d'etat, citing ongoing instability in the country. The current period is set to expire on July 31. Political analyst Ye Tun told RFA Burmese that the junta will announce a fourth extension this week in the hopes that it can crush the rebellion and legitimize its rule through an election. "The [military junta] will be able to hold elections only if it can put an end to the resistance across the country," he said. "That's why they will fight more fiercely to achieve their goals in the six-month extension term. If there are no other political changes to the situation, we can expect more armed clashes and more casualties." Opponents have dismissed the planned election as a sham because it appears rigged to exclude parties ousted by the coup and keep junta officials in power. On July 13, junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing hinted at a possible extension of emergency rule during a meeting of the Tatmadaw, or Myanmar's Armed Forces, in the capital Naypyidaw, calling for greater security in Sagaing region, as well as Chin and Kayah states. The three regions are centers of resistance to military rule and have seen an uptick in violence in recent months. Junta Deputy Information Minister Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun also recently told reporters that a decision on whether to extend the state of emergency would be made soon. According to Myanmar's military-drafted constitution, emergency rule can only be extended twice "in normal situations." In announcing the last extension on Jan. 31 this year, junta leaders cited the "extraordinary situation" created by resistance against the military regime for stymieing efforts to hold a general election. At the time, Min Aung Hlaing, faulted "terrorist groups" formed by deposed lawmakers and officials - the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and the National Unity Government - as well as the numerous local militias known as People's Defense Force, or PDF, that have fought the junta across Myanmar since 2021. Min Aung Hlaing was the leader of the coup that ousted and jailed leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy government about two months after their landslide election victory. 'No one can object' Lawyer Kyee Myint told RFA that the junta will again extend the state of emergency by exploiting the constitution's reference to "normal situations." "The [junta] appointed the heads of the Constitutional Court, not by [parliament] - that's why they won't care about whether what they are doing is in line with the constitution," he said. "This is nothing new. It's not in accordance with the constitution by any means." Members of the public who spoke to RFA Burmese about the likely extension seemed resigned over what they suggested was a forgone conclusion. "The junta will extend the state of emergency period for another term, but the people's defiance will remain unchanged," said a resident of Sagaing, who declined to be named, citing security concerns. "The junta will extend it to make it appear as if they are needed [to maintain stability]. The country is in a situation where no one can object to this extension." After the last extension, the junta declared martial law in 40 townships in Sagaing, Magway, Tanintharyi and Bago regions, as well as in Kayin, Chin and Kayah states. The military embarked on a brutal campaign against the armed resistance, but the resistance grew stronger. Mone Tine, an official with the special operations unit of the Myaung Township PDF in Sagaing, told RFA that an extension of emergency rule would have little impact on anti-junta forces in his area. "I expect [junta forces] will carry out more brutal acts in the future [with an extension]," he said. "But we are increasingly attacking them in some areas, rather than relying on a defensive strategy. If they extend the state of emergency again, it won't affect our fight for control of our region." Civilians bear the brunt Military clearance operations have claimed the lives of civilians on a near daily basis in Myanmar. According to Burma News International's Myanmar Peace Monitor, which compiles data on military conflict in the country, at least 383 civilians were killed throughout the country during the latest extension of emergency rule, from Feb. 1 to July 15. Most were arrested and killed or died in military shelling and airstrikes. Than Lwin Oo, a former lecturer at Yangon University's Department of International Relations and Political Science who left his position to join the anti-junta Civil Disobedience Movement, warned that if the military regime cannot achieve its goal through repression, it may try to negotiate with the country's ousted leadership. "They first tried to find a political exit by holding an election, but it hasn't worked and they are talking less about the election lately," he said. "The next attempt was that I heard that they mentioned a plan to hold a conference with the various ethnic groups ... This is also its attempt to find a way out. If all else fails, the junta will try to reconcile with Aung San Suu Kyi." According to a July 15 statement by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, nearly 2 million people have been displaced by armed conflict across Myanmar since the coup. Of those, nearly 800,000 people have been displaced in Sagaing region alone. Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Matthew Reed. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Junta raids force 5,000 residents of Myanmar's Sagaing region to flee township Troops have been raiding villages almost daily since last Friday By RFA Burmese 2023.07.25 -- A junta raid on Tuesday forced nearly 5,000 residents from 10 villages in Sagaing region to flee, locals told RFA. They said a junta column raided a village in Salingyi township this morning, prompting locals from other villages in the area to abandon their homes. "In the past people normally returned to their villages if the junta column left and went away," said a villager who didn't want to be named for security reasons. "But now it's raining and hot, so the roads are bad and it's hard for people [to move around]." The local said the junta had been carrying out systematic raids on villages almost every day since July 21. Residents said they are also scared to return home because they fear junta gunboats will come up the river firing heavy artillery. RFA reached out to the junta's Sagaing region spokesman, Saw Naing, for comment but he did not answer calls on Tuesday. Nearly 800,000 Sagaing region residents have been forced to flee their homes due to the conflict since the junta staged a February 2021 coup, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn and Josh Lipes. 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 Foreign Minister's Telephone Call with the OIC Secretary General Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Foreign Minister spoke with OIC Secretary General, Hissein Brahim Taha, over the telephone today. The telephone call was made against the backdrop of recurring incidents of the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden and other European countries. Condemning the despicable acts, which were clear violations of international law, the Foreign Minister briefed the OIC Secretary General about the resolution adopted by the Parliament of Pakistan in a joint sitting on 6 July 2023, and observance of 'Youm-e-Taqaddus Quran' across Pakistan on 7 July 2023, reflecting the aspirations of the people of Pakistan to safeguard the sanctity of the Holy Quran. The Foreign Minister appreciated the urgency with which OIC was responding to these reprehensible acts, under the stewardship of the Secretary-General. He commended the OIC for holding an Open-ended Extraordinary Meeting of the OIC Executive Committee on 2 July 2023, in Jeddah, and issuance of comprehensive CommuniquA after the meeting. The Foreign Minister also welcomed the OIC decision for holding Emergency Ministerial Meeting on this issue and briefed the Secretary-General about his telephone calls with the Foreign Ministers of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and TArkiye in this regard. The OIC Secretary General commended Pakistan's efforts to combat and counter Islamophobia and appreciated the leading role played by Pakistan in this regard at the UN. The Foreign Minister assured the Secretary-General that Pakistan stood ready to actively participate in all OIC initiatives to arrest the reprehensible tide of Islamophobia. Islamabad 25 July 2023 150/2023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Led by US, Western states pressuring African countries to sabotage Russia-Africa summit: Kremlin Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 July 2023 5:13 PM The Kremlin says the US-led Western states are putting an unprecedented level of pressure on all African countries to prevent them from taking part in an upcoming Russia-Africa summit, which is scheduled to be held later this week in St. Petersburg "Pretty much all African states have been subjected to unprecedented pressure from the United States, the French embassies have not rested and do not rest to this day, and other Western missions are trying to contribute their share to these efforts in order to prevent this summit from being held, to prevent the representation of African states at this summit," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during a press briefing in Moscow on Tuesday. The second Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum will be held in St. Petersburg on July 27-28. The organizers describe the summit as the "highest-level and largest-scale event in Russia-Africa relations." The Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum due to take place alongside it will provide a platform for business meetings and includes a program of more than 30 panel sessions and thematic events. The organizers describe the Summit as the "highest-level and largest-scale event in Russia-Africa relations". Elsewhere in his remarks, Peskov said it would be important for Russia to discuss the Black Sea Grain Initiative with African countries at the summit this week. The Kremlin says Kiev is using the grain export corridor as a cover to launch terrorist attacks against Russian targets. "It is very important for us that different supply channels are not used by the Kiev regime for military purposes, in order to carry out terrorist attacks on our territory, and so on. We will continue countering this," Peskov said. The deal was brokered last year by Turkey and the United Nations, expired earlier this month, and was aimed at helping prevent a global food crisis by allowing grain blocked by the conflict in Ukraine to be safely exported. Russian President Vladimir Putin gave assurance to African nations that Moscow would replace exports of Ukrainian grain to the continent. Russia refused to extend the year-old agreement last week on the grounds that it failed to meet Moscow's expectations, including the ability to export its own food and fertilizers. Moscow said it will not extend the deal as long as obstacles to Russian food and fertilizer exports under the accord were not fulfilled. Expansion of Russian influence in Africa The war in Ukraine has highlighted the growing diversification in the partnerships of countries in the Middle East and Africa with global powers. Over the past decade, Russia and China, in particular, have consolidated their relations with African states in a number of domains, from trade to energy and military cooperation. With ties forged under Soviet rule, Russia has historically enjoyed warm relations with many African countries, as their economic and ideological ambitions often align and their ties are bolstered by a mutual mistrust of the West. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Anti-War Activist Denied Extension Of Temporary Stay In Serbia By RFE/RL's Balkan Service July 25, 2023 Serbian authorities have denied an extension of the temporary residence permit of Russian anti-war activist Vladimir Volokhonsky less than two weeks after temporarily denying entry to Peter Nikitin, the Russian national with whom Volokhonsky helped establish the nongovernmental organization Russian Democratic Society. The Russian Democratic Society -- a Russian expat association that has grown to tens of thousands of people since Russia invaded Ukraine -- said that Volokhonsky, who arrived from St. Petersburg in May last year and was granted a temporary residence permit, was informed of the decision on July 25. Volokhonsky told RFE/RL's Balkan Service that the decision not to extend his residence permit is "a form of political pressure." "Since my activities, like all the activities of the Russian Democratic Society, are completely public and legal, I see no reason to consider ourselves a threat to the security of the state in any way," he said. An opposition councilor in St. Petersburg, Volokhonsky left Russia in March last year after he was taken into custody and his home was searched following his public opposition to Moscow's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Serbia's Internal Affairs Ministry and the Security Intelligence Agency did not respond to an inquiry by RFE/RL over why Volokhonsky was denied the extension. Volokhonsky has been threatened along with other opponents of the Kremlin's policies and its war in Ukraine. He was targeted on Telegram by the Russian extreme right-wing organization Russian-Serbian Center Eagles based in St. Petersburg. According to RFE/RL research, the group has links with right-wing parties in Serbia. Anti-war activists from a group called Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Serbs together against The War said they have sent a public request to police to reverse the decision against Volokhonsky. "Vladimir Volokhonsky's return to Russia would certainly mean his arrest and long-term imprisonment in labor camps, as all opponents of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's regime go through the same process," the group said. The Russian Democratic Society, which has been threatened with expulsion from Serbia in the past, said the refusal to grant Volokhonsky an extension for his stay represents "a continuation of illegal pressure on the Russian anti-war community in Serbia." Less than two weeks ago, Nikitin was denied entry to Serbia and held for two days at Belgrade's international airport even though he has a valid long-term resident's permit, is married to a Serb, and has two children who were born in Serbia. He was eventually allowed entry into the country on July 14. Volokhonsky said that some Serbian officials are "damaging Serbia" with the move and making it appear to be "an unsafe country where rights are not protected, and resettlement is not wise." "But I am convinced that this is not the case. I will stay here for a month, and then maybe I will leave the country. Of course, returning to Russia is not an option, because I will be arrested there," Volokhonsky said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-anti-war- activist-denied-residency-serbia/32518610.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 Woman Suspected Of Killing Pro-Kremlin Blogger Handed Final Charges By RFE/RL's Russian Service July 25, 2023 Russia's Investigative Committee has filed final charges against Darya Trepova, who is suspected of involvement in the April killing of Vladlen Tatarsky, the pen name of prominent pro-Kremlin blogger Maksim Fomin. Media reports quoted Investigative Committee chief Aleksandr Bastrykin on July 25 as saying that the 26-year-old Trepova was charged with "a terrorist act with an organized group that caused intentional death." Trepova was arrested after a blast in a restaurant in Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, on April 2 killed Tatarsky. Dozens of others were wounded in the attack. In May, Russia's Interior Ministry issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian citizen, Yuriy Denisov, saying that he was suspected of organizing the deadly attack. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said at the time that Denisov and Trepova had decided to assassinate Tatarsky and further tried to link the killing to associates of jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny. The FSB has not provided any evidence proving the allegations and Navalny's aides said the authorities were trying to link the anti-corruption crusader to the explosion to lay further criminal charges against him in the future. Tatarsky was known for his support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and for Moscow-backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. Russian media have said that Tatarsky was meeting with attendees when a woman presented him with a box containing a small bust of him that apparently exploded. Following her detention, the Interior Ministry posted a video of Trepova, who may have been speaking under duress, telling an interrogator that she "brought the statuette there that exploded." When asked who had given her the bust, she replied that she would answer the question "later." Tatarsky's death marked the second assassination of a prominent advocate of Russia's war against Ukraine. In August 2022, nationalist TV commentator Darya Dugina was killed in a car bombing near Moscow. Russian authorities blamed Ukrainian military intelligence for the death of Dugina, whose father is well-known Russian war supporter and idealogue Aleksandr Dugin. Kyiv has denied involvement in Dugina's death. With reporting by RIA Novosti Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-tatarsky-killing- charges/32518227.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 Rosoboronexport Agency to Present Security Solutions at Russia-Africa Summit Sputnik News 20230725 Rosoboronexport JSC (part of Rostec State Corporation) will take part in the Second Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum in St. Petersburg on July 27-28, 2023 at the Expoforum Exhibition Center in St. Petersburg. Russia's state agency for the export of a range of defense and dual-use products, services and technologies - Rosoboronexport - aims to present a wide range of Russian security solutions to African countries, covering counterterrorism, cyber threats, border security, and more. Alexander Mikheev, Director General of Rosoboronexport, emphasized the importance of the upcoming summit in strengthening cooperation. Since the first summit, the company has signed over 150 contracts with African partners, increasing its order book by over $10 billion, and expanded its presence in five new countries on the continent. "Rosoboronexport's mission at the Second Russia-Africa Summit is to elaborate concepts for addressing the main challenges to the global African security architecture, together with delegations from more than 30 countries of the continent that have arrived in St. Petersburg. The company will demonstrate tools developed and tested in Russia to counter terrorism, organized crime, cyber threats, protect the constitutional system and public order, provide border and critical facilities security and surveillance," he noted. The company's exhibits will be divided into thematic zones showcasing counterterrorism equipment, smart digital technologies, and military, dual-use and civilian products designed to address various security threats in Africa. Rosoboronexport will showcase battle-proven UAV systems like Orion reconnaissance, Orlan-10E, and Orlan-30 UAVs, alongside Kub-E loitering munition. Additionally, they will exhibit counter-UAV systems including RB-504P-E, Serp-VS5, and Saphir. Spartak, Tiger-Raid and Strela MRAP vehicles will be showcased in the area for armored fighting vehicles. Rosoboronexport's presence at the summit will provide an opportunity to meet with delegations from over 30 African countries, seek new growth points in cooperation, and strengthen existing partnerships. As Russia's sole state agency for defense-related exports, Rosoboronexport plays a leading role in the global arms market, working with over 700 Russian defense industrial enterprises and maintaining military-technical cooperation with more than 100 countries worldwide. Rostec State Corporation, Russia's largest machine-building company, actively contributes to both the defense and high-tech civilian production sectors. The Second Russia-Africa Summit will serve as a platform for Rosoboronexport to showcase advanced Russian security solutions and promote enhanced cooperation between Russia and African nations, ultimately contributing to increased security in the region. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Grain Deal Replacement? Russia to Offer Africa New Food Security Plan Sputnik News 20230725 Ilya Tsukanov The second Russia-Africa Summit and Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum will take place in St. Petersburg on July 27-28, with President Putin expected to meet with the leaders and representatives of 49 different African countries which have confirmed plans to take part. Russia will be offering African countries an alternative to the defunct Black Sea Grain Deal to ensure the continent's continued food security, Russian Foreign Ministry ambassador-at-large Oleg Ozerov has said. "Of course, it will be not only a discussion as such, but the discussion with solutions for African nations so that they leave St. Petersburg with clear understanding how these issues will be resolved," the Russian diplomat, who heads the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, told Sputnik. Russia has already provided assistance to some African countries earlier, including gratis fertilizer shipments to countries including Malawi and Kenya, Ozerov added. Moscow suspended its participation in the Black Sea grain deal last week, citing Western countries' failure to facilitate Russian food and fertilizer exports, and pointing out that just 3 percent of the grain shipped out of Ukraine under the agreement actually went to countries in need in Africa and Asia, with the vast majority instead ending up in Europe and Turkiye. Failure to Bully Africa Into Submission Western powers have failed to bully African countries into submission and to persuade them not to attend the upcoming summit in St. Petersburg, Ozerov said. "Pressure is being exerted. It is of a permanent character. This pressure was exerted through various channels - through the diplomatic corps of Western nations, which literally on a daily basis are trying to dissuade representatives of African states from traveling to Russia, and which demand that African countries firmly pick a camp," Ozerov said. The West's demands look "very strange," the diplomat said, as they're coming "from those countries which publicly proclaim democracy and freedom of choice, but in practice demand submission to their dictates." There are also other forms of pressure besides politics and diplomacy, the ambassador-at-large said, including economic and financial coercion, with "political conditions put in place for the provision of economic assistance to a number of states both through the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, where the United States uses its dominant position to put forward political conditions." Similar conditionalities are being set up by the European Union, "when the allocation of loans is conditioned on the termination of contacts with the Russian side, or their reduction to a minimum, the non-attendance of a summit or the non-participation in [other] events," Ozerov said. Nevertheless, the diplomat stressed that Russia has not seen "African states following this dictate en masse." "It's now obvious that that the Western bloc cannot bend all other countries to its will, for objective reasons," Ozerov said, likely alluding to the G7's falling political and economic weight in the world as the BRICS countries slowly move the planet in the direction of genuine political and economic multipolarity. Delegations from 49 of Africa's 54 countries confirmed their plans to participate in the Russia-Africa Summit by last week, with about half being represented at the highest level - by heads of state or heads of government, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Ahead of the summit, Russian President Putin penned an article outlining his vision on the prospects for cooperation between Russia and African countries. Policy Declaration Ozerov indicated that Russian and African leaders will be adopting an overarching policy declaration, joint action plan, as well as three documents on sectoral cooperation at the summit, with the latter concerned with "the fight against terrorism, the non-deployment of weapons in space and international information security." The Russian Foreign Ministry expects that these document will become a platform for joint work with African countries on the creation of a new configuration of international relations, based on equality and a multipolar world rather than on a "unilateral dictatorship," the diplomat noted. Security Cooperation In the security sphere, the Russian ambassador-at-large pointed out that Russia has no military presence in Africa, with requests of certain African countries concerning only security assistance. "We do not have military presence there. There are requests to Russia to provide security assistance. But it is not military presence. Military presence is when one sends troops. We are not sending them. We are sending instructors at the request of African states," Ozerov said. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Defense Minister in North Korea to Mark War Anniversary By Eunice Kim July 26, 2023 North Korea is receiving invited delegates from Russia and China this week for the 70th anniversary celebrations of its self-proclaimed "Victory Day," an exceptional move in light of the ongoing border closures in place since early 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. July 27, 1953, marks the day the signing of a long-negotiated armistice agreement paused the Korean War. North Korea claims the 1950-1953 war was started by the U.S. and South Korea, and that it ultimately clenched victory. North Korean state media on Wednesday published images of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arriving at Pyongyang International Airport the night before to be greeted by his North Korean counterpart Kang Sun Nam. The "goodwill mission of the Russian army and people will significantly contribute to developing [onto] a high stage the strategic and traditional DPRK-Russia friendly relations ... in keeping with the demand of the times," KCNA said. DPRK or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is North Korea's official name. In its statement, Russia's Defense Ministry characterized the visit as one that will "help strengthen Russian-North Korean military ties and will be an important stage in the development of cooperation between the two countries." Anniversary events are expected to culminate in a large-scale nighttime parade on Thursday, in what is typically an elaborate show of North Korea's various military hardware developed over the years. A parade in February introduced prototypes of the now twice-tested solid-fueled Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile, in a grand finale of 16 ICBMs that were rolled out on transporter erector launchers to cap the late-night celebration. This week's high-profile visit by the Russian defense minister carries symbolic significance, with the possibility of Sergei Shoigu meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un being raised. Analysts will be watching whether the trip could lead to boosted arms sales between Pyongyang and Moscow. Washington previously accused North Korea of sending weapons and workers to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine. Both Moscow and Pyongyang dismissed the charge. Meanwhile, China will be represented at the anniversary celebrations by the vice chairman of the Chinese National People's Congress' Standing Committee, Li Hongzhong, in a visit scheduled to begin Wednesday. "Having a high-level Chinese delegation visit North Korea and mark the occasion [of the 70th anniversary of the armistice of the Korean War] shows the high importance both sides attach to our bilateral ties," said China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning Tuesday. South Korea's foreign ministry said Seoul is watching how Russia and North Korea's relationship evolves, adding that it hopes the relations moves the peninsula toward peace and stability. Washington also voiced hopes that Russia and China will encourage North Korea from "threatening, unlawful behavior," underlining the potential role they can play in bringing Pyongyang back to the negotiating table. "The United States' point of view on this has been quite consistent, which is that we are open to meeting with Pyongyang without preconditions and we continue to have a commitment for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," said State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel. On U.S. Army private Travis King, who crossed into North Korea last week through the Joint Security Area at the DMZ, Vedant said he had no new updates. Pyongyang has also yet to make any public comments on the soldier believed to be in its custody. Russia and China have both sided with North Korea at several United Nations Security Council meetings convened to condemn North Korea's ballistic missile tests, outlawed under several UNSC resolutions. North Korea has been on a record-setting run of ballistic missile tests since last year. This month alone, it has test fired its latest Hwasong-18 ICBM and launched four short-range ballistic missiles late in the night, local time. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrians protest U.S. presence in E. Syria People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:43, July 25, 2023 DAMASCUS, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Scores of people in Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zour on Monday protested against the presence of the U.S. forces, state news agency SANA reported. People in the city of al-Mayadeen staged a protest, holding up banners that denounced the U.S. occupation and expressed their support for President Bashar al-Assad. The protest comes amid reports that the U.S. forces and their allied Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces are amassing forces to attack areas controlled by the Syrian government forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor. The aim of the potential attack is to reach the government-held cities of al-Mayadeen and al-Bukamal west of the Euphrates River, both largely controlled by Hezbollah, a Lebanese armed group backed by Iran, the Britain-based watchdog added. The U.S. forces want to take control of both cities as they are allegedly conduits for moving weaponry from Iran through Iraq and Syria to the Hezbollah in Lebanon, it noted. Skirmishes and drone attacks between the U.S. forces and Iran-backed fighters, which the Syrian government hailed as forces of resistance against the U.S. occupation, have recently intensified. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military tests air-defense, command transfer on 2nd day of Han Kuang ROC Central News Agency 07/25/2023 04:43 PM Taipei, July 25 (CNA) Taiwan's military on Tuesday held a series of air-defense drills, including an evacuation and relocation of the Air Force's Taipei command headquarters, on the second day of the live-fire phase of the annual cross-branch Han Kuang exercises. Due to the approaching Typhoon Doksuri, the scale of warplane deployments and air raid drills has been adjusted, according to military personnel familiar with the exercises. The primary purpose of these exercises was to test cross-branch air defense capabilities, several unnamed military sources told CNA. The joint operation saw the Air Force and Navy deploy truck-mounted anti-air missile defense systems, including Hsiung Feng, Patriot PAC-2, and Tien Kung or Sky Bow, to conduct anti-aircraft and ballistic missile drills around the country, the sources said. Meanwhile, on Tuesday morning, the Air Force completed a round of exercises simulating the relocation of the Joint Air Operations Command Center from Toad Mountain in Taipei in the event of an attack, according to these sources. To ensure there would be no interruption in the chain of command in terms of air defense, military personnel stationed at Toad Mountain, commonly known as "the nerve center of Taiwan's Air Force," were relocated to an undisclosed alternative location to continue to carry out their mission, the sources added. According to these unnamed sources, the military has at least three alternative command center locations in northern, southern and eastern Taiwan in this chain of command transfer scenario. On Tuesday, the military also simulated the defense of critical infrastructure across the country in cooperation with local police forces, firefighters and Coast Guard as part of the second day of the Han Kuang exercises. The live-fire component of this year's Han Kuang military exercises kicked off early Monday with the focus of the first-day drills on testing the military's preservation and maintenance of combat capabilities in the event of a full-scale Chinese invasion. The annual Han Kuang exercises, which have served as Taiwan's major war games since 1984, consist of live-fire drills and computerized war games and are meant to test Taiwan's combat readiness in the face of a possible Chinese invasion. This year's tabletop exercises were staged in May. (By Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tainan holds military, air raid, disaster drills on same day for 1st time ROC Central News Agency 07/25/2023 10:25 PM Tainan/Kaohsiung, July 25 (CNA) Annual air defense, disaster and cross-branch military drills were held on the same day in Tainan for the first time Tuesday, as part of a simulated Chinese attack on the southwestern city. At 1:30 p.m., police and military personnel in Tainan began imposing strict traffic controls alongside an order for civilians to shelter in place for the 30-minute Wanan air defense drill. Meanwhile, Taiwan's armed forces held a series of military maneuvers testing the city's response to a simulated Chinese missile attack on airports, harbors, and residential areas as part of cross-branch Han Kuang military drills. In addition, civilian workers took part in drills organized by the city government at five locations, including the port of Anping, for the 9th edition of the Minan disaster prevention exercises. The mock rescue operations, which included a simulated building collapse, saw staff from the city's emergency services mobilize a 90-meter-high aerial work platform and drones for land, sea, and air rescue efforts, according to officials. Among those observing the drills were Premier Chen Chien-jen (), Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng () and National Security Council Secretary-General Wellington Koo (). In an address following the conclusion of the exercises, Chen noted that extreme weather and frequent compound disasters had rendered living conditions in Taiwan increasingly precarious, adding that international tensions had also been heightened by the war in Ukraine. Describing China as a continuous threat to the country's safety and development, the premier said that emphasizing security remained Taiwan's greatest challenge. "Only through the all-out defense mobilization and disaster prevention can Taiwan effectively respond to these challenges," Chen noted. In neighboring Kaohsiung, where the Wanan drill was held at the same time as in Tainan, people and vehicles followed the guidance of police and civil defense personnel to evacuate and seek shelter, city police said in a press release. Also held in Kaohsiung was disaster response drills at the TAi Urban Resort and at a local power station run by the state-owned Taiwan Power Co. According to police, the emergency drills included firefighting, medical treatment for a large amount of the injured and handling of radiation leaks. The Wanan drills, which took place in northern Taiwan from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, was also held in Pingtung County on Tuesday. They will take place in the eastern part of the country and Taiwan's outlying counties on Wednesday. (By Hung Hsueh-kuang, Chang Jung-hsiang and Chung Yu-chen) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address "We want to crown our intensive struggle in the judiciary with a civilian constitution" Presidency of The Republic of Turkey 25.07.2023 Speaking at the appointment ceremony of judges and public prosecutors, President ErdoAYan said: "To be honest, we cannot accept the fact that we are welcoming the centenary of our Republic with a post-coup constitution. We, inshallah, want to crown the intensive struggle we have been waging in the judiciary since 2002 with a civilian, libertarian and inclusive constitution." President Recep Tayyip ErdoAYan made a speech at a ceremony held at BeAYtepe Nation's Convention and Culture Center for the appointment of 1,102 judges and public prosecutors. Congratulating all the judges and public prosecutors on their appointment, President ErdoAYan wished success to all of them. Drawing attention to their promise they made, when they took office, about raising TArkiye on the pillars of education, health, security and justice, President ErdoAYan noted: "Despite the circumstances and challenges our country has been faced with over the past 21 years, we have firmly stuck to our promise. The numbers lay bare in an undeniable manner the progress TArkiye has in the past 21 years made in the quality of the justice services. We have increased by 2.5 times the number of judges and public prosecutors, which was 9,349 in 2002, to almost 24 thousand. The total number of the judicial staff has risen from 61 thousand to 190 thousand." Underscoring that the biggest obstacle before TArkiye achieving its goals is the current constitution that is a product of a coup, President ErdoAYan said: "To be honest, we cannot accept the fact that we are welcoming the centenary of our Republic with a post-coup constitution. We, inshallah, want to crown the intensive struggle we have been waging in the judiciary since 2002 with a civilian, libertarian and inclusive constitution." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address "Our efforts continue unabated to ensure that TArkiye achieves its goals" Presidency of The Republic of Turkey 25.07.2023 Addressing citizens following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting, President ErdoAYan said: "Our efforts continue unabated to ensure that TArkiye achieves its goals. We, again, have had a busy agenda since the previous cabinet meeting. We have carried on our journey of serving our nation with mass opening ceremonies and provincial visits at home, and with summits and trips abroad." President Recep Tayyip ErdoAYan spoke in a press conference following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Complex. President ErdoAYan said: "You know, our efforts continue unabated to ensure that TArkiye achieves its goals. We, again, have had a busy agenda since the previous cabinet meeting. We have carried on our journey of serving our nation with mass opening ceremonies and provincial visits at home, and with summits and trips abroad. On July 7 in our country, we discussed the issues on our agenda with President of Ukraine, Mr. Zelenskyy. At our meeting with Mr. Zelenskyy, we shared our recommendations for ending the war that has been going on for more than 500 days, and we emphasized once again that we are ready to do our part." Noting that he, on the same day, attended the commencement ceremony of the 249 officers who successfully graduated from the Army, Navy and Air War Colleges of the National Defense University, President ErdoAYan stated: "We witnessed that our university, which we had restructured following the July 15 coup attempt, properly fulfills its main duty." Drawing attention to the domestic visits he has been paying to various cities across the country since the presidential elections, including Bayburt and GAmAAYhane from which the President received the highest number of votes in the last elections, President ErdoAYan thanked the provinces and their locals who lent support to him in the elections, and said: "Not making do with words of gratitude alone, we also held the opening ceremonies of investments worth nearly 2.689 billion liras in Bayburt and about 1.1 billion liras in GAmAAYhane. I once again extend my most heartfelt appreciation to our brothers and sisters from Bayburt and GAmAAYhane, who have always supported and prayed for us. We will work tirelessly to be worthy of the trust of all of our 81 provinces besides these two, whether they vote for us or not." "WE HAVE EXPRESSED TARKAYE'S EXPECTATIONS IN A CLEAR MANNER" President ErdoAYan, regarding his foreign trips, said: "Following the visits to Bayburt and GAmAAYhane, we went to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius to attend the NATO Summit. The Summit, held at a critical period, served as an international meeting during which we voiced our theses particularly with regard to combatting terrorism, and obtained diplomatically important gains. It was announced that a Special Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism would be appointed by the Secretary General for the first time at NATO. Agreement was reached on many issues that would contribute to the security of both our country and the Alliance. While stressing our principled support for NATO's enlargement, we also expressed TArkiye's expectations in a clear manner. We made our warnings concerning not only terrorism but also Islamophobia, which spreads like a plague in the West. The steps to be taken mutually about Sweden's membership to the Alliance were laid out in a joint statement. We will do our part once the parliament opens. The Grand National Assembly of TArkiye has the final say on the membership protocols. We have no doubts whatsoever that our MPs will act conscientiously and do whatever our country's interests necessitate." "WE HAVE OVERCOME MANY PROBLEMS CONSIDERED INSURMOUNTABLE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AND OTHER COUNTRIES" Drawing attention to his bilateral meetings with various leaders including those of the U.S., France and Greece on the sidelines of the NATO Vilnius Summit, President ErdoAYan stated: "We saw once again during these talks that we have no insurmountable problems with any country, particularly with our neighbors. We believe that misunderstandings and disagreements will be resolved once a space is opened for dialogue and diplomacy. We have achieved this many times in the past 21 years. We have overcome many problems considered insurmountable with our neighbors and other countries. There is no obstacle that can prevent us from doing the same today as well. We are particularly hopeful about the results of the talks with our European friends. We want to see progress on such basic agenda items as the revival of our full membership process to the European Union, modernization of the Customs Union, and visa liberalization for our citizens. We hope to see soon the favorable outcomes of these moves, which will benefit both our country and the European Union." "WE HAVE SIGNED THE LARGEST DEFENSE AND AVIATION EXPORT CONTRACT IN OUR HISTORY" Describing his Gulf tour covering Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as very successful and fruitful, President ErdoAYan stated: "We further expanded our cooperation with Saudi Arabia through the five agreements we signed. We signed the largest defense and aviation export contract in our history. We decided to crown our excellent relations with Qatar with new partnerships. The United Arab Emirates is one of our most important trade and economic partners in the region, with our bilateral trade volume nearing 10 billion dollars. We marked the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic relations with the establishment of the High-Level Strategic Council. During our visit, we signed 13 agreements in various areas with a total value of 50.7 billion dollars." "WE NEVER SHY AWAY FROM A RESOLUTION BASED ON THE FACTS ON THE ISLAND" As regards the visit he paid to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on the Peace and Freedom Day following the Gulf tour, President ErdoAYan stated: "We commemorated the 49th anniversary of the Peace Operation with the inauguration of Ercan Airport's new terminal building and runway. I once again wish Ercan Airport, which can now accommodate 10 million passengers, to be auspicious for the Turkish Cypriot people. Let me reiterate one point hereby: We have never shied away from a resolution based on the facts on the island, nor do we. We don't hesitate to take on responsibilities to achieve a lasting and just peace on the Cyprus island. We have shown our sincerity on this issue in all processes up to now, including the Annan plan, and we will show it again if necessary. It is, however, evident that in order for this to happen, our counterparts need to accept the situation on the ground rather than insist on impositions. I once again remember our martyrs with grace on the 49th anniversary of the Peace Operation, and extend my gratitude to our ghazis. I would like to stress that our support to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is there to remain forever, and that our contributions will increasingly continue in every area including agriculture, energy, water, electricity, transport and health." "WE WILL KEEP ALIVE THE JULY 15 IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS MEANING AND SPIRIT" Pointing to the commemorative events held in Istanbul on the seventh anniversary of the July 15 coup attempt, President ErdoAYan said: "We once again remembered and reminded our debt of gratitude to the heroes of the Century of TArkiye. Each passing year, we better understand the greatness of the victory our nation achieved on the night of July 15. That night, TArkiye not only thwarted a coup attempt against its democracy. Indeed, our country repelled an occupation attempt targeting its independence on that ominous night. Our nation once again shouted out, at the cost of losing 253 children of the homeland, to the whole world that TArkiye is impenetrable." Underscoring that the memory of the July 15 will be kept alive via films, books, documentaries, poems and events in accordance with its meaning and spirit, President ErdoAYan noted: "We will continue our fight against this terrorist organization as well as their extensions and supporters until the last FETO-member traitor is brought to justice. I hereby wish Allah's mercy on our martyrs, and a health, peaceful and prolific life to our ghazis. I pray Allah that we may never experience a treason such as the July 15 again." "WE CONVEY OUR BEST WISHES TO OUR GREEK NEIGHBORS" Noting that TArkiye is also affected by the negative impacts of the climate change, as most recently seen in the wildfires in the country's west and south, President ErdoAYan noted that TArkiye successfully continues its fight against forest fires. President ErdoAYan added: "While quickly responding to fires in our country, we are also rushing to help out other countries in need. We sent two amphibious firefighting aircraft and a firefighting helicopter to our neighbor Greece, which is struggling with a huge fire. We convey our best wishes to our Greek neighbors, especially the people of Rhodes." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lithuania calls for strengthening the alternative route for Ukrainian grain export through the Baltic States Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2023.07.25 Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, together with Marius Skuodis, Minister of Transport and Communications, and KAstutis Navickas, Minister of Agriculture, have addressed the leaders of the European Commission in a joint letter proposing to strengthen the transport route between Ukraine and the Baltic States to ensure alternative routes for the export of Ukrainian grain and other products. The letter to EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borel, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean, and Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski stresses that Russia's decision to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the bombing of the port of Odessa worsen an already difficult global food security situation. The Ministers noted that the Baltic route, a transport route between Ukraine and the Baltic countries, could provide a viable and long-term alternative for Ukrainian grain exports. Improvement of the corridor infrastructure as well as easier handling of goods between the different railway tracks would help to increase transport capacity. Moreover, simplified administrative procedures at the Polish-Ukrainian border and the introduction of green lines and the transfer of customs clearance to the Baltic ports could help transport several times more agricultural produce by road and rail. "The Baltic infrastructure may become a viable and reliable transit route for Ukrainian products. The Baltic seaports have a large handling capacity of agricultural products totaling 25 million tons per year for grain alone," the letter said. In their letter, the Ministers called the Commission for an active cooperation with all EU Member States to ensure the transit of Ukrainian products and assess specific measures proposed by Lithuania to strengthen the alternative Baltic route. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia dismisses UN call to return to Black Sea grain deal Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 July 2023 1:38 PM Russia has rejected a UN call to return to a deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain via the Black Sea. The Kremlin reiterated on Tuesday that it was impossible for Russia to return to the so-called Black Sea Grain Initiative for now, as an agreement related to Russian interests was "not being implemented." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that President Vladimir Putin had made it clear that the deal could be revived if the Russia-focused part of the agreement was honored. The deal was brokered last year by Turkey and the United Nations, expired earlier this month, and was aimed at helping to prevent a global food crisis by allowing grain blocked by the conflict in Ukraine to be safely exported. Peskov said it would be important for Russia to discuss grain supplies with African countries at a Russia-Africa summit later this week. In the meantime, Putin gave assurance to African nations that Moscow would replace exports of Ukrainian grain to the continent. Russia refused to extend the year-old agreement last week on the grounds that it failed to meet Moscow's expectations, including the ability to export its own food and fertilizers. Moscow said it will not extend the deal as long as obstacles to Russian food and fertilizer exports under the accord were not fulfilled. The Kremlin also says Kiev is using the grain export corridor as a cover to launch terrorist attacks against Russian targets, which needed to be resolved, as well. Meanwhile, the UN has expressed concerns over the expiration of the grain deal, arguing this combined with Russia's attacks on Ukraine's port regions could jeopardize global food security. "Russia's termination of its participation in the Black Sea Initiative, coupled with its bombardment of crucial ports, will further compound the crisis," said senior UN official Rosemary DiCarlo on Friday in a briefing to the Security Council. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia says it foiled Ukraine drone attack on Black Sea patrol ship Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 July 2023 11:03 AM Russia says it has repelled a Ukrainian drone attack on a military patrol ship in the southwestern part of the Black Sea, in what comes after Russia's withdrawal from a deal that had granted a safe passage for Ukraine grain export ships. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that last night two Ukrainian naval drones had attempted to target its patrol ship, the Sergey Kotov, but the attack was neutralized. "The Ukrainian armed forces unsuccessfully tried to attack patrol ship 'Sergey Kotov' of the Russian Black Sea Fleet that is controlling ship traffic in the southwestern part of the Black Sea," the statement read. The ministry added neither the Russian vessel nor its crew were harmed, noting that the patrol ship continued its mission. Tensions have escalated in the Black Sea over the past week after the expiration of the deal securing safe passage of Ukrainian grain shipments. The Black Sea Grain Initiative is a UN-brokered agreement between Russia and Ukraine which was signed on July 22, 2022. It has allowed Ukraine to export grain and other agricultural products that had been blocked since Russia's special military operation in mid-February 2022. 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. Russia launches new drone strikes on Ukraine In another development on Tuesday, Ukrainian officials reported a new Russian drone operation in Kiev and parts of central and northern Ukraine. Kiev regional governor Ruslan Kravchenko said there had been no reports of damage or casualties although falling debris set off a fire in a field. Ukraine's Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said air defenses had been engaged in three regions in the country's north. "About 10 drones were recorded, the information is being clarified," he added, saying up to five were destroyed. The drone strikes came one day after Russia warned of "tough retaliatory measures" against the backdrop of drone strikes on the capital Moscow and Crimea. Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, with President Vladimir Putin saying the goals were "demilitarization and de-Nazification" of the East European country. The US and European countries have been supplying weapons to Ukraine, fueling the flames of the war. Recently, Washington sent Kiev cluster munitions which are banned in more than 120 countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine's Zelenskiy Discusses Grain Exports With U.K. PM As EU Gives Aid To Repair Infrastructure By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service July 25, 2023 British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke early on July 25 about how to ensure the flow of Ukrainian grain to international markets as the European Union announced a 1.5 billion-euro ($1.66 billion) aid disbursement to help Ukraine repair infrastructure amid fresh air strikes by Russia on the port city of Odesa and the capital, Kyiv. Russian strikes in recent days have targeted Ukrainian food-export facilities, including on Danube ports close to the border with NATO-member Romania, after the Kremlin last week withdrew from a UN-brokered sea-corridor agreement that allowed for the safe shipment of Ukrainian grain. Sunak said he made it clear during the call with Zelenskiy that any efforts by Russia to prevent grain from leaving Ukraine would be "completely unacceptable." Kyiv has accused Moscow of targeting grain supplies and infrastructure vital to the deal. The United Nations has warned failure to resuscitate the agreement would mean "the most vulnerable will pay the highest price." "The prime minister said the U.K. was working closely with Turkey on restoring the grain deal, and we would continue to use our role as chair of the UN Security Council to further condemn Russia's behavior," Sunak's office said in a statement. Sunak also said he was "appalled by the devastation caused by recent Russian attacks on Odesa." A Romanian commercial vessel was slightly damaged in the drone attack launched by Russia on July 24 on Ukraine's Danube port of Reni, Romania's Foreign Ministry confirmed to RFE/RL on July 25. The damage was minor and the crew was not injured, the ministry said, without giving the name of the ship. The ministry said no Romanian citizens were injured in the two attacks launched on Reni and Izmail. In Brussels, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said she "firmly condemns" the Russian strikes on Ukrainian grain-storage and -export infrastructure and vowed continued support for Kyiv. "Today we paid another 1.5 billion euros, to help keep the [Ukrainian] state running and repair infrastructure," von der Leyen said on Twitter. The Kremlin on July 25 rejected a call by UN chief Antonio Guterres for Moscow to rejoin the grain deal, claiming that a part of the agreement that allowed Russia to export its grain and fertilizer had not been honored. "Unfortunately, at the moment it is impossible to return to the deal because [the Russian-related part] is not being implemented, and de facto it has never been implemented," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a news conference. The U.S. State Department warned on July 24 the day before that Russia might be preparing some "false flag" operation in relation to the grain deal. "We've had information to suggest that they may be preparing a false-flag operation -- we believe they may be preparing a false-flag operation," spokesman Matthew Miller told a press briefing. Regional officials in Ukraine reported early on July 25 that Russia launched a new wave of drone strikes on Kyiv, while Moscow said it warded off a Ukrainian attack on one if its patrol boats in the Black Sea. All of the drones launched by Russian forces overnight in the sixth attack on Ukraine's capital this month were shot down by the city's air defense, Serhiy Popko, the head of the Kyiv city military administration, said early on July 25. Popko said the attack caused no casualties or damage. "The alarm lasted for three hours. The enemy used Iranian Shahed drones. This is the sixth drone attack on the capital this month. All air targets were timely identified and destroyed on the approach to Kyiv," he said, adding that the attack caused no casualties or damage. Russian drone attacks were also reported in the Cherkasy and Zhytomyr regions, with the latter suffering some infrastructure damage. The Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukrainian seaborne drones attempted an attack on one of its patrol boats in the Black Sea, but the attack failed. "Ukrainian armed forces carried out an unsuccessful attack overnight with two naval drones on the Sergei Kotov patrol ship," the ministry said in a statement, adding that the alleged attack occurred some 370 kilometers from the port of Sevastopol. The claim could not be independently confirmed. The Sergei Kotov is one of Russia's newest warships, being delivered to the Navy last year. In Donetsk, regional Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on July 25 that the number of victims caused by an attack on the city of Kostyantynivka the previous day has risen to two dead, including a 10-year-old boy, and seven wounded, including four children aged between 5 and 12. Kyrylenko said Russian forces used cluster munitions in the attack on civilians. The weapons are prohibited under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, signed by 123 countries. Russia, Ukraine, and the United States are not among them. Earlier this month, the United States announced that it had also delivered cluster munitions to Ukraine. Kyiv has pledged to use the munitions carefully and only to push occupying Russian forces out of its territory. Signed by 123 countries, the Convention on Cluster Munitions took effect in 2010. The convention prohibits using, developing, producing, acquiring, stockpiling, or transferring cluster munitions. However, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have not signed the convention. Kyiv has pledged to use the munitions carefully and only to push occupying Russian forces out of its territory. On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces fought 35 battles in the 24-hour period that ended early on July 25, the General Staff reported. It said that Russian counterattack attempts around Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region were repelled by Ukrainian defenders. Andriy Kovalev, a spokesman for the General Staff, said the Defense Forces defeated the Russians near Andriyivka, a village south of Bakhmut. Ukrainian defenders are also conducting an offensive to the north and south of the city, he said. Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels deny that Russian forces have left Klishchiyivka, a village north of Andriyivka. One of the channels says they continue to fight in Klishchiyivka, but the fighting is very difficult. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-civilians- cluster-bombs/32517879.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 Russian Drone Strike On Ukrainian Port Of Reni 'An Indirect Attack On Romania, Moldova' By George Costita, Tony Wesolowsky July 25, 2023 In the early hours of July 24, the Ukrainian port of Reni on the Danube River came under a massive Russian drone strike. The attack lit up the sky in Romania, just 200 meters away on the other side of the river, one of Europe's main waterways. It was the closest the conflict in Ukraine has come to Romania since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbor on February 24, 2022. The strike also came amid a nearly daily barrage by Russia's military on Odesa and other Ukrainian food-export facilities over the past week after Russian President Vladimir Putin withdrew his country on July 17 from a UN-brokered sea corridor agreement that allowed for the safe shipment of Ukrainian grain. Kyiv has accused Moscow of targeting grain supplies and infrastructure vital to the deal. In a worrying sign that Russia may be widening its attacks, analysts say the Kremlin is not only trying to elbow out Ukrainian grain exports from global markets but undermine support for Kyiv in the EU, especially among Central and Eastern European countries, by further disrupting those countries' domestic agricultural markets. Plus, the potential chaos at Romanian ports may not only impact Ukrainian grain exports, but complicate transport -- in the opposite direction -- of fuel and military aid -- "everything that allows Ukraine to resist" Russia's aggression, according to Cosmin Popa, a researcher at the Bucharest-based Nicolae Iorga Institute of the Romanian Academy. Targeting the Danube will not only impact exports by barge, but could put added stress on rail and road transit routes through Romania and Moldova, Popa said in comments to RFE/RL's Romanian Service. "Russia's attacks are also indirect attacks on Ukraine's neighboring countries. So, from this point of view, things will continue to get worse, in the absence of a clear and determined reaction from the West, which would show Putin that there are limits beyond which he cannot cross," Popa said. "[The Russians] are targeting with both direct and indirect goals.... They are aiming to disrupt the river and railway transport infrastructure in Romania, with the aim of congesting and creating havoc at Romanian ports at the mouth of the Danube," Popa said. Early indications appear to confirm that. On July 25, ships were reportedly clogging the western edge of the Black Sea at the entrance to the Danube and outside Romania's Black Sea port of Constanta amid what analysts say is uncertainty over whether to proceed along the potentially risky route. Almost 30 ships dropped anchor near Ukraine's crucial Izmayil port terminal on July 24, Reuters reported. Hours after the attack, a long line of trucks could be seen waiting outside the port at Reni, video posted to Twitter indicated. Three grain warehouses were reported to have been destroyed in Reni in the July 24 attack involving about 15 drones that left seven port workers injured, although Ukrainian officials gave few details. Amid fears of disruption to grain exports and shipping, global wheat and corn futures rose sharply on July 24, Reuters reported. Hours after the attack, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for Russia to return to the Black Sea grain deal, warning in Rome of a devastating impact on "vulnerable countries struggling to feed their people." Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, one of several senior Romanian officials to condemn the attack, called it an "escalation" that posed "serious risks to the security in the Black Sea," in a post on Twitter. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, Kyiv has expanded grain exports overland via the EU to about 1 million tons a month, with large volumes being exported from Romanian ports and along the Danube. Trains, trucks, and barges have been used to transport Ukrainian agricultural produce from small Danube ports such as Reni and Izmayil in southwest Ukraine to Romania. Bordering Ukraine and also with Black Sea access, Romania -- and specifically its port at Constanta -- has also played an integral part in Ukrainian efforts to circumvent Russia's naval blockade. Since the start of the war, Constanta has handled one third of Ukraine's total grain exports of just under 49 million metric tons. Romanian port operators shipped 8.6 million metric tons of Ukrainian grain in 2022 and 6.3 million metric tons in the first five months of 2023, the Constanta Port authority told Reuters. The port handled 12.2 million metric tons of grain overall in the first five months, a 21 percent jump on the previous year. Other Implications? The Russian attack on Reni may have other implications as well, noted Cristian Vlas, a Romanian-Moldovan analyst. "Now, the risk is that Ukraine will have to rely even more on truck and rail exports, which is already a contentious issue in relation with Central and Eastern European countries, especially with Poland and Romania, EU states that can still be considered as Ukraine's strongest allies in the EU," Vlas told RFE/RL. On May 2, the EU allowed five countries -- Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia -- to ban domestic sales of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds, while allowing transit through them for export elsewhere, including to other EU countries. The European Commission last year announced it was establishing what it coined "solidarity lanes" to ensure Ukraine can export grain, promising billions of euros in investment in infrastructure. On June 15, the European Commission extended that agreement until September 15, a looming date, according to Dionis Cenusa, an expert at the Vilnius-based Eastern Europe Studies Center. "Russia is using disruptions to Black Sea grain shipments to complicate and spoil relations of at least five EU member states with Ukraine. These EU states, led by Poland, want to extend restrictions on certain categories of Ukrainian grain beyond September 15," Cenusa told RFE/RL. Beyond sowing chaos in the EU, Putin is trying to elbow out Ukraine and portray Russia as the globe's potential food savior, said Cenusa. And that message is one Putin is likely to emphasize when the Russian leader hosts dozens of African heads of state in St. Petersburg from July 26 to July 29 for the second annual Russia-Africa Summit. "Putin has been outspoken about Russia's capacity to replace Ukraine's grain exports, both to satisfy Western markets and to offer humanitarian assistance to Africa," said Cenusa. Putin has repeatedly said that Russia would offer free grain to low-income African countries now that the grain deal has been terminated. "I want to give assurances that our country is capable of replacing Ukrainian grain both on a commercial and free-of-charge basis," Putin said in a statement on July 24, asserting that Russia shipped almost 10 million tons of grain to Africa in the first half of this year. "It is obvious that Russia is using the new dynamics of the war against Ukraine to gain advantages in the global south, which is suffering from drought and rising food prices," said Cenusa. "Russia is slowly replacing energy with grain as a tool of global influence." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-drone-strike- reni-ukraine-romania-moldova/32518675.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 Russian Forces Seize Sergeevka Settlement After Counterattack Sputnik News 20230725 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian military have advanced in two areas in the Krasny Liman direction and liberated the Sergeevka settlement, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. The ministry mentioned that Russian forces repelled four Ukrainian attacks in this direction, while the enemy lost 190 soldiers and two ammunition depots there. "In the course of successful counterattack operations, the units of the 15th motorized rifle brigade under the skillful command of Lt. Col. Buylov liberated the settlement of Sergeevka," the ministry reported. According to the statement, the Ukrainian armed forces lost up to 280 soldiers in the Donetsk direction in the past day, with Russia repelling 8 attacks. "The enemy's losses in this direction during the day amounted to over 280 Ukrainian servicemen, three tanks, five armored combat vehicles, eight pickups, a Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery unit, two Msta-B howitzers, three Gvozdika self-propelled artillery units, as well as a US-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar," the note read. Moreover, Kiev lost 140 soldiers in the South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, the statement added. "The enemy's losses in these directions during the past day amounted to 140 Ukrainian military, one tank, four armored combat vehicles, two cars, a US-made M777 artillery system, a UK-made FH-70 howitzer, two D-20 guns, as well as a Giatsint-S howitzer," the ministry said. Last month, Ukrainian forces launched the much anticipated "counteroffensive" that Zelensky had been announcing for months. Despite the determinacy to sacrifice hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers and lose a considerable number of NATO-supplied tanks and armored vehicles, Kiev has so far failed to breach even the first line of Russian defenses. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Additional U.S. Military Assistance for Ukraine US Department of State Press Statement Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State July 25, 2023 The people of Ukraine continue to bravely defend their country against Russia's aggression while Russia continues its relentless and vicious attacks that are killing Ukrainian civilians and destroying civil infrastructure. Ukraine's steadfast courage continues to inspire the world. Pursuant to a delegation of authority from President Biden, I am authorizing our 43rd drawdown for Ukraine. This assistance package includes air defense munitions, artillery rounds, armored vehicles, and anti-armor capabilities, as well as other equipment essential to strengthening Ukraine's brave forces on the battlefield, helping them retake Ukraine's sovereign territory, and defend their fellow citizens. This package contains critical military assistance totaling $400 million worth of arms and equipment from Department of Defense stocks. Russia started this unprovoked war against Ukraine. Following its withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia continues to attack Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure - including in Odessa. Russia could end this war at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks against Ukraine's cities and people. Until it does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for as long as it takes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia's attacks on Odesa are abhorrent: UK Statement to the OSCE Ambassador Neil Holland says that Russia's attacks on Odesa's cathedral, city centre, and grain facilities are inexcusable and must cease. 25 July 2023 Thank you, Mr Chair. At last week's Permanent Council, I spoke of the depressing predictability of attacks on Ukraine's grain infrastructure almost the moment Russia had withdrawn from the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI). Since then, the Russian Federation has added an appalling list of civilian, cultural and religious sites to the list targeted by days of sustained missile attacks in Odesa. On Sunday, Russia struck Odesa's Transfiguration Cathedral, as well as the surrounding UNESCO-listed town centre. This is in violation of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. The cathedral offered its congregation a place to worship, pray, and come together. By attacking it, Russia has attacked the heart of a civilian community. This is an act of cultural and religious vandalism. Russia's attacks on Odesa are part of its systematic efforts to deliberately prevent Ukrainian grain exports and threaten the world's food supply. The people of Odesa are killed, wounded, and traumatised by Russian aggression. Grain and shipping facilities are destroyed. Exports cannot leave port. The world's most vulnerable are directly harmed by Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. By unilaterally forcing the collapse of the BSGI and then attacking grain infrastructure, Russia has used food as a weapon. It is knowingly preventing grain reaching those in Africa and Asia who need it most. There are reports that Russia is now offering to supply grain to vulnerable countries in Africa. We should be under no illusion that this is somehow a generous or humanitarian gesture by Russia. If that were the case, Russia would not be ruining Ukraine's ability to export grain. Grain which accounts for much of the World Food Programme's global wheat supply, and which is sent to countries around the world who are in great need of it, particularly in Africa. By withdrawing from the BSGI, up to 24 million tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs from Ukraine's upcoming harvest may now not reach global markets. If Russia was truly serious about global food security, it would withdraw its forces from Ukraine and end its illegal war. Mr Chair, history teaches us that these inhumane attacks on Odesa will not succeed in breaking the spirit of the Ukrainian people. In 1936, the Transfiguration Cathedral was destroyed on Stalin's orders. But it was rebuilt by Ukraine and stood again. Despite the damage and terror caused by Russia's latest missile strikes, the people of Odesa are already uniting in the recovery effort. A neighbouring congregation has helped to clear the wreckage inside the cathedral. Others cleared the shattered glass from the grass and flowers around the cathedral. This selfless bravery and unity have characterised how the Ukrainian people have stood firm in the face of Russia's destruction. Ukraine will win this war, and we will stand by it for as long as it takes. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM call with the President of Ukraine: 25 July 2023 The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy today. 25 July 2023 The Prime Minister spoke to President Zelenskyy this morning. The leaders discussed recent developments on the battlefield and the continued progress by Ukrainian forces despite the challenging conditions. The Prime Minister added that he was appalled by the devastation caused by recent Russian attacks on Odesa. Discussing the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the leaders agreed on the importance of ensuring grain was able to be exported from Ukraine to reach international markets. The Prime Minister said the UK was working closely with Turkey on restoring the grain deal, and we would continue to use our role as chair of the UN Security Council to further condemn Russia's behaviour. Russia was increasingly looking to target merchant vessels in the Black Sea area and the UK was carefully monitoring the situation alongside our partners, the Prime Minister added. The UK continued to support Ukraine's air defence and artillery needs with more ammunition and missiles being delivered, the Prime Minister said. Reflecting on long-term security assurances, the leaders agreed the number of countries who had put themselves forward to sign up to the multilateral Joint Declaration was a testament to the international support for Ukraine. The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address When our people are doing everything possible and impossible for the victory, any internal betrayal triggers fury - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 25 July 2023 - 22:23 Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians! Today was a long and eventful day. This day started early. With our usual work on receiving weapons, new defense support packages, including American ones. And I am grateful for today's package: artillery, missiles for HIMARS, Patriots, NASAMS, drones and much more. Thank you, America! I spoke with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak. As always, it was a very practical and straightforward conversation. First and foremost, we talked about protecting our southern regions, in particular Odesa, the normal life of people and the work of our ports. Rishi and I discussed possible steps and the possible number of air defense batteries. The United Kingdom can become the leader whose assistance with air defense systems will guarantee real security. The world knows that the security of our Black Sea ports is the key to peace and stability in the global food market. Now is the time when it is important to reap the harvest of determination, security determination, so that no one will have to end up as a harvester of chaos later on neither in the countries of Africa nor anywhere on other continents. Food security is a globally important priority and part of the Ukrainian Peace Formula. Today I held a preparatory meeting before the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, which will take place tomorrow. The consultations are specifically about security in the Black Sea - our ports and our grain exports. We have also begun preparing an interoperability plan together with the Alliance. The second meeting with government officials and representatives of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine was about European integration, the necessary steps and the decisions that need to be made to launch negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the European Union. We are working on preparations for the negotiations on a daily basis. Today, a non-public but still strategically important event took place: government officials presented the results of the first year of the drone army. Not a project already, but a real Ukrainian drone army. There was a presentation of different types of Ukrainian drones used for defense, as well as a meeting with manufacturers, designers, and donors. Journalists and representatives of civil society had the opportunity to see the potential achieved by the drone army in the first year and the way the army will grow. The defense absolutely needs all drones - from fairly simple Mavic drones to maritime drones and attack drones that can operate at a great distance. By the way, we often discuss this topic at the meeting of the Staff, and often in a raised voice. But there are results, and this can be seen in the news. There will be more good news involving Ukrainian drones. And this is crucial. One more crucial point. Millions of Ukrainians are focused on one thing day after day. Not on themselves, not on their own desires, but on defending the state and their lives. But unfortunately, some people think that the war is somewhere far away from them. As if the dome of the Verkhovna Rada, or the walls of some offices, or a list of some powers can shield from reality. No one will forgive MPs, judges, "military commissars" or any other officials for putting themselves in opposition to the state. For some, it's about islands and resorts during the war, for others it's about lining one's pockets in the military enlistment office, for others it's about bribes in the courts. For any public official, this is a betrayal of state principles, a betrayal of the interests of society. I want to warn all MPs, officials, and everyone else in public office. When everyday you search for weapons for the state, when all the attention is on providing artillery, missiles, drones, when you constantly see and feel the moral strength gained for Ukraine by our warriors, our people, who are doing everything possible and impossible for the victory and preservation of freedom, any internal betrayal, any "beach" or any personal enrichment instead of Ukraine's interests triggers fury at the very least. Fury. Remember that. Imagine how many millions of hearts in Ukraine felt the same fury. I want all MPs and officials to hear me now. You must work. In Ukraine and for the sake of the Ukrainian people. I am grateful to those MPs who are truly working for the interests of the state. And those who think about spending more time abroad and look for "profitable" trips so that they can combine them with business, friends or "beaches" - there will not be any of you. Also, there will not be those who are reluctant to make decisions necessary for our defense or European integration because of some personal benefits. Every law that is needed to strengthen the position of our troops must be adopted. Every law that is necessary for Ukraine to start negotiations with the EU on accession must be adopted. And I don't want to hear any more excuses. And no one else does. Ukraine does not give you any more time. If you are working for Ukraine, you are needed by Ukraine, if not, you are not. One more thing. Today, I was presented with some preliminary results of the inspection of other "military commissars", besides the former one from Odesa. And the results are disappointing. Of course, law enforcement officers will implement them in a legal manner, and society will see everything. But I want to say to all such "military commissars" and any other officials who for some reason think that society will just wait, that they can get brazen somewhere in the rear. We will win this war that Russia started. And we will win for Ukraine the kind of state life that will be worthy of our heroic defenders, of everyone who is now giving all their strength to defense. There is no place for the unworthy in such a life. And lastly. Today I have signed two decrees on awarding our warriors. 649 defenders of Ukraine have been honored with state awards. Unfortunately, 218 of them were awarded posthumously. Everyone should remember the cost of statehood, freedom and dignity. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Rishi Sunak discussed enhancing the defense of Odesa and further defense cooperation President of Ukraine 25 July 2023 - 11:36 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak. The Head of State informed his interlocutor about Russia's daily attacks on Odesa, its attempts to destroy the city's historic center and port infrastructure. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine urgently needs to strengthen its air defense system to defend its UNESCO-protected historical heritage and to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative. "We must protect Odesa," the President emphasized. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Rishi Sunak discussed further defense cooperation. The Head of State spoke about the course of offensive operations of the defense forces and conveyed information on the current defense needs of Ukraine. The interlocutors noted the adoption by the G7 at the NATO Summit in Vilnius of the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine and the accession of other countries to it. The parties coordinated future steps to fill it with concrete security guarantees for our country on a bilateral basis. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Latest in Ukraine: US to Send Additional $400 Million in Aid to Ukraine By VOA News July 25, 2023 Latest Developments: A former U.S. Marine who was freed by Russia last year in a prisoner swap has been injured while fighting for Ukraine against Moscow's forces, the U.S. State Department said. Russia's prosecutor-general declared independent TV channel Dozhd to be an undesirable organization, continuing the crackdown on news media and groups regarded as threats to Russia's security. Dozhd, which is often critical of the Kremlin, closed its operations in Russia soon after the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, moving first to Latvia and then to the Netherlands. The European Union is considering helping fund the costly transportation of grain out of Ukraine after Russia halted a deal that allowed Black Sea exports of Ukrainian grain vital to global food security. The United States will send Ukraine an additional $400 million in military aid, including air defense missiles, small drones and armored vehicles, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. The weapons are being provided through the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows for the speedy delivery of defense articles and services from U.S. stocks, sometimes arriving within days of approval. The materiel will come from U.S. excess inventory. The aid announcement comes at a time when Ukrainian troops are involved in a slow-moving counteroffensive against invading Russian forces. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the assistance is aimed at "strengthening Ukraine's brave forces on the battlefield" and "helping them retake Ukraine's sovereign territory." "The people of Ukraine continue to bravely defend their country against Russia's aggression while Russia continues its relentless and vicious attacks that are killing Ukrainian civilians and destroying civil infrastructure," Blinken said in a statement. The new aid package includes an array of ammunition, ranging from missiles for Patriot air defense systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASMS), Stinger anti-aircraft systems, more ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), Stryker armored personnel carriers, and a variety of other missiles and rockets. It also will include for the first time U.S.-furnished Black Hornet surveillance drones a tiny nano drones used largely for intelligence-gathering. Ukraine has previously received these drones from other Western allies. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. has provided more than $43 billion in military aid to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine said their air defenses intercepted Iranian-made Shahed drones that Russia fired at Kyiv overnight. It was the sixth drone attack on the capital this month. Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv regional military administration, said no casualties or damage were reported. The Russian Defense Ministry said a Russian patrol ship destroyed two Ukrainian sea drones that attacked it in the Black Sea early Tuesday. Ukrainian officials said Russia used cluster munitions in an attack on Kostiantynivka, in the eastern Donetsk region, late Monday. Also Tuesday, Russian lawmakers approved a bill extending the upper age limit for the compulsory military draft from 27 to 30, a move that appears aimed at expanding the pool of recruits for the fighting in Ukraine. The measure was quickly approved by the lower house on Tuesday. It will need to be approved by the upper house and signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law. The International Atomic Energy Agency said its staff saw directional anti-personnel mines located on the perimeter of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The IAEA said in a statement late Monday that the mines were seen Sunday "in a buffer zone between the site's internal and external perimeter barriers." The agency said no mines were seen "within the inner site perimeter." Russia has controlled the site since the early stages of its invasion of Ukraine. The IAEA has repeatedly warned of the potential for a nuclear catastrophe as it advocated for safety and security measures at Europe's largest nuclear power plant. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said the agency was told the placement of the mines was a military decision and done in an area controlled by the military. "But having such explosives on the site is inconsistent with the IAEA safety standards and nuclear security guidance and creates additional psychological pressure on plant staff a even if the IAEA's initial assessment based on its own observations and the plant's clarifications is that any detonation of these mines should not affect the site's nuclear safety and security systems," Grossi said. IAEA experts are also continuing to monitor the availability of water to cool the plant's reactors following the June destruction of the Kakhovka dam that affected a reservoir near the plant, the agency said. "The site continues to have sufficient water for some months," the IAEA said. Some information in this report 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: IAEA Says Mines Found at Nuclear Plant Site By VOA News July 25, 2023 Latest Developments: Between 3,450 and 3,650 Wagner group mercenaries have arrived in Belarus since the group's short-lived rebellion, a military monitoring group said Monday. The fighters are camped close to Asipovichy, a town 230 kilometers north of the Ukrainian border. The Wagner mercenaries are training Belarusian troops as part of an agreement to end the Wagner revolt brokered by the Belarusian president between the Kremlin and Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. The Russian defense industry says it is now producing more munitions per month than it did in the whole of 2022, the RIA news agency reported. The International Atomic Energy Agency said its staff saw directional anti-personnel mines located on the perimeter of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The IAEA said in a statement the mines were seen Sunday "in a buffer zone between the site's internal and external perimeter barriers." The agency said no mines were seen "within the inner site perimeter." Russia has controlled the site since the early stages of its invasion of Ukraine. The IAEA has repeatedly warned of the potential for a nuclear catastrophe as it advocated for safety and security measures at Europe's largest nuclear power plant. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said was told the placement of the mines was a military decision and done in an area controlled by the military. "But having such explosives on the site is inconsistent with the IAEA safety standards and nuclear security guidance and creates additional psychological pressure on plant staff a even if the IAEA's initial assessment based on its own observations and the plant's clarifications is that any detonation of these mines should not affect the site's nuclear safety and security systems," Grossi said. IAEA experts are also continuing to monitor the availability of water to cool the plants reactors following the June destruction of the Kakhovka dam that affected a reservoir near the plant, the agency said. "The site continues to have sufficient water for some months," the IAEA said. Grain exports The U.S. Treasury Department said Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson will address how Russia's exit from the Black Sea Grain Initiative will hurt African states as he makes a visit this week to Kenya and Somalia. A Treasury spokesperson said Nelson will argue that Russia abandoned the grain deal despite U.S. efforts to facilitate the flow of Russian grain and fertilizer exports. Russia withdrew from the grain deal last week, arguing it was not benefitting enough from a parallel initiative allowing Russian food and fertilizer exports despite Western sanctions. "He will highlight the exemptions in U.S. sanctions that have always allowed the continued flow of food and agriculture transactions," the spokesperson said. Putin courts African leaders Nelson's trip comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares to host African leaders in St. Petersburg Thursday and Friday promising them free Russian grain "to replace Ukrainian grain." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to Russia to revive the U.N.-brokered grain deal to allow the flow of grain exports from Ukraine's Black Sea ports. During his speech at the opening of a three-day food summit in Rome, Guterres said the world's hungry will be the most adversely affected if the deal is not renewed. "The most vulnerable will pay the highest price," he said. 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 NEWARK, Del, July 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global Electric Vehicle Battery Market is experiencing robust growth, projected to achieve a promising Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.5%. By 2033, the market is expected to reach a significant revenue milestone of US$ 21.2584 Billion. As of 2023, the market is already valued at US$ 9.4023 Billion, demonstrating a strong foundation for future expansion. The increasing transition toward electric vehicles (EVs) will propel accelerated battery demand in leading automobile markets like the United States and Europe. Battery and automotive manufacturers are facing challenges owing to uncertainty related to the battery supply chain. Several players are considering constructing gigafactory or joining joint ventures to combat shrunken supply. Unraveling Challenges and Opportunities in the EV Battery Supply Chain. Download our market overview sample now! https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5388 The shift toward EVs can be attributed to adverse climactic change and increasing carbon emissions, especially in urban cities. The EV30-30 Scenario targets a surging value share of EVs to 30% by 2030 (excluding two/three-wheelers). Favorable government policies to encourage EV sales are predicted to offer opportunities for battery makers of EVs. Additionally, technological advancements have spiked the energy density of lithium-ion batteries while reducing the overall price of lithium-ion batteries. As a result, propelling its uptake in li-ion powered EVs. Surging investments for the upgradation of public charging infrastructure in conjunction with the rising efficiency of EVs are expected to create lucrative opportunities for manufacturers. The high cost of EVs is expected to affect the uptake of batteries negatively. Gaps in demand and supply of essential raw materials like cobalt and a dearth of charging infrastructure are expected to limit the market growth. Top Highlights from the FMIs Analysis of the Electric Vehicle Battery Market: The United States electric vehicle battery industry is expected to attain a 28.7% market share in 2023. The dominant share of the country reflects the high establishment of the market and great prospects for future growth. Germany is expected to hold a 15.1% market share in 2023. The country is expected to attract key players from across the globe to expand its sales and drive product innovation. Japan contributes 5.3% to the global market. The regional market offers excellent potential for key participants growth. Australia's share in the market is as low as 1.4%. However, the country is expected to offer growth prospects to businesses that venture out. China is expected to expand robustly over the forecast period at a 9.6% CAGR. The Indian market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 9% in the forecast period. Under the battery type category, lead acid is expected to record a market share of 45.7% in 2023. Passenger cars are expected to hold a 22.2% market share in 2023. Gain a competitive edge by customizing your report with targeted insights for specific countries or regions. Save Up To 30%! Specify Your Scope Now: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-5388 Top Key Players of the Electric Vehicle Battery Market Automotive Energy Supply Corporation Panasonic Corporation BYD Company Limited GS Yuasa Corporation LG Chem Ltd. Samsung SDI Co., Ltd Tesla Motors, Inc. Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd. Narada Power Source Co. Ltd. Johnson Controls International Plc. Tianneng Power International Co., Ltd. Crown Battery Corporation Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. EnerSys Wanxiang Group Corporation East Penn Manufacturing Co. Toshiba Corporation Leoch International Technology Ltd. Key Developments in the Electric Vehicle Battery Market CATL collaborated with Ford in February 2023 to develop a battery plant for EVs in the United States Michigan city. As a part of the agreement, Ford is expected to own the new unit of CATL. CATL is also predicted to assist Ford in accelerating the development of batteries. Clarios Optima introduced an all-new lithium-power sport battery line in November 2022. The line focuses on enhancing batteries for personal watercraft, motorcycles, utility task vehicles (UTV), snowmobiles, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Honda Motor Company declared the development of a lithium-ion battery plant for EVs in the United States with the LG Energy Solution Ltd. in August 2022. The total investment in the project has been US$ 4.4 billion. The companies aim to develop about 40 GWh of batteries yearly to be exclusively used in North Americas Honda and Acura electric vehicles. Ready to Stay Ahead in the EV Revolution? Secure Your EV Battery Market Report Today! https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/5388 Key Segments of the Electric Vehicle Battery Market By Battery Capacity: Less than 20 kWh 21 to 40 kWh More than 41 kWh By Vehicle Technology: HEV PHEV BEV By Vehicle Type: Passenger Cars Light Commercial Vehicles Heavy Commercial Vehicles Others By Battery Type: Lithium Ion Lead Acid Nickel Hydride Others By Region: North America Latin America Asia Pacific The Middle East and Africa Europe About the Automotive Division at Future Market Insights The automotive team at Future Market Insights offers expert analysis, time-efficient research, and strategic recommendations to provide authentic insights and accurate results to help clients worldwide. With over 100+ reports and one billion+ data points, the team has analyzed the industry lucidly in 50+ countries for over a decade. The team briefly analyzes key trends, including competitive landscape, profit margin, and research development efforts. Explore Wide-ranging Coverage of Future Market Insights Automotive Landscape: Automotive Lead Acid Battery Market Size: Is expected to attain a valuation of US$ 28.24 billion in 2023. The market is projected to reach US$ 47 billion by 2033, expected to register a CAGR of 5.2% from 2023 to 2033. Automotive Battery Management System Market Demand: Is expected to record a CAGR of 25.6% during the forecast period. The automotive battery management system market size is anticipated to rise from US$ 3.8 billion in 2023 to US$ 37.4 billion by 2033. Electric Vehicle Battery Housing Market Growth: Is estimated to develop at a fast pace CAGR of 31.8% during the forecast period 2023 to 2033. EV Battery Heating System Market Share: Is currently valued at US$ 3113.6 Million in 2023. By 2033, demand for EV battery heating systems is expected to reach a high of US$ 17289 Million. Car Battery Chargers Market Trends: Is anticipated to increase, from US$ 22.09 billion in 2023 to US$ 43.47 billion by 2033. Battery Swapping Charging Infrastructure Market Size: Is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 202.07 million in 2023 and is projected to exhibit a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21% from 2023 to 2033. EV Power Module Market Growth: Is predicted to record a robust CAGR of 24% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2033. Automotive Boot Release Cables Market Demand: Is estimated to reach US$ 492.7 million. Further, the market is projected to surpass a value of US$ 708.5 million by 2033, reflecting a CAGR of 3.7% between 2023 and 2033. Automotive Performance Accessories Market Share: Is projected to reach US$ 546.4 million by the end of 2033 representing a 4.5% CAGR between 2023 to 2033. Automotive Torque Rod Market Outlook: Is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.0%, resulting in a market size of US$ 11,095.4 million by the end of 2033. About Future Market Insights (FMI): Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, Stevie Award - recipient market research organization, and a member of Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) provides in-depth insights into governing factors elevating the demand in the market. It discloses opportunities to favor market growth in various segments based on Source, Application, Sales Channel, and End Use over the next ten years. Contact Us: Future Market Insights, Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-845-579-5705 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blogs | YouTube For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Westford, USA, July 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to SkyQuest, the global polyurethane adhesives market is projected to experience substantial growth at a significant CAGR. One of the key drivers for this expansion is the increasing demand for polyurethane adhesives in the building and construction sector. These adhesives demonstrate remarkable bonding capabilities with various substrates, including glass, plastic, wood, concrete, and other materials. Browse in-depth TOC on the "Polyurethane Adhesives Market" Pages - 254 Tables - 117 Figures 77 The polyurethane adhesives market is characterized by intense competition, with many companies operating. This market offers a diverse range of products, applications, and end-users, catering to various sectors such as construction, automotive, electronics, packaging, and more. Get a sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/polyurethane-adhesives-market Report Scope & Segmentation: Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 USD 9.63 Billion 2030 Value Projection USD 16.98 Billion CAGR 6.1% Forecast Period 2023-2030 Segments Covered Application Type Resin type Technology Regions Covered North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East and Africa Prominent Players in the Polyurethane Adhesives Market 3M Company Henkel AG & Co. KGaA H.B. Fuller Company Sika AG Illinois Tool Works Inc. Arkema S.A. Ashland Global Holdings Inc. Jowat SE Huntsman Corporation Mapei SpA Pidilite Industries Limited BASF SE Dow Chemical Company Avery Dennison Corporation LORD Corporation Franklin International Wacker Chemie AG Bostik SA Permabond LLC ThreeBond Holdings Co., Ltd. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/polyurethane-adhesives-market Construction Segment is Expected to Grow in the Market Due to Rising Need for High-Performance Adhesives Construction is a prominent and vital application segment within the polyurethane adhesives market, commanding a substantial share of the overall industry. This surge in demand can be attributed to the rising need for eco-friendly and high-performance adhesives in various building materials, including insulation panels, roofing systems, and flooring. The markets in North America has established itself as a leader in the polyurethane adhesives market, primarily due to the growing demand for high-performance and environmentally friendly adhesives in two key industries: construction and automotive. Polyurethane adhesives have gained widespread acceptance as the construction sector adopts more sustainable building practices and seeks adhesives with reduced environmental impact Automotive and Transportation Segment is Expected to Dominate the Market Due to the Increasing Need for Lightweight Adhesives The automotive and transportation segment has emerged as the most rapidly expanding application segment within the polyurethane adhesives market, poised for substantial growth throughout the forecast period. This surge in demand can be attributed to the automotive industry's increasing need for lightweight and high-performance adhesives in manufacturing. Regional markets in the Asia Pacific are anticipated to witness the most rapid growth in the polyurethane adhesives market throughout the forecast period. This remarkable expansion can be attributed to the booming end-use industries, including automotive, construction, and electronics, particularly in emerging economies such as India and China. A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the polyurethane adhesives market has been recently conducted in a report. The report encompasses various aspects, including collaborations, mergers, innovative business policies, and strategies, providing valuable insights into key trends and breakthroughs in the market. Furthermore, the report scrutinizes the market share of the top segments and presents a detailed geographic analysis. Lastly, the report highlights the major players in the industry and their endeavours to develop innovative solutions to cater to the growing demand. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/polyurethane-adhesives-market Key Developments in the Polyurethane Adhesives Market In 2022, Arkema, a leading global specialty chemicals company, announced its strategic plan to acquire Fixatti, a specialized firm renowned for its high-performance thermobonding adhesive powders. This acquisition is a strategic move by Arkema aimed at bolstering its position in the polyurethane adhesives market. Key Questions Answered in Polyurethane Adhesives Market Report What specific growth drivers are projected to impact the market during the forecast period? List the top companies in the market and explain how they have achieved their positions of influence. In what ways do regional trends and patterns differ within the global market, and how these differences shape the market's future growth? Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global Hard Coatings Market Global Slip Additives Market Global Composite Adhesives Market Global Ion exchange resin Market Global Polyaryletherketone (PAEK) Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com NEW ORLEANS, July 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until August 7, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against SentinelOne, Inc. (NYSE: S), if they purchased the Companys securities between June 1, 2022 and June 1, 2023, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. What You May Do If you purchased securities of SentinelOne and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-s/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by August 7, 2023 . About the Lawsuit SentinelOne and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On June 1, 2023, the Company disclosed that [a]s a result of a change in methodology and correction of historical inaccuracieswe made a one-time adjustment to ARR of $27.0 million or approximately 5% of total ARR and that the Company had slashed its fiscal year 2024 revenue guidance from a range of $631 million to $640 million to a range of $590 million to $600 million, due to the discovery of historical upsell and renewal recording inaccuracies relating to ARR on certain subscription and consumption contracts, which are now corrected. On this news, shares of SentinelOne fell $7.28 per share, or more than 35%, to close at $13.44 per share on June 2, 2023. The case is Johansson v. SentinelOne, Inc., et al., No. 23-cv-02786. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nations premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey. To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/. Contact: Pune, India, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global polyethylene market size was valued at USD 105.77 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to surge from USD 110.23 billion in 2023 to USD 146.20 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.1% over the estimated period. The rise is driven by the increasing popularity of the product in various industries such as construction and packaging. Fortune Business Insights provides this information in its research report, titled Polyethylene Market, 2023-2030. Get a Free Sample Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/polyethylene-pe-market-101584 List of Key Players Mentioned in the Polyethylene Market Report: LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (Netherlands) ExxonMobil Chemical (U.S.) SABIC (Saudi Arabia) Reliance Industries Limited (India) INEOS (U.K.) China National Petroleum Corporation (China) China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (China) Ducor Petrochemicals (Netherlands) Formosa Plastic Group (Taiwan) Braskem (Brazil) Repsol (Spain) Borouge (UAE) Borealis AG (Austria) MOL Group (Hungary) Competitive Landscape: Leading Companies Develop New Strategies to Expand Product Reach Key industry players focus on devising and implementing various strategic initiatives for strengthening their industry positions. Some of these steps include research activities, the development of new products, and the formation of alliances. Many companies are also entering collaborations and forging merger agreements for expanding their product reach and geographical footprints. Key Industry Development: December 2022 SABIC rolled out a new HDPE with mechanically recycled content. The solution was launched as part of TRUCIRCLE. The move was focused on driving toward a full closed loop from bottle to bottle in the automotive aftermarket in Saudi Arabia. COVID-19 Impact: Fluctuating Crude Oil Prices Impacted Industry Growth Amid Coronavirus Pandemic The pandemic affected the product supply driven by the reduced demand from various industries including consumer goods, electrical & electronics, automotive, and others. Additional factors which impacted the industry demand included the enforcement of lockdown restrictions and decreased production in a range of industries. Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/polyethylene-pe-market-101584 Segmentation: HDPE Segment to Register Commendable Surge Impelled by Low Cost of Manufacturing On the basis of type, the market is fragmented into Linear Low-density Polyethylene (LLDPE), High-density Polyethylene (HDPE)/Medium-density Polyethylene (MDPE), and Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE). The HDPE segment dominates the market and is estimated to grow at a substantial pace over the estimated period. The compound is deployed across various applications such as food storage containers, ballistic plates, bottle caps, chemical-resistant piping, boats, and others. Packaging Segment to Exhibit Notable Growth Considering Soaring Demand from F&B Sector Based on end-use industry, the market is classified into healthcare & pharmaceuticals, consumer goods/lifestyle, automotive, packaging, infrastructure & construction, agriculture, electrical & electronics, and others. The packaging segment held the largest share in the market and is expected to exhibit considerable expansion throughout the forecast period. The expansion is impelled by the increasing product deployment in the production of numerous packaging solutions for the food & beverage sector. Based on geography, the market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Report Coverage: The report provides an in-depth analysis of the key trends propelling the global business landscape over the forthcoming years. It further presents an account of the vital strategies adopted by leading market players for securing a competitive edge and expanding their geographical footprints. Other components include an overview of the driving and restraining factors and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on industry expansion. Drivers and Restraints: Surge in Market Value Due to Growing Demand from Numerous End-use Industries One of the key factors impelling the global polyethylene market growth is the surging product demand in numerous sectors. These include food & beverage, electrical & electronics, consumer goods, and automotive. However, the availability of substitute products such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene may hamper industry expansion to some extent. Ask for Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/ask-for-customization/polyethylene-pe-market-101584 Regional Insights: Asia Pacific to Hold the Largest Market Share Owing to the Presence of Major Consuming Countries The Asia Pacific region depicts a greater product demand from infrastructure & construction and packaging industries. Besides, the region exhibits rapid industrialization, owing to which the regional market holds the dominating industry value. The polyethylene market share in the region is touted to expand at a considerable pace over the study period. Europe held the second-largest value in the global market and is expected to exhibit a substantial CAGR over the projected period. The surge is impelled by the various properties of the product such as corrosion inhibition, electric insulation, low density, and good heat resistance. Detailed Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Key Emerging Trends Key Developments: Capacity Expansions, Acquisitions, Partnerships, etc. Latest Technological Advancement Insights on Regulatory Scenario Porters Five Forces Analysis Qualitative Insights on the Impact of COVID-19 on Global Polyethylene Industry Supply Chain Analysis & Challenges due to Covid-19 Steps taken by Government / Companies to Overcome this Impact Potential Challenges and Opportunities Due to COVID-19 Outbreak Global Polyethylene Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Key Findings / Summary By Type (Value and Volume) High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)/ Medium-density Polyethylene (MDPE) Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Linear low-density Polyethylene (LLDPE) By End-use Industry (Value and Volume) Packaging Automotive Infrastructure & Construction Consumer Goods/ Lifestyle Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals Electrical & Electronics Agriculture Textile Others By Region (Value and Volume) North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa TOC Continued! Speak to Our Expert: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/polyethylene-pe-market-101584 Read Related Insights: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Market to Worth USD 91.37 Billion by 2030 Metallocene Polyethylene Market Size, Share, and Report Forcast 2023-2030 Recycled Plastic Market Size is Projected to Reach USD 76.23 Billion by 2028 About Us: Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Address: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 9th Floor, Icon Tower, Baner Mahalunge Road, Baner, Pune-411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com BOSTON, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Midaxo, provider of the leading software platform for corporate dealmaking, today announced that it continued to grow its customer base and expand its leadership in the corporate development platform space during the first half of 2023. The company doubled the number of new customers signed from Q1 to Q2, completed a new funding round and released an extensive product update that enables customers to easily move dealmaking to the cloud while expanding market opportunities for Midaxo. In the months following the product release, the company has successfully migrated 100% of its customers to the new platform, which Midaxo will also use to deliver new AI-powered capabilities to the broader dealmaking industry. Corporate dealmaking is now widely recognized as the fastest, lowest risk way to drive inorganic corporate growth, but only if dealmaking teams can optimize how they identify targets, conduct due diligence and manage post-merger integrations, said Midaxo CEO Jude McColgan. In an economic environment that demands increasing dealmaking speed while lowering risk, Midaxo, the Cloud for Corporate Development, is being recognized as a foundational platform for achieving greater insight into targets, automating due diligence, and integrating acquisitions efficiently. Im extremely proud of the level of execution we have achieved over the first half of 2023, and I expect even better results in the second half of the year as we begin to deliver new AI-powered capabilities. Growth & Funding The number of new customers signed doubled in Q2 compared to Q1 2023. In March, the company announced the appointment of CEO Jude McColgan, who was instrumental in shifting the company from focusing solely on M&A to solving the comprehensive needs of corporate development teams. McColgan has also played a vital role in the companys approach to the investment community and industry thought leadership. Midaxo recently completed a round of funding from its existing investors. The funds will be used to pursue new opportunities to apply AI to corporate development processes and to expand the companys sales, marketing, and engineering to accelerate its growth in the market for cloud solutions for corporate development. Products & Services In March, the company announced the launch of the new Midaxo, the Cloud for Corporate Development, a platform designed to support all forms of corporate dealmaking. The solution simplifies and accelerates corporate dealmaking processes, provides centralized oversight across all deal pipelines, and provides three vital capabilities: pipeline management, target evaluation and post-deal integration. New Value Tracker, Deal Scoring, and Target Insights features were launched in the Midaxo Cloud. The company recently completed the migration of 100% of its customers to the Midaxo Cloud platform. Though Leadership Conferences Midaxo was a sponsor of the Transaction Advisors M&A Conference in San Francisco and at the University of Chicago. These annual events give senior corporate development leaders, in-house M&A counsel, and highly acquisitive private equity investors the opportunity to discuss the challenges impacting their transactions. Midaxo representatives were available to discuss the advanced capabilities of the companys new AI-powered corporate dealmaking platform. Webinars Midaxo CEO Jude McColgan joined executives from Crowe and CareAbout for a panel discussion on how M&A productivity platforms are helping companies close deals faster, seamlessly manage the deal process, and reduce risk while saving time and money. The discussion was led by the editors of Mergers & Acquisitions. Preserving the Spark: Realizing Value When Acquiring Smaller Companies Featuring Galina Wolinetz, Managing Director of Virtas Partners, and Terry Erisman, CMO of Midaxo, this webinar presented best practices for post-merger integration focusing on the special challenges presented when acquiring smaller companies and how to maximize value while preserving the essence of an acquisition. How to Build a Winning M&A Pipeline Midaxo CEO Jude McColgan and Vilius Audinis, PhD., Midaxos Head of Product Management, revealed the key to reviewing 5x more targets and building a winning M&A pipeline using a systematic and repeatable approach. 5 Ways the New Midaxo Platform Powers Better Dealmaking An overview of the dramatic improvements made to the Midaxo platform to make M&A efforts more effective and efficient and less risky. Key takeaways included the must have capabilities in the new Midaxo platform, such as deal sourcing, due diligence, and integration. The webinar also featured an overview of the new platform architecture and a preview of the new features planned for 2023. 7+ M&A Pipeline Metrics You Should Be Tracking A discussion about what metrics should be used to track the health of M&A and corporate development initiatives, how to build focused KPI reports to drive performance, and how to customize and automate reports to get real-time answers in a few clicks. Whitepapers About Midaxo Midaxo is the leading software platform for corporate dealmaking. Digitally transforming the dealmaking process, Midaxo leverages automation, AI, and machine learning to deliver breakthrough productivity gains while decreasing deal risk. The modular Midaxo Cloud platform can be configured for each customer to enable corporate development and M&A leaders at enterprises and private equity firms to find, evaluate, and deliver value from new assets with unprecedented speed and accuracy. The CRM module makes it easy to identify and manage 5x more targets. The collaborative due diligence module reduces diligence time 50% compared to traditional approaches. The integration module provides structure for post-merger integrations, accelerating time to value up to 40%. The platform functions as the system of record while reducing risk throughout the acquisition process. The more than 500 Midaxo customers include Ascensus, Banner Health, Daimler AG, Professional Services Co., and United Site Services. For more information, visit Midaxo.com. Contact: Terry Erisman Midaxo terry.erisman@midaxo.com All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners. NEW YORK, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per Zion Market Research study, the global E-Clinical Solutions market size was worth around USD 7.9 billion in 2022 and is predicted to grow to around USD 20.47 billion by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 7.58% between 2023 and 2030. Report Link with All Related Graphs & Charts: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/e-clinical-solutions-market E-Clinical Solutions Market: Overview Clinical research is a subset of the medical field. It involves researching and determining the efficacy of healthcare devices, medications, and diagnostic instruments. All of these products must undertake clinical trials and research, making clinical research one of the largest investments and activities carried out by companies in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and medical device manufacturing industries. Upon obtaining the necessary approvals from regional agencies that regulate these products, the products can be made commercially available if the results of the trial are favourable. Clinical trials and research are not only expensive, but also time- and labour-intensive, posing a significant challenge for market participants. E-clinical solutions are a collection of technologies designed to streamline all clinical trial processes. It uses sophisticated systems to optimise, by integrating and automating, a number of clinical research-related aspects. Get a Free Sample Report with All Related Graphs & Charts (with COVID 19 Impact Analysis): https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/e-clinical-solutions-market Our Free Sample Report Consists of the Following: 2023 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis 222+ Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research) Provide Chapter-wise guidance on Request 2023 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends Includes an Updated List of tables & figures Updated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis Zion Market Research Methodology Key Industry Insights & Findings of the E-Clinical Solutions Market Reports: As per the analysis, the E-Clinical Solutions market share is likely to grow above a CAGR of around 7.58% between 2023 and 2030. between 2023 and 2030. The E-Clinical Solutions market size was worth around USD 7.9 billion in 2022 and is estimated to hit approximately USD 20.47 billion by 2030 . Due to a variety of driving factors, the market is predicted to rise at a significant rate. and is estimated to hit approximately . Due to a variety of driving factors, the market is predicted to rise at a significant rate. The E-clinical solutions market is projected to grow at a significant rate due to the growing complexities in drug development procedures Based on end-user segmentation, CROs were predicted to show maximum market share in the year 2022 Based on product segmentation, Clinical Trial Management Systems (CTMS) were the leading product in 2022 On the basis of region, North America was the leading revenue generator in 2022. Zion Market Research published the latest report titled " E-Clinical Solutions Market By End-User (Medical Device Manufacturers, CROs, Hospitals / Healthcare Providers, Pharma & Biotech Organizations, Academic Institutes, And Others), By Development Phase (Phase IV, Phase III, Phase II, And Phase I), By Delivery Mode (Licensed Enterprise, Web-Hosted, And Others), By Product (Clinical Analytics Platforms, Electronic Data Capture (EDC) And Clinical Data Management Systems (CDMS), Electronic Trial Master File (ETMF), Electronic Clinical Outcome Assessment (ECOA), Randomization And Trial Supply Management (RTSM), Clinical Trial Management Systems (CTMS), Safety Solutions, And Others), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 2030 " into their research database. E-Clinical Solutions Market: Growth Drivers & Restraints Growing complexities in drug development procedures to drive market growth The global E-clinical solutions market is projected to grow due to the increasing complexities in drug development procedures. Regional governments and healthcare regulatory agencies have become more stringent about drug approval protocols for commercial use. Pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers have adopted an agile development strategy in which sub-segments, such as clinical teams, work independently to improve output. As the demand for higher-quality patient care has increased over the years, these businesses are under a great deal of pressure to ensure that they are able to meet evolving consumer expectations. In addition, drug developers are searching for asset optimization and risk management strategies. High implementation cost to restrict market expansion E-clinical solutions can be expensive, particularly for organisations with limited resources and funds. Moreover, the associated cost is not limited to product purchase alone, but also includes the time-consuming and cost-adding integration of new systems into existing technologies. Phase IV clinical trials and research can cost between USD 50,000 and USD 150 million, and smaller companies may not be able to afford additional technologies such as E-clinical solutions. Although it is possible to leverage the benefits of these solutions using software-as-a-service (SaaS) models, drug developers would be forced to rely significantly on third-party services and have less control over their systems. Directly Purchase a Copy of The Report with TOC | Quick Delivery Available @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/buynow/su/e-clinical-solutions-market E-Clinical Solutions Market: Segmentation The global E-clinical solutions market is segmented based on end-user, development phase, delivery mode, product, and region. Based on end-user, the global market divisions are medical device manufacturers, CROs, hospitals / healthcare providers, pharma & biotech organizations, academic institutes, and others. The highest CAGR was observed in the contract research organizations (CROs) segment in 2022 with a contribution across 36.9% of the market share. During the forecast period, it is likely to grow at a CAGR of 14.1% as many companies are showing an inclination toward effective cost management. Based on the development phase, the E-clinical solutions industry is divided into phase IV, phase III, phase II, and phase I. In 2022, around 51.02% of the market share was led by the phase III segment. Based on delivery mode, the global market is divided into licensed enterprises, web-hosted, and others. In 2022, the web-hosted segment dominated industry growth with a market share of over 73%. Based on product, the E-clinical solutions industry segments are clinical analytics platforms, electronic data capture (EDC), clinical data management system (CDMS), electronic trial master file (eTMF), electronic clinical outcome assessment (eCOA), randomization and trial supply management (RTSM), clinical trial management systems (CTMS), safety solutions, and others. Get More Insight before Buying @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/e-clinical-solutions-market List of Key Players in E-Clinical Solutions Market: Some of the main players in the global E-Clinical Solutions market include; Oracle Corporation Medidata Solutions Inc. ArisGlobal LLC MedNet Solutions DSG Inc. Parexel International Corporation IBM Corporation Bioclinica CRF Health Veeva Systems Inc. Datatrak International Inc. Bio-Optronics Inc. Forte Research Systems Inc. ERT Clinical eClinical Solutions LLC OmniComm Systems Inc. OpenClinica LLC PRA Health Sciences Inc. Medable Inc. Merge Healthcare Key questions answered in this report: What is the growth rate forecast and market size for E-Clinical Solutions Market? What are the key driving factors propelling the E-Clinical Solutions Market forward? What are the most important companies in the E-Clinical Solutions Market Industry? What segments does the E-Clinical Solutions Market cover? How can I receive a free copy of the E-Clinical Solutions Market sample report and company profiles? Report Scope: Report Attribute Report Details Market Size in 2022 USD 7.9 Billion Market Forecast in 2030 USD 20.47 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of 7.58% Base Year 2022 Forecast Years 2023- 2030 Key Companies Covered Oracle Corporation, Medidata Solutions Inc., ArisGlobal LLC, MedNet Solutions, DSG Inc., Parexel International Corporation, IBM Corporation, Bioclinica, CRF Health, Veeva Systems Inc., Datatrak International Inc., Bio-Optronics Inc., Forte Research Systems Inc., ERT Clinical, eClinical Solutions LLC, OmniComm Systems Inc., OpenClinica LLC, PRA Health Sciences Inc., Medable Inc., Merge Healthcare and many more. Segments Covered By End-User, By Development Phase, By Delivery Mode, By Product, and By Region Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East &, Africa Customization Scope Avail customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. Request Free Brochure: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/requestbrochure/e-clinical-solutions-market Regional Dominance: North America will hold more than 50% of the market share The global market for E-clinical solutions is anticipated to be led by North America, which is anticipated to account for close to 51.1% of the global revenue, as a result of rising R&D expenditures and product launches. Recently, the U.S. government has announced a number of enticing offers, including grants, for the segment's participants, which could aid in their continued expansion. In October 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States awarded eleven grants to be used in clinical trials for the development of treatments for rare diseases. The total value of grants was approximately USD 25 million. In addition, the increasing number of patients diagnosed with life-threatening conditions and the presence of key actors offering highly innovative E-solutions services will contribute to North America's continued expansion. Medidata's November 2022 introduction of the Rave companion is one example. It is the first scalable solution that automates electronic health record (EHR) insertion into Rave electronic data capture (EDC). In addition, in February 2021, US-based companies NeoGenomics and Parexel announced a partnership that will aid in the improvement of precision medicine applications in oncology clinical trials. Global E-Clinical Solutions Market is segmented as follows: By End-User Medical Device Manufacturers CROs Hospitals / Healthcare Providers Pharma & Biotech Organizations Academic Institutes Others By Development Phase Phase IV Phase III Phase II Phase I By Delivery Mode Licensed Enterprise Web-Hosted Others By Product Clinical Analytics Platforms Electronic Data Capture (EDC) Clinical Data Management Systems (CDMS) Electronic Trial Master File (eTMF) Electronic Clinical Outcome Assessment (eCOA) Randomization and Trial Supply Management (RTSM) Clinical Trial Management Systems (CTMS) Safety Solutions Others By Region North America The U.S. Canada Europe France The UK Spain Germany Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Southeast Asia Rest of Southeast Asia The Middle East & Africa GCC South Africa Rest of the Middle East & Africa Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America Browse Other Related Research Reports from Zion Market Research EMG Biosensors Market By Technique (Pattern Recognition, And Single Intensity Registration), By Type (Surface Biosensors, And Intramuscular Biosensors), By End-User (Ambulatory Health Clinics, Hospitals & Clinics, And Academic & Research Centers), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2022 2030: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/emg-biosensors-market Portable MRI Market By Product By Facility (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Diagnostic Centers, Others), By Application (Musculoskeletal, Neurology, Gastroenterology, And Others), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2022 2030: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/portable-mri-market In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Market By Product & Service (Reagents, Instruments, And Software & Services), By Technique (Immunodiagnostics, Hematology, Molecular Diagnostics, Tissue Diagnostics, And Clinical Chemistry), By Application (Infectious Disease, Diabetes, Cardiology, Oncology, Autoimmune Disorders, And Drug Testing), By End-User (Hospitals & Clinics, Laboratories, And Homecare Units), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2022 2030: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/in-vitro-diagnostics-market Bacteriophage Therapy Market By Product (Phage Probiotics And Phage Therapeutic), By Route Of Administration (Oral And Topical), By Application (Skin Infection Treatment, Gastroenterology, Wound Prophylaxis, Respiratory Infections Treatment, And Urogenital Infection Treatment), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2022 2030: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/bacteriophage-therapy-market Neurology Digital Therapeutics Market By Indication (Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs), Diabetes, Obesity, Respiratory Diseases, And Central Nervous Systems (CNS)), By Product Type (Devices, And Software), By End-User (Clinics, Hospitals, And Others) And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 2030: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/neurology-digital-therapeutics-market Browse through Zion Market Research's coverage of the Global Healthcare Industry Follow Us on - LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube About Us: Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting-edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, and company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly to fulfil our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the client's needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us. Contact Us: Zion Market Research 244 Fifth Avenue, Suite N202 New York, 10001, United States Tel: +1 (844) 845-5245 USA/Canada Toll-Free No. +1 (855) 465-4651 Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.com Westford, USA, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to SkyQuest, the global oxygen scavengers market is poised for steady growth in the predictable future, primarily driven by the rising demand for packaged food and beverage products, pharmaceuticals, and industrial goods. As consumers increasingly opt for convenience and longer shelf life, the need for effective oxygen scavengers has grown to ensure the preservation of product quality and freshness. Browse in-depth TOC on the "Oxygen Scavengers Market" Pages - 242 Tables - 64 Figures 78 Get a sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/oxygen-scavengers-market The oxygen scavengers market is experiencing significant growth, primarily propelled by the rising demand from the processed food industry. As the processed food sector continues to expand, there is a heightened need for effective oxygen scavengers to preserve the quality and extend the shelf life of packaged food products. Prominent Players in the Oxygen Scavengers Market Ecolab Inc. Solenis LLC BASF SE Sealed Air Corporation Arkema S.A. Clariant AG Henkel AG & Co. KGaA Kemira Oyj Kurita Water Industries Ltd. Accepta Ltd. Baker Hughes Company Innospec Inc. Italmatch Chemicals S.p.A. Lonza Group AG Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC SUEZ S.A. Dow Chemical Company SNF Floerger Group Buckman Laboratories International, Inc. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/oxygen-scavengers-market Enzymatic Segment is Expected to Grow the Market Due to Increasing Popularity in the Pharmaceutical Industries The enzymatic oxygen scavengers segment is emerging as the fastest-growing global oxygen scavengers market. Enzymatic scavengers are garnering increasing popularity, particularly in the pharmaceutical and medical industries, owing to their exceptional selectivity and efficiency in removing oxygen from various products and environments. The markets in the North America emerged as the dominant force in the global oxygen scavengers market, primarily due to its widespread adoption in the food and beverage industry. The region's food and beverage sector has grown significantly, driven by consumer demand for longer shelf life and enhanced product quality. Food and Beverage is Expected to Dominate the Market Due to Maintain the Quality of Various Food Products The food and beverage segment is the largest global oxygen scavengers market. This segment relies heavily on applying oxygen scavengers to maintain the quality and prolong the shelf life of various food and beverage products. The essential purpose of these scavengers is to prevent oxidation and spoilage, ensuring that the products retain their freshness, taste, and nutritional value over extended periods. Regional markets in the Asia Pacific are experiencing rapid growth in the oxygen scavengers market, emerging as the fastest-growing region. The key driver behind this expansion is the tremendous growth of the food and beverage industry in the region. The demand for packaged food and beverage products is witnessing a significant upsurge with a large and continuously increasing population and rising disposable income levels. A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the oxygen scavengers market has been recently conducted in a report. The report encompasses various aspects, including collaborations, mergers, innovative business policies, and strategies, providing valuable insights into key trends and breakthroughs in the market. Furthermore, the report scrutinizes the market share of the top segments and presents a detailed geographic analysis. Lastly, the report highlights the major players in the industry and their endeavours to develop innovative solutions to cater to the growing demand. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/oxygen-scavengers-market Key Developments in the Oxygen Scavengers Market Solenis, a leading manufacturer of specialty chemicals, recently made a significant move by entering into an agreement to acquire Clearon, a reputable company specializing in disinfectants and sanitizers. This strategic acquisition has bolstered Solenis' position in the water treatment sector, enabling the company to expand its portfolio of offerings and reinforce its presence in the market. Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company recently announced a groundbreaking development in the field of oxygen scavenger materials. The company successfully developed a new type of oxygen scavenger material that efficiently removes oxygen from food and pharmaceutical product packaging. Key Questions Answered in Oxygen Scavengers Market Report What specific growth drivers are projected to impact the market during the forecast period? List the top companies in the market and explain how they have achieved their positions of influence. In what ways do regional trends and patterns differ within the global market, and how these differences shape the market's future growth? Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global Technical Ceramics Market Global Hard Coatings Market Global Slip Additives Market Global Composite Adhesives Market Global Ion exchange resin Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com Dublin, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Automotive Acoustic Material Market by Material Type, Application, Component, Vehicle Type: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The automotive acoustic material market is likely to experience a growth rate of 6.4% from 2022-2031 owing to increasing demand for enhanced comfort & safety features in vehicles. The report incorporates the study of the global automotive acoustic material market that focuses on the materials used in vehicle manufacturing to lower the sound level of engine and other vehicle components. In addition, vehicles are insulated with automotive acoustic materials from inside to reduce the outer noise, which affects the inner environment of the vehicle. These effective and affordable materials are constantly being developed by a number of well-known automakers and OEMs so that they may provide their customers with more comfort. These initiatives are expected to enhance the overall market space in the future. For instance, in August 2019, Huntsman International LLC unveiled a wide range of innovative polyurethane foam solutions focused on mobility, comfort and architectural applications. The new formulation is thermoformable for superior sound absorption and greater flexibility. In addition, automotive acoustic materials are also used in the manufacturing industry to reduce machine noise and vibrations and safeguard workers on the shop floor. Although, the market value has increased as a result of increased R&D expenditures and growing consumer demand for more advanced comfort and safety features in vehicles. Also, the growing popularity of luxury, electric, and autonomous vehicles in the area and ongoing technical improvements may lead to an increase in the market. For instance, in 2020, HARMAN International partnered with Hyundai Motor Company to introduce the first ever active road noise cancellation system. The new technology has been adopted in the latter's Genesis GV80 SUV. China is the world's largest vehicle market. As new automakers move into the nation and are anticipated to unveil their latest models soon. According to the China Automobile Dealers Association, the country's luxury car dealers sold 277,000 vehicles in April 2020, an 11.1% increase over April 2019. Furthermore, major worldwide businesses operating in the sector are investing in the North American region to expand their market presence and stay one step ahead of their competitors. Market Dynamics Drivers Increasing demand for enhanced comfort & safety features in vehicles Stringent government regulations for economic assistance and vehicle noise Rising penetration of luxury vehicles Restraints Volatile prices of raw materials Decline in vehicle sales Opportunities Rise in the trend of vehicle customization coupled with an increase in disposable income Increase in demand for electric and hybrid vehicles Key Benefits This study presents analytical depiction of the global automotive acoustic material market analysis along with current trends and future estimations to depict imminent investment pockets. The overall automotive acoustic material market opportunity is determined by understanding profitable trends to gain a stronger foothold. The report presents information related to the key drivers, restraints, and opportunities of the global automotive acoustic material market with a detailed impact analysis. The current automotive acoustic material market is quantitatively analyzed from 2021 to 2031 to benchmark the financial competency. Porter's five forces analysis illustrates the potency of the buyers and suppliers in the industry. Key Market Segments By Vehicle Type Passenger Cars Commercial Vehicles By Material Type Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) Fiberglass Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Others By Application Interior Cabin Acoustic Exterior Acoustic Trunk Panel Acoustic Underbody and Engine Bay Acoustic By Component Arch Liner Head and Bonnet Liner Dash Door Engine Cover Trunk Trim Others Key Market Players Sumitomo Riko Company Limited BASF SE sika Henkel AG & Co. KGaA Covestro AG Toray Industries, Inc. 3M Huntsman International LLC Freudenberg Group Lyondellbasell Industries Holdings B.V. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/uzjnww 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. Dublin, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "4th Annual Mining Investment Latin America" conference has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Now in its' 4th year, Mining Investment Latin America is firmly established as boutique strategic mining investment & capital raising conference and exhibition. Besides that, we also incorporate the latest technological innovations that transform the industry & we add critical minerals and hydrogen that play a crucial role in the global energy market's transition to a low-carbon economy. We expect 200 senior level executives, including over 100 investors and 25 mining companies ranging from explorers, juniors to mid-tier producers and majors for two days of partnering, networking and business matching. Join us at an invaluable platform to get access to agenda covering latest industry issues, exhibition floor as well as 1-2-1 meeting matching tool for new partnerships & business opportunities. MINERS MEET INVESTORS Our investors come from private equity, asset & investment management companies, sovereign wealth funds, hedge funds, venture capital, family offices or are HNWIs and private investors. They travel from all over North & Latin Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe to look out for latest mining projects and investment opportunities. KEY THEMES Mining Investment Strategies & Trends Gold & Precious Metals Developments Hydrogen Market Trends & Investment Opportunities Junior Miners, New Exploration Projects & Discoveries Base Metals Resources Security & Sustainability Commodity Trends in North America M&A, Capital Raising & Financing Environment Battery Metals & Electric Vehicles Bulk Metals Critical Minerals Demand & Supply Analysis Mining Technology Advancements Emerging Markets Outlook Risk, Government Regulations & Policy Developments IoT, Blockchain & Future of Mining WHAT TO EXPECT? TOP SPEAKERS Our industry leaders provide new perspectives, share cutting edge content and insights to understand the fast-changing global investment landscape. VIRTUAL EXHIBITION Talk to miners & evaluate their resources projects and discover the very latest in technology and solution innovations to the mining industry. NETWORKING From speed networking, 1-2-1 meetings to private chats across 2 days you're assured to make the right connections. Explore the Latin America's Premier Resources Hub for Mining Investments, Critical Minerals, Hydrogen & Technology Opportunities 220 Attendees 100 Investors 12 Sponsors & Exhibitors 1 Conference Agenda: Conference Day 1 25th October 2023 Opening Keynote Presentations Global Economy & Commodity Outlook Hydrogen Role in Mining Networking Lunch Spotlights & Roundtables Capital Raising & Financing Options Battery & Energy Metals Supply Chain, Market Development & Automation 1-2-1 Meetings Chair's Closing Remarks Conference Day 2 26th October 2023 Government Regulations Base & Industry Metals Gold & Precious Metals Networking Lunch Spotlights & Roundtables Mining Finance, M&A and Strategies Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Health & Safety Information Technology 1-2-1 Meetings Chair's Closing Remarks Virtual Sessions Day 1 & 2 25th - 26th October 2023 Interactive Panel Discussions Live Presentations Virtual Roundtables Live Product Demos Online Q&A Sessions with Speakers Virtual 1-2-1 Meetings Chair's Closing Remarks & End of Conference Speakers ALEXANDER SCHAY Managing Director The Emerging Markets Investors Alliance United States ING ANDRES ROBLES OSOLLO National Communication Coordinator AIMMGMAC Mexico LOURDES MCPHERSON Sustainability & Community Relations Manager Argonaut Gold Inc Mexico DIDIER RAULT Chairman & CEO World Mining Investment Hong Kong For more information about this conference visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/vq3v5t 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. Dublin, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Adhesion Laminated Surface Protection Films Market (2023-2028) by Product Thickness, Lamination Technology, End-Use Industry, and Geography, Competitive Analysis, Impact of Economic Slowdown & Impending Recession with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Adhesion Laminated Surface Protection Films Market is estimated to be USD 1.03 Bn in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 1.44 Bn by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 6.90%. 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 Adhesion Laminated Surface Protection Films 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 Adhesion Laminated Surface Protection Films 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 Adhesion Laminated Surface Protection Films 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. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 207 Forecast Period 2023 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $1.03 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $1.44 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.9% Regions Covered Global Market Dynamics Drivers Increasing demand for films for construction and interior activities Increasing popularity of consumer electronics products Need from the packaging industry Restraints Concerns associated with the production of harmful by-products Opportunities Usage of environment-friendly resin for the manufacturing of the products Proliferation of the automatic sector Challenges Increasing environmental concern Companies Mentioned 3M Company Avery Dennison Corp. Berry Global Inc. Boston Tapes Commercial Srl CompAg nie de Saint-Gobain S.A. DermaMed Coatings Company, LLC DuPont de Nemours, Inc. ECHOtape Henkel AG & Co. KGaA Intertape Polymer Group, Inc. Lintec Corp. Lohmann GmbH & Co.KG Nichiban Co., Ltd. Nitto Denko Corp. ORAFOL Europe GmbH PPI Adhesive Products (C.E.) s.r.o. Scapa Group PLC Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. Shurtape Technologies LLC Teraoka Seisakusho Co., Ltd. Tesa SE Market Segmentation The Global Adhesion Laminated Surface Protection Films Market is segmented based on Product Thickness, Lamination Technology, End-Use Industry, and Geography. By Product Thickness, the market is classified into Up to 25 Microns, 25-50 Microns, 50-100 Microns, and Above 150 Microns. By Lamination Technology, the market is classified into Dry Bond Lamination, Energy Curable Lamination, Hot Melt Seal Coating, Solventless Lamination, and Wet Bond Lamination. By End-Use Industry, the market is classified into Automotive, Construction & Interior, Electrical & Electronics, Healthcare, and Industrial. 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/n0tqfx About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment FREMONT, Calif., July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The LoRa Alliance, the global association of companies backing the open LoRaWAN standard for the internet of things (IoT) low-power wide-area networks (LPWANs), today highlighted the strong growth of LoRaWAN across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region with the addition of millions of sensors deployed in the first 6 months of 2023, led by large projects in China, Japan, Korea, and India. The continued evolution of LoRaWAN networks is also increasing accessibility, further accelerating growth. To support the high level of regional activity, the LoRa Alliance will bring its next LoRaWAN Live event to Tokyo, Japan on October 11-12, 2023. The Asia Pacific region has consistently been at the leading edge of LoRaWAN deployments, and the trend has been accelerating through the first half of 2023, said Donna Moore, CEO and chairwoman of the LoRa Alliance. As digital transformation accelerates and demand increases for more effective, efficient and environmentally sustainable solutions to protect the planet and people's wellbeing, LoRa Alliance members have engaged in numerous deployments in the region to support a wide variety of applications. Some of the largest scale deployments support water metering and management, gas metering and leak detection, environmental monitoring and energy management, and street lighting/safety. Im excited for the Alliance to return to Japan in October to support the regions dynamic and accelerating LoRaWAN activity. Recent LoRaWAN projects and large-scale deployments announced in the APAC region include: Tata Communications has scaled two significant deployments, the first enables a connected worker solution covering more than 250,000 end nodes to monitor health, safety and productivity across large manufacturing organizations in segments like metals and mining, oil and gas, automotive, pharma etc.; and the second harnesses LoRaWAN for smart lighting automation solutions for more than 300,000 end nodes across India and the Middle East to manage streetlight infrastructure across large geographies. Packetworx and Actility are deploying a nationwide public LoRaWAN network in the Philippines with over 6,000 gateways. Semtech is a partner in a large water metering deployment of 250,000 sensors in Korea. Leotek Co. Ltd. supplies advanced water metering infrastructure services to major local governments in Korea using SJI LoRaWAN modules. Milesight has completed multiple deployment across China with approximately 50,000 LoRaWAN devices deployed. Projects included: lighting control system upgrade to improvement management efficiency of the site campus and reduce power consumption; digital transformation including lighting control, device control, energy and environment management, and space management, with the help of a smart building using LoRaWAN to enhance working efficiency and productivity; and sustainable and productive building management with LoRaWAN smart bin sensors and water leak detectors, improving operational efficiency, ensuring customer satisfaction, and integrating legacy systems. to enhance working efficiency and productivity; and sustainable and productive building management with LoRaWAN smart bin sensors and water leak detectors, improving operational efficiency, ensuring customer satisfaction, and integrating legacy systems. In a LoRaWAN milestone for Singapore, iWOW Technology Ltd.s installed network of over 400 TEKTELIC LoRaWAN gateways to service over 25,000 sensors for smart metering and emergency response services. IoT Ventures is deploying more than 8,000 sensors to support its LoRaWAN end to end solutions including the Water2Milk Water Infrastructure and Pasture Growth irrigation solution, HorseSafe horse wellness solution and GrainSure silo monitoring solution. Lacuna Space and IoT Ventures roll out a water monitoring system to track the availability of clean drinking water captured and stored in tanks within remote communities in the South Pacific. The early warning system avoids the need for infrastructure by messaging direct from sensor to satellite, allowing authorities to take action before the situation becomes critical. One of the largest subway companies in Japan introduced Yokogawa Electric Corporations Sushi Sensors to monitor hundreds of ventilators and air conditioning equipment units located in its stations and tunnels. The company plans to install Sushi Sensor on all its subway lines ventilators and air conditioning equipment. SenRa collaborated with a large Building Management System (BMS) company in India to optimize and expand its LoRaWAN deployment covering a 65-acre site and leveraging more than 250 sensors in the initial phases of the project to support water metering and management, leak detection and remote monitoring. Phases planned for later this year are slated to expand into street lighting, energy metering and parking solutions adding thousands of sensors. Kiwi Technology has launched two significant IoT FOT deployments, the first supports LNG gas metering and leverages third party Network Control Unit that uses LoRaWAN with Class B to connect and monitor gas meters in real time and potentially reduce gas leaks. The current Taiwan LPG deployment follows a similar project in Japan that went online in late 2022 and the second harnesses LoRaWAN for smart temperature management solutions across food retail and cold chain, as well as medical logistics to manage food and pharma safety to meet HACCP/GMP regulations. Semtech supported Aeon Delight in equipping 90 administrative facilities in Japan with solar panel driven LoRaWAN sensors commercialized by Ricoh to measure temperature, humidity, CO2 levels and light remotely, reducing both labor and running costs. LoRaWAN Live! Tokyo will be taking place at the Hilton Tokyo Shinjuku on October 11-12, 2023. This two-day public event features groundbreaking keynotes, panel discussions, live demonstrations, a poster session and innovations marketplace. The event is the premier opportunity to discover the latest LoRaWAN developments, find solutions, learn about device certification, how to become a LoRaWAN Accredited Professional, and generate opportunities to grow your business. LoRaWAN Live offers attendees the opportunity to network with global IoT leaders, CTOs, CIOs, CEOs, heads of innovation and technologists, developers, system integrators, OEMs, end-users, enterprises and start-ups. The event offers the opportunity to learn how LoRaWAN is transforming the buildings, retail, cities, industry, manufacturing, agriculture, and utilities markets in Asia and across the globe. About LoRa Alliance The LoRa Alliance is an open, nonprofit association that has become one of the largest and fastest-growing alliances in the technology sector since its inception in 2015. Its members closely collaborate and share expertise to develop and promote the LoRaWAN standard, the de facto global standard for secure, carrier-grade IoT LPWAN connectivity. LoRaWAN has the technical flexibility to address a broad range of fixed and mobile IoT applications and a robust LoRaWAN Certification program to guarantee that devices perform as specified. The LoRaWAN standard has been deployed by more than 170 major mobile network operators globally, with connectivity available worldwide. More information: lora-alliance.org LoRa Alliance, LoRaWAN and LoRaWAN CertifiedCM are registered marks. MEDIA CONTACT: Kiterocket Stephanie Quinn, LoRa Alliance PR +1 480 316-8370 squinn@kiterocket.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/da06bd5e-3842-4e4c-997a-4ae6d23f2a30 Dublin, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "The Philippines: Existing & Upcoming Data Center Portfolio" database has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This comprehensive database offers invaluable insights into the current and upcoming facilities shaping the data center landscape in the country. Unveiling the Philippines Data Center Potential The Philippines data center market has witnessed substantial investments in recent years, with colocation and telecom data center operators expanding their market presence. Among the major investors are industry leaders such as ePLDT, DITO Telecommunity, and SpaceDC, who have contributed to the growth and digital transformation of the country. Improved Digital Connectivity Digital connectivity is a key focus in the Philippines, with significant expansion and laying of new submarine cables connecting the nation. These efforts have resulted in a remarkable improvement in the overall digital connectivity of the country, making it an attractive destination for data center investments. Dominant Players and Market Share The top two data center operators in the Philippines command a significant market share, contributing to over 65% of the existing IT load capacity in the data center market. Retail colocation holds the major share, accounting for approximately 91% of the market in 2022, while wholesale colocation accounts for the remaining 9%. Unparalleled Data Points Coverage Our database includes a comprehensive analysis of 21 existing data centers and 13 upcoming data centers, covering key locations across the Philippines, including Manila, Batangas, Cebu, and more. It offers essential information on existing and upcoming white-floor space, current IT load capacity, and future capacity additions projected from 2023 to 2025. Explore the Philippines Data Center Market Industry stakeholders, including data center real estate investment trusts (REITs), data center construction contractors, infrastructure providers, new entrants, consultants, advisory firms, as well as corporate and government agencies, will find our database a valuable resource for making informed decisions. Investors/Operators Covered Among the prominent investors and operators featured in the database are: ePLDT Beeinfotech DITO Telecommunity Globe Telecom Tech Global Phcolo NexLogic Telecommunications Network Total Information Management Corporation Bitstop Network Services For more information about this database visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/czrvri 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. Preliminary tests at TOMRA in Germany indicate the mineralization at Iska Iska is amenable to ore-sorting with removal of at least 40% of the waste in the Polymetallic Domain and up to 80% in the Tin Domain which would substantially increase concentrator feed grades as well as reduce future operating costs and significantly lower the cut off grades (COG) for the pending mineral resource estimate (MRE). Positive ore-sorting results were obtained from composite samples of both the tin (Sn) and polymetallic (Ag-Zn-Pb) mineralization domains in the Santa Barbara deposit indicating its wide applicability throughout the entire deposit. Further metallurgical studies conducted by Wardell Armstrong International on a composite sample of the tin mineralization has improved tin concentrator recovery to 50%. This recovery is un-optimised and has been achieved using a mixture of Multi Gravity and tin flotation techniques which are specifically designed to recover the finer grained cassiterite. The concentrator could produce an approximately 5%Sn concentrate grade amenable to the tin fuming process that ultimately could produce a 60-70%Sn concentrate for smelting. The level of metallurgical and pyrometallurgical work that has been conducted is exceptionally high for an inaugural MRE but is justifiable due to the significance of this large potentially open pittable tin and polymetallic resource. The additional metallurgical/mineralogical knowledge will enable Eloro to rapidly move towards a preliminary economic assessment (PEA). TORONTO, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX: ELO; OTCQX: ELRRF; FSE: P2QM) (Eloro, or the Company) is pleased to announce major advances on metallurgy for the Iska Iska silver-tin polymetallic project in the Potosi Department of southern Bolivia. These tests were directed by Mike Hallewell, C.Eng., Eloros Senior Strategic Metallurgist and a qualified person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). in consultation with Micon International Limited Principal Metallurgist, Richard Gowans, P.Eng., an independent QP. Work by the Eloro geological team at Iska Iska led by Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., Executive Vice President of Exploration and Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P.Geo., Manager of Minera Tupiza, indicates that Santa Barbara is essentially two major deposits in one as shown in Figure 1. Tin (Sn) mineralization with silver (Ag) dominates in the western and deeper portions of the deposit (Tin Domain) while in the eastern and southern shallower parts of the deposit, polymetallic silver-zinc-lead (Ag-Zn-Pb) mineralization predominates (Polymetallic Domain). The overall deposit as presently drilled extends more than 1,200m along strike, is up to 800m wide and extends to a depth of at least 1,000m with mineralization open in all directions. Tom Larsen, CEO of Eloro, said: These positive metallurgical tests, particularly the Ore-sorting tests at TOMRA, have a major positive impact on the potential future production at Iska Iska. For this reason, and in consultation with our independent consultants, Micon International, we deferred completion of the inaugural MRE until these tests were completed and the results could be fully incorporated into the final MRE which is now expected to be released in latter August. Mike Hallewell, C.Eng, Eloros Senior Strategic Metallurgist commented: The level of metallurgical and pyrometallurgical work that has been conducted thus far at Iska Iska is exceptionally high for an inaugural MRE but is justifiable due to the significance of this large potentially open pittable tin and polymetallic resource. This additional metallurgical/mineralogical knowledge will enable Eloro to rapidly move towards a preliminary economic assessment (PEA). Ore-Sorting Tests Metallurgically the two different domains require different approaches to optimize recoveries. As much of the mineralization in both domains occurs in veins and vein breccias, it was felt that ore-sorting technology developed by TOMRA could have a significant impact by selectively removing waste material resulting in a significant reduction in operating costs while at the same time producing a major increase in grades of feed to the grinding circuit. 256 rocks representing five different lithological groups within the Polymetallic Domain and five different lithological and tin grade groups within the Tin Domain were scanned using the on-site GeologicAI core scanner and then subsequently sent for amenability testing at TOMRA in Wedel, Germany. The preliminary images and assays indicate a positive response to XRT Ore sorting. Based upon these results, the preliminary indications are at least 40% of the run-of-mine (ROM) polymetallic mineralization could be rejected as waste while for the Tin Domain, as much as 80% of the weight can be rejected as sub cutoff grade (COG) waste. Ore sorting will significantly increase concentrator feed grades which will enhance concentrator recovery in both domains. In addition, bulk mining techniques can be employed without resultant dilution issues and this will reduce downstream processing costs. The positive results obtained justify the diamond drilling of larger size diameter holes to produce bulk samples of both Polymetallic and Tin Domains for Cascade testing at TOMRA, Germany. The resultant XRT pre-concentrated product will be used for the downstream PEA studies. Optimizing Tin Recovery Wardell Armstrong International, based at the old Wheal Jane tin mine site in Cornwall, England have conducted further tin optimisation testing on a composite sample from the tin domain, drawing on their strong historical background with tin studies. The main thrust of this work was to identify ways of increasing the tin recovery in the concentrator and consisted of Falcon Continuous Roughing followed by multi-gravity separators (MGS) and cleaning of Falcon Rougher Concentrates. These multi-gravity technologies can recover the bulk of the recovered tin in as coarse a grain size possible. The Falcon tailings are then reground prior to a tin flotation rougher stage where much finer cassiterite is recovered using MGS cleaning of the resultant tin flotation rougher concentrates. The combined multi gravity concentrator and tin float concentrator tin recovery was increased to 50% using this flowsheet and further optimisation studies of this flowsheet have been identified which will form part of the PEA study using the XRT pre-concentrated products as mentioned above. The University of Oruro has also tested other pre-concentration techniques including Dense Media Separation (DMS) using heavy liquids. The DMS testwork results for the three different grade samples tested were positive, matching the XRT Ore sorting mentioned above where as much as80% of the weight can be rejected as floats at sub-COG waste in the Tin Domain. This is a positive result and provides further options to increase the quantity of waste rejected by using DMS as a potential further stage of pre-concentration on XRT products and/or the nominal -10mm that is too fine to be XRT Ore Sorted. This provides further confidence that the low-grade tin domain can be effectively upgraded. Figure 1 Plan Map Showing Major Tin and Polymetallic Domains in the Santa Barbara Deposit, Iska Iska Qualified Person Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P. Geo., General Manager of Eloros Bolivian subsidiary, Minera Tupiza S.R.L., and a Qualified Person (QP) in the context of NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., Executive Vice President Exploration Eloro, and who has more than 45 years of worldwide mining exploration experience, including extensive work in South America, manages the overall technical program, working closely with Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P.Geo. Dr. Quinton Hennigh, P.Geo., Senior Technical Advisor to Eloro and Independent Technical Advisor, Mr. Charley Murahwi P. Geo., FAusIMM of Micon are regularly consulted on technical aspects of the project. Metallurgical work was directed by Mike Hallewell, B.Sc, F.S.A.I.M.M., F.I.M.M.M., C.Eng., Eloros Senior Strategic Metallurgist, a QP as defined by NI 43-101, in consultation with Micon Internationals Principal Metallurgist, Richard Gowans, P.Eng., an independent QP as defined by NI 43-101. Ore-sorting tests were completed at TOMRAs facilities in Wedel, Germany. TOMRA GmbH are a leading technical authority in XRT Ore sorting. Note that the term Ore is part of the registered product name of TOMRA and the use of the term ore in this press release does not imply that the mineralization at Iska Iska is ore as defined by NI 43-101. Tin optimization tests were completed at the facilities of Wardell Armstrong International in Cornwall, England. Wardell Armstrong International are an internationally recognised consulting group. The metallurgical testwork carried out at the University of Oruro, Bolivia facility has been found to yield accurate results in comparison to similar analysis at internationally accredited laboratories hence the results are considered reliable for preliminary analysis. Eloro utilized both ALS and AHK for drill core analysis, both of whom are major international accredited laboratories. Drill samples sent to ALS are prepared in both ALS Bolivia Ltdas preparation facility in Oruro, Bolivia and the preparation facility operated by AHK in Tupiza with pulps sent to the main ALS Global laboratory in Lima for analysis. More recently Eloro has had ALS send pulps to their laboratory at Galway in Ireland. Eloro employs an industry standard QA/QC program with standards, blanks and duplicates inserted into each batch of samples analyzed with selected check samples sent to a separate accredited laboratory. Drill core samples sent to AHK Laboratories are prepared in a preparation facility installed and managed by AHK in Tupiza with pulps sent to the AHK laboratory in Lima, Peru. Au and Sn analysis on these samples is done by ALS Bolivia Ltda in Lima. Check samples between ALS and AHK are regularly done as a QA/QC check. AHK is following the same analytical protocols used as with ALS and with the same QA/QC protocols. About Iska Iska Iska Iska silver-tin polymetallic project is a road accessible, royalty-free property, wholly controlled by the Title Holder, Empresa Minera Villegas S.R.L. and is located 48 km north of Tupiza city, in the Sud Chichas Province of the Department of Potosi in southern Bolivia. Eloro has an option to earn a 100% interest in Iska Iska. Iska Iska is a major silver-tin polymetallic porphyry-epithermal complex associated with a Miocene possibly collapsed/resurgent caldera, emplaced on Ordovician age rocks with major breccia pipes, dacitic domes and hydrothermal breccias. The caldera is 1.6km by 1.8km in dimension with a vertical extent of at least 1km. Mineralization age is similar to Cerro Rico de Potosi and other major deposits such as San Vicente, Chorolque, Tasna and Tatasi located in the same geological trend. Eloro began underground diamond drilling from the Huayra Kasa underground workings at Iska Iska on September 13, 2020. On November 18, 2020, Eloro announced the discovery of a significant breccia pipe with extensive silver polymetallic mineralization just east of the Huayra Kasa underground workings and a high-grade gold-bismuth zone in the underground workings. On November 24, 2020, Eloro announced the discovery of the SBBP approximately 150m southwest of the Huayra Kasa underground workings. Subsequently, on January 26, 2021, Eloro announced significant results from the first drilling at the SBBP including the discovery hole DHK-15 which returned 129.60 g Ag eq/t over 257.5m (29.53g Ag/t, 0.078g Au/t, 1.45%Zn, 0.59%Pb, 0.080%Cu, 0.056%Sn, 0.0022%In and 0.0064% Bi from 0.0m to 257.5m. Subsequent drilling has confirmed significant values of Ag-Sn polymetallic mineralization in the SBBP and the adjacent CBP. A substantive mineralized envelope which is open along strike and down-dip extends around both major breccia pipes. Continuous channel sampling of the Santa Barbara Adit located to the east of SBBP returned 442 g Ag eq/t (164.96 g Ag/t, 0.46%Sn, 3.46% Pb and 0.14% Cu) over 166m including 1,092 g Ag eq/t (446 g Ag/t, 9.03% Pb and 1.16% Sn) over 56.19m. The west end of the adit intersects the end of the SBBP. Since the initial discovery hole, Eloro has released a number of significant drill results in the SBBP and the surrounding mineralized envelope which along with geophysical data has defined an extensive target zone. In its September 20, 2022 press release, the Company reported that new downhole geophysical data has significantly extended the strike length of the high-grade feeder zone at Santa Barbara a further 250m along strike to the south-southeast from existing drilling. The 3D inverse magnetic model which correlates very strongly with the conductive zone suggested that the high-grade feeder zone may extend across the entire caldera for as much as a further 1 km along strike for a total potential strike length of at least 2 km. As reported, the definition drill program was modified to sectionally drill this potential extension with the intention of defining a major open pittable deposit in the valley of the caldera. The Company completed 84,495m of drilling in 122 holes from the definition drill program in the Santa Barbara target area. On November 22, 2022, Eloro announced the acquisition of the Mina Casiterita and Mina Hoyada properties covering 14.75 km2 southwest and west of Iska Iska. These properties connect with the TUP-3 and TUP-6 claims previously staked by Eloro. Eloro has also staked additional land in the area. Following the acquisition, the total land package in the Iska Iska area to be controlled by Eloro will total 1,935 quadrants covering 483.75 km2. Artisanal mining in the 1960s identified high grade tin (Sn) veins on the Mina Casiterita property that are hosted in an intrusive dacite. Production from 1962 to 1964 is reported by the Departamento Nacional de Geologia in Bolivia to be 69.85 tonnes grading 50.60% Sn. Recently completed magnetic surveys by Eloro has outlined an extensive, near surface, magnetic intrusive body on the Mina Casiterita property immediately southwest of Iska Iska. This intrusive hosts the previously mined high-grade tin veins and is very likely the continuation of the porphyry tin intrusion projected to be below the epithermal Ag-Sn-Zn-Pb mineralization at Iska Iska. Work by the Eloro geological team at Iska Iska indicates that Santa Barbara is essentially two major deposits in one. Tin (Sn) mineralization with silver (Ag) dominates in the western and deeper portions of the deposit (Tin Domain) while in the eastern and southern shallower parts of the deposit, polymetallic silver-zinc-lead (Ag-Zn-Pb) mineralization predominates (Polymetallic Domain). The overall deposit as presently drilled extends more than 1,200m along strike, is up to 800m wide and extends to a depth of at least 1,000m with mineralization open in all directions. About Eloro Resources Ltd. Eloro is an exploration and mine development company with a portfolio of gold and base-metal properties in Bolivia, Peru and Quebec. Eloro has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the highly prospective Iska Iska Property, which can be classified as a polymetallic epithermal-porphyry complex, a significant mineral deposit type in the Potosi Department, in southern Bolivia. A recent NI 43-101 Technical Report on Iska Iska, which was completed by Micon International Limited, is available on Eloros website and under its filings on SEDAR. Iska Iska is a road-accessible, royalty-free property. Eloro also owns an 82% interest in the La Victoria Gold/Silver Project, located in the North-Central Mineral Belt of Peru some 50 km south of Barricks Lagunas Norte Gold Mine and Pan American Silvers La Arena Gold Mine. For further information please contact either Thomas G. Larsen, Chairman and CEO or Jorge Estepa, Vice-President at (416) 868-9168. Information in this news release may contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information express, as at the date of this news release, the Companys plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations, or beliefs as to future events or results and are believed to be reasonable based on information currently available to the Company. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/42ba87ae-c709-4ffe-9ef2-971c74dab8df VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Integra Resources Corp. (Integra or the Company) (TSXV: ITR; NYSE American: ITRG) is pleased to announce drill results from 21 additional drill holes, representing 1,180 meters (m), from the stockpile drill program at the DeLamar Project (DeLamar or the Project) located in southwestern Idaho. The stockpile drill program at DeLamar was designed to test a large portion of the estimated 60 million tonnes (Mt) of mineralized material that was stockpiled and/or used as backfill at the Project. The Company believes that additional oxide-and-mixed material from the stockpiles and backfill at DeLamar has the potential to significantly increase the heap leach mine life of the Project in future phases and further bolster the robust economics presented in the Companys 2022 Pre-feasibility Study (PFS). Drilling Highlights The latest drilling highlights from DeLamar (North DeLamar, Stockpile 1 and 2) include: NDM-23-046: 0.29 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) and 18.72 g/t silver (Ag) (0.53 g/t gold equivalent (AuEq)) over 120.40 m NDM-23-018: 0.22 g/t Au and 17.46 g/t Ag (0.45 g/t AuEq) over 74.68 m NDM-22-164: 0.24 g/t Au and 18.86 g/t Ag (0.48 g/t AuEq) over 47.24 m NDM-23-022: 0.26 g/t Au and 14.20 g/t Ag (0.44 g/t AuEq) over 73.15 m The latest drilling highlights from Florida Mountain (Jacobs Gulch) include: JG-23-080: 0.60 g/t Au and 10.50 g/t Ag (0.74 g/t AuEq) over 53.34 m, including 8.91 g/t Au and 6.55 g/t Ag (9.00 g/t AuEq) over 1.53 m JG-23-040: 0.32 g/t Au and 10.33 g/t Ag (0.46 g/t AuEq) over 32.00 m JG-23-146: 0.36 g/t Au and 6.76 g/t Ag (0.45 g/t AuEq) over 33.53 m The drill results announced today continue to demonstrate excellent gold equivalent grade and drill intercept widths with strong continuity throughout the stockpile and backfill mineralized material. The Company has released 176 drill holes of the 321 drill holes completed during the 12,588 m stockpile drill program which was completed in April 2023. Integra intends to release an updated mineral resource estimate for DeLamar in Q3 2023 which will include the stockpile and backfill mineralized material. In Q4 2023, the Company plans on submitting the Mine Plan of Operations at DeLamar, which represents a major de-risking milestone for the Project. Integras President, CEO & Director, Jason Kosec commented: The drill results announced today further increase the Companys confidence that the stockpile and backfill material has the potential to significantly increase the heap leach mine life of the project in future phases. For the remainder of 2023, the team remains focused on delivering two more significant milestones at DeLamar including the updated mineral resource estimate in Q3 and the submission of the Mine Plan of Operations in Q4. Detailed Drill Results The following table highlights selected intercepts from the DeLamar backfill and stockpile drill program announced today1,2,3,4: Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m) g/t Au g/t Ag g/t AuEq AuCN Recovery (%) NDM-23-023 0.00 82.30 82.30 0.19 15.79 0.39 80.70 NDM-22-164 0.00 47.24 47.24 0.24 18.86 0.48 67.11 NDM-23-014 0.00 50.29 50.29 0.18 19.91 0.44 81.34 NDM-23-018 0.00 74.68 74.68 0.22 17.46 0.45 68.10 NDM-23-019 0.00 62.48 62.48 0.22 16.01 0.43 68.73 NDM-23-022 0.00 73.15 73.15 0.26 14.20 0.44 65.70 NDM-23-046 0.00 120.40 120.40 0.29 18.72 0.53 72.07 NDM-23-052 0.00 65.53 65.53 0.23 11.50 0.38 79.88 NDM-23-201 1.52 57.91 56.39 0.27 14.03 0.45 79.34 WD1-22-204 1.52 51.82 50.30 0.20 15.84 0.40 84.49 WD1-23-080 0.00 50.29 50.29 0.13 12.36 0.29 67.30 WD1-23-181 0.00 62.48 62.48 0.13 9.21 0.25 77.41 WD1-23-272 1.52 54.86 53.34 0.15 8.01 0.26 75.27 WD2-22-202 1.52 45.72 44.20 0.14 10.39 0.27 81.29 WD2-23-070 0.00 28.96 28.96 0.08 19.82 0.34 69.85 including 25.91 27.43 1.52 0.35 304.00 4.27 62.15 WD2-23-124 1.52 41.15 39.63 0.14 13.46 0.31 85.44 (1) Downhole thickness is true thickness. (2) Intervals reported are uncapped. (3) AuEq = g/t Au + (g/t Ag 77.70). Rounding may cause minor discrepancies in the AuEq column. (4) Au recovery based on cyanide shakes (AuCN) run on all intervals with Au assay values >0.1 g/t. The following table highlights selected intercepts from the Florida Mountain backfill and stockpile drill program announced today1,2,3: Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m) g/t Au g/t Ag g/t AuEq JG-23-040 0.00 32.00 32.00 0.32 10.33 0.46 JG-23-049 0.00 36.58 36.58 0.30 9.10 0.42 JG-23-080 0.00 53.34 53.34 0.60 10.50 0.74 including 9.14 10.67 1.53 8.91 6.55 9.00 JG-23-083 0.00 45.72 45.72 0.19 12.18 0.35 JG-23-146 0.00 33.53 33.53 0.36 6.76 0.45 (1) Downhole thickness is true thickness. (2) Intervals reported are uncapped. (3) AuEq = g/t Au + (g/t Ag 77.70). Rounding may cause minor discrepancies in the AuEq column. Follow the link below to view a cross section of the Jacobs Gulch stockpile: https://integraresources.com/site/assets/files/2572/jg_cross_section_july_2023_vf.pdf The Jacobs Gulch stockpile cross section illustrates strong grade continuity and consistent grades above the heap leach cut-off grade, demonstrating the potential for this material to increase the heap leach mine life in future phases. The Jacobs Gulch stockpile is estimated to contain approximately 8.9 Mt of the approximate 60 Mt of mineralized material that was stockpiled and/or used as backfill by previous operators. Drill spacing is completed at 60 m with some areas drilled at 30 m spacing to further confirm continuity. The stockpile drilling, along with additional drilling that occurred after the last mineral resource estimate cut-off date, will be included in an updated mineral resource estimate at the Project in Q3 2023. Follow the links below to view a drill collar location map for the DeLamar stockpile/backfill drill program: https://integraresources.com/site/assets/files/2572/dc_location_bf_nr_ndm_2023-07_sm.pdf https://integraresources.com/site/assets/files/2572/dc_location_bf_sp_1-2_2023-07_sm.pdf Follow the link below to view a drill collar location map for the Florida Mountain stockpile/backfill drill program: https://integraresources.com/site/assets/files/2572/dc_map_bf_fm_-_2023-07_sm.pdf Cyanide shake analysis is not performed on Florida Mountain samples as gold occurrences in Florida Mountain material can often be coarse in nature, making comparisons between cyanide shake analyses and fire assays unreliable. Once pulverized, as per any cyanide shake procedure, all Florida Mountain material show high recoveries by cyanidation, rendering cyanide shake analysis unreliable for differentiating between ores that can be heap leached and those requiring grinding to achieve high recoveries. Sampling and QA/QC Procedure Thorough QA/QC protocols are followed on the Project, including insertion of duplicate, blank and standard samples in the assay stream for all drill holes. The samples are submitted directly to American Assay Labs in Reno, Nevada for preparation and analysis. Analysis of gold is performed using fire assay method with atomic absorption (AA) finish on a 1 assay ton aliquot. Gold results over 5 g/t are re-run using a gravimetric finish. Silver analysis is performed using ICP for results up to 100 g/t on a 5-acid digestion, with a fire assay, gravimetric finish for results over 100 g/t silver. Execution of Drill Program Methodology The stockpile drill program was executed at 60 m collar spacings with select 30 m infill test holes to further verify grade variability in future resource estimation and to provide additional metallurgical samples. All drilling was vertical through the entirety of the stockpiles and backfill material. The drilling was conducted by a combination of Sonic and traditional reverse circulation (RC) with casing advance drilling methods. Both these drilling methods maintain high sample quality and integrity throughout the drilling process. Additionally, the two drilling methods provided a basis for continuity comparison. Sampling was conducted at 1.5 m intervals for the whole of the drilling program with all samples sent to a third-party lab for analysis. The Sonic Drilling provided material suitable for ongoing comprehensive metallurgical test work. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Raphael Dutaut, Ph.D (P.Geo), Integras Vice President, Exploration and Tim Arnold (PE, SME), Integras Chief Operating Officer. Both individuals are Qualified Persons (QP) as defined in National Instrument 43- 101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. DeLamar Project Overview The past producing DeLamar Project, which includes the adjacent DeLamar and Florida Mountain gold and silver deposits, is located in Owyhee County in southwest Idaho. Since acquiring the Project in 2017, the Company has demonstrated significant resource growth and conversion while providing robust economic studies in its maiden Preliminary Economic Assessment and PFS. An independent technical report for the PFS on the DeLamar Project has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101 and is available under the Companys profile at www.sedar.com. About Integra Resources Integra is one of the largest precious metals exploration and development companies in the Great Basin of the Western USA. Integra is currently focused on advancing its three flagship oxide heap leach projects: the past producing DeLamar Project located in southwestern Idaho and the Wildcat and Mountain View Projects located in western Nevada. The Company also holds a portfolio of highly prospective early-stage exploration projects in Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona. Integras long-term vision is to become a leading USA focused mid-tier gold and silver producer. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jason Kosec President, CEO and Director CONTACT INFORMATION Corporate Inquiries: ir@integraresources.com Company website: www.integraresources.com Office phone: 1 (604) 416-0576 Forward Looking and Other Cautionary Statements Certain information set forth in this news release contains forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and applicable United States securities laws (referred to herein as forwardlooking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes forwardlooking statements which includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: the future financial or operating performance of the Company and the Companys mineral properties and project portfolio; the results from work performed to date; the estimation of mineral resources and reserves; the realization of mineral resource and reserve estimates; the development, operational and economic results of technical reports on mineral properties referenced herein; magnitude or quality of mineral deposits; the anticipated advancement of the Company mineral properties and project portfolios; exploration expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits; underground exploration potential; costs and timing of future exploration; the completion and timing of future development studies; estimates of metallurgical recovery rates; exploration prospects of mineral properties; requirements for additional capital; the future price of metals; government regulation of mining operations; environmental risks; the timing and possible outcome of pending regulatory matters; the development, operational and economic results of the Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Wildcat & Mountain View Projects and the PFS for the DeLamar Project; the realization of the expected economics of mineral properties; future growth potential of mineral properties; and future development plans. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as may, will, could, would, anticipate, believe, expect, intend, potential, estimate, budget, scheduled, plans, planned, forecasts, goals and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of factors and assumptions made by management and considered reasonable at the time such information is provided. Assumptions and factors include: the Companys ability to complete its planned exploration programs; the absence of adverse conditions at mineral properties; no unforeseen operational delays; no material delays in obtaining necessary permits; the price of gold remaining at levels that render mineral properties economic; the Companys ability to continue raising necessary capital to finance operations; and the ability to realize on the mineral resource and reserve estimates. Forwardlooking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: integration risks; general business, economic and competitive uncertainties; the actual results of current and future exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; meeting various expected cost estimates; benefits of certain technology usage; changes in project parameters and/or economic assessments as plans continue to be refined; future prices of metals; possible variations of mineral grade or recovery rates; the risk that actual costs may exceed estimated costs; geological, mining and exploration technical problems; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); title to properties; the impact of COVID-19 on the timing of exploration and development work and managements ability to anticipate and manage the foregoing factors and risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are advised to study and consider risk factors disclosed in Integras annual report on Form 20-F dated March 17, 2023 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and Millennial Precious Metals Corps managements discussion and analysis dated April 28, 2023 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. There can be no assurance that forwardlooking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forwardlooking statements if circumstances or managements estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are presented for the purposes of assisting investors in understanding the Companys plans, objectives and goals, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forwardlooking statements. This news release also contains or references certain market, industry and peer group data, which is based upon information from independent industry publications, market research, analyst reports, surveys, continuous disclosure filings and other publicly available sources. Although the Company believes these sources to be generally reliable, such information is subject to interpretation and cannot be verified with complete certainty due to limits on the availability and reliability of raw data, the voluntary nature of the data gathering process and other inherent limitations and uncertainties. The Company has not independently verified any of the data from third party sources referred to in this news release and accordingly, the accuracy and completeness of such data is not guaranteed. Cautionary Note for U.S. Investors Concerning Mineral Resources and Reserves NI 43-101 is a rule of the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Technical disclosure contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Classification System. These standards differ from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and resource information contained in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by domestic United States companies subject to the SEC's reporting and disclosure requirements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 2023 sees the return of the exclusive Table One series to Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar , the Northland Properties -owned fine-dining restaurant in downtown Vancouver. Led by Chef Alex Chen (Executive Chef of BLVD and chef-partner at Wild Blue Restaurant + Bar in Whistler) and held monthly between April and September, this intimate event features a multi-course set menu with a focus on locally-sourced seasonal ingredients. Located at the Sutton Place Hotel , the series represents a creative study in precision and artistry. Throughout the evening, Chef Alex takes the time to share his own journey, food philosophies, and the inspirations behind his dishes while exhibiting the techniques he has tirelessly honed over the past 20 years. This truly is a unique opportunity for upscale dining enthusiasts to indulge in a one-of-a-kind culinary experience. With four of the six dates already fulfilled, this year has been a busy one for the establishment. In June, Boulevard was awarded Best Upscale Restaurant for 2023 by the 34th annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards. The team also received an honorable mention in the 'Best Contemporary' category. The honours are the latest to be earned by the accomplished establishment and its all-star cast. Describing the seafood-focused menu as "impeccably sourced ingredients with modern spins that are reined in by classic French and Asian rigor", Canadas 100 Best bestowed Boulevard with the No. 43 spot in their annual list of the countrys best restaurants in mid-May. As the restaurants Executive General Manager and Wine Director, JP Potters shares that the The Boulevard Experience is not a one size fits all approach. Our team members are asked not to focus on sales but rather create a wholly positive experience. They are invited to determine how they can have a positive impact on those seated around the table, whether its a first-time visit or a return to a favourite dining spot. In our day-to-day decisions, we continue to choose excellence and do things properly, despite it generally being the harder path. Executive Chef Roger Ma echoes this philosophy. Its really all about trying to do all of the little things right and being consistent - with enough hard work, love, and care, we try to create a thriving work environment that breeds success, he explains. Watching our team grow and develop into the next generation of talent is equally satisfying as being featured in awards. For Chef Alex Chen, with both Boulevard and Wild Blue Restaurant + Bar, included in this years Canadas 100 Best Restaurant lists, the recipe for success is simple great synergy between his partners and team members. They are the ones that run the day-to-day operations, provide great service, delicious food, and warm hospitality on a consistent basis. None of this would ever be possible without my team and our ownership group, Northland Properties, providing me with the greatest strength, unwavering belief, and support. To book any of the remaining Table One Series dates in August or September, please ensure to visit https://boulevardvancouver.ca/ for further information. ABOUT BOULEVARD KITCHEN & OYSTER BAR Located in Vancouvers downtown shopping district, Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar sets a national standard in fine dining and hospitality. Led by the creative talents of Chef Roger Ma (Canadian Culinary Champion 2020) and Chef Alex Chen (1st Winner of Iron Chef Canada), the restaurant is uncompromising in its showcase of fresh seafood and West Coast fare. Dine and discover a renaissance of classical technique and training, where creative hints of international influence showcase reimagined local ingredients. As one of the most awarded restaurants in Vancouvers recent history, Boulevard boasts a gorgeous room with signature booths, a renowned bar program, and elegant private dining spaces. Each is enhanced with exceptional service, and a wide-ranging selection of wines and cocktails. To learn more, please visit Boulevards Website, LinkedIn or Instagram Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a4c7b6d5-1ee9-4aea-9668-0e8f7137de5e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7fa8e4dc-1b3b-44b3-80d8-ff80a60bdb0d https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8a329b69-75ff-4642-bf5f-c027307a41b6 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/27c2c1e8-8cd1-4988-902a-b92480406f5d Delhi, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- US Orphan Drugs Market, Drugs Sales, Price, Dosage & Clinical Trials Insight 2028 Report Highlights: US Orphan Drugs Market Opportunity: > USD 150 Billion By 2028 Orphan Drugs Dosage, Price & Treatment Cost: > 350 Orphan Drug Annual & Quarterly Sales Insight (2019 Q12023):> 100 Orphan Drugs US Orphan Drugs Reimbursement Scenario: Medicare, Medicaid, Private Insurers Active Clinical Trials Insight By Company, Indication & Phase: 1000 Orphan Drugs Marketed Orphan Drugs Clinical Insight By Company & Indication: > 400 Orphan Drugs Competitive Landscape: 75 Companies Download Report: https://www.kuickresearch.com/report-us-orphan-drug-market-size Rare diseases, by definition, affect a small population of individuals often numbering in the thousands or even fewer. These conditions pose unique challenges for drug development due to the limited patient pool which can make it financially unappealing for pharmaceutical companies to invest it research and investment. To address this gap, the US FDA established the orphan drug designation program. This initiative has played a pivotal role in advancing treatments for rare diseases. One of the most critical advantages of orphan drug designation is the grant of market exclusivity. Upon FDA approval, an orphan drug receives 7 years of market exclusivity, during which competing drugs for the same rare disease are generally not approved. This exclusivity period provides a crucial window for the drug developer to recover their investment and establish a strong market presence without immediate competition. It creates a favorable environment for pharmaceutical companies to focus on research, development and commercialization efforts knowing that they have a protected space to introduce their innovative therapies. Market exclusivity resulting from orphan drug designation significantly enhances the market value of a drug. With larger pharmaceutical companies focusing on the development of orphan drugs, their market continues to overtake to the broader pharmaceutical market, making orphan drugs no longer a niche market. The exclusivity period drug developers to command premium pricing and the potential for higher profit margins encourage investors and further financial support for ongoing research and clinical trials. As a result, orphan drug designations play a crucial role in attracting funding and encouraging a robust pipeline of novel medicines for rare diseases. For instance, recently the US FDA approved Zydus Lifesciences ZYIL1 for the treatment of patients with Cryopyrin Associates Periodic Syndrome (CAPS). This orphan drug designation provided ZYIL1 for eligibility for certain incentives for development including tax credits for qualified clinical testing, prescription drug free user exception and finally the seven year marketing exclusivity. In September 2022, the company presented the results from phase I clinical study of ZYIL1 which supported the advancement of ZYIL1 in CAPS patients. The impact or orphan drug designations extend beyond the domestic market, opening doors for international growth and recognition. The FDAs rigorous approval process and stringent evaluation criteria provide credibility and establish a solid foundation for global expansion. International regulatory agencies often consider FDA orphan drug designation status when reviewing drug applications. This recognition not only accelerates the approval process but also enhances the drugs commercial prospects in international markets. Additionally, many countries have adopted similar orphan drug programs modeled after the US initiative which further streamlines regulatory processes and increases the likelihood of obtaining market exclusivity. International partnerships and collaborations are also facilitated by the orphan drug designations, slowing for clinical trials and market access in multiple countries. These opportunities for global expansion enable drug developers to reach a wider patient population and maximize the impact of their innovative therapies. The FDA provides additional regulatory assistance to orphan drug developers. This assistance may include consultation meetings, guidance on clinical trial design and expedited review and approval process. These measures aim to streamline the development and regulatory pathway for orphan drugs, ensuring they reach patients in need more efficiently. Moreover, since, the implementation of the US Orphan Drug Act, the orphan drug designation programs has yielded significant process in the field of rare disease treatments. Numerous drugs have received orphan status leading to increased investment and development in areas that were previously overlooked. This has resulted in improved patient outcomes, extended life expectancy and enhanced quality of life for those affected by rare diseases. The programs impact has showed the growing number of orphan drugs approved by the FDA each year. In recent years, the FDA has granted orphan drug approvals for a wide range of conditions, including are diseases, cancers, genetic disorders and metabolic disorders. These approvals signify not only scientific advancements but also the positive impact on patients with access to these drugs. In conclusion, the US orphan drug designation program has proven instrumental in driving the development of novel medicines for several rare disorders. The exclusivity granted in the domestic market along with the opportunities for international growth provides drug develops with the incentives needed to pursue breakthrough therapies for rare conditions. Geneva, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Investor group NewGAMe and Bruellan publishes open letter to GAM shareholders Letter offers line by line response to GAMs July 24 announcement Geneva, 26 July 2023 NewGAMe SA, which is part of the investor group that also includes Bruellan SA (the Group) and controls approximately 9.6% of the issued share capital of GAM Holding AG (GAM), has published an open letter to GAM shareholders. The letter responds to some of the claims made in GAMs announcement dated July 24. On Liontrusts recent waiving of the FMS Exit Condition, the letter argues Liontrust imposed on GAM a fire sale of FMS in order to fit the calendar of its own deal with GAM, in a way that raises serious governance questions and with the condition itself leading to value destruction. On Liontrusts announcement that its offer is final and that it has extended the tender period for another three days, the letter states this is likely to protect Liontrusts reputation as a buyer, and that GAM trading at a substantial premium to the terms offered by Liontrust ever since the deal was announced suggests a low tender ratio despite the approaching first tender period deadline, which can in fact be extended by up to 40 trading days. Finally, the letter notes that the GAM board and top management have driven its share price down by over 85% and led to more than CHF 400m in shareholder value destruction since David Jacobs was appointed Chairman, and urges shareholders to reject his recent appeal for them to tender their shares to Liontrust in order to protect their investment. The open letter can be found here: https://newgam.ch/assets/downloads/NewGAMe_Letter_to_shareholders_26_July.pdf Media contacts Sasha Johnson FinElk newgam@finelk.eu info@newgam.ch www.newgam.ch Investor contacts Okapi Partners LLC North America: +1 212 297 0720 Europe: + 44 7597 370570 info@okapipartners.com About NewGAMe NewGAMe SA is a Geneva-based company owned by a number of investors with experience in the financial sector. It is controlled by Rock Investment, a French-incorporated entity that is owned by NJJ Holding, the personal holding company of Xavier Niel. Albert Saporta, a hedge fund industry veteran with 40 years experience in global financial markets, serves as the director of NewGAMe SA. About Bruellan Bruellan SA is an independent provider of global wealth management solutions. The company was founded in 1991 and is located in Geneva, Lausanne, Crans-Montana and Verbier. https://www.bruellan.ch/ The nations largest EV festival made its debut in DC as the success of Electrify Expo continues to grow Kia EV9, Polestar 3 SUV and Volvo EX90 all made their East Coast public debuts at the event Photos of the event can be downloaded HERE WASHINGTON, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Electrify Expo , North Americas largest electric vehicle (EV) festival, made its first stop of 2023 on the East Coast last weekend in Washington, D.C. Right in the heart of downtown, the festival took over the RFK Stadium Festival Grounds delivering nearly 13,000 test rides of exciting vehicles, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards and more. Multiple vehicles had never before been on display to the public on the East Coast including Volvos new EX90 fully-electric SUV, the Volkswagen ID.Buzz and Polestar 3 SUV, which recently opened its first vehicle showroom in DC. Electrify Expo is at the epicenter of EV adoption and consistently doing the work to ensure support at the federal level to drive the demand of going electric, said CEO and Founder of Electrify Expo BJ Birtwell. The most convincing way to attract more consumers to go electric is by putting them behind the wheel or on the seat of an electric vehicle, e-bike and other forms of electric transportation. We're looking forward to continuing this momentum next month in New York. While in town, Electrify Expo executives met with members of congress and federal agencies to discuss the need for more EV education, obstacles to mass electrification and the need for consumers to experience first-hand the thrill of going electric. Electrify Expos next stop will be August 12-13 in New York on Long Island at Nassau Coliseum. Tickets for the event are on sale now at www.electrifyexpo.com/attend . Media interested in attending may request credentials by emailing ee@skyya.com . About Electrify Expo Electrify Expo is North America's largest outdoor electric vehicle (EV) festival showcasing the latest technology and products in electrification including startup and legacy EVs, electric motorcycles, bikes, scooters, skateboards, boats, surfboards and more. The festival addresses one of the most challenging barriers to mass adoption of electric vehicles - first hand experience with the product - with meaningful demonstrations and test rides. Top brands from around the world exhibit and attend Electrify Expos events to meet consumers at all stages on their path to electrification. 2023 events will take place in Long Beach and San Francisco, Calif., Washington, D.C., New York, Seattle, Miami, and Austin, Texas. To stay up to date on the latest news and announcements from Electrify Expo, visit www.electrifyexpo.com and follow on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . Media Contact Skyya PR ee@skyya.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e7cd3ec5-f3eb-45eb-9312-d929ae27f442 DALLAS, TX, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ahead of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, A21a global nonprofit organization determined to eradicate human trafficking through awareness, intervention, and aftercarereleased a new 2022 Ukraine Impact Report detailing the organizations response to the refugee crisis resulting from Russias war in Ukraine, which has left millions vulnerable to human trafficking. A21 is directly addressing critical gaps in human trafficking awareness by distributing trafficking prevention resourceslike the Safe Employment Campaign and forming strategic partnerships to provide professional training to frontline employees in the region. This report details A21s response to the heightened vulnerability of millions of refugees: In 2022, in response to Russias bombing of Kyiv and regions throughout Ukraine, A21 quickly pivoted by relocating its office from Kyiv to Warsaw, Poland to ensure continued uninterrupted operations and staff safety. As Poland swiftly became the neighboring country receiving the most Ukrainian refugees, A21 prioritized raising awareness among displaced refugees and training frontline professionals to identify human trafficking and provide resources. After connecting with survivors previously in A21s Aftercare Program in Ukraine, A21 reopened six former cases to offer further assistance such as psychological support, access to medical supplies, finances for rent and utilities, food and basic necessities, and assistance in relocating to safer areas of Ukraine or other countries. such as psychological support, access to medical supplies, finances for rent and utilities, food and basic necessities, and assistance in relocating to safer areas of Ukraine or other countries. A21 conducted 13 professional training sessions for 213 frontline professionals across Europe. This resulted in Polish refugee centers implementing procedure modifications which moved beyond victim identification strategies to proactively safeguarding vulnerable refugees from potential traffickers. across Europe. This resulted in Polish refugee centers implementing procedure modifications which moved beyond victim identification strategies to proactively safeguarding vulnerable refugees from potential traffickers. In collaboration with various partners in Poland and Ukraine, A21 distributed 30,147 hotline leaflets , safe employment cards and flyers, 9,000 map brochures and 4,220 refugee comic books . A21 has been operational in Ukraine since 2009, and from 2009 to 2021 79% of victims were recruited through fraudulent employment opportunities. As the war continued well into 2022, and Ukrainian refugees realized the likelihood of remaining in Poland indefinitely, many Ukrainian refugees in Poland started actively seeking employment. A21s Safe Employment Campaign , launched at refugee centers in the second half of 2022 targeting Ukrainian refugees in Poland, Latvia and Germany, includes a 35-min video created by A21 with guidance on safely seeking employment . Its critical to understand that Ukrainian refugees, like myself, are extremely vulnerable to human trafficking because they are fleeing war, coming from another country with no protection. They think and feel that they will finally be safe, but another danger could be waiting for them, said Julia Sachenko, A21s Partnership Development Lead in Poland. These prevention materials prevent more cases of human trafficking by making refugees aware of traffickers tactics, and clearly displaying hotlines they can call for help. Additionally, our professional training for frontline employees is multiplying impact in the region. These trainings equip on-the ground teams across Europe to develop contextualized counter-trafficking efforts within their sphere of influence. Download the full 2022 Ukraine Impact Report. Learn more about global emerging trafficking trends from 2022 by exploring A21s Hotline & Impact Reports for the United States, Greece, Cambodia, South Africa, Thailand and Bulgaria at A21.org/ImpactReport or by following us on social media on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube or Twitter . About A21: A21 is a global nonprofit organization determined to eradicate human trafficking through awareness, intervention, and aftercare. Currently operating in 19 locations, 14 countries, A21 aims to combat modern-day slavery through a multi-dimensional operational strategy: Reach, Rescue, and Restore. Through partnerships and the efforts of supporters all over the globe, A21 truly believes that a multitude of victims can be identified and assisted, and perpetrators can be brought to justice. A21.org Interviews: For interview inquiries, please contact Lauren Wittel-Henrie at lauren.w@a21.org . Press artwork: A21 Ukraine/Poland Photos Prevention Distribution Materials: Map brochures ( Ukrainian ) ( English ) Posters ( Ukrainian ) ( Russian ) Safe employment cards ( Ukrainian ) Hotline leaflets ( Ukrainian ) ( Russian ) Refugee comic books ( Ukrainian ) Video: Safe Employment Campaign ( Ukrainian ) Attachment LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MetAlert, Inc. (OTC: MLRT), a pioneer in location sensitive health monitoring devices and wearable technology products announced it has received a notice of allowance for a new patent by the European Patent Office (EPO). This will be the companys first European utility patent in the GPS SmartSole family and will cover various ways to design, protect and manufacture a GPS, Cellular, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi monitoring electronic device embedded inside an insole including the inductive charging unit. This is the fifth patent granted to Metalert around tracking and monitoring devices within footwear with particular protection on the insole format. We have been working on this European patent for several years and we were very pleased to hear the news about the patent allowance. The timing could not have been better as we continue to roll out new generation GPS SmartSole products across Europe and North America. This new patent will provide us additional intellectual property protection in the major Western markets as well as key markets in Japan, S Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. said Andrew Duncan Metalert Director. The patent has a large number of claims, with the opportunity to file additional divisional patents in the future and offers us protection against competition as well as possibly opening up new, oftentimes lucrative, licensing and partnership opportunities. While our ongoing investment in IP demonstrates MetAlerts commitment to enhance our competitive barriers in the market, it also helps strengthen our overall value in the wearable tech industry, stated Patrick Bertagna MetAlert CEO. To find out more how you can buy or become an authorized reseller contact info@metalert.com business development. Social Media: FB: https://www.facebook.com/metalertinc IG: https://www.instagram.com/metalert/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/metalertinc Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metalertinc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUlYP1WQoLdKkDzwhGkx40Q General information, investor relations, wholesale licensing, consumer purchase: Tel: 213.489.3019 Email: info@metalert.com or ir@metalert.com website www.metalert.com MetAlert United Kingdom, London Nelson Skip Riddle Tel: +44 7785 364100 Email: nsriddle@metalert.com About MetAlert, Inc.: MetAlert (OTC: MLRT) and its subsidiaries are engaged in designing, developing, manufacturing, distributing, selling, and licensing products, services, and intellectual property in the GPS/BLE wearable technology, personal location, wandering assistive technology, and health data collection and monitoring. With over 20 years of experience and an extensive patent portfolio, MetAlert is a leading solution provider for consumers/patients afflicted with Alzheimer, dementia, and autism. This market represents approximately 2.9% of the worlds population. The company offers global end-to-end hardware, software, and connectivity solutions, in addition to developing two-way tracking technologies, which seamlessly integrate with consumer products, enterprise and government agency applications. Utilizing the latest in miniaturized, low power consumption GPS, Cellular, RF, NFC, and BLE technologies, enabling caregivers to track and monitor patients in real time. Known for its game-changing and award-winning patented GPS SmartSole -- think Dr. Scholls meets LoJack, the worlds first invisible wearable technology tracking device created for those at risk of wandering due to Alzheimers, dementia, autism, and traumatic brain injury. MetAlerts subscription-based business model is built around technology innovation with intellectual property protection. The company has international distributors servicing customers across the globe with subscribers in over 40 countries and is a U.S. Military Government contractor. Other customers include public health authorities, municipalities, emergency and law enforcement, private schools, assisted living facilities, NGOs, small business enterprises, senior care homes, and consumers. www.MetAlert.com Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. The terms and phrases expects, would, will, believes, and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by MetAlert considering its experience and perception of current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that MetAlert believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause MetAlerts actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Certain risk factors that may cause actual results to differ are outlined in MetAlerts Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (which may be obtained on the SEC Website). These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not rely on MetAlerts forward-looking statements. MetAlert has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required. Disclaimer: MetAlert does not warrant or represent that the unauthorized use of materials drawn from this document's content will not infringe the rights of third parties who are not owned or affiliated by MetAlert. Further, MetAlert cannot be held responsible or liable for the unauthorized use of this documents content by third parties unknown to the company. San Francisco, CA, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zion Market Research has published a new research report titled Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment Market By Industry (Aerospace & Defense, IT & Telecom, Automotive, Consumer Electronics, And Others), By Technology (Offline And Inline), By Type (3D AOI And 2D AOI), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 2030 in its research database. According to the latest research study, the demand of global Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment Market size & share in terms of revenue was valued at USD 738 million in 2022 and it is expected to surpass around USD 2974 million mark by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 19.03% during the forecast period 2023 to 2030. What is Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment? How big is the Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment Industry? Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment Report Coverage & Overview: Automated optical inspection (AOI) is a sort of visual inspection approach that operates using automation technologies. AOI equipment is used to test and identify any faults in printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs). The device, when in operation, independently scans the surface of PCBAs and assists in detecting 2 primary types of flaws. One of these defaults involves quality issues such as non-standard or misaligned components or a malformed filet. The second type of fault involves catastrophic failures, a prime example of which is a missing component. Studies reveal that AOI equipment demonstrates superior performance in applications that deal with lower component variability and high volumes mainly because such designs are hard and time-consuming. They have to be set up for part configuration or specific design which further calls for the employment of AOI equipment. Get a Free Sample PDF of this Research Report for more Insights with a Table of Content, Research Methodology, and Graphs https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/automated-optical-inspection-aoi-equipment-market (A free sample of this report is available upon request; please contact us for more information.) Our Free Sample Report Consists of the Following: Introduction, Overview, and in-depth industry analysis are all included in the 2023 updated report. The COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak Impact Analysis is included in the package About 226+ Pages Research Report (Including Recent Research) Provide detailed chapter-by-chapter guidance on Request Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share, and Trends for the Year 2023 Includes Tables and figures have been updated The most recent version of the report includes the Top Market Players, their Business Strategies, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis Zion Market Research research methodology (Please note that the sample of this report has been modified to include the COVID-19 impact study prior to delivery.) Global Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment Market: Growth Dynamics Demand for consumer gadgets that are both affordable and high-performing has been growing, which is driving market expansion. It is anticipated that the global market for automated optical inspection (AOI) equipment would expand as a result of the growing demand for consumer electronics that are both cost-effective and high-performing. Products such as laptops, cellphones, and other "smart home" gadgets are included in this market category, to name just a few examples. Over the course of the past several years, the rate of consumption of consumer electronics has increased, which has led to an increase in the need for PCBAs that are energy efficient. The producers of consumer electronics are looking into several methods that will allow them to boost the output performance of their products while also providing a justification for the high cost of owning such products. In addition to this, there is an increased focus on the efficiency of energy use. Achieving all these points is possible only through the development of high-grade printed circuit boards which, in turn, has resulted in higher consumption of advanced AOI equipment to ensure product expectations are met. AOI technology is a non-contact test method and has proven efficient in detecting PCB errors accurately for specific categories of programmed defects. In April of 2023, Marantz Electronics made the announcement that they would be releasing their new inline AOI system, the Mek iSpector. It is beginner-level equipment that has the potential to fulfill the demand for reasonably priced AOI solutions of a high standard. Directly Purchase a copy of the report with TOC @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/buynow/su/automated-optical-inspection-aoi-equipment-market Report Scope Report Attribute Details Market Size in 2022 USD 738 million Projected Market Size in 2030 USD 2974 million CAGR Growth Rate 19.03% CAGR Base Year 2022 Forecast Years 2023-2030 Key Market Players Orbotech Ltd., Omron Corporation, Camtek Ltd., Nordson Corporation, CyberOptics Corporation, Koh Young Technology Inc., Mirtec Corporation, Viscom AG, Utechzone Co. Ltd., Test Research Inc., ViTrox Technologies Sdn Bhd, Machine Vision Products Inc., Goepel electronic GmbH, Saki Corporation, Parmi Corporation, AOI Systems Ltd., and Sinic-Tek Vision Technology Co. Ltd. Key Segment By Industry, By Technology, By Type, and By Region Major Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East &, Africa Purchase Options Request customized purchase options to meet your research needs. Explore purchase options Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment Market: Segmentation Analysis The global automated optical inspection equipment market is segmented based on industry, technology, type, and region. Based on industry, The market on a global scale is segmented into aerospace & defense, IT & telecom, automotive, consumer electronics, and other industries. Among these, the IT & telecom segment is poised to experience the most significant growth due to the rapid expansion of the global telecom network. Moreover, increasing investments in 5G technology by both developing and developed nations are expected to further drive growth in the AOI equipment industry. These advanced systems find extensive use in telecom service providers, including communication devices, satellite systems, routers, and broadcasting systems. It is projected that by the year 2030, the global telecom sector could witness a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) surpassing 6.12%. Based on technology, The automated optical inspection equipment industry is categorized into two types : offline and inline systems. Among these, the inline segment is projected to generate the highest revenue, primarily driven by its superior performance efficiency. Inline AOI equipment enables a comprehensive examination of specific defects without the need to manually flip the PCBs, reducing manual labor and saving time significantly. Moreover, the inline systems provide quick and efficient results. On average, the cost of AOI systems falls within the range of USD 50,000 to USD 200,000. Based on type, The industry of automated optical inspection equipment can be categorized into two main segments : 3D AOI and 2D AOI. Presently, the 2D AOI section stands out as the highest-performing segment, and this trend is expected to persist throughout the forecast period. The primary driver behind this growth is the cost-effectiveness of 2D systems coupled with their ability to accommodate more specific programming requirements. 2D systems excel at detecting both minor and major defects on a PCB, making them a preferred choice. Nevertheless, there is also a growing interest in 3D AOI systems, which offer the advantage of detecting defects using an additional dimension. The global Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment market is segmented as follows: By Industry Aerospace & Defense IT & Telecom Automotive Consumer Electronics Others By Technology Offline Inline By Type 3D AOI 2D AOI Others Browse the full Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment Market By Industry (Aerospace & Defense, IT & Telecom, Automotive, Consumer Electronics, And Others), By Technology (Offline And Inline), By Type (3D AOI And 2D AOI), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 2030 Report at https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/automated-optical-inspection-aoi-equipment-market Competitive Landscape Some of the main competitors dominating the global Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment market include - Orbotech Ltd. Omron Corporation Camtek Ltd. Nordson Corporation CyberOptics Corporation Koh Young Technology Inc. Mirtec Corporation Viscom AG Utechzone Co. Ltd. Test Research Inc. ViTrox Technologies Sdn Bhd Machine Vision Products Inc. Goepel electronic GmbH Saki Corporation Parmi Corporation AOI Systems Ltd. Sinic-Tek Vision Technology Co. Ltd. Key Insights from Primary Research: As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global automated optical inspection (AOI) equipment market is estimated to grow annually at a CAGR of around 19.03% over the forecast period (2023-2030) In terms of revenue, the global automated optical inspection (AOI) equipment market size was valued at around USD 738 million in 2022 and is predicted to grow to around USD 2974 million, by 2030. The automated optical inspection equipment market is projected to grow at a significant rate due to the growing demand for cost-effective and high-performance consumer electronics Based on industry segmentation, IT & telecom was predicted to show maximum market share in the year 2022 Based on technology segmentation, inline was the leading technology in 2022 On the basis of region, Asia-Pacific was the leading revenue generator in 2022 Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/automated-optical-inspection-aoi-equipment-market Key questions answered in this report: What is the market size and growth rate forecast for Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment industry? What are the main driving factors propelling the Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment Market forward? What are the leading companies in the Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment Industry? What segments does the Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment Market cover? How can I receive a free copy of the Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment Market sample report and company profiles? Key Offerings: Market Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20232030 Market Dynamics Leading Trends, Growth Drivers, Restraints, and Investment Opportunities Market Segmentation A detailed analysis By Industry, By Technology, By Type, and By Region Competitive Landscape Top Key Vendors and Other Prominent Vendors Request for Customization on this Report as per your requirements - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/7385 (We tailor your report to meet your specific research requirements. Inquire with our sales team about customising your report.) Regional Dominance: During the foreseeable time period, Asia-Pacific will experience the greatest expansion. During the time covered by this estimate, the market for automated optical inspection (AOI) equipment in Asia-Pacific will maintain its position as the world's largest. PCBAs are produced in this region, which is home to some of the largest and most influential manufacturers in the world. At the moment, China is in the driver's seat when it comes to the manufacture and export of PCB. In addition to this, the nation not only sells its goods in Asian countries, but it is also one of the most important trading partners for PCB for businesses in both Europe and the United States of America. In addition, Taiwan is widely regarded as the global center for the production of modern printed circuit boards. India is a significant player in PCB production; nevertheless, in the recent past, the area has increased the amount of effort it is exerting to establish its grip in the market. For example, beginning in April 2023, a greater number of hearables and wearables items in the Indian region are likely to be outfitted with home-grown PCBs, which may result in an increased demand for sophisticated AOI equipment. The increasing interest shown by firms based outside of Asia in the Asian semiconductor market, together with the growing number of new product releases, will work in favor of the regionalization of the industry. By Region North America U.S. Canada Rest of North America Europe France UK Spain Germany Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific The Middle East & Africa Saudi Arabia South Africa Rest of the Middle East & Africa Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) Equipment Market: Growth Opportunities The automated optical inspection equipment industry is set to capitalize on the increasing number of product launches in the commercial market and the integration of advanced systems. These developments offer significant growth opportunities, enabling end-users to overcome various performance limitations associated with AOI equipment. For example, in May 2022, Saki Corporation, a prominent player in the X-ray and automated optical inspection equipment sector, unveiled a cutting-edge 3D AOI system. This next-generation system boasts high-precision and high-speed capabilities, making it ideal for intricate analysis and inspection of high-density PCBs, as well as tall or very small components. The new system is expected to revolutionize the industry by reducing inspection cycles and providing ultra-sharp high-definition 3D images. 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Agreement between CNL and the Sylvia Fedoruk Centre for Nuclear Innovation will increase CNLs production of Actinium-225 by several orders of magnitude, enabling larger scale clinical trials SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canadas premier nuclear science and technology laboratory, is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with the Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation, Inc. (Fedoruk Centre), that will significantly increase the global supply of Actinium-225, a ground-breaking new medical isotope. CNLs President and CEO, Joe McBrearty, announced the new agreement during his opening remarks at the 11th International Conference on Isotopes (11ICI) earlier this week at TCU Place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. While it has shown incredible potential in a number of clinical trials treating late-stage prostate cancer and other diseases, the annual supply of Actinium-225 is currently very limited, which has hampered pharmaceutical research and clinical trials related to the isotope. Under terms of the new agreement, CNL will develop and supply targets that will be irradiated by the Fedoruk Centre and returned to CNL for further processing, and then ship the material to another long-term partner, ITM, for refinement and distribution. This partnership will significantly increase the annual global supply of Actinium-225, enabling continued research and clinical trials. CNL is thrilled to collaborate with the Fedoruk Centre on this initiative, which will dramatically increase the quantities of Actinium-225 available to the radiopharmaceutical community, commented Mr. McBrearty. Following a short ramp-up phase, CNL expects to produce more than 30 times the Actinium-225 that it does today, enabling the necessary clinical research and testing to bring many promising new cancer treatments to life. The work to get CNL and ITM to this point has taken years, and I want to recognize the hard work of our staff in radiochemistry, physics, engineering, waste management, remote tooling and instrumentation. The Fedoruk Centre is proud to participate in what we view as a very valuable and noble venture with CNL, which makes use of our unique facilities to help advance the production of an exciting new medical isotope here in Canada, commented John Root, Executive Director of the Fedoruk Centre. I also think it is important to acknowledge the federal and provincial governments, who established the infrastructure in Saskatchewan that gives us with the necessary tools and technologies to make this innovation possible. To produce the isotope, CNL has developed and tested targets made from Radium-226, material which has been extracted from legacy medical waste. These targets will be shipped to the Fedoruk Centre, who will irradiate the materials at the Saskatchewan Cyclotron Facility, before they are returned to the Chalk River campus for separation and processing. CNL will then ship the materials to ITM, a leading radiopharmaceutical biotech company based in Germany, who will manage commercialization of the product. CNL and ITM signed a Memorandum of Understanding in October 2021 to leverage their complementary capabilities to establish a stable supply of Actinium-225 for the global market. Actinium-225 can be attached to disease-targeting molecules such as specific cancer cell targeting antibodies. As Actinium-225 decays, it emits high-energy alpha particles that effectively kill cancer cells, while leaving nearby healthy cells unharmed in the process, enabled by the targeting nature of the drug entity. International interest in the therapeutic potential of Actinium-225 to treat cancer has been rising in recent years, and CNL has served as one of a handful of companies in the world that has produced research quantities of the rare material. CNL is now working to position itself as a world leader and international hub for targeted-alpha-therapy (TAT) and for the production of the Actinium-225 isotope. The agreement with the Fedoruk Centre is intended to serve as an interim step that will bring much-needed supply to the international market. It is important to emphasize that this is a short-term solution that addresses an immediate need, while bringing us closer to our true goal, which is the establishment of new production capabilities so that we can fulfill the markets long-term needs together with our partner ITM, added Mr. McBrearty. It is our ultimate goal to position Canada as a world leader in medical isotope technology, while advancing targeted alpha therapy and bringing hope to people around the world who suffer from untreatable cancers. To learn more about CNL, including its work in radioisotopes development and production, please visit www.cnl.ca/health. About CNL As Canadas premier nuclear science and technology laboratory, and working under the direction of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL is a world leader in the development of innovative nuclear science and technology products and services. Guided by an ambitious corporate strategy known as Vision 2030, CNL fulfills three strategic priorities of national importance restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of Canadians. By leveraging the assets owned by AECL, CNL also serves as the nexus between government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector and the academic community. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian products and services towards real-world use, including carbon-free energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation technologies and waste management solutions. To learn more about CNL, please visit www.cnl.ca. CNL Contact: Patrick Quinn Director, Corporate Communications 1-866-886-2325 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/40d6de32-2291-419a-a7c9-a10cf127eac8 SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PassiveLogic, creator of the first fully autonomous platform for buildings, announced today that Simon Mahoney has joined the company as the Head of the Quantum Alliance: a cooperative effort between industry and public agencies to move the building industry toward full autonomy through computational digital twins that operate on the Quantum Standard. Mahoney was previously General Manager Pacific of Global Products at Johnson Controls where he was responsible for the companys products sold in the area to independent channels. At the same time, he was the Business Development Manager Asia at EasyIO and managed overall business in Asia and was responsible for its pricing, strategy, and marketing. Before Johnson Controls acquisition of EasyIO, Mahoney served as EasyIOs Vice President of Asia and managed Googles global accounts with EasyIO. Before joining EasyIO, Mahoney served as the Director of Distribution of Asia Pacific at Automated Logic where he worked for 17 years. I am thrilled to join PassiveLogic and bring more partners to the table to expand what the Quantum Alliance can achieve, said Mahoney. Its not often that companies are leading innovation in several key markets at once from building controls, to AI, to energy efficiency and I look forward to increased adoption of the digital twin standard to pave the way to autonomous buildings and smart cities. PassiveLogic launched the Quantum Alliance in 2022, partnering with Brookfield, NVIDIA, Belimo, US Department of Energy, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The alliance is creating a roadmap for a future digital ecosystem that includes real-time building controls using the Quantum Standard. The Quantum Standard is the interoperable open digital twin standard for autonomous systems, allowing data to be queried and explored and enabling the worlds first building-level API. The standard is a physics-based ontology that provides a single description language for building projectsfrom design to operation which enables fully autonomous building controls alongside an interaction mechanism for smart cities. Simon brings over 30 years of experience supporting innovative companies on a global scale, especially where they relate to controls, said PassiveLogic CEO Troy Harvey. With Simons leadership, we look forward to the industry-wide acceptance of Quantum, enabling the building industry to finally achieve autonomy. About PassiveLogic PassiveLogic is changing the future of the built environment by powering autonomous building systems and providing the foundation for smart cities. The current technology behind building controls has remained unchanged for decades. PassiveLogic has reimagined how we design, build, operate, maintain, and manage buildings using revolutionary "deep physics" Digital Twins, and AI-enabled future-forward controls. In a world increasingly impacted by climate change, PassiveLogic has developed a way to cut energy consumption by one-third, by making building controls truly intelligent. Contact: Caroline Genster caroline@passivelogic.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5030131d-1825-4b0d-9023-271823764bd3 Interview Methods Appear Industry Specific Latest Results from The Harris Poll, Express Employment Professionals TORONTO, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Job seekers should prepare to meet with potential employers at least once during the hiring process, as 54% of Canadian hiring managers say they prefer to interview candidates face-to-face instead of through a screen or phone. However, the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still evident as 8% of hiring managers only conduct interviews virtually, while another 37% use a combination of in-person and virtual. This is according to a recent survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals. If an applicant shows up at a business unannounced to secure employment, a majority of employers describe the tactic positively, saying it shows motivation (47%), initiative (46%) and drive (39%). Only 28% view this behaviour as negative with descriptions such as obsessive (12%), creepy (13%) or out-of-date (13%). The Return of In-Person Interviews Hanif Hemani, an Express franchise owner in Saskatchewan, believes that the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally transformed the interview process, however, the in-person interview will always be an integral part of the interview process. The pandemic certainly improved the video-based interview experience, he said. This will continue to be used. However, there are limitations, and in-person interviews are still preferable, particularly for certain positions. Interviewers have a better sense of a candidate's mannerisms and customer interactions in an in-person interview. While the methods for conducting job interviews depend on multiple factors, including industry and skill level of the candidate, the value of interacting in person can also set candidates up for success. The pros of virtual interviews are convenience for scheduling, overcoming distance challenges and the ability to conduct multiple interviewers from multiple locations. The cons include often sterile interactions, how easily it is for the applicant to be distracted by information on other screens, and candidate mannerismswhich may be important for certain customer-facing roles like sales positions. The pros and cons of in-person interviews are really the inverse, Hemani said. Virtual interviews are not the only technology transforming the market. With the rise in artificial intelligence and other automated technologies finding their way into the job application process over the past number of years, Hemani still believes that the human touch will always be needed. I fundamentally believe that human interaction will always be required, he said. We have seen this evolution in many industries where automation was used to improve the end-user experience, but ultimately actually worsened it to a point where end-users preferred a human. In the end, no matter the setting, there is one thing job seekers can do to increase their chances of employment. Follow-up is certainly the best option, Hemani said. During this follow-up, you could reflect on a comment that the interviewer may have presented and provide some insight after the fact. It shows that you were listening and cared to do a bit more research. Technology was such a wonderful asset to keep the workforce connected during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller. However, returning to in-person interviews or a virtual component at the start of the hiring process allows employers to assess soft skills that are hard to capture virtually, he said. Looking at these survey results, it seems companies agree. Survey Methodology The Job Insights survey was conducted online within Canada by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between June 8 and June 22, 2023, among 510 Canadian hiring decision-makers (defined as adults ages 18+ in Canada who are employed full-time or self-employed, work at companies with more than one employee, and have full/significant involvement in hiring decisions at their company). Data were weighted where necessary by company size to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 4.6 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest. If you would like to arrange for an interview to discuss this topic, please contact Amanda Murray at (343) 999-8357 or email AmandaMurray@MapleLeafStrategies.com. About Bill Stoller William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment International. Founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing franchisor supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. About Express Employment Professionals At Express Employment Professionals, were in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 579,000 people globally in 2022 and more than 10 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1c08e2dd-2e12-4f00-afd3-8f48b9a62a76 Pune, India, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to our latest study on " Wire Harness Market Share Report, Forecast to 2030 COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Component, Material, and End User," the market is projected to reach US$150.70 billion by 2030 from US$ 94.19 billion in 2023; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2023 to 2030 owing to the increasing technological advancements, the demand for the global market is growing in the automobile industry. These additional technology integrations in the vehicles increase the demand for the global market for better connectivity. Download Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00017188/ Wire harnesses (also known as cable harnesses) are used to transmit electrical power and signals in industries such as automobile, food & beverages, agriculture, and electronics. The wire harness market players are compelled to follow stringent regulations and standards. One such standard is IPC/WHMA-A-620 Revision D, introduced by IPC and Wiring Harness Manufacturers Association (WHMA), for the acceptance and requirements of wire harness assemblies. Further, governments encouragement in various industries is one of the factors contributing to the wire harness market growth. For instance, in December 2021, the Government of India announced an extra tax deduction of US$ 1,879.46 on the purchase of an electric vehicle on loan. Due to this, electric vehicles are gaining traction, leading to the massive demand for wire harnesses, and thus propelling the wire harness market growth. Based on material, the wire harness market is segmented into PVC, vinyl, thermoplastic elastomer, polyurethane, and polyethylene. Wire harnesses manufactured using these materials can withstand varied environmental conditions. End users purchase wire harnesses as per their needs. For instance, a wire harness made of polyethylene is suitable for use in moist environments, as polyethylene can withstand moisture. Global Wire Harness Market: COVID-19 Overview In 2020, many electronics and semiconductor manufacturers, including wire harness manufacturers, were operating with a limited workforce or halted their production due to the lockdown, which affected the supply chain to some extent. Thus, wire harness market players could not meet their delivery timelines. The limited availability of raw materials led to the low production of wire harnesses in the US. However, in the residential sector, the demand for appliances increased during the pandemic, as people stayed indoors. Thus, as soon as the markets reopened, the electronics manufacturers started their operations, which propelled the demand for wire harnesses. Despite the ill effects on the demand side in 2020, wire harness market players were adopting different strategies to stay competitive in the market. In September 2020, Furukawa Automotive Systems Inc. announced the opening of its new production facilities in North America and Japan to enlarge its wire harness production capacity. As soon as industries such as automobile, food & beverages, and manufacturing started reviving in the Q3 of 2021, their revenue highlighted positive momentum, and the requirement for wire harnesses increased in the industries. Global Wire Harness Market: Material Overview Based on material, the wire harness market share is segmented into PVC, vinyl, thermoplastic elastomer, polyurethane, and polyethylene. The PVC segment led the market in 2022. Polyvinyl chloride is a thermoplastic material known for its versatility and perhaps the most used wire/cable material. PVC has a good combination of properties which makes it suitable for cable insulation and sheathing. PVC is durable, UV resistant, and has good water and chemical resistance. Although they are gradually being replaced by other materials, PVC compounds are the most widely used polymeric materials in the cable industry. Several companies in the market are offering PVC-composed wire harnesses for different applications. For instance, Dongguan Yixian Electronic Tech., Co., Ltd., offers customized wire harnesses for automobile, home appliance, and motorcycle applications. Purchase Premium Copy of Wire Harness Market Growth Report (2023-2030) at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00017188/ Global Wire Harness Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments Fujikura Ltd.; Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.; Lear; LEONI; Motherson Group; Nexans; Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd; THB Group; Yazaki Corporation; and Yura Corporation are among the key wire harness market players profiled in the study. In 2020, Nexans developed Keylios Photovoltaic Harness, which cuts down low-voltage direct-current cabling (LVDC) costs for photovoltaic modules. This reduces installation and material wastage and cuts down the overall cost of LVDC cabling by up to 15%. In 2021, Electrical Components International Inc, a wire harness supplier, acquired Promark Electronics, a wire harness and cable manufacturer, for expanding its physical presence and strengthening its supply chain. Go through further research published by The Insight Partners: (Purchase with 10% Instant Discount): Electric Vehicle Wiring Harness Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis Aerospace Wiring Harness Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis Railway Wiring Harness Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis Boat Wiring Harness Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis Aircraft Engine Electrical Wiring Harnesses and Cable Assembly Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis About Us: The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials. Contact Us: If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us: EPSO-G, group of energy transmission and exchange companies, has received a letter of expectations from the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania, which owns 100% of the Groups shares. It sets out the expectations in terms of the directions, principles and priorities for the Groups activities that are in line with the objectives of the European Unions Green Deal and Lithuanias National Energy Independence Strategy. The Letter of Expectations provided by the Ministry of Energy consolidates the direction of change sought by the Group and enables a focused development and implementation of a long-term strategy. The letter sets out short-term and medium-term objectives and guidelines for long-term expectations, which will serve as a basis for the development of a new long-term strategy for the EPSO-G Group, taking into account the results of the study on the transformation of Lithuanias energy system, as well as for planning the Groups activities in the short term. The EPSO-G Group consists of the parent management company UAB EPSO-G and its five subsidiaries: Litgrid, Amber Grid, Baltpool, Tetas, Energy cells. EPSO-G and Group companies are involved in the management of the associated companies GET Baltic and TSO Holding AS. Brief description of the main expectations of the Shareholder: Ensuring Lithuanias energy independence The Group shall ensure the independence and autonomy of the Lithuanian electricity system and its integration into the CEN (continental European network) for synchronous operation. To achieve this objective, the Group shall implement the project for synchronisation of the electricity system with the CEN. In addition, the Group shall actively seek solutions and implement projects that maximise the security and independence of the Lithuanian electricity system until the synchronisation project programme is fully implemented. The Group shall agree with the Shareholder, and implement concrete solutions on an efficient action plan for the implementation of the renewed Harmony Link interconnection project. For priority synchronisation projects agreed with the Shareholder, the Group shall apply zero tolerance periods for project delays. The Group shall use the potential and experience gained from the 200 MW storage facilities project and propose and implement a strategy for the further development of these activities to the Shareholder. The Group shall put effort to maximise the opportunities offered by the GIPL pipeline to increase the competitiveness of the Lithuanian economy and the returns to the Shareholder. Energy system security The Group shall ensure the adequacy of Lithuanias electricity system in both the short and long term and pay particular attention to the changes in the electricity system as it becomes synchronous with the CEN and as renewable energy power plants are rapidly integrated. The Group shall make proposals for the implementation of the necessary measures to ensure the safety and reliability of the electricity system. The Group shall ensure the physical protection of objects critical to the national security, which are under the Groups control. The Group shall ensure the implementation of restrictive measures regarding the supply of energy and energy resources from countries which, according to the National Security Strategy, pose a threat to the national security of the Republic of Lithuania. The Group shall ensure a high level of reliability of energy transmission to network users and consumers and set specific reliability targets comparable to best practice in the European Union market to achieve this objective. Transforming energy and energy networks The Group shall actively prepare for the transformation of the networks and the changes needed to implement the European Unions Green Deal initiatives. The Shareholders expectation is that the Management Company and the Group companies will create value, operating as a centre of energy expertise, proactively providing proposals, advising the Shareholder and market participants on issues of relevance, and responding to changing market, economic and geopolitical circumstances. The Group shall prepare a study on the transformation of Lithuanias energy system by the end of July 2023 at the latest and present proposals on the alternatives for the development and expansion of the energy system as Lithuania transitions to green energy and becomes an energy exporting country. Taking into account the results of the study on the transformation of the Lithuanian energy system, the Group must, by the end of the second quarter of 2024, update and agree with the Shareholder the Groups long-term business strategy, the implementation of which would ensure the Groups sustainable growth and a significant role in the Green Deal economy transformation and energy decarbonisation. When examining and identifying the priority areas of the activities of the Group companies, the Group shall pay particular attention to the development of the offshore wind energy ecosystem, the strategy for the development of the necessary infrastructure and interconnection projects, and the implementation of organisational arrangements. The Group shall actively develop green hydrogen generation pilot projects and come up with P2X, P2H (hydrogen to power) solutions that provide flexibility in the electricity system. The Group shall proactively contribute to the development of community energy in Lithuania and to the promotion of energy innovation in the Lithuanian energy sector. Financial expectations The Groups average return on equity shall be at least equal to the rate set by the Government. The Group shall aim for a return on investment and sustainable depreciation costs that are at least in line with the average for mature economies in Western Europe, and seek to maintain an investment grade credit rating of at least Baa2 (Moodys). The ratio of the Groups net debt to annual adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation should be no more than 6 times in the medium term and no more than 5 times in the long term. The Groups medium-term focus shall be on the implementation and financing of strategic energy projects. Operating principles The Group shall conduct its business to the highest standards of transparency, governance, ethics and social responsibility. The activities of the Group companies shall be based on transparency, efficiency, sustainability, responsibility, values and the development of a health and safety culture. The full text of the Letter of Expectation can be found in the attached document. Annex: Letter on the expectations set by the state for the EPSO-G. For more information, contact Gediminas Petrauskas, EPSO-G communication partner Tel: +370 610 63306, email: gediminas.petrauskas@epsog.lt Attachment Westford USA, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to SkyQuest, the global super absorbent polymers market is experiencing a notable boost due to two key factors: the increasing geriatric population and the growing awareness of the benefits and convenience offered by adult incontinence products. The demand for effective solutions to manage adult incontinence has surged, creating a substantial market for super absorbent polymers in this sector with a rising number of elderly individuals. Browse in-depth TOC on the "Super Absorbent Polymers Market" Pages - 242 Tables - 66 Figures 75 According to projections by the World Bank Group, the global population aged 0 to 14 is anticipated to reach a staggering 2.08 billion by the year 2050. The demand for personal hygiene products is expected to grow substantially with such a significant increase in the younger population. Among the various super absorbent polymers (SAPs) applications, the personal hygiene segment currently dominates the super absorbent polymers market, holding the largest share. Report Scope & Segmentation: Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 USD 10.26 Billion 2030 Value Projection USD 16.21 Billion CAGR 5.9% Forecast Period 2023-2030 Segments Covered Type Application Regions Covered North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East and Africa Prominent Players in the Super Absorbent Polymers Market BASF SE Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd. Evonik Industries AG LG Chem Ltd. Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co., Ltd. SDP Global Co., Ltd. Songwon Industrial Co., Ltd. Formosa Plastics Corporation KAO Corporation Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd. Yixing Danson Technology San-Dia Polymers, Inc. Chemtex Specialty Limited Satellite Science & Technology Co., Ltd. Quanzhou Banglida Technology Industry Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Weilong Polymer Material Co., Ltd. Get a sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/super-absorbent-polymers-market Personal Hygiene Segment is Expected to Grow in the Market Due To Widespread Application as Absorbents In the global super absorbent polymers market, the personal hygiene segment is the dominant player. These polymers find widespread application as absorbents in essential personal care products, such as diapers, adult incontinence products, feminine hygiene products, and others. The hallmark feature that makes these products indispensable is their ability to rapidly and effectively absorb liquid, whether urine, blood, or other bodily fluids. The markets in the North America stand out as one of the largest and most significant super absorbent polymers market, owing in large part to its ageing population. The increasing number of elderly individuals in the region has been a major driving factor, leading to a surge in demand for products that cater to their unique needs. As a result, the market penetration of super absorbent polymers has experienced considerable growth over the past few years. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/super-absorbent-polymers-market Sodium Polyacrylate Segment is Expected to Dominate the Market Due to Highly Effective Super-Absorbing Polymer Sodium polyacrylate emerged as the largest and most dominant segment in the super absorbent polymers market, commanding an impressive market share of over 85%. This versatile and highly effective super-absorbing polymer, commonly referred to as water-lock, finds widespread use across various industries. Its diverse applications make it a highly desirable material in the consumer goods, sanitary, building & construction, electrical & electronics, and industrial sectors. Regional markets in the Asia-Pacific have emerged as the dominant force in the global super absorbent polymers market. This commanding position can be attributed to the region's ever-increasing demand for personal hygiene and agricultural products, where SAPs play a vital role. A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the super absorbent polymers market has been recently conducted in a report. The report encompasses various aspects, including collaborations, mergers, innovative business policies, and strategies, providing valuable insights into key trends and breakthroughs in the market. Furthermore, the report scrutinizes the market share of the top segments and presents a detailed geographic analysis. Lastly, the report highlights the major players in the industry and their endeavours to develop innovative solutions to cater to the growing demand. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/super-absorbent-polymers-market Key Developments in the Super Absorbent Polymers Market In 2022, a significant milestone was achieved in Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) as BPCL successfully dispatched the first indigenous SAP from its Kochi Refinery. This achievement marked a meaningful step forward in India's capabilities to produce advanced and essential materials domestically. BASF, a global leader in chemical innovation, recently demonstrated its commitment to advancing the SAP industry by investing a substantial $30.1 million in a cutting-edge Hygiene Excellence Center. This state-of-the-art facility was strategically located at BASF's Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium, and was specifically designed to bolster the company's SAP business innovation capabilities. Key Questions Answered in Super Absorbent Polymers Market Report What specific growth drivers are projected to impact the market during the forecast period? List the top companies in the market and explain how they have achieved their positions of influence. In what ways do regional trends and patterns differ within the global market, and how these differences shape the market's future growth? Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global Soluble Dietary Fiber Market Global Geosynthetics Market Global Polysulfones Market Global Sodium Alginate Market Global Blue Ammonia Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com Detroit, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CCA Health Michigan, a mission-driven healthcare services organization that offers high-quality health plans designed for older adults and individuals with significant needs, today announced $12,500 in philanthropic donations to both the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan (FBEM) and Gleaners Community Food Bank. Both organizations are recognized as pillars in their communities, helping to fight hunger among older adults and families with a range of innovative programs that increase access to healthy foods and nutrition education. At CCA Health Michigan, we understand that food security and nutrition are foundational to overall health and well-being, and its our mission to help facilitate access for each and every one of our members, said Brian Keane, CCA Health Michigan General Manager. We are proud to support these two organizations that have made such an incredible impact on the lives of Michiganders. With hundreds of local partners, including pantries, soup kitchens, churches, and schools, both organizations reach a wide range of communities in need, and I cant wait to see what we can accomplish together. The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan is grateful to CCA Health Michigan for its generous donation, which will help fund critical hunger relief initiatives, including our mobile food distributions, which provide fresh, healthy options for children, families and seniors, said Kara Ross, President and CEO for FBEM. The demand for food and nutrition information remains high in the state, and were excited to partner with the CCA Health Michigan team to help minimize the impact of food insecurity on the health of our communities. FBEM works with more than 700 hunger relief partners to distribute food throughout 22 counties in the state. In 2022, FBEM distributed more than 30 million pounds of food, with nearly half comprising fresh produce, dairy, meat, and other proteins. At Gleaners Community Food Bank, weve made health an integral part of our mission and strategic plan because of the significant relationship between hunger, nutrition literacy, and health outcomes, said Jessica Ramsay, Director of Wellness & Nutrition Education for Gleaners. Older adults are especially at risk for chronic conditions and may face challenges with mobility, transportation, and other social factors that can reduce their access to healthy, nutritious meals. CCA Health Michigans support will help fund critical programs that help remove barriers to food security for both older adults and other individuals across Southeast Michigan. Gleaners serves five southeast Michigan counties including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, and Monroe counties. Gleaners provides food to more than 400 partner soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, schools, and other agencies across the region. Additionally, Gleaners offers direct-service distributions across the region five days a week, providing groceries to community members, with no appointments needed. About CCA Health Michigan CCA Health Michigan is a mission-driven healthcare services organization that offers high-quality health plans designed for older adults and individuals with significant needs. By working closely with members, caregivers, providers, and community organizations, CCA Health Michigan aims to coordinate high-quality, patient-centric care that addresses the social factors that impact health, and empower individuals to make choices that align with their preferences and values. To learn more, visit ccahealthmi.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. About the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan Serving local families in need since 1981, the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan has grown to provide more than 30 million pounds of food each year through a network of nearly 700 hunger relief partners in 22 counties. Our partners consist of local food pantries, soup kitchens, churches, schools, and shelters who strive to feed more than 210,000 people who struggle with hunger throughout eastern Michigan. For more information, visit fbem.org About Gleaners Community Food Bank Headquartered in Detroit, Gleaners serves five Southeast Michigan counties: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, and Monroe. Gleaners provides food to more than 400 partner agencies, including soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and others across the region, and supplements the efforts of those partners by offering direct-service, drive-up grocery distributions. In its fiscal year 2022, Gleaners distributed more than 47 million pounds of food to neighbors in need. Every dollar donated provides three meals, and 92 cents of every donated dollar goes to food and food programs. For more information, visit gcfb.org. ### Attachments Ottawa, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- the genomics market revenue was valued at USD 28.9 billion in 2022, as a result of rising technology advancements and increasing demand for personalized medicine, a study published by Towards Healthcare a sister firm of Precedence Research. Precision medicine adoption and genomic data integration for personalized care are paving the market growth. Genomics, the study of an individual's genetic material, plays a crucial role in understanding the genetic basis of diseases, developing targeted therapies, and enabling precision medicine. The genomics market is experiencing rapid growth and transformation, driven by advancements in technology, decreasing sequencing costs, and the increasing demand for personalized medicine. The market encompasses various technologies, including next-generation sequencing (NGS), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), microarray analysis, and gene editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9. These technologies enable researchers and clinicians to analyze and interpret genetic information, providing valuable insights into disease mechanisms, drug discovery, and patient care. The genomics market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing prevalence of genetic disorders, the rising adoption of genomic medicine in clinical practice, and the expanding applications of genomics in areas such as oncology, rare diseases, pharmacogenomics, and agriculture. Download a White Papers @ https://www.towardshealthcare.com/personalized-scope/5065 The Role of Increasing Prevalence of Genetic Diseases in the Genomics Market The growing prevalence of genetic diseases is a significant driving factor for the genomics market. Genetic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, rare genetic disorders, and inherited diseases, have a substantial impact on global health. According to the World Health Organization, there are approximately 10,000 different types of single-gene diseases, also known as monogenic diseases, caused by mutations in a single gene. It is estimated that around 10 out of every 1000 people are affected by these diseases, resulting in a global population of approximately 70 million to 80 million individuals living with these conditions. The increasing understanding of the genetic basis of these diseases has led to a rise in demand for genomic solutions and services. The increasing prevalence of genetic disorders has contributed to the growth of this market. For instance, as of January 2023, approximately 6,000 babies are born with Down syndrome in the United States each year, accounting for about 1 in every 700 births. The total number of diagnosed individuals with Down syndrome in the U.S. is around 200,000. Genomics plays a crucial role in diagnosing, predicting, and treating genetic diseases. It enables the identification of genetic variants and alterations associated with specific diseases, facilitating personalized medicine approaches. Genomic sequencing technologies allow for the comprehensive analysis of an individuals genetic makeup, providing insights into disease risk, drug response, and potential treatment options. The application of genomics in genetic disease research and clinical practice has expanded significantly in recent years. Market players are developing advanced genomic tools, platforms, and services to cater to this growing demand. This includes next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, microarray-based genotyping, and bioinformatics solutions for data analysis and interpretation. Additionally, the decreasing costs of genomic sequencing and the availability of large-scale genomic databases have further propelled the adoption of genomics in healthcare. This has made genetic testing and genomic profiling more accessible and affordable for both healthcare providers and patients. The growing prevalence of genetic diseases also underscores the importance of genomics in population health management and public health initiatives. Genomic screening programs, carrier testing, and newborn screening are being implemented to identify individuals at risk of genetic diseases and initiate appropriate interventions. The Role of Bioinformatics and Data Informatics in the Genomics Market Advancements in bioinformatics and data analytics are another major driver in the genomics market. The field of genomics generates vast amounts of data, including genomic sequences, gene expression profiles, and clinical data. Effectively managing, analyzing, and interpreting this data is critical for unlocking the full potential of genomics. Bioinformatics tools and platforms enable researchers and clinicians to analyze and interpret genomic data, identify genetic variations, and understand their functional implications. These tools facilitate the discovery of disease-associated genes, biomarkers, and potential therapeutic targets. Data analytics techniques, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, play a crucial role in genomics research and clinical applications. These techniques can analyze large-scale genomic datasets, identify patterns, and generate predictive models for disease diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response. The integration of genomics data with electronic health records (EHRs) and other clinical data sources enhances the understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations. This integration enables clinicians to make informed decisions based on comprehensive patient information, improving diagnosis accuracy, treatment selection, and disease management. Bioinformatics and data analytics also support population-scale genomics initiatives, such as large-scale sequencing projects and biobanks. These initiatives aim to build extensive genomic databases, allowing researchers to explore genetic variations across diverse populations and identify population-specific disease risk factors. Thus, bioinformatics and data informatics are driving the genomics market by providing essential tools, algorithms, and expertise for efficient data management, analysis, and interpretation. Their contributions are vital for unlocking the potential of genomic data and translating it into meaningful insights for personalized medicine, drug discovery, and improved patient outcomes. Genomic Data Complexity and Limited Functional Understanding of Genetic Variations Despite the significant advancements in genomics, there are several challenges and restraints that hinder market growth. One major restraint is the complexity of genomic data interpretation and the limited understanding of the functional implications of genetic variations. Genomic data is incredibly complex, consisting of billions of nucleotide sequences and a vast number of genetic variations. Interpreting this data and identifying clinically relevant variations require sophisticated bioinformatics tools, databases, and expert knowledge. The limited availability of skilled bioinformaticians and genomic data analysts poses a significant challenge in harnessing the full potential of genomics. Additionally, the functional impact of many genetic variations remains poorly understood. While genomic sequencing can identify genetic variations, determining their functional significance and clinical relevance is complex. The lack of comprehensive functional annotation databases and standardized guidelines for variant interpretation presents challenges in translating genomic data into actionable clinical insights. Furthermore, the integration of genomics into routine clinical practice faces barriers such as regulatory requirements, reimbursement policies, and ethical considerations. Regulatory frameworks for genetic testing and genomic medicine vary across countries, making harmonizing practices and ensuring quality standards challenging. Reimbursement policies for genomic testing and personalized therapies are still evolving, creating uncertainties for market players and limiting access to genomics-based diagnostics and treatments. Moreover, ethical considerations surrounding genomic data privacy and patient consent pose challenges in genomic research and clinical implementation. Safeguarding patient privacy, ensuring informed consent, and maintaining data security are critical for maintaining public trust and facilitating the responsible use of genomic data. As the genomics market continues to grow, PCR technology is expected to play a vital role in enabling precise and targeted genomic analysis. Advancements in PCR methodologies, including the introduction of novel enzymes and improvements in instrument capabilities, further contribute to the expansion of the genomics market and its applications. The Role of PCR Technology in the Genomics Market The PCR technology holds the largest market share and is projected to be the fastest-growing technology over the forecast period. The genomics market is driven by various technologies, and one prominent technology in this field is Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). PCR is a widely used technique that allows for the amplification and analysis of specific DNA sequences. It plays a crucial role in genomics research and applications. In the genomics market, PCR technology has witnessed significant advancements, leading to the development of various PCR-based techniques. These include real-time PCR (qPCR), digital PCR (dPCR), reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), and multiplex PCR, among others. Each technique has its advantages and applications, catering to different research and diagnostic needs. The adoption of PCR technology in the genomics market is driven by factors such as its accuracy, versatility, and cost-effectiveness. PCR-based assays are extensively used in academic research, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, clinical laboratories, and forensic laboratories. Personalized your customization here: https://www.towardshealthcare.com/customization/5065 Geographical Landscape of the Genomics Market North America, particularly the United States, dominates the genomics market and holds the largest market share. The region's leadership can be attributed to factors such as strong research infrastructure, significant investments in genomics research, and the presence of key market players. The United States has a robust genomics ecosystem, including academic research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and genomics service providers. Following the passage of the Fiscal Year 2022 federal budget by the U.S. Congress on March 11, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) received approximately $45 billion, representing a $2.03 billion increase in funding. Specifically, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) has been allocated a budget of $639 million, reflecting a 3.8% increase compared to the previous year. This positive development allowed NHGRI to proceed with its planned research activities for 2022, ensuring continued progress in the field of genomics. The country has been at the forefront of large-scale genomics initiatives, such as the Precision Medicine Initiative and the All of Us Research Program, driving the adoption of genomics in healthcare. In addition to the United States, Europe is a prominent market for genomics, with countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, and France leading in terms of research and clinical implementation. Europe has a strong regulatory framework for genetic testing and personalized medicine, supporting the integration of genomics into healthcare systems. Asia-Pacific is a rapidly growing market for genomics, driven by increasing investments in genomics research, the rising prevalence of genetic diseases, and the expanding demand for personalized medicine. Countries like China, Japan, and India are making significant strides in genomics research, fueling market growth in the region. In the upcoming years, Asia-Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region in the genomics market. The region's large population, growing healthcare infrastructure, and government initiatives to promote genomics research and precision medicine contribute to its growth potential. The increasing focus on precision healthcare and personalized medicine in emerging economies presents lucrative opportunities for market players in the region. The Role of Integration of Genomics with Other -Omics Technologies One major opportunity in the genomics market lies in the integration of genomics with other -omics technologies, such as proteomics, metabolomics, and transcriptomics. The combination of these technologies, often referred to as multi-omics approaches, allows for a comprehensive understanding of biological systems and disease mechanisms. By integrating genomics with other -omics data, researchers can gain insights into the complex interplay between genes, proteins, metabolites, and other molecular components. This integrative approach can provide a more holistic view of disease processes, identify novel biomarkers, and facilitate the discovery of new therapeutic targets. For example, integrating genomics with proteomics can enable researchers to identify protein biomarkers associated with disease progression, drug response, and treatment resistance. This information can be valuable for developing targeted therapies and monitoring treatment efficacy. Similarly, combining genomics with metabolomics can shed light on the metabolic pathways influenced by genetic variations and their impact on disease development. This integrated approach can enhance our understanding of personalized nutrition, drug metabolism, and disease susceptibility. Furthermore, the integration of genomics with transcriptomics allows researchers to explore gene expression patterns and regulatory networks. This integration can uncover key genes involved in disease pathways, identify dysregulated pathways, and predict disease outcomes. The integration of multi-omics approaches holds immense potential in advancing precision medicine. By combining multiple layers of molecular information, clinicians can develop personalized treatment strategies tailored to an individuals unique molecular profile. This approach can improve treatment outcomes, minimize adverse effects, and optimize therapy selection. Market players can capitalize on this opportunity by developing comprehensive -omics platforms, advanced bioinformatics tools, and data integration algorithms. By offering integrated solutions that combine genomics with other -omics technologies, market players can cater to the growing demand for holistic molecular insights in research, diagnostics, and therapeutic development. Related Reports: AI in genomics market : The global AI in genomics market is projected to grow from $397.64 million in 2022 at 40.31% CAGR (2023-2030) to reach an estimated $ 5,972 million by 2030. The global is projected to grow from $397.64 million in 2022 at 40.31% CAGR (2023-2030) to reach an estimated $ 5,972 million by 2030. Cell and Gene Therapy Market : The global cell and gene therapy market is predicted to grow from $14.2 billion in 2022 at 24.0 % CAGR (2023-2032) to reach an estimated $ 117.1 billion by 2032. The global is predicted to grow from $14.2 billion in 2022 at 24.0 % CAGR (2023-2032) to reach an estimated $ 117.1 billion by 2032. Generic Drugs Market: The global generic drugs market revenue was valued at USD 439.37 billion in 2022 and is estimated to hit USD 738.53 billion by 2032. SWOT Analysis: Strengths: Many market players in the genomics industry have access to state-of-the-art technologies for genome sequencing, analysis, and interpretation. This enables them to provide high-quality genomic data and services to their customers. Leading players invest heavily in R&D activities to develop innovative genomic solutions and expand their product portfolios. This allows them to stay at the forefront of technological advancements and maintain a competitive edge. Players in the genomics market often establish strategic partnerships and collaborations with research institutions, healthcare providers, and pharmaceutical companies. These collaborations help in knowledge sharing, data exchange, and joint research initiatives, enhancing their market position. Weaknesses: The genomics market is characterized by high costs associated with genome sequencing, data analysis, and infrastructure setup. This can pose a barrier to entry for some players and limit their market reach, especially in resource-constrained settings. The use of genomic data raises ethical and regulatory concerns, such as privacy, data protection, and consent issues. Market players need to navigate these challenges effectively and ensure compliance with applicable regulations to build trust and maintain their reputation. Opportunities: The increasing focus on personalized medicine and precision healthcare presents a significant opportunity for genomics market players. Genomic information is crucial in tailoring treatments and interventions to individual patients, improving treatment efficacy and patient outcomes. Genomic data has applications beyond healthcare, including agriculture, biotechnology, forensics, and research. Market players can explore these non-clinical areas to diversify their revenue streams and tap into new market segments. Threats: Genomic data is highly sensitive and requires robust data security measures to protect patient privacy and prevent unauthorized access. Any data breaches or privacy concerns can significantly impact the reputation and trust of market players. The genomics market is highly competitive, with several established players and new entrants vying for market share. Intense competition can lead to pricing pressures and market saturation, making it challenging for players to differentiate themselves. Competitive Landscape: The Non-Oncology Precision Medicine Market remains dynamic and competitive, with market players continuously striving to differentiate themselves through innovation, partnerships, and acquisitions. The market is expected to witness further consolidation as companies aim to capture a larger market share and deliver comprehensive solutions to meet the evolving needs of healthcare providers and patients. Some major market players involved in the genomics market are Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Illumina, Inc., Oxford Nanopore Technologies, QIAGEN N.V., BGI, Eurofins Scientific, GE Healthcare, Agilent Technologies, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., and Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Recent Developments: In February 2023, Roche announced an expansion of its collaboration with Janssen Biotech Inc. The aim of this collaboration is to develop companion diagnostics that can be used alongside targeted therapies. Roche announced an expansion of its collaboration with Janssen Biotech Inc. The aim of this collaboration is to develop companion diagnostics that can be used alongside targeted therapies. In September 2022, Thermo Fisher Scientific collaborated with the Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative (TPMI) to advance a large-scale genomics study and assist in genotyping one million individuals in Taiwan. Thermo Fisher Scientific collaborated with the Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative (TPMI) to advance a large-scale genomics study and assist in genotyping one million individuals in Taiwan. In April 2022, Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced the Ion Torrent Genexus Dx Integrated Sequencer with the CE-IVD grading, a rapid, platform for next-generation sequencing (NGS) which is automated and enabling same-day results. Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced the Ion Torrent Genexus Dx Integrated Sequencer with the CE-IVD grading, a rapid, platform for next-generation sequencing (NGS) which is automated and enabling same-day results. In December 2021, Roche announced the launch of the AVENIO Edge System, an integral part of the company's strategy to advance sequencing technologies. The AVENIO Edge System is a fully-automated, integrated sequencing solution that is built on top-notch foundational capabilities. Market Segments: By Product and Services Consumables Systems and software Services Equipment By Technology PCR (polymerase chain reaction) Sequencing Microarray Nucleic acid extraction and purification Other technologies (branched DNA analysis, single-cell genomics analysis, and flow cytometry) By Application Drug discovery and development Diagnostics Precision medicine Agriculture and animal research Other applications By End-Users Hospitals & clinics Research centers and academic & government institutes Pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies Other end users By Regional Outlook North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa You can place an order or ask any questions, please feel free to contact us at sales@towardshealthacre.com About Us: Towards Healthcare a global strategy consulting firm that assists business leaders in gaining a competitive edge and accelerating growth. We are a provider of technological solutions, clinical research services, and advanced analytics to the healthcare sector, committed to forming creative connections that result in actionable insights and creative innovations. For Latest Update Follow Us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/towards-healthcare PHILADELPHIA, PA, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Its been known since the 1960s that Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) causes a variety of cancers, but research has overwhelmingly focused on its connection to lymphomas. Now, a multidisciplinary team of scientists led by The Wistar Institute has been awarded a more than $12 million National Cancer Institute (NCI) Program Project Grant (P01), a highly competitive five-year grant that includes a crosssection of researchers from various disciplines and institutions throughout the country. The multidisciplinary team led by Wistar scientists is exploring the role of Epstein-Barr Virus in epithelial cancers. Epithethelial cells form functional structures in organ tissue throughout the human body; they are often the site for solid organ cancers, including the most common cancers, which are known as carcinomas. The new research will focus on basic questions about how EBV infection of normal epithelial cells transforms them into cancer-cells. Scientists also intend to build on this research to identify better and more selective therapeutic targets. We are investigating unexplored aspects of EBV and malignancies, potentially uncovering unique characteristics or pathways that can be targeted for therapeutic intervention, said Italo Tempera, Ph.D., associate professor of the Gene Expression & Regulation Program of the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center at The Wistar Institute. This fresh perspective could lead to groundbreaking discoveries and innovative treatment strategies for EBV and epithelial malignancies. The project brings together scientists from The Wistar Institute and Harvard University, including experts in epigenetics, metabolomics and drug discovery. Its the first time researchers from this variety of disciplines have combined their efforts to focus entirely on the EBV-epithelial cancer link. Weve put together a new strategy, a new way of attacking the problem, said Paul Lieberman, Ph.D., Hilary Koprowski, M.D., Endowed Professor and director of the Center for Chemical Biology and Translational Medicine at Wistar. By working together across different modalities, theres an opportunity for each of us to learn from the synergy and expertise of the other investigators. EBV is one of the most common human viruses, infecting an estimated 95% of people by the time they reach adulthood. Symptoms are usually mild, and most people recover within a few weeks. However, the virus can remain latent in the human body for years or even decades, and it causes some people to develop cancer later in life. While research has historically focused on lymphomas, EBV-linked epithelial cancers are both more common and more deadly. Epithelial cancers represent 75% of the 200,000 EBV-related cancer cases diagnosed each year, and these cancers also have higher mortality rates and treatment failures. This grant put together a team that is now focused on this type of cancer that has been neglected, even though its the most common form of EBV cancers, Lieberman said. The grant will fund three main research projects. The first will look at how EBV establishes a long-term infection within epithelial cells. The second will study how it causes genetic and metabolic changes to trigger cancer growth. Finally, researchers will use these findings to investigate new therapeutic strategies. The research builds on past work by Liebermans lab, which has focused on developing small molecule inhibitors targeting EBV. He said the new project would focus on studying drugs that are already in development, and looking for ways to make them more targeted or use them in combination with other therapies. Tempera said the groups integrated approach sets it apart.Our project will study both metabolic and epigenetic vulnerabilities simultaneously, he said. Combining these two aspects can provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of EBV infection in cancer and its underlying mechanisms, leading to unique insights and therapeutic opportunities. Co-authors: Ben Gewurz of Harvard; Joseph Salvino, Samantha Soldan, Andrew Kossenkov, Louise Showe, and Qin Liu of Wistar. MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OHIO, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As previously announced, The Progressive Corporation (NYSE: PGR) will host an Investor Relations event on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, beginning at 9:30 a.m. eastern time. The event, which will consist of both a conference call and an audio-only webcast, is scheduled to last 90 minutes and will begin with an approximate 45-minute presentation on loss reserving and cohort pricing, followed by a question-and-answer session with Tricia Griffith, our CEO, and John Sauerland, our CFO. Call-in participants will be able to ask questions via phone, however, webcast participants will not be able to submit questions online. On August 1, 2023, Progressive expects to file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission and post its Shareholders Report, including the Letter to Shareholders from Tricia Griffith, to its website at www.progressive.com/annualreport . Registration is required to participate in the conference call. To receive the details on how to access the call or to join the webcast, visit Progressives website at https://investors.progressive.com/events/default.aspx . Replays of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the call concludes. The archived webcast will be able to be accessed from Progressives website at https://investors.progressive.com/events/default.aspx and will remain available until August 2, 2024. About Progressive Progressive Insurance makes it easy to understand, buy and use car insurance , home insurance , and other protection needs. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach us however its most convenient for them online at progressive.com , by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, via the Progressive mobile app, or in-person with a local agent. Progressive provides insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes; it is the second largest auto insurer in the country, a leading seller of commercial auto, motorcycle , and boat insurance, and one of the top 15 homeowners insurance carriers. Founded in 1937, Progressive continues its long history of offering shopping tools and services that save customers time and money, like Name Your Price, Snapshot, and HomeQuote Explorer. The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, trade publicly at NYSE: PGR. Company Contact: Douglas S. Constantine (440) 395-3707 investor_relations@progressive.com Dallas, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dickeys Barbecue Pit are helping barbecue fans elevate their summertime parties with pit-smoked wings on National Chicken Wing Day. On July 29th, Dickeys will offer their valued guests a fiery deal for a 6-piece chicken wing combo starting at only $11.99, including one homestyle side and their famous Big Yellow Cup. The slow-smoked wings are available in a variety of portion sizes, as well as an array of bold flavors including Lemon Pepper, Buffalo, Sweet Barbecue, and more. Barbecue enthusiasts can receive this great deal by visiting their local Dickeys store, ordering online at dickeys.com or on the Dickeys App. Here at Dickeys, we take great pride in our Texas-sized, pit-smoked chicken wings, said Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. Therefore, we are very excited to celebrate this fun national holiday by treating barbecue and chicken wing lovers across the country. To learn more, follow Dickeys Barbecue Pit on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Download the Dickeys Barbecue Pit App from the Apple App Store or Google Play. To learn more about Dickeys Virtual Concepts follow: Wing Boss on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok , Trailer Birds on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok and Big Deal Burger on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok . About Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the worlds largest barbecue concept, was founded in 1941 by the Dickey family. For the past 80 years, Dickeys Barbecue Pit has served millions of guests in 44 states Legit. Texas. Barbecue. At Dickeys, all our barbecued meats are smoked onsite in a hickory wood burning pit. Dickeys proudly believes theres no shortcut to true barbecue and its why our name isnt BBQ. The Dallas-based, family-run barbecue franchise offers eight slow-smoked meats and 12 wholesome sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included. Dickeys Barbecue has 550 locations across the United States and eight other countries. Dickeys was named to Newsweeks 2022 Americas Favorite Restaurant Chains list and USA Today 2021 readers choice awards. Dickeys won first place on Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers list, been named a Top 500 Franchise by Entrepreneur and named to Hospitality Technologys Industry Heroes list. Led by CEO Laura Rea Dickey, who was named among the countrys 50 most influential women in foodservice in Nations Restaurant News, was recognized by Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers list and honored by Dallas Business Journal. Dickey's Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Fox News, Forbes Magazine, Franchise Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine and QSR Magazine. Dickeys Barbecue is part of Dickeys Restaurant Brands which has more than 700 restaurants nationwide including brands Wing Boss, Trailer Birds, Big Deal Burger and bbqathome.com. DRB is led by CEO Roland Dickey Jr. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com. # # # Attachment Positive Cash Flow Anticipated by September San Francisco, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RocketFuel, Inc. (OTCQB: RKFL) (RocketFuel or the Company), a global provider of payment solutions via ACH bank transfers, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, announced a 15-fold increase in customer traction in 30 days, driven by the successful launch of new products and the acquisition of three large-scale customers. The company has experienced a substantial increase in transaction volume, soaring from 110 transactions per day in June 2023 to 1,600 transactions per day in July 2023. This represents an growth of approximately 1,500% in a month. "We're excited about the immediate traction our new products are delivering," said Peter Jensen, Rocketfuel's CEO. "This significant upswing in customer engagement demonstrates the market's enthusiastic response to our innovative solutions." As customers rollout continues, Rocketfuel believes that its growth trajectory places it on track to achieve positive cash flow by September 2023. The company attributes its success to the launch of new products, including the highly anticipated 'Payouts' feature, and the addition of three new major customers. Furthermore, a robust pipeline of potential customers promises to sustain this growth throughout the remainder of the fiscal year. "We're ramping up our capacity to allow for onboarding additional customers in the pipeline to continue growth," added Jensen. "We believe that our commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions sets us apart in the payment infrastructure landscape." Rocketfuel will share more details about its growth strategy and upcoming plans in a future Investor Relations Webinar. The company continues to make strides in its mission to revolutionize financial transactions with its cutting-edge blockchain technology. About RocketFuel RocketFuel is a global payments infrastructure company that provides modern blockchain based solutions for moving money between businesses and consumers faster, cheaper, and more securely. Its Pay-In product offers shoppers a simple, easy-to-use, one-click checkout process that accepts payments with bank transfers, Bitcoin and 160+ cryptocurrencies. RocketFuel delivers a highly secure and efficient shopping cart experience with significantly low fees for merchants, along with the benefits of no chargebacks and no card declines. RocketFuel also offers payouts, B2B cross-border crypto payment solutions, invoicing and a crypto payments service, and is developing a point-based loyalty program. More information about RocketFuel is available at: www.rocketfuel.inc Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer: The Company believes that this press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Terms such as may, might, would, should, could, project, estimate, pro-forma, predict, potential, strategy, anticipate, attempt, develop, plan, help, believe, continue, intend, expect, future, and terms of similar import (including the negative of any of these terms) may identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are based on managements current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Actual results and the timing of certain events and circumstances may differ materially from those described by the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. Factors that may influence or contribute to the accuracy of the forward-looking statements or cause actual results to differ materially from expected or desired results may include, without limitation, market acceptance of the companys products and services; competition from existing products or new products that may emerge; the implementation of the companys business model and strategic plans for its business and our products; estimates of the companys future revenue, expenses, capital requirements and need for financing; current and future government regulations; and developments relating to the companys competitors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because of the risks and uncertainties related to them. For further information on such risks and uncertainties, you are encouraged to review the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal periods ended June 30, 2022, September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2022. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments, except as required by law. For more information, please contact: monica.t@rocketfuel.inc ### Singapore, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Elite Cloud's AWS Managed Consulting Services revolutionize businesses with top-notch cloud solutions, helping businesses optimize performance, cost-efficiency, and security with unprecedented success. As businesses increasingly adopt cloud technology, the demand for robust and efficient cloud management solutions has soared. Recognizing this need, Elite Cloud, a renowned provider of cloud solutions, has developed a suite of services designed to optimize cloud infrastructure and enhance operational efficiency across various leading cloud platforms, including Elite Cloud - AWS Managed Consulting Services and Azure Managed Services. Drawing on the expertise of a multicultural team with experience in Japan, Singapore, the United States, Taiwan, and other countries, Elite Cloud offers comprehensive planning and solutions tailored to specific cultural contexts. This ensures that customers receive the most complete and effective cloud strategies, maximizing their potential for success. Elite Clouds popular cloud solution, AWS Managed Consulting Services, aims to empower businesses by providing expert guidance and support in AWS architecture, implementation, and optimization. Their team of seasoned professionals, certified in AWS, offers personalized strategies and solutions tailored to meet the unique requirements of each client. The services encompass cloud assessment, migration, cost optimization, security, and compliance, enabling businesses to harness the full potential of AWS while reducing complexities and maximizing return on investment. One of the key components of AWS Managed Consulting Services is the AWS Cloud Assessment service. Using a meticulous evaluation process, consultants assess the existing AWS infrastructure, identify performance bottlenecks, and provide actionable recommendations to optimize resource utilization, cost efficiency, and security. This empowers businesses to achieve optimal performance, cost savings, and risk mitigation within their AWS environments. Elite Cloud's AWS Security and Compliance services ensure clients' cloud environments are safeguarded against potential threats. Their team of experts assists in implementing robust security measures, monitoring systems, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations, enhancing overall data protection and risk management. For more information, visit www.elite.cloud The Elite Clouds cloud services portfolio includes Azure Managed Services, which provides businesses with comprehensive consulting services for both AWS and Azure, allowing them to leverage the benefits of multiple cloud platforms. The Azure Managed Services offer a range of solutions, including assessment, migration, optimization, and ongoing management of Azure cloud environments. This expansion allows Elite Cloud to cater to a broader customer base and further enhance its position as a one-stop cloud services provider. Azure, Microsoft's public cloud platform, integrates seamlessly with the Microsoft ecosystem, allowing users to run Microsoft software and tools effortlessly. With a focus on delivering exceptional performance and connectivity, Azure collaborates with Chinese cloud service providers to ensure fast connections and superior services for Chinese users. Elite Cloud offers cloud services and solutions for AliCloud, ensuring fast and stable services for Chinese users while providing comprehensive cloud solutions to facilitate business expansion in China. It also offers GCP services from data centers in Taiwan, offering faster and more reliable cloud services to businesses in Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region. With Tencent Cloud, launched by Tencent Group, Elite Cloud provides a wide range of cloud computing and data processing services. With a strong presence in the gaming industry, Tencent Cloud offers game acceleration services that reduce latency and ensure smooth gameplay. Tencent Cloud excels in-game and live streaming CDN, providing users with a high-quality and stable service experience. Beyond cloud hosting, Elite Cloud offers entrepreneurial opportunities to individuals looking to earn additional income. With comprehensive training and professional guidance, the company empowers aspiring cloud-hosting sales experts, providing them with the tools to succeed. Its mission is to deliver the highest quality cloud services while enabling entrepreneurs to thrive. Elite Cloud offers businesses the flexibility to choose the cloud platform that best suits their need, helping them achieve higher efficiency and cost-effectiveness within their cloud environments. With its expert guidance and comprehensive support for AWS, Azure, and more, the company ensures seamless integration, optimal performance, and enhanced security. Elite Cloud remains at the forefront of cloud technology advancements, consistently delivering innovative solutions to address the evolving needs of its customers. About the Company: Elite Cloud is a leading provider of comprehensive cloud solutions, specializing in AWS Managed Consulting Services and Azure Managed Services. With a team of seasoned professionals and deep expertise in cloud architecture, implementation, and optimization, Elite Cloud empowers businesses to harness the full potential of cloud platforms like AWS, GCP, and Azure. Their tailored services encompass cloud assessment, migration, cost optimization, security, and compliance, enabling organizations to streamline operations, enhance performance, reduce costs, and ensure data protection. By offering end-to-end cloud solutions, Elite Cloud helps businesses drive innovation, achieve operational excellence, and accelerate digital transformation. ### For more information about Elite Cloud, contact the company here: Elite Cloud K Chen +1 (504)-612-0350 k.chen@elite.cloud 15 Scotts Rd #03-12 Singapore 228218, Singapore Toronto, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Peninsula Canada, a global leading HR, and Health & Safety company is hosting an informative webinar presented by our top experts on supporting menopause in the workplace. This exclusive virtual event aims to provide valuable insight and expert advice on the challenges faced by women experiencing menopause. Menopause in the Workplace: How to Best Support Your Employees webinar is scheduled to take place Thursday, July 27th at 2 pm EST. This interactive session will be a valuable experience for all attendees. Participation in the webinar is free, but registration is required. Register today and get a free menopause policy. Space is limited! Women make up nearly half of Canadas workforce and play a crucial role in driving our economy forward. To enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion within companies, its time to eliminate the taboo of menopause and have an open conversation. By openly addressing menopause, we can confront ageism and sexism head-on, and give the necessary support and resources that women require, says Amanda Chadwick Speaker, Writer, Presenter, and Expert in HR, Employment Law, Health & Safety, and, Wellbeing at Peninsula Canada. Out of Canadas 19-million-person labor force, five million of them are women over the age of 40, according to the Menopause Foundation of Canada. The menopausal transition most often begins between ages 45 and 55. Menopausal women are the fastest-growing demographic in the workforce, so it's important now more than ever to be able to speak openly about menopause at work. Research shows that a whopping three-quarters of women in the workforce feel that their employer lacks support or is uncertain about the existence of any support to help them navigate this significant stage in their lives. Working women who are experiencing menopause are not only grappling with the challenges of this life stage but also facing the harsh reality of ageism. Three out of ten women express concerns that their colleagues might perceive them as weak, old, or past their prime. Its important to note that menopausal symptoms can influence the employees work, which is beyond their control. Employers have a significant role to play to ensure that anyone experiencing menopausal symptoms gets the support they need. This will help improve the overall team morale, retain valuable talent, and reduce sickness absences. If the employee is experiencing any of the menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and mood changes, then, as an employer, consider making some adjustments. For example, if the employee is experiencing hot flushes, then provide a fan or move them to a desk closer to the window. Employers have the responsibility to create a workplace that is free from prejudice, discrimination, and ageism. This extends to support employees who are experiencing menopause. To achieve this, employers must offer specific resources and accommodations upon request. We understand that employers may not know where to start or how to support employees dealing with menopause. But Peninsula Canada can help. We advise employers on all things HR and Health & Safety to ensure business owners understand how to manage their teams and handle any employment-related issues. About Peninsula Canada Peninsula has been helping businesses with HR and health & safety compliance for 40 years. We are now trusted by over 120,000 SMB owners across the globe. In Canada, we support over 6,500 businesses in 8 provinces, providing a service tailored to your business needs. We provide round-the-clock support to our clients with commercially focused advice, bespoke HR and OHS solutions, and software to protect and grow your business. This means were not just a source of expert help, but a trusted partner. We pride ourselves on delivering a service that mitigates risk, adds value, and allows businesses to focus their time on what they started a business to do. --END-- Interviews available Contact: Sally Abu-Samra Public Relations Specialist T: 647-988-2137| E: sally.abu-samra@peninsula-ca.com Sanlitun, Beijing, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On July 24, 2023, Robinson Jean-Louis, Ambassador of the Republic of Madagascar to China, appointed Professor Lingyun Xiang, an economist in the United States, as a Special Financial Economic Advisor of the Embassy of Madagascar in China on behalf of the Republic of Madagascar. The Republic of Madagascar, also known as Madagascar, is an African island located in the western Indian Ocean, across the Mozambique Strait from the African continent. Madagascar is composed of volcanic rock, as the largest island in Africa and the fourth largest in the world, it has a land area of 592,000 square kilometers (including surrounding islands), a population of about 28.92 million (2023), more than 98% of the total population is Malagasy. Composed of 18 ethnic groups, a total of 6 provinces and 23 regions. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Madagascar on November 6, 1972, the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have developed smoothly. On behalf of the Republic of Madagascar and President Andriy Nirina Rajoelina, the Ambassador of the Republic of Madagascar to China, Robinson Jean-Louis, expressed his heartfelt thanks to Professor Lingyun Xiang for his outstanding contributions to the Republic of Madagascar. Implementing the "Madagascar Revitalization Initiative", providing intellectual, financial and economic assistance, and promoting the construction of energy, agriculture, housing, health, infrastructure and other key areas. Professor Lingyun Xiang introduces that the China-Madagascar trading tie and economic and technical cooperation are progressing smoothly. The two countries have signed agreements on the reciprocal promotion and protection of investments, trade agreements and agreements on the establishment of mixed economic and trade commissions. Since 1972, China has assisted to Madagascar, building projects such as the Mulundawa sugar factory, a pharmaceutical factory, the Aung Wa Highway, the Antananarivo Stadium, an international conference center, and schools. Mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Madagascar began in 1985. In 2022, bilateral trade volume was 2.08 billion US dollars, an increase of 29.2% year-on-year. Among them, exports from China were 1.455 billion US dollars, a year-on-year growth of 13.9%, and imports were 625 million US dollars, a year-on-year growth of 87.8%. China mainly exports textile yarns, electronic products, mechanical and electrical products, etc., and imports mineral sands and agricultural products. In 1980, the two countries signed a cultural cooperation agreement. There are 2 Confucius Institutes and 1 Confucius Classroom in Madagascar: the Confucius Institute at the University of Antananarivo, the Confucius Institute at Tamatave and the Confucius Classroom at Little Bird's Nest School. China has been offering scholarships to students from Madagascar since 1973. From 2020 to 2021, the total number of students from Madagascar was 621, 129 of them had scholarships from the Chinese Government. At present, the total number of registered Madagascar students in China is 649. Since 1975, China has sent medical teams to Madagascar, and there are now four medical centers in Madagascar, and so far 23 batches of 687 people have been dispatched. After the outbreak of COVID-19, the two sides actively carried out anti-epidemic cooperation, and China provided anti-epidemic materials to Madagascar. Robinson Jean-Louis introduces Professor Lingyun Xiang, a well-known economist and distinguished investor in the United States, a full member of the Association of International Accountants (AIA). a member of the International Association Of Accounting Professionals (IAAP), a Certified Forensic Public Accountant (FCPA), a senior public accountant of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA), an International Certified Internet Finance Manager (ICIFM), the Marquis of San Prospero, the worlds outstanding Chinese, International Ambassador for Public Welfare and Charity, an image ambassador for global diplomats, an overseas image ambassador of Chinese enterprises, the best leader in the financial industry, a senior financial risk management consultant. Meanwhile, professor Lingyun Xiang is also an invited Economic Advisor of the Embassy of the Central African Republic in China, invited Chief Economic Advisor of the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in China, the invited Economic Advisor of the Republic of Liberia, the invited Economic Advisor to the Republic of Zimbabwe, the Special Financial Economic Advisor of the Embassy of Madagascar in China and the International Charity Ambassador of the Republic of Mali. Professor Lingyun Xiang is familiar with the legal situation and policy environment of many countries. Proficient in international law, civil law, economic law, partnership law, tax law and securities law. He is also the author of The Way of the Metaverse, The Logic of Blockchain, Guide to Equity Incentive Practice, Private Equity Investment Solutions, Blockchain: A Technological Revolution Empowering the Real Economy, SME Financing and Growth, Global Visual Economics, Industrial Economics, International Trade and Economic Management, Logistics Warehousing Management and E-commerce, Investment Risk and Operation Management, etc. Embassy of the Republic of Madagascar ChanceryNo. 3, San Li Tun Dong Jie Tel65321353 Fax65322102 E-mailantananarivo@csm.mfa.gov.cn Disclaimer: Threads-coin is in no way affiliated or associated with Threads by Meta. The information provided in this release is not investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is recommended that you practice due diligence (including consultation with a professional financial advisor) before investing or trading securities and cryptocurrency. SALT LAKE CITY, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In June of 2023, Senators Dick Durbin, Roger Marshall, Peter Welch, and JD Vance re-introduced the previously failed legislation now renamed to the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA). Mountain America Credit Union once again opposes this bill, believing that it is not about competition, but more of a Big Box Bailout Bill that will, if passed, ultimately give the edge to retailers over consumers. In July of 2022, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced legislation that would enact harmful credit card routing mandates, establishing a back-door price control on the credit card system. It did not advance through committee. In June of 2023, Senators Dick Durbin, Roger Marshall, Peter Welch, and JD Vance reintroduced the same legislation with a different name, hoping to reframe the discussion. Mountain America members rely on credit cards to build credit and access funds, from paying for groceries to covering emergencies, said Sterling Nielsen, president and chief executive officer at Mountain America Credit Union. We have zero confidence the current bill will offer protection or savings to credit card consumers. Please join us in opposing this bill by reaching out to your local representative to say no to the Credit Card Competition Act. This action will protect consumers from legislation that would enact harmful credit card routing mandates. The CCCA will allow big box retailers to process credit card transactions based solely on the networks and providers that are cheapest for them without regard to the value that consumers derive from rewards and many other benefits they have become accustomed to through credit card programs. It would also add billions of dollars to the bottom lines of mega-retailers every year while reducing access to credit, eliminating almost all funding that goes towards credit card cybersecurity protections and rewards programs. When similar legislation by Senator Durbin passed in 2010, retail lobbyists claimed the debit card restrictions would lead to cost savings for consumers and small businesses. Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond found that, rather than cut prices in response to lower debit interchange costs, 98.8% of merchants did not decrease prices and in fact, 21.6% implemented price increases. Experience with the original Durbin amendment has shown that even setting an exemption for small financial institutions (those under $100 billion in assets) offers no protection. A similar exemption in the original Durbin amendment failed to prevent small financial institutions from being negatively impacted. This bill is no less than a bailout in disguise for big box retailers, creating government intervention in a free market and establishing a back-door price control on the credit card system, increasing their profits at the expense of consumers and financial institutions, Nielsen continued. We call it the Big Box Bailout Bill because there are so many issues contained in this legislation that would negatively impact consumers while benefitting retailers, including giving retailers total control over payment networks, taking away consumers choice in processing their credit transactions, increasing privacy and security risks, and passing higher credit card costs to consumers, to name a few. For more information about the Big Box Bailout Bill, Mountain Americas position and to find your local representative to oppose this bill, please click HERE . About Mountain America Credit Union With more than 1 million members and $17 billion in assets, Mountain America Credit Union helps its members define and achieve their financial dreams. Mountain America provides consumers and businesses with a variety of convenient, flexible products and services, as well as sound, timely advice. Members enjoy access to secure, cutting-edge mobile-banking technology, over 100 branches across six states, and more than 50,000 surcharge-free ATMs. Mountain Americaguiding you forward. Learn more at macu.com. HOUSTON, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orion Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ORN) (the Company), a leading specialty construction company, today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023. Highlights for the quarter ended June 30, 2023: Contract revenues of $182.5 million increased 14.7% sequentially Net loss was $0.3 million or $0.01 per diluted share Adjusted EBITDA was $3.7 million Concrete segment returned to profitability during the second quarter Marine awarded two dredging contracts totaling $45 million from the Army Corps of Engineers Backlog and awarded contracts totaled $903 million at quarter end See definitions and reconciliation of non-GAAP measures elsewhere in this release. Management Commentary Our second quarter performance was a significant improvement over our first quarter results and reflected the progress our team is making in executing our strategy to achieve long-term growth and value creation, said Travis Boone, Chief Executive Officer of Orion Group Holdings. Nine months ago, we began our journey to turn Orion around. We started with a long checklist and have ticked off many of the boxesall focused on de-risking the business to clear the path for long-term growth and profitability. After two years of reporting losses, our Concrete business turned profitable in the month of March and continues to generate profit each month. We have attracted great talent to focus on business development and drive growth. And perhaps most critical, we shored up our balance sheet and liquidity, securing a new $103 million ABL credit facility and providing $25 million in liquidity through sale-leaseback transactions. Looking ahead, we are optimistic that we will see continued improvement for the rest of this year and beyond. Our company is now fundamentally stronger and well positioned for accelerated growth. We are fortunate to have the most exceptional people in the industry and two businesses with different catalysts of growthConcrete more driven by the private sector; Marine by the public sectorthat can balance one another during challenging times and different business cycles. When both businesses are performing wellas we believe is within reach in 2024they can deliver dramatic growth and strong results for all stakeholders, concluded Boone. Second Quarter 2023 Results Contract revenues of $182.5 million increased 14.7% sequentially and decreased 6.2% from $194.6 million in the second quarter last year, primarily due to our decision to exit the unprofitable concrete business in central Texas, partially offset by an increase in marine segment revenue primarily related to the Pearl Harbor, Hawaii drydock project. Gross profit was $13.8 million or 7.6% of revenue down from $14.3 million or 7.4% of revenue in the second quarter of 2022. The increase in gross profit margin was primarily driven by margin improvements in the concrete business, partially offset by lower equipment and labor utilization in our marine segment as compared to the prior year period. Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $18.1 million, up 5.1% from $17.2 million in the comparable period. As a percentage of total contract revenues, SG&A expenses increased to 9.9% from 8.9%, primarily due to lower revenues in the second quarter. The increase in SG&A dollars reflected an increase in compensation expense for key new hires, partially offset by lower consulting expense related to the completion of the management transition. Net loss for the second quarter was $0.3 million or $0.01 per diluted share compared to a net loss of $3.1 million or $0.10 per diluted share year-over-year. The second quarter 2023 net loss included $4.3 million ($0.13 diluted loss per share) of non-recurring items. Second quarter 2023 adjusted net loss was $4.5 million ($0.14 diluted loss per share). EBITDA for the second quarter of 2023 was $7.6 million, representing a 4.2% EBITDA margin, as compared to EBITDA of $3.3 million, or a 1.7% EBITDA margin in the second quarter last year. Adjusted for non-recurring items, EBITDA for the second quarter of 2023 was $3.7 million, representing a 2.0% adjusted EBITDA margin, as compared to adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2022 of $5.7 million, representing a 2.9% adjusted EBITDA margin. Backlog Total backlog at June 30, 2023 was $818.7 million, compared to $467.4 million at March 31, 2023 and $603.2 million at June 30, 2022 due in substantial part to the award of the Hawaii contract. Backlog for the Marine segment was $614.9 million, compared to $187.0 million at March 31, 2023 and $281.0 million at June 30, 2022. Backlog for the Concrete segment was $203.8 million, compared to $280.4 million at March 31, 2023 and $322.2 million at June 30, 2022. In addition, the Company has been awarded $84 million in new project work not included in backlog at the end of the quarter. Recent Wins Orion was awarded two additional contracts totaling $45 million for work that will be performed in 2023, both contracts from the Army Corps of Engineers. The first is a $27 million contract for dredging in Texas. The second is an $18 million contract for dredging in Louisiana. Balance Sheet Update As of June 30, 2023, current assets were $226.7 million, including unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $8.9 million. Total debt outstanding as of June 30, 2023 was $36.9 million. At the end of the quarter, the Company had no outstanding revolver draws. Conference Call Details Orion Group Holdings will host a conference call to discuss results for the second quarter 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time/8:00 a.m. Central Time on Thursday, July 27, 2023. To participate, please dial (800) 715-9871 and ask for the Orion Group Holdings Conference Call. A live audio webcast of the call will also be available on the Investor Relations section of Orions website at https://www.oriongroupholdingsinc.com/investor/ and will be archived for replay. About Orion Group Holdings Orion Group Holdings, Inc., a leading specialty construction company serving the infrastructure, industrial and building sectors, provides services both on and off the water in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and the Caribbean Basin through its marine segment and its concrete segment. The Companys marine segment provides construction and dredging services relating to marine transportation facility construction, marine pipeline construction, marine environmental structures, dredging of waterways, channels and ports, environmental dredging, design, and specialty services. Its concrete segment provides turnkey concrete construction services including place and finish, site prep, layout, forming, and rebar placement for large commercial, structural and other associated business areas. The Company is headquartered in Houston, Texas with regional offices throughout its operating areas. https://www.oriongroupholdingsinc.com. Backlog Definition Backlog consists of projects under contract that have either (a) not been started, or (b) are in progress but are not yet complete. The Company cannot guarantee that the revenue implied by its backlog will be realized, or, if realized, will result in earnings. Backlog can fluctuate from period to period due to the timing and execution of contracts. The typical duration of the Companys projects ranges from three to nine months on shorter projects to multiple years on larger projects. The Company's backlog at any point in time includes both revenue it expects to realize during the next twelve-month period as well as revenue it expects to realize in future years. Non-GAAP Financial Measures This press release includes the financial measures adjusted net income/loss, adjusted earnings/loss per share, EBITDA, "Adjusted EBITDA" and Adjusted EBITDA margin." These measurements are non-GAAP financial measures under rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Regulation G. The non-GAAP financial information may be determined or calculated differently by other companies. By reporting such non-GAAP financial information, the Company does not intend to give such information greater prominence than comparable GAAP financial information. Investors are urged to consider these non-GAAP measures in addition to and not in substitute for measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted net income/loss and adjusted earnings/loss per share are not an alternative to net income/loss or earnings/loss per share. Adjusted net income/loss and adjusted earnings/loss per share exclude certain items that management believes impairs a meaningful comparison of operating results. The Company believes these adjusted financial measures are a useful adjunct to earnings/loss calculated in accordance with GAAP because management uses adjusted net income/loss available to common stockholders to evaluate the Company's operational trends and performance relative to other companies. Generally, items excluded are one-time items or items whose timing or amount cannot be reasonably estimated. Accordingly, any guidance provided by the Company generally excludes information regarding these types of items. Orion Group Holdings defines EBITDA as net income/loss before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adjusting EBITDA for certain items that management believes impairs a meaningful comparison of operating results. Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA for the period by contract revenues for the period. The GAAP financial measure that is most directly comparable to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is net income, while the GAAP financial measure that is most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA margin is operating margin, which represents operating income divided by contract revenues. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are used internally to evaluate current operating expense, operating efficiency, and operating profitability on a variable cost basis, by excluding the depreciation and amortization expenses, primarily related to capital expenditures and acquisitions, and net interest and tax expenses. Additionally, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin provide useful information regarding the Company's ability to meet future debt service and working capital requirements while providing an overall evaluation of the Company's financial condition. In addition, EBITDA is used internally for incentive compensation purposes. The Company includes EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin to provide transparency to investors as they are commonly used by investors and others in assessing performance. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin have certain limitations as analytical tools and should not be used as a substitute for operating margin, net income, cash flows, or other data prepared in accordance with GAAP, or as a measure of the Company's profitability or liquidity. Forward-Looking Statements The matters discussed in this press release may constitute or include projections or other forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, of which provisions the Company is availing itself. Certain forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as 'believes', 'expects', 'may', 'will', 'could', 'should', 'seeks', 'approximately', 'intends', 'plans', 'estimates', or 'anticipates', or the negative thereof or other comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, intentions, estimates, forecasts, outlook, assumptions, or goals. In particular, statements regarding future operations or results, including those set forth in this press release, and any other statement, express or implied, concerning future operating results or the future generation of or ability to generate revenues, income, net income, gross profit, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, or cash flow, including to service debt, and including any estimates, forecasts or assumptions regarding future revenues or revenue growth, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also include project award announcements, estimated project start dates, anticipated revenues, and contract options which may or may not be awarded in the future. Forward-looking statements involve risks, including those associated with the Company's fixed price contracts that impacts profits, unforeseen productivity delays that may alter the final profitability of the contract, cancellation of the contract by the customer for unforeseen reasons, delays or decreases in funding by the customer, levels and predictability of government funding or other governmental budgetary constraints, and any potential contract options which may or may not be awarded in the future, and are at the sole discretion of award by the customer. Past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future results. In light of these and other uncertainties, the inclusion of forward-looking statements in this press release should not be regarded as a representation by the Company that the Company's plans, estimates, forecasts, goals, intentions, or objectives will be achieved or realized. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update information contained in this press release whether as a result of new developments or otherwise, except as required by law. Please refer to the Company's 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 16, 2023, which is available on its website at www.oriongroupholdingsinc.com or at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov , for additional and more detailed discussion of risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations, estimates or forecasts. Contacts: Financial Profiles, Inc. Margaret Boyce 310-622-8247 orn@finprofiles.com Orion Group Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Statements of Operations (In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Information) (Unaudited) Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Contract revenues 182,534 194,575 341,708 369,506 Costs of contract revenues 168,748 180,244 322,082 342,359 Gross profit 13,786 14,331 19,626 27,147 Selling, general and administrative expenses 18,119 17,233 35,136 33,403 Amortization of intangible assets 162 310 324 620 Gain on disposal of assets, net (6,534 ) (364 ) (7,230 ) (1,173 ) Operating income (loss) 2,039 (2,848 ) (8,604 ) (5,703 ) Other (expense) income: Other income 250 55 543 99 Interest income 41 16 69 35 Interest expense (2,627 ) (958 ) (4,260 ) (1,698 ) Other expense, net (2,336 ) (887 ) (3,648 ) (1,564 ) Loss before income taxes (297 ) (3,735 ) (12,252 ) (7,267 ) Income tax (benefit) expense (42 ) (681 ) 598 643 Net loss $ (255 ) $ (3,054 ) $ (12,850 ) $ (7,910 ) Basic loss per share $ (0.01 ) $ (0.10 ) $ (0.40 ) $ (0.26 ) Diluted loss per share $ (0.01 ) $ (0.10 ) $ (0.40 ) $ (0.26 ) Shares used to compute loss per share: Basic 32,290,392 30,949,298 32,235,842 30,960,277 Diluted 32,290,392 30,949,298 32,235,842 30,960,277 Orion Group Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Selected Results of Operations (In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Information) (Unaudited) Three months ended June 30, 2023 2022 Amount Percent Amount Percent (dollar amounts in thousands) Contract revenues Marine segment Public sector $ 79,171 78.7 % $ 52,280 63.5 % Private sector 21,372 21.3 % 30,039 36.5 % Marine segment total $ 100,543 100.0 % $ 82,319 100.0 % Concrete segment Public sector $ 6,261 7.6 % $ 7,505 6.7 % Private sector 75,730 92.4 % 104,751 93.3 % Concrete segment total $ 81,991 100.0 % $ 112,256 100.0 % Total $ 182,534 $ 194,575 Operating income (loss) Marine segment $ 3,492 3.5 % $ 2,516 3.1 % Concrete segment (1,453 ) (1.8 ) % (5,364 ) (4.8 ) % Total $ 2,039 $ (2,848 ) Six months ended June 30, 2023 2022 Amount Percent Amount Percent (dollar amounts in thousands) Contract revenues Marine segment Public sector $ 132,669 73.8 % $ 109,588 65.7 % Private sector 47,172 26.2 % 57,211 34.3 % Marine segment total $ 179,841 100.0 % $ 166,799 100.0 % Concrete segment Public sector $ 9,688 6.0 % $ 12,998 6.4 % Private sector 152,179 94.0 % 189,709 93.6 % Concrete segment total $ 161,867 100.0 % $ 202,707 100.0 % Total $ 341,708 $ 369,506 Operating (loss) income Marine segment $ (2,588 ) (1.4 ) % $ 4,356 2.6 % Concrete segment (6,016 ) (3.7 ) % (10,059 ) (5.0 ) % Total $ (8,604 ) $ (5,703 ) Orion Group Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income (Loss) (In thousands except per share information) (Unaudited) Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net loss $ (255 ) $ (3,054 ) $ (12,850 ) $ (7,910 ) One-time charges and the tax effects: Net gain on Port Lavaca South Yard property sale (5,202 ) (5,202 ) ERP implementation 310 323 496 1,229 Professional fees related to management transition 394 808 Severance 24 867 126 940 Tax rate applied to one-time charges (1) 584 (809 ) 550 (96 ) Total one-time charges and the tax effects (4,284 ) 775 (4,030 ) 2,881 Federal and state tax valuation allowances 13 1,362 2,070 878 Adjusted net loss $ (4,526 ) $ (917 ) $ (14,810 ) $ (4,151 ) Adjusted EPS $ (0.14 ) $ (0.03 ) $ (0.46 ) $ (0.13 ) ________________________________ (1) Items are taxed discretely using the Company's effective tax rate which differs from the Companys statutory federal rate primarily due to state income taxes and the non-deductibility of other permanent items. Orion Group Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin Reconciliations (In Thousands, Except Margin Data) (Unaudited) Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net loss $ (255 ) $ (3,054 ) $ (12,850 ) $ (7,910 ) Income tax (benefit) expense (42 ) (681 ) 598 643 Interest expense, net 2,586 942 4,191 1,663 Depreciation and amortization 5,343 6,098 10,789 12,361 EBITDA (1) 7,632 3,305 2,728 6,757 Stock-based compensation 945 794 1,469 1,164 Net gain on Port Lavaca South Yard property sale (5,202 ) (5,202 ) ERP implementation 310 323 496 1,229 Professional fees related to management transition 394 808 Severance 24 867 126 940 Adjusted EBITDA(2) $ 3,709 $ 5,683 $ (383 ) $ 10,898 Operating income margin 1.1 % (1.5 ) % (2.5 ) % (1.5 ) % Impact of other income 0.1 % 0.1 % 0.2 % % Impact of depreciation and amortization 2.9 % 3.1 % 3.2 % 3.3 % Impact of stock-based compensation 0.5 % 0.4 % 0.4 % 0.3 % Impact on net gain on Port Lavaca South Yard property sale (2.8 ) % % (1.5 ) % % Impact of ERP implementation 0.2 % 0.2 % 0.1 % 0.3 % Impact of professional fees related to management transition % 0.2 % % 0.2 % Impact of severance % 0.4 % % 0.3 % Adjusted EBITDA margin(2) 2.0 % 2.9 % (0.1 ) % 2.9 % ________________________________ (1) EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. (2) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that represents EBITDA adjusted for stock-based compensation, ERP implementation, professional fees related to management transition and severance. Adjusted EBITDA margin is a non-GAAP measure calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by contract revenues. Orion Group Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin Reconciliations by Segment (In Thousands, Except Margin Data) (Unaudited) Marine Concrete Three months ended Three months ended June 30, June 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Operating income (loss) 3,492 2,516 (1,453 ) (5,364 ) Other income 250 55 Depreciation and amortization 3,812 4,236 1,531 1,862 EBITDA (1) 7,554 6,807 78 (3,502 ) Stock-based compensation 923 768 22 26 Net gain on Port Lavaca South Yard property sale (5,202 ) ERP implementation 168 117 142 206 Professional fees related to management transition 165 229 Severance 2 867 22 Adjusted EBITDA(2) $ 3,445 $ 8,724 $ 264 $ (3,041 ) Operating income (loss) margin 3.5 % 3.1 % (1.9 ) % (4.8 ) % Impact of other income 0.2 % 0.1 % % % Impact of depreciation and amortization 3.8 % 5.1 % 2.0 % 1.7 % Impact of stock-based compensation 0.9 % 0.9 % % % Impact on net gain on Port Lavaca South Yard property sale (5.2 ) % % % % Impact of ERP implementation 0.2 % 0.1 % 0.2 % 0.2 % Impact of professional fees related to management transition % 0.2 % % 0.2 % Impact of severance % 1.1 % % % Adjusted EBITDA margin (2) 3.4 % 10.6 % 0.3 % (2.7 ) % Marine Concrete Six months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Operating(loss) income (2,588 ) 4,356 (6,016 ) (10,059 ) Other income 543 99 Depreciation and amortization 7,647 8,559 3,142 3,802 EBITDA (1) 5,602 13,014 (2,874 ) (6,257 ) Stock-based compensation 1,442 1,111 27 53 Net gain on Port Lavaca South Yard property sale (5,202 ) ERP implementation 261 555 235 674 Professional fees related to management transition 365 443 Severance 38 940 88 Adjusted EBITDA(2) $ 2,141 $ 15,985 $ (2,524 ) $ (5,087 ) Operating (loss) income margin (1.4 ) % 2.6 % (3.6 ) % (5.0 ) % Impact of other income 0.3 % 0.1 % % % Impact of depreciation and amortization 4.3 % 5.1 % 1.8 % 2.0 % Impact of stock-based compensation 0.8 % 0.7 % % % Impact on net gain on Port Lavaca South Yard property sale (2.9 ) % % % % Impact of ERP implementation 0.1 % 0.3 % 0.1 % 0.3 % Impact of professional fees related to management transition % 0.2 % % 0.2 % Impact of severance % 0.6 % 0.1 % % Adjusted EBITDA margin (2) 1.2 % 9.6 % (1.6 ) % (2.5 ) % ________________________________ (1) EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. (2) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that represents EBITDA adjusted for stock-based compensation, ERP implementation, professional fees related to management transition and severance. Adjusted EBITDA margin is a non-GAAP measure calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by contract revenues. Orion Group Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Statements of Cash Flows Summarized (In Thousands) (Unaudited) Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net loss $ (255 ) $ (3,054 ) $ (12,850 ) $ (7,910 ) Adjustments to remove non-cash and non-operating items 1,511 8,018 8,179 15,069 Cash flow from net loss after adjusting for non-cash and non-operating items 1,256 4,964 (4,671 ) 7,159 Change in operating assets and liabilities (working capital) (10,199 ) (3,348 ) (7,305 ) 4,517 Cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities $ (8,943 ) $ 1,616 $ (11,976 ) $ 11,676 Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities $ 10,700 $ (4,148 ) $ 9,400 $ (6,958 ) Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities $ 5,823 $ 3,895 $ 9,217 $ (8,922 ) Capital expenditures (included in investing activities above) $ (2,052 ) $ (4,478 ) $ (3,928 ) $ (8,001 ) Orion Group Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (In Thousands) (Unaudited) Six months ended June 30, 2023 2022 Cash flows from operating activities Net loss $ (12,850 ) $ (7,910 ) Adjustments to reconcile net Loss to net cash used in operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 9,314 10,815 Amortization of ROU operating leases 2,464 2,459 Amortization of ROU finance leases 1,475 1,546 Write-off of debt issuance costs upon debt modification 119 Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs 537 161 Deferred income taxes 5 41 Stock-based compensation 1,469 1,164 Gain on disposal of assets, net (7,230 ) (1,173 ) Allowance for credit losses 26 56 Change in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (10,068 ) (23,158 ) Inventory (309 ) (664 ) Prepaid expenses and other 2,794 5,050 Contract assets 8,954 1,511 Accounts payable (12,495 ) 25,363 Accrued liabilities 3,188 (2,266 ) Operating lease liabilities (2,495 ) (2,317 ) Income tax payable 176 192 Contract liabilities 3,146 879 Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities (11,976 ) 11,676 Cash flows from investing activities: Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 13,328 1,043 Purchase of property and equipment (3,928 ) (8,001 ) Net cash used in investing activities 9,400 (6,958 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Borrowings on credit 57,822 5,000 Payments made on borrowings on credit (54,960 ) (11,742 ) Proceeds from sale-leaseback arrangement 14,140 Loan costs from Credit Facility (5,978 ) (611 ) Payments of finance lease liabilities (1,618 ) (1,472 ) Purchase of vested stock-based awards (189 ) (97 ) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 9,217 (8,922 ) Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 6,641 (4,204 ) Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 3,784 12,293 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $ 10,425 $ 8,089 The China-UK conference on green, low carbon and remanufacturing industry development was held on Monday in Cangzhou City, north China's Hebei Province. More than 200 scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry association representatives from China and the UK attended the conference. The representatives expressed their full expectations for the development of remanufacturing industry in China, and hoped to cooperate with Chinese enterprises in related fields. WINNIPEG, Manitoba, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DELTA 9 CANNABIS INC. (TSX: DN) (OTC: DLTNF) (Delta 9 or the Company) is pleased to provide guidance on its revenue forecast for the three- and six-month period ending June 30, 2023 based on preliminary results: The Company anticipates revenue for the three-month period ending June 30, 2023, to be between $18.2 million and $18.8 million compared with; $16.9 million for the first quarter of 2023. $17.5 million for the second quarter of 2022. The Company anticipates revenue for the six-month period ending June 30, 2023, to be between $35.1 million and $35.7 million compared with $30.0 million for the second quarter of 2022. Sequentially and year over year, Delta 9 anticipates another quarter with all three business units contributing to the success of a record quarter, said John Arbuthnot, Co-founder, and CEO of Delta 9. We remain optimistic that the rest of 2023 will continue to outperform the first half of the year for Delta 9. Delta 9 will provide investors with a full breakdown of our revenue and financial results as part of the second quarter news release which will be issued on August 14, 2023, after markets close. This will be followed by a conference call the following day on August 15, 2023, the details of which can be found at the end of this release. The preliminary estimated revenues for the three-month period ended June 30, 2023, set forth above are subject to the completion of the Company's financial closing procedures. These preliminary estimated financial results have been prepared by and are the responsibility of the Company's management. The Company currently expects that its final results for revenue will be consistent with the estimates set forth above, but such estimates are preliminary, and the Companys actual results of operations and other data could differ materially from these estimates due to the completion of its financial closing procedures, final adjustments and other developments that may arise between now and the time such consolidated financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2023 are issued. 2023 Second Quarter Results Conference Call Delta 9 will release results for the second quarter of 2023 on August 14, 2023, after markets close. A conference call to discuss the above results is scheduled for August 15, 2023. The conference call will be hosted that day at 11:00 am Eastern Time by John Arbuthnot, Chief Executive Officer, and Jim Lawson, Chief Financial Officer, followed by a question-and-answer period. DATE: August 15, 2023 TIME: 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time Dial in # 1-888-886-7786 REPLAY: 877-674-6060 Available until 12:00 midnight Eastern Time, September 15, 2023 Replay passcode: 823449 # For more information contact: Investor & Media Contact: Ian Chadsey VP Corporate Affairs Mobile: 204-898-7722 E-mail: ian.chadsey@delta9.ca About Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. is a vertically integrated cannabis company focused on bringing the highest quality cannabis products to market. The Company sells cannabis products through its wholesale and retail sales channels and sells its cannabis grow pods to other businesses. Delta 9's wholly-owned subsidiary, Delta 9 Bio-Tech Inc., is a licensed producer of medical and recreational cannabis and operates an 95,000 square foot production facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Delta 9 owns and operates a chain of retail stores under the Delta 9 Cannabis Store brand. Delta 9's shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "DN" and on the OTC under the symbol DLTNF. For more information, please visit www.delta9.ca. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding the Companys future business plans and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Forward looking statements in this news release include statements relating to Delta 9s financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including the Companys actual financial results being different from its estimates as well as all risk factors set forth in the annual information form of Delta 9 dated March 30, 2023 which has been filed on SEDAR. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. (All amounts expressed in US. Dollars unless otherwise stated) TORONTO, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Torex Gold Resources Inc. (the Company or Torex) (TSX: TXG) provides the third quarterly update on the development of its Media Luna Project (Media Luna). Unless otherwise stated, progress and milestones referenced in this press release are as of June 30, 2023. Jody Kuzenko, President & CEO of Torex, stated: Development activities related to the Media Luna Project continued to advance well during Q2 with the project remaining on budget and on schedule. At quarter-end, Media Luna was 35% complete across engineering, procurement, underground development, and surface construction. With $143.6 million of expenditures incurred through H1 and the quarterly spend rate expected to increase further, full year guided expenditures are trending towards the lower end of the guided range of $390 million to $440 million. As of June 30th, 45% of upfront project expenditures had been committed or incurred. Detailed engineering and procurement activities increased materially during the quarter, with several key purchase orders awarded, the most significant being the battery electric mining fleet for production support and personnel transport, as well as the ball mill motors equipped with variable frequency drives. In addition, we awarded the vertical development and underground construction contract, and the contractor is now mobilizing to site. Work to expedite the paste plant filter presses has been successful in pulling the delivery dates forward by one month, while efforts to expedite the schedule critical underground electrical equipment to mitigate schedule risk are ongoing. The Guajes Tunnel has advanced 4,500 metres with breakthrough on track for early Q1 2024, if not earlier. At South Portal Lower, the main spiral ramp was completed post-quarter end and the primary tunnel has advanced 2,075 metres. Civil works on both sides of the Balsas River continued during the quarter, and concrete installation will commence as the site-wide concrete contractor is selected. With development activities tracking to plan, robust financial liquidity, and strong ongoing cash flow from El Limon Guajes, we are well positioned physically and financially to deliver Media Luna on time and on budget, with first concentrate production in Q4 2024 and commercial production in early 2025. CAPITAL EXPENDITURES Total upfront expenditures related to the development of Media Luna are tracking to the initial estimate of $874.5 million. As at quarter-end, Torex had incurred $268.3 million of project period expenditures (31% to date) with $395.9 million of expenditures committed or incurred (45% to date). Table 1: Media Luna Project Project Expenditures (April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023) Millions of U.S. dollars Project To Date Q2 2023 Project expenditures per 2022 Technical Report $848.4 Adjustment for Q1 2022 underspend $26.1 Total budgeted spend post March 31, 2022 $874.5 Expenditures incurred post March 31, 2022 ($268.3) Remaining spend $606.2 Committed expenditures (inclusive of total project expenditures incurred to date) $395.9 Uncommitted expenditures $478.6 1) Project period commenced on April 1, 2022; excludes capital expenditures incurred prior to Board approval on March 31, 2022. 2) Project period is defined as April 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024. 3) Excludes borrowing costs capitalized. The Company has guided $390 to $440 million of capital expenditures related to the development of the Media Luna Project in 2023 ($143.6 million accrued during H1 including $77.2 million in Q2). Quarterly expenditures are expected to increase in H2 2023, and remain relatively consistent through H1 2024, before declining as development activities wind down ahead of commercial production, which is anticipated in early 2025. More detail on the Media Luna Project, including the feasibility study results, can be found in the Companys most recent Technical Report dated effective March 16, 2022, filed on March 31, 2022 (Technical Report). PROJECT COMPLETION As at quarter-end, development of Media Luna was tracking to plan, with the project 35% complete, up from 24% at the end of Q1 2023. Detailed engineering is at the 60% completion mark, while procurement is 48% complete, with a majority of the schedule critical purchase orders either awarded, or soon to be awarded. Based on the current schedule, first concentrate production is on track for late-2024. Table 2: Media Luna Project Project Completion (April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023) Project To Date Q2 2023 Procurement 48% Engineering 60% Underground development/construction 33% Surface construction 27% Total Project 35% Notes to Table 1) Physical progress measured starting as of April 1, 2022; excludes progress made prior to Board approval on March 31, 2022. 2) Project period is defined as April 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024. 3) Total Project is weighted average based on activity levels. Procurement During the quarter, the Company executed numerous key purchase orders including the paste plant conveyors and hoppers, underground material handling transfer conveyors, rubber lined pipe spools for the tailings system feeding the paste plant, and additional camp modules to accommodate our underground construction contractor. For the surface plant, key orders included medium voltage switchgear, pad mounted transformers, air compressors, concrete reinforcing steel to initiate foundation installation next quarter, and most notably the ball mill motors with variable frequency drives. Orders were also finalized with Maclean for our battery electric vehicle (BEV) production support equipment and with Rokion for our BEV personnel transport equipment. With respect to contracts, both the vertical development and underground construction contract evaluations were completed and awarded on a combined basis to an already well established Torex contractor, with a view to creating cost and productivity synergies. Contractor mobilization has commenced. Engineering The pace of detailed engineering increased during the second quarter and continues to support procurement activities. Key engineering activities included detailing of the underground ore and waste handling infrastructure, advancement of electrical supply and distribution systems within the mine considering the selected BEV vendors fleet requirements. For the surface facilities, final foundation designs for the water treatment plant and flotation plant were issued and steel detailing was initiated with a view to advancing fabrication. Electrical foundations and layout designs were submitted and reviewed with the federal power regulator CFE, with the overall design and installation of the 115 kV and 230 kV systems and associated infrastructure advancing to plan. Underground Development and Construction Steady progress was made in advancing the Guajes Tunnel and South Portal Lower. Breakthrough of the Guajes Tunnel on the south side of the Balsas River remains on track for Q1 2024, if not earlier. Delivery of the Guajes conveyor table segments began during this period as well as preparation of the tunnel for conveyor anchor installation next quarter. As of the end of June, the Guajes Tunnel had advanced 4,500 metres and South Portal Lower had advanced 2,075 metres. Development of the main Media Luna Lower spiral ramp continued and was completed in mid-July. This crew then moved to advancing infrastructure excavation in the lower part of the mine in preparation for the arrival of the underground construction crews, all of which was enabled by the excellent progress of the Guajes development crews. With this work complete post-quarter end, the development crew will now commence advancing the Guajes Tunnel from south to north. Figure 1: Breakthrough of Guajes Tunnel on schedule for early Q1 2024 (advance rates as at end of June) Steady progress was also made on ventilation and in-mine development during the quarter. The first 112 metre ventilation raise was completed in Media Luna Upper and the second 175 metre raise pilot was started. As of the end of June, there were eighteen active headings, including six in Media Luna Lower and twelve in Media Luna Upper. Development across all headings continues to advance well, with high monthly development rates achieved as ground conditions are excellent. Surface Construction On the north side of the Balsas River, civil works for the water treatment plant were completed as well as rough grading for the 230 kV substation with concrete foundations planned to start next quarter. The expanded laydown area in Atzcala began receiving large equipment such as the 100 cubic metre Cu flotation cells and Guajes conveyor table segments. Additional camp modules to house project staff were also installed. Extension of the main water management culvert below the area of the new flotation plant and Cu concentrate storage facilities were significantly advanced, allowing remaining mass civil works to begin. Relocation of the power distribution and installation of new buried power conduits around the flotation plant are expected to be completed early next quarter allowing preparation for the start of the plant concrete foundations and slab on grade. On the south side of the Balsas River, expansion of the construction camp pad continued, and work began on the foundation preparation for the new kitchen and project office areas. Slope remediation of the South Portal access road was completed which allowed for advancing the construction of both the south sedimentation and decant pond dams. Final slope reinforcement of the west paste plant wall excavation was completed and grading of the backup generator area for foundation work to start next quarter was completed. Work advanced well on both the Mazapa San Miguel bypass road, which received final regulatory clearance (archeological), and the Mazapa bridge, which will be in place by Q4 2023 to accept deliveries of larger equipment related to both the paste plant construction and the underground construction. Operational Readiness In parallel with development and construction activities, the surface and underground operational readiness strategy is progressing to plan. Operational readiness teams are accountable for ensuring that processes and systems for all new work areas are established and ready in advance of the handover from the project team to operations. This includes workforce transition planning and training (hiring for roles has commenced with initial job-specific training expected to start shortly), developing the operating strategy (including all standard operating procedures), maintenance plans for all fixed and mobile equipment, blend and feed strategies, detailed commissioning plans, first fills, concentrate shipment logistics, and all other requirements to ensure a smooth ramp up to commercial production in Q1 2025. PROJECT EXECUTION PLAN Based on progress made during Q2 2023, and a detailed review of both the surface and underground schedules completed late in the quarter, the overall project execution plan is unchanged compared to the prior plan outlined within the inaugural Media Luna update press release published on February 9, 2023, with some potential movement within the plan as set out below. Figure 2: Project execution plan for the Media Luna Project Initiatives to expedite the delivery of the paste plant filter presses are progressing and the delivery schedule has been improved by one month since the last update. The Company is also working to expedite the underground electrical equipment to reduce schedule risk given delivery times for the underground electrical equipment are some of the longest for the project. Plans for the installation of the early Phase 1 FeS flotation circuit and water treatment plant have been adjusted. Given the Companys success with reducing cyanide consumption levels over the last 18 months, the business benefits of a single schedule for construction and commissioning the FeS circuit and water treatment plant at the same time as the Cu flotation circuit outweighed the benefits to landing the FeS circuit early. In terms of underground development, schedule gains have been made since the last update. The current project plan relative to the Technical Report reflects the Companys estimates for the completion of key project deliverables. These updated deliverables have not impacted the overall project schedule given the original plan had assumed the potential for schedule adjustments and the possibility for supply chain disruptions. ABOUT TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC. Torex is an intermediate gold producer based in Canada, engaged in the exploration, development, and operation of its 100% owned Morelos Property, an area of 29,000 hectares in the highly prospective Guerrero Gold Belt located 180 kilometres southwest of Mexico City. The Companys principal asset is the Morelos Complex, which includes the El Limon Guajes (ELG) Mine Complex, the Media Luna Project, a processing plant and related infrastructure. Commercial production from the Morelos Complex commenced on April 1, 2016 and an updated Technical Report for the Morelos Complex was released in March 2022. Torexs key strategic objectives are to optimize and extend production from the ELG Mine Complex, de-risk and advance Media Luna to commercial production, build on ESG excellence, and to grow through ongoing exploration across the entire Morelos Property. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC. Jody Kuzenko Dan Rollins President and CEO Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations Direct: (647) 725-9982 Direct: (647) 260-1503 jody.kuzenko@torexgold.com dan.rollins@torexgold.com QUALIFIED PERSON The technical and scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Dave Stefanuto, P. Eng, Executive Vice President, Technical Services and Capital Projects of the Company, and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101. CAUTIONARY NOTES ON FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements that: development activities related to the Media Luna Project continued to advance well during Q2 with the Project remaining on budget and on schedule; with $143.6 million of expenditures incurred through H1 and the quarterly spend rate expected to increase further, full year guided expenditures are trending towards the lower end of the guided range of $390 million to $440 million; the Guajes Tunnel has advanced 4,500 metres with breakthrough on track for early Q1 2024, if not earlier; with development activities tracking to plan, robust financial liquidity, and strong ongoing cash flow from El Limon Guajes, the Company is well positioned physically and financially to deliver Media Luna on time and on budget, with first concentrate production in Q4 2024 and commercial production in early 2025; total upfront expenditures related to the development of Media Luna are tracking to the initial estimate of $874.5 million; quarterly expenditures are expected to increase in H2 2023, and remain relatively consistent through H1 2024, before declining as development activities wind down ahead of commercial production, which is anticipated in early 2025; as at quarter-end, development of Media Luna was tracking to plan; based on the current schedule, first concentrate production is on track for late-2024; overall design and installation of the 115 kV and 230 kV systems and associated infrastructure advancing to plan; relocation of the power distribution and installation of new buried power conduits around the flotation plant is expected to be completed early next quarter allowing preparation for the start of the plant concrete foundations and slab on grade; the Mazapa Bridge will be in place by Q4 2023 to accept deliveries of larger equipment related to both the paste plant construction and the underground construction; the surface and underground operational readiness strategy is progressing to plan; the overall project execution plan; the current project plan relative to the Technical Report reflects the Companys estimates for the completion of key project deliverables; and the Companys key strategic objectives are to optimize and extend production from the ELG Mining Complex, de-risk and advance Media Luna to commercial production, build on ESG excellence, and to grow through ongoing exploration across the entire Morelos Property. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as expect, plan, strategy, schedule, anticipate, guide, continue, forecast, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results will occur or are on track to occur. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties identified in the technical report (Technical Report) titled ELG Mine Complex Life of Mine Plan and Media Luna Feasibility Study, with an effective date of March 16, 2022, and a filing date of March 31, 2022 and in the Companys annual information form (AIF) and managements discussion and analysis (MD&A) or other unknown but potentially significant impacts. Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analyses and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments as set out in the Technical Report, AIF and MD&A, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date such statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fd8df85a-7939-44fc-9d46-1a834b44bac0 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0e63fcb6-7869-41f0-86cc-49ed244a2445 Perth, July 26, 2023 - JUNE 2023 QUARTER REPORT Perseus exceeds gold production and cost guidance for FY23 and H2 FY23; Cash and bullion increased to US$522M PERTH, Western Australia/ July 26, 2023/Perseus Mining Ltd. ("Perseus" or the "Company") (TSX & ASX: PRU) reports on its activities for the three months' period ended June 30, 2023 (the "Quarter"). Key Operating highlights for the June 2023 quarter, the June 2023 Half Year and the full 2023 Financial Year include: PERFORMANCE INDICATOR UNIT MARCH 2023 QUARTER JUNE 2023 QUARTER JUNE 2023 HALF YEAR 2023 FINANCIAL YEAR Gold recovered Ounces 130,275 136,634 266,909 535,281 Gold poured Ounces 130,512 137,586 268,098 538,642 Production Cost US$/ounce 831 811 820 820 All-In Site Cost (AISC) US$/ounce 971 1,007 989 959 Gold sales Ounces 135,111 140,533 275,644 537,564 Average sales price US$/ounce 1,821 1,933 1,878 1,803 Cash margin US$/ounce 850 926 889 844 Notional Cashflow US$ million 111 127 238 452 Quarterly gold production of 136,634 ounces at AISC of US$1,007 per ounce and cash margin of US$926 per ounce. Gold production and AISC significantly outperformed market production and cost guidance for June 2023 Half Year and 2023 Financial Year. Quarterly gold sales of 140,533 ounces, up 4% (+5,422 ounces) from the March 2023 quarter. Average sale price of gold was US$1,933 per ounce, up 6% (+US$112 per ounce) from the March 2023 quarter. Average cash margin of US$926 per ounce of gold sold up 9% (+US$76 per ounce) from the March 2023 quarter. Notional cashflow of US$127 million during the quarter, up 14% (+US$16 million) from the March 2023 quarter. Group rolling 12-month TRIFR remained stable at 1.20. Strong quarterly cashflows further strengthened Perseus's financial position with available cash and bullion of US$522 million with zero debt. Net cash and bullion balance increased US$51 million from the March 2023 quarter. Organic growth activities including Mineral Resource drill outs and feasibility studies at Yaoure's CMA Underground Project progressed on schedule. Results due in the September 2023 quarter. Perseus's total economic contribution to its host countries?of Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire and Sudan was ~US$158 million (approximately 58% of revenue) during the quarter. Pre-development activities at Meyas Sand Gold Project (MSGP) in Sudan suspended due to security concerns, with FID originally planned for the December 2023 Half Year now deferred. Group Gold Production and Cost Market Guidance Group gold production and AISCs for the December 2023 Half Year and the 2023 Calendar Year are as shown below in Table 10. Table 10: Production and Cost Guidance PARAMETER UNITS JUNE 2023 HALF YEAR (ACTUAL) DECEMBER 2023 HALF YEAR (FORECAST) 2023 CALENDAR YEAR (FORECAST) Yaoure Gold Mine Production Ounces 137,120 125,000 to 140,000 262,100 to 277,120 All-in Site Cost USD per ounce 786 850 to 950 818 to 864 Sissingue Gold Mine Production Ounces 25,838 27,500 to 32,500 53,338 to 58,338 All-in Site Cost USD per ounce 1,647 1,700 to 1,900 1,677 to 1,777 Edikan Gold Mine Production Ounces 103,952 90,000 to 100,000 193,952 to 203,952 All-in Site Cost USD per ounce 1,094 1,200 to 1,300 1146 to 1190 PERSEUS GROUP Production Ounces 266,909 242,500 to 272,500 509,409 to 539,500 All-in Site Cost USD per ounce 989 1,080 to 1,190 1,035 to 1,085 Competent Person Statement All production targets referred to in this report are underpinned by estimated Ore Reserves which have been prepared by competent persons in accordance with the requirements of the JORC Code. Edikan The information in this report that relates to the Esuajah South Underground Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve was first reported by the Company in a market announcement "Perseus Mining Updates Mineral Resources & Ore Reserves" released on 24 August 2021. The information in this report that relates to Esuajah North Mineral Resources estimate was first reported by the Company in a market announcement "Perseus Updates Resources & Reserves" released on 28 August 2018. The information in this report that relates to AF Gap Mineral Resources and Ore Reserve estimate was first reported by the Company in a market announcement "Perseus Updates Mineral Resources & Ore Reserves" released on 25 August 2020. The information in this report that relates to the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimates for the Fetish deposit and the Heap Leach was first reported by the Company in a market announcement "Perseus Updates Edikan Mineral Resource & Ore Reserves" released on 19 February 2020. The information in this report that relates to the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimates for the Nkosuo deposit was first reported by the Company in a market announcement "Perseus Increases Edikan's Inventories of Mineral Resource & Ore Reserves" released on 19 July 2022. An update for mining depletion at Edikan as at 30 June 2022 was reported in a news release "Perseus Mining Updates Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" dated 30 August 2022. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affect the information on those market releases and that all material assumptions underpinning those estimates and the production targets, or the forecast financial information derived therefrom, continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company further confirms that material assumptions underpinning the estimates of Ore Reserves described in "Technical Report - Edikan Gold Mine, Ghana" dated 7 April 2022 continue to apply. Sissingue, Fimbiasso and Bagoe The information in this report that relates to Mineral Resources and Ore Reserve estimates for Sissingue was reported by the Company in a market announcement "Perseus Mining Updates Life of Mine Plan for Sissingue Gold Mine & Satellite Deposits" released on 28 March 2022. An update for mining depletion at Sissingue as at 30 June 2022 was reported in a news release "Perseus Mining Updates Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" dated 30 August 2022. The information in this report that relates to Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimates for the Fimbiasso deposits was reported by the Company in a market announcement "Perseus Mining Updates Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" released on 26 August 2020. The information in this report that relates to Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimates for the Bagoe deposits was reported by the Company in a market announcement "Perseus Mining Updates Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" released on 24 August 2021. The Company confirms that all material assumptions underpinning those estimates and the production targets, or the forecast financial information derived therefrom, in that market release continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company further confirms that material assumptions underpinning the estimates of Ore Reserves described in "Technical Report - Sissingue Gold Project, Cote d'Ivoire" dated 28 March 2022 continue to apply. Yaoure The information in this report that relates to the Open Pit and Underground Mineral Resources and the Underground Ore Reserve at CMA was first reported by the Company in a market announcement "Perseus Mining announces maiden Underground Ore Reserve at Yaoure" released on 30 August 2022. The information in this report that relates to the other Mineral Resources & Ore Reserves (including the Heap Leach) for the Yaoure Deposit was reported by the Company in a market announcement "Perseus Mining Updates Mineral Resources & Ore Reserves" released on 24 August 2021. An update for mining depletion at Yaoure as at 30 June 2022 was reported in a news release "Perseus Mining Updates Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" dated 30 August 2022. The Company confirms that all material assumptions underpinning those estimates and the production targets, or the forecast financial information derived therefrom, in that market release continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company further confirms that material assumptions underpinning the estimates of Ore Reserves described in "Technical Report - Yaoure Gold Project, Cote d'Ivoire" dated 18 December 2017 continue to apply. Caution Regarding Forward Looking Information: This report contains forward-looking information which is based on the assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management of the Company believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made by the Company regarding, among other things: the price of gold, continuing commercial production at the Yaoure Gold Mine, the Edikan Gold Mine and the Sissingue Gold Mine without any major disruption, the receipt of required governmental approvals, the accuracy of capital and operating cost estimates, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used by the Company. Although management believes that the assumptions made by the Company and the expectations represented by such information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, the actual market price of gold, the actual results of current exploration, the actual results of future exploration, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents. The Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the Company's ability to carry on its exploration and development activities, the timely receipt of required approvals, the price of gold, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Perseus does not undertake to update forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. ASX/TSX CODE: PRU CAPITAL STRUCTURE: Ordinary shares: 1,367,986,850 Performance rights: 11,901,091 REGISTERED OFFICE: Level 2 437 Roberts Road Subiaco WA 6008 Telephone: +61 8 6144 1700 Email: IR@perseusmining.com www.perseusmining.com DIRECTORS: Mr Sean Harvey Non-Executive Chairman Mr Jeff Quartermaine Managing Director & CEO Ms Amber Banfield Non-Executive Director Ms Elissa Cornelius Non-Executive Director Mr Dan Lougher Non-Executive Director Mr John McGloin Non-Executive Director Mr David Ransom Non-Executive Director CONTACTS: Jeff Quartermaine Managing Director & CEO jeff.quartermaine@perseusmining.com Nathan Ryan Corporate Relations +61 420 582 887 nathan.ryan@nwrcommunications.com.au Attachment VANCOUVER, July 26, 2023 - Mantaro Precious Metals Corp. (TSXV: MNTR) (OTCQB: MSLVF) (FSE: 9TZ) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the commencement of follow-up tailings sampling at the Golden Hill property ("Golden Hill"). This program aims to quantify the gold content within the tailings, with the ultimate goal of evaluating the potential for re-processing via heap leaching and increasing the resource base at Golden Hill. Highlights: Follow up sampling survey to provide base for resource estimation of approximately 600,000 tons of historical tailings. Builds on preliminary sampling which returned average grades of 1.33 g/t Au with 96% of gold recoverable via cyanide leaching. Mantaro has begun a comprehensive follow-up tailings sampling campaign to categorically determine the gold content within the estimated 600,000 tons of historical tailings at Golden Hill. This study will build upon the previous preliminary tailings sampling program completed in 2021, which consisted of 16 samples and yielded an average gold grade of 1.33 g/t Au with 96% of the gold recoverable via cyanide leaching. The new study aims to provide a more accurate representation of the quantity of gold contained within the tailings, further assess reprocessing options, and potentially expand on the company's maiden resource. The results obtained from this tailings sampling campaign will form a quantitative dataset from which NI-43-101 compliant resource estimates can be calculated - which will in turn feed into a Preliminary Economic Study on Golden Hill. To ensure the accuracy and reliability of the sampling program, Mantaro has enlisted experienced geologists who will oversee the project and ensure NI-43-101 compliant best practice protocol and quality assurance and quality control (QAQC) procedures are followed. The geologists will systematically collect and analyze samples from predetermined random grid-spaced locations at various depths within the tailings. This approach guarantees a representative assessment of the gold content within the tailings. Darren Hazelwood, Chief Executive Officer of the Company states, "Building upon the promising results of our preliminary tailings sampling program completed in 2021, we are eager to obtain a more definitive understanding of the gold content within the estimated 600,000 tons of historical tailings. The results of this tailings sampling campaign will serve as a crucial foundation for future decision-making regarding re processing strategies of tailing and potential resource expansion opportunities within Golden Hill." Qualified Person Dr. Christopher Wilson, Ph. D., FAusIMM (CP), FSEG, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. About Mantaro Precious Metals Corp. Mantaro Precious Metals Corp. is a British Columbia company that holds a diversified portfolio of gold and silver focused mineral properties in Bolivia and Peru. The Company holds an option to acquire up to an 80% interest in the advanced Golden Hill orogenic gold property ("Golden Hill"), located in the underexplored Precambrian Shield, Bolivia. In Peru, the Company has a 100% interest in the high-grade Santas Gloria silver property as well as a 100% interest in each of the La Purisima, Cerro Luque and Huaranay properties. Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Company's limited operating history, ability to obtain sufficient financing to carry out its exploration programs and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mantaro-precious-metals-corp-commences-follow-up-tailings-sampling-at-golden-hill-301885766.html SOURCE Mantaro Precious Metals Corp. Vancouver, July 26, 2023 - Majuba Hill Copper Corp. (CSE:JUBA) (OTC: JUBAF) (FWB:4NP) ("Majuba Hill Copper" or the "Company") is making plans for advancing the Majuba Hill Porphyry Copper Deposit. The Company is pleased to announce that it has filed on SEDAR an independent technical report (the "Report") prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") titled "Technical Report for the Majuba Hill Copper Project, Pershing County, Nevada, USA". The Report was authored by Jeffrey M. Bickel, C.P.G., Senior Geologist, RESPEC Company LLC, Reno, NV ("RESPEC"). The full Report dated June 20, 2023 is available on the Company's website and the SEDAR Issuer profile at www.sedar.com. Click Image To View Full Size RESPEC evaluated the porphyry copper mineralization using a series of conceptual open-pit scenarios. The conceptual open-pit scenarios were constructed using a Whittle Pit calculation. In the report a significant footprint of copper mineralization was outlined that is within an Exploration Corridor containing favorable porphyry-copper-type geologic characteristics and robust copper mineralization. The following table summarizes the tonnage and grade ranges for the Whittle Pits. Model (1) Tonnage Range Tonnes (Bickel, 2023) Grade Range Copper (%) (Bickel, 2023) Copper Range (pounds) Calculated Exploration Target - All 50,000,000 to 100,000,000 0.15% to 0.30% 165,000,000 to 660,000,000 Exploration Target - High Grade 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 0.40% to 0.80% 88,185,000 to 352,739,000 Conceptual open-pit scenarios for the mineralized material do not meet the test for "reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction" with currently appropriate economic inputs,Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum (2014) "We are thrilled to announce the significant milestone achieved by Majuba Hill Copper Corp. with the successful filing of our updated NI 43-101 report on SEDAR, a testament to our commitment to transparency and adherence to the highest standards in mineral project disclosure. I extend my deepest gratitude to the entire RESPEC Company team for their dedicated efforts in delivering this comprehensive report. Their expertise and unwavering support have been instrumental in shaping our path to success. Special thanks to Buster and Jefferey, whose leadership and hard work have been pivotal in driving this endeavor forward. With this milestone, we are confident in our position to seize the abundant opportunities that lie ahead in the dynamic copper market," commented David Greenway, CEO of Majuba Hill Copper Corp. Exploration Plans During 2023 the Company will focus on drilling up to 4900 meters (16,000 feet) to advance and expand the copper deposit. The primary objective of the drilling is to convert the mineralization from an exploration target category into the inferred and indicated resource categories. The Company geologists have determined locations for 15 to 20 core and reverse circulation ("RC") holes. Holes are sited to achieve four main objectives: Tighten up drill spacing to convert waste blocks to mineralized blocks. Complete additional drill holes between Whittle Pit 13 and the much larger Whittle Pit 42 to improve the grade of copper mineralization and infill areas that currently have no drillholes. Extend high-grade mineralization. Characterize the metallurgy of the oxide and enriched mineralization to aid with the economics of processing the copper mineralization. About RESPEC Company LLC RESPEC Company LLC stands as a prominent global leader in geosciences, data, and engineering services, specializing in exploration, mine productivity, efficiency, and safety. Renowned for its expertise, RESPEC serves as a reliable advisor, offering integrated technology solutions tailored to the specific needs of mining and mineral clients. Throughout the entire mine life cycle, RESPEC's extensive experience and know-how prove instrumental in adding value to projects. They excel in optimizing exploration and production, elevating safety measures, improving reliability, and streamlining costs. With a proven track record of success, RESPEC emerges as a trusted partner for companies seeking to enhance their operations and achieve sustainable growth in the mining industry. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed by E.L. "Buster" Hunsaker III, CPG 8137, a non-independent consulting geologist who is a "Qualified Person" as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43- 101"). About Majuba Hill Copper Corp. Majuba Hill Copper Corp. is engaged in the identification, review and acquisition of latter stage copper and copper/silver/gold assets. This is in direct response to the growing worldwide demand and lack of supply for precious metals fueled by the Green New Deal in the US and most other developed nations with similar programs aimed at addressing climate change. Such programs are heavily reliant on silver, gold and especially copper to produce Electric Vehicles and other renewable power sources, as well as building infrastructure to provide clean and affordable electricity. The flagship project is the Majuba Hill copper, silver and gold District located 156 miles outside Reno, Nevada, USA. Management has been mandated to focus on safe, mining friendly jurisdictions where government regulations are supportive of mining operations. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. On Behalf of the Board of Majuba Hill Copper Corp. "David Greenway" David C. Greenway President & CEO For further information, please contact: Joel Warawa VP of Corporate Communications E: jw@majubahillcopper.com P: 1 (855) 475-0745 Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking" statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Majuba Hill Copper Corp. believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Majuba Hill Copper Corp. management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Majuba Hill Copper Corp. undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. ### Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. VANCOUVER, July 26, 2023 - Eminent Gold Corp. ("Eminent" or the "Company") (TSXV: EMNT) (OTCQB: EMGDF) is pleased to announce, further to its news release dated June 28, 2023, that it has closed the initial tranche of its non-brokered private placement of units (the "Offering"). The initial tranche consisted of 1,905,000 units of the Company (the "Subscription Units") at a price of $0.32 per Subscription Unit for gross proceeds of $609,600. Part of the proceeds of this tranche of the Offering have been used to complete property option payments, in the amount of $260,000, and the balance will be used for working capital and exploration of the Company's Nevada mineral properties. The Subscription Units and Settlement Units are each comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Share") and one non-transferable Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional Share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") for a period of 36 months from the closing date at an exercise price of $0.50 per Warrant Share. After four months from closing, if the closing price of the Shares is at a price equal to or greater than $1.00 for a period of ten consecutive trading days, the Company will have the right to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by giving notice, via news release, to the holder of the Warrants that the Warrants will expire on the date that is 30 days after the issuance of said news release. The Company paid a total of $35,712 in finders' fees to arm's length finders in connection with the Offering and issued 111,600 finders' warrants with the same terms as described above. In addition to the $609,600 first tranche, the Company has entered into debt settlement agreements with certain creditors to settle an aggregate of CAD$250,000 in debt (the "Debt"). In settlement of the Debt, the Company will issue 781,250 units of the Company (the "Settlement Units") at a deemed price of $0.32 per Unit (the "Debt Settlement"). Closing of the Debt Settlement is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). The funds previously received by the Company from the Debt were allocated to working capital. Michael Kosowan, a director of the Company, participated in part of the Debt Settlement and will be issued 468,750 Settlement Units for gross proceeds of $150,000 (the "Insider Units"). The debt settled was comprised of the principal amount of funds he advanced to the Company in February 2023 for general working capital. The Insider Units constitute a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company has relied on the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7 (a), respectively, of MI 61-101 in respect of the Insider Units. The participation by the non-arm's length individual in the Debt Settlement was approved by the Company's disinterested members of the board of directors. All of the securities in connection with the Offering and Debt Settlement are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with the policies of the Exchange and applicable securities legislation. About Eminent Eminent Gold is a gold exploration company focused on creating shareholder value through the exploration and discovery of world-class gold deposits in Nevada. Its multidisciplinary team has had multiple successes in gold discoveries and brings expertise and new ideas to the Great Basin. The Company's exploration assets in the Great Basin include: Hot Springs Range Project, Weepah, Gilbert South and Spanish Moon District. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Paul Sun" CEO and Director For further information on Eminent Gold Corp., please visit www.eminentgoldcorp.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "assume" "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "should", "will" and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This news release contains forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Such statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. SOURCE Eminent Gold Corp. Citizen Survey Data Yes: 19 percent No: 81 percent Two times a week or more: 1 percent Two to four times a month: 1 percent Once a month or less: 22 percent Not at all: 76 percent Reponses by Demographic Groups Age Group Contacted elected officials Attended local public meeting 2x week or more Attended 2-4 local public meetings per month Attended local public meetings once a month or less Did not attend a local public meeting 18 to 24 years 7% 0% 1% 10% 89% 25 to 34 years 12% 0% 1% 13% 86% 35 to 44 years 17% 0% 1% 22% 76% 45 to 54 years 20% 1% 1% 26% 72% 55 to 64 years 25% 1% 2% 28% 69% 65 to 74 years 26% 1% 2% 30% 68% 75 years or older 22% 1% 2% 27% 71% Race Contacted elected officials Attended local public meeting 2x week or more Attended 2-4 local public meetings per month Attended local public meetings once a month or less Did not attend a local public meeting American Indian or Alaskan Native 20% 1% 1% 24% 73% Asian, Asian Indian or Pacific Islander 10% 0% 0% 16% 83% Black or African American 22% 1% 2% 25% 73% White 19% 1% 1% 23% 75% Other 22% 0% 2% 19% 78% Length of Residency Contacted elected officials Attended local public meeting 2x week or more Attended 2-4 local public meetings per month Attended local public meetings once a month or less Did not attend a local public meeting Less than 2 years 7% 0% 0% 9% 90% 2 to 5 years 13% 0% 1% 16% 82% 6 to 10 years 18% 0% 1% 23% 76% 11 to 20 years 23% 1% 2% 27% 70% More than 20 years 23% 1% 2% 28% 69% Annual Income Contacted elected officials Attended local public meeting 2x week or more Attended 2-4 local public meetings per month Attended local public meetings once a month or less Did not attend a local public meeting Less than $25,000 16% 1% 1% 17% 82% $25,000 to $49,999 18% 0% 1% 19% 79% $50,000 to $99,999 18% 0% 1% 22% 76% $100,000 to $149,999 20% 1% 2% 27% 70% $150,000 or more 22% 1% 2% 28% 69% In his first few months in office, Park City, Utah, Mayor Jack Thomas has heard from quite a few constituents. His office phone rings off the hook. Going out for lunch takes about twice as long as before, too, as he constantly fields concerns from residents who walk up. If you want a quiet moment, he jokes, youve got to leave town.The small resort community is home to some of the nations more vocal residents. In a recent survey, 28 percent of city residents reported contacting elected officials to express their opinions and 37 percent said they had attended a local public meeting over a 12-month period.Nationwide, though, citizen participation in local government remains abysmally low. The National Research Center (NRC), a firm that conducts citizen surveys for more than 200 communities, compiled data forshedding light on the types of residents who are most active. Overall, only 19 percent of Americans recently surveyed contacted their local elected officials over a 12-month period, while about a quarter reported attending a public meeting.In many city halls, extremists on either side of an issue dominate public hearings. Those who do show up at the sparsely attended meetings are often the same cast of characters week after week. But some public officials have found ways to reach a much wider segment of residents.Park Citys Mayor Thomas said hell go door-to-door along the towns main corridor to gauge resident sentiment about everything from new development projects to air quality and garbage pickup. If you want to have a government thats rooted in the community, you better start that way, Thomas said. Its all about trust.NRC survey data identifies types of residents who are the most active or, in some cases, the least vocal. Individuals living in a community for more than 10 years, for example, are about three times more likely to attend public meetings and contact elected officials than new residents. Among racial groups, Asians tend to have the lowest participation rates. Low-income residents also arent as active as those earning six-figure incomes.In general, residents often arent compelled to weigh in on an issue unless it negatively affects them, said Cheryl Hilvert of the International City/County Management Association. Its for this reason that much of the citizen engagement in communities is confined to typical hot-button issues, such as planning and zoning meetings.Many residents dont think they have time to participate. Others, particularly newer residents with lower participation rates, may not know where or how to get involved, Hilvert said.Survey data further suggests that younger residents arent inclined to speak up. Those under the age of 35 attend meetings and contact elected officials at far lower rates than those over 35. Hilvert suspects their busy lifestyles may have something to do with it, especially if they have children.Connecting with these groups of residents requires stepping outside of city hall and meeting residents on their own turf. Park City officials say theyve held meetings in school lunch rooms, performing arts centers and with local homeowners associations.To truly engage the community, Hilvert said, managers have to think broader about it than in the past.Some localities employ unconventional approaches to raise the level of citizen engagement. When the city of Rancho Cordova, Calif., debated permitting more residents to raise chickens on their properties last year, it launched an online Open Town Hall. More than 500 residents visited the interactive forum to make or review public statements. It is noisy and smelly enough with pigeons, turkeys, feral cats, and untended dogs without adding chickens to the mix, wrote one resident. The city drafted an ordinance reflecting citizen input, then emailed it to forum subscribers.Outreach efforts through local media or civic organizations help further community involvement. Some residents also form Facebook groups or online petitions to promote their causes.The city of Chanhassen, Minn., relied heavily on social media to connect with citizens when it confronted an issue thats about as contentious as any local government can face: a proposal to build a new Walmart. The city posted regular updates on its Facebook page and uploaded all documents online. Laurie Hokkanen, the citys assistant city manager, said residents continued hearing rumors even after the city rejected the companys rezoning proposal. As a result, staff kept lines of communication open.A vote by the city council does not end the issue for residents who are invested in it, Hokkanen said. Its important to tell people you appreciate their input.Source: National Research Center: National Citizen Survey dataSource: National Research Center: National Citizen Survey dataSource: National Research Center: National Citizen Survey dataSource: National Research Center: National Citizen Survey data Letters from our readers No better example exists of congressional Republican degeneration than comparison of Liz Cheney with Harriet Hageman, who trounced Cheney in the 2022 Wyoming Republican Primary by more than 30 points. Cheney occupied the third-highest position in House Republican leadership before being ostracized by Republicans for becoming the rare congressional Republican to stand up to former President Donald Trump. Cheney should be the No. 1 Hero of anyone who wants to save our badly threatened democracy, whatever ones political stripes. In contrast, Hageman accused FBI Director Christopher Wray at his recent US House hearing of having personally worked to weaponize the FBI against conservatives. Other Republicans made similar accusations. This is ridiculous since Wray was appointed by Trump and is a lifelong Republican and member of the right-wing Federalist Society. Fortunately, Wray practices fairness. My brother, a rock-ribbed Republican, and I had continual civil, often disagreeing dialogue before his 2006 death. He agreed with Cheney in policy much more than I, but if he were still alive, Im sure wed be completely united on praising Cheneys efforts to save our democracy. Sue Lani Madsen proposed joining the Braver Angels group for cross-party dialogue (Spokesman-Review, 7/13/23). My brother and I would have gladly joined before 2016. But Madsens proposal is problematic with no agreement even on basic facts anymore, a problem my brother and I never had. Are Republicans alternative facts responsible for their near-unanimous support of either Trump or Ron DeSantis, both wannabe dictators, for President in 2024? Its scary! Szafnauer denies risk of losing F1 job After horror outings at Silverstone and in Hungary, Alpine should make a two-tenth step forward this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps. Otmar Szafnauer It was a crash that took the pair out in Hungary, but that was hot on the heels of another double DNF for Frenchmen Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly at Silverstone. The Renault-owned team subsequently slips to P6 in the constructors' standings. We had no control over these two DNFs, said team boss Otmar Szafnauer, "just as we had no control over the Silverstone DNFs. One of them was a failure by a manufacturer that makes components for helicopters and airlines - an industry that rarely fails, he told DAZN. But it failed. So we shouldn't worry about these things, just focus on what we can control and do a good job. There have been ownership and management upheavals at the struggling Enstone based team in recent weeks, and many now see a sword of Damocles hanging over Szafnauer's head. You have to remember that Laurent Rossi is doing special projects now, said Szafnauer when asked about the security of his job - in light of CEO Rossi's earlier criticism and now ousting. Yes, he hired me, but (Renault CEO) Luca de Meo hired me too, and it was Luca who ultimately sat down with me and convinced me to join his project, he insisted. "As we know, Alpine's project was with the plan of 100 races, and I think we've done about 30. So we still have about 60 races left. And it takes time. "It's taken time for everyone. I know Luca is a man of his word, and he gave me his word of 100 races to start winning, and sometimes you have to take half a step back to take two forwards. "Red Bull, who have done pretty well, bought Jaguar, a mid-grid team, and it took them five years to get started at winning. It seems that's what it takes - four to five years. 100 races is a realistic number. In general, stability in this type of team, when you manage between 950 or 1000 people, is very, very important. As for those two-tenths, Szafnauer said the laptime gain should come with the introduction of a new floor this weekend in Belgium. Industry captains charged to deepen ties with Houston Elizabeth Nyaadu Adu Business News Jul - 26 - 2023 , 09:09 The Minister of Trade and Industry, K.T. Hammond, has charged captains of industry in Ghana to deepen ties with Houston to help create a robust environment, resilient enough for bilateral trade and economic growth. We must ensure we sell the trade and commerce potential of the country to the outside world. Houston is into almost all sorts of things from cutting-edge industry, culture, trade, commerce, pharmaceuticals and science and technology. I am proud of this relationship and I want it to be strengthened. Those at the political level will do our best but I charge you the captains of industry in Ghana and commerce to do your best and make this forged relationship with the industry and leadership of Houston a lasting and a beneficial legacy for Ghana and Houston. Mr Hammond made the call at a luncheon with the Mayor of Houston, Sylvester Turner and a 30-member business delegation in Accra last Monday. The event, held on the theme: Developing the Ghana-Houston Partnership for Economic Growth, brought together members of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Ghana and businesses from the City of Houston to deepen discussions and relationship to scale up for economic growth. The minister further called on investors to explore the numerous investment opportunities in Ghana. He described Ghana as a country with a beautiful political atmosphere conducive for business to thrive, adding that we have the platform so we invite all investors to come and invest here. We in Ghana pride ourselves to be the best that Africa can put on exhibition, we have the best ambience to do business, the human resource capacity, appropriate legislature and we have put together the best that any investor will be happy to have. New economic opportunities Mr Turner, who is on an eight-day visit to the country to explore new economic opportunities, said the purpose of his visit is to strengthen the ties between Ghana and Houston on multiple front. We recognise the importance of the African continent because we view it as the new model, new frontier, a new future of where we are all heading. The whole goal is to strengthen the relationship and once we establish the relationship, business can follow. But it is important that we build on the relationship, Mr Turner said. He said, Houston has a very large African population which adds to the vibrancy of the city and a part of my representation of being in Africa is to make sure that we go to the countries that many of these persons come from. It is our hope that when it comes to trade, we can increase what we are doing in trade. The Mayor of Houston explained that in 2022, trade between Ghana and Houston was around $293 million which may sound huge, however, a lot needs to be done to increase it. So we believe there are a lot of synergies between Houston and Ghana that we want to build on and it needs to be a win-win relationship where there are mutual benefits, he added. Republic Bank remains preferred mortgage provider MD Business Desk Report Business News Jul - 26 - 2023 , 09:02 The Republic Bank (Ghana) Plc, one of the countrys foremost banks, witnessed a 20.05 per cent growth in assets primarily due to loan and advances funded by deposit growth. Mortgage loans formed the biggest contributor in the loan portfolio with a year-on-year growth of 32.57 per cent. This achievement, according to the bank, reiterates the fact that it is maintaining its position as the pacesetter and preferred mortgage provider in Ghana. The bank, however, posted a loss in the year under review, which the Managing Director, Benjamin Dzoboku, attributed to the governments Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) and the mark-tomarket losses on investment. Again, he also mentioned the higher provision for impairment on financial assets which also contributed to the loss contrary to the profit position gained in the 2021 financial year. The bank posted a loss of GH66.8 million in the 2022 financial year as against the GH81.7 million it recorded in the previous year. The unfortunate development in the year under review ended a streak of huge profits the bank had been recording in the last five years and beyond and makes the bank, one of the many to have suffered heavily due to the recent developments in the economy which has forced the country to seek an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout. The managing director of the bank, in a statement released after the banks 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in a hybrid format of both virtual and in-person at the Accra City Hotel in Accra was, however, proud of the banks achievements in other areas. Despite the loss position, we saw significant growth in year-on-year improvement on several income lines such as Net Interest Income and NonInterest income which grew by 23.53 per cent and 43.878 per cent respectively. The increase in net income reflects a robust growth particularly in trading. Dividends On the issue of dividends, the bank, just like majority of its competitors, could not pay dividends to shareholders. The managing director, however, assured shareholders that dividend pay outs will be made in 2025 by which time the Bank of Ghanas embargo on dividend payments would have been lifted. He expressed gratitude to the banks stakeholders, the board of directors and customers for their support and wished for a better year and beyond. Commitment The acting Board Chairman of the bank, Paul King Aryene, informed shareholders of the banks commitment towards the Sustainable Banking Principles (SBP) in accordance with the regulators reporting requirement. Overall, our bank has made notable progress in meeting the SBPs including incorporating Environmental and Social Management systems in our credit delivery process, enhancing good corporate governance and ethical standards through diverse board sub committees and promoting gender equality and diversity through equal opportunity for all stakeholders, he added. The acting board chairman of the bank expressed gratitude to shareholders, the banks cherished customers, directors, management and staff for their support in the year under review and requested their unwavering support in the years ahead. Our success is dependent on the success of our clients, the strength of our communities and the well-being of our employees, Mr Aryene added. Ghana's film industry needs government support- Multichoice MD Gifty Owusu-Amoah Showbiz News Jul - 25 - 2023 , 20:35 The Managing Director of MultiChioice Ghana, Alex Okyere has added his voice to the call for government to support the film industry. In an address at the third edition of Graphic Showbiz Forum themed, " Future of Ghana Movie Industry, bright or Bleak?" today, July 25, Mr Okyere said government can provide the support in the form of tax incentives, grants, and the creation of an an enabling environment for more investment in the sector. " There is also the opportunity for educational institutions to design up skilling courses in film production, acting, distribution, promotion and general film studies for current players in the sector," he stated. He, however, mentioned that it will equally take concerted approach from all stakeholders to help the Ghana movie industry to reach its full potential. This year's edition of Graphic Showbiz aimed to address how Ghana can be relevant in the trends including demand for content growth, tackle the challenges for a better potentials. The panellists were Peter Sedufia, film producer/ director and CEO of OldFilm Productions, Actor Prince David Osei, George Bosompim, Ivan Quashigah, Film producer and Afua Kissi-Nyame, Head of Marketing, Multichoice Ghana. Read also: I felt unwanted in the movie industry - Prince David Osei I felt unwanted in the movie industry - Prince David Osei Edith Mensah Showbiz News Jul - 25 - 2023 , 19:25 Ghanaian actor Prince David Osei has disclosed that his rise to stardom in the movie industry was characterised by backstabbing and hatred by industry persons who did not want him in the space. He mentioned that even though the likes of Ivan Quashigah believed in his abilities, there were other film producers who worked behind the scenes to derail his efforts. The Fortune Island actor said there were times his roles were even taken from him because some industry persons and those who called the shot felt he didnt qualify for it. Speaking at the third edition of the Graphic Showbiz Forum today, July 25, Prince said but for his eagerness and drive to succeed, he would have given up and killed his dreams. I felt unwanted in the movie industry. There was this feeling like where is he coming from? I felt that bad energy but all the victimization kept me going. "When I got casted for The Dead, people made mockery of me. Sometimes you go on set, they don't give you room, you wear something and they tell you it's too nice. At a point, it was me and Martha Ankomah, Opera Square stopped selling our movies. Speaking on the sidelines of his experience in the Ghanaian movie industry, he urged up-and-coming actors to remain steadfast in their commitment and persevere in the face of deliberate saboteurs from industry saboteurs. "It's all about you attracting people. Don't give up when you come face to face with these kind of people who would sabotage you in the industry." Third edition of Graphic Showbiz Forum held Gifty Owusu-Amoah Showbiz News Jul - 26 - 2023 , 07:36 The third edition of Graphic Showbiz forum successfully came off at the head office of Multichoice Ghana in Accra yesterday, July 25. Themed, Future of Ghana Movie Industry, Bright or Bleak? the event saw a number of industry players in the film sector hold relevant conversation on the state of Ghanas Movie Industry and the way forward. The panellists for the forum were George Bosompim, a lecturer at National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) and Public Relations Officer of The Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts (GAFTA), and Peter Sedufia, a film director and CEO of Oldfilm Productions. The others are Ivan Quashigah, Film Producer and CEO of Farm House Productions, Prince David Osei, an actor, and Afua Kissi-Nyame, Head of Marketing, MultiChoice Ghana. Veteran actor, Abeiku Sagoe making a contribution at the forum In their respective presentations, the main speakers dispelled the notion that the Ghana Movie industry was not alive. They expressed optimism about its growth and noted that they were still very much capable of making progress if intentional steps were taken. They asserted that filmmakers were making progress with the meager resources at their disposal and had huge potential of setting records with support from the authorities. They also shed light on the potential of the film industry and was of the firm belief that concerted efforts were needed to create a platform that would enable filmmakers to receive help for growing their businesses. Mr Ivan Quashigah said the Movie industry was evolving and its potentials should not be out rightly dismissed. I will say the industry is still growing. We are not dead like people say. With the right initiatives and support our industry will eventually get there, he said. Peter Sedufia called for government regulation to ensure order and create an enabling environment and working system to propel the industry to its desired status. George Bosompim entreated players to understand the laws and regulation governing their works since it provided them with the requisite knowledge and guide what they do. Actor Prince David and Madam Afua Kissi-Nyame were of the belief that unity among film industry players was an important ingredient for the sectors development. Mr Alex Okyere, Managing Director for MultiChoice Ghana In an earlier address, the Managing Director of MultiChoice Ghana, Mr Alex Okyere said Ghana has a rich history of film production when its films were popular across Africa in the 80s and 90s. He pointed out that the industry has, however, faced challenges in recent years including piracy, lack of funding, disinterest from some key stakeholders and a decline in audience numbers. Me Okyere said despite the challenges, he was certain that the future of the Ghana movie industry is still bright. There are several factors that are working in favour of the industry, including the rise of digital technology, which has made it easier and cheaper to produce and distribute films. The growing popularity of streaming services like Showmax have provided a new platform for Ghanaian films to reach audiences around the world. Also, since MultiChoice launched Akwaaba Magic channels, it has sparked the fire in the bellies of producers like Ivan Quashigah, Shirley Frimpong Manso and young budding producers like our MultiChoice Talent Factory graduates to cash in on the opportunities, he said. In a presentation, the editor of Graphic Showbiz, Ms Adwoa Serwaa Bonsu, mentioned that the relevance of forum was to create a platform for knowledgeable panel who understood the elements of filmmaking to figure out the direction of our movie sector. Kofi Adinkra is the Deputy Executive Secretary of National Film Authority The Director of Marketing for Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Franklin Sowah thanked the panellists and guests for heeding to the call for relevant discussion on the move industry. He also pledged the GCGLs commitment to creating relevant platforms for productive conversations about Ghanas creative industry including the film sector. Actor Bill Asamoah Actress Gloria Osei Sarfo The event which was moderated by Media and Communications Consultant, Francis Doku, had in attendance key players in the film sector including the Deputy Executive Secretary of National Film Authority, Kofi Adinkra, Abeiku Sagoe, Edinam Atatsi, Socrate Safo, Director for Creative Arts at the National Commission on Culture (NCC), Michael Ola, former PRO for Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG), and fil producer/director, Kobi Rana, Kwasi Aboagye and Clementos Suarez. The others are actors Harold Amenyah, Gloria Osei Safo, Kafui Danku, Fiifi Coleman, Bill Asamoah and Big Ghun, AMVCA winner. Actress Kafui Danku The retired editor of Graphic Showbiz, Nanabanyin Dadson also graced the occasion, including young film producer/directors and students of National Film and Television Institute, (NAFTI). Actor/Film director Kobi Rana The forum is the third in the series by Graphic Showbiz after the maiden event in 2020, themed: Moving from Promises to Action, A Discussion Of Party Manifestos On the Creative Industry. The second edition was held on the theme, Maximising the benefits of Digitisation in the Covid-19 Era. Declining budgetary allocation to basic education Campaign Against Privatisation and Commercialisation of Education Opinion Jul - 26 - 2023 , 15:11 Declining budgetary allocation to basic education is a recipe for education privatization and commercialisation in Ghana. DECLINING BUDGETARY ALLOCATION TO BASIC EDUCATION IS A RECIPE FOR EDUCATION PRIVATIZATION AND COMMERCIALIZATION IN GHANA By: CAMPAIGN AGAINST PRIVATISATION AND COMMERCIALISATION OF EDUCATION - CAPCOE 25/07/2023 GOVERNMENTS COMMITMENT TO QUALITY BASIC EDUCATION The government, recognizing the importance of education in the transformation of individuals and the national development agenda, has promised to back its education policy commitments with the necessary resource allocation in order to achieve SDG 4 by 2030. Whilst recognizing the financial contribution of Ghanas Development Partners (DPs) in the education sector, it is important for the government to view financing of education as a national responsibility, and ensure adequate resource spending in the education sector to achieve education targets and outcomes. There have however been budgetary constraints, particularly across the pre-tertiary levels kindergarten to Junior high school (KG-JHS). Analysis of budget data shows dips in budget allocation to the sector from 23% in 2019 to 16.2% in 2020, ostensibly due to the economic impacts of COVID-19 on the country. At the Global Education Summit held in July 2021 in the United Kingdom (UK), President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo pledged to spend at least 23% of the national budget towards the development of education in the country over the next medium-term from 2021 to 2025 but that commitment is yet to be fulfilled as the 2021 budget allocated 14.2% of total government expenditure to the education sector. Though the government allocates on average about 15% of total government expenditure to education, it is below the 17% average for Lower Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). CAPCOES MISSION Campaign Against Privatization and Commercialization of Education - CAPCOE was launched in 2015 by a coalition of the teachers' Unions at the pre-tertiary level- GNAT, NAGRAT, TEWU and CCT- Gh and Civil Society Organisations led by Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC). It is Ghanas Chapter of the Global Response Campaign to create awareness and respond to the emergence of low-cost profit schools also known as low -fee -for-profit schools and to ensure that SDG 4 is achieved. CAPCOE, as its name may suggest, is not against private participation in education delivery but seeks to advocate for improvement and expansion in public education infrastructure to provide quality equitable basic education for all children irrespective of their socioeconomic status, geographical location, or religious background. Simply put, there should be public basic schools within reasonable distances, giving parents the discretion and the power to choose where to educate their wards. In spite of Article 25 (2) of the 1992 constitution which gives the right to individuals to provide education at their own expense, CAPCOE, and its partners; the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Foundation (FES) and Education International Africa (EI), want to lay emphasis on Article 25(1) (a) which puts the responsibility of education provision on the state. Article 25(1) (a) expands this provision by stating that every child should have the right to equal educational opportunities and these shall be free and available to all. DEPRIVATION IN GOVERNMENT BASIC SCHOOLS Unfortunately, it is sad to say that all the commitments made by the Government of Ghana towards increasing domestic financing on education have been largely verbal. Per a study conducted by CAPCOE in 2021 with support from OXFAM Ghana, about 5403 schools operate under trees and in dilapidated structures making it unattractive for parents to enroll their wards. Over 4000 primary schools in rural Ghana do not have Junior High Schools. The study also revealed that 147,000 children drop out of school annually with 30 pupils dropping out on a daily basis. The results reveal that the majority of school dropouts fall within the communities that have basic schools without Junior High Schools. The Ghana Statistical Service has identified about 1.2m Ghanaian children between the ages of 4 to18 years who have never been enrolled in school. In 2022, with support from FES Ghana, CAPCOE conducted a study on classroom infrastructure and how it or lack thereof impacts learning outcomes in urban public schools. The study revealed that inadequate infrastructure created overcrowded classrooms, affecting learning outcomes negatively. The study identified average class size in urban and peri-urban communities to be 60 with the extreme being 120. This is above the recommended class size of 25 to 30 for effective and play-based learning under the new curriculum being implemented. The lack of classroom furniture continues to impact teaching and learning negatively as some learners have to write lying on their bellies; not leaving out inadequate places of convenience for learners. A situation that especially keeps girls out of school for at least a week, every month. Also, the full complement of textbooks is yet to be supplied to learners at all levels of basic education. THE RISE OF LOW-FEE-FOR-PROFIT SCHOOLS The severe deprivation in public basic schools has created a convenient environment for private Edu-business operators to mushroom substandard low-fee-for-profit schools into several peri-urban areas of the country. The state sadly sees these as a relief on the education budget and the overall outcome is the large number of Ghanaian children unable to access free quality basic education. The 2023 budget analysis report published by Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) revealed the basic education sub-sector would continue to see a further decline in its share of the education sector budget within the new 2023 - 2025 medium-term expenditure framework. Capping the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has made it nearly impossible to fix the huge classroom deficit as well as other teaching and learning resources This is projected to negatively impact learning outcomes in public basic schools in the short term and the skillsets of Ghanas human resource capital in the next decade. RECOMMENDATIONS CAPCOE is calling on duty bearers to adhere to Articles 25(1) and 38 (a,b ) of the 1992 constitution that place the responsibility of providing free quality and equitable basic education on the state and recommends a public debate and key stakeholder engagements to consider alternative sustainable means of financing of basic education through domestic resources. In addition, CAPCOE recommends that: Leadership of Teacher Unions at the pre-tertiary level- GNAT, NAGRAT, TEWU and CCT- Gh and Civil Society Organisations to take steps to ensure the amount to be paid as Capitation grant is negotiated for on an annual basis to reflect the real cost of running public basic schools. The classroom block design for Kindergarten and primary is given 21st-century appeal to make the learning environment more conducive for the young ones to explore and become creative critical thinkers. All Ghanaians especially parents of pupils in public basic schools join the campaign to de-cap the GETFund, to release funds to solve the basic education infrastructure deficit in line with article (25) (1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. At least 40% of the education sector budget is allocated to Primary and JHS education to build a strong foundation for learners and equip them to advance in further education and training. The Ghana Education Service (GES) should deploy teachers based on needs assessment to ensure no classroom is denied a professional teacher irrespective of geographical location and economic conditions. The GES should implement a 20% salary incentive for teachers serving in deprived and hard-to-reach schools. The Ministry of Education (MOE) should ensure Textbooks are in adequate supply covering all subjects at all levels. Take steps to solve perennial school feeding challenges and extend it to cover all learners in basic schools including those in Junior high school (JHS). Government is encouraged to fulfill its commitment to support the reforms planned for the education sector and ultimately improve learning outcomes, particularly at the pre-tertiary level. RICHARD KWASHIE KOVEY CONVENER- CAPCOE 0244176423 0504496391 Empowering financial institutions, employees ''On administrative sanctions, penalties of Anti-Money Laundering regime'' James Kingsley Owusu Opinion Jul - 26 - 2023 , 11:00 The implementation of the new Anti-Money Laundering, Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferations of Weapons of Mass Destruction (AML/CFT&P) administrative sanctions and penalties has placed greater responsibilities on employees of financial institutions. It is crucial for bank employees to understand the implications of these sanctions to protect themselves from potential consequences imposed by regulatory agencies, such as the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC). There are important aspects of AML/CFT administrative sanctions that bank employees should be aware of, thus empowering them to navigate their roles effectively and contribute to the integrity of the financial system. Role of 3 lines of defence To comprehend AML/CFT administrative sanctions fully, it is essential to first understand the requirements outlined in the 2022 AML/CFT&P directive published by the BoG and the FIC. This directive establishes specific responsibilities for the three lines of defence within accountable institutions. The first line of defence consists of customer-facing staff and process owners. Their role is to identify and assess customer risk, implement robust KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures, and detect suspicious activities. These employees play a vital role in safeguarding the financial institution from money laundering and terrorist financing activities. By understanding their responsibilities and complying with the AML/CFT guidelines, they contribute to maintaining the integrity of the financial system. The second line of defence includes departments such as, Compliance, HR, Risk and Control. These departments provide support and guidance to ensure effective implementation of policies, procedures and training programmes. They play a critical role in creating a strong control environment, establishing risk management frameworks and monitoring compliance with AML/CFT regulations. By working collaboratively with the first line of defence, these departments strengthen the institution's ability to detect and prevent financial crimes. The third line of defence is the Internal Audit department. This department is responsible for independently evaluating the effectiveness of the first and second lines of defence in managing AML risks. They provide an objective assessment of the institution's compliance with AML/CFT regulations and identify any weaknesses or gaps in the control environment. By conducting thorough audits and assessments, the Internal Audit department helps ensure that the institution's AML/CFT measures are robust and effective. Employee responsibilities, consequences Every employee, regardless of their role, is the first line of defence for their respective processes and duties. All employees have a collective responsibility to identify and mitigate AML risks within their areas of expertise. This collective effort ensures that the institution is protected from potential money laundering and terrorist financing activities. Customer account managers, in particular, bear significant responsibilities within the first line of defence. They are responsible for conducting thorough Know Your Customer (KYC), Customer Due Diligence (CDD), and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) procedures on customers and business relationships. These procedures involve gathering relevant information about customers, verifying their identities, assessing their risk profiles and monitoring their transactions for suspicious activities. By diligently performing these duties, relationship managers contribute to the prevention and detection of financial crimes. Failure to adhere to these requirements can result in severe penalties, including fines and even potential criminal liabilities for the employee. It is crucial for employees to understand their due diligence responsibilities when establishing relationships with customers of varying risk levels, especially high-risk individuals and entities such as Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs), Money Value Transfer Services (MVTs), Forex Bureaus, Shell Banks/Companies, Cross-border correspondent banking relationships, and related high-risk businesses. In addition to customer-related responsibilities, employees with regulatory reporting duties must also exercise extra caution. Sanctions exist for non-submission, incomplete submission, delayed submission and inaccurate submission of information, data, statements and returns. Each day that a default continues can lead to additional sanctions imposed on the employee. Therefore, regulatory reporting and record-keeping obligations of employees should never be overlooked. It is imperative for employees to diligently follow the records keeping processes and procedures laid down by the institution, ensuring accurate and timely reporting to regulatory agencies. Proper record-keeping not only aids in compliance but also enables easy retrieval of records upon request, ensuring transparency and accountability. Moving on to the second line of defence, there are greater consequences per the requirements of the AML sanctions. Notably, the Anti Money Laundering Reporting Officer and the Head of the Human Capital Management Department assume significant responsibilities. The HR head faces sanctions for key compliance failures, such as failing to conduct adequate screening during the hiring and employment processes, and neglecting to perform employee annual appraisals focused on the AML/CFT&P programme. It is essential for the HR head to establish processes to ensure that AML appraisals and test scores are included in employees' annual scorecards, promoting awareness and accountability regarding AML compliance. Screening employees during the hiring process and monitoring their lifestyles after employment are crucial steps to detect any signs of involvement in activities such as fraud or cash suppression. Failure to undertake these responsibilities can result in sanctions not only for the HR head but also for the AMLRO. The shared responsibilities emphasise the importance of a collaborative effort between HR and AML departments to identify potential risks and maintain a strong culture of compliance. The AMLRO, as a key position within accountable institutions, plays a critical role in ensuring AML/CFT compliance. They may face sanctions for compliance failures, such as the failure to formulate and submit an Employee Education and Training programme, neglecting ongoing training for personnel, and failing to file Suspicious Transaction Reports (STR) or Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR). These sanctions underscore the significance of the AMLRO's role in implementing training initiatives, providing continuous education to employees, and promptly reporting suspicious activities to combat money laundering and related offences. The AMLRO must also ensure effective communication and collaboration with other departments within the institution to establish a robust AML/CFT framework. The third line of defence, represented by the Internal Audit, External Audit and related independent review parties provides independent oversight and assurance functions. They are responsible for evaluating and monitoring the effectiveness of the first and second lines of defence in managing AML risks. The Chief Internal Auditor, in particular, carries the responsibility of assessing the effectiveness of compliance functions. Failure to fulfil this obligation can result in significant fines and penalties per the AML administrative sanction. The writer is an Anti-Money Laundering Specialist with an interest in financial crime, employee conduct and process improvement to ensure the integrity of the financial system. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Our regular columnist, Elizabeth Ohene, resumes next week. We need inclusive teachers Deputy Education Minister Augustina Tawiah & Diana Mensah Education Jul - 26 - 2023 , 08:07 A Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has stressed the need for graduating teacher trainees to be inclusive teachers. This way, he explained, they would be able to meet the needs of the different types of children in the classroom. Rev. Fordjour stressed that inclusive education must not be the reserve or preserve of a few teachers, who had gone through training in that specialisation. Every teacher coming out to teach must understand that in the classroom, we are not going to separate the pupils. We are going to have everyone those without any special needs, those with intellectual developmental disabilities, those with learning disabilities and those with visible and non-visible disabilities all in the same classroom just as we learn to live in the home together, he said. Rev. Fordjour said this at a three-day dyscalculia and dyslexia teaching strategies workshop organised in Accra yesterday, by the Africa Dyslexia Organisation and Mission Paediatrics with support from the British Council. Dyslexia is a condition of neurodevelopmental origin that mainly affects the ease with which a person reads, writes, and spells, while dyscalculia is a learning disorder that affects a persons ability to understand number-based information and maths. Governments vision Attended mostly by teachers, parents and physicians, the Rev. Fordjour said as teachers, it often took them too long to realise that a child had a disability as a result of which they were unable to catch up with what was being taught. A situation which, he said, caused the teachers to vent their frustrations on the child without regard to the deeper struggles and psychological trauma that such children might be going through. He stressed the need for every district in the country to have an educational assessment resource centre to enable children to undergo screening early and be assessed to determine whether they had any hidden disabilities and where they did, education was tailored to suit their needs. Why the workshop The founder of Africa Dyslexia Organisation, Rosalind Abigail Kyere-Nartey, said the workshop was organised because, we realise that most teachers are not aware of the two conditions even though there are quite a number of children who have them. The workshop was, therefore, to train the teachers to be able to identify early, their pupils who suffered from those conditions and offer them individualised learning. She said the programme was started three years ago online due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, with the restrictions on the pandemic lifted, they decided to do it in-person. Sharing her own challenges with dyslexia growing up, she said such children had potentials in them and as teachers, there was the need for them to help bring those potentials out. Early diagnosis The Chief Executive Officer and Director of Mission Pediatrics, Dr Marilyn Marbell-Wilson, said because dyslexia and dyscalculia were not common in the past, parents and teachers referred to children, who had such conditions as lazy. She stressed the need for early diagnosis of dyslexia and discalculia in children, explaining that research and science had shown that children, who were diagnosed early with those conditions, did not go through the psychological trauma associated with their below average performance in school. 8 Childhood development centres for 3 regions Mohammed Fugu Jul - 26 - 2023 , 09:30 CHILDREN Believe (CB), a child-centred development organisation, has commenced the construction of eight Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres across the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions to enhance early childhood education. The centres would be furnished with desks and learning materials. Additionally, the NGO will establish two Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratories for the Gbungbaliga Primary and the Adibo Cluster of Schools, all in the Yendi Municipality in the Northern Region. The Country Director of Children Believe, Esenam Kavi De Souza, who disclosed this, said the intervention formed part of the NGOs commitment to lay a solid educational foundation for children less than five years. To ensure the effective operation of the ECD centres, she indicated that the NGO would support in-service training of some teachers in the beneficiary schools on the new curriculum, including learning through play-based methodology. Stakeholders forum Ms De Souza disclosed this at a forum in Tamale in the Northern Region to share the activities and programmes of the NGO with various stakeholders and partners for the 2024 fiscal year. A section of the participants at the event The event brought together representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), opinion leaders, educational institutions and the Ghana Education Service (GES), among others. We recognise the importance of starting right; the early childhood period provides a window of opportunity that must be maximised to provide the right foundation for children, she said. She called for more investment in Early Childhood Education (ECE) to lay a solid foundation for children, saying the future of every child depended largely on good educational foundation. Commendation For his part, the Dean of Faculty of Education at the University for Development Studies, Professor Ibrahim Mohammed Gunu, lauded Children Believe for initiating numerous interventions that were contributing significantly to promoting inclusive education in the country. He said ECE was key to the holistic development of every child, irrespective of race, colour, disability or ethnicity. He noted that when children were denied education, it deprived them of play and other critical things of childhood, such as cognitive, motor, physical, social, emotional and language development. A-G to prosecute Adisadel student Shirley Asiedu-Addo Jul - 26 - 2023 , 07:00 The police have initiated investigation for possible prosecution in a case in which a student of Adisadel College is seen bullying a fellow student in a viral video. The action of the police is on the advice of the Office of the Attorney-General after the issue became public. The police yesterday visited the school premises as part of the investigation, with a Principal State Attorney from the Office of the Attorney-General, Vincent Nyinaku, who is in charge of the Central Region. Viral video The incident, which happened at a dormitory at Quaque House, left one of the students, Kelvin Ofori, who was attacked by a taller student, with a swollen cheek. The taller and older student, identified only as Bobby, was seen in the viral video holding the neck of his victim from behind as though to strangulate him in the presence of other students who shouted cautionary remarks. As the victim gasped for breath and tried to free himself from his attacker, the taller student pushed him towards a bunk bed and violently hit his face against the bed. At that moment, Bobby was seen pushing Ofori away from him. The victim examined his face and felt blood on a badly swollen cheek. Suspension The school has suspended Ofori and his bully, and the two third-year students are to write their final West African Senior Secondary School Examination (WASSCE) from home. A statement from the school said the student who recorded the video and circulated it would also be suspended externally for one week, return and do internal work on suspension for another week, and bring the phone to the school, else he would also be sanctioned. Also, others who were there but did nothing and also did not report would all go through some internal punishment. The housemaster, Ekow Holman, has also been relieved of his post, pending the outcome of the investigation. Appeal The mother of the bullied student, Margaret Afari, has appealed to the school to allow her son to stay in school to write the WASSCE. She said the interim sanctions communicated from the school indicated that her son would have to stay out of the school premises and come with his parents every day to write his examination papers. "I am pleading with the authorities in charge. He (Ofori) was the one who was hurt. They should look again at the sanctions and allow him to stay in the school and write the examination. I don't want to drag this matter, she told the Daily Graphic on the school premises yesterday. He is well now. I just want him to be given the opportunity to stay in the school and write his papers," she said. Ms Afari said she and the family heard about the incident for the first time only last Monday after the viral video. With tears running down her cheeks as she spoke, she said she had still not seen the video personally but the elder brother of the bullied student described the scenes to her. "I don't want to see the video. I have heard it described to me but I have not seen it and I don't want to see it, she told the Daily Graphic. "His elder brother who watched it on Monday called the housemaster who later called me to explain the incident," Ms Afari said. The Daily Graphic has established that the two students are classmates in the same Quaque House dormitory. Master Ofori told the Daily Graphic that the incident was over a SIM card. "He had my SIM card and I asked for it back, but he refused and that is what started the fight, he stated. He said the incident happened on Tuesday, June 30, this year. Master Ofori indicated that though the incident happened around 4 p.m., it was not until after evening studies at night, at around 9 p.m., that he reported the incident. "I told the housemaster we were playing when I got hurt. I was given hot water to treat the wound when I reported the incident to the housemaster," the bullied student said. Both students admitted before the housemaster that they were playing. Kelvin said after the incident they had both continued being in the same dormitory peacefully without any incident until authorities saw the video. The Daily Graphic observed that the scar was still visible on his face. Education authorities The Ministry of Education and its agency, the Ghana Education Service (GES), have summoned the school authorities, the students involved and their parents to Accra for further briefing. Yesterday in the morning, there was a meeting between the Metropolitan Directorate of Education and school authorities on the issue and students of the school as part of the fact finding. The Cape Coast Metropolitan Director of Education, Phyllis Asante-Krobea, told the Daily Graphic that the GES would ensure a thorough investigation before sanctions would be applied. "Now all the sanctions are interim and the GES headquarters would have to approve all the sanctions," she said. The Headmaster of the school, Samuel Kofi Agudogo, declined to comment on the incident, saying the school, and the students involved, were meeting the leadership of the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education. Legal opinion A human right lawyer and a private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, in an interview, said as much as the bullys actions were reprehensible, the issue should be dealt with in a manner that would not affect his right to education. He said the call by the Attorney-General to investigate the matter and arraign the culprit should be held back to allow him to write his final examination. Mr Kpebu added that since the law permitted the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in such assault cases, the two parties could settle the matter amicably out of court, if indeed the students were playing. Numbers Meanwhile, some teachers have expressed worry about the high number of students on the school premises, saying the housemasters were overburdened, with little motivation. "This teacher is one of the best housemasters. Taking care of more than 200 adolescents, plus teaching and marking, is not an easy job. He dealt promptly with the incident and need not suffer for this," a parent said. Witnesses, experiences Some witnesses to the fight in the video explained why they did not intervene. "We stayed back because we cannot fight him. He is quick-tempered and we cannot beat him," one of them told the Daily Graphic. Some Form One students of Adisadel College also told the Daily Graphic that they were mostly harassed for their money and sometimes beaten for fun by some of the rowdy seniors. It's not too common but if you are not lucky and you meet some of the bad seniors they can worry you for not having money," one of the junior students said. Sometimes they search your pocket for money and when they don't find any, you are harassed and beaten up, so we don't put money in our pockets, another one corroborated the earlier position. Why can't Africans travel across continent without visas but Europeans can? - Prof Adadevoh Zadok Kwame Gyesi Jul - 26 - 2023 , 19:26 The Founder and President of the International Leadership Foundation (ILF), Professor Delanyo Adadevoh, has implored Africans to first respect themselves before expecting others to respect them. For him, whereas Africans on African soil sometimes find it difficult to travel to other African countries without a visa, nationals of European, America and Asian descent freely move without visas on the continent, a situation he described, as worrying. Citing his personal experience, he explained that, he travelled to an African country with his American friend and when he got to the airport and the immigration officers demanded a visa from him, which he could not provide, he was asked to stand aside. Prof. Adadevoh however said his American friend who also did not have a visa was allowed entry and it was his American friend who rather pleaded with the immigration officers to allow him to pass. Speaking at the opening of the Church of Pentecosts 2023 National Development Conference today, July 26, at the Pentecost Convention Centre at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region, Prof. Adadevoh said the time has come for Africa to value itself in the comity of nations. Speaking on topic: Moral vision and national development which was the theme for the programme, he said self-respect is the first step toward positive self-identity. For him, Africans cannot expect respect from other regions of the world if they do not demonstrate trust and respect toward one another. Prof. Adadevoh advanced the argument that self-identity and values were critical elements in nation building. That, he said, Ghana as a country subscribes to seven values, namely God dependence; positive African identity; integrity; freedom and justice; interdependence; maximisation and excellence, which were important factors that could drive the countrys development should they be respected. "Ghana's identity is very much linked with Africa," he said, adding that "We are first Africans before our tribal considerations." He noted that it was time Africans took charge of their identity and stopped playing the second-class role of Europeans and Americans. Prof. Adadevoh said When we embrace values, they are supposed to give us new approaches to life and new approaches to governance. Call next witness or mount the box - Court orders Dr Opuni Justice Agbenorsi Jul - 26 - 2023 , 08:43 The trial in which former Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) Chief Executive, Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni, and two others have been accused of causing financial loss of more than GH271 million to the state will proceed with either Dr Opuni or his next available witness in the box tomorrow. This was contained in the ruling of Justice Aboagye Tandoh, the new judge who has been assigned to take over the case, which has been in court since 2018. Justice Tandoh gave the ruling yesterday when he adopted the record of proceedings based on an order of the Court of Appeal in July this year. Unavailability Lawyer for Dr Opuni, Samuel Cudjoe, had told the Court that their seventh witness, who was expected to mount the witness box for cross-examination yesterday had travelled to England to attend his sons graduation; hence, they were unable to call their witness. He had earlier challenged the adoption of the previous records on grounds that it was incomplete while counsel for the second accused in the case had told the court that he had applied for the records but had not received a copy yet; hence, it would be impossible for him to continue the cross-examination. But the state led by a Principal State Attorney-- Stella Ohene Appiah, said since Dr Opuni had indicated he would be calling eight witnesses, including himself, the next available witness should be made to mount the box to prevent undue delay. Ruling In his ruling, Justice Tandoh the third judge to take over the case said since the trial had been going on for several years, every party had the likelihood of having the record of proceedings. In view of that, he directed all parties to apply for the record of proceedings before deciding to finally adopt the records for the trial to continue. He further noted that the duty to adopt the proceedings was solely a duty of the court. I hold the view that the adoption is the sole duty of the court and they have been duly adopted, Justice Tandoh said. On the unavailability of the seventh defence witness, the presiding judge said there was no evidence before the court to ascertain whether or not he would be in the jurisdiction any time soon. Can we, therefore, suspend to await the witness whose availability is uncertain because counsel has not made any contact with him yet, the answer is in the negative. It is, therefore, important for all the parties to prepare their witnesses way ahead in order to ensure effective and efficient trial, Justice Tandoh added calling on counsel for Dr Opuni to submit travel evidence of the seventh witness today. He added that the trial would proceed with either Dr Opuni or the next available witness on Thursday, July 27, 2023. Justice Tandoh noted that further dates for cross-examination of the seventh defence witness would be given on Monday, July 31, 2023. Not guilty Dr Opuni is standing trial with Seidu Agongo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agricult Ghana Limited, an agrochemical company. State prosecutors have accused the two of causing a financial loss of more than GH271 million to the state in a series of lithovit foliar fertiliser transactions. It is the case of the prosecution that the fertiliser was substandard, and has accused Agongo of allegedly using fraudulent means to sell the fertiliser to COCOBOD for onward distribution to cocoa farmers. The prosecution has further accused Dr Opuni of using his position as CEO of COCOBOD (November 2013 to January 2017) to facilitate the alleged acts of Agongo by allowing the lithovit liquid fertiliser not to be tested and certified as required by law. Dr Opuni and Agongo have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and are on self-recognisance bail in the sum of GH300,000 each. Challenging Heights provides financial support to fisherfolks Daily Graphic Jul - 26 - 2023 , 07:24 Challenging Heights has provided financial support, valued at GH250,000, to 368 fishermen in Winneba to help them cope with the impact of this years fishing closed season. The beneficiaries were carefully selected from among those who are caregivers of children of school age, and whose sources of income have seized as a result of the closed season. Beneficiaries of this support received cash amount ranging between GH500 and GH1,000 per the needs of the individuals. Challenging Heights Challenging Heights, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) explained that, this cash support is meant for various purposes including the repair of fishing gears, support their childrens education, and for the women in the value chain to engage in petty trading. A couple of weeks ago, the minister of fisheries and aqua culture announced the suspension of all fishing activities for the month of July, rendering fisherfolks within the fishing value-chain with no alternative income sources for the period. Presenting the financial packages to the beneficiaries, the president of Challenging Heights, James Kofi Annan, expressed his displeasure with the government for not doing enough to mitigate the impact of the closed season on the fishermen and fishmongers whose livelihoods were being affected. He said artisanal fishing directly employed more than 200,000, and over 2.2 million people in the fishing value-chain. Asking all these men and women not to work for four weeks without providing appropriate mitigation makes the fishermen more vulnerable to poverty, and consequently affects the education of their children, Mr Annan argued. Support Challenging Heights is a Ghanaian anti-slavery/human trafficking organisation that supports vulnerable fishing and farming communities in 12 out of the 16 regions in the country. This year, the organisation has, so far, supported 350 SHS students, 245 TVET students, and 235 tertiary students across the country. Challenging Heights also supported 320 farmers with farm inputs during the farming season, and is currently supporting over 500 children who have been rescued from worst forms of child labour, and trafficking situations, as well as over 600 women in various livelihoods programmes. We have since the inception of this NGO, rescued, supported several thousands of children, women and youth out of poverty and out of various vulnerabilities. Challenging Heights also engages in advocacy at different levels within Ghana, Mr Annan explained. Closed season A couple of years ago, the government introduced the annual fishing closed season, with the purpose of improving the fish stock in the nations marine waters. Fishermen and fishmongers have lamented the untold hardship the closed season policy has plunged them into. In view of the consequences of the closed season, Challenging Heights is calling on Ghana to provide appropriate insurance packages for the affected individuals whose livelihoods depend on the fishing value-chain. Dont cry again in my court - Judge warns Aisha Huang Justice Agbenorsi Jul - 26 - 2023 , 03:50 The judge hearing the case in which a Chinese woman, En Huang, aka Aisha Huang, has been accused of facilitating and engaging in illegal mining in the country, has warned the accused not to cry in her court again. Today should be the last time you cry in my court. This is disrespectful to the court. If you want to cry, cry in custody before you come. This question is so harmless, Justice Lydia Osei Marfo told Aisha Huang, who was crying for the second time since she opened her defence on Monday, July 10, 2022. What happened? Aisha Huang, who has opened her defence in the case, was being cross-examined by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Yvonne Atokora Obuobisa, last Monday when she broke down in tears. The DPP confronted Aisha about her second coming to Ghana after her deportation in 2018. You came back to Ghana so you could continue your illegal activity in Ghana, isnt it, the DPP queried Aisha. But in her response, Aisha told the court that after her deportation, she was never told that she could not return to Ghana again, adding: So after staying in China for a long time, I thought it was okay for me to return, thats why I came back. She further added that she specifically went to Tamale upon her second arrival just to collect debts owed her by debtors. En Huang has been accused of being in the thick of affairs of galamsey, especially in the Ashanti Region. She was deported from Ghana in 2018 after the Attorney-General (A-G) decided to discontinue her trial in which she was accused of engaging in small-scale mining without a licence. However, she was said to have sneaked back into Ghana to allegedly engage in the same activities for which she was deported. The A-G, Godfred Yeboah Dame, then prosecuted her for the alleged crimes before her deportation and new ones committed since her re-entry into Ghana. It is the case of the prosecution that Aisha had an illegal mining concession at Bepotenten in the Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region and also operated a mining support services company. She has pleaded not guilty to undertaking a mining operation without a licence, facilitating the participation of persons engaged in a mining operation, the illegal employment of foreigners and entering Ghana while prohibited from re-entry. EOCO partners Mobile Money Ltd to fight fraud Emelia Ennin Abbey Jul - 26 - 2023 , 08:22 The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mobile Money Limited, a subsidiary of telecommunications giant, MTN, for enhanced cooperation to combat mobile money fraud and other fraudulent activities in the digital space. The MoU aims to promote collaboration in areas such as sharing information on trends and patterns of scams, developing training guides to build capacity of investigators, coordinating investigations and exploring ways to enhance the effectiveness of building strong dockets for the prosecution of perpetrators. Criminals At a brief signing ceremony at the EOCO head office in Accra yesterday, the Executive Director for EOCO, Commissioner of Police (COP) Maame Yaa Tiwa Addo Danquah, initialed for her outfit, while the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Mobile Money Limited, Shiabu Haruna, signed for his organisation. Before sealing the pact, Mrs Addo Danquah said EOCO was committed to staying ahead of criminals through collaboration with all stakeholders. "If the criminals are working together, what about those of us who are fighting them," she asked. EOCO, she revealed, recently secured convictions for some criminals who were behind SIM swap fraud with support from some telecommunication service providers and the banking industry. "The conviction should send a signal to perpetrators that you cannot get away with such crimes," she said. Digital financial services and transactions, she said, had made life easy and while it is making life easy for us in terms of making payments and transferring money, some people have taken advantage of that to defraud unsuspecting persons. How do we stop them? Following the MOU, she said EOCO would receive training support, while Mobile Money Limited would share information of vulnerabilities and things to look out for when it develops new products to help investigators know what to watch out for in handling cases. Protection For his part, Mr Haruna said the partnership would help the organisation to better protect its customers from online scams in the country. Mobile money has become an integral part of our lives as individuals and businesses but we are saddled with issues of fraud that have permeated the services. We will use the partnership to combat the increasing rate of financial crimes, he said. Citing a recent Bank of Ghana report on fraud relating to digital financial services, he said it showed an increase in the number of cases reported between 2021 and 2022. The report, he said, also showed a significant amount of GH26million was lost through the Electronic Money Issues (EMIs) which was about 103 per cent growth in financial crime. "This shows that there is some value that our customers are losing to organised and financial crime and it is our responsibility to work with law enforcement agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book, said Mr Haruna. He said the two organisations would work together to fight emerging crimes in relation to financial crime. As a leading provider of digital financial service, we owe it to our customers to collaborate and support the fight against crime and ensure our customers have a safe environment to conduct their business and personal transactions, he said. Ghana, Israel pledge to deepen cooperation Joshua Bediako Koomson Jul - 26 - 2023 , 03:37 Ghana and Israel have agreed to deepen cooperation in the areas of agriculture, education, health and cyber security, and also support each others candidature for positions in international organisations. Both countries have realised the potential and the need to deepen cooperation in those areas and identify new areas for collaboration. The agreement was made during a closed-door engagement between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and a delegation from Israel, led by its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eli Cohen. Mr Cohen is on a two-day working visit to Ghana. The visit marks his first-ever travel to Ghana and the first visit by an Israeli Foreign Minister in almost 10 years. Among the Israeli delegation was the Deputy Director of Foreign Minister Diplomatic Bureau, Amrani Yosef, and the Director of Department Africa, Economic Division, Leo Vinovezky. Agreement As part of the engagement, both ministers signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the field of Environmental Protection between the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology and Innovation of Ghana and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Israel. That was in view of the importance that the two sides attach to issues of climate change and its effects on the environment. During the engagement, Ms Botchwey said the two parties recalled the fraternal ties that had existed between their two countries since 1958. She also encouraged the Israeli business delegation to take advantage of the expanded opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by investing in Ghana, considering the conducive business environment. Israels contribution Ms Botchwey also expressed appreciation to the government of Israel for its contribution towards Ghana's socio-economic development, particularly in human resource development through MASHA V Training programmes in health, education, agriculture, entrepreneurship and in innovation. She said she recognised Israel's contribution towards the infrastructural development in the country, including its assistance in the construction and provision of equipment for the 617-bed University of Ghana Medical Centre which was contributing to efficient healthcare delivery. Trade On multilateral issues, she reiterated Ghana's position that the two-state solution remained the most viable path to addressing the Palestinian issue and achieving lasting peace and security in the Middle East. On trade and investment, she said both parties recognised that trade volumes between the two countries had been low and agreed to work towards expanding the scope of their trade relations. In that regard, I urged the Israeli Foreign Minister to encourage the Israeli business community to take advantage of Ghana's political stability and the conducive business environment. To that end, I assured my Israeli counterpart that the Government of Ghana had put in place measures under the new GIPC Act 865 to protect their investments, Ms Botchwey said. She also expressed the hope that the outcome of the discussions would help to further deepen the relations between Ghana and Israel for the mutual benefit of both countries. Sekondi-Takoradi Faecal Sludge Management Plant at Sofokrom-Essipon commissioned Getrude Ankah Nyavi Jul - 25 - 2023 , 17:00 The Sekondi-Takoradi Faecal Sludge Management Plant located at Sofokrom-Essipon has been commissioned. At the commissioning ceremony of the 20 million Euros project on Tuesday (July 25), the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah said only 10 per cent of faecal waste collected in the region was treated before the completion of the plant. This, he said, implied that 90 per cent of the faecal waste collected in the region was dumped into the environment untreated. The Minister said the facility will boost the existing one which he noted is overstretched. According to him, Sekondi-Takoradi is the third most densely populated city in Ghana with an annual average growth of 3.2%. He added that majority of urban households depend on on-site sanitation systems. The new site The waste disposal site at Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis area which is located at Sofokrom-Essipon hosts both the waste water and municipal solid waste sites. Mr Darko-Mensah said the facility is aimed at improving the environmental conditions of the city. He emphasized that the Plant which has a design capacity of 1000m3/day with an average of 100 trucks visiting the plant daily, will improve the living conditions of the inhabitants and increase living standards in the region. "It will also decrease the level of contamination in the ground and surface water, achieve good hygiene conditions as well as create employment for the teeming youth in the region," he stated. The Minister added that the facility will also serve as a learning and research facility for professionals and students in the region. The Executive Chairman of Jospong Group, Joseph Siaw Agyepong said the project was inspired by the Presidents vision of making the country the neatest in Africa. He commended the former minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah and Western Regional Minister for their contribution towards the success of the project. "Private businessmen need people who encourages and exhibits exemplary leadership and you have encouraged me to do more. God bless you for the tremendous leadership support," he praised the two ministers. The CEO of Pureco KFT-Hungary, Ballint Horvath, in a short remark, noted that faecal topics are not glamorous topics, but its significance cannot be over emphasized. He noted the project meets high international standards and safety protocols. "With the three projects in Takoradi, Kumasi and Tamale, Ghana has shown other African countries an example of how to properly manage faecal sludge in the sub-region," he said. For his part, the State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Hungary, Mr. Tristan Azbej, said the commissioning of the project is a means to celebrate a remarkable partnership between Ghana and Hungary. "It's an achievement based on fellowship and professional commitment of both countries. Through this partnership we are inaugurating the facility built on Hungarian technology," he noted. The facility is expected to employ about 300 direct workers. Death penalty scrapped in Ghana Nana Konadu Agyeman Jul - 26 - 2023 , 10:04 Parliament has passed the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill 2022 into law, abolishing the death penalty from the statute books. When assented to by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the new law will amend the Criminal Offences Act,1960 (Act 29) to change the punishment of death penalty to life imprisonment and to provide for related matteIt was a Private Members Bill initiated by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu. The overarching objective of the new law is to reform the criminal justice system of Ghana to meet the needs of an emerging society and add the country to the league of nations that has moved away from capital punishment. The Speaker, Alban Kingsford Bagbin, referred it to the Committee on Constitution, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs which presented its report to the entire House on Tuesday. Consequently, the Bill was put to a voice vote and successfully approved by the House. Other legislators who threw their weight behind the Bill were the NDC MP for Akatsi South, Bernard Ahiafor; the NDC MP for Bolgatanga East, Dr Dominic Ayine; the NDC MP for Builsa South, James Agalga; the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Asante Akim North, Andy Appiah-Kubi; the NDC MP for Talensi, Benson Baba Tongo; the NDC MP for Krachi West, Helen Adwoa Ntoso, and the NDC MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga. Those who opposed the motion were the NPP MP for Tolon, Habib Iddrisu; the NDC MP for Zebilla East, Cletus Avoka, and the NPP MP for Hemang Lower Denkyira, Bright Wireko-Brobbey. Death penalty The death penalty, also referred to as "capital punishment", is state-sanctioned execution of individuals convicted of specified offences. In Ghana, the death penalty is imposed after a conviction for murder, attempt to commit murder, genocide, treason, high treason and or piracy and smuggling of gold or diamond. By section 304(3) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), execution of the death penalty may either be by hanging or shooting by firing squad. The imposition of the death penalty as punishment takes its root from the retributive theory of punishment. The theory is premised on the principle of an "eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, thus, if a person commits murder, the person must be punished in a manner proportionate to the crime of killing another person. Motion Moving the motion for the Bill to be read the second time, Mr Sosu said out of about 56 Commonwealth countries, only seven countries still retained the death penalty. He said about 49 had either effectively abolished capital punishment or were abolitionists in de facto. He told the House that since independence in 1957, Ghana had executed 49 persons either by firing squad or by hanging, with most of those executions happening during military regimes. With the last execution happening on July 7, 1993 when 12 men were killed by firing squad, he argued that the current position of Ghana was that of abolitionist de facto. In practice since 1993 to date, Ghana has not signed the death warrant to execute anyone and that is highly commendable, he said. He recalled how Ghana had made moves to abolish the death penalty, citing how the then NDC government commissioned in 2010 the Constitutional Review Commission that recommended that the death penalty be replaced with life imprisonment. He said the then government, through a white paper, accepted that recommendation but steps to address it were not complete until it lost power. Since then, he said, there had been a political, religious and judicial consensus for the abolition of the death penalty, with the current President openly endorsing the end of the use of mandatory death penalty both home and abroad. Mr Speaker, all the consensus we built over the years supports the fact that it is time for Ghana to amend its laws so that it can align with our practices, Mr Sosu argued. Comply with treaties Seconding the motion, the Ranking Member of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Ahiafor, who presented the committees report, said life lost could not be regained. He cited a judicial principle that said: It is better you leave 99 per cent guilty persons free than to convict one innocent person. He argued that anytime the death penalty was carried out, those who were executed did not stand the chance to appeal their conviction even in the face of new evidence that might exonerate them. With Ghana being a signatory of international human rights treaties and conventions that called for abolition of the death penalty, Mr Ahiafor said: We must comply with the treaties and conventions. In his view, for three decades those who committed offences for which the death penalty should apply did not suffer it because no President had ever been ready to append his signature for the person to be executed. So, in reality, it is converted to life imprisonment. So why should the death penalty still continue to be on our statute books? he asked. He, therefore, urged the House to adopt the committees report and pass the Death Penalty Bill into law. I dont support death penalty Contributing, Dr Ayine, a former Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, said he had personal reasons for not supporting the death penalty. He shared the story of his elder brother who was sentenced to death and was put on death row at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison. He recounted the harrowing experience his family went through as they all believed his brother was innocent but we were helpless in the face of the law. Luckily for the family, he said former President Jerry John Rawlings gave him a pardon for him to rejoin the family. Consequences Opposing the motion, Mr Avoka submitted that the arguments advanced in favour of the motion were spurious and unmeritorious. He said while arguments had been for the one who killed to be spared of death, the victims had been overlooked. They did not balance the argument with the trauma, pains and suffering families of a breadwinner or a loved one go through. He cited an instance where armed robbers could attack him at his residence at 2 a.m. to rape his partner and later kill him. Then this man has a right to live and I, who he took my life within 30 minutes, have no right to live? he asked. Abolishing the death penalty has far-reaching consequences. Mr Speaker, given the society we find ourselves, it is premature now to go out and tell Ghanaians that if you kill anyone you will go to prison and after five years another government will come release you, he argued. Ghana will deepen collaboration with Qatar President Donald Ato Dapatem Jul - 26 - 2023 , 06:38 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that Ghana will deepen collaboration with Qatar for the mutual benefit of the two countries. The President said bilateral cooperation would centre on two-pronged sectors economic and politics. He recalled the warm reception he always received as President of Ghana on his visit to the Kingdom and commended the two countries for the bond of friendship. President Akufo-Addo was speaking when the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Qatar Investment Authority for Africa and Asia, Sheikh Faisal Al Thani, paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday. Diplomatic ties Ghana in 2018, opened its embassy in the Qatari capital, Doha, after more than 30 years of progressive relations between the two countries established in 1981 through non-resident representation. The two countries are bound by sets of signed agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) that regulate their relations, including an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of financial evasion in 2007. President Akufo-Addo (left) welcoming Eli Cohen, Israeli Foreign Minister, to the Jubilee House It also includes agreements on the establishment of a trade and investment committee between the two countries in 2004, MoU between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries in 2004, and an agreement between the chambers of commerce of Qatar and Ghana to establish a joint business council. Exchanging mutual visits between the two countries also confirms the intention to promote relations and also develop them to higher levels in the interest of the countries and their people. Israeli Foreign Minister In a related development, the Israeli Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, also paid a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House yesterday where the President called on Israel to support the country in the processing and management of its water resources. He said the country was interested in tapping Israels expertise and technology in the processing and management of water, adding, I am very sure that companies with expertise in that area could help Ghana secure its water resources. President Akufo-Addo also said that there was a lot the country could learn from Israel such as technological advancement in cyber security and the formula for harnessing water for productive purposes. On an Africa-Israel forum, where Africa countries would gather in Israel in December for a meeting, he said many African leaders were having difficulty with such meetings. The President said in line with that, the African Union had devised a formula for such gatherings. Purpos Mr Cohen said his visit to Ghana was the first bilateral meeting he had had in Africa, an indication of how important the relations between the two nations were. He said the visit was also to strengthen the already cordial relations between the two countries, especially in the areas of health, cyber security and agriculture. In line with that, Mr Cohen said he was leading a business delegation of people with an agriculture, cyber security and infrastructure background, among others. He commended Ghanas role in international peace and security, including sending about 1,000 Ghanaian peacekeepers to Lebanon. Greater Accra Regional Hospital denies housing convicted fraudster GraphicOnline Jul - 26 - 2023 , 16:03 The management of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital has refuted claims that the facility harboured a fraudster who was supposed to be serving a 15-year jail term, stating that the individual was only admitted for medical treatment. In a news release, the Hospital clarified that the convict, David Aseye Tay, was referred from Nsawam Prison Clinic due to his illness and subsequently admitted to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital on June 23, 2023. The hospital stated that Mr. Tay required a series of surgical procedures, which warranted his admission. Contrary to the reports, the hospital emphasized that the convict was discharged and returned to police custody within less than a month after receiving treatment. The discharge occurred on July 21, 2023, and the hospital asserted that its electronic records system could validate the timeline of Mr. Tay's stay. Earlier reports had alleged that Mr. Tay had been living luxuriously at Ridge Hospital for nearly two months, feigning an illness, despite his 15-year prison sentence at Nsawam Maxim Prison. The reports suggested that he received visits from family and friends, occasionally returning home to be with his wife and family. However, Ridge Hospital categorically stated that these media reports were false and unfortunate, and they welcomed any suspicions or doubts to be verified by appropriate legal authorities. The hospital affirmed its transparency in the matter and assured that they were open to scrutiny. The situation has raised concerns, but the hospital remains steadfast in its commitment to providing accurate information and maintaining the integrity of its medical records. Inadequate funding barrier to gender responsive budgeting - Forum declares Doreen Andoh Jul - 26 - 2023 , 09:24 A national dialogue on promoting budgets that equitably responds to the needs of all genders in the agriculture sector has identified inadequate funding as a major challenge to gender responsive activities at the local government level. It also mentioned that the delay in the release of the limited allocated funds also impeded effective implementation of gender responsive activities. Patrons of the dialogue, which was held in Accra last Wednesday included directors, coordinators and other officers of the Departments of Agriculture of various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies. It was organised by two civil society organisation, SEND Ghana and OXFAM to track the impact of a capacity building session they offered to the MMDAs on gender responsive budgeting in the last two years. The participating MMDAs included Tema Metropolitan; Ga Central, North Tongu, Cape Coast and Ekumfi. The others are Nkwanta South, Sefwi Akontombra, Bosomtwi, Ejisu, Upper Manya Krobo and Asuogyaman. All the MMDAs, in their respective presentations, said although governments over the years referred to agriculture as the mainstay of the economy, investments into the sector remained very low at the assembly level, with donor funding being the main source of funding. Impact The representative of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly, Faustina Agarko, said gender responsive budgeting had helped a lot of people who were disproportionally disadvantaged economically, capacity wise, confidence wise and had limited access to land and other agricultural inputs such as seedlings and breeding stock, such as women, youth and people living with disabilities. She said helping such people through equitable distribution of resources had helped to increase productivity, reduced unemployability rate and was helping in poverty reduction. All the representatives of the various MMDAs called on the government to invest more in gender responsive activities at the assembly level because their combined efforts would translate into a national gain. The Deputy Country Director of SEND-Ghana, Dr Emmanuel Ayifah, said gender disparity was deemed a general problem locally, particularly in the area of agriculture. He said that could be addressed by implementing gender-responsive budgeting at the national and sub-national levels. In 2018, SEND-Ghana and OXFAM decided it was important to look at the issues of fiscal and gender justice in relation to budgeting. So we decided to focus on agriculture because of our keen interest in food security and nutrition. Since 2018 to date, we have been conducting training and sensitisation on gender responsive budgeting and like we are doing today, we have been following up to see how beneficiary institutions are mainstreaming gender into their budgeting and activities. Gender in this sense refers to all diversities in our population. We must ensure that any group of people, men, women living with disability, who had been marginalised and disadvantaged over the years are helped to explore their potential. It is one for all, not just women. Its all about equity, he said. Korea donates equipment to Foreign Affairs Ministry Joshua Bediako Koomson Jul - 26 - 2023 , 06:21 The Korea government has donated Information Technology (IT) equipment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration towards the 2023 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference scheduled to take place in the country in December this year. The equipment, which were received at the ministry in Accra yesterday, comprised 20 laptops, 20 printers and headphones. It is the first batch of a $1 million worth of IT products and vehicles the Korea government had pledged towards the organisation of the event. Ghana has been chosen to host the next edition of the conference from December 5 to 6, becoming the first African country to host the event. UN member states will participate in the conference as part of efforts to strengthen peacekeeping operations and its impact on communities. Rationale The Korean Ambassador to Ghana, Lim Jung-Taek, said his country was a strong supporter of UN peacekeeping missions and that since Ghana was a major player and main contributor to the operations, it was only appropriate to provide the country with such support. The Korean government will donate about $I million worth of IT products and vehicles to the Ghanaian government. Today, we hand over IT products first. The 12 protocol vehicles and 10 vans are now in transit to Ghana. We hope this support will help Ghana host the December conference successfully, he added. The ambassador further pledged the support of Korea, which is the immediate past host of the conference, towards a successful conference in Ghana. Partnership A Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, said when the country accepted to host the conference, Korea was among the first partners it engaged for logistical support. It is my utmost pleasure to witness the fulfilment of Koreas pledge to support Ghana's endeavour to put up a successful conference. Having personally chaired the meetings of the multi-stakeholder planning committee for the upcoming conference, I fully appreciate the logistical burden the conference promises to impose on us. And for that reason, I feel a sense of relief that we can count on the Republic of Korea and other partners when we encounter challenges along the way, he said. Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong said that the gesture had demonstrated the strong bond of friendship between the two countries. Northern Region benefits from free medical care Mohammed Fugu Jul - 26 - 2023 , 11:22 About 10,000 people in the Northern Region have benefited from a free health screening exercise organised by the Ghana Medical Relief (GMR), a USA-based not for profit organisation (NGO), in collaboration with the Institute for Promotion of Health, Education and the arts of Technology (iHPET). The beneficiaries were screened for various health conditions including diabetes, hepatitis B, dental infections, eye infections and blood pressure. A team of health practitioners, made up of eye specialists, medical doctors, midwives, pharmacists, laboratory technicians and nurses attended to the beneficiaries. Some of the beneficiaries who were diagnosed of various diseases were given medication for free while others were counselled and were referred to the various units of the Tamale Teaching Hospital and other health facilities for further attention. The screening was carried out in four zones in the region, namely Tamale, Yendi, Saboba and Bimbilla. Aside from that, the organisation is also enrolling about 2,000 people onto the National Health Insurance Scheme free of charge to enable them to access medical care. The President of the Ghana Medical Relief, Dr Samuel Owusu, said the gesture formed part of the organisation's commitment to provide free healthcare services to the people, particularly those who could not afford it. A health worker (left) attending to some of the beneficiaries He indicated that the organisation had been providing free medical care to communities in the country for the past five years to improve the health care of the people. He reiterated the organisation's commitment to continue to give back to society, stating that "some of the communities are suffering to access health care due to circumstances beyond their control and their income level". "The free health screening has come to ease the burden on parents and caretakers in this region. I urge all the beneficiaries to prioritise their health by doing regular check-ups at the health facilities " Dr Owusu noted. Commendation For his part, the acting Northern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Braimah Baba Abubakari, commended the organisation for selecting the region to benefit from the free medical screening exercises. He reiterated his outfit's commitment to continue to partner various organisations to deliver quality healthcare services to the people. OSP will brief public on Cecilia Dapaah investigations when concluded Enoch Darfah Frimpong Jul - 26 - 2023 , 09:08 The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) says it will brief the public on the outcome of the Cecilia Dapaah investigation when concluded. Cecilia Dapaah is the immediate past Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources and the OSP's investigation is in respect of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of money and other valuable items reportedly stolen from her residence by two house helps in 2022. The OSP on Monday arrested Cecilia Abena Dapaah and conducted a search in her official residence as sector Minister at Cantonments and her private residence at Abelemkpe in Accra, where the said theft reportedly took place between July and October 2022. Since the announcement of the arrest and the subsequent search in her residence, there have been varied media reports about the work the OSP is doing. Some have demanded explanations and briefing from the OSP on what has been reported. However, in a public notice issued Wednesday morning, the OSP said it is "still conducting its investigation. The public will be briefed on the outcome of the investigation when it is concluded, including any further steps the Office may take." "The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has taken notice of purported reports, pictures and videos of the steps and actions taken in respect of the matter involving Cecilia Abena Dapaah..." "The OSP has not revealed, published, or caused to be revealed or published, any report, videos, or pictures of the steps and actions it has taken in the matter and the outcome of the steps and actions." "The OSP advises the public to disregard any report, videos or pictures purportedly showing the steps and actions and the outcome of such steps and actions taken by the OSP," it added. Attached below is a copy of the notice PUBLIC NOTICE On Thursday 20 July 2023, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) commenced investigation into suspected corruption and corruption related offences involving the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah in respect of large cash sums reportedly stolen from her house. The OSP has, since then, taken a number of steps and actions, including placing Ms. Dapaah under arrest and conducting searches at two residential properties associated with her. The OSP is still conducting its investigation. The public will be briefed on the outcome of the investigation when it is concluded, including any further steps the Office may take. PUBLIC NOTICE (2) The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has taken notice of purported reports, pictures and videos of the steps and actions taken in respect of the matter involving Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources. The OSP has not revealed, published, or caused to be revealed or published, any report, videos, or pictures of the steps and actions it has taken in the matter and the outcome of the steps and actions. The OSP advises the public to disregard any report, videos or pictures purportedly showing the steps and actions and the outcome of such steps and actions taken by the OSP. The OSP will brief the public on the outcome of the investigation upon its conclusion and any further action the Office may take. The OSP placed Cecilia Abena Dapaah under arrest at 11:55 GMT on Monday, July 24, 2023 and questioned her. Mrs Dapaah resigned from the position of Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources on Saturday, July 22, 2023. OSP searches Cecilia Dapaah's home Later on Monday (July 24) officials from the OSP accompanied by police personnel visited the official residence Mrs Dapaah at Cantonments and at her private home at Abelemkpe in Accra and searched the two places. Some neighbours gathered around to observe the security officials enter the house. What happened in Cecilia Dapaah's home? Two house helps working for Cecilia Abena Dapaah 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 Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah, including assorted clothes valued at GH95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewellery worth US$95,000, according to the police charge sheet. Additionally, Patience Botwe is 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 Patience 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. According to court proceedings, the stolen monies and items belonged to Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah and her husband, taken from their bedroom in their residence. The accused individuals were arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Susana Ekuful, on Thursday, July 20, 2023. However, their pleas have not been taken yet. The court granted bail to Sarah Agyei in the sum of GH1 million with two sureties. The sureties are required to deposit their Ghana cards with the court's registrar. The bail conditions are subject to review by the substantive judge, as Susana Ekuful was serving as a relief judge. On the other hand, Patience Botwe, along with her alleged boyfriends and father, have been remanded into lawful custody. The complainants reported the theft case to the police after discovering the missing cash and personal effects. Patience Botwe was caught red-handed entering the couple's room with a duplicate key, leading to her arrest. Further investigations revealed that Patience, with the help of her alleged accomplice Sarah, had hidden the stolen money and used it to purchase properties and expensive items. Writer's email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh President appoints Sanitation Minister, 2 others - Police refer househelps theft docket to A-G Donald Ato Dapatem Jul - 26 - 2023 , 00:00 The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has appointed the Minister of State at the Presidency, Freda Prempeh, as the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources. Between 2017 and 2020, she was the Deputy Minister of Works and Housing. Also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano North in the Ashanti Region, Ms Prempeh takes over from Cecilia Abena Dapaah, who resigned from her position on Saturday, July 22, 2023. The resignation was accepted by the President the same day. Other appointments President Akufo-Addo, in consultation with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, and Roads and Highways, has also appointed the Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways and MP for Afigya Sekyere East, Mavis Nkansah Boadu, as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. The President has also moved the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and MP for Tatale/Sanguli, Thomas Mbomba, to the position of Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways. A statement signed by the Director of Communications at the Office of the President, Eugene Arhin, said the appointments took immediate effect. Docket referred Meanwhile, the police have forwarded the docket of the theft case involving two house helps of former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, to the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice for review and advice. The two househelps who worked for Ms Dapaah and her husband, Daniel Osei-Kuffour, are facing charges at an Accra Circuit Court, for allegedly stealing moneys and items worth millions of cedis from the couple's residence at Abelemkpe in Accra. The accused, 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. According to police sources, some of the stolen items have been recovered. The househelps allegedly stole $1 million, 300,000 and an unspecified sum of Ghana cedis from the couple. They are also alleged to have stolen personal effects belonging to Ms Dapaah, including assorted clothes valued at GH95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewellery worth $95,000. Additionally, Miss Botwe is accused of stealing six pieces of kente cloth worth GH90,000 and six sets of men's suits valued at $3,000, which belong to the ex-minister's husband. Background The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is investigating Ms Dapaah over suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large sums of money and other valuable items stolen from her residence. The former minister had $1 million, 300,000, a large sum of Ghana cedis and other valuable items allegedly stolen from her house by her househelps. Operatives of the OSP stormed the home of the former minister as part of the investigative process. Context Two househelps of Ms Dapaah and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, are facing charges at an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly stealing moneys 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. Three other individuals, identified as Miss 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. According to court proceedings, the stolen moneys and items belonged to Ms Dapaah and her husband, and were taken from their bedroom in their residence. The accused were put before an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Susana Ekuful, on Thursday, July 20, 2023. Their pleas are yet to be taken. The court granted bail to Ms Agyei in the sum of GH1 million with two sureties who were required to deposit their Ghana Cards with the court's registrar. The bail conditions are, however, subject to review by the substantive judge, as Ms Ekuful was only serving as a relief judge. Miss Botwe, along with her alleged boyfriends and father, on the other hand, were remanded in lawful custody. Ms Dapaah and her husband reported the theft case to the police in June 2023 after discovering that the cash and personal effects were missing. Miss Botwe was allegedly caught red-handed entering the couple's room with a duplicate key, leading to her arrest. Further investigations revealed that Miss Botwe, with the help of her alleged accomplice, Ms Agyei, had allegedly hidden the stolen money and used it to purchase properties and expensive items. Upper East: NPA, security agencies clamp down on fuel smuggling Gilbert Mawuli Agbey Jul - 26 - 2023 , 09:05 The National Petroleum Authority, together with the various security agencies, have clamped down on fuel smuggling in the Upper East Region, Regional Manager of the NPA, Bashiru Natogma, has disclosed. He stated that some years back, smuggling of fuel to neighbouring countries such as Togo and Burkina Faso was a rampant development which was a great source of worry to the NPA. He said: Because of the effective collaboration between the NPA and the security agencies, this illegal activity is now a thing of the past in all border communities and towns. Mr Natogma was speaking during an engagement organised by the NPA for some selected journalists in Bolgatanga, at which officials briefed the media on the operations of the NPA in the region as well as fuel supply and availability in the country. He said communities such as Pindaa, Bonia and Nania Field, among others where the illegal fuel trading activity was rife, had turned into ghost towns since the illicit fuel trade had been eradicated. He noted that security agencies were on high alert on a daily basis and were patrolling such places, which had made the trade unattractive to those involved, leading to its eventual stoppage. Committed Mr Natogma stated that the NPA was committed to ensure the illicit trade did not flourish again, as it would deprive Ghana of the needed revenue as well as the quality of fuel products to be consumed by consumers. He stressed, I wish to assure you that with measures put in place under the leadership of the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, we will make conscious efforts to ensure that the gains made are consolidated. Touching on the recent closure of 16 fuel reseller outlets, he announced that owners of some of them had begun the process to regularise their operations, saying the others who fail to do so will have their establishments decommissioned. He advised members of the public who suspected cheating after buying fuel against confronting the attendants, saying as a customer it is not right to argue or confront fuel attendants on suspected cheating. Rather, he urged them to immediately report to the NPA for immediate action to be taken, since confronting them publicly would make them tamper with the evidence needed to address their complaints. He noted that dealing with suspected cheating at the pump was evidence-based and that immediately a consumer confronted them, and they quickly adjusted it afterwards, it would be very difficult for the NPA to unravel any cheating. Fuel imports For his part, the Head of Planning at the NPA, Dominic Aboagye, in a presentation, said only 20 per cent of the fuel consumed was refined locally and that the remaining 80 per cent was imported into the country. He expressed optimism that when the ongoing construction of the Sentuo Oil Refinery in Tema was completed, it would shore up the percentage of crude oil refined locally and automatically reduce the fuel imported into the country. He said Ghanas petroleum products were among the best in West Africa and they competed with other products in Europe and other oil producing nations. Consensus building does not diminish a leader - Mahama Zadok Kwame Gyesi Politics Jul - 26 - 2023 , 16:20 Former President John Dramani Mahama has stressed the need for the government to make consensus building a key component of its strategies in delivering good governance to the people. Consensus building does not diminish a leader" but rather projects a leader's strength in carrying along his vision with the people that he leads." Former President Mahama said this when he addressed the opening of the 2023 National Development Conference organised by the Church of Pentecost at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region today, July 26, 2023. The conference, which is on the theme: Moral vision and national development brought together key personalities, stakeholders, bodies and institutions in the country to deliberate on critical issues that border on the countrys development. Among the speakers attending the event are Vice President Dr. Mamoudu Bawumia; Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin; Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo; former President John Agyekum Kufuor; President of Ghana Journalist Association, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour; Former Minister of Womens Affairs of Zimbabwe, Dr Olivia Nyembezi Muchena and Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu. Expatiating on his call on the government to build consensus, Mr. Mahama said through consensus building, leaders are able to come up with good ideas that could help to advance the development of the country. He said during his tenure as President, he held a forum that offered opportunity to Ghanaians to offer ideas on some critical issues. For him, the Senchi forum really contributed some good ideas that helped to stabilize the countrys economy and other important matters that bordered on the countrys development. Mr. Mahama believes that when the government also emulates the example of the Church of Pentecost to hold a national forum, it will offer ideas on some key government projects, including the implementation of the free Senior High School programme. Touching on the theme, the former President expressed the concern that the country was fast losing its moral and ethical codes. "We are faced with an erosion of our traditional values and Westernisation of our societies and adoption of alien cultures imported from elsewhere," he noted. For him, many communities do not care about moral and ethical values and that could be seen in how people whose sources of income are not known are celebrated in the country. "What happened to our abhorrence for greed and theft", Mer. Mahama quizzed, saying why do we celebrate persons, who today are wealthy with dubious sources of income and yet society is not concerned about the person's source of income." He said "ethics have a direct impact on national development", adding that all societies that "have fallen lost their ethics and moral compass." The leader of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) expressed the hope that Ghana will continue to maintain its moral compass." Election of MMDCEs will strengthen democracy Lecturer Samuel Duodu Politics Jul - 26 - 2023 , 07:42 A Senior Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, Dr Kwame Asah-Asante, has welcomed the governments moves to revisit the unfinished agenda towards legal reforms to facilitate the election of metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies chief executives (MMDCEs). He said the election of MMDCEs would strengthen democracy at the grassroots and give the people the opportunity to have their choice of MMDCEs as opposed to the President administering governance through them at that level. I believe the election of the MMDCEs is long overdue. I am happy that the Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Dan Botwe, is trying to bring the issue up for a conversation and a possible execution, he stated. Dr Asah-Asante said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic following the disclosure by the Local Government Minister, Dan Botwe, on the election of MMDCEs. Recall Mr Botwe, addressing the 6th Graduation ceremony of the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) at Ogbojo in Accra last Saturday, said the political decentralisation reform with proposed amendment of Articles 243 and 55(3) of the 1992 Constitution which was cancelled in 2019 due to inadequate stakeholder understanding and consensus would help to decentralise the structure of governance in the country so that the government would be brought closer to the people when repealed. Advantages Welcoming it, Dr Asah-Asante said there were a lot of advantages associated with that which would come with the election of the MMDCEs. He said it would allow for effective administration of the state at the local level and inspire confidence in the local governance system by way of election, and that the people who were elected as the MMDCEs by the citizenry would be prepared to give their all. He noted that Ghanaians had come to accept democracy and elections as a way of electing their leaders at the national level, and when same was replicated at the grassroot level it would also increase voter turnout in the district level elections. Once you put this system in place, obviously we will get high numbers to vote. Remember that Ghanaians have come to accept democracy as the only way to select their leaders so they will do everything possible for it to work, Dr Asah-Asante stated. For the good of democracy we believe that any process that is meant to elect leaders into office is the way this country should go, he stated. The political science lecturer, however, expressed his reservations about the way the national elections to elect a president and parliamentarians were characterised by electoral malpractices and violence. Our prayer is that when we go on that tangent to elect MMDCEs, and it is accepted by all we will not introduce the evils that are associated with the national election such as rigging, irregularities, introduction of machomen into the local level elections, he said. He expressed the hope that the electoral violence and other related issues associated with the countrys national elections would be a thing of the past as the country prepared to embrace the election of MMDCEs. NDC alleges persecution against Dormaahene over nolle prosequi comment Getrude Ankah Nyavi Politics Jul - 26 - 2023 , 11:42 The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it has information that the Judicial Council was harassing and persecuting the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II. The NDC in a press statement issued by the General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey said it will collaborate with other progressive forces and defenders of democracy to embark on a series of public manifestations to protest if the Judicial Council continues to harass the chief, who is also a justice of the High Court. The NDC released the press statement on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. What the Dormaahene said? Related: Dormaahene to A-G, discontinue criminal trial of James Gyakye Quayson [VIDEO] At an event organised by the John Evans Atta Mills Heritage in Sunyani recently, the Dormaahene who is also a High Court judge said the state should consider filing a nolle prosequi in the criminal case where the Member of Parliament for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson is in court for perjury. The Dormaahene said the Attorney-General should consider that option of nolle prosequi in the light of James Gyakye Quayson's re-election by the people of Assin North in the recent by-election. In the NDC's press statement, it alleged that it has information that the Judicial Council was "allegedly victimizing" the Dormaahene over the comment. Attached below is a copy of the statement issued by the NDC: Samsung has consistently refined its Galaxy Tab series for years and the latest additions are here with the Galaxy Tab S9 trio. Like last year, Samsung is bringing a vanilla tablet with an 11-inch screen and a plus-sized version with a 12.4-inch diagonal while the top-end Ultra model boasts a massive 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel. Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra At first glance, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra might not seem that much different from its predecessor, but Samsung managed to bring in several noteworthy upgrades. All three Galaxy Tab S9 models are now IP68 dust and water resistant making them the first mainstream Samsung tablets (there is also the rugged Tab Active line) to feature this level of ingress protection. All three Galaxy Tab S9 models feature IP68 ratings and Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra brings a spacious 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 1,848 x 2,960px resolution and 120Hz variable refresh rate. The new bit here is Samsungs Vision Booster, which is also present on the Galaxy S23 devices and improves display visibility and colors in extremely bright conditions. The notch cutout is still present and houses a pair of 12MP front-facing cameras a regular wide and an ultrawide module. The quad speakers with AKG tuning are now 20% larger and the optical in-display fingerprint reader is also carried over. The Galaxy Tab S9 series is equipped with the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset just like the Galaxy S23 series and the latest foldables from Samsung. Tab S9 Ultra can be configured with 12GB or 16GB RAM and 256/512GB or 1TB storage. Each Tab S9 device is also configurable in Wi-Fi only or 5G trims and supports microSD card expansion. The back of the Tab S9 Ultra features a refined design with dual camera rings and an LED flash. Theres a 13MP main sensor with autofocus and 4K video recording capabilities up to 60fps. The secondary module is a 12MP ultrawide lens, which should be a notable upgrade from the 6MP unit on the Tab S8 Ultra. Galaxy Tab S9 family Tab S9 series boot Android 13 with Samsung One UI 5.1 on top and Samsung is also bringing continuity features for select flagship Galaxy phones including the new Flip5 which lets you use your phone as a companion display for your tablet in select apps while also offering a shared clipboard across your Galaxy devices. Samsung is also pledging four Android updates and five years of security updates. Tab S9 series devices are also getting some exclusive apps and features like GoodNotes - one of the most popular iPad apps for taking notes, which is finally coming over to Android and it will be available exclusively on supported Samsung Galaxy Tab devices. Galaxy Tab S9 continuity and GoodNotes LumaFusion the pro video editing app is getting a nice discount for Tab S9 owners with 50% off. Samsung is still bundling an S Pen stylus with all three tabs. Tab S9 Ultra also boasts an 11,200 mAh battery with 45W fast charging but youll have to supply your own brick as it is not included in the retail package. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra comes in Beige and Graphite colors and starts at $1,199/1,199/1,339. Pre-orders start today while open sales are set to begin on August 11. Galaxy Tab S9 and Tab S9+ Unlike last years Galaxy Tab S8 which had an LCD, Samsung outfitted the vanilla Tab S9 with the same Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel as its larger siblings. The Tab S9 boasts an 11-inch diagonal with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, a single 12MP front facing cam and an UD fingerprint scanner. Tab S9+ gets a 12.4-inch diagonal and the same refresh rate and it has dual 13MP + 8MP rear facing cameras just like on the Tab S9 Ultra. Samsungs Vision Booster is also present on the Tab S9 and S9+ models. Tab S9 and Tab S9+ are also equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset but the Tab S9 is only configurable with 8/12GB RAM and 128/256GB storage while the Plus gets 12GB RAM as standard and is configurable with 256/512GB storage. The other point of difference comes in the battery department where the Tab S9 brings an 8,400 mAh battery while the Tab S9+ gets a 10,900 mAh cell. Both tablets support up to 45W fast charging. All Tab S9 models boot One UI 5.1 based on Android 13 and come bundled with S Pen styluses. Galaxy Tab S9 series Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 starts at $799/799/899 while Tab S9+ will go from $999/999/1,199.Pre-orders start today while open sales are set to begin on August 11. We've got the opportunity to spend some hands-on time with the brand-new Galaxy Tab S9 series which you can check out here. With a persistent legal battle against crimes from methamphetamine use and weapons, the 37th Guam Legislature has proceeded with a bill to extend imprisonment terms to a minimum of ten years. Sen. Thomas Fisher, the author of Bill 79-37, stated this is a significant weapon for prosecutors to exploit as it can be leveraged to extract plea deals from the accused. The bill will enact a minimum imprisonment of ten years if a person convicted of a felony uses a deadly weapon that is a firearm, according to existing Guam law. If youre going to point a gun at someone, it doesnt matter if you pull the trigger. Youre going to cause significant distress to an individual that you merit increased punishment for that, stated Fisher. While the measure received nearly unanimous support from the senators, Sen. William Parkinson was the sole senator to voice his disapproval of the measure as he chose not to co-sponsor the bill. Im not quite sure how I feel about this bill. On one hand, I admire the intent of the author to make our communities safer by giving prosecutors the tool to extract plea deals that they may have not been otherwise able to get, stated Parkinson. I fear that there might be a cooling effect to gun ownership if people know that there might be a potential 10-year minimum felony that the attorney general could exploit against them. If were going to do it for guns, then lets do it for all. I feel it sends the wrong message that we are an anti-gun community. Sen. Chris Duenas reminded the body that the bill pertains to gun use in the commission of a felony. I look at this as an opportunity to put another deterrent on those particularly who would prey on our community by the distribution of methamphetamine, said Duenas. I support this bill because I see that it will not, in no way shape or form, deter any recreational or responsible individual wanting to acquire a firearm. We need to send a message to the community. Sen. Joanne Brown noted her support as there should be a greater price to pay for the criminals on the island. Our community continues to suffer. It is the community that has been harmed or victimized that is left to suffer, said Brown. What are we doing to help them when they see these criminals back on the streets? Our people dont have a lot of options. We should say enough is enough, and its not okay. Sen. Dwayne San Nicolas also provided what he believes is the true message to the community with this bill. We are not going to be victimized anymore. Were going to do everything we can to stay strong as a group of leaders, stated San Nicolas. I think the bill will do tremendous good for this island. Speaker Therese Terlaje then noted the impact of gun violence on the community. Just last year, there were many gun crimes. These are still traumatizing to our people despite the very common possession of firearms these days, said Terlaje. The gun violence affects our entire community. I believe it has an impact on the psyche of our children. I support this bill in the hopes that this sentence enhancement will deter the unlawful possession of firearms and the use of firearms in a felony. Sens. Roy Quinata, Telo Taitague, Frank Blas, Chris Barnett and Tina Muna Barnes all shared similar sentiment that it was unfortunate that it has to come to this point due to the dangers around, but they all maintained the idea that the bill was necessary for the justice system to stick the penalty to the criminals. Several Guam lawmakers are asking Congress to compensate civilians who were exposed to Agent Orange between 1958 and 1980. Last year, the federal PACT Act extended compensation for people serving in the military during that time who were sickened after being exposed to the herbicide on Guam. Resolution No. 29 37 says the Legislature recognizes the disparity between the unequal treatment of military personnel and non-military personnel exposed to Agent Orange and a large number of Guam residents who were civilians and non-military have testified to having similar exposure to Agent Orange resulting in similar ailments as the U.S. military veterans. The resolutions author, Sen. Jesse Lujan, will hold a hearing at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Guam Congress Building. The legislation is co-sponsored by Sens. Frank Blas Jr., Telo T. Taitague, Tina Rose Muna Barnes, Christopher M. Duenas, William A. Parkinson, Joanne Brown, Dwayne T. D. San Nicolas, Roy A. B. Quinata and Sabina Flores Perez. It was a real battle to get the U.S. military and U.S. government to recognize Agent Orange exposure on Guam, Lujan said in a news release. The veterans deserve the recognition and compensation available with the passage PACT Act. Now we must fight for the non-military civilians and residents of Guam who were also exposed to Agent Orange, and make sure that these residents are eligible for similar recognition and compensation. The resolution calls for Congress to appropriate money for Guam non-military residents who were exposed to Agent Orange and who are suffering from ailments caused by exposure to Agent Orange. The intent of the resolution is for non-military residents of Guam to receive recognition for their suffering due to Agent Orange exposure, as their military counterparts finally did. This resolution is the first step in asking the U.S. Congress and the Biden administration to include non-military civilians and residents of Guam who were exposed to Agent Orange Lujan said. Im inviting members of the public to please attend the public hearing and share their knowledge and experiences regarding the harmful effects of Agent Orange. They also deserve justice and dignity. In an effort to support timely school openings, the Department of Public Health and Social Services requested the Guam Department of Education to provide an accurate list of campuses ready for public health inspections. DPHSS Director Art San Agustin explained in a letter to GDOE Superintendent Dr. Erik Swanson on Wednesday that GDOE leadership was providing conflicting guidance on the state of school campuses, according to the Office of the Governor of Guam. During a July 18 legislative oversight hearing, GDOE reported that campuses categorized in Phase I were ready for public health inspections. Days later, on July 21, the regulatory agency was advised otherwise when GDOE leadership stated it would be another two weeks before almost all Phase I schools would be ready for inspection, according to the governors office. San Agustin further noted his concerns in the letter. The DPHSS is concerned that GDOE has told DPHSS their schools are not ready for inspection and would not be ready for several more weeks while publicly, GDOE has been stating their schools are ready for inspection and GDOE is simply waiting for DPHSS to conduct the inspections, said San Agustin. I am respectfully requesting your assistance in providing DPHSS with an accurate list of schools GDOE believe are ready for inspection by the Division of Environmental Health. An accurate list is necessary for DEH to allocate its resources most effectively. We look forward to working with GDOE to ensure the schools provide a healthy and safe environment for the students, teachers, and school personnel, concluded San Agustin. Effective Monday, Public Health was prepared to deploy three teams to conduct inspections of three different schools concurrently. According to the governors office, this plan follows Public Law 37-4, which mandated that DPHSS inspect all GDOE schools prior to renewing their sanitary permits. The governors office also noted that PL 37-4 further limited the circumstances in which DPHSS may grant variances to public schools as a variance cannot be given to a school if it means that variance will allow the school to pass inspection. The Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration maintained that a legislative remedy is necessary to correct PL 37-4 which paralyzes schools, rendering them unable to open for the upcoming school year. The administration also alluded to warnings from DPHSS during a public hearing that such legislation would force the closure of schools and prevent timely openings for the new school year. The bill was authored by Sen. Chris Barnett, the oversight chair for education. Sen. Chris Barnett stated in response that the schools are not paralyzed. Everyone is working hard to get GDOE ready for inspection and opening. We are moving forward, stated Barnett. The Legislature has always said we stand ready and committed to assisting GDOE with PL 37-4 compliance efforts. To support school openings, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero activated the Guam National Guard to conduct debris cleanups at all of the islands 41 public schools. That mission was completed on July 20, according to the Office of the Governor of Guam. The following day, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with FEMA and the Office of the Governor, launched its ongoing school debris removal program to haul sorted debris off campuses. The GDOE Facilities and Maintenance Team is also working on opening schools safely as GDOE announced that students will begin classes for school year 2023-2024 on Aug 23. Originally slated to begin Wednesday, Aug. 9, the start date was delayed two weeks to allow our Facilities & Maintenance team to bring as many schools as possible into compliance with Public Law 37-4, stated GDOE in a press release. GDOE teachers are still expected to report to work on Aug. 4. GDOE is updating the SY 2023-2024 calendar and will post the revised SY 2023-2024 calendar on the official website and its social media accounts within the week. Parents and guardians are encouraged to contact their childrens schools for more specific information. Ron McNinch is a longstanding member of the Guam community and frequently gives his opinion on a wide range of topics. Haiti - Politic : Colombia has a responsibility in the crisis in Haiti says President Petro The President of Colombia Gustavo Petro speaking last week, during the commemoration ceremony of the Bicentenary of the Navy, in Cartagena insisted on the cooperation and the rapprochement that his country should have with Haiti and assured that Colombia (in reference to the assassination of President Jovenel Moise https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html by a Colombian commando) bears the responsibility for the disaster that Haiti is currently experiencing in which Colombia has a participation through its worst, darkest forces that have contributed to destroying this nation and for which we have a responsibility that we must make ours [...]" https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39152-haiti-politic-colombian-president-gustavo-petro-feels-co-responsible-for-the-situation-in-haiti.html President Petro remembers the country of Haiti "[...] which was so close to us 200 years ago, when money was scarce, when its weapons helped Bolivar's army to conquer freedom and Jose Prudencio Padilla." Petro assured that Colombia should work for the union between Colombia and Caribbean countries such as Haiti, Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas, Trinidad Tobago, among others, to promote a development strategy for the Caribbean. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39152-haiti-politic-colombian-president-gustavo-petro-feels-co-responsible-for-the-situation-in-haiti.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34351-haiti-flash-all-the-arrested-colombian-ex-soldiers-were-aware-of-a-plan-to-kill-president-moise.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34188-icihaiti-flash-11-mercenaries-arrested-in-the-taiwanese-embassy.html S/ HaitiLibre Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up New Ad-free Subscriber Login Email Password Password Username Subscribe to our daily NewsLetter Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password or receive our NewsLetter. Stay logged in Lost password Contact Giant panda Yuan Meng, born in France on August 4, 2017, is embarking on his homecoming trip on July 25, 2023, to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in southwest China's Sichuan Province. Experts in China and France are working together to ensure his safe transportation to China. Yuan Meng was the first baby panda to be born in France after his parents arrived at Beauval Zoo in 2012. His name "Yuan Meng" means "the realization of a wish" or "accomplishment of a dream." Brigitte Macron, the first lady of France, was named as his godmother. The panda is a young adult now and a hot star on the zoo's social media platforms with fans frequently commenting on his activities. French netizens even jokingly express their desire to "kidnap" Yuan Meng and keep him with them. ShareBar Comments must be on-topic and civil in tone (with no name calling or personal attacks). Any promotional language or urls will be removed immediately. Your comment may be edited for clarity and length. We're a family of seven living in Georgia where Andrew's working as a professor at GSU. You can read more about us here If you create the impression that people here are hostile toward other nationalities, its very detrimental for Finlands country image. Finland must be a safe country for everyone to live and study, he outlined in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat on Monday. TIMO RITAKALLIO , the chief executive of OP Financial Group, has voiced his alarm about the racism debate and its effects on work-based immigration to Finland. We have to make sure that the children of families moving from abroad are able to attend school and that spouses can find work easily. Increasing work-based immigration, he stressed, is very important for the future of Finland. Many industrial sectors need more labour, which is why work-based immigration must be increased broadly. Well also have to try and make sure that as many foreign students as possible stay here. OP Financial Group itself is planning on recruiting 300 international experts to develop the financial services of tomorrow to its facilities in Helsinki and Oulu. It has also launched a partnership with Sisu, a programming school established in Kuopio, with a view to bolstering domestic information technology expertise and attracting international talent. OP and its information technology partners presently employ people of 38 nationalities. Ritakallio stated to the newspaper that it remains difficult to gauge whether the country image has already eroded due to the discussion surrounding the actions and statements of members of the Finns Party, including Minister of Finance Riikka Purra. If the discussion continues for a while and people abroad get the impression that were hostile toward foreigners, itll definitely damage Finlands country image. Pekka Lundmark, the chief executive of Nokia, expressed his concern about the situation last week in an interview with STT, stating that it is absolutely critical that the government continues to develop work-based immigration. The Finnish network equipment maker, he told, has made roughly a half of its hirings in recent years from abroad and expects the same trend to continue going forward. Although its recruitment campaigns are unlikely to be affected by the tighter rules to be introduced by the government, given that it is mostly hiring for relatively highly paid positions, the signals sent by the government are important. Its important that the signals are that this is a country where everyone is welcome to work. Finland is one of our most important product development countries and, for it to be it, we must have good preconditions for work-based immigration, stated Lundmark. For Finlands reputation, its absolutely critical that we make it clear to everyone that Finland is an open society where no kind of racism is tolerated. Also Lundmark reminded that the question pertains not only to the engineers the company is recruiting, but also to their spouses, the job opportunities available to the spouses, and the integration of their entire family. Aleksi Teivainen HT Among the participants are Member of European Parliament Silvia Modig (LA), and Members of Finnish Parliament Ilmari Nurminen (SDP) and Aino-Kaisa Pekonen (LA). THREE FINNISH POLITICIANS who have profiled themselves as advocates of climate action have come under criticism on social media for participating in Amazing Race Suomi, a TV show to be aired on Nelonen. Its difficult to say how disappointed I am. Disappointed about Nelonens decision to show people flying aimlessly back and forth. Disappointed about Silvia Modigs decision to participate, tweeted Panu Halme, a conservation biologist at the University of Jyvaskyla The Amazing Race is an American, 20-year-old format where participants form teams and fly around the world to compete against each other in challenges. Nelonen told Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday that not all of the journeys will necessarily be made by air, but the participants will also have other options. The Finnish version has 12 2-person teams competing for a prize of 30,000 euros. The show began shooting on Monday. Niina Ratilainen (Greens), a Finnish delegate to the European Committee of the Regions, has similarly expressed her disapproval with the format. The top news in recent days has been that the worlds on fire due to climate change also in Europe. Do we really need a format where you fly celebrities, whod have the wealth to travel, around the world for micro-moments? she queried on Twitter. These kinds of competitions are irresponsible in the age of the climate crisis, echoed Merja Pentikainen, a Finnish lawyer specialising in responsibility questions. Modig, Nurminen and Pekonen participating in the show has garnered attention particularly because all three have voiced their concern about the climate crisis and profiled themselves as advocates of climate action. Modig in 2022 criticised the Finnish government for incorporating air travel into its decision lower the value-added tax on transport services. Supporting public transport with the [tax] cut is a welcome decision. Supporting air travel in these circumstances feels absurd. Yes, Finland is a big country and certain flight connections are very important, but it would be smarter to use railways to provide a large share of them, she tweeted. Both Modig and Pekonen have expressed their support for an aviation tax as a means to reduce emissions from air travel. Air travel is so global that also the solution has to be global, Modig wrote on YLEs voter-guidance pages ahead of the 2019 elections to the European Parliament. If a global agreement cant be reached, the EU must enact its own flight tax. Air travel is presently clearly under-taxed if you compare the taxes on other traffic with the emissions caused by air travel. If you compare flying to using a car, using a car is something you cant avoid in many places in Finland, but flying is rarely that, Pekonen stated in the Parliament House in December 2018, according to Helsingin Sanomat. Also Nurminen has voiced his support for measures to combat the climate crisis and reduce emissions. Im strongly committed to the carbon-neutrality target by 2035. Climate warming is the largest common challenge for humankind, he wrote before this years parliamentary elections on the voter-guidance pages of Helsingin Sanomat. Prime Minister Sanna Marins (SDP) government, which included the Left Alliance, did not take any meaningful action to reduce air travel. It instead allocated 17 million euros to supporting short regional flights in a supplementary budget issued this year. Aleksi Teivainen HT According to the report, the illicit activities primarily revolved around the illegal importation of snus from Sweden and cigarettes from the Baltic countries. The main suspect, hailing from Pirkanmaa, was believed to have orchestrated the smuggling operations and acted as a hub for distribution through so-called sub-dealers. It is estimated that this individual alone profited hundreds of thousands of euros from the criminal enterprise. Finnish Customs' efforts culminated in a series of house searches and premises raids conducted in October 2022 in the Pirkanmaa region. During these operations, approximately 100 kg of snus, 300 cartons of cigarettes, and two unlicensed weapons were seized. The evidence collected pointed to the extensive scale of the operation and the potential harm it posed to public health and safety. Following the trail of the main suspect's activities, Finnish Customs traced the operations to the Helsinki region in November 2022. Another person residing in Vantaa was implicated in the illegal importation and distribution of excise products. The authorities confiscated around 130 kg of snus, approximately 100 cartons of cigarettes, over 2000 electronic cigarettes, one unlicensed weapon, a substantial amount of cash, and other valuables from the suspect's warehouse and van. The seizure of cash and valuables further indicated the lucrative nature of the criminal activities involved. Mr. Hannu Sinkkonen, Director of Enforcement, emphasized the significant financial gains that both the person from Pirkanmaa and the person from Vantaa had likely acquired through their illicit operations. The exact sums will be determined upon the conclusion of the preliminary investigation. The case has been meticulously investigated by the Tampere and Helsinki units of Customs Investigation. As a result of the probe, both the individual from Pirkanmaa and the one from Vantaa were detained initially but later released pending further investigation. The Finnish Customs suspects around twenty individuals of engaging in aggravated tax frauds, tax frauds, and unlawful dealing in imported goods. Additionally, one person is suspected of aggravated tax fraud and smuggling. The preliminary investigation is now in its final stages, and the case will be handed over to the Prosecution Districts of Western Finland and Southern Finland in early autumn for consideration of charges. The authorities are committed to prosecuting those involved in this criminal network to ensure justice is served and to deter others from engaging in similar illegal activities. Illegal distribution of snus and cigarettes not only undermines public health and safety but also results in significant financial losses for legitimate businesses and governments through tax evasion. Finnish Customs' dedicated efforts in uncovering and dismantling this criminal network serve as a reminder of the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies across borders in combating transnational organized crime. The fight against the illegal trade of tobacco and related products remains an ongoing challenge, but with the commitment of authorities and vigilant citizens, it is hoped that such criminal activities will continue to be exposed and effectively curtailed in the future. HT In Finland , during the summer of July 2023, several municipalities have reported cases of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza. The disease has been particularly prevalent in seagulls, and it has also been detected in farmed fur animals in the regions of Southern and Central Ostrobothnia. Currently, the infection has been confirmed in twelve fur animal farms, and investigations are ongoing. In response to the outbreak, The Finnish Food Authority has decided to expand the infection zone established on July 20th, 2023, under the Animal Diseases Act to prevent further spread of the disease. The extended infection zone now covers the regions of Southwest Finland, Satakunta, South Ostrobothnia, Ostrobothnia, and Central Ostrobothnia, as well as Uusimaa, Kanta-Hame, Pirkanmaa, and Paijat-Hame. The decision comes into immediate effect. Within the infection zone, keeping poultry and captive birds outdoors is prohibited, including in locations practicing organic production. Exceptions can be found in the official decision. Measures within the infection zone to prevent disease spread: Restriction of Access: Visiting poultry and captive bird premises is prohibited unless it is deemed necessary. Protective Clothing: Individuals entering poultry and captive bird premises must wear dedicated protective clothing available on-site, change footwear at the entrance and exit of the premises, and wash and disinfect their hands upon entry. If handwashing facilities are not available, hand sanitization is mandatory. Safe Storage: Feeds and bedding materials should be stored in a way that prevents contact with wild birds. Termination of the Zone: The infection zone will be lifted when The Finnish Food Authority determines that there is no longer a need to prevent the spread of avian influenza. The Authority will provide separate information on the termination of the zone. The Finnish Food Authority advises thorough protection of poultry in other parts of the country as well. If any poultry or other birds show symptoms suggestive of avian influenza, unusual mortality rates, or changes in production, it is essential to immediately report the matter to the local or regional veterinary officer. Reduced water and feed consumption or decreased egg production can be signs of avian influenza infection. Similarly, reports of mass mortality in wild birds and individual dead raptors should be communicated to the local or regional veterinary officer. The district veterinarian will arrange for the necessary samples to be sent to the The Finnish Food Authority office in Helsinki. It is important to note that avian influenza viruses have limited ability to infect humans, and transmission usually requires close contact with infected wild birds, poultry, or their secretions. HT County breaks ground on $4.7M VFW renovation Commissioners Michael Edney, Daniel Andreotta, David Hill, Bill Lapsley and Rebecca McCall celebrate the start of a $4.7 million renovation of the Hedrick-Rhodes VFW Post 5206. [HENDERSON COUNTY VIDEO] Henderson County commissioners, administrators, veterans advocates and schoolchildren on Tuesday broke ground on a $4.7 million renovation of the Hedrick-Rhodes VFW Post 5206, declaring the county's commitment to veterans services and promising to renew the space where combat veterans have congregated for year to "let go of those times that they experienced when they were in war. Built in 1948, the two-story post home served hundreds of World War II veterans with socials, dances and meals, known at the time as one of the largest and most active VFWs in the state. Henderson County acquired the building from the VFW for $35,635 in April 2021 and set aside American Rescue Plan money to pay for the renovation. Were excited to be given the opportunity to save this building and not have it torn down and become whatever it might have become, County Commission Chair Rebecca McCall said. Theres a lot of history for our county in this building. It was built as a place for our veterans to come and be together and reflect and just let go of those times that they experienced when they were in war. Commissioners last week authorized a contract for a guaranteed maximum price of $4,682,261 for Blum Construction to complete the project, which includes repairs and renovations throughout the building, a new catering kitchen, rest rooms, an expanded veterans services office, a mini-museum decicated to veterans and meeting space community groups and civic clubs can use. The county plans a ribbon-cutting on the Fourth of July next year. Were very excited to go ahead and kick off this 12-month process of renovating this beautiful historic county asset," Christopher Todd, who is spearheading the project as the county's director of business and community development. "Were ready to bring back to life a building that has served veterans in this county for almost 75 years and hopefully another 75. "One of the things that we want to do in Henderson County is to grow our veterans services, and this building is going to give us that opportunity to do that." The newly adopted county budget more than doubles the investment in veterans, enabling the county to go from a parttime veterans services office to two fulltime officers. "Those are the folks here in Henderson County that work with individuals to make sure that theyre getting the benefits that theyre owed, and deserve," Todd said. * * * * * Henderson County Communications Director Mike Morgan provided video reporting. Today marks 33 years since the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This sweeping legislation protects people with disabilities from discrimination by state and local governments and employers. It ensures equal access to healthcare, social services, transportation, telecommunications, and other critical services. The ADA guaranteed disabled people the right to live the lives they want to live, with equal access to all our country has to offer. Passing the ADA was a significant victory in the fight for disability rights. In the years since it was passed, our country has made strides toward the ADA's promise of true inclusion. Unfortunately, far too many people with disabilities are still unable get the services and supports they need to live in their communities. Lack of accessible housing and transportation creates insurmountable barriers to independence and equal opportunity for many. Bias still closes doors, threatening access to vital services like health care. I started my career as a legal aid attorney helping people with mental health disabilities and advocating for disability rights and I have continued this work for nearly four decades. I am proud of the work HHS is doing to address the health disparities of people with disabilities, expand home and community-based services, ensure equitable access to health care, and more. In his proclamation marking the ADA anniversary, President Biden calls for action to expand access to home and community based services and accessible transportation, improve employment opportunities, protect voting rights, and more. We must challenge ourselves, and our nation, to accelerate our progress and make inclusion and equal opportunity for people with disabilities a reality. The fight for disability rights continues, and we at HHS remain committed. -- People with disabilities are valued and vibrant members of communities across the country. As we mark the anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act legislation - which makes it possible for so many of our loved ones to go to school, work, and enjoy life we must all double down on our ongoing commitment to build a more inclusive America. - HHS Deputy Secretary, Andrea Palm The passage of the ADA was an important milestone in the fight for disability rights, but 33 years later, its promises remain unfulfilled for far too many disabled people. Making the ADAs powerful provisions a reality for everyone will require a concerted, committed effort from all of us. ACL is proud to continue the fight alongside people with disabilities and their families, our networks, and partners across the country until disabled people truly have equal access to all of our countrys opportunities. - Administration for Community Living Acting Administrator, Alison Barkoff The Americans with Disabilities Act embodies our nations commitment to ensuring that disabled Americans have the same rights to live, work, and flourish in their communitiesand to control their own lives and choicesas anyone else. Although we have not yet fully realized the promises of that law, HHS works every day to advance equality, opportunity, and community living for Americans with disabilities. It is our great honor at the Office of General Counsel to support and advance that work. - General Counsel, Samuel R. Bagenstos On this 33rd anniversary of the ADA, the Office for Civil Rights remains committed to enforcing its promise of equal opportunity and full inclusion for people with disabilities in all aspects of society. We will continue our work to combat inequality in health and human services through ensuring compliance and investigating complaints to fulfill the ADAs purpose: eliminating discrimination against people with disabilities. - Office for Civil Rights Director, Melanie Fontes Rainer Relentless advocacy resulted in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act 33 years ago. Today, that advocacy continues so children and adults with disabilities in our nation have their rights protected in how they live, work and learn. - Administration for Children and Families Assistant Secretary, January Contreras The Americans with Disabilities Act was a breakthrough for people with disabilities in the fight for civil rights, but 33 years later the struggle isnt over. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the gaps that Americans with disabilities experience in access, quality, safety, and appropriateness of healthcare, and we need to work together as a nation to reduce fragmentation in care and not lose further ground. Much more work is needed to ensure that the promise of the ADA is fulfilled. - Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Director, Robert Otto Valdez, Ph.D., M.H.S.A. At the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, we know the toughest challenges cant be solved without all of us working together and our mission to accelerate better health doesnt end until we reach everyone. The Americans with Disabilities Act marked a huge step forward. We know there is still much more to be done to achieve the promise of ADA, and we at ARPA-H are committed to making our agency, and our nation, a place where all can thrive. - Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health Director, Renee Wegrzyn, Ph.D. As we commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we remember the protections this bi-partisan law has afforded millions of Americans with disabilities. We also know there is much more work to be done, and I look forward to working with Congress and leaders across the Department towards fulfilling the laws promise. - Acting Assistant Secretary for Legislation, Melanie Egorin ASPE is committed to ensuring that HHS policies and programs enhance the well-being of people with disabilities and are informed by the strongest evidence. To achieve this, we recognize that people with disabilities must be central to the evidence development process, and that our work must reflect their diverse perspectives and needs. - Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Services Policy, Miranda Lynch-Smith When disaster strikes, no one should be left behind. At ASPR we are committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have access to the information and resources they need to stay safe in a disaster or public health emergency. - Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Dawn OConnell While the ADA broke down barriers to inclusion, the work is far from over. We know people with disabilities continue to face discrimination and stigma. At CDC, we are committed to helping the disability community thrive. - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director, Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. MPH The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was historic and affirmed the inherent dignity of people with disabilities. At CMS, our goal is to support all enrollees in getting the care they need through the three Ms of CMS - Medicare, Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program, and the Marketplaces. These programs serve more than one in three Americans, including millions of people with disabilities and thanks in part to the ADAs landmark advancements, our programs support the goals of people with disabilities to live and thrive in their communities. - Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. The Americans with Disabilities Act affirmed that disability rights are indeed human rights and paved the way for an inclusive and equitable society. However, we must continue to defend these hard-fought rights and strive to close the gap between legislation and lived reality, thus further ensuring that we fulfill the promise of the ADA. - Departmental Appeals Board Chair, Constance B. Tobias Inspired by the Americans with Disabilities Act and its supporters, we at the FDA are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities. We aim to foster an inclusive work environment that values diversity and empowers every individual to participate and contribute to their fullest potential. To achieve this, we actively promote a culture of inclusiveness, eliminate barriers to fair treatment and equal employment opportunities, and ensure accessibility and reasonable accommodations. Furthermore, we seek to educate our workforce about the advantages of diversity, equity, and inclusion; provide a platform to address allegations of discrimination; and facilitate the resolution of workplace grievances. Thirty-three years later our work implementing the ADA continues and will continue as we help seek to make it possible for people with disabilities to participate in the everyday commercial, economic, and social activities of American life. - Food and Drug Administration Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Robert Califf, M.D. This Disability Pride Month, we commemorate the Americans with Disabilities Act and honor those who have made strides to ensure that every person is treated equally and empowered to have a healthy, successful life. At HRSA, weve taken important steps to ensure that every child who has a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition gets the services they need, that those with HIV receive whole-person care in a supportive and stigma free environment, and that our HRSA-funded health centers continue to provide accessible primary care services, with supports like sign language services, insurance eligibility assistance, and transportation services to reduce barriers to care and improve health outcomes. We also recognize there is more work to be done. Today, and every day, we recognize all the things that make us unique and recommit our agency to challenging misconceptions about disabilities and providing the best possible care to everyone. - Health Resources and Services Administration Administrator, Carole Johnson Every person deserves equal access to healthcare, regardless of their abilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act has been instrumental in ensuring that individuals with disabilities have the same opportunities to receive quality medical care. Let's mark the anniversary of ADA by continuing to advocate for inclusive and accessible healthcare for all. - Intergovernmental and External Affairs Director, Marvin Figueroa The Indian Health Service is committed to improving the health of people with disabilities and building cultural competency and an inclusive environment across Indian Country. In the unwavering pursuit to defend the rights protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, we reinforce our efforts to fulfill the promise of equality and encourage our partners and collaborators to become allies in the movement toward acceptance and appreciation of all people within the communities we serve, regardless of ability. - Indian Health Service Director, Roselyn Tso. This month we commemorate the 33rd anniversary of passing the Americans with Disabilities Act. This piece of legislation served as a landmark moment of progress in civil rights history but it was just the beginning of ensuring disability rights. People of color, LGBTQI+ people, and other marginalized groups with disabilities face discrimination and difficulty accessing necessary health care. This disability pride month and every month, we work towards an equitable future where all Americans including those with disabilities can lead happy and healthy lives. - Assistant Secretary for Health, Adm. Rachel L. Levine ONC is continually working to advance the use of data to represent social needs and the conditions in which people live, learn, work, and play. The United States Core Data for Interoperability, which ONC updates annually, includes disability status as a standardized data element so that relevant information about patients with disabilities can be recorded and shared as appropriate to their care. - National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Micky Tripathi, Ph.D., M.P.P. The anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act commemorates a landmark legislation that broke down barriers and incorporated inclusion for millions of individuals. SAMHSA honors the diversity and uniqueness of each person who has a disability, including those with behavioral health disabilities. We are committed to ensuring that the promise of the ADA is fulfilled as we continue the work to fully realize its potential. - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D. Head and neck cancer is a group of cancers arising in the head and neck region. Common head and neck cancers include cancer of mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), nasal cavity, and salivary glands. Looking for consultation regarding Head and Neck Cancer Doctor. Dr Anita Malik- Cancer Specialist / Oncologist (MD, Radiation Oncology) Book an Appointment Today Visit Now Website:https://www.dranitamalik.com/ Check out patients feedback Google link:CLICK HERE Contact No: +91-9310491198 WhatsApp Now for quick response directly from Dr Anita Malik:MESSAGE NOW Experience: More than 17 yrs. in the field of Oncology Speciality: Oncology (MD Radiation Oncology) Position: Senior Consultant (Oncologist) Education: MBBS MD | NUH Singapore (Clinical Trained) She takes interest in research and has published papers in reputed National and International journals. She has been trained and gained experience at prestigious institutions like AIIMS, Delhi, MedantaGurugram and National University health system Singapore (NUH) for Modern radiotherapy techniques like IMRT and IGRT. She was involved in Linnac Accelerator installation and setting up a new Oncology and radiotherapy facility at Venkateshwar Hospital Dwarka New Dehli Delhi, India. Professional Associations She is a member of numerous prestigious professional associations that include: European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), Association for Radiation Oncologist of India (AROI) and Medical Council of India (MCI). Radiotherapy Techniques She is well versed with modern Radiotherapy Techniques such as IMRT, IGRT, VMAT, and Stereotactic SBRT/SRS/SRT and uses them with high precision. Here are some commonly asked questions about Head and Neck Cancer: Q What are symptoms of head and neck cancer? A. Common symptoms include persistent ulcer in mouth or tongue , lump in neck, difficulty or pain while swallowing, change in voice or hoarseness, ear pain or hearing loss, persistent nasal congestion, unexplained weight loss, difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath , blood in saliva or phlegm. Q: What are the risk factors for head and neck cancer? A: Major culprit is tobacco use (smoking or chewing) others are excessive alcohol consumption, exposure to certain chemicals and substances (such as asbestos or wood dust), human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, loose and or sharp teeth, a weakened immune system, and poor oral hygiene. Q: How is head and neck cancer diagnosed? A: The diagnostic work up includes a combination of procedures and tests. These may include a physical examination, endoscopy, CT scans or MRI, biopsy and sometimes additional tests like PET scans or special blood tests. Q: Can head and neck cancer be prevented? A: It is not completely preventable but can reduce the risk by avoiding tobacco use (in any form),moderating alcohol consumption, practicing safe sex (reduce the risk of HPV infection), maintaining good oral hygiene, and protecting against occupational exposures to harmful substances. Q: Are there any long-term side effects of treatment for head and neck cancer? A: Treatment for head and neck cancer can have both short-term and long-term side effects. Long-term side effects may include changes in speech or swallowing abilities, loss of taste or smell, dental problems, dry mouth. These side effects can be minimized with advanced treatment techniques (IMRT / Intensity modulated radiotherapy, IGRT/ Image-guided radiotherapy, SBRT/ Stereotactic radiotherapy, targeted and immunotherapy). Q: How effective is treatment for head and neck cancer and what are survival rates? A: The effectiveness of treatment depends on factors, such as the stage, the location, and the individual's overall health. Early-stage cancers generally have a better prognosis, while advanced-stage cancers may be more challenging to treat. The treatment outcomes vary, but with appropriate treatment and early detection, many people can achieve long-term survival and disease control. Q: Is head and neck cancer contagious? A: No, head and neck cancer is not contagious. Q: Can head and neck cancer recur after treatment? A: Yes, it can recur after treatment. The risk depends on various factors, including the stage of the cancer, the effectiveness of the initial treatment, and individual characteristics. Regular follow-up visits with healthcare professionals are important to monitor for any signs of recurrence and provide appropriate management if it occurs. Oncologists monitor patients during and after treatment and supportive care services can help manage, alleviate symptoms and treatment side effects. In India, cancer treatment funding can be obtained through various sources, including: Government Schemes, health insurance, NGOs, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Crowd funding. In summary, consulting an oncologist is essential for accurate diagnosis, personalized treatment, and comprehensive care during and after the cancer journey. Oncologists have the expertise and experience necessary to guide patients through this challenging time and work towards the best possible outcome. Consult us for further queries:CLICK HERE Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the views, opinions, announcements, declarations, affirmations etc., stated/featured in the same. The decision to read hereinafter is purely a matter of choice and shall be construed as an express undertaking/guarantee in favour of Hindustan Times of being absolved from any/ all potential legal action, or enforceable claims. The information does not constitute medical/health advice. Readers are strongly advised to consult a registered medical practitioner. It has been almost a year since Samsung unveiled the now previous generation of foldable smartphones, and theyve now been succeeded by the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Galaxy Z Flip5. The 5 here, represents the generation, and not specifically 5G connectivity, a common theme with smartphone naming in these times. Much like last year, Samsungs focus is on refinement with the two very distinct form factors they have in play here. The Galaxy Z Fold5 has the expected upgrade for the processor, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (Image: Press image) The Galaxy Z Fold5 has the expected upgrade for the processor, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 succeeding the Galaxy Z Fold4s Snapdragon 8+ Gen1. The company insists this chip is part of what it calls the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy the belief here is, specific customisations have been made by Qualcomm with regards to graphic performance, for Samsungs new foldables. Theres a reason why, as Alex Katouzian, who is senior vice president and general manager, mobile, compute, and XR businesses at Qualcomm Technologies, explains in a statement. Samsung is important to our mission to deliver the worlds best mobile experiences to consumers. They continue to set the pace for innovation and we couldnt be more thrilled to have Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy power the newest flagship Galaxy device line-up, he said. The biggest change, and this is quite apparent visually as well, is the all-new hinge mechanism. The Galaxy Z Fold5 will now fold flat, as in, there wont be a gap visible between the two sides of the screen in the folded state. That should, in theory, help safeguard the screen more (whether in the trouser pocket or in a bag) as things wont get lodged into that gap. It should also save a few millimetres in thickness and the phone is 10 grams lighter to carry around (253 grams is still no mean feat). Samsung said the S Pen Fold Edition is slimmer too, but the specifics arent clear. The other tweak this foldable screen gets is boosted brightness it is now rated at 1750 lumens, a significant step up from the 1200 lumens of the previous version of this Foldable Dynamic AMOLED was capable of. It should mean better visibility under bright sunlight, but how it impacts power consumption in case of sustained use at the new highs of illumination, remains to be seen the battery size hasnt changed after all (its still 4400 mAh). Refinement, a clear theme for the fifth-generation foldable phones, is further explained by TM Roh, president and head of Mobile Experience Business for Samsung Electronics. Every day, more people choose our foldables because they offer an experience people want that they cant get on any other device, he said, in a statement. Many other specifications and ergonomic detailing have also been carried forward. To be fair, there wasnt much need to reinvent the wheel. It is still a 7.6-inch foldable screen paired with a smaller 6.2-inch secondary display when the phone is in folded mode. The cameras, which were significantly improved with last years iteration, largely remain as is with a 50-megapixel sensor leading the way. Only the telephoto sees an improvement from 10 megapixels to 12 megapixels. It also means the price (at least the $1799 price point globally) remains the same too. For the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, the change you need to keep an eye on is the increased size of the cover display when this phone is flipped shut. The 1.9-inch display makes way for a larger 3.4-inch screen. The software is also smarter, to make better use of the new-found real estate. There will be widgets that you can place here, a full QWERTY keyboard that can be called upon to quickly reply to text messages (the Flip4 had some predefined replies only) and most apps will be able to utilise this space too. The idea is to save the user some time otherwise spent un-flipping the Galaxy Z Flip5s foldable display. Much like its larger foldable sibling, the theme of the flip phones newest iteration is also about carrying forward what simply works. The main display remains a 6.7-inch one (no brightness boost here), the dual camera system and battery capacity (3700 mAh) havent been changed. As expected, the processor gets an upgrade. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy powers the Galaxy Z Flip5 too. That means the Galaxy Z Flip5 could spell some discomfort for the latest generation Moto Razr Plus, which is not only powered by a generation older chip, but also misses out on some utilities such as the better water resistance rating of Samsungs phone. Samsungs implementation of IPX8, like its predecessor, means it is protected from water immersion up to 1.5 meters for as many as 30 minutes. The Moto Razr Plus, alongside some claims of dust resistance, has an official IP52 rating which makes it just splash-resistant. In India, the Galaxy Z Fold5 is up for pre-orders (Samsung calls them pre-reserve on the Samsung online store and indeed online shopping platforms such as Amazon.in too. Pricing for each variant hasnt been announced yet, but the Galaxy Z Fold5 can be pre-ordered in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage options. Default colours are Icy Blue, Phantom Black and Cream, while Grey and Blue (this is different from Icy Blue) are online exclusive colour options. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 is following the same contours of availability. You can pre-order now with 256GB and 512GB storage options. Mint, Lavender, Graphite and Cream are the standard colour choices, whereas online exclusive colourways include Grey, Blue, Green and Yellow. It is expected deliveries commence on August 11, and the India pricing details should be clarified sometime before that. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vishal Mathur Vishal Mathur is Technology Editor for Hindustan Times. When not making sense of technology, he often searches for an elusive analog space in a digital world. ...view detail A Bengaluru woman has claimed that she was rejected after the final round of a job interview as her skin tone was too fair. In a LinkedIn post, Pratiksha Jichkar shared a screenshot of the rejection mail purportedly sent by the organisation she had applied to, which stated that the decision was made to avoid differences within the team. The woman said that she will not name the company but instead urged other organisations to fix their work culture.(Unsplash/@mkvandergriff) She added that though the company preaches about inclusivity and equal opportunity, the world was still judging people based on colour, religion and other criterias. In the world where we are promoting skill based opportunities, boosting immense learning potential through AI, creating extraordinary technologies and then not hiring folks because we are still the same society who hold grudges and biases, she wrote. She said that she will not name the company but instead urged other organisations to fix their work culture and be open to people with talent, skills and potential. Jichkar reportedly had to go through three rounds of interviews and one assignment before she was turned down despite meeting all the required skill sets. The email read, ...thank you for interviewing with us and being patient throughout the process. Unfortunately, we cannot move ahead with you for the role at this time. We found your profile relevant and all skills and qualifications match what we are looking for but we are an inclusive organisation and believe in equal opportunity for all. Your skin tone is little fair for the current team so we dont want differences in our internal team, and we decided not to offer you, the note concluded. Jichkar added that the reason for rejection left her stunned and shocked. It also reached other social media platforms like Reddit and Twitter, where most people raised doubts about the authenticity of her story. The post, which was shared on Twitter and Reddit by other users, was met with scepticism as users commented that no company or no HR professional would send such an email. One user wrote on Reddit, I understand diversity hirings sometimes end up being unfair to some, but that wording is never gonna be put in official mail by any half competent HR lol. This is a rage bait. While one Twitter user termed it a publicity stunt another called it fake and said, HRs don't give reasons for rejection on the face/phone and will send on the email and that too like this. Not a chance. This is not fair, another quipped in an apparent dig at the reason for rejection mentioned in the screenshot. Others noted that Jichkar had turned off the comments on her LinkedIn after being criticised for the post. 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 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Yuva Morcha workers on Wednesday held a protest against the state education minister Madhu Bangarappa, for removing chapters on Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar and RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, while he was holding a meeting with officials in Shivamogga, people familiar with the matter said. Shivamogga: In response to the protest by the BJP Yuva Morcha workers, Bangarappa asked them to read the textbook before holding demonstrations. (ANI) The BJP workers, wearing black bands and clothes, stormed into the Zilla Panchayat office where the education minister was holding a meeting, and raised slogans against Bangarappa and the Congress government. Bangarappa, who is also the Shivamogga district in-charge minister, had called a meeting of the officials at the Zilla panchayat office to review the rain-related damage in the district. The protesters raised slogan in favour of Savarkar and Hedgewar, causing ruckus in the meeting hall. Meanwhile, Shivamogga superintendent of police (SP) GK Mithun Kumar along with other police personnel, took them away from the hall and detained them, according to officials. In an effort to rectify the alleged distortion of history and altercation of textbooks by the previous BJP government, the Karnataka cabinet in June, had approved the revision of Social Science and Kannada textbooks for classes 6 to 10 in state schools. Some of the key omissions include chapters on Savarkar, RSS founder KB Hedgeewar, right-wing ideologue Chakravarthy Sulibele, Sanskrit and Kannada scholar Bannanje Govindacharya, among others. Meanwhile, chapters on educationist Savitribai Phule, Indias first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehrus letter to his daughter Indira Gandhi, and a poem on BR Ambedkar, which were removed last year, were restored. The government also made it mandatory for all schools to hold reading of the Preamble of the Constitution. Earlier this month, the Karnataka Text Books Society (KTBS) published 140 pages of corrigendum of the revision of Social Science and Kannada textbooks. In response to the protest by the BJP Yuva Morcha workers, Bangarappa asked them to read the textbook before holding demonstrations. No one is more stupid than the BJP. Let them read the textbook first. I read their pamphlet alleging that all the freedom fighters have been removed from the textbooks. They should read the textbook first, Bangarappa said. Just because someone holds a black flag, he doesnt become a freedom fighter. I cant respond to those who are stupid and irritated after defeat (in the election). We have revised the textbooks in the interest of their children, he added. The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday issued notices to the state government, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and others on a petition filed by a man, who lost his wife and minor child in the Namma Metro pillar collapse incident here earlier this year, seeking compensation. File photo: Karnataka High Court. (ANI) READ | Cops file FIR over threat to kill Karnataka High Court judges Petitioner Lohitkumar V Sulakhe filed a writ petition demanding a compensation of 10 crore, claiming that the accident had occurred due to the negligence of BMRCL authorities. Petitioner's wife Tejaswini L Sulakhe (26) and his two and a half year old son Vihan, who were travelling on a bike died after the under-construction metro pillar fell on them on January 10, 2023 near Nagavara. The BMRCL had communicated to Lohitkumar that 20 lakh compensation would be provided to the kin of the victims. In his petition, which was heard by Justice Krishna S Dixit, Lohitkumar submitted that mere compensation of 20 lakh amount was not sufficient for the innocent life which was lost due to inaction, inadequate safety measures and carelessness on part of the respondents. READ | Karnataka HC to hear petition seeking Siddaramaiah's disqualification, alleging electoral malpractices Tejaswini, a software engineer, was earning Rs.75,748 per month, it said. The petitioner further said that the compensation is not adequate, and the same is just a mere compensation to hide the negligence of their part of safety work and the fact that all the respondents present in this case lacked knowledge on safety precautions and how all the respondents were careless and ignorant about the safety measures and due to which two innocent lives were lost. Noting that Tejaswini was the breadwinner in the family, which had recently moved into a flat purchased on loan, the petition sought a compensation of 10 crore for the victim's family. The court adjourned the case after issuing the notices to the respondents to file their objections. The other respondents in the petition include the MD, Chief Engineer and Operation Engineer of BMRCL, ICICI Lombard General Insurance, MD of Nagarjuna Construction Company and its project manager. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Heavy rain continued to batter parts of Karnataka, prompting authorities of several districts to extend holidays for schools and colleges on Wednesday after a flash-flood warning. The incessant downpour wreaked havoc in the southern state, especially in the coastal and northern parts, where an increased number of rain-related incidents are being reported. Showers caused damage to life and property, and hindered vehicular movement, bringing life to a standstill. Dams, rivers, rivulets, lakes and other reservoirs and water bodies filled to the brim, flooding into cities and towns and submerging several structures in Karnataka. 27 dead since June: Revenue Minister As many as 27 people have died between June 1 and July 24 in rain-related incidents in Karnataka, according to Revenue Minister Krishna Byregowda. Authorities told news agency PTI on Tuesday that at least four people have lost their lives in Udupi and Vijayapura, with three deaths being reported from Udupi district in the last two days. READ | Amid heavy downpour, Karnataka DCM Shivakumar visits Bengaluru civic body's war room A 12-year old girl from Hebri taluk died after falling into a river near her house on Sunday. Similarly, a 53-year old man from Brahmavar taluk drowned after falling into a stream on Monday. The body of an elderly woman from Karkala taluk, who went missing two weeks ago, was also found in the Annalu river on Sunday. Another elderly woman was killed in Vijayapura district when a house wall collapsed on her. CM to visit disaster-prone areas Authorities including Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and his cabinet colleagues have decided to tour the disaster-prone areas in the state and assess the damage caused to life and property due to the incessant showers. Siddaramaiah on Tuesday assured that the government is well prepared to tackle the issues on ground. The India met dept has issued a flash flood bulletin, warning of potential flash floods in some parts of Coastal Karnataka and North Interior Karnataka. The Government has reviewed the risk prone areas and is well prepared to tackle the issues on ground, CM Siddaramaiah tweeted. READ | Despite heavy showers, 23 districts in Karnataka record 20-62% rainfall deficit To ensure safety, District Commissioners have declared holidays for schools and colleges in the vulnerable regions and it is advised for all citizens to adhere to the instructions of local administration, he added. IMD extends red alert in coastal districts The India Meteorological Department (IMD) extended its red alert in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts, issued an orange alert in Belagavi, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu and Shivamogga districts, and a yellow alert over Bagalkote, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Ballari and Hassan districts on Tuesday. (With agency inputs) Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday said that the Congress government would face challenges in providing funds for development this year due to financial constraints arising from the commitments made under the five guarantees. Shivakumar blamed the previous BJP government for creating financial challenges, pointing out excessive tenders and draining the treasury. (HT) The statement comes after chief minister Siddaramaiah called for a Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting on Thursday in response to several legislators alleging concerns over the non-implementation of development works in their constituencies. The CLP meeting is scheduled to be held at a private hotel in Bengaluru, with the aim of addressing the grievances among party MLAs. During the recently concluded Budget session of the State legislature, several Congress MLAs and MLCs expressed discontent, attributing their inability to accomplish constituency work to the alleged non-cooperation of ministers. We have allocated 40,000 crore this year for the five guarantees, leaving limited funds for developmental projects, said Shivakumar, who also serves as the minister for water resources and Bengaluru City development. Even in irrigation and public works, we cant give (funds for development). But expectations are high. Weve asked MLAs to hold on. We will explain this to them at the CLP meeting, he said. Even chief minister Siddaramaiah urged his Cabinet colleagues to remain patient regarding the allocation of funds for development. The recently presented 2023-24 budget earmarked over 35,000 crore for the Congress five guarantees, leading to increased borrowings and a revenue deficit of 12,522 crore. Shivakumar further blamed the previous BJP government for creating financial challenges, pointing out excessive tenders and draining the treasury. The previous government created bankruptcy. Excess tenders were floated. The treasury was emptied, he said. But we had to keep our promise of implementing the guarantees. In the first year itself, weve kept our word. So, everyone must be patient, he said. Regarding reports of discontent among Congress MLAs, Karnataka transport minister Ramalinga Reddy dismissed them as the handiwork of the BJP. He denied any internal dissatisfaction within the ruling Congress and assured that the government would complete its full five-year tenure. A letter, appearing on social media and attributed to BR Patil, drew attention to the alleged issues faced by the legislators. However, Patil stated that the letter circulating was not the one he wrote and lodged a complaint with the police about the forged document. In a separate development, chief minister Siddaramaiah responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modis remarks about the opposition alliance INDIA. Siddaramaiah questioned why the Prime Minister harboured so much animosity toward the name India and pointed out that individuals like Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi, who were involved in financial misconduct, also shared the Modi surname. He questioned the comparison made by the Prime Minister and referred to actions taken against Rahul Gandhi for making similar remarks. PM Modi, on Tuesday, had criticised the opposition alliance INDIA, describing it as directionless and citing historically contentious names like East India Company and Indian Mujahideen to suggest that such associations cannot mislead the people. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for deriding the opposition alliance 'India', citing reviled names such as East India Company and Indian Mujahideen, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday sought to know why he has so much hatred for the beautiful, melodious and holy name of India. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. (ANI) Pointing out to the PM that Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi, who looted hundreds of crores of tax money of Indians and ran away from the country, too have his Modi surname, he wondered whether they can be compared to him. "Honorable Prime Minister @narendramodi, you have compared the alliance of opposition parties 'INDIA' to the East India Company and the Indian Mujahideen. Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi, who looted hundreds of crores of tax money of Indians and ran away from the country, too have your Modi surname ? Can they be compared with you?" Siddaramaiah asked in a tweet. READ | Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah reviews progress of Haveri district Noting that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was sued for defamation, sentenced to two years in jail, and disqualified from the Lok Sabha for asking the common question stating that Lalit and Nirav too have Modi in their names, he said, "Doesn't action taken against Rahul Gandhi apply to you, for your comparison comparing India to East India Company and Indian Mujahideen?" PM Modi on Tuesday derided the opposition alliance INDIA as the most directionless the country had ever seen, and cited reviled names such as East India Company and Indian Mujahideen to assert that people cannot be misled merely by the use of the country's name. READ | Karnataka CM calls for CLP meet amid disquiet among party MLAs With opposition parties rallying around the name 'INDIA' for their alliance, the PM cited the history of several organisations, including some banned extremist and terror outfits using the country's name, and panned the grouping as a collection of corrupt leaders and parties. Siddaramaiah further asked, Prime Minister @narendramodi why do you have so much hatred for the beautiful, melodious and holy name of India? Being so impatient with the name India, will you change the name of your own government programmes like Make in India, Start Up India, Skill India etc.? A bill to nominate two members, including a woman, from the Kashmiri migrant community and one member from the displaced persons from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to the legislative assembly of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Union minister of state for Home affairs Nityanand Rai speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament in New Delhi on Wednesday. (PTI) Introducing the bill on behalf of Union home minister Amit Shah, Union minister of state for home Nityanand Rai said the bill provides for representation of Kashmiri migrants, displaced persons from PoK and Scheduled Tribes in the legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir so as to preserve their political rights as well as their overall social and economic development. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 provides for the following, namely: to insert new sections 15A and 15B in the Act so as to nominate not more than two members, one of whom shall be a woman, from the community of Kashmiri migrants, and one member from displaced persons from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir, to the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir; and amendments to sub-sections (3) and (10) of section 14 of the Act which are of consequential in view of completion of delimitation process in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, according to the statement of objects and reasons. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019) was enacted with for the reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, which was bifurcated into Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The statement of objects and reasons noted that at the time of the militancy in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in the late 1980s, particularly in Kashmir in 1989-90, a large number of people migrated from their ancestral places of residence in Kashmir province, particularly the Kashmiri Hindus and Pandits along with a few families belonging to Sikh and Muslim communities. Initially, all the migrants were moved to Jammu. Later on, some migrants chose to go to other parts of the country, namely Delhi, Bengaluru and Pune. As per the data available with the government of Jammu and Kashmir, there are currently 46,517 families having 1,58,976 people registered with the Relief Organisation of the government of Jammu and Kashmir, who have got registered over a period of last three decades. In the wake of the 1947 Pakistani aggression in Jammu and Kashmir, 31,779 families migrated from Pakistan occupied areas of Jammu and Kashmir to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Of these, 26,319 families settled in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and the remaining 5,460 moved out of Jammu and Kashmir to other parts of the country. Further, during the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971, 10,065 more families were displaced from Chhamb Niabat area. Of these, 3,500 families were displaced during the 1965 war and 6,565 families during the 1971 war. As such, a total of 41,844 families were displaced during 1947-48, 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, according to the statement of objects and reasons. The delimitation commission, while undertaking the delimitation process of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, received many representations from the Kashmiri migrants as well as from the displaced persons from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir regarding reservation of seats in the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to preserve their political rights and identity, they said. The delimitation commission, after considering the matter in depth, recommended for representation of communities of Kashmiri migrants and displaced persons from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir in the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by way of nomination, noted the statement of objects and reasons. As per sub-section (4) of section 14 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, 24 seats in the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have been reserved for the people residing in the area of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir under illegal occupation of Pakistan. The said seats shall remain vacant until the area under the occupation of Pakistan ceases to be occupied and the people residing in that area elect their representatives. On completion of delimitation process, the delimitation commission had published orders with regard to the delimitation of the assembly and parliamentary constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir. As per these orders, the number of seats in the legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir has been increased from 107 to 114 with reservation of nine seats for Scheduled Tribes for the first time. Reacting to the bill, CPI-M leader MY Tarigami said the proposed bill was introduced in Parliament at a time when the Supreme court has begun hearing a clutch of petitions filed challenging the J & K Reorganisation Act , 2019 itself. The central government should have waited for the Apex courts final verdict before proposing an amendment bill. Additionally, the power to nominate the members to the Assembly should rest with the elected government. The government needs to strengthen the displaced communities on the ground, he said. CM says ex gratia for physically disabled soldiers to be doubled, while financial assistance given to non-pensioner ex-servicemen of World War I and II also enhanced Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann pays homage to Kargil War martyrs during an event organised on Kargil Vijay Diwas at Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum in Amritsar on Wednesday, (HT Photo) Chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced to start ex gratia grant for the armed forces personnel in cases of physical casualty during service along with doubling the ex-gratia of physically disabled soldiers and hiking the financial assistance to non-pensioner ex-servicemen of World War I and II. After paying homage to Kargil martyrs in a function at Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum, the CM said recognising the immense contribution of soldiers the state government has decided to start ex gratia worth 25 lakh to physical casualty cases in the armed forces. Earlier, there was no such provision but the state government has taken this initiative for the valiant warriors who sacrifice their lives in the line of duty. Ex gratia for the physically disabled soldiers have also been enhanced by the government, Mann said. The CM said soldiers with 76% to 100% disability will now get 40 lakh ex gratia instead of 20 lakh, while soldiers with 51-75% disability will now get 20 lakh instead of existing 10 lakh and those with 25-50% disability will now get 10 lakh ex gratia instead of 5 lakh. The monthly financial assistance to non-pensioner ex-servicemen of World War I and II or their widows has been enhanced from existing 6,000 to 10,000, he said. Mann said after coming to power in the state, his government has decided to give 1 crore to the distressed families as a mark of respect for the armed forces personnel who are killed in the line of duty. Mann also criticised the Agnipath scheme. Under this scheme, a youngster will be recruited for only four years. What will we do if he wants to serve the country throughout his life? So, I dont think that this decision is (good). If any youngster aspires to serve the country in his life, he should not be retired, he said. Mann also felicitated the family members of the martyrs. Cabinet ministers Chetan Singh Jourmajra, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Harbhajan Singh ETO were present at the function. Make registration of drones mandatory: CM Speaking on the smuggling of narcotics, weapons and illegal currency through drones on the India-Pakistan border, Mann said, I have had a discussion on this issue with the Union home minister Amit Shah. Recently, it was noticed that the drone that came from the Pakistan side was made in India. It means that any Indian national might have sent it to Pakistan side to bring the illegal materials. Drones are commonly used in this country for video shootings. So, I suggested to the minister to initiate registration of the drones in India on lines of vehicles to contain this practice. And he agreed with me. This system will be implemented in the country very soon. Jimpa pays tributes to martyrs Jalandhar Punjab revenue minister Brahm Shanker Jimpa on Wednesday paid tributes to the Kargil martyrs at the 24th commemoration function to mark Vijay Diwas organised by Naujwan Kashyap Dharmik Sabha in Jalandhar. The sacrifices of soldiers would always act as an inspiration for the younger generations, the minister said after paying floral tributes to the martyrs. Strap: Family takes her to snake charmer instead of seeking medical aid File photo of Harminder Kaur, a beautician, who died of snake bite in Malaud. (HT Photo) A 22-year-old woman lost her life after she was bitten by a snake at her residence in Babarpur village of Malaud on Wednesday. The incident occurred when the victim, identified as Harminder Kaur, was occupied in safeguarding household items from the downpour. Unbeknownst to her, a venomous snake had sought refuge in the household items and attacked her. She saw the snake escaping from the house after biting her and raised an alarm. Instead of seeking immediate medical assistance, her family members decided to take her to a snake charmer for treatment. As her condition rapidly deteriorated, they rushed her to the civil hospital in Khanna. She passed away on her way to the hospital. Harminder, who was employed as a beautician at a local beauty parlour, was helping her parents financially to run the family. On the morning of the incident, with the heavy downpour, she became preoccupied with safeguarding her belongings from water. Dr. Shayni Aggarwal from civil hospital, Khanna, emphasised the availability of anti-snake venom injections in government hospitals free of cost. She appealed to the public to seek professional medical help promptly in such situations, highlighting the importance of immediate treatment to save lives. 50 cases of snake bites reported in district in July According to health department officials, a total of 50 cases of snake bites have been reported in the district in July this year. Five deaths due to snake bites were also reported in the district. A child had died of snake bite in Haibowal a couple of days ago. On July 21, a 13-year-old boy died of snake bite in Bagga Kalan village of Ladhowal. The boy was sleeping in a shanty erected in fields. Eldest in four siblings, the victim was a student of class 8. On July 2, a couple died of snake bite in a room in a dairy on Tharike village. The couple was sleeping in the room with their four children at the time of the incident. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former chief minister and leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur visited Delhi to meet Central leaders to extend his gratitude to Union defense minister Rajnath Singh and the minister for road transport, highways and shipping for their unwavering support to Himachal Pradesh during the recent calamity. Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh assembly Jairam Thakur calls on Union defence minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on Wednesday. (ANI) However, Thakur also voiced concern about the state governments response to the disaster. He said there was a discrepancy in the utilisation of funds allocated by the Centre, where the relief amount of 364 crore meant for the flood-affected areas had not been appropriately credited by the state government. During his meeting with Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari in Delhi on Wednesday, Thakur highlighted the extensive damage caused by the disaster in the state. He urged Gadkari to visit Himachal and assess the situation firsthand, which Gadkari accepted and promised to provide all necessary assistance to the state. Notably, the flood disaster inflicted significant harm on the states road infrastructure, necessitating urgent attention. Thakur paid a courtesy call to Rajnath Singh, where he expressed sincere appreciation for the relentless rescue and relief operations conducted by the army during the calamity. The prompt actions of the army helicopters saved numerous lives of those trapped in the flood-hit areas. In times of disaster, political affiliations should be set aside in favour of collaborative efforts for relief and rehabilitation, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The police arrested a former assistant sub-inspector of Delhi Police with 1,000 cartons of illicit liquor being smuggled in a concrete-mixer trailer in Bhadroya village late on Tuesday. During the operation, a concrete-mixer trailer bearing Rajasthan registration number was stopped for checking and upon search, 1,000 boxes of English liquor concealed in it. The liquor was being brought from Pathankot. Nurpur superintendent of police (SP) Ashok Rattan said acting on a tip-off about smuggling of illicit liquor, a police team laid a nakka at Bhadroya toll tax barrier. During the operation, a concrete-mixer trailer bearing Rajasthan registration number was stopped for checking and upon search, 1,000 boxes of English liquor concealed in it. The liquor was being brought from Pathankot. The police have arrested the accused, Swarup Singh, a former ASI (investigation) of Delhi Police, said Rattan. The accused is a resident of Jawali in Kangra. The SP said the accused was convicted and sentenced to four-year jail in a case of corruption in 2019 and was subsequently dismissed from the service. He said the accused has been booked under relevant laws and being interrogated to find out where the liquor was being taken. On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday vowed to cross Line of Control if touched by the enemy and urged people to be psychologically ready for direct participation in future wars along with the countrys soldiers. Defence minister Rajnath Singh interacts with the war Heroes, Veer Naris and the families of Bravehearts at Kargil War Memorial on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, in Drass, Ladakh on Wednesday. (PTI) Singh laid the wreath on the 24th anniversary of Kargil War at Kargil War Memorial to commemorate the soldiers who lost their lives in the two month conflict with Pakistan in 1999. Addressing an event commemorating the fallen soldiers, Rajnath said the government has given freedom to the army to target the enemy in its own territory for the countrys safety. The government stands with the army. On Kargil Vijay Diwas, I want to tell my country people that we will go to any extent for the esteem of the nation, he said. The defence minister said despite winning the war on July 26, 1999, Indian soldiers didnt cross the LoC. It is because we love peace. We believe in Indian values and are committed to international laws. It doesnt mean we couldnt cross the LoC. We could, we can and, if need arises, we will cross the LoC in future, he said. Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year to commemorate Indias victory over Pakistan on this day in 1999. Indian Army launched Operation Vijay in May 1999 to evict the Pakistan intruders, who had occupied Kargil heights in an attempt to endanger the vital Srinagar-Leh National Highway. After over 60 days of war, the heights of Drass, Mushkoh, Kaksar and Batalik were cleared while the army lost 527 soldiers. We did try to resolve all issues with Pakistan through diplomatic channels, but were backstabbed. Late Prime Minister Atal-Ji had made sincere efforts to address and resolve all issues, including Kashmir, by visiting Pakistan. However, Pakistan sent its soldiers to capture some of our positions in Kargil, said Rajnath Earlier in the address, while citing the Ukraine-Russia war, Rajnath said future wars will stretch long, owing to participation of common people directly. In any war, armies take part directly while the common people like farmers, doctors, engineers or scientists also participate indirectly. That is why I believe that besides the army, citizens also fight wars indirectly. But recently, the way wars are stretching long; in future people not only will have to participate indirectly but will have to be ready for participating in a war directly, he said. Army chief General Manoj Pande also paid tributes to the soldiers. Operation Vijay was a tough and high intensity operation which was fought on these high peaks... The victory achieved 24 years back is proof of bravery, valor and responsibility of our soldiers, he said. He said the soldiers are still deployed in these inaccessible peaks and are committed to the countrys security. In future, there are chances that future dangers and challenges will get more complicated and we need to ensure that our readiness is modern and appropriate to face such challenges. For this transformation, an adaptive, resilient and responsive process has been executed, he said. He said the army in future will be a modern, agile and technology enabled force to ensure they are powerful and able enough to face any security challenge in future. Police on Wednesday claimed to have busted a terrorist recruitment module in Kulgam that was run by a PHD scholar at Central University of Kashmir. The police said acting on specific information generated by the Kulgam police, a search for a code-named person Dr Sabeel who was motivating, funding and providing logistic support to the gullible youth of Kulgam and adjoining areas to recruit them into terrorist ranks. The police said acting on specific information generated by the Kulgam police, a search for a code-named person Dr Sabeel who was motivating, funding and providing logistic support to the gullible youth of Kulgam and adjoining areas to recruit them into terrorist ranks. Special teams were constituted by the police to track and search for this suspected person. After systemic efforts, one suspected vehicle bearing number JK18B-4852 was zeroed in. When the credentials of the vehicle were sought, it came to fore that this vehicle was being used by one person namely Dr Rubani Bashir of Ashmuji, Kulgam. Accordingly, a special checkpoint was established at Ashmuji and Dr Rubani was apprehended, said J&K Police spokesman. He said during questioning, he disclosed his code name as Dr Sabeel, a PHD scholar from Central University of Kashmir, and has also applied for a job as an assistant professor there. During further questioning, Dr Rubani Bashir @Dr Subeel disclosed that he has been associated with Jamat-e-Islami from his student days and he has been its member in student wing (IJT) Islamic Jamat-ul-Tulbha for 14 years and later on has been a full-fledged member of JEI. The basic modus operandi of Dr Sabeel was to work for proscribed terrorist organisations HM/JeM behind the curtain. He used to identify the youngsters, motivated them, funded them and then made them ready to join terrorist organisations, the spokesman said adding that during investigation it also came to fore that Dr Rubani Bashir, alias Dr Subeel, motivated two youngsters and had made them to join the terrorist ranks. On the disclosure of Dr Rubani Bashir, two terrorist associates linked with proscribed terror outfit HM /JeM were arrested. They have been identified as Fazil Ahmed Parrey of Ashmuji Bhan and Tariq Ahmed Naikoo@ Chawla son of Check Wattoo Aharabal. The spokesman said on the disclosure of arrested persons, one Chinese pistol, one pistol magazine, nine 9mm rounds were recovered from Dr Rubani Bashir. One AK-47 magazine and 19 AK 47 rounds were recovered from Fazil Ahmed Parrey and a Chinese grenade, 10 AK-47 rounds and an Alto car bearing registration number JK18B-4852 used for ferrying the terrorists have been seized. ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar appreciated efforts of Kulgam police for busting this important recruitment module. Meanwhile in Bandipora, acting on specific information, police along with 26 Assam Rifles, CRPF (3rd Bn) and BSF (K2) arrested a terrorist associate linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT at Turkpora junction Bandipora in a swift car bearing registration number JK15B-0992. He has been identified as Javid Ahmad Malla of Arin Dardpora Bandipora. Two hand grenades and other incriminating materials have been recovered from his possession, the spokesman said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Cracking a whip against those serving hookahs, including teenagers, the police conducted a raid at a pan shop at Sat Paul Mittal Road and arrested four persons. Accused of serving hookahs among the people despite a ban in the custody of Division number 5 police in Ludhiana. (HT Photo) However, one of the accused managed to escape. Joint commissioner of police (JCP) Saumya Mishra said that the police received information that the accused were serving hookahs and selling e-cigarettes among the youth and teenagers. The police formed a team and conducted a raid on the Chaurasia pan shop at Malhar Road. The police recovered 11 e-cigarettes, 19 hookah chilams, 25 hookah pipes, 45 bottles of hookah oil and 261 packs of hookah flavours from their possession. The JCP said that the accused used some chemical in the hookah in the name of flavours, which is equally harmful as tobacco. Moreover, they were serving hookah among teenagers, Mishra said. An FIR under sections 188 of IPC, 6, 7, 20, 24 of Tobacco Act 2003, sections 4 and 5 of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarette Act 2019. A hunt is on for the arrest of the rest of the accused. Earlier on July 24, the Model Town police had arrested a pan shop owner for selling and serving flavoured hookahs among minors. The arrested accused was identified as Deepak Kumar of Azad Nagar, who runs a pan shop near old Krishna Temple in Model Town. The police had recovered three electronic hookahs from his possession. The commissioner of police has already extended the ban on serving hookah for two months. The commissioner of police said that it had come to his notice that illegal hookah bars were operating in the city, where hookahs containing tobacco, chemicals were being served. In the order, the commissioner of police stated that any hotel, bar, or parlour found serving hookahs will be dealt with strictly, and cases will be registered against the owners. The Punjab government has decided to regularise the services of education providers, IE, EGS, STR, AIE and special inclusive teachers, who were working on contract in school education department since a decade. The teachers who will be regularised were working on contract in school education department since a decade. (HT File Photo ( Representational Photo) ) Education minister Harjot Bains said an event would be held on July 28 in Chandigarh during which chief minister Bhagwant Mann will hand over service regularisation letters to 12,500 contractual teachers and the event will simultaneously be replicated at school level throughout the state. Bains said that the government had promised to regularise the services of employees including teachers, which is now going to be fulfilled. He informed that special programs will be organised at each school, and attended by principals, members of school committees, and representatives of panchayats and urban organisations along with education officials besides MLAs to appreciate the services rendered by these teachers. Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill to accord the Scheduled Tribe status to the Hattee community in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh. Ruling MPs raise their hands to consent a bill according the Scheduled Tribe status to the Hattee community in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh, in Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (PTI) The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill 2022 was passed in the Upper House of Parliament by voice vote. Lok Sabha had cleared the bill in December 2022. Piloting the bill, tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda said the bill provides justice to the Hattee community of Trans Giri area of Sirmour district. He noted that with the passage of the bill, the ST population in Himachal Pradesh will go up to 5.5 lakh from 3.5 lakh currently. The bill follows the recommendations of the Himachal Pradesh government that Hattee community be included in the list of Scheduled Tribes in respect of the state. Once the bill gets the Presidents nod, members of the Hattee community will be entitled to all benefits which are provided to the Scheduled Tribes, especially reservation in educational institutions and government jobs. Munda said the Odisha government had sent a list of 169 communities to consider for ST status but the Central government has sought further information regarding 81 communities. Earlier, the tribal affairs minister introduced the bill amid walkout of Opposition bloc INDIA against the governments stance on the demand for a discussion on the Manipur issue. Taking part in the discussion, Mamata Mahanta (BJD) supported the legislation saying the Hattee community has been demanding for this for a long time but said by just including the community in the ST list will not benefit them and efforts have to be made to provide them higher education and for their economic development. BJP members Sikander Kumar, Sumer Singh Solanki, Ramilaben Becharbhai Bara, Kalpana Saini supported the bill saying it reflected Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led governments sabka saath sabka vikas motto. Solanki alleged that Opposition members always stayed away from the House whenever there is a discussion on tribals as they never cared for them. He said for five decades the Hattee community has been asking for this step which the Congress government never considered. Ryaga Krishnaiah (YSRCP) spoke in Telugu during the discussion on the bill. M Thambidurai (AIADMK) also asked for the inclusion of certain communities in Tamil Nadu, including the fishermen community, in the list of ST. Several other BJP members, including Samir Oraon, Sakaldeep Rajbhar, Vinay Dinu Tendulkar, Ram Chander Jangra, Sumitra Balmik and Ajay Pratap Singh, also supported the legislation. Soon after the passage of the bill, Rajya Sabha vice-chairperson Sulata Deo adjourned the House for the day. Deo, along with P T Usha, S Phangnon Konyak, Fauzia Khan, V Vijaysai Reddy, Ghanshyam Tiwari, L Hanumanthaiah and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, was last week nominated by Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to the panel of vice-chairpersons. A 60-year-old retired teacher was found murdered, with her throat slit, at her residence in Sector 7 of Kurukshetra city on Wednesday. A 60-year-old retired teacher was found murdered, with her throat slit, at her residence in Sector 7 of Kurukshetra city on Wednesday. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) The deceased has been identified as Nirmala Devi, who used to live with her husband Dev Raj. At the time of the incident, around 12.30 pm, she was alone at home as her husband had gone outside for some work. Police said their son had died earlier while their daughter lives in Mumbai. Thanesar city police station in-charge Dinesh Rana said the husbands statement has been recorded and police are looking at the case from different angles. The body, he said, has been sent for post-mortem. The cop said the closed-circuit television camera footage from the area is also being examined for clues. Rana said a murder case has been registered against unidentified persons as of now. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Police on Tuesday arrested two alleged associates of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and recovered arms from their possession in north Kashmirs Baramulla district. Two Lashkar-e-Taiba associates were arrested in Kashmirs Baramulla. (HT File) A police spokesperson said the two militant associates were arrested at Chak Tapper area of Kreeri in Baramulla at a checkpoint that had been set up on specific information regarding movement of militants in the village. The joint forces of Baramulla Police & armys 29 RR noticed two suspect persons who were coming from Chak Tapper towards Main Road Kreeri and tried to flee while noticing the joint naka party but were apprehended tactfully, the spokesperson said. Teams also recovered two Chinese pistols, two magazines and 14 live pistol rounds from the accused. The two were later identified as Dayem Majeed Khan and Ubair Tariq, residents of Panjigam, Bandipora. During preliminary investigation, both the terrorist associates confessed that they are affiliated with the banned terrorist organisation of LeT outfit and had collected the arms and ammunition for target killing in the district Baramulla, the spokesperson said. A case under the Arms Act and UA(P)A Act was registered at the Kreeri police station investigations were taken up, he said. Notably, security forces have arrested as many as 10 alleged militant associates from different parts of the Valley in July alone. BSF guns down infiltrator in Samba, drugs recovered Jammu The Border Security Force (BSF) foiled a smuggling bid after gunning down an alleged Pakistani infiltrator along the Indo-Pak international border in Samba sector during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday. Sharing details, BSF deputy inspector general (DIG) Vijay Thapliyal said, Alert BSF men foiled a narcotic smuggling bid and neutralised a Pakistani smuggler. During the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, the vigilant BSF troops neutralised a Pakistani smuggler while he was trying to smuggle narcotics through Ramgarh border area, he added. As per the information, four packets of suspected narcotics (weighing approximately 4.4 kg) were recovered during the initial search of the area. The man also had some Pakistani currency on him, the DIG said, adding that the BSF has put up an anti-drone mechanism to keep a check on the international border. Two women from Punjab, who were stuck in Muscat, reached home on Wednesday morning. One of the women said she went on a tourist visa to Muscat three months ago after her aunt promised her of helping to get a job. (File Photo) Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal had recently approached the Ministry Of External Affairs after the two victims reached out to him and complained of ill-treatment from their employers. One of the women said she went on a tourist visa to Muscat three months ago after her aunt promised her of helping to get a job. I was offered a job as a house maid. I went on a one day tourist visa but the travel agents in Muscat took my passport and made me do odd jobs without being paid for two months, she said. Another victim from Fatehgarh Sahib said her relative lured her with a job of 35,000 per month following which she went to Muscat on a tourist visa. After being employed, I was neither paid for my work nor allowed to step outside the house, she said. Seechewal has urged the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to draft a policy for stricter action against travel agents duping gullible girls by taking advantage of their poverty. A month after the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's decision to permit carrying two sealed liquor bottles in the metro, the excise department of the city government has raised objection to the relaxation and demanded a change in the norm. Airport Metro Train seen at Dhaula Kaun Metro line. (Photo by Vipin Kumar/ Hindustan Times) A senior officer cited the Excise Act to clarify that only one sealed bottle of liquor such as rum, vodka and whisky is allowed to be carried from one state to another. As DMRC operates in Delhi and its adjoining cities Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad, its provision to allow two bottles is a violation of the Act, the officer added. 'Legal age different in different cities' The department also raised concerns over relaxation in ages, at which alcohol is legally permissible. In Delhi, liquor cannot be sold to anyone under 25 years of age, while in cities like Gurugram, it is permissible for those who are 18 years old. This means underage persons can bring liquor from other places and consume in Delhi, the officer further added. Consequently, the DMRC was served a notice to check violations by commuters travelling in metro trains connecting Delhi to Uttar Pradesh and Haryana cities. The public transport body said that allowing items for carriage on the metro is followed in line with the permissibility guidelines set by the security agency of the corporation. "Passengers are expected to follow extant rules and regulations of the concerned state excise department with regard to carrying liquor during cross-border transit," news agency PTI reported citing DMRC. However, the "concern" of the excise department will be conveyed to the security agency, it added. Previously carrying alcohol was banned on Delhi Metro except on the Airport line, however, on June 30, the transport body allowed carrying two bottles per person, with certain conditions such as prohibiting drinking alcohol in the metro premises. Delhi Metro does not allow passengers to carry any kind of sharp objects, tools, flammable items, explosive materials, Disabling chemicals and other dangerous items, Guns and firearms and other offensive items. (With ANI, PTI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Wednesday, indicating the weather in Delhi could potentially worsen, causing disruptions and potential threats to life and property, even as most places in the Capital recorded moderate rainfall. The Central Water Commission said the Yamuna waters level was expected to rise to 205.16m by 1pm. (PTI) Mayur Vihar recorded a heavy rain spell of 110.5mm between 5:30am and 8:30am, leading to waterlogging. Rain both locally and in Uttarakhand and Himachal was expected to lead to a rise in Yamuna waters level. The river was flowing at 205.10m at 10am amid the orange alert, a severe level warning to ensure people are equipped to handle emergencies in preparation for significant changes in weather. A yellow alert, which means people should stay updated about the severe weather, is in place for moderate showers on Thursday. The Central Water Commission said the river was expected to rise to 205.16m by 1pm on Wednesday. The danger level is 205.33m Major traffic disruption might occur on roads. There might be water accumulation in low-lying areas and on roads, said the IMD website. Safdarjung meteorological station, which is representative of Delhis weather, recorded 368.6mm of rainfall over the 24 hours that ended at 8:30am on Wednesday. This is in excess of the monthly long-period average of 209.7mm and the second-highest July rainfall in the three years. Delhi has crossed 300mm thrice in the last 15 years. In 2021, 507.1mm was recorded in July. In 2013, Delhi received 340.5mm of rainfall throughout the month. The Capital received its heaviest deluge for a July day in 21 years on the 8th of the month when 126.1mm of rain was recorded between 8.30am and 5.30pm, triggering chaos on the streets and highlighting a lack of preparedness to tackle the monsoon. Low-lying neighbourhoods in the Capital were flooded and prompted evacuations on July 12 as surging water levels in the Yamuna breached a 45-year-old landmark to touch record levels. The Yamuna swelled to 208.08m breaking the previous record of 207.49m on September 6, 1978. ITO and Mathura Road were submerged on July 14 as the army and the navy were deployed to bring the flooding under control. The situation worsened on the stretch after a drain regulator broke down even as five of the 32 gates at the barrage along the old ITO bridge were also jammed. The swollen Yamuna waters entered one of the busiest traffic junctions in Delhi. The IMD classifies rainfall between trace and 2.4mm as very light, 2.5mm and 15.5mm as light, 15.6mm and 64.4mm as moderate, 64.5mm and 115.5mm as heavy, and 115.6mm or higher as very heavy. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Conjoined twins Riddhi and Siddhi, who were born last year and were joined from the chest and stomach, were successfully separated in a surgery that lasted over 12 hours at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, doctors said on Wednesday. The twin girls, Riddhi and Siddhi, were separated on June 8 after a 12.5 hour-long surgery at AIIMS-Delhi. (PTI) Minu Bajpai, head of the department of paediatric surgery at AIIMS, said the twins were diagnosed as thoraco-omphalopagus conjoined twins in the fourth month of pregnancy, following which the family, originally from Uttar Pradeshs Bareilly, was referred to AIIMS to ensure that a they received a proper treatment plan for the girls birth and eventual separation. The two children were born last year on July 7 and were in the ICU (intensive care unit) for five months. They were separated on June 8 after a 12.5 hour-long surgery, the hospital said in a statement released on Wednesday. The two were operated on when they were just 11 months old enough to tolerate the trauma of surgery, Prabudh Goel, additional professor, department of paediatric surgery, said. The anomaly was peculiar, with fused rib cages, livers, partially common diaphragms, and fused pericardium. Both hearts were very close to each other, almost touching and beating in contact. The pericardium was partially fused, Goel said. Doctors said that while the actual surgery went on for nearly nine hours, it took another 3.5 hours for pre- and post-surgery anaesthesia. The steps in the surgery involved the separation of the common abdominal and chest walls, division of liver tissue in a way that sufficient tissue remained for each baby, and a division of fused rib cage. It also involved separation of the diaphragm, and of pericardium, Dr Bajpai said. Prosthetic tissues and grafts were also kept available in the possibility of the infants not having enough native tissues to complete the repair successfully, he said. After the surgery, the twins celebrated their first birthday at the hospital, doctors said. This is not the first such successful surgery at AIIMS in 2017, doctors at the institute successfully separated Jagannath and Balaram from Odisha, who were craniopagus twins (fused at the cranium). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The National Highways Authority of Indian (NHAI) will appoint a consultant within the next two months for the proposed elevated road on Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway from Dhaula Kuan to Manesar, which has been under discussion over the past two years. Addressing a press conference in April this year, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had confirmed that the project is under consideration and various aspects are being discussed. (PTI) The plan was disclosed by Gurgaon member of Parliament Rao Inderjit Singh, who held a meeting with Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday evening in Delhi. Singh also said the highways authority will soon float tenders for the elevated road between Hero Honda Chowk and Umang Bhardwaj Chowk. A number of projects to decongest Gurugram were also discussed with Gadkari during the meeting, the MP said in a statement issued on Wednesday. Singh said he was informed by the minister that a project is being prepared to construct an elevated road from Dhaula Kuan to Manesar to reduce the traffic pressure on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway. The elevated road will run above the existing road, and light vehicles will ply on this elevated road. For its construction, directions have been issued to officials to appoint a consultant within two months, said Singh, adding that the road will be built in two layers. The construction of an elevated road on the existing Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway has been under consideration of the Union transport ministry since the past two years. Addressing a press conference in April this year, Gadkari had confirmed that the project is under consideration and various aspects are being discussed. The construction of an elevated road from Hero Honda Chowk to Umang Bhardwaj Chowk was also discussed during the meeting and Singh said the Union transport minister has directed that a joint meeting of NHAI and Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), under his chairmanship, should be called to remove hurdles and resolve issues pertaining to the delay in the construction of the road. During the meeting, the NHAI officials informed that public utilities on this stretch have to be shifted by GMDA and because the Metro line is also on this route, discussions are being held with the Metro and GMDA regarding the size of pillars to be constructed. We will soon organise a meeting on this matter and ensure that all hurdles in the way of construction are removed, he said. The Gurugram MP said he also took up the issue of building flyovers and underpasses on Delhi-Jaipur highway after which directions were issued to start work for the construction of a flyover in Manesar after removing encroachments on both sides of the highway. The work on Bilaspur flyover, Singh was apprised, would start after August 1, while tenders will be floated soon for building underpasses at Rathiwas Chowk, Pachgaon Chowk and Assalwas Chowk, Singh said. On the issue of foot over bridges on the national highway, Singh said the transport minister directed officials to.complete the structures at the earliest. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON KOLKATA: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday filed its first case against Manik Bhattacharya, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator and former president of the West Bengal Board of Primary Education in connection with the school recruitment case, an official of the federal agency said on condition of anonymity. Trinamool Congress MLA and former president of West Bengal Primary Education Board, Manik Bhattacharya was arrested by ED in October 2022 (ANI) Bhattacharya, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in October 2022, was grilled by CBI officials in Kolkatas Presidency correctional home on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning before the first information report (FIR) was registered. Bhattacharya has been charged under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act. The charges include conspiracy, cheating and forgery, a CBI official said, requesting anonymity. A copy of the FIR was submitted before Calcutta high court justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay on Wednesday afternoon. The entire interrogation was recorded on video camera. The judge will go through the videos during the next hearing, the CBI official cited above added. In May 2022, justice Gangopadhyay ordered CBI to probe the appointment of non-teaching staff (Group C and D) and teaching staff by the West Bengal School Service Commission and West Bengal Board of Secondary Education between 2014 and 2021. The appointees allegedly paid bribes in the range of 5-15 lakh to get jobs after failing the selection tests. ED, which is conducting a parallel probe, arrested the then education minister Partha Chatterjee, an MLA from Kolkata, in July last year. Manik Bhattacharya, the legislator from Palashipara in Nadia was arrested by ED in October. Jiban Krishna Saha, the legislator from Barwan in Murshidabad, was arrested by CBI on April 17 this year. The suspected involvement of TMC leaders in the case surfaced when ED arrested Partha Chatterjee and his close aide Arpita Mukherjee in July 2022. In its first charge sheet filed on September 19 last year, ED said it traced cash, jewellery and immovable property worth 103.10 crore linked to the duo. No TMC leader has commented on the CBI filing charges against Manik Bhattacharya. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Uttar Pradesh minister for industrial development, export promotion, NRI and investment promotion Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi on Wednesday said the state government proposed to hold a groundbreaking ceremony around Diwali to implement investment proposals of about 10 lakh crore. Uttar Pradesh minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi at the Coffee with HT programme in Lucknow. (Deepak Gupta/HT) We propose to implement investment proposals of about 10 lakh crore at the groundbreaking ceremony to be organised around Diwali this year. Out of them, proposals of 4.68 lakh crore are ready. More proposals will be added to the list of projects to be brought to the ground, Nandi said at the Coffee with HT programme at the Hindustan Times office in Lucknow. The state government has said it has received 37 lakh crore proposals at the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit-2023 held in Lucknow from February 10 to 12, 2023. Nandi also said the state government had already implemented 4 lakh crore investment proposals out of the 4.64 lakh crore received at the Uttar Pradesh Investors Summit-2018. Asserting that Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the best investment destination, he said the state had made a mark in the field of development of airports and expressways. Uttar Pradesh now has 37.7% of the expressways in the country and this share will go up to 50% with seven more expressways coming up, the minister said. He also said the state government has appointed a nodal officer at the state level to identify the land of closed industrial units and determine how the same can be used to set up industries. The state government proposes to set up hotel and industrial units at the available land of Scooters India Limited, Lucknow, he said. Land has also been identified at Pratapgarh, Bareilly and various other places. Nandi said the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme has been a great success, adding that artisans and entrepreneurs of the state are now taking their products to international markets. He said the states exports have reached 1.56 lakh crore. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Umesh Raghuvanshi Umesh Raghuvanshi is a journalist with over three decade experience. He covers politics, finance, environment and social issues. He has covered all assembly and parliament elections in Uttar Pradesh since 1984. ...view detail ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pawan Dixit Pawan Dixit has been a journalist for over a decade. He has extensively covered eastern UP for around five years, covered 2012 UP assembly polls, 2014 Lok Sabha polls while being stationed in Varanasi. Now, in Lucknow, he covers outstation political assignments, reports special cases from district court, high court and state information commission ...view detail The Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Agra has blacklisted a Lucknow-based firm that until last year had been holding exams at the varsity. The recent move came after the firms (Digitext Technologies) owner was recently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case registered in cognisance of a FIR lodged against the company for allegedly manipulating answer sheets of candidates in exchange for money. The recent move came after the firms (Digitext Technologies) owner was recently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case registered in cognisance of a FIR lodged against the company for allegedly manipulating answer sheets of candidates in exchange for money. Prior to his arrest, David Mario Denis, who ran Digitext that conducted examinations at the Agra university between 2015 and 2022, had lodged a complaint against the vice chancellor of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur in 2014-15 and his close aide Ajay Mishra for holding him captive and demanding money from him, in Lucknow on October 27, 2022. A senior ED official confirmed that the university blacklisted the firm on July 25 (Tuesday) after the ED arrested Denis and two others--Rahul Parashar (a student leader from the Samajwadi Party in Agra) and one Devendra Singh--on July 21 in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case registered against them. He said the ED investigation revealed that the answer sheets of some MBBS and Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) students were found to have been altered. He said the ED had conducted raids on June 12 at the hideouts and premises of Prashar, Denis and employees of the latters company who were found involved in the offence. He said the doctored answer sheets were seized along with various other evidence against the firm. At present, all three accused are in seven days of ED custody of the ED that will end on Friday (July 28), he added. BOX Ex-BSP MLC illegally acquired 54.2 crore assets in Dehradun: ED Lucknow The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed in a court a supplementary prosecution complaint against former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLC from Saharanpur Mohd Haji Iqbal for confiscation of his property worth 54.21 crore in Dehradun on Wednesday, confirmed senior ED officials. The officials said investigation revealed that the Iqbal acquired proceeds of crime to the tune of 54.21 crore by way of his firm BSS Associates Private Limited. They said the ED had prayed for confiscation of Iqbals land situated in Dehradun in the complaint. A senior ED official said the investigation conducted against the former MLC led to the identification of immovable properties (seven sugar mills). He said the money generated through illegal mining activities was laundered through various legal entities, under the control of the former MLC and his family members. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Each district in Uttar Pradesh will get a 100-bed critical care block (CCB) and advanced lab for diagnostic tests, said union health and family welfare minister Mansukh Mandaviya after meeting chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during the meeting with Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandviya at 5 Kalidas CMs official residence in Lucknow on Wednesday. (HT photo) The minister while praising UPs health facilities said centre has decided to replicate the Uttar Pradeshs (UP) model of CM Arogya Swasthya Mela across the country. Every district in UP will get a 100-bed critical care block (CCB) and advanced lab will come up at district level hospitals in 75 districts. At 515 blocks public health units (PHUs) will come up, said the union minister. The schemes will come up under the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. CCB will come up with a cost of Rs40 to 50 crore and have all equipment including ventilators. The lab will conduct 150 tests free of cost for patients. UP government has created a digital platform for vaccination which is very good. It has prepared a portal to get information about the utilisation of operation theatres in all hospitals, we will implement that too at the national level, the union minister said. UP has 6.5 crore beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat and 3 crore people have been given cards. The remaining will also get it soon, he said. Health fair is organised every Sunday at primary health and wellness centre across the state. Two and a half to three lakh poor people get free treatment at these fairs. In UP, CM Arogya Swasthya Mela or health fair has facilitated treatment to over 12 crore people since its launch in April 2020. We will implement this model across the country, said union health and family welfare minister Mansukh Mandaviya after meeting chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday. He said that the UP government is the first among state governments to be using e-rupee in the health sector. We will implement the e-Rupee scheme in the entire country so that beneficiaries directly get money. The minister also said though the Covid pandemic has ended in the country, there were still isolated cases and there was still a need to be cautious. When asked about the possibility of absorbing scientists and technicians hired on contract during the Covid pandemic and later removed, the minister said, If the government needs them, they will continue. Commenting upon shortage of doctors in government hospitals, Mandaviya said seats in medical colleges have been increased but it will take five years before those under training join the workforce. The minister said that according to the National Health Policy, by the year 2025, 2.5 per cent of the countrys gross domestic product has to be spent on health services. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Shiv Sena (UBT) party president Uddhav Thackeray in his first podcast said that the year 2024 will be a turning point in the life of the country and every beginning has an end. HT Image British used to say sun never sets on their empire but there was sun set, said Thackeray indicating the defeat of BJP in Lok Sabha elections. Expressing confidence that his faction would get back the original name, Shiv Sena, after the Supreme Court verdict in the matter, the former chief minister said instead of plenty of traitors he would need a few honest people to revive the party. Thackeray further compared the traitors to crabs who never allowed their own colleagues to go up. The MVA (Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi) government was not swept away in the rain, but those crabs broke the dam (government). Since many have left the party, new and young workers will get a chance in elections and party organisation, he added. On Wednesday, the first part of his interview with MP Sanjay Raut on the partys official podcast YouTube channel Awaj Kunacha was released while the second part will be released on Thursday. Taking potshots at the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis-Ajit Pawar alliance, the Sena (UBT) chief said it is not a triple engine government, but a Dalda (a vegetable oil) can. He targeted the BJP for its double standards. While defending the split in Shiv Sena their leaders claimed it was kutniti (realpolitik) to teach him (Thackeray) a lesson for betraying them and formed the MVA government. Then what about the split in NCP? There was no question of NCP betraying BJP as both were not in alliance. Then why did BJP include some leaders of NCP whom they had labelled as corrupt? Thackeray did not even spare Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his attacks. All the patriotic parties which have faith in our country and the constitution met in Bengaluru under the concept of INDIA. The same day, Modi held a meeting of 36 parties under the banner of NDA. After a long time, it was revealed that an amoeba called NDA was alive. Actually, in BJPs NDA there are only three parties - ED, CBI and IT department. Expressing anger over the Manipur situation, Thackeray said why women were suffering when the governor of that state and the President of India are women. We call our nation Bharat Mata and I request the President of India to look into the problem in Manipur. He added, Manipur is the second state after Kashmir which is burning, and the Central government has failed to resolve the problem. We supported the removal of Article 370, but the Kashmir problem is far from over. There are no elections in Kashmir. Thats why I fear that if the BJP government returned to power in 2024 there would be no elections in the country in future. In such a situation, the former CM said, people should vote responsibly as their future is at stake. Thackeray also dared BJP, which is talking about a Uniform Civil Code, to first ban beef across the country and act against all corrupt people irrespective of the political party they are affiliated to. Taking a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, in his podcast on Wednesday, said 2024 will be a turning point in the history of the country and that every beginning has an end. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on the YouTube podcast Awaaj Kunacha. (YouTube screenshot) The British used to say the Sun never sets on their empire, but it happened, he said, indicating BJPs defeat in 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In an interview to MP Sanjay Raut on the partys official YouTube podcast Awaaj Kunacha, Thackeray spoke on various issues such as Manipur, future of Shiv Sena (UBT) and the opposition alliance against the BJP. The first part of the interview was released on Wednesday morning, while the second will be released on Thursday. The interview was also published in the party mouthpiece Saamana. While pointing out the BJPs desperation for power and fear of losing power, Thackeray gave the example of the recent NDA meeting called by Prime minister Narendra Modi. All patriotic parties that have faith in our country and Constitution met in Bengaluru under the concept of INDIA. The same day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi organised the meeting of 36 parties under the NDA banner. The BJP has suddenly realised there was some NDA. Actually, there are just three parties in BJPs books ED, CBI and Income Tax, he said. Thackeray also took potshots at the ruling alliance in the state saying the current Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis-Ajit Pawar government in Maharashtra is not a triple engine machinery, but a dalda (vegetable oil) can. Questioning the BJPs politics and claims on splitting his party, he said, While defending the split in Shiv Sena, their leaders claimed it as kutneeti (diplomacy) to teach a lesson as the Shiv Sena (UBT) betrayed them and formed Maha Vikas Aghadi government. But what about the split in NCP? There was no question of betraying the BJP as both were not in alliance, Thackeray said. Thackeray claimed that his party will get back its original name Shiv Sena as it has submitted all the proofs to the Election Commission of India and that the case is now in Supreme Court. Expressing anger on the Manipur incident, Thackeray questioned why women in Manipur were suffering when the Governor of Manipur and President of India are women. We call our nation Bharat Mata... I request the President of India to look into the problems in Manipur, he said. The state government has clarified to CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation) that a basic FSI (floor space index) of 1.5 and an additional building potential of 0.50 is permitted under the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR) provisions for the plots of more than 1000 square metres leased by it to developers in Navi Mumbai. HT Image The clarification is a major relief to the developers who had bought CIDCO plots but were being denied the FSI assured to them, reportedly due to a different interpretation of the UDCPR provisions by the nodal agency. Jitu Jagwani, president of the Raigad unit of CREDAI-BANM (Builders Association of Navi Mumbai), said, Our members bought plots of more than 1,000 square metres which had the requisite 15-metre-wide road in front of them taking into the FSI provisions applicable to them under UDCPR. In fact, CIDCO itself auctioned the tender plots offering a basic FSI of 1.50. The government in a clarification issued on October 12, 2022, said apart from 1.5 FSI, the PAP (project affected persons) plots would also get 0.5 FSI potential, he said. But it did not take away the original provision applicable to all plots, he pointed out. UDCPR clearly states that the basic FSI permissible is 1.5 and maximum building potential can be allowed to be exceeded by further 0.50. Jagwani said this clarification was, however, misinterpreted by CIDCO. When we went for commencement certificate process, CIDCO refused to approve building plans for a basic FSI of 1.5 and an additional potential of 0.50 permissible, citing the clarification. It offered 1.10 FSI for the plots and a premium was demanded for 0.40 FSI. Chirag Shah, secretary of the association, said, We consulted legal experts and government officials on the issue and confirmed that CIDCOs interpretation was not right and that UDCPR permitted the FSI that we had been assured by CIDCO. The association on January 9 approached chief minister Eknath Shinde, who also heads the urban development department. We are thankful to the government which through a notification dated July 24 clarified that the additional FSI provisions were applicable to both the CIDCO-leased plots and the PAP plots. The projects that had been stuck for almost 10 months will now go through, Shah said. Association mentor and CREDAI-BANM Navi Mumbai unit president Vasant Bhadra said, The developers had been stuck as they could not go ahead with their projects with lesser FSI. Paying the premium for the additional FSI would be a huge burden. They were suffering huge financial loss as they simply couldnt move forward. He added, The management committee worked very hard to get the clarification and we got full support of our members on it. We will now no longer have to pay anything extra that is not due and suffer any loss with regard to it. We will get the original FSI assured to us. CIDCO could not be contacted for its comments on the development. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Gautam Budh Nagar police arrested three security guards of a high-rise society in Greater Noida West on Monday for allegedly assaulting a delivery agent following a dispute over his entry into Panchsheel Greens society on Monday night, police officers aware of the matter said on Tuesday. The suspects were arrested under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace). They were imprisoned under Section 151 (preventive action) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. They have been identified as Shiva Kumar, 25, Shiv Pratap alias Sachin, 27, and Ramkhilavan, 42. (HT Photo) The local police have also begun a formal procedure to cancel the licence of the security firm in charge of the societys security, said officers. According to the police, they received a call from a resident of the society about the incident at 9pm on Monday, and a team from the Bisrakh police station rushed to the scene. The team discovered that security guards had severely beaten a delivery agent for a food delivery company. He was rushed to the hospital and given medical attention. During the investigation, it was discovered that the delivery agent was attempting to enter the society to fulfil an order. The security guards denied him entry because they had made a rule that delivery agents would not be allowed inside the society premises after 9pm. The security guards asked the delivery agent to leave the order at the security guard room, whereas the resident who had placed the order was asking him to deliver at the doorstep. A heated argument erupted between the guards and the delivery agent, which turned violent. The guards allegedly assaulted him and fled the scene, said Anil Rajpoot, station house officer of the Bisrakh police station. He added that when the police teams arrived on the scene, several residents of the society, who had also reached there, defended the security guards. At least 12 residents of the society created a nuisance when the police team reached the spot. Taking preventive action against them, we have booked the 12 residents under Section 151 of the CrPC, added the SHO. According to the SHO, a first information report was registered against the three guards based on a complaint from the delivery executive, and they were arrested near the Ek Murti roundabout on Monday night. The suspects were arrested under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace). They were imprisoned under Section 151 (preventive action) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. They have been identified as Shiva Kumar, 25, Shiv Pratap alias Sachin, 27, and Ramkhilavan, 42, all residents of Greater Noida West, said Rajpoot. He added that the police are canceling the security agencys licence. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A class 12 student was allegedly beaten to death by two unidentified men after his shoulder brushed theirs while walking in a lane in Ghaziabads Lal Kuan after midnight on Monday, police officers associated with the case said on Tuesday. The police said they have access to CCTV footage in which two men and three (the deceased and two others) are seen, but no direct footage of the fight is available. (Representational Image) According to the police, a first information report has been registered based on a complaint by the deceased mans family against two unidentified men under Indian Penal Code section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) at Wave City police station. The deceased was identified as Vinay Yadav, 19. His family said he was just metres away from home when the incident occurred around 1am on Tuesday. According to his family, the two suspects punched and kicked Yadav while two relatives accompanying him tried to intervene but were no match. Vinay died before reaching the hospital, according to his father Raju Yadav, who added that Vinay used to help him run one of the two eateries he owns near Lal Kuan. Vinay closed the restaurant around 1am Tuesday and was walking home with his brother Pushpendra, 25, and cousin, Bobby Singh, 40. Our house is only 100 metres away from the eatery. Vinay brushed up against the shoulder of the two men approaching from the opposite direction, and the two suspects immediately began beating him up... said Raju. They punched and kicked him repeatedly before fleeing, leaving my son unconscious. Vinay was rushed to a hospital in Ghaziabad by the two accompanying him, but doctors declared him dead. Later, these two recounted the events to me, Raju Yadav said, insisting that his son had not animosity toward anyone. He didnt waste his time, and when he wasnt studying, hed help us, he added. The police said they have access to CCTV footage in which two men and three (Vinay and two others) are seen, but no direct footage of the fight is available. An autopsy was performed, and the results indicate that the cause of death is uncertain, and there are no visible physical injury marks. The report also makes no mention of any internal injuries. The viscera was preserved for further analysis. We prepared pictures of the two suspects obtained from the CCTV footage near the crime scene. When we apprehend them, they will reveal specifics about the incident, said Shubham Patel, deputy commissioner of police (rural). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The flooding in Karhera, Ghaziabad, has left thousands impacted, leading them to lock their houses and seek safer shelter, including relief camps. Officials from the Ghaziabad police have taken action by deploying four quick reaction teams, with about 40 personnel stationed around the clock to guard the locked houses in Karhera, preventing any potential thefts. According to district administration officials, the number of affected individuals in Karhera is estimated to be around 7,000 to 8,000, as the water from river Hindon inundated the locality. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo) According to district administration officials, the number of affected individuals in Karhera is estimated to be around 7,000 to 8,000, as the water from river Hindon inundated the locality. Bhaskar Verma, ACP (Sahibabad), said, We have identified four checkpoints for entry/exit to Karhera, and police presence is ensuring that people moving out are properly checked. Within the locality, we maintain constant vigilance with our quick reaction teams patrolling on tractors and boats to prevent thefts in locked houses. During boat patrols, our personnel also verify the integrity of house locks. One of the shelter residents in Karhera Sarthak Kumar, 17, said, Its the fourth day since we left our household items behind and moved here. Theres a lingering fear that thieves might target our locked houses. Although we carried valuables with us, our household items remain locked inside. The officials have assured us of their vigilance. Many shelter residents here are suffering from eye flu, and they are receiving assistance from the team of doctors deployed at the shelter. The district administration officials said that the police are manning the four entry/exit points and allowing only those engaged in providing relief materials or essential services to enter. Due to the high water levels in the affected areas, it is difficult for outsiders to move in, and only 15-20 people remain in their houses. Vinay Kumar Singh, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM - sadar), said, There was a rumour on Tuesday night about some locks being broken, but our teams couldnt find any such activity. We have issued constant alerts to residents living on floodplains to move to safer places after locking their houses. Similar alerts have also been issued to people living in Kanawani and Mithepur. Notably, houses constructed on the floodplains near Chijarsi are under the jurisdiction of Gautam Budh Nagar, and according to SDM Singh, areas on the left bank (downstream) remain safe, with their jurisdiction starting 400 metres from the river. Residents reported that water from river Hindon has entered many houses near Chijarsi, leading to disruptions in their lives. Ashok Sah, a native of Muzaffarpur in Bihar and resident of Behrampur, shared his plight, said, The water has entered my house, which is close to the river. Consequently, I moved with my wife and three children to a neighboring house. I built this house in 2005, and its the first time such a massive volume of water has arrived here. Meanwhile, in Gautam Budh Nagar, administration officials are consistently issuing alerts to residents living on floodplains, providing them with nine shelter homes that currently accommodate around 9,000 people from Chijarsi and nearby areas like Behlolpur and Chotpur. Adequate provisions of food, medicines, and other essentials are being provided at these shelters. Regarding the water discharge in river Hindon, officials from the UP Irrigation Department (UPID) reported that on Wednesday, the discharge stood at 26,335 cusecs, with a water level of 201.05 metres. This was lower than a recent peak of 28,066 cusecs at a level of 201.15 metres, which was achieved on Monday. Sanjay Singh, executive engineer of UPID (Ghaziabad), said, The water level has receded in the past two days, and we expect it to decline further. However, if the river basin receives more rain, the water discharge will fluctuate again. It is important to note that the current flow of water in villages and localities is a characteristic of the floodplain area of the river. Any constructions on floodplains, including electricity substations or houses, are at risk of submersion. To mitigate future risks, Singh added, The floodplain is the designated area for river flow. To clearly demarcate the floodplain, we have assigned a study to IIT, Delhi, and they have provided us with coordinates. We plan to install pillars to mark the floodplain area. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Peeyush Khandelwal Peeyush Khandelwal writes on a range of issues in western Uttar Pradesh from crime, to development authorities and from infrastructure to transport. Based in Ghaziabad, he has been a journalist for almost a decade. ...view detail The Gautam Budh Nagar district administration on Wednesday ordered closure of all schools for the day in wake of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in Delhi and the national capital region (NCR). The school authorities have been instructed to ensure compliance of the order issued. (HT Photo) The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had on Tuesday, predicted rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms in Gautam Budh Nagar till July 30. Waterlogging was reported from several areas of Delhi-NCR affecting commuters. Also Read: Weather likely to worsen, IMD issues orange alert for Delhi Complaints were received from many areas including Sector 12, Sector 19, 20, 22, 37, Sector 62, 63, 95, 122 Parthala, and DND Loop. Due to heavy rainfall, classes from 1 to 12 in all schools across the district shall remain closed today (July 26), in the larger public interest and for the safety of students, district inspector of schools (DIOS), Dharamveer Singh said. Orders have been issued to shut all schools in the wake of heavy rainfall in the district today. The school authorities have been instructed to ensure compliance of the order issued, said Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate, Manish Verma. Meanwhile, floodplains surrounding the Hindon and Yamuna have been inundated due to swollen rivers. The Central Water Commission said Yamuna was expected to rise to 205.16m by 1pm on Wednesday. The danger level is 205.33m Major traffic disruption might occur on roads. There might be water accumulation in low-lying areas and on roads, said the IMD website. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A seven-year-old minor girl was allegedly raped by an unidentified man in the hostel of a residential school in Bastars Sukma district last week, the state police said, adding that the accused is yet to be identified and a team has been formed to investigate the matter. Representational. (PTI File Photo) The police registered a case under sections 376AB (rape on a woman under 12 years of age), 456 (house trespass), 363 (kidnapping) and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after the superintendent of the school raised a complaint on Monday. Sukma superintendent of police Kiran Chavan said the incident, according to the complainant, took place on the intervening night of July 22 and 23. The victim told us that the girl was in the hostel of the residential school when a person, who could be about 17 years old, barged into her room and raped her. He then ran away, the SP said. He said the Class 1 student narrated the alleged crime to her parents on Sunday after which it was reported to the hostel superintendent. A police complaint was filed on Monday and then the case was registered. We are yet to identify the accused, but an eight-member team headed by Sukma additional superintendent of police Gaurav Mandal has been constituted to probe the matter, said Chavan. The childs medical examination has been conducted and efforts are on to identify the accused, he added. 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 LUCKNOW On the occasion of the Kargil Vijay Diwas (July 26) on Wednesday, chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Lucknow mayor Sushma Kharakwal paid tribute to the fallen martyrs of the Kargil War at the Kargil Shaheed Smriti Vatika here on Wednesday. The event was organised by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Lucknow mayor Sushma Kharakwal paid tribute to the fallen martyrs of the Kargil War at the Kargil Shaheed Smriti Vatika here on Wednesday. (Deepak Gupta) The CM and the mayor saluted all the Veergatis at the event, recognising their ultimate sacrifices for the security of the country. The CM said, I pay humble tribute to all the brave sons of Mother India who defended the borders before and after the Kargil conflict in 1999. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their dear ones and continue to stand strong and unwavering in their commitment to the motherland. He added, The central and state governments are reaching out to those sections of society that were neglected after independence. This is being done through welfare schemes and initiatives aimed at public welfare. The CM also said that the families of the martyrs have received an ex gratia amount of 50 lakh from the central government and one family member has been provided a government job. Additionally, arrangements have been made to name Indian roads after the martyrs to pay eternal respect to their memories. He also pointed out that the countrys first Sainik School was named after U.P-born Param Vir Chakra Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, who died while fighting enemies in the Kargil War. He also felicitated the families of four fallen soldiers at the event. Meanwhile, mayor Kharakwal, in her address, noted that the Kargil War showed the entire world that India endorses the protection of humanity and global brotherhood but does not respond kindly to acts of violence against her people. She also appealed to all those attending the event to plant 25 saplings each and nurture them until the 25th Kargil Diwas, which is next year, When we celebrate this occasion next year, we shall see a noticeable change in our green cover, she said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A city civil court in Ahmedabad on Tuesday issued notices to the Gujarat University and the state government in connection with a defamation case filed by the varsity against Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh over their comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modis degree. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal (right) with AAP MP Sanjay Singh. (HT File Photo) A metropolitan court had last month summoned both the leaders, a decision that they challenged before the city civil court. The direction was issued to AAP leaders on June 8 as the court observed prima facie there appeared to be a case against them under Section 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code. Kejriwal and Singhs lawyers appeared before the court on their behalf and moved applications seeking exemption of their clients from appearance, and documents related to the complaint. The defamation case was filed after the Gujarat high court in March set aside the chief information commissioners order asking the university to provide information on PM Modis degree. The high court slapped a 25,000 fine on Kejriwal for seeking the information. LUCKNOW A 40-year-old man allegedly raped a five-year-old girl living in his neighbourhood and thereafter, left her in a sugarcane field, believing her to be dead. The incident took place in a Barabanki village on Tuesday. Accuseds son tells police that his father took the girl along with him; victims condition critical (HT Photo) During investigation, the accuseds son, who is also the girls age, told police that his father took the girl along with him while she was playing. Subsequently, police recovered the girl lying in the field on Wednesday morning based on the confession of the accused. Barabanki Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), North, Ashutosh Mishra, said that the accused, Rinku Verma, has been arrested after registering an FIR under Indian Penal Code section 376 (rape) and sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act in the matter. Sharing further details, the ASP said that the girls parents said that she had gone missing while playing with another child in the neighbourhood around 3 pm on Tuesday. The girls family started searching for her after this. However, when she was not found for around two hours, they approached the Rampur police station. The senior cop further said that the police immediately swung into action and launched a combing operation in nearby areas but failed to find her. He said the girls mother was alleging role of three other persons behind the girls disappearance but the police reacted sensibly and questioned some children of the girls age group. The son of the accused, while interacting with cops, said -- Papa usko saath lekar jaa rahe the (My father was taking her along). Following which, the boys father, Rinku Verma, was rigorously interrogated. Ultimately, he confessed his crime. On his confession, the girl was recovered from the sugarcane field and was found alive, the ASP and added, She was immediately rushed to district hospital where she is currently undergoing treatment. Her condition is still critical. He said the accused, during interrogation, revealed that the girl become unconscious during sexual assault, and he left her in the field believing her to be dead. The accused even started beating his son when he informed cops about him taking along the girl. He said further investigation is underway. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed a bill to include tribal communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Chhattisgarh. The Lok Sabha had cleared the legislation in December 2022. (File photo) The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022 seeks to formalise Bhuinya, Bhuiyan and Bhuyan as synonyms of the Bharia Bhumia community and includes three Devanagari versions of the name of the Pando community. The legislation was passed in the Lok Sabha in December 2022 through a voice note. The phonetic variations of the 11 tribal communities included in the list are Bharia-Bhumia, Bhuniya, Bhuiyan, Bhuyan, Bharia, Dhanwar , Saunra and Saonra, Dhanuhar Dhanuwar, Gadba-Gadaba, Gond with Gondh-Kondh, and Kond (Kodhaku with Kodaku Nagesia-kisan synonym and Dhangad) while one new tribal community Binjhia was also included. The tribal community comprises around 30% of total population in Chhattisgarh and is concentrated mostly in Bastar and Surguja region of the state. Also Read: Chhattisgarh tribals protest against fresh PESA rule, seek 32% quota The total 11 communities which were already scheduled in 1950 are on the SC/ST list but due to some phonetic variations in local language they are not given ST status. The central government through this bill has included these variations and added one new community to the list that is Binjhia. Earlier, we had 42 communities and now we have 43 tribal communities in the ST list of Chhattisgarh, said Fanindra Bhoi, state coordinator, Adhikar Vanchit Adivasi Sangharh Samiti, who has been at the forefront championing for rights of these tribal groups since 2003. The only new community included in Binjhia, is mainly found in Surguga region and has a population of around 50,000. Where are these tribal communities found and population? According to HK Singh Uike, former secretary of SC/ST Commission Chhattisgarh said that Dhanuhar Dhanuwar and Dhanwar communities are found in Jangiir Champa and Bilaspur districts of Chhattisgarh while Kisan are found Surguja region mainly in Jashpur and Ambikapur district. Saunra and Saonra mainly found in Janjgir Champa and Mahasamund districts of the state, said Uike. Bharia-Bhumia, Bhuniya, Bhuiyan, Bhuyan, Bharia, Dhanwar are found in all parts of Chhattisgarh while Gadba-Gadaba and Gond with Gondh-Kondh are mainly found in Bastar and Durg region, Uike added. Kond (Kodhaku with Kodaku Nagesia-kisan synonym and Dhangad) are mostly found in the Bilaspur region. Around 7.5 lakh people will benefit due to this inclusion of phonetic variation, said Bhoi. Political implications Political analysts feel that this is an attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to appease the tribal groups ahead of the upcoming assembly polls in the state. This is an attempt by BJP to allure tribal groups months ahead of assembly elections in Chhattisgarh. Recently, a senior BJP leader during his visit to Raipur called up a few local tribal leaders for a brief meeting. I believe that BJP has sidelined the tribal leaders in Chhattisgarh due to the dominance of OBC communities which are around 50% and this is attempt to cover up the mistake they have done, said political analyst BK Manish. So far as the new amendment is concerned, most of the changes have been necessitated due to spelling changes in ST names over the past seven decades, said Manish. Explaining about the communities while recalling about their history, he said that Saonra and Saunra, with a distinct N sound is different from the existing entry of Saura-Saora. Local residents of Mahasamund district belonging to the Gond community sheepishly claim that rituals of these communities are not at all similar to neighboring tribal communities. These communities were consciously left out by Britishers when they first issued a list of Scheduled Tribes during 1937-39. Its a politically assertive group and has staged protests blocking national highways with nearly one lakh people, said Manish. Political commentators also believe that electorally, the bill might have marginal effect on voting as these caste organisations have been demanding their inclusion in the ST list for the past many years. I believe that both the state government and Centre will claim credit for this bill. The problem of spelling or pronunciation difference in the presidential order for SC-ST is common and very old. In 2004, in one such case of Tamil nadu for Maleru or Maaleru Tribe-- the SC referred the matter to NCST Commission. For Chhattisgarh, these Dhanuhar, Dhanuwar, Kisan, Saunra, Saonra and Binjhia castes too were facing similar problems, said Sudiep Shrivastva , a political commentator based in Chhattisgarh. He said that around two lakh people were facing problems to get ST certificates despite similar names existing in ST lists. However, Bhoi claimed that BJP will certainly be benefited by the move. In around 25 seats of Chhattisgarh, tribals are a direct or indirect deciding factor in assembly elections. This is the biggest move of the BJP government to woo tribal voters in Chhattisgarh, said Bhoi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had called the meeting of NDA constituents recently out of nervousness in the wake of the formation of the Opposition alliance, the INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), and attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence in Parliament over the Manipur situation. Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and CM Nitish Kumar pay tribute to Kargil heroes in Patna. (Santosh Kumar/HT) Kumar said the Oppositions demand for a statement from PM Modi in Parliament on the Manipur violence and the incident of two women being paraded naked was justified. The CM was asked about the no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition against BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre. Demand of Opposition parties is justified the PM must make a statement in Parliament on the current situation in ethnic strife-torn Manipur. There is no sign of an end to the violence. Innocent people are being killedwomen are being brutally tortured, Kumar told reporters in Patna. Reacting on barbs by PM Modi and BJP leaders on the Opposition front acronym INDIA, Kumar said BJP had become nervous by the formation of the new Opposition front. The NDA was formed during former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. But was there any meeting of NDA in recent years? I had returned to NDA fold in 2017. Where was any meeting held? Now, when we have formed the Opposition front, they (read BJP) have become jittery and are calling meetings of allies. People even do not the know names of some parties called at the NDA meeting recently, Kumar said in jibe at the NDA meeting on July 18 in New Delhi, which coincided with the second meeting of 26 Opposition in Bengaluru where the name of the alliance INDIA was decided. Kumar also attacked BJPs for its agenda to change countrys history. I had snapped ties with the BJP for this reason. They want to change the history of the country. But they would never succeed, he said. On the new Opposition alliance, Kumar said a lot many issues have been resolved and more would be fine-tuned in the upcoming meetings. Referring to transfers of around 400 revenue officials, which were effected in June but cancelled on Tuesday, Kumar said it was done for rectifying certain discrepancies. We had got information that some transfers were done unnecessarily. So, it was decided with consultations with the ministers and the department that we carry out fresh transfers after rectifying certain mistakes. I have asked officials to look into the matter, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) irrigation department has appealed to residents to not park vehicles on Mutha riversides mainly near Deccan area as water is likely to be released from the Khadakwasla dam in the coming days. Several vehicles seen parked on Mutha riverside road near Shaniwarwada on Wednesday. (Kalpesh Nukte/HT PHOTO) With catchment areas receiving good rains, the irrigation department released water from Khadakwasla dam on Tuesday. The officials said that water could be released from the dam on Wednesday also based on rainfall in catchment areas. As per PMC official press note, Citizens park vehicles at riverbed from Deccan to Shaniwarwada area. There has been reports of parked vehicles getting submerged as Mutha swells after water is released from Khadakwasla dam following heavy rainfall in catchment areas. Hence, residents are advised to avoid parking vehicles at these low-lying areas. Educational Testing Service (ETS) will introduce a shortened TOFEL iBT test from Wednesday July 26, 2023. The shortened version of the test will take less than two hours to complete instead of three. While announcing about this decision, ETS had said that the process of creating an account and registration for TOEFL iBT will also become quicker and easier. A good TOEFL score for top colleges in the US, UK, and Canada is one that exceeds minimum requirements and aligns with the expectations of each institution. (HT file) In a bid to give a better insight to test takers on the recent changes made to the TOEFL test and answer some of the general questions they have regarding the exam and its preparation, HT Education posed some questions to Sachin Jain, Country Manager, ETS India and South Asia. Q: What are the changes made to the TOEFL test and how do these impact the test takers? A: The TOEFL iBT has been streamlined and now takes less than two hours, a significant reduction from the previous three-hour duration. This makes TOEFL iBT the shortest test among the three most popular English-language testing options. All unscored test questions have been removed, and the 'Writing for an Academic Discussion' now replaces the previous Independent Writing task. In addition, test takers will experience a shortened Reading section as well as streamlined instructions and navigation. Candidates can review responses at the end in a couple of sections, with an opportunity to go back to the previously attempted questions. Test takers will continue to receive instant scores for Reading and Listening sections, and will now also be notified of the official score reporting date immediately upon test completion. The final score report will be released in about 4-8 days. In order to support students better, test payments can now be made in INR. In addition, students also have the convenience of an India-based Toll-Free support number, ensuring they have dedicated assistance readily available, from 8am to 8pm (IST), 7 days a week. We are also offering a limited period discount of INR 1500 on TOEFL iBT. These changes endeavour to make the test more manageable, less exhausting and help candidates demonstrate their English proficiency in a more effective manner. Q: How does the recent approval of the TOEFL iBT test by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for use in Canada's Student Direct Stream (SDS), benefit students? A: The acceptance of the TOEFL iBT test in Canada's SDS program brings significant advantages for students. Previously, there was only one authorized English-language testing option for the SDS route. Now, students have the opportunity to choose the test that suits them best. TOEFL iBT is the world's most widely accepted English-language test and recognized by over 12,000 institutions across 160 countries worldwide, with 100% acceptance from Canadian universities. The inclusion of TOEFL iBT in the SDS program is particularly beneficial for international students from India. Based on industry insights, SDS route is extremely popular with Indian students and they accounted for more than 96% of all SDS applications since 2019. The approval rate for Indian SDS applicants in 2022 was three times higher, at 62%, compared to their counterparts applying through the regular mechanism. Q: How soon should one begin to prepare for English proficiency tests in advance of pursing their study abroad journey? A: The ideal preparation timeframe for TOEFL iBT varies based on a variety of factors, including an individual's language proficiency skill. While a general recommendation is to allocate 4 to 8 weeks for preparation, several factors should be taken into account to determine the optimal starting time. Test-takers should first assess their current level of English proficiency and establish a target score aligned with the requirements of their desired university. In addition to that, personal factors such as learning pace, existing commitments and daily schedule should be considered to determine the amount of time that can be dedicated to TOEFL iBT preparation. It is highly advisable for candidates to familiarise themselves with the TOEFL iBT format by practicing with resources and mock tests available on the official website. This practice material enables them to identify areas of improvement, allowing them to allocate sufficient time for practice and to strengthen these skills. Q: What are some of the learning resources, including official learning resources, that test takers can use to prepare TOEFL? A: For TOEFL preparation, numerous official, free resources are offered by ETS. ETS's 'TOEFL Test Preparation: The Insider's Guide' is a comprehensive 6-week course featuring instructional videos, quizzes, discussion boards and expert tips. The TOEFL iBT Free Practice Test contains authentic past test questions, sample responses, and complimentary practice sets. Additional paid resources include the Official TOEFL iBT Prep Course, this self-paced course helps to build the skills you need to communicate in English in an academic environment. With the 6-month subscription, test takers will be able to do in-depth lessons and activities across the 4 skills Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing, take pre- and post-tests to help evaluate performance, receive score ranges for the Speaking and Writing post-tests, using the same automated scoring as in the actual TOEFL iBT test. TOEFL Practice Online helps to review and answer authentic test questions, test takers receive scores within 24 hours, with performance feedback on all 4 skills measured on the test. Official Guide to the TOEFL Test is available in eBook and paperback format, and includes four full-length practice tests, valuable tips and hundreds of sample questions for all four test sections. Utilising these resources can increase students' chances of success on the TOEFL iBT test. Q: What is a good score to apply to top colleges in the US, U.K. and Canada? A: A good TOEFL score for top colleges in the US, U.K. and Canada is one that exceeds the minimum requirements set by each institution. Highly competitive universities expect strong English proficiency, so aiming for a score above the average or towards the higher end of the institution's requirements can strengthen your application. It's important to remember that scores are just one part of the application, and admissions committees consider various factors such as previous academic record, extracurriculars, personal statements and recommendation letters. To determine an ideal TOEFL score, one must research the requirements of each institution and aim for a score hat aligns with their expectations. Students should reach out to admissions offices or visit official websites for more detailed information. By understanding score requirements in advance and achieving a competitive TOEFL score through planned preparation, one can not only improve their chances of getting into their dream colleges but also stand to win partial or full fee waivers or scholarships from such colleges. Q: What are some of the language and personality attributes that leading foreign universities look for in students? A: When it comes to language attributes, one should be able to articulate their ideas, both in written and spoken forms. Alongside this, embracing diverse cultures, exhibiting team work, collaboration and leadership potential as well as possessing critical thinking abilities are some of the qualities that institutions look for in students. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON APOSS Supplementary Result 2023: Andhra Pradesh Open School Society (APOSS) has announced Supplementary examination results for SSC or Class 10th and Intermediate or Class 12th students. Those who took the APOSS SSC, Inter Supplementary exam 2023 can now go to apopenschool.ap.gov.in and check their results online. APOSS SSC, Inter Supplementary results 2023 announced (apopenschool.ap.gov.in) To check APOSS 10th, 12th Supplementary results 2023, students are required to login to the website using admission number or roll number. These are the direct links and steps to follow. APOSS SSC 10th Supplementary result 2023 link: http://portal.apopenschool.org/apossresultssep/APOSSRESULTSSSC.aspx APOSS Inter 12th Supplementary result 2023: http://portal.apopenschool.org/apossresultssep/APOSSRESULTSINTER.aspx How to check APOSS SSC, Inter Supplementary Results 2023 Go to apopenschool.ap.gov.in. Go to the bottom of the website and find the link to check SSC or Intermediate Public Examinations, June / July -2023 result. Login with your admission number or roll number. Check and download your result. Take a printout of the downloaded page. Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Jodhpur on Tuesday, July 25 conducted a workshop on Implementation of NEP. The workshop was conducted to execute appropriate measure for the implementation of the NEP 2020 recommendations in the Institutes curriculum. IIT Jodhpur organises workshop on Implementation of NEP As per a press statement issued by IIT Jodhpur, the workshop was attended by 25 officials from various educational Institutions, including heads from Higher Education Institutions such as MBM University, Jodhpur, JIET, Jodhpur, JNVU, LMCST and School Education Institutions, such as, Heads of KVs, Bodhi International school, Mayoor chopasini School, Rajmata School among others. The Institute also organised panel discussion at the workshop to promote an integrated approach to learning and teaching, thus aligning with one of the primary visions of the NEP 2020. Prof. Santanu Chaudhury, Director, IIT Jodhpur at the workshop talked about the initiatives taken by the Institute to revamp academic curriculum to bring in elements of flexibility thereby enabling the students to choose curriculum of their choice. To bring in the true spirit of NEP in the academic and research of the Institute, some new interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary academic entities such as Schools, Centres and Interdisciplinary Research Platforms have been started. Also, IIT Jodhpur has come up with multidisciplinary nature of courses; namely BS in Physics (with specialisation) and BS in Chemistry (with specialisation) as envisioned in NEP 2020, the press statement said. Actor Kiara Advani turned Barbie and walked the ramp as the showstopper at the India Couture Week 2023. While her husband-actor Sidharth Malhotra was not present at the event, his mother Rimma Malhotra attended it and became Kiara's biggest cheerleader. Kiara was a part of the show, held in Delhi on Tuesday, for renowned designers Falguni and Shane Peacock. (Also Read | Kiara Advani is in love with Sidharth Malhotra as he plays with his pet dog. Watch) Kiara Advani was part of a fashion show and Sidharth Malhotra's mom was present. Kiara's outfit for the show For the event, Kiara wore a shimmery pink blouse paired with a matching high-slit skirt and silver heels. She opted for a no-accessory look, complementing her attire with soft, subtle makeup. As she came on stage, Kiara smiled and blew a kiss at someone in the audience. Kiara and Sidharth's mom's bond Kiara gave different poses and smiled at the audience as she walked the ramp. She also took a brief pause on the ramp and blew several kisses at Rimma, who sat in the front row. Kiara also made a heart sign with her hands. Rimma also blew kisses at her daughter-in-law. After the event, she walked up to Kiara and gave her a hug as well as shook her hands. They also shared a brief conversation. Their relatives and friends also hugged Kiara as they met and spoke to her. Fans praise their warm bond Several videos and pictures from the event emerged online. Reacting to their bond, a fan wrote, "Sid's mom cheering her is the best." A comment read, "Her mother-in-law cheering and giving her flying kisses is so adorable." An Instagram user said, "Woah! She looks ravishing. And those kisses from mothers." Another person said, "The way her mother-in-law loves her." Several fans also compared her look to that of Barbie. A fan said, "Kiara wakes up and chooses to slay as Barbie." "Looking like Indian Barbie," commented a person. Kiara's upcoming projects Kiara was last seen in Satyaprem Ki Katha alongside actor Kartik Aaryan. Helmed by Sameer Vidwans, the film also stars Supriya Pathak, Gajraj Rao, Siddharth Randheria, Anooradha Patel, Rajpal Yadav, Nirrmite Saawaant and Shikha Talsania. Satya Prem Ki Katha hit the theatres on June 29. Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and directed by Sameer Vidwans, the romantic film reunite Kartik and Kiara after their 2022 hit Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. The film introduced Kartik as SatyaPrem and Kiara as Katha. Kartik is seen pursuing Kiara for marriage as he tries to impress her. The duo gets married. After that, Kiara and Kartik have many difficult experiences together. Fans will see Kiara next in Game Changer opposite Ram Charan. The film is being helmed by Shankar. The official release of the film is awaited. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor-comedian Vir Das hilariously responded to a troll who questioned whether he even had a girlfriend in his life. Vir was talking about an incident from his past, where he and his girlfriend were too broke to gift each other for Christmas. When a user tried to troll him, Vir gave it back to him with a savage response. (Also read: Kangana Ranaut drags Hrithik Roshan as she denies kissing Vir Das too hard in Revolver Rani) Vir Das recently came out with a stand up special, Landing Vir Das's tweet Vir tweeted on Wednesday, When I was 21 my then girlfriend and I were both just utterly broke. Two kids from India on large aid packages. So Christmas Eve we went to the mall and gave each other an imaginary budget of 2000 dollars and split up for a hour. Seemed like the world at the time. And then we met back and went from shop to shop showing what we WOULDVE bought each-other if we had the money. An entirely imaginary Christmas. Then we split an ice cream, took a bus home. Many years later, writing a movie, need a moment in the second act which makes you root for a couple, memory comes in out of nowhere, and put that scene into the screenplay. Vir's savage response There were many who reacted to Vir's tweet and added to the comments. There was one comment in particular which caught Vir's attention. The user had said, "Tujh namoone ki gf bhi thi kamaal hai (A sample like you also had a girlfriend, that must be amazing)" To this, Vir had a savage reply back. "Sunny, ek din tere bhi life me pyaar aayega, bina keyboard vaala pyaar. stay strong. (You will also get real love someday, don't worry it will come without a keyboard)" Vir Das returned to Netflix with his new stand-up special Landing in December last year. The hour-long programme, also directed by him, was all about travelling the world, carrying one's country with them, and the notion of home. His last stand-up special Vir Das: For India was nominated for a 2021 International Emmy in the best comedy category. 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 Mild Oppenheimer Spoiler Ahead: J Robert Oppenheimer's grandson Charles Oppenheimer has spoken about a scene in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer when asked if he thought any part in the film was 'inaccurate'. In an interview with TIME, Charles pointed out that the part he liked the least in the film was the 'poison apple reference'. He also added that he disagreed with the part, not because of Nolan but because it was a problem in American Prometheus. (Also Read | Oppenheimer does much better business in India than Barbie) Cillian Murphy plays J Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer. What is American Prometheus American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer was a Pulitzer Prize-winning 2006 biography of the theoretical physicist written by Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin. Nolan's Oppenheimer is based on the book. In the said scene, a young Robert Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy, injects potassium cyanide into a green apple. He then leaves it for his university tutor, Patrick Blackett (James D'Arcy). Later, Oppenheimer has second thoughts and throws away the fruit before Niels Bohr (Kenneth Branagh) can take a bite. Charles talks about poison apple scene Charles said to TIME, "There are parts that I disagree with, but not really because of (Christopher) Nolan. The part I like the least is this poison apple reference, which was a problem in American Prometheus. If you read American Prometheus carefully enough, the authors say, 'We don't really know if it happened.' There's no record of him trying to kill somebody. That's a really serious accusation and it's historical revision. There's not a single enemy or friend of Robert Oppenheimer who heard that during his life and considered it to be true." Charles on if the scene in Oppenheimer bothered him He also added, "Sometimes facts get dragged through a game of telephone. In the movie, it's treated vaguely and you don't really know what's going on unless you know this incredibly deep backstory. So it honestly didn't bother me. It bothers me that it was in the biography with that emphasis, not a disclaimer of, this is an unsubstantiated rumour that we want to put in our book to make it interesting. But I like some of the dramatizations. I thought Einstein's conversation with Oppenheimer at the end was really effective even though it wasn't historical." About Nolan's Oppenheimer Oppenheimer, a Universal Pictures project, also stars Florence Pugh, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr, Matt Damon, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, and Kenneth Branagh among others. The biopic, set during World War II, follows Oppenheimer, known as the Father of the Atomic Bomb, during a period in history when he feared that testing the atomic bomb would ignite the atmosphere and destroy the world, yet he pushed the button anyway. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As the brand ambassador of Samsung, SUGA of BTS participated in Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Unpacked event. Today, Samsung unveiled its new foldable smartphone series in Seoul for the first time. SUGA as the brand ambassador of Samsung Electronics According to The Korea Herald, an industry official said, Suga will attend the event as a guest, but he will not be performing on the stage. Another source revealed, Samsung put considerable efforts into inviting Suga to its first Unpacked event on its home turf. Since the upcoming event means more to the firm, Sugas presence is expected to make the event more special, the source added. SUGA also teased his appearance at the event on his Instagram account. Right from the start, SUGA was the star of the event as an advert featuring the idol was shown. Dressed in his Valentino suit, the BTS member looked like a CEO from a K-Drama according to the media. Fans were excited to see pictures of him sitting next to the brand executives. At the event, SUGA proudly showed off his Samsung phone. His fans particularly loved his phone case which read, D-DAY. Of course as the brand ambassador, the spotlight was on the K-Pop celebrity. Yet, SUGA is known for his introverted personality and felt shy with all the attention on him. Fans couldnt help but fawn over how adorable he looked! Also Read | BTS Suga and depression: 10 self care lessons by Min Yoongi Although it was the first time SUGA attended a Samsung event in person, he has shown his support for the companys products many times. While on his first solo world tour, SUGA displayed his appreciation for Samsung products. At the New Jersey concert in April, he offered to take selfies with his fansbut only with Samsung Galaxy phones. "If you offer me a phone, please give me only Galaxy. No iPhone." He also showed off his Galaxy smartphone with his concert tickets while on a livestream. These are the tour merchandise items. Dont they fit the Galaxy so well? Samsung must be smiling now, he joked. BTS has been linked to Samsungs smartphones since 2020 when they launched the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus BTS edition and Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS edition. Snoop Dogg has canceled his show at the Hollywood Bowl in support of the ongoing writers and actors strike. Snoop Dogg cancels Hollywood Bowl show in support of writers & actors on strike The rapper announced this decision through an Instagram post, writing, We regret to inform you that due to the ongoing strike and the uncertainty of when this will be over, we need to cancel the Hollywood Bowl show. Originally, Snoop Dogg had delayed the concert from June to October since the Writers Guild of America declared their intention to begin their strike against the Hollywood studios. In mid-July, actors joined the striking writer. We continue to stand in solidarity with all of our brothers and sisters in the WGA and SAG/AFTRA during this difficult time and remain hopeful that the AMPTP will come back to the negotiating table with a REAL proposal and we can all get back to work," wrote Snoop. Last week at a Milkin Institute event, Snoop Dogg bashed the current streaming residual models as he showed his support for the strike. The streaming gotta get their shit together because I dont understand how the f**k you get paid off of that shit, the rapper said. I mean, can someone explain to me how you can get a billion streams and not get a million dollars? That shit dont make sense to me. I dont know who the f**k is running the streaming industry, if youre in here or not, but you need to give us some information on how the f**k to track this money down cause one plus one aint adding up to two. Since May, over 11,000 writers have been on strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers after reaching an impasse during the latest round of contract negotiations. In mid-July, around 160.000 actors went on strike along with the writers after a failed attempt at making a deal with the AMPTP. The 2023 WGA & SAG-AFTRA strike is the first time since 1960 that actors and writers have walked out simultaneously. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bigg Boss and Salman Khan are synonymous. The reality show has had many hosts, including veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan, but none could command the kind of attention and TRPs that Salman got for the show. However, now his fans are upset with him, and have slammed him for not caring about Bigg Boss anymore. After a person shared his thoughts on Reddit, others said Salman was doing the show for 'money and greed', but had zero interest in it now. Also read: Tracking Salman Khans Bigg Boss salary, from season 4 to 14 Salman Khan is hosting Bigg Boss OTT 2 now. Salman Khan is currently hosting the second season of Bigg Boss OTT, which streams on JioCinema. Since 2010's season 4, the actor has been the host of Bigg Boss. But now, his fans say he is doing the show for the sake of it or just to earn big. It is reported that Salman makes millions per episode. Reddit thinks Salman doesn't care about Bigg Boss On Tuesday, a Redditor wrote, "Salman Khan doesnt seem interested in the show anymore. After season 14 (which premiered in 2020), it has just massively dropped!" He further said, He doesn't even laugh or joke anymore. No dance entry on weekend ka vaar (weekend episodes), have you noticed this? No jallad (a segment show's on the weekend episodes), no caller of the week. No interesting things. No facial expression or anything. He just doesn't seem to care anymore. I hope he realises how much we love him as a host and how much this disinterest bothers us! Reactions to Salman's recent Bigg Boss appearances Many commented on the post. One seemed worried about Salman, but was still upset with the actor. The person wrote, "Idk (I don't know) if his health is fine or not, apparently he is a patient of trigeminal neuralgia and it can be very painful. But I'm not sure if that's what is bothering him or is there something else? But please agar paise le rahe ho show ke toh give it your heart, sirf for the sake of it akey karke mat jao (If you are being paid for the show, at least do your work properly, don't just do the show for the sake of it)." One person said about Salman, "His screen time is also very less." Another comment read, "Easy money, like all his movies and home productions without any production value with C-grade stars, all just for money and greed." One more person seemed to agree, writing, "Actually this has been case with movies as well. His last film as well there was no much effort." However, a person defended Salman. He wrote, "The problem is the repeated format that the makers keep pasting again and again." About Bigg Boss Bigg Boss is an Indian adaptation of the international reality show Big Brother. It began airing in 2006 on Sony TV with actor Arshad Warsi as the host. The show gained popularity after Shilpa Shetty emerged as the winner in Big Brother 5 in the UK, and replaced Arshad as the host in the second season of Bigg Boss, which aired on Colors TV. For the third season, Amitabh Bachchan hosted the show. Salman Khan has been the host from the fourth season onwards. He was also joined by Sanjay Dutt as the host in season 5. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Uday, a six-year-old cheetah, was healthy when he was released in quarantine in the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh (MP) in February. Mandatory medical tests conducted in South Africa before he was flown to India found him fit without any sign of any illness. He weighed a healthy 55 kg. PREMIUM The cheetahs, however, continued to die.(ANI- Representative image) Just two months later Uday could barely walk. CCTV footage captured on April 23 showed a feeble Uday barely walking a few metres before collapsing inside his enclosure in KNP. Uday was pale and weak and weighed just about 43 kg when he was found dead soon after: It meant the big cat did not eat anything for at least three days before dying, experts said. Uday died due to cardiopulmonary failure caused by a localised area of brain haemorrhage, the environment ministry said in a statement. What caused the brain haemorrhage was not officially explained by the ministry or the state forest department. Uday was the second cheetah to die after Sasha who died because of renal failure on March 27, 2023, the ministry said, adding that she had developed a kidney ailment (high keratin level) when she was in Namibia, her original home. The Namibia-based Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), however, denied the ministry claim, saying Sasha was healthy before she was translocated to India. Six-year-old Udays collapse inside the six square km enclosure, five days after being released from quarantine, was the first sign that the cheetahs may be finding it difficult to adapt to a different ecology and climate. The cheetahs, however, continued to die. On May 9, a female cheetah Daksha died during a mating attempt, which, however, is not unusual in the wild even in Africa, the biggest home of cheetahs in the world. She died during a violent encounter with a coalition of two male cheetahs, who were released into her enclosure on April 30. Prima facie, the wounds found on the female cheetah Daksha seem to have been caused by a violent interaction with the male, possibly during mating, an MP forest department statement said. Even as a debate behind the reasons for these deaths raged among forest and government officials and ecologists, the Kuno weather began to change and started taking its toll on the animals. In May, three of the four cubs born to Siyaya from Namibia died due to dehydration as temperatures in Kuno touched 45 degrees Celsius. A ministry statement said the three cubs died due to dehydration and because they were rejected by their mother. Then came the monsoon, lowering high summer temperatures but forcing the cheetahs to live in high humidity levels, something which they had not experienced before. The rainfall in Kuno in the first week of July was almost double the normal for the period, India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist Harvendra Singh, said, adding that heavy rains raised humidity level up to 92 %, the highest in the past few years. Tejas, 3 and Suraj, 6, died on July 11 and July 14 respectively due to traumatic shock because of septicaemia, said cheetah steering committee chairperson Rajesh Gopal, terming the deaths as highly unusual. The cubs caught the infection from the 400-gm radio collars around their necks, which were continuously wet because of the rains. The infection was so severe that maggots infested Surajs body from its neck all the way to the tail, which also indicated that the infection had spread over a period of time. The infection around the radio collars was due to high humidity, an MP forest department official had said at the time of the deaths of the two cheetahs. The Cheetah translocation project Cheetahs went extinct in India by the early 1950s. Twenty cheetahs - 8 from Namibia and 12 from South Africa were translocated to India on September 17, 2022, as part of the Cheetah Translocation Project (CTP). The cheetahs released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi were first put in a quarantine area and then released into the six sq km enclosure to adapt to Kunos ecological and climate conditions. Of the 20, 11 were finally released into the wild in different phases. The unexpected deaths of all the cheetahs in the enclosure which experts said should not have occurred have brought the spotlight back to Indias most ambitious big cat conservation project. Independent experts have found fault with the implementation of the project and frequent changes in the project monitoring team. Rajesh Gopal is the third head of the project monitoring team since September 2022, when the first cheetahs were brought to India. None of the big cat experts who were part of the original team and brought the cheetahs to India are part of the monitoring team now. National Tiger Conservation Authority member Secretary, S P Yadav, Y V Jhala, former head of cheetah task force, and Gopal did not respond to questions from HT on the deaths and on the problems with the project. Please excuse me, there is a lot of negativity around the project, said a senior ministry official, when his comments were sought. Neither did the environment ministry spokesperson respond to HT questions. However, the ministry in a written reply in Parliament during the 2023 monsoon session said it was too early to evaluate the success and failure of the project. It claimed 50% of cheetah deaths were expected in the project in the first year before the population stabilised. When asked about the project and the problems, the MP chief wildlife warden Aseem Shrivastava said: I have just joined and I'm here to fix things. I will work according to guidelines and I cant comment on other things as I need to first have an idea about it. Weather What really alarmed wildlife experts was the death of the three cubs in May and the two cheetahs in July even though the weather pattern different in India from the cheetahs original habitats was discussed in the cheetah action plan. The ideal habitats for cheetahs are grasslands, scrubs and open forest systems, semi-arid environments, low human impact areas, and temperatures that tend to be hotter than cooler. The pre-project action plan had said Kuno was best suited for the project. A section in the action plan on eco-climatic zone for cheetahs in India, said: Response curve for minimum temperature of the coldest month shows that areas having low temperature (not below 2 Celsius) are not suitable. Cheetah habitat suitability was limited to areas with maximum temperature between 23 to 40 Celsius in the warmest months and mostly in semi-arid (dry) regions. The action plan said that analysis of the weather in Kuno showed a high probability of cheetah habitat suitability. Experts, however, disagree. Peak summer temperatures in Kuno regularly exceed 40 degrees Celsius. That being the case, it is not clear how Kuno was chosen when their own analysis indicates that 23 to 40 degrees Celsius is the most suitable temperature range for cheetahs, said Ravi Chellam, chief executive officer, Metastring Foundation & Coordinator, Biodiversity Collaborative, who has extensively worked on big cats in India. Experts said the action plan failed to mention about high rainfall in recent years even though the long-term average of rainfall in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh, where Kuno falls, is 162 mm for the monsoon season. A senior official associated with the cheetah project said the action plan prepared by experts, who are now not part of the project, had evaluated the possibility of extreme weather conditions because of climate change and local weather conditions. But (they) could not anticipate how the animals will react to it and its possible medical implications. There was no scientific study to fall back on as such as project has never been undertaken, the official said. Skin infection As the weather was getting hotter, the first signs of what was in store were visible in May itself. The state forest department on May 15 wrote to the national tiger conservation authority (NTCA) on action to be taken on skin abrasions caused due to radio collars. Officials said a detailed guideline on how to treat skin ailments was issued on July 17 after the death of Suraj and Tejas. The steering committee also decided to recapture all cheetahs in the wild and to medically re-evaluate them. Eight of the 11 cheetahs in the wild were subsequently recaptured. After they were recaptured, the medical team found skin infections in Gaurav, Shaurya and Pawan, who had earlier travelled up to 200 kms to reach the Uttar Pradesh border. Vincent van der Merwe, manager of Cheetah Metapopulation Project on July 15 said, The extremely wet conditions are causing the collars to cause infection, which was not anticipated. The radio collars on the remaining cheetahs have been removed for now, Gopal said. Learnings Key learnings have been picked up from the 10-month-old project, officials monitoring it said. An official associated with the project said that except for Sasha, the cheetahs that died were from South Africa and these deaths took place in the six square km enclosure. Arjun Gopalaswamy, founder and chief scientist of Carnassials Global, a Bengaluru-based ecological firm said no cheetah should have died inside the enclosure. He said the action plan overlooked key research on cheetah behaviour and ecology, making the strategy inherently prone to high mortalities. Vincent van der Merwe, quoted earlier, said on July 11: In Africa, we do not employ this phased release approach for wild cheetah reintroduction/release. Our cheetahs do a short one-month quarantine in a small 40m*40m boma (the enclosure for the cheetahs), and then they are released into free-ranging conditions. The phased manner release was done with good intentions but needs to be reviewed, he said. That is not all. There is also a question mark on whether in the future cheetahs translocated from other countries should be captive-bred or from the wild. This issue has arisen because most of the South African cheetahs, which died were wild, indicating that they faced problems in adjusting to long captivity. The cheetahs in South Africa spent almost nine months in quarantine before they were sent to India. Official records show that they were captured in the months of June and July in 2022 to be translocated to India in August. However, prolonged bilateral talks between India and South Africa led to delays in translocation. South African veterinarian, Adrian Tordiffe, said they were discussing whether or not it will be better to identify captive cheetahs in future as they would be less stressed by the presence of people and easier to monitor. We selected wild cheetahs from South Africa with the thinking that they would be more likely to avoid human settlements in India. Perhaps that was a mistake and more habituated tame cheetahs might still be fine, he said. A new home According to a letter published in Conservation Science and Practice in April 2023, the cheetah carrying capacity of Kuno was estimated to be 21 individuals based on prey density which comes to three individuals per 100 square kms. Such high cheetah densities have not been recorded for other free-ranging African cheetah population roaming in unfenced areas, which typically occur less than 1 individual per 100 square km, the letter by Bettina Wachter of department of evolutionary zoology at Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin, Germany said. The letter echoes experts from South Africa and Namibia who have asked for a second home for cheetahs in India. The risk assessment and management plan prepared by South African experts had mentioned Mukundra Hills in the Congress-ruled Rajasthan as a possible second home for cheetahs. However, the MP government started preparing the much warmer Gandhi Sagar wildlife sanctuary in the southern part of the state as a second home for them in April this year. The officials admitted that at the earliest, Gandhi Sagar will be ready to house cheetahs by early next year whereas Mukundra, which has a big quarantine facility, can be readied in a month. A senior official in MP forest department said they were keen to shift cheetahs to another location after their monitoring became a herculean task because one of the cheetahs, Pawan, started travelling long distances, forcing the department to tranquilise him twice to bring him back to Kuno. We clearly told the NTCA that we would not be able to physically monitor the movement of so many cheetahs and sought permission to shift them to another location, the official said, adding that they were not averse to relocating the cheetahs to Mukundhra Hills. When Gopal was appointed as chairman of the steering committee it was decided that cheetahs will be allowed to explore their territories outside Kuno and will not be recaptured. They were, however, recaptured because of skin abrasions in July. Weighing into the debate, union environment minister Bhupendra Yadav, who visited KNP on June 6, said Kuno had enough space and no cheetahs will be relocated. Yadav repeated his statement on July 15. We are in touch with experts including international experts. Our team will visit there. The cheetahs will not be relocated from Kuno. A Congress leader in Rajasthan, Bharat Singh, former head of the state wildlife board, said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government has deliberately prevented cheetahs from coming to Mukundra Hills as it does not want to share credit. However, a Rajasthan forest department official said if Mukundra is proposed as a second home, they will actively consider it and prepare the wildlife sanctuary for them. The issue is likely to be discussed in the Supreme Court as a bench of justices BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala, and Prashant Kumar Mishra on July 20 asked the Centre it was making shifting of cheetahs to another location a prestige issue and why more homes for them have not been created. Instead of having them (cheetahs) in one place, why cannot you create one or more habitats for them, irrespective of whatever state or whatever government they are under, said the bench, commenting that 40% of the deaths in a year do not reflect a good picture. The Centre has to respond to SC questions by July 28. All this leads to the bigger question of whether Kuno, which was once being planned as the second home for lions from Gir in Gujarat, was the right choice for the introduction of African cheetahs in the first place. Chellam said: Unless we have the required space, something in excess of 4,000 square km, we should not be undertaking such costly projects which have very little chance of succeeding given the foundational flaws on which they are based. With nearly a year gone by since the first batch of cheetahs arrived from Namibia, there is still no sign of the cheetahs establishing themselves in the wild. On the contrary, all the released cheetahs are being captured and are going to be held captive at least for the next few months. With the cheetahs finding it difficult just to survive, where is the question of the cheetahs helping us achieve the larger conservation goals, he said. M K Ranjitsinh, who headed the Supreme Court-appointed panel to select the cheetah translocation site, said there was no problem with the selection of KNP. Kuno is the best place to bring back cheetahs to the wild. It matched all conditions for suitable translocation. Once the cheetahs came, the experts (who selected the site) opinions were not heard by the steering committee. It is still not late to save the project. Voice of experts needs to be heard, he said. The SC is yet to decide on the Centres request to disband the expert panel headed by Ranjitsinh. With all the cheetahs back in the enclosure, it means the project will have to be started afresh. The government will take at least a few months to release the cheetahs back into the wild again even though some of them such as Pawan and Aasha had gone as far as 150-200 km from Kuno and were exploring new territory. So, in effect, the project has not yet really begun and many cheetahs have (already) been lost, said Arjun Gopalaswamy, founder and chief scientist at Carnassials Global. There is still hope for the prestigious project with 15 adult cheetahs still alive and 11 of them having explored their territory in the wild. A science-based approach, which takes into account ecological-climatic conditions and willingness to shift some cheetahs to a new home could give the project new life. Over 34,000 students dropped out from higher education institutions such as central universities, IITs, NITs, IIMs, and NITs, between 2019 and 2023, with nearly half of them belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Class categories, the education ministry informed the Parliament on Wednesday. The data further shows that 17,454 or 52% of the 32,186 students who dropped out were from SC (4423), ST (3774) and OBC (8602) categories (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Responding to a written question asked by Bharatiya Janata Party Rajya Sabha member Sushil Kumar Modi, minister of state for education Subhas Sarkar provided the data on the number of students dropping out of the higher education institutions while emphasizing that the majority of these students dropped out from postgraduate and PhD programmes. According to the data provided by the ministry, out of the total 34,035 students who dropped out, the maximum numbers were reported in central universities (17,454), followed by Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) ( 8,139), National Institutes of Technology (NITs) (5,623), Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (1,046), Indian Institutes of Management (858), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) (803), and Schools of Planning and Architecture (SPAs) (112). To be sure, while the data of all other institutions covered the period of 2019-23, it covered four years 2019-2022 in case of central universities and SPAs, which means the number of dropouts would effectively be higher than the figure provided. The data further shows that 17,454 or 52% of the 32,186 students who dropped out were from SC (4423), ST (3774) and OBC (8602) categories. In his response, Sarkar cited offers for placement in public sector enterprises and personal preference for better opportunities elsewhere, as major reasons behind the students dropping out. The drop out in undergraduate programmes is attributed to withdrawal due to wrong choices filled, poor performance and personal and medical reasons, he said. The minister further said that higher education institutions have initiated a number of corrective measures to minimize the dropouts, which include appointment of advisors to monitor the academic progress of students, provision of additional classes for academically weaker students, peer assisted learning, counselling to de-stress students, psychological motivation, and extracurricular activities. As many as 38 people died and 35 people were injured in rain-related incidents like waterlogging, lightning strikes, house collapse, tree fall and landslides in the state since June 1, the state government said on Wednesday. CMSiddaramaiah held a video interaction with Collectors andZilla Panchayat officers on Wednesday to review the states weather, rainfall and agricultural activities. (PTI) 57 houses were completely damaged, 208 houses were severely damaged and 2,682 houses were partially damaged, according to the state government. Meanwhile, 105 cattle died due to rain. 541.39-hectare area of crops were inundated, including 185 hectares of agriculture crops and 356 hectares of horticulture crops as of Wednesday. Also read | WATCH: Bengaluru rain causes waterlogging in multiple areas; traffic advisories issued Further, 2109 km of roads were damaged, including 407 km of state highways, and 1277 km of district highways and rural roads. 189 bridges, 889 school rooms, 8 primary centres, 269 Anganwadi centres were reported damaged, the state government said. On Wednesday, chief minister Siddaramaiah held a video interaction with district collectors and chief executive officers of Zilla panchayat on Wednesday to review the states weather, rainfall and agricultural activities. Stressing on precautionary measures to avoid rain-related deaths and damages, Siddaramaiah suggested that the district administration should do more in this regard. READ | Despite heavy showers, 23 districts in Karnataka record 20-62% rainfall deficit Many farmers cannot be displaced when floods occur. Take action to relocate as soon as there is a flood forecast. There are widespread complaints from the people that the houses built as alternatives by the previous government are not fit for anyone to live in, Siddaramaiah said, adding that more emphasis should be given to precautionary measures. The chief minister directed the district administration to take action to prevent people from going near water bodies if the water rises. He said that people should be warned about this and work should be done to create awareness to avoid loss of life. Pointing out that the possibility of landslides is known in advance, Siddaramaiah said, To a certain extent, the authorities have advance information about the places where landslides may occur. Loss of lives can be avoided if there is coordination between the police, revenue, irrigation and rural development departments. The chief minister directed the concerned authorities to hold daily press conferences about the possibility of rains. People should be advised not to go in slippery places and not to cross overflowing rivers. More efforts should be made to prevent deaths, he added. According to the state government, Karnataka saw 56% rain deficit in June due to cyclone Biparjoy. However, 313 mm rainfall was seen in July, 37% more than normal rainfall. From June 1 till now, four districts have received heavy rainfall, 21 districts have received normal rainfall, while six districts are deficient in rain, the state government said. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted heavy rainfall in the coastal Karnataka region and issued a red alert till Thursday morning. The MeT department also issued an orange alert forecasting extremely heavy rainfall and yellow alert forecasting heavy rainfall for three districts Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada. Gusty wind with speed reaching 40-50 Kmph is likely to occur at isolated places from July 26-27 and gusty wind with speed reaching 30-40 kmph is likely to occur at isolated places from July 28-30, the IMD said. Squally weather with wind speed reaching 40-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is likely to prevail over Karnataka Coast from July 26-27 and over North Karnataka coast on July 28. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea, it added. The MeT department issued an orange alert for Belagavi, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu and a yellow alert for Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Vijayapura, Yadgir, Hassan and Shivamogga till Thursday morning. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ninety-eight students died by suicide in higher education institutions (HEIs) between 2018 and 2023 and the largest chunk of deaths came from IITs, the education ministry told Parliament on Wednesday. A raft of high-profile suicides by students in IITs over the past year has generated concern. Responding to a question asked by Communist Party of India (Marxist) Rajya Sabha member V Sivadasan, Union minister of state for education Subhas Sarkar submitted the data of students who died by suicide across central universities, Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER), in the last five years. According to the data, of these 98 students, 39 were from IITs, 25 from NITs and 25 from central universities, four from IIMs, three from IISERs and two from IIITs. Also read | IIT Hyderabad student found dead on Vizag beach, suicide suspected The data showed that 20 cases were reported in 2023, so far, 24 in 2022, seven each in 2021 and 2020, 19 in 2019, and 21 in 2018. There are 23 IITs campuses in India, 31 NITs, 56 central universities, 20 IIMs, 25 IIITs and seven IISERs. A raft of high-profile suicides by students in IITs over the past year has generated concern. Sarkar said that to address mental health and well-being, the University Grants Commission (UGC) took various steps and issued advisories to HEIs. The UGC has also issued guidelines for promotion of physical fitness, sports, students health, welfare, psychological and emotional well- being at HEIs, he said. He further said that the ministry took various steps such as peer assisted learning, introduction of technical education in regional languages for students in order to ease the academic stress. Read | Bengaluru university authorities slammed after 19-year-old BTech student's suicide The Government of India initiative, named Manodarpan, covers a wide range of activities to provide psychological support to students, teachers and families for mental and emotional well-being during the Covid outbreak and beyond. The ministry has also advised the institutions to make the system more robust that would include prevention, detection and remedial measures for addressing possible cause of suicides, the minister added.A SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Allahabad High Court has expressed concern over the youth of the country, which it said were spoiling their lives by imitating relationship trends influenced by Western culture aired on movies and social media, the Bar and Bench reported. The court observed that families not accepting of their children's relationship is resulting in eloping, suicides, or hasty engagements to fill the emotional void caused by past relationships. (Representational image/Getty) The court blamed the influence of Western culture over young individuals for encouraging free relationships with members of the opposite sex, which is resulting in them not being able to find genuine connections. The court observed that caste, religion, financial status and other factors continue to affect relationships in Indian societies, where families struggle with accepting their children's choice of partners. They further said these outcomes result in cases of eloping, suicides, or hasty engagements to fill the emotional void caused by past relationships. The court made these observations while granting bail to a man accused of abetting the suicide of a woman with whom he was in a relationship. Hearing the case, justice Siddharth observed that the woman had "hopped from one affair to another with a number of boys before she died by suicide in frustration when her family objected to her relationships. Unaware of the consequences of following the Western culture, the young generation is entering into the relationships being aired on social media, movies etcand when they face denial of social recognition of their choice of partners, they become disillusioned, the judge was quoted as saying by Bar and Bench. "Then the individuals behave, sometimes against the society, sometimes against their parents and sometimes also against the partner of their choice when they do not find any way out from the predicament wherein they get landed after entering into such relationship, the judge further observed. 'Infidelity is normalised' Infidelity is normalised on social media and movies, which inflames the imagination of impressionable minds and they start experimenting with the same the court noted. The prosecution had charged the man and others co-accused with kidnapping and raping the victim for days, following which the woman died by suicide. The applicant denied these allegations, arguing that the deceased woman was in a close relationship with another man before she passed away. His counsel claimed that no case was filed against the other man because of his political connections. Considering the rival submissions, the court allowed the applicant's release on bail and directed the lower court to expedite the trial. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The appointment of a full time chief justice in the Manipur high court has been delayed with the N Biren Singh-government sitting over a Centres correspondence for more than a fortnight, even as a high court order by the acting chief justice to consider including the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list became the trigger point for the ethnic clashes between the Meiteis and the Kukis in the northeastern state. The clashes started in Churachandpur district of Manipur on May 3 after a group of tribals took out a march to protest against the high court order and the Meitei communitys demand to be included into the ST category (AFP) On July 5, the Supreme Court collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, made recommendations for the appointments of chief justices in high courts of Bombay, Gujarat, Manipur and Andhra Pradesh. Additionally, the collegium, which also included justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sanjiv Khanna, made prospective recommendations for the future vacancies of chief justices in the high courts of Odisha, Telangana and Kerala. Of the seven recommendations, six have been notified by the Centre following the respective state governments clearance, leaving out only Manipur. Following the state governments nod, justices Sunita Agarwal, Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and DS Thakur have taken over as the chief justices in the high courts of Gujarat, Bombay and Andhra Pradesh respectively. Justices Alok Aradhe and AJ Desai were appointed as chief justices in the high courts of Kerala and Telangana while Orissa high court judge Subhasis Talapatra was cleared as the chief justice of the same high court after justice Muralidhar retires on August 7. But the proposal regarding the Manipur high court remains in limbo awaiting a response from the state government. According to people aware of the matter, the Union law ministry wrote to the state government on July 7, seeking views of the governor and the chief minister regarding the appointment of Delhi high court judge Siddharth Mridul as the new chief justice of Manipur high court. The people cited above said that the Centre cannot process the appointment of new chief justice for Manipur high court since the state government is yet to respond. The memorandum of procedure (MoP), which guides the appointment of judges and chief justices in the constitutional courts, lays down that it is only after the views of the concerned state government is received that the law ministry can submit proposals to the Prime Minister, who will then advise the President as to the appointment. For an appointment of a judge in a high court, the MoP provides that if the comments of the chief minister and the governor concerned are not received within six weeks, the ministry can presume that they have nothing to add to the proposal and proceed with the collegiums recommendation. Justice Mriduls name was proposed by the collegium after modifying the previous recommendation of sending justice Thakur as chief justice of the Manipur high court. Justice Mridul, incidentally, is the senior most high court judge who is yet to be appointed as a high court chief justice. A single judge bench of justice MV Muralidaran, who is presently acting chief justice of the Manipur high court, had on March 27 directed the state government to send within four weeks a recommendation to the Centre on the demand for ST status by the Meitei community. The clashes started in Churachandpur district of Manipur on May 3 after a group of tribals took out a march to protest against the high court order and the Meitei communitys demand to be included into the ST category. Over the two previous hearings in May, the Supreme Court had taken a grim view of justice Muralidarans order, saying that any direction on inclusion or otherwise of a community in a SC/ST list was beyond the remit of a court and that a constitution bench ruling in the state of Maharashtra Vs Milind in 2000 clearly laid down the law in this regard. On May 8, the CJI-led bench observed that a court cannot direct the inclusion of any community in the SC/ST category. This power the high court never had. This is the presidential power. How could high court direct the state government that it shall forward the recommendation to the Government of India? it asked on that day. As it took up a bunch of petitions relating to the volatile situation in the northeastern state again on May 17, the top court remarked: It is a completely wrong order. We gave time to justice Muralidaran to remedy his error but he did not...We have to take a strong view against it now...It is clear that if high court judges do not follow Constitution bench judgments, then what we should do. However, the bench refrained from issuing any directive after it was informed that justice Muralidharans order has been appealed against before a division bench of the Manipur high court where the state government has also pressed for an extension of the time frame to take a decision on granting the ST status to the Meiteis by one year. Justice Muralidaran has been functioning as the acting chief justice of the Manipur high court since February 6. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Utkarsh Anand Utkarsh Anand is Legal Editor at the Hindustan Times. He writes on law, judiciary and governance. ...view detail SHILLONG: The July 24 attack on chief minister Conrad K Sangmas office in Tura was a conspiracy to harm the chief minister, Meghalaya director general of police (DGP) Lajja Ram Bishnoi said on Tuesday evening. Meghalaya DGP LR Bishnoi said intelligence inputs indicate the mob planned to murder the chief minister by hitting him on the head with a stone or bottles (Twitter/lrbishnoiips) Bishnoi told a news conference at police headquarters in Shillong that 26 people have been identified with the help of video footage of the attack on the chief ministers camp office in Tura. The attack came amid protests by local organisations demanding a winter capital in Garo Hills. Eighteen security personnel were injured in the attack, police said. Intelligence indicates that the plan of the mob was to murder the chief minister by hitting him on the head with a stone or bottles, Bishnoi said, alleging that money and liquor were distributed to people on July 23 to create violence. Bishnoi said the situation has now been contained. I categorically state here that we will not spare anyone who indulged in the violence and tried to attack the chief minister and cause damage to vehicles of government officials and that they will be put behind bars very soon. The state police chief said 10 of the 18 personnel injured in the incident were from Meghalaya Police. The other seven were from the Central Reserve Police Force and the eighth was a home guard. In all, 21 vehicles were damaged including four which were set on fire. On Monday (July 24), a mob laid siege to the CMs camp office and pelted stones, when Sangma, who is from Tura, was holding a meeting with 18 leaders of organisations spearheading the protests for the establishment of the winter capital. Bishnoi said the meeting between the chief minister and 18 representatives started at 3:15pm and continued till 5:45pm. Most NGOs were discussing in a peaceful atmosphere when suddenly a crowd started raising slogans the NGO leaders were sent outside to calm them down, but they turned violent and started pelting stones at everyone who was outside, he said The police officer said 23 people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the attack. Among them were Trinamool Congress youth leader Richard Mrong Marak and two BJP Mahila Morcha leaders. Belina M Marak and Dilche Ch Marak. NEW DELHI: The parliamentary standing committee on external affairs has recommended several measures to bolster Indias Neighbourhood First policy, including the completion of pending development projects in Afghanistan and more financial support to help Sri Lanka tide over an economic crisis. The report said efforts should be made to establish a common platform to counter terror under the Neighbourhood First policy. (File Photo) The panels report on the policy, which has emerged as a key part of Indias engagements with countries in the region, also recommended that the government should sensitise regional and multilateral bodies about Pakistans role in fostering terrorism. It added that efforts may be made to establish a common platform to counter terror under the Neighbourhood First policy. The report noted that though the policy was first framed around 2008 to increase cooperation with countries in the region, it has had more focus and more salience since 2014 when the current government took over. Before the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in mid-2021, India was the largest regional donor for the reconstruction of the war-torn country with pledges of about $3 billion for developmental projects. Indias development partnership with Afghanistan included more than 500 projects in areas such as power, water supply, road connectivity, healthcare and education, but work on these schemes stopped after the fall of the Ashraf Ghani government. The committee noted that India continues to provide humanitarian aid to the Afghan people despite changes in the political landscape and recommended that this assistance should be continued. As far as pending projects committed earlier are concerned, concerted efforts should be made to complete them and hand them over at the earliest possible and also keep our arms open for other diplomatic gestures in the changed political scenario, the report said. India provided economic aid worth almost $4 billion to Sri Lanka to cope with an unprecedented economic crisis last year and the committee recommended that the government should continue to be Sri Lankas biggest friend in times of crisis. Additional support for the country can include favourable terms for lines of credit, currency swap and other financial measures, the panel said. The committee further recommended that the government should resume negotiations for the early conclusion of the proposed Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with Sri Lanka. Eleven rounds of talks on ECTA had been completed in September 2018 and Sri Lanka conveyed its willingness to resume the negotiations, the report said. While noting that the economic uncertainty and acute scarcity of foreign exchange in Sri Lanka have hit Indias major exports to the island nation, the committee said the external affairs ministry should play a more proactive role in resolving all the pending issues so that significant increase in Indian exports to Sri Lanka is achieved. The report made it clear that the committees members believe the onus is on Pakistan to improve bilateral relations. One of our core concerns is terrorism emanating from territories under Pakistans control. Any meaningful dialogue with Pakistan can only be held in an atmosphere free from terror, hostility and violence, the report said. Noting that relations with Pakistan and China have been plagued by contentious issues, the report said: In view of the belligerent attitude of Pakistan, the committee desire that the Government should continue to proactively engage with the regional and multilateral bodies/organisations extensively so as to sensitise them of the role played by Pakistan in fostering terrorism and win their support... It also urged the government to consider the establishment of economic ties with Pakistan if they come forward and work towards broader people-to-people contacts. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) lawmaker Vanama Venkateshwara Rao on Wednesday filed an emergency petition in the Telangana high court seeking a stay on Tuesdays judgement disqualifying him as an MLA, people familiar with the matter said. In his lunch motion petition filed before the high court, BRS)lawmaker Venkateshwara Rao requested that the implementation of judgement should be stayed to enable him to file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court. (HT Archives) In his lunch motion petition filed before the high court, Venkateshwara Rao requested that the implementation of judgement should be stayed to enable him to file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court. The high court, which heard the arguments of the MLA, reserved its judgement. On Tuesday, the high court set aside his election from Kothagudem assembly constituency in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, in December 2018 assembly elections, on the ground that he had failed to furnish complete details about his properties and that of his wife in the election affidavit filed before the Election Commission of India, as a contemplation under Section 125A of the Representation of Peoples (RP) Act. The high court imposed a penalty of 5 lakh on Venkateshwara Rao for filing a false affidavit. At the same time, the court declared his nearest rival Jalagam Venkat Rao, who lost the election by a margin of over 4,300 votes, as the MLA with effect from December 12, 2018. Venkat Rao said he expected such a verdict and was very happy to be declared as the MLA. I knew there was merit in my argument and truth will always triumph, he said Venkateshwara Rao was elected on the Congress party ticket but defected to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (now BRS) soon after the election. On the other hand, Venkat Rao has been continuing in the BRS. Meanwhile, Venkat Rao on Wednesday approached the state assembly secretariat and submitted the copy of the high court judgement which declared him as the Kothagudem MLA in place of Venkateshwara Rao. I submitted the high court order and the other relevant documents to the assembly secretary, requesting him to implement the high court judgement. The officials said they would commence the process at the earliest, after taking the legal opinion, Rao told HT. He said he had also spoken to assembly speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy over phone and the latter had assured to look into the case. When asked whether the assembly authorities would have to wait for the final judgement from the Supreme Court, Venkat Rao refused to comment. I have submitted my case. It is for the assembly authorities to take a call, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The kin of the 40 paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel killed in the 2019 Pulwama attack were paid compensation ranging from 1.56 crore to 2.94 crore, Union minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai told Parliament on Wednesday. In February 2019, 40 CRPF personnel were killed when a suicide bomber drove a car laden with explosives into their convoy. (PTI) Rai listed the jobs given or the status of those offered to the kin of each CRPF trooper. He said the compensation included the money families of the 40 got from the Union, state governments as well as donations from individuals and corporates. Rai said the kin of the soldiers were given jobs in different sectors. They included lower-division government jobs in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. In many cases, requests were made for jobs to the sons of the personnel after they attain the age of 18 in the force. One troopers widow was given a job in the Punjab Police as a constable. Another is working as a clerk at the deputy commissioners office in Himachal Pradeshs Kangra. On February 14, 2019, 40 CRPF personnel were killed when a suicide bomber drove a car laden with explosives into their convoy when it was passing through Lethpora in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama district. The attack was one of the deadliest in Jammu and Kashmir and brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war. It prompted a new standard operating protocol for the movement of security forces. CRPF plans to build a memorial to the 40 soldiers at a hilltop in Pulwama. A two-acre site has been identified and the force has floated an expression of interest for executing the project. Officials said that the proposed memorial would be one of the biggest in Kashmir. Congress lawmaker Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday submitted a notice for a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modis government as part of an attempt to force him to reply on issues including the Manipur violence. The notice was moved after acrimony and disruptions in Parliament. (PTI) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was expected to take up the notice in the House. The notice was filed at 9.20am. According to the rules, any no-confidence notice submitted before 10am has to be taken up on the same day. People aware of the matter said the motion was unlikely to be taken up in Lok Sabha for discussion on Wednesday and that the Speaker will only see if the notice has the backing of 50 members. The Speaker will allot time and date, said a person. The notice was moved after acrimony and disruptions in Parliament and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s refusal to accept the Oppositions demand that Modi speak on the Manipur issue. Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday made another attempt to break the deadlock in both houses of Parliament by writing to leaders of the Opposition, offering a discussion on the situation in the northeastern state. Leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) on Tuesday discussed a proposal to move a no-confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha. Trinamool Congresss Rajya Sabha floor leader Derek OBrien later tweeted: The overall Parliamentary strategy is in place for the INDIA parties. Tactics to execute that strategy evolve every day. Rule 198 of the Lok Sabha states the procedure of moving a no-confidence motion. Picture abhi baki hai (wait and watch)! BEIJING, July 25 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has replied to a letter from students of Pui Kiu Middle School in Hong Kong, encouraging them to make contributions to building an even better Hong Kong and achieving national rejuvenation. In his letter dated July 24, Xi said he was pleased when the students told him that they had a stronger sense of pride in being Chinese after participating in activities such as interacting with astronauts of China's Tiangong space station. Xi said patriotism lies at the heart of Chinese national spirit. People in Hong Kong maintain the noble tradition of loving both the motherland and Hong Kong, which serves as a crucial cornerstone for the stable and enduring implementation of "one country, two systems," Xi said. The president called on the students to gain a better understanding of global trends, delve into the history, culture, and present realities of their motherland, and develop a deeper love for the country and its people. He also urged the students to sharpen their skills and abilities to become capable talent ready to shoulder great responsibilities at an early date. Pui Kiu Middle School was founded in 1946. It is known as one of the first Hong Kong schools to raise the national flag after the founding of New China in 1949. The school has nurtured generations of people who love both the motherland and Hong Kong. India is open to Chinese investment despite border clashes between the two countries, the Deputy Minister for Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar told the Financial Times in a report published on Wednesday. Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar(PTI) "We are open to doing business with any company anywhere as long as they are investing and conducting their business lawfully and are in compliance with the Indian laws," Chandrasekhar told the FT, adding that India was "open to all investment, including Chinese". New Delhi ramped up scrutiny of Chinese businesses after a 2020 border clash between the two countries, banning more than 300 Chinese apps, including TikTok. Since then, India has intensified scrutiny of investments by Chinese firms. The Economic Times, in a report published last week, said India rejected Chinese automaker BYD Co's proposal to set up a $1 billion factory in the country over security concerns with respect to Chinese investments. However, the FT said BYD's application was "pending and still valid", citing an unnamed person with direct knowledge of the matter. India's commerce ministry officials did not respond to Reuters request for comment. BYD could not be immediately reached for a comment. Separately, Apple's Chinese contract manufacturer Luxshare Precision Industry Co Ltd, which already has two plants in India, has applied for permission for another factory in the country, but Indian officials have not yet approved the project, the FT added. Chandrasekhar told the FT he was unaware of Luxshare's application. Luxshare did not respond to Reuters request for comment. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Delhi court on Wednesday sentenced former Rajya Sabha member Vijay Darda and his son, Devendra Darda, to four years in jail in a case related to irregularities in the allocation of a coal block in Chhattisgarh. JLD Yavatmal Energy Pvt Ltd director Manoj Kumar Jayaswal also received a four-year jail sentence while former coal secretary H C Gupta and two other officials K S Kropha and K C Samaria received a three-year jail sentence. Former Rajya Sabha member Vijay Darda. (Twitter)(HT_PRINT) The court also imposed a fine of Rs. 50 lakh on M/s JLD Yavatmal. Earlier this month, special judge Sanjay Bansal convicted them under the Indian Penal Code (IPC)s Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said 13th convictions have been secured in the coal allocation scam, which rocked then Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs government in 2012. During the argument on the quantum of sentence, the CBI sought maximum punishment, claiming that Darda and his son Devender had met former CBI director Ranjit Sinha at his residence to scuttle the investigation. The Supreme Court had constituted an SIT to investigate Sinhas role in prima facie allegations against him for trying to influence the probe in coal scam cases. CBIs senior Public Prosecutor A P Singh further claimed that a witness in the case stated that he was threatened by Jayaswal, who tried to influence him to not depose against him. (With PTI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill, which provides for contentious exemptions for constructions on forestland, was on Wednesday passed in Lok Sabha despite concerns and amid protests as the deadlock over the oppositions insistence on Prime Minister Narendra Modis statement in the House on the Manipur violence continued. The bill was in March referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee. (ANI) The bill was in March referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), which invited public suggestions in May. The panel cleared all amendments the environment ministry proposed even as four opposition lawmakers on the committee submitted dissent notes. During the debate on the bill, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav cited international commitments on the climate crisis and Nationally Determined Contributions with three quantitative goals. He said the first two goals have been achieved nine years in advance but the third of creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3.0 billion tons of CO2 equivalent was yet to be realised. For that, we need to focus on agroforestry and increase tree cover. The goal is important for the entire world. He said the development has stopped in certain Left-wing extremism (LWE)-affected areas due to certain restrictions in the current law. Yadav added they want critical public utility projects to reach these regions. The exemption to forest areas in 100 km area from borders, LAC [the Line of Actual Control with China], and LOC [Line of Control, the de facto India-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir] will help develop roads critical for border areas...help develop strategic infrastructure for our national security. He underlined the JPC reviewed the bill and passed all amendments proposed. Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party member Rajendra Agarwal, who headed the JPC, was presiding over the proceedings in Speaker Om Birlas absence when the bill was discussed and passed. The bill was passed days after around 400 ecologists, scientists, and naturalists wrote to Yadav and members of Parliament on July 18, urging them not to table the proposed legislation. They cited the devastating impacts of climate change and environmental degradation and highlighted floods this summer across north India. This is the time for the government to reaffirm its commitment to protecting the countrys immense biodiversityThis amendment will only seek to hasten the decline of Indias natural forests. They called for additional consultations with domain experts. The bill covers only land that has been declared or notified as forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, or under any other law. It says prior clearance is not needed for the construction of any strategic linear project of national importance. Almost all of the ecologically-fragile northeast fall under this category. The submissions attached to the JPC report show opposition to the provisions of the bill. The environment ministry insisted exemptions were needed in the absence of clarity on the scope of the current law, unclear government records, the need to provide connectivity, etc. It also cited the fast-tracking of strategic and security-related projects of national importance, especially along the international border, LAC, LoC, and LWE-hit areas. The report admits experts have highlighted the amendments were likely to dilute the Supreme Courts 1996 landmark Godavarman judgment. The verdict widened the scope of the Forest Conservation Act to apply to any land recorded as forest irrespective of its ownershiplarge tracts of unclassed forests in the northeast, for example. The ministry clarified that unclassed forests will also be covered. Experts pointed out that the 100 km exemption from border areas can be detrimental to ecologically sensitive areas of the northeast. Please look at the northeast, for example. If you are going to exempt 100 kilometres from each border, what is going to be left? it is a very sensitive area. As it is, we are seeing the problems which are being created because of certain communities who have had traditional rights and customary rights to forests under Schedule VI [of] the Constitution which itself, I believe, is inadequate, noted an unnamed expert in the submission made to the JPC. The Sixth Schedule provides for the autonomous administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. The environment ministry said the 100 km provision has been decided in consultation with the defence ministry. It insisted it is considered optimum to meet the requirement of defence organisations and strategic requirements. The proposed exemption along the international borders and in LWE areas are not generic exemptions and will not be available for private entities, it said. Experts have said the bill violates provisions of the Forest Rights Act as it does not clearly speak of prior informed consent of village councils on forest clearances. The environment ministry has insisted there was no violation. Congresss Pradyut Bordoloi, who was among those who submitted dissent notes to the JPC, wrote what remains an obvious gap, even in the statement and objects of the amendment, is the reconciliation of the forest conservation legislation with the forest rights question. He added that should have been important especially when almost all proposed amendments will necessarily come to bear on prevailing, pending, or recognised forest rights. There is an absence of any perspective on how existing proprietary, customary, and livelihood use rights will be dealt with for net zero compliant lands or in the case of fresh forest land diversions. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi A Delhi court on Wednesday sent former Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda, his son Devendra Darda, and businessman Manoj Jayaswal to four years in prison in a case related to irregularities in the allocation of a coal block in Chhattisgarh in 2007. The court also imposed a fine of 15 lakh each on Vijay Darda (HT Photo) Three other convicts in the case, former coal secretary HC Gupta and two senior public officials KS Kropha and KC Samria, were sentenced to three-year jail terms. The case, which was probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), blamed Darda and his son along with Jayaswal, Gupta, Kropha and Samria of concealing information and inducing the Govt. of India to obtain wrongful gain in allocation of coal block. The coal block was allocated to a company, M/s JLD Yavatmal. Jayaswal is the director of JLD Yavatmal The court also imposed a fine of 15 lakh each on Vijay and Devendra Darda and Jayaswal, and a fine of 10,000 each on Gupta, Kropha and Samria. The company, which was made an accused in the case, was also handed a fine of 50 lakh. The court, while pronouncing the sentence took into consideration the age and medical conditions of Vijay Darda, 73, Devendra Darda, 48, and Jayaswal, 68, and found no need to pass separate orders for cases in which the punishment could have ranged between one and seven years. During the arguments on quantum of sentence, the investigating agency sought the maximum punishment and heavy fines to send a strong message to white-collar criminals. It also argued that the convicts committed a serious offence by cheating the government of India. The defence, however, called for a lenient view as there was no loss to the exchequer since no coal was extracted from the block, and prayed that an opportunity be given to the convicts to reform themselves. Special judge Sanjay Bansal, while deciding the sentence, observed: The present case relates to allocation of a coal block. The convicts had obtained the said block by committing cheating with the government. of India. But when the question of actual loss is to be determined, the fact that no coal was extracted cannot be ignored. This aspect has to be kept in mind while calculating the quantum of sentence. Earlier this month, the court convicted Vijay Darda and the other accused under IPC sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 120B (criminal conspiracy), along with section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The court held in its order that Vijay Darda, his son Devendra, the other accused were responsible for misrepresenting facts and inducing the ministry of coal and the Union government to issue allocation letters regarding the Fatehpur East coal block in Chhattisgarh to an ineligible company. While observing that allocation of coal block in such a manner is against public interest, the court in its July 13 order held that a conspiracy was hatched between the accused, and public officials failed to follow guidelines issued by the Union coal ministry. Darda served as a member of the Upper House for three terms between 1998 and 2016. This is the 13th conviction secured by CBI in the coal allocation scam, or Coalgate, which rocked then the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government in 2012. The Supreme Court in 2014 declared allocations of over 200 coal blocks 1993 illegal. In a report in 2012, the Comptroller and Auditor General said several underpriced sales cost the exchequer heavily. The G20 environment and climate ministerial on July 28 is expected to discuss important and contentious issues such as climate change mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation or climate finance, people aware of the matter said. Richa Sharma (centre), additional secretary at the environment ministry, addresses the media ahead of the 4th G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group meeting in Chennai on Tuesday. (PTI Photo) The G20 communique, expected to be released on July 28 as a joint statement of the G20 environment and climate ministers and members, is likely to have at least 13 to 14 paragraphs on G20s views on the climate crisis. The communique, or the chairs summary (if a communique is not adopted) is also expected to cover the G20s expectations from the Global Stocktake (GST) to be held at the UN Climate Meeting (COP28) in Dubai. GST is the process to review the implementation of the Paris Agreement and its goal of keeping global warming to well below 2C and pursue efforts to keep it under 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. The meeting is also expected to focus on land degradation, biodiversity and deforestation, blue economy and promoting circular economy. The environment and climate sustainability working group is working on developing nine ocean-based sustainability principles which are likely to be adopted by the G20 ministers on Friday. The nine principles will be finalised over the next two days. These are very important to make the ocean-based economy compliant with concerns of climate change mitigation, adaption to climate change impacts, interventions needed in the ocean-based industries such as mining or aquaculture, etc. There are two technical documents prepared by the Indian Presidency on blue economy and land degradation, which will also be released, a senior official in the environment ministry said. On Tuesday, during a pre-event briefing on the G20 working group and ministerial meet to be held in Chennai, officials said keynote addresses for the ministerial meeting will be delivered by COP28 President Designate Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Simon Stiell and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) executive director Inger Andersen. There will be a pavilion on Indias Project Tiger and Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE.) Climate and environment ministers will have a thematic site visit to Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The G20 will be represented by their ministers; from UK and Japan, two cabinet ministers will be attending the meeting, according to officials. Its a critical meeting, officials said, because member countries are responsible for 80% of global emissions and GDP. The grouping is also a unique mix of rich and emerging economies from the US and the EU to India and China, who have varied priorities based on their economic status and historical contribution to emissions. HT reported on July 23 that the G20 failed on Saturday to reach a consensus on critical climate issues such as trebling of renewable energy deployment and phasing down of fossil fuels, a chairs summary indicated, although Indias minister for renewable added talks were still one of the most successful for the bloc, and that it laid down important groundwork ahead of the COP28 climate talks later this year. G20 energy officials were due to issue a joint communique after their four-day meeting in Goa. Instead, a G20 Energy Transitions Ministers Outcome Document and Chairs Summary was published on Saturday evening. The language of the summary is not strong enough on most significant issues such as renewable energy, fossil fuels and finance, experts and people aware of the discussions said. Countries highly dependent on oil and gas also resisted any strong wording on phasing down fossil fuels, the people added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Konkan region of Goa and Maharashtra, coastal Karnataka, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall during the next two days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday. The weather forecasting agency also predicted heavy to heavy rainfall in parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh during the next three days. Authorities have declared holiday for all schools and colleges in Raigad district till Thursday amid the 'red alert' issued by the weather department.(PTI) The forecast of heavy rainfall in northwest India comes amid mayhem in states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand due to flash floods and overflowing Beas River. Since the onset of the monsoon on June 24, about 652 houses have been completely damaged in Himachal Pradesh, while 6,686 were partially damaged besides 236 shops and 2,037 cow sheds, reported PTI citing the data of the state emergency response centre. The regional meteorological office has issued an 'orange alert' for heavy to very heavy rains at isolated places in eight of the 12 districts of Himachal Pradesh on July 26-27 and cautioned against landslides, flash floods, mudslides and increased runoff in rivers. Mumbai's regional meteorological centre has issued an orange alert for Palghar and Thane districts and a red alert for Mumbai, Ratnagiri and Raigad tomorrow. The region has been witnessing incessant rainfall for the past few days, disrupting normal lives. Mumbai received moderate to heavy rainfall from 8:30 AM on July 25 to 8:30 AM on July 26. "Mumbai received moderate to heavy rainfall from 0830 IST of July 25 to 0830 IST of July 26 Rainfall in mm Santacruz 86.1, Colaba 44.6, Bandra 58.0, Dahisar 112.0, Ram mandir 87.5, Chembur 32.5, Byculla 16.0, CSMT 43.0, Matunga 21.0, Sion 51.0," tweeted the IMD. Maharashtra's Raigad district recorded an average 104 mm rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 10 am on Wednesday, reported PTI quoting officials. Collector Dr Yogesh Mhase declared a holiday for schools and colleges in the district on Wednesday. In the 24-hour period ending at 10 am on Wednesday, the district received an average rainfall of 104 mm. While Mahad taluka received the highest 145 mm rainfall during the period, Alibaug taluka received the lowest 45 mm, the district collector's office said in a release. Meanwhile, the IMD said that the well-marked low-pressure area over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts persists. "It is likely to move slowly northwestwards across north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts, the weather bulletin said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail It was dark and foggy, just shy of 4 am on July 10. Kunjumon Cicil and three fellow fishermen, in a small diesel-powered boat that broke the silence of the night, set out to sea, as they had done most of their lives. That early morning was different. Soon, they came near the volatile mouth of the small Muthalapozhi harbour, a thin channel where the backwaters meet the Arabian Sea. Strong waves crashed against sand deposits and scattered remains of groynes (physical structures that intercept sand and sediment) in the channel locals call the maranapozhi' or the channel of death. PREMIUM July 10s events laid bare a tenuous relationship between the CPI(M) government and the influential Latin Catholic Church that spans several years(Vivek Nair/HT photo- Representative Image) The little boat did not survive the turbulence and capsized. The three fishermen disappeared from sight almost instantly. Five hours later, the coast, around 30 km from Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram, was teeming with seething locals. Four of their own were caught in yet another deadly accident and only one body, that of Cicils, had been retrieved. There was no sign of a government rescue mission. Sentiments were high because it was not the first time a boat had capsized in that area. At least 64 fishermen have died in the last 10 years in the 'mouth of death'. There have been 10 accidents in the last two months. And the government has done nothing," said BS Anoop, a local panchayat ward member. It was in this charged environment that a cavalcade of three state government ministers and police officials arrived at around 10 am. They were quickly surrounded by an irate group of men and women, most from the Latin Catholic community who blocked their path to ask them a volley of questions. Television cameras captured one heated exchange after another. At one point, education minister V Sivankutty told a woman protester not to make a scene. Transport minister Antony Raju told the crowd not to play politics. The comments incensed an already enraged crowd that began to boo and asked the ministers not to threaten them. The situation worsening, the three ministers spoke to the aggrieved families briefly and left. A few hours later, the situation escalated. The local Anchuthengu police filed a 'suo motu' case against Father Eugene H Pereira, the vicar general of the Latin Catholic church, for allegedly attempting to incite a riot under section 153 of the Indian Penal Code, and against 50 other people for blocking a public road. The days events laid bare a tenuous relationship between the CPI(M) government and the influential Latin Catholic Church that spans several years; a relationship that has had its ebbs and flows but now seems to be worsening with possible political ramifications. The linkages with Vizhinjam Hours after he left Muthalapozhi, minister Sivankutty hit out at the Church leadership, particularly Father Pereira. It was he that called on the mob to block the path of the ministers and the district collector. He thought there would be a breakdown of law and order. But the people did not follow his orders. We remained patient," he said, speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram. Then, Sivankutty revealed the broader context for his anger. It was Father Pereira who spearheaded the Vizhinjam protests. There were attempts to create a riot there under his leadership. The government only intervened as per the law. Finally, when there was a dearth of people to attend the protests, they reached a compromise. I think he was revengeful for that and that's why he took it out on us (in Muthalapozhi)," the minister said. Sivankutty was referring to a four-month-long protest between August 16 and December 6, 2022, when fishermen, locals and activists, under the aegis of the Latin Catholic Church protested against the construction of the 7,525 crore multipurpose seaport in Vizhinjam. Nearly eight years in the making, the project is aimed at building the country's first mega transhipment container terminal capable of luring business from adjacent ports like Colombo, and also from Singapore and Dubai. The project however angered the coastal community. Community members argued that the ports breakwaters have resulted in massive erosion, leading to loss of life, property and livelihood. They protested for nearly four months, erecting large tents blocking the entrance to the port and halting construction. The indefinite protests involved a large number of women and were led by Latin Catholic priests: Marches to the Secretariat were organised, a boat was set on fire, and many protest meetings were held during that period. On its part, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government refused to halt construction and alleged that the protests were fuelled by outside forces, which wanted to prevent development in the state. They did however keep a channel of dialogue open and announced a four-member committee to examine if the construction was indeed causing coastal erosion. The agitation took a violent turn on November 27 when the Vizhinjam police station was attacked, leading to 36 policemen and 45 protesters being injured. A week later, following consultations between the chief minister and church groups, the protest was temporarily called off. One of the demands that locals made was for a mechanism to dredge the Muthalapozhi harbour to prevent accidents. Father Pereira, the 65-year-old general convenor of the Vizhinjam Action Council said, "The repeated accidents and loss of over 65 lives is due to the technical lapses in the construction of the harbour and the government's failure to correct them. In 2018, the then fisheries minister J Mercykutty Amma told us that the Adani Group has been directed to dredge the sand at the mouth of the harbour as they have to allow the movement of barges carrying stones for the construction of the port, he added. The council objected. We objected to the movement of barges because it would mean opening up a portion of the groynes built to check erosion. But the government went ahead and drew up a contract in which the Adani Group had to regularly dredge the sand piling up at the mouth of the harbour, Pereira added. "But the Adani Group hasn't done regular dredging, especially in the last two years. So, what happens is that during the monsoon, the sediments move from north to south and start piling up inside the harbour's mouth. The depth of the sea is very low there which makes it dangerous. Add to that, the scattered boulders that were part of the groynes. In two accidents last year, 12 fishermen lost their lives," Pereira said. While an Adani Vizhinjam Ports Private Limited (AVPPL) official declined to comment, he shared a note sent by AVPPL to the state government in light of the Muthalapozhi tragedy. "Due to Cyclone Tauktae of May 2021, the southern breakwater at Muthalapozhi (maintained by Harbour Engineering Department) got damaged and the damage results in boulders falling near the channel area. Being the principal agency responsible for the upkeep of breakwater, Harbour Engineering Department (HED) tendered the work for removal of boulders from channel area. As a goodwill gesture, AVPPL agreed to reimburse half the cost to be incurred by HED. However, citing many reasons including the onset of monsoon, the contractor selected by HED did not take up the work," it said. The AVPPL added that it would deploy dredgers after the monsoon at the channel, as decided in a meeting with the fisheries department on July 5. Senior Kerala government officials said that they were set to hold a meeting between the fisheries department and the Adani Group to find a resolution. Fisheries minister Saji Cheriyan said on July 17 that the government will find a permanent mechanism to clear sand from the approach channel of the Muthalapozhi harbour. "We will employ a method called sand bypassing through which the sand will be pulled out through a pipe before it can collect in the channel. It will cost about 10 crore and a tender will be called soon," he said. Pereira said that in the backdrop of repeated accidents and deaths in Muthalapozhi, the families of those missing and dead were understandably anxious, leading to the scenes witnessed on July 10. When Archbishop Thomas J Netto and I walked to the crowd, the education minister was exiting and was extremely provocative. He looked at me defiantly and said, 'Don't make a scene.' He had said the same to the women protesters as well. Then he went back to the city and falsely alleged that I had tried to stir up the protesters when I hadn't said a word. The same minister, during the Vizhinjam agitation, had termed the fisherfolks 'anti-national', he said. He said that linking this anger to the Vizhinjam agitation and pressuring the police to file a case betrayed a clear motive. Whenever fisherfolk face problems, people like me will intervene, Pereira said. The politics In the middle of it all, the motive Pereira speaks of, the political subtext, is inescapable. With a history that dates back over 11 centuries; early records of the Franciscans and Dominicans point to the presence of Latin missions in the subcontinent particularly in Quilon (now Kollam), Mylapore in present-day Chennai and parts of what is now the territory of Goa. The Church now forms around 14% of the Christian population in Kerala, numbering around 10 lakh and is concentrated in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur. Most live along the coast and are engaged in fishing, and this affects at least 10 seats. The influence is clear. After the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) alliance returned to power in the 2021 Kerala assembly elections, the first government to do so in three decades, it made careful choices regarding caste and community equations considered important in its ministry calibrations. One of those choices was the induction of Antony Raju, the leader of the little-known Janadhipathya Kerala Congress that won all of one seat and had 0.22 percent of the vote share. The CPI(M) kept several claimants waiting and the selection of Raju was seen as deliberate: He was from the fishing community and a member of the Latin Catholic Church. In some ways, it was like a note of thanks, aimed at solidifying a burgeoning relationship. In the elections, the LDF had performed well in the coastal belt, winning constituencies like Neyyattinkara, Varkala and Chirayinkeezhu with sizeable Catholic voters. In fact, in 2021, of the 14 seats in Thiruvananthapuram, the LDF won 13, leaving just one for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). In 2016, the LDF had won 9 seats, and in 2011 when the UDF had come to power, the Left-led alliance had won just 6. Two years down the line, there are now question marks about whether the experiment is working. Raju was with Sivankutty on July 10 and was roundly admonished by locals. It was Raju who used the words Dont play politics. Hours later, Raju laid the blame for the protests on the Congress, saying that the party was trying to create law and order issues because it was being squeezed out. "In coastal constituencies, Congress is losing its grip in both Assembly and local body elections. They are having sleepless nights. That's why they are trying to give communal undertones in the backdrop of a tragedy and making political mileage," he said. Political analyst Sunnykutty Abraham said while the fishing community and the Latin Church were traditionally seen as votaries of the Congress, there was a shift in the last elections. "Among young priests, there are a lot of pro-Left voices. In the last assembly election, the CPI (M) was able to make major inroads into the Nadar and Latin Catholic voters which were earlier with Congress. But in the light of the Vizhinjam agitation and the incidents in Muthalapozhi, there's a good chance that these voters will drift back to Congress in the parliamentary elections," said Abraham. It was not unusual for the Latin Catholic Church to stand up for fisherfolk, Abraham said, adding that a lack of sensitivity from the LDF government could hurt them politically. It is common for the church leadership in these parts to spearhead protests and Father Eugene is a very proactive priest. The community takes precedence over everything. I believe the government could have handled the issue sensitively. After all, the residents of Muthalapozhi have been begging for government intervention for years," Abraham said. CPI (M) Thiruvananthapuram district secretary and MLA V Joy said the party does not want to get into a tussle with the Latin Church. When certain priests show political animosity, we respond and expose them. Three of the fishermen who died on July 10 belong to families that are aligned with us. So, we understand their problems and we will resolve them. There will be no political impact, Joy said. J Prabhash, former pro-vice chancellor of Kerala University and political scientist, said that there was a time in the late 1950s, at the time when EMS Namboodiripad was chief minister when various Church groups had allied with Muslim and Hindu groups in a 'vimochana samara' or liberation struggle against the policies of his communist government. The Left then was very much an ideological party back then. But since 1991, they have been more flexible for electoral gains. So, there is little difference between the CPI (M) and the Congress today. There is a real possibility of the Church and its adherents going back to Congress," Prabhash said. The government will release two commemorative coins of 100 and 75 to mark India's G20 presidency. Commemorative coins are typically issued by the government to mark a special occasion.(Representative image) According to a gazette notification issued on July 24, the commemorative 100 coin will bear the Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar in the centre with the legend Satyamev Jayate in Devnagari on its obverse side. It will also be flanked on the left periphery with the word 'Bharat' in Devnagari script and on the right periphery with the word 'India' in English. The reverse side of coin will have the design of the logo of India's G20 Presidency in the centre and Vasudhev Kutumbkam will be written in Devnagari script on the upper periphery of the coin and the inscription 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' in English will be written on lower periphery of the coin, as per the notification. These features will also be there on the 75 coin. The standard weight of both the coins would be 35 grams each and they will be of 44 millimetres in diameter. India's presidency of the G20 is from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023. The G20 is an inter-governmental forum of the world's major developed and developing economies. Under India's presidency, the leaders' summit is scheduled to be held on September 9 and 10. Commemorative coins are typically issued by the government to mark a special occasion. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asserted that India will feature in the three largest economies in the world in his third term, saying the country's development journey is not going to stop. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the basis of track record, in the third term of our government, India will become the world's third-largest economy. Yeh Modi ki guarantee hai (This is Modi's guarantee), the prime minister said while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) complex, rechristened as Bharat Mandapam. Citing data from the Niti Aayog report, the prime minister said that 13.5 crore people have come out of poverty in the last five years. "International agencies are also saying that extreme poverty in India is on the verge of ending. This shows that the decisions and policies that have been made in the last nine years are taking the country in the right direction," PM Modi said. Taking a jibe at detractors, Prime Minister Modi said some people have a tendency to criticise and create obstacles in good projects. "When 'Kartavya Path' was being built, many things were running on the front page of newspapers as breaking news. It was raised in courts as well, but when it was constructed, the same people said that it is good. I am sure the 'Toli' will also accept 'Bharat Mandapam' and it is also possible that they might come here to deliver a lecture in a seminar," PM Modi said. The prime minister stressed that we have to think big and achieve big targets in order to be developed. That is why, he said, India is moving ahead with the principle of Think Big, Dream Big, Act Big Modi unveiled the name of the new complex through a drone in the presence of Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and other ministers. The IECC complex is India's largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination. In terms of the covered space available for events, the complex finds its place among the top exhibition and convention complexes in the world. The IECC will host the G20 summit in September under India's presidency. The summit will be attended by heads of states of 20 nations including the US, the UK and China among others. The inaugural ceremony was attended by around 3,000 guests including Cabinet ministers, captains of industry, film personalities and others. (With agency inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail The father of Anju, a married Indian woman who travelled to Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and married her Facebook friend there on Tuesday, said she was as good as dead for her family back home. She had ruined the future of her two children, said her father Gaya Prasad Thomas, speaking to reporters at Bouna village in Gwalior district of Madhya Pradesh. Anju, a married Indian woman who travelled legally to Pakistan, during a sightseeing trip with her Facebook friend Nasrullah, in Upper Dir district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. (PTI) The way she ran away leaving her two children and husband behind.... she did not even think of her children. If she wanted to do this, she should have divorced her husband first. She is no more (alive) for us, he said. When asked if she had converted to Islam, he said he had no information in this regard. What will happen to her children, her husband? Who will take care of her children 13-year-old girl and five-year-old boy? She has ruined the future of her children and the husband. Who will take care of her kids....We will have to do it, Thomas said. Asked whether he will appeal to the Indian government to bring her back, Thomas said he would do no such thing. "I pray...to let her die there," he added. Thomas also said that Anju was not on speaking terms with him, and spoke only to her mother. I don't know how she got the passport, when she got the visa, he said. Asked about speculation in some quarters that there could be something more to the incident as his village is close to Tekanpur town where a major unit of the Border Security Force (BSF) is stationed, Thomas rejected the suggestion vehemently. "No one raised any such issue with us. Only you (media) are raising this question. My kids have no criminal tendencies. I am ready to have any probe in the matter, he said. On Monday, Thomas had described his daughter as mentally disturbed and eccentric. Earlier in the day, a report said that Anju married her Facebook friend in Pakistan after converting to Islam and now has a new name, Fatima. The 34-year-old Indian woman was staying at her 29-year-old Pakistani friend Nasrullah's home in the Upper Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. NEW DELHI: Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended the licenses of an IndiGo pilot in command for three months and a co-pilot for one month for last months tail strike incident at Ahmedabad airport, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. An Indigo aircraft experienced a tail strike on June 15 in Ahmedabad (AFP File Photo) A senior DGCA official said the decision to suspend the two pilots was taken after evaluating their explanation. DGCA investigation has revealed that the crew carried out the landing in deviation from established SOPs (stand operating procedures), the official said. The tail strike incident took place on June 15 when IndiGos A321 aircraft, operating as flight 6E6595 between Bengaluru and Ahmedabad landed at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. A tail strike occurs when the tail of an aircraft hits the ground or any object during takeoff or landing. Tail strikes are often attributed to human error and can cause significant damage to the aircraft The aircraft was immediately grounded at the Ahmedabad airport for assessment and repairs and the two pilots were taken off the roster. Both crew members were issued a show cause notice by DGCA. After examination of their replies and relevant facts of the matter, the license of the PIC (pilot in command) has been suspended for a period of 3 months and co-pilot has been suspended for a period of 1 month for violation of the provisions of the relevant Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) and SOPs, the DGCA official added. IndiGo has had at least four tail strike incidents this year but there was no history of such strikes with the A321 aircraft. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Neha LM Tripathi I am a principal correspondent with the national political bureau of the Hindustan Times. I track the aviation and railways ministry. I also write on travel trends. I cover the beats at the national level for the newspaper. Before being in Delhi, I have worked as a journalist in Mumbai as well. My hobbies include trekking and travelling. ...view detail The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was introduced by the Union government in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, amid continuous protests by opposition parties over the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur. The bill seeks to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019. (ANI) The bill seeks to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019 and reserve two seats for Kashmiri migrants and one seat for displaced people from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the Union territorys legislative assembly. These members will be nominated by the L-G, according to the provisions of the bill. Introducing the bill, Union minister of state for home Nityanand Rai said the bill provides for representation of Kashmiri migrants and displaced persons from PoK in the legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir so as to preserve their political rights as well as their overall social and economic development. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 provides for the following, namely: to insert new sections 15A and 15B in the Act so as to nominate not more than two members, one of whom shall be a woman, from the community of Kashmiri Migrants, and one member from Displaced Persons from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir, to the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir; and amendments to sub-sections (3) and (10) of section 14 of the Act which are of consequential in view of completion of delimitation process in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, according to the statement of objects and reasons. Opposing the bill, the National Conference (NC) pointed out that the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019 has already been challenged in the court. I oppose the introduction of the bill on the grounds that the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act is a constitutionally suspect law. Judicial scrutiny is determined by the apex court its against constitutional morality... The constitutionality of the law is being examined, NC member Hasnain Masoodi said. On August 5, 2019, Parliament passed the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Bill that led to bifurcation of the erstwhile state (into J&K and Ladakh) and the effective abrogation of Article 370 that gave the region its special status. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019, however, was rejected by most political parties in the Union territory and the entire process of dilution of Article 370 has been challenged in the Supreme Court. The top court is scheduled to hear a batch of petitions in this regard from August 2. Political parties in J&K earlier criticised the bill, saying the authority to nominate the members for the reserved seats should rest solely with an elected government. J&K has been without an elected government ever since the BJP withdrew its support to Mehbooba Muftis PDP-led ruling coalition in June 2018. In 2022, a Delimitation Commission submitted its final report, paving the way for assembly polls. A delimitation exercise to redraw the boundaries of assembly seats increased the total seats from 107 to 114. Of this, nine seats have been reserved for Scheduled Tribe. Two other bills concerning the Union territory Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 were introduced by Union ministers Virendra Kumar and Arjun Munda, respectively. The first bill seeks to include the Valmiki community as a synonym of Chura, Bhangi, Balmiki, and Mehtar in the list of Scheduled Castes of Jammu and Kashmir. The second aims to revise the list of Scheduled Tribes of the Union territory. In the Lower House, Rai also introduced the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023, that seeks to create a user-friendly registration process and modernise national and state-level databases on births and deaths. The bill was opposed by Congress MP from Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, Manish Tewari. I rise to oppose the introduction of the said bill on the want of legislative competence on three counts. It transgresses on the right to privacy. It transgresses on the right to separation of powers. It suffers from the malady of excessive delegation. If the speaker would permit, I could read out in detail as to what are the reasons for opposing the bill, he said. Union minister Pralhad Joshi introduced the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, which aims to alter the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 by introducing exploration licences and removing certain minerals from the atomic minerals list. The bill was opposed by N K Premachandran of the Revolutionary Socialist Party. ...It will adversely affect public sector undertakings as well as the safety and security of the nation. Multinational corporations will benefit from the amendment bill, he said. Premachandran also referred to the Parliament rule book which says that once a no-confidence motion has been admitted, no substantive motion of policy matters to be brought before the House by the Government till the motion of no-confidence has been disposed of. Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla admitted a no-confidence motion moved by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi against the Narendra Modi government, setting the stage for a showdown between the Opposition and treasury benches over Manipur and other burning issues. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On the Kargil Vijay Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the fallen soldiers during the 1999 Kargil war. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, Kargil Vijay Diwas brings to the fore the heroic saga of those wonderful bravehearts of India, who will always remain an inspiration for the countrymen. On this special day, I bow down and salute him from the bottom of my heart. Long live India! Candles lit at Kargil War Memorial in memory of the soldiers who laid down their lives during the 1999 Kargil War in Drass. (Hindustan Times) On the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid wreath at Kargil War Memorial in Ladakh's Dras to pay his tribute to soldiers who lost their life in Kargil war on Wednesday. He also visited the 'Hut of Remembrance' museum which was created to commemorate the Kargil soldiers. Army chief General Manoj Pande, Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan and Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari also laid wreath at the war memorial to pay their tributes. Four MIG 29 aircraft and three Cheetal helicopters of Army Aviation flew past Kargil War Memorial showering flower petals on the 24th anniversary of the war. Leaders come forward to celebrate the occasion Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday paid tribute to the soldiers who died during the Kargil war at an event organised by the Kargil Shaheed Smriti Vatika in Lucknow. He tweeted on Wednesday, Hearty congratulations to all the people of the state on 'Kargil Vijay Diwas', a great symbol of Indian Army's unmatched valour, incredible efficiency, unwavering discipline and the lofty spirit of Nation First! Hundreds of salutes to all the immortal sons of Mother India who sacrificed their everything in the service of the nation! Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, taking to Twitter, said, Greetings to the valiant soldiers of our Armed Forces, their families and to all the fellow Indians on #KargilVijayDiwas. Salutations to the martyrdom of our bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice defending our motherland in the Kargil War. Their unflinching courage and valour shall inspire generations. External Affairs minister S Jaishankar and Parliamentary affairs minister Prahlad Joshi also paid tribute to the soldiers. Two-day event celebrated in Ladakh's Dras A two-day event to mark the the Kargil Vijay Diwas and the martyrdom of 559 soldiers during the 1999 Kargil War began in Ladakh's Dras on Tuesday. The celebrations began at the Lamochen view point in Dras with war heroes as well as families of fallen soldiers remembering the brave martyrs. The chief guest of the event was Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi. A cultural programme was held after this in the presence of Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande. Pande also interacted with veterans and gallantry award winners at the event. He felicitated the families of the martyred soldiers. See Photos | Kargil Vijay Diwas: Preparations underway at Dras in Ladakh The Indian Army tweeted on Tuesday, On the eve of #KargilVijayDiwas 2023, General Manoj Pande #COAS interacted with #Veterans, #VeerNaris, Gallantry Award Winners & Awam of #Dras & #Kargil and conveyed his gratitude. A mesmerising display of Military Bands & cultural performance showcasing rich & diverse culture of #Ladakh was also showcased during the event. On Tuesday evening, several people offered tribute at the Kargil War Memorial along with the Army chief as well as current and former top army officials. Not just that, to pay homage to the soldiers who lost their lives during Operation Vijay, 559 lamps were lit each for a soldier at the Veer Bhoomi. In another tweet, the Indian Army said, General Manoj Pande #COAS paid homage to the #Bravehearts of the #KargilWar in a solemn ceremony 'Shaurya Sandhya' at Kargil War Memorial, #Dras. Gallant heroes, #VeerNaris & various civil & military dignitaries lit 559 lamps, in honour of the fallen #BraveheartsHe interacted with the #NariSashaktikaran Women Motorcycle Rally Team and all other dignitaries present during this solemn occasion. The Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre Fusion Band then commenced the celebrations, also known as Shaurya Sandhya, with patriotic songs. The ceremony was attended by the public along with military dignitaries, Veer Naris, Veer Matas, War Heroes of Kargil and the families of the martyred soldiers. The Kargil War was fought in the summer of 1999 to evict Pakistan regular forces, who had intruded and occupied winter vacated posts on the Indian side of the LoC, thereby violating an unwritten agreement. The operation cost the Indian Army 527 young lives, in whose memory the commemorative function is held every year. Kargil Vijay Diwas is commemorated on July 26 every year to observe Indias victory over Pakistan. Heroic deeds, astounding bravery and unflinching determination of Indian soldiers forced the Pakistan regular forces and Pakistans irregulars to withdraw and vacate defence emplacements during the 55-day war. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kargil Vijay Diwas is commemorated on July 26 every year to observe Indias victory over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil War - also known as Operation Vijay. On this day, tributes are paid to honor the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers. File photo of 155mm Bofors howitzers blasting away Pakistani bunkers in Drass sector during 1999 Kargil war. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has a separate portal on its website to pay homage to all the brave hearts who have laid down their lives in the line of duty. Through this initiative, one can contribute directly to the bank accounts of the bravehearts' family. Here is how you can contribute: Go to the website https://bharatkeveer.gov.in/home Click on the click here to contribute option. You can donate directly to an individual braveheart's account (up to maximum of 15 lakhs) or donate to the Bharat Ke Veer corpus fund. According to the website, to ensure maximum coverage, a cap of 15 lakhs is envisaged per braveheart and the donor would be alerted if the amount exceeds 15 lakhs, so that they can choose to either decrease their contribution or divert part of the contribution to another bravehearts account, or to the Bharat Ke Veer corpus. The Bharat Ke Veer corpus is managed by a committee made up of eminent persons of repute and senior government officials, in equal numbers, who would decide to disburse the fund equitably to the bravehearts family on a need basis, the website said. For all contributions made through the portal, certificates will be generated only after the transaction is cleared through the payment gateway - which may take up to 24 to 72 hours. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Kerala cabinet on Wednesday approved the 2023-24 state liquor policy while hiking the bar license fee, producing mild alcohol from certain local fruits, and rebranding of toddy produced in the state. Toddy will be marketed as the traditional, natural beverage of the state, Kerala minister for Excise and Local Self-Government MB Rajesh said. (HT Photo) Minister for Excise and Local Self-Government MB Rajesh outlined the proposals which are part of new policy at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram. A decision has been taken to produce low intensity liquor and wine from certain locally-available fruits and distribute it. The necessary laws for this will be framed. Another important proposal is that in areas where there is a high flow of foreign tourists, restaurants there will be given licenses to sell beer and wine during the tourist season. Consultations will be made with the tourism department to finetune the proposal, Rajesh said. As part of the policy, the bar license fee in the state will be hiked from 30 lakh to 35 lakh and the license fee for serving alcohol in clubs for seamen and marine officers (FL-4) will be raised from 50,000 to 2 lakh, the minister added. Toddy will be marketed as the traditional, natural beverage of the state. A track and trace model will be implemented in the movement of toddy from one district to another in order to ensure transparency, he said. Though there is legal provision for 559 retail outlets selling IMFL liquor to operate, only 309 are currently operating. Steps will be taken to open the others. The process of affixing QR codes on liquor bottles sold through state-run BEVCO will be completed this year, said Rajesh. The new policy also allows the sale of liquor within industrial parks in the state. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Wednesday announced reservation for transgender students in nursing courses in the state. Kerala health minister Veena George said one seat each has been reserved for transgender students from the community in B.Sc nursing and general nursing courses. (HT Archives) A first in the state and possibly in India, the minister said one seat each has been reserved for students from the community in B.Sc nursing and general nursing courses. This government has been making major strides towards the empowerment of the transgender community. This step is a continuation of that process to make sure the involvement of the community in the states health sector, George wrote on Facebook. Also read | Kerala health minister condemns attack on doctor S Jayaprakash, senior superintendent (academic) in the Directorate of Medical Education, said, The cabinet has approved the reservation quota for transgender students in nursing courses. It will soon be added to the college prospectus and implemented in the current academic year itself. One of the seats in B.Sc nursing will be added at the Govt College of Nursing, Thiruvananthapuram and the other in general nursing course likely at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Science and Technology, he said. Daya Gayathri, transwoman and theatre-film artist, called it an extremely happy news. I am very glad to hear about the state governments decision. This will go a long way in realising the dreams of people from the community who want to enroll as a nurse. We are a part of the minority, and if we need to keep up with others, reservation is crucial as it ensures equity. The quota should be extended to other professional courses like MBA and medical, said Daya, who was among the first students to be enrolled as part of the transperson reservation quota at the Maharajas College in Ernakulam in 2018. The landmark order then of the state government, keeping aside two additional seats in all universities and affiliated arts and science colleges for transpersons, was a result of efforts by Daya and a few of her friends. Sruthy Sithara, another trans artist and winner of the Miss Trans Global beauty pageant in 2021, said the decision was affirmative, but late. Its certainly a very positive development. But it has come quite late, in fact, five years after reservation was applied for arts and science degree courses. Professional courses like nursing are important as it helps transpersons secure jobs after their education, she said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vishnu Varma Vishnu Varma is Assistant Editor and reports from Kerala for the Hindustan Times. He has 10 years of experience writing for print and digital platforms and has worked at The New York Times, NDTV and The Indian Express in the past. He specialises in longform reportage at the intersections of politics, crime, social commentary and environment. ...view detail The Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill, which provides for contentious exemptions for constructions on forest land, was passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday despite concerns and in the middle of protests as the deadlock over the Oppositions insistence on Prime Minister Narendra Modis statement in the House on the Manipur violence continued. The Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill was cleared in the Lok Sabha despite concerns. The bill was in March referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), which invited public suggestions in May. The panel cleared all amendments the environment ministry proposed even as four Opposition lawmakers on the committee submitted dissent notes. During the debate on the bill, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav cited international commitments on the climate crisis and Nationally Determined Contributions with three quantitative goals. He said the first two goals have been achieved nine years in advance but the third of creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3.0 billion tons of CO2 equivalent was yet to be realised. For that, we need to focus on agroforestry and increase tree cover. The goal is important for the entire world. In 1996 there was a Supreme Court order which said forests should be recognised as per the dictionary meaning of the word. There was ambiguity around this description. Due to this several developmental projects were stalled. For example, in Jharkhand, if there is a girls school in a forested area and we cannot build toilets because of this ambiguity, it impacted public utility projects of this nature, Yadav said. Yadav added they want critical public utility projects to reach these regions. The exemption to forest areas in 100km area from the borders, LAC [the Line of Actual Control with China], and LOC [Line of Control, the de facto India-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir] will help develop roads critical for border areas... help develop strategic infrastructure for our national security. He underlined the JPC reviewed the bill and passed all the amendments proposed. Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Rajendra Agarwal, who headed the JPC, was presiding over the proceedings in Speaker Om Birlas absence when the bill was discussed and passed. UDF MP NK Premachandran said that a substantial motion on a policy matter cannot be made until the proceedings related to the no confidence motion are concluded. Bhartruhari Mahtab of Biju Janata Dal asked if the amendment would cover Indias vast forests under the unclassed category. Yadav said the amendment would cover all recorded forests. Experts also found that less time was given to Opposition MPs to voice their views on the bill and its impact on forest dwellers. The submission of the JPC report and the subsequent role of its chairperson in presiding over the Lok Sabha proceedings during the bills approval has raised numerous troubling questions. Clearly, the chairperson is determined to stifle any dissenting views against the bill, as evidenced today when MPs who dared to express even the slightest disagreement were abruptly cut short, while ruling party MPs were granted ample time for lengthy speeches in support of the bill. Such conduct severely undermines the standard of parliamentary proceedings, plunging it to an alarming low, said Debadityo Sinha, Lead-Climate & Ecosystems, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. The bill was passed days after around 400 ecologists, scientists, and naturalists wrote to Yadav and members of Parliament on July 18, urging them not to table the proposed legislation. They cited the devastating impact of climate change and environmental degradation and highlighted floods this summer across north India. This is the time for the government to reaffirm its commitment to protecting the countrys immense biodiversityThis amendment will only seek to hasten the decline of Indias natural forests. They called for additional consultations with domain experts. In its 201-page report, the joint committee stated that it received 1,309 memoranda along with comments from various state governments, departments and ministries and four notes of dissent from opposition MPs who are part of the committee, among others. The bill covers only land that has been declared or notified as forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, or under any other law. Those not recorded under laws above but has been recorded as forest in any government record, as on or after 25.10.1980, except such land whose land-use was changed from forest to non-forest purpose on or before 12.12.1996 will also be covered under the Act. The bill states prior forest clearance isnt needed in some cases, including for forest land situated within a distance of 100km along international borders or Line of Control or Line of Actual Control, and which are to be used for construction of strategic linear project of national importance. Almost all of the ecologically fragile north-east would fall in this category. The amendment bill also exempts from seeking prior forest clearance activity on strip forests (up to 0.10 hectares or ha) situated alongside a rail line or a public road maintained by the government and tree plantations on private land not categorised as forests and for up to 5ha proposed to be used for construction of defence related or public utility projects in a Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected area. The report admits experts have highlighted the amendments were likely to dilute the Supreme Courts 1996 landmark Godavarman judgment. The verdict widened the scope of the Forest Conservation Act to apply to any land recorded as forest irrespective of its ownership large tracts of unclassed forests in the northeast, for example. The ministry clarified that unclassed forests will also be covered. Experts pointed out that the 100km exemption from border areas can be detrimental to ecologically sensitive areas of the northeast. Please look at the northeast, for example. If you are going to exempt 100km from each border, what is going to be left? It is a very sensitive area. As it is, we are seeing the problems which are being created because of certain communities who have had traditional rights and customary rights to forests under Schedule VI [of] the Constitution which itself, I believe, is inadequate, noted an unnamed expert in the submission made to the JPC. The Sixth Schedule provides for the autonomous administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. Northeastern states including Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram, Sikkim -- all ruled by the BJP or its allies -- have said a clause on exempting forest 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. The environment ministry said the 100km provision has been decided in consultation with the defence ministry. It insisted it is considered optimum to meet the requirement of defence organisations and strategic requirements. The proposed exemption along the international borders and in LWE areas are not generic exemptions and will not be available for private entities, it said. Experts have said the bill violates provisions of the Forest Rights Act as it does not clearly speak of prior informed consent of village councils on forest clearances. The environment ministry has insisted there was no violation. The Congresss Pradyut Bordoloi, among those who submitted dissent notes to the JPC, wrote what remains an obvious gap, even in the statement and objects of the amendment, is the reconciliation of the forest conservation legislation with the forest rights question. He added that should have been important, especially when almost all proposed amendments will necessarily come to bear on prevailing, pending, or recognised forest rights. There is an absence of any perspective on how existing proprietary, customary, and livelihood use rights will be dealt with for net zero-compliant lands or in the case of fresh forest land diversions. Another major concern cited by experts is that the bill includes zoos and safaris in forestry activity. The dispensation to zoos and safaris may lead to concrete structures and road network in the forest areas. (b) Zoos and safaris now being treated as forestry activity is based on absurd premises that it is ancillary to conservation of forest and wildlife. (c) Allowing zoos and safaris within the scope of non-forest activities may disproportionately commercialise forests and wildlife without considering the rights of forest-dependent people, wildlife habitats, and ecosystem services, a submission pointed out. This amendment comes on the heels of a conflicted interpretation of what is a forest (as compared to tree plantations) and what use legally recognised forest lands should be put too. It also comes with the hypothesis that loosening the regulatory hold on forest lands in specific regions and certain non-forest lands in general will incentivise investment for infrastructure development and climate mitigation. If the amendments are accepted in the upper house of Parliament, it will be critical for the government to itself review the efficacy of these assumptions and whether the concerns raised as part of the consultative process continue to have merit, said Kanchi Kohli, a legal and policy researcher. All these exemptions considered in the Bill will be subject to such terms and conditions, including compensatory afforestation, mitigation Plans, etc., as will be specified by the Central Government. To bring uniformity, existing provisions of the Principal Act relating to assignment of forest land on lease to private entities has been extended to Government companies as well. The Bill also added new activities viz. infrastructure for frontline forest staff, ecotourism, zoo and safari into the array of forestry activities for the cause of conservation of forests. Surveys and investigation in the forest areas will not be considered as a non-forestry activity in view of the fact that such activities are temporary in nature and involve no perceptible change in the land use. The Section 6 of the Bill empowering the Central Government to issue directions for the proper implementation of the Act, has also been passed by the Lok Sabha, the environment ministry said in a note on Wednesday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday admitted a notice for a no-confidence motion by Congress lawmaker Gaurav Gogoi, setting the stage for a parliamentary battle between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the newly constituted Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). INDIA -- the united opposition will move a no-confidence motion against the government today. (Hindustan Times) The debate on the one-line motion which says the House has lost its confidence in the Union council of ministers is likely to start next week, two Lok Sabha officials said. The motion poses no threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modis administration which commands a brute majority in the Lower House but the Opposition has signalled it wants to use the debate to try and corner the government on the continuing violence in Manipur. For the last over 84 days, the law-and-order system has broken down in Manipur, communities are divided, there is nothing in the name of the government there...all this compelled us to bring a no-confidence motion against the government, senior Congress leader Manish Tewari said. At least 150 people have died in ethnic clashes in the northeastern state, and a 30-second video of a barbaric sexual assault of two women by a mob has sparked a nationwide outcry, and jammed Parliament. The rulebook gives the Speaker a window of 10 days to start the debate. The Speaker shall declare that leave is granted and that the motion will be taken up on such day, not being more than ten days from the date on which the leave is asked for, says Rule 198 of the Lok Sabha. The monsoon session is scheduled to end on August 11. This is the second no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government the NDA defeated one in 2018 and the 28th since 1952. This is also the seventh instance of the Lower House discussing a no-confidence motion within 12 months of national polls. The BJP has 301 members in the Lok Sabha, and with its allies, the NDA has more than 330. The Opposition INDIA has 141 members. Others have 67 members. Admitting the motion, Birla said that he will talk to leaders of different parties and announce a schedule for the debate later. Two Lok Sabha officials told HT that the debate might start next week. The Congress said the Opposition grouping wanted the debate to start on Thursday and argued that the no-confidence motion should take priority over any other business in the Lok Sabha. Keeping with the tradition, the Speaker should suspend all other business and allow discussion on the motion tomorrow itself, Tiwari said, adding that once 100 or more members in Parliament rise in support of the motion, carrying out any other business is inappropriate. Aam Aadmi Party also attacked the government. Manipur is burning, and there are growing concerns that the instability could potentially spread to other states in the Northeast region. In response to the situation, INDIA is bringing a no-confidence motion, said party MP Raghav Chadha. Union parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi hit back at the Opposition. People have confidence in PM Modi and the BJP. The Opposition had brought a similar no-confidence motion last term (in 2018) as well and the people taught them a lesson, he said. Defence minister Rajnath Singh, who last week accused the INDIA grouping of not being serious enough on Manipur, also lashed out. The Opposition alliance has changed its name in an attempt to shed its checkered past. Renaming itself as INDIA wont expunge their previous actions from the collective public consciousness. The citizens of our country have the wisdom to decipher this propaganda and they will resoundingly reject this refurbished entity. Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal challenged the Opposition and said the government was ready. Let them file a no-confidence motion. The government is ready to deal with any situation. Later, Gogoi defended the move. This is not just about the numbers (in the Lok Sabha). This is about Manipurs fight for justice. A message should go out to the brothers and sisters of Manipur that PM Modi might have forgotten Manipur but INDIA alliance stands with them in this hour of grief and we are fighting for their rights inside the Parliament. Gogois notice reached the Lok Sabha secretariat at 9.20am, said people aware of developments. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) also gave notices for a no-confidence motion but they reached the secretariat at 9.50am and 10.10am, respectively, the people cited above added. According to the House rules, the notice received earliest was considered. BRS leaders supported the no-confidence motion. At the pre-session all-party meeting, we raised all raging issues such as Manipur, the border issue, unemployment, farmers problem. Every day, I gave adjournment motions. We wanted to raise issues related to Telangana but now national issues need to be prioritised, said BRS floor leader Nama Nageshwar Rao. Gogois notice got support from all constituents of INDIA, but outfits such as the Bahujan Samaj Party, Biju Janata Dal, YSR Congress Party remained silent. Gogoi who is one of four Congress members from the North-East is likely to initiate the debate. The motion will come amid heightened acrimony between the Opposition, which formed INDIA on July 18 in Bengaluru, and the government, with less than a year left for the general elections. The Opposition had paralysed the parliamentary proceedings since the beginning of the monsoon session over their demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak on the Manipur issue. Top NDA functionaries including home minister Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Pralhad Joshi have said that the government wants a discussion on Manipur, but that the Union home minister will reply to the debate. On July 20, 2018, the NDA government defeated a motion moved by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) lawmaker Srinivas Kesineni, who was backed by many Opposition parties. One of the highlights of the debate was Congress leader Rahul Gandhi crossing to the treasury benches and hugging Modi. The Indian National Congress' Lok Sabha Deputy and North east leader Gaurav Gogoi moved the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi-led Central government on Wednesday. The no-confidence motion notice was moved after acrimony and disruptions in Parliament. (PTI) The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) said on Tuesday that it will be bringing a no-confidence motion against the government in an attempt to make him respond to raging issues, including the Manipur situation. This came after days of acrimony and disruption in Parliament coupled with the BJPs refusal to accept the Oppositions demand that Modi speak on Manipur. At the floor strategy meeting of the INDIA alliance, leaders of the member-parties discussed a proposal to move a no-confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha. The Narendra Modi government, which enjoys the support of at least 332 MPs in the Lok Sabha, faces virtually no threat from this no-confidence motion. After PM Modi drew a parallel between INDIA and East India Company or Indian Mujahideen after united opposition INDIA -- Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance -- decided to bring a no-confidence motion against the government, it was an all-out attack counterattack between the NDA and INDIA with Union ministers like S Jaishankar, Niramala Sitharaman leading the attack. INDIA -- the united opposition will move a no-confidence motion against the government today. (Hindustan Times) 'Irony that those who seek intervention from abroad now believe that I.N.D.I.A can serve as a cover. Not to worry; the people will see through it," Union minister S Jaishankar tweeted. "Those who begged Pakistans help to throw out an elected government in India now want to capitalise on the name I.N.D.I.A. Those who lectured on using only Hindi, now forget Bharat and dont mind I.N.D.I.A. Those who forgot India serving only a dynasty/family/caste today remember I.N.D.I.A. Indians recognise opportunism," tweeted finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. 'Merely changing name to...' Union home minister Amit Shah said merely changing the name to INDIA will not erase the 'houding past' of the UPA. "In a bid to get rid of its hounding past, the opposition alliance has changed its nomenclature. But merely changing the name to I.N.D.I.A. will not erase their past deeds from public memory. The people of our country are wise enough to see through this propaganda and will treat this old product with a new label with the same disapproval," Amit Shah tweeted. 'Lagta hai teer nishane par laga hai' Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal retorted to Amit Shah's tweet. "Seems the arrow has hit the target. It is hurting a lot," Kejriwal tweeted. No-confidence motion over Manipur issue: Massive NDA-INDIA showdown | 10 points 1. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced the proposal of a no-confidence motion in Parliament on Tuesday when the opposition leaders met at his office. 2. Kharge sought the opinion of the other opposition leaders as NDA is stronger in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. But the opposition leaders decided to push for a no-confidence motion to compel PM Modi to speak on the Manipur issue in Parliament. 3. The notice for the no-confidence motion will be submitted to the Lok Sabha secretariat on Thursday before 10am. 4. The first no-confidence motion against the Modi government was moved in the Lok Sabha on July 20, 2018. NDA won with 325 MPs voting against the motion and only 126 supporting it. 5. Amit Shah on Tuesday wrote to Mallikarjun Khrge and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and urged them to rise above the party lines. He said the government is ready to discuss the Manipur issue in Parliament. 6. The Opposition has been demanding PM Modi's statement in Parliament on Manipur. Before the monsoon session began, PM Modi expressed his anguish in a statement outside Parliament -- over the viral video of two women paraded naked in Manipur. 7. A major war of words between the NDA and INDIA began after PM Modi called INDIA directionless and drew a parallel with East India Company and Indian Mujahideen. 8. Organisations that wanted to divide and rule the country have used names like "India" and "Indian" to mislead people, Modi said. 9. After PM Modi's strongly worded jibe at the opposition bloc, BJP minister and leaders orchestrated a targetted attack on INDIA. 10. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi replied to PM Modi's attack and said, "Call us whatever you want, Mr Modi." "We will help heal Manipur and wipe the tears of every woman and child. We will bring back love and peace for all her people. We will rebuild the idea of India in Manipur," Rahul Gandhi said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Poulomi Ghosh Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. ...view detail A day after Union home minister Amit Shah attempted to break the Parliament deadlock by offering a discussion on Manipur in a letter to leaders of the opposition, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said the missives spirit was contrary to the governments attitude. Kharge reiterated the demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modis statement on Manipur in the House. The demand has triggered the deadlock with the government insisting that Shah will speak in Parliament on the protracted ethnic violence in the northeastern state. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. (PTI) Kharge said Shah wrote the letter expecting a positive response on the day Modi equated the countrys opposition parties with the British rulers and terrorist groups. Modi on Tuesday launched a fresh attack on the opposition grouping Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), terming it directionless and saying people cannot be misled merely by the use of the countrys name, citing the usage in the East India Company, which colonised India and the banned Popular Front of India. Kharge said the lack of coordination between the ruling party and the opposition has been visible for years. ...now this gulf has started appearing even within the ruling party. It is not only absurd but also unfortunate for the Prime Minister to call the opposition parties directionless... Kharge said if the ruling party really wants to run the House, it can be easily done by giving a chance to the opposition to speak. ...the behaviour of the Leader of the House [in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal] can be normal and positive rather than predetermined and reaction-driven. This will be helpful in the smooth running of the House. He said notices for debate were being given but the ruling party members block the House proceedings. When the Leader of the opposition [Kharge] rises to speak after the Chairmans permission, the Leader of the House himself, without request and permission from the Chair, avoids the Chair and the House. This defies tradition. This is happening continuously... Members of the opposition parties gather in the House after every adjournment with the hope that the House will work but there has only been disappointment... Kharge said it is easy to express feelings through letters but it is easier to win the confidence of the opposition parties in the House. There is a world of difference between the words and actions of the sentiments expressed in your letter. Contrary to the spirit of your letter, the attitude of the government has been insensitive and arbitrary in the House, Kharge said in his reply to Shahs letter. Kharge wrote the attitude is not new and added the rules and conventions were being ignored. INDIA parties have continuously demanded a statement from...Modi over what has been happening in Manipur since 3 May in the Parliament and...a thorough discussion in both the Houses. Kharge backed Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh and objected to his suspension for demanding a discussion on Manipur. He accused the Chair and the Leader of the House of making a mountain out of a molehill. On Tuesday, Shah wrote letters in Hindi to opposition leaders Kharge and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, saying the people of Manipur want all political parties to give them confidence that they are united and committed to peace in the state. He said the government was ready to discuss the Manipur violence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the newly built International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) complex rechristened as 'Bharat Mandapam' in New Delhi. Earlier in the day, Modi had conducted a puja ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the gathering after inaugurating the revamped ITPO complex 'Bharat Mandapam' at the Pragati Maidan by flying a drone at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, on Wednesday, (HT Photo) Developed at a cost of about 2,700 crore, the project is touted as Indias largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination. Here are the top 8 quotes of Modi from the event: In our first term, India was the world's 10th largest economy. In my 2nd term, it climbed to the fifth rank. In the third term of our government, India will become the world's third-largest economy. Yeh Modi ki guarantee hai (This is Modi's guarantee), Think big, dream big, act big - India is progressing at a rapid pace adopting this principle. After 2024, the pace of progress will be faster and all your dreams will come true. Every Indian is proud of 'Bharat Mandapam' and the world will witness the rising stature of India when it hosts the G20 summit. From economy to ecology and trade to tech, It is symbolic of India's willpower, a reflection of a new India, and will act as a big stage for everything. World is accepting that India is the mother of democracy. There will be no Indian who will not feel proud about the new Parliament building. In the last 5 years, 13.5 crore people have come out of poverty, according to NITI Aayog data. International agencies predict that extreme poverty in India will end soon, which points to the fact that the policies of the last nine years have taken the country in the right direction. Some people have a tendency to criticise and stop good work. When Kartavya Path was being built, many things were published on newspapers as breaking news, but when it was constructed, the same people said that it is good. I am sure the 'Toli' will accept 'Bharat Mandapam' and it is also possible that they might come here to deliver a lecture in a seminar." Soon, the biggest museum of the world - 'Yuge Yugeen Bharat' - will be constructed in Delhi. Today is a historic day - Kargil Vijay Diwas. I pay tribute to every hero who sacrificed his life in the Kargil war. 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 Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday replied to Union home minister Amit Shah's letter in which Amit Shah sought cooperation from the Congress and all parties in Parliament to discuss the Manipur issue. "The day PM Modi compares us with a terrorist organisation, the home minister writes a letter seeking cooperation from the opposition parties. The gap between the govt and the opposition existed for years, but now we see a gap in the govt as well. Calling INDIA directionless by PM Modi is unfortunate," Kharge wrote in his letter. Mallikarjun Kharge replied to Amit Shah's letter as the Congress, BRS moved a no-confidence motion against the government. (ANI) The Opposition is demanding a statement from the government on Manipur. I want to tell you that not just a statement, the government is ready for a full-fledged discussion. But this will need the cooperation of all parties. Through you I appeal to all Opposition parties that please come forward for a discussion in a good environment. Amit Shah wrote in his letter. "The government's attitude, as opposed to the spirit of your letter, has been insensitive and arbitrary in Parliament. This attitude isn't new, rather the opposition has witnessed it in several previous sessions," Kharge wrote. "Members have been suspended for the entire session -- making a mountain out of a molehill. The opposition is giving notice every day for debate but the government side is stalling it. When a member stands up to speak in Parliament after taking the permission of the chairperson, the House leader stops them. Still, opposition members assemble in the House with the hope that there will be discussion," Kharge wrote. "It is easy to express through letters but it is easier to walk the talk and win the confidence of the opposition members," Kharge wrote. "Since we have been in power for long, we know that all actions of the ruling side and the opposition will remain in the annals of history. We are responsible for the coming generations so that we can tell them that we fought for their rights. If the ruling side wants Parliament to function smoothly, then the easiest way is to let the opposition members speak," the Congress president wrote. 'Many organisations have India in their name' After INDIA on Tuesday decided to bring a no-confidence motion, PM Modi at the parliamentary party meeting launched an attack on INDIA and said many organisations like India Mujahideen, East India Company, Popular Front of India have India in their name, but they only wanted to divide the country. The comment drew sharp reactions from the Congress and the other parties who on Wednesday moved a no-confidence motion together. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Poulomi Ghosh Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. ...view detail Prime Minister Narendra Modi today will inaugurate the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) complex at New Delhi's Pragati Maidan, along with the redeveloped India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) complex which is set to host the G20 Leaders' Summit in September. According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the IECC will be among the leading exhibition and convention complexes in the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs 'havan' during the inauguration of the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) complex at Pragati Maidan(PTI) IECC developed as the centrepiece of the Pragati Maidan complex. PM Modi perfromed a lokarpan puja in the complex ahead of its inauguration. A cultural event is also scheduled in the evening in the presence of hundreds of guests, dignitaries and other invitees. After the puja, PM Modi felicitated the shramjeevis (those who were involved in the construction of the complex). The facility, having a campus area of nearly 123 acres, has been build after an overhaul of the old and outdated structures in the area and was developed at a cost of 2,700 crore. It has been developed as India's largest meeting, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) destinations. In terms of the covered space available for events, the IECC complex finds its place among the top exhibitions and convention complexes in the world, the PMO statement said, adding that it is established in line with PM Modi's vision of having a world-class infrastructure for hosting meetings. It will be rivaling the Hannover Exhibition Centre in Germany, and the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai. The complex has several state-of-the-art facilities such as the convention centre, exhibition halls and amphitheatres. It is a grand architectural marvel, designed to host large-scale international exhibitions, trade fairs, conventions, conferences and other prestigious events, the statement added. The Level 3 of the convention centre can seat 7,000 individuals, making it even larger than the approximately 5,500 people who can be seated at the iconic Sydney Opera House in Australia. A video purportedly showing police beating with sticks two people begging for mercy went viral before it emerged that they were booked for alleged rash driving under the influence of alcohol in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, where prohibition has been imposed since 1960. Police booked four people on Monday morning after they almost ran over three people. (Getty Images) The matter came to light days after nine people were killed after a luxury car rammed into a group of people gathered at an accident site on the SarkhejGandhinagar (SG) Highway on July 20. The Gujarat high court on Tuesday pulled up the traffic police for weak enforcement of laws, leading to rampant violations with impunity while granting authorities time until August 9 for concrete action. Police identified one of the accused allegedly flogged as Kedar Dave, 25, and said the other person in the video purportedly supplied alcohol to him. Dave was booked for drunk driving. He and his three other friends were allegedly drinking inside their car before it turned turtle in Ahmedabads Maninagar. According to the First Information Report in the case, police were informed about four drunk men in the car on the footpath in Maninagar on Monday. The traffic police registered a case of rash driving, causing damage, and drunk driving against the four. A police officer, who spoke anonymously, said police booked the four inebriated people on Monday morning after they almost ran over three people. The accused were escorted to the scene of the crime for the purpose of reconstructing the events. It was not for the purpose of public flogging. The accused were carrying beer cans in their car and driving rashly. We have seen what happened on SG Highway a few days ago and do not want it to be repeated, said the officer. The officer said they were taking strict measures to ensure that people drive responsibly and do not risk others. Tathya Patel, the accused in the July 20 accident, was arrested along with his father, Pragnesh Patel. Police said the father rushed to the scene and threatened and abused people there besides helping his son flee. The two have been booked under Indian Penal Codes Sections 279 (rash driving), 337 (causing grievous hurt), 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), and 506 (2) (criminal intimidation). The government promised stern action against overspeeding and reckless driving after the accident. It said fast-track court proceedings would begin within a week to expedite justice. The high court on Tuesday blamed a lack of fear of the law among offenders for accidents such as that on July 20. It asked officials about the steps taken to address the traffic problems. The court told the officials that they cannot avoid their responsibilities and must take action promptly. ...cities like Mumbai and Delhi strictly enforce traffic rules, with police personnel vigilantly stationed on roads...in Ahmedabad, traffic police seem to be passive observers, merely standing by without actively enforcing traffic regulations. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BHUBANESWAR: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday urged lawyers to work towards expeditious trial and speedy dispensation of justice as it sets free innocents who are languishing in jail on trivial charges. President Droupadi Murmu addressed an event in Cuttack to mark 75 years of the Orissa high court (Twitter/rashtrapatibhvn) Murmu, who is on a three-day visit to Odisha coinciding with the completion of one year in office, attended the valedictory function of 75 years of completion of Orissa high court in Cuttack. In her speech, Murmu said in the years that she had spent in public life, she had come across instances of people incarcerated for periods longer than the punishment stipulated for the crime of which they are accused. The legal profession in India has stood the test of time. It has earned the trust and respect of the citizenry. But delays in courts are a major concern. Due to this, innocent persons lose the prime period of their lives. This is a subject close to my heart and I have spoken about it on previous occasions also, she said. President Murmu sought priority for the delivery of justice to the socially and economically underprivileged sections of society. People from the deprived sections of the society neither have much knowledge nor have resources to access justice. Therefore, it is a question before us how would they get justice? There is a need for deep churning on this question, she said. She said the high court was established nearly 12 years after the formation of the state in 1948. The establishment of this high court reflected the long-standing aspirations of the people of Odisha. Any institution which does not change with time lags behind. The High Court of Orissa has endeavoured to incorporate technological advancement in the justice delivery system, she said. Later addressing the convocation of National Law School India University in Cuttack, President Murmu asked law students to set apart some part of their professional time to serving the under-privileged and vulnerable citizens since they dont know about their rights and entitlements and dont have the means to move the courts to seek relief or justice. Students should use at least a small part of their professional activities to help the poor and the weak with a sense of genuine compassion. It is rightly said that law is not just a career, it is a calling, she said. Once the no-trust debate is initiated in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will become the second incumbent to INDIAs highest executive office after Indira Gandhi to face a no-confidence motion with less than a year to go before general elections more than once, according to official data from the parliamentary affairs ministry. PREMIUM Prime Minister Narendra Modi easily survived the first attempt to topple his government in July 2018 nine months before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. (HT photo) The no-trust vote will be the seventh instance of the Lower House discussing a no-confidence motion within 12 months of the national polls. The previous six instances: August 1966 against the Indira Gandhi government by HN Bahuguna; November 1966 against Indira Gandhi government by Umashankar Trivedi; July 1970 against Indira Gandhi government by Madhu Limaye; July 1979 against the Morarji Desai government by YB Chavan; August 2003 by Sonia Gandhi against the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government; and July 2018 against the Modi government by Srinivas Kesineni. Read | When PM Modi predicted 2023's no-confidence motion 5 years ago, video viral To be sure, when the 1979 motion was moved, the scheduled general elections were still three years away but were eventually conducted in 1980 as the Janata Party coalition government collapsed prematurely. Five of the these motions, barring the one by Trivedi in 1966, were brought in the Monsoon session of Parliament, suggesting it is the preferred time for the Opposition to strike ahead of polls. True to this convention, the debate on the no-confidence motion sponsored by Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi will also be held in the Monsoon session. Apart from the three she faced within a year of general elections, Gandhi went on to face another12no-confidence motions the highest by any prime minister including one by Vajpayee in March 1967, barely a month after she won the Lok Sabha elections. Parliamentary records show that a total of 27 no-confidence motions that have been brought against the government of the day. Congress lawmaker Gogois notice for a no-confidence against the council of ministers, which was admitted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday, will be the 28th. According to the rules, the Speaker has to start the debate in 10 days. Rule 198 of the Lok Sabha says, The Speaker shall declare that leave is granted and that the motion will be taken up on such day, not being more than ten days from the date on which the leave is asked for. All prime ministers, barring Morarji Desai, have survived no-confidence motions. Desai, who succeeded Indira Gandhi in the historic post-Emergency elections of 1997 resigned during the debate on a no-confidence in July 1979. Read | No-confidence motion against PM Modi government: 10 things to know To be sure, no-confidence is different from trust vote, which is sought by the Prime Minister. Three governments have fallen in trust votes -- the V P Singh government in 1990, the HD Deve Gowda government in 1997, and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1999. In August 2003, Congress president Sonia Gandhi moved a no-confidence against the Vajpayee government, leading to sharp exchanges between the Opposition and the Treasury benches. Sonia Gandhi produced a charge sheet against Vajpayee, who later quipped that she perhaps searched a dictionary to pick up words. The Vajpayee government defeated the motion, but later power the following year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi easily survived the first attempt to topple his government in July 2018 nine months before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. His government won the no-confidence motion by 325-126 votes. This time, too, the numbers are stacked heavily in his favour and his government faces no threat at all from the no-confidence motion. The NDA has 330 seats while INDIA has 141 MPs. Others have 67 MPs. KATIHAR: Two persons were killed and one person was injured in Katihar district of Bihar on Wednesday after police fired at a group of protesters demonstrating against allegedly frequent power outages in the region, said officials aware of the matter. Two killed, one injured after police open fire at group of protesters demonstrating against allegedly frequent power outages in Katihar district of Bihar. (Representational Image) The shooting prompted senior police officers to order a probe into the incident, even as members of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the state government had lost control of the administration. The deceased have been identified as Khurshid Alam, 34 and Sonu Sah, 22. Sonu succumbed to his injuries late evening at Katihar Medical College Hospital, police said. A press release issued by police headquarters said that a mob of around 1000 persons had indulged in violent protests at the electricity office located in the premises of sub-divisional office, Barsoi and mischievous elements in the mob attacked power officials. Police had warned the mob and exercised restraint. But when the mob turned violent and went out of control, police opened limited firing in self defense which resulted in death of one person and injuring two persons. 12 policemen and staff of the electricity department also sustained injuries, the statement said. Officers said the crowd, of roughly 5000 people, blocked a road, surrounded the subdivisional headquarters in Barsoi town and allegedly pelt stones at police personnel, compelling them to open fire in self-defence. Officers also said 12 police personnel and staffers of the state power department were hurt during the stone-pelting. Inspector general of police (Purnia range) Suresh Prasad Choudhary confirmed the death and two injuries. A probe is underway, he added. Alam, a resident of nearby Basal village, was shot in the head and chest, and died while being taken to Barsoi sub divisional hospital near the sub divisional headquarters for treatment. He was declared dead on arrival. However police sources said, Postmortem report will only confirm about the bullets hit at the deceased. Sonu Sah who was also shot in his chest and head died at Katihar Medical College and hospital during treatment. Postmortem of both the bodies were conducted on Wednesday night. One person who received bullet injuries and undergoing treatment has been identified as 32-year-old Niyaz Alam resident of Chapakhorh. The injured is undergoing treatment at Katihar Medical College Hospital, police said. Protesters said power supply in the Barsoi town in Katihar district had collapsed for several weeks and that their complaint fell on deaf-ears. Md Hafiz said, The power supply has been almost nil and our only demand was to restore it but we were shot indiscriminately. However, officials of the power department said supply was interrupted only between 5am and 11am on Wednesday to allow maintenance work. Power supply has been collapsed here for the last few weeks and our complaints have not been heard, the locals said while justifying their protest for power. Power woes continue in the region as people allege that the power is cut for hours in the name of maintenance work. Higher tension prevails in the area in the wake of police firing. Protesters at the spot disputed the police account and claimed that three people were killed and five hurt in the firing. We saw several people fall after being hit by bullet, said Md Enamul, one of the protestors. He also claimed At least three were killed several others were hurt. Bihar BJP president Samrat Choudhary condemned the police firing and demanded a high-level probe. The government uses forces against those who demand jobs and power. Leader of opposition in the state assembly Vijay Sinha, meanwhile, said The government has lost control over its administration. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha was attacked by a crow while he was speaking on the phone within the premises of Parliament on Tuesday. Combo photo of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha as a crow brushes past him at Parliament House complex during the Monsoon session. (PTI) The moment was captured by a photographer with news agency PTI and the pictures soon went viral on the internet. A series of three to four pictures shows a crow flying over Chadha's head and pecking on top of his head as he came out of the House after attending Rajya Sabha proceedings. A startled Chadha, upon realising, bent down. Taking the pictures on Twitter, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Delhi handle tweeted taunting the AAP leader with an old Hindi saying, Jooth Bole Kauwa Kaate (Crow bites the liar). BJP Delhi said in the tweet, Till today we had only heard, today we saw also, the crow bites the liar! The post, which garnered over 4,000 likes and nearly 1,400 retweets, has worried netizens. Several Twitter users responded by saying that they were concerned about Chadha's health. One user also said, Heart is very upset. Another Twitter user said that it was bad omen. BJP's attack comes as the Opposition on Wednesday moved a no-confidence motion against the government after demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak on the Manipur violence inside Parliament. Opposition submits no-confidence motion notice in Lok Sabha against Modi government On Wednesday, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla accepted Opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA)s notice for a no-confidence motion against PM Modis government. However, the BJP government enjoys the support of at least 332 lawmakers in Lok Sabha and faces no threat from the no-confidence motion. Speaking about the no-confidence motion, Chadha said, "Many a time in India's Parliamentary history, critical instruments of debate, dialogue and discussion within Parliament are exercised. Regardless of the outcome of those instruments and motions, they are exercised with the sole objective of a long-duration discussion on an important issue subsequent to which the PM of India is compelled to come to Parliament and respond to the issues raised by the people and the Members of the Lok Sabha. He added, I think these parliamentary instruments actually strengthen India's democracy and must be exercised time and again to pressurise the government to come before the Lok Sabha and answer the questions. 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 Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday said he was shocked to learn that not a single question had been admitted and answered in Parliament on Manipur since the monsoon session began on July 20. The Congress leader was speaking during the question hour in Rajya Sabha. (ANI photo) Speaking during the question hour in Rajya Sabha, the former Union minister said he had asked the Parliamentary Research and Information Support for Members of Parliament (Prism) what questions had been admitted and answered on Manipur. The answer shocked me. Not one question has been admitted or answered on the subject. The subject is Manipur, the Congress MP said. Also Read:Monsoon session: What is a no-confidence motion Oppositions INDIA moved against Modi govt? The Opposition has been demanding the Prime Ministers statement and a discussion on the ethnic violence in the North-eastern state. Since May 3, the 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. When Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar allowed him to speak, Chidambaram began by saying, I have been told by several MPs that questions have been asked about one subject, and I will tell be you the subject later. But when I asked Prism, the research facility established by you and the Honble Speaker...The answer shocked me. The leader of the house in Rajya Sabha, Piyush Goyal, said it was an unfortunate situation wherein a member had put a question mark over the chair and attempted to drag it into a controversy. He demanded that Chidambaram apologise for insulting the chair. To be sure, many Opposition MPs sought to raise the Manipur issue while asking questions listed against their names. This was much to the chairs displeasure as the members are supposed to restrict themselves to the questions listed by them and related supplementaries. I had to suffer a spectacle today, Dhankhar said. I called out the question number, the name of the member, and they were present in the house. They did not focus on their question and went into transgression. This is not expected, the chairman said. The chair had received 42 notices from members under Rule 267 demanding a discussion on the violence and unrest in Manipur. Also, the chair received representations under Rule 176 from several MPs from the North-east for a short duration discussion on the Manipur situation. I have already admitted notices for short duration discussion on the issue of Manipur. The leader of the house has conveyed the governments willingness for the discussion. After discussing with the leader of the house, I will fix the date and time for the short duration discussion, Dhankhar said. Clashes in Manipur 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. Violence quickly engulfed the state where ethnic fault lines run deep, displacing tens of thousands of people who fled burning homes and neighbourhoods into jungles, often across state borders. The authorities quickly clamped a curfew and suspended the internet, sending in additional security forces to force a break in the spiraling clashes. Internet is still not back in the state. Most of the proceedings in the pre-lunch session were conducted amid sloganeering by Opposition members demanding a discussion on Manipur. Congress president and the leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that his mike was switched off when he spoke in the house the previous day. I was insulted...If the house functions according to the governments diktat, then I will say there is no democracy. The din that followed led the houses adjournment for 15 minutes. Earlier, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman lashed out at the Opposition for using the word Dhokhebaaz in the house. I am astonished to hear a member of this house call other members Dhokhebaaz. The member should apologise. I condemn this, she said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Author and philanthropist Sudha Murty trended on Twitter after an interview of her where she spoke about food, restaurant and her food preferences went viral. The Infosys Foundation chairperson, writer and philanthropist said she is a pure vegetarian and generally carries her food as she is concerned if the same spoon is used for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Sudha Murty said this in a YouTube interview 'Khaane Mein Kya Hai'. Sudha Murty spoke about her food choices, and favourite restaurants -- in a YouTube interview. "I am adventurous in my work, not in my food. I am in fact scared. I am a pure vegetarian, I dont even eat eggs, or garlic. What I am scared of is, is that the same spoon will be used for both, vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. It weighs on my mind a lot! Hence when we go out, I only search for veg restaurants. Or, I carry one bag full of eatables. I carry ready-to-eat stuff, that you have to just heat in water, I carry poha," Sudha Murty said in the interview. Twitter users were quick to post UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's photo with an assortment of meat and asked whether the UK PM has separate spoons for Sudha Murty, his mother-in-law. In the interview, Sudha Murty said she is a foodie but not a good cook and that's why Narayana Murthy has maintained his weight all along, but she makes great tea and poha. "I know basic cooking. I can cook parota, dal and subzi, rice, sambar. We don't go to hotels. I can cook simple things. I never learnt special cooking because I always worked outside," Murty said in the interview. What Sudha Murty eats abroad Sudha Murty said she carries a bag full of eatables when she goes abroad. She makes 25-30 chapatis and takes roasted suji so that it is ready to eat when added hot water. "I also carry a cooker. This I learnt from my grandmother. No matter which country I go to , I carry my food," Sudha Murty said. Sudha Murty was honoured with the Padma Bhushan this year for her contribution to social work. Her daughter Akshata Murty, UK's first lady, was present at the awards ceremony. In recent times, Sudha Murty made appearances on many television shows revealing many unknown stories about her life. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Poulomi Ghosh Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. ...view detail The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre why it had to constitute multiple committees to review ban on pesticides even as judges indicated that it appeared to be an effort by the government to secure a favourable decision. Supreme Court of India. (ANI File Photo) The court made the observations while hearing a bunch of public interest litigations (PIL) filed by NGO Vanashakti and others challenging the February 2023 order of the Centre banning only three pesticides. The petitions pointed out that in 2020, a sub-committee formed under SK Khurana had recommended ban on 27 pesticides for being carcinogenic. Replacing this finding, the Centre formed a committee headed by TP Rajendran in September 2022 which restricted the ban to just three names. Seeking answers from the Centre on forming one committee after another, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud said, Why do you have so many committees. You keep appointing committees till you get a favourable response. The bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, further said, We want to know why the Khurana committee recommended ban on 27 pesticides and Rajendran committee reduced it to just 3... It seems that every time you have an adverse report from one committee, you constituted a new committee. Additional solicitor general (ASG) Vikramjeet Banerjee, appearing for Centre, informed the court that the government took the decision considering the science involved and as per procedure. The petitioners do not like the science nor the procedure and hence they are complaining. We want to be satisfied that you followed the science as well as the procedure, the bench said as it posted the matter for hearing on August 1. The petitions were argued by advocate Prashant Bhushan who said that the government must come clean on why 27 pesticides were not banned. According to him, this was contained in the draft notification for imposing ban in 2018 due to the use of carcinogenic chemicals posing threat to human life. Additionally, the PIL also sought ban on other pesticides not included in the draft notification. Bhushan said the pesticides allowed by India were banned internationally as they were found to cause health hazards for children, and that the government succumbed to the industry lobby that never favours a ban. The draft notification recommending the ban on 27 pesticides was also a result of a study by a committee headed by SK Malhotra which submitted its report in 2017. The NGO Vanashakti had approached the top court in 2017 demanding that the ban be expanded to use of other pesticides as well, which is still being considered by the top court. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday revived an appeal by the Gyanvapi mosque management committee against the maintainability of a suit, which sought the right to worship Hindu deities inside the mosque complex, after the court was informed that it inadvertently disposed of the entire petition instead of just an application through its July 24 order. The Supreme Court rectifies its July 24 order in Gyanvapi case amid stay on ASI survey. (PTI) On July 24, a bench led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud stayed for two days an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey on the mosque premises to determine if it was built upon a temple. On that day, the bench held that the committee must get some breathing time to challenge the impugned directive of the Varanasi district court and directed the Allahabad high court to hear the petition before the order of status quo expired. While the court passed its order on an application moved by the committee, the final order of the day was recorded as the court having disposed of the committees challenge to the maintainability of the suit. Mentioning the matter before the CJI, senior counsel Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the committee, requested the bench to rectify the inadvertent error in the July 24 order. There is a correction needed in the Monday order. Your Lordships accidentally disposed of the entire special leave petition (SLP) instead of an application. The SLP challenges the maintanability of the suit and the order of the high court upholding it but we never argued on that. We only argued on the ASI survey point, Ahmadi submitted. He added that since the Allahabad high court has been hearing the committees appeal against the order on ASI survey, it should not have an impression that the committees challenge to the maintainability of the suit filed by five Hindu women seeking the right to worship has been disposed of by the Supreme Court. Acknowledging Ahmadis submissions, the CJI asked for the presence of solicitor general Tushar Mehta, who represents the Uttar Pradesh government in the case. Mehta supported Ahmadis contentions, adding the inadvertent mistake should be corrected by the bench. The bench, which also comprised justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, then rectified the error in its July 24 order, clarifying that only the application regarding the ASI survey was disposed of. The court order, thus, revived the committees appeal on the point of maintainability. On July 24, the top court had stayed till 5pm on July 26 the Varanasi district courts order of an extensive survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid by ASI to ascertain whether the mosque was built over a pre-existing Hindu temple. Having regard to the fact that the order of the district court was pronounced at 4.30pm on July 21, 2023, and the survey is in the process of being carried out today, we are of the view that some breathing time must be granted to the petitioners to move the high court for pursuing their remedies. We direct that the impugned order of the district court shall not be enforced until 5pm on July 26, 2023, stated the bench in its order. The directive on July 24 came at a time when a 30-member team of ASI was inside the mosque complex to carry out the survey as directed by the Varanasi district court, while the mosque management committee had rushed to the Supreme Court, pressing for an immediate stay of the contentious order. On July 21, Varanasi 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 judge held that the scientific investigation is necessary for the true facts to emerge, as it allowed an application by the four Hindu women plaintiffs. The district court, however, ordered excluding the section which has remained sealed since the Supreme Court order in May 2022. The area under seal is where the Hindu side insists a Shivling has been found, while the Muslims says it is part of a fountain. The mosque management committee 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. It was this appeal that was mistakenly disposed by the top court on July 24. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president K Annamalai on Wednesday handed over two silver trunks to governor R N Ravi containing documents which he said were evidence of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) governments corruption to the tune of 5,600 crore. Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party president K Annamalai on Wednesday handed over two silver trunks to governor R N Ravi containing documents which he said are evidence of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam governments corruption. (HT Photo) Annamalai, on Wednesday, led a delegation of state leaders to the Raj Bhavan seeking the governors action against DMK ministers, legislators and parliamentarians without naming anyone. The development comes ahead of Annamalais state-wide padyatra, set to begin on July 28, which Union home minister Amit Shah will kickstart from Tamil Nadus Rameshwaram. We will elaborate more on this during our padyatra to our friends in [the] press, Annamalai said. We demand answers from the corrupt DMK government. Sharing a video, the BJP leader described the documents showed as part-two of the DMK files, a follow up to the part one, which was released in April. Annamalai had assured back then that the second part would be released before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP claims to have produced evidence of three alleged scams of the DMK government in the state: 3,000 crore related to ETL Infrastructure Service Limited, 2,000 crore scam in the state transport department and 600 crore scam related to purchase of pesticides in the Tamil Nadu Medical Service Corporation. The trunks contain benami transactions and corruption details of eight ministers, said BJP state vice president Karu Nagarajan following the meeting. The Union home minister will speak about this in detail during the padyatra in Rameshwaram. In part one of the DMK files, Annamalai, on April 14, had accused the chief minister and DMK president M K Stalin, his family members and close leaders of large-scale corruption. Annamalai alleged that kickbacks of 200 crore had been channelled by a multinational company through two shell firms to chief minister M K Stalin for DMKs 2011 election fund. Annamalai also then released a nearly 15-minute video clip DMK Files (Part-I) showcasing what he claimed were assets of ruling party personalities and its valuation. All such allegations were dismissed by the DMK leaders as false and unfounded and they filed defamation cases against Annamalai at a Chennai court. The petition filed Stalin, on May 10, sought Annamalai to be prosecuted for defamation under Section 199 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), justifying that such a defamation offence against a chief minister is against the state of Tamil Nadu since it relates to discharge of public functions. The state therefore is rightly interested in pursuing prosecution, the petition said. Reacting to BJPs move, the DMKs organising secretary R S Bharathi said that they dont know what is in the document given by Annamalai. This is to divert issues. We will respond to his allegations when we know what they are, said Bharathi. Meanwhile Stalin launched the DMKs campaign for the 2024 elections from Trichy district on Wednesday. With inputs from agencies. Telangana increased the coverage of its population under the Asara Pension Scheme meant for vulnerable sections of the society, by over 15 lakh new beneficiaries over the years, the state government said Wednesday. As of 2023, the total number of people benefiting from this scheme has reached 43.8 lakh. Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.(HT_PRINT) The scheme is aimed at financially supporting the elderly, differently-abled, HIV-AIDS victims, handloom workers, and stone masons, beedi workers, single women, among others. The government said it provides more than 976 crore pension amount to various categories monthly. The state government has increased the pension from 3016 to 4016 for differently-abled persons since July, the statement said, adding that with an increase of 1,000 from the previous amount, Telangana leads among all states in providing pension in this category. The government stated that steps have been taken to identify eligible persons through self-government, and as a result, their number has increased to 5 lakh 11 thousand 656. The government also gives support pension of "Rs. 2016 to beedi workers, single women, teachers, and dialysis victims," the statement added. Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao-led government also revised the eligibility of the old age pension scheme by reducing the age from 65 to 57 years. With this decision, the government approved in August last year to grant new old-age pensions as well as new support pensions to 10 lakh beneficiaries, the statement added. As per the data, the government allocated more than Rs. 58,000 crore financial assistance from 2014 to 2023-24. With the revision in its rules, in FY 2023-24, the annual pension amount under this scheme will reach above 11,712 crores, the government said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail AHMEDABAD: A 30-year-old woman who lost her husband and two young children in the Junagadh building collapse died by suicide, police said on Wednesday. Local residents trying to rescue people trapped under the debris after a two-storey building collapsed in Junagadh Her husband, an autorickshaw driver, and their two sons aged 13 and 7, were waiting for her in their autorickshaw while she was shopping for vegetables when the dilapidated two-storey building in Kadiyavad area of Junagadh collapsed on them on Monday. After the final rites of her husband and two children, the grief-stricken woman locked herself in the bathroom of her house and consumed acid on Tuesday evening. She was moved to a hospital for treatment, but she did not survive, said SN Masida, a police officer at Junagadh A division police station. Her brother-in-law informed the police about the suicide on Wednesday morning, the police official said. Junagadh mayor Gitaben Parmar said the building was in a dilapidated condition and had been uninhabited. There was an autorickshaw driver with his two children beneath the building when it collapsed. They were waiting for the mother to return, who had gone to buy vegetables. Sadly, the father and his two children were killed. Also, there was a tea stall beneath the building whose owner also got killed in the crash, said Parmar The building collapse came two days after the city was inundated in a flash flood The mayor revealed that municipal authorities issued notices to at least 38 residential societies in Junagadh requiring occupants to shift out on account of the buildings condition. Apart from the four deaths in the building collapse, Parmar said three people died over the past few days in Junagadh city due to the rains. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has decided to back the Narendra Modi government when it brings the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, to replace an ordinance that hands control of the national capitals bureaucratic machinery to the Centre. Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. (PTI) While Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders have been individually meeting representatives of all parties to request them to vote against the bill as it undermines the elected Delhi government, YSR Congress Party leader and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy conveyed his decision to his MPs last weekend. We have decided to back the bill, said the partys parliamentary party leader Vijaysai Reddy. When asked about the AAPs appeal for states uniting to make a statement for federalism, Reddy said, We would have backed them if Delhi was a full-fledged state. In this case, it is not a full state and there are many areas which lie with the government. Other YSR Congress MPs who didnt want to be named told HT that the party wasnt comfortable being on the same side as the Congress. Party chief YS Jagan Reddy is a former Congress leader, whose father YS Rajsekhara Reddy was the former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. After his death in 2009, Jagan fell out with the grand old party over his fathers legacy and not being allowed to carry out a statewide yatra. Jagan then spent several years in jail in connection with a Central Bureau of Investigation corruption case. If we speak of federal structure, hasnt the Congress also violated it many times in the past, said the YSR MP, declining to be identified. With this announcement, the ruling National Democratic Alliance looks comfortable with its numbers in the Rajya Sabha. In the house of 237 members of Parliament who will have a vote, the NDA has a majority of 123 votes against the 108 votes that the opposition alliance is expected to get. This includes the 92 BJP MPs, their partners such as the AIADMK and other smaller allies. The Biju Janata Dal with its nine MPs could also be voting with the NDA. We are yet to take a decision on the issue, said a spokesperson for the party. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Rashtra Samit (BRS) has issued a whip to its 7 MPs to vote against the bill when it comes to Parliament next week. The whip read, All Members of Parliament of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (Raya Sabha) are requested to vote against the bill to replace the ordinance on Delhi services, any time that it is brought before the House. All the Members of Parliament of BRS (Rajya Sabha) shall be present in the House on 26, 27 & 28th July 2023 and remain in the House till the voting on the bill is over. The cabinet cleared the bill which will replace the ordinance promulgated by the President on May 19 to allow the Centre to retain control over the bureaucracy in Delhi and effectively negated a Constitution bench judgment of the Supreme Court that handed over control of the bureaucracy in the Capital to the elected government, excluding those connected to police, public order and land. The government listed the bill as its top priority and it is expected to come up for passage next week. HT reached out to the Aam Aadmi Party for a comment but was yet to receive one till the time of going to press. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bollywood celebrities stepped out in large numbers last night to attend the grand premiere of Karan Johar's film Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. While Ranveer Singh arrived at the event sans Deepika Padukone, Alia arrived with Ranbir Kapoor in matching 'Team Rocky Aur Rani hoodies'. Other celebrities who made an appearance at the occasion included Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal, Ananya Panday, Sara Ali Khan, Ibrahim Ali Khan, Gauri Khan, Jaya Bachchan, Shweta Nanda, Malaika Arora, Arhaan Khan, Neha Dhupia, Shabana Azmi, Maheep Kapoor, Seema Sajdeh, and others. Scroll ahead to see what the best-dressed stars wore to the event. Alia Bhatt-Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh and Katrina-Vicky Kaushal at Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani premiere. (HT Photo/Varinder Chawla) Who wore what to Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani premiere Ranveer Singh Ranveer Singh arrived at the grand premiere of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani in quirky attire. He wore a white sweatshirt featuring a round neckline, pulled-back full-length sleeves, a baggy silhouette, and a light blue-coloured patchwork on the front featuring a 'Team Rocky Aur Rani' print in hot pink. He styled it with distressed colourful denim jeans, chunky sneakers, a sleek watch, a bracelet, tinted sunglasses, a chain, diamond ear studs, a back-swept hairdo, and a trimmed beard. Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor twinned in black for Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani premiere. The couple wore crew neck sweatshirts featuring full-length sleeves, a baggy silhouette, and white patchwork with 'Team Rocky Aur Rani' printed on the front. While Alia styled it with grey flared denim jeans featuring a distressed design, gold hoop earrings, open locks, minimal makeup, and peep-toe killer high heels, Ranbir wore it with black cargo pants, white sneakers, ear studs and a rugged beard. Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal arrived hand in hand at the Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani premiere in Mumbai. While Katrina made heads turn with her girl-next-door style in a white mini dress, black high-heel boots, middle-parted open locks, hoop earrings, and minimal makeup, Vicky wore a denim button-down shirt, skinny-fit denim jeans, a rugged beard, back-swept hairdo, and suede boots. Ananya Panday Ananya Panday embraced Gen-Z style statements in a colourful printed mini dress featuring noodle straps, a cowl neckline, a form-fitting silhouette, and an asymmetric hemline with a frilled design. She styled the outfit with beige high heels, a dainty chain, stacked bracelets, rings, a mini shoulder bag, centre-parted open locks, and a no-makeup look. Karisma Kapoor Karisma Kapoor brought boss babe energy mixed with her casual-chic style to the Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani premiere. She slipped into a black round-neck blouse styled with matching high-waisted flared pants and a hot pink-coloured notch-lapel blazer. She glammed up the ensemble with layered gold chains, a top handle Birkin bag, nerdy glasses, rings, chunky sandals, open locks, blush pink lips, and glowing skin. Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan Sara Ali Khan wore a cropped denim blouse and straight-leg denim jeans to the Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani premiere. Her ensemble comes with a distressed design, and she styled it with chunky sneakers, an over-the-body bag, a half-tied hairdo, rings, bracelets, dainty earrings, and dewy makeup picks. Ibrahim complemented his sister in a dark blue button-down shirt, distressed baggy denim jeans, white sneakers, a trimmed beard, and a backswept hairdo. Fast-fashion retailer Shein is being sued by Hennes & Mauritz AB for copyright infringement in Hong Kong, where the litigation aimed at mitigating the threat posed by its Chinese rival has been underway since 2021. Zoetop Business Co, the Hong Kong-based entity that previously owned Shein, is among the defendants, as is Shein Group Ltd, according to a writ of summons issued in July 2021 and recently obtained by Bloomberg News. Stockholm-based H&M asked for unspecified damages and an injunction to stop Shein from infringing on its copyright and trademarks. H&M is suing fast fashion rival Shein for copyright infringement of their designs. (AFP, Reuters) Details of the filing, including photos of dozens of items from swimwear to sweaters that H&M said was evidence that Shein stole its designs, were released to the public after a hearing at the Hong Kong High Court on June 21. The next hearing is slated to take place July 31. H&M confirmed it filed a lawsuit against Shein in Hong Kong, claiming its fast-fashion competitor in multiple cases has infringed on our designs, according to a spokesperson for the Swedish fashion retailer. Shein declined to comment on pending litigation. H&M fell less than 1% in early trading. The Hong Kong court heard the case for the first time last September, and the judge allowed the case to proceed, according to a separate document released in May. A Rarity While there have been many allegations of intellectual property infringement leveled against the online retailer in the past three years, H&Ms action is a rare case of an established fast-fashion rival filing suit. Sheins sales in 2021 were far less than those of H&M, but its skyrocketing sales growth, fueled by the rapid launch of new products and strong digital marketing strategies on social media, drew the attention of companies and designers in western markets, including the US and Europe. Shein hasnt only been on the receiving end. It sued Chinese-owned online retailer Temu last year in the US, alleging trademark and copyright infringement as well as false and deceptive business practices. Temu countersued, alleging the company violated antitrust laws by using threats and intimidation to stop clothing manufacturers from working with it. There have been more than a dozen lawsuits against Shein this year alone in the US brought by plaintiffs alleging intellectual property violations. And some American lawyers have accused the company of a pattern of racketeering activity, an approach commonly used to target organized crime. They say Sheins intellectual property theft is an integral part of its business model, and the company typically offers a small cash settlement to those designers. Samantha Ruth Prabhu is enjoying a laidback holiday in Bali, Indonesia. The star went on a holiday to the scenic destination with her friend after announcing a break from acting to focus on her health. Today, she shared pictures and videos from her road trip to Uluwatu, where she also visited the Uluwatu Temple. Samantha posted snippets featuring the verdant views from Uluwatu. She also shared that her sunglasses got stolen by monkeys at the temple. Scroll through to see all the photos. Samantha Ruth Prabhu shares snippets from her trip to Uluwatu in Bali. (Instagram) Samantha Ruth Prabhu's outing in Bali Today, Samantha Ruth Prabhu posted pictures from her road trips to Uluwatu, a region on the southwestern tip of the Bali Bukit Peninsula. The first picture in Samantha's post shows her admiring the scenic clear blue sea and the cloudy skies. In the second picture, she posed in front of a mural explaining the origin of Uluwatu - Ulu stands for lands end, and Watu means rock. Therefore, Uluwatu stands for "Rock at the end of the world". A monkey steals Samantha's sunglasses on her trip to Uluwatu A monkey stole Samantha Ruth Prabhu's sunglasses. (Instagram) Samantha wore a sleeveless green-coloured bodycon maxi dress - featuring pleats on the front, sunglasses, and a straw hat for her road trip to Uluwatu. However, a monkey stole her glasses while she posed for a picture. She shared the incident in two posts - a picture of the monkey peeking from behind right before it stole the sunglasses and a man trying to take them back by bribing the animal. Snippets from Uluwatu shared by Samantha The other videos Samantha shared on her stories showed the verdant views in Uluwatu. She captioned the three clips, "Sigh...", "Pause", and "Resent...". Check them out below. Screengrabs of the video Samantha posted on Instagram(Instagram) Samantha's Bali trip Meanwhile, Samantha has been posting snippets from her trip to Bali. Earlier, she had posted pictures from her morning walk in the countryside and captioned it, Mornings like these [white heart emoji]. On the personal front, Samantha took a break from work to focus on her health. She is dealing with an auto-immune condition called Myositis. Samsung Electronics unveiled its latest foldable smartphones on Wednesday, keeping prices around the same level three years in a row as it seeks to challenge Apple's dominance in the premium market. The company on Wednesday priced its new clamshell Galaxy Z Flip5 at $999.99. The world's largest smartphone maker pioneered the segment in 2019, betting that it would appeal to consumers looking for a bigger screen to consume content, while its foldable displays keep the overall phone size compact. Also Read | Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023: Z Flip 5 price to be revealed on this date Foldable phones remain a niche product category, carving out 5% of the global premium smartphone market, although the sector has grown rapidly from just 0.3% in 2019, according to research firm Counterpoint. Samsung, a leader in the segment with 63% market share in the first quarter, is looking to accelerate the growth trajectory with an aggressive pricing plan and faster rollout, industry analysts said. The company on Wednesday priced its new clamshell Galaxy Z Flip5 at $999.99, and the wide Galaxy Z Fold5 to start at $1,799.99 in the United States, the same as the launch prices of the last two years' models. It made the folded Flip5 thinner than last year's model by improving the hinge - and enlarged the cover screen to 3.4 inches (8.64 cm), adding more capacity for interactions and an improved ability to take a selfie with the top-line main camera. Also Read | Samsung launches a new digital campaign to showcase the capabilities of the Galaxy Watch LTE Samsung's 7.6-inch screen Fold5, lighter and thinner than last year's model, offers a bigger vapour chamber for better heat management when gaming or multitasking and a 41% thinner stylus. Both models use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipsets. The unveiling of the latest models comes weeks earlier than last year - seen by analysts as a bid to keep the limelight for longer before the next iPhone release. "Competition with Apple's iPhone 15 series is inevitable. Consumers of foldable products are expanding from early adopters to general users, in particular... in China and Western Europe," said Jene Park, senior analyst at Counterpoint. Because of advanced technology used for foldable displays and hinges, foldable phones are "significantly more expensive than general smartphones" to make, which can make price the biggest obstacle for a consumer, Park said. In 2023, global foldable smartphone shipments are projected to reach 19 million units, up about 45% from 13.1 million in 2022, according to Counterpoint. Apple had a 75% share of the premium smartphone market priced $600 or above in 2022, versus Samsung's 16%. Samsung's new foldable phones will be available from Aug. 11 in select markets. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 event will take place digitally and in-person at Seoul, the South Korean capital on Wednesday. The technology behemoth has been teasing the event since past few days on its digital platform. If you have been waiting for Samsung's latest lineup of products, your wait will end today. An employee walks past a logo of Samsung C&T Corp at the company's headquarters in Seoul, South Korea.(Reuters file) Where to watch The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 event will be livestreamed on Samsung's website and its Youtube channel. The event will be shown LIVE on these platforms at 4:30 pm IST. Hindustan Times will also track live updates of the event here. What to expect The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 event will witness the launch of the company's latest products. The Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5 are the two much-anticipated launches at the gala event. Besides this, the company could also take the covers of the Galaxy Watch 6 and Tab S9 series during the event. With the Galaxy Z series, Samsung provides innovation that defies the norms, redefining what a smartphone can do and stepping beyond conventional boundaries to open a new world of experiences", Sonia Chang, Vice President of Brand Marketing Group of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics, had said in a statement earlier this month. According to the latest leaks, Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 5 may have a 3.4-inch cover screen with a resolution of 720x748 pixels. On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 would have a lesser visible crease due to a potential design change. On the other hand, the latest leaks by SnoopyTech via 9to5Google website, the Galaxy Watch 6 series is likely to be powered by the Exynos W930 chip, and paired with 16GB of storage and 2GB of RAM. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Languages change over time and what people know now could be different from what was common centuries ago. Giving a glimpse of the bygone era, Cambridge University shared an amazing piece of history. They posted a part of an English exam test that was first published in 1913. Not just that, they also urged the public to take a chance and solve this 110-year-old paper. Are you up for it? The image shows a question paper for English from 1913. (Instagram/@cambpressassess) The official Instagram page of Cambridge University Press & Assessment shared the amazing post on the anniversary of 110 years of @cambridgeenglish exams that they celebrated last month. In June 1913, three candidates in the UK took the first ever 'C2 Proficiency' English exam, which at the time was known as the Certificate of Proficiency in English. The exam, which cost candidates 3, was very different compared to what it is today. In 1913, it was a 12-hour exam which included translation, dictation and phonetic transcription. The first exams were taken by people who wanted to become English language teachers, the university wrote as a part of the posts caption. In the next line, they challenged netizens and posted, Have you got what it takes to answer a 110-year-old English exam question? Also Read: Are you smart enough to find squares in this picture? Take a look at this English question paper from 1913: Was the question paper easy to solve? Or did it leave you scratching your head? As for netizens, they took to the comments section of the post to share varied answers. What did Instagram users say about the 110 year old English test paper? Loved it! Though I'm not proficient in English, evidently, wrote an Instagram user. Loved it, posted another. Correcting is easy. Justifying, on the other hand, is a good way to comprehend language awareness of learners, shared a third. The post was shared last month on June 9. Since being shared, it has received close to 400 likes. What are your thoughts on this English exam paper from 1913? Did the 100-year-old test paper leave you stunned? SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Guinness World Records (GWR) always shares varied records created or broken by people across the world. From bizarre to incredible to hair-raising, there are various types of records. Adding to that list is this record by a couple from Canada. They locked lips with each other after eating habanero peppers, one of the hottest chillies in the world and kissed each other for 15 minutes 6.5 seconds. The image shows a couple who bagged a record for longest kiss after eating peppers. (Guinness World Records ) What is this record all about? The couple, Mike and Jamie Jack, bagged the record for the longest and hottest kiss to celebrate their upcoming 15 year marriage anniversary, reports a blog shared by GWR. We had 30 seconds to each eat a habanero and then we put our lips together for as long as we wanted, Mike said to GWR. He also holds a record for eating some of the worlds hottest peppers. Jamie specially prepared for the record by eating habanero peppers for a month. A couple from Canada who created world record by kissing after eating peppers. (Guinness World Records ) What is next in line for the couple after creating this world record? Talking about their record, Mike said that their friends and family are really proud, especially of Jamie for creating her first ever world record. As for whats next, the couple is far away from stopping. In fact, they are planning to add another record to their list and preparing for just that. Next, they want to create the record for longest Bhut Jolokia chilli pepper kiss. Advice for others who want to try the challenge: Mike, the multiple record holder, shared advice for those who are willing to break their record or try another pepper-related challenge. Make sure you can handle the heat of the peppers before attempting a record like this, he said. Guinness World Records also took to their official Twitter handle to share about the record. That's one hawt kiss, they wrote as they posted. The tweet received close to 31,000 views and counting. The post also gathered more than 120 likes. Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, grapples with a growing homeless crisis as winter looms, with temperatures regularly plummeting below zero. A record number of eight people died of exposure in the city last year, and the closure of a major shelter further aggravates the situation. In a bold move, Mayor Dave Bronson proposes an unconventional solutionoffering homeless individuals one-way plane tickets to warmer climates. Anchorage, Alaska, Mayor Dave Bronson participates in an interview in his office at City Hall.(AP) Mayor Bronson's proposition to fund plane tickets for homeless people seeking warmth has stirred controversy. Facing political tension with the liberal-leaning Anchorage Assembly, the Republican mayor aims to address the moral imperative of saving lives during the harsh winter conditions. However, concerns arise over the long-term sustainability and implications of the relocation program. During the pandemic, the 6,000-seat Sullivan Arena provided a crucial shelter for over 500 homeless people in the winter. However, city officials recently decided to revert it to its original purpose, leaving a gap in homeless services. While smaller shelters have emerged, the lack of a large care facility leaves hundreds of homeless individuals vulnerable. Political strife Bronson's prior proposal to build a shelter and navigation center faced challenges from the Anchorage Assembly. Amid disagreements over capacity and contract approval, the homelessness crisis remains a contentious issue in the city. Now, with his latest initiative, the mayor aims to take a proactive approach to address the urgent needs of the homeless population. Escape plan Bronson's "warm escape" plan allows homeless individuals to choose destinations in the Lower 48 or elsewhere in Alaska, where they have family or support. While the mayor emphasizes the urgency of saving lives, concerns arise over the long-term financial and social implications for both Anchorage and the chosen destinations. Searching for sustainable solutions Despite his commitment to saving lives, Mayor Bronson admits that a funding source for the relocation program is yet to be identified. The program's implementation lies in the hands of the city's homeless director, Alexis Johnson, who is tasked with formulating a comprehensive plan. With costs of sheltering being high, the mayor believes this approach could prove more cost-effective. Critics raise questions Critics argue that the plan may shift Anchorage's homelessness problem to other cities, raising ethical concerns about accountability and shared responsibility. Mayor Bronson defends the move, highlighting that Anchorage bears a disproportionate burden of the state's homeless population and urges the need for a statewide solution. Also read | Residents of Billings city in Montana divided as Salvation Army plans to build tiny village for homeless Alaska's ongoing struggle The state legislature's decision not to fund Anchorage's $25 million request for shelter operations has further complicated the homelessness crisis. As other cities across the United States adopt similar relocation initiatives, the broader issue of homelessness remains a challenge with no easy solutions in sight. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A clip of President Joe Biden where he supposedly said he"ended cancer" has surfaced on social media. Joe made the statement during a speech from the White House on Tuesday, July 25. His address was regarding new efforts to urge insurance companies to increase coverage for mental health care. A clip of President Joe Biden where he supposedly said he "ended cancer" has surfaced on social media (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP)(AFP) Joe started his speech speaking about how the pandemic "demonstrated ... the need for a lot more help," and stressed the importance of increasing access to mental health treatment. "One of the things I'm always asked is: You know, whywhy Americans have sort of lost faith for awhile on beingbeing able to do big things," Joe said, according to the official transcript of today's speech, Newsweek reported. Did Joe Biden say he ended cancer? "'If you could do anything at all, Joe, what would you do?' I said, 'I'd cure cancer,'" Joe continued. "And they looked at me like, 'Why cancer?' Because no one thinks we can. That's why. And we can. We can end cancer as we know it." Many conservatives shared a video of the speech on social media, including Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert. Those who shared the video believed Joe said he "ended cancer as we know it." However, upon listening to it carefully, one can gather that the president seemed to slur the words "can" and "end" together during his sentence, making it sound like ended. Joe Bidens dog involved in biting incidents Meanwhile, as per recent reports, Joes dog Commander has been accused of being involved in severalbiting incidents at the White House and in Delaware. "The White House complex is a unique and often stressful environment for family pets, and the First Family is working through ways to make this situation better for everyone," Elizabeth Alexander, the first lady's communications director, said in a statement to the news outlet PEOPLE following the incidents. "They have been partnering with the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff on additional leashing protocols and training, as well as establishing designated areas for Commander to run and exercise." The Digital Public Library of America has taken a daring stand for intellectual freedom with the launch of "The Banned Book Club," a groundbreaking program that grants users free access to books that have been banned in their local areas. With book bans on the rise and censorship knocking at the doors of libraries, this initiative leverages the power of technology to ensure every American can freely read the literature of their choice. The Digital Public Library of America has taken a daring stand for intellectual freedom with the launch of' 'The Banned Book Club,' a groundbreaking program that grants users free access to books that have been banned in their local areas. GPS-Powered Libraries Utilizing GPS-based geo-targeting, The Banned Book Club creates virtual libraries in communities across the nation where books have faced the unjust fate of being banned. Through the Palace e-reader app, readers can now explore and enjoy titles that have been forcefully pulled from local library shelves, offering a digital haven for the suppressed literature. Discover Banned Books in Your Area Curious to know which books have suffered from bans near you? Simply visit TheBannedBookClub.info and allow the app to access your location. Explore the list of titles that have been targeted by censorship and get ready to liberate your mind with these once-restricted masterpieces. Unlocking the forbidden knowledge within The Banned Book Club is as simple as downloading the Palace app. Upon installation, select "Banned Book Club" as your library, and follow the prompts to sign up for your complimentary virtual library card. The world of censored literature will be at your fingertips in no time. Obama's Resounding Endorsement The announcement of The Banned Book Club's launch garnered praise from a notable figure former President Barack Obama. Voicing his support on Twitter, Obama applauded the program's efforts to champion intellectual freedom and uphold the right to read without censorship. Alarming surge of censorship The timing of The Banned Book Club's emergence couldn't be more critical, as censorship attempts reach alarming heights. According to the American Library Association (ALA), there were over 1,200 demands to censor library books in 2022, marking a significant surge and the highest number recorded in over two decades. This upswing in book challenges is largely driven by organized censorship groups that aim to stifle marginalized voices, targeting works that represent LGBTQIA+ communities and people of color. Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom while talking to USA Today, called out these censorship efforts as attempts to silence voices traditionally excluded from national conversations. The right to choose what to read belongs to individuals and families, not "self-appointed book police." The Banned Book Club stands strong against this oppressive trend, fighting for the freedom of literature to reach all who seek knowledge and understanding. Also read | TikToker 'exposes' shocking book ban in Florida schools! Censorship controversy sparks outrage With The Banned Book Club, the Digital Public Library of America has ignited a literary revolution, ensuring that the written word will never be shackled by censorship. Embracing the power of technology, this program champions intellectual freedom, encouraging readers to explore and celebrate the beauty of diverse ideas and perspectives. An American Airlines flight bound for Guyana took an unexpected detour back to JFK Airport in New York City after a heated exchange between a passenger and a crew member. The flight, numbered 2557, was on its way to Georgetown, Guyana, when it was forced to return due to the incident involving Joel Ghansham, a passenger from Guyana. American Airlines flight bound for Guyana took an unexpected detour back to JFK Airport in New York City after a heated exchange between a passenger Joel Ghansham (right) and a crew member. According to local reports, the trouble began when Ghansham asked a flight attendant for assistance in storing his luggage in the overhead compartment due to recent spine surgery. Instead of offering help, the crew member allegedly dismissed the request, prompting Ghansham to share his displeasure with the service. During the beverage service, the same crew member approached Ghansham again, offering him a drink. In response, Ghansham referred to the crew member as a "waiter" - a remark that didn't sit well with the flight attendant. The situation quickly escalated as the crew member warned he had the power to turn the plane around. Unexpected Return to JFK Airport In a surprising turn of events, the pilot announced that the flight would be heading back to JFK Airport. Ghansham claims he never caused a scene or engaged in an argument, but the airline classified him as a "disruptive passenger." He was subsequently removed from the flight and interviewed by authorities before being allowed to leave. Following the incident, American Airlines issued an apology to Ghansham, offering 10,000 Advantage bonus miles as a gesture of goodwill. However, the passenger is not satisfied with the airline's response, disputing their portrayal of the events. Also read | Passenger takes control of airplane amid pilot's medical emergency, crash lands near runway in Massachusetts This incident sheds light on the challenges airlines face in managing in-flight disputes. With tensions running high and a growing focus on passenger rights, airlines must navigate these situations with care to ensure both safety and customer satisfaction. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-serving leaders, said Wednesday he will resign and hand power to his eldest son after almost four decades of hardline rule. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-serving leaders, said on July 26, 2023 he will resign and hand power to his son, after almost four decades of hardline rule. (AFP) The former Khmer Rouge cadre has run the kingdom since 1985, eliminating all opposition to his power, with opposition parties banned, challengers forced to flee and freedom of expression stifled. His Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won a landslide victory in an election on Sunday with no meaningful opposition, taking 82 percent of the vote, paving the way for a dynastic succession to his eldest son that some critics have compared to North Korea. "I would like to ask for understanding from the people as I announce that I will not continue as prime minister," the 70-year-old said in a special broadcast on state television. Election authorities disqualified the only serious challenger, the Candlelight Party, on a technicality in advance of the election, and the CPP is expected to win all but five lower house seats. The government hailed the 84.6 percent voter turnout as evidence of the country's "democratic maturity" but Western powers including the United States and European Union condemned the poll as neither free nor fair. Hun Sen said Hun Manet, a 45-year-old four-star general, would take over as prime minister at the head of a new government on the evening of August 22. "I ask people to support Hun Manet who will be the new prime minister," he said. Chinese influence Hun Sen has trailed the handover to his son for a year and a half, and the 45-year-old played a leading role in campaigning for Sunday's vote. But the outgoing leader has made it clear that he still intends to wield influence, even after he steps down, scotching the notion the country could change direction. In his announcement on Wednesday, he said he would become president of the senate and act as head of state when the king is overseas. Under Hun Sen, Cambodia has tacked close to Beijing, benefiting from huge Chinese investment and infrastructure projects, including the redevelopment of a naval base that has alarmed Washington. China welcomed Sunday's election, with President Xi Jinping sending Hun Sen a personal message of congratulations. But the flood of Chinese money has brought problems, including a rash of casinos and online scam operations staffed by foreign workers, many trafficked and toiling in appalling conditions. Critics say his rule has also been marked by environmental destruction and entrenched graft. Cambodia ranks 150th out of 180 in Transparency International's corruption perception index. In Asia, only Myanmar and North Korea rank lower. Rights groups accuse Hun Sen of using the legal system to crush any opposition to his rule -- including critical activists and troublesome union leaders as well as politicians. Scores of opposition politicians have been convicted and jailed during his time in power and the law was changed ahead of Sunday's election to make it illegal to call for voters to spoil ballots. Five days before polling day, authorities banned exiled opposition figurehead Sam Rainsy from running for office for 25 years for urging people to void their ballot papers. Opposition leader Kem Sokha was in March convicted of treason and sentenced to 27 years in prison over an alleged plot to topple Hun Sen's government. He is currently serving his sentence under house arrest. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Move over, Warren Buffett and Mark Zuckerberg! There's a new billionaire in the tech world, and his name is Steve Ballmer. People may remember him as the former CEO of Microsoft, but what you may not know is that he's now wealthier than some of the biggest names in the industry. According to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index, Ballmer's estimated fortune of $120 billion places him sixth on the list, outshining tech gurus like Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the cofounders of Google. FILE - In this July 15, 2017, file photo, Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, addresses a plenary session on the third day of the National Governors Association's meeting in Providence, R.I. (AP) How did Steve Ballmer amass such impressive wealth? The most intriguing part about Ballmer ranking sixth on Bloomberg Billionaire Index is that he is not the founder of Microsoft, and he stepped down as CEO almost a decade ago. It all comes down to a contract negotiation Ballmer made when he joined Microsoft as its 30th employee back in 1980. Forbes reveals that he secured a base salary of $50,000, along with a 10% cut of the profit growth as a part of his compensation. As Microsoft flourished under his leadership, Ballmer's share of the profits also multiplied. However, Ballmer eventually relinquished the profit share and opted for a sizeable equity stake in the company. By the time of his retirement as CEO in 2014, Ballmer held 333 million shares, equivalent to 4% ownership of Microsoft. Bloomberg's estimates suggest that Ballmer still maintains a similar stake, making him worth more than $100 billion based on the company's current market capitalization of $2.6 trillion. Apart from his Microsoft fortunes, Ballmer is also the owner of the LA Clippers. His investments and Microsofts interest in artificial intelligence and $10 billion investment in OpenAI earlier this year, have increased the company's growth prospects even further. With Microsoft stock soaring 44% this year alone, the surge contributed to a $34 billion rise in Ballmer's net worth in 2023. While other tech titans like Zuckerberg, Page, and Brin have also witnessed an increase in wealth but they are still far from their all-time high. On the other hand, Ballmer's Microsoft shares have reached a record-breaking high, which has propelled him up the billionaire list. Although he may still fall behind Larry Ellison and Bill Gates, who are both worth over $130 billion, Ballmer's success as a retired CEO and non-founder has placed him in a highly desirable position. Israel's highest court said Wednesday that it would hear petitions in September against a divisive law weakening its power that the country's parliament passed earlier this week. Demonstrators protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system, in Tel Aviv, Monday.(AP) Israeli civil society groups and others have filed petitions asking the Supreme Court to strike down the law enacted Monday the first major piece of legislation in Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu's broader program to overhaul Israel's judiciary. The far-right government's plans to limit judicial power have plunged Israel into its worst domestic crisis in years, unleashing widespread unrest and exposing the country's deep social fissures. Also Read: Greta Thunberg goes on trial over Swedish climate protest Blow to democracy Critics of the overhaul describe it as a blow to democracy, arguing that Israels judiciary represents the primary check on the powers of the parliament and prime minister. Netanyahus supporters say the law will prevent liberal, unelected judges from interfering with the decisions of elected lawmakers. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have poured into the streets to protest against the plan for the past seven months. While protests continue, opponents are also taking their fight to the Supreme Court the very target of Netanyahus overhaul plans hoping that justices will intervene. The Supreme Court said that it would hear challenges to the new law after Israels parliament, or Knesset, returns from recess in September. It asked the laws defendants to submit a response at least 10 days before the preliminary hearing but did not specify an exact date. The law passed Monday specifically strips the Supreme Court of its power to block government actions and appointments on the basis that they are unreasonable. A McDonalds franchise operating in Louisiana and Texas has landed in hot water after violating child labor laws. The U.S. Department of Labor revealed that CLB Investments LLC, which oversees 12 restaurants in metro New Orleans, employed over 80 minors in breach of federal regulations. The young workers, aged 14 and 15, were allowed to work longer and later than the law permits. To make matters worse, three children were found operating manual deep fryers, a strict no-go for employees under 16. A McDonalds franchise operating in Louisiana and Texas has landed in hot water after violating child labor laws.(REUTERS) Finger-pointing and penalties As a consequence of these violations, the franchise was slapped with a hefty civil penalty of $56,106. The Labor Department did not mince words, highlighting the gravity of the situation and emphasizing that employers should never compromise the safety and well-being of young workers or disrupt their education. This is not the first time McDonald's franchises have come under scrutiny for child labor violations. Earlier this year, federal investigations uncovered three McDonalds franchise operators in four states who were found guilty of violating child labor laws, affecting over 300 children, some as young as 10 years old, at 62 locations. Following the series of damning revelations, Tiffanie Boyd, Chief People Officer of McDonalds USA, issued a statement acknowledging the severity of the issue and affirming their commitment to ensuring compliance with all labor laws. Also read | Friends' superstar Courteney Cox woos fans by joining viral McDonald's Grimace Shake trend- Watch McDonalds Safety Solutions In response to the labor law breaches, Chris Bardell, the owner/operator of the affected New Orleans locations, has taken action. He introduced mandatory child labor law trainings for his restaurant managers and conducted regular audits to ensure compliance with labor regulations.Also read | A royal commentator has said it would be a "humiliation" for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry if they decide to return to the Royal Family. Back in 2020, the pair stepped down as working members of the family. They now live with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in California. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the 2020 UN Nelson Mandela Prize award ceremony at the United Nations in New York on July 18, 2022 (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)(AFP) Harry and Meghan have launched several attacks on the Royal Family publicly ever since they stepped down. They have made multiple negative remarks on TV interviews, as well as in Harrys autobiography, Spare. Recent reports have been suggesting that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are currently under tremendous financial pressure and are finding it hard to fund their lifestyle. Meghans Spotify podcast was recently snubbed, but their Netflix deal reportedly remains intact. It is believed Harry recently reached out to Prince William to discuss the possibility of returning to the UK. According to royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, making this U-turn would be a "humiliation" for the couple. "This would be one of the most bizarre events in royal history if they did return after all the attacks, Richard said, according to GB News. It would be a humiliation for Meghan and Harry. The idea that after everything that has happened that Meghan and Harry could just walk back in is beyond extraordinary." Meghan Markle horrified by Prince Harry reaching out to Princess Kate and Prince William A royal author recently said Meghan will have been "horrified" by Prince Harry reaching out to and being in touch with Princess Kate and Prince William. Meghan has a strained relationship with the Prince and Princess of Wales and is reportedly not on talking terms with them. "I dont think he can come back, royal author Tom Bower said of Harry's potential return to the UK. Hes caused so much damage to the family and the concern now is that if he does return, he could well damage it even further. I think Meghan wouldve been horrified by Harrys suggestion. Tom continued, "Shes not close to William and Kate...I would imagine the last thing shed want to do is return to England to live in a small, poky flat in Kensington Palace." Harry and Meghan are experiencing a crisis of identity, a crisis of purpose and a crisis of finance, he added. I think theyve exhausted their possibilities and have hit a brick wall." Meghan Markle will have been "horrified" by Prince Harry reaching out to and being in touch with Princess Kate and Prince William, a royal author has said. Meghan has a strained relationship with the Prince and Princess of Wales and is reportedly not on talking terms with them. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle speak during the 2021 Global Citizen Live festival at the Great Lawn, Central Park on September 25, 2021 in New York City (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP)(AFP) Earlier reports claimed Harry had even spoken to Prince William about a possible return to the UK. Royal author Tom Bower, however, claimed Meghan will possibly be against such a move. I dont think he can come back, Tom said, according to GB News. Hes caused so much damage to the family and the concern now is that if he does return, he could well damage it even further. I think Meghan wouldve been horrified by Harrys suggestion. Tom continued, "Shes not close to William and Kate...I would imagine the last thing shed want to do is return to England to live in a small, poky flat in Kensington Palace." Harry and Meghan are experiencing a crisis of identity, a crisis of purpose and a crisis of finance, he added. "I think theyve exhausted their possibilities and have hit a brick wall." Meghan Markle furious with Princess Kate This report comes days after a royal insider claimed Meghan is "furious" with Princess Kate. It is believed that King Charles is the only senior member of the Royal Family that is in touch with Harry and Meghan. A royal insider said that Kate is unhappy about Harry not being in contact with the Royal Family. She blames Meghan for the strained relationship, the insider said. "Kate feels terrible that the royals and Harry are at this current impasse with so little contact between them, the insider said. "She blames Meghan for it almost entirely and the longer it goes on the more it upsets and frustrates her". This has left Meghan furious with Kate, the source said. They told Heat magazine: "Kate's let it be known to the Palace aides who still speak to the Sussexes that she thinks it's an extremely poor show the way Harry's being treated. But Meghan is furious and thinks Kate has no right getting involved in her marriage. She would never dream of interfering between her and William." July 16 marked a milestone for H-1B visa holders as Canada unveiled its new Open Work Permit (OWP), a tantalizing option as part of Canada's tech talent strategy. The OWP grants specialized occupation professionals the chance to work across various employers in Canada for up to three years, with the added perk of bringing their immediate families along. However, the popularity of this permit skyrocketed, hitting the 10,000 application cap in just two days, leaving some pondering their immigration prospects. There are multiple pathways for H-1B holders to explore Canada's promising avenues apart from Open Work Permit slots, without the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Fear not, as there are still multiple pathways for H-1B holders to explore Canada's promising avenues without the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Alsop read | Maple rush! Canada's 10,000 Open Work Permit slots for United States H1-B Visa holders max out within 48 hours Here's an overview of some alternative temporary worker pathways to Canada: Global Talent Stream Canada's Global Talent Stream (GTS) emerges as a sought-after choice for foreign nationals thriving in the IT sector, fitting the "specialty occupation" definition of an H-1B visa holder. Employers eager to embrace this route must furnish an LMIA. Category A For ambitious companies in need of specialized talents from abroad, a Global Talent Stream referral from a designated partner, like a local or provincial business association, is a must. Category B Companies seeking skilled foreign workers for occupations listed in the Global Talent Occupations List can tap into this option, making use of the high-demand occupations with an inadequate local labor supply. GTS applications get processed within two weeks, adhering to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) standards. Intra-Company Transfers Serving as another LMIA-exempt specialized work permit, Intra-Company Transfer Work Permits (ICTs) simplify employee mobility across countries for enterprises with international branches. The prerequisites are simple: A parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate relationship between the Canadian and foreign enterprises. Engaging in ongoing business activities, delivering goods and services. For ICT Work Permit applicants: Current employment with a multinational company, shifting to a related company in Canada. A minimum one-year tenure in a similar full-time position within the past three years. Temporary stay in Canada. Complying with Canada's temporary entry immigration requirements. Holding senior, executive, managerial positions, or possessing specialized knowledge. Canada United States Mexico Agreement The Canada United States Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) presents a captivating option for Mexican citizens employed by multi-national companies with Canadian branches. As with GTS and ICT, this work permit is LMIA-free. Adding to its allure, American and Mexican citizens don't require a Temporary Resident Visa for Canada entry, allowing applications at Ports of Entry or Visa offices. CUSMA participants can explore four categories of temporary work: CUSMA Professionals: Engaging in approximately 60 targeted professions with pre-arranged Canadian employment (Self-employed professionals need not apply). CUSMA ICTs: Tapping into temporary work for a related company in Canada after continuous employment with a US or Mexican employer for one year in the past three years, performing similar duties. CUSMA Traders: Demonstrating substantial goods or services trade between Canada and their country of citizenship, based on volume or value. CUSMA Investors: Proving significant investment in an existing or new Canadian business with the intention to direct and develop the venture. Also read | Canadian court protects dual intent: US residency application not a barrier to intent to reside in Canada Business Visitors Business visitors hold the possibility of entering Canada sans LMIA, indulging in activities like business meetings, purchasing Canadian goods, providing after-sales services, getting trained by a Canadian parent company, or training fellow employees. To be eligible, the requirements are straightforward: A stay of fewer than six months. No intention to enter the Canadian labor market. Primary business operations, income, and profits outside Canada. Supporting documents and adherence to Canada's basic entry requirements. In conclusion, if you missed the boat on Canada's H-1B Open Work Permit, there's no need to fret. Also read | Man saves moose's life in Canada, gets fired from his job at petroleum company Helicopters and a boat evacuated 23 crew members from a car carrier ship off the Netherlands early Wednesday, after a fire killed at least one sailor, the Dutch coastguard said. "The blaze is still raging on board," the coastguard said, adding that the ship was listing. (File) Rescue personnel received a call shortly after midnight (2200 GMT Tuesday) saying a fire had started on the Fremantle Highway, a Panamanian-registered ship with some 3,000 vehicles on board, about 14.5 nautical miles (27 kilometres) off the northern Dutch island of Ameland. "All 23 crew members have now been evacuated off the ship," the Dutch coastguard said on its website. "The crew tried to put out the fire themselves, but failed. Unfortunately one person died and several others were injured," it added. The Fremantle Highway is an 18,500-tonne car carrier ship and was sailing between Bremerhaven in Germany and Port Said in Egypt, according to the marinetraffic.com website, when the blaze broke out. "The blaze is still raging on board," the coastguard said, adding that the ship was listing. Salvage vessels were on the scene trying to put out the blaze and prevent the ship from sinking, the NOS national broadcaster said. "We are taking into account all scenarios," a coastguard official told the NOS. The possible cause of the fire was an electric vehicle, one of some 25 on board, the official said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Commander, one of President Joe Bidens German shepherds, has been involved in at least 10 incidents of biting Secret Service agents, according to internal emails that a conservative watchdog group recently obtained. President Joe Biden's dog Commander, a German shepherd, is walked outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Saturday, April 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)(AP) The emails, which Judicial Watch, a Washington-based conservative group, got hold of, show that Commander, who is almost 2 years old, has had trouble adapting to his new surroundings at the White House, where he moved in 2021, and Delaware, where the Bidens have two homes. In early November 2022, for example, an officer who was bitten by Commander on the arm and thigh was sent to the hospital by the White House medical team, the emails reveal. A week later, Bidens German shepherd bit another agent on the left thigh while he was walking with Jill Biden, the first lady. That same month, an agent felt the need to lift up his chair and use it as a shield when Commander started barking at him from the top of a White House staircase, leaving him shaken, the emails say. ALSO READ| US governement set to hold historic UFO hearing, will hear multiple testimonies Six of the incidents were bites that required some medical attention, according to the emails, which span from October 2022 to January 2023. Other aggressive incidents in which Commander did not break skin or was more playful were downplayed by the agents. FILE - President Joe Biden's dog Commander looks out from the balcony during a pardoning ceremony for the national Thanksgiving turkeys at the White House in Washington, Nov. 21, 2022. Secret Service records show that President Joe Biden's dog Commander has bitten its officers stationed at the White House 10 times between October 2022 and January. At least one biting incident required a trip to the hospital for the injured officer. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)(AP) Commander is not the first of Mr. Bidens dogs to cause trouble. In March 2021, the Bidens sent two other dogs, Champ and Major, to Delaware for about two weeks of training after Major, a rescue dog, had a biting incident with a White House staff member. Champ died later that year. The Bidens are working with the Secret Service on additional leashing protocols and training to control Commander, according to Elizabeth Alexander, a White House spokeswoman. The White House complex is a unique and often stressful environment for family pets, and the first family is working through ways to make this situation better for everyone, Ms. Alexander said in a statement. Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Secret Service, said the agency does not train the first familys dogs. Executive residence staff take care of walking the dog, with agents sometimes following behind, he said. While special agents and officers neither care for nor handle the first familys pets, we continuously work with all applicable entities to minimize adverse impacts in an environment that includes pets, he said. It is not clear how much formal training Commander has had. ALSO READ| Hope Ranch residents not thrilled about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's possible move The White House has set up designated areas for the 2-year-old German shepherd to run and exercise. The dog was seen walking around the White House grounds and doing his business on Tuesday. According to the Secret Service, each incident referenced was treated similarly to comparable workplace injuries, with relevant notifications and reporting procedures followed, Ms. Alexander said. A Russian aircraft fired flares at the US drone over Syria and damaged its propeller, America's military said on Tuesday. Lieutenant General Alex Grynkewich, the head of US Air Forces Central, in a statement, revealed that on Sunday, the Russian fighter aircraft flew dangerously close to a US MQ-9 drone on a defeat-ISIS mission, harassing it and deploying flares from a position directly overhead, with only a few metres of separation between aircraft. A Russian aircraft fired flares at the US drone over Syria and damaged its propeller "One of the Russian flares struck the US MQ-9, severely damaging its propeller. Fortunately, the MQ-9 crew was able to maintain flight and safely recover the aircraft to its home base," the head of US Air Forces Central said. "The Russian fighters blatant disregard for flight safety detracts from our mission to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS. We call upon the Russian forces in Syria to put an immediate end to this reckless, unprovoked, and unprofessional behaviour, he added. The Sunday incident is the latest in a series of encounters between Russian fighter jets and US aircraft flying over Syria. A similar incident took place in March over the Black Sea, a Russian Su-27 fighter jet struck the same type of US drone, damaging its propellor and forcing it down in the water, reported CNN. Last week, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said US analysts are examining the potential reasons behind the uptick in aggressive Russian actions. Some of the incidents over Syria have lasted as long as two hours, US officials said, according to CNN. Earlier, on July 16, Russian military aircraft engaged a US aircraft in Syria in "an unsafe and unprofessional manner." Grynkewich, the head of US Air Forces Central, in a statement dated July 18, said, "A US MC-12 was conducting operations in support of the Coalitions Defeat ISIS mission was closely approached by a Russian Su-35 against established norms and protocols, forcing the MC-12 to fly through its wake turbulence." "This reduced the crews ability to safely operate the aircraft and put the four crewmembers lives at risk. These actions against a manned aircraft represent a new level of unsafe and unprofessional actions by Russian aircraft operating in Syria. We strongly urge Russian forces in Syria to cease reckless and threatening behaviour that could result in an accident and loss of life, and adhere to the standards of behaviour expected of a professional force, he added. Singapore is set to hang two drug convicts this week, including the first woman to be sent to the gallows in nearly 20 years, rights groups said Tuesday, while urging the executions be halted. The rights group said two prisoners are Singaporeans and their families have received notices setting the dates of their executions. (Representational image/Getty) Local rights organisation Transformative Justice Collective (TJC) said a 56-year-old man convicted of trafficking 50 grams (1.76 ounces) of heroin is scheduled to be hanged on Wednesday at the Southeast Asian city-state's Changi Prison. A 45-year-old woman convict who TJC identified as Saridewi Djamani is also set to be sent to the gallows on Friday. She was sentenced to death in 2018 for trafficking around 30 grams of heroin. If carried out, she would be the first woman to be executed in Singapore since 2004 when 36-year-old hairdresser Yen May Woen was hanged for drug trafficking, said TJC activist Kokila Annamalai. TJC said the two prisoners are Singaporeans and their families have received notices setting the dates of their executions. Prison officials have not answered emailed questions from AFP seeking confirmation. Singapore imposes the death penalty for certain crimes, including murder and some forms of kidnapping. It also has some of the world's toughest anti-drug laws: trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis and 15 grams of heroin can result in the death penalty. At least 13 people have been hanged so far since the government resumed executions following a two-year hiatus in place during the Covid-19 pandemic. Rights watchdog Amnesty International on Tuesday urged Singapore to halt the impending executions. "It is unconscionable that authorities in Singapore continue to cruelly pursue more executions in the name of drug control," Amnesty's death penalty expert Chiara Sangiorgio said in a statement. "There is no evidence that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect or that it has any impact on the use and availability of drugs. "As countries around the world do away with the death penalty and embrace drug policy reform, Singapore's authorities are doing neither," Sangiorgio added. Singapore insists that the death penalty is an effective crime deterrent. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Russian President Vladimir Putin recently hosted his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in St. Petersburg, nearly a month after the failed mutiny attempt by the Wagner Group that rocked Moscow. During a meeting, Lukashenko apprised Putin that he is finding it difficult to stop Wagner mercenaries from attacking the neighbouring Poland. Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko (L)(AFP) The Wagnerites are beginning to stretch us. I ask: Why do you need to go to the West? [They reply:] We want to go on an excursion to Warsaw, to Rzeszow, the Belarusian President was quoted as saying by English daily The Telegraph. Lukashenko also provided Putin a map depicting Poland's plan to attack Belarus. Earlier, the Polish military decided to move closer towards the Belarusian border in its east in the wake of possible threats due to the influx of the Wagner mercenary group. As we can see that, the ground is being prepared, Lukashenko said. Putin had earlier clarified that an attack on Belarus will be seen as an attack on Russia as well. Thousands of Wagner fighters entered in Belarus in what is seen as a biggest exodus since the failed armed mutiny in Russia last month. According to an activist group Belaruski Hajun, close to 3,650 soldiers travelled to the Belarusian town of Asipovichy. Wagner fighters who have really been in the heat of combat are passing on valuable information and experience to our servicemen, the Belarusian defence ministry said welcoming the mercenaries. Earlier, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko claimed that he broke a deal between the Wagner boss and Russian President Vladimir Putin which ended the armed mutiny inside Russia in late June. Lukashenko also invited the Wagner fighters to train the military of his country. In a recent video, Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin seen making what is considered to be his first public appearance allegedly in Belarus. "The decision has been taken to stay here in Belarus for a certain time and Wagner would use the time to make the Belarusian army the second army in the world," the person in the video said. Prince William might face a dilemma over funding Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, if they return to the Royal Family, a recent report has claimed. William reportedly receives 24 million a year from the Duchy of Cornwall. The surplus he currently has will diminish as he funds Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Prince William might face a dilemma over funding Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, if they return to the Royal Family (princeandprincessofwales/Instagram, Angela Weiss / AFP) The surplus, however, may simply disappear if Harry and Meghan returned to the Royal Family fold, as recent reports have been suggesting. William may have to fund Harry and Meghans duties, housing, as well as Archie and Lilibets schooling and other costs. This could put pressure on Williams finances. The answer would be the Duchy of Cornwall According to royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, Meghan and Harry could be funded by the Duchy of Cornwall if they were to rejoin the monarchy. "The answer would be the Duchy of Cornwall, Richard said, according to GB News. There may not be a problem in funding them as they need young blood as there are few working royals under 70. However, the idea that after everything that has happened that Meghan and Harry could just walk back in is beyond extraordinary." Harry had previously claimed that Charles told him he was "already having to pay" a lot for William and Kate already. "Pa didnt financially support Willy and me, and our families, out of any largesse. That was his job. That was the whole deal, Harry wrote in his autobiography. "Pa might have dreaded the rising cost of maintaining us, but what he really couldnt stomach was someone new dominating the monarchy, grabbing the limelight, someone shiny and new coming in and overshadowing him, he said regarding funding Meghan within the Royal Family. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's possible return to Royal Family would be a humiliation A royal commentator recently said it would be a "humiliation" for Meghan and Harry if they decide to return to the Royal Family. Back in 2020, the pair stepped down as working members of the family. They now live with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in California. Harry and Meghan have launched several attacks on the Royal Family publicly ever since they stepped down. They have made multiple negative remarks on TV interviews, as well as in Harrys autobiography, Spare. Recent reports have been suggesting that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are currently under tremendous financial pressure and are finding it hard to fund their lifestyle. Meghans Spotify podcast was recently snubbed, but their Netflix deal reportedly remains intact. It is believed Harry recently reached out to Prince William to discuss the possibility of returning to the UK. According to royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, making this U-turn would be a "humiliation" for the couple. Equinox Hotels, a revolutionary luxury hospitality brand, has been selected by Red Sea Global, the developer behind the world's most ambitious regenerative tourism destinations, to unveil Equinox Resort Amaala, an unparalleled luxury resort experience in Amaala along the Red Sea coast in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Set to open as part of the first phase of development at Triple Bay, the Equinox Resort Amaala will be located adjacent to the Triple Bay Marina Yacht Club and surrounded by pristine mountain ranges and crystal-clear waters. An integrated wellness haven being developed by Red Sea Global, this destination will evolve the concept of luxury travel, with an exceptional well-being offering inspired by the purity of the Red Sea. The year-round destination features a pristine landscape and diverse natural ecosystems, coupled with unbridled access to local culture and heritage. It incorporates wellness, art, adventure, sport, yachting, and lifestyle in line with the high-performance DNA of Equinox Hotels. Designed by Foster + Partners, Equinox Resort Amaala is focused on high-performance living including programming and amenities around movement, nutrition, and regeneration. The resort will include 128 luxurious guest rooms and suites, several world-class culinary concepts, a Beach Club, a highly acclaimed spa, a magnesium salt rooftop pool, and a signature Equinox Fitness Club. The result will be an unparalleled, experience-driven resort anchoring Triple Bay in Amaala as one of the world's most exclusive destinations. Sustainability will be at the center of Equinox Resort Amaala's design. The larger Amaala development has set goals to go beyond 'no harm' to have a regenerative impact on the environment, delivering a 30% net conservation benefit to local ecosystems by 2040. This will be achieved by enhancing biologically diverse habitats including mangroves, seagrass, corals, and land vegetation. The entire destination will be powered by 100% renewable energy and run with a zero-carbon footprint once fully operational. Hotel website On the 27th of July 2023, Mama Shelter will be launching their latest hotel in Dijon, the capital city of the historical Burgundy region in eastern France. HOTEL & AMENITIES Guests can head to the ground floor 202-seat restaurant to enjoy tasty, local cuisine such as charcoal grilled meats, signature cocktails, and classic Mama Dishes, as well as the Toile de Jouy-inspired decor. Guests can enjoy Mama's signature restaurant which opens onto two outdoor areas: the veranda terrace and the planted patio. Another highlight of the 120-room property is Mama Shelter's CineMama, the hotel's very own private 28-seat cinema where guests can hold private screenings or video conferences, as well as two karaoke bars, four meeting rooms and a petanque court. Available exclusively on property, Mama Shelter has created its own mustard in collaboration with Edmond Fallot, a family-run, independent company created in 1840. The Edmond Fallot house only uses seeds grown in the region and the traditional stone ground to preserve all their gustatory qualities. Guests can purchase the mustard to spice up their dishes, with a mix of flavours from Mama and Burgundy. LOCATION Dijon is surrounded by rolling countryside where the most famous vineyards in the world, Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Cote de Beaune, and more, rub shoulders with mustard fields and blackcurrant orchards, from which the famous Kir of the eponymous canon is made. Dijon, 1 hour 34 minutes by TGV from Paris and 1 hour 59 minutes from Lyon, has plenty to offer visitors and locals alike, including remarkable architecture, with the highlight being the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, the oldest part of which dates from the 14th century. Having been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, Dijon is the International City of Gastronomy and Wine due to its unique culinary traditions and the "climates" of the Burgundy vineyards. From exceptional vintage wines to small dishes, everything is a pretext for rejoicing and sharing. Serge Trigano, co-founder of Mama Shelter with his sons Jeremie and Benjamin, says: "For almost 15 years, Mama Shelter has worked to anticipate its enthusiasts' desires for discovery, encounters and happiness. Even more so after a pandemic that has turned the world upside down, shaken up our way of life, thinking and working, Mama has been ahead of society's evolution, understanding the desire to see elsewhere, by setting up in towns, in regions, renowned for their gentle way of life, their traditions, their better ways of living together. It is therefore only natural that the latest addition to the Mama Shelter family should come to life in Dijon, where we look forward to welcoming you." Cedric Gobilliard, Managing Director of Mama Shelter, says of Dijon, "I can't wait! This motto of Philippe le Hardi, Duke of Burgundy, reflects our impatience to open our latest Mama in Dijon. Mama and Dijon share the same values of warm hospitality, festivity, and enjoyment. Mama Dijon hijacks the strong symbols of this wine region with humour, impertinence and respect to reveal it to its French and foreign guests." DESIGN Mama Shelter, on rue du Maret, next to Saint-Benigne Cathedral and Jardin Darcy, is located in the former health insurance offices, a brutalist building from the 1960s, listed as a historic French building. "A large, luminous glass box, 6 minutes' walk from the station, in the heart of the city," explains Benjamin El Doghaili, lead architect of the Mama Shelter design studio, reflecting on his latest "playground" and adding, "the atmosphere of Dijon is uplifting, inspiring, light and playful." "My aim was to capture the Burgundian landscape and invite it into the walls of Mama. To be inspired by the undulating vineyards, the geometric patterns of the polychrome glazed roof tiles, known as "toits vernisses" - or "glazed roofs", which are the hallmark of this region. Tasting the wine, caressing the bottles to transcribe my emotions born of a terroir shaped by generations of craftsmen, growers, to humbly add my stone, that's how I thought of this Mama with the help of revered artists and craftsmen," says Benjamin El Doghaili. The property's black and white carpeting is designed by Lila Mercier, representing Burgundian vineyards, and the patterns and colours on the caning on the headboards represent the glazed roofs found in buildings around Dijon. "This Mama is a spoiled child, playful, adorned with warm colours, terra cotta, powder pink, and green. Each of its rooms and suites is distinguished, for the first time at Mama, by separate toilets, Tom Dixon basins, large showers and, in some cases, baths. Further details that affirm its personality include: a charming bench, a desk with a chessboard-shaped top that can be removed to play... even in bed. But above all, they are flooded with natural light, generous, magical, which ennobles every corner, gives relief and depth, even to the concrete." Playing with the existing structure and honouring its history, while respecting the rules of the French building code, was quite the exercise. "When you find yourself with a forest of concrete posts supporting the impressive structure, you rack your brains. " Like an alchemist transforming lead into gold, the architect has transformed each pillar in the lobby and restaurant into works of art, decorated with frescoes by Beniloys, and golden ceramics by Arnold du Bazar d'Alger, a graphic artist, all of which compliment the cut-out silkscreens by Atelier Bingo. In the restaurant, attention is also drawn to the floor by two symmetrical carpets by Laureline Galliot where jacks clash, a reference to the archaeological digs that took place during the construction. "We juggled again, on the one hand to avoid wandering around in a space that was too vast, we made the ceiling as dark as possible and put lights at eye level. Authentic grape harvest baskets were turned into light fittings and a monumental chandelier was hung with 136 pieces of enamelled ceramic reminiscent of traditional roofs, a unique object made by the Faiencerie de Charolles, a local company. In the lower part of the ceiling, a romantic score is played, with alcoves lined with Juliette Seban's toile de Jouy, inspired by the paintings of Jerome Bosch, gargantuan allegories." ABOUT DIJON Dijon is the capital city of the historical Burgundy region in eastern France, one of the country's principal wine-making areas. Known for its traditional mustard, vineyard tours, autumn gastronomic fair and building styles ranging from Gothic to art deco. The distinguished 1787 Musee des Beaux-Arts, housed in the vast Palace of the Dukes, holds a rich collection of paintings, sculptures, crafts, and antiquities. The city has retained varied architectural styles from many of the main periods of the past millennium, including Capetian, Gothic, and Renaissance and holds an International and Gastronomic Fair every Autumn with over 500 exhibitors and 200,000 visitors annually. Dijon is a green city with an important tertiary sector, as well as a regional economic centre, a traditional food-processing centre (Dijon creme de cassis and kir, gingerbread, Lanvin chocolate) and a renowned pharmaceutical sector. Hotel website As Director of Sales and Marketing at Thompson Palm Springs, Teo will drive top line sales for the hotel and its variety of rooms with a special emphasis on private events and bespoke gatherings in the 8,000-square-feet of meeting and event spaces, while also overseeing all marketing efforts for the hotel.Most recently, Teo was the Director of Sales & Marketing at Thompson Dallas, spearheading the destination's newest upscale mixed-use project. Prior to joining the Thompson family, Teo led sales and marketing for luxury hotel brands such as Waldorf Astoria, St. Regis, EDITION, The Ritz-Carlton, and InterContinental on the West Coast of the U.S., as well as across the Asia-Pacific. Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: VAC) (the "Company") today announced Jason Marino has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective September 30. He will succeed Anthony "Tony" Terry, who announced his intent to retire from the Company earlier this year. With nearly 10 years at the Company, Mr. Marino currently serves as Senior Vice President, Strategy, Financial Planning & Analysis and Operational Finance - Vacation Ownership, leading a global team responsible for enterprise-wide finance and business functions, including strategic planning, M&A, budgeting and forecasting, capital structure allocation and financing activities. He also leads the teams providing operational financial support for the vacation ownership segment, including sales and marketing, development and inventory and revenue management. In his new role, Mr. Marino will report directly to John Geller, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Marino joined the Company as Vice President, Corporate Finance in 2014, where he helped drive the creation and execution of the Company's capital efficient inventory strategy, as well as the Company's $4 billion acquisition of ILG in 2018, including subsequent integration and transformation programs. He also led the Company's acquisition of Welk Resorts in 2021 and has provided critical financial leadership in the Company's capital raising activities. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Marino served as Managing Director and head of business development and corporate finance at Cantor Commercial Real Estate, as well as Director of Real Estate Investment Banking at Credit Suisse Securities. While at Credit Suisse, he worked with public and private companies in the real estate, lodging and timeshare industries helping clients raise capital and drive strategic growth. Mr. Marino received a Masters of Business Administration from Cornell University, Johnson Graduate School of Management. Mia A. Mackman has more than 25 years of beauty, spa, and wellness industry experience. Ms. Mackman is the Managing Director of HVS Spa and Wellness Consulting, and Principal and owner of Mackman ES, a future-ready, wellness and spa consultancy. She specializes in spa and wellness consulting, concept development, strategic planning, market and feasibility studies, valuation narratives, data analysis and financial forecasting. Ms. Mackman works in partnership with HVS and provides spa-and-wellness services for HVSs global client network. Ms. Mackman, who is based in Sedona, Arizona, has extensive consulting experience and has been successfully forecasting emerging value propositions in the market since 2004. She works with global investors, hotel and resort developers, hospitality organizations and contributes as an industry expert to international business reports, global think-tanks, and world news organizations. She is recognized for her industry knowledge and her aptitude to navigate, adapt, and excel in a fast-changing market. She contributes as an industry expert to international magazines, national news organizations, business reports, and private club publications. She also participates in world academic studies, wellness tourism research, and consumer innovation projects. Ms. Mackman, who is also, Founder & President of the Arizona Spa & Wellness Association leads the discussions of HospitalityNets World Panel titled Wellness, Lifestyle as panel Champ and contributing expert. This panel examines how Wellness, Lifestyle and Spa contribute to hospitality value proposition growth and impact the leisure, tourism and business economy. The objective of the panel is to provide high-level, experienced, and diverse industry viewpoints on topics ranging from investment and development to industry trends, strategic planning and operational performance. Pandox AB acquires the Hilton Belfast from Starwood Capital Hotel investor and manager Pandox AB has acquired the four-star, 202-room Hilton Belfast in Northern Ireland, UK, from an affiliate of Starwood Capital Group for a reported 40 million (198,000 per room), including some CapEx investments. The hotel is located in central Belfast, about 200 metres from the central station. The asset is operated under a management agreement with Axiom Hospitality and is subject to a franchise from Hilton. The property underwent significant renovation during the pandemic, including all guest rooms and public areas. Pandox expect the hotel to produce a stabilised yield of around 10%. Starwood Capital acquired the Hilton Belfast in 2018 from Park Hotels and Resorts, as part of a 135 million portfolio of seven Hilton hotels in the UK. AEW acquires the Marriott Paris Charles de Gaulle from Commerz Real International asset manager AEW has acquired the four-star, 300-room Marriott Paris Charles de Gaulle, located at Roissy in the vicinity of the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in the French capital city, from German fund manager Commerz Real, for an undisclosed amount. The hotel, which includes a restaurant and bar as well as 16 conference facilities covering 2,500 sqm, is leased to Marriott on a fixed-term agreement with 13 years remaining. An ongoing renovation programme, set to be completed in the near future, has seen approximately 60% of guest rooms and conferencing space refurbished so far. Commerz Real acquired the property when it opened in 2002, initially as a Courtyard, in a sale-and-lease back agreement for its Hausinvest fund. It was rebranded and upgraded to a four-star Marriott in 2007. Louis Fitzgerald Group acquires the Imperial Hotel in Cork, Ireland, from The Flynn Group Louis Fitzgerald Group, one of the largest family-owned and operated hospitality groups in Ireland, has acquired the four-star, 131-room Imperial Hotel in Cork, the Republic of Irelands second largest city, for 25 million (191,000 per room), from Irish owned family business The Flynn Group. Commonly known as the Grande Dame, the 200-year old iconic hotel includes multiple F&B outlets, conference facilities and a spa, and has undergone extensive renovations over the years, most recently in 2018. Louis Fitzgerald Groups portfolio includes 19 hospitality properties, including pubs, hotels and restaurants. The Flynn Group had ownership of the hotel for 25 years. Art-Invest acquires the Nestor Hotel Neckarsulm in Germany Art-Invest has acquired the 84-room Nestor Hotel Neckarsulm in central Neckarsulm in southern Germany from a private seller, for an undisclosed price. The midscale hotel is within walking distance to the main station and the AUDI Forum Neckarsulm Car Factory, and was acquired for the buyer's core budget hotel fund. A significant repositioning and renovation programme is planned for the hotel, including adding an extra 14 rooms, as part of a long-term lease agreement with The Chocolate on the Pillow Group under its Nestor brand. Art-Invest is an investor in The Chocolate on the Pillow Group, a hotel operating company active in Germany with a multi-brand portfolio. La Francaise RE acquires the future Ruby Hotel Marseilles in France from BNP Paribas RE Investment manager La Francaise Real Estate Managers has acquired a mixed-use site in central Marseilles, France, including the future 237-room Ruby Hotel Marseilles, 945 sqm of co-working space and an already existing 251 sqm pharmacy, from BNP Paribas Real Estate Property Development. The hotel is situated just a 10-minute walk from the Old Port of Marseille. Planned by BNP Paribas, the hotel will offer services including a rooftop terrace and lounge bar, set to be delivered by the end of 2025, after which the hotel and co-working components will be operated by Ruby Hotels Group. Ruby currently has 16 properties in its portfolio and 20 more in the pipeline, with this property to be the groups first property in France. EXTENDAM and Banque des Territoires acquire the future TRIBE hotel in Montpellier, France EXTENDAM and Banque des Territoires, in partnership with Redman Hospitality, have acquired the future four-star, 120-room lifestyle TRIBE (an Ennismore Group / Accor brand) hotel development located in Montpellier, France, from French developers Icade and Promobi, for an undisclosed sum. The hotel is set to open in the first half of 2025 and will be managed by Redman Hospitality. The asset, in the heart of the Cambaceres district, will be part of a redevelopment plan for a business district, including innovation centres, offices, a higher education campus and retail outlets. Redman Hospitalitys portfolio currently includes three hotels in Bordeaux under management and a dozen projects in the pipeline throughout France. The group is active in the two to four-star urban hotel category. EXTENDAM and Annie Famose acquire the Radisson Blu Hotel, Biarritz in France from JMA EXTENDAM and family-owned Annie Famose Group have acquired the four-star, 150-room Radisson Blu Hotel in the city-centre of Biarritz, France, for an undisclosed amount, from JMA Hotellerie. The hotel includes two restaurants, rooftop swimming pool, nine meeting rooms and spa facilities, and will benefit from a major CapEx programme over the next few years in several stages to reposition the hotel. This transaction marks the first collaboration between the two partners. Annie Famose Group operates in ski gear rental and has 40 hospitality establishments across France in its portfolio. JMA Hotellerie acquired the property in 2014. Ataxia REIM acquires the LUnivers in Reims, France, from Quadral Promotion French investment manager Ataxia REIM has acquired, on behalf of its OPCI Altixia Valeur fund, the four-star, 42-room LUnivers hotel in the city of Reims, in Frances champagne district, from Quadral Promotion. The deal was part of a pre-completion sale that will see the sellers renovate and extend the hotel, converting it into a 91-room property to be operated by Quadrals HBS Holding under Ennismores / Accors TRIBE brand, on a 12-year fixed lease agreement. The renovation programme will see the hotels room capacity increase to 91 rooms, a restaurant, meeting facilities and a rooftop space, expected for completion in the second quarter of 2025. Elevate acquires the Coroana-Postavaru Hotel in Brasov, Romania, from Aro Palace Elevate Properties, a company owned by Brasov businessman Tudor Iliescu, has acquired the three-star, 76-room Coroana-Postavaru Hotel in Brasov, Romania, from Aro Palace, for a reported 9.4 million (126,000 per room). Aro Palace is owned by one of the largest investment funds in Romania, Transilvania Investments. The transaction allows the seller to re-focus its resources on its core assets, including the reopening of the newly rebuilt 181-room Capitol Hotel, also in Brasov, under Accors Mercure brand. Serviced apartment operator acquires the Jubilee Hotel in London An undisclosed serviced apartment operating group has acquired the two-star, 26-room Jubilee Hotel in Londons Eccleston Square, in Pimlico near London Victoria station, on a leasehold-basis, for an undisclosed price. The six-floor townhouse also includes a breakfast room. The purchaser, who owns several serviced apartments across London as well as in Turkey, intends to invest in a significant CapEx programme. The sellers had owned the hotel for more than 40 years. About HVS HVS is the world's leading consulting and valuation services organization focused on the hotel, restaurant, shared ownership, gaming, and leisure industries. Established in 1980, the company performs more than 4,500 assignments per year for virtually every major industry participant. HVS principals are regarded as the leading professionals in their respective regions of the globe. Through a worldwide network of over 50 offices staffed by 300 experienced industry professionals, HVS provides an unparalleled range of complementary services for the hospitality industry. For further information regarding our expertise and specifics about our services, please visit www.hvs.com. Jordans cultural legacy includes over 100,000 archeological sites, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and religious landmarks. It is also a leader in medical tourism. Prior to Covid-19, it welcomed 250,000 foreign patients, contributing to over USD 1 billion in revenues per year. Likewise, spa and wellness services have flourished on the shores of the Dead Sea. Tourism contribution The tourism sector plays a fundamental role in the countrys economy. The latest available data reports the industry rebounded from the pandemic-driven slowdown, accounting for 10-13 percent of Jordans 2022 GDP, bringing in USD 5.8 billion. As of Q1 2023, revenues had already recorded 88 percent growth versus the same last year. In terms of visitor arrivals, the country recorded 5.05 million tourists in 2022, which was twice the number of arrivals in 2021. This year appears to be promising, with 2.48 million visitors as of May 2023, recording a remarkable 69 percent growth compared to the same period in 2022 and surpassing pre-pandemic figures. The increase in visitation has reached exceptional levels, with forecasts that Petra alone will receive 1.6 million visitors by the end of the year. Moreover, Jordan is set to welcome an additional 10-15 percent of tourists compared to 2019. Jordans source markets demonstrate a similar pattern of growth. In Q1 2023, Arab countries emerged as the leading source with 509,000 visitors, representing a notable 62 percent increase. Jordanians residing abroad constituted the second-largest source, while European tourists showed significant growth with a 53 percent increase. Additionally, Asian, American, and African visitors collectively experienced a remarkable 213 percent growth. The overall increase in tourism has been attributed to the promotional international campaigns launched by the Jordan Tourism Board and the growing number of reforms aimed to rise foreign investment and improve ease of access and customer experience. Furthermore, the introduction of low-cost airlines, including Wizz Air and Ryan Air, has attracted a new customer base, tapping into non-traditional source markets. Hospitality recovery The rebound in tourism reflects Jordans hospitality. In 2022, figures indicated a market-wide occupancy of 53 percent in Ammans quality supply compared to 51 percent in 2019. Year-to-date data (June 2023) reports 55 percent occupancy, a 21 percent growth versus the same time last year. Likewise, quality average rates across Amman achieved USD 137 in 2022, 7 percent higher than pre-Covid levels, and have grown 4 percent year-to-year in 2023. Petra, the Dead Sea, and the countrys hospitality industry show growth, reaching 65 percent occupancy, and 61 percent reservation rates and setting extraordinary 2023 trends. Moving forward The outlook for Jordan is bright, not only due to the countrys culture, history, and scenery but also due to the value and support that the country has given its tourism proposition, which is the true catalyst for diversification, improvement, and growth. In April 2023, the government launched the third phase of the National Tourism Strategy 2021-2025, aimed at strengthening the sectors contribution to economic growth and job creation. The protection of Jordans historic and cultural sites, the upgrade of public and accessible infrastructure, and the growth in number of efficiencies, human development, and investments are all expected to increase the countrys competitiveness. Jordan can diversify its tourism offerings by reinvigorating experiences and hospitality choices. By strengthening niche segments, like medical tourism, outdoor adventure and wellness travel, expanding the national events calendar, promoting sustainable practices and staying updated on consumer preferences, Jordan can provide year-round seasonality and differentiate itself from other destinations. hospitalitynewsmag.com retains the copyrights of this article. The article cannot be republished without prior written consent by hospitalitynewsmag.com View the Article on https://www.hospitalitynewsmag.com/jordan-report/. HVS Dubai has been featured in the prestigious Hospitality News Middle East magazine, leader in its field. This prominent publication has highlighted our expert opinion on the matter of sporting events in the GCC. Hospitality News Middle East is the go-to source for the latest news, developments and trends in the regions hospitality and foodservice industries. www.hospitalitynewsmag.com, features essential market insights, analysis and guidance from experts in the field, in addition to special reports on the latest concepts and interviews with top international names in the sector. Widely regarded as a must read, the magazine has built a solid reputation as a reference for hospitality professionals in the Middle East and beyond. Daily news bulletins can be found online. View source Riu Plaza London Victoria Hotel The new hotel, the chain's first in the UK, is located opposite Victoria Station and close to landmarks, such as Buckingham Palace and Big Ben RIU Hotels & Resorts continues to expand its line of city hotels with the opening, this Friday 28th July, of its first establishment in the United Kingdom: the Riu Plaza London Victoria. The new four-star establishment with 435 rooms is located in central London in the heart of Westminster, which is known the world over as the home of Britain's political institutions, as well as other emblematic sites such as Buckingham Palace and Big Ben. All Riu Plaza hotels have an outstanding location in the nerve centres of some of the world's major cities, such as London, which is the most visited city in Europe and a popular destination for holiday, corporate and business tourism. The new Riu Plaza hotel is located just a few metres from Victoria Station, one of the busiest transport hubs in the country that is visited by around 75 million passengers each year and is just 30 minutes from Gatwick Airport thanks to the direct Gatwick Express service. Located at 1 Neathouse Place, the hotel is an ideal base for exploring the city as it is surrounded by the UK capital's most important sights and is close to strategic transport links. The Riu Plaza London Victoria has a contemporary minimalist design and the structure is divided into two parts: the podium and the tower. One of the most eye-catching features of the podium is the circular glass tower that houses the reception area, which is also known by the project's creators as the "drum" and offers a warm welcome to all guests. When they arrive, customers will find themselves in a lobby with a conical dome that is flooded by natural light from above, with a spectacular hanging sculpture of organic shapes, full of colour and movement. These features create a welcoming and elegant space. The design, which was conceived with a focus on privacy, pays special attention to the communal areas. The furniture was chosen to create small private areas all within the same space. The lobby bar offers a change of scene with a livelier atmosphere, switching calm and elegance for energy and colour. The hotel rooms are modern and comfortable. They are decorated with contemporary wallpaper and watercolour paintings that give them a more artistic feel. Many of the modern superior suites and rooms overlook the city centre, but the most spacious rooms are located on floor -1, a common feature in UK hotels to maximise space. As for food options, in addition to the aforementioned lobby bar, the hotel has a restaurant where guests can enjoy a full buffet breakfast in the morning, which is included in the room rate, and a la carte dinners in the evening. Guest can also use the fully equipped 24-hour fitness centre. The twelve-storey building was originally built in the 1960s and was completely renovated in the 1990s. It has a fantastic design and quality finishes, so the most characteristic features have been maintained during the refurbishment. The interior has been completely transformed to prioritise design and comfort, as well as the latest developments in energy efficiency. Hampton Inn Warrenton HVS Brokerage & Advisory announced the sale of the 104-key Hampton Inn Warrenton, located at 501 Blackwell Road, Warrenton, Virginia 20186. The property, built in 2008, was purchased by Guests, Inc., based in Strasburg, Virginia, from Highlands of Warrenton LLC, based in Warrenton, Virginia. J.F. (Jay) Swart, III, Co-Managing Member of Highlands of Warrenton LLC, commented, Our partnership group wanted to divest our only hotel asset and had an existing offer from a local group. Upon selecting HVS to list the property, the same buyer responded with a preemptive offer that was over 15% higher than their original offer. With the help of HVS, we closed this deal at a higher sale price in advance of going to market. We appreciate their transparent and thorough transaction process. The property benefits from its proximity to Washington, D.C., which has a worldwide reputation as a cosmopolitan city rich in museums, monuments, and culture. Its collection of corporate, government, and educational institutions supports an economy that is resilient to major downturns on a national level. The property is considered a premier lodging product for those visiting Warrenton and is currently ranked #1 of six hotels in the city, per TripAdvisor. This was another successful transaction that demonstrates HVSs global hospitality expertise. The HVS Washington, D.C. office has a strong relationship with Highlands of Warrenton LLC. With only one hotel in the companys significant real estate portfolio, they were not familiar with the nuances of the hospitality sales process, particularly in todays real estate market. We supported them throughout the process. Guests Inc. is a local group that finalized the deal with strong terms in advance of going to market. Their preemptive offer provided certainty of closing, which is of the utmost importance in getting deals done today, said Eric Guerrero, Senior Managing Director, Partner of HVS Brokerage & Advisory. HVS Brokerage & Advisory team members Eric Guerrero, James Rebullida, Fadi Rawashdeh, and Kyle Peterek participated in this transaction. Regent Jeddah Hotel to Open Mid 2024 IHG Hotels & Resort has signed a management agreement with Almuhaysin Group to open the first Regent Hotel in the Middle East, in Saudi Arabia. Set to open by mid-2024 in one of the most prestigious waterfront locations in Jeddah, Regent Jeddah will provide uninterrupted views of the Corniche and Jeddahs Formula 1 racetrack. The new Regent Jeddah will join existing Regent properties in glamourous destinations such as Bali, Santa Monica and Hong Kong. The signing follows the opening of the iconic Carlton Cannes, A Regent Hotel, which is known to be the epitome of elegance and the Grande Dame of Cannes hotel scene. The debut of Regent in Saudi Arabia is aligned with the countrys Vision 2030 and will offer trailblazing luxury experiences to a growing number of travellers visiting the Kingdom. Located on the beautiful Jeddah Corniche facing the Formula 1 racetrack and featuring close to 182 rooms facing the Red Sea, Regent Jeddah will provide a fresh new perspective of beachfront splendor offering guests an ultra-luxury hotel experience via a collection of spaces reflecting taste and luxuries across 29 stories. Additionally, with its five spacious penthouses and an unparalleled level of luxury and sophistication, the new hotel will attract corporate executives and Saudi guests seeking extraordinary hospitality. The hotel will feature 1,500 sqm spa by Raison dEtre, who are also known for their work with Six Senses Spa, a 200 sqm health club and an indoor and outdoor pools, in addition to an array of exceptional epicurean experiences, including three concept eateries and lounge. Advertisement Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, IHG Hotels & Resorts India, Middle East and Africa, said, Saudi Arabia is a priority market for IHG in the Middle East and the continual expansion of our global portfolio in the Kingdom demonstrates our commitment to Vision 2030. The opening of Regent Jeddah next year in collaboration with our esteemed partner, Almuhaysin Group will bring a new era of luxury hospitality to the Kingdom for domestic and international guests, as well as business travelers who seek luxurious experiences during their stay. He added: We are proud to introduce the iconic Regent brand that enjoys a global reputation for crafting the most refined luxury experiences for modern trendsetters. With its prime location and extraordinary facilities, Regent Jeddah is poised to become a landmark destination in the region." IHG currently operates 39 hotels across five brands in Saudi Arabia, including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites and voco, with an additional 30 hotels set to open within the next three to five years. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has emphasized the need to strengthen all-around military governance and expand the achievements in national defense and military reform in order to promote high-quality development of the armed forces. Xi made the remarks on Monday while presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. The study session was convened ahead of China's Army Day, which falls on Aug 1. The day was designated to commemorate the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Strengthening military governance across the board is a strategic requirement for accelerating modernization of national defense and the armed forces, and is also part of the nation's efforts to modernize its system and capacity for governance, he said. Xi called for a full understanding of the significance of comprehensively strengthening military governance, highlighting the need to promote the development of a strong military with enhanced military governance. His remarks came as the Chinese military is at a crucial juncture of building itself into world-class armed forces amid rapid advances in global sci-tech revolutions and profound changes in military affairs. The CPC has set out the goal of achieving basic modernization of national defense and the armed forces by 2035. To this end, the 20th CPC National Congress, held in October, made it clear that the nation will strive to improve the structure and composition of the armed forces and refine the framework of military policies and institutions. During Monday's group study session, Xi noted that strengthening all-around military governance concerns all aspects of national defense and military development. Efforts should be made to enhance the top-level design and strategic planning of military governance, and improve overall coordination, he said. Xi underscored the need to strengthen management and supervision over military expenditure and intensify governance in key fields. Efforts should be made to integrate military governance with reform and the rule of law, strengthen legislation in military affairs and step up the implementation of rules and regulations, he said. He urged high-level military agencies and officers to take the lead in having a more open-minded approach, innovating their work style and enhancing the capabilities of systemic governance and rule-of-law governance. Xi also emphasized the need to better coordinate strategies and plans, align policies and systems, and share resources and production factors between the military and civilian sectors, in order to consolidate and enhance integrated national strategies and strategic capabilities. 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. Our story begins with a small, relatively unknown company that has grown into one of the most successful agriculture publishers of today. In 1949 The Dodge City Journal was given a new identity when it was designated a farm publication rather than a community weekly. The historic publication was renamed High Plains Journal, and it grew from a need of local and regional agriculture news on a more frequent basis. As the popularity of High Plains Journal grew, farmers and ranchers outside of Kansas expressed interest in the regional publicationand the expansion began. In 1990, High Plains Journal had subscribers from North Dakota to Texas and included Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Western Missouri. 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For example, Our marketing and market research activities may uncover data and insights, which we may combine with information about how visitors use our site to improve our site and your experience on it. Security of Your Personal Information When we collect and process personal information, and while we retain this information, we will protect it within commercially acceptable means to prevent loss and theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use, or modification. Although we will do our best to protect the personal information you provide to us, we advise that no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure, and no one can guarantee absolute data security. You are responsible for selecting any password and its overall security strength, ensuring the security of your own information within the bounds of our services. For example, ensuring any passwords associated with accessing your personal information and accounts are secure and confidential. How Long We Keep Your Personal Information We keep your personal information only for as long as we need to. This time period may depend on what we are using your information for, in accordance with this privacy policy. For example, if you have provided us with personal information as part of creating an account with us, we may retain this information for the duration your account exists on our system. If your personal information is no longer required for this purpose, we will delete it or make it anonymous by removing all details that identify you. However, if necessary, we may retain your personal information for our compliance with a legal, accounting, or reporting obligation or for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific, or historical research purposes or statistical purposes. Childrens Privacy We do not aim any of our products or services directly at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information about children under 13. Disclosure of Personal Information to Third Parties We may disclose personal information to: a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of our company third-party service providers for the purpose of enabling them to provide their services, including (without limitation) IT service providers, data storage, hosting and server providers, ad networks, analytics, error loggers, debt collectors, maintenance or problem-solving providers, marketing or advertising providers, professional advisors, and payment systems operators our employees, contractors, and/or related entities our existing or potential agents or business partners credit reporting agencies, courts, tribunals, and regulatory authorities, in the event you fail to pay for goods or services we have provided to you courts, tribunals, regulatory authorities, and law enforcement officers, as required by law, in connection with any actual or prospective legal proceedings, or in order to establish, exercise, or defend our legal rights third parties, including agents or sub-contractors, who assist us in providing information, products, services, or direct marketing to you third parties to collect and process data an entity that buys, or to which we transfer all or substantially all of our assets and business Third parties we currently use include: Google Analytics SendGrid Google Adsense AD NETWORK Your Rights and Controlling Your Personal Information Your choice: By providing personal information to us, you understand we will collect, hold, use, and disclose your personal information in accordance with this privacy policy. 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Please refer to our Cookie Policy for more information. Business Transfers If we or our assets are acquired, or in the unlikely event that we go out of business or enter bankruptcy, we would include data, including your personal information, among the assets transferred to any parties who acquire us. You acknowledge that such transfers may occur, and that any parties who acquire us may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, continue to use your personal information according to this policy, which they will be required to assume as it is the basis for any ownership or use rights we have over such information. Limits of Our Policy Our website may link to external sites that are not operated by us. Please be aware that we have no control over the content and policies of those sites, and cannot accept responsibility or liability for their respective privacy practices. Changes to This Policy At our discretion, we may change our privacy policy to reflect updates to our business processes, current acceptable practices, or legislative or regulatory changes. If we decide to change this privacy policy, we will post the changes here at the same link by which you are accessing this privacy policy. If the changes are significant, or if required by applicable law, we will contact you (based on your selected preferences for communications from us) and all our registered users with the new details and links to the updated or changed policy. If required by law, we will get your permission or give you the opportunity to opt in to or opt out of, as applicable, any new uses of your personal information. Additional Disclosures for General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Compliance (EU) Data Controller / Data Processor The GDPR distinguishes between organisations that process personal information for their own purposes (known as data controllers) and organizations that process personal information on behalf of other organizations (known as data processors). We, High Plains Journal, located at the address provided in our Contact Us section, are a Data Controller with respect to the personal information you provide to us. Legal Bases for Processing Your Personal Information We will only collect and use your personal information when we have a legal right to do so. In which case, we will collect and use your personal information lawfully, fairly, and in a transparent manner. If we seek your consent to process your personal information, and you are under 16 years of age, we will seek your parent or legal guardians consent to process your personal information for that specific purpose. 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For example, if you contact us with an enquiry, we may require personal information such as your name and contact details in order to respond. Our Legitimate Interests Where we assess it is necessary for our legitimate interests, such as for us to provide, operate, improve and communicate our services. We consider our legitimate interests to include research and development, understanding our audience, marketing and promoting our services, measures taken to operate our services efficiently, marketing analysis, and measures taken to protect our legal rights and interests. Compliance with Law In some cases, we may have a legal obligation to use or keep your personal information. Such cases may include (but are not limited to) court orders, criminal investigations, government requests, and regulatory obligations. 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Your Rights and Controlling Your Personal Information Restrict: You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal information if (i) you are concerned about the accuracy of your personal information; (ii) you believe your personal information has been unlawfully processed; (iii) you need us to maintain the personal information solely for the purpose of a legal claim; or (iv) we are in the process of considering your objection in relation to processing on the basis of legitimate interests. Objecting to processing: You have the right to object to processing of your personal information that is based on our legitimate interests or public interest. If this is done, we must provide compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which overrides your interests, rights, and freedoms, in order to proceed with the processing of your personal information. Data portability: You may have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you. Where possible, we will provide this information in CSV format or other easily readable machine format. You may also have the right to request that we transfer this personal information to a third party. Deletion: You may have a right to request that we delete the personal information we hold about you at any time, and we will take reasonable steps to delete your personal information from our current records. If you ask us to delete your personal information, we will let you know how the deletion affects your use of our website or products and services. There may be exceptions to this right for specific legal reasons which, if applicable, we will set out for you in response to your request. If you terminate or delete your account, we will delete your personal information within 15 days of the deletion of your account. Please be aware that search engines and similar third parties may still retain copies of your personal information that has been made public at least once, like certain profile information and public comments, even after you have deleted the information from our services or deactivated your account. Additional Disclosures for California Compliance (US) Under California Civil Code Section 1798.83, if you live in California and your business relationship with us is mainly for personal, family, or household purposes, you may ask us about the information we release to other organizations for their marketing purposes. To make such a request, please contact us using the details provided in this privacy policy with Request for California privacy information in the subject line. You may make this type of request once every calendar year. We will email you a list of categories of personal information we revealed to other organisations for their marketing purposes in the last calendar year, along with their names and addresses. Not all personal information shared in this way is covered by Section 1798.83 of the California Civil Code. Do Not Track Some browsers have a Do Not Track feature that lets you tell websites that you do not want to have your online activities tracked. At this time, we do not respond to browser Do Not Track signals. We adhere to the standards outlined in this privacy policy, ensuring we collect and process personal information lawfully, fairly, transparently, and with legitimate, legal reasons for doing so. Cookies and Pixels At all times, you may decline cookies from our site if your browser permits. Most browsers allow you to activate settings on your browser to refuse the setting of all or some cookies. Accordingly, your ability to limit cookies is based only on your browsers capabilities. Please refer to the Cookies section of this privacy policy for more information. CCPA-permitted financial incentives In accordance with your right to non-discrimination, we may offer you certain financial incentives permitted by the CCPA that can result in different prices, rates, or quality levels for the goods or services we provide. Any CCPA-permitted financial incentive we offer will reasonably relate to the value of your personal information, and we will provide written terms that describe clearly the nature of such an offer. Participation in a financial incentive program requires your prior opt-in consent, which you may revoke at any time. California Notice of Collection In the past 12 months, we have collected the following categories of personal information enumerated in the California Consumer Privacy Act: Customer records, such as billing and shipping address, and credit or debit card data. Commercial information, such as products or services history and purchases. Internet activity, such as your interactions with our service. Geolocation data. Inferences, such as information about your interests, preferences and favorites. For more information on information we collect, including the sources we receive information from, review the Information We Collect section. We collect and use these categories of personal information for the business purposes described in the Collection and Use of Information section, including to provide and manage our Service. Right to Know and Delete If you are a California resident, you have rights to delete your personal information we collected and know certain information about our data practices in the preceding 12 months. In particular, you have the right to request the following from us: The categories of personal information we have collected about you; The categories of sources from which the personal information was collected; The categories of personal information about you we disclosed for a business purpose or sold; The categories of third parties to whom the personal information was disclosed for a business purpose or sold; The business or commercial purpose for collecting or selling the personal information; and The specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided in this privacy policy. Shine the Light If you are a California resident, in addition to the rights discussed above, you have the right to request information from us regarding the manner in which we share certain personal information as defined by Californias Shine the Light with third parties and affiliates for their own direct marketing purposes. To receive this information, send us a request using the contact details provided in this privacy policy. Requests must include California Privacy Rights Request in the first line of the description and include your name, street address, city, state, and ZIP code. Contact Us For any questions or concerns regarding your privacy, you may contact us using the following details: Privacy Administrator webmaster@hpj.com 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. Artist Edward Pelkey with his paintings that were stolen earlier this year. Both paintings turned up at a tag sale on Elm Street on Sunday. Pelkey said the tag sale operator offered to sell them to him for $100. Pittsfield Artist's Stolen Paintings Found After Six Months PITTSFIELD, Mass. Someone stole two paintings by local artist Edward Pelkey this past January. On Sunday, they turned up at a tag sale on Elm Street. For Pelkey, it was a surreal experience. He was having a regular Sunday when he was alerted of their location by an acquaintance. "Half an hour later, I was home with my paintings," he said. "It's strange how life works, both the theft and the return." But this hasn't ended the six-month mystery of the artworks' whereabouts. Back in January, the Pittsfield-based artist's works titled "The New Gunfighter in Town" and "The Cubist Bounty Hunter" were reported stolen from the Tartell Gallery in the rear of Methuselah Bar and Lounge on North Street. Surveillance footage showed a man entering through an abutting, vacant storefront that shares a bathroom with the bar and gallery, turning on the lights, taking the artwork, and turning off the lights before exiting. Due to the image quality, details of the man's features could not be made out but he was said to be familiar with the space due to the fast nature of the theft and had keys from the neighboring space. The images were shared with the public and the Police Department turned the investigation over to its detective. At the time, a $1,000 reward was being offered for the paintings' return. On Sunday, a friend of Pelkey's wife was walking past the convenience store at the corner of Elm and Newell Streets and noticed the oil paintings in a tag sale there. The police were alerted and Pelkey was there in about 10 minutes. "It's just kind of crazy pulling into this spot and seeing my paintings for sale," he said. At the time, nobody was monitoring items and Pelkey placed his paintings in the back of his car while he waited for someone to come outside. When the man putting on the tag sale came outside there was some back and forth, with him asking what Pelkey was doing and Pelkey reporting that the paintings were stolen property. When asked what the future will look like for the paintings, he said he is just enjoying having them back for now. "I'm kind of just like enjoying seeing them again," he said, reporting that he may put one back up in the Tartell Gallery to replace one that was sold but he has not decided yet. Ukrainian Rhapsody at Ventfort Hall LENOX, Mass. Prima Music Foundation presents the piano duo Anna and Dmitri Shelest and tenor Alexander Dedik at Ventfort Hall on Thursday, August 3 at 4 pm. There will be light hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar offering beer, wine and our new signature cultural cocktail, the Ventfort Vesper, in collaboration with Berkshire Mountain Distillers. The bar will open a half hour prior to the concert. The program will include works for piano duo and art songs by composers from the Gilded Age including works by Gerswhin, Barber, Spross, Respigi, Friml, Lysenko and Skoryk. Tickets are $45 general admission and $40 for Berkshire county residents. Reservations are strongly recommended as seating is limited. Walk-ins accommodated as space allows. For reservations visit https://gildedage.org/events/ or call (413) 637-3206. Note that all tickets are nonrefundable and non-exchangeable. The historical mansion is located at 104 Walker Street in Lenox. According to a press release: Praised for their "stirring performances of rare repertory," Shelest Piano Duo is a husband-and-wife team who take their roots to the music school in Ukraine. The Duo, who met as classmates in middle school, began performing together after their marriage in the U.S. Their inventive programs brought them to a broad array of venues from concert stages to state functions, and, in words of Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, "realized diplomacy through music." Born in Ukraine, Anna Shelest received her early music education at Kharkiv Special Music School. After receiving her Bachelor of Music degree at Northern Kentucky University, she graduated from The Juilliard School with a master's degree. Dmitri Shelest started studying piano at the age of six in Ukraine and soon enrolled into the Kharkiv Special Music School, succeeding at his first contest when he was 11 years old. It was also piano that brought him across to the U.S. after he was offered a full scholarship to Northern Kentucky University as a bachelor's degree candidate in piano performance. They make their home in New York City with their two sons. After becoming a prize-winner at both Tchaikovsky's and Glinka's International Competitions in 1970, Alexander Dedik was invited to be a leading dramatic tenor at the internationally famous opera house Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Alexander has had bestowed upon him and been given the honored and highest awards for artistic and musical achievement, namely the People's Artist of Russia in 1983 (awarded by then President Mikhail Gorbachev), the People's Artist of Belorussia in 1979, and the Honored Artist of Poland in 1978. Alexander has been a performing duo with his wife Tatiana Dedik who was accompanying him when he won a prize at the Tchaikovsky and Glinka Competitions. They have performed concerts together in over 20 countries throughout Europe, Israel, China, Peru and Scandinavia. Alexander is a Professor of Voice at the Rimsky-Korsakov College at The Saint Petersburg Conservatory. Tech One Global Philippines has won the 2023 Microsoft Philippines Country Partner of the Year Award. The company was honored among a global field of top Microsoft partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementing customer solutions based on Microsoft technology. (L-R) Lushan Pathirakkody - General Manager, Tech One Global Maldives; Lars Jeppesen - CEO, Tech One Global Group; Nicole Dezen - Chief Partner Officer and Corporate Vice President Global Partner Solutions, Microsoft; Lahiru Munindradasa - Managing Director, Tech One Global Philippines Lahiru Munindradasa, Managing Director of Tech One Global Philippines, has this to say about their big win, As a Microsoft partner, Tech One Philippines has been steadfast in empowering customers to realize their digital imperatives, leading to our recognition as Country Partner of the Year. Our approach, marked by technical intensity and customer centricity, has driven exponential growth as a direct Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) over the years. Our deep technical acumen is highlighted by our six advanced specializations for Modern Work, Security, Azure Infrastructure, and Digital App Innovation. These milestones reflect our dedication to continuous innovation and aligning with our customers' needs on their unique digital journeys. I extend my deepest gratitude to our exceptional team, whose unwavering dedication and relentless efforts over the past three years have been essential in reaching this milestone. Furthermore, we express our utmost appreciation to our valued customers who have trusted us with their digital transformation and to the Microsoft team for their unyielding support and partnership. Together, we are turning visions into vibrant realities and driving the digital revolution forward. The Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards recognizes Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered outstanding Microsoft-based applications, services, and devices during the past year. Awards were classified into various categories, with honorees chosen from a set of more than 4,200 submitted nominations from more than 100 countries worldwide. Tech One Global Philippines was recognized for providing outstanding solutions and services in the Philippines. Congratulations to the winners and finalists of the 2023 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards! said Nicole Dezen, Chief Partner Officer and Corporate Vice President of Global Partner Solutions at Microsoft. The innovative new solutions and services that positively impact customers and enable digital transformation from this year's winners demonstrate the best of whats possible with the Microsoft Cloud. The 2023 Microsoft Philippines Country Partner of the Year award further solidifies Tech One Global Philippines' position as a trusted leader in the technology industry. The company remains committed to delivering exceptional services, expanding its capabilities, and maintaining its position at the forefront of the industry. To top it all off, Tech One Global Philippines has also been awarded as one of the Philippines Best Workplaces 2023 sending out a clear message that it is truly one of the best. The Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards are announced annually prior to the companys global partner conference, Microsoft Inspire, which will take place on July 18-19 this year. Additional details on the 2023 awards are available on the Microsoft Partner blog: https://aka.ms/POTYA2023_announcement. The complete list of categories, winners, and finalists can be found at https://partner.microsoft.com/en-US/inspire/awards/winners. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Barbie director Greta Gerwig has responded to the backlash the film has faced from right-wing commentators. The movie, which stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as living versions of the popular Mattel dolls Barbie and Ken, was released in cinemas last Friday (21 July). While the film has been positively received by critics, a number of conservative pundits, including Piers Morgan and Ben Shapiro, have voiced objection to the films feminist messaging. Gerwig, whose previous films include Lady Bird and the 2019 adaptation of Little Women, was asked about the right-wing backlash in a new interview with The New York Times. Certainly, theres a lot of passion, Gerwig, 39, responded. My hope for the movie is that its an invitation for everybody to be part of the party and let go of the things that arent necessarily serving us as either women or men. I hope that in all of that passion, if they see it or engage with it, it can give them some of the relief that it gave other people, she added. Shapiro, 39, shared a video in which he launched into a 43-minute-long rant about the supposedly woke film. The clip was met with derisive reactions from fans of the film. Morgan, meanwhile, was ridiculed after he wrote an op-ed claiming that he would be executed if he made his own version of the film with the gender dynamics reversed. If I made a movie mocking women as useless dunderheads, constantly attacking the matriarchy, and depicting all things feminist as toxic bulls***, I wouldnt just be cancelled, Id be executed, the former Good Morning Britain presenter claimed. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 6.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 6.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie in Greta Gerwigs Barbie' (Warner Bros) In a five-star review of Barbie, The Independents Clarisse Loughrey wrote: Barbie is one of the most inventive, immaculately crafted and surprising mainstream films in recent memory a testament to what can be achieved within even the deepest bowels of capitalism. Its timely, too, arriving a week after the creative forces behind these stories began striking for their right to a living wage and the ability to work without the threat of being replaced by an AI. Its a pink-splattered manifesto to the power of irreplaceable creative labour and imagination. As well as Robbie and Gosling, the film also stars Simu Liu, Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon and Issa Rae. Barbie is out in cinemas now. 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 }} Official delegations from Russia and China are set to attend North Koreas 70th anniversary celebrations of armistice that halted the 1950-53 Korean War, in a display of diplomatic bonhomie with the Kim Jong-un regime. Russias delegation, led by defence minister Sergei Shoigu, arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday evening and was greeted by senior North Korean officials that included defence minister Kang Sun Nam, reported the Norths state media on Wednesday. A statement released by Russias defence ministry said Mr Shoigu held a meeting with Mr Kang for talks he said would help strengthen cooperation between our defence departments. Visuals from the meetings showed the leaders, including Mr Shoigu, laying wreaths at a Soviet war monument in Pyongyang and saluting the citys statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, the grandfather and father, respectively, of current North Korean leader Mr Kim. Chinas ruling Communist Party also dispatched a midlevel official, Li Hongzhong, in hopes of restoring exchanges at a time when the West has firmly opposed both China and North Korea. This also marks the hermit kingdoms first display of opening up its borders for diplomatic exchanges after years of isolation exacerbated by the pandemic. High-level preparations are underway in capital Pyongyang where the anniversary celebrations of armistice are expected on Thursday and will likely be capped off by a military parade in the capital. North Korean leader Mr Kim uses parades every year to showcase his most powerful, nuclear-capable missiles designed to target neighbouring rival South Korea and the US. This is the only second known time where a visit by a foreign delegation has been seen in North Korea since the start of the pandemic. Reports had earlier stated that the east Asian nations people had greatly suffered under the regime that had downplayed a severe Covid outbreak. In March earlier this year, North Korea saw the arrival of Chinas ambassador to Pyongyang, Wang Yajun, according to South Koreas Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs. State media reports said Mr Kim and his top defence and foreign policy officials visited two cemeteries, including one for Chinese troops who died while fighting alongside North Korea during the war in the 1950s. The siege was launched by North Korea in an unsuccessful attempt to conquer its southern rival and did not see any peace treaty to end the conflict. As a result, the border between the Koreas remains one of the most tense in the world. The battle saw forces from the newly created Peoples Republic of China, aided by the then Soviet air force, while South Korea, the US and troops from various countries under the direction of the UN battled to repel the Norths invasion. The North still celebrates the armistice as a victory in the Grand Fatherland Liberation War. At the cemeteries, Mr Kim expressed gratitude for Chinese soldiers who died in the war, calling them martyrs who would be immortal in the hearts of the Korean people. Experts have warned that North Korea might ramp up its weapons tests around the anniversary of the armistice on Thursday. The country has already conducted three separate rounds of missile firings since last week in protest of the US sending naval vessels including a nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea in a show of force. Since the beginning of last year, North Korea has test fired around 100 missiles. Mr Kim exploited the distraction created by Russias war on Ukraine to accelerate the expansion of nuclear-capable weapons he sees as his strongest guarantee of survival. 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 Japanese man who suffered from psychological distress after his manager at work disclosed his sexual orientation without his permission has now been deemed eligible for compensation. The man filed a claim for workers compensation in April last year and a labour office in Tokyos Ikebukuro district accepted his appeal, reported the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. According to the labour office, the act of disclosing the workers sexual orientation has been termed as an abuse of power that has caused the complainant psychological distress. This is likely the first such case in Japan where authorities will grant compensation to an employee who was, without his consent, outed at a workplace, said non-profit organisation Posse which deals with labour concerns. It is not immediately clear what type of compensation the complainant, who is in his 20s, will receive. He said the personal detail about his sexual orientation was first brought to his seniors notice when he started working in an insurance company in 2019. The man had requested to list his partner as his emergency contact person. He had foretold his senior that any disclosure about his sexual orientation would only be made by him as and when it was necessary. But the senior worker passed on the information concerning his sexual preference to another colleague without his consent. During a drinking session, the boss allegedly told the complainant that it is okay if it is just one person. I thought you would be too embarrassed to tell others yourself, he said, according to the report. As a result, the man said he developed mental health issues. The disclosure caused him to develop a distrust of people, forcing him to resort to suicidal thoughts, reported The Japan Times. He later quit his role at the company in October 2020 after his bosss actions were acknowledged. The company also paid him an undisclosed amount as settlement, the report added. 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 }} Myanmars ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be moved to house arrest from prison after she was arrested by the junta during the 2021 coup, according to reports. The 78-year-old Nobel laureate has been in detention ever since the junta overthrew her democratically elected government in a coup in February 2021 and sentenced her to 33 years in prison after convicting her on a range of charges brought by the military government. An official in the capital Naypyitaw told the Associated Press that she will be moved to house arrest and that the military government is set to make the announcement during the consecration ceremony of a newly constructed colossal sitting Buddha statue. Her transfer was an act of clemency to prisoners as part of the religious ceremony which is due next week, the official said on the condition of anonymity. It is not clear where she would be moved or when. The BBC Burmese-language service reported that she may have been already transferred to a house used by government officials, citing a source close to the prison. She may have been assigned to a residence assigned to a deputy minister-level cabinet official in Naypyitaw, the report said. News of improvements in conditions is welcome, but does not change her status as a prisoner of conscience, said Kyaw Zaw, a spokesperson for the shadow National Unity Government. Following the coup and her arrest, Ms Suu Kyi was initially held at her official residence in the capital in house arrest before being moved to an undisclosed location widely believed to be on an army base. She was again transferred, this time to prison on 22 June 2022. It comes as information in the military-run government is tightly controlled and even her lawyers are banned by a gag order from sharing information or talking to the media about her cases. Last month, Thailand leader Don Pramudwinai became the first foreign envoy to be granted access to meet the Nobel laureate ever since she was detained. He said Ms Suu Kyi was in good health and she conveyed her willingness to engage in talks to resolve the Myanmar crisis. Known and beloved in much of Myanmar as the Lady, Ms Suu Kyi helped establish Myanmars first civilian government in half a century and fulfilled the dreams of millions when her party won a landslide election in 2015. The daughter of independence hero Aung San, who was assassinated in 1947 when she was only two years old, she won the Nobel Peace Prize for campaigning for democracy in 1991. Her rule, however, has been marred by accusations that her nations armed forces raped, killed and terrorised hundreds of thousands of Muslim Rohingya people during a campaign of ethnic cleansing in Rakhine state. She was first put under house arrest in 1989 by the junta and after huge protests against decades of military rule, she was only fully released in 2010. 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 }} Southern European countries suffering under a sizzling heatwave for weeks can finally hope for some respite as a new forecast reveals subtle changes in the jet stream that are expected to bring temperatures down. With shattered temperature records, devastating wildfires in Greece and tragic loss of lives, people have been anxiously awaiting relief from intense heat conditions that gripped Europe this month. The latest forecast from the UKs Met Office offers a glimmer of hope as conditions are projected to shift slightly, indicating the weakening of the heat dome that enveloped the southern part of the continent. Meteorologist Alex Deakin, in a deep dive analysis by the Met Office, predicted temperatures in Europe will dip off a little bit starting on Wednesday in Italy and gradually easing in Greece by the end of the week. The jet stream, a narrow band of westerly winds circling the northern hemisphere, has been responsible for creating the heat dome over Europe. But from Wednesday, this air from the west will start spreading over Italy and the jet stream will move southwards, eventually bringing temperatures down in eastern Europe as well in the next few days. Fast forward to Wednesday, you can see southern Italy joins in with the cooler air as well, and by the time we get to Thursday, most of Greece is cooler and by Friday, that cooler air is even pushing down across Cyprus, he said. So we are seeing temperatures dropping because of that dip in the jet stream. Mr Deakin said while Europe will see temperatures dropping a little bit from the extremes of over 40 degrees Celsius, the weather will still remain sunny and warm. Italys temperatures are expected to go down to the average, close to 30C, while in Greece, temperatures will come down maybe a day later, he said. So the peak in the heat across Greece is likely to be on Wednesday, when the winds are lightest and again a lot of hot, strong sunshine, Mr Deakin said. But we see a drop there as well. A fireman runs away from blazes as he tries to control a wildfire in New Peramos, near Athens (AFP via Getty Images) Mr Deakin warned that, despite the improvement in temperatures, gusty winds could exacerbate the wildfire situation in the region. However, the anticipated cooling will at least bring temperatures closer to the average, providing much-needed relief to affected areas. And as we can see the change, we will also see the winds gusting up as well, which isnt gonna help the wildfire situation here. But at least as I say, the temperatures will be getting back closer to average, still plenty of sunshine. Scientists said a combination of factors, such as a stagnant jet stream, the El Nino phenomenon and the record-shattering average global temperatures caused by the climate crisis were all responsible for the extreme heatwaves sweeping three continents. The jet stream over Europe had been in a stationary position in the last few days, experts said, which meant that the weather systems were kept in a holding pattern that made heat build up. A recent study by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) said such heatwave conditions are more common now due to the heating of the planet by 1.2C since the 1800s due to greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists have been warning that as global average temperatures continue to rise, heatwaves in Europe are becoming more frequent and stronger. The WWA research showed that with the current heat, Europe, which is heating faster than the global average, already has a probability of facing extreme heat like the one currently persisting, every 10 years. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Indias move to slash its rice exports will exacerbate volatility on food prices globally and should be reconsidered, the International Monetary Funds chief economist has warned. Narendra Modis government last week banned the export of non-basmati white rice to stabilise domestic prices ahead of key national elections next year following difficult harvests. Indians are already seeing skyrocketing prices for tomatoes, leading to shortages, robberies and even consumers travelling to neighbouring Nepal to find supplies. India is the worlds largest supplier of rice and non-basmati grains account for one-quarter of its total rice exports. Echoing similar concerns, the IMFs Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said Indias move could have the same impact on world supplies as the suspension of the Ukraine Black Sea grain export deal, helping drive up prices in other countries. In the current environment, these types of restrictions are likely to exacerbate volatility on food prices in the rest of the world, and they can also lead to retaliatory measures, Mr Gourinchas told a press conference. We would encourage the removal of these type of export restrictions because they can be harmful globally. He said global grain prices, which are already at an 11-year high, could rise 10-15 per cent this year and Indias move could put a further strain on the rates. India accounts for more than 40 per cent of the worlds rice exports and its decisions carry an impact for the worlds food security. Rice prices jumped internationally to a five-year high in June after the Indian government announced an increase in minimum support prices for farmers. Last year, Indias move to ban wheat exports led to a global outcry. While rising food prices have a number of reasons behind it, one of the concerns globally is the recurring heat and erratic monsoon that has been impacting agricultural production worldwide, including in India, which has been grappling with repeated extreme weather events. Fears of shortages also pose challenges of stockpiling. Rice serves as a vital staple for around half of the global population, with Asia alone accounting for around 90 per cent of the worlds rice consumption. Importing countries such as Indonesia, China and the Philippines have been aggressively stockpiling rice this year. 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 }} Leonardo DiCaprio has shone the spotlight on an Indian man who accidentally discovered a rare new species of subterranean fish while taking a shower. The Oscar-winning Hollywood superstar praised Abraham A, who hails from Kerala, for the remarkable discovery made nearly three years ago and hailed the importance of citizen science. The Revenant actor, well known for his climate change activism, renewed attention on Mr Abrahams 2020 discovery with an Instagram post. The wild is all around us and sometimes all it takes to discover a new species is going about a normal day. This was the case for Mr Abraham, a local stage director living in Kerala State, India, who discovered a new species of fish while taking a shower, the actor said. Mr Abraham, who is a former paramilitary soldier living in the states Alappuzha district, made a significant scientific breakthrough when he was taking a shower at his home and noticed a red thread in the bucket. After a closer look, he noticed the tiny, snake-like creature moving and placed it inside a glass jar to get researchers help in getting the mysterious organism identified. The new species was identified by researchers at the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos) as a subterranean fish named Pathala Eel Loach. Its name Pathala is derived from a Sanskrit word which means below the feet. Following the discovery, Mr Abraham found four more fish from the same species in his well and water tank over the course of a few days. I thought it was a red thread. However, it was moving. Having read news of the discovery of such creatures in our region, I transferred the organism to a jar and contacted college professor Benny Thomas, who lived nearby, Mr Abraham said at the time. He connected me to researchers in Kufos who urged me to look for more organisms. I checked my water tank which pumps water from a 17ft-deep well and found three more fish, he said. I am happy my finding helped the youngsters accomplish their research. It made me and my friends learn more about citizen-science surveys. We will continue as informants if we come across similar species, he further said. The Titanic actor said citizen science is the key for researchers to study these unknown, underground ecosystems. Hidden from light and isolated beneath the soils surface in the narrow aquifers of the southern Indian state of Kerala, live sightless subterranean freshwater fish like the new Pathala Eel Loach. Despite this fortuitous discovery, accessing these fishes and unlocking their secrets is no easy task, DiCaprio said. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Powerful typhoon Doksuri is heading towards Taiwan and China after striking northern Philippines and causing widespread destruction with its ferocious wind and rain while leaving tens of thousands displaced. Two of Taiwans largest cities shut down schools and offices on Thursday as the typhoon brought heavy rains and winds to the islands eastern and southern coast. Doksuri weakened further on Thursday, with sustained winds of 155kph and gusts of up to 190kph, according to Taiwans Central Weather Bureau. The typhoons centre will not hit Taiwans mainland, but its outlying bands will still bring stronger winds and rains on Thursday afternoon. In the south, port city Kaohsiung and the ancient capital Tainan announced that offices and schools will be closed on Thursday. Hualien and Taitung counties in the east have also shuttered schools and offices. Kaohsuing also evacuated some 300 residents who lived in a mountainous part of the district, according to the semi-official Central News Agency. On Wednesday, the powerful storm made landfall in the northern island of Philippines, blowing off tin roofs, knocking out power lines, flooding low-lying villages and leaving nearly 16,000 villagers displaced. The typhoons initial impact was felt on Fuga Island off Aparri town in Cagayan province, where authorities had evacuated 15,843 people from high-risk coastal areas. Schools and workplaces were ordered to shut down on Tuesday as typhoon Doksuri approached the region. One person was killed and two others injured in the northern and central regions of Calabarzon and the Western Visayas region. The wide band of wind and rain, stretching 700km, affected thousands of people in other northern provinces as well, compounding the displacement and damage. By Wednesday morning, the typhoon was blowing over the coastal waters of the Babuyan Islands in Luzon Strait, off Aparri town, said forecasters. Our northern coastal towns are being battered, Cagayan governor Manuel Mamba told the Associated Press. Im receiving reports of tin roofs being blown away and flooding that could not drain out probably because of tidal surges coming in from the sea. Doksuri, while slightly weakened after landfall, still maintains its dangerous status, with sustained winds of 175km/h and gusts of up to 240km/h. The full extent of the damage will be assessed after the typhoon subsides, but there are fears of significant harm to Cagayan Valleys corn and rice farms, already affected by a months-long dry spell before Doksuris arrival. Initial reports indicated at least four towns lost power due to the typhoon, and six bridges became impassable due to flooding. An advisory from the countrys weather bureau warned that violent, life-threatening conditions are expected to continue on Wednesday over northwestern Cagayan, the outlying Babuyan Islands and the northern mountainous regions of Apayao and Ilocos Norte provinces. In this photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, stranded passengers stay at a passenger terminal after sea travel was suspended due to Typhoon Doksuri in Manila, Philippines (AP) Transportation services were heavily affected, with more than 3,700 inter-island ferry passengers and cargo truck drivers stranded, along with nearly 100 passenger and cargo vessels and motor bancas, as a no-sail order was imposed by the Philippine coastguard. Typhoon Doksuris impact has also been felt in central and northern provinces, including in metropolitan Manila, where seasonal monsoon rains were intensified. The typhoon is expected to move away from the northern Philippines on Thursday and head northwestwards, grazing past Taiwans southwestern coast before making landfall in southeastern China later this week. The storm will travel through the Taiwan Strait during the day on Thursday and make landfall in Chinas Fujian province on Friday. The Philippines is the most typhoon-prone country in the world as it is located just above the Equator and faces the western Pacific, with little else to absorb the energy of storms before they hit land. Scientists said tropical storms, which are fuelled by the warm, tropical waters, are becoming stronger and more frequent due to the climate crisis, making countries like the Philippines, which already face around 20 typhoons each year, more vulnerable. Recently, typhoon Mawar, locally known as Betty, also battered through the country, devastating the northern islands. Additional reporting by agencies 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 }} Travel on and off the Italian island of Sicily has been disrupted after wildfires fuelled by extreme temperatures broke out. Videos and photos show the fires ravaging the island holiday destination, including two of the main airports at Catania and Palermo. Flames also threatened the ancient archaeological site of Segesta, which had to be closed temporarily to check for any damage. The Messina area of Sicily has also seen wildfires breakout, with photos showing flames engulfing part of the village of Curcuraci. Temperatures rose to 47.6C in some parts of the island on Monday, sparking at least 55 separate blazes. How hot is it in Sicily? Italy like much of southern Europe has been hit by scorching temperatures bringing increased risk of fires and deaths. Yesterday, temperatures rose to 47.6C in some parts of eastern Sicily, close to the record European high of 48.8C recorded on the island two years ago. The latest high temperatures has led the government to put 16 Italian cities on red alert. Where are the wildfires in Sicily? Key urban areas in Sicily, including Palermo in the northwest of the island, and Catania, the business capital, on the east coast of the island have been impacted by wildfires. Both cities have seen a number of power and water supply cuts in recent days which local officials blamed in part on the heat. The ancient archaeological site of Segesta was also threatened by a wildfire a few days ago, while the village of Curcuraci in the Messina area has also experienced fires. The map below shows the areas affected by the wildfires as well as specific places mentioned. Map shows in red the regions and specific places impacted by wildfires in Sicily (OpenStreetMap) How is travel affected? The airport at Palermo, Sicilys capital, was closed on Tuesday 25 July as the wildfires sparked massive blazes to spread. The Sicilian airport tweeted to say it would remain shut until 0900 GMT to give firefighters an opportunity to extinguish the fires which were also disrupting local road and rail traffic. It came days after the islands main airport of Catania, Italys fifth-biggest, was closed due to a fire in a terminal building. It has since reopened but only for a few flights. What is the weather like elsewhere in Italy? On Tuesday, Italy put 16 cities on red alert because of the high temperatures, including in Palermo and Catania. Elsewhere, the Mediterranean country has been battered by severe storms. On overnight storm in Milan on Monday tore off roofs and uprooted trees, blocking roads and disrupting overground transportation in Italys financial capital. Two women were killed on Monday and Tuesday in the northern Monza and Brescia provinces after being crushed by falling trees. I have been through 65 summers in my lifetime ... and what I am seeing now is not normal, we can no longer deny it, climate change is changing our lives, Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala wrote on social media. An overnight storm in Milan tore off roofs and uprooted trees (Reuters) On Monday, a Delta flight headed to New York which had taken off from Milans Malpensa airport was seriously damaged by a hailstorm and was forced to land in Rome. Italy is one of the European countries most affected by climate change, and suffered deadly floods in May. A firefighter looks on during a fire near the village of Vati, just north of the coastal town of Gennadi, in the southern part of Rhodes, Greece (AFP/Getty) What is happening in Greece? Wildfires have also caused serious destruction on the Greek islands of Rhodes and Corfu. Videos of roaring fires and towering black smoke have circulated online from Rhodes and Corfu. However, wildfires have erupted across several areas including Evia and the Peloponnese region. Firefighters battled against 82 wildfires across the country overnight, forcing the biggest evacuation in the countrys history. The fires have prompted several major UK travel companies to cancel flights in the coming days and a number of evacuation flights have been scrambled to the country to bring back fleeing tourists. 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 }} H&M has filed a lawsuit against infamous fast fashion retailer Shein for copyright infringement, according to court documents filed in Hong Kong. Hennes & Mauritz, the Swedish fashion brand more commonly known as H&M, has accused its competitor of copying its designs in the new lawsuit. The company is seeking unspecified damages and an injunction to stop Shein from infringing on its copyright and trademarks. Zoetop Business Co, the Hong Kong-based entity that previously owned Shein, and Shein Group Ltd are named as defendants in the court filing. The series of litigation has reportedly been underway since July 2021. According to Bloomberg, the filing included photos of H&M items, such as swimwear and sweaters, as evidence that Shein had stolen its designs. In a statement to The Independent, an H&M spokesperson confirmed that the company has an ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit towards Shein filed in Hong Kong. We believe that Shein in multiple cases has infringed on our designs and have therefore filed this lawsuit. As it is still an ongoing case, we choose not to comment further, they said. Meanwhile, Shein declined to comment on the pending litigation. The copyright infringement case was first heard in Hong Kong court last September, and the judge allowed the case to proceed, according to a separate document released in May. The most recent hearing took place at the Hong Kong High Court on 21 June, followed by the next hearing on 31 July. The new lawsuit comes less than two weeks after Shein was accused by independent designers of infringement-related racketeering activities in a RICO lawsuit. The lawsuit, which was filed on 11 July in California federal court, claimed the clothing giant had used secretive algorithm to identify trending art and allegedly reproduced artists designs for its fast fashion website. The brand has made billions by creating a secretive algorithm that astonishingly determines nascent fashion trends and by coupling it with a corporate structure, including production and fulfillment schemes, that are perfectly executed to grease the wheels of the algorithm, including its unsavory and illegal aspects, claimed artists Krista Perry, Larissa Martinez, and Jay Baron. The plaintiffs also filed a RICO claim, a federal law designed to combat organised crime in the United States. The law, which stands for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act, allows individuals or organisations to file civil claims against racketeering activities performed as an ongoing criminal enterprise. According to the suit, the artists alleged that Sheins confusing corporate structure allows the company to avoid liability in the case of intellectual property infringement, adding that the brands first line of defense when facing a copyright or trademark cease and desist is removing the product from its sites with blaming the misconduct on another [Shein entity] actor (implying such actor is independent). As a result, the artists accused Shein of multiple acts of racketeering and criminal copyright infringement and are seeking past and future damages, as well as compensation for legal fees and injunctive relief to prevent further racketeering activity. In a statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for Shein said at the time: SHEIN takes all claims of infringement seriously, and we take swift action when complaints are raised by valid IP rights holders. We will vigorously defend ourselves against this lawsuit and any claims that are without merit. 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 professional cuddler who makes a living giving clients hugs has said people travel from all over the globe to receive the cuddle therapy she offers which is far less intimate than a massage and helps people from all walks of life. Natasha Wicks, 44, from Coventry, West Midlands, says that despite criticism, cuddling is scientifically proven to release happy hormones like dopamine and that a lot of her clients are the big spoon in life and go to her for emotional support that they do not have at home. As such, many of her clients are caregivers and most of them join Natasha for two-hour hugging sessions, costing 70 an hour. The sessions vary depending on what the client wants, some having emotional hugs, others talking more and some wanting to sit at opposite ends of the sofa with our legs and feet entwined. Natasha became a cuddle therapist in 2015 and, while she has had comments online from people criticising the practice, she said that her family and friends were unsurprised when she first started giving professional cuddles. She said: They all said to me that I give the best cuddles so its not surprising that Id start doing it as a job. Its very much what I do, I help people and want to make people feel better. Its a natural thing when someone is going through a tough time to want to give them a hug. Cuddle therapy might not be as widely accepted in society but its far less intimate than other things like massages which are seen as normal. Prior to becoming a cuddler, Natasha originally trained as a CBT therapist and counsellor. She said: Thered be situations where I would be talking to someone and theyd really need a hug, but obviously, youd have professional boundaries in place and it wouldnt have been appropriate. It was just a really natural thing. One client had finished her final session and we had agreed that she wasnt my patient anymore so we hugged goodbye. She said to me that shed wanted to do that for a long time and I thought me too. Looking into cuddle therapy, which she said was increasing in popularity in 2014, Natasha took a training course. By 2015, she was a qualified cuddler and started taking on new patients for cuddle sessions. Natasha provides a minimum session of one hour but said most people go for at least two hours, sometimes longer if they are receiving more than one type of therapy. She said: I always give people a hug on the doorstep when they arrive and then theyll come in and relax, and well have an initial chat about what brings them here. After that, Ill put on some ambient music and well have a cuddle on my cuddle sofa. It can be daunting coming into a strangers house and I can tell the difference in them from arriving to leaving. The first hug they might be angled away from me but when were hugging goodbye, I can get my head in between their neck and shoulders and you can almost feel that a weight has been lifted from them. There is not one type of person that visits Natasha for cuddles, but she says that a lot of her clients are caregivers. She said: Theres all sorts of people who come for a cuddle, from people who have moved away from home for the first time and just want a mum hug all the way to people in their 80s. Im inclusive of all genders and all ages. I get a lot of clients who are the carers of their family and they are so busy looking after other people, and probably giving the hugs and support to other people, that they dont have that for themselves. A lot of people that come to see me are generally people are the big spoon in the life they take care of others and dont want to show a vulnerable side to people because they dont want people to worry that they cant cope. I get a lot of carers, a lot of NHS staff, a lot of mums, a lot of people that are in a world where they have to be the strong one in the situation and they just want to be able to come here and let their guard down. Natashas priority is to make people feel at ease when they arrive as she said it can be nerve wracking turning up at someones house for a hug. Setting out clear boundaries prior to meeting, the therapist has said that the patients she has welcomed into her home have all been respectful. She added: I always say to people that when your body relaxes, your tummy might crumble and mine might too, but that people dont need to worry about it. Sometimes people fall asleep and they might snore or fart, its just natural things that happen. Its happened twice where someone has got an erection and thats fine, I have boundaries and well just change position. I want people to feel reassured that, as soon as they get in, they feel comfortable. Despite the unconventional therapy, when Natasha first took on cuddle clients, she said her family were completely unsurprised and the step from CBT therapy to cuddle therapy was a natural evolution. While Natasha focuses her time on a holistic approach for treating people, she noted that there is also neuroscience behind cuddles. According to the 44-year-old, physical touch activates the brains orbitofrontal cortex and cuddling releases oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin. Now, Natasha also does EMDR therapy and is a mental health swim host, and has clients travel from all over the globe to receive her hugs. She said: Working from Coventry is brilliant because Im only nine minutes on the train from Birmingham Airport and people come to visit me from all over. I get a client from Belgium, someone from Ireland and people from all over the UK who come to see me. I wanted to find a sofa bed that just looked like a big comfy sofa for cuddle sessions. Id started off with a big L shaped sofa but after about five years, it was sagging a bit, thered been a lot of healing done on that sofa and it was time for a new one. Now I have a sofa bed in my living room that I use as my cuddle sofa. Its in the living room and its used for everyday life, watching TV with my partner, having people round and also for my work. Breaking down the taboo around cuddle therapy, Natasha hopes more people will embrace the alternative treatment. She added: As its become more popular, more people are becoming qualified as cuddlers and I think thats great. Ive had comments online before of people thinking its weird or not understanding but there are other things we accept in society that are much more intimate than cuddles, like massages. Its not weird, its actually a really lovely thing to be able to make another soul feel better for a while. 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 recent investigation has found that some Ozempic and Wegovy patients suffered from severe gastroparesis, also known as stomach paralysis, after taking the medications. In a report from CNN published on 25 July, two patients reported that their stomachs are paralysed after taking type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic a semaglutide injection known for its weight loss side effects. I wish I never touched it. I wish Id never heard of it in my life, Joanie Knight, a 37-year-old from Louisiana, told CNN. This medicine made my life hell. So much hell. It has cost me money. It cost me a lot of stress; it cost me days and nights and trips with my family. Its cost me a lot, and its not worth it. The price is too high. Emily Wright, a 38-year-old teacher from Toronto, said she vomits so frequently that she had to take a leave of absence from her job. Ive almost been off Ozempic for a year, but Im still not back to my normal, she said. According to CNN, both women have been diagnosed with severe gastroparesis, a disorder that slows or stops the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine, per the Mayo Clinic. Wright has also been diagnosed with cyclic vomiting syndrome, which causes her to throw up multiple times a day. Meanwhile, one Wegovy user claimed she began experiencing stomach problems after her doctor prescribed her the weight loss drug which works by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), regulating blood sugar levels and slowing down the rate at which food leaves the stomach to create the feeling of fullness. However, the medication caused her to vomit so much that she became dehydrated and needed to visit urgent care. Brenda Allen, from Texas, has since been managing her nausea and vomiting with a medication called Zofran and prescription probiotics. Now, the US Food and Drug Administration has said theyve received reports of stomach paralysis among patients taking the medications. The FDA has received reports of gastroparesis with semaglutide and liraglutide, some of which documented the adverse event as not recovered after discontinuation of the respective product at the time of the report, the agency said in a statement to CNN. However, officials clarified that they were unable to determine whether taking Ozempic or Wegovy was the cause of stomach paralysis, or if it was caused by a different issue. Gastroparesis can be a complication of diabetes that is related to long-standing or poorly controlled disease, further complicating the ability to determine what role the drugs played in the reported events, they said. As for whether patients should be warned about taking the drugs, the FDA maintained that taking the medications, such as for treating diabetes or weight management, may still outweigh the risks in some patients with gastroparesis or delayed gastric emptying. In response to reports of stomach paralysis, Novo Nordisk the manufacturer behind Ozempic and Wegovy noted that these drugs have been used to treat type 2 diabetes for more than 15 years, and for the treatment of obesity for eight years. Semaglutide has been extensively examined in robust clinical development programs, large real world evidence studies and has cumulatively over 9.5 million patient years of exposure, a spokesperson for Novo Nordisk said in a statement to The Independent. Gastrointestinal (GI) events are well-known side effects of the GLP-1 class. For semaglutide, the majority of GI side effects are mild to moderate in severity and of short duration. GLP-1s are known to cause a delay in gastric emptying, as noted in the label of each of our GLP-1 RA medications. Symptoms of delayed gastric emptying, nausea and vomiting are listed as side effects. Last week, the American Society of Anesthesiologists also issued a warning that those who take GLP-1 agonists should avoid the medications a week before surgery because they may increase risk of regurgitation and aspiration of food while under anesthesia and deep sedation. Ozempic, a once-weekly injection used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, has skyrocketed in use after people were reportedly prescribed the FDA-approved diabetes medication as an off-label weight loss drug. However, because of its increasing popularity, it has led to national shortages of the diabetes treatment - leaving those who actually need Ozempic without it. Meanwhile, Wegovy and Mounjaro are popular once-weekly semaglutide injections specifically approved for the treatment of obesity and weight loss. There are many side effects of taking medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. According to the FDA, the most common side effects of taking Wegovy are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, indigestion, dizziness, and digestive disorders. The FDA has also warned about more serious complications that can occur from use of Wegovy or Mounjaro, such as the potential risk of thyroid C-cell tumours, pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, acute kidney injury, increased heart rate, and suicidal behaviour or thinking. Taking Ozempic can also lead to possible thyroid tumours, including cancer, pancreatitis, changes in vision, and kidney and gallbladder problems. The Independent has contacted Novo Nordisk and the FDA 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 }} Heidi Klums model daughter has shared photographs of her severe sunburn on social media. Leni Klum, 19, posted a photo of herself lying face down on a bed wearing underwear with her trousers pulled down. In the image, Klums body appears to be badly sunburnt, with white marks showing wear her bikini top would have been. In the caption, Klum wrote: Obviously didnt use enough sunscreen. Klum has followed in her mothers footsteps by entering into the modelling industry. Speaking to People, she explained that her decision to venture into the industry was very much inspired by her mothers impressive career. Ive always gone to work with my mom and thought, This looks so fun. She looks so happy while shes working, she told the publication in October. "I'd jump in sometimes, and I'd play around with the makeup that her makeup artist would bring." The model, whose father is the Italian businessman Flavio Briatore, is currently juggling her career alongside studying for a degree in interior design in New York. Model Leni Klum shows off her sunburn on Instagram (Instagram @leniklum) Last year, Klum spoke out against the nepotism baby criticism that shes faced due to her famous mother. I did get help starting off, and I know that people would dream to start off with what I had, she said. Im so grateful that Ive been able to take what was gifted to me by my mom. But I am doing the work and putting in the time. Now Im working on my own, travelling alone, going to school. My mom and I just have the same love for the same thing. Klum similary spoke out about following criticism of an underwear photoshoot she participated in with her mother, a shoot dubbed a bit weird and just a bit ick by social media users. 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 }} Idris Elba has revealed that he was once threatened at gunpoint when he tried to intervene in an argument between a couple outside a club. The Luther star, 50, recalled the incident took place in the US and said it began when he tried to stop a man from shouting at his girlfriend. In a recent appearance on the SmartLess podcast, Elba claimed: I nearly lost my f***ing life after attempting to stop a man threatening his girlfriend outside a club. The guy [was] whaling on his missus, screaming in her face, Ill f***ing kill you, and so on. I come around and I go, Look how beautiful she is. Why would you talk to this beautiful princess like that? However, things took a turn for the worse when the man turned to Elba and pulled a gun on him. He pulled out a gun, stuck it right in my face and goes, You talking about my girl? He thought I was trying to hit on her, Elba continued. I remember thinking, Dont play negotiations like that Consequences, man. The actor did not give further details about how the rest of the incident played out. Elba has previously spoken out about violence against women and voiced his concerns about women being targeted in his popular BBC series Luther. In 2018, he told Digital Spy that the show was rightly criticised for portraying violence inflicted on female characters. Idris Elba in Luther: The Fallen Sun' (Netflix) We definitely got criticised as one of the biggest offenders of that earlier on in our seasons, and quite rightly so, he said. It was very much of my voicing, but very much Neil [Cross]s voicing as well, not to mention the BBC, wanting to even that out. Elba was the associate producer on the series, which spanned five seasons from 2010 to 2019, while Cross was the creator of the drama. Elsewhere on the podcast, which is hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett, Elba revealed that he and the Duke of Sussex became friends after greeting one another in nightclubs multiple times. These moments led to Elba playing a DJ set at Prince Harry and Meghan Markles wedding in May 2018. He said: I was DJ-ing in all these clubs where [Prince] Harry would show up and he was like, Yo! and Im like, Yo!. And then at one point he was like, Listen man, Im getting married. I was like, Yo! Thats amazing. He goes, I want you to DJ I was like, I dont do requests! Elba attended the nuptials of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with his wife Sabrina Dhowre. He later played his set at the reception in Frogmore Cottage and played Whitney Houstons I Want to Dance with Somebody for Meghans first dance with Harry. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Princess of Wales fans have come to her defence after her taste in jewellery was criticised by former Vogue editor Suzy Menkes. Menkes described Kate Middletons jewellery choices as a disappointment during the newest episode of her podcast Creative Conversations, where she spoke with British Vogues jewellery editor Carol Woolton. The Princess of Wales is a bit of a disappointment about jewellery, Menkes said. She gives the impression that she only puts it on when she absolutely has to. I imagine her looking beautiful in one of those gowns behind the scenes and then pulling a face as if to say: Do I have to wear this? She doesnt give any sense of adoring jewellery and being pleased to put it on. During the conversation, the former editor then alleged that Kate doesnt have the same joy about wearing jewellery as Queen Camilla. [Kate] doesnt seem to have Camillas joy at wearing jewellery, she said, before noting that, as Queen, Camilla presumably has a first opportunity to look at the [royal familys] jewels. The comments have sparked criticism on social media, where many have defended Kate and her style choices. Maybe, just maybe [Kate] is more focused on her job than looking like a fashionista. Typical superficial comment from someone who had an irrelevant job, one person tweeted in response. Another said: Princess of Wales is as glamorous as they come. She has a restrained elegance and always looks beautiful. The Vogue editor is wrong. Hmmseems to be Catherine is a conservative jewellery wearer. Theres not a thing wrong with that at all, someone else wrote. Another person defended Kates jewellery choices on the basis that she has just the right mix of affordable and high-end jewellery. The Princess of Wales has an excellent eye for accessories, and her earrings collection is stunning - particularly because she often promotes small businesses by wearing their jewellery, they wrote. She has just the right mix of affordable and high-end jewellery in her wardrobe. Someone else tweeted: I have no love for royals but Kate is the absolute representation of elegance. If she is a disappointment then [I dont know] what the expectation is anymore. Others suggested that the Princess of Wales accessory choices reflect an awareness of the current climate, with one person questioning: I wonder how it would go down if she wore a new designer outfit every day of the week and flaunted expensive jewellery - especially in this current climate? The royal is known for mixing high-end and affordable pieces of jewellery, with Kate opting for a pair of $75 (58) pearl earrings by Shyla for a recent appearance at Wimbledon. (Getty Images) However, the Princess of Wales also has a number of notable jewels in her jewellery collection, including multiple pieces inherited from her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. (Getty Images for Ascot Racecours) (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) (Getty Images) Kates diamond and south sea pearl earrings are one such item, which the royal has worn on a number of recent occasions, including to the 2022 Royal Ascot, the first state visit of King Charles reign, and to the King and Queens coronation in May. For the occasion, Kate also wore a sequin and metallic beaded floral headpiece by Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen. In addition to Dianas earrings, the Princess of Wales also inherited the late royals sapphire and diamond engagement ring. (Getty Images) During the podcast conversation, Menkes also addressed some of the controversy surrounding the royal familys jewellery collection, with the former magazine editor describing some of the pieces as dubious. Its one of these strange secrets, she said. Its not discussed, and I can see why because some of the pieces are dubious. They came from India. I wont say they were stolen but they were perhaps given and taken by the British Royal Family. They werent stealing it but they were taking over a country at that time, and and taking jewels they thought were an attractive thing to take back to England with them. Sign up for a full digest of all the best opinions of the week in our Voices Dispatches email Sign up to our free weekly Voices 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 Voices Dispatches email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Smartphones should be banned from classrooms across the world in a bid to improve learning and protect children from online bullying, a UN report has recommended. Unesco, the educational, scientific and cultural wing of the UN, said there was evidence that excessive mobile phone usage was linked to reduced educational performance. It added that high levels of screen time had a negative effect on children's emotional stability. The UN agency warned policymakers against an unthinking embrace of digital technology and asked them to take heed of the social dimension of education. It added: Those urging increasing individualisation may be missing the point of what education is about. The agency said digital technology as a whole, including artificial intelligence, should never take precedence over a human-centred vision of education or replace face-to face interaction teaching. Not all change constitutes progress. Just because something can be done does not mean it should be done, the report concluded. Unescos director-general Audrey Aloza told the Guardian: The digital revolution holds immeasurable potential but just as warnings have been voiced for how it should be regulated in society similar attention must be paid to the way it is used in education. Its use must be for enhanced learning experiences and for the wellbeing of students and teachers, not to their detriment. Keep the needs of the learner first and support teachers. Online connections are no substitute for human interaction. Unesco urged countries to ensure they had clear objectives and principles in place to ensure digital technology was beneficial to students instead of harming them. It said excessive or inappropriate student use of technology in the classroom and at home, whether smartphones, tablets or laptops, could be distracting, disruptive and result in a detrimental impact on learning. According to the UN agency, countries were waking up to the importance of putting learners first when it came to digital technology. It said China has limited use of digital devices as teaching tools to 30 per cent of all teaching time, with students expected to take regular screen breaks. Unesco estimated one in four countries had banned smartphones in school, either through law or guidance. These included France, which introduced its policy in 2018 and Finland being the latest European country to ban phones in classrooms to curb slumping exam results. Italy banned the use of mobile phones in schools in December and teachers were instructed to collect the devices from students at the start of the day. The Netherlands is expected to bring in restrictions from 2024. In the UK, the former education secretary Gavin Williamson called for a mobile phone ban in schools in 2021 to improve student discipline but was dismissed as a distraction by education unions. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said that the majority of "schools will already have robust policies about mobile phones in place". Banning mobile phones entirely from school premises would raise some practical concerns, for example for parents wanting to contact their children while travelling between school and home. Some pupils will also use phones as payment methods on public transport. Nick Gibb, the veteran Schools Minister, told The Telegraph that parents should give their children brick phones instead of smartphones to help them make better use of their time at school. 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 Palestinian man was killed by Israeli troops during an arrest raid in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the latest bloodshed in one of the most violent stretches of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in years. Israeli forces entered the Al-Ein refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus and arrested a suspected militant, the army said. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa said another man was killed during clashes with troops that surrounded a house in the refugee camp. During the incident, Mohammed Nada, 23, was shot in the chest and later died of his wounds, the Palestinian health ministry said. Wednesday's incident came a day after Israeli troops killed three Palestinian gunmen who opened fire on soldiers near Nablus. Israeli-Palestinian fighting has surged in the occupied West Bank, which Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war. Palestinians seek the territory, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, for a hoped-for future state. In recent months, the West Bank has witnessed a volatile mix of the rise of local armed Palestinian groups carrying out frequent shooting attacks against Israelis and near-daily Israeli military raids that have increasingly turned deadly. Earlier this month, Israels most forceful incursion into the West Bank in nearly two decades killed 12 Palestinians at least 8 of them militants and one Israeli soldier. So far this year, over 161 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank the highest death toll in over a decade. Around half of them were affiliated with militant groups and killed in fighting during Israeli military raids, but stone-throwing youths protesting the incursions as well as innocent bystanders have also been killed. Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis have killed at least 25 people this year. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Colorado police officer on trial for putting a handcuffed woman in a parked police vehicle that was hit by a freight train testified Tuesday that she placed the woman there temporarily because it was the closest place to keep her secure after arresting her. That police vehicle belonged to another officer who pulled Yareni Rios-Gonzalez over before Officer Jordan Steinke arrived on scene on Sept. 16, 2022, and was parked on train tracks that cross a road. Steinke, who claims she did not know the car was parked on the tracks, said she gave Rios-Gonzalez a quick pat-down and did not buckle her in in the backseat. Steinke said she assumed the patrol vehicle was secure and wanted to quickly switch to providing cover to two other officers who were searching Rios-Gonzalez's truck for a weapon. She said she did not know a train was coming until right before it hit. I saw the front headlights and heard the train at the same time right before impact, said Steinke, who said she had about 3 1/2 years of law enforcement experience at the time of the crash, when she worked for the Fort Lupton Police Department. Previously released police video shows officers searching Rios-Gonzalezs truck as the train approaches with its horn blaring. Other footage shows officers scrambling as the train approaches and slams into the vehicle. Rios-Gonzalez survived but suffered extensive injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, and is suing over her treatment. She was arrested because a driver reported that she had pointed a gun at him during a road rage incident. Prosecutors say Steinke walked across the railroad tracks five times during the nighttime traffic stop, including as she put Rios-Gonzalez inside the patrol vehicle. But Steinkes lawyer, Mallory Revel, has said the tracks were completely flush with the road, so a person wouldn't trip over them, and there were no illuminated railroad crossing signs or gates at the site, which is in rural area. There were two reflective signs on either side of the tracks. Steinke is being prosecuted for criminal attempt to commit manslaughter, which is a felony, and two misdemeanors: reckless endangerment and third-degree assault. The Platteville police officer who parked the patrol car on the tracks is also being prosecuted for misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment. Since Steinke did not know the car was parked on the tracks, Revel has argued that prosecutors could not meet their burden to prove that she acted recklessly. There is no jury for the trial. Instead, Judge Timothy Kerns will issue the verdict. After prosecutors rested their case earlier Tuesday, Revel asked Kerns to acquit Steinke, arguing that the prosecution had not proven their case. Kerns refused and the defense began presenting their case. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An American author has said it was a bit surprising for her to win the worlds oldest literary prize with a novel which reworks a Charles Dickens classic. Barbara Kingsolver was named as one of the two winners of the James Tait Black Prize, taking the honours in the fiction section for her book Demon Copperhead. She said the award was such a touching tribute to the novel, which is a reimagining of David Copperfield set in the Appalachian Mountains of the US in the late 1990s. Kingsolver said: It feels a bit surprising for the very old and distinguished James Tait Black Prize to recognize the modern, working-class Appalachian voice of my novel. But literature, after all, is meant for all readers, everywhere across all of time. Im deeply honoured by this award. Fellow American Darryl Pinckney was declared the winner in the biography section for his memoir Come Back in September: A Literary Education on West Sixty-Seventh Street, Manhattan. The book tells the story of the New York writers apprenticeship with authors Elizabeth Hardwick and Barbara Epstein, and his introduction to the citys famous literary scene. The literary honours, which both come with a 10,000 prize, have been presented by the University of Edinburgh since 1919 and are the only major British book prizes which are judged by literature scholars and students. Biography judge Dr Simon Cooke, of the University of Edinburgh, described Pinckneys winning book as thoroughly absorbing, adding it was a vivid, nuanced, and moving tribute to Elizabeth Hardwick, a fascinating portrait of a place, time and milieu, and a profound meditation on memory, friendship and the literary life. Fiction judge Dr Benjamin Bateman, also of Edinburgh University, said Demon Copperhead was a captivating piece of realist literature which is exceptional across all of the dimensions we look for. 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 }} Carlos Acosta has said he wants a new dance centre in south-east London to become a landmark for people all over the world. The former Royal Ballet star, who spearheads the prestigious Acosta Dance Foundation (ADF), has launched its new global headquarters in Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. The 50-year-old said he aims for the Acosta Dance Centre to become a reference in dance worldwide which will also bridge dance and community engagement gaps. Cuban-born Acosta told the PA news agency: I wanted to bring the centre here, in Woolwich, (because) there is a very high population of African descendancy. We want to involve the community of Woolwich, because we're here and we want to work with them Carlos Acosta (Some) of the dances that were going to be teaching is Afro-Cuban dance, Afro-Cuban beats, more popular dances that speak about Africa. So hopefully, one of the things that were doing at the centre is to benefit the community so hopefully the locals can come and get involved. Acosta said the aim of the centre is to create an ecosystem of dance because people in the community do not currently feel the space is a place for them. He said: You will have the chance to take ballet classes, to take contemporary classes, Afro-Cuban, or (more) popular ways of dancing that is ingrained in the Cuban culture. As we start to get known, and also the centre starts to get busy, we want to expand into all the Latin forms of dances. So the idea is that this becomes a reference of dance. Dance is a way of bringing people together in a social way and also to establish a community. I think dance is very important, the whole world would be the saddest place if dance was not in it. The new cultural hub has five studios which aim to bring together industry professionals and members of the community with dance-related interests in an artistic space. Acosta added: I think the ambition is that any other forms of dance that you (can) think of, you could come to this building and take classes. So we want to involve the community of Woolwich, because were here and we want to work with them and also we want to make sure that they really take ownership of what were trying to do. But obviously our vision is that this becomes a landmark so that people from all over the world, they know that there is a centre in Woolwich they could come in and take classes and stay around as long as they (want) and they participate in many schemes that were going to deliver. 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 }} Ministers are backing a potentially dangerous new model allowing police to reduce their response to mental health incidents after failing to formally assess the risk of harm or death. Officials are monitoring any adverse incomes from the National Partnership Agreement, which will see police forces stop attending health calls unless there is a safety risk or a crime being committed. Policing minister Chris Philp said a pilot by Humberside Police gave him confidence in national roll-out, which aims to make sure that people suffering mental health crisis get a health response and not a police response. He told a press conference that one million hours of police time could be freed up for crime-fighting annually if all 39 English forces implement the agreement, although no official impact assessment has been done and it may take two years for deals to be struck in every area. Mental health charities and experts have warned the plans could be dangerous, and a coroner raised the alarm following a womans suicide after police failed to respond to her disappearance. Helen Findlay, 28, fled a mental health facility in east London in June 2020. Staff called the police, but neither Met officers nor hospital staff mounted a search and she was later found dead in a nearby park. A report published last month said action was needed to prevent future deaths, warning that the new model could allow each agency to regard such a situation as the others responsibility, whilst nobody is on the ground attempting to retrieve a seriously ill patient. Coroner Mary Hassell said she was concerned that police had not responded, adding: If partner agency working is to be effective in caring for this extremely vulnerable cohort of patients, there needs to be crystal clear understanding by all those involved of how to tackle these difficult situations and exactly who is meant to be doing what. The Mind charity said the governments focus on saved police time was deeply worrying, and that people could be abandoned without support if changes are not carefully implemented. This announcement goes nowhere near offering enough guarantees that these changes will be introduced safely there is no new funding attached and no explanation of how agencies will be held accountable, said chief executive Dr Sarah Hughes. Policing minister Chris Philp said the change could save 1m police hours a year, but the calculation depends on all forces adopting the model (Victoria Jones/PA) (PA Archive) It would be dangerous for forces to step back while local communities and health systems work out how to respond. The Royal College of Psychiatrists said mental health services were chronically underfunded and that a uniltateral police withdrawal would pose a real danger to patients. President Dr Lade Smith CBE added: The fact is that there are certain legal powers only held by the police, and so mental health is always going to be police business and they will always be needed in some form. While the reasoning and ambitions behind the Right Care, Right Person approach are largely sound, it is important to remember that it has been trialled in just one area of the UK an evaluation of clinical outcomes, or benefits and harms to the local population has yet to be conducted. Officials said there had not yet been any adverse findings over deaths in forces where the model is already used, and that national proposals had been discussed with the Chief Coroner of England and Wales. Mark Winstanley, chief executive of the Rethink Mental Illness charity, said the agreement was right in principle but that it was unclear how its ambitions will be fulfilled. We must not have a situation where the police are stepping back unilaterally without any health and care provision to take its place, he added. We have to recognise that there are no simple, quick or low-cost solutions on the table to absorb the one million hours of police time set to be freed up. Sir Mark Rowley told NHS partners the Met Police would be reducing its mental health response by September, but was forced to extend the deadline (Jordan Pettitt/PA) (PA Wire) The National Police Chiefs Council said officers would still respond to incidents where there is a significant safety risk or crime is being committed, but that people were currently being criminalised when they needed a health response. Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Bacon, the national lead for mental health, said: Police will always attend incidents where there is a threat to life. This is not about us stepping away from mental health incidents, it is about ensuring the most vulnerable people receive the appropriate care which we are not always best placed to provide. Emergency call handlers will be in charge of a new triage process, but officials said risk assessments could be updated in response to events on the ground. Each regional force must individually agree a bespoke implementation plan with local agencies before introducing the model. It is based on processes developed by Humberside Police in 2019, and similar initiatives have been implemented in Hampshire, Lancashire, South Yorkshire and North Yorkshire. The Metropolitan Police has been forced to row back on an announcement it would withdraw responses to mental health-related calls by 31 August, following a warning from NHS leaders. A letter seen by The Independent said the change would be implemented over two to three years instead, and primarily focus on specific areas including welfare checks, people absconding from healthcare facilities, patient transport and handovers of people sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Caroline Clarke, the NHS director for London, said Sir Mark Rowleys announcement had caused anxiety and uncertainty across the health and care system, and that NHS community health teams was already dealing with rocketing crisis referrals. But Mr Philp, the policing minister, said the government had listened to the concerns raised by police leaders about the pressures that mental health issues are placing on policing, which takes officers time away from preventing and investigating crime. Health minister Maria Caulfield, said the agreement would ensure the most appropriate health care is provided as quickly as possible. Were going further and faster to transform our mental health services, with 2.3bn extra funding a year by March 2024 so two million more people can get the support they need and 150m to build new and improved mental health urgent and emergency care services, she added. Work is also underway to provide 24/7 mental health crisis phone lines, and increase the number of specialist staff nationally. 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 suspended chief constable of Devon and Cornwall police is being investigated over serious allegations of sexual offences, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Marie Anderson, confirmed. Chief Constable Will Kerr, who previously served with the Police Service of Northern Ireland for more than 27 years, was suspended on Wednesday after just eight months at Devon and Cornwall Police. Police and crime commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, Alison Hernandez, said she had made the decision to suspend him following allegations of misconduct. In a statement released on Wednesday night, Mr Kerr said he strenuously denied any allegations of criminality. Mr Kerr said: In relation to the statement from the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland in which she named me as being the subject of a criminal investigation into serious allegations of sexual offences, I strenuously deny any allegations of criminality. I recognise and respect the fact that accountability and due process are vital to any investigation, regardless of rank or position. I will continue to co-operate with any investigation. I hope that all matters will be expedited so that they will be concluded without delay. The Chief Police Officers Staff Association said Mr Kerr was co-operating with the investigation, which it said related to legacy misconduct matters, but he had not yet been interviewed. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed it was investigating the claims and whether inaccurate information may have been provided as part of a previous vetting process. A criminal investigation into the alleged sexual offences has been launched by the Northern Irish Police Ombudsman. A statement from Marie Anderson said: The Police Ombudsman commenced a criminal investigation into serious allegations of sexual offences against a former PSNI senior officer, currently the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall, on 16 June 2023, using her own motion powers. The ombudsman will also consider the circumstances under which the allegations were investigated by PSNI. The office has been engaging with the IOPC on cross-jurisdictional issues in recent weeks, as well as with the office of the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner. Details concerning the precise nature of the allegations and any early investigative actions remain confidential at this time. In a statement, the office of PCC for Devon and Cornwall said: Alison Hernandez, the police and crime commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, has suspended the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall police, Will Kerr OBE KPM, following allegations of misconduct. The commissioner has referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which has confirmed it will commence an investigation. Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed deputy chief constable Jim Colwell will become acting chief constable in the meantime. Mr Colwell said: I am keen to reassure the public that we will maintain our focus on delivering the best possible service to our communities. We have thousands of dedicated and professional officers, staff and volunteers within our force and strong leadership throughout which, when pulled together, mean we can continue to make improvements at pace to provide our communities with the highest levels of service they deserve. One senior source told the Guardian that Mr Kerrs suspension raised concerns about the resilience of the force, which was placed in special measures by His Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary before he took over in December 2022. Devon and Cornwall police came under fire after the Keyham shootings in Plymouth in 2021 in which five people were shot dead before the gunman killed himself. Police were criticised after handing a firearm back to the gunman weeks before the shooting, having previously revoked his licence. Mr Kerr was previously deputy chief constable of Police Scotland. In a statement, Police Scotland said: Will Kerr left Police Scotland in 2022. These allegations do not relate to his time at Police Scotland and it would be inappropriate to comment further. He served with the Police Service of Northern Ireland for more than 27 years and reached the rank of assistant chief constable there, leading on both serious crime and counter-terrorism. In 2015 he was made an OBE, and he received the Kings Police Medal in the New Year Honours earlier this year. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A man who served 17 years behind bars for a rape he says he did not commit will have his case heard at the Court of Appeal as he bids to clear his name after new DNA evidence emerged pointing to another potential suspect. Andrew Malkinson, 57, was found guilty of the 2003 attack on a woman in Greater Manchester and the following year was jailed for life with a minimum term of seven years, but remained in prison for a further 10 because he maintained he was innocent. At the time of his trial, there was no DNA evidence linking him to the crime and the prosecution case against him was based solely on identification evidence. His case was referred to the Court of Appeal in January by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, after the new evidence was discovered. Of course, it is still the Court of Appeal's decision to grant me justice Andrew Malkinson Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed in May that they will not contest Mr Malkinsons appeal, and the court may quash his conviction at Wednesdays hearing if it decides it is unsafe. The court still has to determine the outcome and scope of the appeal, despite the lack of resistance. His case is due to be heard from 10.30am on Wednesday by Lord Justice Holroyde and two other judges. In a statement after the CPS and GMP announced their decision, Mr Malkinson said: Ive suffered incalculably for the last 20 years as a result of my wrongful conviction, and I continue to suffer each day. I have always known I am innocent. Finally, the prosecution has acknowledged my conviction should not stand. Of course, it is still the Court of Appeals decision to grant me justice. I sincerely hope they will give serious consideration to the disclosure failures which denied me a fair trial. The police must be made accountable no one should have to suffer what Ive been through. While his main ground of appeal is the fresh DNA evidence, his lawyers told the court at a preliminary hearing in May that there were photographs of the victims hands, corroborating her evidence that she scratched her attacker and broke a nail, which were not disclosed at the time of Mr Malkinsons trial. They also said there is evidence that one of the key identification witnesses was a long-term user of heroin, which may have affected his memory, but that was not known by Mr Malkinson or his legal team at trial. At the preliminary hearing in May, Edward Henry KC, for Mr Malkinson, told the court the CCRC had been aware since 2009 that there was crime specific DNA which was not a match for either Mr Malkinson or the victim. However, he said at that time the CCRC did not consider it tipped the balance towards a referral to the Court of Appeal. But, in October last year, the sample was found to be a partial match for another man, who the court ordered can only be identified as Mr B. Mr Malkinson previously applied twice for his case to be reviewed by the CCRC, but was turned down, eventually being released from prison in December 2020. After his release, advancements in scientific techniques allowed his legal team, supported by legal charity Appeal, to provide new DNA analysis that cast doubt on his conviction to the CCRC. The body then commissioned its own testing which found that DNA from the victims clothing matched another man on the national police database. GMP confirmed in January that a man had been arrested and released under investigation in light of the new information, but no decision has been made as to whether he will be charged. 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 case of a man who served 17 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit could have wider implications for the criminal justice system, his lawyers have told the Court of Appeal. Andrew Malkinson, 57, was found guilty of raping a woman in Greater Manchester in 2003 and the following year he was jailed for life with a minimum term of seven years. However, his barrister Edward Henry KC told the court on Wednesday that because he maintained he was innocent and would not falsely confess to abhorrent crimes which he did not commit, Mr Malkinson served a further 10 years in jail after his tariff expired. Mr Malkinson is fighting to clear his name and his case was referred to the court in January by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, after recently-obtained DNA evidence linked another potential suspect to the crime. Mr Henry told the court that samples of DNA which were rigorously tested had been preserved over many years but that most regrettably items of the victims clothing had been destroyed by Greater Manchester Police. At the time of Mr Malkinsons trial, there was no DNA evidence linking him to the crime and the prosecution case against him was based solely on identification evidence. I've suffered incalculably for the last 20 years as a result of my wrongful conviction, and I continue to suffer each day Andrew Malkinson The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has conceded Mr Malkinsons conviction is unsafe because the new DNA evidence points to another man, who the court ordered can only be identified as Mr B, and says there must now be a real possibility he will be charged over the attack. The CPS and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed in May they would not contest the appeal and the court is likely to quash his conviction. However, Mr Malkinsons legal team also want the court to overturn his conviction on additional grounds, which Mr Henry summarised as deplorable disclosure failures which mostly lay at the door of the Greater Manchester Police. The barrister said these failings, which were only uncovered 15 years after his conviction, meant Mr Malkinson did not receive a fair trial in 2004 and frustrated his previous challenge at the Court of Appeal in 2006. Mr Henry told the court there was a realistic possibility at trial that he would not have been convicted or that his appeal would have been successful in 2006. He told Lord Justice Holroyde and the other two judges hearing the appeal: (They were) grave and repeated disclosure failures during those proceedings that undermined any prospect of a fair trial. In more than one sense this is an historic case, but also an historic injustice. The barrister argued that police photographs, taken within hours of the attack but only disclosed in boxes of case documents years later, supported the victims evidence that she scratched her attacker and broke a nail on her left hand. Had they been disclosed before Mr Malkinsons trial, he argued, they would have corrected the evidence of a doctor who wrongly said the broken nail was on the victims right hand, and the trial judge would therefore not have directed the jury that they could exclude the victims evidence about that if they were sure she was mistaken. He said in written arguments the failure to disclose the photographs deprived Mr Malkinson of his strongest defence point his lack of any facial injury. Mr Henry also argued that undisclosed evidence relating to two eyewitnesses to the attack Michael Seward and Beverley Craig meant the jury were misled into thinking of them as honest and credible, when both had previous convictions for dishonesty offences and one was a long-term heroin user. None of this was known to Mr Malkinson or his defence team at trial, which Mr Henry argued violated his right to a fair trial by depriving him of information which would have helped him to counter the only evidence which supported the victims identification of him. He said in written arguments: At trial, they were presented as honest witnesses whose evidence could safely be relied on to buttress (the victims) identification of the appellant and the defence deprived of their criminal histories conceded both were honest. It is now clear the jury were given a false impression. Mr Seward and Ms Craig shared a history of untruthful, deceptive and dishonest behaviour, while Mr Seward was additionally a chronic heroin user, who had undisclosed police interactions on both the date he first emerged as a witness and on the date he identified the appellant. He added: Previously undisclosed evidence shows the jury were misled into taking the honesty of these witnesses for granted, and deprived of important information going to their credibility and reliability. Mr Henry urged the court to determine the appeal on all of the grounds, saying he wanted to ensure the widest possible vindication for Mr Malkinson, but also to prevent others from suffering the same fate in future. The hearing continues and it is not known whether the judges will give a decision on Wednesday. In a statement after the CPS and GMP announced their decision, Mr Malkinson said: Ive suffered incalculably for the last 20 years as a result of my wrongful conviction, and I continue to suffer each day. I have always known I am innocent. Finally, the prosecution has acknowledged my conviction should not stand. Of course, it is still the Court of Appeals decision to grant me justice. I sincerely hope they will give serious consideration to the disclosure failures which denied me a fair trial. The police must be made accountable no-one should have to suffer what Ive been through. At the preliminary hearing in May, Mr Henry told the court the CCRC had been aware since 2009 that there was crime-specific DNA which was not a match for either Mr Malkinson or the victim. However, he said at that time the CCRC did not consider it tipped the balance towards a referral to the Court of Appeal. In October last year, the sample was found to be a partial match for another man, who the court ordered can only be identified as Mr B. Mr Malkinson previously applied twice for his case to be reviewed by the CCRC but was turned down, eventually being released from prison in December 2020. After his release, advancements in scientific techniques allowed his legal team, supported by legal charity Appeal, to provide new DNA analysis that cast doubt on his conviction to the CCRC. The body then commissioned its own testing which found that DNA from the victims clothing matched another man on the national police database. GMP confirmed in January that a man had been arrested and released under investigation in light of the new information, but no decision has been made as to whether he will be charged. 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 }} Prison sentences handed to two Just Stop Oil protesters after they scaled a bridge on the Dartford Crossing were the longest given for a peaceful protest case in modern times, the Court of Appeal has been told. Morgan Trowland, 40, and Marcus Decker, 34, were jailed after they used ropes and other climbing equipment to scale the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, causing gridlock when police closed it to traffic last October. At a hearing in London on Wednesday, the protesters lawyers made a bid to challenge the extraordinary length of Trowlands three-year sentence and Deckers jail term of two years and seven months. The extent of the deterrent element of the offence was unduly severe, unreasonable, and otherwise likely to have a 'chilling effect' on all protest rather than this type of protest Daniel Friedman KC, for the activists Daniel Friedman KC, representing the activists, said in written arguments their jail terms were the longest ever handed down in a case of non-violent protest in this country in modern times. The protesters face a wait to discover the outcome of their appeal bid after judges said they will give their written decision at a later date. A trial at Basildon Crown Court was previously told the bridge was shut from 4am on October 17 until 9pm the next day, sparking traffic jams as motorists were forced to use tunnels instead. In April, a jury unanimously found Trowland and Decker guilty of causing a public nuisance. Just Stop Oil previously said sentencing Judge Shane Collery KC was trying to set a precedent and deter people. The environmental campaign group said Decker, a German citizen who it said has leave to remain in the UK, faces deportation after serving his sentence. On Wednesday, Mr Friedman said the protesters have spent nine months locked up, having been in custody since their arrest last October. The barrister said this amounts to the longest sentence ever served in living memory for someone convicted over a peaceful protest. He described their manifestly excessive sentences as the longest by a very long way for deliberate obstruction of the highway or infrastructure. Mr Friedman said particular caution was needed over sentencing, including in the context of non-violent acts of civil disobedience, even when seriously disruptive of others. In written arguments, Mr Friedman said the sentencing judge handed down jail terms that were a disproportionate interference with the activists rights to free speech and protest. He said: The extent of the deterrent element of the offence was unduly severe, unreasonable, and otherwise likely to have a chilling effect on all protest rather than this type of protest. Mr Friedman also said the sentencing judge was unduly harsh in his approach to the two protesters previous convictions and prospect of rehabilitation. Trowland has six previous convictions relating to protests, while Decker has one, with lawyers for the pair previously saying they would not take part in further disruptive protest. Tom Little KC, for the Crown Prosecution Service, opposed the two mens appeal bids, saying there will be cases in which it is necessary to deter people from offending and further law-breaking. We are aware of both the potential urgency of the matter and its importance Lady Justice Carr He said the sentencing judge was not wrong in his approach and placed the case in a high level of seriousness, noting its impact, duration and planning. Mr Little said there was a proper basis to impose a sentence which reflected a marked element of deterrent but which would not have a chilling effect on those conducting lawful protests across the country. In a reference to other protest incidents, Mr Little said the court could note the fact that Just Stop Oil protests have not been stopped in the middle of the road as a result of this or in the middle of Lords, or Wimbledon, or the Crucible, or wherever. Structural engineer Trowland, of Islington, north London, and private tutor Decker, of no fixed address, denied causing a public nuisance, arguing it was a protest. Their trial was told the protesters ascended to a point close to 200ft above the road and unfurled a giant Just Stop Oil banner and rigged up hammocks and stayed there. The men came down at about 5.30pm on October 18 with the help of police and a very tall cherry picker crane but the bridge, which links the M25 in Essex and Kent, was not reopened to traffic until later. Essex Police said those affected by the disruption included a heavily pregnant woman who needed urgent medical help. Another person missed the funeral of their best friend of 35 years, the force said, and a business lost more than 160,000 in earnings. Trowland, wearing a yellow shirt, joined Wednesdays hearing via video-link, sat alongside Decker, who wore a white T-shirt bearing the image of a red beetle. Ahead of proceedings, a crowd of singing and placard-waving supporters gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice in central London to demand the pairs release. Lady Justice Carr, sitting with Mrs Justice Cutts and Mrs Justice Thornton, said they need to reflect carefully before giving their ruling in writing. We are aware of both the potential urgency of the matter and its importance, Lady Justice Carr 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 }} Watch live as lawyers hold a press conference after Kevin Spacey was cleared of nine sex offences on Wednesday, 26 July. The Oscar-winning actor had tears in his eyes as the jury's verdict was read out. Spacey, 64, had been on trial at Southwark Crown Court in London. He was accused of sexually assaulting four men in the period between 2001 and 2013. The jury panel acquitted Spacey of seven counts of sexual assault, one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent after 12 hours and 26 minutes. The House of Cards actor denied all charges, describing the allegations against him as madness and a stab in the back. Jurors rejected the prosecutions claims that Spacey had aggressively grabbed three men by the crotch and had performed a sex act on another man while he was asleep in his flat. 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 Government has more work to do to address structural problems in the early years system to ensure families benefit from high-quality affordable childcare under its reforms, MPs have said. Plans to expand the number of subsidised childcare places for working parents in England should not come at the expense of quality, the Commons Education Select Committee has warned. From September, the Government will change minimum staff-to-child ratios from 1:4 to 1:5 for two-year-olds in England, but it will remain optional. The group of MPs said it is deeply concerned about the plans and it is calling on the Government to reverse the changes if quality is degraded. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced reforms in the Budget in March which will allow some families of children as young as nine months in England to claim 30 hours of free childcare a week. Simply extending the number of hours that the Government calls free will not work unless the funding rates accurately reflect the costs of providing high quality early education and childcare Committee chairman Robin Walker From April next year, working parents of two-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours of free childcare. This will be extended to working parents of all children older than nine months from September next year. From September 2025, working parents of children under five will be entitled to 30 hours of free childcare per week. The Education Select Committee said it was a welcome investment following concerns raised by parents and early years providers during its inquiry about affordability and sustainability. The report added: However, this investment is much overdue and more will need to be done to address the structural problems in the ECEC (Early Childhood Education Care) system if the funding increases are to be implemented effectively. In particular, close attention should be paid to effective funding distribution. Settings in disadvantaged areas already struggle more than those in more affluent areas, yet we know that it is children from disadvantaged families that can benefit the most from high-quality ECEC. The Treasury missed an opportunity to reform tax-free childcare and increase the flexibility of the system under its plans to expand free childcare for working parents, the report said. Under the current system, working parents of three and four-year-olds in England are eligible for 30 hours of free childcare per week. The tax-free childcare scheme also allows eligible working families to claim 20% government support with their childcare costs, up to an annual limit of 2,000 per child. The Commons Education Select Committee report said the requirement for parents to reconfirm their eligibility every three months for the 30 hours entitlement and tax-free childcare scheme is unduly onerous and should be reduced to once per year. Committee chairman Robin Walker said: The childcare market is facing significant challenges in affordability and availability, with unprecedented staff turnover and nurseries closing, despite massive demand from parents who want a career and to provide for their families but struggle to find affordable services. It is clear that ministers have more work to do to address this. Simply extending the number of hours that the Government calls free will not work unless the funding rates accurately reflect the costs of providing high-quality early education and childcare. We have heard that many settings rely on charging more for the children who attend them outside of the funded hours. It is therefore essential that ministers reduce burdens on the sector and provide adequate funding for all the stages of early education. He added: Staff are the lifeblood of this sector and the huge expansion of subsidised childcare will only be successful if we can stem the tide of people leaving the workforce. There needs to be a revamp of career development, with improvements to pay, progression and conditions so that the profession is given the respect and status it deserves. Not only have years of severe underfunding plagued the sector but the worst staffing crisis in decades has created a perfect storm which must be addressed if the sector has any chance of survival in the coming years Neil Leitch, Early Years Alliance The cross-party group of MPs is calling on the Department for Education (DfE) to work closely with childcare providers and local authorities across the country to set the funding rate at a sufficient level. It added that the DfE should stop describing the 30 hours offer as free hours and instead refer to it as funded or subsidised hours to improve parental trust in the childcare subsidy system. Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance (EYA), said: Not only have years of severe underfunding plagued the sector but the worst staffing crisis in decades has created a perfect storm which must be addressed if the sector has any chance of survival in the coming years. If that wasnt bad enough, its likely that the upcoming sector expansion will be dangerously underfunded and will place unrealistic expectations on providers already on the brink. He added: For the committees findings to truly have a lasting impact, we hope against hope that it finally wakes the Government up to the reality of the situation facing families and providers and prompts urgent and effective action. Last week, the Government said reforms expanding the amount of free childcare for parents will be properly and fairly funded. The DfE said its proposed new funding formula, which is now out for consultation, provides additional funding for areas of deprivation. The increased funding will see the expected average rate paid to local authorities for 2024/25 to be set at 8.17 for two-year-olds and 11.06 for under-twos, the DfE said. A Government spokesperson said: We are rolling out the single biggest investment in childcare in England ever, set to save a working parent using 30 hours of childcare up to an average of 6,500 per year and give children the best quality early years education. To make sure that we are supporting our fantastic early years workforce, we will be investing hundreds of millions of pounds each year to increase the amounts we pay childcare providers. We also are consulting on how we distribute funding to make sure it is fair. Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Anti-racism protesters gathered in Croydon on Tuesday night in response to the wrongful arrest of a Black mother for bus fare evasion in front of her tearful young son. Video footage of the woman shouting as two male Metropolitan Police officers hold her arms and handcuffed her in the south London town on 21 July has sparked fierce criticism and prompted an investigation by the police watchdog the Independent Police Conduct Authority. The woman was arrested after being accused of failing to pay a bus fare but was later de-arrested when it was confirmed she had paid. Around 100 people joined a demonstration outside the towns police station to call out her treatment, organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR), Black Lives Matter Croydon, Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) and RMT Black & Ethnic Minority Members on Tuesday night. Speakers addressed the crowd to voice concerns about how the woman was treated amid a national discussion about the lack of trust in policing among Black communities. Benjamin Clement, 53, who filmed the womans arrest told The Independent: I saw just another Black person being abused by the police. I just couldnt believe the way they were handling the woman. They were trying to get her onto the floor at one point she was so distressed and it just seemed like no one cared. Everyone was just standing around watching. So, I felt like I had to start filming. Anti-racism protesters came out to demonstrate against the womans treatment (The Independent) While Mr Clement said he was blown away by the public response to the video and solidarity with the woman, he said he expects similar incidents to happen in the future while a crisis in policing prevails. Ive been stopped and searched; its happened to my kids who are in their early twenties. Nothings really going to change. But as a father of six, with four daughters, I had to do something. Following the protest, Glen Hart, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Croydon, told The Independent: We feel that the way this woman was treated was a total abuse of authority, an act of race discrimination with impunity and the officers tend to get away with this all the time. It doesnt make sense that they would handcuff her in front of her crying child she wasnt a threat. Benjamin Clement said he was shocked but not surprised by the womans treatment (The Independent) Marc Wadsworth, founder of The Liberation Movement, said: As a Black parent in Croydon, Im appalled at what has happened with a Black mother at a bus stop with a valid ticket to travel in front of a young child. But this will keep happening sadly, because theres something rotten at the heart of the Metropolitan Police as the Louise Casey report uncovered saying that it is institutionally racist, misogynist and homophobic. Mr Wadsworth, who founded the Anti-Racist Alliance in 1991 which went on to become Europes largest Black-led movement, continued: There will be many more cases like this: the George Floyds, Chris Kaba, Mark Duggan, Roger Sylvester until we clear up the s**t house which is the Met police. Campaigners called for change amid wider concerns about police treatment of Black communities (The Independent) The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed on Tuesday that it would investigate the response of the officers involved after it received a complaint accusing police of racially profiling the woman. Footage posted online of the arrest shows the woman shouting What the hell? and What the f*** is going on? while handcuffed, as two male officers hold her arms. She repeatedly asks one of the officers to let go and says I havent done anything wrong, while a member of the public filmed what is happening and asked why she is being arrested. On Monday, Met Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: It is clear from the video that has been shared online that this incident was distressing for the woman involved and particularly for her child. We understand why it has prompted significant public concern and we want to be transparent about our position and the role of our officers. 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 coroner has raised concerns about older drivers being able to renew their licences by self-declaring they are fit to drive after hearing the case of a baby killed in a crash caused by a motorist with undiagnosed dementia. Louis Thorold, five months, was in a pram being pushed by his mother when the elderly driver turned into the path of a van, forcing it onto the pavement where it hit them. Mazda driver Shelagh Robertson, 73 at the time, was on her way home from a shopping trip to Tesco when she caused the crash on the A10 at Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire on 22 January 2021. The van driver, who was driving within the 50mph limit, had no time to react, an inquest in Huntingdon was told. Robertson was prosecuted for causing death by careless driving but found not guilty by reason of insanity after a trial at Cambridge Crown Court last year. Jurors were told the pensioner was suffering from dementia, which was undiagnosed at the time. Motorists aged 70 or over are required by law to renew their driving licence every three years, with Robertson renewing hers in May 2017 as she approached her 70th birthday, an inquest was told on Wednesday. This was done by an online application in which she said she was medically fit to drive. Because of the Covid pandemic, Robertsons three-year licence was extended by a year, giving it an expiration date of June 2021 after the crash. Sergeant Mark Dollard, of Cambridgeshire Police, told the inquest: The process for renewing your licence is entirely reliant on honesty and awareness. If you dont have either of them, theres a flaw that can be exploited. Simon Milburn, Cambridgeshire area coroner, said: The obvious way around that is for someone to design a process where theres a formal examination at an appointed time. Mr Dollard said the current system requires drivers to answer 21 medical questions, with yes or no answers, to renew their licence at age 70. He said if Robertson had been checked by a doctor and the doctor had identified there was the onset of dementia, then (she) may well have not had (her) licence renewed and we wouldnt have had an incident like we had in 2021. The coroner said he will write to the Department for Transport with his concerns. How practical and whether there are resources to put such a system in place is not for me, said Mr Milburn. Our cognitive health and reaction time changes with time and this needs to be objectively checked. Mrs Robertson hadnt picked up her significant cognitive decline Rachael Thorold, Louis's mother Louiss father Chris Thorold said there is a gaping hole in the system that you can self-certify. Quite a lot of European countries have these rules in place that require medical examinations, he said. In a statement read to the inquest, Rachael Thorold, Louiss mother, said: Our cognitive health and reaction time changes with time and this needs to be objectively checked. Mrs Robertson hadnt picked up her significant cognitive decline. Mr Milburn concluded Louis died as the result of a road traffic collision, having sustained multiple traumatic injuries. He said he will also write to Cambridgeshire County Council to ask if the speed limit at the crash site, which has already been lowered from 50mph to 40mph, could be further lowered to 30mph and if safety barriers can be installed. Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Backlash is growing against a universitys decision to axe a flagship African studies course as thousands back a petition calling for a u-turn. The University of Chichester has accelerated plans to pull the plug on its Masters by Research (MRes), History of Africa and the African Diaspora course without consultation from its teaching staff or students. The position of course leader Hakim Adi, Britains first history professor of African heritage, also faces redundancy. There is no other programme of study comparable to this at a UK university, its students have said. The petition, launched by a coalition of historians and signed by over 7,000 people, reads: The Universitys action comes as a complete shock to (...) students (current and former), (...) the wider community of historians, activists, teachers and countless advocates of an inclusive history, which necessarily embraces the History of Africa and the African Diaspora. To reiterate, the university took this action- suspending enrollment of new students in next years intake, without consultation with Professor Adi. This top-down decision comes at a time when we can readily observe how higher education is being weaponised to pander to market forces. The marketisation of universities and shoehorning subjects into the sole outcome of generating income for universities is unequivocally immoral and unethical. Labour Party MP Bell Riberio-Addy has submitted an early-day motion in parliament on this matter, as other politicians have expressed concern. Prominent historians including Olivette Otele, Britains first Black woman history professor, and David Olusoga have endorsed the petition. The news is shocking and an absolute disgrace, Professor Otele said. This is a world-renowned scholar and an incredible programme we are talking about. We are not asking, we are demanding that the university reconsider its plans. A number of the courses students, past and present, have also stepped forward to voice their disappointment with this move. Widening the scope of Black history study helps to unravel and unlearn many racial stereotypes and embraces all histories in Britain, said postgraduate student, Marlene Worrell. The MRes in the History of Africa and the African Diaspora course addresses this issue at a postgraduate level and from my own experience, it redefines the conception of Britishness and includes Black history as a body of legitimate knowledge. As a qualified postgraduate, I would not have pursued undertaking my PhD, had it not been my learning experience that inspired this. University of Chichester (University of Chichester) The Mres course was launched in 2017 and Professor Adi has worked at the university for over a decade. The institution has claimed that the course is not popular enough, hence its decision to cancel it. However, critics of this move have said the has not properly advertised it, asserting that the university is attacking Black academia and the cancellation plans are racist at its core. We demand answers about the lack of transparency in this process. We want to know why students, staff, and chiefly Professor Adi, were not consulted and the decision was taken out of their hands, the petition reads. It needs to be explained why the University has not deployed its full resources to market the course. Had this been addressed, it would have contributed to increased recruitment levels to the MRes. The University of Chichester has been approached for comment. 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 British and Irish governments need to work with a common strategy to exert pressure for the return of the Stormont Assembly, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said. Irelands premier said he regretted that the two governments had not worked more closely over the restoration of the powersharing institutions for quite some time. Mr Varadkar also said he was hopeful that Stormont would return in the autumn, but conceded it was not an expectation at this stage. The DUP collapsed the Stormont executive last year in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements created by the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Windsor Framework struck by London and Brussels earlier this year sought to reduce the red tape on goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK while maintaining the dual market access. However, the DUP has insisted the new accord does not go far enough to address its concerns around sovereignty and the application of EU law in Northern Ireland, and the party is maintaining its blockade of Stormont until it receives further legal assurances from the UK Government. Senior civil servants have been left running Stormont departments in the meantime. Mr Varadkar said he intended to visit Northern Ireland for a round of meetings with political parties next month. He said: Were still working as best we can with the British Government and the five main parties to have the Assembly and executive up and running in the autumn. One thing Im saying very strongly to the British Government is that we need to have a common strategy, that we need to work hand in glove, that we need together to put pressure on the parties to come into government. We havent really had that approach for quite some time, I regret that we dont. Im continuing to say to our UK counterparts that the right way forward is an agreed strategy, hand in glove, hand in hand approach between the British and Irish governments, because thats when Northern Ireland works best, when the British and Irish governments work together, and are honest brokers, and dont particularly take the side of nationalism or the side of unionists, and I would like us to get back to that point. The Taoiseach said he would like to see the Stormont institutions up and running before an investment conference planned for Belfast in September and a British Irish Council meeting in Dublin in November. He said: I think it would be a shame if that wasnt possible. I am also conscious as well that there are electoral cycles here. We have local European elections in June, theres a British general election due next year as well. I think if we don't kind of grab that window that exists in the autumn, there'll be a tendency to say let's wait until the elections are out of the way Leo Varadkar I think if we dont kind of grab that window that exists in the autumn, therell be a tendency to say lets wait until the elections are out of the way and that opportunity might be lost. I think that would be a real shame. Mr Varadkar said the Irish Government was not party to discussions taking place between the Westminster government and the DUP over post-Brexit trading concerns. He said: I do still hope that well have the Assembly and executive up and running in September; it would certainly be nice to have it up and running for the investment conference. That would be a very positive thing if the Minister for the Economy, the Minister of Finance, the First Minister, deputy First Minister, can be there together, making the case for investment in Northern Ireland together. But theres a difference between hope and expectation. I certainly do hope that we can have institutions up and running in September. I think its fair to say its not an expectation at this stage. He said he had sought assurances that any deal between the UK Government and the DUP would not undermine the Good Friday Agreement and the Windsor Framework. We have that assurance repeatedly, from the prime minister and the Secretary of State (Chris Heaton-Harris). 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 family from Northern Ireland evacuated due to the wildfires in Rhodes have said it was hell trying to get home from the Greek island. Conor and Danielle Cullen took a holiday to Rhodes in Greece with their two daughters, Chloe, 13, and Molly, 11. The family experienced a brutal several days trying to return to their home in Co Tyrone after being evacuated from their hotel with only one small backpack of their belongings. They had to face a boat journey in the dark, emergency accommodation and trying to arrange travel back to Belfast with little information. Temperatures of over 40C have led to an outbreak of fires across islands in Greece, with the blaze in Rhodes causing more than 20,000 people to be evacuated. Orders to evacuate have also been issued on the islands of Corfu and Evia. After being evacuated from their hotel to a beach 4-5 miles away, Mr and Mrs Cullen were told that buses would be returning to take them back to the hotel, but as it grew dark Mrs Cullen said the danger of the nearby fire became more apparent. All you kept hearing was A bus is coming, a bus is coming and then it starts to get dark and theres no electric, so no streetlights, no nothing, she said. And the darker it was getting the more you could see the flames, because during the day you couldnt see flames, it was all smoke, but then when it was getting darker, the sky, it was just red and orange with flames. And youre sitting and still nothings coming. Mr Cullen said: You could feel the tension in the air. People were starting to get more panicked about what was happening. Because where the fire was didnt look as severe as it got later in the night, and then you could see that the fire actually spread right across the horizon, almost like an arc as if it was coming towards you. Having received no guidance from easyJet, the airline the couple had booked through, or from anyone from their hotel, Mr and Mrs Cullen were told by a Red Cross representative that they had to evacuate their area by boat or by bus. They said thousands of people gathered on the beach to await boats for evacuation in the dark. Mr Cullen said once the boat started to allow people on it was a free-for-all. Mrs Cullen added: Were pulling the kids, the kids are pulling us, everybodys just pulling on each other. And it was just panic. They (others attempting to board) did not care about young children in front of them, and they got on before the children, they had pushed their way right through before we could even get the kids up. So we reckon there was about 50 of us on a boat, and nobody spoke and no life jackets. Mrs Cullen said the familys experience on the boat was hell. We were on the boat for nearly three hours. Three hours on the boat, she said. We did not know where we were at when we were getting off. I actually asked the man were we still in Rhodes. Because everything was black, you did not know. She added: Were on the water, we cant see nothing, it was just hell. Mr and Mrs Cullen said the boat evacuation was extremely stressful for the family. I know the way Im feeling, Im sitting here at times going this just seems like a dream, like the holiday hasnt happened yet, Mrs Cullen said. Its just a nightmare, and that boat. We cannot, I cannot get that boat situation out of my head. Mr Cullen said he felt the boats looked unsafe. That was the big moment for us, was youre risking getting on the boat in the middle of the night with young children, he said. Because wed seen lots of these sorts of tender boats running back and forth, getting people and taking them out to bigger ships and just the amount of people on them just didnt look safe. Following the boat journey, the Cullens were taken to emergency accommodation in Afantou, Rhodes. The couple said the familys situation was not helped by a lack of communication from easyJet. There was other representatives of other airline companies coming to people and saying theyre looking into it and all the rest, Mrs Cullen said. EasyJet nothing. Not one person. Not one phone call. Not one text. Nothing. Mr Cullen said the first contact they received from the airline was 13 hours after the evacuation from their hotel. Theres no information being put out but to the media or whatever, and when we called them we were phoning flat out to try and get some information so you can make decisions, he said. But then, I think the first correspondence we got was 13 hours later from (when) we were evacuated, and at that point we were on the boat. The Cullens heard of a repatriation flight to Gatwick, which they took, and then flew from Gatwick to Belfast City Airport, arriving home on Monday evening. Due to their house and car keys being in the hotel along with their belongings and some sentimental items, the Cullens had to get a locksmith to open the door of their house. They said booking new flights and accommodation had cost around 1,000, but Mrs Cullen said their focus was on the safety of the people of Rhodes, and the other tourists making the journey back. We hope that the island does build itself back up again because it was beautiful, and the families that we did meet along the way I really hope that they all got home as well, she said. Two flights from Rhodes were due to land at Belfast International Airport in the early hours of Wednesday morning. An easyJet holidays spokesperson said they were in touch with Mr and Mrs Cullen and that the couple would receive a partial refund. There is nothing more important to us than the safety and wellbeing of our customers. As the situation in Rhodes has evolved, weve prioritised keeping our impacted customers updated, sourcing them alternative accommodation, and organising a return to the UK at the earliest opportunity, they said. Were really sorry to hear that Mr and Mrs Cullens holiday was impacted by the wildfires. As soon as we were aware of the situation and as it unfolded, we got in touch with Mr and Mrs Cullen several times to share updates and next steps, including confirming the alternative hotel we had sourced. While the concerning wildfire situation is out of our control, we apologise for any disappointment caused and well be in touch with Mr and Mrs Cullen to discuss a partial refund for the disrupted element of their holiday. 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 investigating the brutal murder of an elderly couple inside their Welsh farmhouse believe modern forensic techniques could be the key to unlocking the 30-year-old case. Harry and Megan Tooze were shot and killed at their rural home in Llanharry, near Bridgend, South Wales, on July 26 1993 and their bloodied bodies later found hidden under hay bales in a cowshed. Three decades on, the case remains unsolved and detectives are once again appealing for information, saying they hope to deliver justice for the couple and their family. The forensic review, launched on the anniversary of their deaths, will be carried out alongside forensic scientist Dr Angela Gallop and focus on identifying exhibits where there is potential for further forensic testing. Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Mark Lewis said: We hope that by using the latest modern forensic techniques we can deliver justice for Harry and Megan. As is usual in such reviews, no outcomes can ever be guaranteed. This case has affected many people over the years and our aim is to find the answers to the unanswered questions which remain about their deaths 30 years on, he added. Even with this passage of time I appeal to anyone who has any information about the murders to come forward and speak to police. The couple were found dead with gunshot wounds at Ty Ar y Waun Farm. That Monday morning Harry, 64, and Megan, 67, had left the farm to visit a Tesco supermarket in Llantrisant and collect their pensions and were seen arriving back home at 11am. At around 1.30pm two gunshots were heard by neighbours, but this was not considered to be unusual due to it being a farm. Police were called after a regular phone call from their only child, Cheryl Tooze, went unanswered. Ms Tooze had first rung her parents neighbour Owen Hopkins to ask if he would check on them. When Mr Hopkins phoned back to say they were not at home he suggested Ms Tooze call the police. Ms Tooze told Mr Hopkins her partner Jonathan Jones was driving from their home in Kent and would be there shortly. Mr Hopkins called 999 at around midnight prompting officers to attend the farmhouse and search the scene. Mr Hopkins recalled first seeing Mr Jones a short time later inside the property. Officers eventually discovered the bodies of Mr and Mrs Tooze in a cowshed adjoining the farmhouse. They had both been shot in the back of the head from about a metre away with a 12-bore double-barrelled shotgun. They had been covered in carpet and hidden under hay bales. Police believe they were not killed in the cowshed, but were likely to have been carried there after their deaths. Items in the house, such as a teacup and saucer and a shirt laid out for Mr Tooze in the bedroom, led detectives to believe the suspect was someone known to the couple and that they had perhaps been expecting them. Ms Tooze was at work during the killings but Mr Joness alibi was less ironclad and suspicion turned towards him. Mr Jones, who was 35 at the time and a self-employed recruitment consultant, was convicted of the murders in April 1995 and released by the Court of Appeal a year later in April 1996. After an independent review of the murders in 2000, a new team of detectives was brought in to reinvestigate the deaths in November 2001. Between November 2001 and January 2003, officers from South Wales Polices Specialist Search Unit searched the area around Mr and Mrs Toozes farmhouse, including a nearby iron ore mine and a disused quarry. In 2003 it was announced that the team of detectives, led by Detective Chief Inspector Brent Parry, who solved the murder of 20-year-old Lynette White in Butetown near Cardiffs docklands were joining the hunt for the killer. Although a number of new leads were generated following the appeal, no-one was charged. Information can be submitted to the investigation via this online public portal: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/62SWP19A24-PO1 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 }} Dame Alison Rose is a prominent figure in the finance industry, the first woman to be appointed to a top leadership role at one of the UKs Big Four banks. But after a three-decade-long career in NatWest, Dame Alison was forced to quit her 5.2 million job amid a row involving Nigel Farage, the former leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP). Stepping down as NatWests chief executive by mutual consent on Tuesday evening, Dame Alison admitted she made a serious error of judgment when she discussed Mr Farages relationship with private bank Coutts owned by NatWest Group with a BBC journalist. One of Dame Alisons first big decisions was to ditch the name RBS Group in favour of NatWest Group (PA Archive) Last week, Mr Farage presented evidence, in the form of a 40-page dossier, that his account at Coutts had been closed partly due to his political views conflicting with the banks values. The evidence obtained from the bank through a data request contradicted a BBC News story, which initially claimed that the account closure was motivated by commercial reasons only, citing Mr Farages failure to meet a 1 million borrowing requirement. Dame Alison has since admitted she was the source of the story. Born on 13 December 1969, Dame Alison was raised in a military family and travelled widely. She graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in law before going to the prestigious Harvard University in the US. After graduating from Harvard Business School she joined NatWest Group in 1992, when it was known as the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Group. Climbing the ladder to take up senior leadership roles over the years she became CEO in 2019. Dame Alison took over the bank, which had stabilised after the financial crisis nearly killed it, from New Zealander Ross McEwan. The then 49-year-old banker faced major challenges after taking over the reins of the bank and was seen as a continuity candidate to steer it through a less turbulent time. Recognised as a meticulous chief executive, her employees, behind closed doors, often found themselves scrambling to respond to her insightful questions, revealing her acute understanding of the banks operations. In the six years leading up to her appointment, the group underwent significant restructuring, resulting in a reduction of headcount from 109,000 to 66,600. Moreover, during this period, the bank made the strategic decision to withdraw operations from 26 out of 28 countries, streamlining its global presence. Nigel Farage received an apology from the BBC over its reporting of the banking row (PA Wire) But as she took charge of the bank, Dame Alison wanted to make an impression, complaining that the bank was still far too complex and that it was difficult to get things done. One of her initial notable actions was to initiate the rebranding of the bank from RBS to NatWest Group. She also gained attention for implementing notable changes, including offering up to a year of leave to new fathers and discontinuing new loans to oil and gas companies. During its tumultuous history, RBS Group had experienced a brief period of being the worlds largest bank before the 2008 financial crisis, achieved through an aggressive expansion strategy that involved the acquisition of the National Westminster Bank in 2000 and Dutch bank ABN Amro in 2007. In 2016, she described the period of financial crisis as a pretty traumatic period for the industry. There was the experience of watching everything we had been working on change, and the terrible situation that RBS found itself in, she told the Evening Standard. That was a pretty emotional and difficult experience. Over the years, she worked to oversee the bank that had some 19 million customers in the UK and around 60,000 employees globally. Meanwhile the government has gradually divested its stake in the company, resulting in public ownership falling below 50 per cent for the first time since the bailout took place last year. The CEO became a Dame Commander of the British Empire earlier this year (PA Wire) In 2021, the mother of two told The Telegraph that running NatWest during the Covid pandemic was much easier than managing homeschooling [of her kids] during the lockdown. Earlier this year, she received a substantial payout of over 5m, following robust profits, marking the first time NatWest granted a bonus to a chief executive since the governments rescue of the company during the 2008 financial crisis. At the beginning of this year, King Charles III honoured her by naming her a Dame Commander of the British Empire, recognising her exceptional contributions and achievements, and just last week she was appointed to prime minister Rishi Sunaks new business council. 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 }} Dame Alison Roses dead-of-night resignation as NatWest chief executive wiped 850m off the value of the taxpayer-backed bank. Her decision to quit after admitting she leaked a story about Nigel Farages Coutts bank account has rocked NatWest and the wider banking sector. The move prompted Mr Farage to call for the rest of the NatWest board to quit over the row, adding that the Coutts CEO Peter Flavels position was also unsustainable. Coutts is owned by NatWest. Dame Alisons departure was announced just after 1.25am on Wednesday morning. The markets responded, with 3.7 per cent, or 850m, knocked off the firms value making it the biggest loser on the FTSE 100. Her resignation meant more than 320m was wiped from the 39 per cent stake in NatWest that is owned by the taxpayer. On the same day, Lloyds Banking Group was down 2.7 per cent despite a surge in half-year profits and Barclays dropped by 1.8 per cent. Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Susannah Streeter told The Independent that investors feared ripple effects from the row and the potential for tougher regulation. The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) also confirmed it is examining a claim by Mr Farage that NatWest breached its duty of confidentiality. If proven, the bank could be fined up to 17m. Mr Farage blasted NatWest as dishonest over the affair and said he had been de-banked because of his political views. Nigel Farage had pressed for the NatWest bosss resignation (PA) In a day of drama on Wednesday: Dame Alison quit NatWest by mutual agreement just hours after executives expressed full confidence in her Mr Farage called for the rest of the board to resign, accusing them of having sanctioned this culture Rishi Sunak and Treasury minister Andrew Griffith backed Dame Alisons decision to step down Dame Alison was also asked to leave positions on three government advisory boards Sir Keir Starmer said nobody should be refused banking services because of their political views Pressure grew on Peter Flavel after Tory minister Andrew Griffith refused to publicly back him Mr Farage warned other banks who have turned him down to think again, saying this could happen to you too Dame Alisons shock resignation came after she acknowledged making a serious error of judgement by discussing Mr Farages relationship with private bankers Coutts with a BBC journalist. Dame Alison Rose has resigned as NatWest chief executive (PA) The leak led BBC business editor Simon Jack, who had sat next to Dame Alison at dinner the night before, to claim Mr Farages Coutts account was closed because he did not have enough money. Mr Farage used a subject access request to obtain a 40-page dossier from the bank which suggested his account had in fact been closed in part due to his political views. The dossier described Mr Farage as xenophobic and racist and a grifter. The row marked a humiliating end to Dame Alisons 30-year career with NatWest, with the banks chairman describing her departure as a sad moment. Despite NatWest executives initially saying she could stay on, pressure from Downing Street for her to quit saw her forced out after a late-night board meeting. Jeremy Hunt was understood to have deep concerns about her staying on at the bank. Sir Keir Starmer said NatWest got it wrong by closing Mr Farages account (PA) And her decision to quit was welcomed by Mr Sunak and treasury minister Andrew Griffith. A No 10 source said the prime minister was concerned about the unfolding situation. Alison Rose has done the right thing in resigning. The source said: Everyone would expect people in public life whether thats in a business leadership role or otherwise to act responsibly and with integrity. And Mr Griffith said it is right Dame Alison had quit and the crisis would never have happened if NatWest had not decided to withdraw a bank account due to someones lawful political views. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said NatWest got this one wrong and Mr Farage should not have had his account closed. Sir Keir said: I certainly dont think anybody should be refused banking services because of their political views, whoever they are. The Labour leader said there should be exemptions for extremists, such as terrorists. Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage says the full NatWest board should resign (PA) But his shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves accused Dame Alisons critics of bullying, insisting her focus would be on cost of living, rather than the row over Mr Farages bank accounts. The former Brexit Party leader said Dame Alisons resignation and the chaos caused by the ongoing row could have been avoided if Mr Flavel had taken responsibility for de-banking him. He said Mr Flavels position was unsustainable on every level after ignoring three attempts by Mr Farage to ask about the account closure. He is totally incompetent, does he care? Has he been in hiding? Mr Farage said. Speaking to The Independent, Mr Farage said: His position is completely unsustainable at every level. And senior Tory MP David Davis said that while it was right Dame Alison had quit, adding somebody has to carry the can for the actual action taken against Nigel Farage. Mr Griffith, economic secretary to the Treasury, refused to back Mr Flavel staying in post. Speaking to the BBCs World at One, he said: There should be lessons learned. After resigning, Dame Alison was also forced out of roles on three government advisory boards. Energy secretary Grant Shapps asked her to quit the departments energy efficiency task force, which she joined in February. No 10 confirmed she had stood down from the prime ministers business council, which she joined last week, and the Department for Business and Trade said she had left her role as chair of the Rose Review looking at womens enterprise. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight 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 Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} NatWest could have avoided a 3 per cent drop in its share and the loss of its CEO if Coutts boss Peter Flavel had taken responsibility for debanking him, Nigel Farage has suggested as he called Mr Flavels position unsustainable. The former Brexit Party leader told The Independent he wrote to Mr Flavel three times after hearing his Coutts account would be closed, but was not given the courtesy of a response. It came as a senior Tory MP called for Dame Alison Rose to have any payout after quitting the bank scrapped over her whopping great mistake. The shock departure of Dame Alison wiped 3.6 per cent from NatWests share price, making it the FTSE 100s biggest loser. The drop knocked more than 800m from the banks value, hitting the value of shares owned by the taxpayer by more than 320m. Mr Farage said he warned Mr Flavel he planned to go public with allegations the NatWest-owned lender was shutting his account due to his political views. See our live coverage on the ongoing row here. But his warning, which he said would have avoided the row which led to NatWest boss Dame Alison Rose being ousted, was ignored. Mr Farage said none of it, from Dame Alisons departure to the 650m hit to NatWests value, needed to happen. He is totally incompetent, does he care? Has he been in hiding? Mr Farage said. He added: These people have big, highly paid jobs, and with that comes responsibility. I warned them and I warned him I would go public. Meanwhile former Brexit secretary David Davis said Dame Alison should not get a payoff after quitting the bank. He told GB News: This is a really serious, deliberate mistake, and you should not get payoffs. I dont approve of the modern payoff culture where your payoff is in proportion to your salary. Your payoff should be in proportion to the size of the mistake, and this is a whopping great mistake. Dame Alisons shock exit saw NatWest shares tumble 3 per cent on Wednesday morning, wiping around 650m from the banks value. Dame Alison Rose has resigned as NatWest chief executive (PA) (PA Wire) It has thrown the taxpayer-backed lender into turmoil, having appointed the head of its commercial and institutional arm Paul Thwaite as interim CEO. And Mr Farage said Mr Flavel has to follow Dame Alison out the door, adding: His position is completely unsustainable at every level. Dame Alison was forced to quit as chief executive of NatWest in the early hours on Wednesday, less than a day after the banks board stressed it had full confidence in her as boss. She left after revealing she was the source for a controversial BBC story about Nigel Farages bank account. Dame Alison apologised to the former Ukip leader and her colleagues, saying she had made a serious error of judgement in discussing his affairs. But the apology was not enough for Mr Farage, who demanded that she and other bosses should all go. Mr Farage doubled down on Wednesday, saying Dame Alison was unfit to stay in her job and any board member who endorsed her must go. After resigning, Dame Alison was on Wednesday also forced out of her roles on two government advisory boards. Energy secretary Grant Shapps asked her to quit the departments energy efficiency task force, which she joined in February. And No10 confirmed she had stood down from the prime ministers business council, which she joined last week. Her resignation from the bank, which is 39 per cent owned by the government, was welcomed by Rishi Sunak and City minister Andrew Griffith. A No 10 source said the Prime Minister "was concerned about the unfolding situation. Alison Rose has done the right thing in resigning". The source said: "Everyone would expect people in public life - whether thats in a business leadership role or otherwise - to act responsibly and with integrity." And Mr Griffith said it is right Dame Alison had quit and the crisis would never have happened if NatWest had not decided to withdraw a bank account due to someones lawful political views. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said NatWest got this one wrong and Nigel Farage should not have had his account closed. Sir Keir said: I certainly dont think anybody should be refused banking services because of their political views, whoever they are. I dont know the extent of this, but that certainly shouldnt be the case, he told BBC Radio 5 Live. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak faced heckling and mockery from members of the public on Wednesday as he defended the government's handling of the contaminated blood scandal. The prime minister faced groans and laughter from members of the audience as he was questioned at a public inquiry over delays in setting up a compensation scheme for victims. Mr Sunak told the Infected Blood Inquiry that he would pay compensation to victims of the appalling scandal as swiftly as possible. Thousands of people died and others continue to suffer after being given contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s. The scandal is widely recognised as the worst treatment disaster in the history of the National Health Service. Victims and their families have criticised the speed of the governments response and delays in compensation payments. Mr Sunak used his appearance at the inquiry to defend the decision to wait for the inquirys final report before confirming a full compensation plan for victims. But his evidence to the inquiry was met with laughter from some of those listening. The government is conducting an extensive amount of cross-government work to analyse all the various questions and recommendations posed in the interim reports so that government is in a position to act as quickly as possible after receiving the final report, and that work continues at pace, he said. As he spoke, laughter could be heard coming from people watching in the room. When asked why no information about a concrete compensation framework had been produced by the government, Mr Sunak said: I think what Id say is, of course, people want to see... What Id say is, in order for the government to make decisions on compensation, it rightly has asked an independent inquiry to conclude its work to provide the advice to government and recommendations about what to do. The audience groaned as Mr Sunak gave his answer. Over four thousand people had been paid interim compensation payments already, he said. Mr Sunak denied that the inquiry was an excuse for delaying compensation payments, stating: Of course, its not an excuse, adding that government would typically wait for an inquiry to conclude. Mr Sunak also told the inquiry: This appalling scandal has gone on for decades. People have been let down for decades by successive governments. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 / 50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 30 July 2023 Englands Stuart Broad walks out to bat with James Anderson, after announcing his retirement from cricket the evening before, prior to day four of the Ashes 5th Test match against Australia at The Oval Getty UK news in pictures 29 July 2023 People taking part in the 2023 Belfast Pride Parade PA UK news in pictures 28 July 2023 Members of the Transmanian Devils rugby union team take part in their inaugural training boot camp at Sale Sports Club in Manchester AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 July 2023 Rylan Clark recreates Kendall Jenners heart hair selfie to mark the launch of Samsungs new nationwide selfie competition, offering entrants the chance to win 500,000 PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2023 Campaigners, including many who are personally infected and affected by infected blood, gather in Westminster, London, calling for compensation for victims to be authorised by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is giving evidence later to the Infected Blood inquiry PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2023 Storm clouds gather over St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay on the north east coast of England PA UK news in pictures 24 July 2023 Women embrace each other as one of them arrives at Gatwick Airport after being evacuated off the Greek island of Rhodes Reuters UK news in pictures 23 July 2023 People enjoying the weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset PA UK news in pictures 21 July 2023 Newly elected Labour MP Keir Mather (left), with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer at Selby football club, North Yorkshire, after winning the Selby and Ainsty by-election PA UK news in pictures 18 July 2023 Tony Blair (left) speaks with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change's Future of Britain Conference in central London PA UK news in pictures 17 July 2023 David Barber, the Kings Swan Marker, examines a swan during the annual census of the swan population along sections of the River Thames Reuters UK news in pictures 16 July 2023 Spains Carlos Alcaraz holds the winners trophy after beating Serbias Novak Djokovic during their mens singles final tennis match on the last day of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 July 2023 Tunisias Ons Jabeur is interviewed in the Media Theatre in the Broadcast Centre after her defeat in the final of the Ladies Singles on day thirteen of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London PA Wire UK news in pictures 13 July 2023 His Majesty The Kings Coronation Ensemble and Her Majesty The Queens Coronation Ensemble, during a photo call for the new Coronation display for the summer opening of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace. PA UK news in pictures 12 July 2023 Beavers are released by the National Trust at Wallington estate in Northumberland in a project to improve local biodiversity and mitigate the effects of climate change PA UK news in pictures 11 July 2023 People hug as they admire Submergence inside Propyard, Bristol, where a 20,000 sq ft immersive art installation, curated by art collective Squidsoup, titled Beyond Submergence, is being exhibited PA UK news in pictures 10 July 2023 Tracy Seven with a Beef Shorthorn as she prepares her cattle ahead of the Great Yorkshire Show at the Showground in Harrogate, which opens to the public on Tuesday. PA UK news in pictures 9 July 2023 Mark Wood, right, celebrates with Chris Woakes, left after England won the third test match in the series AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 8 July 2023 Zharnel Hughes of Shaftesbury celebrates after winning the Mens 100m Final at the UK Athletics Championships at Manchester Regional Arena Getty UK news in pictures 7 July 2023 Andy Murray of Great Britain plays a backhand against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the Men's Singles second round match during day five of The Championships Wimbledon 2023 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Getty UK news in pictures 6 July 2023 Queen Camilla during a visit to Lochcarron of Scotland at the Waverley textile mill in Selkirk, in the Scottish Borders, as part of the first Holyrood Week since the King's coronation. PA UK news in pictures 5 July 2023 Anti-monarchy protesters hold placards near the St Giles Cathedral on the day of the National Service of Dedication and Thanksgiving for Britains King Charles, in Edinburgh Reuters UK news in pictures 4 July 2023 Andy Murray celebrates break point against Ryan Peniston in their mens singles first round match at Wimbledon Getty UK news in pictures 3 July 2023 A cigar smoked by Winston Churchill, which is expected to fetch 600-800 is pictured on his statue in Westerham, Kent PA UK news in pictures 2 July 2023 Englands Ben Stokes hits a six off the bowling of Australias Josh Hazlewood during the last day of the second Ashes test at Lords Cricket Ground in London Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 1 July 2023 Pata Yamaha Prometeon rider Toprak Razgatiloglu followed by Aruba.It Racing - Ducati rider Alvaro Bautista (right) during the World SBK race 1 on day two of the FIM Superbike World Championship 2023 at Donington Park, Derby PA UK news in pictures 30 June 2023 Rembrandt Harmenszs Portrait of Jan Willemsz, van der Pluym and Jaapgen Carels is held by gallery staff, during a photo call for highlights from the forthcoming Classic Week Sales, at Christies, London. PA UK news in pictures 29 June 2023 A visitor walks through a part of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusamas installation You, Me and The Balloons during a preview ahead of the start of the Manchester International Festival Reuters UK news in pictures 28 June 2023 England player Jonny Bairstow carries a Just Stop Oil pitch invader during day one of the second Ashes Test at Lords Cricket Ground Getty UK news in pictures 27 June 2023 A Dolly Parton impersonator banned from Facebook protests outside the offices of parent company Meta in Kings Cross, London, as part of their Stop Banning Us appeal Lucy North/PA UK news in pictures 26 June 2023 Glastonbury site clean-up operation in progress PA UK news in pictures 25 June 2023 Lil Nas X performs on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 June 2023 Chemical Brothers perform beneath the Arcadia spider in the very early morning at the Glastonbury Festival PA UK news in pictures 23 June 2023 A performer entertains festivalgoers in the circus field at Glastonbury festival AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 June 2023 Ladies Day at Royal Ascot Racecourse AP UK news in pictures 21 June 2023 Katherine Jenkinson from Carlisle with her jersey calf in the wash bay at the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston, Edinburgh, ahead of the Royal Highland Show PA UK news in pictures 20 June 2023 The sunrises at 04.25am at St Marys Lighthouse in Whitley Bay, on the North East coast of England, the day before Summer Solstice the longest day of the year PA UK news in pictures 19 June 2023 The King and Queen depart the annual Order of the Garter Service PA UK news in pictures 17 June 2023 Typhoon fighter jets fly over The Mall after the Royal family attended the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, central London, as King Charles III celebrates his first official birthday since becoming sovereign. PA UK news in pictures 16 June 2023 A peregrine falcon nesting at Malham Cove, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park PA UK news in pictures 15 June 2023 Newborn alpaca Sir Steveo, who has been named after one of his keepers, ventures outside in the Pets Farm area of Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling PA UK news in pictures 14 June 2023 Grace Kumars father and Barnaby Webbers brother, Charlie, embrace ahead of a vigil at the University of Nottingham after they and Ian Coates were killed and another three hurt in connected attacks on 13 June PA UK news in pictures 13 June 2023 Police forensics officers on Ilkeston Road PA UK news in pictures 12 June 2023 People relax in a suspended swimming pool as hot weather continues, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 11 June 2023 Usain Bolt and teammates celebrate with the trophy after winning Soccer Aid 2023 Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 10 June 2023 A cyclist trains in the early morning, as hot weather continues, in Richmond Park, London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 June 2023 A performer walks on a tightrope at Covent Garden during a sunny day in London AP UK news in pictures 8 June 2023 A women rides her horse through the river during the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 7 June 2023 The Princess of Wales during a game of walking rugby during her visit to meet local and national male rugby players at Maidenhead Rugby Club PA UK news in pictures 6 June 2023 An aerial view shows the dry bed of Woodhead Reservoir, revealed by a falling water level after a prolonged period of dry weather, near Glossop, northern England AFP/Getty I think over a succession of not just years but decades justice has been denied to people. They havent received the recognition that they need and deserve. Sir Brian Langstaff, chair of the inquiry, told those watching Rishi Sunak giving evidence that there was a tradition of respecting the witness. Can I just remind everyone, I know the evidence is emotive to many of you but we do have a tradition of respecting a witness to make it easier for them to say what they want to say, please, he said. In his summing up at the end of the days proceedings, Sir Brian won a vigorous round of applause from the inquirys audience when he urged Mr Sunak to provide further tangible recognition that the government was working to resolve the matter of compensation for victims and their families. If there is anything that you can, in the interim do to reassure them, preferably by actions rather than by words, but either will do actions preferably that there will be the compensation, which is just and fair and it will be delivered as soon as possible, he said. Because if it troubles my conscience, I would think it would trouble the conscience of a caring government. And you have said thats what you would wish to be. Des Collins, senior partner at Collins Solicitors, representing over 1,500 victims of the scandal, says: My clients will be pleased to hear that the PM recognises the extent of the harm caused to the infected and affected over decades and that he doesnt intend for his government to add to previous governments broken promises. However theres still no indication on the issue that matters to them most swift redress. Its not good enough just to be visibly moved by the victims testimonies, Mr Sunak must act now and not wait until publication of Langstaffs final report, as he promised he was willing to do when he sought the office of PM last summer. We hope that the PM leaves the Inquiry today with a deeper sense of personal investment in bringing justice to all those who have waited so long to receive it. 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 deadline of a public consultation on plans to close nearly all railway station ticket offices in England has been extended until September, the Rail Delivery Group has confirmed. Train operators unveiled proposals earlier this month for mass closures of station ticket offices after Transport Secretary Mark Harper urged them to cut costs. A three-week consultation on the plans was announced on July 5 by the Rail Delivery Group, which said staff would move out of ticket offices, adopting new customer help roles already in place on many parts of the rail network. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Jacqueline Starr, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, said: Train companies have listened to feedback and are extending the time available to respond to the consultation on changes to how tickets are sold at stations to 1st of September. Operators are keen to give more people a chance to give their views on the proposals, so they can bring the railway up to date with dramatic shifts in customer buying habits while supporting all its customers as the railway evolves and adapts. While local plans vary, the aim of the proposals is to bring staff out from behind ticket office windows to offer more help for customers buying tickets and navigating stations. At the same time, ticket vending machines are being upgraded to offer a wider range of fares and we have committed that no customer will have to go out of their way to buy a ticket. The RDG has said the proposals would mean more face-to-face support was available across the network to choose the cheapest tickets and advise on journey planning, as well as support those with accessibility needs. The plans have drawn fierce criticism from groups representing passengers and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT). Responding to the announcement, Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) joint interim general secretary Peter Pendle said: Three weeks was never long enough for a meaningful consultation and Im glad to see the Government backing down on that. TSSA has been clear from the start that ticket office staff are essential for safe and secure travel for vulnerable passengers, especially women, and for an inclusive and welcoming railway for passengers with disabilities. The unreasonably short three-week consultation period looked like a cynical attempt to silence the voices of the most vulnerable rail users in order to rush through savage cuts to our members jobs. Whilst the extension to the consultation is welcome, what rail users really need is for this cynical and unnecessary plan to cut ticket office staff to be shelved completely. In a statement, the RMT described the five-week extension as wholly inadequate and called for the whole disastrous closure programme to be abandoned. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: Although our pressure has forced their hand, it is still a deeply flawed and a wholly inadequate consultation process which we are considering challenging legally in the courts. Our campaign to save ticket offices, protect our members jobs and look out for the best interests of all rail passengers will only intensify in the coming weeks. 20,000 rail workers will walk out on July 29 in pursuit of a negotiated settlement on job security pay, conditions and saving ticket offices. In a tweet, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham one of five Labour metro mayors preparing to take legal action in a bid to halt the rushed mass closure plan said of the extended deadline: This shows we were right to challenge this flawed process. But its not good enough. The law requires a 12-week consultation. We will continue to pursue our legal action. Watchdogs Transport Focus and London TravelWatch have received more than 170,000 comments since the consultation was launched three weeks ago. Tom Marsland, policy manager at disability equality charity Scope, said: These botched plans will make rail travel impossible or much harder for many disabled people. Extending the consultation doesnt solve that. The Government and rail industry need to go back to the drawing board. The Government must listen to disabled people and halt these plans in their tracks. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: While this is a matter for the industry, it is right that train operators have listened to feedback and extended their consultations, following continued engagement with stakeholders, including accessibility groups. Following the consultations, independent passenger bodies will continue to play a vital role in assessing and shaping proposals. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) welcomed the extended deadline, and said it had raised concerns with the Department for Transport earlier this week about the potential adverse effects the closures could have on disabled and older individuals. The watchdog said it had reminded the department of its obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act, which requires public sector organisations to carefully consider equality when when designing or changing services. EHRC chairwoman, Kishwer Falkner, said: The needs of older and disabled passengers must be properly considered and addressed in any proposed rail ticket office closures. We welcome the decision to extend this consultation to ensure all those who need to can respond properly and express any concerns. 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 }} Tottenham Hotspur owner Joe Lewis has surrendered to US authorities and is expected to appear at Manhattan Federal Court later on Wednesday, the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York said. Lewis was indicted in New York for allegedly orchestrating a brazen insider trading scheme, a US attorney previously said. In a statement, a spokesperson for the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York said: Joe Lewis self-surrendered to federal authorities this morning (and) is expected to be presented in Manhattan federal court on criminal charges sometime this afternoon. Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, alleged that over several years Lewis had abused his access to corporate boardrooms and given inside information to romantic partners, personal assistants, private pilots and his friends. Those folks then traded on that inside information and made millions of dollars in the stock market, because thanks to Lewis those bets were a sure thing, he alleged. Mr Williams described Lewiss alleged behaviour as classic corporate corruption. He said: Now, none of this was necessary. Joe Lewis is a wealthy man. But as we allege he used inside information as a way to compensate his employees or to shower gifts on his friends and lovers. Thats classic corporate corruption. Its cheating, and its against the law. Laws that apply to everyone, no matter who you are. Thats why Joe Lewis has been indicted and will face justice here in the Southern District of New York. FBI acting assistant director in charge Christie M Curtis said: As alleged, Mr Lewis treated material, non-public information at his disposal as though it was something he could give his friends and associates for their benefit. This type of behaviour blatant disregard for the law is not only illegal but undermines the integrity of our financial markets. Lewis, 86, is the founder and primary investor of Bahamas-based investment firm Tavistock Group. He was ranked 39th in the 2023 Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated worth of more than 5 billion. He bought a controlling stake in Premier League club Tottenham from Lord Alan Sugar in 2001 for 22 million. Lewis officially ceded control of the club last year, with Bahamian lawyer Bryan A Glinton replacing him as a director, according to Companies House. His stake in the club which he held through the ENIC Group alongside Daniel Levy was formally handed to a family trust last year. Family members of Lewis remain beneficiaries of the trust. The Premier League club said in a statement: This is a legal matter unconnected with the club and as such we have no comment. Tavistock Group has been contacted for comment. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The UK is underestimating the danger posed by the Wagner Group, MPs have warned, with current sanctions targeting the mercenary unit underwhelming in the extreme. In a new report the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee warns that the Government has long failed to take seriously the danger posed by the private military company and similar groups, with MPs now urging ministers to proscribe Yevgeny Prigozhins unit as a terrorist organisation. The 82-page report sees the committee for the first time using open-source investigative research to name Wagner-linked individuals and organisations, with testimony from former senior fighter from the group also included. The future of the Wagner Group remains unclear after Mr Prigozhin and his troops last month staged a short-lived coup against the authorities in Moscow. This is a landmark report and exposes the dark underbelly of a network that until recently thrived in the shadows Alicia Kearns, Foreign Affairs Committee But MPs warn that the group, described as highly effective at reconfiguring itself, still poses a serious national security threats to the UK and its allies. It calls for the Government to move faster and harder to sanction individuals linked to the wider Wagner network, as well as urgently improving its intelligence on the group. Ministers are currently remarkably complacent about what parliamentarians warn is a growing practice of private military companies being used for malign purposes. Foreign Affairs committee chair Alicia Kearns said: This is a landmark report and exposes the dark underbelly of a network that until recently thrived in the shadows. In the ten years since the Wagner Networks formation, the UK Government has lacked a coherent strategy and efforts to meaningfully tackle Wagner have been non-existent. This has allowed the network to grow, spread its tentacles deep into Africa, and exploit countries on their knees due to conflict or instability. Where the West moves out, Wagner moves in, seeing opportunity in suffering and profit in chaos. Todays report lays bare the activities of the network in seven key countries, where there is clear evidence of Wagner operations. The cross-party committee raises particular concerns over what it calls the significant failing of seeing the Wagner Group largely through the prism of Europe. Instead, it notes that the company have carried out military operations in at least seven countries in the past decade, including Ukraine, Syria, Sudan, Libya and Mali. If we are to undermine the operations of the Wagner Network, we need to sever the networks wealth at its source Alicia Kearns, Foreign Affairs Committee It is deeply regrettable that it was not until early 2022 that the Government began to invest greater resource in understanding the Wagner Network, despite Wagner fighters having already conducted military operations in at least seven countries for almost a decade, the report notes. This leaves the Government even less prepared to respond to the networks evolution. MPs conclude that the Government has a fundamental lack of knowledge and policy on other dangerous private groups similar to the Wagner unit. We are deeply concerned by the Governments dismal lack of understanding of Wagners hold beyond Europe, in particular their grip on African states. This is a fundamental failing of joined up government; ministers appear to be in denial about the consequences of failing to tackle this malign business model before it takes hold, Ms Kearns warns. If we are to undermine the operations of the Wagner Network, we need to sever the networks wealth at its source. We are calling for the Government to sanction organisations and individuals known to prop up Wagner faster and harder than before. We are unconvinced that the Governments sanction of the group truly captures the complex web of entities beneath it, she added. MPs also call on the Government to offer a compelling alternative to countries that require security partnerships, reviving a former commitment to channel half of UK aid to fragile and conflict-hit countries and regions. They also urge a more coherent approach to addressing the danger of Wagner and similar groups with a new taskforce. Ms Kearns said: In the wake of the attempted coup last month, the future manifestations of the Wagner Network are uncertain. With the network at its most vulnerable and the clock ticking the time for action is now. For many months, Labour has called for it to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation. The Government now urgently needs to act Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy MPs also express concern over a lack of clarity over which minister is in charge of responding to the Wagner Group. The report notes that the Governments evidence to the committee inquiry was several months late due to the challenges of obtaining input from multiple departments. Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said: The Wagner Group has committed barbaric atrocities in Ukraine and across the world and continues to pose serious threats. For many months, Labour has called for it to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation. The Government now urgently needs to act. An FCDO spokesperson said: We have heavily sanctioned the Wagner Group, including its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and several key commanders, limiting their travel and freezing their assets. The UK has been one of the leading suppliers of military aid to Ukraine, who have been fighting Wagner forces on the battlefield. We continue to work with our allies to expose and counter their destabilising activities around the world. 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 }} The director of the Miami-Dade Police Department was in critical but stable condition following surgery in a Tampa area hospital a day after shooting himself, state law enforcement officials said Monday. Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez, 52, was in Tampa for a law enforcement conference, officials said. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, or FDLE, is investigating the shooting with the Florida Highway Patrol. FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass said during a news conference Monday afternoon that Tampa police had responded to a domestic dispute between Ramirez and his wife earlier Sunday at the hotel where the conference was being held. Ramirez left the hotel, and suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound after pulling over on Interstate 75 south of Tampa, Glass said. "Law enforcement is a demanding and stressful career and occupation," Glass said. "And Director Ramirez has dedicated nearly 30 years of his life to public service and keeping the citizens of Miami-Dade safe. Today is a tragic day in Florida." Ramirez is a 27-year Miami-Dade police veteran and was leading the largest law enforcement agency in the southeastern U.S. In May, he announced his intention to seek election for the newly-created role of sheriff in 2024, signaling his desire to remain the leading law enforcement official. A spokeswoman for Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told The Associated Press that the mayor traveled to Tampa after the shooting to "support Director Ramirez and his family." Later Monday, she said in a memo to county commissions that Deputy Director Stephanie Daniels would be filling in as interim director of the Miami-Dade Police Department. A Tampa police report said officers were called to the downtown Marriott Waterside regarding reports of a man pointing a gun at himself outside the hotel during an argument with a woman. There was no evidence of a crime or immediate danger, the Tampa police report concluded. Ramirez was told he was free to leave. "Our hearts are with Director Ramirez and his family," said Tampa police Chief Lee Bercaw, in a statement urging police officers who are struggling to seek help. Help for first responders and others include the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, and the U.S. Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which accepts calls and text messages at 988. 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 government watchdog group is asking federal regulators to investigate a $500,000 contribution to a super PAC backing Miami Mayor Francis Suarezs presidential bid, citing possible campaign finance laws violations. The nonpartisan group Campaign Legal Center said it filed the complaint with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday. The complaint says the business PassionForest, LLC, which sells artificial flowers on Amazon.com, did not have the financial means to make such a large contribution and was instead used to hide the identities of the true contributors to the political action committee America for Everyone, now called SOS America. Campaign Legal Center also says the artificial flower shop accused in the scheme filed a trademark application listing a Chinese address and the seller information listed by Amazon.com shows a ZIP code in Shenzhen, in southeastern China. The group says the scheme could have been meant to hide foreign contributions, which are prohibited. The super PAC said the complaint is an attack intended to undercut the only Hispanic Republican candidate. It is our understanding that the complaint makes no accusations whatsoever against SOS America PAC or the Mayor. This is nothing more than a political attack and it will be seen for what it is, said SOS America PAC spokesperson Chapin Fay. Suarez is one of the long shots running for the 2024 GOP nomination. The mayor is among the lesser-known candidates in a crowded field that include two other Floridians, former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The flower shop's Amazon storefront shows almost all of its products unavailable with a few options left in stock, and its trademark application was abandoned six days after the contribution was made. The $500,000 contribution is among the largest listed as received by the super PAC, according to FEC records. Voters have a right to know who is spending money to influence their votes and our government, said Saurav Ghosh, director of federal campaign finance reform at Campaign Legal Center. 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 }} The former student charged with murder in the stabbing deaths of two people and attempted murder of a third near a Northern California university has not showered in the nearly three months he's been in jail, goes days without eating and believes he will return to classes, his attorney said Tuesday. The remarks by Dan Hutchinson, Yolo County public defender, came during a proceeding to determine whether Carlos Dominguez is mentally competent to participate in a criminal trial over the stabbings that rocked the University of California, Davis, campus and surrounding community. Hutchinson said he will present evidence showing that Dominguez started showing outward signs of schizophrenia toward the end of his freshman year. Prosecutors said Dominguez is toying with the system" and should face a criminal trial. Jurors will ultimately decide whether he is fit for trial. To be found mentally unfit, the defense must show that Dominguez cannot currently understand court proceedings, assist his attorney in his defense and understand his own status in the criminal proceeding. If jurors find that Dominguez is not competent, he will be evaluated for treatment at a state mental health hospital instead of proceeding with a criminal trial. Dominguez had been a third-year student at the University of California, Davis, majoring in biological sciences until April 25, when he was expelled. Several days later, prosecutors say he began carrying out three stabbings on or near the campus. He is charged in the deaths of a 50-year-old homeless man well loved in the community and a 20-year-old UC Davis student. A homeless woman attacked in her tent survived. He was arrested on May 4, a week after the first body was found, near the location of the second attack. Hutchinson said in court that Dominguez had failed all of his winter term classes this year. He sits there each day in his empty cell, unclothed, unmedicated, untreated for his mental illness, he said of Dominguez, who is observed every 15 minutes because he is on suicide watch. He has not showered a single time and if he ever has brushed his teeth nobody appears to have seen that. But Frits van der Hoek, Yolo County deputy district attorney, told jurors that his team will present evidence showing that the former student is intentionally acting unfit for trial. He said the court-appointed expert who declared Dominguez incompetent for trial did not question him rigorously enough. As in previous appearances, Dominguez was in court wearing a green safety vest with long hair hanging in his face. Previously he has spoken out loud in court to say he was guilty and wanted to apologize and that he did not want an attorney. Hutchinson called Dominguez's former girlfriend, Caley Gallardo, to testify. Gallardo, who will be a senior at UC Davis in the fall, said they met freshman year and bonded over their educational drives and closeness to family. She broke up with him in March or April 2022 as he changed from a reserved yet healthy and engaged student into someone who stopped eating and caring about his grooming. She tried to talk to him about possible mental illness, but he was not receptive to the idea, she said. Hutchinson also planned to call Dominguez's former roommates and a prior co-worker at Jack in the Box to testify about his behavior. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Colorado businessman convicted of fraudulently siphoning hundreds of thousands of dollars from an online fundraiser that raised $25m to build a wall along the US southern border was sentenced Tuesday to five years and three months in prison. Timothy Shea was sentenced in Manhattan federal court by Judge Analisa Torres, who presided over an October trial that ended with his conviction on charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and obstruction of justice. A trial earlier in 2022 had ended when a jury deadlocked on charges. Shea, 52, of Castle Rock, Colorado, also was ordered to forfeit $1.8m and to pay restitution of an equal amount. Shea was charged three years ago along with three others, including Steve Bannon, the former top adviser to then-President Donald Trump. Trump pardoned Bannon in early 2021 while two others pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison. Bannon, who is now being prosecuted in New York state court, has pleaded not guilty. Judge Torres said Shea and the others not only cheated donors but also hurt us all by damaging faith in the country's political system by capitalising on those who believed that building a wall would help secure the nation's borders. She noted that donors who testified at trial included a longtime Army veteran and a teacher whose deceased husband had worked as a border agent. Before the sentence was announced, Shea told the judge that he regretted all of the We Build The Wall stuff. He asked for leniency, saying his wife and teenage children needed him at home. Prosecutors said Shea pocketed $180,000 in a fundraiser that promised donors that 100 per cent of the money raised would go toward building the wall. Shea owns an energy drink company, Winning Energy, whose cans have featured a cartoon superhero image of Trump and claim to contain 12 oz. of liberal tears. In a release, US Attorney Damian Williams said Shea abused the trust of donors when he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to line his own pockets, and attempted to obstruct the federal investigation of his criminal conduct. The scheme began after late 2018, when hundreds of thousands of donors began pouring millions into the campaign to build a wall. Earlier this year, Brian Kolfage and Andrew Badolato were sentenced after pleading guilty to charges in the case. Kolfage, 41, of Miramar Beach, Florida, received four years and three months in prison while Andrew Badolato, 58, of Cocoa, Florida, was sentenced to three years in prison. 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 federal judge on Tuesday vacated the conviction and sentence of Bowe Bergdahl, a former Army sergeant who became a political flash point after he walked off a base in Afghanistan in protest and was held captive by the Taliban for five years. Reggie B Walton of the Federal District Court of the District of Columbia ruled that a military judge presiding over Bergdahls 2017 punishment process gave the potential appearance of a conflict of interest by failing to disclose that he applied for a job in the Trump administration during the former soldiers legal proceedings. The former president was a harsh critic of Bergdahl, refering to him once in 2016 as a no-good traitor who should have been executed. Bowe Bergdahl The case was a unique situation where the military judge might be inclined to appeal to the presidents expressed interest in the plaintiffs conviction and punishment when applying, the federal judge wrote in his ruling, according to The New York Times. In 2017, a military court downgraded Bergdahl to the rank of private, dishonourably discharged him, and forced him to forfeit $10,000 in pay. At the height of the War on Terror, Bergdahl became a household name after walking off his post in 2009, intending to hike to another base and report perceived misconduct in his unit. While AWOL, the Taliban captured the Army sergeant and held him captive for five years. The Obama administration secured Bergdahls freedom, releasing five high-level Taliban detainees in exchange for bringing the soldier back to the US. Congressional Republicans hammered the administration for allegedly failing to give legislators sufficient notice of the transfers, and false conspiracy theories spread that multiple soldiers died while searching for the deserter. 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 }} Colorado Springs resident Rebecca Vance wanted a simpler life, away from modern stressors. Her decision to move last summer to a remote Colorado campsite, along with her sister Christine and teenage son, turned deadly. She went for good intentions, Trevala Jara, Rebecca Vances stepsister told the New York Times. She thought she was protecting her son and our sister, Christine, because she didnt want them to get wrapped up in what the world was coming to in her eyes. The Covid-19 pandemic amplified her underlying uneasiness, Ms Jara said. Im going to worry about you, Ms Jara said to her stepsister, trying to discourage her from going, but Ms Vance had already made up her mind. She responded, Im going to live off the land. Growing up, Ms Jara recalled that her stepsister had always preferred to be alone. And then last July, she decided to distance herself and her son from partisan politics, the neverending news cycle, and the virulent viruses plaguing America. Christine Vance initially resisted joining the mother and son but ended up going because she thought that if she was with them, they had a better chance of surviving, Ms Jara told the Times. They told Ms Jara only that they were going off the grid, but did not disclose the exact location. Yet Rebecca Vances decision to go off the grid ended up attracting more attention than she may have expected. The story of three heavily decomposed bodies that were found and the mystery surrounding what had happened to them gripped the nation. On 9 July, a hiker noticed a body at a remote Rocky Mountain campsite and notified the police, who found two other bodies the next day. The condition of the bodies? Fairly mummified, the sheriff said. It wasnt until Tuesday, though, that the Gunnison County coroner identified the bodies as belonging to Rebecca Vance, 42, her 14-year-old son and her sister, Christine Vance, 41. The mystery surrounding the unusual deaths has mostly come to a close, but still, questions surrounding the exact cause of death linger. It seems that the decision to live off the grid proved fateful. Michael Barnes, the coroner, proposed that their deaths were likely caused by either the harsh winter conditions or malnourishment. He told the publication that the sisters had been discouraged with the state of the world recently and had left last July to permanently live in a tent near Gold Creek Campground just an hours drive from Gunnison, Colorado. The coroner thought the family passed away in the winter. Not only was a lean-to built from logs over a fire pit found earlier this month, suggesting they were using it for warmth, but Mr Barnes said they would relieve themselves near a tree, which was only a few feet from their tent. He explained that the evidence suggests they were cold and not wanting to venture far from the tentOtherwise youd probably do that elsewhere. Mr Barnes said malnourishment also could have led to their deaths, as their bodies were emaciated, and explained that the trio had been surviving on soup and other prepackaged items. Ms Jara told the outlet that both Rebecca and Christine Vance had a heart of gold. She added a word of caution to those who may also be inclined to try living off the grid: I know this world is scaryBut dont let that fear, that doubt, all of that take over. 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 }} Advocates for the self-driving vehicle industry on Wednesday warned that years of regulatory inaction is putting American manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage and urged Congress to expand their ability to test and eventually sell autonomous cars and trucks. I'm sure it's rare for you that someone from the private sector comes before you to ask, to plead, for their business to be regulated, said John Bozella, president for the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents several major auto manufacturers. Were at a crossroads, and without a comprehensive AV framework, companies are not going to succeed." While most Republicans, and some Democrats, on the House Energy and Commerce Committee seemed enthusiastic about speeding up the pace of AV research and testing in America, others warned about going too fast without addressing long-standing issues of safety and liability. Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, the committee's ranking Democrat, warned that Congress cannot simply dust off 6-year-old legislation and ignore the substantial issues that have emerged in recent years ... Troubling safety incidents are mounting, liability loopholes are emerging." The legislation in question is a 2017 bill on AV regulations that passed the House but stalled in the Senate. Currently AV manufacturers can deploy a maximum of 2,500 self-driving vehicles for testing, provided they have permission from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. AV advocates have complained that the limits represent a bottleneck that is holding back the growth of the industry at a crucial time. Currently the NHTSA has spent more than a year considering a petition from General Motors to deploy 2,500 vehicles from its Cruise AV unit for street testing and a ride-hailing service. Among the new proposals currently before the committee is one that would provide exemptions for manufacturers to deploy thousands of autonomous vehicles without meeting existing auto safety standards. One of the main sticking points surrounds liability in case of an accident caused by a malfunctioning AV. Industry advocates argued Wednesday that accidents involving self-driving vehicles are exaggerated and that the machines are already far more reliable than human beings. Gary Shapiro, head of the Consumer Technology Association, told the committee that self-driving vehicles, "are never distracted, never tired, they dont get drunk and they dont fall asleep. But Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., countered that the human driving model at least provides clarity on who to blame and who should pay for the damage. When somebody gets injured, somebody gets sued," he said. When a minivan goes off the road in Florida and five people are killed, somebody is getting sued ... Each one of these (crashes) is still going to be subject to a plaintiffs lawyer, an insurance company and a defense lawyer. And until weve figured that out, this is just a science project. On General Motors earnings conference call Tuesday, Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt said his companys analysis of the first million miles of autonomous vehicle use shows they had 54% fewer collisions than humans in similar environments, and 92% fewer crashes where the autonomous vehicle was at fault. The vast majority of collisions are caused by inattentive or impaired human drivers, not the AV, he said. But auto safety advocates have cast doubt on industry claims about the safety of autonomous vehicles and the numbers they use to back up those claims. Missy Cummings, a former senior safety adviser to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who is now an engineering and computer science professor at George Mason University, said that analysis of available data challenges those safety claims. Robotaxis from Cruise are eight times more likely to get into a crash than humans, she said, while autonomous vehicles from Waymo, a spinoff of Google, are four times more likely than humans to crash. I think we need to take their claims of being safer with a grain of salt, Cummings said. - Krisher reported from Detroit. 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 }} Investigators in Long Island have dodged questions about a crucial piece of evidence believed to have been found inside the family home of Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney was grilled in a press conference on Tuesday about the chilling alleged discovery of a mattress inside a huge vault in the basement of his home in Massapequa Park. The DA repeatedly refused to confirm or deny the existence of the potentially harrowing piece of evidence but did confirm the existence of the walk-in underground vault beneath the property that he shared with his family. The vault is big enough to walk into and its in the basement, he said, adding that like the rest of the house, [the vault] was cluttered. When pressed about the mattress and whether anything other than firearms were found inside the vault, he doubled down and said Im not going to speak on that. There were a number of items of evidence but Im not going to say especially where, he said. The DA also refused to comment on whether or not the search had uncovered any trophies taken from the victims or if there was evidence that items had been burned on the grounds of the home. There were a number of disturbances that were found in the ground but we dont know what it is, he said. While he would not go into details about what was found, he did confirm that a massive amount of evidence had been recovered from the home which Mr Heuermann grew up in as a child and which he went on to share with his wife of two decades, their daughter and his stepson until his sudden arrest. Among the trove of evidence inside the very cluttered one-storey property, no human remains were discovered, the DA said. However, he noted that it will take time for the crime lab to test the trove of items seized for the likes of blood, hairs, fibres or other trace evidence which could indicate whether victims were killed at the property. The house could be categorised as cluttered so there is a great deal of stuff that was recovered so were just going to have to go through it but that slate of items is quite large, said Mr Tierney. This combination of undated image provided by the Suffolk County Police Department, shows Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes (AP) There was not one thing that jumps out among the evidence at this point, he said. Investigators previously revealed that a trove of around 270 guns had been seized from the home. Mr Heuermann has legal permits for 92 handguns and also owned several long guns. The search of the home came to an end on Tuesday after investigators spent almost two weeks combing through the property, seizing items and digging up the yard for clues about the murders or looking for trophies that the alleged killer took from his victims. On Monday, search teams were spotted carrying out a major excavation of the backyard with cadaver dogs and a ground-penetrating radar machine scouring the ground before excavators dug up the earth with a backhoe. Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison previously revealed that they believe at least some of the murders may have taken place inside the home. Mr Heuermanns wife and children were out of town at the time of each of the three murders he is charged with. He was taken into custody on 13 July, almost 13 years after the bodies of at least 11 victims were discovered along the shores of Gilgo Beach on Long Island. He was charged with the murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello. He is also the prime suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes who was last seen alive in early June 2007 in New York City and who, with the three other women, is known as the Gilgo Four. All four women worked as sex workers and disappeared after going to meet a client. They were all found in December 2010 within one-quarter mile of each other, bound by belts or tape and some wrapped in burlap their bodies dumped along Gilgo Beach. They are among 11 victims whose remains were found along the shores of Long Island in 2010 and 2011, sparking fears of one or more serial killers. As well as looking into his connection to the murder of Brainard-Barnes and the other Gilgo Beach victims, law enforcement agencies are now also looking into unsolved murders and missing persons cases all across the country. Police in Las Vegas and South Carolina where Mr Heuermann owns properties and Atlantic City where several sex workers have been found murdered have confirmed they are eyeing the suspect in cold cases. Mr Tierney said in Tuesdays press conference that investigators are speaking to lots of witnesses who may have encountered Mr Heuermann across the country. Authorities searching the home of suspect Rex Heuermann (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Were interviewing a great deal of people, he said. This investigation isnt limited to New York state. However, under federal law, Mr Heuermanns DNA cannot be entered into state or national databases to see if he is tied to other unsolved cases until he is convicted. Court records show that Mr Heuermann was linked to the Gilgo Four murders through a tip about his pickup truck, a stash of burner phones, sadistic online searches, phone calls taunting victims families, his wifes hair found on the victims bodies and a pizza crust. The first piece of the puzzle came when a witness in the Amber Costello case revealed details about a vehicle that a client was driving when she was last seen alive. Costello, who worked as a sex worker, was seen alive on the evening of 2 September 2010 when she left her home in West Babylon. A witness said she had gone to meet a client who was driving a first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche. Last year, a registration search showed that local man Mr Heuermann owned a first-generation model of the truck at the time of Costellos disappearance. He also matched the witness description of the man believed to be the killer: a large, white ogre-like male in his mid-40s, around 64 to 66 tall, with dark bushy hair, and big oval style 1970s type eyeglasses. The discovery of the car led investigators to hone in on Mr Heuermann including executing 300 subpoenas, search warrants and other legal processes to obtain evidence to determine his potential involvement in the killings. Among this was Mr Heuermanns alleged use of burner phones, with prosecutors saying that he used burner phones to contact the three women and arrange to meet them at the time when they went missing. He also allegedly took two of the victims cellphones and used one to make taunting phone calls to one of their families where he boasted about her murder, court documents state. Mr Heuermanns DNA was found on one of the victims, while his wifes hair was found on three of the four women he is connected to. His arrest comes after the horrific serial killer case has captured the nations attention for more than a decade. The Gilgo Beach murders had long stumped law enforcement officials in Suffolk County who believed it could be the work of one or more serial killers who targeted sex workers and dumped their bodies along the remote beaches on Ocean Parkway. Heuermann in booking photo (AP) The case began in May 2010 when Shannan Gilbert vanished after leaving a clients house on foot near Gilgo Beach. She called 911 for help saying she feared for her life and was never seen alive again. During a search for Gilbert in dense thicket close to the beach, police discovered the remains of another woman. Within a matter of days, the remains of three more victims were found close by. By spring 2011, the remains of a total of 10 victims had been found including eight women, a man, and a toddler. Police have long thought that it could be the work of one or more serial killers. Gilberts body was then found in December 2011. Her cause of death is widely contested with authorities long claiming that it is not connected to the serial killer or killers but that she died from accidental drowning as she fled from the clients home. However, an independent autopsy commissioned by her family ruled that she died by strangulation and her mother believes she was murdered. Like Gilbert, most of the victims targeted were sex workers, while some are yet to be identified. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police in North Carolina have charged two people in connection with the murder of a transgender man after his body was found on the side of the road. Eighteen-year-old Jacob Williamson was last seen on 30 June after he left his job at a Waffle House store in Monroe. Williamson had told friends that he was planning to go on a date with a man he had been talking to online for a month. Throughout the date, the victim has been sharing his location with a friend but once it was turned off, authorities were not able to find him, according to Human Rights Campaign. The teens body was ultimately found on 4 July near a road eight miles away from Monroe in Pageland, South Carolina. Joshua Newton, 25, has been arrested over Williamsons death and charged with first-degree murder and obstruction of justice, according to the Union County Sheriffs Office in North Carolina. His girlfriend Victoria Smith, 22, has also been arrested and is facing charges of obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact. At the time of his death, Williamson was living with a friend after his family rejected him for being transgender. He called me and he just asked me, Hey can I come and stay with you? Please, I dont have anywhere to go, Promise Edwards told The Slate. ... I told Jacob, Im not really comfortable with you going [to the date]. She told the outlet that Williamson had told her he was going to visit an amusement park several hours away. Ms Edwards also told WHNS that at one point during the night, she realised Williamson had stopped sharing his location. Ms Edwards said after several unanswered calls to his friend, she decided to report him missing to police. Authorities believe that Mr Newton drove more than 100 miles to pick up Williamson and then allegedly brought him to his trailer park home. Ms Edwards, who knew Williamson since he was a child, said she was glad her friend had found peace in the last month living with her. She recounted that the last words she told him were, I love you, see you in the morning. Please express to [your children] how unsafe it is to go with people online, how unsafe it is to get in the car with anybody that you do not know because this is our reality now, Ms Edwards told WBTV. Our reality is missing somebody that never deserved to go away like this, she said. The Union County Sheriffs Office told The Slate there appeared to be no evidence that Williamsons murder was a hate crime. At a vigil on Monday, Ms Edwards said that Williamson had faced many challenges during his transition and didnt always have the support he needed. When Jacob called me, there was no question as to his sexuality. It was, this is my family who needs to be taken care of, Ms Edwards said, according to WYFF 4. I wish people would have taken enough time to get to know his heart and who he really was instead of who the world forced him to be. 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 }} Joe Lewis, the British billionaire and long-time majority stakeholder in Tottenham Hotspur, pleaded not guilty in New York on Wednesday to charges of insider trading. The previous day, federal officials said the investor abused his access to corporate boardrooms and carried out a series of brazen instances of financial misconduct, sharing insider information with friends, employees, and former romantic partners. Hes charged with 16 counts of securities fraud and three counts of conspiracy, Reuters reports. Thats classic corporate corruption, US attorney Damian Williams said in a video statement on Tuesday. Its cheating, and its against the law. Tavistock founder Joe Lewis leaves court (AP) Attorneys for the billionaire said he plans to fight the charges. The government has made an egregious error in judgment in charging Mr Lewis, an 86-year-old man of impeccable integrity and prodigious accomplishment, David M Zornow said in an email statement to The Independent on Tuesday. Mr Lewis has come to the US voluntarily to answer these ill-conceived charges, and we will defend him vigorously in court. In a hearing on Wednesday before US magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo in Manhattan following Mr Lewiss early-morning arrest by the FBI, new details about the case against the businessman came to light. As part of a $300m bond, Mr Lewis was ordered to surrender his mega-yacht, the Aviva, as well as his private aircraft. He will now be barred from international travel as the case proceeds. Officials also accused two of his pilots, Patrick OConnor of New York and Bryan Waugh of Virginia, of profiting off illegal tips from Mr Lewis. Both men have pleaded not guilty, and their lawyers declined requests to comment from Reuters. Prosecutors allege Mr Lewis lent the men $500,000 each in 2019, encouraging them to buy stock in an oncology company in which the billionaire had invested. Mr OConnor allegedly texted a friend the Boss has inside info, a seeming reference to a tip that the billionaire allegedly passed on that the company was about to announce promising clinical results. Lewis was ordered to surrender his luxury yacht Aviva, seen here moored by Butler's Wharf in London in 2018 (Getty Images) After the company announced the news, the shares the pilots allegedly bought leapt by 16.7 per cent, and prosecutors allege one of the men labeled a payment to Mr Lewis loan payback and listed the companys stock symbol. In an accompanying civil case, the Securities and Exchange Commission accused Mr Lewis, the pilots, and the billionaires former girlfriend Carolyn Carter of insider trading. Officials allege that in 2019, Mr Lewis told Ms Carter about a biotech company that was about to raise capital and potentially increase its share price, even though he was bound by a confidentiality agreement. She then allegedly bought $701,000 in the company, earning a $172,000 on her investment. The Independent has contacted Ms Carter for comment. When insiders like Lewis take advantage of their access to such information, it erodes public trust and confidence in the fair and efficient operation of our markets, SEC enforcement director Gurbir Grewal said in a statement. Thats why we will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to hold accountable those who abuse their positions for personal benefit and the unlawful enrichment of others. Tottenham Hotspur told The Independent, This is a legal matter unconnected with the club and as such we have no comment. Mr Lewis ceased to be a "person with significant control" of the Premier League club last year, following a "reorganisation of the Lewis Family Trusts, the club said, according to Sky News. He bought a controlling stake in the Premier League club from Lord Alan Sugar in 2001 for 22m. Mr Lewis owns the Tavistock Group, which owns more than 200 assets across 13 countries, including Tottenham Hotspur and UK pub operator Mitchells & Butlers, according to Sky News. The 86-year-old is worth an estimated $6.1bn and lives in the Bahamas, according to Forbes. 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 }} Joe Lewis, the UK billionaire and owner of Tottenham Hotspur, has been indicted in the US for what officials called a brazen set of insider trading schemes. He used inside information as a way to compensate his employees or shower gifts on his friends and lovers, US Attorney Damian Williams said in a video statement on Tuesday. Thats classic corporate corruption, he added. Its cheating, and its against the law. The US attorney said Mr Lewis abused his access to corporate boardrooms to share insider information with his romantic partners, his personal assistants, his private pilots, and his friends. Those folks then traded on that information and made millions of dollars on the stock market, Mr Williams added. An attorney for Mr Lewis told The Independent he plans to fight the charges. The government has made an egregious error in judgment in charging Mr Lewis, an 86-year-old man of impeccable integrity and prodigious accomplishment, David M Zornow said in an email statement. Mr Lewis has come to the US voluntarily to answer these ill-conceived charges, and we will defend him vigorously in court. A Tottenham club spokesperson said: This is a legal matter unconnected with the club and as such we have no comment. Lewis bought a controlling stake in the Premier League club from Lord Sugar in 2001 for 22m. The billionaire is charged with 16 counts of securities fraud and three counts of conspiracy, Reuters reports. The businessman owns the Tavistock Group, which owns more than 200 assets across 13 countries, including Tottenham Hotspur and UK pub operator Mitchells & Butlers, according to Sky News. Mr Lewis, 86, is worth an estimated $6.1bn and lives in the Bahamas, according to Forbes. 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 }} Nothing could have prepared Tara Pakanich for what she encountered in the early morning hours of 23 February 2022. Inside a green bucket covered with a shower towel at her home in Green Bay, Wisconsin, was the mutilated head of her 24-year-old son Shad Thyrion. Thyrions torso, penis and carved-out organs were later found by law enforcement in her basement. The gruesome nature of the murder was on full display in court this week as Taylor Schabusiness went on trial charged with his murder. On Wednesday, a jury took just 30 minutes to convict her on all counts of first-degree intentional homicide, mutilation of a corpse and third-degree sexual assault in Thyrions death. Now, she faces life in prison as the death penalty is not legal in Wisconsin. Schabusiness, 25, and her victim knew each other since middle school and had been involved in a sexual relationship, she told law enforcement. On the fateful day of Thyrions death, they had been consuming methamphetamines and prescription drugs. Taylor Schabusiness scowls as shes convicted of killing and dismembering lover But despite Schabusiness attempts to enter not-guilty pleas for reason of insanity, prosecutors honed in on the atrocious evidence they said suggested premeditation. Over the course of the three-day trial, jurors heard about Schabusiness online searches for Jeffrey Dahmer walking into court all sexy as well as how she allegedly preserved Thyrions blood and then showered with it before recounting to detectives how much she liked strangling him. Throughout the proceedings, she also attacked her own lawyer and was seen smirking as gruesome details about the murder are mentioned. Heres everything we know about the case: The murder According to a criminal complaint filed by prosecutors, Schabusiness picked up Thyrion from her mothers home around 9.30pm on 21 February 2022. A friend of the couple joined them before they headed to an apartment where the three smoked marijuana. Schabusiness told police that she and Thyrion also smoked methamphetamine and injected Trazodone. Schabusiness and Thyrion eventually returned to his mothers home and spent the day there while Ms Pakanich was away. The alleged murderer claimed in an interview with police that she and Thyrion used chains to choke one another as foreplay. This time, she said, she and Thyrion put metal chains on each other. Thyrion reportedly laid face down in bed before Schabusiness went crazy and repeatedly choked him despite the fact that he was coughing blood and turned purple. Green Bay Police Detective David Graf testified in court that Schabusiness allegedly admitted to enjoying the ordeal. Her response was that she liked it, Detective Graf said, according to local news station WBAY. Taylor Schabusiness (Taylor Schabusiness/GBPD) Schabusiness allegedly went on to tell law enforcement that she continued having sex with the dead body for a period of time because she enjoyed it and then gathered kitchen knives with the intention to dismember Thyrion and keep all his body parts, but she got lazy, according to theGreen Bay Press-Gazette. Detective Graf said that Schabusiness proceeded to use a bucket and a tote bag to collect Thyrons blood, which she then used to shower with. Dane County Medical Examiner Dr Vincent Tranchida also testified in court about the lack of blood on the scene of the murder. We have decapitation, we have dismemberment, we have transection of the torso, subsequently internally the body has been eviscerated. In other words, we have entered inside the body through various cuts through the abdomen and between the ribs where the victims organs have been removed, largely one by one, he told jurors. Dr Tranchida also said that one of Thyrions feet had been shoved into his chest cavity and that his back was filleted. Decapitated head found by Thyrions mother Ms Pakanich told the court on Monday that she was woken up by a knock on her front door around 2.30am on 23 February 2022. She went to the basement to check whether Thyrion was there and after not finding him, she went back upstairs and found the bucket with part of her sons remains inside. Ms Pakanichs boyfriend Steve Hendricks then called 911. Bodycam video of the officers responding to the scene shows them searching the basement of the home and securing the crime scene after confirming that a human head was inside the bucket. Shad Thyrion (Shad Thyrion/FB) I went downstairs. At the bottom of the stairs, to the right, there was a green bucket with a shower towel on top of it. Just to verify we had an actual head in the bucket, lifted the towel off and there was in fact a human head severed head in the bucket, Green Bay police officer Alex Wanish testified during the trial. The rest of Thyrions body parts were found placed inside plastic bags and cardboard boxes in the basement and in a minivan at the property. Schabusinness told police they would had fun trying to find all of the organs Schabusiness had been previously convicted of unrelated fleeing, eluding and obstructing a police officer charges. She was sentenced to three months in jail in January 2022, but it is unclear whether she was under home arrest or work release at the time of Thyrions murder. Following testimony from Thyrions mother, authorities eventually located Schabusiness, who had removed a GPS tracker from her ankle. Detective Graf testified that Schabusiness had initially claimed to have blacked out while choking Thyrion, but then allegedly admitted thinking that she regained consciousness and thought she was already this far so she just kept on, referring to choking the victim. Taylor Schabusiness returns to a Brown County courtroom after attacking her attorney Quinn Jolly, during a hearing in Green Bay, Wis., Feb. 14, 2023. The criminal complaint also read: Schabusiness stated she thought it took 3-5 minutes for the Victim to die. Detective Kempf clarified with Schabusiness that when the Victim began to cough up blood she just did keep on choking the Victim because she wanted to see what happens. Schabusiness stated she enjoyed choking him and made comments to detectives asking if they knew what it was like to love something so much that you kill it. Schabusiness allegedly indicated the crime scene and told officers that they would have fun trying to find all of the organs. Schabusiness entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity entered by her former attorney. Last year, a physician appointed by the court found that she was able to stand trial. Her attorney said at that time that Schabusiness has been diagnosed as bipolar in the past and that she had been getting mental health treatment since she was in the seventh grade. Woman attacks lawyer in court whilst standing for trial for killing lover However, Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh ruled in March that Schabusiness was competent to stand trial. In February, Schabusiness attacked her previous attorney during a court hearing before a deputy wrestled her to the courtroom floor. Schabusinesss current attorney filed a motion to exclude evidence of searches Schabusines made before the murder, including Jeffrey Dahmer walking into court all sexy and Jeffrey Dahmers butt. Judge Walsh ruled that the evidence can be admitted in court, but no mention should be made of her searches for satanism. He thought of others before himself According to his obituary, Thyrion worked with his father and grandfather in the family business. Shad enjoyed camping, games, and spending time with his family, the obituary read. He was a very kind and compassionate person who often thought of others before himself. A talented artist, he also enjoyed wood carving. Sixteen jurors were selected last week, following Judge Walshs ruling that Schabusiness can help in her defence. The panel took just over half an hour to return a verdict of guilty on all charges. 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 }} Fox News host Greg Gutfeld is being criticised for saying some Jews were able to survive the Nazi genocide because they were useful, with a prominent Holocaust museum saying this claim does not represent the complex history of the concentration camps. What Fox News allowed to be said on their air yesterday and has so far failed to condemn is an obscenity, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement to The Hill on Tuesday. In defending a horrid, dangerous, extreme lie that insults the memory of the millions of Americans who suffered from the evil of enslavement, a Fox News host told another horrid, dangerous and extreme lie that insults the memory of the millions of people who suffered from the evils of the Holocaust. The scandal began during a Monday segment on the Fox talk show The Five, as panelists were discussing a new set of education standards in Florida. In the state, history students will now learn that enslaved people in the US, who endured forced kidnapping, then brutal violence and bondage on plantations, developed skills that could be applied for personal benefit. One of the commenters on the panel, Jessica Tarlov, said that provision within the standards made her uncomfortable. As a Jewish person, she felt a similar framing of the Holocaust would be highly offensive. Im just fundamentally uncomfortable with the sentence that Blacks benefited at all from this, she said. It made me think as someone obviously Im not Black, Im Jewish would someone say about the Holocaust, for instance, that there were some benefits for Jews, that while they were hanging out in concentration camps, you learned a strong work ethic, maybe you learned a new skill? Did you ever make read Mans Search for Meaning? Mr Gutfeld responded. Vik Frankl talks about how you had to survive in a concentration camp by having skills. You had to be useful. Utility. Utility kept you alive. The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum said in a statement on social media Monday that Mr Gutfelds comments were an inaccurate description of the Nazi genocide, in which millions of people including Jews, people with disabilities, Romani, political dissidents, and others were murdered. Millions of Jews were brutally murdered in execution sites, mainly across the east of occupied Europe, with entire communities wiped out regardless of their usefulness or contributions to society, the statement reads. While some of the ghettos seemed to have the goal of being productive and Jews were used as slave labor there, being useful did not guarantee safety, as the Nazis eventually decided to liquidate them, leading to the murder of those considered valuable as well. Therefore, while it is accurate to acknowledge that some Jews may have survived temporarily due to their perceived usefulness, it is crucial to remember that the Holocaust was a systematic genocide with the ultimate aim of exterminating the entire Jewish population, the museum added. It would be more appropriate to say that some Jews survived the Holocaust because they were considered temporarily useful, and the circumstances of the Nazi regimes collapse prevented their murder. We should avoid such oversimplifications in talking about this complex tragic story. Fox News declined to comment when contacted by The Independent. The Florida education standards that sparked the controversy have come in from criticism from multiple quarters. During an event this month, Vice President Kamala Harris said the provisions insult us in an attempt to gaslight us, and we will not stand for it. 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 }} New York City Mayor Eric Adams gave a strange response to a woman who yelled obscenities at the mayor during a press conference. F*** you, a**hole! the woman seemed to shout. Mr Adams told the crowd, She said Im messing with homeless people, brushing off the comment with a laugh, before adding: One should be happy if someone wants to make love to them. The mayor didnt offer any explanation for his remarks. The Independent has reached out to the mayors office for comment. According to Coalition for the Homeless , in December 2022, there were 68,884 homeless people, 21,805 of whom were children, sleeping in New York Citys main municipal shelter system every night. This isnt the first time in recent history that Mayor Adams has offered an eyebrow-raising response. A woman interrupted Mr Adams during a town hall event last month, accusing the mayor of raising New York City rent. If you are going to ask a question, dont point at me and dont be disrespectful to me, Mr Adams told the woman. Im the mayor of the city. Treat me with the respect I deserve to be treated. Im speaking to you as an adult. Dont stand in front like you treating someone thats on the plantation that you own. Give me the respect I deserve and engage in the conversation up here in Washington Heights. Treat me with the same level of respect I treat you, Adams continued. So, dont be pointing at me, dont be disrespectful to me. Speak with me as an adult because Im a grown man. I walked into this room as a grown man, and Ill walk out of this room as a grown man. I answered your question. 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 }} The US Coast Guard has ended its search for a man who jumped from the deck of a Carnival cruise ship. Surveillance video reportedly captured 30-year-old Jaylen Hill leaping over the railing of the Carnival Elation on Sunday afternoon off the coast of Melbourne, Florida. On Monday night, Coast Guard officials announced the search had been called off pending any further developments. We offer our deepest condolences to the Hill family. Our crews take our life saving mission very seriously. Any time we cant bring a loved one home to their family is a pain we all feel, Petty Officer Eric Rodriguez said in a statement. Rescue crews scoured more than 1,374 miles in their search using the 87-foot cutter Tarpon from St Petersburg, a Hercules aircraft from Clearwater, and an Ocean Sentry plane from Miami. Carnival previously said the Elation crew was informed by Mr Hills travelling companion late on Sunday afternoon that he had not been seen all day. Jaylen Hill, 30, was allegedly filmed jumping off of a Carnival cruise ship near Florida on 23 July (US Coast Guard via Twitter) Sadly, after an exhaustive on-board search and a review of security camera video it was determined that he jumped, the company said in a statement to The New York Post. Carnival added that it alerted officials to the incident and was advised to continue to Jacksonville, Florida, on Monday, the final stop on the cruises four-day route through the Bahamas. The 855-foot Elation weighs nearly 72,000 tons and can carry nearly 2,200 guests, as well as 900 crew members, according to Fox 35 Orlando. The Carnival Elation cruise ship is pictured (right) in a file photo (AFP via Getty Images) In May, a Carnival passenger named Ronnie Peale went overboard the ship Magic and fell into the waters off Florida. The Coast Guard was unable to locate the man after searching more than 5,171 miles over 60 hours and called off the search. 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 }} Billionaire investor Leon Black was accused of raping an autistic 16-year-old girl at Jeffrey Epsteins Manhattan townhouse in 2002 in a federal lawsuit filed on Tuesday. Using the pseudonym Jane Doe, the woman claimed she was trafficked and sexually abused by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex offences against young girls in 2021. Mr Blacks lawyer Susan Estrich told Reuters the lawsuit was frivolous and that the former Wall Street executive had never even met the plaintiff. The lawsuit was filed hours after the Senate Finance Committee announced it was investigating payments of $158m Mr Black made to Epstein between 2012 and 2017. Last week, it was revealed that Mr Black agreed in January to pay $62.5m to the US Virgin Islands to be released from the territorys investigations into Epsteins sex-trafficking ring. According to the court filing, Jane Doe was born with mosaic Down syndrome and has a developmental age around 12 years old. The woman, now in her 30s, alleges she was first trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell in 2001, and was routinely abused by both of them. The plaintiff claims that Epstein introduced her to Mr Black in the spring or summer of 2002, and instructed her to give [him] the same kind of massage treatment that she gives Epstein meaning that it would involve sexual intercourse and she was expected to strip naked. Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted of procuring and trafficking young girls for Jeffrey Epstein in 2021 (PA) She alleges that Mr Black led her to a third floor room on the third floor of Epsteins Upper East Side townhouse, pinned her down and penetrated her with sex toys as she was preparing to give him a massage. The violent and sadistic nature of Blacks rape left an indelible mark on her, both physically and psychologically, the lawsuit, filed by Wigdor Law, alleges. In a statement, Ms Estrich said: These vicious and defamatory lies, masquerading as allegations, have been intentionally manufactured by the Wigdor law firm as part of the firms vendetta against Mr Black for vigorously and successfully defending himself over the past two years. Wigdors prior case against Mr Black was recently thrown out by the Court and this one will be too. These allegations about an incident that supposedly took place 20 years ago are totally made up, entirely uncorroborated and, as pleaded, squarely violate the statute of limitations. Leon Black, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, denies meeting the plaintiff (REUTERS) Mr Blacks attorneys filed a motion for sanctions against Wigdor Law in December in the New York State Supreme Court over two previous civil sexual abuse lawsuits it brought against the private equity billionaire. Wigdor Law partner Jeanne Christensen said in a statement Jane Does civil lawsuit was filed after New York passed the Adult Survivors Act, which removed the statute of limitations for sexual misconduct. Today, because of legislative initiatives in NYS granting sexual violence victims the right to file claims previously barred by the statute of limitations, we were able to commence a legal action against Leon Black for harms committed years ago against our client Jane Doe when she was a minor, Ms Christensen said in a statement. This is significant for our client and for all sexual assault survivors. It is an honour to represent Jane Doe and we look forward to proceeding to discovery and trial on Jane Does claims, Christensen said. On Tuesday, Senate Finance Committee chair Ron Wyden wrote to Mr Black asking for further information about inexplicably large payments made to Epstein for financial advisory services. Mr Black has previously said he cut ties with Epstein in 2018 due to a fee dispute. A spokesperson for Mr Black told the New York Times his $62.5m settlement with the US Virgin Islands shouldnt be construed as evidence of wrongdoing. The Independent did not immediately hear back from attorneys representing Jane Doe and Mr Black. Mr Black, who co-founded private equity firm Apollo Global Management before leaving in 2021, has an estimated net wealth of $10.1bn, according to Forbes. 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 }} After law enforcement in Hoover, Alabama cast doubt over Carlee Russells claim that she was kidnapped, the 25-year-old admitted to fabricating her story, leading to more questions about her perplexing case. On Monday, Ms Russells attorney provided a statement to the Hoover Police Department saying her client did not see a baby on the side of the road, was not kidnapped, did not leave the Hoover area and acted alone in her decision to disappear for 49 hours. My client apologises for her actions to this community, the volunteers who were searching for her, to the Hoover Police Department and other agencies as well, as to her friends and family, Ms Russells attorney, Emory Anthony, said in the statement. The statement comes just days after Hoover police chief Nick Derzis told reporters that authorities were unable to verify most of Ms Russells initial statements. Ms Russell disappeared on 13 July after pulling her vehicle over on Interstate 459 and calling 911 to report a toddler walking alone along the road. From there, she claimed a man kidnapped her and held her captive for two days. Authorities conducted a massive search for Ms Russell which ended on 15 July when Ms Russell arrived back home, on foot. Though Ms Russell has admitted to lying to police, questions still remain. Why did Carlee Russell lie? At this time, it is unclear why Ms Russell wanted to disappear. Ms Russells attorney did not provide any further information about her clients reasoning for causing the frantic search or staging her disappearance. In a press conference last week, Mr Derzis pointed to Ms Russells actions before her disappearance to vie some insight into her mental state. Using tracking information, internet search history and surveillance camera footage, investigators saw Ms Russell leave her workplace carrying items that she allegedly was not supposed to have. This included a roll of toilet paper and a bathrobe. She then stopped by Target to get snacks and a local restaurant to get dinner before driving down the interstate. But more than that, Ms Russells searched on the internet for things like Do you have to pay for Amber Alert or search and how old someone has to be for an Amber Alert to be issued in the days and hours leading up to her disappearance. Where was Carlee Russell? Ms Russell stagged her kidnapping on 13 July, claiming a man with orange hair emerged from the woods near the interstate, picked her up and forced her into a vehicle. She told police the man brought her to an undisclosed location where he held her captive for two days. Police and Ms Russells attorney confirmed this is untrue. However, neither Mr Derzis nor Mr Anthony provided more details about Ms Russells whereabouts for the 49 hours she was missing. In the statement provided to police, Mr Anthony said his client did not leave the Hoover area and was not at any motels but did not elaborate. Carlee Russells family says she was abducted after stopping to help a toddler, but police are yet to confirm key details in their story (Hoover Police Department) Mr Anthony added that Ms Russell acted alone in her feigned disappearance. My client did not leave the Hoover area when she was identified as a missing person, Mr Anthony said. My client did not have any help in this incident, but this was a single act done by herself. Will Carlee Russell be charged? Mr Derzis called Ms Russells lie an elaborate deal and emphasised that multiple law enforcement agencies and many people were involved because they believes Ms Russell was missing and endangered. The sad thing is there were so many people involved and took this thing very, very seriously and, again, we wanted the focus to be to bring her home and she got home ... It is what it is. We know that it was a hoax, Mr Derzis said on Monday. Members of the community, including parents who have lost their children, have come out and criticised Ms Russell for lying to police. Though police have not unveiled any official charges against Ms Russell, Mr Derzis said he plans to meet with Mr Anthony in the following days and reached out to the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office about possible criminal charges. Making a false police report is a misdeamour in Alabama. He said he expects Mr Anthony to set up an interview between Ms Russell and investigators. Close Moment crane collapses in middle of Manhattan after catching fire 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 construction crane caught fire and partially collapsed in the heart of Manhattan on Wednesday morning, sending commuters fleeing for their lives as rubble rained down onto the streets below. The fire broke out at around 7.30am ET on a crane on a building under construction along W 41st St and 10th Avenue, close to Hudson Yards. Bystander footage showed the top of the crane alight before it suddenly collapsed, crashing into a building opposite where it appeared to smash several windows. New Yorkers in the streets below were seen running away from the carnage. Two construction workers told The Indepednent about the terrifying moment the building they were working in was suddenly struck by the crane. Were walking down the stairs and thats when you hear the boom, boom, boom, Alexander, a construction worker who only wished to be identified by his first name, told The Independent. Twelve people nine civilians and three firefighters were injured in the collapse, the FDNY told CNN. All suffered non-life threatening injuries while one of the firefighters suffered chest pains. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said that it was extremely lucky more people werent hurt. 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 }} Southeast Asian countries should be given some latitude to engage informally with Myanmar on an individual basis to help resolve a deepening crisis there, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Wednesday. Anwar said he and visiting Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed during talks on the need to strengthen the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in ending the violence that started after Myanmar's army seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government on Feb. 1, 2021. At the same time, Anwar said neighboring countries should be given some flexibility, room and space" to engage with Myanmar on an informal basis. But he said it must not come at the expense of sacrificing the issues of human rights and the treatment of minorities, particularly the ethnic Muslim Rohingya and others. Some ASEAN countries, including current chair Indonesia, have been frustrated with Myanmar's refusal to cooperate with a peace plan forged in 2021 that called for an immediate end to the violence and dialogue to be brokered through an ASEAN special envoy. The 10-member bloc has banned Myanmars generals from attending ASEAN meetings. Thailand has already taken a bilateral route to engage Myanmar. Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said he met earlier this month with Suu Kyi in detention and that she was open to engage in talks. He is the only foreign government official known to have been given access to Suu Kyi. The military government had earlier refused requests by ASEAN special envoys to meet her. Don said his meeting with Suu Kyi was an approach from the friends of Myanmar" to secure a peaceful settlement. Southeast Asian diplomats told The Associated Press that Thailand was taking extra steps to help ease the crisis amid fears that an escalation of violence could drive large numbers of refugees from Myanmar into Thai territory. Marcos, in a joint press conference with Anwar on Wednesday, didn't mention Myanmar by name. But he agreed that countries should be able to use the bilateral route to resolve problems. I think that this will be an important aspect to all the issues that ASEAN is presently facing and to all the issues that the member states are presently worrying about, he said. Myanmar's military takeover and its crackdown on armed resistance has plunged the country into deadly chaos. Western and European governments, including the United States, have imposed sanctions on Myanmars military government and demanded the immediate release of Suu Kyi and other political detainees. Suu Kyi, 78, is serving a total of 33 years imprisonment after being convicted on a raft of charges that her supporters and rights groups say were politically motivated in an attempt to discredit her and legitimize the militarys takeover while preventing her from returning to politics. More than 3,750 civilians, including pro-democracy activists, have been killed by security forces and nearly 24,000 arrested since the military takeover, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights group that keeps tallies of arrests and casualties. Marcos, who arrived Tuesday, will also attend a business event and investment forum before leaving Thursday. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A federal judge on Tuesday vacated the military conviction of Bowe Bergdahl, a former U.S. Army soldier who pleaded guilty to desertion after he left his post and was captured in Afghanistan and tortured by the Taliban. The ruling from U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton in Washington says that military judge Jeffrey Nance, who presided over the court-martial, failed to disclose that he had applied to the executive branch for a job as an immigration judge, creating a potential conflict of interest. Walton noted that former President Donald Trump had strongly criticized Bergdahl during the 2016 presidential campaign. Bergdahl's lawyers argued that Trump's comments placed undue command influence on Nance. Walton rejected the specific argument surrounding undue command influence, but he said a reasonable person could question the judge's impartiality under the circumstances. Bergdahl was charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy after the then-23-year-old from Hailey, Idaho, left his post in Afghanistan in 2009. He said he was trying to get outside his post so he could report what he saw as poor leadership within his unit, but he was abducted by the Taliban and held captive for nearly five years. During that time, Bergdahl was repeatedly tortured and beaten with copper wires, rubber hoses and rifle butts. After several escape attempts, he was imprisoned in a small cage for four years, according to court documents. Several U.S. servicemembers were wounded searching for Bergdahl. In 2014, he was returned to the U.S. in a prisoner swap for five Taliban leaders who were being held at Guantanamo Bay. The swap faced criticism from Trump, then-Sen. John McCain and others. Both Trump and McCain called for Bergdahl to face severe punishment. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to both charges. Prosecutors at his court-martial sought 14 years in prison, but he was given no time after he submitted evidence of the torture he suffered while in Taliban custody. He was dishonorably discharged and ordered to forfeit $10,000 in pay. His conviction and sentence had been narrowly upheld by military appeals courts before his lawyers took the case to U.S. District Court, resulting in Tuesday's ruling. The Justice Department declined comment on the ruling Tuesday. Eugene Fidell, one of Bergdahl's lawyers, said he was gratified by the ruling and said Walton's 63-page opinion shows how meticulous he was in rendering the ruling. Calls and emails to the immigration court in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Nance now serves as an immigration judge, were not returned Tuesday evening. 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 }} Progress Action Fund launched a new ad attacking crackdowns on reproductive rights ahead of an Ohio ballot measure, featuring an elderly Republican congressman in a couples bedroom. The ad begins with a sex scene in which a woman asks, Do you have a condom? The man reaches for the condom in a bedside table drawer, and another suit-covered arm reaches for it as well, shocking the couple. Sorry, you cant use those, says an older man, clad in a black suit and red tie, while standing beside the bed. The woman asks who he is. Im your Republican congressman. Now that were in charge, were banning birth control, he says. This is our decision, not yours, the woman replies, adding, Get out of our bedroom! The Republican congressman says eerily, I won the last election, Im not going anywhere. Im just gonna watch and make sure you dont do anything illegal. The ad then ends with a frame of the Republican congressmans face next to text that reads: Keep republicans out of your bedroom. It urges voters to vote no on 8 August, in reference to State Issue 1, which would require proposed amendments to Ohios constitution receive the approval of at least 60 per cent of eligible voters voting on the proposed amendment. If passed, State Issue 1 would replace a simple majority requirement. The argument for Issue 1 states that it protects our Constitution from deep-pocketed, out-of-state interests, while the argument against it states that it takes away our freedom by undermining the sacred principle of one person, one vote and destroys majority rule in Ohio. A number of people have said the amendment is all about preventing abortion access. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose disagreed, Some people say this is all about abortion. Instead, he said, it was about protecting the state from special interest groups: Well, you know what, Im pro-life. I think many of you are as well. This is 100% about keeping a radical pro-abortion amendment out of our constitution. The left wants to jam it in there this coming November. If you live in Ohio, watch this steamy and horrifying ad and vote against raising the number for ballot initiatives to pass to 60%, Jill Wine-Banks tweeted. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has been charged over an alleged plot to overthrow the 2020 election, adding to his growing list of legal woes. The ex-president now faces four counts of violating three sections of the federal criminal code as he and a group of allies schemed to find a way to somehow keep him in the White House for a second term despite losing to Joe Biden. Grand jurors in Washington DC have spent months hearing evidence and witness testimony as part of a long-running probe into Mr Trumps efforts to overturn his election loss and the January 6 attack on the Capitol which sprung from those efforts. Donald Trump has hit back at the charges (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) On Monday they approved the indictment against the Republican on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of an official proceeding, and deprivation of rights under colour of law on Tuesday after a four-hour presentation by Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith and his team of prosecutors. In a statement to reporters shortly after the indictment was unsealed, Mr Smith said the January 6 attack was an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy that was fueled by lies, lies by the defendant targeted at obstructing a bedrock function of the US government: The nations process of collecting, counting and certifying the results of the presidential election. Mr Smith praised the law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol that day as heroes ... patriots and they are the very best of us who put their lives on the line to defend who we are as a country and as a people and defended the very institutions and principles that define the United States. He also said the case against Mr Trump is part of the Justice Departments efforts to ensuring accountability for those criminally responsible for what happened that day and said his office would seek a speedy trial of Mr Trump, who was summoned to appear in court to answer the charges on 3 August at 4.00 pm at the E Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington. The indictment alleges that the ex-president engaged in a conspiracy to defraud the United States by using dishonesty, fraud, and deceit to impair, obstruct, and defeat the lawful federal government function by which the results of the presidential election are collected, counted, and certified by the federal government, conspired to corruptly obstruct and impede the January 6 congressional proceeding at which the collected results of the presidential election are counted and certified, and conspired against conspiracy against the right to vote and to have ones vote counted. Prosecutors allege that Mr Trump had six co-conspirators, including five attorneys. Trump speaks to supporters on January 6 shortly before the assault on the Capitol (AFP via Getty Images) According to the indictment, Mr Trump and his co-conspirators co-conspirators used knowingly false claims of election fraud to get state legislators and election officials to subvert the legitimate election results and change electoral votes for the Defendants opponent, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., to electoral votes for the Defendant. They further allege that Mr Trump Defendant pushed officials in certain states to ignore the popular vote; disenfranchise millions of voters; dismiss legitimate electors; and ultimately, cause the ascertainment of and voting by illegitimate electors in his favour. Prosecutors also cite the efforts by Mr Trump and his allies to cause fake electoral college certificates to be submitted for use by then-vice president Mike Pence to hijack the certification of the election and declare himself and Mr Trump the winners despite having lost. When Mr Pence refused, prosecutors allege that Mr Trump and co-conspirators repeated knowingly false claims of election fraud to gathered supporters, falsely told them that the Vice President had the authority to and might alter the election results, and directed them to the Capitol to obstruct the certification proceeding and exert pressure on the Vice President to take the fraudulent actions he had previously refused. They also allege that Mr Trump and his allies exploited the January 6 attack on the Capitol disruption by redoubling efforts to levy false claims of election fraud and convince Members of Congress to further delay the certification based on those. Trumps Jan 6 arguments dubbed the Costanza defence after Seinfeld joke Continuing, they say Mr Trump and his co-conspirators attempted to use the power and authority of the Justice Department to conduct sham election crime investigations and to send a letter to the targeted states that falsely claimed that the Justice Department had identified significant concerns that may have impacted the election outcome as they sought to advance the Defendants fraudulent elector plan by using the Justice Departments authority to falsely present the fraudulent electors as a valid alternative to the legitimate electors. A significant portion of evidence against the ex-president appears to come from testimony given by Mr Pence, the former vice president. A section of the indictment recounts several private conversations between Mr Trump and Mr Pence, including one in which Mr Trump complained that Mr Pence was too honest after he told the then-president that he lacked the power to overturn the election. The latest charges against Mr Trump are some of the most serious allegations levied against the twice-impeached, now thrice-indicted former president, and are just the first of two possible sets of charges that he could face as a result of his efforts to unlawfully reverse the result of his defeat nearly three years ago. A separate grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia has also been hearing evidence about efforts by Mr Trump and his allies to pressure Peach State officials into reversing his loss to Mr Biden there, and the district attorney who has been supervising that process has said charges be approved against multiple targets in the coming days. The addition of a second federal indictment to the legal troubles facing Mr Trump is certain to complicate his quest to return to the White House by winning next years presidential election. He is scheduled to be tried in two separate criminal cases against him, including on the federal charges against him and co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira which are pending in a Florida federal court as a result of their alleged roles in the ex-presidents alleged unlawful retention of national defence information and obstruction of justice. The January 6 riot was an attack on democracy, the Department of Justice special counsel said (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) A separate case against him for allegedly falsifying business records in his former home state of New York is set to go to trial in March 2024, while the federal case in Florida is scheduled for trial in late May 2024. The ex-president has maintained that the multiple investigations against him amount to election interference and a politically motivated hoax, and has repeatedly attacked the prosecutors investigating him in extremely personal terms. These latest charges against Mr Trump are the result of an eight-month investigation by Mr Smith, who was appointed by US Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 to supervise a pair of probes focusing on the ex-presidents conduct. In addition to investigating the ex-presidents alleged unlawful retention of national defence information, Mr Smith was also handed control long-running probe into the events leading up to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, when a riotous mob of Mr Trumps supporters stormed the seat of the US legislature in hopes of blocking the final certification of his loss to Mr Biden. While prosecutors in the office of the US Attorney for the District of Columbia have charged more than 1,000 people for various crimes committed during the riot including rare seditious conspiracy charges against members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers extremist groups the charges against Mr Trump [and his co-defendants] are the first to be brought against anyone for the efforts to overturn the election which arguably led to the Capitol attack. Mr Trump was impeached for inciting the attack with just days left in his presidency, and though a majority of senators voted to convict him, they fell short of the two-thirds supermajority required to sustain a conviction. But the ex-president and his co-defendants are not being charged for organising, inciting or fomenting what was the worst attack on the Capitol since British troops set it ablaze in 1814. Instead, the charges against them are for crimes which prosecutors allege to have been committed as Mr Trump sought to employ a variety of strategies by which he and his allies thought he could reverse or override the will of voters, including pressuring state legislatures to use their own authority to replace swing state electors for Mr Biden with electors for Mr Trump. Key points from Trump's infamous Georgia call Mr Trump and his allies also pushed state officials, most notably Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, to act to decertify Mr Bidens wins in swing states, according to prosecutors. Figures connected to Mr Trumps campaign also spearheaded an effort to submit forged electoral college certificates to the National Archives and to the Senate, while Mr Trump personally sought to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence into unilaterally throwing out the legitimate electoral certificates for Mr Biden in favour of the forged ones listing Mr Trump as the winner. The case currently pending against him in the Southern District of Florida arose out of a criminal referral from the National Archives and Records Administration after officials discovered documents bearing classification markings in a set of 15 boxes which the agency had retrieved from Mr Trumps home at Mar-a-Lago, the 1920s-era Palm Beach mansion turned private beach club where he maintains his primary residence and post-presidential office. Investigators later discovered more than 100 additional documents with classification markings during an 8 August 2021 search of Mr Trumps property, and in June charged him with unlawfully withholding the documents from the government and obstructing efforts to determine whether all the classified documents in his possession had been returned. 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 }} Republican lawmakers have made a last-ditch bid to block Hunter Bidens plea deal ahead of a court hearing in Delaware where he will plead guilty to two federal charges. In a court filing in Wilmington on Tuesday, the GOP chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Rep Jason Smith asked the judge to throw out the plea agreement claiming that testimony from two Internal Revenue Service (IRS) whistleblowers show the deal is tainted. The IRS whistleblowers had testified before the committee that Hunter Biden was given preferential treatment in the criminal case by the Justice Department due to his position as President Joe Bidens son. The situation here is not that the Justice Department exercised charging or plea negotiation discretion, but the presence of credible allegations that the investigation, charging decisions and plea negotiations were tainted by improper conduct at various levels of the government, Mr Smiths attorney wrote in the filing, obtained by The New York Times. A second brief to block the plea deal was also filed by conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation which previously demanded the US visa records of Prince Harry after he documented drug-taking in his memoir. Last month, Hunter Biden reached an agreement with federal prosecutors to plead guilty to two federal tax misdemeanours, after he failed to pay his taxes on time in 2017 and 2018. As part of the deal, he will also avoid prosecution on a gun charge. The presidents son is scheduled to appear in federal court in Wilmington on Wednesday morning where he will enter pleas on the charges. Under the deal, he is expected to be handed a suspended sentence avoiding any jail time. Republican attempts to have the plea deal tossed are unlikely to succeed as judges rarely refuse to accept deals struck between prosecutors and defendants. However, the filing did kick off a firestorm in the case, which culminated in the judge threatening to sanction Hunter Bidens attorneys. After the motion was filed on Tuesday, a member of Hunter Bidens legal team misrepresented her identity and who she worked for in an attempt to improperly convince the Clerks Office to remove the amicus materials from the docket, according to a court order from US District Judge Maryellen Noreika. The judge claimed the attorney had called the court clerk claiming to work with Mr Smiths attorney and asking that the documents be taken down from the public docket. Judge Noreika warned that Hunter Bidens attorneys could face sanctions over the incident. Hunter Biden boards Air Force One with the president in February 2023 (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Hunter Bidens legal team responded to the court order by denying they had intentionally misled the court, claiming that the mishap was the result of an an unfortunate and unintentional miscommunication between the attorney and court clerk. Ultimately, Mr Smiths filing was sealed at the request of Hunter Bidens attorneys, who had argued that it contains confidential taxpayer information. The unusual last-minute attempt to thwart proceedings in the plea agreement comes as Republicans repeatedly try to attack the Democratic president via his son. First, they tried to tie Mr Biden to his sons business dealings in Ukraine and China without producing any evidence. Then, GOP members slammed the plea agreement as a sweetheart deal and claimed Hunter Biden had been given special treatment by prosecutors. Now, in response to the backlash, the lead prosecutor in the case has offered to testify publicly before Congress. In a letter sent to Rep Jim Jordan on Monday, the DOJ said US Attorney David Weiss can be made available to testify before the House Judiciary Committee for a public hearing after the August break. The Department believes it is strongly in the public interest for the American people and for Congress to hear directly from US Attorney Weiss on these assertions and questions about his authority at a public hearing, the letter read. Republicans are demanding that the interview take place behind closed doors. 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 }} Federal prosecutors and attorneys for President Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden have settled on a deal for the lawyer and lobbyist turned artist to plead guilty to tax misdemeanour charges and enter into a diversion programme on a gun-related charge, but the judge overseeing the case wants more information before accepting the deal. US District Judge Maryellen Noreika has ordered attorneys from both sides to file briefs with the court on a provision of the agreement which she had questioned because it raised separation of powers concerns, or modify the agreement to exclude the provision she questioned. The agreement, which she had reviewed, reportedly said that she would be responsible for deciding if Mr Biden was ever in breach of the agreement. She suggested that such a role would be improper for her because it is the executive branch, through prosecutors, which makes charging decision. Because Mr Biden had to enter a plea at his court appearance, he has pleaded not guilty while attorneys from both sides confer to make the agreement comply with the judges concerns. He will be able to enter a guilty plea when his attorneys and prosecutors have settled on language for a deal. Earlier in the hearing, the deal appeared to fall apart completely when the judge overseeing a plea hearing questioned whether the deal would preclude the government from pursuing other charges against him. According to multiple reports, Mr Bidens plea agreement will cover tax years 2014 through 2019 and any offences he could be charged with for violating tax, gun possession or drug laws. It will not cover any other offences, some of which may be under investigation by the Department of Justice. US District Judge Maryellen Noreika had ordered Mr Bidens lawyers and prosecutors to confer further after Mr Biden said he would not accept the agreement if it did not provide that the government could not charge him for any crimes currently known to prosecutors if he successfully completes the terms of the deal. Prosecutors had agreed to ask Judge Noreika to impose a term of probation on Mr Biden for not having paid taxes on time in 2017 and 2018. Mr Biden was also expected to enter into a diversion deal under which hed plead guilty to charges that hed lied on a gun background check form when he said he wasnt a user of drugs when he bought a pistol during that same time period, but would withdraw the plea after completing the terms of the diversion agreement, which often requires community service and continued sobriety verified by drug tests. During the court hearing, he told Judge Noreika that hed been sober since 2019 but had been in and out of drug treatment for roughly two decades. The sticking point in the proceedings appeared when the judge asked prosecutors and defence counsel whether they understood the hearing to conclude any criminal proceedings against Mr Biden, and when prosecutors said that was not their understanding, she ordered prosecutors and defence counsel for the presidents son to confer on whether they still have an agreement. The chaos at the Wilmington, Delaware federal courthouse comes after years of attempts by Republicans to weaponise Hunter Bidens private business affairs and substance abuse troubles against his father dating back to mid-2019, when then-president Donald Trump tried to blackmail Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky into announcing sham investigations into Hunter Biden and his father, who was then contemplating a run for president in the 2020 election. Republicans have spent years alleging that Hunter Bidens work for a Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, was the reason Mr Biden carried out Obama administration policy as vice president when he pushed Ukraines then-president, Petro Poroshenko, to oust a prosecutor whose firing had been demanded by the US, EU, IMF and other entities that were backing financial aid for Ukraine. The false allegations were what motivated then-president Donald Trump to attempt to blackmail Mr Poroshenkos successor, Volodymyr Zelensky, into announcing sham investigations into the Bidens, leading to Mr Trumps first of two impeachment trials. Although Republicans have claimed that Mr Biden is getting an overly lenient deal because of political favouritism, the White House has denied that President Biden has taken any steps to interfere with the probe, which is being conducted by a Trump appointee who was asked to stay on to keep a degree of separation between the White House and the probe of the presidents son. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the Wednesday hearing at the top of the daily press briefing with a brief statement. She told reporters: Hunter Biden is a private citizen, and this was a personal matter for him. As we have said the President, the First Lady, they love their son, and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life. This case was handled independently, as all of you know, by the Justice Department under the leadership of a prosecutor appointed by the former president, President Trump. She referred further questions to Hunter Bidens representatives. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump was indicted for a third time on Tuesday 1 August after a grand jury in Washington, DC, charged the ex-president on four counts related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and incite the US Capitol riot of 6 January 2021. On Thursday 3 August, the former commander-in-chief appeared at an arraignment in hearing in DC at which he pleaded not guilty and denounced the affair as an act of persecution by his political enemies. This comes after he has already been indicted twice this year first in New York over allegedly falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments and second over his alleged mishandling of classified documents. Now, Mr Trump has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, conspiracy against rights and obstruction of, and attempt to obstruct, an official proceeding all of which he has pleaded not guilty to. Whats more, a fourth indictment could soon follow, as Mr Trump is also under investigation by Fani Willis, district attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, over his apparent attempt to influence state officials in the immediate aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. For his part, Mr Trump has strenuously denied any wrongdoing and repeatedly insisted as he did in DC, without any evidence that he is the victim of a costly witch hunt by the Joe Biden administration, which he claims has weaponised the US justice system against him in order to thwart his proposed political comeback. What is a grand jury? In the American legal system, a grand jury is simply a group of randomly-selected American citizens called upon by the federal or state laws of the United States to conduct legal proceedings, chiefly to weigh the evidence in a criminal case to determine whether there is a sufficent basis under which charges should be brought. Unlike a trial, a unanimous verdict is not required. Typically, just 12 of a 16 to 23-strong grand jury needs to vote to indict a person for it to take place. All proceedings surrounding grand juries are secret in accordance Rule 6(e) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and the burden of proof for prosecution lower than it is at a trial, with only a majority belief in probable cause needed to secure an indictment. What is an indictment? Should a grand jury conclude in favour of issuing formal charges, an indictment is then issued to the subject, which serves as formal notice that the state has reason to believe that person has committed a crime. An indictment does not determine guilt or innocence but is a required procedural step in a criminal proceeding. What is an arraignment? After the state secures an indictment, it can take a case forward to an arraignment. At an arraignment hearing, which takes place before a judge, defendants are read the charges facing them and the maximum penalties they carry and then are offered the opportunity to make a plea either not guilty, no contest, or guilty. If the defendant pleads guilty or no contest, the case most frequently moves to sentencing. If the defendant pleads not guilty, the judge will set the terms of bail and the dates for subsequent events in the case, including any pre-trial hearings and an eventual trial, which can sometimes occur months or years after the initial charging date. So where is Trump in all of this? The former president has already been indicted twice once by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg for his alleged role in the hush money scheme and by Mr Smith in Florida for his alleged mishandling of classified documents and obstruction of justice. Mr Trump was arraigned in New York in the state case on 4 April, in Miami in the first federal case on 13 June and now once again in Washington in response to the second federal indictment on 3 August. The former commander-in-chief pleaded not guilty in all instances. Mr Trump was released after all three arraignments and is not expected to be held in jail while awaiting a potential trial in either case. He is, of course, running for the presidency again and is the current runaway leader in the polls for the Republican presidential nomination, leaving the likes of Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott and Chris Christie trailing in his wake, which could make things interesting going forward. 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 }} Jack Smith, the experienced war crimes prosecutor who unveiled two unprecedented federal indictments against former US president Donald Trump, is no stranger to high-profile probes of public figures. The US Department of Justice veteran oversaw anti-corruption prosecutions against multiple US politicians in his role as the head of the Department of Justice public integrity section from 2010 to 2015. One of those cases was against former Virginia governor Robert McDonnell, a Republican against whom he secured a conviction on bribery charges, though the case was later thrown out by the US Supreme Court. He also won a conviction of former GOP Representative Rick Renzi of Arizona, who received a sentence of three years in prison before being pardoned by Mr Trump. A Harvard Law School graduate, Mr Smith also served in prosecutorial roles in US Attorney offices in the Middle District of Tennessee and the Eastern District of New York. Prior to his appointment by Mr Garland, Mr Smith lived in the Dutch city of The Hague, where he has been serving as a specialist prosecutor overseeing investigations into war crimes in Kosovo since 2018. He also served as a coordinator of investigations for the prosecutors office at the International Criminal Court from 2008 to 2010, where he worked on cases against foreign government officials and members of militias accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Mr Smith returned to the US last November after being appointed a special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland. His first mission was to consider, whether any person or entity violated the law in connection with efforts to interfere with the lawful transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election or the certification of the electoral college vote held on or about January 6, 2021. The second, which led to Mr Trump being indicted and arraigned in 37 federal charges, was about whether the former president had violated US laws prohibiting unlawful retention of national defence information and obstruction of justice. Donald Trump. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) It marked the first time in US history that an ex-president let alone one who is a declared candidate in the next presidential election faced criminal charges. On 13 June, Mr Trump was arrested and arraigned on those charges in a federal court in Miami, where he pleaded not guilty. His longtime aide Walt Nauta was also charged in the case, Coming face-to-face in the courtroom, several reporters described how Mr Smith was seen staring down the former president throughout the entirety of the arraignment proceedings. On 27 July, Mr Smith hit Mr Trump with fresh charges in the case over accusations that he tried to delete Mar-a-Lago security footage so it couldnt be handed over to investigators probing his handling of secret documents. According to prosecutors, Mr Nauta and a new third defendant Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira collaborated to hide the footage. Mr Nauta and Mr De Oliveira were also charged over the matter. Mr Trump was also hit with a new charge his 32nd for retaining national defence information in relation to a new classified document described as a top secret presentation concerning military activity in a foreign country. This document is believed to be a plan of attack on Iran which a leaked audio previously revealed Mr Trump discussing in a meeting with biographers and staffers at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf club. But beyond the classified documents case, Mr Smith also investigated Mr Trumps efforts to remain in office despite losing the 2020 election, including any role he may have had in inciting the insurrection on January 6, 2021, for which he was impeached but not convicted in the US Senate trial. Donald Trump gestures at the end of his speech during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, in Washington, U.S, January 6, 2021. (REUTERS) On 18 July, the former president said he had received a letter stating that hes a target of a federal grand jury probe. Then on Tuesday, 1 August, a third indictment was brought against the ex-president. A grand jury in Washington DC voted to charge Mr Trump on four counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, conspiracy against rights and obstruction of, and attempt to obstruct, an official proceeding. On 3 August, Mr Trump surrendered to authorities in Washington DC to be arrested before appearing for his arraignment. In the courtroom, Mr Trump and his nemesis Mr Smith came face to face once again staring each other down as the former president pleaded not guilty to all charges. Jack Smith presiding during a war crimes court hearing at The Hague on November 2020 (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) As he pursues charges against one of the most famous men in the world, Mr Smith has been thrust into the spotlight. So will his prior experience be ample preparation for the punishing national attention to which he will now be subjected, including Mr Trumps infamous social media broadsides? Following his first federal indictment in June, Mr Trump lashed out at Mr Smith, accusing him of being a Trump hater and a deranged psycho that shouldnt be involved in any case having to do with justice, other than to look at Biden as a criminal which he is! Subsequently, Mr Trumps allies and supporters began attacking Mr Smith, including Kimberly Guilfoyle, Matt Gaetz and Mark Levin. Special Counsel Jack Smith is atrocious, MAGA War Room tweeted on 13 June the day of Mr Trumps arrest and arraignment. Far-right US Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced an appropriations rider to the House floor on 12 June to defund Jack Smiths Special Counsel, his office and the investigation. This is a weaponized government attempt to take down the top political enemy and leading presidential candidate, she said. Mr Smith has also faced repeated attacks from Mr Trump himself ever since that first federal indictment was handed down. In his post-arraignment speech at Bedminster on 13 June, the former president laid into the special prosecutor. He looks like a thug, he said of Mr Smith. Hes a raging and uncontrolled Trump hater, as is his wife, who also happened to be the producer of that Michelle Obama puff piece. (Mr Smiths wife, Katy Chevigny, is a documentary filmmaker who produced 2020s Becoming.) Mr Smith has been unfaltering in his response. On 9 June, when the indictment was unsealed, he struck a defiant note a note he appeared to continue to take in his courtroom stance. Adherence to the rule of law is a bedrock principle of the Department of Justice, and our nations commitment to the rule of law sets an example for the world, he told reporters. We have one set of laws in this country and they apply to everyone. After Mr Trump was federally indicted for a second time, Mr Trumps campaign released a statement calling indictment disgraceful and political targeting. The lawlessness of these persecutions of President Trump and his supporters is reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the 1930s, the former Soviet Union, and other authoritarian, dictatorial regimes. President Trump has always followed the law and the Constitution with advice from many highly accomplished attorneys, the statement from Mr Trumps campaign read. Gustaf Kilander and Ariana Baio contributed to this report South Africa: Minister Pandor outlines key elements ahead of 2nd Russia-Africa Summit By Dikeledi Molobela St. Petersburg, Russia - A number of key elements in areas of collaboration, including digital innovation, space science, as well as strengthening people-to-people exchange will form part of the subjects to be discussed at the second Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg. The summit, which aims to foster mutually beneficial cooperation and partnerships between Russia and the African continent, was first convened in October 2019, with a commitment to continue meeting every three years. Speaking to SAnews in St. Petersburg, Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, said that a wide spectrum of areas of partnership are a rationale for South Africas presence at the summit. The Minister reflected that through the first summit held in Sochi, Russia, an agreement was reached to continue to have contact between African countries, the African Union and the Russian Federation to cement and strengthen relations between the continent and Russia. There are a range of aspects that will form part of our deliberations here. There are a number of areas of collaboration that we have agreed particularly in the areas of digital innovation, collaboration in space science, as well as strengthening people to people exchange. We've also added a much stronger focus on matters of trade. All of these will be part of the subjects that we will discuss during this second summit, Pandor told SAnews. The Minister emphasised that it was important to mention that for the first time, it is not just Heads of State attending the summit, but there are also a number of enterprises from various African countries as well as the Continental Development Finance institutions present. Interestingly, we also have the brand new president of the New Development Bank or the BRICS Bank, as it is sometimes called. This will be President Dilma Rousseff's first detailed interaction with African leaders, particularly the BRICS leaders. This (meeting comes ahead of the) BRICS summit that will occur in Johannesburg in South Africa, next month, Pandor said. The summit comes a month after seven African Heads of State embarked on a peace initiative mission to Ukraine and Russia concerning the war in Ukraine. The Minister said she believes the African Heads of State will use their time in St Petersburg to continue the discussions they began earlier this year in seeking a peaceful outcome in the war between Russia and Ukraine. The seven Presidents from the African continent are part of an Africa led peace initiative that seeks to encourage the beginning of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in order to end the conflict between the two countries, to start a process of returning the world to a context in which we have peace and stability. And thus allow for economic growth and development which are urgently necessary for many countries in the world, but most particularly for us in the developing world, the Minister said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-07-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. BEIJING -- The Chinese government has announced key tasks for deepening the reform of medical and healthcare systems for the second half of the year. The tasks include expanding the availability of quality medical resources and ensuring they are evenly distributed among regions, and deepening reform of public hospitals to ensure that they truly serve the public interest, according to a document jointly issued by government departments, including the National Health Commission. The country will also promote the orderly linking up of medical insurance programs at different levels, advance reform and innovative development in the field of medicine, improve the public health system, and build up the ranks of medical and healthcare personnel, according to the document. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A former president has been charged with crimes connected to his attempts to overturn the results of an American election. The federal investigation into the efforts from Donald Trump and his allies to subvert the outcome of the 2020 presidential election has yielded four criminal charges in a 45-page indictment, outlining three alleged criminal conspiracies and the obstruction of of Joe Bidens victory and detailing a multi-state scheme built on a legacy of lies and conspiracy theories to undermine the democratic process. A charging document under US Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith follows a grand jury vote to indict Mr Trump after months of evidence and witness testimony. The indictment follows a separate, lengthy House select committee investigation into the events surrounding and leading up to the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, including a series of blockbuster public hearings laying out evidence and witness testimony describing the depth of Mr Trumps attempts to remain in office at whatever cost. The panels final 845-page report provides a detailed account of the former presidents refusal to cede power regardless of the outcome while privately acknowledging that he lost, as his baseless stolen election narrative fuelled his supporters to riot in the halls of Congress, an argument that also bolstered his second impeachment in the House of Representatives. That report and countless investigations into the events surrounding January 6 have painted the attack on the Capitol as part of a much-larger effort to preserve a fragile American democracy in a volatile battle to determine the truth and who wields it. In December, lawmakers on the House committee unanimously voted to recommend charges against the former president, claiming that there is enough evidence to prosecute him for at least four crimes including aiding or providing comfort to an insurrection aimed at toppling the United States government. The panel also referred Mr Trump to the Justice Department for the obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the US, and conspiracy to make a false statement to the federal government. John Eastman, the attorney who argued that Mr Pence could reject election results, and Kenneth Chesebro, who helped develop the fake elector scheme, were also implicated in the committees report, along with former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, attorney Rudy Giuliani, and former assistant US attorney general Jeffrey Clark. It was a mostly symbolic vote, marking the culmination of the committees months-long investigation, but it sent a powerful signal from a bipartisan group of lawmakers bolstered by mountains of evidence that a former president should be held accountable for his alleged crimes against the government. Who is under investigation? The Justice Departments investigation builds on the years of work from federal prosecutors to investigate more than 1,000 people in connection with the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, fuelled by the former presidents ongoing false claims that the election was rigged against him. A resulting indictment lists six unnamed co-conspirators who are likely to include Trump-connected attorneys and former administration officials and advisers, including former attorneys Mr Giuliani and Mr Eastman, Sidney Powell, Mr Clark and Mr Cheseboro. Prosecutors have also talked to a number of chief aides and officials in Mr Trumps circle, including former Vice President Mike Pence, Mr Meadows, former White House counsel Pat Cipollone, his former deputy Pat Philbin, and former national security adviser Robert OBrien, among several others. They also have spoken with Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger, who was on the other end of a call with Mr Trump demanding that the states top elections official find 11,780 votes enough for him to overturn Mr Bidens victory in the state. That call, which was taped, also is at the center of a separate investigation from Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis into election interference in the state. Arizona ground zero for an election denialism movement that gave rise to leading GOP candidates for the top three statewide offices, including failed candidate for governor Kari Lake was a focal point for the Trump campaign and his allies, who filed several lawsuits against the state and some counties in an attempt to overturn the lawful results. Mr Biden won the state by roughly 10,000 votes. Former Trump attorneys John Eastman and Rudy Giuliani speak to the former presidents supporters in Washington, DC, on 6 January 2021. (Reuters) Federal prosecutors have talked to former Arizona governor Doug Ducey, who silenced a call from Mr Trump while Mr Ducey was in the middle of certifying his states election results a process that was being live-streamed and carried across news outlets. Mr Smiths office also subpoenaed the Office of the Arizona Secretary of State and has met with top elections officials in Wisconsin, New Mexico and Pennsylvania. Prosecutors also have interviewed Michigan secretary of state Jocelyn Benson, whose office provided a tranche of documents that included communications between the states election officials and Mr Trumps former lawyers and members of his campaign as the former presidents allies targeted the critical battleground state. Central to the investigation is whether Mr Trump knew that he lost but pressed ahead with spurious efforts to overturn results anyway, with federal prosecutors reportedly speaking to his son-in-law and former adviser Jared Kushner and former communications directors Hope Hicks and Alyssa Farah Griffin with those questions in mind. What charges does Trump face? The former president has been charged with four crimes, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights. The indictment bases those charges around Mr Trumps lies and knowledge of his deceit about the elections outcome, his campaigns attempts to pressure state officials and push false slates of electors to obstruct the certification of the results, a failed attempt to persuade Mr Pence to refuse the outcome and Mr Trumps failure to stop a mob of his supporters from breaking into the Capitol. A mob of Donald Trumps supporters breached the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, fuelled by a baseless narrative that the 2020 election was stolen from him. (Reuters) In May 2020, with the presidential election still months away, Mr Trump said it would be rigged against him if he were to lose. That June, he said the election would be the scandal of our times, called it inaccurate and fraudulent and the greatest election disaster in history. Not a single ballot had yet been cast. His own Justice Department, close advisers and campaign found no evidence of widespread voter fraud and dozens of lawsuits filed by his campaign and allies to overturn results were withdrawn or dismissed, while his attorneys and the right-wing network amplifying their false claims face massive defamation lawsuits from the voting machines companies and election workers at the centre of them. Obstruction The crime of obstruction of an official proceeding has already been brought against hundreds of people in connection with the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021. The House select committee and a federal judge who was involved in cases stemming from its inquiry previously argued that there is evidence that Mr Trump sought to corruptly obstruct the certification of electoral college votes in Congress a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison, if convicted. Then-President Trump exploited the violence at the Capitol, fuelled by his ongoing and baseless narrative that the election was stolen from him, by calling on lawmakers to pause the certification of the election results, according to the indictment. Conspiracy to defraud the United States Mr Trumps efforts through his legal team and his inner circle to block the certification of Mr Bidens victory in states that he lost, while falsely claiming widespread voter fraud and manipulation had stolen the election from him, form the basis for that charge in the federal indictment against him. The former president also is charged under this statute in the Mar-a-Lago documents case, where he is accused of using a lawyer to lie to the Justice Department. The indictment outlines Mr Trumps efforts to push election officials in battleground states that he lost Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to subvert election outcomes, then advance a bogus alternate elector scheme to transmit false slates of electors to Congress. On 18 July, Michigan attorney general Dana Nessel charged 16 fake electors in that state, marking the first criminal charges brought against so-called alternate electors who sought to overturn 2020 results. Mr Trump then leveraged the Justice Department to promote the scheme and pressured Mr Pence to fraudulently alter the elections outcome by rejecting the results on January 6, according to the indictment. Conspiracy against rights A crime of conspiracy against rights invokes Section 241 of Title 18 of US Code, a law that dates back to bedrock civil rights protections in the Reconstruction era in the aftermath of the Civil War. It carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years. Recommended Why Trump is charged under a civil rights law used to prosecute KKK terror It was among criminal codes under the Enforcement Acts, also known as the Ku Klux Klan Acts, designed to protect Americans civil rights enshrined under then-newly enacted 13th, 14th and 15th amendments allowing the federal government to protect the rights of enfranchised Black people to vote, hold office, serve on juries and receive equal protection under the law. Section 241 criminalises conspiracies to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person from exercising such rights. Is there a case for insurrection? After delivering remarks to a rally of his supporters while a joint session of Congress convened to certify 2020 election results, a speech that allegedly incited his supporters to storm the Capitol, then-President Trump stood by for 187 minutes before he told them to go home. The House select committee unanimously agreed that Mr Trump should be charged for inciting an insurrection and giving aid or comfort to insurrectionists a rare and severe charge that prosecutors will approach only with extreme caution, if they decide to prosecute at all. A conviction on that charge mandates a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and would prohibit Mr Trump from holding office. The charge is not included in the indictment against him and none of the more than 1,000 people arrested in connection with the attack are facing this charge. This story was initially published on 19 July and has since been updated with subsequent developments. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) called on Republican donors to force candidates who have little to no chance to win the Republican nomination for president out of the race to prevent Donald Trump from winning. The 2012 Republican presidential nominee-turned-chief critic of the former president within the GOP wrote an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal that any candidate had a shot of beating Mr Trump if the contest became a two-person race. For that to happen, Republican megadonors and influencers large and small are going to have to do something they didnt do in 2016: get candidates they support to agree to withdraw if and when their paths to the nomination are effectively closed, he said. Mr Romney set the deadline of 26 February, which would be after the Iowa caucuses, the New Hampshire primary, the Nevada caucus and the South Carolina primary. He said plenty of Republican candidates with no chance of winning benefit greatly from their candidacies. Left to their own inclinations, expect several of the contenders to stay in the race for a long time, Mr Romney noted. They will split the non-Trump vote, giving him the prize. A plurality is all that is needed for winner-take-all primaries. Mr Romney also cited the presidential candidacy of his father, the late George Romney, when he ran in 1968 and how many moderate Republicans got behind him before the elder Romney dropped out and they pledged their support to Nelson Rockefeller to stop Richard Nixon. But Mr Romney said such circumstances dont exist today because of the rise of super PACs, which allow for unlimited fundraising. A few billionaires have already committed tens of millions of dollars, he said. They have a responsibility to give their funds with clear eyes about their candidates prospects. Mr Romney is the only Republican Senator who voted to convict Mr Trump for both of the former presidents impeachments in 2020 and 2021. The former Massachusetts governor said donors who back a candidate with a slim chance should receive a hard pledge that they will drop out and back the candidate with the best chance of beating Mr Trump by 26 February. Donors may think that party leaders can narrow the field, he wrote. Not so. Candidates dont listen to party officials, because voters dont listen to them either. And the last people who would ever encourage a candidate to withdraw are the campaign staff and consultants who want to keep their jobs for as long as possible. Polling in early states showed Mr Trump continues to hold a commanding lead in many of the early states, including Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Our party and our country need a nominee with character, driven by something greater than revenge and ego, preferably from the next generation, he said. Family, friends and campaign donors are the only people who can get a lost-cause candidate to exit the race. After Feb. 26, they should start doing just that. 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 }} An ad launched by Progress Action Fund launched, showing an elderly Republican congressman interrupting a couple in the bedroom, has now been banned on X, formerly known as Twitter. According to the Progress Action Fund, which aims to defeat Republicans in red states, the platform has censored its account as well as the ad, called Keep Republicans Out Of Your Bedroom. In addition, the platform has placed a Search Ban and a Search Suggestion Ban on the account. As of Wednesday afternoon, the account did not show up on the social media platform, yet the ad could still be seen on X through retweets from other accounts. The Progress Action Fund said it contacted the platforms legal department and appealed the decision, which was denied. Joe Jacobson, Founder and Executive Director of Progress Action Fund, took a stab at Xs owner: Elon Musk loves free speech, but only when its convenient for him and his far-right political agenda. Political speech is protected under law and Musks competitors clearly agree that our ad should not be censored, he continued. When releasing ads in the future, well be taking them to other platforms, which many others are already doing given Elon Musks frantic and poor leadership at Twitter. The Independent has reached out to X for comment. The ad features a scene in which a woman asks a man if he has a condom. He reaches for the condom in a bedside table drawer, and another suit-covered arm appears, reaching for it as well. Sorry, you cant use those, says an older man, clad in a black suit and red tie, while standing beside the bed. When the woman asks who he is, he replies: Im your Republican congressman. Now that were in charge, were banning birth control. The ad urges voters to vote no on 8 August, in reference to State Issue 1, which would require proposed amendments to Ohios constitution receive the approval of at least 60 per cent of eligible voters voting on the proposed amendment, rather than a simple majority. Since acquiring Twitter, Mr Musk, a self declared free speech absolutist, has touted free speech as a pillar of the platform. As part of this shift during the takeover, he reinstated Donald Trumps account after a two-year ban, which was due to the risk of further incitement of violence after the January 6 Capitol riot. He also reinstated at least 11 accounts belonging to prominent far-right and anti-trans influencers. On 23 November, the platform announced it is no longer enforcing the Covid-19 misleading information policy. As recently as April, the platform claimed to strive to promote and protect the public conversation. We believe Twitter users have the right to express their opinions and ideas without fear of censorship. In May, he wrote: I am adamant about defending free speech, even if it means losing money. 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 }} Why was a major candidate for the presidency just asked about a lesson set to be taught to middle school students in Florida social studies classes? Governor Ron DeSantis found himself answering yet more questions about his states new conservative-friendly social studies curriculum at a press event in Utah over the weekend as the Republican sees continued signs that his record on racial and social issues in the Sunshine State will be an issue in the upcoming GOP primary debates and, potentially, the 2024 general election. Mr DeSantiss campaign held a summit with donors in Utah this past weekend where top advisers pledged a reboot to the Florida governors stagnating presidential bid including cutbacks to pricy expenditures including private events that have not helped his standings in the polls improve. The candidate himself held a press conference on Friday, where the question about Florida schools was directed to him. The Florida Department of Educations social studies standards for the 2023-2024 school year, released this month, provide lesson topics for middle school teachers including a benchmark clarification which instructs educators to teach students that slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. It isnt clear what their personal benefit would be in this scenario. The line is included as part of a broader lesson entitled: Examine the various duties and trades performed by slaves (e.g., agricultural work, painting, carpentry, tailoring, domestic service, blacksmithing, transportation). Mr DeSantis has come under fire for the curriculum changes, from both Democrats and Republicans alike. Last week, Vice President Kamala Harris railed against Mr DeSantis without naming the Florida governor. There is a national agenda afoot. Extremist so-called leaders for months have dared to ban books. Extremists here in Florida, passing a law Dont Say Gay, trying to instill fear in our teachers And now, on top of that, they want to replace history with lies. And former New Jersey Gov Chris Christie, who is seeking the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, also called out the governor for what he claimed was a lack of leadership. While the change to the curriculum itself is subtle a single sentence added to a much larger document the news of its insertion played into a larger narrative of Floridas right-wing shift under the DeSantis administration. Florida schools, in particular, are the biggest battleground for this war, where liberal groups and nonpartisan experts alike warn that students are increasingly the recipients of a whitewashed educational environment devoid of anything that conservatives find unseemly or uncomfortable, such as discussions of the sins of slavery, representation of LGBT+ persons in the classroom or teaching materials, and other narratives that brush up against conservative belief systems. The changes to Florida schools had already earned the state the condemnation of the NAACP and other civil rights groups, something that has enraged conservatives and drawn the state into an ugly national fight against any group or organisation that the governor perceives to have a liberal agenda, including the Disney corporation. Now, he is officially a candidate for president and facing the reality that his loyally conservative record in Florida has failed to allow him to make serious inroads against Donald Trump and his support base, while he remains engaged in fighting off competitive rivals like Vivek Ramaswamy and others in the crowded Republican primary contest. It remains to be seen whether his campaign reset (which continued this week with layoffs of roughly a third of his staff) will be a necessary fat-trimming measure or the sign of his campaigns early demise; what is certain is that the issue of the quality of education in Floridas schools is not going away, at least any time soon. 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 }} Rudy Giuliani will not contest claims from two Georgia election workers who have accused the former attorney to Donald Trump of smearing them with false and defamatory statements surrounding the 2020 presidential election. A late-night federal court filing from Mr Giulianis attorneys on 25 July states that he concedes solely for the purposes of this litigation that he made false statements about Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss that carry meaning that is defamatory. He also conceded that his statements meet the factual elements of liability for their claims that amounted to intentional infliction of emotional distress. The two women were subject to relentless abuse fuelled by false claims that they manipulated votes, damage that Mr Giuliani has refused to concede stemmed from his statements. I have not admitted that I lied, at any point. I havent, he said in a video after the filing. He also said his is not cooperating in a federal inveistgation against the former president, who he said is entirely innocent. Theres nothing to cooperate about. The man is innocent and theyre framing him, he said. Attorneys for Ms Freeman and Ms Moss said the filing from Mr Giuliani concedes what we have always known to be true. Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss honorably performed their civic duties in the 2020 presidential election in full compliance with the law; and the allegations of election fraud he and former-President Trump made against them have been false since day one, attorney Michael J Gottlieb Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP said in a statement. While certain issues, including damages, remain to be decided by the court, our clients are pleased with this major milestone in their fight for justice, and look forward to presenting what remains of this case at trial, he added. The two-page filing from Mr Giulianis attorneys indicates he will continue to argue that spurious claims about voter fraud in the state were protected speech. A spokesperson for the former New York City mayor indicated that the concession was in an effort to bypass a fact-finding portion of the case, which would involve the public disclosures of emails, text messages and other communications involving his claims. US District Court Judge Beryl Howell had threatened Mr Giuliani with sanctions and put him on the hook for $90,000 in legal fees following claims that he failed to preserve evidence related to the case. His latest filing came as a response to an order from the judge demanding an explanation. Ted Goodman, political adviser to Mr Giuliani, said in a statement shared with The Independent that he did not acknowledge that the statements were false but did not contest it in order to move on to the portion of the case that will permit a motion to dismiss. This is a legal issue, not a factual issue. Those out to smear the mayor are ignoring the fact that this stipulation is designed to get to the legal issues of the case, he added. Recommended All the lawsuits and criminal charges involving Trump and where they stand In their testimony to the House select committee investigating the events surrounding the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, Ms Freeman and Ms Moss revealed the depth of abuse they endured, forcing them from their jobs and making them feel unsafe after the former president and Mr Giuliani promoted debunked conspiracy theories involving them. They later filed a defamation suit against Mr Giuliani as well as right-wing outlet One American News Network, which settled with the women last year. A report from Georgias State Election Board following a year-long investigation also dismissed bogus claims of election fraud and cleared the allegations against the women. The fraud claims were unsubstantiated and found to have no merit, the investigation concluded, reporting on the work of the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and investigators from the Secretary of States office vetting the alleged fraud Earlier this month, Bernie Kerik a former New York City Police Department commissioner who worked with Mr Giuliani to support bogus voter fraud claims was directed by the judge to provide a document-by-document privilege log of any withheld record that provides sufficient information to enable other parties to assess the claim that the information is privileged or subject to protection as trial preparation material. He also was ordered to show why those records and other statements should be withheld. But a joint filing on 24 July from attorneys for Mr Kerik and the two election workers reveals that the parties reached an agreement to receive those documents which were also sought in the unrelated federal investigation surrounding Mr Trump and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The former presidents campaign withdrew its claim of privilege over those documents, and Mr Keriks legal team has handed over thousands of documents to prosecutors investigating the former presidents mindset and decision making as he baselessly stated that the 2020 election was stolen and rigged against him despite a lack of evidence. This story was first published on 26 July and has been updated with developments Close Related video: Former Secret Service agent shares how Trump might be protected in prison Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump attacked the Georgia prosecutor set to issue him with his fourth indictment of the year at a rally in New Hampshire on Tuesday night, calling her a a young racist and claiming without evidence that she had an affair with a gang leader whose case she was involved with. The former president took pot shots at Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis, who is investigating him for his conduct in her state during the 2020 presidential election, particularly his notorious phone call with local secretary of state Brad Raffensperger whom Mr Trump pressured to help him find the 11,780 votes he needed to overturn Joe Bidens victory. At the same event, Mr Trump also ramped up his attack on Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith and the January 6 indictment against him, calling it bull****. Every time you get indicted, I like to check the polls, he said. One more indictment and I think this election is over No, its horrible. You get indicted for nothing. His speech in one of the early primary states comes ahead of the latest hearing in that case, set by Judge Tanya Chutkan for 10am EST on Friday 11 August. 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 }} Congressman Tim Burchett asked a government whistleblower whether he believes anyone has been "murdered" in an effort to cover up the existence of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) during a House Subcommittee on National Security. David Grusch, a former intelligence officer who claims the US has retrieved crashed UAPs and is reverse engineering them, was among three witnesses who spoke to congressional leaders on Wednesday during the subcommittee hearing. Mr Grusch, who described himself as a whistleblower, said during the hearing that he was the subject of retaliation for his decision to go public with his claims. During the hearing, Mr Burchett who laboriously explained that the "Tic Tac" video showing a smooth, white aerial object, was not named for the "Chinese Communist Party app" TikTok lamented that he could not secure a sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) to discuss certain sensitive topics. He then asked Mr Grusch if anyone had been harmed to maintain the alleged coverup. "Do you have any personal knowledge of people who have been harmed or injured in efforts to cover-up or conceal these extra-terrestrial technologies," Mr Burchett asked. "Yes," Mr Grush replied. "Personally." Mr Burchett then asked, "has anyone been murdered?" Mr Grusch hesitated for a moment before saying "I have to be careful asking [sic] that question," he said, citing a current investigation into whether or not he was the subject of retaliatory action for whistleblowing. "I directed people with that knowledge to the appropriate authorities." Later, when Congressman Jamie Raskin asked him about retaliation, Mr Grusch said he was aware of "active planned reprisal" coming from "leadership at my previous organisation." He referred to the alleged intimidation as "administrative terrorism." Mr Grusch has not provided concrete evidence for any of his claims. 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 }} With less than two years remaining until US voters will decide who will serve as president of the United States from January 2025 to January 2029, former Republican government officials are starting to jockey for position in the coming fight for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, while at least two Democrats challenging President Joe Biden in a Democratic primary. As the campaign takes shape, here are the names you need to know. Joe Biden Mr Biden is the current president of the United States and is now officially gunning for a second term, having announced his reelection bid in a video message on Tuesday 25 April. Mr Biden, 80, is the oldest person to ever serve as president and his lacklustre approval ratings fuelled speculation that he might stand down so a younger candidate could take up the Democratic Party mantle. But the Democrats better-than-expected results in the 2022 midterms appeared to put new wind in Mr Bidens sails before he officially announced his 2024 run Joe Biden (AP) Donald Trump Mr Trump, 77, officially filed paperwork with the FEC to declare himself a candidate in the 2024 election on 15 November. Mr Trump is the only US president to face two separate impeachment trials one after fomenting a violent attack on the US Capitol in hopes of remaining in power despite losing the 2020 election to Mr Biden. He announced his candidacy at the same Palm Beach, Florida, location where FBI agents had conducted a search for stolen classified documents just three months earlier. Donald Trump (AP) The ex-real estate developer-turned-television-presenter-turned-politician is hoping he can become the first ex-US chief executive to reclaim the White House since Grover Cleveland. Mr Trump faces a series of obstacles on what was once assumed to be a smooth glide path to the GOP nomination, including several of his former top aides and at least one governor he once endorsed. Marianne Williamson The self-help author and former spiritual adviser to television mogul Oprah Winfrey, who participated in several Democratic primary debates during the 2020 election, has said she will enter the 2024 race to challenge Mr Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination. In an interview with Northwestern Universitys Medill News Service, Ms Williamson, 71, confirmed her intention to run next year. I wouldnt be running for president if I didnt believe I could contribute to harnessing the collective sensibility that I feel is our greatest hope at this time, she said. Marianne Williamson (AP) During her aborted 2020 presidential run, she garnered a measure of notoriety for making statements widely considered bizarre, such as a vow to make then-New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern the first head of government she would call as president, and an assertion that she would win the election by "harness[ing] love for political purposes" against Mr Trump. Nikki Haley Former South Carolina governor Ms Haley spent two years as Mr Trumps ambassador to the United Nations and during that time garnered some media attention for her sauve ability to avoid engaging with the controversies that engulfed Mr Trumps administration while remaining in his good graces. Although the former governor turned diplomat previously pledged not to throw her hat into the ring for 2024 if Mr Trump was still running, she appears to have thrown that non-campaign promise away. Nikki Haley (AP) On 15 February, Ms Haley, 51, announced that she would enter the race. In a video released by her campaign, she even went so far as to take a veiled swipe at Mr Trump by noting that seven out of the last eight presidential elections have seen the GOP candidate lose the popular vote. She also said it is time for a new generation of leadership who will rediscover fiscal responsibility, secure our border and strengthen our country, our pride and our purpose. Mike Pence Former vice president Mr Pence officially entered the 2024 presidential race on 7 June after much speculation that he would try to take on his former boss Mr Trump. Today our party and our country need a leader that will appeal, as Lincoln said, to the better angels of our nature, Mr Pence said in his campaign kickoff speech in Iowa. Mr Pence, 64, was once Mr Trumps steadfast right-hand man until he made the decision not to unlawfully hijack Congress certification of Electoral College votes to keep Mr Trump in office in 2020. Since then, a rift has been driven between Mr Pence and Mr Trump though Mr Pence continues to not publicly criticse Mr Trump in the same way other anti-Trump Republicans have. Mike Pence (AP) Mr Pence has made it clear that he would not do things the way the ex-president did during their four years in office together but still promote the traditional conservative values he holds. In his speech, Mr Pence said: We could revive our economy, and put our nation back on a path to a balanced budget, defend our liberties and give America a new beginning for life. Mr Pence began building his 2024 campaign operation by bringing on former Ben Sasse spokesperson Ali Kjergaard to his Advancing American Freedom nonprofit. Ms Kjergaard joins other former Pence White House mainstays, including his former chief of staff, Marc Short, and his former press secretary, Devin OMalley. Although the ex-vice president has a recognisable stature in the GOP, he will likely face an uphill climb to convince voters that he not Mr Trump is the best choice. Ron DeSantis The current governor of Florida announced his campaign on 24 May after months of speculation by many in the GOP that he would be the perfect successor to Mr Trump. Ron DeSantis (AP) His campaign kickoff suffered a slew of technical errors when it launched in a Twitter Spaces event with CEO Elon Musk. Mr DeSantis, 44, is a former Florida congressman who won his 2018 gubernatorial campaign after receiving a coveted endorsement from Mr Trump. He is viewed by Republican pundits as a worthy avatar of the current anti-woke GOP and his star has been on the rise in conservative circles since he made a show of ending any and all pandemic-related restrictions and mandates in the Sunshine State. When Mr DeSantis took the stage at his 2022 election victory party, supporters even chanted two more years in a nod to his potential status as a GOP presidential contender. Tim Scott South Carolina Senator Mr Scott officially entered the race for Republican presidential nominee on Friday 19 May after filing paperwork with the Federal Election Commission. Mr Scott, 57, became the first Black senator to represent a state that had been part of the Confederacy during the American Civil War and the first Black Republican since Massachusetts Senator Edward Brooke when he was elected in 2013. The then-freshman GOP senator retained the seat hed been appointed to in a 2014 special election and was reelected easily in 2016 and 2022 with at least 60 per cent of the vote in both elections. Tim Scott (AP) He has long been considered a rising star in the Republican Party, and was given the honour of delivering the partys response to President Joe Bidens inaugural address to Congress in 2021. Mr Scott reportedly plans to begin airing TV ads in Iowa and New Hampshire in the final week of May, a commitment of $5.5 million that follows his formation of an exploratory committee in April. He would start a bid with more campaign dollars than any of his 2024 rivals roughly $22 million that he can automatically convert from his US Senate campaign account to a presidential campaign. The figure is the most any candidate in history has had when beginning a campaign for president, according to the FEC. Vivek Ramaswamy Mr Ramaswamy, a wealthy biotechnology entrepreneur and conservative activist, announced his intention to compete in the 2024 Republican primary during an appearance on Tucker Carlsons eponymous Fox News programme (before Mr Carlsons acrimonious departure from the network). Vivek Ramaswamy (AP) Mr Ramaswamy, 37, is a Yale Law School graduate. He has become somewhat of a celebrity in right-wing circles for his denunciations of stakeholder capitalism, big tech censorship and critical race theory. Last year, he founded Strive Asset Management, an anti-woke investment firm opposed to businesses that use environmental, social and corporate governance practices. Robert F Kennedy Jr Mr Kennedy Jr, a lawyer, vaccine-sceptic and the son of US Senator Robert F Kennedy, filed candidacy papers with the FEC on 5 April 2023. The filing places the 69-year-old as the second long-shot Democratic candidate to challenge President Biden, behind Ms Williamson. Robert F Kennedy Jr (AP) While he intends to run as a Democrat, Mr Kennedy Jr has ties to former president Mr Trump. In 2017, he was tapped by the then-president-elect to oversee a presidential panel to review vaccine safety and science - despite having repeatedly expressed scepticism about vaccines. He continued pushing those beliefs through the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Kennedy Jrs father, the late New York Senator Robert F Kennedy Sr, was a candidate in the 1968 presidential election before he was assassinated. Chris Christie Mr Christie, the pugnacious ex-New Jersey governor and ally-turned-critic of Mr Trump, entered the 2024 Republican presidential primary to directly challenge the man he endorsed after failing to gain traction in the GOP field nearly eight years ago. In a town hall at St Anselm College in New Hampshire on 6 June, Mr Christie, 60, announced his campaign by positioning himself as a moderate-conservative alternative to Mr Trump who he referred to as a self-consumed, self-serving, mirror hog. Chris Christie (Getty Images) Mr Christie twice endorsed Mr Trump for president in 2016 and 2020 but turned on him after Mr Trump refused to concede and ultimately encouraged the January 6th riot. The former New Jersey governor has been outspoken about his disdain for Mr Trump and is making it very clear in his 2024 campaign that he plans to take him on head first. Larry Elder Mr Elder, a former attorney, and current conservative talk radio host, announced on Thursday 20 April on Tucker Carlson Tonight, just like Mr Ramaswamy, that he would be running for president in 2024. The right-wing candidate said that he felt a moral, religious, and a patriotic duty to join the race for president. He named policing, crime and government overreach as areas of concern. Larry Elder (AP) Weve incentivised women to marry the government, Mr Elder, 71, told Tucker Carlson. Weve incentivised men to abandon their financial and moral responsibility. And if I do nothing else in this race, but focus people on those two issues I would perform this service to my country. Prior to his announcement, Mr Elder had been the host of the popular conservative radio programme The Larry Elder Show on KABC since 1993. He left in April 2022. Mr Elder has some political experience as he unsuccessfully ran to replace California governor Gavin Newsom in 2021. Ryan Binkley Pastor and businessman Mr Binkley announced his entrance into the 2024 race on May 9 the latest long-shot contender to challenge Mr Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination. We have to be unified, Mr Binkley, 55, said at a recent event. We have to be in this place, because if were in a time of uncertainty, what its going to take is faith in God and faith in each other to get us through, and its not time for us to back down. Its time for us to believe. Ryan Binkley (The Way to Freedom) Mr Binkley has said he is absolutely confident that he could take on Mr Trump, despite having little name recognition and no experience holding elected office. Asa Hutchinson The former governor of Arkansas formally announced his campaign for president on Wednesday 26 April. In Bentonville, Arkansas, Mr Hutchinson, 72, told supporters he is optimistic about the future of the US and hopes to carry out the same conservative values to the White House that he did as governor. In this campaign for president, I stand alone in terms of my experience, record and leadership, Mr Hutchinson said. Asa Hutchinson (AP) Before becoming governor, Mr Hutchinson was a representative for Arkansas, an administrator for the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and transportation security of the US Department of Homeland Security under former president George W Bush. Mr Hutchinson discussed the economy, crime and border security during his campaign kick-off speech. Doug Burgum Mr Burgum, the governor of North Dakota, said he too would be running for the Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential election on 7 June. The virtually unknown governor was a software entrepreneur before he was elected to his gubernatorial position in 2016. In a preview video released the day before his announcement, Mr Burgum, 66, called himself a new leader for a changing economy, indicating his campaign would focus on kitchen-table issues. Doug Burgum (AP ) But Mr Burgum has dipped his toe into some of the contemporary social issues that many Americans are concerned about when looking at a new candidate. Mr Burgum is anti-abortion having signed a near-total abortion ban in North Dakota and anti-transgender having signed eight anti-transgender laws. Francis Suarez Mr Suarez, the mayor of Miami, filed paperwork with the FEC, throwing his hat in the ring of an already packed Republican nomination race, on 14 June. Mr Suarez, 45, is a Cuban-American who has made a name for himself in Miami, and Florida, as a tough-on-crime conservative. But outside of the state, hes largely unknown. Francis Suarez (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Some may remember Mr Suarez as one of the first people to contract Covid-19 in Miami-Dade County in March 2020. He documented his progression with the illness to help others understand it better. Despite his relative obscurity, Mr Suarez is confident that being the only Hispanic candidate, as of now, gives him a lot of credibility, according to Associated Press. Will Hurd Mr Hurd, 45, a former CIA officer and representative for Texas, announced his bid for the Republican nomination on Thursday, 22 June. I believe the Republican Party can be the party of the future, not the past, Mr Hurd said to CBS Mornings during his campaign launch. Like Mr Christie, Mr Hurd has positioned himself as a moderate alternative to the field of GOP candidates while remaining critical of Mr Trump. Will Hurd speaks at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition Spring Kick-off in West Des Moines, Iowa (REUTERS) The former Texas rep served in the US House for six years before leaving in 2021. He was the only Black Republican in the chamber during his final two terms. While in Congress, Mr Hurds district was one of the most competitive in Texas. It included parts of San Antonio and El Paso as well as included most of the Texas border with Mexico. He gained a reputation as a bipartisan dealmaker, once spending two days in a car with Democrat Beto ORourke in 2017 driving from San Antonio to Washington when a snowstorm cancelled the flights. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump is leading the field to become the Republican Partys presidential nominee once again in 2024, his supporters apparently undeterred by his mounting legal problems or the 24-hour circus of his first term and keen to give him another shot at the White House, such is their animosity to incumbent Joe Biden. None of Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, Tim Scott or any of the other GOP stragglers are polling close to the former commander-in-chief as of summer 2023, despite the fact that Mr Trump has already been indicted three times this year and is staring down the barrel of a potential fourth. Having already stepped out to plea not guilty at two arraignment hearings in New York and Miami over the alleged misrepresentation of his business records to conceal hush money payments and the alleged hoarding of classified documents in his Mar-a-Lago bathroom, the former reality TV star is now facing charges over his role in inciting the Capitol riot of 6 January 2021 and, he may be charged for attempting to influence the 2020 vote count in Georgia by pressuring state officials. None of which appears to discourage his loyal fanbase, who have been prepared to overlook the myriad disappointments of Mr Trumps first tenure in the Oval Office, his historic double impeachment and his disastrous midterms picks last November to cheer him on at rallies, splash out on merchandise and generously donate to his campaign. While more traditional conservatives are ready to move on, the MAGA movement remains significant and its members are all too ready to cheerily swallow their idols baseless claims that the Biden administration has weaponised the US justice system against an innocent man in order to thwart the American comeback he has promised. Just in case you feel tempted to look back on the years 2017 to 2021 through rose-tinted spectacles, here is a refresher on precisely what happened during that angry whirlwind of a presidency, which began with government-by-Twitter and ended with the unprecedented and disgraceful spectacle of a president impeached not once but twice. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi first announced she was launching an impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump on 24 September 2019 in response to a complaint raised against him by an anonymous CIA whistleblower. The issue related to a call the 45th US president had placed with Ukraines new president Volodymyr Zelensky (a great deal more famous now than he was then) on 25 July that year, in which the American appeared to proposition his counterpart in Eastern Europe with a quid pro quo. Mr Trump hinted that $400m in congressionally-approved US military aid to Kyiv to help fend off Russian aggression in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine would be withheld unless Mr Zelenskys government launched a politically embarrassing anti-corruption probe into Mr Trumps own domestic rival, one Joseph R Biden, who was then leading the Democratic field to challenge him in 2020. I would like you to do us a favour though was how the president introduced his condition on the call, pressuring Mr Zelensky to pursue a conspiracy theory alleging that Mr Biden, while serving as US vice president to Barack Obama, had sought the dismissal of a Ukrainian prosecutor investigating a local gas company, Burisma, on whose board his troubled son Hunter Biden sat, a matter already pursued by Mr Trumps personal attorney Rudy Giuliani. Donald Trump putting in a call from the Resolute Desk (AFP/Getty) Following Ms Pelosis bombshell announcement, the House Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs committees began interviewing State Department, Pentagon and National Security Council (NSC) officials behind closed doors throughout October, peacing the truth together from their depositions before summoning several back to testify in public across a series of dramatic mid-November hearings. The inquirys public phase introduced a memorable cast of characters, including former US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, Ukraine charge daffaires Bill Taylor, displaced Durhamite and Russia expert Dr Fiona Hill, the nattily bowtied George Kent, vice presidential aide Jennifer Williams, decorated NSC director Lt Col Alexander Vindman in full dress uniform and ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland, a smirking ex-hotelier who had donated $1m to the Trump campaign for the privilege of ending up in the mess. By and large, the witnesses proved themselves to be impressive and principled experts in their fields and made fools of the MAGA Republicans attempting to pick holes in their testimony Devin Nunes, Jim Jordan, Doug Collins, Elise Stefanik and Louie Gohmert among them. Mr Trump, predictably, spent his time denouncing the proceedings on Twitter as a scam and a second witch hunt following on from Robert Muellers investigation of his alleged ties to Russia, even engaging in some live witness intimidation when he tweeted nastily about Ms Yovanovitch as she gave evidence. The House went on to formally accuse the president on two counts, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, on 10 December. Eight days later, representatives backed both articles, casting their votes largely along party lines and pushing the matter forward to a trial in the Republican-held Senate. Lt Col Alexander Vindman is sworn in (Getty) The Democrats, led by California congressman Adam Schiff, made their case admirably but, in the end, only Mitt Romney dared to break ranks and vote for Mr Trumps conviction in the upper chamber, despite some heavy signalling from rebel GOP senators Lamar Alexander, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins that they might join him, before hopelessly bottling it. Impeached but not convicted, Mr Trump was free to carry on regardless. Ms Collins excuse that she believed he had learned his lesson from the Zelensky affair would later prove to be an even more laughable contention than it had sounded when she first uttered it. The other side of his disastrous mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic, a summer of Black Lives Matter demonstrations over the police murder of George Floyd and his comprehensive defeat in the 2020 presidential election to Mr Biden, Mr Trump was impeached for a history-making second time on 13 January 2021 when the House found that he had incited the attempted insurrection at the US Capitol a week earlier by leading his disappointed supporters on with the Big Lie that only (non-existent) mass voter fraud had stopped him securing a second term. The tragic events of 6 January on which a mob of QAnon zealots, Proud Boys and Oath Keepers stormed the legislative complex to try to stop the certification of the election results, five people were killed, a gallows was erected to hang Mr Pence and Congress was attacked for the first time since it was set alight by British soldiers in 1814 are well documented. The Capitol riot (AP) In its aftermath, Mr Trump, who declined to call off his supporters, preferring instead to watch the American carnage he had predicted at his inauguration finally unfold on live TV, was booted off social media and the House moved quickly to impeach him for an unheard-of second time, passing an article accusing him of incitement to insurrection. Speaker Pelosi said as she cast her vote to impeach that the president represented a clear and present danger so long as he remained in the Oval Office and accused him of trying to repeal reality in challenging the election result. The vote passed 232-197 in the lower chamber but, again, the Senate granted him an acquittal on 13 February, with only seven Republicans crossing the aisle to join the 50 Democrats in demanding accountability not enough to land the two-thirds majority needed. Had just 10 more listened to their consciences and joined the rebellion, the US Constitution would have barred Mr Trump from ever running for high office again, ruling as it does that judgement in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honour, trust or profit under the United States. Twice impeached but convicted on neither occasion, Mr Trump was entirely free to announce a fresh bid for the White House, as he did last November, seemingly as untroubled by burning shame as ever. On 1 August, Mr Trump was indicted in relation to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. A grand jury in Washington DC voted to indict Mr Trump on four counts, including 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. The indictment states that Mr Trump took part in a conspiracy to defraud the United States by using dishonesty, fraud, and deceit to impair, obstruct, and defeat the lawful federal government function by which the results of the presidential election are collected, counted, and certified by the federal government. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former United States Marine Trevor Reed, who was released last year after being wrongfully detained in Russia for three years, has been injured in Ukraine, the State Department said on Tuesday. A person familiar with the situation told the Associated Press that Mr Reed was wounded several weeks ago. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said he has now been taken to Germany for medical care. Not much has been said about Mr Reeds injury or presence in Ukraine. Mr Patel added: As I indicated, we have been incredibly clear warning American citizens, American nationals, not to travel to Ukraine, let alone participate in the fighting. "As you know, we are not in a place to provide assistance to evacuate private U.S. citizens from Ukraine, including those Americans who may decide to travel to Ukraine to participate in fighting. Heres everything you need to know about Trevor Reed and why he was arrested. Who is Trevor Reed? US ex-marine Trevor Reed, charged with attacking police, stands inside a defendants' cage during a court hearing in Moscow on March 11, 2020. (AFP via Getty Images) Mr Reed is originally from the Dallas-Fort Worth area and spent his 20s in the US Marine Corps and eventually received an honourable discharge. In 2016, Mr Reed began dating a young Russian woman called Alina, according to a website set up by his family to call for his release. In 2017, after his service, he then returned to college and began working toward a degree in International Studies at the University of North Texas, which required him to select a foreign language course. Mr Reed selected Russian as a foreign language and was inspired to learn the language given that his girlfriend was also from Russia and he wanted to communicate with his girlfriends family. In May 2019, Mr Reed travelled to Moscow to study Russian and spend the summer with his girlfriend. A week before his scheduled flight back to Texas, on 15 August 2019, Mr Reed reportedly attend a party with his girlfriend and her coworkers. Russian police alleged that Mr Reed was detained by police in Moscow after leaving a car on a busy street while he was intoxicated. It was alleged that Mr Reed grabbed the arm of an officer while they were on the way to the police station, causing the police vehicle to swerve into another lane. A claim that Mr Reeds lawyers disputed. According to the website set up by Mr Reeds family, Mr Reed apparently became inebriated due to the level of alcohol in his system that night. Mr Reed reportedly became nauseated and wanted to get out of the vehicle. When the car stopped, he left the vehicle and started running around near a busy street in the early hours of 16 August. His behaviour caused those with Mr Reed to call the police for assistance. The familys website states that when the police arrived, they reported he was in the condition of strong intoxication considering his shaky gait, rambling speech, and strong smell of alcohol. Mr Reed waved his hands, shouted incoherent words, and behaved inadequately. The police then took Mr Reed to the police station, where he was detained for the evening. His girlfriend was told to return in the morning to pick him up but when she returned, Mr Reed was being interviewed by the Russian Federal Security Services (FSB). What was Mr Reed accused of? Mr Reed was charged with attacking police and is pictured standing inside a defendants cage during his verdict hearing at Moscows Golovinsky district court on 30 July 30 (AFP via Getty Images) Mr Reed was accused of grabbing the right arm of the driver in the police car, causing him to swerve dangerously into other lanes. He was also accused of striking the officer in the back seat with his elbow as the officer tried to stop Trevor from grabbing the driver. In April 2021, Mr Reed was freed from nearly three years of imprisonment after he was swapped for a Russian drug trafficker in a prisoner exchange between Washington and Moscow at the time. Mr Reed was swapped in Turkey for Konstantin Yaroshenko, who had been serving a 20-year prison sentence in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy case. Mr Yaroshenko was detained in Liberia in 2010 by the US and accused of smuggling cocaine and knowing that some of the drugs were intended for distribution in the US. Mr Yaroshenko was detained by Liberian authorities and later turned over to the US. Despite never visiting the US, Mr Yaroshenko was flown there to stand trial in 2011 where he was convicted. At the time, The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the arrest, calling it a "kidnapping of a Russian national from a third country." Additional reporting from the Associated press For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A former prime minister of Australia has claimed that being colonised by the British was "the luckiest thing that happened" to the Pacific nation. John Howard, who led the country from 1996 to 2007, predicted that the upcoming referendum to provide Indigenous communities a voice in national policymaking would "go down significantly". Australians will cast their ballots in a referendum later this year on whether they support altering the constitution to include a "Voice to Parliament" a committee to advise the House on matters that affect the lives of its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people. Mr Howard's Liberal Party of Australia has opposed the decision, while some party members campaigned against the national vote. In an interview with The Australian to mark his 84th birthday on Wednesday, the second-longest serving prime minister said the government's "Yes campaign" has failed to explain how it will lead to better lives for Indigenous people. "I am affronted that there's such deceit and there's such an unwillingness to roll up your sleeves and explain what's involved," he said, slamming current prime minister Antony Albanese. He added that the focus should not be on the push for a dedicated "voice" for the Indigenous people, instead, the country should be just talking about how to lift up Aboriginal people, and put them in the mainstream of the community, finding out ways of doing it". Mr Howard dismissed the idea of reparations and treaties, describing the latter as constitutionally repugnant. He argued that treaties are made between sovereign states, not between a sovereign state and parts of that state. He continued: "You have to understand that in the 17th, 18th century, colonisation of the land mass of Australia was next to inevitable ..." "I do hold the view that the luckiest thing that happened to this country was being colonised by the British. Not that they were perfect by any means, but they were infinitely more successful and beneficent colonisers than other European countries. 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 prominent journalist in Belarus was sentenced Wednesday to six years in prison, the latest step in a years-long crackdown on opposition figures, independent journalists and human rights activists. On trial in the city of Grodno in western Belarus, Pavel Mazheika, 45, was found guilty of complicity in extremist activity for covering the activities of the political opposition. He was accused of working for news outlets including Belsat TV, which broadcasts in Belarusian from its base in neighboring Poland. The Belarusian authorities have labeled Belsat as extremist. Lawyer Yuliya Yurhilevich also was sentenced to six years in prison after she was accused of giving Mazheika information on Belarus political prisoners, notably on dissident artist Ales Pushkin who died in a Belarusian prison earlier this month. Yurhilevich, 42, who practiced law for almost 18 years and defended human rights activists, was stripped of her license in February 2022. This is not a trial, but a theater of the absurd - a journalist and a lawyer are being tried for disseminating information, Mazheika said during the trial. Mazheika is a well-known figure in Belarus. In 2002, he was sentenced to two years in jail for slandering the president, before becoming press secretary for presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich in 2006. Mazheika has since worked for leading independent news outlets in both Belarus and Poland, hosting several shows and acting as executive director for Belsat TV. The journalist has spent 11 months behind bars since his arrest in August 2022. Earlier, Mazheika said that during his detention he was severely beaten by law enforcement officers, and accused them of trying to gouge out his eye. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is among those who have condemned Mazheikas and Yurhilevichs sentencing. Today, brave journalist Pavel Mazheika and lawyer Yulia Yurhilevich were sentenced to six years in prison in another mockery of justice in Belarus," she said. This is a blatant attack on those who dare to speak the truth. Journalists and lawyers are persecuted for carrying out their profession." Journalists and activists in Belarus have faced large-scale repression since the August 2020 vote that handed a sixth term to President Alexander Lukashenko. Following the election, which was rejected as fraudulent by the opposition and the West, Belarus was swept by massive protests, some of which drew more than 100,000 people. Authorities responded with a brutal crackdown. More than 35,000 people were arrested, thousands were beaten by police while in custody, and dozens of nongovernmental organizations and independent media outlets were shut down. Some 1,481 recognized political prisoners are currently behind bars in Belarus, according to the Viasna human rights center. 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 }} Six men have been found guilty of murder over the 2016 Brussels terror attacks that killed 32 people and injured hundreds in what is Belgiums worst peacetime violence. The morning rush hour attacks on March 22, 2016, at Zavantem Airport and on the Brussels subways central commuter line deeply shook the city, home to the headquarters of the European Union and Nato, and put the country on edge. Among those convicted was Salah Abdeslam, who already is serving a life sentence without parole in France over his role in attacks that hit Paris cafes, the Bataclan theatre and Frances national stadium in 2015. Both the Brussels and Paris attacks were claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group. The verdict was reported by public broadcaster RTBF, newspaper Le Soir and news websites HLN and Nieuwsblad. The chief judge read out the verdict and explanations by the 12-person jury, who made a clear connection to IS and its extremist ideology. The reading of the verdict was expected to take several hours. In addition to the six people convicted of terrorist murder, four others on trial were acquitted or facing other charges. Terrorist murder was among various charges suspects were facing. Sentencing will be decided in a separate process, not before September. The biggest trial in Belgiums judicial history unfolded over seven months in a special court to address the exceptional case. In addition to the 32 people killed in the attacks, nearly 900 others were wounded or suffered serious mental trauma. Jamila Adda, president of the Life4Bruxelles victims association, gathered a group of survivors at the special courthouse to hear Tuesdays verdict. Among them was a man named Frederic, who said the atrocious crimes of March 22 still haunt him. Defendant Salah Abdeslam arrives under police escort for the trial of alleged jihadists (Belga/AFP via Getty Images) We have been waiting for this for seven years, seven years that weighed heavily on the victims ... We are waiting with impatience, and with some anguish for the verdict, he told The Associated Press. Frederic, among the commuters who survived the attack at the Maelbeek metro station, spoke on condition that his last name not be published to protect his identity. Survivors have supported each other through the proceedings, some coming every day. It is important to be together, to hear the decision of justice, Frederic said. And then, they hope to be able to turn the page. The 12 jurors have been deliberating since early July over some 300 questions the court asked them to consider before reaching a verdict. Those convicted could face up to 30 years in prison. Salah Abdeslam is already serving a life sentence without parole in France over his role in attacks that hit Paris in 2015 (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Abdeslam was the only survivor among the Islamic State extremists who struck Paris in November 2015 and were part of a Franco-Belgian network that went on to target Brussels four months later. After months on the run following the Paris attacks, Abdeslam was captured in Brussels on March 18, 2016, and his arrest may have prompted other members of the Islamic State group cell to rush ahead with attack plans on the Belgian capital. Also on trial in Brussels was Mohamed Abrini, childhood friend of Abdeslam and a Brussels native who walked away from Zaventem airport after his explosives failed to detonate. Oussama Atar, who has been identified as a possible organiser of the deadly attacks on both Paris and Brussels, was tried in absentia. He is believed to have died in the Islamic State groups final months of fighting in Iraq and Syria. 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 people have been evacuated from towns and villages across Greece after wildfires ravaged the country. Videos of roaring fires and towering black smoke have circulated online from Rhodes and Corfu. However, wildfires have erupted across several areas including Evia and the Peloponnese region. Firefighters battled against 82 wildfires across the country overnight, forcing the biggest evacuation in the countrys history. A satellite image shows the area affected by wildfires in Rhodes (Reuters) Sixty-four of the fires started on Sunday, the hottest day of the summer so far as temperatures peaked at 46.4C in the southern Greek town, Gytheio. The most serious fire in the country was on the island of Rhodes, where some 19,000 people had been evacuated from several locations as wildfires burned for a sixth day, Greek authorities said. Local police said 16,000 people were evacuated by land and 3,000 by sea from 12 villages and several hotels. Six people were briefly treated at a hospital for respiratory problems. Keep up with the latest on Greece wildfires on our live blog. A person who fell and broke a leg during a hotel evacuation and a pregnant woman remained in hospital, the latter in good condition, authorities said. Map below shows areas in Rhodes affected by raging wildfires: View more In Corfu, approximately 2,466 individuals were evacuated overnight, Yannis Artopios, a spokesperson for the fire department said. Videos on social media show flames engulfing Corfu as smoke and orange haze covered the night skies. The fire broke out on the northern part of the island which is popular with British tourists. Those in Santa, Megoula, Porta, Palia Perithia and Sinies were told to evacuate to Kasiopi due to fires in Corfu. Map below shows scale of devastating wildfires in several regions of Greece: View more The Greek Coast Guard said around 59 people were evacuated from Nissaki beach on the northwest coast of the island. However, the regions deputy mayor said the fires in Corfu were caused by arson. Before and after pictures - the first taken in January and the second on Sunday - show the damage caused by the wildfires (Maxar/Reuters) Chariton Koutscouris told the BBC that it was down to a group of people who get pleasure out of this with the pain of the other people. Giorgos Mahimaris, the mayor of North Corfu, also said that arson was behind the fires. A fire burning on the Pantokratoras mountain on Corfu island, Greece (EPA) Tourists are sheltered in a stadium after being evacuated following a wildfire on the island of Rhodes (via REUTERS) Of the 64 wildfires that broke out elsewhere in the country on Sunday, the most serious was on Evia, Greeces second-largest island, where authorities told residents of four southern villages to evacuate to the town of Karystos, west of where the fire was advancing. Central Greece vice governor Giorgos Kelaiditis, who was near one of the villages, told state agency ANA-MPA the situation is difficult. The fire may be two kilometres (1.25 miles) away, but the wind is strong, the growth is low, the smoke thick and the air is hard to breathe, 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 }} More than 40 people have died in wildfires that have engulfed swaths of land in nine Mediterranean countries, destroying homes, livelihoods and forests. Thousands of firefighters worked to contain the blazes as searing temperatures scorched parts of Greece, Italy, Spain, Gran Canaria, Portugal, Turkey, Croatia and France, as well as Algeria and Tunisia. Authorities ordered the fresh evacuations of several communities in central Greece on Wednesday as they battled new fronts in the fires that have been spreading for 10 days. A Turkish firefighter works to extinguish a forest wildfire in Beykoz, on the outskirts of Istanbul (AP) High winds hampered firefighting efforts, and combined with the heatwave, they created a perfect storm that allowed flames to spread. Sixty-one wildfires erupted across Greece in just 24 hours, the fire brigade said, with the worst outbreaks near the central town of Velestino, where officials ordered precautionary evacuations. Follow our live coverage of the wildfires and heatwave here But as Athens recorded 40C and northern Turkey 43C, there were hopes the mercury may now have peaked. The entire island of Rhodes, where more than 20,000 holidaymakers and locals were forced to flee at the weekend, was put into a state of emergency. At least seven people have been killed in Italy, which suffered extreme heat in the south and violent storms in the north, and in Algeria, 34 people including 10 soldiers have been killed by flames or smoke in recent days. Wildfires on the outskirts of the city of Lamia, central Greece (EPA) Flames encroach a residential area in Lamia (EPA) Those fires also spread to forests in Tunisia, where some cities recorded 49C this week. On the island of Sicily, two elderly people were found dead in a home consumed by flames near Palermo airport, which had been closed temporarily because of encroaching flames, according to news reports. Another woman died after fires prevented an ambulance from reaching her home. Firefighters in Alcabideche, outside Lisbon (AP) Fire damage in Aci Catena, near Catania, Italy (EPA) Homes and hotels were also evacuated in the Italian regions of Sicily, Sardinia and Calabria. It comes after two Greek pilots were killed in a crash during a low-altitude water drop on Tuesday. The wildfires have released record greenhouse gas emissions this month, the European Unions Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (Cams) said. The megaton of carbon was nearly double the previous record, set in 2007. Fire crews have been battling more than 500 fires for almost two weeks. A helicopter douses flames in Italy (EPA) Several people have been arrested or fined for accidentally starting fires, but scientists and EU officials say the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires is down to the climate crisis. Without human-induced climate change, wildfires would have been extremely rare, according to World Weather Attribution, a global team of scientists. On Rhodes, a nature reserve was damaged, and fires also burned in Vati and Gennadi. The fires have started again, a fire official told The Independent. A little wind and the fire returns thats the problem. A house on fire at Sesklo village, in Volos, eastern central Greece (EPA) Dozens of firefighters were trying to tame a firefront in the south. Greeces civil protection agency extended its state of emergency to the whole of Rhodes for six months to deal with emergencies and manage the consequences of catastrophic forestry fire, minister Vasilis Papageorgiou said. In the sleepy town of Malonas, volunteers ventured out again to try to keep the fires at bay having fought back the flames as they approached the night before. We have no energy, we have no power not enough to stop this ... We are waiting for the wind to calm down to try again tonight to finish the job, but it is very difficult because after 10 days everyone is very tired, said a volunteer named Panos. Fires engulf holiday resorts on Rhodes (Getty Images) However, a level 5 alert on Crete on Tuesday was dropped to level 4 on Wednesday, and one fire official said the wildfires that had raged across Greece for more than a week abated on Wednesday. The Greek government tried to contain damage to the reputation of its tourism industry. Tourism minister Olga Kefalogianni stressed that wildfires had affected only a small part of the island. A fire brigade spokesperson, Ioannis Artopoios, said tackling the fires was a significant financial burden for Greece, with firefighting on Rhodes alone costing about 7.5m (6.4m) so far. A fire team puts out flames in Capaci, near Palermo, Sicily (AP) In Italy, the government was meeting to declare a state of emergency in regions worst hit and introduce a furlough scheme for workers most exposed to the heatwave. The countrys firefighters said they had battled nearly 1,400 fires between Sunday and Tuesday, including 650 in Sicily and 390 in Calabria, where a bedridden 98-year-old man was killed as flames consumed his home. Planes were also trying to douse the flames on the hills around Palermo on Wednesday. In Croatia, water-dropping planes and more than 100 firefighters held back a blaze before it reached houses in the walled town of Dubrovnik. In Portugal, more than 500 firefighters tackled a blaze near Lisbon. Around 90 people were forced to leave their homes, along with 800 animals taken from farms under threat. Close Plane fighting wildfires in Evia crashes 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 wildfire has triggered a series of massive explosions at an air force ammunition depot in central Greece. The depot was evacuated before the explosions, which shattered windows in the surrounding area. No injuries were reported, although continued blasts prevented firefighting teams from approaching the site. Greek state broadcaster ERT said the facility is in the coastal town of Nea Aghialos near the Volos area. The fire reached the ammunition storage facility about four miles north of the major military air base in Nea Anchialos. Local media reported that bombs and ammunition for Greek F-16 fighters were stored at the site The fighter jets are reportedly being moved from the air base. Fire Service spokesman Ioannis Artopios said 12 villages were ordered to be evacuated in the Volos-Nea Anchialos area. Meanwhile, the blaze reached the outskirts of Athens, with 61 fires breaking out across the country in 24 hours. Deadly wildfires on Greeces mainland have killed two as wildfires spread in Europe and north Africa including Greece, Portugal, Turkey, Italy, France, Croatia, Spain, Algeria and Tunisia. 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 }} Firefighters and civilians battling the nine-day wildfires ravaging Rhodes are contending with continuous flare-ups fuelled by unpredictable winds, as temperatures neared a scorching 40C. Greeces civil protection agency extended the state of emergency across the entirety of Rhodes on Wednesday, which will remain in place for six months, to deal with emergencies and manage the consequences of catastrophic forestry fire. In the town of Malonas, which was evacuated on Saturday, The Independent watched on alongside exhausted volunteers as a section of the charred forest nearby reignited. Volunteers watch on as a flare-up reignites near Malonas (Andy Gregory/The Independent) The handful of volunteers gathered outside St Georges Church stood up to watch as a firefighting plane flew overhead, dousing the flames in water as smoke continued to rise skywards. They expected to venture out again alongside hundreds, if not thousands, of other civilians on Wednesday night to do what they could to keep the fires at bay having fought back the flames as they encroached on the sleepy inland town just the night before. We have no energy, we have no power not enough to stop this ... We are waiting for the wind to calm down to try again tonight to finish the job, but it is very difficult because after 10 days everyone is very tired, a volunteer named Panos said, adding: Im going to sleep now for one hour. He spoke as firefighters were mobilised to the nearby village of Apollona, while fires also burned further south in Vati and Gennadi. The fires have started again, a fire service official told The Independent. A little wind and the fire returns Thats the problem. A firefighting plane drops water on a flare-up near Malonas, Rhodes (Andy Gregory/The Independent) A civilian drives through Malonas in a truck equipped with materials to fight the fires (Andy Gregory/The Independent) Having been told to evacuate both Malonas and nearby Kalathos at the weekend, Miles and Tristan, both in their 50s and originally from England, returned to Tristans house in Malonas on Wednesday to bring his four cats home. After receiving the stressful emergency alert telling them to leave Kalathos for either Kallithea which they felt at the time was unsafe or Lindos, where locals had already been told it was safe to return and where they knew a hotel manager who could put them up for the night. Even if were just camping down on sofas in the hotel reception, its shelter, whereas if we went to Kallithea we would literally be on the street, said Tristan. Speaking in the entrance to Tristans home as a firefighting plane flew overhead, dropping water a short distance away, the pair said they now planned to stay put. Were fed up with it now, said Miles, an artist who has lived in Rhodes for 17 years. Miles, a 56-year-old artist from England who has lived in Rhodes for 17 years, described a pattern of daily flare-ups in recent days (Andy Gregory/The Independent) Tristan added: Also, now [the authorities] are willing to allow everyone to help [keep flare-ups at bay], whereas before they just didnt want the complications of it non-Greek speakers being where they are [with] no skills, no car. I havent even got boots. They said what are you going to do: walk over the ground in trainers? Theyre just going to melt. Describing a pattern of flare-ups each afternoon, Tristan said: Its been almost identical for three days, its really weird. Miles added: Clear in the morning. By the afternoon, the skys gone dark ... theres smoke everywhere, and you can see it for miles. However, the skies remained clear as they spoke prior to the individual flare-up witnessed by The Independent some 15 minutes later. Thats why the helicopters are flying over now, theyre damping down near the edges to try and make sure it doesnt come back, said Miles. 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 }} Evacuations are set to continue in Greece as Corfu and Evia have become the latest Islands to issue orders while the country grapples with the devastating wildfires. The Greek fire service has said around 2,500 people have evacuated from Corfu so far. Thousands of people have also been forced to leave their homes and hotels - with those in Santa, Megoula, Porta, Palia Perithia and Sinies being told to evacuate to Kassiopi. A spokesperson from the Met Office told The Independent: Temperatures on Rhodes are likely to peak on Wednesday, and could be close to 39C in some spots. Temperatures are then expected to move back towards average for the time of year later in the week, likely around 30C. However, windy conditions could impact efforts this week. There are some northwesterly winds today, with these likely to ease on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, a return of windy weather is possible later in the week, albeit accompanied by that drop in temperatures, the Met Office added. What will the weather be like this week in Greece? According to the Met Office website, the temperature in Rhodes will be as follows: Monday 24 July - Highest temperature: 36C and Lowest: 31C Tuesday 25 July - Highest: 37C and Lowest: 28C Wednesday 26 July - Highest: 39C and Lowest: 27C Thursday 27 July - Highest: 36C and Lowest: 23C Friday 28 July - Highest: 34C and Lowest: 24C Saturday 29 July - Highest: 32C and Lowest: 22C Sunday 30 July- Highest: 33C and Lowest: 24C How long will the wildfires last? The climate crisis is increasing the risk of larger, more intense and erratic wildfires around the world due to hotter and drier conditions. Other factors also play a role including soil moisture levels, and the presence of vegetation which acts as fuel for fires. Its important to note that these wildfires are happening in environments that are naturally prone to fire during hot and dry summers, with vegetation that is highly adapted to live with fire, Dr Matthew Jones, NERC Independent Research Fellow, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, School of Environmental Sciences, UEA, said in a statement. Dr Jones added that under climate change and frequent changes to weather conditions across the globe, fires are more likely to break out and also burn so intensely and synchronously across the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean has seen a dramatic increase in the frequency of the hot-dry conditions that were considered extreme at the end of the last century, and these increases are expected to accelerate for each added degree of warming in future, he noted. According to the Joint Research Centre, last year was the second-worst wildfire season in Europe. In 2022, damages exceeded those of 2021, as per data from the EFFIS - an advanced report on Forest Fires in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The EFFIS looked at fires in 45 countries and found that these places suffered from 16,941 fires that burnt 1,624,381 hectares. Looking at just European countries, July 2022 was the month when the most significant proportion of damage occurred in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Greece. (TED G. BAILOS via REUTERS) According to Safer Scotlands Wildfire Operational Guidance, a wildfire can burn for a period of time and this is heavily dependent on the landscape, which contributes to how fast the fire might move. The behaviour of the wildfire depends on the following factors: the area, its combustibility and arrangement, the arrangement of the area, the weather and time. Dependent on stable or unstable weather conditions the Wildfire Operational Guidance said time can have a positive or negative effect on fire development throughout the day and this will bring both advantage and disadvantage to firefighting operations. Space is another important factor as the area in which the fire is burning brings changes to the shape of the fire, altering the fires alignment. For example, as fire changes its location and moves across the area topographical and climactic conditions will work for and against the first altering its intensity and speed. What impacts does fuel have on wildfires? When a wildfire occurs, the main source of fuel is vegetation. This type of fuel, its size and the way the vegetation is arranged across the landscape will affect the way the fire burns. The Wildfire Operational Guidance has said the size and shape of the fuel are important especially in regard to their ease of ignition. Smaller fuels, referred to as fine fuels, are more receptive to fire, while larger or more coarse fuel types generally rely on their interaction with fires in finer fuels before they will ignite. Fine fuels are considered to be those with a diameter of up to 6mm, this includes grass, small stems and the leaves of low-lying shrubs. These fine fuels can also be found in large quantities in plants - such as needles on conifer trees. Flames rise during a forest fire on the island of Rhodes on Saturday 22 July (AP) Fuels that are over 6mm in diameter are described as coarse fuel and include twigs, branches, and tree trunks, the guidance has said. Fine fuels can affect the intensity of the fire, the rate and motion of the fire, the flame length, the fire activity and increased ignitions caused by spot fires. When asked about how long the wildfires might last in Greece, Jim Dale, founder and senior Meteorlogical Consultant at the British Weather Services told The Independent: For as long as there is fuel as in combustible brush. The wind is the enemy as far as people and infrastructure are concerned; there is no sign of rain. The two main fire zones of Rhodes and Corfu will almost certainly be added to as the Mediterranean basin continues to bake with record and near-record temperatures. 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 tragic last words of two heroic pilots who died fighting wildfires in Greece have been revealed, as blazes continue to rage across Europe. Commander Christos Moulas, 34, and co-pilot Pericles Stefanidis, 27, were killed just before 3pm on Tuesday when their plane, which had been dropping water, crashed near the town of Karystos on the island of Evia near Athens. A firefighter on the ground is believed to be the last person to speak with the pair, telling Greek broadcaster OPEN: I still cant believe that three minutes ago I was talking to them and after exactly 10 minutes I learned that the plane had crashed. Commander Christos Moulas, 34, and copilot Pericles Stefanidis, 27, were killed when their plane, which had been dropping water, crashed (Hellenic Air Force) We had contact with them, he continued. They did not report any problems with the aircraft. They told us, We are ready to try. We go for a last supply and we leave. Have you been affected by this story? Email tara.cobham@independent.co.uk A few minutes after we spoke, we learned over the radio that the aircraft had crashed, he added. Footage showed the bright yellow CL-215 aircraft releasing its load of water before its wingtip apparently snagged on a tree branch. Moments later it disappeared into a deep fold in the ground from which a fireball erupted. The pilots, who were both said to be passionate about flying, died at the scene, with investigations into the tragedy ongoing, according to the Greek Fire Brigade. Debris from the two pilots Canadair CL-215 firefighting aircraft (AFP/Getty) Greek City Times said Commander Moulas wife is believed to be three months pregnant with their first child. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said of the tragedy on Tuesday: Today, we Greeks mourn the tragic loss of our pilots Christos Moulas and Pericles Stefanidis in Evia. They gave their lives saving lives, proving how risky their daily firefighting missions are, he continued. The state respectfully stands by the families of the two heroes. They are two children, two brothers of all of us. A three-day period of mourning in the Armed Forces was announced by the defence ministry to honour the pair. Flames burn a tree in Vati village, on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes (AP) Mr Mitsotakis continued: Words are poor to describe the national mourning for their loss... So, we grit our teeth and turn our silence into strength. In their memory, we continue the war against the destructive forces of nature. The prime minister has warned of tough days ahead as Greece is bracing for at least another 48 hours of scorching wildfires and soaring temperatures, until conditions possibly improve after Thursday. He told ministers: All of us are standing guard. In the face of what the entire planet is facing, especially the Mediterranean which is a climate change hot-spot, there is no magical defence mechanism. Locals try to extinguish a wildfire burning in Gennadi village, on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes (AP) The Greek Fire Brigade has already been battling more than 500 fires for almost two weeks, while the high temperatures of the recent new heatwave are set to peak throughout Europe on Wednesday, exceeding 44C in some areas of Greece. A blaze in Rhodes prompted the biggest evacuation in Greek history, with over 20,000 people forced to flee homes and hotels over the weekend, while around 2,500 people have already been evacuated from Corfu, which has been enduring dozens of blazes. Croatia, Portugal, Turkey, Italy and France are among the other European countries that have been battling wildfires in recent days, while the extreme weather conditions on the continent are being mirrored globally, from the US to Asia and Africa. Flames and smoke rise as a wildfire burns near the village of Gennadi, on the island of Rhodes (REUTERS) Italy suffered a twin pounding from the elements when severe storms battered the north, killing a woman and a 16-year-old girl scout, while southern regions sweltered. In the south, a bedridden 98-year-old man died when fire swept through his home. The charred bodies of a couple in their 70s were found in their burnt-out home on the outskirts of Palermo, the regional capital of Sicily, according to Italian media reports. Another woman in her late 80s died in the Palermo province after an ambulance was unable to reach her home due to fires in the area. In north Africa, Algeria was fighting to contain devastating forest fires along its Mediterranean coast in a blaze, which has already killed at least 34 people. 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 }} Pope Francis told a young transgender person that God loves us as we are, comments that are being seen as his latest outreach to members of the LGBT+ community. The popes comment was in response to Giona, a young Italian individual torn by the dichotomy between (their Catholic) faith and transgender identity. The pope was responding to audio messages from young people in a podcast organized ahead of a Catholic youth festival in Portugal, which he is set to attend next week. The pontiff said the Lord always walks with us.... Even if we are sinners, he draws near to help us. The Lord loves us as we are. This is Gods crazy love. Pope Franciss position on the LGBTQ community and gay marriage has been a subject of interest and discussion since he became the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013. While the pope has emphasised the importance of treating LGBTQ individuals with respect, dignity, and love, he upholds the traditional Catholic teaching that marriage is a sacred between a man and a woman. He garnered praise from the LGBTQ community in 2013 when he was asked about a gay priest in 2013 and he replied, Who am I to judge? During the course of his pontificate, he has met individually and in groups with transgender people. But at the same time, he has strongly opposed the so-called gender theory and upheld the teachings that hold that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. In 2021, Pope Francis authorized the release of a Vatican document asserting that the Catholic Church is unable to bless same-sex unions because it is believed that "God cannot bless sin". In an interview with Associated Press, he declared that laws criminalising homosexuality were unjust and that being homosexual is not a crime. He later clarified that he was merely referring to official Catholic moral teaching that teaches that any sexual act outside of marriage is a sin. In a note in Spanish, Francis reaffirmed that homosexuality is not a crime, adding that he spoke out in order to stress that criminalisation is neither good nor just. When I said it is a sin, I was simply referring to Catholic moral teaching, which says that every sexual act outside of marriage is a sin, 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 }} Wildfires have been raging across several cities in Greece including Rhodes, Corfu and Evia. Authorities have issued new evacuations for areas close to two central Greek cities after two people were killed. People living in areas around Volos and Lamia have been told to move to safety as the country remains in a state of extreme heat. In the last 24 hours, 61 wildfires erupted across the country, the fire brigade said. Officials also ordered the evacuation of many communities in the hard-hit area of Magnesia, a coastal area north of Athens. Fires in Rhodes forced thousands of people to leave their homes in the biggest evacuation in Greek history, as holidaymakers said they walked for miles in scorching heat to reach safety. "The smoke was coming. So we all set off on foot. I walked 12 miles (19 km) in this heat yesterday. It took me four hours," British tourist Chris Freestone told the Reuters News Agency. 112 Greece, the Emergency Communications Service has put out protection guidelines for those in the country. The guidelines have been issued to help those during a fire and before a fire. As the wildfires rage on, here is everything you need to know about how a wildfire evacuation protocol works What is a wildfire? The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) describe a wildfire as: Any unplanned and uncontrolled wildland fire that, regardless of ignition source, may require suppression response or other action according to agency policy. How long does a wildfire last? The National Operational Guidance (NOG) has said a wildfire will burn over a period of time in areas that provide the space over which the fire can move. The NOG said the behaviour of the wildfire is dependent on a number of variables, these include: its movement across the landscape which brings instability within the fire environment caused by changes to the available fuel as well as its combustibility and arrangement, the shape of the topography and the effects of weather. According to the Guinness World Records, the longest wildfire was the Chinchaga Fire in 1950 which grew out of control and ended five months later on 31 October in Alberta - in that time, it burned approximately 1.2 million hectares (3 million acres) of boreal forest. What to do if your home is in or near a forest? 112 Greece has said you should take the following steps: Create a fire-free zone around the house by clearing any dry grass, leaves, pine needles and branches. Do not let tree branches touch the walls of your home, roof and balcony. Do not install shutters in your home made of flammable materials on windows. Make sure you have a watering hose near your home. You can find the full guide here. When should you evacuate? According to Readyforwildfire.org, people should leave as soon as an evacuation is recommended by emergency services. Make sure you leave as soon as you receive the news and do not wait for authorities to come to you or to be ordered directly by authorities to leave. Evacuating the forest fire area early also helps firefighters keep roads clear of congestion, and lets them move more freely to do their job. In an intense wildfire, they will not have time to knock on every door. If you are advised to leave, dont hesitate, readyforwildfire.org has said on its website. Here are some steps you can take: Emergency services will know exactly which areas will need to be evacuated and which escape routes you can take, so be on high alert. Be sure to follow the orders authorities give you. Always stay informed, you can do this by checking the latest on your phone, on social media, radio or television. Officials may direct you to a temporary assembly point, where you will be transferred to a safe location. Readyforwildfire.org has said on its website that people should not return to their homes until fire officials determine it is safe. Notification that it is safe to return home will be given as soon as possible considering safety and accessibility, it added. Does the UK government help if youre affected by a crisis abroad? The official government website has said the help the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can give may be limited. It said before you travel you should: Make sure you are covered by travel insurance. Find out if your holiday is financially protected and what your flights are during your holiday. There has been a Crisis Management Unit set up to respond to the situation in Rhodes. They can be contacted at +30 210 368 1730 / +30 210 3681259 / +30 210 3681350. However, people have been advised to contact their airline or travel operator who can assist with a return to the UK. The government website has also said during hot temperatures, people should take extra caution and follow NHS guidelines on how to cope during hot weather. What have airlines said? Jet2 and Tui have cancelled all flights to Rhodes. The Jet2 planes were scheduled to depart full of tourists bound for the Greek island. But the planes were empty and will be used to evacuate holidaymakers fleeing the blaze. On Sunday (23 July), Jet 2 put out a statement on Twitter and said they are keeping the situation under constant review. In its full statement, the airline said: The situation in Rhodes continues to evolve quickly and our absolute priority is the health, safety and well-being of customers and colleagues in the affected areas. We can confirm that: Our in-resort teams are working hard to comply with the guidance of local authorities, and we are continuing to bring more customer helpers and local authorities colleagues to the area. The airline said it will continue to ask customers in affected areas to follow the advice of the local authorities, as well as staff in their hotels It said it was contacting customers as quickly as possible. The statement continued: Due to these extraordinary circumstances, we have cancelled all flights and holidays that are due to depart to Rodes up to and including Sunday 30th July. We believe this is the right thing to do for everything, and we will be contacting affected customers with regard to their refund or rebooking options. We will fly those aircraft to Rhodes with no customers on board so that we can continue to bring customers back to the UK on their scheduled flights. TUI has also put out a statement and said their teams are working hard with local authorities in Greece to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all our customers currently on holiday in Rhodes and impacted by the wildfires. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A former Greek defence minister has urged the Greek government to seek help from Russia to fight the devastating wildfires. Panos Kamennos claims it is impossible to cope with the fires without the support of the Russian Be-200 amphibious aircraft. Without Beriev, nothing happens. Lets bow out heads and ask for help now. We will be given... he said in a social media post. Read our live coverage of the Greece wildfires Russian aircraft manufacturer Beirev specialises in amphibious aircrafts that can take off and land on both solid ground and water. Its giant planes have proved to be a devisive weapon in extinguishing flames during the Greek fire season. A military helicopter was seen trying to quell flames over a village in Rhodes (AP) In particular, the Beriev Be-200 Altair is said to be designed for such a task as well as search and rescue, cargo, maritime patrol and passenger transportation. The plane can also scoop up 12 tonnes of water in just 14 seconds and its tanks can also be filled on the ground. Its enormous potential will be missed from Greeces arsenal of fire fighting services. Dangerous wildfires have been ravaging the country for almost two weeks, spread by high winds. Thousands of tourists, including 10,000 Britons, have been evacuated from Greece and its islands (AP) Thousands of tourists, including 10,000 UK holidaymakers, have been evacuated from the country and its islands. Rhodes and Corfu are bracing for at least another 48 hours of inferno as forecasters predict temperatures in southern Europe will not peak until Wednesday. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned of tough days ahead, with conditions possibly improving after Thursday. All of us are standing guard. In the face of what the entire planet is facing, especially the Mediterranean which is a climate change hot-spot, there is no magical defence mechanism, he said. A firefighting plane was seen dropping water over the village of Gennadi in Rhodes (REUTERS) Other areas affected by wildfires include Evia and the Peloponnese region. Russias Beriev Be-200 can empty its water tanks over an area engulfed by flames in 0.8 to 1.0 seconds when flying above the minimum drop speed of 140mph. The aircraft was used in Greece to fight the forest fires of 2007 and again during the summer of 2021. This summer, the Greek Fire Brigade has been battling more than 500 fires countrywide without the use of the aircraft. Weather maps show the latest heatwave to hit Europe is set to peak on Wednesday when temperatures will surpass 44C in some parts of Greece. The Greek Fire Brigade has been battling more than 500 fires countrywide in the past two weeks (AFP via Getty Images) Last weekend, the island of Rhodes saw the biggest evacuation in Greek history, with more than 20,000 people forece to flee homes and hotels. In Corfu, 2,500 people have already been evacuated in the face of dozens of blazes on the island. France, Portugal, Turkey and Croatia are among other European countries that have been battling wildfires in recent days. Extreme weather conditions on the continent are being mirror worldwide, from the US to Asia. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Russias economy is being kept afloat by critical gold-smuggling operations by the Wagner mercenary group led by its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, a parliamentary report has suggested. The report by the foreign affairs committee said that Mr Prigozhins Wagner Group is smuggling significant quantities of the precious metal out of Sudan. The private military company (PMC) has been simultaneously supporting Sudans RSF paramilitary group and its army forces since conflict erupted between the military factions in April, the committee said. Against this backdrop, Wagner has siphoned off large quantities of gold to prop up the Russian economy, which has been heavily hit by Western sanctions in the wake of Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, which began last February. The future for Wagner is uncertain after a failed mutiny that shook Mr Putin and the Kremlin last month. Mr Prigozhin has suggested his fighters will play no further part in the Ukraine war for now but there will be no reduction in [Wagners] programmes in Africa. The report also criticised the governments response over the last decade to the emerging threat posed by Wagner and other PMCs. The risk from their activities was under-played and under-estimated, as well as the security implications for Europe. Calling on Wagner to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation, the committee said its activities in Sudan were mainly non-combat. Instead, it focused on providing a support force for the Bashir regime and guarding its business interests. At the same time as maintaining close ties with Sudans military, Wagner has also provided the RSF with training and intelligence, the report found. Despite the networks denials, it appears to remain active in Sudan, supporting rebel paramilitaries [the RSF] in the ongoing conflict, which broke out on 15 April 2023, it read. Wagners gold-smuggling operations from Sudan are significant, with one [analyst] calling them critical to Russias ability to withstand the significant sanctions deployed against it for its illegal invasion in Ukraine. The report lays bare the width and depth of Wagners involvement in Russias foreign policy, and is especially critical of the UK government for being remarkably complacent about the groups activities for almost 10 years. Vladimir Putins regime is relying on the smuggled gold to keep afloat in the face of international sanctions, the report claims (Sputnik) As well as Sudan and its well-documented activities in Ukraine, the report said that Wagner mercenaries have been active in Syria, the Central African Republic, Libya, Mozambique and Mali. It warned that PMCs are a growth industry, with more governments seeking to create them in an effort to secure their security and economic interests. The report which also named various Wagner mercenaries whom it said should be sanctioned called for a more coordinated response from the government, and said that a taskforce should have been established by 2016 at the latest. The committee is calling on the government to assess urgently whether the threshold for sanctions against the individuals and entities named in the report is met. The report urges the government to move faster and harder in sanctioning Wagner-linked actors, and to consider action against civilian enablers and corporate frontmen. It also branded the current voluntary model of PMC regulation insufficient, and said that things need to change urgently. This is because it does little to prevent activities of disreputable companies that are detrimental to the United Kingdoms interests. Committee chair Alicia Kearns said the landmark report exposes the dark underbelly of a network that until recently thrived in the shadows. In the 10 years since the Wagner networks formation, the UK government has lacked a coherent strategy and efforts to meaningfully tackle Wagner have been non-existent. This has allowed the network to grow, spread its tentacles deep into Africa, and exploit countries on their knees due to conflict or instability. The Foreign Office has sanctioned Wagner leaders for their part in atrocities in Mali (AP) She added: We are deeply concerned by the governments dismal lack of understanding of Wagners hold beyond Europe, in particular their grip on African states. This is a fundamental failing of joined-up government; ministers appear to be in denial about the consequences of failing to tackle this malign business model before it takes hold. If we are to undermine the operations of the Wagner network, we need to sever the networks wealth at its source. We are calling for the government to sanction organisations and individuals known to prop up Wagner faster and harder than before. She said that in the wake of the 24-hour aborted mutiny, the future manifestations of the Wagner network are uncertain. This has left it at its most vulnerable and the clock ticking, she added. The time for action is now. 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 }} Ukrainian troops are appear to be creeping closer to the eastern city of Bakhmut, the scene for some of the fiercest fighting of the war and the military is about to receive a consignment of 1,700 strike and reconnaissance drones to help with its counteroffensive. Hanna Maliar, the deputy defence minister, said Kyiv's troops were successfully attacking in the east on the flanks of occupied Bakhmut and also reported advances towards the southern, occupied cities of Melitopol and Berdyansk which is on the Sea of Azov Russia, which sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, holds swathes of territory in the south and east. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based thinktank that monitors the war, described the claimed Ukrainian gains around Bakhmut as tactically significant". The announcement came as Ukraine's domestic intelligence agency claimed responsibility for the first time for a sabotage operation that badly damaged the Russian-made Kerch Bridge linking occupied Crimea with Russia last October. Vasyl Malyuk, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), said his agency was behind the attack, speaking in comments shown on television as he presented a commemorative postage stamp marking wartime special forces operations. "There were many different operations, special operations. We'll be able to speak about some of them publicly and aloud after the victory, we will not talk at all about others," Mr Malyuk said. "It is one of our actions, namely the destruction of the Crimean bridge on 8 October last year." The bridge was badly damaged in a powerful blast, with Russian officials saying the explosion was caused by a truck that blew up while crossing the bridge, killing three people. The 12-mile (19 kilometre) Crimean Bridge over the Kerch Strait is the only direct link between the transport network of Russia and the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow illegally annexed from Ukraine and occupied in 2014. The bridge was a flagship project for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who opened it for road traffic with great fanfare by driving a truck across in 2018. It has become a key supply line for Moscows troops in Ukraine. The bridge was hit by a fresh attack this month, but Mr Malyuk made no mention of who was behind that one. Russia has blamed Ukraine. On the ground, Ms Maliar reported Ukrainian "successes" in the southeast, including near Staromayorske, a village near a cluster of hamlets that Ukraine recaptured in the Donetsk region this summer. "Battles continue near Staromayorske, our defenders have successes, they were gaining a foothold on the reached frontiers," she said. In the east, Ms Maliar said Ukrainian forces continued to repel Russian advances in the direction of Kupiansk and Lyman, which Ukraine liberated last year. Fierce fighting raged, she said, near the villages of Klishchiivka, Kurdyumivka and Andriivka on the southern flank of Bakhmut, a small city reduced to ruins in a bloody, months-long battle that gave Russian forces control of the area for now. Despite steady Western military aid, Ukrainian military officials have said Russia still has an advantage in artillery, tanks and manpower. Mykhailo Fedorov, a deputy prime minister, said 1,700 drones were on their way to the front lines to help the offensive. "All of them are now going to the front to protect the lives of our soldiers, to make our artillery even more accurate, to destroy the enemy," Mr Fedorov said in a video that showed hundreds of drones laid out in rows on a field. Mr Fedorov said that Ukrainian producers have sharply increased domestic drone production and more than 10,000 drone operators have been already trained with another 10,000 currently receiving training. The Ukrainian government also plans to invest 40bn hryvnia (840m) this year into domestic drone manufacturing, the prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, has announced. On Tuesday, The US Department of Defense announced $400 million (310m) in additional security assistance for Ukraine, including air defense missiles, armored vehicles and small drones. The new aid package will include for the first time the US-furnished small Black Hornet surveillance drones. The Norwegian-built Hornet is being used in Ukraine through donations by the British and Norwegian governments, Reuters 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 }} Wildfires have ravaged at least nine countries in Europe and North Africa this week, forcing mass evacuations as firefighters battle on in tinderbox conditions. Extreme heat and billowing winds have created the perfect storm for fires to rip through swathes of land in Greece, France, Portugal, Spain, Gran Canaria, Italy, Croatia, Turkey, Algeria and Tunisia. The blazes have killed five people in Greece as they destroyed homes, farms, and factories and scorched swathes of forest land since July 17. Follow the latest on wildfires in Europe here. In Rhodes, one of the worst affected Greek islands, more than 20,000 tourists and locals fled from the blaze in the biggest evacuation in Greeces history. In the hard-hit area of Magnesia, wildfires reached an air force ammunition depot close to the coastal town of Nea Aghialos on Thursday. The blaze at the depot caused powerful explosions and the coast guard said people were forced to escape by land and sea to Volos, the regional capital. Climate Crisis and Civil Protection minister Vassilis Kikilias said: Given the climate crisis, we will again have extreme weather conditions that will again test our strength. Nothing is over, the battle will continue throughout the summer, he said. A firefighter tries to extinguish a wildfire burning at the industrial zone of the city of Volos, in central Greece (REUTERS) Italian firefighters said they battled nearly 1,400 fires between Sunday and Tuesday, including 650 in Sicily and 390 in Calabria, the southern mainland region where a bedridden 98-year-old man was killed as fire consumed his home. Fires were still burning on the hills around Palermo on Wednesday, with Canadair planes back in operation to try to douse the flames. Speaking to Sky News, Piero Messina said: The landscape from Palermo from the night of the fire seems to be really an apocalypse scene. It seems to be not real. Flames burn in a field in Capaci, near Palermo, in Sicily, southern Italy (LaPresse) Meanwhile, in North Africa, at least 34 people have been killed in Algeria, with fires burning in a total of 15 provinces and 1,500 people evacuated from their homes. Among those killed were 10 soldiers who became trapped by flames. Strong winds resulted in fires spreading to neighbouring Tunisia earlier this week, with two border crossings closed in an attempt to contain the blaze. Here we look at where the fires have struck in Europe this week: View more Rhodes: Italy: View more Croatia: View more Portugal: View more Turkey: 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 }} Women in Iran are having their cars confiscated and being sacked from their jobs for not wearing headscarves, campaigners have warned. New research, by Amnesty International, noted authorities in the country have launched a major clampdown on women for not abiding by stringent headscarf rules. The prominent human rights charity said the crackdown involves thousands of police warnings being sent out via text message, the seizure of cars, women being fired from jobs, as well as having court action taken against them. A woman was forced to wash dead bodies in a morgue as part of her punishment earlier this month, researchers warned. Police are believed to have sent out more than 133,100 texts demanding the cars are not used for a set period of time, as well as confiscating 2,000 cars, handing over more than 4,000 repeat offenders to the judiciary, and singling out and referring 300 offenders to the courts. Womens rights are profoundly restricted in Iran and wearing a headscarf is compulsory in public for all, with those who do not wear a hijab, or have some hair on display while wearing a hijab, facing punishments ranging from fines to imprisonment. On 16 July, a spokesperson for the police declared police patrols would be reinstated to impose the compulsory wearing of headscarves, as well as warning women and girls who are uncovered in public could face legal action. While in the two months leading up to mid-June, Iranian officials state the police delivered nearly a million warning messages via text to women captured on camera without wearing headscarf while in their cars. Some women have been temporarily blocked or permanently excluded from universities, prevented from carrying out final exams, and stopped from using public transport and banking services for infringing headscarf rules. Meanwhile, hundreds of businesses have been forced to shut their doors for not imposing the compulsory wearing of hijabs. A woman living in Esfahan province, who was told to stop using her car for half a month via text message due to taking off her headscarf when driving, told researchers the threats the authorities are issuing have a very negative impact - both emotionally and psychologically. She added: The Islamic Republic wants to show that they can go to any extent when it comes to enforcing compulsory veiling ... They want to present themselves to the international community as moving away from violence but, in reality, they are carrying out these actions discreetly. They are truly creating fear in our existence. Agnes Callamard, Amnesty Internationals Secretary General, said: Morality policing in Iran is back. Todays crackdown is intensified by mass surveillance technologies capable of identifying unveiled women in their cars and pedestrian spaces. The international community must not stand idly by as the Iranian authorities intensify their oppression of women and girls. She argued governments around the world must do everything in their power to support women and girls fleeing gender-based persecution and serious human rights violations in the country, as well as making sure they can access swift and safe refugee procedures. Ms Callamard added: Under no circumstances should they be forcibly returned to Iran. Women can be seen being assaulted by officials in the Iranian capital of Tehran as well as the northern city of Rasht online recently, with security forces aiming teargas at those who aid women to flee arrests in Rasht. Protests erupted across Iran after Mahsa Aminis death in police custody in mid-September last year. The 22-year-old Kurdish woman died after being detained by the morality police for allegedly infringing Irans stringent rules on hijabs. Women have waved their hijabs, hurling them in bonfires and chopping off their hair during protests in what have been the largest demonstrations to rock Irans streets in three years. However, protests have been impeded by a brutal crackdown launched by the state. 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 }} Scientists have claimed to make a breakthrough that would be one of the holy grails of modern physics but experts have urged caution about the results. In recent days, many commentators have become excited by two papers that claim to document the production of a new superconductor that works at room temperature and ambient pressure. Scientists in Korea said they had synthesised a new material called LK-99 that would represent one of the biggest physics breakthroughs of recent decades. Superconductors are a special kind of material where electrical resistance vanishes, and which throw out magnetic fields. They are widely useful, including in the production of powerful magnets and in reducing the amount of energy lost as it moves through circuits. They are also often impractical, since they require low temperatures and high pressure. That means that they cannot be used in most traditional circuits, for instance. Since the beginning of the last century, scientists have been working not only to understand superconductivity but also develop new materials that would allow the phenomenon to be harvested at ambient temperatures and pressures. That has not been successful, and the discovery of such a material would mark a major breakthrough in physics. The new papers, published in recent days as a preprint on the website arXiv, claims to have overcome that problem. The researchers said they had not only found a way to synthesise such a superconducting material, but also that it could be done relatively easily leading to huge excitement on social media. One Twitter thread from Alex Kaplan, a recent Princeton graduate who is now head of coffee product at startup Cometeer, helped propel the news into the mainstream. His thread had been viewed 8.5 million times, Twitter said, and has been retweeted more than 10,000 times. Today might have seen the biggest physics discovery of my lifetime. I dont think people fully grasp the implications of an ambient temperature / pressure superconductor, he wrote in a long thread that went on to explain the possible applications of the material. Mr Kaplan pointed to the fact that vast amounts of energy are lost in the transmission of electricity across the world, that the the authors claimed material could be made in just 34 hours with simple equipment, and that such a superconductor would have revolutionary uses in everything from nuclear fusion reactors to batteries and quantum computers. Scientists away from the work agreed that such a breakthrough would be hugely significant. But they urged caution, pointing to the fact that the paper has not yet gone through the peer review process, the results have not been replicated, and that there could be other explanations for the apparently astonishing behaviour described in the work. A real, working room-temperature superconductor which works at ambient pressure would be one of the holy grails of modern physics, unlocking major new developments in energy, transportation, healthcare, and communications, said Mohammad Yazdani-Asrami of the University of Glasgows James Watt School of Engineering. As it stands, however, the paper is not yet peer-reviewed and has not yet been tested in other labs to see if other researchers can reproduce its results. These are both key to determining for sure whether the world should be getting excited about the authors claims, which need much more scrutiny at this early stage. If the claims of findings are approved, perhaps, this is one of the most significant achievements of last few decades in physics and material engineering. Others voiced specific concerns about the paper. Some of the results meant that other researchers working on superconductors were not convinced by the claims made in the paper. The recent preprint by Lee, Kim and Kwon suggesting that they have observed room temperature superconductivity in the copper doped lead phosphate system, without the need for very high applied pressures, is interesting, but not yet wholly convincing, said Susannah Speller, Professor of Materials Science at the University of Oxford, and Chris Grovenor, Professor of Materials at the University of Oxford. Professors Speller and Grovenor pointed to the fact that the data did not show the behaviour that would be expected to happen when the material became superconducting. Features that would be expected to be evident in the results were not, they said, and and so it is too early to say that we have been presented with compelling evidence for superconductivity in these samples. John Durrell, professor of superconductor engineering at Cambridge University, said that it could take considerable time to see the practical benefits of the breakthrough, even if the teams results were confirmed. There will be understandable scepticism about this result in the community as there have been numerous reports of room temperature superconductors over the years which have not held up, he told The Independent. I would, therefore, personally withhold judgement on this work until it becomes clear if the result is reproducible in other laboratories. From my engineering point of view, a practical room temperature superconductor would be potentially transformative allowing a host of exciting applications such as cheap MRI machines, more compact and efficient motors and low loss power transmission. However, there can be significant challenges in turning a newly discovered superconducting material into a practical material. In previous cases, this has taken one or two decades and is not always possible. 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 official account for Elon Musks X app has switched from @Twiter to @X without paying the previous owner for the one-letter account, according to reports. The single-letter username had been registered to Gene X. Hwang, the co-founder of photo firm Orange Photography, for more than 16 years before Twitters sudden rebranding on Monday brought the account under scrutiny. On Tuesday, Mr Hwang said that neither Mr Musk nor X had reached out to him, however by Wednesday the account was under the control of the tech billionaires company. Alls well that ends well, Mr Hwang posted from a new account, @x12345678998765. Neither Mr Musk nor X paid any money for the one-letter account, according to The Telegraph, though did offer some company merchandise. The Independent has reached out to X for further information. Mr Musk has reportedly taken over other accounts without permission since he took over the platform in October 2022. According to Platformer editor Zoe Schiffer, the worlds richest person took over the username @e shortly after acquiring the company for $44 billion, despite the original owner of the account being unwilling to part with it. The @e account remains inactive, featuring the name John Utah the same as the protagonist of the 1991 film Point Break and following just three accounts: Elon Musk, LAist and Nasa. X has also changed its other official accounts to ditch the Twitter branding, renaming its subscription service to @XBlue, and @TwitterSupport to @Support. The companys Twitter signage was also removed from its San Francisco headquarters on Monday. The website domain X.com also now redirects to Twitter.com, while all of the sites blue bird logos have been replaced with a crowd-sourced X logo. The hasty switch from one brand to another may result in legal difficulties for Mr Musk, according to trademark lawyers, after it was revealed that the billionaire does not own the intellectual property rights for the letter X when it relates to social networking. Tech rivals Meta and Microsoft both own trademarks for X in different domains, with Metas Mark Zuckerberg currently controlling the federal trademark for a blue-and-white letter X for social networking services. Theres a 100 per cent chance that Twitter is going to get sued over this by somebody, one US-based IP lawyer said on Tuesday. 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 }} Elon Musks plan to build an everything app is underway. After rebranding Twitter to X, the tech billionaire encouraged users to rethink the whole concept of what the platform is. Before he even purchased Twitter in October 2022, Mr Musk said that buying the site was an accelerant to creating a super app akin to Chinas WeChat, Indias PayTM and Indonesias GoJek. These apps offer users the ability to not just make posts, but also send and receive payments, watch and listen to content, and even access services like booking taxis or ordering food deliveries. Earlier this month, Mr Musk reportedly secured money-transmitting licenses in three US states, suggesting it is already preparing to become a payments business. Linda Yaccarino, who took over as the chief executive of Twitter last month, gave more details about what the new X app will become, tweeting on Sunday that the rebranding was part of the companys goal to transform the global town square beyond a social network. X is the future state of unlimited interactivity centred in audio, video, messaging, payments/banking creating a global marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities. Powered by AI, X will connect us all in ways were just beginning to imagine, she tweeted. For years, fans and critics alike have pushed Twitter to dream bigger, to innovate faster, and to fulfil our great potential. X will do that and more. Weve already started to see X take shape over the past 8 months through our rapid feature launches, but were just getting started. X did not respond to a request for further information from The Independent about when such changes might take place. Shortly before his takeover of Twitter was complete, Mr Musk tweeted: Twitter probably accelerates X by three to five years, but I could be wrong. Mr Musk has had access to the X.com domain since 2000, during which time he was working on PayPal. Before rebranding Twitter, the website simply showed the letter X, but now redirects to Twitter.com. Earlier this year, Twitter changed its business name to X Corp to align with Mr Musks everything app vision, but social media experts have questioned whether such a concept could ever work outside of Asia. Ill believe it when I see it, industry commentator Matt Navarra said at the time of Mr Musks takeover. Super apps, as they are known in the industry, are not a new thing. Theyve been hugely successful in Asia, but have not really caught on elsewhere. Could Twitter form part of a super app that lets you buy goods, chat to friends, get news updates, book a taxi etc.? Sure. Can Elon Musk make it work? Possibly. Will Elon actually do it? Who knows. He seems to have commitment issues. Twitters bird logo was replaced with an X on Monday 24 July, 2023 (X) Others have raised concerns about whether ditching the Twitter brand and associated bird logo could further damage the platforms reputation, which has been under heavy scrutiny since Mr Musks takeover last year. By changing Twitters app name, Elon Musk will have single handedly wiped out over fifteen years of a brand name that has secured its place in our cultural lexicon, Mike Proulx, a research director at advisory firm Forrester, told The Independent. This is an extremely risky move because with X, Musk is essentially starting over while its competition is afoot. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight 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 Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The latest travel casualty of the UK being outside the European Unions Schengen area: flights to Catania in Sicily. The airport, which is the main gateway to the island, closed on 16 July because of fire damage to a terminal building. Operations resumed three days later but only for flights within the EUs Schengen Area. All such services are regarded as domestic, with neither passport control nor customs posts required. Therefore the amount of space and equipment required to house them is minimal. But flights from the UK to Catania remain grounded. In common with other countries outside the European Unions Schengen Area, all arriving and departing passengers must pass through passport control and, potentially, a customs check. Since Brexit, passport inspections have become much more onerous. Passports are required to be examined for evidence of the traveller overstaying, and stamped. In the case of Catania airport, there is no extra space for barriers and inspection posts. Normally up to eight flights a day, mostly from London airports, depart for Catania. There are also some services from Manchester. Ryanair has switched its Catania services to other Sicilian airports. But the islands other main airport, Palermo, is full, so British Airways, easyJet and Wizz Air are cancelling their flights from the UK. While the UK was in the European Union but outside the Schengen Area, passports would still have had to be examined. As EU citizens, though, checks were swift comprising only the border official ensuring the passport was valid and belonged to the traveller. Today frontier staff are required to make more rigorous checks and stamp the passport on arrival and departure. The enhanced procedure requires more space and time at the terminal. The Sicilian governor, Renato Schifan, indicated on Tuesday afternoon that the return to full normality will probably take place around 4 or 5 August. At that point, UK flights should resume. The Independent estimates that as many as 50,000 British holidaymakers have been affected since the airport closed. Catania airport normally takes around six flights a day from the UK mostly from Gatwick but also from Luton, Stansted and Manchester. According to the flight data specialist Cirium, in a normal peak summer week there are 64 one-way flights scheduled from UK airports to four airports in Sicily: Palermo, Catania, Comiso and Trapani. Several sea lions charged out of the water towards tourists on a beach in San Diego on Sunday, 23 July. The creatures have been known to exhibit this behaviour at La Jolla cove on previous occasions. In this video, a lifeguard can be heard telling beachgoers to give a male sea lion plenty of room before two of the pinnipeds bark and charge towards screaming people on the sand. Local resident Japhet Perez Estrada told Fox 5: I understand their excitement and they want to get close, but its nature. You got to give a distance. Ohio police officers attempted to catch a runaway emu after corning it in a field. Footage shows a number of people - including the owner - pursuing the bird on Monday morning (24 July) before eventually capturing it and taking it back to its local sanctuary. Quite the emusing call officers received this morning, the Columbus Division of Police wrote, sharing the video on Facebook. Thanks to help from several Columbus police officers, this runaway emu was captured and returned to its sanctuary unharmed. The moment police officers shot and apprehended a suspect armed with a pocket knife in a Los Angeles hotel lobby was captured on bodycam footage. The Los Angeles Police Department released a video of the incident on 25 June, in which they say an intruder armed with a long, black knife was reported at the Miyako Hotel at around 3:30am. Footage shows the suspect telling officers: You dont have a gun. You got a flashlight, before pulling the knife out of his pocket. The suspect, identified as Douglas Hill, was shot after advancing towards the officers. Hill was taken to hospital in a stable condition. Aerial video released by the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry showed widespread wildfires continued across the Greek island of Rhodes on 24 July, as thick smoke covered the air. Turkey sent two amphibious firefighting planes and a helicopter to nearby Rhodes to help bring the wildfire under control. Video filmed by pilots flying over the islands charred forests showed smoke rising from multiple areas and other firefighting aircraft dropping water over burning vegetation. Some 20,000 people were forced to leave homes and hotels over the weekend as the inferno began to reach coastal resorts on the islands southeast. A supermarket employee wrestled a shoplifter to the floor in Houston, Texas, on 4 July. CCTV footage released by the police shows a man in shorts and sunglasses attempt to run out of the supermarket carrying packages of steak. An employee off camera wrestles him to the floor, before a security guard steps in. The shoplifter managed to escape, despite being dragged to the floor, though security succeeded in getting some of the items back. Houson police are appealing for helping in identifying the man. Virgin Media's Ciara Doherty on the set of The Tonight Show. Photo: Frank McGrath Virgin Media Televisions broadcasting licence has been renewed for 10 years, the broadcaster has announced. The organisation said it has signed a new 10-year national free-to-air commercial television licence. This was granted by Coimisiun na Mean, Irelands new media regulator and development agency, which was established earlier this year as a successor body to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The measure allows Virgin Media channels in Ireland to continue broadcasting on free to air television once they meet the needs of the licence. This includes several content requirements, such as broadcasting a certain amount of current affairs and Irish language content. The award is the first time the organisations broadcasting licence has been renewed since TV3 was rebranded as Virgin Media Television in 2018. TV3 was established in 1998, when it was Irelands first commercial television station. Paul Farrell, the managing director of Virgin Media Television said the award of the broadcasting licence is a further significant milestone in Virgin Media Televisions journey as Irelands leading independent commercial public service broadcaster. It recognises the achievements of our entire team across over a quarter of a century of public service broadcasting, he said. As the recipient of this licence, Virgin Media Television has reaffirmed our dedication to the principles of public service media and our continuing commitment to broadcasting excellence. Farrell added that Virgin Medias presence in the Irish television landscape supports media plurality. Were excited about this new chapter for Virgin Media Television and are grateful to Coimisiun na Mean for trusting us with this responsibility, he said. We look forward to a more open debate and understanding of the role other media outlets play in providing public service content, and equally how the funding model needs to be reviewed to be more equitable. Farrells comments around the funding model for broadcasters becoming more equitable come shortly after the Virgin Media Television executive wrote a letter to Media Minister Catherine Martin. Farrell said that RTE should be removed from the commercial advertising market due to the fact that it is a public broadcaster funded by the state through the television licence fee. He was critical of the opacity between public money and commercial income, and slammed RTE for paying BBC 20m for content already available in the territory. Farrell also called for the divestment of RTEs non-public service broadcasting assets. Shekel tumbles and stocks hit amid protests over new Netanyahu laws Investors and lawyers in Israel are weighing their next steps as they fret over a new law that weakens the power of judges and has deepened uncertainty for the countrys $520bn economy. Pop singer Sinead OCarroll has said the Belfast audience who witnessed the very first performance from B*Witched would be forgiven for not predicting the success story for the group that soon followed. The Irish girl band appeared to be an instant sensation when they charted in 1998 with four back-to-back UK No1 hit singles with their first four releases, including Cest La Vie and Blame It On The Weatherman. But Sinead revealed it is a little-known secret that she and her fellow band members, Lindsay Armaou and twin sisters Edele and Keavy Lynch, made an inauspicious debut north of the border as they honed their act. Years and years ago, before we became big, we got together and our first gig was in Belfast in Thompsons Garage, she said. So that was the very first thing that we ever did. And my husband now, Michael, who was my boyfriend at the time, he came with us. But, sure, we didnt even know how to use microphones. Im like: Somebody press play. And then we ran out on stage screaming: Michael, this mics not working. It was just the innocence of it all. We had nobody looking after us. We didnt know what we were doing. Even from the audience there was no expectation. And I think Lindsay nearly fell down the back of the stage. I dont even know how we got up there. It was kind of funny. That was the first thing we did ourselves. But then when we supported Boyzone, the very first gig of their tour was in Belfast and we had a similar situation, driving in the car going: Are they going to give us microphones? Whats the story? Because all we were focused on was the dancing and the singing. But weve done something similar to them in the UK and if theyre anything like that, then theyre mad fun. Theyre crazy. Theres no pressure and its just enjoyment for us this time around. I turned 50 last month and Im jumping around on stage in heels. Seriously, when am I not going to do this? The last few years weve got to go to places like Australia and you have these opportunities and its like: Wow. You can really be in the moment with it; youre not pushing or selling something, youre just there to do the live performances. Theres an appetite for it still and it baffles me. After The Big Reunion we thought, Ah, yeah, well probably do a year or two of gigging, but its just gone on and on. Its really weird, but theres a massive appetite for pop culture, especially in the UK. We cant wait to get back up to Belfast, because theres a lot of fans up there. They would ask us a lot on social media about when we were coming back. Theres a lot of love for us in Belfast. Bingo Loco presents Locoland, featuring B*Witched and rapper Example, takes place at Custom House Square on Friday, August 4. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster The study showed age was the most important risk factor for disordered alcohol use. Stock image One in three farmers drink alcohol at harmful levels, according to a new study, and one in 20 takes drugs, with most of them doing so to a risky degree. The study was published in the Journal of Rural Health following research from a team in Dublin City University led by Siobhan OConnor, associate professor in the School of Health and Human Performance. The research involved 351 Irish farmers whose drink and drug use was measured against two tools the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Tool (AUDIT) and Drug Use Disorders Identification Tool (DUDIT), which helps screen people to detect whether they have a problem. It showed that 28pc were teetotallers, 43pc drank moderately but 29pc were consuming it at harmful levels. Overall, 40pc of those who took a drink exceeded the AUDIT threshold for disordered use. Similarly, while 95pc of farmers did not use drugs, 78pc who did, exceeded the DUDIT threshold indicating concern. The study showed that age was the most important risk factor for disordered alcohol and substance use, and correlated with other main risk factors such as lower income, no children, part-time farmer and full-time off-farm roles. Disordered drinking was highest in farmers engaged in full-time education. Farmers drug use was associated with their drinking and was similarly more harmful in younger farmers and other associated demographic groups such as those involved in full-time education. However, when compared to other groups, farmers alcohol consumption was less disordered. Around 50pc of parents, 66pc of students, and 76pc of athletes reported hazardous drinking compared to only 29pc of farmers. However, concluding that these Irish farmers have moderate alcohol consumption overall masks the prevalence of disordered alcohol use in this sample. Effectively, the low mean AUDIT scores of this population are driven by a high number of farmers who do not drink at all, the study states. Despite overall lower levels of alcohol consumption than the general population, a concerning one in five farming men binges drink weekly. The study suggests intervention such as developing peer-support networks to capitalise on farmers broadly healthy alcohol use and identify those at most at risk. Despite a third of this cohort reporting harmful drinking, only 2.8pc described themselves as having a substance use disorder of any kind including alcohol. This could be due to the normalisation of high alcohol use. Due to high rates of alcohol issues in farmers attending education, interventions may be best delivered through educational programmes, the researchers suggest. Farmers overall low rate of substance use falls below other measures that 7pc of the general Irish population recently used drugs. You can call the HSE drugs and alcohol helpline on 1800 459 459 or email helpline@hse.ie. On This Day In History - July 26th A 15-year old boy who sued for nervous shock after he came across the accident at the Gap of Dunloe where his grandmother and her partner died when their pony and trap plunged down a ravine has settled a High Court action for 75,000. A four year old child who alleged inappropriate contact by an older child was not seen by a social worker for five months in a Tusla protection and welfare service overwhelmed with lack of staff, inspectors revealed today. The inspection of the Dublin South West Kildare West Wicklow area in April this year revealed a service in crisis with children at the centre of serious concerns on a waiting list for months. They found a a high number of children referred to the child protection and welfare service who did not have an allocated social worker, said the Hiqa report. There was a chronic shortfall in staffing resources to meet the demands of the service. There were gaps in the monitoring and oversight of children on waiting lists , including the completion of safety planning. Many children and families were waiting prolonged periods for preliminary enquiries and initial assessments to take place. Staff told the inspectors the nine months prior to inspection had been the most challenging the service had experienced. One social worker described how they were borrowing from Peter to pay Paul by trying to stretch staff between children in care and those needing an allocation of a social worker. The service, which covers areas of high deprivation, was effectively firefighting. Referring to the four year old who alleged inappropriate contact by an older child the inspectors said that given the age of this child their ability to recount the incident months later may not be reliable. They also instanced the case of a teenager who alleged sexual assault 14 months earlier who was still on a waiting list. Another teenager who alleged sexual assault eight months earlier was on a waiting list with no direction to support services evidence on file. In another case children under the age of eight were referred because they were found home alone but the case was on a waiting list for four months. The family could not be contacted and they may have moved when meant the risks were unassessed and unaddressed. Five cases were on file which needed to be notified to gardai but there was an average four month delay before referral. Hiqa said there were clearly defined governance arrangements and lines of accountability in the area and management was attempting to mitigate the risks in the area. However, they faced many competing demands and were required to prioritise risks within their existing resources. As a result, the area management was unable to direct adequate resources for the care and protection of all children. Overall, the quality and safety of the child protection and welfare service required significant improvement to ensure it met the needs of all children and their families who required the service. The majority of referrals were screened in a timely fashion and were of good quality. Referrals identifying immediate or high risk to children were responded to quickly and there were no high-priority cases awaiting allocation. However, the priority was based solely on the screening of the referral, therefore it was not completely reliable. Referrals identified as low risk or not meeting the threshold for Tusla service were often well managed through diversion systems. There was an unacceptably long wait time for preliminary enquiries to take place, especially for cases prioritised as low or medium risk at screening. The purpose of preliminary enquiries is to gain further information in order to determine what action is required to address the needs of and risks to the child. As enquiries did not take place in a timely fashion, the risk to these children was largely unknown. This meant that children and families were not receiving the right service at the right time, and many children remained on waitlists for extended periods without being provided with relevant supports. Hiqa also conducted an announced inspection of Tuslas Separated Children Seeking International Protection service between 28 February and 2 March 2023. This service provided an urgent response to the needs of unaccompanied children who arrive in Ireland. The inspection focused on the effectiveness of Tuslas governance of the service, childrens rights, and the quality and safety of child protection and welfare services that unaccompanied children received. HIQA found that all 10 standards assessed were not compliant. The governance and resourcing of the service required significant improvement. The governance and information systems in place in other child protection and welfare services were not being applied to this service. For example, the service was not adhering in full to Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017), inter-agency arrangements for children missing from care nor were Tuslas standard business processes for the management and oversight of referrals or monitoring and reporting on performance implemented. Resources were not deployed effectively to the service despite increasing demands due to the substantial increase in unaccompanied children arriving in Ireland from a range of countries. Staffing challenges in 2022 resulted in a crisis response focusing primarily on the unaccompanied childrens basic care needs and accommodation, rather than on the wider ongoing child protection and welfare needs of this cohort of vulnerable children. Despite these challenges, staff had worked hard and ensured all unaccompanied children were seen on the day of referral and provided with accommodation. Other areas requiring improvement included: High Court lifts suspension on awarding of contract for air-sea search and rescue service Bristow Ireland, a subsidiary of the US-based Bristow group, was announced as preferred bidder for the new contract in May Bristow was awarded tender to provide rotary and fixed-wing search and rescue services Tim Healy Wed 26 Jul 2023 at 07:00 Kerry family speaks out as killer set to be released: I can't believe he is out after just five years Crime People are so afraid they dont come out of their apartments: Residents of complex near where US tourist was attacked living in fear A man has been imprisoned for just under seven years after he was convicted of possessing over 1.5m worth of cocaine and ecstasy over a decade ago. Stephen Carberry (45), of Sandymount Avenue, Dublin 4, was convicted following a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in April of five counts of possessing cannabis and ecstasy for sale and supply on May 23, 2013, at The Strand, Donabate. He had pleaded not guilty to the offences. He has 62 previous convictions, primarily for road traffic matters. At a hearing today, Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced Carberry to nine years with the final 12 months suspended, however she also gave him credit for over 360 days already served in custody. The sentence was backdated to April of this year, resulting in a total term of imprisonment of about six years and 10 months. Judge Sheahan initially set a headline sentence of 11 years on the basis of aggravating factors including the seriousness of the offending and the fact that Carberry had not accepted the jurys verdict. The judge said Carberry had access to and control of significant amount of drugs and was clearly a trusted and not insignificant cog in the drugs operation. However, she reduced the sentence because of the significant amount of time since Carberry was charged and the fact that he had no previous convictions. Judge Sheahan also noted that Carberry played a very important role as a parent to his children and has supported his family of origin from a young age. An investigating garda told Fiona Crawford BL, prosecuting, at a previous hearing that gardai had Carberry under surveillance when they saw his silver BMW stop at a property at The Strand, Donabate, on the day in question. After Carberry left the house, he was seen making a number of stops before he was arrested in Glasnevin. During a search of the property, gardai found 27.9kg of cannabis with an estimated value of over 559,000 and over 96,000 ecstasy tablets, worth approximately 968,900. A scoop and weighing scales were also found. Carberry's DNA was identified on a phone charger found at the property. When interviewed, Carberry gave gardai an account of his movements on the day in question. He was charged in 2014 and refused bail. He spent just under a year in custody before being released. Carberry was subsequently re-charged in relation to this case and has been in custody since the trial's conclusion. The investigating garda agreed with Garret Baker SC, defending, that his client has no previous convictions for drugs and has not been charged with any other drug-related offences in the decade since this offence occurred. He accepted that the trial was delayed for various reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic; and that Carberry attended all relevant court proceedings. He also agreed with defence counsel that Carberry's previous convictions relate to the District Court. Mr Baker told the court his client's brother was murdered in 2019, and Carberry suffered a breakdown around the first anniversary of this loss. Carberry has a number of health difficulties. He suffers from long Covid and was hospitalised due to the virus. He is separated and has six children from two relationships. Carberry has been the primary carer for his younger children. Carberry left school at 15 and joined the family's furniture business, the court heard. Mr Baker said his client took up the reins of the business in 2004 for two years while his father cared for his terminally-ill mother. A number of testimonials were handed into the court on Carberrys behalf. Counsel said Carberry is getting help to deal with his difficulties with cocaine. Mr Baker asked the court to take into consideration the passage of time since this offence took place. He suggested this was a very real and significant storm cloud to have over one's head for such a period of time, to the extent it could only be punitive in nature. Judge Sheahan noted that Carberry is addressing his substance abuse issues, is attending school while in custody and making regular use of the gym. Eligible women can receive fertility treatment under the scheme from September. Photo: PA People can be left taking out bank loans, remortgaging their house or borrowing from relatives in a bid to pay for expensive fertility treatment to fulfil the dream of having a baby. A man who used false documents to secure employment as a child psychologist and live a fake life has been jailed for four years. Nikiwe Dube (41) with an address at Colpe Drive, Deepforde, Drogheda, Co Louth, pleaded guilty to four charges of using a false instrument on dates between November 2019 and February 2022 including a psychological transcript with a false garda stamp, a false identification badge purportedly from the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) and a fake medical certificate. He further pleaded guilty to two counts of deception in that he dishonestly induced TTM Healthcare to put him on their books of employment, causing a loss, on a date between August 15, 2021 and September 9, 2021 and that he did dishonestly induce the HSE to give him an interview towards employment on August 18, 2022. Dube used false documents to secure employment as a child psychologist in the public and private healthcare sectors when he didn't have the required academic qualifications, the court heard. Imposing sentence today at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Elva Duffy said Dube had put himself out there as a medically-trained professional and was working with children and adolescents who were clearly in a very vulnerable position because they had come looking for help. She said Dube knew what he was doing and described it as a complex fraud. She said he had chosen to live a fake life where he abused trust and received significant money for his work. She said Dube carried out this fraud without an apparent purpose and set himself out to be someone he was not. She also noted that the State confirmed that the gardai have not been able to confirm Dubes true identity and said that is of some concern to the court. Judge Duffy acknowledged that Dube made immediate admissions, has expressed remorse and that his plea of guilty was valuable as it would have been a difficult case to prove. She further acknowledged a positive probation report and governors report and the fact that Dube is a diabetic. She said the case warranted a headline sentence of five and a half years before she imposed a sentence of four years, having taken the mitigation into account. The sentence was backdated to when Dube first went into custody on August 5, 2022. The court heard that in February 2022, Dube was put forward for a senior post as a child psychologist with an annual salary of 80,000 by recruitment agency TTM Healthcare. This application was reviewed by the head of psychology at Avista Medical, who had some concerns that the submitted documents, including a letter of validation, did not conform with the standard content and format. This person brought his concerns to the attention of the human resources department. Separately on March 15, 2022, an assistant principal officer in the Department of Health's professional regulation unit, which is responsible for the validation of foreign psychology qualifications, told gardai they had been contacted by Avista in relation to the letter of validation included in Dube's application. The Department of Health staff member said the unit had checked their archives and had no record of Dube. As such, the letter of validation was not issued by the Department of Health. Further enquiries determined the letter of validation to be false. Gardai then contacted the recruitment agency TTM Healthcare, which provided them with documents including a letter of validation, a GNIB card, transcripts from the University of Zimbabwe and a Zimbabwean police clearance certificate. The court also heard Dube was employed by Gateway Residential Care in Sligo between November 2019 and November 2021 as a child psychologist. He received 172,000 in wages and expenses during this period. Gateway Residential Care provided gardai in March 2022 with documents including a letter of good standing from the PSI and documentation from the University of Zimbabwe including a qualification in psychology. Gardai also spoke with a recruitment consultant working for TTM Healthcare who said Dube contacted them in August 2021 about a vacancy for a HSE clinical post. Dube was screened and it was confirmed that he met the requirements of the post. Dube provided documents to TTM Healthcare including a Master of Science in clinical psychology transcript, a diploma in cognitive behavioural therapy, his GNIB card and a letter of validation. Garda vetting forms for TTM Healthcare and the HSE were also completed. Dube was approved for a locum post in November 2021, however TTM paid his wages of 11,628 during this period due to outstanding garda vetting. The investigating garda confirmed that much of Dube's work was carried out remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic and he had limited interaction with patients, both supervised and unsupervised. Dube also had an identification badge purportedly from the PSI, however the society does not issue badges. The PSI contacted the University of Zimbabwe, whose staff confirmed that Dube had not studied there. In May 2022, a garda at the Navan Garda Immigration Office confirmed that a stamp on a transcript did not originate from that office. Gardai arrested Dube in August 2022 in Drogheda. After caution, he told gardai that he had been expecting this, but not at that moment. He told them that he had paid over 4,300 online for a pack of documents and that he knew he should not have done it. Dube made no comment when interviewed. He has no previous convictions and has been in custody since August 5, 2022. The investigating garda agreed with Gerardine Small SC, defending, that her client made admissions when first approached by gardai. He also confirmed that Dube had been in custody since his arrest and that his guilty plea avoided what would have been a complex trial. No victim impact statements were provided to the court. Ms Small asked the court to take into consideration her client's early guilty plea, immediate admissions and expressions of remorse. She said her client had educational attainment in this area. Dube was born in Zimbabwe and worked as a LGBT counsellor for six years, the court heard. He had to flee the country due to concerns for his safety and applied for international protection in 2018. A governors report and an education report were handed to the court. Dube is an enhanced prisoner and works in the prison laundry. He also volunteers as a listener with the Samaritans. A letter of apology was also handed to the court. Dube is diabetic and has issues with cholesterol for which he takes medication. Ms Small said Dube is aware of the serious breach of trust and the seriousness of the offence. She noted that he accepts that he sought refuge in a country and his behaviour towards that country is wholly unacceptable. Justice Minister Helen McEntee has told US visitors to Ireland that for the most part it is a safe country after the American Embassy warned citizens to be extra vigilant when visiting. The minister was also forced to defend her photo opportunity with Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe outside a Dublin Garda Station after a violent attack on a US citizen. Ms McEntee also revealed she is out and about without her garda protection in the capital on a regular basis despite the sensitive nature of her office. The US Embassy in Dublin told tourists to exercise good personal security and keep a low profile when visiting parts of Ireland they are unfamiliar with. The warning followed the violent attack of US citizen Stephen Termini on Dublins Talbot Street. Ms McEntee was asked what she would tell tourists visiting Ireland in the wake of the US travel advice. We welcome all tourists and we want people to know that, for the most part, Ireland as a country and our cities are safe, she said. There are problems no different to any other country and we update our our advice to people travelling from here and other countries update their advice, she added. She said the Government has acknowledged that there have been problems and is now seeking to reassure people that they are doing absolutely everything possible to respond to those challenges. Ms McEntee also defended the photo opportunity organised by her department outside Store Street Garda Station the day after the attack of Mr Termini. The reason I was there was to meet with Assistant Commissioner Willis; it was to meet with the Chief Superintendent Paddy McMenamin, it was to, I suppose, have a discussion with them as to how the incident that had happened only a few days previously was being dealt with and to speak to them about policing in general within the city and that was my focus on my priority, she said. The minister was visiting garda stations in Mayo amid growing public unrest over the increasing violence on the streets of cities and towns across the country. Ms McEntee also revealed she is regularly out and about in Dublin City Centre without any garda protection. I lived in Dublin for years, socialised in Dublin, still have a lot of friends in Dublin. I'm out and about without members of An Garda Siochana and I do that on a regular basis, she said. As Justice Minister, Ms McEntee is eligible for around the clock garda protection. Composite image. Cocaine and euro banknotes overlaid with the Revenue Commissioners logo and a picture of a lamp outside a garda station. Photos: Getty A Revenue officer with full access to confidential information held within its systems is under investigation as a suspected member of a major criminal gang. Cash and powder, suspected to be cocaine, was discovered at her house during intelligence-led searches carried out recently while a close relative has been charged on major organised crime offences. However, despite being informed of her links to one of the most powerful drug gangs in the country, Revenue has yet to suspend her or remove her access to its systems. Sources say that officers from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) are stunned at the revelations and the lack of response from Revenue, headed up by chairman Niall Cody, and are now refusing to share information with the department. The womans home was one of a number of residential properties searched by officers from the DOCB when more than 1m worth of cocaine and a six-figure sum of cash was seized during the operation. One man was arrested but Operation Tara was the result of a lengthy probe into a multi-national gang running drugs into the country under the cover of the equestrian industry. It has identified a grouping made up of Irish and Spanish-Moldovan criminals who came together to form one gang. Officers believe the gang has been using ferry routes and the transportation of horses as cover for shipping vast quantities of cocaine into Ireland and cash back out. Over the course of a number of raids it was discovered that a suspected gang member held a senior position at Revenue with full access to its files both on-site and remotely. During a raid on the womans house her work laptop and phone were seized and are currently under forensic examination for any evidence of information harvesting. Revenue was immediately informed of the concerns of the countrys most respected officers at the DOCB that someone with such close familial links to the gang could access highly sensitive information. However, the woman has remained in her job in the weeks since the alarm bells were sounded. The potential security breach could be one of the most serious ever discovered in Ireland and senior sources say the lack of action taken by Revenue since it was uncovered is even more shocking. Revenue works with both the CAB and the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, along with other agencies, in investigations centred on high-level crime. It also holds highly-sensitive personal details on people on its files including what is required for tax returns, like earnings, PPS numbers, home addresses and other classified information. The criminal gang at the centre of the security breach scandal are one of the most dangerous in the country and are suspected as having made millions over the past few years. They include a well-known Irish gang known for its trade in drugs and lethal weapons, as well as a Spanish outfit who are one of the top targets of Europol. The woman in question is a close relative of the top target of the grouping and a relative of a suspected gang boss. A large quantity of cash was found at her registered address as well as a substance suspected to be cocaine which is under analysis at the moment. She has been identified as the full owner of another property which was bought outright with no mortgage while she was still a teenager. The woman is understood to have been employed in Revenue over the past five years with access to its full system. In a statement, a Revenue spokesman said it enjoys an excellent working relationship with gardai. "Revenue is not in a position to comment on any operations or ongoing investigations being carried out by An Garda Siochana. Revenue staff are subject to security clearance and Garda Vetting processes prior to commencing their employment with Revenue. Revenue and An Garda Siochana enjoy an excellent working relationship. On This Day In History - July 26th A teenager has settled his High Court personal injuries claim against Scouting Ireland over breaking both his wrists when he fell from a tyre swing while camping seven years ago. Paul Mullarkeys settlement came shortly after the judge asked him if he appreciated the consequences that would come if he lost the case. Mr Justice Tony OConnor asked the 18-year-old if he knew that his future earnings could be attached to court orders in the event he went on to lose the action. He said he understood and left the witness stand. Shortly after this, the plaintiffs senior counsel, Richard McDonnell, said the case had settled and could be struck out. No details of the settlement were disclosed to the court. Scouting Ireland Services Limited BY and the Scout Association of Ireland Trust Corporation denied liability and filed a full defence to the case. The action was initiated four years ago when Mr Mullarkey, of Fitzgerald Terrace, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, was a minor. It was initially brought via his father, John Mullarkey, but an order was made to amend this due to Paul Mullarkey reaching his majority. Prior to the settlement, Mr Mullarkeys senior counsel, Mr McDonnell, said the plaintiff was aged 12 when he fell off a tyre swing on July 5, 2017, while camping with his scouts group near a lake in Co Wicklow. He lost consciousness and fractured his wrists. He was brought to hospital and was required to wear casts for about three months, the court was told. The plaintiffs legal team alleged the accident was entirely foreseeable as the swing, which was too high from the ground, was known for causing trouble over a period of time. There should have been some warning at the very least or there should have been some degree of minor supervision, Mr McDonnell said. Finbarr Fox SC, with Adrienne Fields BL, for the defendants, said the tyre swing under scrutiny is similar to what can be found all over the country. The case concerned a simple activity where, unfortunately, a lad fell off a swing. Blame could not be laid at his clients feet. Children have to be allowed to play and have fun, Mr Fox said, adding: This was an accident. That is all it was. In the witness box, Paul Mullarkey said his feet dangled as he tried to hold on to the swings rope. He was pushed for momentum and his hands slid from the rope to the tyre and he fell face forward on top of his hands, he said. The three months wearing casts were horrible and the worst time of my life, he said, adding that he has not played hurling or rugby since the accident. US Embassy told visitors to avoid walking alone, especially at night, to avoid carrying large amounts of cash, and to keep expensive watches and jewellery hidden Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he hoped 200 gardai would be recruited this week, but said it will more likely be around 90. Photo: Leah Farrell Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he hoped 200 gardai would be recruited this week, but said it will more likely be around 90. Photo: Leah Farrell American citizens have been issued a stark warning about personal safety in light of recent incidents of violence in Dublin. The warning from the US Embassy in Dublin comes just days after a US tourist was left with serious injuries after an assault in the city centre. It cites a number of safety measures that travellers should take, in what could damage Irelands international reputation as a welcoming destination for tourists. Pressure is mounting on the Government over the policing of street crime. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar yesterday admitted the Governments target of recruiting 1,000 new gardai this year is going to be very hard to meet. The latest security awareness alert was sent to US citizens in Ireland on Monday night. It warned travellers to avoid walking alone, especially at night, to avoid carrying large amounts of cash and to keep expensive watches or jewellery hidden. It also urged people to keep a low profile, limit their use of headphones or earbuds and to avoid staring at phones while moving through public areas. Citizens were warned by the US government to exercise good personal security while travelling in light of a number of recent incidents. They were also told not to place passports and valuable items in the outer pockets of backpacks or purses or on tables in public places. Man left bloodied after attack on Dublin quays The warning also told tourists to remain vigilant in unfamiliar locations. With a number of recent incidents reported in Irish media, the US Embassy in Dublin reminds US citizens to exercise good personal security practices while travelling, the alert said. Travellers should safeguard valuables, such as credit cards and passports, and refrain from carrying large amounts of cash. It also warned: Be vigilant. Pickpocketing, mugging, and snatch and grab theft of mobile phones, watches and jewellery can occur. The embassy told people to look up locations before you travel to them and to not leave luggage unattended. A spate of violent incidents in recent days has turned the spotlight on policing in Dublin. Stephen Termini, from Buffalo, New York, was seriously injured following an assault on Talbot Street in Dublin city last week. Stephen Termini with his sons Mike and Jesse Rizzuto A 14-year-old boy appeared before a special sitting of the Childrens Court on Sunday charged with assault causing harm to the 57-year-old. A garda investigation continues, and relatives are due to arrive in Ireland today to comfort Mr Termini, who was being treated in Beaumont Hospital. In a separate incident, a man was assaulted and robbed on Jervis Street, late on Monday night. There were a number of other assaults reported in Dublin on Monday. A man in his 40s was arrested for being intoxicated following a disturbance on Ormond Quay yesterday evening. Video seen by the Irish Independent of the incident shows a group of teens clashing with a man, with punches being thrown. A woman in her 30s was also assaulted in Temple Bar and was transported to St James Hospital by ambulance. The Taoiseach yesterday said he will be meeting Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to discuss the level of violent attacks, and seeking to find a way to recruit more gardai. Mr Varadkar said he hoped 200 gardai would be recruited this week, but said it will more likely be around 90. Its going to be hard to reach the 1,000 target but we are not parting from it and part of my meeting with the Garda Commissioner next week will be seeing what we can do to improve recruitment. He said the Government needs to look at increasing the training allowance for gardai and allowing them retire at 60 rather than 62 years old. He also said the 35 year old age cap for new recruits should also be looked at to increase recruitment. He said 200 applications were turned down because they were over 35. The Taoiseach said there are underlying issues around addiction and poverty which also need to be addressed to crack down on crime. Take the Northeast Inner-City area, theres been a huge amount of money and resources pumped into that area. It has made a difference in peoples lives. Ive been down there and seen the results of that. But we also know that on its own isnt enough. So you need to be willing to tackle the causes of crime as well as tackling crime itself, he added. Mr Varadkar also revealed Mr Harris impressed on him that having an unarmed police force is something of real value. The Taoiseach previously said he would be open to arming rank and file gardai, if the Commissioner asked for permission to do so I think having an unarmed police force makes sense and thats the advice were getting very strongly from gardai and thats not to say that we dont need to invest in the armed support units and ERU because we do, he added. Pharmacist Rebecca Barry on the most important health-related items to bring on your family holiday Sun cream is essential for the whole family, whether you holiday in Ireland or abroad. Photo: Getty Images With thousands of families packing their bags for a break away, whether that is to a far off destination or here in Ireland, pharmacist Rebecca Barry reminds parents of a number of health-related items that will make travelling a lot easier, particularly with small kids. Irish people cannot keep believing that our model of low-cost sunshine holidays is going to continue the way it is. Photo: Getty Dont let the summer washout and the probable wettest July on record give you the wrong impression. Humid and damp weather, along with flash-flooding, are a symptom of climate change so the erratic conditions are here to stay: roasting in June, pouring in July. Its all a consequence of global warning, not a sign we are immune from its effects. Sitting on the north-west of Europe, we have escaped the record-breaking heat and associated problems, from wildfires to heart attacks, being experienced in the southern end of the continent. Irish tourists being evacuated from Greece will testify to the difference in experience. These longer heatwaves are creating increasingly dry conditions, which makes the areas affected more susceptible to wildfires. The third surge of the heatwave will begin today, with temperatures to hit a staggering 40C again. Irish citizens are now being given advice from the Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin on what to do if their hotel is affected by fire and the Department of Foreign Affairs is helping some people to get home. Its not the kind of holiday tips youd expect. The science is indisputable human activity is causing global warming, resulting in severe weather conditions. The solutions are not achieving a consensus. The leaders of the wealthiest countries continue to squabble. The G20 bloc of wealthy economies failed to reach agreement on phasing down fossil fuels at the weekend. The foot-dragging by fuel-producing nations is frustrating campaigners who felt the visible effects of global warming should spark a rethink. These wealthy countries account for more than three-quarters of global emissions and GDP. Therefore, there is an onus to show leadership. The ostrich mentality doesnt work anymore. Heatwaves are becoming hotter, longer and more frequent because of climate change. The sopping summer doesnt absolve our country from its responsibilities. Covid-19 mostly ended foreign travel for a couple of years and Irish tourists are getting back into the swing of heading out to the sun. But global warming is not a pandemic that will merely burn itself out over time with the aid of a vaccine. The emissions generated by air travel mean it is not consequence-free, while mass tourism on ecologically vulnerable locations also has its environmental costs. Our model of low-cost frequent flying to balmy Mediterranean destinations cannot simply be passed off as inevitable in a population living in a country where bad weather is a national preoccupation. Carbon offsetting is a nice way to buy a conscience-free holiday. But down the line, the link between travel and climate change will have to be faced up to by the individual traveller. In 1972, Jean McConville was dragged from her home in the Divis flats of west Belfast by an IRA gang of men and women. It was the last time her children would see her alive. With the 20th anniversary of the discovery of her remains on a Co Louth beach approaching, and Disney's plans to dramatise her tragic story, the Indo Daily looks back on what happened to Jean McConville during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and how her children have never stopped seeking justice. A 23-year-old Cork man has appeared before the Special Criminal Court charged with membership of the IRA and having hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Daniel Sheehan appeared before the three-judge, non-jury court on Tuesday following his arrest in Cork earlier that morning. Sheehan, of Churchfield Avenue, Churchfield, Cork is charged with the membership of an illegal organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, at a location within the State on June 3, 2022. He is also accused of having in his possession 263 rounds of ammunition in such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have it in his possession or under his control for a lawful purpose in a shed at Churchfield Avenue in Cork City on the same date. Detective Garda Geraldine Daly gave evidence of arrest charge and caution. Det Gda Daly told the court she identified herself to Daniel Sheehan at 10.41am on Tuesday morning on Anglesea Street in Cork. The Detective Garda said she arrested Mr Sheehan under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act on suspicion of having committed scheduled offences, namely membership of the IRA on June 3, 2022, and under section 27 (A) of the Firearms Act in relation to possession of 263 rounds of various ammunition in a shed at his home address. Det Gda Daly said she informed Mr Sheehan that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that he be brought before the next sitting of the Special Criminal Court where he was to be charged with these offences. She said she then explained the charges to Mr Sheehan in ordinary language. The detective said before he was brought before the court, she handed Mr Sheehan a true copy of the charge sheet. After Mr Sheehan was formally charged before the court, Detective Garda Daly served the defendant with the Book of Evidence. Defence counsel Patrick McCullough BL said it was his understanding that bail conditions had been agreed. He also made an application for legal aid, which was granted by the court. Solicitor Michael ODonovan, acting for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said there was consent to bail subject to a number of conditions. Mr Justice Alexander Owens remanded Mr Sheehan in custody with consent to bail to appear again before the court on October 9. Inhabitants of mid and west Cork neednt expect an overnight return to the glory days of a rail service to Macroom, Bandon, Skibbereen and Bantry and other towns outside of Cork City. The services which were discontinued in the 1950s and 1960s will not be returned according to the All Ireland Strategic Rail Review which was published this week. What will be delivered for Cork is a new metro rail service and more frequent and faster intercity services as well. The All Ireland Strategic Rail Review was presented to the Cabinet this week and has been welcomed by local Cork Green Party representatives who have hailed it as a fantastic day for Cork City and train travellers all over the island of Ireland. The report sets out 30 recommendations for new routes, faster trains and more choice on existing routes. If fully implemented, the plan would increase the size of the rail network from 2,300km to 2,950km by opening new routes, particularly in the West and North of the island. This would bring 700,000 extra people to within 5km of a railway station. Honore Kamegni, the Green Party Representative for Cork City South East, praised the proposal as an example of how her party was using its position in Government to revitalise public transport and reduce pollution. I welcome the emphasis given to accelerating the Light Rail system for Cork City and the potential addition of a tram or light rail system to connect Mahon and Ballincollig, she said. By increasing the speed, frequency and routes of trains, rail travel will become more appealing to everybody living in our area and a strong competitor to car travel. This development will revitalise previously neglected regions, decarbonize the rail network and take cars off the roads. The Cork Commuter Coalition has also welcomed the recommendations of the report while acknowledging that it didnt include any proposal for the return of the West Cork Railway as it had proposed in a report it issued to inform the authors of the Strategic Rail Review last year. The future is - like it always was - good, reliable rail services. It is great to see this finally, finally being brought forward. Cork will benefit from more freight, passenger services, and better connectivity with other cities, said the Cork Commuter Coalition spokesman in a tweet. Of course, this report isnt the be-all-and-end all. The challenge is implementing it as fast as possible, and there will still be areas like West Cork that lack rail. But we wont get back to our railway glory days overnight. A substantial penalty for a breach of fishing regulations in Irish waters, in which the skipper of a Dutch factory ship had his catch and gear worth almost 400,000 confiscated, has been quashed by the Court of Appeal. Klass Dirk Meijvogel, with an address at Jan Tooropstraut, 9 Katwick in Netherlands, had been convicted in 2015 of a single technical fishing offence relating to his captaincy of the Wiron 5 on February 11, 2015. In a lengthy judgment delivered on Tuesday, the three-judge appeal court found that the decision to confiscate the ship's entire catch, worth 344,960, and gear worth 55,000, may have been disproportionate. The court found that the judge who sanctioned the confiscation was led into error because counsel for the prosecution and a solicitor for the defendant told him that he had no discretion in the matter and had to order the forfeit of the catch and fishing gear. Having quashed the original penalty imposed, the Court of Appeal will later hear arguments from both sides as to what the appropriate and proportionate penalty should be. Mr Meijvogel had pleaded not guilty to the single fishing offence, but was found guilty by a 10-2 majority jury verdict following a trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court in 2015. The trial heard that the Wiron 5 vessel, of which Meijvogel was captain, was boarded by the Irish Naval Service on the date in question. Based on the boarding partys observations, the Lieutenant Commander of the LE Samuel Beckett formed the view that the vessel was engaged in high grading i.e selecting the best fish from the catch and returning certain fish to the sea. The ship had been catching and processing pelagic fish. EU regulations introduced in 2015 made it illegal to discharge or return pelagic fish such as herring, mackerel or horse mackerel to the sea. The boarding party concluded that the vessel contained a grading machine and that there was a chute from the grading machine. It was alleged that the equipment was not installed or located in such a way as to ensure the immediate freezing of fish or to prevent the return of marine organisms to the sea. Following the conviction, Judge Sean O Donnabhain made confiscation orders worth 344,960 (the value of the catch) and 55,000 (the value of gear) on July 27, 2015. A thousand guests enjoy wonderful Teddy Bears picnic at the Liscarroll Donkey refuge Sadie and Charlie O Connor, Boherbue, were at the Teddy Bears Picnic in the Donkey Sanctuary with their Mum Jo. Eddie Linehan, Bruree, with his Grand Aunt Eileen Brosnan and his Teddy Belle, enjoying the Teddy Bears Picnic at the Donkey Sanctuary in Liscarroll 5 Sean and Rosie O Connor from Cork were at the Teddy Bears Picnic at the Donkey Sanctuary with their Mum Trina. Welcome to the Teddy Bears Picnic said Evie the Donkey to Danny William Daly from Boherbue at the Donkey Sanctuary in Liscarroll last week.Photos by Sheila Fitzgerald Laura Foster, Donkey Sanctuary Irelands Country Manager (centre) with Willie Lane and Ger McAuliffe of the Red Cross and Martha Brennan and Margaret O Mullane, Sanctuary Staff at the Teddy Bears Picnic that was held at the Donkey Sanctuary in Liscarroll last week. Four weeks old James Palmer, Buttevant, was at his first ever Teddy Bears Picnic at the Donkey Sanctuary with his Mum Karina Carey Conor Murray from Cork with his Mum Aileen were at the Teddy Bears Picnic at the Donkey Sanctuary Last week, people in Liscarroll spotted a large influx of Teddy Bears and their young owners arriving in the area for the annual Teddy Bears Picnic which is now a landmark occasion at the Donkey Sanctuary. Approximately 1,000 visitors were welcomed at the Sanctuarys Open Farm last Thursday, an increase in attendance on last years event. While online tickets sold out days ahead of the Picnic, a large number of walk-ins also arrived on the day to meet the donkeys and enjoy the activities. The families were treated to Donkey Talks by the Donkey Welfare Advisors including Ciara OKelly, Joe Prendergast and Eva Ellis while visitors also got to listen to Nicola Jolly who is an Equine Behaviourist. Children got to enjoy a number of different attractions including Giant Jenga and Connect Four, bouncy castles, hair braiding, hook-a-duck, face painting, nail painting and a competition for the best dressed Teddy. While there were several food stalls on site, families also brought their own picnics and enjoyed dining al fresco on what was one of the rare sunny days in the week. The Teddy Bears hospital proved to be the biggest attraction on the day - children were invited to bring their favourite teddies for a check up or to bring along any sick or injured teddies. The teddies that needed some TLC were then patched up and made good as new by vets from the on-site veterinary hospital. Children also got tips on how to best care for their cuddly pal. Feedback from families from across the day was that they thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon of fun. Getting to meet all the donkeys at the Open Farm was the highlight for most children and parents. Many of the visitors got to meet their adopted donkeys including Mary, Julie Anne, Roisin, Beauty, Richie, Roma, Nollaig, Orlaith Jane, Bella, Echo and possibly the most popular, Jacksie! Those who adopt any of the donkeys get two updates during the year to let them know how they are getting on at the Open Farm. The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland, on the back of the success of the Teddy Bears Picnic, is planning a number of events across the rest of the summer, autumn and winter. When plans are finalised, these events will be announced on the Sanctuaries social media channels and website. The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland currently cares for around 1,700 donkeys. 1,200 of these are based across 4 farms in the North Cork region including the open farm at Liscarroll. A further 500 are based at guardian and private homes across the country. The Donkey Sanctuary is currently open every Friday to Monday from 9am-4pm and visitors can visit the donkeys, use the various walkways, pop in to the Visitor Information Centre and bring along some snacks to eat in the picnic area. Further information can be obtained at www.thedonkeysanctuary.ie Landmark venues, Scullys bar in Newmarket and The Wild Goose in Mallow, closing for good The Wild Goose Steakhouse in Mallow is to close its doors for good on Sunday, September 3. Scullys Bar in Newmarkets New St. closed its doors once again last Sunday night. Photos by Sheila Fitzgerald Two of north Corks most celebrated hostelries are to close their doors as one of Sliabh Luachras top traditional music venues, Scullys of Newmarket, and the Wild Goose Bar and Restaurant in Mallow have announced they are shutting for good. Scullys Bar in Newmarket was opened in the early 1900s while the Wild Goose Steakhouse in Mallow was opened in 2001 and the family owned premises will shut for good on Sunday, September 3. Both pubs will be missed enormously by their patrons, traditional musicians and fans in the case of Scullys and lovers of good food at reasonable prices in the instance of the Mallow hostelry. Speaking on behalf of the Newmarket Community Development Association Ollie Dugdale said: I would like to express our sadness at the news of the closure of Scullys Bar. This has been the venue for traditional Irish music across so many generations of our community and the many people who travelled from far and wide to enjoy the Monday night sessions. In a message posted on its Facebook page, the owners of the Wild Goose, Noel and Jim OConnell said the escalating energy and food costs in the restaurant had led to an increase of prices in their restaurant, a hike they were very reluctant to implement. They were also fearful of the impact of a VAT increase on their trade. Recent price increases in our restaurant were painful for me, as we believe eating out has only a certain value. Further price increases, we believe, will make our product too expensive and we are not willing to keep rising prices, he said. The owners appealed for those who had vouchers to use them before the restaurant closes and thanked their staff for their service. We could not have had better employees, the statement said. John Paul McDonagh has 131 previous convictions, which include convictions for threats to kill or cause serious harm, assault, possession of weapons A man who barricaded himself in a house armed with a hatchet and a knife and made threats to kill gardai has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard John Paul McDonagh (41), formerly of Castleforbes Square, Eastwall, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to the production of two articles at an address in Howth on March 27 and 28, 2020. He also pleaded guilty to making threats to kill or cause serious harm to gardai at the same location and date and making threats to kill cause serious harm to a garda in the Criminal Court of Justice on March 28, 2020. Two further counts of making threats to kill or cause serious harm to gardai made in February 2020 were taken into consideration. McDonagh has 131 previous convictions, which include convictions for threats to kill or cause serious harm, assault, possession of weapons and intimidation of a witness. He was also on bail at the time of this offending. Passing sentence today, Judge Orla Crowe said, This accused made threats to kill members of An Garda Siochana when they were there all night trying to talk him out of a dangerous situation, and that she considered this to be a particularly aggravating factor. She also considered to be aggravating features his considerable number of previous convictions, some of which were very relevant, and that he was on bail at this time of this offending. Judge Crowe said the accused made very specific threats to named gardai. She said Gardai have to be robust, but a threat is a threat. The judge said that McDonagh and his wife are now back together, and she is eager to have him home. She set a headline sentence of four years. She said the mitigating factors in this case were his early guilty plea, that he is remorseful, and that he has missed a massive portion of his children's lives. She also noted that this offending happened when the accused was drinking and that he has people who speak highly of him when he is not drinking. Judge Crowe sentenced McDonagh to two concurrent terms of three years in prison for two counts of threats to kill or cause serious harm. The final 18 months of the sentence was suspended for 18 months. He must undergo treatment for alcohol use during this time. This sentence will begin in April 2024 when he has completed his current prison term. Detective Garda Darren Burke told Derek Cooney, BL, prosecuting, that a garda was on duty at a local station and answered a telephone call from a man. He first put on a voice and asked to speak to a garda who does not work there, then he started laughing, and the garda recognised his voice. The man, McDonagh then made threats to kill a specific female garda and a male garda, calling the female garda a dirty slut. Det Gda Burke said that the garda who took the call called the number back, and a child answered. She asked to speak with JP, and McDonagh came on the phone. Once again, he made threats to kill or cause harm to the two specific members of the gardai. The court then heard that on March 27, 2020, Det Gda Burke was called to a house in Howth, which was McDonaghs partner's home. Det Gda Burke and his colleague were armed, and when they approached the house, they saw a large number of uniformed gardai, plain clothes gardai and the Armed Support Unit. They were told that McDonagh had called to the house and demanded a mobile phone from his partner. She left the house, and he barricaded himself in. McDonagh was known to Det Gda Burke, and he approached the house; he spoke to McDonagh through a window and saw that he had pushed a sofa and a chest of drawers against the front door. He was armed with a hatchet. McDonagh was highly erratic and said he would kill any gardai that came near the house. McDonagh was also seen holding a knife and said he was going slit his own wrists. Garda negotiators were called and attempted to speak with McDonagh. The court heard that in the early hours of the morning, McDonagh found cans of alcohol and tablets and consumed both. He first became aggressive, but he then became drowsy and fell asleep. At 5.15 am the Armed Support Unit entered the house with force and detained and arrested McDonagh. He was charged the following day and brought to the Criminal Courts of Justice, where he was charged. On leaving court, McDonagh made threats to kill or cause serious harm to another member of the gardai, saying I will deal with you when I get out. Det Gda Burke agreed with Sean Prendiville, BL, defending, that all of this offending stemmed from his client's alcohol addiction and said he is a different man when he is sober. Mr Prendiville said his client is a 41-year-old married man and father to three children. He said that his client will never drink again and that he has little memory of the day in question. Counsel said his client has entered a guilty plea and takes responsibility for his actions. A medical report handed into the court outlines that McDonagh suffers from PTSD and ADHD. He said his client has already spent a significant amount of time in custody and has an offer of employment available to him upon his release. He said his wife is eager to have him home. Customer in a queue in front of a Danish toy production company Lego store in Shanghai. Globally, in 2022, the Danish-headquartered Lego recorded sales of 64.6bn Danish krone (8.68bn). Photo: Fan Jianlei via Getty Images A second Irish Lego store is set to open in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre very soon. This comes after Lego opened its first Irish shop on Grafton Street back in August 2022. The new store is due to open in October of this year ahead of the busy Christmas shopping season. The new 200 sq. metre store will offer an extensive range of new products only available at Lego stores and Lego.com, according to RTE reports. It will include a Pick a Brick Wall, hands-on play opportunities and Build a Minifigure Tower where visitors can make their own Lego people with a wide selection of bottoms, tops, heads, hair pieces and accessories. Lego Group Director of EMEA Marketing, Amy Pearson, said: "The launch of the Lego store on Grafton Street in 2022 proved how loved the Lego brand is here in Ireland, so we are absolutely delighted to be bringing a second store to the Irish market this autumn. "The new Lego store in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre will allow builders of all ages to be inspired by the endless play opportunities Lego has to offer. "This store will be a top retail destination for product launches and events, while acting as a hub for our tenured Lego community and new builders alike, welcoming them to an exciting journey of discovery with the Lego universe. Blanchardstown Centre spokesman Sharon Walsh said the shopping centre is really excited to welcome the Lego store. She added: "Creating unique customer experiences is increasingly important and this interactive, fully immersive store speaks directly to that." The company said that official opening date and dates for in-store events will be announced soon. The Grafton Street store recorded average weekly revenues of over 213,000 last year. South Kerry Kerry man David Saunders who battled cancer three times to be remembered in special tournament The tributes that flowed in following the death of Rathmore man David Saunders showed the high regard that he was held in and the huge impact he had on his family and friends during his 40 years. The judge said that defending oneself is a constitutional right that must be protected. A driver who was high on cannabis when he led gardai on a 35-minute chase and caused the death of his 20-year-old passenger, who was thrown from his car in a collision where the vehicle split in two, has failed to convince the Court of Appeal of the "very radical proposition" that he should not have been allowed to represent himself at trial. Lawyers for Michael Collins (49) had told the appeal hearing that a family member called it "delusional" that the defendant could represent himself. Collins was jailed for 14 years at Trim Circuit Court in July 2019 for causing the crash that claimed the life of Jillian Thornton seven years ago. Following a 13-day trial, Collins, of St Finians Park, Drogheda, Co Louth, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Ms Thornton on May 27, 2016, at Waterside Great, Duleek, Co Meath. Collins defended himself after sacking his legal team at the start of the trial and was also convicted on two charges of endangerment, 12 charges of dangerous driving and of driving under the influence of an intoxicant, cannabis, on the same date. Judge Martina Baxter heard that Collins was on his way to a music festival in Mullingar on the night with the victim and a friend, Alannah Byrne, who survived the crash. Ms Thornton was killed when she was thrown from the back seat of the defendants car, which was split in two when it collided with another car near Ballymagarvey on the N2 after a 35-minute garda pursuit. In dismissing the appeal, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said the right to represent oneself at trial was a constitutional right in Irish law which had to be upheld. Mr Justice McCarthy said that an inquiry into whether or not Collins was capable of defending himself had been carried out and that the trial judge had encouraged Collins to retain legal representation for the purpose of trial. Mr Justice McCarthy pointed out that Collins had also been medically assessed with regard to his fitness to plead and that he had been found to be capable of doing so. Mr Justice McCarthy said the right of a party to be heard without legal representation was a personal right and that only in very extreme circumstances could a judge refuse such an application, once it was dealt with with the accused's full knowledge and consent. Mr Justice McCarthy said the appellant's legal team had quoted Portuguese law where persons who applied to represent themselves had their applications rejected at the final appeals stage of the Portuguese system. The judge said that this position did not represent Irish law and that there was no question of a breach of EU law by Ireland in allowing Collins to represent himself. Mr Justice McCarthy said the court had rejected the submission that Collins "was not in a position to properly defend himself" and dismissed the appeal. At a hearing of the Court of Appeal, Michael Lynn SC, for Collins, said his client should not have been permitted to conduct his own defence, submitting that Collins previously had episodes of paranoia and had attended a facility in Drogheda to address this. Mr Lynn said Collins' trial was "not one in accordance with the law" because of the lack of legal representation for Collins, which raised "a difficult issue". The barrister submitted that the trial was "not one functioning properly because that person is incapable of running a coherent defence". Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy asked if Mr Lynn was submitting that a legal team should be forced on such defendants and was told "yes, in the interest of a fair trial". Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy had said that the proposition of forcing a legal team upon an individual would infringe on their right not to have lawyers and represent themselves. Mr Lynn said the "adversarial nature" of the criminal trial meant that it must be a fair procedure to involve legal representation when this applied in the case of a person who "is incapable of making a rational decision". The barrister said the trial judge also was faced with a scenario where it was considered whether the trial could proceed with Collins absent from the courtroom due to his behaviour. Mr Lynn said this course of action could have been possible if a legal team had been imposed on Collins. "A person's right to represent themselves can be over-ridden in the public interest. The waiver of legal representation has to be voluntary and an informed choice. They have to intelligently elect to do so," said Mr Lynn. "In this case, the judge was very, very concerned and a family member called it "delusional" that he [Collins] could represent himself. Of course, it wasn't an intelligent choice," said Mr Lynn. The trial court heard that Collins failed to stop for gardai after driving the wrong way on a roundabout at Waterunder, Drogheda, and then continued through east Meath towards Slane and turning back towards Ashbourne. The trial had heard recordings of 999 calls from the passengers in the car claiming the driver was going to crash unless gardai called off the pursuit. One of the calls made just before the crash ended in a scream. The court heard Garda evidence of Collins speeding on the wrong side of the road, being involved in near-misses, driving head on at Garda vehicles, travelling without lights and weaving from side to side. A Garda witness said the defendant appeared to have been playing chicken with other motorists. Collins, who was found to have cannabis in his system on the night, later told gardai his head had been melted and claimed in court he had been in fear for his life at the time, as someone had put a hit on him and he did not believe it was gardai who were following him. He said he was scared of being shot and believed he was being chased by would-be assassins. He claimed that at one stage he was being followed by 10 Garda cars, some of which had tried to ram him, and that just before the crash his car was rammed into the other vehicle involved in the collision. The court heard that later technical and other investigations found no evidence to support this claim. At the appeal hearing, Mr Justice Birmingham said that Collins was found fit to be tried and had "fired his team and a very experienced senior counsel provided by the State". Mr Justice Birmingham described Mr Lynn's submission as a "very radical proposition - I think without precedent in the Irish courts". Carl Hanahoe BL, for the State, had said that people had a right to represent themselves and that the adversarial system was so that all participants have that right. "Mr Collins has the right to defend himself and has his right to conduct the defence as he sees fit," said Mr Hanahoe. "If it offends our sense of what ought to have occurred that can't be used as a vehicle to deprive him of the right to do it and do it as he [Collins] saw fit. We can't deprive him of that fundamental right," said the barrister. "Does it offend our sense of how we feel a trial should be conducted? It might have been an utterly unreasonable decision but other than that there's not a shred of evidence he wasn't competent," said Mr Hanahoe, who added that a medical report found Collins to not be suffering any mental illness. Is this a record for the longest distance travelled by a visiting preacher? Rev Richard Gray and his wife Morag (wearing red scarf) travelled from Waiuku in New Zealand's North Island to Bunclody and Rev. Richard preached in St Mary's Church, Bunclody, on Sunday 16th July. Here they are pictured at the Marquee in St Mary's Rectory, Bunclody, with the local Jacob family, whose brother/uncle Jim Jacob, having emigrated from Bunclody, and his wife Margaret, are parishioners of Rev Richard in New Zealand. Both parishes worship together using Zoom which is installed in their respective churches. A great day of fun awaits all at the Bunclody summer Fete and Family Fun Day at St Marys Rectory, Ryland, Bunclody (Y21 CV 44) on Saturday, July 29, from 2 p.m. Free admission. Many attractions including Dog Show, refreshments, vintage vehicles, cakes and country produce, bric-a-brac, Bottles, books, toys, face painting, raffle and barbecue burgers, etc. Clohamon Heritage and Vintage Weekend Clohamon Heritage and Vintage weekend takes place on Saturday and Sunday, July 29 and 30. The event will feature Storytelling Saturday on July 29 at 8 p.m. at the Old Bog Cottage with live music. There will also be a gathering of the Wexford Honda 50 club arriving at 7 p.m. Fare on offer on Saturday will be a traditionally cooked stew with floury Wexford spuds. It promises to be a great family time out and there is no admission fee. The festival takes place on the street in Clohamon (Eircode Y21D8P9). The Old bog Cottage will be on display, its Irelands only rolling cottage, a true and authentic experience of times past. On Sunday, July 30, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. there will be displays of a steam engine, stationary engines, vintage cars and tractors, oil engines, machinery, and lots more. Other attractions include: Street traders selling their wares, The Brew Box will be serving refreshments, Face painting, Mrs Brown may just make an appearance, Guess the weight of the anvil, and there will be bacon and cabbage cooked outdoors for all to enjoy, a Monster Raffle, and lots, lots more. All proceeds from the weekend are donated to Bunclody Home Care Cancer. For information, contact 087 1345229. Friday coffee mornings at St Marys Rectory Drop in any Friday during July and August, from 10.30 a.m., to the Marquee in the scenic grounds of St Marys Rectory, Ryland, Bunclody (Y21 CV 44). Refreshments served and good safe space for children accompanied by parents or grandparents. The Mall Market The Mall Market is up and running for 2023 on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and every Saturday, weather permitting. The market is a mixture of handmade crafts, baking, jams flowers, ladies once-off tops, beautiful knitting, crystals, jewellery, bits and pieces, secondhand clothes, flowers, Bunclody honey, handmade cards by Marie in which funds go to cancer care, cushions and handmade toys by Ella a selection of doggy straps and Niall Toner leather, handmade leather bags. Mens Shed Bunclody Mens Shed opening times are Monday and Friday 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday evening 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. New members always welcome. For more information phone Peter at 087 6631588 or Jonathan at 089 4972664. GAA lotto There was no jackpot winner of last weeks Half-Way-House/Bunclody GAA Club lotto draw. The numbers drawn were 4, 5, 9 and 18. Eight match-three winners each receive 15. They were Pat Kavanagh; Paddy Mulally; Joanne Kenny; Kellie and Jack Brennan; Joe Redmond; Richie Mahon; Mary Tobin and Eamon Kehoe. The next draw is on Monday, July 31, in Murphys HWH Bar when the next jackpot will be 11,400. Bunclody Library The following events are taking place in Bunclody Library in the coming weeks. Rhymetime for 0-5 years every Wednesday at 11.15 a.m. Due to overwhelming demand, we are dedicating our Wednesday mornings at 11.15 a.m. to Rhymetime for 0-5 years for the months of July and August. Rhymetime will have lots of fun nursery rhymes and stories suitable for babies and toddlers. No booking required. Summer Stars Colouring Station Tuesday, July 25, 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. Join us for our summer Stars Colouring Station Under the Sea. This is a fun creative event for all the family. No need to book all are welcome. Parents are asked to remain in the library for the duration of the event. Summer Stars Storytime for four- to seven-year-olds Saturday, July 29, at 11 a.m. Join us for a special Summer Stars storytime. Places limited, booking essential. To book, please telephone 053 9375466 or book online at wexfordcoco.libcal.com. Summer Creation Station Saturday, July 29, 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. Pop into the library for our summer Creation Station. This is a fun creative activity for all the family no need to book. Dont forget you can still register for the summer Stars Reading Adventure. Classic Film Morning Friday, July 28, 11 p.m. to 12.30 p.m. Library staff will select the perfect movie to take you back in time to the golden age of Hollywood. Please ring the library at 053 9375466 to book a space. If you require any additional assistance for this event, please let us know. Radon Monitors available to borrow from your local library. Wexford Public Libraries now have Radon monitors available to borrow for all Wexford library members in the county. The monitors can now be requested at your local library. Contact Bunclody Library via email at bunclodylib@wexfordcoco.ie or phone 053 9375466 to arrange your loan of these Radon monitors. The monitors are available to borrow for a four-week period and come with instruction leaflets. Dont forget to register for the Summer Stars Reading Adventure. For more information please telephone 053 9375466. Sensory Friendly Quiet Hour every Saturday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sensory Friendly Quiet Hour is observed in the library. We encourage you to come along and relax in the calm environment of the library. Contact the library at 053 9375466 or email bunclodylib@wexfordcoco.ie if interested. Bunclody Swimming Pool Bunclody Swimming Pool is now open for the summer season from 2 p.m. each day. Adults-only session 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Keep an eye on our Facebook age or visit bunclodyswimmingpool.ie. Annual Patrons Bunclody annual patron will take place on Friday, July 28 at 7 p.m. in the Old Cemetery and 8 p.m. in the New Cemetery. Volunteers to help with parking and direction will be greatly welcome on that date. Kilrush Patron will take place on Sunday, August 6, at 1 p.m. Mass will be celebrated in the church and broadcast to the two cemeteries. Kilmyshall Split-the-pot Kilmyshall split-the-pot envelopes are available from HWH Shop, Steemers, Cahills hardware, D & M Laundrette, Glanbia, Redmonds Bar, Byrnes Hardware Ryland Lower, Kilmyshall parish office and Kilmyshall School. The pot is split between Kilmyshall School and the parish. Draw takes place every Friday. Your ongoing support is greatly appreciated. Hot Meals Delivered Bunclody Meals on Wheels service is looking for volunteers to help deliver a hot dinner to people living in the general Bunclody area. People with availability between 12.30 and 2 p.m. on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday are urgently needed. Please contact Bridget at 087 2699411 if you can help out either on a regular or occasional basis. All help is very much appreciated to deliver this essential service. If you or someone you know is in need of a hot dinner delivered to your home by volunteer drivers three times per week, please contact Brigid at 087 2699411 to discuss eligibility. Bunclody RC Parish The weekly envelope contributions to Bunclody Parish are used to pay for insurance, heating, electricity, altar requisites etc. The Parish Finance Committee appreciate and thank you for your generous support to the upkeep of the church and parish. Weekly envelopes may be left in the church or parish office. For convenience contributions can now be made directly to the bank. Bank Details: Bunclody Parish IBAN: IE02 BOFI 9065 23111601 22 BIC: BOFIIE2D Please include your name when making a payment through your bank so your contribution may be recorded. Your ongoing support is very much appreciated. Our Ladys Island The Bunclody/Kilmyshall Parish Pilgrimage to Our Ladys Island will take place on Wednesday, August 30. The bus will depart from the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Bunclody at 4.30 p.m. Refreshments available on arrival in Ladys Island. Rosary will take place at 7 p.m. followed by Mass at 8 p.m. Heritage Week, Kildavin Cranavane Holy Well Committee in collaboration with Kildavin-Clonegal Drama Group and Clonegal Kildavin Veteran Players group Present a reenactment of the history of the religious sites of Barragh and Cranavane August 12 at 2 p.m. in Spellman Park Kildavin. The event is indoors with plenty of seating and plenty of parking. Refreshments will be served but will be traditional foods such as soda bread, homemade jam etc. Admission free. Anyone wishing to participate, in the reenactment, in providing display items or traditional food items, please contact 087 8380018 or any committee member. Community Employment Mount Leinster Community Employment Scheme has the following vacancy for a General Operative with Tidy Towns Bunclody. (Job Reference 228813). A good understanding of English and good spoken English is a requirement. Closing date: August 1. Please Contact Employment Services Bridgepoint Enniscorthy quoting job reference to check your eligibility at Local DEAS.P (Intreo) Office Enniscorthy 053 9239300. Garda vetting will apply. DEAS.P eligibility criteria applies. Free Workplace Safety Course A QQI Level 4 Workplace Safety course (course code 400696) will take place at Bunclody FET Centre, Ryland Road, Bunclody in September. This free part time course will run on Thursdays from 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For further information and to book a place call 086 0858902 or email celinahayden@wwetb.ie. Bunclody News If you have a news item or photo you would like to have included in the Bunclody News page, email bunclodyno.tes@gmail.com or call 087 6736966. 1 Nothings Gonna Change My Love For You Glenn Medeiros 2 Flight Of Earls Paddy Reilly 3 I Want Your Love Transvision Vamp 4 I Dont Want To Talk About It Everything But The Girl 5 Dirty Diana Michael Jackson 6 Push It Salt N Pepa 7 Love Bites Def Leppard 8 Flow Liffey Waters EP The Wolfe Tones 9 You Came Kim Wilde 10 Fast Car Tracy Chapman Nothings Gonna Change My Love For You, written by Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin, was originally recorded by George Benson in 1985. Released by the American star as a single in Europe only, the song saw little chart action for Benson, peaking at 29 in Belgium and 43 in the Netherlands. Glenn Medeiros was just 16 and at school when he recorded Nothings Gonna Change My Love For You. The Hawaiian youngster originally released the song on a small independent label in 1986, after winning Brown Bags to Stardom, a local radio talent contest at KIKI radio, in his hometown of Honolulu. A visiting radio executive from KZZP in Phoenix, Arizona, heard the Medeiros cover, took the record back to Phoenix, and played it on the air. The song got a great response in both Hawaii and Phoenix, and in the beginning of 1987, Medeiros signed to MCA Records and the single was released across the US. In June 1987, it climbed to No.12 on the Billboard Hot 100, a few weeks before Medeiros turned 17. In 1988, Nothings Gonna Change My Love For You was released in Europe, where it became an even bigger hit, topping the charts in the UK, Ireland, France and the Netherlands. It spent four weeks at the top in the UK and is the only song co-written by the celebrated Gerry Goffin to hit number one in Britain. In Ireland, the song spent three weeks at the top of the chart before being replaced by homegrown Paddy Reillys Flight Of Earls in early August. Madeiros did not reach the same chart heights in Ireland and Europe with subsequent releases, but he did score a No. 1 hit in the US in 1990 with She Aint Worth It, featuring Bobby Brown. As the nineties dawned, Glenn Madeiros was no longer scoring charts hits. He left music behind to pursue a different career in teaching. Madeiros taught and was vice-principal at the Maryknoll School, a parochial school in Honolulu, Hawaii, and as a professor at Chaminade University, a private Marianist university which shares its grounds with Saint Louis School. In 2015, Medeiros was appointed Head of School/Principal of the all-boys St. Louis School, where he has been its president/CEO since 2017. Madeiros has two children, a son Chord and daughter Lyric. One of Irelands most foremost emerging musical directors enlisted for show New Ross Musical Society have announced the long-awaited return of the beloved classic, "Fiddler on the Roof," to St Michael's Theatre in March 2024. This eagerly anticipated production marks a remarkable milestone as it has been three decades since the society last brought this story to life. The production will also mark the 45th anniversary of the first time the production was staged by the group in New Ross. We can't wait to get up and running with this wonderful show, featuring classics such as 'If I Were a Rich Man' and 'Tradition! said co-director Derek Shannon. Directing this timeless classic alongside Shannon will be musical society stalwart Anne-Marie Cooney who will also be working as the choreographer. In his first foray with the musical society, Jimmy Brockie will be musical director for the show. Brockie is a 26-year-old music director, actor and composer from Ardmore, Co Waterford. He is a first class honours graduate from the MTU Cork School Of Music with a Bachelor in Music, and also holds an MA in Commercial Composition and Performance from MTU. He was awarded the Alan Cutts Memorial Award for Conducting by the Cork School of Music in 2019. Jimmy has been fortunate to work professionally as a music director, pianist, orchestrator/arranger, composer and occasionally, a panto actor. He is lucky to have performed in such Irish theatres as The Olympia, The Cork Opera House, The National Concert Hall, Dublin and The Everyman Palace to name a few. Jimmy has been musically involved in over 60 productions and is among one of Irelands most foremost emerging musical directors. He has provided orchestrations and arrangements for the National Concert Orchestra, notably, A Night Of Musicals with Lyric Fm and The RTE Concert Orchestra Presents Christmas Eve with RTE One. Arklow Library will welcome members from the Dogs Trust charity for a story time morning filled with dog safety messages on Thursday, July 27, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Established in 1891, Dogs Trust came to Ireland in 2005 and quickly became the largest dog welfare charity in the country, founding their Dublin rehoming centre in November 2009. Their mission is to make Ireland a happy and safe place for dogs, so we never have to let any dog down. Through their national responsible dog ownership campaigns and educational programs, Dogs Trust is there for all dogs and their owners. Last year was another busy year for the charity, rehoming a massive total of 664 dogs. Speaking in advance of the story time morning, an Arklow Library spokesperson said: Come along to Arklow Library for a morning filled with fun, drama and role-play, with a 'dog safety message' theme throughout. The event will take place in the library on Thursday, July 27 and is suitable for 6 to 12-year-olds. Booking for the event is essential and can be done by mailing arklowlibrary@wicklowcoco.ie or calling 0402 39977. Arklow Town Team have issued a last call to former workers at Arklow Pottery/noritake to record their stories as part of the Arklow Pottery Heritage Project. Arklow Pottery has been an integral part of Arklow and Irelands social landscape since its establishment in 1934 until its eventual closure in 1998, and an Arklow Pottery website was launched late last year to record, preserve and capture this heritage through the testimonies and accounts of former employees. Thanks to Arklow Town Team's outstanding work, the stories of those with deep roots in Arklow Pottery have been conserved through a series of historical photos and videos, with an ingenious digital backstamp and patterns archive allowing the public to find out more about the Arklow pottery pieces they have in their homes. Wexford-based journalist Karen Tomkins is working with Arklow Town Team on the Arklow Pottery Heritage Project this year, and she will be speaking to people who worked in Arklow Pottery/noritake and recording their memories and stories to add to the stories that are hosted on the project website. A spokesperson for Arklow Town Team said: We are looking for a few more people to help fill in the gaps - particularly if you worked in Arklow studio pottery, with clay, the warehouse or decorating, but we'd love to hear any interesting memories including social stories of what went on. We are in need of a few male voices in particular to achieve a good gender balance so please spread the word. Karen is a broadcast journalist based in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. She's worked in radio for over 15 years, working with WLR, South East Radio, Newstalk, Today FM, RTE Junior Radio and RTE Radio One. She has interviewed thousands of people for a living and loves helping them to tell their stories. Cllr Peir Leonard added: It is very important to capture our town's social history. I know most people who worked in Arklow Pottery were humble and hard-working. I know the thought of being recorded would send shivers down your spine, but we all think you are amazing and want to hear the stories. I worked there from an early age up until my 20s almost, and I never realised at that time the craft and skill of the people who worked there. I don't think they did either! As I said they were humble and hardworking. Please spread the word and encourage those ex-workers to contribute to our gathering of Arklow Pottery stories. If you would like to take part in the Arklow Pottery Heritage Project, ring Karen on 086 3211657. For more information, visit arklowpottery.ie The south Wicklow community of Ballinglen celebrated the lives of the Lacey Brothers, who died in the 1798 Irish rebellion, by marking the 25th anniversary of the installation of a memorial seat on Ballinglen Bridge in their honour. The local community were joined on the day by some of the committee members behind the Lacey Brothers bicentenary commemoration in Ballinglen in 1998 including Paul Byrne, Peter Behan, Patrick Walsh, Graham Boyd and Angela Tallon who welcomed then president Mary McAleese to unveil the commemorative seat. Ballinglen is of great importance as it is where the six young men were shot dead under the bridge during the rebellion, organiser Paul Byrne said. Pike men and women from Wexford, Arklow and the Enniscorthy Historical Reenactment Society also attended the ceremony on the bridge and Preban Cemetery, where Yvonne Whitty, Preban, Jack Lynch and Joe Kelly have done a lot of work on the history of the cemetery. Wreaths were placed on the graves of the local heroes and at the plaque and memorial seat on Ballinglen Bridge, where local Councillor Vincent Blake and members of the Fossett family, whose circus was in Ballinglen for the weekend, gathered. There was music from the Aughrim Pipe Band, the Shannon Family and following the commemoration on the bridge, a video about the events from the 1998 Ballinglen commemoration of 25 years ago was shown in Doyles Lounge, with music and light refreshments. Jennifer Chard, a niece of Paddy O Toole and granddaughter of the late Mr P. O Toole, who was chairman back in 1960 when the original memorial plaque was placed, along with Des Morris from that committee, were also in attendance. Both Cllr Blake and Jennifer Chard placed wreaths at the plaque and seat. While in the cemetery, wreaths were placed on the grave by Patrick Walsh, Jack Lynch and the pike men on the evening. The committee would like to thank all who attended on the evening, and also for the help and support from the local Gardai and Wicklow County Council. Christ Church COI Services of Worship for this Sunday; 11am: Healing Service. Parish Life Centre [PLC] Bookings: The Parish Life Centre is available for day and evening bookings. Please contact Tracey in the Parish Office at 01-286 2968. Parish Office: The Parish Office can be contacted at 01- 286 2968 or info@christchurchbray.ie between 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday. Parish Fete 2023: The parish fete held on Saturday May 27th was a great success and a lovely community day for the parish and the wider town of Bray. A huge thanks to all the volunteers who made the day the success as it helped to raise funds for the parish. Thanks also to those who made donations, bought raffle tickets and generally made the day happen. Particular thanks to Annemarie and Michele for all their organisational work and long hours of effort behind the scenes. And thank you to Diane Nesbitt Flood for recording the day with her wonderful photos. 160 Years of Christ Church Bray: This summer marks 160 years since Christ Church Bray was consecrated in 1863 on St. James Day, July 25th, by the Bishop of Killaloe. To mark this occasion we are having a family BBQ after Sunday Service on September 3rd. We look forward to seeing you there for lovely food and fun with ukelele music, face painting and bouncy Castle. Connect Online: Our most active communication tools currently are our Website www.christchurchbray.ie which contains information on our live streamed worship services, weekly Blogs, events and news, and our facebook page @christchurchbray. Irish Trefoil Guild - Guiding for Life: Calling all former leaders of the Irish Girl Guides in Bray and the surrounding area. There is now a Trefoil Guild in Bray. Contact Anne at braytrefoilguild@gmail.com. Bray Methodist Church Worship this Sunday: 10am - Sunday Worship with Cr=C3=A8che and Sunday School. Bray Presbyterian Church Worship this Sunday: 11.30am Sunday Worship with Sunday School. Christian Assembly Church Worship this Sunday: 10.45am Morning Worship; 6.30pm Evening Service of Bible teaching, singing and fellowship. Wednesdays: 8pm Prayer Meeting & Bible study Cornerstone at The Well Worship this Sunday: 11am. Bray Gospel Hall 27 Florence Road. Sunday Morning 10.45am to 12 Noon: Breaking of Bread (Lords Supper) - A Time of Worship, Praise and Remembrance. Holy Redeemer Parish Holy Redeemer Parish: Call (01) 2868413. Website: www.holyredeemerbray.ie; Email: office@holyredeemerbray.ie. Parish Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 9.30am to 11am. If you need to contact us email: office@holyredeemer.ie. Mass Times: 10am - Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday No Mass on Tuesday. Sunday Masses: 6pm Vigil Mass on Saturday and on Sunday at 10.30am and 12Noon. To book a Mass, please call into the Sacristy before or after our Masses. Mass Cards: Mass Cards may be purchased from the Parish Office during its opening hours. Baptism: Registration for Baptism can be made online via the parish website www.holyredeemerbray.ie. Please choose a Second or a Fourth Saturday of the month in 2023. St. Annes Church, Shankill: On Saturdays the Vigil Mass is celebrated at 5pm in St. Annes Church. All are welcome. St. Peters Parish To Book a Mass: To book a Mass, please contact Sharon in the Parish Office on 01- 282 9467 or email: stpeterslittlebray1@gmail.com. Parish Office: Parish Office opening hours are - Monday: 9.30am to 12.30pm; Tuesday: 9am to 12.30pm; Wednesday: Closed; Thursday: 9am to 12.30pm; Friday: 9am to 12.30pm. The parish office can be contacted by calling 01-282 4967 or by email: stpeterslittlebray1@gmail.com. St. Peters Church Mass Times: Sunday: 9.30am (Irish), 11.30am. Holy Days of Obligation: 11.30am. No Weekday Mass. First Friday of the Month Mass: 10am. Mass Update: Sunday Mass is broadcast on the parish web-site at 9.30am (Irish) and 11.30am (English) - Google Chrome required. Car Park Hours: These are 9am to 12.30pm, Monday to Friday, for parish business and at the weekends during church ceremonies. The Cemetery is accessible via Laneway for Pedestrians. St. Peters Cemetery: There is a strict policy of No Dumping Allowed in any area of the cemetery. Visitors to the cemetery are requested to take home all forms of their rubbish with them in order to keep the cemetery tidy. Your co-operation is appreciated. St. Annes Church, Shankill: On Saturdays the Vigil Mass is celebrated at 5pm in St. Annes Church. All are welcome. Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish Website: www.queenofpeace.ie. Mass: Weekday Masses are celebrated at 10.30am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Weekend Masses are at 6.30pm on Saturdays and 10.30am and 12 Noon on Sundays. Mass Bookings: Anyone who wishes to book a Mass can do so by contacting the Parish Secretary via email at: secretary@queenofpeace.ie, or call 2745497. Parish Centre: To book a meeting room in the Parish Centre please call 01-2760045 or email: villafas1@hotmail.com. Facebook Page: Please visit and like our Facebook page: Bray and Enniskerry Pastoral Area. St. Fergals Parish Mass Times: Mass times are 9.30am Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. No morning Mass on Thursdays and Saturdays. Saturday: 7.30pm Vigil Mass; Sundays: 8am and 10.30am. Baptism: Baptisms take place on the first and third Saturday of each Month at 12Noon. Bookings can be made through the Parish Office Only. The Preparation meeting takes place on the Monday before the 1st Saturday of the month. Please call into the Parish Office three weeks in advance of the Baptism to complete the Baptism Form and to confirm the date. Confessions: Are heard on Saturdays after the 7pm Vigil Mass. Marriage: All couples must give notice to the priest or Parish Secretary at least three months prior to the date of marriage. Pilgrimage to Knock: Takes place this Sunday. The cost is 25 per person. Bus departs from St. Fergals car park at 8am. Please bring a packed lunch. To book a place contact Margaret Lambkin at 086-3936065. Child Safeguarding: The St. Fergals Parish Child Safeguarding Policy Statement can be read on the parish website. Facebook page for the Bray & Enniskerry Pastoral Area: Check out Bray and Enniskerry Pastoral Area for all the news and information of our Pastoral Area. Syro Malabar Catholic Church Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 2.30pm in St. Fergals Church, Ballywaltrim. Diving Club Bray Divers Sub-aqua Club had a huge turn out on Sunday for their regular scuba dive. Jeff Behan and Brendan Moran made three boat trips bringing divers to the north of the harbour where they were dropped off the boat and made their way back to the harbour base. The sea was calm, the tide was low, and everyone enjoyed the dive. For information about the club call Albert on 0876756439. Bray Library Opening hours are 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday with late opening on Tuesday and Thursday to 8.30pm. The library can be contacted at 01-2862600 or email: braylib@wicklowcoco.ie. Online services including e-books, audio-books, digital magazines and newspapers and e-learning are available via the library website. The library is again involved in Imbolc, the Community Seed Arc programme, where one can get seeds for a variety of plants and after they flower, donate seeds from them for the programme. As always, you can have seeds sent to your local Wicklow Library branch by emailing your branch - and requesting up to 4 packets. Knit and Crochet for Purple House Cancer Support takes place at 11am every Monday in the library no need to book. A Childrens Book Club for 9-11 year olds starts in August. For more information or to book, please ask at the library desk or email: braylib@wicklowcoco.ie. Doodle Time for 9-12 year olds takes place every Thursday from 3pm to 4pm. Ballywaltrim Library Opening hours are 10am to 5pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and 10am to 8pm on Wednesday. The library can be contacted at 01-2723205 or by email at: ballywatrimlibrary@wicklowcococ.ie. Online services including e-books, audio-books, digital magazines and newspapers and e-learning are available via the library website. Borrowers can renew their books on-line at any time. Bray Cualann Historical Society Members and supporters of the Bray Cualann Historical Society, the local history society for Bray and North Wicklow, are asked to note that there no local history lectures taking place in the week ahead. Bray has a long railway tradition so the e attention of members and supporters of the Society is drawn to Irish Railways 100 Years by Michael H. C. Baker. The 100 years since the Irish Free State was set up in 1923 has seen enormous change, both in society and on the railways. The creation of a border did the railways no good, prompting an upsurge in smuggling, and, with the exception of the few busy trunk lines from Dublin, the rise in motor vehicles threatened the future of the railways. The railways responded by developing lightweight railcars, some of which can still be seen in preservation. Post-1945, General Motors diesel-electric locomotives put paid to steam in the Republic, whilst Northern Irelands railway network has diminished and freight traffic is now all but extinct. Still, the belated realisation of the danger posed to the environment has produced forward-looking endeavours, with government encouragement. The electric Dublin Area Rapid Transport (DART) of the modern era has thus helped give back city streets to pedestrians, and continues to expand. With over 190 pictures, both classic and modern, this volume explores the past, present and future of Irelands evocative railways. Details of the Societys August Heritage Week 2023 events will be announced shortly. Bray Camera Club At our weekly Monday [except on Bank holidays] night meetings in the Mermaid Arts Centre, Main Street, Bray, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm, we welcome all comers over 18 years-of-age with an interest in photography to join our meetings where we show and discuss out photos, impart knowledge and indulge in lively friendly debate and banter. Our programme of events include weekly imaginative and technical challenges; photographic knowledge exchange, image analysis and advice; regular guest speakers; competitions throughout the year; and photo safaris. If you wish to sample some meetings with a view to joining or you would like more information about the club, please email: info@braycameraclub.ie. Purple House Cancer Support Purple House Cancer Support provides a range of professional support services to people of all ages. It has a wide range of classes and programmes available both in person and remotely through its Purple House at Home Service. Programmes include Reflexology, Mens Cancer Support Group, Knitting and Crochet, Breast Cancer Support Group, Acupuncture and Yoga. Purple House also runs support services for children and young adults affected by cancer, including art therapy, sensory and creative therapies, individual counselling, social outings, teenager meet-ups and arts and crafts classes. For details, contact Purple House by email at info@purplehouse.ie or see purplehouse.ie. Bray Mens Shed Bray Mens Shed is always open to new members. The group meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the mornings from around 10am.To find out more, pop along to its new location on Kilmantain Place.If you cant get there in person,email the group on braymensshed@gmail.com or dermotmcelroy@gmail.com. MINISTER Simon Harris is pleased to confirm that the Teagasc Abatement Cost Curve 3 has been launched to help farmers and the agriculture industry reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Minister Harris is glad that Teagasc ensured science remained at the fore of the launch, where the new Curve identified and addresses measures that the Irish agricultural sector could and should take to combat climate change and other environmental detriment. The launch revealed that the agriculture sector can achieve its goal of reducing 2018 greenhouse gas levels by 25 per cent by 2030. Minister Harris said: I am very pleased to hear about the launch of the Teagasc Marginal Abatement Cost Curve 3 (MACC 3) to assist farmers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Farmers and the agriculture sector keep our country and our communities running. Because of this, I am always delighted to hear about new initiatives and measures taken to support our farmers, especially when they help the planet as well. I look forward to seeing MACC 3 implemented to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while supporting our agriculture sector in the process. MACC identifies the most cost-effective pathway to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhance carbon sequestration in the agricultural, land-use, land-use change and forestry sectors plus (Bio) energy. This is the third iteration of the Teagasc GHG MACC; previous iterations were published in 2012 and 2018 THE West Wicklow Historical Society hope to publish volume twelve of their historical journal later in the year during autumn and are seeking contributors. As well as west Wicklow material, the journal also accepts articles regarding neighbouring parts of counties Kildare, Carlow and Dublin, particularly if the subject matter impinges into west Wicklow. If you would like to contribute a paper, or know of any students who might like to submit a suitable essay or know of anyone who would like to contribute an article, please let the West Wicklow Historical Society know. The deadline for submissions will be the end of July. If you would like to contribute this year, please email your piece or any queries you may have to lawlorcm@hotmail.com. Members of the West Wicklow Historical Society also paid a visit to Ballitore in Co Kildare during the week, often referred to as the Quakers village due to the impact the Religious Society of Friends had on the community. The tour was led by author and broadcaster John MacKenna. Arklow councillors have elected to set aside a total of 1,800 in festival funding and explore the possibility of hosting two animated Christmas light shows in Arklow and Rathdrum. Proposed by Cllr Pat Kennedy, the decision came after a preliminary draft of the allocation of Arklow Municipal District festival grants for 2023 was presented to councillors at this months district meeting, with any increases or amendments to the funding entirely at their discretion. In total, the draft proposal outlined the allocation of 10,800 in funding dispersed among 12 applicants, including Arklow RNLI (500); the Inbhear Mor Performance Ensemble (900); Annacurra Parish Council (400); Arklow Music and Arts CLG (800); Arklow Seabreeze Festival (1,400); Aughrim GAA (400); Arklow Music Festival (1,400); 402 Art Collective (700); Aughrim St Patricks Day Festival (500); Arklow Christmas Festival Committee (1,400); Arklow St Patricks Day Parade (1,400) and Rathdrum Christmas Lights (1,000). Presenting the funding draft to the councillors, District Manager Leonora Earls said: Just to say to you all that, first and foremost, the allocation of festival funds is entirely up to the members. We appreciate that the amounts allocated are smaller this year, but we have had the benefit of greater funding available since 2019 because of rollover money from Covid, but thats starting to degrade now as it is being spent. This year, we have had an increase in applications, with four more than in 2022, and 12 of those applications were valid. The way the allocations are suggested to you today is based on a few factors. We looked at the number of applications we had received in previous years, how much money the applicant received in previous years, what they requested, the expenses associated with the event, how long its for, the number of visitors expected, the benefit and inclusiveness to the area and if they have any other sources of funding. What you see on the list is a total expenditure of 10,800. However, there is an amount of 13,000 available to be spent, but we had listened to what the members had said about a Christmas lights show in Arklow, and Cllr Kennedy mentioned a light show in Rathdrum after seeing one in Chateaudun (France) recently. So, we didnt include that 3,000, and its entirely up to you whether you want to allocate it all now or adjust the amounts allocated as you see fit. Just on the Inbhear Mor Performance Ensemble, they got 1,400 last year, and theyre down for 900 this year, Cllr Pat Fitzgerald said. Mary Kirwan does tremendous work, and I think she told me she has four or five bands coming down, with a huge crowd coming from Mullingar and everywhere. I remember speaking with Mary last year, and she was nearly using her own money - it was a difficult time. I would propose that 900 is increased because I dont think it will cover what they spend. It should be brought up to at least 1,200. It wont be wasted, I can tell you. I would support that, Cllr Peir Leonard added. They do a lot of good things for the children in the community. Cllr Leonard and Cllr Miriam Murphy then proposed that the allocation to the Arklow RNLI Maritime Festival also be increased to 1,000 before Cllr Kennedy added: Chair, I would propose that we give Rathdrum and Arklow the two towns in the district 1,400 from the allocations for Christmas. Id also like to propose that we look into the prospect of putting on light shows in Arklow and Rathdrum, which would be something a bit different and would really draw in the crowds. The one I saw over in France used a commercial projector, and the animations it produced were just fantastic. They had a fantastic show where you could see angels coming down and building up the cathedral piece by piece. Then there was another blank wall where they animated different stories - it was just unreal. I just think that if we can put aside the rest of the funding to look at the prospect of doing something similar, its definitely worth looking into. Itll be something children and young people will love, something that theyve never seen before that will broaden their minds. So, the adjustments were proposing would be an extra 1,200, which leaves 1,800, Ms Earls responded. Do you want to split that evenly between Arklow and Rathdrum for the light shows? If so, well look into it and see if it looks like its doable, then come back to you. If we need to reallocate that funding later, we can. Cllr Kennedys proposal and the amendments to the festival funding were unanimously approved. Professor Graeme Warren will host a lecture on the recent UCD archaeological excavations at Glendalough. THE Wicklow Mountains National Park summer series of lectures continue throughout the months of July and August each Thursday evening. All lectures start at 7.30 p.m. in the Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Base, Trooperstown, Laragh, A98 VY72. The venue is wheelchair accessible. Gwenaelle Humpy will talk about what bat poop can tell us on Thursday, July 27. A lecture on water quality and biodiversity pressures on Irelands freshwaters takes place on Thursday, August 3, delivered by Professor Mary Kelly Quinn. Aoife ORourke will provide a talk on ponds for wildlife conservation and climate action, taking place on Thursday, August 10. Professor Graeme Warren will host a lecture on the recent UCD archaeological excavations at Glendalough on Wednesday, August 16. Dr Ferrdia Marnell will provided a talk on otters and how to spot them on Thursday, August 24. The lecture due to be delivered by Dr Shane Regan (NPWS) on the restoration of the Liffey Head Bog which was meant to take place on Thursday, July 19 had to be cancelled, and it is hoped to reschedule the lecture in the near future. Gillian Stewart (NPWS/WMNP) instead delivered an alternative lecture on the quest to see and photograph Irelands butterflies. Lectures are free of charge to attend. To book or for more information call us on 0404 45425 or email educationwmnp@npws.gov.ie. Hugo Moran at a charity bake sale in aid of Our Lady's Hospice, Seafield in Wicklow town. Photo: Michael Kelly Monika Milyrte and Kotryna Globyte at a charity bake sale in aid of Our Lady's Hospice, Seafield in Wicklow town. Photo: Michael Kelly Ted Moran at a charity bake sale in aid of Our Lady's Hospice, Seafield in Wicklow town. Photo: Michael Kelly Charlie and Jamie Carpenter at a charity bake sale in aid of Our Lady's Hospice, Seafield in Wicklow town. Photo: Michael Kelly Mindaugas Volkovas, Povila Volkovas, Simona Volkviene and Benediktas Globys at a charity cake sale in aid of Our Lady's Hospice, Seafield in Wicklow town. Photo: Michael Kelly Sofia Coppola and Keelan Mitchell at a charity bake sale in aid of Our Lady's Hospice, Seafield in Wicklow town. photo: Michael Kelly FAMILY and friends of Gediminas Globys from Wicklow town held a fundraising bake sale to say thank you to Blackrock Hospice for the wonderful care he has been receiving. Gediminas was diagnosed with a rare form of stomach and pelvic cancer and his condition is terminal. He married his longstanding partner Reba in hospital a couple of weeks ago in front of a small crowd, including their two children aged 9 and 15. Originally from Lithuania, Gediminas has lived in Wicklow for over 20 years and resides at Ballyguile in Wicklow town, working with Rosanna Construction. Family friend and fellow Lithuanian native and Wicklow town resident, Simona Mileriene decided to hold a bake sale and gathering at Seafield as way of thanking Our Ladys Hospice and Care Services Blackrock Hospice for all their efforts in making Gediminas as comfortable as possible in this difficult time. Im a friend from the same city in Lithuania and we wanted to do something as a way of thanking Blackrock Hospice for everything they have done for Gediminas, said Simona. Its a great place for families going through a hard time with a loved one and the service they have provided has been second to none. Hospices are something very new to Lithuania and we dont have services of the quality of Blackrock Hospice. Gediminas and Reba had been planning their wedding for a good number of years, but when his circumstances changed, they got married in hospital and it was a wonderful and very moving service . Gediminas worked with Rosanna Construction for years and they were very good to him, providing Reba with fuel cards for her trips back and forth to Blackrock Hospice. Simona held the bake sale on Friday evening and managed to raise 1,505 for Blackrock Hospice. Kotryna Globyte and Benediktas Globys, the couples two children, were also present. Simona said: Things went really well and we want to thank everyone for all of their support. "Neighbours were delighted and all came out to the bake sale. It was lashing rain so we put some umbrellas up and managed to raise 1,505 in less than 50 minutes. Gediminas and Rebas kids also really enjoyed themselves. We had some cup cakes left over so we donated them to Blackrock Hospice on Saturday and we will be presenting the cheque from our fundraiser on Monday. The board of NatWest Group has said it retains full confidence in Dame Alison Rose, as she admitted to a serious error of judgment in discussing Nigel Farages relationship with private bank Coutts, owned by NatWest Group, with a BBC journalist. In a statement, NatWest Groups chairman Sir Howard Davies said the banks chief executive should not have spoken in the way she did and that the events will be taken into account in decisions on remuneration at the appropriate time. However, Sir Howard said the board concluded that it retains full confidence in Ms Rose as CEO of the bank, having proved over the last four years to be an outstanding leader of the institution. The statement comes after the chairman was put under mounting pressure to determine whether Dame Alison had played a role in the leaking of Mr Farages information. Mr Farage won an apology from the BBC over an inaccurate story that suggested the closure of his account was not due to his political views but because he lacked the funds needed to hold an account at the high-net-worth bank. The BBCs business editor Simon Jack also apologised, saying the reporting had been based on information from a trusted and senior source but turned out to be incomplete and inaccurate. In a separate statement released alongside Sir Howard, Dame Alison said she was the source of the story and admitted that she made a serious error of judgment during her discussions with Mr Jack. She said: I recognise that in my conversations with Simon Jack of the BBC, I made a serious error of judgment in discussing Mr Farages relationship with the bank. However, she said that when she disclosed the information about the former MEPs banking relationship, she believed it to be already public knowledge. She said: Believing it was public knowledge, I confirmed that Mr Farage was a Coutts customer and that he had been offered a NatWest bank account. Alongside this, I repeated what Mr Farage had already stated, that the bank saw this as a commercial decision. I would like to emphasise that in responding to Mr Jacks questions I did not reveal any personal financial information about Mr Farage. In response to a general question about eligibility criteria required to bank with Coutts and NatWest I said that guidance on both was publicly available on their websites. In doing so, I recognise that I left Mr Jack with the impression that the decision to close Mr Farages accounts was solely a commercial one. Sir Howard said: As she (Dame Alison) recognises, she should not have spoken in the way she did. This was a regrettable error of judgment on her part. The events will be taken into account in decisions on remuneration at the appropriate time. However, after careful reflection the board has concluded that it retains full confidence in Ms Rose as CEO of the bank. He added: The board is clear that the overall handling of the circumstances surrounding Mr Farage accounts has been unsatisfactory, with serious consequences for the bank. The board will commission an independent review into the account closure arrangement at Coutts, and the lessons to be learnt from this. Mr Farage, the former Brexit Party leader, acquired dossiers indicating that his bank account was shut by Coutts because it found his public statements did not align with its values. The ex-MEP-turned broadcaster had already received an apology from Dame Alison for deeply inappropriate comments about him in official papers. Commenting on Dame Alison and Sir Howards statements, Sheldon Mills, Financial Conduct Authority executive director, consumers and competition, said: We have raised concerns with NatWest Group and Coutts about the allegations relating to account closures and breach of customer confidentiality since these came to light. We made clear our expectation that these issues should be independently reviewed and note todays statement from the NatWest Group Board confirming this will happen. It is vital that the review is well resourced and those conducting it have access to all the necessary information and people in order to investigate what happened swiftly and fully. On the basis of the review and any steps taken by other authorities, such as the Financial Ombudsman Service or Information Commissioner, on relevant complaints, we will decide if any further action is necessary. America called for an end to the reckless, unprovoked, and unprofessional behaviour A Russian fighter jet flew within a few metres of a US drone over Syria and fired flares at it, striking the American aircraft and damaging it, the US military said yesterday. It was the latest in a string of aggressive intercepts by Russia in the region. On their own front line, Ukraines surgeons treat waves of soldiers since the counteroffensive began Diagnoses are called out: Shrapnel in the brain, a burned respiratory tract, shrapnel in the legs, a bullet in the arm; and, again, shrapnel in the brain. Medical workers move Mykola, a wounded Ukrainian serviceman, for CT scan as he flashes a Victory sign at Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro, Ukraine. Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka, AP Samya Kullab in Dnipro, Ukraine Wed 26 Jul 2023 at 15:45 Marine inspectors monitor the stricken Safer oil tanker. Photo Courtesy: UNDP New York: The UN on Tuesday began siphoning one million barrels of oil from a decaying supertanker off the coast of war-torn Yemen, a crucial step in the race against time to prevent a potential environmental disaster. The supertanker, the FSO Safer, became a symbol - thanks largely to UN efforts - of the need for urgent action to avoid massive damage to the marine ecosystem in an area that is home to key global shipping lanes. The stranded rusting vessel holds four times the amount of oil spilled by the Exxon Valdez enough to make it the fifth largest oil spill from a tanker in history. Ticking time bomb The United Nations has begun an operation to defuse what might be the worlds largest ticking time bomb. This is an all-hands-on-deck mission and the culmination of nearly two years of political groundwork, fundraising and project development" said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Lying north of the Yemeni port Hudaydah, UN officials have warned for years about the possibility that the 47-year-old tanker could crack and explode. Existential marine threat The UN Development Programme (UNDP) warned that a massive spill from the Safer would destroy swathes of marine life in the Red Sea. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, spokesperson Sarah Bel expressed concern for the fishing communities on Yemens Red Coast, already living in a crisis-wracked situation, as a spill would like wipe out 200,000 livelihoods instantly and "fish stock would take twenty five years to recover. Describing the operation as the first of its kind, she exercised caution during this emergency phase but assured reporters that everything had been put in place to secure success. The FSO Safer has been moored some 4.8 nautical miles southwest of the Ras Issa peninsula on Yemens west coast for more than 30 years. In 2015, production and the maintenance of the tanker stopped due to the eight year conflict between a pro-Government Saudi-led coalition, and Houthi rebels. As a result, the vessel is now beyond repair. Humanitarian and environmental disaster According to UNDP, an oil spill would result in the closure of all ports in the area, cutting off food, fuel and other life-saving supplies to Yemen - a country where 80% of the population already rely on aid. The UN chief warned that the cost of a cleanup alone would be $20 billion and said that shipping all the way to the Suez Canal could be disrupted for weeks. Praising the projects cross-UN collaboration he highlighted the "relentless political work that the operation entailed in a country devastated by eight years of war. But he noted that this was just a milestone in the journey, as the next step involves securing the replacement vessel to a specialised safety buoy. The UN Secretary-General has called for a further $20 million to finish the project, including the scrapping of the Safer and removing any remaining environmental threats to the Red Sea. Unique and unusual salvage operation The transfer of some 1.13 million barrels of crude oil from the FSO Safer to a second tanker known as the Yemen is taking place amid ongoing war between the Government and Houthi rebels. Pumping began at 10:45 AM, local time, and will continue round-the-clock over the next 19 days. UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner hailed the development as a major milestone. As we know, sadly Yemen is still a country that finds itself in the midst of conflictwith many consequences for its people, he said, speaking via videoconference to journalists at UN Headquarters in New York. But one thread that has been looming large over the people of Yemen, but also the Red Sea and all the countries in the region, is this 47-year-old rusting tanker. Averting environmental catastrophe The war brought production and offloading, as well as maintenance of the tanker, to a halt. The UN negotiated with Yemens warring parties to bring about agreement and a framework for the oil retrieval to take place. Some $121 million was raised from 23 Member States, the European Union, the private sector and the public through a crowdfunding exercise. The UNs humanitarian agency, OCHA, also provided bridge funding, but some $20 million is still needed. Pumping is being carried out by the salvage company, SMIT, but scores of other experts have been involved, including maritime oil spill experts, maritime lawyers, insurance brokers and shipbrokers. A chemist is also constantly monitoring the level of gases in the tanks that have been pumped in order to reduce the risk of explosion. 'UN in the lead' With the UN in the lead, the world has pulled together to avoid a nightmare scenario that has been talked about for the last eight years, said David Gressly, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, speaking from the bridge of support vessel, Ndeavour, which arrived in the region in late May. The completion of the oil transfer will mean the worst-case humanitarian environmental and economic catastrophe will have been avoided, but it's not the end of the operation. He said the next critical steps include the delivery and installment of a catenary anchor leg mooring (CALM) buoy. It will be attached to the pipeline to which the replacement vessel will be safely tethered and should be in place by September. Oil sale Mr. Steiner said discussions have also been held with both sides in Yemen regarding the sale of the oil which is indeed on the horizon. Samples have been sent for laboratory testing and a qualitative assessment is expected in the coming days. Both UN officials stressed that securing the oil to avert any spillover was the top priority. We have now bought a great deal of time to work out legal issues, the issues among the parties themselves on how to sell and what for, Mr. Gressly added. So, we'll continue to work on that and encourage the parties to find a solution to eventually removing the oil, ideally for the benefit of the people of Yemen, that's what we all want to see. India, Brunei officials participated in 8th Foreign Office Consultations in Bandar Seri Begawan on Tuesday. Photo Courtesy: @hicomindBrunei Twitter page New Delhi: The 8th Foreign Office Consultations between India and Brunei were held in Bandar Seri Begawan on Tuesday when senior officials reviewed their bilateral relations and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in various fields. Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East), MEA, and Penigran Norhashimah binti Pengiran Mohd Hassan, Permanent Secretary, MoFA, Brunei Darussalam, co-chaired the meeting. "The two sides reviewed their bilateral relations and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation including in trade, commerce, investments, defence and space," read the statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. "They also agreed to explore collaborations in ICT, agriculture, health & pharma, maritime, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. Views were also exchanged on regional and international issues of mutual interest," read the statement. It was also agreed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2024 and strengthen high-level exchanges. The two sides will also conclude at an early date, the MoUs under discussion. Secretary (East) also called on Dato Pengiran Shamhary, Minister of Transport & Info-Communications, Dato Amin Liew, Minister at PMO and Second Minister of Finance & Economy, and Dato Haji Erywan, Minister of Foreign Affairs II. The next round of consultations will be held at mutually convenient dates in New Delhi. In the confluence of global cultures, the Sikh community stands out as a vibrant and prominent thread weaving a legacy of unparalleled achievements. The Sikh diaspora has spread its wings across the globe, leaving an indelible mark on various domains and enriching the communities they inhabit. From pioneering entrepreneurial ventures to fostering social harmony, Sikhs have exemplified the values of their faith, driving change and fostering inclusivity. In the realm of entrepreneurship, Sikhs have emerged as a force to be reckoned with. From humble beginnings to commanding positions in global industries, they have displayed exemplary grit and ingenuity. One such trailblazer is Jasminder Singh, CEO of Raddison Blue, an Edwardian Brand, and The May Fair Hotel. Ranjit Singh Boparan is the founder and owner of 2 Sisters Food Group, he is also known as the Chicken King in the West Midlands. Education has been a cornerstone of Sikh Values, and the diaspora has diligently championed this cause globally. Sikhs have actively established educational institutions and scholarship programs to uplift communities. The Sikh Foundation was founded in 1967 by Dr. Narinder. S. Kapany, It promotes the heritage and future of Sikhism by passing on the essence of Sikh heritage to the ever-growing Sikh diaspora, especially the youth, by spreading progressive ethics, lyrical mysticism, and heroism of Sikhs and generating resources for the academic and autistic study of Sikhism. Furthermore, scholars like Har Gobind Khorana, Nobel laureate in Physiology of Medicine, have made groundbreaking contributions to the field of biotechnology. The vibrant world of art, music, and literature has been enriched by the Sikh diaspora since time immemorial. Writers and poets like Navtej Bharti, Rupi Kaur, and Khushwant Singh have illuminated the literary landscape with their profound Storytelling. Sikh musicians and artists like Amandeep Singh, Manpreet Singh, and Amrita Shergill have done remarkable work in their fields. Talking about colonial diaspora, we cannot ignore the Kenyans of Punjabi origin, brought by the British to build the Mombasa Nairobi African line way back in 1896. Newer generations of these Sikhs are now thriving and residing in Kenya as leaders in spheres of business, trade, medicine, freedom struggle, academics, and even sports. They enjoy a special place in the hearts of the natives because when they arrived about 125 years ago, their forefathers like Shaheed Udham Singh and Namdhari sect chief, Satguru Jagjit Singh, joined the locals in their struggle for freedom. What is commendable here is that when they were sent here, the Sikhs carried Guru Granth Sahib with them and set it up in a makeshift structure called Makindu Sahib which is now a shrine to be reckoned with, having a Darbar Hall, an ultra-modern kitchen, langar hall, a whooping 92 rooms for visitors, a museum and a library! There is also Gurudwara Railways Landhis, in Nairobi built in 1902 having all modern amenities. Then there are Canadian Sikhs! There are people like Bob Dhillon who donated $10 million to the University of Lethbridge for futuristic learning through new technologies like blockchain, cryptocurrencies, AI, and robotics. In 2011, he donated the use of 100 apartments for people displaced by fire in Alberta. Barjinder Singh born and brought up in Canada, is the founder of Guru Nanak Mission and Medical and Educational Trust which operates a hospital as well as a nursing school. He is also the chairperson of IC-IMPACTS which is currently working on the clean Ganga Mission and a founding donor of the Canada-India Centre for Excellence in Ottawa. These are just a couple of examples, Punjabi Canadians have been working on building bridges in both India and Canada, in individual as well as in official capacities. Besides famous and influential personalities, a beturbaned man, in any part of the world, is comforting and heartening and there are ample instances to prove this fact! Gurtaj landed at the crowded Rio de Janeiro airport in 2019, excited to spend a few days in the capital. He was shocked when suddenly a man requested him, mobile phone in his outstretched hand, to talk to a Sikh friend living in Brazil who hadnt talked to a fellow Sikh in years. Then there is a saga of Sikhs in Argentina who migrated to the provinces of Salta, Tucuman, San Luis, and Santa Fe around 1908 and did not go back. Their children and grandchildren are totally integrated into the local community. In a small town called Rosario de la Frontera, they have built a Gurudwara cum community center to stay connected to their roots. There is no end to these heartwarming stories as the Sikh diaspora creates a trail of sewa and companionship wherever they settle. Once a Sikh in Iraq loaned a man some money to get medical aid for his ailing wife at a hospital, all without even asking his name or address. In another story, a student in the USA was stunned when a fellow Sikh stopped him in the middle of the road to invite him over to his place for dinner. It isnt uncommon for a Gujarati woman traveler, with a toddler in tow, to stop a Sikh man in a turban to ask for help or directions! The distinctive turban and beard set a Sikh apart in foreign lands and people vouch for the fact that a Sikh would always be helpful, no matter what, especially in unfamiliar terrain because they relate to the struggle themselves. The Sikh diaspora is an embodiment of unwavering commitment to societal progress. They have established themselves as ambassadors of change, fostering compassion worldwide. From education to entrepreneurship to public service and philanthropy, the Sikhs accomplishments reflect the core tenets of their faith and serve as a testament to the power of unity and equality. The world stands for richer for the rich tapestry of Sikh contributions that continue to shape the global community. (Picture and text credit: Khalsavox.com) Image Credit: Twitter/BJP New Delhi/IBNS: The Narendra Modi government will face the no-trust vote, which has been brought by the premier opposition party Congress in Parliament, media reports said. The no-trust motion was on Wednesday moved by Congress amid uproar in Parliament over the burning issue of Manipur, from where shocking videos of low caste women being paraded naked emerged, in a bid to corner the incumbent. The combined opposition has been demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Manipur issue. Prime Minister Modi has already issued a strong statement on Manipur, the northeastern state which has been witnessing violence clashes between ethnic groups for months now. Along with Congress, the no-trust vote has also been brought by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which is not a part of the INDIA coalition formed by 26 anti-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) camps and has only nine MPs in Lok Sabha. The no-trust vote will only be taking place if it is backed by 50 MPs, the figure which Congress is expected to manage, of the house. BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which governs the country, will have a smooth sail in the trust-vote as it has 331 out of 543 members. The Opposition, which is gearing up to corner the government ahead of the 2024 General Elections, will have to fight a perception battle in front of the mighty ruling party. The government has, however, agreed to speak on the Manipur issue during the monsoon session of Parliament. The resurgence of the Khalistan movement, primarily on social media, and in some countries such as Canada, the US, UK, and Australia, has sparked significant concerns, especially after the recent attacks on the Indian consulate in San Francisco. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a prominent US representative, offered insights on the potential threats presented by Khalistani activists in an in-depth discussion. Krishnamoorthi, who has previously voiced his condemnation of the consulate assault, was questioned about the growing frequency of such attacks. In the face of the attacks not being isolated events, with instances reported in the UK where the Prime Minister has Indian ancestry, and tensions spilling over to the West Coast of the US, the impact of the Khalistan movement is a subject of increased concern. In response, Krishnamoorthi firmly maintained that Khalistanis constitute a tiny segment of the population. The few extremist Khalistanis, he argues, are not representative of the broader sentiments of Sikh Americans. He is confident that the overwhelming majority of Sikh Americans, and Indian Americans at large, would not condone or support the violence and hostility disseminated by this marginal group. Addressing fears surrounding possible financial support and the escalating tensions between nations due to Khalistani activism, Krishnamoorthi underscored the importance of resolving conflicts peacefully. He strongly denounced any form of hostility and violence, referencing a recent flyer advertising a rally with provocative language, notably the phrase Kill India. (Image and text credit: Khalsavox.com) Image: PIB Drass: Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said the Indian Army will not hesitate to cross the Line of Control (LoC) to safeguard the interests of the country. Addressing soldiers after laying a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass on 24th anniversary Kargil Vijay Diwas, the Defence Minister said India is a peace-loving nation which believes in its centuries-old values. No compromise will be made in protecting the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country. We have given a free hand to the Armed Forces to eliminate the nations enemies. "India is a peace-loving nation which believes in its centuries-old values and is committed towards international laws, but to safeguard our interests, we will not hesitate in crossing the LoC, he said. He said at the time of the Kargil War, if India did not cross the LoC, it did not mean that Army could not cross. We can cross the LoC and will cross the LoC in the future if need be", he added. Singh claimed that earlier, the nation and the Armed Forces lacked political will, which has now been provided by Government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We stand firm with our forces. The people and Parliament have full faith in our soldiers, he said. The Defence Minister said that wars are fought and won with not just weapons and bombs; bravery and indomitable spirit will play an equally important role. Citing the example of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he stated that the war, which has been continuing for last more than one year, reflects the unpredictable nature of conflicts in todays times. Rajnath added that the war has been prolonged as the people are training and joining their military in fighting for their cause. The Defence Minister called upon the people to be ready to participate in wars not only indirectly but directly as well, if ever the need arises. People should be mentally prepared, so that whenever the nation needs them, they should be ready to help the Armed Forces. Just as every soldier is an Indian; in the same way, every Indian should be ready to play the role of a soldier, he said. Singh said India of today rests on the foundation of the sacrifices of bravehearts. He commended the valour and commitment of the Armed Forces, which have, time and again, helped the country stand tall in times of crisis. India of today rests on the foundation of the sacrifices made by the soldiers. Operation Vijay displayed Indias grit and determination as it stood its ground in the face of adverse circumstances, he said. Rajnath also termed the victory in Kargil as a launch pad that propelled the nation to achieve heights of success. Our greatness is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we fall. Despite the adversary having tactical military advantage during the war, our forces displayed unmatched bravery and skill to push them back and reclaim our land. With the victory, India sent a message to Pakistan and the world that our military will not back down at any cost if the nations interests are harmed, said the Minister. To mark the Vijay Diwas, Singh laid a wreath and paid homage to the valiant soldiers who displayed unparalleled bravery in 1999 war. The ceremony at Drass also witnessed a gathering of war heroes, Veer Naris and the families of the fallen heroes. He recalled the heroic deeds of a number of bravehearts of the Kargil war and said they are a source of inspiration for the future generations and will be remembered forever. In 1999, Pakistani soldiers and militants from many groups had occupied many peaks from Drass to Batalik sector along the LoC overlooking the strategic Srinagar- Leh highway during the winter retreat of Indian Army. Indian Army along with the Indian Air Force later launched a massive operation to reclaim the peaks that were occupied by Pakistani soldiers. In the ensuing battles that were fought in rugged mountain terrains and hostile climatic conditions Indian Army managed to win back its territory after 74 days battle. And since then Army has been observing July 26 as Vijay Diwas and the main function is held at Drass. (With UNI inputs) Image: A. Bharat Bhushan Babu Twitter page Indian officials recently participated in the 8th India-Australia Defence Policy Talks (DPT) in Canberra when both sides reviewed the bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries and explored new initiatives to further strengthen defence engagements. The 8th India-Australia Defence Policy Talks (DPT) was held on July 24-25. The Defence policy talks were co-chaired by Special Secretary in Ministry of Defence Nivedita Shukla Verma, and Acting Deputy Secretary in Department of Defence, Australia Steven Moore. During the Defence Policy talks, when both sides reviewed the bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries and explored new initiatives to further strengthen and deepen bilateral defence engagements. "The discussions also focused on identifying ways to strengthen partnership in co-development and co-production of defence equipment," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership based on mutual trust and understanding, common interests and shared values of democracy and rule of law. The Indian side highlighted the potential of the Indian defence industry with capacity and capability to cooperate with Australian Armed forces in its shipbuilding and maintenance plans. India Australia share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since June 2020 and defence is a key pillar of this partnership. India and Australias partnership is based on a shared vision of a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. The two democracies have a common interest in peace and prosperity of the entire region. The two countries have 2+2 mechanism at the Ministerial level. The 8th DPT reviewed the outcomes of maiden 2+2 conducted in September 2021. Both sides agreed for early finalization of hydrography agreement. The two sides also exchanged views on geo-political situation, regional and global issues of shared interest. Chennai/IBNS/UNI: A Principal Sessions Court Wednesday extended till August 8, the judicial remand of Tamil Nadu Minister V.Senthilbalaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case and now lodged in Puzhal Central Prison after a bypass surgery at a private hospital. Principal Sessions Judge S.Alli extended the judicial remand after Senthilbalaji was produced from the Puzhal Prison via video conferencing. The minister had undergone a bypass surgery at a city hospital on June 21, where he was shifted on the orders of the Madras High Court on June 15. He was arrested in the early morning of June 14 by the ED after 17-hour-long raids at his official residence and at his chamber in the state secretariat and remanded in judicial custody till June 28. While being taken in a car to the ED office for interrogation, the minister complained of chest pain and was rushed to Omandurar Government Multi super-speciality Hospital where an angiogram had revealed three blocks in his blood vessels and doctors advised a bypass surgery at the earliest. After recovering from the surgery, he was discharged from the hospital and shifted to Puzhal prison. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N.Ravi, while allocating the portfolios held by Senthilbalaji to ministers Thangam Thennarasu and S.Muthusamy on the recommendations of Chief Minister M.K.Stalin, however, disagreed with his continuance in the state cabinet as he was facing criminal proceedings. The Opposition parties in the state also demanded that he should be removed from the cabinet. However, the Tamil Nadu government issued an order stating that he would continue to remain in the state cabinet as a minister without a portfolio. Later, the Governor dismissed him from the cabinet under powers vested with him and subsequently kept it in abeyance on the advice of Union Home Minister Amit Shah who suggested that he seek the opinion of the Attorney General. The minister's dismissal without his advice was disregarded by the Chief Minister who contended that the Governor has no powers to take such a decision and that it was his (CM's) prerogative to decide on who should remain in his cabinet or not. Meanwhile, the Madras High Court delivered a split verdict in the Habeas Corpus petition filed by the minister's wife. While Justice Banu observed that the petition was maintainable and that ED was not entitled to seek police custody, Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy ruled that Balaji's arrest did not amount to an illegal act by the ED, which could also take him into custody for interrogation. Following this, it was referred to Justice CV Karthikeyan, the third judge appointed by the Chief Justice, who after hearing arguments from the petitioner and the ED concurred with the judgment of Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy and listed it before the Chief Justice to be heard by the Division Bench on deciding on the ED custody of the minister. Yesterday, the case was listed before the same Bench, which had closed the HCP saying that the Supreme Court was seized of the matter. Image: Videograb New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday assured that India will become one of the world's top three economies during his third term. "In my third term, India will stand among the top three economies. And this is Modi's guarantee," PM Modi said at the inauguration of the revamped Pragati Maidan, which has been renamed 'Bharat Mandapam'. The whole world is accepting that India is the mother of democracy. Today, we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of Independence with #AmritMahotsav, this Bharat Mandapam is the most beautiful gift we Indians have given to our democracy: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/kiW4RzGV0b PIB India (@PIB_India) July 26, 2023 "In our first term, India was in the 10th spot in terms of economy. In my second term, it is the world's fifth-largest economy. On the basis of track record, I will make the country believe, in the third term, the economy will be among the world's top three," he added. Sending out a message of development and growth at the inauguration, he said, "From east to west, north to south, India's infrastructure is changing... The world's highest rail bridge in India, the longest tunnel at the highest altitude is in India, the highest motorable road, the largest stadium, the largest statue -- all of it is in India." Delhi gets a modern and futuristic International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre, which will boost conference tourism in India, thus bringing people from all over the world. The economic and tourism related benefits of the centre will also be multifold. pic.twitter.com/57cdCnu63T Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2023 The inaugural session of the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre Bharat Mandapam became a stage of political war ahead of the 2024 general elections as PM Modi directed a sharp dig at the Opposition. "In the last 60 years, India managed to electrify only 20, 000 km of rail lines compared to the 40,000 km achieved by his government in the last nine years... Now every month, we are completing a 6 km metro line, less than 4 lakh km of village roads... In 2014, Delhi airport's capacity was around 5 crore a year. Now it is 7.5 crore... The number of airports has reached 150," he said. PM Modi said while centers like the Bharat Mandapam enhance the country's profile globally, there have been people who attempted to stop it. "These people tried to stop this Bharat Mandapam. It is some people's compulsion to stop every work. So many cases were filed... I am confident that after a while, those people will come here for some lectures or events," he said referring to the opposition parties who came together to take on his BJP next year. Unsplash At least one police personnel died in a suicide blast in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) region of Pakistan on Tuesday, media reports said. Station House Officer (SHO) Gul Wali told Geo News that Addtional SHO Adnan Afridi died in the explosion. According to details provided by the police, the blast took place when a suicide bomber hid inside the mosque after he saw officials of the law enforcement agency. KP Inspector General of Police (IGP) Akhtar Hayat Khan told Geo News that the suspect blew himself up during the search inside the mosque. According to details provided by the police, the blast took place when a suicide bomber hid inside the mosque after he saw officials of the law enforcement agency. Moreover, SHO Wali said that further details will be provided as it is currently unknown how many people are trapped under the debris of the mosque as it had collapsed during the blast. Eyewitnesses told the newspaper that the mosque was empty when the blast took place. Following the blast, security personnel rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. Shuvaloy Majumdar Facebook page Indian-origin Conservative candidate Shuvaloy Majumdar, better known as Shuv, won a prestigious seat in the House of Commons that was once represented by former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He won the by-election in the Calgary Heritage seat on Monday, maintaining his party's domination over it. Our democracy is enriched by the participation of strong candidates. Thank you @elliot4heritage for bringing forward your vision for Calgary Heritage in this by-election. It was an honour to share a ballot with you and I look forward to representing all of our great community. https://t.co/5KbnShKQiz Shuv Majumdar (@shuvmajumdar) July 25, 2023 The seat was left vacant after MP Bob Benzen quit it last year. Benzen, who was elected to represent the area in 2017, announced he would resign his seat in Calgary Heritage and return to private life at the end of last year, reports CBC. Majumdar, a former policy adviser to Stephen Harper and ex-Conservative foreign minister John Baird, clinched the seat by winning 65 percent of the vote. He defeated Liberal candidate Elliot Weinstein and NDP's Gurmit Bhachu. "We sent Justin Trudeau a message tonight, didn't we?" Majumdar was quoted as saying by CBC after the victory. "I wanted to go over to Liberal headquarters to invite them to participate in our celebration here tonight. The only problem was there were no direct flights from Calgary to Beijing," he said. "I've seen the hurt. I've seen the pain. I have seen the tears well up in the eyes of our neighbours. I've seen their throats choke with the pressure of their day-to-day lives. I see you. You are heard and thank you for your trust in me," he said as he thanked people following his election. Speaking about his Indian origin, Majumdar said: "What an amazing thing it is that this kid born of Indian origin...could go on to serve in the highest offices of this land and now stands before you as the next Conservative member of Parliament for Calgary Heritage." Majumdar also thanked the people of the region for supporting him with a Facebook post that read: "Thank you to my family, campaign team, and the citizens of Calgary Heritage." "The work to restore the promise of Canada starts now," he said. The governments of British Columbia and Canada, along with the Haida Nation, have reached a new agreement that acknowledges the Haida Nation as the intrinsic possessors of title and rights on Haida Gwaii. This pact will also lead Ottawa to officia... The Matrilineal Order of Haudenosaunee Women at the United Nations, Geneva Switzerland. The pack baskets were made by Jack Johnson, Akwesasronon basket maker. Wherever they traveled in Switzerland and in France, the pack baskets easily identified the Haudenosaunee women. By Kaniehtonkie A group of Haudenosaunee women traveled to Geneva, Switzerland for the 16th Session the of Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) which took place from July 17 to 21, 2023. This small group of women calle... A Florida resident, Randall Dunican, 69, was sentenced by a Michigan federal judge to 78 months or six-and-a-half years in prison for orchestrating a scam that caused over $1.1 million in losses to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa In... Today in History: July 27th is the 208th day of the year (209th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are days 157 remaining until the end of the year. There are several notable events that happened on July 27 throughout history, and that's why it's an important day in Indian and world history. What Happened this Day in India History Events If you're wondering to know about what happened today in History? Then you're in the right place. On this day, there are several notable events that have occurred throughout Indian and world history. In this article, we have compiled a list of the important things that happened all around the world on July 27. Take a look: Today in History: What Happened This Day in India History Events 1939 - CRPF Foundation Day The Central Reserve Police Force came into existence as Crown Representative's Police on 27th July 1939. It became the Central Reserve Police Force on enactment of the CRPF Act on 28th December 1949. 1940- Bugs Bunny's official debut On July 27, 1940, Bugs Bunny, the suave, smart-alecky rabbit who became the most popular of Warner Brothers' cartoon characters, made his first official film appearance, in "A Wild Hare." Korean War Veterans Armistice Day - July 27 Korean War Veterans Armistice Day is a sad remembrance of the courage and sacrifice demonstrated by those who participated in the Korean War. This day, celebrated on July 27th each year, commemorates the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953, effectively ending hostilities and establishing an uneasy ceasefire between North and South Korea. As we go deeper into history, we realize the significance of this pivotal moment and its long-term impact on the Korean Peninsula. What Happened this Day in India History Events What happened in World History on July 27 1921 - Scientists successfully isolate insulin July 27 marks one of the most important days in diabetes treatment history. On that date in 1921, Dr. Frederick Banting, a Canadian surgeon and Charles Best, a medical student, successfully isolated the hormone insulin for the first time. 1949 - First commercial jet makes test flight Civil aviation remained dominated by large propeller-driven aircraft until 1949 when de Havilland introduced the world to the age of the jet airliner. Sir Geoffrey de Havilland conceived the idea of the DH106 'Comet' in 1943 and design work began in September 1946. The prototype first flew on 27 July 1949. 1955 - Austrian State Treaty came to force The treaty came into force on July 27, 1955, and by October 25 all occupation forces were withdrawn. On October 26 a constitutional law of perpetual Austrian neutrality was promulgated. 1985 - Coup in Uganda Tito Lutwa Okello, a Ugandan military officer successfully staged a coup against President Milton Obote. He was ousted by the current president Yoweri Museveni 6 months later. 1996 - Bombing at Centennial Olympic Park On July 27, 1996, a single homemade pipe bomb left in a knapsack exploded amid a crowd of spectators in Centennial Olympic Park, near the main sites of the Olympic Games in Atlanta. The blast caused by the crude device killed one person and injured 112 others. A photojournalist also died, of a heart attack while running to cover the event. 2002 - The largest air show disaster in history The largest air show disaster in history occurs when a Sukhoi Su-27 fighter crashes during an air show at Lviv, Ukraine, killing 85 and injuring more than 100 others. Todays Highlight in History: - In 1789, President George Washington signed a measure establishing the Department of Foreign Affairs, forerunner of the Department of State. - In 1866, Cyrus W. Field finished laying out the first successful underwater telegraph cable between North America and Europe (a previous cable in 1858 burned out after only a few weeks use). - In 1909, during the first official test of the U.S. Armys first airplane, Orville Wright flew himself and a passenger, Lt. Frank Lahm, above Fort Myer, Virginia, for one hour and 12 minutes. - In 1940, Billboard magazine published its first music popularity chart listing best-selling retail records (in first place was Ill Never Smile Again recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, with featured vocalist Frank Sinatra). - In 1953, the Korean War armistice was signed at Panmunjom, ending three years of fighting. - In 1960, Vice President Richard M. Nixon was nominated for president on the first ballot at the Republican National Convention in Chicago. - In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed the Kerner Commission to assess the causes of urban rioting, the same day Black militant H. Rap Brown told a press conference in Washington that violence was as American as cherry pie. - In 1980, on day 267 of the Iranian hostage crisis, the deposed Shah of Iran died at a military hospital outside Cairo, Egypt, at age 60. - In 2012, Britain opened its Olympic Games in a celebration of Old England and new, even cheekily featuring a stunt double for Queen Elizabeth II parachuting with James Bond into Olympic Stadium. What Happened this Day in India History Events Also on this day: In addition to these historical events on July 27 events, there is also the birthday and death of several notable individuals that you must know about. Famous People's Birthday on July 27 1960 - Uddhav Thackeray's Birthday Uddhav Thackeray is an Indian politician and the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra, a state in India. He is the leader of the Shiv Sena party, a regional political party based in Maharashtra. Uddhav Thackeray is the son of Balasaheb Thackeray, the founder of Shiv Sena. 1967 - Rahul Bose's Birthday Rahul Bose is an Indian actor, director, screenwriter, and social activist known for his work in Indian cinema. He was born on July 27, 1967, in Kolkata, India. Bose has garnered recognition for his versatile performances and his commitment to social causes. 1990 - Kriti Sanon Birthday Kriti Sanon is an Indian actress and model known for her work in Bollywood films. She was born on July 27, 1990, in New Delhi, India. Kriti made her acting debut in the Hindi film industry in 2014 and has since gained popularity for her performances and charming presence on screen. Famous People's Death Anniversary on July 27 1992 - Amjad Khan's Death Anniversary Amjad Khan was an acclaimed Indian actor known for his iconic portrayal of the character "Gabbar Singh" in the blockbuster Bollywood film "Sholay." He was born on November 12, 1940, in Hyderabad, British India (now in Telangana, India), and he passed away on July 27, 1992. 2015 - APJ Abdul Kalam Death Anniversary APJ Abdul Kalam, full name Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, was an eminent Indian scientist, engineer, and statesman who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. He was born on October 15, 1931, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India, and passed away on July 27, 2015. Important Days in July 2023 July 2023 Important Days Important Events In July 1 July Doctor's Day (India) 1 July International Joke Day 1 July Canada Day 1 July GST Day 1 July Chartered Accountants Day 2 July World UFO Day 2 July World Sports Journalists Day 3 July International Plastic Bag Free Day 4 July Independence Day (USA) 6 July World Zoonoses day 7 July World Chocolate Day 10 July Nikola Tesla Day 11 July World Population Day 12 July Malala Day 12 July Paper Bag Day 14 July Bastille Day 15 July World Youth Skills Day 15 July Social Media Giving Day 17 July World Day for International Justice 17 July World Emoji Day 18 July Nelson Mandela Day 20 July World Chess Day 20 July International Moon Day 22 July Chandrayaan 2 launch date 23 July National Broadcasting Day 24 July Income Tax Day 26 July Kargil Vijay Diwas 28 July World Hepatitis Day 28 July World Nature Conservation Day 29 July International Tiger Day 30 July International Friendship Day Month-wise Important Days List 2023 Important Days and Dates List 2023 January February March April May June July August September October November December July: What Happened Today In History This was all about the interesting and intriguing events that occurred on July 27! For more such informative content, keep following Indiatimes Events. Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023: The day is observed every year across the country on July 26th to pay tribute to the bravery and courage of the Indian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country during the Kargil War in 1999. The Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 will be observed on Wednesday, 26th July, commemorates the victory of Operation Vijay, which was a significant military victory over Pakistan during the War. The Kargil War was fought between India and Pakistan at the Line of Control (LoC) at Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir where. The Indian Army fought bravely and recaptured the famous 'Tiger Hill' and other important posts around under 'Operation Vijay' by evicting the Pakistani troops in 1999 Kargil War. Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 image | Photo: Freepik The war was one of the major military conflicts between the two South Asian neighbours and resulted in a significant loss of life and resources. It was the last war that happened between India and Pakistan. This year marks the 24th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. As today we are celebrating Kargil Diwas. Here are some of best wishes, greetings, messages, images, status and more to share with friends and family: Happy Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 Wishes, Images, Quotes, and Kargil Vijay Diwas WhatsApp Greetings to Share On this day we honour all the Indian soldiers who fought bravely in battle with Pakistan during the 1999 Kargil War. Here are some suggestions about Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 wishes, messages, quotes, greetings, and Kargil Vijay Diwas Whatsapp Status you can share with your friends and family: Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 Best Wishes 1. On this Kargil Vijay Diwas, we salute the valor and sacrifice of our brave soldiers who secured our nation's borders. Jai Hind! 2. Remembering the heroes who fought fearlessly in the Kargil War. May their courage continue to inspire us to uphold the integrity of our nation. Happy Kargil Vijay Diwas! 3. Let's pay tribute to the indomitable spirit of our soldiers on this Kargil Vijay Diwas. May their unwavering dedication always be remembered and cherished. 4. Wishing everyone a solemn and proud Kargil Vijay Diwas. May we never forget the sacrifices made by our soldiers to protect our motherland. 5. As we celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas, let's remember the families of our brave martyrs and extend our support and gratitude for their immense sacrifice. 6. On this significant day, let's renew our commitment to safeguarding the nation's honor and standing united in the face of any adversity. Happy Kargil Vijay Diwas! 7. Sending heartfelt wishes on Kargil Vijay Diwas to every member of our armed forces. Your bravery and selflessness make us proud to be citizens of this great country. 8. As we observe Kargil Vijay Diwas, let's take a moment to remember the fallen heroes and cherish the freedom they helped preserve. Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Hind! 9. Today, we honor the heroes who proved that the spirit of India cannot be defeated. Let's always stand together and protect our nation's sovereignty. Happy Kargil Vijay Diwas! 10. On this Kargil Vijay Diwas, let's express our deepest gratitude to the valiant soldiers who safeguard our borders and keep us safe. May their bravery continue to shine as an eternal guiding light. Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 best Messages and Greetings 1. On this Kargil Vijay Diwas, let us remember the brave soldiers who fought with unwavering courage and dedication to protect our nation. Saluting their heroism and sacrifice. Jai Hind! 2. As we commemorate Kargil Vijay Diwas, let us honor the valor and sacrifice of our soldiers who defended the nation's integrity. Their bravery continues to inspire generations. Happy Kargil Vijay Diwas! 3. Remembering the brave souls who fearlessly stood tall against all odds in the Kargil war. Let us express our gratitude and pay tribute to their indomitable spirit. Happy Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023! 4. On this significant day, we salute the brave hearts who selflessly defended our borders during the Kargil conflict. Their sacrifices will forever be etched in our hearts. Jai Hind! 5. Kargil Vijay Diwas is a reminder of the valor and resilience of our armed forces. Let us pay our respects to the martyrs and express gratitude to our soldiers safeguarding the nation today. Happy Kargil Vijay Diwas! 6. As we mark Kargil Vijay Diwas, let us take a moment to remember the bravehearts who fought fearlessly and brought glory to our nation. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. Jai Hind! 7. On this day of triumph, we remember the gallant soldiers who fought for our motherland. Let us honor their sacrifice and strive to uphold the ideals they fought to protect. Happy Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023! 8. Kargil Vijay Diwas reminds us of the extraordinary courage and sacrifice exhibited by our soldiers. Let us stand united and support our armed forces in every way possible. Jai Hind! 9. As the nation celebrates Kargil Vijay Diwas, let us express our gratitude to the brave souls who displayed unmatched valor and devotion to the country. We owe our freedom to their sacrifices. 10. On this auspicious occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, let us remember and salute the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend the honor and integrity of our beloved nation. Jai Hind! Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 inspirational quotes: 1. "If death strikes before I prove my blood, I swear I'll kill death" - Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey 2. "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." - Gilbert K. Chesterton 3. Either I will come back after hoisting the Tricolour, or I will come back wrapped in it but I will be back for sure Captain Vikram Batra 4. A soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him but because he loves whats behind him. Bill Clark Jr. 5. " A soldier is not just a person. One is our pride, the Army is our glory, honour we earned" - Kaushik Dhakate 6. "You have never lived fully until you have almost died and for those who are not afraid of death and choose to fight, life always has a special flavour for them". 7. The word of bravery always speaks of the bravery of the best warriors. 8. "The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war." - Douglas MacArthur 9. "The preservation of freedom, is not the task of soldiers alone. The whole nation has to be strong." - Lal Bahadur Shastri 10. "The brave die never, though they sleep in dust: Their courage nerves a thousand living men." - Minot Judson Savage 11. Every citizen of India must remember that... he is an Indian and he has every right in this country but with certain duties. - Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel 12. The sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting stone of ideas. - Bhagat Singh 13. "We fight to win and win with a knockout, because there is no runner up in wars" - General J.J. Singh 14. "When you go home tell them of us and say, for their tomorrow, we gave our today" - Kargil War Memorial 15. "The hardest thing of all for a soldier is to retreat." - Duke of Wellington 1. On this Kargil Vijay Diwas, let us salute the bravery and sacrifice of our brave soldiers who fought fearlessly to protect our motherland. Jai Hind! #KargilVijayDiwas2023 2. Remembering the valor and heroism of our soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our borders. Their bravery will forever inspire us. #KargilVijayDiwas2023 3. On Kargil Vijay Diwas, we pay tribute to the indomitable spirit of our soldiers and express our gratitude for their selfless service. #KargilVijayDiwas2023 4. As we celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas, let's remember the untiring efforts of our armed forces in safeguarding our nation. Their courage and dedication are unparalleled. #KargilVijayDiwas2023 5. Today, we remember the supreme sacrifice of our brave soldiers and express our heartfelt gratitude for their unwavering commitment to our nation's security. #KargilVijayDiwas2023 6. On this Kargil Vijay Diwas, let's bow our heads in honor of the bravehearts who gave their lives to protect our freedom and territorial integrity. #KargilVijayDiwas2023 7. Saluting the valor and courage of our soldiers who demonstrated unmatched bravery during the Kargil War. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. #KargilVijayDiwas2023 8. On Kargil Vijay Diwas, we remember the heroes who fought with determination and resilience, ensuring that our nation's flag flies high with pride. #KargilVijayDiwas2023 9. As we commemorate Kargil Vijay Diwas, let's also express our gratitude to the families of our soldiers, whose support and sacrifices are equally commendable. #KargilVijayDiwas2023 10. On this day, we cherish the memory of our brave soldiers and reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding our nation's sovereignty and honor. Jai Hind! #KargilVijayDiwas2023 Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023: Thank you messages for Indian army On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023, here are ten heartfelt thank-you messages to express gratitude and appreciation to the Indian Army for their dedication, bravery, and sacrifices in protecting our nation: 1. "To the brave soldiers of the Indian Army, thank you for your fearlessness and devotion to duty during the Kargil War. Your sacrifices have paved the way for a safer and stronger India. Saluting your valor and patriotism on this special day!" 2. "To the brave hearts of the Indian Army, thank you for your unwavering courage and selflessness in defending our country. Your sacrifices on the battleground during Kargil War will forever be etched in our hearts. Jai Hind!" 3. "On this Kargil Vijay Diwas, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Indian Army for their valor and dedication in securing our borders. Your indomitable spirit serves as an inspiration to us all. Thank you for keeping us safe and proud!" 4. "To the heroes of Kargil War, thank you for displaying extraordinary bravery in the face of adversity. Your sacrifices and triumphs have ensured the safety and integrity of our nation. Saluting the Indian Army on this special day!" 5. "As we commemorate Kargil Vijay Diwas, we salute the Indian Army for their relentless efforts in safeguarding our country. Your dedication and sacrifices have preserved the honor and sovereignty of our nation. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!" 6. "With deep respect and gratitude, we thank the Indian Army for their bravery and valor during the Kargil War. Your determination and sacrifice are the reasons we live in a free and secure India today. Jai Hind!" 7. "On this Kargil Vijay Diwas, we bow in reverence to the Indian Army for their supreme sacrifice and unyielding spirit. Your courage in the face of adversity has taught us the true meaning of patriotism. Thank you for your service!" 8. "To the fearless soldiers of the Indian Army, thank you for your commitment and bravery that led to the victory in the Kargil War. Your sacrifices will always be remembered and cherished. We are proud of our Armed Forces!" 9. "As the nation commemorates Kargil Vijay Diwas, we express our heartfelt gratitude to the Indian Army for their valor and sacrifice. Your selfless service ensures the safety of millions. Thank you for being our real-life heroes!" 10. "On this significant day of Kargil Vijay Diwas, we extend our gratitude to the Indian Army for their indomitable courage and sacrifice. Your unwavering dedication has kept our borders secure and our hearts filled with pride. Thank you!" Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 HD Images, Wallpapers #1. Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 HD Images, Wallpapers | Photo: Freepik #2. Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 HD Images, Wallpapers | Photo: Freepik #3. Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 HD Images, Wallpapers | Photo: Freepik #4. Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 HD Images, Wallpapers | Photo: Freepik #5. Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 HD Images, Wallpapers | Photo: Freepik #6. Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 HD Images, Wallpapers | Photo: Freepik #7. Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 HD Images, Wallpapers | Photo: Freepik #8. Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 HD Images, Wallpapers | Photo: Freepik #9. Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 HD Images, Wallpapers | Photo: Freepik #10. Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 HD Images, Wallpapers | Photo: Freepik Good Morning Everyone and My sincere gratitude to the principal, the teachers, and my close friends. I am deeply honored to address you all on this auspicious occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas. This day holds immense significance for every Indian as it is a stark reminder of the valor and sacrifices made by our brave Indian soldiers during the Kargil War in 1999. The Kargil War is a symbol of Indias resolve to defend its sovereignty against all odds. It was a battle fought on the toughest terrains, at an altitude of 18,000 feet, and in the harshest weather conditions. On this day, we pay homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives, fighting with utmost bravery and honour. Each soldier, who fought in the Kargil War, is a symbol of selfless dedication and patriotism. Their love for the nation, their courage in the face of adversity, and their indomitable spirit continue to inspire us. Kargil Vijay Diwas also serves as a reminder of the strength and determination of our armed forces. As we commemorate Kargil Vijay Diwas, let us not just remember it as a day of victory, but also as a day of learning. The Kargil War taught us the importance of preparedness, vigilance, and strategic acumen. This war also taught us the importance of unity and the strength of a nation that stands together. As we honor our heroes today, let us not limit our recognition to just one day. Let us carry it in our hearts, each and every day. Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil mein hai, Dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qatil mein hai. Thank you! Everyone! (For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events) Time is running out, quite literally, and five years and 361 days -- that is all we have left now, according to the Climate Clock, when the global temperatures will hit 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, a point where climate change would become irreversible. On July 22, the Climate Clock, a symbolic countdown clock that shows how much time is left before global warming will reach 1.5 degrees Celsius, hit a grim 'milestone' when it read 5 years, 364 days. CLIMATE CLOCK What is Climate Clock? Launched in September 2020, the Climate Clock on New Yorks Union Square in downtown Manhattan has been keeping track of the time we have left. Currently, the planet is about 1.1 degrees Celsius hotter than it was before the industrial revolution, and according to scientists, once it breaches 1.5 degrees Celsius, it is the point of no return - meaning that from there, climate change cannot be reversed. CLIMATE CLOCK Why is 1.5 degrees important? According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), keeping global warming below 1.5C is key to the efforts to combat climate change. In 2020 the World Meteorological Organisation had said that there was less than a 20% chance of breaking 1.5C in five years, but earlier this year, it said that there was a 66% chance we will pass the threshold between now and 2027. Ever since the industrial revolution, the emissions from the use of fossil fuels have been accelerating the rise in global temperatures, and now it is reaching alarming levels. AFP/ FILE Hottest day ever And its effects are already seen, with new records being set for the hottest day ever. July 3 was the hottest day ever recorded globally, according to data from the US National Centers for Environmental Prediction. The average global temperature reached 17.01 degrees Celsius, surpassing the August 2016 record of 16.92C as heatwaves sizzled worldwide. Closing your eyes won't solve problem "We are already running out of time and the world is sleeping. But that is not going to solve the problem. Even if you close your eyes to it, climate change is a reality and it is happening right now. Any number of extreme weather events around the world is telling you this," Chetan Singh Solanki, an IIT Bombay Professor and climate change campaigner told Indiatimes. INDIATIMES It should be our top priority Prof. Solanki has been on a road trip across India to create awareness about climate change and the need to adopt renewable energy said people and policymakers are still refusing to learn from the ever-increasing destruction caused by extreme weather events. "If there is a heavy rain or flood, it affected everyone. The policymakers and politicians who are also affected are not looking into why this is happening and how to prevent it. They are still thinking about it when we are already too late to act. We need a complete reversal of our outlook where climate change becomes the top priority of the PM and state CMs," he said. INDIATIMES Change the way we look at energy Prof. Solanki has also been spreading climate change awareness with his own Climate Clock assembly events across the country. He said that to combat climate change, the first thing to do is change the way we look at and consume energy. INDIATIMES "The first step to solving this problem is understanding energy. The more we use carbon-based energy, we are adding to the problem. Until and unless people start seeing everything from the point of view of energy, how much carbon emissions our actions are causing and its impact on the environment is not going to change," he said. For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. I was a child with no understanding of the world. They said Ill be given good food, clothes and Ill go to school, so I went with them," said Nisha, who was trafficked as a man from Nepal, and now identifies as a transwoman in India. Only when I realised that people in the new place didnt understand my language, nor could I understand their language, I understood that I was trafficked, she added. Nisha, 29, who lives in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh spoke to Indiatimes on her journey of being trafficked from Nepal to India and getting forced into child labour and later on, discovering her real identity as a transwoman. Unsplash Discovering her true identity Life was always a challenge for me. All the memories of my childhood are bitter. I was forced to wash utensils till by body ached, only wafter which they would give me 2 rotis to eat. I worked at a dhaba, somewhere in Bihar. For next two years, I was there. I think it was close to Patna. After that, I ran away to avoid working and literally begged for food in trains. Then I found another job at a grocery store and worked [there] till I was 15, Nisha told Indiatimes. At the age of 16, Nisha says, she realised she felt like a woman. I dont know what exactly happened but a newly married lady came to the shop and I just could not stop adoring her makeup, sari, jewellery and everything else. I realised I wanted to be that. Also read: How Public Data On The LGBTQIA+ Community Is Shaped And Erased In India Unsplash I could never have been able to live the life I wanted if I was in my home country. I hailed from a lower-class family who barely knew what a trans person is. [They assumed that] trans persons are born with the genitals of both male and female. [As] they would discover that, they would discard that child from the society and family, Nisha said while talking about her home in a hamlet of Pokhara, Nepal. However, Nepal on track to achieve marriage equality with a recent Supreme Court order that asked the government to set up a mechanism to register non-heterosexual marriages. This way, it would become the first South Asian country to do so, and the second country in Asia to register same-sex marriages, which is a significant historic milestone for LGBTQIA+ rights in the region. Such progress would represent a remarkable step forward in the fight for equal rights and recognition for same-sex couples in Nepal. In 2007, the Supreme Court of Nepal recognised the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals and ordered the government to end discrimination against them, including granting them the right to marry. The court's decision also allowed for the recognition of a "third gender" on official documents. Meanwhile, in India In the NALSA Judgment in April 2014, the Supreme Court upheld the rights of all individuals to self-identify their gender. Following this, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act was implemented in November 2019. It was enacted to protect the rights of transgender individuals and to provide them with socio-economic opportunities. The law recognises transgender persons' right to self-perceived gender identity and the right to be recognised as male, female, or third gender. Unsplash Nisha argues that the law in both countries imposes overly bureaucratic processes for obtaining certificates of identity and fails to address issues such as hate crimes and violence against transgender individuals. They talk about third genders recognition and equal rights but it is not the case in reality, if you check on the ground." Currently, Nisha works as a salesperson. I sell saris door-to-door. I make around 7000 a month, 50% of what goes into rent and travel. The other 50%, I save for a big thing, she said. Also read: LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Toolkit: How To Navigate The Complexities Of Well-Being Nisha is saving for her gender affirmation procedure to be done in Noida and wishes to go to Nepal post-surgery. I have saved around 60,000 and need 2 lakhs more to undergo the surgery and therapies after that. Once all of this happens successfully, I wish to go home someday. However, I have heard Nepal government hospitals do the surgery for free or [for] a minimal amount but what to do now? This is my country. I will go there to find and meet my family with a totally new identity. For more stories on the LGBTQIA+ community and queerness in India, keep reading Spectrum on Indiatimes. The port of Piraeus has been established as the first European port in the Mediterranean, and the fourth in Europe . However, the development of the port of Valencia and the Naval battle between the ports of Piraeus and Valencia for the first place in the Mediterranean - The situation remained difficult in Rhodes , with all the Civil Protection forces, together with volunteers and residents, making unrelenting efforts, under adverse conditions, to prevent the fire from spreading A 43-year-old man identified as Dantata Bawa has been arrested for raping a four-year-old girl in Benue State. The incident occurred at the North Bank area of Makurdi, the state capital on Monday, July 24, 2023. An eyewitness told newsmen that the suspect allegedly lured the girl into his room at the time her mother was not around. It was further gathered that some neighbours who heard the cry of the little girl forced the door open and promptly called police who later arrested the suspect. The suspect is currently held at the Police headquarters in Makurdi, the eyewitness said. READ ALSO: Three Arrested For Allegedly Gang-Raping A Minor In Adamawa Confirming the incident, the Coordinator of Benue Coalition of Human Rights Protection, Jimmie Adzenda, who posted a photo of the suspect said that the group is following the case. Mr. Adzenda said the group is poised at ensuring that the case is not only prosecuted to a logical conclusion but to ensure that the culprit is punished to serve as a deterrent. He expressed worries about the rise in cases of rape in the state and called on stakeholders, especially civil society organisations, the security agencies, and the media as well as the Nigerian Bar Association and FIDA to do more for women and children. Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident, saying the suspect will soon be charged to court. Former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to curb the excesses of the Department of State Services (DSS). Fayoses submission is not farfetched from the actions of DSS operatives who were involved in a fight with their counterpart from the Nigeria Correctional Services after the arraignment of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele on Tuesday. Information Nigeria had reported that the duo brawled over who would move Emefiele from the Federal High Court in Lagos. The fight broke out as the DSS forcefully grabbed him from prison officers back into their custody. According to the Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, the action of the DSS affects Tinubus administration, hence the erring power-drunk operatives should be made to face justice. The DSS act of lawlessness at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos today, should be condemned by all lovers of democracy and rule of law in the country. It is painful that the DSS is yet to come to terms with the fact that the President of Nigeria today, is a product of struggles for democracy and wont superintend over any act of lawlessness. READ ALSO: DSS Re-Arrests Emefiele After Tussle With Prison Officials The actions of the DSS today, is no doubt bringing a negative image to the government and Im sure that President Tinubu will act swiftly to curb their excesses so that they dont give his government a bad name just as they did to the immediate past government. This is a function of failed or power drunk leadership in the DSS. Its time for the President to act. No doubt, I am not a fan of Emefieles actions as CBN Governor which threw Nigerians into untold hardships with the politically motivated change of Naira notes. However, it behoves on leaders of this country to speak out against acts capable of undermining democracy and rule of law. Nigeria is under civil authority and security agencies, especially the DSS should be properly guided to purge themselves of this display of overzealousness. The DSS men that participated in todays show of shame should be promptly brought to book. More so that it happened within the sacred premises of the court. Most importantly, restructuring of the Organization is imperative for a today Nigeria that is desirous of deepening democratic governance, Fayose wrote via Twitter on Tuesday. Femi Falana, Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has asked the Federal Government to ensure that the Department of State Services (DSS) abides by court orders. His submission stems from the dispute between the DSS and the Nigerian Correctional Service on Tuesday regarding the custody of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele who is currently facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Information Nigeria had reported that the disagreement and clash arose between the two services, after Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos granted Emefiele bail for a sum of N20m. The SAN in a statement addressing this incident, Falana said, The Federal Government should also ensure that the orders of the Federal High Court are obeyed forthwith. Notwithstanding the avowed commitment of the Bola Tinubu administration to operate under the rule of law, a team of State Security Service officials brazenly disobeyed the orders of the Federal High Court, which admitted Mr Godwin Emefiele to bail in respect of the offence of illegal possession of firearms. For daring to comply with the orders of the Federal High Court, officials of the Correctional Centre were attacked by gun-totting officers of the SSS. He emphasized the need for adherence to the rule of law. Falana furthered that the security officers involved in the attack on the Correctional Centre officials should be identified and penalized. He also warned all public officers to learn from Emefieles predicament, highlighting Emefieles previous disregard for court orders. Recall that Emefiele under the administration of ex-president Muhammadu Buhari, disobeyed the ruling of the Supreme Court on the cash policy. READ ALSO: Alleged Gun Possession: Court Grants Emefiele N20m Bail Meanwhile, former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili decried the uproar created by the DSS and Nigerian Correctional Service over the custody of Emefiele. Ezekwesili insisted that the DSS must apologize and comply with the rule of law. Kai! What a shame, @OfficialDSSNG ! A predatory political class will always ruin everything they touch- whether citizens, public treasury, processes, institutions, media etc. Just see what has become of our countrys State Security establishment. The only effective Check on the ruinous ways of the politicians and the Public Agencies they have privatized unto themselves is Collective Citizens Action. All reasonable Citizens must keep them accountable. It will do you good, Mr DG of DSS to retrace your steps from this show of shame and diligently comply with the rule of law in the conduct your activities. Please, she wrote on Twitter. Unknown gunmen on Tuesday abducted the immediate past Provost of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Osile, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Ayodele Adetayo Ajayi. It was gathered that Ajayi was abducted alongside his wife and driver, around 7.17 pm on Tuesday, at Ikija village, Olodo axis of the Abeokuta-Ibadan road in Odeda Local government of Ogun state. Meanwhile, Ajayis wife was later released by the abductors while he and his driver were taken away. According to a top management staff of the institution, who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed the abduction of the former Provost to Vanguard on telephone. He said, a resident of the area who spoke under the condition of anonymity revealed that the gunmen came out of the bush to attack Ajayi and other motorists along the road. He added that the gunmen who shot sporadically into the air blocked the road and whisked away their victims. The source lamented the increasing rate of abduction at Olodo axis of the Abeokuta-Ibadan road, alleged that no fewer than five persons have been kidnapped in the last one week in the area. Just yesterday, the gunmen abducted five persons, but two out of them were later released. READ MORE: Students Flog Teacher Who Stopped Them From Cheating During Exam In Ogun Also, last month, three people were killed. Among those who were killed was a popular businessman who operated a big farm along the axis. The Olu of Odeda in Odeda town, Oba David Olorunisola was almost kidnapped this week while his driver was shot and he is still receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC). The Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul Rasheed NaAllah, on Tuesday revealed that it has become compulsory for every student of the institution to register a company as a pre-requisite for graduation. Addressing journalists on some of his administrations achievements in the last four years, NaAllah said his team had made a major move to change the landscape of the university in infrastructure, learning and industry. He said in partnership with the Abuja Chamber of Commerce, the curriculum of the school had been improved and the students had been taught how to register their own companies and not depend on government and companies for employment. READ ALSO: UNIABUJA Expels 46 Students Over Acts Of Misconduct He said, The industry is always on our campus to teach our students to contribute to our curriculum, theyre constantly working with us and every time were always seeing something new. One of the new things this time around is that more than 1000 students have registered their companies with CAC in this university, students having companies and some of them are graduating, some in 300 level with opportunities to even practise the companies they have registered. What were saying to our students is that were not giving you certificate only to go and look for employment, were charging you to employ yourself and create wealth, charging them to change their mindset, many of them have registered their companies, go to CAC and see the record. Know that no student will graduate from the University of Abuja without having a company registered with CAC, its now a law in this university; you cannot graduate from this university if you dont have a company that youve registered. You must even practise this company because you must have registered the company a year or two before you graduate. Some yet to be identified police officers in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, have been accused of extorting a man of N80,000. According to the man, Daddy Geoffrey, said that the police officer allegedly planted a wrap of Indian hemp on him. Mr Geoffrey revealed that the incident happened on over the weekend, July 23, when the police officers conducted a stop-and-search at Obiri-Ikwerre junction. He added that he was on his way to a friends party on Sunday night when the police officers stopped him at the junction. He said the policemen searched him and found nothing, but instead of letting him go, one insisted that he was a Yahoo boy despite explaining to the officer what he does for a living. READ MORE: We Cant Fuel Our Patrol Vehicles Anymore FCT Police Laments Fuel Price Hike Mr Godffrey said he also showed the officers his ID card, but they insisted he was lying. He said; The next thing was that they brought out a parcel of weed (he didnt know where it came from, but he was confident it wasnt from his bag) cause they already searched the first time. Ive never held a blunt in my life; I dont even have friends that come to smoke at my place, so why would I be carrying weed about? After everything, they said I was going to their Police station and would later hand me over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. After about two hours in handcuff inside their van, they finally agreed for me to pay them 100k, but I ended up paying 80k cause that was the only money I could access at that point. However, Mr Godffrey, called for a refund of his hard-earned money and justice for abusing his rights and privileges to free movement, insisted that he was ready for drug tests to prove he was not an Indian hemp smoker. The House of Representatives have moved to restrict telecommunication network providers against the act of reselling already purchased Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards to another subscriber after months of unuse. The lawmakers also warned the providers against the act as it mandated its soon-to-be-constituted Committee on Telecommunications to interface with Global System For Mobile Communication (GSM). Information Nigeria understands that the call followed the consideration of the motion moved by Boniface Sunday Emerengwa at the plenary on Tuesday. Emerengwa pointed that GSM came into Nigeria in 2001 with Econet (now Airtel) and MTN as the first providers. The advent of GSM enables Nigerians to have access to a variety of different services that were never possible or contemplated in the past such as Mobile Banking Services, etc. READ ALSO: Nigerians In Diaspora Wont Be Left Out In Our National Development Efforts Tinubu GSM has helped tremendously to improve the business environment in Nigeria, thereby providing ease of doing business in the country. SIM registration began in April 2010 upon directives from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to track subscribers in the possible event of an abuse of usage. The SIM registration entails the personal information and submission of individual biometric scans which are retained in the SIM by the Provider. The SIM cards paid for by individuals but not in use for six months are resold to another subscriber, he said. Checks over time reveal that, after registration of a fresh subscriber of a pre registered SIM, the details of the earlier subscriber still show when exposed through the True Caller Applications. Often times, bank alerts of old subscribers are sent to the new subscriber and vice-versa, thereby exposing customers to huge financial risk, particularly under the growing regime of fraudulent activities (Yahoo) Adopting the motion, the House gave the committee two weeks to execute the assignment and report back for further legislative action. No fewer than seven soldiers have been reportedly killed in an ambush by suspected bandits attack in Zamfara State. It was gathered that the Bandits, attacked the Kangon Garacce community under the Dangulbi district of the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara on Monday afternoon, killing several residents. However, a resident of Dangulbi community, Lawal Dangulbi told Channels Television on Tuesday that the troops were responding to a distress call about the attack on the community when they fell into the bandits ambush. The bandits divided themselves, some were attacking the community while some were stationed outside the community to prevent the military from assisting the villagers, they ambushed the troops and killed seven of them, he stated. READ MORE: Bandits Threaten To Marry Off Female Captives In Zamfara According to him, no fewer than 20 residents of the community were killed during the attack. Although the Nigerian Army authorities in Zamfara State have yet to comment on the incident, a security source who is familiar with the situation but preferred anonymity confirmed the attack to Channels Television. He said seven officers of the Nigerian Army were killed during the attack on Monday. Leader of the 10th Senate, Micheal Bamidele, has confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will send his ministerial list to the National Assembly within the next 48 hours. Bamidele revealed this on Tuesday during the public presentation of books to mark his 60th birthday at the Shehu Musa YarAdua Centre in Abuja. According to him, President Tinubu could not attend the event because of the ministerial list preparation. Quoting Tinubu, Bamidele said: Let me tell you and you must encourage me, I need to make myself unavailable for the next 48 hours because a correspondence must come to the Senate, a very crucial correspondence. So, Mr President prayed for me. We should tell the rest of Nigerians to pray for him to be able to make the right decision within the next 24 hours so that when Nigerians hear the list of his ministers, they will say yesthis is uncommon. READ ALSO: Enugu Govt Seals Shops Observing IPOB Sit-At-Home Order Join us to pray for Mr president. He needed to be away from any kind of influence, Bamidele said. Toyin Ogundipe, former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, at the event, called on political officeholders to cut the cost of governance and reduce the number of vehicles in their convoys. There is a need for our leaders to reduce the number of vehicles in their conveys so that Nigerians will know that you feel their pains, There is nothing Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) are doing in the entourage of the president and vice president once you have police in the convoy, Ogundipe said. A 58 years old India lawyer, identified as Bhadresh Gohil, was on Monday ordered by a UK court to pay more than 28 million in costs associated with criminal activity. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Gohil was previously found guilty of fraud and money laundering in a case involving allegations of corruption against a former governor of Delta State, James Ibori. Gohil was convicted in 2010 of 13 counts of money laundering and other offences linked to his role in helping Ibori hide the proceeds from criminal activities. He was ordered on Monday to pay just over 28 million or face a further six-year sentence, Reuters reported on Monday, citing a statement from Britains Crown Prosecution Office (CPS). The lawyer was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2010 and has served half of his sentence. The decision comes after Ibori, who was convicted for laundering millions in Britain and elsewhere, was on Friday ordered to pay 101.5 million ($130 million) or face an eight-year sentence. Recall that Ibori, vowed to appeal a United Kingdom court ruling which ordered a confiscation of 101.5 million linked to him. Concerned elders in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State chapter, have lampooned former President Goodluck Jonathans attempts to fill the States ministerial slot in President Bola Ahmed Tinubus cabinet. According to the Bayelsa APC Elders Council, Jonathan is attempting to produce a minister after actively and openly supporting Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, during the last general election. Michael Adomokeme, Chairman of the APC Elders Council in the State, speaking in Yenagoa, said it was wrong for Jonathan to reap where he did not sow. The Chairman who said the ex-President was acting unfairly compared his desperation to someone seeking to receive salaries from company A after working for company B. Meanwhile, Adomekeme, expressed confidence that President Tinubu, a well-known rewarder of hard work, would not allow a situation of monkey work, baboon chop. People shouldnt try to reap where they have never sowed. Some of us have been here since the early days of this party, when it was considered to be a taboo just by being a member. READ ALSO: APC Chairmen Endorse Ganduje As Adamus Successor You all remember, APC in Bayelsa was called either Islamic party or Hausa party by these same people. Fast forward to the 2023 elections President Jonathan did everything to make sure we failed, but we didnt as God would have it. What right has he to suddenly want to now nominate the minister from Bayelsa State? He was president for six years, he personally nominated dozens of Ministers. Why is he now so interested in just the single we as a party in Bayelsa wants to get? Is it to truncate the APCs visible path to victory come November? It is even an aberration and very demeaning for a former President to go cap-in-hand begging for a single ministerial slot. It ridicules and relegates the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria He has been dubbed a statesman and hero of democracy. Fine and good, let him continue being that and not being a statesman by day and a political lobbyist by night, Adomekeme said. When contacted, Wealth Dickson, the Media Aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, described the allegation as baseless and untrue. Amazon Web Services (AWS) has released a new service, AWS Entity Resolution, to help enterprises improve data quality for analytics and AI tasks. The new service uses machine learning to help business users in an enterprise match data from multiple data lakes or AWS storage, said Davor Golac, general manager for the service at AWS. It can be accessed via a no-code interface in the AWS Management Console. The service is aimed at cutting down enterprise expenditure on solving challenges around data quality, Golac said. For the US alone, enterprises spend around $3.1 trillion annually to improve data quality, he said. In contrast to the practice of developing, integrating and managing complex data pipelines for data reconciliation, the new services no-code interface can be used to either adopt pre-configured workflows or create custom rule-based workflows for any kind of record-matching and accuracy needed with the help of machine learning, the company said. Customers can set a higher threshold to obtain exact matches, or a lower threshold to match data across a broader set of results, it said. Once the threshold is set, the services machine learning model takes over and identifies data with similar attributes before clustering them together and generating a normalized data output in AWS S3 storage, Golac said, comparing the underlying principles of the service to vector or semantic search. The output normalized data can be used for analytics or AI tasks, he said. AWS said the Entity Resolution tool also negates the need for enterprises to hire developers and spend months developing their own machine learning model for data cleaning or normalization. The service is generally available and can be accessed across AWS locations including US East (Ohio), US East (N. Virginia), US West (Oregon), Asia Pacific (Seoul), Asia Pacific (Singapore), Asia Pacific (Sydney), Asia Pacific (Tokyo), Europe (Frankfurt), Europe (Ireland), and Europe (London), with availability for other regions to follow soon, the company said. AWS Entity Resolution is currently supported on Amazon S3 Storage. The company charges for the number of records processed per workflow at $0.25 per 1,000 records processed. Support for other data sources are expected to follow in the coming months, Golac said. Additionally, the company has integrated the service into offerings from data connectivity platform LiveRamp, American consumer credit reporting agency TransUnion, and open-source advertising framework Unified ID 2.0. During its annual re:Invent conference last year AWS hinted that it would launch a new service dubbed Identity Resolution while announcing its Data Clean Rooms service. The planned Identity Resolution service has been rebranded and launched as Entity Resolution, Golac said. Nicole Melchiorre (left), Tomas Nuscis (center), and Dave Christian (right) at their legal marijuana dispensary, Shore House Canna LLC, in West Cape May, New Jersey. Read more Come the end of summer, Cape May County could see what may be its first legal cannabis dispensary open for business. Shore House Canna LLC, located at 124 Sunset Blvd. in West Cape May, hopes to start legally selling cannabis by Labor Day a move that would make it not only the countys first legal dispensary, but among the first in any beach town in New Jersey, save for Atlantic City. We can smell the finish, said Dave Christian, a principal with Shore House Canna. Advertisement The opening of Shore House Canna will cap off a two-and-a-half-year journey for Christian, fellow principal Nicole Melchiorre and CEO Tomas Nuscis. Nuscis, the owner of Pappys Pig Roast & Barbecue in Marmora, Cape May County, has been interested in the cannabis industry since New Jersey started medical marijuana sales about a decade ago, Christian said. Finding the right town and one that would allow them to open was the difficult part, Christian said. Thats not unique in New Jersey. An estimated 70% of the states municipalities have opted out of allowing marijuana businesses, leaving about 170 marijuana-friendly towns in the state. Of those that opted in, Christian said, many adopted restrictive zoning rules that made opening a marijuana business nearly impossible. Lots of people were scared of [cannabis] in the early days, and still are, Christian said. They restricted themselves so much, there was no way to put a legal cannabis shop in their town. Shore House Canna, however, ultimately found a welcoming home in West Cape May, which Christian credits to Mayor Carol E. Sabo. Still, the regulatory process has not yet run its course, and theyre essentially waiting on approval from the state to open. They initially hoped to start sales on the unofficial marijuana holiday of 4/20, and then Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July after that. The timeline hasnt been something we can control a lot, Melchoirre said, adding that a Labor Day opening is a lofty goal. Vibe-wise, Shore House Canna hopes to bring a more casual atmosphere to legal weed sales in New Jersey. Typically, marijuana dispensaries in the state run on a staid, pharmacy-type model, which Christian credited to the prevalence of multistate corporate cannabis operators in New Jersey. Instead, Shore House Canna aims to have a style along the lines of surf shop-meets-weed shop, Christian said. We expect people with sandy, bare feet coming in and shopping for weed, Christian said. Come in with a wet bathing suit and pick up a pre-roll. A big part of that planned informality is a walk-up window or rollup window, as Shore House Canna calls it. A rare, if not unheard of, sight in New Jersey, it will allow customers to preorder their selections ahead on an app, and instead of standing in line, they can walk up to the bank teller-like window and grab their order to go. In the future, the company also hopes to offer delivery to customers nearby, once New Jersey gets that system up and running. No consumption lounge, where customers can consume the marijuana they buy on-site, is planned. While the shop is eyeing an opening at the end of summer, Christian said he expects business to remain steady throughout the year. The nearest operating dispensaries, he said, are in Vineland, Egg Harbor, and Atlantic City, about 45 minutes to an hour from West Cape May. Having a dispensary in town, he said, will save all cannabis consumers even those who use it medically that trouble. (Two other dispensaries, Sea & Leaf LLC and Potent Petal LLC, are reportedly working to open in the county as well.) But then, of course, theres always next summer. We will be bursting at the seams, Christian said. Republican state legislators are asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to revive the impeachment drive against District Attorney Larry Krasner, seen here at an unrelated news conference this summer. Read more The Pennsylvania legislators who helped lead an effort to impeach Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner last year have asked the state Supreme Court to overturn a prior court ruling that had put the matter on indefinite hold. In their new filing, Republican state representatives Timothy Bonner and Craig Williams, wrote that the Commonwealth Court was wrong when it essentially struck down the articles of impeachment filed against Krasner, a Democrat, as legally insufficient. In addition, the legislators, who accused Krasner of failing to fulfill his responsibilities, contend that some of the allegations they raised against the citys reform-oriented prosecutor arguably describe criminal conduct by him or others in his office. The filing cites Krasners handling of the murder case against former city police officer Ryan Pownall as one example. A city judge eventually tossed out that case, saying prosecutors had failed to provide a grand jury with proper legal instructions as the panel weighed whether to approve charges. In their appeal, Bonner, of Mercer and Butler Counties, and Williams, of Delaware and Chester Counties, alleged that Krasners office had deliberately abused grand jury and judicial processes and intentionally deprived Officer Pownall of his constitutional rights. Such conduct, the legislators argued, not only meets the legal standard required for impeachment known as misbehavior in office they also said it could be considered a crime, such as official oppression. Advertisement READ MORE: Pa. Commonwealth Court releases opinion calling impeachment articles against DA Larry Krasner legally insufficient I intend to prove that this was also a crime if the case is brought before the state Senate, Williams said in an interview. Jane Roh, a spokesperson for Krasner, called the appeal another improper attempt to nullify the election of a local official over politics or policy disagreements. The Commonwealth Courts earlier review of House Republicans specious claims about DA Krasner was thorough, Roh said.And there is no reason to doubt that a higher court will not arrive at a similarly fair judgement of House Republicans bad-faith, partisan attack on Philadelphia voters. The filing is unlikely to lead to any immediate movement in the long-stalled impeachment drive, which began last year. Even if the appeal succeeds, its unclear how, when, or even whether the legislative attempt to oust Krasner from office might resume. Why was Krasner impeached? The state House voted last fall to impeach Krasner over what GOP members called his failure to address the citys gun violence crisis, his obstruction of a legislative committee, and his offices performance in several court cases. The vote was largely along party lines, and came as Republicans were poised to lose their majority in the chamber for the first time in decades. Krasner denied each of the accusations and sued in Commonwealth Court, saying the effort to remove him was unlawful. In December, the court sided with him on the heart of his challenge, ruling that the articles of impeachment appeared largely based on disagreements about how he was running his office, not evidence that hed performed his duties with an improper or corrupt motive, the standard for impeachment and removal. For any lawmaker to be removed, a simple majority in the state House must first approve articles of impeachment, and the state Senate must then conduct a trial and approve at least one of the articles by a two-thirds vote. READ MORE: What exactly is DA Larry Krasner being charged with? We explain each impeachment article. In January, after the Commonwealth Court had issued its ruling siding with Krasner, the state Senate which is controlled by Republicans moved to postpone Krasners trial indefinitely. When will the courts weigh in? It was not clear Wednesday how quickly the state Supreme Court might rule on the new appeal. And Bruce Ledewitz, a Duquesne University professor of state and federal constitutional law, said its decision could be limited in scope. Ledewitz pointed out that the case has an unusual procedural history, because one of the Commonwealth Court judges who initially backed much of Krasners position later wrote that hed changed his mind on some of the issues and that the legislature, not the courts, should decide them. That change of heart could cause the high court to ask Commonwealth Court to first revisit the case before it decides to weigh in. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court may send it back to clarify what it is they should be reviewing before they even go forward, Ledewitz said. In addition, Ledewitz said, more potential confusion awaits in the legislature. At any Senate trial, he said, the House is expected to appoint the lawmakers who will serve as prosecutors. But the GOP no longer has a controlling majority in the House, and Democrats may not be eager to proceed with the exercise, he said even if the courts say the impeachment articles are on sound legal footing. If the House doesnt want to go forward, the Senate may very well say, Well, theres nothing for us to do, and the whole thing would sort of drift away, Ledewitz said. Jared Solomon, one of the Democrats appointed to present the case to the Senate, provided a glimpse of the potential discord, writing on Twitter that his GOP colleagues were wasting time they should be spending finding real solutions to Philadelphias gun violence crisis, and saying he would fight to protect Pennsylvanians right to choose their elected representatives. In an interview, Solomon added: There was no alleged corruption, theres no crime, and this is about silencing voters. Williams disagreed with Ledewitzs assessment about the potential future of the case, saying its his belief that the same lawmakers who were initially appointed to present it to the Senate would be retained if it moves forward to trial. As for who might prosecute Krasner if his conduct was indeed viewed as criminal, Williams said he believed that responsibility would fall to the states Attorney General a post he acknowledged hes considering running for in the 2024 election cycle. Right now what Im doing is communicating around the state, trying to find out what it is people are looking for in their attorney general, Williams said. The response so far has been fantastic. I think they are looking to me, but we have not yet pulled the trigger on that. Superintendent Abram Lucabaugh and Board President Dana Hunter listen to members of the public during a July 2022 board meeting. Read more The Central Bucks school board approved an $85,500 raise for its superintendent Tuesday night despite objections from community members who questioned the justification for such a steep increase. The Republican-controlled board, which has been embroiled in culture war battles since the pandemic, approved a new five-year contract for Superintendent Abram Lucabaugh with a base salary of $315,000 a nearly 40% increase over the $229,500 he made last year. Since Lucabaugh who was hired in 2021 with a salary of $225,000 was just two years into his five-year contract, the board first accepted his resignation before voting 6-3 to approve the new deal, which puts him among Pennsylvanias top-earning superintendents. Only Philadelphias Tony Watlington was paid more last year, with a salary of $340,000. The new contract was disclosed Monday with the posting of the agenda for Tuesdays board meeting. Advertisement If that isnt the definition of shady, I dont know what is, said Laurie Ann Moore, a retired teacher from Buckingham Township, addressing the board before the vote. Lucabaugh has supported controversial policies enacted by the boards Republican majority, such as bans on teacher advocacy in classrooms including the display of Pride flags, which Lucabaugh likened to political symbols and on sexualized content in library books. Some in the community suggested that board members were trying to tie the hands of their potential replacements: With five of nine seats up for election in November and Democrats vying to take control of the board, any future move to terminate Lucabaugh would require paying him a year of severance, at the increased salary. (Lucabaugh will also be entitled to raises of 2.5% a year in the first two years of the contract, and 3% each of the remaining three years.) This is an extraordinary change, said Ginger Hardwick, an employment lawyer in Doylestown. She noted other enhancements, including increases in district contributions to Lucabaughs retirement account and in compensation for unused sick and vacation days. (Under the former contract, Lucabaugh would be paid for up to 10 unused vacation days a year, with no cash payment for unused sick days; the new contract provides for payments for 15 unused vacation days a year and 25 unused sick days.) I look at contracts for a living; Ive never seen a change like this, Hardwick said at the board meeting, adding that there should have been real negotiations between the board and Lucabaugh before the deal was final. Board members who approved the contract didnt offer specifics Tuesday about how the raise or other terms were calculated though they noted that Central Bucks had previously accepted superintendents resignations in order to grant new contracts. Democrats accused the Republicans of negotiating behind closed doors, while some Republicans said they had seen the contract only when the whole board received it, on Friday. This is a total affront to the taxpayer, said Democratic board member Mariam Mahmud. The board voted last month to raise taxes for the coming school year by 2.75%. Lucabaugh did not talk about his contract during the Tuesday meeting, and did not respond to a reporters request for comment. Republicans said they believed that it was worth retaining Lucabaugh, a former Central Bucks assistant superintendent and principal who was named superintendent in September 2021. Over the last year, many have been recruiting him, said the boards president, Dana Hunter. Of Lucabaughs performance, we are bringing in tremendous talent and programs in academic instruction that other schools are not offering, said board member Debra Cannon. She read a list of attributes that community members surveyed in 2021 had said they wanted in their superintendent: has a clear educational vision, works well to set a clear direction for the district, is student centered and is safety centered. Are you going to sit there and say none of that is Dr. Lucabaugh? she said. (Yes! some in the crowd called out.) Board members noted Central Buckss size the third-largest district in the state, it enrolls more than 17,000 students and suggested Lucabaugh was underpaid. They also praised his actions regarding Michael London, a former Central Bucks teacher charged earlier this month with corruption of a minor, for allegedly sending messages of a sexual nature to a child. Lucabaugh said that after an initial probe by the Bucks County district attorney didnt find evidence of criminal wrongdoing, he commissioned an internal investigation that led to the charges. We voted to fire that man, and that, in a normal situation, for a normal superintendent, would be the end of it, said board member Jim Pepper. But Lucabaugh dug, and he dug, and he dug. Pepper said Lucabaughs raise was worth every single penny. Speaking at the start of the meeting, Lucabaugh linked sexual misconduct by employees to the debate around school library books. He noted the districts recent ban of This Book is Gay, a nonfiction book that aims to serve as a guide to LGBTQ relationships with suggestions for using hookup apps, Lucabaugh said. Given that the most recent occurrence of employee misconduct involved the use of one of these sex apps, I find it inconceivable anybody would support the existence of this content in our libraries, Lucabaugh said. He said there was absolutely no reason for anyone to engage students in conversations about their sexual habits, their sexual preferences or their sexual orientation, adding: If you think its acceptable, this is your notice. Im going to come for you. That comment didnt sit well with some community members. Its unfounded and frankly disgusting to connect access to library books to criminal behavior, said resident Amanda Paschke, who called it very disturbing the superintendent would issue a direct threat. Paschke and others questioned the message sent to Central Bucks employees by the size of Lucabaughs raise suggesting the district should instead pay more competitive wages for support staff, when it had more than 130 openings. (Lucabaugh said Tuesday that the district was hiring 58 support staff members, among a host of other positions.) They also objected to the districts costs for Duane Morris, the law firm hired to probe allegations of anti-LGBTQ discrimination that have been under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education. The firm, which determined that the claims were unfounded, has billed more than $1 million. How much more do the taxpayers have to pay? said Steve McComas, a pastor who lives in Doylestown. The boards defenders said critics were simply being political. You dont care about the 315, Mara Witsen, of Chalfont, said of Lucabaughs new salary. You care about who this is, and what they believe in. Dalrymple's Card & Gift Shoppe in Sea Isle City has been the town's general store since 1963. Jersey Shore visitors often begin their vacations by touching base with the proprietors of these places, which offer everything from Band-Aids to boogie boards. Read more If youre standing in line to pay at Dalrymples Card & Gift Shoppe in Sea Isle City this summer, settle in and relax. This could take awhile. Were open to any kind of talking with customers at any time, said owner Charles Dalrymple, whose family founded the general store in 1963. Even if theres a line. His sister, Val Dalrymple Gaughen, agreed: Were often the first stop people make as they return for vacation after a year. It starts with, Hello, were back. You dont want to cut them off when they begin chatting. That casual manner and genial attitude are signature features of the Jersey Shore general store places like Dalrymples that sell practically anything, from Band-Aids to boogie boards, in beach towns up and down the coast. Patrons often arent merely repeat customers, but human links in chains of relationships that go back generations. The mom and dad buying those sandals and tubes of sunscreen today first squirmed in the store 30, 35 years ago, clamoring for beach pails and shovels. Celebrated for their convenience (even if their prices might be a bit high) as well as their if-we-dont-have-it-you-dont-need-it charm, Shore general stores breed loyalty in their customers, and a sentimentality that elevates their significance. These family stores theyre personable, said Marissa Kevilus, 45, a Yardley IT worker who left Dalrymples with a canvas beach bag filled with treasure. Theres a nostalgia here thats lost when youre shopping on Amazon or at Target. Advertisement People in the store genuinely want to help you find something. It brings back the idea that people really do care and want to engage. We grew up in communities during the age of small shops, not Best Buys. Without them, youd lose a lot. Were never selling Its impossible to list every Shore general store, though most of the towns have them, or establishments like them, and people arent shy about shouting out some of their favorites: Bains Point Hardware in Point Pleasant Beach; Shorelines Shell Shop in Wildwood; Diamond Beach Bums in Wildwood Crest; Pessanos Variety in Ocean City; Shore and More General Store in Seaside Park; Hands on Long Beach Island; and Hoys 5 & 10 in Ocean City (two locations), Stone Harbor, and Avalon. In New Jersey, 16% of all stores, or 64,604, are listed as general merchandise, according to a 2021 New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development report. More such places are closing than opening: Their overall number has declined from 67,509 in 2010 to 64,604 in 2020, the report said. These stores sell everything and do quite well, said Richard Bernstein, emeritus economics professor from Temple University who summers in Barnegat Light. They charge higher prices because theyre convenient, and many arent open year-round. They have a pretty wide selection. Bernstein wondered how many stores may ultimately be sold and turned into beachside homes, since the most valuable property on the Shore is residential. Real estate stagnated from 2008 to 2020, but suddenly increased 25% to 30% after COVID-19 hit, Bernstein said. Much of the rise was fueled by an influx of workers from New York, Philadelphia, and elsewhere who could suddenly work remotely, brokers have reported. Dont look for Dalrymples to be sold any time soon, Charles Dalrymple, 67, said, with sister Angel Dalrymple taking an even more adamant tone: Were never selling, Angel, 78, said. Gaughen, 71, put it into perspective, adding, This is family. This is blood. And were part of this community. Charlies daughter, Nicole Dalrymple Conahan, 35, whos equipped with a marketing degree from Drexel University, manages the store and is expecting to take Dalrymples into the future. Our life has been this place, she said simply. Such is the state of affairs in the Hoys group of 5 & 10 stores. Theyve been in my family since 1935, when my grandfather started them, said owner David Hoy, 70, standing in his Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue Ocean City shop. He added that his son, David, 30, is the heir apparent. You hear few complaints from people, who come in at the start of their vacations, Hoy said. Although, some young kids wonder why theres nothing in our 5 & 10 that actually costs just 5 or 10 cents. At Hands General & Hardware Supply in North Beach Haven on Long Beach Island, the founders family no longer runs things, but the current owners understand the importance of being a place of permanence for customers, according to Johnny McGee, the stores hardware manager. Im not in the original family, but I started here when I was 14 and now Im 31, he said. McGee added that Hands actually saves peoples vacations. Because of the wide selection of hardware and traditional beach general store inventory, people dont have to travel to mainland big-box stores to get what they need. No one in summer wants to go off-island, sitting in traffic for two to three hours to get something that we probably have, McGee said. Customer Kathy Pappas, 56, was certain a time-consuming trek to Home Depot was in her near future when she realized she needed a new toilet seat for the house her parents bought in 1970. But Hands had it, exclaimed Pappas, a homemaker from Boonton, Morris County, as she held up her inelegant prize. I love it here. Ive been in this store every summer since I was 3. Patron John Feliciano, 42, an electrician from Flemington, Hunterdon County, was equally enthusiastic as he purchased door locks and a ring toss game for his kids. Not long ago, he needed a particular cord to connect his phone to a projector to show photos for a family funeral. Hands had it, but it wasnt for sale; the cord was being used by the store. But Hands personnel allowed Feliciano to borrow it. What people, what a place, he said. If you need it, you go to this spot. This store will have it. A member of the Iraqi forces walks past a mural bearing the logo of the Islamic State (IS) group in 2017. Read more Federal authorities have charged a sophomore at Pennsylvania State Universitys Abington campus with lying about his contacts with ISIS sympathizers and assistance he gave to the plotters of an averted terrorist attack in Chicago last year. Kamal Fataliev, 19, of Philadelphia, posted more than 200 bomb, poison, and weapons-making manuals to multiple terrorism-related chat groups while working part-time and attending business classes at the university, prosecutors said. His involvement came to light after the FBI disrupted the Chicago plot and discovered more than 700 messages between him and one of the suspects last year. And yet, when agents confronted him about those contacts, Fataliev twice lied about his involvement, according to court papers filed in conjunction with his arrest. Through his lies, Fataliev sought to frustrate an investigation into the identities of others who may have access to bomb making manuals and similar resources that he posted in two separate online groups populated with terror supporters, Assistant U.S. Attorney Vineet Gauri said in a detention memo filed last week. Advertisement He faces two counts of lying to the FBI, punishable by up to five years in prison should he be convicted. Prosecutors declined to discuss why they chose to charge him with that crime instead of a more serious count like providing material support to terrorists, which carries a 20-year maximum sentence and has been levied against dozens of other Americans accused of aiding plots by ISIS and other foreign extremist groups. Honor student on campus, alleged ISIS contact online During a brief appearance in federal court last week, Fataliev appeared sullen and withdrawn. He said little as he entered a plea of not guilty. His attorney, federal public defender Jonathan Alan McDonald, described the allegations against Fataliev as vague. For all the talk of terrorism, hes not being charged with any sort of violent act, McDonald said. His only engagement is in online chats. What led Fataliev, a legal permanent resident with Russian citizenship, into extremism remains unclear. McDonald did not return to requests for comment. But he described Fataliev in court as an exemplary student a graduate of Pennsbury High School in Bucks County and a National Business Honor Society member who maintains a 3.99 GPA while working in IT support at the university. He seems to be in all other aspects, a young man going in a very positive direct, McDonald told the judge. Prosecutors said that success masked Fatalievs darker proclivities online. When agents first obtained a warrant to search his home last year, he admitted to keeping hundreds of firearms and explosives manuals on his computer, they said. Fataliev told investigators that hed provided the materials to people he believed to be legitimate ISIS fighters. In a separate interview a few months later, he told agents hed abandoned radicalism and had sworn off any further contact with terror-related online groups, according to court filings. That resolve didnt last, Gauri said. Within months, Fataliev offered to assist a cooperating FBI witness who was posing as a terrorist in planning a Memorial Day weekend attack this year, Gauri said in court last week. According to government court filings, Fataliev helped connect the witness with terrorists he knew overseas and offered suggestions, such as advice to buy the supplies needed to build the bomb at different stores so it would be harder for investigators to track down the source afterward. Just before the holiday weekend, agents once again confronted Fataliev. This time, he insisted he never offered any advice or encouragement for an attack and said he didnt know the timeline of any impending terrorist strikes. The FBI has given this young man plenty of opportunities to straighten out his life, Gauri said. Fataliev remains in federal custody after U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth T. Hey determined he was a risk of flight and ordered him held until trial. She noted hed made two separate trips to the Russian consulate in New York City after he knew he was under investigation. Following Fatalievs arrest, prosecutors said, his father asked if he should take his son out of the country. A trial date has not yet been set in Fatalievs case. Philadelphia 76ers co-owner and Fanatics executive Michael Rubin, left, listens as recordng artist Meek Mill speaks at the launch of a partnership of sports, business and recording artists who hope to transform the American criminal justice system, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Read more Reginald Smaller was on the Schuylkill Expressway headed home after a DJ gig about 2:30 a.m. when a drunken driver rear-ended his vehicle near the 30th Street exit in 2016. For the next three months, he lay at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and then rehab, dealing with a long list of medical issues including traumatic brain injury. But Smaller was also on probation. By the time he finally arrived home from MossRehab, he faced another serious problem: a bench warrant for his arrest, accusing him of not checking in with his probation officer. Probation was originally designed as a second chance for those coming out of prison to reintegrate into society and move on with building a productive life, but its become for many a pathway back to prison. Nationally, one out of every 59 adults is on probation or parole. In Pennsylvania, it is one in 37 adults, or about 100,000 people. The state has the fourth highest population under community supervision in the United States. Advertisement According to Reform Alliance, an organization that has been advocating for probation reform for years, the states lengthy probation sentences have trapped people in supervision without end. In June the state Senate approved a bipartisan reform bill and the full House of Representatives is expected to approve the legislation when it reconvenes in September. The price of technical violations The primary reason for the long probation time is the time tacked on for technical violations. The Senate bill would narrow the legal definition of technical violations and the circumstances under which people are returned to custody because of them. Now, the list of potential technical violations is long: Failing a drug test, failing to notify your probation officer about a change of job or address, quitting your job or leaving school, failing to provide a DNA sample if requested, and failing to complete mandatory drug or alcohol counseling are just a few. Before his accident, Smaller had successfully completed three years of parole with no violations and had started his two-year probation sentence on equally good footing. During the time I was in the hospital, my PO switched over. [The new PO] tried to reach me via mail but I didnt see the mail for three months. I had three letters. The first letter stating a PO change and I had to report and come and see [the new PO]. The second one said I missed that date. And the third was a bench warrant for arrest due to non-compliance. I was in a coma, coming out of accident ... In my state, nobody thought to reach out to the PO officer. Smaller hadviolated the rule of meeting with his probation officer when required. I was in a coma, coming out of accident, with a speech impairment and motor skill problems, a dislocated pelvis, seizures, a skull fracture, a broken jaw. During the time my mom and now ex-girlfriend were not really worried about letters. In my state, nobody thought to reach out to the PO officer, Smaller said. By the time he got to his PO officer to prove his story, despite having a record free of violations and having started a youth mentoring program, he still received an additional year tacked on to his probation. At first I thought my story was unique, but I heard of people getting technical violations for going out of [the] county, or for a traffic citation and then going back to jail. Smaller said. The smallest infraction of the rules can lead to serious disruption of your family or job life. Probation is designed for people to fail Reform Alliance was founded in the wake of the Grammy-nominated rapper Meek Mills 2017 sentencing to two to four years in prison for doing wheelies on a dirt bike and violating his parole, sparking protests and the Free Meek Mill movement. Mills original sentence was for 11 to 23 months, but technical violations had extended his time under supervision to a decade. READ MORE: Supporters of imprisoned Meek Mill rally outside courthouse In January 2019, a group of artists and activists, including Mill, Jay-Z, and businessman Michael Rubin, pledged $50 million to create Reform Alliance and work to make probation less onerous. Probation is designed for people to fail, said Ron Alexander, who has been trying to get a stable job since his probation ended. When I was on probation, they would not let me off because I owed them money. Alexander was 35 and a successful Philadelphian marketing consultant when he began his struggle with drug addiction in the early 2000s. At first, I made enough money to afford my habit, Alexander said. Eventually, he needed more money than he earned and that lead to theft, a plea bargain, and ultimately house arrest for felony larceny. I was on probation for one or two years. Alexander, now 72, served his probation time without any more problems and thought he was done with the system. He is still trying to rebuild his career and life. He moved to Florida and attempted to get a job last year as a behavioral health specialist working with others struggling with addiction, but his background check showed he had a bench warrant in Philadelphia for owing $500 in fees. Failing to pay fines, fees, or restitution is also a technical violation. The only reason they didnt come and get me is because Philadelphia didnt think it was worth it, Alexander said. Erin Haney, Reforms senior director of policy and law, said that about 100,000 Pennsylvanians are on probation and that the current legislation is built from the stories of everyday people. The ACLU-PA agrees that the states probation system is antiquated but disagrees that the current bill, like earlier iterations of the bill, is the answer. It released a statement opposing the bill, saying that the legislation doesnt go far enough. It risks making probation worse in Pennsylvania by enabling debtors probation, trapping people too poor to pay restitution on probation and by making it easier to incarcerate someone for technical violations, including for mere allegations of misconduct. Haney says that Reform takes opposition to the bill very seriously, but that organizations cannot allow perfection to stand in the way of progress. Nothing in the bill makes the system worse, she said. To deny 100,000 people essential relief because it doesnt go far enough is unconscionable. Yardley-Makefield Marine Rescue leaving the Yardley Boat Ramp along North River Road heading down the Delaware River on July 17. Read more Police on Wednesday announced that the active search has ended for 9-month-old Conrad Sheils, who disappeared during the deadly flash floods in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County, earlier this month. The massive search has been ongoing with drones, boats, K-9 dogs, divers, sonar, air assets, and hundreds of personnel since the floods swept away seven people on July 15, the Upper Makefield Police Department said in a statement posted on Facebook just after 3:20 p.m. Six bodies of the missing have been recovered, including the boys mother, 32-year-old Katheryn Seley, and the boys sister, 2-year-old Matilda Mattie Sheils, whose body was found on Friday in the Delaware River near the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia more than 30 miles from where she disappeared. At this point, we have exhausted all means of attempting to locate Conrad. With broken hearts, we regretfully announce that the active search for Conrad has concluded, the Upper Makefield police said. The family has been made aware of this development and they would like to express their deepest gratitude for all those involved in the search efforts to bring Conrad home and to all of you for all your outpouring of love, support, and kind words during this extremely difficult time, the police said. Advertisement Like all of you, we are truly heartbroken and saddened. Although, at this time, we were unable to reunite Conrad with his loving family, he will forever live in our hearts and he will never be forgotten, the police said. The childrens father, Jim Sheils, survived, along with a 4-year-old son, Jack. The other victims were Enzo DePiero, 78, Linda DePiero, 74, and Yuko Love, 64, all of Newtown Township, and Susan Barnhart, 53, of Titusville, N.J. Also on Wednesday, PennDot announced that initial repair work had been completed on Washington Crossing Road where the deadly flooding occurred and the road was reopened. Additional bridge repair will be performed in the same area during the day from July 31 through Aug. 4, PennDot said. Mourners arrive for the viewing and funeral service for Philadelphia Police Officer Lynneice Hill, who died July 15 from a medical emergency, at the Mt Airy Church of God in Christ, in Philadelphia, Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Read more Philadelphia Police Officer Lynneice Hill, 44, who died July 14 after an apparent medical emergency, was laid to rest by her family, friends and fellow police officers Wednesday morning. Hundreds of Philadelphia Police officers and friends and family gathered at the Mt Airy Church of God in Christ on Ogontz Avenue to bid their last farewells to Hill, a 24-year veteran, who was described by her husband as superwoman. Her fellow officers, clad in light blue, saluted the incoming procession of cars, as Hills family and friends arrived to pay their last respects. Hill was deeply religious, her husband Dennis Smith said, and was an ordained minister at Jones Temple Church of God in Christ, in Fairmount. She was active in the churchs youth program, he said, but her passion for charitable work extended beyond her job and place of worship. Advertisement For more than three years, twice a month, Hill delivered groceries to people with cancer across the city, said Michael Rowe, CEO of Legacy of Hope, a Philadelphia nonprofit that supports people with the disease. City and law enforcement officials, including Mayor Jim Kenney and Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, attended the viewing and services. My heart is with her family, loved ones, and PPD colleagues, Kenney wrote in a post on Twitter Wednesday. Hill, who most recently worked in the 3rd District, was working an overtime assignment in the parking lot of the T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods stores in the 1800 block of South Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Outlaw said. An officer saw her about 5 p.m. July 14 and spoke to Hill, who didnt show any signs of pain or sickness, she said. A few hours later, people in the parking lot walking into the store saw Hill eating in her car. When people exited the store shortly before 9 p.m. that night, they saw Hill slumped over and called 911, a police source said. Medics performed CPR on Hill and she was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, Outlaw said. She leaves behind her husband Smith, a police officer assigned to the 14th District, two sons, a daughter and three grandchildren. Smith and Hill grew up together in North Philadelphia, he said, and the two joined the police department a year apart. She would do anything, really everything, for anybody, Smith previously told The Inquirer. She took care of everyone. She was just a star. Shea Russo, who said she was addicted to herion, speaks during rally outside federal court to support supervised injection sites as the Safehouse case moves through a federal appeals court in Philadelphia in November 2020. Russo, who lives in Kensington, is in recovery. Read more The Department of Justice has asked a federal court to dismiss a case from the Philadelphia-based nonprofit Safehouse that seeks to allow it to open a supervised injection site in the city, signaling that months of negotiations have broken down with no deal. Now, both sides are preparing to square off in court over Safehouses contention that its leaders have a religious duty to intervene to stop potential overdose deaths. Federal laws barring the operation of supervised injection sites, Safehouse alleges, unconstitutionally prevent them from practicing elements of their faith. We are pained that as the overdose death rate increases every year, the government is preventing us from following our deeply held religious convictions, Safehouse board member Frank James III said in a statement. The data show that overdose prevention sites save lives, and we are committed to saving lives. Advertisement But in its filing, the Justice Department alleges that Safehouse, by its own admission, is not itself a religious organization. Additionally, its reasoning for its proposal to open a supervised injection site is socio-political, medical, and philosophical rather than based on religious grounds. As a result, the Justice Department argues, not allowing Safehouse to open would not be a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, which prohibits government entities from infringing on the free exercise of religion. Safehouses view is an individual, medical, and public health-based judgment, informed by an admittedly ongoing and serious public health crisis, but it is not a religious belief, the filing states. The disagreement comes after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled in 2021 that Safehouses proposed facility would run afoul of a federal law commonly known as the crack-house statute. Passed during the height of the crack-cocaine epidemic, that law makes it a crime for anyone to operate a facility for the purpose of unlawfully using controlled substances. Though Safehouse had raised the religious exemption claims earlier in their legal fight, they opted not to pursue them in court until after the Third Circuit ruled against them. The legal battle began in 2019, when the Justice Department, then led by U.S. Attorney General William Barr, sued to block Safehouse from opening what would have been the first supervised injection site in the country, saying it would violate the crack-house statute. Judge Gerald A. McHugh rejected that argument, finding instead that Safehouses goal was to reduce drug use rather than facilitate it. But the Third Circuit overturned that decision. From there, Safehouse supporters returned to court with additional legal claims, including the argument that their religious beliefs require them to offer lifesaving medical care as provided at a supervised injection site. Settlement talks ensued, and initially appeared to be leading to a resolution. Now, with the Justice Departments latest filing, those settlement talks appear to have failed. Safehouse is due to respond to the motion by Aug. 15. The Justice Department must reply to that response by Sept. 8. Church personnel inspect damages inside the Odesa Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa, Ukraine, Sunday, July 23, 2023, following Russian missile attacks. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Read more Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter Happy Wednesday. Itll be a hot one today. Please stay hydrated and expect a high of 90. Russia recently backed out of a U.N-brokered deal that partially lifted a blockage that stopped desperately needed Ukrainian grain exports. Those exports helped prevent famine. Soon after President Vladimir Putin pulled out of the deal, Russia began firing missiles into Odesas port, its grain silos, and smaller Ukrainian grain ports on the Danube River. Putin is now attacking the center of the city. Our lead story is Trudy Rubins latest column, written from Odesa, after Russian missiles struck the largest Russian Orthodox church in Ukraine. Advertisement Taylor Allen (@TayImanAllen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here. Putins military fired a missile through the roof of the historic Russian Orthodox Transfiguration Cathedral in the middle of Odesa. The missile tore off the roof and slammed into the marble altar. In the aftermath, Columnist Trudy Rubin recounts her time walking through the shattered church as she watched workers and priests struggle to save icons and prop up pillars. In her own words: Russias deliberate attack on the Transfiguration Cathedral makes clear how little Putin cares about Russian-speaking Ukrainians despite his claims that he started this war to protect them, Rubin wrote. Keep reading for a priests first-hand account from the night the missiles struck the heart and soul of Odesa. Were in for high heat and high humidity this week as we enter a heat wave. Recent data from Climate Central ranks Philly as the sixth highest U.S. city in its share of residents who experience the urban heat-island effect of more than 9 degrees compared to those living in non-urban areas. Important note: Climate Central did not base its study on actual temperatures. Its based on modeling that combines data from satellite imagery, land cover, green space, building footprints, transportation, and census tract population data. Scientists use the data to model which tracts would likely be warmer than others. For example, buildings and roads absorb and reemit the suns heat more than forests and rivers. Dark surfaces like black asphalt roofs reflect less light and retain more heat. This is why certain areas can become hotter during extreme heat compared to suburban and rural areas, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Keep reading to see how Philly compares to other major cities. What you should know today Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, is expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax offenses as part of a plea deal. Whats happening now? Prosecutors zeroed in on Bidens failure to pay taxes in 2017 and 2018 and lying about his substance abuse on a firearm application form in 2018. After the investigation was opened in 2021, he paid back the taxes in full. Biden has not entered a plea to the firearm charge, but news reports say he will enter into an agreement with prosecutors to avoid jail time. Whats the plea agreement? Biden will plead guilty to two tax charges and reached a pretrial agreement for the gun charge. This likely means the gun case will be wiped from his record as long as he adheres to the agreements conditions. Keep reading to learn how we got here and what happens next. Trivia time Philadelphians often refer to I-476 highway as the Blue Route. Where did the color in its name come from? A) The colored pencils planners used to sketch possible routes B) The color of the highway C) The main planners last name D) None of the above Think you know? Check your answer. What were... Watching: The U.S. Department of Education launched a civil rights investigation into Harvard Universitys policies on legacy admissions. Viewing: A gallery of three generations of Calder art on the Ben Franklin Parkway. Unscramble the anagram Hint: Go to the zoo and the beach MACY PEA Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Robert Dickinson, who correctly guessed Tuesdays answer: Cris Pannullo. Photo of the day Im off for my first cup of coffee. Thank you for waking up with The Inquirer. The devastation left behind from the floods in Central-West of NSW in November last year continues to be felt, said ICA CEO Andrew Hall. Giving insurance customers in regional communities the opportunity to speak to their insurer in-person is vitally important to the recovery process, and insurers continue to visit the region as the recovery continues. We believe that the insurance industry can play a leadership role in our ability to be able to prevent these attacks from happening, said Jackson. Its not necessarily just about incident response but about being able to provide a holistic approach as to how companies can be more cyber resilient. While acknowledging that Clear Blue is aggressively looking to address concerns, AM Best went on to emphasize the execution and timing risks associated with the process, noting that its review period will offer an opportunity to closely monitor the effectiveness of management initiatives in mitigating any potential impact. This includes assessing whether additional reinsurer participation or other measures can protect its balance sheet. The IBA research team conducted a survey of a wide range of insurance brokerages to identify the factors brokers consider when working with construction insurers. The team also asked brokers across the US to rate the construction insurers they had worked with over the past 12 months. The insurance companies that received the highest rankings regarding work quality, specialist expertise, and client service were named IBA 5-Star Construction 2023 award winners. It was a shared vision on how to best meet the needs of our customers that made this the right fit for Independence. With Sun Life, we can add even more value to our employer groups plans, he said. This post is part of a series sponsored by AgentSync. As Floridas state-backed insurer of last resort takes on more than a million policies, Colorado considers devising its own insurance scheme to provide coverage for those no longer eligible in fire-risk zones. As other states enjoy not having their own insurance markets making headlines for a while, those unfamiliar with state-backed insurance may be interested in a primer. If you cringe a little on hearing state-backed insurance, youre not alone. Beyond social insurance programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, or the federal National Flood Insurance Program, insurance in the U.S. is a heavily privatized business. So the idea of state-sponsored insurance can be jarring. Yet, if traditional private insurance becomes unprofitable and unobtainable, states may choose to orchestrate a last-resort coverage option in order to shore up their economies. What is an insurer of last resort? An insurer of last resort is an insurance plan a state designs to fill gaps in the private property insurance market. Because banks and other mortgage lenders that operate under the direction of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae require proof of insurance to issue mortgage funds, aspiring or current homeowners and business owners in areas with high risks may struggle to secure mortgages. In particular, areas known for hurricanes, wildfires, high winds, high crime rates, or earthquake risks may find it hard to procure insurance through typical market insurers. Insurance is a for-profit business insurers have to do more than break even in a given year. And, as anyone in insurance knows, that profit margin is based on insuring risks that arent guaranteed to happen. Its what makes health insurance difficult to price and insure equitably at some point, pretty much everyone will need health care, so figuring out a risk pool is tricky. But insuring a risk like fire for homeowners is based on the idea that only so many homes will suffer fire losses in any given period. An insurer can pool the risk of hundreds of houses and charge premiums that will more than adequately cover the insurance of rebuilding a single home that burns to the ground. This math obviously gets turned on its head in the face of natural disasters, such as a wildfire that torches entire neighborhoods. And, when you factor in that the conditions which caused the wildfire drought, high winds, lack of firebreaks, wood-frame houses have fundamentally not changed, insurers then may decline to issue new coverage in the affected area, and may not approve renewals for existing contracts. If youve been paying attention, thats more or less whats happened in Colorado in the aftermath of the 2020 and 2021 fire seasons. Hence, Colorados legislature is considering its own insurer of last resort plan for fire coverage. How do you know if your state has an insurer of last resort? It might be a state insurer of last resort if it is a: FAIR plan Beach/wind plan A plan named Citizens Property something or other Many insurers of last resort have received criticism when their last resort alternative coverage provides more robust coverage at a more affordable premium than private market insurance plans. But most are quite clear that they intend to be part of the residual market, with some even going so far as to direct producers to first pursue surplus lines coverage for a consumer before turning to the state insurer of last resort. What are FAIR plans? Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) plans were initially enacted by more than a dozen states across the country in response to the Fair Housing Act of 1968 (also known as the Civil Rights Act of 1968). As the nation turned its attention to racial discrimination in industries including housing and insurance, the federal government designed FAIR plans, which states then could decide to enact as they saw fit. In 1968, 26 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico enacted their own versions of FAIR plans to make it easier for people to obtain coverage for areas traditional insurers might decry as having high crime. Over time, in many states, these residual market plans morphed to also take on homeowners or corporate insurance for property that sits in precarious, high-risk areas such as in a frequent hurricane, wildfire, or tornado pathway. What are beach/wind plans? Beach and windstorm plans are state-sponsored insurance pools, much like FAIR plans, to provide last-resort insurance coverage to property owners whose properties are in areas with too great a risk to insure through the voluntary insurance market. Unlike FAIR plans, however, beach and wind plans tend to be limited geographically to coastal properties (with the exception of Louisiana and Florida, which extend beach/wind last resort coverage across the whole state). Another important distinction: While some FAIR plans include an element of beach and windstorm coverage as a possible sidecar coverage, or built into FAIR policies, others specifically exclude beach and wind coverage from FAIR policies. State administration of insurers of last resort Although the federal regulations that authorize state FAIR plans and other last-resort insurance instances give states the direct authority to administer these residual market plans, most directly avoid it. Instead, some are headed up by board members representing the major insurers of the private market in that state. Others have boards composed of state appointees. These shared market plans tend to have rates set and approved by state departments of insurance, even in states where the DOI otherwise lacks rate-setting authority. And FAIR plans, beach/wind plans, and other last-resort insurers generally have more oversight from the DOI or state legislature than their private insurer counterparts. The daily administration of these plans varies, but is generally formed as a separately staffed entity, although there are typically no staffed producers or adjusters. Underwriting with insurers of last resort Just because a state-sponsored insurer is a last resort doesnt mean it has to accept every applicant. In fact, according to the initial federal authorization for state-backed insurers, they have to make an effort to ensure each property is fundamentally worth underwriting. This means insurers of last resort can require property owners to take basic steps to protect themselves from risks. In high-crime areas, that could mean installing certain locks or security features. In windstorm-prone geographies, that could mean reinforcing structures or installing wind breaks. The bottom line is that, although they are state-backed insurance, it would be a mistake to think of these insurers as everyones insurance option. Many states take pains to ensure their plans are somewhat more expensive and come with more limitations than private market plans, such as Washingtons FAIR plan, which sets property limits for fire damage policies at $1.5 million. Most states express intention is to incentivize policyholders to turn to private insurers if at all possible. How are state-backed insurance plans funded? As our good friend Billy Shakespeare would say, Ay, theres the rub. The reason last-resort insurance plans arent the norm is because, in most cases, the state may provide a heightened administrative and oversight role, but the financial backing is still mostly via premiums. The next line of defense for state-backed insurance tends to be reserves that rely on funding from the insurers of the state, with a state-backed insurer charging other property insurers administrative fees in proportion to their business dealings in the state. State-backed insurers may have the authority to issue bonds to provide catastrophic coverage, or may also fund their reserves with surcharges on similar private policy sales in the state. And some states go so far as to require proof of coverage denials from applicants before looking into coverage. When states collect more than required expenses in any given year, many of them put that money into a catastrophic reserve fund to provide a cushion in years where, say, a massive hurricane causes scores of deaths and billions in damage that has a disparate impact on coastal property. State-backed insurance also heavily relies on reinsurance contracts to provide the underlying guarantees. Other kinds of state-backed insurance plans While this blog is focused on property insurance, such as homeowners and commercial properties, many states have auto insurance pools to cover drivers with particular accident histories, or manage workers compensation pools on behalf of the businesses operating in the state. As we covered, a states last-resort property insurance plan may be specific to certain risks and exclude others. Plans specific to fire or wind may not cover water damage. And, of course, the National Flood Insurance Program is a federally operated program that works on the same level as state-operated insurance plans, but on a larger scale. Whats the difference between state insurers of last resort and guaranty funds? State-backed insurers and guaranty funds arent completely unrelated; state-backed insurers cover insureds who dont have options in the private insurance market, and guaranty funds provide a small safety net in case a private insurer fails. If youre interested in more on guaranty funds, you might be a fan of our Solvency Series (truly, who can resist a blog series dedicated to the praises of the unsung work of insurance?). Guaranty funds are the reserve pools that insurers use to shore up the market in case an insurer goes belly-up and cant fulfill its contracts. And, in terms of their function, they operate somewhat similar to many insurances of last resort, with basic guarantees paid from pools of fees from insurers in that states market, often based on market share. Who sells insurance of last resort? Broadly, in many states, any licensed producer who has a property and casualty (P&C) license may function as a sort of broker to help a consumer access insurance of last resort. But this isnt universal: Different states may require last-resort producers to have specific training or maintain an appointment with the last-resort carrier. Since they dont necessarily operate with any appointed or affiliated producer force, FAIR and beach plans of last resort may not need to manage producer licensing compliance. But if you need to cross your Ts and dot your Is for producer licensing or appointments, see how AgentSync can help you lessen your risk, lower your costs, and look good while doing it. States with insurance of last resort Currently, there are 30-plus states that maintain some sort of insurer of last resort or FAIR plan for property insurance. In fact, those state insurance plans are generally members of Property Insurance Plans Service Office, or PIPSO, a business league that helps them coordinate for efficiency. While the Colorado Department of Insurance considers the creation of its own residual insurance marketplace to address those left uninsured in the wake of the Boulder and Marshall fires, following are the current state property and casualty insurers of last resort: Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association: www.aiua.org California FAIR Plan Association: www.cfpnet.com Connecticut FAIR Plan: www.ctfairplan.com Insurance Placement Facility of Delaware: www.defairplan.com District of Columbia Property Insurance Facility: www.dcpif.org Florida DBA: Citizens Property Insurance Corporation: www.citizensfla.com Georgia Underwriting Association: www.georgiaunderwriting.com Hawaii Property Insurance Association: www.hpiainfo.com/ Illinois FAIR Plan Association: www.illinoisfairplan.com Indiana Basic Property Insurance Underwriting Association: www.indianafairplan.com Iowa FAIR Plan Association: www.iowafairplan.com Kansas All-Industry Placement Facility: www.ksfairplan.com Kentucky FAIR Plan and Reinsurance Association: www.kyfairplan.com/ Louisiana Insurance Underwriting Plan & Joint Reinsurance Plan: www.lacitizens.com Maryland Joint Insurance Association: www.mdjia.org Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association: www.mpiua.com Michigan Basic Property Insurance Association: www.mbpia.com Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association: www.msplans.com Missouri Property Insurance Placement Facility: www.missourifairplan.com New Jersey Insurance Underwriting Association: www.njiua.org New Mexico Property Insurance Program: www.nmpropertyinsurance.com New York Property Insurance Underwriting Association: www.nypiua.com Ohio FAIR Plan Underwriting Association: www.ohiofairplan.com Oregon FAIR Plan Association: www.orfairplan.com Insurance Placement Facility of Pennsylvania: www.pafairplan.com Rhode Island Joint Reinsurance Association: www.rijra.com South Carolina Wind & Hail Association: www.scwind.com Texas FAIR Plan Association: www.texasfairplan.org Texas Windstorm Insurance Association: www.twia.org Virginia Property Insurance Association: www.vpia.com Washington FAIR Plan: www.wafairplan.com West Virginia Essential Property Insurance Association: www.wvfairplan.com Wisconsin Insurance Plan: www.wisinsplan.com Topics Carriers Florida Colorado New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A jurys $2.8 million punitive damage award against an insurance agency and broker that tried to poach a competitors staff and book of business was not excessive even though it was more than 10 times the amount of compensatory damages, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled. The state high court rejected an argument that the award was constitutionally excessive in light of a US Supreme Court decision that punitive damage awards are suspect if the ratio to compensatory damages exceeds single digits. In a unanimous decision July 19, the court said the punitive-damage awards against insurance agent Matthew Turk, First National Insurance Agency (FNIA), and FNB Corp., remain within the guidelines when calculated on a per-defendant basis rather than as a whole. The per-defendant ratio assesses the individualized impact intended by the punitive damages awards, whereas the per-judgment approach distorts the analysis by obscuring the due process rights of the individual defendants, the opinion says. A composite analysis undoes the jurys determination of an individuals reprehensibility and need for deterrence as reflected in the punitive verdict. The case stems from First National Insurance Agencys attempt in 2016 to take business and staff members from a competitor, the Bert Co. which does business as Northwest Insurance Services. FNIA, owned by First National Bank, persuaded Northwest employees to leave Northwest and bring their clients with them. Northwest got wind of the plot, obtained an injunction and sued. A jury awarded Northwest compensatory damages for breach of contract of $164,943; breach of fiduciary duty, $90,000; civil conspiracy, $164,943; and unfair competition, $250,000. The largest compensatory damages award for which Turk and First National were jointly and severally liable was $164,943. The largest compensatory damages award for which First National was jointly and severally liable was $250,000. The jury also awarded a total of $2.8 million in punitive damages, imposed per-defendant as follows: Turk for breach of contract and fiduciary duty, civil conspiracy, $300,000; FNB Corp. for civil conspiracy and unfair competition, $500,000; FNB for civil conspiracy and unfair competition $500,000; and FNIA for civil conspiracy and unfair competition, $1,500,000. Turk and First National appealed the award on the grounds that the punitive damage amount was unconstitutionally excessive. They cited a 2003 U.S. Supreme Court (State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Campbell) ruling that indicated that the ratio of punitive damages to compensatory damages should generally be in the single digits and, where compensatory damages are substantial, the ratio might be only equal to compensatory damages, or a 1:1 ratio. They argued that in order to assess the award, the court must use a per- judgment approach that divides the total of punitive damages assessed against them by the total of compensatory damages assessed against the defendants. This approach produces an aggregate ratio of punitive to compensatory damages in this case of 11.2 to 1, which they argued, was unconstitutionally excessive because it exceeds the single digit formula in the State Farm case. Any award above 9:1 should be viewed as presumptively unconstitutional, they insisted. However, a trial court and the Superior Court rejected the defendants math. Rather than using the per-judgment formula to assess the award, they used a per-defendant approach that divides the punitive damages assessed against a defendant by the compensatory damages assessed against that defendant. This resulted in ratios of 1.8 to 1 for Turk; 2 to 1 for FNB; 2 to 1 for FNB Corp. and 6 to 1 for FNIA. Using this per-defendant approach, the trial court concluded that the ratios would be constitutionally sound. The states high court generally endorsed the lower courts approach, stressing that the U.S. Supreme Court has warned against setting a bright-line or concrete limit on punitive damages. It said the single digit ratio test of State Farm is non-binding. The state Supreme Court said the guideposts and factors do not operate mechanically because the facts and circumstances of each case are determinative in assessing the constitutionality of a punitive damages award. The Pennsylvania court also noted that consistent with State Farm and subsequent cases, the assessment must consider the potential harm, which was estimated to be $5.4 million in this case if the takeover plot had not been thwarted. The jury decided, appropriately based on the evidence, that punishment and deterrence were warranted because the goal of the entire scheme was to destroy a competitor without regard to the existing non-solicitation agreements and by way of months-long planning, surreptitious meetings, disruption of employment arrangements with newly hired employees, and timing the transfer of personnel to FNIA so that the key Northwest employee (who helped mastermind the scheme) was last to leave so that he could broker the fire sale of the remaining business of Northwest, the court wrote. Topics Pennsylvania New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! The New Jersey Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether a hostile/warlike action exclusion in an all risks property insurance policy applies in a case involving insurance coverage for a 2017 Russian cyberattack. The states high court will hear an appeal by eight insurers of a state appeals court ruling in May that found the exclusion did not apply to a NotPetya attack on the pharmaceutical firm Merck & Co. The high court granted the appeal on July 19. The appeals panel said that the Insurers did not demonstrate that the NotPetya attack was a hostile or warlike action and thus the exclusion did not apply. The court found that the exclusion of damages caused by hostile or warlike action by a government or sovereign power in times of war or peace requires the involvement of military action. The appeals panel affirmed a 2022 decision by the Union County Superior Court. New Jersey Appeals Court Affirms War Exclusion Does Not Apply to Cyber Attack While insurers conceded the word warlike in the exclusion might not be applicable, they asserted the word hostile should be read in the broadest possible sense, as meaning adverse, showing ill will or a desire to harm, antagonistic, or unfriendly. They contended that any action that reflects ill will or a desire to harm by the actor falls within the hostile/warlike action exclusion, as long as the actor was a government or sovereign power, in this case the Russian Federation. The insurers maintained that the exclusion is clear and unambiguous and it plainly applies to the NotPetya attack because it was attributed to Russia and was meant to be deployed to disrupt and destabilize Ukraine. However, the appeals court found that the plain language and history of the exclusion do not support the insurers interpretation. The exclusion of damages caused by hostile or warlike action by a government or sovereign power in times of war or peace requires the involvement of military action. The exclusion does not state the policy precluded coverage for damages arising out of a government action motivated by ill will, the court wrote. In considering the history of the war exclusion, which has been included in policies for more than a century, the court found that the few applicable cases reaffirm that similar exclusions have never been applied outside the context of a clear war or concerted military action. Case History More than 30 insurers were involved in the case at the start. However, many have since resolved their claims with Merck, leaving eight remaining defendants. Mercks property insurance program included the all risks property policies in a three-layer structure, with $1.75 billion in total limits above a $150 million deductible. The remaining eight Insurers policies insured percentages of coverage in one, two or all three of the layers. In total, they are disputing $699,475,000 in coverage or just under 40% of Mercks total coverage for the policy period. The eight insurers still in the fight include Ace American, Allianz, Liberty Mutual, QBE, XL and Lloyds syndicates. On June 27, 2017, the malware known as NotPetya infected Mercks computer and network systems. Prior to that date, someone had gained access to the computer systems of a Ukrainian company that had developed an accounting software called M.E. Doc used by Merck and other companies in Ukraine. The NotPetya malware was delivered into the accounting software. Ultimately, more than 40,000 machines in Mercks network were infected. Merck contends the malware caus[ed] production facilities and critical applications to go offline and create[ed] massive disruptions to Mercks operations, including its manufacturing, research and development, and sales operations. While the court ruling was specific to New Jersey, analysts and attorneys said it was a warning to property/casualty insurers and reinsurers about cyber coverage embedded in traditional policies. Lloyds Cyber War Exclusions: Confusing, Disruptive, but Necessary? After the lower court ruling in New Jersey in 2022, food and beverage company Mondelez International settled its lawsuit against Zurich American Insurance Co. in Illinois over its $100 million NotPetya claims. In August 2022, a Lloyds market bulletin said insurers must exclude catastrophic state-backed cyber-attacks in standalone (or affirmative) cyber policies. The exclusion should include liability for losses arising from both war- and non-war-related state-backed cyber-attacks. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has increased the risk of cyberattacks and further testing of the war exclusion and hostile act exclusion language. An AM Best report this week found that war risk exclusions vary by company, with some carriers sticking with traditional war exclusions and others accepting certain war exposures. Systemic risk is an ongoing concern. Property catastrophes typically affect a limited geographic area, but a cyber catastrophe, as we saw with NotPetya [cyber attacks that occurred in Ukraine in 2017], can go worldwide, said Fred Eslami, associate director, AM Best. As the definition of war becomes broader, so may the exclusion as well, which could lead to insureds with less coverage, Eslami added. Ultimately, the coverage provided to insureds may be decided by the risk appetite of the insurer, and to a certain extent, the coverage that reinsurers are willing to provide. Topics Carriers New Jersey New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Starbucks violated U.S. labor law by firing a Manhattan store supervisor who had organized workers to join a union, a federal labor board judge ruled on Monday. The National Labor Relations Board established striking and strong evidence of animus behind Starbucks termination of Rhythm Heaton as a shift supervisor at its Astor Place store, NLRB Administrative Law Judge Benjamin Green wrote. Green found it particularly suspicious that Starbucks would risk violating the law by discharging an excellent employee at a time when the short-handed Astor Place store was already advertising to hire another shift supervisor. The decision can be appealed to NLRB board members in Washington and thereafter to federal court. Starbucks said it disagreed with the decision and was exploring its legal options. Heaton was separated from our Astor Place store following progressive discipline for violations of established cash-handling and time and attendance policies not in retaliation for their participation in, or support of, any concerted union activities, it said. Carley Russell, a lawyer for Heaton, said the decision benefits workers seeking more democratic workplaces by showing that Starbucks cannot crush the union with impunity. Heaton was hired as a barista in 2018 and promoted to shift supervisor in early 2021, and regularly worked extra shifts because the COVID-19 pandemic led to short-staffing. According to the decision, Heaton began encountering resistance from Starbucks in late 2021 upon contacting Workers United, which represents baristas and shift supervisors at about 320 corporate-owned U.S. stores, and beginning to organize union activities. The manager of the Astor Place store testified that he supported the union and considered Heaton an amazing leader, but cited Heatons alleged violation of Starbucks attendance and punctuality policy in the termination notice. Green ordered Seattle-based Starbucks to offer Heaton reinstatement with back pay, and to cease and desist from firing or disciplining employees for supporting Workers United or exercising their rights under federal labor law. Starbucks has about 9,000 corporate-owned stores in the United States. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot, Sonali Paul and Michael Perry) Topics Legislation Russian air strikes on Ukrainian grain facilities on the Danube this week threaten a vital river route for Kyivs exports, as Moscow seeks to tighten the noose around a key sector of the economy days after abandoning the Black Sea shipping deal. Last week, air strikes caused tens of millions of dollars of damage to the grain sector in Odesa region, and Mondays strikes on infrastructure along the Danube brought back memories of the export gridlock that followed Russias February 2022 invasion. Without the Danube, the export (situation) becomes critical. To do it with just land routes is a very small amount. Wed be going back to the beginning of the full-scale invasion, said Denys Marchuk, deputy head of the Ukrainian Agrarian Council. Nearly 30 Ships Drop Anchor Near Ukraines Crucial Izmail Port After Russian Air Strikes Ukraine Grain Now Relies on a River Thats Drying in the Drought We have no other way to work. If the Black Sea is closed, the Danube is one of the main routes which we will need to use, he told Reuters by phone. Police said Danube grain warehouses had been hit on Monday in a drone attack along with tanks for storing other cargo. Reuters verified video showing damaged grain warehouses at Reni, a transport hub on the Danube bordering NATO and EU member Romania. Officials did not go into further detail for security reasons. The big question mark is whether Russia will continue to attack these ports in the near future and prevent exports, said Carlos Mera, head of Agri Commodities Markets Research at Rabobank. Since Mondays air strikes, the Danube channel has seen shipping disruptions, although it was unclear why there was a slowdown of vessel traffic. There continued to be a bottleneck, with a buildup of ships at anchor, queuing to take their turn in port, or moving slowly across the Danube channel on Tuesday, according to Reuters calculations based on ship tracking data from analytics company MarineTraffic. Twenty vessels including cargo ships were at anchor close to the crucial Izmail port terminal. Just three vessels had been able to sail from Izmail and another three arrived since Monday, the data showed. There was also congestion around Reni with seven vessels, mainly inland fuel tankers, anchored near to that port some 45 km (28 miles) from Izmail. Insurance Rates Rise Insurance sources have said war risk cover for Ukraines ports that was part of the defunct Black Sea grain deal had been suspended with some insurance providers reviewing provisions for Danube ports. Insurance industry sources said on Tuesday there were few requests to cover new charters for vessels looking to pick up cargoes from Ukraines Danube ports. Russia appears to be aiming to destroy infrastructure rather than intimidate shipping, although the latter is an effect, one insurance source said. Another said: Even with whatever cover is still being offered for Danube ports, rates are significantly up. All bets are off, the second source said. The Danube corridor has grown in importance for Kyiv since the demise of the grain deal which Russia quit last week. The route could export around 2.5 million tons of grain and oilseeds per month before the attacks, according to Mera. Road and rail export routes would only be able to handle up to 2 million tons of produce per month, Marchuk said. That is nowhere near enough to cover Ukraines export potential. Ukraine expects to harvest 44 million tons of grain this year, down from a record 86-million-ton harvest in 2021 before the invasion. Ukraine traditionally exports most of the grain it harvests. Some of Ukraines western neighbors have also restricted imports of Ukrainian grain under pressure from their farmers, who said they were suffering from the added competition. The attack on the Danube infrastructure followed a week of Russian strikes that hit grain-related infrastructure at Odesas main ports. Officials say the strikes damaged 60,000 tons of grain earmarked for supply to China, reservoirs and berths, and infrastructure owned by Kernel KER.WA, Viterra and CMA CGM Group. Kernel said it would take at least 12 months to repair facilities at Chornomorsk where Ukraine said damage was considerable. Marchuk said the lost grain was worth $8 million and that a significant number of elevators had been damaged. These are worth tens of millions of dollars, he said. Blackmail Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, said the attacks sought to cut Ukraine off from the Black Sea and to elevate the importance of Russia as a global grain supplier. The strikes, he said, indicated Russia was trying to blackmail the West to win a resumption of Russian ammonia exports and the lifting of some sanctions and restrictions. Marchuk said the attacks also served to scare off commercial vessels. The attacks lay bare the challenge to Ukrainian air defenses of repelling attacks across a country double the size of Italy. A local news report said Mondays attack on the Danube involved 15 drones with only three of them shot down, a much poorer ratio than in Kyiv where Western air defense systems have a very high success rate. (Additional reporting by Olena Harmash in Kyiv and Sybille de La Hamaide in Paris; writing by Tom Balmforth; editing by William Maclean) Photograph: Debris of a farm storage building destroyed during a Russian attack in Odesa region, Ukraine, on July 21, 2023. 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. (AP Photo/Libkos, File) Topics Trends Russia Pricing Trends Ukraine New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Congress is wading into the debate over whether automakers should be allowed to sell hundreds of thousands of self-driving cars while manufacturers seek federal permission to expand testing of the technology. The US House Energy and Commerce Committee is scheduled Wednesday to consider two pieces of legislation that would increase the number of cars exempt from federal motor-vehicle safety standards requiring human drivers. Under one proposal sponsored by Representative Bob Latta, a Republican from Ohio, the figure would rise to 100,000 within four years. Under the other, sponsored by Representative Debbie Dingell, a Michigan Democrat, it would increase to 80,000 over an eight-year span. Currently, each automaker is allowed to produce 2,500 self-driven vehicles for testing. Supporters of higher production ceilings argue that the US risks falling behind China in the race to develop the nascent technology. Automakers have pressed Congress to greatly expand their ability to test and eventually sell self-driving cars for years. If US policymakers do not support the development, commercialization and acceptance of automated vehicle technologies, our nation risks becoming dependent on foreign sources in a future defined by others, John Bozzella, chief executive officer of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, wrote in testimony submitted to the committee for the hearing. Bozzellas trade association represents major automakers such as Ford Motor Co., Stellantis NV, Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. Dingell said lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle are hoping Wednesdays hearing jump starts a discussion over federal self-driving legislation that has been stalled for years. Everybody wants a bipartisan bill, she said in an interview. We want to know what stakeholders like, what they dont, what they wanted struck. Prior attempts to pass self-driving legislation have been ensnared in debates over who to blame or sue when someone hit by an autonomous vehicle, or AV. Safety groups in Washington say such issues remain unsolved. Any legislation should not erode current federal safety standards, should not allow for tens of thousands of AVs to be exempt from safety regulations, should not restrict states and localities from taking action to protect their residents and visitors, and should not allow AV manufacturers to deploy and sell their vehicles without needed oversight and accountability, Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, said during a virtual press conference on Tuesday. Peter Knudsen, director of communications for the American Association for Justice, which has lobbied against efforts to shield carmakers from lawsuits arising from self-driving accidents, said Congress should settle the liability issues before moving forward with either of the new proposals. In addition to strong safety measures, legislation must define who the driver is and ban the use of forced arbitration, Knudsen wrote in an email. We must ensure safety and accountability are at the forefront as this immature technology continues to evolve and proliferate. Photo: The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. (Bloomberg) Copyright 2023 Bloomberg. Topics Personal Auto New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! This month, a number of new workers compensation rules took effect in Florida, affecting penalties for employers who fail to obtain comp insurance and setting new requirements for exemptions for corporate officers. The Florida Division of Workers Compensation announced that rule revisions that had been in the works for months, some of which were needed to comply with new state laws, have been adopted. The effective date for the rules was July 18. Among the changes: New requirements for the conditional release of a stop-work order after the employer has secured insurance and has paid penalties or is making monthly installments. A 15% penalty reduction if employers take an online course at one of the divisions district offices; and penalties for employers who were cited but have come into compliance before stop-work order is issued. Rules that contractors should follow when obtaining evidence that subcontractors have secured comp insurance or have elected to be exempt from insurance requirements. The DWC must use a new form to calculate penalties and use new methods to determine payroll when an employer fails to provide sufficient business records. Corporate officers wishing to be exempt from workers compensation should follow new procedures and use new forms. Any corporate officer engaged in the construction or non-construction industry, who elects to be exempt from the provisions of the workers compensation law (Chapter 440, F.S.), must certify that the officer electing an exemption has completed an online workers compensation coverage and compliance tutorial pursuant to Section 440.05(3), F.S., and shall submit a Form DFS-F4-DWC-250, the rule reads. New definitions and information about out-of-compliance worksites. Topics Florida Workers' Compensation Commercial Lines Business Insurance New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Despite years of complaints from Florida property insurers and some lawmakers that out-of-control claims litigation was destroying the industry, recent regulators reports about the reasons for insolvencies make little mention of the L-word. The omission has prompted some head scratching and new questions by policyholder representatives. Thats ridiculous, said Gina Clausen Lozier, a south Florida plaintiffs attorney. Youd think with all the concerns about litigation in the last few years that would be number one on the list. The Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation posted its 2022 Annual Report in April. It recently caught the eye of advocates for homeowners, policyholders that have seen premiums spike in Florida while at least 10 insurers have become insolvent since early 2021. The R&L reports page 7 lists factors contributing to insolvency, including: Inadequate capitalization or asset deterioration Improper management Insufficient claim reserves Rapid premium growth Inappropriate transactions with affiliates or subsidiaries Inadequate premium rates Natural disasters or catastrophic losses Change in business conditions Reinsurance market issues. Claims litigation, which industry supporters have often called the number-one reason for insurers financial troubles in Florida, and which led to major legislative reforms in the last five years, is not mentioned directly in the report. That suggests that insurance company leadership and corporate structure, not trial lawyers, are more to blame for mismanaging operations and failing to maintain adequate reserves, said Doug Quinn, executive director of the American Policyholder Association, a national, non-profit group that advocates for investigations into insurers claims practices. All of the finger-pointing and scapegoating at consumer fraud, excess litigation, and roofing scams are just to divert attention away from whats really going on behind the scenes, Quinn said. Theres a lot of finger-pointing at outside parties, but failing at business is an inside job. A Department of Financial Services official, responding to questions from Insurance Journal, said claims litigation is a factor behind the factors listed in the report. The R&L annual report examined insolvencies from 2017 through 2022, including the liquidations of St. Johns Insurance Co., Avatar Property and Casualty Insurance, and Southern Fidelity Insurance, said Devin Galetta, communications director for Floridas chief financial officer, Jimmy Patronis. While the words claims litigation do not appear on that particular page, the reality is that during the period covered by these reports, 79% of the nations homeowners insurance lawsuits were filed in Florida while the state only accounted for 9% of the nations homeowners insurance claims, he said in an email, citing an oft-quoted statistic compiled by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, based on data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Claims litigation is a driving factor for many of the listed insolvency factors, including asset deterioration, insufficient claims reserves, inadequate premium rates, reinsurance market issues and changing business conditions, Galetta said. He added that litigation is not the only force behind recent insolvencies. But it is a throughput that causes a wide variety of disruptions to the insurance market as initial estimates of a storms cost continue to increase for months or years after a storm makes landfall, due to litigation costs. Other factors include sharply rising reinsurance prices and inadequate premium levels, which are included in the report. The spike in reinsurance rates in the last three years reflects excessive claims litigation as much as anything, said Kevin Comerer, a consultant and registered lobbyist with Rubin, Turnbull & Associates, in Tallahassee. He was previously legislative director for a major Florida property insurer. Comerer noted that reinsurers have pulled back from the Florida market and have raised prices in large part because litigation soared between 2018 and 2023. You were seeing losses in year two and three that were equal to or greater than year one after a hurricane, and that was all because of an explosion of roof claims and lawsuits, he said. The R&L annual report isnt the only regulatory document that doesnt emphasize litigation as a driving force. The division is required by state law to produce port-mortem reports each time an insurer is deemed insolvent. The divisions website lists insolvency reports only through 2019, but Galetta provided initial reports for four insurers that went out of business in 2022 and 2023: United Property and Casualty Insurance Co.; FedNat Insurance; Weston P&C; and Southern Fidelity. In two of those reports, for FedNat and for Weston, claims lawsuits, litigation and attorneys fees were not listed. Despite significant capital infusions in 2020 and 2021, FNICs surplus as regarding to policyholders continued to decline, the 7-page FedNat report notes. Additional factors included poor operational results, limited access to additional capital, and a jeopardized financial stability rating. For Weston, the division said weather events played a significant role. The company had insufficient assets or reinsurance to pay potential claims to policyholders during the 2022-2023 Atlantic Hurricane season, the report said. Despite actions taken by Weston to improve its financial condition, including a Capital Management Plan and Risk Based Capital Plan, Westons surplus as regards policyholders continued to deteriorate and ultimately led to the companys referral for delinquency proceedings. For United and Southern Fidelitys delinquency proceedings, lawsuits were named as one contributor. UPCICs losses over multiple years affected its surplus, the United report noted. The large percentage of litigated claims drove up its costs. The $140 million reserve deficiency related to Hurricane Ian in September 2022 resulted in the companys referral to the Department for delinquency proceedings. Florida insurance defense attorneys, carrier executives, industry lobbyists and prominent legislators in recent years have also pointed to assignment-of-benefits agreements as a major problem, leading to wildly inflated roof and water-damage claims and unnecessary litigation. The Florida Legislature in 2019 approved measures to limit AOBs. In 2022, lawmakers barred one-way attorney fees in AOB litigation, then outlawed AOBs altogether. Only the Southern Fidelity insolvency report lists AOBs as a factor. Litigated claims related to Assignment of Benefits claims drove up costs in 2014-2015, the report reads. Losses from Hurricane Ida in 2021 are projected to exceed the top of the companys catastrophe reinsurance tower. Ultimately, Southern Fidelitys failure to secure a reinsurance program for the 2022 hurricane season and the late development of reserves for Louisiana claims exhausted the remaining surplus which resulted in the companys referral for delinquency proceedings. Quinn and others have maintained that litigation has played a smaller role in financial losses than industry leaders have said, and intricate corporate structure and profit shifting are more to blame. At the May 2022 Florida special session on insurance reform, several Democratic lawmakers, including then-state Sen. Gary Farmer, D-Broward County, said that a number of companies had diverted profits to managing general agencies, leaving the actual insurance companies with inadequate reserves. Quinn suggested the DFS reports bear that out with their references to inappropriate transactions with affiliates or subsidiaries. Properly managed and reserved companies do not go under, Quinn said. Industry advocates have strongly disagreed, noting that most insurers would not deliberately bleed themselves dry. Instead, they have argued, under the perfect storm of Florida statutes and court decisions that evolved over the last two decades, claims lawsuits and fraudulent roof claims became a cottage industry that exploded as some plaintiffs attorneys took advantage of prevailing-attorney fees and fee multipliers. Related: Reinsurance Outlook Improving? Topics Lawsuits Florida Claims New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Florida-based Brown & Brown Inc. (BRO), a global insurance broker, reported second-quarter earnings of $190.4 million. The Daytona Beach company said it had profit of 67 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for costs related to mergers and acquisitions, came to 68 cents per share. The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 59 cents per share. The insurance company posted revenue of $1.05 billion in the period, which also topped Street forecasts. Five analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $982 million. Brown & Brown shares have risen 24% since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Monday, shares hit $70.63, a rise of 14% in the last 12 months. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Profit Loss Brian Hill, 64, and Leslie Hill, 68, a husband and wife from Bakersfield, California, were charged with multiple felony counts of insurance fraud and conspiracy after a California Department of Insurance investigation reportedly found the couple underreported over $4 million in employee payroll for their construction company. The CDI began an investigation into the HillsBrian Hill Construction Inc. after receiving information the company paid an employee with a combination of check and cash, and that the cash pay was not reported to the companys workers compensation carrier. Between July 2017 and October 2019, Brian Hill Construction Inc. held a workers comp insurance policy through State Compensation Insurance Fund and between October 2019 and October 2020, it held a policy through Benchmark Insurance, according to investigators. The investigation into Brian Hill Construction reportedly revealed the company reported roughly $135,667 in employee payroll between July 2017 and October 2019 to State Fund. However, an audit by the CDI reportedly revealed the business actually had more than $3.6 million in employee payroll for the same time period. The investigation also reportedly revealed Brian Hill Construction reported roughly $9,140 in employee payroll between October 2019 and June 2020 to Benchmark Insurance, but an additional CDI audit reportedly revealed the company actually had more than $500,000 in employee payroll for the same time period. Over the course of three years, the Hills failed to report more than $4,025,250 in employee payroll to their insurance carriers, resulting in the illegal reduction of workers comp premiums paid and $2,542,365 in premium owed to the insurance companies, according to the CDI. The investigation also reportedly discovered one employee of Brian Hill Construction was injured on the job and sent to a local hospital where they received minimal medical treatment. The employer was legally required to file a workers comp claim, but the Hills circumvented the process by paying the medical facility directly and eliminating benefits the injured worker may have been entitled to, according to CDI. Brian Hill was arraigned on Tuesday and Leslie Hill is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday. T The Kern County District Attorneys Office is prosecuting the case. Topics California Vancouver, British Columbia - July 26, 2023 (Newsfile Corp.) (Investorideas.com Newswire) Austin Gold Corp. (NYSE American: AUST) ("Austin" or the "Company") announces that the Company has commenced the drilling program at its Miller Project located at the southern end of the Carlin gold trend in Elko County, Nevada. The exploration target is Carlin-type gold mineralization hypothesized to occur beneath Quaternary gravels and Tertiary volcanic rocks that may be indicated by gold and multi-element biogeochemical anomalies. The Miller Project is located approximately 30 miles (50 kilometers) south-southwest of Elko, Nevada on the eastern flank of the Pinion Range. The project comprises a large area of pediment with post-mineral cover, and available biogeochemical, geophysical, and geological data in this area support the potential for a gold discovery under that cover. The drilling program is planned to consist of 6,000 to 7,000 feet in four holes, each hole to be 1,500 to 2,000 feet deep. It is expected that the program will take up to four weeks to complete, with assay results to follow. Robert M. Hatch, the Qualified Person for Austin Gold as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has approved the scientific and technical information in this news release. About Austin Gold Corp. Austin Gold is a gold exploration company focused on gold targets and making district-scale gold discoveries in the southwestern United States. Austin Gold has three projects in Nevada. The Kelly Creek Project is located on the Battle Mountain-Eureka (Cortez) gold trend in Humboldt County, the Lone Mountain Project is on the Independence-Jerritt Canyon gold trend in Elko County, and the Miller Project is on the Carlin gold trend in Elko County. Collectively, these Nevada properties comprise approximately 76.2 km2 of unpatented and patented mining claims and mineral tenure. In Oregon, the Stockade Mountain Project consists of approximately 21.5 km2 of unpatented mining claims situated in a geological environment that appears the same as the nearby Grassy Mountain Deposit that is being permitted for underground mining. For further information, please contact: Darcy A. Higgs, Corporate Secretary 604-644-6580 darcy.higgs@austin.gold Website: www.austin.gold Safe Harbor / Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws that is intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by those laws. "Forward-looking information" includes statements that use forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "potential" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking information includes, without limitation, the Company's expectations, strategies and plans for the Miller Project, including the Company's planned expenditures and exploration activities. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made. Furthermore, such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The Company cautions that there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Get Great Trading Ideas and News Alerts Guest posts and sponsored content - Got $100? That's all it takes to get an article published on Investor Ideas - Learn More Source: Streetwise Reports July 26, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Emerita has released new assay results from the Iberian Belt West project. Read on to see the company's exciting find. Emerita Resources Corp (EMO:TSX.V; EMOTF:OTCMKTS; LLJA:FSE) has announced additional assay results from the La Romanera deposit on Emerita's Iberian Belt West (IBW) project. The assay results have been received for three additional drill holes that were not included in the prior National Instrument 43-101-compliant mineral resource estimate news releases. Drill holes LR148, LR150, and LR151 have intercepted sulfide mineralization below the limit of the current mineral resource estimate, extending the mineralization at depth. The intercepts are approximately 550m to 600m below surface and span about 300m horizontally along strike. Downhole TEM anomalies indicate that the mineralization continues at depth for at least another 100m or more. The upper and lower lens at this depth appear to merge into one larger sulfide lens of up to 30m to 40m thickness. This lens is referred to as the lower lens. According to David Gower, the CEO of Emerita, "Massive sulfide mineralization continues to extend at depth at La Romanera, and drill intercepts where assays are pending, as well as borehole geophysical surveys, confirm that the sulfide mineralization continues to extend beyond the drilling completed to date. We are excited to see the intercept at the El Cura deposit, as we have limited historical data for this deposit. Mineralization extends to at least 200-meter depth based on early drill results." The highlights of the assay results are as follows: Drill hole LR151 intersected 662.0m of depth, and encountered 42.2m of grading with 0.3% Cu, 1.0% Pb, 2.0% Zn, 2.44 g/t Au, and 70.4 g/t Ag, including 7.3m of grading with 0.3% Cu, 2.0% Pb, 2.2% Zn, 8.11 g/t Au, and 114.2 g/t Ag, and including 13.1m of grading with 0.3% Cu, 1.0% Pb, 4.0% Zn, 1.24 g/t Au, and 55.5 g/t Ag. Drill hole LR148 intersected the lower lens at 594.0m of depth, and encountered 32.2m of grading with 0.4% Cu, 0.2% Pb, 1.0% Zn, 0.32 g/t Au, and 11.7 g/t Ag, including 9.0m of grading with 0.5% Cu, 0.4% Pb, 1.9% Zn, 0.32 g/t Au, and 20.1 g/t Ag. Drill hole LR150 intersected the lower lens at 575.2m of depth, and encountered 4.3m of grading with 0.4% Cu, 0.4% Pb, 1.0% Zn, 0.26 g/t Au, and 8.3 g/t Ag. Additionally, the company has commenced the El Cura drilling exploration program. The program consists of 2,800m in 10 drill holes. Two drill holes have been completed, EC002 and EC003. Hole EC003 intercepted 9m of mineralization, of which 5m is massive sulfide mineralization. Assays are pending for these holes and will be reported when received. According to Joaquin Merino, the President of Emerita, "The intercept in EC003 is approximately 203 meters down the hole. There is a drift that extends to about 20 meters below surface. Data suggests the zone could have a lateral extent of about 400 meters. Emerita does not have complete information on the historical work done on the El Cura deposit, so will systematically drill it and monitor the results." The company will keep six rigs on IBW during the summer, although measures are being taken to reduce workers' exposure to high temperatures. The company expects to return to normal operations for drilling after the summer. Headed for Another Rally Barry Dawes of Martin Place Securities believes that gold may be heading back up to the record prices seen in March. This opinion was echoed by Richard Mills of Ahead of the Herd, who also sees a bull market for gold. According to Mills, "Steady demand from central banks confirms that precious metals, in particular gold, deserve investors' attention. Earlier this year, the gold price flirted with the record-high US$2,074.60, set on March 8, 2022." Set for Growth According to Varun Arora, the IBW is "set to deliver great news flow and likely surprise investors to the upside . . . many mile markers will be passed in 2023 on the way to demonstrating IBW has what it takes to be a mine." Ownership and Share Structure Michael Lawrence Guy owns 1.90% of the company with 4.32 million shares. David Patrick Gower owns 1.22% with 2.76 million shares. Joaquin Merino-Marquez owns 0.92% with 2.09 million shares. Catherine Stretch owns 0.70% with 1.60 million shares. Marilia Bento owns 0.44% with 1.00 million shares. Gregory Duras owns 0.29% with 0.65 million shares. Damian J.D. Lopez owns 0.20% with 0.46 million shares, and Ian T. Parkinson owns 0.11% with 0.25 million shares. Merk Investments LLC owns 1.21% with 2.75 million shares, and Sprott Asset Management LP owns 0.11% with 0.26 million shares. There are no strategic investors. As of March 31, 2023, Emerita has US$8.06 million in the bank. The company also just raised US$11 million in a private placement during Q2 2023. Emerita reports no potential negatives. The company does not work with any IR firms. Varun Arora of Clarus Securities provides research coverage and analysis of the company. There are 234.82 million shares outstanding, 19.19 million options, and 23.95 million warrants. The company has a market cap of CA$74.94 million. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Get Great Trading Ideas and News Alerts Guest posts and sponsored content - Got $100? That's all it takes to get an article published on Investor Ideas - Learn More Dettol and Strepsils maker Reckitt Benckiser said forecast its full-year adjusted operating margins to be slightly above 2022 levels after the company beat quarterly like-for-like net revenue estimates, helped by its hygiene and health businesses. Reckitt, which also makes Durex condoms, said its second-quarter like-for-like revenue rose 4.1% on a constant-currency basis, ahead of the 3.7% growth analysts had expected in a company-supplied poll. Market developments over the past few weeks "are at odds" with the "negative and unnecessary messages coming from factories and their agents" on beef price, the Irish Farmers' Association has said. IFA livestock chairman Brendan Golden said that over the past three weeks, the Bord Bia prime export benchmark price "has steadied and strengthened, moving 16c per kg above our price". This movement in the export tracker is a "clear indication" of market conditions in key beef markets, the UK and the EU, "and must be reflected in beef prices by factories", Mr Golden said. He said "opportunism by factories on beef price will not be tolerated by farmers", who are incurring unprecedented costs in producing beef. Supplies tightening Mr Golden said supplies of finished cattle are tightening considerably on the ground with throughput over recent weeks dropping by 1,400 head. Based on supply projections for the year, there will be over 30,000 fewer cattle available to factories over the coming months. "Farmers should not buy into the factory narrative on price. Very few cattle have been bought at this weeks lower quotes and it is important farmers take back control and sell hard," Mr Golden said. "The prices they are prepared to pay is very evident in the competition between factory agents in marts where finished and forward store prices are freely exceeding factory quotes." Role of minister Mr Golden said factories "can and must do more" on beef price, but that there is also a key role for Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue in this space. "The minister has at his disposal two significant funds to assist suckler and beef farmers, the Brexit Adjustment Reserve [BAR] and the recently-announced additional commission supports which can be built to 28.5m," he said. Both of these are for the purpose of supporting suckler and beef farmers in dealing with the current issues on farms; the impact of Brexit trade deals; and costs of production. "In the first month of Australian access to the UK market, they have strategically targeted the high-value cuts, supplying almost 25% of our average monthly supply of steaks to this key market. "At the same time, bureaucrats and politicians at EU level are intent on forcing through a Mercosur trade deal that will have a disproportionate impact on Irish beef farmers by facilitating an additional 99,000 tonnes of tariff-free beef from South America into the EU market." The livestock chairman said the minister "must immediately move to provide direct funding to suckler and beef farmers" from these funds, and he "must ensure the Mercosur trade deal does not advance". BAR deadline With the deadline for allocation of funding from the BAR fast approaching, IFA president Tim Cullinan said that the Government must take the necessary steps to ensure all the funding is used. "To date, the Government has failed to put in any level of significant funding from BAR into Irish agriculture," Mr Cullinan said. We estimate only 5% of total funding has been allocated to farmers. "This is very difficult to understand, as agriculture is, by a distance, the sector most heavily exposed to Brexit." All BAR funding must be spent by the end of 2023, with any unspent funds returning to EU coffers. Given the tight timeframe, the IFA said that Government needs to act now to allocate more funding directly to farmers or else seek an extension from the European Commission. "The full implications of Brexit are only now coming into play. The recent UK-Australia [deal], which only commenced in May, has the capacity to cause havoc to Irish beef and sheep exports," Mr Cullinan said. Displacements The IFA estimates that the Australian and New Zealand trade deals have the capacity to displace up to 300m of Irish beef exports to the UK in 2024, while almost 75m of lamb exports are at risk. "These figures will continue to grow as Australia and New Zealands tariff-free quotas increase in the coming years," the IFA said. In the first month alone, it is estimated that Australian steak cut exports to the UK were running at 25% of Irish export levels. "This is effectively from a standing start and illustrates the scale of the challenge Australian beef will pose to the Irish beef sector." Losses from the market for the first half of the year alone have reached over 100m on Irish beef farms and over 10m on sheep farms, the IFA estimates. "This is not sustainable in these vulnerable sectors and must be addressed by direct supports to suckler, beef, and sheep farmers," Mr Cullinan said. "It is imperative that Irish agriculture gets its fair share of BAR funding so these critical indigenous sectors are supported. "We need to see more funding allocated to farming as a priority to ensure these funds do not return to Europe unused." The Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) red map, may not, after all, be used to determine areas moving to a maximum stocking rate of 220kg N per hectare from 2024, according to Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue. Speaking in the Dail, he said the red map did not include areas that, based on previous water quality monitoring publications by the EPA, would have been expected to fail the European Commissions nitrates derogation standards. If the more comprehensive Water Framework Directive (WFD) dataset was used for the commissions two-year review, more land would likely be bought into the area where derogation farmers will have to reduce their stocking rates, Mr McConalogue said, responding to questions from Fianna Fail TD Aindrias Moynihan. The minister said the EPA acted in accordance with the relevant commission framework. But he added: The environmental assessment for the interim review of the Nitrates Action Programme may determine that the best available and most comprehensive dataset is required to be used for the two-year water quality review. Therefore, the map the EPA has published should not be considered to be the final map of land moving to the maximum stocking rate of 220kg N per hectare from 2024. Flexibility Meanwhile, his department continues to engage with the European Commission to seek flexibility regarding their conditionality around the two-year water quality review. This engagement has taken place and will continue; however, there is no guarantee that the commission will agree to reopening its decision. The minister explained in his Dail reply that Ireland secured a nitrates derogation for 2022 to 2025, but it included the condition that Ireland must use specific criteria to conduct a two-year water quality review. Where that review shows there are polluted waters, or waters at risk of pollution that are not showing signs of improvement, or where worsening trends have occurred over the period 2021 and 2022, the maximum stocking rate for derogation farms must be reduced from 250kg to 220kg of livestock manure nitrogen per hectare from 2024. The EPA undertook this review and provided the results as an Annex to their main report on nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations in Irish waters. In accordance with the commissions Implementing Decision, the EPA review is based on the Nitrates Directive monitoring network (rather than the WFD monitoring network which the EPA also maintains). Significant efforts The minister has also said the Government fully recognises farmers have made significant efforts to address water quality in recent years. However, these changes will take time before their full impact on water quality becomes evident, Mr McConalogue said. The challenge is that the level of nutrients in many of our waters remains too high, as evidenced by reports from the EPA. This is increasingly relevant to discussions with the European Commission, as Ireland is very unlikely to meet its 2027 Water Framework Directive target of having all waterbodies in at least good ecological status, with only some minor exceptions being permitted. He said the commission must be assured that derogation will not compromise the achievement of directives objectives and added that he remains committed to working with farmers to improve water quality so Ireland can retain the maximum stocking rate possible. The EPA has confirmed that the commission required mapping based on the nitrates directive monitoring network (a smaller network of 200 to 300 monitoring points), rather than the EPAs full national water quality monitoring. This means some areas with high numbers of derogation farms, and which may need to reduce nitrogen losses in waters, are not included on the red map, because they do not have a monitoring station in the nitrates directive monitoring network, the director of the EPAs office of evidence and assessment Eimear Cotter said. We were asked to look at the difference between 2021 and 2022. Scientific evidence Meanwhile, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has said there is not enough scientific evidence to justify reducing Irelands nitrates derogation limit. IFA president Tim Cullinan said the red map cannot form the basis for a review, which would cost the rural economy 236m if the stocking rate is reduced, while having negligible impact on water quality. According to the IFA, an assessment period of two years is too short to assess water quality trends. It also says a reduced stocking rate threshold of 220kg N/ha would have a negligible impact on water quality. IFA director of policy, Tadhg Buckley, said last week that the IFA proposes to satisfy the commission with alternatives to cutting stocking rates. We are in summer-holiday season, when many of us head to the coast around Ireland to enjoy rambles along sandy shores, carefree clambering over lichen-clad boulders, and exhilarating dips in the salty sea. Wildlife along the coast is distinctly different to elsewhere, as salty sea air and near-constant winds only allow those with special adaptations to survive the unique conditions. Succulent seaside plants, for example, have special ways to cope with the lack of freshwater, shifting sands and salty winds. Sea holly grows on sand and shingle beaches, readily recognisable by its prickly blue-tinged holly-like leaves. Because water runs so quickly though sand, sea holly has adapted to withstand the drought-like conditions of a sandy beach in the same way that desert plants cope with drought with thick, waxy leaves that contain their own store of water and dont dry out easily. Its violet-blue flower balls are on show until the end of August, popular with both bees and hoverflies. Sea campion is another succulent seaside plant still in flower now, its bright white flowers can be seen on shingle and rocky shores until the end of August. Sounds of the seaside are distinctive too. Last weekend I listened to Curlew calling all along the shore one of my favourite sounds of late summer. The Curlew we hear during July and August have likely just finished up their Scandinavian breeding season and are now stopping over along Irish coastlines for a good feed on the worms and bivalves buried in intertidal tidal sand and mud. Soon they will head further south for the winter, though many will decide that here is a mild enough place to spend the winter. Breeding Curlew have been almost wiped out across Ireland a consequence of land use changes such as agricultural intensification and afforestation, so their population is now only a small fragment of what it was just 30 years ago. Listening to the call of their continental cousins passing through is bittersweet. The mucous that protects seaweed from drying out is the same mucus that softens skin in a seaweed bath Seaweeds are worth exploring when the tide goes out. Huge clumps of olive-yellow feamainn bhui cover the intertidal rocks all over the west coast this is one of the seaweeds otherwise known as wracks. Wracks are some of the most familiar and widely harvested seaweeds along Irish shores. Bladder wrack might trigger memories of Junior Cert biology for many (Fucus vesiculosus anyone?!). Its pea-sized air pockets dotted along the curvy fronds make it easy to recognise, and the budding ends are good to eat a little like wild olives. Most seaweeds have a thin covering of mucus to protect them from drying out on the open shore, endowing them with distinctive slimy slippiness, though this same mucus is what softens the skin in a seaweed bath! To find clues about what lies beneath the waves, beachcombing can be surprisingly rewarding. One of my favourite things to find on the shore is a mermaids purse, which are the egg cases of sharks, skates and rays. Mermaid's purses have long curly tendrils that attach the egg case to the underwater kelp fronds or corals while the eggs inside are developing. After the eggs have hatched into live sharks or skates, the cases often get washed up on the shore, dried out and leathery in texture. Crabs can sometimes be seen shuffling sideways along the shore, though mostly it is abandoned shells we see left strewn about the shoreline. Some crab species can live for 20 years of age, though as they grow their hard exoskeleton doesnt get any bigger, so the crab has to shed their skeleton as they grow. One of the more common crab species whose shells get washed up on shore is the Velvet swimming crab, caught by their thousands in underwater crab pots as tasty food for humans. Common shore crabs are often seen scuttling about on beaches, in rocky pools and muddy estuaries, and sheltering under seaweed and stones. They have a dark greenish-brown shell. Plastics eaten by turtles, fish and marine mammals can do great harm. Picture: Ian Lean/SAS/PA Wire Unfortunately, plastic fragments are too often seen washed up on the shore. Bottle tops float whereas the bottles themselves sink. Abandoned fishing gear floats around indefinitely. Plastic wrappers bob in the upper layers of water, carried about on ocean currents. These plastics are all accidentally ingested by turtles, fish and marine mammals and some can do great harm. Seabirds also eat much of the plastic debris, filling up their stomach so much that many die as a result. Shearwaters, petrels and other seabirds know where there is good fishing to be had through the smell of a chemical called DMS (dimethyl sulphide) an olfactory signal produced by plankton when they are being eaten. Seabirds smelling this know that there are fish feeding below the water it's their cue to dive down for their dinner. But as scientists discovered this relationship, they also discovered that plastics which have been in the sea for a while produce a chemical signature akin to DMS. Hence the seabirds are misguided and end up eating the plastics. There is so much to learn about the seas around Ireland. There is also much to be done to protect ocean habitats from harm. If you would like to learn more, you can enrol in a free explore your shore citizen science project run by the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Their Marine Biodiversity Citizen Science Open Course is designed to enable beginners and those wishing to refresh their recording skills to identify and record common marine intertidal species found around the Irish coastline. It's online and doable in your own time. Ireland's Seashore: A Field Guide by Lucy Taylor and Emma Nickelsen I have also found the book Ireland's Seashore A Field Guide by Lucy Taylor and Emma Nickelsen (Gill & Macmillan, 2018) to be an excellent resource that helps to identify lots of seaside plants and animals, including coastal plants, seaweeds, lichens, crabs, sponges, starfish, sea urchins, fish and more. Its late July, which means the back-to-school machine is in full operational mode. I used to work in a bookshop in Douglas, Cork, and was always struck by how soon into the summer holidays the back-to-school propaganda was disseminated. It seemed a bit nuts to me, but then again I was only in my late teens and early twenties, and anything well organised and designed to ease parental pressure was a world I was unfamiliar with. Not so, anymore. Having three daughters, I know just how important it is to plan anything. Even going to the local shop requires some planning, you certainly need shoes! Life, as a parent, is busy. Were all heading off on the annual Hogan holiday soon, and I am wondering how much of a holiday it will be. In our infinite wisdom, we have selected a city break for this years summer holiday. Ah, culture. Florence the destination, Santo Dio! So much to plan and so much to do before we even set foot in Dublin Airport. Its that old Louis C.K joke, going on holidays is a lot of work, packing up the car and putting the kids in, its so much work, when I close the door from the kids, and walk around to the driver's side, thats my vacation. I feel like that sometimes. But I digress. We decided last week, like all those parents I used to stare incredulously at coming into the bookshop in early July, to get supplies for September, to purchase my eldest daughter's new school uniform and school books. It would be great to get it out of the way before the summer holiday, that was the logic fuelling our middle-aged preparation. The wheel had come full circle. My eldest daughter is moving from primary school into secondary school. I have to say, it is a bit of an emotional time. Seeing the child change, and move towards adolescence. Her agency forming. Its about being together differently; thats what I have been saying to parents for so many years, in relation to their ever-changing and metamorphising dynamic with their sullen teenager. Its good advice, and Im trying to put it into practice. So, its an interesting time; seeing if all this theory I have been spouting holds water, but it is also a very expensive time. Things have changed somewhat since I was helping the good people of Douglas to procure school books back in the '90s. Last week we were left with a bill for 1,110. Holy God! It broke down as follows; compulsory iPad - 600, uniform 250, school books 260. We havent even thought about new school bags, stationery, daily transportation to and from school, and lunches. The cost of living crisis has hit every family home in this country. But that just seems like an extortionate amount of money to fork out on the whole back to school for one person. What would we do if we had three or four children in secondary school, like so many parents in this country? Now we are fortunate enough, as a family, to be able to afford that bill, but it certainly hurt. Richard Hogan. Photograph: Moya Nolan I was left wondering how in the name of God do other families who are less fortunate, financially speaking, afford to pay for their childrens basic requirements for secondary school. It is that squeezed middle that rarely finds articulation in the media. The pressure on those parents to meet the financial demands placed on them to provide for their children, while receiving zero support from the government, seems more problematic than ever. But their voice is silent. And it is something the government must look at. We are constantly being told how well the country is doing, and talk of rainy-day saving is in the air, before Budget 2023 is released in September. The government is clearly trying to manage our expectations. But for many families, this is rainy-day stuff. Working with teenagers for over twenty years, you get some insights into how they like to live. They like designer gear and they certainly dont want to be the odd ones out when it comes to fashion. That can put incredible financial strain on families, not to mention the cost of uniforms, books, and technology. And then there is a holiday to think about too. Put all that together and you have an insight into the struggle many families experience at this time of year. The new scheme launched by the government; the free primary school book scheme is an incredible initiative that alleviates the pressure on parents in a cost of living crisis. And it should be applauded. The removal of that financial burden from parents is significant but they also need to consider parents of secondary school students, because the financial burden there is far more than primary school. The pressure placed on students from the points race places a huge burden on some parents as they opt to provide their children with extra tuition. That cost can be significant. Not to mention the many school trips that are on offer during secondary school. I have listened to so many parents desperately articulate the pressures on them to give their child all the experiences the school offers. Often parents in that squeezed middle have to work a number of jobs, to meet the financial burden while their children go through the educational system. And it doesnt stop there. University awaits at the end of that long 6-year process. Those fees can be prohibitive unless crippling bank loans are accessed. The squeezed middle rarely are discussed during political debates. But the burden on them is huge. Back to school is just another aspect that places incredible strain on the family unit, and while the governments initiative to remove the price of primary school books from parents is wonderful and progressive, it also needs to consider the price of secondary school books to help alleviate that huge pressure. Faster and more frequent rail services, new stations in Cork and an expansion of the rail network into Donegal, Cavan, and Monaghan are among the key recommendations in a landmark rail review. The draft All-Island Strategic Rail Review, which was approved by Cabinet on Tuesday, calls for significant upgrades to the Irish rail network in the short, medium, and long term. In particular, the report calls for an hourly train service between major cities and that regional and rural services have at least one train every two hours. The report also says to ensure train journeys are more attractive than car journeys, the speed of intercity trains should be increased to 200km per hour while regional services should be increased to at least 120km per hour. It does not recommend investing in high-speed rail of up to 300km per hour, however, saying the potential benefits of this type of transport would not outweigh the cost of developing it. Given the distance between key population centres, there are diminishing economic returns in targeting speeds above 200km/hr, the report reads. Furthermore, developing a large new rail network would likely have a significant adverse impact on the natural environment and would risk generating more carbon through construction than would be offset through attracting more demand to the railways. The report also acknowledges ongoing work on the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy, which has recommended developing light rail in the city between Mahon and Ballincollig. Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said it would take 30 years to deliver on everything in the review Itll take three decades to deliver it, its not cheap but, at the same time, not doing it would be incredibly expensive. Our country would be gridlocked, our emissions would keep rising. This gives us a better alternative, Mr Ryan said. Reopening train lines The report also proposes reopening several lines around the country, as well as developing new train lines particularly between Donegal and Derry. The proposal itself is to develop a new rail link between Letterkenny in Co Donegal to Derry. It says this would help improve connectivity between Donegal, Belfast, and Dublin, allowing easier access to key cities. Additionally, it calls for railway developments within the North Midlands, with proposals for train lines to go between Portadown, Cavan, Mullingar, and Athlone. Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said Irish Rail was confident the rail line between Limerick and Foynes could be up and running in 2025. Picture: Damien Storan /PA Wire While new railways have been proposed, there are also calls to reinstate existing lines, including the Western Rail Corridor between Claremorris and Athenry, the South Wexford Railway and continue work on the new Limerick to Foynes Port link. Asked about timelines for the projects, Mr Ryan said Irish Rail was confident the rail line between Limerick and Foynes could be up and running in 2025. Mr Ryan added he would be seeking for additional funding from Irelands windfall corporate tax receipts to be allocated towards developing rail infrastructure around the country. "Investing in climate action, investing in that more sustainable future is part of what we should do with the funds," Mr Ryan. "We need to invest more." The decarbonisation of Irelands rail network is also recommended, including the electrification of Irelands intercity rail services. Overall, the report calls for an all-island rail decarbonisation strategy to be developed. With submissions on the review now able to be made, it is expected a final report will be completed before the end of 2023. Businesses must prioritise sustainable transport and help to tackle climate change in the next decade or face going bust, Green Party leader and Environment Minister Eamon Ryan has said. Pointing to wildfires and record temperatures in Europe, Mr Ryan said businesses must decarbonise and choose greener transport options such as rail. Mr Ryans comments came as he unveiled a 36bn all-island railway expansion plan that will increase the frequency of trains, reopen routes, and take more haulage off the roads by creating rail links to ports in Limerick, Cork, Rosslare, and Dublin. However, in comments that appear at odds with Mr Ryan, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar yesterday stressed the need to continue to heavily invest in road infrastructure, adding that in a country the size of Ireland there are limitations to what can be done in relation to rail expansion. Tensions have been mounting between the two Coalition partners on the issue of transport, with Fine Gael backbenchers hitting out at Mr Ryan over the withdrawal of funding for a number of national road projects and demanding a meeting with him on this before the end of the month. SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE Check out our Sustainability and Climate Change Hub where you will find the latest news, features, opinions and analysis on this topic from across the various Irish Examiner topic desks and their team of specialist writers and columnists. However, Mr Ryan said investing in a national rail network is crucial to meeting climate targets and to balanced regional development. Look whats happening in Rhodes in Greece, said Mr Ryan. Our world is burning and we need to make a shift to lower our emissions in transport. Weve already been starting to talk to businesses, and they all realise they wont be in business in 10 or 15 years time if theyre not part of the climate solution. So those businesses are starting to realise: Yeah, we do need to make a switch. The All-Island Strategic Rail Review sets out a list of projects to be delivered by 2050, including reinstating a large section of the Western Rail Corridor and increasing the speed of intercity trains to 200kmh to ensure rail journeys are more attractive than using the car. However, Mr Varadkar and Mr Ryan appear to differ on how much the plan will achieve. The Taoiseach said that even if all the projects outlined are delivered, just 10% of freight will go by rail and only 6% of passenger journeys will be by train. 'More road investment' So that makes the case to me for more road investment, because 90% of freight will still be by road and 94% of passenger journeys will still be by road, even if we do all of those things by 2050, said Mr Varadkar, adding that further moves to use of electric vehicles should be encouraged. Mr Ryan said these figures are simply indicative and he is absolutely convinced the number using new rail services will go way beyond the estimates. I believe when we create a freight option in Dublin Port, a real one, and in Rosslare and in Cork and in Waterford and in Limerick, we will see that switch to freight way beyond 10%, said Mr Ryan. Every single occasion where weve provided new public transport services, the public flock to it. So dont see that as a limit on ambition, thats actually the bare minimum of what we need to do. We have to take climate seriously now. We have to make sure that in every area were investing for the future. By the time this investment is rolled out, by 2050, were going to be a world that is changing. There has been a mixed reaction to a new National Centre for Research and Remembrance for survivors of Ireland's institutions. The Government has approved plans for a national site of conscience which will open at the former Magdalene laundry on Sean McDermott St in Dublin. The centre is intended to act "as a site of conscience to honour equally all those who were resident in Industrial Schools, Magdalen Laundries, Mother and Baby Institutions, Reformatories, and related institutions". Diane Croghan was just eight years old when she was incarcerated in the Summerhill Laundry in Co Wexford. The now 83-year-old has welcomed the news. I think it would be important to remember what happened, she told the Irish Examiner. Its for the next generation to learn about the wrongs that happened. Survivors should not be forgotten. "When you think about it, the only place really in Dublin is that building [Sean McDermott St]. Theres nothing really left of these places. Definitely it was wrong, what went on, but I have gotten on with my life and in order to get on with my life I have to be a forgiving person. "I forgive but of course I dont forget. Survivor David Kinsella would prefer if the centre were at another location: 'St Patricks on the Navan Rd in Dublin will be my sacred place, where my mother walked. I would prefer it was there. File picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins However, David Kinsella, who was four years old when he was adopted from St Patricks mother and baby home, where he had been kept as an infant from 1958 to 1962, said he would prefer if the new centre was elsewhere. Every survivor will have their view and sacred ground where the mother walked and lived," he said. But, for me, St Patricks on the Navan Rd in Dublin will be my sacred place, where my mother walked. I would prefer it was there. The remembrance centre was promised by the Government as part of an action plan following the publication of the Commission of Inquiry into mother and baby homes in January 2021. It will include a museum and exhibition space, a research centre, and a remembrance garden. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar described it as extremely important for honouring those who suffered institutional trauma. As well as recognising and learning from our past, we are taking the opportunity to help build a brighter future for the community of the north east inner city," he said It is entirely fitting that the National Centre for Research and Remembrance serves as a linchpin for wider development of the campus to benefit the local community including social housing; a lifelong learning hub for further and higher education; and facilities for community-based family and parenting services. A family from Co Tyrone evacuated due to the wildfires in Rhodes have said it was hell trying to get home from the Greek island. Conor and Danielle Cullen took a holiday to Rhodes in Greece with their two daughters, Chloe, 13, and Molly, 11. The family experienced a brutal several days trying to return home after being evacuated from their hotel with only one small backpack of their belongings. They had to face a boat journey in the dark, emergency accommodation and trying to arrange travel back to Belfast with little information. Photo taken by Conor Cullen as he and his family were forced to evacuate the Greek island of Rhodes due to wildfires (Handout/Conor Cullen) Temperatures of over 40C have led to an outbreak of fires across islands in Greece, with the blaze in Rhodes causing more than 20,000 people to be evacuated. Orders to evacuate have also been issued on the islands of Corfu and Evia. After being evacuated from their hotel to a beach 4-5 miles away, Mr and Mrs Cullen were told that buses would be returning to take them back to the hotel, but as it grew dark Mrs Cullen said the danger of the nearby fire became more apparent. All you kept hearing was A bus is coming, a bus is coming and then it starts to get dark and theres no electric, so no streetlights, no nothing, she said. And the darker it was getting the more you could see the flames, because during the day you couldnt see flames, it was all smoke, but then when it was getting darker, the sky, it was just red and orange with flames. And youre sitting and still nothings coming. Mr Cullen said: You could feel the tension in the air. People were starting to get more panicked about what was happening. Because where the fire was didnt look as severe as it got later in the night, and then you could see that the fire actually spread right across the horizon, almost like an arc as if it was coming towards you. Conor and Danielle Cullen, who evacuated the Greek island of Rhodes with their two daughters (Claudia Savage/PA) Having received no guidance from easyJet, the airline the couple had booked through, or from anyone from their hotel, Mr and Mrs Cullen were told by a Red Cross representative that they had to evacuate their area by boat or by bus. They said thousands of people gathered on the beach to await boats for evacuation in the dark. Mr Cullen said once the boat started to allow people on it was a free-for-all. Mrs Cullen added: Were pulling the kids, the kids are pulling us, everybodys just pulling on each other. And it was just panic. They (others attempting to board) did not care about young children in front of them, and they got on before the children, they had pushed their way right through before we could even get the kids up. So we reckon there was about 50 of us on a boat, and nobody spoke and no life jackets. Mrs Cullen said the familys experience on the boat was hell. We were on the boat for nearly three hours. Three hours on the boat, she said. We did not know where we were at when we were getting off. I actually asked the man were we still in Rhodes. Because everything was black, you did not know. She added: Were on the water, we cant see nothing, it was just hell. Conor and Danielle Cullen on a boat that would take them to a safer part of the Greek island of Rhodes as they were forced to evacuate due to wildfires (Handout/Conor Cullen) Mr and Mrs Cullen said the boat evacuation was extremely stressful for the family. I know the way Im feeling, Im sitting here at times going this just seems like a dream, like the holiday hasnt happened yet, Mrs Cullen said. Its just a nightmare, and that boat. We cannot, I cannot get that boat situation out of my head. Mr Cullen said he felt the boats looked unsafe. That was the big moment for us, was youre risking getting on the boat in the middle of the night with young children, he said. Because wed seen lots of these sorts of tender boats running back and forth, getting people and taking them out to bigger ships and just the amount of people on them just didnt look safe. Following the boat journey, the Cullens were taken to emergency accommodation in Afantou, Rhodes. The couple said the familys situation was not helped by a lack of communication from easyJet. There was other representatives of other airline companies coming to people and saying theyre looking into it and all the rest, Mrs Cullen said. EasyJet nothing. Not one person. Not one phone call. Not one text. Nothing. Mr Cullen said the first contact they received from the airline was 13 hours after the evacuation from their hotel. Theres no information being put out but to the media or whatever, and when we called them we were phoning flat out to try and get some information so you can make decisions, he said. But then, I think the first correspondence we got was 13 hours later from (when) we were evacuated, and at that point we were on the boat. Wildfires on the Greek island of Rhodes (Handout/Conor Cullen) The Cullens heard of a repatriation flight to Gatwick, which they took, and then flew from Gatwick to Belfast City Airport, arriving home on Monday evening. Due to their house and car keys being in the hotel along with their belongings and some sentimental items, the Cullens had to get a locksmith to open the door of their house. They said booking new flights and accommodation had cost around 1,000, but Mrs Cullen said their focus was on the safety of the people of Rhodes, and the other tourists making the journey back. We hope that the island does build itself back up again because it was beautiful, and the families that we did meet along the way I really hope that they all got home as well, she said. Two flights from Rhodes were due to land at Belfast International Airport in the early hours of Wednesday morning. An easyJet holidays spokesperson said they were in touch with Mr and Mrs Cullen and that the couple would receive a partial refund. There is nothing more important to us than the safety and wellbeing of our customers. As the situation in Rhodes has evolved, weve prioritised keeping our impacted customers updated, sourcing them alternative accommodation, and organising a return to the UK at the earliest opportunity, they said. Were really sorry to hear that Mr and Mrs Cullens holiday was impacted by the wildfires. As soon as we were aware of the situation and as it unfolded, we got in touch with Mr and Mrs Cullen several times to share updates and next steps, including confirming the alternative hotel we had sourced. While the concerning wildfire situation is out of our control, we apologise for any disappointment caused and well be in touch with Mr and Mrs Cullen to discuss a partial refund for the disrupted element of their holiday. A hedgehog with a broken pelvis was able to give birth to five hoglets safely this week, thanks to the intervention of a wildlife rescuer. Veterinary nurse Yvonne McCann, who runs Hedgehog Rescue Dublin, is regarded as one of the country's leading hedgehog rescuers. Ms McCann posted an x-ray image of the hedgehog showing how her pelvis was broken. She wrote online: "Female hedgehog, 1.2kg. Broken pelvis and just gave birth to five hoglets. Doing great so far. "Hedgehogs are amazing. All content, fed and happy for tonight. I won't look at them for a week or so to let her settle with them." It comes at a time when hedgehog numbers are in decline. While there are no official numbers of hedgehogs, it is estimated there are around 5,000 sightings each year in Ireland. The hedgehog with a broken pelvis. Picture: Hedgehog Rescue Dublin That figure comes from an annual survey led by researchers at the University of Galway who appeal to the public every year to help identify hot spots for hedgehogs around the country. This project is an expansion of the All-Ireland Hedgehog Survey which is online since it was established in 2020. It is supported by volunteers across the country who are trying to help stop the decline of the animal by rescuing them when sick or injured and providing rehab and care. One of those is veterinary nurse Bev Truss who runs the Hogsprickle Wildlife Carers in Clare. She posted images of a release of a hedgehog, which her centre helped rehabilitate. Daisy the Hedgehog was rescued by Hogsprickle Wildlife Carers in Clare. She wrote online: "The best feeling in the world is releasing a wild animal or bird back to their wild lives. "This adult female, Daisy, came in 10 weeks ago after being found out during the day walking very slowly along a main road. The sanctuary later discovered she was pregnant and "gave birth to two beautiful hoglets". Daisy was released safely into an organic habitat this week after her recovery. The State body with responsibility for unlocking land for public housing is to spend 9m on recruiting professional services for the end administration of its housing delivery. The Land Development Agency has requested tenders from professional bodies for the provision of such services in eight areas around the country: Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Kildare, Meath, and Wicklow. Those services involve all facets of residential tenancy deliveryfrom property rental valuation to tenancy set-up to property and facilities management, the LDA said. Chosen contractors would be expected to market the various lettings, collect rent and manage debt collections, and fulfil all obligations regarding the Residential Tenancies Board. The contract would further involve the maintenance and security of vacant lands not currently under development. The LDAs tender is split into four lotsletting, property management, facilities management, and estateswith six contractors expected to fill each on a four-year contract, the LDA said. The tender is the latest move in a ramping-up of activity on the part of the agency, first formed in September 2018, with the goal of expediting housing delivery by unlocking public land for development. Last week, the LDA announced for the first time that it would seek expressions of interest from landowners with the aim of the agency purchasing privately-owned land for the delivery of affordable housingin particular larger sites with existing planning permission for the delivery of 200 homes or more. That strategy is to initially focus on large sites that could be utilised for the construction of higher-density housing projects in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford, the agency said. The LDA's chief executive John Coleman said at the time that the LDA would seek to maximise every opportunity to deliver affordable housing. As we continue to grow and maintain a steady pipeline of affordable housing, it makes sense to also look at potential opportunities involving the outright purchase of privately-owned land and we are now seeking expressions of interest from landowners in this regard, he said. The LDA said it is currently in the process of delivering 5,000 homes on State land and a further 5,000 through the Project Tosaigh initiative, first launched in 2021 and aimed at expediting the development of land with valid planning permission which has nevertheless gone undeveloped to date. Earlier this year, the LDA said there is the potential to build up to 67,000 homes on State-owned land across Ireland, but that less than 10,000 of those could be delivered within the next decade, while that delivery would be contingent on the lands being released quickly for development. The horrors of war arrive through the night at a hospital in eastern Ukraine, a procession of stretchers bearing limp bodies whisked from the front line. The soldiers come with bandaged limbs soaked in blood, faces blackened with shrapnel fragments and stunned eyes fixed on the ceiling, frozen in shock. Lately, theyve been coming with ever-greater frequency. A wounded Ukrainian serviceman smokes a cigarette outside an ambulance at Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro, Ukraine, earlier this month. Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka Pain! shrieks a serviceman with a gaping thigh wound as medical workers move him to a surgical gurney. Evacuated from trenches in the east, forests in the north and the open fields of the south, wounded soldiers begin showing up at the Mechnikov Hospital in late afternoon, and dozens more in desperate need of surgery are wheeled in before the sun rises the next day. The surge of wounded soldiers coincides with the major counter-offensive Ukraine launched in June to try to recapture its land, nearly one-fifth of which is now under Russian control. Surgeons at Mechnikov are busier now than perhaps at any other time since Russia began its full-scale invasion 17 months ago, according to doctors at the hospital, who declined to be more specific. In a war where casualty counts are treated as state secrets, the hospital one of Ukraines biggest serves as a measurement of distant battles. When they intensify, so does the doctors workload, which these days consists of 50 to 100 surgeries per night. Here, we see the worst of the front line, Dr Serhii Ryzhenko, the hospitals 59-year-old chief doctor, says with a weary smile. We have 50 operating rooms, and its not enough. Kaiman, a Ukrainian serviceman, shows a Victory sign at the ICU of Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro, Ukraine, recently. Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka The Associated Press was given rare access last week to the hospital, a 12-hour visit to witness doctors and nurses care for soldiers rushed from the battlefield to the operating room. During the day, Mechnikov functions as a normal hospital, treating patients with cancer and other chronic diseases. But every night ushers in the same macabre routine: Wounded soldiers arrive many unconscious and surgeons operate. The soldiers are then sent off to recover elsewhere to create space for the next nightly deluge. Ukrainian soldiers are fighting in multiple combat zones along the 1,500km front line, but the counter-offensive focused in the Russian-occupied east and south of the country has been slow going. Small units are being deployed to probe a Russian army that is deeply dug in, and minefields must be cleared before Ukrainian soldiers can attempt to root them out. Any initial momentum from the opening phase of the counter-offensive has given way to sluggish advances. Territorial gains have been minimal, despite highly publicized Western donations of military hardware that heightened expectations of a quick Ukrainian breakthrough. For its part, Russia has stepped up operations in the north of Ukraine, near Lyman, in the forests of Kreminna, in a possible attempt to corner Ukrainian troops there. Ukrainian soldiers fighting along the front say the ferocity of Moscows artillery barrages has surprised them the most, especially in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, where mine-clearing operations leave them badly exposed to enemy fire. Medical staff move a seriously wounded Ukrainian serviceman at the ICU department of Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro, Ukraine, earlier this month. Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka Oleh Halah, 22, was hit by artillery from a Russian tank near Lyman this month, injuring his stomach and legs. Straining to speak in the hospitals intensive care unit, Halah said his platoon saw the tank coming, but the artillery hit them before they could reach their grenade launcher. Twenty-four hours a day, constant shooting, all the time if not (Russian) infantry, then artillery, he said. It doesnt stop. Other soldiers being cared for by Mechnikovs doctors were injured while clearing mines from Russian trenches. A Belarusian fighting alongside Ukrainian soldiers who uses the call sign Gold was injured this way. He had been walking slowly with his unit, five metres per minute, when he was ambushed by a Russian soldier hiding behind a dugout. Medical workers move Mykola, a wounded Ukrainian serviceman, for a CT scan while he shows a Victory sign at Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro, Ukraine, recently. Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka As evening comes, the pace of activity in the trauma room picks up, with new soldiers arriving nearly every 15 minutes. Discordant voices of doctors and other hospital staff echo in the halls, describing blood loss and case histories. Diagnoses are called out: shrapnel in the brain, a burned respiratory tract, shrapnel in the legs, a bullet in the arm; and, again, shrapnel in the brain. Shrapnel accounts for the majority of injuries treated at Mechnikov, doctors said. Bullet wounds, less so. Wounded soldiers are typically cared for in hospitals closer to the front line and then, once stabilized, they are brought to Mechnikov, a journey that can sometimes take half a day. Dr Simon Sechen brings in a soldier with a wide gash in his shin. A tourniquet was applied for roughly half a day, he explained, because the soldier was trapped in a faraway trench, and it took hours to evacuate him. Sechen had tried to encourage blood flow, but it may be too late. We did all we could to fight for his leg, he says. The soldier is taken to the operating room, where Dr Yakov Albayuk takes one look and determines that the leg must be amputated to save the soldiers life. Medical staff treat a seriously wounded Ukrainian serviceman at the ICU department of Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro, Ukraine, earlier this month. Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka After 12 hours without blood circulation, the limb will die, Albayuk said, explaining that a tourniquet must be taken off after two hours and, if necessary, re-applied. Because of tiny mistakes were losing peoples limbs. For Albayuk, every wound inspected on the operating table is a raw and unvarnished account of the brutality of the fight Ukrainian soldiers face in combat: constant bombardment, hidden mines, and cunning snipers. In this soldiers case, his wounds tell a story of bravery; he was advancing toward fire, not running away. The amputation takes 20 minutes. Albayuk uses a surgical saw to cut through the bone. A nurse wraps up the severed limb, and it is taken away. Nearby, a soldier lying on a stretcher in the hallway calls out for his girlfriend, Anna. He has been brought to Mechnikov so that doctors can treat complications from a leg that was amputated a few days ago at a hospital closer to the front line. Anna rushes to his side and tells him to be strong. When hes gone, she collapses into tears. A girlfriend of a Ukrainian soldier prays in the corridor while doctors discuss surgery at Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro, Ukraine, earlier this month. Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka Later, a soldier named Maksym, who was injured while fighting in the Donetsk region, awakens in the intensive care unit to the sight of his wife, and then a relieved kiss from her. She traveled with his sister when they learned Maksym had been admitted for surgery. I am so happy I got to see them one more time, Maksym said. Like Ukraine itself, the Mechnikov Hospital which is more than 200 years old has been transformed by war over the past decade. The hospital did not begin treating wounded soldiers until Russias invasion in 2014, when it was not prepared for the task, said Ryzhenko. Soldiers would be admitted with guts spilling out and massive amounts of blood loss. Back then, Ryzhenko saw cases he had only read about in textbooks. Today, Mechnikov is lauded for its state-of-the-art facilities and expertise roughly 400 doctors spread across six buildings. A neurosurgeon operates on a patient at Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro, Ukraine, recently. Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka On Dr Mykyta Lombrozovs operating table is a soldier who sustained a shrapnel injury on the left part of the brain. The 28-year-old neurosurgeons elegant hands work methodically. Crushed skull pieces are removed, one by one, until he can extract the small metal fragments lodged in the soldiers brain. Its a complicated surgery that would normally take up to four hours. The war has taught Lombrozov to finish it in 55 minutes. He does it every day, he says, sometimes up to eight times in a single 24-hour shift. It is very important to me, thats why I am here. Thats why we all work here, Lombrozov said as he looked down at the soldier. He is our hero. Last weekend, sheep-like, I succumbed and did a Barbenheimer and watched two seriously hyped movies back-to-back Barbie first, rounding off with Oppenheimer. Although Barbie is cleverly being sold as a feminist fable it seemed an odd choice for cool-kid filmmaker Greta Gerwig who has made the feminist films Ladybird and Little Women. It was a brave move (the word ballsy feels like it doesnt belong in this context) with the potential for a giant flop, you might have thought. But reviews are glowing (Ive read only two negative ones so far), and Gerwigs indie street cred is intact, making history securing the biggest opening weekend for a film directed by a woman. This presumably means she will find it easier to get her movies financed. This can only be a good thing in a world where the average production budget for female directors is expected to be about 20% less than those of their male peers because female directors often mainframe female actresses which means they get less money. The female gaze apparently is less important. Barbieland While Ive no interest in deriding a doll that has given generations of small girls pleasure, it feels necessary to disclose that I didnt go to the movie with an open mind because hyper-feminine Barbie gives me the ick. Call me a crank, but I remain firmly convinced (the movie hasnt changed this) that the dolls body shape is unhealthy for young girls, sending a body negativity message. Ryan Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie in the title role in a scene from 'Barbie'. Picture: Warner Bros For the first section of the movie which is set in Barbieland, I gritted my teeth and it seemed in need of a good edit. The clever voiceover by Helen Mirren introduces us to the idea that since the beginning of time, since the first girl ever existed, there have been dolls. Were sold the idea that when Barbie was invented young girls were liberated by throwing away their baby dolls which trained them to be mothers, freeing them like Barbie to be anything they wanted. Hmm. Real-life LA I half-heartedly scribbled notes, glad for something to do while thinking, bang goes part of my weekend that Im never getting back. So, it was a major relief when Barbie and Ken headed to real-life LA and the movie markedly improved cue knowing, satirical lines like, Im a man with no power, does that make me a woman? And overall, the central message in this movie is positive, everything exists in the world to expand the presence and power of men, so women have a right, to be whomever they want, and must say no to imposter syndrome (which seems to be a particularly female phenomenon) and should never quit. Nods of recognition America Ferrara playing a Mattel employee gives a smart, accurate and surprisingly poignant monologue about the difficulties and paradoxes of being a woman and suddenly, I found my head nodding thinking, you can sing it, sister. And I looked around and realised that I wasnt alone. Having a communal experience with what largely looked like a young female audience also worked strange magic on me. Most looked to be under 25 with the odd boyfriend type dotted here and there, with one teenage boy in a Barbie sweatshirt and pink hair dye going with his inner Barbie. There was lots of laughter and murmurs of recognition at the sly quips and humour (theres a great scene where Ken plays the guitar for four hours at Barbie) and, by the end, I had a weird lump in my throat. On that note, I wouldnt bring a young boy to this, it felt like the message that men are confused, simple, chumps, (sexism in reverse) wouldnt be great. Patriarchy double bill So, after grabbing food, it was time to see what damage patriarchal ideology had done to society in a different context because patriarchy is the nexus between these two films. Cillian Murphy is incredible as the eponymous American theoretical physicist Robert Oppenheimer who was director of the Los Alamos laboratory during the Second World War. He brilliantly conveys both the complexity of the man and the outsized moral dimensions of being credited as the father of the atomic bomb which killed and maimed so many Japanese people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Matt Damon as Leslie Groves and Cillian Murphy in the title role in a scene from 'Oppenheimer'. Picture: Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures The cast is excellent except maybe for Kenneth Branagh. It feels more like hes playing Branagh rather than Danish physicist Niels Bohr. Id like to avoid what has been described as the film industrys fetishisation of the male genius auteur filmmaker but this film is stellar. Three hours, and I didnt get bored once. As somebody who usually goes to the loo several times during a normal-length movie hated by the entire row as I sorry my way past and tread on their feet, this says something. Engines of destruction When youve first watched Barbie, then Oppenheimer, it reminds you that the patriarchy has not only shaped the individual lives of women by limiting and harming them but also by enabling men to build machines that destroy lives, cause wars and outsize problems for humanity. Initially, watching Oppenheimer I felt grateful I didnt live in a time when men swept around the place being important, and women were entirely relegated to the background, even more than today, reduced to being sexual objects and mothers. Then getting a hint of the two womens backstories who played outsized parts in Robert Oppenheimers life, it was disappointing director Christopher Nolan who wrote the screenplay, didnt grab the chance to write meatier roles for these interesting women. Under-written women's roles The parts for Oppenheimers wife, Kitty, a German American biologist and former member of the American communist party (Oppenheimer was her fourth husband) and mistress, communist activist Jean Tatlock, played by Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh respectively, are seriously underwritten. What a shame that Nolan, who otherwise made a stellar movie, didnt figure this out. Pugh, an actress of considerable talent, does her best with her role but is essentially reduced to a woman who gets her kit off. To put it in context, I now have a better idea of the shape and size of Pughs breasts than my own. Reduced to a trope And while Emily Blunt knocks it out of the park with her limited time on the screen, really showing her acting chops in a late scene where she defends her husband, against a McCarthyite committee/kangaroo court, she is also largely reduced to a trope. Male journalists and reviewers are lining up with cries of a masterpiece for Nolan, while a different equally valid jury is back too on a different movie. Post Barbie, I hung around the lobby canvassing young women for their take, all of whom were buoyed up and happy to share their unanimous opinion. With shining faces, they told me that they absolutely loved it. So, go Greta Gerwig, go Barbie (with reservations) and go all the young women who laughed out loud in the cinema. Watching them walk out into the rainy Cork summer evening, I felt strangely hopeful, and yes, a little bit emotional, wishing that their lives will turn out well and that theyll get to be whoever they want. US first lady Jill Biden attended a flag-raising ceremony at Unesco in Paris on Tuesday, marking Washingtons official re-entry into the UN agency after a controversial five-year hiatus. The Stars and Stripes was hoisted up outside Unescos headquarters with the Eiffel Tower on the skyline to rousing applause and a rendition of the national anthem. Before the flag-raising, Mrs Biden made remarks about the importance of American leadership in preserving cultural heritage and empowering education and science across the globe. I was honoured to join you today as we raise the flag of the Unites States, the symbol of our commitment to global collaboration and peace, Mrs Biden said. US First Lady Jill Biden, right, and Unesco director-general Audrey Azoulay pose in front of flags during a ceremony at the Unesco headquarters in Paris (Bertrand Guay, Pool via AP/PA) She said that this move was an example of President Joe Bidens pledge about restoring our leadership on the world stage. We are so proud to rejoin Unesco, she proclaimed, acknowledging that as a teacher Im a little biased. The US had announced its intention to rejoin Unesco in June, and the organisations 193 member states earlier this month voted to approve the US reentry. Tuesdays ceremony, which also featured a speech by Unesco director-general Audrey Azoulay, formally signified the US becoming the 194th member and flag proprietor at the agency. We are putting the Star Spangled Banner back where it belongs, Ms Azoulay said. In the time of divisions, rifts and and existential threats, we reaffirm our union here today, Ms Azoulay also said, referring to current global political instabilities. Together we will be stronger. The return of the United States has a meaning that is bigger than Unesco, she added. Ms Azoulay emphasised the significance of the move for multilateralism and universality as a whole in a speech that mentioned the war in Ukraine. She said the momentum of Unesco will grow with the reintegration of the US, thereby strengthening the organisations initiatives throughout the world. The UN agencys special envoy, US actor Forest Whitaker, also gave a speech praising the spirit of peace through education that could not have been possible without Unesco. The US decision to return to Paris-based Unesco was based mainly on concerns that China has filled a leadership gap since Washington withdrew during the Trump administration. The US exit from Unesco in 2017 cited an alleged anti-Israel bias within the organisation. The decision followed a 2011 move by Unesco to include Palestine as a member state, which led the US and Israel to cease financing the agency. The US withdrawal became official a year later in 2018. Actor Forest Whitaker speaks during the ceremony at the Unesco headquarters in Paris (Aurelien Morissard/AP/PA) In preparation for its return, the Biden administration requested 150 million dollars (116 million) for the 2024 budget to go toward Unesco dues and arrears, with plans for similar requests in the ensuing years until the full debt of 619 million dollars (481 million) is paid off. This represents a significant portion of Unescos annual operating budget of 534 million dollars (415 million), highlighting the substantial financial role the U.S. played in the agency before its departure. Before its withdrawal, the US was the single biggest funder of Unesco, contributing 22% of the agencys overall funding. This is the second time the US has returned to Unesco after a period of withdrawal. The country previously left the organisation in 1984 under the Reagan administration, citing mismanagement, corruption and perceived advancement of Soviet interests. It rejoined in 2003 under George W Bushs presidency. British billionaire and Tottenham Hotspur owner Joe Lewis has been indicted in New York for orchestrating a brazen insider trading scheme, a US attorney said. Damian Williams, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a video released by his office: Today Im announcing that my office, the Southern District of New York, has indicted Joe Lewis, the British billionaire, for orchestrating a brazen insider trading scheme. We allege that for years Joe Lewis abused his access to corporate boardrooms and repeatedly provided inside information to his romantic partners, his personal assistants, his private pilots and his friends. Those folks then traded on that inside information and made millions of dollars in the stock market, because thanks to Lewis those bets were a sure thing. Mr Williams described Lewiss alleged behaviour as classic corporate corruption. He said: Now, none of this was necessary. Joe Lewis is a wealthy man. But as we allege he used inside information as a way to compensate his employees or to shower gifts on his friends and lovers. Thats classic corporate corruption. Its cheating, and its against the law. Laws that apply to everyone, no matter who you are. Thats why Joe Lewis has been indicted and will face justice here in the Southern District of New York. Lewis, 86, is the founder and primary investor of Bahamas-based investment firm Tavistock Group. He was ranked 39th in the 2023 Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated worth of more than 5 billion. He bought a controlling stake in Tottenham from Alan Sugar in 2001 for 22 million. The Premier League club and Tavistock Group have been contacted for comment. The European Unions official watchdog has opened an inquiry into the role of the blocs Frontex border agency in the shipwreck off Greece last month in which hundreds of people died. Migrant crossings in unseaworthy boats organised by human traffickers from northern Africa have surged this year, with massive loss of life. EU Ombudsman Emily OReilly wants her investigation to make clear to the public who is accountable for these deaths as Frontex has unclear jurisdiction and limits to its authority over member states like Greece when it comes to addressing the needs of those in distress at sea. Key questions raised by the tragedy in the Mediterranean include to what extent Frontex could have been more involved in the rescue, what exactly did it communicate to the Greek authorities, and what level of responsibility, if any, the EU agency has for the shipwreck. We have opened an inquiry to clarify @Frontex role in search and rescue sea operations following the drowning of over 500 people off the Greek coast on 14 June. https://t.co/xsbhJc7Fec pic.twitter.com/LujQm2DZOg European Ombudsman (@EUombudsman) July 26, 2023 Ms OReilly said: A tragedy of this magnitude requires all those involved to reflect on their responsibilities and to be clear to the public who is accountable for these deaths. As many as 750 people may have been on board the migrant ship that sank on June 14. So far, 82 bodies have been recovered and hundreds are still missing. Just over 100 survived. Greece has been widely criticised for not trying to save the migrants before the sinking in international waters. Officials in Athens say the passengers refused any help and insisted on proceeding to Italy, adding that it would have been too dangerous to try to evacuate hundreds of unwilling people from an overcrowded ship. The ombudsmans probe comes on top of Greek authorities looking into the responsibilities of their own coastguard in the tragedy. Ms OReilly said: It has been reported that in this instance Frontex alerted the Greek authorities to the ships presence and offered assistance but it is not clear what else it could or should have done. Any new analysis coming out of the investigation could help those adrift in the Mediterranean in the future, she added. Frontex said that it planned to cooperate fully with the investigation, and clarified its role in any search and rescue mission. Frontex does not coordinate search and rescue operations. This is the responsibility of the national rescue coordination centres, it said. Nevertheless, Frontex sees the rescue of lives at sea as one of its essential roles and provides all the necessary support to national authorities when needed. This means that Frontex vessels conduct search and rescue operations when called upon. Members of Nigers presidential guard have surrounded the presidential palace in what African organisations called an attempted coup against the countrys democratically elected leader. The US said the rebelling soldiers have detained President Mohamed Bazoum. A tweet from the account of Nigers presidency reported that members of the elite guard unit engaged in an anti-Republican demonstration and unsuccessfully tried to obtain support from other security forces. It did not refer to a coup and said Mr Bazoum and his family were doing well, but that Nigers army and national guard are ready to attack if those involved in the action did not back down. However, the commissions of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States called the actions of the presidential guardsman an effort to unseat Mr Bazoum, who was elected president two years ago in Nigers first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since its independence from France in 1960. Supporters of Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum demonstrate in Niamey (Sam Mednick/AP) The Ecowas Commission, which manages the programmes of the 15-nation regional power bloc, said it condemns in the strongest terms the attempt to seize power by force and calls on the coup plotters to free the democratically elected president of the republic immediately and without any condition. Mr Bazoums administration has made Niger a key Western partner in the fight against Islamist extremism, which has wracked the countrys west. In the decades before his election, Niger had multiple coups, and the president thwarted an attempted coup days before he was sworn into office. The governments of France and the United States voiced concern and urged the participating guardsmen to change course. We strongly condemn any effort to detain or subvert the functioning of Nigers democratically elected government, led by President Bazoum, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said. We specifically urge elements of the presidential guard to release President Bazoum from detention and refrain from violence. Streets surrounding the presidential palace in the capital, Niamey, were blocked off on Wednesday, as were some government ministries. By early evening, hundreds of people showed up to demonstrate in support of the president. Shots were fired at the protest, although it was not immediately clear by whom. There was a military build-up outside the headquarters of the state radio and television networks. Pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns lined the roads to both buildings, with members of the army and national guard waving cars through. The Associated Press saw around a dozen reinforcements from the national guard protecting the radio network. Some international security forces operating in the country were put on lockdown. A source told The Associated Press that on Wednesday morning the presidential guard surrounded Mr Bazoums house when he and his wife were inside and that negotiations were under way between the parties. US secretary of state Antony Blinken poses for a photo with Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum (Boureima Hama/Pool Photo via AP) Threats to Mr Bazoums leadership would undermine the Wests efforts to stabilise Africas Sahel region. US secretary of state Antony Blinken visited Niger in March, seeking to strengthen ties with a country where the security situation was not as dire as in neighbouring nations. Mali and Burkina Faso have had four coups since 2020, and both are being overrun by extremists linked to al Qaida and the Islamic State group. Mercenaries from the Russian military company Wagner have also deployed in those countries. Ukraines security service has claimed responsibility for the first time for an explosion that badly damaged the Kerch Bridge linking the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula with Russia last October. The explosion, which Russian authorities said was caused by a truck bomb, left three people dead. Speaking on Ukrainian national television on Wednesday, Ukrainian Security Service head Vasyl Malyuk said his agency was behind the attack. The Kerch Bridge was damaged in a special operation by Ukrainian forces (Maxar Technologies via AP) There were many different operations, special operations. Well be able to speak about some of them publicly and out loud after the victory, we will not talk at all about others, Mr Malyuk said. It is one of our actions, namely the destruction of the Crimean bridge on October 8 last year. A further attack on the bridge last week, killing a couple and seriously wounding their daughter, left a span of the roadway hanging perilously. The damage initially appeared to be less severe than that caused by the assault in October but it highlighted the bridges vulnerability. Mr Malyuk made no mention of who was behind the more recent attack. The bridge connecting Crimea and Russia carries heavy significance for Moscow, both logistically and psychologically, as a key artery for military and civilian supplies and as an assertion of Kremlin control of the peninsula it annexed in 2014. China offered no explanation on Wednesday for the sacking of Qin Gang as foreign minister, while scrubbing mentions of him from a government website. Qinwho has not been seen in public for over a monthwas removed from office by Beijings top lawmaking body on Tuesday after just 207 days in the job. That followed weeks of speculation that the former Chinese ambassador to the United States and one-time confidant of President Xi Jinping had suddenly fallen out of favor. As of Wednesday morning, any reference to the 57-year-old had been removed from the website of Chinas Foreign Ministry. A search for his name yielded no results and previous articles about his diplomatic appearances showed a message saying the page does not exist or has been deleted. But his name did appear on other Chinese government websites, including those of the State Council, the Ministry of Commerce and state media outlets. The Foreign Ministry had for weeks refused to give any updates on Qin despite repeated questioning, after previously saying health reasons were to blame for his absence. State media gave no reason for his dismissal, but one expert said the digital erasure of Qin suggested he had fallen from grace. If he were a comrade in good standing who had fallen ill I am not sure that would be happening, China analyst Bill Bishop wrote in his Sinocism newsletter. Evidence is emerging suggesting this is indeed a political purge, Neil Thomas, a fellow on Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute, a US think tank, said on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X. Totally in the dark China had remained tight-lipped for weeks about the fate of Qin, who has not been seen in public since June 25, when he met Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko in Beijing. But that did little to stem an explosion of rumors online, some of which claimed the diplomats alleged affair with a prominent television anchor had landed him in hot water. People from the outside are totally in the dark and the episode illustrates that Chinese politics is becoming increasingly unpredictable and volatile, though under a calm surface, Ho-fung Hung, an expert in Chinese politics at Johns Hopkins University, told AFP. Originally from the northeastern city of Tianjin, Qin frequently rubbed shoulders with President Xi in an earlier role as chief of the Foreign Ministrys Protocol Department. Qins promotion over more experienced candidates, first to US ambassador and then Chinas number two diplomat, was attributed to the trust placed in him by Xi directly. And the sudden fall of the so-called Wolf Warrior diplomat shows that no official is immune to the vicissitudes of Chinese politicsno matter how close they are to the leader, one expert said. I think the main implication would be for Chinese officialdom, with the message being that no one is safe, however high they may have risen or however strongly they have been supported by Xi Jinping, Neysun Mahboubi, an expert on Chinese law, told AFP. Qin has been replaced as foreign minister by top diplomat Wang Yi. Myanmar junta suffered losses in Kanpetlet Township, Chin State, on Monday, according to Chin resistance groups. Clashes began in Kanpetlet Township on July 16 when resistance groups attacked two large junta units raiding villages in the township, according to the Chin Defense Force (CDF) in Kanpetlet. On Monday morning Minbu District Peoples Defense Force (PDF) from Magwe Region and the CDF attacked around 100 troops from Infantry Battalion 304 between Mawchaung and Hlaing Doke villages in the township, according to the civilian National Unity Government. Around 10 regime soldiers and a CDF fighter were killed and four resistance members injured, according to the Chin resistance group. On Monday evening, the Chin National Army, the armed wing of the Chin National Front, and other groups ambushed around 150 troops from Light Infantry battalions 301 and 317 in the township. The group said about 10 soldiers were killed and many others and five resistance members were injured. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports. Hundreds of villagers have fled their homes due to the clashes and junta raids. The CDF has urgently called for funding to fight the junta and provide for displaced civilians. The Myanmar military regime is planning to move the countrys detained democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from a prison to house arrest, sources familiar with her case said. Observers saw it as the ruling generals latest attempt to ease mounting international pressure on them. The junta put the 78-year-old ousted leader in solitary confinement in Naypyitaw Prison in June last year after confining her to her house in the capital since the first day of its attempted coup in February 2021. Daw Sandar Min, a former member of the central committee of Daw Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD), told The Irrawaddy that the regimes transfer of the party leader was 90 percent certain. It has been a few days since I learned that the SAC [State Administration Council, the regimes governing body] intended to move her from the prison. But Im not sure if it has been done yet, she said. Daw Sandar Min was one of the party members allowed by the regime to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in prison late last year to explain to her the juntas election plan. The regime has not officially confirmed Daw Aung San Suu Kyis transfer. The Associated Press reported that the regime plans to move the ousted civilian leader to house arrest as part of a mass amnesty for prisoners in connection with a religious ceremony next week. Lawyers for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi could not confirm the move but said they sent some food parcels for her via the prison authorities a few days ago. The junta has imposed a gag order on her legal team preventing them from talking to the media about her cases. Currently, she is serving a combined sentence of 33 years in prison after the regime brought a series of cases against her for alleged offenses including corruption and election fraud. She pleaded not guilty to all charges. Rumors that the regime plans to transfer Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to house arrest have been circulating since Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai was permitted by the junta to meet her in Naypyitaw on July 9. Don revealed the meeting at a summit of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers, claiming that Myanmars detained leader called for talks to solve the crisis brought about by the coup. For more than two years since the takeover, the regime has been battling a popular armed resistance movement across the country. Opponents of the regime, including the shadow National Unity Government, have dismissed the meeting, and Dons account of it, as one-sided, pointing out that their leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been unable to give her version of the encounter. Political observers said that even if the transfer to house confinement goes ahead, it would be nothing more than the regimes attempt to ease the mounting international pressure on it. In the latest in a series of international actions against the regime, the US recently imposed sanctions on two Myanmar state-owned banks that play a crucial role in the regimes international financial transactions. Regionally, ASEAN has banned the juntas leadership from attending its summits since late 2021 over their failure to implement the blocs peace plan for Myanmar, which includes a call for an immediate cessation of violence in the country. The regime has responded to the growing resistance movement with indiscriminate air strikes, raids and arbitrary killings across the country. As of Tuesday, the junta had killed more than 3,800 people, including people engaged in anti-regime activities and civilians killed in indiscriminate attacks. Meanwhile, sources said that if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is put under house arrest, this time she would probably be confined in a ministerial residence in Naypyitaw with tight security. They said the ousted State Counselor would be held there with female aides assigned by the regime, rather than the personal aides with whom she was living at an undisclosed location before being moved to prison last year. Under the previous military regime, she spent almost 15 of the 21 years from 1989 to 2010 under house arrest for her fight for democracy in Myanmar. Around 20 Myanmar regime troops were reportedly killed and others injured in a resistance minefield in Salingyi Township, Sagaing Region, on Tuesday. Around 100 ground troops in southern Salingyi to raid villages triggered around 28 anti-personnel mines near Byant Gyi village on Tuesday morning, according to the Black Peacock Guerrilla Force. The surviving troops reached Kyar Tat village around 9km from Byant Gyi by Tuesday evening. We planted mines in three places because we guessed the troops would head to Kyar Tat. The three minefields were trampled by the soldiers. Around seven troops died in each spot, Ye Baw Pay, the head of the group, told The Irrawaddy. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports. Around 50 soldiers entered Kyar Tat with many injured soldiers, he added. No resistance casualties were reported. The troops raided adjacent Zee Chaing village on Wednesday, taking food and possessions, according to residents. Thousands of residents from around 10 villages have fled their homes where they suffer from monsoon flooding and food shortages, according to the Salingyi Peoples Administration. Villages from Myaing Township in Magwe Region are also fleeing and hiding in the forest, a resident told The Irrawaddy. Kyar Tat is 19km from Salingyi town on the border with Myaing Township. Villages on the banks of the Chindwin have reported gunfire from regime vessels over the weekend. Salingyi and neighboring Yinmabin are resistance strongholds which have suffered from frequent regime arson attacks since 2021. More than 425 junta forces were killed in clashes with Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs) and ethnic revolutionary organizations in upper Myanmar last month, according to the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) that formed the PDFs. A total of 374 clashesincluding 103 shootouts, 125 resistance raids and 74 resistance land-mine ambusheswere reported in June in the NUGs Military Region 1, which comprises Sagaing, Magwe and Mandalay regions and northern Shan state, the civilian governments Defense Ministry said. The junta responded with 26 airstrikes. The Defense Ministry of the civilian government said 427 regime forces were killed and another were injured in the clashes, while resistance groups suffered 47 deaths and 134 injuries. The Irrawaddy was unable to independently confirm the numbers. The Defense Ministry also said that resistance groups seized a large quantity of military equipment, including 25 drones and 48 firearms. Near-daily clashes have continued to break out in upper Myanmar as resistance groups attack regime targets in the three regions and Shan State. Clashes have reported in northern Shan State since last week as three ethnic armed groups the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Kachin Independence Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Armyattacked regime forces in Muse, Lashio and Kutkai townships. On Tuesday, the junta conducted airstrikes on a village in Muse Township after learning that TNLA troops arrived in the area, according to Shan media reports. One civilian was killed and another injured in the airstrikes. Several resistance groups are attacking junta bases and regime targets across the Sagaing and Magwe and Mandalay regions on a daily basis. Junta forces are also facing an escalation of attacks from resistance groups and ethnic armed organizations in Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Mon and Karen states as well as Bago and Tanintharyi regions in recent days. Fighting has been reported since Sunday between Myanmar junta troops and the Taang National Liberation Army (TLNA) in Muse Township near the Chinese border, killing at least two civilians. A volunteer in northern Shan State said Hseng Hkwang village was hit by junta airstrikes and indiscriminate bombardments on Tuesday. Two villagers were killed and another injured in shelling. There were no civilian casualties reported during the airstrike, a volunteer said. Hseng Hkwang, which had around 60 homes, has been abandoned since being shelled from a junta camp near Muses border trade zone. Last Sunday, fighting erupted between pro-junta paramilitaries and the TNLA near Sei Lant village, leaving at least two paramilitary troops dead, according to a volunteer group. We heard gunfire and shelling at Sei Lant village on Sunday evening when we evacuated around seven teachers, a volunteer said. There were no civilian casualties reported during the fighting, according to the group. Taang State TV reported that three junta troops were killed and many others injured on Sunday. Tensions are high as junta reinforcements arrive from Muse town, according to the TLNA-controlled media. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports. On July 18, a 15-year-old died on the spot and three villagers, including a nine-year-old boy, were wounded in Zee Da Ban village during clashes between junta forces and the TNLA, according to a Kutkai Township volunteer group. Taang State TV said at least four clashes have broken out in Muse and Kutkai townships this month. At least 20 Myanmar junta forces as well as two resistance fighters were killed in the last four days as Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs) and a Karen ethnic armed organization (EAO) continued to attack regime targets across the country. Incidents were reported in Karen and Mon states and Sagaing, Magwe and Bago regions. The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs and the EAO. Some military casualties could not be independently verified. Clashes resume in Karens Myawaddy Clashes between the regimes military and Karen resistance groups resumed in Myawaddy Township, Karen State on Monday and Tuesday when junta forces conducted offensives in an attempt to take back a strategic base recently occupied by resistance groups on Lat Khat Taung Mountain, said the Karen National Union (KNU), a Karen revolutionary organization. There were many military casualties and a civilian was also killed in the clashes. Clashes break out in Mon At least four regime forces as well as two resistance fighters were killed in Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State on Sunday when PDF groups and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the KNU, clashed with a military unit of Artillery Battalion 315 as it was traveling through the township, said Albino Tiger Company 1, which coordinated the attacks. On Saturday, the resistance groups jointly attacked the same military unit near a village, killing a soldier and injuring another. Military unit ambushed in Sagaing Khin U Local Guerilla Force claimed to have killed at least 10 junta troops as it and other local resistance groups jointly ambushed a military unit of 120 soldiers and pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militias in a village in Khin-U Township, Sagaing Region on Sunday. A shootout occurred after the resistance groups first used remotely detonated land mines to ambush the junta troops. Military unit bombed by resistance drones in Magwe The underground resistance group Young Force said it used drones to drop bombs on a military unit including pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia members near Hnaw Pin Village in Myaing Township, Magwe Region on Monday. Military casualties were unknown. Junta troops killed in resistance attacks in Magwe Three junta soldiers and a pro-junta militia member were killed in Pauk Township, Magwe Region on Monday when PDF groups conducted a surprise attack on a military unit of 40 troops near a village, said Myaing PDF, which joined the attack. On that evening, Myaing PDF and other resistance groups attacked the pro-regime village of Kan Ni, also a base for junta troops and Pyu Saw Htee militias, gunning down a regime soldier. Regional government office bombed in Bago Bago PDF said it used M79 grenade launchers to attack the office of the juntas Bago regional government and township general administration office in Bago town, Bago Region on Monday night. Damage and casualty details were unknown. Former Lieutenant-General Myint Swe is known for holding high positions under the previous military regime. However, since the 2021 coup, he has become a puppet of junta boss Min Aung Hlaing, serving as acting president in the current regime. As a trusted general of former military dictator Than Shwe, Myint Swe served as chief of Yangon Command and Yangon Region chief minister, before becoming the military-nominated vice-president in the now ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) government. So, it is hard to believe that the man who has served in enviable positions throughout his military career and currently holds the countrys highest rank should now be engulfed in a state of doom and gloom. Myanmar military generals traditional obsession with rank and seniority appears to be consuming Myint Swe. Part of the Defense Services Academy (DSA) 15th intake, Myint Swe outranks any general in the Myanmar military as well as incumbent and ex-generals serving in the current regime including junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, a graduate of the DSAs 19th intake. According to Myanmar government protocol, the president takes precedence over everyone, his rank being higher than military chief. In reality, however, the nominal head of the country is being used merely to extend military rule once every six months. Whenever the National Defense and Security Council meets to prolong military rule, Min Aung Hlaing wheels out Myint Swe to preside and nod approval at whatever the junta boss says. Meanwhile, Myint Swe remains notably absent from junta cabinet meetings, national-level events, and meetings with diplomats. It is as if the president were under house arrest, remark senior military officers and heads of departments. Offering more clues to his resentment is his life at the Presidents Office, which has been taken over by Min Aung Hlaing and renamed the State Administration Council (SAC) Office. SAC is the acronym used by the junta to describe itself. Despite being the acting president, Myint Swe sits in his original office for vice-president No 1. The office of the president is occupied by Min Aung Hlaing. The junta boss has also had his trusted military officers transferred to the SAC office and works only with them. He does not use directors-general from U Thein Seins government or the NLD government. This shows he has no trust in them, said a source close to the Presidents Office. On days when Min Aung Hlaing visits the Presidents Office from the War Office, where he spends most of his week, Myint Swe has to greet him at the entrance. Myint Swe also sees the junta chief out when he leaves the office. This appears to be the limit of Myint Swes duties: extend military rule for Min Aung Hlaing every six months, greet him and see him out. Over time, staff have lost all respect for him. He is aware of that, and is deeply depressed, said a Presidents Office source. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the 72-year-old looks old for his age in photos published by junta-controlled and pro-regime media. Political observers monitoring the previous NDSC meeting six months ago commented that Myint Swe had aged a lot. His haggard face was even more noticeable during his visit earlier this month alongside ex-president Thein Sein to see the giant Maravijaya Buddha image built by Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw. Thein Sein is from the DSAs ninth intake and is six years older than Myint Swe. But Myint Swe looked a lot older than the former president in photos of the visit. While serving as chief of Yangon Command, Myint Swe played the lead role in purging then spy chief Khin Nyunt. The Military Intelligence formerly headed by Khin Nyunt was then replaced by the Office of the Chief of Military Security Affairs, over which Myint Swe took charge. He was then appointed chief minister of Yangon Region after Thein Seins quasi-civilian government came to power in 2011. He was earmarked for the post of vice president, but the Constitution barred his appointment as his son held Australian citizenship. That problem was resolved after the 2015 election when military lawmakers nominated him as vice-president. Myint Swes political career seemed to be at an end after the NLD won again in the 2020 general election, but the subsequent coup saw Min Aung Hlaing use him to transfer power to the junta and invoke emergency rule. Both former presidents U Htin Kyaw and U Win Myint were known to be ceremonial presidents of the NLD government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. But they won both international recognition and support at home. In contrast, Myint Swe is merely an accomplice of the coup leader, enduring daily humiliation. Wednesday, Jul 26th, 2023 (5:17 pm) - Score 408 UK ISP Quickline, which is building a gigabit speed full fibre (FTTP) broadband infrastructure to 96 rural locations (55,000 premises) across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire (England), has been awarded Safe Contractor accreditation in recognition of their efforts to ensure a high level of health and safety protections for their contractors. The certification was awarded following an in-depth audit of all their existing safety systems, which is said to have demonstrated the operators health and safety competency to new as well as existing clients. Stephen Wilkinson, Quicklines Head of Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) and BCM, said: Being Safe Contractor Accredited gives peace of mind that we are a safe company to work with and confirms that health and safety is a priority for us as a business. It also recognises our commitment to sustainable and ethical practices and work compliantly with all current regulations. Wednesday, Jul 26th, 2023 (1:07 pm) - Score 5,232 In June, we reported on how Openreach were exploring whether its practical to deploy public EV chargers next to some of their 90,000 UK broadband cabinets (here). The good news is that BT, via their start-up and Digital incubation team, Etc. (thats the actual name), plan to run a pilot that will convert or upgrade its cabinets for EV charging units. The first phase of the EV charging pilots (both technical and commercial), open to Openreach and BT Group colleagues, is planned to kick off in Northern Ireland in the Autumn of 2023, and will then be expanded to the public with more pilot locations added across the UK later in the year. This pilot phase is expected to run for 2 years. By the sounds of it, BT and Openreach will be focusing their efforts on street cabinets that are currently used for providing copper-based broadband and phone services (this makes it sounds like PCPs will be the focus, but its actually FTTC / DSLAM cabs), and which will be decommissioned as the ambitious nationwide upgrade to full fibre (FTTP) progresses. Naturally, the idea here is that the operators own staff and engineers will be given preferential access, not only during the pilot but possibly also during the commercialisation phase too (i.e. the public could expect to get access if an Openreach/BT van isnt already parked and using the charger). BTs Statement The team will scope a range of different technical, commercial and operational considerations with bringing this EV charge point network online, including: Technical including cabinet location, power availability, customer accessibility, digital customer experience and engineering considerations Civil planning including location, local council engagement and physical accessibility Commercial including public funding options, private investment, partnership, and wider financial modelling Operational as a dedicated BT Group venture or in partnership with others Etc.s early projections suggest that, over time, as many as 60,000 of the Groups 90,000 cabinets may be suitable for upgrades to EV charging points; but neither the trials nor any potential scaling of the new EV charge network would present any change or disruption to the telecommunications services supported from the cabinets. However, decisions on any further scaling on this programme will depend on the success of the two years of pilots. As weve said before and BT indirectly acknowledges above, this isnt going to work in every area, since not all cabinets are suitably positioned and there may be other obstacles too (e.g. issues of council approval, road access, physical location etc.). Likewise, street side chargers need to be kept as small as possible, which means that it would probably only support slower charging speeds (i.e. not super rapid charging). We should point out that a lot of their cabinets typically use no more than a few hundred watts, but the power supply could be upgraded and without needing major works. Tom Guy, Managing Director of Etc. at BT Group, said: With the ban on sales of internal combustion engine vehicles coming in 2030, and with only around 45,000 public charge points today, the UK needs a massive upgrade to meet the needs of the EV revolution. We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to connect for good in a whole new way by innovating around our cabinet infrastructure. The pilots are critical for the team to work through the assessment and establish effective technical, commercial and operational routes to market over the next two years. Doing all this at the same time as retiring their old copper network seems like a sensible and cost-efficient approach, which could help the Government to grow the number of UK charge points to their target of 300,000 by 2030, which is being backed by a public investment of 1.6bn. The move would also be good for Openreach, which is already deep into the process of converting (replacing) all of its diesel fleet to electric by 2030, which reflects around 28,000 vans across the UK that are used for essential work every day. Various models from Renault (here) and Vauxhall (here) have already been deployed, and they currently expect to have just shy of 5,000 EVs by the end of this financial year. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. A CollegeAmerica sign is displayed on a window outside their location in Fort Collins, Colo., Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Federal and Colorado officials announced Tuesday that Colorado students who attended the career school, which lost accreditation and closed in 2021, will have their federal student loans refunded and remaining balances forgiven. FILE - Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl arrives for a pretrial hearing at Fort Bragg, N.C., Jan. 12, 2016. A federal judge on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, vacated the military conviction of Bergdahl, a former U.S. Army soldier who pleaded guilty to desertion after he left his post and was captured in Afghanistan and tortured by the Taliban. Reddit 2 Email 118 Shares Chicago (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) The rights thinly veiled crusade to elevate Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.an exemplar of through-the-Black-Mirror politics culminated last week with his alternative-reality testimony at a GOP-instigated congressional hearing. He was welcomed by Republicans to the House weaponization subcommittee to drive their fabricated message of government censorship and de-platforming, though RFK, Jr. enjoys the privileged platform of a Kennedy family heir with unparalleled access to the centers of influence in New York, Hollywood, and Washington, D.C., and had for weeks been freely gushing conspiratorial nonsense to every podcaster that would host him. Presenting a warped fantasy of marginalization and martyrdom, Kennedy vehemently denied that he was an anti-vaccine advocate or that he ever uttered a phrase that was racist or antisemitic. His campaign manager Dennis Kucinich the former Ohio congressman and two-time progressive presidential candidate who was sitting behind him smiled in agreement at these head-bursting lies. In fact, Kennedy had recently suggested that the coronavirus was a diabolically engineered bioweapon that used the secret field of ethnically targeted microbes to attack White and Black people while sparing Chinese and Jewish people. Kennedy has also falsely claimed that Covid-19 vaccines were part of a population control agenda, that they contain microchips that track our movements, that they alter our DNA, and that they make us more susceptible to other diseases. In early 2022, Kennedy raised his Covid-era, anti-vaxx conspiracism to new heights. He took the stage as a speaker at the Defeat The Mandates march in Washington, D.C., shouting out that pandemic restrictions arose from a C.I.A. plan to clamp down totalitarian control while exerting a coup detat against democracy and the controlled demolition of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Since 2005, RFK, Jr. has regularly espoused debunked vaccine allegations, such as the false link between autism and childhood vaccines. He is considered a leader of the anti-vaxx movement, an icon of vaccine horror. So, his denials of anti-vaxx sentiment were beyond preposterous. Embed from Getty Images WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES JULY 20: Democratic presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. testifies at the Weaponization of the Federal Government hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, United States on July 20, 2023. (Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) At the congressional hearing, Kennedy the first MAGA Democrat was treated as a hero by Republicans while he was unmercifully slammed by Democrats. Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett said, Republicans are using Kennedys idiotic bigoted messaging and attacks on Biden to help get Donald Trump back in the White House while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries described Kennedy as a living, breathing, false flag operation. RFK, Jr. is running a surprisingly potent campaign nationally polling at 15% to 20% and earning higher favorability numbers in an Economist-YouGov poll than either Biden or Trump, thanks to the boosts he receives from some of the wealthiest, most listened-to people in America, such as just-asking-questions podcaster Joe Rogan and flame-thrower, Twitter-owner Elon Musk. Lesser threats than Kennedy have played spoilers in elections before. If he succeeds in weakening Biden and helping Trump burn us all to the ground, it will be the magic of his name as well as the media culture that has protected and fawned over him. Kennedy has concocted a diverse, dark web of supporters: Kennedy-family superfans, fanatic anti-vaxxers, Silicon Valley tech-bros, freethinking celebrities like Robert DeNiro and Oliver Stone, Democrats who believe Biden is too old and feeble, and hard-right authoritarians like Steve Bannon looking to boost a chaos agent. He received a voluminous, flattering tribute in the conservative National Review and his American Values 2024 Super PAC has ties to Marjorie Taylor Green, George Santos, and Herschel Walker. Article continues after bonus IC video CBC News: Conspiracy campaign: RFKs presidential bid | Front Burner The MAGA-suffused, libertarian fanbase is difficult to reconcile for anyone who associates the Kennedy name with the 1960s, Camelot era of governmental idealism. Kennedy poses as a fierce advocate for the impoverished and disempowered, attempting to channel the charismatic, populist legacy of his father when he ran for president over fifty years ago. He even borrows the iconography of his fathers 1968 campaign. Leaning hard into his family and its American royalty lineage, Kennedy asserts that his presidency will return us to the magic and majesty of a lost golden age, before the assassinations of his uncle President John F. Kennedy and then his father, Robert F. Kennedy. We can restore America to the awesome vitality of the original Kennedy era, he told an adoring crowd in New Hampshire, a turn of phrase with a horrifying Make-America-Great-Again ring to it. He can look and sound so thoughtful and contemplative, said one person who has known him a very long time. But hes just bursting with madness. Embracing Kennedys madness, Tucker Carlson, Alex Jones and Twitter founder Jack Dorsey have championed his candidacy along with lesser known rich, anti-vaxx venture capitalists David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya. They not only endorsed Kennedy for the Democratic nomination, but also threw him a fundraiser. The gangster and former insurrectionist President called Kennedy a very smart person during a Fox News interview and complimented him for hitting a nerve. RFK, Jr. replied that hes proud that President Trump likes me. Fascist ring-master Steve Bannon praised Kennedy as an anti-establishment, anti-authoritarian, populist who doesnt trust the deep state. Theres a big overlap with what President Trumps talking about. Referring to Kennedys popularity among the Tucker-Rogan-Elon-Bannon-combo-platter right, he even went so far as to suggest Trump choose RFK Jr. to be his running mate. In this, he was joined by Nixon-loving, Trump co-conspirator Roger Stone who wrote on Twitter, Yeah. Trump-Kennedy. I said it. To those who see Kennedy as an anti-vaxx conspiracy spreader and populist poser, his campaign looks like either a farce or a dirty trick. Despite a liberal facade, Kennedy welcomes the hard-right support, aligning himself with MAGA immigration policies. He warns about the U.S.s open border, and he told Musk that he wants to formulate policies that seal the border permanently. On the leftish Breaking Points podcast, he praised Israels effective border control measures walls and fences that imprison Palestinians within the West Bank and Gaza. Assuming a peace candidate affect, Kennedy speaks of endless wars abroad, attacks Biden as a war-monger, and decries the humanitarian cost of the war in Ukraine. However, he fails to call out Putin and Russia for torture, abduction, looting, rape, bombing attacks on civilians and numerous other war crimes. He urges our present leadership to start de-escalating, to reach out to Russia, to exercise restraint, and avoid hostile rhetoric. He proposes a negotiated settlement without explaining how this is achieved without appeasing the invader Putin. His anti-interventionist commitments stop at his unconditional support to Israel, one of primary beneficiaries of aid from the military industrial complex he claims to hate and a nation unwilling to entertain peace with justice. RFK, Jr. agrees with MAGA nationalists: he asserted that he wants to shift spending out of a military-industrial interventionist mind-set and into Fortress America arming ourselves to the teeth at home. In the area of environmentalism where Kennedy built a credible reputation with decades of positive activism in the 1980s, he worked with the nonprofit Riverkeeper to preserve New Yorks Hudson River among other conservation efforts, he has undergone something of a MAGA brain transplant. He told the Breaking Points podcast: In my campaign Im not going to be talking a lot about climate. He absurdly suggested that the free market is the answer to the climate catastrophe. Appearing on InfoWars, Kennedy said that the climate crisis is being used to push through totalitarian controls on society, orchestrated by the World Economic Forum, Bill Gates, and all of these mega-billionaires. Listening to Kennedy lie and cover up his most outlandish opinions at the Congressional hearing, he sounds almost normal. However, hearing him expand his views on multiple podcasts is a truly mind-bending, mind-numbing punishment. Speaking in a raspy, scratchy drone-voice the result of spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological disorder that he speculates may be a side effect of the flu vaccine, Kennedy maniacally charges forward into all manner of quasi-medical phantasms, unfazed by scientific contradiction and sounding like a conspiracy-addled lunatic. He accused Dr. Anthony Fauci of being a corrupt and evil puppet of the pharmaceutical industry, who profited from the COVID-19 vaccines, which Kennedy asserted were dangerous and ineffective. He blames mass shootings on anti-depressants, such as Prozac. Almost every one of these shooters were on SSRIs, he said, or some other psychiatric drug. He told Rogan that Wi-Fi pierces the blood-brain barrier, causing leaky brain and even cancer. He claimed, without evidence, that the presence of atrazine in the water supply has contributed to male gender dysphoria since atrazine chemically castrates frogs when dumped into their tanks. Though no evidence supports the contention, he is absolutely sure that the CIA killed his uncle JFK and pretty sure that the CIA, rather than the still-imprisoned Sirhan Sirhan, killed his father RFK. He actively campaigned for Sirhans release from prison against the wishes of most of the Kennedy family, including his mother. All of this makes him an incoherent opportunist. He long ago entered his own pseudoscientific, X-Files world in which nothing is as it seems, everything is connected, nothing happens by accident or coincidence, and every major world event has been engineered by secretive elites. Like Trump, Kennedy can only sink deeper and deeper into his own fever swamp, and every effort to contradict him merely demonstrates that his enemies are determined to silence him. He has been denounced by a trio of notable Kennedys, including Kathleen Kennedy Townsend who works in the Biden administration. They called his views tragically wrong and part of a misinformation campaign that is complicit in sowing distrust of the science behind vaccines with deadly consequences. Writing in support of Biden after RFK, Jr.s congressional testimony, his grandson Jack Schlossberg President John F. Kennedys only grandson condemned RFK, Jr.s candidacy as an embarrassment and a vanity project. The strategy of the Democratic Party establishment, who are supporting President Biden with no plans for any primary debates, is to ignore Kennedy and other challengers. Party unity is necessary, they argue because Trump, abortion, the whole Republican madhouse. Progressive leaders have for the most part acquiesced to this argument, though Bidens pragmatic reforms are a far cry from the radical change championed by those progressives: the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, a strong challenge to systemic racism and more. On foreign policy, Biden has signed on to the never-ending expansion of our hideously bloated military. Progressive environmentalist Naomi Klein called Kennedy a flawed heretic and wrote: We ignore Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s candidacy at our peril. Given the strengths that Kennedy possesses as a candidate, we should expect him to continue to build momentum. Ignoring him is not an option. Kennedy could possibly win the first Democratic primary in New Hampshire. As a result of a dispute over the Democratic National Committees changes to the primary calendar, Biden might not be on the ballot and must be written in. RFK, Jr. certainly will not win the Democratic nomination, but a surprising performance in a rogue New Hampshire primary might give his madness more mainstream attention, a broader audience while further eroding the legitimacy of science and facts. Trading on his family name, Kennedy postures as an anti-establishment rebel and attracts a handful of true believers, a small percentage of low-information Democrats and Kennedy family nostalgists, who will settle for a glitchy Kennedy hologram a counterfeit copy of a copy of a copy. Beyond that, a segment of MAGA-adjacent elite allies cynically use his candidacy to damage the Democratic Party, providing him with a global megaphone so that millions hear his scratchy, long-winded, bizarre messages. When his campaign finally craters, it will leave behind an emboldened movement of conspiracy crackpots thrilling to his deranged and dangerous notions. Apparently many Americans are so angry and distrustful that theyll find answers in the strangest of people. They fall for liars, con-men, and self-proclaimed martyrs to the establishment. So here we are, eight years after Trump slithered down the escalator, listening to (or possibly trying to ignore) another narcissistic celebrity madman and this one is talking about Fauci fascism, leaky brains, and frog castration as he scams supporters in the Democratic primary. RFE/RL ) Judges in Iran have diagnosed three prominent actresses sentenced for not wearing the hijab as mentally ill, anti-family, and antisocial, prompting top psychologists in the country to condemn the abuse of psychiatry and psychology in the judiciary. The heads of four leading psychiatry boards in the country went public with their criticisms after actresses Azadeh Samadi, Leila Bolukat, and Afsaneh Bayegan were all recently given the diagnoses during their sentencing in a Tehran criminal court. The diagnosis of mental disorders is within the competence of a psychiatrist, not a judge. Just as the diagnosis of other diseases is in the competence of doctors, not judges, the psychiatrists wrote in an open letter to judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei published by Iranian media on July 20. The three actresses ran afoul of the law after they appeared in recent months in public without wearing headscarves, in violation of the countrys strict hijab requirement that has fueled nationwide protests in recent months. Many female celebrities have expressed solidarity with the demonstrations that followed the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last September following her arrest for allegedly failing to wear the hijab. Violators of the hijab requirement can face up to two years in prison, although proposed legislation would increase the maximum sentence to up to three years imprisonment for repeat offenders. Bayegan was given a suspended two-year prison sentence after she appeared at a film ceremony wearing a hat instead of a head scarf. An image of her at the ceremony that she posted on social media was reportedly presented as evidence during her trial. Additional penalties for the 61-year-old film and television actress included a two-year travel ban, a two-year ban on using the Internet, social media, and mobile services, and a requirement to read and summarize an unnamed book within two months. Ahead of her sentencing this week, Bayegan announced on July 12 that she was retiring from the dishonorable field of acting after she was summoned to court. Bolukat, 42, was earlier handed a sentence of six months imprisonment, along with a ban on professional activities for two years, on charges she had damaged public morality and chastity by posting images of herself without a hijab on social media. Bolukat was also prohibited from leaving the country and ordered to read and provide a summary of an unnamed book within a month. The 44-year-old Samadi, who was detained after wearing a hat instead of a hijab while attending a funeral, did not receive a prison sentence during her court appearance earlier this month but was denied access to her phone for six months and all her social media accounts were ordered disabled. The addition of mental health diagnoses of antisocial and anti-family behavior alongside the womens sentencing, requiring regular psychological treatment and certifications of good mental health were judgments that the top psychiatrists say the courts were not qualified to make. What is stated in the text of the ruling as an argument for diagnosing a disease called antisocial personality is not proportionate, logical, or convincing, wrote the heads of the Scientific Association of Psychosomatic Medicine, Scientific Association of Psychiatrists, Scientific Association of Psychotherapy, and the Psychological Association of Iran. The joint letter added that the diagnosis of mental illness and anti-family personality was unscientific and strange and was unfathomable to psychiatric professionals. The letter called on the authorities to amend the sentences against the three actresses. Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, a Tehran-based lawyer, told RFE/RLs Radio Farda on July 21 that the sentences suggested that judges in these cases did not fully grasp legal principles or they must have been very nervous and upset at the accused and wanted to sentence [them] to degrading punishments. Other actresses have also been targeted with arrests and harassment after protests against the hijab broke out across the Islamic republic following Aminis death. Last week, the deputy minister of Islamic culture and guidance, Mohammad Hashemi, announced that the government had taken steps to prevent a film company from hiring an actress who had refused to wear the hijab. While Hashemi did not provide a name, media reports suggested he was referring to 44-year-old Shaghayegh Dehghan, who was charged in June for posting a photo of herself without a hijab on social media. Citing the pressure of an angry society, the award-winning actress Hengamah Ghaziani recently retired at the age of 53 following her arrest for not wearing a head scarf. Actresses Taraneh Alidoosti, 39, and Katayun Riahi, 61, were also arrested. The acting and film community has rallied around the actresses, with the Association of Directors and the Union of Cinema Producers of Iran issuing a joint letter this week calling the sentences against Bolukat and Samadi an insult to the conscience of all cinema people. We stand fully alongside all the female actresses of Iranian cinema and filmmakers who are cruelly humiliated by similar rulings, the letter read. Written by Michael Scollon based on reporting by Roya Maleki and other RFE/RL Radio Farda correspondents RFE/RL Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Zephyr Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: ZFR) ("Zephyr" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it intends to conduct ground magnetic and induced polarization (IP) geophysical surveys over three gold properties, MC, MC-2 and Nyanga North; to be followed by a diamond drill program. The MC and MC-2 properties are currently being mined for gold on a small scale by pits ten to twenty meters deep in the easily mined weathered zones. Although there is no mining currently at Nyanga North, there has been small scale gold mining directly to the west, which is on strike with a postulated wide shear zone that trends onto Nyanga North and extends approximately 1.5 km across the property. To the best of the Company's knowledge, the three properties have never been exposed to modern exploration methods and have never been drill tested. Loren Komperdo, President and CEO stated, "The MC and MC-2 properties have many of the same geological characteristics as the Red Lake camp in Northern Ontario, making these two properties excellent targets for high grade shear hosted gold deposits. The Nyanga North prospect is on a shear zone where eluvial gold was discovered and mined but little or no follow up exploration has ever been done. All three of these properties have high discovery potential for significant gold deposits." Further details of the exploration activity will be provided as the program develops. For additional information on MC, MC-2 and Nyanga, see Company news releases of January 12, 2023, April 20, 2023, and December 21, 2021, respectively. The planned exploration program described above is contingent upon completion of the private placement described below. The Company announces it intends to issue, by way of a non-brokered private placement financing, up to 4,000,000 units at a price of $0.09 per unit for gross proceeds of up to $360,000 (the "Financing"). Each Unit consists of one common share and one whole common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant") of the Company (the "Units"). Each Warrant will be exercisable to purchase one common share of the Company for $0.13 for a period of twelve months from the closing date. The expiry date of the Warrants may be accelerated by Zephyr at any time if the volume-weighted average trading price of the common shares is greater than or equal to $0.26 for any 20 consecutive trading days. If this occurs, the Company may accelerate the expiry date of the warrants by issuing a press release announcing the reduced Warrant term whereupon the Warrants will expire on the 30th calendar day after the date of such press release. Net proceeds from the funds raised will be used for mineral exploration programs in Zimbabwe, and for general working capital purposes. In connection with the offering, a finder's fee may be paid consisting of a cash commission equal to 7% of the gross proceeds raised under the offering and that number of nontransferable finder's fee warrants as is equal to 7% of the number of shares. Each finder's fee warrant will be exercisable into one common share of the Company at $0.13 per share, for a period of twelve months from the closing date. The expiry date of the finder's warrants are also subject to the same acceleration clause as the Unit warrants. The Financing is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval and acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities to be issued pursuant to the Financing will be subject to a four month hold period. Qualified Person Mr. Arimon Ngilazi, an independent consultant to the Company, and a qualified person as the term is defined under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release. Mr. Ngilazi has not visited the properties. About Zephyr Minerals Ltd. Zephyr Minerals Ltd. is conducting ongoing evaluations of gold properties for potential acquisition and/or joint venture throughout Zimbabwe. The Company is concentrating on projects with obvious gold potential as demonstrated through active, shallow, small scale mining operations or previous exploration work and favorable geology. In addition, the property should be of sufficient areal extent to host a target potential of at least one million ounces of gold. To this extent, the Company has signed multiple property joint venture agreements and has applied for two Exclusive Prospecting Orders covering 124,000 hectares. The Company is also actively reviewing lithium opportunities generated through in house research and property submittals by third parties. Zimbabwe boasts favorable foreign ownership rules for mineral properties as well as prospective, underexplored Archean greenstone belts. In Colorado Zephyr has been focused on mine permitting activities at its 100% owned Dawson gold property, which is presently in hiatus pending the collection and submission of additional water well data and satisfying certain other environmental related questions. The additional required water wells are still in the planning stage and will be drilled once available funds are in hand. Upon collection of the additional data the Company plans to reapply for a mining permit at Dawson. For further information please contact: Loren Komperdo, President & CEO or Will Felderhof, Executive Chairman T: 902 706-0222 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. To be included in the Zephyr email database for Company updates please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Ximen Mining Corp. (TSX.v:XIM)(FRA:1XMA)(OTCQB:XXMMF) (the "Company" or "Ximen") announces that it is initiated a drill program at its Wild Horse Gold project near Cranbrook in southeastern BC. The Wild Horse project covers source areas for the famous historic Wild Horse River placer gold deposit near Fort Steele and Cranbrook, in southeastern B.C. Bedrock gold was first discovered in this area as early as 1895 but an economic deposit has yet to be defined. Gold-bearing quartz veins and breccias were drilled in 2016 and 2021, on Ximen's Lone 4 claim, where there is potential for a bulk-minable gold deposit. Gold (ppb) in soil samples from 2009 Boulder Grid (Report 30952) This year, Ximen will drill test an area to the northeast on its Boulder Claim, where a 700 x 300 meter gold in soil anomaly was previously identified (BC Assessment report 30952). The drill will also test beneath an area of abundant boulders of syenite observed on the soil grid. In 2009 it was reported that four boulders of this syenite float were sampled, of which "three were anomalous in gold and one ran 4.1 grams of gold per ton" (Assessment report 34920). The syenite is believed to be part of the mid-Cretaceous felsic intrusive Bayonne plutonic suite that is spatially and possibly genetically related to gold mineralization in the Kimberley Gold Trend. Cross section of 3D model of Boulder Creek drill target (azimuth 056 degrees). The area is transected by the Boulder Creek fault, a regional high-angle reverse fault that dips 60 to 65 to the northwest and is interpreted as an eastward continuation of the St. Mary fault (BC Geology Survey Bulletin 84). These faults are dominant structures associated with gold deposits in the Kimberley Gold Trend (Geoscience BC Map: 2015-13-01). The St. Mary-Boulder Creek structure is a major transverse fault system that is interpreted as a surface expression the Vulcan Low, a fundamental Precambrian basement transverse structure (McMechan, 2012; Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 2012 Vol. 49, p693). This provides a most favourable lithospheric architecture for controlling the location of gold deposits in terms of mineral systems modeling. Readers are cautioned that historical records referred to in this News Release have been examined but not verified by a Qualified Person. Further work is required to verify that historical records referred to in this News Release are accurate. Dr. Mathew Ball, P.Geo., VP Exploration for Ximen Mining Corp. and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, approved the technical information contained in this News Release. On behalf of the Board of Directors, "Christopher R. Anderson" Christopher R. Anderson, President, CEO and Director 604 488-3900 Investor Relations: 604-488-3900, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. About Ximen Mining Corp. Ximen Mining Corp. owns 100% interest in three of its precious metal projects located in southern BC. Ximen`s two Gold projects, The Amelia Gold Mine and The Brett Epithermal Gold Project. Ximen also owns the Treasure Mountain Silver Project adjacent to the past producing Huldra Silver Mine. Currently, the Treasure Mountain Silver Project is under an option agreement. The option partner is making annual staged cash and stocks payments as well as funding the development of the project. The company has also acquired control of the Kenville Gold mine near Nelson British Columbia which comes with surface and underground rights, buildings and equipment and is now permitted for development. Ximen is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XIM, in the USA under the symbol XXMMF, and in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin Stock Exchanges in Germany under the symbol 1XMA and WKN with the number as A2JBKL. This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval and the exercise of the Option by Ximen. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the possibility that the TSX Venture Exchange may not accept the proposed transaction in a timely manner, if at all. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. 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. Ximen Mining Corp 888 Dunsmuir Street - Suite 888, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3K4 Tel: 604-488-3900 Completes Requirement for Project Ownership to Increase to 80% Robust economics to drive construction funding solid operating basis to drive initial production Optimization program commenced to further enhance economics Highlights of the 2023 Definitive Feasibility Study include: Post-tax NPV 8% of US$147 million and 39% IRR of and 39% IRR Average annual payable zinc equivalent ("ZnEq") production of 124 million lbs per annum over first 5 years Average All-in Sustaining Cost ("AISC") of US$0.59 /lb ZnEq over first 5 years /lb ZnEq over first 5 years Robust Average EBITDA of US$75.5 million per annum over the first 5 years per annum over the first 5 years Upfront capex requirement of US$164 million (including US$12 million of contingency) (including of contingency) Inaugural NI 43-101 compliant Proven and Probable Reserves in the North Zone and South Zones of 14.6Mt at an average NSR of US$66.1 /tonne /tonne Updated NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource of: North Zone: 8.9Mt at 10.52% ZnEq Measured and Indicated and additional Inferred Resources of 0.5Mt at 6.62% ZnEq South Zone: 10.0Mt at 1.22% Copper Equivalent ("CuEq") and additional Inferred resources of 8.1MT at 1.16% Cu Eq. Fulfilled option requirement to deliver 80% indirect ownership in the Lagoa Salgada Project; Metallurgical results confirm strong metal recoveries and saleable concentrates Optimization Program commenced to enhance NPV, IRR and operational efficiencies targeted for completion by year end. TORONTO, July 25, 2023 /CNW/ - Ascendant Resources Inc. (TSX: ASND) (FRA: 2D9) ("Ascendant" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results of its initial NI 43-101 Feasibility Study ("FS") for its Venda Nova deposit at its Lagoa Salgada VMS Project in Portugal, based upon an updated Mineral Reserves and Resources Estimate. The completion of the FS satisfies Ascendant's earn-in option requirements to move to 80% ownership, subject to closing documentation with all other conditions having previously been met. The FS was completed by QUADRANTE, a multidisciplinary engineering and consulting company with more than 25 years of experience in Europe, Africa and the Americas. Mine planning, design and engineering was undertaken by IGAN INGENIERIA, an independent consulting firm specializing in mine planning and engineering for open pit and underground mining projects and operations based in Spain. The DFS is based on the NI 43-101 Mineral Resource estimate completed by MICON International dated May 31, 2023 and Mineral Reserves estimate completed by IGAN dated June 16, 2023. Golder Associates has been engaged to provide a comprehensive peer review of the entire report. The FS report will be posted to the Company's profile on SEDAR imminently. Mark Brennan, Executive Chairman of Ascendant stated, "We are very pleased to have completed this initial feasibility study for the Venda Nova deposit at Lagoa Salgada. It is the first comprehensive study covering all aspects of the operations required for the commercialization of the project. It will also serve to secure our 80% interest in what is proving to be a robust project, even at this very early stage in its development. Lagoa Salgada remains a discovery project with significant upside potential expected as we optimize these results and as we continue to expand the resource base." He added, "We believe the results of the FS demonstrate a solid, economically robust project for what has always been the initial development phase for the larger potential we see for the Lagoa Salgada property. Given the nature of VMS deposits to occur in clusters on the Iberian Pyrite Belt, we see evidence of potential for several more deposits to be defined in the coming years to enhance the overall value proposition at Lagoa. Furthermore, we expect these results to support our current financing discussions and construction decision in the coming months." Optimization Opportunities While completing the FS satisfies the requirements for Ascendant to earn an 80% interest in the project as required under the Earn In Option agreement, the Company believes that with additional time now available, the following near-term optimization opportunities exist to further enhance the FS prior to commencing development work over the next six months. The Company's initial focus will be as follows: Optimize mine ore sequencing to maximize revenues in the initial years. Optimization of the mining and processing rate to optimize NPV and IRR; and Undertake further metallurgical test work to enhance metal recoveries above those already achieved in tests to date Project Overview The Lagoa Salgada Project is located within the north-western section of the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt ("IBP") in Portugal, approximately 80km southeast of Lisbon, accessible by national highways and existing roads. The Project is comprised of a single exploration permit covering an area of approximately 7,209 hectares. The Project represents a high-grade, polymetallic zinc-lead-copper development and exploration opportunity in a low risk, established and prolific jurisdiction where the project has been accorded a Project of National Interest ("PIN") status. Figure 1. Project Location Updated Minerals Reserves and Resources Estimate Table 1. below outlines the initial NI 43-101 Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves Estimate prepared by IGAN Ingenieria upon which the FS was based. Table 2 provides the updated Mineral Resource Estimate, prepared by Micon International Limited, ("Micon") identified for the Lagoa Salgada project to date. Infill drilling in 2022 focused upon upgrading sufficient high-grade mineralization in the North Zone and part of the mineralization in the South Zone to the Measured and Indicated categories to support the completion of the FS. Future drilling is expected to add additional Resources as the project moves forward to extend the overall mine life and it should be noted both the North and South zones remain open to future expansion along strike and at depth for future exploration. In addition, several regional exploration targets have been identified for future exploration work to further increase the known mineral resources on the property, thereby extending the overall mine life and/or potentially supporting a future expansion. The estimated Proven and Probable Reserves total 14.6 million metric tons (Mt), with 7.0Mt in the North Zone having an NSR of 84.1 $/t, and 7.6Mt in the South Zone with an NSR of 49.6 $/t, sufficient to support an initial mine life of 14+ years based upon a throughput rate of 1.2Mtpa through the plant as outlined in the FS. Reserves were defined using an NSR calculation based upon current metallurgical recoveries, payability, treatment charges and mining methods. The project has converted 77% of its Measured and Indicated resources into reserves: additionally there are 0.5Mt at a grade of 6.62% ZnEq in the North Zone and 8.13Mt at a grade of 1.16% CuEq in the South Zone of Inferred Resource. Additional drilling is required to upgrade these additional resources to the Measured and Indicated categories. Table 1: Mineral Reserves NSR cut-off grades were established following Mortimer's approach to cut-off grades (Hall, 2014) Table 1a: NSR cut-off values per mining method and material Mining Method Material Mining Cost Processing Cost Boundary cut-off G&A Volume cut-off LHOS STWK 19.5 16.31 35.81 2.5 38.31 PMS 19.5 19.62 39.12 2.5 41.62 TMS 19.5 14.48 33.98 2.5 36.48 GOS 19.5 16.22 35.72 2.5 38.22 STR 19.5 16.31 35.81 2.5 38.31 CF STWK 29.98 16.31 46.29 2.5 48.79 PMS 29.98 19.62 49.60 2.5 52.10 TMS 29.98 14.48 44.46 2.5 46.96 GOS 29.98 16.22 46.20 2.5 48.70 STR 29.98 16.31 46.29 2.5 48.79 Table 2: Mineral Resources (Inclusive of Reserves) North Zone South Zone Mining In line with previous studies, the mine is designed using a single access ramp from surface and will target the extraction of ore from the North and South Zones at a rate of 1.2 million tonnes per annum ("Mtpa"). Mining will be undertaken by targeting the various sub domains within the ore deposit to maximize metallurgical recovery. As with most VMS type deposits, the sub domains reflect a precious metal rich gossan layer above a Massive Sulphide layer (further divided into a Transition and Primary layer) and a layer of stockwork mineralization each with its own metallurgical characteristics. The mining methods defined are a combination of transverse sublevel stoping and cut & fill. Paste backfill is to be used for both mining methods to maximize ore recovery and productivity while minimizing surface tailing disposition. The initial years will focus on mining the higher-grade gossan and massive sulphide zones in the North Zone, followed by the South Zone as underground access is developed in the early years of the operation to the South zone. Mining will be conducted using an owner operated electric fleet which will reduce operating costs. Figure 2. Underground Mine Design (In blue the main ramps and accesses and in green and violet the ore blocks to be mined) Metallurgy Metallurgical test work was completed by Grinding Solutions ("GSL") in Cornwall, UK. Confirmatory test work was developed by Maelgwyn Mineral Services, South Africa to confirm metal recoveries and saleable concentrates have been achieved in principal domains. Further testing is required to confirm and improve on current results as fully optimized circuit adjustments are developed. The Company notes that its consultants have indicated that the actual performance of operating mines in the region have typically seen an improvement in concentrate quality once an industrial scale operation is in production as compared to lab testing. The approach to flowsheet development was to prepare representative master composites for each ore type, then proceed through open circuit to identify and optimize flowsheet conditions and reagent schemes. Locked cycle tests were then conducted on principal master composites to demonstrate the anticipated overall metallurgical performance within a closed circuit. Tests were completed on blends of Primary Massive Sulphide (PMS), Stockwork (STW), Gossan (GO), Transition Massive Sulphide (TMS) and Stringer (STR) ores to allow comparison with individual composite results and to assess the viability of coprocessing the ore types. Mineralogical assessments were undertaken to provide information to refine the comminution/beneficiation process during optimization, and to provide reasonable expectations for metallurgical performance versus mineral liberation and association within each ore type. Samples from various open and locked cycle test products were used to characterize final concentrates and tailings. The developed metallurgical models were applied to mine production schedules as part of the financial modelling process. The resulting average recoveries over the life of the mine (LOM) are presented in the table below: Table 3. Achieved Recoveries by Metal and Domain Table 4 below highlights the concentrate grade profile as determined by the various metallurgical testwork. These results are largely inline with other regional producers. The Project will produce four concentrates, namely Zinc, Lead, Copper and a Tin concentrate. Table 4. Concentrate Technical Specifications Processing The mineral treatment plant is based on industry standard methods and will mainly consist of different process areas where the mineral will be crushed, ground, and then fed to several flotation processes where Cu, Pb, Zn and Sn concentrates and Au/Ag dore bars will be produced. Other than crushing, grinding, dewatering and auxiliary services, common to all mineral domains, the remaining process areas will be configured depending on the mineral domain being processed. The mined material goes through a grizzly feeder and primary jaw crusher, and then onto a grinding circuit which consists of a SAG mill, ball mill, and vertical mill in a closed circuit with hydrocyclones. The material is discharged into a vibrating screen, with rejected pebbles recirculated to a pebble crusher. Grinded material will feed the copper and lead flotation circuit, that includes aeration and conditioning tanks, rougher cells, regrinding mill, and cleaning stages. The circuit can produce bulk or separate Cu and Pb concentrates depending on the mineral domain being processed. The zinc flotation circuit, downstream process, consists of conditioning tanks, rougher cells, regrinding mill, and cleaning stages. Zinc flotation tailings, feed the sulphide flotation circuit to remove sulphides before concentrating tin minerals. It includes conditioning tanks, rougher cells, and cleaner stages. Rougher tailings flow to the next area, while the concentrate is pumped to the tailings management area. The tin recovery circuit will consist of flotation and gravimetric concentration technologies. Flotation includes conditioner and aeration tanks, rougher and cleaner stages, with intermediate tin concentrate being processed using multi-gravity separators to increase the final tin grade. A summary Flowsheet is provided below. Figure 3. Simplified Process Flow Diagram Infrastructure The Lagoa Salgada Project will be developed on a greenfield site located in close proximity to the Grandola municipality, in the Setubal district, which benefits from well-established infrastructure, including road and rail transport, power, and water supply services. Transportation of supplies will be facilitated by trucks from Portugal or Spanish locations, while concentrate products will initially be shipped to the Sines port by road (47km) and subsequently by ship to final destinations. The project site will have a compact layout that incorporates essential components such as the tailings storage facility, ore and waste dumps, water treatment infrastructure, and various buildings, including administration, warehouse, laboratory, gatehouse, and mobile equipment workshop. The processing facilities will consist of a primary crusher building, ore stockpiles on the ROM pad, a mill building, and a paste plant building. The mine will be accessed via a portal and the ore will be brought to the surface and stored as stockpiles, while waste stockpiles will be utilized for constructing the embankments of the Tailings Storage Facility. The mine plan outlines the processing of 14.8 Mt of ore and the generation of 1.9 Mt of waste rock. After accounting for concentrate and underground backfill, a total of 11.3 Mt of tailings, along with 1.0 Mt of development rock, will be deposited in the TSF. Figure 4 Site Layout Capital Costs Upfront capital costs are estimated at US$164 million inclusive of US$12 million in contingency. A further US$102.9 million of sustaining capital is planned over the 14.5 year mine life, including closure costs. Pay back is in the order of 2 years with an after-tax IRR of 39%. Table 5. Capital Costs Operating Costs Operating costs are summarized in Table 6 below. All costs are based on a mining rate of 1.2Mtpa and relied on recent quotes from various vendors which are consistent with other mines in the region. On a zinc equivalent per pound basis, Life of Mine C1 Cash Costs are estimated at US$0.67/lb and All-In Sustaining Costs are US$0.71/lb over the life of mine. Table 6. Operating Costs Production and Operating Cost Profile The chart below highlights the expected production and AISC profile at Venda Nova as per the FS. Production and cash flows are expected to be stronger in the early years as the processing of the higher-grade massive sulphide and gossan material is undertaken. Production over the mine life is expected to average 77 million lbs of Zinc equivalent production per year but averages approximately 124 million lbs of Zinc equivalent production over the first five years. Similarly, AISC will average US$0.71/lb per year LOM and US$0.59/lb over the first five years on a ZnEq basis. Figure 5. Production and AISC Overall Project Economics The Venda Nova project at Lagoa Salgada shows strong robust economics with a Post-Tax NPV at an 8% discount rate of US$147 million and an IRR of 39% for a payback period of 2 years at long term consensus metal price assumptions. Project economics are based on the current Proven and Probable Reserves only for a mine life of 14.5 years and does not factor in the upgrading of additional resources or potential future exploration success. Table 7 Economic Summary The mine is expected to benefit from regional tax incentives in Portugal. Contractual fiscal incentives for productive investment in Portugal offers a validity period of up to 10 years for investment projects with relevant expenditures amounting to 3,000,000 or more. The fiscal benefit corresponds to 10% of the project's relevant expenditures, and this rate can be increased based on factors like the location of the project and the creation of jobs. The benefit takes the form of a tax credit deducted from the corporate income tax liability. Additionally, there are provisions for exemptions or reductions in municipal property tax, property transfer tax, and stamp duty. These contractual fiscal incentives aim to attract productive investments, boost economic growth, create employment opportunities, and support strategic sectors in Portugal. The incentives provide companies with tax benefits, such as tax credits, deductions, and exemptions, encouraging investment in various sectors and regions. In the case of Lagoa Salgada, the maximum tax benefit is determined by considering the lower value between 24.75 million (Maximum regional aid intensity applicable) or 15% of the initial investment. The application method for this incentive involves a 50% reduction in income tax (equivalent to 21% of the taxable income) until the maximum amount of tax benefit is attained. The chart below demonstrates the robust free cash flow generation expected, especially in the first five years of operation. Cash flows during the first five years of production are estimated to average US$56 million per annum. Figure 6. Free Cash Flow The chart below highlights the NPV sensitivity to changes in capital costs, various input costs and Zinc price assumptions. Figure 7. NPV Sensitivity Optimization Opportunities The completion of the Feasibility study completes the requirements by Ascendant to Earn an 80% ownership in the project as required under the Option Earn-In agreement. The Company believes that with additional time now available, the following near term optimization opportunities exist to further enhance the FS prior to commencing development work over the next six months. The Company's initial focus will be as follows: Optimize mine ore sequencing to maximize revenues in the initial years. Optimization of the mining and processing rate to optimize NPV and IRR; Undertake further metallurgical test work on available material to enhance metal recoveries above those already achieved in tests to date On a longer-term basis, the Company has identified additional areas to further increase the value of the Lagao Salgada project such as; Additional metallurgical test work to continue to enhance recoveries subject to additional new fresh core Increase in mineral reserves and resources to enhance the mine life or support a larger scale operation via upgrading additional known resources to the Proven and Probable categories, and the addition of new ore through new exploration to define additional resources on the numerous follow up targets known on the property. Qualified Persons An NI 43-101 Technical Report supporting the DFS is being prepared by Quadrante under the guidance of Mr. Joao Horta (M.Sc., MIMMM), who serves as Project Director at QUADRANTE and is a "Qualified Person" in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Although the Qualified Person was not responsible for the completion of some of the sections of the DFS, such as Geology, Mineral Processing and Metallurgical, Mineral Resource, Reserve, Mining Methods, Recovery Methods, TSF, Paste Fill, and Hydrogeological Study, the Qualified Person at Quadrante has relied on the Qualified Persons listed below who are the specialists in these fields for completion of their respective portions of the DFS. The scientific and technical information contained in this release relating to the Geology and Mineral Resource Estimate has been approved and verified by Mr. Charley Murahwi (MSc., P.Geo., FAusIMM), Senior Economic Geologist with Micon International Limited, who is a "Qualified Person" in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the Mineral Resource Estimate was also approved and verified by Mr. Charley Murahwi. The Mineral Reserve calculation and the Mining Methods section was completed by IGAN Ingenieria under the supervision of Mr. Pablo Gancedo Minguez (CEng, MIMMM), who is a "Qualified Person" in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) study was completed by SLR under the supervision of Mr. David Ritchie (P.Eng, Principal Geotechnical Engineer at SLR), who is a "Qualified Person" in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Scientific and technical information contained in this release in relation to metallurgical test work and the Recovery Methods section has been approved and verified by Mr. David Castro Lopez (MIMMM), who serves as Process Engineer at Minepro Solutions and is a "Qualified Person" in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The Hydrogeological Study was completed by Dr. Rafael Fernandez Rubio (PhD, Specialist), which is a Special Consultant at FRASA and is a "Qualified Person" in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The Paste Fill study was completed by Mr. Frank Palkovits (P.Eng, B.Eng), Pastefill Specialist at RMS and a "Qualified Person" in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Review of Technical Information The scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Clinton Swemmer, Chief Technical Officer for Ascendant Resources Ltd, who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101. About Ascendant Resources Inc. Ascendant Resources is a Toronto-based mining company focused on the exploration and development of the highly prospective Lagoa Salgada VMS project located on the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in Portugal. The Lagoa Salgada project is a high-grade polymetallic project, demonstrating a typical mineralization endowment of zinc, copper, lead, tin, silver, and gold. Extensive exploration upside potential lies both near deposit and at prospective step-out targets across the large 7,209-hectare property concession. Located just 80km from Lisbon and surrounded by exceptional infrastructure, Lagoa Salgada offers a low-cost entry to a significant exploration and development opportunity, already showing its mineable scale and cashflow generation potential. Ascendant currently holds a 50% interest in the Lagoa Salgada project through its position in Redcorp - Empreendimentos Mineiros, Lda, ("Redcorp") and has an earn-in opportunity to increase its interest in the project to 80%. The Company's common shares are principally listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "ASND". For more information on Ascendant, please visit our website at http://www.ascendantresources.com/. Additional information relating to the Company, including the Preliminary Economic Assessment referenced in this news release, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward Looking Information This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the business, the Lagoa Salgada project and timing of completion of studies. In making the forward- looking statements contained in this press release, Ascendant has made certain assumptions, including, but not limited to its ability to enhance value through further optimisation, the discovery potential of the project and ability to define further deposits and the support for and ability to obtain project financing and commence construction. Although Ascendant believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, Ascendant disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, the risks described under the heading "Risks Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2023 and under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 and other risks identified in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The risk factors referred to above are not an exhaustive list of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking information. The Company's statements containing forward-looking information are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking information if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, one should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - MAX RESOURCE CORP. (TSXV: MAX) (OTC Pink: MXROF) (FSE: M1D2) ("Max" or the "Company") is pleased to report the appointment of Mr. Bruce Counts as Vice President of Exploration. Mr. Counts stated, "I am honoured to join Max's exploration team and contribute to advancing the Company's CESAR Copper-Silver project in northeastern Colombia. I had the privilege of visiting the project twice and observed the high-priority targets in the field. I am confident that the CEASAR project has the potential to host several tier-one copper-silver deposits, and Max has the team and resources necessary to make CESAR a success." Mr. Counts continued, "The sheer magnitude of the mineralized system at CESAR is impressive. Max has identified 21 compelling targets within three distinct districts that cover a 90-km stretch of the CESAR basin. Our exploration team will soon commence a regional airborne magnetic and radiometric survey over the length of the project. This data will assist the work the Company is doing to prepare the highest-priority targets for drilling, and aid with prospecting for additional copper occurrences in this underexplored part of Colombia." CEO of Max Resource Brett Matich stated, "We are delighted to have attracted a VP of Exploration of Bruce's experience and calibre. Bruce will lead our exploration efforts in derisking the 188 square km of mining concessions and 1,000 square km of applications acquired by MAX over the last three years. Mr. Counts has over thirty-years of experience in international mineral exploration, project development and deposit evaluation. Over the past twenty-years he has been a founder and director of several publicly listed companies as well as holding executive positions at the corporate and operational level. Mr. Counts has been responsible for the exploration and development of numerous projects across a range of commodities that include copper, gold and diamonds. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Geological Engineering from the University of British Columbia and is a registered Professional Geoscientist. Figure 1. CESAR Project. Figure 2. AM Discovery Background Max's CESAR Project lies along the copper-silver rich CESAR Basin in NE Colombia. This region provides access to major infrastructure resulting from oil & gas and mining operations, including Cerrejon, the largest coal mine in South America, held by global miner Glencore. Max's twenty-one mining concessions collectively span over 188-km (refer to Figure 1). In 2022, Max executed a 2-year co-operation agreement with Endeavour Silver Corp. (TSX: EDR, NYSE: EXK), which assists to expand its 100% owned landholdings, Endeavour will hold an underlying 0.5% NSR. AM District Starting in the far north of the Jurassic basin, classic stacked red bed outcrops with extensive lateral continuity have been rock sampled over many kilometres within the AM District. Highlight values of 34.4% copper and 305 g/t silver have been documented in the sedimentary red bed sequences. The Company confirmed that stratiform mineralization continues at depth with two scout drill holes completed earlier this year (see Max News Release dated April 4, 2023). In addition, Colombian field crews continue to discover and sample new mineralized outcrops including at the recently identified AM-7 target (Max News Release dated May 25, 2023 and Max - News Release dated June 22, 2023). Conejo District Midway south, the Conejo District is the most recent to be recognized and is characterized by structurally controlled mineralization hosted in intermediate and felsic volcanic rocks. Numerous mineralized outcrops have been discovered over a distance of 3.7km at the primary target in the district with surface samples averaging 4.9% copper. No drilling has been conducted at Conejo but it has emerged as an area of focus for the Company. URU District Mineralization within the URU District is hosted in intermediate volcanic rocks and is structurally controlled, similar to deposits in the Central African Copper Belt. At URU-C, a 9.0m of 7.0% copper and 115 g/t silver surface discovery was confirmed at depth by drill hole URU-12, which intersected 10.6m of 3.4% copper and 48 g/t silver. At the URU-CE target, 750m to the east, 19.0m of 1.3% copper discovered in outcrop was confirmed by drill hole URU-9, which intersected a broad zone of copper oxide returning 33.0m of 0.3% copper from 4.0m, including 16.5m of 0.5% copper (see Max News Release date January 24, 2023) CESAR Target Evaluation Max has identified and is evaluating 21 targets along the CESAR 90-km belt for potential drill testing. The Company is focused on expanding, refining, and prioritizing these targets in preparation for a drill program. Initial efforts have been concentrated on those targets with the greatest size potential with work that includes the following field activities: Systematic chip and channel sampling of the mineralized outcrops. Detailed geological and structural mapping of each showing. Trenching where possible to expose additional mineralization. Target scale prospecting and soil sampling. Ground geophysical surveys. Regional Exploration Max has demonstrated that the Cesar basin is fertile for copper-silver mineralization over a large area; however, only a fraction of the basin has been explored. As a result, Max has dedicated on of its geological teams to regional exploration with the goal of discovering additional copper-silver prospects over 1,000 sq-km. Qualified Person The Company's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release was reviewed and approved by Tim Henneberry, PGeo (British Columbia), a member of the Max Resource advisory board, who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101. About Max Resource Corp. Max Resource Corp. (TSXV: MAX) is a mineral exploration company advancing the newly discovered district-scale CESAR copper-silver project. The wholly owned CESAR project sits along the Colombian portion of the world's largest producing copper belt (Andean belt), with world class infrastructure and the presence of global majors (Glencore and Chevron). In addition, Max controls the RT Gold project (100% earn-in) in Peru, encompassing a bulk tonnage primary gold porphyry zone, and 3-km to the NW, a gold bearing massive sulphide zone. Historic drilling in 2001, returned values ranging 3.1 to 118.1 g/t gold over core lengths ranging from 2.2 to 36.0-metres. Max is proactive, with the corporate goal of transitioning the CESAR basin towards the mining of copper, the key metal for Colombia's transition to clean energy. The safety of our people and the communities where we operate is most important. We conduct exploration in a manner which supports protection of ecosystems through responsible environmental stewardship. Source: NI 43:101 Geological Report RT Gold Project for Max Resource Corp. by Luis Rodrigo Peralta, Mar. 8, 2023. NI 43:101 Geological Report Rio Tabaconas Gold Project for Golden Alliance Resources Corp. by George Sivertz, Oct.3, 2011. For more information visit: https://www.maxresource.com/ For additional information contact: Tim McNulty E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. T: (604) 290-8100 Rahim Lakha E. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Brett Matich T: (604) 484 1230 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 Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for Max Resources Corp. described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com. Vancouver, BC - TheNewswire - July 26, 2023 - Majuba Hill Copper Corp. (CSE:JUBA) (OTC: JUBAF) (FWB:4NP) (Majuba Hill Copper or the Company) is making plans for advancing the Majuba Hill Porphyry Copper Deposit. The Company is pleased to announce that it has filed on SEDAR an independent technical report (the "Report") prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") titled Technical Report for the Majuba Hill Copper Project, Pershing County, Nevada, USA. The Report was authored by Jeffrey M. Bickel, C.P.G., Senior Geologist, RESPEC Company LLC, Reno, NV (RESPEC). The full Report dated June 20, 2023 is available on the Company's website and the SEDAR Issuer profile at www.sedar.com. RESPEC evaluated the porphyry copper mineralization using a series of conceptual open-pit scenarios. The conceptual open-pit scenarios were constructed using a Whittle Pit calculation. In the report a significant footprint of copper mineralization was outlined that is within an Exploration Corridor containing favorable porphyry-copper-type geologic characteristics and robust copper mineralization. The following table summarizes the tonnage and grade ranges for the Whittle Pits. Model (1) Tonnage Range Tonnes (Bickel, 2023) Grade Range Copper (%) (Bickel, 2023) Copper Range (pounds) Calculated Exploration Target - All 50,000,000 to 100,000,000 0.15% to 0.30% 165,000,000 to 660,000,000 Exploration Target - High Grade 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 0.40% to 0.80% 88,185,000 to 352,739,000 Conceptual open-pit scenarios for the mineralized material do not meet the test for reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction with currently appropriate economic inputs,Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum (2014) "We are thrilled to announce the significant milestone achieved by Majuba Hill Copper Corp with the successful filing of our updated NI 43-101 report on SEDAR, a testament to our commitment to transparency and adherence to the highest standards in mineral project disclosure. I extend my deepest gratitude to the entire RESPEC Company team for their dedicated efforts in delivering this comprehensive report. Their expertise and unwavering support have been instrumental in shaping our path to success. Special thanks to Buster and Jefferey, whose leadership and hard work have been pivotal in driving this endeavor forward. With this milestone, we are confident in our position to seize the abundant opportunities that lie ahead in the dynamic copper market," commented David Greenway, CEO of Majuba Hill Copper Corp. Exploration Plans During 2023 the Company will focus on drilling up to 4900 meters (16,000 feet) to advance and expand the copper deposit. The primary objective of the drilling is to convert the mineralization from an exploration target category into the inferred and indicated resource categories. The Company geologists have determined locations for 15 to 20 core and reverse circulation (RC) holes. Holes are sited to achieve four main objectives: Tighten up drill spacing to convert waste blocks to mineralized blocks. Complete additional drill holes between Whittle Pit 13 and the much larger Whittle Pit 42 to improve the grade of copper mineralization and infill areas that currently have no drillholes. Extend high-grade mineralization. Characterize the metallurgy of the oxide and enriched mineralization to aid with the economics of processing the copper mineralization. About RESPEC Company LLC RESPEC Company LLC stands as a prominent global leader in geosciences, data, and engineering services, specializing in exploration, mine productivity, efficiency, and safety. Renowned for its expertise, RESPEC serves as a reliable advisor, offering integrated technology solutions tailored to the specific needs of mining and mineral clients. Throughout the entire mine life cycle, RESPEC's extensive experience and know-how prove instrumental in adding value to projects. They excel in optimizing exploration and production, elevating safety measures, improving reliability, and streamlining costs. With a proven track record of success, RESPEC emerges as a trusted partner for companies seeking to enhance their operations and achieve sustainable growth in the mining industry. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed by E.L. "Buster" Hunsaker III, CPG 8137, a non-independent consulting geologist who is a "Qualified Person" as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43- 101"). About Majuba Hill Copper Corp. Majuba Hill Copper Corp. is engaged in the identification, review and acquisition of latter stage copper and copper/silver/gold assets. This is in direct response to the growing worldwide demand and lack of supply for precious metals fueled by the Green New Deal in the US and most other developed nations with similar programs aimed at addressing climate change. Such programs are heavily reliant on silver, gold and especially copper to produce Electric Vehicles and other renewable power sources, as well as building infrastructure to provide clean and affordable electricity. The flagship project is the Majuba Hill copper, silver and gold District located 156 miles outside Reno, Nevada, USA. Management has been mandated to focus on safe, mining friendly jurisdictions where government regulations are supportive of mining operations. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. On Behalf of the Board of Majuba Hill Copper Corp. David Greenway David C. Greenway President & CEO For further information, please contact: Joel Warawa VP of Corporate Communications E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. P: 1 (855) 475-0745 Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking" statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Majuba Hill Copper Corp. believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Majuba Hill Copper Corp. management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Majuba Hill Copper Corp. undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Lead, South Dakota--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Dakota Gold Corp. (NYSE American: DC) ("Dakota Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to report it has completed its metallurgical testing/validation drill program at the Richmond Hill Gold Project ("Richmond Hill") ahead of schedule and under budget. All holes have been logged, sampled, and shipped off for initial assays. A total of twenty-nine drill holes were completed for the program, and of those, results from sixteen of the holes have been returned to date: five of these holes were reported previously by the Company (see June 8 and June 15, 2023, press releases) and eleven additional drill holes are reported here. Assay results for the remaining thirteen holes of this program are pending. Drill Hole Highlights (See Table 1): The latest drill results generally confirmed the grade and intercept thickness expectations compared to historical drilling completed by LAC Minerals USA LLC. However, several holes exceeded the thickness and grades of the model, indicating there are untested parts of the system that are open along strike and at greater depth than previously understood. These drill holes include: RH23C-036 intersecting 0.060 oz/ton over 65 feet (2.06 grams/tonne over 19.8 meters) RH23C-039 intersecting 0.069 oz/ton over 36 feet (2.37 grams/tonne over 11.0 meters) RH23C-045 intersecting 0.024 oz/ton over 112.3 feet (0.82 grams/tonne over 34.2 meters) RH23C-046 intersecting 0.042 oz/ton over 96.7 feet (1.44 grams/tonne over 29.5 meters) Program results have provided new insights into the major structures controlling brecciation and gold mineralization. This knowledge has provided new direction for step-out drilling in known breccia bodies to the north of the current drilling, and for new exploration drilling under the younger sedimentary cover in the Carbonate Camp area. The Richmond Hill metallurgical testing/validation drill program remains on schedule to produce a compliant S-K 1300 Resource in the first Quarter of 2024. This will incorporate 880 historical drill holes with the current drill results. This phase of drilling at Richmond Hill has produced results consistent with expectations with approximately 80,000 feet of drilling completed to this date. James Berry, Vice President Exploration of Dakota Gold, said, "We are pleased how quickly and smoothly this validation drilling program was completed and thank our employees and contractors who contributed to its safe, successful, and rapid completion. The latest drill results continue to validate and extend the mineralization characterized by historical drill programs. In addition, the new geologic information from the core drilling is being used to update the geologic deposit model, which was based on reverse circulation rotary drilling and limited largely to near surface mineralization in the Cambrian sedimentary section. This new information will be essential for use in future mineral resource estimations. We continue to be impressed by the size and strength of the Richmond Hill breccia pipe mineralization. Several excellent targets remain outside of our current drilling area which we think will further expand this unique gold mineral system." Exploration Update All twenty-nine of the recent drill holes completed at Richmond Hill were drilled as part of a Dakota Gold's metallurgical testing/validation drilling program, and the results continue to both confirm and extend mineralization within the central breccia pipe areas (target footage 34,924 ft / 10,583 m). Bulk samples for ten of the holes with assay results have already been selected by the Company's metallurgical contractor and shipped to a test facility in Canada where metallurgical characterization and recovery testing is being conducted. Additional material from the remaining drill holes with pending assays will also be shipped once results are returned and results are evaluated. Drilling at Richmond Hill will now shift to exploration in other areas of the property including testing beneath the historical Richmond Hill breccia pipe, other breccias and structural intersections along the north-south structural corridor and targets in the Carbonate Camp area. Table 1. RH23C-030, RH23C-035, RH23C-036, RH23C-039, RH23C-040, RH23C-041, RH23C-042 RH23C-043, RH23C-044, RH23C-045 and RH23C-046 Drill Results (Imperial / Metric Units) Hole # From To Depth Interval* Gold From To Depth Interval* Gold Mineral Type ft ft ft ft oz/ton m m m m g/t RH23C-030 311.2 329.9 193.7 18.7 0.070 94.9 100.6 59 5.7 2.40 Tert 370.0 390.0 221.7 20.0 0.018 112.8 118.9 67.6 6.1 0.62 Tert 415.0 424.8 240.8 9.8 0.075 126.5 129.5 73.4 3.0 2.57 Tert RH23C-035 105.3 124.6 69 19.3 0.020 32.1 38.0 21 5.9 0.69 Tert 133.4 176.7 86.4 43.3 0.022 40.7 53.9 26.3 13.2 0.75 Tert 189.0 199.5 116.2 10.5 0.023 57.6 60.8 35.4 3.2 0.79 BX 308.2 364.8 190 56.6 0.023 93.9 111.2 57.9 17.3 0.79 BX RH23C-036 130.0 171.5 67.1 41.5 0.028 39.6 52.3 20.5 12.6 0.96 Tert 185.0 250.0 91.4 65.0 0.060 56.4 76.2 27.9 19.8 2.06 Tert 305.0 409.0 136.8 104.0 0.036 93.0 124.7 41.7 31.7 1.23 Tert 450.4 495.0 205.9 44.6 0.025 137.3 150.9 62.8 13.6 0.86 BX 530.0 539.0 248.4 9.0 0.037 161.5 164.3 75.7 2.7 1.27 Tert 555.0 570.0 261.8 15.0 0.023 169.2 173.7 79.8 4.6 0.79 Tert 590.0 737.3 278.6 147.3 0.038 179.8 224.7 84.9 44.9 1.30 Tert 765.0 781.0 334.4 16.0 0.029 233.2 238.0 101.9 4.9 0.99 Tert 825.0 860.0 356.1 35.0 0.022 251.5 262.1 108.5 10.7 0.75 Tert 975.0 1015.0 428.6 40.0 0.026 297.2 309.4 130.6 12.2 0.89 Tert 1070.0 1100.0 485.4 30.0 0.029 326.1 335.3 147.9 9.1 0.99 Bx 1275.0 1285.6 701.2 10.6 0.037 388.6 391.9 213.7 3.2 1.27 BX 1395.4 1425.2 829.8 29.8 0.031 425.3 434.4 252.9 9.1 1.06 Tert RH23C-039 0 42.5 0 42.5 0.020 0 13.0 0 13.0 0.69 BX 133.5 145.3 60.1 11.8 0.027 40.7 44.3 18.3 3.6 0.93 BX 196.4 232.4 88.3 36.0 0.069 59.9 70.8 26.9 11.0 2.37 Tert 250.3 273.7 106.7 23.4 0.023 76.3 83.4 32.5 7.1 0.79 Tert 292.8 305.5 120.6 12.7 0.035 89.2 93.1 36.8 3.9 1.20 Tert 358.6 455.0 142.7 96.4 0.037 109.3 138.7 43.5 29.4 1.27 BX 480.1 544.4 183.2 64.3 0.025 146.3 165.9 55.8 19.6 0.86 BX 562.6 790.4 207.1 227.8 0.020 171.5 240.9 63.1 69.4 0.69 BX 837.0 845.8 297.9 8.8 0.023 255.1 257.8 90.8 2.7 0.79 BX 920.0 971.8 324.3 51.8 0.016 280.4 296.2 98.8 15.8 0.55 BX 1054.5 1063.1 426 8.6 0.030 321.4 324.0 129.8 2.6 1.03 BX 1086.0 1163.0 454.4 77.0 0.020 331.0 354.5 138.5 23.5 0.69 BX 1780.8 1800.4 1006.5 19.6 0.039 542.8 548.8 306.8 6.0 1.34 BX RH23C-040 171.5 234.7 108.8 63.2 0.023 52.3 71.5 33.2 19.3 0.79 Tert 675.3 689.7 455.6 14.4 0.017 205.8 210.2 138.9 4.4 0.58 Tert 884.0 901.4 624.6 174 0.022 269.4 274.7 190.4 5.3 0.75 Tert 954.0 1000.0 686.1 46.0 0.044 290.8 304.8 209.1 14.0 1.51 Tert RH23C-041 0 62.1 0 62.1 0.020 0 18.9 0 18.9 0.69 Tert 168.3 227.0 168.3 58.7 0.025 51.3 69.2 51.3 17.9 0.86 Tert 236.4 281.6 236.4 45.2 0.026 72.1 85.8 72.1 13.8 0.89 Tert 689.6 703.5 689.6 13.9 0.018 210.2 214.4 210.2 4.2 0.62 BX 1049.5 1076.8 1049.5 27.3 0.018 319.9 328.2 319.9 8.3 0.62 BX 1099.2 1129.3 1099.2 30.1 0.019 335.0 344.2 335 9.2 0.65 BX/Tert 1163.3 1181.6 1163.3 18.3 0.021 354.6 360.2 3354.6 5.6 0.72 BX RH23C-042 164.0 183.9 110.8 19.9 0.017 50.0 56.1 33.8 6.1 0.58 Tert 232.6 250.5 158.6 17.9 0.027 70.9 76.3 48.3 5.4 0.93 Tert 259.4 341.7 176.3 82.3 0.026 79.1 104.2 53.7 25.1 0.89 Tert 377.8 398.4 276.5 20.6 0.033 115.2 121.4 84.3 6.3 1.13 Tert 484.9 500.0 368.2 15.1 0.016 147.8 152.4 112.2 4.6 0.55 Tert RH23C-043 167.6 176.9 113.7 9.3 0.019 50.8 53.6 34.7 2.8 0.65 Tert 236.5 249.7 157.2 13.2 0.018 71.7 75.7 47.9 4.0 0.62 Tert 263.3 274.0 172.8 10.7 0.041 79.8 83.0 52.7 3.2 1.41 Tert 404.5 458.3 250.8 53.8 0.025 122.6 138.9 76.4 16.3 0.86 Tert/BX 541.2 556.0 336.2 14.8 0.023 164.0 168.5 102.5 4.5 0.79 Tert 588.0 600.5 359.2 12.5 0.024 178.2 182.0 109.5 3.8 0.02 Tert RH23C-044 38.0 134.8 31.2 96.8 0.031 11.6 41.1 9.5 29.5 1.06 Tert 144.4 157.0 133.7 12.6 0.029 44.0 47.9 40.8 3.8 0.99 Tert 1170.0 1180.4 1005 10.4 0.051 356.6 359.8 306.3 3.2 1.75 Tert RH23C-045 48.3 65.5 47.8 17.2 0.021 14.7 20.0 14.6 5.2 0.72 BX 88.2 101.3 78.1 13.1 0.017 26.9 30.9 23.8 4.0 0.58 Tert 112.2 123.8 95.6 11.6 0.017 34.2 37.7 29.1 3.5 0.58 BX 324.0 359.1 240.4 35.1 0.022 98.8 109.5 73.3 10.7 0.75 Tert 369.0 424.0 272.3 55.0 0.033 112.5 129.2 83.0 16.8 1.13 Tert 457.8 570.1 340.6 112.3 0.024 139.5 173.8 103.8 34.2 0.82 Tert 595.0 615.0 485.2 20.0 0.018 181.4 187.5 147.9 6.1 0.62 Tert 952.3 978.0 836.9 25.7 0.022 290.3 298.1 255.1 7.8 0.75 BX 997.0 1007.0 888.4 10.0 0.018 303.9 306.9 270.8 3.0 0.62 Tert 1501.1 1511.1 1290.6 10.0 0.018 457.5 460.6 393.4 3.0 0.62 BX RH23C-046 29.1 49.0 21 19.9 0.017 8.9 14.9 6.4 6.1 0.58 Tert 364.4 417.8 240.5 53.2 0.023 111.1 127.3 73.3 16.3 0.79 BX 445.9 458.0 326.1 12.1 0.033 135.9 139.6 99.4 3.7 1.13 Tert 473.9 517.6 355.4 43.7 0.029 144.4 157.8 108.3 13.3 0.99 Tert 1060.2 1129.5 774 69.3 0.021 323.1 344.3 235.9 21.1 0.72 Bx 1150.1 1246.8 843.6 96.7 0.042 350.6 380.0 257.1 29.5 1.44 BX 1285.0 1337.3 941.1 52.3 0.024 391.7 407.6 286.8 15.9 0.82 BX 1353.5 1385.0 986.7 31.5 0.034 412.5 422.1 300.7 9.6 1.17 BX 1396.6 1449.7 1012.8 53.1 0.023 425.7 441.9 308.7 16.2 0.79 BX 1465.4 1476.3 1057.1 10.9 0.022 446.7 450.0 322.2 3.3 0.75 BX *True thickness is unknown. Abbreviations in the table include ounces per ton ("oz/ton"); grams per tonne ("g/t"); feet ("ft"); meter ("m"); Tertiary ("Tert"); and Breccia (Bx). Figure 1. Plan View of Dakota Gold Corp. Richmond Hill Drill Holes with Highlighted Gold Intercepts. Figure 2. Cross Section View of Richmond Hill Drill Holes RH23C-036, RH23C-041 and RH23C-046. Figure 3. Cross Section View of Richmond Hill Drill Hole RH23C-040. The Company currently has four drills operating on its properties in the Homestake District of South Dakota, with two drills operating at the Maitland Gold Project ("Maitland") and two drills operating at Richmond Hill. The Maitland drills are targeting Homestake-hosted and Tertiary gold mineralization and the Richmond Hill drills are targeting Tertiary breccias and replacement mineralization. Richmond Hill is located 2.3 miles west of Maitland and 1.5 miles north of Coeur Mining, Inc.'s Wharf Mine. The Wharf Mine produced 79,768 ounces at 0.021 oz/ton gold in 2022. About Dakota Gold Corp. Dakota Gold (NYSE American: DC) is a South Dakota-based responsible gold exploration and development company with a specific focus on revitalizing the Homestake District in Lead, South Dakota. Dakota Gold has high-caliber gold mineral properties covering over 46 thousand acres surrounding the historic Homestake Mine. The Dakota Gold team is focused on new gold discoveries and opportunities that build on the legacy of the Homestake District and its 145 years of gold mining history. Subscribe to Dakota Gold's e-mail list at www.dakotagoldcorp.com to receive the latest news and other Company updates. Shareholder and Investor Inquiries For more information, please contact: Jonathan Awde, President and Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1 604-761-5251 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Qualified Person and S-K 1300 Disclosure James M. Berry, a Registered Member of SME and Vice President of Exploration of Dakota Gold Corp., is the Company's designated qualified person for this news release as defined in Subpart 1300 - Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations of Regulation S-K and has reviewed and approved its scientific and technical content. The ranges of potential tonnage and grade (or quality) disclosed above in respect of the Richmond Hill Gold Project are conceptual in nature and could change as the proposed exploration activities are completed. There has been insufficient exploration of the Richmond Hill Gold Project to allow for an estimate of a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a mineral resource. The disclosure above in respect of the Richmond Hill Gold Project therefore does not represent, and should not be construed to be, an estimate of a mineral resource or mineral reserve. Quality Assurance/Quality Control consists of regular insertion of certified reference materials, duplicate samples, and blanks into the sample stream. Check samples will be submitted to an umpire laboratory as the drill program progresses. Assay results are reviewed, and discrepancies are investigated prior to incorporation into the Company database. Samples are submitted to the ALS Geochemistry sample preparation facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Gold and multi-element analyses are performed at the ALS Geochemistry laboratory in Vancouver, British Columbia. ALS Minerals is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited lab. Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the execution and timing of our planned exploration activities, our use and evaluation of historic data, our ability to achieve our strategic goals, the state of the economy and financial markets generally and the effect on our industry, and the market for our common stock. The foregoing list is not exhaustive. For additional information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements, we refer you to the risk factors included in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KT for the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 2022, as amended, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents that we file with the SEC. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. These statements speak only as of the date of this communication, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. We do not give any assurance that we will achieve our expectations. TORONTO / Jul 25, 2023 / Business Wire / Trigon Metals Inc. (TSX-V: TM; OTCQB: PNTZF) (Trigon or the Company) is pleased to provide a progress update on mining operations in Namibia. In the coming week, the mill will produce its first concentrate, with first sales planned by the end of August. The mill is on schedule for start-up as we enter the final stage for open pit production. Meanwhile, significant work has been completed towards underground mining production which is planned to commence early in 2024. Open Pit Mining at Kombat Open pit mining started in May 2023, and the ramping up of earth moving has escalated according to schedule. While the strip ratio is expected to average 6.5:1 waste to ore during ramp-up mining; it has focused on reducing overburden and exposing ore in preparation for the mill start-up. In total, 500,000 tonnes of waste have been mined and 15,000 tonnes of ore have been placed on the run-of-mine (ROM) pad, preparing to be fed into the mill. Earthmoving is averaging over 10,000 tonnes per day ahead of the required 8,000 tonnes needed to meet the mine plan. On Tuesday, July 25, an ore block of 10,000 tonnes is planned to be blasted in preparation for mill start-up. With mining already started, Trigon is in possession of all permits required for mining, an up-to-date mining licence and all of the required environmental clearances. The mine and mill are now fully staffed in the mine with contract miner Tulela, Trigon geology staff managing grade control, and Trigon metallurgical staff in the mill. Just over $14 million has been spent in upgrades to the mill and constructing a new tailings facility, in preparation for open pit ore production. The final piece, a new secondary crushing unit was put in place last week offering higher efficiency, higher capacity and higher availability than the unit replaced. Underground Mine Underground mining is scheduled to start in April 2024, ramping up through the quarter. The company is hard at work putting the pieces in place for start-up. This includes updating feasibility studies, preparing the underground, building an owner operated underground mining fleet and doubling the capacity of the plant. The updated feasibility study is on track, being completed by SRK and initial numbers are expected in August for Phase 1 of the underground (Asis West) and in October for Phase 2 (Asis Far West). Dewatering the underground is the next major step with pumps planned to be turned on in August 2023. All pumps and pipes are at site and pre-installation preparations for pumps have commenced. In addition, Trigon has installed backup generators as a safety precaution to ensure uninterrupted power. Trigon purchased the first pieces of underground equipment this month, being a used scaler and scoop tram to start on underground clean-up as ramps and stopes will start to become accessible once pumps begin removing the water. The majority of the underground fleet will be purchased new from Epiroc, and the company is working with Epiroc on an equipment financing facility for the purchase. Plant expansion has yet to commence, but site visits from the manufacturer of the necessary equipment has taken place, final estimates have been received and equipment will be ordered to meet required timelines. New Geological Personnel Trigon is pleased to welcome its new Production Geologist to the Kombat Mine: Pedro de Jesus has specialized in grade control, geotechnical studies, and exploration geology. He is highly experienced in the mining industry. Mr. de Jesus comes to Trigon with nearly 18 years of experience as a Senior Production Geologist at the Okorusu Fluospar mine, having worked in various capacities for companies including B2Gold, Uis Tin Mining Company, and Northern Graphite Corp.. He holds a Bachelors degree in Geology and Chemistry from the University of Namibia and an Honors degree in Geology/Earth Science from Wits University, School of Geosciences. Commenting, Jed Richardson, President and CEO, Mill start-up planned for this week will mark a key inflection point for the company as we start producing copper concentrate and look to make our first revenue next month (August 2023). Special thank you to the staff and officials who have made this possible and the shareholders and partners who have made production at Kombat a reality. Qualified Person The technical information presented in this press release has been reviewed and approved for disclosure by Fanie Muller, P.Eng, VP Operations of Trigon, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Trigon Metals Inc. Trigon is a publicly traded Canadian exploration and development company with its core business focused on copper and silver holdings in mine-friendly African jurisdictions. Currently, the company has operations in Namibia and Morocco. In Namibia, the Company holds an 80% interest in five mining licences in the Otavi Mountainlands, an area of Namibia widely recognized for its high-grade copper deposits, where the Company is focused on exploration and re-development of the previously producing Kombat Mine. In Morocco, the Company is the holder of the Silver Hill and Addana projects, highly prospective copper and silver exploration projects. Cautionary Notes This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements include statements regarding the Kombat Mine, the reopening of the Kombat Mine, the Companys ability to restart operations, the economic viability of the Kombat Mine, the Companys ability to mine underground and the related timelines, the impact of new personnel on the Companys operations, the ability to obtain adequate equipment and requisite financing, reliance by the Company on contractors, the infrastructure required for Trigons operations and the Companys future plans and objectives. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statements or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Preliminary tests at TOMRA in Germany indicate the mineralization at Iska Iska is amenable to ore-sorting with removal of at least 40% of the waste in the Polymetallic Domain and up to 80% in the Tin Domain which would substantially increase concentrator feed grades as well as reduce future operating costs and significantly lower the cut off grades (COG) for the pending mineral resource estimate (MRE). Positive ore-sorting results were obtained from composite samples of both the tin (Sn) and polymetallic (Ag-Zn-Pb) mineralization domains in the Santa Barbara deposit indicating its wide applicability throughout the entire deposit. Further metallurgical studies conducted by Wardell Armstrong International on a composite sample of the tin mineralization has improved tin concentrator recovery to 50%. This recovery is un-optimised and has been achieved using a mixture of Multi Gravity and tin flotation techniques which are specifically designed to recover the finer grained cassiterite. The concentrator could produce an approximately 5%Sn concentrate grade amenable to the tin fuming process that ultimately could produce a 60-70%Sn concentrate for smelting. The level of metallurgical and pyrometallurgical work that has been conducted is exceptionally high for an inaugural MRE but is justifiable due to the significance of this large potentially open pittable tin and polymetallic resource. The additional metallurgical/mineralogical knowledge will enable Eloro to rapidly move towards a preliminary economic assessment (PEA). TORONTO, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX: ELO; OTCQX: ELRRF; FSE: P2QM) (Eloro, or the Company) is pleased to announce major advances on metallurgy for the Iska Iska silver-tin polymetallic project in the Potosi Department of southern Bolivia. These tests were directed by Mike Hallewell, C.Eng., Eloros Senior Strategic Metallurgist and a qualified person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). in consultation with Micon International Limited Principal Metallurgist, Richard Gowans, P.Eng., an independent QP. Work by the Eloro geological team at Iska Iska led by Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., Executive Vice President of Exploration and Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P.Geo., Manager of Minera Tupiza, indicates that Santa Barbara is essentially two major deposits in one as shown in Figure 1. Tin (Sn) mineralization with silver (Ag) dominates in the western and deeper portions of the deposit (Tin Domain) while in the eastern and southern shallower parts of the deposit, polymetallic silver-zinc-lead (Ag-Zn-Pb) mineralization predominates (Polymetallic Domain). The overall deposit as presently drilled extends more than 1,200m along strike, is up to 800m wide and extends to a depth of at least 1,000m with mineralization open in all directions. Tom Larsen, CEO of Eloro, said: These positive metallurgical tests, particularly the Ore-sorting tests at TOMRA, have a major positive impact on the potential future production at Iska Iska. For this reason, and in consultation with our independent consultants, Micon International, we deferred completion of the inaugural MRE until these tests were completed and the results could be fully incorporated into the final MRE which is now expected to be released in latter August. Mike Hallewell, C.Eng, Eloros Senior Strategic Metallurgist commented: The level of metallurgical and pyrometallurgical work that has been conducted thus far at Iska Iska is exceptionally high for an inaugural MRE but is justifiable due to the significance of this large potentially open pittable tin and polymetallic resource. This additional metallurgical/mineralogical knowledge will enable Eloro to rapidly move towards a preliminary economic assessment (PEA). Ore-Sorting Tests Metallurgically the two different domains require different approaches to optimize recoveries. As much of the mineralization in both domains occurs in veins and vein breccias, it was felt that ore-sorting technology developed by TOMRA could have a significant impact by selectively removing waste material resulting in a significant reduction in operating costs while at the same time producing a major increase in grades of feed to the grinding circuit. 256 rocks representing five different lithological groups within the Polymetallic Domain and five different lithological and tin grade groups within the Tin Domain were scanned using the on-site GeologicAI core scanner and then subsequently sent for amenability testing at TOMRA in Wedel, Germany. The preliminary images and assays indicate a positive response to XRT Ore sorting. Based upon these results, the preliminary indications are at least 40% of the run-of-mine (ROM) polymetallic mineralization could be rejected as waste while for the Tin Domain, as much as 80% of the weight can be rejected as sub cutoff grade (COG) waste. Ore sorting will significantly increase concentrator feed grades which will enhance concentrator recovery in both domains. In addition, bulk mining techniques can be employed without resultant dilution issues and this will reduce downstream processing costs. The positive results obtained justify the diamond drilling of larger size diameter holes to produce bulk samples of both Polymetallic and Tin Domains for Cascade testing at TOMRA, Germany. The resultant XRT pre-concentrated product will be used for the downstream PEA studies. Optimizing Tin Recovery Wardell Armstrong International, based at the old Wheal Jane tin mine site in Cornwall, England have conducted further tin optimisation testing on a composite sample from the tin domain, drawing on their strong historical background with tin studies. The main thrust of this work was to identify ways of increasing the tin recovery in the concentrator and consisted of Falcon Continuous Roughing followed by multi-gravity separators (MGS) and cleaning of Falcon Rougher Concentrates. These multi-gravity technologies can recover the bulk of the recovered tin in as coarse a grain size possible. The Falcon tailings are then reground prior to a tin flotation rougher stage where much finer cassiterite is recovered using MGS cleaning of the resultant tin flotation rougher concentrates. The combined multi gravity concentrator and tin float concentrator tin recovery was increased to 50% using this flowsheet and further optimisation studies of this flowsheet have been identified which will form part of the PEA study using the XRT pre-concentrated products as mentioned above. The University of Oruro has also tested other pre-concentration techniques including Dense Media Separation (DMS) using heavy liquids. The DMS testwork results for the three different grade samples tested were positive, matching the XRT Ore sorting mentioned above where as much as80% of the weight can be rejected as floats at sub-COG waste in the Tin Domain. This is a positive result and provides further options to increase the quantity of waste rejected by using DMS as a potential further stage of pre-concentration on XRT products and/or the nominal -10mm that is too fine to be XRT Ore Sorted. This provides further confidence that the low-grade tin domain can be effectively upgraded. Figure 1 Plan Map Showing Major Tin and Polymetallic Domains in the Santa Barbara Deposit, Iska Iska Qualified Person Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P. Geo., General Manager of Eloros Bolivian subsidiary, Minera Tupiza S.R.L., and a Qualified Person (QP) in the context of NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., Executive Vice President Exploration Eloro, and who has more than 45 years of worldwide mining exploration experience, including extensive work in South America, manages the overall technical program, working closely with Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P.Geo. Dr. Quinton Hennigh, P.Geo., Senior Technical Advisor to Eloro and Independent Technical Advisor, Mr. Charley Murahwi P. Geo., FAusIMM of Micon are regularly consulted on technical aspects of the project. Metallurgical work was directed by Mike Hallewell, B.Sc, F.S.A.I.M.M., F.I.M.M.M., C.Eng., Eloros Senior Strategic Metallurgist, a QP as defined by NI 43-101, in consultation with Micon Internationals Principal Metallurgist, Richard Gowans, P.Eng., an independent QP as defined by NI 43-101. Ore-sorting tests were completed at TOMRAs facilities in Wedel, Germany. TOMRA GmbH are a leading technical authority in XRT Ore sorting. Note that the term Ore is part of the registered product name of TOMRA and the use of the term ore in this press release does not imply that the mineralization at Iska Iska is ore as defined by NI 43-101. Tin optimization tests were completed at the facilities of Wardell Armstrong International in Cornwall, England. Wardell Armstrong International are an internationally recognised consulting group. The metallurgical testwork carried out at the University of Oruro, Bolivia facility has been found to yield accurate results in comparison to similar analysis at internationally accredited laboratories hence the results are considered reliable for preliminary analysis. Eloro utilized both ALS and AHK for drill core analysis, both of whom are major international accredited laboratories. Drill samples sent to ALS are prepared in both ALS Bolivia Ltdas preparation facility in Oruro, Bolivia and the preparation facility operated by AHK in Tupiza with pulps sent to the main ALS Global laboratory in Lima for analysis. More recently Eloro has had ALS send pulps to their laboratory at Galway in Ireland. Eloro employs an industry standard QA/QC program with standards, blanks and duplicates inserted into each batch of samples analyzed with selected check samples sent to a separate accredited laboratory. Drill core samples sent to AHK Laboratories are prepared in a preparation facility installed and managed by AHK in Tupiza with pulps sent to the AHK laboratory in Lima, Peru. Au and Sn analysis on these samples is done by ALS Bolivia Ltda in Lima. Check samples between ALS and AHK are regularly done as a QA/QC check. AHK is following the same analytical protocols used as with ALS and with the same QA/QC protocols. About Iska Iska Iska Iska silver-tin polymetallic project is a road accessible, royalty-free property, wholly controlled by the Title Holder, Empresa Minera Villegas S.R.L. and is located 48 km north of Tupiza city, in the Sud Chichas Province of the Department of Potosi in southern Bolivia. Eloro has an option to earn a 100% interest in Iska Iska. Iska Iska is a major silver-tin polymetallic porphyry-epithermal complex associated with a Miocene possibly collapsed/resurgent caldera, emplaced on Ordovician age rocks with major breccia pipes, dacitic domes and hydrothermal breccias. The caldera is 1.6km by 1.8km in dimension with a vertical extent of at least 1km. Mineralization age is similar to Cerro Rico de Potosi and other major deposits such as San Vicente, Chorolque, Tasna and Tatasi located in the same geological trend. Eloro began underground diamond drilling from the Huayra Kasa underground workings at Iska Iska on September 13, 2020. On November 18, 2020, Eloro announced the discovery of a significant breccia pipe with extensive silver polymetallic mineralization just east of the Huayra Kasa underground workings and a high-grade gold-bismuth zone in the underground workings. On November 24, 2020, Eloro announced the discovery of the SBBP approximately 150m southwest of the Huayra Kasa underground workings. Subsequently, on January 26, 2021, Eloro announced significant results from the first drilling at the SBBP including the discovery hole DHK-15 which returned 129.60 g Ag eq/t over 257.5m (29.53g Ag/t, 0.078g Au/t, 1.45%Zn, 0.59%Pb, 0.080%Cu, 0.056%Sn, 0.0022%In and 0.0064% Bi from 0.0m to 257.5m. Subsequent drilling has confirmed significant values of Ag-Sn polymetallic mineralization in the SBBP and the adjacent CBP. A substantive mineralized envelope which is open along strike and down-dip extends around both major breccia pipes. Continuous channel sampling of the Santa Barbara Adit located to the east of SBBP returned 442 g Ag eq/t (164.96 g Ag/t, 0.46%Sn, 3.46% Pb and 0.14% Cu) over 166m including 1,092 g Ag eq/t (446 g Ag/t, 9.03% Pb and 1.16% Sn) over 56.19m. The west end of the adit intersects the end of the SBBP. Since the initial discovery hole, Eloro has released a number of significant drill results in the SBBP and the surrounding mineralized envelope which along with geophysical data has defined an extensive target zone. In its September 20, 2022 press release, the Company reported that new downhole geophysical data has significantly extended the strike length of the high-grade feeder zone at Santa Barbara a further 250m along strike to the south-southeast from existing drilling. The 3D inverse magnetic model which correlates very strongly with the conductive zone suggested that the high-grade feeder zone may extend across the entire caldera for as much as a further 1 km along strike for a total potential strike length of at least 2 km. As reported, the definition drill program was modified to sectionally drill this potential extension with the intention of defining a major open pittable deposit in the valley of the caldera. The Company completed 84,495m of drilling in 122 holes from the definition drill program in the Santa Barbara target area. On November 22, 2022, Eloro announced the acquisition of the Mina Casiterita and Mina Hoyada properties covering 14.75 km2 southwest and west of Iska Iska. These properties connect with the TUP-3 and TUP-6 claims previously staked by Eloro. Eloro has also staked additional land in the area. Following the acquisition, the total land package in the Iska Iska area to be controlled by Eloro will total 1,935 quadrants covering 483.75 km2. Artisanal mining in the 1960s identified high grade tin (Sn) veins on the Mina Casiterita property that are hosted in an intrusive dacite. Production from 1962 to 1964 is reported by the Departamento Nacional de Geologia in Bolivia to be 69.85 tonnes grading 50.60% Sn. Recently completed magnetic surveys by Eloro has outlined an extensive, near surface, magnetic intrusive body on the Mina Casiterita property immediately southwest of Iska Iska. This intrusive hosts the previously mined high-grade tin veins and is very likely the continuation of the porphyry tin intrusion projected to be below the epithermal Ag-Sn-Zn-Pb mineralization at Iska Iska. Work by the Eloro geological team at Iska Iska indicates that Santa Barbara is essentially two major deposits in one. Tin (Sn) mineralization with silver (Ag) dominates in the western and deeper portions of the deposit (Tin Domain) while in the eastern and southern shallower parts of the deposit, polymetallic silver-zinc-lead (Ag-Zn-Pb) mineralization predominates (Polymetallic Domain). The overall deposit as presently drilled extends more than 1,200m along strike, is up to 800m wide and extends to a depth of at least 1,000m with mineralization open in all directions. About Eloro Resources Ltd. Eloro is an exploration and mine development company with a portfolio of gold and base-metal properties in Bolivia, Peru and Quebec. Eloro has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the highly prospective Iska Iska Property, which can be classified as a polymetallic epithermal-porphyry complex, a significant mineral deposit type in the Potosi Department, in southern Bolivia. A recent NI 43-101 Technical Report on Iska Iska, which was completed by Micon International Limited, is available on Eloros website and under its filings on SEDAR. Iska Iska is a road-accessible, royalty-free property. Eloro also owns an 82% interest in the La Victoria Gold/Silver Project, located in the North-Central Mineral Belt of Peru some 50 km south of Barricks Lagunas Norte Gold Mine and Pan American Silvers La Arena Gold Mine. For further information please contact either Thomas G. Larsen, Chairman and CEO or Jorge Estepa, Vice-President at (416) 868-9168. Information in this news release may contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information express, as at the date of this news release, the Companys plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations, or beliefs as to future events or results and are believed to be reasonable based on information currently available to the Company. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. All dollar amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. TORONTO , Jan. 5, 2021 /CNW/ - 2020 was a year we will all remember. For everyone it was a year of coping with the pandemic and we salute everyone's efforts to stay healthy and keep spirits high. It was great to see so many... Read More Italian senators on Wednesday voted to recognise as "genocide" the 1930s starvation of millions in Ukraine under Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, a move welcomed by Kyiv. The resolution, passed by 130 votes in favour, none against and four abstentions, follows a similar text agreed by the lower parliamentary chamber's foreign affairs commission in February. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba offered his thanks, posting "Grazie mille" (thank you very much) on Twitter, the social media platform undergoing a rebranding to X. "This important step restores historical justice, honours millions of victims, and warns future generations against the crime of genocide," he wrote. The 1932-33 "Holodomor" -- Ukrainian for "death by starvation" -- is regarded by Kyiv as a deliberate act of genocide by Stalin's regime with the intention of wiping out the peasantry. Stalin's campaign of forced "collectivisation" seized grain and other foodstuffs and left millions to starve. Moscow rejects Kyiv's account, placing the events in the broader context of famines that devastated regions of Central Asia and Russia. ar/bp X Ha Yoon Kyung, who played the second female lead in "See You In My 19th Life," dished out her thoughts on her character, co-stars and more following its conclusion. She also revealed her career plans in the future, raising excitement among avid fans. Ha Yoon Kyung Admits Being Challenged With 'See You In My 19th Life' For six long weeks, Ha Yoon Kyung decorated the television screen with her adorable charms as Yoon Cho Won in the drama "See You In My 19th Life." She played the role of a florist and landscape engineer at a hotel. Yoon Cho Won is a vivacious woman who captured the attention of the viewers. In an interview, the actress revealed that playing Yoon Cho Won was a huge challenge for her. Ha Yoon Kyung reasoned that she only played women with mature personalities before. She took on the challenge to diversify her acting spectrum. Thankfully, she received support from her families and friends as well as her co-stars Shin Hye Sun and Ahn Bo Hyun. Ha Yoon Kyung also shared that there were a lot of ad-libs in the drama which looked natural on screen, thanks to their synergy as a team. She said, "Filming felt comfortable with them." The "See You In My 19th Life" star chose the surprise birthday scene with Ahn Bo Hyun as the most difficult to film as it was "too intense and serious" compared to the overall theme of the show. "It was a long journey but because the viewers received it well, I have no regrets," Ha Yoon Kyung said. "I learned a lot through the drama and I'm very grateful." Ha Yoon Kyung Shares Most Hilarious Moment During Filming Unbeknownst to many, the actress is already 30. Ha Yoon Kyung confessed that playing a middle school student put immense pressure on her. She wasn't sure if she would be able to show Yoon Cho Won's adolescence through the work. In addition, she also worried about looking cute in a school uniform. Fortunately, it was a success. Ha Yoon Kyung felt good and even gained a core memory as an actress. Ha Yoon Kyung's Acting Plans, Dream Role & More In "See You In My 19th Life," she showed her love line with Ahn Dong Goo's stoic character that was loved by many. Ha Yoon Kyung also grew closer to her on-screen partner despite being awkward at first. Thanks to the tvN drama, she was able to widen her celebrity circle. Regarding her dream work, she plans to take on the romantic comedy genre with a bubbly romance that will make every viewer's teeth rot in sweetness. Ha Yoon Kyung also wants to do a tragic love that ends in tragedy. "I want to do something that my heart desires," she said. "If an opportunity knocks at my door, I will do nothing but my best at that moment." Ha Yoon Kyung also wants to do a villainous role if given the chance. With this, she asks the viewers' support and interest as she jumps onto her next big project. KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Kang Ki Young is ready to take on a new challenge as he plays an interesting character in the highly anticipated "The Uncanny Counter 2." One of the most talked-about sequels this 2023, a mix of returning and new cast members joined the second season. Interestingly, among the newcomers appearing in the upcoming "The Uncanny Counter 2" is Kang Ki Young, who made global fame through the hit K-drama "Extraordinary Attorney Woo." Far from being the smart and diligent lawyer Jung Myung Seok in the ENA series, the 39-year-old actor will showcase a new side with a unique character. Kang Ki Young Shares Thoughts on Playing the Villain Role for the First Time Gracing Arena Homme Plus' August 2023 issue, Kang Ki Young showed off his boy next door vibe and oozing with unique charm. Besides the shoot, he also spoke about the challenging role of playing the new villain in "The Uncanny Counter 2." Taking on the character of top predator Pil Gwang, his supernatural abilities include absorbing the powers of the Counters. During the interview, he teases fans about what to expect from his character. "Usually, villains start with a little impact and then die fiercely, but in this drama, the villains go back and forth during episode 12," he said, delivering a bit of "The Uncanny Counter 2" spoilers. IN CASE YOU MISSED: THIS 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' Cast Entered Acting Academy Because of Bae Suzy Meanwhile, he expressed how he had fun playing the antagonist, especially with the tvN series since most of his scenes include special effects and stunts. On the other hand, Kang Ki Young also admitted that it's not always a walk in the park for him. Playing the viscous Pil Gwang, he described it as "painful, scary, and difficult," but at the same time, he also had moments where he could say to himself, "I have made a little of this my own," and saw how his "spectrum broadened" thanks to the character. 'The Uncanny Counter 2' Cast and Release Date Kang Ki Young is one of the new cast members joining the much-awaited "The Uncanny Counter 2." Along with him as the villains are "The Glory" actress Kim Hieora and Kim Hyun Wook from "Kill Heel." In addition, viewers will get to see "All of Us Are Dead" star Yoo In Soo play the protagonist, this time as Na Jeok Bong. Of course, "The Uncanny Counter 2" cast will not be complete without the original members Kim Sejeong, Yoo Joon Sang, Yeom Hye Ran, Ahn Suk Hwan, and Jo Byeong Gyu, as demon hunters. Slated to premiere on July 29, the upcoming sequel will have 12 episodes and will broadcast every Saturday and Sunday. Besides tvN, viewers could also watch "The Uncanny Counter 2" through Netflix. For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Lee Dong Wook honestly talked about marriage. During his guest appearance on the Youtube channel "TEO," the South Korean hearthrob showed off his witty side as he happily answered random questions about life and love. Lee Dong Wook Showcases Ideal Husband Charm One of the highlights of his interview was when Lee Dong Wook talked about marriage. The 41-year-old is among the hottest bachelors in Hallyu. Throughout his career, he has been linked to famous stars, including Park Shin Hye, Kwon Nara, Han Hyo Joo, and Jin Se Yeon. He also dated the nation's first love, Bae Suzy, in 2018, but announced their split the same year. Despite this, the actor expressed his desire to get married one day. "When I see my friends getting married, I envy them." Interestingly, he also shared his thoughts about how he wanted his marriage to be in the future. Known as the housework master, one of the chores he loves doing is cleaning. In a 2017 interview, he proudly said that he's good at "cleaning, laundry, dishes, and cooking." However, during his appearance with "TEO," he mentioned that one of his requirements in marriage is taking care of the housework. "Even if I get married, I will take care of everything. I have my own way of doing housework, and I think I will feel uncomfortable when others do it differently." Additionally, Lee Dong Wook also sees housework as not just for wives but also for husbands. "This is my personal opinion. I think household chores are supposed to be done by men." He explained that some of the chores "require strength, so it's better for men who are stronger to handle them." Besides housework, Lee Dong Wook also mentioned that he likes taking care of others, especially his co-stars and production crew, during filming. "Taking responsibility like this and taking care of my people is when I truly feel manly." Watch Lee Dong Wook's full interview in "TEO" here! What's Next for Lee Dong Wook? After the successful season of "Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938," with Kim Bum and Kim So Yeon, Lee Dog Wook is set to reprise his role as Lee Yeon, a.k.a. the Gumiho, in the upcoming sequel. Although tvN and drama officials are yet to confirm the cast lineup and target date of release, the beloved duo is reported to return for "Tale of the Nine-Tailed Season 3." In addition, he will also headline an upcoming K-drama with "Kingdom" actress Kim Hye Joon. "The Killer's Shopping Mall" is a novel-based action drama that depicts the story of a girl who was raised by her uncle after losing both her parents. With this, she basically grew up in the shopping mall, where her uncle runs the business. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Korean Top Stars Who Will Make Comeback This 2023: Gong Hyo Jin, Lee Min Ho, More For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Newly elected Mayor Olivia Chow delivers her first media availability after being sworn-in at Toronto City Hall, on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. The City of Toronto says it has designated more than 200 shelter spaces for asylum seekers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin By Juliet Kigongo | Monitor The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has issued criminal summons against the embattled Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) executive director, Mr David Livingstone Ebiru over bribery allegations. Mr Ebiru was Wednesday afternoon set to appear in the dock at the Kololo-based court to answer charges relating to his alleged confession that he paid Shs100 million bribe to the National Standards Council (NSC) members in order to retain his job. However, this did not happen despite the fact that he was driven to the court premises by officials from the Inspectorate of Government. In the courtroom, prosecution led by Mr Rogers Kinobe sought criminal summons after court heard that he could not appear in the dock because hes still being interrogated. Read more The Auditor General report for the financial year 2021/2022 has revealed that the fire that gutted a section of the Ministry of Agriculture stores along Buganda road, Wandegeya destroyed property worth Shs2.4 billion in April last year. In his report for financial year 2021/2022 submitted to Parliament, Auditor General John Muwanga says the items that were lost in the said fire included books that were housed within the stores of the ministry. Out of the 62 items kept in the stores and burnt; book values could only be ascertained for 34 items with a total estimate of Shs2.366 billion. The value for the rest of the items could not be established due to incomplete and insufficient information, Mr Muwangas report reads in part. In the aftermath of the fire outbreak, police reported that two suspects were arrested in connection to the fire. The report being looked into by the Parliaments Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Central reveals that police found that the fire had been triggered by the careless rubbish burning done by the cleaners at the ministry at the time. Whereas the ministrys permanent secretary Mr. David Kasura agrees with the findings of the report, he told the legislators on the PAC that his office has since undertaken efforts to lessen possibilities and or avoid a repeat of the same. By Kevin Githuku and Jane Nafula Police in Kampala are investigating Kawempe Hospital after a couple questioned the circumstances of the death of their newborn baby whose face a doctor at the facility said was partially eaten by a rat. The parents, Yvonne Ainembabazi, 20, and 30-year-old Suleiman Wasswa claim their first baby was likely a victim of ritual sacrifice as a deep wound on the left side of the face was inconsistent with rate bites. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Mr Patrick Onyango, says they have opened up a death inquiry file to investigate the circumstances under which the premature baby died. He says they are also investigating circumstances under which a rat gained access to where the bodies are kept. The investigations have just begun to establish circumstances; Others are saying the rat gained access to where the bodies are kept, so we need to confirm all that, Onyango said. The Ministry of Health spokesperson, Mr Emmanuel Ayinebyoona says he is aware of the claims and the ongoing police inquiry will help establish the facts. Meanwhile, Prof Joel Okullu, the chairperson Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council tells KFM that they have not been petitioned to intervene, but would readily do so if formally asked. When it comes to our attention, we shall investigate, he said. He said the complainant and the defendant would be summoned to present their cases upon which the Council would adjudicate on the matter. If found guilty, Prof Okullu said sanctions in the rule book against health workers include a reprimand, suspension, and erasing of their particulars from the registry. Pope Francis has invited the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among for a meeting scheduled to be held on August 25, 2023. According to the communique wired to the Office of the Speaker, through the Apostolic Nunciature, Among and her team will be received by His Eminence Pietro Cardinal Parolin, who serves as the Secretary to Pope Francis. The Apostolic Nunciature in the Federal Republic of Germany presents complements to the Embassy of the Republic of Uganda to the Holy see, and with reference to the latters note vabale No 106/2023 dated 3rd July 2023, has the honour to transmit the message of the office of the Holy See that His Holiness Pope Francis has granted a private audience to the Rt Hon Among Anita Annet, Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, on Friday Morning on 25th August 2023, the invitation reads in part. The Apostolic Nunciature is pleased to communicate further that as per the protocol practice, the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, after the papal audience, will be received by His Eminence Pietro Cardinal Parolin, Secretary State of His Holiness. the invitation reads further. Once honored, this would mean that Speaker Among in her current capacity will be meeting the Pope for the second time, the first having been in August last year. The invitation comes at a time when Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja is in Rome where she also met Pope Francis. In the meeting with Nabbanja, the Pope is reported to have lauded Uganda for her open embrace and support to the refugees that continue to flood the country from neighboring countries. Local Fianna Fail TD, John McGuinness, has welcomed an announcement from Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, detailing the access criteria and the fertility services that will be publicly funded from September. Eligible patients will be entitled to one full cycle of IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) or ICSI (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection) treatment, initially provided in HSE-approved private clinics of their choice ahead of the opening next year of the first public National Advanced AHR (Assisted Human Reproduction) Centre. To be eligible for publicly funded treatment, couples must be resident in Ireland and referred to a Regional Fertility Hub through their GP. They must be in a relationship for at least one year and have no children from this relationship. Patients with known clinical causes of infertility and patients where there is no known clinical cause will be eligible for treatment. Women up to the age of 40 and men up to the age of 59 will be considered eligible. Deputy McGuinness said, "A publicly funded model of care for fertility treatment is soon to become a reality for the thousands of couples experiencing infertility. "In Ireland, as many as one in six couples will experience fertility issues affecting both men and women equally and I warmly welcome news today, that from September, Assisted Human Reproduction treatment will be publicly funded for the first time in the State. This has been promised by successive health Ministers, but I am proud to say it is now finally being delivered. "People who are desperate to have a child are the most vulnerable and hugely open to exploitation. They are facing mental, physical and relationship challenges and on top of it all, huge financial barriers. It has been a key priority of mine and my colleagues to address this issue and I'm delighted that this is now happening. "It represents a transformative step toward reproductive equality where the dream of parenthood becomes a reality for every aspiring parent, irrespective of their financial status. "I understand that work is continuing on the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill which will allow Government to improve accessibility to AHR treatments, while at the same time embedding safe and appropriate clinical practice and ensuring the cost-effective use of public resources. I look forward this Bill progressing and ultimately seeing AHR services being expanded to wider categories so that we can help more people to fulfil their wish of starting a family, concluded Deputy John McGuinness What a difference a week makes... As I sit at my keyboard, I recall this time last week. Feelings of hope, optimism and, dare I say confidence, took hold - Im sure much of the county truly believed we could bring home Liam! Much, if not all, of the country thought Limerick would prevail, and why wouldnt they? I have not seen a greater hurling force in my short lifetime, and the word force is apt. Weve seen many great teams in recent years, not least our own, but the power, fitness and ability to turn a match around so effortlessly is both spectacular and scary. How do they do it!? I dare say we havent seen an amateur team at such professional levels in the history of the GAA. The tide turned shortly after half-time. A confident Kilkenny, who had hurled well for much of the opening 35 minutes, were about to be hit by an almighty green wave! The Limerick team and their supporters were in sync, the roar was deafening and the writing was on the wall. Yes, the Cats led by three points at half-time, and of course we had to be relatively happy with their work rate and performance - but! We had seen it all year, it was all the chat in the stands: Limerick are not playing well here, but they will. And so it proved. In spite of brilliant first half performances from Kilkenny players such as Tom Phelan and Huw Lawlor, the Cats were flattened by the hurricane of all hurricanes. Limerick grew and despite a rasping goal from Paddy Deegan the match was slipping. By the 51st minute when Darragh ODonovan put Limerick in front there was no way back. Yes, we hoped, but how could any hurler stop this machine? Players who we classed as missing persons in the first half came alive for the Treatymen after the restart. Peter Casey was immense at corner-forward, scoring some beautiful points. Aaron Gillane was a constant threat, and what can you say about Cian Lynch? We may be Kilkenny supporters, but the Patrickswell man has suffered injury heartbreak in recent years, the distressing scenes of Lynch on crutches were a distant memory to his display in midfield on Sunday. In many respects, its unfair to pick out individuals from Treaty County. From their hard-working backs to their half-back line which, in truth, is a forward launching pad, theyre a unit. How many counties could cope with a non-performing Gearoid Hegarty or come back from a first half performance which I can only describe as a buffering display with more stutters than the RTE Player. But yet, they could do it. Like a lion eyeing its prey, the opening half is used to observe the opposition; the second is to pounce! Forgive me if this sounds like a Limerick love-in, but their display was exceptional. Ive never witnessed such effortless hurling and a crowd whose noise was quite literally deafening. But, due credit must be paid to Kilkenny. They have proven over the past two years they are the best county equipped to take out this Limerick team. When will that be? Who knows For now, we should just pay due praise to an incredible planning. The first half, for me and Im sure many of you, feels like a distant memory, but we played a good game. We should remember, Limerick were under sizeable pressure in that period, Kilkenny swarmed them at every opportunity, with both back-lines putting admirable performances. Even at their lowest points against Galway, John Kielys men found scores; on Sunday, Diarmaid Byrnes and Aaron Gillanes frees were safety nets for the countys four in a row hopes. Only Clare can say they had their Munster rivals on the ropes in such a manner. But alas, it wasnt to be. As we face a new week, the players will get much deserved downtime but as the dust settles, we must ask, where to from here? Will some of the older statesmen stay on the team and can we bounce back for a third time in 2024? Firstly, players (if any) who decide to hang up their boots deserve nothing but praise - they owe us nothing. But crucially, can we replace them? One under-20 title since 2009 and no minor title since 2014 is very concerning. Our rivals of the early 2000s, Cork, allowed their underage system to slip; fast-forward 18 years and Liam MacCarthy has failed to make a return to Leeside. That should be a warning. As an outsider, Im only too aware of the fantastic personnel over such teams. However, in any walk of life, if the system is broken it wont deliver results. Those far more knowledgeable than me need to access our under-age system and bring back under-age All-Ireland titles on a regular basis. After all, it would be naive to separate those teams from a senior teams fortunes. But lets be positive, we have the best possible man in the shape of Derek Lyng guiding us into 2024. There is undoubted talent in that team and a hunger to return to Croke Park. Were certainly contenders for 2024. If Limerick slip, like they almost did in Munster this year, whos to say we can't pounce? 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. SAO PAULO, July 25 (Reuters) - Brazilian lender Santander Brasil (SANB3.SA) on Wednesday reported higher second-quarter net profit on a sequential basis but saw its results weigh on group performance as they remained well below last year's levels. The bank, an unit of Spain's Banco Santander (SAN.MC), said in a securities filing its net income reached 2.26 billion reais ($475.76 million) in the period, up 5.5% from a soft previous quarter but sliding nearly 45% from a year ago. That affected the Spanish parent firm, which reported robust quarterly results on a strong performance in Spain and other European countries but saw those positive figures partially offset by weakness in Brazil, one of its main markets. Santander Brasil's bottom line was also slightly below market expectations, as analysts polled by Refinitiv had forecast it to reach 2.47 billion reais. There were, however, some silver linings, as provisions for loan losses fell 11.6% quarter-on-quarter to 5.98 billion reais, which management said reflected its strategy of trying to be more selective in lending amid deteriorating credit conditions. "We stared to experience the positive effects of the increased lending selectivity implemented since the end of 2021," chief executive Mario Leao said in a statement. "We noted improvements in the allowance for loan losses and in the short-term non-performing loan ratio this quarter," he added, "evidencing the quality of the new vintages, which allows for a bias towards improving cost of credit over 2023 and enhances our ability to resume growth." Santander Brasil's loan portfolio remained roughly stable in the second quarter from the previous three months at 499.3 billion reais. ($1 = 4.7503 reais) July 26 (Reuters) - Most stock markets in the Gulf rose on Wednesday as strong corporate earnings and pledges by Chinese authorities to shore up the economy lifted investor sentiment. In China, the world's second-largest economy and second-biggest oil consumer, leaders pledged to step up policy support for the economy amid a tortuous post-COVID recovery, focusing on boosting domestic demand. The Qatar benchmark index (.QSI) rose 0.8%, and all sectors traded in green with Commercial Bank (COMB.QA) climbing 1.5% and Doha Bank (DOBK.QA) gaining 1.8%. Qatar National Bank (QNBK.QA), the Gulf's largest lender, added 0.8% and index heavyweight Qatar International Islamic Bank gained 0.3% after it posted a rise in half-yearly net profit. Dubai's benchmark stock index (.DFMGI) rose 0.2%, lifted by gains in finance and industry sectors, with Gulf Navigation (GNAV.DU) surging 9.5% and Taaleem Holding (TAALEEM.DU) adding 3%. The Emirate's largest lender Emirates NBD (ENBD.DU) climbed 1.2%. In Abu Dhabi, the benchmark stock index (.FTFADGI) added 0.1%, helped by a 1.5% increase in Fertiglobe (FERTIGLOBE.AD) and 0.4% rise in the UAE's largest bank First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB.AD). National Marine Dredging (NMDC.AD) advanced 5.4% in early trade after the firm recorded a more than 70% growth in its second-quarter net profit, while revenue jumped nearly 90% year-on-year. Saudi Arabia's benchmark stock index (.TASI) inched up 0.1% with Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development (4300.SE) surging 2% and Saudi Arabian Mining (1211.SE) gaining 1.6%. Al Rajhi Bank (1120.SE), the world's largest Islamic bank by assets, added 0.3% and Saudi National Bank (1180.SE) rose 0.6% in early trade as the board proposed H1 cash dividend of SAR 0.85 per share. The kingdom's biggest lender by assets reported on Tuesday a 9.3% jump in net profit for the second quarter. July 26 (Reuters) - PacWest Bancorp's (PACW.O) shares rose nearly 38% in premarket trading on Wednesday, a day after smaller rival Banc of California (BANC.N) agreed to buy the lender for $1.1 billion in an all-stock deal. Banc of California's shares jumped nearly 13% after the lender said it would pay 0.6569 share to PacWest stockholders for each share they own. PacWest stock was trading at $10.47, higher than the offer price of $9.60 per share, per calculations based on Banc of California's closing price on Tuesday. "We believe the sale of PacWest makes sense for shareholders given the numerous struggles the bank has faced since the March banking panic," Raymond James analyst David Long said. The acquisition also has "strategic merits" for Banc of California, Long added. "The deal marks a structural transformation for BANC and accelerates its evolution, with a much improved profitability profile exiting 2024." Analysts have said PacWest's decision last month to sell a $3.54 billion lender finance portfolio to asset manager Ares Management (ARES.N) would allay all concerns about the health of its balance sheet. PacWest has signed a few asset sale agreements to pacify jittery investors and reassure depositors, after it came under pressure following the collapse of three regional lenders earlier this year that prompted the worst industry turmoil since the 2008 financial crisis. "PacWest just could not recover from its wounds quickly enough," said Omar Fahmy, analyst at global research firm Third Bridge. "Despite the sale announcement, our experts largely believe that the 'banking panic' we saw around U.S. regional banks earlier this year has subsided now we have seen reasonably positive earnings from PNC and Western Alliance," Fahmy added. On Tuesday, Los Angeles, California-based PacWest reported its total deposits fell $290.5 million or 1% in the second quarter. Private equity firms Warburg Pincus and Centerbridge Partners have agreed to invest $400 million in Banc of California's buyout deal. THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 8:00 am 4-H Horse Show FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 8:00 am 4-H Horse Show SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2023 8:00 am 4-H Horse Show TUESDAY, August 8, 2023 8:00 am PRCA Slack 11:00 am - 6:00 pm Open Class Exhibit Entry 6:00 pm Rodeo Calcutta 7:00 pm C&B Operations PRCA Rodeo & Wild Horse Race 7:00 pm Judging Floriculture, Culinary Arts, Needlework, Horticulture, Jr. Dept. & FFA WEDNESDAY, August 9, 2023 8:00 am PRCA Slack 8:00 am-11:00 am Judging Arts & Crafts, JR Arts & Crafts, Needlework, & Photography 8:00am-11:30am Commercial Booth Setup Noon- 8:00 pm Open Class Exhibits & Commercial Booths Open 9:00 am Market Lamb & Swine Weigh-Ins 10:30 am Beef Weigh Ins TBD Petting Zoo 11:00 am-6:00 pm Independence Bank/Free Stage 11:30 am Rabbit/Poultry Weigh-Ins Noon-7:00 pm Car Show @ VEC Noon-TBD Dreamland Carnival 12:30 pm Meeting for all Livestock Exhibitors 2:00 pm Peoples Choice Voting Begins 2:00 pm Sheep Showmanship & Judging, followed by Goa Showmanship & Judging 4:30 pm Dog & Cat Vet Inspection; Dog & Cat Showmanship & Judging immediately following 6:00 pm Rodeo Calcutta 7:00 pm C&B Operations PRCA Rodeo & Wild Horse Race 9:00 pm Beef Released to Outside Tie-outs THURSDAY, August 10, 2023 8:00 am Pens and Stalls cleaned 8:00 am Swine Showmanship and Judging 11:00 am-8:00 pm Commercial Booths Open 11:00 am-8:00 pm Open Class exhibits open 11:00 am-9:00 pm Independence Bank/Free Stage Noon-7:00pm Car Show @ VEC Noon-TBD Dreamland Carnival TBD Petting Zoo 1:00 pm-3:00 pm Co-Op Days 6:00 pm Beef Showmanship and Judging 7:00 pm Beer Gardens Entertainment TBD 9:00 pm Beef Released to Outside Tie-outs FRIDAY, August 11, 2023 8:00 am Pens and Stalls cleaned 9:00 am Rabbit & Poultry Showmanship and Judging 11:00 am 8:00 pm Open Class Exhibits Open 11:00am-8:00pm Commercial Booths Open Noon-8:00pm Car Show @ VEC 11:00 am-9:00 pm Independence Bank/Free Stage TBD..........Petting Zoo Noon-TBD Dreamland Carnival 1:00 pm Set-up for Livestock 1:30 pm 4-H Round Robin Participant Clinic 2:00 pm Market Beef Paint Numbering 3:30 pm Buyer Pre-Sale Viewing of Animals 4:00 pm Valley County 4-H/FFA Livestock Sale 6:00 pm Farm Olympics 7:00 pm Beer Gardens Entertainment TBD 9:00 pm Beef Released to Outside Tie-outs SATURDAY, August 12, 2023 8:00 am Pens & Stalls Cleaned 9:00 am 4-H Round Robin Showmanship Followed by Farm Bureau Sponsored 9 & under Showmanship 11:00 am-6:00 pm Independence Bank/Free Stage 10:00am-2:00 pm Open Class Exhibits Open 10:00am -2:00 pm Commercial Booths Open 9:00am-noon Car Show @ VEC Noon-TBD Dreamland Carnival 1:30 pm 4-H Awards Ceremony 4:00 pm 4-H Exhibits to be Removed 6:00 pm Demolition Derby Calcutta 7:00 pm NE MT FAIR Demolition Derby, Milk River Motor Sports BOONE COUNTY Show Me Central Habitat for Humanity celebrated its allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds Wednesday afternoon. Habitat for Humanity received $708,500 from the Boone County Commission, which awarded approximately $12 million to 26 organizations during its first round of funding. The funds will go toward the organization's Boone Prairie Village subdivision project off of Brown Station Road in northeastern Columbia. Habitat for Humanity says access to safe and affordable housing was a key need identified during the pandemic, and that the subdivision will help alleviate this issue. Ashley Switzer, director of community outreach, said this project can be the only option for these families. "To be able to actually own their home. Affordability is really difficult with home ownership right now," Switzer said. There are five phases of construction, each with a goal of 30 completed homes, totaling 143 new homes. "Thirty new families will be able to affordably own their own homes, raise their children in a safe environment, and affect the generational wealth change that comes with homeownership on this land," Habitat for Humanity said in a press release. The ARPA funding will help complete the second phase, the infrastructure of the subdivision, including sewers, excavation work, engineering, roads and utilities. Phase two is estimated to cost $1.5 million and could be completed within the next 18 months. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. The organization said the funding also allows for it to focus on the project's budget and resources on the actual construction of the homes. Phase one was completed in 2021, with the first home going to a Columbia mother and her son. It's not just building the homes that helps, but with the lowered cost of the home and 0% interest mortgages. Habitat for Humanity is helping to make homeownership possible for the families of Boone County. "By giving a 0% mortgage just for the amount it costs for us to build their home, by having volunteers and donors come and support this project is really amazing and affordable for the families," Switzer said. Families must meet a certain criteria to apply for a home, including the following: Demonstrate need Willingness to partner (including building other potential homes and to receive education about being a home owner) Meet minimum income, credit and criminal requirements "These families, most of them would not traditionally be able to get a home or a mortgage through a bank or other mortgage lender, so it's amazing that this program exists for those families," Switzer said. For additional information and to apply for housing, visit Habitat for Humanity's website. A makeshift camp, where asylum seekers wait as they attempt to cross into the US, lines the Rio Grande river border between Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, in Matamoros, Mexico, on June 20. COLE COUNTY A lawsuit was filed Tuesday to block the implementation of Senate bill 49, which bans gender-affirming care for minors and some adults. The lawsuit asks the court to issue a preliminary injunction that would immediately block the law from going into effect on Aug. 28. The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, Lambda Legal and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP filed the suit in Cole County Circuit Court, according to a news release from the ACLU. The suit was filed on behalf of three families of transgender young people; the Southampton Community Healthcare in St. Louis and two of its medical providers; Pflag, Inc., a national LGBTQIA+ family-based organization; and GLMA, an international organization of LGBTQIA+ and allied health care professionals and students. "We are frightened and outraged at Missouri's assault on our rights as parents to seek necessary health care for our children," the families said in a news release. "SB 49 is an attempt to interfere in our family relationships and it places the health and well-being of our children at great risk. It must be stopped." Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Gov. Mike Parson, Attorney General Andrew Bailey, the Missouri Division of Professional Registration for the Healing Arts and six of its board members are listed as defendants. Parson signed the bill into law in June. It prohibits health care providers from providing gender-affirming care, including surgeries, puberty blockers or hormones, to anyone under the age of 18. The bill also prohibits transgender adults from access to gender-affirming health care under Medicaid, and gender-affirming surgery will no longer be available to prisoners and inmates. Minors who have already started treatment are allowed to continue under the bill. Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed an emergency rule in April that would have imposed restrictions on both adults and children seeking gender-affirming health care. The ACLU sued and successfully gained a temporary restraining order to block the rule's implementation. Bailey then rescinded the rule, while the Missouri General Assembly successfully passed SB 49. Johnny Johnson was scheduled to die by lethal injection on Aug. 1 for the murder of 6-year-old Casey Williamson. Janae Edmondson, the volleyball player from Tennessee who lost her legs after a car hit her Downtown, will receive her first of prosthetics this week. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report) Research analysts at William Blair increased their Q3 2023 earnings per share estimates for shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report issued on Friday, July 21st. William Blair analyst M. Kaczor now anticipates that the healthcare product maker will post earnings per share of $1.10 for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $1.09. The consensus estimate for Abbott Laboratories current full-year earnings is $4.40 per share. William Blair also issued estimates for Abbott Laboratories Q4 2023 earnings at $1.19 EPS, Q1 2024 earnings at $1.01 EPS, Q2 2024 earnings at $1.17 EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at $1.16 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $4.55 EPS. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 20th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.05 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $9.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.71 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 20.60% and a net margin of 12.83%. Abbott Laboratoriess revenue was down 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.43 earnings per share. Abbott Laboratories Trading Up 1.0 % A number of other analysts also recently commented on ABT. Barclays boosted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $127.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday. UBS Group upped their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $117.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $118.00 to $122.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Wolfe Research upgraded Abbott Laboratories from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Friday, July 21st. Finally, Raymond James raised their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $116.00 to $123.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Abbott Laboratories presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $120.82. Shares of NYSE ABT traded up $1.15 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $114.08. The stock had a trading volume of 3,648,101 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,085,163. The company has a market capitalization of $198.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.54, a PEG ratio of 5.12 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a quick ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. Abbott Laboratories has a 1-year low of $93.25 and a 1-year high of $115.83. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $106.22 and a 200 day moving average price of $106.28. Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Investors of record on Friday, July 14th will be given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.79%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 13th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 69.62%. Insider Buying and Selling at Abbott Laboratories In related news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 8,226 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.56, for a total value of $909,466.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 70,427 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,786,409.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Abbott Laboratories news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 8,226 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.56, for a total value of $909,466.56. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 70,427 shares in the company, valued at $7,786,409.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.02, for a total value of $5,551,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 6,825,316 shares in the company, valued at approximately $757,746,582.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of Abbott Laboratories Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 15.0% during the 4th quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. now owns 673 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $74,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. Alesco Advisors LLC raised its position in Abbott Laboratories by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. Alesco Advisors LLC now owns 2,435 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $267,000 after purchasing an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. MCF Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 3,743 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $411,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares during the period. Investment Advisory Services Inc. TX ADV lifted its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. Investment Advisory Services Inc. TX ADV now owns 22,785 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,307,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Patriot Investment Management Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Patriot Investment Management Group Inc. now owns 3,236 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $356,000 after acquiring an additional 96 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.08% of the companys stock. About Abbott Laboratories (Get Free Report) Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Meniere's disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Axiom European Financial Debt Limited (LON:AXI Get Free Report) declared a dividend on Tuesday, July 25th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 3rd will be paid a dividend of GBX 1.50 ($0.02) per share on Wednesday, August 23rd. This represents a dividend yield of 1.71%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 3rd. The official announcement can be accessed at this link. Axiom European Financial Debt Price Performance Shares of LON:AXI remained flat at GBX 87.50 ($1.12) during midday trading on Tuesday. The stock had a trading volume of 3,179 shares, compared to its average volume of 19,188. The firm has a market capitalization of 80.37 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of -1,250.00. The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 84.93 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 85.87. Axiom European Financial Debt has a 12 month low of GBX 65 ($0.83) and a 12 month high of GBX 93.29 ($1.20). Read More Receive News & Ratings for Axiom European Financial Debt Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Axiom European Financial Debt and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crane (NYSE:CR Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The conglomerate reported $1.10 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.19, Briefing.com reports. The company had revenue of $509.60 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $524.65 million. Crane had a net margin of 13.10% and a return on equity of 24.45%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.90 EPS. Crane updated its FY23 guidance to $3.80-$4.10 EPS. Crane Stock Up 1.2 % NYSE:CR traded up $1.11 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $92.44. The companys stock had a trading volume of 181,021 shares, compared to its average volume of 412,330. Crane has a 52-week low of $67.28 and a 52-week high of $94.39. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.49. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $82.35 and a 200-day moving average of $95.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Get Crane alerts: Crane Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 8th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 31st were issued a $0.18 dividend. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.78%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 30th. Cranes payout ratio is 9.54%. Insider Activity at Crane Hedge Funds Weigh In On Crane In related news, CEO Max H. Mitchell sold 37,495 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.48, for a total transaction of $2,867,617.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 322,628 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $24,674,589.44. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link . 2.40% of the stock is owned by insiders. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of CR. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Crane during the 4th quarter worth $45,726,000. Millennium Management LLC raised its holdings in Crane by 2,775.6% in the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 220,791 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $19,332,000 after purchasing an additional 213,113 shares in the last quarter. Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Crane in the first quarter worth $20,846,000. Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Crane during the first quarter valued at $19,781,000. Finally, Walleye Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Crane by 281.4% in the first quarter. Walleye Capital LLC now owns 190,698 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $20,649,000 after buying an additional 140,703 shares during the period. 26.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages recently issued reports on CR. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Crane from $87.00 to $101.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Crane from $120.00 to $82.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Crane in a research note on Tuesday, June 6th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, DA Davidson upped their price target on shares of Crane from $90.00 to $92.00 in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $101.00. Crane Company Profile (Get Free Report) Crane Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells engineered industrial products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. The company has four business segments: Aerospace & Electronics, Process Flow Technologies, Payment & Merchandising Technologies, and Engineered Materials. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Crane Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Crane and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rollins, Inc. (NYSE:ROL Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, July 25th, RTT News reports. Investors of record on Thursday, August 10th will be paid a dividend of 0.13 per share by the business services provider on Friday, September 8th. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.16%. Rollins has increased its dividend payment by an average of 15.4% annually over the last three years and has raised its dividend every year for the last 2 years. Rollins has a payout ratio of 53.1% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Rollins to earn $0.94 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.52 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 55.3%. Get Rollins alerts: Rollins Stock Up 0.2 % NYSE ROL traded up $0.08 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $44.83. 1,060,628 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,408,712. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.72. The company has a market cap of $22.09 billion, a PE ratio of 58.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.67. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $41.88 and its 200-day simple moving average is $39.02. Rollins has a 52 week low of $33.38 and a 52 week high of $45.04. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Rollins ( NYSE:ROL Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The business services provider reported $0.18 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.17 by $0.01. Rollins had a return on equity of 31.07% and a net margin of 13.77%. The business had revenue of $658.02 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $643.78 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.15 EPS. The companys revenue was up 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Rollins will post 0.86 earnings per share for the current year. Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Bank of America assumed coverage on Rollins in a report on Wednesday, July 5th. They issued a buy rating and a $49.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Rollins from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, July 13th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Rollins from $37.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. UBS Group started coverage on shares of Rollins in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st. They set a buy rating and a $48.00 target price for the company. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Rollins from $45.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, July 13th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $46.57. Insider Buying and Selling at Rollins In related news, Vice Chairman John F. Wilson sold 40,499 shares of Rollins stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.45, for a total transaction of $1,719,182.55. Following the sale, the insider now owns 743,992 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $31,582,460.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, major shareholder Timothy Curtis Rollins sold 17,982 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.42, for a total transaction of $744,814.44. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 138,964 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,755,888.88. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Vice Chairman John F. Wilson sold 40,499 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.45, for a total transaction of $1,719,182.55. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 743,992 shares of the companys stock, valued at $31,582,460.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 70,481 shares of company stock worth $2,953,357 in the last quarter. 4.70% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of ROL. Markel Corp grew its position in shares of Rollins by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Markel Corp now owns 1,248,275 shares of the business services providers stock worth $43,752,000 after buying an additional 5,000 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in Rollins by 4.7% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 228,203 shares of the business services providers stock worth $7,999,000 after buying an additional 10,319 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Rollins by 19.1% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 17,031 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $597,000 after purchasing an additional 2,730 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Rollins by 4.7% in the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 49,502 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,731,000 after purchasing an additional 2,243 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Natixis Advisors L.P. lifted its position in Rollins by 24.3% during the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 46,760 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,639,000 after purchasing an additional 9,129 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 38.98% of the companys stock. Rollins Company Profile (Get Free Report) Rollins, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides pest and wildlife control services to residential and commercial customers in the United States and internationally. The company offers pest control services to residential properties protecting from common pests, including rodents, insects, and wildlife. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Rollins Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rollins and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM Get Free Report) will be announcing its earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, July 27th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $1.10 per share for the quarter. STMicroelectronics has set its Q2 2023 guidance at EPS.Parties interested in registering for the companys conference call can do so using this link. STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The semiconductor producer reported $1.10 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.97 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $4.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.19 billion. STMicroelectronics had a net margin of 25.30% and a return on equity of 35.62%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.79 EPS. On average, analysts expect STMicroelectronics to post $4 EPS for the current fiscal year and $4 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get STMicroelectronics alerts: STMicroelectronics Trading Up 2.3 % Shares of STM opened at $51.62 on Wednesday. STMicroelectronics has a 1-year low of $29.09 and a 1-year high of $53.62. The company has a market capitalization of $46.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.21, a P/E/G ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 1.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 2.58 and a quick ratio of 1.87. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $47.72 and its 200 day simple moving average is $47.21. Institutional Investors Weigh In On STMicroelectronics Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of STM. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in STMicroelectronics during the 1st quarter valued at $595,000. Advisory Services Network LLC raised its position in STMicroelectronics by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 12,356 shares of the semiconductor producers stock valued at $661,000 after purchasing an additional 366 shares during the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of STMicroelectronics by 12.4% during the 1st quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 4,676 shares of the semiconductor producers stock worth $249,000 after acquiring an additional 517 shares during the period. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV boosted its holdings in STMicroelectronics by 73.0% in the first quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 99,259 shares of the semiconductor producers stock worth $5,309,000 after purchasing an additional 41,887 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp grew its stake in STMicroelectronics by 6.7% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 183,814 shares of the semiconductor producers stock valued at $9,829,000 after acquiring an additional 11,536 shares in the last quarter. 6.62% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. StockNews.com raised STMicroelectronics from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Susquehanna reduced their target price on shares of STMicroelectronics from 55.00 to 54.00 in a research note on Sunday, May 7th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of STMicroelectronics from an underperform rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $54.22. STMicroelectronics Company Profile (Get Free Report) STMicroelectronics N.V., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells semiconductor products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through Automotive and Discrete Group; Analog, MEMS and Sensors Group; and Microcontrollers and Digital ICs Group segments. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for STMicroelectronics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for STMicroelectronics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. USANA Health Sciences (NYSE:USNA Get Free Report) updated its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Tuesday. The company provided EPS guidance of $2.65-$3.30 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $3.02. The company issued revenue guidance of $900.00 million-$950.00 million, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $940.57 million. USANA Health Sciences Price Performance USNA traded down $0.40 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $63.39. The company had a trading volume of 52,297 shares, compared to its average volume of 68,750. The company has a market cap of $1.22 billion, a PE ratio of 18.81, a P/E/G ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 0.77. USANA Health Sciences has a 1-year low of $48.61 and a 1-year high of $73.25. The business has a 50-day moving average of $62.22 and a 200-day moving average of $61.88. Get USANA Health Sciences alerts: USANA Health Sciences (NYSE:USNA Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $0.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.18. The business had revenue of $248.36 million for the quarter. USANA Health Sciences had a net margin of 6.70% and a return on equity of 15.31%. Research analysts forecast that USANA Health Sciences will post 3.03 earnings per share for the current year. Analysts Set New Price Targets Insiders Place Their Bets A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of USANA Health Sciences from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. DA Davidson boosted their price objective on shares of USANA Health Sciences from $52.50 to $56.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, Sidoti began coverage on shares of USANA Health Sciences in a research report on Friday, June 23rd. They issued a buy rating for the company. In other news, insider David Mulham Mulham sold 1,138 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.40, for a total value of $76,701.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 13,598 shares in the company, valued at $916,505.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, insider David Mulham Mulham sold 1,138 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.40, for a total transaction of $76,701.20. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 13,598 shares of the companys stock, valued at $916,505.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Daniel A. Macuga sold 2,234 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.88, for a total transaction of $140,473.92. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 778 shares of the companys stock, valued at $48,920.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 21,518 shares of company stock worth $1,427,054. Insiders own 0.33% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. FMR LLC grew its position in shares of USANA Health Sciences by 71.6% in the first quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,057 shares of the companys stock valued at $66,000 after purchasing an additional 441 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new position in USANA Health Sciences in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $69,000. Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of USANA Health Sciences by 92.7% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 927 shares of the companys stock worth $74,000 after buying an additional 446 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its position in shares of USANA Health Sciences by 104.6% in the second quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,103 shares of the companys stock valued at $80,000 after acquiring an additional 564 shares during the period. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its stake in shares of USANA Health Sciences by 290.0% in the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,595 shares of the companys stock worth $89,000 after acquiring an additional 1,186 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 53.50% of the companys stock. About USANA Health Sciences (Get Free Report) USANA Health Sciences, Inc develops, manufactures, and sells science-based nutritional, personal care, and skincare products. The company offers USANA nutritional products that comprise essentials/CellSentials, such as vitamin and mineral supplements that provide a foundation of total body nutrition for various age groups; optimizers comprising targeted supplements that are designed to meet cardiovascular, skeletal/structural, and digestive health needs; and foods that include meal replacement shakes, snack bars, and other related products. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for USANA Health Sciences Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for USANA Health Sciences and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Caroline Clarke, chief executive officer and executive vice president of Philips APAC, speaks during the announcement of the Philips Future Health Index 2023 Report at Philips APAC headquarters in Singapore, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul By Baek Byung-yeul SINGAPORE Philips' annual Future Health Index showed health care workers in the Asia-Pacific region are actively embracing digital technology in a bid to overcome staff shortages and financial pressure in the sector, Philips APAC said, Wednesday. "For decades, health care has been primarily delivered in centralized facilities like hospitals but this latest report shows that APAC's health care leaders are making bold changes as they navigate unprecedented staff and financial challenges," Caroline Clarke, chief executive officer and executive vice president of Philips APAC, said during the announcement of the Philips Future Health Index 2023 Report at the Dutch health care company's Asia Pacific headquarters. For this year's index, Philips APAC surveyed nearly 3,000 health care professionals in 14 countries, including Australia, Indonesia and Singapore. The CEO said the survey showed a new model of health care is emerging in the Asia-Pacific region that utilizes technology and data to bring care closer to patients and delivers in a more efficient and environmentally sustainable way, as the healthcare sector has been struggling with unprecedented financial pressures and staff shortage. "We are seeing a shift towards a distributed model of care delivery in APAC that uses smart and connected digital health technologies and data to bring care closer to patients, at home or in the community, to where they are, anytime-anywhere," the CEO said. What Philips APAC has found through this survey is that healthcare workers in the Asia-Pacific region, especially young professionals, have seen enough through the pandemic to realize that digital technology can help them serve patients more efficiently, she said. Also, they are embracing this change very actively and the wave of this digital transformation has become irresistible. "Health care leaders and young health care professionals in APAC actually share a very clear vision of the future of care delivery," Clarke said. "Firstly, it will be connected. It will bring health care closer to the patient and closer, including virtual care. Young professionals prioritize convenient workplace factors such as connectivity and advanced technology. The second area is efficiency, so digital technology is key to address staff shortage to optimize operational efficiencies and clinical workflows and to enhance patient outcomes." Kevin Kim, head of Solutions at Philips APAC, demonstrates Philips Lifeline, a wearable fall detection necklace, at Philips APAC's headquarters in Singapore, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Mostly sunny. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 79F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. CROWN POINT A Chicago woman faces three neglect charges after police found her inebriated with her three children during a traffic stop, charges state. Court records indicate that 34-year-old Brittaney Wald was charged on Friday with three counts of neglect of a dependent, which is a level six felony. If convicted on all three counts, shed face up to seven and a half years in prison. Charging documents allege that on June 24, officers pulled over a white Ford Flex because the vehicle was swerving backwards on the shoulder of Interstate 80 near the 6-mile-marker in Gary. When police spoke to the vehicles occupants, they found Wald and a relative who was driving the car arguing with each other. Officers wrote in the probable cause affidavit that they asked both females to stop arguing in front of the kids, and they did, but they continued to begin arguing on and off. Wald had her three children in the car with her, who are respectively 12 years old, 3 years old and 6 months old. The affidavit said that none of the children were wearing shoes and the younger kids only had diapers on. Wald told police that they were driving from Chicago to Michigan because she had lost her housing, charges state. Walds eyes were very glossy and bloodshot, and when she spoke with (police), her speech was very slurred, and she was not making logical statements but would not finish a sentence and would often repeat the same things over and over, charging documents state. When officers spoke to the car's driver, she told them that Wald had taken drugs when she was in Chicago and she was not in the right state of mind, according to the probable-cause affidavit. Police also wrote in the affidavit Wald smelled of alcohol and when they asked her to comply with a drug test she told them no and said that she did not want them to see what would be on it at that time. The children were taken into custody by the Department of Child Protective Services on the scene, according to charging documents. Court records indicate that Wald bailed out of the Lake County Jail on July 26 and her next court appearance is set for Aug. 2 in Judge Gina Joness courtroom. Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail From chart-topping hits to sold-out concerts, they have dominated the music scene like never before! 1. BTS This global phenomenon needs no introduction! BTS has redefined the boundaries of K-pop, broke records and smashed barriers. Their compelling music, electrifying performances, and unwavering bond with fans have earned them a place in the hearts of millions across the globe. 2. ASTRO Rising stars with celestial talent! ASTRO's dreamy vocals and charming personalities have won over a legion of fans. With their signature upbeat tracks and smooth dance moves, they've become a force to be reckoned with in the industry. 3. iKon The kings of versatility! iKon's powerful rap verses and soulful vocals have created a unique sound that resonates with fans of all ages. 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IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS: BTS Jungkook Breaks Silence on Latto's 'Steamy' Lyrics in Seven- 'I want to show a more mature..' Let's also take a closer look at these sensational groups that are captivating hearts with their music and performances. LUCY VERIVERY TVXQ N.Flying Vanner Golden Child Xdinary Heroes SF9 DAY6 DKZ AB6IX Winner CIX From sold-out concerts to record-breaking achievements, these all-Korean male idol groups are proving that K-pop's popularity knows no bounds. With their unstoppable talent and dedicated fandoms, they are poised to leave an indelible mark on the global music landscape! YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: BLACKPINK Lisa Stuns on the Cover of W Korea - You Won't Be Able to Look Away! Follow and subscribe to KpopStarz for more news KpopStarz own this article. Madison Cullen wrote this. Versace's Chief Brand Director, Donatella Versace, seems to have found a new muse in Stray Kids' charismatic and talented member, Hyunjin. The fashion mogul has been openly expressing her admiration for the K-pop idol on her personal Instagram account, sparking laughter and excitement among netizens and STAYs alike. Donatella Versace's Admiration for Hyunjin: A Transforming Instagram Account Hyunjin's recent accolades as the official global ambassador for the prestigious Italian luxury fashion brand have captured the attention of not only fans but also fellow celebrities. The Stray Kids member impressed industry insiders and fans alike with his larger-than-life presence at Versace's recent fashion events, earning him the ambassadorship on July 20. Donatella Versace, the chief brand director of the iconic fashion house and sister of founder Gianni Versace, couldn't hide her fascination with Hyunjin. Netizens soon noticed a delightful trend on her Instagram account - it had transformed into a Hyunjin fan page. A quick scroll through Donatella's account reveals that three out of her last six posts are dedicated to the Stray Kids heartthrob. Moreover, she didn't shy away from leaving supportive comments on Stray Kids' official Instagram page, expressing her admiration for the group's latest global ambassador. In one post, she even dubbed Hyunjin as "Versace perfection." READ ALSO: Must-Know K-pop Comebacks & Debuts to Look Forward to in June 2023 STAYs, the passionate fandom of Stray Kids, were quick to notice Donatella's fangirling and found it endearing. They flooded her comments section with overwhelming support for "Versace's Prince," expressing their excitement about having such a prominent figure as a fan of their beloved idol. Some STAYs humorously welcomed Donatella to "STAYville," playfully wondering if they might have to compete with the celebrity designer for Hyunjin merch in the future. Donatella Admiration To The IDOL Interestingly, this isn't the first time Donatella Versace has gained attention for her interactions with Hyunjin. Her genuine admiration for the K-pop star has been evident in the past as well, further cementing her status as a dedicated fan. As the captivating Hyunjin continues to charm hearts and captivate fans worldwide, it's no surprise that even esteemed celebrities like Donatella Versace have fallen under his spell. With his unparalleled talent and undeniable charm, the Stray Kids member's allure knows no bounds, and the world watches as his stardom soars to new heights. READ MORE: Stray Kids Hyunjin's Stunning Transformation as Versace's Ambassador: From K-Pop to Couture Follow and subscribe to KpopStarz for more K-pop news and lists. Cassidy Jones wrote this. KpopStarz owns this article. Uproar unfolded after Mubeat revealed that a BTS Jungkook fan singlehandedly voted illegally for about 200,000 times! Here's the full story. BTS Jungkook Fan Caught Illegally Voting About 200k Times, EXO Wins Final Ranking On July 25, Mubeat released the listings of fans who were caught voting with "heart beats" (voting tickets) obtained from fraudulent activities in regards to its "Mubeat K-POP Fan Voting," one of the criteria to determine the winner for KBS' "Music Bank." Fandoms who were caught using illicitly-earned "heart beats" were publicized every week since July, and these numbers were deducted to their final points in the app or website. Mubeat then released the latest listings of those who conducted illegal votings for their respective idols nominated for the July 21 broadcast of "Music Bank," whose voting period ran from July 18 to 20. The voting platform announced: "After looking into the details of the votes, we confirmed that some users abused the error encountered in the application to obtain a large number of "heart beats" through fraudulent methods. After investigating the heart beat obtained illegally, we took measures to recover it. In addition, the number of votes made with heart beats obtained in this way was also deducted accordingly." Here are the fandoms caught illegally voting: EXO: 1001 ZEROBASEONE: 10334 EXO: 2494 NCT Dream: 1167 Shownu x Hyungwon: 1100 BTS Jungkook: 195,167 EXO: 1117 EXO: 1000 On the July 21st broadcast then, EXO's "Cream Soda" won its first music show win despite the deduction, followed by ZEROBASEONE's "In Bloom" in second place. Meanwhile, BTS Jungkook's "SEVEN" ranked third. Although most of the nominated artists had a fan who committed illegal voting, K-pop fandoms were particularly surprised with how a BTS Jungkook fan voted about 200,000 times for the idol using the illicitly-earned "heart beats"! What was shocking was that Jungkook ended up in third with about 301,000 votes, which means that more than half of it were illegal votes! BTS Jungkook Fan Criticized, ARMYs Defend Idol When the list spread around K-pop communities, they couldn't help but call out ARMYs (BTS fandom) who initially accused other fandoms of cheating and illegally voting. Some even mocked the fan base for claiming that BTS Jungkook's achievements were "organic" when a fraudulent act like this was done behind the scenes. Imagine if only the group EXO was found on that list with a 5k fraudulent vote, they would've written long-ass articles just to paint the fandom and the boys bad but since their favorite is there with a huge # of fraudulent votes, they're pretending that none of it happened sadie EXIST DAY (@Sadie_pcy) July 25, 2023 "exo karma, have a nice day army's" pic.twitter.com/KseN7EcPr0 Waiting Jongin From Military (@noonejsty) July 25, 2023 that exo karma is something FIERCE pic.twitter.com/L41ZBB95DU oppa can you sing...??? HUH? (@peachgomm) July 25, 2023 the way this is the fandom going around calling every other kpop group inorganic just for this to happen we had to laugh https://t.co/pZondrcKtF 13 days (@pinksviral) July 25, 2023 EXO-Ls (EXO fandom) particularly expressed their frustration at the initial humiliation they received from the fandom, only to turn out that a BTS fan voted illegally by 200,000 times, alone! On the flip side, ARMYs following the announcement immediately defended their idol and co-fandom by claiming that they were "framed" and that the one caught voting wasn't a "real" fan. exo was the final winner after the votes were corrected mind u we never voted in this poll bc jungkook has no chances of winning, we were 3rd place not even 2nd, yall are trying to make up lies to cover exols cheating is ridiculous lmao. https://t.co/ecb4tJKJ3Q pic.twitter.com/UsiMZxwmll (@seokjinba) July 25, 2023 Not a single fb of ours asked to iIIegaIIy vote for seven like exoIs. Who knows it was probably the kpop stans who did this just to frame jungkook Stoop as Iow as you can. At the end of the day, all your favs are 10 feet under him https://t.co/9M8CUvmxJn pic.twitter.com/N97JkASXoK Cat (@btsthemed) July 25, 2023 Double Standard of Kpop Stan!!! - When only ONE Jung Kook fan proven vote illegally, many Kpoppies blame & accuse WHOLE Army & BTS fraud - While FOUR fans of EXO also proven vote illegally, but many Kpoppies pretend didn't see it & let it go. Didn't even say EXO & fans fraud https://t.co/sXw7qwh2vB pic.twitter.com/UhArPIPWlL JK 99 (@JK_8_9_10) July 25, 2023 Jungkook Fans didn't even vote for this vote, come on @pannchoa make another article exposing the lie made by exols https://t.co/qDVDrEjUsu pic.twitter.com/tEHmi0LciS mel (@_luvjkook) July 25, 2023 The fandom explained that prior to the 2-day voting for Mubeat, ARMYs decided to not vote for the music show, "Music Bank," because it was predicted that it was impossible for Jungkook to win first place. This was to focus their time, money, and energy on another broadcast with higher chances of giving the idol a win. The fandom also announced it through Jungkook's voting accounts; thus, they were sure that the one caught wasn't an ARMY. What are your thoughts on this? YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: BTS Jungkook Accused of Idea Theft for 'Seven' + Music Reviewer Drops Bombshell TikTok Revelation For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dawson. Building a Climate-Resilient Future: New guidelines to help EU countries update their climate adaptation strategies The European Commission today adopted a new set of guidelines to assist Member States in updating and implementing comprehensive national adaptation strategies, plans and policies, in line with the European Climate Law and the EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change. From extreme heatwaves and devastating droughts, to deadly forest fires and rising sea levels eroding coastlines, the inevitable impacts of unchecked climate change are well known and starting to manifest themselves. The latest findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report underlined the urgency to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Today's guidelines aim to help Member States upgrade their preparations for this emerging reality of rapidly intensifying impacts. European Commission Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, said: The weather events many Europeans are experiencing these days will become more extreme and more frequent if climate change continues unchecked. They are a painful reminder of the need to step up both mitigation and adaptation action. Building on the EU's Adaptation Strategy, the guidelines we have issued today will help all EU countries, regions and local administrations to plan effective adaptation measures to protect our citizens, businesses, cities and nature from the impact of climate change. The Commission seeks to support Member States to adopt a whole-government approach to climate adaptation policy-making by way of multilevel coordination and mainstreaming, both horizontally at all levels of sub-national authorities. The guidelines also include a comprehensive list of key features of adaptation policy. To improve Member States' adaptation strategies and plans, the guidelines also put forward new topics and policy areas that need to be considered in policy-making to ensure better outcomes. More information is available online. (For more information: Adalbert Jahnz Tel.: +32 2 295 31 56; Ana Crespo Parrondo Tel.: +32 2 298 13 25) Wildfires: EU provides crucial assistance to the Mediterranean region As several countries grapple with rapidly spreading wildfires, the EU steps in to reinforce firefighting efforts and provide much-needed support to the affected communities with over 490 firefighters and nine firefighting planes deployed to Greece and Tunisia since 18 July. The two Mediterranean countries have activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the EU has swiftly replied. 10 countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Italy, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Serbia) are contributing to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism's response to the wildfires in Greece. In total, over 490 firefighters and seven planes have been deployed to different areas of the country. One EU Liaison Officer is supporting the coordination of operations in Greece and the EU's Copernicus satellite mapping is providing damage assessment on several areas in the Attica region and Rhodes. In addition, two Canadairs from the rescEU reserve hosted by Spain are being deployed to northwest Tunisia. Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, said: "The wildfires ravaging the Mediterranean region require an immediate and united response. The European Union, through its Civil Protection Mechanism, stands in full solidarity with and readiness to support the affected countries. Together, we are deploying available resources to fight the fires and protect our citizens and landscapes. I would also like to express my heartfelt sympathy and support to the families and colleagues of the two Greek firefighters who lost their lives yesterday when their firefighting plane crashed on the Greek island of Evia. This is the worst reminder of how first responders put their lives in danger to save others and our environment." The wildfires, fuelled by dry weather conditions and high temperatures are posing a severe threat to lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems across the Mediterranean. In response, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism shows once again that it is a key instrument of solidarity and cooperation among EU Member States and beyond, during emergencies. More details are available in the press release online. (For more information: Miriam Garcia Ferrer Tel.: +32 2 299 90 75; Jennifer Sanchez Da Silva Tel.: +32 2 295 83 16) Renforcement du dialogue social : deuxieme phase de consultation des partenaires sociaux sur la directive sur les comites d'entreprise europeens La Commission lance aujourd'hui la deuxieme phase de consultation des partenaires sociaux europeens sur une eventuelle revision de la directive sur les comites d'entreprise europeens. Celle-ci fait suite a la premiere phase lancee en avril, lors de laquelle la Commission a recu des reponses de 11 partenaires sociaux a l'echelle de l'UE. Apres avoir examine ces reponses, la Commission a conclu qu'il y avait matiere a prendre de nouvelles mesures au niveau de l'UE pour ameliorer la directive sur les comites d'entreprise europeens. La Commission consulte a present les partenaires sociaux sur le contenu possible de cette action. Les comites d'entreprise europeens favorisent une comprehension commune des defis transnationaux auxquels sont confrontees les grandes multinationales, ainsi que la participation des salaries au processus decisionnel. La directive actuelle prevoit une procedure pour creer des organes d'information et de consultation associant la direction et les representants des travailleurs dans les entreprises employant plus de 1 000 salaries et exercant leurs activites dans au moins deux Etats membres. La consultation des partenaires sociaux fait suite a une demande du Parlement europeen de reviser la directive au titre de l'article 225 du traite sur le fonctionnement de l'Union europeenne (TFUE). Conformement aux orientations politiques de la Presidente von der Leyen, la Commission s'est engagee a donner suite a ces resolutions au moyen d'une proposition legislative, dans le plein respect des principes de proportionnalite, de subsidiarite et d'amelioration de la reglementation. La deuxieme phase de consultation des partenaires sociaux sera ouverte pendant dix semaines. Un communique de presse est disponible en ligne. (Pour plus d'informations : Veerle Nuyts Tel. : + 32 2 299 63 02; Flora Matthaes Tel. : + 32 2 298 39 51) EU agri-food exports back at their April 2022 level amid curtailed trade After the record high exports in March 2023, the EU agri-food trade slowed down in April 2023. Overall, EU exports remained at 17.8 billion in April 2023 due to higher exports prices, while EU imports were at 13 billion resulting in an agri-food surplus of +4.8 billion. These are the main findings of the latest monthly agri-food trade report published today by the European Commission. In April 2023, a reduction in imports was observed across most products. Reduced imports were observed from Russia, Argentina, China, the Philippines and Moldova. On the other hand, imports of sugar and isoglucose have increased significantly. The most imported goods in value continued to be oilseed and protein crops, fruit and nuts, and coffee, tea, cocoa and spices. The top three destinations for EU agri-food exports between January and April 2023 remained the United Kingdom, the United States, and China. The top three countries of origin of imports between January and April 2023 were Brazil, the United Kingdom and Ukraine. More insights as well as detailed tables are available online. (For more information: Miriam Garcia Ferrer Tel.: +32 2 299 90 75; Roberta Verbanac Tel.: +32 2 298 24 98) State aid: Commission approves 5 billion Czech scheme to support energy producers in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine The European Commission has approved a 5 billion (CZK 125 billion) Czech scheme to support large energy producers in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis Framework. Under this measure, the aid takes the form of subsidised loans. The purpose of the scheme is to help large energy producers to meet the collateral requests in the energy trading markets, with the final aim of supporting the functioning of the markets and the supply of energy to the economy. The scheme has expired on 31 December 2022. The Commission concluded that the Czech scheme was necessary, appropriate and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State, in line with Article 107(3)(b) TFEU and the conditions set out in the Temporary Crisis Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the aid measure under EU State aid rules. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: This 5 billion scheme enable Czechia to provide liquidity support to energy producers, allowing them to meet the collateral requests in the energy trading markets and ensuring energy supply. A press release is available online. (For more information: Arianna Podesta Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Nina Ferreira Tel.: +32 2 299 81 63) Mergers: Commission opens formal investigation for possible breach of notification requirement, standstill obligation and clearance conditions and obligations in Vivendi/Lagardere transaction The European Commission has decided to open a formal investigation to determine whether, when acquiring Lagardere, Vivendi breached the notification requirement and standstill obligation set out in the EU Merger Regulation, as well as the conditions and obligations attached to the Commission's decision to clear the Vivendi/Lagardere transaction. On 9 June 2023, the Commission cleared Vivendi's acquisition of Lagardere subject to full compliance with the commitments offered by Vivendi. Today's investigation is separate from this procedure. The Commission has informed Vivendi of the opening of a formal investigation and will now carry out its investigation. An opening of a formal investigation does not prejudge its outcome. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: Our ex-ante merger control regime, requires that companies notify transactions with an EU dimension and wait for our approval before the transaction can go ahead. Also, companies must respect the commitments they offer us, on the basis of which we approve a transaction. We take any breach of these procedures very seriously. At this stage, the Commission has gathered sufficient elements to open a formal investigation to determine whether Vivendi has complied with our procedures. A press release is available online. (For more information: Arianna Podesta Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Nina Ferreira Tel.: +32 2 299 81 63) Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings Note that these items can be subject to changes. Upcoming events of the European Commission Eurostat press releases Zarazeno st 26.07.2023 12:07:00 Zdroj Evropska komise en Original ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/documents?reference=MEX/23/4008&language=en lang en SRV Media New Delhi [India], July 26: The Second Edition of the Russian Education Fair in India, a pioneering initiative to promote educational opportunities in Russia for Indian students, concluded with resounding success. The fair took place over 9 days from 15th July to 23rd July 2023, showcasing an extensive array of educational programs and fostering collaborations between esteemed Russian universities and aspiring Indian students. Also Read | India Likely Playing XI for 1st ODI vs West Indies: Check Predicted Indian 11 for Cricket Match in Bridgetown. The event was organized by Rus Education in association with the Russian House in New Delhi with the aim of further strengthening the bilateral academic ties between the two nations. Building upon the success of the inaugural fair, the second edition witnessed an even larger participation from renowned Russian institutions and enthusiastic Indian students seeking quality education abroad. The 2nd edition of the Russian Education Fair 2023 concluded on a high note on July 23rd in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. This marked the grand finale of the 2nd Russian Education Fair 2023 tour across several cities in India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Patna, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Lucknow. Also Read | Sextortion: Woman Makes WhatsApp Calls to GM Siddeshwara Showing Her Private Parts, BJP MP Thwarts Attempt to Extort Money. The Russian Education Fair served as a premier platform for several prestigious Russian universities, namely Mari State University, Perm State Medical University, Orenburg State Medical University, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Southern Federal University, Moscow State University of Psychology & Education, St. Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, and Moscow Institute of Architecture (State Academy). These esteemed institutions offer a wide range of programs, such as Medicine, Engineering, Aviation, Social Cultural programs, and more, catering to qualified students. The inauguration of the 2nd Russian Education Fair 2023 was held at the Russian House in New Delhi where several distinguished guests from the Russian House in New Delhi, alongside several Russian delegates, graced the occasion with their presence. Mr. Oleg Osipov, Director of the esteemed Director of the Russian House in New Delhi, officiated the event. In his address, he discussed various topics including education in Russia. He shared, "Russian Education is one of the best in the world, especially medical education." He invited Indian aspirants to study in Russia and further continued stating that Indian students studying in Russian Universities can be a small bridge between Russia and India. He also talked about the economic landscape of the Russian Federation that Russia is economically friendly, and provided insights into the country's climate conditions. The Fair provided an invaluable platform for Indian students seeking to pursue MBBS and various other disciplines in esteemed Russian universities. At the Fair, Indian students and parents interacted with the Russian universitys representatives and got valuable insights into a diverse range of academic programs, scholarship opportunities, admission procedures, and the enriching student life in Russia. More than 1000 Indian students visited the fair and took the first-hand information. This successful event reaffirms the strong educational ties and opportunities for academic growth between India and Russia. Russia is known for its unwavering commitment to educational excellence. It has built a strong reputation for its steadfast dedication to providing and creating a nurturing atmosphere where students can cultivate their talents and develop comprehensively. The Russian Education Fair acts as a gateway for Indian students, offering them the opportunity to explore a wide array of disciplines, including medicine, engineering, psychology, education, technology, and more. The Second Edition of the Russian Education Fair in India concluded on a high note, leaving a profound impact on the minds of aspiring students and educators alike. It reinforces the commitment of both Russia and India towards promoting academic excellence and fostering enduring bonds between their youth. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by SRV Media. 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) Revisiting its national hydrogen strategy (NHS), the German government foresees a huge need for hydrogen. It will need to import as much as 70% of it.Germany's path to eliminating its carbon footprint by 2045 is to phase out fossil fuels, expand renewable energies and boost efficiency. The government foresees hydrogen playing a major role. Also Read | Monsoon Session 2023: Bill to Include Hattee Community of Himachal Pradesh in Scheduled Tribes List Introduced in Rajya Sabha. The volatile gas is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. Doing that requires an immense amount of energy. If that energy is based on renewables, hydrogen producers can brand it as "green hydrogen" which is a "clean energy. Currently, however, most hydrogen is produced with natural gas. Also Read | Haryana Shocker: Faridabad Police SPO Bludgeoned to Death by Unidentified Assailant in Surajkund, FIR Registered. Hydrogen could play an important role in areas where decarbonization is difficult. Energy-intensive sectors such as steel, chemicals and cement production, as well as air and sea transport, may be able to lower their climate impact by using hydrogen. 'Green' hydrogen: Enormous demand Germany's national hydrogen strategy was drafted in 2020, under the previous government led by Chancellor Angela Merkel. The current federal government has updated it to include, among other things, targeting transport and home heating as areas to use hydrogen. This is expected to drive already considerable demand even higher. By 2030, hydrogen consumption may hit 130 terawatt hours that is more than one-fifth of all electricity consumption in Germany in 2021, according to AGEB, an energy market research group. Shipping alone could consume 120 terawatt hours, according to a study by the German Maritime Center. "At least 50-70% will have to be imported," said Jochen Flasbarth, a state secretary at Germany's Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). "Unlike in the fossil world, the hydrogen economy has a very wide range of potential supplier countries. The world's 'sun belt' could be a good bet, he added, given the potential for solar and wind power generation there. Morocco taking the lead The BMZ has begun hydrogen projects with Morocco, Brazil, Tunisia, Algeria, Namibia and South Africa. German and other European companies work alongside local ones. In Morocco, Africa's first, large-scale plant for green hydrogen is scheduled to go online in 2026. In Namibia, the BMZ is working to help expand wind energy. "We have geared our policies to this hydrogen world economy," Flasbarth said. So far, the BMZ has made 270 million euros ($299 million) available to spur investment in partner countries, which Flasbarth said he hopes translates into 1.3 billion euros when the private sector gets involved. Human rights and environmental concerns Development deals like these are often fraught with human rights and environmental concerns. To address these, Flasbarth said the BMZ has designed a program that excludes countries still reliant on fossil fuels or those that themselves are desperate for energy. Aside from the problem of sourcing clean energy to make hydrogen, you also need a lot of water. Climate change has worsened drought conditions in many parts of the world, and many of the BMZ's African partners are confronted with desertification, as the Sahara expands. Ports and pipelines If coming from outside Germany, or Europe, the hydrogen needs to be shipped. Since it is a flammable gas, it needs to be converted into a more stable form, then converted back. Germany foresees terminals currently processing liquid natural gas, a prime cause of heat-trapping methane, being converted for this purpose. Pipelines are also a possible route. The NHS is looking to a "hydrogen start-up network" by 2028. That would include 4,500 kilometers of existing and new pipe across Europe. The goal is that "all major generation, import and storage centers will be connected to the relevant customers by 2030. Jobs in Germany To make this plan politically salient, policymakers have to show that it will benefit German workers. Many of the parts and technology to construct a global hydrogen network, which is also considered climate neutral, could come from major German suppliers. Bosch, for example, expects that about 20% of heavy commercial vehicles will need a hydrogen fuel cell by 2030. That is something the German industrial giant could provide. That promise, however, comes at a time when clean technologies could threaten jobs. Electric vehicles, for example, require only one-tenth of the workforce that traditional combustion engines need. This article was originally written in German. While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter Berlin Briefing. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 26, 2023 04:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 26 (ANI): Following a flash-flood warning in some parts of coastal and north interior Karnataka, authorities have declared a holiday for Wednesday in all the schools and colleges in the vulnerable regions, according to an official statement. "District Commissioners have declared holidays for schools and colleges in the vulnerable regions and it is advised for all citizens to adhere to the instructions of local administration", said the official statement from the Chief Minister's office on Tuesday. Also Read | Mexico: Security Involved in Student Abduction Case -- Report. The statement also informed that the government has reviewed the risk-prone areas and is well-prepared to tackle the situation. "The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a flash flood bulletin, warning of potential flash floods in some parts of Coastal Karnataka and North Interior Karnataka. The Government has reviewed the risk-prone areas and is well prepared to tackle the issues on the ground," it said. Also Read | Indian Economy to Grow at 6.1% in 2023: International Monetary Fund. The weather department said on Tuesday, "Coastal Karnataka is expected to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall on 26th July. Stay safe". Meanwhile, a red alert was announced for the Kalburagi district. A holiday has been declared for all the schools and Anganwadi centres on July 26 as a precautionary measure, as per an official statement issued by the Kalaburagi district administration. In addition, as monsoon rains continued to wreak havoc in Karnataka, water from the Cauvery River reached in some low-lying areas of Kodagu district and caused alarm among the residents, officials said on Tuesday. According to District Authority Officials, heavy rain battered the Kodagu district in Karnataka as a result of which the Cauvery swelled and entered some of the low-lying areas of the district and alarmed the locals. As a precautionary measure, all residents living downstream and alongside the river were advised by the district administration to relocate to safer areas. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India] July 26 (ANI): The Central government is all set to move Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023 in the Rajya Sabha later on Wednesday to curb the menace of film piracy as well as revamp age-based certification given by the Central Board. Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur is to move the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Upper House in the second half of the day for its consideration and passage. Also Read | Monsoon Session 2023: Centre to Table Constitution Order Bill in Rajya Sabha for Inclusion of Certain Communities of Himachal Pradesh in ST List. The Bill seeks amendment to the Cinematograph Act, of 1952. The amendments will address the issue of unauthorised recording and exhibition of films. The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was introduced in Rajya Sabha on July 20. The draft Act constitutes the Board of Film Certification for certifying films for exhibition. Such certifications may be subject to modifications and deletions. The Board may also refuse the exhibition of films. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Horror: Wild Cat Takes Away Sleeping Baby Boy, Throws Him From Rooftop in Budaun. The Bill adds certain additional certificate categories based on age. Under the Act, the film may be certified for exhibition without restriction (U); without restriction, but subject to the guidance of parents or guardians for children below 12 years of age (UA); only to adults (A); or only to members of any profession or class of persons (S). The Bill substitutes the UA category with the following three categories to also indicate age-appropriateness UA 7+, UA 13+, or UA 16+. The age endorsement within the UA category by the Board will inform guidance of parents or guardians, and will not be enforceable by any other persons other than parents or guardians. Films with an A or S certificate will require a separate certificate for exhibition on television, or any other media prescribed by the central government. The Board may direct the applicant to carry appropriate deletions or modifications for the separate certificate. The Bill prohibits carrying out or abetting the unauthorised recording and unauthorised exhibition of films. Attempting an unauthorised recording will also be an offence. An unauthorised recording means making or transmitting an infringing copy of a film at a licensed place for a film exhibition without the owners authorisation. An unauthorised exhibition means the public exhibition of an infringing copy of the film for profit at a location not licensed to exhibit films or in a manner that infringes upon the copyright law. Certain exemptions under the Copyright Act, 1957 will also apply to the above offences. The 1957 Act allows limited use of copyrighted content without the owners authorisation in specified cases such as private or personal use, reporting of current affairs, or review or critique of that work. The above offences will be punishable with imprisonment between three months and three years, and a fine between three lakh rupees and 5 per cent of the audited gross production cost. Under the Act, the certificate issued by the Board is valid for 10 years. The Bill provides that the certificates will be perpetually valid. The Act empowers the central government to examine and make orders in relation to films that have been certified or are pending certification. The Board is required to dispose of matters in conformance to the order. The Bill removes this power of the central government. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) Photographs of a crow hovering over the head of AAP MP Raghav Chadha while he was speaking on the phone outside Parliament led to an exchange of jibes between the party and the BJP on Wednesday. The Delhi BJP shared the pictures and used the popular Hindi catchphrase 'Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate' (one who lies will be pecked by a crow) to tweet: "Till now, we had only heard about it but today we saw how a crow bit a liar." Also Read | Mumbai: Ex-Employee of Airline Company Claims He Was Duped of Rs 6 Lakh in Name of Money Doubling Scheme. Delhi BJP leader Tejinder Pal Singh Bagga also sarcastically said in a tweet in Hindi: "Deeply saddened by the news of attack by crow on Honorable MP @raghav_chadha ji. Hope you are in good health." Quote tweeting the Delhi BJP's post calling him a liar, Chadha used the popular couplet 'Ramchandra keh gaye Siya se aisa kalyug aayega, hans chugega daana dunka kauwa moti khayega (Lord Ram had told Sita there will such an age of darkness when geese will eat grains and crows pearls) and said: "Had only heard till now but saw today." Also Read | Syeda Lulu Minhaj Zaidi, Hyderabad Woman Who Went to US for Masters Found Starving in Chicago, Mother Appeals to EAM S Jaishankar for Help (Watch Video). In another tweet targeting him, the Delhi BJP shared a video of Chadha from a press conference. In the video, he is heard saying that the AAP is a hardcore honest party and Arvind Kejriwal is hardcore honest. Tagging Chadha, the BJP said, "@Raghav_chadha Why do you lie so much?" (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 26 (PTI) The Congress on Wednesday paid tributes to soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for India's victory over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil war with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge saying their unflinching courage and valour shall inspire generations. On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Kharge greeted the valiant soldiers of the armed forces, their families and all the fellow Indians. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Horror: Wild Cat Takes Away Sleeping Baby Boy, Throws Him From Rooftop in Budaun. "Salutations to the martyrdom of our bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice defending our motherland in the Kargil War. We are proud of them. Their unflinching courage and valour shall inspire generations," Kharge said in a tweet. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi also paid tributes to the Kargil heroes. Also Read | Security Breach at SBSP Office in Lucknow: Additional Security Personnel Deployed After Armed Men Enter Premises of Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party. "On Kargil Vijay Diwas, salutations to all the brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice while protecting India's border. The country will always be indebted to them," Gandhi tweeted in Hindi. The Congress said Kargil Vijay Diwas is a symbol of the amazing valour and determination of the brave sons of the country. "It was on this day that the bravehearts of Mother India had hoisted the tricolour after driving the enemies out of Kargil on the strength of their indomitable courage," the party said in a tweet in Hindi. "The whole country is proud of the heroes dedicated to protecting the motherland," the Congress said. The Indian Army had launched a fierce counterassault to push back Pakistani forces that had stealthily occupied important heights in Ladakh in 1999. Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed to mark India's win over its neighbour. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 26 (ANI): The Kerala Police registered a case over the malfunctioning of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans microphone during his address at predecessor Oommen Chandy's memorial event in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. An FIR under Kerala Police Act 118 e for "mic hiss" was registered, the police informed on Wednesday. Also Read | Oppenheimer: After Christopher Nolan's Film's Controversial Sex Scene, Devdutt Pattanaik Questions J Robert Oppenheimer's Understanding of Bhagavad Gita. The incident took place during the memorial event organised by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). The veteran Congress leader, who served several terms as chief minister, was popular with the masses. Also Read | Mumbai Rains: Mumbaikars Experience Moderate to Heavy Rainfall From July 25-26, Says IMD. Confirming the registration of a case in the matter, the Cantonment Police said it iwll run a check of the microphone and other audio props used the memorial event for the departed former chief minister. Police informed further that the case was regisrtered under the Kerala Police Act. Speaking to ANI, Ranjit, the owner of company, which supplied the microphone used at the memorial event, said, "There was a noise, which was rectified within 10 seconds. A bag belonging to a cameraperson had dropped over the console, resulting in the malfunction. Earlier, Chandy's family members conveyed his wish not to be accorded a funeral with full state honours, as is the convention for distinguished citizens from various walks of life. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who represented the Wayanad constituency of Kerala in the Lok Sabha before being stripped off the membership of the Lower House following his conviction in a criminal defamation case, had travelled to Kottayam to pay his last tributes to the departed party colleague. Chandy's mortal remains had been brought Puthupally St. George Orthodox Church, in his native village, for the last rites. The Kerala government had announced two days of state mourning in honour of the departed former chief minister. A popular mass leader, followers of the former CM had gathered in numbers to pay their last respects. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) A 29-year-old man was arrested for allegedly killing his mother over a property dispute in north Delhi's Shora Kothi area, police said on Wednesday. The accused has been identified as Deepak, a resident of Shora Kothi, Ghantaghar at Subzi Mandi, they said. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Man Kills Mother for Not Allowing To Sell Property in Shora Kothi; Arrested. On Tuesday, a woman made a PCR call at around 9.40 am stating that her brother had killed their mother, police said. A police team reached the house where Charu, Heena and others were present and victim Indu was lying on the floor of one of the bedrooms, they said. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Man Jumps Into Ramganga River With Two-Year-Old Son After Wife Leaves Him for Another Person in Shahjahanpur. Charu alleged that after killing Indu, Deepak fled while she was making the PCR call, they said. According to a senior police officer, the victim lived with her son who used to beat her daily. The accused is unemployed and an alcoholic. The victim had multiple injuries on the face, neck, and hand. Her body was dragged from one room to the other, the officer said. Charu revealed that her brother got married a few years ago, but his wife left him after a few months of marriage over domestic violence. He also used to beat his elder brother Mohit, who died a few years ago, the officer said. Deepak has no source of income but used to live lavishly. He sold a house earlier this year and spent the money on purchasing a television and a car, the officer said. Now, he intended to sell the house in Shora Kothi in order to meet his expenses of drinking and he was pressuring his mother for it, but she refused, police said. Due to this, Deepak started thrashing Indu on a regular basis. On Monday night, when Charu made a video call to Deepak, she found that her mother was having injuries on her nose and mouth and she was bleeding, the officer said. Around 1.30 am, the complainant again made a video call to her brother and saw that her mother was lying unconscious on the floor, police said. She informed her younger sister and other relatives and rushed here in the morning where she found her dead. When the complainant confronted Deepak about the circumstances of the death of their mother, he kept saying that she had fallen and sustained injury and tried to mislead them. When she told him that she was going to call the police, he ran away, the officer said. The police conducted a house-to-house search in the area and nabbed the accused from one of the buildings. He was taken to Hindu Rao Hospital for a medical examination, Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) Sagar Singh Kalsi said. He was planning to sell the house of Shora Kothi as there was some water-related issue and also because he needed money for purchasing liquor. However, his mother refused, which made him angry, he said. On Monday night, Indu informed Charu that Deepak had beaten her badly and feared that he might kill her. He further disclosed that both of them were in the same bedroom and his mother asked him to switch off the air conditioner, but he wanted to keep it on, Kalsi said. Infuriated by the conversation between his mother and sister, he started beating Indu with a sharp-edged stick, causing multiple injuries on her head, face, neck and hand due to which she became unconscious, police said. He dragged her to another room and left her on the floor. He knew that Charu who lives in Nangloi would not come to his home at night and went to sleep for a few hours in another room leaving his unconscious mother alone, they said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, July 26: All MPs belonging to the Opposition's INDIA bloc will wear black clothes to Parliament on Thursday as a mark of protest against the government over the Manipur issue, sources said. All MPs belonging to the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) have been asked to come dressed in black to protest Prime Minister Narendra Modi not making a statement on the Manipur issue in Parliament till now, an MP of the Opposition bloc said. No-Confidence Motion Against Modi Government: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Admits No-Trust Motion; To Decide Date After Discussion With Leaders of All Parties. A no-confidence motion against the government by the Congress on behalf of the opposition alliance was admitted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday. Birla said a date for a discussion on the motion will be decided after consulting the leaders of all parties. The Opposition has often resorted to wearing black to register their protest against the government on various issues. Woman Groped in Manipur Video: BSF Jawan Gropes, Sexually Assaults Woman Inside Grocery Store in Imphal, Act Caught on Camera. The Opposition has been demanding that Modi make a statement on the Manipur issue in Parliament before a debate on the matter can be taken up. With the opposition and treasury bench members not relenting, a logjam was prevailing in both houses. The Monsoon session that began on July 20 is scheduled to conclude on August 11. More than 160 people have lost their lives and several hundreds have been injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3. (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 26 (ANI): A doctor at a private hospital in Delhi was allegedly attacked by his patient with a knife inside the hospital premises, police said on Wednesday. The incident took place at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on Tuesday and the doctor did not sustain any fatal injury and got only a minor cut on his thumb as the attacker was caught by guards at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Also Read | Bihar Firing Video: Two Killed, One Injured After Police Open Fire in Katihar During Power Outage Protest. Dr Satnam Chabra, a neurosurgeon was attacked on Tuesday by 21-year-old Rajkumar, whom he had been treating since the year 2021, police said. During a consultation session, Rajkumar allegedly attempted to attack the doctor with a small knife but he was overpowered by hospital staff, according to police. Also Read | Online Fraud in Bengaluru: Facebook Friend Morphs Doctors Photos, Extorts Rs 50,000 From Victim After Threatening To Share His Inappropriate Pictures on Social Media. The police has taken Rajkumar into custody and on the complaint of the doctor, legal action was initiated against him under the Prevention of Violence against Doctors, The Medical Professionals and Medical Institution Bill, 2018. Earlier, in May this year, a doctor on duty was stabbed to death in a government hospital in Keralas Kottarakara by a patient who was brought there by police for treatment. On May 11, a representation of doctors under the leadership of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, raising certain demands over the protection of health workers after a doctor was murdered. Following this Kerala government approved an ordinance that seeks to ensure workplace safety in healthcare facilities. A Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vijayan decided to promulgate the Kerala Health Care Service Workers and Health Care Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Amendment Ordinance, 2012. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan signed the ordinance that ensures stringent punishment, including imprisonment of up to seven years and a maximum fine of Rs 5 lakh for those found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to doctors, medical students, and others working in the health services sector in the state. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday hailed the Rajasthan government for getting a bill on the welfare of gig workers passed in the Assembly, saying "we always stand with the poor and hardworking people" of the country and fulfil promises to them. Gandhi's remarks came two days after the Rajasthan Assembly on Monday passed a bill for the formation of a welfare board as well as a fund for platform-based gig workers in the state and to facilitate social security for them. Also Read | Mumbai: Ex-Employee of Airline Company Claims He Was Duped of Rs 6 Lakh in Name of Money Doubling Scheme. The Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023, was passed in the Assembly without a debate amid uproar by the opposition members in the House. In a tweet in Hindi, Gandhi said the Congress government in Rajasthan has brought in a new law, the first in India, to give more than three lakh gig workers of the state their rights and self-respect. Also Read | Syeda Lulu Minhaj Zaidi, Hyderabad Woman Who Went to US for Masters Found Starving in Chicago, Mother Appeals to EAM S Jaishankar for Help (Watch Video). "This law will provide financial security to the workers of the gig economy and will become the basis of reliable employment for crores of youth," he said. "During the Bharat Jodo Yatra, I met many gig workers, some taxi drivers, and some delivery persons uncertain future in work, and also risky due to always being on the streets. All of them said one thing, they work hard day and night but they do not have any financial security, neither the government listens to them, nor brings any concrete plan for them," the Congress leader said. This is also being discussed in Karnataka and in the recent budget in that state, accident insurance of up to Rs 4 lakh was announced for them, Gandhi said. "We are making policies that help them as well as those who employ them," he said. "We always stand with the poor and hardworking people of India, so that they get the fruits of their 'tapasya'. Whatever we promise to them, we fulfil it. When every hardworking person of the country gets economic strength and full rights, then only India will unite!" he said. The bill passed by the Rajasthan Assembly defines a gig worker as a person who performs work or participates in a work arrangement and earns from such activities outside of the traditional employer-employee relationship and who works on contract that results in a given rate of payment, based on terms and conditions laid down in such contract and includes all piece-rate work. It aims to constitute a Welfare Board and to set up a welfare fund for platform-based gig workers, to register the workers and aggregators in the state and to facilitate social security for the gig workers. The minister in charge of the Labour Department will be the chairperson of the board and at least one-third of its nominated members will be women. (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 26 (PTI) Mahindra & Mahindra on Wednesday acquired a 3.53 per cent stake in RBL Bank for Rs 417 crore and said it could make further investments without exceeding 9.9 per cent stake. "We have acquired a 3.53 per cent stake in RBL Bank as an investment at a cost of Rs 417 crore," Mahindra & Mahindra said in a regulatory filing. Also Read | What Is No-Confidence Motion? Will Modi Government Survive No-Trust Vote in Lok Sabha? Heres All You Need To Know. The company further said, "We may consider further investment subject to pricing, regulatory approvals and required procedures. However, in no circumstance will it exceed 9.9 per cent (stake)." In a separate filing, in response to a clarification sought by BSE, RBL Bank said, "...the holding of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd as per the last beneficiary position as on July 21, 2023, as received from the depository (NSDL) is 3.53 per cent of the total paid-up share capital of the bank." Also Read | Hyderabad Shocker: Man Throws Himself Under Moving Bus, Dies; Chilling Video of Suicide Goes Viral. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Athens, Jul 26 (AP) Greek authorities have arrested two people for allegedly smuggling 35 migrants across the Aegean Sea, using an unusual itinerary that brought them to a wildfire-afflicted island close to the mainland. The coast guard said the two men were stopped off the island of Evia late Tuesday on a 15-meter (45-foot) speedboat heading east in the direction of Turkey, from where they are believed to have departed. Also Read | Al Jazeera Condemns Egypts Decision to Add Some of Its Journalists to Terrorism Blacklist. Shortly afterward, the 35 migrants were found on a beach in the vicinity of Kymi, a town in central Evia, the coast guard said in a statement. The island has been hit by wildfires in recent days, and on Tuesday a water-dropping plane crashed there while fighting a blaze, killing both pilots. Greece remains a major entry point for people fleeing conflict or hardship in the Middle East and Africa for a better life in the European Union. Also Read | Quran Desecration: Security Risks in Sweden Rise Due to Protests, Says Security Agency. For years, most were smuggled in small boats from the Turkish coast to Greece's nearby eastern Aegean islands, but intense patrolling has made that route less popular. Instead, smugglers have increasingly been sending sailboats crammed with people that cross the central and southern Aegean, round the southern tip of Greece and continue to Italy.(AP) (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 26 (ANI): Pakistan's all-weather friend China has agreed to reschedule the debt of USD 2 billion of Islamabad for a period of two years, providing a major relief to the government, ARY News reported citing sources. According to sources, China Eximbank has officially written to Pakistan about the delay in the recovery of debt. Pakistan is also exempted from paying additional interest on the loan, sources added. Also Read | Russian President Vladimir Putin Plans to Visit China in October 2023, Says Top Kremlin Official. This is a major relief to Pakistan government which is in the process of rebuilding foreign exchange reserves through fresh loans and rolling over maturing debt. Notably, the deadline for Pakistan to repay the debt amount of all 31 loan agreements was increased from July 21, 2023, to June 30, 2025, sources added. Also Read | Algeria Wildfires: Forest Fire Kill at Least 34 and Injured Hundreds, 80% of Fires Extinguished. Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that China has rolled over a USD 600 million loan to Pakistan, helping shore up the countrys foreign exchange reserves. Exim Bank of China rolled over USD 600 million to Pakistan, which increased our foreign currency reserves, the premier said, adding that the assistance from friendly countries is improving economic indicators, according to ARY News. Notably, this was in addition to over USD 5 billion in loans that longtime ally China has rolled over for Pakistan in the last three months, the prime minister said last week, helping Pakistan avert a default as negotiations to secure the IMF bailout dragged on. The State Bank of Pakistan said the current account recorded a surplus of USD 334 million in June. Earlier in January, PM Sharif had stated that it is embarrassing to ask for loans but then again it asked for loans from IMF and China. In contrast, Pakistan's Army Chief Syed Asim Munir on Monday underlined the need to make the country self-reliant to end the dependency on foreign loans, which the cash-strapped nation recently secured with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Geo News reported. Amid the economic turmoil, Munir said that Pakistanis must throw out the beggar's bowl. He said security and the economy are interlinked and indispensable to each other. COAS also stated that the Pakistan Army is proud to serve its nation, adding that the military drew its strength from the people and vice-versa, reported Geo News. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Rhodes, Jul 26 (AP) Deadly fires raging in Greece and other European countries advanced on Wednesday, destroying homes and threatening nature reserves during a third successive wave of extreme temperatures. The summer wildfires have struck countries across the region, prompting the European Union to expand its support, sending two Spanish firefighting planes to Tunisia after wildfires in neighbouring Algeria left at least 34 people dead in recent days. Also Read | Al Jazeera Condemns Egypts Decision to Add Some of Its Journalists to Terrorism Blacklist. More wildfires broke out Wednesday in the central mainland, triggering a precautionary evacuation order for some outskirts of the town of Lamia. Further north, villages were evacuated as a precaution near the city of Volos, whose residents were warned to stay indoors because of the hazard of smoke inhalation. Also Read | Quran Desecration: Security Risks in Sweden Rise Due to Protests, Says Security Agency. State television ERT reported that an older woman was found dead in a caravan after another fire in the area. New evacuations were ordered overnight on the islands of Corfu, Evia and Rhodes, where thousands of tourists were moved to safety over the weekend. Authorities said the charred remains of a missing farmer were found in southern Evia a discovery made following the death of two Greek firefighting pilots, in a crash during a low-altitude water drop. The heat wave in Greece has pushed temperatures back above 40 C (104 F) while strong winds hampered firefighting efforts. The fire on Rhodes has damaged an inland nature reserve. Rhodes resident Philippos Karageorgiou lamented how the blazes destroyed "forest areas with virgin forest of several years ... from herbs to anything you can imagine, and Rhodes was famous for all of these. Following three days of destruction, most major fires in Algeria have been contained or put out, thanks to a huge mobilization of aerial and ground resources as well as falling temperatures, authorities said. The death toll stood at 34, including 10 soldiers assisting an evacuation. The coastal and densely-forested Bejaia area was hardest hit. Critics say the government's efforts to prepare for the wildfires were insufficient following two deadly fire seasons. Fires in August 2022 claimed 37 lives in the northeastern Taraf region. July 2021 saw the most significant damage in recent years, with at least 90 deaths in the northern Tizi-Ouzou region, 33 of them soldiers. The bodies of two older people were found in a home that had been consumed by flames near the Palermo airport, on the island of Sicily, which had been closed temporarily because of the encroaching flames, according to Italian news reports. Firefighters battled wildfires across southern Italy as searing temperatures continued to scorch Sicily, Sardinia and Calabria, where dozens of fires broke out and multiple evacuations were ordered. Freak storms in the north of the country also left two people dead on Tuesday from falling trees. A wildfire was burning several kilometers away from the famous walled town of Dubrovnik, in the country's south along the Adriatic Sea coast, where water-dropping planes and more than 100 firefighters held back the blaze before it reached houses overnight. The medieval stone city is a protected heritage site and Croatia's best-known tourism destination. It's been a long night, but we managed to stave off the part (of the fire) that is important because of the houses, firefighting unit commander Stjepan Simovic said. We must be careful because the wind has started to pick up and the fire can grow again. More than 500 firefighters continued to combat a blaze close to Lisbon, Portugal. The fire forced the evacuation of 90 people from their homes along with 800 farm animals. The blaze near the coastal town of Cascais, 30 kilometers (19 miles) west of Lisbon, was brought under control early Wednesday, helped by cooler temperatures. Firefighters remained in the area to watch for any further flare-ups as temperatures and winds rose again Wednesday. Fears rose that it might spread deep into the nearby Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. No injuries were reported. A hospital and a dozen homes were evacuated as a precaution in the coastal town of Kemer, where firefighters for a third day battled a blaze raging through woodland. At least 10 planes, 22 helicopters and hundreds of firefighters were deployed. Five helicopters with night-vision capabilities worked through the night, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Authorities said residential areas were not under threat in Kemer in the Mediterranean coastal province of Antalya. Water-dropping planes, helicopters and firefighters were also deployed to a forest blaze Wednesday near the district of Beykoz, in Istanbul, where temperatures reached 43 C (109.4). The cause of the wildfire on the Asian side of the city wasn't immediately known and it wasn't clear if residential areas were under threat. Teams were also battling two fires near the towns of Kinik and Odemis in the western coastal province of Izmir, Anadolu said. At least three villages near Kinik were evacuated as a precaution. Officials said that sparks from a brush cutter set off a wildfire on Gran Canaria island off the northwest coast of Africa. The fire in the la Caldera de Los Marteles volcanic area started when a worker using the cutter was clearing land with two others, island president Antonio Morales told reporters. The three workers tried in vain to extinguish the ensuing fire before calling emergency services. Some nine water-carrying helicopters were being used by firefighters and Morales said they hoped to have the blaze under control later in the day. About 300 hectares (740 acres) of the mountain area has been burnt. Tunisia's interior minister, Kamel Fekih, said Wednesday that the wildfires that broke out in the country in recent days are now under control, signaling an end to the immediate danger. He said a few fire pockets" in the northwestern areas of Malouleh and Ain Sobh are currently being addressed but "no longer pose any danger. Earlier in the week, a school principal in the northwestern town of Nefza died of asphyxiation because of heavy smoke from the flames.(AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington [US], July 26 (ANI): Indian-American Congressman from the State of Illinois, Raja Krishnamoorthi while offering insights into the potential threats presented by Khalistani activists has firmly maintained that Khalistanis are not representative of the broader sentiments of Sikh Americans, reported Khalsa Vox. Significant worries have been raised by the resurgence of the Khalistan movement, which is mostly on social media and in some nations including Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia. This is especially true in light of recent attacks on the Indian consulate in San Francisco. Senior US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has expressed his views on the potential dangers posed by Khalistani activists. Also Read | Hun Sen To Resign As PM: Cambodian Prime Minister Says He Will Step Down in Three Weeks and His Son Will Succeed Him. Concerning the increasing frequency of these assaults, Krishnamoorthi, who has previously expressed his criticism of the consulate assault, was asked about the impact of the Khalistan movement which is a matter of growing worry given that the attacks are not isolated incidents. There have been reports of incidents in the UK where the Prime Minister has Indian ancestry, and tensions have spread to the US West Coast, as per Khalsa Vox. Khalsa Vox is a new-age online digest that brings to you the latest in Punjab politics, history, culture, heritage and more. Also Read | Setback for Imran Khan, Pakistan Supreme Court Rejects Former PMs Plea To Stay Criminal Proceedings Against Him in Toshakhana Case. Krishnamoorthi firmly argued in response that Khalistanis make up a very small percentage of the population. He contends that the opinions of Sikh Americans as a whole are not reflected in the small number of extremist Khalistanis. He is certain that the vast majority of Sikh Americans and Indian Americans, in general, do not accept or condone the violence and intolerance that this outlier minority propagates. In response to concerns about potential financial assistance and the rising international tensions brought on by Khalistani activism, Krishnamoorthi emphasised the significance of peaceful conflict resolution. He strongly condemned such acts of intolerance and violence, making reference to a recent rally banner that contained the provocative statement "Kill India." It is notable to mention that attacks by the Khalistani elements on Indian missions across the world have been rising over the course of time. On March 19, earlier this year, a group of Khalistanis vandalised the High Commission and showed disrespect to the Indian National Flag in London. Such threats and attacks from pro-Khalistani elements rose after the killing of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Nijjar. A Kill India rally was scheduled by Khalistani elements in Australia, the UK, Canada and even in the US following Nijjar's death. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Warsaw, Jul 26 (AP) Poland has made a complaint against Germany to the European Commission over tons of German waste, some of it allegedly toxic, brought and stored in unauthorised landfills across Poland, officials said Wednesday. Poland's minister for climate and environment, Anna Moskwa, said the waste is being brought illegally and the complaint is a step toward taking Germany to the European Court of Justice. Also Read | Hun Sen To Resign As PM: Cambodian Prime Minister Says He Will Step Down in Three Weeks and His Son Will Succeed Him. Moskwa said the German government and local authorities failed to respond to Poland's requests for the waste to be removed from its territory. She said at least 35 tons of German waste are currently in Poland and appealed to the very green German government to remove it. Also Read | Setback for Imran Khan, Pakistan Supreme Court Rejects Former PMs Plea To Stay Criminal Proceedings Against Him in Toshakhana Case. Foreign waste stored in Poland has been an issue for years. Polish companies sign contracts with foreign firms to neutralize the waste, but in some cases just dump it at unauthorized sites, eventually burning it to make room for more. The fires have drawn public concern over the problem. The Polish penal code provides for up to 10 years in prison for illegal import and storage of waste that may be toxic. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Russian fighter aircraft flies dangerously close to a US MQ-9 drone (Screengrab from a video released by the US Air Force) Washington DC [US], July 26 (ANI): A Russian aircraft fired flares at the US drone over Syria and damaged its propeller, America's military said on Tuesday. Lieutenant General Alex Grynkewich, the head of US Air Forces Central, in a statement, revealed that on Sunday, the Russian fighter aircraft flew dangerously close to a US MQ-9 drone on a defeat-ISIS mission, harassing it and deploying flares from a position directly overhead, with only a few metres of separation between aircraft. Also Read | Russian President Vladimir Putin Plans to Visit China in October 2023, Says Top Kremlin Official. "One of the Russian flares struck the US MQ-9, severely damaging its propeller. Fortunately, the MQ-9 crew was able to maintain flight and safely recover the aircraft to its home base," the head of US Air Forces Central said. "The Russian fighters blatant disregard for flight safety detracts from our mission to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS. We call upon the Russian forces in Syria to put an immediate end to this reckless, unprovoked, and unprofessional behaviour, he added. Also Read | Algeria Wildfires: Forest Fire Kill at Least 34 and Injured Hundreds, 80% of Fires Extinguished. The Sunday incident is the latest in a series of encounters between Russian fighter jets and US aircraft flying over Syria. A similar incident took place in March over the Black Sea, a Russian Su-27 fighter jet struck the same type of US drone, damaging its propellor and forcing it down in the water, reported CNN. Last week, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said US analysts are examining the potential reasons behind the uptick in aggressive Russian actions. Some of the incidents over Syria have lasted as long as two hours, US officials said, according to CNN. Earlier, on July 16, Russian military aircraft engaged a US aircraft in Syria in "an unsafe and unprofessional manner." Grynkewich, the head of US Air Forces Central, in a statement dated July 18, said, "A US MC-12 was conducting operations in support of the Coalitions Defeat ISIS mission was closely approached by a Russian Su-35 against established norms and protocols, forcing the MC-12 to fly through its wake turbulence." "This reduced the crews ability to safely operate the aircraft and put the four crewmembers lives at risk. These actions against a manned aircraft represent a new level of unsafe and unprofessional actions by Russian aircraft operating in Syria. We strongly urge Russian forces in Syria to cease reckless and threatening behaviour that could result in an accident and loss of life, and adhere to the standards of behaviour expected of a professional force, he added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad [Pakistan], July 26 (ANI): The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday rejected the plea of former Prime Minister Imran Khan seeking to stay a trial court's proceedings in the Toshakhana case, Dawn reported on Wednesday. Earlier on October 21 last year, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had disqualified the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman in the Toshakhana reference under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution for making false statements and incorrect declaration. Also Read | Al Jazeera Condemns Egypts Decision to Add Some of Its Journalists to Terrorism Blacklist. In May this year, Islamabad Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Hamayun Dilawar rejected Khans challenge to the maintainability of the Toshakhana reference and indicted him in the case. The trial courts decision was challenged before the Islamabad High Court, which remanded the case back to the former on July 4 to re-examine the matter in seven days in the light of legal questions to decide the maintainability of the reference, Dawn reported. Also Read | Quran Desecration: Security Risks in Sweden Rise Due to Protests, Says Security Agency. Subsequently, Imran Khan moved the SC and urged the apex court to set aside the IHC directive. He also sought a stay on the proceedings before ADSJ Dilawar until his appeal was decided. The PTI chief had moved his appeal through senior counsel Khawaja Haris Ahmad. A two-member bench, comprising Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Musarrat Hilali, took up Imrans plea on Wednesday. At the outset of the hearing, PTI chief lawyer Khwaja Haris stated that two petitions were already pending with the IHC, one concerning the trial courts jurisdiction and the other seeking the transfer of Imrans trial from the court of ADSJ Dilawar, Dawn reported. ECP lawyer Amjad Pervez stated that the IHC order in the case had already been implemented and a hearing on a petition against the trial court order was scheduled for tomorrow. Justice Afridi pointed out that since the two pleas were currently with the IHC, issuing directives to the trial court would not be appropriate. The court expressed hope that the IHC would hear all identical petitions filed by the PTI chief alongside this case, Dawn reported. The two-judge bench rejected the PTI counsels plea to halt criminal proceedings in the case and referred the case back to the IHC and disposed of the petition, Dawn reported. The petition was brought by the PTI chief before the apex court earlier this month, in which he argued that the IHC was not legally justified in remanding the same questions of law that formed the basis of the impugned order for re-determination by the same trial judge who had already given his judgement, Dawn reported. Khan added that the IHC set aside the petitioners plea by remanding the matter back to the trial court for re-decision despite the fact that the petitioner had also applied for transfer of the complaint from the trial judge to any other court. The petitioner contended the IHC had committed a jurisdiction error in remanding the case to the same trial judge against whom an application had been filed for transfer of the case. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) A villager carries a bunch of bamboo plants as he moves to a safer place after flood water enters the houses due to incessant rainfall in Punjab's Jalandhar. (Photo/ANI) Bathinda (Punjab) [India], July 26 (ANI): Following Sunday's heavy rains, farmers of Bhallaiana village in Punjab are facing yet another setback as floods has deluged over 100 acres of fertile agricultural land in the village situated along the Muktsar-Bathinda road, reported Khalsa Vox. This March, heavy rains and hailstones already created havoc on their wheat crops which has added to their already disturbed situation. Also Read | Al Jazeera Condemns Egypts Decision to Add Some of Its Journalists to Terrorism Blacklist. With the weather showing no signs of letting up, the farmers fear that their losses might escalate further. Hargobind Singh, one of the affected farmers, said, "Our paddy crop, which spans nearly 100 acres, is now submerged in knee-deep water. Given the low-lying nature of this area, we were already reeling from the damages caused to our wheat crops earlier in the year, and now our paddy fields are underwater. We earnestly appeal to the state government to not only compensate us for the losses incurred on our wheat crop but also conduct a special assessment of the damages caused to our paddy crop in this recent calamity. Also Read | Quran Desecration: Security Risks in Sweden Rise Due to Protests, Says Security Agency. Basant Singh, another farmer, expressed his misery, After losing my wheat crop on 10 acres, I now find my paddy crop submerged in rainwater. Its devastating to see our hard work and livelihoods washed away according to the report in Khalsa Vox. However, Sukhjinder Singh, Agricultural Development Officer addressed the situation and said that there is a chance that cops will survive if the rainwater recedes in the next 24 hours. Reports confirm that the paddy crop on nearly 100 acres of land is indeed flooded. The critical window is the next 24 hours; if the rainwater recedes within this time frame, there is a chance that the crops might survive. However, any prolonged waterlogging could spell disaster for the farmers and damage their crops irreparably. The farmers of Bhallaiana village are hoping that the authorities will take action to monitor the damages and provide them with the necessary compensation to help them recover from this situation. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, July 26: The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) released the admit card or call letters for the preliminary exam of the 'Common Recruitment Process for RRBs (CRP RRBs XII) today, July 26. The IBPS released the admit card for Recruitment of Group 'B' - Office Assistants. Candidates who have applied for the IBPS RRB Clerk 2023 examination can visit the official website of IBPS at ibps.in to check and download their admit cards. Candidates must note that the IBPS RRB Clerk XII admit cards will be available for download on the official website up to August 19. In order to download the hall tickets, candidates are advised to use their registration number or roll number and password or date of birth. The IBPS RRB Clerk Prelims exam will be held in August. TN 10th SSLC Supplementary Result Out at dge.tn.gov.in: Tamil Nadu Class 10 Supply Exam Results Declared, Get Direct Link and Know Steps To Check Scores. Steps To Download IBPS RRB Clerk Admit Card 2023: Visit the official website of IBPAS at ibps.in On the homepage, click on CRP RRBs Next, open the CRP RRBs XII tab Now, click on the call letter download link displayed at the top Login using your credentials and other details Download the admit card Take a printout for future reference On the other hand, the IBPS RRB Clerk Mains exam is scheduled to take place in September 2023, which is over a month from today. Interviews for the IBPS RRB Recruitment vacancies are likely to take place in October or November. UGC NET Result 2023 Out at ugcnet.nta.nic.in: NTA Declares National Eligibility Test Exam Results, Get Direct Link and Know How To Check Scores. Meanwhile, the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has invited applications from eligible candidates for Assistant posts. Candidates who are interested and eligible can apply online through the official website of BPSC at bpsc.bih.nic.in. The BPSC Assistant Recruitment drive is being held to fill up 44 posts in the organization. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 26, 2023 09:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, July 26: A woman was killed by her 29-year-old son after she did not allow him to sell the property in north Delhi, police said on Wednesday, adding that they have nabbed the accused. The accused was identified as Deepak. The incident came to light on Tuesday morning when the police control room (PCR) received a distress call at 9:48 a.m., reporting a murder at Shora Kothi, Ghantaghar Subzi Mandi. The caller was none other than the deceased's daughter, Charu. Upon arriving at the scene, a police team discovered the lifeless body of the victim, Indu, lying in one of the bedrooms. Charu informed the police that her brother, Deepak, had killed their mother and had already fled the scene when she made the PCR call. Delhi Shocker: Student Stabbed To Death in DU Campus, Probe Launched. Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), Sagar Singh Kalsi, revealed that to prevent Deepak's escape, the teams quickly cordoned off the surrounding streets. Investigations revealed that the deceased had been living with her son, Deepak, who had a history of physically abusing her on a daily basis. The accused was known to be a habitual drunkard and unemployed, making matters worse, said the DCP. The crime scene examination indicated that Indu had sustained multiple injuries to her face, neck, and hand. It was evident that her body had been dragged from one room to another. The police called in the Crime Team and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to gather evidence, and they managed to seize blood-stained clothes from the premises, said the DCP. Delhi Shocker: Minor Girl Raped, Blackmailed Over Objectionable Photos and Videos by Tenant, Accused Arrested. In her statement to the police, Charu explained that Deepak had been married a few years ago but his wife had left him after enduring months of merciless beatings. She further revealed that Deepak had a history of violent behaviour, having also assaulted their elder brother, Mohit, who had tragically passed away a few years back. Deepak, without any legitimate source of income, led an extravagant lifestyle. Earlier this year, he had sold a house that belonged to their mother, using the money to buy luxury items such as a large-screen television and a car, which he barely drove. According to Charu's statement, Deepak had now set his sights on selling the property at Shora Kothi, Ghantaghar, to fund his drinking habits and move to a different residence. However, Indu firmly opposed the idea of selling their family home, leading to a confrontation that turned deadly. During the investigation, the police conducted a thorough search of the Shora Kothi area, eventually apprehending Deepak from a hiding spot under an unused cot in one of the buildings in the locality. In his confession, Deepak revealed that on Monday night at approximately 8:30 p.m., he and his mother were in the same bedroom when she asked him to turn off the air conditioner. Enraged by a phone call with his sister Charu, during which his mother complained about his abusive behaviour, Deepak attacked her with a sharp-edged danda (stick), causing severe injuries to her head, face, neck, and hand, rendering her unconscious. He then moved her to another room, leaving her on the floor, and informed Charu through a video call that their mother was unconscious. Deepak admitted that he knew she was already dead, but Charu did not suspect it since their mother had lost consciousness in the past after his beatings, said the DCP. Deepak, intoxicated from alcohol, planned to flee after a few hours of rest, assuming that Charu would not visit during the night. However, he overslept and was only awakened when both of his sisters arrived at his door, ultimately leading to his arrest. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 26, 2023 06:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Guwahati, July 26: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday claimed the recent triple murder in Golaghat was an outcome of 'love-jihad', and said the chargesheet will be filed within 15 days to try the culprit in a fast track court. On Monday, a 25-year-old man killed his wife and her parents over some family issues, and later surrendered before the police in Golaghat district of Upper Assam. 'Love jihad' is a term often used by right-wing activists to allege a ploy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into religious conversion through marriage. Sarma visited the family of the deceased and asserted that a thorough investigation would be carried out in the case, and the guilty would not be spared. Assam CM Sarma Replaces 'INDIA' with 'Bharat' in Twitter Bio. "The deceased family was Hindu and the accused belongs to the Muslim community. He first introduced himself with a Hindu name on Facebook... the woman learnt to use drugs when the couple had escaped to Kolkata," the chief minister said. Information has been received that the accused, a mechanical engineer, was a drug addict and involved with trafficking of contraband substances, Sarma said. "The woman was given injectable drugs under the influence of which she was impregnated. She was tortured when she went to live at the house of the accused, and returned to her maternal home later," he claimed. Sarma said the woman had filed a complaint alleging torture, and her husband was jailed. "I am personally concerned about such a case in which religious identity is hidden on Facebook to influence a woman for marriage, and at last such a situation is created that she cannot return. Even if she returns, the society will not accept her," the CM said. In such a situation, she ultimately converts her religion, sacrifices everything and assimilates into a different life, he said. "A proper investigation will be conducted, and I hope that further details will be revealed after that... We will take the strictest possible action and no one will be spared," he asserted. Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio, said it is an "open-and-shut case" and police will file the chargesheet within the next 15 days. Later, he tweeted that the Assam government stands firm in its commitment to make the society a zero-crime place with a resolve that "no criminal shall escape justice". Meanwhile, Assam Director General of Police Gyanendra Pratap Singh said instructions shall be complied with regarding the investigation into the case. "We would ensure foolproof chargesheet against the perpetrator/s and abettors. Lapses in the investigation of earlier cases, including validity of the marriage certificate adduced in previous investigation, shall also be looked at," he said. INDIA Biased, Speaking Only on Manipur Incident: Himanta. According to the police, the accused was in jail for assaulting his 24-year-old wife earlier and after he was released, he came home and again started a quarrel. He then killed his wife and the parents-in-law. After committing the crime, the accused reached the Golaghat Police Station with his nine-month-old son and surrendered. An independent panel has concluded that the army, navy, police and intelligence knew where a group of 43 abducted students were. The 2014 case is among Mexico's most notorious human rights scandals.Mexican security agencies were complicit in the kidnapping of 43 students in 2014, an independent panel of international experts concluded in a Tuesday report, in a case considered among the nation's worst human rights atrocities. Also Read | Indian Economy to Grow at 6.1% in 2023: International Monetary Fund. The Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI) said that the army, navy, police and intelligence agencies were aware of the whereabouts of the missing students. Also Read | Internet Ban Partially Lifted in Manipur; Broadband Allowed, Mobile Internet Remains Suspended. The GIEI was set up shortly after the incident to investigate it, then had its mandate renewed by current President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador after he took office in 2018. What the GIEI report says The report which was submitted on Tuesday, suggests the military may have colluded with drug traffickers to abduct the students. "They all collaborated to make them disappear," GIEI panel member Carlos Beristain told a press conference, in reference to the various security agencies the experts have identified as complicit. The panel accused the Defense Ministry of hiding documents showing where 17 of the 43 students were taken. It also found that members of the navy and the army had carried out unreported joint operations and manipulated information relevant to the case. The report adds that the army and the navy secretly arrested five suspects linked to the case who have not been seen since. It is believed the prosecution and military tortured the suspects in the case to extract false confessions. "The evidence demonstrates that several authorities knew what was happening or had important information that had not been provided, perhaps because they thought it could expose their personnel who might have been involved," the report read. The Mexican armed forces have long denied having information about the disappearances and have largely not commented on the earlier findings of the GIEI or the Truth Commission, also established to investigate the disappearances. The missing students probe The 43 students disappeared on the night of September 26, 2014, after an attack in the city of Iguala, Guerrero, on a larger group of students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers' College. The previous government initially concluded that the students had been abducted by corrupt police who then handed them over to a drug gang that believed they had been infiltrated by members of a rival outfit. The government said the gang killed the students and burned their bodies. The remains of only three of the 43 have been recovered. At the time, the government's account was challenged by rights groups. rmt/kb (AP, Reuters) (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 26, 2023 05:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Mumbai, Jul 26: Taking a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has claimed the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax department and the CBI are the "only three strong parties" in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In an interview to Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut, who is the executive editor of Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana', Thackeray also slammed the Centre over the ethnic strife in Manipur and said Prime minister Narendra Modi is not even ready to visit the north-eastern state. Taking an aim at a recent meeting of the BJP-led NDA, Thackeray claimed when elections approach, for the BJP its government is the NDA government. After the polls are over, it becomes the Modi-government, he added. Leaders of 38 parties, part of the NDA, met in Delhi last week. On the same day, 26 opposition parties, including the Shiv Sena (UBT), met in Bengaluru and a proposal was adopted unanimously to name their coalition as Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). Uddhav Thackeray Takes on Election Commission for Allotting 'Shiv Sena' Name to Eknath Shinde Faction, Says 'EC Doesnt Have Powers to Change Partys Name'. The opposition parties have been accusing the ruling BJP of misusing central agencies to target the opponents. There are 36 parties in the NDA. The ED, CBI and Income Tax are the only three strong parties in the NDA. Where are the other parties? Some parties do not even have a single MP, Thackeray said in the interview, the first part of which was published in 'Saamana' on Wednesday. On the issue of Uniform Civil Code, Thackeray said the BJP should first bring a law for a ban on cow slaughter from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. If everyone is equal before law, then those who are corrupt in the BJP should also be punished, the former Maharashtra chief minister said. He also asserted that the "real Shiv Sena" is where the Thackeray family is. Thackeray said those who engineered a split in the Shiv Sena thought it would perish, but it is rising again. It is also a blessing in disguise because many veterans who rebelled had occupied their seats for a long time, and now new people can get a chance in their place, he said. Sanjay Raut On Ajit Pawar: Sharad Pawar Undeterred, Claims Shiv Sena UBT Leader; Says This 'Circus' Won't Last Long. In June last year, MLA Eknath Shinde and 39 other legislators revolted against the Shiv Sena leadership, leading to a split in the party and collapse of the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Shinde later became the chief minister with the BJP's support. On the petitions seeking disqualification of 16 Shiv Sena MLAs including Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, Thackeray said if state assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar does not do justice, then doors of the Supreme Court are open for his party. In March this year, the Supreme Court had issued a contempt notice on a petition alleging non-compliance of its order rendered in the landmark case of National Legal Services Authority versus Union of India. New Delhi, July 26: The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 event is about to begin, and as usual the South Korean tech giant is expected to offer a handful of exciting new premium products. Samsung is hosting the Unpacked event for the first time in its home market as a nod to the faithful fanbase of its domestic consumers. The Unpacked event will be held in South Korea, on Wednesday, July 26, where a host of highly awaited products will be officially launched. Lets quickly find all the important details. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 to Launch at the Galaxy Unpacked 2023 Event; Here Are All the Key Details to Know. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023: When in Different Time Zones & How To Watch Livestream The Unpacked event will kickstart at 8 PM in Seoul, South Korea, 4:30 PM in India, 7 AM Eastern in the United States, 12pm in London and 1 PM in Central Europe. Samsung will be live streaming the entire event on its own company website, and also on its official YouTube channel. Simply click on the video below to watch the event live online. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5 India Prices Leaked Prior Official Launch at Unpacked Event on July 26. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 - Live: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023: What All To Expect The much awaited Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Galaxy Z Fold5 flagship foldable smartphones are going to launch at the event aside from the launch of the Galaxy Tab S9 series comprising of three of tablets, the Watch6 and the Watch6 Classic wearables. We already know a lot of details about the upcoming new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 as well as the Galaxy Flip5, including their improved hinge mechanism, cooler design and upgrades in terms of looks and functionality. The new Samsung Galaxy Watch6 series is resurrecting its previous unique rotating bezel design. On the other hand, theres the much speculated premium tablet trio the Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9+, and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, which are likely to boast of meaner design, powerful processor, cool cameras and bigger displays and batteries. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 26, 2023 12:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). On 25 July,, the US ambassador to Honduras, expressed her support for the creation of a United Nations (UN)-backed international commission against corruption and impunity in Honduras (Cicih). End of preview - This article contains approximately 390 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 25 July, Perus Prime Ministerdefended Presidentagainst allegations that she ordered the reinstatement of an official who had been fired due to suspected corruption. End of preview - This article contains approximately 405 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 25 July Paraguays president-elect,arrived in Brazil for a four-day visit to meet business and political leaders, ahead of his inauguration next month. End of preview - This article contains approximately 366 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 25 July, womens marches took place in various cities in Brazil to commemorate International Afro-Latina & Afro-Caribbean Womens Day, during which demonstrators demanded justice for the murders of black Brazilian women, among other calls for racial equality. End of preview - This article contains approximately 391 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's presidential campaign for 2024 may be experiencing more financial problems as more job cuts have been reported. This comes as the controversial Republican continues to struggle in the polls against frontrunner Donald Trump. DeSantis campaign advisers have confirmed these jobs cuts, which amounted to 38 people being fired from various departments from the campaign. This includes the around 10 event planners who were all fired previously, as well as two senior DeSantis campaign advisers, Dave Abrams and Tucker Obenshain. "Following a top-to-bottom review of our organization, we have taken additional, aggressive steps to streamline operations and put Ron DeSantis in the strongest position to win this primary and defeat Joe Biden," said Ron DeSantis campaign manager Generra Peck, who added, "Gov. DeSantis is going to lead the Great American Comeback and we're ready to hit the ground running as we head into an important month of the campaign." Politico pointed out that this is the latest sign that the DeSantis campaign is suffering from financial concerns despite raising $20 million during the second quarter of this year. However, it seems that a good chunk of that money has already been spent as the governor toured the early voting states like Iowa. Around the end of June, the DeSantis campaign had over 90 staffers listed in its federal filings. This means that roughly a third of all its staffers have been fired already as the campaign tries to get more finances. Peck acknowledged that the DeSantis campaign did do a bit of overspending in some areas and said that further financial adjustments must be made., So far, DeSantis has been criticized for his bloated operation, and his campaign now plans to "reduce costs by doing smaller, more intimate events and cutting down its travel expenditures." READ MORE: Florida: Ron DeSantis, Admin Sued Over Shocking Immigration Laws Ron DeSantis 2024 Campaign Burned Through Massive Amounts of Money in Just 6 Weeks Some of DeSantis's big donors have reached their donation limits, with his campaign already tapping out many of them. In addition, he also burned through $7.9 million in his first six weeks as a presidential candidate per NBC News. DeSantis actually outraised rival Donald Trump in April-June 2023, but his overspending landed him in financial trouble. To make matters worse for the controversial governor, a vast majority of the money he raised came from the big donors who have reached their maximum legal limits to political donations as DeSantis lags behind Trump in terms of the small donors who can provide a much-needed boost to his finances. Ron DeSantis Still Top Challenger to Donald Trump Amid Financial Troubles Despite his money troubles and recent racial and immigration controversies, however, Ron DeSantis remains the top Republican candidate that is challenging Donald Trump right now. This is shown by the numbers they have put up from their campaign donations. According to NBC News, only North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum earned double digits for his campaign thanks to a $10 million loan from a businessman. As for the others, big Wall Street donors have spread their support between DeSantis and others like Mike Pence and Nikki Haley. They have yet to unite around a big non-Trump candidate. READ MORE: Florida: Protesters Wave Nazi Flag, Ron DeSantis Signs at Disney World This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Ron DeSantis' Presidential Campaign Is Hemorrhaging Money And Staffers - The Ring of Fire Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso has taken decisive actions to address the recent surge of violence in the country, which has resulted in at least 31 deaths. In response to the situation, Lasso has exercised executive power to suspend people's rights of assembly in certain areas and has authorized the mobilization of the military to restore order and security, AP reports. President Guillermo Lasso declared a state of emergency Tuesday that encompasses all of the country's prisons and ordered the deployment of 2,700 soldiers and police officers to regain control of the prison facilities. This measure comes after violent clashes erupted at the nation's largest prison on Saturday and extended into the early hours of Sunday, with reports of gunshots and explosions reaching nearby residential areas. Less than 24 hours before the prison-related state of emergency, President Guillermo Lasso had already announced emergency measures in two provinces. This included suspending people's rights to assembly and freedom of movement in one province that experienced the tragic shooting of a mayor over the weekend. READ NEXT: Ecuador Mayor's Violent Death Triggers State of Emergency Ecuador Deploys Police to Rescue Jail Guards A large-scale security operation was deployed in an Ecuador prison to free dozens of jail guards who were taken hostage by inmates, per BBC. The situation escalated after a fight between rival gangs at Guayas prison in the port city of Guayaquil triggered violence and unrest. According to Juan Zapata, the country's interior minister, the security forces have "taken control of the jails," but he did not provide specific information about the status of the hostages' release. Thousands of police officers have been deployed to manage the violence in Guayas prison and other penitentiaries affected by the unrest. In at least five prisons, jail guards were being held against their will, as confirmed by the Ecuador prison service, Snai. The exact number of hostages has not been disclosed, but the governor of Azuay province, Consuelo Orellana, stated that 53 guards were being held in Turi jail in Cuenca alone. Despite the tense situation, the Ecuador prison service has assured that the hostages are in good condition, and every effort is being made to secure their release safely. Ecuador government has reported that approximately 120 prison officers who were previously taken hostage in six different jails have been freed, according to Reuters. However, no official information is available regarding the alleged hunger strikes that were said to be taking place at some of the prisons affected by the recent surge of violence. The timing of this prison violence is significant, as it coincides with the campaigning period for the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for August 20. Ecuador Prison System Draws Concern from Human Rights Groups Ecuador prison system conditions have been a longstanding concern for human rights groups. Litoral prison has been a focal concern due to its overcrowded conditions. Although the facility is designed to hold 9,500 inmates, it has been accommodating around 3,000 more than its capacity during the first quarter of the current year, Al Jazeera noted. Notoriously known as the most dangerous detention facility in Ecuador, Litoral prison has witnessed violent clashes between rival gangs, resulting in the tragic deaths of 119 incarcerated individuals in 2021. President Guillermo Lasso's administration has faced the challenge of addressing the persistent violence within the prison system. In response, he has frequently declared several state of emergency to deal with the ongoing issue. READ MORE: Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso Announces State of Emergency This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Gang turf wars have left several inmates dead inside country's prisons - From CNN Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was involved in a car accident on Tuesday morning in Tennessee, but fortunately, he was not injured, according to his campaign and local police, CNN reports. The accident occurred in the Chattanooga area and involved DeSantis' four-vehicle motorcade. The incident happened on Interstate 75 South around 8:15 am when the motorcade encountered slow traffic, causing the lead vehicle to brake suddenly, resulting in a rear-end collision with the other vehicles. All the vehicles involved were government vehicles accompanying Governor DeSantis and his team to a scheduled event. The Chattanooga Police Department confirmed the accident but did not mention any charges or citations related to the incident. Governor Ron DeSantis was unharmed and continued to the event as planned. However, a female staffer suffered a minor injury but proceeded to the event and received treatment there. The campaign of Governor DeSantis confirmed that a member of his staff was assessed on-site by medical personnel and was cleared to leave the scene. It was not disclosed how many staff members were in the vehicle during the accident. The Florida First Lady, Casey DeSantis, who often accompanies the governor, and their three young children were not involved in the accident or in any of the vehicles at the time of the crash. READ NEXT: Ron DeSantis' 2024 Presidential Campaign Raises Over $150 Million Funds Ron DeSantis 2024 Presidential Campaign Spent Too Much Money, Said Officials The car accident comes after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' White House campaign has recently experienced financial challenges, leading to significant staff cuts, per BBC. More than a third of the campaign's staff, totaling 38 jobs across various departments, has been let go as part of an effort to "streamline operations," according to a statement from his campaign manager, Generra Peck. Reports suggest that the campaign has spent substantial money in the two months since DeSantis declared his candidacy for the 2024 presidential race. This spending, coupled with what is described as a disappointing start to the campaign, has prompted top officials to implement a campaign "reset." During a meeting with leading campaign contributors and bundlers, campaign officials acknowledged that money had been expended on unsuccessful operations. They pledged to make further changes as DeSantis aims to rebound from the initial setback and strengthen his campaign going forward. The campaign is now aiming to adopt a leaner and more "insurgent" approach in its future efforts, indicating a shift in strategy and resource management to improve its campaign's prospects. "Something needs to change, and there needs to be a new ignition," a leading DeSantis donor told Fox News. Ron DeSantis Campaign Aide Fired After Posting Neo-Nazi Meme Video A campaign staffer working for Ron DeSantis has been fired after sharing an online video that used Nazi imagery with the Florida governor's face. The staffer, Nate Hochman, was a 25-year-old member of the campaign communications team and had previously written for well-known publications such as The National Review and The New York Times. Over the weekend, Hochman shared a video on an anonymous pro-DeSantis Twitter account. The video featured a meme template associated with far-right and neo-fascist creators. In the video, a "wojack" character is depicted as unhappy with news footage of former President Donald Trump. The Florida state seal turns into the Nazi-appropriated Sonnenrad symbol, with Governor DeSantis superimposed on the icon in front of soldiers marching in formation. The video was retweeted by Hochman before it was deleted, as reported by The Independent. Further investigation indicates that Hochman had retweeted posts from the anonymous account on at least six other occasions. READ MORE: Ron DeSantis Net Worth This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Gov. DeSantis involved in car accident in Tennessee - From WPLG Local 10 The decomposed human remains found at a remote campsite in Gunnison County, Colorado, earlier this month have been identified as two adult sisters and a teenage boy, per CBS News. The initial discovery was made by a hiker near the Gold Creek Campground in an eastern section of the county. The hiker found one of the bodies and promptly reported it to the authorities on July 9. Deputies responding to the report found two more bodies early the following morning. The deceased have been identified as sisters Rebecca Vance, aged 42 at the time of her death, and Christine Vance, 41. The third victim was Rebecca's 14-year-old son. All three lived in Colorado Springs. The exact cause of death has not been determined yet. However, Gunnison County Coroner Michael Barnes has indicated that an extended period of living in the outdoor winter elements, coupled with malnutrition, is likely to significantly contribute to their deaths. Toxicology reports for the two adult sisters are still pending and may provide further insights into the circumstances surrounding their passing. READ NEXT: 3 Colorado Teens Arrested After Killing a Woman on a Rock-Throwing Spree Trio Wants to Live Off the Grid The human remains of the two adult sisters and the teenage boy were found in different locations within the remote wooded campsite. Two of the bodies were discovered inside a small, zipped-up tent, while the third body was found outside the camp, according to Fox News. Personal belongings, tarps, and a lean-to made from local logs over a firepit were found at the scene, indicating that the group had been camping and trying to create shelter and warmth. According to information from family members, the trio had embarked on the camping trip in July 2022 with plans to live off the grid. The campsite contained empty food cans, books, and a restroom area, suggesting they had prepared for outdoor survival and foraging. It is surmised that the group may have encountered unexpected challenges, such as rapidly changing weather conditions, leading them to enter survival mode within the tent. Colorado Sisters Have No Outdoor Survival Experience, Says Stepsister Trevala Jara, the stepsister of Rebecca and Christine Vance, revealed that the two women had informed her of their plans last year, The Gazette noted. Rebecca expressed fear about the state of the world and was determined to protect her son and their sister. In early August, shortly before departing for Gunnison County, Colorado, the Vance sisters visited Jara's home in Security to say goodbye and left some family possessions there. Jara and her husband, Tommy, attempted to persuade them not to embark on their journey, fearing for their safety due to their lack of outdoor survival experience. They were concerned that watching internet videos on living off the grid would not adequately prepare them for the challenges they might face. However, the Vance sisters were determined to carry out their plans and did not disclose their destination to anyone except Jara and her husband. To increase their chances of survival, the Jaras offered the use of their remote property in Hartsel, but Rebecca declined the offer. Jara received the devastating news of her sisters' deaths on July 11, just two days after their bodies were discovered in a remote campsite in Colorado. READ MORE: Colorado Dentist Kills Wife This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: 3 badly decomposing bodies found in remote Colorado campsite - From FOX31 Denver A nationwide issue Wednesday where Verizon wireless customers had problems making outgoing call affected some customers in the Lehigh Valley. Verizon customers making calls were told all circuits are busy, officials said. In a broadcast Wednesday morning, the Lehigh County 911 dispatch center let system users know to use an alternate carrier or the non-emergency number to contact them. There are no issues with 911 call delivery in any way at all, Lehigh Countys Director of General Services Richard Molchany said. The issue was between Verizon Wireless calls and delivery to Verizon ten-digit landlines. Officials in counties in Tennessee, Georgia and Maryland reported similar problems. Verizon said an issue caused intermittent call failures from cellphone users to some business landline numbers, and engineers resolved the issue as of 10:14 a.m. Downdetector.com reported a spike in Verizon outages between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. We are aware of a national disruption impacting Verizon Wireless users making outgoing calls to 410 numbers. This issue is not impacting emergency calls to 911. To contact a non-emergency number, please consider using a landline, an alternative cell carrier, or calling 311. Baltimore County (@BaltCoGov) July 26, 2023 Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Two weeks after the sighting of the limpkin in our region - a bird that, until recently, had never been seen as far north as Pennsylvania - another bird not usually found here has been spotted in the same area. The hudsonian godwit was first spotted at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Clay Township, Lancaster County on July 19, according to the Lancaster County Bird Club. Portions of the wildlife management area also extend into Lebanon County. READ MORE: Birdwatchers share photos of rare limpkin sighting in Pa. It is a very new species to pretty much everyone here, for obvious reasons, said Brian Collett, environmental education specialist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Its not really a spot where you expect to see them. Like the limpkin, the hudsonian godwit is a wading bird, likely drawn to the Middle Creek area due to the water drawn down from the nearby Middle Creek Reservoir. That gives the wading birds and shore birds some great habitat for them to use, Collett said. Im sure thats one of the reasons that made it attractive to them. The godwit isnt as far out of its normal habitat range as the limpkin, though - while not usually seen in our area, the godwit has been found along the east coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Collett said it wouldnt be completely crazy to see one in Delaware, for example. The unusual thing is that the hudsonian godwit is normally found along bigger coastlines, such as along the Atlantic, the Mississippi River or the Hudson Bay, from which the species takes its name. But the range for the species is vast, as theyre known to head as far north as the northern tips of Alaska and Canada to breed. And some even extend as far south as the southeastern coastlines of South America for the return trip. The wide range of the godwit is an example of the absolutely incredible and mind-blowing capabilities of birds during migration, said Ted Nichols II, president of the Lancaster County Bird Club, who added that the distance they can travel is absolutely mind boggling to think about. Nichols added that the sightings of these two uncommon species in our area within two weeks of each other is no coincidence. He credits the Pennsylvania Game Commissions stewardship of the area for providing an appealing habitat to birds such as these. Its a testament to the strategic and targeted habitat management being done by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and their employees at the site, Nichols said. As they continue to manage mudflat habitat timed with the fall migration of waders and shorebirds, who knows what rarity will show up next if people stay observant! The bird was last seen on July 22, with members of the LCBC noting that it had moved on by the end of this past weekend. Collet said that you just never know how long these birds will stick around, so theres no guarantee that visitors will spot one again. The limpkin was here for three and a half days, then all of a sudden, he just wasnt, Collett said. Theyve got a mind of their own, so you never know when theyre going to pick up and take off. All I can tell people is, you cant see him if you dont come and look for him. This story was edited to add additional information on sightings by the LCBC. Pennsylvanias attorney general announced the first guilty plea in the offices investigation into child sexual assaults among Jehovahs Witness congregations in the state. The investigative grand jury has charged a total of 14 people, including a man accused of alleged sexual abuse when he lived in Bethlehem. The guilty plea involves a Georgia man accused of sexual assault and exploitation of two minors in Berks County. Jesse Hill, 52, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Berks County Court to two counts of rape, Attorney General Michelle Henry said. A message left for Hills defense attorney Wednesday morning was not immediately returned. Hills sentencing will be scheduled for a later date, following a sex offender assessment to determine if he is a sexually violent predator, prosecutors said. Hill was accused of sexually assaulting and exploiting two minors whom he met through the Jehovahs Witnesses community in the 1990s. Hill used his milling business to attract young boys from his Jehovahs Witnesses congregation to his property for parties, prosecutors said. While there, Hill promised the boys alcohol, marijuana and pornography, authorities said. He exposed himself to children, groped them, and forced them to perform sex acts, authorities said. Through this guilty plea, the defendant admitted that he used his good standing within his religious community to access potential victims, gain their trust, and then sexually assault them, Henry said in a news release. These crimes are abhorrent, and we are wholeheartedly committed to holding those accountable who hurt children. To any victims who have not yet disclosed their stories to law enforcement, I want you to know that if you speak up, our office will listen. The grand jury is still investigating accusations. Any Jehovahs Witnesses wishing to report sexual abuse should contact the Pennsylvania attorney generals clergy abuse hotline at 888-538-8541, and anyone with information regarding child sexual abuse can report it at ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313. PREVIOUS STORIES Pennsylvania State Police said Wednesday troopers are investigating a series of vehicle break-ins in Portland. Police were called about 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, July 18, for the reports of thefts from vehicles in the 500 block of Delaware Avenue in the Northampton County borough, according to a news release from state police at Belast. Mostly money was stolen from a 2009 Dodge, 2013 Subaru and 2015 Chevrolet belonging to area residents, police said. Video surveillance shows a possible perpetrator dressed in all black with a black ski mask and black gloves, the release states. Police asked anyone with information that may aid in the investigation to call state police at Belfast at 610-759-6106. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. The announcement of free IVF treatment for Irish couples with no children has been praised as "transformative" by Laois TD Sean Fleming, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. Free fertility services will be publicly funded from September for couples who are eligible. "Fianna Fail's commitment to introduce a publicly funded model of care for fertility treatment is soon to become a reality for the thousands of couples experiencing infertility. "I am glad to say it is now finally being delivered by Fianna Fail Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly. "It represents a transformative step where the dream of parenthood becomes a reality for every aspiring parent, irrespective of their financial status. "Work is continuing on the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill which will allow Government to improve accessibility to Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) treatments. I look forward to this Bill progressing and ultimately seeing AHR services being expanded to wider categories so that we can help more people to fulfil their wish of starting a family," Minister Fleming said. Eligible patients will be entitled to one full cycle of IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) or ICSI (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection) treatment which will be initially provided in HSE-approved private clinics of their choice. To be eligible for publicly funded treatment, couples must be resident in Ireland and be referred to a Regional Fertility Hub through their GP. They must be in a relationship for at least one year and have no children from this relationship. Some people will not be considered eligible, including patients with no known clinical cause of infertility, women over 41 and men over 59. Women must also have a BMI of between 18.5 and 30. Minister for Children Roderic OGorman has said a report from the health watchdog into the treatment of unaccompanied children who arrive in Ireland was very concerning. The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) published a report on Wednesday into the Separated Children Seeking International Protection service, under the remit of the States child and family agency, Tusla. The inspection focused on governance, childrens rights, the quality and safety of child protection and welfare services that unaccompanied children received, and found that it was not compliant across all 10 standards assessed. It said that due to staffing challenges last year, there was a crisis response focusing on unaccompanied childrens basic care needs and accommodation, rather than on their wider protection and welfare needs. Our separated childrens services has seen a very significant increase in the number of children its been dealing with, (due to) a combination of the war in Ukraine and the increased levels of migration, Mr OGorman told RTE Radio. So, prior to 2022 it would have been dealing with maybe 30-40 children per year, and right now it has 270 children. The significant majority in that cohort now are older young people, so in the 16-17 age category, so it has changed the demographic, the make-up of that group has changed. Nevertheless, the report from Hiqa is very concerning. Any report that Hiqa produces to me that suggests that children and young people are vulnerable is something I have my department take very seriously. The Hiqa report also noted appropriate follow-ups in cases where children went missing were not carried out. For example, the report said that in one case where a child flagged as at risk of exploitation went missing, there was no evidence of follow-up discussion with An Garda Siochana around the risk to the child of returning to exploitation. It also said there was limited evidence of learnings from incidents where children went missing from care. Mr OGorman said that any child who goes missing is a source of real concern. Lets be very clear about that, no child should be going missing. But the vast majority of children who do abscond from care arrangements are returned to those care arrangements. We have close working relationships with An Garda Siochana, we now have a Tusla chief social worker embedded in the Garda National Protective Services Unit. So we have that ongoing engagement with them so we can follow up on those cases. He said that he plans to engage with Tusla on how services can be strengthened for children in the States care. A survey on how accessible Portlaoise is to wheelchair users has found some damning issues. Accessiblity to the Laois town's busy train station is a problem, along with older footpaths and some council houses occupied by wheelchair users. Motorists are also blamed for parking at drop kerbs, so people in wheelchairs can't cross the road. The Irish Wheelchair Association has given a list of recommendations to Laois County Council, who say they will be fixed, but "incrementally". Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley tabled a motion to the recent meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, asking them to implement the recommendations. "We in the Housing SPC had a presentation form the association. It was an eye opener for me as we could see first hand the cars parked at drop kerbs so anybody in a wheelchair couldn't get down off the path. "There are lots of trip hazards. They told us the train station was a fierce obstacle compared to Portarlington which is very wheelchair friendly. "A different road service that 500,000 or 600,000 was spent on is a problem for them. It is important to hear that feedback. I can't understand why their views were not taken into consideration when these council works were done. "An individual who was housed and is in a wheelchair is struggling to get in and out of their house. "I've asked them to do the same presentation at the full council meeting. We need to learn lessons," Cllr Dwane Stanley said. Cllr Barry Walsh had compiled the report after taking part in Make Way Day in Portlaoise. "It was based on the survey, I was wheeled around in a wheelchair, it would open your eyes. I presented this to the Disability Steering Committee and tho the SPC and I'm happy to do it to the full council," he said. He said that Cllr Paschal McEvoy and Cllr John Joe Fennelly took part in the day in their own areas of Stradbally and Abbeyleix. "In fairness to the engineers, all the new footpaths recognise the issues, it's the old ones, as well as street furniture that need to be looked at. "The IWA need to be kept informed and their voices heard. All of us need to get behind it," Cllr Walsh said. Simon Walton is the Director of Services for roads. "On Make Way Day we ensured that all area offices participated. We have the report the IWA produced, and we are happy to implement the measures in so far as we can. Local people have specific challenges regarding infrastructure and we're happy to support that. We have arranged meetings with the IWA and it will be incremental but ongoing," Mr Walton said. Cllr Fennelly said he has a brother who uses a wheelchair, and cited the narrow parking spaces in Lyster Square as a problem for large wheelchair vans. Cllr Thomasina Fennelly who is also on the Housing SPC said she was shocked at the report. "People in wheelchairs are having difficulty getting down the Main Street. The unfairness is pronounced," she said. Laois County Council has given the green light for a new Gym and Cafe in the centre of Portlaoise. Plans to transform a former Portlaoise bookshop into a three storey Cafe and Gym were approved subject to ten conditions. John Watchorne lodged an application with Laois County Council for the change of use at the former bookshop on Bull Lane in Portlaoise last Month. He was seeking a change of use from retail (bookshop) to cafe on section of ground floor with gym changing rooms, toilet and shower facilities, gym use to 1st and 2nd floor to include internal changes and associated site works. The Watchorne family own the nearby Jerimiah Grant Bar and Eatery in Portlaoise and also own a pub, supermarket and Gym in Mountmellick. The plans were approved this week subject to ten conditions. The move will bring the old bookstore building, which has been vacant for some time, back into use again. The centrally located building used to house Laois Education Supplies and after that Easons, both of which were run by the late John McNamee and his wife Betty. Mr McNamee was a great advocate for reading and had a passion for books. He was President of the European Booksellers Federation from 2005 to 2014, the first Irish person to hold the post. He died in January 2015 at the age of 59. Approval of the planning application should now paves the way for the development of the new Gym and Cafe. Uisce Eireann is working in partnership with Kildare County Council to secure the water supply for homes and businesses in Naas with essential water main upgrade works planned for Thursday night. The works are being delivered as part of Uisce Eireanns National Leakage Reduction Programme which is providing a more reliable water supply to Irish communities by reducing high levels of leakage and improving water quality. To reduce the impact on homes and businesses, the upgrade works are scheduled to take place overnight, on Thursday, 27 July, from 10pm until 6am the following morning. Typically, it takes two to three hours following restoration time for normal supply to be fully restored to all areas. Water supply will be maintained to Naas General Hospital. During these works, customers in Naas and surrounding areas may experience intermittent interruptions to their water supply including low pressure and/or outages. These works will enable Uisce Eireann to better manage water pressure issues in Naas and also reduce the frequency of bursts impacting customers. Speaking about the works, Joe Carroll, Regional Delivery Lead at Uisce Eireann said, Uisce Eireann understands that this type of work can be inconvenient and working in partnership with Kildare County Council, we will make every effort to minimise the disruption that these necessary works may cause. Carroll added, Customers may experience some temporary discolouration of water following the works and occasionally issues such as internal airlocks may arise. Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Eireann will receive direct communications from us for planned and unplanned outages lasting more than four hours. Uisce Eireanns customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on Twitter @IWCare with any queries. For updates please visit the Water Supply Updates section of the Uisce Eireann website or set your location on the website www.water.ie. Since 2018, Uisce Eireann has invested over 500 million to upgrade the underground water network across the country through the delivery of the Leakage Reduction Programme. Uisce Eireann is also investing a further 250 million annually up to the end of 2030 directed at fixing leaks and replacing pipes to provide a more reliable water supply. To find out more, visit www.water.ie/reducingleaks. Uisce Eireann has adopted the Regional Water Resources Plan North West (RWRP-NW), which will safeguard public health, support growth and meet the challenges of climate change across the North West region over the next 25 years. The National Water Resources Plan (NWRP) is Irelands first 25-year strategic plan enabling us to move towards safe, secure, reliable, and sustainable public water supplies for all of our customers and communities, whilst safeguarding public health and the environment. Following on from the adoption of the NWRP Framework Plan and associated reports in 2021, the NWRP was split into 4 separate regional plans and, following a public consultation on the second regional plan, the RWRP-NW has been updated and adopted by Uisce Eireann along with a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Statement and an Appropriate Assessment Determination. A consultation report summarising feedback received during the public consultation, along with the RWRP-NW and all associated reports, can be viewed and downloaded at https://www.water.ie/ projects/strategic-plans/ national-water-resources/rwrp/ north-west/. Alternatively, our team can be contacted at nwrp@water.ie or 1840 46 36 76, by those who may request view the RWRP-NW, AA Determination and SEA statement at one of our offices. Commenting on the RWRP-NW final Framework Plan, Mairead Conlon, Water Resources Strategy Lead with Uisce Eireann said, Safeguarding Irelands precious water resources is a top priority for Uisce Eireann. With increasing pressure to meet the current demand for water as a result of population growth, climate change, and our changing environmental regulations, it is essential that we plan ahead. Mairead Conlon, Water Resources Strategy Lead with Uisce Eireann. The Regional Water Resources Plan North West will enable us to do that in a sustainable way, whilst also supporting economic development and population growth across the region. How we plan our water resources today will determine the water supply we can provide now and into the future. The Three Pillar approach of Use Less, Lose Less and Supply Smarter allows Uisce Eireann to consider the broadest possible range of solutions through the development of the regional plans. We would like to thank everyone who made a submission to the consultation process. The Regional Water Resource Plan- North West is the third of our regional plans and has now been adopted. There were 39 submissions received in total, including responses from the Office of the Planning Regulator, Ibec, and local authorities in relation to national and regional policy for growth and development. The public consultation ran from 22 November 2022 to 21 February 2023. Hard copies of the public consultation materials were available for public display in 29 local authority offices and at two county libraries for the duration of the consultation period. Uisce Eireann also facilitated webinars for interested members of the public and both webinars and in-person briefings for elected representatives. Phase 2 of the NWRP comprises the development of four Regional Water Resources Plans (RWRPs): Regional Water Resources Plan - Eastern & Midlands Regional Water Resources Plan - North West Regional Water Resources Plan - South West Regional Water Resources Plan - South East Each regional plan will comprise of both a non-statutory screening and scoping consultation with environmental authorities, followed by a statutory public consultation. Consultations on the Regional Water Resources Plan Eastern and Midlands and South West are now complete and the plans have been updated and adopted. Consultation on the last regional plan for the South East was launched on 11 July and will run until 3 October 2023. The British and Irish governments need to work with a common strategy to exert pressure for the return of the Stormont Assembly, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said. Irelands premier said he regretted that the two governments had not worked more closely over the restoration of the powersharing institutions for quite some time. Mr Varadkar also said he was hopeful that Stormont would return in the autumn, but conceded it was not an expectation at this stage. The DUP collapsed the Stormont executive last year in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements created by the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Windsor Framework struck by London and Brussels earlier this year sought to reduce the red tape on goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK while maintaining the dual market access. However, the DUP has insisted the new accord does not go far enough to address its concerns around sovereignty and the application of EU law in Northern Ireland, and the party is maintaining its blockade of Stormont until it receives further legal assurances from the UK Government. Senior civil servants have been left running Stormont departments in the meantime. Mr Varadkar said he intended to visit Northern Ireland for a round of meetings with political parties next month. He said: Were still working as best we can with the British Government and the five main parties to have the Assembly and executive up and running in the autumn. One thing Im saying very strongly to the British Government is that we need to have a common strategy, that we need to work hand in glove, that we need together to put pressure on the parties to come into government. We havent really had that approach for quite some time, I regret that we dont. Im continuing to say to our UK counterparts that the right way forward is an agreed strategy, hand in glove, hand in hand approach between the British and Irish governments, because thats when Northern Ireland works best, when the British and Irish governments work together, and are honest brokers, and dont particularly take the side of nationalism or the side of unionists, and I would like us to get back to that point. The Taoiseach said he would like to see the Stormont institutions up and running before an investment conference planned for Belfast in September and a British Irish Council meeting in Dublin in November. He said: I think it would be a shame if that wasnt possible. I am also conscious as well that there are electoral cycles here. We have local European elections in June, theres a British general election due next year as well. I think if we dont kind of grab that window that exists in the autumn, therell be a tendency to say lets wait until the elections are out of the way and that opportunity might be lost. I think that would be a real shame. Mr Varadkar said the Irish Government was not party to discussions taking place between the Westminster government and the DUP over post-Brexit trading concerns. He said: I do still hope that well have the Assembly and executive up and running in September; it would certainly be nice to have it up and running for the investment conference. That would be a very positive thing if the Minister for the Economy, the Minister of Finance, the First Minister, deputy First Minister, can be there together, making the case for investment in Northern Ireland together. But theres a difference between hope and expectation. I certainly do hope that we can have institutions up and running in September. I think its fair to say its not an expectation at this stage. He said he had sought assurances that any deal between the UK Government and the DUP would not undermine the Good Friday Agreement and the Windsor Framework. We have that assurance repeatedly, from the prime minister and the Secretary of State (Chris Heaton-Harris). A LIMERICK retailer has announced that it has achieved one of the highest obtainable food safety standards globally. Richardsons, a fresh food supplier to top chefs located on the Ballysimon road, has received a FSSC 22000 Certification. Matthew Richardson, Managing Director, Richardsons, said: We are so proud, the FSSC 22000 Certification is testament to our commitment to the quality, safety and wellbeing of both our customers and consumers across Ireland. Weve grown this business from strength to strength over 40 years while always focusing on our core values. Our committed, experienced and passionate team work hard every day to serve and delight our customers. This ethos is at the core of our family business, enabling us to survive and thrive, even in the face of huge multinational competitors in our marketplace, he continued. Richardsons expect it will further strengthen their offering to corporate workplace kitchens. We already partner many high-profile multinationals who chose Richardsons to sustainably source locally produced fresh foods, focusing on taste, provenance and value. Workplace meals are fresh, nutritious and seasonal, while Richardsons also ensure a route to market for our community of food producers. Everyone's a winner, says Matthew Richardson. There are currently over 50 companies in Ireland certified to FSSC 22000 by NSAI. Richardsons were the 49th company to achieve certification since its introduction. Rooted in fresh foods since 1972, Richardsons has become the food partner of choice for some of Irelands leading hotels, restaurants and corporate catering companies. This certificate is a world class accreditation for the family run business, and is a step in the right direction in terms of corporation growth. Certified by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), the FSSC 22000 Standard is fully recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and demonstrates that a company has a robust food safety management system in place. NSAIs CEO, Geraldine Larkin congratulated them by saying how Richardsons will benefit going forward: Taking this approach prepares a food business to take on everyday challenges. A RECORD number of sold-out events were attended by guests at the latest international festival in Limerick city. The Limerick Bastille Day Wild Geese Festival, organised by Alliance Francaise Limerick, saw thousands of people flock to events for its fifth consecutive year. French Ambassador to Ireland HE Vincent Guerend attended two days of this years festivities, with events on the programme that ranged from a gala eight-course Bastille Day Banquet in the Milk Market, to a talk by Irish/ French rugby referee, Tady Walsh. Other events included that of a military parade, and a film screening and musical tribute to Patrick Sarsfield in Saint Marys Cathedral. The city's annual summer festival, commemorating Limerick's Wild Geese heritage and celebrating the friendship between Ireland and our closest EU neighbour France, took place on Saturday July 15 and Sunday, July 16. The Bastille Day weekend banquet had been sold out for the past two weeks, with the Ambassador of France Vincent Guerend and Mayor Gerald Mitchell among the 120 guests. The festival ended with a farewell to the Wild Geese on the Shannon River, organised in partnership with the Curraghour Boat Club and an evening at Mickey Martin's. The weekend of festivities was organised with the support of the French Embassy and the council. A PROBATION report has been sought in the case of a Limerick a man who acted as a lookout while an accomplice broke into a parked car in Nenagh. Noel Power, with an address in Rhebogue Hill, Rhebogue in the city pleaded guilty to a theft charge relating to an incident at Hanly Place, Nenagh, on August 22, 2021. Nenagh District Court heard that a car had been broken into at 11am that day and items valued at a total of 300 stolen. They have not been recovered. Mr Powers solicitor, David Peters, told the court that the theft had been a joint enterprise. He said his client had been with another gentleman and his client had been the lookout while the incident was happening. The reason the property had not been recovered, he said, was because his client would say he didnt have the property. The court heard Mr Power had 165 previous convictions, including 20 for theft. Judge Elizabeth MacGrath adjourned the case to July 27 to facilitate the preparation of a victim impact statement and a probation report. A PUBLIC meeting organised by Limerick IFA heard that CIE and TII must implement proper agreements with IFA to ensure that farmers are treated fairly and covered by an open and transparent infrastructure code of practice. Limerick IFA held the informative discussion in the Woodlands House Hotel on July 12 to discuss two multi-million infrastructure projects in the county. The Foynes to Limerick railway line, which closed in 2001, is being reopened with a major refurbishment of the railway line and fencing. Secondly, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is tasked with building a new Limerick to Foynes road, including a bypass of Adare. The total spend between the two is slightly over 0.5 billion. Limerick IFA chair Sean Lavery said both TII and CIE were invited in good time to attend this combined information session for the many farmers involved. Some farmers are impacted by both projects. Limerick IFA is very disappointed that both TII and CIE declined to attend. It is especially so as both are public bodies spending public money on public projects impacting many farmers. TII and CIE are spending public money on public projects and need to engage with stakeholders in a transparent way. Farmers are a significant stakeholder in the delivery of both projects and must be treated with respect, said Mr Lavery. The Limerick IFA chair said it is not good enough to say that they will deal with farmers on a one-to-one basis. Individual farmers may feel pressurised to agree to something not in their best interest in their own farmyard. By not attending this meeting in Adare TII and CIE are dealing in a self-serving way and are not acknowledging farmer stakeholders requirements for best advice, said Mr Lavery. The meeting drew a crowd of over 100 people and such was the interest that the last 20 attendees had to stand at the side and in the hallway. Presentations were made by Kevin Kinsella, of Agspace, on progress on the projects to date and what happens next. Paul OBrien, IFAs environment chair gave an update on the negotiations with TII and the lack of a Roads Co-operation Agreement with IFA. Richard Rea, of Rea Group Agri and Farm Business Consultants gave an insight into preparing a farmers compensation claim and negotiations with TII/Limerick County Council. Questions from the floor expressed concern that individual farmers felt isolated and exposed when TII and CIE representatives arrived in their yards requesting access for works etc. They have not been advised of their rights and in some cases, they feel they have no choice. The advice from the top table was to always take time to consider their options and seek independent professional advice from solicitors, agricultural consultants/valuers and accountants. It was agreed that at a bare minimum that CIE should implement a code of practice like the one currently in place with ESB/Eirgrid. This agreement provides for a structured process to agree access and resolve difficulties that inevitably arise, said Mr Lavery. Much of the meeting was devoted to the new road project which will have a major impact on over 100 land owners. They were very worried about the impact on their farm operations and the impact during construction. The lack of a roads agreement with IFA and the protections that it provides for landowners was discussed at length. Individual scenarios were discussed, and some advice given, said the Limerick IFA chair. IFA's environment chair Mr OBrien said that they remained available to sit down with both CIE and TII to progress a meaningful agreement. He added that TII and Limerick City and County Council had given commitments to the IFA that any new agreement will apply to the Foynes-Limerick road and this must be honoured in full. The loudest cheer on the night was for one farmer who suggested that when the forthcoming notices to treat are issued they should be refused/burned and access to lands denied in the absence of a new and improved agreement. The notice to treat is the exercise of the compulsory purchase powers. One concrete action agreed at the meeting was that the newly -elected Mayor Gerald Mitchell agreed to propose a motion at the next council meeting requesting TII to renew a new and improved roads co-operation agreement with IFA. New Delhi: Jindal Stainless Limited on Wednesday said it reported a consolidated profit after tax (PAT) of 738 crore during the first quarter of the current financial year, a 45% year-on-year (YoY) rise on the back of growth in the domestic market. The company further reported 25% YoY growth in net revenue from 8,119 crore in the same period last fiscal year to 10,184 crore in the current fiscal year. The companys standalone sales volume for the quarter stood at 548,613 metric tonnes (MT), up 54% YoY, buoyed by macroeconomic factors, notwithstanding the global slump in sales and market volatility. The company attributed this growth in sales to the healthy growth in the domestic market and the government push on infrastructure. Sales volume grew across diverse segments. Commenting on the performance of the company, Managing Director Abhyuday Jindal said, We have recently expanded our capacity, hence, the attention will be on stabilizing and synergizing the expanded units. We will continue to maintain a sharp focus on the domestic market and capitalize exports, wherever possible. However, since the Indian stainless steel industry is operating well below its capacity, it needs government support for a level-playing field." Focusing on the international market, the company reported a growth of 17% in its exports to the US and Europe. The company is currently targeting the Middle East, as they see good growth coming from there. South America (including Mexico) is an open market, and South Korea seems a good region as the pickup in volumes has been observed there," Jindal added. He said the import of subsidized stainless steel mainly from China along with a lack of countervailing duty (CVD) on them continued to be a menace for the domestic industry. As much as one-third of the Indian stainless steel market is captured by imports. This has severely affected particularly the MSME sector, which constitutes nearly 45% of Indias stainless steel manufacturing capacity, with most of them still operating at 40% capacity. The industry is still awaiting a positive decision by the government on imposing a countervailing duty (CVD) to curb dumping of mass and subsidized stainless steel in India by China," he added. The company expects flattish growth over the next quarter, because of the excessive dumping done by Chinese imports, unless there is a respite in the form of CVD. Mint had reported that the government is discussing introducing the duty. JSL also completed the acquisition of Jindal United Steel Limited (JUSL) by acquiring the remaining 74% equity stake for a cash consideration of 958 crore. Commenting on their interest to acquire raw material mines, he said: We only want to focus on major raw materials that we consume, basically nickel and chrome. We dont have plans on cards immediately, but as a company, if any such opportunity arises, we will keep an eye on them." The company recently acquired 49% stake in an Indonesia-based nickel pig iron company. We were only able to secure 14% of its nickel requirement and hence it is not a major raw material securitization. Since we recently entered into it, it's good enough, but the operation will be completed by FY25," he added. A group of hedge funds is devising a plan to cut off about $1 billion meant to help victims of opioid addiction, opening the way to keep some of the money for themselves. Mallinckrodt, one of Americas largest manufacturers of opioids, last year agreed to pay $1.7 billion to resolve thousands of lawsuits brought by state and local governments and opioid-addicted individuals, who accused the company of helping cause a public-health crisis. The settlement funds, to be paid through 2030, were meant to help state health departments buy lifesaving overdose reversal drugs like Narcan and pay treatment costs for people who took prescription opioids. However, hedge funds that lent billions to Mallinckrodt are backing a plan for the company to get out of the deal with about $1.3 billion still unpaid, according to people familiar with the discussions. A group of hedge funds, including Greenwich, Conn.-based Silver Point Capital, is in negotiations with Mallinckrodts board to give them control of the business through a bankruptcy filing, according to people familiar with the discussions. Other hedge funds that hold the companys debt, including Bracebridge Capital and Alta Fundamental Advisers, have been negotiating with Mallinckrodt over its potential plans to file for chapter 11, according to public filings. As part of a prearranged deal with the hedge funds, Mallinckrodt would propose to write off about $1 billion from what it still owes to addiction victims and state and local governments, while making a one-time payment of roughly $250 million, the people familiar said. The funds believe that Mallinckrodt promised too much when it agreed to the settlement, according to people familiar with the matter, and that the companys money first belongs to senior lenders like themselves, not to addiction victims or state governments. They also argued that if Mallinckrodt continued to make payments to the opioid trust, it would hurt the companys finances and could breach legal obligations to investors, according to people familiar with the matter. They also say that Mallinckrodt should restructure in bankruptcy because its business is in decline, the people familiar said. The company would cite declining sales of its non-opioid drugs to justify filing for bankruptcy protection, the people familiar said. They are planning to use bankruptcy to push down what Mallinckrodt promised to pay us," said Joseph Steinfeld, a lawyer representing thousands of people who say they were addicted to Mallinckrodts pills and who has been informed of the companys plans. This is devastating to our clients." The funds under their plan would become Mallinckrodts new owners following an exit from chapter 11, writing down some of their billions in debt in exchange for stakes in the restructured company, the people said. They could stand to lose out if the companys stock plummets in value after it exits from bankruptcy, but they could also be big winners if Mallinckrodt buys back stock or pays out dividends to its new shareholders, the people said. Mallinckrodt said it is engaged in ongoing discussions with its financial stakeholders, who proactively reached out to the company, to determine the best path forward in light of our debt and opioid settlement obligations." Silver Point declined to comment. Bracebridge Capital and Alta Fundamental Advisers didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. Mallinckrodt was the first opioid manufacturer to reach a global settlement with state attorneys general, municipal governments and millions of people who sued drugmakers for understating the risks of addiction to its prescription opioids. After agreeing to settle the lawsuits, they released Mallinckrodt and its executives from future liability for its sale of prescription opioids and the company was allowed to keep manufacturing the drugs. The companys bankers also forecast at the time that Mallinckrodt would make enough money to afford the $1.7 billion in payments. While some of Mallinckrodts non-opioid drug businesses have struggled since it left bankruptcy, the company hasnt signaled this year that it was at risk of defaulting on what it owes under the opioid settlement. During a public earnings call in May, Mallinckrodt executives praised the companys financial performance and said that it had a strong balance sheet. Around the time that Silver Point and other funds approached the company over plans to back out of the settlement in the spring, it had about $480 million of cash on its balance sheet and around $200 million available to be drawn under a bank line of credit, and it wasnt in default under any of its debts, according to public filings and people familiar with the matter. After a $450 million upfront payment last year, Mallinckrodt promised to make yearly installments over the following eight years of between $150 million and $200 million to the settlement trust, which would distribute the funds to addiction victims and local governments. However, the company only made the initial payment and skipped the second $200 million payment due in June after hedge funds began to lobby Mallinckrodt to sever payments due to the trust. Its really outrageous, and it just angers all the victims that are out there," said Kay Scarpone, a resident of New Hampshire whose son Joseph died from a heroin overdose in 2015, a month before his 26th birthday. Joseph started using heroin after he was prescribed opioids by a doctor, she said. Scarpone, along with other bereaved families, said she hoped to use settlement funds from Mallinckrodt to fund drug awareness programs for young people. You think you go one step forward, and then its always three steps back," she said. In retrospect, giving Mallinckrodt eight years to pay was a mistake, said Steinfeld, the lawyer representing thousands of addiction victims. It would have been better to get a lump sum from the company," said Steinfeld. We didnt want to wait that long, but we agreed to wait in an effort to assist the company." Beginning in 2018, Mallinckrodt began to face a litany of lawsuits from state attorneys general who claimed that the company had understated how addictive its pain pills were. Between 2006 and 2014, Mallinckrodt manufactured 2.3 billion opioid pills, making it the single largest producer in the U.S. during that period, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Court papers filed in 2019 in connection with a federal investigation into the company showed that Mallinckrodt sales representatives discussed how consumers of their opioids were becoming addicted, with one writing the pills were just like Doritoskeep eating. Well make more." Mallinckrodt filed for bankruptcy in 2020, citing the growing cost of fighting litigation. In a chapter 11 plan, Mallinckrodt could seek to treat what it owes to governments and victims as renegotiable, like any other debt. Such a plan could face legal challenges from other stakeholders and would need bankruptcy court approval. The trust has reasons to negotiate with Mallinckrodt, as it could wind up recovering very little from its $1.3 billion claim if it refuses to engage with the company, the people familiar with the matter said. Because Mallinckrodt and past executives received liability releases in the opioid settlement, addiction victims and state governments may have limited legal recourse to go after the funds. Representatives of the trust didnt respond to requests for comment. With their options limited, state governments that are supposed to receive the lions share of the $1.7 billion are weighing their next move, and some are warning they may sue if the company tries to wipe out what it owes to them. Florida, which is supposed to receive tens of millions of dollars from the company, will consider all options, including seeking liquidation of Mallinckrodt, if it refiles for bankruptcy protection," said Kylie Mason, a spokeswoman for the Florida attorney generals office. Others on the front line of fighting the opioid crisis also are scrambling to cover the shortfall. Luis Garcia, a retired firefighter who lives in Boynton Beach, Fla., runs a nonprofit that administers lifesaving Narcan to overdosing opioid users. His nonprofit hoped to pay for its suppliesthe Narcan, clean needles and test stripswith money from pharmaceutical companies that sold and distributed the addictive pills. The overdose calls are still coming in, and people are dying because there isnt enough Narcan," Garcia said. We actually cant make it without the settlements." New Delhi: In another wave of engine trouble, Indias largest airline IndiGo will need to send some of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft run on Pratt & Whitney engines for inspection as the US-based engine maker has suggested accelerated inspection of 600 aircraft worldwide. We are in receipt of the information from the OEM Pratt and Whitney (P&W) regarding the outcome of the latest inspection of their engine. We are working closely with P&W to assess and minimise any potential impact to our fleet," an IndiGo spokesperson said. In India, IndiGo and Go First are the users of PW1100-run A320neo family of aircraft and industry experts estimate minimum impact on Indian airlines. The latest issue revolves around the metal used in manufacturing the parts of a PW-1100G engine. In 2019, the Indian civil aviation regulator had ordered IndiGo and Go First to modify some A320neo aircraft fitted with P&W engines due to issues related to in-flight shutdowns. P&W estimates that the PW1100 engine fleet, which powers the A320neo, will experience the most significant impact due to production volumes during this period. Based on the current assessment, P&W anticipates that by mid-September, approximately 200 PW1100 engines will be removed for enhanced inspection. Beyond the initial 200 engines, P&W also anticipates that approximately 1,000 additional PW1100 engines will need to be removed from the operating fleet for this inspection within the next 9 to 12 months, thus impacting 600 aircraft globally. ...but the exact number of engines and the timing of those removals is not yet finalized," the company said. The company had previously determined that a rare condition in powdered metal used to manufacture certain engine parts may reduce the life of those parts. As a result of this rare condition in powdered metal, Pratt instituted enhanced inspections to be performed at scheduled shop visits. Based on very recent learnings from these inspections, Pratt has now determined that the timing of these shop visits needs to be accelerated. While partner metal parts have been widely used throughout Pratt's product lines for decades, Pratt has bounded the potentially impacted material," Christopher Calio, President & Chief Operating Officer of P&Ws parent company, Raytheon Technologies Corp, said. As some of the engines that must be removed for inspection in 2023 and 2024 are already forecasted for a regular shop visit during this time period, P&W says that the incremental impact of the fleet is still under evaluation. The company has reiterated that the current production of powdered metal parts is not impacted, and it will continue to deliver both new engines and new spare parts across all product lines. Pratt is also analyzing any potential impact to other parts of its fleet, but the current expectation is that they will be less impacted based upon existing inspections, utilization profiles and maintenance intervals,"Calio said. The company is now expected to publish a service bulletin describing the inspections, then the US aviation regulator Federal Aviation Administration will likely follow up with a narrow-worthiness directive. This is obviously a difficult situation for our customers, especially given the strong demand for travel. We're truly sorry for the impact of this and we will do all we can to support our customers," Calio added. Out of IndiGos 312 aircraft, 47 are currently grounded due to maintenance work, and shortage of spare engines and parts. IndiGo signed a definitive agreement in 2012 with Pratt & Whitney for PurePower PW1100G-JM engines for 150 Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The airline had then switched to another US-based engine maker CFM for LEAP-1A engine for a total of 590 IndiGo A320neo family aircraft. Tata Steel would have to decide on the future of its UK operations within the next year as some assets are nearing the end of their operational life, managing director, TV Narendran told Economic Times. Noting that the government has also visited their sites, Narendran says "Hopefully, we will come to a conclusion in the next few months." Elaborating further, he cited that negotiations got delayed over the past two-three years due to multiple governments coming to power. "But now, the government is very keen to take it to a logical end," Narendran said adding, "The final call has to be taken within the next year." Tata Steel, which acquired the British-Dutch Corus Group in 2007, operates the UK's largest steel plant and seeks fiscal support from the British government for transitioning to cleaner steelmaking technology. The company cites high operational costs impacting profitability and necessitating government assistance for modernisation. Tata Steel UK reported a loss in Q1 due to declining demand and prices with elevated input costs. The management plans to meet British PM Rishi Sunak in September to discuss fiscal stimulus for the UK plant, expecting improved performance in the latter half from better realizations and lower energy costs, ET had reported earlier. Tata Steel's Dutch plant faced production setbacks and financial strain in the April-June period as one of its blast furnaces underwent maintenance. The Netherlands unit, a profit leader in Tata Steel's European business, was affected, and the European operations are expected to remain under pressure in the current quarter. The Dutch blast furnace is projected to resume operations only from November this year, but a turnaround in European operations is anticipated after that, according to Narendran. Tata Steel Ltd. reported a 92% decline in quarterly profit as it continues to grapple with weakness in its European operations despite better performance at its Indian business. Group net income was 6.34 billion rupees ($78 million) during April-June, down from 77.65 billion rupees a year earlier, it said in a statement Monday. That was better than analysts average estimate for a loss of 2.18 billion rupees. Sales fell 6.2% from a year earlier to 594.9 billion rupees. NEW DELHI : T.V. Narendran, who will start his new term as Tata Steel Ltds chief executive and managing director, highlighted the challenges the company faces in Europe, even as he emphasized that the Indian operations remain structurally the strongest part" of the steelmakers portfolio. The first five years were all problems, the second was more inorganic growth, and these five years, hopefully, will be more organic growth," he said. Having successfully weathered the ups and downs of a cyclical industry, Narendrans tenure was extended by five years starting in September. In an interview, he commented on a wide range of issues relevant to the company and the sector. On European operations, he said the companys operations in the Netherlands would be able to sustain itself through its earnings and support from the government, but the UK operations remain a concern. Edited Excerpts: Indian operations again have come to the rescue of the firms European operations. Is that a concern? India is structurally the strongest part of our portfolio. Thats why we want to grow in India as fast as possible. The Netherlands is unique, as it can support its own transformation and, on an ongoing basis, is not really a challenge itself. The UK (operations) is always a challenge. But investors are still a little wary about the decarbonization investment that is required to be done in Europe. So, its like this; we are comfortable that the Netherlands business can support its transformation from the cash flows that it generates from the support that I expect to get from the government. If you need to borrow some money on the Netherlands balance sheet, we can do that, and that can be serviced out of the cash flows. The concern is the UK operations, where the cash flows of the business cant support the transformation. The support of the government is even more critical and hence the conversation with the government. So, I think in both these cases, obviously, the government plays a role which is not unusual. Germany is supporting Thyssenkrupp AG. The Spanish government is supporting ArcelorMittal. The Luxembourg government is supporting ArcelorMittal. So, pretty much, European steel companies are going to their local governments seeking support and getting support because all these governments have also committed to a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of the economy by 2030. So, what is the worst-case scenario for the UK operations? In the UK, the heavy end associated with upstream steel-making iron-making assets are reaching the end of life... If we do not do anything, then one by one, those assets will reach the end of life, and its not safe to run them. There is a kind of clock ticking there, and which we said in the past, may be in the next year or two, well have to take those calls. The downstream assetsall the value products that we do, the downstream coating lines, the pipe millsare fine. So, we would then look at the UK separately as upstream and downstream, and then take a call on what needs to be done. But I think thats a hypothetical situation. I mean, we are not yet there till we exhaust the options with the government. I think the government is also keen to find a solution. There were some reports about an exit from the UK if this help from the government does not come. So, that was a bit speculative. We are in a conversation with the (UK) government, and we are not at that stage where we need to exercise it. On the UK pension scheme, are any more payments to be made after this latest payment? No! Its over. The transaction is complete. I mean, it is formally getting completed the next month. So, theres no direct or indirect liability on Tata Steel- truly a very important development. There is some talk about a private steel company (Vedantas ESL Steel Ltd) looking for buyers. Would you have the appetite for that acquisition? We feel the most optimal way for us to grow is through brownfield expansion now that we have the sites. We are in a comfortable position because between Nilanchal, Kalinganagar and Bhushan, we are at 9 million tonnes - five at Bhushan and three in Kalinganagar, and 1 in Nilanchal - and this can easily go to about 35 million tonnes. Then you have Jamshedpur at 11 mt, where we have enough land and facilities available to grow from 20 million to 45-46 million tonnes. We have set a target of 40 million tonnes by 2030, but you know, if you need to grow faster, we can grow faster. Well watch what the market is. So, we dont really need new sites and new assets, but obviously, any of these we will keep an eye out on. Now in India, in Q1 compared to Q4, our realizations are 1,000 per tonne higher, which is what we had guided and more a reflection of the contracts we had, and April prices were higher than June prices. But in Q2, we are guiding that prices will be about 3,100 per tonne lower. Between flat and long products, flat products seem to have stabilized. I think weve already hit the bottom, and now its balanced and trending up. Long products will continue to be soft for another month or two till the monsoons are over because construction activity is normally dull during the monsoon period. Europe realisations will also be $38 a tonne lower in Q2 over Q1. The Union government on Wednesday said that India is "open" to investments from China despite border tensions, the Financial Times reported. Rajeev Chandrasekhar , minister of state for electronics and information technology, told FT that despite India's crackdown on Chinese manufacturers and mobile applications, New Delhi is "open to investment from China". Chandrasekar told The Financial Times that, "We are open to doing business with any company anywhere as long as they are investing and conducting their business lawfully and are in compliance with the Indian laws". The FT quoted him saying, "We are open to all investment, including Chinese". The development comes as National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, in a stern message to China on the sidelines of the 13th BRICS, said the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has eroded the strategic trust between the two nations. Notably, after the 2020 Galwan clash between India and China, the former tightened its policy on foreign investments from bordering countries which are required to seek central government approval. India also banned more than a hundred Chinese mobile applications, including TikTok citing national security concerns after that incident. Moreover, India also launched regulatory probes against Chinese mobile phone producers such as Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo claiming they violated foreign exchange laws. However, the union minister argued that New Delhi did not just target China individually, the stringent measures also applied to other neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. "The concept of trusted hardware, trusted equipment, and a trusted electronics ecosystem all came to the fore around that time. I dont think its anything very unique or to do with Galwan as much as it is a general trend of countries of the world waking up to the concern of having their backbone networks, tech ecosystems not necessarily trusted," he said. CHINA'S INVESTMENT IN INDIA Luxshare, a significant Chinese supplier to Apple, has applied for permission to build a factory in India with a domestic partner, The Financial Times reported citing sources. Luxshare assembles iPhones and has already two plants in India. In May, the company said it would only pursue further investment in India with sufficient guarantees" of the business environment. BYD, the Shenzhen-based EV producer, has also applied to build a $1bn car plant in a joint venture with Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructures. It is not yet clear whether the government has given its approval or note The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Wednesday extended the validity of restrictions imposed on Indian Mercantile Cooperative Bank Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) from the close of business on January 28, 2022 under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation till October 27, 2023. The validity of the directions has been extended from time-to-time, the last being up to July 27, 2023. ''The Reserve Bank of India, in exercise of powers vested in it under sub-section (1) of Section 35 A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, hereby directs that the aforesaid Directions shall continue to apply to the bank till October 27, 2023 as per the Directive DOR.MON.No.D45/12.28.007/2023-24 dated July 24, 2023, subject to review,'' said the central bank in its statement on July 26, 2023. The banking regulator had in January 2022 imposed several restrictions on Indian Mercantile Cooperative Bank, Lucknow including a cap of 1 lakh on withdrawals. The RBI had in January 2022 directions restricted the Indian Mercantile Cooperative Bank to grant or renew any loans and advances, make any investment without prior approval of RBI in writing. The banking regulator also directed the cooperative Bank not to incur any liability including borrowal of funds and acceptance of fresh deposits, disburse or agree to disburse any payment whether in discharge of its liabilities and obligations or otherwise, enter into any compromise or arrangement and sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets except as notified in the RBI Direction, without prior approval of RBI in writing. In particular, a sum not exceeding 100,000 (Rupees one lakh only) of the total balance across all savings bank or current accounts or any other account of a depositor, may be allowed to be withdrawn subject to the conditions stated in the above Reserve Bank directions. New Delhi: State-run South Eastern Coalfields (SECL) will invest 169 crore for planting of various trees in its operating states of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh during the next five years, the ministry of coal said. The company has recently signed MoU with Chhattisgarh Rajya Van Vikas Nigam (CGRVVN) and Madhya Pradesh Rajya Van Vikas Nigam (MPRVVN) for carrying out plantation work in these states. According to the ministry, the plantation will be carried out for a period of five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28 with its subsequent maintenance of four years for each consecutive year of plantation. As per the MoU, SECL will spend 131.52 crore in Chhattisgarh and 38.11 crore in Madhya Pradesh for plantation works," it added. The company in partnership with the state authorities will plant more than 26 lakh saplings in Chhattisgarh and almost 12 lakh saplings in Madhya Pradesh. This is the third such MoU by the company. Through the previous two MoUs the company has planted more than 46 lakh saplings in Chhattisgarh and more than 16 lakh plants in Madhya Pradesh between 2013-14 and 2022-23 at a total cost of more than 168 crore. Six to twelve month-old (polypot) plants will be used for the plantations. Fruit bearing trees such as jamun, imli, bel, mango, sitaphal, and medicinal/ herbal plants like neem, amla, karanj, among others, will be grown. In addition to these, timber value trees such as teak, sal, bamboo, babool, sissoo, safed sirus and ornamental / avenue plants like gulmohar, kachnar, amaltas, peepal, jharul etc. will also be planted. Keeping in view the needs of the local communities, it is proposed in the MoU that the selection of the species of plants to be carried out shall also be guided by opinion of the local villagers. According to the excise department, the sale of liquor will be prohibited in Delhi on July 29, August 15, September 7 and September 28. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal approved a proposal of excise department for a ban on liquor sale on Muharram, July 29, Independence Day, August 15, Janmashtami, September 7, and Eid-e-Milad on September 28," said a Delhi government statement. Dry days are notified by the Delhi government every three months. As per the Delhi Excise Rules, liquor vends cannot sell alcoholic beverages on any dry day but this prohibition does not apply to the sale of alcohol at duty-free shops or serving liquor at hotels, restaurants, bars and special events permitted by the department. The schedule of dry days is announced by the excise department and the number typically increases in years that also see elections, said a report by Hindustan Times citing an excise department official. Delhi has 21 dry days in a year, one of the highest in the country. The Delhi government switched to notifying only three dry days in January 2022 following the implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021-22 that sought to revitalise the citys flagging liquor business, according to the report by HT. Within a month of DMRC's decision to allow commuters to carry two sealed liquor bottles in Delhi Metro trains, the Delhi governments excise department on Tuesday red-flagged the relaxation and sought it to be changed for being contrary to the law. As per the Excise Act, only one sealed bottle of liquor like rum, vodka and whisky could be carried from one state to another. The Metro trains ferry commuters between Delhi and NCR cities like Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Faridabad and allowing two sealed bottles to be carried by any person will be in violation of the Act, an official said in a PTI report. (With inputs from PTI) Conjunctivitis cases is on the rise as incessant rains lashes several part of the country. Conjunctivitis cases are on the rise in Delhi-NCR, and according to Dr JS Titiyal, Chief RP Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS , the national capital is reporting about 100 cases per day. As per Dr Titiyal, We are getting at least 100 cases of conjunctivitis per day. There is usually a seasonal increase in conjunctivitis cases, which coincides with the flu season. The conjunctivitis cases are mostly caused by virus." The conjunctivitis cases are reported each year during monsoon season. "Red eye returns with monsoon, itching, redness, watering and sometimes discharge," Dr Harsh Kumar, Opthalmologist, Centre for Sight said as quoted by ANI. Conjunctivitis is a highly contagious eye infection caused by various viruses. Common symptoms include redness, itching, excessive tearing and a gritty feeling in the eye. It can spread easily through direct or indirect contact with an infected person's eye secretions, contaminated objects or respiratory droplets. One of the private eye care hospital has from Delhi had reported 1032 cases of Conjunctivitis in Delhi NCR and 1521 cases pan India. "These figures represent a significant increase compared to the same period in the previous year (July 2022), with 646 cases in Delhi NCR and 1202 cases nationwide. The surge in numbers necessitates heightened awareness and swift action to control the spread of this eye condition effectively," Dr Samir Sud Director and Co-founder, Sharp Sight Eye Hospitals said. Schools in Delhi have also reported rising cases of eye infections lasting for three to four days on average, with some sending at least 10 to 12 children showing symptoms back home every day to check the spread of the contagion. St. Mary's school principal Annie Koshi told PTI that children who are suffering from eye infections are mostly from class 4 to class 7 and that, they are recovering within three to four days. Another Principal of ITL Public School Sudha Acharya said cases are more prominent amongst the children in the primary section. Neeru Vijh of Government Girls Senior Secondary School in Vasundhara Enclave said that more than 10 per cent of the students have been suffering from eye infections in their school. Earlier on Tuesday, Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that Delhi government-run hospitals are "on alert", especially related to cases of conjuctivitis, fungal infections and vector-borne diseases. Informing about the precautions, Dr Titiyal said that general hygience measures should be followed with regular handwash after coming from outside. "General hygiene measures should be followed. You should wash your hands whenever coming from outside. Try to avoid closed contact with anyone in your family who has eye flu," he said. "If you have conjunctivitis, use dark goggles, avoid swimming, avoid close contact with others, do not touch your eyes, children may avoid going to school for few days to avoid spread to other students, "he said. Dr Harsh also shared some precautionary measures and said that to avoid crowded places. "Avoid crowded places and avoid touching common objects like railings or handles. Use only antibiotic eye drops," Dr Harsh Kumar said. "In order to reduce the risk of transmitting conjunctivitis, it is essential to maintain strict hygiene practices. Thoroughly washing hands, avoiding touching the eyes, and refraining from sharing personal items like towels or eye makeup can contribute to preventing the infection's transmission," Dr Samir Sud said. Meanwhile, cases of dengue and malaria is also on rise in the national capital. Over 160 dengue cases have been reported in the national capital till mid-July this year, the highest for this period since 2018, according to a municipal report released on Monday. The report issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) also said that 54 cases of malaria have been recorded in the same period. On Monday, Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi said there is a possibility of a rise in dengue and malaria cases in the national capital this year due to flooding in several areas, adding that directions have been issued to departments concerned to take steps to check mosquito breeding and clear the silt and sludge left by the Yamuna waters. According to the MCD report, 163 cases have been reported in the national capital this year till July 15. The number of cases reported in first half of July stood at 41; 40 in June; and 23 in May. For the same period (January 1-July 15), the number of cases of dengue reported in Delhi in 2022 stood at 158; and 40 in 2021; 28 in 2020; 32 in 2019; and 43 in 2018. (With inputs from agencies) Two people tragically lost their lives in an explosion at a firecracker manufacturing factory in Sivakasi City, Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu. The incident, which occurred on July 25, prompted Chief Minister MK Stalin to extend his condolences to the bereaved families. In a gesture of support, he announced an ex gratia payment of 3 lakhs to each family of the deceased. The authorities swiftly responded to the incident, with police officials conducting an investigation into the matter. Further details about the cause of the explosion are awaited as the investigation progresses. "I am deeply saddened to hear the news of their death in an unexpected fire accident in Thaailpatti village near Sivakasi. My heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families," the chief minister earlier said. In an unrelated incident in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla, an explosion at a restaurant in Middle Bazar resulted in one fatality and injuries to nine others. The National Bomb Data Centre (NBDC) team conducted a thorough inspection of the restaurant to collect evidence and ascertain the cause of the blast. The team also interacted with the injured individuals in the hospital, seeking vital information related to the incident. To ensure a comprehensive investigation, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has already been constituted to delve into the Shimla blast case. Additionally, a forensic team from State FSL Shimla has been actively involved in the inspection. The National Bomb Data Centre (NBDC), established in 1988 and operating under the National Security Guards (NSG), plays a crucial role in Post Blast Investigation (PBI) activities, which are vital in understanding and preventing such incidents in the future. New Delhi: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday reaffirmed his governments stance of maintaining peace at borders, but warned that India will not shy away from retaliating if provoked. Singh was speaking at the occasion of the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas. Earlier, he laid a wreath at the War Memorial in Drass, Ladakh, to pay tributes to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the 1999 Kargil war. The war saw Indian armed forces fight in the most challenging terrains amid harsh weather conditions in Drass, Kargil and Batalik sectors. The defence minister assured all that the government is fully committed to safeguarding national interests, no matter the challenge. No compromise will be made in protecting the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country. We have given a free hand to the Armed Forces to eliminate the nations enemies. India is a peace-loving nation which believes in its centuries-old values and is committed towards international laws, but to safeguard our interests, we will not hesitate in crossing the LoC." Singh commended the valour and commitment of the armed forces, which have, time and again, helped the country stand tall in times of crisis. India of today rests on the foundation of the sacrifices made by the soldiers. The defence minister described Operation Vijay as an episode that displayed Indias grit and determination as it stood its ground in the face of adverse circumstances. He also termed the victory as a launch pad that propelled the nation to achieve heights of success. Our greatness is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we fall. Despite the adversary having tactical military advantage during the war, our forces displayed unmatched bravery and skill to push them back and reclaim our land. With the victory, India sent a message to Pakistan and the world that our military will not back down at any cost if the nations interests are harmed," he said. Citing the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the defence minister said that the war, which has been continuing for last more than one year, reflects the unpredictable nature of conflicts in todays times. Singh called upon the people to be ready to participate in wars not only indirectly but directly as well, if ever the need arises. People should be mentally prepared, so that whenever the nation needs them, they should be ready to help the Armed Forces. Just as every soldier is an Indian; in the same way, every Indian should be ready to play the role of a soldier," he said. The defence minister also called upon the Indian Army to work towards ensuring that the contribution of these unsung heroes does not go unnoticed. Supreme Court on Wednesday revives plea of the Gyanvapi panel which it had 'inadvertently' disposed of on July 24 while staying at ASI work on mosque premises on July 24. As reported by PTI, a bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra acknowledged the arguments presented by senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing the Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia of the Gyanvapi mosque. Ahmadi stated that the court inadvertently disposed of the main plea during the last hearing, contrary to the interim plea seeking a halt to the ASI work. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Uttar Pradesh government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), stated that he has no objections to the revival of the special leave petition filed by the mosque committee. In the primary plea, the mosque committee had requested the dismissal of the lawsuit filed by the Hindu party in the Varanasi district court under Order VII Rule 11(c) of the Civil Procedure Code. The plea cited that the filing was done on an inadequately "stamped and authorized" paper as grounds for dismissal. Meanwhile, the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday resumed the hearing of a plea challenging a district court's order, which had instructed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a survey to ascertain whether the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi was constructed over a temple. As reported by PTI, Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker heard the arguments in the case on Tuesday and scheduled further proceedings for Wednesday. On Tuesday, the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, responsible for the management of the mosque, approached the high court after the Supreme Court temporarily suspended the ASI survey until 5 pm on Wednesday, granting the mosque management committee the opportunity to challenge the lower court's directive. Senior advocate SFA Naqvi, representing the committee, requested Chief Justice Diwaker for an expedited hearing of the case, citing urgency as the apex court's order would expire on Wednesday. In response, the Chief Justice expressed his willingness to hear the matter if all parties were in agreement. Vishnu Shankar Jain, the counsel for the respondent representing the Hindu side, highlighted that in the Ram Mandir case, an ASI survey was conducted and accepted by both the high court and the Supreme Court. The Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi is situated adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, and Hindu litigants in the district court had requested a survey to ascertain if a temple existed at the same location previously. On Friday, the Varanasi district court instructed the ASI to carry out a survey using advanced technologies such as ground-penetrating radar and excavations, if required. However, the Supreme Court's order on Monday halted the ongoing survey, which was being conducted by the ASI team inside the mosque complex at the time. (With inputs from agencies) NEW DELHI : State-owned Airports Authority of India (AAI), Indias largest airport operator, followed a set formula of having one Indian toilet for every 10 western ones at its aerodromes. That, however, changed after the onset of the pandemic, as its headquarters in New Delhi received numerous requests from many heads of airports across the country asking for that criterion to be relaxed. The reason: many people were flying for the first time and unaccustomed to using the less-hygienic western toilet. Some of the first-time fliers were not comfortable with them and, hence, the toilets needed more cleaning than usual," said an airport official, who did not want to be identified. But just how many first-time fliers are there each day? With the notable exception of Delhi Airport, which sometimes gathers such data through surveys this information is not collated by any organization. People are never asked if theyre flying for the first time when they purchase a ticket. In the absence of solid data, executives in the travel and airline industry have to feel their way through with anecdotal evidence washroom sanitization is just a tiny part of that evidence. View Full Image Graphic: Mint To be sure, nobody is claiming this is solid data; it is just a gauge, like the Hemline Index theory, which posits that skirts become shorter during an economic boom and longer during a recession. That theory has been derided as being too simplistic, but history has the odd example or two that supports it. Another notable shift was from passengers representing small and medium enterprises (SME) most of them have stayed and continue to fly," said one airline executive, explaining why Indias air passenger numbers have surged after the pandemic abated and lockdowns were relaxed or lifted. In 2019, Indias domestic passenger numbers had hit a high of 420,000 a day in December that record has been broken several times since flights resumed. Notably, the highest number of domestic passengers per day was 456,000, achieved in April, which is a non-peak month for air passengers. While SME executives and leisure traffic have definitely played a role, the general consensus is that first-time fliers are a huge factor behind the spike in passengers. Who they are In June 2020, the central government had just started to lift the national lockdown announced three months earlier to contain covid-19. With the resumption of economic activity, companies across India needed blue-collar workers to return to their places of work, many of them from states in the North and East. These workers, however, were not willing to return since they feared another lockdown and wanted to be with their families during those difficult times. Some companies, like those from the real estate sector, lured them back using flight tickets as an incentive, from cities such as Gorakhpur, Darbhanga and Bhubaneswar to Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai. This marked the beginning of a new category of passengers entering the aviation ecosystem. A lot of companies in key cities, which had hired blue-collar workers from smaller cities, needed these workers to come back and provided them with flight tickets. Now, many of these workers are saving up from their incomes and continuing to take flights," said a senior executive, who has led the commercial department at domestic airlines and heads a travel service provider. He didnt want to be identified. While the above category of fliers has added to the revenue of aviation companies (they are price sensitive and book in advance), leisure travellers, and those running or working for small businesses, who did not return to trains and other modes of travel despite covid-19 waning, have added to the profitability of airlines (they bring in last minute sales; pricey tickets imply better margins). The increasing desire of the Indian middle class to spend a significant portion of their disposable income on experience is driving the growth of leisure travel... It is also interesting to note that the domestic flight booking share for last-minute purchases (within zero-six days), where customers would probably end up paying a higher price, increased by 12% in May 2023 compared to February 2020," Rajesh Magow, co-founder and group chief executive officer (CEO), MakeMyTrip, said in an email response. Overall, leisure sectors have seen double-digit growth over the pre-pandemic period, clearly indicating Indias new travel outlook taking breaks as often as possible, seeking new experiences and discovery moments." Industry watchers, however, say that business travel from the usual corporate clients continues to remain subdued. Business travel sectors have just about reached their pre-pandemic level," said Magow. Delhi Airport, which is the largest airport in the country, says there has been an increase in the number of passengers taking flights. We have observed a significant increase in the percentage of frequent flyers (who take multiple flights a year) compared to pre-covid times," the airport shared in an email response. (Our) largest customer cohort is in the age group of 24-45 years, constituting more than 60% of the total passenger profile. This segment of users is well travelled, read and are looking for new experiences," the Adani Group, which manages the Mumbai airport and six other airports across the country, said in an email response. While industry analysts say there is no way of getting data on first-time fliers, Delhi Airport, which has been trying to track it through surveys, noted that the number of first-time fliers averaged around 17% pre-pandemic and has now reduced to 13%, but on a higher base. The percentage of first-time flyers averaged about 17% in the pre-covid period (April 2019 to March 2020) and reached 20% during the first quarter of the 2021 calendar year, which has declined to 13% during the same period of the 2023 calendar year," Delhi Airport told Mint in an email response. To add context, domestic passenger numbers during the first quarter of 2023 surpassed the earlier (December 2019) record of 420,000 several times. The record for the highest total number of passengers in a day till date is 456,082, on the last day of April. Travel watchers say that airports under the governments flagship regional connectivity scheme, Ude Desh ke Aam Nagrik (UDAN), also continue to add first-time flyers in the domestic aviation ecosystem. UDAN boost On the eighth day of November 2020, a new airport in Darbhanga, Bihar, came to life, with SpiceJet flights connecting the city to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, and by extension, the rest of the country, under the governments flagship UDAN scheme. Within two years, the Darbhanga airport became the most successful one under the UDAN scheme. According to the latest data, updated as of 15 April, the airport has handled 1,413,510 passengers and 9,610 flights since its launch. The number of passengers rose from 153,232 in financial year 2020-21 to 619,586 in 2021-22 and has stabilized at 616,058 in 2022-23. Darbhanga and Jharsuguda in Odisha are the two most successful airports to have started operations under the governments flagship aviation scheme, which was announced in October 2016. The first UDAN flight was flagged off in April 2017. The UDAN scheme has connected a total of 74 operational airports, including nine heliports and two water aerodromes. The scheme aims at providing connectivity to under-served and unserved airports through subsidized flights, where fares for a certain percentage of seats per flight are capped at 2,500 per hour of flight. In return for the seats offered at cheaper rates, the government provides a subsidy or viability gap funding (VGF) to airlines and helicopter operators. The VGF is provided through a per-flight charge on airlines operating on key metro routes. Government data show that a total of 475 routes had commenced operations under various phases of this scheme Phase 1.0 to Phase 4.3 until May this year. The data also show that the government has awarded 1,154 routes under the UDAN scheme. However, airlines have been able to commence flights only on 475 routes till date. This scheme may not have been able to add substantially to passenger demand, but it has provided a much-needed push to Indias aviation sector, bringing new flyers into the fold. The scheme is now in its fifth round and the government plans to use it to enhance connectivity to remote regions and achieve last-mile connectivity through helicopters. The latest round of the UDAN scheme is testament to two emerging phenomena in Indian civil aviation one, a deeper democratization of air travel, with a focus on last-mile connectivity. Second, a growing appetite for helicopters in aiding tourism. Greater helicopter penetration through such efforts will help boost tourism, hospitality, and thus, our local economies," Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union minister of civil aviation, said at the launch of the scheme. UDAN 5.1 heralds a new dawn not just for civil aviation, but also for Indias remote and unserved regions." Will the demand last? Indias surging passenger demand post the pandemic and record-breaking aircraft orders by IndiGo and Air India have been topics of discussion at various global events, including at the recently concluded Paris Air Show, a trade fair. IndiGo announced its 500-aircraft order at the air show in June. While record aircraft ordersthe planes will be inducted by the airlines over a 15-year periodpresumes that Indias passenger growth in both the domestic and international sectors will continue over the long term, demand started to slow in July, which is traditionally a weak month for airlines. Travel industry insiders, however, feel that while growth may have slowed in the current period, it is still holding strong despite the fact that Go First suspended operations, putting pressure on fares. Despite growth slowing, daily passenger numbers are holding in the range of about 400,000 per day and that is a big number considering Go First has stopped operations, leading to a spike in fares," said the senior executive cited earlier. Government data show that airlines carried 376,000 domestic passengers last Wednesday (19 July), which is about 25% higher than the 300,000 passengers or so carried during the same month last year. This growth is despite fares going up by about 40% post the suspension of Go First, which accounted for about 7% of the total domestic passenger market, and some airlines registering a decline in demand. The higher airfares are affecting air travel plans and dampening demand. Domestic flights and hotel bookings are faring well with an uptick of 20-25% compared to pre-covid levels. However, airfares have increased by 30-40% across all domestic sectors due to rising fuel costs," said Sabina Chopra, chief operating officer, corporate travel, and head of industry relations, Yatra Online. For example, a Delhi-Goa flight, which used to cost 8,000, costs 12,000 one way (in peak season)." However, industry watchers feel that the passenger growth in India is playing out the same way as it has in other countries, and that there is no chance of this slowing in the near or long-term. It (the growth in passenger numbers in India) is a trend that we have seen in other countries as their middle classes have grown, and it is a trend that we fully expect India will reflect as well in the long term," said Boeing India president Salil Gupte. Basically, air travel grows relatively in line with GDP growth. In Indias case, it is growing a little faster than GDP but Indias GDP growth is already the fastest in the world," he added. So, that means youre seeing a significant amount of air-traffic growth for the foreseeable future, and that is really driving the high number of airplane orders, as airlines in India prepare to service that demand." Kargil Vijay Diwas, or Kargil Victory Day, is observed annually on July 26 to mark India's triumph in the 1999 conflict with Pakistan. The day honours the bravery and sacrifices made by Indian soldiers during the intense and prolonged war. Date On July 26, 2023, Kargil Vijay Diwas will be commemorated to pay tribute to the courageous Indian soldiers who valiantly fought in the Kargil War. Kargil Vijay Diwas History The two neighbouring countries, which were involved in a significant conflict in 1971 that resulted in the formation of Bangladesh, have experienced ongoing tensions in the subsequent years. Although direct armed conflicts have been limited, they have been vying for control over the Siachen Glacier by establishing military outposts on the nearby mountain ridges. The situation escalated further when both nations conducted nuclear tests in 1998. To ease the tension, they signed the Lahore Declaration in February 1999, which aimed to seek a peaceful and bilateral resolution to the Kashmir conflict. During the winter of 1998-1999, the Pakistani armed forces covertly trained and deployed troops to cross the Line of Control (LOC) and seize fortified positions that overlooked NH 1A in the Drass and Batalik Sectors of Kargil, Ladakh region. Their objective was to gain control over both military and civilian movements in the area. At the outset, the Indian troops believed that the infiltrators were terrorists or 'jihadis' with a radical agenda. However, as events unfolded, it became evident that the attack was part of a larger and more organized plan. In response, the Indian side was compelled to retaliate and deploy a massive force of over 200,000 Indian troops in the region. Kargil Vijay Diwas Significance The Kargil War resulted in the loss of 527 soldiers from the Indian Army. The conflict concluded on July 26, 1999, when the Pakistan army was forced to retreat from their occupied positions, signifying India's triumph. Since then, this day is observed as Kargil War Diwas to honour and remember the supreme sacrifice made by the soldiers during the war. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday visited the Kargil War Memorial here and paid tributes to soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the 1999 India Pakistan war. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, I salute those brave sons, who sacrificed everything for the protection of the motherland. I salute those brave sons who put the nation first and did not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for it." As reported by ANI, the sombre commemoration event had him as the chief guest. Rajnath Singh paid his respects at the memorial by laying a wreath and visiting the tombstones dedicated to the fallen soldiers. Additionally, he will engage in interactions with Army officers and jawans before concluding his visit and returning to New Delhi. Meanwhile, taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his heartfelt tributes to the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the 1999 Kargil war, leading India to victory over Pakistan. In a tweet in Hindi, the Prime Minister highlighted that Kargil Vijay Diwas serves as a reminder of the extraordinary valour displayed by India's unparalleled warriors, who will forever serve as a source of inspiration to the nation's people. The Kargil War of 1999 saw the Indian Army launch a determined counterassault to repel the Pakistani forces who had surreptitiously captured significant heights in Ladakh. Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed as a tribute to India's triumph over Pakistan during the conflict. The Army Chief, General Manoj Pande, offered floral tributes to the fallen jawans at the Kargil War Memorial. The Navy Chief, Admiral R Hari Kumar, also paid his respects by laying a wreath in memory of the courageous soldiers. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, also honoured the fallen soldiers of the Kargil conflict by laying a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial. Earlier on Tuesday, the Army conducted a press briefing regarding the commemoration event at Lamochen, Drass. The briefing began with an audio-visual presentation, narrating the battles and showcasing the immense bravery and sacrifice displayed by the jawans during the 1999 Kargil conflict. The conflict is well-documented and involved the Indian Army jawans bravely confronting Pakistani intruders in the challenging and harsh terrains of Kargil. The military band played sombre tunes, enhancing the already solemn atmosphere as soldiers assembled to mark the commemoration of Kargil Vijay Divas. The event was attended by war heroes, Veer Naris, Veer Matas, and the relatives of the brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving on the frontlines during the Kargil conflict. (With inputs from agencies) On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his heartfelt tributes to the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the 1999 Kargil war, leading India to victory over Pakistan. In a tweet in Hindi, the Prime Minister highlighted that Kargil Vijay Diwas serves as a reminder of the extraordinary valour displayed by India's unparalleled warriors, who will forever serve as a source of inspiration to the nation's people. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid homage to Kargil war heroes, laying a wreath at the Dras war memorial. As reported by PTI, the two-day commemoration event to observe Vijay Diwas and honour the sacrifice of the 559 soldiers in the 1999 Kargil war commenced in a solemn ceremony here on Tuesday. From Lamochen viewpoint, war heroes and the families of the fallen soldiers gathered to pay tribute to the brave souls. Also Read: Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023: Date, Significance, History; All about India's win in 1999 India-Pakistan war The Northern Army Commander, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, graced the occasion as the chief guest. A cultural program followed, graced by the presence of Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande. In the evening, heartfelt tributes were offered at the Kargil War Memorial, attended by the Army chief, as well as numerous present and former top army officers. In a touching gesture to honour the supreme sacrifice of the soldiers during 'Operation Vijay,' 559 lamps were lit at the Veer Bhoomi, each symbolizing a soldier. Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande interacted with veterans, 'Veer Naris', gallantry award recipients and locals in Ladakh's Drass and conveyed his gratitude on the eve of the 24th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. On July 26, 1999, the Indian Army announced the successful culmination of "Operation Vijay", declaring victory after a nearly three-month-long battle at the icy heights of Kargil, including super-high-altitude locations, such as Tololing and Tiger Hill. The Opposition parties plan to table a no-confidence motion against the BJP-led central government in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, confirms Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary stated. The decision was taken as Prime Minister Narendra Modi declined to address the Manipur crisis , as demanded by the opposition parties. Since the start of the monsoon session of Parliament on July 20, Opposition members have engaged in protests and sloganeering, leading to repeated adjournments of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. "Opposition parties will be bringing a no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha against the government tomorrow," Chowdhary, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, told ANI on Tuesday. "Today, it has been decided that we would not have any other alternative but to resort to a no-confidence motion because the government is not accepting the demand of the opposition to have an elaborate discussion with the Prime Minister on Manipur. He should make a statement on the Manipur violence as he is our leader in the parliament," he said. The Congress leader further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been declining the opposition's "hard-pressed demand." "...But he (PM Modi) has been declining our hard-pressed demand. However, it was an innocuous demand. Nonetheless, the Prime Minister has not been considering our demand. That is why we thought of bringing a no-confidence motion. Where the opposition's argument...the allegations against the government are believed to be answered by the Prime Minister himself," he said. Amit Shah reaches out to senior Congress leaders The government has said it is ready for discussion on Manipur but the opposition parties are pressing for discussion under a rule which also entails voting. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has written letter to two opposition leaders in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for debate on Manipur issue, saying the government is ready for a discussion and "seeks cooperation from all the parties, rising above party lines". (With agency inputs) NEW DELHI : Parliament Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs urged the government to consider the establishment of economic ties with Pakistan, despite the diplomatic deep-freeze in bilateral relations for some time. Despite the lack of progress on the diplomatic front, the Committee urge the Government to consider the establishment of economic ties with Pakistan if they come forward and work towards broader people-to-people contacts in view of the cultural commonalities and civilizational linkages between our two countries and no feeling of enmity amongst citizens of both the countries," the Standing Committee said in its report on Indias Neighbourhood First" Policy. The Standing Committee made the recommendation in a report surveying Indias Neighbourhood First" policy, tabled in Parliament on Tuesday. In 2019, Pakistan suspended bilateral trade with India after New Delhi abrogated Article 370 and revoked special status for Jammu and Kashmir. Despite this bilateral trade has continued with an estimated $1.35 billion volume in April-December 2022. In 2021, that figure stood at $516 million. Main items of export from India to Pakistan are: cotton, organic chemicals, food products including prepared animal fodder, edible vegetables, plastic articles, man-made filament, coffee, tea, spices, dyes, oil seeds, dairy products, pharmaceuticals etc," reads the website of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Main items of import by India from Pakistan are: copper and copper articles, edible fruits and nuts, cotton, salt, sulphur and earths and stones, organic chemicals, mineral fuels, plastic products, wool, glassware, raw hides & skin, etc," according to the website. However, the standing committee also noted that the issue of terrorism remains a major impediment to the restoration of normal bilateral ties between the countries. The Committee observe that unlike Indias relationship with other countries in the neighbourhood, bilateral relations with Pakistan and China has been plagued by contentious issues. One of the core concerns with Pakistan is terrorism emanating from territories under its control. The Ministry has stated that the onus is on Pakistan to ensure a conducive atmosphere for any meaningful dialogue," the standing committee noted in its report. In view of the belligerent attitude of Pakistan, the Committee desire that the Government should continue to proactively engage with the regional and multilateral bodies/organizations extensively so as to sensitize them of the role played by Pakistan in fostering terrorism and win their support in the fight against terrorism on its soil," the committee went on to say. Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's retail arm is likely to get another minority stakeholder from Qatar. The sovereign wealth fund of the Middle Eastern country, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is in talks to get a minority stake in Reliance Retail Ventures, reported Financial Times. The Qatar's sovereign wealth fund is planning to invest around $1 billion investment in RRVL, which is led by Mukesh Ambani's daughter Isha Ambani. The said amount of investment will make QIA the owner of 1 per cent stake of the company. Earlier this month, Reliance Retail, owned by Reliance Retail Ventures, was valued at $92-$96 billion by two global consultants, reported Reuters. The valuation can be the first step towards the launch of RRVL's IPO. Also Read: Reliance Industries to acquire 33% stake in Brookfield-Digital Realty data centre venture Till now, there has been no approval of the deal by the Qatari sovereign fund. There are chances that the deal might change as it is still at its nascent stage. Mint couldn't verify the claims independently. After the breakout of the news, Reliance Industries Limited share value has increased by 2% in the stock market. The company stock was trading 2.16 per cent higher at 2538.45 per share on BSE at 12:09 pm. Stock rally is more of a rebound after the company's stock price started declining from July 19. Also Read: Stock market today: Why Reliance share price may see Infosys like sell off explained About Reliance Retail There are talks of the listing of Reliance's Retail operations, Ambani hinted earlier. However, there is still no fixed timeline released by the group. Catering to more than 249 million registered customers, Reliance Retail is the retail arm of Reliance Industries Limited. The core business of the company includes digital and brick-and-mortar stores. Also Read: Reliance Q1 Results: Net profit declines 10% to 16,011 crore on weaker O2C biz, revenue down 4%; dividend declared In its grocery business, Reliance Retail operates Fresh Signature, Smart superstore, Smart Bazaar, Smart Point, Freshpik, Shree Kannan Departmental, 7-Eleven and Jayasurya stores focused on food, fresh produce, bakery, dairy products, home and personal care products, as well as general merchandise items. It also operates Dunzo and subscription-based hyperlocal delivery platform, Milkbasket. In 2020, Reliance Retail Ventures raised 472.65 billion rupees ($5.77 billion) by selling a 10.09% stake to investors including US private equity firms KKR and General Atlantic, the Saudi Public Investment Fund and the UAE's Mubadala.e Ret National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has indirectly criticized China by suggesting that the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) should collaborate in the effort to list terrorists and their proxies under the UN counter-terrorism sanctions regime. However, NSA emphasized the importance of conducting this process without any involvement of politics or biased standards. In essence, he urged for a fair and impartial approach to counter-terrorism measures within the BRICS nations. During the meeting of the National Security Advisors of BRICS nations, held on Tuesday, Ajit Doval made the remarks. China was represented by Wang Yi, who had been recently reappointed as the country's foreign minister after his predecessor Qin Gang was removed from his position. Wang had previously served as China's foreign minister from 2013 to 2022 and currently holds the position of director of the foreign affairs department of the ruling Communist Party of China, making him the top diplomat for China. Also Read: NSA Ajit Doval to meet Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi on the sidelines of BRICS NSA summit Ajit Doval pointed out that China, a steadfast ally of Pakistan, has consistently obstructed attempts at the United Nations Security Council to designate groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and other Pakistan-based operatives as international terrorists. Doval said that the BRICS countries could find common ground in addressing counter-terrorism measures and work together towards this goal. "It is important that the decision-making of the UNSC sanctions committee is free from politicisation and double standards," he said. During the 13th BRICS National Security Advisors (NSAs) meeting, Ajit Doval highlighted that terrorism continues to be a significant threat to national peace and security. The BRICS bloc, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, convened to discuss matters related to security and cooperation among the member nations. "Terror organisations in the Af-Pak region continue to operate with impunity," he said. Doval highlighted that the BRICS NSAs meeting took place during a period of significant transformation in the international security landscape. He said non-traditional challenges of food, water, and energy security are witnessing stress and the inclusion of these topics by South Africa in the BRICS NSAs Meeting reflects a clear understanding of the broader dimensions of security. According to Doval, water security is a significant global concern, and responsible usage and conservation of water should be a collective responsibility. He highlighted the alarming trend of weaponizing water and emphasized the crucial requirement for complete transparency and unrestricted information exchange, especially concerning shared cross-border water resources. The politicisation of water needs to be countered", he said. India has expressed concerns over China's construction of dams in Tibet that affect the Brahmaputra River, raising issues related to water security and regional cooperation. Doval pointed out that the United Nations has designated 2023 as the International Year of Millets, emphasizing India's support for educational and behavioural approaches to environmental conservation. He mentioned India's initiatives like Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE), which aim to promote sustainable lifestyles and individual contributions to environmental protection. Doval said India was a major actor in the global food supply system and has assisted many countries during the pandemic. He said along with the supply of food there was a need to ensure unhindered availability of fertilisers. Doval said todays fertiliser shortage could be tomorrows food crisis. He said the importance of research and development occupies primacy in the cyber domain to confront common threats and risks due to emerging technologies. He expressed satisfaction that the BRICS working group on ICTs has identified some cutting-edge areas like AI, quantum computing, cloud security, Blockchain and the Internet of Things as possible Research topics. Also Read: North Korean hacking group Labyrinth Chollima breached US IT firm JumpCloud to steal cryptocurrency He mentioned that the opportunities presented by the digital age will also throw up challenges and the need to be united to fortify cyber defences, foster international cooperation and build a resilient national cyberinfrastructure. He said cyber-attacks know no borders, adding that the linkage between cyber criminals and terrorists is an emerging concern. Doval said supply chain disruptions have had a disproportional effect on the food security of vulnerable populations. This needs to be urgently addressed which is a shared commitment and common responsibility, he said. Access to a secure and affordable supply of critical materials for the development of clean energy technologies is crucial, he said. During Indias G20 Presidency, one of the priorities is to voice the concerns of developing countries, Doval said, adding India was proposing to create a global biofuel alliance under G-20. (With inputs from PTI) Chinese diplomat Wang Yi was named foreign minister on Tuesday - a month after his predecessor went missing from his duties. Officials had earlier cited health concerns for his absence even as speculation ran rampant that he had he has fallen foul of the country's leadership or been involved in a multitude of scandals. Qin's last last public appearance was on June 25 for a meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry in Beijing. According to state news agency Xinhua the decision was made effective thorugh a presidential order signed by Xi Jinping. Local media reports did not explain why Qin was removed from office even as he enjoyed a meteoric ascent. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang is unable to attend this series of foreign ministers meetings due to health reasons," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily briefing in mid-July. This detail was however left out of the official transcript of the briefing. No follow up statement or explanation has come from the Foreign Ministry in the ensuing weeks. ALSO READ: Where is Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang? Rumours swirl as lawmaker remains missing for nearly a month Qin - considered to be a close aide of President Xi - had been in the midst of a meteoric rise to power when he disappeared last month. A former envoy to the United States he took over the ministry in December - one of China's youngest foreign ministers. He was twice foreign ministry spokesman and served as chief protocol officer from 2014-2018, overseeing many of Xi's contacts with foreign leaders. He had headed to Washington as ambassador in July 2021, after a period of unusual public vitriol between US and Chinese officials. It is not the first time there has been an unexplained absence of officials in China. Industry minister Xiao Yaqing disappeared from public view for nearly a month last year before it was revealed he was being investigated for corruption. The lack of explanation has also fueled a groundswell of largely unsubstantiated claims about his whereabouts. Some speculate that he has fallen foul of the leadership and there are even rumours of an affair with a well-known television presenter. (With inputs from agencies) NEW DELHI : : Finland will help India develop and build quantum computers here, Finnish diplomat Kimmo Siira said in an exclusive interview with Mint . Siira, Counsellor in the Finnish embassy, revealed that the country will pursue closer high technology collaborations with India in quantum computing and artificial intelligence. This focus on technology cooperation comes from the Finlands new DESI initiative, which targets Digitalisation, Education, Sustainability and Innovation in its relationship with India. Siira stated that plans for a biofuel refinery between the Numaligarh Oil Refinery and Finlands Chempolis to make ethanol out of bamboo will be finalised soon. In order to further the relationship in energy, power minister RK Singh will visit Finland at the end of the year to study how Nordic countries manage their energy grids. Edited excerpts : What is DESI initiative? The prime ministers of India and Finland have agreed on a Digitalisation, Education, Sustainability and Innovation partnership. The DESI Initiative is about bringing all of this together under a broad prompt. If we look at how India is growing, everything from quantum and high performance computers to biofuels and green hydrogen needs to be focused on. We are compiling our outreach under a single umbrella. For example, our universities are doing a lot and Jio has a 6G collaboration with Oulu University in Finland. Were world leaders in artificial intelligence. These are some areas where we can work together. What is the state of cooperation in advanced technologies like quantum computing? There is a memorandum of understanding between Finlands IQM and Indias C-DAC in quantum computing. We have the fastest high performance computer (in Europe) purely for scientific reasons and now we are connecting with our Indian counterparts. So, IQM and C-DAC are in negotiations to work on quantum computing together and build a quantum computer in India. Finland has been interested in working with India on energy transition. What plans do the countries have? We are working on having Indias power minister visit Finland this year and even the principal scientific adviser. If you look at the map of India, you will find all of Indias steel plants in the east. But there are no renewable energy resources, theres no wind energy and theres a lot of agricultural land, so they cant build big solar plants. India wants to decarbonise and be carbon-neutral by 2070. So we need to find solutions. We need to model these things to understand how we can optimise this power grid. Biofuels are also a key part of Finlands new DESI initiative. What is the future here? Biofuel is something where India has a very ambitious target, especially on ethanol. For the size of the country, I think its the most ambitious plan in the world. The problem with biofuels is that you cant really transfer it over long distances so you need to develop regional biofuel capabilities. In Assam, next year, we will finalise a bio-refinery which is going to make ethanol from bamboo. It is a joint venture of Numaligarh Oil Refinery Ltd and Chempolis, a Finnish company which has the technology to convert bamboo to ethanol. There have also been MoUs signed with large Indian corporates to replicate the model elsewhere. These will be with private companies and state-owned companies. How about talent and labour mobility? Finland had earlier stated that it would like to double the number of skilled migrants from India. Were an ageing nation, like all the countries in Europe. We have programmes like Talent Boost where we try to attract talent. This is a race between nations and everybody is trying to differentiate themselves. Finland will need around 20,000 nurses in the next 10 years. The amounts are huge and this is just nursing. We need to obtain more and more skilled labour. The idea is for Finland to tap into Indias labour pool. We would like collaborate more with Indian talent in science and technology. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson visited the Brazilian space research center INPE on Wednesday and proposed extending satellite partnerships with the United States to help monitor and prevent the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. Nelson said NASA will have a satellite in January that can even render images of what is happening below the forest canopy. The satellite, called NISAR, will be launched with India. "It is going to be able to look through the canopy of the jungle so that we can see if someone has burned the undergrowth and that would ultimately kill the big trees," he said at a news conference at INPE in Sao Jose dos Campos. Science Minister Luciana Santos showed Nelson around INPE headquarters and explained Brazil's space program. The agency has launched a series of satellites in partnership with China since 1999 for agricultural and environmental monitoring. Brazil relies on satellite imagery to watch over the Amazon, but cloud cover is often a hurdle for precise and timely images. Nelson, a former U.S. senator, met on Monday with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia. "I thanked the president for his continuous effort to save the Amazon rainforest," he told reporters after the meeting. Nelson said when he flew in space 37 years ago he could see with the naked eye the destruction of the rainforest by the different colors visible from his spacecraft window. Satellites that NASA plans to place in orbit early next year will add "extreme ability to understand what is happening" to the rainforest, he said in Brasilia. Earlier on Tuesday, Nelson visited Brazilian plane maker Embraer in Sao Jose dos Campos and toured the production line for its narrow-body commercial E-Jets. Nelson will continue his South American trip this week with visits to Argentina and Colombia. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Brad Haynes and Bill Berkrot) Russian news agencies quoted Putins foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, as saying the trip will be timed to coincide with a One Belt, One Road" forum in China. Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative involves infrastructure projects to connect Asia with European and African countries. Ushakov said Putin also plans to travel to Turkey at some point to fulfill a promise to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, although the dates for that visit have not been decided yet. In addition, the Kremin received an invitation for Putin to participate in a Group of 20 summit in India in September, he said. The Russian leader's in-person attendance has not been ruled out, although the format of Putin's participation is still unclear", Ushakov said. The announcement of Putin's travel plans came days after South African officials said he had agreed to skip an economic summit in their country next month because of an arrest warrant the International Criminal Court issued against him. The ICC has accused Putin of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine. As a signatory to the treaty that established the international court, South Africa would either be obligated to arrest the Russian leader if he set foot there or put in a position of flouting its responsibility. Staying away from the summit could be viewed as embarrassing for Putin, who is now expected to be the only leader of a country in the BRICS bloc of developing economies not to attend. Moscow has dismissed the warrant and said it doesnt recognize the ICCs jurisdiction. China, Turkey and India are not signatories to the Rome Statute, so Putin can travel to those countries more easily. Also Read: China says plans to boost ties with Russia and India An October visit would take Putin to China seven months after Chinese President Xi Jinping came to Moscow on a three-day visit. The two also met in person in September 2022 on the sidelines of a regional summit in Uzbekistan. Before that, Putin met with Xi while attending the opening of the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, weeks before he sent troops into Ukraine. China has sought to project itself as neutral in the Ukraine conflict, even while it has refused to condemn Moscows actions and declared last year that it had a no-limits" friendship with Russia. Beijing has denounced Western sanctions against Moscow, and accused NATO and the United States of provoking Putins military action. China has also proposed a peace plan that was largely dismissed by Ukraines allies, who insisted that Moscow must withdraw its forces from the neighbouring country as a condition for peace. Singapore is set to execute a woman this week, first in nearly 20 years, a report by AFP has stated. The country will be hanging two drug convicts this week, including the woman. to be sent to the gallows in nearly 20 years, rights groups said as reported by AFP. The rights group have urged to halt the executions. Local rights organisation Transformative Justice Collective (TJC) said a 56-year-old man convicted of trafficking 50 grams (1.76 ounces) of heroin is scheduled to be hanged on Wednesday at the Southeast Asian city-state's Changi Prison. Saridewi Djamani, a 45-year-old woman, is set to be sent to the gallows on Friday.In 2018, she was sentenced to death for trafficking of around 30 grams of heroin. If carried out, she would be the first woman to be executed in Singapore since 2004. Earlier in 2004, 36-year-old hairdresser Yen May Woen was hanged for drug trafficking, said TJC activist Kokila Annamalai as quoted by AFP. On Tuesday, Rights watchdog Amnesty International urged Singapore to halt the impending executions. "It is unconscionable that authorities in Singapore continue to cruelly pursue more executions in the name of drug control," Amnesty's death penalty expert Chiara Sangiorgio said in a statement. "There is no evidence that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect or that it has any impact on the use and availability of drugs. "As countries around the world do away with the death penalty and embrace drug policy reform, Singapore's authorities are doing neither," Sangiorgio added. However, Singapore insists that the death penalty is an effective crime deterrent. TJC said the two prisoners are Singaporeans and their families have received notices setting the dates of their executions. The country imposes the death penalty for certain crimes, including murder and some forms of kidnapping. It also has some of the world's toughest anti-drug laws: trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis and 15 grams of heroin can result in the death penalty. Till now, at least 13 people have been hanged since the government resumed executions following a two-year hiatus in place during the Covid-19 pandemic. (With inputs from AFP) The much-awaited National Research Foundation (NRF) is in place, with a budget of 50,000 crore for five years and the goal of providing superior strategic direction for scientific research in India. Many previous ahead-of-their-time" research funding bodies such as the Technology Development Board (TDB), Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB), Global Innovation & Technology Alliance (GITA), and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) have fulfilled their purposes quite well. However, none of them had the mandate for a broader vision to transform the research and innovation landscape and take India towards a knowledge economy. With NRF, this now looks possible. A robust education-research-innovation" or knowledge-economy ecosystem of a nation can increase the intensity, speed and efficiency of economic and social development and touch every citizen. Many countries in the West and a few in Asia have proved this by prioritising knowledge-economy ecosystems with strategic planning and plenty of resources, and benefitting immensely. India, which has exceptional education and research institutions, robust infrastructure and thriving industries remains unable to fully harness these strengths for development and technological leadership. While the country has done exceedingly well in space research and a few other areas, For India to become one of the worlds top five knowledge economies, it needs a tectonic shift in strategy, policy, implementation and, most importantly, private-sector participation. It's time to adopt a new approach to strategic planning, starting with the goals we wish to achieve. From there, we can define the necessary outputs to achieve these goals and identify the inputs needed for delivering those outputs. Lets go into the details of this reverse planning process. For any nation to strengthen its knowledge economy, it must have some time-bound and measurable socio-economic goals front and centre. What key socio-economic goals do we wish to achieve from a strong knowledge economy? For example, we could aspire to increase India's value-added manufacturing from 13-15% of GDP to 25% or more, or increase India's high-tech exports from 10% to 25% or more of total manufactured exports. We should aim to double the foreign investment in R&D infrastructure and co-development of technologies in India. There must be a concerted effort to transform Indian champion industries into global champions. The key goal we should aim for is a significant increase in high-value employment in India. These goals should also be viewed against the backdrop of how we are performing vis-a-vis other competing economies. We can thus set our target to move Indias rank up to the top 5 nations in relevant global indices or rankings such as the Global Innovation Index, Global Competitiveness Index, and Global Startup Ecosystem Index. Once these goals are set, progress on them should be measured periodically. Next, we need to define the outputs of the knowledge economy that will help achieve the goals we have set. In education outputs, we could aim for a substantial increase in the gross enrollment ratio (GER) in higher education from 27% to 50%. We aspire to see Indias 50 STEM institutions in the QS World University Rankings. There must be a substantial increase in the number of quality PhDs in STEM and an improvement on the Citation Index. We would also like to see a significant increase in R&D professionals say 50 R&D personnel per thousand people employed in India. Another major output on R&D & innovation could be co-developing critical platform technologies in sectors that are a national priority. This will lead to a significant increase in intellectual property filings by Indian residents from 30,000 to 75,000 patents a year and from 20,000 to 50,000 industrial designs a year. We should also aim for an increase in deep-tech startups every year. Once the impacts and outputs are defined, NRF needs to determine what inputs are needed and what fundamentals should be in place to ensure them. This could be broken into three subsets institutional reforms, investments, and (most importantly) political will and restructuring. Institutional reforms could include bringing all publicly funded R&D institutions and educational institutions under one umbrella, with performance-based funding. This should be followed by creating a consortium of R&D and academic institutions of similar subjects for infra and manpower sharing, and to avoid duplication of research. Key investments in the knowledge economy are crucial, such as raising government R&D investment from 0.7% to 1.5% of GDP 0.5% for basic research and 1% for applied/industrial R&D matched by industry investment. The industrial R&D programme should be led by industry, and the line ministries and state governments should also invest. Thus, gross expenditure on R&D will be 2.5% of GDP, comparable to that of some knowledge economies. There must also be a significant increase in government investment in higher education. Education sector reforms that attract private players and foreign entities are vital. To encourage more technology-driven MSMEs, the government may provide credit guarantees to financial institutions to extend credit to MSMEs with patents/designs as collateral. The government may develop a model to co-invest with venture capital firms in deep-tech startups on a 50:50 share. Reforms in the public procurement policy will also encourage innovation by startups. Finally, political will and restructuring will be key to the whole exercise and it could take longer. The government may need to form a Ministry of Knowledge Economy (Education, Research & Innovation), and position it as one of the most coveted portfolios in the cabinet, led by a senior minister. The participation of line ministries and state governments will also be vital, so they must invest in technology development programme in related areas as key stakeholders or users. A comprehensive knowledge economy policy needs to be framed to run this structure. The big question is whether the NRF will be empowered to steer Indias journey towards a knowledge economy or whether this will remain a government funding agency like many others in the past. India has a big opportunity to unleash its prowess as one of the top knowledge-driven economies and NRF can play a big role in realising this dream. We cant afford to keep missing the bus! The author is chief policy advocacy officer, Sterlite Technologies Limited. The original justification for levying an import levy of 15% on gold and 3% GST on top of that was the macroeconomic strain created by a high current-account deficit. The deficit fell to 0.2% of GDP In the last quarter, and was restricted to 2% of GDP in 2022-23. Meanwhile, official gold imports plunged 24% in 2023-23, while smuggling is believed to have increased. Smuggled gold plays havoc with the culture of tax compliance still struggling to take root in the jewellery sector, and the outgo of funds to pay for the smuggled gold through illegal channels or the forestalling of remittances to India via official channels creates another kind of distortion. It is high time that India cuts the import duty on gold to something like 2% to keep the trade legal and improve tax compliance. The image that gold conjures up for most people is that of glittering jewellery on a glowing bride. But this image represents reality for only a tiny segment of Indian society. According to data compiled by the India Gold Policy Centre at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, 74% of all households owned, bought or sold gold in 2020. Of the poorest households those earning less than 1 lakh a year 9% owned or traded in gold, accounting for one tonne of the precious metal. Of those earning 1-2 lakh, 15% dealt in gold totalling 1.8 tonnes. The proportion was 26% for households earning 2-5 lakh, but they accounted for a lower volume of gold 1.3 tonnes. And just 1% of households with incomes above 20 lakh reported gold transactions, accounting for 0.4 tonnes of it. It should be noted here that 2020 was the year of the pandemic. Gold is a primary form of saving for the poor, who may sell it in times of need and buy it back when things are better. This explains the higher gold-related activity among the poor, as the rich dont need to sell gold to gain liquidity. High import duties on gold in pre-liberalised India led to large-scale smuggling and a thriving hawala business for cross-border payments, typically at exchange rates that yielded more rupees per dollar than at the official rates. Liberalisation changed all that. The import duty on gold was slashed and the exchange rate allowed to float, wiping out the premium in the unofficial market. In 2012, when the current account was under strain, the government replaced the import duty on gold of 300 per 10 gm with 2% ad valorem (a tax based on the assessed value of an item). This was raised to 10% in 2013 after the current-account deficit widened to 4.8% of GDP, well above limits of prudence. The macroeconomic pressure eased by September that year but the gold duty stayed high. A change of government did not alter that, although the import dropped to 7.5% for a while. The 2021 budget introduced an agricultural infrastructure cess on imports of precious metals and petroleum products, and added to the levy on imports. On gold, it was 2.5%, bringing overall import levies to 10%. In July 2022, as the world economy reeled from the impact of the war in Ukraine and the rupee began to slide, India raised the import duty on gold to 12.5% to ease the pressure on the current account deficit. Then, in this years budget, the government cut the customs duty to 10% while simultaneously increasing the agri cess to 5%. This meant the import levy remained at 15% but a larger share, accruing from the cess, would remain outside the pool of taxes that have to be shared with the states. GST on gold remains at 3% of the value of imports after levying duty and cess. Now, global commodity prices apart from food prices are in retreat. Indias economic activity, while decent relative to the performance of other economies, is sedate, and imports are trending low. There is no reason whatsoever to continue with a 15% duty on gold that incentivises smuggling, and opens up a stream of duty-evaded gold that continues to evade GST as it cycles through the domestic economy, damaging the culture of tax compliance. When slow growth squeezes job opportunities, sections of the unemployed drift into crime. To actively open up an area of criminal activity smuggling that offers rich pickings, amounts to a double abdication of the states duty to citizens. By bringing the import duty on gold back down to 2%, the government could squeeze out the space for smuggling, improve tax compliance, and encourage larger remittances. On July 24th Israels parliament, the Knesset, passed the first in a series of laws aimed at drastically limiting the powers of the countrys Supreme Court. Members of the opposition walked out in protest at the final reading of the law, which passed 64-0, with the votes of all the members of the far-right coalition led by the prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu. The law all but eliminates the courts ability to overturn government decisions on the grounds of reasonableness". Since the coalition presented its plans nearly eight months ago, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets in protest. Mr Netanyahus allies claim that in recent decades the Supreme Court has been overly interventionist and that its powers should be curbed. Opponents of the reforms argue that they will undermine Israeli democracy and risk introducing majoritarian rule. The government has been unmoved. Thousands of reserve officers in Israels armed forces have announced that they will no longer turn up for their voluntary service, but before the vote Mr Netanyahu refused to meet with the armys chief of staff, who wanted to warn him of the security implications of the dispute. The prime minister has also brushed-off a rare public warning from Israels closest ally: President Joe Biden called on the government to postpone the vote and try to reach a compromise with the opposition. The White House described the result as unfortunate". After attempts to pass the full raft of his governments legal reforms stalled in the face of widespread opposition, Mr Netanyahu repeatedly promised that he would try to pursue the constitutional changes through consensus. That came to nothing. Under pressure from the radical elements in his coalition, he abandoned efforts to find any kind of compromise. Instead the government took one of the original four laws they had hoped to pass earlier this year and rushed a vote on that through the Knesset in a matter of weeks. Even as the final votes were being held on Monday, Mr Netanyahu and his relatively moderate defence minister, Yoav Gallant, sought to delay the parliamentary procedure, in a last-gasp attempt to find a compromise. In the Knesset session the hardline justice minister, Yariv Levin, could be seen berating his colleagues, as Mr Netanyahu sat glumly silent. Mr Levin and other far-right members of the coalition threatened to resign if the amendment was not passed immediately. The fact that Mr Netanyahu, just back from a hospital stay to have a pacemaker fitted, was unable to persuade his allies to delay the vote suggests that his power is now limited. It is unclear what will prevent the most radical members of the coalition of nationalist and ultra-religious parties from pursuing their political agenda, both on the legal reforms and more widely. In the aftermath of the vote Mr Levin said this was the first step" in fixing Israels judicial system. Ministers have threatened to use the freedom the new law gives them to fire the independent-minded attorney-general. They could replace her with someone friendlier to the government who would be more willing to revisit the corruption charges currently facing Mr Netanyahu (which he strenuously denies). And then there are the next stages in the judicial overhaul. When the Knesset returns in October after a long summer recess, the coalition plans to put forward legislation which would give it control of the appointment of Supreme Court justices. In a speech shortly after the vote Mr Netanyahu promised that he would once again pursue consensus on these matters. His allies have no interest in any compromise, however, and the prime minister has little leverage over them. Israel may find itself in a constitutional crisis within days, well before the next pieces of legislation come up. Various civil-rights groups have already sent petitions to the Supreme Court calling for the new law to be overturned. The justices will still have legal tools to review government decisions, but these will be much more limited. If they rule that this new law restricting their powers is unconstitutional, they will be on a collision course with the government. The demonstrators who believe their country is on a slippery slope to dictatorship are not going home. Entire reserve units and squadrons could be paralysed. Major business groups have already closed their establishments in protest and the trade unions are considering a general strike. Angry protests broke out following the vote, causing havoc in central Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and elsewhere around the country. Israel is facing a tempestuous summer. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com AAP leader Raghav Chadha found himself locked in an unusual debate after being divebombed by a crow outside the Parliament. As BJP leaders shared the photo with a multitude of jibes the lawmaker responded with a popular Hindi couplet. Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate (one who lies will be pecked by a crow). Till now, we had only heard about it but today we saw how a crow bit a liar," the BJP tweeted sharing a set of photos from the incident. Ramchandra keh gaye Siya se aisa kalyug aayega, hans chugega daana dunka kauwa moti khayega (Lord Ram had told Sita there will such an age of darkness when geese will eat grains and crows pearls). Had only heard till now but saw today," came the response from Chadha. Deeply saddened by the news of attack by crow on Honorable MP Raghav Chadha ji. Hope you are in good health," tweeted Delhi BJP leader Tejinder Pal Singh Bagga. In another tweet targeting him, t The Delhi BJP also tweeted out a video of Chadha from a recent press conference. The lawmaker can be heard saying that the AAP is a hardcore honest party and Arvind Kejriwal is hardcore honest. "Raghav Chadha Why do you lie so much?" the BJP asked. The Opposition has been demanding answers from the prime minister in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha over the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur. It has sought a discussion in Parliament under rule 267. Chadha said his question on the Manipur violence was rejected by the Rajya Sabha on the ground that it is "not the primary concern" of the central government. This, he opined, exposes" the real face of the BJP. "This reply by the government exposes the fake claims of peace and security. What is stopping them from giving answers on Manipur," he said on Twitter while sharing his question. (With inputs from agencies) The collision of Brexit cheerleader Nigel Farage, a regal private bank, the BBC and the Conservative Party exploded into a quintessentially British scandal this week, costing the job of one of the countrys top bankers and igniting a debate over how lenders protect their reputations without discriminating against outspoken clients. The damage was apparent on Wednesday. Alison Rose, chief executive of NatWest, one of the countrys biggest banks, resigned under pressure from the government, with calls for fresh scrutiny into how banks decide whom to allow as customers. The tightly woven and overlapping British power centersbanks, media, and politicians in the corridors of powerall played their role. The origins of the affair began weeks before, when Farage, a British TV presenter known as the godfather of Brexit, waged a public battle with Couttsan exclusive private bank owned by NatWestafter the bank closed his account. Farage said Coutts, famed for banking the late Queen Elizabeth II, ditched him because of his pro-Brexit and anti-woke views. During a charity dinner, Rose sat next to the BBCs business editor and told him that Farage was axed because he wasnt a profitable customer. The journalist wrote a story the next day and later said he had relied ona trusted and senior source." Farage ultimately landed a sucker punch. He acquired a 40-page document from Coutts that included a list of his political views that the bank felt created significant reputational risks of being associated with him." The document described Farages views as xenophobic and racist" and said he was considered by many to be a disingenuous grifter," charges Farage has denied. This, combined with the fact that Farage had for some time failed to meet the financial criteria for banking at Coutts, led the bank to conclude it should shed him as a client. When Farage paid down his mortgage early, he was ousted. Amid a barrage of negative headlines and criticism from U.K. government officials furious about banks shutting out clients on free-speech grounds, Rose on Tuesday admitted to being the source of the BBC story. She had already apologized to Farage for the content of the Coutts report. The NatWest board initially backed her. But pressure from U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt forced her to go, officials say. The BBC meanwhile offered an apology to Farage for its inaccurate story. Roses downfallhours after NatWests board rallied to her defenserecalled earlier instances when banking executives stepped down under pressure from the government, such as the resignation of Bob Diamond from Barclays in 2012 over the Libor-rigging scandal. In the U.S., Citigroup expedited planning for the retirement of Michael Corbat as chief executive in 2020 because of a looming reprimand of the bank from federal regulators. In the case of NatWest, the government had an outsize say because it is the banks biggest shareholder, owning 39% as a legacy of a bailout during the 2008-2009 financial crisis. The debacle is a reminder of the tightrope that banks must walk to manage potentially risky clients. Anti-money-laundering rules require banks to mark any politician or government official and their families as politically exposed persons," or PEPs, requiring additional, and often costly, scrutiny of their transactions. Minutes of a meeting of Couttss Wealth Reputational Risk Committee, acquired through a type of public information request and published by Farage, pointed to the extra costs associated with managing accounts of high-profile individuals. Failing to take precautions with such clients comes with its own risks: Back in 2012 Coutts was fined 8.75 million ($13.9 million) by the U.K. regulator for failing to implement adequate checks on high-risk customers to prevent possible money laundering. After a litany of fines, banks in the U.K. and elsewhere have erred on the side of caution, cutting ties when compliance systems flag concerns about potential malfeasance, said Rebecca Niblock, a partner at law firm Kingsley Napley. The pendulum has definitely swung the other way, with anyone who might pose any kind of risk to the bank being chucked out," said Niblock. Farages case appears to be unusual, however. Niblock said she hadnt experienced another example of someone losing access to banking services in part because they attract political controversy. An email laying out the decisionsent this March and included in the document published by Faragepointed to controversial public statements which were felt to conflict with the banks purpose." The bank sensed the danger from axing the Brexit cheerleader in Britains febrile media environment: it could face negative coverage if Farage decided to go public," the file said. Tories joined Farage to speak out about the risk that banks could cut off customers for having antiestablishment or strong conservative views. David Davis, a former cabinet minister, called the decision to close Farages account thinly veiled political discrimination." Ultimately the political pressure cost Rose, who has worked at NatWest for 30 years and is one of Britains most prominent female chief executives, her job. The first rule of banking is client confidentiality. She clearly broke that," Farage told the BBC Wednesday. Their job is to run a bank, not to become moral arbiters," he added. Farage has said the whole of the NatWest board should resign, saying that cultural change" was needed at the bank. NatWest shares fell 4% on Wednesday, outpacing a broader decline in U.K. bank stocks. Farage, who founded the now-defunct UK Independence Party and was an early backer of former President Donald Trump, says he will now focus on campaigning to help those who have been cut off by their banks. Several other politicians or political groups have recently claimed that they struggled to get banking services because of their views. Its a broader and wider issue about whether we are sleepwalking into a situation where people can find themselves shut out of the entire financial system,"said Justin Doherty of Hemington Consulting, which advises on reputational risk. For NatWest, the saga is another black eye following years of scandals. Rose took charge of the bank in 2019 and was tasked with continuing to patch up its reputation, which was shredded during the financial crisis. Among her first moves was to change the banks tarnished name from Royal Bank of Scotland. RBS was the worlds largest lender by assets before a collapse in its shares led to a taxpayer rescue. It is a shell of its former self, having shrunk to a British-focused retail bank. Under Rose, the bank put a heavy focus on inclusivity and diversity as it tried to soften its image after paying billions of dollars in fines for a range of misdemeanors. Its Coutts unitwhich bears three crowns as its logo and is based on the West End street in London where it was founded by a goldsmith in 1692has caused NatWest difficulties in the past. In 2018, a star banker resigned after The Wall Street Journal reported that Coutts had investigated allegations of inappropriate behavior toward female colleagues. A year earlier Swiss regulators said Coutts breached money-laundering rules by moving assets tied to Malaysian state investment fund 1Malaysia Development through Swiss accounts, and ordered the bank to disgorge millions of Swiss francs it gained from transactions. Rose, who received the honorific title of dame last December, will be replaced for the next 12 months by Paul Thwaite, the current CEO of NatWests commercial and institutional business. NatWest will look for a permanent successor. Her excision from the establishment continued later Wednesday: Downing Street announced her removal from the prime ministers business council. Elon Musk , the billionaire entrepreneur, envisions transforming Twitter into a comprehensive platform for financial services. This ambitious move is not the first instance of a tech giant encroaching on Jamie Dimon's territory, reported Blommberg. As per a report from Bloomberg, numerous technology firms have ventured into the realm of financial services with similar ambitions. For instance, Facebook dedicated considerable resources to a project called Libra, which aimed to revolutionize cross-border payments. However, due to regulatory scrutiny, the project had to be abandoned. Similarly, Google had plans for a digital financial offering and even secured 11 banking partners for the launch. Nevertheless, the entire plan was unexpectedly scrapped. Amazon.com Inc. also explored the possibility of providing checking accounts to consumers, but ultimately, the project did not materialize. US tech companies have encountered challenges when trying to compete with established banking giants, often leading them to scale back their initial ambitions due to tough competition and lengthy approval procedures. However, Elon Musk stands apart from other tech executives with his unconventional approach to business decisions, evident in the surprising moves he has made at Twitter, such as replacing its iconic bird-based brand with the letter X. Moreover, Musk has prior experience in the financial technology sector, as he was the founder of the company now recognized as PayPal Holdings Inc. Im not saying at all that he cant do it," said Pranav Sood, executive general manager at cross-border payments platform Airwallex. But its something that takes time and its something that takes investment because you have to make sure that you do things right in order to stay compliant globally," adds Sood. Reportedly, Musk's envisioned X app represents a groundbreaking integration of Twitter's underlying infrastructure with X.com, currently serving as a routing service to Twitter. This innovative app will combine communication, multimedia, and the comprehensive functionality to manage one's entire financial world. In messages expressing support for Musk's ambitious overhaul, Twitter's CEO, Linda Yaccarino, confirmed that the X app would incorporate fintech features, including payments and banking capabilities. To pave the way for this financial integration, Twitter has successfully obtained money-transmitter licenses in four U.S. states, namely Arizona, Michigan, Missouri, and New Hampshire. The report suggests that in 2022, during his acquisition of the social media platform, Musk shared his vision through tweets, expressing his desire for Twitter to emulate Tencent Holdings Ltd.'s WeChat model. WeChat, a messaging service turned super-app, boasts over a billion daily users in China. Musk's aspiration was to transform Twitter into a similar multifunctional platform, resembling WeChat's success as a fintech titan. Like WeChat, the envisioned Twitter would enable users to send funds to each other, make payments for goods and services, and even have access to borrowing options. Musk's venture into payments wouldn't be his first. During the dot-com boom, he made a move to Silicon Valley and established a company initially named X.com, which later evolved into the well-known PayPal. Musk's fortunes took a significant turn when he sold PayPal to eBay Inc., marking his first major success. Despite opportunities in the banking sector, Musk opted to decline "several high-paid jobs on Wall Street" to stay focused on technologya decision that has undoubtedly paid off. Presently, he holds the title of the world's richest person, with a staggering net worth of $238.9 billion, as reported by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The Bloomberg report further suggests that Integrating banking and payments features into the platform will demand users to familiarize themselves with a company sporting a brand-new product name, along with its own set of financial challenges. Musk's decision to burden Twitter with high-cost debt has added to these woes. Nevertheless, for the vision of a comprehensive financial services platform to materialize, users will need to adapt to these changes and embrace the new direction Twitter is taking. (With inputs from Bloomberg) The D-day is finally here. Samsung is all geared up for its Galaxy Unpacked event scheduled for 4:30pm IST today. The event is expected to primarily focus on unveiling the next generation of foldable smartphones - the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. These devices will succeed the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4, respectively. However, the excitement doesn't end there, as leaked information suggests that Samsung might also reveal a new Galaxy Watch series and a Galaxy tablet during the event. Here's a rundown of what to expect from the Samsung event: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: Recent leaks hint at some notable improvements for the Z Flip 5. The cover display is rumored to grow in size to 3.4 inches. The phone is likely to receive a performance boost with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which is currently featured in the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The camera setup is expected to remain unchanged, with a familiar dual 12MP configuration. Moreover, there are hopes that the Z Flip 5 may come with an IP58 rating, indicating enhanced water and dust resistance capabilities. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Similar to the Z Flip 5, the upcoming Galaxy Fold smartphone is expected to receive a significant upgrade with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. The device is anticipated to feature a large 7.6-inch foldable AMOLED display, complemented by a 6.2-inch AMOLED cover panel. The photography department may impress users with a powerful 50MP primary camera, accompanied by a 12MP ultra-wide camera and a 10MP telephoto camera. For selfies, a 12MP front-facing camera is expected. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series: Alongside its foldable lineup, Samsung is likely to unveil the Galaxy Tab S9 series, which could include the Galaxy Tab S9, Tab S9 Plus, and Tab S9 Ultra. While specific details are scarce, there are suggestions that the standard Galaxy Tab S9 model might also receive an OLED panel, similar to the premium variants in the series. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series: The event may also introduce the new Galaxy Watch 6 series. Leaks indicate that this smartwatch could feature curved glass and offer improved battery life compared to its predecessor. Additionally, the watch is said to support WhatsApp, allowing users to access the messaging platform directly from their wrists. There are also rumors of a temperature sensor, enabling users to conveniently measure nearby object temperatures. Overall, the Galaxy Watch 6 series promises to be an exciting addition to Samsung's wearable lineup. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: Reports suggest that Samsung might offer a preview of the more affordable Galaxy S23 FE during the event. While the Galaxy S22 FE was skipped, indications point to a scaled-down version of the flagship series this time around. Some previous reports have suggested that the phone may be powered by Samsung's in-house Exynos 2200 chipset. Samsung is set to host its Galaxy Unpacked event today (July 26, 2023) at 4:30 PM IST. The South Korean company has recently released several teaser videos suggesting new design hints for its foldable and flip series. It is likely that the company may unveil Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. Previously, the company had launched the Samsung Galaxy S23 series at the Galaxy Unpacked event. Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming event. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event: Date and timing As mentioned above, the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event will be hosted on July 26. The event will start at 4:30 pm IST. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event: Livestream details Samsung will host its Galaxy Unpacked event in home country South Korea for the first time. It is likely that the event will be livestreamed on the companys official YouTube channel along with its global and India website. Those interested can watch the livestream here. Samsung is already accepting the pre-orders of its upcoming device. Those interested can pre-reserve by paying an upfront amount of 1,999. As announced by the company, those pre-reserving the products will be able to avail benefits worth 5,000. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event: Expected launches Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, Z Fold 5, Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series may launch at the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event. According to recent leaks, Samsung is rumored to enhance the cover display of the Z Flip 5, increasing its size to 3.4 inches. Additionally, the upcoming Z Flip variant is expected to receive a performance boost with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which is presently featured in the Galaxy S23 Ultra. When it comes to photography, it seems likely that the phone will retain its familiar dual 12MP camera setup. Moreover, there are hopes that the device may come with an IP58 rating, indicating improved water and dust resistance capabilities. Like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 smartphone is slated to receive a significant upgrade with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. Notably, it is anticipated to feature a large 7.6-inch foldable AMOLED display, complemented by a 6.2-inch AMOLED cover panel. In the photography department, the phone might impress users with a powerful 50MP primary camera, accompanied by a 12MP ultra-wide camera and a 10MP telephoto camera. Furthermore, for selfies, a 12MP front-facing camera is expected to be available. In addition to its foldable lineup, Samsung is anticipated to unveil the Galaxy Tab S9 series, which could include the Galaxy Tab S9, Tab S9 Plus, and Tab S9 Ultra. While concrete details are scarce at the moment, there have been suggestions that the standard Galaxy Tab S9 model might also receive an OLED panel, similar to the premium variants in the series. The Galaxy Unpacked event might also introduce the new Galaxy Watch 6 series. Leaks indicate that this smartwatch could feature curved glass and offer improved battery life compared to its predecessor. Excitingly, Samsung has confirmed that the watch will support WhatsApp, enabling users to access the messaging platform directly from their wrists. Additionally, the watch is rumored to come with a temperature sensor, allowing users to measure the temperature of nearby objects conveniently. With these enhancements, the Galaxy Watch 6 series promises to be a compelling addition to Samsung's wearable lineup. Hunter Biden, here in Washington, DC, on July 4, is set to plead guilty Wednesday to two federal misdemeanors for not paying taxes on time. If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. Two men have been convicted and fined after appearing in an English court on Monday following a drink-fuelled incident onboard a Ryanair flight heading to Leeds Bradford Airport. John Nevin (37) Camlin Meadows, Townspark, Longford and Shane Gilraine (29), Cattan, Mohill, Leitrim were on a flight from Dublin on June 23 when the incident broke out. The pair were charged by West Yorkshire Police with being drunk in an aircraft and appeared at Leeds Magistrates' Court on Monday. The pair are understood to have become embroiled in the incident inflight ahead of a stag weekend in the north east of England. They had to be escorted off the plane and in their appearance at court on Monday were fined. Nevin was fined 300 and Gilraine, was fined 400. It comes after the Leader broke details last month of how the pair were arrested and later charged by UK Police following the incident. A Ryanair spokesperson said the pair became unruly after the flight had to initially be redirected to Leeds owing to a short-term runway closure at Newcastle Airport. "This flight from Dublin to Newcastle was diverted to Leeds due to a temporary runway closure at Newcastle Airport," said the spokesperson. "Two passengers became disruptive inflight, and crew called ahead for police assistance upon arrival to Leeds airport. "The flight landed normally and was met by local police who removed these two passengers. "The aircraft departed a short time later when the runway in Newcastle Airport was reopened." A major fundraiser is underway to raise vital funds for a Longford father of fives courageous battle with cancer. Friends and family of thirty-eight-year-old Johnny Maguire are hoping to garner in excess of 50,000 in order to secure potentially life saving treatment at a Hope4Cancer Hospital in Playas de Tijuana in Mexico. It comes after doctors diagnosed Johnny with an aggressive form of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma weeks after the former St Mels student believed his symptoms were linked to a severe case of tonsillitis. His partner, Belinda told of how their lives have been turned upside down in the wake of the shocking prognosis. He was complaining of a sore throat and then he started getting an earache and couldnt breathe out of his right nostril and when we got the news it was just terrible, we couldnt believe it, said Belinda. We were just thinking of the kids and trying to get him better at this stage. It would be impossible for me to go as our youngest (Luke) is one on Wednesday and our daughter (Kaydee) is two on Sunday. His sister, Marie is hoping the appeal will allow her to travel alongside her brother to Mexico while also offsetting the costs for Johnnys alternative immunotherapy treatment. To date, the family's aptly dubbed Johnnys Journey to Recovery has raised in the region of 12,000 but with time very much of the essence, Belinda called on the wider Longford public to rally around her stricken partner. Hes actually in top form and is so positive with all that is going on, she said. We are all behind him as a family and just want him better. To donate to the online GoFundMe appeal, simply follow the link: https://www.gofundme. com/f/pkm78q-johnnys- journey-to-recovery 26th July 2023 Runtime 30:42 Harland & Wolff Group (HARL) CEO John Wood joined London South East live to present and take questions at our July London South East/focusIR webinar. John gave an update on the Islandmagee judicial review, noting that they are still fairly optimistic of a positive outcome. He reiterated their commitment to Islandmagee and said they want to see that project built out. He personally spent a week in court listening to the arguments and counter arguments being made, and told us that he thought they would get an indication of the outcome in September. He said that Harland were three years into their five year plan, and had always expected a post-tax loss in the third year, just not as big as it was. "We've made a loss but expected predicted revenues of 600M and actually we have predicted revenues of 900M, so there are positives as well. It happened because revenue was deferred from one year to the next. We've seen substantial infrastructure building, capability and capacity building and we've been investing heavily in Fleet Solid Support to build that and to build up the pipeline of multi-million pound programmes. Fantastic foundations have been set for the coming years." In terms of funding, John said: "We have a deal on the table which we could take, but we are not about taking the first deal offered. Unfortunately we committed to a date by which we would get the deal done, but we are hanging on to get that better deal. When you look at the level of debt in the business it's really all about making sure that that debt is coming in at the right price." Harland & Wolff is a UK quoted company focused on strategic infrastructure projects and the Islandmagee gas caverns project. The recently signed FSS sub-contract for the supply of three Fleet Solid Support Vessels for the UK Navy boosts contracted revenues to 900m and gives the company significant visibility over the medium to longer term. Tobacco harm reduction advocates in the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region lauded UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for taking a pro-science approach to end the smoking epidemic by providing 1 million adult smokers with free vapes to help them quit cigarettes. Britains Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a visit of Crofton Park, near Rednal, Birmingham, on July 24, 2023. AFP This progressive and pro-science approach offers the best opportunity to end smoking, which tobacco control espoused by the WHO and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has failed to accomplish over the decades. By providing 1 million free vapes, the UK recognizes the role of tobacco harm reduction in making a difference in the lives of smokers. It hopes that the swap-to-stop scheme will hasten the decline of smoking in England, Clarisse Virgino, the Philippine representative to the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates, said in a statement. Virgino is among the public health advocate in Asia who lauded Prime Minister Sunak for supporting vaping as a much safer alternative to smoking cigarettes and establishing groundbreaking programs that encourage adults to make informed choices rather than imposing bans that leave them with limited options. No less than a leader of the free world has proclaimed that vaping is a better choice for those who cant quit smoking. There is so much science and research today that back up his claim. We congratulate Prime Minister Sunak for doing the right thing in protecting the British peoples health, Virgino said. Dr. Lorenzo Mata, president of Philippines-based advocacy group Quit for Good, said policy makers around the world should take a cue from Sunaks administration which considers science in its efforts to address the smoking epidemic in the UK. Rather than demonizing vaping, the UK promotes it as a proactive and innovative way to win people away from smoking and give them a better choice, he said. When challenged in parliament on how the UKs National Health Service could be relieved of mounting pressures, Prime Minister Sunak pointed to his administrations anti-smoking policy as the key. Central to the policy is an innovative scheme to trade one million free vapes for cigarettes in what is dubbed as the swap to stop program. The UK is giving free vape starter kits, along with behavioral support, to one million smokers in a national campaign to reduce smoking. About one in five smokers in England will receive the kits. There is such persuasive evidence from that program and the schemes that we have done on a smaller scale that if you can help existing adult smokers to switch away from smoking to using vapes -this is not about disposable vapes for children, which is obviously concerning there are clearly public health benefits of acting before the bigger problems come down the line, the Prime Minister was quoted as saying. Vapes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches are innovative alternatives that deliver nicotine without burning tobacco. Mounting scientific studies have concluded that burning tobacco produces around 7,000 chemicals in cigarettes smoke, more than 200 of which are harmful or potentially harmful to humans. Nicotine, though not risk-free, is not the cause of smoking related diseases. Mata said this development, also proves that the Philippines moved in the right direction when it passed Republic Act No. 11900, or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-nicotine Products Act to regulate vapes, heated tobacco and other smoke-free products. Sunak underscored the importance of his governments swap to stop program to improve public health, which involves promoting vaping as a much safer alternative to smoking cigarettes and is part of a strategy that encourages adults to make informed choices rather than imposing bans that leave them with limited options. On smoking, the swap to stop program is trying something quite proactive quite innovative, he said. Consumer groups and public health advocates in the Philippines said the UKs decision should serve as a wake-up call to countries that continue to adhere to the World Health Organizations moralist, but ineffectual tobacco control policy that condemns smokers to a lifetime of smoking without presenting viable alternatives. Virgino said the UK governments stance in favor of smoke-free alternatives by providing vapes to smokers is the biggest challenge yet to the WHOs restrictive and prohibitionist policy that sidelines over a billion smokers in the world, most of whom live in the Asia-Pacific region. This is what happens when you have a leader who looks at all sides to an issue. The quit-or-die approach being peddled by the WHO and embraced by one-track-minded politicians will only result in unnecessary deaths due to smoking. If there are better alternatives available, smokers should not be deprived of them. As Prime Minister Sunak said if you can help existing adult smokers to switch away from smoking to using vapesthere are clearly public health benefits of acting before the bigger problems come down the line, said Virgino. The UKs Department of Health and Social Care said the program proved effective in local trials, so it is being scaled up at the national level. The plan also includes giving financial incentives of up to 400 for pregnant women who quit smoking. Vaping proved helpful in making people quit smoking in the UK, as research shows that smokers who use a vape every day are three times more likely to quit smoking. The measures are also part of the UK governments plan to achieve smoke-free status by 2030. Smokefree is defined as smoking prevalence of five percent or less. About 5.4 million people in England currently smoke, and studies show that two of three lifelong smokers will eventually die from smoking. The program also includes a crackdown on underage and illicit vape sales. Despite the WHOs opposition to smoke-free alternatives, a 2015 WHO study group on tobacco product regulation found that less toxic or less addictive products could be a component of a comprehensive approach to reducing tobacco-related deaths and disease. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. The Philippines and Malaysia agreed to convene their Joint Commission to discuss new areas of synergies, in particular on food security, halal industry, and Islamic banking. In the spirit of exploring synergies for future partnerships, we agreed to convene the next Philippines-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting in the near future. I believed the date that we decided upon was around sometime in October, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya, Malaysia yesterday. TWINNING. The Petronas Twin Towers (left) are bathed in the colors of the Philippine flag as part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s three-day state visit. Mr. Marcos and Prime Minister Ibrahim Anwar issued a joint statement in Putrajaya on July 26, 2023. Ver Noveno and Ali Vicoy Mr. Marcos said discussions between the Philippines and Malaysia will focus on transnational crimes, agriculture, Halal industry, Islamic banking, education, tourism and culture, sports, and the digital economy. Building on our bilateral relations, our governments commit to closely coordinate efforts to build capacity in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in the southern Philippines, in Muslim Mindanao, especially in sectors such as the Halal industry, Islamic Banking, and Food Security, the President said. We have outstanding MOUs, which both of us agreed to accelerate the process and where we should find ways to resolve and then hopefully sign prior to the or during the commission meeting, Prime Minister Ibrahim added. Malaysia has offered to aid the Philippines in training Filipino personnel and officials to boost the capabilities of those in the vital sectors of development, Mr. Marcos said. With Malaysia being one of the leading halal economies in the world, cooperation in this sector would mutually benefit the growth of our respective halal ecosystems, he added. In return, the Philippines committed to improve trade and investment ties. VISIT TO MALAYSIA. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos lead a Philippine official delegation to a visit at the Istana Negara, Malaysias National Palace. In the group are Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Senators Mark Villar and Joseph Victor JV Ejercito, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, and Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil. On hand to welcome them are the King and Queen of Malaysia, as well as Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Dato Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. Ver Noveno In 2022, Malaysia was ranked 22nd among the Philippines top investors and the fourth source of foreign direct investment with $105.7 million, registering a 56.4-percent growth from January to September 2022. As I mark my second year as President of the Philippines, this state visit not only attests to the importance we place on Malaysia as a neighbor and as a partner in ASEAN, but also reaffirms the Philippines commitment to further cultivating our bonds and friendship especially as we look forward to celebrating our 60th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations with Malaysia next year, Mr. Marcos said. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. In the shimmering archipelago of the Philippines, a dynamism is unfolding thats transforming the countrys economic landscape. Here, the buoyancy of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, specifically within the hospitality industry, adds a compelling chapter to the countrys narrative of growth and innovation. One company, Cynergy BPO, the worlds leading outsourcing advisory firm, has been guiding businesses through this transformative journey. Through a deep understanding of the intricacies of the hospitality BPO sector and the role of advanced technologies, Cynergy BPO stands as a beacon, illuminating the path for hospitality companies worldwide. The beauty of technology is in its capacity to change paradigms. In the hospitality outsourcing sector, its not simply automating the mundaneits reshaping the very texture of guest interactions, elevating service quality, and carving out memorable experiences, explains John Maczynski, CEO of Cynergy BPO. Technological pillars such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) have introduced a paradigm shift in reservations management, guest inquiries, and complaint resolution, offering speed and efficiency that were unimaginable a decade ago. Add to this the strength of cloud computing, which provides a robust, secure, and accessible foundation for these technologies to thrive on, and the transformation seems revolutionary. However, Maczynski underscores that while technology is playing a massive part, its the human touch that truly differentiates the hospitality BPO industry in the Philippines. Filipino agents, with their extensive training and proficiency in multi-channel supportincluding phone, email, chat, and social mediabring a warmth and empathy to their roles that technology, no matter how advanced, cannot replicate. Our talented Filipino workforce delivers an unmatched human touch, which when complemented by cutting-edge technology, creates a distinctive guest experience, Maczynski points out. Ralf Ellspermann, the Chief Strategy Officer of Cynergy BPO, echoes this sentiment. Filipino agents, with their innate empathy and a deep-rooted customer-centric approach, bring a unique perspective to the table. When this human element aligns with technological innovations, the outcome is a hospitality BPO offering thats unparalleled in its quality and scope, Ellspermann remarks. In the global hospitality sector, the demand for 24/7 support continues to surge. Here again, the Philippines BPO industry stands strong, buoyed by its cutting-edge technology and a competent, ready-to-serve workforce. The world of hospitality is a 24/7 enterprise, and so is support. By harnessing the power of technology and cultivating a pool of skilled agents, hospitality outsourcing to the Philippines isnt just meeting the demand for round-the-clock serviceits exceeding expectations and setting new benchmarks in guest experience, says Ellspermann. Looking at the broader canvas of the hospitality BPO industry, it becomes apparent that the Philippines, with its strategic blending of technology and human-centric services, is weaving a tale of innovation and commitment. Its a story punctuated by persistent technological advancement, an unwavering commitment to service quality, and a deep understanding of the elements that make the guest experience truly extraordinary. Amidst this evolving landscape, advisory firms like Cynergy BPO play a crucial role, steering businesses towards the opportunities of this promising new horizon. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Global Copper market is entering an age of extremely large deficits Simply put, the road to reaching net zero begins and ends with copper. All infrastructure built to support renewable energy uses large amounts of copper, as the metal is a highly efficient conductor of electricity and heat. To keep the energy transition going, millions of feet of copper wiring will be required for strengthening the worlds power grids, and hundreds of thousands of tonnes more are needed to build wind and solar farms. An offshore wind turbine, for example, contains 8 tonnes of copper per megawatt of generation capacity. Electric vehicles, now a fast-rising source of demand, use over twice as much copper as gasoline-powered cars, which contain about 30 kg. Not to mention, there is more than 180 kg of copper in the average home, reminding us just how indispensable the metal really is. Adding it all up, demand for copper is going to be staggering as we look ahead into the future. Copper Supply Gap According to McKinsey, global electrification is expected to increase annual copper demand to 36.6 million tonnes by 2031, compared to the current demand of roughly 25 million tonnes. However, the consultancy firm forecasts copper supply to be around 30.1 million tonnes, leaving a gap of 6.5 million tonnes by the start of next decade. Green uses of copper accounted for 4% of copper consumption in 2020, but this is expected to rise to 17% by 2030, Aditi Rai, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, wrote in a note. He added a net-zero emissions path would mean the world would need an additional 54% of copper by 2030 on top of that forecast. S&P Global Market Intelligence goes a bit further out, projecting that annual global copper demand will nearly double to 50 million tonnes by 2035. Last year, global copper mine production sat at approximately 22 million tonnes, short of even the current demand. Assuming mining output continues to grow at a rate of 2.69% annually (as it has done for the past decade), global output will reach a mere 31 million tonnes, a far cry from the 50 million figure that wed need as previously mentioned, S&P said. The challenge is that if current trends continue theres a huge gap, said S&P Global vice chair Daniel Yergin upon the release of the copper analysis. And even if you put on your roller skates and your jet burner [to realize optimistic supply growth], and everything goes right, theres still a gap, because its enormous. And its important to recognize that now, not in 2035. The market overall is pretty tight, Robert Edwards, copper analyst at CRU, mentioned in a recent Wall Street Journal piece. Longer term theres a narrative around resource scarcity and the green transition with EVs and renewables as well as the build-out of electricity grids. On paper its quite a substantial supply gap opening up over the next 10 years. All of this means one thing that the global copper market is entering an age of deficits so large that it could derail our climate goals. Some of the worlds largest mining companies and metal traders are warning the shortfall could arrive as early as 2025. The International Copper Study Group (ICSG) says the copper market is facing another year of deficits. The groups April forecast, via Reuters, calls for a supply shortfall of 114,000 tonnes in 2023, compared to a 431,000-tonne deficit in 2022. When ICSG last met in October, it was expecting global mine production to grow by 3.9% in 2022 and 5.3% this year. It now thinks growth was 3% last year, and revised its forecast down to 3% in 2023. The Reuters story says the expected wave of new supply from four new mines the DRCs Kamoa-Kakula, Quellaveco in Peru, along with Quebrada Blanca II and Spence-SGO in Chile is being offset by multiple hits to existing operations: The ICSG cites as reason for its lowered mine growth expectations operational and geotechnical issues, equipment failure, adverse weather, landslides, revised company guidance in a few countries and community actions in Peru. And for a lot of the current mine projects the offtake agreements are already in place, that copper is not coming west. Its mostly eastbound to China, South Korea and Japan. Supply Prone to Disruptions Geopolitics is seen by S&P as a major contributing factor to the shortfall in global copper supply. Of the 20 million tonnes of copper produced in 2020, more than half were from nations categorized as Unstable or Extremely Unstable (see below). Since late 2022, Peru, the second-largest producer, has been rocked by political turmoil. The nation has experienced daily rioting, meaning supply chains across the country have been crunched. In January, experts estimated roughly 30% of Perus production was at risk Multiple world-leading mines such as Glencores Antapaccay and MMGs Las Bamba combining for 2.5% of global copper output, were either shut down or restricted by protestor roadblocks. Perhaps no country serves a better example of how vulnerable the copper supply chain is than Chile. As the worlds No.1 producer, Chiles output has stagnated due to deteriorating ore quality and water restrictions in the arid north. Permitting is also getting tougher. Research firm Fitch Solutions estimates 2023 copper production in the worlds top producer will be about 5.7Mt, the same as in 2020. In 2021, leftist candidate Gabriel Boric was elected president of Chile, on a mandate to impose higher taxes, sending a chill through the mining industry which argued the change would impede competitiveness. Constitutional reform was also on the agenda. Since then, cooler heads have prevailed. A proposed new constitution was rejected by voters last September, while an ambitious tax overhaul plan was voted down by Congress in March. A government plan for new royalties on mining, which is currently moving through Congress, has been tempered to 46%. Large mining companies are watching these developments closely. BHP, majority owner of the worlds biggest copper mine Escondida, wants the Chilean government to make further concessions on the tax legislation before investing an estimated $10 billion in the country. Necessary to Diversify Supply In the background, though, mining companies are determined to diversify away from high-risk jurisdictions like Chile and Peru, which is why aggressive deals are being made on high-quality copper assets elsewhere. BHP, for example, went to acquire fellow Australian miner OZ Minerals last year, a move that would boost its copper production by about 7%. Swiss commodities giant Glencore is also seeking to flex its financial muscles, offering $23 billion for Canadas Teck Resources to create what would be the third-largest copper producer in the world. Rio Tinto, the leading producer of iron ore, also made significant forays into copper by completing its $3.3 billion acquisition of Turquoise Hill and giving the company a 66% stake in Mongolias Oyu Tolgoi, one of the worlds largest known copper deposits. Analysts at BloombergNEF are expecting more consolidation in the near term to boost supply and lower costs. Copper miners have the cash to fund mergers and acquisitions, with BNEF analysis indicating the top 11 miners are sitting on $53 billion of cash and cash equivalents the highest level in a decade. But making deals only goes as far as maximizing the output of existing copper operations. The problem, as identified by Reuters metals columnist Andy Home, is that there is precious little copper supply in the pipeline beyond the four aforementioned mines currently being brought online. This is what Glencores CEO Gary Nagle said in late 2022: Whatever was planned to be built has been built. There is nothing coming behind [the projects now ramping up into production]. The commodity traders outlook on copper supply is way more pessimistic than, say, McKinseys. The firm says if the world is going to meet its zero emissions targets, it will be short 50 million tonnes of copper by 2030. Clearly, the world needs new copper mines, but they cant be built and commissioned that fast. In North America, 20 years can elapse between initial discovery and first production. Weve got less than seven years. Sam Crittenden, an analyst with RBC Dominion Securities, recently estimated that the energy transitions copper requirements will mean an additional 1% of copper supply, the equivalent of one large copper mine (a la Escondida) coming online every year. Quality shovel ready projects are scarce and getting more difficult to build: When we look at the list of available copper projects its notable that there is a lot of copper out there but a lot of it may never come out of the ground, Crittenden said. A report this week from the Energy Transitions Commission further reinforces the idea that there has been a severe lack of investment leading to new copper discoveries. Annual capital investment in energy transition metals averaged $45 billion over the last two decades compared with the $70 billion needed each year through to 2030 to expand supply, the ETC said. Source: Energy Transitions Commission Clearly, to stand a chance of hitting our climate change targets, more copper mines must be built from scratch. This begins identifying exploration projects with such potential, but absent the risks posed by countries like Chile. Conclusion Currently offering a private placement for gross proceeds up to $400,000, Copper Road Resources is in a great position to accomplish its 2023 exploration goals. Its progress is also gaining some traction within the investment community. Within a span of two months, the companys stock rebounded from a low of 5.5 cents a share in May to almost doubling, a show of confidence not only in the company but also where the market for copper junior miners is at. We now see some projects coming online in Peru and in Chile, which will add incremental supply, but there is not a lot in terms of pipeline in terms of long run, Barbara Mattos, an analyst at ratings company Moodys Investors Service, told WSJ, referring to the general lack of investment in mining projects over the past couple of decades. As CEO Timmins noted in a May interview with RocksAndStocksNews, theres not enough supply to meet a projected $2 trillion upgrade that America needs to reach net zero. In fact, he says that high-level fund managers with hundreds of millions of dollars are having a tough time finding good projects to invest in. Now that the majors are starting to spend their cash, it makes copper explorers sitting on large projects with past production history worth monitoring, especially in a period of already high, and increasing metal demand. 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This shameful act, clearly carried out on the orders of the PSUV leadership, has been repudiated by broad layers of the left nationally and internationally, including by members and figures from the governing party itself. The widespread backlash towards the threat of intervention in the PCV since the beginning of this controversy has caused the PSUV to move cautiously. Perfecto Abreu legitimate president of the PCV declared in an interview with Union Radio, that no active PCV member took part in this media circus. The PCV gave a list of attendees, demonstrating the real credentials of the paid political mercenaries who led the fake congress. These included known PSUV members, and one individual who was expelled from the PCV over a year earlier. It is abundantly clear that the aim of this manoeuvre is to hijack the legal banner of the PCV or, failing that, to paralyse the party by preventing it and the Popular Revolutionary Alternative (APR, a left-wing coalition of which the PCV is a member) from participating in future elections. The PSUV leadership fears that a left-wing opposition with mass support could emerge. This is why it has resorted to authoritarian measures aimed at curtailing the political activity of the APR in general and the PCV in particular. Background The attacks by the PSUV leadership against the PCV began in 2020, following the latters break with the governments anti-worker policies. The decisive turning point came when the PCV, having broken with the GPP (Great Patriotic Pole, the PSUV-led coalition of parties) joined with others to form the APR in August later that same year. In the APR, the PCV along with various revolutionary organisations including Lucha de Clases, the Venezuelan section of the International Marxist Tendency formed a new electoral alliance to the left of the PSUV. The state responded with a judicial coup against the leadership of the Patria Para Todos party (PPT), a party which had been involved in forming the APR. In its place, control of the party was handed to a new leadership, coming from the right-wing minority faction opposed to participation in the APR. As such, the APR was only able to run candidates for the parliamentary elections of 2020 and the regional elections of 2021 on the ticket of the PCV. Since then, senior PSUV leaders have called for censorship of the APR at election time, and there have been a series of smear campaigns and threats against the PCV. These attacks have been carried out alongside failed attempts to buy off PCV leaders or members. These were similar methods to those used in what was called Operation Scorpion, during which PSUV leaders and businessmen bought off right-wing deputies at the end of 2019, so that they would not recognise Juan Guaido. In this whole shameful story, the presidential speech of November 2020 stands out, during which Nicolas Maduro covered the PCV symbol with his hand while showing the voting card for the parliamentary elections of that year. The anti-communist onslaught intensified from November 2021. At that time, vice-president of the PSUV Diosdado Cabello, made the claim on television that he had received letters from supposed PCV members. These imaginary PCV members questioned the partys leadership and continued to support the national government, and supposedly therefore rejected the partys opposition to and dissociation from the government policy a policy adopted by the party in 2020 and ratified at its XVI Congress in 2022. On 4 February, at a march in Caracas called by the PSUV to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the military uprising led by Hugo Chavez in 1992, agents provocateurs from the State of Monagas, disguised in PCV shirts and symbols, announced that they would initiate a process of rescuing the PCV, returning it to the Great Patriotic Pole (GPP) the electoral alliance led by the PSUV. With this aim in mind, on 11 February, a meeting was held of supposed PCV members from various states in the centre and east of the country in a well-known hotel in the city of Maturin. These supposed members denounced their alleged exclusion by the party leadership, which, they claimed, had put itself at the service of US imperialism. The national leadership and the Monagas Regional Committee of the PCV immediately denied that those attending the meeting belonged to their party, and presented evidence that these individuals had previously worked with the PSUV. They also demonstrated that serving officials of the National Electoral Council participated in this fraudulent meeting. That the deployment of political mercenaries began in the state of Monagas is indicative of the fact that the assault against the PCV is being coordinated by Diosdado Cabello vice president of the PSUV whose home state is Monagas. Weeks later, a recording of Jesus Faria Tortosa, former member of the PCV and current member of the PSUV widely known for his scandalous defence of the governments economic policy was leaked on social media. The leak indicated that he was coordinating assemblies of political mercenaries in several states, as well as attempting to recruit PCV members and the children of former PCV leaders for the attack on the party. That the deployment of political mercenaries began in the state of Monagas is indicative of the fact that the assault against the PCV is being coordinated by Diosdado Cabello / Image: Luigino Bracci, Wikimedia Commons Eventually, the fake congress was held on 21 May. Little is known about the decisions and resolutions that were made. This is because it was a mere media circus designed to prepare public opinion for the states intervention in the party. Options to complete this plan include use of the Supreme Court of Justice, a ruling from which could derecognise the legitimate leadership of the PCV and grant legal ownership of the party to a junta of PSUV mercenaries. Alternatively, the organisation could be paralysed through use of an appeal to the National Electoral Council. State interventionism Government intervention in political parties, especially those of the left, is typical of the right-wing tactics of the PSUV leadership, and draws from the methods of Bonapartism. This leadership, making use of the state, initially hijacked the symbols and legal banner of right-wing parties such as Accion Democratica (AD), Primero Justicia (PJ), Voluntad Popular (VP), among others, in a failed attempt to build a tailor-made opposition, which never took off. This is no different from the anti-democratic attitude of the countrys right wing, which, despite having failed in its attempts to seize power, has always demonstrated its coup-plotting tendencies and its desire to persecute and proscribe the left. The coup of April 2002 showed in just a few hours how little political and democratic rights mean to the national bourgeoisie and imperialism. The constant whining of these layers about the lack of democracy in Venezuela is nothing but pure hypocrisy. After having been used to attack the right, the interventionist tactics were replicated against left-wing parties, such as PPT, Tupamaros, Unidad Popular Venezolana (UPV) and others. This was executed with the clear aim of handing control of the parties over to individuals and tendencies sympathetic to Maduro, in blatant disregard for their internal democratic processes and the will of their members. In the case of those parties of the left in which it has intervened, the PSUV leadership wishes to have absolute control of the GPP and those parties constituting it. This undemocratic intervention in political parties is the means by which the government resolved in its favour the continuous struggle of party tendencies, so that it might issue direct orders without question. Today, the GPP is thus nothing more than a coalition around the PSUV bringing together a set of hijacked parties, without a life of their own. Fear of the most lukewarm criticism or of even the germ of a left-wing opposition emerging is the basis of their entire existence. Anti-worker policies and the elimination of the left With the development of the world capitalist crisis and its severe impact on Venezuela aggravated by its rentier economy and the contradictions of a revolution derailed by its leadership the government has set itself upon a bourgeois and anti-worker solution. Burying almost all the gains of the first stage of the Bolivarian Revolution, Maduro embarked on an austerity package that has pulverised wages and labour rights. The government has privatised numerous state enterprises, and is promising the creation of Special Economic Zones, while imprisoning workers and trade unionists who protest or attempt to organise working-class resistance. Maduro embarked on an austerity package that has pulverised wages and labour rights / Image: Nicolas Maduro, Twitter On the basis of the most obscene corruption, the PSUV leadership has favoured the emergence of a caste of nouveau riche, as parasitic as the traditional bourgeoisie, anchored to an economy based on bodegones, (expensive shops selling imported goods) and the deepest social inequality. The future of Venezuela is being negotiated behind the backs and to the detriment of the working class. The PSUV leadership representing the nouveau riche and backed by Russia and China is engaged in a dialogue with the bourgeoisie: the bosses union, business organisations, etc. backed by the United States. The destruction of the left forms one corner of this agreement under construction between them. With the planned assault on the PCV, the PSUV bureaucracy is telling the traditional bourgeoisie and the various imperialist powers that there is nothing to worry about, that Chavez's policies are dead, and that the states demagogic allusions to socialism are just empty rhetoric. One of the reasons for this offensive against the left is the contradiction that exists in Venezuela today. While the political leadership cynically exploits the legacy of Chavez and the revolution in words, it is simultaneously executing ferocious attacks on the working class. This contradiction makes the government vulnerable to a left alternative. Solidarity with the PCV As Marxists, we oppose all attempts to undermine democratic freedoms, and rights to politically organise that favour the bourgeois state. Leon Trotsky, in his article Freedom of the Press and the Working Class (1928), pointed out: Theory, as well as historic experience, testify that any restriction to democracy in bourgeois society, is eventually directed against the proletariat, just as taxes eventually fall on the shoulders of the proletariat. Venezuela today is the greatest proof of these words. As we have explained throughout our recent analysis, the Bolivarian Revolution was stopped halfway and then derailed by its petty-bourgeois leadership. After burning its fingers trying to implement the chimaera of a mixed economy it has, since 2018, embraced a liberal and monetarist policy in the economic sphere, and Bonapartist methods in the social and political spheres. The terrible crisis that Venezuela is going through is not the result of socialism, which was never established. Rather, it is the result of the rentier capitalism that the PSUV leadership has maintained with ignorant stubbornness. Despite the differences in our politics and traditions between the IMT and the PCV, it is the duty of revolutionaries to support this party, which is under siege by a government determined to violate political and democratic rights in its rush to impose anti-worker economic policies at all costs. It is a government that, while trying to ingratiate itself with the traditional oligarchy and imperialism, does not blush at criminalising workers struggles and persecuting the left. The PSUV leadership has dropped the facade that linked it to the left. #AlanWoods dirigente de la Corriente Marxista Internacional, expresa su solidaridad con el @PCV_Venezuela y su rechazo a los ataques que buscan desconocer su legitima direccion y arrebatarle su tarjeta electoral. Ver completo:https://t.co/0eTCaDj6qx#SolidaridadInternacional pic.twitter.com/5EXYgS3eNq CMI Venezuela (@LdcVenezuela) February 27, 2023 The comrades of the IMT in Venezuela offer our support and solidarity to the membership of the PCV in these difficult days. The political commitment of the partys cadres must prevail and remain steadfast. The most effective way to confront the anti-democratic policies of the government is to continue to appeal to the revolutionary solidarity of the working class. The PCV must appeal to working class organisations in Venezuela and around the world, as it confronts the governments policies on the streets, in the fields, in the factories and in the workplaces. It is the duty of all revolutionaries and even of consistent democrats around the world to speak out against the assault on the PCV. By uniting in solidarity, we must exert the necessary pressure to give the government pause to question the step it is about to take. Solidarity with the PCV has so far succeeded in slowing the progress of the governments plan. Now is the time to double down! Struggle, resistance and solidarity are the only way forward! Theres a big bundle of joy at Bostons Franklin Park Zoo with the birth of a 6-foot-tall Masai giraffe calf earlier this month, and the not so little guy is already helping to sustain and act as an advocate for his species. The currently unnamed male baby giraffe was born on Friday, July 14, and weighs 184 pounds, according to Zoo New England, which manages both the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo in Stoneham. Within an hour of his birth, the calf began standing and nursing from his mother, Amari, Zoo New England said, adding that the following day he was given medical examinations by the zoos veterinary team including bloodwork and a physical exam. He is a strong, healthy calf and appears bright and alert, said Dr. Chris Bonar, Zoo New England director of animal health, in a statement. As with any newborn, he will be closely monitored by his care team as he continues to grow and reach milestones, Bonar added. A 6-foot-tall male Masai giraffe calf was born at Boston's Franklin Park Zoo on Friday, July 14. He is pictured here with his mother Amari. Photo courtesy of Zoo New England. The Masai giraffe is one of Africas most iconic and beloved species, Zoo New England said. The animals are known for their distinctively patterned coats and towering stature, and are gentle giants, the zoo added. The calfs birth is not only a joyous occasion for the Franklin Park Zoo, it said, but also a significant milestone in the ongoing conservation efforts for the endangered species. Giraffes face numerous threats in the wild, according to Zoo New England. These include habitat loss and poaching. It added that the species population has declined by 40% over the past 30 years. Watch a video below, provided by Zoo New England, of the moments and days following the baby giraffes birth. Click here to watch on YouTube. As a participant in the Masai Giraffe Species Survival Plan a cooperative, inter-zoo program run nationally through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Zoo New England shares research and knowledge with other institutions involved to establish guidelines that best ensure the health of captive populations, and with success, the survival of endangered species, it said. The calfs father, Chad, came to the Franklin Park Zoo in 2018 from the Santa Barbara Zoo, and the calfs birth came as a result of a recommended breeding between Chad and Amari, according to Zoo New England. Amari is an attentive mother and the calf appears healthy and strong, said Chris Bartos, an assistant curator at the Franklin Park Zoo, in a statement. A 6-foot-tall male Masai giraffe calf was born at Boston's Franklin Park Zoo on Friday, July 14. Photo courtesy of Zoo New England. The dedicated care team has been closely monitoring the mother and baby since the birth. The calf has been nursing well and is curious about his surroundings, Bartos added. Visitors to the zoo wont see the calf on exhibit just yet, as he is currently bonding with his mother behind the scenes, Zoo New England explained. It added that the babys debut on exhibit will be announced via the zoos social media channels and website when the time arrives. The Maine man whose 25 unexploded fireworks washed up on a Marthas Vineyard beach after July 4 lost his license to shoot fireworks and is prohibited from pyrotechnics work in the state for the next five years, the Massachusetts State Fire Marshals office announced Wednesday. On July 5, 25 unexploded fireworks shells washed up on a beach on Chappaquiddick Island, prompting a response from the Massachusetts State Police bomb squad and local officials, the department said. This was the day after the town-sponsored Edgartown Independence Day firework show. The discovery location of unexploded fireworks on Martha's Vineyard on Wednesday. Photo by Google Maps Anthony Marson of Maine accepted a 10-year suspension of his fireworks certificate of competency, State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey said in a statement. Under the terms of the disposition and effective since July 6, Marsons suspension will last five years with the remaining five years withheld as a probationary period. Marsons employer, Central Maine Pyrotechnics, could also face a two-year prohibition if it violates the terms of a licensing disposition reached Wednesday, Ostroskeys office said. The company waived its right to a hearing and accepted the suspension. If either Marson or Central Maine Pyrotechnics fail to comply with the terms of their respective dispositions or violate state law or the Comprehensive Fire Safety Code, the part of their suspensions held back will be reinstated, plus they could face new penalties, Ostroskeys office said. The shells found varied between 3 to 8 inches in diameter and were extremely dangerous, state police said. These shells had the potential to cause grave physical injury or worse, Ostroskeys office said. Read more: Southwick Select Board backs crackdown on illegal roadside advertising signs Marson and Central Maine Pyrotechnics acknowledged violations of the Massachusetts Fire Code in connection with the show and its aftermath, including requirements for proper disposal of unfired shells and a search the next morning for unexploded shells. An investigation showed the pyrotechnic company may have intentionally thrown the unexploded shells into the ocean, police said. Fireworks are inherently dangerous, Ostroskey said in his statement. Communities trust professional fireworks vendors to handle these devices with the utmost caution and professionalism. Were extremely fortunate that no one was injured by the grave public safety hazard that unexploded shells posed on a public beach. Discovery Channels Shark Week is in full swing, and one documentary has a fatal shark attack in Wellfleet in 2018 as its main focus. After the Bite, directed by award-winning filmmaker Ivy Meeropol, premieres on Warner Bros. Discoverys streaming service Max on Wednesday, July 26, at 10 p.m. EST. The documentary focuses on the moment and aftermath of an attack that killed 26-year-old Revere resident Arthur Medici at Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet. The trailer presents a buildup of shark sightings that boiled over following Medicis death. How far can humans push nature before it bites back? Maxs description for the documentary reads. Thats the question in this timely documentary that explores the conflict in Cape Cods idyllic coastal community after a 2018 fatal shark attack rocked both visitors and residents. With the number of great white sharks increasing every year, those charged with protecting the public have been forced to address the issue. Meeropols documentary showcases the duality of scientists preserving and studying white sharks, while local residents cope with a wild ocean where warming waters bring sharks north to prey on their food source, North Atlantic gray seals. This causes problems for fishermen who, according to the trailer, have to avoid these seals now that their populations have rebounded with the help of the Marine Mammals Protection Act. Humankind must learn humility in the face of nature, one voice says towards the end of the trailer. Featured in the documentary is the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, which tracks and studies white sharks seen around Cape Cod and all along the Massachusetts coast. Meeropol spoke with conservancy staff scientist Megan Winton and senior fisheries scientist at Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Greg Skomal, according to a conservancy tweet. After a book event for his recently released autobiography following his career studying white sharks, Skomal took to Facebook to promote the documentary. I had a late (but great!) night last night at our Chasing Shadows book event with my co-author Ret Talbot at Mystic Aquarium and Im on the water all day today, so Ill probably be in bed early, but if you get a chance, tune in to After The Bite, which premieres tonight (Wednesday) on HBO & MAX at 10 p.m. EST, Skomal posted. This film is a great companion piece to Chasing Shadows, and Im glad I had a chance to be a part of it. Max subscribers can tune in to After the Bite when it drops Wednesday night. You can also stream HBO on DirectTV and Sling. To get to Max from Amazon Prime Video, go to the link here. A Revere man who tried to pass himself off as a security officer to State Police was arrested and charged after he was caught driving along Revere Beach this weekend, Massachusetts State Police reported. Around 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 23, State Police issued a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) for a white Ford Crown Victoria with flashing yellow lights that was forcing other drivers off the road. State Trooper Richard Ferrino spotted the vehicle near 500 Ocean Avenue in Revere by State Trooper Richard Ferrino, state police said in a statement. As Ferrino approached the vehicle after pulling it over, he noticed a black hat with the word security was sitting on the top of the back seat and facing the back window. The driver, identified as 43-year-old Byron J. Boisseau, was wearing a shirt that also said security, according to police. A silver badge was also hanging from the rear-view mirror and Boisseau was wearing a police-style belt equipped with a baton and handgun that looked like a Glock, police said. Boisseau told Ferrino that he worked for a security company and had a mace gun and BB on him, police said. When asked to exit the vehicle, Ferrino saw Boisseau touch the handle of a gun that was sticking out of his pocket. The gun was soon determined to be pepper spray and Ferrino confiscated it, police said. Ferrino also took Boisseaus handgun and determined that it was a BB gun loaded with metal pellets. Boisseau reiterated that the gun was intended for security purposes, police said. More items were found in Boisseaus car including: A bulletproof vest with two steel plates inserted A metal security badge in a chain holder A large black flashlight An aluminum holder used by police to hold paper citation forms A black Balaclava-style ski mask A large pair of bolt cutters A small pair of bolt cutters A push-bar bumper (the types of bumpers attached to the front of police vehicles) In addition, Troopers seized the following items from Boisseaus belt and pockets: A folding knife Black handcuffs in a belt pouch A small black flashlight A canister of pepper spray in a belt holder Two handcuff keys the previously mentioned expandable baton An alcohol breathalyzer test kit in its wrapper Black rubber gloves the previously mentioned Glock-style BB gun the previously mentioned plastic mace gun with a canister of propellant Boisseau was arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer, carrying a dangerous weapon and possession of burglarious tools, among other offenses. He was released on bail pending his arraignment in Chelsea District Court, which was scheduled for Wednesday, according to state police. Boston police have released more information about a car involved in a fatal hit-and-run that took the life of a 4-year-old boy last week. The car sought in connection with the incident that happened on Tuesday, July 18, in the area of 165 Wood Ave. in Hyde Park is described as a grey 2016-2022 Chevrolet Spark, Boston police reported. The car was last seen driving down Harvard Street heading toward Walk Hill Street. Police previously released surveillance photos and video from the incident, but have yet to locate the car. Police said the car struck the child, did not stop, and fled the area. The 4-year-old boy had life-threatening injuries when police arrived and was taken to the hospital. He later died, police said. Officials have not released the boys identity. WCVB reported that the boy was identified by his family as Ivan Pierre. Police said they are still investigating the incident and are asking anyone with information to contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives at (617) 343-4470. Anonymous tips can be made by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463). If youre ever attacked by a shark, you should punch it in the nose right? Wrong. Richard Peirce, an author, shark expert and former chair of the UK-based Shark Trust and Shark Conservation Society, told CNN the nose and mouth are too close to each other. Instead, punch the shark in the gills, he suggested. The gills are very sensitive giving a shark a whack in the gills isnt a bad idea, he told the news outlet. There are a number of myths or misconceptions about sharks beyond just how to survive an attack. See below for 10 myths about sharks. White shark Mr. Spot Claw was last detected at 8:15 a.m. on Friday July 14. Myth: All sharks are dangerous There are more than 500 species of sharks and most sharks eat bony fishes, crustaceans, mollusks, or other elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays), according to the New England Aquarium. The largest shark species only eat plankton. There are a few larger sharks that eat seals and turtles, which can lead to attacks on humans, USA Today reported. Myth: All sharks are big With so many species of shark, they also range in size. The smallest shark is known as the dwarf lantern shark (Etmopterus perryi) and is smaller than a human hand, according to the Smithsonian Institute. It has only been seen a few times off the northern tip of South America at depths between 9281,440 feet, according to the Smithsonian. Myth: Sharks must keep swimming to survive Some shark species must keep swimming to breathe but not all of them. The species that need to swim constantly are known as obligate ram ventilators, and include blue sharks and shortfin mako sharks, the New England Aquarium wrote. These sharks rely on swimming to force water into their mouths and over their gills for respiration. Read more: A shark that often visits Cape Cod waters has a special meaning behind his name However, others like the spiny dogfish and epaulette sharks, have openings behind their eyes to pump water to their gills to breath without swimming, the aquarium said. And bull sharks and lemon sharks open and close their mouths to create enough water movement over their gills to keep breathing. Myth: Shark attacks are common The likelihood of being attacked and killed by a shark is 1 in 3,748,067, according to the Ocean Conservancy. In 2022, there were 57 shark attacks in the world with five of them being fatal, according to the Florida Museum. By comparison, there were 10,200 fireworks-related injuries and 11 reported fireworks-related deaths in the U.S. in 2022, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. And there were 19 deaths in the U.S. from lightning in 2022. Myth: All sharks lay eggs A majority of sharks lay eggs. However, the whale shark doesnt. It still produces eggs but instead of laying them, the young hatch while still in the females body and are born as miniature adults, according to the Natural History Museum of London. This is called ovoviviparity. The New Jersey State Museum, will present Jaw Dropping World of Sharks, a free in-person and live-streamed lecture in association with its exhibit, 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13.statemuseum.nj.gov Myth: Sharks have bones The jaws of a shark appear like bone but they arent. Sharks dont have any bones. They have cartilaginous skeletons, according to the NOAA. But they can still fossilize. As most sharks age, they deposit calcium salts in their skeletal cartilage to strengthen it, the NOAA said. These same minerals allow most shark skeletal systems to fossilize quite nicely. The teeth have enamel so they show up in the fossil record too. Myth: Sharks are only in the ocean Most sharks live in the ocean. However, some sharks can survive in freshwater too. Bull sharks can live in freshwater for long periods of time, according to the National Wildlife Federation. They have been found in the Mississippi and Amazon Rivers. They prefer shallow coastal water, which means they can often come into contact with humans. Bull sharks are often considered to be the most dangerous sharks to humans because of their aggressive tendencies and ability to migrate up rivers, the federation said. Scarface, a great white shark swimming in the waters of Cape Cod. (Atlantic White Shark Conservancy). Myth: White sharks have lifeless, black eyes In the movie Jaws, Quint said, The thing about a shark, its got lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a dolls eyes. But thats not true. They actually have beautiful blue eyes. The iris of a white shark is not black, its a very dark blue, the Great White Shark Tours website states. Adiel Klompmaker, curator of paleontology at the Alabama Museum of Natural History, shows a megalodon tooth found in North Carolina from the museum's collection. Megalodon has never been found in Alabama, but people are searching.Dennis Pillion Myth: The Megalodon is fake The Megalodon, which was 49 feet long, was one of the largest apex marine predators since the Mesozoic era, according to CNN. But it went extinct about 3.6 million years ago. So, while the Megalodon was real, the reports that it has reappeared arent true. During Shark Week in 2013, Discovery Channel aired Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives, according to the Washington Post. It stated it was fiction but many people thought it was real. NPR reported it was the highest-rated program in Shark Week history at the time. But many experts were upset. It was presented in such a way that you could very easily watch it and not know it was fictional, David Shiffman, who studies sharks at the University of Miami told NPR. Discovery Channel has since promised it will not produce fake documentaries, according to NPR. FILE - In this Tuesday, July 25, 2016 file photo released by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, a great white shark swims close to the Cape Cod shore in Chatham, Mass. Great white sharks are making their annual return to Cape Cod, rattling some boaters and beachgoers. Yet the chances of an attack resulting in serious injury or death are infinitesimally small. (Wayne Davis/Atlantic White Shark Conservancy via AP)AP Myth: Sharks have no predators A pair of orcas known as Port and Starboard have been killing sharks and removing their livers since at least 2015, according to National Geographic. But humans are also a threat to sharks. About 100 million sharks are killed every year by human activities, according to Newsweek. The original numbers came from research in 2013. However, the research has been updated and confirms this to still be true, the news outlet reported. It will be published in a peer-reviewed journal later this year. Sadly, three species have not been seen in many years and are thought to be extinct already, Boris Worm, an author of the 2013 study from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, told the news outlet. Overfishing impacts 67% of threatened species of shark. But other threats include habitat loss, climate change and pollution, according to Newsweek. Read more: 10 Massachusetts whale and shark tours to go on this summer Worm told the news outlet that the demand for shark meat has increased over the last decade. And the loss of sharks could start impacting marine ecosystems. Sharks play important ecosystem roles as large predators who keep other populations in check, and partly control their abundance and where they can safely go, Worm said. They contribute to the stability of marine ecosystems. The Harvard professor who claimed that a fallen meteorite could contain alien technology is facing steep criticism from the scientific community on his claims. Harvard professor Avi Loeb, one of the university longest serving chairs of the astronomy department, embarked on an expedition across the Pacific Ocean to recover fragments of a meteorite that landed off the coast of Papua New Guinea in 2014, NECN reported. Loeb believes that this meteorite came from a different solar system and that its recovery could provide insight into material from other planets. The question arose as to whether it came from some unusual natural environment different from the solar system, or perhaps its a spacecraft manufactured by an extraterrestrial technological civilization, Loeb said in an interview with NECN. With the help of his undergraduate assistant Amir Siraj, Loeb dragged a magnetic sled attached to the expedition boat across the ocean floor. Through their expedition, the team found tiny spherical objects, made mostly of iron, according to Engadget.com. As a result of being exposed to the fireballs heat, the surface of the object likely disintegrated into tiny spherules, similar in number per unit area to those recovered by the expedition, Loeb told Engadget. However, the greater scientific community has qualms about Loebs claims. Peter Brown, a meteor physicist at Western University in Ontario, said in an interview with Engadget.com that the majority of events that seem to be interstellar are almost always due to a measurement error. Another scientist, Steve Desch, an astrophysicist at Arizona State University, claims at a recent conference that if the meteorite was traveling at that rate of speed it would have been incinerated entering Earths atmosphere, according to Engadget.com. In an interview with the New York Times, Desch said that, [Loebs claims are] a real breakdown of the peer review process and the scientific method. And its so demoralizing and tiring. A woman walked away from a car explosion in Sturbridge on Saturday with only minor injuries, but a preliminary investigation found that the incident may have been caused by an attempt to get high, according to authorities. On Saturday at around 3:49 p.m., the Sturbridge fire department received a 911 call for a possible vehicle explosion at 110 Charlton Road, near a Walmart, Sturbridge police and fire officials said on Facebook. A black Toyota Corolla was found with all the windows blown out, with all four doors displaced but still attached to the car. A woman from inside the car was treated with minor injuries, officials said. She refused to be taken to a nearby hospital for further treatment. While the windows were blown out from the vehicle, the doors were still attached following the explosion. Courtesy of the Sturbridge Fire and Police Departments. While the investigation into what happened is ongoing, the Sturbridge Police Departments early findings indicate the woman may have kept all the windows initially closed while huffing cans of compressed air before lighting a cigarette. Huffing is a type of substance abuse that involves inhaling fumes from household substances in order to experience a high, according to the American Addiction Centers. Read more: 500 DoubleTree Hotel guests in Boston evacuated due to carbon monoxide The centers added that Spray paint and other paints are commonly used in huffing. Some of the toxic chemicals in paint provide an intense high that can be easily obtained by those who are otherwise unable to afford or get access to other drugs. However, huffing paint and other forms of inhalant abuse are extremely dangerous, causing multiple severe injuries and deaths every year. The explosion was potentially caused by the combination of accumulated fumes and lighting the cigarette, which not only damaged the car but left nearby cars damaged too, fire officials said. The explosion, believed to have been caused by an attempt to get high by huffing compressed air cans and a cigarette, left nearby cars damaged too. Courtesy of the Sturbridge Fire and Police Departments. No other injuries were reported, the fire department added. The woman involved, who has not been identified, has not been charged as the investigation is ongoing, Sturbridge police Sgt. Sean Paine told MassLive on Wednesday. Massachusetts lawmakers are meeting Wednesday morning to debate a handful of bills related to vaccinations, one of which seeks to end religious exemptions for mandatory vaccinations of children. Members of the state legislatures Joint Committee on Public Health are considering seven bills that aim to increase childhood immunization rates. The effort to eliminate religious exemptions, headed by Rep. Andres Vargas, a Haverhill Democrat, comes as other states such as New York, Connecticut and Maine have already removed non-medical exemptions. The hearing is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and can be viewed here. Vargass bill would not eliminate medical exemptions from the law. Read more: How to get a religious exemption from the flu shot in Massachusetts Even as religious exemptions are claimed in a relatively small number of cases, they outpace medical exemptions, according to state data reported by The Boston Globe. There were 813 religious exemptions issued to kindergarteners in the most recent school year, compared to the 112 medical waives issued. The bill sponsored by Vargas would also seek to require schools to report vaccination data to the state, which is currently voluntary. About 15% of kindergarten classes in the state, or about 200, didnt report any data on vaccinations this school year, the Globe reported. People using the religious exemption are really using it as an excuse, Vargas said, per the Globe. Im sure that for some people faith can be at the root of it, but ... the vast majority of skepticism is usually rooted in pseudo-science found online. Last year, the Department of Public Health added flu shots to the list of mandatory immunizations for students. At the hearing on Wednesday morning, the bill would not deal with the COVID-19 vaccination and only pertain to vaccinations required by the Department of Public Health, according to Vargas. State law requires students entering schools to be immunized against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles and poliomyelitis and such other communicable diseases as may be specified from time to time by the Department of Public Health, according to WBUR. Exemptions may be issued by physicians who certify that a childrens health would be at risk. Currently, parents or guardians may provide in writing that vaccination or immunization conflicts with sincere religious beliefs. A pickup truck plunged at least 50 feet off an overpass on Interstate 91 in Springfield on Monday afternoon, severely injuring the driver and causing heavy traffic delays on the highway, Massachusetts State Police said. At around 2:40 p.m., troopers had responded to a report of a three-vehicle crash by exit 1 on the southbound side of the highway. One of the vehicles involved in the crash, a 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 being driven by a 53-year-old man from Winsted, Connecticut, rolled from the Longhill Street ramp, crossed over concrete barrier walls and flipped off the overpass, police said. The pickup truck plunged at least 50 feet down, trapping the man and severely injuring him, police said. He was conscious when help arrived, police said. A 68-year-old man from Granby who was driving a 2018 Chevrolet Impala, and a 74-year-old man from Glastonbury, Connecticut, who was driving a 2019 BMW X3, were also involved in the crash, according to police. Neither was injured, police said. The state polices Crime Scene Services section, along with its Collision Analysis and Reconstruction team, responded to the scene due to the severity of the 53-year-old mans injuries, police said. The scene was cleared by 3:40 p.m., police said, and the circumstances surrounding the crash, including why the truck fell from the overpass, were not immediately clear. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, police said. Authorities are looking for information regarding a near Storrowing incident that happened in a Boston suburb this week. The MBTA Transit Police tweeted about a rental truck that briefly got stuck under the East Dedham Bridge in Westwood around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, July 24. The impact caused damage to the bottom of the bridge, Superintendent of Transit Police Rich Sullivan confirmed to MassLive, but did not disrupt train service for too long. Sullivan said there was a slight delay on the Franklin/Foxboro Line so engineers could inspect the bridge. Police are now looking for information about the driver, who drove away after hitting the bridge. Anyone with information is asked to contact Transit Police at 617-222-1050. CHICOPEE After more than three decades of victories and defeats while working at Westover Metropolitan Development Corp., Michael Bolton can easily point to his biggest challenge: Negotiating a new joint agreement with the U.S. Air Force that allows the small airport to use its neighbors giant runway. The joint-use agreement gave us more flexibility, and we negotiated a lower fee, he said. With that and many other initiatives in place, Bolton is officially retiring from his job as president and CEO of the quasi-public agency that was created in the 1970s to help Chicopee, Ludlow and Granby develop about 1,300 acres of land declared surplus when what is now Westover Air Reserve Base was downsized. Bolton, who lives in Belchertown with his wife, worked in airport management for most of his career and initially served as the head of the agencys small municipal airport. He took over as president of the entire corporation in 2015, continuing to focus on finding ways to make the airport a success, while working to develop remaining properties in the three industrial parks that the corporation owns. Boltons last official day at work will be today. On Aug. 1, Andy Widor, the airport manager, will be taking his place as president and CEO. This past Tuesday, city officials gathered at Westover Metropolitan Airport to thank Bolton and wish him well. Mayor John L. Vieau read a citation declaring it Michael Bolton Day, tossed in a few jokes about his retirement and thanked him for his hard work. Your dedication has made a lasting impact on the community, Vieau said. A study done by the Donahue Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst last year figured that the 100-plus workplaces in the three industrial parks spread over Chicopee and Ludlow annually generate $2.2 billion in benefits across the state. But theres more: Those businesses paid more than $4.3 million in taxes to the city in fiscal 2021, and nearly 70% of people who work in the parks earn a salary that is above the regions average. All of that contributes to keeping Chicopee affordable, Vieau said. When I think about the success of Chicopee, I think about the three air parks, Vieau said. The contributions WMDC has had for the region is something special. Bolton, who holds degrees from La Salle University in Pennsylvania and St. Louis University in Missouri, worked for Pilgrim Airlines, Metro Air Services and at small airports before moving to the Development Corp. Bolton said he has no solid retirement plans, but he and his wife want to travel and plan to spend more time at their lake house in upstate New York without having to rush home after a weekend. Thanks for being part of what Ive done. It has been an interesting career, he told people who gathered to celebrate his retirement. He also gave a special thank you to the agencys trustees and the staff that he has worked with for years, saying the corporations victories have been a joint effort between all the employees and many outside partnerships. Not everything has been easy. Bolton leaves after a long fight with members of the City Council and the community over a 57-acre piece of land officially known as 0 Fuller Road, which the corporation purchased from the city a decade ago. When the corporation applied for a zone change to develop it into an industrial park in 2021, it faced furious opposition from residents and the council, which voted against the application. The issue remains unresolved. Along with negotiating a better joint-use agreement that dropped the Westover airports annual fee from $90,000 to $30,000 (the airport also pays an additional amount for every plane that lands or takes off), probably his biggest victory was the amount of hard-won Federal Aviation Administration grants that the airport has received. Those grants, which have totaled more than $4 million, mainly have gone to improving different parts of the airport, including renovating three of the 14 hangars left over from the days when it was an air base. The airport has also received Massachusetts Department of Transportation grants that have helped with other improvements. The hangars generate income for the airport, since one is rented to the Massachusetts State Police, and others are rented to private plane owners and local companies for storage. The most recent to be renovated, which is close to completion, measures about 31,000 square feet and will be able to hold three large-cabin planes and several smaller planes, Widor said. As he takes over, Widor said he plans to continue Boltons work to try to draw the aircraft maintenance industry to the airport and bring in new charter flights, the first of which is starting in August. Widor said he also is hoping to continue to attract multiple private plane owners. Thats been made easier under an agreement with Westover to keep its air traffic control tower operational at all hours through a system that allows pilots to turn on runway lights when the tower is unmanned. The airport has drawn well-known actors, politicians and corporate players. Bolton declined to name them, saying the anonymity that they receive here is one reason they return. Widor has been the airport manager for the past three years, after working for the Massachusetts Port Authority out of Worcester Regional Airport. But he is very familiar with Westover, since he retired as a loadmaster from Westover Air Reserve Base in 2016 after a 22-year military career that included active duty in the Navy and years in the reserves. The person who was paddleboarding in a Marthas Vineyard pond with former President Barack Obamas chef, Tafari Campbell, had tried to save Campbell in the harrowing final moments before his death, according to a statement released by Massachusetts State Police. Campbell, a 45-year-old Virginia man, was found dead in Edgartown Great Pond on Monday after police said he and another person were out on the pond Sunday evening. WESTFIELD A special meeting of the Westfield School Committee is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, July 31, in City Council Chambers. The meeting will begin with public participation, followed by a presentation on a proposed new site for Westfield Police headquarters on school-owned land behind Westfield Middle School, facing South Maple Street. The committee may then vote on whether to transfer the land to the city for police use. The proposed police headquarters would take up about 4 acres on what is currently a 20-acre field that borders the school as well as the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield, Amelia Park Childrens Museum, Westfield Skate Park and a School Department maintenance barn. An access road would be built from South Maple Street (Routes 10 and 202). WORKS to improve the safety of pedestrians walking along George's Street in Newport is expected to be completed at the end of September. A presentation on the update of the road safety scheme for George's Street was made by John Kearns of the Mayo Roads Design Office to members of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District at their monthly meeting on Monday. The narrow street which links the centre of Newport and the Mulranny road is considered a hazard by many residents due to its narrow footpaths and the lack of safe crossing points and the fast moving traffic. The councillors heard that a new 200 metre long footpath will be developed along the left hand side of the street as you travel down the hill towards Achill along with a pedestrian crossing the N59 at the junction with Glenhest Road. Mr Kearns said that the feasibility report is 90 percent complete and Transport Infrastructure Ireland are supportive of the project. He expects that approval will be a formality and 'all going well' he hopes for a contract to be awarded in September with four weeks of work to complete the project. It will give 100 percent connection from the town centre across the top of Quay road, past the bicycle shop and up towards Kelly's to the location of the pedestrian crossing, he said. The report was welcomed by Cllr Brendan Mulroy who said it was very good news for the people of Newport who campaigned for a number of years for safety works to take place to make it safer to walk along and cross the street. He also thanked the council for the speed in advancing the project. The people of Newport will be delighted to hear the news and that is awfully important to them, he said. Cllr Peter Flynn said this was the first time they have a clear plan and date around George's Street and it has to be welcomed. He asked that work is completed as soon as possible to avoid any disturbance with the national school. Mr Kearns explained that while the width of the footpath at 1.2 metres will be narrower than the normal standard 2m wide footpath, it will be wide enough to cater for a buggy. The councillors were told that no building was acquired to carry out the works and the retaining wall at Corcorcan's shop will be removed as part of the work. He also confirmed that the narrow footpath on the opposite side of the street will remain in place following the works. A WOMAN who threw a pint glass over a garda's head in a Westport pub over the weekend was told she was very lucky not to be going to jail. Ann McDonagh (41) of 59 Devonshire Hill Lane, London appeared before Ballina District Court where she received a two month suspended prison sentence for obstructing a peace officer during a disturbance in a pub in Westport town centre on Saturday, July 22. Ms McDonagh who was also charged with intoxication in a public place appeared in court on Tuesday alongside her son James McDonagh (21) of The Halting Site, Hackney, London who was also charged with the same offences while her sister, Julia McDonagh (33) of 1 Hillside Court, Newry, Co Down was charged with breach of the peace. The charges all arose from the same incident on Saturday evening which was captured on mobile phone footage and widely shared on social media over the weekend. The court heard that the three defendants had travelled with family members to Co Mayo to take part in a pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick. Sergeant Conor McShane, the Court Presenter, explained that gardai were called to the bar by staff following a disturbance involving a group of females. They refused to leave when asked to and became abusive and extremely aggressive. Sgt McShane explained that when Garda Hugh Egan was trying to deal with the situation, Mr McDonagh ran into the bar and tried to force his way in. Judge Fiona Lydon then heard that Ann McDonagh threw a pint glass over the head of Garda Egan. Mr McDonagh continued to be aggressive before he was arrested while Ann McDonagh had to be physically restrained by gardai before she too was arrested. Sgt McShane said the rest of the group of females continued to shout abuse when directed to leave but Julia McDonagh refused to leave and continued to be abusive. The court heard that none of the three defendants had previous convictions and their solicitor, Peter Loftus said they were all pleading guilty. In relation to Ann McDonagh, he said she accepted her behaviour was out of order and wished to apologise to Garda Egan saying what she did was done on the spur of the moment. He said she was a mother of six children and was eager to return to the UK. Mr Loftus said alcohol was a factor in Julia McDonagh's behaviour but apart from being verbally abusive to gardai, there was nothing to suggest she did anything untoward. He added that Mr McDonagh's actions were also fuelled by alcohol and he too wished to apologise for his conduct. There was confusion as to why the disturbance took place with gardai saying they were called by staff as a result of an argument between up to eight females. However Mr Loftus said his instructions were that it was as a result of an issue about being served. Mr Loftus added that there was no third party involvement in the row and they were all family members. Garda Egan confirmed that the three defendants were not known to gardai prior to this incident and there were no other issues involving them in Westport that night. Judge Lydon commented that she was very concerned that a pint glass was thrown over Garda Egan. She told Ann McDonagh regardless of whether it was on the spur of the moment, it was 'no way to conduct yourself' in a pub in Westport. Judge Lydon told Ann McDonagh that in the circumstances she was lucky to still have her liberty before imposing a two month sentence to be suspended for a one year period. Judge Lydon fined Mr McDonagh 500 for obstruction of a peace officer while she directed that Julia McDonagh be given the benefit of the Probation Act if she donated 300 to the Garda Benevolent Fund. ONE-hundred-and-twenty-two Mayo-based retained firefighters have resumed strike action after their representatives rejected an offer of a substantial pay increase. Today (Wednesday, July 26), retained firefighters took to the pickets lines across the county but are continuing to respond to emergency calls. The Labour Court recently recommended that retained firefighters receive a retainer of 11,769, a 36c per hour increase. However, the overwhelming majority of retained firefighters who are SIPTU members rejected the proposal. This has raised fears of all-out strike action, which had previously been threatened during the last phase of industrial action. All 12 stations in Mayo were subject to various degrees of rolling strike action in previous weeks over an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions. Retained firefighters have been demanding a pay increase from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has, as well as improved working conditions. Retained firefighters currently earn at least 8,500 per annum and must be based within 2.5 kilometres of their station at all times except for 28 days of annual leave. MEP Maria Walsh wants talks to resume. Weighing in on the debate, Midlands-North-West MEP Maria Walsh called for talks between firefighters and the government to resume. Ms Walsh has raised the issue at the European Parliaments Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. She also called on the European Commission to guarantee protection and better minimum pay and conditions for firefighters. The European Parliaments Committee on Employment and Social Affairs is also calling for minimum standards for firefighters gear and PPE, as well as training, awareness-raising and operating procedures around such things as medical surveillance and decontamination. This is literally life and death were talking about, and our firefighters deserve better, said Ms Walsh. We need to protect both the firefighters and the public, and it is far from ideal to see plans for strike action to resume next week. There has been an overwhelming rejection of the proposals by firefighters, and we must reach agreement to ensure no lives are put at risk, added the Fine Gael MEP. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has said it is disappointed to see strike action resume and described the pay increase recommended by the Labour Court as generous. The Mayo News has contacted a local National Retained Firefighters Association of Ireland (NRFA) representative for a comment. by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, July 26, 2023 TV news has long relied on Twitter to fuel the fire of its reporting on news and current affairs. Will they make the same use of X in the wake of Elon Musks decision to trash the Twitter brand? For years, TV news outrage stories -- about a prominent politician, a court decision, moves by either party to dismantle the policies the other put in place and more -- come with Twitter commentary blasted on screen to bolster the stories anger angles. The anchorman or anchorwoman then reads the tweet out loud. #SCOTUSSUCKS! If you see a justice, shun them in supermarkets and restaurants! Dont feed them!! Signed, OutrageDude. advertisement advertisement Stories on news websites often post several of these in their outrage stories, but TV news really has time for only one. I have no doubt that in some instances, Twitter outrage as reflected in the number of angry tweets on a hashtag subject does rise to anger levels. But sometimes I have gone in search of all this outcry and have found just a few. And even if I had found, say, a thousand, is this enough to label a story an outrage? TV newsies might already be wondering if X can be applied in the same way as Twitter. X erupted with outrage today over new data revealing that hundreds of prairie dogs every year are being run over on our western highways, a story might say. Heres what one X-er had to say in an X, says one of the anchors: Shame on you, truckers! Prairie dogs are SooOOO cuuUUUte! #Prairiedogscute. Signed, PrairieMom. In this usage, X just doesnt have the same ring as Twitter. Moreover, Twitter is an established brand of great renown. By contrast, X is just a letter that presents challenges to Scrabble players, although when you manage to place it on a triple letter score or, even better, a triple word score, watch out! X marks the spot, X-rays, X: The Man With The X-Ray Eyes (Roger Corman film from 1963) -- these are just three of the ways in which X turns up in our popular culture. X was also the title of a 1992 Spike Lee film about Malcolm X. Maybe Spike will sue. This is not without precedent. When the Viacom cable network TNN was rebranded as Spike TV in 2003, Spike Lee sued and actually won an injunction that delayed the Spike launch for eight weeks. A settlement was reached that allowed Spike TV to proceed with its launch plans. As a brand name, the stand-alone letter X might remind many of brand X, referring to generic goods for which a brand name is considered irrelevant. Instead of X, Elon Musk could have chosen Chi, which is sometimes considered to be the x of Greek. But Chi, pronounced differently than the Greek letter, is already the name of a Showtime drama about Chicago. Reportedly, tweets will now be xs (or xes?) and tweeters will be x-ers. That sounds like Generation X-ers, which only sows more confusion. According to the various reports on the Twitter rebranding, Musk, along with CEO Linda Yaccarino (her own tweet on the name change pictured above), has big plans for the platform -- audio, video, messaging and banking capabilities, reported The Wall Street Journal. As unusual as this rebranding might seem, Musk is a visionary whose success speaks for itself. After all, this is a man who named one of his children X A-Xii, so rebranding Twitter as X is nothing compared to that. As for TVs reliance on Twitter (now X) to stoke its outrage stories, it is doubtful that Elon Musk gave that a moments thought. by Les Luchter , July 25, 2023 Can looking ridiculous help fight childhood cancer? asks Northwestern Mutual in a video on its social media platforms. The lemon top challenge makes sure of it. Yes, balance a lemon on your head during the next two weeks and the insurance company will donate $10 toward childhood cancer research. Northwestern Mutual will also donate $10 for up to 9,999 other lemon balancers -- or $100,000 total -- who post a photo or video of the lemon atop their (or someone elses) head on social media, while tagging #LemonTopChallenge, @northwesternmutual and @alexslemonade. The latter handle represents Alexs Lemonade Stand Foundation, to which the Northwestern Mutual Foundations Childhood Cancer Program has already donated more than $30 million over the past decade. advertisement advertisement Overall, Northwestern Mutual has donated more than $50 million to the cause since 2012. The challenge runs through Aug. 6. Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of 4-year-old Alexandra "Alex" Scott, a cancer victim who wanted to raise money to find a cure. By the time she passed away at age 8 in 2004, she had helped raise $1 million. Northwesterns $30 million represents 12% of the $250 million raised by Alexs to date. Alexs parents, Liz and Jay Scott, are co-executive directors of the Foundation. In other lemonade stand cancer news, more than 4,700 people have set up Lemonade Stand in July fundraisers via a dedicated St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital Facebook group. St. Jude notes that its overall childhood cancer survival rate has risen from 20% when it opened in 1962 to to more than 80% today. Earlier this month, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported that approximately 15,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer each year in the U.S. Although pediatric cancer mortality has decreased over the past 40 years, the authors wrote, cancer is still the leading disease-related cause of death among children and adolescents aged 1 to 19 years. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, July 25, 2023 President Joe Biden on Tuesday called on lawmakers in the Senate to advance legislation that would regulate social media platforms. We've got to hold these platforms accountable for the national experiment they've been conducting on our children for profit, Biden said during a broader speech about mental health in the country. Later this week, senators will debate legislation to protect kids privacy online, Biden said. He added: "Pass it. Pass it. Pass it. Pass it. Pass it." The remarks came two days before the Senate Commerce Committee is expected to mark up two bills that would regulate how platforms display material to users under 17, and how the platforms harness teens' data. One of those bills, the proposed Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act would prohibit websites and apps from collecting a broad range of data -- including device identifiers, biometric information and geolocation -- from users between the ages of 13 and 15 without their express consent. advertisement advertisement The other measure, the more controversial Kids Online Safety Act, would require platforms to take reasonable measures to prevent and mitigate potential harms associated with social media use -- including depression, eating disorders, and online bullying -- when displaying material to users the platforms know or should know are 16 or younger. That proposed law also would require platforms to use the most privacy-protective default settings for teens. Other provisions would require platforms that allow ads to minors to label all ads, say why minors are being targeted for particular ads, and disclose all commercial endorsements. Digital rights groups including the American Civil Liberties Union and Electronic Frontier Foundation oppose the Kids Online Safety Act, arguing the bill will empower state attorneys general to censor content for political reasons. But some advocates for young people -- including Fairplay, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Center for Digital Democracy -- are asking lawmakers to advance the legislation. The Kids Online Safety Act seeks to hold social media companies accountable after their repeated failures to protect children and adolescents from the practices that make their platforms more harmful, the groups said in a letter sent to lawmakers last week. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, July 25, 2023 L-R: Madray, Weil, Tracey, Barker, Harari New York-based Barker agency has announced a major senior management reorganization with executive vice president and marketing director Mary Beth Weil being named partner and CEO. advertisement advertisement She succeeds John Barker who founded the agency 20 years ago. He will remain at the agency as Chief Idea Officer. In addition to Weil, newly named partners at the agency include longtime finance leader Deven Madray who becomes CFO, Kim Tracey, who is elevated to Chief Client Officer and creative lead Sandi Harari who has been promoted Chief Creative Officer. These promotions and designations of Partners represent an important investment in the future of the agency and our service to both current and future clients and their growth, stated Barker. In the past year Barker has been awarded strategic and creative duties for the Maidenform and Bali brands by HanesBrands, Inc. following a competitive review. Playtex was added to Barkers remit for a brand makeover. The agency has also been awarded additional business from mainstay clients Bausch and Lomb, Parx Casino, and others. The design of the agencys new downtown offices encourages collaborative ideation whether working in-person or remotely, while aromatherapy drifts through the vents to relax and inspire all. by Ray Schultz , July 25, 2023 Lee Enterprises has lost a round in a class action privacy lawsuit that was filed against it last year. U.S. District Judge Stephen H. Locher ruled that the lawsuit, which charges that Lee shared personal information on readers with Facebook, can proceed. The Court concludes that plaintiffs have stated plausible claims for relief and therefore DENIES Lees motion to dismiss, Locher wrote. The case is on file with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa Eastern Division. Lee asked for the dismissal in May. The suit contends that Lees websites offer newsletters and other forms of content in exchange for personal information like names and mailing addresses, and that personally identifiable information is captured through tracking methods, according to the Missouri Independent. This data is handed to Facebook without consent, in violation of the Video Privacy Protection Act of 1988, the suit charges. advertisement advertisement But Lees attorneys argue that, under the 1988 law, personal information must be the type that would readily permit an ordinary person to identify a specific individuals video-watching behavior, without the need to combine it with other information in the recipients possession, the Independent continues. Lee also argues that the Facebook ID is non-identifying and would be meaningless to the average person. by Erik Oster , July 25, 2023 This summer Coca-Cola is bringing AI to concert-goers at a series of music festivals across the country through its Coke Studio activation that lets fans take center stage. Coca-Cola teamed up with experiential agency Momentum Worldwide to give festival-goers a taste of (virtual) stardom. The Coke Studio activation, launched in May, will be featured at a series of major music festivals this summer and early fall, including Lollapalooza in Chicago and Austin (Texas) City Limits. Combining various AI elements -- including Chat GPT and AI video generation -- Coke Studio lets participants create a track, music video, and album cover in about as much time as it takes to wait in a long line for the bathroom. Fans at participating music festivals can enter the two-story Coke Studio and answer a series of questions the program then uses to generate the groups Real Stars identity, which includes name, song, and album art -- as well as the music and video elements themselves. advertisement advertisement But while it may feel like a magically effortless endeavor for festival-goers, it required a lot of work to bring the experience to life, Momentum Global Chief Technology Officer Jason Alan Snyder explained -- not just for the creative tech involved, but also in ensuring brand safety and legal compliance. This entailed working closely not just with Coca-Colas brand and marketing teams but also legal counsel, to mitigate the risk of the generative AI doing anything in conflict with Coca-Cola brand guidelines or the companys privacy and security policies. Snyder said ensuring brand safety was front-of-mind for its technology strategy. Momentum spent enough time early in the process in engineering responses, working with different AI tools and connecting technology, to avoid any hiccups along the way. We spent a lot of time training our models to have AI understand not [just] what to do, but what not to do as well, he explained. We went through a ton of rigorous training around all of that. Ultimately, the experience may prove a training ground not just for the teams involved, but the broader marketing possibilities of generative AI. We broke a lot of new ground here. My hope is it helped Coca-Cola gain confidence in using this technology, knowing that this technology can be used, can be safe, and result in fun, positive results for brands, Snyder said. by Richard Whitman , Columnist, July 26, 2023 M&C Saatchi confirmed in a regulatory filing this week that Moray MacLennan has informed the company that he is stepping down as CEO and that the agreed departure date is September 30. MacLennan has been with the London-based agency since it was founded 28 years ago and became CEO in 2021. The Board will launch a formal executive search to find a new CEO, which could take up to 12 months to complete, the agency stated. advertisement advertisement Until the new CEO is identified Zillah Byng-Thorne, currently Non-Executive Chair, will act as Executive Chair of the company upon MacLennans departure. Commenting on the development, Byng-Thorne, stated: "On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Moray for his contribution to M&C Saatchi, from the founding of the Company in 1995 through to his current role as Chief Executive Officer. His leadership has seen the Company not just stabilize but deliver record profits and establish strong foundations for future growth." A federal judge has voided former Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's court-martial sentence and subsequent rulings on the case by military judges, setting up the possibility that he could request a reinstatement of rank or change of status for his dishonorable discharge. Senior Judge Reggie Walton, of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., issued an order Tuesday that partially granted the federal government's motion to dismiss the Bergdahl case. But Walton ruled in favor of Bergdahl's argument that the Army judge in his case failed to disclose a possible conflict of interest -- that he had applied for a civilian position at the Justice Department while presiding over the court-martial. As a result of his decision, Walton decided to vacate all orders and rulings issued by the judge, Col. Jeffery Nance, as of Oct. 16, 2017 -- the day Bergdahl pleaded guilty to charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy and the day Nance applied for a position as a federal immigration judge. Read Next: 3 Marines Found Dead in Car Outside Camp Lejeune Identified Walton also vacated all subsequent decisions by appellate military courts in the case. "Consequently, the judgment of the military judge regarding the plaintiff's court-martial is rendered void," Walton wrote. Bergdahl pleaded guilty in 2017 to all charges and requested a dishonorable discharge in lieu of prison time. He received that dishonorable discharge, but also was sentenced to reduction to the rank of private and forfeiture of $10,000 in pay. He appealed his case through the military court system based on an argument that President Donald Trump and the late Sen. John McCain exerted unlawful command influence in the case by making comments and statements about him and publicly impugning him and declaring his guilt. The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces rejected Bergdahl's unlawful influence argument and upheld his conviction in a 3-2 decision, with the majority saying that Bergdahl's choice to plead guilty in his court-martial weighed heavily on their ruling. Bergdahl's attorneys then filed a suit in civilian federal court arguing he was denied a fair trial as a result of Nance's failure to disclose his future employment aspirations, as well as the alleged unlawful command influence. In his decision, Walton said Nance's actions mirrored the actions of Col. Vance Spath, a military judge at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, whose decisions across four years -- including the case of one of the organizers of the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000 -- were nullified because he failed to disclose his application for a civilian immigration judge position. When Nance was asked on Oct. 17, 2017, during proceedings whether he had any reasons why he might not be impartial in the case, he replied that he was a "terminal colonel" and said he wasn't heading anywhere but "to retirement pastures." But Nance had, in fact, applied for the judgeship by then. "He should have disclosed his job application as a potential ground for his disqualification," Walton wrote. "In reaching this conclusion, the court does not mean to opine that there was actual bias in this case or that the military judge's orders were not the product of his considered and unbiased judgment. ... Rather, the facts in this case present an appearance of partiality and, while appearance may be all there is, that is enough." Regarding the unlawful command influence allegations, Walton rejected Bergdahl's claims, agreeing with previous military judges who said that, while the comments made by McCain and Trump regarding Bergdahl were disturbing, their pronouncements on how he should be judged and sentenced did not influence the outcome. "Despite Sen. McCain's threat that he would hold a hearing if [the plaintiff] did not receive a sentence to his liking, and despite the commander in chief's ratification of his statements that [the plaintiff] was a traitor who should be severely punished, the military judge imposed no prison time whatsoever," Walton wrote, citing the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces' decision. Bergdahl deserted his post in Afghanistan in June 2009, saying later that he did it to call attention to problems at his unit, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment. He was captured, tortured and held by the Taliban for five years, setting off a massive manhunt that involved hundreds of U.S. troops. The monetary and human cost of the search -- the death of a soldier 10 years later from injuries sustained as a result of being shot in the head during the mission, injuries to four others troops, and a trade for five members of the Taliban for his repatriation in 2014 -- touched off a firestorm in national politics and within the ranks. Throughout Bergdahl's judicial proceedings, Trump, then a presidential candidate and later president, described or referred to him as a "dirty rotten traitor." McCain threatened congressional hearings if Bergdahl received no punishment. Eugene Fidell, an attorney with Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell, the firm representing Bergdahl, said Tuesday that the team is studying the opinion. He added that Bergdahl would not be making a statement. Army officials and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Given the split decision, both Bergdahl and the Justice Department have a right to appeal the decision. Dismissal of the verdict may also give the Army the chance to retry the case, which would provide Bergdahl an opportunity to submit a different plea than his original choice of guilty. -- Military.com reporter Steve Beynon contributed to this report. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Related: Bowe Bergdahl Petitions Federal Court to Have His Case Expunged OVER EASTERN INTERIOR ALASKA On a July morning, Airman 1st Class Tylar Hoffert stared down at the glaciated mountains near Paxson from a narrow window at the back of a military fuel plane. Lying prone on his stomach, he manipulated a pair of joysticks that looked stolen off a '90s arcade game. Each twitch and jab of his wrists guided a long, stiff hose called a boom dangling off the tail of a KC-135 Stratotanker toward an approaching F-35 fighter jet, one of the most expensive, sophisticated machines in the world. Hoffert's job was to guide the boom into a small slot at the top of the fighter so a little more than 10,000 pounds of fuel could be pumped in like a pit crew topping off a stock car, but at more than 300 mph some 20,000 feet in the air. Aerial refueling, the process of passing fuel from one airplane to another in the air, is a crucial part of American military strategy, a low-profile task that makes many of the flashier components possible. Everything from the high-tech fifth-generation jet fighters like the F-35 to bulky troop-transporting cargo planes depends on being able to stay aloft during refueling, particularly in the expansive Pacific theater, where the U.S. increasingly treats China as its peer adversary and the distances between runways are daunting. The Stratotanker carrying Hoffert was built in 1963, about average vintage for the nearly 400 KC-135s still in operation. But a new tanker the military has spent years trying to bring online as a replacement, the KC-46 Pegasus, is saddled with problems and delays, so much so that until last fall it was barred from flying combat missions. According to a 2022 report from the Government Accountability Office, the Pegasus program won't hit full-rate production until September 2024 and is projected to be around $1 billion over budget. "The air refueling fleet is the backbone of rapid global mobility," said Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, commander of the U.S. Transportation Command, at a House Armed Services Committee meeting in March. "And is our most stressed capability." Hoffert, 19, a recent West Valley High School graduate from Fairbanks and crewman in the Alaska National Guard, is an essential part of that capability. "Pretty close," he said into the mic on his headset as the boom found its receiver slot. For around seven minutes, the two planes moved in tandem just 30 or so feet from each other, nothing but subtle flexes and shudders disrupting their syncopation, close enough for Hoffert to see the pilot's goggles and almost read his name tag. 'The demand for air refueling is insatiable' Because of Alaska's position at the intersection of several important air routes and relative proximity to most of the industrialized world, the Defense Department bases more than 100 fifth-generation jet fighters in the state, split between Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. Almost any time fighters roar off into the sky, whether it's for routine training, a large-scale military exercise or intercepting Russian military aircraft as they approach U.S. airspace off Alaska's coast, a fuel tanker is accompanying them. That is partially out of necessity, because the state is so big. "Literally we cannot defend Alaska without aerial refueling," said Col. Mike Griesbaum, who commands the Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Wing. "The demand for air refueling is insatiable." The Alaska National Guard, not the active-duty military, is in charge of aerial refueling, an arrangement not unique to the 49th state. The refueling crew's mission on this Thursday morning was to fly 155,000 pounds of fuel from JBER to an aerial training area north of Gakona, where several F-35s and F-22s were airborne. "We are just their orbiting gas station," joked Maj. Mike Strickler of the 168th Wing, the pilot for that day's operation. Fighter jets need to have enough fuel on board to make it back home safely, which limits how far pilots can fly without refueling. Dependability is paramount, because if a refueling craft is grounded or can't pass off fuel, the fighter mission generally has to be called off. "The only thing I care about is whether or not it's there," Maj. Steel Boyer, an F-22 pilot with the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Fighter Squadron, said of the refueling tankers. "I need reliability; it's probably the most important thing to me." Especially, he said, in "INDOPACOM," military-speak for the Indo-Pacific region where U.S. military doctrine is built around what is frequently referred to as the "tyranny of distance." "Oftentimes they are our lifeline. We can't operate without gas; that's just a simple fact of life in the fighter business," Boyer said. But the KC-135s are, in several ways, relics of a bygone era of analog aviation. The plane is flown via metal cables running the length of the fuselage and wings, rather than through electrical systems, as is the case in contemporary craft. Upgrades around the turn of the century added more powerful engines to the wings. But the dials, buttons and levers inside the cockpit look like they would have been cutting-edge in the Kennedy administration. Sixty-year-old machines like these make it possible for jet fighters to transit oceans, escort airborne dignitaries, or drop ordnance on enemy positions in war zones. The crew leans into its role as glorified gas jockeys. The unit wears a patch bearing a cartoon skunk pumping fuel, and a banner just behind the cockpit reads, "Welcome Aboard 63-8015, 'Passin Gas' with Alaska's Finest." U.S. Air Force Boeing KC-46 Pegasus is on display during the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, north of Paris, France, Monday, June 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly) Plagued with problems While the KC-46 Pegasus is far newer than the Cold War-era KC-135 Stratotankers, and on paper has more capabilities meeting the needs of modern fighter jets, its track record of problems, delays and design flaws is well-known among pilots. "This works, for the most part, extremely well," Strickler said of the Stratotanker. "The sad thing is ... we're still more functional than the KC-46 there's so many issues with it." According to a Government Accountability Office report last year, around 2017, the same year the KC-46 Pegasus was supposed to start coming online, the Air Force discovered critical deficiencies. There were problems with the plane's boom and its "remote vision system," the cameras and display screens a boom operator uses from inside the cockpit to connect for fuel exchange, rather than a line of sight in the back of the fuselage. "The program has been plagued with huge problems," Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan said of the KC-46, which he has spent years pushing the Air Force to base in Alaska. "Maybe one of the most challenged programs in a long time." According to the Government Accountability Office, U.S. taxpayers will spend $44 billion buying the 179 KC-46s that the military and Congress ordered from Boeing. Defense officials did not clear the Pegasus to be flown in combat operations or on combat deployments until last September. Instead, they are based primarily at military installations around the contiguous U.S. and used for training aerial refueling crews. Despite those issues, many in military leadership and elected office in Alaska still want to see KC-46s sent here as a way of expanding aerial refueling capacity overall. The state currently has 10 KC-135s to handle its refueling needs. That will be bumped up to 13 next year once a contingent of active-duty Air Force personnel is added to the 354th Fighter Wing and integrated into the National Guard unit at Eielson plans that have been in the works for several years. "We appreciate the Air Force's recognition of the significant aerial-refueling gap in Alaska and the desire to address it expeditiously," the state's congressional delegation said in a letter to the acting heads of the Air Force in March 2021, after the additional Stratotankers were announced. The KC-46 can do things that older generations of tankers cannot, such as refueling itself in the air, drastically expanding its range. It also brings additional communications abilities and is designed to more easily service a wider range of Air Force and Navy aircraft. But there's an added imperative to bring the Pegasus online: The KC-135 Stratotanker is reaching the limits of how much new technology and functionality a 60-year-old plane flown via metal cables can absorb. "We are strapping on digital architecture to an analog airplane," said Griesbaum with the Guard's 168th Wing. The last KC-135 built for the military entered the service in 1965, and it has become challenging to source spare parts. Griesbaum, the 168th Wing commander, pointed out that many military airplane programs have had inglorious starts. "Every major weapon system has teething issues initially. We have asked the KC-46 to do a lot of new things," Griesbaum said. "There's a lot of growth that's built into that airplane." The Air Force recently announced it plans to acquire 75 more Pegasus tankers in the years ahead, on top of the 179 it initially agreed to buy from Boeing. 'You need a lot of tanking capacity' As Stratotankers are retired but the KC-46s are not yet ready for prime time, the U.S. military will lose some of its aerial refueling capacity. The Government Accountability Office predicted a 15% decrease in the number of aerial tankers in operation by 2024. That contraction is happening as the military continues pivoting toward the Pacific theater amid the threat of conflict with China. But officials are not panicking, in part because the U.S. is in a league of its own when it comes to aerial refueling. "It is one of the things that we do better and at larger scale than any other air force in the world," Griesbaum said. Near-peer adversaries like China and Russia have nowhere near the refueling capacity that the U.S. has. Nor do any U.S. allies, which led to American KC-135 refueling aircraft flown by the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen, as well as the NATO-led intervention in Libya in 2011. "Relative to any other country, we still have way, way, way more tankers," Sen. Sullivan said. For years, Sullivan has pushed for KC-46s to come to Alaska to add refueling capacity for planes transiting from the Lower 48 to the Indo-Pacific, particularly if conflict breaks out. Until then, Sullivan and others expect the Air Force will try to postpone retiring KC-135 Stratotankers whenever possible. Sullivan pushed for money in this year's National Defense Authorization Act for a dual-bay hangar at Eielson capable of housing either old tankers or new ones, but anticipates more refueling assets will arrive either way. For the National Guard pilots and crew members in Alaska, there is no rush to abandon an aircraft that has functioned reliably for decades. "I'm not worried about it because I know they'll just keep the (KC-)135 going," Lt. Col. Rick Huth said not long after returning to JBER after the July refueling flight above Paxson. "They'll continue to slowly modernize the thing until they find an answer that fits the role." ___ (c)2023 the Alaska Dispatch News (Anchorage, Alaska) Visit the Alaska Dispatch News (Anchorage, Alaska) at www.adn.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Army said the only day for tourists to visit the Trinity nuclear test site in New Mexico this year could be packed amid the massive popularity of the blockbuster movie "Oppenheimer." White Sands Missile Range, where the U.S. detonated the world's first nuclear weapon known as "the Gadget" on July 16, 1945, as part of the Manhattan Project, is open to the public only twice a year. The development effort, led by theoretical physicist Robert Oppenheimer, was spurred to outpace Nazi Germany's pursuit of its own weapons of mass destruction. The next date for tourists to visit the site is Oct. 21, and then again on April 6, 2024. For the rest of the year, the site is used for non-nuclear Department of Defense weapon and radar tests. Usually on each of the two days the site is open to the public every year, the Army sees some 3,000 visitors but expects 5,000 in October. Visitation is first come, first served. Read Next: Bill Would Ban Discrimination in Military 75 Years After Racial Integration "Due to the release of the movie 'Oppenheimer' in July, we are expecting a larger than normal crowd," a message from the Army said. "You may experience wait times of up to two hours getting onto the site. If you are not one of the first 5,000 visitors, you might not get through the gate prior to its closure at 2 p.m." Army officials consider the site safe for visitation. Radiation levels are above normal levels in the surrounding area but far below the exposure in an X-ray or CT scan. One hour at ground zero is roughly equivalent to a long commercial flight across the U.S. The tour is free, though a service spokesperson told Military.com that the missile range cannot accommodate anyone who cannot walk a half mile round-trip on a dirt trail. The Trinity site is in a desolate location in the middle of the desert 130 miles south of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The main attraction is a roughly 12-foot-tall obelisk commemorating the detonation in what was a monumental scientific achievement. The development of much more powerful atomic weapons also marked a dark turn for modern warfare by introducing the potential to create instant destruction on a scale that had been unimaginable before. The test blast was witnessed from as far as 200 miles away and broke windows as far as 160 miles away as the mushroom cloud reached more than 50,000 feet into the atmosphere. Because the bomb was detonated on top of a tall tower, the crater was only about four feet deep and 240 feet in diameter. The heat from the blast was 14,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It melted the desert sand, turning it into a glass-like substance. The Trinity bomb was completed after the German surrender. But the U.S. was still planning a massive invasion of mainland Japan, in which fatalities were expected to dwarf the rest of the war, including the invasion of Nazi-occupied France. As many as 400,000 to 800,000 American troops were expected to be killed in the invasion, more than the entire war up to that point. Some five to 10 million Japanese were expected to die as the Imperial government was imploring its citizens to fight to the end, including the use of suicide bombings. President Harry Truman authorized the only use of nuclear weapons in combat in August 1945 after Japan declined to surrender. A U.S. B-29 Superfortress bomber dropped the atomic bomb nicknamed "Little Boy" on the city of Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945. As Imperial Japan clung to its war effort and again did not surrender, Truman used another bomb -- named "Fat Man" -- three days later on Nagasaki. Together, the bombs killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people. The last time the U.S. tested a nuclear weapon was in 1992. -- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon. Related: There's a Good Reason Why 'Oppenheimer' Is Christopher Nolan's Longest Movie Ever President Joe Biden has nominated Gen. David Allvin to serve as the next chief of staff of the Air Force; if confirmed, he would replace Gen. Charles "C.Q." Brown as the top military leader of the service. Allvin has served as the vice chief of staff of the Air Force since November 2020, according to his service biography. His prior roles included serving as the director for strategy, plans and policy, J-5, on the Joint Staff. A notice that Biden submitted Allvin's nomination to the Senate was made public Wednesday, and it was referred to the Senate Armed Services Committee. The previous Air Force chief of staff, Brown, was nominated in May to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Read Next: Bill Would Ban Discrimination in Military 75 Years After Racial Integration Allvin graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986. He is a command pilot with more than 4,600 hours, including 800 flight test hours in more than 30 aircraft and 100 combat hours in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to his service biography. His earliest assignments were as a C-12F Huron co-pilot out of Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and as a C-141B co-pilot out of McChord Air Force Base, Washington, which was later consolidated into a joint base. He also flew C-17 Globemaster IIIs and C-130J Super Hercules as an experimental test pilot out of Edwards Air Force Base, California. If confirmed, Allvin will be responsible for 689,000 active-duty, Guard, reserve and civilian forces. He would also be taking over the role at a pivotal time for the Air Force as the Pentagon continues to focus on competition with China and as the service struggles to meet its recruiting goals. The U.S. has seen some of its lowest unemployment rates in more than 50 years, something that hurts military recruiting efforts. Added to that, the Pentagon has released studies showing that only 23% of American youth are eligible to serve due to being overweight, using drugs, or having mental and physical health problems. The Air Force Recruiting Service said that, overall, less than 10% of the young population is interested in serving in the first place -- 50% can't even name all the military service branches. Considering all those factors, Air Force officials have told Military.com that the service is projecting a shortfall of between 10% and 13% in its recruiting goals. Meanwhile, both Allvin and Brown face an uncertain timeline to be confirmed for their new roles as Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., continues to stymie military promotions in retaliation for the Pentagon's abortion travel policies. As of July 12, 97 Air Force and six Space Force nominations are being held up because of Tuberville, Defense One reported. -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. Related: Air Force Gen. 'CQ' Brown Is Nominated as the Next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs LONDON Britain has underplayed and underestimated the threat posed by the Russian Wagner mercenary group and should ban it as a terrorist organization, a powerful committee of U.K. lawmakers said Wednesday. The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said the sanctions imposed by Britain on Wagner are underwhelming" and U.K. authorities have done little to track the private army's activities beyond Ukraine, where it has fought as part of Russia's invading forces. There are serious national security threats to the U.K. and its allies of allowing the network to continue to thrive, said the committee, whose members come from both governing and opposition parties. It said Britain should urgently proscribe the Wagner Network as a terrorist organization," something the Conservative government has so far been unwilling to do. In a 78-page report, the committee said Wagner, which has close ties to the Russian state, operates like an international criminal mafia, fueling corruption and plundering natural resources, especially in Africa, where it provides stability and protection for several authoritarian leaders. It is a significant failing to see the Wagner Network primarily through the prism of Europe, not least given its geographic spread, the impact of its activities on U.K. interests further abroad, and the fact that its wealth creation sits largely in Africa, the report said. It called it deeply regrettable that the U.K. paid little attention to Wagner before 2022, and continues to give so little focus to countries beyond Ukraine. The committee said with "high confidence" that Wagner had conducted military operations in at least seven countries since 2014: Ukraine, Syria, the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, Mozambique and Mali. The lawmakers said Wagner also has business interests in those countries, such as lucrative gold mining operations in the Central African Republic and Sudan, where Wagners gold-smuggling activities enabled huge quantities of gold to bypass the state and flow to Russia. Wagner also has carried out non-military actions such as election interference in Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and South Africa, and there is evidence of the groups involvement in other countries, the committee said. The lawmakers urged the government to move faster and harder to sanction individuals and entities linked to Wagner, calling British sanctions underwhelming in the extreme compared to those imposed by the United States and the European Union. The lawmakers urged Britain to boost aid funding to fragile and conflict-wracked countries to stop them from turning to Russia and Wagner for help. A decision to slash the U.K.s international aid budget from 0.7% to 0.5% of gross national income should be reversed as soon as possible, they said. The report, which drew on research by journalists, government and non-government organizations, testimony from Russia experts and evidence from a former Wagner fighter, said Wagners future was uncertain after leader Yevgeny Prigozhins armed mutiny against Russias top military leaders last month. The rebellion ended within hours when a deal was brokered for Wagner troops to go to Belarus. The lawmakers said Britain should take advantage the confused situation to disrupt Wagner. In the wake of the attempted coup last month, the future manifestations of the Wagner Network are uncertain, said the committees chairwoman, Conservative lawmaker Alicia Kearns. With the network at its most vulnerable and the clock ticking the time for action is now. The Foreign Office said in a statement that Britain had heavily sanctioned the Wagner Group, including its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and several key commanders, limiting their travel and freezing their assets. The U.K. has been one of the leading suppliers of military aid to Ukraine, who have been fighting Wagner forces on the battlefield, it said. We continue to work with our allies to expose and counter their destabilising activities around the world. Policies barring discrimination in the military based on race, gender and other innate characteristics would be enshrined in law under a bill being introduced by a Democratic lawmaker Wednesday to mark the 75th anniversary of the racial desegregation of the military. The bill from Rep. Marilyn Strickland, D-Wash., would ban the Pentagon from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity or sexual orientation. Someone's eligibility for service could be based only on their ability to meet occupational standards, the bill adds. "We have seen over the past several years that some extremist members of the Republican Party are trying to undermine decades of efforts to improve racial equality, address extremism and attract a wider group of recruits," Strickland wrote in a letter to other House lawmakers seeking co-sponsors for the bill. Read Next: VA Studying Whether 3 Types of Cancer Are Linked to Overseas Military Service "While the department prohibits discrimination by instruction, service members deserve to know that discrimination is prohibited by the law," she added in the letter, which was obtained by Military.com. Strickland, whose Black father served in the Army during World War II when it was still racially segregated, timed the introduction of her bill to the anniversary of President Harry Truman's July 26, 1948, executive order ending racial segregation in the military. Defense officials are also marking the anniversary throughout the week, including an event at the Pentagon on Wednesday and at a forum hosted by the Truman Library Institute on Thursday and Friday. "Through the desegregation of the armed forces, the department expanded its warfighting capabilities and opened doors for military pioneers such as Annie E. Graham, the first African American female to serve in the United States Marine Corps in 1949," Gil Cisneros, the under secretary of defense for personnel, wrote in a memo released Monday. "We will build on this legacy of equal opportunity and continue to foster work environments where every individual is respected for their talents and mission contributions." Strickland's bill is similar to one introduced earlier this year by Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., that supporters have dubbed the "Truman Amendment." The Jacobs bill would specify that standards for service cannot include criteria based on race, color, national origin, religion or sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity. While both bills would have a similar effect, the messaging around the Jacobs bill focuses on preventing discrimination against LGBTQ+ troops and forestalling a ban on transgender military service from ever being reinstated, while the messaging around the Strickland bill is broader. But Strickland's bill is likely to meet a similar fate as Jacobs' has languishing in a GOP-controlled House. As part of their political strategy, Republicans have leaned into attacking efforts to make the military more welcoming to minorities, women and LGBTQ+ people. House Republicans loaded up their version of the annual defense policy bill with provisions to end Pentagon diversity, equity and inclusion programs; ban gender-affirming health care for transgender troops; and reverse the policy covering leave and travel expenses for service members seeking abortions. Republicans argue the diversity programs are a guise for anti-white, anti-conservative discrimination and turn off potential recruits by injecting politics into the military. But Democrats counter that such programs are needed to attract a younger generation that's more socially conscious than its predecessors. An Army survey conducted last year on what's turning off potential recruits found that concerns about discrimination against women and minorities outranked concerns about the military focusing too much on "wokeness." "A diverse military is a strong military, and addressing our recruitment and retention challenges is vital to shoring up our national security and ensuring readiness," Strickland said in a statement to Military.com. "As efforts to undermine diversity and inclusion in our armed forces continue, Congress must commit to any and all methods of supporting our service members and their families, including enshrining equality in our military into law." -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: Veterans Groups Petition VA to Follow Anti-Discrimination Law On Oct. 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria simultaneously invaded Israel from the east and west during the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. Supported by every other Arab nation and the Soviet Bloc, their goal was to retake the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights that Israel had captured in the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel's prime minister that day was both the only woman ever to hold the office and to lead a Middle Eastern country: Golda Meir. Despite having only a few hours to prepare for the invasion, she would turn an existential threat to Israel into a crushing defeat for the Arab coalition. Filmmaker Guy Nattiv's new biopic about Meir, "Golda," is set during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Award-winning actress Helen Mirren ("1923") portrays Meir as she navigates a war that would kill 2,600 Israeli troops and wound another 11,000. "Surrounded, isolated, and frustrated by the infighting of her all-male cabinet, with little hope of rescue, one woman is in a race against time to save millions of lives on both sides of the conflict," reads the film's official description. Without Meir, known as the "Iron Lady," there would likely be no Israel today. As the Jewish population of Mandatory Palestine fought to create a Jewish state during the1948 independence movement, Israeli leaders found themselves low on the funds needed to continue fighting. Looking toward America's Jewish population, Israeli leaders believed they could only raise a disappointing $7 million for the war effort. Meir brought home $30 million. When Meir took office as Israel's fourth prime minister in 1969, Israel controlled the Sinai Peninsula, captured during the 1967 Six-Day War. The negotiated end of the war didn't do anything to actually end the fighting. For more than three years, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and the Palestine Liberation Organization attacked Israeli positions in the Sinai and on Israel's eastern border. Meir's strategy during this "War of Attrition" was to respond to Arab attacks with disproportionately large counterstrikes. When Egyptian commandos raided an Israeli outpost in the Sinai, Israel special forces completely destroyed Egypt's military base on Green Island. After Egypt's Navy sank an Israeli fishing boat, Meir ordered the air force to launch a bombing campaign all along the Suez Canal, sinking two Egyptian warships. This kind of retaliation carried on until 1970. Despite Egypt and Syria's surprise attack during Yom Kippur in 1973, Israel halted their advance after just three days. A counteroffensive on the Syrian front pushed the fighting all the way to Damascus within the first week. On the Egyptian front, an Israeli counterattack forced the Egyptians back across the Suez Canal. The Israelis followed, leading to the complete encirclement of Egypt's Third Army and an advance on Cairo. That advance was stopped some 62 miles away from the Egyptian capital after an international ceasefire ended the fighting. The entire war lasted just 19 days, but left thousands killed and wounded on both sides. The Yom Kippur War "is the Vietnam of Israel ... So you didn't get a sweet, clean picture ... it's a very tough and hard look at the war," director Guy Nattiv said in a press conference at the Berlin Film Festival. "Every soldier that dies, Golda takes it to her heart." Bleecker Street's "Golda," starring Helen Mirren and Liev Schreiber, is due to open in theaters everywhere Aug. 25, 2023. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, or on LinkedIn. Keep Up With the Best in Military Entertainment Whether you're looking for news and entertainment, thinking of joining the military or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to the Military.com newsletter to have military news, updates and resources delivered straight to your inbox. The Astros acquired infielder Aledmys Diaz from the Blue Jays, as per announcements from both teams. In return, Triple-A right-hander Trent Thornton is headed to Toronto, per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). After spending parts of two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Blue Jays acquired Diaz for minor-league outfielder J.B. Woodman prior to 2018. He is a career .275/.325/.458 hitter good for a slightly above-average 108 wRC+. Diaz saw regular action in Toronto this season, slashing .263/.303/.453 with 18 home runs (1.6 fWAR) while keeping the seat warm for prospects Richard Urena and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Though primarily a shortstop, the Astros likely see Diaz, 28, as a more versatile contributor potential insurance for likely-departed utility man Marwin Gonzalez. Defensive metrics, however, do not look kindly upon Diazs performance at short (-9 DRS, -2.2 UZR in 2018), as he has yet to record a positive rating in either defensive runs saved or ultimate zone rating in his three seasons at the big-league level. Yuli Gurriel stands to take on some of the extra responsibilities around the diamond as well, but Diaz represents a low-cost alternative he will not be eligible for arbitration until after the 2019 season at the earliest. Brian McTaggart of MLB.com quotes Astros GM Jeff Luhnow (via Twitter), who says of Diaz: Hes got some versatility, got some power and can do a lot of things. It seems like its an opportunity for us to improve our team. Were dipping into prospect depth, but one area we probably have some surplus, its in the upper-level pitching area. The Blue Jays stand to benefit from that surplus with the acquisition of Thornton. Though not a top prospect by any means, the 25-year-old Thornton ranked 24th on MLB.coms midseason rankings of Houstons farm system. Since the Astros selected him in the 5th round of the 2015 draft, Thornton has steadily climbed the ranks of Houstons minor league system, reaching their top affiliate in 2017. Over 124 1/3 innings, he had a 4.42 ERA (3.93 xFIP) with 8.83 K/9 and 2.24 BB/9 while pitching with Triple-A Fresno for the entirety of 2018. With either Urena or Gurriel ready to take over at short, the Blue Jays did a nice job here of turning their middle infield depth into an MLB-ready arm. Thornton has not yet appeared in the majors, though the Jays will add him to their 40-man roster, per Sportsnet.cas Ben Nicholson-Smith (via Twitter). The rebuilding Blue Jays get all six years of Thorntons team control in exchange for four years of Diaz. The Braves recently added a couple relievers to the upper minors. Righty Mike Morin signed a minor league deal last week and has made a pair of appearances for Triple-A Gwinnett. Kodi Whitley is joining him after signing a non-roster pact on Monday, per the MLB.com transaction log. Morin, 32, pitched in the majors every season from 2014-20. He posted a 2.90 ERA over 54 outings as a rookie for the Angels before struggling to a 6.37 ERA the next year. Morin would log parts of four seasons with the Halos before bouncing around the league. He suited up with the Twins, Mariners, Royals and Phillies before tossing four scoreless frames for the 2020 Marlins his last MLB experience to date. The North Carolina product had been pitching in the Mexican League early this year. A 2.89 ERA and excellent 26:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 18 2/3 innings earned him another affiliated opportunity. Whitley, 28, logged parts of three seasons with the Cardinals. He tossed 42 2/3 innings combined from 2020-22, pitching to a 3.38 ERA despite a lofty 12.4% walk rate. Outrighted off St. Louis 40-man roster at the start of the offseason, hed spent the year with their top affiliate in Memphis. The 63 hurler posted a 5.19 ERA in 43 1/3 Triple-A frames and was released last week. Hell look to pitch his way back to the big leagues with the second organization of his career. gives thanks to the Supreme Being for Peru's Independence, and in some way reaffirms the link between the Peruvian State and the Catholic Church, which has been present in the country's history since the establishment of the Republic. During the Mass and Te Deum , the celebrant, and in some way, which has been present in the country's history since the establishment of the Republic. The Mass and Te Deum has been celebrated and officiated on the occasion of Independence Day since 1821, that is, it has been as many years as it has since the establishment of the Republic of Peru. This religious ceremony was celebrated for the first time in 1821, at the request of Jose de San Martin himself, to invoke blessings to mark the end of the Colonial-Spanish era in Peruvian territory. With the passing of the years, its celebration was made official during the Republic period, until today, and adheres to the tradition framed by Independence Day activities. In addition to Lima's archbishop and other religious authorities, this traditional activity features the President of the Republic, State ministers, legislators, high-ranking officers of the Armed Forces and the Peruvian National Police (PNP) , as well as judicial and diplomatic authorities. Decentralized ceremony This year's Mass and Te Deum will be celebrated at the Cathedral of Lima on July 28 at 8:10 a.m. (local time). It will be the first activity of the National Holidays' agenda. Moreover, it will be celebrated by Lima's Archbishop Monsignor Carlos Castillo and will include the participation of senior religious authorities, as well as the President of the Republic Dina Boluarte. However, several other ecclesiastical jurisdictions in Peru celebrate this Holy Mass at their respective temples. (END) DOP/MRCA/RMB/MVB The term "Te Deum" is Latin for "To You God." It constitutes an ancient hymn of praise to God and a thanksgiving to the Almighty.Publicado: 26/7/2023 NOVI, MI - You can meet Ash, himself, this weekend as Evil Dead star, Bruce Campbell, returns home to Michigan for a big horror convention. The Royal Oak native will be at Motor City Nightmares horror expo and film festival, which is now in its 15th year. As if Campbell isnt enough to get you to the event, there will be E.T. and Twin Peaks reunions, along with stars from Poltergeist, Cabin Fever, Friday the 13th, Jeepers Creepers and more. The event also features celebrity panels, artists and vendors and cosplayers. It takes place from Friday, July 28 through Sunday, July 30, 2023 at the Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel located at 21111 Haggerty Road. Tickets, which can be purchased here, are $30 for Friday, $40 for Saturday and $25 for Sunday. Weekend passes are $80. Coming up on 15 years of Motor City Nightmares shows is amazing in itself. The celebrity guests that wanted to attend have been amazing, Tommy Brunswick, event organizer told MLive. Bruce Campbell is our hometown hero. Dee Wallace is our favorite Mom and will be here with three onscreen sons from E.T and Cujo. So many more guests, old friends and new. Campbell will be at the event on Saturday and Sunday. He is also scheduled to take part in a question and answer panel, which is subject to be cancelled due to the writers strike. If it happens, it will be for VIP ticket holders only due to high demand and limited space. Along with Evil Dead, Army of Darkness and Ash vs Evil Dead, fans know Campbell from his roles in Bubba Ho-Tep, The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. and Burn Notice, just to name a few. Hours for Motor City Nightmares 2023 are: July 28 - 5pm-10pm; after party 10:30pm July 29 - 10am-7pm; Monster Bash 8pm July 30 - 11am-5pm Other celebrity guests include Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas and Robert MacNaughton (E.T.), Sherilyn Fenn, Sheryl Lee and Ray Wise (Twin Peaks), Dana DeLorenzo and Ray Santiago (Ash. vs. Evil Dead), Jonathan Breck (Jeepers Creepers,), Ted Raimi, Bill Moseley, Kane Hodder, Clint Howard and Danny Pintauro. MORE FROM MLIVE: Keanu Reeves is planning a trip to Michigan this winter Superman soft serve is a huge hit at Michigan ice cream shop and its vegan Oppenheimer is being shown in IMAX 70MM at just two theaters in Michigan GAYLORD, MI Police are crediting a passerby with saving a mans life after he collapsed at the Northern Michigan gas station, police said. The 33-year-old Wisconsin man collapsed at a gas pump on Wednesday, July 19, in Gaylord, according to a news release from Gaylord Police. James Purgiel, who happened to be in the area, initiated CPR and continued until officers arrived on scene and took over. Officers confirmed that the victim had no pulse, police said. They continued CPR and used an AED. They continued their efforts until the victims pulse was restored. Otsego County EMS then transported the man to a local hospital where he is now recovering, police said. This event is a shining example of the importance of taking a CPR/First Aid class as a citizen, the release said. The teamwork of Mr. Purgiel, Gaylord Police officers, and OCEMS personnel made it possible to keep a father of a 1-year-old child around a little longer. READ MORE: Dad catches baby from second story of burning home, 2 young children critically injured Man arrested after driving Jeep off pier into Lake Superior Nurse fatally hit by car while trying to bring patient back into facility Michigan police officer charged for allegedly stabbing fellow officer DEXTER, MI -- A steady decline in student enrollment has prompted layoffs in a Washtenaw County school district. Five staff members of Dexter Community Schools were laid off effective June 30, according to Dexter School Board documents. They are Jacqueline Connor, Cecilia Gardner, Amanda Parker, Nolan Peterson and Jameson Taylor. The reasoning for the layoffs stems from budgetary constraints anticipated for the 2023-24 fiscal year, officials said. The district also aims to retain teachers deemed to be most effective -- with effectiveness defined in board policy as a combination of the evaluation rating, discipline, attendance, significant contributions and relevant special training, with seniority used as a tie-breaker, officials said. Due to decreased student enrollment over the last several years, DCS is facing significant budget cuts that will impact teaching staff, school district officials stated in documents shared with the board during a June meeting. Dexter Community Schools Superintendent Chris Timmis could not be reached for comment. Dexter Community Schools has 250 fewer students than current staffing levels require, according to board documents. As a result, school officials anticipate a need to decrease between 12 to 15 full-time teaching positions before the fall semester begins. Some reductions are possible through attrition -- such as retirements and leaves of absence that will not be filled -- though there will need to be other reductions, officials said. Dexter is going through a dramatic decrease in birth rates similar to many other communities in this region of the country, officials said. In Washtenaw County, 4,248 children were born in 2005, while in 2020 only 3,255 children were born in the county. The birth rate has steadily decreased every year and is on track to continue, officials said. Downturns in birthrates have resulted in reductions in student enrollment. In the 2011-12 school year, Dexter enrolled 3,594 students. After growing to 3,646 students in 2018-19, the student body dropped 3,387 students in 2020-21, officials said. Enrollment is currently estimated to be around 3,400 students in the next school year. Although the district was the recipient of one-time ESSER III funds from the American Recovery Act to allow for reduced class sizes and other supports, the exhaustion of those funds will cause a budget reduction of about $1.8 million next year, officials said. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. More from The Ann Arbor News: Ann Arbor Art Fair crowds larger than last year, organizers say $66M funding aims to address Michigan teacher shortage Pittsfield Township police, fire station busting at the seams. $5M could bring a fix Ann Arbor adding boulder mountain, woodland climbing features to popular park UPDATE: On Aug. 1, Ypsilanti City Council voted 4-2 to deny the second reading of the marijuana ordinance changes given preliminary approval on July 25. The current version of the regulations stand, and a moratorium on the city issuing new marijuana business permits is still in effect until Dec. 12, city officials said. YPSILANTI, MI - Amid worries Ypsilanti is becoming weed city with at least a dozen options for marijuana dispensaries, city leaders were faced with a choice. They could continue to rely on buffers between cannabis retailers and businesses to control their proliferation, leaving open viable locations for new dispensaries within the citys four square miles. Or they could slap a hard cap on the number of businesses, a restriction that was once part of city rules but was removed in part to avoid litigation over the process of doling out limited permits. Read more: Ypsilanti officials look to avoid becoming weed city amid marijuana retail saturation Faced with the quandary during a June 20 work session, a majority of city council members resolved to close loopholes in city marijuana rules but avoid returning to a system that limits the number of marijuana permits and requires a competitive city process to award them. The process of tweaking the city rules has begun, with City Council voting 6-1, with Council Member MeChelle King opposed, on Tuesday, June 25 to give preliminary approval to changes clarifying, among other things, when a permit may be revoked, like when businesses cease operations or fail to move forward toward opening after getting a permit. They did so as some, like south side resident Ashley Jordan, urged action to limit dispensaries in the city. I am appalled that we have more marijuana places than places to take our kids, Jordan said during public comment on Tuesday. The city planning commission in August will be taking up further changes closing a loophole exempting marijuana microbusinesses, a state category geared toward small-batch retailers, from buffering rules, according to Ypsilanti Community Development Director Christopher Jacobs. In 2022, members of the planning commission raised concerns about the concentration of marijuana businesses, which then dominated the commissions agendas, and city leaders put a pause on issuing new permits until the issue could be addressed. Any further tweaks to the buffering rules that result from planning commission discussion will come back to city council for approval, Jacobs said. Even after they go into effect, there will still likely be five or six viable spots in the city for new dispensaries, he said, in addition to the citys roughly dozen existing ones. A map included in the Tuesday, July 25, 2023 Ypsilanti City Council packet shows available parcels for marijuana businesses in Ypsilanti based on buffers included in zoning rules and a proposal to add buffers for microbusinesses and designated consumption sites.Ypsilanti City Council documents For many city leaders, that possibility doesnt mean more marijuana entrepreneurs will choose to come to Ypsilanti. Were going to plateau if we havent already, said Council Member Steve Wilcoxen during the June work session discussion, pointing to the financial woes of Skymint, one of Michigans largest cannabis brands. Skymint owes more than $127 million to one of its lenders, according to a lawsuit, and a court has placed its parent company in receivership, MLive reported in March. Thats put the future of a proposed dispensary at the site of Klucks Drive-In in Ypsilanti in doubt, city officials said in June. There are currently 12 active marijuana retailers or medical cannabis provisioning centers in Ypsilanti, as well as one microbusiness, according to the city website. Even if we allow an endless amount of businesses I think we wont have in a year or two, five years, 10, whatever, that amount of businesses. It will level out, said Council Member Jennifer Symanns during the June work session. While she appreciated the revenue marijuana brings the city, she still believes theres a balance with the number of facilities in Ypsilanti, she said. While Symanns would prefer a cap on businesses, she could support limiting them by buffers and zoning, she said. The city cannot choose to prevent all new marijuana facilities by using zoning rules alone, because major changes to the buffers between businesses and schools could cause problems with existing facilities and their state permitting, Jacobs told city leaders during the work session. But instituting a new cap brings with it the challenge of creating a scoring rubric for permit applications that can withstand legal challenge, he said. Other city leaders, like King said she still leaned toward capping the number of dispensaries in the city. Residents shes spoken to say theres an overabundance, she said, many close to lower-income housing developments But support for a cap put King in a minority on the council. To a certain extent, the market may end up limiting dispensaries, City Council Member Desirae Simmons said at the June meeting. Ypsilanti Township is finally opening itself up to some marijuana development, she said, and the issue of saturation hasnt been raised as a big issue in her ward. The businesses themselves, just like anything else, have to come up with a market plan and then they will either succeed or not succeed based on that, Simmons said. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. More from The Ann Arbor News: This Ypsilanti kombucha brew was a standout at Michigan Summer Beer Festival 9 collisions, 27 near misses prompt pedestrian safety work on Detroit-Chicago Amtrak line State Theater lost $30K due to DTE Energy outage during largest box office weekend in 4 years Lawsuit over rental home found with 100 pet birds in it settled WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- Classes will start nearly an hour earlier for students of two Washtenaw County schools due to a recent shift in bus schedules. School days at the Washtenaw International Middle Academy and High School will run from 7:40 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the 2023-24 school year, school officials said in an email to students and families. Clubs and after-school office hours will run until 3:15 p.m. The change was prompted by Ypsilanti Community Schools decision to implement a new three-tiered transportation model. Prior to the change, school days ran between 8:25 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. We realize this change may impact families in a variety of ways and understand this may be a challenge, Principal Nhu Do said in a statement. As a Washtenaw consortium school located in Ypsilanti, we rely on local districts to provide transportation for students to promote equity and access. In this case, our schedules are determined by YCS transportation which is why we must adjust our bell schedules. Related: 2 options proposed to resolve Ypsilanti Community Schools busing issues WIHI and WIMA students who ride YCS buses will arrive at 7:25 a.m. and will have access to breakfast in the cafeteria prior to the first bell at 7:40 a.m., officials said. All students will have access to free breakfast in the cafeteria prior to the start of school. Ypsilanti Community Schools presented two proposals during a community forum on May 30 to address ongoing structural issues it has had with busing. The intention of the proposals was to enable a switch from a two-tier route schedule to a more balanced three-tier route system requiring fewer drivers to complete each tier. The main goal of this change is to address the transportation issues we have faced during the 2022-23 school year and provide more reliable transportation services to our families, Ypsilanti Community Schools Superintendent Alena Zachery-Ross said in a July 18 newsletter. We understand how important it is for our students to arrive at school and home on time, and we believe that this new model will help us achieve this goal. WIHI and WIMA are part of Tier 1, which runs from 7:25 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and also includes Ypsilanti Middle School, Ypsilanti Community High School and High Point School. Tier 2 sees buses run from 8:25 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and includes Beatty Early Learning Center, Ford Early Learning Center and Perry Early Learning Center. Buses run from 9:25 a.m. until 4:20 p.m. in Tier 3, which includes Holmes Elementary, Estabrook Elementary, Erickson Elementary and Ypsilanti International Elementary School. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. More from The Ann Arbor News: Questions about new Dexter fire station location still dog city leaders months after vote 5 staffers laid off as Dexter schools face budget shortfall Should police use facial-recognition technology? Ann Arbor to vote on issue State Theater lost $30K due to DTE Energy outage during largest box office weekend in 4 years Chelseas Gestamp plant gets city OK on tax break for expansion, bringing 62 new jobs ANN ARBOR, MI -- Monahans Seafood has been bringing fresh fish to Ann Arbor for over 40 years under the same ownership, but that will soon change. Mike Monahan has been operating the business known for its seafood in Kerrytown since 1979. Now, over four decades later, Monahan is turning over the stores ownership to his nephew, Tommy Lammers, 27, who has been working for the business since 2018. Monahan will continue his work until January while he helps Lammers transition into his new role. Related: Family-owned Monahans Seafood celebrates 40 years in Kerrytown Monahan, who is 72 years old, said he is ready to embark on a new part of his life and focus on things he enjoys like fishing, creating artwork, playing guitar, finishing a cookbook which will feature over 40 years of recipes and traveling more with his wife, Lisa. The longtime business owner said his nephew has a great attitude and work ethic which he thinks will continue Monahans success. It was just time to pass it on to a new generation, Monahan said. Tommy just has a great energy about him and hes got a real positive enthusiasm and a real interest in the business ... I think for years he has had a plan to have his own business and it was just a great fit for him at the fish market. New owner Tommy Lammers poses with a fish at Monahan's Seafood Market, 407 N. 5th Ave., in Ann Arbor. Lammers began working at Monahans Seafood around the time he graduated from the University of Michigan in 2018 with a bachelors degree in economics. He said he quickly realized how much he wanted to run his own small business and how passionate he was about Monahans operations after working with his uncle. Monahans Seafood has always had a special place in my heart and has been a really important, fun and vibrant aspect of our family, Lammers said. The timing worked out and I was very enthusiastic about the idea of taking over the business from Mike and maintaining the role of Monahans as a staple in the community. Monahan and Lammers agree the seafood shops overall quality, seasonal selections and customer service will stay the same despite the change in ownership. The current staff at Monahans Seafood will also remain the same including longtime manager, Bernie Fritzsch, and Mikes daughter, Sarah, who is also a manager. Lammers said he is hoping to maintain the amazing atmosphere that customers have come to love at Monahans while possibly incorporating new things in the future like catering and collaborating with other small, local businesses. We just want to keep it as familiar as possible and keep doing the things we do in terms of our great seafood selection and our customer service, Lammers said. Im not looking to shake things up too much and instead just keep it going. Regardless of the change, Monahan said he will always just be a phone call away. Mike is a great mentor and family (member who) cares deeply about the success of Monahans, the community and the customers, Lammers said. Even if he is across the Atlantic or fishing on a lake in Michigan, (I know) he will always be happy to pick up the phone whether it is about sourcing a new product or how to go above and beyond for our customers. Overall, Lammers said he is looking forward to continuing the legacy his uncle started while showing small businesses can thrive no matter how difficult it may be. I am very excited to be a small business owner in a community as special as Ann Arbor and I just want to show that small businesses like Mikes are really what have made communities stronger and have made Ann Arbor and the Ann Arbor-area unique throughout the years, he said. While the change in ownership is bittersweet, Monahan said he feels fortunate his nephew is willing to take over a business that means so much to him. Timing is everything and this is the time, he said. Lisa and I feel pretty good about (this decision) and we are really happy that it will be in good hands. Learn more about Monahans Seafood, 407 N. 5th Ave., online or on social media. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. More from The Ann Arbor News: Peoples Food Co-Op in Ann Arbor reopens cafe after 3-year hiatus Whats that? New boutique, nail services available in Ann Arbor Questions about new Dexter fire station location still dog city leaders months after vote ANN ARBOR, MI - The University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council is both the plaintiff and defendant in a Washtenaw County lawsuit. The nurses union at Michigan Medicine is listed on both sides, since a portion of its membership attempted to disaffiliate from the statewide Michigan Nurses Association in fall 2021. While that disaffiliation failed, a July 6 Michigan Court of Appeals ruling details a rift within the nurses union that has resulted in a multi-year legal battle. A low attendance of members of the original Professional Nurse Council met in a January 2021 Zoom meeting, where attending members voted to disaffiliate from the Michigan Nurses Association, court documents show. The vote prompted the statewide nurses union to appoint emergency leaders to oversee the members who disaffiliated, which effectively created a second Professional Nurse Council at the university, documents show. The disaffiliated members sued the statewide union in Washtenaw County Court in February 2021 to get courts to officially remove the statewide unions authority over them. The statewide union countersued, claiming the disaffiliated members were stealing the Professional Nurse Council name and identity. Neither the Michigan Nurses Association nor the University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council responded to messages requesting explanation of the issues within the union. The disaffiliated members began to call themselves University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council, Independent Union, documents show. They asked the Michigan Employment Relations Commission to conduct an election among the nurses of both unions to decide which one will represent nurses moving forward. In September 2021, the emergency union appointed by the Michigan Nurses Association won the election in a 58% vote, documents show. When the disaffiliated members lost the election, they ended their attempts to break apart, documents show. However, the statewide union continued litigation to clear up lingering issues within the union. The granting of both counter-motions had left the status of both sides conflicting and irreconcilable claims unresolved, and that the lack of a clear decision by the court could exacerbate the lingering confusion, the statewide union said in court documents. The statewide union accused the disaffiliated members of breaking common law, fraudulently misrepresenting themselves as the real nurses union, breaching fiduciary duties, violating right to privacy laws and identify theft. Appellate Court Judges James Redford, Colleen OBrien and Kathleen Feeney affirmed the words of Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Timothy Connors, who ruled that the statewide union should solve its issues internally rather than in court. You [MNA] want me to spank someone, Connors said according to court documents. Im not going to do it...I respect there was an election. They had the results of the election. I respect the democratic process. I think its over. The statewide nurses union was, in effect, trying to take on issues resolved in the representative election, the judges wrote in the decision. It would be akin to two children arguing over who is entitled to the last piece of cake, Redford, OBrien and Feeney wrote in their ruling. They go to their parent to resolve the dispute and, before the parent can issue a decision, the family dog eats the cake. The issues within the union do not need to be solved in court, the ruling states, but within the union. It simply no longer matters who was right and who was wrong and the parent no longer needs to resolve the dispute, the judges wrote. It is now moot. There is no additional court dates scheduled in the case in Washtenaw County Trial Court, records show. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. Read more from The Ann Arbor News: University of Michigan gun ban upheld by Court of Appeals 9 collisions, 27 near misses prompt pedestrian safety work on Detroit-Chicago Amtrak line Leave Barbie feet to Barbies, warns University of Michigan doctor of TikTok trend FLUSHING, MI Austin Brooks felt fueled by his second-place finish in the 2022 Flushing Coney Dog Eating Competition to one day win the competition. And it didnt take long. Only a year. Brooks, 16, won the fifth annual Coney Dog Eating Competition at Bueches Food World on Tuesday, July 25. There wasnt much preparation for this years competition. The Flushing teen said he tried not to eat anything before the 2022 contest. This year it was all mental preparation. Ill be honest with you. Last year, I got second place and so mentally, I wanted to come in here and get first place, Brooks said. Getting second place wasnt fun for me. The teen plans on returning for future eating competitions at the grocery store. He earned the title of paczki-eating champion during the eating competition on Fat Tuesday in 2022. Brooks said the Coney dog competition is more difficult because of the combination of meat and bread. While the paczki competition is also a lot of bread, they are easier to deal with due to the filling, Brooks said. After leaving other contestants in the dust by eating five-and-a-half Coney dogs, Brooks was off to work a shift at his part-time job at Kroger. Hes also a volunteer at the Genesee County Humane Society. The Flushing Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual event at Bueches Food World to raise funds for Christmas decorations later in the year. This years contest included eight contestants and drew a crowd of about 30 spectators inside the grocery store off Main Street. The contestants were given three minutes to eat as many Coney dogs as they possibly could. Each dog was topped with Coney dog chili, but no other condiments. The competition was livestreamed on MLives Facebook page. The chamber and grocery store holds a similar event on Fat Tuesday each year, where contestants were given three minutes to finish six paczki. Read more on MLive: University of Michigan-Flint police undergo mental health de-escalation training program Flint Bishop, MBS International airports to receive more than $11M for improvements Berston Field House remembers 100-year history with anniversary celebration New basketball courts at Durant Park unveiled by FlintNOW Foundation New Mott Community College police chief wants to keep community policing tradition Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. GENESEE COUNTY, MI As high temperatures and humidity affect Genesee County this week, the health department has issued an extreme heat warning until Friday, Saturday July 28. To help beat the heat, there are a handful of cooling centers and hydration spots in Flint and the surrounding areas open to community members. The health department is urging people to take precautions to prevent heat related illnesses including heat exhaustion, heat stroke which occur when the body cannot properly cool itself. While the body normally cools itself by sweating, during extreme heat, this might not be enough as a persons body temperature rises faster than it can cool itself down, according to a Wednesday, July 26, health department press release. This can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs. While high temperatures for the Flint area on Thursday and Friday are forecast to be in the upper 80s to lower 90s, cooler air is expected to move in by the weekend. The health department also encourages individuals to check on their elderly neighbors and family members. Additionally, assure children, the elderly, and pets have plenty of water and access to a cool environment. Cooling center locations and hours are as follows: Carriage Town Ministries Community Center Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Sunday at 605 Garland St. in Flint, 810-233-8787 Center for Hope (Catholic Charities) Open noon to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 812 Root St. in Flint, 810-265-7025 North End Soup Kitchen Open 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday at 735 East Stewart Avenue in Flint, 810-785-6911 Burton Senior Center Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at 3410 South Grand Traverse in Burton, 810-744-0960, No age restrictions Brennan Senior Center Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 1301 Pingree in Flint, 810-766-7238, Must be 50 years or older Hydration/Cold Water Outreach Street and PATH Outreach open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, 810-553-0056 GCHD is also reminding residents to follow the safety tips listed below: Step 1 - Stay cool. Use an air conditioner or go to a cool place such as a basement, neighbors house, shopping mall or cooling center. Spending even a few hours a day in air conditioning can help reduce your risk for heat illness. Step 2 - Use a fan only when the windows are open or the air conditioner is on. Fans will not prevent heat illness when the temperature is in the 90s. Step 3 - Take a cool shower or bath. Step 4 - Keep shades and curtains closed to block the sun from coming in your home or office. Step 5 - Avoid exercising and physical activity during the hottest part of the day. Mornings and evenings are usually cooler than mid-day. Step 6 - Stay out of the sun. If you must be in the sun, wear thin and light-colored clothing, a hat, and sunglasses. Wear sunscreen (at least SPF15) with reapplication every two hours and after swimming or exercising. Sunscreen is recommended for all individuals regardless of race or ethnic background to reduce the risk of skin cancer. Step 7 - Avoid alcohol and caffeine because both can cause dehydration. Drink plenty of water and do not wait until youre thirsty. Step 8 - Never leave children, the elderly, or pets in parked vehicles. Vehicles heat up very quickly and can become dangerous, even with the windows open. 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: People with disabilities are leaving this vocational program with new skills, job prospects Hurley Medical Center only hospital in country to receive prestigious award Zero-emissions goal by Flint MTA boosted with $480K federal grant HOLLAND, MI Goodwill Industries of West Michigan will offer learning opportunities for young children in retail stores, launching its first in-store Talking is Teaching experience in Holland on Thursday, July 27. The Ottawa Area Intermediate School District (OAISD) is partnering with Goodwill on the early childhood education initiative, aiming to share with parents that teaching doesnt have to just be in the classroom. The Talking is Teaching program promotes early childhood development and literacy, informing parents that talking, reading and singing with their children is a critical part of early learning, putting parents in the role of a teacher early on. The Goodwill-North Holland location is incorporating bilingual language learning cards for a scavenger hunt, encouraging kids to talk to their parents while shopping, learning about numbers and reading. The store will be covered with colorful wall and floor decals that lead to a prize when you finish the hunt: a new book to take home. Community members are invited to Thursdays launch party at the Goodwill-North Holland store, located at 393 E. Lakewood Blvd., from 9:45 to11 a.m., to see the educational transformation of its aisles. The event will feature a brief ceremony, refreshments, tours, giveaways, and literacy resource information booth.s Launched in 2014, Talking is Teaching is a national public awareness and action campaign designed to share information with families about their critical role in their childs early brain and language development, according to OAISD press release. Tami Mannes, director of early childhood services at OAISD, said that the national program partners with parents in the traditional phonics skills and teaching letter names with basic skills that need to come beforehand to have their children ready to become conventional readers. We know that young childrens brains develop at a rapid rate and anytime we can introduce early literacy, we are helping really cement those neural connections so that theyre ready for kindergarten, Mannes said. Mannes said vocabulary skills surface as early as 18 months, needing parents to start as early as possible to get ahead of the curve. This innovative project helps families integrate early literacy into everyday activities and is currently unique to West Michigan, according to the OAISD press release. This is not Goodwills first time teaming up with a school system on the program. Goodwill has been partnering with the Muskegon Area ISD on the program since fall 2021, through a partnership between the Great Start Collaborative of Muskegon Area ISD, Goodwill of West Michigan and the early childhood initiative of the Clinton Foundation Too Small to Fail. Officials report seeing success and positivity from the community the last two years. The OAISD is looking to see similar success. The educational agency has previously partnered with other organizations like Early Start to pass out information about Talking is Teaching, but wanted to be part of an interactive experience, showing the community in real time what it means to teach while talking. We want the collaborations to be authentic and to meet families where they are, Mannes said. April Jendrasiak, communications director for Goodwill Industries of West Michigan Marketing, said when the company was approached by the OAISD, it immediately wanted to be involved in the early childhood initiative. Our mission and vision has always been to provide access to meaningful and sustaining employment for individuals that live in our community that have barriers, Jendrasiak said. One of those barriers is low literacy. It seems like it would be the perfect opportunity for us to partner. Jendrasiak said the process of integrating these learning mechanisms has been swift, wanting to provide this education opportunity quickly to the community. She said the Goodwill staff feels rewarded to be part of this mission with every book handed out at the end of a shopping trip. They have really gained a lot from this experience and they love working with the families, Jedrasiak said. Its been a wonderful experience all around. The launch party on Thursday will provide information about the program as well as tours of the facility for family members to understand how to interact and benefit from the learning process. West Michigan Goodwill stores participating in the Talking is Teaching initiative through a partnership with the Muskegon Area ISD include: Allendale 5269 Lake Michigan Dr. Coopersville 1141 W. Randall St. North Muskegon 1169 Whitehall Rd. Muskegon 1501 E. Apple Ave. Muskegon 1934 E. Sherman Blvd. Roosevelt Park 950 W. Norton Ave. Whitehall 3353 Underwood Dr. Newaygo County Great Start through Newaygo County RESA recently joined the partnership and will work with Goodwill of West MI to add two Newaygo County Goodwill stores this fall, the release said. This project was funded by the Preschool Development Grant B-5 awarded by the Michigan Department of Education Office of Great Start. 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: Ottawa Countys John Gibbs places deputy on administrative leave following resignation letter John Gibbs deputy resigns, cites deep concerns over Ottawa County leadership Updated $785,000 ranch home near Grand Rapids is designed for entertaining 15:01 | Cusco (Cusco region), Jul. 26. The news report in North American media has had an impact on over 20 million people in major cities: New York, Miami, Detroit, Denver, Washington D.C., among others. Additionally, it has an estimated value of US$296,805. S/33 million (about US$9.17 million) in revenue was generated due to the arrival of hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists, in addition to the massive participation of Cusco's population, according to data from the Similarly,, in addition to theaccording to data from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) Promotion of Peru as destination in U.S. PromPeru carries out various promotional activities to encourage travel from the United States, as it has been the market that has shown the best recovery in recent years. In 2022, it was the main source market in terms of passengers, with 464,759 international arrivals, thus accounting for 23% of total visits to Peru. GRAND RAPIDS, MI Grand Rapids leaders by a 5-2 vote approved new city rules Tuesday evening that will forbid aggressive panhandling and piled-up belongings in parks and public spaces. Broadly, the new ordinances criminalize accosting someone near an ATM or near people eating or drinking outdoors and allow the city to seize excess or unattended personal property stored in parks and on sidewalks. Seized property will be held by the city for up to 30 days. If not claimed within that time frame, city staff may discard a persons property. The Grand Rapids City Commission approved the new rules at their Tuesday, July 25, meeting. The rules take effect in 30 days. Only Second Ward Commissioner Lisa Knight and Third Ward Commissioner Kelsey Perdue voted against the new rules. Perdue expressed concern that the city was moving too fast in its adoption of the rules. She said service providers for homeless people havent been significantly engaged by the city in conversations around the rules, leaving her with concerns about unintended consequences. I have not seen significant engagement with service providers and I fear this will lead to gaps and unintended consequences that we might not yet see, Perdue said. In the last few days as I talked with providers, they brought up great questions that should also be part of this conversation for consideration. However, I believe that our time frame and our process did not allow for the full extent of those concerns to properly surface. The rules were first introduced to the city commission on June 13, followed by a public hearing on July 11 that saw significant pushback by residents to the rules. Following the hearing, the rules were moved to consideration at the Tuesday, July 25, meeting. Related: New Grand Rapids rules would target homeless people, residents tell city leaders Mayor Rosalynn Bliss as well as First Ward commissioners Jon OConnor and Drew Robbins, Second Ward Commissioner Milinda Ysasi and Third Ward Commissioner Nathaniel Moody voted in support of the ordinance. Our citys objective in developing these new ordinances was to clarify rules and expectations around the use of public spaces, not to criminalize the unhoused, Bliss said in a statement. When rules are clear, we have greater success in working with people who are enjoying our public spaces to use them in a way that respects all users ability to enjoy clean, safe facilities and spaces. Again, our intent with these ordinances is to clarify rules and in implementation, to seek voluntary compliance. Ysasi said the scope of the ordinances are narrow and listed the ways in which the city is working to help people without homes, including a $500,000 allocation by commissioners in June to bolster rapid rehousing efforts that would first put people in temporary housing while they wait for permanent, stable housing. With all of that, I think I said it at the last meeting: this is sort of the best out of a really not great situation that no one here created, that individuals are experiencing in many different ways that are in front of us and we have to deal with it, Ysasi said. The new rules are an effort by the city to address concerns about aggressive panhandling and homeless people piling up personal belongings in parks. It comes more than half a year after business leaders tried to get the city to effectively ban panhandling throughout most of downtown and forbid people from sitting or sleeping on sidewalks in an attempt to address those concerns and more. Adoption of the new rules was met with pushback from numerous residents, who have told city leaders the rules will target homeless people and make life harder for them. Many feared the rules will hide, not solve, the issue of homelessness. On Tuesday, city leaders received about 118 letters opposing adoption of the rules, with a majority of people who spoke during public comment also opposed. The ACLU of Michigan has called the rules unconstitutional. Related: ACLU calls foul on Grand Rapids rules targeting panhandling, piled-up belongings in parks A number of downtown business leaders have voiced support for the new rules. Some of those letters of support sent to commissioners Tuesday were from Amway Corporation, Ellis Parking, RDV Corporation, which is the DeVos family office, and more. The ordinance amendments being considered by the commission today are an important part of the comprehensive effort to ensure a vibrant, active city while also taking proactive measure to support the needs of community members, wrote Nick Wasmiller, spokesperson for RDV Corporation. The status quo doesnt seem to be working and your previous/upcoming actions are important steps forward that will improve outcomes for all. The first of the two new ordinance changes forbid people from accosting others in specific circumstances, such as near an ATM, on a bus, near a bus stop, near an outdoor dining area, near people eating or drinking outdoors and at or near a city-permitted event. Accosting is defined in the ordinance as repeated, unwanted conduct directed at another person in a way that would cause a reasonable person to feel harassed, intimidated, or that a criminal act is about to occur. While people who are panhandling could also be accosting someone, just asking for money wouldnt constitute accosting someone, city officials previously said. A person convicted of accosting someone could be fined up to $500 and jailed for up to 90 days. The rules also forbid loitering in a public building or private building or space after a person has been asked to leave. Loitering is also forbidden in a doorway when that loitering blocks access or passage through the doorway. The second new ordinance change forbids people from keeping unattended or excess personal belongings on public property and includes provisions about city staff seizing and impounding the property sometimes without warning and letting people know how to retrieve their impounded belongings. The ordinance defines excess personal property as any property that cant fit into a 32-gallon container. Staff will provide a notice of removal before impounding the belongings unless the property is obstructing park maintenance, a city-permitted activity in a public area, a building entrance, sitting structures and more. After impoundment, a notice will be posted in public of where the possessions are impounded and how to retrieve them. Violations pertaining to unattended or excess personal belongings on public property would come with hefty fines of $100 for a first violation, $200 for a repeat offense and $400 for a second repeat offense and all repeated offenses after. City officials have said staff likely wont hand out those fines, even if belongings are impounded. In the ordinance adopted Tuesday, language was included saying the owner of the impounded property will not be charged a fee if they claim their belongings within 30 days. Read more on MLive: Tornado, damaging wind threat moved north into more of Lower Michigan Ottawa County prosecutor rules deputy justified in June shooting death Ottawa Countys John Gibbs places deputy on administrative leave following resignation letter GRAND RAPIDS, MI City High Middle School sophomore Karina Rodriguez had mixed emotions when Grand Rapids Public Schools announced Monday that it was reversing its backpack ban ahead of the upcoming school year. On the one hand, the 15-year-old was glad she would be able to bring her backpack to hold all her books, laptop, and school supplies during the day. She said it was a hassle carrying them all in her arms during the spring, when GRPS banned backpacks for the remainder of the school year. But she still remains frustrated that school leaders issued such a sweeping backpack ban in the first place, without consulting students and parents beforehand. Rodriguez also remains concerned for her safety at school, after four incidents last year where students brought a gun to school. On May 10, Superintendent Leadriane Roby announced the backpack ban was going into effect immediately, after a loaded gun was found in a third graders backpack earlier that day. RELATED: Grand Rapids Schools backpack ban rescinded, but more weapons screening coming I feel like as a GRPS student, or just as a person, Im never gonna be sure of my safety, the teen told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press on Tuesday, July 25. I feel like (banning backpacks) wouldnt stop a student from bringing a weapon to school. Being in school, I should be more than 85% sure that Im not going to be in an incident where theres another student bringing a weapon. Grand Rapids students and parents reacting to the Monday night announcement the ban was lifted were largely in favor of the districts decision to allow backpacks the 2023-24 school year. RELATED: Backpacks banned at Grand Rapids schools after 4th gun incident this academic year But families still had questions about how the district would keep kids safe and prevent other children from bringing weapons to school, after last years uptick in gun-related incidents at three different schools. Nkechinyere Okwuwasi, an incoming sophomore at City High, didnt feel like a backpack ban was an effective way to control guns. Like her classmate, she also feels like school leaders should have talked to the community for better suggestions before instituting a ban. Just taking away backpacks doesnt solve the problem, she said. Theres many different ways people could sneak those types of things into school. I feel like they could have asked the community, What do you think we should do? instead of just taking away our backpacks randomly, the night before school. That was totally out of nowhere. On Monday, Grand Rapids school leaders laid out a multipronged school safety plan for the 2023-24 school year that included more random and unannounced searches, metal detection systems, violence prevention programming, mental health services, and building assessments. RELATED: Random metal detector checks to begin in Grand Rapids school buildings when classes resume GRPS mom Matteah Reppart, who has two middle schoolers in the district, said she thinks those are great long-term measures to put in place, but she remains uncertain that the new security plan will prevent weapons from entering schools in the short-term. She questioned how doing random searches, and not using metal detectors all the time, will provide complete protection to students. I feel a level of uncertainty that this is really sufficient to truly prevent this from from happening again, especially if we had four incidences in one school year, Reppart said. I am not sure that I feel assured that enough is being done. Reppart said she wants more information from district officials about how they developed the new safety plan. She wants GRPS to communicate more clearly and demonstrate what specific research and data led to that decision. Can they explain that this is moving the district in a direction that will prevent threats of violence or weapons being brought to school or actual violence from happening in our schools? she said. Annette Vandenburg, the mother of two GRPS high schoolers, said she was glad the district announced its new backpack policies a month before the start of the new school year. She said the Monday, July 24 announcement gave families plenty of time to prepare and have conversations with their youngsters before the school year begins. Im glad theyre addressing it earlier than later, Vandenburg told MLive Tuesday. Communication with schools have sometimes been last-second, so its hard to pivot. I do appreciate the improved communications from GRPS. Vandenburg said she felt like the initial backpack ban was a knee-jerk reaction that was rushed into implementation a sentiment that was echoed by other parents when the ban was announced this spring. She said parents didnt have enough time to prepare for the ban with their kids before it was put into effect. She also said her two high schoolers were frustrated with the backpack ban, because they didnt know how to carry all of their school supplies, including laptops, securely without a bag. They were just frustrated, Vandenburg said. They didnt want to go to school. The backpack ban was implemented May 10 after a fourth incident in the 2022-2023 school year involving students bringing guns to schools. The two most recent incidents involved two elementary school students bringing guns to schools in backpacks. In early May, a 7-year-old brought an unloaded handgun to Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School. A week later, a third-grade student brought a loaded handgun to Stocking Elementary School. Grand Rapids school board president Kimberley Williams said she is in full support of the districts decision to allow backpacks again. She believes the rest of the board also supports the decision. As a person that works in criminal justice, I understand that these things are not an easy fix, she said. We did what we thought was best to end the school year in a safe manner. But the fact of the matter is, we understand that this is going to take so many layers of support, to address the issue of firearms getting in the hands of our young people. The backpacks, and whether they (students) have them or not, is not going to be the panacea to this. Williams also supports the districts plan to conduct random and unannounced searches using metal detectors, which she believes will allow school staff to be vigilant for weapons while also giving students some autonomy. I do think it is important that we dont set our young people up to be in a mode of compliance and control, versus them actually using their agency and autonomy to choose to show up to our facilities ready to learn, she said. RELATED: Random metal detector checks to begin in Grand Rapids school buildings when classes resume Williams wants families to know that GRPS administrators have heard what parents had to say about the backpack ban. In the two months after the ban was announced, the school board heard feedback from dozens of parents and community members who shared both critique and praise for the ban in meetings, she said. Overall, what Williams heard loud and clear was that backpacks alone werent the answer to addressing gun safety. What I was hearing most clearly is that parents felt like not having a backpack, wasnt going to solve the problem, she said. And we understand that that is not going to solve the problem. This is a multifaceted issue that requires families and community, school and city to all work together to get to an outcome that is going to keep our children safe. RELATED: Backpack ban isnt solution to guns at schools, Grand Rapids parents and students say Recent polling conducted by GRPS showed that most families were in favor of rescinding the backpack ban, according to the district. A July survey completed by over 3,700 students, parents, staff and community members showed that 51% of respondents wanted the district allow backpacks again, while 40% of respondents were in favor of clear backpacks. Roughly 8% of respondents said they wanted to keep a backpack ban in place. Overwhelmingly, our parents wanted some type of container for their students to bring things to school in, Larry Johnson, GRPS chief of staff and executive director of public safety, told MLive Monday. Grand Rapids was one of two Michigan school districts to ban backpacks last school year, along with Flint Community Schools, which banned backpacks in April in response to a string of safety incidents throughout the year. Last week, Flint announced backpacks would remained banned for all students in seventh through 12th grade during the 2023-24 school year. Students in sixth grade or younger will only be allowed to carry clear backpacks, which will be provided for free from the school district. More on MLive: Grand Rapids brewery creating specialty beer for first-ever Christkindl Markt West Michigan mental health board member who used slur asked to resign Water temperatures are hitting mid-70s at some Great Lakes beaches GRAND RAPIDS, MI The man believed by police to be responsible for the kidnapping and death of 2-year-old Wynter Cole-Smith was indicted on two federal counts on Tuesday, July 25. Rashad Maleek Trice, 26, was indicted by a grand jury on one count of kidnapping resulting in death and one count of kidnapping a minor, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. If convicted, the former charge would result in a mandatory life sentence. The latter charge carries a minimum of 20 years in prison with a maximum of life. This indictment marks another step forward as we seek a measure of justice following the heartbreaking loss of Wynter Cole-Smith, Totten said. My thoughts are deeply with Wynters family, and my office is fully prepared to make our case against Mr. Trice at a fair trial. Wynter was reported to authorities to have been taken about 11:15 p.m. Sunday, July 2 from a Lansing residence. Her mother was allegedly assaulted by Trice an ex-boyfriend of hers who police said then stole the womans car and took the child. Trice was arrested seven hours later in St. Clair Shores when the stolen vehicle was spotted and a short pursuit took place. The pursuit ended when Trice crashed into a police cruiser. Wynter was not in the vehicle when Trice was arrested and a massive statewide search for the girl ensued. Late July 5, a federal search team found Wynters body in an alley in Detroit. She appeared to have been strangled with a pink cell phone cord. Two days later, U.S. prosecutors announced the charges against Trice. There is no greater responsibility for the FBI than to investigate those who commit senseless acts of violence against young children, said Devin J. Kowalski, acting special agent in charge of the FBIs Detroit field office. While todays indictment cannot erase the pain her family is experiencing, it is the next step in the process of securing justice for Wynter. After hearing testimony on Tuesday, July 11, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ray Kent ordered Trice jailed without bond pending further court action. That further action came two weeks to the day when a grand jury indicted Trice. Trice is expected to be arraigned and have an initial pretrial conference in front of Kent on Monday, Aug. 7. In addition to the federal charges, State Attorney General Dana Nessel announce on Friday, July 21, that Trice would be charged with 20 other misdemeanors and felonies for crimes committed in Ingham, Macomb and Wayne counties. Those charges are as follows: One count first-degree premeditated murder One count felony murder One count assault with intent to murder Two counts first-degree criminal sexual conduct Two counts kidnapping One count home invasion, first degree One count disarming a peace officer One count second-degree fleeing and eluding One count receiving and concealing stolen property One count receiving and concealing stolen property, motor vehicle One count unlawfully driving away an automobile One count assault with a dangerous weapon One count resisting and obstructing causing injury Three counts resisting and obstructing One count second-degree domestic violence, second offense One count stalking, a one-year misdemeanor Nessel earlier stated her office would be assuming responsibility for prosecuting Trice for all state charges. Also on MLive: Some Flint council members want colleague suspended 30 days for hailstorm of profanity Ottawa Countys John Gibbs places deputy on administrative leave following resignation letter Lions Josh Reynolds on Jahmyr Gibbs: Aint too many backs can move like him OTTAWA COUNTY, MI An Ottawa County sheriffs deputy has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the June shooting death of a 28-year-old man. Ottawa County Prosecutor Lee Fisher ruled Friday, July 21, that a sheriffs deputy was justified when he shot and killed Mackenzie DeBarr on June 10 in the Jenison area. The deputys actions were both appropriate and necessary, Fisher said, stating that DeBarr had caused an immediate threat of death or serious physical injury to the officers. Related: Questions remain after Ottawa County sheriffs deputy fatally shoots man The incident happened around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, June 10, near a wooded area at the end of River Avenue, off Baldwin Street, in Georgetown Township, the Grand Rapids Press/MLive previously reported. Sheriffs deputies were on scene in response to a report of an armed man who was threatening to kill others as well as himself. Ottawa County sheriffs deputies did not yet have in-car dash cameras or body-worn cameras when the incident occurred, but Michigan State Police investigators did recover bodycam footage from a Grandville police officer who responded to the scene. The Grand Rapids Press/MLive obtained that bodycam footage, which shows two Grandville officers arriving at the scene and walking toward the incident as it unfolded. Shortly after the man was shot, both officers can be heard reporting to dispatch, Shots fired. The footage its about 2 minutes long does not show the actual killing. Also on MLive: Mothers ex-boyfriend indicted in kidnapping, death of 2-year-old girl Ottawa Countys John Gibbs places deputy on administrative leave following resignation letter JACKSON, MI A Jackson man has taken his passion for fashion and turned it into a business inside Westwood Mall. Timothy Lewis, also known as Lew, moved his business Blessed In into the mall on July 21. After selling clothes online and from his vehicle for several years, Lewis said he decided it was time to transition into a brick-and-mortar store so he could have more face-to-face interactions with customers. My online presence wasnt as big as my in-person presence, Lewis said. Lewis fashion journey began in high school when he was known by his peers as a sneaker head and a fashion guy. When he graduated from Jackson High School in 2011, he was like the other kids in trying to decide what he wanted in a career. Lewis considered starting a clothing line in high school, but he said it never took off. However, in 2015, he gave it another shot and launched his brand Blessed In. This saying has special meaning to him, he said. I always felt like everything that ever came to me was a blessing, so I took that narrative and that saying and just kind of ran with it, Lewis said. His clothing, for men and women, ranges from hoodies, sweatpants, T-shirts, trucker hats and shorts, all designed by Lewis. Many items have the brand name on it, while some have designs like doves or angels that align with the word blessed, he said. Since moving into the new store space in July, people can find the same type of clothing he was selling before, as well as sneakers, such as Nike, Yeezy, Air Jordans or New Balance, he said. Lewis also strives to offer a range of prices in his items, so no one is discouraged to shop in the store, he said. With the new space, he is hoping to continue to expand the business. Lewis would like to offer more items, like matching dog accessories, as well as other brands. He is also hoping to offer room for other local clothing businesses to display their items. Blessed In is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The store is closed on Sunday for restocking. More information can be found on its Facebook page. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter. More from the Jackson Citizen Patriot: Pets of the week: Hogan is a big guy. Pyramus is strikingly handsome A popular Paul Bunyan statue in Michigan has gotten a facelift. Take a look! Officers checking report of shots fired in Jackson find car struck by gunfire Hungry for nostalgia? Here are 10 more restaurants we wish were still in Jackson 260 teams come to Jackson to participate in the Gus Macker basketball tournament PORTAGE, MI Ten candidates have officially entered the race for City Council in Portage and two others for the mayoral race. The filing deadline for the Nov. 7 election was 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 25. The mayoral race will pit Councilwoman Lisa Brayton against three-term incumbent Mayor Patricia Randall. Brayton announced recently that she will resign her seat mid-term to challenge Randall for mayor. Her resignation will take effect Nov. 8, win or lose. It is the first time Randall has been challenged for mayor since she defeated fellow councilmember Nasim Ansari in 2017, while running for her first two-year term as mayor. Related: Portage councilwoman resigning to challenge 3-term mayor While the two women face off for a two-year term, the City Council race is a bit more crowded, with 10 candidates vying for three four-year terms and one two-year term. The top three vote-getters will be elected to a four-year term. As Brayton resigned her seat to run for mayor, the fourth-highest vote-getter will serve out the remainder of her term, per rules outlined in the city charter. The 10 candidates include: Chris Burns (incumbent) Charley Coss Lori Knapp (incumbent) Tony Lorentz Mark McKeon Nicole Miller Kathleen Olmsted Jim Pearson (incumbent, mayor pro tem) Steve Pieczko Jihan Ain Young The last crowded field came in 2017, when eight candidates challenged one another for three seats. In 2019 and 2021, only three candidates ran for three four-year terms. Burns and Pearson, along with former councilmember Richard Ford, went unchallenged in 2019. Ford later resigned his seat in June 2020, leading to Victor Ledbetter being appointed to fill the vacancy. Yet, when the 2021 election rolled around, instead of running for the final two years of his appointed term, Ledbetter ran for one of three four-year seats, along with Brayton and councilmember Terry Urban. Knapp, an incumbent at the time, opted instead to run for the two-year term, defeating Tara Gish in the only contested race in the city that November. Want more Kalamazoo news? Our 3@3 newsletter rounds up Kalamazoos top stories every weekday at 3 p.m. Enter your email to get our free newsletter: Also on MLive: 2 file to run for Kalamazoo mayor, 7 others vie for 3 commission seats Kalamazoo Township puts large millage renewal on November ballot Former Texas Longhorns kicker, now a pastor, opens church in Portage The Kalamazoo Gazette/MLive now offers free email news alerts. Click here to sign up for alerts or for the daily 3@3 Kalamazoo roundup of news. Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page here. PORTAGE, MI A plan to build hundreds of homes, townhomes and apartments near Austin Lake in Portage is headed back to the drawing board. Developers withdrew a rezoning application for a proposed development that would have brought 612 housing units to 126 acres of land. BAY COUNTY, MI Standish-based Vantage Plastics is investing nearly $31 million and creating 93 jobs in Bay Countys Bangor Township. Vantage Plastics is a custom thermoformer with full in-house design, prototyping, and tool build capabilities serving customers in the automotive and consumer goods industries, according to a Michigan Economic Development Corp. news release announcing the investment. The company, which currently employs 318 in Michigan, is experiencing significant growth, especially in the automotive supply chain, and plans to expand into an existing vacant facility in Bangor Township, where it will add manufacturing and warehousing space. The project is expected to result in a total capital investment of $30.9 million and create 93 jobs with the support of a $1.2 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant, the release states. The project supports the states efforts to be the global leader in the future of mobility and vehicle electrification. The company chose Michigan for the project over a competing site in Nevada due to existing relationships and customers it has in Michigan. Related: Michigan awards millions to glass, electric truck and auto parts companies Since its inception, Vantage Plastics has experienced steady growth, company president Paul Aultman said in a statement. As a family-based company, its an honor to be able to expand our business in our home state. Its rewarding to see the business we began in a 45,000 square foot building, 27 years ago expanding into a second facility partnering with cutting edge industries to supply them with products. We feel blessed and we appreciate the support we have received from all of the partners who have helped make this project a reality. The project will put to use a long-vacant building in the community and will further solidify the companys presence and future investment in the state. The expansion of Vantage Plastics in beautiful Bangor Township is monumental for our community, Bangor Township Supervisor Glenn Rowley said in a statement. The company is rehabilitating a 325,000 square foot obsolete property that has sat vacant for some time now. Were looking forward to seeing the impact Vantage Plastics will have on this industrial area and the potential it will create for future development of the area. Bangor Township officials anticipate approval of a property tax abatement in support of the project, according to the release. Vantage Plastics is a leader in their industry and because of that fact they have had more than one opportunity to expand their business elsewhere, Trevor Keyes, president and CEO of Bay Future Inc., said in a statement. This project was no exception. Their decision to grow their business here in the region, and specifically in Bay County, is a testament to the resources we have here and their commitment to their employees and this community. We are grateful to Vantage Plastics for their investment and for their commitment to our community and to the state of Michigan. For information on careers with Vantage Plastics, visit www.vantageplastics.com/careers/. Read more from MLive: Lululemon opening, Fig & Honey closing and more mid-Michigan business news West side Saginaw shop known for natural foods, snail mail newsletter closes after 41 years Theres hope but no solid plan to reopen this downtown Saginaw restaurant and bar Saginaws new shelter for men experiencing homelessness offers more than a bed and meal Michigan is joining the growing list of 21 states, plus the District of Columbia, to ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ minors under legislation signed Wednesday, July 26, by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Today, we are banning the horrific practice of conversion therapy in Michigan and ensuring this is a state where you can be who you are, Whitmer said in a statement. As a mom of a member of the community and a proud, lifelong ally, I am grateful that we are taking action to make Michigan a more welcoming, inclusive place. House Bill 4617, defines conversion therapy as any practice or treatment by a mental health professional that seeks to change an individuals sexual orientation or gender identity, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behavior or gender expression or to reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward an individual of the same gender. Its companion bill, House Bill 4616, not only prevents a therapist from using conversion therapy on a person younger than 18, but it also creates penalties for those found guilty of participating in the practice. The Democrat-backed bills passed out of the legislature last month. Sen. Mark Huizenga, R-Walker, was the lone Republican who voted in favor of the legislation. Michigan already bans the use of state or federal funding to support conversion therapy efforts on minors. Supporters of ending conversion therapy have long spoken about the negative, long-lasting effects the practice has on LGBTQ people. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry notes conversion therapy has resulted in increased risk of suicide, self-loathing, anxiety, substance abuse and depression among LGBTQ people. Statistics from The Trevor Project, a nonprofit dedicated to LGBTQ suicide prevention, estimate 10% of Michigans LGBT youth have reported being threatened with the possibility of conversion therapy as of 2022. Another 5% reported theyd already been subjected to it. Erin Knott, executive director for Equality Michigan, said the new laws are a vital step toward protecting some of the most vulnerable members of the LGBTQ+ community. Governor Whitmer has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the wellbeing and safety of Michigans LGBTQ+ youth and is sending the powerful message that every young person in our state deserves to grow up free from the damaging effects of this dangerous practice, Knott said. By affirming that LGBTQ+ youth should be embraced, supported, and loved for exactly who they are, Michigan is paving the way for a brighter and more inclusive future for everyone who lives, works, and visits here. Read more from MLive: Michigan awards millions to glass, electric truck and auto parts companies Beaver Island had a king, but an immigrant healer won its heart Man charged for allegedly pulling gun on state workers testing drinking water Michigans bottle deposit law: Will the 1970s bill ever change? Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation Wednesday, July 26, aimed at increasing the number of teachers in classrooms throughout Michigan. Whitmer said in statement the laws will build on her administrations efforts to recruit and retain the talented educators that provide Michigan students with a phenomenal education. Related: Whitmer signs $24.3 billion education budget with record per-pupil funding The laws, among other allowances, will permit Michigan to accept out-of-state teaching certifications and counseling licenses if they meet certain criteria. The Michigan Department of Education already recruits and certifies more than 1,000 educators a year from other states, said State Superintendent Michael Rice, but this will allow the teachers to integrate into classrooms more quickly. It will benefit districts across the state and particularly those in communities close to other states, he said. Additional legislation will bring major changes to teachers union bargaining. It will reverse a 2011 law that prohibited certain subjects from being included in contract negotiations. These prohibited subjects include decisions about a public school employers performance evaluation system and employer conclusions regarding teacher placement. Repealing the legislation was heavily criticized by Republican lawmakers. They say the new provisions would increase unions power over Michigans public schools. House Republican Leader Matt Hall said the legislation is dismantling accountability metrics that help parents and teachers keep kids on track. New laws would also require a school to provide employees with pay and benefits in the midst of a collective bargaining agreement and remove a prohibition on using school resources to assist labor organizations in collecting dues or service fees from employee wages. Other bills would allow a mix of factors, not only student performance, to be considered when determining teacher compensation and prohibits a school board from solely using seniority or teacher performance when making personnel decisions. Chandra Madafferi, president-elect for the Michigan Education Association, said Michigan educators are excited about the forthcoming changes. The restoration of educator bargaining rights will serve to build an even stronger profession for current and future educators which, in turn, will benefit our students and communities. As we frequently state; our educators working conditions are our students learning conditions, Madafferi said. Note: The story was updated to reflect Rep. Halls comments were directed towards the removal of prohibition on collective bargaining subjects. Read more from MLive: Michigan awards millions to glass, electric truck and auto parts companies Beaver Island had a king, but an immigrant healer won its heart Man charged for allegedly pulling gun on state workers testing drinking water Michigan to boost high-speed passenger rail with $20M program YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov made a comment on the results of trilateral talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan. ARMENPRESS report, citing the official website of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the comment reads as follows, Today we held productive talks with our colleagues: the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan J.A.Bayramov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia A.S.Mirzoyan. First, two rounds of bilateral Russian-Azerbaijani and Russian-Armenian negotiations were organized. We discussed the state of our bilateral relations and outlined further steps to implement the agreements reached at the highest levels. Then the three of us met to discuss the regional agenda, primarily with regard to the situation in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. We presented to our interlocutors the assessments of the Russian side, taking into account the reports made by the Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh, the steps that it is highly desirable to take promptly, without delay in the interests of providing the population of Karabakh with food, medicine, basic necessities, and ensuring uninterrupted electricity and gas supply. This is in the interests of ordinary people, Armenians, residents of the region. Russia, as a key mediator in the peace process since the signing of the trilateral declaration of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on November 9, 2020, is interested in resolving the crisis as soon as possible in full accordance with the tripartite statements that the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia adopted in 2020, 2021 and 2022. We spoke about another important provision of these agreements. I mean ensuring unhindered movement, unblocking transport and economic communications throughout the region. Particular attention was paid to the issues of delimitation, which are closely related to the entire set of issues under discussion, and the issues of the early conclusion of a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan. We hope that the signing of that treaty will be the culmination of the large-scale negotiation process, which will bring to end the efforts of Armenians and Azerbaijanis initiated during their tripartite meetings with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The path is not easy. There are many complex and important issues to be resolved. The most sensitive of them was and remains the issue of guaranteeing the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in the context of ensuring the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in full accordance with the 1991 Declaration signed by the leaders of the former Soviet republics in Alma-Ata. Its effectiveness has been confirmed today by both the Azerbaijani and Armenian leadership. The work on the peace treaty is being built in accordance with this. The Armenian side understands the need to convince the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to meet as soon as possible with Azerbaijani representatives to agree on the rights arising from the relevant legislation and from international obligations (in this case, of Azerbaijan), including numerous conventions on ensuring the rights of national minorities. The Azerbaijani side is ready to provide the same guarantees on a reciprocal basis with respect to persons living on its territory. Armenians are ready to do the same with respect to the application of all conventions to citizens residing in the Republic of Armenia. The issues are not easy. I hope that today's discussions will help give a positive impetus to the negotiation process in these and other areas. The closest result at this stage is the achievement of an agreement in a trilateral working group headed by three deputy prime ministers who are engaged in agreeing on specific issues of unblocking transport communications in the region. In this context, prospects will also open up for the implementation of promising projects in the transport sector, which already have not only a regional, but also a wider character. We agreed to try to resume the dialogue along the second "track" between representatives of civil society and political experts. We also hope (we proposed this today) to start a trilateral dialogue through parliamentarians. We hope that the negotiation process will continue. We understand the interest of both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides to rely on mediators not only in the person of the Russian Federation, but also others. We welcome the desire of those who are sincerely interested in helping Baku and Yerevan find agreements, who, like us, are working in this direction. But there should be no attempts to artificially impose certain agreements not based on the interests of the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples, but for the sake of beautiful headlines in the media, for the sake of geopolitical and domestic political considerations. Our colleagues thanked us for this initiative. We will continue vigorous work on preparing further meetings, and there are plans to hold another summit of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia this year. BEAVER ISLAND, MI King Strang is everywhere and nowhere on Beaver Island. James Jesse Strang, a self-declared Mormon monarch, undoubtedly left his mark on the island. The village of St. James bears his name. Historical signage marks where he was shot in 1856. A broody portrait hangs in the building where he established the islands first newspaper, and the main road into the interior is still named Kings Highway. But Strang isnt celebrated on Beaver Island. His reign wasnt long and he isnt buried there. He died in Wisconsin a few weeks after being shot by disgruntled followers and the islands Mormon occupants were quickly expelled. Today, some islanders refer to Strang as Little Creepy, ostensibly due to his embrace of polygamy and teenage wives. Instead, the islanders venerate a different historical figure a saint, but not of the Latter Day kind. The man who is honored with an annual pilgrimage, whose tomb is lovingly tended with flowers, whose cabin is maintained as a museum and informal meeting place, was an Estonian actor named Feodor Protar, whom the islanders call their heaven-sent friend. He really helped make a difference in the community over 100 years ago, said Lori Taylor-Blitz, president of the Beaver Island Historical Society. He still is a legend. Protar was the island healer from about 1911 to his death in 1925. Inspired by the teachings of novelist Leo Tolstoy, he came to Beaver Island seeking solitude and a simple life in 1893. He was born in Estonia in 1837 as Friedrich Parrot and emigrated to America in 1874, changing his name following a successful acting career in Europe. He spent more than a decade as editor of a German newspaper in Rock Island, Ill., before moving to Beaver Island. By the time Protar arrived, the Mormon kingdom was a memory. The island had become home to Irish American settlers who arrived in droves after Strang was shot. Protar wasnt a doctor, but he ably filled the role on isolated Beaver Island, which lacked a licensed physician for more than a decade after its doctor died in 1911. Protar learned how to mix and dispense medications, and he helped islanders suffering from respiratory infections, digestive upsets, surface wounds and other common and chronic ailments. Protar had no medical training and is believed to have learned pharmacology and general remedies by treating his farm animals. He refused payment and did not allow people to call him doctor. He would not perform surgery or deal with childbirths, vaccinations, serious accidents or diseases. He saw more than 2,000 patients over a 10-year period, according to a biography written in 2006 by Antje Price, titled Protar: A Different Life. As island doctor, he dispensed the necessary medications, along with good advice, gentle comforting or stern admonishment. He died of an apparent stroke at age 88. Thus I await the final day with equanimity, which will bring me not obliteration but transformation, Protar wrote in a 1923 letter to his niece, two years before his death. For the person who lives a spiritual life, there is no death. Protar saw patients up until the day before he died. He became known as a saint, said Taylor-Blitz. To this day, some of the islanders with deep family connections actually still go out and take care of his tomb. Protars tomb is a half mile walk from his cabin on Sloptown Road, which the historical society maintains as a museum open to visitors on certain days. Protar asked that his body be slipped into Lake Michigan, but he was interred on land because state laws wouldnt permit that. Islanders took up a collection to build a fieldstone enclosure with a wooden gate and a bronze plaque displaying a picture of a bearded Protar; a commissioned work by Italian-American sculptor Vincenzo Miserendino. It reads: To our heaven-sent friend in need, who never failed us, in imperishable gratitude and admiration, his people of Beaver Island. Today, his modest cabin is surrounded by large apple trees, raspberry bushes and native plants buzzing with pollinators. A large cedar tree stands in front. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. For years, islanders gathered on Aug. 22 for a pilgrimage to his tomb, which is surrounded by impatiens flowers. The historical society resurrected the tradition in 2020. It would have been in Protars nature that the simple tomb and gate, and the loving care of his grave site for more than 60 years by his faithful neighbors meant more to him than the elaborate plaque and ceremony, Price wrote in her biography. Protar never crossed paths with Strang, whod been dead for years when the Estonian arrived. But their legacy overlaps in one location: the Mormon Print Shop, which Strang built in 1850 to publish the Northern Islander newspaper. After Strangs death, the shop became a lodging known as the Gibson House, where Protar vacationed before settling. Today, the Print Shop is now a museum with displays in separate rooms about Strang and Protar. The display includes some of Protars journals, a medicinal bag and vials. Taylor-Blitz said its sometimes frustrating to see Strang dominate most visitors historical interest in Beaver Island, which was inhabited by ancient Indigenous people several thousand years ago, and, later, the Odawa tribe in the years before Europeans arrived. The first white man to visit the island was the Catholic bishop Frederic Baraga in 1832. Nonetheless, she understands why the story persists. While we dont really like to be known for our weird history, Beaver Island is one of the only places in the United States where we have somebody who declared themselves king, she said. I dont think you can beat that anywhere else in the United States. Related stories: Yes, there are beavers on Beaver Island Tiny airline delivers it all to Beaver Island Slow boats to Beaver Island are a vital link to the mainland From the editor: Why MLive is visiting Beaver Island Beaver Island cider made from 170-year-old apple trees Private submersibles join Beaver Island research Whimsical toy museum is Beaver Island mainstay Beaver Island harbor from above Legislators want a study conducted to assess the security of the Soo Locks and determine how future malfunctions or failures could affect the national supply chain. Specifically, the proposed report would detail security structures currently in place and any deficiencies with respect to the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The assessment would also highlight the economic impacts of a potential failure, note any potential threats to the system, and offer recommendations to improve the systems resiliency. Lawmakers in the U.S. House passed the Soo Locks Security and Economic Reporting Act of 2023 on Wednesday, July 26. The bill now must be passed by the Senate before it can head to President Joe Bidens desk. The bill, sponsored by U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, calls for a review to be conducted by the departments of transportation and defense, as well as the Commandant of the Coast Guard. Its estimated cost would be less than $500,000, which James said would be relatively minimal compared to the massive impact of failing to do the study. The Soo Locks are a feat of human ingenuity and a point of pride for Michiganders, James said Tuesday afternoon on a call with reporters. The Army Corps of Engineers nicknamed it the linchpin of the Great Lakes and for good reason. The locks connect both Lake Superior and Lake Huron and they play a vital role in transporting goods and resources. Related: Explosives to be used in new superlock construction at Soo Locks, Army Corps says An average of about 7,000 cargo ships pass through the locks each year. A disruption could shutdown 75% of the nations steel production, as well as 80% of its iron production, according to the bills sponsors. That would have a significant impact on the production of appliances, automobiles and equipment for construction, farming and mining. In 2015, the Department of Homeland Security found that a six-month shutdown would be disastrous, James said. It would cause recessions, close factories, shutter mines and pause the U.S. auto and appliance production for most of the year. Around 11 million jobs would be lost nationwide ... thats massive. The Soo Locks is a crucial piece of engineering for Great Lakes shipping. The system was built to raise and lower vessels to accommodate the 23-foot elevation difference between Lake Huron and Lake Superior. This allows freighters, tugboats, Coast Guard boats and other vessels to move in and out of Lake Superior. Asked what recommendations hed like to see in a review of the locks, James noted assigning fighter aircraft and a hypersonic mission to Selfridge Air National Guard Base to protect the locks physically, as well as a competent answer to cyber attacks. U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, called the proposed review of the locks a national security issue. He urged the Senate to pass it quickly. Other co-sponsors included U.S. Reps. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, and Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township. Read more on MLive: Michigan Republican caucuses are outraising Democrats. It may not matter. Conversion therapy for LGBTQ minors now banned in Michigan Michigan will accept out-of-state teachers, allow schools to help collect union dues Abortion increases in 45 counties lead Michigan to 27-year high A severe thunderstorm watch is now in effect for most of west-central and southwest Lower Michigan until 4 p.m. The Storm Prediction Centers wording in the watch indicates they are concerned about isolated very strong wind gusts. Here is the area in the severe thunderstorm watch. Severe thunderstorm watch until 4 p.m. for blue shaded counties. The copy from the watch gives you the details on what to know: The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of northern Indiana and western Lower Michigan effective this Wednesday morning and afternoon from 10 A.M. until 4 P.M. The primary threats include... Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts to 75 mph possible, isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter and a tornado or two possible Multiple clusters of intense thunderstorms will track across Lake Michigan into the watch area today, posing a risk of damaging wind gusts and some hail. Stay updated with MLive here. Its very apparent we will have a really stormy afternoon and evening across much of Lower Michigan. Here is a timeline on how and where severe thunderstorms will develop. The storms will need the heat of the day to become very robust and produce severe weather. Id target the period between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. as the time of severe thunderstorms, with 3 p.m to 7 p.m. being the very stormiest period. Here is the radar forecast from 10 a.m. to midnight tonight. Notice the model indicates more intense thunderstorms in the second half of the afternoon into this evening. Radar forecast from 10 a.m. today to midnight tonight. The first area of thunderstorms will move across the northern half of Lower Michigan this morning and early afternoon. These storms probably will stay below severe weather criteria. Then we could have two more rounds of more severe storms after 3 p.m. These storms would form over the southern half of Lower Michigan. and move southeast into the Detroit area, Ann Arbor region and all of southeast Lower Michigan. Here are individual times of that same radar forecast. Please know that Ive found this model to be excellent but too slow on the forecast times by about one to two hours. So Ive already adjusted that for you when I give you times. Between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. severe thunderstorms should be developing over a widespread area of the southwestern half of Lower Michigan. This would mean Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek could have severe weather in the first half of the afternoon. Radar forecast at 3 p.m. By 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. the severe storms will likely be fairly widespread and at peak strength. The storms will be draped across all of the Saginaw/Bay City area through Flint to Lansing, Kalamazoo and Jackson. Radar forecast at 6 p.m. Between 6 p.m and 9 p.m. the highly populated areas around Ann Arbor and Detroit will get the line of severe thunderstorms racing through. Radar forecast at 9 p.m. At some point around 9 p.m. these types of storms usually start to weaken. The line of severe storms may almost be through Michigan before it weakens. The new severe weather outlook is just out as of 9:30 a.m. Ill post on that next here. It doesnt look like much change from the update I gave you last evening. The latest forecast update from the severe weather experts at NOAA has a slight shift northward for both the chance of a tornado and the chance of a damaging wind gust Wednesday. Just below Ive put the latest tornado chance forecast on top of the forecast from this morning. You can see the tornado forecast area has been inched northward to Saginaw, Alma and Caro. The tornado forecast now covers a new additional area in pink from St. Louis to Saginaw to the center of the Thumb. Anywhere from the north side of Grand Rapids to the Saginaw area and all points southward have a five percent chance of a tornado within 25 miles of any point. This isnt a really high chance and doesnt guarantee there will be a tornado somewhere. The chance is high enough to be on the lookout for tornadoes. Note that the two percent chance has also been shifted northward to around Cadillac and Oscoda. The forecast for tornadoes for Wednesday. Forecast issued 1:19 p.m. Tuesday, July 25. There is a fairly high chance of damaging winds over 58 mph on Wednesday. Right now it looks like the severe storms would be most likely in the afternoon and evening. From Saugatuck to Lowell to Montrose and Vassar and all areas southward there is a 30 percent chance of damaging wind gusts. The forecast for wind gusts over 58 mph for Wednesday. Forecast issued 1:19 p.m. Tuesday, July 25. It still looks like the second half of the afternoon and most of the evening will be stormy across the southern half of Lower Michigan. Watch for a better timing update and a radar forecast that should give us a good idea of the strength and scope of the storms. Look for that update here Wednesday morning. A front View of the newly established Signal Training School at Burma Camp. We cannot sit and fold our arms thinking that all is well. All is not well. And we need to prepare. We need to be vigilant. We need to, as we say in Ghana, 'shine our eyes the more. Because if you look around, all the countries around Ghana, in one way or the other have been hit. We are the only country left standing, the Deputy Defence Minister, Kofi Amankwa-Manu, told Joy News. The negative impact of terrorism in a country cannot be understated. Countries under terrorism attacks experience trade market uncertainties and causes direct destruction to the economy and health of citizens. Against this backdrop, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) launched its campaign about identifying early warning signs of violent extremism this year. The primarily focuses of the campaign was on peace-building mechanisms and measures to counter radicalisation of the youth in fourteen (14) project regions, including the five regions of the North, as well as, other border regions, hotspots communities and some coastal areas. It was also followed by the See Something, Say Something campaign; Ghana's operational strategy to collaborate on the efforts between security agencies and the citizens to safeguard the countrys borders. With all these awareness creation on terrorism, it was impossible for one to think about Ghana in the hands of terrorist groups. At least we have seen pictures of terrorist groups destruction. And the fear of losing one's family and property, killing innocent children, and defiling young children were too much to think about. German Government Intervention It was heartwarming to hear the German government among many commitments pledged to retool the security system of the country through the establishment of security training centres equipped with modern machinery and expertise that seeks to bring the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) security personnel up to speed with the changing security dynamics as far as terrorism is concerned. In an era and time where Ghana is surrounded by neighboring countries in the sub-region combating the threat of terrorist groups and organized crime groups, it was the perfect news to hear to bring one to peace. Terrorist groups such as Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Islamic State Libya, and Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) pose a threat to security forces and civilians in several countries, most recently in Burkina Faso and Mali. Also, the re-branding of domestic terrorist groups like the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), Boko Haram, and its splinter group, Ansaru as extremist groups on the global stage presents a myriad of security challenges militating against economic growth and emancipation of the sub-region. Taking into consideration the varied dynamics of operations by these terrorist groups, it has been recognized that in recent years, the groups have embarked on an agenda to consolidate their gains by forming inter-group collaboration. This has increased the threat in sub-regions. The German government has assured Ghanas government of its commitment to support and strengthen the Ghanaian security system. This is done through the establishment and retooling of security agencies, workshops, and capacity development to ensure peace prevails in the country. Already, the German government through the German Armed Forces Technical Advisory Group (GAFTAG) over the years has helped beef up the security situation in the country with its many initiatives which have witnessed significant landmark projects in the country. Notable among them include the establishment of the Kofi Annan International Peace Training Centre, (KAIPTC), a centre that provides training and research in peacekeeping and peace operations. Also, is the upgrading of the Engineer Training School facilities and provision of essential logistics support to the 48 Engineer Regiment. This has enhanced the deployment of the first engineer unit with the United Nations Multi-Dimensional Peace Keeping Mission in Mali. Additionally, the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME) Training School has benefited from similar infrastructure and equipment support. This has enhanced the expertise of personnel in the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Corps and facilitated the accreditation of the school as a diploma-awarding institution. It is worth noting that the Armed Forces Supplies and Transport Training School and the Defence Intelligence Department have also benefited from the partnership. This is through the establishment of their headquarters buildings, classrooms, and hostels. The latest beneficiary is the newly commissioned Signal Training School. Before the GAFTAG intervention, the Signal Training School operated in a wooden structure and was later demolished in 1999. This was to pave the way for the construction of an improved block that couldn't have taken shape without the support of German forces. It is made up of a two-floor building with a school staff area, five classrooms, three laboratories for drones, cyber, and drones, and two workshops for telecommunications and electronics. One Electronic Warfare classroom, one library, one auditorium for 100 persons, 13 offices for school staff, two reserve rooms, one store room, and one roof training area with an attached 30m high radio transmission tower. The German government is also noted for supporting the successful implementation of the Accra Initiative, involving the consistent collaboration and cooperation of security and intelligence heads from Ghana and her neighbouring countries, namely Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Mali, and other partners aimed at enhancing the fight against terrorism in the region. This initiative has helped Ghana reinforce its northern borders against infiltration. The establishment of the Mobile Headquarters in Tamale will enhance the command and control hub of the Multinational Joint Task Force Headquarters and by extension the ECOWAS standby Forces to coordinate effectively and efficiently in dealing with the myriad of threats and other emerging ones confronting them. The establishment of the Signal Training School Complex in collaboration with the Department of Defence Communication and Information System (DCIS) and the Ghana Armed Forces Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) will develop strategies to ensure the optimum use of the facility to enhance training in cyber and electronic warfare which is very crucial in fighting terrorism and other forms of modern warfare. Uphold the Human Rights Rule In a statement made by the German Ambassador to Ghana, Daniel Krull at the commissioning of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Signal Training School Complex in Accra he called on the government of Ghana to uphold international rules for human rights as a way of strengthening its peacebuilding and security capacity. Although Ghana is a beacon of democracy and a country that respects its citizens, it still needs to be strengthened to ensure that their rights are not undermined he adviced. Repeating the African adage of Mr. Krull, too much beef, doesn't spoil soup, it is important for the German Government to continue its partnership with Ghana through diversifying investments and technical assistance. And to citizens of Ghana, If You See Something, Say Something, together let's join forces to help fight terrorism. BY Prince Fiifi Yorke Two critical issues must be top of mind for African leaders when they meet President Vladimir Putin at the second Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg this week. First, they should be concerned that they don't have a common position on the Russian-Ukraine war. The second issue of concern is the presence of Wagner group mercenaries in African conflicts. As I have previously written on African efforts to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine, African voices are important in using their neutrality in contributing toward a peaceful settlement to the conflict. Read more: African countries showed disunity in UN votes on Russia: South Africa's role was pivotal I am a scholar of international politics who has written on major power engagements in Africa and on Africa's role in the Russia-Ukraine war . In my view, this summit serves as an opportunity for African nations to bury their divisions on the Russia-Ukraine war. These were heightened during the votes in the United Nations General Assembly in 2022. The June 2023 African Peace Initiative by seven African leaders to Russia and Ukraine was a bold opening effort to find peace in a war that has created a humanitarian and economic crisis . The African mission comprised South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, Egypt's Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Congo's Denis Sassou Nguesso, Comoros Azali Assoumani, Senegal's Macky Sall, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni and Zambia's Hakainde Hichilema. But there have been some misgivings that the African peace initiative was not endorsed by the African Union, and excluded major African players . A formal statement at the summit in support of the peace initiative would remove doubts on its legitimacy. Read more: How Russia is growing its strategic influence in Africa Despite the widespread scepticism that greeted the African peace initiative, it made a strong case for peace to Russia and Ukraine. It has emboldened and opened doors for further diplomatic attempts by other global players. The St Petersburg Russia-Africa summit should be an opportunity for Africa to put pressure on Russia to start unlocking some of the key issues raised in the 10-point peace plan tabled by the African leaders. In recent phone calls with South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa and Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy showed more enthusiasm for the African peace plan. This is vital because during the June visit to Kyiv, the Ukrainian authorities were less enthusiastic about the African plan. Russian mercenaries in Africa Second, African participants at the St Petersburg summit must make their collective voice heard on Wagner Group mercenaries in African conflicts. The lead-up to the summit coincided with reports that Wagner's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, planned to relocate most of his mercenaries to Africa. This after falling out with Moscow in June when Wagner forces launched a failed mutiny against the Russian government. Wagner mercenaries have a substantive presence in the Central African Republic, Chad, Libya, Mali and Sudan. They have been accused of gross human rights violations and natural resource exploitation. In March 2022 they, alongside local forces, took part in the massacre of about 500 people as well as rape and torture . More abuses by the Wagner group forces have been reported in the ongoing civil war in Sudan . Read more: Wagner group mercenaries in Africa: why there hasn't been any effective opposition to drive them out At the St Petersburg summit, African leaders should remind President Putin that the Wagner Group is not Russia's best export to Africa. Moreover, it is not a friend of Africa . This includes those regimes that invited it into their domestic conflicts. A consistent policy of building bridges in Africa would begin with President Putin's condemnation of the mayhem of the Wagner Group in Africa. A clear statement at the summit on threats from mercenaries would put pressure on African countries to seek peaceful approaches to their domestic conflicts. This would be a major achievement of the summit. It would dovetail with the long-standing African Convention on Mercenaries that African states signed in Libreville in 1977, and came into effect in April 1985 . Towards a new relationship? Russia needs the summit to help it win more friends in Africa. But it should also be aware of concerns that it is unable to compete with the west and China in Africa because it does not bring any tangible resources to the table . Although at the 2019 Sochi summit Putin claimed that he would seek to engage in competition for cooperation with Africa, none of this has materialised beyond military investements in conflict areas . Read more: Russia-Africa summit provides a global stage for Moscow to puff up its influence The St Petersburg summit is billed as an economic and humanitarian forum. The African leaders need to impress upon President Vladimir Putin that the most immediate humanitarian act he can take would be to allow exports of Ukrainian grain and fertilisers through the Black Sea . This is part of the 10-point African peace initiative. Perhaps to entice more African states to attend the summit, President Putin has offered to replace Ukraine's grain supplies to Africa with Russia's grain, food products and fertilisers. But this unilateral promise is unlikely to meet all of Africa's needs. It would also leave out other nations that depend on Ukrainian grain and fertilisers. For this reason, African states need to lean on Putin to renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative , which permitted the exports of grains and fertilisers to the world. In addition, African states should use the collective weight of the continent to nudge President Putin to commit to a speedy end to the war. Probably to lower the expectation of African participants at the summit, President Putin has spoken in modest terms about building national human resources capacity and inviting Africans to a global youth festival in Russia next year. Gilbert M. Khadiagala does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. By Gilbert M. Khadiagala, Jan Smuts Professor of International Relations and Director of the African Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS), University of the Witwatersrand 25.07.2023 LISTEN Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi, the deputy head of corporate affairs at the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has said that it is expected for tourism to project $2.5 billion by the end of 2023 and $4 billion by 2024 ending. In an interview with Nana Kwame Gyan on Onua FM, Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi pointed out the amount of revenue generated by tourism over the years and the fact that the country is expecting them to do more in the coming years. By God's grace, in 2019, the tourism industry contributed about $3.3 billion. In 2021, it was $2.1 billion and in 2022, $2.3 billion. In 2023, we are expected to project about $2.5 billion by the end of the year and then, when you come to the projection for 2024, we're looking at $4 billion being pumped into the economy, he stated. According to him, the target was achievable because the numbers that came in for only the recently renovated Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park were promising. If you look at the numbers that troup into the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, they help for the revenue to increase. From previous times, it's been close to 98,000 visitors to the park.before the renovation came to the picture, there were a lot of tourists going there. We are looking at getting about 1 million tourists every year for only Kwame Nkrumah Memorial park, he indicated. He also mentioned that the park could generate about $1 billion to add to what the other tourist sites would bring on board. For him, the memorial park needs to make some level of revenue so as to rationalize the money invested in its redevelopment. If only 1 million tourists visit the park, we will be able to bring in a lot of money. If we have about 1 million tourists, we can make about $1 billion from the park. We can make a lot of money from the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. We should be able to, he said. Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi continued, The whole thing is that, it would also be in sync with other tourist sites of attraction around. We were given $3 million to renovate the place. If you are able to make something significant, it helps to justify the reason why such money was given to you. These are some of the measures that have been put in place. The deputy head of corporate affairs of the Ghana Tourism Authority concluded by speaking on the need for maintenance culture and hinted on the building of Yaa Asantewaa Museum. Maintenance culture is very important so as to keep the place in check. The Yaa Asantewaa museum will come on, he concluded. 3news.com President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appointed the Minister of State at the Presidency and Member of Parliament for Tano North, Freda Prempeh, as the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources. She takes over from Cecilia Abena Dapaah who resigned last Saturday. A statement issued on Tuesday by the Communications Directorate of the Jubilee House said the President has also appointed Mavis Nkansah Boadu, the Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways and Member of Parliament for Afigya Sekyere East, as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. He has equally appointed Thomas Mbomba, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and Member of Parliament for Tatale/Sanguli, as the Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways. Their appointments take immediate effect. GNA YEREVAN, JULY 26, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosyan has held a meeting with the new Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Armenia Nariman Al Mulla. Ambassador Nariman Al Mulla commended the current level of Armenia-UAE relations and spoke about the need to deepen the ties. Issues related to existing cooperation in various areas were discussed. The areas of energy, renewable energy, waste processing and construction were particularly explored, the ministry said in a readout. Minister Sanosyan attached importance to the existing cooperation especially in energy. New directions of partnership were outlined. On July 13,2023, Reuter News Service carried a story which stated that the US will not pay reparations to developing countries hit by disasters related to global climate change. John Kerry, the US special envoy on climate change, told a congressional hearing that under no circumstances will the US pay climate reparations. This statement comes in close proximity to a climate of optimism in France as a number of world leaders gathered to fine-tune proposals ahead of COP28 which will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates. Damage and loss have always been a sore point for many of the so-called developed countries of the world. Notwithstanding the fact that Europe, the US, Japan, China, and to a lesser extent India have been the main contributors to rising levels of green house gasses in the earths atmosphere, many of these countries have been very reticent about acknowledging their moral responsibility to aid countries that are on the receiving end of catastrophic climate events triggered by global climate change. John Kerrys statement come against a backdrop of denialism currently trending in conservative American politics. The trend of denialism is attempting to reframe the issue of slavery in American history to make Americas treatment of African Americans more palatable to the taste of the more conservatively minded in America. After all, how could US slavery be so bad when everyone was doing it including the Africans who (wait for it) sold their fellow Africans to Europeans. In 2009 at COP15, developed countries decided to commit to a goal of jointly mobilizing $100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries. Needless to say, the rhetoric about mobilizing $100 billion a year to aid developing countries battling the deadly effects of climate change has proven to be nothing more that another way of adding more CO2 to the earths atmosphere. At the recently concluded Global Climate Finance Summit in Paris, where some forty world leaders gathered to give impetus to a new global finance agenda, the concept of $100 billion a year was formally interred and a new sum of $100 billion in total was accepted as a new pledge by developed countries. This new pledge regrettably falls far short of what is needed by the developing world. On the positive side, if the $100 billion becomes available, it would constitute the beginning of a journey in the right direction. Both the World Bank and the IMF seem open to the ideas contained in the Bridgetown Initiative These ideas if implemented would result in significant debt relief for developing countries hit by natural disasters. The IMF has also reported that it has achieved its goal of making $100 billion in special drawing rights to countries that are extremely vulnerable to climate catastrophes. In 2021, a number of rich countries agreed to re-channel some of their unused IMF special drawing rights to poor countries. Rich countries agreed in principle to lending their special drawing rights back to the IMF so that the IMF could in turn lend the funds at below market rates to low-income countries. It remains to be seen if this $100 billion will actually be made available especially in the light of the hardline stance taken by John Kerry. The Bridgetown Initiative and the goals pursued by the Global Finance Summit in France have introduce a much-needed corrective in global finance. This corrective will prove to be a life-line for the developing world as poor nations continues to deal with the fall-out from the global pandemic, limited cash liquidity, stifling national debt, and mother nature on steroids. The developed world is morally obligated to stand in the gap and give back some of the wealth extracted from the developing world by less than ethical methods. The moral obligation of the developed world also stems from the undeniable fact that the developed world, with its industrial revolution, has brought the human family to the gate of extinction. Bad faith negotiations at this juncture of human history may very well push the planet we call home over the edge and into the abyss of oblivion. Lenrod Nzulu Baraka is the Founder of Afro-Caribbean Spiritual Teaching Center and the author of The Future of Africa and the Caribbean: Challenges and Possibilities. Physician Assistants across the country have been on a nationwide strike since the 24th of July, 2023 over unfair treatment meted out to them by the Medical and Dental Council of Ghana. The effect of the strike has resulted in a total reduction in OPD attendance since patients are left frustrated when they visit hospitals and health centres. The Physician Assistants (PAs) are a group of professionals who have been trained to manage patients receiving treatment at hospitals and health centres across the country. At the hospitals, they occupy most of the consulting rooms attending to patients with same practice at the health centres. The profession has existed since the 1960's ensuring the survival of the delivery of accessible and affordable primary health care services predominantly in the rural areas of this country without which a lot of lives would have been lost owing to inadequate health infrastructure and personnel. The regulation of this group of professionals started a decade ago but has been unfriendly from the beginning and has progressed to the strangulation of these professionals. Apart from charging exorbitant fees for registration for licensure exams, license registration and licence renewal, the council has consistently humiliated these professionals and has vowed to eliminate this cadre of workers that serves as the backbone of primary health care in Ghana to the detriment of the ordinary Ghanaian. In pursuant of their agenda, the council secretly amended section 43 of the health service regulatory Act, Act 857 seeking to present it for approval by Parliament with the aim to take the right of Physician Assistants from attending to patients except under supervision of a medical officer. Contrary to the above, PAs work independently but collaboratively with other members of the health team and have an existing supervision model by the employer (GHS). Those working at the health centres receive supervision from the Municipal/District Directors whereas those in hospitals by Medical Directors/Supts. There hasn't been any cause to change this traditional model which has been effective for all these years except for the reason that the council is promoting modern day slavery. They have impeded the progress of these professionals from almost everything including career progression, signing of official documents, PA manning their own facilities etc. They have excluded PAs as Medical and Dental Practitioners and have stated that, they are not practitioners yet they are being regulated by them because they practice medicine and dentistry. What description do you give to a licensed personnel who practice medicine and dentistry? The professionals, based on the treatment they have been subjected to all these years, are fully convinced that the regulator, Medical and Dental Council (MDC) has and doesn't mean well for them and have cried foul that there should be the withdrawal of the proposed amended bill, cancellation of the devaluing SoP since there is an existing job description and code of conduct, and calls for exit from the Medical and Dental Council as a regulator for the PA profession. They appeal to the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ghana Health Service (GHS), and other governmental agencies to see to the amicable resolution of this impasse. It is important to state that, these actions of the regulator if not averted will have a ripple effect on the health of the ordinary Ghanaian since it is instructive that in the new amended bill that, they (Ghanaians) cannot be attended to by any Physician Assistant when they visit the health facilities except under supervision. The same group of professionals that have safeguarded their health all these years particularly in the rural areas. Lawyer Abraham Amaliba, the Director of Legal Affairs of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has expressed dissatisfaction over the Supreme Courts decision to uphold James Gyakye Quaysons name from the records of Parliament. A nine-member panel of the Supreme Court on Tuesday, July 25, unanimously dismissed a review application filed by James Gyakye Quayson, Member of Parliament for Assin North, seeking to overturn the decision of the apex court to expunge his name from the records of Parliament. The Apex Court ordered Parliament to expunge his name from the records of Parliament after delivering a judgment nullifying all processes leading to his election and swearing-in. Quaysons lawyers filed the review application and a substituted statement of the case on June 29 and July 5, respectively, on the grounds that the decision of the court was against a previous binding decision of the court and made up of fundamental and basic errors. When asked during an interview on Eyewitness News if they were not happy but had to accept the decision of the Supreme Court, Amaliba said, That is so. He explained that the legal team for James Gyakye Quayson wanted to exhaust all avenues to ensure that the Apex Courts ruling was overturned, hence their decision to file the review application. The Supreme Court indicated to us that our grounds were not sufficient enough for them to overturn their own ruling. We believed that the Supreme Court erred, which is why we went to court, and we needed to exhaust the entire process. Now that we have come to the end of the road, we will now be satisfied that we have explored all avenues, he explained. -citinewsroom 26.07.2023 LISTEN In a surprising turn of events, Vitus Yuordong, a forestry guard from the Bono Region who went missing in the Sunyani municipality, has been found at a refuse site in Nkawkaw-Asona, located in the Eastern Region. The guard was found on Monday in a distressed state, with his legs bound and handcuffed, by a vigilant Zoomlion truck driver and his assistant. The disappearance of Vitus Yuordong had caused great concern among his colleagues and the local community since his sudden vanishing several days ago. The search efforts were intensified, involving both law enforcement agencies and volunteers, as they combed through various areas in an attempt to locate the missing guard. Fortunately, the relentless efforts paid off when a Zoomlion truck driver and his mate stumbled upon the bewildered forestry guard at a refuse site in Nkawkaw-Asona. It remains unknown how Yuordong ended up in the Eastern Region, bound and handcuffed, as the investigation is still ongoing. Upon the discovery, the truck driver and his assistant immediately alerted the authorities, who swiftly arrived at the scene to provide medical assistance and secure the area. The forestry guard was promptly transported to a nearby hospital for a thorough medical examination and evaluation of his condition. While the motive behind Yuordongs abduction and subsequent confinement remains shrouded in mystery, law enforcement agencies are actively working to piece together the events leading up to his disappearance. Investigators are conducting interviews, collecting evidence from the scene, and nearby area to shed light on this puzzling incident. The Bono Regional Forestry Commission, along with local law enforcement agencies, has expressed relief and gratitude for the safe recovery of Vitus Yuordong. They have pledged their commitment to ensuring that those responsible for his abduction and mistreatment face justice swiftly. As the investigation progresses, the public is urged to come forward with any information that may aid the authorities in solving this case. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks faced by those working in the forestry sector and the importance of maintaining their safety and well-being. Yuordong said he was captured by suspected illegal chainsaw operators in the Asukesse forest reserve, assaulted severely and dumped unconscious at the refuse dump in Nkawkaw. The victim was released from the handcuffs upon the instructions of a Regional Police Commander and sent to Nkawkaw Holy Family Hospital for medical attention. The Mpraeso District Forest Manager, Nii Kwei Kussanchin, has visited the Nkawkaw Central Police Station for an update on the situation. The incident has prompted the Forestry Commission to launch an intensive search for missing staff in the Bono Region. The forestry guards ordeal has sparked concerns about the security protocols in place to protect workers in similar roles. Efforts are expected to be made to review and strengthen security measures within the forestry sector to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. As the investigation unfolds, the hope is that the truth behind Vitus Yuordongs abduction and mistreatment will be uncovered, bringing those responsible to justice and providing closure to the guard and his loved ones. Mr Yuordong together with some colleagues were dispatched on Sunday, July 2, 2023, on an operation at the Daadom portion of the Asukese Forest reserve within the Sunyani Municipality to arrest illegal chainsaw operators. -DGN online Some of the major challenges faced by electromagnetic spectrum users and managers in many parts of the world are the growing demands for frequency allocation, cases of interference, and quality of transmission signals.Electronic communication in Ghana has evolved over the years with the industry showing commitment towards improving service delivery with the latest technologies. For example, the analogue radio experience in Ghana grew from the mounting of tall directional antennas on Radio Receivers to the use of portable and mobile receivers which use only some simple whip antennas for reception. However, factors such as the blocking of signals by tall structures or hills that lie on the signal ways and the fluctuation of signal strengths of radios in moving vehicles continue to affect the quality of radio broadcasts in the country. Also, the desire of Broadcasters to reach out to larger audiences and the zeal to own more broadcasting channels have resulted in mutual interferences among transmissions with a resultant poor quality of the audio being broadcast. National Communications Authority introduced the use of Cavity Filters by broadcasters to prevent interferences and implemented the reclassification of broadcast radii to create room for additional allocations. That is yet to fully solve the challenges in the radio broadcast industry. In recent times, the Analogue broadcast is faced with an increasingly stiff competition from non-broadcast media that uses virtual tools to reach out to a larger audience at affordable costs thus making it more attractive to businesses and consumers. Through a Facebook feed, or a YouTube broadcast a business can reach its target audience in every corner of the country and beyond, while the conventional analogue radio continues to oscillate within its transmission confines. Advertisement is the lifeline of every broadcast business. Advertisers pay to have their commercials or promotional messages aired, reaching a wide audience. These advertising revenues, in turn, support the operational costs of the broadcast business, including content production, staff salaries, equipment, and other expenses. The current challenges of the Analogue radio taking a toll on the Radio Business in Ghana with most of them struggling to keep afloat in the turbulent market. The introduction of Digital Radio by the Telecom Regulator in Ghana would let out a sigh of relief from many Broadcasters and would improve the radio listening experience for most consumers. The NCA today July 25, 2023, has begun piloting a Digital Radio Broadcast in two cities of Ghana; Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi. The technology is termed Digital Audio Broadcasting. This trial positions Ghana as the first country in West Africa and the fourth in Africa to deploy DAB. DAB has a significant advantage over the conventional Analogue Broadcast. Unlike conventional analogue broadcasting, the DAB system enables several sound programs to be multiplexed together and broadcast on the same radio-frequency channel. In this ongoing trial, 18 existing FM stations in Accra and Kumasi will share the same frequency channel to deliver DAB services. DAB gives high-quality audio broadcasts using digital signals without interference. DAB would have a wider reach and improve signal reception. As announced by the NCA, Ghana would roll out DAB+ which is a higher version of the DAB technology. This would be a huge step towards an interactive radio experience for both broadcasters and consumers. The experience is expected to be interactive where broadcasters are able to send services in texts and images while consumers can search DAB Stations by their names instead of the old ways of memorizing the figures of their frequencies. Consumers would be spoiled for choice as they would switch between channels conveniently to enjoy their favourite programs on the radio without boundary limitations, interferences, or signal loss. We welcome the news of the implementation of this technology and it is our expectation that the industry explores all opportunities it would bring to improve service delivery and resuscitate the struggling radio business. The Writer, King Nobert Akpablie, is a Communications Specialist. The Accra Circuit Court Ten has sentenced a fisherman to six years imprisonment in hard labour for stealing 5,000, $100, GHC4,000.00, mobile phones and personal effects belonging to a couple. Emmanuel Tetteh, who claimed he found the money and items at the seashore, confessed to using the money and the proceeds from the sale of the items to buy fishing gear. He denied entering the couples home unlawfully to steal. The Court ordered monies retrieved from Tetteh to be given to the complainants to offset their loss. Tetteh is to also refund the money he used in buying fishing gear. In passing sentence, the judge considered the fact Tetteh did not cooperate during his arrest and trial, showed no remorse for the crime, and attempted to stab District Police Officer during his arrest. Police Chief Inspector Benson Benneh told the court that the complainants, Mr, and Mrs Osei were residents of the United Kingdom whilst Tetteh, 23, alias Commetey, 666 and Escobar was a fisherman at Chorkor. In September 2021, the complainants came to Ghana to attend a funeral and lodged in a family house at Camara, a suburb of Mamprobi in Accra He said on October 16, 2021, at about 0400 hours they detected that their room had been burgled and an amount of 5,000, GHC4,000.00, a wristwatch valued at 250.00, a Samsung Galaxy S6 mobile phone valued at 200.00, and a Samsung note 8 mobile phone valued at GHC6400.00 were missing. Additionally, $100, 70 German Deutsche Marks and quantities of T-shirts were also stolen from the complainants. Chief Inspector Benneh said the Samsung Galaxy S6 mobile phone had an application for tracking the device. He said a team of police officers from Mamprobi led by the District Commander tracked the missing mobile phone to Tettehs place of abode at Chorkor. Tetteh, who was then in his room, was ordered to come out but he refused to open the door. The prosecution said after several efforts to persuade him to come out from the room, Tetteh, armed with a dagger, rushed out from his boarding, attempted to stab the District Commander, and escaped. When his room was searched, the team found a cash amount of 2,790.00, GHC4,000.00, three Samsung mobile phones, one LG mobile phone, a techno mobile phone, an Infinix mobile phone, an Itel mobile phone, a faulty wristwatch, five necklaces, nine perfumes, eight kitchen knives, three cutlasses, a hammer, and screwdrivers. The team also found four flash drives, five memory cards, a modem, a computer mouse, an auxiliary cable, a talisman, a plier, a Nasco flatscreen television set and fourteen backpacks. The prosecution said on November 3, 2021, the Mamprobi Police Command had a hint that Tetteh had used proceeds from his stealing expedition to procure fishing nets and an outboard motor. Subsequently, the items were retrieved from his uncle, and he was arrested. The prosecution said fishing nets and ropes valued at GHC60,000.00, as well as a Yamaha outboard motor valued at GHC19,000.00, were also retrieved from his room. Tetteh's uncle in his cautioned statement informed the Police that the retrieved items belonged to the convict. He said he led Tetteh to a shop in James Town in October 2021 to purchase the items even though he the accused did not have a source of income at the time. The prosecution said on April 19, 2022, Tetteh was arrested at the Accra Regional Police Headquarters where he petitioned the Command that he was being harassed by the complainants. After investigations, he was charged with the offences and put before the court. GNA Dr. John-Baptist Naah 26.07.2023 LISTEN It is regrettable to witness how low Ghana has sunk under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime after Ghanaians were virtually hoodwinked to vote him as a better Presidential candidate and the NPP Party into power in 2016. There were those social commentators and opinion leaders in society who were highly critical of the erstwhile Mahama-led governments efforts then to invest in the future with visionary developmental projects and running a responsive government. Interestingly and curiously, such loud voices have now gone dead silent under this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime. I have been wondering if the visible failures of this government are glorified in the face of the reality on the ground. I am tempted to hold such a view for obvious reasons. This governing NPP government under the leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia has not only taken Ghanaians for granted now but also engaged in glorifying itself in failures on various fronts. Here is why! Economic Front As a presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo complained of increasing national debt, economic hardships, and corruption, and promised how to deal with such developmental challenges when voted into power together with his vice President, Dr. Bawumia leading the Economic Management Team. Apart from the above-stated complaints, Nana Akufo-Addo then made categorical statements to the effect that Ghana was sitting on a lot of money and those NPP persons who might have thought of making money in his government would be disappointed. Other comments like moving from taxation to production and other mouth-watering promises, which are struggling to either survive or are simply abandoned now such as the struggling FSHS program, the dead NABCO program, etc. Nana Akufo-Addo in opposition talked about the mismanagement of the economy under Mahamas regime, which has led to many Ghanaians suffering. Mr. President Akufo-Addo, where is the money in the land when you came to meet in the office, and yet Ghanaians are even facing excruciating pains? On the economic front, President Akufo-Addo abysmally performed, which is diametrically opposed to his colorful political speeches and mouth-watering promises, which can best be described as white elephant promises. Corruption Front When it comes to the discourse of corruption fight in the country, President Akufo-Addo has indeed been fought and defeated by corruption itself. Although Nana Akufo-Addo promised a lot while in opposition to fighting corruption by using the Anas Principle, it is even during his regime that the Investigative Journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas is more silent with his work than before and lost a key fellow Journalist, Ahmed Suale through broad day murder. The former Special Prosecutor, Hon. Martin Amidu had to resign his post and nicknamed President Akufo-Addo the mother Serpent of Corruption after Amidu attempted to conduct some investigative assessment on the botched Agyapa deal. The other tag for President Akufo-Addo as a Clearing Agent of corruption is not enviable either. There are countless instances of corruption in this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime, which strongly confirms that corruption is rather flourishing or poorly fought under his leadership. Security Front As soon as this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime was in place, the Invisible Forces of the NPP Party visibly noticed signs of insecurity with the casing away of a judge in a Kumasi High court. A mention can be made of the brutal Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, which was a war scene in just a by-election. Among other insecurity situations, the killing of Ahmed Suale, who was working for the Tiger PI company, happened under this Akufo-Addo-led government. The general insecurity situation in the country under this government cannot be deemed any better than before. The World Press Freedom Index has rated Ghana very low, which is highly unfortunate. Environmental Front The phenomenon of the galamsey operations in the country has become worst under President Akufo-Addos regime after he put his presidency on the line. The Prof. Frimpong-Boateng Anti-galamsey report said it all and suggested presidential Galamseyers who were directly thwarting the efforts of the government to seriously fight this environmental and human cancer. The worsening galamsey menace can be equated to an environmental murder as aquatic, terrestrial species are destroyed with careless abundance, and human lives are also badly affected and will have long-term socio-ecological consequences. Once again, President Akufo-Addo has lost the galamsey fight big time. Conclusion: Where are the wise ones who are silenced now? Although President Akufo-Addo has been performing unsatisfactorily on various fronts mentioned above, there is deliberate silence on the part of those who were so critical of the previous Mahama-led government. Almost nothing seems to be working properly in Ghana nowadays under this government. The questions remain: Where are those wise ones now in our society? Why are you not speaking with the same intensity and vigor about the uninspiring governance of this Akufo-Addo-led regime? President Akufo-Addos regime has disappointed many Ghanaians. Therefore, such loud silence on the appalling performance of this government is a glorified failure, and Ghana deserves better leadership. While it is true that the 1992 Constitution of Ghana duly gives every sound adult Ghanaian the right to compete for the president of the country, it is absolutely wrong for anybody to create the false impression that someone who ascended to the presidency previously, albeit voted out in 2016 and rejected again in 2020 and desperately seeking a return to the high position cannot be scrutinised. The crucial question we should be asking the exponents of former President Mahama is: if the former president indeed lived up to the expectations, why did over one million voters vote him out in 2016 and was rejected massively again in 2020? Let us be honest, anybody who has passing familiarity with the outrageous events which took place during the erstwhile NDC administration will not insist that all was well. In fact, some of us jumped for joy when the current Attorney General and the Minister of Justice decided to arraign some suspects in the botched Saglemi housing project before a competent court of jurisdiction. If you may recall, in 2012, the Parliament of Ghana duly approved a loan of 200 million United States dollars, an equivalent of 1.2 billion Ghana cedis at the time to build 5000 affordable housing units. However, the erstwhile Mahama administration strangely readjusted the original contract on the blind side of the Parliament of Ghana and initially reduced the housing units to 1502 and further reduced to 1412. What is more bizarre though, is that the outgone Mahama administration ridiculously used the 200 million United States dollars to build only 668 housing units instead of 5,000. If we do a simple arithmetic, 668 into $200 million will give us around $299,400. Do you call that affordable? In fact, the Saglemi scandal is not an isolated incident. Somewhere in 2009, the Mills/Mahama administration promised that a certain STX Housing deal was going to provide about 200,000 affordable housing units to the countrys security agencies at an estimated cost of $10 billion. However, due to irrevocable negligence on the part of Mills/Mahama administration and the boardroom tussle between the project supervisors STX Korea and GKA Airports Company Limited (STX Ghana), the deal unfortunately hit a dead-end. The late President Mills had this to say during a press conference: we have some difficulties with the STX project and as a president I am eating a humble pie to say that we are looking for alternatives. It was later reported that Ghana had allegedly lost a staggering $300 million in spite of the fact that the deal did not materialise. Interestingly, however, sources had it that at all material times, it was the then vice president, John Dramani Mahamas office that handled issues concerning the STX Housing deal. Strangely though, President Mills of blessed memory seemed apocalyptic about the whole deal, judging from his state of the nation address in 2010, when he had this to say: the Vice President had travelled to Seoul, Korea, to nail the coffin' of STX. We can, recollect, albeit with extreme sadness, that although the STX Housing loan agreement which was supposed to provide affordable housing units to the security agencies did not materialise, yet the then vice president, John Dramani Mahama, is alleged to have given us a bill in excess of $300 million. How strange? In a related development, after the failed deal with STX to build 200,000 housing units for the nation's security agencies, the NDC government entered into another deal with the GUMA Group for the construction of 500 housing units. The deal which was alleged to have negotiated by the then vice president, John Dramani Mahama, was widely criticised by various stakeholders, just as the STX deal, following the decision to side-line local construction firms in favour of the foreign company. The unusually high cost of the project was also a source of concern to many. Some observers thus believe that it was due to the countless dubious agreements which made Ghanas debt ballooned from an arguable meagre GH9.5 billion in 2009 to an incredible GH122.4 billion by December 2016 with a little to show for. There is absolutely nothing wrong to borrow money and invest it prudently. However, there is everything wrong with reckless borrowing. Indeed, it is irresponsible for public officials to secure loans in the name of Ghana and would end up stashing, misappropriating and embezzling the funds to the detriment of the poor and disadvantaged Ghanaians. K. Badu, UK. [email protected] 26.07.2023 LISTEN Member of Parliament for Asante Akim Central, Kwame Anyimadu Antwi has appealed to the Ghana Education Service and the authorities of Adisadel College to show mercy to the recalcitrant students involved in the assault incident. The incident which occurred in an Adisadel College dormitory has sparked public outrage. The video showed one student inflicting severe bodily harm on another. The final year student smashed the face of the first year student against a metal bed leading to huge swelling on his chin and breeding while other students cheer on. The students have been suspended including the culprit by the school authorities. The Ghana Education Service has also reacted to the incident with a press release, acknowledging the seriousness of the matter stating, "We commend the school authorities for promptly suspending the alleged perpetrator pending further investigation." However, Kwame Anyimadu Antwi, who also chairs the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs committee, is pleading with the school authorities not to dismiss or prosecute the students involved. He expressed concern that any harsh punishment might jeopardize the student's future and advocated for a more lenient approach. While acknowledging the seriousness of the student's actions, the MP appealed for a punishment that would reform him and prevent a recurrence of such behavior. He urges the school to handle the situation in a manner that ensures the student learns from his mistake and does not repeat such violent behavior in the future. "I believe Adisadel College will make a good decision," he said. He described the incident as "unfortunate," and advised parents and education authorities across the country to closely monitor their children and train them to resolve issues without resorting to violence. While speaking on Peace FMs Kokrokoo morning show monitored by ModernGhana News, he said, "This is an opportunity where headmasters, housemasters, senior housemasters, house mistresses must wake up and watch our school children closely," 26.07.2023 LISTEN No one seems to think the girls misconducted themselves in any way. On the contrary, why they made themselves arrestable after conducting such a successful operation is what is annoying everybody. The strong leadership of President Akufo Addo which has taken us cup in hand to the IMF is being touted again for yet another remarkable political master stroke! At a time that many households are struggling to put one square meal on the table due to our retarded economy, in Goshen (auntie Sisi's household), it's been raining hundreds of thousands of dollars and Euros in a jamboree of alleged kickbacks and back kicks day and night. Goshen has been flowing with milk and honey, like the Biblical land God promised the Israelites. There is a whole lot of cash lying lackadaisically about so much so that even the maidservants, their boyfriends and families have all become overnight millionaires, buying and owing properties around town indiscriminately. I hear the investigators who stormed Goshen yesterday gave up trying to count the cash. It was so much they broke down with fatigue! The specific amount couldn't be determined even after many recounts! Sounds like recounting votes in Ketu South! And all these under the watchful eye of our president! But the battle is still the Lord's! And yet, there could be more kickback cash hidden under people's beds, vono mattresses, garages and roof tops than you would ever find in the mighty vaults of the bank of Ghana! It is unfortunate auntie Sisi has been made to resign in order to spare the government's blushes. She has paid the price for the sins of all the other looters. The discovery of mountains of cash in Goshen, for all you know, is only the tip of the iceberg. Next year being an election year, (the year earmarked to break the eight) political posturing has already started, and so has strategic hoarding of public cash. If you hoard enough cash under your bed, you can pay your way back to power. Even if you should lose the election in the worst case scenario, your hoarding can still keep body and soul together comfortably in the dreaded wilderness of opposition. Our national plight, indeed is truly pitiful. This country would have no need of the IMF if all such oppressed monies and monies jubilating in offshore accounts were captured, liberated, and returned to the sovereign chest for national redeployment. But why all the mumbo jumbo about these hoardings? This is how our governments, past and present, abuse our common wealth behind our back. How else would they prosecute their electioneering campaigns? From their salaries and personal allowances? "Adabraka!" If auntie Sisi had been a bit more benevolent and circumspect with her maidservants and allowed them to enjoy their clever loot quietly in freedom, she would have saved the president and her party this reckless embarrassment and public opprobrium. Afterall, one man no chop. Why would auntie Sisi court national persecution and the loss of her name, political career and family honor by reporting the mischievous girls to the police when all she had to do was shut up and let the girls be? Payment of kickbacks, (if indeed such is the profile of the monies) would never stop as long as governments come and go and ministers are appointed and disappointed. But a good name, once lost cannot be replaced. And in this matter, going to the police was complete misjudgment. Any sympathizer of the party could have refunded the cash to auntie Sisi to avoid smearing the government with mud. She probably was being too greedy. For good reasons, everyone has become cynical of politicians these days. No one seems to think the girls misconducted themselves. On the contrary, why they chose to remain in Ghana after conducting such a successful operation is what is annoying everybody. "Thief man thief thief man, thief man go for police!" Are Ghanaians becoming weary of political office holders? How do we handle democratic fatigue which has crept into our national life as a result these obscenely greedy, corrupt, eternally misbehaving politicians? YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS. Freedom House has called on Azerbaijan to allow the Red Cross to deliver humanitarian aid to Nagorno Karabakh and open the Lachin Corridor. We urge Azerbaijan to allow ICRC to provide vital humanitarian assistance to Nagorno Karabakh & immediately work to ensure freedom of movement by opening the Lachin corridor, guaranteeing unrestricted movement of individuals, vehicles & cargo. The deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region has deprived civilians of life-saving medication and essential goods. We urge democratic governments to exert pressure on Azerbaijan, calling for an end to the deliberate starvation of innocent civilians, Freedom House tweeted. Dr. Clement Apaak 26.07.2023 LISTEN The Member of Parliament (MP) of Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak has admonished Ghanaians to vote out the government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 General Election. This is contained in a post on social media arguing that public and state institutions have been compromised under the ruling NPP government. This opinion is in reference to a memorandum from the Information Analyst at the Ministry of Information instructing that District Information Officers produce a situation report on public reaction to the Cecilia Dapash matter. The Galamsey NPP party must be severely punished at the 2024 polls; the only option available to Ghanaians. Public/state institutions have been largely compromised and Parliament is incapacitated. I leave the import of the attached memo to your interpretation, Dr. Clement Apaak shared in a post on Facebook. In his criticism of government, Dr. Clement Apaak has shared the view that the government of President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has made Ghana a case study of how not to manage the economy. The Builsa South MP insists that the President and his vice have earned Ghana this shameful record through reckless borrowing, disregard for processes and procedures, gross mismanagement, and barefaced corruption. Deputy Attorney-General Alfred-Tuah Yeboah has said the Attorney-General is not interrogating the source of the money kept by former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resource Cecilia Abena Dapaah at her home because another statutory body, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is handling the matter. Mr Tuah-Yeboah said that the Attroney-General does not want to be in conflict with the OSP. Speaking on the Hot Edition on 3FM Tuesday, July 25, he said We do not know the extent of the investigations done by the police in connection with the source of those amounts. But we are aware that another statutory body, the OSP, is also investigating other matters in connection with the matter. So we will not go into a situation where we will want to be in conflict with the OSP. The OSP has the mandate in investigating the source of that particular money and the lifestyle audit. We are also looking at what the police have done so far to see whether what the Police did is something that we can use in prosecuting or not to prosecute. He further stated that the Attorney-General is reviewing the dockets submitted by the Police on those who allegedly stole Madam Dapaahs money. Mr Tuah-Yeboah said The Attorney-General is going to review the docket to see whether there is any basis for the prosecution or to see whether more charges will be needed apart from what we have now. Following a case of stealing reported to the Police by Mr. Daniel Osei-Kuffour and Hon. Cecilia Dapaah, the Police initiated investigations into the case, arrested some suspects, recovered some of the stolen items and arraigned the suspects before court. The Police have since forwarded the docket to the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice for review and advice. Madam Abena Dapaah tendered her resignation on Saturday, July 22, barely 24 hours after the public discourse of her stolen cash. Accepting her resignation, President Akufo-Addo described the work done by the former Bantama Member of Parliament as excellent and productive. It is with considerable regret that I accept your resignation, and I applaud your loyalty to the image and standing of the government, he wrote on Saturday. The work you undertook during your period in Government was excellent and productive, and I thank you for your wholehearted contribution and devotion to the progress of the Government and the nation. In her resignation, Madam Abena Dapaah assured of her availability and cooperation with all state agencies to look into her matter, which she concedes has become a hindrance to the government at this crucial time. 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 further stated in her resignation letter. President Akufo-Addo also expressed confidence that at the end of the day, your integrity, whilst in office, will be fully established. The matter of the stolen monies $1 million, 300,000 and millions of undisclosed Ghana Cedis is in court. It is scheduled to be recalled on Wednesday, August 2. 3news.com The Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina, Lawyer Francis-Xavier Sosu has expressed his delight at the passing of the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill 2022, which scraps the death penalty. Speaking to TV3, the proponent of the Bill noted that he is hopeful President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will assent to the Bill. Lawyer Francis-Xavier Sosu in a call to the President has appealed for all persons on death row to be moved to life imprisonment. we are looking forward to the president, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo assenting to the bill and then maybe take other steps. I am appealing to the president to commute all those who are currently on death row to life sentences, the Madina MP said. Lawyer Francis-Xavier Sosu argues that this will be a good start for the country in moving away from the death penalty. That way it shows some level of good faith with the commencement of Ghana actually and positively moving away from the death penalty regime to a regime of life sentence, a regime of pro-life, a regime of we have all agreed that we cannot condemn killing but at the same time have a state-sanctioned killing, the Madina MP shared. Following the passage of the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill 2022, Ghana has become just one of about 28 African countries that have abolished the death penalty. 26.07.2023 LISTEN Ernest Yaw Kumi, a Communication Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has denied any misconduct on the part of Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah. According to Mr. Kumi, Ghanaians must disregard the false rumors in the media. He said the recent reports of extra monies found in Cecelia Dapaah's s residence is a hoax. As we speak now, there is an official investigation and it is required of the office of the Special Prosecutor to put out a statement whether indeed more cash was found at the residence of the Honourable Cecilia Dapaah. Be it as it may whatever the media is putting out there is not something that so far I have seen any justification of it so we still await the Office of the Special Prosecutor to come out clear whether some more cash were seen at the residency. For me what is important is that there seems to be consensus around the fact that the Honorable Minister should be investigated with regards to whether the cash actually belongs to her. As of whether she offended any or violated any laws of the state and that is what the Office of the Special Prosecutor is doing currently. This morning I have heard from other newspapers that there was no such cash being alleged by other media houses that went with them, Ernest Yaw Kumi stated. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the embattled former Sanitation Minister had more money stashed at one of her residences, according to a report by Accra-based TV3. The stations reporter Eric Mawuena Egbeta cited sources within the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) who told TV3 that it took them five hours to count the cash. From the search at her residence yesterday (Monday, July 24), a lot more cash has been discovered and it took officials of the Special Prosecutor close to five hours alone in counting this amount of cash which was discovered in her home, the journalist said in a stand-up piece in front of the offices of the OSP in Accra. Meanwhile, some relatives of the former minister have also been questioned about the stolen monies from her Abelenkpe residence which led to her resignation and the current probe by the OSP. She was granted bail on July 24 hours after the OSP announced her arrest. 26.07.2023 LISTEN Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu calls for publication of assets declared by public officials just as pertained during the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era when officials publicized their asset declarations. He says this will go a long way in helping deal with corruption among public officials. Speaking on News 360 in relation to the decision by the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resource Cecilia Abena Dapaah to keep large amounts of dollars at home, Mr Kpebu said every serious anti-corruption crusader supports this point. Even during the PNDC era, they used to publish these assets, showing PNDC appointees who published their assets. For his part, Co-Chair of the Citizens Movement Against Corruption, Edem Senanu, called for the passage of the bill on the Conduct of Public Officers as part of measures to keep public officials in check. He said that all persons concerned about safeguarding the public purse must be interested in getting the bill passed. Mr Senanau also said on the News 360 that This highlights the importance of passing the Conduct of public officers code bill, all of us as media, and civil need to demand that this bill that has been sitting before the cabinet is passed urgently. Madam Abena Dapaah tendered her resignation on Saturday, July 22, barely 24 hours after the public discourse of her stolen cash. Accepting her resignation, President Akufo-Addo described the work done by the former Bantama Member of Parliament as excellent and productive. It is with considerable regret that I accept your resignation, and I applaud your loyalty to the image and standing of the government, he wrote on Saturday. The work you undertook during your period in Government was excellent and productive, and I thank you for your wholehearted contribution and devotion to the progress of the Government and the nation. In her resignation, Madam Abena Dapaah assured of her availability and cooperation with all state agencies to look into her matter, which she concedes has become a hindrance to the government at this crucial time. 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 further stated in her resignation letter. President Akufo-Addo also expressed confidence that at the end of the day, your integrity, whilst in office, will be fully established. The matter of the stolen monies $1 million, 300,000 and millions of undisclosed Ghana Cedis is in court. It is scheduled to be recalled on Wednesday, August 2. 3news.com The Police have forwarded the case docket on Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah's stolen cash to the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice for review and advice. Following a case of stealing reported to the Police by Mr Daniel Osei-Kuffour and Hon. Cecilia Dapaah, former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, the Police initiated investigations into the case, arrested some suspects, recovered some of the stolen items and arraigned the suspects before the court, A statement signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director, Public Affairs, said. Madam Dapaah tendered in her resignation to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Saturday, July 22, 2023, a day after she made headlines after two of her former domestic staff were arraigned for stealing cash and personal effects from the Minister's home at Abelenkpe, Accra, between July and October 2022. The two domestic staff and three others are facing charges before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly stealing $1 million, 300,000 and millions of Ghana cedis belonging to the Minister and her husband. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo accepted the resignation of Madam Dapaah and applauded her loyalty to the image and standing of his Government. He also thanked her for her contribution to the Government and the nations progress. The work you undertook during your period in Government was excellent and productive. I thank you for your wholehearted contribution and devotion to the progress of the Government and the nation. I am confident, like you, that at the end of the day, your integrity, whilst in office, will be fully established. I wish you the very best in all your endeavours, the President said. GNA After more than a million dollars, 300,000 pounds sterling, and local currency were stolen by housemaids working for the sanitation minister, Cecilia Dapaah, victims of debt restructuring in Ghana should question the charlatan Finance Minister about the necessity of subjecting them to this psychological torture. This article will explain why Ghanaians need to know that the NPP politicians have already embezzled enough money, therefore; have the right to reject Ken Ofori-Atta's debt restructuring scheme. After the collapse of the economy, to secure a financial deal with the International Monetary Fund, the finance minister announced that the nation must endeavor to obtain a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the creditors. He emphasized that the administration is in talks with its creditors to restructure its debt as the nation battles its worst economic crisis in a decade and to receive the $3 billion loan arrangement from the IMF, Ghana must cut its interest payments on its external debt by about $10.5 billion over the next three years. The debt restructuring procedures presented by the finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to secure new grants with the IMF, must be rejected by Ghanaians. Ghana is not bankrupt; the NPP politicians have stolen public funds and stashed them away in their homes and personal accounts. The domestic debt exchange program measures from the International Monetary Fund put forward by Ken Ofori-Atta, harmed individual bondholders, banks, and other interest groups while eroding the investments of thousands of Ghanaians. This is unnecessary because, even though many disagreed with me, I claimed in several publications that Akufo Addo appointed his relative Ken Ofori-Atta as finance minister solely to facilitate family corruption. However, I do not believe that intellectual Ghanaians will ignore the truth that Ghana's terrible position was caused by the corruptible family of Akufo Addo, Ken Ofori-Atta, and Gabby Otchere-Darko, even though he is not officially attached to this government. Cecilia Dapaah's financial theft incident will help Ghanaians realize the corruption I'm referring to when I say that when a country faces significant debt and the government is unable to account for the money, that means corruption or embezzlement has occurred. Since Akufo Addo view the majority of Ghanaians as stupid, it is easier to convince them that COVID and the Russia-Ukraine war collapsed the economy, while two contributing factors are not the real reasons but rather the result of pervasive corruption, including a large amount of stolen COVID funds. In addition to the stolen COVID funds, many NPP politicians have substantial sums of stolen government funds, either at home or in family-run private banks. No sane person should undervalue the ravenous desire for corruption among NPP leaders, notably Akufo Addo, Ken-Ofori-Atta, and other families, especially when it comes to a government that can steal money and deny that other reasons contributed to Ghana's demise. I must be very clear that I am not advocating a coup in Ghana; yet, if one does take place today to remove Akufo Addo's administration, Ghanaians will be stunned to see the money that will be seized from NPP politicians. The entire Akufo Addo administration is made up of outright crooks who claim to be doing a good job and caring about the condition of the people while acting like vampires and sucking the blood of the victims. Ghanaians will agree with me that life has been wasted when comparing the corruption that existed during Rawlings' era, to the corruption that exists under Akufo Addo's administration, since those that Rawlings executed did not inflict the same kind of severe damage that this hyena-Akufo Addo's family and politicians have. In my opinion, Ghanaians allowing the finance minister to continue the debt restructuring for any upcoming agreements with the International Monetary Fund will, will be the most imprudent or stupid thing to do because Ghana has money. If Cecilia Dapaah's home can hold this much cash, how much money has Ken Ofori-Atta or NPP politicians taken? Ken Ofori-Atta should file a lawsuit against me if he thinks that I have falsely accused him of stealing and called him a criminal. He uses the Bible to mislead Ghanaians because he is aware of their strong religious beliefs, but I must warn any sane Ghanaian that the finance minister is a professional criminal and dirty vulture who has devoured all the flesh of Ghana and is now giving the bones to the people to chew on because he views them as his dogs. Ministry of Interior has expressed concern over the increasing number of migrants from conflict areas seeking refuge in Ghana. According to the Ministry, the influx of migrants has raised security threats, particularly due to the porous nature of many land borders, making both the migrants and border residents susceptible to various risks such as human trafficking, drug smuggling, the proliferation of small arms, and terrorism. To address these security challenges and prevent violent extremism, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has partnered with the government of Denmark to launch the Atlantic Corridor project. This project is set to take place from 2023 to 2025 and aims to strengthen community resilience and engagement in order to address the root causes of radicalization leading to violent extremism in specific target communities. The focus countries for this project are Benin, Cote dIvoire, Ghana, and Togo. The Chief Director of the Ministry of Interior, Adelaide Anno-Kumi, who spoke on behalf of the sector minister during the project launch in Accra, emphasized that violent extremism not only poses security threats but also hampers economic growth. The prevailing economic and political stability in Ghana is attracting volumes of voluntary and forced migrants from other West African countries, especially Burkina Faso. The increasing numbers posed a security threat to us. Unfortunately, majority of our land borders are porous making them and border residents susceptible to threats such as trafficking of persons, drugs, small arms and light weapons and terrorism she said. As part of bringing the citizens on board in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, there have been a number of programmes and open fora organized in the past and on-going to sensitize Ghanaians about the importance of working with security agencies to prevent potential terrorist attacks she added. Ghana, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire and Togo are neighbouring countries and have common issues related to border management and security in the cross-border areas. Activities such as terrorism, smuggling of goods, drug trafficking, human trafficking, to mention a few are usually perpetuated across our borders. These activities continue to hinder our sustainable economic growth, development and threaten peace and security. Adelaide Anno-Kumi further highlighted some challenges. Proper management of our borders present many challenges including coordination and concerted action by administrative, diplomatic, security, intelligence, legal, regulatory and economic agencies to secure our frontiers and serve our best interests. It has been established by security experts that good management of borders is extremely important for national safety. The porous nature of the cross-borders creates many issues and these issues must be appropriately addressed. These problems are being addressed, among others, by laws and policies such as the Criminal and other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), Human Trafficking Regulation, 2015 (LI 2219), Immigration Service Act, 2016 (Act 908), National Migration Policy, 2016, Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 1996 (Act 526), the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (Management) Law, PNDCL 330. The UNDP Resident Representative,Dr Angela Lusigi in her welcome address revealed that,32.6% of youth are unemployed in Ghana's Northern Regions. While the prevailing perception of the threat to violent extremism is mainly external, leading to a focus on preventing a spillovers, local citizens seem to be more concerned about internal socio-economic and political factors. These internal dynamics are driving survival strategies and subtle cross-border interactions that expose desperate populations, especially the youth, to radicalism and radicalization to violent extremism. For instance 32.6% of youth aged between 15-24 are unemployed in Ghana's Northern Regions. They are also exposed to localized conflicts, transnational organised crime, cyber-crime, and farmer-herder conflicts. Dr. Lusigi indicated the need to adopt a different strategic approach in curbing violent extremism in the Sahel region. We need to move swiftly from analysis, strategy development and siloed interventions to accelerating a well-coordinated response, even as the landscape of violent extremism in West Africa grows increasingly complex. The UNDP Resident Representative gave an insight on the objectives of Atlantic Corridor project. There is a need for a more integrated and robust sub-regional response that goes beyond securitized approaches to address emerging drivers of conflict by building community resilience and strengthening early warning and preventive actions. This has underscored UNDP's response in supporting Ghana and its neighboring countries through our Atlantic Corridor Initiative that covers Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Togo. Our aim is to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies as captured in SDG 16 as the basis for shared and lasting prosperityshe concluded. Giving the keynote address,Danish Ambassador to Ghana,Tom Nrring,has pledged the commitment of his government to support the Atlantic Corridor project with 10million Danish krone (10,000,000 Kr) We realized that we need to look at the root causes as well and be able to act to that.We found out that the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) had developed this Atlantic Corridor project that looks into some of these issues and looking at it in not just one country but in all the four countries that are affected so,we wanted to be part of that and to make sure that we are sending a clear signals that there are solutions. "We are supporting the UNDP programme financially with 10,000,000Kr he revealed. Prof. Mike Oquaye, PEC Chairperson 26.07.2023 LISTEN The newly inaugurated New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) has announced that balloting of the 10 aspirants for the Special Electoral College will be held today July 26, 2023 following concerns raised by the aspirants at its maiden meeting on Monday July 24. A statement issued on Tuesday, by July 24, 2023 said balloting of the Presidential aspirants which was scheduled for Tuesday July, 24 2023 could not take place as planned in line with the party's calendar towards the Special Electoral College due to concerns raised by the representatives of the aspirants. These concerns include, a diverse range of topics including modalities, venues, run-off, procedures, breaking the tie, voter register. In light of these concerns, the representatives requested a brief adjournment to consult with the Presidential candidates. The Committee graciously granted their request and has now rescheduled a meeting and deliberations and the subsequent balloting on Wednesday July 26, 2023 at 11: 00 am, it stated. In line with the party's constitution, article 13(9); the party will hold a special Delegates Congress to shortlist Presidential aspirants to 5 in the event where there are more than 5 contestants for nomination as the party's Presidential candidate. Some of the delegates shortlisted to vote during the Special delegates Congress include members of the National Council, National and Regional Executive Committees. Others are past National Officers, three representatives from every Branch, Founding members during the registration of the party at the Electoral Commission (EC), all card bearing ministers when the party is in government, Members of Parliament, among others. The 10 Aspirants who have been approved by the National Council of the party for the Special Delegates Conference are Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Boakye Kyerematen Agyarko. The rest are Kennedy Ohene Agyapong; Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Dr Owusu Akoto Afiriye; Joe Ghartey and Francis Addai-Nimoh, Kojo Poku, and Kwabena Agyei Agyepong. According to an earlier statement by the Director of Elections of the party, the Special Delegates Conference will be held on August 26, 2023, to shortlist the 10 aspirants to five while the rest of the delegates go to polls to elect 1 of the five aspirants as the party's flagbearer on November 4, 2023. DGN online Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, Wednesday, says Ghana can work again and charged leaders and the citizenry to put the country first in all endeavours. We cannot and must not fail our people. Lets put Ghana first for rapid socio-economic development. Mr Bagbin said this at the 2023 National Development Conference by the Church of Pentecost (CoP) at Gomoa-Fetteh in the Central Region. The two-day event, which is in partnership with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), is to discuss the need for a national moral vision for national development. It brought together major development partners and stakeholders, including Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, former President John Dramani Mahama, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Ministers of State and the Chief Justice, Madam Getrude Araba Torkonoo. It is on the theme: Moral Vision and National Development. Mr Bagbin called for a renewed commitment to moral and ethical values, with a call on leaders, especially those in political office, to show openness, accountability and good governance. Lets uphold high standards of ethics and morality and demonstrate the three Cs -character, competence and care. He charged the Church to lead the crusade for the change of the mind and heart of the citizenry for a prosperous Ghana. Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, in a fraternal message, said Morality is humanity, and commended the CoP and the Ghana Journalists Association for organing the event. Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, said the purpose of the Church was the transformation of the National flag and stated the readiness of the Church to promote a righteous Ghana. Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, GJA President, said corruption, indiscipline, impunity and greed had seized the consciousness of the country. He, therefore, called for a rigorous national development agenda to reshape the moral vision of the country. GNA YEREVAN, JULY 26, ARMENPRESS. A lawmaker from Luxembourg has called on Azerbaijan to open the Lachin Corridor. This appalling situation is lasting for way too long. Open the Lachin corridor now! #Azerbaijan, Yves Cruchten, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Luxembourg tweeted. Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations highest court the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - ordered Azerbaijan to take all steps at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. Moreover, Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations and the Red Cross has been facilitating the medical evacuations of patients. 26.07.2023 LISTEN Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), the local branch of Transparency International, has commended the Church of Pentecost for their initiative to hold a National Development Conference to deliberate on the development of the country. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Madam Mary Awelana Addah, Acting Executive Director of the GII, said the two-day conference provides a good platform for a holistic discussion on the best way forward for the country's values, morality, policies, and strategies. Madam Addah said the GII would participate in the conference, where discussion would be devoid of politics and toxic to the way forward for the country. She said the issues and strategies put together from the conference would feed into the national development agenda, adding that the role of the church, civil society organizations, and key actors was critical in achieving holistic development and fighting corruption. The GII Acting Executive Director noted that there was a lack of transparency and the maximisation of anti-corruption policies, which need to be looked at from all angles of society to reshape the thinking of Ghanaians. The Church of Pentecost is hosting the conference under the theme Moral vision and national development. It is expected to bring together major development actors, partners, and stakeholders, including the President, Speaker of Parliament, Chief Justice, Former Presidents, and others. Some topics to be discussed are the moral vision and national development, leadership and human flourishing, making a case for social justice and nation-building in Ghana today, righteousness, wisdom, and development, as well as building public support towards mobilising resources domestically for development. Other topics are raising effective politicians for Africa, integrity in nation-building, moral vision, and national development: the role of the media, religion, morality, and development, as well as patriotism and national development. GNA Richard Ahiagbah, National Communications Director of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), has accused Accra-based TV3 of misreporting on the recent search conducted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) at two residences belonging to former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah. TV3 had reportedly claimed that the OSP search team uncovered a huge amount of money that took them hours to finish counting. However, Mr Ahiagbah disputed the reportage, tweeting on Wednesday, July 26: "TV3 grossly misinformed Ghanaians about the outcome of the OSP's search in Madam Cecilia Dapaah's residences. Media houses who were interested in the fact double-checked with the OSP and learned that no substantial amount was found in the search." "Our collective interest, in this case, is to establish the source of the monies. Therefore, reports must be necessarily factual, devoid of corporate pursuits and the like. There is too much at stake, he added. This comes after the Minister resigned from her office over an alleged theft by two of her domestic servants last year October. The domestic servants and their accomplices are before an Accra Circuit Court, for allegedly stealing monies and items running into millions of Ghana Cedis. The said monies were allegedly stolen from the couples house at Abelemkpe, a suburb of Accra, in the Greater Accra region. 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei allegedly stole the monies and personal effects of the couple, between the months of July and October 2022. The first accused, (A1) Patience, also has her current and former boyfriends, as well as her father, all being dragged before the same court. 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 set of mens suits valued at US$3,000 which are properties of the ministers husband. Benjamin (A3), 29 years old, a plumber, has been charged for dishonestly receiving GH180,000, Kweku Botwe (A4), 65 years, a trader, also dishonestly receiving GH50,000 and Malik Dauda (A5), 23 and unemployed, dishonesty receiving GH1 million. Former PNC General Secretary, Atik Mohammed has called for a comprehensive investigation into the financial dealings of former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah. The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), on Monday, July 24 2023 announced the arrest of Mrs. Cecilia Dapaah for suspected corruption and corruption-related offences. The OSP's statement said, At 11:55 GMT on 24 July 2023, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, who resigned from the position of Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources on 22 July 2023, was placed under arrest by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in respect of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of money and other valuable items reportedly stolen from her residence. Ms. Dapaah is being questioned by authorised Officers of the OSP. Atik Mohammed noted that the investigation should not be limited to the OSP alone. Speaking on Peace FMs Kokrokoo morning show, he said, The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) should also take a keen interest in the case. He added, The GRA must be interested. To have this quantum of money, we should be interested in how much tax you pay." The former PNC General Secretary questioned the reason for keeping large sums of money at her residence raising suspicions about the source of the funds. "Why keep that amount of money at home?" he asked. He dismissed the notion that the money could have come from legitimate business transactions or gifts. "You cannot expect to have this amount of money in your bedroom by doing an international transaction; otherwise, it could only be through money laundering," Atik emphasised. He called on all relevant agencies to conduct a thorough and unbiased investigation into the matter to ensure transparency and accountability. 26.07.2023 LISTEN Fleet-footed agility and sharp thinking rarely characterise the plodding bureaucrat. An argument can be made that different attributes are prized: cherished incompetence, spells of inattentiveness, and dedication to keeping things secret with severity. What matters is not what you did, but what you pretended to do. Even with maintaining secrecy, the plodding desk-job hack can face problems, all falling under the umbrella term of human error. Papers and files can stray. The occasional USB stick can find its way into unwanted hands. And then there is that damnable business about the cloud and who can access it. Despite repeated warnings over a decade by the Amsterdam-based Mali Dili, contracted to manage email accounts of the West African state, traffic from the US military continued to find its way to the .ml domain, the country identifier of Mali. (For all we know, this may still be happening.) This arose because of a typing error, with .mil being the suffix for US military email addresses. Other countries also seemed caught up in the domain confusion. Over a dozen emails intended for the Dutch military also found their way into the Mali Dili net, with .ml being confused with .nl. Eight emails from the Australian Department of Defence, intended for US military consumption, also met the same fate. These include problems about corrosion in Australias F-35 and an artillery manual carried by command post officers for each battery. The man most bemused by this is not, it would seem, in the Pentagon, but a certain Dutch entrepreneur who was given the task of managing the domain. Johannes Zuurbier has found himself inconvenienced by the whole matter for some years. In 2023, he decided to gather the misdirected messages. He currently holds 117,000 of them, though he has received anywhere up to 1,000 messages a day. He has been good enough to badger individuals in the US national cyber security service, the White House, and the local defence attache in Mali. The Financial Times reports that the contents of such messages vary. Much of it is spam; a degree of it comprises X-Rays, medical data, identity documents, crew lists for ships, staffing names at bases, mapping on installations, base photos, naval inspection reports, contracts, criminal complaints against various personnel, internal investigations on bullying claims, official travel itineraries, bookings, tax and financial records. While not earth shaking, one of the misdirected emails featured the travel itinerary of General James McConville, the US Armys Chief of Staff, whose visit to Indonesia was noted, alongside a full list of room numbers, and details of the collection of McConvilles room key at the Grand Hyatt Jakarta. Not the sort of thing you necessarily wish your adversaries to know. Another email from the Zuurbier trove came from an FBI agent and was intended for a US Navy official, requesting personal information to process a visitor from the Navy to an FBI facility. Lt. Commander Tim Gorman, a spokesperson from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, has put a brave face on it. The Department of Defense (DoD) is aware of this issue and takes all unauthorized disclosures of Controlled National Security Information or Controlled Unclassified Information Seriously, he outlined in a statement to The Verge. He further claimed, without giving much away, that emails sent from a .mil domain to Mali are blocked, with a notification being sent to the sender that they must validate the email addresses of the intended recipients. To keep things interesting, however, Gorman confesses that there was nothing stopping other government agencies or entities working with the US government from making the mistake and passing on material in error. His focus, rather, was on the Pentagon personnel, who continued to receive direction and training. The Defense Department has implemented policy, training, and technical controls to ensure that emails from the .mil domain are not delivered to incorrect domains. The whole affair is becoming a thick parody of administrative dunderheadedness. It follows a pattern of inadvertent exposure of data, the sort that would, if published, probably lead to harassment and prosecution by the Department of Justice. But the incompetent are almost never found wanting; only the well-intentioned deserve punishment. Instead, IT misconfigurations are blamed for what happened, for instance, in February, when three terabytes of US Special Operation Command unclassified emails were made available for public consumption for some two weeks. Even as the typo-leaks continue, the United States has imposed sanctions against, of all individuals, Malis own defence officials, including the defence minister, Colonel Sadio Camara. The two other individuals in question are Air Force Chief of Staff Colonel Alou Boi Diarra and Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Adama Bagayoko. In one of his tedious moral fits, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused the trio of facilitating and expanding Wagners presence in Mali since December 2021, claiming an increase of civilian fatalities by 278 percent since the Russian mercenary group established itself in the country. The Mali authorities, as of July 25, should have assumed control of the domain. This worries retired US admiral and former director of the National Security Agency and US Armys Cyber Command, Mike Rogers. Its one thing when you are dealing with a domain administrator who is trying, even unsuccessfully, to articulate the concern. Its another when its a foreign government that sees it as an advantage that they can use. Zuurbier, at the conclusion of his decade-long contract, may still have a few juicy numbers for safe keeping, though he will be mindful about what happens when such contents are published, namely, the Assange-WikiLeaks precedent. Malis officials, in the meantime, will simply anticipate the dotty domain business to continue. Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He currently lectures at RMIT University. Email: [email protected] Governments failure to settle outstanding arrears owed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) has led to an emergency meeting being convened by the producers. The debt owed to the IPPs has escalated from US$2 billion to approximately US$2.3 billion. Scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 27, 2023, the meeting aims to address the ongoing issue of non-payment. Earlier, the IPPs had decided against shutting down their power plants that supply the national grid, following what they believed were productive discussions with the Electricity Company of Ghana. Despite assurances and the continuation of power production in July after the June 30 deadline, it appears that the agreements made during the engagements have been breached, much to the disappointment of the IPPs. The upcoming emergency meeting will focus on finding a strategy to resolve the governments indebtedness and avoid potential power crises. However, the IPPs have remained tight-lipped about their specific predicaments, with a promise to provide further details after the meeting takes place on Thursday. As the situation develops and discussions unfold, more information is expected to be revealed, shedding light on the challenges faced by the IPPs and the potential implications for Ghanas power supply. Citi Newsroom Some people raise questions about the economic disparities between religious African countries and economically prosperous nations like China, Japan, and some Scandinavian countries. The proponents of this argument often point to higher percentages of atheists (people who do not believe in God) in economically successful countries than in African countries. These African countries have a strong religious or Christian presence but lower economic growth rates. For instance, they cite figures such as Japan (60% atheists), Hong Kong (54.7% atheists), China (51.8% atheists), South Korea (46.6% atheists), the Netherlands (44.3% atheists), France (32% atheists), and the United Kingdom (31.2% atheists). In contrast, Ghana has 3.8% atheists, and Nigeria has 1% atheists. Moreover, global GDP rankings rank China second and Japan third. African countries are generally the lowest on global GDP rankings. However, it is important to emphasize that the relationship between religious belief and economic prosperity is far from straightforward. Some theologians and scholars caution against oversimplifying this relationship, as numerous variables come into play. Relying on statistical correlations between atheism and economic success does not establish a direct causal connection. It is crucial to consider the complex interplay of historical, cultural, institutional, governance, and socioeconomic factors to gain a comprehensive understanding of economic disparities among nations. Religion and economic development have been debated for centuries. Some Christians in our part of the world believe that prayer and fasting can bring economic growth and prosperity to our nations. However, it is essential to consider that economic development is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon influenced by various factors beyond religious practices. Political stability and robust institutions supporting a conducive business environment influence economic growth. Therefore, predominantly non-religious countries like Japan and China, which have well-established political systems and stable governments that foster investment, trade, and entrepreneurship, have a better chance of developing economically than religious nations like Ghana and Nigeria, which lack these factors. Some countries with predominantly Christian populations, like Ghana and Nigeria, have faced challenges related to governance, corruption, the legal framework, political and bureaucratic institutions, and maladministration. This has hindered their economic progress. Further, investments in education and human capital are crucial drivers of economic growth and crucial factors in economic development. Countries like Japan and China prioritize education, leading to a highly skilled and productive workforce. In contrast, inadequate educational opportunities in some Christian-majority countries hinder economic advancement as they struggle to develop a skilled labor force necessary for technological innovation and economic diversification. More so, economies that actively invest in research, development, and technological innovation experience sustained growth. Japan and China have consistently invested in cutting-edge technologies, promoting innovation in various sectors and enhancing productivity. On the other hand, some religious-majority countries like Ghana and Nigeria lack the resources or inclination to spend on research and development, limiting technological progress. Natural resource availability and management can significantly impact economic growth. Japan and China have strategically utilized their resources and geographical advantages to foster economic development. Conversely, some Christian-majority countries may be rich in natural resources but struggle with ineffective resource management and exploitation, hindering their economic potential. The interplay between a culture of hard work and good governance also plays a pivotal role in spurring economic development in any society. A culture that values diligence, perseverance, and ambition instills a sense of responsibility and commitment in its members to excel and contribute to the economy. When individuals desire to achieve their goals through hard work, they are more likely to start businesses, innovate, and engage in productive activities, leading to increased productivity and economic growth. Additionally, a well-functioning and transparent government fosters an environment conducive to economic development by promoting stability, enforcing the rule of law, and implementing sound policies that attract investment, encourage entrepreneurship, and protect property rights. A competent government ensures efficient resource allocation, effective infrastructure development, and the provision of public services, further enhancing the conditions for sustained economic progress. Together, a culture of hard work and good governance form a powerful catalyst for economic development, fostering prosperity and a better quality of life for all members of society. To explain the relationship between economic growth and religion within a theological framework, theologians turn to common and special grace concepts. According to this perspective, God has granted every nation, regardless of its relationship with Him, common grace. This common grace encompasses valuable resources such as the human mind, intellect, and natural resources. Matthew 5:45 says, "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." And in Genesis 9:11-12, the scriptures say - "I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth." And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come." In this context, it is argued that if non-believers actively utilize these common grace or resources, while Christians focus solely on prayer and fasting, expecting divine intervention without practical effort, economic prosperity may remain elusive for the latter. The core idea is that God expects humans, as His image-bearers, to employ their intellect and creativity for productive endeavors. Thus, the call for Christians to utilize their God-given resources and abilities productively resonates with common grace. It highlights believers' responsibility to shape economic outcomes actively. Special grace, conversely, pertains to the unique spiritual blessings and redemption found in the Christian faith. While vital for personal salvation and spiritual growth, special grace does not guarantee economic success. Ephesians 2:8-9 talks about special grace - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faithand this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of Godnot by works, so that no one can boast." The combination of Matthew 5:45 and Genesis 9:11-12 highlights the concept of common grace within Christian teachings. Matthew 5:45 reinforces the idea that God's blessings, symbolized by the rising sun and falling rain, are extended to all individuals, regardless of their moral standing or faith. This emphasizes God's impartiality in bestowing His provisions upon humanity. The same common grace extended to religious nations is extended to the predominately atheist country like Japan. Genesis 9:11-12 further illustrates God's common grace through the establishment of a covenant with humanity and all living creatures. God's promise never to destroy all life by a flood signifies His ongoing care and preservation of the natural world and its inhabitants. This covenant represents God's benevolence and concern for the welfare of all living beings, irrespective of their beliefs or actions. On the other hand, Ephesians 2:8-9 introduces special grace in Christian theology. It emphasizes that salvation is a gift from God, not earned by human efforts or good works. This underscores the uniqueness and undeserved nature of God's grace, which is extended to those who believe in Him through faith. When considering the impact of these theological concepts on economic growth and religious practices, the recognition of common grace, as demonstrated in Matthew 5:45 and Genesis 9:11-12, may foster a sense of shared responsibility and stewardship within religious communities. Theology of common grace highlights individuals' responsibility, regardless of religious affiliation, to actively utilize their God-given abilities and resources. Christians, while seeking God's guidance, are encouraged to engage their intellect, creativity, and resources to contribute to societal progress. This emphasis on human agency encourages Christians to take an active role in economic development. The concept of special grace, focusing on spiritual redemption and forgiveness, provides Christians with an ethical foundation for economic endeavors. It calls for applying ethical principles and moral values in business practices, promoting fairness, justice, and compassion. This framework can contribute to creating more equitable and sustainable economic systems. Theology of common grace reminds Christians of their responsibility to be good stewards of resources entrusted to them. This includes utilizing natural resources sustainably, promoting environmental conservation, and prioritizing the well-being of all members of society. Such principles can foster long-term economic growth that benefits both present and future generations. While the theology of common grace and special grace may not completely explain economic disparities, it offers a holistic perspective by integrating faith and economic endeavors. It encourages Christians to consider both the spiritual and material aspects of life. It emphasizes the importance of character development, integrity, and community welfare alongside economic progress. 26.07.2023 LISTEN Free movement of persons will be critical to achieving the socio-economic and political integration and prosperity envisioned in the African Union`s Agenda 2063 The Africa We Want. The disappearance of national boundaries with globalization being the chief catalyst, has accelerated cross-border trade in goods and services, enabling individuals and companies to maintain national economies and eradicate poverty. Over the years, the formation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and proliferation of Regional Trade Agreements including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), the European Union (EU), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) have all contributed to the exponential growth in global trade and cross-border migration and mobility. The coming into force of the AfCFTA which does not only aspires to deepen the integration of the African continent beyond a free trade area, but also to facilitate the creation of a liberalized market through the establishment of a Continental Customs Union and contribute to the movement of capital, goods and services. The Protocol, establishing the African Economic Community (AEC) on Free Movement of Persons (FMP), Right of Residence, and Right of Establishment, complements the AfCFTA Agreement, and is intended to improve factors of market integration of the African continent. Information gathered from the AfCFTA office indicated that as at 2023, about 54 countries have so far agreed and signed to trade together which is believed to go a long way to enhance socio-economic activities on the continent, and as well contribute to curbing youth unemployment. The goal of the AfCFTA is to establish an integrated continental market. This is a bold move! In view of this, researchers and policy makers are exploring factors that can have positive or negative impact on the realization of AfCFTAs mandate. For instance, Ratshisusu, Ramokgopa and Maroge (2021) argued that, for the AfCFTA to achieve its main objectives there should be a framework to establish competitive policies in member states. Also, Report by the B&FT in 2022 edition revealed that, government, through the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the National AfCFTA Coordination Office (NCO), unveiled the National AfCFTA Policy Framework and Action Plan to boost Ghanas trading prospects with the 43 member-countries. The framework, which is geared towards the harmonisation of relevant policies, programmes, laws and regulations to boost the productive capacities of the private sector in Ghana, particularly the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Launching the policy framework in Accra, Honourable Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, and Minister for Information said: a successful implementation of the Action Plan will boost the capacities of the Ghanaian private sector to take advantage of market access opportunities in Africa to promote made in Ghana goods and services. The president added that, the National AfCFTA Policy Framework and Action Plan were derived from the work of the national structures put in place by the Trade Ministry to advance Ghanas interest in the AfCFTA project. In line with the vision of AfCFTA, national and regional policy frameworks and action plans have been designed to harmonize the existing laws, programmes, policies, and regulations to boost cross-border trade in Africa. However, the policy Frameworks and Action Plans focuses on the pursuit of market integration, particularly toward a single market on the African continent. In spite of the significance of the AfCFTA policy framework for the achievement of integration and free trade in the African continent, little research is carried out to explore the impact of mobility of people especially labour, and cultures within the AfCFTA. Specifically, to explore the protocol for the Free Movement of Persons (FMP) on the effectiveness of the AfCFTA. The protocol for the FMP and the AU passport policy are very crucial for the effectiveness of the AfCFTA. However, it is yet to be ratified by all the AU member countries. It is imperative to argue that, the elimination of physical and artificial borders to create a liberalized market in Africa cannot take place in isolation of human mobility and cultures. The purpose of this policy brief is to contribute to the policy discourse of the protocol for the FMP on the effectiveness of the AfCFTA. The protocol for the FMP is to allow Africans the right of entry, establishment, and residence in countries on the continent. The protocol aims to promote the free movement of people, including capital goods and services, to foster regional integration and facilitate trade. In addition, the protocol also aims to boost investment, increase remittances within the continent, and promote labour mobility and employment. More so, it would also ensure the reduction of economic imbalances; peace, security, and stability on the continent; efficient civil registration systems; dependable movement control systems, and an interface between these systems. In support of this policy, the school of transnational governance of the European University Institute noted that regional integration remains a top priority for the African Union, hence the launch of the AU passport in 2016. This policy is also aimed at fostering free movement while promoting integration, peace and unity at the continental level. A cross-cutting issue that the implementation of the FMP protocol faces is the need to mobilise the support of the African public. It is essential to raise public awareness through a strategic action plan that involves sensitising various stakeholders, promoting respect for migrants rights and raising awareness about potential issues related to migration, mobility and cultural understanding. In light of this, experts in the field of migration, cross-border trade and intercultural relations, and media and communication entities could collaborate with international organisations to promote best practices, improve migration reporting, and provide resources for in-depth journalism. There is the need to encourage national media partnerships and upholding the principle of non-interference. To expedite the ratification of the Protocol for the FMP, member states are advised to collaborate with Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on security strategies and policies to improve border and migratory flow management. This could enhance successful cross-borders human mobility within the AfCFTA. Also, RECs and their member countries need to improve their civil registry systems and enhance not only the integrity of identity documents but border management and law enforcement. There are also important lessons to be learned from the EU's present border security system, particularly with regard to sophisticated monitoring and intelligence-sharing tools. For instance, Rwanda has demonstrated that this is feasible by bolstering its internal security, border management, and law enforcement prior to widening its borders to all Africans. The ratification of the protocol for the FMP would enhance the effectiveness of the AfCFTA. It will help to mobilize resources and labour from each country to address production and trade issues. This would go a long way to encourage the youth to show interest and commitment in cross-border trade. Inter-Africa trade cannot happen when businesses, ideas, and people cannot move around the continent. Migration and labour mobility present an opportunity for growth and economic development. In reference to this and issues discussed above, it is observed that, ratification of the protocol for the FMP births more opportunities than threats. In February 2017, the AU Peace and Security Council adopted a resolution acknowledging that the benefits of free movements far outweigh the challenges that may rise; moreover, solutions to those challenges do not lie in the slow march towards free movement of African citizens on the continent, but in AU member states individually and collectively working to address the key challenges. The security and job concerns that have been the main reasons for some AU member states reluctance to adopt the protocol are challenges that need to be addressed. These challenges however, require time, dedication, willingness, and the participation of all AU member states. Patterns observed in the literature review include the fact that, smaller economic groups may be able to move forward quickly in implementing the protocol for the FMP, especially when their interests are aligned. The EAC serves as an illustration of this, because of how quickly they have advanced with only six member countries. The AU member states must learn from the successes and failures of the RECs to move forward with the protocol for the FMP. With the full cooperation of member states, the AU and the RECs should take into account the recommendations made in this policy brief. Keeping in mind that, member states do not have equal resources, for this, it will be more important to plan for a deliberate process that would allow the least developed countries to progressively meet the necessary conditions. Adopting the protocol for the FMP does not mean that borders will be immediately opened. It will instead allow countries to work together towards the reinforcement of migration policies and law enforcement. Therefore, it goes without saying that, collaboration and communication among member states and stakeholders are essential to promote a better understanding of the protocol for the FMP and its benefits for AfCFTA. The writer is the Project Lead- Migration and Cross-Border Trade at the Centre for Private Sector Development and Inclusive Trade (CPSDIT), Ghana, and Senior Lecturer, University for Development Studies (UDS), Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Department of Communication, Innovation and Technology. By Dr. Muhammed Abdulai Email- [email protected],0540462915 Addis Ababa, 25 July 2023 (ECA) - Africas regional integration realized through the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is imperative to the continents economic growth and development, says outgoing Joe Attah-Mensah, Principal Policy Adviser at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). What many Africans aspire for is that the 55 fragmented economies on the continent become integrated into one strong, robust, diversified and resilient economy, said Mr. Attah-Mensah, in a farewell seminar on the theme: Is Africa Integrating or Disintegrating? A Reflection over the last 20 years and the future. The seminar was organized by ECA staff to mark his retirement. The AfCFTA is a free trade area launched in 2019 by African countries to create a single continental market with a population of about 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of approximately US$ 3.4 trillion. At its full realization, the AfCFTA with the mandate of eliminating trade barriers, will be the largest free trade area in the world bringing together the 55 countries. To date it has been signed by 54 African countries and ratified by 47 others. Throughout his career at the ECA, Mr. Attah-Mensah is widely acknowledged as a passionate advocate of the regional integration agenda. An integrated Africa is a prosperous Africa In a presentation punctuated by sayings and statements by Africas founding leaders, Mr. Attah-Mensah stressed that an integrated Africa is underpinned by a first-class trans-boundary infrastructure, a highly educated, flexible and mobile workforce as well as highly mobile financial capital. Furthermore, sound health facilities, peace and security are vital in supporting an integrated Africa. Mr. Attah-Mensah, called for investment in and strengthening of the supply chain infrastructure, such as transportation, communication, utilities and technology to support the AfCFTA. Abolish visas for Africans Abolish visas for Africans traveling in Africa, Mr. Attah-Mensah said, describing the issuing of visas on arrival as notenough and suggested countries could share intelligence to bar Africans who are a security-risk. He called on Member States to ratify the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment, stressing the link between free movement of persons and economic growth and the contribution of free movement of persons to the creation of a common market. While the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons has been signed by a number of member States, only four have ratified it. Some member States have eased travel restrictions by facilitating visa-free entry for Africans traveling within Africa and by issuing visas on arrival. Mr. Attah-Mensah also called on member states to embrace Artificial Intelligence for deepening regional integration, noting that emerging Machine Learning and Artificial Learning applications promise to reshape healthcare, agriculture, and democracy in the developing world. Touching on infrastructure issues, he highlighted the importance of reliable and affordable electricity, stressing the need to "urgently address persistently high energy costs, which raise the cost of production and reduce the competitiveness of trade." ECA in support of regional integration Mr. Attah-Mensah also elaborated on ECAs central in supporting the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union with its integration agenda and informed the audience that the 1963 ECA conference of Finance Ministers in Khartoum, Sudan gave birth to the African Development Bank (AfDB). In addition, the ECA supported the creation of some Regional Economic Commissions. ECA Acting Executive Secretary, Antonio Pedro, praised Mr. Attah-Mensah for his commitment and key role in championing regional integration in Africa and acknowledged his substantial contribution to the work of ECA. Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist Hanan Morsy lauded Mr. Attah-Mensah for his passion, achievements and commitment to the Regional Integration agenda and wished him a fruitful retirement. For his part, Robert Lisinge, Acting Director, Private Sector Development and Finance Division and long-time collaborator on infrastructure issues offered a vote of thanks on behalf of ECA staff. The seminar was chaired by Said Adejumobi, Director of ECAs Strategic Planning and Oversight and Results Division. Over 300 dignitaries, past and present colleagues, family members and friends attended online and in person to celebrate Joseph Attah-Mensah's illustrious career and contributions to the ECA and to Africas regional integration agenda. Speakers included the ECA Former Executive Secretary, K.Y Amoako; Former AU Deputy Chairperson, Erastus Mwencha; AU High Representative on Silencing the Guns, Mohammed Ibn Chambers; Economist, Former Finance Minister of Malawi and former AU Commissioner of Economic Affairs, Maxwell Mkwezalamba; Economist and Former Finance Minister of Tunisia Hakim Ben Hammouda; Principal Advisor to Albert Muchanga, AU Commissioner for Trade and Industry, Jean Bertrand Azapmo; former Senior AfDB official, Lamin Manneh; and the Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Samira Bawumia, who spoke on behalf of the Vice President of Ghana, Mahamudu Bawumia. Also present were former AU Commissioner, Anthony Maruping and former COMESA Secretary-General, Sindiso Ngwenya. Ayodele Odusola, UNDP Resident Representative, South Africa and Stephen Karingi, Director at the ECA Regional Integration and Trade Division served as discussants to Attah-Mensahs presentation. Described as a fearless and sometimes lone voice, Attah-Mensah retires from the ECA after two decades of dedicated service in various capacities. He led organizational planning the work on the Regional Integration Assessment Report and numerous policy-oriented research. Prior to this, Mr. Attah-Mensah worked for the Central Bank of Canada. Click here for Mr. Attah-Mensahs presentation. On July 18, 2023, the solemn opening of the photo exhibition Nelson Mandela. Life in Photographs. The exposition depicts various stages of the life of the outstanding African politician. Here you can see his photographs as a child, pictures taken during his imprisonment, his photographs as President of South Africa and many other captured episodes of his life. The exhibition is dedicated to the 105th anniversary of the birth of N. Mandela and the promotion of the international initiative to erect a monument to the great African politician in Moscow. This event was organized on the initiative of the Russian-African Club of Lomonosov Moscow State University in cooperation with the Moscow House of Nationalities, the Commission on Public Security and Peoples Diplomacy of the Council for Nationalities under the Government of Moscow, the Public Diplomacy Foundation and the Cameroonian Diaspora of Russia ANO Diaspocam. The project was supported by the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum. Representatives of African diplomatic missions and African diasporas, as well as foreign students of Russian universities came to get acquainted with rare photographs of the legendary Madib (this is the name Nelson Mandela is known in his homeland). Alexander Fedorovich Berdnikov, Executive Secretary of the Russian-African Club, acted as the leading moderator at the opening of the photo exhibition. Welcoming addresses to the exhibition guests were made by Ilya Vyacheslavovich Ilyin, First Vice-President of the Russian-African Club, Dean of the Faculty of Global Studies at Lomonosov MSU; Inna Vitalievna Andronova, Dean of the Faculty of Economics of the Peoples Friendship University, and Darya Vladimirovna Vanyukova, Researcher at the State Museum of Oriental Art. All of them unanimously noted the outstanding role of Nelson Mandela in the struggle against the apartheid regime and the independence of African peoples from the colonial oppression of European countries. The role of Moscow University in supporting Nelson Mandela, who was in prison at the time, was also highlighted by the speakers. This is evidenced by an archival photograph of the solemn meeting of the Council of Moscow State University on entrusting Nelson Mandela with the honorary doctor diploma of Moscow State University in 1988. The USSR provided its comprehensive support in fighting for the freedom of the peoples of Africa. Today Russia continues to help the peoples of the African continent to strengthen their independence. Then, Louis Gouend, Director of the Department for Interaction with African Diasporas and the Media of the Russian-African Club, guided a tour of the photo exhibition. He spoke about the brightest episodes of Madibs biography and his difficult fate. The photo exhibition tour continued with a visit to other expositions dedicated to Africa. More than 70 works of art by masters from Ghana, Benin, Ethiopia, Uganda, Madagascar, Nigeria, Angola and a sculptor from Burkina Faso were presented to the attention of visitors. African artists living and working in Russia occupy a special place in the exposition. At the end of the event, the guests of the photo exhibition were in for a surprise. African students of the Moscow Polytechnic University have prepared a creative program in honor of the 105th anniversary of Nelson Mandela. They sang the song Bella Ciao, read poems by Eduard Asadov and Anna Akhmatova. The Russian-African Club is grateful to the leadership and staff of the Moscow House of Nationalities for the opportunity to carry out a very significant project for Russian-African relations. Proposals are already being received to extend the exposure of the photo exhibition in a number of Russian higher educational institutions. It should be noted that the next step will be the erection of a monument to Nelson Mandela in Moscow. We kindly invite everyone interested to visit this unique exhibition Nelson Mandela. Life in Photographs. The exhibition will be open at the Moscow House of Nationalities until July 27. Therefore, if you have not had time to visit it yet, its high time to do it. 26.07.2023 LISTEN Child Rights International Ghana (CRIG) is calling on the management of Adisadel College and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to reverse its decision to suspend students who were involved in an altercation. According to CRI, there was insufficient scrutiny of the procedure that led to their suspension. CRI said, in accordance with the Childrens Act, when children exhibit behavioral abnormalities it is expected that proper assessment should be conducted. The alleged act committed is criminal in nature and the institution must address the criminality of it based on a proper investigation to obtain a social enquiry report that will determine the kind of systems and the punishment regime to be offered to the parties involved. The parties may include the victim, the perpetrator, and non-participating students who encouraged the act and those who have been entrusted with a standard of care. Despite the undeniable role the Ghana Education Service (GES) plays in this case, it is our view that the decision to dismiss the students is not informed by appropriate investigative channels and a social enquiry report. Therefore GES must rescind their decision and reinstate the students in the school unless their presence poses extreme threat to other students and such removal must be in accordance with Section 2 (1), (2), 8 (1).& 18 (1), (m) & (n) of the Childrens Act, 1998 (Act 560). Any decision taken in this process must always have the best interest of the CHILD, CRI stated. A disturbing footage of an assault incident at Adisadel College has sparked public outrage. The situation involved a final-year student captured being brutally assaulted by his mate. Authorities of the school have taken swift action against the individuals involved with backing from GES. According to a statement from the school authority, the student who assaulted his colleague is outrightly dismissed from the school. He will not be allowed to write his WASSCE exams in the school, except to write it at the WAEC centre. The assaulted student is also suspended for failing to report the incident to the authorities. YEREVAN, JULY 26, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan has held a meeting with military attaches of Armenian diplomatic representations abroad as part of regular annual meetings. The military attaches reported their work to minister Papikyan, the ministry said in a readout. The Defense Minister briefed the military attaches on the course and main directions of the ongoing military reforms and issued relevant instructions. MOGADISHU, Somalia - In today's competitive business landscape, customer expectations are higher than ever before. Gone are the days when businesses could solely focus on their products or services and expect customers to be loyal. Instead, we find ourselves in an era, where prioritizing the needs and preferences of customers is essential for the long-term success of any commercial enterprise. In this blog post, we will explore why putting customers first is not just a trend but a crucial strategy for businesses to thrive. At its core, the customer-centric approach revolves around a deep understanding of customers, their desires, pain points, and preferences. It means aligning business strategies, processes, and decision-making with the goal of delivering exceptional customer experiences. This shift in perspective acknowledges that customers are the lifeblood of any business, and their satisfaction directly impacts revenue, growth, and brand reputation. Putting customers first fosters stronger relationships. By investing in understanding your customers' needs and desires, you can tailor your products, services, and communication to meet their expectations. This personalization builds trust and loyalty, making customers more likely to choose your brand repeatedly over competitors. Happy customers become advocates who spread positive word-of-mouth and bring in new business, contributing to sustainable growth. In a crowded marketplace, differentiation is crucial. While competitors may offer similar products or services, a customer-centric approach sets your business apart. By consistently delivering outstanding experiences, you create a unique selling proposition that attracts and retains customers. Moreover, satisfied customers are less likely to switch to competitors solely based on price, as they value the overall experience you provide. Truly understanding your customers unlocks insights that fuel innovation. By gathering feedback, analyzing data, and engaging in meaningful conversations, you can identify areas for improvement, uncover unmet needs, and develop new solutions that delight your customers, as a result, you can continuously innovate and adapt to your customers' changing preferences, stay ahead of the competition, and position your business for long-term growth. Word travels fast in the digital age, and customer experiences are shared widely through online reviews and social media. Putting customers first and consistently exceeding their expectations contributes to a positive brand reputation. Happy customers become ambassadors who vouch for your brand, attracting new customers. Somali businesses are enhancing their capabilities to swiftly and efficiently handle customer inquiries by embracing chatbots equipped with artificial intelligence and machine learning. This investment enables them to deliver instant support and offer round-the-clock assistance. Earlier this month, Hormuud Telecom, the leading telecommunications provider in Somalia, shared in a tweet that their customer service team delivered exceptional support to more than 2.5 million customers in the month of June alone through their WhatsApp, Facebook Messengers, and the 141-hotline number. A written article by Noah Rue about a customer-centric business model states that in todays world, it can be challenging to find a company or service that you can trust. Often, companies leave their customers in the dark by either failing to communicate with them when they should or abandoning them altogether. The writer believes that embracing a customer-centric business model and better understanding what drives customers emotionally can ultimately build lasting connections that can lead to long-term business success. A customer-centric business model revolves around putting the customer at the center of all business decisions and activities. It focuses on understanding customer needs, preferences, and expectations to deliver personalized experiences and build long-term relationships which is why most companies developed Incredible all-in-one Self-Care Apps that give customers access to all of the companys services in one place. To appreciate the role of customers in shaping businesses, Hormuud Telecom reiterates its commitment to prioritizing their needs through a customer-centric approach that focuses on long-term success. The company is determined to thrive in the rapidly evolving marketplace. Niger President Mohamed Bazoum on Wednesday was being held by disgruntled members of the elite Presidential Guard, who in turn were given an "ultimatum" by the army, a source close to Bazoum said on Wednesday. The West African bloc ECOWAS condemned what it called an "attempted coup" and called on the "plotters" to release Bazoum immediately and without condition. A close ally of France, Bazoum was elected in 2021, taking the helm of a country mired in poverty and burdened by a history of chronic instability. Members of the guard on Wednesday morning sealed off access to the president's residence and offices, and after talks broke down "refused to release the president," the presidential source said. "The army has given them an ultimatum," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. In a message on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X, the president's office said "elements of the Presidential Guard (PG) had a fit of temper... (and) tried unsuccessfully to gain the support of the national armed forces and the national guard." "The army and national guard are ready to attack the elements of the PG who are involved in this fit of temper if they do not return to a better disposition," the presidency said. "The president and his family are well," it added. Map of Niamey, locating the presidential residence. By Valentin RAKOVSKY, Laurence SAUBADU (AFP) The reason for the guards' anger was not disclosed. Access was blocked off to the presidential complex in Niamey, although there was no abnormal military deployment or sounds of gunfire in the area, and traffic was normal, an AFP journalist saw. In a statement issued from Nigeria, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) condemned what it called an "attempted coup d'Etat" against a democratically-elected leader. The bloc and the international community at large will hold all those involved to be responsible for the safety of Bazoum, his family, members of the government and public, it warned. Coup-prone The landlocked Sahel state has experienced four coups since independence from France in 1960 as well as numerous other attempts on power, including against Bazoum himself. The country's last coup occurred in February 2010, overthrowing then president Mamadou Tandja. There was an attempted coup just days before Bazoum's inauguration in April 2021, according to a security source at the time. Several people were arrested, including the suspected ringleader, an air force captain named Sani Gourouza. He was arrested in neighbouring Benin and handed over to the Niger authorities. Ousmane Cisse, a former interior minister under a military government of transition that ran from 2010-2011, was detained in April 2022 for his suspected role. He was acquitted in February this year, but five others, including Gourouza, were jailed for 20 years. A second bid to oust Bazoum occurred in March this year "while the president... was in Turkey", according to a Niger official, who said an arrest was made. The authorities have never commented publicly on the incident. In January 2018, nine soldiers and a civilian were sentenced by a military court to jail terms ranging from five to 15 years for having attempted to topple Bazoum's predecessor, Mahamadou Issoufou, in 2015. Those convicted included General Souleymane Salou, a former army chief of staff and a member of the junta that had forced out Tandja in 2010. Poverty and jihadism Lying in the heart of West Africa's arid Sahel, Niger is two-thirds desert and persistently ranks at the bottom, or near it, in the UN's Human Development Index, a benchmark of prosperity. It has a surging population of 22.4 million, driven by a birthrate averaging seven children per woman. Ally: A helicopter with France's anti-jihadist force in Niger. By BERTRAND GUAY (AFP) The country is struggling with two jihadist campaigns -- one in the southwest, which swept in from neighbouring Mali in 2015, and the other in the southeast, involving jihadists based in northeastern Nigeria. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes, stoking a humanitarian crisis and further straining the economy. Niger's military has received training and logistical support from the United States and France, which have military bases there. The country is also the hub of France's anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel, which were reconfigured after French forces quit Mali and Burkina Faso following political bust-ups with those countries. GJA President. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour 26.07.2023 LISTEN The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour delivered an address at the National Development Conference organised by the Church of Pentecost. In his address at the Pentecost Convention Centre in Gomoa Fetteh on July 26, the GJA President admonished churches and religious bodies in the country to be the voice of the masses and speak against corruption and injustice in the country. According to Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, Ghanas moral fabric is fast deteriorating as a result of Corruption, indiscipline, impunity, disrespectfulness, and greed. We may not have empirical evidence, but we are fortified in discernment to firmly hold that the nations moral fabric is fast decaying and the consequence thereof is an erosion of national development. Corruption, indiscipline, impunity, disrespectfulness, and greed have seized our moral consciousness. Certainly, we need a renewal of our moral awareness and vision as a nation. We also expect to hear the loud voice of the Church and other religious bodies on issues of corruption, injustice, human rights abuse, impunity, and other vices in society. Furthermore, we expect the Church and other faith-based organisations to be the centerpiece of the countrys development through their active participation in the national development process, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour said. The GJA President further admonished leaders of the Church and other faith-based organisations to lead the way in shaping the nations moral vision by using their pulpits, media, and other platforms to preach virtues rather than trade insults, sometimes in despicable and vulgar language. The National Development Conference was organised on the theme; Moral Vision and national development. The Conference brought together present and past leaders of the country including Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and ex-President John Dramani Mahama as well as other stakeholders to discuss the moral vision and development of the country. Below is the full speech read by GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour: SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE GHANA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION, ALBERT KWABENA DWUMFOUR, AT THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST AT THE PENTECOST CONVENTION CENTRE, GOMOA FETTEH, ON JULY 26, 2023 Apostle Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyeamekye, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Your Excellency, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Your Speakership, Rt Hon Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, Your Ladyship, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, Your Excellency, John Agyekum Kufuor, Former President of the Republic of Ghana, Your Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, Former President of the Republic of Ghana, Hon. Ministers of State Hon. Members of Parliament Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II, President of the National House of Chiefs, Nananom and Naamei Members of the Clergy Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, Representative of the National Chief Imam, Distinguished invited guests, Members of the inky fraternity, Ladies and gentlemen. I bring you warm greetings from the National Executive and entire members of the Ghana Journalists Association. It is a great honour to be accorded this high-profile platform to address such a distinguished audience at this conference. I am eternally grateful to the Church of Pentecost, the organisers of the conference, for the honour done me. Apostle Chairman, I wish to congratulate the Church of Pentecost for organising the National Development Conference which brings together key stakeholders to discuss the moral vision and development of the country. This is a step in the right direction and clear proof that the Church is an institution that operates both in faith and action. Given the role the Church as an institution has played in national development over the years, it may not be out of order to acknowledge it as the Fifth Estate of the Realm, coming after the media whose credential in governance structure has long been established. Apostle Chairman, the theme for the conference: Moral vision and national development is most appropriate considering the need to pursue a vigorous national development agenda and reshape the moral vision of the country. We may not have empirical evidence, but we are fortified in discernment to firmly hold that the nations moral fabric is fast decaying and the consequence thereof is an erosion of national development. Corruption, indiscipline, impunity, disrespectfulness and greed have seized our moral consciousness. Certainly, we need a renewal of our moral awareness and vision as a nation. In that regard, Apostle Chairman, we expect leaders of the Church and other faith-based organisations to lead the way in shaping the nations moral vision by using their pulpits, media, and other platforms to preach virtues rather than trade insults, sometimes in despicable and vulgar language. We also expect to hear the loud voice of the Church and other religious bodies on issues of corruption, injustice, human rights abuse, impunity, and other vices in society. Furthermore, we expect the Church and other faith-based organsations to be the centerpiece of the countrys development through their active participation in the national development process. Apostle Chairman, I can assure you and the entire nation that the media will play a positive role to help renew the moral vision of the nation and also promote national development. Indeed, the media have been playing this role over the years as constitutionally mandated. But we believe we can do more and better. And we call on the media to rise to the challenge and be responsible in the discharge of their duties. However, Apostle Chairman, in discharging our constitutional mandate, the media will necessarily expose corruption and other ills of society. Such exposes are normally not palatable to the elements involved. But no matter how displeased anybody may be about the work of the media they cannot resolve their grievances through assault. Even in instances where the media get it wrong or do anything untoward, resorting to assault is not an option under the rule of law. Apostle Chairman, we need all stakeholders to support the media to discharge their mandate effectively towards promoting the nations moral vision and development. In so doing, we must refrain from attacking media practitioners because there is no justification whatsoever to do so. And where such attacks unfortunately occur, we must roundly condemn the perpetrators. We expect the Executive and Parliament to condemn attacks against journalists and press freedom. And we expect the Judiciary to severely punish offenders to serve as deterrent to others. This will greatly help the media to discharge their mandate effectively. Apostle Chairman, the Church of Pentecost International has spearheaded numerous development-focused initiatives over the years; however, the church's National Development Conference is a monumental advance. Through sound Christian teachings and the inculcation of discipline in church members and the general public, the Church has moulded the public's moral character over the years. This moral upbringing and discipline from the church helped me ascend through the ranks and become the President of the GJA, I must say. I would therefore not hesitate to say that Im a very proud member of the Church of Pentecost International Extreme gratitude to my Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, and my General Secretary, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, as well as the National Council, for organizing this magnificent conference. In addition, congratulations to Apostle Anane Denteh, Chairman of the National Planning Committee, Pastor Dr. Felix Dela Kultse, Chairman of the Media Sub -Committee and the entire members of the planning committee for their significant contributions to the success of this program. Apostle Chairman, I wish to thank you once again for honouring me and the GJA with this opportunity to address this distinguished audience. I pledge, on behalf of the media fraternity in Ghana, that we shall collaborate with other partners and do our utmost best to promote the moral vision and development of Ghana. God bless our Homeland Ghana! God bless The Church of Pentecost! God bless the GJA! Thank you for your kind attention. In an extraordinary display of commitment to learning, community service, and innovation, Glorious Child School Limited based in Pokuase, Accra marks its 25th anniversary. Tipped as the leading light of the Ga West Municipality's educational sector, the school is renowned for nurturing students' academic excellence and fostering a culture of curiosity and innovation. The year-long celebration, themed "Building a Legacy of Knowledge and Celebrating a Future of Science and Technology," commenced on June 18 with a grand launch at the school premises. The festivities include a series of beneficial and uplifting activities designed to promote learning, health, and community spirit. The school's commitment to environmental stewardship was evident in a cleanup exercise held on June 23. Students, staff, and community members came together to clean the surrounding areas, an inspiring act of service demonstrating the school's dedication to its environment. In early July, a three-day book fair was hosted at the school premises from 5th to 7th of the month. The event promoted the importance of reading and literature among students, reinforcing the school's long-standing belief that knowledge is the key to success. On July 8, the school community demonstrated its commitment to health and wellness with a well-attended health walk and screening activities. This event emphasized the school's holistic approach to education, which balances academic excellence with physical health and wellbeing. A heartwarming donation drive was held at a foster home on July 14, allowing students to learn firsthand the importance of empathy, generosity, and social responsibility. This event reflected the school's commitment to moral education and character development. The next and most-anticipated event will be a Gospel Rock Show on August 2, featuring a powerful performance from reigning VGMA's Gospel Artist of the Year, Piesie Esther. This celebration of music and faith further added to the jubilee's diverse and inclusive festivities. The anniversary activities will continue with an Old Students' Week, providing an opportunity for alumni to reconnect with their alma mater and share their post-school achievements, reinforcing the school's long-term impact on their lives. The grand finale set for September 2 promises a fitting conclusion to the silver jubilee celebrations. The day will comprise a graduation ceremony and dinner, a celebration of the academic achievements of the school's students, and a testament to the school's ability to offer academic excellence. Over the past 25 years, Glorious Child School Limited has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to shaping young minds and preparing them for a future driven by science and technology. The school's innovative approach to education, combined with its emphasis on community service and character development, positions it as an educational beacon in the Ga West Municipality. In circulation, a write-up, emanating from, one Rev. Prof. John Azumah, pretending to love the youth of Mamprugu with his disingenuous, illusory, delusional and commoner-like unsolicited advice. First of all, it should be made to him clearly that, the youth of Mamprugu do not need his advice for anything and for that matter, he should redirect his needless advice to himself and the youth of Kusasi he and his likes have over the years deceived into believing that Kusasi own Bawku. Bawku did not start in the 1950s, neither was it founded by any commoner. Bawku was founded by the rulling class (Mamprusi) in the early 1700s and that is what you should be telling your youth but not deceptions that have over time been exposed. The youth of Mamprugu want to make it clear without any ambiguity that, Bawku is part and parcel of Mamprugu and any attempt by any commoner to describe the Mamprusi in Bawku as 'small group of Mamprusi' only goes to show how myopic and ill-informed he is. The Kingdom of Mamprugu transcends the boundaries of Ghana and Bawku is the heart of the Mamprugu Kingdom. What the youth of Mamprugu also want the likes of deceptive Rev. Prof. Azumah to know is that, the 21st century Ghana, has no place for any re-demarcation of any traditional boundary and for that matter, any delusional intentions or actions in that regard should be discarded. Ghanaians who are objective minded and do not fear to tell the truth should ask themselves why, the Mamprusi in Bawku have their settlements in the center of the town, while the Kusasi live at the far outskirts and nearby communities? It is a fact that the recent conflict in Bawku started as far back in November, 2021. It is also true that the conflict started in the 1950s within Bawku township which was perpetually fueld by Kusasi politicians as he alluded to in his write-up. Rev. Prof. Azumah should be mindful of his advice, because the youth of Mamprugu are more smarter than he thinks he is. His attempt to create the impression that the youth of Mamprugu are trying to escalate the conflict to the other Mamprugu communities aside Bawku, is far fetched and we will demonstrate to the whole world to know who really started escalating this recent conflict in Bawku. On the 21st of December, 2021, just a month after the onset of the recent Bawku conflict, two Mamprusi young men from Gambaga embarked on a business trip with their horse in a tricycle enroute Kulungugu to transact business. They were gruesomely and painfully murdered in a Kusasi dominated community called Bugri Corner without any provocation. As we speak now, the whereabout of the horse is not known and we can confidently conclude that, the Kusasi bandits, in addition to killing our two brothers, shamelessly stole their properties. The Kusasi have invited the whole of Mamprugu already to the conflict, right from the time they killed the Gambaga two, but as peace loving people and youth who listen to the wise counsel of our elders and our respected King, we never retaliated. So, Rev. Azumah's naivety on the issue at hand is embarrassing to say the least. He should know that his people (the Kusasi) started escalating the issue outside our beloved Bawku but the youth of Mamprugu never reacted. However, a word of caution to anyone or a group of people who take the patience of the youth of Mamprugu for granted. We are capable and able to defend our Kingdom and our lands. Deep down Prof. Azumah's heart Mamprusi in Bawku are well educated and are generally civilized people since time immemorial but his trademark is nothing but deception, hence, his attempt to paint the picture that, the Mamprusi in Bawku only pride themselves with royalty to the neglect of education. The youth of Mamprugu are proud to be associated with Bawku Naa Sheriga, Alhaji Seidu Abagre, the 15th Bawku Naaba and many other well meaning and highly educated Mamprusi in Bawku. The ungrateful Rev. Azumah and his cohorts grew under the tutelage and nurturing of some of our respected and highly educated Mamprusi in Bawku. In his write-up, Rev. Azumah disgracefully and ignorantly attacked Dr. Issah Imoro, the Grandson of the 12th Bawku Naaba, Naa Saa Wuni Bugri. We are surprise a professor of his stature does not know that, there are different category of professional Doctorate degrees apart from Medicine. Alhaji Dr. Issah Imoro has a Doctorate in professional Optometry and he is licensed to practice as an Optometrist. Rev. Azumah should be ready for sleepless nights from the respected Mamprusi young man, because, very soon, he will be addressed as Alhaji Dr. Dr. Issah Imoro after completing his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) course he is pursuing. As for the royalty, we understand the pain of Rev. Prof Azumah, because that is the headache of the Kusasi leaders. The ingrate Rev. Prof. Azumah is fully conscious and aware of the fact that, he and many of his Kusasi's brothers and sisters in Bawku were fed, clothed and sheltered by the royals (the Mamprusi) in Bawku. He should thank his God, the Mamprusi in Bawku came to their rescue, else, he and his likes would have died out of undernutrition due to extreme hunger, necessitated by extreme poverty, suffered by their families. The Rev. Prof. Azumah does not know any little amount of shame because, if he had known, he would not even write about theft of property. He is aware of the machinations the Kusasi carried out, backed by their politicians, in stealing the properties and lands of the Mamprusi, the first settlers and founders of Bawku. The youth of Mamprugu are not moved by any attempt to belittle the Nayiri by the so-called Rev. Azumah. The youth take pride in defending Mamprugu and the revered King, the Nayiri when that arrest warrant was issued. The warrant never served it's purpose and cannot be a stain on the image of our King. What Rev. Azumah should know is that, His Royal Majesty, The Nayiri's regime will be marked as a reign in which the 15th Bawku Naa Sheriga, Alhaji Seidu Abagre was enskined, the youth resisted government's machinations of all kinds against our kingdom, Kusasi leaders and historians were badly exposed, Aninchema Abugrago, a Yanga turned Kusasi Community Chief in Bawku was made a commoner, just like his father and the 15th Bawku Naa was sent to Bawku to rule over all tribes in Bawku. We pray for good health and long life for all these to play out while all of us including Rev. Azumah still live on this earth. The issue of witchcraft is not peculiar to only a particular community or town in Northern Ghana but it cuts across and Rev. Azumah should know better, in his attempt to denigrate the historical and traditional town of the descendants of Naa Gbewaa. The witches' camp in Gambaga serves as a safe heaven for any alleged witch who feels threatened by his/her people. Rev. Azumah should know that, the camp shelters many people of different tribes including Kusasi. Rev. Azumah also made emphatic comments about Alhaji Sule Yiremia's association with them (Kusasi). He commented that "I am sure Mamprusi elders and opinion leaders have heard the recent disparaging remarks by Sule Yiremia against Nayiri. These are the type of people Kusasi are dealing with." If these comments by Rev. Azumah are anything to go by, then, the youth of Mamprugu have nothing to say than to leave Alhaji Sule Yiremia and his cohorts, if any, to their consciences A Word to the Youth of Kusasi The Kusasi youth across the country should have known by now that their leaders have been deceiving them all this while. Your leaders deceived you into believing that there was a Supreme Court rulling in 2003, in your favour but finally it is revealed that, that ruling is non-existing. They deceived you into believing that you have history but they were recently exposed by your colleague Kusasi youth, student of history, when he wanted to know the exact history of Kusasi. They never told you all that. All they keep saying is we want to write your own history. Have you ask your leader whether all the history about Mamprusi and the Mamprugu Kingdom were written by Mamprusi themselves. If you have a true history you do not need to write it yourself. Your leaders equally deceived you into believing that you can chase all the Mamprusi in Bawku out of Bawku but time again has exposed them. Dr. Hassan Ayariga in that same gathering the Kusasi history student exposed your leaders, said that no tribe can chase the other out of Bawku. So, that long deception to you, the Kusasi youth that, you can chase Mamprusi out of Bawku is exposed. Your leaders have been deceiving you into fighting needless battles, leading to lost of precious lives and destruction of properties. Does your leaders bother to know how the widows and orphans who died out of this conflict are fairing? Just know them by their deeds. The youth of Kusasi, ask yourselves this question; Are the Mamprusi interested in ruling Zebila and the other Kusasi communities? It is a big no. Why are pure Kusasi being deceived by a Yanga Chief and other mixed tribes' leaders who called themselves Kusasi? Is the Yanga Man, Aninchema Abugrago's so-called chieftaincy older than the chief of Zebila, Kusanaba, Binnaba, etc? The youth of Kusasi, please reason beyond these your selfish leaders, who are on the path of destructions. Say no to the deception of your leaders and upgrade your traditional chieftaincy communities to your desirable status and stop following the Yanga Man who came to Bawku with his father in the 1940's. Note that, the Yanga Man and his father were taken care of by the Mamprusi royals in Bawku as their slaves. The Youth of Kusasi, you should know that, there are pure Kusasi living peacefully and freely in the various Mamprusi communities across the Mamprugu Kingdom and not even a fowl owned by them have ever been killed by anyone. That is why your so-called Rev. Azumah admitted he was able to walk freely in Mamprugu community to conduct research without anybody interested in causing any harm to him. He would have been killed like a fly if he was a Mamprusi found in Kussasi community. The youth of Kusasi, tell your leaders that, the deceptions are enough and that you only want peace and development. In conclusion, Rev. Prof. John Azumah, the youth of Kusasi will forever know who, you and your cohorts are. You are just being deceptive to the youth of Kusasi, regarding the Bawku chieftaincy issue. The youth of Mamprugu are ready for peace and development and do not need you, Rev. Azumah to tell us. The youth of Mamprugu are ready to coexist with all manner of persons, irrespective of their ethnicity, provided, they do not disturb the peace of the area and do not lay false claims of any part of the Mamprugu Kingdom. Mamprugu First We Stand for Peace Thank you Long Live Ghana Long Live Gbewaa Zuliya Long Live Mamprugu Kingdom Long Live North East Region Alhaji Salifu Hadara A Citizen of Mamprugu and Youth Activist. [email protected] 26.07.2023 LISTEN Amnesty International, a global human rights group has hailed Ghana's Parliament for passing an amendment to the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 to repeal death sentencing as a significant step forward. Samira Daoud, the West and Central Africa Director for Amnesty International asserts that President Akufo-Addo must act swiftly to get the bill into law. She said, It is a major step by Ghana towards the abolition of the death penalty. Now that the 2022 Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill and 2022 Armed Forces (Amendment) Bill have been passed by Parliament, President Nana Akufo-Addo should, without delay, sign them into law, commute all death sentences to prison terms, and establish an official moratorium on executions. Amnesty International is also calling on the Ghanaian authorities to take steps to remove the death penalty from the Constitution. Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception because it violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment which has no place in our world, Samira Daoud stated. The Ghanaian Parliament presided over by Speaker Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has overseen legislative efforts to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment. Francis Xavier Sosu, the Member of Parliament for the Madina constituency who passionately championed the bill, celebrated the monumental achievement, stating, "This is a tremendous advancement for Ghana's human rights record." Savannah Regional Minister Saeed Muhazu Jibril has disclosed that there is an operation by the Military, the Regional Security Council and the Minerals Commission to eradicate illegal miners on the Black Volta. According to him, this follows an updated report he received from the Six Infantry Battalion of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), the Savannah Regional Security Council and the Minerals Commission on Wednesday, July 26. It will be recalled that on Friday, July 21, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, briefed the media on the operations to flush out the illegal miners on the Black Volta. The sector minister also assured the citizenry of the governments determination to crack down on illegal miners on the river as a result of the surge in illegal mining activities. Reports say, areas such as Jama, Jugboi and Bamboi in the Savannah Region have all been cleared of illegal miners. The Minister gave the assurance that the Ministerial Coordinating Committee on illegal mining is fully determined to halt illegal mining activities along the major rivers and waterbodies, which have been declared 'Red Zones' by the Government. Citi Newsroom The Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who is also a lawyer, has expressed delight that the death penalty has been abolished. He is happy with the feat, asking the country to celebrate such a gesture. Parliament has passed the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill 2022, technically expunging the death penalty from Ghana's laws. By the Bill, the President will be empowered to commute the death penalty into life imprisonment. The Bill was passed by Parliament on Tuesday, July 25. The death penalty has been in Ghana's Criminal Offences Code but has not been signed by any President in the Fourth Republic. Most human rights advocates had called for an expunction of that penalty. By the passage of the Bill, no offender will suffer punishment by death. Speaking to the press in Parliament after the passage on Tuesday, July 25, Mr Afenyo Marjns who is also a lawmaker for Efuttu said We have had a death penalty in our statute books for well over 50 years. It has been a concern. I'm happy to say that we have by this amendment of the parent act been able to repeal that provision that deals with the death penalty. So simply put, the death penalty is no more a punishment in our statutes, he stated. The Effutu Member of Parliament added: What we are saying is that God gives us life and under no circumstances should a person's life be taken merely because of committing such an offence. That is not to say that those who take it upon themselves to take the lives of others are being encouraged to do so. What we are saying is that God gives us life and under no circumstances should a persons life be taken merely because of the commissioning of such an offense. 3news.com Former President John Dramani Mahama has said Ghanaians would have crucified him had he created one-tenth of the "mess" caused by the Akufo-Addo government. Speaking to KSM on Pan-Africa TV in an interview aired on Tuesday, 25 July 2023, Mr. Mahama said the currency-gaining mantra that both the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) are the same is a strategy aimed at hoodwinking Ghanaians into retaining the government in office. "They [NPP] have created a crisis of confidence in the population in our democracy because now its easy for Ghanaians to think that politicians are liars; theyll just lie for political power," he added. "If I did one-tenth of what they have done these last eight years, Im sure that I would have been pilloried and crucified on a cross by now. There's a bit of hypocrisy in it." Mr. Mahama, who is the 2024 flag bearer of the NDC, said, "Its NPP propaganda." He explained, "They are in their mess, and they want to draw everybody else into the same mess." "They [NPP] are happy to push that mantra and make it look like, Oww, youre better off staying with us because if the NDC comes, it will be the same. That is the psychology of the propaganda they are doing," he analyzed, insisting, "Its not the same." Differentiating the NDC from the NPP, Mr. Mahama said, "Our party has a track record: We have given more Ghanaians electricity than any party in this country. Rawlings started the national and rural electrification programmes which have brought Ghana to above 80 per cent of electricity coverage among the top 10 in Africa." He continued, "We started the digital revolution in this country. I was the Minister of Communication when we divided post and telecommunications and created Ghana Telecom and allowed Spacefon and all the mobile operators to come in. We started laying fibre optic in this country. We did the eastern corridor fibre optic." Also, he said, "We've given more Ghanaians water than any party in the history of this country." The former president said, "When Prof [John Evans Atta Mills] came into office, water coverage was 55 per cent; by the time I left office, water coverage was 72 per cent." "Seventy-two per cent of Ghanaians had access to good drinking water," he stressed. In addition to that, he noted, "We have built all the public universities in this country. NPP hasn't built one public university. They are just good at renaming them with their party figures. And, so, somebody builds a university and you come and name it Dombo University, Tedam University, and so, dont let them come to tell us we and they are the same. We are not the same. They should just wallow in their mess and leave us alone." In his view, "There will be a breaking of the 8" in the 2024 elections, "but there will be a breaking of the 8 years of corruption, eight years of arrogance, eight years of impunity. Ghanaians are going to break that 8." ClassFMonline Mr Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Majority Leader and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu, has welcomed the abolition of the Death Penalty in Ghana. Speaking to the Parliamentary Press Corps moments after the House voted to pass the Criminal Offences (Amendment), Bill, 2022, which seeks to abolish the Death Penalty, Mr Afenyo-Markin described the passage of the Bill as a day of victory for all Ghanaians. He said international human rights institutions had taken the position that the Death Penalty provisions in Ghanas laws was repugnant, which should give way for a new form of sentencing, after being on Ghana's Statutes Books for well over 50 years. Today the Parliament of Ghana has made the country proud, it has signed onto that which has become an international human rights position, he said. So, simply put the Death Penalty is no more a punishment in our Statutes Books; this is not to say that those who take it upon themselves to take the lives of others are being encouraged to do so. But what we are saying is that God gives us life and under no circumstances should a person's life be taken because of committing such an offence. In place of the Death Penalty, life imprisonment had been introduced, meaning that such a person (the murderer) would not have the opportunity to come back to our society to commit such an offence possibly again, he said. Mr Afenyo-Markin said Parliament had done its bid by repealing the Death Penalty and that it was now left with the Executive Arm of Government to assent to the Bill to become law. I believe that it is a day for all of us to celebrate, that as a country we respect human rights and we will act in accordance with international best practices when it comes to international human rights, said. GNA YEREVAN, JULY 26, ARMENPRESS. On July 26, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mnatsakan Safaryan held a meeting with the heads of diplomatic missions and the representatives of international organizations accredited in Armenia and briefed on the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia presented the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of Azerbaijan's blockade of the Lachin corridor lasting more than 7 months. In his remarks, Mnatsakan Safaryan noted that the total blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh since June 15, and the disruption of humanitarian supplies, including those carried out through the International Committee of the Red Cross, has led to an acute shortage of food, medicine, fuel and other essential goods. The Deputy Foreign Minister briefed the participants on the cessation of agricultural works resulting from the regular shelling of civilians and civilian infrastructure by Azerbaijan. He emphasized that the disruption of electricity and gas supplies has led to paralysis of social and health services, violating the fundamental rights of the besieged population, including the right to life, health and education. Mnatsakan Safaryan noted that the working group on the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, created by the decision of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, has taken a decision to deliver around 360 tons of essential humanitarian goods to Nagorno-Karabakh. The Deputy Minister underscored the importance of a clear signal from the international community to Azerbaijan to implement the legally binding Orders of the International Court of Justice of February 22 and July 6 on ensuring the unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo in both directions through the Lachin corridor was emphasized. The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador-at-Large of the Republic of Armenia Edmon Marukyan, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Anna Zhamakochyan and First Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Armenia Lena Nanushyan. Anna Zhamakochyan presented the impact of the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh on vulnerable groups of the population, in particular, children, women, the elderly and people with disabilities. Lena Nanushyan stressed the severe impact of the humanitarian crisis on the healthcare system of Nagorno-Karabakh, touching upon the deepening shortage of medicines and medical supplies, as well as Azerbaijans ban on transporting patients in need of specialized medical care to Armenia. Mnatsakan Safaryan and Edmon Marukyan answered the questions of those present and provided explanations. At the end of the meeting, the heads of diplomatic missions and the representatives of international organizations toured the humanitarian relief trucks parked in the adjacent area of the MFA building, inspecting the types of goods included in the consignment of humanitarian cargo. Independent Power Producers (IPPs) has scheduled an emergency meeting with government due to debts owed them. The debt owed the IPPs has increased from US$2 billion to approximately US$2.3 billion. Scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 27, 2023, the meeting aims to address the ongoing issue of non-payment. Following what they perceived to be fruitful conversations with the Electricity Company of Ghana, the IPPs had previously threatened to shut down their power plants that serve the national grid on July 1. After assurances from government, it appears that the agreements made during the engagements have been breached, much to the disappointment of the IPPs. The upcoming emergency meeting will focus on finding a strategy to resolve the governments indebtedness and avoid potential power crises. However, the IPPs have remained tight-lipped about their specific predicaments, with a promise to provide further details after the meeting takes place on Thursday. More details are anticipated to come to light as the situation and conversations progress, highlighting the difficulties the IPPs are facing and perhaps having an impact on Ghana's electricity supply. Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George has hit back at the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) after it demanded an apology and retraction for comments he made alleging money laundering in the real estate business. In a statement on Wednesday, July 26, the MP made it clear he has no intention of apologizing or retracting his statements. "Let me start by stating that I have absolutely no intention to render an apology, qualified or not, nor make any retraction. As a public office holder, I am minded first by my fidelity to the truth, my conscience and the general wellbeing of the Ghanaian people. These considerations in my opinion supersede the whims of any individual or specific grouping," the MP said. He expressed shock that GREDA would "seek to play the ostrich and display publicly the malaise that bedevils our beautiful Nation-hypocrisy!" Sam George accused the association of trying to silence voices that point out criminality in the sector. "I am surprised the GREDA Executive Council is seeking to ascribe the criminal activities to ALL of its members when no such allusion was made by me nor the host who actually introduced the subject of real estate into our conversation," he added. The MP dared GREDA to take legal action as they had threatened, saying, "It may open a vista for a wider investigation into a sector that we may not have looked at closely." Sam George said he would be inviting the Office of the Special Prosecutor to look into possible money laundering and other issues in the real estate sector. The Ningo-Prampram MP's comments come after GREDA on Tuesday demanded an immediate apology and retraction of his allegations of money laundering against the association's members in an interview on Accra-based JoyNews News File on Saturday, July 22. The president of the West African state of Niger was being held by members of his guard on Wednesday in what regional powers condemned as an attempted coup. The West African bloc Ecowas, the African Union and the European Union all condemned what they called an "attempted coup d'etat". Members of the elite Presidential Guard on Wednesday morning sealed off access to the residence and offices of President Mohamed Bazoum, and after talks broke down "refused to release the president", a presidential source said. "The army has given them an ultimatum," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Another source close to the president said that the attempt to seize power was "doomed to fail". 'Fit of temper' In a message on Twitter, the president's office said "elements of the Presidential Guard (PG) had a fit of temper... (and) tried unsuccessfully to gain the support of the national armed forces and the national guard". "The army and national guard are ready to attack the elements of the PG who are involved in this fit of temper if they do not return to a better disposition," the presidency said. "The president and his family are well," it added. The reason for the guards' anger was not disclosed. Access was blocked off to the presidential complex in Niamey, although there was no abnormal military deployment or sounds of gunfire in the area, and traffic was normal, a journalist for French news agency AFP saw. Ecowas (the Economic Community of West African States) called for Bazoum's immediate and unconditional release, and warned that all those involved would be held responsible for his safety. The EU said it "associates itself" with the Ecowas statement, with foreign policy chief Josep Borrell posting online: "The EU condemns any attempt to destabilise democracy and threaten the stability of Niger." Multiple overthrow attempts A close ally of France, Bazoum was elected in 2021, taking the helm of a country mired in poverty and with a history of instability. The landlocked Sahel state has experienced four coups since independence from France in 1960 as well as numerous other attempts on power, including against Bazoum himself. The last coup occurred in February 2010, overthrowing then president Mamadou Tandja. There was an attempted coup just days before Bazoum's inauguration in April 2021, according to a security source at the time. Several people were arrested, including the suspected ringleader, an air force captain named Sani Gourouza. A second bid to oust Bazoum occurred in March this year "while the president... was in Turkey", according to a Niger official, who said an arrest was made. The authorities have never commented publicly on the incident. French military hub Lying in the heart of West Africa's arid Sahel, Niger is two-thirds desert and persistently ranks at the bottom, or near it, in the UN's Human Development Index, a benchmark of prosperity. The country is struggling with two jihadist campaigns -- one in the southwest, which swept in from neighbouring Mali in 2015, and the other in the southeast, involving jihadists based in northeastern Nigeria. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes, stoking a humanitarian crisis and further straining the economy. Niger's military has received training and logistical support from the United States and France, which have military bases there. The country is also the hub of France's anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel, which were reconfigured after French forces quit Mali and Burkina Faso following political bust-ups with those countries. (with AFP) 26.07.2023 LISTEN Mr Eric Nana Takyi, the Kadjebi District Director of Health Services, says the high HIV prevalence in the locality remains a huge burden to the District Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service. So far 16 cases of HIV were recorded as at first half of this year, compared to 19 in 2022, saying the figure could be higher because we are short of test kits, so more cases were missed. Mr Nana Takyi disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Kadjebi in the Oti Region. He said currently 461 AIDS patients were under treatment, while follow-ups on 229 others could not be done due to their inaccessible locations and lack of funds. The Health Director said high cases of anaemia among pregnant women was another challenge facing the directorate, as 41 per cent of cases were recorded at the first half of 2023, as against the 30 per cent projection. On achievements of the district, he mentioned 67.3 per cent (29,475) COVID-19 vaccination coverage out of the 43,797 targets, with 14,321 unvaccinated. He said they also increased Family Planning coverage from 2,888 to 3,991 in the first half of 2023. Nana Takyi also named the installations of a Viral Load Machine at St. Mary Theresa Hospital, Dodi-Papase, a full Blood Count Machine, an air-condition at Kadjebi Health Centre and the construction of new maternity block at Dodi-Mempeasem as other achievements chalked during the first half of 2023. On the way-forward, he said the Directorate would celebrate the HIV and AIDS Week, ensure continued COVID-19 vaccination, TB case search, contact tracing and conduct three more cycle of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) exercises, as planned activities during the second half of year. GNA Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost (CoP), says the country needs a shared moral vision to spur national development. A vision makes a person, but a moral vision makes a country, he said, adding that without a moral vision, the nation will be lost. Apostle Nyamekye said this at the 2023 National Development Conference by the Church of Pentecost at Gomoa-Fetteh in the Central Region. The two-day event, which is in partnership with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), is to discuss the need for a national moral vision for national development. It is on the theme : Moral Vision and National Development. He said it was only when the country had a shared moral vision that its politicians could lead with the next generation in mind. Apostle Nyamekye said the shared moral vision must create a hostile environment for corruption. We must create an environment that is hostile to corruption of water bodies, beaches, immorality, false judgements, and favoritism, he said. The Chairman of Cop also called for the projection of the National flag, stressing when pastors preach, let them think about the flag. When Parliament sits, let the members think about the flag, not NPP or NDC flags. He said the purpose of the Church was the transformation of the National flag and stated its readiness to promote a righteous Ghana. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in a speech read on his behalf by Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, said the Government had put measures in place to promote transparency and encourage morally upright behaviours. He said the measures included digitilisation, which was making service delivery effective and transparent. The President stated the commitment of the Government to protect the environment and fight corruption. He said efforts were being made to improve the lots of the populace by returning the economy to the highway of growth . Former President John Dramani Mahama said ethics had great impact on growth and development and that Ghana ought to maintain its high moral compass. Former President John Agyekum Kufuor said morality is humanity, and commended the CoP and the Ghana Journalists Association for organing the event. Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, said Ghana can work again and charged leaders and the citizenry to put the country first in all endeavours. We cannot and must not fail our people. Lets put Ghana first for rapid socio-economic development. Mr Bagbin called for a renewed commitment to moral and ethical values, with a call on leaders, especially those in political office, to show openness, accountability and good governance. Lets uphold high standards of ethics and morality and demonstrate the three Cs -character, competence and care. He charged the Church to lead the crusade for the change of the mind and heart of the citizenry for a prosperous Ghana. Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, GJA President, said corruption, indiscipline, impunity and greed had seized the consciousness of the country. He, therefore, called for a rigorous national development agenda to reshape the moral vision of the country. The Chief Justice, Madam Getrude Araba Torkonoo, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, traditional and religious leaders were at the Conference. Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman, Church of Pentecost GNA Egypt and Ethiopia have waged a diplomatic war of words over Ethiopia's massive new dam the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile, which started filling up in July 2020. The political row has threatened to get out of hand on occasion but now the two countries have finally agreed to conclude a mutually acceptable agreement within four months. We asked John Mukum Mbaku, the author of a recent article on the Ethiopian dam and a co-author of a book on the Nile River's changing legal regime, to answer four key questions. What is the context of the current tussle? Ethiopia, whose highlands provide more than 85% of the water that flows into the Nile, has long argued that it has the right under international law to manage resources within its own borders for its national development. It sees the Nile as a gift of God given to Ethiopians to use for their development. Egypt, which depends on the Nile for more than 90% of its fresh water, has argued that the Ethiopian dam represents a threat to its water security and its very existence as a people. The decision by Addis Ababa to begin construction of the dam on the Blue Nile in 2011 exacerbated an already deteriorating relationship between Ethiopia and its two downstream neighbours, Egypt and Sudan, over access to Nile waters. After Egypt's diplomatic efforts failed to stop construction, Cairo redirected its energies to securing a legally binding agreement for filling and operating the dam. But no mutually acceptable agreement for filling and operating the dam was ever reached. In August 2020 , Addis Ababa began to fill the dam's reservoir. That process was repeated in 2021 and 2022 . In 2023, Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed announced that the country would delay the fourth filling until September to alleviate the concerns of neighbouring people . The dam's reservoir filling in particular, and its operation in general, are issues that the three countries must resolve, most likely through a legally binding agreement or treaty. In February 2022 , the Ethiopian dam started producing electricity. Egyptians claimed that Addis Ababa was violating its obligations under the 2015 Declaration of Principles and endangering Egyptian water interests . What are the main sticking points going into the talks? An agreement would have to explicitly deal with issues that are important to Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan. The most important are Egypt's and Sudan's historically acquired rights to Nile waters. The rights were granted by the 1929 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty and the 1959 bilateral agreement between Egypt and Sudan (1959 Nile Treaty). After estimating the average annual flow of the Nile River as measured at Aswan to be 84 billion cubic metres, the two treaties granted 66% of Nile waters to Egypt, 22% to Sudan and 12% to account for seepage and evaporation . These allocations exhausted all the Nile's average annual flow of water. Egypt was also granted veto power over all construction projects on the Nile and its tributaries. These rights came to be known as Egypt's and Sudan's acquired rights . They have been the main sticking point in efforts to conclude a treaty between all 11 Nile riparian states for the allocation of the waters of the Nile, as well as between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan over the Ethiopian dam. While Ethiopia and other upstream riparian states see these two treaties as colonial anachronisms that have no relevance to modern Nile governance, Egypt and Sudan insist that they are binding . What impact would a breakthrough have on other Nile Basin agreements? The impact will depend on what type of agreement is reached. Assume that both Egypt and Sudan agree to abandon the rights granted by the 1929 and 1959 treaties. They could then enter into negotiation with Ethiopia to produce a new treaty that creates rights for all three states. Such a treaty could provide the impetus for all 11 Nile Basin states to return to the Cooperative Framework Agreement , which was expected to provide a legal framework for governing the Nile based on equitable and reasonable water use. The framework agreement has been in limbo since Egypt and Sudan rejected it. The other Nile Basin states see these colonial-era treaties as a violation of international law principles , and a breach of the vision of the Nile Basin Initiative. What other claims threaten the status quo? Egypt fears that if Addis Ababa is allowed to fill the reservoir without a legally binding agreement, other Nile Basin states might also take unilateral actions. This could harm Egypt's water security and ability to control projects on the Nile River and its tributaries. Then, there is the matter of how to manage issues related to climate change, such as droughts and floods. The existence of the dam means Addis Ababa's cooperation will be required. In times of drought, for example, the Ethiopian dam will be expected to release some water to help Egypt and Sudan. Ethiopia's right to water for agriculture and household consumption is an issue that has not yet been agreed upon by all three countries. Egypt and Sudan are worried about the harm that could come to them from activities upstream. Egypt remains adamant that the dam will hurt its water supply and threaten domestic development. But Sudanese officials appear to have changed their assessment of the impact of the dam. They now see it as a potential regulator of seasonal floods and provider of clean energy. These issues should be examined thoroughly during the negotiations. The three countries should adopt a treaty or agreement that is mutually acceptable and beneficial. Over the years, the three countries have struggled to bring meaning to terms like significant harm and equitable and reasonable utilisation. The final treaty should define these terms. It should also create a mediation mechanism, which can include referring certain specified matters to the International Court of Justice for resolution. John Mukum Mbaku 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. By John Mukum Mbaku, Professor, Weber State University Here are five things to know about Niger, where the country's president was being detained by guards in what the African Union on Wednesday condemned as an "attempted coup". Parched and poor Niger, a vast west African country that is two-thirds desert, is one of the world's poorest nations. Half of its 26.2 million people live in poverty, fuelled in part by the world's highest birth rate of 6.8 children per woman in 2021. Like other countries on the southern rim of the Sahara, Niger is losing huge swathes of arable land to the encroaching desert, causing repeated droughts that worsen widespread hunger. It is part of Africa's Great Green Wall project, which aims to create an 8,000-kilometre-long corridor of trees and shrubs across the continent. Prone to coups Niger has suffered from chronic political volatility since gaining independence from France in 1960. It has seen four coups in its history, most recently a February 2010 putsch which toppled then president Mamadou Tandja. The country's first-ever democratic transition of power took place in 2021, when Mohamed Bazoum took the presidency after his predecessor voluntarily stepped down. On Wednesday, disgruntled members of the Presidential Guard sealed off access to Bazoum's residence, and after talks broke down refused to release him. Twin insurgencies Niger has been struggling for several years with a jihadist insurgency. By DOMINIQUE FAGET (AFP/File) Along with Sahel neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger is struggling with a jihadist insurgency that began in Mali in 2012 and spread across the region's highly porous borders. The fighting against both Al-Qaeda and Islamic-State affiliated jihadists has come to within 100 kilometres of the capital. One of the deadliest attacks left 141 people dead in several hamlets in the vast desert region of Tahoua in March 2021, according to the official toll. US-backed Niger is an increasingly rare bastion of support for Western anti-terrorism operations in the region. France has stationed 1,500 counter-terrorism troops in the country after being booted out of Mali and Burkina Faso. Uranium, gold and oil Niger has some of the world's biggest deposits of uranium, a key ingredient in the nuclear industry. France, which gets nearly all its electricity from nuclear plants, began mining uranium in northern Niger half a century ago. The country has also become a small-scale producer of gold and oil. Most of the population, however, lives off farming. Lost cities of salt and clay Djado lies in the Kawar oasis region 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) from the capital Niamey. By Souleymane Ag Anara (AFP) Northeast Niger is home to fabled towns of forts of salt and clay perched on rocks above the Sahara. The origins of the "ksars" of Djado, a series of crenellated walls, watchtowers, passages and wells, remains a mystery. Niger is seeking UN World Heritage Status for the site. 26.07.2023 LISTEN Lawyer Twum Barimah, a former police officer has said the former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah jeopardized the safety of her family by keeping huge sums of both foreign and local currencies at home. According to Mr. Barimah, 90% of robberies are based on a tipoff from close people or relatives. Speaking on Adom FMs Dwaso Nsem show, he said the housemaids could have tipped off robbers when they stumbled upon such huge amounts of money. To him, there was nothing wrong with Madam Dapaah keeping money in her residence but the type of currency and the amount is what has raised eyebrows. The Attorney General has not intervened because they want to probe into Dapaahs wealth. The case has been sent for advice on the culprits of the crime. Yesterday I listened to Deputy Attorney General, Alfred Tuah, who clarified that the case before them regards the culprits and nothing about the source of wealth but he said they will advise when needed on Madam Dapaahs source of wealth, Lawyer Twum Barimah stated. Dockets of the case have been sent to the office of the Attorney General for advice. Relatives of Madam Dapaah are being interrogated by officials of the office of the Special Prosecutor after stumbling on something significant while conducting a search at the Cantonments and Abelemkpe homes. The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) arrested Cecilia Abena Dapaah over suspected corruption and corruption-related offenses regarding large amounts of money and other valuable items kept at home. Later on Monday (July 24) officials from the OSP accompanied by police personnel visited the private home of Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah at Abelemkpe in Accra for a search. The OSP has not yet released a report on the investigation. The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin has admonished leaders in the country to conduct themselves in a manner that is beyond reproach. Speaking at the National Development Conference hosted by the Church of Pentecost on Wednesday, July 26, the Speaker bemoaned how leadership in recent times has become contentious in the country and in the world at large. Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin is of the firm belief that there is a need for a sober reflection on how leaders conduct national affairs. As leaders, we must be willing to be held accountable for our actions and inactions. We must conduct ourselves in a manner that is beyond reproach and uphold the highest standards of ethics and morality. This is what I believe this conference seeks to achieve. Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, leadership has in recent times been a contentious issue in the world. This is due to the erosion of trust in leaders and the declining public confidence in institutions that are critical to national development. The time has come for a sober reflection on how we conduct our international and national affairs, the Speaker of Parliament argued. Mr. Bagbin continued, What could we be doing right or wrong? Should power be about ourselves, or about the larger society that we profess we want to serve? Is power a manifestation of might or it is about God's hands in the affairs of men? We need to take a step back and consider these issues. The National Development Conference hosted by the Church of Pentecost is under the theme "Moral Vision and National Development: the role of the Ghanaian politician". The Conference brought together present and past leaders of the country including Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and ex-President John Dramani Mahama as well as other stakeholders to discuss the moral vision and development of the country. In his address, the Speaker of Parliament commended the Church of Pentecost for putting together the conference, adding that he is confident it will significantly impact the development of our nation. Below is the speech read by the Speaker of Parliament at the Conference; FRATERNAL GREETINGS BY THE SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT, RT. HON. ALBAN SUMANA KINGSFORD BAGBIN, AT THE PENTECOST NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE HELD AT GOMOA-FETTEH ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 26 2023 His Excellency Alh. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice, President of Ghana My Lord, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, Chief Justice of Ghana His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, Former President of Ghana His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, Former President of Ghana Hon Ministers of State and Members of Parliament Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps His Majesties President and Members of the National House of Chiefs Representatives of political parties, and of professional bodies present Apostles, Bishops, Prophets, and Ministers of God present Distinguished Invited Guests Our partners, members of the media Ladies and Gentlemen! It is such a great honour and privilege for me to extend fraternal greetings to you from the Parliament of Ghana as we begin the National Development Conference hosted by The Church of Pentecost, under the theme "Moral Vision and National Development: the role of the Ghanaian politician". I am persuaded that the context in which we are today makes your theme for this conference most opportune. Besides, the state and church are both morally enjoined to maintain a cordial relationship and balance that will hold nation states together. There certainly must be a confluence of moral vision, national development, and an acceptable conduct of politicians if Ghana is to develop. This position is supported by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the French philosopher, who said "Those people who treat politics and morality differently will never understand either of them". Ravi Zacharias, the American-Canadian-Indian Evangelical Minister topped it up by saying "When we talk politics, we moralize; when we talk morality, we politicize". Consequently, the interplay between morality - and by extension the church - and politics is key to national development. Ladies and gentlemen, permit me on behalf of Parliament, to commend the Pentecost Church for initiating this important dialogue. I am confident this conference will significantly impact on the development of our nation as we all work together to build a more prosperous Ghana. Ideally, one would have thought such a conference would be spearheaded by a think tank. But here we are gathered here at the instance of the Church. This conference reinforces the position that a nation's development cannot be the sole responsibility of the government. We all need to work together on that, particularly the state and the church. The Church of Pentecost has, for the past years, proven its commitment to this understanding. We can only wish God's blessings for the efforts of the Church Norman Schwarzkopf, the American Army General, states, "Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy." BY this statement, Schwarzkopf suggests that strategy is important, but character is fundamental to effective leadership. Good character builds trust. Without trust, people will not follow you. Without followers, obviously, one cannot lead. Therefore, effective leadership requires integrity. As leaders, we must be willing to be held accountable for our actions and inactions. We must conduct ourselves in a manner that is beyond reproach and uphold the highest standards of ethics and morality. This is what I believe this conference seeks to achieve. Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, leadership has in recent times been a contentious issue in the world. This is due to the erosion of trust in leaders and the declining public confidence in institutions that are critical to national development. The time has come for a sober reflection on how we conduct our international and national affairs. What could we be doing right or wrong? Should power be about ourselves, or about the larger society that we profess we want to serve? Is power a manifestation of might or it is about God's hands in the affairs of men? We need to take a step back and consider these issues. We are gathered here as leaders impacting our nation's development differently. We all - not only politicians - have a responsibility to serve our people with integrity and facilitate the progress and development of our society. I strongly believe Ghana can work again, with our commitment and dedication to make it work, particularly if we put Ghana first in all we do. This conference can be a watershed for a renewed commitment to ethical, moral and effective leadership that cherishes the trust and confidence of the citizens, openness, accountability, transparency, and good governance. The Parliament of Ghana won the assessment of a network of experts in the Open Parliament Initiative as part of the Open Governance Program as the most open Parliament in Africa in 2022. Ghana's Parliament is thus viewed by many many as worthy of emulation. Your Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen once again, do accept the compliments of the institution of Parliament on the occasion of this conference. I trust that the deliberations will be characterized by constructive dialogue, and that the outcome and recommendations will inform how Ghana charts its path into the future, regarding morality, leadership conduct and national development. May the Good Lord grant us grace and wisdom to lead our people to build the Ghana we want as a part of Africa Vision 2063. We cannot fail our nation. God bless us all. 1 Thank you for the opportunity and the listenership. The New Patriotic Party has held balloting for its flagbearer hopefuls ahead of the special delegates conference on August 26. In the balloting held today, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, Kennedy Agyapong picked the first slot followed by Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen with the second slot. Agents of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia picked the 10th position for their boss. Check the full list below: Ken Ohene Agyapong Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen Joe Ghartey Kwadwo Poku Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto Kwabena Agyei Agyepong Francis Addai Nimoh Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku Boakye Kyeremanteng Agyarko Dr Mahamadu Bawumia The NPP will on August 26th cut down the list of its presidential aspirants from 10 to five as stipulated in its constitution. Prior to the balloting, nine of the aspirants excluding Dr. Bawumia petitioned the leadership of the party to hold the special delegates conference at one centre instead of the regional level. They said plans to allow only 900 delegates to vote at the regional level did not sit well with them. But the National Council of the NPP after a crunch meeting on July 20 dismissed the petition. The party subsequently issued the following directives to guide the polls: YEREVAN, 26 JULY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 26 July, USD exchange rate down by 0.34 drams to 386.40 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.98 drams to 428.13 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 4.29 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.58 drams to 499.15 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price down by 37.58 drams to 24333.02 drams. Silver price down by 0.70 drams to 305.05 drams. In a bold stance, Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, has refused to issue an apology or retract his statement referring to Ghana's real estate business as "money laundering." The Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) expressed their displeasure over the MP's comments and demanded an apology and retraction. In response, Sam George asserted that his loyalty lies with the truth, his conscience, and the welfare of the Ghanaian people, placing these values above the demands of any specific group. Undeterred by GREDA's pressure, he expressed shock and disappointment at the association's denial of the existence of money laundering in the real estate sector, citing it as a universal problem and not unique to Ghana. The MP also revealed that he received messages of support from honest and hardworking real estate developers who appreciated his courage in addressing an issue that threatens the industry's integrity. He accused GREDA of attempting to portray its members as innocent, a claim that he believes will be met with skepticism by informed individuals. In a further display of his commitment to addressing the issue, Sam George warned GREDA that he would seek the involvement of the Office of the Special Prosecutor to conduct a thorough investigation into the real estate sector. Specifically, he wants the authorities to scrutinize the sales processes, particularly in relation to dollar-denominated transactions that violate Bank of Ghana regulations, as well as instances of non-payment of VAT and taxes. Classfmonline.com Mr Patrick Boansi, Headteacher of the Monwire D/A Primary School in the Afigya-Kwabre South District, has appealed to stakeholders in education to help protect the school from the activities of miscreants. He said some people were using the classrooms of the school as a place of convenience while others were using it as a hotel for sexual activities. There is, therefore, the need for the community leaders and other stakeholders in education in the area, to come together to find a lasting solution to ensure effective teaching and learning in the school. Mr Boansi made the appeal when the assembly member for Monwire-Akrowia electoral area, Mr Moses Gyasi Danso, presented quantities of books, school bags, pens, mathematical sets and teacher's desk to the school. The items were to help improve teaching and learning in the school. Mr Boansi said the school needed a fence wall to prevent intruders from coming to the compound during odd hours. Mr Danso, on his part, urged the pupils to take their education seriously and abide by the school regulations at all times. He appealed to other individuals and philanthropic organizations to come to the aid of the school. GNA An attempted coup was underway Wednesday in the fragile state of Niger, where members of the Presidential Guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum, triggering a standoff with the army, sources said. The West African bloc ECOWAS and the African Union lashed what they called an "attempted coup d'etat," a term echoed by a source close to Bazoum. UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned "any effort to seize power by force" and urged respect for Niger's constitution, while the United States expressed deep concern and called for Bazoum to be released. France, Niger's former colonial power, and neighbouring Algeria also issued condemnations. One of a dwindling group of pro-western leaders in the Sahel, Bazoum was elected in 2021, taking the helm of a country burdened by poverty and a history of chronic instability. Disgruntled members of the elite Presidential Guard sealed off access to the president's residence and offices in the capital Niamey, and after talks broke down "refused to release the president," another presidential source said. "The army has given them an ultimatum," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. In a message on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X, the president's office said "elements of the Presidential Guard (PG) had a fit of temper... (and) tried unsuccessfully to gain the support of the national armed forces and the national guard." "The army and national guard are ready to attack the elements of the PG who are involved in this fit of temper if they do not return to a better disposition," the presidency said. "The president and his family are well," it added. Map of Niamey, locating the presidential residence. By Valentin RAKOVSKY, Laurence SAUBADU (AFP) The reason for the guards' anger was not disclosed. Access was blocked off to the presidential complex in Niamey, but there was no abnormal military deployment or sounds of gunfire in the area, and traffic was normal, an AFP journalist saw. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and AU issued separate statements condemning an "attempted coup d'etat." The same term was used by the source close to Bazoum, who speaking on condition of anonymity, also said that the bid was "doomed to fail." ECOWAS called for Bazoum's immediate and unconditional release, and warned that all those involved would be held responsible for his safety. The European Union said it "associates itself" with the ECOWAS statement and condemned "any attempt to destabilise democracy and threaten the stability" of Niger. Coup-prone The landlocked Sahel state has experienced four coups since independence from France in 1960 as well as numerous other attempts on power. Bazoum, a former interior minister, was right-hand man to former president Mahamadou Issoufou, who voluntarily stepped down after two terms. Their handover in April 2021, after elections won by Bazoum in a two-round contest against former president Mahamane Ousmane, marked Niger's first peaceful transition of power since independence. But reminders of the troubled past have never been far. An attempted coup took place just days before Bazoum's inauguration, according to a security source at the time. Niger. By Valentin RAKOVSKY (AFP) Several people were later arrested, including the suspected ringleader, an air force captain named Sani Gourouza, as well as Ousmane Cisse, a former interior minister under a military government of transition that ran from 2010-2011. Five people, including Gourouza, were jailed in February for 20 years while Cisse was acquitted. A second bid to oust Bazoum occurred in March this year "while the president... was in Turkey", according to a Niger official, who said an arrest was made. The authorities have never commented publicly on the incident. Poverty and jihadism A landlocked state in the heart of scorching Sahel, Niger is two-thirds desert and frequently ranks at the bottom of the UN's Human Development Index, a benchmark of prosperity. Ally: A helicopter with France's anti-jihadist force in Niger. By BERTRAND GUAY (AFP) It has a surging population of 22.4 million, driven by a birthrate averaging seven children per woman. The country is struggling with two jihadist campaigns -- one in the southwest, which swept in from neighbouring Mali in 2015, and the other in the southeast, involving jihadists based in northeastern Nigeria. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes, stoking a humanitarian crisis and further straining the economy. The poorly equipped military is receiving training and logistical support from the United States and France, which have bases there. Niger last year became the hub of France's anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel. The mission was reconfigured after French forces quit Mali and Burkina Faso after falling out with the ruling juntas in those countries. Mali has brought in Russian paramilitaries -- Wagner mercenaries, according to western countries, that rights monitors say have been implicated in atrocities. The Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, Peter Nortsu Kotoe has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to be up and doing to ensure students can be disciplined in Senior High Schools. Sharing his view on the bullying incident in Adisadel College, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akatsi North opined that such incidents are happening because discipline has broken down in schools. In his view, there is indiscipline because the large population and double-track system run in schools have made it impossible for school authorities to keep track of students and keep them in check. Right now, it is becoming difficult for school authorities including Housemasters and Guidance & Counselling instructors to know the students, especially in the double-track schools. Because the students come, eight weeks they are gone. They go and learn their textbooks and come back so the teachers are not able to know them very well, Peter Nortsu Kotoe argued in an interview with Starr FM. He continued, Then again, the large population in our secondary schools especially the Grade 1 schools as we call them. They have large numbers of students, 3500 5000 students, and I dont know how those schools authorities can know all of them. So, until we make sure that children are all in school at the same time for a long period for the teachers to study them and know their characters it will be difficult for them to know. So, discipline is breaking down and we are calling on the government or GES especially to come out with new modalities so that children can be disciplined at the school level. Meanwhile, the mother of the victim of the Adisadel College bullying incident, Madam Margaret Afari has called on the school to overturn the suspension of her ward. Im pleading with the authorities in charge. He was the one who was hurt. They should look again at the sanctions and allow him to stay in the school and write the examination. I dont want to drag this matter, the mother of the victim told Daily Graphic. Professor Stephen Adei, former rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) 26.07.2023 LISTEN Professor Stephen Adei, former rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), has called for the abolishment of public boarding schools in Ghana. He called on the government to convert public boarding schools to day schools. In an interview on Accra-based Asaase Radio's Breakfast Show on Wednesday, July 26, Prof Adei stated that the boarding school system has now "lost its relevance" and has become a breeding ground for social vices. "I think that it was quite a useful means of training a few elites. What has happened over time is that, boarding school as the main vehicle of training children, when especially today we have free SHS, we have to scrap the boarding system in SHSs and make it local," he said. Prof Adei explained that with the availability of free secondary education in Ghana, boarding schools are no longer necessary. "Once we have reached a certain level, boarding school as a public means of education is a no, no. I tell you at this moment that people in boarding schools are likely to pick more anti-social things including lesbianism, occultism than before," he asserted. His comments follow a recent viral video showing a student of Adisadel College in Cape Coast brutally assaulting a colleague, sparking condemnation across the country. The culprits have been punished by the Ghana Education Service and the school. However, Prof Adei believes such incidents point to deeper problems with boarding institutions. Some three military officers and three civilians standing trial over attempted robbery of a mining company have been granted bail. The military officers and their civilian counterparts were arrested on Wednesday, July 5 at Abuakwa in Kumasi whilst on their way to allegedly rob a mining company at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region. The arrest, according to police sources, followed a tip-off. The six accused persons were arraigned before the Atasemanso Circuit Court on Wednesday, July 19 and remanded in custody to reappear a week later. The three military officers were remanded in military custody whilst the three civilians were remanded in police custody. Though their plea was not taken when they appeared in court on Wednesday, the suspects were granted bail of GH100,000 with landed property and 3 sureties each. They will reappear in court on Monday, August 21. 3news.com Canadian General Investments, Limited (TSE:CGI Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as C$36.12 and last traded at C$36.12, with a volume of 1801 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at C$35.90. Canadian General Investments Stock Performance The firms fifty day simple moving average is C$34.49 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$33.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.45, a current ratio of 7.64 and a quick ratio of 7.44. The company has a market capitalization of C$754.09 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.98 and a beta of 1.25. Get Canadian General Investments alerts: Canadian General Investments Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 31st will be issued a $0.24 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.66%. Canadian General Investmentss payout ratio is currently -7.89%. Canadian General Investments Company Profile Canadian General Investments, Limited is a close ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Morgan Meighen & Associates Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of Canada. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. It invests in stocks of companies across all market capitalization. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Canadian General Investments Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian General Investments and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFSI Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $82.26 and last traded at $81.73, with a volume of 53752 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $80.53. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages have recently commented on PFSI. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on PennyMac Financial Services in a research note on Monday, July 17th. They set a buy rating and a $85.00 price target on the stock. TheStreet downgraded PennyMac Financial Services from a b rating to a c rating in a research report on Friday, April 28th. BTIG Research boosted their price objective on PennyMac Financial Services from $65.00 to $85.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on PennyMac Financial Services in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Finally, Piper Sandler boosted their price target on PennyMac Financial Services from $82.00 to $89.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $80.60. Get PennyMac Financial Services alerts: PennyMac Financial Services Stock Down 0.4 % The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.34, a current ratio of 0.53 and a quick ratio of 0.53. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $68.07 and a 200 day moving average price of $63.98. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.37 and a beta of 1.49. PennyMac Financial Services Announces Dividend PennyMac Financial Services ( NYSE:PFSI Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.20 by ($0.63). The firm had revenue of $302.90 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $354.08 million. PennyMac Financial Services had a net margin of 20.37% and a return on equity of 9.86%. The companys revenue was down 53.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.94 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. will post 4.96 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 26th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 16th were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 15th. PennyMac Financial Servicess dividend payout ratio is 13.29%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, insider Doug Jones sold 19,820 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.39, for a total transaction of $1,236,569.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 24,984 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,558,751.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, CEO David Spector sold 15,000 shares of PennyMac Financial Services stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.96, for a total transaction of $929,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 405,604 shares in the company, valued at $25,131,223.84. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Doug Jones sold 19,820 shares of PennyMac Financial Services stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.39, for a total transaction of $1,236,569.80. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 24,984 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,558,751.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 119,536 shares of company stock valued at $7,811,379. 17.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of PennyMac Financial Services during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $519,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in PennyMac Financial Services by 39.6% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 15,934 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $848,000 after acquiring an additional 4,522 shares during the last quarter. LSV Asset Management grew its holdings in PennyMac Financial Services by 12.3% in the 1st quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 53,212 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,831,000 after acquiring an additional 5,846 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of PennyMac Financial Services by 93.7% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 783,884 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $41,703,000 after purchasing an additional 379,161 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board boosted its stake in shares of PennyMac Financial Services by 19.9% during the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 2,932 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $156,000 after purchasing an additional 486 shares in the last quarter. 59.24% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About PennyMac Financial Services (Get Free Report) PennyMac Financial Services, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the mortgage banking and investment management activities in the United States. It operates through three segments: Production, Servicing, and Investment Management. The Production segment is involved in the origination, acquisition, and sale of loans. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for PennyMac Financial Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PennyMac Financial Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK Get Free Report) had its target price dropped by equities researchers at Barclays from $66.00 to $62.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Barclayss price target indicates a potential upside of 28.68% from the stocks previous close. A number of other research analysts have also issued reports on ALK. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Alaska Air Group from $71.00 to $75.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. Citigroup boosted their target price on Alaska Air Group from $58.50 to $64.25 in a report on Tuesday, July 11th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Alaska Air Group in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on Alaska Air Group from $63.00 to $61.00 in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Raymond James raised Alaska Air Group from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $60.00 to $68.00 in a report on Monday, April 3rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $65.13. Get Alaska Air Group alerts: Alaska Air Group Stock Down 9.7 % Shares of ALK traded down $5.15 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $48.18. The company had a trading volume of 9,753,528 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,618,934. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $49.79 and its 200-day simple moving average is $47.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 104.74, a P/E/G ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 1.55. Alaska Air Group has a 1 year low of $37.19 and a 1 year high of $57.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.64. Insiders Place Their Bets Alaska Air Group ( NYSE:ALK Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The transportation company reported $3.00 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.71 by $0.29. The firm had revenue of $2.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.77 billion. Alaska Air Group had a return on equity of 17.03% and a net margin of 0.58%. The firms revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.19 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Alaska Air Group will post 6.53 EPS for the current year. In related news, CEO Benito Minicucci sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.73, for a total transaction of $243,650.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 114,506 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,579,877.38. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.40% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ALK. State of Michigan Retirement System raised its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 34,462 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,480,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC lifted its stake in shares of Alaska Air Group by 12.2% in the 4th quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 2,149 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $92,000 after purchasing an additional 234 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its stake in shares of Alaska Air Group by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 9,187 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $385,000 after purchasing an additional 245 shares during the period. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. raised its stake in Alaska Air Group by 13.7% during the 4th quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 2,077 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $89,000 after buying an additional 250 shares during the period. Finally, Aspire Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Alaska Air Group by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Aspire Capital Advisors LLC now owns 10,757 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $451,000 after purchasing an additional 280 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.04% of the companys stock. Alaska Air Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Alaska Air Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operated airlines. The company operates through three segments: Mainline, Regional, and Horizon. The company offers scheduled air transportation services on Boeing and Airbus jet aircraft for passengers and cargo throughout the United States, and in parts of Mexico, Costa Rica, and Belize; and for passengers across a shorter distance network within the United States and Canada. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Alaska Air Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alaska Air Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alamos Gold Inc. (TSE:AGI Free Report) (NYSE:AGI) Equities researchers at National Bank Financial issued their Q2 2023 EPS estimates for shares of Alamos Gold in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, July 20th. National Bank Financial analyst M. Parkin anticipates that the company will earn $0.15 per share for the quarter. The consensus estimate for Alamos Golds current full-year earnings is $0.63 per share. National Bank Financial also issued estimates for Alamos Golds FY2023 earnings at $0.63 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $0.71 EPS. Get Alamos Gold alerts: Alamos Gold (TSE:AGI Get Free Report) (NYSE:AGI) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The company reported C$0.16 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$0.11 by C$0.05. Alamos Gold had a net margin of 10.58% and a return on equity of 3.42%. The business had revenue of C$340.10 million for the quarter. Alamos Gold Trading Up 0.7 % Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on AGI. Bank of America increased their price objective on Alamos Gold from C$12.00 to C$13.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. CIBC increased their price target on shares of Alamos Gold from C$22.00 to C$24.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. National Bankshares boosted their price target on Alamos Gold from C$18.25 to C$21.50 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, TD Securities cut shares of Alamos Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating and raised their target price for the stock from C$19.00 to C$21.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Shares of AGI stock opened at C$16.39 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 2.47. The stocks fifty day moving average price is C$16.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$15.94. Alamos Gold has a fifty-two week low of C$8.74 and a fifty-two week high of C$19.18. The company has a market cap of C$6.47 billion, a PE ratio of 54.70, a P/E/G ratio of -2.10 and a beta of 1.01. Alamos Gold Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were issued a dividend of $0.034 per share. This represents a $0.14 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. This is an increase from Alamos Golds previous quarterly dividend of $0.03. Alamos Golds payout ratio is presently 43.33%. Insider Activity In other news, Director Monique Mercier sold 14,456 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$16.59, for a total value of C$239,832.27. 0.29% of the stock is owned by insiders. About Alamos Gold (Get Free Report) Alamos Gold Inc engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and extraction of precious metals in Canada and Mexico. The company primarily explores for gold and silver deposits. It holds 100% interest in the Young-Davidson mine and Island Gold mine located in the Ontario, Canada; Mulatos mine located in the Sonora, Mexico; and Lynn Lake project situated in the Manitoba, Canada. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Alamos Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alamos Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. YEREVAN, JULY 26, ARMENPRESS. Edmon Marukyan, Ambassador-at-large of Armenia, denied the statement of Hikmet Hajiyev, the assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, that "in Brussels, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed that the goods necessary for Nagorno-Karabakh will be delivered through the Aghdam road, and Armenia, by sending humanitarian cargo through the Lachin corridor, violates the agreement." In an interview with the Public TV, Marukyan stressed that Hikmet Hajiyev is lying, there was no such agreement. Marukyan noted that after the tripartite meeting of the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the European Council President in Brussels, European Council President Charles Michel only announced that Azerbaijan is ready to provide humanitarian aid via the Aghdam route. "I mean, look at the difference. This is Charles Michel's statement, and presenting it as an agreement with Armenia is a total lie. At the moment, Armenia is clearly showing that Azerbaijan is lying to the international community that the Lachin Corridor is open," ARMENPRESS reports, Marukyan said, noting that the humanitarian cargo sent by Armenia on July 26 is currently in the border area, and the Armenian government had sent another 500 tons of cargo before that, but it is also in the warehouses of Goris, because it was not possible to deliver it through the corridor. He added that Azerbaijanis tried to urgently gather the accredited ambassadors in that country and told them that "they are ready to deliver cargo via the Aghdam route, as agreed in Brussels." "It is a lie and, of course, an appropriate response will be given to it," Marukyan stated. Ambassador-at-large Edmon Marukyan emphasized that Armenia is one of the "owners" of the Lachin Corridor, according to the trilateral declaration of November 9, 2020. "There is Lachin Corridor, which is the only road maintaining the connection with Armenia, confirmed by the signature of the President of Azerbaijan. The only known corridor for Armenia is that corridor, it is the way of life, now we are trying to transfer humanitarian goods through that way of life," he said. Marukyan made it clear that in order to avoid Azerbaijan's speculations, the Armenian side had announced in advance that they had no intention of making the approach of the trucks to the illegally installed checkpoin in the Lachin Corridor a surprise for Azerbaijanis. "We say that the trucks have reached the border area, and the peacekeepers of the Russian Federation can take the cargo and transfer it to the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. These are our steps, and we see that Azerbaijan is not able to grasp from any point to qualify our step as a provocation, and now they say that we have agreed on the Aghdam road in Brussels. That is an obvious lie. I think that Charles Michel's office should also respond to this lie, because it is based on Charles Michel's statement," said Edmon Marukyan. Gulf Investment Fund plc (LON:GIF Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as GBX 2.50 ($0.03) and last traded at GBX 2.49 ($0.03), with a volume of 16012 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2.47 ($0.03). Gulf Investment Fund Stock Up 0.4 % The company has a market capitalization of 1.02 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.09. The businesss 50-day moving average is GBX 2.34 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 2.08. About Gulf Investment Fund (Get Free Report) Qatar Investment Fund plc is a close-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Epicure Managers Qatar Limited. The fund is co-managed by Qatar Insurance Company SAQ. It invests in public equity markets of Qatar. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against Qatar Exchange Index. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Gulf Investment Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gulf Investment Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SSE plc (LON:SSE Get Free Report) insider Alistair Phillips-Davies sold 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, July 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 1,796 ($23.03), for a total transaction of 35,920 ($46,057.19). Alistair Phillips-Davies also recently made the following trade(s): Get SSE alerts: On Thursday, June 1st, Alistair Phillips-Davies sold 10,348 shares of SSE stock. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 1,853 ($23.76), for a total transaction of 191,748.44 ($245,862.85). SSE Stock Performance SSE stock traded down GBX 2 ($0.03) during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching GBX 1,807 ($23.17). 1,194,571 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,557,133. SSE plc has a 12 month low of GBX 1,405 ($18.02) and a 12 month high of GBX 1,919 ($24.61). The company has a current ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 82.34. The firm has a market cap of 19.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -12,046.67, a PEG ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 0.56. The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 1,831.01 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 1,789.83. SSE Increases Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 21st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 27th will be given a GBX 67.70 ($0.87) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 3.62%. This is a boost from SSEs previous dividend of $29.00. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 27th. SSEs dividend payout ratio is currently -64,666.67%. SSE has been the subject of several recent research reports. Berenberg Bank increased their price objective on shares of SSE from GBX 2,200 ($28.21) to GBX 2,300 ($29.49) and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 2,050 ($26.29) target price on shares of SSE in a research note on Thursday, May 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an overweight rating and set a GBX 2,100 ($26.93) target price on shares of SSE in a research note on Monday, April 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of GBX 1,962.38 ($25.16). SSE Company Profile (Get Free Report) SSE plc engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and supply of electricity. It generates electricity from water, gas, coal, oil, and multi fuel. The company distributes electricity to approximately 3.8 million homes and businesses across the north of the central belt of Scotland and central southern England; and owns, operates, and develops high voltage electricity transmission system in the north of Scotland and remote islands. Read More Receive News & Ratings for SSE Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SSE and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sendas Distribuidora (NYSE:ASAI Get Free Report) and Grupo Comercial Chedraui (OTCMKTS:GCHEF Get Free Report) are both consumer discretionary companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings, risk and valuation. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Sendas Distribuidora and Grupo Comercial Chedrauis gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Sendas Distribuidora alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Sendas Distribuidora $10.56 billion 0.34 $236.31 million $0.78 17.13 Grupo Comercial Chedraui N/A N/A N/A $1.77 3.24 Sendas Distribuidora has higher revenue and earnings than Grupo Comercial Chedraui. Grupo Comercial Chedraui is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Sendas Distribuidora, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Sendas Distribuidora 1.86% 29.13% 2.88% Grupo Comercial Chedraui N/A N/A N/A Analyst Ratings This table compares Sendas Distribuidora and Grupo Comercial Chedrauis net margins, return on equity and return on assets. This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Sendas Distribuidora and Grupo Comercial Chedraui, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Sendas Distribuidora 0 1 0 0 2.00 Grupo Comercial Chedraui 0 1 0 0 2.00 Grupo Comercial Chedraui has a consensus target price of $84.00, suggesting a potential upside of 1,360.87%. Given Grupo Comercial Chedrauis higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Grupo Comercial Chedraui is more favorable than Sendas Distribuidora. Institutional & Insider Ownership 4.5% of Sendas Distribuidora shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 10.9% of Grupo Comercial Chedraui shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Sendas Distribuidora shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Summary Sendas Distribuidora beats Grupo Comercial Chedraui on 6 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About Sendas Distribuidora (Get Free Report) Sendas Distribuidora S.A. engages in the retail and wholesale sale of food products, bazaar items, and other products in Brazil. The company serves restaurants, pizzerias, snack bars, schools, small businesses, religious institutions, hospitals, hotels, grocery stores, neighborhood supermarkets, and individuals. It sells its products through brick-and-mortar stores, as well as through telesales. The company was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. About Grupo Comercial Chedraui (Get Free Report) Grupo Comercial Chedraui, S.A.B. de C.V. operates selfservice stores. The company operates through three segments: Retail in Mexico, Retail in the United States, and Real Estate. Its stores sell electronic goods, perishables, cloths, groceries, and general merchandise. The company also leases commercial space to third parties; and operates and maintains shopping centers. It operates 306 stores, including 198 tiendas chedraui, 60 super chedraui, 15 super che, and 33 supercito stores; and 7 distribution centers in Mexico, as well as 125 self-service stores, such as 64 El Super and 61 Fiesta stores in the United States. The company was founded in 1920 and is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. Receive News & Ratings for Sendas Distribuidora Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sendas Distribuidora and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TrueBlue (NYSE:TBI Get Free Report) was downgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note issued on Tuesday. Several other brokerages also recently weighed in on TBI. Robert W. Baird cut their target price on shares of TrueBlue from $20.00 to $18.00 in a research note on Tuesday. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of TrueBlue from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and upped their price objective for the company from $18.00 to $20.00 in a research note on Monday, May 22nd. Get TrueBlue alerts: TrueBlue Price Performance Shares of NYSE TBI traded down $3.35 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $14.94. 913,961 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 206,696. The company has a market cap of $463.44 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.45 and a beta of 1.44. TrueBlue has a 1 year low of $13.52 and a 1 year high of $22.75. The firms fifty day moving average price is $17.56 and its 200 day moving average price is $17.82. Insiders Place Their Bets TrueBlue ( NYSE:TBI Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 24th. The business services provider reported $0.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.23 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $475.59 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $496.11 million. TrueBlue had a return on equity of 13.39% and a net margin of 2.19%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 16.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.82 EPS. In other news, EVP Carl Schweihs sold 5,750 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.15, for a total transaction of $104,362.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 48,729 shares in the company, valued at approximately $884,431.35. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, EVP Carl Schweihs sold 5,750 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.15, for a total transaction of $104,362.50. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 48,729 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $884,431.35. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Kristy A. Fitzsimmons-Willis sold 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.11, for a total value of $34,220.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 42,549 shares in the company, valued at $728,013.39. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 4.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On TrueBlue A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TBI. Quarry LP lifted its stake in TrueBlue by 327.2% in the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,713 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 1,312 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in shares of TrueBlue during the second quarter valued at about $58,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its stake in shares of TrueBlue by 181.6% during the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,405 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $65,000 after purchasing an additional 2,196 shares in the last quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. bought a new stake in shares of TrueBlue during the first quarter valued at about $88,000. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors raised its stake in shares of TrueBlue by 32.4% during the second quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 5,100 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $91,000 after purchasing an additional 1,248 shares in the last quarter. 96.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About TrueBlue (Get Free Report) TrueBlue, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides specialized workforce solutions in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Puerto Rico. It operates through three segments: PeopleReady, PeopleManagement, and PeopleScout. The company's PeopleReady segment provides general, industrial, and skilled trade staffing services for construction, transportation, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and renewable energy industries. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for TrueBlue Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TrueBlue and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Air India is likely to replace the 'Maharajah' mascot as the airline undergoes a revamp, according to a report by the Economic Times. The report also suggested that the Maharajah image may continue to be used at the airline's airport lounges and premium classes. The airline has had a variety of logos over the ages including a centaur, the rising sun and a flying swan through the decades, the Maharajah was introduced a year before India's independence in 1946. The Revamp The airline is slated to get new livery featuring red, white and purple color. Red and white are Air Indias colours. It is likely that the purple denotes the color of Vistara airlines, post the airline's merger with Air India. The report mentioned that the Airbus A350 planes will be the first ones to sport the new look after their induction in November this year. Design consultancy firm FutureBrand has been hired to revamp Air Indias branding strategy. Air India's Ad Campaign The new branding is likely to be unveiled in August, Economic Times reported citing people familiar with the matter. Adman Prasoon Joshi-led McCann Worldgroup has been appointed for the advertising and marketing campaign. As the brand attempts to rival luxury airlines like Qatar and Emirates Airways, it wants to de-link its image from the Maharajah, a person in know of the developments told the business daily. A large section of the fliers will be business travellers, corporate executives. Maharajah, who wears a turban and has an outsized moustache, though a very successful story, doesnt resonate anymore with these kinds of customers. It has also been maligned, repurposed multiple times. Moreover, no modern global airline has a mascot, the source said. Consolidation Plans Air India is also looking to consolidate multiple low-budget airlines, on July 26, AirAsia India sought approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to speed-up its merger with Air India Express. The airline also sought to be rebranded from AirAsia India to AI Express, sources familiar with the matter told Mint. The Jalan-Kalrock Consortium, the resolution applicant for grounded Jet Airways, on July 26 announced the appointment of Jatinderpal Singh Dhillon as the Accountable Manager for the airlines, effective July 2023. "With a strong background in piloting, management, and training, Captain Dhillon aims to bring strategic value towards making Jet Airways revival process a huge success," the consortium said in a statement. Such a top-level appointment comes after Jet Airways' Sanjiv Kapoor resigned from the post of CEO-designate in April. The aviation veteran had joined the airlines as its chief executive officer (CEO) in 2022. Commenting on his appointment, Dhillon said, "The much-awaited revival of Jet Airways unquestionably will mark a historic milestone for the Indian Aviation Industry. To represent India's legendary airline is a matter of great pride and presents an enormous opportunity of significant national interest - a commitment the Jalan-Kalrock Consortium has been determined to fulfill. The revival process is a collective work." Dhillon is an accomplished aviation professional in national and international aviation markets. From being the Director at GATI (Government Aviation Training Institute) in 2020, Executive Vice President of Operations at SpiceJet, Senior Vice President in 2005, Operations at Royal Airways in 2001 to serving Jet Airways as Chief Pilot Line Operations in 1999 Captain Dhillon has held numerous leadership positions in the aviation industry, both in private and governmental sectors, JKC noted in a statement. Speaking on this new appointment, the Jalan-Kalrock consortium said, The Jalan-Kalrock consortium is confident that Captain Dillion would play a crucial role in the operational preparedness of Jet Airways along with JKC....This step reinforces JKCs cohesive commitment to revive Indias most admired airline, Jet Airways." On the resumption of the shuttered airline, JKC reiterated that it remains "fully dedicated to the revival of Jet Airways and is committed to implementing a comprehensive strategy to ensure the airline's success." JKC will continue to work closely with all relevant authorities, industry partners, and employees to revive Jet Airways, it added. Jet Airways has been grounded since 2019 and a State Bank of India-led insolvency process hasnt been able to reach a solution yet. In October 2020, the airline's Committee of Creditors (CoC) approved the revival plan submitted by the consortium of Dubai-based Murari Lal Jalan and the UK's Kalrock Capital. In June 2021, the consortium's bid was approved under the insolvency resolution process. However, the implementation of the plan is getting delayed. Once-storied carrier, Jet Airways shuttered operations in April 2019. Tata Motors Limited shares gained more than 3 percent to hit a new 52-week high at Rs 665 around 9:15 am on July 26, with 22 lakh shares changing hands on the NSE. The company's board of directors approved the cancellation of DVRs and replace them with ordinary shares. Under the proposed scheme, Tata Motors will issue 7 fully paid-up ordinary shares of face value Rs 2 each, for every 10 DVRs. Moreover, the automobile manufacturer reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 3,203 crore for the first quarter boosted by the improved margin of its passenger vehicle (PV) business and robust sales at its luxury car unit, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). The company's capex spending nearly doubled to Rs 1,964 crore in the first quarter. Also read: Tata Motors DVR spikes on conversion to ordinary shares but premium shrinks Follow or market blog for all the live action Several brokerages are also upbeat on Tata Motor's first quarter earnings after the automobile major topped analyst estimates by a healthy margin. Motilal Oswal Financial Services (MOFSL) has said that the company should witness a healthy recovery as supply-side issues ease (for JLR), along with a better mix, lower discounts and operating leverage. It expects second-quarter production and cash flow to be lower than Q1 due to the annual summer plant shutdown. However, wholesales and profitability are expected to be more in line with recent quarters. MOFSL has retained a buy rating with a target price of Rs 750. Nuvama Institutional Equities said that revenue growth is likely to be driven by production ramp-up and the huge pending order book (185,000 units) from Defender, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. "We expect 16 percent revenue CAGR over FY2325E." Jefferies, who also maintains a buy, has assigned a target price of Rs 800. Borking firm CLSA has said that margins will improve further as production and volumes rise and commodity costs fall. Analysts at ICICI Securities are cautiously positive on the stock and have maintained an add rating. They are of the view that JLR margins can decline as the company aims to add more varieties to its portfolio. Revenue from operations increased 42 percent to Rs 1.02 lakh crore in the quarter under review. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) for the quarter stood at Rs 14,700 crore, up 177 percent, the company said in an exchange filing on July 25. JLR, Tata Motors British arm, posted a 57 percent increase in revenue to 6.9 billion. This improvement was driven by robust wholesales and a better product mix. However, commercial vehicle (CV) volumes saw a decline of 15 percent compared to the previous year, primarily attributed to the transition to BS6 Phase 2. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Global rice importers are likely to seek direct deals with governments in exporting countries as India's ban on shipments of a key variety is squeezing supplies and igniting concerns over food security. Buyers from Africa to Asia are likely to scramble for rice shipments as supplies tighten in coming months following India's decision last week to ban non-basmati white rice exports. The ban will cut availability of the staple on world markets by about a fifth, traders and analysts said, and could lead to importers seeking more government-to-government deals to overcome shortages and tame spiralling prices. "Export restrictions inherently reduce trust in the dependability of international trade," said Shirley Mustafa, rice market analyst at the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). "Thus, they could result in importing countries looking at government-to-government deals to ensure supplies." While announcing its export ban last week, India has left the door ajar for such deals, saying that it will consider meeting the requirements of countries in need of rice supplies. INDIA'S GOVERNMENT DEALS Last September, India banned exports of broken rice in a bid to cool domestic prices, but since then official data shows the country approved sales of around one million metric tons of broken rice to Indonesia, Senegal, Gambia, Mali and Ethiopia. "The current ban excludes government-to-government sales, and it remains within the government's prerogative," said B.V. Krishna Rao, president of the Rice Exporters Association. "A decision will be made based on the needs of importing countries and the supply situation in the local market." African buyers are likely to approach the Indian government for rice sales, and Asian importers such as Indonesia and the Philippines could sign government-to-government contracts with the region's top exporters Thailand and Vietnam, traders said. Indonesia has signed an agreement with the Indian government to potentially import one million metric tons of rice if the El Nino weather pattern hits its domestic supplies. India last month approved wheat and broken rice exports to a few countries that had requested shipments of grains. Indonesia's National Food Agency (NFA) said that deals the country has made since end of last year are sufficient for now, while the National Food Authority in the Philippines can import rice upon approval by the president in an emergency situation. India has ample stocks as of now to meet such requests, while Vietnam is due to start harvesting its main crop, analysts said. "India's government stocks of non-basmati rice are ample, standing at around 41 million tonnes on July 1," FAO's Mustafa said. "So, they could service the needs of both domestic public distribution and government level trades." India is open to Chinese investment despite border clashes between the two countries, the Deputy Minister for Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar told the Financial Times in a report published on Wednesday. "We are open to doing business with any company anywhere as long as they are investing and conducting their business lawfully and are in compliance with the Indian laws," Chandrasekhar told the FT, adding that India was "open to all investment, including Chinese". New Delhi ramped up scrutiny of Chinese businesses after a 2020 border clash between the two countries, banning more than 300 Chinese apps, including TikTok. India has also intensified scrutiny of investments by Chinese firms. 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 India is likely to take a leaf out of its negotiations with iPhone maker Apple to steer its investment talks with US electric car maker Tesla. The next series of talks could happen as early as this month. If the proposal is in favour of Make in India, we are willing to consider it. It is all about India wanting to increase its manufacturing prowess. Even in the case of Apple, there was some China involvement, but we were able to sort it out, a government official told Moneycontrol. Tesla is exploring alternative investment destinations for its manufacturing capabilities to reduce its reliance on China. At a meeting between Tesla executives and commerce minister Piyush Goyal tentatively scheduled as early as this month, Indias focus will be on whether the car makers investment proposals support the push towards boosting manufacturing within the country, the official said on condition of anonymity. When a big company shows interest in India, meetings are an ongoing process to mull all aspects and iron out any issues that may emerge, the official added. Tesla plans to build a factory in India that would produce low-cost electric vehicles for the local market and for export, Reuters reported on July 24, citing a person with knowledge of the matter. India has taken steps to push for the adoption of electric vehicles, including production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes to make advanced chemistry cells and automobiles and auto components. Even the goods and services tax on electric vehicles was reduced to 5 percent from 12 percent. No concessions or waivers In the case of Apple, the government is said to have rejected demands for concessions sought by the iPhone maker, including requests to lower import duties on smartphones. Indias approach is usually to make policies for the industry and not for individual companies, which then commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman had reiterated in 2017 around the same time that Apple sought waivers from local sourcing norms. Apple currently assembles iPhones in India through Taiwanese contract manufacturers Foxconn, Wistron and Pegatron, which are approved under the government's PLI scheme for smartphones. Earlier in 2023, India gave preliminary clearances to some of Apples Chinese suppliers to form joint ventures with Indian companies to ramp up domestic manufacturing of smartphones, according to media reports. India took the joint venture route to ensure that Chinese component makers that enter the country can function only in partnership with an Indian company. In 2020, the government tightened rules for foreign investments from countries that share borders with India, making prior approvals mandatory. The stricter norms were seen primarily as a move to thwart potential hostile takeovers of domestic firms by Chinese companies. YEREVAN, JULY 26, ARMENPRESS. Edmon Marukyan, Ambassador-at-large of Armenia, emphasizes that there is no alternative to the negotiations between the representatives of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan. In an interview with Public TV, Edmon Marukyan emphasized that the only way to address the problems of Nagorno Karabakh is the dialogue of the representatives of Nagorno Karabakh with Azerbaijan. "We have said on all platforms that we are talking about a direct dialogue between the representatives of Nagorno Karabakh and the representatives of Azerbaijan within the framework of the international mechanism. The alternative is the one that resulted in a war and defeat," said Marukyan. He denied the accusations of the opposition that "Armenia has washed its hands of Artsakh". "There is a document of November 9, which is currently the only document that has the highest legal force, because it is a document agreed between the states, which was also signed by the president of Azerbaijan. Nagorno Karabakh is mentioned at least 4 times in that document. According to that document, there is Nagorno Karabakh, there is a contact line, it is stated that Nagorno Karabakh should have a corridor connecting to Armenia. By the way, that corridor is not only for supplying food, it is for maintaining the connection with Armenia, it is about special relations with Armenia. And this document should become a guide for future negotiations between the representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh and the representatives of Azerbaijan," said Edmon Marukyan. He cited paragraph 7 of the November 9 trilateral declaration, which states, "Internally displaced persons and refugees shall return to the territory of Nagorno Karabakh and adjacent regions under the control of the Agency of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees." "In other words, Ilham Aliyev signed a document in which he recorded that the territory of Nagorno Karabakh exists. And now our brothers and sisters of Nagorno Karabakh should not use this? There is a fact-commitment here that internally displaced persons and refugees should return to the territory of Nagorno Karabakh. Azerbaijan has undertaken this obligation, Russia has signed on an equal footing with us. This is a guide that should be used," said Edmon Marukyan. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation suspended the licence of an IndiGo captain for three months and a co-pilot for one month for landing in Ahmedabad with a tail strike. Earlier last month on June 15 an IndiGo aircraft flying on the Bengaluru-Ahmedabad flight was grounded after it suffered a tail strike while landing at Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft landed safely and all the passengers on the flight were safe. Taking cognizance of the incident the DGCA ordered the grounding of pilots of the aircraft. The statutory body had also ordered a probe into the incident. IndiGo confirmed that the aircraft was grounded for inspection. IndiGo flight 6E6595 operating from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad experienced a tail strike while landing in Ahmedabad. The aircraft was declared grounded at Ahmedabad airport for necessary assessment and repairs. The incident is under investigation by relevant authorities," the airline added. A tail strike occurs when the tail or empennage of an aircraft collides with the ground or any stationary object during take-off or landing. 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 Ahmedabad-based top biotechnology firm Concord Biotech, which is backed by the late veteran investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala's firm Rare Enterprises and private equity firm Quadria Capital, is gearing up to launch its IPO (initial public offer) in early August, multiple industry sources with knowledge of the matter told Moneycontrol. "The UDRHP (updated DRHP) was filed with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) a few days back and as things stand, the Concord Biotech issue is likely to be launched in the first or second week of next month. The firm is targeting a valuation between $950 mn and $1 bn," one of the persons cited above told Moneycontrol. Two other persons confirmed the proposed timing of the launch of the issue. According to a fourth person, the size of the IPO is likely to be around Rs 1,500 crore to Rs 1,600 crore, and it will consist entirely of an offer for sale (OFS). All the four persons cited above spoke to Moneycontrol on condition of anonymity. Moneycontrol is awaiting an email response from Concord Biotech and has sent multiple reminders. Quadria Capital could not be reached for an immediate comment. This article will be updated as soon as we hear from both the firms. Concord Biotech filed draft papers with SEBI in August 2022 and got the regulator's nod in December. Also Read: Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed Concord Biotech files draft papers to float IPO As mentioned earlier, the issue is a pure offer-for-sale of up to 20.93 million shares or the entire 20 percent stake by Helix Investment Holdings Pte Ltd, which is backed by Quadria Capital Fund LP, a healthcare-focused private equity fund in Asia. According to the draft papers, Quadria Capital had invested Rs 475.30 crore in 2016 for a 20 percent stake in Concord. Legendary stock investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwalal, who passed away last year, held over 24 percent stake in the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) maker through his asset management arm Rare Enterprises. Utpal Sheth is the CEO of Rare Enterprises. Kotak Mahindra Capital, Jefferies and Citi are the investment banks working on the deal as per regulatory filings. Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Indus Law and Khaitan & Co are the legal advisors to the company, the i-bankers and the selling shareholders respectively. A CLOSER LOOK AT CONCORD BIOTECH AND THE MARKET According to the draft papers of Concord Biotech, it is "one of the leading global developers and manufacturers of select fermentation-based APIs across immunosuppressants and oncology in terms of market share, based on volume in 2021. The firm had (i) 22 APIs across immunosuppressants, oncology and anti-infectives, and (ii) 43 formulations across immunosuppressants, nephrology drugs, anti-infectives for critical care and other therapeutic areas." The firm, which is promoted by Sudhir Vaid and Ankur Vaid, had over 200 customers in over 70 countries as of March 31, 2022 for APIs and formulations, the DRHP added. For the financial years 2020, 2021 and 2022, its total revenue from operations was Rs 512.32 crore, Rs 616.94 crore and Rs 712.93 crore, respectively, representing a CAGR of 17.96 percent. For the financial years 2020, 2021 and 2022, its profit for the year was Rs 169.11 crore, Rs 234.88 crore and Rs 174.92 crore. Additionally, for the financial years 2020, 2021 and 2022, the EBITDA margin, defined as EBITDA divided by revenue from operations, was 39.8 percent, 53.02 percent and 37.82 percent respectively. The global small-molecule fermentation-based API market is expected to reach $13 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 3.6 percent from 2021 to 2026. The immunosuppressant drug market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.6 percent from 2021 to 2026. The oncology drug market, the largest segment among the therapeutic areas in the API market, is expected to reach $67 billion by 2026. THE QUADRIA CAPITAL PORTFOLIO Earlier this month, Quadria Capital invested up to $155 mn in Maxivision eye hospitals which operate in southern and western India. Quadria Capital has previously invested in other domestic pharma and healthcare firms like MediBuddy, Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals and Strand Life Sciences, according to their website. On May 23, 2023, Moneycontrol reported that a raft of bulge-bracket private equity funds including PAG, BPEA EQT and the Nirma Group had expressed preliminary interest in the ongoing process to sell a majority stake in API (active pharmaceutical ingredients) developer and manufacturer Glenmark Life Sciences, a listed subsidiary of drugmaker Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. Also Read: Race for Glenmark Life Sciences: Blackstone, KKR, BPEA EQT, PAG and Nirma Group likely suitors Rakesh Jhunjhunwala says 4 of his investments headed for IPO; Here they are Noida-based hospital chain Yatharth Hospital and Trauma Care Services is all set to launch its maiden public offer. The initial public offer (IPO) will open for subscription from July 26. Below are things that an investor should know about. 1) IPO Dates The bidding for the initial public offering will start on July 26 and the last day to apply for IPO would be July 28. 2) Price Band The company has fixed a price band of Rs 285-300 per share for its initial public offering. Also Read | Yatharth Hospital raises Rs 206 crore via anchor book 3) IPO Size The total fundraising would be Rs 676.7 crore at a lower price band and Rs 686.55 crore at an upper price band via public issue. The issue comprises a fresh issuance of shares worth Rs 490 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of 65.51 lakh equity shares by promoters Vimla Tyagi, Prem Narayan Tyagi and Neena Tyagi. The actual fresh issue size was Rs 610 crore, which was later reduced to Rs 490 crore as the company raised Rs 120 crore via private placement (pre-IPO placement) of 40 lakh shares at a price of Rs 300 per share on July 6, before filing the red herring prospectus with the Registrar of Companies. 4) Objectives Of Issue Yatharth Hospital will utilise fresh issue proceeds for repaying debts, capital expenditure for hospitals, and funding inorganic growth initiatives, besides general corporate purposes. 5) Lot Size Investors can bid for a minimum of 50 equity shares and in multiples of 50 shares thereafter. Retail investors can invest a minimum of Rs 15,000 for a lot (50 shares X Rs 300) and the maximum investment by them would be Rs 1.95 lakh (13 lots). Follow our Market LIVE coverage here 6) Company Profile Yatharth Hospital & Trauma Care Services Limited operates three super speciality hospitals located in Delhi NCR, i.e., at Noida, Greater Noida and Noida Extension, Uttar Pradesh. Further, it acquired a 305-bedded multi-speciality hospital in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh near Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, which commenced commercial operations on April 10, 2022, and is one of the largest hospitals in Jhansi- Orchha-Gwalior region in terms of number of beds. With this acquisition, its total bed capacity has increased to 1,405 beds. Its critical care program comprises 394 critical care beds, as of March 31 2023. Further, its Noida Extension hospital with 450 beds is one of the largest hospitals in the Noida Extension, Uttar Pradesh region. As of March 31, 2023, it engaged 609 doctors and offers healthcare services across several specialities and super specialities 7) Financials Yatharth has demonstrated stable operating and financial performance and growth over the past three fiscals. Its EBITDA has grown at a CAGR of 41.29 percent from Rs 67.01 crore in fiscal 2021 to Rs 133.76 million in fiscal 2023. Its net profit increased from Rs 19.58 crore in fiscal 2021 to Rs 44.16 crore in fiscal 2022 which further increased to Rs 65.76 crore in fiscal 2023. Its net worth has increased from Rs 72.45 crore as of March 31, 2021, to Rs 182.96 crore as of March 31, 2023. Yatharth recorded an operating margin of 25.71 percent in fiscal 2023. Its number of operational beds increased from 864 in Fiscal 2021 to 1,405 beds in Fiscal 2023 at a CAGR of 27.52 percent, and the occupancy rate of its beds increased from 41.63 percent in Fiscal 2021 to 49.97 percent in Fiscal 2022. In Fiscal 2023, its bed occupancy rate was 45.33 percent as the Jhansi-Orchha hospital commenced commercial operations 8) Promoters and Management The promoters of the hospital are doctors themselves. Besides, its board is composed of individuals with diverse experience in the sectors of hospitality, medicine, finance, banking and economics, and general administration. The Executive Director, Yatharth Tyagi, brings international business exposure to strategic expansion plans. He holds a bachelors degree in business and management from Leeds Beckett University and holds a master of science degree in International Health Management from Imperial College London. Dr Sanjeev Upadhyay is a doctor and is associated with United National Childrens Fund as Health & Nutrition Specialist, Mukesh Sharma is an ex-banker, and Ila Patnaik is a senior economist. Upadhyay, Sharma and Patnaik have recently joined its Board. Chief Executive Officer is Amit Kumar Singh, who has 16 years of experience in and as a part of senior management in various healthcare institutions. Chief Financial Officer is Pankaj Prabhakar, who is a qualified chartered accountant and our company secretary and Compliance Officer is Ritesh Mishra, a qualified company secretary. 9) Risks and Concerns According to brokerages, below are some of the key risk factors: -Yatharth is highly dependent on doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals and its business and financial performance will be impacted significantly if the company is unable to attract, retain or train such professionals. - The Company depends on the strength of its brand and reputation. Failure to maintain and enhance those brands and reputations, and any negative publicity and allegations in the media against this, may materially and adversely affect the level of market recognition of, and trust in, the services, which could result in a material adverse impact on companys business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. - If a company is unable to increase its hospital occupancy rates, it may not be able to generate adequate returns on its capital expenditures, which could materially adversely affect the operating efficiencies and also profitability. 10) Allotment and Listing Dates. The basis of the allotment of IPO shares will be finalised by August 2 and the equity shares will be credited to the demat accounts of eligible investors by August 4. The refunds will be transferred to the bank accounts of unsuccessful investors by August 3. The trading in equity shares of Yatharth Hospital will start on August 7, as per the IPO schedule. Here is a collection of our most important stories this afternoon: Congress submits notice on bringing no-confidence motion against Modi govt The Congress on Wednesday gave a notice on moving a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi-led central government in the Lok Sabha over the Manipur issue. Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi will move the motion, party's whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore told PTI. Read here GIFT Nifty records all-time high single day turnover of $12 billion GIFT Nifty derivatives on the NSE International Exchange (NSE IX) witnessed a record single day trading activity on July 25 of more than 3,14,900 contracts with a turnover of $12.39 billion, the bourse said in a release. Read here QIA considering $1 billion stake in Mukesh Ambanis Reliance Retail Qatars sovereign wealth fund is in early discussions to purchase a minority stake in Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambanis rapidly expanding retail unit, according to people familiar with the matter. The Qatar Investment Authority wants to increase its bets in India and is among parties that are in talks to buy into Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd., said the people, who asked not to be identified as the discussions are private. Read here New income-tax regime is now the default regime. Heres how to navigate the switch The new tax regime was introduced in the Finance Act, 2020, with the intention to provide an option of a simplified tax structure and lower tax rates for those who forgo certain deductions and exemptions. Effective from financial year (FY) 2020-21, the new tax regime is for individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) and is an alternative option to the old tax regime. Read here India pharma exports soaring despite cough syrup deaths: Trade body India's pharmaceutical exports this fiscal year are set to grow nearly twice as fast as last year to hit sales of $27 billion, driven by strong U.S. buying, a government-backed trade body told Reuters, despite deaths linked to Indian-made cough syrups. The robust forecast comes against the backdrop of earlier concerns from the government that last year's deaths of dozens of children in Gambia, which the World Health Organization (WHO) linked to drugs made in India, had "adversely impacted the image of India's pharmaceutical products across the globe". Read here Manappuram Finance arm Asirvad MF prepares for Rs 1,500-crore IPO; picks JM Financial, Nomura & Kotak Asirvad Microfinance, the subsidiary of listed NBFC Manappuram Finance , has commenced work on an IPO (initial public offer) to raise around Rs 1,500 crore and has mandated 3 investment banks for the deal, multiple industry sources with knowledge of the matter told Moneycontrol. In February 2015, the Kerala based gold loan provider acquired a significant majority stake in the Chennai based microfinance firm as part of a diversification strategy.Read here The income tax departments efforts to ease the tax travails of non-resident Indians (NRIs) whose PANs turned inoperative due to a failure to link them to their Aadhaar, seem to have come up short. NRI tax-payers are finding it difficult to reach out to jurisdictional assessment officers (JAO) for a solution as there is no online mechanism to do so. Then, there are others who have received no response from JAOs. Post June 30, PANs not linked to Aadhaar rendered inoperative Many NRIs have been unable to file their income tax returns because of inoperative PANs. On July 21, 2023, however, the I-T department issued a clarification in an attempt to resolve the deadlock. Also read: Why linking PAN with Aadhaar is important It asked such NRIs to reach out to their jurisdictional assessing officer (JAO) to update their residential status. NRIs, who havent filed their ITR in the past three assessment years and whose PAN is inoperative can intimate their residential status to the jurisdictional assessing officer (JAO) with supporting documents, the I-T department had said. However, there is no online facility to contact the JAOs, leaving them in a lurch. Many are worried that they will miss the July 31 deadline to file returns. Therefore, despite the I-T departments solution, many NRIs have been unable to file their income tax returns for the financial year 2022-23 (assessment year 2023-24). The PAN-Aadhaar hurdle The PAN numbers of NRIs who hadnt updated their residential status with the I-T department, those who had not linked it with the Aadhaar (although it is not mandatory for NRIs) and those who had not filed ITR in the past three years, turned inoperative after June 30. Also read: How to file your income tax before July 31. A complete guide When the issue was raised, the I-T department with just 10 days to go for the expiry of the July 31 due date - asked NRIs to reach out to their JAOs. This, experts say, isnt enough. Why is the solution not enough? NRIs dont have taxable income every year and they dont always need to file tax returns. As NRIs are not supposed to possess Aadhaar, linking of PAN is not required for NRIs, says Karan Batra, Co-founder of tax advisory firm CharteredClub.com. Also, the notification doesnt mention whether the taxpayer is supposed to email, call or physically meet the JAO. Reaching out to the JAO as suggested by CBDT is easier said than done. How is someone who is in the USA supposed to reach out to the jurisdictional assessing officer? His JAO could be in Delhi, Bengaluru etc. There are many NRIs who are from smaller cities too, adds Batra. Also read: Form 26AS and AIS; the two documents you must check before filing income-tax returns Mayank Mohanka, Founder Director at TaxAaram India, says, The intention to offer a solution is great. But at the ground level, there are difficulties such as not receiving a response from the local assessing officer. No resolution in sight With the deadline fast approaching and the tax professionals too tied up, there is hardly any end in sight to the struggles. I am struggling to pay the taxes. There are so many hassles. I have wasted too much time trying to resolve the deactivation, the follow ups with the CA placed in different time-zone. Now my CA says that if I dont file the returns, I will not receive benefits or refunds and the interest on the refund. I am losing sleep over this, said a Canada-based NRI, who has been trying to file the tax returns since July 4, 2023. Since NRIs dont have an online mechanism to resolve the issue, it is discouraging NRIs from filing the tax returns. Today when resident Indians want to reach out to the assessing officer, an online mechanism is available. Why cant there be a similar system for NRIs, who have no option to physically meet an officer? questions Batra. Do NRIs have to pay tax in India? Even though NRIs arent taxed in India for their foreign income, they need to file tax returns if they receive interest from bank fixed deposits or savings accounts (non-resident ordinary only), income such as rent from assets in India or by selling assets, shares, redeeming mutual fund units, dividends beyond a limit, business income or consultation fees from India. Interest from non-residential external (NRE) and foreign currency non-resident accounts is fully exempt from tax. Since these incomes arent regular, they arent always required to file tax returns. Hence, the income tax department criteria to ascertain a valid PAN too is incorrect. Filing returns is time-consuming Apart from helping NRIs reach out to the assessing officer and submit documents, tax professionals are forced to spend additional time updating the necessary details in the profile as mentioned on the income-tax portal. Ameet Patel, Partner at Manohar Chowdhry and Associates says, The name, address, email and phone (number) need to be the same in the income tax returns as well as on your profile on the portal. These income-tax profiles havent been updated in the case of many NRIs for long. Additionally, there are two passwords needed to verify the returns one is sent on email and another to the phone. So, in cases where there is a foreign mobile number, the one-time password isnt being received. This is forcing the chartered accountants to use an alternative Indian phone number to receive the passwords. When they use an alternative phone number, the tax-returns and the profile need to be altered again. Trying different combinations is time-consuming and exhausting, say tax professionals. Inability to verify returns There have been instances when the e-verification code, which is critical to verify income tax returns, is not received in the case of NRIs. The e-verification code is triggered through an Aadhaar-based system. Alternatively, it can be done using net-banking access. Both the propositions are difficult for NRIs. There is no way to receive an e-verification code for NRIs. Digital signatures are costly and have limited validity. As of now, we have been asking the NRIs to sign the documents and physically send them to the Central Processing Centre (CPC), which was the only option nine years ago before online verification was introduced, says Batra. The new tax regime was introduced in the Finance Act, 2020, with the intention to provide an option of a simplified tax structure and lower tax rates for those who forgo certain deductions and exemptions. Effective from financial year (FY) 2020-21, the new tax regime is for individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) and is an alternative option to the old tax regime. Though this was welcomed by a section of taxpayers, many chose to continue with the old tax regime, which permitted the claiming of deductions/exemptions. To make the new tax regime more popular, the Finance Act, 2023, brought in the following changes: It has now become the default tax regime, and unless one opts out, it would be the tax regime that would be used for computing taxes. The new tax regime has now been extended to association of persons, body of individuals and artificial juridical persons. Rebate under Section 87A has been increased under the new tax regime for income up to Rs 7 lakh against Rs 5 lakh in the old tax regime. The benefit of standard deduction has also been extended to the new tax regime. The rate of tax surcharge for applicable persons has been capped at 25 percent for individuals with total income over Rs 5 crore, versus 37 percent in the old tax regime. Employer contribution to the National Pension System (NPS) has been allowed as an eligible deduction. It may be noted that employee contribution to NPS, which is eligible for deduction under Section 80CCD(1B) of up to Rs 50,000 per annum under the earlier tax rule, is not allowed as a deduction under the new tax regime. Also read | ITR filing: Switching between old, new tax regimes possible, with some hassles Employer liability With the new tax regime becoming the default option, employees who wish to be governed by the old tax regime will have to say so to their employers. If there is no express intention provided to the employer, it would be assumed that the employee is content to go with the new tax regime. In such a case, exemptions/deductions such as house rent allowance, leave travel allowance (LTA), payment for life insurance, health insurance, interest on housing loan for self-occupied property, etc., would be disallowed. Assessees (who do not have income from business or profession) can choose the regime that is more beneficial at the time of filing the tax return. A person having income from business or profession would have to file Form 10IEA before the due date for filing return of income under Section 139(1) to opt out of the new tax regime, and file again in the year in which he or she wants to re-enter the new tax regime. The option to switch regimes is available only once for a person with income from business or profession. Also read | ITR Filing: Dont forget to declare income from other sources when filing tax returns Selection of tax regime for tax withholding vs tax return In a recent circular, the Central Board of Direct Taxes clarified that intimation of the chosen tax regime to the employer will not be tantamount to selecting the tax regime for tax return purposes. Individuals who do not have a business or profession can select the regime when filing their tax returns. In the aforesaid scenario, care needs to be taken that if Form 16 has been prepared with the old tax regime and, in the tax return, the new tax regime is considered, the exemptions/deductions as per the old tax regime should not be claimed in the tax return. Also read | A last-minute tax guide for crypto investors Brought forward balance of LTA If an employer has LTA in the compensation structure, the employer can continue giving the option of such allowance as part of the salary structure. However, only those employees who select the old tax regime would be able to claim the exemption. Unutilised LTA can be carried forward to subsequent years, and if the old tax regime has been opted for in those subsequent years, the exemption can be claimed, subject to fulfilling the conditions mentioned in the act and rules. Also read | ITR filing: Salaried tax-payer? Know how to choose between forms ITR-1 and ITR-2 Losses from house property Under the new tax regime, interest on home loan for a self-occupied property cannot be claimed as a deduction. Further, the current years losses cannot be set off against other income in the current year, and even the carry-forward of such losses is not allowed as per the Income-tax Act. Accordingly, loss of the current year will lapse entirely. Also read | Section 80D: Ensure you claim all tax benefits on health insurance premiums while filing I-T returns Belated return If the old tax regime is opted for, tax returns need to be filed by the due date, else the taxpayer would have to mandatorily file under the new tax regime. Thus, the default tax regime could impact individuals if a comparative analysis between the two regimes is not undertaken promptly. Ajay Nahata and Hiral Tanna contributed to this piece. (Ajay Nahata is a director and Hiral Tanna is a manager with Deloitte India. The views expressed are personal). Qatars sovereign wealth fund is in early discussions to purchase a minority stake in Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambanis rapidly expanding retail unit, according to people familiar with the matter. The Qatar Investment Authority wants to increase its bets in India and is among parties that are in talks to buy into Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd., said the people, who asked not to be identified as the discussions are private. The stake may amount to $1 billion, one of the people said. Other oil-rich Middle Eastern investors looking to diversify their portfolios are also keen to invest in Ambanis retail arm, the people said. The deliberations are still at a preliminary stage and a deal may not happen, the people added. The Financial Times first reported the discussions on Wednesday, citing three people with knowledge of the talks. Parent company Reliance Industries Ltd. rose as much as 2.5%, the most since July 17, on Wednesday. The company evaluates various opportunities on an ongoing basis, a Reliance Retail spokesperson said. The QIA declined to comment. The interest comes as Ambanis conglomerate is also considering a public listing for Reliance Retail and has started buying back shares in the unit and giving them to their employees as stock options. The subsidiary headed by Ambanis daughter, Isha, is Indias biggest brick-and-mortar retailer and has been undertaken a swath of recent acquisitions. Reliance Retail also raised over $6 billion three years ago from series of major investors, including the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, along with General Atlantic, KKR & Co. and Silver Lake Partners. Last week, Reliance Retail reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization that jumped 34% to 51.5 billion rupees ($628 million) in the quarter through June compared to the same period a year earlier. Disclaimer: Moneycontrol is a part of the Network18 group. Network18 is controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary. Birla Estates has finalised five projects in the last few months across Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune and Delhi, with a revenue potential of almost Rs 9,000 crore, KT Jithendran, managing director and CEO of Birla Estates Pvt Ltd, told Moneycontrol. These projects are located at RR Nagar and Sarjapur in Bengaluru; Wellesley Road in Pune; Walkeshwar in Mumbai and Mathura Road in Delhi, he said. The company plans to launch more projects and new phases across India. These will include ultra-luxury projects in Mumbai, luxury projects in Bengaluru, and in the mid-segment in Pune and Delhi-NCR this financial year, with a revenue potential of about Rs 5,900 crore, Jithendran said. The Rs 5,900 crore includes launches of some new projects that have been signed, and new phases of existing projects. One of them is in the very prime South Mumbai location, which is Walkeshwar. We have also managed to enter a prime location in Pune. Overall, we have added a portfolio with a revenue potential of almost Rs 5,900 crore. A couple of them may happen in quarter three, and the rest between quarters three and four, he said. The company finalised bookings worth Rs 2,183 crore last year. It is on the lookout for more land parcels as growth continues, Jithendran told Moneycontrol. More launches planned The company is planning to launch at least five projects this year. We are planning to launch two of our new projects in Bengaluru. We are also planning to launch the prime property that we purchased in Walkeshwar by the last quarter of this financial year. We're looking at launching a new phase in Birla Niyaara (in Worli, South Mumbai). And, we are looking to launch the new phase in Birla Navya, Gurugram. So, launches planned this year would be across new projects and the new phases of existing projects, he said. The companys focus will be across the luxury to mid-premium segment across markets. The Bengaluru project will be located on a 52-acre plot, with a few villas and town houses thrown in. As for investments for these projects, Jithendran said that land has been fully paid for. The price range for buyers will be from Rs 50 lakh to more than Rs 40 crore, he added. Elaborating on plans for the Birla Niyaara project, Jithendran said around 9 lakh sq ft has been launched as part of the first phase. The company intends to launch about 8.35 lakh sq ft by the end of this year. The revenue potential for the new phase of Birla Niyaara will be close to Rs 4,000 crore, he said. There is another million square feet of commercial space that is expected to come up at some point of time, maybe a couple of years down the line, he said. As for the Walkeshwar project: The plot size is small and the potential is close to about Rs 600 crore, said Jithendran. Handovers The company is planning to hand over almost 1,500 apartments, spread over three projects one in Bengaluru, one in Kalyan Birla Vanya in MMR, and one phase in the NCR this year. As for redevelopment, Jithendran said that while the company does not have a portfolio in the segment, we should be looking at it because thats how Mumbai will be growing. The future of Mumbai will be largely through redevelopment, especially the island city. However, all these are greenfield projects. Strategy for stalled projects He said that the company may consider a fresh phase of a stalled project, provided the financials are healthy. Not projects that are half built or even partly sold. We don't want to get into those. But if there is a new phase in that project, which we can independently develop with our own independent RERA and complete the construction, we are happy to take over that, he said. If the financials are good, we are happy and willing to take over. That's an essential part of the strategy, he added. The company is in talks with a few developers in Bengaluru, Mumbai, NCR and Pune, he said. Plans for Delhi-NCR The company is planning to launch phase four of project Birla Navya, the first phase of which was launched in 2021. We have sold inventory worth close to Rs 1,350 crore across the three phases, he said, adding that the fourth phase may be launched in the third quarter. The company is also aggressively looking to enter Noida. We are in discussions with a few landowners, both in Gurgaon and Noida, and in Delhi as well, he said, adding that the company may consider launching a luxury project in the region. Commercial portfolio The company has two commercial projects in Mumbai, at Worli and Prabhadevi. Both of them are completely leased out and were getting an average rental of close to about Rs 130 crore. So, we will be looking at the commercial portfolio a little opportunistically, he said. Mahindra Lifespace Developers posted a loss in the first quarter of FY24 from a year earlier as revenue fell. The consolidated net loss after non-controlling interest was Rs 4.3 crore in the three months ended June as against a profit of Rs 75.4 crore in Q1 of FY23, the company said in a regulatory filing. Revenue declined to Rs 110.1 crore from Rs 117.3 crore in the same quarter last year. The company generated residential sales of Rs 345 crore, while collections stood at Rs 276 crore. We are optimistic about the launches lined up in upcoming quarters. We are gearing up for a 5X growth in our business over the next five years," Amit Sinha, managing director, said in a statement on July 26. Sinha said the company clocked good progress on its Thane land, with the new Integrated IT Townships policy giving the developer a higher FSI (floor space index) and a favourable residential sales mix. The industrial leasing pipeline for the rest of the year looks strong, primarily driven by initiatives by the Central and state governments and Mahindra Lifespace expects to deliver robust performance in the coming quarters, Sinha said. The company said it leased 3 acres of industrial parks for Rs 14 crore. It launched 370,000 square feet of saleable area and Lakefront Estates, a plotted development in Chennai. 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 RTX Corp will need up to 60 days to inspect and fix each GTF engine used on Airbus jets that were found to have a new problem involving contaminated powder metal, CEO Greg Hayes said in an interview on Tuesday. At least 1,200 of the Pratt & Whitney GTF engines that power Airbus (AIR.PA) A320neo jets will need "accelerated removals and inspections," RTX, formerly Raytheon, said earlier on Tuesday when it announced second-quarter results. Engines potentially affected by the metal powder issue will not be put through the entire overhaul cycle, which typically lasts four to five months, Hayes said. Instead, they will be brought in for a briefer period where technicians will disassemble the engines, inspect the high pressure turbine disks potentially affected by the metal contamination, and, if needed, replace the part. "What we're trying to do is avoid all the other work that you'd normally do when you induct an engine," said Hayes. "We think that's a 60-day process max." RTX shares plummeted 14% in morning trade before trimming those losses to off 10.7% on Tuesday afternoon. Hayes acknowledged that news of the latest GTF problem was a "disappointment" but added that he expects the share price to recover. "As is typical with investors, they see bad news and they run," he told Reuters. "The smart money and the long money will come back to the stock. And they will recognize the fact that first of all, this is not a $10 billion problem for RTX." On the A320neo, the GTF competes against the LEAP engine produced by CFM International, a joint venture of Safran (SAF.PA) and General Electric (GE.N). According to data from CAPA - Centre for Aviation, Pratt & Whitney has retained a market share of about 45 percent since 2017. However, the GTF has been plagued by durability problems that have forced airlines to ground aircraft due to a lack of spare engines and parts. In June RTX announced that a supplier had installed the wrong part on an undisclosed number of GTF engines, resulting in a $500 million hit to the company's free cash flow. Hayes said customers have been "resilient and understanding," but "their patience is not unlimited." However, the RTX CEO batted away the suggestion that current problems could cause GTF customers to defect to the LEAP. "If they want to change engines, that is a draconian step and there's probably not enough capacity out there, at least in the short term," he said. About 36% of the 6,700 A320neo family aircraft on backlog do not have an engine provider chosen yet, said Mike Stengel of AeroDynamic Advisory. "Backlogs for the A320neo are so long that many operators ... have time to see how the PW1100G durability and quality issues are resolved before jumping the gun and switching to the LEAP," he said. The PW1100G is the GTF model affected by the powder metal problem. Armenia is set to send 400 tones in humanitarian aid to the residents of Artsakh ), who have been deprived of essential goods due to a blockade by Azerbaijan for more than six months. July 26, 2023, 10:33 Armenia sends 400 tons of humanitarian aid to Artsakh STEPANAKERT, JULY 26, ARTSAKHPRESS: Dozens of trucks with humanitarian aid from Armenia intended for Artsakh are parked in Yerevan and waiting to deliver the aid. "Today, two dozen trucks loaded with humanitarian aid will deliver 400 tons of humanitarian aid to Kornidzor, from where it is planned to transfer the aid with the help of Russian peacekeepers to the people of Nagorno Karabakh, which has been under blockade for 227 days, Taron Chakhoyan, the deputy head of the Prime Minister's Office, wrote on Facebook, News.am informs. The Aurobindo Pharma share price touched a 52-week high of Rs 796.10 on July 26 after the company received zero observations from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) on a review of a facility run by a subsidiary company. The US drug regulator inspected the Unit I, a formulation manufacturing facility, of Eugia Pharma Specialities, a wholly owned subsidiary of the company, at Koltur Village in Telangana, from July 17 to 26. The inspection ended with zero observations and a classification of no action indicated (NAI). On July 25, the subsidiary received the final approval from the USFDA to manufacture and market Plerixafor Injection, 24 mg/1.2 mL (20 mg/mL), Single-Dose Vial, which is bioequivalent and therapeutically equivalent to the reference listed drug (RLD), Mozobil Injection, 24 mg/1.2 mL (20 mg/mL) of Genzyme Corporation. The product will be launched next July. On July 21, the US FDA issued a Form 483 with three observations for Unit III, a formulation manufacturing facility at Bachupally Village in Telangana after inspection during July 14-21. 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 Tata Motors DVR share price gained over 13 percent on July 26, a day after the automobile major's board approved cancellation of all differential voting rights (DVRs) and replacing them with ordinary shares. Under the scheme of arrangement, the company will issue seven fully paid-up ordinary shares of face value Rs 2 each, for every 10 DVRs. As of last closing price (Rs 4,476.15 for seven ordinary shares and Rs 3,800 for 10 DVRs), the spread available was 20 percent in favour of DVR holders. However, the spread quickly narrowed as the stock opened gap-up on July 26. At 9:20am, Tata Motors DVR was quoting at Rs 423.55 on the NSE, higher by 13 percent from the previous close. The spread is now only 8 percent in favour of DVR holders. Regular shares of Tata Motors traded at Rs 654 at that time. Follow our live blog for all the market action According to analysts, an ideal spread to set up a fresh position should be 15 percent. "If in the near term, the spread trades around 8-10 percent, then the existing share spread holders should unwind their position," Abhilash Pagaria, Head, Nuvama Alternative & Quantitative Research, said. The DVR stock has seen a large trade of 7.06 lakh shares (1.38 percent equity) worth Rs 31.7 crore change hands. Major shareholders in Tata Motors DVR include ICICI Prudential AMC, Vanguard Emerging Market Stock Index, Rekha Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, Government of Singapore and Post Office Life Insurance Fund. DVRs carry one-tenth of voting rights of ordinary shares and are entitled to 5 percentage points higher dividend. These shares were first issued by Tata Motors in 2008 and subsequently in a further QIP in 2010 and rights issue in 2015. The proposed scheme to cancel DVR shares will lead to a reduction in the outstanding equity shares by 4.2 percent, making it value accretive for all shareholders, the company said. The process is expected to take 12-15 months and would be subject to tax treatment for the capital gains for shareholders on back of this deal, the management clarified in a concall. PWC is the independent registered valuer for the transaction, with Citigroup and Axis Capital acting as fairness opinion providers for the DVR and ordinary shareholders, respectively. Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas is the legal advisor to Tata Motors for the transaction. In other news, Tata Motors has posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 3,203 crore for the June quarter, boosted by the improved margin of its passenger vehicle (PV) business and robust sales at its luxury car unit, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). The automobile manufacturing company had reported a net loss of Rs 5,006.60 crore in Q1 FY23 on revenues of Rs 71,934.66 crore. Revenue from operations increased 42 percent to Rs 1.02 lakh crore in the June quarter. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for the quarter stood at Rs 14,700 crore, up 177 percent. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. The long phase of violence and instability in Myanmar since the February 2021 military coup in the country has posed a serious challenge for India, especially in its bordering northeastern states. Some believe that the instability in Myanmar has contributed significantly to the ongoing violence and unrest in Manipur. There is a growing feeling among experts that the army is no longer in control of the country and that its repressive policies and violent actions are forcing more people to cross over to India instead of stabilising the border. India shares a 1,700-km border with Myanmar, and most of the area runs through hill tracts and forests. Four northeastern states Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Manipur share a border with Myanmar. But there are fears that insurgents who had taken shelter inside Myanmar are now back and are contributing to the trouble in Manipur. Indian Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane visited Myanmar recently and held meetings with top officials there on June 30 and July 1. "The visit provided an opportunity to raise matters relating to Indias security with senior leadership in Myanmar," the Ministry of Defence said. Both sides discussed the need for maintaining tranquillity in the border areas and preventing illegal activities. However, many experts are questioning the efficacy of Indias policy with its over-reliance on the Myanmar army to serve its interests in the country. Indias policy towards Myanmar Indias policy towards Myanmar has been dictated by its economic, security, and strategic interests. Before the coup, India, like many other regional countries, maintained a policy of engaging with both the army generals and the democratic forces and their leaders, like Suu Kyi. In the November 2020 elections, Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy party won an overwhelming majority over the army proxies and formed a government. Myanmar plays a key role in Indias Act East Policy, which allows Delhi access to the huge Southeast Asian market. Besides, India has invested billions of dollars in connectivity infrastructure and other projects in Myanmar. The other reason for Indias engagement with the Myanmar army is to offer an alternative to the looming presence of China in the country. The Myanmar army needs India as an option against China the countrys main investor and backer. But Delhi also needs the armys support to safeguard its economic and strategic interests in the country. However, since the February 2021 coup, when the army dismissed the democratically elected government and its leaders, particularly Suu Kyi, India has been put in a spot. Rising pressure from rights groups and opposition In recent months, pressure has been mounting from rights groups and the Myanmar opposition for India to move away from the army and start supporting the democratic forces. When India said it was "disturbed" by the army's airstrike on civilians in a village that killed 170 people in April and asked all parties to resolve their differences through dialogue, there was widespread disappointment among the democratic forces in Myanmar. The opposition argues that since the army is not in control of most areas, particularly those bordering India and where it has made huge investments, Delhis interests will be better served and protected by the opposition and armed insurgent groups fighting the Myanmar army. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States, the Myanmar opposition campaigned with the Joe Biden administration to convince India to drop its support for the army. But the US refused to pressurise India, as it did not want to jeopardise Indian support in dealing with the more pressing challenge of China in the region. Recently, an Indian government-sponsored think-tank organised a gathering in New Delhi of all the stakeholders in Myanmar to find a peaceful solution to the current crisis. But the effort failed to create a mechanism for engagement between the contending parties. Myanmar Armys strategy The army has been continuing its hardline stance, including air strikes, against the opposition bases. Many of these strikes have been in the border area with India, and the spill-over effect is felt increasingly in the Indian states. The armys action is aimed at marginalising the opposition and pacifying the country before it can hold an election in Myanmar and win. The Myanmar army, locally known as the Tatmadaw, was apprehensive that Suu Kyis party would use its overwhelming majority in parliament to change the Constitution and bar the army from participating in politics. This led army chief General Min Aung Hlaing to dismiss the elected government and put the democratic leaders in jail. According to some estimates the army controls as little as 17 percent while other says it is much more. However much of the army control is regularly contested by other armed groups. Even if the army manages to hold the elections and get General Min Aung Hlaing elected, will it be accepted as a legitimate verdict or further expose the armys weakness? That will remain an important question in the coming days. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday laid bare his blueprint for a third term of his government, saying India will become the third largest economy in the world with a faster growth rate than now. PM Modi government will complete 10 years in office next May and he is seeking a third term on development plank. "We have to achieve the target of making India a developed nation in the next 25 years," he said after unveiling a world-class convention centre in the heart of the national capital. India can definitely eradicate poverty, he said citing a NITI Aayog report that talked of 13.5 crore poor being lifted out of poverty. Reeling out statistics of development from the number of airports to railway line electrification to expansion of city gas during his nine-year tenure, the Prime Minister said India was the 10th largest economy when the BJP government took office in 2014. The country is now ranked fifth in the world behind the US, China, Germany and Japan. "We will make India a developed nation working on the principle of nation first, citizen first," he said inaugurating the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) complex which he renamed as Bharat Mandapam. PM Modi said that when his government took office in 2014, the Indian economy was at the tenth position and now it is at the fifth position in the world. He said that India will be one of the top three economies in the world in his third term. The next general elections are due in May 2024. He said that Bharat Mandapam, which will host the G20 summit in September under India's presidency, will promote conference tourism. "World will witness rising stature of India when newly built Bharat Mandapam will host G20 summit," PM Modi said. He slammed people with negative thinking for trying to stall development projects, including the convention centre. Just like privately accepting the grandeur of Kartvya Path, a 'toli' of negative thinkers will one day acknowledge Bharat Mandapam also, he added. The IECC complex is India's largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination. In terms of the covered space available for events, the complex finds its place among the top exhibition and convention complexes in the world. It comprises multiple modern facilities, including convention centres, exhibition halls and amphitheatres. Earlier in the day, PM Modi performed "pooja" at the redeveloped complex and interacted with the workers who were involved in the construction of the complex and felicitated them. Making movie magic in a Hollywood film studio has more in common with churning out cars at a Bavarian factory than most of us would like to admit. We see cinema as some creative symphony of sight and sound compared to the mechanical coldness of automobiles. Yet theres a reason why both industries use the same word: production. Artificial intelligence is seeping into these businesses for largely the same goal: to boost efficiency and increase productivity. The current actors strike in the US has shone a light on the reality of a profession which is at the same time glamorous and brutal. Among the biggest fears is the notion that performers will be replaced by their own avatars digital twins which preserve all that is human while rendering the actual person entirely redundant. Its a valid concern, but likely overblown. To examine how the use of AI may actually play out in Hollywood we can look at the car industry. BMW AG assembles more than 40 models at 31 factories around the world. With dozens of customisable options, there are at least 2,100 possible configurations of an automobile that bears the German giants logo. Some of those changes are easy, such as swapping out the paint color. Others require tweaks to the assembly line that have ripple effects on the entire process, including on those workers tasked with getting a car out the door as quickly as possible. Customisation is the enemy of productivity. A factory manager wants to minimise downtime between changes to tooling while ensuring each factory setup is as efficient as possible. Thats where artificial intelligence comes in and, unsurprisingly, Nvidia Corp is a major player. The US chip designer has become synonymous with the AI boom. It not only sells the hardware used to crunch numbers and spit out text, photos and videos, but its developed a broad suite of software that helps companies run more smoothly. Its Omniverse platform, for example, is used by BMW to create digital twins of a car plant, allowing management to manipulate 3D models of an assembly line in real time and optimise productivity. Industrial giants Honeywell International Inc and General Electric Co are also keen to roll out their own digital-twin products for the oil and gas, power-generation and mining industries as a way to predict equipment failure, maximise uptime and lower maintenance costs. GE claims AI can boost reliability by more than 93 percent within two years. BMW says this technology makes the factory-planning process 30 percent more efficient. Offer the line producer of a Hollywood movie a one-third boost in efficiency on a film set and theyll likely jump for joy. Its that persons job to go through each line item of a films budget to maximise return on investment hence the name. And its not just about saving money. Beyond counting pennies, they need to ensure working hours are adhered to and a minimum number of crew are employed on set. Unions have very strict rules on everything from working hours to job roles. And they also define wages according to the budget of a movie. A higher-value production must pay its staff more, which means if costs go over by even one dollar, pay scales could jump into the next tier and blow out costs. A first assistant camera operator, for example, gets 65 percent more if the budget spills over the tier-one cap of $7.5 million. Even modest Hollywood productions costs at least $100,000 per day of filming. While theres great benefit to digitally replicating background actors to cut costs, their day rate, at around 17 percent of a feature actors wage, is less a factor than making efficient use of the films stars. If a producer could squeeze out more from a lead actors day, or get the same amount of scenes shot from fewer days of filming, then the financial benefits are exponential. It would also reduce time on set, which means reduced cast and crew costs, completion of an equivalent production within a lower budget tier, and smaller wage rates. Thats where AI and digital twins enter the picture, and dozens of companies including Nvidia and Walt Disney Co are building this future. The risk isnt just stealing an actors likeness you can be sure the unions will prevent that but to cut their time on set, which is the yardstick for most performers wages. Rather than replacing a human for the entirety of a film, we could see increased use of footage from one scene being used as a template for other scenes while preserving the imperceptible human quirks which distinguish live-action from animation. In fact, its already happening. Actors have told me of incidents they where they appeared on screen in parts of a production they werent even aware of. Others have been asked, and refused, to have their faces scanned by high-resolution sensors including lasers. Future deals between producers and performers could include rights to digital copies limited for use only in that production, with commensurate premiums to the base rate of pay. It may not be romantic, but digital twins are here to stay. Movies, like cars, are a product but they also reflect the progress humans make over time. And one of those changes is the never-ending pursuit of technology and productivity. Tim Culpan is a technology columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. Based in Taipei, he writes about Asian and global businesses and trends. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Credit: Bloomberg Decades of relentless advocacy by civil society and urging by the Supreme Court for a special law led to the enactment of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) in 2012. With its child-friendly provisions and stringent punishments for offenders, the Act aimed to address legislative gaps concerning sexual violence against children. However, the law's strict criminalisation, high age of consent, and mandatory reporting requirements have inadvertently affected adolescent sexuality in India, sparking concerns over their bodily autonomy. Criminalising Adolescent Relationships The Act defines a "child" as anyone below the age of 18, and it assumes that children are not capable of consenting to sexual interactions. This, despite the fact that sex amongst minors is fairly commonplace data from the National Family Health Survey-5 reveals that 39 percent of women aged 25 to 49 had their first sexual intercourse before the age of 18. This lack of recognition of social realities unfairly impacts individuals in consensual relationships, undermines their autonomy, and worryingly leads to the criminalisation of adolescent sexual relationships, even when they are consensual. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows a steady increase in arrests under POCSO, particularly affecting boys. In 2021, out of 2,353 juveniles apprehended, an overwhelming 99.6 percent were boys. Similarly, in 2020 and 2019, 99.8 percent and 99.5 percent of the apprehended juveniles were boys. This indicates that young boys are disproportionately affected by the rigorous provisions of POCSO. Furthermore, as a significant number of these cases entering the criminal justice system are cases of romantic relationships, they often end in acquittals. A study conducted by Enfold in Assam, Maharashtra, and West Bengal found that over 24 percent of the POCSO cases were romantic or involved consensual sexual relationships. Unsurprisingly, most cases were filed by parents or relatives, and 93.8 percent of these cases ended in acquittals. The data highlights how the law that is meant to protect children leads to unnecessary arrests, deprivation of liberty of boys, and infantilises girls and deprives them of their right to autonomy, choice, bodily integrity and privacy. Impeding Healthcare Access The mandatory reporting requirements under POCSO also present unique challenges. Section 19 of the POCSO Act obligates healthcare professionals to report underage sexual relations, but this provision predominantly affects adolescent girls, portraying them solely as victims without agency in relationships. It impedes their access to sexual and reproductive health services in case of pregnancies, abortions, or sexually transmitted diseases. The fear of exposure and criminal action deters girls from seeking timely assistance, leading to health complications or reliance on unregulated healthcare methods. Indias lack of clarity on where it stands on underage sex is made abundantly clear by the existence of central schemes such as the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), which aims to address adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues. While the RKSK focuses on unrestricted counselling and support to adolescents for the prevention of pregnancies and safe-sex methods, POCSO insists on mandatory reporting of sexual interaction between minors. This, coupled with an absence of exceptions for consensual sexual relationships between minors, creates confusion among service providers, potentially denying adolescents the essential healthcare they need. Judicial Pushback Courts have attempted to correct this colossal wrong by acknowledging that consensual sexual acts among adolescents should not be penalized under POCSO. The Madras High Court, in the case of Sabari v. Inspector of Police (2019), emphasised excluding consensual sex after the age of 16 from rigorous provisions. Similarly, the Bombay High Court in Ashik Ramjan Ansari v. the State of Maharashtra (2023) observed that punishing a minor boy engaged in a relationship with a minor girl would be against the best interest of either child. These judgments illustrate the courts powerlessness when confronted with a law that sends thousands of adolescents to jail for merely exploring their sexuality and engaging in natural and normative human behaviour. POCSO, while aiming to protect children from sexual offences, has inadvertently encroached upon the privacy and autonomy of adolescents. The conflation of consensual behaviour with exploitative acts has transformed ordinary relationships among adolescents into criminal offences, and criminal law is being wielded to control such interactions. To ensure a fair and effective approach, a careful reassessment is necessary, striking a balance between safeguarding children and preserving adolescents' rights and liberties. By addressing these unintended consequences, we can ensure a more equitable implementation of the Act, offering protection without compromising the autonomy of our youth. Neha Singhal leads work in the area of Criminal Justice, and Ayushi Sharma is a Research Fellow with the Criminal Justice Team at Vidhi Centre For Legal Policy. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Assams vast economic potential and its role as a gateway to neighbouring countries and the ASEAN have not been well-capitalised. Although it is the largest state in the northeastern region (NER), both in terms of area and economy, Assam's current per capita income at Rs 67,661 lags several other states in the NER and the national average of Rs 93,973. Largely agrarian, there is little doubt that Assams modest industrial base, concentrated in sectors like tea, petroleum refining, jute, textiles and cement needs a push. The states abysmal exports provide significant headroom for growth. With merchandise exports at $497.1 million in 2022-23, the states contribution is less than one percent to Indias exports. Assams export basket is highly concentrated, with tea constituting about half of its total exports. There is a need to diversify the export basket, as high dependence on a single item makes it vulnerable to global shocks. Already Assams tea exports have declined from $312.5 million in 2019-20 to $245.6 million in 2022-23, with its overall share in total tea exports dropping from 36 percent to 30 percent during the same period. Infrastructure Underutilised Though the state shares expansive borders with Bhutan and Bangladesh with several land customs stations (LCSs) and one integrated check post (ICP) functioning to facilitate cross-border trade, only marginal trade was recorded at a few of these LCSs. The ICP at Sutarkandi operates much below potential, indicating the underutilisation of export infrastructure. The inland container depot (ICD) at Amingaon currently caters to mainly tea exports and deals with full container loads, making it inaccessible to small exporters with less than container load shipments. Besides, the trains from the ICD to Kolkata port run on excess capacity with one-way traffic only, leading to dead freight costs. Its 1,983 km long inland waterway network remains largely underutilised despite the cost advantage the usage is limited to the transportation of construction-based materials. It is expected that the 'Assam Inland Water Transport Project' will transform the quality of inland water transport. Assams rail connectivity, crucial for the movement of bulk cargo, also remains underutilised. Of six operational airports, only the Guwahati airport serves international destinations, and connectivity with other state capital is very low. Assams geostrategic location places it at the centre of Indias Act East policy and makes it an important node in the various economic and transport cooperation programmes active in the region such as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC). India Exim Bank research shows that Assam has the potential to target merchandise exports of $710.3 million by 2024-25 if it focuses on building export capabilities in the identified sectors. Products with high export potential include a mix of industrial products like gas turbines and agro-based products like tea extracts and concentrates, hair preparations and sesamum seeds. Reclaim Tea Market Assam must reclaim its position as the global leader in tea by introducing capacity-building initiatives among small tea farmers, becoming an aggregator for tea exports from the NER and dedicating resources for premium tea varieties such as oolong, white, green and purple tea, among others. The state also has numerous geographical indicator-tagged products such as Muga silk, Orthodox tea, Judima wine and agricultural products such as Boka chaul, Joha rice and Chouwa rice. While some of these have global demand, albeit, in limited volume, exports of GI-tagged products remain below potential. This can change if the state develops effective branding strategies along with the implementation of robust IP protection and capacity-building initiatives. Similarly, the versatility of bamboo needs to be leveraged by exploring its uses in different sectors along with the potential of converting its waste into a clean and sustainable energy source. Many of these GI-tagged products such as muga silk and tea and other agricultural and allied products such as chillies, rice, banana, pineapple and fish have also been identified under the District as Export Hub initiative of the government. A dedicated focus on branding, diversification and providing adequate infrastructure such as cold storage and test labs would empower the districts to emerge as export hubs. The state has the potential to become a services hub, given favourable factors such as a large pool of educated and English-speaking population and moderate climatic conditions, provided it ensures adequate infrastructure, power availability and internet connectivity. Being a landlocked state, it is important for Assam to strengthen the multimodal connectivity to enable smoother movement of goods in a cost-effective manner. The Karimganj district which shares border with Bangladesh enjoys the advantage of being connected via multi-modal transportation. Setting up of industries such as auto parts, cement and food processing in the vicinity can help transform the region. Karimganj can be developed as an export hub by providing incentives such as tax rebates and infrastructural services such as common warehousing and cold storage. To ensure better utilisation of ICD Amingaon, the central and state governments may explore value-chain linkages between Assam and Kolkata for generating two-way traffic and the possibilities of starting cross-border freight and transhipment services with Bangladesh from the ICD. The operationalisation of the Jogighopa multi-modal logistic park also needs to be expedited. There exists incredible export opportunities in Assam. Enhancing the trade competitiveness of the state would facilitate greater socio-economic development of the entire NER and contribute to the growth of India. Rahul Mazumdar & Sakshi Garg are economists with India Exim Bank. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The moniker often given to Iran, that of being the quintessential survivalist state, is not without merit. With both its highs and lows, Tehran has been at odds with the US since the 1979 revolution, and yet maintained a level of stability despite all challenges. Since then, Iran has on and off been under economic and political isolation while having the fourth largest proven oil reserves in the world. The geopolitics of West Asia (Middle East) through much of its contemporary history has revolved around oil, a commodity responsible for economic growth in the West and for the riches of regional powers such as Saudi Arabia. Oil Aplenty, But Sanctions However, post-revolution Iran missed many of these developments as its tensions with the West spiralled and its energy infrastructure crumbled. Others, including India whose ONGC Videsh discovered the Farzad B gas field, also took a step back as per these new geopolitical realities led by a preferred tool of pressure employed by the West: Sanctions. However, things have been gradually changing. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, also known as the Iran nuclear deal) was a fork in the road for the historical animosity between the West and Tehran. The latters nuclear programme brought an immense sense of urgency in capitals such as Washington to re-engage as Irans nuclear bargaining chip came into play. The JCPOAs ambit was simple: Ease sanctions and allow economic growth in the country in exchange for strong checks and balances on its nuclear installations. The deal, while shackled by its own ambit, was the best workable option, until US President Donald Trump unceremoniously withdrew from it in 2018. Such measures are also a product of the fact that today the US in itself is a major energy power: both as producer and exporter, which it was not in critical eras such as during the Cold War. These realities of that time in turn shaped its foreign policy towards the Middle East to a large extent. A Changing World Order In May 2023, Iran sold its highest amount of oil, topping levels not witnessed since 2018. The US-led sanctions regimes aims of keeping the Iranian economy in isolation did work intermittently, which eventually led Tehran to build a domestic consensus to begin talks with the P5+1 group of states (UN Security Council permanent members + Germany). The Iranians mitigated their risk by continuation of their programme at a reduced, yet steady, pace led by an inherent mistrust of the US within its political classes, specifically the conservatives, who took over the leadership in August 2021 (ironically the history of Iranian nuclear programme dates back to the Atoms for Peace speech by President Dwight D Eisenhower and the pre-1979 US-Iran relations). The collapse of the JCPOA soon met with global tectonic shifts in the shape of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and an increasingly assertive China. Beijing has built itself as a nucleus of an alternative order challenging the post-WWII West-constructed liberal order. Despite this new ecosystem being built, it has much less in common between the states leading charge than the current international system. Iranian Oil Finds Takers Irans largest oil export markets today are China, Syria, and Venezuela. Asia is going to be the biggest market for hydrocarbons over the next decades, with China, India, South Korea, and Japan leading the charge. States in Southeast Asia will also require much more in the future to fuel growth. Energy at the end of the day will be sourced from wherever it is most affordable. The fact that Iran started to sell cheaper oil to China than Russia shows its pragmatism at work across geopolitical lines. The other important aspect of Iranian oil is that it directly impacts global pricing, with Tehran being a founding member of the cartel-like Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Oddly, a flush of Iranian oil in the market is undermining production cuts by the likes of Saudi Arabia looking to increase profits by increasing prices. Beyond China And The US The power of sanctions is increasingly being questioned, the difference in future will be that it wont be only the countries under sanctions, but those who rush to avoid getting stuck in between an oncoming China-US battle for global supremacy will increasingly look for alternatives. Increasing debates about de-dollarisation from sectors of business where such arguments would have been unfathomable till recently shows fundamental changes in thought (action, meanwhile, is a whole different ball game). Iran is operating, with increasing success, amidst these modalities. Its actions are not unusual. A country like India, a net importer of oil, had hugged Saddam Hussein and agreed to stop import of Iranian oil when the situation needed such a drastic stance, as per demands of realpolitik. States act in national interest first, whether others like it or not. Irans realities are no different. Kabir Taneja is Fellow, Strategic Studies Programme, Observer Research Foundation. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. The Congress on Wednesday gave a notice on moving a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi-led central government in the Lok Sabha over the Manipur issue. Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi will move the motion, party's whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore told PTI. Although the decision to move the no-confidence motion is that of the united opposition, Gogoi, who is an MP from Assam, will move the motion, he said. "The INDIA alliance is together and this is the idea of the INDIA alliance. Congress party's leader will be moving the motion. We feel that it is our duty to use this last weapon to break the arrogance of the government and make them speak on Manipur," Tagore asserted. He said the notice for the motion was submitted in the Speaker's office at 9.20 am on Wednesday. Meanwhile, BRS MP Nama Nageshwar Rao also submitted a notice to move a no-confidence motion against the Union Council of Ministers. The K Chandrashekar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is not a part of the INDIA alliance. The alliance of 26 opposition parties, INDIA, had decided to move the motion in order to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak in Parliament on the Manipur violence, senior leaders of the front said. The Congress earlier also issued a whip in the Lower House of Parliament for its members to be present in its parliamentary office by 10.30 am on Wednesday to "discuss some important issues". Although the no-confidence motion by opposition parties is bound to fail the numbers test, opposition parties argue that they will win the battle of perception by cornering the government on the Manipur issue during the debate. They contend that it is also a strategy to make the prime minister speak in Parliament on the crucial matter even as the government has been insisting that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reply to the debate on the Manipur situation. Earlier in the day, the opposition parties met at the chamber of the Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to chalk out the future course of action. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov made a comment on the results of trilateral talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan. July 26, 2023, 10:34 Sergey Lavrov assesses the results of the Moscow meeting of Armenian, Azerbaijani, Russian FMs productive STEPANAKERT, JULY 26, ARTSAKHPRES-ARMENPRESS: The comment reads as follows, Today we held productive talks with our colleagues: the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan J.A.Bayramov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia A.S.Mirzoyan. First, two rounds of bilateral Russian-Azerbaijani and Russian-Armenian negotiations were organized. We discussed the state of our bilateral relations and outlined further steps to implement the agreements reached at the highest levels. Then the three of us met to discuss the regional agenda, primarily with regard to the situation in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. We presented to our interlocutors the assessments of the Russian side, taking into account the reports made by the Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh, the steps that it is highly desirable to take promptly, without delay in the interests of providing the population of Karabakh with food, medicine, basic necessities, and ensuring uninterrupted electricity and gas supply. This is in the interests of ordinary people, Armenians, residents of the region. Russia, as a key mediator in the peace process since the signing of the trilateral declaration of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on November 9, 2020, is interested in resolving the crisis as soon as possible in full accordance with the tripartite statements that the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia adopted in 2020, 2021 and 2022. We spoke about another important provision of these agreements. I mean ensuring unhindered movement, unblocking transport and economic communications throughout the region. Particular attention was paid to the issues of delimitation, which are closely related to the entire set of issues under discussion, and the issues of the early conclusion of a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan. We hope that the signing of that treaty will be the culmination of the large-scale negotiation process, which will bring to end the efforts of Armenians and Azerbaijanis initiated during their tripartite meetings with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The path is not easy. There are many complex and important issues to be resolved. The most sensitive of them was and remains the issue of guaranteeing the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in the context of ensuring the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in full accordance with the 1991 Declaration signed by the leaders of the former Soviet republics in Alma-Ata. Its effectiveness has been confirmed today by both the Azerbaijani and Armenian leadership. The work on the peace treaty is being built in accordance with this. The Armenian side understands the need to convince the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to meet as soon as possible with Azerbaijani representatives to agree on the rights arising from the relevant legislation and from international obligations (in this case, of Azerbaijan), including numerous conventions on ensuring the rights of national minorities. The Azerbaijani side is ready to provide the same guarantees on a reciprocal basis with respect to persons living on its territory. Armenians are ready to do the same with respect to the application of all conventions to citizens residing in the Republic of Armenia. The issues are not easy. I hope that today's discussions will help give a positive impetus to the negotiation process in these and other areas. The closest result at this stage is the achievement of an agreement in a trilateral working group headed by three deputy prime ministers who are engaged in agreeing on specific issues of unblocking transport communications in the region. In this context, prospects will also open up for the implementation of promising projects in the transport sector, which already have not only a regional, but also a wider character. We agreed to try to resume the dialogue along the second "track" between representatives of civil society and political experts. We also hope (we proposed this today) to start a trilateral dialogue through parliamentarians. We hope that the negotiation process will continue. We understand the interest of both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides to rely on mediators not only in the person of the Russian Federation, but also others. We welcome the desire of those who are sincerely interested in helping Baku and Yerevan find agreements, who, like us, are working in this direction. But there should be no attempts to artificially impose certain agreements not based on the interests of the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples, but for the sake of beautiful headlines in the media, for the sake of geopolitical and domestic political considerations. Our colleagues thanked us for this initiative. We will continue vigorous work on preparing further meetings, and there are plans to hold another summit of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia this year. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "silence" over Manipur in Parliament and asked him to make a statement in Parliament on the situation in the northeastern state. Kumar, the JD(U) supremo, also said that Opposition parties' demand for a statement from PM Modi is "justified". "Demand of Opposition parties is justified" the PM must make a statement in Parliament on the current situation in ethnic strife-torn Manipur. There is no sign of an end to the violence. Innocent people are being killed "women are being brutally tortured," Kumar told reporters here. The assault on women in Manipur is "horrific and shocking", he said. "Women were paraded naked. Such incidents are highly condemnable. The PM must make a statement on Manipur in Parliament", he said. Tension mounted in Manipur after a May 4 video surfaced last week, showing two women from one of the warring communities in the northeastern state being paraded naked by a mob from the other side. The Manipur Police have so far arrested six people in connection with the incident. More than 160 people have lost their lives and several were injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts. 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 Tech major and Facebook's parent Meta has signed an initial pact with the Indian government to partner on artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, amid a visit by the company's policy czar, former British deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, to the country. The objective of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is to establish a framework for collaboration and cooperation between India AI, the country's official programme to promote the development of the technology, and make Metas open-source AI models available for use by Indian AI ecosystem. Immediately after Clegg's previous visit to India in November last year, Moneycontrol had exclusively reported that the government told Meta that India can use its position as Chair of the Global Partnership for Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) to push for innovation-friendly regulations at the multilateral forum if the company became its trusted AI partner. India had taken over as the chair of the GPAI for 2022-23 at a meeting of the body in Tokyo in November 2022. In a press statement on July 26, the government said that India's official AI programme and Meta may also consider establishing a Centre of Excellence to nurture the AI startup ecosystem. "Leveraging Meta's AI research models like LlaMA, Massively Multilingual Speech, and No Language Left Behind, the partnership will focus on building datasets in Indian Languages to enable translation and large language models, with priority given to low-resource languages," the government said. "This effort will foster social inclusion, improve government service delivery, and spur innovation using large language models, Generative AI, cognitive systems, and translation models," it added. The partnership will seek to enhance accessibility to AI compute resources for researchers, startups, and organisations with limited resources. Knowledge sharing and collaboration in AI & Emerging Technologies will be facilitated through workshops, seminars, conferences, and similar platforms. Nick Clegg, President, Global Affairs, Meta, said, Metas open approach to AI innovation is complementary to Indias leadership on digital issues. Giving businesses, startups and researchers access to these technologies can open up a world of social and economic opportunities." "India AI is an exciting programme and with close collaboration between government and industry, we can strengthen Indias digital leadership and help to ensure AI tools are built for Indias unique needs," he added. Passengers on a 12-hour-long British Airways flight were served fried chicken of the KFC brand after a catering gaffe led to all the food which was loaded on the plane being disposed of, reports said on July 26. The incident took place on June 23 on the BA252 flight that took off from Turks and Caicos - a British Overseas Territory close to the Bahamas - and arrived in London after an air journey of 12 hours. A Twitter user Andrew Bailey, who claimed to be onboard the flight, said he was told that a "chilling container with food failed on the plane", which led to the food that was loaded on the aircraft to be thrown out. After the aircraft took a mid-journey stop at the Bahamas, the crew arranged for KFC fried chicken to serve the passengers. @British_Airways just landed @HeathrowAirport after a 12.5 hour flight BA252 from Turks and Caicos with no catering! BA had to serve @kfc at Nassau giving some lucky passengers 1 piece of chicken. The container with the plane catering wasnt chilled so all thrown away!! pic.twitter.com/U5IcBD2hRy Andrew Bailey (@aktivandrew) July 24, 2023 An Instagram user, who shared a video of the flight attendants serving pieces of chicken to passengers onboard from a KFC bucket, said "only one chicken leg per passenger" was served. "...they then said they would be handing out vouchers as we left the plane which myself and travel partner never received. Absolute disgrace, how do you forget the catering for a 12 hour flight? (sic)," the user further added. Also Read | British Airways witnessing growth in demand in India: CEO Sean Doyle View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lorockmor working dogs / Ian morgan (@lorockmor_working_dogs) A British Airways spokesperson, who spoke to news.com.au, defended the flight crew, saying that they had to take a decision based on the limited available options before them. "Our teams sprung into action and made sure our customers onboard our flight had something to eat." "We apologise to customers that their full meal service was not available and that we had to wing it on this occasion," the spokesperson was further quoted as saying. While a number of social media users condemned the airline for its conduct, a few also came out in its defence. "As someone who is a flight attendant with a different airline, I can understand the frustration that the crew must have gone through to try and come up with a solution. However, it was the fault of the catering company, not British Airways," one Twitter user commented. Divya Gokulnath, the co-founder of beleaguered edtech startup Byju's, claimed that her husband and CEO Byju Raveendran would travel nine cities in a week and even take classes in packed stadiums to teach students Maths. Gokulnath was tracing the journey of the company in a video that she had shared on LinkedIn a month ago. Recollecting the start of the company as Byju's Classes in 2007, Gokulnath said, "With just a rented classroom and a single batch of 40 students, we embarked on a journey to revolutionise education in India. But because what we taught and how we taught was unique, that one batch led to so many more batches and soon, we had to shift to big auditoriums." "Byju Raveendran would travel to nine cities every week to teach students across India seven days of the week," she added. Gokulnath said that as more students enrolled in their classes, they began taking classes in stadiums. "We hired a stadium. It was packed to capacity. Byju would stand in the middle of a six-sided screen and take Math classes. Kids would sit in pin-drop silence and listen to Math in a series of workshops," she said. Calling these sessions "Math concerts", Divya Gokulnath added that her husband took classes in stadiums such as the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi and turned them into the "world's biggest classroom" with 25,000 students. "Nobody thought it was possible, but we did it," Divya Gokulnath said in the video. Now, however, there are reports of Byju Raveendran breaking down in tears while defending his company from multiple controversies following the resignation of three of its board members and its auditor. The company has also vacated its largest office space in Bengaluru, as it seeks to cut costs and shore up liquidity amid a delay in funding. In June, Byjus came under the scanner of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) over non-payment of PF dues. The company paid provident fund (PF) only for 738 employees for June, despite agreeing with the EPFO to clear payments before July 15. In another cost-cutting initiative, Byju's also laid off more than 1,000 employees last month. Read more: Im screaming because: Byjus employees meltdown over incentives. Viral video Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani on Wednesday visited IIT Bombay and said that he owes all his achievements to his alma mater. His comment comes a month after he donated Rs 315 crore to the institute to mark 50 years of his association with it. "A special day for me," Nilekani tweeted, "Returned to IIT Bombay 50 years after I first entered the institution. I am what I am because of IIT Bombay. I am confident that this hallowed institute is on its way from being India's best to being one of the world's best!" A special day for me: Returned to @iitbombay 50 years after I first entered the institution. I am what I am because of IIT Bombay. I am confident that this hallowed institute is on its way from being India's best to being one of the world's best! pic.twitter.com/UaW71LEaqJ Nandan Nilekani (@NandanNilekani) July 26, 2023 Meanwhile, IIT Bombay announced that it has named its iconic main building after Nandan Nilekani. The building will be named "Nandan Nilekani Main Building", the institute said in a statement. "Celebrating 65 years of IITB's Pursuit of Excellence A special felicitation ceremony was held to honour distinguished alum Nandan Nilekani Class of 1973. In recognition of his service and support, IITB's BoG deliberated and decided to dedicate its iconic main building to him," the institute tweeted with some photos with their alumnus. Celebrating 65 years of IITB's Pursuit of Excellence A special felicitation ceremony held to honour distinguished alum @NandanNilekani Class of 1973. In recognition of his service & support, IITB's BoG deliberated & decided to dedicate its iconic Main Building to him. pic.twitter.com/NIqAeuylLQ IIT Bombay (@iitbombay) July 26, 2023 Nilekani's contribution is possibly among the single largest donations made by an alumnus in India. Overall, he has committed Rs 400 crore in donations to the institute following his previous grants of Rs 85 crore. Nilekani joined IIT Bombay in 1973 for a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Speaking about the donation, Nilekani said, IIT-Bombay has been a cornerstone in my life, shaping my formative years and laying the foundation for my journey. As I celebrate 50 years of my association with this esteemed Institution, I am grateful to give forward and contribute to its future." Read more: Bill Gates meets Infosys' Nandan Nilekani, wife Rohini to discuss philanthropy The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on July 26 refused to restrain Go First from using leased aircraft for its operations, noting that those aircraft are essential to keep Go First as a going concern company. According to the tribunal's order "the DGCA has not deregistered the aircraft, which means that they are available to Go First for use to resume operations. Therefore, as long as the aircrafts/engines are registered, they can be used for operating or flying to keep Go First as a going concern, however, within the safeguards/safety norms prescribed by the regulators." The NCLT also dismissed the plea by lessors to inspect their aircraft and engine and held that they have in their previous order from June 15 already directed the Resolution Professional (RP) to maintain the same. The tribunal has granted relief to the lessors only to the extent of protection and maintenance of the aircraft/engines by the RP. It is to be noted that the lessors had sought some interim orders from the tribunal, till their applications are decided. The tribunal will on August 4 hear applications by the lessor to exempt them from moratorium as they had terminated lease agreements beforehand. The Delhi High Court will hear applications by lessors against DGCA to deregister their aircraft on August 3. NCLT has further held that Delhi HC's July 5 order is an interim order passed in its writ jurisdiction and no law has been laid down, however lessors have filed applications in the insolvency proceedings under the IBC and hence they need not consider what has been held by the High Court. The order was passed in applications filed by lessors such as Bluesky 31 leasing Co. Ltd, Bluesky 19 leasing Co. Ltd, Jackson Square Aviation Ireland Limited, SMBC Afro Engine Lease B, Engine Lease Finance B.V and BOC Aviation (Ireland) Limited. On July 12, a two judge bench of the Delhi High Court refused to entertain an appeal by Go First's Resolution Professional (RP) challenging a previous order that had allowed lessors to conduct inspections of 30 aircraft and their parts at regular intervals. The court upheld the decision, granting permission to the lessors to carry out inspections regularly. The court, however, permitted Go First to continue maintaining the aircraft. On July 5, a single-judge bench of the Delhi High Court granted permission to the lessors to inspect and perform maintenance work on their 30 leased aircraft and their parts twice a month. The order also prohibited Go First's resolution professionals and employees from removing, replacing, or taking out any part or component of the leased aircraft without the explicit permission of the lessors. Order upheld The aircraft lessors, including Pembroke Aviation, Accipiter Investments Aircraft 2 Ltd, EOS Aviation and SMBC Aviation, filed a writ with the Delhi High Court seeking instructions to release the planes leased to Go First, which is currently facing financial distress. On May 22, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) upheld the National Company Law Tribunal's (NCLT) order to admit Go First's plea for insolvency. On May 10, the principal bench of the NCLT in Delhi accepted Go First's voluntary plea to initiate an insolvency resolution process. As a result, the tribunal appointed an Insolvency Resolution Professional (IRP), suspended the board and imposed a moratorium on the airline's financial obligations. On July 20, the Bengaluru bench of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) admitted Coffee Day Global to insolvency after IndusInd Bank moved a petition alleging that the former committed a default of Rs. 94 crore. Coffee Day Global Limited owns 495 cafes in 158 cities and 285 CCD Value Express kiosks. There are 38,810 vending machines that dispense coffee in corporate workplaces and hotels under the brand. The order passed by a bench of NCLT comprising Justice (retd) Krishnavalli and technical member Manoj Kumar Dubey came nearly a year after IndusInd bank filed the petition in August 2022. The order, which Moneycontrol has reviewed, notes that Coffee Day obtained various credit facilities from IndusInd bank from 2018. The facilities included secured overdraft EPC/PSFC/PCFC/FBD/FBP, Bank Guarantee, Performance Guarantee, short term loan as export advance and also derivative limits/ forward cover. IndusInds arguments: IndusInd bank argued that Coffee Day hypothecated all its current asset to obtain all the credit facilities sanctioned to it by the bank and executed the Deed of Hypothecation in April 2018. According the bank, in February 2019, Coffee Day obtained a Rs.115 core loan with the facilities amounting to Rs. 186.25 crore. Subsequently in November 2019, enhanced Coffee Days credit limit to Rs. 130.59 crore, to obtain this facility, the company had mortgaged an asset belonging to a company called Classic Coffee Curing Works. According to IndusInd Coffee Day and its Guarantor failed to satisfy its liability, in spite of having more than sufficient resources. Thus, ultimately, the companys account was classified a Non-Performing Asset (NPA) in June 2020. IndusInd argued Coffee Day has been irregular in repayment of loans since the year 2018, which was one of the causes for change in management subsequent to the untimely demise of the promoter V.G Siddhartha in July 2019. Hence, the default committed by the company was not owning to pandemic. IndusInd also argued that Coffee Day has been attempting to restructure its liabilities and made a payment of Rs. 20 Crore in December 2022, towards its offer to make restructuring of the loan liabilities Coffee Day Globals arguments: Coffee Day argued that it had not committed any default prior to March 2020 during which the loan facility was serviced, the company further argued that the default was committed during the period of suspension of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code IBC), 2016 during the pandemic. According to Coffee Day, IndusInd does not allege anything about the companys financial ill health. Coffee Day alleged that the IndusInd was trying to use NCLT and IBC to recover its dues, contrary to the intention of the law. NCLTs judgment: NCLT held that while Coffee Day had raised many arguments on the nature of petition filed by IndusInd, it has nowhere disputed the default amount, nor contended the banks submissions regarding the dates on which it defaulted. The tribunal on being satisfied that there has indeed been a default of payment by Coffee Day Global, admitted the plea of insolvency and ordered moratorium to kick in. The tribunal appointed Shailendra Ajmera as the interim resolution professional of the company. It is to be noted that Ajmera is also the resolution professional of the grounded airline Go First. An Indian Reddit user claims to have found at least 10 cockroaches in a sealed bottle of honey. The Reddit user shared a picture of the product which shows insects floating at the top of the honey jar. He said that finding cockroaches in a sealed bottle of honey from a leading brand indicated problems in their manufacturing setup. He also alleged that he had reached out to the brands customer care but did not receive a proper response from them. How to resolve this so that these companies do not take common consumers for a ride? the user asked fellow Redditors as he shared a picture of the adulterated honey on the United States of India community. His post has been upvoted more than 200 times on Reddit, where several users advised him to register a formal complaint with concerned authorities. This is a serious hygiene problem, you can write to FSSAI (tag them on twitter with these images) or lodge a complaint on their website. Pretty sure things like consumer courts would also be helpful, wrote one commenter. Seek legal recourse, another advised. As a Food Industry Professional ... Write an agressive email with photos, Batch Number and location of purchase also mention to put this up on LinkedIn... a third Reddit user said. Meanwhile, several other users labelled the picture 'disgusting' and 'revolting' as they slammed the brand for shipping sub-standard products. 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 Jack Ma-backed Ant Group is planning a restructuring that will break off some non-core operations of its China financial-related business, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The Alibaba Group affiliate is looking at excluding its blockchain, database management services and international businesses from a main entity that will be used to apply for a financial holding license in China, the report said. Once the restructuring is complete and Ant secures the license, it can prepare for a public listing in Hong Kong instead of reviving the dual Shanghai-Hong Kong listing plan that was suspended by Chinese authorities in 2020, Bloomberg said. Ant Group declined to comment on the report, while Alibaba did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Earlier this month, Ant Group announced a surprise share buyback that valued the fintech giant at $78.54 billion, well below the $315 billion touted in the suspended IPO. Alibaba said it would not participate in the buyback but would maintain its shareholding in Ant. However, some Chinese state-owned firms that took part in Ant's earlier funding rounds are planning to participate in the buyback and shareholders have until early August to make a decision, Bloomberg reported. 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 Commentary By Michael Zwaagstra If you have young children, theres a good chance youre already looking forward to sending them back to school in September. No doubt there was a sense of excitement when they came home for the summer. But now the weeks are dragging on and the kids are glued to their screens. Its often assumed that the two-month summer break started as a way of making it easier for children to work on the farm during the summer. However, this is a myth. In reality, the summer break began in cities where wealthy families and other suburbanites made plans to flee the summertime heat. Shutting schools down during the summer accommodated their schedules and made it possible for teachers to have an extended break. Regardless of how the summer break began, circumstances are now different. For schools that have air conditioning or are in areas that dont get as hot, the outside temperature is less of an issue. We also know that an extended break is detrimental to student learning. Experts have even coined a term for itsummer learning loss. Although studies are mixed, one thing that comes through loud and clear is that students forget a lot of what theyve learned during the school year, which is why teachers usually begin the new school year in September with a significant amount of review. If they dont do this, students will fall further behind. Importantly, summer learning loss is most pronounced among students from disadvantaged homes because these are the students whose parents are least able to hire academic tutors, pay for summer camp or buy books for their home libraries. As a result, their summer learning loss is the most substantial. While an extended summer break is the norm in North America, its not universal in other parts of the world. For example, the Australian school year is divided into four terms, with each term lasting nine to 11 weeks. Their summer break goes from mid-December to mid-January and lasts only about one month. Japans school year begins in April and goes until March and has three terms of roughly equal length. Here in Canada, some schools in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario have year-round schooling, also known as a balanced school year. Typically, these schools have a one-month summer break (usually July) and several shorter breaks throughout the school year. The total number of school days remains the same. Obviously, year-round schooling isnt for everyone. Some families thrive on a traditional calendar and make good use of their summer break. Anyone who prefers the current calendar should be able to attend a school that operates under this schedule. However, given the obvious advantages of year-round schooling, its unfortunate that this option is not more widely available. Summer learning loss is a significant problem and shortening the summer break, while adding in shorter breaks throughout the rest of the year, seems like a sensible way to address this problem. Unfortunately, provincial regulations tend to be quite rigid, and this results in a one-size-fits-all school calendar. For example, 20 years ago the Manitoba government decreed that the school year cannot begin prior to Labour Day. This means that Manitoba schools cannot start in August, even if they wanted to. Ironically, the government admitted that this decision had more to do with accommodating vacation schedules and promoting tourism than with helping students learn. Even in provinces that allow more flexibility, public schools can only revise their calendar if its approved by their school board. While some school boards are open to year-round schooling, others are not. So whats the solution? Simply put, loosen regulations on when schools can be open and also allow parents to enroll their children in the school of their choice. This would enable school administrators to accommodate the wishes of parents. As long as students receive a quality education, it shouldnt matter which school they attend or when their academic breaks are scheduled. Hopefully, politicians will take some time this summer to reflect on how they can make positive changes to our education system. If they dont, we can expect summer learning loss to remain a problem for years to come. Michael Zwaagstra is a Senior Fellow at the Fraser Institute. A large cargo ship with nearly 3,000 cars on board caught fire off the coast of the Netherlands, according to Dutch-based BNO News. The rescue mission is underway for 23 crew members of the ship. As per the Dutch publication, an electric car caught fire on a vessel, and the fire rapidly spread, raising concerns about the possibility of the ship sinking. During the emergency, several crew members were compelled to jump into the water, but they were later located and rescued by the Coast Guard. This story is developing and more information is awaited in this regard. 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 In a jolt to Imran Khan, Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the ousted prime minister's plea to stay the criminal proceedings against him in the Toshakhana corruption case. The case pertains to the allegations that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party chief had "deliberately concealed" details of the gifts he retained from the Toshakhana a repository where presents handed to government officials from foreign officials are kept during his time as the prime minister and proceeds from their reported sales. Khan is accused of misusing his 2018 to 2022 premiership to buy and sell gifts in state possession that were received during visits abroad and worth more than Rs 140 million (USD 635,000). Khan, 70, had approached the apex court after being denied relief in the case by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the Geo News channel reported. The Election Commission of Pakistan on October 21 last year, disqualified the former prime minister in the Toshakhana case for making "false statements and incorrect declaration". In May, a trial court rejected Khan's petition challenging the maintainability of the case and indicted the PTI chief, who denied all the allegations of misdeclaration of gifts. Subsequently, Khan challenged the trial court's decision before the IHC, which sent the case back to the trial court for re-examination. On July 8, the trial court concluded that the ECP's petition is maintainable and proceeded further against the former premier who then approached the apex court for relief. During Wednesday's hearing, Justice Yahya Afridi of the two-member bench remarked that the apex court will not interfere in the trial court's matters in the Toshakhana corruption case. However, it urged the IHC to decide three of Khan's pending petitions challenging the court's decision to return the matter to the trial court after his lawyer Khawaja Haris informed the bench that there are multiple petitions related to the jurisdiction of the trial court and transfer of the Toshakhana case pending in the high court, the Express Tribune newspaper reported. Khan is facing more than 140 cases across the country and faces charges like terrorism, violence, blasphemy, corruption and murder since he was ousted from power in April last year after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China and Afghanistan. Members of the U.S. Congress, the president, vice president and senior executive branch officials and their relatives will be banned from trading stocks under bipartisan legislation introduced on Tuesday. Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said in a brief hallway interview that she and Republican Senator Josh Hawley formally offered the "Ban Stock Trading for Government Officials Act" after unveiling details of the measure earlier this month. It would build on the decade-old Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) law that aims to combat insider trading by members of Congress and their employees. The new bill would not make any exceptions for officials' trading in blind trusts and would impose penalties of varying degrees on members of Congress and executive branch officials. Additional civil penalties could occur for cases that involve "substantial monetary value" or are "extraordinary in nature," according to a summary of the bill provided by the two senators. It was unclear when the legislation might be considered in committee or whether it will advance to the full Senate for debate and votes anytime this year. Also under the legislation, Washington officials would have to file reports whenever they receive grants, loans, contracts or other payments from the federal government, excluding salary compensation or tax refunds. Penalties for failing to file transaction reports under the STOCK Act would also be increased to $500 from the current $200, according to the summary. The summary made no mention of including U.S. Supreme Court justices under the stock trading ban. Senate Democrats meanwhile are trying to advance legislation setting an ethics code for the U.S. Supreme Court, following media reports that some justices have not disclosed luxury trips and certain real estate transactions. Leading Republicans have opposed the measure arguing the high-court should police itself. After the release of Prince Harrys bombshell memoir Spare, the royal family allegedly have an action plan to avoid another heir versus spare feud similar to Harry and Prince William. William, who is next in line for the throne, shares three children with Kate Middleton and the couple are hoping to avoid breeding any deep-rooted animosity between their kids, according to some royal experts. Angela Levin, a biographer who has written about Harry and the extended royal family, claims the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will need to avoid letting their kids be influenced by their estranged uncle. Kate and William are there to help him [George], Levin told OK magazine in reference to Prince George, 10, who is second in line for the throne after his grandfather and father. But he needs to be kept away from Harrys negative influence. More from SheKnows To an extent, Harry also agreed that his brothers kids could follow in his footsteps, though he wasnt as critical as Levin. I still feel a responsibility knowing that out of those three children, at least one will end up like me, the spare. And that hurts, that worries me, he wrote in his book, referencing William and Kates children George, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5. Prince George, Kate Middleton, Prince Louis, Prince William, Princess Charlotte on September 7, 2022. But Levin believes Kate and William will prevent their kids from following in Harrys footsteps. George doesnt have a dysfunctional family, unlike William and Harry growing up, so he should fare better. Kate and William are there to help him, Levin said. In his memoir, Harry painted a picture of a life of feeling sidelined in comparison to his older brother. A royal biographer, Christopher Andersen, the author of The King: The Life of King Charles III says the senior royals will have to ensure Charlotte and Louis dont feel the same. Click here to read the full article. They dont want to feel invisible in his shadow, Andersen said. The royal family does not want another kid writing a book another edition of Spare, Andersen added. Obviously, Harry was very hurt by being in the shadow of his brother. I think theyre aware of that. Story continues Before you go, click here to see our favorite photos of future king Prince George. Prince George Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A fire fighting aircraft drops water over a wildfire close to the village of Vati in the southern part of the Greek island of Rhodes on Tuesday. (AFP via Getty Images) An easyJet pilot warned passengers to get off a plane bound for Rhodes seconds before take-off, it has been reported. About 19,000 people have been evacuated on the Greek island because of wildfires - with many forced to sleep at the airport - and a further 2,500 on Corfu. There were an estimated 10,000 British tourists on Rhodes before evacuations began, where temperatures have hovered above the 35C mark. Follow the latest live coverage of the Greek wildfires here The easyJet pilot gave people on board the flight from London Gatwick one last chance to disembark before heading for Rhodes, the BBC said. Its reporter, Gwyn Loader, was on board the flight on Monday, which was less than a quarter full. He said there were only 37 passengers on the plane, which had a capacity of 180. Latest news on Greek wildfires - How are travel companies responding to the Rhodes wildfires? (Evening Standard, 2 mins) - 'Living a nightmare': Rhodes fire survivors recount escape (AFP, 3 mins) - Tui cancels all flights to Rhodes up to Friday as tourists rescued (Sky News, 6 mins) - Britons tell of Rhodes evacuation trauma as more repatriation flights scheduled (PA Media, 4 mins) - Wildfires in Greece burn for days as more tourists evacuate (Reuters, 2 mins) An easyJet plane on the tarmac at Gatwick Airport. (File photo: Reuters) The BBC said the pilot made an announcement before take-off, giving passengers one last chance to get off the plane and rebook their flights for another time. Loader said eight people took up the offer and got off the flight, including one boy who was crying. The pilot said over the tannoy: Travelling to Rhodes for a holiday at the moment is a terrible idea." He pointed out that some people were "stranded and sleeping at the airport". Watch: Foreign Office advice on Rhodes is 'stick close to your tour company' The pilot said: "As far as Im concerned, this flight is being operated on an emergency basis. If you want to get off flight, you are welcome to do so. "I dont know in what capacity you are travelling, but if you are travelling for leisure, my sincere recommendation is its a bad idea. Story continues While some British airlines and tour operators have cancelled flights in and out of Rhodes, others, such as easyJet and Ryanair, are operating as normal. The pilot's warning came despite Greek officials saying Rhodes and Corfu are safe and remain open for business to tourists. A forest in flames near the village of Vati in the south of the island of Rhodes, Greece. (Getty Images) The UK government has stopped short of advising Britons not to travel to the two islands, saying: "If you are planning to travel to any areas affected by wildfires, please check with your travel operator or hotel prior to travel that the area you plan to visit." Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday: My paramount priority is the safety of British nationals. The most important thing is people remain in touch with their tour operators, there are lots of flights going back and forth to be able to bring people home, and if people are in touch with their tour operators they will get the information that they need. On Tuesday, housing secretary Michael Gove insisted Greece is safe for holidaymakers. He denied to Times Radio that the Foreign Office has taken too relaxed an approach and said he plans to go on holiday in just over a week to the Greek island of Evia, which was also partially affected because of wildfires. On Monday, local Greek officials claimed the fires in Corfu were started by arsonists. Watch: British tourists describe return from Rhodes AUBURN A home improvement contractor from Preble who previously admitted to defrauding thousands of dollars from two Cayuga County couples falsely claimed that one of his relatives died in the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the Cayuga County District Attorney's Office said. Michael J. Young, 52, was in front of Judge Jon Budelmann in Cayuga County Court on Tuesdayon charges of first-degree scheme to defraud, a class E felony, and third-degree grand larceny, a class D felony. Prosecutors previously said Young took $19,000 from May through August 2022 from two couples in southern Cayuga County to perform home improvement work he never finished. He pleaded guilty to the scheme to defraud count in June. The judge sentenced Young on Tuesday to two to four years in prison for the scheme to defraud charge as a part of a previous agreement, satisfying the grand larceny count. That indeterminate two-to-four-year term is the maximum sentence for that charge. Young was also ordered to pay $7,000 in restitution to Theodore and Victoria Norman, of Summerhill, and $11,675 to Richard and Peggy Cortwright, of Locke. Both the Cortwrights and the Normans were present in the courtroom. Victoria Norman gave a victim impact statement, admonishing Young's "fast-talking ways" and his actions. Quoting the Bible in her statement, she indicated she was glad the defendant was being "held accountable." She mentioned that Young said in a letter to her and her husband that he had been attending Bible study while in jail. "I hope that you accept Jesus into your heart and into your life," Victoria Norman said. After she was finished, Budelmann asked the Cortwrights if they wanted to say anything. "I think she covered it quite well," Peggy Cortwright said, motioning to Victoria Norman. Mentioning that Young had 10 prior felonies and 15 prior misdemeanors, Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Valdina said Young "never performed any of the work" he was paid for in these instances. But Valdina did note after court that Young finished one job for the Cortwrights before securing an advance from them for work he would never complete. Young employed various excuses for not finishing the work, Valdina said, such as saying his truck broke down. Valdina also noted that one of the couples gave Young money that he claimed would be for a planet ticket to Texas, as he claimed his nephew was among the 19 children killed, along with two teachers, at Robb Elementary School in the city of Uvalde last year. Noting that Young has no known connections to the victims of that shooting, Valdina called the defendant's claim "disgusting." "To exploit that tragedy is unconscionable," Valdina said. He also said Young claimed to have a substance abuse problem. Justin Huffman, Young's attorney, said he did not feel his client's addiction should be treated flippantly. Huffman added that he hopes Young gets recovery help while incarcerated. Speaking in court, Young said he had "done everything I can." Budelmann noted Young's criminal history stretches back to the 1980s and said Young's comments both in court and his pre-sentence investigation report about making amends and doing everything he can sounded "hollow to the court." Budelmann pointed out that Young indicated in the report that he has no intention of paying back any restitution, contradicting his other comments. Valdina later said any money Young makes in prison can be subject to garnishment for his restitution and said after court that Young did not have any formal qualifications or license as a home improvement contractor. In court, Budelmann later addressed the Normans and the Cortwrights. "I'm sorry this happened to you," he said. "Good luck to you." After court, Valdina condemned Young's actions. "It's just infuriating to deal with. You own a home, and first of all, it's hard enough to find contractors if you have something that needs to be done. And these are very diligent people, they did the research, they looked into things, and you still wind up getting ripped off and that money's gone," Valdina said. Gateway Guam, which sells hemp products, is shown Monday, July 24, 2023, in Chalan Pago. The local government is weighing a postponement of a planned cannabis industry event until next year. Commonwealth Ports Authority nominees Antonio Cabrera, left, and Bruce Jorgensen, right, are seen in the Senate gallery with those who will testify before the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations on Wednesday in the Senate chamber. Sokhemrin Lemaitre, left, along with her children Thomas and Mallory, stand at the Maria Ulloa Elementary School registration table during a registration fair for the Lagu region schools of the Guam Department of Education held Tuesday, July 25, 2023. An enumerator with the 2020 Census of Guam conducts an in-person interview in this courtesy photo. About 1 in 5 people surveyed in the 2020 Island Area Census of Guam were living below the poverty line, according to newly released data. The Auburn Police Department has released more details on the arrest last month of a prominent city property owner for a charge of second-degree attempted rape. Anthony T. Bartolotta, 49, was arrested for allegedly seeking sex with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl but was actually an undercover police officer, according to a report shared with The Citizen. Bartolotta asked for an "hh (half-hour) rate" and offered to pay more for "'raw' and anal sexual intercourse," the report says. He also allegedly requested nude photos of the girl, and to see her in person. At about 6 p.m. June 8, the report says, Bartolotta drove to an address in Olympia Terrace to meet what he thought was the girl. He honked his horn at an officer posing as the girl's aunt and remained at the address for more than 30 seconds, then left when the girl did not appear outside as he requested. He was arrested June 21 for the Class D felony. Bartolotta's charges have been waived for the action of a grand jury and are pending review, Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci told The Citizen. Bartolotta's attorney, Melissa Swartz, declined comment to The Citizen. Bartolotta, who owns and manages several commercial and residential properties in the Auburn area with his family's R&M Real Estate Group, was arrested along with Daniel Miller, 39, of Liverpool, and Brian Neilson, 41, of Seneca Falls. The arrests were the result of a two-week joint operation by the police department, the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office, New York State Police, the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force and the FBI to identify people seeking to engage in sexual acts with children younger than 15. Police said more victims may be identified as a result of the operation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the sheriff's office at cayugasheriff.com, call its Criminal Investigation Division at (315) 253-1610, email the Auburn Police Department at communitywatch@auburnny.gov or call its Detective Bureau at (315) 255-4705. Police said callers can remain anonymous. Auburn man among three charged with trying to arrange sex with a child An Auburn property manager is among three people charged with trying to arrange to have sex with a female child. Mary Okada was the featured speaker during the Rotary Club of Northern Guam monthly luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Guam on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. State Sen. John Mannion's congressional campaign is more than a week old and he's already facing questions about his position on abortion. Sarah Klee Hood, another Democrat who is running in the 22nd Congressional District, seized on Mannion's comments during a CitrusTV interview about whether he thinks there should be abortion restrictions. He responded, "Of course there should be. There are restrictions on abortion." In a fundraising email, Klee Hood, D-DeWitt, called Mannion's remarks "alarming" and wrote that "we need Democrats who are going to fight back against Republican attacks on reproductive care... not side with them." With that pitch, Klee Hood is suggesting that Mannion is aligned with Republicans on a major issue. But is he? The Citizen reviewed Mannion's past comments on abortion and his votes since being elected to the state Senate in 2020. 2018 When Mannion, D-Geddes, first ran for state Senate in 2018, a top issue in that campaign was the Reproductive Health Act. At the time, Republicans controlled the state Senate and Democrats hoped to win the majority. If Democrats won enough seats in the state Senate, they could hold a vote on the Reproductive Health Act. Mannion's opponent, Republican candidate Bob Antonacci, opposed the Reproductive Health Act he dismissed as an attempt by Democrats to have "abortion on demand." The bill's true aim was to codify Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision, into state law. Early in his campaign, Mannion came out as a supporter of the Reproductive Health Act. He told The Citizen abortion "is a decision that should always be left to a woman and we should do everything we can to make sure we continue to keep politicians out of doctor's offices, bedrooms and homes." Republicans attacked Mannion for his stance on the Reproductive Health Act. In the final days of the campaign, flyers were left on cars outside of Syracuse-area Catholic churches that claimed Mannion supports "a radical expansion of abortion," a GOP criticism of the Reproductive Health Act. Mannion was endorsed by Planned Parenthood and other women's groups. Robin Chappelle Golston, who was then the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts, said Mannion "will be the fighter we all need" if elected to the state Senate. "It's time to stop playing politics with women's health care and send John Mannion to Albany," Chappelle Golston said in 2018. Mannion lost a close race to Antonacci, but Democrats won control of the state Senate. In 2019, the Democratic-led state Legislature passed the Reproductive Health Act and it was signed by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. 2022 Mannion was elected to the state Senate in 2020. During his first term in office, in 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that abortion is not a right protected by the Constitution. As a result of that decision, several states acted to ban or severely restrict abortion. Other bills that were part of the package prohibit misconduct charges against health care professionals who provide abortions and reproductive health care to out-of-state patients and prevent medical malpractice insurance companies from taking action against a reproductive health care provider who performs abortions for out-of-state patients. A review of the roll call votes found Mannion voted for the six bills. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the bills in June 2022. 'Restrictions' At issue in the Democratic congressional primary is Mannion's response during the CitrusTV interview. He was asked whether he thinks there should be restrictions on abortion. He responded, "Of course there should be. There are restrictions on abortion." Klee Hood has focused her criticisms on those words, but there is important context missing that may change how people view Mannion's answer. During his campaign announcement, Mannion mentioned the attacks on women's rights and highlighted what New York lawmakers have done to protect access to abortion. In a statement released on Monday, he pledged to support the Women's Health Protection Act in Congress. The bill would provide federal protections for those seeking and providing abortion services. Regarding abortion restrictions, Mannion provided an example of what he was referring to while speaking with CitrusTV. In that interview, he mentioned the "timelines" that limit when a woman can seek abortion care. In New York, a woman can get an abortion "up to and including 24 weeks of pregnancy," according to state law. After the 24-week mark, an abortion is possible if the mother's health or the pregnancy is at risk. Conclusion Mannion's stance on abortion has been clear since he first ran for state Senate in 2018. He is pro-choice and supports abortion rights for women. Even though he wasn't elected in 2018, he supported passage of the Reproductive Health Act, a 2019 abortion rights law in New York. As a state senator, Mannion has voted for abortion rights legislation. He has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood and other women's groups. Nature, history and imagination infuse new wallpapers that help a room tell a story Nature, history and imagination infuse new wallpapers that help a room tell a story View Photo In the Emmy-nominated opening credits of HBOs White Lotus, wallpaper-like images told a story : The tropical prints started off innocuously enough, but then turned ominous. Fruit started rotting, fish got tangled in seaweed, and a sense of foreboding set the whole premise of an exotic paradise on its edge. The artist, Lezio Lopes, has said he was trying to evoke the design and themes of the shows resort suites. Its a surreal example of a current trend in decor wallpapers that combine art and narrative qualities to set the mood of a room. Some take us to wild places in nature, others to wild worlds born in artists imaginations. They go way beyond your nice stripe or simple floral. They tell a story. Wallpaper in general is back in a big way, decor experts say, and often makes a statement through images or texture (many papers incorporate fabric or fibers). Chicago-based design writer Elaine Markoutsas, who attended two of the years biggest design expositions, Maison et Objet and Deco Off, in Paris, said new wallcoverings were among the most exciting things she saw. She cited intriguing patterns, and digital and 3D printing techniques. One theme stuck out. We heard the term revenge travel, referring to a post-pandemic urge to get away for real, or virtually, she says. Travel often triggers designers, who mine details from architecture, landscape and destination culture. Some of the new papers feature contemplative renditions of forests and seascapes. Others reference places, people or creatures as fun, imaginative, maximalist marvels. For a mashup of both, theres the baroqueNovafrica Sunset created by Christian Lacroixs creative director, Sacha Walchoff. Hes envisioned a kind of fever dream jungle with a tangerine sky, foliage clouds, glimpses of fauna, hyper-colored blooms and silk-ribbon-wrapped tree trunks. Put this on your walls and let the conversation begin. At Pierre Frey, artist Veronique Villaret cut out simple paper sprigs of Pacific Island vegetation to create a joyful, colorful pattern she calls Rangiroa. Its available as a wallpaper or fabric. Dutch studio Mooois Memento Moooi Medley wallcovering collection was inspired by the accounts of early explorers and the creatures they encountered. The Golden Tiger roams among cubs and other jungle animals on a wood veneer background. Mimic Moths, now extinct, take on the coloring of their favorite plants. Other moths, moon orchids and lilies-of-dusk tumble across an embossed, suede-like wallcovering. Partnering with textile giant Romo, Alice Temperleys eponymous London-based fashion and design house drew inspiration from their archive of richly detailed gowns. They came up with a wallcovering collection full of leopard prints, swirling sea agate patterns, and golden Victorian keys and dressmaking scissors. Stories for Walls has a cheeky one called Safari Gangsta, featuring fierce and funny wild animals dressed in hip-hop gear; therell be some cool kids wholl want it in their bedrooms, and probably some adults too. Katie Deedy has found a way to artfully mix her intellectual curiosity and love of history. Her Brooklyn-based Grow House Grow studio produces some of the most imaginative wallpapers and tile. One pattern, Ode to the Unhasty, includes pictures of sloths, snails, manatees and slow-growing bristlecone pines. The patterns narrative inspiration is more of a gentle lesson, she laughs. Between running her business and parenting, Deedy says she began to feel like life was going too fast. So I created this wallpaper as a visual ode to taking it easy. When I look at this collection of our Earths slowest moving flora and fauna, its a reminder to mosey more and sprint less. Another of her patterns, Mary Ward, honors a forgotten female entomologist. In the mid-1800s, Ward spent her days with a magnifying glass, collecting and drawing insects. As a woman, she couldnt be formally trained at university, says Deedy. Yet over the course of her young life, she became a renowned expert in microscopy, writing the go-to texts used in the same schools that wouldnt admit her. The wallpaper playfully intermingles late-Georgian-style silhouettes of Ward and her beloved oversize insects. At this years International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York, Emma Hayes showed a couple of ethereal and dreamy wallcoverings based on her New Zealand home. Willow depicts willow wisps caught by a breeze, against a midnight background. Sediment shows a gently rolling shoreline of tonal watery hues. Alexis Audette of New York-based studio Mazy Path showed nature-inspired papers in the styles of Arts & Crafts textiles, Delft tiles and 16th century French wallpapers. Audette sees a commonality between plants and people. Just as family heirlooms remind us of our history and identity, heirloom plants do too, she says. She developed wallpapers that tell stories about plants. One collection, Heirloom, features patterns depicting wild ramps, Virginia strawberries and winter wheat all part of Americas food history. Her Treasure Tree collection pays homage to trees that provide food, medicine or protection; the paper is printed with imagery of guava, elderberry, nickel trees and mangroves. Studio Heimat recently worked with clients in Mission Dolores, California, to incorporate their interests in geology and zoology into their homes interior design. The clients LOVE bugs, says the studios Eva Bradley. So local artist Rafael Arana was commissioned to hand-paint some crawling up a stairwells wall. The homeowners asked that the bugs be black and white and oversize, so visitors wouldnt be scared, says the studios Alicia Cheung. Another way designers tell artful stories is by mixing materials, Markoutsas says. She cites a new wallpaper from French design house deGournaymade of embroidered silk, embellished with shells. Elitis has a vinyl wallcovering that simulates beautiful embroidery. And Arte introduced Le Foret, with wallcoverings made from wood, raffia and banana leaf. - New York-based writer Kim Cook covers design and decor topics regularly for The AP. Follow her on Instagram at @kimcookhome. For more AP Lifestyles stories, go to https://apnews.com/hub/lifestyle. By KIM COOK Associated Press DeSantis appointees reach deal with Disney Worlds firefighters, capping years of negotiations View Photo ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) After years of contentious negotiations, the board of Walt Disney Worlds governing district now made up of Gov. Ron DeSantis appointees approved a contract for its firefighters on Wednesday and also proposed reducing property taxes. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District voted unanimously to approve the three-year contract that covers 200 firefighters and paramedics in the Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters Association. The contract, among other provisions, would increase wages by 5%, including raising the starting annual wage for firefighter and paramedics from $55,000 to $66,000. It also would provide $5,000 signing bonuses for workers with three or more years working for the department and $2,500 bonuses for everyone else. This issue has been around for some time and there have been some contentious negotiations, Martin Garcia, chairman of the oversight districts board, said at a meeting. We feel this is a fair, generous and fiscally responsible agreement. The old contract expired more than four years ago, and the firefighters declared themselves at an impasse last year with the districts board when it was still controlled by Disney supporters. Members of the firefighters union have warned for years that they are understaffed, adding that posed a public safety risk as the central Florida theme park resort grows bigger. The firefighters were among the few employees who publicly welcomed the takeover of the Disney World governing board by DeSantis appointees earlier this year after haggling over a contract for years with a board controlled by Disney supporters. But a delay this summer in approving the contract had threatened that support. We were able to get it wrapped up, union official Aaron Colburn told reporters after the meeting. Glenton Gilzean, the districts new administrator, said at Wednesdays meeting that the districts new budget would cut property taxes by nearly 7%. The cut was made possible by cost savings, including deciding to no longer pay overtime for deputies used exclusively to patrol Disney property, an amount that had grown to $8 million, district officials said. The DeSantis appointees took over the Disney World governing board earlier this year following a yearlong feud between the company and the Florida governor. The fight began last year after Disney, beset by significant pressure internally and externally, publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades, a policy critics call Dont Say Gay. As punishment, DeSantis took over the district through legislation passed by Florida lawmakers and appointed a new board of supervisors to oversee municipal services for the sprawling theme parks and hotels. But before the new board came in, the company made agreements with previous oversight board members made up of Disney supporters that stripped the new supervisors of their authority over design and construction. Disney sued DeSantis and the five-member board, asking a federal judge to void the governors takeover of the theme park district, as well as the oversight boards actions, on grounds that they were violations of companys free speech rights. The board sued Disney in state court in an effort to maintain its control of construction and design at Disney World. Disney asked a judge almost two weeks ago to dismiss the case, and a decision is still pending. Board members on Wednesday met behind closed doors to discuss the lawsuits. DeSantis has touted his yearlong feud with Disney in his run for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, often accusing the entertainment giant of being too woke. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at @MikeSchneiderAP By MIKE SCHNEIDER Associated Press Bajaj Auto Ltd. has announced that the deliveries of the Triumph Speed 400 will be starting by the end of this month from authorised Triumph dealerships. The manufacturer has announced that have started dispatching the Speed 400 to the dealerships. Triumph Speed 400 is priced at 2.33 lakh ex-showroom and the amount of the booking is 10,000. The motorcycle was initially priced at 2.23 lakh and the booking amount was set to 2,000. However, this was only introductory pricing that is no longer applicable. Apart from the Speed 400, Triumph also showcased the Scrambler 400 X which will be going on sale later in October this year. The motorcycles will be produced at Bajaj Auto's new plant in Chakan. It is called Chakan 2 and it will also be producing KTM motorcycles. The company plans to have about 30 outlets, up from the existing 15 dealers by the end of July, moving up to 100 by March 2024. Powering both motorcycles is a new TR-series engine. It is a 398 cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine tuned for 39.5 bhp of max power and 37.5 Nm of peak torque. It comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox with slip and assist clutch. The motorcycle is equipped with only essential features. It gets dual-channel ABS, switchable traction control and an analogue speedometer with a small digital display that shows various other information but there is no Bluetooth connectivity on offer. Watch: Triumph Speed 400 Review: Worth the hype? Suspension duties are performed by 43 mm upside-down Big Piston forks in the front and a gas-charged monoshock at the rear with pre-load adjustment. Braking hardware consists of a 300 mm disc in the front and a 230 mm disc at the rear. There are 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in tyres sourced from Apollo and MRFs. The frame on duty is a new perimeter unit that is bolted onto a sub-frame. First Published Date: Lawmakers say the UK should ban Russias Wagner as a terrorist group View Photo LONDON (AP) Britain has underplayed and underestimated the threat posed by the Russian Wagner mercenary group and should ban it as a terrorist organization, a powerful committee of U.K. lawmakers said Wednesday. The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said the sanctions imposed by Britain on Wagner are underwhelming and U.K. authorities have done little to track the private armys activities beyond Ukraine, where it has fought as part of Russias invading forces. There are serious national security threats to the U.K. and its allies of allowing the network to continue to thrive, said the committee, whose members come from both governing and opposition parties. It said Britain should urgently proscribe the Wagner Network as a terrorist organization, something the Conservative government has so far been unwilling to do. In a 78-page report, the committee said Wagner, which has close ties to the Russian state, operates like an international criminal mafia, fueling corruption and plundering natural resources, especially in Africa, where it provides stability and protection for several authoritarian leaders. It is a significant failing to see the Wagner Network primarily through the prism of Europe, not least given its geographic spread, the impact of its activities on U.K. interests further abroad, and the fact that its wealth creation sits largely in Africa, the report said. It called it deeply regrettable that the U.K. paid little attention to Wagner before 2022, and continues to give so little focus to countries beyond Ukraine. The committee said with high confidence that Wagner had conducted military operations in at least seven countries since 2014: Ukraine, Syria, the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, Mozambique and Mali. The lawmakers said Wagner also has business interests in those countries, such as lucrative gold mining operations in the Central African Republic and Sudan, where Wagners gold-smuggling activities enabled huge quantities of gold to bypass the state and flow to Russia. Wagner also has carried out non-military actions such as election interference in Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and South Africa, and there is evidence of the groups involvement in other countries, the committee said. The lawmakers urged the government to move faster and harder to sanction individuals and entities linked to Wagner, calling British sanctions underwhelming in the extreme compared to those imposed by the United States and the European Union. The lawmakers urged Britain to boost aid funding to fragile and conflict-wracked countries to stop them from turning to Russia and Wagner for help. A decision to slash the U.K.s international aid budget from 0.7% to 0.5% of gross national income should be reversed as soon as possible, they said. The report, which drew on research by journalists, government and non-government organizations, testimony from Russia experts and evidence from a former Wagner fighter, said Wagners future was uncertain after leader Yevgeny Prigozhins armed mutiny against Russias top military leaders last month. The rebellion ended within hours when a deal was brokered for Wagner troops to go to Belarus. The lawmakers said Britain should take advantage the confused situation to disrupt Wagner. In the wake of the attempted coup last month, the future manifestations of the Wagner Network are uncertain, said the committees chairwoman, Conservative lawmaker Alicia Kearns. With the network at its most vulnerable and the clock ticking the time for action is now. The Foreign Office said in a statement that Britain had heavily sanctioned the Wagner Group, including its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and several key commanders, limiting their travel and freezing their assets. The U.K. has been one of the leading suppliers of military aid to Ukraine, who have been fighting Wagner forces on the battlefield, it said. We continue to work with our allies to expose and counter their destabilising activities around the world. By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press Belarusian journalist sentenced to 6 years in prison for reporting on the opposition Belarusian journalist sentenced to 6 years in prison for reporting on the opposition View Photo TALLINN, Estonia (AP) A prominent journalist in Belarus was sentenced Wednesday to six years in prison, the latest step in a years-long crackdown on opposition figures, independent journalists and human rights activists. On trial in the city of Grodno in western Belarus, Pavel Mazheika, 45, was found guilty of complicity in extremist activity for covering the activities of the political opposition. He was accused of working for news outlets including Belsat TV, which broadcasts in Belarusian from its base in neighboring Poland. The Belarusian authorities have labeled Belsat as extremist. Lawyer Yuliya Yurhilevich also was sentenced to six years in prison after she was accused of giving Mazheika information on Belarus political prisoners, notably on dissident artist Ales Pushkin who died in a Belarusian prison earlier this month. Yurhilevich, 42, who practiced law for almost 18 years and defended human rights activists, was stripped of her license in February 2022. This is not a trial, but a theater of the absurd a journalist and a lawyer are being tried for disseminating information, Mazheika said during the trial. Mazheika is a well-known figure in Belarus. In 2002, he was sentenced to two years in jail for slandering the president, before becoming press secretary for presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich in 2006. Mazheika has since worked for leading independent news outlets in both Belarus and Poland, hosting several shows and acting as executive director for Belsat TV. The journalist has spent 11 months behind bars since his arrest in August 2022. Earlier, Mazheika said that during his detention he was severely beaten by law enforcement officers, and accused them of trying to gouge out his eye. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is among those who have condemned Mazheikas and Yurhilevichs sentencing. Today, brave journalist Pavel Mazheika and lawyer Yulia Yurhilevich were sentenced to six years in prison in another mockery of justice in Belarus, she said. This is a blatant attack on those who dare to speak the truth. Journalists and lawyers are persecuted for carrying out their profession. Journalists and activists in Belarus have faced large-scale repression since the August 2020 vote that handed a sixth term to President Alexander Lukashenko. Following the election, which was rejected as fraudulent by the opposition and the West, Belarus was swept by massive protests, some of which drew more than 100,000 people. Authorities responded with a brutal crackdown. More than 35,000 people were arrested, thousands were beaten by police while in custody, and dozens of nongovernmental organizations and independent media outlets were shut down. Some 1,481 recognized political prisoners are currently behind bars in Belarus, according to the Viasna human rights center. By YURAS KARMANAU Associated Press Deadly wildfires in Greece and other European countries destroy homes and threaten nature reserves View Photo RHODES, Greece (AP) Deadly fires raging in Greece and other European countries advanced on Wednesday, destroying homes and threatening nature reserves during a third successive wave of extreme temperatures. The summer wildfires have struck countries across the region, prompting the European Union to expand its support, sending two Spanish firefighting planes to Tunisia after wildfires in neighboring Algeria left at least 34 people dead in recent days. Heres a look at some of the major wildfires across Europe. ___ GREECE More wildfires broke out Wednesday in the central mainland, with the most serious near the city of Volos, where outlying villages and a nearby industrial zone were ordered evacuated. The fire service said there were no immediate reports of people trapped in factory buildings. It said two people were found dead following fires in the surrounding area an older woman burnt to death in a caravan and a shepherd who had gone to save his flock. Volos residents were urged to stay indoors due to the smoke inhalation hazard. Further south, a wildfire triggered a precautionary evacuation order for some outskirts of the town of Lamia. New evacuations were ordered overnight on the islands of Corfu, Evia and Rhodes, where thousands of tourists were moved to safety over the weekend. Authorities said the charred remains of a missing farmer were found in southern Evia a discovery made following the death of two Greek firefighting pilots, in a crash during a low-altitude water drop. The heat wave in Greece has pushed temperatures back above 40 C (104 F) while strong winds hampered firefighting efforts. The fire on Rhodes has damaged an inland nature reserve. Rhodes resident Philippos Karageorgiou lamented how the blazes destroyed forest areas with virgin forest of several years from herbs to anything you can imagine, and Rhodes was famous for all of these. ALGERIA Following three days of destruction, most major fires in Algeria have been contained or put out, thanks to a huge mobilization of aerial and ground resources as well as falling temperatures, authorities said. The death toll stood at 34, including 10 soldiers assisting an evacuation. The coastal and densely-forested Bejaia area was hardest hit. Critics say the governments efforts to prepare for the wildfires were insufficient following two deadly fire seasons. Fires in August 2022 claimed 37 lives in the northeastern Taraf region. July 2021 saw the most significant damage in recent years, with at least 90 deaths in the northern Tizi-Ouzou region, 33 of them soldiers. ITALY The bodies of two older people were found in a home that had been consumed by flames near the Palermo airport, on the island of Sicily, which had been closed temporarily because of the encroaching flames, according to Italian news reports. Firefighters battled wildfires across southern Italy as searing temperatures continued to scorch Sicily, Sardinia and Calabria, where dozens of fires broke out and multiple evacuations were ordered. Freak storms in the north of the country also left two people dead on Tuesday from falling trees. CROATIA A wildfire was burning several kilometers away from the famous walled town of Dubrovnik, in the countrys south along the Adriatic Sea coast, where water-dropping planes and more than 100 firefighters held back the blaze before it reached houses overnight. The medieval stone city is a protected heritage site and Croatias best-known tourism destination. Its been a long night, but we managed to stave off the part (of the fire) that is important because of the houses, firefighting unit commander Stjepan Simovic said. We must be careful because the wind has started to pick up and the fire can grow again. PORTUGAL More than 500 firefighters continued to combat a blaze close to Lisbon, Portugal. The fire forced the evacuation of 90 people from their homes along with 800 farm animals. The blaze near the coastal town of Cascais, 30 kilometers (19 miles) west of Lisbon, was brought under control early Wednesday, helped by cooler temperatures. Firefighters remained in the area to watch for any further flare-ups as temperatures and winds rose again Wednesday. Fears rose that it might spread deep into the nearby Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. No injuries were reported. TURKEY A hospital and a dozen homes were evacuated as a precaution in the coastal town of Kemer, where firefighters for a third day battled a blaze raging through woodland. At least 10 planes, 22 helicopters and hundreds of firefighters were deployed. Five helicopters with night-vision capabilities worked through the night, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Authorities said residential areas were not under threat in Kemer in the Mediterranean coastal province of Antalya. Water-dropping planes, helicopters and firefighters were also deployed to a forest blaze Wednesday near the district of Beykoz, in Istanbul, where temperatures reached 43 C (109.4). The cause of the wildfire on the Asian side of the city wasnt immediately known and it wasnt clear if residential areas were under threat. Teams were also battling two fires near the towns of Kinik and Odemis in the western coastal province of Izmir, Anadolu said. At least three villages near Kinik were evacuated as a precaution. SPAIN Officials said that sparks from a brush cutter set off a wildfire on Gran Canaria island off the northwest coast of Africa. The fire in the la Caldera de Los Marteles volcanic area started when a worker using the cutter was clearing land with two others, island president Antonio Morales told reporters. The three workers tried in vain to extinguish the ensuing fire before calling emergency services. Some nine water-carrying helicopters were being used by firefighters and Morales said they hoped to have the blaze under control later in the day. About 300 hectares (740 acres) of the mountain area has been burnt. TUNISIA Tunisias interior minister, Kamel Fekih, said Wednesday that the wildfires that broke out in the country in recent days are now under control, signaling an end to the immediate danger. He said a few fire pockets in the northwestern areas of Malouleh and Ain Sobh are currently being addressed but no longer pose any danger. Earlier in the week, a school principal in the northwestern town of Nefza died of asphyxiation because of heavy smoke from the flames. ___ Derek Gatopoulos reported from Athens. Jovana Gec in Belgrade, Serbia; Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey; Ciaran Giles in Madrid; Bouazza Ben Bouazza in Tunis, Tunisia; Veselin Toshkov in Sofia, Bulgaria; and Nicole Winfield and Frances DEmilio in Rome contributed to this report. ___ Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ Follow APs coverage of climate issues at https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment By PETROS GIANNAKOURIS and DEREK GATOPOULOS Associated Press Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office Marine and Safety Enforcement Unit at Lake Don Pedro View Photo Don Pedro, CA Over a month after going missing, the Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office reports that a mans remains have been recovered from Lake Don Pedro. 61-year-old Jorge Arturo Cervantes of Nevada was reported missing on June 16 while swimming in the lake. The Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office Marine and Safety Enforcement Unit searched along with other partnering agencies, including the Calaveras County Sheriffs Office, Sacramento County Sheriffs Office, Alameda County Sheriffs Office, and the California Office of Emergency Services. They were unable to initially locate Cervantes. The mans family sought additional help from experienced teams at California Recovery Divers and Ralston Underwater Search and Recovery. The outside groups, along with the Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office, have now located the body. The sheriffs office notes that it sends its deepest condolences to the Cervantes family. Al Jazeera condemns Egypts decision to add some of its journalists to a terrorism blacklist Al Jazeera condemns Egypts decision to add some of its journalists to a terrorism blacklist View Photo DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The pan-Arab news network Al Jazeera has condemned a recent decision by Egyptian authorities to brand some of its journalists as terrorists. The media outlet, which is owned by the Gulf state of Qatar, said that a number of its Egyptian journalists and presenters had been added to a list of alleged terrorists published in an official newspaper earlier this month following a ruling by the Cairo Criminal Court. Al Jazeera Media Network strongly denounces the recent move by the Egyptian authorities to reinstate a number of its journalists onto a newly crafted terrorism list, the network said in a statement Tuesday. It also called for the release of two reporters Bahaa Al-Din Ibrahim, who was arrested in February 2020, and Rabee Al-Sheikh, who was arrested in August 2021. Both had traveled back to Egypt from Qatar to visit family, the network said. Egypt launched a crackdown on Al Jazeera after the 2013 military overthrow of an elected but divisive government dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood group. Egypt considers the Brotherhood a terrorist group and accused both Qatar and Al Jazeera of supporting it. Egypt revoked Al Jazeeras media credentials, raided its offices and arrested several reporters. The arrest and trial of three Al Jazeera English journalists Australian Peter Greste, Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed sparked an international outcry. The three received 10-year prison sentences, but were later released in 2015. Egypt and Qatar recently restored ties as part of a wider rapprochement among Arab states, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi visiting the country and meeting with its ruling emir in September. In May, Egypt released an Al Jazeera journalist who had been held since 2019. It wasnt immediately clear how many Al Jazeera reporters had been added to Egypts terrorism blacklist, which is updated every five years. The broadcaster didnt provide specifics, and the newly updated list includes dozens of names. There was no comment from Egyptian officials. Palestinian man killed by Israeli troops during arrest raid in West Bank View Photo NABLUS, West Bank (AP) A Palestinian man was killed by Israeli troops during an arrest raid in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the latest bloodshed in one of the most violent stretches of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in years. Israeli forces entered the al-Ein refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus and arrested a suspected militant after surrounding his house, the army said. Palestinian officials said a 23-year-old man was killed when fighting erupted between Palestinian militants and Israeli security forces. The Israeli army said Palestinians opened fire and threw stones and paint at soldiers, who responded with live fire. Another two Palestinians were wounded by bullet shrapnel, including a female motorist caught in the crossfire, medics from the Palestinian Red Crescent said. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the man killed as Mohammed Nada and said he was shot in the chest. Wednesdays incident came a day after Israeli troops killed three Palestinian gunmen who opened fire on soldiers near Nablus. Israeli-Palestinian fighting has surged in the occupied West Bank, which Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war. Palestinians seek the territory, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, for a hoped-for future state. In recent months, the West Bank has witnessed a volatile mix of the rise of local armed Palestinian groups carrying out frequent shooting attacks against Israelis and near-daily Israeli military raids that have increasingly turned deadly. So far this year, over 161 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank the highest death toll in over a decade. Around half of them were affiliated with militant groups and killed in fighting during Israeli military raids, but stone-throwing youths protesting the incursions as well as innocent bystanders have also been killed. Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis have killed at least 25 people this year. Colorado cop on trial for putting suspect in car hit by train says she didnt notice the tracks Colorado cop on trial for putting suspect in car hit by train says she didnt notice the tracks View Photo GREELEY, Colo. (AP) A Colorado police officer on trial for putting a handcuffed woman in a parked police vehicle that was hit by a freight train testified Tuesday that she did not realize the officer who had arrived before her had parked it on the tracks. After racing to the scene, Officer Jordan Steinke said, she quickly parked her patrol vehicle behind the other one and got out because it was the quickest way to get a gun in the fight hers. She explained that she was suprised the other officer was still sitting in his vehicle. Steinke also said she did not notice the tracks or the ground when she squatted down to arrest a kneeling Yareni Rios-Gonzalez after the suspect was ordered out of her pickup truck. The tracks and railroad crossing signs can be seen in her body camera video from the Sept. 16, 2022, incident. When pressed by Deputy District Attorney Christopher Jewkes, Steinke replied I am sure I saw the tracks sir, but I did not perceive them. She explained that she was focused on the suspect and the potential threat she posed, and was fairly certain that the traffic stop would end in gunfire. I never in a million years thought a train was going to come plowing through my scene, Steinke said. Rios-Gonzalez survived the crash but was badly hurt, including a traumatic brain injury, and is suing over her treatment. She was arrested after a driver reported that she pointed a gun at him during a road rage incident and later pleaded no contest to misdemeanor menancing, one of her lawyers, Chris Ponce, said. Steinke said she placed Rios-Gonzalez in the other police car temporarily because it was the nearest place to keep her secure, a move that is standard practice for high-risk traffic stops, according to testimony by defense expert witness Steve Ijames. Under prosecution questioning, Steinke said she was unaware it was on the tracks and assumed the suspect was safe there. She didnt know the train was coming until just before it hit, she added. I saw the front headlights and heard the train at the same time right before impact, said Steinke Previously released police video shows officers searching Rios-Gonzalezs truck as the train nears with its horn blaring. Other footage shows officers scrambling as the train approaches and slams into the vehicle. Prosecutors say Steinke walked across the railroad tracks five times during the nighttime traffic stop, including as she put Rios-Gonzalez inside the patrol vehicle. But Steinkes lawyer, Mallory Revel, has said the tracks were completely flush with the road, so a person wouldnt trip over them, and there were no illuminated railroad crossing signs or gates at the rural site. Revel has argued that prosecutors could not meet their burden to prove that she acted recklessly since she was unaware the car was on railroad tracks. Steinke has been charged with criminal attempt to commit manslaughter, which is a felony, and two misdemeanors: reckless endangerment and third-degree assault. The Platteville police officer who parked the car on the tracks is also being prosecuted for misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment. Prosecutors rested their case earlier Tuesday. There is no jury. Instead, Judge Timothy Kerns will issue the verdict. Steinke said she had about 3 1/2 years of law enforcement experience at the time of the crash, when she worked for the Fort Lupton Police Department. By COLLEEN SLEVIN Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) Stocks that are trading heavily or have substantial price changes on Wednesday : Union Pacific Corp. (UNP), up $22.45 to $238 The railroad operator installed a CEO that an activist investor had been pushing for. Boeing Co. (BA), up $18.68 to $232.80 The aircraft maker reported a smaller loss for the spring than analysts expected, and revenue beat forecasts. Alphabet Inc. (GOOG), up $7.06 to $129.27 The parent company of Google snapped out of an unprecedented advertising slump. Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), down $13.06 to $337.92 The tech giant made comments that tempered huge expectations for growth from artificial intelligence. Snap Inc. (SNAP), down $1.78 to $10.73 The owner of the Snapchat app reported declining sales and issued a disappointing forecast. Gap Inc. (GPS), up 71 cents to $9.92 The clothing retailer tapped a Mattel executive responsible for re-energizing Barbie and Hot Wheels as its next CEO. NatWest Group PLC (NWG), down 12 cents to $6.36 The CEO of the British bank is leaving after discussing personal details of populist politician Nigel Farage, a client, with a journalist. PacWest Bancorp (PACW), up $2.07 to $9.76 The troubled bank agreed to be bought by Banc of California following months of speculation that it couldnt survive on its own. 3 US Marines found at North Carolina gas station died of carbon monoxide poisoning, officials say 3 US Marines found at North Carolina gas station died of carbon monoxide poisoning, officials say View Photo RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Three U.S. Marines found unresponsive in a car at a North Carolina gas station died of carbon monoxide poisoning, the local sheriffs office said Wednesday. Deputies from the Pender County Sheriffs Office found the three men Sunday morning in a privately owned Lexus sedan parked outside a Speedway gas station in the coastal community of Hampstead. Autopsies performed Wednesday by the North Carolina medical examiners office determined that all three deaths were the result of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the sheriffs office. Sgt. Chester Ward of the Pender County Sheriffs Office told The Associated Press Wednesday that the situation seems accidental. Investigators have found nothing else that shows that its something else, such as suicide. The three lance corporals, identified by the U.S. Marine Corps as Tanner J. Kaltenberg, 19, of Madison, Wisconsin, Merax C. Dockery, 23, of Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, and Ivan R. Garcia, 23, of Naples, Florida, were stationed at nearby Camp Lejeune, located 29 miles (47 kilometers) northeast of the gas station. They were motor vehicle operators with the Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 2 and 2nd Marine Logistics Group. I am saddened by the timeless and tragic death of these three young men, who served our country honorably, Sheriff Alan Cutler said. Our thoughts and prayers remain with their families and colleagues during this time. Ward said the department had received a missing person report early Sunday morning from the mother of one of the Marines after her son failed to arrive on a flight home the night prior. Dockerys mother, Heather Glass of Maud, Oklahoma, said Wednesday that she and another relative had driven to the Oklahoma City airport last Saturday evening to wait for her son to fly home for his grandfathers funeral. When he didnt arrive, Glass daughter started calling North Carolina hospitals and jails while Glass contacted the sheriffs office and her sons sergeant at Camp Lejeune, resulting in a search. Glass said she assumed that her son died from something like carbon monoxide because all three of the young Marines had died. Breathing too much carbon monoxide makes victims pass out. Ward had said Tuesday before the autopsy that the sheriffs office did not suspect foul play. I was just worried that it was something worse, Glass told the AP in a phone interview. Im at peace. I feel at peace because I know he was asleep when he passed, Glass said. Dockery was the youngest of five siblings the rest of them older sisters and grew up in nearby Seminole. Glass said her son joined the Marines for personal growth and so that he could travel, with the possibility of making the military a career. Glass said funeral arrangements were being assembled, with dates based on where her sons body can be released to the family. He was just a kind soul, Glass said. He was liked by everybody. He was a real good kid. ___ Hannah Schoenbaum is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM and GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press/Report for America High school student who sat in Pences chair during Capitol riot is sentenced to 1 year in prison High school student who sat in Pences chair during Capitol riot is sentenced to 1 year in prison View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) A high school student who stormed the U.S. Capitol, assaulted a police officer and sat in a Senate floor chair reserved for the vice president was sentenced on Wednesday to one year in prison. Georgia resident Bruno Joseph Cua was 18 when he attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, making him one of the youngest people charged in the riot. Before learning his sentence, Cua apologized for his actions and told U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss that he is ashamed of his role in a mobs attack on democracy. Everything that day was just one terrible decision after another, said Cua, now 21. Moss sentenced Cua to a prison term of one year and one day followed by three years of supervised release. The judge convicted Cua of felony charges after a trial earlier this year. Moss told Cua that he was prepared to give him a longer prison sentence before he heard his statement in court on Wednesday. The judge said he believes Cua is truly remorseful. Its a tragic case for the country. Its a tragic case for you and your family, the judge told him. There are no winners in any of this. More than 1,000 people have been charged with Jan. 6-related crimes. Cua is one of at least six Capitol riot defendants born in 2002, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys office for the District of Columbia. Cuas attorneys cited his youth as grounds for leniency. His actions on Jan. 6 reflect his immaturity at the time and the effects that the crowd had on such a young person, defense attorneys wrote in a court filing. Around the time of the riot, Cua was finishing online coursework to graduate from high school. Prosecutors said Cuas age is only slightly a mitigating factor in his favor. Americans who reach the age of 18 are entrusted with several important responsibilities and duties including voting, joining the military, signing a contract, and serving on a jury. In this way, the law recognizes that an 18-year-old is capable of making mature decisions, they wrote in a court filing. Justice Department prosecutor Kaitlin Klamann said at least five Capitol riot defendants were younger than Cua on Jan. 6. Two of the five have resolved their cases and avoided prison terms. Both pleaded guilty to misdemeanor offenses and were sentenced to probation. Cua planned his attack weeks in advance, brought weapons to the Capitol, tried to terrorize congressional staffers and was repeatedly aggressive toward police, prosecutors said. They added, Cua played a unique and prominent role on January 6, opening the Senate Chamber to the rioters, escalating confrontations, and leading other rioters into and through the Capitol. Prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of four years and nine months for Cua. His lawyers asked the judge to sentence him to time served: the 40 days he spent in jail after his February 2021 arrest. Cua said he was scarred to my core by his jail time. Another inmate assaulted Cua while he was jailed in Oklahoma, according to one of his lawyers. I did something stupid to land myself there, but it was traumatizing, Cua said. Other young rioters have received prison terms. In March, for example, U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton sentenced Aiden Bilyard to three years and four months of incarceration. Bilyard, of Cary, North Carolina, also was 18 when he stormed the Capitol, pepper sprayed a line of police officers and used a bat to break into a Capitol conference room. Cua and his parents drove from their home in Milton, Georgia, to Washington D.C., arriving a day before then-President Donald Trump spoke at his Stop the Steal rally. The Trump supporters who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6 disrupted the joint session of Congress for certifying President Joe Bidens electoral victory. Cua was armed with pepper spray and a metal baton weapons given to him by his father when rioters breached police lines on the west side of the Capitol, according to prosecutors. After climbing scaffolding, Cua entered the building through the Upper West Terrace doors and and walked down a hallway toward the Senate. As Cua walked down the hallway, he tried to open every single office door he passed by pulling on doorknobs, pounding on the doors with his fist, and kicking the doors, prosecutors wrote. They said Cua intended to intimidate staffers who were behind the doors as he yelled, Hey! Where are the swamp rats hiding? Cua went to the third floor, where he shoved a Capitol police officer who was trying to lock doors to the Senate gallery. After the officer retreated, Cua entered the gallery, shouting This is our house! This is our country! Jumping onto the Senate floor, he sat in the chair for then-Vice President Mike Pence, leaned back and propped his feet up on a desk. Then he opened a door, allowing dozens of other rioters onto the Senate floor. Before leaving, Cua rifled through desks belonging to Senators Charles Grassley, John Thune and Dianne Feinstein. Moss decided the case against Cua without a jury in February, convicting him of obstructing the Jan. 6 congressional proceeding and assaulting a federal officer. The judge handed down the verdict after a stipulated bench trial, a proceeding in which Cua didnt contest the facts supporting his convictions. He waived his right to a jury trial. Prosecutors asked Moss to impose a $23,485 fine, which equals the amount of money raised by an online fundraising campaign called Bruno Cua: An Americans Future at Stake. The website said the funds will be used for Cuas many expenses in his pursuit of his freedom. By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN and LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press China's monthly registrations of locally-made passenger vehicles (PVs) reached 1,921,353 units in June 2023, edging up 2.49% from the previous year, while also growing 12.16% from the previous month, according to the data compiled by Gasgoo Auto Research Institute ("GARI"). It is worth mentioning that the PV registrations in June were the highest number recorded so far this year in the worlds largest auto market. For the first half of this year (H1), there were 9,288,933 homemade PVs registered across the Chinese mainland, reflecting an increase of 4.76% year-over-year. In June 2023, four brands saw their monthly PV registrations in China exceed 100,000 units, namely, BYD, Volkswagen, Toyota, and Honda. Of them, BYD was the only one to get over 200,000 PVs registered. In addition, Changan and Geely, the two main Chinese indigenous brands, ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, in terms of June PV registrations. Tesla, with only two China-made battery electric vehicle (BEV) models available for sale, took the 7th spot. Among the Germanys Big Three, Audi was the highest-ranking one with 63,569 China-made PVs registered last month. The 14th to 19th places were all occupied by Chinese indigenous brands, namely, Haval, Chery, AION, Trumpchi, Li Auto, and Hongqi. Regarding the PV registrations for H1 2023, BYD outperformed other brands with a registration volume surpassing 800,000 units. Volkswagen was honored the runner-up with 794,558 PVs registered. Among main Japanese brands, both Toyota and Honda appeared on the top 10 brands list, while Nissan immediately followed Tesla as the No. 11 brand. Apart from BYD, there were still nine Chinas wholly-owned members among the top 20 brands by H1 PV registrations, namely, Changan, Geely, Wuling, Haval, Chery, AION, Trumpchi, Li Auto, and Hongqi. Among all China-made PV models, Teslas Model Y still stood at the highest place by June registrations. The other two of the top 3 models were both oil-fueled ones, namely, the Sylphy and the Sagitar. In June, the Dolphin was the best-performing BYD-branded model. The Lavida ranked fifth among all PV models, while the No.6 to No.8 spots were all obtained by BYDs products. On the side of car type, the top 2 SUV models by June registrationsthe Model Y and the Yuan Plusranked 1st and 7th among all PV models. Between them were all car models. None of the MPV models entered the top 20 models list. As for the year-to-date performance, the Model Y was also at the head of the pack among all PV models with over 200,000 vehicles registered. The Sylphy and the Lavida were honored the runner-up and second runner-up. The 4th to 7th places were all seized by BYD models, namely, the Dolphin, the Qin PLUS DM-i, the Song PLUS DM-i, and the Yuan PLUS. The German trio had two models on the top 20 models list by H1 registrations, namely, the Audi A6L and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Among cities on the Chinese mainland, Shanghai, Beijing, and Chengdu took the first three seats by June registrations, all of which had over 50,000 domestically-built PVs registered in the month. As for the most popular models in major cities, the top 5 models by June registrations in Shanghai were the Model Y, the Model 3, the Corolla, the Model 3, the Yuan PLUS, and the Dolphin, four of which were all-electric ones. Besides, the top two models in Beijing were the Model Y and the Yuan PLUS, while Chengdu had the Model Y, the AION S, and the Model 3 as its top 3 best-selling models last month. For the Jan.-Jun. period, a total of 6 cities had over 200,000 locally-made PVs registered each, of which the top-ranking citys volume surpassed 300,000 units. In June 2023, China's monthly locally-made new energy passenger vehicle (NEPV) registrations came in at 645,702 units, jumping 29.06% year on year, while also rising 16.09% month on month. The number also reached a new high level so far this year. For the first six months of this year, the cumulative NEPV registrations across the Chinese mainland leapt 39.44% over the prior-year period to 2,914,441 units. By specific powertrain solutions, the BEV sector logged a registration volume of 446,131 units in June, accounting for 69.09% of the country's total NEPV registrations. The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) registrations reached 199,557 units, which included 46,201 range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs). There were 14 fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) registered on the Chinese mainland in June, but their proportion was hereby omitted due to the tiny volume. Of the NEPVs registered in H1 2023, 68.47% were contributed by BEVs. With respect to the NEPV registrations in June, BYD still took a remarkable lead over other brands. It had 222,218 NEPVs registered in the month, which were even more than the sum of the No.2-No.8 occupants. The U.S. EV brand Tesla was credited the runner-up, while AION ranked 3rd. Li Auto was the top-performer among Chinese NEV startups. The company made up 70.39% of the countrys total REEV registrations last month, demonstrating the high attractiveness of its L series models to family users. Wuling served as the No. 5 brand with 28,074 NEPVs registered in June, including 14,559 Hongguang MINIEV cars and 12,322 Binguo cars. Changan and Geely occupied the 6th and 10th places, respectively, and their best-selling NEPV models, the LUMIN and the Panda mini, both are small-sized all-electric city car. In terms of the year-to-date NEPV registrations, the top five brandsBYD, Tesla, AION, Wuling, and Li Autoall witnessed their cumulative registration volume surpass 100,000 units. With regard to June registrations, the Model Y no doubt topped other homemade NEPV models. Four BYD-branded modelsthe Dolphin, the Qin PLUS DM-i, the Yuan PLUS, and the Song PLUS DM-i, took the 2nd to 5th spots among all locally-made NEPV models. Notably, the BYD Seagull, which hit the market in late April, ranked eighth among all China-made NEPV models, outselling the Wuling Binguo, which regards the former as a main rival. Judging from the H1 performance, there were six NEPV models in total whose respective cumulative registrations all exceeded 100,000 units. On the top 20 NEPV models list by H1 registrations, BYD held 10 spots in total (including the DENZA D9). Li Auto saw its three L series models all enter the top 20 rankings. In June 2023, Shanghai outdid other cities with 36,671 homemade NEPVs registered, accounting for 56.79% of the city's overall PV registrations. It was closely followed by Shenzhen and Beijing. During this years first six months, there were 5 cities on the Chinese mainland with over 90,000 domestically built NEPVs registered each. Trump wants to see Biden impeached, and other Republicans are quick to pile on Trump wants to see Biden impeached, and other Republicans are quick to pile on View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) Donald Trump wants to see President Joe Biden impeached, and the former presidents allies in Congress and his 2024 GOP presidential rivals are eager to join that fight as his own legal challenges mount. Trumps chief opponent, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, this week said the House Republicans are absolutely within their rights to consider an impeachment inquiry against Biden. Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, also running for president, said Republicans would be justified to do it. And House GOP leaders aligned with Trump are foreshadowing whats ahead. House Republicans will leave no stone unturned, said Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, the fourth-ranking House GOP leader and a top Trump ally, who is sometimes mentioned as a potential vice presidential pick. This week, the prospect of impeaching Biden over the business dealings of his son, Hunter Biden, emerged from the far corners of the GOPs right flank to the mainstream in the Republican Party. Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced on Fox News that the House may open an impeachment inquiry into Biden, and expanded on his plans at a Tuesday press event at the Capitol. Behind closed doors Wednesday, however, the Republican speaker told GOP colleagues its early in the impeachment process, and McCarthy acknowledged theres still much that is unknown about Joe Biden and whether he had any awareness or involvement in his sons business deals that would arise to an impeachable offense. The speaker went through what we know and what we dont know, said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., a seasoned lawmaker and committee chairman. Theres a lot we dont know we dont know if any money went directly to President Biden or not, Cole said, explaining the message to the House GOP. Thats what they do the investigations about. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said McCarthy also told them if it comes to a Biden impeachment inquiry, hes going to ask that you be with me on this. Greene, a Trump ally backing impeachment, said no one rose during the private meeting to object. By putting Biden on notice that the House is considering an inquiry, the Republicans are elevating a once rare congressional check on executive power the formal impeachment charges over high crimes and misdemeanors into yet another tool being wielded in party politics. Its a political escalation, urged on by Trump, after his own two impeachments. The prospect of a Biden impeachment inquiry also comes as Trump faces mounting legal cases, including a potential federal indictment in the investigation led by Special Counsel Jack Smith over his efforts to overturn the election in the run-up to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. Trump is the only president in U.S. history that has been twice impeached first in 2019 over his phone call urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to dig up dirt on the Bidens or risk losing U.S. military aid, and again in 2021 in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters trying to overturn Bidens election. Now, as the Republican partys frontrunner for the nomination to take on Biden in 2024, Trump has long seethed over his impeachments at the hands of House Democrats. McCarthy has suggested the Trump impeachments could be expunged, as proposed by Stefanik and Greene. But Trump wants Biden to face similar impeachment charges. They impeach me over a perfect phone call, and they dont impeach Biden, Trump posted online in capital letters this week, calling the current president corrupt. Last week, at a Fox News town hall in Iowa, Trump expressed similar complaints asking: Why arent they impeaching Biden? Why isnt he under impeachment? House Republicans in various committees are probing the Bidens and suggesting the president may have been aware or involved in his son Hunter Bidens work, particularly when the younger Biden served on the board of the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma. The Republicans in Congress point to testimony from two IRS whistleblowers who testified last week the Justice Department slow-walked their investigation into Bidens, a claim the agency rejects. The Republicans also publicly released what the FBI says is unverified information from a confidential informant alleging Burisma payments to the Bidens as bribes, though other documents show a top company official disputing any payments were made. Hunter Biden had agreed to plead guilty to misdemeanor charges of tax evasion stemming from a federal investigation, but the deal unraveled Wednesday when a judge raised questions about it. Ive seen enough. We need a special counsel who has jurisdiction over any and all Biden family investigations, Chris Christie, another Trump rival in the 2024 race, said on social media. The White House has declined to engage in specific questions about any House GOP impeachment inquiry against Biden. They can do whatever it is that they wish to do, but were going to stay focused, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said earlier this week, pointing to the real priorities that the American families care about. Biden himself has repeatedly said that he does not talk with his son about his overseas business dealings. As Hunter Biden appeared in court Wednesday, the press secretary issued a statement: As we have said, the president, the first lady, they love their son, and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life. Not all Republicans are on board with the Houses plans to consider an impeachment inquiry, but those who object may face political retribution from Trump. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday he understands House Republicans may be incentivized to launch an impeachment inquiry after Trump was impeached twice when Democrats had control of the chamber. But the Kentucky Republican warned fellow Republicans of continuing down this path. Impeachment ought to be rare rather than common, said McConnell, who has long endured Trumps ire and hasnt spoken to him since the month before the Capitol attack. I think this is not good for the country when we have repeated impeachment. Trump this week singled out other Republican senators, including John Cornyn of Texas and Mitt Romney of Utah, who had expressed their reluctance to launch impeachment proceedings. House Democrats have declared the effort to impeach Biden political extremism and signaled they will oppose it. Im very well aware of how important it is to follow the facts and the evidence before you reach any conclusions and the Republicans are doing the reverse, said Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman of New York, a chief prosecutor in the Houses first impeachment of Trump in 2019. What they are talking about now is pure political retribution that is not based on facts and evidence, he said, adding thats abusing the impeachment power of the Congress. __ Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report. By LISA MASCARO AP Congressional Correspondent CHESHIRE The naming of Doolittle School was, in retrospect, a simple process as it paid tribute to the individual who gifted land to the Town of Cheshire for education. However, naming one of the towns new schools will be subject to a modern process of due consideration and official input. And one prominent local name has already emerged as a leading candidate. On July 11, Don Falk, an Army veteran of the Vietnam era who has also stayed active in veteran advocacy through his leadership role with the VFW, appeared before the Council to advocate for the north end elementary school to be named after Harvey C. Barney Barnum, who was awarded the Medal of Honor while serving in Vietnam. The school is being built as part of Cheshires first phase of a school modernization project that seeks to replace or update current school buildings in town. His statement was co-signed by his son Jeffrey Falk, commander of VFW Post 10052, where Barnum is a life member, and by Leslie Marinaro, vice chair of the Army-Air Force Roundtable of Connecticut. Barney was recognized for the Medal of Honor because of his bravery and courage. Beneath those were his character, integrity, honor, patriotism and fidelity: qualities that we would like instilled in the youth of Cheshire, Falk said. The timing, Falk noted, coincides with another honor for the Cheshire native, as later this month, (July 29), the USS Harvey C. Barnum will be christened in Bath, Maine. The ship, an Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyer, was built by Bath Iron Works and has been almost 10 years in the making, according to a press release from General Dynamics, the parent company. Per a Navy recruiting website, Harvey C. Barnum Jr. will be 513 feet long and 66 feet wide with a displacement of approximately 9,200 tons. Her propulsion system will drive it to speeds over 30 knots, and she will accommodate a crew size of 304 sailors. She will use a gas-turbine propulsion plant and integrated power system. Harvey C. Barnum Jr. will make use of the latest technology and weapon systems. This will be no ordinary ship and that's why we seek extraordinary sailors to be a part of something special. The idea of naming the school after Barnum was first raised last year by Falks granddaughter, Hayley Falk, a local advocate for veterans issues. In her remarks, Hayley Falk, who founded the veterans-focused group Because of the Brave while a student at Cheshire High School, sketched Barnums biography, describing a man who showed leadership from an early age, serving as president of his 1958 senior class at Cheshire High School before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Later in his career, Barnum served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Reserve Affairs) and Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs). He is an ordinary man who, when called upon, performed extraordinary feats, saving 130 lives on Dec. 18, 1965, said Hayley Falk. A display case featuring collected items from Barnums life can be found at the Cheshire Public Library. Inside is the letter bearing the signature of then-President Lyndon B. Johnson, awarding Barnum the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. The letter describes in some detail the events of that day at Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam. Pinned down by an enemy attack and having lost members of the company, Barnum took command. (M)oving at once into the midst of the heavy fire, rallying and giving encouragement to all units, (he) reorganized them to replace the loss of key personnel and led their attack on enemy positions. As Hayley Falk said, Over 40 million men and women have served our great nation and the Medal of Honor has only been awarded 3,534 times. Etched within (the Medal of Honor) are the very values that each recipient displayed in the moments that mattered: bravery, courage and sacrifice, a deep love of country, and a desire to always do what is right, Hayley Falk continued. This should be who our kids model themselves after. Ive learned that we have to raise up the next generation to love our country. Naming the school after him would be a perfect start in teaching our youth about real heroes and why freedom is not free, she argued. Quoting Barnum himself, she added, The future of our country lies in the hands of our youth. Also at the July meeting, the Council agreed to lift a moratorium on naming Town buildings. That decision was taken in order to name the room at the John G. Martin Outdoor Education Center at Mixville Park for Frank Loehmann, who passed away earlier this year. The change is subject to a public hearing and approval by the Council. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On July 24, Chery Auto's premium brand, EXEED, officially launched the facelift version of its next-generation midsize SUV, the TXL, featuring four different configurations with prices ranging from 139,900 yuan to 177,900 yuan. Photo credit: EXEED Built on the M3X Mars Architecture Pro platform, the TXL witnessed interior upgrades, including the introduction of the EXEED Yaoguang interior design and a new dual curved display. The vehicle showcases advancements in its intelligent driving system, comfort features, and safety technologies. While the exterior design adheres to the EXEED original principle, the front end of the new TXL has been subject to targeted adjustments. Although the overall appearance remains largely unchanged, the dimensions have seen modifications, with a length, width, and height of 4,780mm, 1,890mm, and 1,730mm, and a wheelbase reaching 2,800mm. The car's width has increased, achieving the highest height-to-width ratio in its class. Photo credit: EXEED In terms of configurations, the new EXEED TXL comes standard with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip and Cherys proprietary Lion 5.0 OS. Higher-end variants of the model are expected to offer features such as NAPPA leather seats, a "Queen's seat" for the co-driver, and seat massage functions. The vehicle will also be equipped with premium amenities like the driver's headrest audio system, fragrance system, and air quality monitoring, enhancing the overall sense of luxury. Under the hood, the new EXEED TXL offers two different powertrain options. Customers can choose between the 1.6TGDI engine paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (300T model), delivering a maximum output of 148 kW and a peak torque of 300 Nm, or the 2.0TGDI engine coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission (400T model), generating a maximum output of 192 kW and a peak torque of 400 Nm. The Johane Marange Apostolic Church, one of the largest indigenous churches in Zimbabwe, has endorsed President Mnangagwas candidacy for the upcoming elections, stating that a victory for the ruling Zanu PF party is guaranteed. The endorsement was made at the annual Passover gathering at the Mafararikwa Shrine, attended by over 200,000 pilgrims. President Mnangagwa also attended the gathering and earned the support of the church by sitting among the people and participating in the proceedings. In return, the President promised to support the churchs projects, particularly in the education sector, and assured them of freedom of worship. Church members spoke glowingly of President Mnangagwas humility and leadership qualities, with some declaring that he was chosen by God. The churchs support for Zanu PF was prophesied by their founding father, Baba Johane Marange, in 1957, according to senior church member Daniel Chiambira. The President urged church members in the Mutare West constituency to vote for Zanu PF candidate Cde Nyasha Marange. The Johane Marange Apostolic Churchs endorsement of President Mnangagwa and Zanu PF is seen as a significant boost to the ruling partys election campaign. The church has a large following in Zimbabwe, and its endorsement is expected to influence the voting preferences of its members. Breaking News via Email One has to think that most of the rich men who entered accused pedophile Jeffrey Epsteins orbit are glad they arent Leon Black. The disgraced private equity billionaire had a purported professional relationship with Epstein in which Black gave Epstein unseemly amount of money for tax advice.when Epstein was in no way, shape or form a tax professional and all of his ideas were rechecked by actual experts who were paid a pittance compared to the eye-popping $158 million Epstein received. Not only did that arrangement get a fair bit of eyebrow raised press coverage, but the Senate Committee on Finance is also, with limited success, trying to go proctological on the Epstein advice as a case study in how super rich men avoid, and perhaps evade, taxes. And just as the Senate publicized its probe into Blacks big tax savings and Blacks evident egregious overpay for Epsteins tax services, and its dissatisfaction with how forthcoming Black has been, comes a new lawsuit alleging that Black raped an autistic 16 year old in 2002 at Epsteins Manhattan townhouse. Now admittedly, Black claims that Epsteins ideas saved Black $1.6 billion in taxes. But tax pros are not paid on a commission basis. And for $158 million, Black could have hired the very best tax attorneys in the world many times over.1 This sort of generosity is particularly out of character in private equity, as is the fact that there was no fee agreement between Epstein and Black. The top dogs are very conscious of getting value for their money. And recall specifically that Blacks Apollo was extract due to the huge volume of legal fees paid by the funds Apollo managed. But the SEC sanctioned Apollo for hogging the discounts for benefit of Apollo, not the funds investors. The press is doing readers a disservice by not making clear that pretty much all of the bad facts regarding Blacks tax and investment dealings with Epstein came out a while back, eventually forcing Apollo to dethrone Black because even normally sheep-like private equity investors were finding the whole affair too unseemly to stomach. From our February 2021 post: Apollos efforts to contain the fallout from co-founder and now former CEO Leon Black having paid boatloads in fees and loans to Jeffrey Epstein after he was convicted of child prostitution are not succeeding. As well discuss shortly, Apollo had commissioned an whitewash investigation by law firm Dechert to reassure investors that nothing too unsavory had happened, and get them to stop their capital strike against the giant fund. However, the Financial Times reported yesterday that the UNs pension fund is keeping Apollo on a watch list and the Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System is sticking to its guns: From the Financial Times: A report by lawyers for Apollo Global Management into the ties between Leon Black and the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein is not enough to remove the company from a watch list of investments that require extra scrutiny, a top UN pension fund official has said The Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System, which said in October it was not considering any new investments with Apollo, showed no sign of reconsidering its position in the wake of the Dechert review The $40bn Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds said it had reviewed Apollo this spring and determined, based on a variety of due diligence criteria, they did not meet our standards for making a new capital commitment. .So why are many, and perhaps most, big pension fund investors not satisfied with the Apollo report? The short version is bad headlines plus bad details. The UN pension fund acted after the first big media story on the troubling close relationship between Black and Epstein: Bloombergs Jeffrey Epstein Had a Door Into Apollo: His Deep Ties With Leon Black, in July 2019. But as we pointed out then, most investors, like CalPERS, merely went into pious hand-wringing mode. The scandal grew to an entirely new level last October, when the New York Times broke the story that insiders reported that Black had paid at least $50 million and perhaps over $75 million in fees to Epstein from 2012 to 2017. After Blacks mumbled denials and foot shuffling failed to calm rattled investors, Apollo commissioned Dechert to poke around and put the best possible spin on the facts. Apparently just about everyone with an operating brain cell reacted as we did when the report came out: Why Apollos Palace Coup Against Leon Black and Further Disclosures on Jeffrey Epstein Are Not Reassuring. Dechert did say there was no evidence that Black was caught up in Epsteins illicit activities or that Epstein had even tried foisting an underaged girl on him. However, that was about as good as the good news got. First, the numbers were so much worse than what the Times had initially found. The report stated that Black had paid $158 million, more than twice as high as the Times original top figure, plus $30 million in loans, only $10 million of which had been repaid. Second was that the claims about what all that money was for were wildly implausible. From our post: The shock value of the magnitude of the payments to Black may succeed in diverting press and investor eyes from the real scandal here: what was Black paying for? And was Apollo implicated? Bear with me, because the supposedly reassuring excerpts from the report by law firm Dechert actually suggest that Apollo was involved too. This is how Dechert attemptsed to justify the transfers from Black to Epstein. From the Wall Street Journal: Mr. Black believed, and witnesses generally agreed, that Epstein provided advice that conferred more than $1 billion and as much as $2 billion or more in tax savings, the report states. It also supports Mr. Blacks contention that he paid Epstein a fee he believed was roughly equivalent to 5% of the value that the late financier generated on an after-tax basis. Well deal with the second howler first, that someone like Black would pay for mere advice on a percentage of results basis. As Black knows well, the people who get rich to very rich attach themselves to capital and get paid a percentage for performance, such as brokerage or asset management fees. Black, who buys legal services from the very best firms in the US in bulk, would know he could hire the most cunning tax lawyers in the US for a fraction of what he paid Epstein. He could even have financed a firm with the very best minds in the industry for this kind of dough. And in earlier accounts, Black also asserted that all of Epsteins advice was vetted by independent experts. So it seems reasonable to think that Black was not paying just for advice but some kind of execution too, as in moving funds and engaging in sham transactions to recharacterize the economic substance or apparent ownership of funds. So its hard to see Dechert with a straight face parroting Blacks defense that he was paying 5% of the economic value of what is presented as mere tax advice as if that were a reasonable compensation arrangement. But lets go back to the first eyepopper: tax savings of $1 billion to over $2 billion. Lets be charitable and use Blacks maximum applicable tax rate: a marginal tax rate of about 50% for Federal, New York state and New York city income taxes. That means the amount of Leon Black personal income subject to Epsteins wizardry, again charitably assuming he managed to find a way to bring Blacks taxes from 50% to zero, would be double the savings, or $2 to $4 billion. If you read the post, we worked though the implications. It seems impossible to get to anything like these numbers unless you assume some of the income came from fees and expenses coming directly from the portfolio companies which did not go through Apollo. But for Black to achieve different tax outcomes than hed received before, the income would have had to be distributed or characterized differently. That requires the cooperation of portfolio company employees, who are managed and controlled by Apollo, not Black personally. Back to the present post. All of the detail above may be more than you wanted to know, but it should also make clear that what went on does not even remotely pass the smell test despite Apollo hiring a fancy firm to apply liberal amounts of porcine maquillage. And too few appear to have considered the idea that Black may have involved Apollo employees or those of investee companies in his scheming. Three scandals hit Black this week: the announcement that he paid $62.5 million to the Virgin Islands to buy his way of any potential Jeffrey Epstein litigation. That number suggests Black was very exposed and the Virgin Islands has a pretty good idea of that too. Then we have the revelation that Blacks woes with respect to his Epstein tax shelter dealings have not gone away by virtue of the Senate probe, launched last June but made public on Tuesday. From Reuters: The U.S. Senates Finance Committee on Tuesday revealed an ongoing probe into private equity billionaire Leon Blacks financial ties with disgraced late financier Jeffrey Epstein, and said the investigation uncovered serious tax issues. The investigation has uncovered serious tax issues and other concerns with trusts and structures Black executed to avoid over $1 billion in future gift and estate taxes, the panel said. The Senate panel said that a reported $158 million of payments in several installments from 2012 to 2017 by Black to Epstein for financial advice seemed inexplicably large, given that Epstein was neither a licensed tax attorney nor a certified public accountant. The panel also alleged Black has refused to answer questions or provide any documents that could demonstrate how Epsteins compensation for tax and estate planning services was determined or justified. A spokesperson for Black said the billionaire had cooperated extensively with the panels probe and provided detailed information. The transactions referenced in the Committees letter were lawful in all respects, were conceived of, vetted and implemented by reputable law firms and tax and other advisors, and Mr. Black has fully paid all taxes owed to the government, Blacks spokesperson said in an emailed statement. The New York Times also pointed out: The investigation by the Senate Finance Committee is part of an inquiry into tax shelters that the superrich use to avoid or evade paying federal taxes, including gift and estate taxes, according to the 16-page letter. In April, the committee requested information from Harlan Crow, a billionaire real estate developer, about his tax treatment of gifts to Justice Clarence Thomas of the Supreme Court. If you compare this recap to the details already in the public domain, it sure looks like the Senate has not learned much, despite claiming they (among other things) were picking at inconsistencies in the Dechert report. And the list of follow-up questions does not look inspired.2 The fact is that rich people are allowed to be sloppy and stoopid and not paper up business dealings. It may seem obvious that a guy like Black must have had some not-savory reasons for deviating from sound practice, but bad appearances are a long long way from proving misconduct. Now let us turn to the part youve been waiting to read aboutthe rape accusation! Yours truly is frustrated by so far not being able to read the filing, lodged in Federal Court in the Southern District of New York. However, as a mere watcher of the New York City sex crimes show Special Victims Unit, whose stories often revolve around how difficult it is to prove sex crimes in court, even if Black did 100% of what the filing alleges, it seems the odds of proving it in court, even to the civil suit standard of preponderance of evidence, are low. The filing says the rape took place in 2002. Time is the enemy of prosecutions, and this filing is essentially a prosecution even if in the form of a private suit. Memories fade and can therefore be discredited. Witness die or cant be located. Evidence goes missing. The most detailed write up is in the Daily Beast. I have cut out a lot of the detail about how Jane Doe was groomed and then managed: On Tuesday, a woman identified as Jane Doe filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court claiming that Epstein instructed her to give his special friend Leon Black a sexualized massage, during which he is accused of brutalizing her to the point that she began bleeding. Because of Does condition, identified in the complaint as mosaic Down Syndrome, her developmental age was about 12 years old and was a perfect target for Epstein and his girlfriend and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell The lawsuit includes graphic details of Blacks alleged abuse, as well as allegations of Doe signing up for a cheerleading program only to be groomed and abused by an adult volunteer named Elizabeth, who eventually introduced her to Maxwell In late spring or summer of 2002, Elizabeth informed Doe she would be heading to New York to meet Black.. After she arrived at Epsteins townhouse, Doe spotted Blackwhom she described as a huge older man who is 6 4 and about 300 pounds with a bulbous nose and skin tags and moleshaving a conversation with Epstein. The lawsuit says Does initial impression of Black was that he looked like an ogre, and she felt frightened. Epstein ordered Doe to give Black the same kind of massage treatment that she gives Epstein meaning that it would involve sexual intercourse and she was expected to strip naked, the lawsuit alleges. According to the document, Black then led Doe to an upstairs massage room, gripping her hand so hard that she thought he might have broken bones. Once inside the room, Black allegedly tossed Doe over his shoulder and threw her onto the massage table, knocking the wind out of her. She tried to scream but Black placed his hand over her mouth and leaned over her while ripping off her shirt and under her skirt pulling her underwear off, the lawsuit continues. Doe claims Black called her demeaning names during the assault and laughed at her attempts to escape him, asking if she was feisty. She also alleges that Black penetrated her forcefully with sex toys. At one point, Doe says his assault was so painful that she kicked him, sending him into a rage where he called her a whore and slut and threw her to the ground. Unless the law firm has found a strong corroborating witness or Jane Doe kept a diary or told friends or relatives about what happened in detail, its hard to see how this goes very far. Anyone who is remotely friendly to Black could credibly claim not to remember Jane Doe and/or the alleged incidents. And if Jane Doe testifies, it would not be hard for Blacks attorneys to make mincemeat of her. Blacks lawyer claims he never met Jane Doe and that the case as pleaded is barred by the statute of limitations, which suggests rookie errors. The plaintiffs firm Wigdor has filed two rape suits against Black, one of which had the client fire Widgor shortly before a judge dismissed the suit.3 A second Wigdor case is pending. There is such bad blood that Blacks lawyer filed for sanctions and they cross sued each other for defamation. Blacks lawyer says she plans to file for sanctions again, that this Jane Doe filing only strengthens the case. So pass the popcorn. We may get some more vignettes from the seamy life of Jeffrey Epstein, and may also see Black discomfited some more. ____ 1 Specifically, one would assume Black would have strong incentives to get his tax advice from a tax attorney, since the communications and work would be attorney-client privileged. However, attorney-client privilege is subject to a crime-fraud exception. Justia provides a careful explanation, including that the carveout typically applies to ongoing or prospective misconduct, not past crimes. Law firm Lubin Austermuehle gives a more layperson-friendly writeup: The attorney-client privilege is a privilege that protects communications between a client and attorney from discovery or disclosure. The privilege is not absolute, however. It does not, for instance, protect statements made by a client to an attorney meant to further or conceal an intentional breach of fiduciary duty or crime. This recognized exception to the attorney-client privilege is known as the crime-fraud exception. One court described the crime-fraud exception and the rationale behind it by explaining that the crime-fraud exception encompasses a fraudulent scheme, an alleged breach of fiduciary duty or an accusation of some other wrongful conduct. Advice in furtherance of a fraudulent or unlawful goal cannot be considered sound. Rather advice in furtherance of such goals is socially perverse, and the clients communications seeking such advice are not worthy of protection. Now it may be that Black was overpaying Epstein to buy his silence with respect to their extracurricular activities. But its not hard to imagine that Black was using these tax schemes to launder money, particularly given how much of Blacks wealth was in art. Or perhaps Black had done a dirty to his Apollo partners or its investment funds. Remember that Apollo was at the center of a massive pay-to-play scandal at CalPERS that landed its CEO Fred Buenrostro in Federal prison for taking bribes. 2 Theoretically the Senate Committee could play hardball and try to get Blacks tax returns. But I doubt that would work. My understanding is Congress would have to have a bona fide legislative intent and its hard to see what one could be. And even if they got them, theyd be vanishingly unlikely to able to see how the Epstein tax structuring advice played out in them. 3 That filing got a lot of attention because it read like a prototypical rich mans misadventure: Black takes up with a Russian model, Guzel Ganieva, and treats her like a mistress, including IIRC paying for schooling, but over time her demands escalate and things get acrimonious. So the relationship was consensual but that does not rule out rape (remember, there is even spousal rape). The case got tossed because Ganieva had signed a non-disclosure agreement which meant none of what happened between her and Black could be discussed in court. Beijing (Gasgoo)- AITO, the premium new energy vehicle brand developed jointly by Huawei and SERES, officially unveiled the pricing and features for the new AITO M5 Standard Edition. Launch event; photo credit: AITO This upgraded series of intelligent and high-performance SUVs brings consumers a host of enhancements, including optimized design, extended battery life, intelligent driving experiences, and formidable performance. The standard edition of the AITO M5 series is now available at an official price of 249,800 yuan for the rear-wheel-drive version and 269,800 yuan for the all-wheel-drive variant. Photo credit: AITO One of the most notable improvements in the AITO M5 Standard Edition is its impressive increase in driving range. The rear-wheel-drive standard edition boasts a CLTC pure electric range of 260km on a full charge and a comprehensive range of 1,455km considering both electric and gasoline power. The new AITO M5 achieves an exceptionally low fuel consumption of 4.87L/100km during extended range conditions and experiences a 10% power performance boost in low-electricity and low-temperature scenarios. Moreover, driving the AITO M5 is an intelligent and hassle-free experience, as its intelligent extended range technology intuitively adapts to various road conditions, such as congested traffic, high-speed driving, overtaking, and low-temperature environments without the need for users to manually select the corresponding driving mode. Photo credit: AITO Inside the AITO M5 Standard Edition, users will find the HarmonyOS 3.0 smart cockpit system by Huawei, boasting a range of upgraded smart features. A highlight is the HUAWEI MagLinkTM, a magnetic interface that seamlessly connects with multiple devices, empowering rear-row passengers to control content displayed on their tablets, participate in multiplayer games, or engage in video conferences. Addressing the issue of parking difficulties, the AITO M5 Standard Edition introduces an upgraded intelligent parking system with a new remote parking function. By utilizing smartphones, users can remotely search for parking spaces and effortlessly park their vehicles, supporting over 110 different parking scenarios, including tight parking spaces. Biden is Obamas useful Idiot. IABO its always been Obama Its so damn obvious. Youd have to be delusional, naive, a moron, or a Democrat to not understand what went down. (Article by Wayne Allyn Root republished from RootForAmerica.com) Youd have to be delusional, naive, a moron, or a Democrat to not understand our country has been sold out. And youd have to be blind, deaf and dumb to not understand this wasnt Bidens plan. Biden has always been Obamas useful idiot. The answer to every question about who committed the crimeswho sold out our countrywho is the mastermindis always the same IABO: Its Always Been Obama. Its all out in the open now. Everyone can see Joe Biden is the most corrupt human to ever sit in the White House. He stole tens of millions of dollars as Vice President. He extorted and accepted money from companies and countries around the globehis son Hunter was the bagmanJoe was the Big Guy who got a large piece of every dirty deal, every bribeand then like Al Capone, he cheated on his taxes. Biden hid the money in twenty shell companiesand in offshore bank accountsand paid little or no taxes on all that dirty money. Biden makes Al Capone and the Gambino Crime Family look like amateur pickpockets. But youre missing the real story. What did Obama know and when did he know it? Obama was President when all this went on. Obama was in charge when Biden was robbing us blind. Obama oversaw all this crime, corruption, extortion and tax fraud. Obama was president when his Vice Presidents son ran around the world on a one-man crime and sex spree. When Hunter Biden acted like he represented the United States government, while snorting coke and smoking crack off hookers backswhile having sex with underage girlswhile filming it all and putting it on his laptopopening the entire United States to blackmail. And you think Obama didnt know about any of this? Obama was oblivious to the crimes being committed by his Vice President? Obama didnt know about the nonstop extortion racket going on right under his nose? Obama didnt know about Hunters escapades and the blackmail danger he was putting our country in? No one in the Secret Service told Obama what they were seeing? Not one of Obamas aides noticed that his Vice President was crooked? Or that his son was a one-man gangster and sex fiend representing the USA all over the world? Obama never heard a word about Burisma? Obama didnt know his VPs son was on the Board of a foreign company while Biden was extorting the President of Ukraine by withholding $1 billion of U.S. foreign aid, in order to force him to fire the prosecutor investigating his sons company? No alarm bells were ringing in the White House? No one in the DOJ or FBI ever warned Obama about what was going on with his Vice President? His Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was also selling out the United States all over the globeselling her influenceusing her offshore Clinton Foundation to launder bribesalso paying no taxesand recording all her crimes, along with classified documentson an illegal personal serverwhere she also communicated to her boss President Obama. Obama never noticed any of this? No little birdie whispered to him about all these crimes being committed by his two most important underlings? Both Hillary and Joe Biden were protected from prosecution by Obamas DOJ and Obamas FBIand Obama didnt give the orders to look the other way? And when the Obama administration decided to spy on Trump and his presidential campaign, no one told Obama? No one asked for Obamas approval before committing treason by wiretapping the Republican presidential nominee? Folks either you believe Obama is a fool, the dumbest and most clueless moron to ever occupy the White Houseand Obama knew nothingObama saw nothingObama heard nothingObama is a clone of Sgt. Shultz on Hogans Heroes. Or youre starting to understand that Obama was the mastermindObama was the tutti di capothe ultimate Big Guythe boss of bosses And all this crime, corruption, extortion and treason was carried out with Obamas approval and permissionall these world-class criminals, traitors and useful idiots were working for Obamawere following Obamas plan and carrying out Obamas ordersand were protected by Obamas DOJ and Obamas FBI. And its Obama right now still giving the orders. Biden is a brain-dead puppet with dementia and diapers. Half the time this half-wit doesnt know where he isor who he is. The CEO of Burisma said Hunter was dumber than his dog. Where do you think Hunter got that from? Hes a chip off the old block. Hunter is as dumb as a box of rocks, simply because his father Joe is as dumb as a box of rocks. Two useful idiots. You dont have to be a genius, or a brain surgeon, to figure out IABO- Its Always Been Obama. Obama was the mastermind then. Obama is the mastermind now. What did Obama know and when did he know it? He knew everything , because he was the guy giving the orders. And he still is. Read more at: RootForAmerica.com INFILTRATION ALERT: CCP-linked media company running influence campaigns across US news websites Pro-Chinese Communist Party (CCP) views are spreading throughout the United States , thanks to a Chinese marketing firm that writes and gets its articles published on over 30 American news websites The Shanghai-based company Haixun Press, whose full name is the Shanghai Yihuan Cultural Communication Co., Ltd., admits on its website that it can plant news articles on any website around the world, including in the United States, to reach specific audiences. (Related: The Dr. Hotze Report: CCP has infiltrated most sectors of American society, including government, media, business and schools, in preparation for an INVASION Brighteon.TV.) Haixun Press is supposedly a private company, but it has extensive links to the CCP, according to its own publicity and Chinese state-government media coverage of the firm. While there is no direct evidence proving that the content Haixun has published in U.S. news websites was paid for by Chinese state actors, much of the content in the articles Haixun gets published is directly reproduced from Chinese state media reports or state-owned think tanks. According to an investigation by technology firm Mandiant, since August 2022, Haixun was responsible for its pro-Beijing news content being spread to at least 72 news sites, including The Arizona Republic and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the largest newspapers in Arizona and the Pittsburgh metro area, respectively. In one article spread all over the pro-CCP media sphere, a speech by President Joe Biden about China and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan was strongly criticized, along with airing negative views on American policy on fentanyl, human rights, democracy, race and press freedom. "Many problems will accompany a visit to Taiwan by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi," reads the article. "Frankly, it appears to be a silly photo op the Biden administration has enough problems at home and abroad that it doesn't need to look for them in China and Taiwan." "These actors are trying to blur the line between fiction and fact by placing these pro-[China] articles onto legitimate U.S. news outlets, likely without their knowledge," claimed Mandiant senior analyst Ryan Serabian. "So, I think it's very important for us to shine a spotlight on that so that measures are taken to prevent this from happening." Haixun Press may have even funded and organized protests Mandiant noted that Haixun's influence campaign, known as the "HaiEnergy" campaign, may have even helped organize and fund at least two protests in Washington, D.C. in 2022 and exploited them to advance their narratives regarding divisive American issues. Haixun allegedly used the protests to advance criticism of a U.S. government decision in June 2022 to prohibit the importation of all goods manufactured in the northwestern Chinese province of Xinjiang due to the Chinese government's alleged use of forced labor using the province's indigenous Uyghur ethnic minority. One of the protests focused on promoting the use of solar panels. Xinjiang's solar industry is massive and responsible for manufacturing nearly half of the world's solar panels. The protest had signs promoting solar panels, such as "Solar Panels Are Paneless: Leave Them Alone" and "Solar Panels Rock, Everything Else Kicks Dirt." The other protest was intended to spark division within the U.S. by highlighting domestic restrictions on freedom of religion. Haixun used its media network to run stories and videos covering the two protests. Mandiant made it clear that it does not have direct evidence that Haixun paid the people who went to the two protests. However, Mandiant researchers noted that it is highly probable that the protests were orchestrated on behalf of a third party. The organization further noted that the potential financing of at least two staged protests in the U.S. represents a major escalation in the tactics and techniques used by the CCP's influence campaign. It also indicates that "the campaign is expanding its tactics to maximize potential impact," Mandiant warned. "They're experimenting with new tactics and we can expect them to keep doing this," Serabian said. "Anytime this stuff crosses over into the physical space, in my opinion, that's a sound for alarm." Learn more about CCP activities in the United States at CommunistChina.news. Watch this video detailing how extensively the CCP has infiltrated American society. This video is from the channel The Resistance 1776 on Brighteon.com. More related stories: NEW DOMESTIC TERRORISTS: Chinese shock troops posing as tourists entering US through Mexican border could ignite WWIII from within our homeland. Cut from the same cloth: Cuba agrees to let China construct a SPY BASE on island to intercept American communications. Border officials see significant increase in illegal crossings by Chinese nationals, increasing risk of ChiCom infiltration and spying. Divide and conquer: Gen. Michael Flynn warns China is dividing the US and its allies in push for global domination. INDOCTRINATED: Chinese firms with ties to the CCP are purchasing American private schools with strong military training programs. Sources include: MSN.com DailyCaller.com DarkReading.com TheRecord.media Brighteon.com Disturbing photos of top Dems cozying up with hulking alleged child porn transvestite go viral As weve seen, Democrats prioritize being the first more so than excellence. This is why theyre such big fans of affirmative action. A prime example of this screwy first mentality is Justice Ketanji Jackson. She was arguably chosen not for her intellect or capability but rather because she is a black woman, and it shows. Another first for Democrats is a cross-dressing man who goes by the name Stacie Laughton. Mr. Laughton became the nations first openly transgender state representative whos been arrested on child pornography and child exploitation charges. Quite a remarkable first, indeed. Congratulations to the Democrats on this dubious distinction! (Article republished from Revolver.news) AP: A former New Hampshire state lawmaker and the one-time partner of a woman charged with taking sexually explicit photos of children at the Massachusetts day care center where she worked has also been charged in the case, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. Stacie Marie Laughton, 39, of Nashua, New Hampshire, is charged with aiding and abetting the sexual exploitation of children, the U.S. attorneys office in Boston said in a statement. No defense attorney was listed for Laughton in court records. She will appear in court at a later date. Lindsay Groves, 38, of Hudson, New Hampshire, was charged last month with sexual exploitation of children and distribution of child pornography for allegedly taking nude photos of children at Creative Minds Early Learning Center in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, and texting them to another person. Prosecutors said Tuesday that a preliminary forensic review of Groves cellphone allegedly revealed more than 10,000 text messages between Laughton and Groves. The texts allegedly included discussion about, and transfer of, explicit photographs that Groves had taken of children who appear to be about 3 to 5 years old. Groves remains in state custody in New Hampshire. An email seeking comment was left with her federal public defender. As journalist Mike Cernovich points out, one look at cross-dressing Stacie should have been anyones clue to steer clear. And if that frightful scene wasnt enough to scare someone off, Mr. Laughtons past criminal record should have been a massive red flag. But the modern Democrat Party doesnt care about perversion or criminal records as a matter of fact, those are cornerstones of the party these days, so its no wonder that Dem bigwigs were proud to be pictured with Mr. Laughton. If you cant take one look at this and know to GO THE OTHER WAY, youve lost your survival instincts. https://t.co/wpbwFR9E2U Cernovich (@Cernovich) July 20, 2023 This really makes you question the morals and decision-making of these individuals, right? This also explains why Swalwell was so easily fooled by a Chinese spy, and why Betos campaign turned out to be a dud. Lets face it, if we saw a hulking figure like Stacie thumping down an alley, wed probably turn and make a quick exit. Yet, Democratic politicians not only embrace the unusual and mentally unstable, but they also actively push for such twisted and confused individuals to get elected. Read more at: Revolver.news FBI improperly surveilled politicians and judge amid Bidens drive to renew spy program According to a court opinion that was released on July 21 as part of a public records request, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has improperly used its surveillance powers provided in Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and documented by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), which lets agencies collect swaths of emails and other communications. The FBI employees were found to have spied on an unnamed U.S. senator, a state lawmaker, and even a judge. To defend their position on the allegations, they argued that Section 702 allowed them to spy on their "highest priority work," including China and Russia, as well as terrorism and cybersecurity threats, without needing to seek a warrant. However, the provision is a clear invitation to collect information on Americans, regardless of if the reason for a probe is official or personal. The said surveillance tool, which allowed for warrantless spying on foreigners located abroad, has long been criticized as a backdoor tool for gaining information on Americans who may be communicating with those being surveilled. Without naming names, the court document revealed that in June 2022, an analyst conducted four queries of Section 702 information using the last names of a U.S. Senator and a state senator, without further limitation. While the two were believed to be targets of "a specific foreign intelligence service," the National Security Division at the Department of Justice determined the FBI did not meet the needed standard for running such a query. Also, in October of the same 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 also included. NBC News further reported that in 2023, U.S. spy officials have disclosed that the FBI improperly searched Section 702 databases for information related to the Jan. 6, 2021 "riot" at the U.S. Capitol and the 2020 protests following the police killing of George Floyd. To the rescue was FBI Director Christopher Wray who said that reforms at the bureau had led to "significant improvement" and fewer incidents of not following intelligence rules. "We take seriously our role in protecting national security and we take just as seriously our responsibility to be good stewards of our Section 702 authorities," Wray said. "We will continue to focus on using our Section 702 authorities to protect American lives and keeping our Homeland safe while safeguarding civil rights and liberties." American Civil Liberties Union's (ACLU)'s National Security Project deputy director Patrick Toomey called out to the House, pointing out that the latest errors show it is "long past time for Congress to step in." "The FBI continues to break the rules put in place to protect Americans, running illegal searches on public officials including a U.S. senator," argued Toomey. "As Congress debates reauthorizing Section 702, these opinions make clear why fundamental reforms are urgently needed." (Related: Whistleblower: Secret Service prevented the FBI from interviewing Hunter Biden.) Renewal of FISA Section 702 faces bipartisan backlash in Congress The irresponsible use of the surveillance power was revealed amid President Joe Biden's administration's efforts to renew the same FISA section which critics see as a "major spy program" that already faces bipartisan backlash in Congress. Section 702 is set to expire at the end of the year, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have said they will refuse to back its reauthorization without significant reforms. FBI's Wray already sent a letter to House and Senate leaders on Friday noting that several different reviews found agents have complied with FISA guidelines at least 98 percent of the time. But in a call with reporters Friday, a senior FBI official said the agency is working on building trust with lawmakers who may feel personally impacted by the issue. "We are communicating as much as we can to build that level of confidence so that they understand how we are using the tool and how we are holding people accountable for when they are not using the tool correctly. But also, to make sure they understand when we do and do not do such things as query members of Congress," the official told the Hill. "There was an unacceptably high level of noncompliance and various non-compliance behavior that was going on." The representative added that they have been very open about how they have accepted the fact that that was unacceptable. "That is not what we expect from ourselves as an organization," the official added. Meanwhile, the intel agency was said to have announced its new disciplinary measures, including immediate loss of access to surveillance data until the employees accused of negligence undergo training and meet with a bureau attorney. Visit Surveillance.news to learn more about the unauthorized spying tactics of intel agencies in the United States. Sources for this article include: TheNationalPulse.com NBCNews.com TheHill.com Kooth mental health portal is GROOMING underage children into transgender LGBT lifestyles A leading mental health support and advice platform for children and young people aged 10-25 in the United Kingdom is also one of the most influential websites pushing LGBT transgenderism on underage youth. One of the first things Kooth asks people signing up for its services to indicate is which gender they are ... out of four different choices: male, female, agender, and genderfluid. Right out of the gate, in other words, Kooth is grooming children to think in LGBT terms. Kooth is closely affiliated with and accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), whose position on transgenderism and other LGBT expressions is as extreme as that of Stonewall or Mermaids. "BACP was a key player in the contentious addition of gender identity to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Conversion Therapy in 2017," writes Shelley Charlesworth for Transgender Trend. "This development of the MOU, based on no evidence whatsoever of a problem with 'anti-trans' therapy in the U.K., has had a chilling effect on therapists wanting to work with gender distressed children. BACP's evidence to the government's conversion therapy consultation is written from an ideological, political approach to gender, particularly in relation to children." (Related: Check out our earlier coverage to learn more about the high-tech genital surgery robots that an Oregon surgeon uses to crank out a "high volume" of child sex changes.) Number of kids with gender dysphoria rose by 552% between 2014 and 2018 Kooth staff member Charlotte Mindel wrote a piece for the BACP website in 2019 revealing the massive increase in demand for "gender-affirming care" that occurred between 2014 and 2018 when Barack Hussein Obama was president of the United States. "In the period 20142018, we have seen a 552 per cent increase in the recorded presenting issue of gender identity, accounting proportionately for the increase of users over that time," Mindell revealed. "What this means is that across the population of young people we work with, six times as many are exploring their gender identity in some form." It should be noted that nowhere on the Kooth platform is it explained that since 2018, there have been numerous major changes in the gender transition services available in the U.K. including the closure of the Tavistock Clinic. The site also ignores the findings of the Cass Interim Report. Kooth's primary focus in the LGBT realm is simply to affirm whatever a child says or believes rather than try to help that child overcome his or her gender dysphoria and live like a normal, natural person without drugging or mutilation. "According to Kooth, the most used form of therapy on the site is peer to peer-to-peer or self-help," Mindel further writes about the Kooth model of spreading LGBT confusion. "We know social contagion is a major driver spreading gender ideology. What appears to be happening here is that an online platform, which is supposed to offer qualified, evidenced mental health support, has handed over the job to the teenagers." Kooth's services are "free" meaning taxpayers foot the bill so this is even more enticing to children who may feel as though they have nothing to lose by signing up for its services. As long as a local authority or Integrated Care System has signed up for Kooth, its services are available to anyone living in the area. "The service is promoted to the target community by public bodies, GP surgeries, hospitals and many other health agencies," Mindell explains. "Kooth staff visit schools and youth groups in person to promote the service. It also partners with other online educational resource providers." Transgenderism is a gateway to legalized pedophilia. Learn more at Transhumanism.news. Sources for this article include: TransgenderTrend.com NaturalNews.com Mexican drug cartels are behind surge in organized retail crime across the US Mexican drug cartels are trying to expand their global criminal empires. According to reports, they are behind the recent surge in organized retail crime (ORC) in the United States. ORC is the large-scale theft of merchandise in retail outlets with the intent to resell the items for financial gain. Retail crime has become a very serious problem for major businesses in the United States in recent months. (Retail: Major retailers will keep shutting down their stores until organized retail crime gets under control.) Eight out of every 10 retailers in the U.S. have reported witnessing an increase in incidents of violence and aggression in their stores this past year. The National Retail Federation warned that external theft, including organized retail crime, was responsible for nearly $100 billion worth of retail losses, or shrinkage, for the past three years, with an average 26.5 percent year-over-year increase. In addition to this direct impact on retail companies, ORC is also responsible for about $125.7 billion in lost economic activity, $14.9 billion in lost federal, state and local tax revenue and $39.2 billion in lost wages, which comes from companies being forced to shut down retail locations due to the rise in crime. These closures have even resulted in nearly 700,000 job losses. Organized retail crime is a $70B a year enterprise Mexican cartels are mostly known for facilitating the greatest human smuggling operation ever recorded, with thousands of immigrants being able to illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border. They are also known for causing the U.S. fentanyl epidemic. Now, they have a hand in the rise in organized retail crime and are responsible for targeting everything from big box stores and luxury retail brands to small- and medium-sized businesses, with the goal of reselling the stolen goods online and laundering the profits through Chinese brokers. "It's a $70 billion a year enterprise organized retail crime," said Eric DeLaune, special agent in charge at the Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), one of the main law enforcement components of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to the HSI, organized retail crime differs from regular store thefts due to the level of complexity associated with them. Syndicates who run ORC schemes usually consist of at least three teams: the "boosters" who steal goods, the "cleaners" who disguise the origins of stolen merchandise and the "fencers" who resell the products, either through brick-and-mortar fronts and major e-commerce websites. Some syndicates, including Mexican cartels, even use professional money launderers who then funnel the illicit profits back to the cartels in the form of clean cash. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, who warned about how the state is grappling with organized crime at a Fortune 500 company level to mom-and-pop stores in small towns, noted how a culture of being lenient on crime has helped facilitate the rise in retail thefts. "Let me tell you the difficult thing to change and establish, and that is culture," he said. "It's all over the country, but particularly in some of our cities when you have a culture that you can violate the law, steal, burglarize, do whatever you want and the feds and the state and everybody else will just sit around and watch, you've got a problem. And it goes way, way beyond organized retail crime." "[ORC] impacts jobs. It impacts us because we're paying for it," he added. "We're either paying for it with our prices, or we're paying for it as you heard before when the companies, the businesses go out and we have less choice in our communities." DeLaune noted that the cartels have "become emboldened" by these soft-on-crime approaches and have begun conducting their operations against retailers in broad daylight. Griffin warned that being lax in enforcing laws against ORC could lead to gangs like the Mexican cartels operating in the U.S. to further expand their operations to include many other kinds of crimes. "When you send a signal to them that you're going to let them get away with the organized retail crime, they see that as an open door to just about everything else they want to do because they see a culture that puts up with criminal activity," he warned. Learn more about Mexican organized crime at DrugCartels.news. Watch this episode of the "Rudyk Report" discussing the surge in retail theft in the United States. This video is from the Rudyk Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Target to spend $5 billion on its stores to prevent them from shutting down. HANDS OFF: Walgreens unveils new anti-theft kiosk at redesigned Chicago store to combat organized retail crime. Grocery stores hiring armed security teams to ward off rising thefts. Target on pace to lose $1.2 billion in profits over a two-year period due to organized retail crime (which is only getting worse). Walmart to close half of its stores in Chicago due to millions in annual losses (and a collapsing retail economy). Sources include: WashingtonExaminer.com USChamber.com NRF.com Brighteon.com Ex-MI6 chief on COVID-19 origin: Lab escapee virus tailored to be highly infectious For the former head of the British Secret Intelligence Service, the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) was more likely to have escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) lab as opposed to originating in nature. Sir Richard Dearlove was chief of the United Kingdom's secret intelligence service called MI6 from 1999 to 2004. According to him, aspects of the virus "point in the direction of it being somewhat tailored," though he warned this may never be proven. "All right, put it like this It's a natural virus that's been, as it were, mucked around with and the characteristics of things like the spike protein, which make it so highly infectious, also point in the direction of it being somewhat tailored," he said. Yes, he admitted it was possible that the virus jumped to humans from nature, but the former intelligence chief reasoned, "It is far more likely if you're a scientist that it was put together." He further slammed the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for covering up relevant data and criticized the recent World Health Organization (WHO) investigation, which said a lab leak was highly unlikely and as "farcical," just to avoid opening "a can of worms." (Related: Latest Senate report reveals even more compelling evidence on Wuhan lab leak theory and China's cover-up.) "I think the onus is on the Chinese to prove that it's zoonotic because the evidence strongly suggests to me and a number of eminent scientists that the greater probability is that it's a lab escapee," he added, encouraging an "open debate" on the real origins of SARS-CoV-2. "I think that there is a significant Chinese influence active in this specific area, and China has worked very, very hard in terms of influence in finance to make sure their narrative is dominant," he emphasized. He added that there is a balance of probability as obviously it cannot be proven, and he thinks it can't be proven because the evidence that could have proved it one way or another has already been destroyed due to the extent of the Chinese clean up. Its influence was hindering the publication of scientific articles on the matter, he asserted. Dearlove, who is a former "C" of the Secret Intelligence Service, kind of like the "M" in James Bond, told LBC's Tom Swarbrick that more information on the coronavirus' origin will soon come out. He said he expects forthcoming books to further outline the argument for coronavirus' lab origin. Meanwhile, in America, the lab leak theory was initially discredited by scientific authorities and government officials, though recently, some agencies have endorsed the theory that the virus may have originated in a laboratory. As per FBI Director Christopher Wray back in March, the intel agency has for quite some time now assessed that the origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab incident. In February, the Department of Energy took back its initial assessment and now admitted that its stand was no longer "undecided" but rather "low confidence" in a lab leak being the origin. Moreover, in 2021, President Joe Biden noted that the intelligence committee had "coalesced around two scenarios" of coronavirus origin, one of which was the lab leak theory. Dearlove: Better not follow Biden's decision to leave Afghanistan Currently the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of London, Dearlove also discussed other imminent threats, aside from China and its manipulation and collusion with the U.S. and other global health authorities. He said that Britain should commit to training the security forces in Afghanistan for another two decades, after Biden announced the American troops are leaving ahead of the September 11 20th year anniversary. For him, it would be a mistake to mirror the U.S. decision as the U.K. had become safer by deposing the old Taliban regime. "It could be (another 20-year stay)," he said. "I'm not arguing for the massive deployment of troops. I'm arguing for the continued training and equipping of Afghan forces to fight this battle. I mean, you can't really afford now to have these geopolitical vacuums when there are such potent threats." Islamist terror remains the biggest threat to the UK, and far-right terrorism has "so far" been more containable, he said. During the interview with LBC, the former intel agency head also touched on the freedom of movement in Europe and the migrant crisis throughout the 2010s that impacted British security "to an extent." He was then asked about reports of Boris Johnson and the use of his phone, with suggestions in recent days that his number was readily available online and news he has been contactable by people in the private sector, Dearlove answered: "Politicians and phones have always been a problem. It is not a unique problem to any single politician, every single politician I have ever known, foreign and British, has used their phones in a way that probably is unwise, that's the nature of political life." "It's not to do with the behavior of politicians," he further stressed. Bookmark Pandemic.news for more news about theories on COVID-19 origin. Sources for this article include: TheNationalPulse.com LBC.com The United States has deployed its air and naval assets in the Middle East amid what the Department of Defense sees as very aggressive moves by Russia and Iran. In Syria, a Russian Su-35 fighter jet conducted a very close fly-by to a United States MC-12 surveillance aircraft, putting the lives of the four American crew members at risk. Meanwhile, Iranian naval forces have seized at least three oil tankers transiting close to Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf. One such incident, involving the seizure of a Panama-flagged tanker that traveled through the Gulf of Oman, led to complaints from the United Arab Emirates that the U.S. is not doing enough to secure the region's hostile waterways. In response, the Pentagon deployed a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer the U.S.S. Thomas Hudner as well as fighter jets like the F-16 and the high-end F-35 to safeguard American interests in the region. The Navy destroyer and the F-16s are stationed at the Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and have commenced patrols over the Persian Gulf to ensure the safety of commercial shipping. According to the Pentagon, the Russian fighter jet's aggressive maneuver over Syrian airspace hindered the ability of the MC-12 crew to conduct its surveillance mission. At the time, the MC-12 was conducting surveillance in support of operations against Islamic State cells in Syria. In recent weeks, there have been multiple instances of Russian fighter jets harassing U.S. military assets, including MQ-9 drones. These encounters have involved Russian jets flying closely to the drones, forcing them to take evasive actions and deploy flares. U.S. and Russian military officers have been in communication over a deconfliction phone line to protest the actions of the other side during these incidents. (Related: Chinese fighter jet flies too close to US recon plane flying over South China Sea.) BRIBERY BIDEN: FBI form reveals Burisma founder Mykola Zlochevsky was forced to send Bidens money More bombshell evidence has recently been unearthed proving the involvement of President Joe Biden in the "illegal and corruptive business dealings" of his "Biden crime family. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley and the House Oversight Republicans released on July 20 a copy of an unclassified Federal Bureau of Investigation- (FBI-) generated record alleging a scheme to bribe then-Vice President Biden. According to the FBI FD-1023 form, Burisma founder and Ukrainian oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky was "coerced" into sending money to Joe and his son Hunter, who served on Burisma's board from April 2014 until he left the position in 2019. "For the better part of a year, I've been pushing the Justice Department and FBI to provide details on its handling of very significant allegations from a trusted FBI informant implicating Biden in a criminal bribery scheme. While the FBI sought to obfuscate and redact, the American people can now read this document for themselves, without the filter of politicians or bureaucrats, thanks to brave and heroic whistleblowers. What did the Justice Department and FBI do with the detailed information in the document? And why have they tried to conceal it from Congress and the American people for so long? The DOJ and FBI have failed to come clean, but Chairman Comer and I intend to find out," Grassley said. As per the newest evidence, Zlochevsky and the confidential human source (CHS) reportedly went into a phone call after the 2016 presidential election, in which the former claimed he was "pushed to pay" the Bidens and did not want to send the money. "CHS asked Zlochevsky whether he was concerned about Burisma's involvement with the Bidens. Zlochevsky stated he didn't want to pay the Bidens, but he was forced to pay them," the FD-1023 form reads. "CHS explained the Russian term Zlochevsky used to explain the payments were 'poluchili' (transliterated by the CHS), which literally translates to 'got it' or 'received it,' but is also used in Russian-criminal-slang for being 'forced or coerced to pay.'" The law enforcement agency form also disclosed that the CHS said that he/she hopes they have some back-up (proof) for the words, something like " Zlochevsky was 'forced' to pay the Bidens. So, the oil and natural gas businessman then reportedly inquired whether it would make any legal difference whether he voluntarily made such payments, or if he was 'forced' to make them. Meanwhile, Zlochevsky replied he has many text messages and 'recordings' that show that he was coerced to make the payments. The form cited that the former minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine had a total of "17 recordings" involving the Bidens including two featuring Joe while the other 15 allegedly only feature Hunter. A Federalist article read: "The claims that Zlochevsky possessed recordings not just of Hunter Biden, but also of "the Big Guy" suggests we face a serious national security risk, with a compromised president potentially beholden to a blackmailer." Hunter Biden was not enough as a backer, Burisma wanted the "Big Guy" Back in 2015 to 2016, Ukrainian official Oleksandr Ostapenko introduced CHS to Zlochevsky during a meeting with Burisma executives in Vienna, Austria to give advice about the company on potentially buying a U.S.-based oil firm and launching an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States. The FBI form further divulged that the CHS was told of the younger Biden's position on the board of directors during the initial meeting, where he was told that the reason why Hunter was hired is that he will "protect us, through his dad, from all kinds of problems." This was a big unique selling point for Burisma because allegedly, they did not "trust Hunter was that smart." During the same time, then-Ukrainian Prosecutor General (PGO) Viktor Shokin was investigating the firm. Thus, the CHS said that it would be difficult for the IPO to take place, but Zlochevsky assured him/her that "Hunter will take care of all of those issues through his dad." Not long after that, the older Biden publicly advocated Shokin's dismissal and even bragged to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in March 2016 about using a $1 billion loan guarantee as leverage to get Shokin fired. Biden made similar comments about Shokin being fired at a CFR event in January 2018, when Biden was out of office. (Related: Timeline proves Joe Biden is head of his family's organized crime syndicate Breitbart.) Biden told the audience, "I looked at them and said, 'I'm leaving in six hours. You're not getting the money if the prosecutor is not fired. Well, son of a bitch. He got fired.'" In the alleged phone call after the 2016 election, "Zlochevsky stated Shokin had already been fired, and no investigation was currently going on, and that nobody would find out about his financial dealings with the Bidens," the form included. The next time CHS and Zlochevsky spoke again was in a 2019 telephone call when he was meeting in London with Ostapenko about business matters unrelated to Burisma. Ostapenko called the businessman who told the CHS how he would conceal his alleged payments to the Bidens, the form continued. "Zlochevsky responded he did not send any funds directly to the 'Big Guy' (referring to Joe Biden). CHS asked Zlochevsky how many companies/bank accounts Zlochevsky controls; Zlochevsky responded it would take them (investigators) 10 years to find the records," the FBI form read. Discover more about Biden family's illegal international business dealings on BidenCrimeFamily.news. Sources for this article include: DailyCaller.com Grassley.Senate.gov 1 Grassley.Senate.gov 2 Are you lost in the wild? Sorry, but the page you're looking for has not been found Try checking the URL for errors, goto home or try to search below. California school superintendent pushing transgender training shut down by school board Californias controversial school superintendent, Tony Thurmond, was recently shown the door at a local school board meeting for refusing to follow protocol while pushing his LGBT education agenda. The incident occurred at a board meeting of the Chino Valley Unified School District (USD), where the topic of discussion was a resolution that will require parents to be notified if their child undergoes a gender transition at school. Thurmond was testifying against the measure and ran over the school board's one-minute speaking limit. In response, board chair Sonja Shaw turned off his microphone. "This is not your meeting. You may have a seat, because if I did that to you in Sacramento, you would not accept it. Please sit," she warned. "Youre not going to blackmail us. You already sent us a blackmailing letter previously. You will not bully us here in Chino." However, a determined Thurmond refused to leave the podium, and police had to usher him out of the building. He later tweeted that he had been "thrown out of a board meeting by extremists." After Thurmond left, the board approved the resolution by a vote of 4 to 1, making it the first rejection of its kind of guidance provided by the California Department of Education. The measure will require schools to inform parents if their children seek to change their name or pronoun, identify as transgender or use gender-based facilities at school that dont align with their birth gender. Chino Valley USD is one of several school districts in Southern California to reject sweeping LGBT mandates and guidelines issued by the state. Gov. Gavin Newsom and other lawmakers are dealing with this growing resistance with threats and aggressive new legislative measures. Parents are becoming increasingly fed up with governmental overreach in public education, an issue that was front and center during the pandemic as parents struggled with school shutdowns and mask and vaccine mandates. In the face of an onslaught of legislation that aims to give schools rights that should belong to parents, many California parents are finding that their only option is to try to reject these measures at the local level. Controversial superintendent wants to run for governor Thurmond, who is known for his radical gender ideology, announced earlier this month that he is seriously exploring a run for governor in 2026 and cited "taking on MAGA extremists who want to ban books" and "defending classroom teachers and students against the constant assault on our democracy" as being among his goals. Since he took over the role of superintendent of public instruction in 2019, test scores among the states public school students have dropped nearly 10 percentage points. Unfortunately, he appears to focus more of his energy on training teachers to help California students change their gender than improving their education. Just 35 percent of the states low-income students managed to meet literacy standards last year, while just 21 percent were considered proficient in math. Yet Thurmond has been busy securing funding for training teachers to support students in their gender transitions and enlisting the services of partisan groups to write the training. The California State Legislature is currently advancing a bill that would require all middle school and high school teachers to complete the course. Thurmond has also worked with groups like Gender Nation to place books about transgenderism in classrooms from preschool upward, and he is supporting a bill that will stop school boards from removing LGBT books that they find to be inappropriate. He has also joined an LGBT rights group in rating California school districts based on their transgender policies. Sources for this article include: FreeBeacon.com 1 TheEpochTimes.com FreeBeacon.com 2 SMOKING GUN: CDC altered definition of breakthrough COVID infections following emails about vaccine failure Recently unearthed documents show that the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) quietly altered the definition of Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) "cases" in people who have been "vaccinated" so as to lower the official number of cases classified as "breakthrough." At the start of 2021, the official CDC definition for a breakthrough covid case was someone who tested "positive" seven or more days after receipt of a primary injection series. On Feb 2, 2021, that definition was changed to only include cases detected at least 14 days after the primary injection series. "We have revised the case definition," admitted Dr. Marc Fisher, head of the CDC's Vaccine Breakthrough Case Investigation Team, in a letter he sent to his colleagues at the time. As to the reason for the sudden and unexpected change, it was redacted from said documents, meaning the government does not want the public to know why the change was made. "CDC made the change to the definition of a breakthrough infection time period due to the most current data that showed that the 14-day period was required for an effective antibody response to the vaccines," is the reason that spokesman Scott Pauley gave in an emailed response to The Epoch Times, which obtained the redacted documents. "That, in combination with the data showing that many cases of COVID-19 were incubating for up to two weeks before becoming symptomatic, required the change to refine the time period to eliminate cases where exposure happened before the vaccination response would be effective." (Fact Check: The CDC is a private corporation disguised as a federal public health agency.) Dr. Harvey Risch says there's "no cogent rationale" for CDC changing definition of "breakthrough" covid case Such an explanation does not cut it for Dr. Harvey Risch, professor emeritus of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health. In a statement, Risch said that there is "no cogent rationale" for excluding early post-injection covid cases whether they occurred within seven days or within 14 days. "With either of these delays, CDC addressed what is the theoretical best that the vaccination could achieve," Risch said. "If the vaccines don't work for the first seven or 14 days or increase risk of getting Covid-19 during that period, that is part of what happens when they are deployed in a population." What the CDC should have done, according to Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a professor of health policy at Stanford University, is focus more on advising the public that the "fully vaccinated" were not as protected immediately after injection as the government had been, and still is, claiming. "Rather than playing games with the definition of breakthrough cases, [the CDC should have told] recently vaccinated vulnerable older people that they were at higher risk for being infected during that period," Bhattacharya said. Conveniently, the CDC's change from seven days for 14 days ended up excluding a large number of post-jab breakthrough cases, which created an over-inflated metric for jab effectiveness. In other words, by making the change, the CDC made it appear as though Fauci Flu shots are more effective than they actually are. In early 2021, one of the documents shows, there were 37 breakthrough cases of covid, 34 of which immediately ended up not being counted after the CDC made the change because the cases occurred within the first week of when the patients got jabbed. Dr. Fisher further confirmed that the remaining three cases were also not counted in the end because they happened within 13 days of completion of a primary series. This is how the CDC covered up the fact that covid jabs do not provide any tangible protection against covid. The CDC is one of the most distrusted federal agencies in America. Learn more at CDC.news. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com Mainstream media journalists are now OBSOLETE: Google tests new AI tool that can write NEWS STORIES and replace obedient journo-propagandists Search engine giant Google is reportedly testing a new tool powered by artificial intelligence (AI) capable of analyzing information on current events and generating news stories. The New York Times (NYT) expounded on Google's new tool called Genesis, which the tech giant describes as a potential game-changer. According to the company, Genesis offers journalists a kind of personal assistant that could automate certain tasks and free up time for more in-depth reporting. "AI-enabled tools [such as Genesis] could assist journalists with options for headlines or different writing styles," said Google spokeswoman Jenn Crider. "Our goal is to give journalists the choice of using these emerging technologies in a way that enhances their work and productivity, just like were making assistive tools available for people in Gmail and Google Docs." According to her, the tech giant has pitched to news publishers including smaller publishers to explore new ideas and help journalists. Crider added: "Quite simply, these tools are not intended to and cannot replace the essential role journalists have in reporting, creating and fact-checking their articles." (Related: Google unveils plan to use AI to completely destroy journalism.) One anonymous source confirmed that Genesis would be launched to major news organizations, such as the NYT, the Washington Post (WaPo) and the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). "We have an excellent relationship with Google, and we appreciate [Alphabet and Google CEO] Sundar Pichai's long-term commitment to journalism," said a spokesperson for News Corp., the owner of WSJ. Both the NYT and WaPo refused to comment. AI in journalism a hotly-debated topic The use of AI-enabled tools such as Genesis in newsrooms has been a topic of debate among media organizations worldwide. Some news outlets have expressed their intentions to explore responsible uses of AI in journalism. However, Genesis has instead raised anxiety among journalists, who fear that widespread adoption of AI for article generation might lead to misinformation and alter the perception of traditionally written stories. According to renowned journalism professor and media commentator Jeff Jarvis, the new AI-enabled tool of Google has upsides and downsides. He stated: "If this technology can deliver factual information reliably, journalists should use the tool." However, Jarvis emphasized the importance of responsible application, particularly on topics that demand nuance and cultural understanding. He warned that misusing Genesis "could damage the credibility not only of the tool, but of the news organizations that use it." While Google has been quick to develop and deploy generative AI, it faced challenges with ensuring accuracy and responsible content curation. Bard, a chatbot tool introduced by Google, has occasionally presented inaccurate information and failed to direct users to authoritative news sources. Additionally, the WSJ exposed the flaws of AI-enabled tools of Google for hospitals. These tools, the outlet said, delivered more inaccuracies and irrelevant information in its responses compared to real doctors in diagnostics. The media industry as a whole has long-standing issues with Google, with the Accelerated Mobile Pages fiasco and Gannett's lawsuit against Google for alleged ad tech monopolies hurting local news serving as proof of this. Likewise, AI companies including Google are using years of news articles and content to train their AI system without compensating the publishers. Given this, news organizations such as NBC News and NYT have spoken out against AI bots using their data without permission. Visit EvilGoogle.news for more stories about Google's nefarious plans with AI. Watch this video outlining three examples of how Google's Bard AI is a woke chatbot. This video is from the Recharge Freedom channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Digital prepping: How to survive in a world dominated by AI. AI likely to WIPE OUT humanity, Oxford and Google researchers warn. If AI takes over, humanity could go extinct, experts warn. "Godfather of AI" quits Google, warns of risks associated with the technology he helped develop. Google CEO admits he DOESN'T UNDERSTAND how his company's AI chatbot Bard works. Sources include: DNYUZ.com TheVerge.com Brighteon.com Right Now with Ann Vandersteel: Joey Mannarino warns hostile power has taken over America Brighteon.TV hostile power has completely taken over America, according to podcaster Joey Mannarino. "We've been taken over by a hostile power. That's the best way to look at it," he told host Ann Vandersteel during the July 19 episode of "Right Now with Ann Vandersteel" on Brighteon.TV. "We have completely been taken over. We didn't sign up for this. Every day, they violate the Constitution. There's not a single day that they follow it and they don't even care. They don't care to let you know that they're just going to do what they want." According to Mannarino, the entire world including America's enemies can just do whatever they want while U.S. President Joe Biden occupies the White House. Russian President Vladimir Putin sending his troops into Ukraine proved this point. The podcaster also warned that China may soon invade Taiwan, mirroring Moscow's actions. Vandersteel, meanwhile, remarked that it remains a big question mark whether America is sending a woke military or its finest troops to defend Taiwan, especially with the Biden administration more concerned with Ukraine than securing the border of the continental United States. In response, Mannarino said it makes no sense that America's military is not getting the best weaponry, the best training and the best capability to destroy their enemies. He also referenced remarks from Biden himself admitting that the U.S. military is already low on ammunition. "This is a war relating to munitions," Biden told Fareed Zakaria of the fake news network CNN in a July 2023 interview. "They're running out of ammunition, and we're low on it." The president's admissions provoked derision among conservatives on social media. Conservative communicator Steve Guest tweeted: "Does Biden not care that our adversaries in China are listening?" Tech entrepreneur David Sacks, meanwhile, wrote: "The point of the proxy war was to weaken Russia, but the U.S. ran out of ammo first. So who's weakening whom?" Despite Biden's admission, Mannarino lamented how the White House continues to send more weapons to Ukraine. Mannarino: Woke military will be the death of America The podcaster also lamented how the U.S. military under Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has become a woke training camp. Under his leadership, the military has focused on discussing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) rather than vanquishing America's foes. (Related: Woke U.S. military failing to recruit because nobody wants to defend American degeneracy.) Back in June 2021, The Hill reported about the defense secretary's espousal of DEI programs in the Defense Department during a Senate hearing. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) repeatedly asked Austin whether members of the military should be treated differently based on their skin color or sex. The senator expected a yes or no answer from the defense secretary, something he failed to obtain. "This question deserves more than a yes or no answer," Austin said. "I do not believe that, and that is why we have DEI focus in the military." Mannarino ultimately remarked that America's woke military is going to be the death of the country. Vandersteel agreed with her guest, mentioning that the U.S. is sitting on the cusp of a two-front war with Russia and China with a military that has been indoctrinated into this woke ideology led by Austin. She also noted that the defense secretary does not have an oath of office on file. The rest of Biden's cabinet, including Vice President Kamala Harris, likewise do not have these oaths on file. "We have an illegitimate government, 100 percent. They're illegitimate. This is a Class A felony impersonating a public servant of the U.S.," the "Right Now" host said. "Our entire government has been co-opted by corporations that are controlling agencies that have powers delegated to them by the executive and legislative branches that are mandating a whole host of other things. We are completely surrounded by this corporation." Head over to NationalSecurity.news for more stories like this. Watch the July 19 episode of "Right Now with Ann Vandersteel" below. "Right Now with Ann Vandersteel" airs weekdays at 8-8:30 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. More related stories: Americans shun Bidens woke military, as all service branches except the USMC see recruiting shortfalls. America Unhinged: Dr. John Diamond says Biden is part of Deep State cabal Brighteon.TV. U.S. government planned out, executed covid "pandemic": PROOF. Russia: Washington complicit in war crimes by supplying Ukraine with ammunition. Biden administration announces another military package for Ukraine. Sources include: Brighteon.com MSN.com TheHill.com Pharmacy director warns of possible long-term shortages on certain medicines due to tornado damage at Pfizers North Carolina plant The powerful tornado that seriously damaged a Pfizer pharmaceutical plant in North Carolina on July 19 is expected to threaten production lines that usually supply massive amounts of medicine to hospitals. Pfizer confirmed that the massive manufacturing complex in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, was damaged by a twister that landed quickly after midday. The Big Pharma company added in an email that it had no reports of severe injuries and all employees were safely evacuated and accounted for. (Related: Tornado tears through Pfizer plant in North Carolina, destroying 50,000 pallets of drugs and vaccines.) Pfizer's Rocky Mountain facility is a complex of several massive buildings storing large quantities of medicine. Reports following the incident detail how large portions of the roof were ripped open, and many medications being manufactured at the facility being affected by the natural disaster. "I've got reports of 50,000 pallets of medicine that are strewn across the facility and damaged through the rain and the wind," said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. The plant manufactures anesthesia and other drugs in addition to almost 25 percent of all sterile injectable medications used in hospitals in the United States. According to Erin Fox, senior pharmacy director at the University of Utah Health, the damage "will likely lead to long-term shortages, while Pfizer works to either move production to other sites or rebuilds." "We are assessing the situation to determine the impact on production. Our thoughts are with our colleagues, our patients, and the community as we rebuild from this weather incident," Pfizer said. FDA, Pfizer claim disaster won't affect medicine supply Meanwhile, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said on July 21 that the agency does not expect any instant serious impacts on supply after the tornado. Califf said in a statement that the agency is working with Pfizer to evaluate the effect of the tornado at the Rocky Mount plant, with a broad review of products that could be affected and the present availability of these medicines. The evaluation will also take into consideration what is in Pfizer's other warehouses and what is stored by wholesalers and distributors if those corporations are willing to share that information with the FDA. "Importantly, we do not expect there to be any immediate significant impacts on supply given the products are currently at hospitals and in the distribution system, but this is a dynamic situation and FDA staff are in frequent communication with Pfizer and other manufacturers. The FDA will work closely with partners in government, industry and the broader health care system to minimize the impact on patient care," Califf said. The FDA claims it has identified fewer than 10 drugs for which the plant is the lone source for the American market, but stated that a lot of those were definite formulations for which there should be substitutes or several weeks worth of supply kept at other Pfizer plants and warehouses. "For those products produced at this facility that are already in, or may be at risk of shortage, the FDA has initiated mitigation steps, such as looking for additional sources and asking other manufacturers to prepare to ramp up production, if needed," said Califf. He warned that allocation standards could cause localized supply disruptions, subject to contractual relationships for supplies. "More broadly, this incident underscores that a robust, resilient and safe drug supply chain is essential for public health and national security. Redundancy of manufacturing locations, which can include domestic locations, and of suppliers is important to mitigate risks to supply that can occur from natural disasters, geopolitical conflicts or other less predictable events," Califf added. Pfizer has a third of the total sterile injectable drug market for hospitals in America, and Califf said eight percent of U.S. consumption is provided by the North Carolina plant. Learn more about Big Pharma companies like Pfizer at BigPharmaNews.com. Watch the video below to know more about the Pfizer plant destroyed by a tornado in North Carolina. This video is from the World Alternative Media channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Confidential documents reveal THOUSANDS of deaths from Pfizer-BioNTech COVID jabs back when manufacturers claimed no "safety signals." Data shows 63,060% increase in CHILD DEATHS since rollout of Pfizer's COVID-19 jab for children in Europe. PHARMA FLASHBACK: Pfizer shelled out $2.3B to settle civil and criminal charges in 2009. NEVER FORGET: In 1994, Pfizer paid $20 million after LYING about defective heart valve that killed hundreds. Sources include: CBSNews.com FoxBusiness.com Brighteon.com Dr. Jane Ruby: Americans are still in DANGER from the mRNA shots Dr. Jane Ruby has warned that American people are still in danger from the deadly mRNA materials "I want to make you aware of the fact that we are not out of the woods [yet], or out of danger when it comes to shots being perpetrated on you," she said. "The dangerous mRNA materials [are] being directed toward you in many different ways." According to Ruby, a medical economist and healthcare researcher, the mRNA shots aren't being returned to the shelf. Instead, they will be injected into more Americans through the flu vaccines. She added that these mRNA shots will be aimed at two targeted populations pregnant women and Native Americans. The host of "Dr. Jane Ruby STAT" on Brighteon.TV noted that healthcare systems have previously taken billions from the federal government to conduct mass genocide in the form of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations. Now, these same healthcare systems are following their new marching orders getting the new mRNA shot into pregnant women. (Related: Clinical trials for mRNA FLU SHOTS already underway.) Given this, Ruby stressed that pregnant women are unmistakably under attack right now. According to her, mothers injected with the shot won't get immunity only DNA damage and billions of spike proteins that can affect a breastfeeding baby. "There is a dedicated attack on pregnant women. Got to get that mRNA and you kill two birds with one stone. You damage the mother's DNA, and you damage the baby's DNA. Now we've got legacy and more generations of poisoning." Native Americans also targeted in DEPOPULATION scheme Ruby also noted that healthcare systems in Native American communities are targeting the people they are supposed to serve. "They want to make sure there's equal access to death and destruction because that is the program. And what better way than you are doing, targeting sub-populations for some reasons," she pointed out. "Why not hit the Native American communities? Because who is going to be more defensive and protective of these lands of this nation? The tribal nations who are indigenous." She recounted members of Native American communities confronting healthcare officials for pushing vaccines to babies. In one instance, a member of the Cherokee Nation confronted the administrator of their healthcare system over this exact issues. Many of these tribal nations have separated themselves and refused the poison injections, which play a role in the plan to kill the Native American genome. Ruby cited a report stating that almost almost 50,000 people in the Native American community did not receive any of the vaccines, including the COVID-19 shots. The Brighteon.TV host said the Native American tribes never had any flu, smallpox or any diseases the traditional vaccines were supposed to prevent. She added: "That's why they want to punish these communities like the Amish and the tribal nations because they don't want them to get the message out that they are healthier without these government poisons." Ruby ultimately advised the Native American community to be suspicious and hold back any attempt by healthcare systems to administer the mRNA vaccines. "So, no flu shots of any kind, no childhood immunization scheduled shots of any kind. Be careful of any injections. Be wary." Watch the "Coffee Chat with Dr. Jane" clip where Dr. Jane Ruby expounds on the dangers of mRNA injections below. This video is from the Dr. Jane Ruby channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: DIRTY SHOTS: DNA contamination and cancer-causing agent SV40 found in mRNA vaccines. Big Pharma says new mRNA "vaccines" for cancer and heart disease will be "ready by end of the decade." COVID-19 vaccines have created a DEADLY ALLIANCE featuring graphene, mRNA and nanotech. The danger of lying about mRNA vaccine failure. Comprehensive study: There are ZERO Amish kids suffering from cancer, diabetes or autism WHY IS THAT? Sources include: Brighteon.com DrJaneRuby.com USGS: At least 45% of TAP WATER across the U.S. is contaminated with FOREVER CHEMICALS In a national news release, the USGS reported that at least 45 percent of the nations tap water is estimated to have one or more types of chemicals known as per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS). Its research marks the first time anyone has tested for and compared PFAS in tap water from both private and government-regulated public water supplies on a broad scale across the country. Given this, the USGS study can help members of the public to understand their risk of exposure and inform policy and management decisions regarding testing and treatment options for drinking water. PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals used in a wide variety of common applications, from the linings of fast-food boxes and non-stick cookware to fire-fighting foams and other purposes. High concentrations of some PFAS may lead to adverse health risks in people, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which regulates public water supplies. Homeowners are responsible for the maintenance, testing and treatment of private water supplies. Research is still ongoing to better understand the potential health effects of PFAS exposure over long periods of time. Because they break down very slowly, PFAS are commonly called 'forever chemicals.' Their persistence in the environment and prevalence across the country make them a unique water-quality concern. USGS scientists tested water collected directly from peoples kitchen sinks across the nation providing the most comprehensive study to date on PFAS in tap water from both private wells and public supplies, said USGS research hydrologist Kelly Smalling, the studys lead author. The study estimated that at least one type of PFAS could be present in nearly half of the tap water in the United States. Furthermore, PFAS concentrations were similar between public supplies and private wells. In March, the Biden administration announced new national drinking water standards, allowing the EPA to test public water systems for six types of PFAS chemicals and to take action to reduce PFAS levels in water supplies. Testing is the only way to confirm the presence of these contaminants in wells. Those interested in testing and treating private wells should contact their local and state officials for guidance. (Related: Breakthrough: Canadian scientists develop novel filtration method that permanently removes 'forever chemicals' from drinking water.) Water near urban areas, factories report higher PFAS concentrations For the study, published in Environment International, scientists collected tap water from 716 locations (269 private wells; 447 public supply) across the U.S. was collected during 20162021, including three locations where temporal sampling was conducted. The low category includes protected lands; the medium category includes residential and rural areas with no known PFAS sources; and the high category includes urban areas and locations with reported PFAS sources such as industry or waste sites. Most of the exposure was observed near urban areas and potential PFAS sources. This included the Great Plains, Great Lakes, Eastern Seaboard and Central/Southern California regions. The study found that most of the chemical exposure was found near urban areas and potential PFAS sources. Researchers tested 32 individual PFAS compounds using a method developed by the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory. The most frequently detected compounds in this study were perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in approximately 15 percent of the samples. The interim health advisories released by the EPA in 2022 for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were exceeded in every sample in which they were detected in this study. The studys results are in line with previous research concluding that people in urban areas have a higher likelihood of PFAS exposure. USGS scientists estimate that the probability of PFAS not being observed in tap water is about 75 percent in rural areas and around 25 percent in urban areas. A separate study published 2022 in Environmental Science & Technology built upon previous research by the USGS and partners regarding human-derived contaminants, including PFAS, in drinking water and PFAS in groundwater. It found that these chemicals are linked to the most common type of liver cancer. 3M, a major manufacturer of PFAS chemicals, announced a $10.3 billion settlement with public water suppliers nationwide after the company was accused of contaminating drinking water, United Press International reported. In June of that year the EPA warned that these PFAS "forever chemicals" cause negative human health effects at much lower levels than previously thought. The USGS study took samples from private wells in addition to samples from public water sources. Because the burden of private-well maintenance falls on the owners, information remains scarce and limited to testing for just a few contaminants due to the high cost. "This circumstance leads to the increased probability of unrecognized contaminant exposures and adverse health effects to private-well dependents and illustrates the continued need for comparable assessments in both private wells and public supply at the point-of-use," the USGS said. Visit TapWater.news for more stories about chemicals found in tap water. Watch this video about "forever chemicals" now contaminating nearly HALF OF US tap water, including private wells. This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: 3M agrees to $10.3 billion settlement over allegations of contaminating public water with 'forever chemicals.' From womb to tomb: Forever chemicals can be passed on to babies during pregnancy. US water infrastructure is COLLAPSING: Toxic arsenic levels detected in NYC tap water, E. coli in Baltimore water supply. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com USGS.gov ScienceDirect.com Pubs.ACS.org UPI.com Brighteon.com More COVID dogs were surrendered to animal shelters in Canada, prompting the care facility to ask for support. The CBC News reported that the Oakville Milton Humane Society is appealing for donations to support 131 animals, including 38 dogs. The shelter also observed an increase in demand for its food bank, which offers pet meals to owners who are having financial difficulties. Lisa Bennett, the shelter's customer service team leader, said that the situation is crucial due to the rising program expenditures and that one donor has agreed to match every dollar given to the group up to $5,000 by July 31. Cost of Living Since the COVID-19 restriction was lifted, pet owners have been abandoning their animals at shelters across Canada, and some have even abandoned their pets in parks. According to Bennett, the main reason for pet surrenders is that people can no longer afford to care for their pets due to escalating living costs. Some people who adopted pets while working at home no longer have the time to care for them. From January 1 to July 21 of this year, 292 dogs were surrendered to Toronto Animal Services, putting them on track to surpass the 477 surrendered in 2022. According to Melissa Shupak, division manager of shelter services at the Toronto Humane Society (THS), adoption numbers are down and surrenders are up. "People are trying to evaluate whether they can put food on the table for themselves and their family or an animal," said Shupak. There is a rise in the number of cats being surrendered to shelters in England. The BBC reported that, according to data from Cats Protection Charity's adoption center in Wrexham, one in every five cats admitted to the center due to their owners being unable to pay for their upkeep. Because of the surge in numbers, an appeal has been issued for volunteers to assist in socializing the abandoned felines with cuddles. "We don't have the capacity to bring in 270 cats straight away, so we are trying to work with owners to try to keep the cats in their home as best as possible, as well as freeing up capacity to bring more cats into care, where they can't stay in their home," said Vicki Small, Operations manager for Cats Protection in Wales. A Toronto-based dog and cat rescue organization, Mattie's Place founded by Denise Angus said that they also noticed an increase in the demand for their food bank, adding that they feed at least 1,200 dogs a month. They also received 20 to 30 emails a day from distressed pet owners looking for a permanent place for their animals. "It's heartbreaking... and as a volunteer, it really shakes you to the core," said Angus. Read Also: Russia Unveils First-Ever COVID-19 Vaccine For Animals: How Effective Is It? Shortage of veterinarians According to Nicole Simone, CEO of Redemption Paws, a federally registered organization that helps rehome dogs, Ontario's veterinarian shortage has resulted in escalating veterinary care expenses. "Dogs aren't even able to get the same quality of care that they were two years ago because there's just simply a shortage of vets," said Simone. She claims that owners are frequently struck with unexpected vet expenditures, which forces them to relinquish their pets. Simone claims that by getting pet insurance, this can be avoided. "We just encourage people to really prepare medically for their dogs because that's that's a big issue that people face." Related Article: How Are Animals Affected By COVID-19? Related Video: Algeria wildfires have killed at least 34 people, forcing mass evacuations in multiple provinces in the northern part of the country. This was according to local official reports as of Monday, July 24, wherein the raging fires have engulfed the region since July 17. The main cause of the flames remains unclear but it is likely linked to scorching temperatures experienced by the country this month. Thousands of firefighters have been deployed in several affected Algerian provinces to combat the deadly Algerian fires. There were also reports of the blaze reaching coastal resorts, in addition to residential areas in the mainland. There is a possibility the death toll will increase as search or rescue operations continue for potential survivors. Algeria Wildfires The Algeria wildfire death toll has increased to 34 people, which includes 10 soldiers who responded to the disaster. This is according to the country's interior ministry, which said wildfires swept across the regions of Algeria as a massive heat dome spreads across North Africa and Southern Europe, as cited by Reuters. Local authorities said around 8,000 firefighters were battling the wildfires to keep the blaze under control. The ministry confirmed firefighting operations have continued in the regions of Bouira, Boumerdes, Bejaia, Jijel, Skikda, and Tizi Ouzou. Meanwhile, the intense heat in Algeria was also recorded in its neighboring country of Tunisia, where wildfires also ravaged the border town of Melloula. Local witnesses in the area told Reuters that the wildfires started in mountainous areas, breached some homes and forced hundreds of families to evacuate. Also Read: Thousands Flee From Greek Island as Southern Europe Swelters Under Heatwave Algeria Heatwave The massive Algeria wildfire threat occurs amid a regional heatwave affecting North Africa and Southern Europe. Last year, a similar catastrophic extreme heat was reported in Europe and some parts of the Africa, including Algeria and Morocco. The previous scorching temperatures also led to heat-related deaths and illnesses, ranging from the hundreds to over a thousand. During the summer season, fires frequently erupt through forest lands and fields in Algeria, according to Phys.org. However, the 2023 wildfires were aggravated by the heatwave, which caused some Mediterranean countries to break their highest temperature records. In Algeria, the sweltering heat across the Mediterranean region expanded to dry and mountainous areas of North Africa. The dozens of deaths reported from the Algerian wildfires came as temperatures spiked to 50 degrees Celsius, the Financial Times reported. Climate Emergency: Heatwaves In recent years, extreme weather events and other natural disasters like wildfires and heat domes have been linked by scientists to climate change and global warming. The so-called 'climate emergency' involves the unprecedented increase of the average global temperatures, which potentially increases the frequency and intensity of these events. According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, research data shows that alterations in climate produce warmer and drier conditions. In addition, climate change also increases drought and leads to a more prolonged fire season. These elements all boost wildfire risk, according to the data. Related Article: Heatwave Alert: Bushfire Threat Warning Issued Amid Extreme Heat in Sydney Due to severe thunderstorms, the latest weather report showed that isolated tornadoes and flash floods are likely in the Midwest and Plains this week. Everyone with travel plans should consider checking the weather conditions before planning for outdoor activities and travel. Due to the chances of flooding downpours and damaging winds, the forecast noted that severe thunderstorms could result in slower commutes or travel disruptions. Furthermore, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported that severe thunderstorms and stormy weather could be likely in Southern New England. The report noted severe threats in North Dakota and Northwestern Minnesota could be possible. The NWS advisory added that scattered thunderstorms could also be likely in the Northeast and Northern Plains. Isolated tornadoes and flash flood concerns While some parts of the US experienced challenging heat, AccuWeather's latest forecast said a severe storm threat could unload in the Midwest and Plains. Homeowners should keep updated with the weather conditions for possible isolated tornadoes that could become dangerous. Based on AccuWeather's forecast, the severe thunderstorms could unload intense downpours, challenging winds and hail. The severe weather could affect parts of Winnipeg, Grand Forks, Bismarck, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Omaha, North Platte and Denver. Meanwhile, the NWS forecast added that severe hail conditions could be likely in portions of Eastern Colorado. The NWS Climate Prediction Center recently reported that oppressive heat conditions would unfold in Southern Plains, Bulf Gust and Mississippi Valley. Furthermore, AccuWeather's forecast explained that severe storms could continue on Wednesday, with possible flash flood risks and isolated tornadoes. During the midweek, severe thunderstorms could unload in Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, Davenport and Springfield. Motorists in the affected areas should check the roads and stay alert for severe weather. Challenging heat in parts of the United States During early July, forecasts explained that hotter weather emerged, causing heat-related health concerns, especially in the South and Southwestern US. Recently, Nature World News (NWN) reported heat warnings and advisories are present due to the brutal heatwave. Meanwhile, Fox News reported that about 250 million people in the country are at risk of the hotter weather. Furthermore, AccuWeather noted that about 100 million people in the Midwest and Northeast are threatened by challenging heat conditions. This week, a hotter outlook is forecast in Minneapolis, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Dallas, El Paso, Las Vegas, Denver, Omaha, Fargo and Minneapolis. The hotter conditions could continue until weekend. Americans can also feed a rebound to cooler temperatures next week, especially in Portland, Boston, New York and Washington. Homeowners should avoid outdoor activities and prolonged exposure to the hot weather, as heat could become life-threatening. Also Read: US Weather Forecast: 35 Million People Under Excessive Heat Advisories, Warnings Did you know? According to a CNN report, extreme heat and pollution could result in more heart attack risks. In addition, drinking enough water is essential and ensuring to stay in cooler environments. Also Read: Pale-Looking Florida Coral Reefs Suffer From Environment Health Issues Due to Heat Stress Related Article: US Weather Forecast: Hotter Temperature to Hit in Northeast For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature News. LOS ANGELESLuxxxe Studios has announced the signing of newcomer Luke London to a two-year, exclusive contract deal. London reached the agreement with Luxxxe Studios while on location in Palm Springs during filming of the studio's "Friends In Heat Season Two." London will be making his debut in Season Two, playing assistant district attorney Brad Harrington to Jake Carmichael (Justin Yurmouth). Originally from South Africa, Luke started his adult career this year. His passion for performing blossomed at a young age as a model and dancer. He has danced professionally around the world, while pursuing his Bachelor's Degree (LLB). After years of traveling, Luke decided to make Los Angeles his home in 2022. London's love for adventure and meeting new people led him to delve into photography and modeling work with Mark Hersh. He gradually shifted his focus toward more sexually themed material, creating content for platforms such as OnlyFans and Twitter while continuing to dance and perform at some of LA's top gay nightclubs. Then this summer Luke accepted the opportunity to perform in his first adult scene with Luxxxe in Palm Springs for Season Two of the "Friends in Heat" series. His performance impressed not only the production team but also founder JD Daniels , who offered him the two-year deal. Then this summer Luke accepted the opportunity to perform in his first adult scene with Luxxxe in Palm Springs for Season Two of the "Friends in Heat" series. His performance impressed not only the production team but also founder, who offered him the two-year deal. I am eagerly anticipating the thrilling new adventure that awaits me with Luxxxe Studios," London said. "Becoming a Luxxxe Studios exclusive is a significant milestone for me. Daniels remarked: We at Luxxxe Studios are not only excited but thrilled beyond comprehension about Mr. London being part of the Luxxxe family as a new exclusive member. Thanks to our Director of Photography Mark Hersh who discovered Luke and introduced him to us at Luxxxe, we believed strongly in Luke's talents and abilities to be an adult entertainer." Daniels added that London's look, personality and enthusiasm were key factors in deciding to sign him. "His outstanding performance in one of the upcoming scenes in Season Two had me sold that we have a valuable, treasured talent in Luke," he said, adding, "We have a lot of big plans in store for Luke in the upcoming months." Luxxxe Studios exclusive and Executive Brand Ambassador Justin Yurmouth agreed. I am so excited for Luke and his joining Luxxxe studios as an exclusive model," Yurmouth said. "Even as a newcomer, his on-screen presence and sensuality will make him an instant fan favorite. Luke is a great guy and I look forward to seeing him grow as a performer and working with him on future projects." Daniels indicated that London is one of two new exclusive contract performers that Luxxxe signed. The second one will be revealed soon. Photography by Mark Hersh The United Nations reported that the Asia-Pacific nations are facing a crucial time to strengthen their defenses against climate-related threats. According to the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the region experienced 140 disasters in 2022, resulting in 7,500 fatalities and $57 billion in economic damage. The Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2023 suggested that disaster-related mortality and economic damages are expected to reach $1 trillion, or 3% of regional GDP under a 2-degree Celsius warming scenario. The report further added that the most vulnerable subregions, such as the Pacific Small Island Developing States, will see increased inequality and destruction in the agriculture and energy sectors, jeopardizing food and energy security. "As temperatures continue to rise, new disaster hotspots are emerging, and existing ones are intensifying. A disaster emergency is underway, and we must fundamentally transform our approach to building resilience," said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP. Read Also: Extreme Rainfall is Putting Asia's Rice Fields at Risk, Threatening Global Food Production Early Warning System The United Nations estimates that the Asia-Pacific region needs roughly $145 billion to establish systems to reduce deaths and damage from floods, earthquakes, droughts, and other catastrophes. According to Euro News, an early warning system is an integrated system for hazard monitoring, forecasting and prediction, disaster risk assessment, communication, and preparedness. Such systems allow communities, governments, and corporations to have time to act and mitigate risks before a disaster occurs. "Increased investments in multi-hazard early warning systems as well as expanding coverage, particularly in least developed countries, is essential in reducing fatalities. Early warning systems can also decrease disaster losses by up to 60%, offering a remarkable tenfold return on investment," the UN report said. Countries that lack appropriate early warning coverage have an eight times higher disaster fatality rate than countries that do have such systems in place. estimates. Speaking during COP27, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced their plan to cover an early warning system against climate disaster in every country within five years. According to Reuters, just one-third of small island developing states and less than half of least-developed countries have access to warning systems for imminent storms, floods, tsunamis, and other disasters. Mami Mizutori, head of the U.N. disaster risk reduction agency, said putting comprehensive protective mechanisms in place globally is "ambitious," but "we must do it." "Every day we fail to do it, more lives are lost," she added. Economic loss The rising frequency of extreme weather events, such as powerful tropical storms and exceptional heat waves, has increased the urgency to find measures to protect people and adapt; thus, the report encourages governments to do more to minimize the effects of climate change. China, India, and Japan face the greatest potential monetary losses from rising global temperatures, the Associated Press reported. However, it is the smaller nations that would suffer the most economic loss, with Vanuatu, Tonga, Palau, and Micronesia in the top five. Cambodia, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Laos are all anticipated to suffer huge proportionate losses, equal to 7%-13% of their GDP. Related Article: Is Climate Change Asia-Pacific's Biggest Threat? Related Video: Experts warned of a possible shortage of medicine after a tornado hit North Carolina and caused significant damage to the Pfizer pharmaceutical plant. The plant, which is located in Rocky Mount, stores raw materials, packaging supplies, and finished medications awaiting release to hospitals across the United States. This facility also produced around 150 medicines, such as fentanyl and morphine for pain treatment and anesthetics for surgery, which are widely used in hospitals. "I've got reports of 50,000 pallets of medicine that are strewn across the facility and damaged through the rain and the wind," Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone told CBS News. Read Also: US Weather Forecast: Powerful Tornado Hits North Carolina; Northeast Expects More Rain Disruption of supply According to Reuters, Pfizer sent a letter to its hospital customer saying that around 64 different formulations or dosages of more than 30 drugs produced at the damaged plant may "experience continued or new supply disruption." As stated on their company website, the Rocky Mount facility is one of the world's largest drug facilities and is responsible for generating roughly 25% of Pfizer's sterile injectable pharmaceuticals used in U.S. hospitals. According to the United States Pharmacopeia, a body that studies medication supply chains, half of the products manufactured at the plant are on the FDA's essential medicine list. The pharmaceutical company has set limits on how much of certain drugs its consumers can purchase. Erin Fox, a senior pharmacy director at the University of Utah Health, predicts that the damages caused by the tornado will likely lead to a long-term medicine shortage while "Pfizer works to either move production to other sites or rebuild." Associate Scientist Mariana Socal of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health stressed that the drug shortage will not be felt immediately, noting that the hospital can access medicines that have already been manufactured and delivered. "In a matter of weeks or months the supply can just be depleted if other plants or manufacturers can't expand their production," Socal told the Wall Street Journal. Pfizer said they are working to fully restore the function of the facility, noting its crucial role in the U.S. healthcare system. "After an initial assessment, there does not appear to be any major damage to the medicine production areas," they added. Other damages of the tornado The National Weather Service said the damage in North Carolina was consistent with an EF3 tornado with wind speeds of up to 150 mph. According to WRAL News, a total of 90 residences and buildings were either damaged or destroyed. The tornado also injured at least 16 individuals, two of whom are in critical condition. In the aerial inspection conducted by Sky 5 in Nash County after the storm passed, trees and crops were seen devastated in the tornado's path. The authorities added that some neighborhoods were so badly damaged that first responders were unable to reach them. It is the second EF-3 tornado to hit North Carolina in the month of July. Related Article: Canada Severe Tornadoes: 125 Homes Damages in South Ottawa, 400,000 Without Power Scientists have found that the Atlantic Meridional Ocean Current (AMOC) could collapse, endangering more the ocean system. According to a Live Science report, some experts have predicted that the AMOC, which has been considered as a significant ocean system, might fall apart at any period beginning 2025. They warned that this phenomenon could result in the falling of the temperatures, the breakdown of the ocean ecosystems, as well as the occurrence of more storms across the globe. Effects of the possible AMOC collapse In the study posted on Nature, researchers Peter Ditlevsen and Susan Ditlevsen pointed out how the AMOC was branded as a "major tipping element" in the climate system, noting that its foreseen collapse will have serious effects in the climate being experienced in the North Atlantic Region. "In recent years weakening in circulation has been reported, but assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), based on the Climate Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) model simulations suggest that a full collapse is unlikely within the 21st century," the study stated. "Tipping to an undesired state in the climate is, however, a growing concern with increasing greenhouse gas concentrations," it further said. In a BBC report, the AMOC was described as a complicated set of currents that bring warm water north towards the pole, an area where it cools and sinks. The theory on the collapse of the AMOC was based in the present condition in which greenhouse gas emissions are on the rise. Researchers have found that if the specific ocean system would collapse, this might result in lower temperatures of up to 10 or 15 degrees in Europe and it might also lead to rising sea levels in the eastern portion of the United States. The agriculture system of the affected countries will also be affected as this occurrence will disrupt rain, which is significant for the sector. This will adversely affect billions of people who depend on for food in India, South America and West Africa. A report on The Guardian noted that the phenomenon could also bring risks on the Amazon rainforest and the Antarctic ice sheets. Based on available data, the last time that the AMOC had stopped and restarted was during the period of Ice Ages or around 115,000 to 12,000 years ago. Read Also: Ocean Currents Would Not Be Disrupted by Melting Ice Caps Contradictions Some scientists are not buying this theory, including MET Office Hadley Center's Ben Booth. He emphasized that the recent study was "far from settled science." For her part, Professor Penny Holliday of the National Oceanography Center at the University of Southampton said that it is too difficult to find the full veracity on the AMOC's possible breakdown. "We know that there is a possibility that AMOC could stop what it's doing now at some point, but it's really hard to have certainty about that," Holliday said in the BBC report. The arguments when it comes to the AMOC have proven that studying the climate system was very complex, and it is a reality that scientists still do not possess all the pieces of evidence that they need to fully understand the ocean system. Related Article: Climate Change One of the Reasons Why Major Ocean Current In Its Lowest In 1000 Years Related Video: Hardworking beavers are now treated with ecological importance, helping Californians to deal with climate change, wildfires and water problems. Beavers were first seen as a nuisance. However, recent studies showed the ecological benefits of beavers in wildlife and environments, especially for water problems and wildfires. California is no stranger to drought conditions and wildfires. Nature World News (NWN) recently reported that drought conditions improved in the region due to snowpack and rounds of rain. However, California is still vulnerable to drought and fire, as record-breaking heat continued to grip parts of the Southwestern US, increasing the risk of wildfires. Ecological benefits of beavers in California Protecting beavers is now vital in California because of the animal's contribution to improving water problems and fighting wildfires. According to Associated Press (AP) and CBS News, the role of beavers is now treated with ecological importance and nature's hardworking animals mitigate the impact of climate change. Part of the initiative is to monitor the contribution of nature-friendly solutions. The reports noted that beavers are good for improving groundwater supplies. The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute reported that beavers can move into terrestrial and aquatic areas. The report said that beavers can swim up to 10 kilometers per hour in water. Beavers can weigh up to 35 and 65 pounds. The Beaver population can thrive in wetland areas, rivers, ponds, streams and lakes. Beavers are hardworking because they work together to develop dams and water. They have strong family communication, The herbivore animals prefer to eat leaves and aquatic plants. Experts were looking into areas that beavers can help, urging communities to avoid killing beavers without permission. Part of the project initiative is to help educate people about the role of beavers in the environment. The Department of Fish and Wildlife said North America could have about 10 million to 15 million beaver populations. According to the AP report, restoration manager Valerie Cook explained that there is now a paradigm shift in treating beavers in the area. Cook is from the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The report noted that beavers are not protected but vital to other species, including the coho salmon. Also Read: Florida Ocean Temperature Reaches Over 100 Degrees; Temp Likely to Become World Record Beavers's Contribution to the Colorado River Furthermore, beavers are essential natural contributors to maintaining a healthy ecosystem. As mentioned, the report noted that beavers establish damns to store water for winter. According to an ABC News report, experts saw the significant benefits of beavers in protecting the environment against wildfires and drought conditions. The report noted that beavers could help develop and store water in the Colorado River, which recently experienced historically low water levels. The project can help communities to have more consistent water supply. Beavers are natural and low-cost engineers that can help the environment in dealing with climate change. Also Read: China Plans to Bring Zebrafish to Space Did you know? According to Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, beavers like to stay together in winter. Related Article: Pale-Looking Florida Coral Reefs Suffer From Environment Health Issues Due to Heat Stress For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News. AUSTINTwo bookstores, authors, and a coalition of national trade groups representing the countrys booksellers have filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas to block the implementation of a controversial law that would ban books and material in school libraries that contain sexually explicit material. Filed in the Austin division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, the plaintiff class argues that House Bill 900 establishes an unconstitutional regime. The complainants include Austin-based book store BookPeople, Houstons Blue Willow Bookshop, and trade associations and professional organizations like the American Booksellers Association, the Association of American Publishers, the Authors Guild, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Named defendants in the complaint include Martha Wong, the chair of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission; Keven Ellis, chair of the Texas State Board of Education; and Mike Morath, commissioner of the Texas Education Agency. By extension, the plaintiffs are also essentially suing the administration of far-right Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who signed the bill earlier this year. During the legislative session, a super-majority of Republican lawmakers who bought into the moral panic of sexual subject matter in books for young adults and teenagers adopted the bill, the Restricting Explicit and Adult-Designated Educational Resources (READER) Act, in what Abbott calls key legislation empowering Texas parents. HB 900, which is expected to enter force on September 1, would require independent bookstores, national bookseller chains, online book retailers, publishers and other book vendors to develop a rating system for millions of books and other library materials according to sexual content if those books are sold to school libraries, according to a press released published to the Association of American Publishers website. This proposed age rating system, the associations and stores argue, would institute vague labels dictated by the state without any process for judicial review. The rating system this law would impose is not viable for any book vendor, declares Valerie Koehler, a plaintiff and the owner of the Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston. We have always adhered to the idea that we cannot judge what a customer chooses. Requiring booksellers to rate novels, poetry and works of nonfiction would impede our ability to disseminate constitutionally protected books, magazines, and other materials. Koehlers sentiment is, of course, reflected in the lawsuit. Counsel for the plaintiffs contends that HB 900s directives openly violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments by compelling speech, regulating speech with vague rules, and forcing content-based restrictions that are clearly unconstitutional. According to the filing, the plaintiffs are requesting a preliminary and permanent injunction blocking the state from enforcing HB 900. The plaintiffs also request an unconstitutional ruling declared on the book ban statute as a means to inform case law and potentially influence the outcomes of similar lawsuits, like in Florida. In that case, the civil society group PEN America sued a local school district in a federal court for a book ban that reflects what HB 900 intends to impose on Texas students, parents and teachers. Texas state Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco, one of the prime sponsors for HB 900, told ABC News that he isnt surprised by the lawsuit. Patterson said that the far left will do anything to maintain their ability to sexualize our children. He is confident that the law will be upheld. Case law shows, however, that content restrictions are rarely upheld after judicial review. For example, the complaint cites the U.S. Supreme Court decision reached in 1963 pertaining to the case of Bantam Books, Inc. v. Sullivan. Ruling 8 to 1 in favor of book publishers, the high court ruled that state governments, while maintaining a right to regulate obscene material, must do so in a way that is equitable to speech that isnt considered obscene to minors or the general public. And, even then, obscenity is still broadly defined and is subject to the three-pronged Miller Test that scrutinizes whether a piece of content is legally obscene and is therefore not protected by the First Amendment. The Miller Test usually affirms content as protected speech as long as it doesnt depict illegal activity, like child sexual abuse material or non-consensual intimate imageryboth of which are already illegal and arent protected by free expression provisions. Enterprise adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI), which is capable of generating text, images, or other media in response to prompts, is in its early stages, but is expected to increase rapidly as organizations find new uses for the technology. The generative AI frenzy shows no signs of abating, says Gartner analyst Frances Karamouzis. Organizations are scrambling to determine how much cash to pour into generative AI solutions, which products are worth the investment, when to get started and how to mitigate the risks that come with this emerging technology. Bloomberg Intelligence predicts that the generative AI market will grow at a staggering 42% per year over the next decade, from $40 billion in 2022 to $1.3 trillion. Generative AI can help IT teams in a variety of ways: it can write software code and networking scripts, provide troubleshooting and issue resolution, automate processes, provide training and onboarding, create documentation and knowledge management systems, and help with project management and planning. It can transform other parts of the business as well, including call centers, customer service, virtual assistants, data analytics, content creation, design and development, and predictive maintenanceto name a few. But will data center infrastructures be able to handle the growing workload generated by generative AI? Generative AI impact on compute requirements There is no doubt that generative AI will be part of most organizations data strategies going forward. What networking and IT leaders need to be doing today is ensuring that their IT infrastructures, as well as their teams, are prepared for the coming changes. As they build and deploy applications that incorporate generative AI, how will that affect demand for computing power and other resources? The demand will increase for data centers as we know them today, and will drastically change what data centers and their associated technology look like in the future, says Brian Lewis, managing director, advisory, at consulting firm KPMG. Generative AI applications create significant demand for computing power in two phases: training the large language models (LLMs) that form the core of generate AI systems, and then operating the application with these trained LLMs, says Raul Martynek, CEO of data center operator DataBank. Training the LLMs requires dense computing in the form of neural networks, where billions of language or image examples are fed into a system of neural networks and repeatedly refined until the system recognizes them as well as a human being would, Martynek says. Neural networks require tremendously dense high-performance computing (HPC) clusters of GPU processors running continuously for months, or even years at a time, Martynek says. They are more efficiently run on dedicated infrastructure that can be located close to the proprietary data sets used for training, he says. The second phase is the inference process or the use of these applications to actually make inquiries and return data results. In this operational phase, it requires a more geographically dispersed infrastructure that can scale quickly and provide access to the applications with lower latencyas users who are querying the information will want a fast response for the imagined use cases. That will require data centers in many locations as opposed to the centralized public cloud model that currently supports most applications, Martynek says. In this phase, data center computing power demand will still be elevated, he says, but relative to the first phase such demand is spread out across more data centers. Generative AI drives demand for liquid cooling Networking and IT leaders need to be cognizant of the impact generative AI will have on server density and what that does to cooling requirements, power demands, sustainability initiatives, etc. Its not just density, but duty cycle of how often and how much those servers are being used at peak load, says Francis Sideco, a principal analyst at Tirias Research. Were seeing companies like NVIDIA, AMD and Intel with each generation of AI silicon trying to increase performance while keeping power and thermal under control. Even with these efforts, power budgets are still increasing, Sideco says. With how rapidly the workloads are increasing, especially with GenAI, at some point we will be hitting a wall. Server density doesnt have to rise like we saw with blade technology and virtual hosts, Lewis adds. Technical innovations like non-silicon chips, graphics processing units (GPUs), quantum computing, and hardware-aware, model-based software development will be able to get more out of existing hardware. The industry has already been experimenting with innovative liquid cooling techniques that are more efficient than air, as well as sustainability in diverse locations such as Microsofts Project Natick, an undersea data center, Lewis says. Traditional air cooling techniques, such as the use of fans, ducts, vents and air-conditioning systems, are not sufficient to meet the cooling demands of high-performance computing hardware such as GPUs, Lewis says. Therefore, alternative cooling technologies such as liquid cooling are gaining traction. Liquid cooling involves circulating coolants, such as water or other fluids, through heat exchangers to absorb the heat generated by computer components, Lewis says. Liquid cooling is more energy-efficient than traditional air cooling, as liquids have a higher thermal conductivity than air, which allows for better and more efficient heat transfer. New data center designs will need to satisfy higher cooling requirements and power demands, Martynek says, meaning future data centers will have to rely on new cooling methods such as rear chilled doors, water to the chip or immersion technologies to provide the right mix of power, cooling and sustainability. Data center operators are already rolling out advancements in liquid cooling, Martynek says. For instance, DataBank uses a new ColdLogik Dx Rear Door cooling solution from QCooling at its facility in Atlanta housing the Georgia Tech Supercomputer. We expect a significant increase in water to the door and water to the chip cooling technologies, especially as future generations of GPUs will consume even more power, Martynek says. The demand for more compute space and power stemming from generative AI adoption will undoubtedly drive the search for more efficiencies in power consumption and cooling. How Gen AI impacts power requirements It might become more prevalent for data center operators to build their own power substations, Martynek says. Strains on the electric grid due to demand and the transition to renewable power sources are creating more uncertainty around power supply, and new data center project schedules are heavily influenced by the utility companys workload and its capabilities to handle the power needs of new facilities, he says. Having a reliable and scalable source of power will increasingly be top of mind for data center operators, both to keep up with the demand for power generated by HPC clusters and to get around the timelines and limitations of utilities, Martynek says. DataBank is rolling out a new data center design standard called the Universal Data Hall Design (UDHD), which features a slab floor with perimeter air cooling and greater spacing between cabinets that is ideal for hyperscale cloud deployments and can be deployed quickly, Martynek says. This approach also allows us to easily add raised-flooring and closer cabinet spacing for more traditional enterprise workloads, Martynek says. And, we can add next-generation cooling technologies like rear door heat exchangers, water-chilled door configurations or direct chip cooling infrastructure with minimal effort, he says. In the future, technology design for data centers will need to adapt to higher compute demands like quick-access memory, robust storage/storage area networks, high-performance delay/disruption tolerant networking, and big data database technologies, Lewis says. IT teams need to get ready Network and data center teams should be preparing now. These changes are happening too fast for anyone to be fully ready, Sideco says. Its not just the network/data center teams, but its really the whole ecosystem that needs to address all of the changes that are needed. That includes the silicon suppliers to handle the increased workloads and power needs. They provide the different options that the network/data center teams then use to try to [address] the changing requirements, Sideco says. Collaboration across all of these is going to be important to try to keep pace with the demand. Others are more confident about preparations. We in IT are always ready for the next disruption, Lewis says. The real question is: Will the business invest in what is needed to change? Cost savings remain at the forefront of data center outsourcing. However, the business has not yet adopted modern IT total-cost-of-ownership and value-realization frameworks to measure the ability of IT to be responsive and adapt at the speed technologies like AI are driving the business. To prepare for AI adoption, data centers need to identify the right business and capital strategy so they can invest in the necessary infrastructure and tools and develop an appropriately skilled workforce, Martynek says. Having the right people in place to execute the strategy is as important as having the right strategy. Ramashankar By Express News Service PATNA: One person was killed and two others were injured after police opened fire to disperse a group of protestors in Bihar's Katihar district on Wednesday. The protest was organised at Barsoi sub-divisional headquarters in the district to press for a regular supply of electricity in the area. The trouble erupted at around 12.30 pm when around 1000 people assembled outside the electricity office located on the premises of the block development office to press for the demand for uninterrupted power supply and rectification of inflated bills. The protestors had a heated argument with police over the issue. In the meantime, a group of protestors blocked the road near Bastaul Chowk in the town and disrupted vehicular traffic. Another group indulged in vandalism and ransacked the office of the block development officer. They also damaged the furniture in the electricity department office and manhandled the employees. Initially, police tried to pacify the crowd and used mild force to bring the situation under control. However, as the number of protestors swelled, police had to open fire in the air to dispel the mob. Apprehending the situation was going out of control, police opened fire causing gunshot injuries to three people. Katihar Superintendent of Police (SP) Jitendra Kumar confirmed the death of one person and injuries to two others in police firing. He said the police had to open fire in self-defence and protect the lives of employees of the electricity department as the mob turned violent. The security personnel were pelted with stones and lathi blows. More than a dozen police personnel and employees of the electricity department got injured in stone pelting. The protestors had vandalised the office to vent their ire, SP told this reporter over phone. The deceased was identified as Khursheed Alam (34), a resident of Basal village in Katihar district. The identity of one of the two injured was ascertained as Niyaz Alam. The injured have been admitted to a local government hospital for treatment. State police headquarters also confirmed the death of one person and injuries to two others in police firing in Katihar. In a statement, police headquarters claimed that the situation in Katihar was tense but under control. Additional forces have been deployed in the town to restore peace, the statement said. The firing on protestors took over political colour with the Opposition demanding the resignation of chief minister Nitish Kumar over repeated repressive measures against protestors in the state. BJP Backward Cell general secretary Nikhil Anand said that jungle raj has returned to the state. Lashing out at chief minister Nitish Kumar, former deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader Tar Kishore Prasad said that the grand alliance government has failed on all fronts. Bihar government has failed in every aspect. People were protesting against frequent power cuts in Katihar's Barsoi when police opened fire on them. Police firing claimed the life of a man and left two others wounded, he added. Earlier, police resorted to lathicharge on leaders and workers of BJP during 'Vidhan Sabha march' in the state capital. People are greeted with bullets and lathi blows when they raise their demands, rued BJP state chief Samrat Choudhary. PATNA: One person was killed and two others were injured after police opened fire to disperse a group of protestors in Bihar's Katihar district on Wednesday. The protest was organised at Barsoi sub-divisional headquarters in the district to press for a regular supply of electricity in the area. The trouble erupted at around 12.30 pm when around 1000 people assembled outside the electricity office located on the premises of the block development office to press for the demand for uninterrupted power supply and rectification of inflated bills. The protestors had a heated argument with police over the issue. In the meantime, a group of protestors blocked the road near Bastaul Chowk in the town and disrupted vehicular traffic. Another group indulged in vandalism and ransacked the office of the block development officer. They also damaged the furniture in the electricity department office and manhandled the employees.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Initially, police tried to pacify the crowd and used mild force to bring the situation under control. However, as the number of protestors swelled, police had to open fire in the air to dispel the mob. Apprehending the situation was going out of control, police opened fire causing gunshot injuries to three people. Katihar Superintendent of Police (SP) Jitendra Kumar confirmed the death of one person and injuries to two others in police firing. He said the police had to open fire in self-defence and protect the lives of employees of the electricity department as the mob turned violent. The security personnel were pelted with stones and lathi blows. More than a dozen police personnel and employees of the electricity department got injured in stone pelting. The protestors had vandalised the office to vent their ire, SP told this reporter over phone. The deceased was identified as Khursheed Alam (34), a resident of Basal village in Katihar district. The identity of one of the two injured was ascertained as Niyaz Alam. The injured have been admitted to a local government hospital for treatment. State police headquarters also confirmed the death of one person and injuries to two others in police firing in Katihar. In a statement, police headquarters claimed that the situation in Katihar was tense but under control. Additional forces have been deployed in the town to restore peace, the statement said. The firing on protestors took over political colour with the Opposition demanding the resignation of chief minister Nitish Kumar over repeated repressive measures against protestors in the state. BJP Backward Cell general secretary Nikhil Anand said that jungle raj has returned to the state. Lashing out at chief minister Nitish Kumar, former deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader Tar Kishore Prasad said that the grand alliance government has failed on all fronts. Bihar government has failed in every aspect. People were protesting against frequent power cuts in Katihar's Barsoi when police opened fire on them. Police firing claimed the life of a man and left two others wounded, he added. Earlier, police resorted to lathicharge on leaders and workers of BJP during 'Vidhan Sabha march' in the state capital. People are greeted with bullets and lathi blows when they raise their demands, rued BJP state chief Samrat Choudhary. When top Egyptian TV anchor Osama Kamal interviewed Sophia, a robot visiting Egypt for the Creative Industry Summit held in Cairo in 2018, people were simultaneously astounded and unnerved. They would be even more baffled today if they realised how far the making of robots exhibiting artificial intelligence (AI) has come since then. AI is evolving at a rapid pace, while the discourse surrounding it is unsettling. Even those who are generating the technology are worried about it. While its benefits are tremendous, this is a technology that may entail existential risks, according to its developers. AI is a ground-breaking man-made technology. It simulates human intelligence on machines such as computers and smartphones. While we may not have been aware of its existence, AI has in fact been around for several decades. However, it is only in the last few years that it has become mainstream. The advantages of AI technology are profound and could revolutionise the world as we know it. Its applications address all spheres of life, and today AI is used in self-driving cars, in search engines such as Google, in voice-controlled technology such as Siri and Alexa, and in streaming services such as Netflix. It is used in smartphones, email, and social media. These are a mere handful of examples of how AI has changed our lives. Automation using AI now exists in almost every field. It can replicate human actions without getting bored or tired and can perform menial or mundane tasks that human beings dislike such as wrapping, sorting, lifting, carrying, and packaging products. At a different level altogether, AI has also made leaps and bounds in the medical field. It has allowed a previously paralysed man to walk through a device reconnecting his brain with his muscles. The late British physicist Stephen Hawking used AI to communicate, despite his debilitating disease. Other AI devices can help in the early diagnosis of diseases, helping to lessen their burden. One article published on the database PubMed Central called Artificial intelligence in Drug Discovery and Development discusses how biologists believe they can use AI to simulate the potential effects of new drugs without putting patients at risk. They can achieve this by testing thousands of ingredient variations in a biological simulator in the hope of one day designing drugs like engineers design planes. However, despite these benefits there are also real fears about AI. Workers across the globe worry that their jobs may disappear as robots replace them or make them redundant due to their ability to perform many tasks. Robots can carry out human tasks in hospitals, warehouses, factories, and schools without tiring or needing breaks or time off. They can also be used to build sophisticated machinery that could be used in all the above facilities. They could render humans purposeless. Britain has already seen strikes from railway workers, healthcare staff, airport staff, teachers, and many others who fear that automation will see them being replaced by machines. The current Writers Guild and the Screen Actors Guild strikes in Hollywood in the US are also about automation. Members of both Guilds want to prevent AI from replacing their jobs, whether in writing scripts or appearing as background actors. Workers at the British Columbia Ports Union in Canada are also on strike, leaving all 30 ports in the state in limbo and causing huge delays in the movement of cargo across the country. One of the unions demands is a curb on the level of automation applied at the ports and limits on AI usage in maritime entryways. The misuse of AI technology is a clear and present danger. One fake AI-generated image recently showed an explosion near the Pentagon in Washington and was shared on social media by thousands. It caused confusion and a dip in US stock markets. The consequences of similar disinformation could be devastating. AI may also be a more direct threat to humanity, as technical experts in the field are worried that AI applications may eventually outwit humans. CEO of Open AI Sam Altman has said that he is a little bit scared of AI and worried about authoritarian governments developing the technology. Russian President Vladimir Putin also once said that whoever becomes the leader of AI technology will be the ruler of the world. Other experts are also worried and have called for a slowdown in the development of AI. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that AI represents the biggest risks to civilisation. Geoffrey Hinton, named the godfather of AI, left Google when he realised that the dangers from it were real, while former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has warned that AI poses existential risks. It is very likely that AI will one day outsmart humans, a petrifying thought. Researchers at Cornell University in the US have highlighted examples where AI has already done so. In one example, a robot was challenged to walk without having its feet touching the ground an impossible feat for humans. The robot flipped itself onto its back and then proceeded to walk on its elbows, feet happily floating above its head, the researchers said, proving that it can think differently and do what a human could never do. Should we continue to develop AI despite the unease that comes with it? Can the world continue to benefit from AI without risking existential harm? In an open letter, the Future of Life Institute, an NGO, asked the following even more worrying questions: Should we automate away all the jobs, including the fulfilling ones? Should we develop non-human minds that might eventually outnumber, outsmart and replace us? Should we risk loss of control of our civilisation? The answer to these questions is that AI must be managed and regulated today so that catastrophes do not happen tomorrow. Governments must make sure that the technology is not misused by introducing appropriate controls and supervision. It is the only way out of this challenging situation. The writer is former professor of communication based in Vancouver, Canada. * A version of this article appears in print in the 27 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Jaison Wilson By Express News Service NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Wednesday summoned Congress leader Jagdish Tytler on August 5 in connection with the Pul Bangash killings during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that broke out after a day following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. "Let Accused Jagdish Tytler be summoned through IO/HIO (Investigating officer) concerned for the next date of hearing," Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vidhi Gupta Anand said while posting the matter for further proceedings on August 5 at 12 PM. As per the timeline mentioned in the court order, no action was recommended against Tytler in the chargesheets filed on September 28, the first Supplementary Report on March 27, 2009, Second Supplementary Report submitted on December 24, 2014. However, the prosecution of Tytler was recommended in the third Supplementary report filed by the probe agency on June 2, 2023. The Public Prosecutor, on behalf of CBI, submitted statements of the eye-witnesses mentioned in the supplementary chargesheet stating that during the further investigation, they have specifically stated seeing the accused at the spot of the incident whereby he was leading and inciting the mob carrying deadly weapons which committed the alleged offences. He also submitted that at the time of the commission of the alleged offences by the Accused, restrictions under section 144 Cr.P.C. were in force which were blatantly violated, the court noted. Further, the court also took cognisance of the CBI's charge sheet which was filed on May 20 under 148 IPC (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups ), and IPC 188 which imposes punishment on a person who disobeys an order which is promulgated by a public servant. Offences under 147 (Punishment for rioting) 149 (unlawful assembly) 109 (abetment) r/w 302 (murder), 295, (damage to place of worship) 427 (mischief loss or damage to the amount of fifty rupees or upward) 436 IPC (mischief by fire or explosives) for which cognizance has already been taken by the court? Genesis of the Case The case goes back to four decades ago on November 1, 1984, when three persons--Badal Singh, Sardar Thakur Singh, and Gurbachan Singh were allegedly burnt to death in the area near Gurudwara Pul Bangash in the national capital. After completion of investigation by Delhi Police, a chargesheet was filed against 31 accused, who were acquitted by a trial court on April 10, 1992. However, in due course of time, the Central Government in a notification issued on May 8, 2000, appointed Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry to submit its report on 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots. The commission submitted its report on February 9, 2005 and upon its recommendations, the Central Government directed CBI to conduct an investigation/re-investigation of the present case against Jagdish Tytler and others and accordingly, the case was registered with CBI on November 22, 2005 and an investigation was initiated. On September 28, 2007, a chargesheet was filed by CBI. However, with respect to Jagdish Tytler it was stated that no material evidence was found. What followed in the next decade and a half was the filing of a series of closure reports by the CBI with respect to Accused Jagdish Tytler and opposing Protest Petitions filed by victim Lakhwinder Kaur, widow of deceased Badal Singh. In the dock As per government estimates, 2,800 Sikhs were killed in Delhi and 3,350 nationwide in the wake of the assassination of the-then PM Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984 The community had accused prominent Delhi Congress leaders like Sajjan Kumar, HKL Bhagat, Jagdish Tytler, Kamal Nath etc as having instigated mobs involved in some of the attacks Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry was set up in the year 2000, 14 years after the incident. MHA had issued directions to CBI to investigate the case against Tytler and others Sajjan Kumar was found guilty of his role in the killing of 5 members of a Sikh family and sentenced to life imprisonment by Delhi HC in 2018 CBI has charged Jagdish Tytler with provoking a mob assembled at Gurudwara Pul Bangash at Azad Market on November 1, 1984 which resulted in a fire, in which three Sikhs were killed. Several shops were also burnt and looted On April 11, CBI collected voice samples of Tytler to match with the available audio evidence in the case. Chargesheet filed by CBI on May 20, 2023 On July 26, 2023, the court took cognisance of CBIs chargesheet against Tytler under IPC Sections 148 IPC (rioting armed with a deadly weapon), 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups ), and IPC 188 (disobeying order promulgated by a public servant) NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Wednesday summoned Congress leader Jagdish Tytler on August 5 in connection with the Pul Bangash killings during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that broke out after a day following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi."Let Accused Jagdish Tytler be summoned through IO/HIO (Investigating officer) concerned for the next date of hearing," Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vidhi Gupta Anand said while posting the matter for further proceedings on August 5 at 12 PM.As per the timeline mentioned in the court order, no action was recommended against Tytler in the chargesheets filed on September 28, the first Supplementary Report on March 27, 2009, Second Supplementary Report submitted on December 24, 2014.However, the prosecution of Tytler was recommended in the third Supplementary report filed by the probe agency on June 2, 2023.The Public Prosecutor, on behalf of CBI, submitted statements of the eye-witnesses mentioned in the supplementary chargesheet stating that during the further investigation, they have specifically stated seeing the accused at the spot of the incident whereby he was leading and inciting the mob carrying deadly weapons which committed the alleged offences. He also submitted that at the time of the commission of the alleged offences by the Accused, restrictions under section 144 Cr.P.C. were in force which were blatantly violated, the court noted.Further, the court also took cognisance of the CBI's charge sheet which was filed on May 20 under 148 IPC (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups ), and IPC 188 which imposes punishment on a person who disobeys an order which is promulgated by a public servant.Offences under 147 (Punishment for rioting) 149 (unlawful assembly) 109 (abetment) r/w 302 (murder), 295, (damage to place of worship) 427 (mischief loss or damage to the amount of fifty rupees or upward) 436 IPC (mischief by fire or explosives) forwhich cognizance has already been taken by the court?Genesis of the CaseThe case goes back to four decades ago on November 1, 1984, when three persons--Badal Singh, Sardar Thakur Singh, and Gurbachan Singh were allegedly burnt to death in the area near Gurudwara Pul Bangash in the national capital.After completion of investigation by Delhi Police, a chargesheet was filed against 31 accused, who were acquitted by a trial court on April 10, 1992. However, in due course of time, the Central Government in a notification issued on May 8, 2000, appointed Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry to submit its report on 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots. The commission submitted its report on February 9, 2005 and upon its recommendations, the Central Government directed CBI to conduct an investigation/re-investigation of the present case against Jagdish Tytler and others and accordingly, the case was registered with CBI on November 22, 2005 and an investigation was initiated.On September 28, 2007, a chargesheet was filed by CBI. However, with respect to Jagdish Tytler it was stated that no material evidence was found.What followed in the next decade and a half was the filing of a series of closure reports by the CBI with respect to Accused Jagdish Tytler and opposing Protest Petitions filed by victim Lakhwinder Kaur, widow of deceased Badal Singh. In the dock As per government estimates, 2,800 Sikhs were killed in Delhi and 3,350 nationwide in the wake of the assassination of the-then PM Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984 The community had accused prominent Delhi Congress leaders like Sajjan Kumar, HKL Bhagat, Jagdish Tytler, Kamal Nath etc as having instigated mobs involved in some of the attacks Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry was set up in the year 2000, 14 years after the incident. MHA had issued directions to CBI to investigate the case against Tytler and others Sajjan Kumar was found guilty of his role in the killing of 5 members of a Sikh family and sentenced to life imprisonment by Delhi HC in 2018 CBI has charged Jagdish Tytler with provoking a mob assembled at Gurudwara Pul Bangash at Azad Market on November 1, 1984 which resulted in a fire, in which three Sikhs were killed. Several shops were also burnt and looted On April 11, CBI collected voice samples of Tytler to match with the available audio evidence in the case. Chargesheet filed by CBI on May 20, 2023 On July 26, 2023, the court took cognisance of CBIs chargesheet against Tytler under IPC Sections 148 IPC (rioting armed with a deadly weapon), 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups ), and IPC 188 (disobeying order promulgated by a public servant) googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Parvez Sultan By Express News Service NEW DELHI: To ensure that a huge private collection of antiquities is available for general public viewing at state-run facilities, a Parliamentary standing committee has recommended changes in the rules allowing the owners of cultural heritage objects to lend or trade the artefact to a museum. The panel on transport, tourism and culture headed by Rajya Sabha MP V Vijayasai Reddy of YSR Congress in its 348th report tabled in the House on Monday noted that if one intends to sell off an article, the Government should have a preemptive overriding right to buy. The Committee recommends two changes in the relevant Acts or Rules. First, is to enable a private antiquity owner to display their antiquity by lending or selling it to a museum, in return for revenue. Secondly, in case a private antiquity owner wants to sell it, the Government of India should have a preemptive overriding right to buy before private persons. The said recommendations will ensure that the Indian heritage gets displayed in museums and the interests of the private owners are also protected, read the report titled Heritage Theft The Illegal Trade in Indian Antiquities and the Challenges of Retrieving and Safeguarding Our Tangible Cultural Heritage. After the Committee put up the issue of the creation of a policy for borrowing or selling antiquities, the culture ministry informed that the matter had been noted for examination. Under the Antiquities and Art Treasures (AAT) Act 1972, idols, paintings, and objects older than 100 years in private possession are considered as antiquities and their registration is obligatory. Till date, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has registered over 3.5 lakh antiquities. Notably, on the basis of registration records, the Government had claimed various antiquities, which were smuggled out of the country. The list of retrieved articles includes the 10th-century idol of Goddess Durga Mahishasurmardini brought from Germany in 2015 and the 8th-century Standing Buddha Statue from the United States. They were stolen from Jammu and Kashmir and Bodh Gaya (Bihar). The Committee further suggested setting up a dedicated cultural heritage squad for the recovery of stolen antiquities. The team may have trained personnel as per the requirement of set procedures of retrieval followed by different countries. It also asked the ministry to further explore the possibility of devising an online portal or application for virtual verification and registration of antiquities on the lines of the Heritage Portal App being developed for reporting thefts. NEW DELHI: To ensure that a huge private collection of antiquities is available for general public viewing at state-run facilities, a Parliamentary standing committee has recommended changes in the rules allowing the owners of cultural heritage objects to lend or trade the artefact to a museum. The panel on transport, tourism and culture headed by Rajya Sabha MP V Vijayasai Reddy of YSR Congress in its 348th report tabled in the House on Monday noted that if one intends to sell off an article, the Government should have a preemptive overriding right to buy. The Committee recommends two changes in the relevant Acts or Rules. First, is to enable a private antiquity owner to display their antiquity by lending or selling it to a museum, in return for revenue. Secondly, in case a private antiquity owner wants to sell it, the Government of India should have a preemptive overriding right to buy before private persons. The said recommendations will ensure that the Indian heritage gets displayed in museums and the interests of the private owners are also protected, read the report titled Heritage Theft The Illegal Trade in Indian Antiquities and the Challenges of Retrieving and Safeguarding Our Tangible Cultural Heritage.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); After the Committee put up the issue of the creation of a policy for borrowing or selling antiquities, the culture ministry informed that the matter had been noted for examination. Under the Antiquities and Art Treasures (AAT) Act 1972, idols, paintings, and objects older than 100 years in private possession are considered as antiquities and their registration is obligatory. Till date, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has registered over 3.5 lakh antiquities. Notably, on the basis of registration records, the Government had claimed various antiquities, which were smuggled out of the country. The list of retrieved articles includes the 10th-century idol of Goddess Durga Mahishasurmardini brought from Germany in 2015 and the 8th-century Standing Buddha Statue from the United States. They were stolen from Jammu and Kashmir and Bodh Gaya (Bihar). The Committee further suggested setting up a dedicated cultural heritage squad for the recovery of stolen antiquities. The team may have trained personnel as per the requirement of set procedures of retrieval followed by different countries. It also asked the ministry to further explore the possibility of devising an online portal or application for virtual verification and registration of antiquities on the lines of the Heritage Portal App being developed for reporting thefts. Shruti Kakkar By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday apprised the Supreme Court that it is moving an application seeking an extension of the tenure of Director of Enforcement Directorate (ED) Sanjay Kumar Mishra. The plea was mentioned by Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta before a bench led by Justice BR Gavai. Urging the bench to list the plea before Friday, Mehta said, We are making some prayer that will have to persuade this court. Kindly list it before July 28. Considering Mehtas contention, the judge agreed to hear the plea at 3:30 PM on July 27. The application has been filed seeking a modification of the top court's ruling delivered on July 11 wherein the SC had quashed the Centres order of granting a third extension to the ED Director. Terming the same as illegal, a bench of Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol had given him time till July 31 to relinquish office. The top court had also taken into consideration the Centres concern regarding the ongoing evaluation of India by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the likelihood of the time that would be required for appointing a new ED director. The bench in its 103-page verdict authored by Justice BR Gavai said that the court in its verdict rendered in Common Cause on September 8, 2021, had specifically issued a mandamus (a writ ordering a person to perform a public or statutory duty) that Mishra could not be granted further extension which was binding on the parties. NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday apprised the Supreme Court that it is moving an application seeking an extension of the tenure of Director of Enforcement Directorate (ED) Sanjay Kumar Mishra. The plea was mentioned by Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta before a bench led by Justice BR Gavai. Urging the bench to list the plea before Friday, Mehta said, We are making some prayer that will have to persuade this court. Kindly list it before July 28.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Considering Mehtas contention, the judge agreed to hear the plea at 3:30 PM on July 27. The application has been filed seeking a modification of the top court's ruling delivered on July 11 wherein the SC had quashed the Centres order of granting a third extension to the ED Director. Terming the same as illegal, a bench of Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol had given him time till July 31 to relinquish office. The top court had also taken into consideration the Centres concern regarding the ongoing evaluation of India by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the likelihood of the time that would be required for appointing a new ED director. The bench in its 103-page verdict authored by Justice BR Gavai said that the court in its verdict rendered in Common Cause on September 8, 2021, had specifically issued a mandamus (a writ ordering a person to perform a public or statutory duty) that Mishra could not be granted further extension which was binding on the parties. Pronab Mondal By Express News Service KOLKATA: A Class IX student in Cooch Behar, who was allegedly abducted while returning from school and gang-raped a week ago, died on Wednesday in a state-run hospital in the north Bengal district. Police arrested five suspects in connection with the gruesome incident. The death of the teenager triggered a tug-of-war between the BJP and TMC as both parties wanted to stand beside the family of the victim. The deceased went into a coma and was shifted to the state governments hospital from a private healthcare unit where her family found her. A medical examination of the victim revealed she went into a coma because of inadequate supply of oxygen to her brain during the sexual assault. According to a complaint lodged with the police by the family members of the victim, it was learnt that she did not return home from school on July 18. They searched the area and contacted their relatives to know the whereabouts of the girl but all their efforts were in vain. It was on July 21 when the family members came to know that the girl was admitted to a nursing home in Cooch Behar-II block in an unconscious state. They rushed there and shifted the girl to MJN Medical College and Hospital in the district headquarters, said a police officer quoting the familys complaint. The local leaders of the Trinamool Congress intervened and admitted the unconscious girl to another private healthcare unit but as her condition deteriorated, she was again shifted to the medical college and hospital on Tuesday afternoon. The girl was pronounced dead by the doctors of the hospital on Tuesday morning, said the police officer. As the news of the girls death spread, local BJP leaders visited her family members and promised to stand by them. We have no faith in the police administration. We want to help the girls family, but the local leaders of the TMC took the victim's father away from the hospital premises and we are not being allowed to meet him, said a BJP leader in Cooch Behar. The police arrested five youths, including key suspect Bappa Burman, residing in the same area where the girls house is located. The four other suspects are Bappas associates, said another police officer. Another incident of sexual assault on a minor was reported in Chanchal in Malda district. The girl received a call on her cellphone and was asked to come out of her home by one of her friends on Tuesday evening. Her family members alleged, the person, who called her, assaulted her sexually. We started searching for the suspect who is on the run, said a police officer in Malda. KOLKATA: A Class IX student in Cooch Behar, who was allegedly abducted while returning from school and gang-raped a week ago, died on Wednesday in a state-run hospital in the north Bengal district. Police arrested five suspects in connection with the gruesome incident. The death of the teenager triggered a tug-of-war between the BJP and TMC as both parties wanted to stand beside the family of the victim. The deceased went into a coma and was shifted to the state governments hospital from a private healthcare unit where her family found her. A medical examination of the victim revealed she went into a coma because of inadequate supply of oxygen to her brain during the sexual assault.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to a complaint lodged with the police by the family members of the victim, it was learnt that she did not return home from school on July 18. They searched the area and contacted their relatives to know the whereabouts of the girl but all their efforts were in vain. It was on July 21 when the family members came to know that the girl was admitted to a nursing home in Cooch Behar-II block in an unconscious state. They rushed there and shifted the girl to MJN Medical College and Hospital in the district headquarters, said a police officer quoting the familys complaint. The local leaders of the Trinamool Congress intervened and admitted the unconscious girl to another private healthcare unit but as her condition deteriorated, she was again shifted to the medical college and hospital on Tuesday afternoon. The girl was pronounced dead by the doctors of the hospital on Tuesday morning, said the police officer. As the news of the girls death spread, local BJP leaders visited her family members and promised to stand by them. We have no faith in the police administration. We want to help the girls family, but the local leaders of the TMC took the victim's father away from the hospital premises and we are not being allowed to meet him, said a BJP leader in Cooch Behar. The police arrested five youths, including key suspect Bappa Burman, residing in the same area where the girls house is located. The four other suspects are Bappas associates, said another police officer. Another incident of sexual assault on a minor was reported in Chanchal in Malda district. The girl received a call on her cellphone and was asked to come out of her home by one of her friends on Tuesday evening. Her family members alleged, the person, who called her, assaulted her sexually. We started searching for the suspect who is on the run, said a police officer in Malda. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: The ethnic conflict between Meiteis and Kukis has led to a verbal duel between the Manipur and Mizoram chief ministers. Manipur CM N Biren Singh on Wednesday asked his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga not to interfere in the internal matters of another state. He was addressing a gathering at the observation of Kargil Vijay Diwas. For some time, Zoramthanga has been vocal on the Manipur conflict. After walking along with protestors in Aizawl on Tuesday, he told a news channel, The wound is deep and it is very difficult to heal this with a pain-killer. It needs a thorough investigation. He also said that a lot of people, including Singh, and various factors were responsible for the Manipur violence. Massive protest rallies were taken out in Mizoram on Tuesday. Mizos, Kukis, Zomis, Hmars, Chins (Myanmar) and Chin-Kukis (Bangladesh) belong to the Zo community and they share the same ancestry, culture and tradition. ALSO READ | Manipur women caught in a Hobbesian world An official statement issued by the Manipur government said the CM condemned the use of abusive words against him in Tuesdays solidarity rally in Mizoram, calling it a barbaric act. Singh reiterated his governments stance to identify the illegal migrants and drive them out of the state. Stating that the government would stand strongly against the demand for separate administration as raised by the Kuki-Zo tribals, he said the ongoing tension in Manipur was between the government and the elements which wanted to disturb peaceful co-existence. He warned the elements for their attempt to distort Manipurs integrity, stating that the government would not succumb to any threat. He clarified that the government is not against the Kukis who have been residing in the state for a long time. Further, Singh condemned the portrayal of the Manipur crisis as a clash between Hindus and Christians by the European Parliament. He appreciated the contribution of security forces in governments efforts to restore peace. He said protecting the lives of the people is the responsibility of the central and the state government. He said all efforts were being made to restore peace. GUWAHATI: The ethnic conflict between Meiteis and Kukis has led to a verbal duel between the Manipur and Mizoram chief ministers. Manipur CM N Biren Singh on Wednesday asked his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga not to interfere in the internal matters of another state. He was addressing a gathering at the observation of Kargil Vijay Diwas. For some time, Zoramthanga has been vocal on the Manipur conflict. After walking along with protestors in Aizawl on Tuesday, he told a news channel, The wound is deep and it is very difficult to heal this with a pain-killer. It needs a thorough investigation.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He also said that a lot of people, including Singh, and various factors were responsible for the Manipur violence. Massive protest rallies were taken out in Mizoram on Tuesday. Mizos, Kukis, Zomis, Hmars, Chins (Myanmar) and Chin-Kukis (Bangladesh) belong to the Zo community and they share the same ancestry, culture and tradition. ALSO READ | Manipur women caught in a Hobbesian world An official statement issued by the Manipur government said the CM condemned the use of abusive words against him in Tuesdays solidarity rally in Mizoram, calling it a barbaric act. Singh reiterated his governments stance to identify the illegal migrants and drive them out of the state. Stating that the government would stand strongly against the demand for separate administration as raised by the Kuki-Zo tribals, he said the ongoing tension in Manipur was between the government and the elements which wanted to disturb peaceful co-existence. He warned the elements for their attempt to distort Manipurs integrity, stating that the government would not succumb to any threat. He clarified that the government is not against the Kukis who have been residing in the state for a long time. Further, Singh condemned the portrayal of the Manipur crisis as a clash between Hindus and Christians by the European Parliament. He appreciated the contribution of security forces in governments efforts to restore peace. He said protecting the lives of the people is the responsibility of the central and the state government. He said all efforts were being made to restore peace. By Express News Service BHOPAL: With just around four months left for the next assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, the opposition Congress is set to embark on a massive campaign for purging and conserving river Narmada which is considered the lifeline of the central Indian state. The Kamal Nath-led party in the state has decided to form a Narmada Seva Sena, headed by senior party leader Bhupendra Gupta (who heads the grand old partys research cell in the state) and coordinated by Vikram Mastal Sharma, who enacted the role of Lord Hanuman in Anand Sagars Ramayana. Vikram, who hails from CM Shivraj Singh Chouhans assembly constituency Budhni (Sehore) located on the banks of river Narmada joined the grand old party in Chhindwara on July 4. Vikram Mastal Sharma, who played Lord Hanuman in Anand Sagars Ramayana', will work for river Narmada's conservation This will perhaps be the first time in the country that any political party will embark on a massive campaign to purge and conserve a major river ahead of elections. According to sources in the knowhow of the entire campaign, under the state-level apex Narmada Seva Sena campaign committee, a large number of local committees will be formed across the rivers 1077-km stretch in MP, between the rivers origin in Amarkantak (Anuppur district) and Barwani and Alirajpur districts. Under the campaign, regular Narmada aartis and associated religious rituals will be performed by the Congresss Narmada Seva Sena at multiple places on the banks of the river, starting from the Sethani Ghat in Narmadapuram district. The Sena will also undertake the duty of keeping all the ghats on the riverbank across the river clean. The Sena which will be associated with experts will also test the river waters quality across its 1077 km stretch in MP and identify the places where the river water isnt potable (worth drinking). Various points where the sewage and nullahs (drains) are found flowing into the sacred river will be identified, followed by the Congress putting pressure on the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government to put an end to such free-flowing nullahs and sewers. The campaign will also see the Congresss Sena identify those points where industrial waste/effluents are freely flowing into the river Narmada, besides areas where there is rampant sand mining in the river, putting the river and its aquatic wealth at grave risk. Once these points are identified, the opposition party is expected to launch a massive movement to force the BJP government to put an end to the free flow of effluents into the river through effluent treatment plants and also end sand mining in the river. A key part of the entire campaign is to encourage tree plantation on both banks of the river across the state. Sources associated with the exercise also informed this newspaper that a major plan is afoot to ensure that people who plant these trees own those plants throughout their lives. BHOPAL: With just around four months left for the next assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, the opposition Congress is set to embark on a massive campaign for purging and conserving river Narmada which is considered the lifeline of the central Indian state. The Kamal Nath-led party in the state has decided to form a Narmada Seva Sena, headed by senior party leader Bhupendra Gupta (who heads the grand old partys research cell in the state) and coordinated by Vikram Mastal Sharma, who enacted the role of Lord Hanuman in Anand Sagars Ramayana. Vikram, who hails from CM Shivraj Singh Chouhans assembly constituency Budhni (Sehore) located on the banks of river Narmada joined the grand old party in Chhindwara on July 4.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Vikram Mastal Sharma, who played Lord Hanuman in Anand Sagars Ramayana', will work for river Narmada's conservation This will perhaps be the first time in the country that any political party will embark on a massive campaign to purge and conserve a major river ahead of elections. According to sources in the knowhow of the entire campaign, under the state-level apex Narmada Seva Sena campaign committee, a large number of local committees will be formed across the rivers 1077-km stretch in MP, between the rivers origin in Amarkantak (Anuppur district) and Barwani and Alirajpur districts. Under the campaign, regular Narmada aartis and associated religious rituals will be performed by the Congresss Narmada Seva Sena at multiple places on the banks of the river, starting from the Sethani Ghat in Narmadapuram district. The Sena will also undertake the duty of keeping all the ghats on the riverbank across the river clean. The Sena which will be associated with experts will also test the river waters quality across its 1077 km stretch in MP and identify the places where the river water isnt potable (worth drinking). Various points where the sewage and nullahs (drains) are found flowing into the sacred river will be identified, followed by the Congress putting pressure on the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government to put an end to such free-flowing nullahs and sewers. The campaign will also see the Congresss Sena identify those points where industrial waste/effluents are freely flowing into the river Narmada, besides areas where there is rampant sand mining in the river, putting the river and its aquatic wealth at grave risk. Once these points are identified, the opposition party is expected to launch a massive movement to force the BJP government to put an end to the free flow of effluents into the river through effluent treatment plants and also end sand mining in the river. A key part of the entire campaign is to encourage tree plantation on both banks of the river across the state. Sources associated with the exercise also informed this newspaper that a major plan is afoot to ensure that people who plant these trees own those plants throughout their lives. Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs has urged the Centre to consider establishing economic ties with Pakistan, despite the diplomatic deep-freeze in bilateral relations. It also urged the government to resolve the Teesta water sharing issue with Bangladesh and raise the issue of repatriation of illegal migrants from Myanmar. Despite the diplomatic freeze, the committee has urged the Centre to consider the establishment of economic ties with Pakistan if they come forward and work towards broader people-to-people contacts in view of the cultural commonalities and civilizational linkages between our two countries and no feeling of enmity amongst citizens of both the countries," the standing committee said in its report. The report on India's Neighbourhood First policy was tabled in both houses of Parliament on Tuesday. The chairperson of the committee is PP Chaudhary from the BJP while members include former Home Minister P Chidambaram of the Congress, Abhishek Banerjee of the TMC, BJP MP Swapan Dasgutpa and 27 other MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. However, the standing committee also highlighted that terrorism has been a deterrent to restoration of normal bilateral ties. In view of the belligerent attitude of Pakistan, the committee desires that the government should continue to proactively engage with regional and multilateral bodies/organizations extensively so as to sensitize them of the role played by Pakistan in fostering terrorism and win their support in the fight against terrorism on its soil," the report said. Meanwhile, the committee also recommended that the government resolve the pending Teesta water sharing issue at the earliest to further improve bilateral relations with Bangladesh. ALSO READ | NSA Ajit Doval raises border issue with China at BRICS "The committee is aware of the long outstanding issue between India and Bangladesh on sharing of Teesta river water and desire that this important issue be worked out at the earliest for improved bilateral relations with Bangladesh. Regarding the Teesta issue, the committee reiterated the position of India, saying it is committed to sign the agreement as and when there is consensus on this issue," said the report. Regarding Myanmar, the committee recommended that the government raise the issue of repatriation of illegal migrants with Myanmar government. It also said that Indias development projects should not get impacted by political turmoil. The committee also urged the government to work with neighbouring countries and speak in one voice against nations in the immediate neighbourhood that are engaged in spreading instability and tension in India. The report also contained chapters on Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives. "India has been facing threats and continuous tension, instability and heightened possibility of terrorist and militant attacks from its immediate neighbourhood for more than three decades. The committee, therefore, desires that India should work towards more closer cooperation amongst the member states in the region to create an environment where all neighbouring countries speak in one voice against the countries engaged in such activities and take proactive steps to counter the menace of terrorism and help to achieve the goal of lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the region," the report said. NEW DELHI: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs has urged the Centre to consider establishing economic ties with Pakistan, despite the diplomatic deep-freeze in bilateral relations. It also urged the government to resolve the Teesta water sharing issue with Bangladesh and raise the issue of repatriation of illegal migrants from Myanmar. Despite the diplomatic freeze, the committee has urged the Centre to consider the establishment of economic ties with Pakistan if they come forward and work towards broader people-to-people contacts in view of the cultural commonalities and civilizational linkages between our two countries and no feeling of enmity amongst citizens of both the countries," the standing committee said in its report. The report on India's Neighbourhood First policy was tabled in both houses of Parliament on Tuesday. The chairperson of the committee is PP Chaudhary from the BJP while members include former Home Minister P Chidambaram of the Congress, Abhishek Banerjee of the TMC, BJP MP Swapan Dasgutpa and 27 other MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); However, the standing committee also highlighted that terrorism has been a deterrent to restoration of normal bilateral ties. In view of the belligerent attitude of Pakistan, the committee desires that the government should continue to proactively engage with regional and multilateral bodies/organizations extensively so as to sensitize them of the role played by Pakistan in fostering terrorism and win their support in the fight against terrorism on its soil," the report said. Meanwhile, the committee also recommended that the government resolve the pending Teesta water sharing issue at the earliest to further improve bilateral relations with Bangladesh. ALSO READ | NSA Ajit Doval raises border issue with China at BRICS "The committee is aware of the long outstanding issue between India and Bangladesh on sharing of Teesta river water and desire that this important issue be worked out at the earliest for improved bilateral relations with Bangladesh. Regarding the Teesta issue, the committee reiterated the position of India, saying it is committed to sign the agreement as and when there is consensus on this issue," said the report. Regarding Myanmar, the committee recommended that the government raise the issue of repatriation of illegal migrants with Myanmar government. It also said that Indias development projects should not get impacted by political turmoil. The committee also urged the government to work with neighbouring countries and speak in one voice against nations in the immediate neighbourhood that are engaged in spreading instability and tension in India. The report also contained chapters on Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives. "India has been facing threats and continuous tension, instability and heightened possibility of terrorist and militant attacks from its immediate neighbourhood for more than three decades. The committee, therefore, desires that India should work towards more closer cooperation amongst the member states in the region to create an environment where all neighbouring countries speak in one voice against the countries engaged in such activities and take proactive steps to counter the menace of terrorism and help to achieve the goal of lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the region," the report said. Dilip Singh Kshatriya By Express News Service AHMEDABAD: Within a week, five children died of malnutrition at Ludbai village in Gujarat's Kutch district. Due to the recent deaths, the village sarpanch organized a medical camp, where 322 children from the village were evaluated by an expert doctor from Mumbai, 39 of whom were malnourished. Jabbar Jat Sarpanch of Ludbai village in Kutch district told TNIE that "A child in my village got sick and he died on his way to hospital. Following this incident, I conducted an investigation and discovered that 5 children aged 0 to 15 months died from malnutrition in the previous week (7th to 15th June). I also reported this issue to the Taluka and district levels, but they took no action. So, I sought assistance from a non-governmental organization." On July 23, the local Trust held a pediatric diagnosis camp in the village, when 322 Ludbai village children were tested, and it was discovered that 39 children from our village were malnourished and are in a serious state." He said Dr. Jayesh Kapadia, who checked the children in Ludbai village, told local media that during his examination he discovered more than 22 malnourished youngsters in one hour and that the roads here are so terrible that people cannot get to the hospital. When TNIE spoke with Kutch Districts DDO(District Development Officers) Shailesh Prajapati about the incident, he denied the Ludbai Sarpanch's claim. DDO Said, "Five children didn't die due to malnutrition, only two died because of that. One of the five kids died on May 15th in Ludbai village, and in July 2023 three more children died. The cause of their deaths are low weight, fever and other reasons while the remaining two died due to malnutrition. The health team is presently conducting a survey. Gujarat's annual spending on child welfare is estimated to be Rs 1000 crore. Gujarat Government is running various programs for child welfare like the Chiranjeevi Yojana, Bal Bhog Yojana, Vitamin Yukt Poshan Aahar Yojana, Kanya Kelavani Yojana, Nutrition Rehabilitation Center, Bal Sakha Center, Bal Amrutam, Kasturba Poshan Sahay Yojana, Mission Balam Sukham, and Mamta Ghar. Gujarat woman and child development minister informed the state assembly this March that 1,25,707 children are malnourished in 30 districts of state as on December 21, 2022, Of which 1,01,586 are underweight and 24,121 are severely underweight. Narmada district has 12,429 undernourished children, the highest in 30 districts. AHMEDABAD: Within a week, five children died of malnutrition at Ludbai village in Gujarat's Kutch district. Due to the recent deaths, the village sarpanch organized a medical camp, where 322 children from the village were evaluated by an expert doctor from Mumbai, 39 of whom were malnourished. Jabbar Jat Sarpanch of Ludbai village in Kutch district told TNIE that "A child in my village got sick and he died on his way to hospital. Following this incident, I conducted an investigation and discovered that 5 children aged 0 to 15 months died from malnutrition in the previous week (7th to 15th June). I also reported this issue to the Taluka and district levels, but they took no action. So, I sought assistance from a non-governmental organization." On July 23, the local Trust held a pediatric diagnosis camp in the village, when 322 Ludbai village children were tested, and it was discovered that 39 children from our village were malnourished and are in a serious state." He saidgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Dr. Jayesh Kapadia, who checked the children in Ludbai village, told local media that during his examination he discovered more than 22 malnourished youngsters in one hour and that the roads here are so terrible that people cannot get to the hospital. When TNIE spoke with Kutch Districts DDO(District Development Officers) Shailesh Prajapati about the incident, he denied the Ludbai Sarpanch's claim. DDO Said, "Five children didn't die due to malnutrition, only two died because of that. One of the five kids died on May 15th in Ludbai village, and in July 2023 three more children died. The cause of their deaths are low weight, fever and other reasons while the remaining two died due to malnutrition. The health team is presently conducting a survey. Gujarat's annual spending on child welfare is estimated to be Rs 1000 crore. Gujarat Government is running various programs for child welfare like the Chiranjeevi Yojana, Bal Bhog Yojana, Vitamin Yukt Poshan Aahar Yojana, Kanya Kelavani Yojana, Nutrition Rehabilitation Center, Bal Sakha Center, Bal Amrutam, Kasturba Poshan Sahay Yojana, Mission Balam Sukham, and Mamta Ghar. Gujarat woman and child development minister informed the state assembly this March that 1,25,707 children are malnourished in 30 districts of state as on December 21, 2022, Of which 1,01,586 are underweight and 24,121 are severely underweight. Narmada district has 12,429 undernourished children, the highest in 30 districts. SV Krishna Chaitanya By Express News Service CHENNAI: India has set an ambitious target to restore 26 million hectares of forest land and create 2.5-3 billion tonnes of additional carbon sinks, said Bivash Ranjan, additional director general of forests (ADGF), Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, on the eve of the fourth meeting of the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group in Chennai. Land degradation, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity and water resources is one of three thematic priorities of the fourth working group, which was underway on Tuesday and attended by a record number of delegates. Its ministerial meeting scheduled on July 28 will be attended by 225 delegates. Replying to a question from The New Indian Express, Bivash Ranjan said 27 per cent of Indias forest area is impacted by wild forest fires and the natural regeneration was not happening. Also, India has reclaimed 38 per cent of forest area lost to mining and the target was to reclaim the remaining 62 per cent. These degraded areas are originally biodiversity-rich landscapes. We have to restore and take care of them. The G20 Global Land Initiative (GLI) was launched during the Saudi presidency and the ambition of this initiative was to prevent, halt and reverse land degradation and reduce degraded land by 50 per cent by 2040. GLI will monitor whether the land is restored or not. However, India voluntarily has created structural and functional tools to monitor the restoration and institutes like Indian Institute of Forest Management to do the monitoring and submit a report, Bivash said. He said this G20 working group meeting was the first after the adoption of the historic Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. India by committing to restore 26 million hectares by 2030 is achieving two objectives: increasing the biodiversity and fulfilling the goals set in the Global Biodiversity Framework. Environment policy The fourth ECSWG meeting will also see the launch of Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Coalition by Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, on July 27, according to Naresh Pal Gangwar, additional secretary to the ministry. CHENNAI: India has set an ambitious target to restore 26 million hectares of forest land and create 2.5-3 billion tonnes of additional carbon sinks, said Bivash Ranjan, additional director general of forests (ADGF), Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, on the eve of the fourth meeting of the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group in Chennai. Land degradation, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity and water resources is one of three thematic priorities of the fourth working group, which was underway on Tuesday and attended by a record number of delegates. Its ministerial meeting scheduled on July 28 will be attended by 225 delegates. Replying to a question from The New Indian Express, Bivash Ranjan said 27 per cent of Indias forest area is impacted by wild forest fires and the natural regeneration was not happening. Also, India has reclaimed 38 per cent of forest area lost to mining and the target was to reclaim the remaining 62 per cent.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); These degraded areas are originally biodiversity-rich landscapes. We have to restore and take care of them. The G20 Global Land Initiative (GLI) was launched during the Saudi presidency and the ambition of this initiative was to prevent, halt and reverse land degradation and reduce degraded land by 50 per cent by 2040. GLI will monitor whether the land is restored or not. However, India voluntarily has created structural and functional tools to monitor the restoration and institutes like Indian Institute of Forest Management to do the monitoring and submit a report, Bivash said. He said this G20 working group meeting was the first after the adoption of the historic Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. India by committing to restore 26 million hectares by 2030 is achieving two objectives: increasing the biodiversity and fulfilling the goals set in the Global Biodiversity Framework. Environment policy The fourth ECSWG meeting will also see the launch of Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Coalition by Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, on July 27, according to Naresh Pal Gangwar, additional secretary to the ministry. By PTI AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court has allowed the discharge plea of a former police official accused in the 2003 encounter with Sadiq Jamal, who the cops had claimed to be a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative. With the acquittal of retired deputy superintendent of police Irshadali Anwarali Saiyed, all seven of the eight accused in the case stand exonerated. One accused died during the pendency of his discharge plea. The court of Justice Gita Gopi on Tuesday allowed Saiyed's discharge plea in the case of the alleged fake encounter of a 19-year-old youth who the police had claimed to be a LeT operative out to kill the then chief minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders. A special CBI court had on December 20, 2022, turned down Saiyed's plea for discharge, prompting the retired cop to move to the high court. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) did not challenge the discharge order of any of the six cops who were acquitted in the past. The case pertains to Sadiq Jamal, a youth from Bhavnagar, who was killed allegedly in an "encounter" by the Gujarat police near Galaxy Cinema in the Naroda area of Ahmedabad on January 13, 2003. The genuineness of the encounter became an issue after a Mumbai-based former journalist, Ketan Tirodkar, filed an affidavit before a court in the Maharashtra capital that he had witnessed Jamal's handover to the Gujarat police by Mumbai police "encounter specialist" Daya Nayak, a few days before the "encounter". The high court had ordered a CBI probe after a petition by Sabir Jamal, Sadiq's brother. CBI investigated the case and filed a chargesheet in December 2012. The CBI chargesheet had named the then deputy superintendent of police Tarun Barot, then police inspectors Jaysinh Parmar, Irshad Ali Saiyad and Kishoresinh Vaghela, then police sub-inspectors Ramji Mavani and Ghanshyamsinh Gohil, as well as the then constables Ajaypal Singh Yadav and Chhatrasinh Chudasama. Apart from criminal conspiracy and murder, they had also been charged with wrongful confinement and giving false information regarding an offence committed. AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court has allowed the discharge plea of a former police official accused in the 2003 encounter with Sadiq Jamal, who the cops had claimed to be a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative. With the acquittal of retired deputy superintendent of police Irshadali Anwarali Saiyed, all seven of the eight accused in the case stand exonerated. One accused died during the pendency of his discharge plea.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The court of Justice Gita Gopi on Tuesday allowed Saiyed's discharge plea in the case of the alleged fake encounter of a 19-year-old youth who the police had claimed to be a LeT operative out to kill the then chief minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders. A special CBI court had on December 20, 2022, turned down Saiyed's plea for discharge, prompting the retired cop to move to the high court. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) did not challenge the discharge order of any of the six cops who were acquitted in the past. The case pertains to Sadiq Jamal, a youth from Bhavnagar, who was killed allegedly in an "encounter" by the Gujarat police near Galaxy Cinema in the Naroda area of Ahmedabad on January 13, 2003. The genuineness of the encounter became an issue after a Mumbai-based former journalist, Ketan Tirodkar, filed an affidavit before a court in the Maharashtra capital that he had witnessed Jamal's handover to the Gujarat police by Mumbai police "encounter specialist" Daya Nayak, a few days before the "encounter". The high court had ordered a CBI probe after a petition by Sabir Jamal, Sadiq's brother. CBI investigated the case and filed a chargesheet in December 2012. The CBI chargesheet had named the then deputy superintendent of police Tarun Barot, then police inspectors Jaysinh Parmar, Irshad Ali Saiyad and Kishoresinh Vaghela, then police sub-inspectors Ramji Mavani and Ghanshyamsinh Gohil, as well as the then constables Ajaypal Singh Yadav and Chhatrasinh Chudasama. Apart from criminal conspiracy and murder, they had also been charged with wrongful confinement and giving false information regarding an offence committed. By PTI NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon on Wednesday as Opposition parties continued to protest on the Manipur issue. The protests began soon after the House paid tributes to soldiers who had died in the Kargil war. Opposition members sought to raise the issue of violence in Manipur with some displaying placards during Question Hour. Some members were also heard shouting slogans such as 'We want justice'. Speaker Om Birla told the protesting members that all issues can be discussed and urged them to uphold the decorum of the House. He also wondered whether the Opposition did not want to discuss the Manipur issue. Amid the din, three questions and their supplementaries were taken up during Question Hour that lasted less than 20 minutes. As the protests continued, proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon. Earlier in the morning, Birla paid tributes to those who died in the Kargil war on the occasion of the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas. The House also stood in silence briefly as a mark of respect for the departed souls. With the deadlock over the Manipur violence continuing, the 26-member opposition alliance INDIA is planning to submit a notice for a no-confidence motion against the government in Lok Sabha. Parliamentary proceedings have been disrupted since the start of the Monsoon session on July 20 as the Opposition has been demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Manipur violence. Union ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and Pralhad Joshi were among those present in the House during Question Hour on Wednesday. NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon on Wednesday as Opposition parties continued to protest on the Manipur issue. The protests began soon after the House paid tributes to soldiers who had died in the Kargil war. Opposition members sought to raise the issue of violence in Manipur with some displaying placards during Question Hour.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Some members were also heard shouting slogans such as 'We want justice'. Speaker Om Birla told the protesting members that all issues can be discussed and urged them to uphold the decorum of the House. He also wondered whether the Opposition did not want to discuss the Manipur issue. Amid the din, three questions and their supplementaries were taken up during Question Hour that lasted less than 20 minutes. As the protests continued, proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon. Earlier in the morning, Birla paid tributes to those who died in the Kargil war on the occasion of the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas. The House also stood in silence briefly as a mark of respect for the departed souls. With the deadlock over the Manipur violence continuing, the 26-member opposition alliance INDIA is planning to submit a notice for a no-confidence motion against the government in Lok Sabha. Parliamentary proceedings have been disrupted since the start of the Monsoon session on July 20 as the Opposition has been demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Manipur violence. Union ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and Pralhad Joshi were among those present in the House during Question Hour on Wednesday. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: In fresh violence in strife-torn Manipur, a mob of around 2,000 people torched some 30 abandoned houses and demolished four others in the India-Myanmar border town of Moreh on Wednesday morning. It was learnt the mob, which had a lot of women, launched the attack at the Moreh Bazaar area at around 10 am. The attack was still in spate when reports last came in. Security personnel were at the site but they allegedly remained mute spectators. The houses belonged to Meiteis who left the place after the violence in the state broke out on May 3. Moreh has a mixed population of various communities Kukis, Meiteis, Tamils, Gorkhas, Bengalis, Punjabis etc. The non-tribals here are mostly traders and they largely depend on customers from Myanmar. However, their entry is now restricted and this has severely hit business. The incident of arson comes a day after two persons, reportedly farmers, were injured when the miscreants opened fire at a place near the border of Bishnupur-Churachandpur districts. READ HERE FOR MORE STORIES RELATED TO MANIPUR GUWAHATI: In fresh violence in strife-torn Manipur, a mob of around 2,000 people torched some 30 abandoned houses and demolished four others in the India-Myanmar border town of Moreh on Wednesday morning. It was learnt the mob, which had a lot of women, launched the attack at the Moreh Bazaar area at around 10 am. The attack was still in spate when reports last came in. Security personnel were at the site but they allegedly remained mute spectators. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The houses belonged to Meiteis who left the place after the violence in the state broke out on May 3. Moreh has a mixed population of various communities Kukis, Meiteis, Tamils, Gorkhas, Bengalis, Punjabis etc. The non-tribals here are mostly traders and they largely depend on customers from Myanmar. However, their entry is now restricted and this has severely hit business. The incident of arson comes a day after two persons, reportedly farmers, were injured when the miscreants opened fire at a place near the border of Bishnupur-Churachandpur districts. READ HERE FOR MORE STORIES RELATED TO MANIPUR By Express News Service KOLKATA: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday asked West Bengal government to submit a report on the incident in which two tribal women were seen being stripped and beaten up by a group of attackers in a local market in Malda district a week ago. The NHRC asked the superintendent of police, Malda, to submit the report within a month. Before the video went viral, the local police arrested them on the charges of attacking a police outpost on July 17 under the banner of the BJP and were released on bail later. The NHRC swung into action after a human rights defender, Sangita Chakraborty, wrote to the human rights body urging it to taken cognizance on its own and register a complaint against the officer-in-charge of Bamangola police station. She requested the central rights body to form a team of delegations to conduct a thorough and unbiased investigation into the incident. Sangita also called for stringent action against the individuals of the attackers and demanded accountability of the local police station for its negligence and inhuman treatment of the victims. Amid outrage over a video showing two disrobed women being paraded in a strife-hit pocket in Manipur, the BJP highlighted the Malda episode using it as a counter-tool to attack the ruling Trinamool Congress which lambasted the BJP-led centre over the issue of the incident in the northeast state. Showing the video of the alleged incident, saffron camps IT-cell head Amit Malviya described the attackers a frenzied mob baying for her blood. Mercury in Bengal politics soared up on the first day of the Bengal Assemblys monsoon session which started on Monday. The TMC took decision in an all-party meet, which was skipped by the BJP and lone ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui, to discuss the violence in Manipur. The BJP, the opposition in the Assembly, said they would oppose any such discussion on Manipur in Assembly and want a discussion on the lawlessness in the state. Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA who returned from Delhi on Wednesday said the party would raise the issue of Bengals lawlessness in the Assembly on Thursday. We will not raise the violence in panchayat polls because we know the Speaker will not allow us saying the matter is being heard by the Calcutta High Court. We will raise the overall picture of lawlessness in the state, he said. KOLKATA: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday asked West Bengal government to submit a report on the incident in which two tribal women were seen being stripped and beaten up by a group of attackers in a local market in Malda district a week ago. The NHRC asked the superintendent of police, Malda, to submit the report within a month. Before the video went viral, the local police arrested them on the charges of attacking a police outpost on July 17 under the banner of the BJP and were released on bail later.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The NHRC swung into action after a human rights defender, Sangita Chakraborty, wrote to the human rights body urging it to taken cognizance on its own and register a complaint against the officer-in-charge of Bamangola police station. She requested the central rights body to form a team of delegations to conduct a thorough and unbiased investigation into the incident. Sangita also called for stringent action against the individuals of the attackers and demanded accountability of the local police station for its negligence and inhuman treatment of the victims. Amid outrage over a video showing two disrobed women being paraded in a strife-hit pocket in Manipur, the BJP highlighted the Malda episode using it as a counter-tool to attack the ruling Trinamool Congress which lambasted the BJP-led centre over the issue of the incident in the northeast state. Showing the video of the alleged incident, saffron camps IT-cell head Amit Malviya described the attackers a frenzied mob baying for her blood. Mercury in Bengal politics soared up on the first day of the Bengal Assemblys monsoon session which started on Monday. The TMC took decision in an all-party meet, which was skipped by the BJP and lone ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui, to discuss the violence in Manipur. The BJP, the opposition in the Assembly, said they would oppose any such discussion on Manipur in Assembly and want a discussion on the lawlessness in the state. Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA who returned from Delhi on Wednesday said the party would raise the issue of Bengals lawlessness in the Assembly on Thursday. We will not raise the violence in panchayat polls because we know the Speaker will not allow us saying the matter is being heard by the Calcutta High Court. We will raise the overall picture of lawlessness in the state, he said. Ramashankar By Express News Service PATNA: Amid speculation over an early cabinet expansion in Bihar, chief minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday asserted that there is no problem or confusion with the cabinet expansion, and it would be done when the right time comes. Nitish told media persons that the vacant posts in the state cabinet would be filled at the appropriate time, contending there was no problem in it. Nitish Kumar said that Tejashwi Prasad Yadav would inform the media about it. Media keeps speculating on such matters, he added. There has been speculation over the cabinet expansion for some time but there is apparently lack of consensus among party leaders over the names of leaders to be inducted into the cabinet.Two legislators each from RJD and Congress are expected to be the newest addition to the cabinet. Congress have been demanding more seats in the state cabinet. During the meeting of Opposition parties held in the state capital on June 23, Rahul Gandhi had taken up the matter of cabinet expansion with Nitish and RJD chief Lalu Prasad. Earlier, two minsters from RJD quota, Sudhakar Singh and Kartik Kumar had resigned from their posts due to various reasons. Sources claimed that another reason for the delay in the cabinet expansion is that Nitish did not want any tainted leaders in his cabinet. Cabinet will be expanded anytime, a senior JD(U) minister told this reporter. At present, there are 31 ministers in Nitish cabinet. The highest number of strength of cabinet may be 36. So there is scope for induction of five ministers in cabinet. The total strength of Bihar legislative assembly is 243. PATNA: Amid speculation over an early cabinet expansion in Bihar, chief minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday asserted that there is no problem or confusion with the cabinet expansion, and it would be done when the right time comes. Nitish told media persons that the vacant posts in the state cabinet would be filled at the appropriate time, contending there was no problem in it. Nitish Kumar said that Tejashwi Prasad Yadav would inform the media about it. Media keeps speculating on such matters, he added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); There has been speculation over the cabinet expansion for some time but there is apparently lack of consensus among party leaders over the names of leaders to be inducted into the cabinet.Two legislators each from RJD and Congress are expected to be the newest addition to the cabinet. Congress have been demanding more seats in the state cabinet. During the meeting of Opposition parties held in the state capital on June 23, Rahul Gandhi had taken up the matter of cabinet expansion with Nitish and RJD chief Lalu Prasad. Earlier, two minsters from RJD quota, Sudhakar Singh and Kartik Kumar had resigned from their posts due to various reasons. Sources claimed that another reason for the delay in the cabinet expansion is that Nitish did not want any tainted leaders in his cabinet. Cabinet will be expanded anytime, a senior JD(U) minister told this reporter. At present, there are 31 ministers in Nitish cabinet. The highest number of strength of cabinet may be 36. So there is scope for induction of five ministers in cabinet. The total strength of Bihar legislative assembly is 243. Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, in conversation with Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, said that efforts must be made to restore peace along the border areas. Wang Yi, meanwhile, spoke about enhancing mutual trust and focus on cooperation. During the meeting, Ajit Doval conveyed that the situation along the Line of Actual Control in the Western Sector of the India-China border since 2020 has eroded the strategic trust, and the public and political basis of the relationship. The NSA emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to fully resolve the situation and restore peace and tranquility in the border areas, so as to remove impediments to normalcy in bilateral relations, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The duo also agreed that the India-China bilateral relationship is significant not only for the two countries but also for the region and the world. However, just a few days ago, India had rejected Chinese carmaker BYDs $1 billion bid to set up an electric vehicle factory in the country, citing security concerns. Wang Yi, during his talks with Doval, urged India to stabilise bilateral ties for the benefit of both the countries. The Chinese foreign minister called for policies of enhancing mutual trust and to focus on consensus and cooperation, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry readout. Whether China and India support or exhaust each other will directly affect their respective development as well as the global landscape, Wang told Doval, adding that both the nations should adhere to the strategic judgment that they pose no threat to each other and present opportunities for mutual growth. The Chinese readout also added that the Doval acknowledged that the destiny of both the countries was closely linked and was necessary to rebuild strategic mutual trust and seek common development. Earlier, during the ASEAN Regional Forum meet in Jakarta on July 15, Wang Yi had said that he hoped India would provide Chinese firms with a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment. Relations between the two neighbours have been particularly tense in recent years after the Galwan incident in 2020, which left 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead. Doval meets Russian, Iranian counterparts too Doval also met his counterparts from Russia (Nikolai Patrushev) and Iran (Ali-Akbar Ahmadian). The Russian-India cooperation on security issues as well as an interaction in the field of economy were discussed in detail, according to a Russian MFA readout. With the Iranian delegate, Doval reportedly discussed Irans inclusion in the BRICS and about the Chabahar port. NEW DELHI: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, in conversation with Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, said that efforts must be made to restore peace along the border areas. Wang Yi, meanwhile, spoke about enhancing mutual trust and focus on cooperation. During the meeting, Ajit Doval conveyed that the situation along the Line of Actual Control in the Western Sector of the India-China border since 2020 has eroded the strategic trust, and the public and political basis of the relationship. The NSA emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to fully resolve the situation and restore peace and tranquility in the border areas, so as to remove impediments to normalcy in bilateral relations, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The duo also agreed that the India-China bilateral relationship is significant not only for the two countries but also for the region and the world.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); However, just a few days ago, India had rejected Chinese carmaker BYDs $1 billion bid to set up an electric vehicle factory in the country, citing security concerns. Wang Yi, during his talks with Doval, urged India to stabilise bilateral ties for the benefit of both the countries. The Chinese foreign minister called for policies of enhancing mutual trust and to focus on consensus and cooperation, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry readout. Whether China and India support or exhaust each other will directly affect their respective development as well as the global landscape, Wang told Doval, adding that both the nations should adhere to the strategic judgment that they pose no threat to each other and present opportunities for mutual growth. The Chinese readout also added that the Doval acknowledged that the destiny of both the countries was closely linked and was necessary to rebuild strategic mutual trust and seek common development. Earlier, during the ASEAN Regional Forum meet in Jakarta on July 15, Wang Yi had said that he hoped India would provide Chinese firms with a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment. Relations between the two neighbours have been particularly tense in recent years after the Galwan incident in 2020, which left 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead. Doval meets Russian, Iranian counterparts too Doval also met his counterparts from Russia (Nikolai Patrushev) and Iran (Ali-Akbar Ahmadian). The Russian-India cooperation on security issues as well as an interaction in the field of economy were discussed in detail, according to a Russian MFA readout. With the Iranian delegate, Doval reportedly discussed Irans inclusion in the BRICS and about the Chabahar port. By PTI NEW DELHI: The Congress submitted a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi-led central government on the Manipur issue in the Lok Sabha, sources said on Wednesday. Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi moved the motion, the party's whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore told PTI. "The INDIA alliance is together and this is the idea of the INDIA alliance. Congress party's leader will be moving the motion. We feel that it is our duty to use this last weapon to break the arrogance of the government and make them speak on Manipur," Tagore asserted. Sources also said that a notice has been given to the Speaker's office in this regard. Tagore said the opposition had decided to move the no-confidence motion to break the arrogance of the prime minister, who is not speaking in Parliament. ALSO READ | Opposition demands PM's statement on Manipur violence, holds protest in Parliament premises The alliance of 26 opposition parties, INDIA, had decided to move the motion in order to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak in Parliament on the Manipur violence, senior leaders of the front said. The Congress has also issued a whip in the Lower House of Parliament for its members to be present in its parliamentary office by 10.30 am on Wednesday to "discuss some important issues". Although the no-confidence motion by opposition parties is bound to fail the numbers test, opposition parties argue that they will win the battle of perception by cornering the government on the Manipur issue during the debate. They contend that it is also a strategy to make the prime minister speak in Parliament on the crucial matter even as the government has been insisting that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reply to the debate on the Manipur situation. NEW DELHI: The Congress submitted a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi-led central government on the Manipur issue in the Lok Sabha, sources said on Wednesday. Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi moved the motion, the party's whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore told PTI. "The INDIA alliance is together and this is the idea of the INDIA alliance. Congress party's leader will be moving the motion. We feel that it is our duty to use this last weapon to break the arrogance of the government and make them speak on Manipur," Tagore asserted.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Sources also said that a notice has been given to the Speaker's office in this regard. Tagore said the opposition had decided to move the no-confidence motion to break the arrogance of the prime minister, who is not speaking in Parliament. ALSO READ | Opposition demands PM's statement on Manipur violence, holds protest in Parliament premises The alliance of 26 opposition parties, INDIA, had decided to move the motion in order to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak in Parliament on the Manipur violence, senior leaders of the front said. The Congress has also issued a whip in the Lower House of Parliament for its members to be present in its parliamentary office by 10.30 am on Wednesday to "discuss some important issues". Although the no-confidence motion by opposition parties is bound to fail the numbers test, opposition parties argue that they will win the battle of perception by cornering the government on the Manipur issue during the debate. They contend that it is also a strategy to make the prime minister speak in Parliament on the crucial matter even as the government has been insisting that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reply to the debate on the Manipur situation. Preetha Nair By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The members of the united opposition, INDIA, continued their relay protest on Tuesday demanding the revocation of suspension of Aam Aadmi Partys (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh from Rajya Sabha. Singh, along with other opposition MPs, has been sitting in protest before the Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex after his suspension on Monday. The protesting MPs, along with Sanjay Singh, could be seen holding Save Manipur placards, with the Opposition insisting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should make a statement on Manipur before any discussion on the issue. Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev said the Opposition MPs have been taking turns to sit on the dharna. Speaking to this newspaper, Dev said that the INDIA allies will continue the sit-in protest until the suspension is revoked. We have made a roster for two-hour turns. We cant miss the proceedings of the House also. Still, all the members ensure that at least 10 members will be present throughout the day and night, said Dev. ALSO READ | Opposition front INDIA plans no confidence motion in Lok Sabha AAP MP Sanjay Singh with other opposition MPs protest demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on the ongoing crisis in Manipur, at Parliament House complex during the Monsoon session, in New Delhi, Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Supriya Sule of NCP, A Raja of DMK, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Manoj Jha of RJD, NK Premachandran of RSP, Gaurav Gogoi (Congress), Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan of JDU, and Elamaram Kareem (CPM) and A M Ariff (CPM) were among the leaders who sat in the protest. Earlier on Tuesday, the alliance party leaders met at Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharges chamber and decided to continue the protest till Singhs suspension is revoked. Singh was suspended from the Upper House for the rest of the monsoon session by chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar for repeatedly violating the directives of the chair, while protesting on the Manipur issue. Now the MP cannot attend the rest of the session. We will continue the protest till the suspension is revoked. We are sitting on a rotational basis. At Kharges meeting too, we decided to continue the protest as the government is not making any effort to end the impasse, said Rajya Sabha MP Elamaram Kareem. ALSO READ | Government is not afraid to discuss Manipur: Home Minister Shah in Lok Sabha The decision to hold a day-and-night sit-in protest was taken immediately after Singhs suspension, said Kareem. We have met the Rajya Sabha chairman and requested him to revoke the suspension. Even Kharge spoke to the chairman about it. But, no action was taken. The decision to hold a relay protest was taken by leaders of all parties, said Kareem. The oppositions goal is to keep focus on the Manipur issue, said another leader. All Sanjay Singh was asking was a statement from the PM. We demand to revoke his suspension. It is time for the PM to speak on the Manipur issue as its a constitutional crisis, said the leader. Both Houses of Parliament have not been functioning over the Manipur issue. NEW DELHI: The members of the united opposition, INDIA, continued their relay protest on Tuesday demanding the revocation of suspension of Aam Aadmi Partys (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh from Rajya Sabha. Singh, along with other opposition MPs, has been sitting in protest before the Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex after his suspension on Monday. The protesting MPs, along with Sanjay Singh, could be seen holding Save Manipur placards, with the Opposition insisting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should make a statement on Manipur before any discussion on the issue. Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev said the Opposition MPs have been taking turns to sit on the dharna.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Speaking to this newspaper, Dev said that the INDIA allies will continue the sit-in protest until the suspension is revoked. We have made a roster for two-hour turns. We cant miss the proceedings of the House also. Still, all the members ensure that at least 10 members will be present throughout the day and night, said Dev. ALSO READ | Opposition front INDIA plans no confidence motion in Lok Sabha AAP MP Sanjay Singh with other opposition MPs protest demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on the ongoing crisis in Manipur, at Parliament House complex during the Monsoon session, in New Delhi, Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Supriya Sule of NCP, A Raja of DMK, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Manoj Jha of RJD, NK Premachandran of RSP, Gaurav Gogoi (Congress), Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan of JDU, and Elamaram Kareem (CPM) and A M Ariff (CPM) were among the leaders who sat in the protest. Earlier on Tuesday, the alliance party leaders met at Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharges chamber and decided to continue the protest till Singhs suspension is revoked. Singh was suspended from the Upper House for the rest of the monsoon session by chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar for repeatedly violating the directives of the chair, while protesting on the Manipur issue. Now the MP cannot attend the rest of the session. We will continue the protest till the suspension is revoked. We are sitting on a rotational basis. At Kharges meeting too, we decided to continue the protest as the government is not making any effort to end the impasse, said Rajya Sabha MP Elamaram Kareem. ALSO READ | Government is not afraid to discuss Manipur: Home Minister Shah in Lok Sabha The decision to hold a day-and-night sit-in protest was taken immediately after Singhs suspension, said Kareem. We have met the Rajya Sabha chairman and requested him to revoke the suspension. Even Kharge spoke to the chairman about it. But, no action was taken. The decision to hold a relay protest was taken by leaders of all parties, said Kareem. The oppositions goal is to keep focus on the Manipur issue, said another leader. All Sanjay Singh was asking was a statement from the PM. We demand to revoke his suspension. It is time for the PM to speak on the Manipur issue as its a constitutional crisis, said the leader. Both Houses of Parliament have not been functioning over the Manipur issue. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: The Meghalaya police on Tuesday said Mondays stone-pelting by a mob targeting Chief Minister Conrad K Sangmas office in Tura was a pre-planned conspiracy to attack him and damage him physically. Director General of Police LR Bishnoi told journalists that police had clinching evidence suggesting the conspiracy. During the investigation, the Tura police found that it was a pre-planned conspiracy to attack the CM and damage him physically. Police gathered clinching evidence that money was distributed to some of the youth on July 23 to create violence at the site. Many bottles of liquor were also distributed to the youth, Bishnoi said. He said many of them, who were part of the mob, had come with plastic jerrycans full of kerosene, along with matchboxes and lighters. He said many stones were also found lying there. At the site, they started giving inciting speeches where the CM was abused and threatened. They provoked the crowd to cause physical damage to the CM and even said they can take extreme steps like murder, the DGP further said. Sangma said the incident was unacceptable. I cannot really say right now what is behind the incident. I am sure we will get a better picture after the investigation is over, he said. The police identified 26 accused and 19 were arrested. The arrested persons are members of two opposition parties. On Monday evening, Sangma was holding a discussion with the leaders of two protesting organisations when the mob emerged and attacked the office by pelting stones. Five police personnel were injured. Organisations in Garo Hills have been protesting demanding the clearance of backlog of jobs meant for the Garos. ALSO READ | BJP functionaries among 18 arrested over attack on Meghalaya CM's office TMC leader Richard Marak arrested for instigating crowd to attack Meghalaya CM Sangma's office GUWAHATI: The Meghalaya police on Tuesday said Mondays stone-pelting by a mob targeting Chief Minister Conrad K Sangmas office in Tura was a pre-planned conspiracy to attack him and damage him physically. Director General of Police LR Bishnoi told journalists that police had clinching evidence suggesting the conspiracy. During the investigation, the Tura police found that it was a pre-planned conspiracy to attack the CM and damage him physically. Police gathered clinching evidence that money was distributed to some of the youth on July 23 to create violence at the site. Many bottles of liquor were also distributed to the youth, Bishnoi said. He said many of them, who were part of the mob, had come with plastic jerrycans full of kerosene, along with matchboxes and lighters. He said many stones were also found lying there.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); At the site, they started giving inciting speeches where the CM was abused and threatened. They provoked the crowd to cause physical damage to the CM and even said they can take extreme steps like murder, the DGP further said. Sangma said the incident was unacceptable. I cannot really say right now what is behind the incident. I am sure we will get a better picture after the investigation is over, he said. The police identified 26 accused and 19 were arrested. The arrested persons are members of two opposition parties. On Monday evening, Sangma was holding a discussion with the leaders of two protesting organisations when the mob emerged and attacked the office by pelting stones. Five police personnel were injured. Organisations in Garo Hills have been protesting demanding the clearance of backlog of jobs meant for the Garos. ALSO READ | BJP functionaries among 18 arrested over attack on Meghalaya CM's office TMC leader Richard Marak arrested for instigating crowd to attack Meghalaya CM Sangma's office By PTI SUKMA: Two women staffers of a residential school's hostel in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh have been suspended for allegedly informing the police late about the rape of a minor girl in the hostel, officials said on Wednesday. The Class 1 student was allegedly raped by an unidentified person on the night of July 22 when she was in the hostel of a 'porta cabin' school within the limits of the Errabor police station area, police said. However, the matter was reported to the police on July 24, they said. "The hostel's superintendent and assistant superintendent, both women, have been suspended for allegedly delaying reporting the matter to police," a district administration official told PTI. An eight-member team headed by Sukma Additional Superintendent of Police Gaurav Mandal constituted to probe the matter has been trying to identify the accused, he said. Porta cabins are pre-fabricated structure residential schools set up in Left Wing Extremism-affected villages of the state's Bastar division, which includes the tribal-dominated Sukma district. Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran G Chavan on Tuesday said the victim, aged 6-7 years, informed her parents on July 23, following which it was reported to the hostel superintendent. After a police complaint was filed the next day, a case was registered under sections 376 AB (rape on a woman under 12 years of age), 456 (house trespass), 363 (kidnapping) and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said. Meanwhile, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chhattisgarh slammed the ruling Congress over the incident and claimed the law and order situation has collapsed in the state. The BJP has also constituted a probe team of the party leaders, headed by its MLA Ranjana Sahu, which has been asked to visit the residential school in Sukma and submit a report. "If this government and its officials are not able to ensure the safety of girls even in educational and residential ashrams-hostels of the state, then such a shameless and incompetent government has no moral right to remain in power even for a moment," Sahu said in a statement. She also targeted the hostel superintendent for allegedly trying to hush up the crime. Around 5,000 incidents of rape have been reported in the state during the tenure of the Bhupesh Baghel government, Sahu claimed, adding all claims of the government on women's safety have proved to be hollow. SUKMA: Two women staffers of a residential school's hostel in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh have been suspended for allegedly informing the police late about the rape of a minor girl in the hostel, officials said on Wednesday. The Class 1 student was allegedly raped by an unidentified person on the night of July 22 when she was in the hostel of a 'porta cabin' school within the limits of the Errabor police station area, police said. However, the matter was reported to the police on July 24, they said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The hostel's superintendent and assistant superintendent, both women, have been suspended for allegedly delaying reporting the matter to police," a district administration official told PTI. An eight-member team headed by Sukma Additional Superintendent of Police Gaurav Mandal constituted to probe the matter has been trying to identify the accused, he said. Porta cabins are pre-fabricated structure residential schools set up in Left Wing Extremism-affected villages of the state's Bastar division, which includes the tribal-dominated Sukma district. Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran G Chavan on Tuesday said the victim, aged 6-7 years, informed her parents on July 23, following which it was reported to the hostel superintendent. After a police complaint was filed the next day, a case was registered under sections 376 AB (rape on a woman under 12 years of age), 456 (house trespass), 363 (kidnapping) and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said. Meanwhile, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chhattisgarh slammed the ruling Congress over the incident and claimed the law and order situation has collapsed in the state. The BJP has also constituted a probe team of the party leaders, headed by its MLA Ranjana Sahu, which has been asked to visit the residential school in Sukma and submit a report. "If this government and its officials are not able to ensure the safety of girls even in educational and residential ashrams-hostels of the state, then such a shameless and incompetent government has no moral right to remain in power even for a moment," Sahu said in a statement. She also targeted the hostel superintendent for allegedly trying to hush up the crime. Around 5,000 incidents of rape have been reported in the state during the tenure of the Bhupesh Baghel government, Sahu claimed, adding all claims of the government on women's safety have proved to be hollow. By PTI LONDON: An Indian-origin lawyer who was convicted over a decade ago on fraud and money laundering charges has now been ordered by a UK court to pay over 28 million pounds associated with criminal activity. Bhadresh Gohil, 58, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2010 after being convicted of money laundering, prejudicing a money laundering investigation and conspiracy to defraud in connection with a corruption case involving a client who was a politician in Nigeria. At the conclusion of lengthy confiscation proceedings at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday, the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Gohil was found to have benefited in the sum of 42.4 million pounds and the judge determined that he has available assets of 28.2 million pounds to pay a Confiscation Order or serve six additional years in prison. "This was one of our largest international cases and illustrates how robustly the CPS tackles international illicit finance and corruption," said Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor in the CPS Proceeds of Crime Division. "The amount that both defendants have benefited from their criminality has been highly contested, but thanks to the hard work of our dedicated team and that of the National Crime Agency (NCA), we have been able to uncover the full extent of their corruption. This has led to the making of Confiscation Orders of over 128 million pounds, which will ultimately result in the return of funds back to the people of Nigeria," he said. Gohil's client James Ibori, 61, was found to have used his position as Governor of Delta State in Nigeria to steal millions to fund a lavish and luxurious lifestyle, buying properties in London, Washington DC, and Texas, as well as a Mercedes and a Bentley. His case concluded on Friday, when the judge determined he systematically defrauded the state and its citizens of millions of pounds, was ordered to pay over 101 million or face an additional eight years in prison. "This very significant amount of money was confiscated following an extensive investigation. Ibori was powerful and influential, but he was not above the law. Now the life he built from criminal enterprises has been taken from him," said Suzanne Foster, the Branch Commander of NCA. "Ibori's funds will be returned to the Nigerian government where they will be reinvested into public services. We will continue to work with partners to tackle the global threat of money laundering, and target anyone that undermines the integrity of our financial system," she said. The court heard that Ibori laundered the proceeds of his crime through a complex scheme that involved his associates, including his wife, his sister, and his lover. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, conspiracy to defraud, and conspiracy to make false instruments in February 2012 and was sentenced to 13 years in prison. The Metropolitan Police investigated allegations of corruption and theft of state funds while Ibori was Governor of Delta State. A focus was on the fraudulent sale and purchase of shares in Ibori's mobile phone company 'V mobile' to Delta State and Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. Money was also found to have been laundered by Gohil through a myriad of offshore companies and bank accounts as well as UK-based entities, the NCA said. Gohil was found to have helped Ibori hide his criminal proceeds and to defraud the people of Delta State, Nigeria. During the ensuing confiscation proceedings, Ibori disputed that he had benefitted and the court was told that he went to great lengths to disguise the assets he owned. The CPS argued that Ibori's claims of legitimate wealth were fabricated to pretend that they were not the proceeds of crime. After a conviction, the CPS can ask the court to make such a Confiscation Order where the judge considers the total financial 'benefit' that a defendant made from their criminal activity and the total value of the available assets the defendant currently has to pay the order. LONDON: An Indian-origin lawyer who was convicted over a decade ago on fraud and money laundering charges has now been ordered by a UK court to pay over 28 million pounds associated with criminal activity. Bhadresh Gohil, 58, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2010 after being convicted of money laundering, prejudicing a money laundering investigation and conspiracy to defraud in connection with a corruption case involving a client who was a politician in Nigeria. At the conclusion of lengthy confiscation proceedings at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday, the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Gohil was found to have benefited in the sum of 42.4 million pounds and the judge determined that he has available assets of 28.2 million pounds to pay a Confiscation Order or serve six additional years in prison.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "This was one of our largest international cases and illustrates how robustly the CPS tackles international illicit finance and corruption," said Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor in the CPS Proceeds of Crime Division. "The amount that both defendants have benefited from their criminality has been highly contested, but thanks to the hard work of our dedicated team and that of the National Crime Agency (NCA), we have been able to uncover the full extent of their corruption. This has led to the making of Confiscation Orders of over 128 million pounds, which will ultimately result in the return of funds back to the people of Nigeria," he said. Gohil's client James Ibori, 61, was found to have used his position as Governor of Delta State in Nigeria to steal millions to fund a lavish and luxurious lifestyle, buying properties in London, Washington DC, and Texas, as well as a Mercedes and a Bentley. His case concluded on Friday, when the judge determined he systematically defrauded the state and its citizens of millions of pounds, was ordered to pay over 101 million or face an additional eight years in prison. "This very significant amount of money was confiscated following an extensive investigation. Ibori was powerful and influential, but he was not above the law. Now the life he built from criminal enterprises has been taken from him," said Suzanne Foster, the Branch Commander of NCA. "Ibori's funds will be returned to the Nigerian government where they will be reinvested into public services. We will continue to work with partners to tackle the global threat of money laundering, and target anyone that undermines the integrity of our financial system," she said. The court heard that Ibori laundered the proceeds of his crime through a complex scheme that involved his associates, including his wife, his sister, and his lover. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, conspiracy to defraud, and conspiracy to make false instruments in February 2012 and was sentenced to 13 years in prison. The Metropolitan Police investigated allegations of corruption and theft of state funds while Ibori was Governor of Delta State. A focus was on the fraudulent sale and purchase of shares in Ibori's mobile phone company 'V mobile' to Delta State and Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. Money was also found to have been laundered by Gohil through a myriad of offshore companies and bank accounts as well as UK-based entities, the NCA said. Gohil was found to have helped Ibori hide his criminal proceeds and to defraud the people of Delta State, Nigeria. During the ensuing confiscation proceedings, Ibori disputed that he had benefitted and the court was told that he went to great lengths to disguise the assets he owned. The CPS argued that Ibori's claims of legitimate wealth were fabricated to pretend that they were not the proceeds of crime. After a conviction, the CPS can ask the court to make such a Confiscation Order where the judge considers the total financial 'benefit' that a defendant made from their criminal activity and the total value of the available assets the defendant currently has to pay the order. Express News Service NEW DELHI: More women are dying of cancer as compared to men in the last 19 years in India, the latest study has found. The first national-level cancer mortality study found that the cancer mortality trend in India has dipped by 0.19% annually among men but has increased by 0.25% among women, indicating an increase of 0.02% among both sexes. The analysis of mortality trends of 23 major cancers in the Indian population, which killed 12.85 million Indians between 2000 and 2019, found that the highest annual increase in mortality was observed in pancreatic cancer among both sexes at 2.7% (2.1% among men and 3.7% in women). The study, conducted by Amrita Hospital, Kochi, in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a division of the World Health Organisation (WHO), was published in JCO Global Oncology, a journal affiliated with the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The study found increasing mortality trends among cancers of the lung, breast, colorectum, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, and mesothelioma between 2000 and 2019. However, the stomach, oesophagus, leukaemia, larynx, and melanoma cancers showed a declining cancer mortality trend irrespective of sex. The cancer mortality was high among men than women for all common cancers except thyroid (0.6) and gallbladder (0.6) cancers. Larynx cancer had almost a six-fold high mortality among men than women, followed by lung (2.9), melanoma (2.5), urinary bladder (2.3), mouth and oropharynx (2.2), and liver (1.9), while stomach and colorectal cancer mortality was relatively similar among both sexes. The most common lethal cancers were mouth and oropharyngeal (15.6%), stomach (10.6%), lung (9.6%), breast (9%), and colorectal (8%) cancers. Female cancers of the cervix, corpus uteri, ovary, and breast contributed to 17.6% of deaths, while male cancers of the prostate and testis contributed to only 3.7%, the study said. This estimation-based study might be a substitute for constructing precise and efficient health care infrastructure to acquire better cancer control programs in India in the absence of a national cancer registry or countrywide cancer mortality data, Ajil Shaji, Head of Cancer Registry at Amrita Hospital, Kochi, and one of the authors, said. Dr Vijaykumar DK, Head of Dept. Breast and Gynec Oncology, Amrita Hospital, Kochi, said: We wanted to investigate how the number of cancer-related fatalities has changed in India over the past two decades. The study has shown that the cancer mortality trend among men in India has shown a slight yet statistically significant decrease over time." In contrast, the increase in cancer mortality among women and both sexes combined has been minor and not statistically significant. Among all common malignancies, women had a higher rate of gallbladder and thyroid cancer mortality than men; meanwhile, a yearly significant increase of pancreatic cancer mortality was seen among both sexes, with a higher increase in women. Dr Pavithran K, Head of Dept. Medical Oncology, Amrita Hospital, Kochi, said: The study highlights the need for a multi-pronged approach to address the rising cancer mortality rates in India, including awareness on cancer symptoms, cancer prevention policies, improved health infrastructure, and specifically dedicated human resources. A multi-faceted strategy is required to tackle Indias rising cancer mortality rates. Lack of knowledge about cancer symptoms delays treatment for preventable cancers. We need better infrastructure, dedicated human resources, and expanded cancer screening programs. The best long-term strategy could be implementing awareness of cancer symptoms among the population and cancer prevention policies with improved health infrastructure and specifically dedicated resources, he said. Globally, cancer is the second most lethal non-communicable disease after cardiovascular disease, accounting for about 9.9 million deaths in 2020. Around 9% of all cancer deaths occurred in the Indian population. While cancers of the lung, breast, colorectum, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, ovary, and mesothelioma showed substantial increases in mortality in India, the cancers of the stomach, oesophagus, leukaemia, larynx, liver, brain, testis, prostate, cervix, corpus uteri, and melanoma decreased over time. In India, more than 70% of cases of cancer are diagnosed at advanced stages because of decreased cancer awareness and lack of organized breast, oral, or cervical cancer screening programs. This fact explains the high cancer mortality rate, the study said. It added that prevention through screening and awareness could reduce the burden of preventable cancers worldwide and in India since more than 30% of cancer deaths are due to modifiable risk factors, including tobacco and alcohol use. NEW DELHI: More women are dying of cancer as compared to men in the last 19 years in India, the latest study has found. The first national-level cancer mortality study found that the cancer mortality trend in India has dipped by 0.19% annually among men but has increased by 0.25% among women, indicating an increase of 0.02% among both sexes. The analysis of mortality trends of 23 major cancers in the Indian population, which killed 12.85 million Indians between 2000 and 2019, found that the highest annual increase in mortality was observed in pancreatic cancer among both sexes at 2.7% (2.1% among men and 3.7% in women).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The study, conducted by Amrita Hospital, Kochi, in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a division of the World Health Organisation (WHO), was published in JCO Global Oncology, a journal affiliated with the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The study found increasing mortality trends among cancers of the lung, breast, colorectum, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, and mesothelioma between 2000 and 2019. However, the stomach, oesophagus, leukaemia, larynx, and melanoma cancers showed a declining cancer mortality trend irrespective of sex. The cancer mortality was high among men than women for all common cancers except thyroid (0.6) and gallbladder (0.6) cancers. Larynx cancer had almost a six-fold high mortality among men than women, followed by lung (2.9), melanoma (2.5), urinary bladder (2.3), mouth and oropharynx (2.2), and liver (1.9), while stomach and colorectal cancer mortality was relatively similar among both sexes. The most common lethal cancers were mouth and oropharyngeal (15.6%), stomach (10.6%), lung (9.6%), breast (9%), and colorectal (8%) cancers. Female cancers of the cervix, corpus uteri, ovary, and breast contributed to 17.6% of deaths, while male cancers of the prostate and testis contributed to only 3.7%, the study said. This estimation-based study might be a substitute for constructing precise and efficient health care infrastructure to acquire better cancer control programs in India in the absence of a national cancer registry or countrywide cancer mortality data, Ajil Shaji, Head of Cancer Registry at Amrita Hospital, Kochi, and one of the authors, said. Dr Vijaykumar DK, Head of Dept. Breast and Gynec Oncology, Amrita Hospital, Kochi, said: We wanted to investigate how the number of cancer-related fatalities has changed in India over the past two decades. The study has shown that the cancer mortality trend among men in India has shown a slight yet statistically significant decrease over time." In contrast, the increase in cancer mortality among women and both sexes combined has been minor and not statistically significant. Among all common malignancies, women had a higher rate of gallbladder and thyroid cancer mortality than men; meanwhile, a yearly significant increase of pancreatic cancer mortality was seen among both sexes, with a higher increase in women. Dr Pavithran K, Head of Dept. Medical Oncology, Amrita Hospital, Kochi, said: The study highlights the need for a multi-pronged approach to address the rising cancer mortality rates in India, including awareness on cancer symptoms, cancer prevention policies, improved health infrastructure, and specifically dedicated human resources. A multi-faceted strategy is required to tackle Indias rising cancer mortality rates. Lack of knowledge about cancer symptoms delays treatment for preventable cancers. We need better infrastructure, dedicated human resources, and expanded cancer screening programs. The best long-term strategy could be implementing awareness of cancer symptoms among the population and cancer prevention policies with improved health infrastructure and specifically dedicated resources, he said. Globally, cancer is the second most lethal non-communicable disease after cardiovascular disease, accounting for about 9.9 million deaths in 2020. Around 9% of all cancer deaths occurred in the Indian population. While cancers of the lung, breast, colorectum, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, ovary, and mesothelioma showed substantial increases in mortality in India, the cancers of the stomach, oesophagus, leukaemia, larynx, liver, brain, testis, prostate, cervix, corpus uteri, and melanoma decreased over time. In India, more than 70% of cases of cancer are diagnosed at advanced stages because of decreased cancer awareness and lack of organized breast, oral, or cervical cancer screening programs. This fact explains the high cancer mortality rate, the study said. It added that prevention through screening and awareness could reduce the burden of preventable cancers worldwide and in India since more than 30% of cancer deaths are due to modifiable risk factors, including tobacco and alcohol use. By Express News Service MALAPPURAM: An Oman Air flight bound for Muscat, carrying 162 passengers, made a precautionary landing at Kozhikode airport on Tuesday, a few hours after taking off. The landing was necessitated by a technical error concerning the flights weather radar, which prompted the pilot to opt for a precautionary measure. Flight WY 298 took off from Kozhikode airport at 9.15 am. Unfortunately, the pilots encountered an issue with receiving weather signals during the flight. Consequently, the aircraft circled over Kozhikode for two hours to reduce fuel. Passengers on the flight recounted the situation, mentioning that the pilot communicated the decision to land at Kozhikode airport, and the airline promptly made arrangements for their stay until the next flight. Subsequently, a new flight was arranged for the passengers to Muscat, scheduled for the early morning of Wednesday. The airlines standard operating procedure strictly prohibits pilots from operating without the aid of the weather radar. The radar system is crucial as it identifies specific cloud types that should be avoided during flight. By adhering to the SOP, the pilot was able to safely land the flight at Kozhikode airport, said an official. MALAPPURAM: An Oman Air flight bound for Muscat, carrying 162 passengers, made a precautionary landing at Kozhikode airport on Tuesday, a few hours after taking off. The landing was necessitated by a technical error concerning the flights weather radar, which prompted the pilot to opt for a precautionary measure. Flight WY 298 took off from Kozhikode airport at 9.15 am. Unfortunately, the pilots encountered an issue with receiving weather signals during the flight. Consequently, the aircraft circled over Kozhikode for two hours to reduce fuel. Passengers on the flight recounted the situation, mentioning that the pilot communicated the decision to land at Kozhikode airport, and the airline promptly made arrangements for their stay until the next flight. Subsequently, a new flight was arranged for the passengers to Muscat, scheduled for the early morning of Wednesday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The airlines standard operating procedure strictly prohibits pilots from operating without the aid of the weather radar. The radar system is crucial as it identifies specific cloud types that should be avoided during flight. By adhering to the SOP, the pilot was able to safely land the flight at Kozhikode airport, said an official. Rockwell: Leading the Charge in Commercial Refrigeration Products in India VMPL, New Delhi, July 25: Amidst the remarkable surge in the FMCG industry, the demand for packaged and processed foods, as well as beverages, is experiencing an unprecedented rise worldwide. Rockwell: Leading the Charge in Commercial Refrigeration Products in India Additionally, there is a significant increase in the transportation of perishable goods and materials, The collective impact of these factors has resulted in an unparalleled surge in the demand for commercial refrigeration products. Established in 1986, Rockwell has steadily emerged as a prominent manufacturer of Commercial Refrigeration Appliances in India. As an ISO 90012015 certified company, Rockwell has been at the forefront of innovation, introducing pioneering products like CFC free appliances, Eutectic Coolers & Freezers, Green Freezers, Hybrid Solar Freezers, and more.Rockwell envisions establishing a renowned global brand by offering cutting-edge, eco-friendly, and cost-effective refrigeration solutions. With a strong commitment to quality, the only company in India which provides an extensive 10-year warranty on the body, featuring an inner coil made of corrosion-resistant 100 per cent copper, setting it apart from aluminum alloy coils used by other brands. With 92% of the production carried out in-house across three plants, Rockwell ensures stringent quality control and precision. The brand boasts an impressive 53% reduction in electricity consumption compared to competitors, along with a remarkable 90mm Puff insulation, surpassing the industry standard of 60mm. Notably, Rockwell's refrigeration systems boast a longer average product life of 12 years, contributing to lower operating costs. Moreover, the company takes pride in its environmentally friendly refrigerants, aligning with its sustainability initiatives. With 35 years of expertise in the refrigeration industry, Rockwell continues to spearhead innovation and raise the bar in the market.Driven by a resolute mission to foster growth for all stakeholders, while maintaining unwavering integrity and ethical practices, Pankaj Jawa, representing Rockwell, expresses their dedication to customer delight. As the EVP of Channel Sales & B2B business, he emphasizes Rockwell's commitment to ensuring utmost customer satisfaction by delivering world-class products at affordable prices with the lowest running costs. With a vision to expand their presence aggressively in the retail market, Rockwell aims to establish over 2000 retail sales points nationwide within the next nine months.In pursuit of this goal, the company has recently inaugurated a sales office in Delhi in presence of company's visionary founder & Managing Director Ashok Gupta along with Director Sales & Marketing Prateek Gupta, strategically targeting North India, the largest retail market. In the domain of Chest Freezers, Rockwell already holds an 8% market share, aiming to elevate it to an impressive 15% over the next 2-3 years.Rockwell is the first company in the country to introduce CFC free products and has the capacity to manufacture HC based Eco-friendly machines certified by TUV, Germany. Our state of the art 2 manufacturing facilities in Hyderabad can produce 300,000+ units per year. With more than 290 service franchisees and 200 dealer points spread across different demographics of the country.Rockwell is making strides in the market with its diverse product range, offering Water Coolers, Dispensers, Kitchen Refrigerators, Ice Cube Making Machines, and Back Bar Chillers in its new lineup. According to Prateek Gupta Director Sales & Marketing, the Visi Cooler portfolio will hold a significant market share of 25%. Looking ahead, the company is expanding its capabilities with the establishment of a new factory in Lucknow dedicated to producing approximately 2 lakh Visi Coolers annually. This ambitious move aligns with the goal of crossing 1000 Crore revenue by FY' 2025, showcasing a remarkable 40% revenue growth in the past year. As part of their growth strategy, Rockwell plans to invest in new offices, recruitment for field Sales Staff, marketing and branding plus further strengthening of Service Infrastructure, positioning itself to dominate the market from every angle with sustainable growth at its focus.For more information Visit https//rockwell.co.in/https//www.amazon.in/Rockwell-Convertible-Freezer-GFR350DDUC-Warranty/dp/B08BJKT6SL/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1690026151&refinements=p_89%3ARockwell&s=kitchen&sr=1-2ANI25 July 2023 Shared Recently! Select UP CHCs to operate on PPP mode Lucknow, July 25: In order to improve the functioning of health services, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to run some community health centres in the private-public-partnership mode. Select UP CHCs to operate on PPP mode A proposal has been prepared by the health department and will be sent to the cabinet for approval.To begin with, 15 CHCs -- selected once the cabinet approves the proposal -- will go in the PPP mode.The proposal says the CHCs to be given on PPP mode will go for bidding.The bidding will be done on an as-is, where-is basis, where the bidder will physically check facilities at the CHC they want to bid for."The bidder needs to run all services that are being provided at CHC and if there is any shortcoming in regard to equipment, the same has to be corrected by the bidder. Each bidder will be evaluated on the basis of the bid price they quote and reputation of the firm over their past work," said a senior health official.The 15 CHCs that have been short-listed for the PPP mode include Khadda CHC in Kushinagar, Gajokhar CHC in Varanasi, Malhipur CHC in Shravasti, Rajapur CHC in Chitrakoot, Nagram CHC in Lucknow, Belaghat CHC in Gorakhpur, Adda Bajaar CHC in Maharajganj, Chandan Chowki CHC in Lakhimpur Kheri, Vishwarganj CHC in Bahraich, Bhogwara CHC in Chandauli, Dapsaura CHC in Fatehpur, Sukhpura CHC in Ballia, Babhani CHC in Sonbhadra, Khajuria CHC in Balrampur and Sirsiya CHC in Siddharth Nagar.The names may be changed and the final ones will be announced after cabinet approves the proposal.IANS25 July 2023 Shared Recently! Manali highway tunnels turn out to be saviour amid Himachal deluge Shimla, July 25: Five all-weather tunnels on the Manali four-lane national highway from Hanogi to Jhalogi, which lay between Mandi and Kullu towns in Himachal Pradesh, turned out to be saviour for the motorists, largely locals, as torrential rain that triggered flash floods in the Beas River has washed away a major portion of the old highway in this segment. Manali highway tunnels turn out to be saviour amid Himachal deluge Currently, the traffic on the highway between Pandoh and Aut, part of the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway project, is passing through the tunnels that were opened for the traffic on May 20. They are yet to be formally inaugurated.Every year after heavy rainfall, the flooded Beas flows over the highway that has steep hills on one side and deep valleys of the river on the other.Officials told IANS a large stretch of the old 22-km-long highway between Pandoh and Aut has been washed away. So the traffic is passing through the newly constructed tunnels.The twin tube tunnels built between Pandoh and Aut as part of the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway project, bypasses the landslide-prone stretch that passes via the Hanogi Mata temple."These all-weather tunnels have come as a blessing for the locals as a major portion of the (old) highway between Aut and Pandoh has been washed away. It will take at least six months to reconstruct or relay it," Prem Thakur, a resident of Manali, who travelled on the highway on Monday, told IANS.He said if these tunnels were not completed, the entire Kullu-Manali region would remain cut off by road from the rest of the country for months.Local vegetable grower Jeevan Negi said flash floods on July 8-9 have extensively damaged the highway from Jhalogi to Hanogi. "We are thankful to the Central government for completing these crucial tunnels well ahead of the onset of monsoon. Otherwise, the transportation of vegetables and fruits by road would almost come to a standstill, impacting the local economy."The highway stretch near Tharot and 7 Mile, a few km ahead of Mandi town, was badly damaged. "In earlier years the river water reached up to the level of the road. This time the flash flood in the river has wiped out 300-400 metre stretch of the highway and it took months to relay it."Work on the Pandoh bypass to Takoli, which is underway, will provide round-the-year connectivity to Manali. It will become the largest cross-sectional tunnels in the region and reduce travel time from Mandi to Manali by 90 minutes, say officials.The Pandoh to Takoli stretch has four twin tube tunnels, two single tube tunnels, two major and nine minor Bridges, one elevated bridge and 19 km road.Even on normal days the motorists are advised to travel with precaution between Mandi and Kullu towns owing to landslide-prone, narrow and sinking stretches due to loose rock strata and vulnerable to being flooded by the Beas River that ran along the highway.The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is executing the four-lane road project that will overall shorten the distance between Kiratpur in Punjab and Manali from 232 km to 195 km, reducing the travel time by three hours.The NHAI, which missed its deadlines in the past, now aims to complete the entire project by March 2024."Stunning visuals from the 4-lane Pandoh Bypass to Takoli section of Chandigarh-Manali Highway. Commuters are enjoying superb uphill driving conditions," Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari tweeted on May 2.He said the highway from Kiratpur to Nerchowk and from Pandoh to Takoli is being proposed to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Earlier he tweeted by saying, "The ongoing work four-laning of 48-km long Kiratpur Nerchowk (NH-21) stretch connecting the mesmerising tourist place of Manali, Himachal Pradesh through 05 Tunnels and 22 Major Bridges over river Satluja"(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)IANS25 July 2023 Shared Recently! Manipur is burning and PM is talking about East India Company: Kharge New Delhi, July 25: Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said that when the Opposition parties were talking about Manipur the Prime Minister was talking about the East India Company. Manipur is burning and PM is talking about East India Company: Kharge While speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge said, "Several MPs have given notice under section 267 for discussion for the last four days on Manipur. It is not the first time, earlier also notices were given. Today Manipur is burning and rapes are happening. And we are talking about Manipur and the Prime Minister is talking about the East India Company."He took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for referring the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) with East India Company.On the other hand, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said that the government is also ready to discuss the atrocities against women and children in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh."Across the country, if there is any crime against women, the government is ready for discussion. We should discuss these issues," Goyal added.Kharge then said that when he was speaking in the House, the Leader of the House Goyal interrupted him.Kharge said, "I have one point, 50 people wanted a discussion under 267, and they (BJP) are ready under 176."And if they want to have a discussion under 176 for two and half hours, then why are they not ready to have a discussion on this (Manipur issue) why the Prime Minister is not coming here and why he is not making a statement inside the House? He speaks outside about the East India Company and why not speak about Manipur?" Kharge quipped.Leader of the House Piyush Goyal interrupted Kharge and said that there should be a discussion on incidents of atrocities against women in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and West Bengal and Manipur. "And we want all state governments to be accountable," he said.RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha hitting out at Goyal said, "Leader of the House is equating Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and there is no genocidal impact, but Manipur is genocidal."Earlier in the day, speaking to the media after the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting, former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that while addressing the MPs in the Parliamentary Party meeting, the Prime Minister said that the name INDIA has a strange coincidence."He (Modi) told that Prime Minister Modi said that the East India Company and the Indian National Congress were created by the British," he said, adding, "The Prime Minister said the Indian Mujahideen was founded by the terrorists and organisation like the Popular Front of India also has INDIA."The Prime Minister in the meeting said that he has not seen such "directionless" Opposition till date, the senior BJP leader quoted Modi as saying, in an apparent reference to Opposition's 'INDIA'.The Rajya Sabha was then adjourned till 2 p.m.The Opposition parties have been demanding a detailed discussion on Manipur in Parliament and also a statement by the Prime Minister in the House.IANS25 July 2023 Shared Recently! LS Speaker Om Birla chairs all-party meet to end impasse between Centre, Opposition New Delhi, July 25: On the day the war of words between the Treasury and Opposition benches continued to disrupt proceedings in Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday chaired an all-party meeting to end the "impasse", sources said. LS Speaker Om Birla chairs all-party meet to end impasse between Centre, Opposition Further, sources sad despite the efforts of the Speaker to end the logjam in Parliament, the Opposition parties refused to budge from their stand, demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a statement on the Manipur situation."In the all-party meeting, the government said it was ready for a discussion on the prevailing situation in Manipur," a source said.Birla urged all the leaders to discuss this issue with their respective parties, assuring that he would convene a similar meeting again.Meanwhile, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal represented the Centre at the all-party meeting.Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from Congress, Sudip Bandyopadhyay from Trinamool Congress, Supriya Sule from NCP, Anupriya Patel from Apna Dal, Lalan Singh from JD, TR Baalu from DMK, Farooq Abdullah from National Conference, Pashupati Paras from LJP, AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, PR Natrajan from CPI, too, attended the meeting.The Speaker convened the meeting after the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm.Proceedings in the Lower House were suspended till 2 pm as the Opposition members continued to raise slogans demanding a discussion on Manipur and a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The Opposition members erupted in protest in the Lok Sabha after Question Hour began.Speaker Birla urged the Opposition members to return to their seats, adding that they should allow the House as Question Hour helps in fixing the accountability of the government.Amid Opposition members holding up placards and raising slogans, the Speaker said such protests weren't the solution to any problem and neither were they consistent with the parliamentary conventions and traditions.The Speaker's call to members to "maintain the dignity of the House", however, fell on deaf ears as the Opposition members persisted with their protests.The House was eventually adjourned till 2 pm.The Congress and the other Opposition parties have been demanding that the treasury benches set aside all other listed businesses and hold a discussion on the Manipur situation. They were also adamant that PM Modi issue a statement in the Lower House on Manipur.Both Houses have been seeing repeated adjournments over Manipur since the beginning of the Monsoon Session on July 20.Earlier, on Tuesday, the Floor leaders of Opposition parties held a meeting to discuss their strategy to keep the up heat on the Centre in both Houses.The meeting was held at the office of the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress national president, Mallikarjun Kharge.ANI25 July 2023 Shared Recently! Ten-year Gage County 4-H members Tatum Schroeder and Peyton Smidt have been working as interns at the Extension office throughout the summer. Schroeder said she was interested in getting more involved in 4-H. I wanted to get more involved and see what happened behind the scenes of the fair, she said. I wanted to see what everyone did to make everything run smoothly. As a senior at Diller-Odell High School, Schroeder said she was still considering her career options, but had narrowed it down between agriculture and the medical field. Smidt said she was interested in working at the Extension Office because it was a job opportunity. I wanted to work at a full time job this summer, but also needed it to be flexible, she said. Ive been a part of 4-H for several years and it has given me an opportunity to give back to the organization that Ive always cared about. She continued that it has given her valuable experience with young children also. Im interested in working as a school psychologist and was able to work at a few camps and workshops," Smidt said. "That knowledge will definitely carry over. Smidt is a senior at Tri County this school year and plans to go to University of Nebraska or Kansas State. Both girls said this has been a valuable experience. The camps and working with the younger youth throughout the county has been the highlight of their summer. Extension Educator Tara Dunker said she hopes they will consider coming back. We hope they will come back for summer jobs in the future, she said. Weve enjoyed having them. Average cost of data breach in India reaches over Rs 17cr: Report New Delhi, July 25: The average cost of a data breach in India reached Rs 17.9 crore in 2023, almost a 28 per cent increase since 2020, a new report said on Tuesday.A . Average cost of data breach in India reaches over Rs 17cr: Report According to tech major IBM, detection and escalation costs jumped 45 per cent over this same time frame, representing the highest portion of breach costs, and indicating a shift towards more complex breach investigations.At nearly 22 per cent, the most common attack type in India was phishing, followed by stolen or compromised credentials (16 per cent).Social engineering was the costliest root cause of breaches at Rs 19.1 crore, followed by malicious insider threats, which amounted to about Rs 18.8 crore."The report shows that security AI and automation had the biggest impact on keeping breach costs down and cutting time off the investigation -- and yet a majority of organizations in India still haven't deployed these technologies," said Viswanath Ramaswamy, Vice President, Technology, IBM India & South Asia.Moreover, the report showed that about 28 per cent of data breaches resulted in the loss of data spanning multiple types of environments in India (i.e., public cloud, private cloud, on-prem) -- indicating that attackers were able to compromise multiple environments while avoiding detection.The report also found that while 95 per cent of organisations studied globally have experienced more than one breach, these breached organisations were more likely to pass incident costs onto consumers (57 per cent) than to increase security investments (51 per cent).In India, companies with extensive use of AI and automation experienced a data breach lifecycle that was 153 days shorter compared to studied organizations that have not deployed these technologies (225 days versus 378 days).Organisations that used security AI and automation extensively saw nearly Rs 9.5 crore less in data breach costs than organisations that did not use these technologies.IANS25 July 2023 Shared Recently! US: Barack Obama's personal chef found dead near former president's home Massachusetts, July 25: A former White House employee and former United States President Barack Obama's personal chef was found dead in a pond near Obama's family home on Monday, CNN reported quoting Massachusetts police. US: Barack Obama's personal chef found dead near former president's home 45-year-old Tafari Campbell, "was employed by former President Obama and was visiting Martha's Vineyard at the time of his passing," said a release from Massachusetts State Police.Campbell was reportedly missing from early Sunday evening after he went paddleboarding, said the police.He went "into the water, appeared to briefly struggle to stay on the surface, and then submerged and did not resurface," the news release added, as per CNN.According to the release, another paddleboarder who was on the pond with him at the time saw him go under the water.The police news release also said that Campbell's body was fished out of the Edgartown Great Pond before 10 am on Monday by Massachusetts Environmental Police officers.His body was found by divers from the department's underwater recovery team about 100 feet from the coast at a depth of around 8 feet after police located him using a side-scan sonar from a boat.Barack and Michelle Obama claimed in a joint statement released to CNN that they first met Campbell while he was a sous chef at the White House. He kept working for the couple even after Obama's eight-year presidency."Tafari was a beloved part of our family," said the Obamas in their statement, adding, "When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House - creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together. In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter.""That's why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He's been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he's gone," the statement continued. "Today we join everyone who knew and loved Tafari - especially his wife Sherise and their twin boys, Xavier and Savin - in grieving the loss of a truly wonderful man."According to police, the Obamas were not home at the time of the incident.Campbell's death is being looked into by the Edgartown Police Department and the State Police Detective Unit for the Cape and Islands District, according to state police, CNN reported.ANI25 July 2023 Shared Recently! Kejriwal writes to FM Sitaraman, says Delhities are facing discrimination New Delhi, July 25: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday wrote to the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitarama about the Delhites facing 'discrimination' over the last 23 years. Kejriwal writes to FM Sitaraman, says Delhities are facing discrimination The Chief Minister urged Finance Minister for fair treatment in the upcoming 16th Central Finance Commission.It said that Delhites paid 1.78 lakh crores in income taxes but Centre has reduced Delhi's share to zero in FY-2023-24.He wrote that Delhi's share of central taxes was frozen for the last 23 years and that Delhi received only 350 crores in FY 2022-2023 when it should have received 7,378 crores.Explaining Delhi's case, the CM requested for Delhi to be considered as a unique case and include it in Terms of Reference of 16th Finance Commission."I want to draw your attention to the discrimination that the people of Delhi have been facing for the last 23 years. This step-motherly and unfair treatment by the Central Government towards the Delhites has been flagged innumerable times by the Delhi Government."Multiple requests have been made by the Delhi Government to give Delhi its legitimate share in the Central Taxes, but no action has been taken in this regard. As you are well aware, NCT of Delhi enjoys a unique ('sui generis') status among all states and Union Territories in India."While it falls in the broad category of a Union Territory with Legislature, it has been working similarly to other states in financial matters. It has a separate Consolidated Fund, w.e.f. December 01, 1993," the letter reads.Further in his letter, the Kejriwal has explained that the pattern of funding of Delhi's Budget is more or less at par with the other states."The financial transactions of Government of NCT of Delhi including servicing of small savings loans are being met out of its own resources like other states. Delhi is also devolving funds to Local bodies, out of its net proceeds."But despite this, the Government of NCT of Delhi neither gets legitimate grants in lieu of share of central taxes nor any share to supplement the resources of its Local Bodies as is the case with other states," the letter reads.Kejriwal has expressed concern that despite having a separate Consolidated Fund and managing its finances like other states, Delhi has been deprived of its legitimate share in the Central Taxes for the past two decades.The share of Delhi has been stagnant at an astonishingly low amount of 350 crores since 2001-02, even as its budget has increased significantly to 73,760 crores in FY 2023-24.Compared with neighbouring states having similar populations, the disparity becomes evident. In FY 2022-23, Haryana received 10,378 crores, and Punjab received 17,163 crores from the Central pool of taxes, while Delhi received only 350 crores. Shri Arvind Kejriwal stressed that if treated fairly, Delhi's share should have been 7,378 crores.Furthermore, he drew attention to the financial plight of Delhi's Urban Local Body (ULB) - the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Despite catering to 2 crore Delhites and providing essential services like primary education, healthcare facilities, and solid waste management, the MCD has received no grant-in-aid from the Central Government."The Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) were constituted on the basis of the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendment. To ensure the smooth and efficient functioning, it is of utmost importance that the ULBs are supported with sufficient financial resources. Following the same, the 14th and 15th Central Finance Commission has repeatedly allocated grant- in- aid for the local bodies."The 14th Central Finance Commission allocated grant-in-aid of Rs 2,87,436 crore for the local bodies for the award period 2015-2020. Similarly, the 15th Central Finance Commission recommended Rs 4,36,361 crore for the year 2021-26. This amounts to Rs 500 per capita per year to the ULBs," the letter reads."But Delhi's ULB, MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) has been facing extreme unjust behaviour over the last few years, with it receiving nothing from the Central Government. MCD currently caters to 2 crore Delhites and is responsible for providing primary education, healthcare facilities, and solid waste management, similar to what ULBs in other states perform."Based on the above recommendations of Central Finance Commissions, the cash-starved MCD would have received additional Rs 7000 cr since 2015. This would have been a boon for the cash strapped MCD, which is facing huge budget deficits, leading to late payments to vendors, delayed salaries to its employees and in turn, is not able to deliver at its full potential," the letter further states.The Chief Minister has called upon the Union Finance Minister to recognise Delhi as a unique case and include it in the Terms of Reference of the 16th Finance Commission."Government of NCT of Delhi has been raising this issue of financial discrimination for many years now. It has been understood through past communications that since the name of Delhi, for it being a Union Territory, has been removed from the 'Terms of Reference' of the Finance Commission, it does not fall under the purview of tax devolution and hence, is not treated like other states."But Delhi is a special case of "Union Territory with Legislature" and has the character of the state as well, with Delhi managing its finances similar to other states."It is my request to kindly consider Delhi as a unique case and include it in the Terms of Reference of the 16th Finance Commission, following the requisite procedure."It is high time that justice be done and Delhi gets its reasonable share similar to what other states get.Delhites shall always be grateful for your help," the letter reads.IANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! President arrives in Odisha on three-day visit Bhubaneswar, July 25: President Droupadi Murmu arrived here on Tuesday on a three-day visit to her home state Odisha. President arrives in Odisha on three-day visit Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik received the President on her arrival at Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar.During her stay in Odisha till July 27, Murmu is scheduled to attend several programmes in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.After spending the night at Raj Bhawan here, she will grace the valedictory function of 75th year celebrations of the High Court of Orissa at Cuttack on Wednesday.She will also address the annual function of SCB Medical College and Hospital and convocation of National Law University Odisha in Cuttack tomorrow.She will interact with the members of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) at Raj Bhavan on July 27.On the same day, she will launch this year's theme of Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya 'The Year of Positive Change' for conducting nationwide seminar and conferences and lay the foundation stone for its Lighthouse Complex at Dasabatia, Tamando, Bhubaneswar.Commissionerate police made tight security arrangements in the twin cities for the visit of the first citizen of India.Security arrangements have been made and reviewed in all venues.A total of 36 platoons of police force have been deployed for the President's visit.IANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! LS passes multi-state cooperative societies amendment Bill; Amit Shah replies to debate amid opposition sloganeeringA New Delhi, July 25: Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Bill with Home Minister Amit Shah stating that Modi government has taken several steps to revive the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies to make them viable and multi-dimensional. LS passes multi-state cooperative societies amendment Bill; Amit Shah replies to debate amid opposition sloganeeringA The Multi-State Cooperative Societies Bill, 2022, was passed after a brief debate amid sloganeering by opposition MPs over their demands for a detailed discussion on the Manipur situation and a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Amit Shah, who is also Minister of Cooperation, said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet has given approval to the bill aimed at increasing transparency, accountability and profit in multi-state cooperative societies.The minister, who replied amid continuous sloganeering by opposition MPs, said that a provision has been made for the Election Authority to conduct fair elections and the Authority will be as powerful as the Election Commission and there will be no government interference.In addition, if one-third vacancies are created in the Board, a provision has been made to hold elections again for the vacant posts. Along with this, there are also provisions for discipline in board meetings and smooth functioning of cooperative societies.The chairman, vice-chairman and members of the committees will be required to call board meeting in three months. He said that in order to bring transparency in the governance of the cooperative societies, a provision has been made to give majority to the equity shareholders.Amit Shah said that reservation to one Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe and one woman in the committees has been provided in the bill. He said that non-compliance of various constitutional requirements can lead to disqualification of the board members.Shah said that in the recruitment process of employees, no one will be given job in blood relations or distant relations. He said that the Right to Information has also been included in this bill. The Minister said that with the passing of this bill, a new era will begin in the country's cooperative movement.The Union Minister of Cooperation also informed the Lok Sabha about the various steps taken by the Ministry of Cooperation to strengthen cooperatives in the country. He said that since independence, all the people associated with cooperative sector in the country wanted that cooperatives should be given importance by the Central Government and a separate Ministry of Cooperation should be formed.He said that fulfilling this decades-old demand, Prime Minister Modi formed a separate Ministry of Cooperation. Noting that cooperative movement in India is about 115 years old, he said this movement has given the country many important enterprises like Amul, Kribhco, IFFCO, which are source of employment for lakhs of people.He said that no attention was paid to cooperatives in the last 75 years nor was there any brainstorming on this in the country's parliament at the national or state level. Shah said that in the next 25 years, the cooperative sector will once again strongly contribute to the development of the country.The Union Minister said there have been many major changes in the cooperative sector of the country in the last two years. He said that Prime Minister Modi has taken initiative towards computerization of 63,000 PACS across the country at a cost of Rs 2500 crores.This will ensure the linkage of the PACS with District Cooperative Banks, State Cooperative Banks and NABARD. Shah said that after computerization, the process of audit of PACS will be completely online and they will be able to do many different kind of businesses.He said that the Modi government prepared model bye-laws for PACS and sent them to all the states and, except Bengal and Kerala, all the states have accepted them and today PACS across the country are running under a similar law.Shah said that now PACS will be able to do the work of FPO as well and 1100 PACS have already been registered as FPO. The minister said that PM Modi has given gas cylinders to crores of people of the country under initiatives launched by the Centre and now PACS will also be able to do the work of LPG distribution.PACS will also be able to function as retail outlets, run Janaushadhi Kendras and do the work of water distribution by functioning as a water committee and will be engaged in the storage, as well. The Modi government, he said, has ended the injustice done to cooperatives for years and brought cooperative and corporate taxes at parity.He said that farmers of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh sell their sugarcane to cooperative sugar mills but 30 percent income tax was imposed on it. He said that PM Modi has completely abolished the tax on the profit of the farmers and not only this, he has also made a provision to refund the tax paid earlier.Shah said the Modi government decided to form three new multi-state societies to strengthen cooperatives. The first society will act as a platform to export the produce of the farmers. The second society will associate small farmers with the production of seeds and through this farmers with one acre of land will also be able to associate with seed production.The third society will provide suitable price to the farmers for their produce by marketing their organic products across the country and the world. Shah said that apart from this, Modi government has also decided to set up a cooperative university for cooperative education in the coming days. The National Cooperative Database will also be started soon.He said that there was never a national cooperative policy in the country between 2003 and 2020, but before Diwali this year, the new national cooperative policy will be formulated which will put the map of cooperatives in front of the country for the next 25 years.Amit Shah said that Modi government has striven to free crores of people of the country from poverty in last 9 years. Detailed provisions for reforming the election process of members, bringing transparency in the society, strengthening the monitoring system and ease of doing business have been made in the Bill.A release said that provisions have also been made in the bill, regarding discipline and professionalism among the members of the society, representation of weaker and marginalized sections in the board of directors.The Bill also provides for redemption of government shares with the prior approval of the government, liquidation after providing an opportunity of being heard to the multi-state co-operative society, and enforcement of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 on co-operative banks.ANI26 July 2023 Shared Recently! At BRICS NSA meet, NSA DovalA calls terrorism one of key threats to national peace Johannesburg, July 25: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday participated in 13th BRICS NSA meeting in Johannesburg. He said that terrorism remains one of the key threats to national peace and security. At BRICS NSA meet, NSA DovalA calls terrorism one of key threats to national peace He stressed that terror organizations in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region continue to operate with impunity. He said that listing terrorists and their proxies under the United Nations counter-terrorism sanctions regime is an area on which BRICS can work together.Doval called it important that the decision-making of the UN Security Council sanctions committee is free from politicization and double standards, and said that the meeting is being held at a time of great churn in the international security environment.NSA Doval further said that the global security situation is marked by uncertainty and rising tensions. The global economy is still covering the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic.He also appreciated the cooperation extended by South Africa for India's G20 Presidency and assured India's continued support for South Africa's BRICS chairship this year.The global commons of cyber, maritime and space are contested, he said.NSA Doval stated that non-traditional challenges of food, water, and energy security have been facing stress. The inclusion of these topics by South Africa in the BRICS NSA's Meeting reflects a clear understanding of the broader dimensions of security.He said that the opportunities presented by the digital age will also pose challenges and the need to be united to fortify cyber defences, foster international corporations and build a resilient national cyberinfrastructure.He noted that cyber attacks known no borders and the linkage between cyber criminals and terrorists is an emerging concern. Regional mechanisms should be utilised to advance common goals and address emerging challenges.NSA Doval said all efforts need to be made to ensure equitable and fair access to global commons in line with international laws. Water security is a major global issue and its prudent usage and conservation is a shared responsibility.He also spoke about instances of weaponisation of water and called for the need for complete transparency and unhindered information sharing with respect to shared cross-border water resources.The politicization of water needs to be countered. Supply chain disruptions have had a disproportional impact on the food security of vulnerable people. The issue needs to be urgently addressed which is a shared commitment and common responsibility, he pointed out, he said.Doval further called for access to a secure and affordable supply of critical materials for the development of clean energy technologies is crucial. India has attached importance to the BRICS process and is willing and prepared to enhance cooperation in all joint efforts.NSA Doval recalled the Voice of the Global South summit hosted by India. He said that this year the G20 agenda under India's Presidency will truly encompass the needs of the world, particularly the Global South. During India's G20 Presidency, one of the priorities is to voice the concerns of developing countries. India is proposing to create a global biofuel alliance under G20."India has been at the forefront of supporting educational and behavioural approaches through initiatives like Lifestyle for Environment," NSA Doval said.He said that BRICS countries should set an example for the world by focusing on individual behaviour and making a shift to Lifestyle for Environment.India is a major actor in the global food supply system and has assisted many countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.Doval also highlighted the need to ensure the unhindered availability of fertilisers.He cautioned that today's fertiliser shortage could be tomorrow's food crisis.He stressed that research and development occupy primacy in the cyber domain to tackle common threats and risks due to emerging technologies.He also expressed satisfaction that the BRICS working group on ICTs has identified some cutting-edge areas like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cloud security, blockchain and the internet of things as possible Research topics.Earlier in the day, NSA Doval met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting in South Africa and the two sides agreed that India-China bilateral relationship is significant not only for the two countries but also for the region and the world.During the meeting, NSA Doval conveyed that the situation along the Line of Actual Control in the western Sector of the India-China boundary since 2020 had eroded strategic trust and the public and political basis of the relationship, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs.On the sidelines of the meeting, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval also held a working meeting with the Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev and discussed the cooperation between the two countries in the field of security and economy, the Russian embassy in India said in a statement.ANI26 July 2023 Shared Recently! BJP flags-off 4 Sant Ravidas Samras Yatra in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh A Bhopal, July 25: The Madhya Pradesh ruling BJP flagged off 'Sant Ravidas Samras Yatras' from four different parts on Tuesday which will travel through 46 out of 52 districts of the state in the next 18 days. BJP flags-off 4 'Sant Ravidas Samras Yatra' in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh A The yatras will culminate in Sagar district's Basturma on August 12, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the Rs. 100-crore Sant Ravidas Temple.Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who has been appointed as the convenor of state elections committee launched the yatra from Sheopur.BJP National General Secretary Kailsh Vijayvargiya from Dhar; State Urban Development Minister Bhupendra Singh from Balaghat; and National Head of ST/SC cell Lal Singh Arya from Neemuch were also present."During the yatra, soil will be collected from 53,000 villages and water will be collected from all the rivers falling on the yatra route. This will be used in the construction of the temple. The priests will spread the message of social harmony," National Head of ST/SC cell Lal Singh Arya told IANS.Notably, the yatra has been flagged off at the time when the opposition Congress have launched a scathing attack on the BJP government over atrocities against the tribals and ST/SC people in Madhya Pradesh.The state has 16 per cent Dalit votes and the BJP is trying to douse the emerging resentment with its tag line -- sabka saath, sabka vikas -- to gain their support in the upcoming elections.In 2013 assembly polls -- when BJP won a total 165 seats -- it won 28 seats of the 35 SC seats. The Congress managed to win only four, followed by the Bahujan Samaj Party, which won three.In 2018, BJP won only 18 of the 35 reserved seats.The Sagar district in Bundelkhand, where the foundation ceremony of the temple will be held, has a Dalit population of 20-25 per cent. The yatra was announced by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in February.IANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Centre, state govt should have concrete plan to resolve Manipur crisis at earliest: COCOMI New Delhi, July 25: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, a conglomerate of several civil society organisation of Manipur, on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the current situation in the northeastern state, saying the Centre and state government should have a concrete plan or policy to resolve the the crisis at the earliest. Centre, state govt should have concrete plan to resolve Manipur crisis at earliest: COCOMI "We feel that is high time now, because already 80 days have passed, the state government and the Central government should have a very concrete plan or policy to resolve this crisis as soon as possible. Otherwise, things are going to get out of hands because people are already fed up by the way they are handling the situation in Manipur," COCOMI spokesperson Khuraijam Athouba told IANS here.Expressing his disappointment over handling of the situation by the Central government, he said "It is not up to satisfaction. It seems like the Central government also has their own interest, in handling the situation."Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) has never spoken on the issues. He cannot speak once in the context of one of the stray incidents. He didn't mention about the core issues of the problem (in Manipur)."Last week, the Prime Minister had expressed his pain and anger after the gruesome incident with the two women in the strife-torne Manipur and termed it very shameful, which can never be forgiven.Earlier, the COCOMI spokesperson, addressing a press conference, said "The handling by the state and Central governments is not upto the expectation of the people (of Manipur). Despite the heavy deployment of forces, how could they not control the situation. This is very shocking.""Government of India is not taking concrete action despite several evidences of violating of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) ground rules by Kuki terrorist groups," he said.Ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3 and since then, over 150 people have lost their lives whereas thousands have been forced to take refuge in the relief camps. The Congress and other Opposition parties have been blaming Chief Minister N. Biren Singh for the current crisis in the Northeastern state and demanded his dismissal.On Monday, the Manipur CM told IANS that his government is taking measures to restore peace at the earliest in the state.IANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! L&T logs Rs 1,792.36 crore PAT, to buyback shares with Rs 10,000 crore kitty Chennai, July 25: Closing the first quarter of FY24 with higher profit, engineering major Larsen & Toubro Ltd also announced a share buy back, declaration of a special dividend, investment of Rs 506 crore in a subsidiary, and acquisition of joint venture partner's stakes. L&T logs Rs 1,792.36 crore PAT, to buyback shares with Rs 10,000 crore kitty According to L&T, it closed Q1FY24 with a standalone net profit of Rs 1,792.36 crore (against Q1FY23's Rs 911.22 crore) on a total income of Rs 27,788.77 crore (Rs 20,779.54 crore).At their meeting held on Tuesday, the company's Board of Directors approved buyback of 2.4 per cent of fully-paid equity shares or 3,33,33,333 shares with a face value of Rs 2 for a maximum price of Rs 3,000 per share for cash.The aggregate consideration will be Rs 10,000 crore.The Board also approved a special dividend of Rs 6 per equity share on face value of Rs 2 each, for Financial Year 2023-24.According to L&T, the Board has approved additional investment of Rs 506 crore in its subsidiary L&T Energy Green Tech Ltd, to be made either by subscribing to equity or preference shares or by way of inter-corporate deposits or company guaranteed debt or a combination of these and will be done at "arm's length".As to the rationale, L&T said it proposes to consolidate various arms of the green energy business such as manufacturing and EPC of the green hydrogen value chain & its derivatives. L&T Energy Green Tech shall hold investments in various entities for electrolyser manufacturing and green energy business.The Board also approved the acquisition of joint venture partner's 40 per cent stakes in L& T Sapura Offshore Private Ltd for Rs 40,000 crore.For the period under review, L&T on a consolidated basis logged a total income of Rs 49,027.93 crore (Rs 36,547.92 crore) and a net profit of Rs 2,493 crore (Rs1,702.07 crore).The company received orders worth Rs 65,520 crore at the group level during the quarter ended June 30, 2023, registering a strong y-o-y growth of 57 per cent.During the quarter, orders were received across diverse segments like rail, renewables, rural water supply, transmission & distribution, IT & office space, and onshore & offshore verticals of the hydrocarbon business.International orders at Rs 27,646 crore during the quarter comprised 42 per cent of the total order inflow. The consolidated order book of the group is at Rs 412,648 crore as on June 30, 2023, with international orders having a share of 29 per cent.IANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Meiteis urge Centre not to talk to Kuki militants, tribal body seeks Presidents rule in Manipur New Delhi/Imphal, July 25: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, the main civil society organisation of the Meitei community, on Tuesday urged the Centre not to hold any talks with Kuki militant groups, claiming that members of those outfits are responsible for the current turmoil in the state and their cadres are foreigners. Meiteis urge Centre not to talk to Kuki militants, tribal body seeks President's rule in Manipur On the other hand, the Zomi Council Steering Committee (ZCSC), an organisation advocating the cause of nine Kuki-Zomi tribes of Manipur, on Tuesday sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a permanent solution of the ethnic crisis of Manipur and demanded imposition of President's Rule in the state."It was learnt from various sources that the government of India is likely to hold talks with the Kuki outfits. COCOMI and many other Manipur organisations are totally against it," COCOMI Convenor Jitendra Ningomba told the media in Delhi.He said that the COCOMI, in support of its demand of maintaining the territorial integrity of Manipur, would organise a rally in the state on July 29.Claiming that the Centre was deliberately supporting narco-terrorism in the northeastern region, the COCOMI leaders claimed that Director of Intelligence Bureau reported 1,25,000 acres of hill areas in northeast region are under poppy cultivation, while about 650 MT of opium was produced annually from Manipur hill areas of Kuki-dominated areas, earning Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 65,000 crore income annually."These areas are protected and managed by armed Chin-Kuki Militants," the COCOMI leaders claimed.Meanwhile, 10 tribal MLAs, including seven BJP legislators, belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi group in Manipur have urged the Centre to create a separate administration (equivalent to separate state) for the tribals but Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, on number of occasions, rejected the demand.In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ZCSC also demanded an NIA investigation "into the root causes of the state-sponsored attacks on the tribals of Manipur and re-introduction provisions of the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act (AFSPA) in all valley districts so that the Army can take full control of the law and order".The organisation alleged that selective series of attacks on the Kuki-Zomi tribes continue unabated, and heinous crimes against humanity are committed by radicals since May 3.The Constitutional failure and collapse of law and order in the state necessitated President's Rule immediately to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur, the letter said. It alleged that over 5000 sophisticated arms and lakhs of rounds of ammunition were looted from state armouries across the state.The systematic injustice, institutional neglect and discrimination of the Kuki-Zomi tribals have been continuing for many decades, the ZCSC claimed.IANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Blocking of Ukraines grain exports to EU unacceptable: Foreign Minister Kiev, July 26: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba condemned the intention of certain countries to continue blocking Ukraine's grain exports to the European Union . Blocking of Ukraine's grain exports to EU 'unacceptable': Foreign Minister "It is unacceptable. The demand by some countries to extend the EU restriction after September 15 also goes against their own interests," Kuleba was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.Ukraine works closely with partners and neighbours to resolve the issue, the minister added.In May, the European Commission imposed a ban on grain exports from Ukraine to five European countries.According to media reports, last week, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania voiced their intent to extend the ban, which expires on September 15, to protect the interests of their farmers.IANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Thailands Parliament postpones PM selection vote Bangkok, July 26: Thailand's Parliament has announced the postponement of the next vote to select a new Prime Minister due to a legal petition over the rejected renomination of Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat. Thailand's Parliament postpones PM selection vote The postponement, announced by the Parliament on Tuesday, came after the state ombudsman's office on Monday asked the Constitutional Court to review the vote by a joint parliamentary sitting on July 19 to reject Pita's renomination as the new Prime Minister, Xinhua news agency reported.In its petition, the ombudsman's office also asked the court to suspend the Prime Minister's selection until the court makes a ruling on the case.The Move Forward Party emerged as the largest party in the lower house of the National Assembly in Thailand's general election in May. It has since formed a coalition with the Pheu Thai Party and other smaller parties to support Pita to be the new Prime Minister.Pita has failed to secure the necessary support in the previous two bicameral sittings of the Thai Parliament to be elected. The Move Forward Party announced last week its decision to step aside to allow the coalition partner Pheu Thai Party to lead in forming a new government.IANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Hero Future Energies signs MoUs for Rs 6200 crores to develop future Renewable energy projects PRNewswire, New Delhi, July 26: Hero Future Energies has signed two Memorandums of Understanding with REC Limited and PFC Limited for infusion of Rs 3100 crores each in HFE over the next five years. Hero Future Energies signs MoUs for Rs 6200 crores to develop future Renewable energy projects The MoUs, were signed on the sidelines of 4th G20 Energy Transition Working Group meetings at Goa. A sum of Rs 6200 crores, gained cumulatively with the MoUs, will be used for development of Renewable Projects across India including Solar & Wind for C&I customers, Utility projects and Green Hydrogen Derivatives and will strengthen the company by ensuring the financial closure for future projects in the pipeline.Speaking on this occasion, Srivatsan Iyer, Global CEO, Hero Future Energies said, "We are enthusiastic about the collaboration with REC and PFC Limited. The company aims to grow 5x in the next 5 years and this significant financial backing will accelerate our business expansion across geographies. "Hero Future Energies currently has a portfolio of 1.8 GW of wind, grid-connected solar and rooftop solar power generating assets operating in India and Europe and another 2 GW of shovel ready projects across India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and UK.About Hero Future EnergiesEstablished in 2012, Hero Future Energies is present across multiple states in India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Singapore, Ukraine and the UK. The company is an independent power producer with about 1.8 GW of operating assets across utility and commercial & industrial sectors. The company plans to invest progressively in grid connected solar and wind, rooftop sectors, energy storage and green hydrogen over the next few years in India and internationally.Logo https//mma.prnewswire.com/media/2161841/HFE_Logo.jpgANI26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Rajnath joins Kargil Vijay Diwas memorial functions in Drass Srinagar, July 26: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh joined the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations on Wednesday at Drass town of Ladakh where he paid tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives in the defence of the country. Rajnath joins Kargil Vijay Diwas memorial functions in Drass Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on this day since 1999 when regulars of Pakistan Army were dislodged from Tiger Hill and other strategic heights they had occupied on the sly after crossing the Line of Control (LoC).Pakistan had kept denying that its regulars were involved in the aggression and as a result of this, they refused to accept the bodies of its soldiers killed in action with the Indian Army.The Defence Minister arrived in Drass earlier in the day to mark the solemn occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas. As a gesture of honor and respect, he laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial, paying tribute to the courageous soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the 1999 Kargil War.The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, also joined in commemorating the war heroes by laying a wreath at the memorial.Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, and Indian Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar also paid respects by laying wreaths at the Kargil War Memorial on this significant day.Army Chief General Manoj Pande had also offered his heartfelt tribute at the memorial, acknowledging the indomitable spirit and sacrifice of the soldiers who fought in the Kargil War.Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed on July 26 each year, is a time to honor the bravery and valor of the Kargil War heroes, who led 'Operation Vijay' to a triumphant conclusion for the Indian Armed Forces. The day serves as a poignant reminder of the unwavering dedication and courage displayed by the soldiers who safeguarded the nation's integrity and sovereignty during the conflictThe defence minister met the families of the martyrs and as a mark of respect presented each family a memento and a shawl.Saluting the resolve and the high morale of the country's defence forces, Rajnath Singh said on his Twitter page, "We know that as long as you are protecting us on the borders, no one can even have the courage to raise their eyes towards India."Not only Kargil, but many times since independence till today, your bravery has made the country proud from time to time".J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said on his Twitter page, "On Kargil Vijay Diwas,I pay tribute to valiant soldiers & officers who displayed magnificent valor & made supreme sacrifice for the motherland. I humbly bow down to the families of our Kargil War heroes. We're forever indebted to them for their sacrifices & service to the nation."Shaura Sandhya was also organised at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass town where 559 lamps each symbolising a Braveheart were lit at the Veer Bhoomi."Kargil Vijay Diwas is a reminiscence of the undaunted bravery & courage of the #Bravehearts who inscribed a golden chapter in history, with their blood & sacrifice. They gave a befitting reply to the enemy's misadventure and a resounding victory to this #Nation," the Army said on its Twitter page.To commemorate the sacrifices of India's bravehearts, a motorcycle rally reached Drasson Tuesday.Highlighting the message carried by the rally, the Army's northern command said, "On the eve of 24th #KargilVijayDiwas, the 25 steely riders of #Nari Sashaktikaran Women's Motorcycle Rally, braved all odds across treacherous terrain & weather and completed their 1000 km journey at #Kargil, truly epitomising & re-living the bravery, determination and extraordinary sacrifices, displayed by our gallant soldiers in the #KargilWar 24 years ago. The Rally was flagged in by #LtGenUpendraDwivedi, #ArmyCdrNC, who saluted their bravery, sense of purpose and contribution to #NationBuilding."IANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Montreal Tigers remain unbeaten while Surrey Jaguar's triumph over Toronto Nationals in T20 Canada Brampton, July 26 : The Surrey Jaguars secured a dominant victory over the Toronto Nationals, by 20 runs, with match-winning performances from skipper Iftikhar Ahmed and all-rounder Matthew Forde IN the Global T20 Canada at the TD Arena in Brampton. Montreal Tigers remain unbeaten while Surrey Jaguar's triumph over Toronto Nationals in T20 Canada The second match of the day saw the undefeated Montreal Tigers triumph over Vancouver Knights with 6 wickets and 11 balls to spare. Sherfane Rutherford played the knock of the tournament, taking his team to the finish line with an unbeaten 84 in just 53 deliveries.According to the press release, The Toronto Nationals won the toss and asked the Surrey Jaguars to set them a target. Opener Jatinder Singh gave the Jaguars an explosive start in the first three overs, aided by sloppy fielding and poor bowling. However, the Nationals regained control of the innings following the dismissal of Jatinder Singh. At the end of the five-over Powerplay, the Jaguars were 41/1.Marquee players, Alex Hales and Litton Das failed to convert their starts, scalped during a shrewd spell by Saad Bin Zafar. With just 9 runs accumulated in his first 16 deliveries, Skipper Iftikhar Ahmed turned a cautious start into a belter, before he was dismissed for 47 in just 35 deliveries. Matthew Forde gave the innings a much-needed boost, allowing the Jaguars to finish at 141/6.In response, the Nationals had a slow start to their innings, due to a lethal spell by Matthew Forde. At the end of the Powerplay, they were in a precarious position at 30/3. Unencumbered by the loss of Hamza Tariq, Nicolas Kirton, and Gerhard Erasmus, Colin Munro batted aggressively to give the Nationals a glimmer of hope before he was cleaned up by Sandeep Lamichhane.Arman Kapoor initially supported Munro but failed to convert his start. In the final few overs, JJ Smit and an injured Shahid Afridi struggled to match the consistently rising asking rate. The wickets continued to tumble, and the Nationals finished short of their target at 121/9.In the second match of the day, The Vancouver Knights were put into bat by the Montreal Tigers. Opener, Rayyan Pathan fell early to Brathwaite, but Fakhar Zaman stewarded the Knights through to a steady start. At the end of the Powerplay, the Knights were well-placed at 49/1. Harsh Thakker struggled to replicate his touch from the previous innings before he was run out.As Zaman settled in, he unleashed numerous stokes, finding the boundary on ten separate occasions before he was dismissed by Dilpreet Singh Airee in the 16th over. Rassie Van Der Dussen was also sent back to the pavilion on a futile pursuit to accelerate the run rate. Following this, Abbas Afridi and Kaleem Sana bowled well in two economical overs in the death, to restrict the Knights at 149/4In the second innings of the match, the Montreal Tigers' start was derailed by the bowling of Fabian Allen. Chris Lynn was dismissed without troubling the scorers, followed by Mohammad Wasim . Shakib Al Hassan looked threatening but lost his wicket in the third over. At the end of the powerplay, the Tigers were poised at 48/3.Sherfane Rutherford came it at 21/3, along with Dipendra Singh Airee undertook the repair job on hand and put together a critical 83-run partnership. While Dilpreet Singh chipped in as well. With 40 runs needed in the death overs, the Tigers secured a 14-run over off Nawab Singh that switched the momentum back in their favour. Sherfane Rutherford was in fine form, hitting six maximums and 13 boundaries in total, to help the Montreal Tigers coast home comfortably, at 153/4.On Thursday, Toronto Nationals will clash against Mississauga Panthers while Montreal Tigers will lock horns with Brampton Wolves in the second match of the day.Brief Scores: Surrey Jaguars: 141/6 .Toronto Nationals: 121/9 .Jaguars won by 20 runsBrief Scores: Vancouver Knights: 149/4 .Montreal Tigers: 153/4 .Tigers won by 6 wickets .ANI26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Afghanistan receives support for education from Turkish agency Kabul, July 26 : Two new studios have been established by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency inside Mirac TV, a network that distributes educational and cultural content across Afghanistan, inorder to facilitate support for education in the crisis-hit country, Khaama Press reported. Afghanistan receives support for education from Turkish agency Quoting Yeni Safak, a Turkish daily, the Afghan news agency reported that the studio designs were built expressly to meet distance education criteria, taking into account the nation's limited access to higher education and the large portion of the population lacking literacy.The project concentrates on rural Afghanistan and uses Mirac TV programmes to promote people's access to education, which has been hindered since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan.The project's inauguration was attended by Ali Akber Zerrin, the director of the Afghan Education Institute, Arafat Deniz, the TiKA Herat coordinator, Habibullah Ferahi, and Veli Ah Behre, the manager of the Abdulvahid Behre Cultural Centre, according to Khaama Press.Deniz, the coordinator of TIKA in Afghanistan's Herat, emphasised during the event that education remains a top priority in the nation and that TIKA's commitment to supporting circumstances for remote learning tackles the sector's present difficulties.Girls and women have been prohibited from enrolling in secondary education in Afghanistan since August 2021.In the meantime, since last December, de facto authorities have prohibited women from enrolling in universities. The girls have been denied access to their basic human rights amid a terrible humanitarian crisis for almost two years, despite the Taliban government's assurances that it will only be temporary.ANI26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Confidant of 100% sowing following good rainfall in Ktaka: CM Siddaramaiah Bengaluru, July 26: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday that he was confident of farmers carrying out 100 per cent sowing activity in a few days in view of good rainfall. Confidant of 100% sowing following good rainfall in K'taka: CM Siddaramaiah The delay in Monsoon rains has threatened the farming community and it was predicted that it would affect the sowing activity to a great extent.Speaking to reporters after garlanding statues of martyred soldiers on Kargil Diwas, Siddaramaiah said the situation was not out of control due to rain in Karnataka. The good inflow of water to the KRS dam, Kabini, Harangi, Hemavathy, Alamatti water reservoirs has brought joy for all of us, he added."I will take up tours in Mangaluru, Udupi, Uttara Kannada and Chikkamagalur districts from Monday onwards and interact with the people who are affected by the heavy rain," he said.CM Siddaramaiah said that following the good rain, the drinking water crisis in the state has ended. "Due to shortage of drinking water, it was supplied in tankers. Now, the water problem, especially the drinking water problem, has ended," he said.When asked about withdrawal of cases against the accused in DJ Halli and KG Halli violence case, Siddaramaiah in turn questioned why the cases against the innocent were not taken back during the previous government.Talking about the letter by Congress MLA B.R. Patil on corruption practiced by ministers of the ruling government, CM Siddaramaiah stated, "MLA D.R. Patil himself has stated that a fake letter is being circulated in his name. Despite that, the media is making it news. He had only asked to call the legislature party meeting," he stated.IANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! China issues top alert for typhoon Doksuri Beijing, July 26: China's National Meteorological Centre on Wednesday issued a red alert for typhoon Doksuri, the most severe warning in its four-tier warning system, as the fifth typhoon of this year is expected to bring gales and heavy rain to the eastern and southern parts of the country. China issues top alert for typhoon Doksuri The typhoon, observed over the ocean about 350 km south of Taiwan at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, is expected to move northwest at a speed of 10 to 15 km per hour, the Centre said in a statement.It will enter the northeastern part of the South China Sea between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning and then move to the coastal areas of Fujian and Guangdong, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying.The severe typhoon will most likely make landfall in the coastal areas of Jinjiang city in Fujian province and the bordering areas of Fujian and Guangdong, the NMC said.Some coastal areas around the Bashi Channel, the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, as well as coastal regions of Taiwan and Fujian, will experience gales from 2 p.m. Wednesday to 2 p.m. Thursday.The maximum wind force in some of the aforementioned regions will reach 20.8 to 36.9 meters per second, according to the Center.During this period, parts of the east Zhejiang province will experience downpours of 100 to 150 mm and parts of Taiwan will experience heavy downpours of 250 to 400 mm, it added.The meteorological centre has issued an advisory suspending both indoor and outdoor gatherings, as well as dangerous outdoor operations, and recommended the timely transfer of people living in vulnerable housing.It has also called for emergency typhoon preparations and precautions against possible geological disasters.China has a four-tier, colour-coded weather warning system for typhoons, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.IANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! IMD warns of heavy rain across India New Delhi, July 26: The India Meteorological Department on Wednesday issued warnings of extremely heavy rainfall in areas such as Konkan, Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Coastal Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana over the next two days. IMD warns of heavy rain across India Meanwhile, regions like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, north Haryana, Chandigarh, and West Uttar Pradesh are likely to witness isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next three days.The IMD predicted that in Northwest India light to moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall is expected."Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, and West Uttar Pradesh are likely to see this rainfall from Wednesday to Saturday. East Uttar Pradesh will likely experience this rainfall from Friday to Sunday, while Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir will see it from Wednesday to Friday," said the IMD.Additionally, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand may experience isolated very heavy rainfall from Wednesday to Friday, and Haryana, Chandigarh, and West Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday and Thursday.Central India is expected to receive light to moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall during the period from Wednesday to Saturday. Vidarbha may experience isolated extremely heavy rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday, and Chhattisgarh may see isolated very heavy rainfall from Wednesday to Friday.The weather man further said that West India is likely to have light to moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall, with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall in some areas. "Konkan, Goa and ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra may experience this rainfall from Wednesday to Saturday. Gujarat Region and Marathwada may see isolated heavy rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday. Moreover, Konkan, Goa and ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra may face isolated extremely heavy rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday," it said.Besides, South India is expected to receive light to moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall. "Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Telangana, and Coastal Karnataka are likely to see this rainfall from Wednesday to Friday. Isolated very heavy rainfall may occur in Rayalaseema and Interior Karnataka on Wednesday, while isolated extremely heavy rainfall is likely in Telangana and Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam on Wednesday and Thursday, and in Coastal Karnataka on Wednesday," it said.In East India, light to moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall is expected over Odisha till July 30. "Sub-Himalaya West Bengal and Sikkim will likely experience this rainfall from July 26-28, and Jharkhand & Bihar on Saturday and Sunday.Additionally, isolated very heavy rainfall is possible in Odisha on Wednesday," said the IMD.IANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Cambodian PM Hun Sen to retire after over 38 yrs, transfer power to son in new govt Phnom Penh, July 26: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday announced that he would step down on August 22 after serving in the post for more than 38 years in the Southeast Asian nation, and would pass the reins of power to his eldest son Hun Manet. Cambodian PM Hun Sen to retire after over 38 yrs, transfer power to son in new govt "Hun Manet will become the prime minister in just more than three weeks," the world's longest serving living Prime Minister said in a televised address on the state-run National Television of Cambodia (TVK).Hun Sen said the National Assembly would convene for the first time on August 21 under the auspices of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, and the new five-year-term government led by Hun Manet would be sworn in on August 22, reports Xinhua news agency.The upcoming power transition was to continue ensuring the country's peace and political stability, he said, adding that the new cabinet would consist of young and dynamic leaders.Hun Sen said the political power would remain in his hand because he was still the president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP); however, he would not interfere in the new government's leadership.Hun Sen, 70, said he would take the post of President of the Senate after the Senate Election on February 25 next year.His announcement came after the CPP won a landslide victory in the seventh general election on Sunday, which was held to elect the members of parliament for the 125-seat National Assembly for the 2023-2028 new term.The National Election Committee (NEC) released the preliminary results on Wednesday, showing the CPP received almost 6.4 million votes, or 82.3 per cent of the total valid votes of 7.77 million, and the Funcinpec Party led by Prince Norodom Chakravuth gained 716,443 votes, or 9.22 per cent of the total valid votes.Based on the results, the CPP won 120 parliamentary seats and Funcinpec gained the remaining five seats.IANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! A Havre business owner has been charged with two felonies after he allegedly pulled a gun on workers cleaning up after a train derailed on the Hi-Line last Friday. Tom Patrick, who owns a construction company and has property where the derailment tipped 11 rail cars, has been charged with criminal endangerment and assault with a weapon. The BNSF train derailed at about 5:30 p.m. Friday near the Milk River about four miles east of Havre. Most of the rail cars were carrying shipping containers stacked two high. Several of the containers spilled their contents including cake mix, napkins, carrots and other consumer goods. Patrick arrived at the scene about four hours after the derailment and threatened cleanup crews, including pointing what witnesses described as a lever-action 30-30 rifle at one workers head, the charging document alleges. Workers ran for safety so quickly they left the equipment they were operating running. One of the two construction companies subcontracted by BNSF to clean up the site is owned by Patrick. The owner of the second company had previously worked for Patrick for 15 years. Witnesses said Patrick stormed around the site telling workers from the second company to get off his property, all while pointing the gun at everyone. Several workers told investigators they were terrified. Members of law enforcement carrying their patrol rifles attempted to get close to Patrick, using the downed train cars and wreckage from the spill for cover, the charges state. Eventually, a Patrick Construction employee convinced Patrick to surrender the rifle and Patrick was arrested and taken to jail. It is the second train derailment in Montana in about a month. In June, a Montana Rail Link train derailed on a bridge crossing the Yellowstone River sending 10 rail cars spilling into the river. Rajnath Singh turns emotional as he remembers fallen soldiers at Kargil Vijay Divas Drass, July 26: On the 24th Kargil Vijay Divas, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh turned emotional while interacting with 'veer naris' and reading the last letters of the martyrs at Kargil War Memorial in Ladakh's Drass on Wednesday. Rajnath Singh turns emotional as he remembers fallen soldiers at Kargil Vijay Divas Earlier on Wednesday, Singh laid a wreath and saluted the jawans who lost their lives during the 1999 Kargil conflict at the war memorial in Drass.After the wreath-laying ceremony, he interacted with veterans, 'veer naris', gallantry award recipients and locals and conveyed his gratitude.He also visited the 'Hut of Remembrance' museum in Drass, which holds memorabilia testifying to the valour and sacrifice of the Indian Army in the Kargil conflict. At the museum, he read letters that martyrs had sent to their families amid the conflict. While reading out a letter, he turned emotional.During the interaction with 'veer naris' and war veterans, he got emotional and praised them for their sacrifices.He also met with the family members of the soldiers and handed them mementoes and shawls as a mark of respect to the fallen Kargil heroes.Besides Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Army chief, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, too, paid their tributes to the fallen Kargil heroes at the memorial.In the conflict, which lasted over two months, the Army managed to push back the Pakistani intruders, who had been occupying certain vantage points in Kargil, raising the Tricolour on the territory wrested from the enemy.On July 26, 1999, the Indian Army announced the successful culmination of "Operation Vijay," declaring victory after a nearly three-month-long battle.ANI26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Indigenous Virtual Cow Farming: Reinventing Traditional Dairy Practices Through Technology NewsVoir, New York / Chennai, July 26: The advent of technology has permeated all sectors of life, and agriculture is no exception. Leveraging the boundless potentials of the digital sphere, a new business idea has surfaced - Indigenous Virtual Cow Farming. Indigenous Virtual Cow Farming: Reinventing Traditional Dairy Practices Through Technology This innovative concept aims to preserve India's native cattle breeds and optimize dairy production by introducing a well-structured, efficient farming ecosystem that marries technology with tradition.Investment in agriculture is the best weapon against Hunger and Poverty, and they made life better for billions of people - Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.YouTube Video youtube.com/shorts/qvKSxpGzsTg?feature=share.Jallikattu Inc, a new age entity, forayed into virtual farming, an one of its kind and world's first virtual farming business, has been launched successfully on the 9th of July at 1800 hrs, In NY TIMES SQUARE, In the august presence of Esteemed and distinguished chief guests,Dilip Chauhan - Deputy Commissioner NYC Mayor's Office for International Affairs, Kathirvel Kumararaja - President DevJee Inc & Chairman FeTNA Tamil Entrepreneur Network, Koshy O Thomas - President world malaiyalee association USA, Thomas k Thomas - Director Jallikattu Inc., John Thomas - Senior Company Secretary.And we were virtually joined by few esteemed guests from India.Dr. Vallabhbhai Kathiria - Ex Minister for Health & Family Welfare; HRD And Heavy Industry & PE; Govt. of India & Member of Parliament, Lenin Balasubramanian - Advisor Jallikattu Tamil Federation & Business Mentor.Event was conceived, organized and convened by, Rajesh. S, Founder & CEO, Jallikattu INC.The Concept of Indigenous Virtual Cow FarmingIndigenous Virtual Cow Farming is a novel idea that integrates technology into the traditional realm of dairy farming. At its core, IVCF focuses on utilizing cutting-edge tech platforms to simulate farming scenarios, educate farmers, and facilitate the optimal breeding, nurturing, and management of indigenous cattle breeds.The idea is not to replace physical farming but rather to create a digital representation of the real-world farm where cattle breeders can interact, learn, plan, and make informed decisions without leaving their homes. These virtual farms serve as an accessible, easy-to-navigate platform that provides a real-time simulation of various farming processes.The Mission Preservation and AugmentationTwo crucial elements define the core objectives of Indigenous Virtual Cow Farming preservation and augmentation. Preservation seeks to conserve native cattle breeds that are at risk of being lost due to crossbreeding or unfavorable farming practices. Through IVCF, the genetic traits, unique characteristics, and biodiversity of these breeds can be safeguarded, keeping alive the rich heritage they represent.Augmentation, on the other hand, deals with the enhancement of dairy production. This digital approach allows farmers to utilize best practices and state-of-the-art technologies, ensuring that dairy production is maximized without compromising the wellbeing of the cattle or the quality of the produce.The Eco-System Efficiency and Interactivity IVCF operates within a meticulously designed eco-system that promotes efficiency and interactivity. This system combines elements of data science, artificial intelligence, and Iot devices to generate insights, monitor cattle health, and optimize breeding.Farmers can interact with their virtual herds, track health indicators, and anticipate potential diseases. Automated alerts and reminders help with timely vaccinations and breeding cycles, while data analytics tools aid in making informed decisions about nutrition, husbandry, and yield management.Moreover, the ecosystem encourages peer learning and collaboration. Farmers can share their experiences, learn from each other's successes and failures, and collectively contribute to knowledge about indigenous cattle breeds and dairy production.Benefits of Indigenous Virtual Cow FarmingThe IVCF model offers numerous advantages. By preserving indigenous breeds, it supports biodiversity and promotes the sustainability of local ecosystems. Its tech-driven approach enhances farmers' skills, bridging the digital divide and empowering them to thrive in the modern agricultural landscape. Furthermore, it ensures quality and quantity in dairy production, contributing to food security.Conclusion Charting the Future of Dairy FarmingIndigenous Virtual Cow Farming signifies a transformative step in agricultural practices, representing a harmonious blend of tradition and technology. It proves that we can uphold our cultural heritage and work towards sustainable development simultaneously.By embracing this new business concept, we can chart a sustainable and profitable path for the future of dairy farming, fostering a resilient ecosystem where indigenous cattle breeds flourish and dairy production thrives. Indigenous Virtual Cow Farming is more than a business idea; it's a blueprint for a sustainable, tech-enabled, and heritage-preserving future in dairy farming.For more information, please visit jallikattu.in.ANI26 July 2023 Shared Recently! On India visit, US climate envoy John Kerry visits Parliament New Delhi, July 26: United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, who is a five-day India tour visited the Parliament on Wednesday. On India visit, US climate envoy John Kerry visits Parliament Kerry, who is leading a US delegation during his visit, today met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her office inside the Parliament building.The US special envoy described the meeting with the Union Finance Minister as "very good and constructive.""Very good meeting, very constructive. There are many things India and the United States can work together on in order to advance the climate agenda. And there are many things that we can do where we can work together on science, technology, and our ability to be able to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy. So, good conversations..." Kerry said.Earlier today Kerry had met Union Minister of Heavy Industries, Mahendra Nath Pandey.took to his Twitter to post, "I'm proud to be in India this week to advance our shared goals on climate and clean energy.""Just met with @DrMNPandeyMP to discuss our common interest in diversifying supply chains and empowering India as a manufacturing hub for electric trucks, buses, and heavy-duty vehicles," he said.https//twitter.com/ANI/status/1684159261415452672Ahead of his India visit, the US Department of State had in a statement said that Kerry will be in India till July 29 to talk about climate and clean energy and mutual efforts to build a platform for investments in renewable energy.It stated that Kerry is slated to meet with senior government officials to advance shared objectives on renewable and clean energy, and climate,"Just met with @DrMNPandeyMP to discuss our common interest in diversifying supply chains and empowering India as a manufacturing hub for electric trucks, buses, and heavy-duty vehicles," he added.Kerry will attend the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministers Meeting in Chennai to be held on July 28."Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will travel to New Delhi and Chennai, India, July 25--29, to advance shared objectives on climate and clean energy, including mutual efforts to build a platform for investments in renewable energy and storage solutions, support the deployment of zero-emission buses, and diversify clean energy supply chains," the US State Department said.The third Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group meeting was held under India's G20 Presidency on May 21. The three-day meeting witnessed the participation of 141 delegates from G20 countries and 10 invitee countries. The representatives of 14 international and regional organisations also attended deliberations.The three priories outlined for the ECSWG were arresting land degradation, promoting a circular economy and giving impetus to the blue economy. All meetings focused on a specific theme out of these three themes. The third ECSWG focussed on Blue Economy and was supported by two side events - Mega Beach Clean Up Event and the Ocean 20 Dialogue on Day 1 of the meeting.The primary agenda of the 3rd ECSWG meeting was the detailed discussions on the draft Ministerial Communique which entailed constructive discussions and deliberations on priority areas. The meeting ended in a discussion mode on the Communique, to be further deliberated upon and refined in the virtual meetings scheduled over the next few weeks, as a run-up to the 4th and final ECSWG meeting to be held in Chennai from July 26- 27.The fourth and final ECSWG meeting would be followed by the ECSM meeting on July 28, which John Kerry would attendOn July 19, Kerry had ended his four-day visit to China without any new agreements.In fact, the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, insisted in a speech that China would pursue its goals to phase out carbon dioxide pollution at its own pace and in its own way.Still, Kerry appeared buoyed that the world's two biggest polluters had restarted discussions, which had been frozen for a year because of strained relations over Taiwan, trade and other issues. He insisted he was not disappointed in the outcome, noting that just talking marked progress, according to the Washington Post."We had very frank conversations but we came here to break new ground," Kerry said, adding, "It is clear that we are going to need a little more work."ANI26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Japanese girl group XG to release new EP NEW DNA in CD Box, Digital versions New Delhi, July 26: Popular Japanese pop girl group XG have announced to release their long-awaited EP, which will be titled 'NEW DNA', on September 27, with pre-orders for the CD Box available starting on July 26. Japanese girl group XG to release new EP 'NEW DNA' in CD Box, Digital versions Back in June, the Japanese girl group released their first track from the EP or Mini-Album called 'GRL GVNG' boasting a sci-fi based steampunk vibe with a mix of electronica, hip hop, power-pop and some traditional J-pop. The track was a resounding success and dominated charts globally, with XG becoming the first Japanese group to reach Number 1 on the U.S. Billboard chart 'Hot Trending Songs, Powered by Twitter' in less than a week.The CD BOX of the 1st Mini Album 'NEW DNA' is touted to be a bold statement of a "new breed" that is not bound by any borders and will stylistically defy traditional pop conventions with its slightly more experimental nature. The EP will be released in two versions, 'X Ver.' and 'G Ver.'With artwork reminiscent of cell division, it presents six entirely new songs that showcase a new style for the group. 'NEW DNA' will also introduce the strand of a 'new DNA' into both the audio and visual composition of the group.'X Ver.' exudes a mysterious and sharp worldview unique to XG, and upon opening that alluring purple box, viewers will be taken in instantaneously by a dazzling hologram, signifying XG's evolution and a statement to their "NEW DNA."'G Ver.' embodies the refreshing and pure worldview of XG and cutting open that opaque white-tone box will reveal XG's new EP on a glittering metallic paper.Additionally, to commemorate this special release, there are numerous benefits for those who pre-reserve or pre-order.In conjunction with the announcement of the release date, a concept video titled 'HESONOO' The NEW DNA', expresses the origins of DNA, has been posted on XG's YouTube channel.XG's new EP boldly embodies the declaration of a stylistic and sonic evolution as with 'NEW DNA', the girl group will also become a "new species" free from conventions and limitations. With an unconventional style and new artwork 'NEW DNA', marks a compelling introduction into their new journey.'NEW DNA' will be released in both CD BOX and Digital formats.IANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Prez urges legal professionals to work towards expeditious trial, quick justice Cuttack, July 26: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday urged legal professionals to work towards expeditious trial and speedy dispensation of justice. Prez urges legal professionals to work towards expeditious trial, quick justice Addressing the valedictory function of 75th year celebrations of the Orissa High Court at Cuttack, the President said that the legal profession in India has earned the trust and respect of the citizens. It stands strong as one of the important pillars of the world's largest democracy.The legal professionals should work towards expeditious trial and quick justice. It can set free those innocents who are languishing in jail on trivial charges, she said.There are instances of people imprisoned for periods longer than the punishment stipulated for the crimes of which they were accused. Due to this, innocent persons lose their important period of life, President Murmu said.On the other side, she said, victims also lose the hope for not seeing the guilty facing the legal consequences. Such delays are a major concern. So, she urged all associated with the High Court of Orissa to work towards speedy dispensation of justice and set an example for the entire country.The President further said that Indian Constitution-makers have given priority to the delivery of justice to the socially and economically underprivileged sections of society."People from the deprived sections of the society neither have much knowledge nor have resources to access justice. Therefore, it is a question before us 'how would they get justice?' There is a need for deep churning on this question," the President said.Speaking about the 75th year celebrations of the High Court of Orissa, the President said that the High Court of Orissa has set many high standards in its glorious journey of 75 years.The luminaries of this High Court include a long list of Justices like Babu Jagannath Das, Ranganath Misra, Radha Charan Patnaik, Deba Priya Mohapatra, Gopala Ballav Patnaik, Arijit Pasayat, Ananga Kumar Patnaik and Dipak Misrawho became Judges of the Supreme Court and some of them also served as the Chief Justice of India, pointed out Murmu.Behind the reputation of this court is the contribution, loyalty, dedication towards work and vast amount of knowledge of the past and present Chief Justices, Judges, advocates and staff of this High Court, she stated.The President said that any institution which doesn't change with the change of time, lags behind. She noted that the Orissa HC has endeavoured to incorporate technological advancements in the justice delivery system.She appreciated the High Court for streamlining and accelerating the justice delivery system through several modern, innovative and technology-driven changes.The President said that natural calamities pose a challenge to humanity.Adaptation to nature is the need of the hour. Along with the executive and legislature, the judiciary should also give top priority to environment and wildlife protection, she suggested.The first citizen of India initiated her address by paying tributes to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the Kargil War. She noted that many soldiers from Odisha are among those who sacrificed their lives in the service of Mother India. Major Padmapani Acharya was honoured with Maha Vir Chakra for his contribution. The bravery of these soldiers will always remain a source of inspiration for our citizens, she added.bbm/shbIANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Y China's Feature: What does pandas' home look like? PRNewswire, Beijing, July 26: Cute face, chunky body, dark eye circles that never fade: pandas' appeal to young and old from across the globe to visit their hometown city Chengdu in southwestern China. The adorable-to-all animal is also a token of the country's neighborliness and friendliness. Y China's Feature: What does pandas' home look like? Rongbao, the mascot of the Chengdu FISU Games, is designed after a giant panda named Zhima in the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Why is it chosen as the prototype of the mascot, and what does pandas' home of the Pandas look like?Xingyue from Y China heads to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding for close observation of the lovely creature. She experiences serving as a security guard at the research base while marshalling the crowds to visit the place; she talks to keepers of giant pandas, learning from them how to make steamed panda bread in the Giant Panda Kitchen.Xingyue also interviews the mascot Rongbao's chief designer, Zang Xiaoke, who shares the inspiration and details for creating the mascot. "We have endowed the mascot with the spirits and cultural symbols of Chengdu," said Zang.Nowadays, giant pandas, a calling card of Chengdu, serve as the best representation of the city's vibes. As Chengdu FISU Games is around the corner, the host city is ready to offer visitors an insight into its spirit of passion and hospitality.Video - https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOwkq4Qc3tILogo - https//mma.prnewswire.com/media/2158414/4181199/Y_China_Logo.jpgMedia contact Y China+86-15201656085 bd@wewowwe.comANI26 July 2023 Shared Recently! MEA Special Secretary Prabhat Kumar appointed Indias next High Commissioner to South Africa New Delhi, July 26: Special Secretary Prabhat Kumar has been appointed as India's next High Commissioner to South Africa. MEA Special Secretary Prabhat Kumar appointed India's next High Commissioner to South Africa Kumar is soon expected to take up the assignment, according to a MEA official release.Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently said there is a very "deeply emotional" connection between India, South Africa.He said India's and South Africa's respective struggles were "deeply intertwined".Jaishankar made these remarks while interacting with the Indian diaspora in Cape Town while on his visit to the city to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting.Jaishankar's address before the Indian diaspora focused on three subjects, "Thirty years of India-South Africa ties", "15 years of BRICS" and "9 years of Modi Sarkar."Speaking on the decades-old India-South Africa ties, which will be formally marking years this November, the External Affairs Minister said he thinks that the connections are not just between two countries who have similar views."There is something very deeply emotional about our connect," he said.Jaishankar added that when India achieved its independence, there was a very strong sentiment that its independence would be incomplete until South Africa became a free country.ANI26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Sustainable logistics: Jumppers secures undisclosed funding round from Lipi Data Systems Ltd. and Dubai-based Velocity Cap Investment SRV Media, New Delhi, July 26: Jumppers, a booming electric vehicle-based last-mile delivery start-up, recently secured Undisclosed funding from Lipi Data Systems Ltd. and Velocity Cap Investment LLC Fund, a Dubai-based Investment Firm. Sustainable logistics: Jumppers secures undisclosed funding round from Lipi Data Systems Ltd. and Dubai-based Velocity Cap Investment The funding will boost the aim of the company in boosting the sustainable automobile chain by bringing in 1000 vehicles for the operation of the company, which primarily targets e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, and food businesses.The new steps planned by the company seek to expand the company's current robust operations base across Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Jodhpur, Jaipur, and Udaipur. has a robust operations base across Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Jodhpur, Jaipur, and Udaipur. Following this year's expansion in Rajasthan, the company plans to grow across Gujarat and Maharashtra in the next financial year.Further, as a testament to the growing success of the company, the revenues garnered by Jumppers During the fiscal year 2022-2023, Jumppers secured INR 2.5 crore in revenue, while for this financial year, given the expansion plans on the horizon, it is expected to witness a 3x peak in its revenue, garnering INR 7.5 crore along with profit. Additionally, fulfilling its sustainable goals, Jumppers has covered more than 4.25 lakh green kilometers and made 40 lac green deliveries till today.About this new round of investment, Yash Singhal and Ajay Khandelwal, the founders and directors of Jumppers, said, "With this added capital, we are on track to create a sustainable delivery service that is among the leading ones in the country." The world is moving towards an ESG revolution, and we want to be part of that vital change. Along with our commitment to running a green business, we also pride ourselves on being a competitive entity in the delivery domain. In a rather short period of time, our dedication to providing trustworthy service has earned us a steady list of notable clients, the forerunners of their fields. Holding our hands, many Indian D2C, FMCG, or e-commerce companies requiring last-mile deliveries have gone electric." As we continue to progress, we want to help many more companies keep up with their logistical needs."After the pandemic, the logistics sector, an erstwhile unorganized domain, has seen many easy-delivery players. Founded in July 2020, Jumppers' logistics services are operated by its tech-enabled employees, capitalizing on this post-Covid boom in the industry. The company, being a leading venture, has major companies such as DTDC, Blue Dart, DHL, Flipkart, Amazon, and XpressBees as part of its clientele.Alongside Ajay Kumar Khandelwal, who drives the success of Jumppers, there is a dedicated team of 160 employees who work tirelessly to keep the company at the top of its game and advance towards its sustainable as well as commercial goals.ANI26 July 2023 Shared Recently! South Eastern Coalfields to invest Rs 169 cr on plantation in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh New Delhi, July 26: Coal India's subsidiary South Eastern Coalfields will invest Rs 169 crore on plantation in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh over the next five years, a Ministry of Coal release said Wednesday. South Eastern Coalfields to invest Rs 169 cr on plantation in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh The company has recently signed MoU with Chhattisgarh Rajya Van Vikas Nigam and Madhya Pradesh Rajya Van Vikas Nigam for carrying out plantation work in these two states. As per the MoU, SECL will spend Rs 131.52 crore in Chhattisgarh and Rs 38.11 crore in Madhya Pradesh. The release said the plantation will be carried out for a period of five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28 with its subsequent maintenance of four years."The company in partnership with the state nigams will plant more than 26 lakh saplings in the state of CG and almost 12 lakh saplings in MP. This is the third such MoU by the company. Through the previous two MoUs the company has planted more than 46 lakh saplings in CG and more than 16 lakh plants in MP between 2013-14 and 2022-23 at a total cost of more than Rs 168 crores," the release said.Different species of fruit-bearing, timber and medicinal/ herbal plants will part of the plantation drive.ANI26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Reserve two seats for Sikhs in J&K Assembly: Sukhbir Badal Chandigarh, July 26: Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal on Wednesday said the minority Sikh community of Jammu and Kashmir should not be discriminated against and that two seats should be reserved for community members in the assembly along with two seats proposed for Kashmiri Pandits.A . Reserve two seats for Sikhs in J&K Assembly: Sukhbir Badal In a statement here, the SAD president said he had received representations from the Sikh community as well as the Movement for Justice for Refugees of 1947 from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir."The SAD is of the firm opinion that one seat should be reserved for Sikhs residing in Jammu and Kashmir regions respectively, while additional seats should be reserved for those who were forced to relocate to J&K in 1947, including Sikhs."Stating that ignoring the Sikh minority community of Jammu and Kashmir while reserving seats for other communities would be a great injustice to the community, Badal said "The population of Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir is same as that of Kashmiri Pandits and they have also suffered great hardships since 1947. Moreover the Sikh community has fought for preserving the unity and integrity of the country by rising up against the proxy Pakistan invasion of 1947 besides suffering the loss of 200 lives, including 36 lost in the one single massacre at Chittisingh Pura."Asserting that the Sikh community had stayed put in Jammu and Kashmir while others migrated, Badal said "a community which fought atrocities and kept the nationalist spirit alive in the trouble-torn state should not be given step-motherly treatment".He also noted that nearly all three lakh Sikhs settled in Jammu alone were 'displaced persons' of 1947 from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and they should be given appropriate representation in the assembly as per their population.He said these displaced persons who had fought the Pakistan-sponsored tribal raiders besides facing massacres and sacrificed thousands of lives in the last seven decades should not be ignored.IANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! An interesting proposition has surfaced that we consider expanding the acreage of Yellowstone National Park. This is worth our thoughts. Ken Burns called National Parks Americas best idea. Who would disagree with that observation? His national park series showed a very sacred collection of glorious and unique landscapes that all Americans love and most Americans visit. It is a ritual with most families to take that time-honored pilgrimage at least once, to introduce our children to one or more of these national treasures. It goes all the way back to vintage cars and feeding the bears, both now among the memories. The ritual often included a special feature like seeing the red buffalo babies in spring, climbing the Grand, watching the sun rise from the depths of Zion, and as with my family, taking your children down the Bright Angle Trail in the Grand Canyon, which was a multi-generational tradition, although some of us considered it kid torture. For our beautiful Yellowstone, many of us near neighbors wonder how many more tourists can be ushered through its expanse each year as it grows more popular by the minute, including its global fan club. Then there are todays problems of the animal inhabitants disrespecting park borders in their search for food. Some scientists are concerned that the relatively small acreage is insufficient to provide migration corridors and gene pools to guarantee biodiversity for some species. All this is overlaid by new and increasing concerns about the ravages of climate change, which, although unpredictable, will most certainly require more space and resources for survival. One cannot argue that this border expansion is not needed. The increase in the popularity and visitor use of the Park is mind boggling. Nor can it be argued that it would be unpopular. The Parks biggest danger is being loved to death. Much of the surrounding land is National Forest, already recognized as The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and could be stitched to the Park with no terrible disruption. And what about National Park management? It is always under the microscope because we all feel a sense of ownership and stewardship for Yellowstone. But national park rules are already set, so we dont have to rewrite them and try to please a hundred different perspectives. The results of that management speak for themselves. Most of it is positive. The wildlife, fisheries, and ecosystem come first, and are suitably protected. Although millions of people travel through the Park every year, for the most part they are concentrated and not overwhelmingly disruptive. Bicycles can be ridden for many scenic miles down narrow paved roads, but dont migrate up every mountain trail. There is space for horseback riding and even cookouts with wagons and draft horses. Snow mobiles are provided special winter access, but generally stay on designated roads so those on skis and snowshoes can pursue treks in the most intense solitude on the planet. The time is short where such a proposition can be considered. So why not consider? Yet to decide on pulling out from NDA despite pressure: Mizoram CM Aizawl, July 26: Mizoram Chief Minister and president of the ruling Mizo National Front Zoramthanga on Wednesday said that his party is yet to decide on pulling out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance .A . 'Yet to decide on pulling out from NDA despite pressure': Mizoram CM Many MNF leaders and the party's two parliamentarians from Mizoram -- C. Lalrosanga of Lok Sabha and K. Vanlalvena of Rajya Sabha -- have expressed their desire to withdraw the party's support from the NDA on the Manipur unrest and Uniform Civil Code (UCC) issues.Zoramthanga, who along with his ministers and MNF MLAs, took part in the Tuesday's 'Solidarity March', organised by the NGOs Coordination Committee in the Mizoram to express solidarity with the violence Kuki-Zo tribals in Manipur, said that so far the party has not decided withdrawal of support from NDA and it depends upon political necessity."We are an ally of NDA but we totally oppose UCC. We also want immediate restoration of peace and normalcy in Manipur," the MNF supremo told the media in Aizawl.Zoramthanga on Monday, while addressing the party workers said that the state government and the MNF party are not afraid of the NDA government at the Centre."Political parties in India are allied with the BJP-led NDA or recently Congress-led INDIA. MNF is an ally of the NDA. Though we are supporting the NDA, we do not support the policies and objectives of the NDA," he had told the workers.No other party has firmly opposed the proposed UCC in the recent NDA meeting than the MNF as most parties are keen to maintain good terms with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added.The MNF is also the partner of the BJP-led anti-Congress alliance, North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of which is convener. Lok Sabha Member C. Lalrosanga and Rajya Sabha member K. Vanlalvena separately said that they are waiting for a signal from the MNF leadership about the withdrawal of support from the NDA over the issues of Manipur violence, attacks on the tribals and the proposed UCC.Lalrosanga said that the sentiments of the people of Mizoram are with the Manipur tribal community as they are the kindred brothers of the Mizos.Either Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh must quit his post or President's Rule be imposed in the violence hit state to protect the tribals and to restore peace, Lalrosanga said.Supporting Lalrosanga, Rajya Sabha member K. Vanlalvena said that it has become more and more embarrassing to be a constituent of the NDA.The elections to the 40-member Mizoram assembly would be held by the end of this year.IANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Congress issues whip to RS MPs to be present in House on Thursday New Delhi, July 26: Congress on Wednesday issued a whip to all the Rajya Sabha MPs to be present in the Upper House on Thursday as some important matter will be taken up. Congress issues whip to RS MPs to be present in House on Thursday In a three line whip to all the party MPs, Congress chief whip in the House Jairam Ramesh said, "Very important issues will be taken up for discussion in Rajya Sabha tomorrow i.e. July 27.""All members of the Congress in Rajya Sabha are requested to kindly remain present in the House from 11 a.m. onwards till the adjournment of the House on Thursday, July 27, without fail and support the party stand," Ramesh, who is also the party's general secretary communication incharge said.He also said that this may be treated as most important.The Congress along with the INDIA alliance parties on Wednesday staged a walk out from Rajya Sabha when it assembled again after the adjournment.Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that his privilege was hurt and he was insulted in the House.In a tweet, Kharge in Hindi said, "I was keeping the issues before the House, and when 50 members gave notices under Rule 267, I didn't even get a chance to speak in the Parliament. Ok.""But at least when I was speaking, my microphone was switched off, this is a blow to my privilege. This is an insult to me. They have challenged my self-respect. And if the house runs on the instructions of the government, then I will understand that there is no democracy," Kharge said, attaching a video of his remarks which he made in the Upper House.Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar had later said that nothing will go on record.The Opposition parties have been demanding a detailed discussion on Manipur violence inside the House and also a statement by the Prime Minister on the issue.The Opposition parties of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or INDIA have been demanding since day 1 (July 20) of Monsoon Session for a detailed discussion on Manipur, where the ethnic clashes erupted on May 3. Hundreds of people have died and thousands have been forced to take refuge in the relief camps.The Parliament has witnessed a stormy session in the wake of the demands by the opposition MPs over Manipur.IANS26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Israel-Vietnamese Free Trade Deal opens Southeast Asia opportunities Tel Aviv, July 26: Israelis don't think of Vietnam as a key business partner, but that could change with Tuesday's signing of a free trade agreement between the two countries. Israel-Vietnamese Free Trade Deal opens Southeast Asia opportunities That's because Vietnam is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a political and economic union made up of 10 countries, including several that do not have diplomatic ties with Israel."ASEAN is kind of like the European Union. And Vietnam is now one of the strongest members of this organization. It's kind of a hub," Einat Halevy Levin, president of the Israel-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce, told the Tazpit Press Service. This is Israel's first free trade deal with an ASEAN member."If you work in Vietnam and have a headquarters in Vietnam, it's very easy to approach other countries. It's a good access point for the other ASEAN countries. Israel has no diplomatic relations with countries like Malaysia or Indonesia. You can take your product to Vietnam, process it and sell it as a Vietnamese product to other countries that can't buy it as an Israeli product. That's very good access to this market," she told TPS.By lowering customs taxes on Israeli products, Israel can better compete against similar products from other countries which Vietnam already has free trade with."Israel was left behind in many aspects of technology it wants to sell. We have better conditions to compete," Halevy Levin said. "It was hard for Israeli technology to compete price-wise because of the customs that Vietnam put on Israeli products. Now the tax is reduced."The agreement is expected to lead to mutual tariff reductions on imported and exported products, alongside the improvement and facilitation of trade in a variety of other areas such as services, investments and standardization.The agreement will also provide a competitive advantage and facilitate the activity of Israeli exporters in the developing and growing Vietnamese market, thereby strengthening Israeli exports and increasing growth in the economy.Halevy Levin told TPS that the origins of the agreement lay in Vietnamese interest in Israeli technology."It started with Naftali Bennett," who served as Minister of Economy from 2013-2015, Halevy Levin said. "He was at a conference in Indonesia. The Vietnamese were eager for Israeli technology. Bennett understood there was a barrier because of the customs and tax issues and then he started the process."The biggest pitfall, she said, is Israeli businessmen rushing to Hanoi without taking the time to understand Vietnam's business culture."There are different terms, a different pace. Israelis are very straightforward and nothing is ever official, while Vietnamese are very official and their hierarchy is different," Halevy Levin stressed.Negotiations took eight years, but "Vietnam wants to increase its exports to Israel. They want to strengthen trade relations. And they want less expensive access to Israeli technology."According to the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry, the main goods traded between the countries are chemicals, chemical industry products, electronic equipment, optical and medical equipment, electrical and mechanical machinery and equipment, fresh agricultural produce and food products.Israel imports from Vietnam many consumer products such as clothing, footwear, coffee, cell phones and more.The agreement requires final ratification from the Israeli Knesset and Vietnam's National Assembly before it can take effect.A free trade agreement between Israel and South Korea went into effect in December 2022.ANI26 July 2023 Shared Recently! Ukraine launches major offensive in Zaporizhzhia region, claims Moscow officials; Kyiv refrains from comment Kyiv, July 26: Ukrainian forces have launched a major offensive in the Zaporizhzhia region, to the south of Orikhiv, as they appear to build on modest gains in the area over the past couple of days, CNN reported on Wednesday citing Russian-installed officials and military bloggers. Ukraine launches major offensive in Zaporizhzhia region, claims Moscow officials; Kyiv refrains from comment "Zaporizhzhia front - the second wave of the counteroffensive has begun," a member of the Russian-installed Zaporizhzhia military-civilian administration Vladimir Rogov posted on Telegram on Wednesday."The enemy has sent maximum forces to break through our defenses in the Orekhov direction." "Early this morning after massive artillery preparation and air strikes the went to storm our positions near Rabotino," he added.The Russian-installed governor of the Zaporizhzhia region, Yevgeny Balitsky, also said a Ukrainian attack was underway. Well-connected Russian military blogger Rybar described a similar situation along the southern front, CNN reported."After artillery preparation by a howitzer division and a jet battery of the formation, swooped down to break through the northeast of Rabotino," they wrote, describing an attack with dozens or armoured vehicles, "including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armoured personnel carriers and armoured combat vehicles," CNN quoted the officials as stating."The enemy managed to penetrate in three areas," Rybar also said. "Now fierce battles are going on in this area".Meanwhile, Kyiv has remained silent and has not yet commented on this reported offensive, which follows from advances its forces had made in the area in previous days, CNN reported.However, amid speculations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Ukrainian soldiers and expressed belief in them."We believe in our guys. We continue to work," he posted on Telegram after being updated by the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi.In its morning update, the Ukrainian military's General Staff said that "Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to conduct offensive operations in the Bakhmut, Melitopol and Berdiansk directions.""The enemy made unsuccessful attempts to regain the lost position northeast of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia region," it also said, without going into detail. "At the same time, it continues to put up strong resistance, moves units and troops, and actively uses reserves," CNN reported.On the Zaporizhzhia front as well, Ukrainian forces continued to make advances along the Velyka Novosilka - Berdiansk axis."Ukrainian troops were successful in the Staromaiorske area on the southern front," CNN quoted the spokesman of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Andrii Kovalev, said on Wednesday. " Defense Forces are entrenched there at the achieved boundaries .ANI26 July 2023 Shared Recently! UK former Prime Minister Tony Blair meets Odisha CM Bhubaneswar, July 26: Former Prime Minister of United Kingdom Tony Blair met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Naveen Niwas on Wednesday. Both the leaders discussed economic development and growth of Odisha and the future perspectives. UK former Prime Minister Tony Blair meets Odisha CM Government of Odisha has inked an MoU with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) on July 21, 2023. As per this understanding, TBI will provide free policy support and assistance in developing a comprehensive economic strategy for Odisha.The Chief Minister appreciated the preliminary suggestions of the institute, and expected this cooperation will help in securing a balanced industrial growth and resultant inclusive benefit to citizens. Patnaik thanked Blair for the support.The UK ex-Prime Minister also praised Patnaik for the state's success in different sectors. He appreciated the 5T initiative for bringing transformative changes in governance.According to officials, the TBI will deploy 4 resources for a period of 24 months. This project team will work under the direct guidance of TBI's leadership and its network of global experts. The team will work in close collaboration with the Odisha team.Headquartered in London and founded in 2016, TBI is helmed by Tony Blair. TBI works in over 45 countries. TBI's domains of expertise include governance, foreign policy, investments, infrastructure and cities, climate and energy, and human capital.In Odisha, the project team will undertake a range of activities such as current-state analysis, external benchmarking, roadmap design, capacity development, effective communication of core reforms to enhance adoption.Prioritisation of emerging industries, development of a multimodal transport logistics will be the main agenda to supercharge growth.IANS27 July 2023 Shared Recently! After 22 years, Tara Singh again reminds Hindustan Zindabad tha, hai aur rahega, in Gadar 2 trailer Mumbai, July 26: The iconic line Hamara Hindustan zindabad tha, zindabad hai, aur zindabad rahega comes in mind when talking about the film Gadar: Ek Prem Katha and with the trailer of its second instalment, which was released on Wednesday, the dialogue was reminded again. After 22 years, Tara Singh again reminds 'Hindustan Zindabad tha, hai aur rahega, in 'Gadar 2' trailer Actors Sunny Deol, Utkarsh Sharma, Ameesha Patel and filmmaker Anil Sharma unveiled the trailer in Mumbai in presence of Indian media on Vijay Diwas on Wednesday.They were welcomed with loud chants of "Hindustan zindabad" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" on stage by fans.Ameesha, Sunny and Utkarsh were in the get up of Sakeena, Tara Singh and Charanjeet respectively.Just like he fought against entire Pakistan in the 2001 film, he is seen doing everything to protect and bring back his son in the trailer.The over-three-minutes trailer begins with Jeete Utkarsh getting beaten up by Pakistani army.The Pakistani army commander asks Utkarsh's character if he has any last wishes.To which, he said "Allah se yeh apne liye dua maangna ki mera baap na aaye. Kiyunki agar woh yahan aaye toh tumhare itne chithare hongay."It then pans into Sunny Deol's entry and doing crossing every boundary for his family.The highlight of the trailer is in the end when Sunny angrily looks at the handpump, leaving many thinking whether Tara Singh will uproot the handpump once again.A line from that caught the attention was when Sunny's character Tara tells the Pakistani Army commander in the trailer "Agar Aaj bhi apke desh ke logon ko Bharat waapas jaane ka mauka milea toh aadha Pakistan khali ho jayega".Ameesha, who plays Sakeena in the film, is seen in a few glimpses. What catches the eye is the actress dressed in a black burqa while praying for her family's well being.The trailer launch was also attended by the fans of Sunny and the film. They were seen cheering, whistling and clapping after the trailer was launched. The highlight was them sporting "Hindustan zindabad forever" T-shirts to showcase their support.One fan said "Sunny zindabad" after the trailer was launched."Gadar macha diya re baba," said another happy fan from the launch."Humara hero kaisa ho, Sunny paaji jaisa ho," said an over estatic fan.'Gadar 2' is set in 1971, and Tara Singh returns to Lahore, Pakistan in the midst of an anti-India "Crush India" campaign, to bring back his son Charanjeet.The film will be released on August 11.IANS27 July 2023 Shared Recently! New trailer for The Exorcist: Believer is deliciously creepy, delightfully evil Los Angeles, July 26: 'The Exorcist' from 1973 is a horror icon and one of the greatest horror movies ever made. While the movie had a bunch of sequels and spin-offs, none of them really managed to up the original. That may just change with the new trailer for 'The Exorcist: Believer' looking deliciously spooky, and a delightfully tempting nightmare fuel. New trailer for 'The Exorcist: Believer' is deliciously creepy, delightfully evil 'Believer' is set in the same continuity as the original and the trailer tells the story of how a widower Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.) struggles to save the life of his young daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett) after she and her friend Katherine (Olivia Marcum) vanish suddenly one day only to reappear days later seemingly possessed by demonic entities in a bit of 'Evil Dead' style, though not packing its morbid and dark humour.Directed by David Gordon Green, the movie is the first in line for two planned movies, the other being 'The Exorcist Deceiver' which is planned for a 2025 release.The official synopsis for the film reads "Since the death of his pregnant wife in a Haitian earthquake 12 years ago, Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom, Jr.) has raised their daughter, Angela (Lidya Jewett) on his own. But when Angela and her friend Katherine (Olivia Marcum), disappear in the woods, only to return three days later with no memory of what happened to them.""It unleashes a chain of events that will force Victor to confront the nadir of evil and, in his terror and desperation, seek out the only person alive who has witnessed anything like it before Chris MacNeil", the statement further read.With 'The Exorcist Believer' and later with 'Deceiver', Green aims to continue the original story and expand on the existing mythology rather than rebooting it, which makes the Devil all the more evil and chaotic.Much like it was in the original, here too parents get desperate for help, and track down Burstyn's character, whose young daughter (Linda Blair) was once possessed by an evil entity known as Pazuzu, a demonic entity whose evil and vile sense of humour knew no bounds.The story for 'Believer' marks in an interesting turn in 'The Exorcist' universe, as the story will revolve around not one, but two possessions, both equally evil and malicious while at the same time being bound by a sort of common connecting thread with the spiritual practices outside of the Roman Catholic domain that deal with demonic expulsion.Essentially it's as if Catholicism's exorcist practices in itself have some influence from black magic and Satanic rituals making the two have some sort of bizarre connection in this universe.But given how much of an influence the original 1973 classic has had on the horror genre and its possession-focused subset, and with 'The Exorcist Believer' embarking on the same continuity aiming to expand on the existing universe, the viewers are going to see a different subset of demonic possessions and its accompanying turmoil, which unsettle and disturb audiences in a way similar to the original.'The Exorcist Believer' is slated to hit theaters on October 13, 2023 though because of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, much like 'Beetlejuice 2', may possibly get delayed.IANS27 July 2023 Shared Recently! SEOUL, South Korea The truce that stopped the bloodshed in the Korean War turns 70 years old Thursday and the two Koreas are marking the anniversary in starkly different ways, underscoring their deepening nuclear tensions. North Korea invited delegations from China and Russia as it prepares to stage huge celebrations with thousands of citizens who rehearsed for months to commemorate the armistice it sees as a victory in the "Grand Fatherland Liberation War." The festivities are likely to be capped by a giant military parade in the capital, Pyongyang, where leader Kim Jong Un could showcase his most powerful, nuclear-capable missiles designed to target neighboring rivals and the U.S. mainland. The mood is more somber in South Korea, where President Yoon Suk Yeol invited dozens of foreign war veterans to honor the fallen soldiers of the 1950-53 conflict, which killed and injured millions and set the stage for decades of animosity among the Koreas and the United States. Yoon, a conservative condemned by Pyongyang as a "traitor," will likely use this week's events to highlight the North's growing threat and double down on his goals of strengthening the South's defense and its alliance with the U.S. Tensions between the rivals are at their highest point in years, as the pace of North Korean missile tests and U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises intensified. The dueling military activities have been punctuated by verbal threats, including North Korean talk of preemptive nuclear strikes and U.S. vows to "end" Kim's regime in the event of such an attack. The frictions provide a renewed reminder that the armistice has left the Korean Peninsula in a technical state of war. Through their 70 years of diplomatic ups and downs, the Koreas have seen each other as existential threats, which is essentially why the armistice was never replaced by a peace treaty as originally intended. Managing tensions is now more complicated than ever as Kim continues to reject dialogue with the U.S. while aggressively expanding a nuclear arsenal he sees as his strongest guarantee of survival. Kim is also pushing for deeper cooperation with authoritarian allies China and Russia, which are locked in their own confrontations with Washington, as he aims to counter U.S. efforts to tighten trilateral security cooperation with Seoul and Tokyo. North Korean state media on Wednesday highlighted the arrival of a Russian delegation led by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who was greeted at Pyongyang's airport by senior North Korean officials including Defense Minister Kang Sun Nam. China's ruling Communist Party is also sending a mid-level official, Li Hongzhong. For Kim, bringing Shoigu and Li to his balcony at Pyongyang's main square to watch a massive military parade would be the biggest accomplishment he could show for the anniversary, said Park Won Gon, a professor at Seoul's Ewha University. Kim already displayed his most powerful missiles during a parade in February and there might not be meaningful new hardware to show after the North failed to launch a military spy satellite into orbit in May. Economic achievements have been scarce. Park said the invitations of the Chinese and Russian delegations could also reflect Kim's unease about the strengthening security cooperation between the U.S. and South Korea. Thursday's anniversary comes after North Korea conducted three separate rounds of ballistic and cruise missile firings since last week, apparently to protest the U.S. sending major naval assets to the South in a show of force that included the USS Kentucky, which last week became the first U.S. nuclear-armed submarine to dock in South Korea since the 1980s. Moscow and Beijing thwarted U.S.-led efforts since last year to strengthen U.N. Security Council sanctions on Pyongyang over its intensified missile testing activity, underscoring a divide between the council's permanent members. When asked about the visits, U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel urged Beijing and Moscow to play a more constructive role in defusing tensions and to bring Pyongyang back to dialogue. The Korean War was triggered by a North Korean sneak attack on the South. The North was backed by forces from the newly created People's Republic of China, which was aided by the then-Soviet air force. South Korea, the U.S. and troops from various countries under the direction of the United Nations fought to push back the invasion. For South Koreans, the major outcome of the 1953 armistice was the subsequent signing of the U.S.-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty, which was mainly aimed at calming South Korean security jitters about the truce and continues to serve as the foundation for the countries' military alliance. Yoon is now seeking stronger U.S. assurances that it would swiftly and decisively use its nuclear weapons to defend the South in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack. Thousands of people are expected to attend an armistice ceremony Thursday in South Korea's southern port city of Busan, which is the location of a cemetery honoring U.N. soldiers killed during the war. While there have been several skirmishes between the Koreas, the armistice prevented a return to large-scale hostilities. A recent border incident involving an American soldier who bolted into the North through the truce village of Panmunjom named after a town where the armistice was signed highlighted how the agreement could serve as a safety valve when relations are strained. Photos: Kim Jong Un's public appearances through the years Champaign, IL (61820) Today Cloudy this morning with thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 82F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Showers with a possible thunderstorm early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. A public memorial service for slain Fargo Police Officer Jake Wallin has been scheduled in Scheels Arena in that city on Wednesday. The doors at the arena's south side main entrance will open to the public at 11 a.m., and the Celebration of Life service will begin at 1 p.m. It will be livestreamed on the Facebook page of the Fargo Police Department, which is hosting the event along with the Wallin family. Wallin, 23, was killed July 14 when a gunman opened fire as police and firefighters responded to a routine traffic crash on a city street. Fargo Officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes were wounded and hospitalized. Bystander Karlee Koswick, who had been involved in the car crash, also was wounded and hospitalized. The man police identified as the shooter, Mohamad Barakat, 37, of Fargo, was shot and killed by Officer Zach Robinson. Police said Robinson's actions likely prevented a bigger and bloodier attack, possibly at the Downtown Fargo Street Fair that day. 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. Authorities said that he had searched the internet for terms including kill fast, explosive ammo, incendiary rounds and mass shooting events. Wallin's funeral was held Saturday in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota. It was attended by loved ones, dignitaries and law enforcement agencies from across the country. Wallin, who had previously served in the Minnesota Army National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq from November 2020 to July 2021, received final military honors at a private interment. The Fargo Police Department provided additional information and rules for the Wednesday service: Law enforcement will be placing a "high degree of importance" on security. Items such as backpacks, purses and bags will not be allowed inside the arena; this includes a prohibition on any clear bags. Sympathy cards for the Wallin family can be placed within baskets inside the main entrance. Delivery of memorial flowers should be directed to the police headquarters at 105 25th St. N. All attendees will be given a blue memorial ribbon in honor of Wallin upon entering the facility, presented by the Police Department. Attendees are encouraged to carpool due to limited parking. The Police Department and the Wallin family will use the following route to arrive at Scheels Arena: Depart police headquarters at 105 25th St. N at 11:45 a.m., travel south on 24th Street North to First Avenue North. Travel west on First Avenue to 25th Street North, then travel south on 25th Street South to Interstate 94. Travel west on I-94 to 45th Street South, where the procession will exit and travel south on 45th Street South to 32nd Avenue South. Travel west on 32nd Avenue to Seter Parkway, where the procession will turn north on Seter Parkway to 55th Street South. Travel north on 55th Street to 30th Avenue South, then east on 30th Avenue to the north side of Scheels Arena. Members of the public, first responders and other law enforcement agencies are encouraged to line the route to show support. They are asked not to join the procession due to safety concerns associated with a potentially long line of vehicles. Both the Bismarck and Mandan police departments have said they plan to send contingents to the Fargo service to show support. U.S. Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, both R-N.D., on Tuesday delivered remarks on the Senate floor in remembrance of Wallin. "Officer Wallin was murdered for being a cop, a peace officer helping ordinary folks in need of assistance -- a lifelong public servant gunned down simply because of the uniform he wore," Cramer said in part. "He has been, is, and will forever be, a hero to our community." Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo (USP) in Brazil have identified a new class of molecules capable of stopping the excessive inflammation typical of the severe form of COVID-19 without impairing the immune response to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease. The researchers conducted experiments with mice showing that the inflammation triggered by the cytokine storm was reduced when they blocked the link between a peptide called C5a and its cellular receptor, the protein C5aR. The study is reported in an article published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI). We've been studying this pathway for some years in connection with neuropathic pain and autoimmune disorders. When the pandemic began, we suspected that blocking the cellular receptor of this peptide [C5a] could also be a way of mitigating the inflammation associated with severe COVID-19, because it plays an important pro-inflammatory role but is dispensable for infection control. It's a mediator, and blocking it doesn't impair the immune response against the virus." Thiago Mattar Cunha, last author of the article Cunha is a professor at the Ribeirao Preto Medical School (FMRP-USP) and a researcher affiliated with the Center for Research on Inflammatory Diseases (CRID), one of FAPESP's Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers (RIDCs). During the pandemic, it became obvious that COVID-19 could vary widely in terms of severity. While many patients had mild symptoms or none, a significant proportion suffered from potentially fatal inflammation triggered by an exacerbated immune response known as cytokine storm syndrome. These patients typically spent days in hospital intensive care units, required mechanical ventilation, and had complications such as pulmonary fibrosis and thrombosis. As Cunha explained, C5 is an inflammatory mediator present in blood plasma and a component of the complement system, the part of the immune response responsible for forming the cascade of proteins that induces inflammation to combat an infection. When the peptide is activated in response to infection, it becomes C5a and assumes a pro-inflammatory function. "The increase in production of C5a is associated with several inflammatory diseases, such as sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus and psoriasis, and also with the lung damage seen in severe cases of COVID-19," Cunha said. Previous research by CRID had already shown NETosis, a regulated form of cell death, to be one of the main ways COVID-19 patients suffer lung damage. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), a part of the immune system, are networks of DNA strings released from neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, into the extracellular space during inflammation to defend against invading pathogens. NETosis is NET activation and release. The researchers set out to elucidate the mechanism whereby C5 participates in the lung damage and exacerbated inflammation observed in severe COVID-19 patients. To do so, they used genetically modified (GM) mice susceptible to COVID-19 but with the gene that encodes for C5 knocked out. According to Cunha, these animal model trials showed that NETs released in the lungs are harmful to the patient's cells as well as the virus. "This pathway is not only involved in pulmonary epithelial cell death, as shown by one of our first studies on the topic, but also possibly associated with inflammation through thromboembolism in the lungs of COVID-19 patients," he said (read more at: agencia.fapesp.br/33523). The findings confirm the immunopathological role of the C5a/C5aR1 pathway in COVID-19 and indicate that antagonists of C5aR1 (molecules that prevent binding to the receptor) could be useful for treatment of severe COVID-19. "Several processes are involved. C5 increases formation of NETs. Neutrophils are recruited to the lungs because cytokine production is intense in this stage of the disease, and C5a further boosts neutrophil activation in the lungs, leading to production of even more NETs. In light of all this, it's likely that the pathway is involved in amplifying lung damage and inflammation," Cunha said. Before the pandemic, the CRID group was collaborating with Dompe, an Italian pharmaceutical company, to develop molecules that could block C5aR1. Some of their research findings were published in 2014 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) (read more at: agencia.fapesp.br/20461). "In our latest study, the inflammation improved in the mice that received C5aR1 antagonists. We also showed that infection control was not altered when this system was blocked: viral load was the same in the mice treated with the antagonists and those not treated," Cunha said. Improving inflammation without affecting viral load is an important property of the novel molecule. One of the main current strategies for treating COVID-19 is the use of corticoids, which are both anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant. This class of drugs, therefore, reduces the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 as well as secondary infections, such as bacterial pneumonia, for example. Although the CRID group has conducted experiments only on animals, Cunha recalled a study published late last year in The Lancet by European researchers on the benefits of blocking the C5a/C5aR1 pathway in humans. This paper described the results of Phase 3 clinical trials using a monoclonal antibody against C5a, showing that this is an effective strategy to combat exacerbated inflammation in COVID-19. "When the antibody binds to C5a, it prevents action in the receptor. This means the clinical trials are working on the same pathway as the one our study focuses on and suggests we're on the right track," he said. The advantage of the Brazilian strategy is that the cost of treatment with C5aR1 antagonists is much lower than the cost of treatment with monoclonal antibodies. "The findings in this study provide clinical evidence that blocking the C5a/C5aR1 pathway works and is a beneficial treatment. In previous research, we focused on this pathway for autoimmune diseases and pain. I believe the next step is to start clinical trials with the antagonist molecule," he said. Many girls in low- and middle-income countries struggle to buy products to manage their periods, which can cause them to skip school. So, ensuring they have access to menstrual products is critical. A new Kenya-based study from University of Illinois Chicago researchers shows that the benefits of one kind of menstrual product -; a menstrual cup -; extend well beyond educational access. Teenage girls who were given menstrual cups were less likely to acquire certain kinds of vaginal infections and were more likely to have a healthy vaginal microbiome, the study found. The findings are published in PLOS Medicine. The research, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health, followed 436 Kenyan secondary school girls, half of whom were given menstrual cups. They were tested every six months for bacterial vaginosis, a common type of infection, and at 12 months and 30 months for sexually transmitted infections. The researchers also tested participants' vaginal microbiome to determine the relative prevalence of beneficial and harmful bacteria. At the end of the study, the girls with menstrual cups were 26% less likely to have bacterial vaginosis and were 37% more likely to have an optimal vaginal microbiome than the girls who didn't receive a cup. Overall, the menstrual cups did not appear to lower the risk of sexually transmitted infections, but when the researchers controlled for confounding factors, such as age and whether the girls were sexually active, they did see a decrease in STIs among those using a menstrual cup. The results showed that menstrual cups could be a game-changer in helping keep girls healthy." Supriya Mehta, adjunct professor of epidemiology and biostatistics in the School of Public Health at UIC and principal investigator on the study The study grew out of a conversation that Mehta had at a conference in Kenya in 2016 with Penelope Phillips-Howard, a professor at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in the United Kingdom. At the time, Phillips-Howard had conducted an initial randomized trial looking at whether menstrual cups were effective at keeping girls in Kenya in school. As part of the study, the team tested for bacterial vaginosis and sexually transmitted infections, and she mentioned to Mehta that their results thus far suggested that menstrual cups were reducing infections. Mehta believed she knew why -; because menstrual cups help maintain a healthy microbiome during menses. "If your vagina is healthy, then it's more resilient to STI pathogens," she explained. With this hypothesis, Mehta and her coauthors were able to create a sub-study looking at the biological impact of menstrual cups that was nested within a larger study of 4,000 girls that Phillips-Howard was embarking upon. There are a few reasons that menstrual cups are more beneficial to vaginal health than other menstrual products, Mehta explains. The cup, which is bell-shaped and made from medical-grade silicone, is inserted into the vagina, where it collects blood. Tampons, on the other hand, don't take the blood out of the vaginal vault, and this iron-rich setting can be welcoming to the bacteria that cause bacterial vaginosis. The cups are also better than tampons at maintaining an acidic environment, which is a deterrent to infections. As for sanitary pads or reusable cloths that are worn too long or not cleaned properly, they can end up transferring bacteria into the vagina. "These are all challenges that menstrual cups address," Mehta said. The study was conducted in Kenya because of the link between menstrual products and staying in school, and because of an additional potential benefit given that 10% of 15-year-olds there reported having exchanged sex for sanitary pads. Yet, Mehta sees the results as relevant in higher-income countries, too. She hopes the study is repeated elsewhere to assess these benefits. Beyond the health benefits for women in countries like the U.S., she also thinks menstrual cups would be particularly helpful for groups such as homeless women. The researchers have received $2.6 million in additional NIH funding to continue this study for another year. Mehta is also launching a second study focused on sex workers in Kenya, which is a particularly vulnerable group. Because they can't stop working when they are menstruating, they often engage in risky behaviors to manage their periods, have to charge less or don't get paid at all. Mehta received a $3 million NIH grant to study the impact of giving sex workers menstrual cups, one style of which can be worn unobtrusively during sex. Other researchers on the study include Stefan Green, formerly of UIC, and Runa Bhaumik, research assistant professor in the College of Medicine at UIC, who is co-investigator of the sex worker study. It's not exactly what he's best known for, but Alexander Hamilton helped develop the first national, compulsory health insurance policy in the world: a 1798 taxpayer-financed plan Congress approved to cover sick and disabled seamen. "The interests of humanity are concerned in it," Hamilton wrote. And they still are, as MIT Professor Amy Finkelstein notes in a new book. The U.S. has repeatedly tried to provide medical care for those who need it and cannot afford it. These efforts may have started with Hamilton, but they have continued through modern times, with policies that have mandated emergency-room care for all, and have extended insurance to those with certain serious illnesses. Then again, no policy has fully addressed the needs of the U.S. population. About 30 million U.S. citizens lack health insurance. Even for the insured, costs routinely exceed a plan's benefits. Americans have $140 billion in unpaid medical debt, more than all other personal debt combined, and three-fifths of it is incurred by people with health insurance. That's why Finkelstein is calling for a total overhaul of the U.S. health insurance system, in a new book with economist Liran Einav of Stanford University, "We've Got You Covered: Rebooting American Health Care," published by Portfolio. In it, the scholars envision an approach with one layer of free and automatic health insurance for everyone, and another layer of private insurance for those seeking additional care amenities. In the U.S., we have always had a commitment to do something when people are ill, so we might as well do it effectively and efficiently. I don't think anyone would argue we have a wonderful, well-functioning health care system." Amy Finkelstein, the John and Jennie S. MacDonald Professor in MIT's Department of Economics Patchwork programs Finkelstein has won the John Bates Clark Medal and received a MacArthur fellowship for empirical studies of health insurance and health care -; including work on Medicaid and Medicare, the financial impact of being hospitalized, geographic variation in medical costs, and more. Finkelstein and Einav are also co-authors, with Ray Fisman, of the 2023 book, "Risky Business," about the insurance industry. Through two decades of intensive research, Finkelstein and Einav have also never advocated for specific health care policies -; until now. "We feel we do have something to say to the wider public about the problems, and also about the solution," Finkelstein says. "We emphasize the problems of the insured, not only the uninsured." Indeed, around 150 million Americans rely on private employer-provided insurance. Yet they risk losing that insurance if they lose or change their job. Those with public health insurance, like Medicaid, face nearly the opposite problem. If a family member earns enough money to lift a household above the poverty line, they can lose eligibility. The net result: About one in four Americans under the age of 65 will be uninsured at some point in the next two years. Many of them will actually be eligible for free or heavily discounted coverage. About 18 million Americans who are eligible for public health insurance remain unenrolled due to a lack of information and complicated signup procedures. And even Medicare, the workhorse public insurance program for many seniors, has out-of-pocket expenses with no cap. A quarter of people on Medicare spend a quarter of their income on health care. Some reforms have brought better coverage to more people. As the scholars note, the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (which MIT economist Jonathan Gruber helped develop) has allowed 10 million formerly uninsured Americans to gain coverage. But it didn't change the risk of losing insurance coverage or of incurring large medical debt due to highly incomplete coverage. The book contends the U.S. has used a long series of piecemeal policies to try to fix problems with health coverage in the U.S. One long-standing approach has been to create disease-specific care subsides, starting with a 1972 law extending Medicare to everyone with end-stage kidney disease. More recently, similar programs have been passed to cover patients with tuberculosis, breast and cervical cancer, sickle cell anemia, ALS, HIV/AIDS, and Covid-19. Finkelstein and Einav are skeptical of this approach, however, due to its patchwork nature. Passing separate laws for different illnesses will always leave holes in coverage. Why not just automatically include everyone? "When you think about covering all the gaps, that's what universal basic coverage is," Finkelstein says. Land of the free As "We've Got You Covered" notes, the current U.S. approach to health insurance is hardly etched in concrete: Employer-provided health care really only dates to the 1950s. And, the authors emphasize, the way the U.S. keeps instituting policies to make basic care available to anyone -; open emergency rooms, subsidies for severe disease treatments -; is telling us that the country has a bottom-line expectation of providing humane care when most needed. "The reason why we have all these patches is that, hard as it is to believe, in the United States there is in fact a strong social norm, an unwritten social contract, that we don't let people die in the streets," Finkelstein says. "When people are in dire medical situations and don't have resources, we inevitably as a society feel compelled to try to help them. The problems of the insured and the uninsured represent failures to achieve our commitments, not the lack of those commitments." To Finkelstein and Einav, then, the solution is to provide free, basic health care for everyone. No sign-up woes; enrollment would be automatic. No charges for basic care. No losing insurance if you leave your job. No falling off the public-insurance ranks if you climb above the poverty line. At the same time, they envision, the U.S. would have another layer of private health insurance, covering health care amenities -; private hospital rooms, say, or other elective elements of medical care. "You can pay to upgrade," Finkelstein says. That would not lead to the system of absolutely equal, universal care that some envision, but Finkelstein still believes it would improve the status quo. "We have inequality in all aspects of our lives, and this is another," Finkelstein says. "The key is to provide essential basic coverage." Could the U.S. afford a system of free, basic, automatic-enrollment health care? The book's surprising answer is: Yes, absolutely. In the U.S., 18 percent of GDP is spent on health care. Half of that goes to public health care, and half on private care. As it happens, 9 percent of GDP is how much European countries spend on their public-care health systems. "We're already paying for universal coverage in the United States, even though we're not getting it," Finkelstein says. "We're already spending 9 percent of GDP on publicly financed health care. We certainly could do it at the same price tag as all these other countries." "We've Got You Covered" even comes out against modest co-pays (despite studies showing they reduce visits to doctors), finding them "in conflict with the rationale for universal coverage, namely, access to essential medical care without regard to [financial] need," as Finkelstein says. Until the impossible becomes inevitable If the Finkelstein-Einav health insurance system makes sense on the merits, though, does it have any chance of existing? "One thing that makes me, if not optimistic, then at least not unduly pessimistic, is that this is an argument that will and does appeal to people across the political spectrum," Finkelstein contends. Expanding health insurance is usually associated with progressive politicians, but the book points to a series of conservatives who, even into the 21st century, have supported universal coverage. Even if a change to a free system of basic care is not immediately in the offing, Finkelstein and Einav suggest in the book that their role, in writing "We've Got You Covered," is something economist Milton Friedman suggested: Develop ideas and keep them in the public sphere until "the politically impossible becomes the politically inevitable." And in the meantime, Finkelstein and Einav firmly suggest people take more seriously the way U.S. health care policy implicitly assumes we should help everyone. And for the same reasons Hamilton wanted to help seamen, namely, "to protect from want and misery" in their lives. In June, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that the average age of the U.S. population reached a new high of nearly 39 years old. Today, roughly three million older adults who belong to a sexual and gender minority (individuals who self-describe as LGBTQ+ or as having discordant gender and sex assigned at birth) live in the U.S., a number that is projected to grow to more than five million by 2030. Prior studies have demonstrated that this demographic is at disproportionate risk of chronic conditions, mental health issues, cognitive decline and health risk behaviors compared to the general population. However, there's little data available to characterize the way this population is aging. In a new study led by Chelsea N. Wong, MD, an advanced geriatric medicine fellow at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, investigators developed an index to describe and compare frailty-;a measure of physiological reserve or vulnerability-;between older sexual and gender minority (OSGM) adults and non-OSGM participants. Using the frailty index they constructed, Wong and colleagues showed that, overall, OSGM had higher rates of frailty, starting at younger ages and continuing into older age, compared to non-OSGM. The team's work appears in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences. "We found that older individuals who belong to sexual and gender minorities have a higher burden of frailty, maintained across the lifespan and a higher magnitude of mortality risk," said Wong, who is also entering a T32 Post-Doctoral Fellowship with the Harvard Translation Research in Aging Training Program at Hebrew SeniorLife. "To our knowledge this is the first study to examine frailty among this marginalized population." Frailty is the state of vulnerability caused by age-associated decline across multiple functions, and it is associated with an increased risk of falls, disability, hospitalization, and mortality. While no single symptom confirms a frailty diagnosis, it commonly involves muscle loss and weakness, fatigue, slow walking speed and impaired cognition. Taken together, the symptoms of frailty can lead to social isolation or make independent living impossible. Wong and colleagues constructed their frailty index using data from the All of Us Research Program, a program funded by the National Institutes of Health designed to recruit a diverse cohort of participants who have been historically underrepresented in biomedical research. The team built their frailty index to calculate based on 33 factors where individuals may experience deficits, including cognition, cardiovascular diseases, the ability to bathe or run errands alone, maintain a social life, fatigue, anxiety and depression, hearing and sight. When the researchers applied the Frailty Index to a sample of more than 76,000 eligible All of Us participants, they saw clear patterns. The 9,110 OSGM participants had a higher burden of frailty than their counterparts, with 41 percent robust (not frail), 34 percent pre-frail, and 26 percent frail. In comparison, non-OSGM participants, 50 percent were robust, 32 percent were pre-frail and 19 percent were frail. Further, the risk of mortality associated with frailty was higher among OSGM compared to non-OSGM. These disparities, the authors note, are understood through the minority stress theory, which describes how the external stressors of discrimination become internalized. Previous research has demonstrated that minority stress is associated with negative health consequences, including changes in inflammation immune and endocrine function, which in turn contribute to poor cardiovascular, metabolic and immunologic clinical outcomes. "This current generation of older adults who identify as sexual and gender minorities experienced significant events specific to their minority identity, including homosexuality being officially labeled as a mental illness, the Lavender Scare where there was mass dismissal of SGM workers from U.S. government employment, and the advent of the HIV/AIDS epidemic," said Wong. "The minority stress experience of chronic additive stress associated with social stigmatization and discrimination may lead to systematic inflammation and contribute to the development of frailty at relatively younger ages. These findings emphasize the need for early geriatric assessment among OSGM and future work should identify potential targets to mitigate frailty." Co-authors included Michael P. Wilczek, PhD, Louisa H. Smith, PhD, Robert Cavanaugh, MS, PhD, Justin Manjourides, PhD, Brianne Oliveri-Mui, PhD, and Jordon D. Bosse, PhD, RN, of Northeastern University; Erin L. Richard, PhD of University of California San Diego; and Ariela R. Orkaby, MD, MPH, of Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and Brigham & Women's Hospital. Orkaby is supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (grant VA CSR&D CDA-2 award IK2-CX001800). The All of Us Research Program is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The cumulative health and economic consequences of the premature loss of a parent may be greater for boys than for girls, suggest the findings of a large long term study published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. Experiencing the death of a parent before the age of 21, however, is strongly linked to poor mental health and lower earnings/unemployment in adulthood for both sexes, the data indicate. Previously published research has pointed to a link between premature parental death and the child's subsequent health and prosperity. But no studies have drawn on high quality registry data, and few have looked at the cumulative effects or the potential impact of gender, say the researchers. They therefore used nationwide registry data from Finland to work out if experiencing the death of a parent before the age of 21 was associated with any of several measures of poor mental health and labour market outcomes between the ages of 2630, and what influence, if any, gender might have. They included nearly 1 million Finns (962,350) born between 1971 and 1986, who had reached at least the age of 30 by 2016. The relevant registry data included parental death certificates; and medical and educational records, periods of sick leave, and tax returns for their children, nearly all of whom had completed their education and entered the labour market by the age of 30. Around 1 in 6 (15%; 145,673) people had lost a parent before the age of 31. Less than 5% had experienced the death of their mother; nearly 12% had experienced the death of their father. The likelihood of a parental death rose sharply with age, from under 1% before the child had reached the age of 6 to just under 5% when they were aged between 26 and 30. Fathers were nearly 3 times as likely as mothers to die before their children turned 21. Some 65,797 people lost a parent before the age of 21, and this was associated with greater odds of a hospital admission for mental ill health than it was for those who experienced this after the age of 30. Men seemed to be more vulnerable than women. They were 70% more likely to be admitted to hospital; the equivalent figure for women was 52%. Substance use disorders and intentional self-harm were the most common reasons for hospital admission. But this varied by gender. Boys and young men who lost their mothers prematurely had nearly 2.5 times the odds of a hospital admission for intentional self-harm as those who lost their mothers in their 30s. Similarly, girls and young women who lost their father prematurely were around twice as likely to have a substance use disorder than those who hadn't experienced this. Early maternal death was also associated with a substantial (88%) increase in stress disorders. The use of medication for mental health disorders among those who lost a parent prematurely was between 18% and 33% higher for both sexes than for those who hadn't experienced this. Sick leave was also more likely among both sexes. Losing a parent before the age of 21 was also associated with fewer years of schooling, lower annual earnings, and more periods of unemployment at ages 2630 for both sexes. The largest reduction in years of schooling (4%)-;equivalent to more than half an academic year-;was among girls who had lost their mothers prematurely. The estimated effects on earnings and employment were generally larger for men, among whom the early death of a father was associated with an almost 16.5% reduction in annual earnings and 6% lower likelihood of regular employment. The corresponding estimates for women were 11% and 4%, respectively. The key strengths of the study lie in the use of nationwide population data, comprehensive monitoring, and both secondary and primary care psychiatric health records, say the researchers. But they acknowledge that this is an observational study, which can't account for all potentially influential factors, such as personality traits that may have affected the associations found. And the analysis didn't capture mild mental health issues nor account for (shared) genetic and environmental factors in childhood, all of which may have been influential, they admit. Nevertheless they conclude: "Early parental death is strongly associated with a higher risk of children's poor mental health in adulthood for both males and females, but the estimated odds ratios are usually quantitatively larger for males." Similarly, losing a parent prematurely "is negatively associated with children's labor market outcomes (ie, employment and earnings) in adulthood, and these associations are quantitatively larger for males." More than half of patients with auto-immune conditions experience mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety, yet the majority are rarely or never asked in clinic about mental health symptoms, according to new research from the University of Cambridge and King's College London. In a study published today in Rheumatology, researchers found that over half of the patients had rarely or never reported their mental health symptoms to a clinician, and that the range of possible mental health and neurological symptoms is much wider than has been previously reported. The team surveyed neurological and psychiatric symptoms amongst 1,853 patients with systemic auto-immune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers also surveyed 289 clinicians, mostly rheumatologists, psychiatrists and neurologists, and conducted 113 interviews with patients and clinicians. The 30 symptoms that the team asked about included fatigue, hallucinations, anxiety and depression. Among the patients in the study, experience of most of these symptoms was very widespread. 55% of SARD patients were experiencing depression, 57% experiencing anxiety, 89% had experienced severe fatigue and 70% had experienced cognitive dysfunction, for example. The overall prevalence of symptoms was significantly higher than previously thought, and much higher than in a control group of healthy volunteers. The mental health symptoms described by patients contrasted strongly with clinician estimates. For example, three times as many lupus patients reported experiencing suicidal thoughts compared to the estimate by clinicians (47% versus 15%). Clinicians were often surprised and concerned by the frequency and wide range of symptoms that patients reported to the researchers. Some clinicians were much more focused on joint symptoms over mental health symptoms as they held the opinion that SARDs do not commonly affect the brain. However, other clinicians felt that these symptoms were under-estimated because patients were rarely asked about them in clinic. One rheumatology nurse interviewed said: "Doctors don't go looking for it [hallucinations], so if we don't ask we don't think it exists much." The study found disagreements between clinicians specialising in different aspects of care, but very few hospitals had effective systems where rheumatologists, neurologists and psychiatrists worked together. Pollak stated the study highlights the importance of all clinicians asking their patients about mental health: We have known for some time that having a systemic autoimmune disease can negatively affect one's mental health, but this study paints a startling picture of the breadth and impact of these symptoms. Everyone working in healthcare with these patients should routinely ask about mental wellbeing, and patients should be supported to speak up without fear of judgement. No patient should suffer in silence." Dr Tom Pollak, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London The study showed that patients were often reticent to report to clinicians mental health problems they might be having, sometimes feeling that they might be stigmatised. Patients frequently said that even when they did share their mental health symptoms with clinicians, they were often not commented on or not documented accurately or at all. One patient expressed how this felt: "Feel guilty and useless as well as depressed and very unwell. I don't really feel supported, understood, listened to, hopeful at all. It is awful living like this. All just feels hopeless." Dr Melanie Sloan from the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at the University of Cambridge said: "The low level of reporting we identified is a major concern as problems with mental health, fatigue and cognition can be life-changing, and sometimes life-threatening. It's only by fully engaging patients in their healthcare and by asking them for their views that we will be able to determine the extent of these often hidden symptoms, and help patients get the understanding, support and treatment they need." The research team suggests that though they found neurological and psychiatric symptoms to be under-elicited in clinic, under-identified in research and under-represented in clinical guidelines, they described almost all clinicians as highly motivated to improve care. Rapidly evolving knowledge including the behavioural and cognitive impacts of chronic inflammation and a widening range of potential biomarkers means that there is grounds for optimism. Sarah Campbell, Chief Executive of the British Society for Rheumatology, commented: "This study highlights the urgent need for improvements in the access patients have to integrated mental health support. Given what the study finds on the prevalence of this issue and the deep impact neurological and psychiatric symptoms have on patients, it should be of grave concern to policy makers that only 8% of rheumatology departments in England and Wales have a psychologist embedded in their team. We fully support the study team's conclusion that more inter-disciplinary and patient-clinician collaboration is needed to ensure equity in the care of patients' mental and physical health." The Rt Hon the Lord Blunkett said: "It's both surprising and deeply concerning that almost half of lupus patients have experienced suicidal thoughts, and that clinicians greatly under-estimate the mental health burden of these chronic diseases. This highlights the importance of extra funding for the NHS and the holistic care that is urgently needed for these patients. I echo the British Society of Rheumatologists' concerns about the poor current provision of mental health support. Now is the time for the Government to act to give them the support they desperately need." A male Washburn teacher accused of sexual contact with a female student last year is serving about five years in the North Dakota State Penitentiary after pleading guilty to four felony charges. Joshua Eddy, 33, was accused late last year of sex acts with a 15-year-old girl that authorities said were described in text messages on the girls cellphone. An affidavit outlined incidents of alleged sexual contact in November 2022 that the girl relayed to deputies. Investigators said Eddy admitted his relationship with the girl had gone too far and moved to a sexual relationship. Eddy had taught at the school about 10 years. The North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board revoked his teaching license in December. Eddy in January pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault, luring, and corruption or solicitation of a minor. He changed his pleas to guilty in March. He faced up to 20 years in prison. He was sentenced earlier this month to five years in prison on one of two sexual assault charges; on the other counts he was given a three-year suspended prison term and five years of supervised probation, according to court documents and the McLean County States Attorneys Office. State Penitentiary records list his estimated release date as May 17, 2027. Eddys defense attorney, Steven Fischer, did not immediately respond to a Tribune request for comment. An Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai study sheds light on the intricate interplay between mammary adipose (fat) tissue and breast health, and offers exciting possibilities for understanding breast development, lactation, cancer, and obesity and related metabolic disorders. The study was published today in Nature. The research team was led by Prashant Rajbhandari, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease), and a member of the Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism Institute at Icahn Mount Sinai. The researchers discovered a new family of locally secreted and locally acting molecules in the breast called "mammokines" that contribute not only to normal mammary biology, but to overall fat cell physiology and energy balance control. Mammary adipose tissue has long been recognized for its essential role in breast biology. It consists of many different cell types, including fat cells (adipocytes), immune cells, sympathetic nerve fibers, and mammary epithelial cells forming a milk-producing ductal system. Mammary adipocytes play important roles in organizing mammary ducts, and the reverse is true as well. The new studies reveal an unexpected role for nerve-activated ductal cells in mammary adipocyte metabolism and heat generation. These mammary duct-secreted mammokines play an important role in controlling mammary gland fat abundance and could potentially orchestrate critical processes involved in breast development, lactation, and overall whole-body metabolic regulation. The findings thus have important implications for breast cancer, lactation-related disorders, newborn health, and metabolic syndromes linked to mammary adipose dysfunction. The discovery of mammokines is a significant milestone in our quest to comprehend the complex interplay between mammary adipose tissue and breast biology. This breakthrough opens up new avenues for developing targeted interventions to improve breast health and combat related metabolic disorders." Prashant Rajbhandari, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease), and a member of the Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism Institute at Icahn Mount Sinai The research team is currently focused on working to further identify new mammokines and characterize each of them. Their primary aim is to decipher the precise roles of these mammokines and determine whether they regulate systemic glucose and insulin homeostasis through communication with the brain, liver, and pancreas. Additionally, the team is exploring potential therapeutic applications for diseases related to the breast and metabolism. "This work holds enormous promise for future advancements in women's health and metabolic research and the development of personalized treatment strategies based on mammokine profiling," said Andrew Stewart, MD, Director of the Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism Institute at Icahn Mount Sinai. This discovery is the result of the collaborative efforts of a large team of researchers with diverse areas of expertise in the United States and Europe. Research contributors include Sanil Patel, MS; Njeri Z.R. Sparman, BS; Alexandra Alvarsson, PhD; Luis C. Santos, PhD; Samuel J. Duesman, PhD; Chung Hwan Cho, PhD; Ephraim Hathaway, BS; Abha K. Rajbhandari, PhD; Peng Wang, PhD; Leigh Goedeke, PhD; Sarah A. Stanley, PhD, and Prashant Rajbhandari, PhD, Icahn Mount Sinai, along with Douglas Arneson, PhD; In Sook Ahn, PhD; Graciel Diamante, PhD; Ingrid Cely, BS; Xia Yang, PhD, and Aldons J. Lusis, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles; Alessia Centonze, PhD, and Cedric Blanpain, PhD, Universite Libre de Bruxelles; Noble Kumar Talari, PhD, and Karthickeyan Chella Krishnan, PhD, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, plus Atul J. Butte, PhD, University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Rajbhandari is supported by The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Seed Fund, DK114571, NIDDK-supported Einstein-Sinai Diabetes Research Center (DRC) Pilot & Feasibility Award, and Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation (DREF) Grant #501. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication. The owner of one of California's largest chains of pain management clinics has agreed to pay nearly $11.4 million to California, Oregon, and the federal government to settle allegations of Medicare and Medicaid fraud. The U.S. Department of Justice and the states' attorneys general say Francis Lagattuta, a physician, and his Lags Medical Centers performed and billed for medically unnecessary tests and procedures on thousands of patients over more than five years. It was "a brazen scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid of millions of dollars by inflicting unnecessary and painful procedures on patients whom they were supposed to be relieving of pain," Phillip Talbert, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of California, said in a statement this month. The federal Medicare program suspended reimbursements to Lags Medical in June 2020, and Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program, followed in May 2021. Lags Medical shut down the same day the state suspended reimbursements. The company, based in Lompoc, California, had more than 30 pain clinics, most of them in the Central Valley and the Central Coast. A KFF Health News review last year found the abrupt closure left more than 20,000 California patients mostly working-class people on government-funded insurance struggling to obtain their medical records or continue receiving pain prescriptions, which often included opioids. Lagattuta and Lags Medical did not admit liability under the settlement. Lagattuta denied the governments' claims, saying in a statement he was pleased" to announce the settlement of a "long-standing billing dispute." As part of the agreement, Lagattuta will be barred for at least five years from receiving Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. "Since the Centers have been closed for a couple of years, it made sense for Dr. Lagattuta to settle the dispute and continue to move forward with his other business interests and practice," Malcolm Segal, an attorney for Lagattuta and the centers, said in the statement. According to state officials, the federal government will receive the bulk of the money, about $8.5 million. California will receive about $2.7 million, and an additional $130,000 will go to Oregon. The settlement amount is based in part on Lagattuta's and Lags Medical's "ability to pay." It does not cover the governments' full losses, which the U.S. attorney's office in Sacramento said are not public record. A nearly four-year investigation by federal officials and the California Department of Justice found that from March 2016 through August 2021, Lagattuta and his company submitted reimbursement claims for unneeded skin biopsies, spinal cord stimulation procedures, urine drug tests, and other tests and procedures. Lagattuta began requiring all his clinics to perform various medical procedures on every patient, the officials said, no matter if they were needed or requested by patients' medical providers. Patients who refused were told they would have their pain medication reduced and could suffer adverse medical consequences. U.S. and California investigators piggybacked on a federal claim filed in late 2018 by a whistleblower, Steven Capeder, Lags Medical's former operations and marketing director, who will receive more than $2 million of the settlement. As part of the settlement, Lagattuta and his company acknowledged that in mid-2016 he began requiring his providers to do at least two to three skin biopsies on Medicare patients each day and told providers to quit if they wouldn't comply. Such biopsies are used to measure small-fiber neuropathy, which causes burning pain with numbness and tingling in the feet and lower extremities. According to the settlement, a monthly report in early 2018 set a goal of performing 250 biopsies a week. Lagattuta created a separate team that was required to order at least 150 biopsies weekly, often overruling providers. And the company's chief executive officer in late 2019 texted Lagattuta to report a particularly high number of biopsies, illustrating the text with emojis of a money bag and a smiley face. Authorities said Lagattuta violated regulations requiring that skin biopsy results be interpreted by a trained pathologist or neurologist. Instead, they say, Lagattuta had the biopsies read by a family member who had no formal medical training and by a former clinic executive's spouse, who was trained as a respiratory therapist. Lags Medical clinics performed more than 22,000 biopsies on Medi-Cal patients from 2016 through 2019. The settlement also alleges Lagattuta encouraged unsuitable patients to undergo spinal cord stimulation. It describes the procedure as "an invasive surgery of last resort," in which implants placed near the spinal cord apply low-voltage electrical pulses to nerve fibers. Lagattuta paid a psychiatrist $3,000 each month to falsely certify that every Lags Medical candidate for the procedure had no psychological or substance use disorders that would negatively affect the outcome, according to the settlement. For instance, the settlement says the psychiatrist overruled a Lags Medical social worker to OK the procedure for a young woman who had bipolar disorder with hallucinations that included hearing a man's voice ordering her out of bed. He also issued blanket orders for every patient to have urine drug testing, a policy the company's CEO said "should be a big money maker." KFF Health News found that from 2017 through 2019 nearly 60,000 of the most extensive urine drug tests were billed to Medicare and Medi-Cal under Lagattuta's provider number. Medicare reimbursed Lagattuta $5.4 million for those tests. The clinics "carefully examined, tested, and treated" more than 60,000 patients during the time covered by the settlement, "when others might have been content to prescribe medication to mask pain," said Lagattuta's statement. This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. STEMCELL Technologies, Canadas largest biotechnology company, is marking its 30th year of accelerating research into cancer and other diseases by celebrating its culture of collaboration, curiosity, and discovery. STEMCELL has come a long way in the last 30 years, and by growing our talented team we are well-positioned to achieve even more in the decades to come, said Founder, President, and CEO Dr. Allen Eaves. Through our ever-expanding portfolio of high-quality products and services, we are supporting cancer research by making culture media for growing the stem cells of tissues that are prone to cancer, including blood, brain, breast, intestine, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, prostate, and skin cells. This has enabled us to build unparalleled trust and confidence within the global scientific community. In July of 1993, Dr. Eaves remortgaged his home and obtained a government business loan to start STEMCELL and commercialize a reliable source of cell culture media for growing the blood-forming stem cells that can result in leukemia when they go wrong. This media, which he called MethoCult, is now the global standard for growing blood-forming stem cells. Today, STEMCELL sells more than 2,500 other products, including specialized media, growth factors, monoclonal antibodies, cell separation reagents, instruments, plasticware, and contract assay services. STEMCELLs story originates in the 1980s when Dr. Eaves was Director of the Vancouver-based Terry Fox Laboratory. His team was working to understand how growth factors cause blood stem cells to give rise to white and red cells, and what goes wrong in cases of leukemia. This work required cell culture media with raw materials that were carefully selected to produce reproducible growth from one experiment to the next. Soon colleagues in other institutions wanted to use this media so their results could be compared both internally and between labs in other institutions. As a privately held company, STEMCELL has averaged 20 percent annual growth since its inception. This has been accomplished by putting all profits back into research, facilities, and sustainability initiatives. Ninety-seven percent of its sales are outside Canada to over 25,000 customers globally. Warehouses in Burnaby, Seattle, Grenoble, Melbourne, Singapore, and Beijing allow rapid delivery of products around the world. With sales staff in 20 countries and distributors in 80 other countries, STEMCELL is a company of Scientists Helping Scientists. Of its 2,300 global employees, 1,800 are based in Canada. Deeply rooted in education, the company provides on-site and virtual training programs, as well as 21 tissue-specific weekly newsletters as part of a Science News program with more than 200,000 readers. This helps ensure scientists are trained and prepared to conduct reproducible research effectively and efficiently. For its own staff, STEMCELL offers over 1,700 training courses, either in-person or virtually. As a major biotech anchor company, STEMCELLs commitment to science and the advancement of research is as strong as ever, and Im excited about the future. Our growing team will continue to play an important role in ensuring there is continued progress and innovation in life science research here in Canada and globally. Dr. Allen Eaves, Founder, President and CEO, STEMCELL Technologies STEMCELL is a leading innovator and has played an integral role in building up Canada's life science and biotechnology ecosystem, said Sue Paish, CEO, DIGITAL. STEMCELL's commitment to scientists and to their growth in Canada and around the world is impressive. Congratulations on 30 years, and I look forward to watching what the team accomplishes in the next decade. In a recent study published in The Lancet Public Health, researchers performed a meta-analysis on the utility of syphilis self-testing (SST). Study: The role of syphilis self-testing as an additional syphilis testing approach in key populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Image Credit: JarunOntakrai/Shutterstock.com Background Syphilis, a sexually-transmitted Treponema pallidum infection, is a worldwide epidemic that predominantly affects males having sexual intercourse with males (MSM), sex workers, and transgender women. Access to healthcare facilities is hampered by economic, structural, and social constraints, leading to delayed identification and management of syphilis, continuing spread, and increasing infection-associated morbidity and mortality. Discrimination, stigma, prior negative healthcare experiences, gender-based abuse, confidentiality concerns, reluctance to reveal sexual behavior, and limited accessibility to health facilities all contribute to sexually transmitted diseases (STD) follow-up losses and low testing rates. SST has the potential to expand testing and therapy coverage similarly as self-tests for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been shown to do. About the study In the present meta-analysis, researchers reviewed the scientific evidence on SST concerning its usability, accuracy, acceptability, reactivity, uptake, association with confirmatory testing, management, care services for sexual health, adverse events or social harm, cost-effectiveness, and execution factors. Databases such as Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL were searched for studies published between January 1, 2000, and October 13, 2022. Original research on rapid tests for syphilis, including dual syphilis-HIV testing, was included. In addition, four electronic STD or HIV conference databases [conferences of the International acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) Society, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), International Union Against STDs, and Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections] were reviewed. The World Health Organization (WHO) research group for human immunodeficiency virus self-testing guidelines updates provided data on syphilis-HIV dual testing. Two researchers independently performed data screening and extraction, and discrepancies were resolved by a third researcher. Random-effects modeling was performed to determine the pooled percentage of individuals offered syphilis self-testing kits who underwent testing. Bias risks were analyzed using Cochranes Risk of Bias Tool and the Johanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tool for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs, respectively, and certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach. SST includes tests performed by individuals who collect specimens, perform the tests, and interpret the results. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize study characteristics. Results In total, 40,499 records were identified, of which 11 were eligible, including seven studies conducted in the United States of America (USA, one study), China (five studies), and Zimbabwe (one study). Among the included studies, two recruited individuals from 2015 to 2017 and nine recruited individuals from 2018 to 2020. Four studies documented data from MSM individuals, and five utilized dual SST-HIV dual tests. All the included cross-sectional analytical studies had low bias risks. Regarding evidence certainty, the team found very low evidence certainty for adverse events and social harm; low confidence for reactivity, usability, and linkage to treatment and care; and high certainty for uptake. Using information from three observational-type studies and one RCT, the pooled percentage of individuals who underwent SST testing was 88.0%, with medium-level heterogeneity in the study findings (I of 46.0%). None of the studies provided information on SST specificity or sensitivity. Provider and user SST preferences were high, with SST facilitators including privacy, convenience, autonomy, quick results, reduced contact with health facilities, time savings, and trust in hematological testing, with individuals capable of self-testing correctly. Studies conducted in China reported the highest uptake rates (approximately 90%) and that SST was more cost-effective at an individual level than facility-based tests. However, there were a few reported challenges, including finger prick requirements for blood sample collection, complicated and lengthy procedures (involving removal of test components from the package, pipetting buffer, and understanding SST instructions), technical problems related to phone use (e.g., SST scanning), and result interpretation difficulties. SST implementation barriers included lack of knowledge (including SST unawareness and kit and care accessibility locations), sample collection and result interpretation challenges, poor STD awareness, and privacy, cost, and test accuracy concerns. A study reported that 30 out of 174 males and nine out of 76 female sexual workers were pressured to perform SST due to verbal abuse, relationship termination, violent threats, and psychological pressure. Conclusion Overall, the study findings expand on self-testing data for various disease locations and show that SST can reach neglected individuals. SST implementation proved possible and acceptable; hence, SST may be utilized as a supplementary syphilis testing strategy. However, since SST specificity and sensitivity data were unavailable, further research is required to develop appropriate strategies and policies for delivering and scaling SST. Chief Executive John Lee said today he had thanked Indonesia for its continuous support of Hong Kongs bid to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Mr Lee made the remarks at a press conference in Indonesia, noting that he had held discussions with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. He said: Yesterday I was delighted to meet President Widodo of Indonesia. I thanked the President for extending the hospitality and facilitation of the Wonderful Indonesia to me and my delegation. I told the President that Hong Kong is determined to strengthen co-operation with Indonesia on various fronts such as trade, investment, finance, innovation and technology, as well as culture and tourism. The Chief Executive was due to join a luncheon hosted for the Indonesian business community, which he said would strengthen ties between the Hong Kong delegation and its Indonesian friends. He highlighted that Hong Kong and Indonesia would sign 15 memoranda of understanding and agreements at the event. I look forward to furthering our relations with Indonesia and bringing fresh impetus to our economies, he added. Axis Bank Q1 Result: Private sector lender Axis Bank on Wednesday reported a 41 per cent YoY jump in its profit after tax (PAT) to Rs 5,797 crore, driven by healthy business momentum and strong all-round operating performance. Its net interest income (NII) during April-June 2023 grew 27 per cent YOY and 2 per cent QOQ. Axis Banks net interest margin during the June 2023 quarter stood at 4.10 per cent, up 50 bps YoY, according to a BSE filing. Its consolidated ROE (annualised) at 19.44 per cent, up 388 bps. ROE stands for return on equity. The banks operating profit for the June 2023 quarter grew 50 per cent YoY to Rs 8,814 crore. Its core operating profit for Q1FY24 grew 27 per cent YOY to Rs 8,295 crore. Its fee income for Q1FY24 grew 28 per cent YoY to Rs 4,488 crore. On the asset quality, Axis Banks gross NPA and net NPA levels as on June 30, 2023, stood at 1.96 per cent and 0.41 per cent, respectively, as against 2.02 per cent and 0.39 per cent as on March 31, 2023. As on June 30, 2023, the capital adequacy ratio (CAR) and CET1 ratio including profit for Q1 was 17.74 per cent and 14.38 per cent, respectively," Axis Bank said in the filing. As on June 30, 2023, Axis Bank had a network of 4,945 domestic branches and extension counters situated in 2,754 centres compared to 4,759 domestic branches and extension counters situated in 2,702 centres as at June 30, 2022. Amitabh Chaudhry, MD & CEO of Axis Bank, said, We are striving to create a distinctive new age bank that provides seamless banking solutions to customers, giving wings to their financial dreams and aspirations. We have been constantly raising the bar strengthening our digital capabilities and building on our robust pipeline of products and services, while keeping customer centricity at the core of every initiative." He added that with Indias strong macro environment supporting growth and providing abundant opportunities, we are geared up and confident of delivering sustainable growth across all our priority businesses. Tata Motors DVR shares surged almost 18 per cent to hit their fresh 52-week high of Rs 440 on BSE in opening deals on Wednesday(July 26) a day after Tata Motors announced it will convert its DVR shares to ordinary shares. On the NSE, the stock jumped 17 per cent. Tata Motors is converting DVR shares to ordinary shares: What are DVRs? Tata Motors Ltd has two types of listed equity securities, namely Ordinary Shares and A Ordinary Shares (DVRs). DVRs carry 1/10th of the voting rights of ordinary shares and are entitled to a five percentage points higher dividend. The DVR shares were first issued by TML in 2008, and subsequently in a further QIP in 2010 and a rights issue in 2015. Regulatory changes have since restricted the issuance of such instruments with differential voting rights, and TML remains the only large listed corporate with such an instrument. The Capital Reduction Consideration implies a 23 per cent premium on the previous days closing share price of A Ordinary shares, translating to a 30 per cent discount over the ordinary share price and significantly below its historical averages. The Scheme will lead to a reduction in the outstanding equity shares by 4.2 per cent, making it value accretive for all shareholders, Tata Motors said in a statement The Scheme also envisages the creation of a Trust with an independent third party acting as a trustee to operationalise the scheme. We are keen to simplify our capital structure. The challenge of DVR shares is that the instrument lost its charm in 2010, when the regulator had concerns about the use of the instrument. We tried infusing liquidity while the discount started averaging 48 per cent. The issue was raised by DVR holders in the meeting. Therefore, the solution to the problem was to cancel all A ordinary shares and give them ordinary shares. This is fair for both A ordinary shareholders and ordinary shareholders, said PL Balaji, Group Chief Financial Officer, Tata Motors. Who are the DVR Holders? More than 92 per cent of Tata Motors DVRs are held by the public, the automaker counts some marquee investors in this list. Mutual funds have a 28.82 per cent stake in Tata Motors DVRs, with ICICI Prudential holding the highest at 19.35 per cent. Among foreign portfolio investors, who cumulatively hold 18.6 per cent, are Franklin Templeton, Government of Singapore, and Vanguard. Tata Motors DVRs are also held by Rekha Rakesh Jhunjhunwala. She held a 1.92 per cent stake as of June end. What Happens Now? Under the scheme of arrangement, the DVR holders will get seven fully paid-up ordinary shares of the company, for every 10 DVRs they hold. The capital reduction consideration implies a 23 per cent premium on the previous days closing price of DVRs, translating to a 30 per cent discount over the ordinary share price. The scheme will lead to a reduction in the outstanding equity shares by 4.2 per cent, making it value accretive for all shareholders. Tata Motors will create a Trust, which will receive the new ordinary shares from the company on behalf and for the benefit of each of the relevant shareholders. What Should Be The Trading Strategy? The DVRs currently trade at about a 43 per cent discount to the ordinary shares. As traders saw arbitrage opportunity, Tata Motors DVR shares jumped 18% to days high at Rs 440 today. If the spread trades at around 8-10 per cent +/-, then the existing DVR/ordinary share spread holders should unwind their positions, according to Nuvama Equities. Brokerage firm Nirmal Bang pointed out that the capital reduction consideration translates to a 23 per cent premium to the A ordinary share price. This will result in a 4.2 per cent reduction in the number of outstanding equity shares, making EPS (earnings per share) accretive for all shareholders. Brokerage firm Kotak Institutional Equities said there will be no cash outgo for Tata Motors and hence, it will have no impact on debt levels. Along with the delisting of ADR (earlier this year), the above actions will simplify and consolidate trading of Tata Motors equity shares. In terms of taxation, A ordinary shareholders will be taxed. Taxes will be withheld for deemed dividends and capital gains. The company will create an independent trust to operationalise the scheme and settle tax liabilities. The trust will sell ordinary shares to settle applicable taxes and the net ordinary shares and cash for fractional entitlement will be credited to shareholders accounts," said Kotak. The premier IITs have reported the highest number of student suicide cases in the last five years, the education ministry told Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. According to data from 2018 to 2023, at least 39 out of total 98 deaths by suicide in top higher education institutions of India took place at Indian Institutes of Technology, followed by 25 each at National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and centrally-funded universities. Another 13 such deaths were reported from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) from 2019 till date. Student suicide cases from 2018-2023 IITs: 39 NITs: 25 Central universities (under University Grants Commission): 25 Indian Institutes of Information Technology: 2 Indian Institutes of Management: 4 Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research: 3 AIIMS (data only for 2019 till date): 13 The data shared by minister of state Subhas Sarkar, in response to a question in the upper house of parliament, shows that 98 deaths were reported from IITs, NITs, IIMs and central universities (under UGC) among other institutes between 2018 and 2023. Of these, 39 students died by suicide in different IITs with seven taking place in the first half of this year. This year, 20 student suicide cases have already been reported across higher education institutions. The highest number of such deaths at 24 was reported in 2022. There were seven each in 2021 and 2020. In 2019, 19 student suicide cases were reported while 21 such deaths took place in 2018, as per the data. While 2020 and 2021 had institutes closed due to Covid lockdown and classes being held online, it was in 2022 that most campuses opened while some still had hybrid classes. Out of all the IITs, this year, the Madras campus has already reported five student suicide cases in six months. Director Prof V Kamakoti had, in a recent interview to News18, said the pandemic disrupting student and faculty interaction for two long years was the major reason behind a high number of students taking such an extreme step. He had also said the effects of this massive gap were felt as soon as campuses opened in 2022-23 when students returned to physical classes and had difficulty adjusting. Academic stress, family reasons, personal reasons, mental health issues, etc, are some of the reasons for such suicide cases, Sarkar said in his reply to parliament. On February 18, News18 had also reported that among students dying by suicide at these institutions, those from reserved categories is the highest. Over 70 percent seats in IITs are for reserved categories, which also includes quota for economically weaker sections (EWS) and minority communities. According to government data shared in parliament in 2021, a total of 122 students from centrally-funded higher education institutions IITs, NITs, central universities, IIMs among others died by suicide from 2014 to 2021. Of these, 58 percent students were from reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC) as well as from minority communities. Sarkar, in his response, further said the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has provisions for counselling to handle stress and emotional adjustment at these highly competitive institutions. Further, in alignment with the NEP, to eradicate language barriers for students for an improved understanding and improved teaching-learning outcome, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has initiated the work of translating technical books into 12 scheduled regional languages, the minister said. The education ministry has also advised the institutions to make the system more robust by including prevention, detection and remedial measures to address possible causes behind these suicides, the reply stated. The UGC released the Redressal of Grievances of Students Regulations, 2023, in April, which mandates that all higher education institutions will include one member from a marginalised caste or tribe, and one woman, in their student grievance redressal committees (SGRC). This panel is to be formed by every such institute to deal with student complaints. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG) will commence its counselling from tomorrow. Candidates can apply and book their seats from the official website, mcc.nic.in. Applicants who are shortlisted after the medical entrance test and are interested to apply for 50 percent all India quota seats have to register themselves at the portal within the deadline. The NEET PG registration portal will close on August 1 at 12 pm while the fee payment option will be available till 8 pm the same day. Candidates can fill out applications for their dream college after registering and paying fees. Between July 28 and August 2 till 11:55 pm, candidates can fill the application. On August 2, between 3 and 11:55 pm candidates must lock their college selections without any future changes. On August 5, the seat allocation results for the initial round of MCC NEET PG counseling will be released. It is between August 7 and August 13, 2023, when applicants have to report or enroll at designated institutions. MCC will conduct three rounds of NEET PG counseling followed by a round for stray openings. The second round of registration will open on August 17. For admission to AIQ or Central University, general category applicants must pay Rs 1,000, while SC and ST applicants must pay Rs 500. Candidates must pay Rs 5,000 in order to be admitted to a deemed university. Entrants must choose a course and college based on their preferences and qualifications for NEET PG seat distribution. Additionally, they will have the choice to submit applications to many colleges. For the 50% All India Quota (AIQ), the NEET PG, UG score will be applied to determine admission to PG medical degrees. The counseling process will be open to students who meet the requirements of the All India Quota (AIQ). The NEET PG 2023 was conducted on March 4 and the results were made public on March 14. India is famed for its prestigious educational institutions like IITs, IIMs and NITs, whose students end up scoring exceptional placements. Recently, a student without the label of these big institutions to his name is grabbing the headlines for setting a benchmark in the corporate industry. In a remarkable feat, Anurag Makade, a BTech student from the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Allahabad, secured a salary package of Rs 1.25 crore from the US-headquartered tech giant, Amazon. His extraordinary achievement has left job seekers and professionals inspired, hailing him to be a star of the corporate world. Anurag Makade has joined the e-commerce giant Amazon as a Frontend Engineer, stationed in Dublin, Ireland. He announced this victorious accomplishment on his social media and wrote, Greetings folks, Im super excited to share that I joined Amazon as a Frontend Engineer!" He hails from Nashik, and his road to success is marked by hard work and determination. Before landing the job at Amazon, Anurag gained experience as a software engineer at an organisation named Cure-fit in Bengaluru. He also worked at American Express, Gurugram as an analyst intern. As per the information, he began his job at the esteemed multinational company in September 2022. This indeed is a significant achievement and his staggering salary illustrates how the job market requires qualified experts, who can lead businesses to the path of success. It also shows that talent and merit are the key requirements in an individual while being hired by top companies. Anurag Makades success story is a symbol of ambition and perseverance. It emphasises the fact that irrespective of family background and the tags of prestigious institutes, one can still land a coveted job with sheer determination. Apart from Anurag Makade, there are a few others too from the institute who have secured such amazing placements. Pratham Prakash Gupta landed a job at Google and bagged Rs 1.4 crore package. Palak Mittal too earned a placement at Amazon, with an astounding salary of Rs 1 crore. Akhil Singh got placed at Rubrik with Rs 1.2 crore package. A meeting in Medora on Thursday will give residents an opportunity to comment on proposed roadway improvements within the city section of the Interstate 94 Business Loop. The project includes Pacific Avenue from the Little Missouri River Bridge to Sixth Street, Little Missouri River Bridge improvements, and a mill and overly for the portion of roadway outside the city section from Exit 24 to Exit 27. The project is scheduled to wrap up in June 2026. There is not yet a cost estimate because officials are still evaluating numerous construction options, according to North Dakota Department of Transportation spokeswoman Nicole Peske. More information on the project is at www.dot.nd.gov/MedoraBusinessLoop. The meeting is from 5-7 p.m. Mountain time at the Medora Community Center, at 465 Pacific Ave. Representatives from the DOT and the Civil Science Inc. engineering firm will be on hand to answer questions. People also can submit written comments. They must be postmarked or emailed by Aug. 11 to Kyle Comer, Consultant Project Manager, 531 W. Villard St., Suite 1, Dickinson, ND 58601, or comments@civilscience.com, with Public Input Meeting-PCN 01234 in the letter heading or e-mail subject. People who wish to request accommodations for Thursdays meeting should contact Heather Christianson at DOTs Civil Rights Division, at 701-328 2978 or civilrights@nd.gov. TTY users may use Relay North Dakota at 711 or 1-800-366-6888. The Education Ministry has revealed that only two vice-chancellors belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in 45 central universities. While responding to a question in the Lok Sabha on July 24, Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar informed the lower house that as of April 1, 2023, one Vice-Chancellor is from the Scheduled Caste community, one from the Scheduled Tribe community, and five from the Other Backward Class (OBC) community, reported Career 360. The reply came in connection with a question of whether underprivileged socioeconomic groupings such as SCs, STs, and OBCs are appropriately represented in central institutions. The data also revealed that just 96 professors (one of the highest teaching positions at the university level) are from the SC community, and 22 are from the ST community, out of a total of 1,341 professors in central universities. Similarly, 231 associate professors are from the SC community, and 69 are from the ST community, out of a total of 2,817 professors employed by the central universities. In addition, there are about 8, 940 professors hired at the central universities, 1,094 are from the SC community and 534 are from the ST community at the associate professor level. Meanwhile, data from the administrative level indicated that just two registrars are from the SC community, two from the ST community, and three from the OBC group. Heres the list of caste-wise staff employed in 45 Central Universities as on April 1 Professor (Total-1,341) General: 1,146 Scheduled Caste (SC): 96 Scheduled Tribe (ST): 22 Other Backward Classes (OBC): 60 Economically Weaker Section (EWS): 3 Person with Disabilities (PWD): 14 Associate Professor (Total-2,817) General: 2,304 Scheduled Caste (SC): 231 Scheduled Tribe (ST): 69 Other Backward Classes (OBC): 187 Economically Weaker Section (EWS): 7 Person with Disabilities (PWD): 19 Assistant Professor (Total-8, 940) General: 5,284 Scheduled Caste (SC): 1,094 Scheduled Tribe (ST): 534 Other Backward Classes (OBC): 1,654 Economically Weaker Section (EWS): 182 Person with Disabilities (PWD): 192 The Education Ministry also informed the lower house that there are over 5,000 teaching posts and 15,390 non-teaching posts lying vacant in the 45 central universities in the country. The government recently informed the Parliament that there is a shortage of officers at the major and captain levels in the army with over 6,800 vacancies. However, it maintained that the strength is sufficient to meet the current operational requirements. Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt, in a written response to a query in Lok Sabha, said that there is a shortage of officers all three services the Army, Navy, and the Air Force and is mainly at the Major and Captain-level ranks. News18 takes a look at the details of the shortfall and the probably causes behind the shortage: Details of the Shortfall? In the army, there is a shortage of over 8,000 officers, including Army Medical Corps and Army Dental Corps. The government said that there are 2,094 vacancies for major rank and 4,734 for the captain rank in the army. In the navy, the figures are 2617 for Lt Commander and below ranks, while in the air force, the figures are 881 for squadron leader rank and 940 for flight lieutenant rank. Earlier in March this year, Ajay Bhatt informed that the armed forces were short of around 1.55 lakh personnel, with the Army accounting for the majority of the 1.36 lakh vacancies. In February 2022, the government said that there was a shortage of 9,920 officers in the three services, while in 2021, the government said that there was a shortage of 9,362 officers and around 1.13 lakh soldiers, airmen and sailors. Why is there a shortage? The Defence Ministry has attributed the shortfall of officers to the Covid-19 pandemic. The shortage can be attributed to low intake during COVID-19 pandemic; low intake in all support cadre entries mainly consisting of Short Service Commission and other service entries," Ajay Bhatt said in the statement. Bhatt earlier revealed that there were only 47 recruitment rallies during 2020-21 instead of the planned 97 rallies. Similarly in 2021-22, only four such rallies took place out of the 87 recruitment rallies scheduled across the country. A report in The Indian Express said, that the Army was planning to reduce the posting of staff officers at various headquarters to overcome the shortage in units. The report also said that the Army is considering posting re-employed officers for appointments in various headquarters. The re-employed officers, mostly in the ranks of Brigadier and Colonels, are those who serve in the Army for additional years after their retirement. However, the minister said, The available strength is sufficient to meet current operational requirements. The operational readiness and effectiveness of Army units is being maintained with organisational resources". Shortage in Nepali Gurkha Regiment The Gurkha Regiment has also suffered a severe shortage in the past few years, as the Indian Army has not recruited any Gorkha soldier from Nepal amid the ongoing deadlock between the two countries over the Agnipath scheme. In 2020, the recruitment rallies of soldiers in the army was put on hold due to Covid-19 and the Agnipath scheme of army recruitment in 2022, led to a severe blow in the recruitment of Gorkha soldiers. According to reports, there is a shortage of 10,000 to 12,000 Gurkha soldiers in the Indian Army in the last three years. The Army has 43 units of 7 Gurkha regiments, in which there are around 40, 000-45,000 soldiers. Parliament is the temple of democracy and parliamentary procedures the rites by which the will of the people is translated into practice. But the terms and jargon involved in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha processes can be difficult to grasp. The News18 series, House Talk, brings you a ready reckoner to make sure that none of it is Greek to you. The alliance of 26 opposition parties belonging to belonging to the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or INDIA are set to move a no-trust motion against the government in Lok Sabha on Wednesday to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak in Parliament on the Manipur violence. The alliance has already drawn up a draft of the notice and is in the process of getting the necessary 50 signatures of MPs. The opposition has to submit the notice before 10 am for it to be read out by the speaker in the House on Wednesday. What is No-confidence motion? If any member of Lok Sabha feels that the government in power does not have a majority, then he can move a no-confidence motion. If the motion is accepted by the Speaker, then the government has to prove its majority in the House. A no-confidence motion can only be moved in the Lok Sabha and by any member of the House. The member has to give a written notice of the motion before 10 am and at least 50 members have to accept the motion. The Speaker then decides the date for discussion of the motion. According to Rule 198 of the Lok Sabha, the member has to submit a written notice of the motion before 10 am which is then read out by the Speaker in the House. A minimum of 50 MPs have to accept the motion and then the Speaker will announce the date for discussion for the motion. Normally, the motion is taken within ten days from the date on which the motion is presented by the Speaker. If the government is able to prove its majority in the House, the government wins the motion or else the ruling party has to step down. No-Confidence Motion So Far So far, there have been 27 no-confidence motions in the Lok Sabha, with the first against Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru by Congress leader Acharya Kripalani in 1963 when India lost to China in the 1962 war. Former Congress Prime Minister Indira Gandhi faced the highest number of no-confidence motions at 15. However, she survived each of the 15 floor tests. The duration of the longest debate on a no-trust motion was 24 hours against the second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, who had to prove the majority in the House thrice. The first no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modis government was moved on July 20, 2018. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) scored a thumping win with 325 MPs voting against the motion and only 126 supporting it. VIDEO | "Regarding the no-confidence motion, we are well aware that the numbers are not in our favour. But it not about the numbers, the PM will have to speak in the Parliament following a no-confidence motion," says RJD MP @manojkjhadu on reports of the opposition mulling to pic.twitter.com/0EMmbpSfVI Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 26, 2023 Although there was little doubt over the outcome of the 2018 vote as the BJP had an absolute majority, the debate allowed the opposition to attack the government on a range of issues, including farm distress, slow economic growth and rising incidents of lynching. What is Censure Motion? A censure motion is an expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism. The censure motion is a broad type of motion that can be tabled by MPs in Lok Sabha to criticise a particular government policy, government minister or the government as a whole. But there are no formal rules governing how censure motions are worded or how they work. Like the no-confidence motion, the censure motion can only be moved in the Lok Sabha. However, while the no-confidence motion is against the government and the council of ministers, the censure motion can be moved against individual ministers or a member. When a censure motion is passed, there is no impact on the government or the council of ministers. It is also very rare for censure motions to be passed and the government is under no obligation to find time to debate and vote on them. In Russia, President Vladimir Putin signed a new law that prohibits gender-affirming procedures, dealing a devastating blow to the already vulnerable LGBTQ+ community. The bill, unanimously approved by both houses of parliament, bans medical interventions aimed at changing a persons sex and also prevents individuals from changing their gender on official documents. The only exception allowed is for medical treatment related to congenital anomalies. Additionally, the law invalidates marriages in which one person has changed gender and prohibits transgender individuals from becoming foster or adoptive parents. This move aligns with the Kremlins efforts to protect what it perceives as traditional values and combat so-called Western anti-family ideology," with some labeling gender transitioning as pure satanism," as per a report by Associated Press. The Russian governments crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights began a decade ago when Putin emphasized a focus on traditional family values" with support from the Russian Orthodox Church. Subsequent legislations have restricted public endorsement of nontraditional sexual relations among minors and outlawed same-sex marriage and the propagation of nontraditional sexual relations among adults. Meanwhile, in China, Xi Jinpings government has intensified its crackdown on LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, according to a July Reuters report. The Beijing LGBT Center, a prominent organization providing support and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, became the latest to close under government pressure this month. The center announced its closure on its official WeChat account, leaving the community without a vital safe space. Chinas Ministry of Civil Affairs, which oversees nonprofits, did not respond to requests for comment on the matter. This closure marks a significant blow to LGBTQ+ advocacy efforts, as the center was at the forefront of pushing for rights and providing low-cost mental health counseling. Previously, LGBTQ+ rights groups in China faced increasing restrictions and police pressure. Many organizations operated without official registration, as government approval was difficult to obtain. Police would invite groups to unofficial meetings, sometimes in private spaces, to monitor their activities. Several organizations, including the LGBT Rights Advocacy China, have been forced to shut down, and police pressure has become more pervasive. Additionally, social media platforms like WeChat have shut down accounts discussing LGBTQ+ topics, forcing some groups to change their names to avoid censorship. Despite the challenges, LGBTQ+ advocacy efforts in both Russia and China persist. However, the recent crackdowns have made it increasingly difficult for such groups to operate openly, share information with the community, and push for policy changes. While traditionalist, and anti-Western philosophy are often cited behind such moves, the US too is seeing a wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation and efforts, and are credited with having spread the ideology to other parts of the world, as well. As anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment faced defeats in the US, certain groups from the religious right began to spread their ideologies globally, finding fertile ground in Africa, eastern Europe, and Latin America, according to a report by The Guardian. The American evangelical and Catholic right has played a significant role in the international arena, creating a network of anti-LGBTQ+ activists who share ideas, messaging, and funding. Now, the strategies used overseas have been re-imported to the US, where a resurgent domestic religious right is pushing for laws that target LGBTQ+ rights. The involvement of US groups in Africa, eastern Europe, and Latin America has been instrumental in shaping legislation and legal battles, the report explains. The European religious rights argument that religion-based objections should override LGBTQ+ rights was recently used in a US Supreme Court case, potentially allowing businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals. The circulation of policy ideas and solutions globally has become more prevalent, with the US playing a significant role. One prominent figure in this movement is Scott Lively, known for his controversial book The Pink Swastika," which falsely claimed that Hitler and the Nazi leadership were gay. Lively and other US Christian right organizations have spent significant amounts of money abroad, contributing to the introduction of anti-LGBTQ+ bills in various countries, including Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania. In Europe, the US Christian right has focused on legal infrastructure, capitalizing on their extensive experience in litigation on social issues. Hungary and Poland are examples of countries that have implemented laws targeting LGBTQ+ individuals, with US groups such as the American Center for Law and Justice and the Alliance Defending Freedom providing backing. Leaders from the global religious right regularly convene at forums like CPAC, World Congress of Families, and Political Network for Values to exchange ideas and strategies, as per the report. In Europe, the religious rights messaging evolved in the 1990s in response to social advances that expanded LGBTQ+ rights and access to abortion. The Vatican developed the term gender ideology," which was later imported by the US religious right. The European religious right positions itself as a defender of human rights but uses this to push for a more restrictive definition of rights, especially when it comes to LGBTQ+ issues. The US Christian right has spent substantial amounts of money abroad, supporting anti-LGBTQ+ efforts in countries like Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania. The religious rights influence has contributed to a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and legislation globally. Ugandas case is particularly significant, where US groups campaigns generated a dangerous climate by spreading misinformation about LGBTQ+ people. The religious right and Museveni in Uganda have used the narrative of social imperialism" to resist LGBTQ+ rights and frame the expansion of LGBTQ+ rights as a form of colonialism, according to The Guardian. Propaganda, misinformation, and comparison to genocidal figures like Nazis have been used by both African and US religious right leadership to incite fear and opposition to LGBTQ+ rights. The solutions to this issue are challenging, with some calling for intervention from leaders like Pope Francis. Engaging communities and humanizing LGBTQ+ individuals are critical steps in countering the harmful narratives spread by the religious right. Raising awareness about the impact of the religious rights influence is essential to safeguarding LGBTQ+ rights globally, experts say. With inputs from agencies The House of Representatives committee is gearing up for a highly-anticipated hearing on UFOs this Wednesday, where significant claims about extraterrestrial life are expected to be presented in the most high-profile setting to date. One of the witnesses scheduled to appear is David Grusch, a former intelligence official who made headlines in June with his assertion that the US possesses intact and partially intact" alien vehicles. He will reiterate his allegations before a seemingly supportive group of congress members, including Tim Burchett and Anna Paulina Luna, who are leading the committees investigation into UFOs, as per a report by The Guardian. Both Burchett and Luna have shown openness to Gruschs claims. In July, Burchett stated that alien crafts have technology that could be destructive, even comparing it to turning something into a charcoal briquette." He also asserted that the US is witnessing unidentified aerial phenomena that may not be of earthly origin. The upcoming hearing will delve into what the government knows, or doesnt know, about UFOs, spurred by Gruschs revelations and concerns about the lack of transparency on the subject. What are the Claims? David Grusch, a former intelligence official who oversaw the examination of unexplained anomalous phenomena (UAP) in a US Department of Defense agency, made headlines globally when he claimed that the US had been gathering unidentified non-human aircraft for an extended period, according to a report by the Guardian. Grusch, a military veteran who previously served in the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and National Reconnaissance Office, came forward as a whistleblower and shared this information with various media outlets, discussing the unidentified crafts. These are retrieving non-human origin technical vehicles, call it a spacecraft if you will, non-human exotic origin vehicles that have either landed or crashed, Grusch told NewsNation. According to The Debrief,Grusch held the position of senior technical adviser for Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) analysis at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. During this time, he possessed Top Secret/Secret Compartmented Information clearance. Additionally, he served as a senior intelligence officer in the National Reconnaissance Office, accumulating a total of 14 years of experience in intelligence-related roles. While working on the UAP task force, Grusch claims that he was denied access to a materials recovery program that involved tangible evidence of the crafts, as per a report by Independent. I thought it was totally nuts and I thought at first I was being deceived, it was a ruse, Grusch told NewsNation. People started to confide in me. Approach me. I have plenty of senior, former intelligence officers that came to me, many of which I knew almost my whole career, that confided in me that they were part of a program. According to Gruschs statements to The Debrief, he claims to have prepared numerous briefings on UFOs for Congress. However, last year, he made the decision to disclose hours of classified information and data regarding the materials recovery program. Grusch asserts that the materials recovery program was intentionally shielded from proper congressional oversight, the Independent report said. A declassified version of the document, shared with The Debrief, states that Mr. Grusch possesses firsthand knowledge that UAP-related information is being concealed or withheld from Congress with the intention of obstructing legitimate congressional oversight of the UAP program. As per the complaint, in July 2021, Grusch confidentially provided classified information to the Department of Defense Inspector General concerning the withheld information. However, he believes that his identity was disclosed. Presently, Grusch is filing a whistleblower complaint, alleging that he has faced retaliation for disclosing confidential information. Is There Truth to His Claims? According to a Vox report, some people who claim to be whistleblowers can be categorized into three groups: credible truth-tellers with substantial evidence, unreliable individuals, and those who fall somewhere in between. In the case of Grusch, he admits that he lacks firsthand knowledge of the alleged programs involving UFOs. He has not personally witnessed any crafts or encountered deceased alien pilots. Instead, he states that he is relaying information shared with him by others. The identities and credibility of these sources remain unclear, raising doubts about the veracity of their claims. As of now, Grusch has not publicly disclosed any specific details regarding these allegations. His supporters argue that revealing classified information would be illegal, hence his silence on the matter. They also emphasize that he has provided the classified information he possessed to the inspector general and Congress, highlighting the legal consequences of lying to these entities, the report says. However, skeptics question whether Grusch is merely retelling unfounded stories that have long circulated within the UFO-believing community. They suggest that he may be either overly trusting or intentionally fabricating information. It is noteworthy that reputable media outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post, and Politico declined to publish Gruschs story, while The Debrief, a UFO-friendly publication, took it up, the report explains. This, combined with previous instances where sensational claims have fizzled out, adds to the skepticism surrounding the current situation. As per the Vox report, UFOs gained credibility through the involvement of the New York Times and Congress. Journalist Leslie Kean compiled credible reports in her book, which was supported by former White House chief of staff John Podesta. A former Defense official Christopher Mellon introduced Kean to Luis Elizondo, who headed a secret government initiative investigating unidentified aerial objects. Later, The New York Times published a story on Elizondos claims to have led a secret government initiative investigating unidentified aerial objects, supported by authenticated videos of military pilots encounters, in 2017. Despite skepticism, the story prompted intensified investigations and the establishment of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force" by the Pentagon. David Grusch worked in this office. After that, prominent figures, including Barack Obama and John Ratcliffe, acknowledged encounters with unexplained objects. Former CIA director John Brennan suggested the involvement of a different form of life. While everyone acknowledges mysterious occurrences, direct references to the alien hypothesis" remain rare. Both believers and skeptics anticipate that the intelligence communitys inspector general and Congress will review Gruschs classified claims. However, skeptics predict that the specific details provided by Grusch may never be disclosed. They anticipate that congressional investigations will either yield inconclusive results or debunk his claims. What Will Happen at the Hearing? The upcoming hearing will feature several key witnesses, according to The Guardian, including David Grusch, who made the initial claims about the US possessing alien vehicles. Joining him will be David Fravor, a former navy commander who reported a strange object in the sky during a training mission in 2004, and Ryan Graves, a retired navy pilot who claimed to have seen unidentified aerial phenomena off the Atlantic coast daily for a couple of years. The path to this hearing has not been smooth, as there were obstacles and pushback from federal officials regarding the investigation into Gruschs claims. However, the committee remains determined to shed light on the matter and uncover the truth. While it is unlikely that concrete proof of UFOs will be presented at the hearing, it is expected to raise significant questions. Grusch will likely provide a detailed account of his allegations about the governments knowledge of UFOs, possibly revealing further evidence of extraterrestrial activity. Additionally, Representative Tim Burchett has hinted at having compelling evidence of the US witnessing phenomena in the sky that could be of extraterrestrial origin. Parts of this report were published on June 12, 2023. A 27-year-old student studying at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Bengaluru died on Sunday after he suffered a cardiac arrest. The student, identified as Ayush Gupta was in the second year of his Post Graduate Programme in Management course. Following Guptas death, IIM Bangalore canceled all classes on Monday. IIM Bengaluru also took to the social media platform X, formally known as Twitter, to condole the untimely demise of its student. We are deeply saddened by the demise of Ayush Gupta, our second-year PGP student, who suffered a cardiac arrest, this afternoon. Ayush (27) was senior coordinator of the Student Alumni Committee of PGP.1/3 pic.twitter.com/qTMyZdYvUX IIM Bangalore (@iimb_official) July 23, 2023 We are deeply saddened by the demise of Ayush Gupta, our second-year PGP student, who suffered a cardiac arrest, this afternoon. Ayush (27) was senior coordinator of the Student Alumni Committee of PGP," the institute wrote. A graduate of BITS Pilani (2017), Gupta was pursuing his MBA at IIMB and had interned at Faering Capital during the summer break. According to the social media posts, Gupta also worked closely with the alumni of the institute. The IIMB community offers its deepest condolences to Ayushs family. No classes/ exams will be held tomorrow (July 24)," the institute added. IIMB also shared the news on LinkedIn where some users shared their memories of knowing Gupta. At least six opposition MPs staged a walkout from a meeting of the Parliaments standing committee for communication and information technology after the panel led by Shiv Sena lawmaker Prataprao Jadhav adopted the draft report for the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill. Among the MPs who left were Congresss Karti Chidambaram, Trinamool Congresss Mahua Moitra and Jawahar Sircar, Communist Party of Indias John Brittas, and Telugu Desam Partys Galla Jayadev. Apart from Jadhav, Bharatiya Janata Partys Nishikant Dubey and Dr Anil Agarwal pushed for the adoption of the Bill. Brittas also gave a dissent note on the matter, saying that many questions remain unanswered including why the proposed legislation allows the union government to provide blanket exemptions to its selected agencies. He also asked how it would not lead to violations of the fundamental right to privacy. The dissent note further said that the bill provides for financial penalties rather than criminal liability against deliberate misuse of data by the fiduciaries, which are mainly big corporates. How can we adopt a bill when we have not even been given a chance to examine its final and latest version? an opposition MP said to News18. The government was destroying the watchdog body Data Protection Board by packing it with its own men rather than from judiciary and competent authorities. Temporary consent to use personal data (of illness, etc) given to a data fiduciary cannot be shared with others without my consent. The government is not guaranteeing this, another MP said. Those present in the meeting told News18 that there was vehement opposition by Brittas, Chidambaram, and Mitra to this move to adopt the report. The government is desperate to control our personal data to spy on us instead of protecting it, another opposition MP told News18. We have passed both the bills with the majority of the committee. The opposition boycotted under Rule 261 of Lok Sabha," BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has tweeted. Sources say that the report adopted on Thursday says that no legislation could be perfect and that they evolve over time. The committee, therefore, urges that the provisions that cannot be fully defined within the scope of the bill can be addressed through rules prescribed under the bill which are subsequently presented to Parliament, sources said. With over 21,000 suggestions, consultations with 88 organisations, DPDPB was approved by the Narendra Modi-led government in its cabinet meeting on July 5. This bill has been listed by the government for passage in the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament. The bill is committed to protecting the data of Indian consumers, say sources, adding that, however, at any point, itll be difficult to classify data as simple and sensitive or vice versa and therefore this legislation is being brought keeping the principles in focus. However, a number of issues and situations have been earmarked during which no prior consent would be required for seeking data. The situations could be a case of war, a medical emergency, or details required by a law-enforcing agency, to name a few. The new bill, if passed by Parliament, would replace the current Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, which was notified in 2011. Telangana is the epitome of welfare. In 2014, the number of Asara pension beneficiaries was only 28,47,855. The Telangana government has increased the number of Asara beneficiaries to 43,81,338 by 2023. In 2014, the monthly pension amount given under Asara was only Rs 67.47 crore. Today, the government is providing financial support of Rs 976.42 crore per month. The physically challenged persons pension has been increased to Rs 4,016, benefiting 5,11,656 persons. After the formation of the Telangana government, the Asara Pension Scheme was launched in November 2014 to support the most vulnerable sections of society and provide financial assistance for the daily minimum needs of those who have lost their livelihood with increasing age, allowing them to lead a dignified life with social security. Initially, the Telangana government provided pension support to the elderly, differently-abled, HIV-AIDS victims, handloom workers and stone masons. Furthermore, the government implemented the Asara Pension Scheme for beedi workers from March 2015, single women from April 2017, filaria-affected persons from April 2018, and dialysis victims from August 2022. Telangana is the only state providing pensionable support to beedi workers. The government has also reduced the eligibility age for old-age pension from 65 to 57 years. With this decision, the government approved in August 2022 to grant new old-age pensions as well as new support pensions to 10 lakh beneficiaries across various categories. The Telangana government is currently providing Rs 976.42 crore per month as financial security under various support pension categories. The government stands with every household in the country that needs financial security. When Telangana was formed in 2014, the number of beneficiaries receiving pensions was only 28,47,855. As of June 2023, the number of Asara pension beneficiaries has reached 43,81,338. The government has acted in a humanitarian sense to provide financial security to various communities who are facing difficult times. The monthly pension amount has also been significantly increased in a phased manner. Earlier, the government used to provide a pension of Rs 200 per month to elderly people, differently-abled people, handloom workers and AIDS victims. They used to give a pension of Rs 500 to civilians. After the formation of Telangana state, the government increased the monthly pension to Rs 2,016 and Rs 3,016 for the differently-abled. Additionally, the government is giving a support pension of Rs 2,016 to beedi workers, single women, teachers and dialysis victims. Due to the provision of pensions to eligible individuals, the number of beneficiaries has increased by an additional 15,33,483 compared to 2014, taking the total number of beneficiaries of support pensions to 43,81,338. Also, in 2014, the amount given per month under pensions was only Rs 67.47 crore. Today, it has reached Rs 976.42 crore. The Telangana government has provided Rs 58,696.25 crore as financial assistance from 2014 to 2022-23 under Asara pensions. Now, with the increased support for the disabled, the annual pension under this scheme will reach 11,712.24 crore. Compared to 2014, the number of Asara pension beneficiaries has also significantly increased. The Telangana government has increased the pension for differently-abled individuals to Rs 4,016. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao revealed that the state government stands with everyone who needs support. The state government has increased the pension from Rs 3,016 to Rs 4,016, providing financial security to the disabled. He explained that due to the increase in pension, the disabled in the state will receive financial support of Rs 205.48 crore per month. He further explained that before the advent of Telangana, only 3.57 lakh differently-abled persons were receiving only Rs 17 crore at the rate of 500 per month. Steps have been taken to identify eligible persons through self-government, and as a result, their number has increased to 5,11,656. PR, RD and RWS Minister E. Dayakar Rao has cited CM KCRs rule as an ideal humanitarian approach for the country. The increase in disability pension has brought joy to the differently-abled community. Telangana has become the stage for another historical event by further increasing the financial security provided to the unfortunate and needy individuals. They will now receive Rs 4,016, making Telangana a model for other states in terms of providing the highest pensions. Monthly pensions given to differently-abled persons in various states (in Rs ) A love story that blossomed during the Covid lockdown culminated in a gruesome triple murder in Assams Golaghat district. Nazibur Rahman Bora, 25, murdered his 24-year-old wife Sanghamitra Ghosh, and her parents, before surrendering to police with their nine-month-old baby in his arms. According to police, Nazibur and Sanghamitra became friends on Facebook in June 2020, during the nationwide Covid lockdown. Their friendship soon turned into love and the duo eloped to Kolkata in October 2020. Sanghmitras parents, Sanjeev and Junu Ghosh, however, brought her back home but she had already married Nazibur in a court in Kolkata. Later, in 2021, Sanghamitras parents registered a police complaint, accusing her of theft, following which, she was arrested and spent over a month in judicial custody. After getting bail, Sanghamitra returned to her parents home, police said. Police further said that the couple eloped again in January 2022, this time to Chennai. When they returned to Golaghat in August, Sanghamitra was pregnant. The couple began living at Naziburs house and had a son in November 2022. In March 2023, Sanghamitra left Naziburs home with her infant son accusing him of torturing her and registered a police complaint. A case of attempt to murder was registered and Nazibur was arrested. He was released on bail after 28 days. Sanghamitra, on the other hand, began living at her parents house. After coming out of jail, Nazibur wanted to meet his son, but Sanghamitras family did not allow him. On April 29, Naziburs brother registered a police complaint accusing Sanghamitra and her family members of assaulting Nazibur. On July 24, Nazibur killed his wife Sanghamitra and her parents and fled with his nine-month-old baby. Later, he surrendered before the police. Assam police chief GP Singh said a case of murder and house trespass has been registered against the accused. Assam CID has also been roped in to probe the case. Golaghat Triple Murder a Case of Love Jihad: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Assam CM Himanta Bisawa Sarma on Wednesday met with the family of the deceased and claimed the triple murder in Golaghat was an outcome of love-jihad. He also assured that the chargesheet in the case will be filed within 15 days for the trial of the culprit in a fast-track court. The deceased family was Hindu and the accused belongs to the Muslim community. He first introduced himself with a Hindu name on Facebook. The woman learnt to use drugs when the couple had escaped to Kolkata," Sarma said. #WATCH | Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma meets family members of triple murder case victim Golaghat. pic.twitter.com/rnsYiWOlYM ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2023 In Assam, be it Nazibur Rahman or any other individual, we stand firm in our commitment that crime has no place in our state. Our resolve remains unwavering no criminal shall escape justice.Golaghat pic.twitter.com/xEosJ1IRc3 Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 26, 2023 I am personally concerned about such a case in which religious identity is hidden on Facebook to influence a woman for marriage, and at last such a situation is created that she cannot return. Even if she returns, society will not accept her," the CM added. The chief minister that a proper investigation will be conducted in the case and the strictest action" will be taken against the perpetrator. We would ensure foolproof chargesheet against the perpetrator/s and abettors. Lapses in the investigation of earlier cases, including the validity of the marriage certificate adduced in the previous investigation, shall also be looked at," he added. A senior doctor at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here was allegedly attacked by his patient with a small knife during a consultation meeting in his chamber, police said on Wednesday. The 21-year-old patient was undergoing treatment for depression, since 2021, under Dr Satnam Singh Chabbra, chairman, Department of Neurology, at the leading private hospital in central Delhis Karol Bagh. According to police, the patient identified as Rajkumar, a resident of Bihar, met the neurosurgeon on Tuesday for consultation. He suddenly got agitated and allegedly attacked the doctor with a knife concealed in his pocket, hospital sources said. However, the timely intervention by the hospital security and an attendant of the doctor prevented any serious injury to the doctor. The patient was overpowered and handed over to police, they said. His family members had accompanied him to the hospital, a hospital source said. A police officer said the surgeon received a small cut on his thumb in the incident. He said action under the Prevention of Violence against Doctors, Medical Professionals and Medical Institution Bill, 2018 has been initiated against the patient on the complaint of the surgeon. Hospital sources said Dr Chabbra has been serving the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) for about three decades now and that he has appealed to patients to consider that doctors are only human and they try to serve the people in the best possible manner. GPT-4 passed the Turing test GPT-4 aced most of them, including reading comprehension, mathematics and coding,OpenAI reported 4 . the Turing test the imitation game " Can machines thinkhuman judges, to evaluate performance on specific capabilities, such as language ability, common-sense reasoning and mathematical capacity. Increasingly, teams are also turning to academic and professional examinations designed for people. Its the kind of game that researchers familiar with LLMs could probably still win, however. Chollet says hed find it easy to detect an LLM by taking advantage of known weaknesses of the systems. If you put me in a situation where you asked me, Am I chatting to an LLM right now? I would definitely be able to tell you, says Chollet. The key, he says, is to take the LLM outside of its comfort zone. He suggests presenting it with scenarios that are variations on ones the LLM will have seen a lot in its training data. In many cases, the LLM answers by spitting out words that are most likely to be associated with the original question in its training data, rather than by giving the correct answer to the new scenario. ** The company also set GPT-4 around 30 exams, including: various subject-specific tests designed for US high-school students, known as Advanced Placement; an exam to assess the current state of US physicians clinical knowledge; and a standard test used in the selection process for US graduate studies, called the GRE. In the Uniform Bar Exam, which forms part of the qualification process for lawyers in many US states, GPT-4 attained a score that would place it in the top 10% of people, OpenAI reported (see AI system performance selected results). The worlds best artificial intelligence (AI) systems can pass tough exams, write convincingly human essays and chat so fluently that many find their output indistinguishable from peoples. What cant they do? Solve simple visual logic puzzles. In a test consisting of a series of brightly coloured blocks arranged on a screen, most people can spot the connecting patterns. But GPT-4, the most advanced version of the AI system behind the chatbot ChatGPT and the search engine Bing, gets barely one-third of the puzzles right in one category of patterns and as little as 3% correct in another, according to a report by researchers this May1. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02361-7? NEWS FEATURE 25 July 2023 ChatGPT broke the Turing test the race is on for new ways to assess AI Large language models mimic human chatter, but scientists disagree on their ability to reason. Embattled Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji and his wife Megala Wednesday assailed the EDs decision to arrest him in a money laundering case, saying in accordance with an apex court judgement, the officials of the probe agency are not police officers and so they cannot make arrests. Appearing for the minister and his wife before a bench of Justices A S Bopanna and M M Sundresh, senior advocate Kapil Sibal referred to various provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the apex court judgement while trying to drive home the point that ED not being a police agency lacked the power to arrest. There is no provision under the PMLA for the Enforcement Directorate to seek remand of an accused into its own custody in the same manner as an officer in charge of a police station can do in exercise of power under section 167 of the CrPC, the senior lawyer said. If an officer of the ED is not a police officer when a person accused of predicate offence under the PMLA has to compulsorily answer questions or face prosecution, making their statement admissible in trial, then at what stage do they become a police officer, Sibal asked. He referred to the top courts 2022 judgement in the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary case and said it had held that ED officers are not police officers". In the verdict, the apex court had upheld the EDs powers relating to arrest, attachment of property involved in money laundering, search and seizure under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). It had, however, said authorities under the 2002 Act are not police officers as such" and the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) cannot be equated with an FIR under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The senior lawyer said though the 2022 judgement has several anomalies and has been challenged on several grounds, it did hold that ED officials are not police officers and hence, the powers available to police with regard to arrest and custodial interrogation were unavailable to the anti-money laundering agency. Personally, I feel Vijay Madanlals judgement is wrong but that is for another court to decide. But here I am relying on that judgement to say that ED officials are not police officers, he said. Your contention is unless you are a police officer there is no question of (seeking) remand, the bench said. Sibal said the normal notions of criminal law cannot be applied in this case. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, said the plea be decided expeditiously as the probe agency only has time till August 13 to quiz the minister in custody. He said the 60 days time, prescribed under section 167 of the CrPC, to complete the probe and for filing the charge sheet is ending on August 13. The bench took note of his submissions and said it will continue with the hearing on Thursday at 2 pm. The top court had on July 21 sought the EDs response on the petitions filed by Balaji and his wife Megala challenging the July 14 order of the Madras High Court upholding his arrest by the probe agency in a money laundering case. The minister and his wife have filed two separate petitions in the top court challenging the high court order. Besides upholding the arrest of the minister, the high court had held as valid his subsequent remand in judicial custody by a sessions court in the money laundering case arising out of the alleged cash-for-jobs scam in the states transport department when he was the transport minister. Balaji continues to be a minister without portfolio in the Tamil Nadu cabinet. The solicitor general had told the bench that the agency officers are entitled to make arrests. There cant be a situation where I (ED) arrest someone only to be sent to judicial custody because the very purpose of arrest is for the purpose of investigation," he said. Justice C V Karthikeyan, who was named as a third judge by the high court to hear the habeas corpus petition of Senthil Balajis wife, following a split verdict delivered by a division bench, had concurred with the conclusions arrived at by Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy, who had upheld Balajis arrest. The third judge held that the accused had no right to frustrate the investigation. Justice Karthikeyan had directed the registry to place the matter before Chief Justice S V Gangapurwala to refer it to the same division bench to determine the date on which the ED could take the custody of Senthil Balaji, who has undergone a coronary bypass surgery, and to shift him from the hospital. Balaji was shifted to the Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai from a private hospital recently. In his order, Justice Karthikeyan had said, according to the complainant, he had given Rs 2.40 lakh (for securing a job in a state-run transport corporation). This was the specific offence of bribery for which an FIR was filed, after which the ED had registered the Enforcement Case Information Report (the EDs version of FIR). The ED had subsequently arrested Balaji. Amid tight security, over 2,300 yatris left the base camp here on Wednesday for pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine of Amarnath in the south Kashmir Himalayas, officials said. Over 3.35 lakh pilgrims have so far paid obeisance at the cave shrine since the commencement of the annual yatra from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district in the Kashmir Valley on July 1. A total of 2,372 pilgrims, including 1,955 men, 357 women, 54 seers and six children, left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in a convoy of 103 vehicles amid heavy security of the Central Reserve Police Force in the morning, the officials said. They said 671 pilgrims heading for Baltal were the first to leave the camp in 33 vehicles, followed by the second convoy of 70 vehicles carrying 1,701 pilgrims for Pahalgam. Over 1.30 lakh pilgrims have left from the Bhagwati Nagar camp for the valley since June 29, when the first batch of pilgrims was flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. For the first time in its history, Orissa High Court pronounced a verdict in the Odia language on the day it celebrated 75 years of its establishment. The verdict was delivered by Justice Sanjeeb Kumar Panigrahi on a writ petition. The civil case, which created history, was previously heard on July 19 but its judgment was preserved and was published in vernacular language just a day before the high courts platinum jubilee celebration. The verdict was delivered in Odia and commemorated 75 years of its establishment. The judgement holds great significance as common people often faced difficulties in understanding a judgment because of the language barrier. This step will certainly make judicial processes accessible to them. Notably, 50 paperless courts covering 23 districts of Odisha were inaugurated on July 3 in virtual mode by Orissa High Court Chief Justice Dr Justice S Muralidhar. With the inauguration of 50 new paperless courts, the Orissa High Court has come good on its pledge and the number of paperless courts in the District Judiciary of the State has reached 84. Earlier in February, the Kerala High Court published two of its recent judgments in Malayalam becoming the first court in history to pronounce judgement in regional languages. The Kerala court judgement came on International Mother Language Day. Article 348(2) of the Constitution of India mandates the use of regional languages in the High Courts of the country, recognising the importance of regional languages in the legal system and ensuring that justice redressal mechanisms are accessible to all citizens, regardless of their linguistic background. (With inputs from Navesh Mohanty) In a bizarre incident, Kerala police have registered a case over interference in a microphone used by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during the commemoration meeting of his predecessor Oommen Chandy who passed away, aged 79, on July 18. During the programme organised by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) in remembrance of Chandy on Monday, there was a disturbance in the microphone with a sound of hiss, for a few seconds, while CM Vijayan was addressing the ceremony. It was promptly rectified after which the Chief Minister continued his speech. Now, Kerala police, on its own accord, has registered a case under section 118(e) of the Kerala Police Act, which deals with penalty for causing any grave violation of public order or danger. Under the act, Any person who, knowingly does any act which causes danger to public or failure in public safety" can be punished. However, the police said the case has not been registered against anyone, and they just wanted to know what was the reason behind the interference in the microphone. Meanwhile, police have seized a microphone, amplifier, and set of wires used during the programme held at the Ayyankali Hall in Thiruvananthapuram to check the equipment". Police have also taken the statement of the mic operators and a probe is underway. Renjith, the owner of the SV Sound System told the media said he was surprised to get a call from the police asking him to appear before them. I have handed over the cable, amplifier and cables to the police. For the past one decade I have been supplying the sound system for public meetings including the visit of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This case is a first of its kind and really dont know whats happening, he said. Chandy, who served as the chief minister of Kerala twice, breathed his last in a private hospital in Bengaluru on Tuesday. His end came while undergoing treatment for cancer, party sources said. The Parliamentary Committee on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has urged the Centre to continue to engage with global bodies to sensitise them to the role played by Pakistan in fostering terrorism. The committee made this recommendation in its twenty-second report on Indias Neighbourhood First Policy, which also requested for setting up of a common platform for countering terrorism under the Neighbourhood First Policy. Under this policy, Government focuses on developing friendly and mutually beneficial relations with all its neighbours, based on a consultative and non-reciprocal approach. In view of the belligerent attitude of Pakistan, the Committee desire that the Government should continue to proactively engage with the regional and multilateral bodies/organizations extensively so as to sensitize them of the role played by Pakistan in fostering terrorism and win their support in the fight against terrorism on its soil," the Committee says. Efforts may also be made to establish a common platform for countering terrorism under the Neighbourhood First Policy," the report adds. It also recommends the government consider the establishment of economic ties with Pakistan if they come forward and work towards broader people-to-people contacts in view of the cultural commonalities. In the report presented to the 17th Lok Sabha, the Committee notes that the dividends of the Neighbourhood First Policy have translated into strong support for India in various multilateral fora such as the UN, NAM, Commonwealth, SAARC and BIMSTEC. India works in close cooperation with its neighbouring partners in these groupings towards ensuring the security and growth for all in the region," the report says. Since 2014, India has been successful in securing the release and repatriation of more than 2,700 Indian prisoners including 40 Indian fishermen and 5 Indian civilian prisoners. The Committee are aware that many more Indian nationals including fishermen have been languishing in Pakistani prisons for a long time and desire that the Ministry should step up its diplomatic efforts to secure their early release and repatriation to India," the report says. As per MEAs annual report, India desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan. Indias consistent position is that issues, if any, between India and Pakistan should be resolved bilaterally and peacefully, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence. India has repeatedly called upon Pakistan to bring perpetrators of Mumbai terror attacks to justice expeditiously. However, there has been no progress in the ongoing trial of Mumbai terror attacks case in Pakistan even after all the evidence has been shared with Pakistan side. The ministry says that the onus is on Pakistan to create such a conducive environment. It adds that Pakistan continues to sponsor cross-border terrorism against India, restrict normal trade, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges. (With inputs from Shalinder Wangu) 18 YEARS OF JULY 26, 2005 MUMBAI FLOODS: July 26, 2005 floods is remembered by Mumbaikars as one of the darkest days in the citys history. On that fateful Tuesday, Mumbai faced an unprecedented disaster as heavy rains drenched the financial metropolis, wreaking havoc in its wake. THE RAINFALL Rainfall began in a normal pace as the clock struck midnight, eventually turning into a relentless deluge. Mumbai received a whopping 37 inches of rain in mere 24 hours, with 26 inches pouring down in just four hours. This downpour topped the annual rainfall of various places around the country, including the famed Cherapunji, which is recognised for having the worlds highest rainfall. The catastrophe was caused by the eighth-heaviest 24-hour rainfall ever recorded, 944 mm (37.17 inches), which inundated the city and continued sporadically into the next day. Rainwater and sewage mixed, contaminating the citys water supply. As a result, the government ordered that housing societies add chlorine to their water tanks to provide safe drinking water. THE DEATHS The citys infrastructure was overwhelmed by the onslaught. Floodwaters rose, drowning low-lying roads and residences. Over 1000 lives were tragically lost, and numerous homes were damaged, leaving the city paralyzed. Lakhs of people were trapped far from their homes, desperately looking for transportation in the thick of the turmoil. Tens of thousands of animal corpses drifted in the floodwaters, increasing fear of potential pandemic. THE TRANSPORTATION DISRUPTION The transit network, which is normally Mumbais lifeline, was crippled. The floodwaters destroyed 37,000 auto rickshaws, 4,000 taxis and 900 BEST buses, while forcing 10,000 trucks and tempos off the road. Local trains, the major source of the citys daily commute, were also halted owing to water-logged tracks. THE ECONOMIC LOSSES The floods caused extensive damage to property, infrastructure, and businesses. The estimated economic loss from the event amounted to billions of dollars. WHY MUMBAI EXPERIENCES HEAVY RAIN? Experts explained to The Weather Channel that the climatic events leading to the calamity were not unexpected during the monsoon season. Prof. Sridhar Balasubramanian of IIT Bombays Department of Mechanical Engineering stated that a low-pressure region over the north Bay of Bengal, bringing winds from the Arabian Sea, might always pose a significant threat. The resultant westerly winds activate an off-shore trough along the west coast which creates an upper-level cyclonic circulation. The moisture incursion is enhanced due to the upper-level cyclonic circulation leading to the formation of rain-bearing clouds. This is the same dynamics behind most of the heavy rain spell over Mumbai, he explained to the news outlet. A low-pressure area slowly intensified into a well-defined low in the days leading up to July 26, 2005, carrying moisture from the Arabian Sea. The convergence of these meteorological systems resulted in the creation of dense clouds, resulting in heavy rain for almost 6-8 hours. The Opposition has asked the ruling Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra to cover the potholes on the Mumbai-Nasik highway and not charge for toll from the motorists till the road is properly repaired. Public Works Department minister Dada Bhuse assured the opposition that an order will be issued for not charging the highway toll and to repair the potholes. The Mumbai-Nasik high way has been experiencing huge traffic in the last three days due to bad road conditions and potholes. Traffic jam was seen from Bhiwandi town to Cadbury junction in Thane. Satyajeet Tambe, who was inducted recently as the Member of Legislative Council, tweeted about his experience when he was on his way from Sangamner (Ahmednagar district) to attend the monsoon session of the state assembly in Mumbai. He said he had to get down near Bhiwandi, from where he reached Kalyan Station and took the AC Local to reach to Mumbai. Respect has increased for people travelling daily from Palghar, Panvel, Kalyan, Dombivali to Mumbai. They have such a high tolerance level that due to lack of infrastructure they are still travelling this far every day. Tambe told News18, We had to admit it that infrastructure in satellite towns near Mumbai is in shambles. All the ongoing infrastructure projects happening in and around Mumbai need a deadline and it has to be adhered to strictly. Also, Bhiwandi has become the hub of small industries thats why there is a need to find solution to curb such traffic jams happening due to poor road condition. If we dont pay attention now, there is a chance that in the future this hub will get shifted to some other state who will offer them better infrastructure. Then, the state will have to face the big financial loss, hence, time has come that we should pull up our socks. Traffic has been severely affected in Thane and Mumbai due to the potholes on the Mankoli, Dive Anjur, Bhiwandi bypass along the Mumbai-Nasik Highway. Due to the potholes, people take 35-45 minutes to cross the distance which on a normal day takes only 10 minutes. Senior Congress leader and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Balasaheb Thorat targeted chief minister Eknath Shinde and Central minister Kapil Patil for the poor conditions of roads in Thane and Bhiwandi. Patil represents Bhiwandi constituency in Lok Sabha. Even Congress leader Nana Patole and NCP leader Rohit Pawar have raised the concern that despite the CMs order, the potholes are not getting filled. MLA from Bhiwandi Rais Shiakh had raised the question over the road expansion project from Thane to Vadpe and Vadpe to Nasik on the Mumbai-Nasik Highway. While answering the question, minister Bhuse said, Around 30% work of the project has been completed. By 2024, both these roads will be an eight-lane road. Heavy traffic movement happens on the Mumbai-Nasik Highway near Bhiwandi as the town has become hub for warehouses. But the state government will take all possible actions to curb the traffic jams and improve the road conditions. Parliament Monsoon Session 2023: As calls grow to end deadlock in Parliament, Congress demand is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should make a comprehensive statement in both houses of Parliament on the violence in Manipur. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, the situation in the northeast is fragile and the repercussions of the Manipur violence seem to be spilling over to other states too. Kharge said 83 days of unabated violence in Manipur require that the prime minister make a comprehensive statement in Parliament. Kharge said it was high time that Modi sheds his ego and takes the country Weather Updates: Schools Shut in Mumbai and Suburbs Amid Rains; Delhi Yamuna Level Rises AgainThe Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued rain alerts for several states as heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Southern states. BMC issued an advisory asking citizens to adopt caution and not to step out until necessary. The schools and educational institutes have also been closed on July 27 given students safety. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand The weather body forecast heavy rainfall in northwest India amid chaos in states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand due to flash floods and overflowing Beas River. A cloudburst in Kullu on Tuesday caused intensive damage as a bride got washed away and several houses collapsed. Since the onset of the monsoon on June 24, about 652 houses have been completely damaged in Himachal Pradesh, while 6,686 were partially damaged besides 236 shops and 2,037 cow sheds, reported PTI citing the data from the state emergency response centre. Southern States The IMD has issued a very heavy to extremely heavy rains alert in Southern India. An orange alert has been issued in parts of Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. The weather body has also issued a red alert for Telangana from July 25-27 and has predicted heavy rainfall in the state. Meanwhile, the IMD said that the well-marked low-pressure area over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts persists. Telangana IMD Hyderabad on Monday issued a red alert warning of extremely heavy rainfall in several districts of Telangana till July 28. At least 60 families in the Bhadradri-Kothagudem district have been shifted to relief camps, while low-lying areas were inundated at several places in Telangana as rains continued to lash the state on Wednesday. Around 40-42 tourists got stranded in the Veerabhadravaram forest area in Mulugu district. The tourists got stranded due to incessant rains while returning from Muthyaladhara waterfalls. A team of NDRF along with the state disaster management team and local police carried out a rescue operation. Maharashtra The Konkan region of Goa and Maharashtra is also expected to receive heavy rainfalls amid rain alerts in several parts of Maharashtra. Mumbais regional meteorological centre has issued an orange alert for Palghar and Thane districts and a red alert for Mumbai, Ratnagiri and Raigad tomorrow. Indian Meteorological Department (Mumbai) has issued Extremely Heavy Rainfall Warning (Red Alert) for Mumbai City & Suburban area from 8pm today till tomorrow afternoon In view of this, considering the safety of students as a top priority, the Municipal Commissioner and Mumbai, BMC (@mybmc) July 26, 2023 Meanwhile, all schools and educational institutes have also been shut down in Mumbai on July 27 amid rain and thunderstorm warnings as the weather body predicts a possible rise in Yamuna level. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar is coordinating the rescue and relief operations at the emergency control room, in Mumbai. Maharashtras Raigad district recorded an average of 104 mm rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 10 am on Wednesday, reported PTI quoting officials. Delhi-NCR Parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) received heavy rainfall this morning, leading to waterlogging in several areas. Meanwhile, all schools up to class 12 in Noida and Greater Noida remained closed due to heavy rainfall and waterlogging. Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh and parts of western Uttar Pradesh are also likely to receive fairly widespread rains tomorrow. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said India is ready to cross the Line of Control (LoC) to maintain its honour and dignity and called upon civilians to be ready to support the soldiers in such a situation. Citing the example of the Russia-Ukraine war, he said the war has been going on for more than a year because civilians have stepped up and are participating in the war. Singh was speaking at the Kargil War Memorial here on the occasion of the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas. Earlier, he laid a wreath at the memorial to pay tributes to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the 1999 Kargil War. No compromise will be made in protecting the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country. We have given a free hand to the armed forces to eliminate the nations enemies. India is a peace-loving nation which believes in its centuries-old values and is committed towards international laws, but to safeguard our interests, we will not hesitate in crossing the LoC," he said. We can go to any extreme to maintain the honour and dignity of the countryif that includes crossing the LoC, we are ready to do thatif we are provoked and if the need arises, we will cross the LoC," Singh added. Citing the example of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the defence minister stated that the war, which has been continuing for more than one year, reflects the unpredictable nature of conflicts in todays times. The war has been prolonged as the people are training and joining their military in fighting for their cause," he said. The minister called upon the people to be ready to participate in wars not only indirectly but directly as well if ever the need arises. People should be mentally prepared so that whenever the nation needs them, they should be ready to help the armed forces. Just as every soldier is an Indian, in the same way, every Indian should be ready to play the role of a soldier, he said. Whenever there has been a war situation, our public has always supported the forces but that support has been indirect. I urge the public to be ready to support the soldiers directly on the battlefield if the need arises," he added. Singh said the Kargil war was imposed on India, which was backstabbed" by Pakistan. The Kargil war was imposed on India. At that time, India had tried to solve the issues with Pakistan through talks we are backstabbed by Pakistan," he said. During Operation Vijay, the Indian Army sent a message not only to Pakistan but to the whole world that when it comes to our national interests, our Army will not back down at any cost. We are fully committed to safeguarding our national interests even today," the minister said. Many of the soldiers who fought in the Kargil War were newly married, about to get married or were the sole breadwinners of their families. But they did not think about their lives and put them on the line, Singh said. I salute our brave sons who put the country first and sacrificed their lives. Their sacrifices have not gone waste, their contribution will continue to inspire generations," he added. The defence minister also called upon the Army to work towards ensuring that the contribution of these unsung heroes does not go unnoticed. The Indian Army had launched a fierce counter-assault, Operation Vijay, to push back Pakistani forces that had stealthily occupied important heights in Ladakh in 1999. The war saw Indian armed forces fight in the most challenging terrains amid harsh weather conditions in Drass, Kargil and Batalik sectors. Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed to mark Indias victory over Pakistan. The ceremony at Drass also witnessed a gathering of war heroes, veer naris and the families of the fallen heroes. Singh interacted with them and extended heartfelt gratitude while recalling all those who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation. He assured them that the sacrifices of these brave hearts will never be forgotten. Lieutenant General Caldwell, thank you for inviting me here today, for your leadership, and for your kind introduction. Let me extend my thanks as well to Lieutenant General Arter, Command Sergeant Major Johndrow, Brigadier General Cardon, and most importantly to the families and graduates of the Command and General Staff College. Thank you for allowing me to join you today and to pay tribute to this graduating class all 960 of you from the United States and abroad. I wanted to come here because I believe this is an institution dedicated to building peace. Of course your fundamental mission is to protect our nation: indeed to protect the more than 60 nations from which all of you hail, but we live in a world where protecting our national interests cannot be separated from engaging in our global community. Seven decades ago, Winston Churchill exhorted the United States this way: One cannot rise to be in many ways the leading community in the civilized world without being involved in its problems, without being convulsed by its agonies and inspired by its causes. If this has been proved in the past, as it has been, it will become indisputable in the future. The people of the United States cannot escape world responsibility. And if that was true seven decades ago, it is even truer today. Let me read to you from Barack Obamas Audacity of Hope written when his presidential aspirations were still a distant vision. When Truman , Acheson, Kennan, and Marshall sat down to design the architecture of the post-World War II order, their frame of reference was the competition between the great powers that had dominated the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.Americas greatest threats came from expansionist states like Nazi Germany or Soviet Russia.That world no longer exists. [Today] the growing threatcomes primarily from those parts of the world on the margins of the global economy where the international rules of the road have not taken hold .lands in which an overwhelming majority of the population is poor, uneducated, and cut off from the global information grid; places where the rulers fear globalization will loosen their hold on power.The very interconnectivity that increasingly binds the world together has empowered those who would tear that world down. I raise these perspectives not to engender a fear of globalization, but to instill a respect for its power, an understanding of how to engage it, and a sense of humility about the limits of our capacity to act alone in shaping it. We live in a world where capital, technology, ideas and people know no boundaries. It is this very capacity to transcend borders, to tap world capabilities, and to have access to world markets that has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty in China and India. It has created unprecedented wealth here in the United States. It has even contributed to a global capacity to advance peace. Forgotten by many is this reality: that cooperation through bodies like the United Nations has cut in half the number of conflicts within states since the end of the Cold War. But globalization has its dark side when we fail to govern it, and here we have yet to succeed as a nation, or as a global community. Hence, we have: A world where a housing crisis in the U.S. turned into a financial crisis and then a global recession with unemployment over 9 percent in the U.S., with 20 million displaced in China, with the poorest of the poor pushed to the margins of survival in places like Mali, Chad, or the mountains of Peru. A world where the industrial revolution has brought cars, televisions and refrigerators to billions, but it has entrenched a pattern of fossil fuel use that is causing carbon concentrations in our atmosphere that threatens life as we know it. A world where nuclear technology has created capacity for a carbon-free future in producing electricity, but the uncontrolled proliferation of this technology has made countries, such as North Korea and Iran a menace to world peace and stability. In this world that transcends borders, no one nation can succeed along, yet no nation can isolate itself from global problems. This is why President Obama says American security is inseparable from global security. Our futures are intertwined. But our challenge, your challenge, is to understand how to make operational these perspectives on our global environment. Let me leave you with a few observations: First, the scale of international challenges is greater than any we have ever known: We face today crises. You know them well in some cases too well: Afghanistan/Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East; Geopolitical challenges to global stability: managing productively the rise of China and India; an aggressively assertive Russia; and throughout Latin America, a dynamic of change where the United States has become at times a secondary player; and Existential or global challenges: the financial crisis, climate change, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and conflict within and between states. What on this agenda can we put off? What can we place aside? Very little. Thus, an important lesson for our country and for everyone one of us: leadership in this world means to build partnerships with other nations to share this burden for the sake of a peaceful and prosperous world. It requires building respect for our nation and that means setting a shining example in our adherence to the rule of law so that we can leverage these partnerships and relationships to succeed in advancing our national interests. If this is true for the United States, it is equally true for every nation represented here today. These are not idealistic fantasies. Today, the ability to develop and sustain effective partnerships and the respect of the world has become the new American realism. I leave you with this observation as well. The problems that we face are interconnected their interaction defines our future but at the same time we cannot find solutions unless we understand the interlinked forces that are defining our reality. The economic crisis is not only shedding jobs, it affects the capacity of every nation to put a price on carbon, a measure seen as critical to encouraging conservation and innovation, and thus deterring the environmental changes that even now are a cause of floods, draughts, disease and migration. Climate change is exacerbating competition for scarce resources especially land and water that could drive future conflicts. One thing we know for sure is that without addressing the underlying scarcities of land and water there are no permanent solutions to conflict in places like Darfur. And for those who wonder why we should care about distant conflict, let us not forget that the most significant strife we have ever had on American territory was orchestrated from one of the poorest countries in the world Afghanistan. What do we learn from this? Lets not assess the world based on the static realities before us but seek instead to gauge the interactive effects of global forces if we are to understand where future threats may emerge. As we prepare for the future and search for solutions to todays problems, we must understand how the military dimensions of todays threats intersect with the other social, economic, cultural and religious factors driving the security environment. But I also caution this: it is not for our militaries to solve all of these problems, but to be a conscience and driver to our civilian authorities to invest and build these capabilities. As a basic test of whether we are headed in the right direction to test whether we are honest with ourselves focus on local realities. Ask what it will take to deliver security and prosperity in a community in Southern Afghanistan, for example, and then ask what will make it sustainable and here I suspect youll find these realities: We cant sustain success without building the capacity of local counterparts whether they be military, police, government officials, entrepreneurs. Building that capacity means an investment of our people in their people that is why we are sending 4,000 troops to train and mentor Afghan police and military But I know you will be sorely disappointed, and perhaps have already been, in our nations capacity to invest from the civilian side of our government not because the will is not there, but because we dont have the people. Look at this stark contrast: the 4,000 military trainers we are sending to Afghanistan constitute two-thirds of 6,500 foreign service officers across the world. As a nation, we have begun to make some critical changes. President Obama requested an 11 percent increase in his FY 2010 Foreign Affairs budget. It is a modest beginning. It will take the support of those of you with a stake in the nations security, and from Americas heartland, to achieve this and to continue to grow this capacity. In our hearts, I believe we must be humble, but not bleak. We have a unique moment. I have traveled the world nowhere have I seen a rejection of American leadership. Instead, there is a thirst for a change in the style of leadership based on partnerships and shared investments. That is in our interest. In the United States, poll after poll shows that the American people want international partnerships and cooperation. Intuitively, we as a nation understand the wisdom of working with others and sharing the burden of extraordinary times. A core means to achieving sustainable partnerships is adherence to the rule of law. That plays to our strength not our weakness it is what makes us strong at home and we should welcome this internationally as well. Yes, we will encounter problems a global environment also means global competition. There are those who mean to hurt us and good people throughout the world. We have seen tragic acts of terror in London, Madrid, Mumbai and many cities in Pakistan and throughout the Middle East. But we cannot be deterred in transforming our perspectives on this transnational world, modernizing our capabilities, and building our capacity to act together. Our strength is in our people our creativity, honesty, decency, commitment to hard work, and a moral belief that we are in these global endeavors together for the sake of our families and the generations that come behind us. Our hope is in people like you, and that is a source of confidence. Command and Staff College Class of 09-1, congratulations. Good speed to you, and to your families. You have the gratitude of our nation, and every nation represented here today. While no loss of life has been reported due to stone-pelting on Vande Bharat trains, the Railways has suffered damages worth Rs 55.60 lakh since 2019, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday. Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, while responding to a question from BJP MP Queen Oja, informed the House that no theft or damage to passenger belongings was reported in the stone-pelting incidents. Some incidents of stone pelting have been reported on Vande Bharat trains. During the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 (up to June), Indian Railways suffered a loss of Rs 55.60 lakh due to damage caused to Vande Bharat trains in the incidents of stone pelting, Vaishnaw said while replying to the Guwahati MP. He also said that 151 people involved in stone-pelting have been arrested so far. Further, last week, the ministry informed the Rajya Sabha that 4,233 incidents of stone-pelting on trains were reported over the Indian Railways during the last three years: 2020, 2021, and 2022. These incidents included stone-pelting across all the trains, including Vande Bharat. According to the ministry data, in 2022, at least 1,503 cases of stone-pelting on moving trains were registered by the Railway Protection Force and 488 people were arrested. The ministry also informed Parliament that various awareness programmes including Operation Sathi were conducted regularly in inhabited areas adjacent to railway tracks to sensitise people towards the menace of stone-pelting and its consequences. Also, detailed guidelines have been issued regarding action to be taken to control incidents of stone-pelting on moving trains. Analysis of these incidents followed by substantive action is taken to curb these incidents. Currently, 50 services of Vande Bharat trains are operational across India and almost all these trains have reported stone-pelting. The Gorakhpur-Lucknow Vande Bharat that was flagged off this month was also attacked a few days later. The train was going to Lucknow from Gorakhpur when stones were thrown at it near Sohawal railway station. Four window panes of the executive class were damaged. A woman was allegedly gang-raped at a hotel in Haryanas Gurugram by a man she met on a dating app and his friend. As per the police, the victim in her complaint said that she met the accused through a dating app who later invited her to a hotel in the Sector 50 area of Gurugram on June 29. The woman, in her complaint, also alleged that the duo recorded the whole act and threatened to make her video viral. At the hotel, she said the man and his friend offered her food, after eating which she lost consciousness, police said on Tuesday. Taking advantage of this, they raped me and also made a video of the act. When I protested after regaining consciousness, the accused threatened to make her video viral. Somehow I returned home but now reached the police, the victim said in her complaint. Haryana police have lodged an FIR against two unknown accused under the section of gang rape at sector 50 police station, SHO Praveen Malik said. A probe is underway in the matter, the official added. (With PTI Inputs) KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS 2023: July 26 is observed as the Kargil Vijay Diwas, remembering the sacrifice made by soldiers of the Indian Army. On this day, the country commemorates the Armys triumph over Pakistani troops in Kargil, Ladakh, in 1999, after more than 60 days of battle. On this day, amid the many brave hearts who sacrificed their life for the country, Captain Vikram Batras name comes to everyones mind. Captain Batra gave his life fighting valiantly for India throughout the battle. He was only 24 years old at the time and was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the highest battlefield heroism honour, posthumously. Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023: 10 Facts About Captain Vikram Batra The Worlds Best Vineyards List for 2023 recently revealed the names of the most alluring wine havens on Earth. Home-grown Catena Zapata in Mendoza, Argentina grabbed the first spot. Wine tourism in India is slowly and steadily developing in the country. Going for wine tours has become a perfect weekend getaway for the millennials. The wine tours do not just offer visually pleasing landscapes but also offer activities like grape picking, etc. If you are a wine connoisseur who loves exploring different wine-tasting festivals to relish the sophisticated drink? Then you can visit these 5 vineyards in India. York Winery, Nashik, Maharashtra York Winery is located in the countrys Wine capital of India Nashik. Located on a slope of a green hill, with a lake on the side, the winery produces quality wines like Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc. It is one of the few wineries in India that produces Chardonnay. The wineries offer vineyard tours, vineyard restaurants, and wine tasting. Sula Vineyards Sula Vineyard is known as The Napa Valley of India, it is spread across a magnificent 3,000 acres. Sula Valley serves an excellent variety of wines like Satori Merlot, and Riesling Sico. Fratelli Vineyards Fratelli Vineyard is a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. It is situated in the spectacular vineyard estate in Akluj in Maharashtras Solapur. It is the perfect place for spoiling yourself, as it offers a homely guesthouse, and authentic Maharashtra cuisines prepared by the top-class chef. It offers exclusive tours of its state-of-the-art cellars. Chateau dOri It is the second-largest vineyard and is known for its classic French wine. It boasts the worlds largest Merlot plantation. The gorgeous vineyard is eco-friendly and uses windmills for power generation. It does not use fertilizers and pesticides in its Merlot plantation. It has three artificial lakes for watersports, wine-tasting lounges, and resorts with Jacuzzi. Grover Zampa Vineyards Located on Nandi Hills in Bengaluru, the vineyard is one of the oldest and most reputable in India. It has a record of producing award-winning wines. The company bought Four Season Wines and Charosa Wines in 2019. It has won an award for the premium, La Reserve brand of oak-matured Shiraz reds and Cabernet Sauvignon. Actress Nalini, a prominent figure in Tamil cinema, recently granted a heartfelt interview where she candidly expressed her enduring love for her former spouse, the iconic actor Ramarajan. This interview has sparked immense interest among their fans, as Ramarajan holds a special place in the hearts of many for his significant contributions to Tamil cinema during the 80s and 90s. With several blockbuster movies and unforgettable songs composed by the legendary Ilayaraja, Ramarajans impact on the industry is undeniable. The star couple of Tamil cinema, Ramarajan, and Nalini, shared a beautiful love story that captivated the hearts of their fans. Their on-screen chemistry and off-screen affection endeared them to audiences. They appeared together in numerous successful films, including Manasukkettha Maharaasa and Kavalan. Ramarajan and Nalinis love story blossomed during the peak of their careers, with Nalini juggling up to 24 films a year. During this busy period, she fell deeply in love with Ramarajan while working on a film alongside actor Suresh. The realisation of their love led Nalini to decide to elope with Ramarajan, a shocking revelation for Suresh. As their parents learned about their love affair, disapproval arose, and Nalini faced challenges in continuing to act in Ramarajans films. Despite these hurdles, she took on a project with Nizhalgal Ravi, adding more complexity to their love story. Unforgettable experiences followed, with shadowing attempts made on their love by Nizhalgal Ravi. However, fate had other plans, as Ramarajan unknowingly fell in love with Nalini and eventually married her. Although the reasons behind their eventual separation remain undisclosed, Nalini openly admits that her love for Ramarajan remains strong, even today. The couple went their separate ways in 2000, but Nalinis affection and fondness for him persist. In the interview, Nalini shared cherished memories of their time, acknowledging the challenges they faced and the support they received from their fans. Despite the passage of time, her love for Ramarajan endures, and he is aware of the enduring affection she holds for him. Nalinis heartfelt interview has resonated with fans and brought back nostalgic memories of the beloved star couples golden era in Tamil cinema. Their love story serves as a reminder of the magic of cinema and the emotions it evokes, even beyond the silver screen. As fans continue to cherish the legacy of Ramarajan and Nalini, this interview stands as a testament to the lasting impact they have had on Tamil cinema and the hearts of their admirers. Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, starring Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh, releases in cinemas on July 28. The Karan Johar directorial marks the reunion of Bollywoods hit on-screen pair of Alia and Ranveer after their blockbuster movie Gully Boy. The makers of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani held an official premiere of the film in Mumbai on Tuesday and the early reviews are already out. For More: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani First Review Says Alia-Ranveers Film Is Superhit Family Drama The much-awaited sequel, Gadar 2 unveiled its dramatic teaser in June. The film that has been generating immense buzz among fans is just two months from its theatrical release on August 11. Now, the makers have finally dropped the trailer. The trailer was launched in Mumbai at a special press conference with Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel attending it. For More: Gadar 2 Trailer: Sunny Deols Tara Singh Returns To Pakistan and This Time For His Son The Kashmir Files director Vivek Agnihotri has taken a sly jibe at Prabhas for playing lord Ram in Om Rauts Adipurush, which faced a massive criticism for alleged distortion of Hindu epic, Ramayan. Adipurush was embroiled in one controversy after other upon its release in June. Now, Vivek has reflected on the films failure and why it caused an uproar across the country. For More: Vivek Agnihotri Taunts Prabhas For Playing Lord Ram In Adipurush, If Youre Driven Home Drunk Ever since Jawans preveu released, fans are speculating that Shah Rukh Khan might have a double role in the film. The rumour began after they spotted a younger and older Shah Rukh. While SRK and Atlee have remained tight-lipped about the speculations, a new report claims to have more details about the double role. It is claimed that the father version of Shah Rukh will be identified as Vikram while the son version is named Azaad. For More: Shah Rukh Khans Father-Son Duo in Jawan Named Vikram and Azaad? Heres What We Know Central Board of Film Certifications Revising Committee has reportedly watched OMG 2 and has ordered as many 20 cuts in the film. Headlined by Akshay Kumar, it was claimed earlier this year that the Censor Board has put an hold on the certification of OMG 2 and revising committee was roped in to weigh in on the film before ceritfication as a preemptive measure. It seems that the commiittee has shared their feedback, demanding several visual and audio deletion. For More: OMG 2: CBFC Orders 20 Cuts, Adults Only Certificate; Makers Are Not Okay With Changes? Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt are running on a hectic schedule to promote their upcoming film Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani in the last few days before its release. On some occasions, the director, Karan Johar has also joined them. But there is no harm in having some fun amid the hustle and bustle of the release. Recently, a video of Ranveer engaging in fun banter about Alias debut film, Student Of The Year, went viral on the Internet. Additionally, what caught everyones attention was Alias adorable reaction. A short clip that is featured on Reddit shows Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh at one of the many promotional events. One can also hear Karan Johar in the background. In the video, Ranveer remarks to Karan, Student Of The Year is one of your deepest films." Karan seems to agree and responds sarcastically, saying, Yes, Student of the year of one of my deepest cinematic piece of work." Alia, on the other hand, eyes Ranveer for his comment. The actress is then seen sticking her tongue out at Ranveer and gesturing that she agrees with Karan. This made Ranveer Singh laugh out loud on the stage. Netizens were quite amazed to witness this fun interaction between Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt One user wrote, This is such an adorable interaction," while another said, She looked beautiful doing that." Meanwhile, Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt were in Kolkata earlier this week to promote Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani. As Alia plays a Bengali character Rani Chatterjee, she made an effort to address the crowd with a fluent Bengali speech. However, on stage, Ranveer once again was having fun at the expense of Alia forgetting her lines. Alia shared a video of the same on her Instagram handle. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alia Bhatt (@aliaabhatt) In the first part of the video, Alia is seen rehearsing her speech again and again. But when she starts to speak on stage, she pauses and expresses that she forgot her lines. Ranveer Singh teases Alia, saying, Too cute yaar. Tu homework kar ke aayi and exam hall pe bhul gayi (You have come prepared and then you forget at the exam hall)." But Alia did not lose heart and started her speech again, nailing it this time. She said, Namaskar Kolkata. Kemon acho sobai? Tomader sobaike anek dhonyobad ekhane asar jonyo. Aj ami khub khub khub excited. (Hello Kolkta, How are you all? A big thank you all for coming here. I am very excited today)." Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani will mark Karan Johars directorial comeback. In addition to Alia and Ranveer, legendary actors Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi, and Jaya Bachchan play important roles in the film. It will release in theatres on July 28. The popular South Korean musician and composer Kim Seok-jin, popularly known as Jin, has been serving in the South Korean military since 2022. He is the first member of the popular boy band BTS to complete his mandatory military training. A fan account called Seokjinism - The Astronaut Jin on social media platform X recently drove ARMYs (BTS fans) into a frenzy by uploading photographs of Jin from his 18-month military duty. The fan account praised Jins glowing face and how he maintains a healthy and attractive appearance despite his strenuous military routine. They even said that he is fully barefaced and that his attractiveness is out of this world. Kim Seokjins face is so small and despite being in rough schedule of military, his skin is glowing and looks healthy skin. And he is totally barefaced here. Of course Kim Seokjins handsomeness which is out of this world # #JIN #BTSJIN # pic.twitter.com/z1RS0iNnSW Seokjinism - THE ASTRONAUT JIN (@seokjinism1) July 26, 2023 Needless to say, the post instantly went viral, garnering thousands of views and likes in a matter of minutes. ARMYs couldnt help but shower him with love, proudly calling him Corporal Kim Seokjin in the comments section. One ARMY even wrote, Indeed Seokjins handsome! Perfect visuals and perfect body. I want to salute corporal Seokjin. I am so proud of him. Indeed Seokjin's handsome! Perfect visuals and perfect body. I want to salute corporal Seokjin. I am so proud of him.CORPORAL KIM SEOKJIN# #JIN mamna (@MamoonaIqbal24) July 26, 2023 But Jin isnt the only BTS member to undergo military service. In October 2022, BigHit Music confirmed that all seven members would fulfil their duties. J-Hope, also known as Jung Ho-seok, followed Jins lead and enlisted in the South Korean military in April this year. The remaining members, Suga, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, are all gearing up to enlist by the end of this year, as per the official confirmation by their music label. Meanwhile, BTSs infectious music and powerful performances continue to dominate the world. Theyve even made history by being the first group ever to have 35 billion Spotify streams. Notably, they reached this milestone with their official single Take Two and a collaborative song for the anime Bastions called The Planet, both of which were released in 2023. Since their debut in 2013, BTS has rapidly risen to become one of the greatest global musical acts, gripping hearts in South Korea and beyond. Their success knows no boundaries, as evidenced by countless awards both at home and abroad. Theyve received awards at the Billboard Music Awards, the American Music Awards and several more. The much-awaited sequel, Gadar 2 unveiled its dramatic teaser in June. The film, that has been generating immense buzz among fans, is just few weeks from its theatrical release on August 11. Now, the makers have finally dropped the trailer. The trailer was launched in Mumbai at a special press conference with Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel attending it. The trailer revealed that Sunny and Ameesha are returning as Tara Singh and Sakeena. The couple is in a happy marriage, and their son Charan Jeet Singh (played by Utkarsh Sharma, who also essayed the childs role in 2001s Gadar) is all grown up now. Their lives are all hunky-dory but turn of events land Charan Jeet in Pakistan. The video shows hes being tortured. The trailer then confirms that Tara will return to Pakistan to save his son. Set against the backdrop of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, the trailer promises action, drama and the iconic screams by Tara Singh. The trailer also hints at a nod to the famous handpump scene. Watch the Gadar 2 trailer below: Speaking about the film, Sunny said, I am highly grateful to the fans for their unwavering support for Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, and I assure that Gadar 2 will deliver double the action, emotions, and entertainment." Director Anil Sharma added, We are excited about bringing back a story that epitomizes patriotism, intense action, a heartwarming father-son bond, and a love story that transcends all boundaries." Gadar 2 is set to clash with Akshay Kumars Oh My God 2 on Aug 11. Speaking about it, Sunny, in a chat with Etimes, had earlier said, I dont understand why people compare. Gadar didnt have the perception, people thought it is this masala film, yeh purani type ki picture hai, purane type ke gaane hai. On the other hand, people thought Lagaan was classic, etc. The so called people who talk about films had run down Gadar completely. It went on to become a peoples film and they loved it. Many Bollywood celebrities change their religion or adopt new names when they enter showbiz. Today, lets talk about one such actress. Shabana Raza, born on April 18, 1975, adopted the pen name Neha. Hailing from Delhi, her father is a civil engineer. While studying in Delhi, she received an offer from the makers of Kareeb, a film directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and starring Bobby Deol. It marked her debut in the industry, but unfortunately, the film, released in 1998, failed to make a significant impact. Subsequently, Shabana Raza appeared in other films like Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet in 1999, Fiza in 2000, and Ehsaas: The Feeling in 2001. Despite sharing the screen with actors like Hrithik Roshan, Suniel Shetty, Jatin Grewal and Ajay Devgn, she struggled to achieve success. Vidhu Vinod Chopra advised her to adopt the name, Neha, the character she portrayed in Kareeb, hoping it would bring her attention and recognition. Reportedly, Shabana never aspired to continue her career in films but it was a family friend, Saurabh Shukla, who encouraged her to audition for films. Initially hesitant to work in films due to lack of training and unfamiliarity with the industry, she eventually agreed to work in Kareeb after the filmmakers convinced her parents. However, her fame in the film industry remained limited and she decided to step away from further film projects. On the personal front, Shabana Raza found happiness after meeting actor Manoj Bajpayee at a party in 1998. Her simplicity caught his attention, and they soon fell in love. The couple tied the knot in April 2006 and were blessed with a daughter in 2011. Coincidentally, both father and daughter share the same birth date, with Manoj born on April 23 and his daughter on February 23. Despite following different religions, with Manoj being a follower of Hinduism and Shabana following Islam, they transcended religious barriers. Shabana now goes with her original name, believing that it reflects her true personality and identity. The following are the opening remarks of Ambassador Chas W. Freeman during a one-on-one discussion hosted by the Institute of Peace & Diplomacy. The dialogue, moderated by IPD Advisor Dr. Wenran Jiang, featured the Ambassadors perspectives on mistaken assumptions in the US-China rivalry amid Washingtons efforts to maintain its vision of the global order. Transcript The United States and China are no longer on speaking terms. Having put diplomacy aside, these two great powers are engaged in diatribe accompanied by military posturing and preparations for a war in which the only certain outcome is the devastation of Taiwan. But the contest between America and China is not primarily military or ideological. It is about relative national strength and performance. China seems more focused on this reality than the United States. The Cold War is long over. Americas unipolar moment has passed, and the Pax Americana is no more. With its demise, two changes in the American worldview have provided the geopolitical context for the descent of US-China (and US-Russia) relations into adversarial antagonism. The first was the assertion by Washington securocrats that the world could be understood, and U.S. foreign policy organized, by reference to great power rivalry. The second is the claim by think-tank liberal interventionists that an attack on democracy by predatory authoritarianism has become the central dynamic of history and world affairs. The Biden administration has embraced both theses. It presents them as firm convictions, not hypotheses. Together, they have given birth to the new American objective of a 21st century rules-bound order crafted and led by the United States and its Cold War allies. This has no prospect of gaining international traction. The notion that great power rivalry is the core feature of international relations is best understood as a distillation of American militarism. It is a fantasy of the military-industrial complex. Great power rivalry is a concept that provides a rationale for unbounded defense spending by analogizing interactions among nations to those on a battlefield. It reduces foreign policy to zero-sum games between great powers, while denying agency to middle-ranking and smaller powers in shaping the world order or determining their own destinies. Positing great power rivalry as the central feature of world affairs is an expression of nostalgia for the global feudalism of the Cold War when lesser nations were necessarily caught between competing overlords and forced to defer to alien agendas. Not surprisingly, this premise has not found much welcome abroad. Great power rivalry is a concept that provides a rationale for unbounded defense spending by analogizing interactions among nations to those on a battlefield. It reduces foreign policy to zero-sum games between great powers, while denying agency to middle-ranking and smaller powers in shaping the world order or determining their own destinies. It is also now clear that great power rivalry is not the dialectic that will cure the entropy of post-Pax Americana global and regional disorder. What is emerging is a world of multidimensional interactions between countries in which almost all are driven more by their desire for autonomy than for alignment with the United States or its appointed great power rivals. Asked to choose a superpower as patron, middle-ranking and smaller powers almost invariably hedge and persist in pursuing their own interests as they see them. Foreign policies based on wistful remembrance of past supremacy and the misperception of contemporary infirmities are doomed to fail. They are hallucinations that preclude successful navigation of the worlds newly fluid geopolitics, frustrate those who adopt them, and vex those to whom they are applied. They are not a basis on which to reaffirm U.S. global leadership. As for the claim that democracy is under attack by authoritarianism, this is good politics but politically warped analysis. It appeals to Americans for many reasons. It appears to explain the deterioration of democratic norms in the United States as entirely the fault of foreigners and to thereby absolve Americans of any responsibility for the increasing decadence of their own political culture. It embodies an unstated presupposition that democracy is the default political system of humankind, absent only when denied to a people by opponents who adhere to a putative ideology of authoritarianism. But long before there were politicians prepared to risk displacement from power by other politicians with more support at the polls, there were societies led by warlords, kings, dictators, and other strongmen. There still are. Democracy is not celebrated for the wisdom of its decision-making. It is revered as an antidote to social and political repression that, when tempered by the rule of law, enables levels of individual self-governance and orderly succession processes that no other system can match. Democratic norms appear to require many generations to establish themselves in human societies. The 20th and 21st centuries provide many examples of how quickly and thoroughly these norms can be discarded. The worlds strongmen are almost all power-mad narcissists who have nothing in common other than the fear of being overthrown. They are happy to receive foreign support but seek and find no market abroad for their personality cults or their countries idiosyncratic nationalisms. Lofty talk notwithstanding, the United States has been just as willing as China, Russia, and other great powers to sell weapons and internal security equipment to authoritarian governments and has, in fact, outsold all others in such markets. Inventing persistent malevolence for Russia and predatory ideological aspirations for China serves domestic U.S. political purposes. It puts otherwise confusing international politics back into the sort of Manichean framework that animated World War II and the Cold War. Americans used to criticize China for its well-documented indifference to whether other countries were or were not democratic and devoted to the rule of law. Now, we have found it convenient to reverse course and attribute to China a values-based crusade equivalent to and opposed to our own. But there is no evidence that Xi Jinping and the 92 million Communist Party members he leads are trying to erase democracy beyond Chinas borders. They are on the defensive against suspected homegrown and foreign efforts to discredit them, subvert their political economic achievements, and topple them from power. The thesis that China and America are engaged in mortal contention over what political system Americans or others should live under does not survive even minimal scrutiny. Democracy may be doing itself in here and there, but there is no league of foreign autocrats or authoritarian ideology seeking to obliterate it. The operative contest between China and America is not between competing political ideals but between the two countries abilities to exercise wealth and power, maintain domestic tranquility, and inspire emulation by other states and peoples. It is a contest that neither side will win. Flinging politically convenient but erroneous theories at China will not change this. The thesis that China and America are engaged in mortal contention over what political system Americans or others should live under does not survive even minimal scrutiny. Democracy may be doing itself in here and there, but there is no league of foreign autocrats or authoritarian ideology seeking to obliterate it. Ironically, the United States has just fallen to number 25 on the Economists annual worldwide Democracy Index, and is now categorized as a flawed and possibly failing democracy. This is disheartening. It is understandable that Americans prefer blaming Russia and other foreign miscreants to examining the internal causes of our decadence. But it is ironic that the Biden administration should choose this moment to stand up for democracy and proclaim the existence of a global struggle between democracy and authoritarianism. Few abroad see things at all this way. The American constitution assigned authority for policymaking almost entirely to the peoples representatives in Congress, but the U.S. president and the electorate have largely given up on the legislative branch. The president increasingly rules by decree and has acquired greater power than any king to make war on other nations and slaughter presumed enemies abroad. The erosion of constitutional democracy in the United States appears to be the result of a tragic combination of many factors, including The outrageous venality, chicanery, and effrontery of contemporary American politics. The recent emergence of a largely hereditary American plutocracy and educated elite. The disillusionment of those farthest down with the American dream, as equality of opportunity and social mobility visibly disappear from American society. Elite condescension and indifference to the views of the uneducated and other members of the new and old American underclasses. The rise of social and niche media oligopolies with business plans dependent upon the creation and maintenance of communities of shared preconceptions. The nurture by such media of social microcosms defined by shared delusions based on common grievances, alternative facts, the embrace of conspiracy theories, and other politically relevant affinities. The organization through social media of increasingly violent protests by disgruntled white nationalists, black victims of social and police prejudice, those recently demoted from the middle class, and other marginalized Americans. The exploitation of expert systems to entrench political privilege through gerrymandering and artificial intelligence and big data that manipulate the electorate. Elite insistence on pretentious standards of political correctness on issues that the more traditional and less fortunate find both intolerant and morally offensive. Reactions to political correctness and protests by those devoted to the vanishing status quo. A few of these factors clearly make the United States more vulnerable to foreign intervention in its internal affairs than before, but they are, without exception, domestic, not foreign, in origin. They can only be fixed by Americans. Scapegoating Russia or China wont do a thing to remedy them. The world is rightly disbelieving of the sudden American argument that the dialectic driving history is the contradiction between democracy and autocracy. Those societies proudest of their democratic traditions are notably committed to the tolerance of political diversity both at home and abroad. None sees the overthrow of undemocratic regimes as an existential imperative or believes in the divine right of democracies to proclaim, impose, and enforce their preferred dispensations as a replacement for international law and consensus. To much of the world, the gathering of the G7 in Cornwall this June and its talk of the sanctity of an ill-defined rules-bound order looked like the convening of a club of superannuated imperialists determined to regain the dominant role in rulemaking they lost along with their empires. The members of the G7 account for 11 percent of the world population, 30 percent of its GDP at purchasing power parity, and 62 percent of its accumulated wealth. The G7 made no case for its members renewed stewardship of global order but appeared to claim it as a sort of droit du seigneur. But non-Western meaning non-Euro-Atlantic societies constitute a very large global majority and are no longer prepared to be treated as vassals. As they rise from poverty, almost all are focused on escape from the trauma of past humiliation by Western imperialism and colonialism. The G7 made no case for its members renewed stewardship of global order but appeared to claim it as a sort of droit du seigneur. But non-Western meaning non-Euro-Atlantic societies constitute a very large global majority and are no longer prepared to be treated as vassals. Post-colonial stress disorder is today a major driver of foreign policy in every region touched by imperialism, including Eastern and Central Europe, where the humiliation was done by the Russian-dominated Soviet Union. It plays an outsized role in Hindu nationalism and Great Han chauvinism. Post-colonial hangover is a major explanation for phenomena like the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran and the Arab uprisings of 2011. European colonialism has locked Africa into a love-hate relationship with its colonizers that is now coming home to roost through illegal migration. Latin America continues to resent ongoing interventions by the Colossus of the North in places like Bolivia, Cuba, and Venezuela, even as many from the region look north for a better life. Southeast Asians, too, bear the scars of having been subjugated by European, American, and Japanese imperialism. Most of the world outside the United States and Europe sees the ongoing Israeli ethnic cleansing and settlement activity in Palestine as the last gasp of racist colonialism. Islamists identify the West with it and see it as justification for reprisal through terrorism. The operative division in global politics is manifestly not that between democracy and autocracy but that between former colonizers and the colonized. This is joined as a driving force by the differences between those mainly Western nations who long ago became wealthy through industrialization and those now striving to do the same. The wealthy can protect their populations from phenomena like pandemics. The less developed and poor are left to suffer and die. The same is true of climate change. The earliest countries to industrialize were able to ignore pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. They now prefer not to allow those embarking on development to do the same. Demands from poor countries that they be compensated for two centuries of accumulated degradation of the climate by their former colonial masters fall on deaf ears. The inability of developing countries to forestall or remediate the catastrophic impact of rising temperatures and seas, flooding and drought, or famine and pestilence promises to create an unbearable future for their inhabitants. The result will be widening chaos. For all these reasons, to most of the world the arguments that the Biden administration is now making for a reformulated rules-bound order ring hollow. Its appeals to other nations for deference to great power rivalry and combat with imaginary authoritarian predators have little appeal. To compete with China or other rising and resurgent powers in shaping the world of the future, America needs to make a case that is relevant to current realities. At present, China seems better aligned with these realities than the United States. To most of the world the arguments that the Biden administration is now making for a reformulated rules-bound order ring hollow. Its appeals to other nations for deference to great power rivalry and combat with imaginary authoritarian predators have little appeal. This is truly unfortunate. The world has many problems that cannot be addressed without leadership by its greatest powers, and, as America shirks the burdens of leadership, China remains focused on its own reconstitution, rejuvenation, technological advancement, and self-interested economic outreach. Beijing shows little willingness to lead other nations and has so far demonstrated no competence to do so. America doesnt want China to replace its global leadership. Neither, for the most part, does the world. But, without at least some degree of accommodation and cooperation with China by the United States and between China, India, Japan, and other great powers, neither the United States nor China will be able to mount an effective response to the planetwide challenges now facing humanity. China now seems overconfident, while the United States is mired in self-doubt. If, as the Book of Proverbs puts it, pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall, China looks like its ripe for one or the other. Meanwhile, social and niche media in the United States have sliced, diced, and sorted Americans into disillusioned and mutually distrustful sub-communities that harbor incompatible visions of the American past and future and are no longer even on speaking terms with each other. Lacking unity, America seems politically splintered, scatterbrained, and unable to agree on much of anything except that China must be opposed. Neither China nor America currently has much tolerance for ambiguity, nuance, or deviance from popular presuppositions or prejudices. Both have administrations that are obsessed with protecting leaders from criticism and that react badly to foreign censure or to homegrown unconventional ideas. Both are therefore prone to persist in error long after they should have been identified and corrected it. A combination of solipsism and mutual disdain assures that Beijing and Washington no longer listen to each other. Both Chinese and American citizens now receive almost all information through digital filters in the form of media-certified and targeted judgments designed to reinforce established narratives. Neither citizenry is presented with many facts to contradict such judgments. Each finds it difficult to draw its own conclusions about trends and events touching national interests. In China, the information flow is government-controlled, anodyne but upbeat about domestic matters, self-righteously nationalistic about foreign affairs, and calculated to unify the people politically. In America, it is corporate controlled, discordant, bigoted about both domestic and foreign affairs, and tailored to facilitate the marketing of political opinions as well as goods and services. Both systems treat objectivity as quaint and potentially subversive and indulge in the propagation of claptrap, but the mediaverse in America has a much higher percentage of stuff that experts aptly describe with the technical term, weird shit. In large measure to placate nationalistic domestic audiences, both China and America appear to have decided to emulate the foreign policy of the Roman emperor, Caligula. His motto was ODERINT DUM METUANT let them hate us, as long as they fear us. This was former Secretary of State Mike Pompeos idea of diplomacy. It appears to be that of todays China as well. So much for America making friends and influencing people or China presenting itself as credible, lovable, and respectable! Chinas ruling Communist Party seems now to imagine that the brilliance of its ideology is responsible for Chinas astonishing economic and technological success. But its major contributions were to set aside its ideology, open the Chinese market to competition from foreign companies and their technologies, replace central planning with market economics and industrial policies, get out of the way of entrepreneurs, localities, and state-owned enterprises, curtail wasteful defense expenditures, and encourage the productive reinvestment of Chinese household savings. By stepping aside from micromanagement of the economy, the Party liberated it. The Chinese people then launched themselves into a level of dog-eat-dog economic competition not seen since 19th century America. This spurred rapid productivity growth and deflated prices while enriching the lives of ordinary Chinese and enabling them to become the producers of one-third of the worlds manufactures. These were truly amazing achievements. But they were stimulated by judicious withdrawals of state control, rather than assertions of it. Now the controls seem to be going back on. This raises the possibility that, as has happened before in Chinas history, rising prosperity could fall victim to the arrogance and corruption of a domineering state bureaucracy. If this happens, who will have the courage to tell the masters of the Chinese political universe that the reimposition of the nanny state risks triggering rather than precluding unrest [] and reversing Chinas economic advance by blighting the aspirations for self-fulfillment of its enormous and growing middle class? China leapt into prosperity by embracing ideologically unpalatable realities. Now many see Beijing appearing to reverse verdicts on ideological agendas previously refuted by experience. Are we back to politics in command? What became of seek truth from facts or practice is the sole criterion of truth? Doesnt China need such principles along with further reform and opening to advance to the next stage of wealth and prestige? Of course, China now has a highly competitive, self-sustaining economy. Chinas development may slow, but it is most likely to continue long enough for a new generation less obsessed with the need for regimentation to rediscover the open-mindedness that catalyzed Chinas return to wealth and power. Sadly, whether China falters or not, the United States is presently in remarkably poor condition to compete with it. The infirmities of contemporary American democracy and its catastrophic inability to mobilize an effective response to the pandemic are telling. But the United States is now overmatched by China or about to be in just about every realm relevant to competition other than the military (and that too is increasingly uncertain). Most sectors of the Chinese economy are served by multiple competitive enterprises whereas in the U.S. economy the norm is now oligopoly, monopoly, or monopsony. In China, companies still invest their profits in expanded industrial capacity. In the United States, where financialized, shareholder capitalism now dominates, profits increasingly flow into stock buybacks, mergers, and acquisitions. China already accounts for over 30 percent of global industrial production vs. Americas slightly more than 16 percent. China is the worlds largest trading nation and the top economic partner of three-fourths of the worlds countries. China now vies with the United States as the largest recipient of foreign direct investment. China has about 2.5 times the savings and investment capacity of the United States and its government has surplus capital to export. America has become dependent on foreign purchases of around 40 percent of its debt just to run existing government operations, let alone launch new programs. China is rapidly rising in the ranks of the worlds innovators while the United States, though still formidable, is slowly declining. Students in Chinas schools rank 1st in the world in math and science, while American students rank 37th and 18th respectively. There are now eight times as many scientists, technicians, engineers, and mathematicians in China as there are in the United States and if nothing changes, at the end of this decade, there will be fifteen times as many. China has provided one-third of the total global growth in research and development expenditures in this century vs. Americas one-fifth. China and the U.S. each account for about one-fourth of worldwide spending on R&D, but China passed the U.S. in 2019 and now spends much more on basic research than the United States, where most R&D is business-funded incremental product development. In China, government spending reflects strategic calculation; in America it reflects the vector of vested interests lobbying of Congress. Chinese transportation and communications infrastructure is the worlds newest and most efficient, while deferred maintenance on Americas roads, bridges, railroads, and air and sea ports is over $2.5 trillion. (The Congress is now crowing over having just allocated about $110 billion annually over five years to additional funding for infrastructure far, far short of what is required.) China now allocates less than 2 percent of its GDP to the military vs. Americas 3.4 5.25 percent. (If China were a NATO member, the United States would be berating it for spending much too little on defense.) China can surge defense expenditures and production whereas the United States cannot. The greatest comparative advantage of the United States has come to be its professional and highly lethal military. This makes it politically convenient for Americans to portray the contest the United States has launched with China in military terms. China is showing that it can match and raise anything the United States does. But military posturing is an exercise in futility. Sino-American war over the much-misunderstood Taiwan issue the most probable casus belli would leave Taiwan in ruins and could leave both the Chinese and American homelands devastated. Both would lose from any war if they did not destroy each other outright. They would be mad to go to war with each other. We must do what we can to ensure that they do not. The greatest comparative advantage of the United States has come to be its professional and highly lethal military. This makes it politically convenient for Americans to portray the contest the United States has launched with China in military terms. China is showing that it can match and raise anything the United States does. But military posturing is an exercise in futility. The Sino-American contest is not about which side can out-posture or out-arm the other militarily. It is about the underlying sources of national strength and performance. These do not currently favor the United States. American competitiveness vis-a-vis China will not be enhanced by more American defense spending or the pivoting of U.S. armed forces to East Asia. Meeting the challenge will require a level of investment in the future of the United States that is unimaginable without an end to the American hubris, denial, and complacency that have gutted fiscal responsibility, diverted wealth to the plutocracy, attracted the best and brightest to financial rather than real engineering, suffocated competitive markets, atrophied industry, institutionalized inefficiency and rake-offs in sectors like education and health, squeezed the middle class, and decimated the capacity of the government to respond to crises. Nothing less will do. And that is why it distresses me as an American to say that, while China will not gain from the Sino-American split, the United States seems likely to lose from it. Chas Freeman Tamil actor, filmmaker, and politician Kamal Haasan has been making waves in the news as speculation arises about his potential contesting of the Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency in the 2024 general elections. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party is reportedly keen on allocating the Coimbatore seat to Haasan, given his strong performance in the 2021 Assembly polls, where he narrowly lost to the BJPs Vanathi Sreenivasan by a mere 1,728 votes. Recently, Haasan inaugurated the state-level reach-out campaign of his political party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), called Makkalodu Maiam," in the Coimbatore South Assembly constituency. The MNMs ambitious plan involves reaching out to people in all 234 Assembly constituencies of Tamil Nadu, with party leaders and cadres engaging with citizens at the ward and panchayat levels to understand their difficulties and concerns. This effort aims to highlight the issues overlooked by peoples representatives in their respective areas. As part of the outreach campaign, MNM is also devising its election manifesto based on feedback received from the grassroots level. The party leadership has implemented an innovative approach using Google Forms, where each ward secretary is provided with a list of 25 binary questions regarding basic amenities in their area. The collected feedback will help the party gain a clearer understanding of the challenges faced by each constituency. With his strong presence in Coimbatore, the MNMs Coimbatore district functionaries have already urged Haasan to contest the Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat in the upcoming 2024 elections. This proposal has added to the buzz surrounding the actor-turned-politicians political future. Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan recently made headlines for his act of kindness towards Sharmila, a Tamil Nadu bus driver who lost her job following a controversy involving DMK leader Kanimozhi. When Kanimozhi boarded Sharmilas bus, a verbal altercation with the bus conductor ensued over the ticket cost. Consequently, the bus owner forced Sharmila to alight from the bus. In a compassionate gesture, Kamal Haasan invited Sharmila to his Chennai residence and gifted her a new car, providing her with a means of livelihood. Actor and BJP MP from Punjabs Gurdaspur Sunny Deol on Wednesday blamed the political game for the hatred between India and Pakistan. Deols remarks came during the trailer release of his film Gadar 2 which is slated to hit theatres on August 11. There is love on both sides (India-Pakistan). It is the political game that creates all this hatred. And you will see the same in this film as well that the people do not want us to fight with each other," he said. #WATCH | Actor Sunny Deol at the trailer launch of his film #Gadar2 says, There is love on both sides (India-Pakistan). It is the political game that creates all this hatred. And you will see the same in this film as well that the people do not want us to fight with each other." https://t.co/oc5ZHLmsqO pic.twitter.com/OYVPVRWnCZ ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2023 The actors statement comes as two cross-border love" stories recently caught the attention of both India and Pakistan. A Pakistani woman, Seema Haider, entered India illegally with her four children to marry an Indian who she met on PUBG mobile game. In a similar case, an Indian woman, a mother of two children, went to Pakistan and married a local who she met on Facebook. The trailer of Gadar 2 was launched in Mumbai at a special press conference with Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel attending it. Gadar 2 Trailer: Sunny Deols Tara Singh Returns To Pakistan and This Time For His Son The trailer revealed that Sunny and Ameesha are returning as Tara Singh and Tara Singh. The couple is in a happy marriage, with their son Charan Jeet Singh, who is played by the same child artist Utkarsh Sharma. However, in a turn of events, Charan Jeet lands in Pakistan and is tortured. This time, Tara will return to Pakistan to save his son. The promo promises action, drama and the iconic screams by Tara Singh. The trailer also hints at a nod to the famous handpump scene. In an over-a-minute-long clip, the teaser featured a truck driving amid a mountainous desert region. It transitions to a simmering unrest in Lahore under the guise of Crush India Movement. The teaser also hinted that the story of the movie will be based in 1971. There is a fleeting shot of Sunny Deol in a black turban hurling a tonga wheel in the air. The teaser ends with a snippet of the song Udd Ja Kaale by Arijit Singh. The caption read, Tara Singh is back!" Back in 2016, Javed Akhtar and invited Kangana Ranaut to offer advice regarding her spat with Hrithik Roshan. However, in a 2020 TV interview, Ranaut alleged that Akhtar had threatened her for speaking out on the issue. She also went on to put extortion charges on him and according to her plea, she alleged that the lyricist had called her and her sister Rangoli Chandel to his house in March 2016, and demanded an apology from her to Hrithik Roshan. A Mumbai court on Tuesday dismissed the extortion charge against the lyricist. Asking a person to give a written apology will not come under the definition of valuable security.because no legal right is created, extended, transferred, restricted, extinguished or released," India Today quoted a Magistrate court. However, the accused, with a malafide intention and ulterior motive, called her and her sister Rangoli Chandel at his house in Juhu in the month of March 2016 and criminally intimidated and threatened the complainant (Kangana Ranaut) as well as forced her to tender a written apology to the co-star thereby forcefully seeking to create a document (valuable security) in favour of her co-star," Kanganas plea alleged. Javed had earlier filed a defamation lawsuit against the actress. It all started when, during an interview with a news channel in 2020, following the demise of Sushant Singh Rajput, Kangana made various claims. She alleged that Akhtar had requested her to apologise to her co-star Hrithik Roshan. Once Javed Akhtar called me to his house and told me Rakesh Roshan (father of Hrithik Roshan) and his family are very big people. If you dont apologise to them, you will have nowhere to go. They will put you in jail, and eventually, the only path would be that of destruction you will commit suicide. These were his words. He shouted and yelled at me. I was shaking in his house," Kangana had told the news channel. Bawaal, directed by the renowned filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari, made its debut on Amazon Prime Video on July 21. The film revolves around the tumultuous marriage of a young couple, set against the backdrop of World War II, with leading Bollywood stars Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor portraying the main characters. Despite the excitement surrounding the release, Bawaal found itself embroiled in controversy due to a particular scene where Varun and Janhvis characters discuss the Auschwitz camp. In a recent interview with Pinkvilla, the director Nitesh Tiwari opened up about the recent controversy surrounding the Auschwitz sequence in Bawaal at length. Weve made Bawaal with a lot of love, a lot of care, and a lot of good intentions. And predominantly, its been understood the way I wanted people to understand it. And thats been quite overwhelming. However, Im a bit disappointed with the way some people have comprehended it. That was never the intention. It would never be my intention to be insensitive in any which way. It was a context," he said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nitesh Tiwari (@niteshtiwari22) Nitesh Tiwari further elaborated on his purpose for incorporating the Auschwitz sequence in Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoors movie. He highlighted that this scene played a crucial role in the character development of the protagonist, Ajju. The characters, Ajju and Nisha, were deeply affected and moved by what they witnessed in Auschwitz. They were shown reacting emotionally to the plight of the prisoners, the inhumane treatment they endured, and the physical torture inflicted upon them. The director emphasized that the characters reactions were far from insensitive; on the contrary, they were brought to tears by the heart-wrenching scenes they witnessed, such as the wall of death and photo gallery. Moreover, the director pointed out that the emotional aspect of Auschwitz was also significant. Now, that was the physical aspect of Auschwitz, then there is an emotional aspect: the survivor telling his own story. When he talks about Auschwitz, hes talking about his own personal experience. He is not generalizing everything which happened," he concluded. View this post on Instagram A post shared by VarunDhawan (@varundvn) During the chat, the filmmaker also addressed the criticisms aimed at Bawaal and shared his approach to handling such situations. Drawing from his experience with his previous highly acclaimed films, Dangal and Chhichhore, the talented director acknowledged that while receiving appreciation is always gratifying, he takes both praise and criticism in his stride. Speaking to Pinkvilla, Nitesh Tiwari explained, You need to understand that its something thats a part and parcel of our job. Every time you have a creative expression, there will be divided points of view on it, no matter what you create. I, personally, secretly wish that criticisms would be constructive. I believe in doing that. Arguments, if they are civilized, can be very constructive." You can question the creative process, you can question the creators, but please do not question the intent. The moment you start questioning the intent, it becomes hurtful," he added. Nitesh Tiwari recalled that throughout his filmmaking journey, he has encountered criticisms for all his movies, including Dangal, which some labelled patriarchal, and Chhichore, which some deemed insensitive. View this post on Instagram A post shared by VarunDhawan (@varundvn) The recent premiere of Bawaal on Amazon Prime Video, showcasing the remarkable performances of Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, garnered mixed responses from both audiences and critics alike. Ranveer Singh, the Bollywood star known for his vibrant energy and charismatic personality, once again showcased why he is adored by fans and paparazzi alike. At a recent screening of his highly anticipated film, Rocky aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Ranveers genuine care and concern for the paparazzi garnered widespread admiration online. As he arrived at the event, Ranveer was greeted with immense enthusiasm from both his fans and the paparazzi. A video captured by Manav Manglani showcased the heartwarming scene where the actor warmly engaged with the crowd, exchanging hugs and posing for pictures with the paparazzi present. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manav Manglani (@manav.manglani) In another heartwarming gesture, Ranveer Singh displayed his concern for the paparazzi who were covering the event in the rain. Not only did he warmly interact with them, but he also urged them to seek shelter and avoid getting drenched during the event. His thoughtfulness and caring attitude towards the media personnel further solidified his position as a beloved figure among his fans. One user wrote, I love this mans human connect! " while another acknowledged his positive aura, stating, Such a positive vibe Ranveer is." A user admiringly commented, So humble and caring" while showering the post with heart emojis. But thats not all! The actor was also seen grooving to the beats of the films song What Jhumka while joyfully interacting with his fans. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) After the screening, Ranveer Singh made his way to Manish Malhotras house party, where the renowned designer was celebrating the grand success of his Couture Show. Once again, the actor was spotted mingling with fans and colleagues outside the party venue, happily posing for pictures and exuding his signature charm. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Manish Malhotras house party saw various celebrities in attendance including Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Karan Johar, Karishma Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, and many others. Speaking of the film, Rocky aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani features Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, and Shabana Azmi in the main roles and is scheduled to release in theatres on July 28. The makers recently released the songs What Jhumka, Tum Kya Mile, Ve Kamleya, and Dhindora Baje Re, along with the official trailer of the film. Rohit Shettys Singham Again has been in the news since it was announced. The film will star Ajay Devgn in the lead role. However, apart from him, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, and Deepika Padukone will also be seen. The actor will begin shooting the film from October this year. Prior which, the filmmaker recently met with Mauritius PM Pravind Jugnauth. The Prime Minister shared a couple of photos from their visit and also sent him his best wishes. He also penned a note which read in French, Mo finne zoine Rohit Shetty qui ena beaucoup de fans a Maurice surtout grace a so bannes films singham 1 et 2. Li pe faire nou lhonneur vine filmer a partir octobre dans maurice. The note loosely translated that Rohit who enjoys a massive fan following for Singham 1 and Singham 2 may shoot the third part of the film in their country from October as it would be an honour for them. Sharing his excitement about Singham Again, Rohit had earlier shared with Pinkvilla, I am excited because you will see a different Singham in the film this time. Its huge, the script has turned out well. Its unique and it is the most loved character that I know. I am excited that Ajay and I are coming back together on Singham Again. Rohit had also talked about the film in an earlier interview, saying, We are very excited for Singham Again because the script has turned out well. It is larger than life. We took it to a different level in Sooryavanshi and this is like 10 times bigger than Sooryavanshi. The kind of scripting that has happened and the kind of story it is its something. Rohit Shetty entered the film industry as an assistant director at the age of just 17. He assisted Ajay Devgans film Phool Aur Kaante. After that, he went on to work as an AD for almost 13 years. Back in 2003, he made his directorial debut with Ajay Devgn and Abhishek Bachchan in the action thriller Zameen. With multiple films, the director has a special love for stories revolving around police officers. He successfully managed to create a cop universe in Bollywood with three hit films Singham, Simmba, and Sooryavanshi. At the time when the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched Chandrayaan-3, parts of the national capital were submerged. While ISROs journey is the stuff inspirational stories are made of, the same cannot be said about governance in India. The Delhi floods are just a recent example of that. It is true that even developed nations suffer from floods, but parts of Delhi were deluged primarily because of the pettiness of the powers that be. Even as the people affected were suffering, the state government and the Central authorities were busy fighting each other and scoring brownie points. Waterlogging and traffic jams occasioned by rains have become routine in the national capital region (NCR). The recent flooding because of Yamunas overflow took place in the areas not far from the Prime Ministers Office, Parliament, etc. Other big cities be it Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, or Hyderabad do little better. The increasingly dire events in metropolitan cities in the wake of rains are symptomatic of not just the incompetence and corruption in local bodies but something more fundamental urban decay. One wonders whatever happened to the smart cities project. Over four centuries ago, the famous British philosopher Francis Bacon said that knowledge is power. Today, information is power. And we have both, knowledge and information, about the monsoon season. We know fairly well about the timing of the arrival of the monsoon and its movement, the amount of rainfall that it brings, and so on. And yet, the monsoon season wreaks havoc every year. This year was no different, with areas of the national capital near the Yamuna suffering the most. In other words, monsoon season in India is not a black swan event, something which is absolutely unpredictable, if not unprecedented. It is instead a grey rhino, a totally predictable but neglected threat. The release of huge amounts of water from the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana was reportedly one of the factors responsible for the deluge in Delhi. The barrage is on the border between Haryanas Yamuna Nagar district and Uttar Pradeshs Saharanpur district. The fact that the barrage is managed by the Haryana government gave the Arvind Kejriwal government an opportunity to find a scapegoat. That Haryana is ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made scapegoating even easier. It is not that the BJP has provided many shining examples of administration. The photographs of flooded Delhi roads and homes were all over the media and social media, making a mockery of the tall emerging superpower claims. While Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP traded charges, the real issues got obscured in the dust and dirt generated by political debates. An unnamed senior official at the Central Water Commission (CWC), quoted by PTI, made an important point: We noticed that the water released from the Hathnikund Barrage took less time to reach Delhi compared to previous years. The main reason could be encroachment and siltation. Earlier, the water would have had more space to flow. Now, it passes through a constricted cross-section. One need not be a hydrologist to know that encroachment is a big problem. It is the monster that is devouring urban spaces all over the country. Its a colossal grey rhino: all of us, including politicians, know about it, and yet no one wants to talk about it. The monster has many parents politicians, officials, cops, and pinkish civil society organisations whose misplaced philanthropy perpetuates the abominations of slums, unauthorised colonies, etc. After all, a lot of encroachers are poor people. The need of the hour is reforms in all spheres of life and at various levels. Administrative and police reforms should accompany economic reforms. Unfortunately, our political masters have no time or concern for improvement in administration. When was the last time that you heard political parties fighting elections, or even discussing, the ways and means of improving administration? You cant remember, because it never happened in the recent past. So, unsurprisingly, few remember the Second Administrative Reforms Commission, headed by Congress leader M. Veerappa Moily, who prepared 15 reports, the last of which came out in April 2009. Newspersons reported about these reports; editorialists wrote edits and articles on the subject; and that was the end of it. Even today, as Himalayan cities sink and cities get flooded, politicians try to deflect blame towards their rivals rather than do something meaningful to make the lives of people safer. The weapons they use with impunity are whataboutery and ad hominem attacks. And then there is the last, and often the first, resort of Indian politicians: welfarism. All of them claim to be committed to the welfare state. What they forget is the fact that the welfare state is still a state; administration, law and order, etc., are essential parts of any state. It is time our political class focused on improving the rickety administrative apparatus at all levels instead of introducing more freebies. Only this can make our cities, and villages, safe. The author is a freelance journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. Is it a matsutake? A white asparagus? Noooo, its SuperTomato. At Rs 160-180 a kilo in cities, tomatoes have been playing ketchup with exotic comestibles for much of this month in India. And not for the first time. Many excuses are given for inadequate supplies, some natural like excessive rain, others manmade like the recent panchayat elections in West Bengal that led to a shortage of labour and transport. And this despite the fact that at 22 million tonnes, India is the worlds second largest producer of this fruit-turned-vegetable that came from the Americas. China incidentally grows over double that quantitya quarter of the worlds totalmostly in its troubled Xinjiang province, with nary a dish or relish to indicate a developing tradition of local consumption anywhere in the country. Pulp fiction or what? Strategic self-restraint, more likely. The yearly per capita consumption of tomato products has hovered around 34 kg in the US and 18kg in Italy for the past decade; in China it is just 2 kg. Khaatey nahi, khilatey hain (not eaten, fed) is its mantra. Nor has China succumbed to the soss ka big bossketchupdomestically as India has. American chop suey that uses ketchup, is neither American nor Chinese! Tomatoes grown in China are processed into paste, canned and exported. China has developed a steady market so even the US import ban under its Uygur Forced Labor Prevention Act in 2021 could not crush its processing industry. That is because its tomato paste was not destined for the USA, but Europe, Asia and Africa. Italy bought 20%, followed by Russia (16%), Ghana and Philippines (6%) etc. India processes very little of the tomatoes it growsapproximately 1.5 lakh tonnes out of the production of 22 million tonnesand buys the rest as a fresh ingredient. So shortages do not put a squeeze on ketchup but on individual shopping bags. Most tomato varieties grown by Indian farmers are not suitable for processing, which indicates policy makers did not consider this industry as a long term goal. The top tomato cultivating states are Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh followed by Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. Given Indias wide climate variations between north and south, tomatoes are sowed and harvested throughout the year but the peak availability is between November and February. In summer there is a bit of a lullhence shortages. Stories of Chinese tomatoes being intercepted while being smuggled into India via Nepal may trigger mirth, it points to the fact that Indias inability to ensure steady supplies is exploited by our neighbour. Even when prices fall in India because of a glut, China still capitalises by selling its processed tomato pulp at even cheaper prices, depriving Indian farmers of an alternative for their table tomatoes. Curiously, although most tomatoes are grown for use in cooking, most Indians do not ask for them by name. In the west, tomatoes have names, indicating size, shape or region such as Roma, San Marzano (available in India in canned form), Beefsteak, Brandywine and many more. For the average Indian buyer there are three main varietieshybrid or commercial, desi or local and organic. No names are taken. Tomatoes arrived in India and China at the same timearound the 16th centuryvia European traders. People in both places named them foreign aubergines perhaps due to their red hue and were initially wary of eating them. Even Europeans regarded tomatoes only as decorative plants for a long time. Early in the 20th century, though, Chinese and Indian attitudes towards tomatoes fatefully diverged. China did not succumb to its charms: small rises in domestic sales have been attributed to more consumption of western fast food. Such was their integration in India, though, that tomatoes are now truly pomo doro or golden apples (as the Italians named it) for farmers. No ancient culinary tradition besides Indias has been so accommodative of the Columbian Exchange which includes potatoes, tomatoes and chillies. In India butter chicken, dal makhni, shahi paneer, chicken lababdar, tomato rice, pav bhaji, tomato thokku and chutney, tomato chokha, masor tenga and more have ensured that solanum lycopersicum has permanent place in kitchens across India. This devotion to tomatoes means that periodic shortages give farmers windfall gains, shipments are hijacked, and tomatoes almost become parallel currency. China cuisine has sour elements that tomatoes could have exploited; but domestically they remain just a fruity treat there, even eaten freshly sliced and sprinkled with sugar rather than as a base for sauces. India adopted tomatoes despite other souring agents from kachampuli, kokum and tamarind to limes, anardana, amchur, curd and vinegar. But the latest prolonged shortage has finally injected a sour note. So time is ripe for rediscovering Indias traditional tangy ingredients. As transport, storage and distribution networks to maintain regular tomato supplies still appear to be impossible for government and private vendors, Indians must take personal steps to reduce dependence and even change habits if needed. Potatoes cannot be preserved in some other form to compensate for shortfalls, but tomatoes can. The tomatoes insertion into the holy north Indian masala trinity of ginger-garlic-onion in daily dishes can be swapped with indigenous souring agents. Italians invented passata, a puree processed and bottled at home to preserve tomatoes as soon as they are harvested to ensure supply all year round, more tomato-based masala mixes crucial to many desi dishes need to be developedand adopted by Indians. Till about 60 years ago, masalas like turmeric, red chillies, coriander and cumin seeds were freshly ground by hand in most Indian kitchens; today powdered masalas are the norm. Tomatoes need a similar change of form, from fresh to pastes or purees. India has a few major all India puree brands but not enough regional ones that can offset transport disruptions and also benefit local producers and processers. Indians need to deal with their love for tomatoes more pragmatically, if only for the sake of their pockets. Deciding where tomato puree can be used instead of fresh and acting accordingly is key. Once it is clear to what extent Indian consumers are willing to substitute fresh for puree, growers will sow relevant varieties accordingly. In short, India needs to become more Chinese when it comes to tomatoes. The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. There is no easy way out of this warfor Russia, Ukraine or NATO. The war in Ukraine has thrown surprises at all three in the last 17 months. Russia did not see its special military operation raging beyond a few weeks, Ukraine has been getting a bloody nose all through faltering Western support, and the Wests Ukraine experiment while being bloody and expensive has no up-to-scratch gains to show for the quantum of weapons dispatched. In fact, what seemed like a bouquet of missiles, rocket launchers and tanks has morphed into a wreath on the graves of more than a conservative estimate of 150,000 Ukrainian soldiers, most of whom fought ill-equipped and without air cover. With the loss of these men, Ukraine lost some of its best and most-trained soldiers and has since been relying increasingly on a mix of young and old conscripts who are stepping into the battlefield with just a few weeks of training. While these facts have existed throughout the past year, Western media has taken a while to voice these realities bluntly. A Wall Street Journal report scathingly admits, Western military knew that Kyiv did not have enough training and weapons from shells to combat aircraft to dislodge Russian troops, before it launched its counteroffensive. This is interesting because Ukraine was pressured to carry on anyway. WSJ states that the West hoped that Ukrainian courage and ingenuity would win. Thats a patronising way to describe the civilians that were turned into cannon fodder. The WSJ report goes on to say that they believed that Ukrainian courage and resourcefulness would carry the day, but adds, they havent. Deep and deadly minefields, extensive fortifications and Russian air power have combined to largely block significant advances by Ukrainian troops. The West knew this would be the case all along. The fight till the last man standing is a particularly convenient motto for the West when it does not have to deal with the caskets of the fallen. A New York Times report mentions how older, less motivated recruits replacing young soldiers are lacking discipline and questioning the word of their commanders. Youth not only means better physical prowess, but younger soldiers are less likely to question orders, says the report. As more men above the age of 40 enter the ranks, the problem of indiscipline will only worsen for the Ukrainians who are fighting through a bloody stalemate. This is not to say that the Russian side is not taking heavy and needless losses, but it has a greater capacity to play the meat grinder tactic while stashing away a larger trained army to mount powerful offensive campaigns. It is also technologically superior despite Western assistance to Ukraine. When it comes to electronic warfare, the NYT reports that Russian abilities outmatch Ukraines. This is clear from the impact of Russian Lancet drones on the Ukrainian psyche. Not only is the Russian drone powerful, but it is near-impossible to detect. Moreover, it says, Russian forces can detect cellphone signals and jam GPS and radio frequencies, and they are often looking for Starlink Wi-Fi routers to target with their artillery. Meanwhile, Ukraines spring counteroffensive which was delayed into the summer, has been flailing in the face of layers of Russian fortification at enemy lines. Dozens of Western Leopard 2 tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles were destroyed just days into the counteroffensive. Ukraines air defences have not been bolstered by Western support as was hoped, especially of the Patriot systems. These are stationary and Ukraine has only two, one of which was reportedly damaged in May. And this is showing in Ukraines continued vulnerability to air attacks. In a night of recent Russian attacks in Odesa on July 21, Ukraine could shoot down only five of 19 cruise missiles a strikingly low success rate. The emerging stalemate at the frontlines has turned Ukraine to bigger and bolder attacks inside Russian territory and in Crimea. Attacks on the Kerch Bridge to Crimea and multiple drone attacks as far as Moscow serve as Volodymyr Zelenskyys reminder to Vladimir Putin that Ukraine is still in the fight and will bring the war to Russias doorstep rather than taking a step back. Ukraine has vowed to take all its territory back including Crimea which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Russia holds 20 percent of Ukrainian territory even as Ukraine reclaimed a few villages in its counteroffensive. Now theres a question of why Ukraine has not pierced through the enemy despite Western backing. This expectation is itself a product of misleading narratives in the run-up to justify billions of dollars of military aid to Ukraine. Western weaponry has been transferred in tranches and not all at once. This worked as long as Ukraine was fighting a defensive war which it got better at over time, but the counteroffensive has proved to be a different ball game. Going in with tanks and no air cover has been disastrous, especially as Russian soldiers planted landmines, dragon teeth and dug wide trenches to deter the assault. Ukraine has been demanding F-16 fighter aircraft to counter Russian air superiority, but the F-16s are not arriving anytime soon and training of Ukrainian pilots is beginning only in August. US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, says that it will take months and months. The scramble for these fighter jets shows that the war is set to continue well into 2024. The West, and the US especially, have not given up on Ukraine despite apprehensions about the escalation with Russia, a poor Ukrainian counteroffensive, or the prospect of an ammunition crunch back home. The gains have been bumper Sweden and Finland have joined NATO, Germanys romance with the Nord Stream Pipelines is over, American shipments of LNG are arriving at Europes shores, most of Eastern Europe is firmly under the American spell, and the list goes on. But these are backhanded victories. Anything short of an ostensible Ukrainian victory is off-limits for the Biden Administration as the 2024 election year approaches. Ukraine needs to be a strategic and political victory for President Biden. It may somewhat politically redeem him after the botched-up withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. However, this victory is nearly impossible in the current circumstances. The second-best option then is a prolonged war that buys enough time until the November 2024 US elections. Amid the two no-confidence motions moved in Parliament one by the Congress, another by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha (RS) MP Raghav Chadha, in a conversation with CNN-News18, said he hopes that in this no-confidence motion, like the convention, it is the Prime Minister who will come to the House, respond to all questions asked by the MPs, particularly those pertaining to the prevailing issues in Manipur. ALSO READ | Hum AAP-ke Hai: Cong | Sonia Gandhis Samarthan for Sanjay Singh within 10 Days of Forming INDIA Edited excerpts: What is the purpose of this no-confidence motion as you do not have the numbers in the Lok Sabha? At times, instruments of Parliament are used and deployed to compel the government to respond to issues and challenges that are being faced by the people of India. It is a legitimate parliamentary instrument called the no-confidence motion, which members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) group are planning to move against the government with the sole objective that regardless of the outcome, a long, detailed comprehensive discussion on the issue of Manipur and other prevailing issues of the country can take place. Every member is permitted to speak and place their concerns before the government, which is headed by the honorable Prime Minister, and they are compelled to respond. It is our parliamentary convention that towards the conclusion of the no-confidence motion, no less than the Prime Minister speaks and concludes the debate. We hope that even in this no-confidence motion, the Prime Minister will respond to the questions asked by the MPs, particularly pertaining to the prevailing issues and challenges the mankind is facing in Manipur. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla allows the No Confidence Motion against Government moved by the Opposition.Speaker says, "I will discuss with the leaders of all parties and inform of you of an appropriate time to take this up for discussion."#Manipur #ParliamentMonsoonSession pic.twitter.com/uwPiL5cJ1q News18 (@CNNnews18) July 26, 2023 What message do you think will go out when the no-confidence motion is defeated? Regardless of the outcome, parliamentary instruments go a long way in actually strengthening Indias democracy. These instruments are a healthy practice that basically compel the government to respond and the Prime Minister to answer some very pertinent questions. The government, which is running away from press conferences, and is only comfortable with closed-door conversations with friendly journalists and cheerleaders, is today compelled to come to Parliament, face the opposition and respond to the important questions that they are raising on behalf of the people of India. It is a healthy practice and one should look at the merits of the instrument. On Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah offered to conduct a discussion to break the stalemate between the opposition and ruling parties. He had taken a step to resolve the deadlock. Why are the opposition parties not responding? I will give a small suggestion, unsolicited advice to them. Instead of writing letters to leaders of the opposition or getting articles published in newspapers that say we are ready for a discussion, please come to the house, accept notices under Rule 267 and commence a long-duration discussion. We are all ready. Twenty-five per cent of the total members of Rajya Sabha filed a notice under Rule 267, seeking a discussion on Manipur. If more than 25% are filing notices actively asking for a discussion, almost all non-NDA members are asking for a discussion, why is a discussion not happening? A discussion is not happening because the government is running away from it. If the government of the day wants the house to run, the house will run. The Union Cabinet approved the Bill to replace the Delhi ordinance. It will be placed in the house anytime now. You dont have the numbers This entire exercise of the Delhi ordinance is illegal and unconstitutional. It is not just an affront to the two crore people of Delhi, it is a direct challenge to the majesty of the honorable Supreme Court, overturning its decision within eight days of its pronouncement. Political parties in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, the right-minded people who believe in Indias Constitution, who believe in protecting Indias democracy and believe that the federal structure of the country must remain, will certainly rise to the occasion and defeat the ordinance. ALSO READ | House Talk | Amid Oppns No-Trust Motion in Parl, All About No-Confidence Motion & Censure Motion You really dont think that it (the Delhi Bill) can be defeated. You dont have the numbers. You have not reached out to parties like the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) and they are the ones who would decide in the Rajya Sabha. Ultimately, one will know when the ordinance is placed before the members for voting. I dont wish to second guess the outcome and it would be improper to do so. We have appealed to everyone. I appeal to members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also that you may be in a political party that is ideologically opposed to us, has some pathological hatred for us, but understand that this is not about party politics. This is about saving and safeguarding India and Indias Constitution, and helping us defeat the ordinance. Once the ordinance is defeated, at least more non-NDA states will not be troubled or stripped off all their powers, the way they are doing in Delhi. You managed to get the Congress on your side. The AAP wanted the Congress to come out openly and oppose the ordinance. What is your big takeaway? It is not just the Congress. My leader Arvind Kejriwal went and knocked on the doors of every political party and every political leader from the Janata Dal (United) (JDU) to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) to Trinamool Congress (TMC) to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Samajwadi Party (SP). We have not sought the support of the Congress alone, but the Congress is a substantial player. The Congress has got a significant strength in the Rajya Sabha and we are very happy and delighted that they have come to support us. It is not about supporting AAP or Kejriwal. It is about protecting democracy. Yesterday, the Prime Minister took a dig at the opposition parties, the nomenclature. How would you respond to that? I am personally hurt by the fact that the nomenclature adopted by the opposition group, INDIA, is being twisted and viewed from the prism of either a terrorist organisation such as the Indian Mujahideen or the East India Company, the once British conglomerate. It is important that the people in the government and the Prime Minister introspect that the country is called India. You run a government that is called the Government of India. This government is run by a book that is called the Constitution of India, the head of the government of India has a man whose office is called the Prime Minister of India. The Prime Minister of India has come out with schemes and initiatives such as Skill India, Make in India, Digital India, Khelo India and Padhega India Badhega India. In fact, if my memory serves me right, they had come out with a campaign for the Lok Sabha elections called Shining India. They shouldnt possibly be opposed to the word, it would be very petty and perhaps borderline offensive for them to now degrade India and compare it to a terrorist organisation. It does not behove the office that the honorable PM holds. I had filed a question to solicit an answer from the Ministry of Home Affairs over Manipur Violence.My question was rejected on the ground that it is not primarily the concern of the Government of India and it on a matter which is under adjudication by a court of law. This pic.twitter.com/T9uAHEJHvz Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) July 26, 2023 One of your MPs, Sanjay Singh, will not be able to vote when the Delhi Bill is presented in the Rajya Sabha. This is one of the strategies adopted by the ruling party. Suspend as many as you can, so that the numbers fall even further. But when the truth is with you, when you are on the right path, fighting for the greater good, all powers of the universe come to back you. I hope and truly believe that is what happens when the Delhi ordinance is presented. Incel influencer Andrew Tate is under house arrest in Romania on suspicion of sex trafficking along with his brother, Tristan. They are accused of using isolation and other tactics to coerce victims into making pornographic content. Leaked messages purported to be from their all-male network, the War Room, obtained by Rolling Stone, appear to confirm that the Tates manipulated women into doing sex work for them through lies and coercion. From Rolling Stone: In his messages to War Room members, Tate appears to frame this clear lack of consent as both a challenge and a teaching experience for his acolytes. "This is about the maximum difficulty that you experience in the business," he writes. "If we all agree on that, I'll give you a play by play of what I try." He then solicits feedback from other War Room members, asking them what they would do to convince their partner to do sex work for them "I would try a good cop bad cop ruse," writes one person. "Act deeply hurt by her refusal. Flip it on her and get her to start feeling guilty or cry" before Tate says he'll be "making the play tonight" to get her to cam. "Since she moved [to Bucharest] she's been fed. But nothing else," he writes. "She's broke. And she can't go home. And she can't leave the house. Man, I sound almost evil. But I'm not. I'm a Shephard. Leading the sheep. She doesn't realize that following me makes life better for her." A spokesperson for Tate told Rolling Stone that the woman referred to in the "purported screenshots" "has publicly and categorically refuted any mistreatment from the brothers," and that the release of the screenshots is part of a smear campaign against the Tates. "While all statements from the alleged victims, incriminating the brothers, have been unquestioningly accepted by the public, the evidence supporting the brothers' innocence has not been given the same fair treatment," the spokesperson said. In his interview to Saamana executive editor Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT) group leader Uddhav Thackeray put forth some conditions for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country. If you are going to bring in the Uniform Civil Code, then you should first bring peace in Manipur. It has been burning for months now. Also, the action against the corrupt should be equal, irrespective of which party they belong to. Those who are corrupt but are with you are treated differently. This is not uniform. If you want a UCC, there should be uniformity in treatment too, said Thackeray, while speaking for the podcast Awaj konacha. ON J&K Challenging the BJP government to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir, he said there was always support for the abrogation of Article 370. Now, you have abrogated Article 370. You have also divided the entire state into smaller entities. Why dont you hold the elections there? It has been such a long time, he said. ALSO READ | Shiv Sena is Thackeray and Thackeray is Shiv Sena for Maharashtra, Says Sanjay Raut | Exclusive Responding to PM Modis criticism of the united opposition, he said the hypocrisy of the BJP was known to everyone. Within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), there are only three strong parties the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax (I-T) department. They can make or break any government, he said. Reiterating that the fight against the BJP was the fight for democracy, he said that if the BJP came to power in 2024, it will mean an end to democracy in the country. No elections will be held thereafter, he said. !" !" | | | - Shivsena Podcast Part 4 - Promo : . , . , - pic.twitter.com/5critjy6V6 ShivSena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (@ShivSenaUBT_) July 24, 2023 SPLIT WITHIN THE SENA AND NCP Attacking Maharashtra deputy chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis without naming him, Thackeray said the reason given by the BJP for splitting the Shiv Sena, with CM Eknath Shinde as the rebel leader, was the alleged backstabbing by the Sena. Then what did the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) do? Why did you split them? This was going on for a long time, he said. While answering a question on the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, he said his government did not come down. It was eaten up by crabs. ALSO READ | Shindes Sudden Delhi Trip Sparks New Rumours Amid Unrest in Shiv Sena Over Ajit Pawars Entry He added that he was happy to be surrounded by a handful loyalists, instead of many traitors. Sometimes we get confused. Those who we consider are ours, turn out to be bad. Even though we keep thinking that they are with us, they are actually the branches that sap everything from the roots. The tree feels that they are not with us. He said his party has only emerged stronger due to the recent debacle. The Shiv Sena was strong, but in the two-and-a-half years, because of what I have been able to do, the people of Maharashtra have come to regard me as a member of their family. This is what I have earned. It is a big earning. In that one relationship, people who were never with the Shiv Sena before, too, have joined us. FIGHT FOR SENA NAME Speaking on the partys fight for the name and symbol, Thackeray said, The function of the Election Commission is to issue election dates or symbols. It is not to give or change the partys name. We have gone to the Supreme Court against the strange decision given by the Election Commission. I am sure that given the manner in which we have fulfilled all requirements while presenting our case in the Supreme Court, we will get the name Shiv Sena back. ALSO READ | Sena Vs Sena: Uddhav Faction Alleges Shinde Group Using Party Symbol Illegally, Approaches SC Calling the NDA an amoeba, he said, After many years, I came to know that an amoeba called NDA is alive in this country and to answer them, we, patriotic politicians, have formed an alliance called INDIA. On the same day, our honorable Prime Minister immediately brought to table 36 parties. In fact, they do not need 36 parties. The ED, I-T and CBI are the only three parties in his NDA. BJP, SHINDE FACTION REACT Sheetal Mhatre, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde group) said the remaining handful loyalists, too, will soon leave Uddhav Thackeray. ALSO READ | Uddhavs Maha Tour Pointless Now; Party Chiefs Need to Keep Family Aside: CM Eknath Shinde to News18 BJPs Ashish Shelar called the interview useless. Shambhuraj Desai, Maharashtra minister, said that better thoughts were expected in the interview. The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Tuesday said conditions in the country are such that veteran social activist Anna Hazare should once again lit the torch" and fight against corruption and dictatorship in the country. An editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana said Hazare has demanded the death penalty for those who disrobed and paraded two women in the violence-hit Manipur. The octogenarians reaction to the Manipur horror video has shown he is still active, said the Marathi daily. It said when the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance was in power in Maharashtra from 1995-1999, Hazare went on a fast, but now he is not taking cognisance of scams done by ministers of the Shiv Sena, the BJP and NCP (Ajit Pawar group). Annas protest was against corruption and dictatorship, and today conditions are such that he should again lit the torch, the editorial said. It asked whether BJPs washing machine" has blessings of Hazare. washing machine The opposition dubs BJPsto those leaders against whom the party has raised allegations, but remained mum after they joined the saffron party. When Hazare took the baton against corruption, cultured and well-mannered Manmohan Singh was prime minister, the party said. Hazare had launched a massive protest against corruption when the Congress-led UPA government was in office at the Centre. The stage is all set! The South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics will host its most anticipated Galaxy Unpacked event in Seoul on Wednesday (today) at 4:30 p.m. IST in India. During the event, the smartphone manufacturer is ready to launch a range of new products, including the next-gen foldable smartphones Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5, along with the new Galaxy Tab S9 and Galaxy Watch 6. When And How To Watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Event 2023 Live You can watch the Galaxy Unpacked 2023 event live on the Samsung website, Samsung Newsroom, and Samsungs YouTube channel, starting at 4:30 p.m. IST in India. Live details are also available here, and we have embedded the live link below for your convenience. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 And Galaxy Z Flip 5 Expected Price While Samsung has not officially revealed the price and specifications of the new foldable, leaks suggest that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will come in three storage options: 256GB, 512GB and 1TB. The colour options for the Z Fold 5 are Black, Blue, and Cream. On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is expected to have two storage options: 128GB and 256GB. It will be available in Cream, Graphite, Lavender, and Water Green colors. Tipster Paras Guglani estimates the starting price of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 to be around Rs 95,000 in India, while the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is expected to begin at Rs 1,43,500 in the country. According to 91Mobiles, the new foldable smartphones are rumored to go on sale in India starting from August 14. Customers can make pre-reservations on the Samsung website, Amazon, Flipkart, and Samsung-exclusive retail stores, with pre-reserving customers eligible for benefits worth Rs. 5000. Pre-orders for these handsets will start on July 26, right after their official launch. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Event 2023: What To Expect Both the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 are expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is rumored to have a 7.6-inch full-HD+ Dynamic AMOLED main display and a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED cover screen. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is said to come with a 6.7-inch full-HD+ Dynamic AMOLED primary panel and a 3.4-inch outer display. As for the cameras, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is rumored to have a triple rear camera setup with a 50MP primary sensor, a 5MP under-display camera for selfies, and a 10MP front-facing camera. Additionally, Samsung is expected to unveil three new tablets - Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9 Plus, and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. These tablets may come in both Wi-Fi-only and LTE variants. Also, in the Galaxy Watch 6 series, there could be two main variants - the Galaxy Watch 6 with a sporty look and the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. Samsung at its Unpacked 2023 launch event in Seoul, South Korea is all set to launch its next generation of foldable smartphones Galaxy Z Flip5 and Galaxy Z Fold5 along with Galaxy Watch6 Series and Galaxy Tab S9 Series. The new foldable smartphones are expected to feature improved chipsets with better cameras and battery capacity. Another interesting aspect is that Samsung will offer a larger cover screen on the Z Flip5. Both the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Galaxy Z Flip5 are expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is rumoured to have a 7.6-inch full-HD+ Dynamic AMOLED main display and a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED cover Sony could be the next smartphone brand to enter the market with its first-ever Xperia flip smartphone. The new Xperia phone is definitely getting a lot of attention, but even then the company is going to limit its availability because it has exited quite a few markets in the past few years for business reasons. Now coming back to the rumours about the Xperia flip phone, it is assumed the device will be called Xperia Flip and it is likely to borrow its design traits from the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 or the Moto Razr 40 Ultra. But the similarities could end there, as Sony is expected to offer a 7-inch internal display with support for 4K resolution, which is hard to imagine on this form factor especially with the battery constraints. Sonys screen could get a 21:9 aspect ratio which makes it wider than the likes of Samsung offer with its flip device. However, these features are unlikely to make the Xperia Flip stand out from the flipping crowd. Reports claim Sony could take advantage of its gaming prowess and pack in some of the features that are aimed at gamers. Either way, we cant wait to see what Sony has in the offing, and will the Xperia flip phone manage to create a space for itself in the premium segment. Sony and Apple are the major brands yet to dive into the market with foldables but that could change in the near future. Google has the Pixel Fold but it still doesnt have a flip model which likely got cancelled because of technical reasons. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha has become a target of memes on social media after he was attacked by a crow within the premises of Parliament. Images which have surfaced online shows Raghav speaking on the phone while being attacked. BJPs official Twitter handle took a jibe at the AAP MP as they shared the images with an old Hindi saying, Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate. It translates to Crow bites the liar. The hilarious moment was captured by a photographer of news agency PTI. Also Read: Ranveer Singh Trolled After He Trips And Falls Inside a Dhol During Performance, Old Video is Viral There are a total of three pictures which show a crow flying over Raghavs head and pecking. This happened as he came out of the House after attending Rajya Sabha proceedings. Shocked by the crows actions, the AAP MP bent down. People on Twitter took advantage of the moment and started sharing the image till it went viral. Here, have a look for yourself: Also Read: Bird Sneaking Pasta From Womans Plate Is The Cutest Heist Ever Till today I had only heard, today I also saw that the crow had bitten the liar! wrote BJP in the caption. These tweets have been linked to Raghavs remarks in respect to the unrest in Manipur. BJP wants to hide the atrocities being committed in Manipur," the AAP leader said in a statement. With this, he accused BJP of hampering the functioning of Parliament and expressed the need to hold the government accountable. Taking to Twitter, the AAP leader announced that INDIA plans to introduce a no-confidence motion against the ruling BJP-led central government in the Lok Sabha. Facing job rejection can be a deeply disappointing experience for several reasons. The most common and frustrating aspect is the agonising wait for a companys response that seems to stretch on for ages, only to realise that their silence speaks louder than words. However, amidst the sea of such tales of waiting woes, a peculiar and eyebrow-raising incident emerged on the internet where a woman claimed that she was allegedly rejected from a company due to her fair complexion. Despite some speculating that the LinkedIn post might be a publicity stunt, the authenticity of the claim remains unconfirmed. Pratiksha Jichkar, a Bengaluru-based recruitment professional, shared a detailed account of her recent rejection. She expressed, I was rejected in final round of interview, as my skin tone was little fair for the team. Sharing a screenshot of the rejection email that she received from a company, the LinkedIn user added, You read that right, after 3 rounds of interview, 1 round of assignment, with all the relevant skills, qualifications and experience I was not fit for the role because my skin tone was fair than the current team. The screengrab which did not disclose the companys name, read, Hi Pratiksha, thank you for interviewing with us and being patient throughout the process. Unfortunately, we cannot move ahead with you for the role at this time. We found your profile relevant and all skills and qualifications match what we are looking for but we are an inclusive organisation and believe in equal opportunity for all. Your skin tone is little fair for the current team so we dont want differences in our internal team, and we decided not to offer you, the email concluded, sending shockwaves to the users. Soon, her post gained significant attention on LinkedIn and also echoed on other social media platforms like Twitter, where users shared the same screenshot. A girl got rejected because she had a fair complexion. What a time to be alive, commented a Twitter user. However, the comment section of this post was filled with responses from people who believed that the claim was untrue. Saw this on LinkedIn today. This was just a publicity stunt. It aint real, wrote one user. Also Read: Bengaluru Ola Driver Cancelling Ride to Charge Extra Has Twitter Puzzled Over Middle Class Survival This cant be true. Even if the reality is this, no company would mention this in rejection mail, expressed another one. Although News18 could not independently verify the original LinkedIn post by Pratiksha, it was noted that she later turned off the comments section on her post. Sudha Murty, the renowned Indian author, and wife of Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, has been garnering attention lately for her simple and down-to-earth lifestyle despite her fame. Many instances of her leading a normal life and engaging in everyday activities have been making headlines. From sharing amusing anecdotes about an immigration officer not believing her UK address was 10 Downing Street," the official residence of the British Prime Minister and her son-in-law Rishi Sunak, to revealing how she carries her own meals while travelling abroad, Mrs. Murty remains a subject of interest. However, along with admiration, there are some who resort to trolling her for what they perceive as selling an overly simplistic lifestyle. Sudha Murthys simplicity is becoming really irksome, one user jokingly commented on Twitter. Another witty remark suggested, On Foreign Trips, Sudha Murthy carries her house along with her, what if the Hotel room was used by another person Yet another troll chimed in Sudha Murthy carries her own chair in the aircraft. Perversely I like the idea of Sudha Murthy carrying her little pressure cooker and pure veg readymade poha packet and maybe a battery run induction cooker to a fancy eaterie somewhere in the world and cooking her own dinner with her own spoons read another hilarious comment. Even a photo of UK PM smiling his way with an assortment of meat prompted Desis to ask, You keep seperate cutlery for your mom in Law? And your children are not allowed to touch their grandma?" Notably, all these remarks were in response to her recent appearance on the show, Khaane Mein Kya Hai," hosted by the food writer and TV personality, Kunal Vijayakar. During the show, she confessed to being a pure vegetarian and shared her biggest worry the possibility of the same spoon being used for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items. Also Read: Sudha Murthys Encounter With Immigration Officer Has Turned into a Hilarious Twitter Trend In her own words, Mrs. Murty said, I am adventurous in my work, not in my food. I am, in fact, scared. I am a pure vegetarian, I dont even eat eggs or garlic. What I am scared of, is that the same spoon will be used for both, vegetarian and non-vegetarian food" To tackle this concern, she revealed that she either searches for vegetarian restaurants when eating out or takes along a bag full of her own delectables. She goes prepared with 25-30 chapattis, some fried sooji or rava, and a cooking bag complete with a small cooker all ready for her to whip up a quick and satisfying meal with just some warm water. The Indian embassy in Myanmar on Wednesday repatriated 15 more Indians who were being used as slaves after they were duped into accepting job offers from transnational crime syndicates in Myanmar. The embassy in Myanmar said that these individuals have left Yangon for Delhi and upon reaching Myanmar they would go to their respective native places. @IndiainMyanmar today repatriated 15 more Indian nationals who were victims of job offers of transnational crime syndicates in Myanmar. They left Yangon for Delhi from where they would go to their respective native places in India.@MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/NIZeKhauBI India in Myanmar (@IndiainMyanmar) July 26, 2023 The Indian embassy in Myanmar today repatriated 15 more Indian nationals who were victims of job offers of transnational crime syndicates in Myanmar. They left Yangon for Delhi from where they would go to their respective native places in India, the Indian Embassy in Myanmar said in a tweet. The embassy further added that so far 379 Indians have been rescued. The authorities also thanked the Myanmarese authorities for their assistance. We appreciate the assistance provided by the Myanmar authorities and other contacts. So far 379 Indian nationals have been rescued. We are committed to secure the release of all Indian nationals, the Indian Embassy in Myanmar said. While we continue our efforts for securing release of the remaining Indian nationals, we reiterate advisories against falling prey to job offers by transnational crime syndicates, they further added in a series of tweets. The embassy earlier this February rescued nine Indian nationals, who were victims of job offers by transnational crime syndicates in Myanmar. The external affairs ministry has warned Indian citizens to cross-check before accepting dubious employment offers overseas and apply extreme caution against such jobs. These Indians were reportedly taken across the border illegally mostly into Myanmar and held captive to work under harsh conditions. Reports of Indians being trapped in similar job rackets have also come to light in Laos and Cambodia. The Indian Embassies in Vientiane, Phnom Penh and Bangkok were engaged in repatriating citizens from these cities. Chinese syndicates and threat actors are committing cybercrimes by setting up bases in neighbouring countries. They have indulged in theft of personal information, cross-border gambling, e-commerce scams, romance scams and advanced persistent threat (APT). A previous report by News18 highlighted that due to tightening of laws in China against gambling, money laundering, pornography, and other cyber-related issues, bad actors are using neighbouring Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand to commit these crimes. At least 7% of Americans who participated in a survey agreed that the use of force is justified to restore former US President Donald Trump to the White House. A report titled Dangers to Democracy which was released by the Chicago Project on Security Threats (CPST) earlier in June found increasing support for the use of violence. Earlier, the number was 4.5% and the spike means that there is an equivalent of an estimated shift from 12 million to 18 million American adults, according to the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) and CPST survey. At least 4.5% held this belief when a separate survey was carried out in April last year. The spike shows the response of a section of Americans who may have developed a more intense commitment to Trump following the announcement of the federal indictment against him, the surveyors said. Trump was indicted on June 9, 2023 and the survey began on June 26 - about two and a half weeks later. The former US president was charged earlier this year by the Justice Department with 31 counts of willful retention of national defence information, one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, one count of making false statements and four additional offences pertaining to different forms of concealment, the Hill said in its report. It also highlighted that the one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice itself carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges on June 13. This was Trumps second indictment and also his first federal indictment following his decision to run for the Presidency in the 2024 US elections. Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg charged him in April over alleged hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump pleaded not guilty in that case too. Trump predicted that a third indictment and second federal indictment is headed his way over his alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021 Capitol Hill riots in which a violent mob stormed the Capitol Hill to try and overturn the election results of the 2021 Presidential Elections. The survey also showed that about 40% Americans share at least one attitude reflecting deep distrust of American democratic institutions. At least 20% of Americans believe in anti-democratic political conspiracy theories about how the country is run. The survey consisted of a random sample of 3,543 people with a margin of error of 2.30% and was carried out between June 22-26. Officer Scott Harrell of Texas City police detained Christopher Shull for "disregarding a traffic control device" in April, but it was for manoevers in the privately-owned parking lot of a gas station. When Shull argued, correctly, that that was not how any of this works, Harrell arrested, handcuffed and detained himand has now been placed on leave after Shull threatened a lawsuit. The video is, as one commenter describes, an example of the sunk cost fallacy, as the angry cop keeps doubling down on a mistake rather than fixing ita mistake that could cost the city (and its taxpayers) dearly. "You were very close! They had to slam on their brakes, I watched it happen ok you came flying through the parking lot," Harrell said to Shull, while Shull sat handcuffed in the back of his police cruiser. But in the new surveillance video obtained by KPRC 2 News, the white truck appears to brake while exiting the gas pumps, then the brake lights appear to go off before completing a left turn and finally crossing paths with Shull."Everything he said was a lie and it really just boils down to, he wanted to use his police powers to bash me over the head," Shull said. Shull has retained San Antonio-based civil rights attorney Brandon Grable, who told KPRC 2 Shull never should have been detained."An officer appeared to have a poor lapse of judgment and once he realized he was too far in to the stop, he felt like he had to go all the way," Grable said. Here's the police chief's statement, apparently issued after weeks of ignoring Shull's lawyer. An attempted coup was underway Wednesday in the Sahel state of Niger as President Mohamed Bazoum was being held by members of his guard, who in turn were given an ultimatum by the army, sources said. The West African bloc ECOWAS, the African Union and the European Union condemned what they called an attempted coup detat," a description echoed by a source close to Bazoum who also predicted the bid would fail. A close ally of France, Bazoum was elected in 2021, taking the helm of a country mired in poverty and burdened by a history of chronic instability. Members of the elite Presidential Guard on Wednesday morning sealed off access to the presidents residence and offices, and after talks broke down refused to release the president," another presidential source said. The army has given them an ultimatum," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. In a message on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X, the presidents office said elements of the Presidential Guard (PG) had a fit of temper (and) tried unsuccessfully to gain the support of the national armed forces and the national guard." The army and national guard are ready to attack the elements of the PG who are involved in this fit of temper if they do not return to a better disposition," the presidency said. The president and his family are well," it added. The reason for the guards anger was not disclosed. Access was blocked off to the presidential complex in Niamey, although there was no abnormal military deployment or sounds of gunfire in the area, and traffic was normal, an AFP journalist saw. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and AU issued separate statements condemning an attempted coup dEtat". ECOWAS called for Bazoums immediate and unconditional release, and warned that all those involved would be held responsible for his safety. The source close to Bazoum, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the attempt to seize power was doomed to fail." The EU said it associates itself" with the ECOWAS statement, with foreign policy chief Josep Borrell posting online: The EU condemns any attempt to destabilise democracy and threaten the stability of Niger". - Coup-prone - The landlocked Sahel state has experienced four coups since independence from France in 1960 as well as numerous other attempts on power, including against Bazoum himself. The countrys last coup occurred in February 2010, overthrowing then president Mamadou Tandja. There was an attempted coup just days before Bazoums inauguration in April 2021, according to a security source at the time. Several people were arrested, including the suspected ringleader, an air force captain named Sani Gourouza. He was arrested in neighbouring Benin and handed over to the Niger authorities. Ousmane Cisse, a former interior minister under a military government of transition that ran from 2010-2011, was detained in April 2022 for his suspected role. He was acquitted in February this year, but five others, including Gourouza, were jailed for 20 years. A second bid to oust Bazoum occurred in March this year while the president was in Turkey", according to a Niger official, who said an arrest was made. The authorities have never commented publicly on the incident. In January 2018, nine soldiers and a civilian were sentenced by a military court to jail terms ranging from five to 15 years for having attempted to topple Bazoums predecessor, Mahamadou Issoufou, in 2015. Those convicted included General Souleymane Salou, a former army chief of staff and a member of the junta that had forced out Tandja in 2010. - Poverty and jihadism - Lying in the heart of West Africas arid Sahel, Niger is two-thirds desert and persistently ranks at the bottom, or near it, in the UNs Human Development Index, a benchmark of prosperity. It has a surging population of 22.4 million, driven by a birthrate averaging seven children per woman. The country is struggling with two jihadist campaigns one in the southwest, which swept in from neighbouring Mali in 2015, and the other in the southeast, involving jihadists based in northeastern Nigeria. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes, stoking a humanitarian crisis and further straining the economy. Nigers military has received training and logistical support from the United States and France, which have military bases there. The country is also the hub of Frances anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel, which were reconfigured after French forces quit Mali and Burkina Faso following political bust-ups with those countries. US President Joe Bidens son Hunter pleaded not guilty to minor tax offenses Wednesday as a deal with federal prosecutors derailed in a Delaware court. The surprise move came after Judge Maryellen Noreika raised questions over the original deal under which Biden had agreed to enter a guilty plea and admit to illegal gun possession and effectively placed it on hold. Biden, 53, whose legal troubles have cast a shadow over his fathers reelection campaign, had reached an agreement with prosecutors that he would be sentenced to probation on two tax avoidance counts. The deal also specified that the firearms charge would eventually be erased if he adhered to a counseling-and-rehabilitation program. But the deal fell apart after Noreika queried why the gun charge was included in a tax case, and whether the plea agreement protected Biden from charges that might arise from a wider ongoing investigation of his business dealings, according to US media. When prosecutors could not resolve her questions, Noreika said she could not accept the deal, and Biden then entered a not guilty plea to close the session. That was expected to send the deal back to negotiations, which could become more complex. Prosecutor David Weiss confirmed to the court that his office is still examining other possible crimes by Biden. Weiss did not detail those possible crimes, but one issue mentioned in the court was possible violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, relating to his business deals in China, Ukraine and other countries dating back to the early 2010s, when his father was vice president. - Political attacks - Republicans have accused Weiss of giving Biden a sweetheart deal" with the plea agreement announced on June 20. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that Hunter Biden was a private citizen. This was a personal matter." The case was handled independently by the Justice Department under the leadership of a prosecutor appointed by President Trump," she added. The plea deal was to end a five-year investigation that Republicans have sought to use to politically harm his father Joe. According to the charges, Hunter, a Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyist, failed to file his tax returns on time on earnings of more than $1.5 million for 2017 and 2018. He was facing up to 12 months in prison for each tax charge and a possible maximum 10 years on a charge that, as a known drug user, he had illegally possessed a handgun in 2018. But prosecutors recommended probation on the tax charges after Biden paid the taxes and penalties, according to his attorney. In addition, the gun charge was to be suspended and then eliminated if Biden completed pretrial diversion," which often involves counseling or rehabilitation. That would require Biden to remain sober as the charges arise from a long period when he says he struggled with addiction to alcohol, crack cocaine and other drugs. The president, the first lady, they love their son and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life," Jean-Pierre said. A day after Indias Anju tied the knot with her Pakistani Facebook friend Nasrullah, a video of the newlywed couples celebratory moments at a mountaintop went viral on social media. The 34-year-old mother of two from Rajasthan arrived in the neighbouring country using a valid visa to meet Nasrullah, who is a resident of the Upper Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They became friends on Facebook in 2019. The moment she left India, we cut off all ties with her, said Gaya Prasad, who is the father of Anju. Prasads reaction came after his daughter married her friend and converted to Islam. Upon her arrival in Pakistan, she converted to Islam, assuming the name Fatima, and the couple proceeded to solemnise their court marriage at the district courts, as confirmed by official sources reported by Dawn newspaper. During the proceedings, Anju expressed her free will" in visiting 29-year-old Nasrullah and marrying him, the report added. However, the event took place under tight security measures, and the newlywed couple quickly left the court premises after the nikah ceremony, avoiding media interaction. A video capturing the couple at the mountaintop circulated widely on social media, catching the publics attention. As the spotlight fell on their union, local officials assured the public that Indias Anju possessed all the necessary travel documents. WATCH | Pre-wedding Video of Anju, Now Fatima, in Picturesque Pakistan Garden; Her Father Reacts Earlier, Anju herself appealed to the media to refrain from bothering her family and children back in India, as her return process was underway, and she planned to go back in the next few days. In a 40-second video message, she conveyed that her travel to Pakistan was a well-thought-out decision and not an impulsive act. She assured those who wished to connect with her that they could reach out online. As per reports, Anju has a 15-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son from her previous marriage to Arvind Kumar in 2007. While Anjus story unfolded, it brought to mind the recent case of Seema Ghulam Haider, a woman from Pakistan who had illegally entered India with her four children after falling in love with a man in Greater Noida. Irans Supreme Court has quashed a death sentence handed down to a 23-year-old man convicted of killing a policeman during nationwide protests last year, local media reported Wednesday. Iran issued a slew of death sentences during its crackdown on the protests sparked by the September death of Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini while in morality police custody. The Islamic republic has carried out seven of the executions, triggering international condemnation and Western sanctions. Mohammad Ghobadlou was sentenced to death on the charge of corruption on Earth" in October after a court found him guilty of attacking police officers, one of them fatally", in a car-ramming during a protest. The Supreme Court quashed the death sentence against Ghobadlou and referred his case to a new jurisdiction to deal with issues relating to his mental health," Irans Mehr news agency reported, citing his defence team. Ghobadlous family had appealed for clemency from the court on the grounds that he suffered from bipolar disorder. Dozens of police officers were among the hundreds of people killed during the Amini protests, which Tehran labelled riots" fomented by foreign governments. Authorities made thousands of arrests among protesters and their supporters. Italian lawmakers began deliberating Wednesday a bill to toughen a ban on surrogacy to make it illegal to seek it abroad, sparking criticism the government was targeting LGBTQ rights. If passed, the bill proposed by a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis far-right Brothers of Italy party would make Italians who seek surrogacy in other countries liable for prosecution on their return home. Currently, Italian law stipulates that anyone who carries out, organises or publicises" surrogacy in Italy faces three months to two years in jail and a fine ranging from 600,000 euros ($664,000) to one million euros. Media reports suggest the vast majority of people seeking surrogacy abroad are heterosexual couples who cannot have children themselves. However, the new proposal has sparked alarm among LGBTQ activists who have warned since Meloni took office in October that her emphasis on traditional, Catholic family values risks eroding civil rights. On Wednesday, as the bill was debated in the lower house of parliament, Brothers of Italy deputy group leader Elisabetta Gardini scoffed at the oppositions criticism. She called surrogacy in which a woman carries to term a pregnancy on behalf of others uterus for rent" that outrages the dignity of women and tramples on the rights of children." Another party member in March defined surrogacy as a crime even more serious than paedophilia". - State homophobia - Ahead of the debate, a few hundred people gathered Tuesday evening in front of Romes Pantheon to protest the bill, many waving rainbow flags. Among them was Mario Colamarino, 32, a gay man who said he would one day like to have his own children, who called the anti-surrogacy bill a pretext, a state homophobia against us". Instead of dealing with the climate fires, serious problems, gas prices, the government sees fit to deal with these things, an issue that concerns few people," he told AFP. Fabrizio LaPaglia, 60, a gay man with children from an earlier marriage with a woman, said he was at the protest to support all those seeking the right to surrogacy, whether homosexual or straight. This government is strongly supported by pro-life associations, they are fundamentalists who want to make decisions about a womans body and the LGBT community," LaPaglia said. - Legal limbo - Until now, Italians who can afford it have been able to travel to countries where surrogacy is allowed, such as the United States or Canada. But the issue is part of a wider unsolved problem in Italy, which lacks a law to recognise the children of same-sex couples. That leaves them in legal limbo with only the biological parent registered on their birth certificates, forcing the other to embark on the lengthy and costly process of adoption. In absence of clear policy, some cities, including Milan, Turin and Padua, had been registering the children of same-sex couples conceived overseas through surrogacy. But an interior ministry directive in March instructed municipalities to stop, and some parents names have since been eliminated from city registers, creating a series of bureaucratic problems for the excluded parent. They include not being allowed to pick up their child from school without a note from the registered parent, or not being allowed to accompany them on planes. There are questions as to the legality of extending Italys ban to surrogacy abroad. The text of this bill was good perhaps for a pure propaganda tweet," said deputy Valentina DOrso of the opposition Five Star Movement, dismissing it as unconstitutional". Civil unions have been allowed in Italy since 2016 but same-sex couples cannot marry, or adopt. Medically assisted reproduction in which a donated egg or sperm is used is legal for heterosexual couples but not for same-sex couples or single women. Hunter Biden, the troubled son of US President Joe Biden, is scheduled to appear in federal court on Wednesday where he is expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax offences, as part of a deal to resolve a felony gun charge. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has agreed to recommend probation for failing to pay taxes in a timely manner for 2017 and 2018. Hunter Biden owed at least USD 100,000 in federal taxes for each of those years but failed to meet the IRS deadlines. The final sentence will be determined by a judge. On Capitol Hill, the GOP chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Jason Smith of Missouri, filed court documents urging the judge in Hunter Bidens case to consider testimony from IRS whistleblowers. According to Associated Press, the whistleblowers alleged that the US Justice Department interfered with investigations into Biden, a charge denied by the lead prosecutor in the case, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump. US District Judge Maryellen Noreika, also appointed by Trump, will review the plea agreement. While judges rarely reject plea bargains, the effort by Smith raised questions about the deal, which is expected to spare the presidents son from jail time. Hours after the lawmakers filed their motion, a court clerk received a call requesting that sensitive information be kept under seal. The lawyer on the call, later identified as Jessica Bengels from the defense team, represented herself truthfully from the beginning, according to court documents. The judge agreed to keep the information sealed for a day to consider the issue. The dustup occurred before Hunter Biden is set to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax charges, allowing him to avoid prosecution on a gun charge if certain conditions are met. Republicans have criticised the agreement, and two IRS agents claimed the investigation was slow-walked" and the prosecutor was denied broader special counsel powers. Delaware US Attorney David Weiss, a Trump appointee, denied these allegations in a letter to Congress. Meanwhile, in a recent filing, Hunters legal team denied lying to court officials and attributed the incident to an unfortunate and unintentional miscommunication." This response came after District Judge Maryellen Noreika threatened sanctions over allegations that a staff member misrepresented themselves while requesting the removal of a GOP filing from the public docket. (With agency inputs) NASA Administrator Bill Nelson visited Brazilian space research center INPE on Wednesday and proposed extending satellite partnerships with the United States to help monitor and prevent destruction of the Amazon rainforest. Nelson said NASA will have a satellite in January that can even render images of what is happening below the forest canopy. The satellite, called NISAR, will be launched with India. It is going to be able to look through the canopy of the jungle so that we can see if someone has burned the undergrowth and that would ultimately kill the big trees," he said at a news conference at INPE in Sao Jose dos Campos. Science Minister Luciana Santos showed Nelson around INPE headquarters and explained Brazils space program. The agency has launched a series of satellites in partnership with China since 1999 for agricultural and environmental monitoring. Brazil relies on satellite imagery to watch over the Amazon, but cloud cover is often a hurdle for precise and timely images. Nelson, a former U.S. senator, met on Monday with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia. I thanked the president for his continuous effort to save the Amazon rainforest," he told reporters after the meeting. Nelson said when he flew in space 37 years ago he could see with the naked eye the destruction of the rainforest by the different colors visible from his spacecraft window. Satellites that NASA plans to place in orbit early next year will add extreme ability to understand what is happening" to the rainforest, he said in Brasilia. Earlier on Tuesday, Nelson visited Brazilian plane maker Embraer in Sao Jose dos Campos and toured the production line for its narrow-body commercial E-Jets. Nelson will continue his South American trip this week with visits to Argentina and Colombia. NATO on Wednesday condemned Russias dangerous" moves to block Ukrainian grain exports in the Black Sea, after urgent consultations with Kyiv following Moscows withdrawal from a UN-backed deal. Allies and Ukraine strongly condemned Russias decision to withdraw from the Black Sea grain deal and its deliberate attempts to stop Ukraines agricultural exports on which hundreds of millions of people worldwide depend," a statement from NATO said. They also condemned Russias recent missile attacks on Odesa, Mykolaiv, and other port cities, including Moscows cynical drone attack on the Ukrainian grain storage facility in the Danube port city of Reni, very close to the Romanian border." The 31-nation alliance said a warning from Russia to ships in the region covered NATO member Bulgarias exclusive economic zone and created new risks for miscalculation and escalation". Russia bears full responsibility for its dangerous and escalatory actions in the Black Sea region," NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said. Russias actions also pose substantial risks to the stability of the Black Sea region, which is of strategic importance to NATO. Allies are stepping up support to Ukraine and increasing our vigilance." The meeting Wednesday was the second of a new NATO-Ukraine Council that was inaugurated by President Volodymyr Zelensky at the alliances summit in Lithuania this month. Kyiv called the talks after Moscow unilaterally withdrew last week from the deal aimed at securing Ukraines exports through the Black Sea. The council is intended to bolster political ties between NATO and Kyiv and gives Ukraine the right to ask for meetings to discuss issues of mutual concern. Despite pressure from Zelensky, NATO leaders refused at the summit in Lithuanias capital Vilnius to offer Ukraine a timetable for becoming a full member of the alliance. NATO welcomed efforts from alliance member Turkey to revitalise the Black Sea deal and attempts by the UN and EU to try to keep produce flowing out of agricultural powerhouse Ukraine. NATO said it is stepping up surveillance and reconnaissance in the Black Sea region, including with maritime patrol aircraft and drones". The Black Sea is a key strategic area where NATO allies have been keen to increase their presence. But Turkey which controls access between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean has been wary of allowing the rest of the US-led alliance to exert too much influence in the region. China removed its foreign minister on Tuesday and replaced him with his predecessor at an unusually scheduled meeting, following weeks of speculation that the former Chinese ambassador to the United States and one-time confidant of President Xi Jinping had suddenly fallen out of favour. Qin, who has not been seen in public for over a month, was removed from office by Beijings top lawmaking body after less than a year on the job. This sudden move has fueled rumors about what might be going on with the nations Communist Party leadership. What happened to Qin Gang? China offered no explanation for the sacking of foreign minister Qin Gang on Wednesday, while scrubbing mentions of him from a government website. As of Wednesday morning, any reference to the 57-year-old had been removed from the website of Chinas foreign ministry. A search for his name yielded no results and previous articles about his diplomatic appearances showed a message saying the page does not exist or has been deleted". But his name did appear on other Chinese government websites, including the State Council, the Ministry of Commerce and state media outlets. The foreign ministry had for weeks refused to give any updates on Qin despite repeated questioning, after previously saying health reasons" were to blame for his absence. What about his whereabouts? For weeks, China remained tight-lipped about the fate of Qin Gang, who has not made any public appearances since June 25 when he met Russias deputy foreign minister in Beijing. Speculations circulating online suggested that an alleged affair with a prominent TV anchor might have caused his troubles. The situation highlights the increasing unpredictability and volatility of Chinese politics, as per Ho-fung Hung, a Chinese politics expert at Johns Hopkins University. Qin, originally from Tianjin, previously had close ties with President Xi while serving as chief of the foreign ministrys protocol department. Despite being promoted over more experienced candidates, his sudden fall exemplifies that no official is immune to the twists of Chinese politics, as stated by a China law expert, Neysun Mahboubi. Who is the new foreign minister? Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi has taken over as the foreign minister, succeeding Qin Gang. Despite the political drama in Beijing, experts believe Chinese diplomacy will continue as usual. Wangs vast experience makes him capable of carrying forward Chinas foreign policy, which is not expected to undergo significant shifts. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his readiness to collaborate with Wang and work well with Chinas relevant counterparts. Beijing assures that its diplomatic activities are progressing steadily despite the leadership change. (With AFP inputs) Sri Lankas opposition parties on Tuesday stood divided over their participation in the all-party conference called by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday on the National Reconciliation Programme that seeks to address the thorny issue of ethnic reconciliation of minority Tamils in the island nation. While invitations were extended to leaders of all political parties and independent groups with representation in parliament to attend the all-party meeting on national reconciliation, some of the opposition parties have claimed that they are not aware of the exact agenda. We have not been informed of the agenda for the meeting. But we will attend for the sake of the people, Sajith Premadasa, the main opposition leader in the Sri Lankan parliament, said. He said his party the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) reserved the right to walk out of the meeting if it proved to be a political gimmick rather than a genuine effort. According to a notice issued from the office of President Wickremesinghe, who recently returned from his India visit, an all-party conference has been scheduled for July 26 and invitations have been extended to leaders from all the parties. While the second largest opposition group Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said they would not attend, other political parties said they would take part. We will be going, Dayasiri Jayasekera of the former President Maithripala Sirisenas Sri Lanka Freedom Party said. The stance of the several other fringe opposition groups was unclear. The all-party move happens closely on the heels of the presidents two-day visit to India last week where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Wickremesinghe prior to his Delhi visit had agreed to the full implementation of the 13th Amendment (13A) to the Sri Lankan Constitution with all-party consensus without the police powers being granted to the provinces. This was at a meeting with the Tamil parties represented in the north and east provinces. The 13A was Indias pioneering move in 1987 to try and bring in a settlement to the issue of political autonomy to the Tamils in Sri Lanka. It created nine provinces as devolved units with a temporary merger of the north and eastern provinces. Prime Minister Modi during his talks with Wickremesinghe had expressed hope that the Sri Lankan leader would be committed to implementing the 13A and holding the provincial council elections. He urged to ensure a life of respect and dignity for the Tamils. 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. "The American public has a right to learn about technologies of unknown origins, non-human intelligence, and unexplainable phenomena," says top Senate Democrat and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). "We are not only working to declassify what the government has previously learned about these phenomena but to create a pipeline for future research to be made public." Today, the US Congress kicks off its public UFO hearings to reveal to the public what the government may know about non-human intelligences, crashed craft from "somewhere else," technology of unknown origin, and other weird UFO-related phenomena. You can watch the hearing live below, starting at 10am ET. From Vanity Fair: One of the scheduled witnesses will be David Grusch, a former intelligence official and the subject of an attention-grabbing headline in June that helped spark this most recent round of public interest in UFOs. In the piece, Grush alleged that the U.S. government was illegally withholding information related to its possession of "intact and partially intact craft of non-human origin"; subsequently, Grusch has suggested that the government has come into contact with "malevolent" alien pilots[] On Wednesday, Grusch will be joined by Ryan Graves, a former Navy pilot who claims to have seen multiple UAPs, and David Fravor, another former Navy pilot who witnessed what is now popularly known as the "tic tac" incident in 2004[] [Tennessee Republican Representative Tim] Burchett said the US had evidence of technology that "defies all of our laws of physics." He added: "We're gonna get to the bottom of it, dadgummit. Whatever the truth may be. We're done with the cover-up." Sure, the truth is out there but we probably aren't going to hear it today. Antony Blinken on Wednesday became the first US secretary of state to visit Tonga, dedicating a new US embassy and warning South Pacific nations about the perils of predatory" Chinese investment. As part of a drive to build Washingtons influence across the region and to counter Beijings growing clout, Blinken touched down in the capital Nukualofa on a diplomatic charm offensive. Were a Pacific nation", and we very much see the future in the Indo-Pacific region", Blinken told his hosts. We really understand what is a priority for the people here," he added, citing issues like climate change, development and illegal fishing. Blinken also delivered a barbed warning about aid and investment from Beijing, saying it often comes with strings attached. As Chinas engagement in the region has grown, there has been some from our perspective - increasingly problematic behaviour," Blinken said. He claimed China had been behind some predatory economic activities, and also investments that are done in a way that can actually undermine good governance and promote corruption". Earlier this year, Micronesias then-leader David Panuelo publicly accused China of engaging in harassment and espionage, and bribing members of his cabinet. Tongas debt-laden government is seen as particularly vulnerable to economic pressure from China. The island kingdom owes Chinas export bank around $130 million almost a third of its GDP which was loaned to help rebuild after rioters tore through the capital in 2006. Repayments on that loan are scheduled to spike next year. Diplomatic hub Tonga, a Polynesian archipelago of about 100,000 people, is the latest in a string of Pacific island states being targeted in a renewed US diplomatic push. The new US embassy in Nukualofa was officially opened in May, but Blinkens hosts said his visit signalled Washingtons renewed interest in the region. His presence here today is a testament to the fact that our partnership is growing from strength to strength," said Tongan Prime Minister Huakavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, welcoming a shared respect for democracy, rule of law and the rights and freedoms of others". The United States has plans to open embassies in Vanuatu and Kiribati, and in February restored its embassy in Solomon Islands after a 30-year hiatus. The United States had been missing in action to some extent prior to 2018, but they are now back in a big way," said Pacific analyst Meg Keen from Australias Lowy Institute. Where they have singled out for visits is where they think the geopolitical risks are high," she told AFP. Chinese state-controlled media painted Blinkens visit as evidence that the United States no longer had confidence in its ally Australia to manage relations with Pacific Island nations. The United States has been the dominant military force in the South Pacific since World War II. But the region is increasingly an arena for powers to compete for commercial, political and military influence. China, the rising military force in the region, has also asserted itself through its expanding diplomatic reach, investment, police training and security deals. While in Tonga, Blinken also commented on the abrupt removal of Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang from office. I wish him well," Blinken said, while vowing to work with his replacement Wang Yi. Ive also known Wang Yi for more than a decade. Ive met with him repeatedly," Blinken said. I anticipate being able to work well with him as we have in the past." It is important for us to manage this relationship responsibly. That starts with diplomacy, that starts with engaging, and I will work with whoever the relevant Chinese counterpart is." A burning crane collapsed and crashed to the ground in New York City on Wednesday in the Hells Kitchen area injuring two people. Dramatic video footage captured the crane collapsing and smoke billowing into the sky. People speaking to news outlet The Mirror said it sounded like an explosion. A building nearby caught fire and firefighters rushed to the spot to contain the fire. Crane has collapsed in Hells Kitchen, New York.pic.twitter.com/OXvMT71Unr The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) July 26, 2023 The video showed that the crane struck a building across the street as it collapsed. A hotel nearby was also evacuated, the Mirror said in its report. A stage four alarm fire alert was activated by the New York Fire Department. This means that the fire is serious to the point that it can be catastrophic if not handled correctly. FDNY units are currently operating at a crane collapse and fire at 550 Tenth Avenue in Manhattan, the New York Fire Department said. Unverified reports said that part of the crane fell onto vehicles below and possibly on a taxi and a police car. News18 was unable to verify the authenticity of the video. The crane was located on 41st and 10th Avenue in the Hudson Yards construction site in Manhattan which falls near Hells Kitchen. A New York Police Department (NYPD)NYPD helicopter was seen flying overhead to assess the scene and the 10th avenue has been shut down until further notice. People have been advised by the NYPD to keep clear of the area. Due to a crane collapse, please avoid the area of 10th Avenue and 11th Avenue from West 41 Street to West 42 Street. Please use alternate routes and expect traffic in the area, the NYPD said. Destination Niagara to use grant to boost local fishing charters Destination Niagara USA will launch a marketing campaign promoting sport fishing opportunities on Lake Ontario available through the charter industry. Its the result of a $1.2 million award in federal pandemic aid to help the Lake Ontario fishing charter industry, which was harmed by pandemic-related business shutdowns. The partnership involves the Outdoor Sportsman Group, the Lake Ontario Charter Boat Association, the Lake Ontario Sportfishing Promotion Council and the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Local boat captains will be featured on segments of the television show In-Fishermen and in commercials on the Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network and Bigwater Adventures with Mark Davis. There will also be marketing materials and articles in seven outdoor publications, as well as digital and social media promotions. Samantha Christmann All Saints Catholic Church, the only Catholic church in Buffalos Riverside section, will be put up for sale likely this fall as part of a plan to market a large school building, parish hall and rectory adjacent to the church. Parish leaders say they prefer to keep the church and sell just the other buildings, but the plan calls for all the properties to be listed so as not to discourage potential developers. At the same time, theyre trying to raise money for repairs that will allow groups to use a portion of the school building again and generate some rental income for the parish of about 200 families. The entire school building on Esser Avenue has been off limits for months because the fire alarm system needs about $12,000 in repairs that are slated to begin in mid-August. Those fixes would allow the parish to reopen the first floor of a newer portion of the school for Boy Scout meetings, as a polling site and for other uses. The church at the corner of Esser Avenue and Henrietta Street remains open and will continue to host Mass on Sundays. Listing the property is not because were closing, but rather because were trying to stay open, said Richard Kaiser, an All Saints Parish trustee. It sounds odd, but putting the property up for sale is actually a means to trying to keep the church open. Bankruptcy judge questions Buffalo Diocese spending as legal fees soar to $12.5 million Legal and professional fees paid by the Buffalo Diocese have ballooned to $12.5 million, prompting the federal judge overseeing the dioceses Chapter 11 bankruptcy case to remark that he was puzzled over how the diocese was able to afford such costs. The parish, founded in 1911, cant afford to make all the repairs necessary on the school, which consists of an original building constructed around 1920, and an addition built in 1958. Parishioners are trying to raise money for a new roof to prevent further deterioration and keep the buildings sound for new development, Kaiser said. Ideally, the school buildings could be converted into housing or space for a human services organization that does good work in the community, he added. The idea of listing all the property was that we dont want to tie anybodys hands and say, Well, you can buy this but not that, and they say, Well, that doesnt work, Kaiser said. These developers come up with some creative ideas and thats what were hoping for. But Common Council Member Joseph Golombek Jr., who is a member of the parish and whose North District includes the church properties, said he was not optimistic about the likelihood of the church remaining. Buffalo Diocese seeks updated value of 37 properties as it looks to settle abuse claims More than three dozen Buffalo Diocese properties could soon be appraised for current values that ultimately may factor heavily into a settlement with sexual abuse claimants in the dioceses Chapter 11 bankruptcy court. I dont care how you spin it, thats not a positive. If youre putting something on the market, thats because you want to sell it, not because you dont want to, he said. Golombek said the Buffalo Diocese has neglected the school buildings since the school closed in 2002, despite opportunities for stable tenants and a state grant that wouldve covered the costs of a new roof. Im just very frustrated over the situation, because people have tried to help them and theyve refused the help, he said. The plan to sell the buildings must first be approved by a committee of priests known as the College of Consultors, who advise Bishop Michael W. Fisher. In 2022, All Saints joined with Assumption in Black Rock and Holy Spirit, St. Margaret, St. Mark, and St. Rose of Lima in North Buffalo as one family of parishes under a new reorganization plan being pushed by the diocese as it deals with a Chapter 11 bankruptcy and a growing shortage of priests. Under the new model, parishes within a family share a pastor and collaborate on ministries. Diocese officials have said that the Road to Renewal family grouping plan would not prescribe church or school closings, but they acknowledged that families of parishes may make such decisions to operate more effectively and efficiently in a time of constrained resources. If All Saints Church is sold, parishioners will be welcomed to worship at any of the other sites within the family of parishes, Kaiser said. UPDATE Jul 28, 2023 9:52 AM CDT Prosecutors don't plan on waiting until Bryan Kohberger's trial to learn more about the alibi his defense team has suggested he has for the murder of four University of Idaho students. Idaho prosecutors filed a motion Thursday asking a judge to compel the defense team to release information on the alibi, including the location Kohberger claims to have been at and the names of potential witnesses, CNN reports. With Kohberger's trial set to begin on October 2, it is essential that the defense "be required to provide prompt notice" of alibi details so the state can respond, prosecutors wrote. In another filing this week, defense lawyers sought to have Kohberger's indictment dismissed, arguing that the grand jury was "misled as to the standard of proof required," NBC News reports. Jul 25, 2023 5:32 PM CDT Bryan Kohberger has declined to provide a pretrial alibi, but his defense attorneys have suggested he was somewhere else when four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death at their off-campus home last November. Kohberger is due to go on trial for the murders in October and has pleaded not guilty. "Evidence corroborating Mr. Kohberger being at a location other than the King Road address will be disclosed pursuant to discovery and evidentiary rules as well as statutory requirements," attorney Anne Taylor wrote in a filing Tuesday, per CNN. A Greek air force water-dropping plane crashed while diving into a wildfire in southern Greece on Tuesday, killing both pilots, as authorities battled blazes that have been raging for days across the country amid a return of heat wave temperatures. Summer wildfires blamed on climate change have also struck other Mediterranean countries, leaving at least 34 people dead in Algeria and two people dead in southern Italy Tuesday. A state ERT TV video showed the bright yellow CL-215 aircraft releasing its load of water on the island of Evia before its wingtip apparently snagged in a tree branch, the AP reports. Moments later, it disappeared into a deep fold in the ground from which a fireball erupted. The air force said the pilots, aged 34 and 27, both died in the crash. The plane had no ejection system. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis cancelled a planned visit to Cyprus for Wednesday, and Greece's armed forces declared three days of mourning. "They offered their lives to save lives," Mitsotakis said of the pilots. "They proved how hazardous their daily missions in extinguishing fires are ... In their memory, we continue the war against the destructive forces of nature." A third successive heat wave in Greece pushed temperatures back above 40 degrees Celsius across parts of the country Tuesday amid a string of evacuations from fires that have raged out of control for days, whipped on by strong winds A Greek fire service spokesman said the worst blazes on Tuesday were on the southeastern island of Rhodes and the northwestern island of Corfuboth which are popular tourist destinations. Four villages on Rhodes were ordered evacuated on Tuesday as a fire burning for eight days continued to move inland, torching mountainous forest areas, including a part of a nature reserve. Authorities said that more than 20,000 people have been involved in successive evacuations on the island, mostly tourists over the weekend when fires swept through two coastal areas in the southeast of Rhodes. Countries that have sent help to Greece include Italy, which is dealing with its own fires and extreme weather at home.On the island of Sicily, two elderly people were found dead Tuesday in a home burnt by a wildfire that temporarily shut down Palermo's international airport, according to Italian news reports. They were not immediately identified. Regional officials say 55 fires are active on Sicily. And in Puglia, further north, some 2,000 tourists were evacuated from three hotels in Vieste as flames driven by winds got perilously close. (Read more Greece stories.) A long-running Shark Tank dispute has come to a head, with Daymond John, one of the investors from the reality show, obtaining a permanent restraining order last week against former contestants on the show. As CBS News explains, the drama began in 2013, when former NFL player Al "Bubba" Baker appeared on the show with his family, asking for $300,000 in exchange for a 15% equity stake in their business, Bubba's BBQ & Catering, and its signature product, Bubba's Q De-Boned Baby Back Rib Steak products. John offered the requested investment in exchange for a 30% equity stake and the Bakers accepted, though the stake was later lowered to 20%, USA Today reports. But the years that followed were filled with disputes between the two sides, with the Bakers accusing John of trying to take the business over and of keeping profits for himself, until the matter was legally settled in 2019. As part of the settlement agreement, the Bakers were barred from making disparaging remarks in the media about John or his company. But in May, the Bakers talked to the Los Angeles Times, telling the newspaper that working with John had been a "nightmare" and that they'd been misled. They also complained that their business had been featured as a $16 million success story on Shark Tank when their family had made less than $660,000. They also defamed John online, he said when filing for the restraining order. The judge agreed with John, saying that the "unmitigated, calculated, and virulent attack on John and his reputation is ... unusual in its vehemence and persistence." The judge said John had suffered "irreparable" harm to his reputation and ordered the Bakers to cease making any disparaging comments about him and to remove all social media posts that discuss him or their business dealings. "The actual facts, the record and the federal judge's opinion have confirmed that I did notand could not havecommitted any wrongdoing," John said in a statement following the ruling. (Read more Shark Tank stories.) A federal judge on Tuesday vacated the military conviction of Bowe Bergdahl, a former US Army soldier who pleaded guilty to desertion after he left his post and was captured in Afghanistan and tortured by the Taliban, the AP reports. The ruling from US District Judge Reggie Walton in Washington says that military judge Jeffrey Nance, who presided over the court-martial, failed to disclose that he had applied to the executive branch for a job as an immigration judge, creating a potential conflict of interest. Walton noted that former President Donald Trump had strongly criticized Bergdahl during the 2016 presidential campaign. Bergdahl's lawyers argued that Trump's comments placed undue command influence on Nance. Walton rejected the specific argument surrounding undue command influence, but he said a reasonable person could question the judge's impartiality under the circumstances. Bergdahl was charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy after the then-23-year-old from Hailey, Idaho, left his post in Afghanistan in 2009. He said he was trying to get outside his post so he could report what he saw as poor leadership within his unit, but he was abducted by the Taliban and held captive for nearly five years. During that time, Bergdahl was repeatedly tortured and beaten with copper wires, rubber hoses and rifle butts. After several escape attempts, he was imprisoned in a small cage for four years, according to court documents. Several US servicemembers were wounded searching for Bergdahl. In 2014, he was returned to the US in a prisoner swap for five Taliban leaders who were being held at Guantanamo Bay. The swap faced criticism from Trump, then-Sen. John McCain and others. Both Trump and McCain called for Bergdahl to face severe punishment. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to both charges. Prosecutors at his court-martial sought 14 years in prison, but he was given no time after he submitted evidence of the torture he suffered while in Taliban custody. He was dishonorably discharged and ordered to forfeit $10,000 in pay. His conviction and sentence had been narrowly upheld by military appeals courts before his lawyers took the case to US District Court, resulting in Tuesday's ruling. (Read more Bowe Bergdahl stories.) Former President Trump is asking Congress to intervene as he faces an indictment over alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. "Congress, if you will, please investigate the political witch hunts against me currently being brought by the corrupt DOJ and FBI, who are totally out of control," Trump says in a video message shared Tuesday, per the Independent . "They keep coming after me." Last week, Trump said he had received a letter informing him that he is a target in the Jan. 6 investigation, meaning an indictment could be imminent. "It will be their updated form of rigging our most important election," Trump says in the video. "Look at the polls, they can't beat me. The only way they can win is to cheat." Trump claims the Jan. 6 investigation is "retribution against me for winning," though Trump lost the election to President Biden. The House panel investigating Jan. 6 recommended Trump be charged with numerous crimes including inciting or assisting an insurrection and conspiracy to defraud the United States. In recent months, special counsel Jack Smith's team has interviewed Richard Donoghue, the former acting deputy attorney general who told the House select committee that Trump urged himself and Jeffrey Rosen, then acting attorney general, to "just say the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me and the Republican congressmen," per the New York Times. In another potential blow, Bernard Kerik, the former New York City police commissioner who teamed up with Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani to investigate the election, turned over hundreds of pages of documents to prosecutors in recent days, the outlet adds. Trump is already facing charges of falsifying business records in New York and federal charges related to the mishandling of classified documents in Florida. Additional charges will further complicate his campaign to take the White House in 2024. Apart from the Jan. 6 investigation, a grand jury in Georgia is considering whether to charge Trump and others with violating state election law, per the Guardian. Charges in that case are to be delivered at the start of August. (Read more Donald Trump stories.) On a sweltering day in Washington, DC, Rep. Greg Casar held an all-day "thirst strike" on the Capitol steps to demand federally mandated water breaks for workers. Casar is from Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott recently signed a law to nullify local ordinances that mandate water breaks for construction workers. In a letter signed by more than 110 of his fellow Democrats, Casar urged the Biden administration to bring in a workplace heat rule, Fox News reports. Casar went without water Tuesday for more than eight hours to represent the length of an average workplace shift. "After no water for nearly 9 hours on the Capitol steps, I'm more confident than ever that we can make positive change in this country for working peopleincluding winning the right to basic water breaks," Casar said in a social media post late Tuesday. On the Capitol steps, Casar was joined by supporters including Sen. Bernie Sanders, who said, "It is beyond belief that in the middle of what is expected to be the hottest year on record, right-wing politicians want to take away basic rights like water breaks." He was also joined by relatives of Roendy Granillo, a 25-year old construction worker who died from heat stroke in Dallas in 2015, CBS reports. This wasn't Casar's first thirst strike, the Washington Post reports. In Austin in 2010 and in Dallas in 2015, he took part in protests that led to the cities bringing in water break ordinances, which will be overturned in September when the new Texas law takes effect. "We won in 2010 and 2015 by having a thirst strike," he told the Post on Tuesday. "And now in 2023, we've had another thirst strike that I think is what's going to propel Congress and the White House to enact federal heat protections." (Read more heat wave stories.) Russian and Chinese government delegations are arriving in North Korea, and the visits are noteworthy ones: They mark just the second known time since the start of the pandemic that foreign government officials have been invited in. That count is per South Korea's Unification Ministry, which says the only other such instance was the March visit of China's ambassador to Pyongyang. A Russian delegation led by Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu arrived in Pyongyang Tuesday evening, with Chinese envoys to show up Wednesday. They're key economic and political partners, and they're there for the 70th anniversary celebrations marking the armistice that ended fighting in the Korean War. The BBC notes that state media in recent weeks has shown images of unmasked North Koreans, and the AP reads into the arrival: "The visits suggest North Korea is further opening up after years of pandemic isolation and is eager to showcase its partnerships with authoritarian neighbors in the face of deepening nuclear tensions with Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo." The AP notes that the North continues to view the armistice as a win in the "Grand Fatherland Liberation War" and is expected to mark it with a massive military parade. Reuters cites analysts who expect the country's nuclear-tipped missiles will be on display; those weapons are banned by the UN Security Council, which counts Russia and China as permanent members. (Read more North Korea stories.) UPDATE Jul 26, 2023 9:35 AM CDT Kevin Spacey didn't just get emotional inside a London courtroom Wednesday when he was acquitted of sexual assault. Spacey shook the hands of several jurors on his way out of the building and kissed two security guards on the cheek before making a statement, per the New York Times. "I imagine that many of you can understand that there's a lot for me to process," he said. "I'm enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence. ... And I am humbled by the outcome." Jul 26, 2023 9:35 AM CDT A London jury acquitted Kevin Spacey on sexual assault charges on Wednesday after a four-week trial in which the actor said he was a "big flirt" who had consensual flings with men, and whose only misstep was touching a man's groin while making a "clumsy pass." In what the Guardian calls "one of the UK's most high-profile #MeToo trials," three men accused the Oscar winner of aggressively grabbing their crotches. A fourth, an aspiring actor seeking mentorship, said he awoke to the actor performing oral sex on him after going to Spacey's London apartment for a beer and either falling asleep or passing out. The Guardian reports Spacey began to weep as the verdict was read. A convicted felon from Jamestown who was charged with having a gun has been sentenced to nine years in prison, Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt reported. Anthony Cunningham, 44, also was ordered by Chautauqua County Court Judge David Foley to receive five years of supervision after his release. Cunningham pleaded guilty June 13 to second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. His sentence will run concurrently with a previous sentence of eight years for violation of probation for a previous felony conviction. Cunningham was one of 12 people arrested June 15, 2022, when the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force raided residences on Charles Street and Cowden Place. In addition to drugs, a 9mm pistol reportedly stolen in Texas was found at the Charles Street address. A drug charge against Cunningham was covered as part of his plea, Schmidt said. Dale Anderson UPDATE Jul 27, 2023 12:55 AM CDT The three Marines found dead in a car at a North Carolina gas station died of carbon monoxide poisoning, the medical examiner's office has determined. The statement does not provide further details, but a sheriff's sergeant tells the AP the deaths appear to be accidental and that investigators "have found nothing else that shows that it's something else," such as suicide. Authorities were first alerted that one of the men was missing when his mother called to report that he had failed to make it on a flight home to Oklahoma for his grandfather's funeral the night prior. He and his fellow lance corporals were found dead shortly thereafter. Jul 26, 2023 2:45 PM CDT Three men who were found dead over the weekend at a North Carolina gas station have been identified as Marine lance corporals stationed at nearby Camp Lejeune, says the US Marine Corps. Deputies from the Pender County Sheriff's Office found the three men unresponsive Sunday morning in a privately owned car at a Speedway gas station in Hampstead, 29 miles southwest of the base, the department said in a statement. Medical authorities pronounced all three dead the same day, and their cause of death has not been released, the AP reports. In an escalation of Russia's anger at Ukraine and its Western backers, Russia refused to speak at a UN Security Council meeting called to discuss Moscow's recent devastating attacks on the key port of Odesa immediately following its refusal to extend the Black Sea grain deal. The confrontation began at the start of a council session called by Russia on the divided Orthodox Church in Ukraine, the AP reports. Russia's deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, protested that Britain, which holds the council presidency, was allowing only two briefers and Moscow wanted a thirdArchbishop Gideon of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Ukrainian government has cracked down on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church over its historic ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, whose leader, Patriarch Kirill, supported Russian President Vladimir Putin on the invasion of Ukraine. Polyansky accused the UK of bias, censorship, and obstruction for limiting the number of briefers. Deputy British ambassador James Kariuki responded that because of a tight time schedule to fit in two council meetings, the UK had offered a compromise to allow a third Russian briefer to submit a statement to the council, which he said was "not unreasonable." Polyansky was not satisfied, and Kariuki then put Russia's proposal to have the archbishop speak to a vote. Only China and Brazil backed Russia, with the 12 other council members abstaining. Polyansky called the council's refusal to allow the archbishop to speak an "egregious" example of double standards on human rights and freedom of religion. As "a sign of protest," he said, Russia wouldn't speak in the council session called by Ukraine to take up the Odesa attacks. The meeting on the Orthodox Church went ahead. The director of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, Nihal Saad, told the council that the division between Ukraine's Orthodox bodies "has existed for decades." But she said it has been exacerbated during the Russian invasion and has "reverberated worldwide as Orthodox churches have struggled with how and whether to take sides." Saad said the "heartbreaking" damage to Odesa's historic church, the Transfiguration Cathedral, caused by a Russian missile strike Sunday was condemned by many, including the UN secretary-general. (Read more Russia-Ukraine war stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region The morning after a quadruple shooting in Buffalo two years ago that took the life of a 3-year-old boy, an analyst from the Erie Crime Analysis Center set out to identify the silver SUV seen leaving the scene. She dug into video footage from Buffalo Police Department pole cameras, records from the state Department of Motor Vehicles and data from city police license plate readers. About four hours later, and roughly 12 hours after the shooting, the analyst had her answer: a silver Ford Escape, with a sunroof, roof rack and license plate KGY 5436, registered to a Cheektowaga woman, who earlier this year was convicted of being behind the wheel at the time and an accomplice in the deadly violence. That is just one example of how the Erie Crime Analysis Center, part of a network of 10 centers across the state, has helped local law enforcement agencies. Even as recently as about five years ago, state officials had to work to convince some in law enforcement to participate in the states network, said Rossana Rosado, commissioner of the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. County crime lab helps piece together incidents of gun violence Analysts in the firearms section of the Erie County Central Police Services forensic lab put together incidents of gun violence, like pieces of a puzzle. But that hesitation has largely evaporated, Rosado said. We say CAC, people want it, she said. That is because, like in the case of the July 2021 quadruple shooting on Donovan Drive, it is a resource that has proven valuable. How it works At present, the state network covers 40 of the 57 counties outside of New York City, according to the Division of Criminal Justice Services. The state plans to add a new center in New York City. As bail debate persists, data shows few rearrested in Buffalo for violent felonies The News analyzed data from the state Office of Court Administration for 11,672 Buffalo City Court cases from Jan. 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, the first 18 months the new bail rules were in effect. It's the most recent data available. Police agencies request the centers help for information on individual investigations. The center also tracks trends that can help agencies in deciding how to deploy resources. The Erie Crime Analysis Center, located in Buffalo Police headquarters, serves police agencies in Erie, Chautauqua and Wyoming counties. The Niagara Intelligence and Crime Analysis Center, located in Niagara Falls Police headquarters, serves agencies in Niagara and Orleans counties. The staff at the centers include crime analysts and law enforcement personnel assigned as analysts by participating agencies. Not all staff are full time. Some agencies send personnel to the centers one day a week. Most analyst positions are funded by state grants funds provided to colleges, and those employees get paid by the grant recipients. The state also contracts with the John F. Finn Institute for Public Safety in Albany for analysts. In the Erie center, that means a staff of 18, including representatives of the Buffalo Police Department, State Police, Erie County Sheriffs Office, Cheektowaga Police, the Erie County District Attorneys Office, the New York National Guards Counterdrug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administrations High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program. Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority and the City of Buffalo have liaisons to the center. The analysis centers have access to more than 450 sources of data, including a variety of police agency records, as well as information from Department of Motor Vehicles, sex offender data, corrections records and traffic tickets, said Janine Kava, public information director for the Division of Criminal Justice Services. Through the DEA, the centers get access to data on drug overdoses. All police agencies in the state can make requests for information from the centers, even if they havent agreed to share their own agencys data. Analysts work closely with officers and detectives and can provide police with answers and information out in the field. They can track social media, research a persons background and look for trends in crime data. Police say the work of the analysts frees up detectives to focus on field work, such as canvassing and interviewing. Rise in Buffalo's gun violence may be showing signs of slowing down A Buffalo News analysis of the latest Buffalo Police Department data shows that the number of shootings in August dropped down to close to what's considered "normal" for the month. Its one-stop shopping, said Erie center Director Dennis J. Richards, former chief of detectives for Buffalo Police. The latest state budget includes $15 million for the operations at the centers, a figure Gov. Kathy Hochul pushed to raise from $8 million, according to the Division of Criminal Justice Services. Seven of the states centers, including in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, will be getting direct access to a tool to help solve shootings. Three of the states centers already have the ability to access the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, a national database that can find links in episodes of gun violence by comparing digital images of spent shell casings. The Erie County Central Police Services forensic lab already has a NIBIN terminal, but forensic labs, in general, prioritize processing evidence from shooting cases that result in injury or death, according to state officials. Shootings are up in Buffalo. But unsolved cases are leading some to arm themselves Through the end of March of this year, only five of the 63 shootings in Buffalo that took place in the first three months were solved. Having this tool at the crime analysis centers will allow a greater ability to process evidence from scenes of gunfire where no one is shot. And finding potential matches will take between 24 to 48 hours, compared with up to a month or more in many cases now. Officials are hoping to have all the centers up and running with the tool sometime this fall. The state opened its first four centers in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany places selected because of the prevalence of gun violence in those communities, state officials said. The Buffalo facility opened in 2008. Niagara County center The Niagara center, which opened in January 2016, has a staff of nine when all positions are filled. There are plans to expand into new space with the capacity for up to 15 staffers. Larry Eggert, former Lockport police chief, became the centers director in January 2022. Niagaras staff includes analysts, as well as representatives from Niagara Falls Police, Niagara County District Attorneys Office, Niagara County Sheriffs Office, the National Guards Counterdrug Task Force and the DEAs HIDTA program. The Niagara center typically receives between 400 and 500 requests for assistance from law enforcement agencies per month, Eggert said. The Niagara center played an important role in the investigation and conviction of two men for the fatal shooting of Ahmad Poppy Alsaid, owner of the Bridgeway Market in Niagara Falls on the night before Thanksgiving in 2018, authorities said. It was a crime scene where the assailants had left no physical evidence. The robbers covered their faces, so no witnesses could identify them, said Niagara Falls Police Detective Capt. John Conti, who heads the departments Criminal Investigation Division. But the centers staff had the technical expertise to sift through large amounts of data, including cellphone location data, to help track the suspects electronic footprint, Conti said. They were able to take that information and sort through it and be able to put it in a format that was organized that we could use to our advantage, Conti said. But it is not like the movies or TV, where specific details are provided by third parties quickly and simply, he said. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa stressed the importance of further reinforcing the Kingdom of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia cooperation conducive to achieving common goals and aspirations. Shaikh Salman made the statement as he received, in the presence of Cabinet Affairs Minister Hamad bin Faisal Al Malki, Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al Marshad, Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), currently on visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain. They discussed cooperation pathways between the two countries in the financial and economic sectors, hailing Saudi support to development projects which contributed to spurring growth, thus reflecting longstanding ties and common GCC work. The minister praised the role of SFD in following up and implementing the Saudi grant as part of the Gulf Development Programme, as well as other projects. He highlighted the deep-rooted historic relations binding the two countries and praised the joint ties which are based on solid cooperation and common action to further development at all levels, in light of the care of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Shaikh Salman noted the commitment and keenness of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to further bolster joint ties. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Reported by Zahra Ayaz Bahrainis are flocking to Salalah in Oman during the Khareef season to escape the severe heat in their home country. While summer temperatures in the Middle East average around 43C, the south of Oman has the Khareef season, which lasts from late June to September and brings monsoon rain. During these months, the dried-out terrain of Dhofar Governorate comes to life, turning its valleys and mountains into a vibrant green landscape. Springs and waterfalls begin flowing into the mountains during this period of time as rains shower the region. Meanwhile, Oman is increasingly a preferred vacation destination for people in Bahrain, and several travel agencies have noticed a surge in Bahrainis booking their flights there. The citys natural green environment, enticing Khareef season, and rich cultural events have attracted tourists worldwide. There are a lot of reservations and queries for Salalah during Khareef. Sources claim that as travel to Oman has become more popular, hotel prices have climbed by 300 percent. It has been noted that travel agencies and airlines are profiting from this, driving up costs for travel and accommodations during peak seasons like the Khareef. Speaking to The Daily Tribune, Fatima Ahmed, Managing Director of Ibn Firnas Travel & Tourism, said: "As summer heat is gearing up in Bahrain and other neighbouring GCC countries, we seek solutions for all potential passengers to find a nice destination within the reach of their budgets and cool weather during the hot months of July and August." She explained that Salam Air has announced non-stop flights between Bahrain and Salalah. This new service, which commenced on July 5, 2023, will be supporting the Khareef season in Oman as well as giving potential passengers a non-stop flight to a beautiful destination with cool weather, a variety of natural inhabitants, lots of green mountains, flat hills, a dashing sea, and the most delicious fresh fruits you can think of. "Many people prefer to travel to Salalah during Khareef season," said Sajeev Kumar, director of Travel Knits, in a talk with The Daily Tribune. "Especially this year, more flight options are available." Kumar further said, "Oman always has some specific tourist demands; however, I believe Turkey still remains one of the most attractive tourist destinations for everyone. Typically, demand for travel in Oman begins at the end of June and lasts through the end of August, which is also the time when schools are out of session." , Jul 27 ( NHK ) - A Japanese government panel has been discussing raising the country's average minimum wage this fiscal year amid a rising cost of living. The focus is on whether it will reach 1,000 yen, or about 7 dollars and 9 cents per hour, for the first time. The labor ministry panel includes representatives from unions and corporate management. The discussions for this fiscal year began last month. The panel held its fourth meeting on Wednesday. It was held behind closed doors following a presentation by the ministry on an analysis of rising prices. The minimum wage level is set by each prefecture based on the panel's recommendations. The current nationwide average stands at 961 yen, or about 6 dollars and 82 cents. Labor union representatives have been calling for a significant raise. They said in previous discussions that with minimum hourly wage at the current level, workers' annual income would remain at around 2 million yen, or 14,200 dollars, even if they worked about 2,000 hours. They pointed out that this was low, even by global standards. Companies were more cautious. They expressed concern that a rise in minimum hourly wage would increase the burden on small- and medium-sized businesses supporting regional economies. They warned that more firms could go out of business or go bankrupt. The government has set a goal to achieve an average minimum hourly wage of 1,000 yen. A Niagara Falls man whos been behind bars 10 years for a robbery and an attempted robbery was denied a fair trial 11 years ago, a judge ruled Wednesday, overturning his conviction and releasing him from prison. Evidence Niagara County prosecutors failed to share with Michael D. Agees defense attorneys before and after his trial, coupled with another mans subsequent admissions about the crimes, undermine confidence in the jurys 2012 verdict, the judge ruled. Family members and friends gasped and cheered in a Lockport courtroom when State Supreme Court Justice Betty Calvo-Torres said she would not set bail for Agee, who walked out of the courtroom in shackles and still in custody, but smiling. Family and friends expected him to be released from Wyoming Correctional Facility in Attica within a day or so. Calvo-Torres vacated Agees conviction and rejected a request from prosecutors to hold him on $50,000 bail. Attorneys for Agee, 30, challenged his conviction, pointing to DNA evidence prosecutors received in 2013 after Agees conviction but did not disclose. Prosecutors also failed to provide a police report that pointed to another possible suspect, which was not disclosed to Agees defense attorneys before or during his trial. Isaiah Donmore, Agees cousin, was among a group of supporters in court to hear the judges decision. Agees mother died of cancer while he was incarcerated, and it took time for the small family to gather up the money to pay for a private investigator to work the case, Donmore said. Im happy he got set free, he gets to live his life. He missed his prime time, his 20s, he said. Now, were just waiting on him to get out, go out to eat, celebrate, or whatever the case may be. Try to put a Band-Aid over the time. Agee, who went to prison at age 20, was convicted in 2012 of attempting to rob Rizzos Used Furniture and Antiques on 18th Street in the Falls on Dec. 17, 2010. He was also convicted of robbing a food deliveryman at 16th Street and Cleveland Avenue on Dec. 19, 2010. At a hearing in June, Darius M. Belton testified he was one of the robbers at Rizzos and he supplied a gun used in the deliveryman robbery. He also testified Agee did not participate in either crime. Evidence presented to jurors at Agees trial was that investigators found DNA on a knife dropped by one of the assailants at Rizzos. The DNA evidence, at the time, was not linked to any individual. Agees conviction was chiefly due to witness testimony identifying Agee. The judge agreed with Agees attorneys that, at the time of the robberies, Belton and Agee had similar physical appearances, and acknowledged in her ruling the potential for misidentification by witnesses. Prosecutors received a lab report in 2013 that the DNA matched Belton, whose DNA was obtained in a homicide investigation. Belton pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2012 fatal shooting of his uncle on South Avenue in the Falls. In the Agee case, there was also a police report detailing that a person found in possession of a cellphone stolen from the deliveryman told authorities she got the phone from Belton. The Court finds that the cumulative effect of the Peoples failure to provide the defendant with the DNA report and the police report was that defendant was denied a fair trial, the judge said in a written decision. These items of evidence, coupled with the new testimony of Darius Belton, put the entire case in a different light as to undermine confidence in the verdict. Agees lawyers obtained the police and DNA reports after private investigators Robert Rahn and Kim Anklin submitted Freedom of Information Law requests to the Niagara County District Attorneys Office in 2021. In a written statement, District Attorney Brian Seaman said he believed his office made strong arguments why the jury verdict in this case should not have been disturbed. Agee, who has already served more than 10 years of his 12-year sentence, could face a new trial. We will now review the judges decision and the entire case file, considering all of our legal options, before deciding what step to take next, Seaman said. Brian Shiffrin, who represented Agee, said his client wont stop until he is fully exonerated. Justice delayed is, to a degree, justice denied, because even if Mr. Agee gets out today or tomorrow, he spent more than 10 years in, Schiffrin said. This should have happened a long time ago. Crescendra Agee, Michaels aunt, said she hopes prosecutors face ramifications for their actions. Im happy that hes coming home and I think the DAs Office needs to be held accountable for their wrongdoings, she said. Its 10 years of his life gone, and thats unfair. Its unfair. The inaugural Budweiser Friendship Survey provides Canadian-specific insights around male friendships, highlighting that most men see their friends less in-person as they get older. To raise awareness nationally, the brand is giving away 20,000 restaurant gift cards to inspire buds getting together. TORONTO, July 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, in advance of International Friendship Day on July 30, Budweiser Canada released the Budweiser Friendship Survey, conducted by Ipsos (June 2023)*, which found that almost 70 per cent of men see their friends less in-person as they get older. Budweiser Friendship Billboard (Budweiser Canada) (CNW Group/Budweiser Canada) Budweiser Friendship Survey, 2023 (CNW Group/Budweiser Canada) Budweiser Friendship Survey, 2023 (CNW Group/Budweiser Canada) Based on internal research, 34 per cent of beer servings were consumed alone in 2022 in Canada, an increase of 14 per cent over the last decade. As the leading beer brand in Canada known for bringing buds together, this prompted the question: are Canadian men getting together less with their friends? This sparked Budweiser to seek external, third-party insights to shed light on male friendship trends today. The Budweiser Friendship Survey which surveyed over 1,000 men across Canada of legal drinking age or above found that almost 80 per cent say they have close friends, but that the majority see them less in-person as they get older. Additionally, half (50 per cent), stated that they see their friends once a month or less, proving male friendships exist, but they're missing opportunities to get together. Further, three-quarters (75 per cent), of respondents expressed that spending quality time with their close friends improves their overall well-being. The data also found, that when male friends do get together, eating a meal/having a drink at someone's house or out at a restaurant/bar are the preferred activities (71 per cent). "There's no denying that as people get older especially men they see their friends less, but it doesn't have to be this way," said David Sheedy, Senior Marketing Director, Budweiser Canada. "Thanks to our data, we now know that men feel spending quality time with friends improves their wellbeing, so as a leading brand in Canada, Budweiser is aiming to inspire friends nationally to make time for their buds." With this in mind, Budweiser Canada is encouraging men of legal drinking age to take action with their newest campaign. To tease the launch, the brand temporarily removed "Bud" from its social channels, partnership branding with Sportsnet, as well as a limited run of its iconic bottle labels, turning key visuals of 'Budweiser' (or rather _weiser), into a reminder to connect with your buds. To help amplify the message, Budweiser released a powerful hero film interviewing several Canadian men, which emphasizes how important friends are in our lives. View the spot here. To create a call-to-action for Canadian men, the brand launched a new website that provides incentives and text reminders for those who sign up to connect with their friends, highlighting the importance of comradery. To learn more, visit: ThatsWhatBudsDo.ca. To engage consumers nationally, Budweiser is giving away $25 restaurant gift cards to 20,000 Canadians who sign up on the website to further inspire spending time with a bud. Canadians can also visit the site for the chance to win additional prizes such as tickets to remaining 2023 Budweiser Stage concerts and Toronto Blue Jays games, Budweiser branded merch, and other surprise and delight opportunities throughout the summer (some exclusions will apply, see site for details). "Male friendships are often described as 'shoulder to shoulder' meaning we get together through structured activities, like watching sports," said Sheedy. "Our goal is to motivate men to deepen their connections and turn expressions like, 'let's grab a beer' into action. We hope consumers coast-to-coast take advantage of our ticket giveaways and gift card offerings to enjoy a beer with their friends this summer, because that's what buds do." For more insights from the Budweiser Friendship Survey, see below: Be sure to follow @BudweiserCanada on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and head to ThatsWhatBudsDo.ca for your chance to get your buds together. About Budweiser Canada Budweiser the King of Beers has been brewed since 1876 under the highest quality standards. Brewed in Canada for more than 35 years, Budweiser uses only the finest ingredients without any artificial ingredients, additives or preservatives. Budweiser is distinguished by its clean, crisp, distinctive flavour, the result of a unique beechwood aging process. As the perception of no- and low-alcohol beer evolves and the category continues to grow, the iconic Budweiser now also offers a new beer to meet consumers' ever-changing preferences: Budweiser Zero. *Survey Methodology: Budweiser Friendship Survey, conducted by Ipsos Canada. The Budweiser Friendship Survey, an omnibus study of 1,000 males LDA+ that was conducted online across Canada from June 19th to 21st, 2023. The results are considered accurate to within +/- 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. SOURCE Budweiser Canada For further information: Veronica Bart, Senior Communications Manager, Labatt Breweries of Canada, [email protected], 647-926-5028; James Lamont, Vice President, Veritas Communications, [email protected], 416-859-5870 Cruise sails roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale to nine countries around the Mediterranean SEATTLE, July 25, 2023 /CNW/ -- Holland America Line is adding another Legendary Voyage to its diverse roster of lengthier cruises from convenient gateways. The "42-day Ultimate Mediterranean & Atlantic Passage" aboard Volendam departing Nov. 9, 2024, was inspired by a voyage the cruise line operated nearly 100 years ago. Perfectly designed for today's traveler, the 2024 departure sails roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, allowing guests to experience 16 different ports across nine countries, all without international air. The original voyage that provided the vision for the "42-day Ultimate Mediterranean & Atlantic Passage" departed New York City Feb. 4, 1925, aboard Rotterdam IV and carried just 550 guests across the Atlantic Ocean to explore many of the same ports. The 2024 cruise follows in the footsteps of the 1925 journey, visiting Portugal, Morocco, Italy, Greece, Israel, Egypt, Tunisia, Gibraltar (United Kingdom) and Spain. "We're excited to add a longer voyage that makes it easy to explore the Med in depth without a long-haul flight." Tweet this "Holland America Line was one of the first companies to feature cruise vacations that went beyond a transatlantic crossing, and today we're continuing to innovate our itineraries by offering memorable voyages like this ultimate Mediterranean and Atlantic passage sailing," said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer, Holland America Line. "Since introducing this new Legendary category of cruises that offer an in-depth focus on one region, they've been very popular. We're excited to add a longer voyage that makes it easy to explore the Med in depth without a long-haul flight." The "42-day Ultimate Mediterranean & Atlantic Passage" route first visits Horta and Ponta Delgada in the Azores after crossing the Atlantic Ocean. A call at Tangier, Morocco, is followed by overnight visits to both Livorno and Civitavecchia, Italy. From Livorno, guests can explore Florence or Pisa, while Rome is easily accessed from Civitavecchia. Volendam then makes way to Naples, Italy, and Catania, Sicily, before Piraeus (Athens), Greece. Guests will then explore the Holy Land at Haifa (Tel Aviv) and Ashdod (Jerusalem), Israel, followed by Port Said and Alexandria (Cairo), in Egypt. The final ports on the voyage include La Goulette (Tunis), Tunisia; Gibraltar; Cadiz (Seville), Spain: and Casablanca, Morocco. The cruise concludes Dec. 21 at Fort Lauderdale. What is a 'Legendary Voyage'? These lengthier cruises, which range from 25 to 59 days, combine the ceremony of Holland America Line's Grand Voyages while focusing on a singular region. They visit some of the most unique ports while offering guests an in-depth exploration. Shipboard programming is specially curated to share insights into the history and culture of the destinations visited. Most of Holland America Line's Legendary Voyages sail roundtrip or to/from a North American homeport, allowing travelers to see the world from their doorstep with a convenient domestic flight and easy embarkation. The itineraries are offered on a variety of the line's perfectly sized ships where guests enjoy the "best of" Grand Voyages on-board programming such as iconic theme parties, memorable sailaways and classic cruise activities to further enhance the experience. For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com. Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the Holland America Blog. You can also access all social media outlets via the home page at hollandamerica.com. About Holland America Line Holland America Line, part of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL and NYSE:CUK), has been exploring the world for 150 years with expertly crafted itineraries, extraordinary service and genuine connections to each destination. Offering an ideal mid-sized ship experience, its fleet visits nearly 400 ports in 114 countries around the world and has shared the thrill of Alaska for 75 years longer than any other cruise line. Holland America Line's 11 vessels feature a diverse range of enriching activities and amenities focused on destination immersion and personalized travel. The best live music at sea fills each evening at Music Walk, and dining venues feature exclusive selections from a Culinary Council of world-famous chefs. CONTACT: Bill Zucker, Erik Elvejord PHONE: 800-637-5029, 206-626-9890 EMAIL: [email protected] SOURCE Holland America Line Inspiring Employee Engagement: The Climate Action Platform revolutionizes the way employees connect with their organization's sustainability goals. Through gamification and interactive challenges, employees are motivated to take positive action, contributing to a more sustainable future while fostering a sense of community among colleagues. AI Action Advisor: An industry first, the climate-focused AI Action Advisor leverages artificial intelligence to provide personalized recommendations for reducing an individual's carbon footprint. By analyzing individual carbon footprints, the AI Action Advisor empowers users to make informed choices that positively impact the environment. Climate Action Cards: Climate Action Cards equip users with immediately actionable tips and tools to engage and educate on climate action. These cards provide practical guidance to incorporate sustainable practices into daily routines and drive climate-positive behavioral change. Actionable Insights: Organizations will gain a holistic view of sustainability trends through company-wide and departmental insights with real-time data and analytics to empower the identification of areas for improvement and accurately measure the impact of employee climate action. Employee Carbon Offset Rewards: Organizations can offer high-integrity carbon offset rewards to their employees, recognizing their contributions and promoting employee engagement through real, lasting climate impact. Simplified Onboarding & Comprehensive Launch Support: Administrators can easily onboard employees, communicate sustainability initiatives, set targets, and track progress in a centralized hub while comprehensive implementation support and a dedicated Customer Success team ensure users are engaged for long-term success. "Invert is committed to empowering organizations to take meaningful climate action. Our latest Climate Action Platform features represent a significant step forward in supporting employees to have a measurable impact," says Rade Kovacevic, Co-CEO of Invert. " By pairing the latest technology with Invert's climate action expertise, the Climate Action Platform for Enterprise will inspire employees, facilitate informed decision-making, and drive measurable change within businesses. We are proud to provide a comprehensive suite of tools that align sustainability with employee engagement, education, and recognition." To learn more about the latest release of the Climate Action Platform and secure a demo, please visit www.invert.world. About Invert Invert is a leading carbon-reduction and removal company committed to empowering businesses, communities, and individuals to take bold climate action. With a mission to drive global goals for decarbonization, Invert is dedicated to making a measurable impact on our planet's future. We empower action through carbon project origination and financing, sourcing high-integrity carbon credits for businesses, and providing a software platform for organizations to bring employees along the climate-action journey. Please visit our website for more information: www.invert.world. SOURCE INVERT INC. For further information: Steph Dewar, Marketing Communications, [email protected] Modal title Tim Hortons Camp Day has now raised approximately $250 million in its history, which has supported sending more than 315,000 youth to Tims Camps for a life-changing experience. TORONTO, July 26, 2023 /CNW/ - Tim Hortons is proud to announce that with the support of Tims guests, restaurant owners, team members, and volunteers, this year's Camp Day campaign raised $12.7 million that will be donated to Tim Hortons Foundation Camps. This years Tim Hortons Camp Day campaign raised $12.7 million for Tim Hortons Foundation Camps to help underserved youth reach their full potential (CNW Group/Tim Hortons) Tim Hortons Camp Day has now raised approximately $250 million in its history, which has supported sending more than 315,000 underserved youth between the ages of 12 to 16 to a multi-year camp-based program at Tims Camps. Campers are equipped with skills like leadership, resilience, and responsibility, empowering them to open doors to their future. Every year on Camp Day, Tim Hortons and its restaurant owners donate 100 per cent of the proceeds from hot and iced coffee sales to Tim Hortons Foundation Camps and raise additional funds through Camp Day bracelets, Donation Badges, and other unique fundraising initiatives developed by local Tims restaurant owners and their team members. "We'd like to thank every single person who came out to support Camp Day this year and helped us achieve this incredible result that will directly change so many lives," said Axel Schwan, President of Tim Hortons. "Camp Day is an amazing team effort with our 1,500 restaurant owners, team members, volunteers and of course our generous guests all coming together to support the amazing work of Tim Hortons Foundation Camps." For more information on how to support Tims Camps throughout the year visit www.timscamps.com. "For many of us, Camp Day is one day of the year, but for campers, it's the rest of their lives," said Rob Eatough, Executive Director of Tim Hortons Foundation Camps. "Every dollar donated on Camp Day our largest and most critical fundraiser helps youth envision their lives beyond their current circumstances. Thanks to Tim Hortons restaurant owners, team members and guests, Camp Day helps youth imagine themselves carving a path to college or university, and ultimately breaking the cycle of poverty because they were given the opportunity to develop life-changing skills at Tims Camps." About Tim Hortons In 1964, the first Tim Hortons restaurant in Hamilton, Ontario opened its doors and Canadians have been ordering Tim Hortons iconic Original Blend coffee, Double-Double coffees, Donuts and Timbits in the years since. Over the last 55 years, Tim Hortons has captured the hearts and taste buds of Canadians and has become synonymous with serving Canada's favourite coffee. Tim Hortons is Canada's largest restaurant chain operating in the quick service industry with nearly 4,000 restaurants across the country. More than a coffee and bake shop, Tim Hortons is part of the Canadian fabric and guests can enjoy hot and cold specialty beverages including lattes, cappuccinos and espressos, teas and our famous Iced Capps alongside delicious breakfast, sandwiches, wraps, soups and more. Tim Hortons has more than 5,400 restaurants in Canada, the United States and around the world. For more information on Tim Hortons visit TimHortons.ca. About Tims Camps Tim Hortons Foundation Camps was established in 1974 with a mission to help underserved youth achieve their full potential. A leader in the youth development industry, Tims Camps delivers high-impact, camp-based experiential learning to youth from low-income households between the ages of 12 and 16 an important developmental window that shapes who they'll become as adults. Through our multi-year Summer, School, and Community Partnership Programs, campers develop critical life skills and are supported to thrive when they return home, excel in post-secondary education, succeed at work and positively contribute to their communities. SOURCE Tim Hortons For further information: [email protected] South Korea only had 18,988 births in May, 2023 which is the lowest births since the agency started compiling the data in 1981. This was a drop of over 5% from May 2022. The number of deaths in the country moved up 0.2 percent over the period to 28,958, resulting in a natural decrease in population by 9,970. South Korea is losing about 120,000 people per year and the total birth is about 230,000 per year which is down from 705,000 from 1990 to 1994 and 669,000 from 1995 to 1999. However, after the 1997-98 Asian Economic Crisis, the number plummeted to an average of 500,000 in the early 2000s. Koreas fertility rate dropped to a new low of 0.78, the lowest among countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and possibly the world. Korea would need to triple its annual births to 700,000 per year to maintain and stabilize its population. Statistics Korea expected people aged 65 and above will take up 20 percent of the population in 2025, marking a sharp rise from 18.4 percent estimated for this year. The Korean government sees the next five years as critical to increasing fertility and salvaging the country. Koreas government is considering easing the burden of gift taxes exclusively for newlywed couples, by raising the minimum amount of cash they can receive from parents without being taxed to either 100 million won ($76,000) or 150 million won. Several municipalities have also introduced similar programs. Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, held two couple matchmaking events in July for unmarried men and women who either live or work in the region. As a result, 39 couples found a match. Guri City in Gyeonggi Province has launched a dating show on YouTube hosted by the citys mayor. Donghae, Gangwon Province, recently decided to pay up to 3 million won to pregnant women. Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, pays 1 million won for giving birth to a first child, 3 million won for giving birth to a second child, and 10 million won for giving birth to a third child. Japan and Chinas Population Crisis The number of new births in China have been falling for decades, and last year deaths outnumbered births for the first time in six decades, with the overall population falling by 850,000 to 1.4118 billion. Last year, Chinese mothers gave birth to just 9.56 million babies, representing the lowest total in modern history and the first time the figure had dipped below 10 million. China could start losing 10 million people per year in the 2030s. Chinese governments have been rolling out various measures to boost births, including financial and housing support and more parental leave, but actual results have been inconspicuous. In addition to a more comprehensive and affordable childcare system, inclusion of assisted reproductive technologies in medical insurance, better publicity of the three-child policy, more policies should be reinforced, including financial support for grandparents who take on childcare responsibilities. Japan is the worlds first hyper-aged country, where at least 21 percent of the population is older than 65, with projections predicting 40 percent of the population will be over retirement age by 2050. Japans government failed to head off the population crisis despite Japanese demographers forecasting a crunch since the late 1970s. This is a warning for the rest of East Asia and the world. As of 2023, Japans fertility rate was 1.367, far below the 2.1 children per women replacement level necessary for population stability. South Korea suffers from the lowest fertility rate at 0.78, but Taiwan about 1.0, China at 1.18. Poland, Spain and Italy all have shrinking populations. In July 2023, Polands statistical office said Polands population has shrunk again to just under 37.7 million in June, 2023 despite returning emigrants. There were around 130,000 Poles compared to June 2022. South Korea and Poland are both dropping at similar rates. In 2010, Polands population was over 38.5 million. The population is falling despite a policy of bonuses for families with many children that the right-wing government launched after taking office at the end of 2015. Chinas population is falling as of 2022 and this updated information is not shown on some population tables. The big shockers are that India and Bangladesh have fallen below replacement despite being poor and highly populous countries. According to Indias most recent census data, Indias population stood at 1.03 billion in 2001 and 1.21 billion in 2011. The UNs 2022 World Population Prospects (WPP) report, however, put these figures at 1.08 billion and 1.26 billion, respectively. Moreover, Indias National Family Health Survey indicated a fertility rate of 1.99 in 2017-19, in contrast to the WPPs estimate of 2.16. From 2011 to 2021, Indias infant mortality rate fell from 44 deaths per 1,000 live births to 27. The secondary-education gross enrollment rate rose from 66% to 78%, and the mean years of schooling among adults aged 20 and older increased from 5.8 to 7.2 years. The contraceptive prevalence rate rose sharply from 54% in 2013-15 to 67% in 2017-19. Consequently, Indias fertility rate may be as low as 1.6-1.7 in 2024, with its population ranging between 1.37 to 1.39 billion, compared to the 1.44 billion projected by the UN. The UN could be overestimating the 2024 population of India by the entire population of France. 50 to 70 million people overestimated. The WPP projects that Indias fertility rate will bounce back to 1.78 in 2050 before declining to 1.69 by 2100. But in countries such as Singapore and Malaysia, the fertility rates of Indian populations are barely higher than those of Chinese communities. Crystal Boling-Bartons children have sharp memories of the white Reebok shoes. They remember the sneakers parked by their door following days in which their mother chased McKinley Vocational High School students back into their classrooms and ushered them to their buses. Boling-Barton had a no-nonsense demeanor, and she worked hard to keep order. There was smoke coming from them, Misty Garrett, Boling-Bartons daughter, said of the shoes. Boling-Barton, the first Black woman to become principal of a secondary school in Buffalo, died from cancer in June 2022 after more than 30 years the final few mired in controversy at the helm of one of Buffalos largest high schools. About 150 people gathered Tuesday in front of McKinley for a dedication of Crystal Boling-Barton Way, the new name for a two-block stretch of Elmwood Avenue, between Middlesex Road and Fordham Drive. The Buffalo Council of Supervisors & Administrators organized the tribute with Boling-Bartons family and friends, and the group worked with city officials for the dedication. Ex-McKinley principal Crystal Barton dies at 70, is remembered for her leadership Crystal Barton, the longtime principal whose name became synonymous with McKinley High School, died of cancer Tuesday. She was 70. Buffalo School Superintendent Tonja M. Williams said she knew Boling-Barton for 45 years, dating to when the late principal was a club adviser at Riverside High School and Williams was a 14-year-old freshman. She was always so caring and concerned about us as students, and pouring into us as students about who we could be, Williams said. Honri Hunt explained the reality of being Boling-Bartons son and a McKinley student at the same time. He recalled the first day of freshman year his mothers second as principal when he tried to enter the passenger seat of her car before school, assuming she would give him a ride. The door was locked, and his mother rolled down the window. McKinley principal controversy costs Buffalo schools more than $1 million McKinley High School Principal Crystal Barton will receive $200,000 from the school district as part of a settlement approved Monday, and lawyers who represented her will receive another $75,000 from the district. Where do you think youre going? You are to get on the bus, Hunt remembered his mother saying. I am Mrs. Boling until 3 oclock. Boling-Barton was hired as McKinley principal in 1987 and grew its graduation rate. She served as president of the administrators union for more than a decade and held similar union roles at state and federal levels. Her position put her at odds with superintendents, including James Williams and Kriner Cash. The conclusion of her career brought controversy. She was placed on paid administrative leave twice in 2017 due to investigations over alleged misuse of funding and discrimination against an LGBTQ+ student. Denying wrongdoing, Boling-Barton filed a Division of Human Rights complaint against Cash. The district in 2022 settled with Boling-Barton, paying her $200,000 in overtime and extracurricular activity payments in addition to the more than $640,000 she collected while on leave. She always knew that she would come out on the other side, said Arlene Adams, an organizer of the tribute. The focus Tuesday was on her legacy, not the end of her career. Adams, a McKinley teacher for a decade, praised Boling-Bartons strength of balancing school safety with academic achievement and character building. I dont think there will be another like her, Adams said, but she definitely set the standard. ALBANY Phishing scams have afflicted major companies, banks and governments. Now, the fraudulent practice has successfully targeted a political committee in New York. In December, Assembly Republicans campaign arm fell victim to a scam that cost the committee $55,000, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Kennedy raises $662K in 6 months as State Legislature's top fundraiser Over the past six months, State Sen. Tim Kennedy of Buffalo raised vastly more campaign funds than any member of the State Legislature. The incident was described as a phishing scam in which the committee wired $55,000 to a company called Portland & Cromwell Consulting. In the Assembly Republicans campaign filing, that company was listed at an address in Annapolis, Md. The fraudulent practice of phishing often involves the perpetrator sending emails or other messages pretending to be from a reputable company. The practice is meant to induce people to reveal personal or financial information. The scam targeting the Republican committee was said to be sophisticated. The perpetrator mimicked email addresses of Assembly Republican campaign staffers, while using methods mirroring the committees typical internal operations and approval practices. Facing lower donation limits, Hochul still raises $4.5M for re-election bid Gov. Kathy Hochuls campaign raised $4.5 million over the past six months, an impressive sum in light of new, significantly lower state campaign donation limits. While the $55,000 was lost, committee staff did not fall prey to other, similar attempts around the same time, according to a spokesman. Its a regrettable situation, and one that thousands are becoming more familiar with, Assembly Republican communications director Michael Fraser said. Scams, frauds and attempts to steal through bogus online transactions are becoming more commonplace. The perpetrators used sophisticated email accounts that mimicked multiple members of our team regarding payment. Once we became aware of the fraud, we immediately reported the incident to the appropriate authorities. An investigation was commenced, but, obviously, its tough to be optimistic that the funds will be recovered. In December, the fraud was reported to the State Police and New York State Board of Elections. Losing $55,000 is something of a blow to the Assembly Republican conference, which has more difficulty fundraising than their more powerful Assembly Democratic counterparts. Democrats have held the majority in the chamber since the 1970s, and currently hold 101 of the 150 seats. Funds from the Assembly Republicans campaign arm are used to help members of the conference running for re-election. In New York Senate, lawmakers change their votes, sometimes days later In the State Senates rules, there is no provision allowing votes taken by lawmakers to be retroactively altered, nor is there any rule dictating the amount of time a lawmaker has to request such a change. Yet, it is a practice that exists. Portland & Cromwell In August, a company called Portland & Cromwell Consulting LLC was incorporated in Maryland. In those state business records, the company was listed as having an address within an apartment building at 706 Newtowne Drive in Annapolis. The Assembly Republicans campaign filing lists the company at 709 Newtowne Dr. In the incorporation records, an Annapolis woman is listed as the companys registered agent. She could not be reached for comment Tuesday. At times, perpetrators of phishing scams impersonate legitimate businesses. Its not clear whether the Maryland woman had any involvement in the matter, of if her company knowingly had any involvement in the fraud. There is a website for a company called Portland & Cromwell Consulting LLC. The site lists the same company address as the incorporation record except that the word Annapolis is misspelled. As contact information, the website lists two nonworking phone numbers, including one ending in 123456789. The website describes Portland & Cromwell as an independent company delivering state-of-the-art remodelling (sic) construction, boat exhibition & consultancy services. An email sent to an address listed on the website was not returned on Tuesday. Assembly Republicans are not the first campaign committee to fall victim to fraud. Last year, the campaign of U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas sent $690,000 to cybercriminals that targeted the accounting firm employed by the Republicans campaign. The FBI launched in investigation into the matter. The National Vice Chairman (North West) of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Salihu Mohammed Lukman, has resigned from the position. Lukmans resignation was in protest over speculations that former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, should be named APCs National Chairman. In a letter dated July 26, Lukman said the current atmosphere within APC was not in tandem with the vision of the founding fathers. The letter was addressed to the APC National Working Committee, NWC-led by the acting National Chairman, Abubakar Kyari. Lukman had warned APC against replacing the former National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu with Ganduje. He said it would be suicidal to replace Adamu with Ganduje. Members of Nigers Presidential Guard sealed off the residence and offices of President Mohamed Bazoum on Wednesday, a source close to Bazoum said, describing the move as a fit of temper by the elite troops and that talks were underway. The landlocked West African state is one of the most unstable nations in the world, experiencing four coups since independence from France in 1960 as well as numerous other attempts on power. Access was blocked off to Bazoums official home and offices in the presidential complex in Niamey, although there was no abnormal military deployment or sounds of gunfire in the area, and traffic was normal, an AFP journalist saw. Its a fit of temper by the Presidential Guard but talks are underway with the president, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The president is fine, hes safe and sound, the source said. He and his family are at the residence. The reason for the guards behaviour and what was being discussed in the talks were not given. An MP with Bazoums PNDS party said: I spoke to the president and to friends who are ministers (and) they are fine. Bazoum, who was democratically elected in 2021, is a close ally of France. The countrys last coup occurred in February 2010, overthrowing then-president Mamadou Tandja. However, there was an attempted coup just days before Bazoums inauguration in April 2021, according to a security source at the time. Several people were arrested, including the suspected ringleader, an air force captain named Sani Gourouza. He was arrested in neighbouring Benin and handed over to the Niger authorities. Ousmane Cisse, a former interior minister under a military government of transition that ran from 2010-2011, was detained in April 2022 for his suspected role. He was acquitted in February this year, but five others, including Gourouza, were jailed for 20 years. A second bid to oust Bazoum occurred in March this year while the president was in Turkey, according to a Niger official, who said an arrest was made. The authorities have never commented publicly on the incident. In January 2018, nine soldiers and a civilian were sentenced by a military court to jail terms ranging from five to 15 years for having attempted to topple Bazoums predecessor, Mahamadou Issoufou, in 2015. Those convicted included General Souleymane Salou, a former army chief of staff and a member of the junta that had forced out Tandja in 2010. Lying in the heart of the Sahel, Niger is two-thirds desert and persistently ranks at the bottom, or near it, in the UNs Human Development Index, a benchmark of prosperity. It has a surging population of 22.4 million, driven by a birth rate averaging seven children per woman. The country is struggling with two jihadist campaigns one in the southwest, which swept in from neighbouring Mali in 2015, and the other in the southeast, involving jihadists based in northeastern Nigeria. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes, stoking a humanitarian crisis and further straining the economy. Nigers military has received training and logistical support from the United States and France, which have military bases there. The country is also the hub of Frances anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel, which were reconfigured after French forces quit Mali and Burkina Faso following political bust-ups with those countries. AFP A former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has urged President Bola Tinubu to curb the excesses of the Department of State Services, DSS. Fayose said operatives of the DSS involved in the fight with their counterpart from the Nigeria Correctional Services after the arraignment of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, should be made to face justice. He noted that the action of the DSS was affecting Tinubus administration, hence the erring operatives should be dwelt with. DSS operatives and prison officers had a face-off after Emefieles arraignment at the Federal High Court in Lagos. The fight broke out as DSS forcefully grabbed him from prison officers back into their custody. The court had granted Emefiele N20 million bail. Reacting to the face-off, Fayose said Tinubu should act against the power-drunk DSS operatives. Tweeting, Fayose wrote: The DSS act of lawlessness at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos today, should be condemned by all lovers of democracy and rule of law in the country. It is painful that the DSS is yet to come to terms with the fact that the President of Nigeria today, is a product of struggles for democracy and wont superintend over any act of lawlessness. The actions of the DSS today, is no doubt bringing a negative image to the government and Im sure that President Tinubu will act swiftly to curb their excesses so that they dont give his government a bad name just as they did to the immediate past government. This is a function of failed or power drunk leadership in the DSS. Its time for the President to act. No doubt, I am not a fan of Emefieles actions as CBN Governor which threw Nigerians into untold hardships with the politically motivated change of Naira notes. However, it behoves on leaders of this country to speak out against acts capable of undermining democracy and rule of law. Nigeria is under civil authority and security agencies, especially the DSS should be properly guided to purge themselves of this display of overzealousness. The DSS men that participated in todays show of shame should be promptly brought to book. More so that it happened within the sacred premises of the court. Most importantly, restructuring of the Organization is imperative for a today Nigeria that is desirous of deepening democratic governance. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has called on President Bola Tinubu to hold to account those responsible for the fight between the Department of State Services, DSS, and operatives of the Nigeria Correctional Service. DSS operatives and prisons officers engaged in a face-off after the trial of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, at the Federal High Court in Lagos. Justice Nicolas Oweibo-led court granted Emefiele bail in the sum of N20 million and a surety in like sum. This was after the DSS leveled a two-count charges bordering on illegal possession of firearms. After the court proceedings, the operatives of the correctional services were moving him to their facility when DSS intercepted and forcefully picked him. A fight broke out during the period between both security operatives in front of the court. Reacting, SERAP urged the Tinubu administration to obey the court order granting Emefiele bail. Tweeting, SERAP wrote: BREAKING: The Tinubu administration must hold to account those responsible for the fight between the DSS and prison officials over the custody of Emefiele. The administration must obey the court order granting him bail, and end the attack on the integrity of our justice system. President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government is currently meeting with representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC. The emergency meeting is holding at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting was at the instance of the negotiation committee set up by the Federal Government. This was against the backdrop of the strike notice issued by the NLC earlier on Wednesday. While the NLC representatives are led by their National President, Joe Ajaero, the TUC team is headed by its president, Festus Osifo. Recall that NLC had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government over the latest increment in the price of fuel. NLC spokesperson, Mr Ben Upah had disclosed the warning strike to newsmen on Wednesday. According to him, the nationwide strike would commence on August 2, 2023. The Nigerian Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited has debunked reports making the rounds of a pipeline leakage in the Aboru axis of Lagos State. Garba Deen Muhammad, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Limited, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday. He said investigations by the company revealed no pipeline leakage in the Aboru axis of Lagos state. According to him, the video circulating on the Aburo pipeline leakage is three years old. That video in circulation on social media indicating a pipeline leakage in the area is three years old and should thus be disregarded. When the three-year-old video came to the companys attention, its pipeline team responded swiftly, and on arrival at the location, the team found no such incident had occurred, he said. The ruling All Progressives Congress has called on the Department of State Services and other security agencies in the country to investigate the veracity of the claim made by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party that it foiled an alleged attack on its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. The appeal is coming barely 24 hours after the spokesman for the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, raised an alarm that the Adamawa residence of Atiku was invaded by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram. Ologunagba stated that the alleged sponsored attack was however foiled by men of the Adamawa State Police Command. A suspect, Jubrila Mohammed, was arrested in connection with the attack in the early hours of Sunday The PDP spokesman also wondered if the attack had any link with the ruling APC which he accused of allegedly threatening to cause chaos if the outcome of the ongoing election tribunal did not go its way. Reacting in a statement issued on Tuesday night, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, described the allegation as a continuation of the PDPs vacuous and mindless campaign of calumny. Morka disclosed further that following the crushing defeat suffered by the PDP at the last presidential election, the party had resorted to spewing lies and falsehood as an obsessive preoccupation. We call on the police, Department of State Services and other relevant security services to investigate the PDPs wild allegations, invite the PDP leadership to substantiate these claims and bring the perpetrators to justice. This bizarre and senseless allegation comes only days after the same badly ailing party alleged, without a shred of substantiation, that the APC was engaged in a plot to intimidate members of the judiciary seeking to influence the outcome of pending cases before the Presidential Election Petitions Court. It is downright irresponsible for the PDP to continuously politicise serious matters of security and national importance for its vain and macabre humour. As an age-old party, this ceaseless display of egregious incivility in the conduct of its affairs is disgraceful and sad. Acts of terror or involvement in a terrorist plot are heinous crimes under the law and the PDP cannot continue to bandy allegations around without justification. Atiku Abubakar is a citizen of Nigeria and deserves the fullest protection of the law. Our law enforcement authorities must protect and investigate any threat to his person, family or assets and prosecute offenders. However, Atiku Abubakars PDP cannot continue to peddle criminal blackmail and wicked falsehoods in the name of opposition politics, unrestrained and without accountability. Nigerians roundly rejected the PDP at the polls. Rather than engage in some introspection and give the court the time of day to deliver a verdict in the case they have brought challenging the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, they have chosen to busy themselves with swimming in an abysmal pool of lies and mischief. While vigorously defending our legitimate and popular election mandate in court, our party will continue to win the hearts and minds of Nigerians through President Tinubus strategic programme of social and economic development designed to improve the living conditions of our people, the statement said. The Enugu State Government has reacted to the protest by Ogbete Market traders which led to the reported killing of three persons. Protest had erupted in Enugu Wednesday morning over the sealing of some shops by the Enugu State Government for complying with the Monday sit-at-home. However, the protest later turned violent, with at least three residents shot dead. Reacting, the Enugu State Government said it was working to unravel the circumstances behind the incident, as well as the reported casualty. The governments position was contained in a statement signed by Professor Chidiebere Onyia, Secretary to the State Government. He said, The Enugu State Government received with grave concern the ugly incident at Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, today. Information available to the Government shows that traders whose shops were sealed for non-compliance with Governments order banning Monday sit-at-home, defied the instruction on how the shops should be reopened and resorted to self-help by removing the seals. This led to internal squabbles between the market leadership and some of the affected traders. The ensuing confrontation resulted in a protest, which was infiltrated and hijacked by dangerously armed hoodlums and miscreants, who broke shops and looted traders wares. Attempts by security operatives to restore order and prevent further looting were violently resisted by the imported and armed hoodlums. Government is receiving further briefings on the development. In the meantime, investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the reports of casualty, is already ongoing. Government calls on the people and residents of Enugu to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses, as adequate security measures are in place to secure lives and property in the State. OLAF FUB SEZ: According to playwright George Bernard Shaw, born on this date in 1856, Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society. The optimist invents the aeroplane, the pessimist the parachute. . . . GRAB A BITE St. John Maron Catholic Church, 2040 Wehrle Drive, Amherst, hosts a drive-thru Chiavettas chicken barbecue from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday. $15, cash and Venmo only. Hot dogs, homemade baked beans and watermelon are on the menu for the monthly community dinner from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday in St. Johns Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3512 Clinton St., West Seneca. Free-will offering. . . . FOLKWAYS St. Stephen Serbian Orthodox Church, 177 Weber Road at Abbott Road, Lackawanna, offers Serbian culture and cuisine in SerbFest 2023, accompanied by live Serbian music and dancing. Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. Admission $2 for those over 18. . . . PICKLE UP The inaugural Pickleball Heaven Tournament to benefit the restoration of the landmark First Presbyterian Church on Symphony Circle will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday in the parking lots of Kleinhans Music Hall. Open to all ages and skill levels. Registration is $30, $60 for two-person teams. Rain date is Sunday. For more info, call or text Jayne Rand at 716-560-3442 or visit onesymphonycircle.org. . . . DAY TRIPPERS ONE8FIFTY, a Buffalo nonprofit organization that promotes organ donation, will benefit as Pastmasters and the Stoneflower Band play Beatles and Rolling Stones music from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday in Sportsmens Park, 326 Amherst St. Tickets $20, VIP tickets $75, at the gate or online at sportsmensbuffalo.com. . . . REUNION TIME Bennett High Schools Class of 1973 holds a 50-year reunion Aug. 11 to 13, beginning with a meet and greet at 5 p.m. Friday at RiverWorks, 359 Ganson St. Saturday theres an 11 a.m. tour of the school, then dinner and dancing at 5:30 p.m. at the Barrel Factory, 65 Vandalia St. It concludes Sunday with a pickleball gathering. For more info, call Rita Jones at 703-989-0105 or email bennett73class@gmail.com. . . . HAPPY BIRTHDAY Len Mattie, Eleanor Murray, Christine Roth, Gary The Faz Fazio, Kyle Nadolinski, Bruce Liebel, Mark Mays, Lila Sommer, Eleanor Corbett-Taylor, John Redman Jr., Melinda Eberling, Jerome Hall, Paul Lyons, Brittany Cooper, Natalie Drebot, Linda Coe, Norm Kosmerl, Richard Dick Blaszkiewicz, Sandy Thompson and Lesley Reed. AND THURSDAY Robert F. Moss, Pawan Matta, Bonnie Flickinger, George Costello, Maria Genero, Brandon Beane, Chuck Specht, Kimberly Uzar-Witkop, Sandy Maguda, Lisa Grisanti, Barb Kaska, Paul Kamrowski Jr., Janet Roetzer, Jackie Hahin, Nancy Tobias, Lorraine Cieslak, Jason Hurley, Avery Blank, Teena Wise, Tom Safe, Carolyn Clancy Higgins, Donald Yager and Westside Gunn. To submit birthdays and other items of interest to Reporters Notebook, please email olaffub@buffnews.com or send a letter to Reporters Notebook, Buffalo News, Box 100, Buffalo, NY 14240. Email sent to danderson likely will wind up as spam. The Senate, on Wednesday, asked the Federal Government to collaborate with the Finnish Government and extradite Simon Ekpa, a self-acclaimed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. Ekpa who is the head of the Auto Pilot, a faction of the secessionist group has continued to order his loyalists to enforce sit-at-home in the Southeast region, crippling economic activities in the area. The sit-at-home which is mostly enforced on Mondays, has led to the death of several residents. While condemning the unrest in the region, the red chamber during its plenary on Wednesday asked the government to ensure that Ekpa, a citizen of Finland is brought back to the country. The Senate also resolved to invite the Minister of Foreign Affairs (when appointed) and relevant stakeholders to carry out a thorough investigation as well as bring other sponsors of the unrest to book. Protest is currently rocking Enugu, Coal City capital, over the sealing of businesses by the State Government. It was reported that the State Government had on Monday sealed many businesses, including shops at the Ogbete Main Market for not opening on Monday. Governor Peter Mbah had upon assumption of office placed a ban on the regular Monday sit-at-home imposed by a faction of IPOB. However, many residents are yet to comply with the governments directive out of fear of possible attack by hoodlums. But on Monday, government officials moved from place to place sealing business outfits. The government has also given conditions the affected traders must meet before their shops would be reopened. The development has now sparked protests by Ogbete Market traders. In a trending video, they are seen marching within the metropolis, chanting angry songs. The Senate has rejected a motion to release from the detention the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. The motion which was moved by Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West) sought to address the constant sit-at-home order enforced by unknown gunmen in the South-East. The lawmaker, in the motion co-sponsored by other lawmakers from the South-East, noted that the senators were aware that thousands of innocent lives had been lost since the action started, and properties worth over a trillion had been destroyed resulting in investors leaving the region. He said, The sit-at-home civil disobedience actions in the South-East have led to the disruption/destruction of economic activities and immeasurable financial losses for businesses, workers, and the local economy. Because, when people are forced to stay at home and businesses remain closed, productivity declines and income is reduced, affecting livelihoods and economic growth. The sit-at-home protests disrupt the education of students, leading to missed classes and delays in academic progress. And such prolonged disruptions have long-term effects on students learning outcomes and educational development; Disturbed that disruption of essential public services, such as healthcare, transportation, and waste disposal, continues to have a severe impact during sit-at-home protests which adversely affect the well-being and safety of the general population living in the South-East. IPOB had in August 2021 declared a sit-at-home order every Monday across the South-East to protest the continued detention of Kanu. The separatist group eventually suspended the order. However, the leader of a faction of IPOB, Simon Ekpa, has continued to declare sit-at-home orders in the region despite the exercise being suspended by the IPOB faction led by Kanu. Residents of the five South-East states: Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and Anambra have constantly been killed, maimed and attacked by gunmen enforcing the civil order for stepping out on Mondays and other days in violation of the order. Tension has heightened in Enugu State following the alleged killing of three residents as protests hit the Coal City metropolis. We reported that traders took to the streets Wednesday morning protesting the sealing of their shops by the State government for not opening for business on Monday. However, the protest is said to have turned violent, with at least three persons reportedly shot dead. Video clips show lifeless bodies of two young men and that of a lady. Security forces were said to have been deployed to disperse the protesters. It is, however, unclear who fired the shots. The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Enugu State Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement made available to journalists, said normalcy has been restored. The police spokesman said the peaceful protest by the traders was hijacked. Ndukwe said: Normalcy has been restored at Ogbete Market Enugu and its surroundings, following the report of protest by some traders over the sealing of their shops by the State Government and their attempt to force others, whose shops were not sealed, to close theirs and the entire market closed. The initially peaceful protest was hijacked and made to become violent. Traders in the market and citizens alike have been pleaded with to remain law-abiding, peaceful and cooperative, while using approved channels to express their grievances. Full-scale investigation has been initiated on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, while further development, especially as it concerns reports of casualties being circulated, will be communicated as soon as possible, please. President Bola Tinubu said an ECOWAS mission had been sent to the Niger Republic to intercede in the attempted coup in the country. The President spoke after a meeting with the Benin Republic President Patrice Talon at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday in Abuja. He said Talon was mandated by ECOWAS to proceed immediately to the West African country that has been termed the most coup-prone in the region. Tinubu is the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Head of States and Government, and the body has decided to discourage an undemocratic change of government by the military in the region. During a meeting between Tinubu and the Presidents of Niger and Benin a fortnight ago, Talon was mandated to lead the ECOWAS delegation to Mali and Burkina Faso where the military are in control. The News Agency of Nigeria had reported an attempted coup in Niger Republic early on Wednesday. Sources from the country said that the presidential guards have held President Mohamed Bazoum hostage at the presidential palace in Niamey. A New Jersey-based telemarketing company that made millions of robocalls on behalf of a business selling solar panels has been fined after inundating some potential customers with more than 100 calls each, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The complaint filed by the federal Department of Justice alleges Voorhees-based telemarketer Solar Xchange LLC, also doing business as Energy Exchange, placed tens of millions of calls to people who had signed up for the federal Do Not Call Registry. Thousands of customers reported receiving dozens of calls each from the company, officials said. The telemarketers allegedly lied about being affiliated with a utility company or a government agency and misrepresented how much money customers could save by installing solar panels on their houses. The complaint alleges Solar Xchange telemarketers called at least 150,000 different phone numbers over 50 times each, and called at least 12,000 phone numbers over 100 times each. Solar Xchange and its owner were fined a total of $13.8 million in civil penalties, but most of the fines were suspended and the company will pay part of a $125,000 fine to settle the charges, according to court documents. The Camden County-based telemarketing company was working with Vision Solar, a company that paid Solar Xchange to generate leads with potential customers around the country, the complaint said. Vision Solar, based in Blackwood in Camden County, is also named as a defendant in the case and has been ordered to pay the imposed penalty jointly with the telemarketing company. However, Vision Solar Chief Marketing Officer Bennett Andelman said there is no agreement on how much each company will pay of the $125,000 fine and the two parties will continue to negotiate a resolution. MORE: Robocall group made more than 237M illegal calls to N.J. residents, state says The complaint also named the owner of Solar Xchange, Mark Getts, who allegedly wrote the scripts used by Solar Xchanges telemarketers, purchased telephone numbers from third-party lead generators, oversaw contracts with telephone service providers, and managed the telemarketers finances and bank accounts. Isaac Gabriel, an attorney for the defendants, said in a statement last week that Solar Xchange and Mr. Getts deny any liability in this matter or that it violated any aspect of federal or state law. Solar Xchange was faced with protracted litigation and extensive legal fees to defend itself against a government agency with unlimited resources and accepted a nominal settlement in lieu of having to spend millions of dollars defending itself, Gabriel said. Vision Solar was accused of using the Solar Xchanges robocalls to engage in abusive telemarketing acts or practices or, alternatively, provided substantial assistance to its telemarketers including by continuing to use and pay for their services that Vision Solar knew or consciously avoided knowing were violating the Telemarketing Sales Rule, according to the complaint. The accusation is unfair because it paints us in a negative light for the alleged actions of third party, Solar Exchange, said Andelman, Vision Solars chief marketing officer. The solar company used several companies, including Solar Xchange, to find customers, he said. The companies are vetted, have agreements in place that they only have opt-in data for leads and that in the event of a violation, they will indemnify Vision Solar for actions taken by them that violate TCPA or related call based laws, Andelman said. The Federal Trade Commission also announced complaints and fines against four other telemarketing companies in New York, California, Florida, and Ontario, Canada last week as part of a nationwide effort to stem the tide of illegal calls to U.S. consumers. In the Solar Xchange case, some people who received calls requested that they no longer be contacted, yet the company continued to call them on behalf of Vision Solar, the complaint said. In some instances, Solar Xchange telemarketers were accused of making rude or harassing comments to people who asked not to be called. The complaint says many of these consumers received multiple calls almost every day for one or more months, with some consumers regularly receiving five or more calls per day. Solar Xchange telemarketers made these calls with the intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number, the Federal Trade Commission said. The calls violated federal rules prohibiting abusive and deceptive telemarketing acts or practices, the complaint alleged. Solar Xchange, Mark Getts, and Vision Solar are prohibited from misrepresenting that they are affiliated with any utility or government agency and must stop making unsubstantiated claims about the cost of installing solar panels, federal officials said. They were also ordered to stop engaging in all abusive telemarketing practices. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com. Kevin Spacey was acquitted of sexual assault on Wednesday after the Oscar winners testimony as a witness in his own defense spared him a possible prison term and gave him a shot at a career comeback. Tears rolled down Spaceys cheeks as the final not guilty verdict was read. It was his 64th birthday. Spaceys wide-ranging testimony climaxed as he choked up speaking of the six years hed gone without work after sex abuse allegations surfaced against him during the #MeToo movement in the U.S. in 2017. My world exploded, Spacey testified. There was a rush to judgment and before the first question was asked or answered I lost my job, I lost my reputation, I lost everything in a matter of days. Three men accused the Oscar winner of aggressively grabbing their crotches. A fourth, an aspiring actor seeking mentorship, said he awoke to the actor performing oral sex on him after going to Spaceys London apartment for a beer and either falling asleep or passing out. Spacey said he was a big flirt who had consensual flings with men and whose only misstep was touching a mans groin while making a clumsy pass. Defense lawyer Patrick Gibbs said three of the men were liars and incidents had been reimagined with a sinister spin. He accused most of them of hopping on a bandwagon of complaints in the hope of striking it rich. Prosecutor Christine Agnew told jurors that Spacey was a sexual bully who took what he wanted when he wanted. She said he was shielded by a trinity of protection: he knew men were unlikely to complain; they wouldnt be believed if they did complain; and if they did complain, no action would be taken because he was powerful. Spacey had faced nine charges, including multiple counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The accusations date from 2001 to 2013 and include a period when Spacey after winning Academy Awards for The Usual Suspects and American Beauty had returned to the theater, his first love. During most of that period he was artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre in London. The men came forward after an American actor accused Spacey of an incident of sexual misconduct as the #MeToo movement heated up in 2017. Several of the men said they had been haunted by the abuse and couldnt bear to watch Spaceys films. One of the men broke down when speaking with police as he provided details in a videotaped interview about the oral sex incident that he said hed never told anyone before. Another man said he was angry about the abuse that occurred sporadically over several years and began to drink and work out more to cope with it. Spacey choked up and became teary eyed in the witness box as he described the emotional and financial turmoil that the U.S. accusations brought and the barrage of criticism that followed on social media. My world exploded, Spacey testified. There was a rush to judgment and before the first question was asked or answered I lost my job, I lost my reputation, I lost everything in a matter of days. Gibbs said Spacey was being monstered on the internet every night and became toxic in the industry. Spacey was booted from House of Cards and his scenes in All the Money in the World, were scrubbed and he was replaced by Christopher Plummer. Aside from some small projects, he has barely worked as an actor in six years. A New York jury last year swiftly cleared Spacey in a $40 million lawsuit by Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp on allegations dating back three decades. Spacey had viewed the London case as a chance for redemption, telling German magazine Zeit last month that there were people right now who are ready to hire me the moment I am cleared of these charges in London. A man was killed and a woman and child were wounded in a Monday night shooting in Newark, authorities said. Police were called to Clinton Avenue shortly after 10 p.m. for a report of a shooting and found three people shot, according to a statement from the Essex County Prosecutors Office. The three were taken to University Hospital. A 28-year-old East Orange resident, Victor Roberts, was pronounced dead at 10:41 p.m., the office said. The two others, a 24-year-old woman and a six-year-old child, were treated for their injuries. Their specific conditions were not released by the office Tuesday afternoon. No suspects were named and no arrests were made as the shooting remained under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutors Office tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. 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. With photographers constantly capturing scenes of things both natural and artificial, they offer viewers a look at humanitys conflicting relationship with nature. Thats why Pro Arts Jersey City is hosting their next exhibit, the PH21 Photography Gallery, Budapest Hungary at ART150 Gallery: The natural and the artificial presents the work of 30 international photographers. The show begins with an opening reception on Saturday, Aug 5, from noon to 3 p.m. New Jersey authorities have charged 19 reputed members of a Perth Amboy street gang accused of selling drugs and guns while engaging in an ongoing violent feud with rival gangs in the city. Eighteen of the 19 accused Hot Boys Mafia gang, a local subset of the Dominicans Dont Play gang, were arrested at three locations in Perth Amboy on June 20, the state Office of the Attorney General said Wednesday. One man remains at large and the arrests include three juveniles following a 10-month investigation. Investigators seized $9,000 in cash, 13 pounds of marijuana, a 9 mm handgun, several pounds of imitation drugs, hundreds of marijuana vape cartridges, boxes of pills and ammunition and drug distribution packaging materials. The drugs, including cocaine, were sold using Instagram and the Telegram messenger app and out of a multi-family house on Steadman Place in Perth Amboy, authorities said. Authorities in Georgia helped break the case open when three of the gang members, including a juvenile, traveled there in August 2022 to obtain guns and transport them back to New Jersey officials said. Police in Georgia noticed blood splatter on the outside of the gang members vehicle and then obtained a search warrant. Investigators found a bullet hole in the rear of the drivers seat and later seized six firearms, 227 bullets and several handgun magazines. One of the firearms was reports stolen. The Hot Boys Mafia members attacked rival gang members on at least three occasions, authorities said. The first took place on April 26, 2022 when five members carjacked a member of a rival gang, officials said. Several of their members attacked a reputed member of the Trinitarios street gang with a machete on Oct. 11, 2022, Then on April 12, Hot Boys Mafia members on dirt bikes swarmed a vehicle in the Hopelawn section of Woodbridge and beat the driver unconscious with a helmet and their fists, authorities said. The leader of the gang, authorities allege, is Domingo Paulino, 29. His second-in-command is Adonis Pantera Estevez, 21, of Perth Amboy with Henderson Gomez, 29, also a high-ranking member of Hot Boy Mafia, the state Office of the Attorney General said. All are charged with racketeering, drug offenses and multiple other crimes. One reputed gang member Adonis Estevez, 21, is still being sought. All 19 live in Perth Amboy. The oldest is 57. An attorney representing Paulino couldnt immediately be reached. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Bob Berkman fell in love with the piano as a boy. Not just any piano, but the one his grandparents had in their rec room. It was an old-time player piano, equipped with mechanisms that depressed the keys and reproduced music from rolled-up sheets of paper with holes punched in them. Theres something magical about seeing the piano play without somebody sitting there, he told Lindsey Gruson of the New York Times in 1993. You open up the box, take out the roll of paper with nothing but holes in it and suddenly you have live music. One summer when he was in high school, his brother Mark related, Mr. Berkman convinced his mother to acquire an inoperable player piano, took it apart and made it work again. Enrolled in a pre-dental program at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, he heard about QRS Music Rolls Inc., in Buffalo, the last producer of piano rolls in the nation. He came to the QRS factory on Niagara Street in 1975, showed company president Ramsi Tick a piano roll he made at home and began working there as a summer intern. He went on to become music director, general manager and vice president of QRS, overseeing production and sales of hundreds of reissues of old recordings and piano roll versions of new songs. Its bestseller in 1992 was the Billy Ray Cyrus hit Achy Breaky Heart. He died July 12 in Hospice Buffalo, Cheektowaga, after a lengthy illness. He was 68. Born in Cleveland, Robert J. Berkman took piano lessons as a boy and thought that dentistry would provide him with an income while he pursued his passion for music. After his summer at QRS, he switched his major to theater with a minor in music. QRS hired him full time when he graduated magna cum laude in 1977. He brought popular pianists such as Peter Nero, Ferrante & Teicher and Marian McPartland to QRS to record performances on piano rolls. In the 1990s, he pioneered the introduction of the Pianomation system, digital technology that used compact discs to play the piano parts. Mr. Berkman also used piano rolls in his own performances and compositions. He was commissioned to produce rolls for the films Ragtime, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Reds, in which he collaborated with composer Stephen Sondheim. One of his tunes, a ragtime-inspired number called Thorn-Torn Lips, was a hit at the University at Buffalos North American New Music Festival in 1985 and appeared on several recordings. He took a break from QRS in 1986 and for two years was special projects coordinator for International Management Group in New York City, where he arranged concert tours for chamber orchestras and famous soloists. He traveled with violinist Itzhak Perlman through Australia and Europe. Mr. Berkman was acclaimed for his performances on the pianola, such as his June in Buffalo appearance in 2001 at UB. Buffalo News contributing reviewer Geraud MacTaggert wrote: (Mr.) Berkman unveiled his 1912 pianola for this concert, a song recital aimed at recreating the parlor/pop song stylings of the early 20th century. Unlike a player piano, the pianola can be hooked up to a regular piano to play punched paper rolls and control pitch and speed. Thus (Mr.) Berkman was not only able to simulate Art Tatum playing Harold Arlens Get Happy and Igor Stravinskys Piano Rag Music (because those notables cut those rolls), he was able to inject a little humanity into what would have been a purely mechanical exercise. He retired from QRS in 2010 and devoted his efforts to performing. He was heard as an afternoon classical music host on WNED-FM from November 2013 to September 2018. He appeared on NPR, the BBC and Sunday Morning on CBS. He gave world premieres of the pianola versions of Prokofievs Peter and the Wolf and Eric Saties Parade, which he performed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Locally he played at Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center, the Burchfield Penney Art Center and what is now the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. He also performed at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, Cornell University and in California at UCLA and Stanford University. He wrote the player piano appendix for A Dictionary for the Modern Pianist, published in 2016. He also was co-author of the 2021 book Ethnic Piano Rolls in the United States, drawing from his research and collection of music from Jewish and other folk traditions. He amassed a personal library of more than 3,000 piano rolls, some of which he donated to UCLA, with the majority going to the Player Piano Project at Stanford. A resident of Buffalos Elmwood Village neighborhood, he also was a collector of devices for reproducing recorded music in vintage formats, including Edison phonographs, Victrolas and 78 rpm records. He served since 1995 on the artistic committee for the Mikhashoff Trust for New Music, funded by the estate of noted UB pianist Yvar Mikhashoff to encourage innovative piano music. He also was a founding board member of Buffalo String Works, which provides instruments and instruction to young people. A student of the Yiddish language, he supported KlezKamp, an annual festival of Klezmer music and Yiddish culture in the Catskills, and the National Yiddish Book Center at Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass. Survivors include his partner, David Mavis; his mother, Lee; a sister, Laurie Berkman; and a brother, Mark. Funeral services were held July 14 in Amherst Memorial Chapel, Getzville. A Monmouth County woman has been charged with stealing more than $12,000 from an elementary school where she served as the PTAs treasurer for the past several years, authorities said Wednesday. Roxanne Blasucci, of Manalapan, is charged with third-degree theft and fourth-degree uttering, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago. Blasucci, 44, had served as treasurer of the PTA for Taylor Mills School since at least 2018, the prosecutor said in a statement. During that time, the PTA hosted fundraising events generating cash proceeds, which were counted and given to Blasucci for deposit into the PTA bank account, Santiago said. From December 2021 through April 2022, Blasucci provided the PTA with bank statements totaling more than $18,500. However, bank records showed only $6,000 had been deposited, Santiago said. Additionally, in June 2022, Blasucci altered a PTA bank statement by omitting a debit-card transaction in the amount of $75.69 at Panera Bread, then understated electronic payments by that precise amount in an effort to hide the theft, Santiago said. Blasucci was charged on Friday via a summons to appear in court. Attorney information for Blasucci was not available through the prosecutors office or online court records. Blasucci did not immediately respond to a message left on her cell phone seeking comment. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. The evening was supposed to be a special one for Christine Gallinaro and her son. They had tickets for Disneys Elemental at Showtimes at Cinemark Hazlet 12 in Monmouth County. Gallinaros son, who is 15 years old, is nonverbal and has autism. He loves watching most movies until the end, often insisting they stay in the theater until the final credits are rolling, his mother said. But, what was intended as a fun Friday night out instead turned dramatic when police were called to remove the mother and son from the theater on June 16, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Superior Court of Monmouth County. The incident began when Gallinaros son needed to use the bathroom and she took him into the womens restroom. There is no family restroom at the Cinemark in Hazlet, according to the lawsuit. My son is not equipped to go into a mens bathroom in a public setting alone, Gallinaro told NJ Advance Media last week. I took him to the womens bathroom. There were other women in the restroom, some of them mothers, she said. Right away, they see hes with me. They pick up why hes in the bathroom with me, she said, noting that she noticed one woman looking at me smiling. The 59-year-old manager of the movie theater wasnt as understanding, the suit alleges. The manager angrily approached and shouted blatantly discriminatory remarks toward the mother and the 15-year-old, the lawsuit alleges. A grown man should not be in the womens restroom, the manager said in the crowded lobby, according to the suit. This is not a transgender bathroom. Even though there were no other complaints, the manager allegedly ordered the Gallinaros off the property and directed an assistant manager to call the police, the suit states. The manager headed to another part of the theater and the Gallinaros had no further interactions with her, according to the suit. When police arrived, Gallinaro started recording on her cell phone. I dont agree with what she did, the assistant manager says on the video, referring to the managers actions. But youre causing a disturbance, so leave. Moments later, a police officer confirmed to Gallinaro that she and her son had to leave the property. The officer can be heard off camera telling Gallinaro that the movie theater is a private business and its employees can remove customers if they dont want them there. The discrimination lawsuit names the Hazlet theater, along with Cinemark USA, the manager, the assistant manager and others associated with the business. A woman who answered the phone Tuesday morning at the Hazlet movie theater said the manager was not immediately available to comment. A spokesperson for Cinemarks corporate office did not return calls and emails seeking comment. R. Armen McOmber, an attorney for the Gallinaros, called the theater managers behavior outrageous and unlawful. Ms. Gallinaros 15-year-old son, who is diagnosed with autism and severe speech delays, was traumatized by blatantly discriminatory conduct on the part of defendants simply because he needed to use the bathroom while seeing a movie with his mother, McOmber said in a statement. After police were called, workers attempted to refund the Gallinaros tickets but were unable to process the transaction, the suit says. The workers instead offered free movie passes, but took zero action to address defendants transparently harassing and discriminatory conduct toward plaintiffs, the suit says. The lawsuit alleges violations of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, disparate treatment, a hostile environment due to disability, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The conduct of those in charge that night goes beyond all possible bounds of decency and is regarded as atrocious and utterly intolerable in a civilized society, the suit says. Charlsey Sheib, a school psychologist at St. Benedicts Preparatory School in Newark, said its not uncommon for a 15-year-old with autism to be unable to use a public restroom on their own. Sheib, who does not have personal knowledge of the Hazlet case, said theaters should have family restrooms that can be used by people of any gender. If no customers complained about it, I dont think it had to be taken to that level where the police were called and he had to be kicked out, Sheib said of the Gallinaros case. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. NEW YORK (AP) A towering construction crane caught fire high above the west side of Manhattan on Wednesday morning, then lost its long arm, which smashed against a nearby building, dangled and then plummeted to the street as people ran for their lives on the sidewalk below. Four people suffered minor injuries, but no one died, according to New York City Mayor Eric Adams. As you can see from the debris on the street, this could have been much worse, the Democrat said, noting that the street at that hour of the morning is often filled with pedestrians, cars and buses. The fire atop the 54-story building was reported around 7:25 a.m. Photos and videos posted on social media showed flames bursting from the car of a crane hundreds of feet above 10th Avenue at 41st Street. The cranes arm, which was carrying a 16-ton load, snapped off after the fire had been burning for a period of time. Smoke rises from a construction crane that caught fire in Manhattan.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)AP Smoke rises from a construction crane that caught fire in Manhattan, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)AP The person operating the crane tried to put out the fire as it spread, but then had to flee to safety, according to Fire Department First Deputy Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer. Firefighters stationed on a roof deck of another building used hoses to battle the blaze. Surrounding streets were closed to traffic. First responders spray water on tall construction crane that caught fire in Manhattan on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 in New York. (WABC via AP)AP The fires cause was being investigated. The location is near the Port Authority Bus Terminal and an entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel, which carries auto traffic to and from New Jersey under the Hudson River. More: 1 dead in house fire caused by discarded smoking material: prosecutor I-81 repairs lane damaged by vehicle fire in Cumberland County: PennDOT A now-former correctional officer from New Jersey has been sentenced to more than three-and-half years in prison for his role in a scheme to accept nearly $78,000 in bribes to smuggle drugs, alcohol and cell phones into the New York correctional facility where he worked. Perry Joyner, 30, of Orange, also attempted to arrange for a man housed at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower Manhattan to be slashed by other inmates because he thought the inmate had ratted him out, federal prosecutors said. The inmate was transferred before the assault could be carried out. Joyner was one of eight jail employees and inmates charged in November 2021. Another guard and a jail secretary have also been convicted and await sentencing, according to court documents. In addition to a 43-month sentenced in federal prison, Joyner will also be subject to two years of supervised release and will have to forfeit the $77,894 he obtained illegally, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York said Tuesday. Joyner accepted payoffs from inmates and their associated from October 2019 to February 2020 to bring , oxycodone, alprazolam, Suboxone, marijuana, K2, cellphones, cigarettes, and alcohol inside the facility and provide the items to inmates. The inmates then used, sold, traded or resold the contraband, prosecutors said. Joyner pleaded guilty in December 2022. The dilapidated Metropolitan Correctional Center on Park Row has been closed since the fall of 2021. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Thirst traps. Cyberbullying. Algorithms designed to keep kids scrolling all night. New Jersey adolescents are glued to social media, and state leaders are tired of worrying that the kids are not all right. Gov. Phil Murphy signed a new bipartisan law Monday creating a commission to study the ills of social media in the state amid growing national concern about its impact on adolescent health. New Jersey is pushing an ambitious agenda to move its more than 9 million residents away from natural gas and gasoline to heat their homes and power their cars, in favor of electricity to do the job of both. But like many other places in the country, the moves, designed to lessen the harmful impact of burning fossil fuels on the planets climate, are garnering significant opposition from foes who warn that the government is coming to take away your stove and your car. New Jersey utility regulators Wednesday approved a series of decarbonization measures designed to incentivize buildings to switch from natural gas heat to electric. A man was killed in a house fire Monday night that authorities say was caused by improperly discarded smoking material on the front porch, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. Firefighters were called to a house on Laketree Court in Manchester about 8:30 p.m. and discovered that parts of the first and second floors of the home had collapsed into the basement, officials said. Investigators deemed it unsafe to continue the fire investigation until the daylight hours. When the investigation resumed on Tuesday, a mans body was located within the collapsed area of the structure, authorities said. The victim has not been positively identified. Investigators later found that the fire started on the front porch near improperly discarded smoking material and deemed the fire accidental, prosecutors said. The body was brought to Community Medical Center for an autopsy and identification. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. Democracies dont often die because an outside power sends tanks across the border. More of them die at the hands of elected leaders who chip away at the pillars of their democratic systems, limiting free speech, undermining elections, and bringing independent judges to heel. Israels Knesset on Monday took a depressing step in this dangerous direction, voting to deprive the Supreme Court of its power to overrule the most extreme actions of the Netanyahu government. The plan is to finish the job in coming months by giving the Knesset power to overrule judicial decisions altogether with a simple majority vote. Thats a wrecking ball for any democracy, and one that is especially alarming when you consider the cast of aggressive racists and religious zealots in the cabinet of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This is just the beginning, said the Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. Ben-Gvir is one of several extremists that Netanyahu relied on to build a majority in the Knesset after his weak showing in the 2022 election. His political roots lie with the Kach Movement, which called for the expulsion of all Arabs from Israel, and was finally banned in 1994 after one of its supporters, Baruch Goldstein, entered a mosque in Hebron and opened fire with an assault weapon, killing 29 Palestinians and injuring 125. Ben Gvir responded by hanging a poster of Goldstein in his living room. In 2008, he was convicted of inciting racism and supporting a terrorist organization. And today, he favors outright annexation of the West Bank, and says all disloyal Palestinians should be forcibly removed from Israel. He is, in other words, precisely the type of man who may need to be restrained by an independent judiciary. And the same goes for other members of Netanyahus cabinet, especially Bezalel Smotrich, the Minister of Finance. Smotrich wants to double the Jewish population in the occupied West Bank, opposes Palestinian statehood, denies the existence of the Palestinian people, and told Arab Israeli lawmakers in 2021 that the founders of Israel should have finished the job and expelled all Arabs in 1948. He called gay pride parades worse than bestiality. And after a rampage by Israeli settlers in the Palestinian village of Huwara, which an Israeli general described as a pogrom, he said, I think the Huwara needs to be erased. Last weekend, Netanyahu gave him the job of overseeing the expansion of Jewish settlements, and streamlined the process so that his approval is all thats needed. This is a frightening moment for the many Israelis of good will, who have turned out in mass protests every weekend for half a year. More than 11,000 reservists, including hundreds of highly trained combat pilots, have threatened to quit if Netanyahu follows through this full plan. A survey of Israelis potent tech sector found that 70 percent of start-ups have taken steps to move at least some operations out of the country. Ehud Barak, the former prime minister, is urging Israelis to engage in civil disobedience, citing the example of Martin Luther King Jr. and accusing Netanyahu of trying to destroy democracy in Israel in favor of a corrupt and racist dictatorship. Dont miss the best in editorials, opinion columns and commentary from NJ.com writers. Add your email here: At risk is the special bond between the United States and Israel, which is based not just on security, but on shared democratic values that seem to be quickly eroding in Jerusalem. Two former U.S ambassadors to Israel, Dan Kurtzer and Martin Indyk, have called for the U.S. to reduce military aid, which amounts to $3.8 billion a year, by far our largest aid program globally. As the New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof suggested, its time to ask why we give so much aid to a country that is richer per capita than Japan, and to consider cutting aid in a gradual way that does not put Israels security at risk. It is Netanyahu who is putting this relationship in danger. * * * This moment arrives as New Jersey and several local towns are considering a measure to define anti-Semitism, a response to the alarming rise in bigotry against Jewish people across the nation, and globally. The Anti-Defamation League said that incidents increased by 35 percent in a single year in 2022, with ultra-Orthodox Jews being the primary target. The bill is full of reasonable terms that cover the obvious symptoms, like Holocaust denial, promotion of myths about Jewish conspiracies, and physical attacks. But other definitions are more troubling. It says those who believe establishing a Jewish homeland in the Middle East was a racist endeavor are anti-Semitic, as is anyone who applies a double standard towards Israel that is not demanded of other democracies. Is it fair to label an Arab who lost land during the establishment of Israel as a Jewish state in Palestine as anti-Semitic for believing that act was racist? And who determines if criticism of Israel policy is even-handed? Reasonable people are bound to differ on that question, so why go nuclear and label those we disagree with as bigoted? I talked it over with one of the sponsors of the state bill, Assemblyman Gary Schaer, D-Passaic, a thoughtful man and a fervent supporter of Israel. My guess, based on our conversation, is that he might consider this column to be anti-Semitic because it focuses criticism on Israel and he feels thats unfair without equal scrutiny of Saudi Arabia, China, and even India. When I sent him previous columns criticizing the Saudis, including one that described them as war criminals, it didnt seem to move him. (And in those columns, I didnt mention Israel. Does that make me a bigot for singling out Arabs?) Schaer asked me to consider the horrors that his family has lived to understand where hes coming from. There is an emotional element, he said. Put yourself in my shoes. My fathers whole family was destroyed, murdered, obliterated. Is there a sensitivity I have towards Israel, which if it existed then, millions of people could have taken advantage of? You cant talk about Israel without talking about the Holocaust. Its a powerful point. Still, Id vote against his bill without changes. And I believe its natural for Americans to be especially horrified when Israel goes astray, given our long friendship. (I tell my brother when he needs a haircut but wouldnt do the same for a stranger.) But Schaer is certainly dead right to say that the risk of anti-Semitism is a grave problem. Id add only that the same is true of this Netanyahu government. More: Tom Moran columns Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or (973) 986-6951. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. On both sides of the Atlantic, political leaders are attacking the integrity of international arbitration as a mechanism for resolving disputes, especially between private parties and States. Having represented sovereigns and private parties in international arbitrations globally for over three decades, I find this trend deeply concerningnot because I do not accept international arbitrations imperfections, but because politicizing mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes undermines the rule of law. President Biden, urged on by lawmakers from his party, has spearheaded a new narrative, claiming that dispute settlement mechanisms for resolving disputes between private parties and States are little more than trojan horses for elite corporate interests. He proposes excluding investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS)a system conceived and implemented to minimize the influence of inter-State political and power dynamics from the resolution of private claimsfrom future trade deals, thereby depriving Americans investing abroad from impartial and independent arbitration tribunals to resolve disputes resulting from State action taken against them or their investments. Instead, injured investors would have to sue the government in the investment hosting States courts where neutrality could be compromised by notions of national interests. In Europe, the European Commission has demanded that EU Member States abrogate treaties with other Member States, foreclosing EU investors from accessing international arbitration to resolve disputes against a Member State. Enigmatically, EU Member States will still be able to arbitrate with non-EU investors. The EU is also seeking termination of the Energy Charter Treaty, a multilateral agreement adopted to encourage energy sector investments in ex-Soviet bloc countries after the Cold War. Central to the treatys success in encouraging billions in cross-border energy investments is its requirement for treaty signatories to arbitrate disputes with investors from other treaty members. Once the EU and its Member States exit the treaty, energy sector investors will have to seek relief in the domestic courts of the countries in which they have invested, some of which have occasionally echoed the same type of nationalistic tendencies of the countries leaders. The chilling effect on much needed energy sector investments hardly calls for elaboration. The essential political narrative is that international arbitration allows corporations to unjustifiably penalize governments for democratic regulatory action. US Senator Elizabeth Warren claims that ISDS allows highly paid corporate lawyers to go back and forth between representing corporations one day and sitting in judgement the next, annulling meaningful judicial independence. This skews the system in favor of corporate profiteering, and against the advancement of government policy imperatives. These claims are largely unfounded. A study in the Journal of International Arbitration concludes that the statistics show that States have consistently won more disputes than private parties. Certainly, the damages States have been ordered to pay are far lower than the amounts claimed. Similarly, a Columbia Journal of Transnational Law analysis concludes that claims such as Warrens have no discernible basis in reality. Empirical data confirms that investment treaties and arbitration benefit poor states, are even-handed, enhance transparency, allow states ample regulatory leeway, and promote the rule of law. What the public is not being told is that dismantling ISDS will drive-up protectionism and squeeze trade flows exactly when the global economy needs more, not less trade. The Biden administrations own US International Trade Commission found in 2022 that ISDS boosts foreign investment into host economies by about 22 percent. Attacking ISDS will slash this dividend, and countries needing foreign investment will suffer. Arbitration run amok This doesnt mean that disputes resolved by arbitrators do not go wrong. But when they do, the in-built corrective mechanisms of the international system in which arbitration takes place provide the necessary checks and balances. Albeit not a typical investor-State dispute, a recent arbitration receiving extensive media coverage illustrates the point. In the so-called Sulu Arbitration, a Spanish arbitrator issued a US$15 billion award against Malaysia and in favor of Filipino nationals premised on the Philippines historical claim to the North Borneo region of Malaysia, today known as Sabah. The claim was based on an 1878 treaty signed between two British colonial explorers and the then Sultanate of Sulu, a remote island region in the Philippines. According to the heirs lawyers, this treaty functioned as a commercial lease agreement granting the British colonists exclusive rights over North Borneo in return for an annual fee to the Sulu. Despite the treaty containing no clear clause on arbitration, the Sultans heirs approached the British Foreign Office to appoint an arbitrator, but it refused. Undaunted, the heirs asked the Spanish courts to appoint an arbitrator. Resting their arguments on tenuous Spanish colonial era sovereignty claims, they succeeded. This is despite the fact that the Sultanate of Sulu has long since ceased to be an independent monarchy. Sultan Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, as head of the house of Sulu is the best recognized but, he increasingly faces rival claimants now that is money in question. The Spanish arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa found that the Sultanate of Sulu met all the criteria for statehood and sovereignty. But this is completely wrong. Several historians have noted that the Sultanate of Sulu did not exert sovereign control over North Borneo. Indeed, the British colonists signed a different treaty in 1877 with the Sultan of Brunei for control of North Borneo for a higher annual payment. Diplomatic records suggest that neither the Sultan of Sulu nor any other fully controlled the region. So both treaties signified not a legitimate transfer of sovereignty, but a British colonial strategy to neutralize local opposition to British colonization. A lot can be said about Stampas flawed analysis of historical evidence, his bizarre legal analysis of the parties rights and obligations, his highly suspect procedural decisions, and ultimately of his exorbitant US$ 15 billion award against Malaysia. But whatever injustice could have resulted from Stampas award has been blocked for now thanks to checks and balances within the system of arbitration, which requires national courts to enforce arbitral awards based on a network of international treaties, including the 1958 New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards and the 1966 Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States, both of which are a testament to how international cooperation and coordination can promote the pacific settlement of disputes. In 2021, the Spanish Supreme Court which had originally appointed Stampa as the sole arbitrator withdrew his authority to arbitrate the case as Malaysia continued refusing to recognise the arbitration. Instead of complying, Stampa moved the arbitration to Paris where he issued his final award. The Prosecutors Office of Madrid even filed criminal charges against Stampa for unqualified professional practice for which he could face up to three years in prison. After that, court verdicts in Paris and The Hague have consistently refused to enforce the award, with the Paris Court of Appeals landmark decision in June repudiating concluding that the 1878 treaty dispute resolution was ineffective. The system is working The international legal system, including the mechanisms of international arbitration, has evolved organically and for the most part successfully over decades. The bulk of evidence suggests that it works. Rather than attacking institutions that stand for the rule of law, I would urge politicians to focus on reforms that make the system even more robust. This all the more important at a time when international law and its institutions and systems need to be given more relevance, instead of becoming the target of populist politics. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses the opening session on the first day of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London, Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Ukraines allies pledged several billion dollars in non-military aid on Wednesday to rebuild its war-ravaged infrastructure, fight corruption and help pave the country's road to membership in the European Union. (Henry Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP)AP Arif Hyder Ali is Partner and Co-Chair of the International Arbitration Law Group at top ten global law firm Dechert LLP. He has been lead trial counsel in international investment and commercial arbitrations under all of the major international arbitral regimes, the governing laws of over 50 civil and common law jurisdictions and international law. Previously he served as Section Chief at the United Nations Compensation Commission, a subsidiary organ of the United Nations Security Council established to process loss and damage from Iraqs invasion of Kuwait. He was also Senior Counsel at the World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Center. Arif Ali is the lead author of the widely-used treatises The International Arbitration Rulebook (Kluwer 2019), and International Investment Protection of Global Banking and Finance: Legal Principles and Arbitral Practice (Kluwer 2021). New Jersey is set to make it easier for residents to get restraining orders against strangers, co-workers, or acquaintances who have stalked them, under a law Gov. Phil Murphy signed this week. Under previous state law, judges could issue restraining orders in domestic violence cases only if the alleged abuser had a criminal conviction or an existing or prior relationship with the victim such as being a spouse, household member, or romantic partner. One exception was cases involving minors or adults with a mental disability. This measure (S1517), which the state Legislature passed in nearly unanimous fashion, will close what sponsors called a stalking loophole, expanding the protections to victims who have no current or previous close relationship to their alleged abuser. Give this to Thomas Sibick: The remorse he professes for his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, at least sounds genuine. His claimed mental illness about which the public has seen no evidence may have played some indirect role in the violence he committed as part of an insurrection meant to criminally reverse the results of a fair election that was accurately decided. But that doesnt get him off the hook. The Sibick who appears in a letter he sent to the judge in his case is a wounded man. He offers what sounds like a sincere apology to former-D.C. Police Officer Michael Fanone, whose life he helped to endanger. Fanone was dragged down Capitol steps into the mob of rioters, though not by Sibick, his lawyer says. The officer suffered a minor heart attack and a traumatic brain injury. He later resigned. Sibick may not have wanted that to happen, but the risks are obvious. When youre playing Russian roulette, you cant be surprised when the gun fires. Sibick is similarly depicted as a victim who meant no harm in another letter, written by an aunt who is a pediatrician dealing in developmental and behavioral health. He was confused and upset about what happened, she wrote, and had only wanted to hear what then-President Trump had to say at a rally that preceded the riot. The bottom line of the two letters is that, because of reported bipolar and personality disorders, Sibick should be all but excused from responsibility for his violent actions that day. They are meant to support the defenses recommendation that U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentence Sibick to home confinement. Prosecutors disagree. They describe Sibick as one of the most violent rioters who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, and are asking Jackson to send him to prison for almost six years. The U.S. Probation Office recommends four years behind bars. The judge is scheduled to pronounce the sentence on Friday. Indeed, while Sibick and his lawyers attempt to soft-pedal Sibicks role in attacking Fanone, the fact is that, as the insurrection raged, Sibick stole the officers badge and radio, actions that radically elevated the risk to Fanones already endangered life. He later buried his trophies in his backyard and then lied about them to investigators. Only after that did his remorse start to appear. Even if bipolar and personality disorders played a role in those criminal actions, they dont excuse them. Indeed, the most plausible defense of his violent conduct is, as his lawyers argue, that Sibick was caught up in the testosterone-laden actions of the crowd. That is not much of a defense for putting a police officers life in the hands of a violent mob, let alone joining a throng intent on violently overturning an election. What none of Sibicks defenders confront is that the Amherst mans actions began with the reckless decision to believe the transparent lies of a defeated president a man with a long history of acting only in his own interests and as though rules were meant for other people. Perhaps Sibick thought they shouldnt apply to him, either. Thats a slippery slope, and while not everyone falls to the depths that Sibick did, its the risk and bipolar disorder doesnt excuse it. Thats on him. Sibick still knew right from wrong. He was credulous about Trump, and he committed violence aimed at stealing democracy. However Jackson evaluates the other factors involved in Sibicks crime, those are not the ingredients of a term in home confinement. Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing. New Jerseys revamped election money watchdog commission formally voted Tuesday to dismiss nearly half of the states active alleged campaign finance violations to comply with a controversial state law Gov. Phil Murphy signed four months ago. Those 107 complaints include three sizable ones tied to the Democratic Party, whose leaders successfully pushed for the law, and a smaller one linked to the Republican Party. The New Jersey Elections Law Enforcement Commission took the action in Trenton at its first meeting since Murphy last month restocked members of the board after its previous commissioners abruptly resigned in protest largely because of the law. New Jerseys public worker pension fund added another $1 billion in market value in April and May as fund managers continued to slowly claw back losses that hit it hard amid turbulent financial markets over the past two years. The fund has gained about $5 billion on investments so far this year, bringing its total market value to $88.7 billion as of May 31, according to the most recent report from the New Jersey Treasury Departments Division of Investment. Gains were primarily driven by stock investments, which have been relatively strong recently, according to Division of Investment Director Shoaib Khan. Investments in both U.S. and foreign equities had delivered returns of nearly 12% for the fiscal year as of May 31. Much of New Jersey is expected to experience its first heat wave of the summer with several days of scorching temperatures and heat indexes of 100 degrees or more. Parts of the state will reach 90 degrees on Wednesday. By Thursday, nearly all of New Jersey will see 90 degrees or higher, followed by the hottest day of the week, and possibly the summer, on Friday. Temperatures through most of the state will remain in the 90s on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Hot, humid conditions are expected across the East Coast on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.AccuWeather.com The humidity will make things feel much worse, particularly Thursday and Friday when the heat index is expected to surpass 100 degrees even along the usually cooler Jersey Shore, conditions described by the National Weather Service as dangerously hot. High temperatures will be in the mid to upper 90s in most places. In addition, severe thunderstorms are possible on Thursday afternoon and evening. Those storms could include high wind gusts and large hail. Forecasters are unsure how widespread any storms might be or where they might form. In addition to the building heat on Thursday, severe thunderstorms will be possible again during the afternoon and evening. Keep an eye on the weather and stay cool tomorrow! #PAwx #NJwx #DEwx #MDwx Posted by US National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 Heat advisories and excessive heat watches will be the norm in much of New Jersey on Thursday and Friday. A heat advisory will be in effect in Somerset, Middlesex, Mercer, Gloucester, Camden and northwestern Burlington counties from 11 a.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday before an excessive heat watch kicks in and lasts through Friday evening, the National Weather Service said. A heat index as high as 103 degrees is expected during the advisory with a heat index of as much as 106 possible during the excessive heat watch. There wont be any break from the heat on Saturday as the heat index could climb as high as 103. In Bergen, Essex, Hudson, eastern Passaic and Union the heat index could reach as much as 106 during an excessive heat watch that lasts from Thursday morning through Friday evening. As for the rest of the state, a heat advisory kick in at 11 a.m. Thursday and last until 10 p.m. Friday in Monmouth, Ocean, southeast Burlington, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon and Morris. The top heat indices will range from 102 to 104. Nighttime lows will fall into the 70s, though continued muggy conditions will stick around. In the meantime, Wednesday will be dry and sunny, but still plenty warm. Highs will range from the mid 80s to about 90. Theres also an air quality alert in effect for 13 counties. The four Jersey Shore counties as well as Cumberland, Salem, Sussex and Warren do not have air issues on Wednesday. Current weather radar Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. NEW YORK The Yankees are still mulling when they plan to activate Aaron Judge from his toe injury. Judge has spent the last two days rehabbing from the torn ligament in his right big toe at the clubs facility in Tampa, racking up live at-bats and reps on defense in simulated games. On Wednesday afternoon, the New York Post reported that Judge is expected to be reinstated from the injured list on Friday, barring a late setback. Minutes after that news broke, Yankees manager Aaron Boone shot it down. Asked directly if a plan exists to activate Judge for Fridays series opener against the Orioles, Boone straight up said no. I wouldnt rule anything out, but I think were taking it day by day and huddling up at the end of the day, seeing what the next steps are, Boone said. Right now, its seeing how he came out of today and how that went, where were at and if we need to keep doing more. A high-ranking club official confirmed to NJ Advance Media that no firm date has been set for Judges return. BUY YANKEES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER Boone added that Judges controlled rehab has been going well in Tampa, but he hadnt heard the report of how the sluggers Wednesday workout went. As for Tuesday, Boone said Judge had four or five at-bats and that he hit a home run. Whether hes ready to rejoin the Yankees or not a team in desperation mode lurking outside of the postseason picture with less than a week to go until the trade deadline Judges eventual return wont come with a complete clean bill of health. Before he faced reliever Jonathan Loaisiga in a live batting practice at Yankee Stadium over the weekend, Judge said hes still in pain, learning how to manage the discomfort in his right foot. Its not going to be pain-free, but its as close to manageable as we can, Judge said. The Yankees are 18-23 since June 4, the day after Judge slammed his foot into the exposed concrete at the base of the right-field wall at Dodger Stadium. On June 3, the Yankees were in third place in their division while occupying the third and final Wild Card spot in the American League. They enter play on Wednesday as a last-place team thats 2 games out of the Wild Card race. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Max Goodman may be reached at mgoodman@njadvancemedia.com. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Sun and clouds mixed. High around 80F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low 64F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. 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. The Summer Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Derby has three new leaders, with a fourth tying for the top spot as the competition rolls into its final weekend. On Lake Erie, teams are gearing up for the Barts Cove Walleye Invitational Saturday and Sunday. Anglers are enjoying the newly opened Sturgeon Point Marina access. Lake Erie and tributaries Capt. Codey Allen of Lake Affect Fishing Charters reports walleye fishing has been consistent all year out of Barcelona. A north/south troll covering 65-100 feet of water straight out of the harbor was the best last weekend. He is using 5-10 colors of lead core with stick baits, divers, and riggers with spoons worked 45-60 feet down. He also has seen some unusual fishing action for steelhead, kings and Coho salmon, sitting right under the thermocline 60-70 feet down, also coming off standard-size spoons. A big 15-pound king caught Monday was in 88 feet of water down 60 foot on the rigger with a slim-body Warrior spoon. The walleye bite has been steady around 75-90 feet of water off Cattaraugus Creek, according to Shub Stevens with Catt. Creek Bait and Tackle in Irving. Bottom bouncing has been productive. Greens and silvers are hot colors. Top-selling lure in the Catt. Creek shop this season has been Yaleye mooneye minnows. Boaters are starting to find out that Sturgeon Point Marina and launch ramp are open for business. The paving was completed before the July 15 opening. Good walleye action is continuing out of Buffalo, but you do have to work for them a bit, said Bruce Kowalski with TAAR Outdoors in Lake View. One good area is around the round house at the head of the river. Another is about 5 miles out in 65-70 feet of water, mostly on the bottom. Some fish are suspended. Bait is the key. Steve Brzuszkiewicz of Marilla was back at it off the Condos, still targeting 52-60 feet of water just south of the international line. His first fish came at 55 feet, and a couple more came at 59 feet. A phone call from a friend alerted him to a good bite around 57 feet, and he was nearby. He motored over and started with a doubleheader, followed by a quick single. His firetiger-bladed worm harness did the trick on the bottom with 4 ounces of lead, with a speed of 1.3 mph. The next fishing contests to watch out for are Barts Cove Walleye Invitational this weekend and the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club Aug. 4-6, both out of Dunkirk. Matt Wilson of Wheatfield targeted walleye and bass this past week. He found a nice school of walleye off Buffalo, trolling 3-ounce bouncers 120-150 feet back behind the boat. He boated seven walleyes with two friends and lost enough for a three-man limit due to 3-foot waves bouncing their fish off. Wilson found 58 feet of water on the line seemed to hold most fish. He took wife Katie out for walleye/bass mix and started Sunday with walleye at 5 a.m. The fish had moved a mile west to 64 feet of water, but when they found them, they boxed out pretty quickly. Colors were bright greens, and pink with whites mixed in. Niagara River Also Sunday, Wilson hit the upper Niagara River, where he crushed the bass, catching close to 30 smallmouth using drop shot flat worms, and the new Yum FF sonar minnows. Ned rigs took the biggest fish, using Maxscent Lil Generals in rusty craw color. Best areas in the upper river were Beaver Island, the Huntley plant and the Humps. In the lower river, walleye action has been good on the Niagara Bar using worm harnesses and jigs. Decent numbers of fish are being reported, but the size is down. Bass fishing has been good from Devils Hole to the lake, said Capt. Frank Campbell. Crayfish have been a hot bait off three-way rigs, but you can also catch fish on artificials such as spinnerbaits and drop-shot rigs. Lake Ontario and tributaries Fish and bait are scattered from 80 feet of water out past 500 feet, said Capt. Joe Oakes with Salmonboy Sportfishing. Depths of 400-plus feet of water have been the most consistent for a mix of kings, steelhead and cohos. Spoons, flasher-flies and meat rigs are all taking fish. Focus on the zone from 50-80 feet below the surface. Green alewife spoons have been very effective. The leaderboard has changed in the Summer LOC Derby. The event concludes at 1 p.m. Sunday. Frank Antenori, 83, of Peckville, Pa., took over the lead for the $10,000 Grand Prize salmon when he hauled in a 29-pound, 2-ounce king while fishing out of Oswego with son Dave. The new brown trout leader is a 17-pound, 1-ounce Orleans County fish reeled in by Louis Drouhard of Ravenna, Ohio. He was fishing with Capt. John Oravec aboard the Troutman. The new steelhead leader is Chris Petrucci of Beallsville, Pa., with a 14-pound, 3-ounce fish he caught out of Wilson. Tom Carney of Chaumont is still leading the walleye with a 10-pound, 11-ounce Henderson Harbor area fish, but it was a close call, as Kurt Hartley of Lorraine weighed in a fish of the same weight. Time entered is the tiebreaker. Leading lake trout is still a 23-pound, 12-ounce fish reeled in by Richard Dubois of Pulaski. Chautauqua Lake Walleye has been decent, but not on fire this past week, reports Capt. Mike Sperry with Chautauqua Reel Outdoors. Some fish are still in the existing weeds on the south basin and jigging over them will work, but its harder to find good weeds now. The open-water trolling bite is getting better on the south basin. Hot-n-Tots, Flicker Shads and Flicker Minnows will pick up fish. Running lures close to the bottom is important either off lead core or using inline weights. Try 2 mph for a trolling speed. Jigging near the weeds and out to 24 feet of water on the north basin is working. Jigging Rapalas, Vibes, Steel Shads and spoons are best. The musky casting bite was good last week. Casting shallow diving crankbaits, spinnerbaits and Jerk baits around weed pockets is working. Finger Lakes Cayuga Lake fishing is improving for bass and trout, Capt. John Gaulke of Finger Lakes Angling Zone said. The algae bloom is gradually dissipating, and the water has 4-5 feet of clarity. Green, cloudy areas are still around though, and were a week or so from being over the bloom. Fish are well-distributed from Ithaca up to the northern crescent area. Seneca Lake was hot and cold for lake trout in the northern half of the lake. Water temperatures vary wildly by the day, depending on the winds and currents. Plenty of nice lake trout running 3 to 10 pounds are around, and the fish are clean with respect to lamprey scars. Bass fishing is good for both largemouths and smallmouths. White and chartreuse jigs worked well, Gaulke said. Owasco Lake is fishing good for lake trout from 55-85 feet of water, mostly in the top two-thirds of the lake. Some rainbows, browns and smallmouth bass can be found at times mixed in with or above the lakers around baitfish schools. Keuka Lake: Lake trout action is good around the Bluff and Branchport Arm. Fish 70-110 feet of water. Many trout are suspended feeding on perch-fry. Bass fishing is good in 10-20 feet of water. Ned rigs were working well. Louisiana's pardon board has turned away all 56 petitions for executive clemency that were filed in June by death row prisoners in the state, saying none of them are currently eligible. The blockbuster decision could leave it up to Gov. John Bel Edwards to direct the board to hear those cases under its policies. Edwards' recent comments opposing the death penalty helped prod the historic mass clemency filing. A spokesman for Edwards declined to comment Wednesday. Francis Abbott, executive director of the Board of Pardons and Committee on Parole, said a decision was made Monday that resulted in the remaining 43 of those 56 clemency applications being returned based on an opinion last week from Attorney General Jeff Landry's office. News / Local by Staff reporter ZIMBABWE Prisons and Correctional Services has ignored a letter written to it by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights attorney Innocent Gonese over the misconduct of ZPCS officer Caroline Manjongo who has taken up a Zanu-PF political post in violation of the constitution, The NewsHawks reported.In an interview, Gonese said the letter he wrote to Prisons has not yet been responded to and they are yet to map a way forward."The letter has not been responded to, so we are still contemplating our next move," he said.A fortnight ago, Gonese through ZLHR wrote to ZPCS Commissioner-General Moses Chihobvu (pictured) demanding action over Manjongo who is serving as the vice-chairperson of the Zanu-PF women's league in Mashonaland East province in violation of section 208 of the constitution.In their letter, Gonese, representing a concerned citizen, Takudzwanashe Mudzuri, issued Prisons a three-day ultimatum to respond, which the institution has failed to do.Zanu-PF Mashonaland East secretary for security Jeremiah Chiwetu, a former police officer, wrote a letter dated 30 May 2023 to ZPCS chief director human resources administration and development, Commissioner Alvord Gapare, requesting the release of Caroline Manjongo.The letter also revealed that the Manjongo, the prison officer, was also serving as the Mashonaland East Zanu-PF women's league deputy secretary, in violation of the constitution.Chiwetu, who is also Marondera East legislator, requested that Manjongo be given time off to help organise the party ahead of elections.Another letter dated 31 May 2023, written by retired Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Makureya, the secretary for administration for the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association in Harare, said Manjongo will be on national duty. The letter was addressed to Gapare."Requested is the release from duty of the above referred Zanu-PF cadre who is the vice-chairwoman Women's League for the period as from 1 June 2023 up to end of elections."She will be carrying out national duty involved in the Party Voter Mobilisation Programmes. Your assistance by releasing her for this noble cause will be much appreciated," Makureya, who is secretary for administration, wrote to Gapare.In past elections, the conduct of members of the security forces has come under scrutiny because of their partisan behaviour.The most recent ban was of a Bindura rally where police said there are no servicable roads to the venue.A rally in Gokwe was allowed but on stringent conditions that there would be no bussing and no toy-toying, conditions that do not apply to the ruling Zanu-PF.The police, for example, have often been accused of arbitrarily blocking opposition rallies or arresting opposition officials for flimsy reasons.CCC reports that between 22 March 2022 by-elections and the campaign trail of the upcoming harmonised elections, police have banned over 120 rallies and meetings.The police have often been accused of brutalising members of the opposition during demonstrations or in detention, while members of the intelligence have been implicated in kidnappings. News / Local by Staff reporter A RECENT High Court ruling condemning Tapiwa Makore Senior and accomplice Tafadzwa Shamba to death for the brutal murder of then seven-year-old Tapiwa Makore Junior has once again revived debate on the contentious death penalty.Tapiwa Junior was killed in the most aggravating circumstances by his father's elder brother Tapiwa Senior and Shamba for ritual purposes.His body was dismembered.His torso was found being mauled by dogs the morning after his murder while other body parts were recovered from a pit latrine.The torso was buried a year later and the head remains missing.High Court judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi handed down the death sentence on the pair, but the sentence has drawn mixed emotions.After the handing down of the judgemnt, Tapiwa Junior's mother, Linda Munyori, said the case had divided the family.The judgment comes at a time when the country has been mulling abolishing the death penalty.Zimbabwe has not carried out executions since 2005 as there is no hangman.The job has since remained unfilled, despite wide spread unemployment in the country.Some death row inmates are languishing in solitary confinement and their petitions for clemency have been rejected.At the end of 2019, the country had about 80 people on death row.In a statement, Amnesty International said the death penalty violated the right to life."Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception regardless of the nature of the crime, the characteristics of the offender, or the method used by the State to execute the prisoner," Amnesty International's deputy director for southern Africa, Khanyo Farise, said."While Amnesty International acknowledges the pain and anguish felt by Tapiwa's family following the death of Tapiwa Makore, the death penalty is never the appropriate response and must never be used in any circumstances anywhere in the world."There is no credible evidence that the death penalty has a greater deterrent effect on crime than prison terms."Child and human rights activists expressed different opinions over the death sentence."We commend the police and the High Court for a job well done in ensuring thorough investigations, prosecution and conviction of the perpetrators," said child rights activist Opal Masocha Sibanda."Undoubtedly, justice has been finally served and the sentence is welcome considering the severity of the crime and the aggravating circumstances under which the crime was committed."Sibanda said the death sentence served as a deterrent to would-be offenders."This will go a long way in ensuring protection of children's rights enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe and children's right to life, survival and development, right to be protected against all forms of torture and inhumane and degrading treatment, as well as protection against harmful social and cultural practices enshrined in the African Children's Charter which had been ratified by Zimbabwe," he said."We should, however, bear in mind that other than the convicted persons, there are other individuals out there who are alleged to have been involved in the murder of Tapiwa."Another child rights activist, Caleb Mtandwa, said it was difficult to ascertain if the death sentence has finally brought justice and closure to the Makore family."It's a very sensitive issue," Mtandwa said."The concept of justice can be approached from different perspectives. Whose justice? Are those directly and more affected by the crime satisfied that justice was done?""The death sentence is informed by a retributive sense of justice but does this satisfy all concerned, especially those directly affected by the crime."Within our African system of justice, we had a restorative sense of justice which sought to address the needs of those directly affected by the crime and mend relations."Is this now needed in a crime which involves family members and those who lived closely within the same community?"I can only agree that they needed a very harsh sentence but it's difficult to continue justifying the death sentence."Mtandwa said it was necessary to note that the court, where there are no extenuating circumstances, could only sentence them to death."I cannot, therefore, fault the court, but they have a right to automatically appeal to the Supreme Court against that sentence," he said.Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO forum executive director Musa Kika concurred."The court was well within its rights to do what it did allowable within our Constitution and our statute books," Kika said."It remains for us as a society to determine whether we want the death penalty to remain."Currently, there are consultations nationwide by the Ministry of Justice for us to decide if we want it.""The problem with the death penalty is that once imposed cannot be reversed in those cases that an appeal may then be overturned."The sanctity of life is so important that we would want to apportion ourselves as mortal beings to take away people's lives."It's a very emotive issue that needs careful consideration."In 2020, President Emmerson Mnangagwa commuted death sentences to life imprisonment for all prisoners on death row for at least 10 years. A look at some of the best parkruns in Devon The Parkrun has become part of global sporting culture in recent years and there are some wonderful venues to be enjoyed across Devon, but one of them has a very daunting tag. The Woolacombe Dunes course is host to the UKs hardest Parkrun but it is still a beauty. As with most of sporting venues in North Devon, the scenery for the Woolacombe Parkrun is simply breathtaking, with the sea to one side and the rolling Westcountry hills on the other. The Parkrun is 5km, and an absolute beast from start to finish, with the terrain ranging from soft sand and elevated sand dunes to rocky stone tracks. Despite the physical test, it is fantastic fun to take on the Woolacombe course and there is the added benefit of a potential dip in the sea to cool off after conquering the toughest Parkrun imaginable. Other parkruns that hold a special status in Devon include the course on Exmouth seafront, which is regarded as the most popular in Devon, with an average registration of over 300 runners every week. The Haldon Forest parkrun holds the title of the most picturesque in Devon and it is difficult to argue with that accolade. The run takes you through the atmospheric Haldon Forest in East Devon, with stunning views from its elevated position. Perhaps best of all is the Forest cafe, a great place to unwind with coffee and cake after completing 5,000m in beautiful Devon countryside. You are clearly a super-user of NUVO.net. Thats a good thing. It means you depend on independent and local news sources to keep you informed. You are a smart person. Coincidentally, independent and local news sources depend on you too. Youve read 25 articles this month and now, wed like you to be join our mission and become a NUVO Supporter. For as little as $4 a month, you can keep us alive and fighting -- and can have unlimited access to the independent news that cant be found anywhere else. The United Church of Christ in New Hampshire launched the George Floyd Quilt Project to commemorate the slaying of the African-American man in Minneapolis in 2020 that sparked nationwide protests and reforms. Its parishioners handcrafted quilts in an act of solidarity with Black and Brown people across the country. It's grown into 14 quilts and a documentary film called "Stitch Breathe Speak, the George Floyd Quilts." It's traveled across New England, New York and the Midwest. The Miller Beach Arts & Creative District of Gary is bringing the traveling exhibit to Northwest Indiana. It will arrive Friday at the Marshall J Gardner Center for the Arts. It will be exhibited from July 31 through Aug. 12 at 540 S. Lake St. in Gary's lakefront Miller neighborhood. There will be limited access the first weekend because of the Kevin Blake solo exhibit "Living Like Larry" and a Miller Community Theatre production. Dr. Harriet Ward with the Anti-Racism Ministry group of the New Hampshire United Church of Christ Conference said the traveling exhibit is an impactful antiracism tool. The more we show our work, the more we understand that quilting is a spiritual solution to a spiritual problem," he said. "Our job is not done. Churches everywhere should be confronting racism in this way. MBACD President Kathy Long said each quilt will be displayed in a freestanding frame. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 219-885-9114 or visit https://millerbeacharts.org. News / Local by Staff reporter GOVERNMENT says the land reform programme resulted in public roads adjacent to farms being neglected as the invaders opened new roads to the properties.Transport and Infrastructural Development ministry secretary Theodius Chinyanga made the remarks on Friday during a two-day National Economic Consultative Forum Infrastructure Summit and Expo held in Victoria Falls last week."The land reform programme created a gap in funding of road infrastructure, maintenance of public roads adjacent to farms suffered under resourcing and was thus neglected," Chinyanga said."The gap widened owing to new roads necessitated by the land reform programme."Road maintenance was initially delayed and later neglected, research was discontinued and the withdrawal of skills of experts through skills flight to other countries added to the crisis."Chinyanga said Zimbabwe could not support large road infrastructural development projects because of the economic situation.He, however, said the establishment of tollgates had helped Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) to raise financial resources for road infrastructural development.Zinara chief executive officer Nkosilathi Ncube said the country's road network needed a major facelift starting with road condition surveys."There is a need to conduct road condition surveys, capacitate road authorities with equipment and reduce the liability of equipment hire, closer management of road authorities and incentivise engineers at rural district councils," Ncube said.Government has embarked on an Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) after President Emmerson Mnangagwa described the country's road network as a state of national disaster.Under ERRP, the government is targeting to rehabilitate 10 000km of roads countrywide, mainly urban and trunk roads.The Global Economy's Survey rates Zimbabwe's roads poorly and says they are to blame for accidents.Government is, however, undertaking a road safety review. Indiana University Northwest's literary journal will have a reading at Green Door Books in downtown Hobart. The literary reading will take place at 2 p.m. on Aug. 5 at Green Door Books at 325 Main Street. It will feature writers showcased in the latest issue of Spirits but all writers, poets and artists are welcome to share their work. "We'll have live readings of poetry and short stories by local authors," Green Door co-owner Jessica Haug-Sigler said. "We're also having a bag sale that day. You buy a tote bag for $10 and fill it with as many used books as you can. It will be a great event for the community." The public will be able to grab free copies of volume 36 of the Spirits literary magazine. "If it's a nice day, we'll have it outside. If not we'll have plenty of room inside for people to come and enjoy. You can get a coffee across the street or go to a restaurant and spend the day in Hobart." It's a good chance to hear from local writers. "You can see local art and makers. We've got all kinds of jewelry and bags and things that people make," she said. "It's a great opportunity to come and meet makers and creators from around the area that day." Spirits is a bi-annual literary journal put out by Indiana University Northwest students, typically those studying English, creative writing, arts, liberal arts or a related discipline. It publishes the work of writers and artists from the campus, the broader community and across the country. Green Doors Books also has an open mic night once a week. "It's free. We have people who play music and do stand-up comedy and write poetry and write short stories," she said. "Sometimes we'll get a really great group in. We've had people read their papers for school. It's turned into a really cool, really wide open event. It's very diverse. If you've never read anything aloud before, this is the group. Everybody's very supportive. We have parents coming in with their teens who want to try standup for the first time. It's turned into a supportive and open environment." For more information, email spirits@iu.edu. SOUTH BEND A Michigan City woman has been sentenced to approximately five years in prison after she was convicted of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson announced Tuesday. Carissa McCoy, 42, joined her four co-defendants, three of whom have already been sentenced, in prison sentences stemming from an operation in which the group sold fentanyl-laced pills in the area between June and August 2021. McCoy was found with a kilogram of fentanyl during an August 2021 traffic stop, Johnson said. Investigators also found McCoy and one of the defendants had money, weapons and ammunition related to the drug trafficking operation in their home, Johnson said. In December, McCoy's co-defendant, 44-year-old Rico Marion, was sentenced to 37 years in prison for his role in the enterprise. Last week, 42-year-old co-defendant Meliki Marion was sentenced to just over 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Co-defendant Brandon Harris will serve a twelve-year prison sentence for his conviction. The case against co-defendant Cornelius Nelson is still pending. Each of the sentenced defendants will have five years of supervised release upon the completion of their prison sentences. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration including the Chicago Field Division, the Merrillville District Office, the Amarillo Texas Resident Office and the Albuquerque New Mexico District Office with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the LaPorte County Drug Task Force, an Indiana HIDTA Initiative and the Michigan City Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberly L. Schultz and Joel Gabrielse. Gallery: Recent arrests booked into LaPorte County Jail William Conner Robin Hensley Benjamin Soulcheck Daniel Jones Kyle Knoll Kellen Wilson Joshua Shepherd Melissa Chambers Lucas Bradford Lakisha Walker Jaqwaun Summers Delancy Brown Caitrin Demask Arthur Smith Josiah Hostetler Corey Newsome Brian Hoops James Blackwell Jovanny Orduna CEDAR LAKE Hanover Community School Corp. has joined a growing number of school districts nationwide that are taking legal action against tech companies. The Board of Trustees voted Tuesday in favor of a resolution to authorize litigation against social media companies. The resolution states Hanover schools would seek compensation for damages suffered by the school district and students as a result of the development, operation, and marketing of social media platforms. The vote was 4 to 1, with board member Scott Burdan voting against the resolution. The school district will be joining a class action lawsuit led by Kansas City-based law firm Wagstaff & Cartmell, which is currently representing several school districts suing Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube in California state court. According to the school district, joining the class action suit will be at no cost to the district, and no taxpayer dollars will be spent. Hanover Community School Corp. now joins nearly 200 school districts across the country that have filed similar suits in federal court, according to the Wall Street Journal. These school district have made similar allegations of the social media apps causing issues in the classroom and mental-health issues, making them divert resources from education These lawsuits may face a big challenge however, as the social media companies have filed motions to dismiss these suits on the grounds the alleged harm is protected by Section 230, which protects internet companies from being held liable for content that is on their sites. PHOTOS: St. John photographer documents the town VALPARAISO The Porter County Board of Commissioners have opted in to receive additional public health funding through Senate Enrolled Act 4. This is an initiative that gives health departments ongoing funding to analyze the needs in their county, Interim Health Department Administrator Carrie Gschwind said. For next year, the county's cost to support the health department would be about $1.3 million. The Porter County Health Department reported the county currently receives $135,768 a year in funding from the Indiana Department of Health. By opting into SEA 4, the county will receive approximately $1.6 million in additional funding in 2024, increasing total funding to $2.9 million. The health department projects total funding in 2025 to reach nearly $4.2 million. As of Tuesday, 53 counties across Indiana have opted into SEA 4, Gschwind said. Officials hope the increased funding will improve Indiana's current healthcare rankings. Nationally, the state ranks 45th in public health funding. Porter Countys per-capita funding currently stands at $12.50. The national average is $91. At least 60% of funding will be spent on core services including maternal and child health. It will also focus on prevention services relating to chronic disease, trauma and injury, and tobacco use. "Trauma and injury will be the No. 1 reason for childhood deaths. It's obviously a huge thing to continuously address," Dr. Linda Boxum said. "The more we drill these types of safety information to people, the less accidental injuries we'll have." These accidental injuries include drowning and fire arm safety, Boxum said. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, and the second leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 14, according to the CDC. The remaining 40% of funding will be allocated for regulatory services including food protection, pest control, sewage inspections and sanitary inspections. The health department won't try to duplicate services currently offered by partner agencies, but could support those services to ensure they continue. Boxum hopes to partner with the Tobacco Education and Prevention Coalition for Porter County because "vaping is a huge issue with our youth." Board of Commissioners President Jim Biggs, R-North, said the county has been given a huge gift by taxpayers. "It's really going to be important that we all are communicating at every level to make this thing work," he said. Community Healthcare System employee Lisa Kiger said SEA 4 is a "positive for the community." She hopes Community Healthcare and the health department can collaborate in the future with prevention services. Porter County resident Debbie Fray was "elated" about the commissioners' decision. We have issues in Indiana with health. We need to address them, she said. Anything our local health department can do is going to make this a better place to live. Others expressed concern about the decision, including a former Republican candidate for Indiana State Senate District 4, Johannes Poulard. This opens the opportunity for medical tyranny to come into this state, Poulard said. Ruth Vance of Valparaiso said she would hate to see the county cede its authority to the state, due to opting in. Its all too enticing when money is offered to us to take it, but theres always strings attached to that money, she said. Biggs said its important everyone is communicating at every level to ensure the money is properly spent. You have a huge job in front of you, Biggs said referring to the health department. Youre either going to get it right and its going to be the model, or youre going to get it wrong and be the example as to what needs to be done different. CROWN POINT The Crown Point Police Department hosts its National Night Out event from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday at the Crown Point Sportsplex, fields 1,2,3, located at 1313 E. North St. The community event will kick off at 6 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., the Crown Point police and fire departments will take to the fields for a softball game. A K-9 demonstration will follow at 7:45 p.m. A water balloon toss will close out the evenings festivities around 8 p.m. The event will feature free Kona Ice for the first 300 attendees and hot dogs grilled by Crown Point Emergency Management; live music provided by Tom Lounges; booths from various local public safety departments, Starbucks, ADT, the city of Crown Point, the Crown Point Library and the Crown Point Community School Corp.; swag giveaways; and public safety vehicles. Fun Times Cotton Candy will be available for purchase. Were excited for another great National Night Out event, Crown Point Police Chief Ryan S. Patrick said. Last year, we had an overwhelming response from the community. National Night Out has always been a great way for our officers to connect with our residents. Were looking forward to another night of family friendly fun and community. Patrick added the department is grateful for its sponsors, including Centier Bank, Community AutoBrokers, Costco and Lamar Advertising. National Night Out was one of my favorite events as police chief. I love seeing the community come together for a night out with our public safety officials, Crown Point Mayor Pete Land said. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live, according to the NNO website. Thousands of communities from all 50 states, the U.S. territories and military bases worldwide participate on the first Tuesday in August. Texas and select areas celebrate on the first Tuesday in October. Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail Brittany Williams Julian Williams Anthony Terry Benjamin Terry Andrew Wilcox Nolan Sizemore Penny Skertich Daniel Stanford Nicholas Sadzak Elijah Price Joshua Roberts Mary Mazalan Alexander Padgitt John Prenderville Terry Kilburn Jr. Kevin Kizer James Hill Chasity Hunter Clark Johnson Luis Flores Jr. Jeremiah Green Jacques Hargrove Shawn Dalton Angela Cabello Ashley Creason Sean Cunningham Matthew Anderson Isaac Alexander Demond Watt Rudy Vela Ashley Scheidt-King Elijah Sanchez Edward Irons IV Russell Leonard Jaime Rendina Jimmy Hagan Jr. Delilah Hill Daniel Fischer Zeljko Dokic Jamie Donahue Antonio Cervantes Mario Ayala Brittni Campbell Iren Walker Cory Yzaguirre Tywon Smith Antonio Temores Andre Vena Jr. James Schwei Christopher Russell Christin Quiroz Jose Rodriguez Jr. Joey Rollins Ronia Poindexter II Sergio Nunez Tashaye Parker Heather Novreske Beau Mihalek Anthony Mysliwiec Crystal Martinez Renee Hicks Johnny Johnson Racan Mahammad Detrell Grant III Jamari Gray Tanya Driver Selena Cortazar Nikola Djenadic Salvador Alvez III Amanda Bianconi Lorenzo Tecaxco Dayquon Thompson Brittany Wald Paul Winters Eva Santiago Lori Stasinski Arian Stokes Elston Pickford Hannah Richardson Victor Mireles Eric Patrick Corey McFarland Carlos Herrera Ishmael Hunter Benjamin Johnson India Lollis Tomas Hernandez-Orzuna Carlos Gipson Kevin Henderson Consuella Folger Luis Frutos William Galloway Jr. Justin Gaskey Isaiah Escutia Justin Eder William Cheers Alberto Cruz Michael Daoust Lamonte Dixon Terrance Brook Jr. Robert Barwicki Terence Anthony Merit Goings Corey Gray Tumire Dixon Jr. Charles Finnell III James Gallagher Jr. Indira Diaz Perez Jason Dahlstrom William Williams Jonathan Peoples Anthony Talavera Cesar Villicana Marvin Jones Philip Koscielski Brian Moore Jovanny Orduna Jimmy Johnson Luis Duran Contreras Mandy Galvan Harold Cunningham Ryan Bobos Christian Augustine HAMMOND Gas stations in Hammond will be allowed to remain open overnight for now. After discussing the proposed gas station ordinance during multiple committee meetings, the Hammond Common Council chose not to include legislation on their Monday night agenda. Introduced by Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. at the start of the month, the ordinance would force all of the city's 37 gas stations to close from midnight to 5 a.m. The legislation was drafted just a few weeks after a 33-year-old man from Chicago died after being shot around 2 a.m. at the Luke gas station at 5105 State Line Ave. While supporters say the forced closures could curb violent crime, those who oppose the ordinance argue it will push crime elsewhere and cost people their jobs. For the past few weeks the Hammond Common Council has been asking police to provide data showing which stations seem to have the most issues with violent crime, how the number of nighttime incidents compares to daytime incidents and what specific types of crimes are occurring. Shortly before the Monday Common Council meeting, Hammond Chief of Staff Phil Taillon gave councilmembers a stack of police data. The reports listed overnight incidents that occurred at Hammond gas stations, in some cases dating back to 2015. Councilmembers said they needed to sift through the dataset before making any decisions. Councilwoman Katrina Alexander, D-at large, said just by glancing at the reports it was already evident that some gas stations have more issues than others. She said the city needs to focus on addressing the "root cause" of violent crime, noting that Indiana eliminated handgun permit requirements last year. "It's so much bigger than just the gas stations," Alexander said. Alternative solutions could include mandatory security guards, bulletproof glass, removing some cluttered signage from gas stations windows and Hammond PD's new Fusus Program. Businesses and residents can register their security cameras with Fusus, allowing Hammond Police to access the footage when a crime occurs. Councilwoman Janet Venecz, D-at large, who cosponsored the ordinance alongside Councilman Dan Spitale, D-at large, noted that under the proposed legislation gas station owners can petition the Hammond Board of Public Works and Safety for an exception to the mandatory closure. When officers have to patrol the same stations night after night, Taillon said it draws public safety resources away from the rest of the city. "At specific gas stations, things have been going on for a very long time and they (the gas station owners) have not addressed it," Taillon said. "At some point you have to say too many people are getting killed." Jim Witham, who operates Witham Sales and Services and previously owned four gas stations in Hammond, said the forced closure would leave gas stations vulnerable to break-ins. Resident George Stoya said the forced closures could open the city up to costly litigation. The Village of Oak Park, Illinois, which is located immediately west of Chicago, passed an ordinance limiting overnight gas station hours last September. According to the Wednesday Journal, seven gas station owners sued the village, however the case was dismissed. This past January, Illinois State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, who is also the mayor of Calumet City, introduced the Armed Security Protection Act, legislation that would have mandated security guards at all Chicago gas stations, grocery stores, banks and pawn shops. The legislation did not make it out of committee. Gary elected officials have also sought to curb violence at gas stations. Over the past few years, Gary Mayor Jerome Prince and the Common Council have considered legislation that would require gas stations to have armed security guards overnight, but the ordinance has never moved forward. Councilman Barry Tyler Jr. D-3rd, said the council and gas stations owners need to work together to come up with other crime reduction strategies. I kind of see this (the forced closure) as a last resort," Tyler added. PHOTOS: Hammond Progress Edition 2023 Downtown Hammond construction Downtown Hammond construction Downtown Hammond construction Downtown Hammond construction Downtown Hammond construction Downtown Hammond construction Downtown Hammond construction Downtown Hammond construction The coroners findings came more than a week after the Gunnison County Sheriffs Office said that the bodies of the campers had been found near Gold Creek Campground, a discovery that drew national attention as officials sought to identify the victims and determine why they had apparently attempted to camp through a brutal winter. Michael Barnes, the Gunnison County coroner, said on Tuesday that the family members were all from Colorado Springs and had lived off the grid, survived on canned food and sheltered in a tent before a harsh winter or malnourishment most likely led to their deaths. The sisters had been discouraged with the state of the world in recent years and had set out last July to permanently live near Gold Creek Campground in western Colorado, Mr. Barnes said. She went for good intentions, Ms. Jara said in an interview on Tuesday night. She thought she was protecting her son and our sister, Christine, because she didnt want them to get wrapped up in what the world was coming to in her eyes. Rebecca Vances fears intensified during the pandemic, Ms. Jara said, noting that her sister had not believed in conspiracy theories but had simply been fearful of the world and had trusted that a better life awaited them in nature. An Ohio police officer has been fired three weeks after he was recorded on a body camera releasing his police dog on a Black truck driver who had his hands up after he was pulled over, officials said on Wednesday. The Circleville Police Department said in a statement that the actions of the officer, Ryan Speakman, did not meet the standards and expectations we hold for our police officers. Officer Speakman was fired, the statement said, even though Circlevilles Use of Force Review Board determined that the Police Departments policy for the use of police dogs was followed in the apprehension and arrest of the truck driver, Jadarrius Rose, on July 4. The board, however, does not have the authority to recommend discipline, the statement said. Shallow Creek Kennels, the Pennsylvania-based K-9 facility that trained the dog involved in the episode, also affirmed that its training protocols were followed, the statement said. On the eve of Hunter Bidens court appearance to enter into a plea deal for misdemeanor tax crimes that would allow him to avoid prison time, House Republicans and conservative groups sought to intervene in the case, urging a judge to throw out the agreement he reached with prosecutors. The highly unusual legal maneuvering which experts said was unlikely to succeed illustrated the lengths that House Republicans and their allied groups have been willing to go to as they have tried to use Mr. Bidens legal and personal troubles to inflict political damage on his father, President Biden. Representative Jason Smith of Missouri, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, filed a brief in Federal District Court in Wilmington, Del., where Hunter Bidens plea deal is to be considered by a judge on Wednesday. The committee has heard testimony from two Internal Revenue Service investigators who claim to be whistle-blowers and have told the panel that the younger Mr. Biden received preferential treatment from the Justice Department. Mr. Smiths brief asked the judge to consider the testimony in deciding whether to approve the agreement. Read Your Way Around the World is a series exploring the globe through books. In American fiction, my state is code for outpost. Maine is where you send a character you want to get rid of, someone who goes off to raise goats, farm oysters, prep for the apocalypse or write a novel. Apart from California, I can think of no other state in the Union that lives as strongly in the national collective imagination as a place to play out a festering dream. I was in my mid-20s, waitressing on an island off the coast of Rockland, Maine, when the actor William Hurt ultrafamous, at the height of his career sat down in my section. Id heard rumors that morning that he was on island, as they say, on a solo soul-searching sail up the coast and that his navigational equipment had broken down. Hed come to the nearest harbor for help. That was my first glimpse of the power of Maines particular allure. Id grown up in Massachusetts, and no one ever searched for their soul there. The standard fantasy is often coastal and involves fog, wet rocks and lobster boats rumbling out at dawn. Our shoreline is vast, over 3,000 miles of it, with hundreds of peninsulas and more than 4,000 islands. But Maine is not all coast. It is farms and mill towns and forests, small cities and suburbs and strip malls that look like those anywhere else in the country, except for the pointed trees off in the distance. Some extraordinary literature has come out of this state, from all regions. Reading and writing are deeply valued up here, and we have a big, passionate literary community. Even our governor is a poet. Here are some suggestions to start with, but I barely scratch the surface with this list. News / Local by Staff reporter EXILED independent presidential candidate Saviour Kasukuwere has demanded that the Zanu-PF government must release all political prisoners, and pledged to act on the issue if elected into office on August 23.Kasukuwere made the pledge when launching his election manifesto on Monday. He became the first presidential candidate to make the pledge ahead of next month's polls.Kasukuwere said Zimbabwe did not need draconian laws such as the Criminal (Codification and Reform) Act also known as the Patriot Act.The former Zanu-PF commissar also said the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) Amendment Bill needed to be kept away from the country's statutes."I Saviour Kasukuwere pledge to you on being elected by the voter as President to pay immediate attention to the following; halting proceedings on the PVOs Bill and Patriot Act, reforming Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and fighting corruption."Expediting the reforming of the State enterprises and government institutions."Mnangagwa recently signed into law the "Patriot Act", which has been condemned as one of the most draconian and unconstitutional laws in the land.President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently signed into law the "Patriot Act",According to the Act, convicted Zimbabweans face severe penalties such as death and revocation of citizenship.Zimbabweans can be punished for simply meeting agents of hostile foreign governments.The PVOs Bill, passed by the Senate in February, is awaiting Mnangagwa's assent.Once signed into law, government will be equipped with wide-ranging powers to interfere in the operations of civil society organisations.In February, United Nations experts pleaded with Mnangagwa to reject the Bill.Critics, human rights groups and the opposition say the Bill will severely restrict civic space and the right to freedom of association in the country.Mnangagwa has, however, said he would not hesitate to sign the Bill into law once it lands on his desk.The exiled former Cabinet minister said his manifesto was anchored on the vision of a functional, peaceful and prosperous nation."It's time to reconcile and put our past differences aside and embrace one another while acknowledging our failures and repairing the damage that our acts of omission and commission have caused."The Gukurahundi question requires permanent resolution, and a peaceful closure, as with other past conflicts in our history," Kasukuwere said."I dream of a functional country at peace with itself, where a social contract bridges the trust deficit between the government and its citizens."Our country needs a capable, accountable, transparent and responsible leadership which implements the vision of the Zimbabwe we want. It's time to renew the country's leadership, enshrine a new national vision with aspirations to restore Zimbabwe's glory."Reflecting on Kasukuwere's manifesto, political commentator Romeo Chasara said: "The success of his campaign will depend on the practicality of implementing these ambitious proposals and gaining support from key stakeholders." Alison Rose, the chief executive of NatWest, one of Britains largest banks, resigned on Wednesday, just weeks after becoming embroiled in a dispute over the closure of the bank account of Nigel Farage, who is best known as a champion of Britains exit from the European Union. The departure of Ms. Rose, the first woman to lead a major British bank, who had been charged with transforming an institution marred by scandal, was swift. Less than a month ago, Mr. Farage, the former leader of the UK Independence Party, said his account at Coutts, the private bank owned by NatWest, had been closed because of his political views. A tumultuous saga followed, including an inaccurate BBC News story based on information from a source within the bank, the revelation of internal Coutts documents about the account that mostly substantiated Mr. Farages claim, and then multiple apologies to Mr. Farage including by Ms. Rose, who admitted on Tuesday she had disclosed information about Mr. Farages account to the BBC. The apology and a promise to review the banks policies were not enough to ease the pressure on Ms. Rose. Reports late Tuesday that the government, which has a 39 percent stake in the bank, was significantly concerned about Ms. Roses leadership seemed to seal her fate. Before dawn, the bank announced her immediate departure. The News The White House denounced Fox News this week over comments by one of its hosts, Greg Gutfeld, that some Jews had to be useful as a means for survival in Nazi concentration camps, calling his remarks an obscenity. Mr. Gutfeld, who took over the 10 p.m. time slot last week as part of a reshuffling of programming at Fox, made the comments during a debate on The Five about Floridas new African American history curriculum. New instructions for middle school students, championed by the states governor, Ron DeSantis, say students should be instructed that slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit, a depiction that has drawn widespread rebuke. During an exchange with Jessica Tarlov, a co-host who equated the new history standards to saying Jews derived some benefit from being imprisoned during the Holocaust, Mr. Gutfeld asked her about the work of Viktor Frankl, a Jewish psychiatrist who wrote about his struggle for survival at Auschwitz and other Nazi camps. Did you ever read Mans Search for Meaning? Mr. Gutfeld said. Vik Frankl talks about how you had to survive in a concentration camp by having skills. You had to be useful. Utility. Utility kept you alive. Ms. Tarlov did not address Mr. Gutfelds question directly, instead saying she was concerned about middle school children being taught what Florida had set in its new curriculum. A White House spokesman, Andrew Bates, released a statement on Tuesday condemning Fox News for broadcasting Mr. Gutfelds comments, calling them a horrid, dangerous, extreme lie that insults the memory of the millions of Americans who suffered from the evil of enslavement. He added, There was nothing good about slavery; there was nothing good about the Holocaust. Fox News has not commented on Mr. Gutfelds statement. A new analysis of data from a large clinical trial of healthy older adults found higher rates of brain bleeding among those who took daily low-dose aspirin, and no significant protection against stroke. The analysis, published Wednesday in the medical journal JAMA, is the latest evidence that low-dose aspirin, which slows the clotting action of platelets, may not be appropriate for people who do not have any history of heart conditions or warning signs of stroke. Older people prone to falls, which can cause brain bleeds, should be particularly cautious about taking aspirin, the findings suggest. The new data supports the recommendation of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, finalized last year, that low-dose aspirin should not be prescribed for preventing a first heart attack or stroke in healthy older adults. We can be very emphatic that healthy people who are not on aspirin and do not have multiple risk factors should not be starting it now, said Dr. Randall Stafford, a medical professor and epidemiologist at Stanford University who was not involved in the study. You take chickpeas, hard and dry, and boil them until their skins loosen and they reveal themselves, tender little hulks with souls of butter. Maybe you think of the 13th-century Persian poet Rumis parable of a chickpea that rises from the pots seething depths to accuse the cook of torture only for the cook to reply calmly that this is the path to a higher destiny: to become food and mingle with life. Then you mash the chickpeas in a swirl of tahini, olive oil, vinegar, spices and herbs, and fold in a crush of nuts, seeds and preserved lemon, sour-bright and tasting of aged sun. This should yield a spread thick enough to hold its shape when picked up with a piece of bread, the food historian Nawal Nasrallah writes on her blog, In My Iraqi Kitchen. For much of human civilization, recipes were rarely written down, and of those that were, almost none have survived. You might recognize this as hummus. Notably absent from the recipe is garlic, despite its ubiquity in the cooking of the Arab world at the time. Its not certain exactly when garlic was introduced to the dish: Nasrallah notes that there is no documentation of hummus recipes after the 14th century until the late 19th century. A Lebanese cookbook from 1885 names garlic among the ingredients, as if it was already a given. For Zayan, a Frenchman of Egyptian and Syrian descent, the history, however incomplete, is inextricable from the recipe. He often returns to the theme of origins and the vagaries of fate. Last fall, for instance, a five-week festival at the Invisible Dog devoted to the union of art and food featured cakes, by Spencer Merolla, made of coal ashes and a photograph, by JR, of people sharing a picnic on opposite sides of the border fence separating the United States and Mexico. Zayans Jewish parents were expelled from Egypt in 1956 his mother from Cairo, his father from Alexandria and later met in France. When asked how his family ended up in Paris, he answered simply, Because that was the first train we could take. Zayan served the medieval hummus, somewhat cheekily, at a meal otherwise dedicated to garlic, as part of the Salle a Manger dinner series that he hosts at his apartment, down the street from the Invisible Dog. Garlic can hide other flavors, he tells me. Here, instead, the nuts he uses hazelnuts, for more butteriness, and pistachios, with their hint of camphor fortify the chickpeas in their earthy heft, so close to the richness of meat. My friends nanny is good friends with my own nanny. Over the years, my nanny has told me about instances when my friend has mistreated nannies she has hired withholding food, refusing payment for extra work and reneging on benefits she agreed to. This friend displays nothing but lovely behavior toward me and our other friends, but knowing how she treats her nannies is increasingly disturbing me, to the point where I dont think I can be friends with her and not say anything about what I know. This friend introduced me to her circle of friends a few years ago, and its because of her that I am part of a great group of women. Should I intervene and risk her behaving even worse toward her nannies and creating a rift in the friend circle? Or do I say nothing and continue with business as usual? Name Withheld From the Ethicist: People are perfectly capable of being civil to those they regard as their equals while treating those they regard as their inferiors with contempt. Indeed, the existence of social hierarchies makes this a common phenomenon. Speaking up, as you recognize, may have social costs for you. Lets put aside, for a moment, how your friend will react. Others in her circle may be anxious about what the people in their employ will say about them. They might feel you have betrayed your friendship, even betrayed a kind of class solidarity. But we should care if our friends behave badly, and we should try to encourage them to behave better, not least to protect those they are wronging. The greater problem, of course, is that if you bring up what youve heard with your friend, she will know that her nanny has been complaining about her and may retaliate. Because her nanny is vulnerable here, make sure that whatever you do has her approval. (That may involve communicating with her through your nanny.) You suggest that this has happened with a series of nannies, which raises the question of how much longer the current one will be around. If she doesnt want you to speak up, you could wait until the next transition. If thats not going to happen soon, you may feel you have to distance yourself from your friend without saying why. Abusive behavior makes someone unappealing company. Your letter points to a broader issue: There are relatively few protections for domestic workers in our country. Ten states and a number of cities have laws establishing legal rights for them. Some of your friends conduct might violate these laws. If you live in one of these jurisdictions, you could give your friends nanny the phone number of the office in the labor department that investigates such cases. But this line of approach probably makes sense only if the nanny is ready to move on. To simulate that feel, the Dreamhouses in the film are 23 percent smaller than they would be, as are the cars and roads, Greenwood said. When you scale the house down, you make the actors like Margot and Ryan seem bigger, which makes the whole thing seem toy. Instead of adapting the Dreamhouses to feel more real, Greenwood and Spencer played up their surreality. When Barbie opens her refrigerator, most of the foods are simply flat cartoon decals. Her oversize cup contains no liquid why should it, when Barbies dont drink? and the size of her toothbrush is even more exaggerated, since its the kind of prop a child might find included in a dollhouse. Once youve done that once or twice, those moments of dollness, it makes the whole thing believable, Spencer said. With few walls to speak of, Barbie Dreamhouses are the definition of open plan, which presented its own logistical problems. Youre designing something that isnt there, in effect, said Greenwood, who drew inspiration from museum dioramas to conjure layers of background that would help fill each shot. Since our main Barbies live in a cul-de-sac in fact, its the dot of the i in the cursive roads that spell Barbieland each Dreamhouse looks out into several other Dreamhouses, while the blue sky and mauve mountains that surround them were hand-painted onto an 800-foot-long backdrop meant to recall old-fashioned soundstage musicals. If it feels artificial, thats the point: Why preserve the fourth wall for homes that barely have any walls to begin with? Its fake-fake, which is perfect, Greenwood said. It was almost Brechtian, the way Greta approached it. Bo Goldman, one of Hollywoods most admired screenwriters, who took home Oscars for his work on One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest (1975) and Melvin and Howard (1980), died on Tuesday in Helendale, Calif. He was 90. A son-in-law, the director Todd Field, confirmed the death. He did not specify a cause. Mr. Goldman was struggling to make a living as a writer until the director Milos Forman saw the script he had written for a project called Shoot the Moon his first screenplay and, impressed, invited him to take a crack at adapting Ken Keseys novel One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest for the screen. The resulting movie, which starred Jack Nicholson as a rebellious new patient who disrupts a psychiatric ward, came out in 1975 and was a career maker. Mr. Goldman and Lawrence Hauben, who shared screenwriting credit, won the Oscar for best screenplay adapted from other material; the movie was also named best picture and earned Oscars for Mr. Forman, Mr. Nicholson and Louise Fletcher, who played the fierce Nurse Ratched. Even then I hung my head, Mr. Goldman wrote in a 1981 essay for The New York Times about the insecurities of a writers life. After all, I had adapted somebody elses work; was it really mine? Lisa Zornberg, a lawyer in private practice and a former senior Manhattan federal prosecutor, will return to public service as chief counsel to Mayor Eric Adams, the mayor said Wednesday. Ms. Zornberg, 52, who will assume the post next month, succeeds Brendan R. McGuire, who has been chief counsel since Mr. Adams took office in January 2022. Ms. Zornbergs appointment comes as Mr. Adams is trying to develop policies to cope with a continuing influx of thousands of migrants, a soaring population of homeless residents and sharp criticism of New York Citys management of its troubled jails on Rikers Island, which have been beset by violence and self-harm among detainees. Just last week, Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, called for an outside authority to take control of Rikers, and a judge, citing the jails dangerous conditions, questioned whether the city and its Correction Department could run them safely. The mayor has defended his commitment to turning around the department and said the jails have improved. Three weeks after two firefighters from his city died battling a blaze aboard an Italian cargo ship, the mayor of Newark said he wanted to create a unit within the fire department that would be specially trained to respond to emergencies in the citys giant commercial port. The mayor, Ras J. Baraka, said on Wednesday that he had met with top officials of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey this week to discuss how to be better prepared for a fire aboard a ship at Port Newark. He said that the U.S. Coast Guard would also be involved in that planning. We are going to get people from each of these groups to come together and figure out how do we put together a unit that responds particularly to issues that take place on the port, so were not just ringing the bell and sending everybody that we have to a fire, Mr. Baraka said. We want some particular people who are particularly trained in specialized kind of instances to be present as well. A Long Island restaurateur who was a key witness in a public corruption investigation was sentenced to four years in prison Wednesday, ending an episode that churned up allegations of endemic wrongdoing that stretched across New York City and one of its most populous suburban areas. Harendra Singh, 64, had pleaded guilty in 2016 to federal charges that he bribed a former Nassau County executive, Edward P. Mangano, who was once a powerful figure in local Republican politics. He testified for 17 days in two trials against Mr. Mangano, who is now serving 12 years in prison. On Wednesday, Judge Joan M. Azrack of the Eastern District of New York called Mr. Singh a master of pay to play. But she credited his help to prosecutors, which revealed a dark nexus of politics and business. The extent and nature of his cooperation is possibly unmatched by any defendant in a corruption investigation, Judge Azrack said. She also noted Mr. Singhs age and health problems, as well as the support of his family, commending him for raising three successful sons. His wife, Ruby, sat in the gallery. News / Local by Staff reporter Growing attacks on Zimbabwe journalists pic.twitter.com/iShgRvLY1H Bulawayo24 News (@Bulawayo24News) July 26, 2023 Zimbabwean media advocacy groups have expressed serious concerns over the number of growing attacks on journalists ahead of the 23 August general elections.This comes after the recent attack on three Bulawayo journalists by Zanu-PF activists.Zimbabwe's operating environment is hostile to media freedom and journalists who demand answers and accountability from public officials and other people in powerful positions. At least not at the times they actually appeared. The presence of the porpoises throughout the year suggests that some of them are getting used to higher levels of disturbance or are so hungry they endure the noise to find food. And they are eating machines. They can go only about 12 hours without taking on food. They look for fish that are abundant in the harbor. Harbor porpoises also tend to be present where levels of a particular type of chlorophyll are higher, according to a paper by Rekdahl and other scientists who worked on the project. The paper was published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. Harbor porpoises like to swim in small groups, Rekdahl said. They are typically about five feet long and weigh about 130 pounds. They are hard to see, she said, and bob to the surface quickly. Earlier studies had determined that about 60 percent of the harbor porpoises in the New York area came from the Bay of Fundy in Canada or the Gulf of Maine. Smaller proportions come from Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada and from Greenland. They come into bays and estuaries for part of the year, then move offshore, Rekdahl said. They do move around quite a bit, but the fact that they do this in bays and estuaries means they do come into contact with humans. Increased levels of underwater noise can drive them away or at least reduce the time they spend foraging, which could affect the size of the population. Harbor porpoises are not listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, but New York State considers them a species of special concern. The most recent verified sightings in the New York area were in 2019, though they were farther offshore than the area covered by the listening devices set out by the conservation society team. This is not mere speculation. Existing agreements among the coalition are explicit about these goals and legislation reflecting this agenda has already been introduced. Examples are numerous, so consider the following from the past few weeks: a proposal to expand the use of admission committees in small towns that effectively prevent Arabs and other minorities from living in predominantly Jewish municipalities; a law that would authorize the minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, an extreme right-wing politician convicted of supporting the Jewish terrorist organization Kach, to detain citizens he and other officials believe pose real harm to public security; and expansive changes in media regulations that would politicize the agency in charge of television broadcasts while extending benefits to the pro-Netanyahu Channel 14. These planned steps would join legislation that has already passed. Two notable examples are the gargantuan transfer of funds to ultra-Orthodox schools and educational institutions, few of which teach the core secular curriculum (math, English, basic science) needed to assimilate in general society, and a law that granted Mr. Ben-Gvir more control over the police in determining its policies and its priorities, including investigations. To this, we should add subtler but no less drastic changes to the civil service, once heralded as professional and nonpartisan. The government seems intent on introducing a system of spoils, giving jobs to party supporters. Political firings and hirings have expanded, with no meaningful scrutiny. Since January, most of those who have taken to the streets did so in the belief that the government is set on a path to violate the most basic compact between the state and its citizens and that their country could cease to be a democracy. But something deeper is also at work. It is not only the possible breakdown of Israeli democracy, flawed as it may be. It is the unraveling of Israels basic identity, that of a Jewish and democratic state. Across Israel, there is growing alarm about the rise of religion in the public sphere and the privileging of Jewish interests inside Israel and in the occupied territories. In a country that devotes more and more resources to maintain the occupation and the settlements; in a country with no separation of religion and state, where marriages are subject to religious law and allowed only for heterosexual couples; and in a country that allocates tremendous resources to religious institutions, where the ultra-Orthodox do not serve in the military and their participation in the labor market is extremely low, insisting that the very textural fabric of Israeli society is both Jewish and democratic is becoming less and less convincing. The battle in the streets is not just about the constitutional overhaul. It is whether Israel can have a future as a liberal democracy. For that future to happen, a new social contract for Israel and Israelis is needed. In the past seven months, Ive spoken to hundreds of concerned citizens. With almost no exception, every meeting ends with a plea that I provide some hope. So here goes: Since its establishment, Israel has become only more fragmented and polarized. And yet the past seven months of civic mobilization and democratic awakening have been nothing short of a miracle, bringing people together in a way that was once inconceivable. Competing partisan views on how we see men and masculinity are emerging as key factors in the run-up to the 2024 election. Two books published last year, very different in tone Senator Josh Hawleys Manhood: The Masculine Virtues America Needs and Richard Reevess Of Boys and Men have focused public attention on this debate. Hawley approached the subject from a decidedly conservative point of view. No menace to this nation is greater than the collapse of American manhood, he declared, placing full blame on the American left. In fact they have helped drive it. In power centers they control, places like the press, the academy and politics, they blame masculinity for Americas woes. Hawley added: More and more young men are living at home with their parents, apparently incapable of coping with life on their own. As for jobs, fewer and fewer young men have them. In 2015, nearly a quarter of men between the ages of 21 and 30, historically a cohort strongly attached to work and the labor force, had no work to speak of. These men had not engaged in labor during the previous 12 months. At all. Reeves painted a similarly downbeat picture of the state of men but contended that the solutions lie in an expansion of the liberal agenda. Men account for two out of three deaths of despair either from a suicide or overdose, Reeves wrote, and young men are five times more likely to commit suicide than young women. The wages of the typical man are lower today than in 1979. Boys and men of color, and those from poorer families, are suffering most. In part, this reflects a dramatic reversal of the gender gap in education. In fact, the gender gap in college degrees awarded is wider today than it was in the early 1970s, just in the opposite direction. But there is also a big gap in what might be called personal agency: Men are now only about half as likely as women to study abroad or sign up for the Peace Corps, much less likely to buy their own home as a single adult and half as likely to initiate a divorce. In advanced economies today, women are propelling themselves through life. Men are drifting. Reeves and Hawley had quite dissimilar causal explanations for this phenomenon as do so many Republicans and Democrats. Lets take a look at a July survey, conducted by Ipsos for Politico, The Best Way to Find Out if Someone Is a Trump Voter? Ask Them What They Think About Manhood. If youre feeling bewildered by all the claims and counterclaims of politicization, youre not alone. Take the F.B.I.s probe of ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign, which is still being hashed out in the halls of Congress seven years later: In February, Democratic lawmakers demanded an investigation of the investigators who investigated the investigators who were previously investigated for their investigation of a transnational plot to interfere in a presidential election. Got that? But even if the charge of politicized justice is levied by a bad-faith buffoon like Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, the chairman of the weaponization subcommittee, it is a profoundly important one. There is no simple way to separate politics completely from law enforcement. The Justice Department will always be led by a political appointee, and most state and local prosecutors are elected. If Americans are going to have faith in the fairness of their justice system, every effort must be taken to assure the public that political motives are not infecting prosecutors charging decisions. That means extremely clear rules for investigators and prosecutors and eternal vigilance for the rest of us. At the same time, politically powerful people must be held to the same rules as everyone else, even if they happen to be of a different party from those investigating them. So how to distinguish an investigation or prosecution based solely on the facts from one motivated improperly by politics? Sometimes the investigators make it easy by just coming out and admitting that its really political. Mr. McCarthy did that in 2015, when he bragged on Fox News that the House Benghazi hearings had knocked a seemingly unbeatable Hillary Clinton down in the polls. More recently, James Comer of Kentucky, who heads the House committee that is relentlessly investigating Hunter Biden, made a similar argument about the effect of the committees work on President Bidens political fortunes. (Mr. Comer tried to walk back his comment a day later.) More often, though, it takes some work to determine whether an investigation or prosecution is on the level. While diamonds might look pretty perched atop a ring, the rocks they hail from venture to Earths surface in a journey thats anything but glamorous. Millions of years ago, some of our planets strangest and most violent volcanic outbursts dredged from deep underground most of the diamonds mined today in the form of blue-tinged rocks called kimberlites. Unlike the volcanoes that more commonly pop up near the thinner edges of continents, the eruptions that produced most kimberlites came through the thick, stable continental cores known as cratons. Kimberlite eruptions start near the cratonic roots, at least 75 miles underground, and race upward at tens of feet per second a fiery fury driven by an abundance of carbon dioxide and water. Its like rocket fuel, said Thomas Gernon, a geologist at the University of Southampton in England who has long studied kimberlites. The turbulent flow punches a carrot-shaped pipe through the ground, ripping out chunks of deep subsurface rock, including some that are studded with diamonds. But existing research still has a giant diamond-shaped hole: Why do kimberlites form? A new study led by Dr. Gernon and published Wednesday in the journal Nature points to the ancient roots of these eruptions. He and his colleagues report that the breakup of ancient supercontinents like Pangaea and Rodinia caused deep disruptions in the flow of the mantle beneath Earths crust, setting off the blasts. A major physics journal is retracting a two-year-old scientific paper that described the transformations of a chemical compound as it was squeezed between two pieces of diamond. Such an esoteric finding and retraction would not typically garner much attention. But one of the leaders of this research is Ranga P. Dias, a professor in the physics and mechanical engineering departments at the University of Rochester in New York who made a much bigger scientific splash earlier this year, touting the discovery of a room-temperature superconductor. At the same time, accusations of research misconduct have swirled around Dr. Dias, and his superconductor findings remain largely unconfirmed. The retracted paper does not involve superconductivity but rather describes how a relatively mundane material, manganese sulfide, shifts its behavior from an insulator to a metal and then back to an insulator under increasing pressure. In the briefing room, Mr. Ateba joined a class of reporters who are allowed on the premises but dont have permanent seats, often jockeying for back-row seats that stay empty when other journalists dont show up. These reporters are rarely called upon during briefings. (Mr. Ateba currently has a hard pass, which confers regular access to White House grounds. In May, the White House announced that it was tightening requirements for the credential a move that Mr. Ateba and others in the media saw as a response to his behavior.) Mr. Ateba grew frustrated that he didnt get to ask a question during the first months of the Biden administration, he said, and he asked to meet privately with Ms. Psaki. (Ms. Psaki did not comment for this story.) After the meeting, which Mr. Ateba recalled as being cordial, Ms. Psaki did call on him during a briefing, on Sept. 1, 2021. Mr. Ateba asked a friendly question about whether Mr. Bidens detractors should apologize for calling him sleepy. What followed, Mr. Ateba said, were several amicable months. Then, in November 2021, the Biden administration banned travelers from eight southern African nations from traveling to the United States over fears of the newly identified Omicron variant of the coronavirus. The move drew criticism from public health experts, who said it was unsupported by science and appeared to scapegoat Africa, as the variant was already known to be spreading widely in Asia and Europe. In press briefings soon after, Mr. Ateba asked Dr. Anthony Fauci, and later in a combative exchange with Ms. Psaki, about the ban, which he called racist. You know thats false, Mr. Ateba said, accusing Ms. Psaki of inflating the number of cases in South Africa. Its not effective to scream over your colleagues in here, Ms. Psaki said. Ms. Psaki and Mr. Ateba met privately again. As their briefing room exchange made the rounds on Twitter, Fox News invited Mr. Ateba to appear on Tucker Carlson Tonight. I wondered, is it in my best interest? Mr. Ateba recalled. Do I want to do this? Is anyone trying to use me? Ultimately, he concluded that the condescension was too much, and that it seemed to him that Ms. Psaki was happy to entertain his questions when they were deemed friendly, but quick to dismiss him when he asked a tough question that was squarely on his beat. He went on the air. On Dec. 3, he told the fill-in host, Jesse Watters, that if Mr. Trump had passed a travel ban only against African countries, he would have been excoriated as racist. Whats the difference between Russias internet before and after the invasion of Ukraine? The answer: a thirtyfold increase in censorship. That was the finding of a report published on Wednesday by Citizen Lab, a group from the University of Toronto that studies online censorship in authoritarian countries. The new report was one of the first attempts to quantify the extent of Russian internet censorship since the war began in February 2022. To compile its findings, Citizen Lab analyzed more than 300 court orders from the Russian government against Vkontakte, one of the countrys largest social media sites, demanding that it remove accounts, posts, videos and other content. Before the war, Russias government issued internet takedown orders to Vkontakte, known as VK, once every 50 days on average. After the conflict began, that number jumped to nearly once a day, according to Citizen Lab. Often the court orders focused on getting VK to remove news from independent media sites, as well as posts and accounts that expressed opposition to Russian President Vladimir V. Putin or the war. The government also used keyword blocking to censor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer terms on the site, the report said. It can help to know what airlines your carrier partners with, in case you need to be rebooked on another airline. In addition to partnerships like code shares, when an airline operates a flight on behalf of another, or alliances, most airlines also have relationships known as interline agreements that allow them to transfer passengers to flights on other carriers. This information isnt always readily available online; experts suggest calling an airlines customer service for more guidance. Be aware that if you have a ticket with a low-cost airline, like Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines or Spirit Airlines, you are most likely out of luck: They generally do not rebook on any other carrier. Go deeper than the dashboard The Transportation Departments airline cancellation and delay dashboard is a helpful resource that spells out what 10 of the larger domestic airlines offer passengers. But this dashboard is not your only tool. Customer-service plans for specific airlines (located on their websites, and with links from the D.O.T. dashboard) have further detail about passenger entitlements. For example, if your United Airlines flight is canceled because of reasons within the carriers control, such as understaffing, and you are rerouted to a flight that departs the next day, you are entitled to a voucher for food, a nearby partner hotel and transportation. If a room is not available at the airlines hotel, and you must find another accommodation, United will reimburse you for reasonable hotel costs. Theres nothing on the United customer-service site indicating that food receipts or taxi receipts will be reimbursed. Two people jumped out of an apartment complex window in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco to escape a fire that was spreading in their unit on Monday. One of them was seriously injured and taken to a hospital burn center, officials said. That terrifying blaze was probably caused by an overheated e-scooter battery that firefighters later spotted plugged in to a charger near the units front door, according to Capt. Jonathan Baxter, a spokesman for the San Francisco Fire Department. It was the 24th fire in San Francisco this year that has been linked to rechargeable batteries, he told me. The city isnt alone. Fires associated with rechargeable batteries have had a devastating effect in New York City, ripping through buildings including public housing complexes and luxury towers and have killed more than 20 people there since 2021. Fortunately, were not seeing it to that same degree here in San Francisco, Baxter told me. However, one fire is one too many. News / Local by Staff reporter President Emmerson Mnangagwa hired a private jet from China to fly him to Russia on Tuesday at an estimated cost of nearly US$700,000.Mnangagwa, attending the Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg, chartered a luxuriously fitted Airbus A320-232 (CJ) Prestige owned by Deer Jet headquartered in Beijing. The jet bearing registration B-8415, has recently flown the Chinese foreign minister to Afghanistan and Pakistan.The government is struggling to pay public sector workers a decent wage but recently bought a US$54 million 12-seater Falcon X7 for the president. It was deemed too small for Mnangagwa's entourage of over two dozen people including his large security, businesspeople and foreign office officials.Mnangagwa's lavish jet purchase and splurge on chartering the Chinese jet come as Zimbabwe's hospitals are without medicines and the country is US$9 billion in debt.A quotation by Paramount Business Jets for a similar aircraft says it costs US$18,600 per flying hour. And on its website, Deer Jet says it starts charging from the positioning flight Beijing to Harare and then the round trip to the destination and back.A direct flight between Beijing and Harare is 14 hours (US$260,000) while a flight from Harare to St Petersburg is just over 11 hours. For a round trip, this would have set back the taxpayer by US$409,200 for a total of about US$670,000.Mnangagwa has previously chartered private jets from the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and Azerbaijan for his foreign trips, drawing criticism from the opposition.Yuri Ushakov, Russian president Vladimir Putin's top foreign policy adviser, said on Wednesday that 21 heads of state and government would attend the summit in St Petersburg a drop from 43 at the first Russia-Africa summit in 2019.The Kremlin has complained about western pressure to stop African leaders attending the summit.The list of notable absentees includes the leaders of several big African countries, including Nigeria's Bola Tinubu and Kenya's William Ruto, as well as Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to senior officials from those countries.Some of Africa's largest economies are sending heads of state, including Egypt's Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Senegal's Macky Sall, while Ethiopia's prime minister Abiy Ahmed will also attend. The list also includes countries such as Mali and the Central African Republic that are clients of the Wagner paramilitary group, which Russia says will continue to deploy in the region despite its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin's failed mutiny last month.But although South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa will lead an African initiative aiming to broker an end to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, one of the members of the delegation who met Putin last month Zambia's president Hakainde Hichilema is also skipping the summit, while five countries will not be represented at all."Despite the backlash from western countries and the pressure they imposed, which was at times very fierce, we are still holding the second Russia-Africa summit in this situation," Ushakov said, according to Interfax. "The Africans' participation confirms their determination to strengthen ties with our country, whatever the circumstances."Russia's invasion of Ukraine and recent decision to pull out of a deal allowing Kyiv to export its grain via its Black Sea ports has divided opinion in Africa, where many countries have longstanding ties with Moscow dating back to the Soviet era. The heat wave that has scorched much of the American South and Southwest is now spreading through the Midwest, bringing temperatures above 100 degrees, dangerous conditions for millions of people and pleas from state and local officials to avoid spending time outdoors. The extreme heat and humidity was expected to spread misery across the region for several days, meteorologists said, warning that there was also a risk of tornadoes in Indiana and Michigan. In cities like St. Louis; Wichita, Kan.; and Kansas City, Mo., temperatures could be 10 to 20 degrees above normal, and heat index readings, which consider both temperature and humidity, will reach into the 100s. And the blistering weather arrived just as another health menace swept in: Canadian wildfire smoke that has once again fouled the air over parts of the Midwest. Public health authorities in Detroit encouraged residents to go to libraries and recreation centers to avoid the double whammy of high heat and unhealthy air. Each morning, Rickquita Monroe, 34, and Curby Monroe, 32, wake up beneath an overpass in downtown Orlando, Fla. Several other people are usually spread out beside them on the sidewalks lining either side of the five-lane road. Throughout the night, they count on gusts of wind from passing traffic for relief from the thick, increasingly blistering Florida heat. It is especially dangerous to Ms. Monroe, who has a seizure disorder that is exacerbated by high temperatures. I feel like Im in hell, Ms. Monroe said. Its that hot. The Monroes are among hundreds of thousands of Americans who are homeless and unsheltered during what signs indicate will be one of the hottest summers on record. Florida has the third largest homeless population in the nation after California and New York, according to national tallies from 2022. Rent in major Florida cities has soared in recent years. Average rent has jumped 44.7 percent in Orlando since before the pandemic, according to data from Zillow. Critics have said for years that the century-old practice perpetuates privilege, and a handful of colleges, including Amherst and Johns Hopkins, have recently stopped using the preferences. Others, including the University of California system, the University of Georgia and Texas A&M University, ended the practice after they were pressured by lawsuits and ballot initiatives to stop using affirmative action, according to a Century Foundation analysis. Why do colleges use them? Colleges say that legacy preferences help create an intergenerational community on campuses and grease the wheels for donations, which can be used for financial aid. Some college leaders have said that legacy preferences play a small role in admissions decisions and that the students who are admitted under the system are highly qualified. A Harvard committee expressed worry in 2018 that no longer considering whether an applicants parent had attended Harvard could lead to diminished donations from alumni financial support that helps the diversity and excellence of the Colleges student body. Jeremiah Quinlan, the dean of undergraduate admissions at Yale, said at a legislative hearing last year that a state ban on legacy admissions would undermine academic freedom and that he was skeptical that such a move would have a material effect on the number of low-income students or those from underrepresented groups. The stereotype of how many Miamians speak involves a sing-songy rhythm with a heavy-sounding L and a generous sprinkling of Spanglish. But what if the conversational language of South Florida were more than a lively accent? What if it were a distinct regional dialect of American English? Phillip M. Carter, a linguistics professor at Florida International University, argues that it already is. Miami English, he calls it. And he is on a mission to destigmatize it. This is probably the most important bilingual situation in the Americas today, Dr. Carter said. More than 60 years of steady immigration from Spanish-speaking countries have heavily influenced the local Englishs vowel system (Miami residents often speak English with Spanish vowel sounds), grammatical structure and lexicon, he explained: English is influencing Spanish, but Spanish is also influencing English. The result is a version of English that is just as worthy of recognition as other widely accepted dialects, Dr. Carter said, such as the ones spoken in New York or in the American South. A wildfire in southern Oregon that started over the weekend was so intense that it disrupted 911 services and burned dozens of homes, which officials were not able to reach for days. The Golden fire, which started on Saturday, damaged an estimated six miles of fiber-optic cable and more than 100 power poles, Lake County officials said on Tuesday. The county is on Oregons border with California and Nevada. We have state and federal resources helping us through this issue to get everything restored as quickly as possible, Daniel Tague, the Lake County emergency manager, said in a statement. We hope to have a temporary fix in the works. For now, Lake County emergency calls are being rerouted to Klamath County, where all 911 calls were being dispatched to the appropriate agencies. President Biden has quietly ordered the U.S. government to begin sharing evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine with the International Criminal Court in The Hague, according to officials familiar with the matter, signaling a major shift in American policy. The decision, made by Mr. Biden in recent days, overrides months of resistance by the Pentagon, which had argued that it could pave the way for the court to prosecute American troops, according to the officials. It was unclear why Mr. Biden let the impasse linger or what finally led him to resolve it, but he has been under mounting bipartisan pressure to act. Last week, for example, a Senate committee approved a government funding bill that had a provision stating that the president shall provide information to the court to assist with its investigations into war crimes in Ukraine. American intelligence agencies are said to have gathered information including details about decisions by Russian officials to deliberately strike civilian infrastructure in Ukraine and forcibly deport thousands of Ukrainian children from occupied territory. Already, they have shared some of that evidence with Ukrainian prosecutors but had refrained from doing so with The Hague. While certain issues, including damages, remain to be decided by the court, our clients are pleased with this major milestone in their fight for justice, Mr. Gottlieb added, and look forward to presenting what remains of this case at trial. The lawsuit filed by Ms. Freeman and Ms. Moss was among the first to be brought by individual election workers who found themselves dragged into the alternate universe of right-wing politicians and media figures who claimed that Mr. Trump had won the election. The two women had originally sued other defendants, including the One America News Network and some of its top officials, but ultimately settled the case against everyone except Mr. Giuliani. It was one of a series of defamation cases where plaintiffs sought to use the courts to seek accountability against public figures or media outlets that lied about the outcome of the 2020 election and its aftermath. In April, Fox News paid more than $787 million to settle claims by Dominion Voting Systems over the networks promotion of misinformation about the election. Ray Epps, an Arizona man who took part in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, sued Fox this month, claiming that its former host Tucker Carlson had promoted a fantastical story that Mr. Epps was an undercover government agent who instigated the violence that day as a way to disparage Mr. Trump and his supporters. Last year, Ms. Freeman and Ms. Moss appeared as witnesses at a public hearing of the House select committee investigating Jan. 6 and told the story of what happened after Mr. Giuliani amplified the false claims that they had pulled thousands of fraudulent ballots from a suitcase in their vote-counting station and illegally fed them through voting machines. Judge Maryellen Noreika kicked off Wednesdays hearing on Hunter Bidens proposed plea deal with the Justice Department by telling lawyers that they did not need to keep popping up and down every time she asked them a question. That was not a reflection of informality. It was a signal that she was about to subject them to three-plus hours of relentless interrogation over elements of an agreement she described, variously, as not standard, not what I normally see, possibly unconstitutional, without legal precedent and potentially not worth the paper it is printed on. Judge Noreika stunned the participants with her scouring skepticism, which led her to refuse to green-light the deal until she received more information from both parties. An exhausted Mr. Biden trudged out of Federal District Court in Wilmington, Del., looking a bit stunned, as his lawyers puzzled over what to do next. You all are saying, Just rubber stamp the agreement, said the judge. Im not in a position to accept or reject it. I need to defer. Before the presidents asylum changes took effect on May 11, border patrol officials were encountering about 7,500 migrants trying to cross the border illegally each day record-breaking numbers that were putting severe strains on the immigration officials and border communities. Since then, the numbers have declined to about 3,000 migrants each day. That is still historically high, but dramatically lower. On Tuesday, a federal judge ruled that Mr. Bidens changes to the asylum system were illegal. Judge Jon S. Tigar of the U.S. District Court in Northern California said the presumption that most migrants crossing illegally are ineligible for asylum violates decades of law and, pending an appeal, cannot remain in place. Administration officials warn that removing the new asylum restrictions could cause illegal crossings to spike again, though no one knows for sure what will happen. Here is a look at the various forces at play when it comes to migration at the southern border. Fear and Deterrence The administrations asylum policy has made it far less likely that a migrant fleeing from violence or persecution in Central or South America would be able to cross the border and remain in the United States while courts consider an asylum claim. Mr. McConnell then returned to take a number of questions from the news media more than usual and answered them clearly. Asked what had occurred, Mr. McConnell said only, Im fine, and said he was able to continue with his leadership duties. Aides later said that he had experienced some lightheadedness but noted he was able to resume speaking within minutes, and not long after, held his regular weekly meeting with Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California. They declined to elaborate on his medical status, including whether he had been examined by a physician in the aftermath of the episode. The situation was just the latest reminder of the advanced age and frail condition of the top Republican in the Senate, raising questions about his future and that of his party. Mr. McConnell, a Kentucky lawmaker who became the longest-serving Senate leader in history at the beginning of the year, has moved more slowly and struggled with hearing loss since he fell at a Washington hotel in March during a fund-raising event, sustaining a concussion. His allies have rejected any suggestion that his abilities have declined, saying he remains in charge in private sessions. They expressed confidence again on Wednesday. I was concerned when he fell and hit his head a number of months ago and was hospitalized, said Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, the No. 3 Republican and a medical doctor, who escorted Mr. McConnell to his office on Wednesday after the minority leader fell mute. And he has made a remarkable recovery. Hes done a great job leading our conference, and he was able to answer every question that the press asked him today. And, you may note, he answered more questions than he normally does. News / Local by Staff reporter The Citizens Coalition for Change says an explosive device was thrown at the home of its candidate for MP in St Mary's in Chitungwiza on Tuesday night.Brighton Mazhindu was not injured in the incident, but the explosion shattered several windows panes.Spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said on Wednesday: "A suspected bomb device was thrown at Mazhindu's home. Those who were present report that the object was targeted at the main bedroom but narrowly missed and exploded in the carport."Police attended the scene. The bomb disposal and forensics units are currently investigating the incident."Pictures from the scene showed a small cylindrical device with red and black wires attached to either side. It was not clear if it was involved in the explosion.Zimbabweans vote in general elections on August 23. The CCC has reported several incidents to the police after candidates were physically attacked and shot at. In the past, anti-abortion activists have largely maintained that they dont support punishing women who seek out the procedure illegally. But more recently, some state lawmakers have proposed legislation with criminal consequences for patients as well as those who may help them. Haleys Answer In order for us to have a federal law, were going to have to have consensus. What does that consensus look like? Cant we all agree that we dont want late-term abortion? Cant we all agree that we want to encourage more adoptions and good-quality adoption so that children feel more love, not less? Cant we all agree that doctors and nurses who dont believe in abortion shouldnt have to perform them? Cant we all agree that contraception should be accessible? And cant we all agree that a woman who gets an abortion should not be subject to the death penalty or get arrested? Thats where I think we start we start, and we do it with a level of respect. No more demonizing this issue. Were going to humanize this issue. I had a roommate who was raped in college. I wouldnt wish on anyone what she went through, wondering if she was OK. Everybody has a story. Lets be respectful of everybodys story, and lets figure out what we can do together instead of sitting there and tearing each other apart. The Subtext Ms. Haley began her reply by flatly stating that she did not believe women needed to be punished, adding that she was unapologetically pro-life, but did not judge anyone for being pro-choice. She went on to explain her support for the Supreme Court decision that thrust the issue back to the states but said she did see a role for the federal government in setting abortion policy, as long as there was congressional consensus between Republicans and Democrats. Her answer mostly echoed her previous remarks on abortion, but delivered with passion, it seemed to pack a more powerful punch in front of a smaller, friendlier audience. Attendees nodded along or expressed whoops and hollers in agreement, breaking into applause as she ended. Many Republican and independent women at her events this week have said they see Ms. Haley as a strong leader and messenger on abortion, as the only Republican woman in the presidential race, and believe she might be able to blunt attacks from Democrats on the issue. Ms. Haleys positions on the topic tend to be more moderate than the rest of the field, and it is among the issues she has used to set up her bid as a test of the Republican Partys attitudes about female leaders, without leaning too far into her gender. After the event, Ms. Zlotnick, who once had to take a drug to end an unviable pregnancy a procedure that is not illegal said she phrased her question as a hypothetical because if she found herself in different circumstances, she would consider having an illegal abortion. She said she was a strong believer in reproductive rights but had been satisfied with Ms. Haleys response. Donald Trump has way too much political baggage, she says. The next Republican candidate has to be somebody who can convince swing voters, independents, to vote for them. Because Donald Trump cant. The campaign will be shown on broadcast, cable and digital ads in Iowas two biggest media markets through the summer. Polling shows Mr. Trump with a commanding lead in the state, and his closest rival Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida has struggled in recent days to reset his campaign, as he trails the front-runner by double digits. The tactic of using testimonials from former Trump supporters has been tried before both by the Republican Accountability Project and Democratic groups in 2020 to undercut Mr. Trump with independent and moderate voters. But it has never been aimed at persuading strong Trump supporters to move away from him. The ads are the next evolution for the Republican Accountability Project, which sees Mr. Trump as posing serious threats to democracy and has spent years trying to push him out of political life. Its effort has been funded by donors from both sides of the aisle. Sarah Longwell, the groups executive director, said the question of electability was Mr. Trumps biggest weakness. The U.F.O. is emerging as a major topic of global importance, he said. I met a fellow who came in here all the way from Denmark to be here for this meeting. So this is huge. It is not clear, however, that the hearing provided the gentleman from Denmark much more than what has already been reported. At one point, two former Navy fighter pilots, David Fravor and Ryan Graves, described encounters with unknown objects a decade and a continent apart that they said accelerated like nothing either had seen before. The men first described the incidents to The New York Times in 2017 and 2018 in stories that prompted calls from lawmakers for more government transparency. Neither of the pilots speculated about the provenance of what they saw. The sightings were reported to the Pentagons shadowy Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, which analyzes radar data, video footage and accounts provided by senior officers. Some of the objects in videos released by the Pentagon have been explained as optical illusions or drones, but others remain unexplained. Along Texas 1,200-mile-long border with Mexico, state troopers routinely arrest migrants for trespassing. Texas National Guard troops unspool razor wire along the banks of the Rio Grande. State game wardens patrol the river in fast-moving boats. For more than two years, Gov. Greg Abbott has been testing the legal limits of what a state can do to enforce immigration law. The effort, known as Operation Lone Star, has been broadly popular in Texas, including among many Democrats, while its cost, already more than $4 billion, was expected to top $9 billion by the end of next year. Even as the number of migrants has gone down in recent months, Mr. Abbott, a Republican, has pushed the boundaries further. He has overseen aggressive deterrence by state police officers at the border and mounted a brazen challenge to federal authority by placing a floating barrier in the middle of the Rio Grande. In the small border city of Eagle Pass, the state police bulldozed vegetation from a sandbar in the middle of the river last month to create a new security outpost. You cant browse a grocery store or pharmacy without being subject to flashy labels that promote health benefits. In the beverage aisle, for example, you might find prebiotic sodas that supposedly support gut health. In the beauty department, youll see medical-grade serums, probiotic facial creams and skin detoxing treatments. Go to the supplements section for promises of immunity support, hormone balance and energy enhancement, among other things. Marketers have been using scientific-sounding buzzwords to sell products for centuries. But its becoming more common, said Timothy Caulfield, a research chair in health law and policy at the University of Alberta. Mr. Caulfield coined the term scienceploitation to describe how brands borrow language from emerging areas of science to market unproven products. Scienceploitation crops up in far more places today than ever before, including in search results, on social media platforms and from influencers, Mr. Caulfield said. Consumers are often inundated with confusing options as more companies position themselves as healthy. Buyers are prioritizing scientific evidence, said Sienna Piccioni, an analyst and head of beauty at WSGN, a trend forecasting company. But they cant always separate fact from fiction: A 2021 study suggested that people who trust science were more likely to share false claims that contained scientific references than claims that didnt. In December, the Federal Trade Commission revised its guidelines for health-related products, emphasizing that companies should support health claims with high quality, randomized, controlled human clinical trials. But experts said its unlikely that the commission can closely monitor how companies market their products, at least not without a huge increase in funding. Military officers in the West African nation of Niger ousted the countrys president on Wednesday, they said in an address on national television, throwing into uncertainty the future of one of the Wests few reliable partners in a region marred by coups and widespread insecurity. Army officials representing different branches of Nigers military, which has received support from the United States and France, among others, said they had put an end to the regime of President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger, following a day of stalled negotiations where members of the presidential guard held him hostage in the presidential palace. The officers removed Mr. Bazoum due to the deteriorating security situation and bad governance, Col. Amadou Abdramane, an official of the Nigerien air force, said in a statement read on television. The statement also said the officers were closing the countrys borders. Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia, one of the worlds longest-serving leaders, said on Wednesday that he would resign next month and hand power to his son. Mr. Hun Sen, 70, made the announcement in a televised address, three days after his political party had declared victory in stage-managed parliamentary elections. He said in the address that his eldest son, Gen. Hun Manet, 45, would succeed him and that the move would not violate any rules in the National Assembly because his son is also a lawmaker. In June, Mr. Hun Sen had said that he would hand over the premiership to his son at some point after the vote. But he also made clear that he had no plans to retire. Even if I am no longer a prime minister, I will still control politics as the head of the ruling party, he said at the time. Fijis uneasy relationship with China has hit an unusual roadblock, in the form of an office door. In a video posted to social media on Tuesday, the Pacific island nations prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, said he was declining an invitation to visit China this week because he had tripped while looking at his phone, striking his head on a door at the entrance to a government building. I do not know whether my head is hurt more than the door, or the door hurt more than my head, Mr. Rabuka said. He was wearing a shirt flecked with bloodstains, which he pointed out to viewers, and had a bandage on his head. Because his doctor would have to change the bandage on Friday, he said, I have had to inform China that I will not be able to undertake the trip coming up tomorrow night. China had invited Mr. Rabuka to the city of Chengdu, where he was to have met with Xi Jinping, the countrys leader, at the World University Games. The three-year Korean War was the single most traumatic event in modern Korean history. It came to a halt in a truce 70 years ago, after millions had been killed. The guns fell silent along the Demilitarized Zone, a 155-mile-long strip of land that divides the Korean Peninsula. But a formal peace treaty was never signed, leaving the Korean Peninsula still technically at war. Millions of troops on both sides stand ready to plunge back into battle at a moments notice. A former prime minister of Australia has stirred a storm of outrage by describing colonization as the luckiest thing that happened to this country and praising Britain for being a better overlord than other nations ahead of a contentious referendum on Aboriginal representation in the country. I do hold the view that the luckiest thing that happened to this country was being colonized by the British, the former prime minister, John Howard, 84, told The Australian newspaper in an interview this week. Not that they were perfect by any means, but they were infinitely more successful and beneficent colonizers than other European countries. Mr. Howards remarks were denounced on social media, with some people calling him ignorant, racist and evil. Australia is no longer a British colony, even as it retains King Charles III as its head of state, and Aboriginal Australians continue to face the harrowing effects of colonialism, including significant hardship and discrimination. Press Release July 26, 2023 DELA ROSA: SPONSORSHIP SPEECH Jail Integration Act (Committee Report No. 97, Senate Bill No. 2352) July 26, 2023 Mr. President, as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, I am honored to sponsor Senate Bill No. 2352, under Committee Report No. 97, transferring the control and supervision of the provincial and sub-provincial jails to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, or BJMP. By 2040, the BJMP envisions itself to be "a world-class agency highly capable of providing humane safekeeping and developmental opportunities for Persons Deprived of Liberty, or PDLs."[1] This is the vision that guides and drives the BJMP in ensuring that our jails are not just a place of temporary confinement, but more importantly, a place conducive for rehabilitation. Mr. President, one would expect that such vision would be applicable to all our jails, given that it is a statement of lofty intentions. However, when the BJMP was established under Republic Act No. 6975, or the "Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990," the jurisdiction granted to the BJMP was only over our city and municipal jails. Naiwan po ang pangangalaga sa mga provincial at sub-provincial jail at kanilang mga persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) sa ating mga provincial governments. Mr. President, I have high respect for our Provincial Government leaders, and I know that they always aim for the best for their constituents. Alam ko rin na kahit gaano ka-limitado iyong kanilang fiscal space, gagawin pa rin nila ang kanilang makakaya upang matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng kanilang probinsya. Ngunit ito rin po mismo ang dahilan kung bakit kailangan nating ipasa ang panukalang batas na ito. First of all, there is a need for integration. Kung ano ang umiiral na standard para sa ating municipal at city jails - qualification ng jail officer, cleanliness and sanitation requirements, equipment at property requirements - iyon din dapat ang umiral na mga standard para sa ating provincial at sub-provincial jails. Second, we intend to ease our Provincial Governments of this responsibility. Since 1990, they have been meeting this challenge head-on. And while this is noble of them, we also wish that they may utilize their resources more fully, in ways that will be more productive for them. By turning over the provincial and sub-provincial jails under the jurisdiction of the BJMP, we shall be giving more freedom to our Provincial Governments to direct their resources in accordance to their respective priorities. Mr. President, most of our Provincial Governments in the country are pushing for the enactment of this measure. They are willing to transfer the current provincial jail properties in accordance with existing laws. However, at this point, allow me to allay some fears and concerns, on the part of the BJMP, our Local Government Units and the employees of our existing provincial and sub-provincial jails. Ang unang concern ay ang transition. It is a valid question - how will we ensure that this transfer is done in an orderly manner? Section 4 of this measure provides for a 3-year transition period. Hindi po natin bibiglain ang paglilipat, Mr. President. During this transition period, the Provincial Government will continue to provide for the subsistence allowance of inmates, as well as for the maintenance of the jail facility. Ang isa pang tanong na nais nating tugunan ay tungkol sa mga empleyado ng Provincial at Sub-provincial jail. Again, yet another valid concern - once these jails are transferred to the BJMP, what will happen to their existing employees? Hindi po natin sila pababayaan, Mr. President. Section 5 expressly states that they shall enjoy security of tenure, and shall automatically be absorbed by the BJMP, subject to existing qualification standards. For purposes of computation of their retirement and pension benefits, their services rendered prior to the enactment of the measure shall be included. Hindi po natin babaliwalain ang kanilang mga naging serbisyo sa provincial jails sa ilalim ng kanilang provincial government. Iyon namang mga hindi nakakaabot ng mga nasabing qualification standard ay tutulungan natin, bibigyan natin sila ng limang taon upang maabot na nila ang mga standard na ito. While for those employees who, at the time of transfer, already reach the mandatory retirement age of the BJMP, we shall encourage the Provincial Government to absorb them under their employ. No one will get left behind, Mr. President. That is the assurance I give, as sure as I am standing before this august body. "Synergy. The bonus that is achieved when things work together harmoniously." American author Mark Twain got it right, Mr. President. When each part of the whole knows and understands the importance of their role, we can look forward to the best results. We reap the benefits of synergy. This synergy is what we aim to achieve, with this passage of this measure. At this point, Mr. President, let me just underscore how important our task is, as legislators. Before us, there is that need, not only to fill in policy gaps, but also to help ensure, through legislation, that our government agencies work together harmoniously. Thus, as we aim to transfer the jurisdiction of our provincial and sub-provincial jails from the Provincial Government to the BJMP, the task precisely is to translate synergy into law. The BJMP may be charged with the handling of Persons Deprived of Liberty, but it is the humble opinion of this representation, that the liberty to manage our jails must be given to them, fully and without exemption, in accordance with the law. I trust that this Congress is with me in this endeavor. With your support, I know it can be done. Maraming salamat po, Mr. President. ___________________________ [1] Retrieved from: https://www.bjmp.gov.ph/index.php/about-us/mission-and-vision, retrieved on 23 May 2023. News / Local by Staff reporter The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has raised concern over what is says are "alarming levels" of intimidation by activists of the ruling Zanu-PF party targeting CCC supporters and candidates in Shamva."ZPP is concerned about the intimidation targeting opposition party supporters that has reached alarming levels in Shamva South wards 22 and 24. Today (Wednesday), two CCC aspiring councillors woke up to find mock coffins at their doorsteps," the ZPP said.The mock coffins "were sitting on tree logs to give a clear warning that the CCC aspiring councillors will be buried soon. The victims suspect their rivals in Zanu-PF and they are living in fear," the ZPP added.Macabre Coffins were left outside the homes of CCC council candidates in Shamva, Mashonaland CentralTerror A mock coffin left outside the home of a CCC council candidate in Shamva Josh Robinson, who grew up outside Halifax, Nova Scotia, can remember eating his first donair when he was around 7 years old, roughly two decades after the sandwich, composed of spiced, spit-roasted meat topped with a sweet sauce and wrapped in pita bread, first emerged as a regional delicacy. Theres nothing like it, there really isnt, he said. Mr. Robinson, 35, is among dozens of people who have placed bids on an adult-size donair costume that is being auctioned off by the provincial government of Alberta in what has become an unlikely demonstration of the Halifax-born street foods growing popularity across Canada. Bidding for the costume opened on July 14 at 50 Canadian dollars, or about $38. By Wednesday, bidders had pushed the price to just over 16,000 Canadian dollars, or roughly $12,000, with weeks to go before the online auction ends on Aug. 14. Mr. Robinson, a co-founder and owner of Blowers and Grafton, a chain of restaurants with six locations in Alberta that specializes in authentic Halifax street food, said he was willing to pay that much, or more, for the suit. One crew member has died and 22 others have been injured in a fire on a large cargo vessel loaded with nearly 3,000 vehicles off the Dutch island of Ameland in the North Sea, officials said on Wednesday. The fire was reported just before midnight on Tuesday and was still burning on Wednesday, the Dutch Coast Guard said. Video posted by the Coast Guard showed smoke billowing from the 656-foot vessel, as one of the many ships that responded to the fire doused it with water. Lea Versteeg, a Coast Guard spokeswoman, told The Associated Press that the cargo ship, called the Fremantle Highway, had been carrying 2,857 cars, including 25 electric cars. The cause of the fire was not known, the Coast Guard said, adding that specialists from a marine salvage company were assessing the situation, which it described as stable at the moment. Mario Voigt, a leader of Germanys mainstream conservative party, has watched with concern the slow but steady string of victories notched by the far-right Alternative for Germany, known as the AfD. In his home state of Thuringia, in eastern Germany, the AfD just last month won the district administrators seat, giving the far right bureaucratic authority over an area for the first time. Since the spring, the AfD has only gathered momentum. The party has gained at least four points in polls since May, rising to 20 percent support and overtaking the countrys governing center-left Social Democrats to become Germanys second-strongest party. A more recent poll, released on Sunday, put the AfD at a record high of 22 percent support. The AfD is now nipping at the heels of Mr. Voigts own Christian Democratic Union, or C.D.U., the party of former Chancellor Angela Merkel, which remains the countrys most popular but now sits in opposition. When Nigel Farage campaigned for a fellow populist, Donald J. Trump, in 2020, he seemed like a faded star seeking the spotlight abroad after it had swung past him at home. Mr. Farage, who helped mobilize the pro-Brexit vote in 2016, was marginalized in Britain, then consumed by the pandemic. No longer: For three weeks, Mr. Farage, has been back on the front pages of British papers, with an attention-grabbing claim that his exclusive private bank, Coutts, dropped him as a customer because of his polarizing politics. Early on Wednesday, after Mr. Farages allegations were largely vindicated, the chief executive of his banks parent, NatWest Group, resigned after she admitted improperly discussing his bank account with a BBC journalist. The chief executive, Alison Rose, said she was guilty of a serious error of judgment. For Mr. Farage, who expertly stoked the dispute on social media and with appearances on the TV network GB News, the drama catapulted him back into the limelight. It was a striking turn of events for a political insurgent who became, for many, a reviled symbol of Brexit, and later, a culture warrior on right-wing television. When President Vladimir V. Putin said recently that the Wagner mercenary group legally does not exist, a collection of social media accounts that have historically been associated with Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the groups founder, quickly endorsed the Russian leaders statement. Prigozhin was respected inside the country, said a post on a Twitter account under the name Bogdan Goryunov. But with his single act, he has forfeited all that respect, he added, referring to the Wagner leaders aborted mutiny last month. What remains of Wagner is nothing now, just a memory. A group of volunteers who monitor Twitter for trolls identified Mr. Goryunov as a likely one. His account had few followers or original posts, mainly posting replies to more popular accounts, and it sometimes contradicted itself. Days earlier, it had defended the Wagner leader, tweeting in response to reports that he had met with Mr. Putin after the mutiny: Did Prigozhin finally recognize that it was a big mistake and he wants to be useful to the country again? More than a decade ago, Mr. Prigozhin became a pioneer in the dark arts of internet trolling, launching so-called troll farms to shape narratives in Russia and beyond, including by sowing pro-Trump discord during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Britain, blanketed by cool, damp weather, has seemed like one of the few places in the Northern Hemisphere not sweltering this summer. Yet a fierce political debate over how to curb climate change has suddenly erupted, fueled by economic hardship and a recent election surprise. The surprise came last week in a London suburb, Uxbridge and South Ruislip, where the Conservative Party held on to a vulnerable seat in Parliament in a by-election after a voter backlash against the expansion of a low-emission zone, which will penalize people who drive older, more polluting cars. The Conservatives successfully used the emission zone plan as a wedge issue to prevail in a district they were forecast to lose. It didnt go unnoticed in the halls of Parliament, where even though lawmakers are in recess, they have managed to agitate over environmental policy for four days running. On Friday, a judge dismissed a legal challenge to expand the zone, clearing the way for it to be implemented in the whole of greater London by the end of August. Three Russian attack helicopters swooped in low over the city of Kreminna, strafing Ukrainian frontline positions just outside the city. Russian drones circled overhead while Moscows ground forces fired heavy machine guns to flush out Ukrainians from foxholes hidden in the dappled light of the pine forest. As exploding artillery shells shook the ground around him on Saturday morning, Vlad, a 27-year-old Ukrainian drone operator, spotted a Russian armored personnel carrier bringing more troops to the battle. It was a possible prelude, he said, to another assault. They are constantly attacking us, said Lt. Col. Oleh Matviychuk, a 49-year-old battalion commander with Ukraines 100th Territorial Defense Brigade. They are looking for a weak place and then they storm. Along the vast 600-mile front line that cuts a scar across eastern and southern Ukraine, Russian forces are mostly on the defensive, hoping that the vast minefields they have planted will protect the fortified positions. So far they have been able to prevent a major Ukrainian breakthrough. Israels Supreme Court said Wednesday that it would review a contentious new law that diminishes the courts own role, setting the stage for a constitutional crisis and renewed social turmoil if the judges end up overturning the legislation. The Supreme Court may now, in essence, decide its own fate and choose between accepting Prime Minister Benjamins Netanyahus move to reduce its power or reasserting its dominance by striking down the law. The decision to take up the case, beginning in September, sets up a potential clash between the government and the highest court in the land. If the court rejects the law, Mr. Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition might refuse to abide by the ruling, forcing senior civil servants and lower courts to decide which branch of government to obey. If it allows it to stand, the decision may be seen by hard-liners as a green light for the government to do as it wishes. MMGY Global checks in at Hawaiis Turtle Bay Resort. MMGY Wagstaff will handle all public relations services while MMGY will oversee account management, social media, influencer relations and paid media. Located on the North Shore of Oahu, Turtle Bay Resort recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and has unveiled a property transformation inspired by its commitment to preserving the areas culture and land through sustainable initiatives. "MMGY Global shares our dedication to delivering extraordinary experiences, said Turtle Bay Resort chief commercial cfficer Robert Marusi. We are confident that our collaboration will result in a synergistic approach to showcase our stunning property, highlighting the natural beauty and rich cultural heritage of the North Shore." 5W Public Relations, in collaboration with its digital marketing agency HOW, picks up US PR and digital AOR duties for Royal Air Maroc, the national airline of Morocco. 5WPRs program will analyze and identify trends, travel patterns and preferences of potential travelers in major U.S. cities to create campaigns and initiatives that resonate with their interests and aspirations. HOW will work on Royal Air Marocs paid media program in the US, as well as developing social media content. Through a dynamic co-creation approach, and their abilities in crafting innovative concepts and smart content, we are confident that they will accompany us effectively in our expansion plan, said Royal Air Maroc GM Achraf El Hassani. William Mills Agency, which specializes in financial industry clients, is engaged to provide public relations services to Mbanq, a global banking-as-a-service and credit union-as-a-service provider. Mbanqs cloud-based or on-site back-end technology connects to global financial infrastructure, offering responsive white label mobile apps for bank customers, customer-branded credit and debit cards and a fully managed US bank license sponsor. The partnership with the financial industry specialists in public relations at William Mills Agency will help us to expand our visibility and showcase our services to a wider audience, said Mbanq CEO Vlad Lounegov. News / Local by Staff reporter Former Co-Minister of National Healing and Integration, Moses Mzila Ndlovu, believes the Gukurahundi genocide that killed over 20 000 people in Matebeleland and Midlands was planned before independence by Zanu members who were in exile.In a written piece about his experiences during Gukurahundi, Ndlovu said the timing of Gukurahundi's launch with independence meant the genocide was hatched' in exile rather than in post-independent Zimbabwe"The well-known flushing out of ZPRA cadres from the National Army starting in 1980 is another concrete proof this was the implementation of a programme well planned and orchestrated by Zanu to coincide with independence," he said.Ndlovu argues Gukurahundi had nothing to do with dissidents because those "few ZPRAs who broke rank and refused to go into Assembly Points for obvious reasons, were rounded up by fellow ZPRA units without a fight under instructions from Joshua Nkomo."On the contrary, Ndlovu said ZANLA had large armed units which "never went into Assembly Points but had large arms caches dotted in their operational areas."Ndlovu narrates that in 1982, five soldiers of the Fifth Brigade army assaulted him at his Luveve home when he was a teacher at St Bernards High School in Pumula."In addition to beating me with gun butts, they used a homemade metal hammer whose head looked like the beak of a hornbill with a nut welded to its tip. The blows landed anywhere on my body in the wanton attack, striking my head with the hammer in the process," Ndlovu said."I was accused of not being fluent in Shona and not knowing my ID number by head."Ndlovu said his attackers also accused him of not restraining his Alsatian dogs, complaining they were irritating and threatening to shoot them."A few days later the dogs died of food poisoning," said the former minister.He added his assailants left him for dead after ransacking his house, stealing food from the fridge and some special non-military souvenirs he had brought from Angola and Egypt during his Guerilla training, artefacts that had become part of him throughout his years in the armed struggle.The former minister said a friend from Mkhonto WeSizwe took him to Galen House where a specialist recommended immediate surgery but he failed to raise the money and has had to endure that pain for 42 years.Ndlovu noted how one of his Gukurahundi attackers had a scruffy' paper in hand that had a list of what he suspected were names of specific people the Fifth Brigade were looking for besides ordinary civilians."Soon I told them my name. I could see him take a glance at the paper again and again," he said.The former minister writes how in 1980 at Regina Mundi, Gwayi/Sipepa, where he taught soon after leaving Papa Assembly Point, a fellow teacher, Lazarus Dokora, a former education deputy minister was discovered keeping or compiling a list of names of ZAPU people in the Sipepa and surrounding villages.Ndlovu claimed they learnt of the list from an ex-girlfriend of one of his friends and former commander Dan Mbayiro Dube (commissar) who disappeared that year and was never seen until his scattered remains were found near Somgoro Road between Gwayi Railway Station and St Luke's six months later.Ndlovu also narrated how his mother was attacked by the Fifth Brigade army for not having attended a rally addressed by Zanu leaders, Enos Nkala, Mark Dube and Callistus Ndlovu at Fitjane (South Nata Rural District Council, now called Ndiweni Centre) just across the Thekwane River."The Fifth Brigade ferried villagers with Puma Trucks from designated points the same way Zanu is bussing people to their rallies this year in 2023," he said.Ndlovu claims most families in Matebeleland and the Midlands have had similar, if not worse, experiences to his."Some families have no one to tell the gruesome accounts of what happened to them between 1980 and 1987 because they all were killed. Everyone perished mostly in house infernos they were forced into and set alight. The heartless Robert Mugabe commended the Gukurahundi for a job well done at some point," he wrote.Ndlovu claimed during the struggle years, Zanu hardly had internal structures or support which is why they forced civilians into supporting them."Civilians forced to attend indoctrination meetings that lasted through the nights risked being killed by the Smith regime forces. Zanu was so cruel to civilians, they cut off the lips, ears and limbs of suspected sellouts if they spared their lives. The heinous crimes during the elections campaign of 2008 where civilians suspected of being MDC were typical of the ZANLA operations during the war. For instance, they would ask suspects whether they wanted a long or short sleeve shirt and went on to amputate the arms of victims. It's on record," said the former minister.Ndlovu said it was shocking how the same perpetrators have "guts" to come to Matebeleland and demand votes."They come to show off their classy acquisitions, symbols of their ill-gotten riches, fat cars, sex slaves, slay queens, expensive imported garments and smooth baby faces, displaying bulgy pot bellies and sausage necks even at 80, as if they live in another country," he said. The Washington Turfgrass Seed Commission wants a partner to run an education and outreach campaign to growers, stakeholders and the general public about the benefits associated with its products. Bikes, Auto Rickshaws Banned On Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway From August 1? Bengaluru oi-Madhuri Adnal The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has issued a notification stating that bikes, auto rickshaws, tractors, multi-axle hydraulic, and non-motorised vehicles will be banned from using the main lanes of the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway starting from August 1. The expressway is specifically designed for high-speed vehicles, and light and slow-moving vehicles will now have to use the service lanes built along the expressway, as directed by NHAI officials in a statement to Times of India. To ensure compliance, the NHAI will be installing signboards in the future, guiding light and slow-moving vehicles to utilize the service lanes. Recently, the ADGP (Traffic and Road Safety) conducted an inspection of parts of the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway, focusing on the enforcement of the speed limit. During this visit, he interacted with the traffic police deployed on the expressway responsible for enforcing the speed limit. Alok, the ADGP, expressed his concern that vehicles traveling at less than 60 kmph could also pose risks of accidents on the expressway. The speed limit of 80 to 100 kmph was introduced in June after the ADGP's initial inspection, as overspeeding was identified as a major cause of the increasing number of accidents. Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway Toll Price Hiked: Check New Rates For Car, Bike, Other Vehicles The Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway is a 10-lane access-controlled expressway, spanning 118 km, designed to reduce travel time between the two cities. It connects Kengeri in Bengaluru and Manipal Hospital Junction in Mysuru. With the speed limit in place, vehicles are required to follow the designated speed range while commuting on the expressway. According to recent traffic department data, over 2,000 vehicles were booked for overspeeding on the expressway within just four weeks of implementing the speed limit. Since its inauguration in March, more than 570 accidents have occurred on the expressway, resulting in the loss of around 100 lives and injuring 350 people. In response to these incidents, the police imposed a speed limit of 100 kmph to address the growing safety concerns on the expressway. News / National by Stephen Jakes After the launch of the "National Citizen Action against Vote Buying Campaign", the Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) received overwhelming responses from members of the public forwarding pictorial and video evidence of vote buying by politicians fighting for seats ahead of August 23 Zimbabwean election.The main political party implicated in vote buying with impunity is the Zanu PF."We will cite a few examples received from our whistleblowers: The issue of giving residents of informal settlements such as Epworth, Title Deeds is deemed as vote buying since it has been timed with the coming election and also that it is being marketed by Zanu PF instead of the relevant line ministry," ACT SA director Obert Chinhamo said."The drilling of boreholes country-wide that has also been made to coincide with the elections and the strategy to drill these boreholes in areas where Zanu PF will be conducting its rallies. See Attached, the US$1 million loan facility to SMEs and free buses offered by Scott Sakupwanya to residents of Mabvuku where he is contesting the Mabvuku Parliamentary Seat."He said in the Chiredzi Central Constituency, the Ward 5 Councillor distributed rice to voters in exchange for votes."The dishing out of books, food and cement by July Moyo who is contesting the Redcliff Constituency seat . See the attached Picture and Song praising the vote buying. ACT-SA is gravely concerned considering that vote buying as a form of bribery is illegal in line with Section 136 (1) (h) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13] . Furthermore, Section 6 (f) and (g) of the Political Parties Code of Conduct prohibits bribery," he said."It states that "No political party or any of its members or supporters, and no candidate or any of his or her supporters, may - (f) bribe a voter to exercise his or vote in a particular manner; (g) bribe or intimidate an election official to induce him or her to make a false entry in the voters roll or to alter or falsify election results."He said more worrying is inaction by law enforcement agents and regulatory authorities that include the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), especially when these acts are committed by the ruling Zanu PF political party."The inaction speaks a lot about the extend or degree of capture of these institutions by the ruling Zanu PF political party. ACT-SA condemns the extent to which vote buying is being celebrated and in some extreme cases songs sung praising vote buyers as evidenced through the case of July Moyo who is contesting the Redcliff Constituency seat," he said."Zimbabweans have also condemned housing loans given to Judges. The loans have largely been perceived as bribes to ensure that courts of law rule in favour of Zanu PF against the opposition and pro-democracy activists in the event that electoral disputes are taken to court before and after the announcement of the electoral outcome." The egg analogy for life by Karunanidhi: a story from the past Chennai Cop Claims Hindus Will Rule India, Muslims, Christians Can Go To Pakistan; Gets Suspended Tamil Nadu Weather Update: These Districts To Get Heavy Rains Chennai oi-Prakash KL Several areas in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai and its neighbouring districts, are anticipated to experience light to moderate rainfall over the next 48 hours. Whereas the western ghats districts of the state are predicted to receive heavy rains. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) on Wednesday issued a yellow warning for western ghats districts including the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Theni, and Dindigul. These places are expected to get heavy rain with thunderstorms, the Regional Meteorological Centre said. In light of the strong winds, the fishermen are cautioned against venturing into the sea. The well-marked low-pressure area over the west-central and nearby Northwest Bay of Bengal, off the coasts of north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha, continues to exhibit an associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 7.6 km above mean sea level. It is predicted to move slowly northwestwards across north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts. The weather-monitoring agency said that the some areas in Chennai and suburbs are likely to experience light showers in the evening. Earlier in the day, moderate rainfall was observed in various areas, such as Tondiarpet, Vadapalani, Teynampet, Pattinampakkam, Anna Salai, Mylapore, Pallikaranai, Madipakkam, and Nungambakkam. As a result, several interior roads experienced water stagnation, leading to difficulties for people commuting and causing a traffic gridlock in the city. The maximum and minimum temperatures are anticipated to drop below normal, reaching around 32 degrees Celsius for the maximum and 27 degrees Celsius for the minimum. 12-Month Maternity Leave, 1-Month Paternity Leave For Govt Employees In Sikkim India pti-PTI Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Wednesday said that his government will give 12-month maternity leave and 1-month paternity leave to its employees. Addressing the annual general meeting of the Sikkim State Civil Service Officers' Association (SSCSOA) here, he said changes will be made in the service rules to provide the benefit. This benefit will help the government employees to take better care of their children and families, he said. The details of it will be notified soon, he added. According to the Maternity Benefit Act 1961, a working woman is entitled to 6 months, or 26 weeks, of paid maternity leave. The Himalayan state has the lowest population in India at around 6.32 lakh. Tamang said the officers are the backbone of the state administration, contributing significantly to the growth and development of Sikkim and its people. We Haven't Married: Pakistani Man On Reports Of Tying Knot To Indian Woman Anju He said there has been a significant focus on streamlining the promotion process for civil services officers, leading to an increase in the number of promotions. He congratulated all new IAS and SCS (Sikkim Civil Services) officers, and wished them well for a successful career. 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: As Delhi Court Summons Jagdish Tytler, Sikh leaders Thank PM Modi India pti-PTI Sikh political leaders thanked the Prime Minister and Union Home minister on Wednesday over a city court summoning Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in connection with a 1984 riots case in which three persons were killed. The court summoned Tytler on August 5 in connection with the Pul Bangash killings during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, taking cognizance of a CBI charge sheet filed in the case. "We are grateful to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home minister Amit Shah who pursued the case and investigation was conducted by the CBI properly. After 39 years we can see a ray of hope now. Its some relief for us. Tytler's time has ended," said BJP leader Sardar RP Singh. It was claimed by the CBI in its charge sheet that Tytler "incited, instigated and provoked" the mob that had assembled at Pul Bangash Gurdwara in Azad Market on November 1, 1984. Another BJP Sikh leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged that the accused in 1984 anti sikh riots not only "protected" by the Congress but also promoted to higher posts in the party and government. "All along these years, the butchers of humanity were saved because there were Congress governments at the helm who not only protected them but also ordered investigating agencies to not to take a step against them," Sirsa charged. It's only due to the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home minister Amit Shah that the investigating agencies probed matters against Congress leaders, he said. In My Third Term, India Will Be Among Top 3 Economies In The World: PM Modi Guarantees Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Harmit Singh Kalka said that the court summons issued against Tytler was a big victory for the Sikhs. "We will ensure that Tytler is is sent behind the bars," said a joint statement issued by Kalka and DSGMC general secretary Jagdeep Singh Kahlon. They also thanked advocate HS Phoolka and the legal team of DSGMC saying their struggle has led to the summoning of Tytler by the court. Bihar: 2 Killed In Police Firing Katihar After Protest Over Better Power Supply Turns Violent India oi-Prakash KL The protests for better power supply turned violent in Katihar in Bihar on Wednesday resulting in police firing, killing two while leaving several others injured. The police resorted to open firing following stone-pelting by protesters who were demanding better power supply, officials said. More than a dozen police personnel and power department employees sustained injuries in the incident that took place barely 100 meters away from Barsoi police station, the police department said. "Nearly 1,000 local residents were staging a demonstration in front of the power department office. Some anti-social elements had found their way into the crowd and they started hurling stones. When a police party tried to quell the disruptors, they too were attacked with bricks, stones and sticks," the Police Headquarters in Patna said. Katihar District Magistrate Ravi Prakash told PTI-Bhasha over the phone, "Two of the protesters have died while another is undergoing treatment for injuries at the sub-division hospital." While one of the two victims have been identified as 34-year-old Khurshid Alam, a resident of Baasal village, the other was yet to be identified. Katihar Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar, who was camping at the site of the incident, told reporters, "You can gauge the situation from the fact that there is hardly any portion of the power office left without tell-tale signs of the vandalism and stone-pelting." "The protesters suddenly grew violent and stormed the premises. Officials, including the sub-divisional police officer concerned, who has also sustained injuries, were held hostage by the mob. So, in self-defence, gunfire was used. Investigations are on and stern action will be taken against those involved in the attack on policemen," said the SP. On the other hand, the BJP and the CPI(ML)-Liberation, which supports the Nitish Kumar government from outside, have condemned the incident. Union Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai, and a former president of the state BJP, made a statement alleging that the incident demonstrated the "barbarism" of the government led by the Chief Minister's JD(U) and the RJD, which is the largest constituent of the state's ruling Mahagathbandhan. Furthermore, he called for the resignation of the Chief Minister and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, who belongs to the RJD, holding them responsible for recent instances of lathi-charge on similar protests in the state capital by teachers' job aspirants and ASHA workers. The CPI(ML)-L, a part of the Mahagathbandhan but not in the government, accused the BJP of "instigating the crowd" in Katihar. Delhi to have five dry days as 'Old Excise policy' extended for 6 months Liquor Set To Get Costlier In Karnataka As Govt Hikes Tax On Alcohol Dry Days In Delhi 2023: Sale Of Liquor Banned On These 4 Days India oi-Prakash KL The Delhi government has prohibited the sale of liquor in the Union Territory for four days in the month of August. The liquor sale in Delhi is banned on Muharram (July 29), Independence Day (August 15), Janmashtami (September 7), and Eid-e-Milad (September 28) during the ongoing quarter ending September 31. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approved a proposal of the excise department for a ban on liquor sale on said dates. The Delhi government declares dry days every three months. Delhi Records 100 Daily Cases of Conjunctivitis, Experts Stress Hygiene, Precautions During dry days in India, alcohol sales are prohibited, although consumption is allowed. These dry days are observed nationwide on significant national festivals and occasions, such as Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August), and Gandhi Jayanti (2 October). Additionally, dry days are enforced during elections in India. (Date: 10-Apr-2023) Yamuna's Water Level Below Danger Mark The Yamuna river in Delhi flowed below the danger mark of 205.33 metres on Wednesday but is expected to rise again following heavy rain in parts of the capital and upper catchment areas in the morning. According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), the water level at the Old Railway Bridge (ORB) stood at 205.09 metres at 9 am. The Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi's primary weather station, recorded 37.1 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours that ended at 8:30 am, meteorological office data showed. The Yamuna river in Delhi flowed below the danger mark of 205.33 metres on Wednesday but is expected to rise again following heavy rain in parts of the capital and upper catchment areas in the morning. According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), the water level at the Old Railway Bridge (ORB) stood at 205.09 metres at 9 am. How Kargil Vijay Diwas in July is Different from Vijay Diwas in December India oi-Madhuri Adnal India has a rich history of military conflicts, and two important days in the Indian calendar are dedicated to celebrating the victories of the Indian Armed Forces: Kargil Vijay Diwas and Vijay Diwas. While both days commemorate significant victories, there are notable differences between them. Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed on July 26th annually, honors the triumph of the Indian Armed Forces over Pakistani intruders during the Kargil War in 1999. This intense conflict took place in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir and lasted for over 60 days. The victory in Kargil was particularly significant as it helped restore India's pride following the defeat in the 1962 Sino-Indian War. On the other hand, Vijay Diwas is celebrated on December 16th each year, commemorating the victory of the Indian Armed Forces over Pakistan in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. This war resulted in the creation of Bangladesh and remains one of the most decisive victories in Indian military history. The victories being celebrated on these two days are from different wars: Kargil Vijay Diwas for the Kargil War in 1999 and Vijay Diwas for the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, which led to the birth of Bangladesh. Schoolboy in 2001, Army major meets PM Modi in Kargil The Kargil War was an arduous and costly conflict, but it showcased the strength and resilience of the Indian Armed Forces. The soldiers who fought in this war hailed from diverse backgrounds, yet they were united by their love for the country and determination to defend it. The victory in Kargil was a crucial turning point for India, demonstrating its capacity to overcome a larger and better-equipped adversary, thereby bolstering confidence in its defensive capabilities. Both Kargil Vijay Diwas and Vijay Diwas serve as reminders of the sacrifices made by the soldiers for their country. The soldiers who fought in these wars, as well as their families, deserve utmost respect and gratitude for their selfless dedication. Vijay Diwas is a day not only to celebrate victory but also to remember and support the families who have endured great loss due to the loss of their loved ones in battle. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 9:49 [IST] Andhra Girl Holds On To Pipe After Being Pushed Off Bridge By Mom's Partner, Dials Cops To Save Life Hyderabad Woman Studying in US, Found Starving On Chicago Street After Belongings Stolen India oi-Madhuri Adnal In a shocking turn of events, a Hyderabad woman, Syeda Lulu Minhaj Zaidi, who went to the USA to pursue a master's degree, was found on Chicago roads fighting depression and on the verge of starvation after her belongings were stolen. According to reports, she went to pursue her MS from TRINE University in Detroit. Syeda's mother, Syeda Wahaj Fatima, has been desperately seeking help to bring her daughter back to India and has written an emotional appeal to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The letter surfaced on social media after Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan and Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader Khaleequr Rahaman shared it on Twitter handle. Syeda Lulu Minhaj Zaidi from Hyd went to persue MS from TRINE University, Detroit was found in a very bad condition in Chicago, her mother appealed @DrSJaishankar to bring back her daughter.@HelplinePBSK @IndiainChicago @IndianEmbassyUS @sushilrTOI @meaMADAD pic.twitter.com/GIhJGaBA7a Amjed Ullah Khan MBT (@amjedmbt) July 25, 2023 The heartfelt letter highlights the harrowing ordeal her daughter is going through, expressing the anguish of a mother witnessing her child's suffering from afar. In the video, the woman says that her name is Syeda Lulu Minhaj Zaidi and she belongs to Hyderabad. Upon being questioned about her well-being, she shares that she was taken to a hospital for medical treatment, but unfortunately, she became even weaker after her blood samples were drawn for testing. Did PM Modi Predict 2023's No-Confidence Motion In 2018? Watch This Viral Video A compassionate man was then seen offering her dal and roti as dinner and assured her of assistance. He encouraged her to return to India. The video has left netizens in disbelief, and they express their concern, urging immediate action to bring her back to Hyderabad. A Twitter user, who claims to have known her since childhood, expresses shock at her current condition, reminiscing about her as an exceptionally diligent and studious child. Initially, she was in regular contact with her family, but over the past two months, all communication ceased. Disturbingly, it was recently revealed through two Hyderabad youths that Syeda Lulu Minhaj Zaidi was battling depression, and someone had stolen her belongings, leaving her without basic necessities and pushed her to the brink of starvation. Syeda Wahaj Fatima pleaded with the Embassy of India in Washington DC and the Indian Consulate in Chicago to intervene urgently and bring her daughter back to India. She expressed hope that with the help of Mohammed Minhaj Akhter, her daughter's whereabouts could be traced, and necessary actions could be taken to rescue her from the distressing situation she finds herself in. Kargil Vijay Diwas: A Day Of Pain, Pride For Kin Of Bravehearts Who Made Supreme Sacrifice India oi-PTI It has been over two decades since the Kargil War but Kanta Devi remembers every last word of her conversation with her son before he left home for the battlefront. He had said that he was the son of the country and not mine, an emotional Devi recalled on Vijay Diwas. She was here to visit the Kargil War Memorial to pay her respects to her son, Grenadier Udhaymaan Singh, who sacrificed his life for the nation during the 1999 conflict. ''I feel happy and proud to see that everyone is paying respects to my son but I did not want to lose my (only) son. I feel so much pain,'' she told PTI. Grenadier Singh was part of the 18 Grenadiers during the war and his regiment, along with two other battalions, was given the responsibility of recapturing Tiger Hill from Pakistani intruders. The battalion launched an attack and reached the top of the hill but faced intense firing from the enemy. Grenadier Singh suffered a fatal gunshot and succumbed to injuries. How Kargil Vijay Diwas in July is Different from Vijay Diwas in December Tears rolling down her cheeks, Devi recalled when her son came home on vacation for the last time. ''When he came home on vacation, I told him that I wanted him to resign from service and stay home. He asked me what would happen to the country if every mother wished the same? He told me that he was the son of the country now and not mine,'' she said. Devi said a mother can forget everything but not her son. ''A mother's pain is such. I have two daughters but only one son. How can I forget him?Sometimes I think I should forget him because he won't come back but how can I? I remember everything about him,'' the sobbing mother said. Referring to the Vijay Diwas, Devi said this is her first visit to the War Memorial. ''I feel happy on this day as well. This is the first time that I have come here and I feel good. The whole country feels good but I also feel sadness. I cannot listen to patriotic songs. When they played one here, it made me remember him, he was tall and handsome,'' she added. ''There is a lot of sadness. At the same time, I feel proud that my son saved my country. I have nothing to do with Tiger Hill but he saved it (for the nation),'' Devi said. For the families of the jawans who laid down their lives protecting Indian territory from intruders, the Kargil Vijay Diwas -- the day on which the nation commemorates its victory in the Kargil War -- is an occasion that invokes feelings of both pain and pride. As India celebrates the 24th anniversary of its triumph in the Kargil War, the families of those killed in the conflict remember their loved ones with pride. The feelings of sadness, however, have not waned. Charu Lata Acharya, a Veer Naari, feels that the Vijay Diwas is a celebration of the sacrifices of soldiers like her husband -- Major P Acharya of the 2 Rajputana Rifles. ''On one side, you feel that you have lost your loved one, your husband, who promised to be with you for life but, being a fauji's (soldier's) wife, I feel proud that the motherland was before his family,'' she said. Acharya said she feels proud not only of her husband but of all the soldiers equally. ''I feel really proud,'' she added. The Vijay Diwas is an occasion to celebrate and not mourn the sacrifices of the soldiers, she said. One Of The Two Women Paraded Naked In Manipur Is Kargil Hero's Wife ''Some people keep a fast according to their religion, some celebrate Diwali. For us, our family, this is our Diwali and Pongal. This is our celebration. We do not mourn our soldiers' sacrifices, we celebrate. We are proud of their sacrifice,'' Acharya said. Manmohan Pandey, the brother of Captain Manoj Pandey -- who was tasked with clearing the route to Khalubar Top for his battalion and fatally collapsed at the final bunker after completing his mission -- said the day evokes a feeling of pride. ''Coming here, seeing those points, I had the same feeling that I had when he (Captain Pandey) achieved martyrdom. It is a feeling of pride. If there is anything we feel inside, it is pride,'' he said. Pandey, who came with his children, said he wanted to show them who the real superheroes were. On his third visit to the memorial, Pandey said ''I get a feeling of pride and bravery (whenever I come here)''. ''We cannot give anything other than our respects to them. They have given us a lot. They have left us but they also inspired us. Our future generations will keep getting inspiration from them,'' he added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 11:51 [IST] Man Detained For Allegedly Tampering With Aadhaar Cards Of PM Modi, Yogi In Bihar India pti-PTI A team of Gujarat Police on Wednesday arrested a person from Bihar's Muzaffarpur district for allegedly tampering with the Aadhaar cards of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Muzaffarpur's Senior Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kumar said Arpana Dubey alias Madan Kumar was arrested from Sadatpur area of the district. "The accused hails from Gariba Gaon village in the district. He was pursuing his graduation from a college in Sadatpur locality in Kanti police station area," said the SSP. The visiting police team was assisted by the local police, following "information that there were attempts to tamper with the Aadhaar cards on the website and the IP address was traced to the accused", he said. WFI Elections: Brij Bhushan and Son Excluded; Son-in-law to Represent Bihar The accused is understood to have changed the dates of birth of the two leaders, among other things, and misused the tampered Aadhaar cards, he added. The police team from Gujarat has taken Dubey along for further investigation and action, the officer said. 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 Mob Torches Houses In Moreh, Buses Used By Security Forces India oi-PTI A group of miscreants set afire several houses in Manipur's Moreh district on Wednesday, officials said. The abandoned houses were in the Moreh Bazar area close to the Myanmar border. The arson came hours after two buses used by security forces to transport personnel were set on fire by a mob in Kangpokpi district, the officials said. No casualty was reported. The incident occurred at Sapormeina when the buses were coming from Dimapur on Tuesday evening. Locals stopped the buses bearing Manipur registration numbers at Sapormeina and insisted that they would check if any member of another community were on board, the officials said. Some of them set the buses on fire. Broadband Internet Ban Conditionally Lifted In Manipur, But No Mobile Internet Ethnic violence broke out in the northeastern state nearly three months ago, killing over 160 people since then, and injuring hundreds. The violence erupted on May 3 after 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 mainly in the hill districts. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 13:26 [IST] News / National by Stephen Jakes A ZIMBABWEAN court has stopped Labenmon Investments, a Chinese mining company, from conducting illegal mining operations on ancestral land belonging to some Mutoko villagers in Mashonaland East province, following an outcry by the dwellers.The villagers led by George Makanjera and Judgmore Chibanda filed an urgent chamber application on 30 June 2023 at Mutoko Magistrates Court, seeking an order to interdict the Chinese mining company from prospecting, conducting exploration or any form of mining activity in four villages in Mutoko namely Moyosvi, Chibanda, Gumbeze and Kadore.The villagers, who were represented by Tinashe Chinopfukutwa and Kelvin Kabaya of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, also asked the court to order Labenmon Investments to remove some pegs which it had installed in the four villages within 24 hours.Apart from Labenmon Investments, the villagers also listed Mines and Mining Development Minister Hon. Winston Chitando, Environmental Management Agency and Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency as respondents.The villagers resorted to taking legal action against Labenmon Investments after the Chinese mining company installed some pegs on about 150 hectares of land covering grazing pastures, cultivation and places of traditional and cultural significance in the four villages.At one time, the mining company was fined a beast of cattle by a local traditional leader for visiting and pegging the sacred areas without notifying him or obtaining his approval.Despite not holding the required paperwork, Labenmon Investments proceeded to bulldoze its way into the area to begin operations that were threatening the livelihoods of dozens of families.Chinopfukutwa and Kabaya protested in court that some Labenmon Investments employees had in May 2023 camped on the villagers' land and had told them that they wanted to drill boreholes and inspect their pegs as they had invested in purchasing the mining claims to mine in the villages.However, the villagers challenged them to produce documentation to prove their claims and this exposed the illegalities behind the mining scheme as the company's representatives produced a copy of a certificate of registration after transfer of mining claims in respect of claims named Mudzonga located some 3.5 kilometres east of Bandamakara School, a Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) licence issued on 27 February 2023 and a map for the mining project in Mudzonga.They also produced correspondence from the Environmental Management Agency dated 13 May 2023, in which the company was advised to carry out a full Environmental Impact Assessment.Mutoko Senior Magistrate Terrence Mashaire brought relief to the Mutoko villagers after ordering Labenmon Investments not to prospect, conduct exploration or any form of mining activity in the entirety of Moyosvi, Chibanda, Gumbeze and Kadore villages without following due process and the law.Magistrate Mashaire ordered Labenmon Investments to remove its pegs installed around Moyosvi, Chibanda, Gumbeze and Kadore villages within 24 hours and also ruled that in the event that the Chinese mining company does not comply with his order of removing pegs in the villagers' land, the Messenger of Court would be authorised to remove the pegs from their fields.Magistrate Mashaire noted that the villagers took action upon realising that their environment was being threatened and said they have a constitutional right to enjoy use of their property and defend it against invasion as Labenmon Investments' presence on their land is inconsistent with the law.The Magistrate ruled that the Chinese mining company had not been certified or authorised to carry out mining operations in the four villages and said for Labenmon Investments to want to carry out mining activities without obtaining the relevant approvals and without consulting the villagers would be a violation of Zimbabwean laws governing the protection of the environment together with people residing in the four villages. Opposition Submits No-Confidence Motion Against PM Modi Govt In Lok Sabha India oi-Madhuri Adnal The Opposition alliance INDIA has moved a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi-led central government on the Manipur issue in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Congress MP Manickam Tagore had told news agency PTI that Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi will move the motion. Although the decision to move the no-confidence motion is that of the united opposition, Gogoi, who is an MP from Assam, will move the motion, he said. Opposition Seeks To Win Battle Of Perception Through No-Confidence Motion ''The INDIA alliance is together and this is the idea of the INDIA alliance. Congress party's leader will be moving the motion. We feel that it is our duty to use this last weapon to break the arrogance of the government and make them speak on Manipur,'' Tagore asserted. He said the notice for the motion was submitted in the Speaker's office at 9.20 am on Wednesday. Tagore said the opposition had decided to move the no-confidence motion to break the arrogance of the prime minister, whonis not speaking in Parliament. BRS MP Nama Nageswara Rao has also filed the No Confidence Motion against the Government. pic.twitter.com/TAdLp1fD2Q ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2023 Speaking to ANI, RJD MP Manoj Jha said, "...We know that the numbers are not in our favour but democracy is not just about numbers. Manipur is burning and people are waiting for the PM to speak...Perhaps under the pretext of No Confidence Motion, he can be made to speak something. That will be the biggest achievement..." BRS MP Nama Nageswara Rao said, "We have moved the No Confidence Motion on behalf of our party. Since the commencement of the session all Opposition leaders had been demanding discussion on Manipur issue. If the PM speaks on this, there will be peace among people of the country - so we made efforts...So, today this Motion has been moved..." Revolutionary Socialist Party MP NK Premchandran says, "This is not the question of numbers. It is the question of the Constitutional propriety of the Prime Minister of the country to attend the Parliament and address it. It is unfortunate that the Opposition is forced to move a No Confidence Motion so as to have the presence of the Prime Minister. It is strange, the country has never seen such a situation..." Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal says, "...Let the No Confidence Motion come, Government is ready for every situation. We do want a discussion on Manipur...Before the commencement of the session, they wanted a discussion. When we agreed, they brought up the issue of Rules. When we reached an agreement on Rules, they brought in the new issue that the PM come and initiate discussion. I think these are all excuses..." A Look Back At Prime Ministers Ousted by No-Confidence Motions Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said, "People have confidence in PM Modi and BJP. They brought a No Confidence Motion in the last term as well. People of this country taught them a lesson." The alliance of 26 opposition parties, INDIA, had decided to move the motion in order to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak in Parliament on the Manipur violence, senior leaders of the front said. The Congress has also issued a whip in the Lower House of Parliament for its members to be present in its parliamentary office by 10.30 am on Wednesday to ''discuss some important issues''. Although the no-confidence motion by opposition parties is bound to fail the numbers test, opposition parties argue that they will win the battle of perception by cornering the government on the Manipur issue during the debate. They contend that it is also a strategy to make the prime minister speak in Parliament on the crucial matter even as the government has been insisting that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reply to the debate on the Manipur situation. Meanwhile, the opposition parties met at the chamber of the Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday to chalk out future course of action. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 11:11 [IST] What Is It That Cong, Oppn Want To Hide On Manipur Violence: BJP On Parliament Logjam When Will You Have Guts To Discuss Crimes Against Women In Oppn Ruled States: Irani India oi-PTI When they will the opposition have the guts to discuss atrocities against women in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Bihar, Union minister Smriti Irani asked in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday as opposition party MPs created an uproar over the situation in Manipur. Irani's blistering attack came during Question Hour when Amee Yajnik of the Congress asked whether women ministers would speak on Manipur. The Congress MP had been asked by the chair to ask a supplementary on a question on the performance of Indian universities when she brought up the Manipur issue. At this, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar ticked her off saying, ''It will not go on record. It is indecorous conduct, it is misconduct. It is abuse of your power.'' A combative Irani also got up and countered Yajnik. ''I take strong objections to this because women ministers and women politicians have spoken not only on Manipur, but also on Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Bihar. Tell me when will you have the guts to discuss Rajasthan. When will you have the guts to discuss Chhattisgarh, when will you have the courage to discuss what is happening in Bihar...,'' Irani said. Rahul Hobnobbing With People Funded By George Soros: Smriti Irani ''When will you have the courage to tell us how women are raped in Congress-ruled states. When will you have the guts to tell how Rahul Gandhi put Manipur on fire. Do not cast aspersions on women ministers in this cabinet,'' she said amid loud cheers by the treasury bench MPs who were on their feet. The opposition and treasury benches have exchanged heated notes ever since the Monsoon session began on July 20. While the opposition has been demanding a discussion on Manipur violence, the ruling BJP is seeking a discussion on atrocities against women in Congress-ruled states. Both the ruling and opposition members have given several adjournment notices in support of their demands. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 14:22 [IST] The NATO Summit in Vilnius (July 11-12) signalled that there is absolutely no possibility of talks to settle the Ukraine war in a.. Eurasia Review 22 Jul 2023 NATO allies and officials from Kyiv are holding talks in Brussels as part of the new re-branded, NATO-Ukraine Council. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Black Sea port security would be a key topic. DW has the latest. Rumble 26 Jul 2023 An American released in a prisoner swap with Russia last year has now been wounded fighting Moscow's forces in Ukraine. NATO allies and the Kyiv administration are holding talks in Brussels as part of the new re-branded, NATO-Ukraine Council. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Black Sea port security would be a key topic. DW has the latest. US President Joe Biden's son had been expected to plead guilty as part of a deal to avoid a more serious gun possession conviction. Prosecutors were prepared to recommend two years probation. NATO allies are holding talks in Brussels as part of the new, re-branded NATO-Ukraine Council. Meanwhile, Ukraine's domestic intelligence agency says it was behind last year's Kerch Bridge attack. DW has the latest. Vitalii Chychasov is facing up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to selling millions of people's private information, including SSNs. Upworthy 26 Jul 2023 Cambodia's long-ruling Prime Minister Hun Sen announced on Wednesday he will hand over power to his son Hun Manet, ending a near.. Mike Massa setting himself on fire as part of the SAG-AFTRA strike, a screengrab from a shared Instagram post about Monday's rally. Mike Massa and Elena Sanchez The SAG-AFTRA strike is heating up literally. A stunt double for Harrison Ford in the latest "Indiana Jones" film set himself on fire during a rally. "We wanted to make a statement, and I think we did!" stunt performer Mike Sassa said on his Instagram post. Harrison Ford's stunt double in the latest "Indiana Jones" film set himself on fire during a rally for the SAG-AFTRA strike on Monday. Stunt actor Mike Massa was part of a crowd of stunt performers that gathered at the site of a tracking vehicle company as part of the ongoing protests, per Atlanta television station WSB-TV. A shared Instagram post uploaded by Massa and fellow stunt actor Elena Sanchez captured the moment Massa walked onto a makeshift stage at the back of a truck and set himself ablaze. In the video, Massa can be seen striding along the stage, holding a picket board and wearing a suit that's on fire. The camera then pans to show the cheering crowd. "We are tired of being burned by the AMPTP," Sanchez wrote in their shared caption, referring to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Separately, Sanchez also spoke at the event, calling for better pay for SAG union members. "87% of the 160,000 SAG Actor Members make less than $26,000 a year. Which means they do not qualify for health insurance," Sanchez said at the event, per WSB-TV. After his stunt, Massa shared yet another post about his participation in the rally. "We wanted to make a statement and I think we did! It was great to see such a great turnout from our local Stunt community, local leadership, and actors who showed up to support us. It was a great day!" Massa said in his caption, after thanking a few colleagues for showing up as part of his fire safety team. Story continues According to his IMDB page, Massa is credited for working on shows such as "Stranger Things," "Star Trek," and most recently, "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny." He even chronicled his time on the "Indiana Jones" set with a few behind-the-scenes photos on his Instagram. Speaking to Insider about the responses she's received since the rally, Sanchez said that she's "humbled by the support and love" that she and her fellow stunt performers are getting "from people around the world." "We are looking forward to getting back to work once the AMPTP offers us a fair deal," Sanchez told Insider. Massa did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Insider outside of regular business hours. July 26, 2023: The article has been updated to reflect the comments from Elena Sanchez. Read the original article on Insider Pakistans security landscape has become increasingly volatile, as evidenced by the recent spate of attacks on military bases and law enforcement officers. A newly emerged group, Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), has claimed responsibility for a brazen assault on a military base in Northern Balochistan, resulting in casualties... Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The days of a sole American superpower are over. Other powerful actors have emerged in the east, as the western domination has waned through multiple failed wars which were unjustifiable. The Russian-Iranian relationship was further strengthened while fighting Radical Islamic terrorists in Syria, which were supported by the US and NATO. Steven Sahiounie of MidEastDiscourse interviewed Dr. Javad Masoumi, Iranian geo-political researcher and analyst. #1. Steven Sahiounie (SS): Ukraine appears set to join NATO. In your view, what does that signify? Dr. Javad Masoumi (JS): The world is becoming multipolar, and new international relations are being formed. The expansion of NATO to the East with Ukraine's membership is an important development in international relations. #2. SS: Iran and Russia have a strong relationship in many areas of common interest. How do you see that relationship growing? JS: Some facts about the relations between Iran and Russia. Russia is a powerful actor that seeks revenge against America. The Islamic Republic of Iran is also a powerful actor, and it plays an important role in Russia's global politics. Iran and Russia have played a significant role in the war against terrorism in Syria. After the victory over terrorist groups like ISIS, the relations between Iran and Russia have undergone changes. #3. SS: Both Iran and Russia are facing economic challenges. In your opinion, what are some of those factors? JS: Problems in economic cooperation between Iran and Russia. There is a need for information and study in economic relations. Accurate information about market conditions, potentials, and price levels can be helpful. Unfortunately, the economic structures of Iran and Russia are not strong. There is a lack of necessary knowledge about the markets of Iran and Russia, which can be addressed with the help of technology. 4. SS: Do you see the further development of trade between Iran and Russia? JM: Opportunities and potentials for the development of economic relations exist between Iran and Russia. Central Asia presents a great opportunity for expanding economic cooperation between Iran and Russia. Iran and Russia can effectively utilize the Caspian Sea. The establishment of a joint economic organization in the Caspian Sea is needed. An organization for cooperation on OPEC gas could be considered. The establishment of study centers in Iran and Russia can lead to new forms of cooperation, such as the development of economic relations. Scientific and public diplomacy present another potential for bilateral relations. #5. What are your suggestions for improving economic relations between Iran and Russia? JM: Two trends can be suggested for the relations between the two countries: political-defense relations and economic-commercial relations. Organize scientific and economic study trips to improve the level of economics in both countries. The development of new rules is necessary to enhance relationships. Establish a new joint bank in Russia and Iran. Efficient goods transfer is crucial for road, rail, and sea transit. Utilize information technology to formulate business policies. Implement laws to provide financial support. Establish two strategic study institutes in Moscow and Tehran. The creation of a standard institution in Iran and Russia for the production of goods seems necessary. #6. SS: How do you propose to support a realistic strategic relationship between Iran and Russia? Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Strong local actions are pivotal to reduce NCDs, TB and tobacco use in Bangladesh SHOBHA SHUKLA, BOBBY RAMAKANT - CNS Mayors of Bangladesh unite to reduce tobacco use, TB and NCDs (Image by CNS) Details DMCA 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. 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). The first time I saw the infamous Skullcassette-and-Bones logo was on holiday in the UK and purchased the very un-punky Chariots of Fire soundtrack. It was on the inner sleeve. Home Taping Is Killing Music it proclaimed. It was? I asked myself. And its illegal a subhead added. It is? I also asked myself. (Ironically, this was a few months before I came into possession of my first combination turntable-cassette deck.) Ten years and racks and racks of homemade cassette dubs on my shelves later, music seemed to be doing very well. (Later, by going digital, the music industry killed itself, and I had absolutely nothing to do with it.) British record collectors will no doubt remember this campaign that started in 1981, another business-backed moral panic. And funnily enough it had nothing to do with dubbing vinyl. Instead, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) were taking aim at people who were recording songs off the radio instead of purchasing records. With the rise of the cassette tape in popularity, the BPI saw pounds and pence leaving their pockets. Now, figuring out lost profits from home taping could be a fools errand, but lets focus on the illegal part. Technically, this is true. Radio stations pay licensing fees to play music, so a consumer taping that song off the radio is infringing on the songs copyright. Britain has very different fair use laws than America. In addition, digital radio and clearer signals have complicated matters over the years. In practice, however, the whole thing was bunkum. Radio recordings are historic. Mixtapes are culture. I have my tapes of John Peels BBC shows, which I recorded for the music. Now, I listen to them for Peels intros and outros. Seriously, the Napalm Death Peel Sessions *only* make sense with his commentary. Whoever taped this is an unknown legend: The post-punk crowd knew the campaign was bunkum too. Malcolm McLaren, always the provocateur, released Bow Wow Wows cassette-only-single C-30 C-60 C-90 Go with a blank B-side that urged consumers to record their own music. EMI quickly dropped the band. The Dead Kennedys also repeated the black b-side gimmick with In God We Trust, Inc. (I would be interested in anybody who picks up a copy used of either to see what *is* on the b-side). And then there were the parodies. The metal group Venom used Home Taping Is Killing Music; So Are Venom on an album; Peter Principle offered Home Taping Is Making Music: Billy Bragg kept it Marxist: Capitalism is killing music pay no more than 4.99 for this record. For the industry, music was the product; for the regular folks, music was communication, it was art, it was a language. The campaign never did much damage. Attempts to levy a tax on blank cassettes didnt get traction in the UK. And BPIs director general John Deacon was frustrated that record companies didnt want to splash the Jolly Roger on inner sleeves. The logo lives on, however, as part of torrent site Pirate Bays sails: Just after the hysteria died down, compact discs began their rise, planting the seeds for the digital revolution, the mp3, file sharing, and now streaming. (Wait, is it possible to record internet streams? Why, yes.) If you have any stories about how you helped kill music by recording your favorite DJs, confess your crimes in the comments. Note: An earlier version of this post appeared on our site in 2019. If you would like to sign up for Open Cultures free email newsletter, please find it here. If you would like to support the mission of Open Culture, consider making a donation to our site. Its hard to rely 100% on ads, and your contributions will help us continue providing the best free cultural and educational materials to learners everywhere. You can contribute through PayPal, Patreon, Venmo (@openculture) and Crypto. Thanks! Related Content: Frank Zappa Debates Whether the Government Should Censor Music in a Heated Episode of Crossfire: Why Are People Afraid of Words? (1986) The Devilish History of the 1980s Parental Advisory Sticker: When Heavy Metal & Satanic Lyrics Collided with the Religious Right 75 Post-Punk and Hardcore Concerts from the 1980s Have Been Digitized & Put Online: Fugazi, GWAR, Lemonheads, Dain Bramage (with Dave Grohl) & More Ted Mills is a freelance writer on the arts who currently hosts the artist interview-based FunkZone Podcast and is the producer of KCRWs Curious Coast. You can also follow him on Twitter at @tedmills, read his other arts writing at tedmills.com and/or watch his films here. Julie Skeen was delivering her last DoorDash order of the day with her husband, Justin Skeen, in Southeast Portland on Thursday night. Then she planned to head home to prep for a garage sale with a friend, but she never made it. As Skeen turned from Southeast 63rd Avenue onto Powell Boulevard around 9:30 p.m., her car was struck by the driver of a 2015 BMW sedan police said was racing another car. Emergency responders took Skeen to the hospital, where she later died. The driver and passenger in the BMW, 18-year-old twin sisters Hannah and Grace Fetters, died at the scene. Skeens husband was badly injured, but was released from the hospital Monday. Their friend Jodi King said the mental toll of the crash eclipsed the physical damage for Justin Skeen. Its going to be a slow heal for him, said King. Emotionally, hes a lot worse. Julie Skeen, 55, was a loving and generous person, King said. She was a part-time food delivery driver, and ran a dog daycare out of her Northeast Portland home. She had a passion for animals, and frequented dog shows, King said. King met Skeen in Rainier, Oregon, when she was 14 years old. They lived across the street from each other and the two built a friendship that lasted over 40 years. They enjoyed traveling together with other friends and going on girls trips, King said. We just clicked instantly, and weve been together ever since, King said. Theres never been a day in my life when Jules wasnt there for me. I know a couple dozen people who would say the same. Investigators said they believe the BMW was racing a 2005 Subaru on Southeast Powell Boulevard at speeds above the posted limit of 30 mph, police said. Police have not identified the Subarus 17-year-old driver, who pulled over and remained at the scene. King asks that more be done in schools to prevent crashes caused by street racing. We need to get into those schools and we need to talk to the kids and let them know its all fun and games until you take someones life, King said. A GoFundMe for Skeens family has raised almost $8,000. Hannah and Grace Fetters attended McDaniel High School and were recent graduates of Alliance High School, according to a statement from Portland Public Schools. On Tuesday, Alliance offered grief support for students and staff, according to the statement from the school district. We understand that both individually and together Hannah and Grace touched many lives within our community, a representative from the school district wrote. Support is available for students, staff and families as we process this heartbreaking loss. Hannah and Grace Fetters older sister, Brittany Fetters, posted on Facebook saying there were no words for the loss the family is experiencing. A GoFundMe for them has raised over $24,000. These girls touched so many people in their 18 years, and their void will be felt indefinitely, Brittany Fetters wrote. Love you always baby sisters. No arrests have been made in the crash. There have been 42 traffic fatalities in Portland this year, with 11 this month alone, police said Saturday. Separately, a passenger died in a crash on Southwest Barbur Boulevard Friday. Anyone with information on the Southeast Portland crash is asked to e-mail crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 23-190919. Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744 Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe A sheriffs deputy is in critical condition after being shot Wednesday morning in Tualatin while serving an eviction notice at an apartment complex, the Washington County Sheriffs Office said. The suspect is dead, according to authorities. The sheriffs office has not publicly identified the wounded deputy, but Sheriff Pat Garrett called him an incredible person and a complete professional who is resilient and compassionate. The deputy, shot multiple times, was undergoing surgery Wednesday afternoon, sheriffs officials said. He was shot about 10:20 a.m., according to a broadcast of Washington County Sheriffs Office radio communications. A sheriffs SWAT team located the suspect dead inside an apartment around 12:50 p.m., Washington County Sheriffs Detective Anel Ceric said. Authorities have not said how the suspect died and have not released his name. Deputies were serving a civil eviction at The Timbers apartments next to the Nyberg Woods shopping center when the suspect fired on them and hit one of the deputies, the sheriffs office said. The suspect holed up in an apartment as police surrounded the building. (Mark Graves, The Oregonian/OregonLive) The deputies had forced open the door and the shooter fired at them through the door, according to the radio broadcast. The wounded deputy and two other deputies were trapped on the second-floor balcony of the apartment building while the suspect was still inside the home and firing a gun, according to the radio broadcast. At least one of the deputies returned fire, Ceric said. Just get to the most secure location you can where you can defend yourself, a person can be heard saying on the broadcast. Weve got armor coming your way. A person can be heard yelling in pain. He needs medical attention, one person said. We need to make a plan. Law enforcement surrounded an apartment complex where a sheriffs deputy was shot Wednesday morning in Tualatin.Mark Graves/The Oregonian Deputies surrounded the apartment where the suspect was believed to be holed up, alone and armed, according to the broadcast. Residents in the apartment complex were told to shelter in place. The wounded deputy was flown by LifeFlight helicopter to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in North Portland. A drone was used in the search for the suspect, whose first name apparently is Christopher, according to the communications broadcast. Authorities set up a command post near the shopping center, and more than a dozen police cars converged on the scene. Tualatin Fire & Rescue and an ambulance also arrived at the site. The Timbers at Tualatin is a circular series of two-story, wood-paneled buildings tucked off Nyberg Street. The complex is one of a handful of residential buildings in the retail-oriented area east of Interstate 5. Across the street sits a McDonalds, a couple of gas stations and offices. Melody Osborne, 47, who lives in an apartment on the northern edge of the sprawling Timbers property, assumed the blaring sirens Wednesday morning were coming from a traffic crash out on the busy roadway. She said the apartment complex is usually peaceful, full of families. Im worried, Osborne said. These are things that dont happen here in Tualatin. Ron Jacobs, who lives about half a mile from The Timbers, said a coworker at a gas station a few blocks from the shooting called him and told him to look out his window to see the commotion. Jacobs, 62, said hed never seen anything like the large-scale police response to the shooting. The strange thing about it is this is a quiet, peaceful area, he said. By mid-afternoon, investigators appeared to be focusing on a second-story apartment in the B building off Nyberg Street at the south end of the complex. A Washington County Sheriffs Office Forensic Unit truck was parked near the front of the building and yellow evidence markers were visible on the stairwell. The Washington County Major Crimes Team is investigating the shooting, with Beaverton police taking the lead. Tualatin, Tigard, Sherwood, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Portland and Port of Portland police responded to help after the shooting, along with deputies from the Multnomah County and Clackamas County sheriffs offices. Outside Legacy Emanuel, about a dozen Washington County deputies as well as Portland police maintained a vigil just outside the hospitals main entrance. At a short news conference at the hospital, Sheriff Garrett thanked everyone who responded to the shooting and helped at Legacy Emanuel. Im sincerely grateful for the medical staff here at Legacy Emanuel Hospital for doing everything they can do right now to get our deputy through this very difficult period, Garrett said. This is the second time in less than a month in the Portland metro area that a law-enforcement officer has been shot on duty. At the end of June, two Clackamas County deputies, Dan Blair and Jeremy McKenna, were wounded while investigating a break-in report in a commercial area along Southeast Johnson Creek Boulevard in unincorporated Clackamas County. One deputy was shot in his ballistic vest and suffered a ricochet wound that fractured his pelvis and the other deputy was struck in the upper left arm. Both are recovering. An unarmed security officer also was shot at work when he confronted a visitor this past Saturday at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Northwest Portland. Bobby Smallwood, 44, died when he was shot in the chest during a struggle with a man who had pulled out a handgun. Police later shot and killed the suspect. -- Reporter Zane Sparling contributed to this report. Nearly one third of Oregons 197 school districts have superintendents in their first or second year on the job, including two of the largest, Salem-Keizer and Hillsboro, according to the Coalition of Oregon School administrators. Some turnover is natural, as with Mike Scotts retirement after 14 years at the helm in Hillsboro. But Oregon districts hit three successive record highs in the number of newly hired superintendents after the pandemic hit: 31 in fall 2020, 34 in fall 2021 and an astounding 41 in fall 2022, according to the school administrators group. The job has become more contentious in the past few years, as school leaders grapple with the continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and face tensions with their school boards, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported Wednesday. Weve seen an incredible amount of turnover, said Krista Parent, the coalitions deputy executive director. Sixty Oregon districts have superintendents in the first or second year of the job, she said. Twenty-five districts will have new superintendents this year. And three tiny school districts -- Nyssa, Jordan Valley and Oakridge -- plus medium-sized Crook County were still seeking a superintendent as of this week. Parent, who is a former National Superintendent of the Year, said Oregon and the entire country are in crisis mode for school district leadership. According to her data, Oregon has had 154 new superintendents in the last five years. Some districts, including Corbett and Woodburn, have had three or more leaders in that time. Parent said a natural exodus of superintendents who were retiring or aging out of the system was expected, as has happened in other fields. But turnover at this level was unexpected exacerbated by lasting impacts from the pandemic and school boards recent increased politicization, she said. Having constant change in the superintendents office often leads to instability in a school district, she said. In 2022, the Legislature passed a bill to protect superintendents from being fired for no cause. Melissa Goff was dismissed without cause from her role as superintendent of Greater Albany Public Schools in 2021. Goff said at the time she was removed for having different values, such as ensuring equity was integrated into teaching. She supported the bill, citing the need for stronger protections for school district leaders. I ask for your support of this bill so that our superintendents may do the work they are legally and ethically bound to do without the threat of an unwarranted dismissal, Goff wrote in a statement at the time. The Coalition of Oregon School Administrators operates an academy for new superintendents that helps leaders adjust to the job, Parent said. Participants learn about communicating with school board members and how to work with the board, which essentially act as a superintendents boss. But Parent said more is needed, including requiring training for school board members and superintendents about how to work together. With tensions between elected school board members and superintendents high in some places, that training could lead to better relationships, she said. She said bringing in leaders who reflect a districts diverse student populations also needs work. According to Parents data, only nine of superintendents in 216 school districts or education service districts in Oregon are people of color, and only 49 are women. Of course, the leaders of color include superintendents of the states three largest districts: Latino Guadalupe Guerrero at Portland Public Schools, Latina Andrea Castaneda in Salem-Keizer, hired this summer, and Beaverton Superintendent Gustavo Balderas, a Latino lured away from Woodburn in summer 2022. Balderas was the 2020 National Superintendent of the Year. Parent said she has hope for the future, noting that the coalitions program to help teachers and other educators obtain their administrator licenses currently has more than 400 candidates compared with just 12 when the program started in 2012. You dont just jump to the superintendency. Youre an assistant principal and a principal and a curriculum director and so on, she said. And so, if were really going to change the system, we have to start here and get that pipeline to a place of having a lot of diversity. -- The Associated Press. Betsy Hammond of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report Nineteen students arrived at the High School Journalism Institute in mid-July, nearly all strangers to one another. They had one thing in common: a shared passion for telling stories and contributing to a better-informed society. Within a week, they had become a functioning newsroom, reporting and photographing news stories under the guidance of professional editors. These stories are the result of their hard work. The long-running journalism institute has graduated hundreds of students. Many have continued their journalism education in college, then gone on to work in newsrooms in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Thats the goal. The High School Journalism Institute exists to help overcome barriers to a career in journalism and ensure the newsrooms of tomorrow reflect the communities they serve. Fifteen of this years students report they have a linguistic or cultural background that differs from most of their peers at Oregon schools. Six come from low-income households, and six more have a documented disability. Nearly half attend schools with no journalism program, and several would be the first in their family to earn a college degree. All of them have embraced this opportunity and worked hard to bring you these stories. Im sure youll agree that tomorrows newsrooms are in good hands. Elliot Njus, editor and co-director Read the stories Local farmers markets help address growing hunger crisis Free fridge movement faces backlash from neighbors, city officials in Oregon Corvallis tree vandals target burl wood, prized in woodworking Corvallis Fire hopes new hires are a step toward improving services Rock star turned soil scientist channels resistance through organic farming Oregonians with disabilities struggle amid homeless crisis: It was just impossible Community colleges budget cuts mean fewer opportunities for adult learners Corvallis vintage store Lint creating community through clothing Conundrum House, a Corvallis game shop, solves the mystery of making friends through murder Its about Dam time: Reser Stadium renovation nears completion Oregon State University professors blend robotics and action on the mat Meet the student journalists Support the High School Journalism Institute Major funding for the High School Journalism Institute comes from the S.I. Newhouse Foundation and the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. Were also supported by generous community members. You can donate through our GoFundMe page, or learn more about supporting the program contacting enjus@oregonian.com. Apply for the 2024 High School Journalism Institute Applications for next summers High School Journalism Institute will open in the spring. You can sign up to receive an email alert when they do at oregonhsji.org/apply. A 39-year-old Portland man who was shot while prosecutors say he was assaulting a security officer outside Pioneer Courthouse earlier this month was wheeled into federal court for his first appearance on an allegation of aggravated assault against a federal officer. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Armistead ordered Jett Avery Thomas, 39, of Portland to remain in custody pending trial. Candace Avalos and Melanie Billings-Yun Avalos and Billings-Yun, both Portland residents, served as commissioners on the citys Charter Review Commission that developed Measure 26-228. Just eight months ago, voters overwhelmingly approved a revision to Portlands City Charter that aims to give all Portlanders an equal voice in the running of our government. For the first time in our citys history, voters who have traditionally had less power in City Hall will have an opportunity to elect a city councilor of their choice by ranking candidates who live in their area. This was the result of an expansive and transparent process. The Charter Review Commission spent a year and a half holding listening sessions and public meetings, inviting ideas and comments from underserved communities and polling thousands of city residents of all walks of life in order to craft the governmental and electoral change Portlanders wanted to address our citys dysfunction. The reforms in Measure 26-228 were extensively discussed and debated in the press, in public gatherings and in neighborhood associations throughout our city in the months leading up to the election. The measure passed with 58% of the vote. So, it came as a shock when City Commissioners Rene Gonzalez and Dan Ryan aimed to call a special election this November to overturn three core components of the reform measure, making the galling claim that Portlanders did not know what we were voting for. More astonishing is that they would do this before any of the reforms have been implemented, even as city staff and citizen commissions appointed by City Council are working hard to ensure a smooth transition. Public outcry was immediate and overwhelming because Portlanders recognized this as a local example of a disturbing trend we are seeing across the United States of losing parties seeking to block electoral outcomes they opposed. Rather than look at innovative solutions to facilitate charter reform implementation as they vowed to do, Commissioners Gonzalez and Ryan sought to re-open a debate that has already been resoundingly decided by the people. Fortunately, after gaining next to no support, they quickly abandoned proposals to reduce the size of City Council and undermine ranked choice voting. However, the City Council still shows interest in changing the rules to increase the power of the mayor. The question of whether to allow the mayor to veto decisions made by City Council was one of the more fiercely debated issues in our listening sessions with Portlanders. It was clear that balancing power between the executive and legislative branches was a deep concern, especially as we worked to expand local representation across the city. Ultimately, we agreed with the point Mayor Ted Wheeler made last week to the City Council: a veto is not the only way a mayor can assert their power and leadership with council colleagues and is not necessary to include. The move to overturn the result of Measure 26-228 struck at two core pillars of democracy in our city: the result of the public ballot and the charter reform process. We in Portland are gifted with a special opportunity only once every decade to have a direct say through a citizen Charter Review Commission separate from elected officials in how we want to be governed. Unfortunately, the attack on charter reform isnt an outlier, but is instead a signal of a City Council that intends to continue making poorly coordinated attacks on other proven, popular, and voter-approved initiatives. We must remain vigilant and defend the fundamental tenets of democracy during this transition. The people have spoken, and our City Council needs to honor the will of voters. Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: Leaked texts andrew tate Leaked texts andrew tate.jpg - Credit: AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru When far-right influencer Andrew Tate was arrested by Romanian authorities on suspicion of sex trafficking last December, the Romanian agency DIICOT argued that Tate and his brother Tristan used the loverboy method to lure women to their compound in Bucharest under the guise of having a relationship with them before forcing them to do sex work. Tate has maintained his innocence, arguing that he never at any point has had to coerce any of his partners into doing sex work for him and recently telling Tucker Carlson that he had no financial motivation to force women to make online content for him. Newly leaked screen grabs of 2021 messages from the War Room, Tates all-male network of associates, however, are complicating Tates narrative. In the messages, which sources close to the War Room verified to Rolling Stone, Tate appears to be boasting about manipulating one of his girlfriends into doing sex work for him. More from Rolling Stone The woman, whose name Rolling Stone is withholding, is listed by Romanian prosecutors as an alleged victim of Tates sex trafficking operation, though she has repeatedly denied this. She did not immediately reply to a request for comment. In a statement, a spokesperson for Tate told Rolling Stone that the woman referred to in the purported screenshots has publicly and categorically refuted any mistreatment from the brothers, and that the release of the screenshots is part of a smear campaign against the Tates. While all statements from the alleged victims, incriminating the brothers, have been unquestioningly accepted by the public, the evidence supporting the brothers innocence has not been given the same fair treatment, the spokesperson said. Story continues The messages paint a lurid and often disturbing image of the process by which Tate allegedly recruited young women to do his bidding using a combination of lies, manipulation, and coercive tactics, all the while using examples of his conversations as teaching methods for his acolytes and inviting feedback from them. Tate and his brother Tristan, who also shows up in the leaked War Room chats, were arrested in Bucharest in December 2022 and detained on suspicion of sex trafficking, rape, and organized crime, and are currently on house arrest. The Tate brothers Bucharest compound was initially raided after an American woman and a Moldovan woman placed a call to a U.S. embassy saying they had been lured there under false pretenses and forced to create sexually explicit content online for the Tates financial benefit. The Tates have strongly denied these allegations. As Rolling Stone previously reported, the Tate brothers are the head of the War Room, an exclusive social network and Telegram channel providing members with access to their teachings on sex and masculinity. Though Tate associates have classified it as little more than an innocuous self-help brotherhood, sources familiar with the War Room have claimed that it served as a forum for coercing women to do online sex work for members. The screengrabs obtained by Rolling Stone appear to be from a channel titled War Room PhD, a reference to Tates now-defunct Pimpin Hoes Degree program (My job was to meet a girl get her to fall in love with me to where shed do anything Id say, and then get her on webcam so we could become rich together, read a now-deleted description of the website for the PhD progra.) In the messages, which are dated from June 2021, a user identified as Tate Andrews handle on the Telegram chats with his War Room members, according to previously verified messages from the group starts by expounding generally on the virtues he looks for in female partners. Give me an average moron with no skills whos blind loyal, he writes. I judge basically all females by loyalty. If theyre loyal. And they wont leave. In the end theyll do everything you want. Tate also posts screengrabs of Instagram photos of other women, referring to them as target[s] and assets to get them to cam. Ibiza asset has agreed to do [OnlyFans]. PhD writeup forthcoming, he writes on June 17, 2021, texting a video of an unidentified young woman. He later sends a photo of two women he purports to have moved in together, both of whom are currently listed by Romanian prosecutors as alleged victims of the Tates sex trafficking operation. In the messages, Tate explained how one of the women, who moved from her native country to be with him and has lost her support networks at home, had been begging to see him. So in order to make her more dependent on him, he writes, he made up a story that he had spoken to friends of hers who had claimed she had worked at a sex club prior to meeting him, prompting him to become angry at her and threaten to kick her out. In the texts, Tate appears to explain how this lie succeeds in putting the woman on the defensive and making her more dependent on him. The real goal is for her to agree to never go anywhere without me. Not even her home town, he writes. I need her working. Tate then includes what appears to be a screengrab of a text conversation between him and the woman, in which he explicitly tells her, You are never going back to [her hometown] even to visit and you dont need to leave the house in Bucharest.We are together. Always. Yes. I understand, the woman replies. According to the anti-human trafficking organization the Polaris Project, isolation is one of the tactics a trafficker uses to distance their victims from anyone who might weaken their influence or contradict the messaging theyre providing. By isolating their victims, traffickers make it more difficult for them to reach out to others for help later on down the line, the Polaris Project writes. According to the leaked messages, however, War Room members appear to view isolation as key to getting women to do their bidding. That isolation is critical, one user writes. When reached for comment, a spokesperson for the Tates cast doubt on the source of the leaked messages, saying that some of the accounts that had shared them on social media came from newly created accounts. The rise of AI and social media as a news source has opened up the opportunity to anonymously present potentially fabricated, or manipulated evidence, while bypassing the burden of responsibility and avoiding consequences, the spokesperson said. These realities raise concerns about the potential for a deliberate and targeted effort to sway public opinion and undermine the credibility of the evidence presented. In later messages, Tate appears to recount in detail the process by which he recruited the woman to work for him by producing sexualized content online. In the thread, he includes a screengrab of what appears to be a text from her, in which she protests against sending him a sexy photo or camming and doing OnlyFans because my body is intimate and only my husband should be able to touch and see. In his messages to War Room members, Tate appears to frame this clear lack of consent as both a challenge and a teaching experience for his acolytes. This is about the maximum difficulty that you experience in the business, he writes. If we all agree on that, Ill give you a play by play of what I try. He then solicits feedback from other War Room members, asking them what they would do to convince their partner to do sex work for them I would try a good cop bad cop ruse, writes one person. Act deeply hurt by her refusal. Flip it on her and get her to start feeling guilty or cry before Tate says hell be making the play tonight to get her to cam. Since she moved [to Bucharest] shes been fed. But nothing else, he writes. Shes broke. And she cant go home. And she cant leave the house. Man, I sound almost evil. But Im not. Im a Shephard. Leading the sheep. She doesnt realize that following me makes life better for her. In later messages, Tate describes how he uses the woman requesting money from him against her, framing camming as a group effort and using his discussions with her as a template for men trying to get their own female partners to cam: Were going to be traveling the world together. Im working from my phone. Were a team youre gonna listen to me,' he instructs them to say. If they dont respond, he says, let her sit broke to think. If in a few days still refuses, then failed attempt. Kick her out. Understood, good play, another War Room member responds. (The Polaris Project describes the process of exploitation thusly: The way traffickers begin the process of exploiting their victims isnt always transparent. They may start slowly, by pushing their victim to do things they might be uncomfortable with, before convincing them that sex work is a way for them to reach common goals.) Tate also describes an elaborate ruse by which he convinces the woman to cam by manufacturing a fake conversation between himself and his assistant and so-called bottom bitch, Georgiana Nagel, who is one of two women also being investigated by Romanian authorities for allegedly forming a criminal organization to exploit women. (Nagel has denied the allegations, and did not immediately respond to Rolling Stones request for comment.) The goal of staging the fake conversation, he explains, is to dispel the womans suspicions that he is trying to pressure her into camming while further convincing her to work for him. In a screengrab of the fake conversation, Nagel asks of the woman, Why doesnt she work for me on OnlyFans she will make a lot of money? I dont want her to think thats why she came to Bucharest, Tate responds. Wtf youre rich why would we need her for money? Nagel responds with a smiley face. She can work with me and make 3000 a month and live in Bucharest with you.shes taking pics all the time and make no money, why cant she sell them? In the War Room chat logs, Tate explains the purpose of staging such a ploy, as well as why he is outlining it in such detail to his followers: Ill do this for every girl I get to work if you guys see the value, he says. [You] guys can use your bottom bitch to do whatever G is doing. He also sends a screengrab of a later conversation between him and Nagel in which he appears to explicitly instruct her to get the woman to do OnlyFans. Make [name redacted] take her OnlyFans pics. I wanna see them, he writes. OK, Nagel responds. Get her on OnlyFans. I want money from her, he responds. No time for drama. Today she starts doing content, Nagel responds. A source previously close to the Tates who reviewed the messages said Tates argument to get the woman to do sex work that he is rich, and therefore doesnt need her income echoed previous conversations they had had about the topic. This is 100 percent the way [the Tates] mind[s] operates in regards to all females, the source told Rolling Stone. I honestly dont think they feel anything for any woman in terms of real genuine feelings and respect. According to court documents obtained by Rolling Stone, Tate is under investigation by Romanian prosecutors for bringing the woman to Bucharest in May 2021 and forcing her to create pornographic content for him. On social media, the woman has vociferously denied she is a victim of the Tates. The corruption is disgusting. WAKE UP PEOPLE!, she wrote on Jan. 23. I am not a Victim. There are no Victims in the Tate case. In a February 2023 court document obtained by Rolling Stone, prosecutors claimed that she and another woman associated with the Tates were taken to Dubai and instructed to make content defending them. Recent photos on the womans Instagram account feature her with another woman who has been romantically involved with Tristan Tate and is based in Dubai, and has been linked to a number of Tate-owned businesses. On July 18, a Romanian court ruled to continue the Tates house arrest for another 30 days as the investigation into their activities continues. Tate has repeatedly claimed that the allegations against him are part of a larger conspiracy to silence him, tweeting on Tuesday, there are Matrix agents on all sides of the political spectrum. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Firefighters from Central Oregon Task Force 11 were able to reunite a lost dog with her family on Sunday. Ladybird the dog was lost during evacuations from the Golden Fire. Ladybird the dog was reunited with her family after being rescued by firefighters battling the Golden Fire in Klamath County. Crews from the task force found the dog while on the fire lines in Klamath County. According to a Facebook post, Ladybird was reunited with her family after the crew reached out via the cell number on her collar. About Professor Ruru 's research Jacinta Ruru (Raukawa, Ngati Ranginui) MNZM, FRSNZ is a Distinguished Professor of Law and holds an inaugural Sesquicentennial Distinguished Chair at the University of Otago. She researches how state legal systems should reconcile with their Indigenous peoples, their laws and knowledges, and specifically considers how law and policy can be more Te Tiriti o Waitangi compliant to better enable Maori to contribute towards caring for, owning, managing and governing lands and waters. Her work has advanced options including legal personality of the environment and creating a bijural legal education. Her work includes co-authoring Discovering Indigenous Lands: The Doctrine of Discovery in the English Colonies (Oxford University Press, 2010), co-editing Nga Kete Matauranga. Maori Scholars at the Research Interface (Otago University Press, 2021) and leading a national project Inspiring National Indigenous Legal Education for Aotearoa New Zealands LLB. She has research collaborations around the world. Jacinta completed her PhD in Canada and is the recipient of several significant awards for her research, supervision and teaching. In 2016, she won the Aotearoa New Zealand Prime Ministers Supreme Award for Excellence in Tertiary Teaching and in 2017 was one of the first two Maori woman to be appointed fellow of the Royal Society Te Aparangi. She is the immediate past co-director of Nga Pae o te Maramatanga New Zealands Maori Centre of Research Excellence and past recipient of Fulbright New Zealand awards. She currently holds governance positions with Te Papa Tongarewa, Te Wananga o Aotearoa, the Environmental Defence Society and the Blue Oyster Gallery. The session will run from 12-1pm followed by a refreshments 1-2pm. Streaming information for this Distinguished Research Medal Event This event will be live-streamed, from 11:55am Thursday 3 August 2023, at the following web address: Distinguished Research Medal Event video stream Test your connection to the streaming service here Date Thursday, 3 August 2023 Time 12:00pm - 2:00pm Audience Alumni,Postgraduate students,Public,Staff Event Category Humanities Campus Dunedin Location T he Terrace Lounge, Union Building, Dunedin Cost Free Contact Name Anna Poole Contact Email anna.poole@otago.ac.nz Save this event Should New Zealand join AUKUS ? What is the New Zealand stance on The Voice? Join Australian High Commissioner, Harinder Sidhu for a panel discussion on the breadth of the Trans-Tasman relationship. Professor Robert Patman and Associate Professor Nicholas Khoo on the geostrategic picture and AustraliaNew Zealand co-operation, and Dr Christine Winter on our respective indigenous journeys. The High Commissioner will speak to each of these issues plus briefly touch on climate change. Date Thursday, 3 August 2023 Time 5:00pm - 7:00pm Audience Public,Undergraduate students,Postgraduate students,Staff,Alumni Event Category Humanities Event Type Lecture Campus Dunedin Department Politics Location Moot Court, 10th Floor, Richardson Building, Dunedin Cost Free Contact Name Peter Grace Contact Email peter.grace@otago.ac.nz Save this event Thursday 27 July 2023 10:59am Matariki Market Day The weather outside may have been uninspiring but it was all warmth and aroha inside the University of Otago, Christchurch campus last Friday as staff and students gathered for the annual Matariki staff awards alongside a new event a Matariki Market Day. The day of celebration kicked off at 10am in the Rolleston Foyer with colourful stalls selling an array of goodies including baked treats, organic food, crafts, art prints, jewellery, candles, bathroom products, toys, children's clothing, traditional & contemporary Maori arts, plants, and a variety of ceramics. The Matariki Staff Awards began at midday with a mihimihi from Dean and Head of Campus Professor Suzanne Pitama, acknowledging the passing of former staff before congratulating those about to receive awards for the 2022 academic year. Professor Pitama says this annual event is a perfect opportunity to illuminate our own stars on campus who "shine as bright as the Matariki stars", and whose mahi aligns with UOCs five cultural values on which the awards are based. The event concluded with a whakawatea from Professor Pitama and wonderful kai catered by the Central Park cafe team. Award winners The award winners were as follows: Totara tu ki te parae | Social accountability This award acknowledges staff contribution to utilising their research/teaching influence to better support community initiatives and innovations. Professor Bridget Robinson for her mana among the clinicians and scientists in Canterbury; for establishing the Canterbury Comprehensive Cancer Centre (C4); and for her interaction with patients, colleagues, students and researchers. Dr Ruqayya Sulaiman-Hill for the setting up and leadership of a team of Muslim researchers to understand the impacts of the March 15 terror attacks on the community. This work sits alongside her leadership roles within the Muslim community, including supporting development into research and heath positions. Aaron Dyer for being extremely proactive and helpful in funding solutions for any issues related to animal research work; his care and attention to animal welfare above and beyond the scope of his role; and his diligence towards a high standard of care and quality of work. Ngakau tapatahi | Integrity This award acknowledges staff who have demonstrated integrity through their work. Amber Philpott for her respect and value of all people she comes into contact with and her hard work to ensure student needs are met not only within the teaching module but as human beings outside of their studies. Ma whero, ma pango | Collaboration Presenter Professor Suetonia Palmer. This award acknowledges staff for their demonstration as a key stakeholder in supporting the growth and development of the UOC campus. Dr Chris Hendry and Dr David Healee for their outstanding collaboration with leaders in the healthcare sector to keep abreast of changes within the structure of the health system and the consequent impact on nursing leadership and the growth of clinical nursing research. Dr Laura Joyce for her advocacy for the students of the three medical schools to make overseas student electives a reality; collaborating with the University on many levels as well as students to create the best outcomes for all. Fran Cox and Amanda Clifford for their coordination of and participation in campus wellbeing initiatives and campus events which draw staff and students together from across campus. Dr Nick Magon for going out of his way to share his wealth of knowledge in mass spectrometry with others; and for being a mentor to many PhD and honours' students in his research group. The Clinical Mastery Peer Teaching Programme Team (Ella Hartley, Dr Jess Stanners, Professor Lutz Beckert and Scott Hallman) for their creation of this new peer-to-peer teaching programme which - in the context of COVID and the limited opportunities for medical students to practice clinical skills in recent years - has been invaluable in providing critical practice and learning for our future health professionals. Aroha ki te tangata | Respect This award acknowledges staff for their ongoing support to UOC through their networking and advocacy. Dr Logan Walker for his ability to successfully engage students in his radiology teaching through simplifying and making difficult concepts more accessible, uplifting the abilities of all those he teaches. Teaching Awards Dr Ally Calder (Physiotherapy) Lauren Wallace (Respiratory) Dr Brooke Beardsley (Anatomical Pathology) Dr Brandon Burke (Clinical Skills) Associate Professor Phil Bird (Otolaryngology) Dr Jenni Manuel (Psychological Medicine) Dr Ramez Ailabouni (Orthopaedics and Advanced Surgery) Research Awards Profesor Gillian Abel (Population Health) Associate Professor Cameron Lacey (Maori/Indigenous Health) The Robin Fraser Research Supporter of the Year Professor Lisa Stamp Christchurch Medical Students Association (CMSA) Awards to Staff The staff member adjudged by students to have been the Best Consultant Teacher: Ms Tamara Glynn (4th year) Dr Tom Cawood (5th year) Dr Tamara Brodie (TI year) The staff member adjudged by students to have been the Best Registrar Teacher: Dr Brendan Desmond (4th year) Dr Ellen Burch (5th year) Dr Yongtai Beh (TI year) The staff member adjudged by students to have been the Best House Officer Teacher: Dr Hannah Kim (4th year) Dr James Manning (5th year) Dr Danni Ryan (TI year) The teaching run adjudged by students to have been the Best Module: SGO (4th year) Advanced Medicine (5th year) The staff member adjudged by students to have been the Best Module Convenor: Dr Michaela Glanville (4th year) Professor Tony Walls (5th year) Dr Laura Joyce (TI year) The vertical module adjudged by students to have been the Best Vertical Module: Haematology (4th year) Haematology (5th year) Clinical Skills (TI year) The staff member adjudged by students to have been the Best Vertical Module Teacher: Dr Sean Macpherson (4th year) Dr Sean Macpherson (5th year) John Dean (TI year) The staff member adjudged by students to have offered the most support: Jen Van Dijk (4th year) Fran Barrett (5th year) Associate Professor Tania Huria (TI year) Mana whakatupu | Leadership This award acknowledges staff for their demonstrated leadership at UOC . Sandra Scannell for her leadership of the administration process for the site visit related to the internationalisation of the Master of Nursing Science programme, making an important contribution to the outcomes of the accreditation process which are of great significance to the international standing of the University of Otago. Dr Michaela Glanville for her outstanding leadership in modifying teaching to minimise student learning disruption during the multiple complex and ever-changing plans and challenges presented by COVID-19. The 2022 Christchurch Medical Students Association for their cohesiveness as a team during some of the challenging trials of 2022, which included navigating significant disruptions to medical school learning through the COVID traffic light system. The Gold Medal for Research Excellence This award acknowledges staff for their demonstrated sustained excellence in research which magnifies the values of UOC and has contributed to the health and wellbeing of Aotearoa New Zealand. This award notes their extensive dissemination of health evidence with most of their cited publications being first or senior authorship, with the majority of work being carried out on the Christchurch campus. These recipients continue to make an ongoing positive contribution to the UOC research environment through mentorship and leadership, and are acknowledged by their peers as having significantly impacted what we know in their fields of expertise. Professor Gary Hooper (Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Medicine) Professor Mike Ardagh (Surgery) The Gold Medal for Teaching Excellence This award acknowledges staff for their demonstrated sustained outstanding competence in teaching and/or supervision; course development and/or innovation; contribution to the UOC teaching and learning environment; and leadership in teaching and learning. Dr Lynette Murdoch (General Practice) Associate Professor Philip Pattemore (Paediatrics) University of Otago, Christchurch Dean Professor Suzanne Pitama presents a Matariki staff award to Lauren Wallace. WESTconsin Credit Union is gearing up to show their annual support of local students through their Back to School Supply Drive. The drive began Monday, July 24, and runs through Saturday, Aug. 5. WESTconsin will accept donations of school supplies at all offices in the Kindness Counts collection bins near lobby entrances. Additionally, monetary donations can be made at any office with a WESTconsin Credit Union representative or through drive-ups. This year marks the 15th annual Back to School Drive. In 2022, local community partners received a total of 2,052 items along with over $1,200, which was collected from members and employees. Visit westconsincu.org for more information. Washington, DC, US (PANA) - While the forecast for 2023 is modestly higher than predicted in the April 2023 World Economic Outlook (WEO), it remains weak by historical standards, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) maintains in its just released World Economic Outlook Update Wisconsin sales and use taxes wouldnt apply to strollers, diapers and other child care products under a GOP measure reintroduced on Monday, just over a month after it was initially proposed as a provision in the states two-year spending plan. The reintroduction of the measure comes weeks after the Republican-controlled Legislature passed a budget that didnt include the proposal or $340 million in Democratic proposals to subsidize child care. The sales tax exemption for the products would save parents $37 million in the next two years, draft bill author Rep. David Steffen, R-Green Bay, said in a statement. In a memo to fellow legislators, Steffen and co-author Sen. Jesse James, R-Altoona, called the proposal a creative solution to help reduce the financial stress on young families and demonstrates our states commitment to prioritizing the most vulnerable Wisconsinites. Steffen initially released the proposal in June, when the Legislatures finance committee was still writing the states 2023-25 budget. The proposal didnt make it into the budget due to the volume of text within it, Steffen spokesperson Nicole Walentowski-Domokos said. We are certainly hopeful that the proposal will continue working its way through the process, but it is in the very early stages of circulation, so its just too soon to give any definitive answers, she said. The sales and use tax exemptions would apply to baby cribs, playpens, safety gates, baby monitors, child safety cabinet locks, electrical outlet safety covers, strollers, bicycle child carrier seats and trailers, baby exercisers and swings, breast pumps, baby bottles, diapers, baby wipes, and changing tables, according to the draft bill. The economic impacts of the proposal could be significant because parents typically buy baby items right before and right after birth, which is around the time that parental income falls the most, said Jessica Pac, a UW-Madison assistant social work professor. If you spend $100 per month just on diapers, and you remove this 5% sales tax, that would be $5 per month, which alone amounts to $60 per year, Pac said. But then when you consider all the items covered in the proposal that are purchased in the same time period, it would modestly offset expenses in the first few years of life. Assembly Minority Leader Rep. Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, is still reviewing the proposal, spokesperson Adam Wigger said. Care subsidies rejected Along with not including Steffens proposal in the state budget that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed in July, GOP legislators also rejected the governors request for $340 million to maintain a child care assistance program that will run out of federal funding next year. The money would have gone toward monthly payments to child care providers in Wisconsin, making the program permanent. Evers and Democratic lawmakers raised concerns that rejecting the $340 million subsidy could have a drastic negative impact on the availability of affordable child care in the state. The biggest costs for families when they have young children is housing and child care, so subsidizing those items would substantially impact the family budget, Pac said, adding that subsidizing those costs wouldnt provide as much flexibility as unconditional cash transfers, such as the payments remitted in 2021 as part of the expanded child tax credit. But I think all of these ideas like removing a sales tax and subsidizing child care are obviously a really good place to start, especially because theyre focused on this time period when child development is very sensitive to parental investments, she said. Just over 63% of Wisconsin child care centers have staffing shortages and 80% of workers are facing burnout and exhaustion, a recent national survey of early childhood educators found. Conducted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the survey also indicated that 32% of child care center owners would consider leaving their job or closing their program if economic conditions dont improve. The child advocacy organization Kids Forward noted that the median pay for child care workers in Wisconsin is $12.66 an hour. Before the federal funding was provided, the median pay was $10.66 an hour, said Brooke Skidmore, co-owner of the Growing Tree, a home-centered child care center in New Glarus. The federal government originally provided more than $300 million to the Child Care Counts program to support providers during the COVID-19 pandemic by helping cover costs of staffing and operations. That funding dropped to $90 million in June and it will end entirely next year. The Child Care Counts program has distributed funds to more than 4,300 child care providers in the state, helping more than 22,000 child care professionals, according to the state Department of Children and Families. New York, US (PANA) - The United Nations and African Union (AU) have joined the chorus of condemnation of Wednesday's coup attempt in Niger after Presidential guards seized President Mohamed Bazoum and blockaded his residence, as well as key ministries Paris, France (PANA) - A new UN report raised concerns on Wednesday about the excessive use of smartphones, calling for them to be banned in schools worldwide Photo: (Photo : Real Support for Breastfeeding Moms: A Look at Momcozy's Upcoming World Breastfeeding Week Event) As we honor World Breastfeeding Week at the beginning of August, the importance of breastfeeding in early childhood development and maternal health comes into sharp focus. But the challenge is clear: data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals only 55.8% of U.S. mothers are still breastfeeding six months after birth, a figure that drops to 35.9% at the 12-month mark. This reality highlights the crucial need for ongoing, practical support that continues beyond both this designated week, and National Breastfeeding Month (taking place all August). Recognizing this, Momcozy, a standout in the maternity and infant care industry, is set to host a special event in Arizona on August 12th, to sustain the vital dialogue on breastfeeding and provide tangible support to breastfeeding mothers. Aptly named 'Cozy Power,' Momcozy's eagerly anticipated event offers more than just a gathering - it's a treasure trove of indispensable resources and networking opportunities for breastfeeding moms and maternity professionals. The event, set to take place in Scottsdale, Arizona, will draw a convergence of renowned organizations, esteemed breastfeeding experts, and media personnel. What truly makes this event stand out in the crowd, though, is its unique and fitting theme - "Real Support for Breastfeeding Moms." Aligned with this theme, attendees can look forward to a variety of educational and exclusive features, including direct consultations with experts in the breastfeeding field. These hands-on sessions aim to provide mothers with accurate and reliable information on breastfeeding, helping them navigate common challenges and misconceptions. In all this Momcozy will play a facilitative role between experts and attendees, to empower breastfeeding mothers with the educational and practical resources that they need. Likewise, the brand will use the event to introduce its Breastfeeding Support Fund which aims to remove financial barriers and promote access to vital breastfeeding education. Furthermore, the fund gives moms the opportunity to gain professional skills and contribute to the wider breastfeeding community. Participants in the seminar will have the opportunity to try out products, and stand a chance to win an array of prizes, gift boxes, and certificates, all courtesy of Momcozy. Happening concurrently with the seminar, moms can also join in on the 'gASP I'm Breastfeeding' photoshoot while in attendance. Orchestrated by local photographer Alicia Samone, the photoshoot takes place to challenge societal norms and illuminate the challenges tied to breastfeeding. Highlighting Momcozy's past and continued dedication to the cause, the company has sponsored the 'gASP I'm Breastfeeding' photoshoot for the last two years and counting. Besides the event, Momcozy is also showing support for breastfeeding moms this World Breastfeeding Week and beyond, as a Media Partner with esteemed pregnancy and parenting outlet, 'The Bump.' With this partnership, Momcozy aims to further extend the reach of the conversation on lending real support to breastfeeding moms. Those interested in learning more can visit the event's landing page on Momcozy's website for more details about the event. Whether you're a mom seeking real, tangible support or someone looking to understand and engage in the crucial conversation around breastfeeding, Momcozy's Cozy Power seminar on August 12th presents a great opportunity to experience what "Real Support for Breastfeeding Moms" actually looks like. Ive been thinking today, as I sometimes do, of the perils of reliance upon translators and translations. In such pondering, a specific book often comes to mind, Curiously, and although I own a copy of it, even now I still havent read the entirety of Alexander Kinglakes 1844 book Eothen; or Traces of travel brought home from the East. But one particular passage a fictional conversation between an English visitor and an Ottoman (Osmanli) pasha by means of a somewhat manic-depressive dragoman (an early form of Middle Eastern travel guide and translator) has always struck me as hilarious. Maybe one has to have spent time in the Middle East to fully appreciate it, but the flowery translator who occasionally turns sullen, the clash of cultures, the mutual misunderstanding, and, yes, the risks of relying upon translation all of these seem to me spot on and very funny. So Im sharing it with you: Pasha. The Englishman is welcome; most blessed among hours is this, the hour of his coming. Dragoman (to the Traveller). The Pasha pays you his compliments. Traveller. Give him my best compliments in return, and say Im delighted to have the honour of seeing him. Dragoman (to the Pasha). His Lordship, this Englishman, Lord of London, Scorner of Ireland, Suppressor of France, has quitted his governments, and left his enemies to breathe for a moment, and has crossed the broad waters in strict disguise, with a small but eternally faithful retinue of followers, in order that he might look upon the bright countenance of the Pasha among Pashas the Pasha of the everlasting Pashalik of Karagholookoldour. Traveller (to his Dragoman). What on earth have you been saying about London? The Pasha will be taking me for a mere Cockney. Have not I told you always to say, that I am from a branch of the family of Mudcombe Park, and that I am to be a magistrate for the county of Bedfordshire, only Ive not qualified; and that I should have been a deputy-lieutenant, if it had not been for the extraordinary conduct of Lord Mountpromise; and that I was a candidate for Boughton-Soldborough at the last election, and that I should have won easy if my committee had not been bribed. I wish to heaven that if you do say anything about me, youd tell the simple truth! [Dragoman is silent.] Pasha. What says the friendly Lord of London? is there aught that I can grant him within the Pashalik of Karagholookoldour? Dragoman (growing sulky and literal). This friendly Englishman this branch of Mudcombe this head purveyor of Boughton-Soldborough this possible policeman of Bedfordshire is recounting his achievements and the number of his titles. Pasha. The end of his honours is more distant than the ends of the earth, and the catalogue of his glorious deeds is brighter than the firmament of heaven ! Dragoman (to the Traveller). The Pasha congratulates your Excellency. Traveller. About Boughton-Soldborough? The deuce he does! but I want to get at his views in relation to the present state of the Ottoman empire. Tell him the Houses of Parliament have met, and that there has been a speech from the Throne pledging England to maintain the integrity of the Sultans dominions. Dragoman (to the Pasha). This branch of Mudcombe, this possible policeman of Bedfordshire, informs your Highness that in England the talking houses have met, and that the integrity of the Sultans dominions has been assured for ever and ever by a speech from the velvet chair. Pasha. Wonderful chair! Wonderful houses! whirr! whirr! all by wheels; whiz! whiz! all by steam! wonderful chair! wonderful houses! wonderful people! whirr! whirr! all by wheels! whiz! whiz! all by steam! Traveller (to the Dragoman). What does the Pasha mean by that whizzing? he does not mean to say, does he, that our Government will ever abandon their pledges to the Sultan? Dragoman. No, your excellency, but he says the English talk by wheels and by steam. Traveller. Thats an exaggeration; but say that the English really have carried machinery to great perfection. Tell the Pasha (hell be struck with that) that whenever we have any disturbances to put down, even at two or three hundred miles from London, we can send troops by the thousand to the scene of action in a few hours. Dragoman (recovering his temper and freedom of speech). His Excellency, this Lord of Mudcombe, observes to your Highness, that whenever the Irish, or the French, or the Indians rebel against the English, whole armies of soldiers and brigades of artillery are dropped into a mighty chasm called Euston Square, and, in the biting of a cartridge, they rise up again in Manchester, or Dublin, or Paris, or Delhi, and utterly exterminate the enemies of England from the face of the earth. Pasha. I know it I know all; the particulars have been faithfully related to me, and my mind comprehends locomotives. The armies of the English ride upon the vapours of boiling caldrons, and their horses are flaming coals! whirr! whirr! all by wheels! whiz! whiz! all by steam ! Traveller (to his Dragoman). I wish to have the opinion of an unprejudiced Ottoman gentleman as to the prospects of our English commerce and manufactures; just ask the Pasha to give me his views on the subject. Pasha (after having received the communication of the Dragoman). The ships of the English swarm like flies; their printed calicoes cover the whole earth, and by the side of their swords the blades of Damascus are blades of grass. All India is but an item in the ledger-books of the merchants whose lumber-rooms are filled with ancient thrones! whirr! whirr! all by wheels! whizz! whizz! all by steam! Dragoman. The Pasha compliments the cutlery of England, and also the East India Company. Traveller. The Pashas right about the cutlery: I tried my scimitar with the common officers swords belonging to our fellows at Malta, and they cut it like the leaf of a novel. Well (to the Dragoman), tell the Pasha I am exceedingly gratified to find that he entertains such a high opinion of our manufacturing energy, but I should like him to know, though, that we have got something in England besides that. These foreigners are always fancying that we have nothing but ships and railways, and East India Companies; do just tell the Pasha that our rural districts deserve his attention, and that even within the last two hundred years there has been an evident improvement in the culture of the turnip; and if he does not take any interest about that, at all events you can explain that we have our virtues in the country that we are a truth- telling people, and, like the Osmanlees, are faithful in the performance of our promises. Oh! and by-the-by, whilst you are about it, you may as well just say, at the end, that the British yeoman is still, thank God! the British yeoman. Pasha (after hearing the Dragoman). It is true, it is true: through all Feringhistan the English are foremost and best; for the Russians are drilled swine, and the Germans are sleeping babes, and the Italians are the servants of songs, and the French are the sons of newspapers, and the Greeks are the weavers of lies, but the English and the Osmanlees are brothers together in righteousness: for the Osmanlees believe in one only God, and cleave to the Koran, and destroy idols; so do the English worship one God, and abominate graven images, and tell the truth, and believe in a book; and though they drink the juice of the grape, yet to say that they worship their prophet as God, or to say that they are eaters of pork, these are lies lies born of Greeks, and nursed by Jews. Dragoman. The Pasha compliments the English. Traveller (rising). Well, Ive had enough of this. Tell the Pasha I am greatly obliged to him for his hospitality, and still more for his kindness in furnishing me with horses, and say that now I must be off. Pasha (after hearing the Dragoman, and standing up on his divan). Proud are the sires, and blessed are the dams of the horses, that shall carry his Excellency to the end of his prosperous journey. May the saddle beneath him glide down to the gates of the happy city like a boat swimming on the third river of Paradise! May he sleep the sleep of a child when his friends are around him ; and the while that his enemies are abroad may his eyes flame red through the darkness more red than the eyes of ten tigers! farewell! Dragoman. The Pasha wishes your Excellency a pleasant journey. So ends the visit. Hebrews 2:10 (RSV) For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering. * Hebrews 7:26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. * Matthew 3:15 But Jesus answered him, Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness. . . . * 1 Corinthians 11:13 Judge for yourselves; is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? * Ephesians 5:3-4 But fornication and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is fitting among saints. [4] Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting ; but instead let there be thanksgiving. * Colossians 3:18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. * 2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, as is fitting , . . . * 1 Timothy 2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time . * 1 Timothy 6:15 and this will be made manifest at the proper time by the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, * A Wi-Fi standard is like a blueprint for technology companies. It defines the specifications according to which Wi-Fi routers and networking gear transmit wireless data to PCs, smartphones, and more. Each standard intends to achieve two goals: Faster Wi-Fi speeds for every connected device and a smooth connection to as many devices as possible. The new Wi-Fi 7 (with an official name 802.11be Extremely High Throughput) aims to achieve this by building on the groundwork of the last two WI-Fi standards and extending them. From Wi-Fi 6, it borrows functions such as OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing) and BSS Coloring, which ensure that even in very large networks every device can transmit data without delay. Wi-Fi 6E also contributes the 6 GHz transmission frequency, which enables Wi-Fi WLAN speeds. The advantages of Wi-Fi 7 are already wooing device manufacturers; many companies already offer Wi-Fi 7 devices on the market. Some, such as AVM in Germany, are even skipping Wi-Fi 6E and immediately opting for Wi-Fi 7 in new products. We explain the advantages of the new Wi-Fi 7 standard, present the first devices, and say for whom and when the switch to 802.11be will prove worthwhile. This article was translated from German to English, and originally appeared on pcwelt.de. Wi-Fi 7 increases the bandwidth for Wi-Fi transmissions: Like Wi-Fi 6E, the standard supports the frequency 6 GHz, but can use 320 MHz channels above it. Intel The advantages of Wi-Fi 7 The IEEE standardization body has been working on Wi-Fi 7 since 2019. The new standard is scheduled to be ready in May 2024, but manufacturers of Wi-Fi chips and the routers, repeaters, and modules equipped with them arent waiting for the official release. The first Wi-Fi 7 products are based on a highly developed preliminary version of Wi-Fi 7, and the manufacturers will deliver details that are still changing via later firmware updates. Wi-Fi 7 is compatible with the predecessor standards so you can be sure that all existing devices in your home network will connect to a new router. In many cases, it also provides faster speeds for Wi-Fi connections than Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 5 because it uses better antennas or more powerful hardware than your current router. Every new Wi-Fi standard promises faster data transfers and more stable connections: These improvements seem more urgent than ever because even in private homes, more and more devices rely on a powerful wireless network not only mobile ones like smartphones and notebooks, but also PCs and peripherals as well as devices for smart homes, TVs, and audio systems. And all those connected devices need ever greater bandwidth for current and future applications; to be able to use an internet connection with gigabit speed or more without breaking, for example, or for uninterrupted video calls in the home office and the wireless connection of AR and VR glasses. Fast, low-latency Wi-Fi also enhances cloud gaming or virtual collaboration on large files in real time. To achieve all this, Wi-Fi 7 offers a comprehensive set of tools: Wider radio channels, more and faster MIMO streams, as well as numerous features that ensure that many devices transmit simultaneously without interfering with each other. More space: 6 GHz with 320 MHz channels Many countries (marked in dark green) have released a large amount of spectrum in the 6 GHz band. In Europe (marked dark purple), there is less space and fewer radio channels. IDG As with Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7 allows devices to use a third frequency for wireless transmission: In addition to 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, they also operate at 6 GHz. Since only a few Wi-Fi products have been designed for this frequency so far, a 6 GHz connection usually runs without interference and thus faster. Wi-Fi 7 accelerates the 6 GHz frequency by allowing radio channels with 320 MHz over this frequency twice as wide as the 160 MHz channels over 5 GHz, and thus twice as fast. Devices for the European market can use a single 320 MHz channel because the EU has only released the frequency range from 5945 to 6425 MHz for 6 GHz wireless. In the USA, the spectrum is wider at 5925 to 7125 MHz, which is why three Wi-Fi connections with a 320 MHz channel can transmit side by side over 6 GHz without interference. An advantage of the European solution? Since no other radio technologies operate in this frequency range, a Wi-Fi 7 router can use 6 GHz without restriction and does not need DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection). Routers with Wi-Fi 7 must support a channel bandwidth of at least 160 MHz over 6 GHz: This means that three Wi-Fi products can transmit simultaneously on this frequency without interference, even in Europe. At 5 GHz, only two 160 MHz channels are possible if a router supports this channel bandwidth at all. The additional 6 GHz frequency offers enough space for radio channels with 320 MHz bandwidth twice as much as Wi-Fi 6. IDG Wi-Fi 7 transmits up to 46 GBit/s The speed of a Wi-Fi connection depends primarily on the number of data streams (MIMO streams) going from the transmitter to the receiver. With Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6, there are a maximum of eight per frequency; Wi-Fi 7 offers twice as many. This results in a theoretical transmission rate of around 46 GBit/s if a Wi-Fi 7 connection uses 16 MIMO streams and a 320 MHz channel over 6 GHz almost five times as much as with Wi-Fi 6. Dont expect to see other Wi-Fi 7 devices try to hit those maximum throughput speeds, however; even with Wi-Fi 5 and 6, manufacturers did not develop routers with eight streams per frequency. Some providers claim that their top models support eight or even twelve streams. Similar to advertised Wi-Fi speeds, however, this information refers to the sum of the streams over all frequencies for example, in the case of a tri-band router with four streams each for 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz frequencies. In practice, this information is irrelevant, because wireless transmission between two devices only takes place over one frequency, not simultaneously over several. So far, in any case, because that too is changing with Wi-Fi 7 more on that later. AVM is also fully committed to Wi-Fi 7: Germanys Fritzbox 6670 Cable with cable modem uses the new WLAN standard, but does not work with the 6 GHz frequency. IDG As with previous Wi-Fi standards, the top routers for Wi-Fi 7 therefore support a maximum of four MIMO streams per frequency, and notebooks and smartphones will mostly be equipped with Wi-Fi modules that use two MIMO streams. Compared to similar Wi-Fi 6 devices, however, the new Wi-Fi 7 products can be more than twice as fast in the best cases. For one thing, they can use the 320 MHz channel over 6 GHz, which is twice as wide. In addition, Wi-Fi 7 works with the improved 4096-QAM modulation. This allows data that passes over the radio link to be packed more tightly, which increases the transfer rate. A MIMO stream from Wi-Fi 7 therefore also works faster than a Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 5 stream with the same channel width. But the higher the modulation, the better the radio quality must be for the tightly packed data to arrive reliably. Wi-Fi-7 devices can therefore only use 4096-QAM in practice under optimal conditions and at short distances. Top routers with Wi-Fi 7 manage a maximum data rate of 11.5 GBit/s with four MIMO streams (44) and the 320 MHz channel. In contrast, the fastest routers with Wi-Fi 6 achieve only up to 4.8 GBit/s with 44 MIMO and 160 MHz channel. Wi-Fi 7 clients in smartphones and notebooks achieve a similar speed advantage. They work with 22 MIMO streams and a 320-MHz channel, which results in a maximum data rate of 5.8 GBit/s. Thats more than twice as much as the 2.4 GBit/s of Wi-Fi 6 clients with 22 and a 160-MHz channel. Multi-Link Operation With Multi-Link Operation (MLO), Wi-Fi 7 debuts a completely new feature never been seen before in any Wi-Fi standard. MLO overrides a basic rule that used to apply to every Wi-Fi transmission: data transfer between two devices takes place via exactly one connection (link), i.e. a specific radio channel on a specific frequency. If, for example, you have given the Wi-Fi connections over 2.4 and 5 GHz different names on a dual-band router, you can only select one for a client like your notebook, although both radio networks establish a connection between the same devices router and notebook. This also happens if the client only displays a Wi-Fi SSID because youve activated functions such as mesh or band steering in your router. In this case, the router decides whether the link to the client is via 2.4 or 5 GHz. Multi-link operation makes a Wi-Fi connection faster and more stable because two devices can transmit simultaneously over several frequencies. IDG With MLO, both devices can establish multiple links at the same time. Two tri-band devices, for example, then communicate in parallel over the frequencies 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. To use MLO, both devices must support this function. Then they can send data simultaneously over all links to increase the overall Wi-Fi speed. Alternatively, MLO reduces latency and stabilizes the Wi-Fi connection because the devices can flexibly switch to the link with the least interference. If the sender sends the same data over each link, it arrives at the receiver with greater reliability and without interference. If router and client have several radio units, they can also send and receive data simultaneously via MLO: The router then sends data via 5 GHz to the notebook, for example, which in turn sends other data to the router via a 6 GHz link. Multi-RU: Wi-Fi even more efficient If the Wi-Fi on your smartphone or PC seems slow, this is often not because it cannot transmit faster, but because it should not transmit faster. Thats because Wi-Fi transmission only takes place when the radio channel is free: the devices fight for access to it, and whoever doesnt get it first has to wait. Since these waiting times are only fractions of a second, this is hardly noticeable for extensive downloads, normal web surfing, or sending e-mails. On the other hand, it becomes problematic if many Wi-Fi devices in your home network always have to transfer only small amounts of data, but in the shortest possible time like for for video calls, for online gaming, for smart home devices, or for working together on files via Teams, One Drive, or Google Docs. Wi-Fi 6 already addressed this problem with the OFDMA function: This allows the router to divide the radio medium into small units so-called resource units (RU) which it assigns to different clients. With this, it transmits data to several clients at the same time to make efficient use of the Wi-Fi connection. Think of it like a mail-order company that doesnt deliver orders from three customers in three barely filled trucks, but packs all the orders into one truck. Wi-Fi 7 improves OFDMA with multi-RU: Routers with the new standard can then assign more than one RU to individual clients. This increases the transfer rate for these clients and the radio channel can be used even more efficiently. Power-saving Wi-Fi operation Devices with a battery or rechargeable battery can use a wireless connection even more economically with Wi-Fi 7. Here, too, the new standard extends a function of Wi-Fi 6: 802.11ax introduced the Target Wake Time (TWT), which the router uses to agree on fixed transmission times with mobile devices. They must only be reachable at this time. Otherwise, they remain in the power-saving sleep state. Wi-Fi 7 introduces the Restricted Target Wake Time to ensure that the radio channel is always free for transmissions that absolutely must take place at a fixed time. It stipulates that only the designated client may transmit at this time, all others must vacate the radio channel. New routers with Wi-Fi 7 To be able to use the numerous innovations packed into Wi-Fi 7, you need fresh hardware i.e. routers and repeaters with Wi-Fi 7 as well as notebooks and smartphones that have a suitable radio module. Numerous manufacturers have announced routers and mesh systems for Wi-Fi 7, and you can already buy some. The available offerings will increase significantly by the end of 2023, including for repeaters as well as notebooks and smartphones. Switching to Wi-Fi 7 is particularly worthwhile if you rely on high Wi-Fi speeds for gaming, for example, but also if you frequently transfer large amounts of data in your home network for backups or video editing. Since Wi-Fi 7 also makes Wi-Fi transfers more stable, devices with the new standard are also a good choice if you have a home network with a large number of Wi-Fi clients or want to cover a large home wirelessly. Last but not least, a router with Wi-Fi 7 is also a prerequisite for bringing online connections beyond the gigabit limit into your home network without restrictions: Most models have a WAN connection with 2.5 or even 10 GBit/s for this purpose. TP-Link router with Wi-Fi 7 The Archer BE900 from TP-Link has an LED display and a touchscreen on the housing. As a quad-band router, it is supposed to deliver top speed in large WLANs, according to the manufacturer. IDG TP-Link announced seven mesh systems and routers with Wi-Fi 7 earlier this year, and two models are already available: The $700 Archer BE900 is a quad-band router that can establish four Wi-Fi connections over 6 GHz, twice 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz. It can use four MIMO streams on each frequency, which allows data transfers with up to 11.5 Gbit/s over 6 GHz, just under 5.8 Gbit/s each over 5 GHz, and just under 1.4 Gbit/s over 2.4 GHz. Its two 10-GBit ports can be used for wireless or LAN connections; you can equip one with an adapter module (SFP+) to connect a fiber optic cable for internal networking. Other extras include an LED display that can show the time, Wi-Fi speed, or self-created graphics, among other things, as well as a small touchscreen that shows visitors the QR code for accessing the guest Wi-Fi network. The $900 Deco BE85 is a mesh system for Wi-Fi 7 with two base stations. Each has two 10-GBit and two 2.5-GBit connections, which can be used for Wi-Fi connections to a modem, for LAN connections to home network devices, and for direct connections between the stations (backhaul). Wi-Fi transfer takes place via four MIMO streams per frequency (6 GHz, 5 GHz, 2.4 GHz), resulting in maximum data rates of around 11.5 GBit/s, 5.8 GBit/s and 1.4 GBit/s respectively. According to TP-Link, the high-end mesh system achieves around 9 GBit/s over the 6 GHz link in practice, provided the stations use the 10 GBit link for backhaul. TP-Link also promises a firmware upgrade in autumn that will upgrade the smart home standard Matter. The Deco BE85 will be followed by cheaper TP-Link mesh systems, such as the Deco B75 and the Deco BE65. Both are tri-band systems. The B75 uses four MIMO streams over 6 GHz and two over the other frequencies, while the BE65 uses two MIMO streams for all three frequencies and uses Wi-Fi 6 instead of Wi-Fi 7 over 2.4 GHz. The first mesh system from TP-Link for Wi-Fi 7 is the Deco BE85: The two stations can be directly paired via 10-GBit LAN. IDG TP-Link also offers two top routers with tri-band support and four MIMO streams each: the $600 Archer BE800 and the Archer GE800 with additional settings for gamers. Less expensive will be the Archer BE550, which also transmits over three frequencies, but only with two MIMO streams each. According to TP-Link, all routers with Wi-Fi 7 support the Easy-Mesh standard: this allows a mesh Wi-Fi network to be set up even with Wi-Fi routers from different manufacturers. Wi-Fi 7 routers from Asus and Netgear Asus first two Wi-Fi-7 routers, the ROG Rapture GT-BE98 and RT-BE96U, are aimed primarily at gamers and network professionals who want to benefit from higher WI-Fi speeds. Both use all three frequencies with four MIMO streams each, and thus come to maximum data rates of around 11.5 (6 GHz), 5.8 (5 GHz) and 1.4 GBit/s (2.4 GHz). The GT-BE98 gaming router offers four LAN ports with 10 GBit/s, the RT-BE96U two, and both also have four gigabit ports each. Netgears Nighthawk RS700 Wi-Fi 7 router also aims for maximum speed, with three frequencies and four MIMO data streams each as well as two 10-GBit ports. Smartphones and notebooks with Wi-Fi 7 Many high-end smartphones, such as the Asus ROG Phone 7, already have hardware for Wi-Fi 7, but only a forthcoming firmware update will be able to activate the new Wi-Fi standard. Asus The advantages of Wi-Fi 7 can only be fully utilized if your client devices support it, too But you still have to be patient. There are already some high-end smartphones available with suitable hardware for Wi-Fi 7, such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Asus ROG Phone 7, and the OnePlus 11. They use Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which understands the new standard. That said, until recently, Wi-Fi 7 was not activated on any smartphone. Some manufacturers promise to activate the new standard soon via firmware upgrade, while others havent committed to doing so. The range of Wi-Fi 7 smartphones will increase by the end of the year, as CPU manufacturer Mediatek has also announced Wi-Fi 7-compatible hardware in the form of the Dimensity 9200. The first notebooks with Wi-Fi 7 should also be available for purchase at the turn of the year. Intel will probably present a suitable Wi-Fi module together with its 14th Core generation Meteor Lake processors, possibly under the model name BE200. A proposed Google specification for ensuring trust on the Web has come under fire for potentially giving websites control over which browsers have the right to access them and potentially blocking an unwanted browser from accessing a site owned by Google or Microsoft. At issue is what Google calls Web Environment Integrity, described in this explainer uploaded to GitHub by several Google engineers. The proposal has drawn fire by both Vivaldi as well as Brian Grinstead, a senior principal engineer at Firefox developer Mozilla, who said that his company opposes the proposal as well. Heres what Web Environment Integrity would do, according to Googles proposal. WEI assumes that users want to interact with real people on websites, and verify that any software downloaded from a site is legitimate. Those sites, by contrast, want to ensure that the visitors visiting the sites are real, not bots, but without applying a multitude of analytical signals that can identify the user. What Google proposes doing is allowing sites to ask for a WEI token that describes key facts about the environment their client code is running in, such as whether or not the user is surfing from a secure Android device. Its up to the website to decide whether they trust the token, and therefore the user. The issue is what would happen if a website rejected a users token, thereby blocking them. A site like PCWorld might accept all browsers; what smaller browser makers like Vivaldi and Mozilla fear is that a large Web service like Gmail, Google Search, or other sites owned by Google might block users arriving there via a small, alternative browser. Vivaldi explained its concerns in a blog post. Simply, if an entity has the power of deciding which browsers are trusted and which are not, there is no guarantee that they will trust any given browser, Julian Picalausa, a software developer at the company, wrote. Any new browser would by default not be trusted until they have somehow demonstrated that they are trustworthy, to the discretion of the attesters. Also, anyone stuck running on legacy software where this spec is not supported would eventually be excluded from the web. While this seems like a noble motivation, and the use cases listed seem very reasonable, the solution proposed is absolutely terrible and has already been equated with DRM for websites, with all that it implies, Picalusa added. This issue has cropped up before, in a different context. Mozilla, for example, has published research noting how operating systems steer users to their own browsers. Microsoft threw up roadblocks to moving away from Edge in Windows 11 before changing its browser-choice approach. Vivaldi has previously complained about Microsoft throwing up ads when you try to download an alternative to Edge. Both browser companies, therefore, are sensitive to a company like Google potentially sidelining them. As it is, companies like Vivaldi, Mozilla and Opera provide browsers to just a few percent of users on the Web. WEIs controversy doesnt appear to be ending anytime soon. One of the Google developers, Ben Wiser, noted that the backlash has shown that a bigger discussion needs to take place. Proponents of an Open Web hope that it will. PVA Welcomes Shashank Prakash as New Regional Sales Manager for Western US/Canada Published: 26 July 2023 by Tyler Hanes by Tyler Hanes HALF MOON, NY PVA, a global supplier of automated dispensing and coating equipment, is pleased to announce to announce the appointment of Shashank Prakash as the new Regional Sales Manager for the Western US and Canada. With his diverse background in engineering and extensive B2B sales experience, Prakash brings a wealth of expertise to further strengthen PVAs presence in this crucial market. Based in Seattle, Washington, Prakash will spearhead PVAs efforts to better serve existing and future customers across Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and British Columbia. Originally from India, Prakashs passion for engineering led him to pursue his Mechanical Engineering studies both in his home country and in France, where he was awarded the prestigious Eiffel Scholarship by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Complementing his technical acumen, he further honed his business skills by earning an MBA from North Carolina State University, setting the stage for a successful career in the industry. Prior to joining PVA, Prakash distinguished himself at Saint-Gobain, where he excelled in B2B sales, adeptly developing new business opportunities through a sales representative and distribution sales channel. His proven track record in building strong customer relationships and driving revenue growth makes him an invaluable addition to PVAs sales team. We are pleased to welcome Shashank to the PVA family as our new Regional Sales Manager for the Western US and Canada, said Frank Hart, Managing Director at PVA. His diverse skillset, international experience, and expertise in B2B sales align perfectly with our commitment to delivering exceptional customer service and innovative solutions. We are confident that under Shashanks leadership, we will further enhance our presence in this vital market and continue to exceed the expectations of our valued customers. As PVA focuses Prakashs territory to Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, and British Columbia, the company is poised to better serve its customers with localized support, prompt service, and unparalleled technical expertise. I am thrilled to join PVA and take on the exciting challenge of spearheading sales efforts in the Western US and Canadian market, said Prakash. I am committed to building strong partnerships with our customers, understanding their unique needs, and delivering cutting-edge solutions that drive their success. I look forward to contributing to PVAs continued growth and leadership in the automated dispensing and coating equipment industry. PVA is excited to have Prakash on board and is confident that his wealth of knowledge and experience will further strengthen the companys position as a leading global supplier in the industry. PVA is a world-class innovator of high quality, repeatable dispensing and conformal coating systems. The company manufactures turnkey solutions that help customers improve their competitiveness, such as coating inspection, optical bonding and curing ovens. For more information about PVA, please contact PVA at info@pva.net or (518) 371-2684. The Bank of Ghana has indicated that the country recorded a trade surplus of $1.77 billion in the first half of 2023, approximately 2.4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Central Bank explained that the figure is higher than the $1.47 billion (2.0% of GDP) registered during the same period last year (2022). This is according to Central Banks July 2023 Summary of Economic and Financial Data. The Bank said total exports as of June 2023 were estimated at $8.17 billion, whilst total imports stood at $6.40 billion. Gold continued to dominate the total value of exports, recording $3.45 billion in June 2023, higher than the $3.03 billion recorded during the same period last year. Crude oil exports came second bringing in $1.66 billion in June 2023, compared to the $2.83 billion in June 2023. Proceeds from cocoa first six months of 2023 stood at $1.48 billion, as against $1.41 billion a year ago. Total imports stood at $6.40 billion in the first six months of 2023, lower than $7.40 billion during the same period last year. The countrys Balance of Payment at the end of June 2023 showed a deficit of $107.8 million, approximately 0.1% of GDP. This is far lower than the deficit of $2.49 billion recorded during the same period in 2022. Capital and Financial Account Balance stood at a deficit of $897.3 million in June 2023. The negative Capital and Financial Account Balance was a result of a net portfolio of investments outflow. The current account balance however stood at $849.2 million, about 1.1% of GDP in April 2023. Meanwhile, Gross International Reserves stood at $5.34 billion in June 2023, about 2.5 months of import cover; lower than $7.68 billion recorded in June 2022. Source: dailyguidenetwork.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The 2023 Mid-Year Budget Review will focus on revenue enhancement through both administrative and compliance measures, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Abena Osei-Asare, has hinted. She said the budget review would also focus on fiscal consolidation and structural measures that were outlined under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. Speaking at an economic dialogue organised by Deloitte, she said the budget would drive stability and growth in the economy. The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, will appear before Parliament on Tuesday, July 25 to address the country on how the economy had performed in the first half of the year and the projections for the rest of the year. The minister will do so when he presents the Mid-Year Review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government and Supplementary Estimate for the 2022 financial year. This exercise is pursuant to the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921). Addressing structural weaknesses Ms Osei-Asare said Ghanaians should expect that the mid-year budget would address structural weaknesses and build resilience in key areas such as expenditure commitment control and arrears clearance; debt management; financial stability and review of statutory funds. She said it would also address the energy sector issues and some challenges in the cocoa sector. The budget will rejuvenate the growth agenda towards a more prioritised Growth Strategy. The strategy will make concerted efforts to accelerate growth by attracting significant new investment in areas such as agriculture, local manufacturing, tourism and digital transformation, she stated. She said it would also safeguard social protection for the vulnerable. Scrap COVID-19 levy Speaking to the Daily Graphic after the dialogue, the Vice Chair of the Association of Ghana Industries, Tema, Adobea Asiamah-Aboagye, said the AGI was looking forward to the scrapping of the COVID-19 levy in the mid-year budget. The government in 2021 introduced the COVID-19 Health levy to support expenditures related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms Asiamah-Aboagye said since COVID-19 is no longer a global pandemic, it was only right for the government to scrap that levy. If there was a global pandemic, now that it is no more existent, then as a matter of principle, the levy that was introduced to deal with it must also go off, she stated. She also urged the government to merge the straight levies and the VAT rate to take off the six per cent cost on businesses. We cannot expect much Also speaking in an interview, an Economist, Professor Godfred Bokpin, said the country could not expect much from the mid-year budget because of the ongoing IMF programme. He, however, pointed out that there was so much stress on the balance sheets of the private sector and households and the mid-year budget must, therefore, consider this reality. We want to see the kind of adjustments, relief mechanisms and balancing act to situate the recovery within what is good for the private sector, households and the government. In the governments attempt to restructure its balance sheet, this must not come at a great cost to the private sector and households, he stated. He said the country also needed a clearer picture of what this recovery was all about, stating that What kind of recovery are we looking forward to. He noted that the recovery must address unemployment, food insecurity, protect the vulnerable and ensure job-rich growth. Prof. Bokpin also reiterated calls for the revision of some of the taxes. The key thing I am expecting is that COVID-19 levy should go, e-levy should go and then also the government should merge the standard VAT rate of 15 per cent with the straight levies and peg it below 18 per cent, he said. Source: Graphiconline.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 Member of Parliament for Asante Akim Central, Kwame Anyimadu Antwi has pleaded with the Ghana Education Service and authorities of the Adisadel College to temper justice with mercy in the case involving two students who engaged in a violent scuffle on campus. A viral video, captured from the school, showed one of the students causing severe bodily harm to the other during their fight and this has ignited public rage. Hours after the video surfaced on the internet, the authorities of Adisadel College suspended the culprit. The Ghana Education Service, also reacting to the troubling video, in a press release noted it's taken it with seriousness and commended the Adisadel College for their prompt response to the incident. "We commend the school authorities for promptly suspending the alleged perpetrator pending further investigation," the statement read. Hon. Kwame Anyimadu Antwi, who is also the Chairman of Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs is pleading with the authorities, on behalf of the perpetrator, not to dismiss and/or give him a harsher punishment as sending him to court. He argued that though the perpetrator's action is condemnable, dismissing or prosecuting the student may jeopardize his future. To him, this situation should be contained in a manner that the student who assaulted his fellow student is given a punishment that will reform him, ensuring he doesn't repeat his action ever again. "I believe Adisadel College will take a good decision," he said. Describing the incident as "unfortunate", he however appealed to the school authorities not to bring the Police into the matter. Hon. Kwame Anyimadu also advised parents and authorities of all education institutions in the country to keep an eagle eye on their children and train them to avoid violence as their resort to addressing conflicts. "This is an opportunity where Headmasters, housemasters, senior housemasters, housemistresses must wake up and watch our school children closely," he said while delivering his submissions on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' show. 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 Host of Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", Kwami Sefa Kayi, affectionately called "Chairman General", says the culprit in the Adisadel College assault incident should be handed over to the Military to teach him a lesson of a lifetime. A viral video which has sparked public outrage showed two students at the Adisadel College in a fierce fight with one inflicting serious injury on the other. The culprit, who looked like he aimed to cause bodily harm to his victim, has been suspended while the authorities of the school and Ghana Education Service launch a probe into the issue. Reacting to the matter, Chairman General condemned the barbaric act by the culprit and called for corporal punishment to be meted out to him. "It is really really sad," he said and proposed the student should be sent to "military Police guardroom for about 10 days," believing this discipline will reform the student. "If you go there for one day, two days, you will be a changed man. Whatever evil spirit that entered you to misbehave, the spirit itself shall desert you," he added. 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 In a shocking turn of events, former Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, has been arrested by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on suspicion of corruption and corruption-related offenses. Following her arrest, the OSP has now initiated a search of her properties, aiming to uncover any potential hidden assets or money linked to the alleged corruption. Officials from the OSP are currently en route to Cecilia Dapaahs homes as part of their ongoing investigation. The purpose of the search is to establish whether there are any additional undisclosed funds or assets within her properties. Cecilia Dapaah, who previously held the position of Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, has faced intense scrutiny over the past days regarding allegations of corruption after news broke that her househelps stole huge sums of cash from her residence in the capital. The OSPs decision to search her properties indicates a significant escalation in the investigation. This development underscores the commitment of the Ghanaian authorities to address corruption and hold accountable those who engage in such activities, irrespective of their positions or past accomplishments. This is in respect of the ongoing investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of money and other valuable items reportedly stolen from her residence by the OSP. Madam Cecilia Dapaah was arrested by the OSP to assist with ongoing investigation over money stolen from her house by her house help. She has been under investigation by the OSP officials since morning. CECILIA ABENA DAPAAH At 11:55 GMT on 24 July 2023, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, who resigned from the position of Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources on 22 July 2023, was placed under arrest by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in respect of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of moncy and other valuable items reportedly stolen from her residence. Ms. Dapaah is being questioned by authorised Officers of the OSP, a statement issued by OSP today July 24, 2023. Ms. Dapaah resigned from her position on July 22, 2023, following rumours of a theft case involving her house helps. The court case in question involves two house helps, Patience Botwe and Sarah Agyei, who allegedly stole large amounts of money and valuables from the home of Dapaah and her husband in Abelemkpe, Accra. It has been revealed that an estimated $1 million, 300,000, and millions of Ghana cedis were stolen between July and October 2022. The stolen items reportedly include clothing valued at GH95,000, handbags, perfumes, jewelry worth $95,000, six pieces of Kente cloth valued at GH90,000, and six sets of mens suits worth $3,000. Several individuals have also been charged with receiving stolen property. Patience and her alleged accomplices initially evaded arrest but were later caught in Tamale. During a search of their apartment, $40,000 and GH72,619.70 were recovered. Patience also purchased a 3-bedroom house worth US$70,000 in Amrahia and furnished it with new items. Sarah, on the other hand, used her portion of the stolen money to build a 3-bedroom house. Ms. Dapaah resigned to ensure that the ongoing court case does not hinder the work of the government. She expressed her intent to cooperate fully with state agencies to establish the facts and emphasized her belief that she will be fully exonerated from the allegations against her. The resignation of Ms. Dapaah has raised concerns and expectations among citizens and stakeholders regarding the future of sanitation and water management in the country. There is hope that the government will reevaluate its policies and prioritize the urgent need for improved sanitation infrastructure and access to clean water. The governments response to the resignation and its subsequent actions will play a crucial role in shaping the future of sanitation and water management in Ghana. During her tenure, Ms. Dapaah launched the National Sanitation Campaign and implemented various water supply projects to address sanitation and water-related challenges. However, the persistent issues in these areas call into question the effectiveness of the governments approach and the need for a renewed strategy moving forward. The court case involving Patience Botwe and Sarah Agyei has been adjourned till August 2, 2023, as investigations continue. Source: dailyguidenetwork.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) has asked NDC MP for Ningo Prampram constituency, Sam George to retract and apologize for his "unguarded and irresponsible utterance" about the sector without offering any proof whatsoever. A stetement issued by the Executive Council of GREDA and sighted by Peacefmonline.com, said their attention has been drawn to a recent broadcast where Sam George made a very unfortunate and defamatory statement, to wit "REAL ESTATE BUSINESS IN GHANA IS MONEY LAUNDERING". "Members of our Association are hardworking Ghanaians who every day have to battle with the Economic conditions in the country as every other business sector is doing. "It is therefore an affront to our genuine hardworking members for this Honorable MP to make such an unguarded and irresponsible utterance without offering any proof whatsoever. "We demand an immediate unqualified apology and retraction of this unfortunate statement within 7 days of this press statement," Read full statement below Our attention has been drawn to a recent Broadcast aired on Joy F.M and Joy T.V. on Saturday July 22, 2023 and also appearing in the mainstream electronic and print media, in which on the Program "Joy News File", The Honorable, Sam George - Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram - made a very unfortunate and defamatory statement, to wit "REAL ESTATE BUSINESS IN GHANA IS MONEY LAUNDERING". We the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association take umbrage at this comment. We wish to inform Sam George that we work closely with EOCO/FIC (Financial Intelligence Centre) as well as other parallel state agencies in their work as implementers of the Anti-Money Laundering Law, AML (Act 749) as amended. We continue to engage and collaborate with them by way of numerous workshops and seminars for GREDA members to build our capacity and ensure compliance with the law. Members of our Association are hardworking Ghanaians who every day have to battle with the Economic conditions in the Country as every other business sector is doing. Members of GREDA contribute significantly to the Economy, among others, we provide roofs over the heads of Ghanaians and this is helping to reduce the housing deficit. We also create employment for both skilled and unskilled labor in this country. It is therefore an affront to our genuine hardworking members for this Honorable MP to make such an unguarded and irresponsible utterance without offering any proof whatsoever. We demand an immediate unqualified apology and retraction of this unfortunate statement within 7 days of this press statement. We however, wish to serve him notice and notice is hereby served that we reserve our right to seek legal redress should he not retract his unfortunate comments and apologize accordingly. Issued by. Executive Council of GREDA. Sam George's Concerns Over Money Laundering In Real Estate Sector The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George has voiced scepticism regarding the legitimacy of numerous real estate businesses in Ghana. In an interview on JoyNews' Newsfile, he asserted that the real estate industry is often used as a front for money laundering activities. According to Mr George, individuals employ real estate ventures as a means to "clean" illicitly acquired funds. He expressed concerns about the inflated costs of real estate properties in Ghana, particularly high-rise buildings being sold at exorbitant prices. The MP suggested that these properties are often exchanged among individuals involved in money laundering schemes, effectively "cleaning" the money in the process. Moreover, George claimed that the funds generated from such activities are subsequently used to finance political campaigns. These assertions come in the wake of a recent report by the Chronicle newspaper, detailing a theft case involving significant sums of money. Real estate business in Ghana is money laundering. If our authorities want to deal with it, they will deal with it, he said. He added that, the cost of real estate in Ghana is not justifiable by any stretch. You keep seeing all these new high-rise buildings going up and they are selling them for half a million, a million dollars and they keep buying and buying amongst themselves... I have dirty money to clean, I put up a real estate property, you have dirty money you come and buy the property from me and then automatically your money becomes clean, then tomorrow you also start building your own then I come back and buy and we are just cleaning the money. Your browser does not support iframes. 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 A Deputy Director of Communications of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ernest Owusu Bempah, has dared former President John Dramani Mahama to swear by the popular river god deity antoa if he has never kept over one million dollars in his home. "John Mahama should come and swear by antoa if he hasnt kept $1m before . . . we are daring Mahama, if he is a man he should swear by antoa that he never kept more than this in his home before. If he cant swear then he and his NDC should shut up, he said in an interview. According to him, the NPP does not support the action of the former Sanitation Minister, Mrs Cecilia Dapaah in keeping such a huge amount of money in her bedroom. We condemn that act of the woman, we are not supporting the action of the woman which is why the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), established by the NPP, is investigating the matter. At least the woman has shown integrity by resigning from government . . . NDC has no moral right to criticize the NPP for this, he said. He said the National Democratic Congres (NDC) and their flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama are being hypocritical in their criticisms of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in relation to the case. . . the NDC should stop being hypocritical. The BNI and National Security should start going to the homes of the NDC bigwigs and John Mahama to see if they are also not allegedly keeping huge monies in their homes. The OSP should be granted a search warrant to search Mahamas house, he added. "Where did Mahama get that money he doled out to delegates from for his re-election? $1m is a chicken change to Mahama, he should give us a break, he said. The former President in a tweet on Friday said, "$1m+ 300k & millions of GHS in a Ghanaian Minister's home? Scandalous!! Even if genuinely acquired, why keep millions of hard currency at home? Will @NAkufoAddo ever set a good example for public office holders in his administration?" Cecilia Dapaah Arrested By OSP Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, has been arrested by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). This was confirmed in a statement signed by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng dated July 24, 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. Two of her house helps, Patience Botwe (18) and Sarah Agyei (30), were previously charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing, following the alleged incidents between July and October 2022. 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 Former PNC General Secretary, Atik Mohammed has charged the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, after reports of her house helps stealing millions of foreign and local currencies from her house. The Office of the Special Prosecutor, on Monday, July 24, indicated in a press release that Cecilia Dapaah has been arrested in relation to the scandal. At 11:55 GMT on 24 July 2023, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, who resigned from the position of Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources on 22 July 2023, was placed under arrest by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in respect of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of money and other valuable items reportedly stolen from her residence. Ms. Dapaah is being questioned by authorised Officers of the OSP, the OSP statement read. Atik says the issue shouldn't be handled by the OSP alone but also the GRA and EOCO should get involved and launch a probe to ascertain the source of Mrs. Cecilia Dapaah's money and her tax records. "It should not just be the OSP to do the investigations. The GRA must be interested. To have this quantum of money, we should be interested in how much tax you pay," he said on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show. "Why keep that amount of money at home?", he questioned. Atik also reprimanded those defending Mrs. Cecilia Dapaah, arguing in favor of her that her money could be a gift or something she obtained it through transactions because she owns businesses. "You cannot expect to have this amount of money in your bedroom by doing an international transaction, otherwise it could only be through money laundering," he replied. 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 The Colonial Park Mall in Lower Paxton Twp. isnt the only Pennsylvania shopping outlet having trouble paying its bills. The Pittsburgh Mills Mall, located in Frazer Twp., Allegheny County, will be heading to a sherriffs sale in October if it doesnt pay its tax bills, according to reports from TribLive and WTAE. The malls current owners, Namdar, owe about $11.5 million in special assessment taxes on four parcels, reports said. The special assessment was needed, WTAE said, because the mall did not generate enough in taxes to pay for such improvements as roads and sewers. Earlier this month, the township filed a motion to take over the property. Namdar owns several other malls in Pennsylvania, including the the Uniontown Mall, Logan Valley Mall in Altoona, Nittany Mall in State College and Beaver Valley Mall in Monaca, according to TribLive. The sheriffs sale is scheduled to take place at 9 a.m. Oct. 2 in the Allegheny County Courthouse. If the taxes are paid before that date, the mall will not go up for sale. READ MORE: The future of the Colonial Park Mall: Heres what we know By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN, LINDSAY WHITEHURST, The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) A high school student who stormed the U.S. Capitol, assaulted a police officer and sat in a Senate floor chair reserved for the vice president was sentenced on Wednesday to one year in prison. Georgia resident Bruno Joseph Cua was 18 when he attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, making him one of the youngest people charged in the riot. Before learning his sentence, Cua apologized for his actions and told U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss that he is ashamed of his role in a mobs attack on democracy. Everything that day was just one terrible decision after another, Cua said. This image from U.S. Senate video, introduced at the trial of Bruno Joseph Cua, shows Cua sitting with his feet up in the Senate chamber on Jan. 6, 2021, during the riot at the U.S. Capitol. (Senate Television via AP)AP Moss sentenced Cua to a prison term of one year and one day followed by three years of supervised release. The judge convicted Cua of felony charges after a trial earlier this year. Moss told Cua that he was prepared to give him a longer prison sentence before he heard his statement in court on Wednesday. The judge said he believes Cua is truly remorseful. Its a tragic case for the country. Its a tragic case for you and your family, the judge told him. There are no winners in any of this. More than 1,000 people have been charged with Jan. 6-related crimes. Cua is one of at least six Capitol riot defendants born in 2002, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys office for the District of Columbia. Cuas attorneys cited his youth as grounds for leniency. His actions on Jan. 6 reflect his immaturity at the time and the effects that the crowd had on such a young person, defense attorneys wrote in a court filing. Around the time of the riot, Cua was finishing online coursework to graduate from high school. Prosecutors said Cuas age is only slightly a mitigating factor in his favor. Americans who reach the age of 18 are entrusted with several important responsibilities and duties including voting, joining the military, signing a contract, and serving on a jury. In this way, the law recognizes that an 18-year-old is capable of making mature decisions, they wrote in a court filing. DOJ prosecutor Kaitlin Klamann said at least five Capitol riot defendants were younger than Cua on Jan. 6. Two of the five have resolved their cases and avoided prison terms. Both pleaded guilty to misdemeanor offenses and were sentenced to probation. Cua planned his attack weeks in advance, brought weapons to the Capitol, tried to terrorize congressional staffers and was repeatedly aggressive toward police, prosecutors said. Prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of four years and nine months for Cua. His lawyers asked the judge to sentence him to time served: the 40 days he spent in jail after his February 2021 arrest. Cua said he was scarred to my core by his jail time. Another inmate assaulted Cua while he was jailed in Oklahoma, according to one of his lawyers. I did something stupid to land myself there, but it was traumatizing, Cua said. Cua and his parents drove from their home in Milton, Georgia, to Washington D.C., arriving a day before then-President Donald Trump spoke at his Stop the Steal rally. The Trump supporters who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6 disrupted the joint session of Congress for certifying President Joe Bidens electoral victory. Cua was armed with pepper spray and a metal baton weapons given to him by his father when rioters breached police lines on the west side of the Capitol, according to prosecutors. After climbing scaffolding, Cua entered the building through the Upper West Terrace doors and and walked down a hallway toward the Senate. Cua went to the third floor, where he shoved a Capitol police officer who was trying to lock doors to the Senate gallery. After the officer retreated, Cua entered the gallery, shouting This is our house! This is our country! Jumping onto the Senate floor, he sat in the chair for then-Vice President Mike Pence, leaned back and propped his feet up on a desk. Then he opened a door, allowing dozens of other rioters onto the Senate floor. Before leaving, Cua rifled through desks belonging to Senators Charles Grassley, John Thune and Dianne Feinstein. Moss decided the case against Cua without a jury in February, convicting him of obstructing the Jan. 6 congressional proceeding and assaulting a federal officer. The judge handed down the verdict after a stipulated bench trial, a proceeding in which Cua didnt contest the facts supporting his convictions. He waived his right to a jury trial. Prosecutors asked Moss to impose a $23,485 fine, which equals the amount of money raised by an online fundraising campaign called Bruno Cua: An Americans Future at Stake. The website said the funds will be used for Cuas many expenses in his pursuit of his freedom. More: Pa. woman who used bullhorn to direct Capitol rioters is convicted Central Pa. man sentenced to prison for participation in Jan. 6 Capitol riot Confederate flag-carrying man, son convicted in Capitol riot Press Release July 26, 2023 CHIZ: CHANGES TO PROCUREMENT LAW, AUDITING CODE TO EMPOWER LGUS Sen. Chiz Escudero has vowed to support the passage of a new procurement law and auditing code, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. tackled in his State of the Nation Address, saying these amendments would help facilitate decentralization and devolution process that will further empower local government units (LGUs). As Congress opened its second regular session on yesterday, Escudero said both measures should be prioritized as LGUs prepare for full devolution as envisioned under Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, as well as the Supreme Court ruling on the Mandanas-Garcia petitions. "Amending our old laws on government procurement and audit process are very timely as LGUs prepare for full devolution. When I was governor, I experienced how tedious the processes were and most of the time, they really impede on local governance and hamper the delivery of services to our people," Escudero said on Tuesday. "Ang pag-amiyenda ng mga batas na ito sa lalong madaling panahon ay makakatulong sa ating mga LGUs upang lalo pang mapabuti ang pagseserbisyo sa ating mga mamamayan," the senator added. In his speech yesterday, President Marcos said the passage of the two measures will make government procurement and auditing "more attuned to these changing times" as it prepares for the decentralization and full devolution to LGUs as mandated by the Supreme Court Ruling on the Mandanas-Garcia petitions. The High Court decision gives LGUs a just share of all national taxes collected, and not only from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and fully transfers or devolves the delivery of basic services to LGUs. "We will give effect to the mandate of the Constitution and the Local Government Code, as clarified by the Supreme Court very soon. Almost all the required Devolution Transition Plans of the LGUs are done. To fully prepare them for optimal devolution, the necessary technical and financial assistance is being extended to our local governments," the Chief Executive said. The Government Auditing Code of the Philippines, or Presidential Decree no. 1445, was punt in place on June 11, 1978 while the Government Procurement Reform Act or Republic Act No. 9184 was approved on January 10, 2003. Aside from the two measures, Escudero likewise vowed to support the other legislative measures pushed by President Marcos if these will have greater impact on the lives of ordinary Filipinos and hasten the country's recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 health crisis. "Kung ano ang isinusulong ng Pangulo sa Kongreso na makakatulong sa taumbayan at bubuhay sa ating ekonomiya ay nakahanda tayong suportahan ang mga ito dahil sang-ayon ako, kabilang na doon ang pagrerebisa ng procurement law at auditing code," Escudero pointed out. "I am Looking forward to be working again with my colleagues to secure the passage of many important legislation under the Legislative-Executive Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) as well as pushing for the bills under the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education that I chair," he said. Escudero cited the President's giving priority to, among others, the passage of the anti-agricultural smuggling act, the granting of amnesty to rebel returnees, and the updating of the Immigration Act of the Philippines, of which he is the principal author in the Senate. Last year, the Bicolano legislator filed SB 291, which proposed the amendments to the country's 83-year-old law. It is still pending before the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights since the bill's first reading in August 2022. Under SB 291, Escudero proposes the creation of the Commission on Immigration (CI) and phase out the existing Bureau of Immigration (BI) in order to modernize the country's immigration processes. An Allegiant Air flight from Mesa, Arizona, to Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island turned around mid-flight Monday night. Independent reporter Jessica Votipka was on the flight. She said the pilot announced that they were "legally" unable to land the plane in Grand Island. Back at the Arizona airport, Allegiant officials told passengers the flight crew was unable to communicate with the Central Nebraska Regional Airport, leading to the turnaround. Hall County Airport Authority Executive Director Michael Olson said National Weather Service weather reporting equipment went down. "Airlines will not dispatch aircraft unless there is active weather reporting at the airport," Olson said. Votipka said the plane was about 30 minutes from Grand Island. The plane was an Airbus A320, according to Flight Aware. The flight took off, bound for Grand Island, just after 5.45 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (most of Arizona does not observe daylight saving time). Officials told passengers the flight had been rescheduled to Tuesday morning. A male was shot early Wednesday in Susquehanna Township, police said. Police said shots were fired around 3:32 a.m. on the 3000 block of Locust Street. A male with a gunshot wound was found at the scene and taken to a hospital for treatment. The males age and extent of injuries were not released. Anyone with information can call Susquehanna Township police at 717-652-8265. READ MORE: Why is the homicide rate in these central Pa. cities dropping? Man killed near Harrisburg High was brother of 2022 homicide victim A growing doughnut chain is bringing its layered doughnuts to central Pennsylvania. Parlor Doughnuts is opening at noon Aug. 3 at Millcreek Square at 2350 Lincoln Highway in East Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, with plans to open more locations. It is the Evansville, Indiana- based chains first location in Pennsylvania and Northeast U.S. Franchise owners Andrew and Teal Morcos said they aim to create an environment that facilitates conversation and community. Parlors name is inspired by the vintage American space that feels like the Parlor, a conversation center of 1900s Victorian homes but with a modern twist. The name really tells a lot about the culture and atmosphere we are trying to create with customers gathering in the Parlor and photos displayed of the Salvation Armys Doughnut Lassies as they served our veterans doughnuts during the World War I, Andrew Morcos said. Parlor was founded by Darrick Hayden, in partnership with Josh Tudela, in 2019. Today, it operates 16 shops in nine states with dozens more locations in the pipeline. Parlor Doughnuts opens at noon Aug. 3 in East Lampeter Township, Lancaster County. The shops specialize in layered doughnuts and are designed with a vintage American vibe. Parlor specializes in layered, small-batch doughnuts, but also sells breakfast items, sandwiches, coffee and tea products, juices and kombucha. House coffee is a Proper Coffee Roasters, a blend served at all Parlor locations. It also carries vegan, gluten-friendly and keto-friendly products. The layered doughnuts are described as a proprietary product with layers of buttery dough fried to be crisp on the outside and light/fluffy on the inside. A wide range of toppings are available. The menu covers more than 20 types of layered doughnuts including French toast, Sandy Beach, Peanut Butter Cup, Churro, Blueberry Hill, Raspberry Pistachio and Dreamsicle. Parlor mixes up the selection with secret menu items and seasonal flavors. Andrew Morcos said they have rights to open at least three more shops in central Pa. and are looking at locations in Dauphin, Cumberland and York counties, as well as an expansion to coastal Maryland and Delaware Beach areas in the near future. A grand opening will be celebrated Aug. 4 at the Lancaster County shop. READ MORE: Auctioneer Jimmy Landis has become something of a celebrity among collector car aficionados who have known him for 24 years as the leading voice of Mecum Auctions. That was driven home to the Lancaster County native earlier this year, at a Mecum Auction event in Indianapolis, when he spotted a boy in a wheelchair wearing a t-shirt that said I want to meet Jimmy Landis. He invited the boy on stage, and when the boy asked if he could auction a piece of road art the next morning, Landis let him do it on the spot. Its a moment Ill never forget, Landis said. This week, Mecum Auction brought Landis home to Pennsylvania. The auction, for four days starting Wednesday morning, will sell an estimated 1,200 collector cars from muscle cars, Corvettes, trucks, exotics, custom cars, hot rods and more at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex Expo Hall. As the son of an auctioneer, Landis said he always took for granted that he would go into the auction business. When I was when I was a kid my father had a public auction business in Lancaster so we were selling household goods, personal property, real estate, farm equipment... I was at an auction every weekend, he said. It was when his father came home and told him hed just sold the car featured in the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that Landis said he knew he wanted to auction collector cars, according to an article in Mecum Monthly. In 1983, Landis went to school to become an auctioneer. And in 2000, he landed a job with Mecum Auctions. Getting ready to speak in front of hundreds of people throughout the years was not always easy, but Landis said that over the years, the nervousness he felt when on stage wore out. Everybody has a routine that they go through like were only 45 minutes from my home and yet Im staying at the hotel here in Harrisburg because if I would stay at home, my mojo would be all messed up, he said. So I stay with the team at the hotel. Landis said speaking directly to the crowd, making each person sitting there feel like he is talking directly to them, helps him resolve any jitters while on stage. Maintaining the family tradition, Landis is assisted by Laura, one of his two daughters. She works as a bidders assistant, as an auctioneer helping to sell cars, and sometimes she sells road art. In order to accomplish his goal of getting buyers to bid higher, Landis creates a goal for himself whenever Mecum Auctions visits a new area. I like to know what we did last year on this day. What was our percentage? What was our total number? And that way Ive got a goal for the day. So my goals are to get as much money for every car as we possibly can, Landis said. In order to be a successful auctioneer, Landis said, you have to be able to concentrate on the car, on the whole crowd, and on the seller and then the numbers will become natural due to practicing over and over again. The Central Pennsylvania Round Table will meet at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 10 at Vietnam Veterans of America, Michael J. Novosel MOH Chapter 542, 8000 Derry St., Harrisburg. Following a brief business meeting, Walt Hooper will discuss his service in Vietnam from November 1967 through November 1968. Hooper is a Harrisburg native, graduating from John Harris High School in 1965. Following graduation, he worked for the highway department until he was drafted in June 1967. He was sent to Vietnam and served with the 1/6th Light Infantry Brigade/198th Regiment/Americal Division. In June 1968, he was assigned to an MP unit in Saigon until November 1968 when he rotated home. Hooper spent the last six months in the military at Fort Ord, California. Following his service, he stayed in California until June 1972, when he returned to Pennsylvania and began working for the state. He is the father of two sons. The meeting is open to the public, and, as a volunteer organization, passes a Vietnam veterans hat. All persons interested in the history of the Vietnam War are invited to attend. For additional information, contact Richard Burton, 717-545-2336, email: centralpavietnamrt@verizon.net. The website is: www.centralpavietnamroundtable.com. A central Pennsylvania native scored a small role in what might arguably be the biggest film of 2023. If youre a huge Barbie fan, youve probably made your way to see the movie since it debuted on July 21. If you have, you might recall a memorable scene involving an older woman. During the film, the elderly woman sits on a bench beside Margot Robbies lead character, while waiting for a bus in Los Angeles. Youre so beautiful, Barbie says to the woman. I know it, the older woman simply replies. But wait. That unnamed character was being played by the films costume designer and Pa. resident Ann Roth. Born in Hanover, York County, Roth is a five-time Academy Award nominee for costume design and two-time winner for The English Patient in 1996 and Ma Raineys Black Bottom in 2020. The 91-year-old designer has six decades of work to her name. Other notable projects she worked on include Midnight Cowboy, 9 to 5, Sabrina and The Hours. She even previously collaborated with Barbie director Greta Gerwigs partner Noah Baumbach on Margot at the Wedding, While Were Young and White Noise, The Wrap reported. But rest assured, she does want to be known as the worlds oldest costume designer. Do NOT call me amazing. Do NOT call me a 91-year-old legend. Do NOT call me the oldest person in the Barbie movie, she said to New York Times. Asked by the publication about the national pink takeover that the Barbie movie has ushered in, Roth replied: I live in Pennsylvania. I havent seen pink in a long time. (Roth lives in Bangor.) In an interview with Rolling Stone, Gerwig, who is friends with Roth, revealed that executives seriously thought about getting rid of the bench scene, but Greta was against the idea, calling it, the heart of the movie. I love that scene so much, Gerwig said to Rolling Stone. 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. 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. Thats how I saw it. To me, this is the heart of the movie, she added. Roth told NYTimes she wasnt planning on attending a fancy Barbie premiere but was sure to see the film at a theater along Route 248 in eastern Pennsylvania. Barbie is now playing in theaters everywhere. Read more about Ann Roth via her profile in the New York Times. Read More: A man was killed in a house fire Monday night that authorities say was caused by improperly discarded smoking material on the front porch, Ocean County, New Jersey, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. Firefighters were called to a house on Laketree Court in Manchester about 8:30 p.m. and discovered that parts of the first and second floors of the home had collapsed into the basement, officials said. Investigators deemed it unsafe to continue the fire investigation until daylight. When the investigation resumed on Tuesday, a mans body was found within the collapsed area of the structure, authorities said. The victim has not been positively identified. Investigators later found that the fire started on the front porch near improperly discarded smoking material and deemed the fire accidental, prosecutors said. The body was taken to Community Medical Center for an autopsy and identification. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. More: 2nd child dies after central Pa. house fire, bringing death toll to 3 1 person dies in house fire at retirement community, officials say By FREIDA FRISARO, The Associated Press FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) The director of the Miami-Dade Police Department offered to resign his position hours before shooting himself on Sunday, the countys mayor said Wednesday. Details of the conversation were released as Alfredo Freddy Ramirez was in a Tampa hospital, continuing to recover from the shooting. State officials are investigating events leading up to the shooting, including an argument with his wife at a Tampa hotel during a law enforcement conference, officials said. He had called his boss, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, after leaving the hotel with his wife, Jody Ramirez. Freddy told me he had made a mistake, he was prepared to resign, and I told him we would talk about it the next day, the mayor recounted during a news conference on Wednesday morning. She said Ramirez was very remorseful during their conversation. She said she told Ramirez to get home safely and they would discuss it the next day. The shooting happened later Sunday night along Interstate 75 south of Tampa. It was unclear whether Ramirez was inside or outside the vehicle when the shooting occurred. His wife was not injured, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Ramirez, 52, remained in stable condition on Wednesday after undergoing surgeries to repair his injuries, the mayor said. He continues to receive outstanding medical care in Tampa, surrounded by his family, loved ones and MDPD brothers and sisters, Miami-Dade police said in a statement posted on social media late Tuesday. Police officers had been called to a downtown hotel Sunday after someone reported a pointing a gun at himself during an argument with a woman, according to a Tampa Bay police report. Officers spoke with the couple. He denied pulling out a gun, and Jody Ramirez told officers she was not in fear of her safety, the police report said. Ramirez is a 27-year Miami-Dade police veteran and was leading the largest law enforcement agency in the southeastern U.S. In May, he announced his intention to seek election for the newly created role of sheriff in 2024, signaling his desire to remain the leading law enforcement official. More: Pa. man kills 8-year-old son, self in murder-suicide: reports Widow told family worried about her new fiance that everythings OK. It wasnt A system of ocean currents that transports heat northward across the North Atlantic could collapse by mid-century, according to a new study, and scientists have said before that such a collapse could cause catastrophic sea-level rise and extreme weather across the globe. In recent decades, researchers have both raised and downplayed the specter of Atlantic current collapse. It even prompted a movie that strayed far from the science. Two years ago the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said any such catastrophe is unlikely this century. But the new study published in Nature Communications suggests it might not be as far away and unlikely as mainstream science says. The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation is a vital system of ocean currents that circulates water throughout the Atlantic Ocean, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Its a lengthy process, taking an estimated 1,000 years to complete, but has slowed even more since the mid-1900s. A further slowdown or complete halting of the circulation could create more extreme weather in the Northern Hemisphere, sea-level rise on the East Coast of the United States and drought for millions in southern Africa, scientists in Germany and the U.S. have said. But the timing is uncertain. In the new study, Peter and Susanne Ditlevsen, two researchers from Denmark, analyzed sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic between 1870 and 2020 as a proxy, meaning a way of assessing, this circulation. They found the system could collapse as soon as 2025 and as late as 2095, given current global greenhouse gas emissions. This diverges from the prediction made by the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change in 2021, which said the collapse isnt likely to occur this century. There are large uncertainties in this study, in many prior studies, and in climate impact assessment overall, and scientists sometimes miss important aspects that can lead to both over and underprediction of impacts, Julio Friedmann, chief scientist at Carbon Direct, a carbon management company, said in a statement. Still, the conclusion is obvious: Action must be swift and profound to counter major climate risks. Stefan Rahmstorf, co-author on a 2018 study on the subject, published an extensive analysis of the Ditlevesens study on RealClimate, a website that publishes commentary from climate scientists. While he said that a tipping point for the collapse of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation is highly uncertain, he also called the IPCC estimate conservative. Increasingly the evidence points to the risk being far greater than 10% during this century, he wrote, ...rather worrying for the next few decades. Drew Costley of The Associated Press wrote this story. Follow Drew Costley on Twitter: @drewcostley. Seth Borenstein contributed from Washington, DC. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. More: Ocean temperature hits all-time high 101 in Florida, endangering reefs Is it really hotter now than any time in 100,000 years? | Opinion With a Pennsylvania mans plight in a Russian prison nearing the two-year mark, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Rep. Chris Deluzio have introduced a resolution calling for his immediate release. Marc Fogel, a 61-year-old Allegheny County resident, is serving a 14-year sentence in a maximum-security Russian penal colony after being caught at an airport in August 2021 with 17 grams, or just over half an ounce, of medical marijuana prescribed for chronic back pain. Police in Pennsylvania officially ended their search efforts for a 9-month-old boy who was lost in a Bucks County flash flood on July 15. The 9-month-old, Conrad, and his 2-year-old sister Matilda, were both swept away by flood waters while the South Carolina family was visiting friends and relatives in Pennsylvania. According to a Facebook post by the Upper Makefield Township Police Department, their search efforts to find the missing boy included drones, boats, K9s, divers, sonar technology, air assets and hundreds of people. Matildas body was found in the Delaware River about 30 miles from where she was initially carried away from. As of July 26, the search for Conrad is over. At this point, we have exhausted all means of attempting to locate Conrad. With broken hearts, we regretfully announce that the active search for Conrad has concluded. The family has been made aware of this development and they would like to express their deepest gratitude for all those involved in the search efforts to bring Conrad home and to all of you for all your outpouring of love, support, and kind words during this extremely difficult time, the Upper Makefield Township Police Department said in a Wednesday Facebook post. Conrads mother, Katie Seley, died in the flooding as well, but Jim Sheils the boys father 4-year-old brother Jack and grandmother Dahlia Galindez survived, according to WPVI. Four other people drowned in the area due to the flood waters, according to the Bucks County Coroners Office: Enzo Depiero, 78, and Linda Depiero, 74, of Newtown; Yuko Love, 64, of Newtown; and Susan Barnhart, 53, of Titusville, New Jersey. READ MORE: Pa. adults banned from casinos after leaving children in cars, hotel rooms alone Hampden Twp. set to begin pool renovations this fall A recent decision by the state's high court has cast doubt on the constitutionality of bench trials, rather than jury trials, in eviction cases in Nebraska. In the opinion Friday in NP Dodge Management Company v. Teresa Holcomb, the Nebraska Supreme Court dismissed the Omaha woman's appeal without getting to the question at hand, finding the case moot because she already had been removed from the apartment. And they dismissed the case. But in a concurring opinion, Justice Jonathan J. Papik said, while he agrees with the majority opinion that the case is moot, he believes Holcomb "has identified a potential constitutional problem" with the provision of Nebraska's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (NURLTA), which requires the cases to be tried a judge, not a jury. He said he wrote separately to highlight why he believes the bench trial provision may rest on "constitutionally fragile ground." Papik said the longstanding precedent of the Nebraska Supreme Court and the weight of authority from other jurisdictions appears to support Holcombs argument that eviction actions are legal in nature. And because the constitutional right to a jury trial extends to actions that are legal in nature, the state constitution's right to a jury trial would seem to afford litigants the right to a jury trial for actions brought under the act, Papik said. NP Dodge and the Nebraska Attorney General's office, which filed a brief in the case, both defended the constitutionality of the bench trial provision, arguing that jury trials weren't required. But Papik said their argument had flaws. "While the court has not held that the NURLTAs bench trial provision is unconstitutional, neither have we held that it is constitutional. Furthermore, three members of this court, through this concurrence, have expressed doubts about the constitutionality of the bench trial provision. Suffice it to say, the constitutionality of the NURLTAs bench trial provision remains an open question," the justice wrote. Papik was joined by Justices Lindsey Miller-Lerman and Jeffrey Funke. Papik said the Legislature may in the future wish to itself consider "the constitutionality of, and reassess, the NURLTAs bench trial provision." Legal Aid of Nebraska, which represented Holcomb, hailed the decision as a "positive indication that Nebraskans may in fact have a right to jury trial in these proceedings." The ACLU of Nebraska, the Iowa/Nebraska NAACP, the Nebraska College of Law Civil Clinic and the National Housing Law Project all filed friend-of-the-court briefs in support of their position. Ken Smith, Nebraska Appleseeds Economic Justice Program Director, said in 1995, the Nebraska Legislature restricted access to the right to jury trials for eviction proceedings, and that went unquestioned for almost 30 years. "Since that time, generations of Nebraskans have been forced from their homes, he said. Kasey Ogle, senior staff attorney for Collective Impact Lincoln, a partnership between Nebraska Appleseed and Civic Nebraska, said Nebraskans deserve and have for too long been denied a fair process when faced with being separated from their homes. "Although the Court was unable to recognize that Nebraskans have a constitutionally guaranteed right to a jury trial in eviction court proceedings today, the concurring opinion filed has made it more clear than ever that the right to a trial by jury is recognized by our States Constitution. We will not rest until a final authoritative opinion is issued recognizing this critical right," Ogle said. Top Journal Star photos for July 2023 The Earl Shaffer Foundation is planning a 75th anniversary celebration on Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Appalachian Trail Museum. It will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the museum, located at 1120 Pine Grove Road, Gardners, Pennsylvania (Pine Grove Furnace State Park). For one, it will recognize Army veteran Earl V. Shaffer of York County who in 1948 became the first person to hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail in a single journey. In addition, the event will dedicate a new Appalachian Trail Museum exhibit, the Darlington Trail Shelter, built by Shaffer in 1956 using recycled, native field stone. Abandoned in the 1960s when the Appalachian Trail was relocated, the shelter lay in ruins until 2012. Thats when Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club (SATC) volunteers documented the ruined shelter and moved the original stones to the Appalachian Trail Museum for future reconstruction. Among those speaking will be Brian King and Silas Chamberlin, who will discuss Earl Shaffers legacy and impact. King is a former publisher for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and author of The :Appalachian Trail: Celebrating Americas Hiking Trail. Chamberlin, a historian and environmental policy analyst, is the author of On the Trail: A History of American Hiking. Benton Mackaye, who envisioned the Appalachian Trail, at left, with Myron Avery, who was instrumental in seeing that vision through the completion. (Appalachian Trail Conservancy) Karen Balaban, project manager, will talk about the Darlington Shelters rescue and reconstruction. She will be joined by Larry Knutson, who documented and photographed the ruined shelter and supervised its stones removal to the A.T. Museum. Other guest speakers will include Andrea Shapiro, author of 2000 Miles to Happy, a book for children about Earl Shaffers 1948 hike, and Luke Kolbie, CEO of the Russell Moccasin Company, established in 1898 and makers of the Bird Shooter boots Earl wore in 1948. This year, Russell is producing a limited, hand-made edition of Earl Shaffer boots in commemoration. The event will include a meet and greet at 10:30 a.m. and then a look at Shaffers legacy and impact from 11 a.m. to noon. Theres an hour for a picnic lunch (burgers and hot dogs available) before the Darlington Shelter Exhibit dedication at 1 p.m. There is no registration required, and the event is free to the public. The Appalachian Trail Museum presents and preserves the history of the Appalachian Trail and commemorates its founders, builders, maintainers and notable hikers. In 2010, the museum opened its doors in a 200-year-old, stone gristmill that was part of the historic Pine Grove Iron Works. It is the only museum in the United States dedicated to the history of hiking. A re-creation of the 'Sky Parlor' home office of Benton MacKaye, the forester, conservationist, and visionary planner who first conceived the Appalachian Trail, located at the trail museum. Notable exhibits include a 1959 trail shelter built by Shaffer, and a re-creation of the Sky Parlor home office of Benton MacKaye, the forester, conservationist, and visionary planner who first conceived the Appalachian Trail, publishing an article in 1921 entitled An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning. The recreated office contains MacKayes original office furniture, decorations, and personal possessions. In addition to conserving artifacts and documents related to the Appalachian Trail, the museum maintains an extensive research library and has a special exhibit introducing children to the Appalachian Trail. The museum is open each year from early April to late October. Parking is available adjacent to the Furnace Stack Picnic Pavilion. Admission is free. The museum also operates the Ironmasters Mansion Hostel, which is used by many hikers on the Appalachian Trail that lies just a few hundred yards from the museum. By Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News (TNS) Rudy Giuliani admits he lied about two Georgia election workers he infamously accused of trying to rig the 2020 election for President Joe Biden. The ex-New York City mayor and lawyer for former President Donald Trump conceded in a late night court filing that he does not contest the allegations against him made in a defamation lawsuit filed by Ruby Freeman and Shay Moss. (Giuliani) does not contest that such actionable factual statements are false, his lawyers wrote in the signed filing. Rudy Giuliani speaks with reporters as he leaves the federal courthouse, May 19, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)AP Despite the admission, Giuliani, 79, insisted that he should not be found liable because the statements did not carry meaning that is defamatory, per se and that they are constitutionally protected statements or opinions. Giuliani is facing possible sanctions from Federal District Court Judge Beryl Howell for repeatedly failing to hand over information demanded by the election workers. It remains to be seen if his latest legal strategy will satisfy the judge. Giuliani was one of Trumps primary mouthpieces in the weeks after the 2020 election and repeatedly spread lies about supposed fraud that could have helped Biden win. He claimed without evidence that Freeman and Moss were caught on video surveillance passing USB drives to help Biden cheat. The pair testified under oath that it was actually a ginger mint. Last month, Freeman and Moss were cleared of any wrongdoing by Georgia investigators. Giuliani faces a slew of legal worries related to his efforts to help Trump overturn the election. He has been questioned by the Atlanta grand jury that might indict Trump and others next month for election interference in the Peach State. The former mayor has also cooperated with special counsel Jack Smith in the Jan. 6 probe of Trump. He was also hit with an unrelated lurid sexual harassment lawsuit in which a business consultant claims he forced her to have sex with him and regularly performed oral sex on him while he spoke to Trump, which made him feel like Bill Clinton. Giuliani says the woman wasnt an employee and they were dating. MIAMI Ocean water temperatures at the southern end of Florida clipped past 100 degrees this week, potentially setting a record for the hottest seawater ever. A buoy at Manatee Bay registered 100.2 degrees on Sunday evening. On Monday, the temperature was even warmer, 101.1 degrees, National Weather Service meteorologist George Rizzuto told The Associated Press. On Sunday night the same buoy showed an online reading of 100.2 degrees. It seems plausible, Rizzuto said. That is a potential record. Related: Forget global warming! Its global boiling as July cruises toward hottest month ever Related: Phoenix set to break record for most consecutive days over 110 degrees Tuesday While there arent official water temperature records, a 2020 study listed a 99.7 degree mark in Kuwait Bay in July 2020 as the worlds highest recorded sea surface temperature. This is a hot tub. I like my hot tub around 100, 101. Thats what was recorded yesterday, Yale Climate Connections meteorologist Jeff Masters told The AP. Hot tub maker Jacuzzi recommends water between 100 and 102 degrees. Weve never seen a record-breaking event like this before, Masters said. The Manatee Bay buoy temperature reading was among several extreme values in South Floridas offshore waters, The Washington Post reported. A buoy near Johnson Key, southwest of Manatee Bay, topped out at 98.4 degrees. The temperature hovered at or above 98 degrees for several hours during the evening. Most of the buoys in the area reached or surpassed 95 degrees during the day. In fact, the average of the two dozen observation locations in and around Florida Bay was right around 96 degrees during the early evening, The Post said. Already devastating effects of the prolonged hot temperatures can be seen. While there arent many coral reefs in Manatee Bay, scientists diving at Cheeca Rocks to the southwest found bleaching and even death in some of the Keys most resilient corals, Ian Enochs, lead of the coral program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, told The AP. This is more, earlier than we have ever seen, Enochs said. Im nervous by how early this is occurring. This all comes as sea surface temperatures worldwide have broken monthly records for heat in April, May and June, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. Temperatures in the north Atlantic Ocean are off the charts as much as 9 to 11 degrees warmer than normal in some spots near Newfoundland, meteorologist Brian McNoldy said. Other ocean hot spots in the Northern Hemisphere, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Coral Reef Watch, include the Mediterranean Sea, which reached its hottest level on record Monday, averaging 83.1 degrees and the waters west of Peru. An unusual weather pattern that has lingered for the majority of the month, has helped drive the warm temperatures in the Florida water, NBC News reported. That pattern has featured a stagnant set-up fueled by a strong area of high pressure that has led to days of above average, and in many cases, record-setting air temperatures. The pattern has also led to weaker than average trade winds southeast winds that usually produce a sea breeze for south Florida, NBC said. The trade winds help keep sea surface temperatures in check. Instead, winds have been out of the west and weak, allowing sea surface temperatures to heat up. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is handing over the federal housing file to Sean Fraser, who was previously immigration minister. Fraser arrives for a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang Police tape is shown in Toronto Tuesday, May 2, 2017. Advocates say Canada's Muslim community is disappointed a man who assaulted worshippers at a Mississauga, Ont., mosque last year with bear spray and while brandishing a hatchet has received an eight-year sentence. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy Patrick Glynn, 39, is shown in this undated police handout photo. Lac La Biche RCMP say officers are searching for a man identified as 39-year-old Patrick Glynn, who is considered armed and dangerous. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, RCMP *MANDATORY CREDIT* LINCOLN Some Nebraskans struggling to pay their rent may get a hand this fall, thanks to delayed federal pandemic aid and a change of policy in the Governors Office. This spring, Gov. Jim Pillen accepted $48.2 million of federal emergency rental assistance money that former Gov. Pete Ricketts refused to take. Now Shannon Harner, executive director of the Nebraska Investment Financing Authority, said the state housing agency is gearing up to start taking applications for aid by September. The money will be available to help renters in all but Douglas and Lancaster Counties, she said. Those counties, plus Omaha and Lincoln, got their share of aid directly from the federal government last year. People in Nebraskas 91 other counties had been left to go without the help, which represented the second round of emergency rental assistance offered to the state. Ricketts repeatedly refused to take the money, even vetoing a bill that would have required him to apply for it. He argued that the COVID-19 emergency was over and the states strong economy did not warrant accepting federal aid. It would be irresponsible of me as Governor to take federal dollars that we do not need, he said in an April 2022 letter to Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary Adewale Adeyemo. Ricketts similarly turned down emergency food assistance and ended expanded unemployment benefits, both available through federal pandemic relief programs. He argued that the aid would discourage people from working and make them too reliant on government. Pillen has taken a different stance, arguing that the state should make use of federal dollars to help lift up the working poor. Fundamentally Im a believer that if there are federal funds that are available with limited strings attached, thats a responsibility as your governor to get more than our fair share of that, he said last week, during his monthly radio show. Pillen added that he thought the rental funds were a great investment for our state. He emphasized that the money should go to help people who are working and be provided as a hand up, not a handout. His administration applied for what remained of the federal rental assistance funds on May 9. The state got the money 10 days later. Nebraska was originally allocated $120 million in the second round of rental assistance. But the federal government reallocated 60% of the money when the state did not apply by the March 31, 2022, deadline. First priority to get the reallocated funds went to other agencies in the state, namely Omaha and Lincoln and their counties. State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, who introduced a bill this year that would have required Pillen to apply for the federal rental assistance, said he was happy that the governor decided to take the money. While he regretted that the state did not apply for the money sooner, Cavanaugh said the funds will be important for the counties that are home to the states midsize cities, such as Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista and Gretna in Sarpy County, and Grand Island in Hall County. The more we can help people stay in their houses, the better, he said. Harner said the plan is to use up to 15% of the money for services that promote housing stability, such as counseling, mediation, eviction diversion and prevention and specialized services for people with disabilities or who are older. The rest will be available to pay past-due rent, utilities, current and future rent, plus moving costs for renters whose income falls below 80% of the median income for their county. Once the majority of funds have been distributed, she said, some money may be used to support affordable housing. Top priority for the rental aid will go to households headed by seniors or people with disabilities and to domestic violence survivors. Other priority groups include households with at least one member working 30 hours a week and households with minor children. People will be limited to 18 months of assistance, counting both first- and second-round aid. NIFA did not handle the first-round aid. Harner said the agency plans to run the new program similar to the process it used to distribute federal homeowners assistance money earlier. More information will be provided when the application process gets closer to launch. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of July 2023 South Korea Forms Joint Crypto Crime Investigation Unit to Fight Surging Crypto Illegal Activities Source: Pixabay South Korean prosecutors and financial authorities have launched an interagency crypto crime division to crack down on crypto-related illegal activities. The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office said Wednesday that the joint virtual asset investigation team will comprise 30 staff investigators from seven government agencies including the prosecution, the Financial Supervisory Service, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service. The implosion of TerraUSD (USTC) and Luna tokens created by countryman Do Kwon that exacerbated a $2 trillion crypto-market rout last year, spurred regulatory scrutiny in South Korea. Aside from the Kwon fallout, consequences from crypto-related crimes increased over the last five years in the country, resulting in financial damage of 5.3 trillion won. The crimes included ponzi schemes, backdoor listing and price manipulations. According to a Yonhap report, the Joint Investigation Centre for Crypto Crimes will oversee market players issuing or distributing cryptocurrencies, to track down any abnormal trading or crypto-related illegal activities. The team will also probe into crypto crimes, such as analyzing the case, in a fast-track manner. Virtual assets are investment products that already compare to stocks, but market participants are practically left out from legal protection amid incomplete laws and systems, the official statement read. Wider Look-Out to Curb Crypto Crimes The investigation unit will specifically look into digital asset tokens of high-price volatility or delisting for illegal trading tax evasions, money laundering and unauthorized foreign exchange transactions, a Reuters report noted. Early this month, per a local report, the Prosecutors' Office is currently investigating the dubious coin investments and trading of Rep. Kim Nam-kuk, who stepped down his membership in the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea following the controversy. They are also investigating corruption allegations related to crypto exchange Coinone's coin listing. Cases that are already being investigated will be completed by the current department. New cases related to crimes involving cryptocurrencies will be assigned to the newly launched joint investigative team, an investigator from the Office, noted at the time. The Prosecutors' Office has already established a joint investigative unit on financial stock crimes, which was first launched in 2013. The unit supposedly gained a reputation for its expertise in investigating complicated stock fraud cases. Norman Chad & William Hung Headline 15th Annual Ante 4 Autism Event July 26, 2023 Connor Richards Editor & Live Reporter U.S. The 15th annual Ante 4 Autism charity poker tournament will take place in Las Vegas later this month in an effort to raise money for a good cause. The No-Limit Hold'em event will take place on Saturday, July 29 at 6:30 p.m. at South Point Hotel & Casino, a local favorite for low-stakes poker action. As is typically the case with the Ante 4 Autism events, this year's tournament will include celebrity participants such as former WSOP Player of the Year Jeff Madsen and iconic poker commentator Norman Chad. Other well-known poker pros who will be getting in on the Ante 4 Autism action include William Hung, Kenna James and Chip Jett. Even all-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, while he wont be able to make it, is supporting the event as a donor. 2022 champion William Hung The $15,000 guaranteed prize pool will be split among the top nine players, while the Ante 4 Autism site will also list seven luxurious trips that will be auctioned off the night of the event. The trips up for grabs include a seven-night stay in Mexico for a minimum bid of only $2,250. There will be other items auctioned off, including a Beautyrest Black Collection bed, a Tempurpedic Adapt Collection and a Stearns and Foster Studio Collection, three items perfect for anyone in the market for a new bed. Five autism charities will receive proceeds from the event, including Project FOCUS at the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at UNLV, The Hope Fund - a division of International Hyperbarics Association (IHA), The Rich Center for Autism at Youngstown State University, National Autism Association of Southeast Ohio, and Autism Speaks. Expect to see a number of celebrities playing in the Ante 4 Autism charity event at South Point. Karina Jett, one of the Co-Hosts, does a great job of arranging celebrities to play each year and we look forward to our celebrity friends joining us, Ante 4 Autism founder Doug Krinsky said in a press release. About Ante 4 Autism The Ante 4 Autism charity event in Las Vegas was founded in 2009 by Doug Krinsky and is now held at the Golden Nugget each January. Doug and his wife Kelly Krinsky founded Beat Autism Now, Inc. a 501 C 3 not for profit organization, in 2008. The Ante 4 Autism event is now part of Beat Autism Now as the main event conducted every year. There is now a Host Committee of 12 individuals from across the country that help organize and run the Ante4autism event each year. Ante 4 Autism was started to raise awareness about Autism and raise money within the home furnishings industry, to help support the needs of the families impacted by Autism. As of February 2019, they have raised $712,386. The proceeds of the event are now donated back to five Autism related charities each year. Those interested in sponsorship opportunities can contact Doug Krinsky at [email protected]. Learn more at Ante4autism.com. Images courtesy of Ante 4 Autism. BAD BEAT - Is This The Craziest Online Poker Hand of the Year? July 26, 2023 PokerNews Staff Is there ever a right way to play pocket jacks? Well, PokerStars ambassador Arlie Shaban thought he had finally found the answer while playing in the Sunset Series on PokerStars Ontario. Shaban found himself on the right side of a set-over-set-over-set encounter, but lady luck had another idea for the streamer in what could be the craziest online poker hand of the year. 19+. Gambling can be addictive. Please play responsibly. Everything You Need to Know about PokerStars Ontario In the first level of Phase 1 of the $20,000 guaranteed Sunday Saver, Shaban picked up pocket jacks and found himself licking his lips in delight while in a four-way all-in. Shaban had pocket jacks on the J83 flop, which was the best hand anyone could have at the point. He was up against pocket queens as well as a set of threes and eights. After the flop and K turn, Shaban was the huge favorite heading to the river, but a fourth eight hit the felt to give one of his opponents quads for the win in sickening fashion. The Canadian was left speechless for a moment before letting out a meme-worthy look to the camera. To quote Shaban, "That was disgusting!" Best Sites to Play Online Poker in Ontario Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario. PokerStars operates pursuant to an agreement with iGaming Ontario. For more information, visit the Ontario Players Homepage This is an advertisement Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print House Freedom Caucus member Rep. Ralph Norman told reporters that President Biden will be impeached. Norman told CNNs Manu Raju, If its not accountability now for the highest officeholder in the land when is it going to be? So, hes (McCarthy) right to do it, and I think hes going to continue, and I think hes going to be impeached. Video: "At the end of the day, he will be impeached," Ralph Norman, a member of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, says of Joe Biden after McCarthy threatens the president with an impeachment inquiry pic.twitter.com/OfyCm6SjW2 Manu Raju (@mkraju) July 25, 2023 Norman was referring to Kevin McCarthys increasing threats to pursue an impeachment investigation against President Biden based on a debunked piece of Russian misinformation that came from Rudy Giuliani. House Republicans continue to ignore the fact that they have no evidence that Biden did anything wrong. Republicans have no evidence to support their claims of a bribery scheme that took place while the current president was vice president. There is no paper trail. There is no evidence that Biden ever received any money. The Republican witnesses are either people who are on the payroll of allies of Donald Trump, convicted felons or wanted fugitives. There is no evidence of anything that would meet the definition of an impeachable offense. House Republicans have intended to impeach Joe Biden since they won the House majority. They are looking for any pretense that they can find because the goal is to help Donald Trump in the 2024 election. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print RFK Jr. during a Fox News town hall with Sean Hannity blamed the US for Russias invasion of Ukraine and claimed the US wants war with Russia, and the audience responded with applause. RFK Jr. told Hannity his version of the Russian invasion of Ukraine: Because of our pushing Ukraine into the war. On two occasions, in 2019, France, Germany, and Russia agreed to the Minsk Accords. That year, Zelenskyy ran for president. He was a comedian. Why did he win? Because he ran on one issue, signing the Minsk Accords. As soon as he got in there, the White House told him he couldnt do it. Putin then sends 40,000 troops in. That is not enough to conquer the country. He wanted us to come to the negotiating table. Zelenskyy came to the negotiating table, signed an agreement that was the Minsk Accords II in 2022, and that would have allowed the Donbas to stay and remain as part of Ukraine. Putin, signing it. Zelenskyy initialed it, and Putin in good faith began withdrawing troops from Ukraine. We set Boris Johnson over there to torpedo it. We dont want peace. We want war with Russia. Video: Sean Hannity to his credit called Putin evil and said that no one will miss the Russian dictator when he is dead. Hannity also questioned RFK Jr.s claim the US pushed Ukraine into the war. Sean Hannitys big problem is that he thinks Europe should be taking on more of the burden and Biden isnt doing enough to beat Russia. The audience gave RFK Jr. applause that was louder than Hannitys for claiming that the US wants war with Russia. In a single clip RFK Jr. was outed as a Putin puppet. Fox News viewers were revealed to have been brainwashed by years of Trump and Putin propaganda, and the Republican Party was shown to have been significantly against democracy. The moment in the RFK Jr. town hall was damning for a lot of reasons because it revealed that the national security pro-America Republican Party is dead, and has been replaced by a conspiracy-laden, easily manipulated, anti-democracy segment of far-right conservatism. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print A strange moment occurred at the Senate Republican leadership press conference when Mitch McConnell froze while speaking and had to be escorted away by colleagues. Video: Odd moment: McConnell freezes at start of Senate GOP leadership press conference and is escorted to the side by his colleagues pic.twitter.com/hT5bLnstOS Raquel Martin (@RaquelMartinTV) July 26, 2023 McConnell was speaking, and in midsentence, he froze, stared straight ahead, and said nothing. His colleagues came over to him, asked him if he wanted to say anything else, and walked the Senate Minority Leader away from the microphone. Sen. McConnell left the press conference but returned later: UPDATE: McConnell is back at the presser. pic.twitter.com/hrAdKXpAVX Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) July 26, 2023 It was a disturbing moment, and when asked about it, McConnell said: Asked about what happened at the top of the press conference, MCCONNELL says Im fine. Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) July 26, 2023 Sen. McConnell did not look fine as he stood there staring and not saying anything. The social media speculation immediately went to McConnell having a stroke, but no health event is confirmed. Sen. McConnell was injured previously in a bad fall outside of a restaurant. Again, there is no indication that the situation today was related, but the Kentucky Senator has recently experienced health issues. Mitch McConnell is in his eighties, so it could be time catching up with the longest-serving Republican leader in Senate history. Age has become an often discussed issue ahead of the 2024 presidential election, but there are also age issues in Congress. Well before it was warm enough to plant seedlings in the ground, farmer Micah Barritt began nursing crops like watermelon, eggplant and tomatoes eventually transplanting them from his greenhouse into rich Vermont soil, hoping for a bountiful fall harvest. Within a few hours last week, those hopes were washed away when flood waters inundated the small farm, destroying a harvest with a value he estimated at $250,000. He still hopes to replant short-season crops like mustard greens, spinach, bok choy and kale The loss of the crops is a very tangible way to measure the flood, but the loss of the work is hard to measure, said Barritt, one of five co-owners of Diggers Mirth Collective Farm in Burlington, Vermont. Were all grieving and heartbroken because of this. That heartbreak was felt by farmers in several Northeast states after floods dealt a devastating blow at the worst possible time, when many plants were too early to harvest, but are now too late to replant in the regions abbreviated growing season. Storms dumped up to two months worth of rain in a couple of days in parts of the region, surpassing the amount that fell when Tropical Storm Irene blew through in 2011, causing major flooding. Officials have called last weeks flooding Vermonts worst natural disaster since floods in 1927. Atmospheric scientists say floods occurring in different parts of the world are fueled by climate change, with storms forming in a warmer atmosphere, making extreme rainfall more frequent. The additional warming scientists predict is coming will only make it worse. Diggers Mirth is one of seven commercial organic farms at the Intervale Center, according to Melanie Guild, development director of the center, which manages 350 acres in the heart of Burlington. Operators of the center near the Winooski River have long been aware of the threat of flooding. As the forecast called for heavy rains, the center reached out to hundreds of volunteers to harvest as much as possible. This is smack dab in the middle of the growing season so anything that was ready to harvest was pulled. Whatever was left was lost, Guild said. There were cabbages just floating around in the flood. All seven farms were washed out. Losses will likely run higher than Irene, where losses tallied about $750,000, she said. Not all farms that suffered losses grew vegetables or flowers. The Maple Wind Farm in Richmond Vermont, which produces pasture-raised animals, was also struck. Beth Whiting, who owns the farm with her husband, said even with predicted heavy rains they assumed their turkeys would be OK because theyd never seen flooding reach the area where they kept the birds. Then about 3:30 a.m. on July 10, the nearby Winooski River crested higher than theyd ever imagined, Whiting said. Workers in a canoe were able to rescue about 120 of 500 turkeys. Workers also saved about 1,600 chickens, but lost 700 at a second farm. We had no idea the flood was going to be so dramatic, she said. The flooding forced many farmers into tough choices, according to Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Anson Tebbetts. Dairy farmers who found roads to processing plants impassable were forced to dump milk. Another problem is the loss of corn, a key source of food for the dairy industry. Thousands of acres were completely or partially underwater or flattened and unusable, he said. Flower farms were also destroyed. Some blueberry bushes are under water. That is very important for pick-your-own operations. Once produce is underwater it cant be used, he said. As of the end of last week, Vermont farmers had reported 7,000 acres in crop damage, Tebbetts said, adding many farms must clear debris washed onto their fields when rivers overflowed. In Massachusetts, at least 75 farms have been hurt by flooding, with about 2,000 acres in crop losses at a minimum value of $15 million, according to the state Department of Agricultural Resources. That number is expected to climb as more damage is assessed and the longer-term impacts set in. Damaged farms ranged from community farms to a farm with 300 acres of potatoes that were a total loss just weeks from harvest to a 230-member community supported agriculture farm only five weeks into a 30-week program. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said the disaster requires an unprecedented effort to chase federal, state and private money. On Thursday she announced a Massachusetts Farm Resiliency Fund, a partnership between philanthropic organizations and private foundations Its just such a shame, Healey said after touring flooded farms this week. Unlike Irene, this happened right on the cusp of harvest, so the crops are ruined for this year. In Connecticut, Bryan Hurlburt, the states agriculture commissioner, said the flooding impacted about 2,000 acres of farmland, much of it in the Connecticut River valley. The flooding is part of a larger environmental crisis, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said. What the hell is going on here? Lamont said, speaking in front of a flooded farmers field in Glastonbury. Look behind us. We were irrigating that a couple of months ago, desperate for water in the middle of a drought. And today its Lake Wobegon. And so what do you do? Kate Ahearn, who runs Fair Weather Growers along the Connecticut River in Rocky Hill, said the flood waters took a heavy toll. This is our livelihood that is at stake, she said. Fair Weather Growers is going to lose about 300 acres of crops and more than half of our labor force, plus all of our wholesale accounts. In Pennsylvania, officials have been monitoring rainfall. When water is rising, thats the big concern because you get a lot of standing water and the soil starts to loosen up, turns into mud and the mud starts to wash away. When dirt and soil washes away, crops do as well, said David Varner from the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. Recently, a farmer called the Penn State Extension in Bucks County saying his crops looked wilted, as if they hadnt been watered in a while, said Margaret Pickoff, horticulture extension educator. It was the opposite: The soil was so full of water, the plant roots were unable to take in any oxygen, and were dying off. Other than its address, the new Iron Horse Grill has little in common with the old Iron Horse, which I reviewed here in February 2022. No longer a $20-per-year private club, it is a normal restaurant open to the public. The dining room's zany overhead jungle of greenery and twinkle lights has been stripped away in favor of an unadorned black ceiling. Gone also are the colorful prints and posters that crowded the walls. When I ate at the old place, there was so much decoration to look at that I never noticed that the restaurant has windows: tall, thin ones, like a fortress. Surreal gaiety has been replaced by the comfortable calm of a roadside tavern. Seats on the front patio offer a get-away-from-it-all Beech Island vibe. The Iron Horse's fabled biker-bar swagger is history. The printed menu is short a single page. There are just four hamburger variations and two everyday dinners salmon and steak plus chicken wings and fingers and a few sandwiches. Off-the-menu specials have included shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, country fried steak and wings for 89 cents apiece on Wednesday. The old place was famous for half-pound hamburgers made from a mix of brisket, short rib and chuck, cooked to whatever degree of doneness the customer requested. In last year's review, I swooned over the "red-meat juice" that oozed from a medium-rare one. The menu now advises, "All burgers are fully cooked." That means that a significant amount of juice gets cooked out of them. Whatever beef they're made of, by the time they arrive at the table, they need supplementary succulence. The kitchen can supply it in the form of cheese, bacon, grilled mushrooms and/or onions. One called the 421 Burger comes topped with pimento cheese and a fried green tomato and dressed with bacon jam and garlic aioli. In this scrumptious assembly of ingredients, anemic beef hardly matters. Still, I miss that red-meat juice. Customary restaurant salads can be dressed up with chicken, salmon, catfish or shrimp. A chicken Cobb salad includes greens, cheese, bacon, hard-boiled eggs and abundance of chopped-up chicken fingers. Vaguely similar to nachos, Yukon chips are a welcome holdover from earlier days. Crisp-fried potato slices come topped with bacon crumbles, melted cheese, jalapeno chips and thick squiggles of sour cream. For a different kind of drink companion, there is fried sushi. Yes, it's true: Little rolls of crab, avocado, sticky rice and cream cheese are battered and fried, then drizzled with teriyaki glaze. The process obliterates the cool, fresh appeal of sushi, befuddling taste buds and yet triggering the desire for another bite. Like Yukon chips, they are supreme bar food, promoting not just hunger for more, but thirst. Really, like it always has been, Iron Horse Grill is as much a place to drink as to eat. I miss bartenders Paul and Michael, who used to pour their masterfully crafted cocktails with a flourish; but still, it is a pleasure to occupy a barstool and watch waitress Meredith meticulously concoct a sunshine-sweet and citrus-tart lemon drop martini. Iron Horse Grill: 210 Storm Branch Road, Beech Island, S.C. 803-265-1809 Aiken, SC (29801) Today Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 92F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. We have all seen it. The posts on social media from desperate pet owners who no longer have time to give their pets their best life. Tales of separation anxiety, behavior issues and animals that dont seem to be their normal, happy selves fill up feeds. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many peo Read moreANIMAL CONNECTION: Together we can overcome overcrowding Last week I began giving you a bit of information about early railroads and lumber towns during the mid to late nineteenth century in Berkeley County. I found this interesting in that we have railroads presently in the county that many dont know whether or not they are being used, and if so Read moreVillage of Conifer and its lumber company Two new fast-casual restaurants are on the way to Berkeley County, and a frozen custard chain plans to add five more dining venues across the Lowcountry. In Moncks Corner, Slim Chickens will occupy a 3,570-square-foot building that's under construction at 451 N. U.S. Highway 52 near Walmart, according to Justin Westbrook, the town's community development director. Franchisees with Chandler Restaurant Group of Columbia and Florence announced in 2021 they planned to bring nine of the fast-casual restaurants to eastern South Carolina, with one of the first in the Lowcountry. An opening date has not been announced. The Arkansas-based company has two other locations in the Palmetto State in Columbia and Fort Mill. An affiliate of Illinois-based developer GMX Real Estate Group bought the 1-acre Moncks Corner parcel in 2022 for $850,000, according to public land records. GMX's portfolio includes a variety of retail, restaurant and other projects. On the way South of Moncks Corner and near two developing large-scale neighborhoods, Come Back Shack plans to build a 3,000-square-foot building at 1844 N. Main St. between Goose Creek and Summerville. Property owner Shack Properties LLC of Boone, N.C., is seeking a stormwater permit for the 1.85-acre site between Storage King USA and Classic Collision auto shop. The property is near Culver's frozen custard and butterburgers restaurant and between the developing neighborhoods of Nexton and Carnes Crossroads. Expansion-minded The Charleston-area franchisee for a burger and custard restaurant plans to have five more locations across the Lowcountry and southeastern South Carolina. Derek DeVera, who opened the region's first Freddy's on Ladson Road in 2021 and recently announced plans for another on U.S. Highway 17A in Carnes Crossroads in Goose Creek, said several others will eventually be built, including three more around Charleston and one each in Walterboro and Beaufort County. Locations for the five new restaurants have not been determined, DeVera said. The Wichita, Kansas-based company had more than 480 locations in 36 states at the midyear point and expects to have 500 units by year's end. Now serving A new dining venue is now open in a developing neighborhood near Summerville. The Co-op Frose and Eatery opened July 20 at 1231-B Nexton Parkway in a new commercial development called The Hub near Brighton Park Boulevard in Nexton. It's the company's fifth location in the Charleston area. Others are in Charleston and on Isle of Palms, Kiawah Island and Sullivan's Island. Three other restaurants can be found in Charlotte, Chattanooga and Nashville, according to the cafe's website. Rolling in A new tire retailer is coming to northern Mount Pleasant. Mavis Discount Tire Store plans to build a 6,775-square-foot shop at 2154 S.C. Highway 41, just west of the Lowes Foods-anchored Market at Mill Creek Shopping Center. The shop will be located between Dental Care at Mill Creek and White Horse Car Wash. Sailing in The Isle of Palms Marina store marked its recent makeover with a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 25. The Outpost at 50 41st Ave. includes a deli, provisions, souvenirs and gifts. Eyes have it A Mount Pleasant business owner is bringing the first U.S. franchise for a Canadian-based business to the Lowcountry. Lynn Maggio-Fleer, franchise owner of Blo Blow Dry Bar at 905 Houston Northcutt Blvd. in Patriots Plaza Shopping Center, plans to open LashKind, the name of Lash franchise Mync in the U.S., according to trade journal Franchise Times. Blo Blow Dry Bar acquired the six-unit, Canada-based Mync last fall. Maggio-Fleer's new store will be a few doors down from Blo. LashKind also has agreements signed for the Miami and Dallas markets. While the name implies lash work only, the brand also offers brow shaping, brow lamination and lash lifts. Rounding up A Savannah-based convenience store chain with several stores in the Charleston area recently raised more than $240,000 to support food banks in South Carolina and Georgia. From December through June, Parker's Kitchen raised $241,523 through a round-up campaign from customers and a 25 percent match by the company to support Lowcountry Food Bank in Charleston and America's Second Harvest in the Peach State. A Charlotte-area coffee shop plans to open three cafes, including one with a bakery, in the Charleston area. Summit Coffee is scouting sites across the Lowcountry with the new shops slated for the Charleston peninsula, Mount Pleasant and North Charleston, according to CEO Brian Helfrich. All of the new locations will be corporate-owned stores. Once the Charleston-area sites have been selected, he expects it will take about three or four months before they are ready to open. He's targeting later this year or 2024 to have the sites customer-ready. Helfrich first looked at the Lowcountry two years ago for new stores but decided to hold off on expanding at the time. "It is an awesome destination, but it also has a great culinary scene," he said. "We want to be part of that." The company, founded in Davidson just north of Charlotte in 1998, currently has 10 locations in Asheville, Atlanta and Charlotte, with six others under development in the Queen City and the Georgia capital city. The new Lowcountry sites will bring the company's footprint across three states to 19 shops. "We're immensely excited to deepen our footprint in our core markets in the coming months and years," Helfrich said. "Our focus has been to thoughtfully expand opportunities for more customers to interact with Summit, in a way that ensures we're still delivering a remarkable cafe experience." He added, "We're now prepared to nearly double our cafe count by growth in markets we're already in Charlotte and Atlanta and a market we've long desired to enter in Charleston." After years of disappointment, a groundbreaking new study finds that charter schools are finally living up to their promise, doing a dramatically better job at educating children than traditional public schools. Read moreScoppe: Charter schools are providing a superior education ... in most states The board was presented July 18 with the possibility of joining a class action lawsuit filed against four social media companies seeking damages for acting as a public nuisance and affecting the mental health of students. Read moreGeorgetown County school board not yet ready to join lawsuit against tech giants The author of what has been called the official manifesto of the 2017 Unite the Right rally has become the seventh man to be named among those indicted for participating in the torch-lit march across University of Virginia Grounds the night before the deadly rally. Rare for those charged, Augustus Sol Invictus, who was born Austin Mitchell Gillespie, has been granted bail. I feel pretty good, his attorney Terrell N. Roberts III told The Daily Progress after emerging from Albemarle County Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon. He didnt intend to harm anybody here. The Florida-based 39-year-old has a history of denouncing egalitarianism, denying the Holocaust,and calling for the fall of the federal government. He once conceded that he killed a goat and drank its blood as part of a ritual. In court, however, his lawyer focused on other parts of his background. This man is a well-educated, articulate individual who holds a law degree from DePaul University, said Roberts. Hes not a rabble-rouser; hes very thoughtful, very intelligent. Roberts noted his clients status as a family man, a father to seven including two boys, ages 4 and 6, who had been attending daily Catholic mass with Invictus. He is a great father, wrote the boys mother in an affidavit filed with the court urging her ex-husbands release. The court file was replete with other letters and affidavits attesting to the character of Invictus and urging pretrial release. This arrest has caused his law practice to falter, said Roberts. If he were to flee, there would be all kinds of trouble to his law license, so thats not happening. However, prosecutor Lawton Tufts attempted to keep the focus on Aug. 11, 2017, the night that hundreds of White nationalists shouted racist slogans such as Blood and soil and Jews will not replace us as they marched across UVa Grounds wielding flaming torches. I really dont have much concern that he will appear, said Tufts. The bigger concern is that he is a danger. Tufts said that videos showed the fire-toting crowd chanting angrily. This is 300 people with torches surrounding about a dozen people, said Tufts. Watching the videos is terrifying. While Tufts didnt mention the Charlottesville manifesto, which named race as the leading signifier of a persons identity, he did mention a 2013 letter in which Invictus vowed to launch a second civil war. To characterize him as not a rabble-rouser is surprising, said Tufts. While never actually opposing bail, Tufts noted that two instances of alleged domestic abuse were lodged against Invictus, although both sides in Tuesdays hearing agreed that neither prosecution one in Florida and the other in South Carolina resulted in a conviction. A decade after changing his name to the Latin for majestic undefeated sun, Invictus ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Florida and released a YouTube video entitled A Call for Total Insurrection. There, one can hear his tales of alleged persecution delivered in his distinctive mid-Atlantic accent, a vocal style employed by actors such as Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn during Hollywoods golden age. Do you know why artists are allowed to say and do whatever they like? Invictus asks in the video. Its because they are impotent. The Albemarle courtroom gallery got to hear that voice Tuesday when the shackled defendant with his high-and-tight haircut heard the prosecutor discussing one of his past criminal charges. Not a single word of that is true, interjected Invictus. You cannot interrupt, admonished Judge Cheryl Higgins. And you need to let your attorney make your objection. That attorney is no stranger to high-profile cases involving the far right. He raised over half a million dollars to represent the estate of Ashli Babbitt, the U.S. Capitol stormer shot to death on Jan. 6, 2021, when hundreds of former President Donald Trumps supporters overran security to interrupt the election of Joe Biden. He also represented a man who allegedly cross-checked an officer that day with a Confederate flag attached to a lacrosse stick. In court Tuesday, Roberts gave a hint of the defense hell bring to the Albemarle trial of Invictus, which the prosecutor suggested would include witness statements and videos shot on Aug. 11, 2017. Were not trying the case today, Roberts told the court. But what I see is protected First Amendment activity. In the end, Higgins let Invictus post a $7,500 bond and return to Florida. She forbade him from any contact with his alleged victims, banned him from possessing a firearm, demanded weekly contact with Offender Aid and Restoration and limited his travel to court appearances and visits to out-of-state children. She set the jury trial for three days beginning March 20, 2024. Virginia has no statute of limitations on felony charges. A conviction under Virginias law banning burning as intimidation written to prevent the Ku Klux Klan from burning crosses to terrorize Black people can carry a sentence up to five years. GEORGETOWN The U.S. arm of an Italian plumbing manufacturer is building a multimillion-dollar plant and headquarters near Andrews that will create almost 50 jobs. The deal, formally announced Aug. 2, emerged last month after Georgetown County Council unanimously approved property tax breaks for Zilmet USA Corp. to use land at a county business park off of U.S. Highway 521. The company, which had been identified as "Project Hooper" before the deal was finalized, expects to begin manufacturing operations by 2025. "This new facility will allow us to better serve our U.S. customer base in addition to freeing up existing capacity in Italy for our European and worldwide demand," Zilmet USA general manager Scott Jacobsen said. He added that the state's ReadySC program that helps businesses recruit and train job candidates "was a decisive factor in our move here. Zilmet USA's 68-year-old parent company makes various plumbing goods, including heat exchangers and mixing valves. It also specializes in expansion tanks, which protect closed water systems from excessive pressure. The company's main manufacturing plant is near Venice, but it established itself in the U.S. in 2012 with a headquarters in North Kingstown, R.I. County economic development director Tiffany Harrison said last month that the company expected to invest $32.7 million and create 48 jobs, each paying about $60,000 per year. The company announced Wednesday that construction of its new plant at 405 Technology Drive is underway. The first phase is scheduled to be completed in late 2024, with production beginning the following year. The S.C. Commerce Department's Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved tax credits that Zilmet USA can claim based on the number of jobs it creates. The state panel also awarded a $500,000 grant to the county to offset sitework and construction costs. Jacobsen said the company chose the business park about two miles southeast of downtown Andrews after looking at sites throughout the Palmetto State and Virginia. "South Carolina really stepped up to the plate," Jacobsen said. "We looked at six different sites within South Carolina, and Georgetown, which was my personal favorite, also became the best business decision/solution for our company." Zilmet products currently sold in the U.S. are imported from Italy, but Jacobsen said the company has expanded to the point that it makes sense to invest in a stateside manufacturing operation. The Andrews factory also will serve as the company's North American headquarters, while the Rhode Island location will remain a distribution hub for the Northeast. Jacobsen said he will relocate to South Carolina, where he has a personal connection. He was married in Greenwood and his wife and son attended the University of South Carolina. The county unanimously agreed to a partnership with Santee Electric Cooperative a year ago to develop the building Zilmet USA will move into. The 100,000-square-foot structure will be expandable to 150,000 square feet. Council also gave final approval last month to the rezoning of a nearly 41-acre tract next to the building to give the company room to grow. TRAVELERS REST The city of Travelers Rest is facing a civil rights lawsuit alleging that it created an environment within its police department that allowed the hiring of officers who should never have been hired. The officer, Gerard Hildebrandt, was arrested this past April and charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct and misconduct in office after a State Law Enforcement Division investigation. Travelers Rest Police Chief Ben Ford fired Hildebrandt, but the lawsuit filed July 25 in federal court in Greenville contends that the officer never should have been hired. Before joining the police department, Hildebrandt had been fired as a Laurens County Sheriff's deputy after using a banned chokehold, according to the suit. In August 2021, Laurens County reportedly dumped Hildebrandt for grabbing the neck of a handcuffed man, restricting his airflow, according to state Criminal Justice Academy records. His termination notice said it was a blatant violation of the agencys use-of-force policy. In an interview with The Post and Courier, Ford said that while the department was aware Hildebrandt had been fired, it didn't consider it a red flag because the Criminal Justice Academy didn't revoke his certification. "The academy said he was in good standing, the police department reviewed the video and determined it was not an excessive use of force," Ford said. Ford said the department couldn't comment on the allegations in the lawsuit because legal papers had yet to be served. In a July 26 news release, Strom Law Firm attorney Bakari Sellers accused the police department of showing "deliberate indifference" in hiring Hildebrandt, alleging that it put the officer in a position to victimize the woman in "a dark, secluded area of Travelers Rest High School." If Chief Ford doesnt think this kind of violence and criminality constitutes a red flag, then what does, Sellers stated. There's uncertainty this week about whether an area of disturbed weather in the Atlantic Ocean could move close to the United States' coast in the coming days. A morning report issued by the National Hurricane Center on July 25 said a weak area of low pressure is located a few hundred miles south of Bermuda. The string of islands sits about 650 miles east of North Carolina. Gradual development of the system is likely as it moves westward toward the United States coast later this week and into the weekend, the NHC said. There is a 20 percent chance of development within the next seven days. Meteorologists in Charleston aren't concerned, yet. "Where it tracks is very uncertain at this point, and it may not even develop at all," said Steve Taylor, a lead meteorologist for the National Weather Service's Charleston Office. "The environment's not exactly the greatest ahead of it, but it's certainly something we're watching." Taylor said the weather service is just asking people to continue to monitor the system and have a plan ready in case something happens. "We certainly are at a time of year where tropical cyclones, hurricanes, tropical storms will become more frequent," Taylor said. Four named storms have formed in the Atlantic so far this season, including Hurricane Don, which dissipated on July 24. Meteorologists at Colorado State University released an update of its 2023 Atlantic season hurricane forecast earlier this month, which now calls for more storms than were initially predicted because of hotter global weather. The new forecast calls for 18 named storms this season including the ones already formed nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes. Compared to a report issued by the university in June, this updated forecast is increased by three named storms, two hurricanes and one major hurricane. August through October is when 90 percent of all Atlantic tropical cyclone activity occurs, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 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 The next morning everyone meets on time. We get to the airport and the first qualifying flights are done. Then everyone goes to the full briefing for all the racers. This is a no bull meeting. Everyone has to sign in. If you dont sign in you were not at the briefing. No Brief=No Fly. If y Read moreSchool with no BS NORTH CHARLESTON The city of North Charlestons program to assist small businesses that are minority-owned might see changes after the U.S. Supreme Courts recent affirmative action decision to end race-conscious college admissions. The goal of the Small, Disadvantaged, Minority Business Program is to encourage more contracts between the city and local businesses making under $500,000 annually. The program, which started in 2017, has nearly 45 approved vendors, but the city only uses about a handful of the businesses for services such as landscaping, plumbing and drug testing. The program accepts any small business making below the threshold regardless of if it is minority owned, but the program's intent was to increase diversity in the procurement process, said Councilman Ron Brinson, who chairs the finance committee. However, it is unknown if any changes need to be made to this program after the Supreme Court's decision to remove race as a factor in college admissions. I suspected at the time of the (Supreme Court) issue that it was not going to be long until somebody connected the dots from this college admissions realm over to this contracting realm, said Derk Van Raalte, an attorney with the city of North Charleston who brought up the topic at the July 20 finance committee meeting. A recent letter signed by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, along with 12 other attorneys general, reiterated how the high court's decision to remove race-conscious admissions from higher education plays a role in hiring practices. The letter was addressed to Fortune 100 CEOs and reminded employers that race cannot be a factor in hiring employees or contractors. It came out two weeks after the Supreme Court's decision. While the letter was not sent directly to the city of North Charleston or even addressed to municipalities, city officials wanted to make council aware of this opinion signed by Wilson. The letter stated: "Such overt and pervasive racial discrimination in the employment and contracting practices of Fortune 100 companies compels us to remind you of the obvious: Racial discrimination is both immoral and illegal. Such race-based employment and contracting violates both state and federal law." When The Post and Courier directly asked the Attorney General's office about the affirmative action decision in relation to small-business programs, the office released the following statement: "While Attorney General Wilson applauds the Supreme Courts ruling in the affirmative action decision and agrees with the position in the letter, each situation has to be determined on its own facts. The facts of one case are not always the same for another and the same legal argument may or may not apply." The citys program does not designate quotas for a certain percentage of minority-owned contractors, nor does it pick and choose contractors based on race. However, city leaders discussed that using minority in the name of the program might be an issue. My concern is theyre going to come back and hit us for how our program is titled, Denise Badillo, procurement director, said at the meeting. The city of Charleston and Charleston County both have programs that help small or minority-owned businesses compete in the public procurement process. The city of Charleston's Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise certification is for businesses with $7.5 million in gross revenue. These businesses include events management, general construction, engineering and consulting services. The county's Small Business Enterprise program accepts businesses that do not exceed a $7.5 million annual gross sales volume averaged over three years and includes construction, demolition, hauling, architecture and engineering services. Badillo said the goal of North Charlestons program is to help local businesses receive contracts for smaller jobs since the city uses these other programs to award large contracts. But she said the $500,000 gross sales limit resulted in little interest in the program despite outreach efforts. We were thinking it was time to update it a little bit because it is a small dollar amount and we do not have a lot of participation, Badillo said. The reason for discussing the program at the finance committee meeting was to provide an update and talk about solutions to make the program more successful, said Badillo. However, the conversation centered on the potential impacts of the letter and the Supreme Court's ruling. Coming out of the meeting, it's my impression that we're now trying to figure out what the attorneys general letter means and what changes would have to be considered, Brinson said. BUCKS COUNTY, PA. A search has ended without finding 9-month-old Conrad Sheils, who along with his 2-year-old sister, mother and grandmother were swept away during a flash flood earlier this month, authorities announced July 26. The Charleston family was visiting relatives in Pennsylvania on July 15 when a rural road they were driving on was inundated following torrential rainfall that soaked the area. Marine units found the body of Mattie Sheils, 2, six days later in the Delaware River near a waste disposal plant in Philadelphia. The site was more than 30 miles south of the Bucks County road where she and her baby brother were last seen. The two children and their mother, Katie Seley, 32, are among the seven people killed in the deluge. Their grandmother, father and oldest brother, 4, survived. "At this point, we have exhausted all means of attempting to locate Conrad," the Upper Makefield Township police posted to Facebook. "Like all of you, we are truly heartbroken and saddened. Although, at this time, we were unable to reunite Conrad with his loving family, he will forever live in our hearts and he will never be forgotten." Emergency personnel had vowed to reunite the children with their family, but the extensive 12-day search was at times hampered by continued rainfall that made it dangerous for divers to search the water, impossible for dogs to sniff them out and difficult for air assets to spot them. Since the discovery of Mattie's body, the police department said, marine units checked the banks of the Delaware River on both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey side. Divers and K9 teams checked the waters and islands along the waterway, as well. That came after more than a week of searching creeks, debris piles and land closer to the road where they were ripped from the arms of their mother and grandmother. "We have conducted a massive search effort that involved hundreds of personnel, drones, boats, K9s, divers, sonar, and air assets," the department's social media post read. "We lost 7 precious lives, 6 of whom were returned to their families." The family thanked those involved in the search efforts, the department said, and the community for its outpouring of support. ROCK HILL As the 2023-24 school year arrives, Winthrop University plans to start the demolition process on a pair of iconic dorms in the coming months. The eight-story residence halls, Wofford and Richardson, have been staples at Winthrop since the late 1960s, serving primarily as freshman and sophomore housing. Standing side by side along Cherry Road, they are the tallest structures on campus with nearly 800 total units. After closing for the 2022-23 school year, the dorms are slated to come down by summer 2024 due to structural issues and declining enrollment. The university will conduct an asbestos abatement within two months, signaling the start of the monthslong demolition process. The demolition will open up space for a new academic building, residence hall or cafeteria, said James Grigg, associate vice president of facilities. It's part of a larger effort to refurbish the campus and attract new students to the public liberal arts school as it deals with falling enrollment. Since 2016, Winthrop has lost about 1,500 students the largest total drop of any four-year institution in South Carolina during that period, according to South Carolina Commission on Higher Education data. The decline has sent everyone at the Rock Hill university scrambling to stop the bleeding. For the facilities team, the effort has come in the form of construction after receiving an influx of surplus cash from the state, Grigg said. With the school year starting in one month, Grigg called this summer the busiest in recent memory, with the dorms just one line on a laundry list of projects for the 120-year-old school. Some of the issues have been that the campus has not presented itself as well as it should, Grigg said. In June 2023, the university began the process of replacing its legendary fountain known for campus traditions of mischief and mystery. The 90-year-old Byrnes Auditorium is slated to receive new seating for people with disabilities and renovated bathrooms after a small fire forced it to close for five years. The university will also remove brick columns and fencing that surrounds the campus, with hopes of opening up the view. Given the enrollment drop, Grigg said the university has prioritized refurbishing and refreshing and repurposing existing property rather than building new structures. Where we are with our enrollment, the short term was, let's be more realistic and stretch in a select number of areas, he said. For 55 years, the Richardson and Wofford dorms have served as the introduction to college for thousands of students. The two halls were built as freshman dorms Richardson for men and Wofford for women. The university mandates that freshmen and sophomores live on campus, meaning most students stayed in Richardson or Wofford at some point. When Grigg arrived at the university in 2021, he realized that the university needed to replace the dorms. In Wofford, specifically, the steel-and-concrete structure was deteriorating and the roof was leaking. Both had complaints of mold. Grigg said the school accelerated efforts to close the dorms after the Surfside condo collapsed in Miami in 2022, killing 98 people. The Miami condo collapse obviously raised everyone's concerns about structural issues, Grigg said. So it was just, I say, a perfect storm of information arriving at the same time. Wofford shut down in 2021. Although Richardson did not have the same structural concerns, officials decided to take it down without a need for additional housing due to enrollment numbers. The university contributed over $1 million and received $6 million from the state to demolish the buildings. But the demolition of 800 units has put Winthrop in a tight position. Nearly 98 percent of the rooms on campus were full during the 2022-23 school year, Grigg said. If enrollment increases, the school could see a squeeze in housing, forcing it to place students in local apartments or hotels, Grigg said, with the possibility of removing the requirement that sophomores live on campus. In the meantime, the university has discussed ways to revitalize the new land, including a residence hall. Grigg prefers a cafeteria and the university has already begun design concepts. There is a little bit of pop, there's a little bit of excitement, something new to the campus to kind of draw students here, he said. But for Tanya Gordon-McCree, who graduated with a bachelor's and masters in the early 2000s, Wofford and Richardson werent just dorms. They were where she formed decadeslong friendships at orientation and where she pranked those friends by splashing them with water balloons from the high-rise as they walked across campus. She even hosted her bridal shower in a first-floor common room of Wofford. All those memories they wont go anywhere, Gordon-McCree said. The building will. While plans to demolish the dorms stirred up nostalgia, she also expressed optimism. Even when she attended two decades ago, the dorms seemed old, she said. A couple of weeks ago, Gordon-McCree, now a high school teacher, made her own trek from Lancaster to get a glimpse of her former home. But she doesnt just want it to be the lasting memory of the buildings. Shes hoping to preserve the dorm with a lasting artifact: A brick from her college dorms before they come down. As a medical educator, Im always thinking about how to mitigate the physician shortage crisis in South Carolina. A recent commentary in The Post and Courier has prompted me to offer some clarification and context around this crisis and how we can better address it. Read moreCommentary: SC needs more doctors. Here's what MUSC is doing about it. As House Republicans close in on the truth about the Biden familys overseas influence peddling business, Democrats are growing more and more desperate. As well they should. At last weeks House Oversight Committee meeting, ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), who is rapidly becoming the Adam Schiff of the GOPs investigation into the Bidens, tried mightily to separate President Joe Biden from his son. He told colleagues, Like other addicts, Hunter Biden made foolish and criminal choices, including failing to pay his taxes and owning a firearm in violation of federal law, and hes now being held criminally accountable for it. Raskin called the hearing the theater of the absurd and an exercise in futility and embarrassment. He can say whatever hed like, but the reality is that mounting evidence points to not only Joe Bidens knowledge of his sons foreign business affairs, but his active participation. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, for her part, moved the goalposts. For four years, Biden and his minions have categorically denied he had any knowledge of his sons business affairs. Asked if the president still maintains that position on Monday, she replied, Ive been asked this question a million times, the answer is not going to change, the answer remains the same: the president was never in business with his son. But Jean-Pierre wasnt asked if Biden was in business with his son. She was asked if the president will continue to deny any knowledge of Hunters overseas business activity. And she knows that. Apparently, the administrations spinners thought this was a smart way to dodge the question. They were wrong. Hunter Bidens longtime business partner and friend Devon Archer is scheduled to testify before the HOC next Monday. Archer was convicted in 2018 of securities fraud for swindling the Oglala Sioux Indian tribe out of more than $60 million and is scheduled to begin a one-year sentence next month. If he tells lawmakers what many expect him to say, Joe Bidens plausible deniability is history. Sources told the New York Post they expect Archer will testify that Hunter Biden would dial in his father, then-Vice President Joe Biden, on speakerphone into meetings with his overseas business partners. The Post described a Dec. 4, 2015 meeting at the bar of the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach between Hunter Biden, Archer, senior Burisma executive Vadym Pozharskyi, and Burisma founder and then-CEO Mykola Zlochevsky. According to the Post, Pozharskyi asked Hunter: Can you ring your dad? At the time it was early afternoon Friday in Washington, DC. Hunter then called his father, put him on speaker, placed the phone on the table, and introduced the Ukrainians to Joe Biden by name as Nikolai [Mykola Zlochevsky] and Vadym. He told his father they need our support. The source said that Biden spoke only in vague pleasantries during the short call, and in other such interactions with Hunters overseas business partners. It would be a real coup for the House Republicans if Archer confirms these allegations. Although there are many die-hard Democrats who will stick with Biden no matter what evidence is presented to them, revelations of this magnitude would register with independents. It could be a gamechanger. Bidens friends at the DOJ are likely waiting for this shoe to drop. When/if it does, the third indictment of former President Donald Trump and perhaps even a fourth will surely follow. Say this about Judge Maryellen Noreika. She has her guard up. She is on the lookout for dirty tricks. Query whether she harbors the thought that the Hunter Biden plea deal she has been asked to bless today is one. The Daily Mail (Josh Boswell) and the New York Post (Samuel Chamberlain) have good narrative accounts of the strange doings in the federal district court clerks office in Wilmington yesterday. Let me borrow Chamberlains account here: First son Hunter Bidens legal team appeared to pull a dirty trick Tuesday to block the release of damning evidence ahead of his expected guilty plea to federal charges of tax evasion and weapons crimes. The drama began in the morning when the House Ways and Means Committee filed an amicus brief to Delaware US District Judge Maryellen Noreika arguing that the 53-year-old had benefited from political interference which calls into question the propriety of the investigation into alleged crimes including money laundering, felony tax evasion and failure to register as a foreign agent. What happened next was outlined in a letter sent to the judge Tuesday afternoon by the committees top lawyer, Theodore Kittila. [A]t approximately 1:30 p.m., we received word that our filing was removed from the docket, Kittila said. We promptly contacted the Clerks office, and we were advised that someone contacted the Court representing that they worked with my office [emphasis original] and that they were asking the Court to remove this from the docket. We immediately advised that this was inaccurate. The Clerks Office responded that we would need to re-file. We have done so now. Kittila included email exchanges with court officials and Hunter Bidens attorneys in the fresh filing. Hi Ted, Following up on our recent telephone conversation, the woman who called was a Jessica Bengels, confirmed court official Samantha Grimes. She said she worked with Theodore Kittila and it was important the document was removed immediately or they could file a motion to seal. I do deeply apologize for all the confusion on our part. Bengels is the director of litigation services at the New York-based law firm of Latham & Watkins, where Hunter Biden attorney Chris Clark was formerly a partner. When Kittila confronted the first sons legal team, Hunters attorneys tried to claim the filing contained confidential tax and identifying information, even though the whistleblower testimony has been public for more than a month. The time stamps from the emails also indicated the request to take the document down was made after Kittila refused a request to file the testimony under seal. As far as I am aware, the managing attorney from Latham called the clerks office to note that personal tax information of the defendant had been filed in a non reacted [sic] manner and to inquire regarding having the information sealed, as we told you we would and as you said you understood, Clark wrote. As far as I am aware the clerk took the filing down on their own accord. Your attempts to publicly file my clients personal financial information with no protection ls [sic] are improper, illegal and in violation of applicable rules We will seek all appropriate sanctions in response to your actions. You should probably take a step back from your statements, Kittila warned. The clerks office advised that it was represented to her that the request was being made by my firm. We will be advising Judge Noreika of this improper conduct. I stand by all of my statements and I hope you have an affidavit from the clerk in support of yours, Clark replied. Weve noted here how court decisions have curtailed the ability of local governments to control homelessness (by voiding local no-camping-on-the-streets ordinances) and other measures, and likewise the judiciary has limited what the federal and state governments can do to limit illegal immigration. Today a federal district court judge in Oakland, CA, struck down the Biden Administrations already weak enforcement of asylum rules that required someone seeking asylum to apply first in a foreign country: Judge Jon Tigar of the California Northern District Court previously ruled against a similar policy under the Trump administration . . . Tigars ruling stems from a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union among other immigrant rights groups over a new asylum rule that largely bars migrants who passed through another country from seeking asylum in the United States, marking a departure from decades-long protocol. The Biden policy, like the Trump-era one, garnered wide condemnation from Biden allies, including Democratic lawmakers and immigrant advocates when it was rolled out. Who is Judge Jon Tigar? Lets start with the fact that he is an Obama appointee to the federal bench. Then take in some of his other rulings (from Wikipedia) since becoming a judge: On April 2, 2015, Tigar ordered the California Department of Corrections (CDCR) to provide gender reassignment surgery to a transgender inmate, finding that such surgery was the only adequate medical treatment for the inmates gender dysphoria. Since August 2017, Tigar has presided over Plata v. Newsom, a case concerning the constitutional adequacy of medical care in the California state prison system. On September 27, 2021, Tigar ordered that all CDCR staff, including medical and custody staff, be vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to medical and religious exemption. . . On November, 2020, Tigar issued an order enjoining the California Department of Motor Vehicles from enforcing a ban on personalized license plate configurations it found offensive to good taste and decency on the grounds that the regulation violated the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. . . On July 24, 2019, Tigar issued a nationwide injunction that barred the Trump administration from denying asylum to persons who crossed through but did not apply for asylum in a third country.[17] In August, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit found the administrations asylum policy likely violated federal regulatory law but narrowed Tigars injunction to apply only within the Ninth Circuit. On September 9, 2019, Tigar reinstated the nationwide scope of the injunction. A reminder that for all the talk from the left about an activist conservative Supreme Court, left-wing judicial activism is still alive and well. PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-26 14:00:50 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1055 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / The Stock Day Podcast welcomed CLS Holdings USA, Inc. (CLSH) ("the Company"), a diversified cannabis company that acts as an integrated cannabis producer and retailer through its Oasis Cannabis subsidiaries in Nevada and plans to expand to other states. CEO of the Company, Andrew Glashow, joined Stock Day host Kevin Davis"What AI solutions has your business engaged to help grow?", asked Davis to begin the interview. "On the retail side, we have introduced an artificial intelligence budtender," shared Glashow, adding that the AI budtender provides recommendations to customers, while also answering questions for a more personalized experience. "We've seen our average ticket grow anywhere from 40%-60%."Glashow then expanded on the Company's use of AI technology with regards to cultivation and the challenges many companies face within this sector. "We have identified technology which scans the plants and is able to see stress issues related to water and light seven days before it is detectable by the trained human eye," said Glashow, adding that growers are immediately notified if any of these traits are identified. "We believe introducing new technology to cultivation related assets has the potential to be incredibly meaningful for this industry." "How is CLS Holdings managing to stand out compared to other companies in the cannabis industry?", asked Davis. "We have stayed true to the local folks," said Glashow. "That has helped us through the pandemic as tourism came to a halt during that time period," he said. "We catered to locals and we have continued to cater to locals, and as a result our business has consistently continued to grow." "Could you share what your current customer retention is?", asked Davis. "95%," shared Glashow. "We have a robust loyalty program in conjunction with a third-party vendor," he explained. "This has been the most effective outreach marketing campaign and we have been with them for well over five years," said Glashow. "We consistently give those people, our customers who we love, the best products at the best possible prices," he said. "And we are always trying to provide variety." "You have also reduced your debt dramatically. What is your plan moving forward to continue that?", asked Davis. "We have taken debt, however it was a big initiative of mine to reduce that debt," said Glashow, adding that the company has reduced their debt from $23.5 million to $10 million over the last twelve months. "Mostly we have achieved this through existing cash flow," he said. "We are on track to pay down the debt by $200,000 per month," shared Glashow. "It is my goal by the end of the year to see our debt at around $7 million and my goal for the next calendar year to have it reduced to $4 million." To close the interview, Glashow encouraged listeners and shareholders to keep up-to-date on the Company's current and upcoming projects as they continue to expand in the growing cannabis industry.To hear Andrew Glashow's entire interview, the link to the podcast is available by clicking: Stock Day Media Podcast with Andrew Glashow, CEO of CLS Holdings USA, Inc.Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/ About CLS Holdings USA, Inc.CLS Holdings USA, Inc. (CLSH) is a diversified cannabis company that acts as an integrated cannabis producer and retailer through its Oasis Cannabis subsidiaries in Nevada and plans to expand to other states. CLS stands for "Cannabis Life Sciences." The Company's business model includes licensing operations, processing operations, processing facilities, sale of products, brand creation and consulting services. https://www.clsholdingsinc.com Oasis Cannabis has operated a cannabis dispensary in the Las Vegas market since dispensaries first opened in Nevada in 2015 and has been recognized as one of the top marijuana retailers in the state. Its location, within walking distance to the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas, in combination with its delivery service to residents, allows it to efficiently serve both locals and tourists in the Las Vegas area. In February 2019, it was named "Best Dispensary for Pot Pros" by Desert Companion Magazine. In August 2017, Oasis commenced wholesale offerings of cannabis in Nevada with the launch of its City Trees brand of cannabis concentrates and cannabis-infused products.Founded in 2017, City Trees is a Nevada-based cannabis cultivation, production and distribution company that offers a wide variety of products with consistent results. City Trees products are available in numerous dispensaries throughout the state of Nevada.Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and 'forward-looking statements'' as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, the "forward-looking statements''). These statements relate to, among other things, the expected development of our business and joint ventures, results of operations and financial performance, future liquidity, working capital and capital requirements. The continued spread of COVID-19 could have, and in some cases already has had, an adverse impact on our business, operations and financial results, including through disruptions in our cultivation and processing activities, supply chains and sales channels, and retail dispensary operations as well as a deterioration of general economic conditions including a possible national or global recession. In some cases, you can identify forward looking statements by terminology such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "intends," "expects," "plans," "goals," "projects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions, are uncertain and involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, levels of activity or performance to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We cannot guarantee future results, levels of ac PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-26 13:00:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 484 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Decommerce: Where brands directly engage with their customers to build sustainable communitiesZURICH, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / The world of social media is changing with the emergence of Web3 technology. This new era is allowing brands to explore new ways to build their communities, leading to less reliance on centralized platforms and more opportunities to create decentralized environments. Technologies are giving brands the tools to develop these communities, paving the way for a decentralized future.Decommerce is a whitelabel community solutionDecommerce enables brands to collaboratively create the future of commerce with their communities. The protocol allows brands to host, engage, and reward their communities within brand-immersive experiences on their brand's web shop. Co-founder of Decommerce, Allan Perrottet, argues that owned communities represent a paradigm shift in the relationship between brands and their customers. The days of brands thriving solely on transactions are gone. The future belongs to brands that empower and engage their audience in co-creation. These brands acknowledge and reward the value they create together.Traditional social media marketing is losing its effectiveness, as organic reach continues to decline. Brands investing significant amounts of money into social platforms often face disappointing engagement and retention. Moreover, data breaches and unethical practices have eroded trust, leaving brands searching for a more reliable alternative.Decommerce's whitelabel community software allows brands to connect with their audience on a genuine and mutual level at the same time. Decommerce addresses the issue of diminishing organic reach, which renders 98% of social media followers unreachable. They enable brands to reward their community through stablecoins and NFTs while co-creating digital and physical products with their members. Decommerce's success with renowned brands like TBo demonstrates the power of decentralized communities in fostering authentic connections and driving meaningful engagement.Decommerce, along with brands like Nike, Starbucks, and Gucci, is redefining the concept of brand communities. Next-Gen communities are built on shared interests, values, and ownership, enabling individuals all over the globe to connect and collaborate. This newfound inclusivity and innovation foster a sense of belonging and engagement, allowing brands to co-create directly with their customer audience and build sustainable profits.As the social media landscape evolves, brands embracing the potential of owned communities will enjoy a bright future. Decommerce leads the way by providing brands with the tools to navigate this new digital age. Additionally, the company recently acquired UK investors, Farfetch and Outlier Ventures, as significant partners.About Decommerce:Decommerce is a whitelabel community solution that enables brands to collaboratively create the future of commerce with their communities. The protocol allows brands to host, engage, and reward their communities within brand-immersive experiences on their brand's webshop, campaign microsites, and apps.Co-founded by Roy Bernheim and Allan Perrottet, the venture is backed by Outlier Ventures, FARFETCH and renowned individual investors.Contact InformationRoy BernheimCo-founderHilary SullivanStrategic Executive SupportRelated Files1.png3.pngSOURCE: Decommerce As the leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination continues to claim the 2020 election was stolen, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is encouraging conservatives to embrace the very voting method that Donald Trump has long decried as fraudulent. I need your early vote this year, Youngkin told Republicans in a June video. We cant go into our elections down thousands of votes. Youngkins plea may indicate a change of heart among Republicans. Or perhaps a change in tactics. Since at least 2020, the party and its national leaders have argued with little to no evidence that allowing voters to cast early or absentee ballots increases the chance of mass voter fraud. That theory has spread far and wide among the base. It isnt just a belief that absentee ballots and an expanded time frame increase the opportunities for fraud, Carlton Ballowe, chair of the Nelson County Republican Committee, told The Daily Progress. It is an indisputable fact. After Trump and other national figures scared many voters off from mail-in ballots, the Republican Party of Virginia is trying to assuage their fears. This data-driven effort to get Republicans to vote early is how we win in November, state party Chair Rich Anderson said in a statement for Secure Your Vote Virginia, an initiative that aims to change the minds of Republicans skeptical of early and absentee voting. We have a clear mission: get in front of as many voters as we can to assure them voting absentee by mail or early in person is easy, secure, and necessary. The message from Youngkin and the party is clear: Voting early will help win the legislature. If you have a look at the past couple cycles, its an area where Republican voters in Virginia and across the country have fallen behind, Dave Rexrode of Spirit of Virginia, a Youngkin political action committee, told The Daily Progress. Looking at this election cycle when every vote is going to be critical to success, we felt it was imperative we work with the party and put together a comprehensive plan to engage in all get-out-the-vote operations. Since 2016, overwhelmingly more Democrats have chosen to vote early in Virginia than Republicans, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. In last years midterm elections, 63% of the states early votes were cast by Democrats. In 2020, the number was 65%. Relying on Election Day votes can put a party at a disadvantage, according to J. Miles Coleman, media relations coordinator at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. After Republicans had a disappointing midterm last year, theyre looking at some ways of, What can we do better? he told The Daily Progress. If you can get as many people to vote early as you can, thats fewer votes you have to turn out on Election Day. After redistricting, many of the states House and Senate seats will be closely contested this November. If the Republican Secure Your Vote initiative can get more voters to cast a ballot early, Coleman said that could be the difference in several key legislative races. Even though this initiative wasnt in place in 2021, that still didnt stop Republicans from doing pretty well that year, Coleman said. So maybe one of the messages on the Republican side is, OK, if we embrace early absentee voting we can do even better than we did last time. Republicans in Central Virginia, including Ballowe, still expressed skepticism over the security of mail-in and early voting. But they are onboard with Youngkins initiative nonetheless. Traditionally and historically, Republicans have voted on Election Day, Darrell Byers, chair of the Fluvanna Republican Committee, told The Daily Progress. So I think its a bold move to break the status quo but also bring numbers up to get voters out there so we can do what needs to be done as it relates to flipping the House and the Senate. John Lowry, chair of the Albemarle Republican Committee, said his team is embracing the governors initiative with open arms. Were hopeful that early voters will not have a defeatist attitude, Lowry said. Youngkin wants people to go out because they think their vote will count. But after national leaders have derided absentee ballots for years, suddenly convincing Republicans that early voting is safe and legitimate may be a difficult needle to thread. I dont think Trump is helpful when he constantly talks about how the election was stolen. Hes the one who says its fraudulent, illegitimate. Thats why they probably have the word secure in the name, Coleman said, referring to the Secure Your Vote initiative. In politics, messaging counts for a lot, Coleman said. If they emphasize that this is secure, a lot of those Republicans who would otherwise be more skeptical of it would maybe give it a second look. Still, there appears to be a deep skepticism among Republicans about early voting, and about recent laws that have made it easier to vote in Virginia. In 2020, the legislature and former Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam passed a bill to allow no-excuse early voting starting 45 days prior to an election. That bill to expand voting rights likely helps explain why Virginia was ranked as one of the easiest states to vote in a 2022 study published in the Election Law Journal. But if Republicans win the legislature this fall, there appears to be an appetite to roll back those rights. The absentee ballot thing Im not a fan of, and I dont think any of us are fans of a voting season starting 45 days out before the actual election, Byers said. I think a significant majority of our membership would prefer a return to an Election Day with absentee voting only for cause, Ballowe said. Everyone who wishes to combat fraud should favor voting at a specific time and place where the process is monitored. Yet with the current rules being what they are, Republicans want to take advantage. Maybe if Republicans get a trifecta after this year they can revisit some of those laws, but for now, early voting has become more popular with the electorate, Coleman said. Republicans probably rightfully want a piece of that real estate. First things first. To change those laws, Republicans will need a big turnout this fall. Increasing the partys early voter percentage may help them get it. But it wont be easy if national figures keep casting doubt on the same method that Republicans once championed in California, Utah and elsewhere. In an interview with Trump just last week, Fox News Sean Hannity asked the former president if hed encourage Republicans to vote early and by mail. I will, but those ballots get lost also, Sean, Trump said. You know, they send them in, and all of a sudden, theyre gone. PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-26 17:59:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 349 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/FMC Contact An Attorney Now: FMC@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895FMC Corporation (FMC) Investigation:The investigation focuses on the propriety of FMC's sales and inventory management practices.On May 1, 2023, FMC announced its Q1 2023 financial results, said Q2 2023 revenue would be flat to the prior year quarter, and maintained FY 2023 revenue outlook of $6.08 to $6.22 billion.But, on July 10, 2023, FMC announced updated expectations for its Q2 and FY 2023 outlook. In particular, the company slashed its Q2 2023 revenue outlook by about 30%, reduced its FY 2023 revenue outlook by over 14%, and blamed the reduced guidance on reductions in channel inventory that adversely impacted the company's sales volumes in the quarter.This news sent the price of FMC shares sharply lower that day."We're focused on investors' losses and whether FMC may have engaged in improper channel-stuffing," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in FMC and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding FMC Corporation should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email FMC@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-26 02:09:25 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 605 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 25, 2023 / Employee wellbeing was a prominent topic of discussion at The Consumer Goods Forum's (CGF) prestigious Global Summit held in Kyoto, Japan. CGF's new Co-Chairs, Board Members and member companies of the Collaboration for Healthier Lives Coalition of Action (CHL) advocated for the physical and mental health of the over 10 million employees estimated to be working for CGF member companies.This comes at the halfway mark of the CGF's 2023 to be the Year of Employee Wellbeing, bringing together leaders in the FMCG industry and external stakeholders to advocate for the importance of building impactful and enduring employee wellbeing strategies and policies.New leadership at the CGF, Co-Chairs Frans Muller, President and CEO of Ahold Delhaize, and Dirk Van de Put, Chairman and CEO of Mondelez International, will focus on mobilising members and the wider FMCG community to prioritise their own employee's physical and mental health alongside the health and wellbeing of global customers. This is part of the Co-Chairs' Ambition 2025, where increased focus will be given to five initiatives that aim to deliver a major positive impact, namely Employee Mental & Physical Health, Human Rights Due Diligence, Forest Positive Supplier Approach, Plastic Golden Design Rules and Emissions Reduction from the eight critical coalitions.The CGF will continue to take stock of progress on employee wellbeing including at milestone events such as the Sustainable Retail Summit, which will be held the same month as WHO World Mental Health Day.Gen Z enthusiasm around employee wellbeing was brought to the attention of participants by 16-year-old Midori Watanabe, a Chief Future Officer with the algae-based biotechnology company Euglena Co. She said, "If we can create a workplace that has acceptance and mutual respect between people, then I feel that will be a place where wellbeing for mental and physical health will be ensured." Employee wellbeing and Workforce Nutrition played a key role in CHL's in-person Steering Committee meeting on the 5th July 2023 in Kyoto where the participants reviewed global progress and local deep dives notably from China and Japan.At this meeting, a playbook on Winning Behaviour Change: A Toolkit for Building Impactful Initiatives was released. Partnering with Bain & Company, the report showcases the most recent data and key learnings from CHL's global initiatives, and provides a prescriptive view on how businesses can establish and execute impactful projects and strategies, to shift towards healthier and more sustainable consumption.People spend around one-third of their time at work, so every company has a responsibility to positively shape the wellbeing of their workforce. At the CGF we encourage all our member companies to engage with the #wellbeingatwork campaign and share their commitment to and best practices on employee wellbeing.-End-About CGF's 2023 Year of Employee Wellbeing Campaign:The CGF Collaboration for Healthier Lives Coalition of Action has launched its #WellbeingAtWork campaign to raise awareness around the issue of employee health and to provide a call to action for companies to create a workplace culture which actively promotes and supports wellbeing. Every month we publish relevant content and share best practices in the form of a CEO video series, blogs, podcasts and more. Topics include Employee Physical and Mental Health and Workforce Nutrition Programmes, which include Healthier Food at Work, Breastfeeding Support Programmes, Health Checks, Nutrition Education.Contact the Health & Wellness team to participate and share your journey with your peers.Follow the #WellbeingAtWork campaign on social media.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from The Consumer Goods Forum on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: The Consumer Goods ForumWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/consumer-goods-forum Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: The Consumer Goods Forum PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-26 14:00:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 660 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 A groundbreaking case report publication on the impact of rapid molecular testing on lung cancer patientsTEL AVIV, ISRAEL / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Imagene, an emerging leader in AI-based precision oncology, is pleased to announce the publication of a case report in the Journal of Clinical Pathology. The report, titled "Artificial Intelligence (AI) Molecular Analysis Tool Assists in Rapid Treatment Decision in Lung Cancer'' demonstrates the successful application of Imagene's AI technology in rapid molecular testing for lung cancer patients, conducted as part of a joint prospective study with the Pathology Department at the Sourasky Medical Center.Schematic representation of the caseThe adoption of new tools as AI-based molecular profiling in the clinical workflow has the potential to dramatically improve the routine pipeline and enhance the abilities of physicians to provide optimal patient care The case report describes two patients in their early 40s who were admitted at the emergency room with severe headaches. Brain MRIs and CT scans revealed suspected metastatic lung cancer that was confirmed by a biopsy analysis at the pathology lab. The patients needed immediate intervention and could not afford to wait for comprehensive genomic profiling results. To allow prompt decisions without compromising the small amount of remaining tissue, Imagene's rapid AI-based molecular testing was used as part of collaborative research.Prof. Dov Hershkovitz, Head of the Pathology Department at the Sourasky Medical Center, said, "The ability to use Imagene's AI technology in these cases was a game-changer. It allowed us to bypass the usual lengthy waiting period associated with comprehensive genomic profiling. This technology is revolutionizing the way we diagnose patients, with the potential to improve outcomes and save lives." The Imagene algorithmic inference identified, within minutes, positive EGFR mutation, from the biopsy H&E image. A subsequent rapid RT-PCR test for EGFR mutations was indeed positive, allowing for immediate targeted treatment initiation and avoiding the need for whole brain radiation therapy. Both patients' MRI scans after two months showed significant improvement with disappearance of the enhancement. A news channel also featured this case, including an interview with the patient. She shared her personal experience and highlighted the significant positive psychological impact that the rapid testing had on her."These real-life cases underscore the transformative potential of AI in precision oncology," said Dean Bitan, Co-founder and CEO of Imagene. "Our technology enabled the medical team to make a rapid, informed treatment decision, ultimately saving precious time and improving the patient's prognosis. We are proud to be at the forefront of this revolution, working hand-in-hand with leading medical centers on prospective studies to enhance patient care and impact patients' lives." "One of the hardest things as an oncologist is to tell my patients we need to wait for a molecular diagnosis in order to start the optimal personalized treatment. It is groundbreaking to be able to have a molecular profile from the biopsy image within minutes," added Prof. Ido Wolf, Head of Oncology, Sourasky Medical Center. "With the help of the rapid AI-based diagnoses, we are able to navigate patients' journeys and make immediate informed treatment decisions that have such a great impact on our patients' lives." Imagene continues to pursue the advancement of AI in precision oncology, providing innovative solutions that enhance cancer patients' care and streamline clinical workflows. This technology can make molecular testing accessible to all cancer patients, particularly those in under-tested populations.About ImageneImagene is an emerging leader in AI-based precision oncology. The company leverages AI to profile, within minutes, a broad range of cancer biomarkers from a digitized biopsy image alone, providing physicians with immediate oncology intelligence to ensure optimal treatment for all cancer patients. Imagene's multidisciplinary team of data scientists, biologists, software engineers, and medical experts is committed to scientific excellence and collaboration, advancing precision oncology, and improving patient outcomes.For more information, please visit imagene-ai.com Contact InformationAvital RabaniHead of Marketingmedia@ imagene-ai.com SOURCE: Imagene PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-27 00:25:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1081 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSX:NDM)(NYSE American:NAK) ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company" or "NDM") announces that the State of Alaska filed today a motion in the United States Supreme Court. The Motion for Leave to File a Bill of Complaint forcefully argues that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") veto of the Pebble Project breaches a contract (the Cook Inlet Land Exchange) involving Alaska and the United States and violates the federal statutory recognition and implementation of that land exchange. It also argues that the veto violates the Administrative Procedure Act because the veto is arbitrary and capricious. Finally, it argues that the veto-which withdraws 309 square miles in the Bristol Bay region from use for mining purposes-is an unconstitutional taking without just compensation. The Bill of Complaint seeks injunctive relief requiring EPA to withdraw its veto and seeks monetary damages for breach of contract and the unconstitutional taking without just compensation."The Bill of Complaint filed by Alaska is a welcome development in the long Pebble saga," said Ron Thiessen, President and CEO of Northern Dynasty. "Northern Dynasty strongly, and I mean very strongly, supports all of the arguments set forth by the State and we congratulate the State for bringing these claims directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. Northern Dynasty intends to prepare and file with the Supreme Court appropriate briefs to support the State's case." Mr. Thiessen continued, "In the mid 1970's, a three-way land exchange was negotiated between the U.S. Government, the CIRI Native Alaskan Corporation ("CIRI") and the State of Alaska. The U.S. Government received land to create Lake Clark National Park. CIRI received land with valuable natural resources allowing it to become a profitable entity for its Alaska Native shareholders. The State of Alaska received land in the Bristol Bay region-where the Pebble Project is located-for the specific purpose of developing the mineral potential of that land. The EPA veto is the U.S. Government reneging on that deal. Both the U.S. Government and CIRI got the value they bargained for; if the EPA veto is not withdrawn, the U.S. Government has taken back the value the State of Alaska bargained for." The U.S. Constitution gives states the right to seek direct jurisdiction in the U.S. Supreme Court for complaints against the federal government. The Court has interpreted this clause in the Constitution as giving it discretionary jurisdiction and set out several tests that must be met before the Court will accept such a case. The papers filed by the State of Alaska clearly show that those tests are met and that the Court should grant jurisdiction to hear the case. The State of Alaska also contends that such jurisdiction is not discretionary and the Court must accept jurisdiction of this case. It is anticipated that the Court could decide as early as October whether to hear this case."The litigation filed by Pebble in 2014 made many of the arguments the State makes in this Supreme Court filing," added Mr. Thiessen. "Unfortunately, the court never reached a ruling on the merits of that case; it was dismissed because the proposed EPA veto was not yet deemed final. We believed then, as we do now, that the facts and law relied upon by the State of Alaska make a powerfully persuasive case for forcing EPA to withdraw the Pebble veto now that it is deemed final. It is Northern Dynasty's intention to support the State in its claims before the Supreme Court and, if necessary, to file actions in the lower courts to raise these and other reasons why the EPA veto must be withdrawn." About Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd.Northern Dynasty is a mineral exploration and development company based in Vancouver, Canada. Northern Dynasty's principal asset, owned through its wholly owned Alaska-based U.S. subsidiary, Pebble Limited Partnership, is a 100% interest in a contiguous block of 1,840 mineral claims in Southwest Alaska, including the Pebble deposit, located 200 miles from Anchorage and 125 miles from Bristol Bay. The Pebble Partnership is the proponent of the Pebble Project, an initiative to develop one of the world's most important mineral resources.For further details on Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Project, please visit the Company's website at www.northerndynastyminerals.com or contact Investor services at (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114. Review Canadian public filings at www.sedar.com and U.S. public filings at www.sec.gov Ronald W. ThiessenPresident & CEOU.S. Media Contact:Dan Gagnier, Gagnier Communications (646) 569-5897Forward-Looking Information and Other Cautionary FactorsThis release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under applicable provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. All statements in this presentation, other than statements of historical facts, which address permitting, development and production for the Pebble Project are forward-looking statements. These include statements regarding (i) the mine plan for the Pebble Project, (ii) the political and public support for the permitting process, (iii) the ability to successfully appeal the negative Record of Decision and secure the issuance of a positive Record of Decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the ability of the Pebble Project to secure all required federal and state permits, (iv) the status/merit of the EPA Final Determination and the actions of the EPA with respect to its Final Determination with respect to the Pebble Project; (v) exploration potential of the Pebble Project, (vi) future demand for copper, gold and other metals, and (vii) the potential addition of partners in the Pebble Project. Although NDM believes the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way be construed as guarantees that the Pebble Project will secure all required government permits, establish the commercial feasibility of the Pebble Project, achieve the required financing or develop the Pebble Project.Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by NDM as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Assumptions used by NDM to develop forward-looking statements include the assumptions that (i) the Pebble Project will obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use a PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-26 23:22:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 723 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 MUMBAI, INDIA and NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Nucleus Office Parks, the operating platform for Blackstone Real Estate's wholly owned offices in India, announced today its commitment to the WELL at Scale Initiative and received the prestigious WELL Performance Rating at 15 of its properties, making it the largest real estate portfolio globally to achieve the WELL Rating. WELL at scale is the scalable application of WELL Building Standard (WELL) strategies across an organisation or a real estate portfolio. WELL is developed by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the global authority on healthy buildings and organizations, to help companies measure and improve health performance.Nucleus was awarded the WELL Performance Rating following the successful completion of third-party performance review, including on site testing, sensor monitoring and/or occupant surveys, confirming the properties had met the feature specific intents and requirements. The WELL Performance Rating serves as a roadmap for organizations to demonstrate excellence in occupant experience and building performance across key indoor environmental quality (IEQ) indicators related to air quality, water quality, thermal comfort, acoustics and lighting.Quaiser Parvez, CEO at Nucleus Office Parks said, "Prioritizing the well-being of employees and tenants is crucial for creating a healthy and productive work environment. Being recognized as the largest real estate portfolio globally for our WELL Performance Rating is a significant achievement for us at Nucleus Office Parks. By maintaining a strong focus on well-being, we aspire to create a thriving and successful community within our real estate portfolio." "We applaud Blackstone and Nucleus Office Parks for achieving the WELL Performance Rating across the Nucleus portfolio." said Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, IWBI. "Through this significant achievement, one that exemplifies global leadership and a deep commitment to people-first places, Nucleus Office Parks is promoting healthier, more productive workplaces by deploying WELL's evidence-based strategies to support and sustain their employees' health and well-being." Some of the initiatives to promote well-being at Nucleus Office Parks include implementing an advanced filtration system, sourcing clean water, and designing the lighting system to replicate natural light."The WELL Performance Rating leverages dynamic human and building performance metrics to enhance the experience of the people inside," said Prateek Khanna, Chief Operating Officer, IWBI. "Achieving the WELL Performance Rating communicates to employees across Nucleus Office Parks that their buildings are working to prioritize their well-being and meeting the leadership benchmark for health established by WELL, the world's premier healthy building standard.By participating in WELL at scale, Nucleus joins global brands leading the charge to prioritize, deliver and benchmark health and well-being impacts across their entire organization. To date, thousands of companies in more than 120 countries, including many of Fortune 500, use WELL as an evidence-based roadmap.###About Nucleus Office ParksNucleus Office Parks is the operating platform for Blackstone Real Estate's wholly owned offices in India. Nucleus Office Parks' current portfolio includes 20 million square feet of Grade-A commercial spaces spread across Mumbai, Bangalore, NCR, Chennai and Ahmedabad.Connect with Nucleus Office Parks on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram.About the International WELL Building InstituteThe International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the world's leading organization focused on deploying people-first places to advance a global culture of health. IWBI mobilizes its community through the administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL) and WELL ratings and certifications, management of the WELL AP credential, the pursuit of applicable research, the development of educational resources and advocacy for policies that promote health and well-being everywhere. More information on WELL can be found here.International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL Portfolio, WELL Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rating, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Equity, WELL Performance Rated, WELL Performance Rating, Works with WELL, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.Media contact:For International WELL Building Institute : Media@ wellcertified.com For Nucleus Office Parks: Dr. Deepa Jayaraman deepa.jay@outlook.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from International WELL Building Institute on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: International WELL Building InstituteWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/international-well-building-institute Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: International WELL Building Institute PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-26 19:31:19 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 411 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Arrow ElectronicsA New Arm for SashaWhen 9-year old Sasha awoke in the hospital, she asked the surgical nurse, "'Please be honest: Do I have a left hand or not?"Sasha's family was escaping Ukraine when Russian forces attacked their refugee convoy. Her stepfather was killed and she was severely wounded. Doctors on the front lines amputated Sasha's left arm.Nearly 5,000 miles away in upstate New York, Easton LaChappelle and his medical device startup Unlimited Tomorrow (UT) learned of Sasha's ordeal and went to work on a smart prosthetic arm to give her a more normal life with the help of technology. UT is a customer of Arrow Digital, North American Components and Design Engineering.UT's product, called TrueLimb costs less than $10,000. Fitted on the patient's residual arm, it works by reading muscle data through dozens of sensors embedded within the socket. This data then controls several different grips and movements. TrueLimb helps patients lift as much as 15 pounds while and perform fine motor skills like holding a bottle or a mobile phone. It also provides some touch sensations.The bionic limbs are custom crafted for the patient using 3D scanning, 3D modeling, 3D printing and smart algorithms. This process shortens the time it takes to deliver prosthetic arms, solves accessibility issues, and reduces the price of a high functioning prosthetic arm significantly.An Ambitious Technology Solution that Makes Life BetterDue to her injuries and age, Sasha's prosthetic is the most ambitious device UT has developed and its first above-elbow solution.The entire prosthesis weighs under three pounds - a record for a pediatric device of its kind, but necessary for a child Sasha's age and size.Once fitted, Sasha immediately had control of the device through nerve signals in her residual arm. She was able to interact with her mother and pick up objects in her first training session.A year after her ordeal, Sasha lives in Canada with her mother and sister. She is attending school.About Arrow Electronics:Arrow Electronics guides innovation forward for over 220,000 leading technology manufacturers and service providers. With 2022 sales of $37.1 billion, Arrow develops technology solutions that improve business and daily life. Learn more at fiveyearsout.com Sasha Filipchuk and Unlimited Tomorrow Founder, Easton LaChapelleView additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Arrow Electronics on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Arrow ElectronicsWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/arrow-electronics Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Arrow Electronics PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-26 16:47:40 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 975 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Rapid Q3/Q4 2023 Sales Growth Forecasted from North American Cannabis Retailers and WholesalersSOUTH EASTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Pressure BioSciences, Inc. (OTCQB:PBIO) ("PBIO" or the "Company"), a global leader in the development and sale of broadly enabling, high-pressure-based equipment, consumables, and specialty testing services to the worldwide nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, biotherapeutics, food/beverage, and other industries, announced today that Canopy CBD Farms LLC ("CCF"), the Company's Master Distributor for Cannabis Products in North America, has reported a significant increase in the pipeline of retailers and wholesalers engaged in negotiations for PBIO's UltraShear-processed nanoemulsions of CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids. One week ago, the Company entered the rapid expansion phase of its UltraShear Nano-CBD commercialization program (Phase 2). Working with the Company, CCF increased its short-term pipeline to over a dozen companies with strong interest in contracting for access to UltraShear nanoemulsified hemp and cannabis-derived products. CCF expects that half of these companies will generate purchase orders for UltraShear products/services over the next two weeks; the rest are expected to contract for UltraShear-processed products in a month.Mr. John Westlake, President of CCF, emphatically stated: "There is a high level of excitement and interest in UltraShear-processed CBD nanoemulsions derived from hemp. Many customers now understand the clear advantages of the UltraShear platform and have been anxiously awaiting the transition to Phase 2, which would allow them to order UltraShear processed products. We believe the dozen companies added this week to our contracts pipeline are just the tip of the iceberg. We also believe that our contracts pipeline number will grow significantly as we transition further into commercialization Phase 2."Mr. Westlake continued: "CCF is proud to announce that one of the most respected Key Opinion Leaders in the cannabis industry, John MacKay, Ph.D., has agreed to support CCF in a technical role. Dr. MacKay's experience and expertise is invaluable. He will help drive the adoption of the UltraShear platform through solid science and strong business acumen. We are honored to partner with Dr. MacKay as we pioneer the UltraShear platform release to the growing cannabis industry." As the founder and CEO of Synergistic Technologies Associates, Dr. MacKay will leverage his more than 40 years of commercial and academic expertise to advance acceptance of the UltraShear platform in the cannabis industry. Dr. MacKay's perspective coupled with his extraction, separation, and formulation expertise will be valuable to all of PBIO and CCF's prospective cannabis industry business partners, ultimately benefiting the end users of UltraShear nanoemulsified cannabinoids. John MacKay ( thecannabisscientist.com) Six of the more exciting examples of opportunities being developed and negotiated by CCF are highlighted below, with deal closures expected over the coming days and weeks:Research agreement with highly-respected MA company to evaluate quality of THC and CBD nanoemulsions.Standing order for white label CBD spray bottles with a renowned Massachusetts dispensary.Formulation agreement with specialty manufacturer and distributor of premium Phyto cannabinoid ingredients.Product formulation and white label bottle contract with a well-known, hemp-based, global products cGMP manufacturer in the Mountain Region of the U.S.Formulation and nanoemulsion ingredients supply to a Massachusetts-based cannabis beverage manufacturer.White label contract with a large, mid-west, MS operator to market and sell PBI's unique Nano-CBD topical spray.Mr . Richard T. Schumacher, President and CEO of PBIO, stated, "We are encouraged by the results from our partner CCF in their recent aggressive marketing of the UltraShear platform to new geographical areas and companies. It is exciting to see the expanding interest generated, which we believe will manifest itself in rapidly increasing revenue in Q3/Q4 2023."Mr. Schumacher concluded: "With recent advances in our technology base, and in our current UltraShear commercialization roll-out, we believe PBIO's future has never been brighter. We are highly disappointed in the Company's stock price, which we believe in no way reflects PBIO's present worth nor its future potential. As evidence of management's faith in PBIO's future, Jeff Peterson (Chairman) and I have committed a large part of our personal net worth to PBIO. As evidence of our staff's faith in PBIO's future, and upon the request of multiple employees, efforts are being made to institute an employee stock purchase plan to facilitate share acquisition by the staff. During my professional career, I have priorly founded/co-founded three successful public companies, yet in my opinion, none had close to the potential that we now have in PBIO." About the Upcoming Cannabis Drinks Expos in San Francisco and ChicagoAdditional lead generation and UltraShear brand awareness activities will be generated at the upcoming Cannabis Drinks Expos in San Francisco on July 27th and in Chicago on August 1st. PBIO and CCF staff will attend both meetings.About Canopy CBD Farms LLCManufacturer of compliant commercial industrial hemp outputs. Led by a United States Air Force veteran and experienced entrepreneur with a demonstrated history of working and networking in cannabis. Strong knowledge in cultivation, processing, manufacturing, and business development. Specializing in contract manufacturing with established companies, producing ready to formulate CBD, and minor's solutions. Utilizing UltraShear Technologies to use in CBD/THC beverages & edible products. CCF is combining skills and services with Dr. John MacKay, an internationally recognized scientific expert in analytical testing, extraction, and purification techniques within botanical space. His career has included many roles in innovative product development. Dr. MacKay is currently a contributing journalist of Extraction Magazine, a cannabis extraction publication, and Terpenes and Testing Magazine, a publication serving the cannabis industry with cannabis news and science on horticulture, extraction, and testing labs.About Pressure BioSciences, Inc.Pressure BioSciences, Inc. (OTCQB:PBIO) is a global leader in providing innovative, broadly enabling, high pressure-based solutions for a range of industries, including biotechnology, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, and agrochemical, as well as food and beverage manufacturing. Our products utilize both constant and alternating pres PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-26 20:09:23 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 438 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CLEARWATER, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers is pleased to announce that our client, Maria Garcia, recently obtained a $3 million dollar settlement from the Pinellas County School Board after being struck by one of its school buses.Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers - Clearwater Law FirmRoman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers - Clearwater Law Firm The collision left Ms. Garcia with catastrophic injuries and extensive financial losses. She spent two long months in Bayfront Hospital's Trauma Center recovering from her injuries. Ultimately, she sustained injuries to her brain, spine, internal organs, pelvis, and ribs.Ms. Garcia sustained injuries to her brain, internal organs, pelvis, and ribs. Now disabled, Ms. Garcia continues to experience chronic pain due to her injuries. She cannot walk for more than a few feet at a time and requires a walker to maintain her balance.The Legal and Political ProcessThe Pinellas County School Board admitted liability for Ms. Garcia's injuries and agreed to the $3 million settlement in May of 2022. However, Florida's sovereign immunity damage caps limited Ms. Garcia's compensation to $200,000. Roman Austin pursued a claims bill on Maria's behalf, seeking to override the damage caps. Claims bills must be approved by the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. These bills must also be signed by the Florida Governor.The firm retained consultants and lobbyists to guide the bill through the halls of the legislature Senator Darryl Rouson and Representative Linda Chaney sponsored the Senate and House Bills (Senate Bill 4, and House Bill 6017).On January 27, 2023, founding attorney Mark Roman, a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, and his partner, John Austin, presented the case to hearing officers in Tallahassee. Maria and her family testified at the hearing about the impact the bus accident has had on her life.The hearing officers provided a favorable recommendation for the bill, and after making its way through several House and Senate committees, the bill received approval from all committees with nearly unanimous votes. Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 4 into law on June 9, 2023.A Favorable ConclusionRoman Austin is happy to report that Maria Garcia recently received a payment in the amount of $3,000,000. Maria Garcia can finally begin to rebuild her life. Roman Austin was honored to fight for Maria Garcia and her family. We are grateful to the Florida legislature and Florida Governor for helping our client obtain justice after her bus accident.Media Contact:Company Name: Roman Austin Personal Injury LawyersAddress: 1811 N. Belcher Road Suite I-1City: ClearwaterState: FloridaZip: 33765Country: United StatesPhone: (727) 787-2500Website: https://romanaustin.comContact InformationCarol-Lynn RomanMarketing Managercroman@ romanaustin.com (727) 787-2500SOURCE: Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers PR-Inside.com: 2023-07-26 19:31:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 393 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges RTX Corporation f/k/a Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now. The Firm also encourages persons with knowledge that might assist the investigation to contact its attorneys.Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/rtx Contact An Attorney Now: RTX@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895RTX Corporation (RTX) Investigation:The investigation focuses on RTX's disclosures about its manufacturing quality controls.More specifically, on July 25, 2023 RTX reported its Q2 2023 financial results, reduced its 2023 free cash flow guidance by about $500 million (or about 10%), and blamed this on "recent" findings of contamination in the metal used to make its Pratt & Whitney engine parts that would require potentially hundreds of accelerated engine inspections. During the earnings call, management revealed "[i]t's going to be expensive" and "[t]his is an issue that we first uncovered back in 2020 when we had an incident with the V2500 turbine disc." This news sent the price of RTX shares sharply lower that day."We're focused on investors' losses and whether RTX misled investors about its manufacturing quality controls and, recently, its claim to have remediated the contamination issue in 2021," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in RTX Corporation and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding RTX Corporation should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email RTX@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has dispatched the President of Benin, Patrice Talon, to Niger to mediate the governance crisis in that country. The Chairman of ECOWAS and Nigerias President, Bola Tinubu, disclosed this to journalists after he met behind closed doors with Mr Talon at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He is going there now. He is on his way now to Niger Republic, Mr Tinubu said. PREMIUM TIMES reported the attempted coup in Niger on Wednesday. Niger President Mohammed Bazoum was detained by presidential guards at the presidential palace. The soldiers also blocked the road leading to the palace. The situation in Niger was the topic of discussion between Messrs Buhari and Talon. The meeting between the two leaders was unscheduled and was necessitated by the situation in their neighbouring country. Also speaking, Mr Talon said the situation in Niger was a serious one and action must be taken immediately to salvage it. He expressed optimism that the quick intervention of ECOWAS would yield the desired result. The situation is serious enough that ECOWAS with President Tinubu as the Chairman, and the President of Nigeria, as a neighbouring country of Niger Republic, with Benin Republic of which I am the President, for us not to take it jokingly and act quickly. I believe that all means will be used if necessary to restore constitutional order in Niger, but the ideal would be for everything to happen in peace and harmony. So, as the president has committed, the mediation actions will be reinforced this very evening so that this situation can be settled in peace, between brothers because even when what is not acceptable is done, it is necessary that in peace, we can correct this. This is our first option and we think it will be a success, he said. The situation in Niger has been condemned by both the African Union and ECOWAS. PREMIUM TIMES reported how President Tinubu in his capacity as ECOWAS Chairman condemned the attempted coup. Information filtering in from the Republic of Niger indicates some unpleasant developments around the countrys highest political leadership. It should be quite clear to all players in the Republic of Niger that the leadership of the ECOWAS Region and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of the country. The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa, the Nigerian leader wrote in a statement. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print RICHMOND, Va. (AP) The FBI is looking into the death of an intellectually disabled inmate at a Virginia prison who's been identified as a possible victim of a crime, the agency said in a document reviewed Monday by The Associated Press, months after a federal lawsuit was filed alleging the man was fatally beaten by correctional officers. The February 2022 death of Charles Givens, who was serving time for murder at the Marion Correctional Treatment Center, is the subject of a federal lawsuit alleging Givens was sadistically tortured and beaten before being found unresponsive at the southwest Virginia facility. This case is currently under investigation by the FBI," said an email from an FBI victim specialist addressed to an attorney for Givens' sister. A criminal investigation can be a lengthy undertaking, and, for several reasons, we cannot tell you about its progress at this time. The email was dated Sunday and shared with the AP by Kym Hobbs, Givens' sister and the plaintiff in the lawsuit filed in February. Nothing in the message indicated the scope or target of the apparent investigation. Hobbs, who said the email marked the first correspondence she'd had with the FBI about her brother's death, said she welcomed the development. I'm hoping somebody will actually do something, she said. Dee Rybiski, an FBI spokeswoman in Richmond, declined to comment, noting the agency does not usually confirm or deny the existence of investigations. Hobbs' lawsuit alleges her brother had suffered routine abuse at Marion before a last fatal encounter. Details of the suit were first reported by NPR, which published a lengthy report in June that also raised broader questions about conditions at the facility that houses inmates with mental health issues. According to the lawsuit, Givens suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling down a flight of stairs as a young child. It says that his intellectual and emotional development was limited to that of a 2nd- or 3rd-grade child and that he needed assistance and supervision with daily functioning the rest of his life. He also had Crohn's disease, which caused him to sometimes defecate on himself, according to the lawsuit, which alleges that made Givens a target of the Defendant correctional officers' abuse. Hobbs said she was initially informed by a prison official that her brother, who had other underlying health conditions and had been recently ill, had died of natural causes. But around a week later, she received a call from a woman who said she'd heard through another inmate that Givens had been beaten. An autopsy report reviewed by AP determined Givens cause of death was blunt force trauma of the torso and his manner of death was undetermined. Attorneys for four correctional officers accused in the lawsuit of participating in beating Givens did not respond to emails or telephone messages seeking comment on the lawsuit and the letter describing the FBI investigation. An attorney for a fifth officer accused of negligence for failing to intervene did not respond to an email and a phone message seeking comment. All five have denied the allegations in their answer to the complaint and none has been charged with a crime. The Department of Corrections has not responded to emailed questions about the matter, including queries sent last week and again Monday. According to the lawsuit, Givens had been incarcerated at Marion since shortly after he pleaded guilty to two felonies in connection with the fatal 2010 shooting of Misty Leann Garrett. Garrett, 22, had been employed as a home health nurse for Givens' mother, according to local news accounts. The lawsuit and public records surrounding the case have raised broader questions about the conditions at the facility, including the disclosure that Givens and other inmates, according to the complaint, were hospitalized for hypothermia. A special grand jury impaneled last year that found Givens' death was suspicious said in a report that nearly every witness described living conditions in the prison sector housing mentally ill inmates as unsuitable. More than one witness had observed ice formed on the water in toilets. We find these conditions to be inhumane and deplorable, the report said. During Givens' time there, he was taken to a hospital numerous times for what the lawsuit alleges were injuries that are highly suggestive of correctional officer abuse and/or neglect, including one incident in April 2018 for assault by hot tap water. And in the last year of his life, Givens was taken to the emergency room four times for treatment of hypothermia, according to the lawsuit and medical records reviewed by AP. The string of hospitalizations began in Feb. 2021, when Givens was treated for hypothermia and hypothermic shock, the lawsuit states. His initial body temperature was 87.2 Fahrenheit (30.6 Celsius), well below the normal body temperature of 97.6 to 99.6 (36.4 to 37.5 Celsius). A hospital admission record states that Givens was found down on the cold concrete and hypothermic. On Feb. 5, 2022, Givens was declared dead at the treatment center after what the lawsuit alleges was a beating in an off-camera shower area of the facility. There has been an attempted coup in Niger, raising concerns among its West African neighbours, particularly Nigeria whose President Bola Tinubu heads the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Soldiers have blocked the Niger presidential palace, security sources told Reuters News. President Mohamed Bozoum of Niger is believed to be inside the palace. However in a statement (now deleted) shared on the governments Facebook page, Mr Bozoum and his family were said to be doing well. Acknowledging the coup attempt, the government described it as an anti-Republican movement which tried but failed to obtain the support of the National Armed Forces and the National Guard. It said the army and the National Guard are ready to attack the elements of the presidential guard involved in the act. Niger is fighting two jihadist rebellions; in the southeast, which is a spillover from the Nigeria Boko Haram insurgency, and in the southwest, close to Mali. In March 2021, two days to the inauguration of Mr Bozoum as president, a coup was foiled in neighbouring Mali. The West African country shares borders with Burkina Faso which is also troubled; Chad which is facing a humanitarian crisis; Benin and Algeria. Between August 2020 and now, five coups have occurred in three West African countries Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea with coup attempts also recorded in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau foiled. Nigeria fumes Nigeria, Nigers neighbour and Africas largest democracy, has condemned the coup attempt. Information filtering in from the Republic of Niger indicates some unpleasant developments around the countrys highest political leadership, Nigerias President Bola Tinubu said in a statement. It should be quite clear to all players in the Republic of Niger that the leadership of the ECOWAS Region and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of the country. The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa, said Mr Tinubu. I wish to say that we are closely monitoring the situation and developments in Niger and we will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region. I am in close consultation with other leaders in our region, and we shall protect our hard-earned democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism. As the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has said President Bola Tinubu will submit the list of the ministerial nominees to the Senate before Thursday. Mr Bamidele made the disclosure on Tuesday at an event organised in Abuja to celebrate his 60th birthday and the presentation of his book titled Leadership through Communication. Mr Tinubu has until 28 July to send his ministerial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation, in line with the constitution. According to Section 42 of the constitution, the president and state governors have, from the date they are sworn in, a 60-day window within which to appoint ministers and commissioners. The delay in announcing the cabinet ministers has led to the emergence of several lists of ministers, which the government itself disowned. In the last few weeks, several lists of nominees have surfaced in the media. In some lists, names of the presidents political allies and former governors featured prominently. The presidents spokesperson, Dele Alake, had also debunked speculations that the list has been leaked. List to arrive at Senate in 48 hours Mr Bamidele said Mr Tinubu called him over the phone Tuesday morning to felicitate him on his birthday and told him that he would not be able to attend the birthday ceremony because of the communication he needed to submit to the Senate in the next 48 hours. President Tinubu told me this morning when he called to greet me for my birthday lecture this morning around 10:03 a.m. that he will not be able to come to the birthday lecture because of the communication he needed to submit to the Senate in the next 48 hours. So, Mr President prayed for me. We should tell the rest of Nigerians to pray for him to be able to make the right decision within the next 24 hours so that when Nigerians hear the list of his ministers, they will say yes, this is uncommon, Mr Bamidele said. In his remarks, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, commended the Senate Leader for his loyalty to the president. Mr Akpabio felicitated the leader of the Senate and prayed for long life. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given a nationwide strike notice beginning on 2 August to protest the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government, Punch newspaper is reporting. Although no official statement has been issued by the Congress, its spokesperson, Ben Upah, confirmed the strike plan to an online newspaper on Wednesday. Yes, the nationwide strike will commence on 2 August 2023. We will soon issue a communique to that effect, Mr Upah said PREMIUM TIMES could not reach any of the labour officials to confirm the development. The General Secretary of the NLC, Emma Ugboaja, did not respond to calls to his mobile phone on Wednesday. It was, however, gathered that Congress gave the government a seven-day ultimatum to reverse all perceived anti-poor policies failing which it proceeded on the industrial action. President Bola Tinubu had, during his inauguration on 29 May, announced the removal of fuel subsidy, an action that suddenly pushed up the price of the product. A few days later, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) announced a new price regime ranging from N537 to N600 per litre of petrol. On Tuesday last week, the NNPCL further pushed the price to N617 per litre, saying market forces informed it. The court had in June stopped the NLC from going on strike following a case instituted by the government. A committee set up by the government to negotiate with the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on subsidy removal has not made much progress. The strike threat is coming a few hours after the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) began an indefinite strike. NARD embarked on the strike on Tuesday night despite the intervention by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas. The doctors are demanding the implementation of a one-for-one replacement policy for healthcare workers, immediate payment of all salary arrears, implementation of a Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, and a new hazard allowance, among others. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate has urged the federal government to collaborate with the Finish government to extradite Simon Ekpa for prosecution, given his alleged roles in persistent sit-at-home orders and killings in the South-east. The senate resolution was a sequel to the consideration and adoption of a motion at plenary on Wednesday. The motion titled: Condemning the disruptive Nature of Five Sit-At-Home Demonstrations in South-east Nigeria was sponsored by Osita Izunaso (APC-Imo). It was also co-sponsored by all other South-east senators. Mr Izunaso, in his lead debate, said thousands of innocent lives had been lost since the sit-at-home action started, while property worth over a trillion had been destroyed. This, he said, had resulted in investors leaving the region. He said the sit-at-home civil disobedience actions in the South-east had led to the disruption, destruction of economic activities and immeasurable financial losses for businesses, workers, and the local economy. Because when people are forced to stay at home, and businesses remain closed, productivity declines and income is reduced, thereby affecting livelihoods and economic growth, he explained. According to him, the sit-at-home protests disrupt the education of students, leading to missed classes and delays in academic progress. He said such prolonged disruptions had long-term effects on students learning outcomes and educational development. He expressed worry that disruption of essential public services, such as healthcare, transportation, and waste disposal, continued to have a severe impact during sit-at-home protests. This, he further said, was adversely affecting the well-being and safety of the general population living in the South-east. He said the sit-at-home protests continued to lead to acts of violence and clashes with law enforcement agencies which had led to the uncountable loss of lives of innocent people, security agents and the protesters. As this increases the potential for criminal elements to take advantage of the situation to engage in looting or other unlawful activities while the people stay home. He said if the activities of Simon Ekpa, who was issuing the illegal sit-at-home orders, were not checked, he might succeed in corrupting the minds of Nigerian youth and turning them against the government, which was tantamount to a treasonable felony. Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA-Abia) said criminals had taken over the sit-at-home phenomena and were now used to maim people, kill police officers, loot, and carry out vandalism of the property of people of the region. According to him, his interface with Nnamdi Kanu had revealed that he (Kanu) had told him that he never authorised the sit-at-home on Mondays in the South-east, saying that it was Simon Ekpa. He said the criminals masquerading as IPOB under the instructions of Mr Ekpa were using terror to loot and maim in the South-east. Mr Abaribe said he had engaged the Finland Ambassador on the issue of Simon Ekpa but was told that his matter could only be discussed on the government to government basis as he was a citizen of Finland. Orji Uzor -Kalu (APC-Abia) thanked the mover of the motion, saying the military had done well. He said the South-east governors needed to drive the solution to the problem, saying that they had a lot to do. Mr Kalu said over N7 trillion had been lost due to the sit-at-home order, saying that the criminals were in the bush everywhere, hijacking trucks and trailers on the highways. The governors must come together to work with security chiefs to solve the problem, Mr Kalu said. Kenneth Emeka (APC -Ebonyi) said the situation was very pathetic, as people were being kept home in the South-east. According to him, the governors are doing their best but urged the federal government to take the matter and proffer a solution. Senate, in its further resolutions, condemned the sit-at-home in totality and the nefarious activities of Mr Ekpa, who is the gang leader. It invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs, when appointed, and relevant stakeholders to carry out a thorough investigation and bring other sponsors of the act to book. It, however, declined a prayer urging the federal government to use a political solution approach in handling the case of Nnamdi Kanu, given the ongoing litigation on the matter. It urged the federal government and security agencies to use technology in tracking the criminals to bring them to book. Senate further observed a minute silence in honour of persons who lost their lives as a result of the activities of the sit-at-home proponents. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministries of Power and Petroleum Resources to compel oil and gas producing companies engaged in flaring of gas to convert flared gas to electricity for the benefit of the host communities. The call was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by Jonathan Ukodhiko (PDP-Delta), at plenary on Tuesday. Moving the motion earlier, Mr Ukodhko said that Nigeria is a major gas producer with a large chunk being flared as waste. He said that the flared gas is a major and cheap source of electricity, capable of taking care of the power needs of the host communities. According to him, this can stimulate the economic growth of the country through small and medium scale businesses. The lawmaker said that the volume of gas being flared has devastating effects on the lives and property of the host communities, ranging from various ailments associated with the smoke-polluted environment to corrosion that destroys roofing sheets and poor agricultural output as a result of intense heat on the environment. He said that in spite of the huge contributions to the oil and gas to the wealth of the nation with attendant environmental and health hazards, Isoko Federal Constituency and other host constituencies have been in a total blackout. According to him, this is in spite of the fact that the electricity can be easily tapped from the wasted gas resources. The staff of these International Oil Companies and other oil and production companies working in Isoko land live in extravagant comfort with 24-hour electricity generated internally for operational bases and residential areas. Whereas, the host communities and their environs live in squalor, watching helplessly the opulent lifestyle of the companies with their only offence being host communities. We are concerned that the deliberate refusal by the oil and gas companies and the successive administrations to permanently tackle the infrastructural deficit like electricity that could have been easily generated from the wasted gases have over the years made Isoko land as well as other communities in the Niger Delta region, a hotbed for protest and agitations that have sometimes crippled the economy and loss of precious human lives. We believe that with the environmental hazards of gas flaring resulting to the humongous revenue loss, there is an urgent need to compel the oil and gas companies to activate their corporate social responsibilities. They should provide electricity to the communities in Isoko land from the flared gas through gas turbines by taking advantage of the recent Electricity Act of 2023, he said. In his ruling, the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, mandated the Committee on Legislative Compliance when constituted to ensure implementation. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday met with the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, and the National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Although the details of the closed-door meeting were not disclosed, it may not be unconnected with the leadership tussle in the party. The two former leaders of the ruling party emerged from the meeting at about 1:30 p.m., after which they left the Presidential Villa immediately. Messrs Adamu and Omisore resigned in controversial circumstances last week, paving the way for the Deputy National Chairman (North), Abubakar Kyari, and the Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuantar, to take over in an acting capacity. Mr Tinubu was outside the country when they resigned. The former APC leaders have yet to speak on their resignation, which some people alleged was over disagreements with the president and the handling of party finances. Mr Adamu had stated that he would only speak about his resignation after speaking with the president upon the latters return to the country from Kenya. That was before Mr Kyari announced their resignation after an NWC meeting. Meanwhile, there are reports that Mr Tinubu has handpicked Umar Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State, to replace Mr Adamu, and Bashiru Ajibola, a former senator in the ninth Senate, as Mr Omisores successor. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Enugu State Government has given a condition for reopening several shops and banks which were sealed for obeying the controversial Monday sit-at-order declared by a faction of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). PREMIUM TIMES reported that the state government, on Monday, sealed two commercial banks and 107 shops for allegedly observing the IPOBs sit-at-home order in the state. The government, on Tuesday, announced that all the sealed shops and banks would remain closed for one week as punishment for refusing to open their businesses on Monday. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chidiebere Onyia, in a statement on Tuesday, said the government would only consider reopening the shops and banks if the owners produce tax clearance certificates and other relevant documents. All businesses that were sealed shall remain sealed for one week, at the end of which they shall provide their current tax clearance certificates and all other documents to enable the state government to review their formal letters for reopening, Mr Onyia, a professor, said. The SSG said consideration for reopening the sealed businesses in the state would start from Friday, 28 July, at the headquarters of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, the agency that sealed the businesses. Background Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State had, in June, banned the Monday sit-at-home in the state, explaining that the civil action was killing the spirit of entrepreneurship, commerce and creativity of the Igbo people in the region. The governor had, earlier this month, ordered all public servants and political officeholders in the state to begin reporting to their places of work on Monday or face sanctions. Within the same week, he threatened to shut down schools and markets that observed the civil action in the state. PREMIUM TIMES, however, reports that the civil action has continued to hold in the state despite the ban by the governor. Apparently angered by the continued observance of the illegal order, the governor, in mid-July, threatened that, from Monday, 24 July, he would begin shutting shops whose owners fail to open for business on Mondays. Although IPOB, August 2021, introduced a sit-at-home order every Monday across the South-east to protest the continued detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, the separatist group would later suspend the order. The group said the order would instead be enforced whenever Mr Kanu, facing a terrorism trial, appears in court. A leader of Autopilot, a faction of the IPOB, Simon Ekpa, has, however, continued to declare sit-at-home orders in the region despite the exercise being suspended by the IPOB faction led by Mr Kanu. Residents of the five South-east states Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and Anambra have been attacked by gunmen enforcing the civil order for stepping out on Mondays and other days in violation of the order. IPOB is leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra, which it wants to be carved out from the South-east and some parts of South-south Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has pledged to partner with the Nigerian Navy in the fight against insecurity in the state. Mr Soludo made the pledge when he received a delegation of the navy officials on a familiarisation visit at the governors lodge, Amawbia, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Christian Aburime, on Tuesday. The Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Umar Chugali, led the delegation. The governor told the navy officials that his administration was committed to working with them to ensure the security of lives and property in Anambra State. He commended them for their commitment to security in the state so far, as well as their efforts in combating illegal oil bunkering and criminal activities in Nigeria. If the theft can be reduced by 70 to 80 per cent, that is equivalent to a jump in revenue for the country, he said. Responding, Mr Chugali, a rear admiral, reaffirmed the navys commitment to helping ensure security in Anambra State. The Nigerian Navy Central Command covers a lot of states, including Anambra, he said, explaining that the visit to the governor was a customary way of familiarising themselves with state governors. The citing of the outpost at the water bank of Onitsha is strategic and highly calculated because the waterways remain a credible mode of transportation, and thats why we must maintain our presence on the waters, Mr Chugali said. Other top officials of the navy who were part of the delegation included the Commander, Information, A.K. Okwori, Acting Commander of the Naval Outpost, Onitsha, A.O. Bahaise, and Flag Lieutenant, I.K. Akesme. Others were S.I. Lengaya, N.C. Ekwom, A.O. Ogunleye and S.I. Ibrahim. The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Ernest Ezeajughi, the State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Chikodili Anara, and his Transport counterpart, Patricia Igwebuike, were also in attendance. Others who attended the event included the State Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Anthony Ifeanya and the Special Adviser to the Governor on security matters, Ben Chiobi. Background Like other states in Nigerias south-east, security has deteriorated in Anambra State with frequent attacks by armed persons. Anambra and Imo have witnessed increased attacks in the region lately. The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities. The Nigerian government has accused the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks. IPOB is a group leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants to be carved out from the south-east and some parts of south-south Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State on Wednesday disowned some persons who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Idanre Local Government Area of the state. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had said it received into its fold 63 members of the PDP who defected in the local government area last week. However, the PDP said the defectors left following disciplinary actions. The PDP chairperson in Idanre, Adekunle Akinlalu, said eight of the people were no longer active members as they had been on suspension for anti-party activities since after the general elections. John Jejela, who spoke on behalf of the defectors during their declaration, had said they had collapsed the structure of PDP in Idanre Local Government Area into the APC. He assured that the new members would boost the strength of APC in Idanre ahead of coming elections in the state, particularly the governorship election. Mr Jejela said the APC chairman in Ondo State, Ade Adetimehin, facilitated their defection. But the PDP chairperson said the information about defection was a deliberate falsehood. Mr Akinlalu, in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the party in the LGA, Adeyemi Fasoranti, said the APC is known for propaganda. It was only eight members who were already on suspension due to their anti-party activities in the last general election that defected to the APC, he said. I want to assure the public that those that have defected will still come back begging to join the PDP as hell cannot be compared to heaven. It is also on record that the defectors find joy in moving from one party to the other because of fear of tomorrow. It is on record and crystal to everybody in the country that Idanre local government remains the home of the PDP in Ondo State. Recall that the PDP convincingly won all their previous elections in the local government. It is also pertinent to know that the last Members House of Assembly election was a stolen mandate by the APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is poised to reclaim her mandate through the rule of law. We believe that the masses voted for us, and we hope to claim back our stolen mandate through the judiciary. PDP is a big family, and we will always remain the same irrespective of any distractions. By the grace of God, the presidential tribunal case is also in high gear. Our hopes are high that the party will reclaim all its mandates. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Amanda Savage refers to the week of Chincoteagues Pony Swim as Chincoteague Christmas. Savage works at Michaels Jewelry inside Village Mall, and compares the thousands of spectators coming to the island during the last week of July to New Years Eve in New York Citys Times Square. Many workplaces close for the day to allow people to participate in the festivities. A lot of the locals consider it like our own personal holiday, she said. About 200 ponies swam across the Assateague Channel on Wednesday, continuing the 98-year island tradition. Its the second year since the return of the event after its two-year pause during the coronavirus pandemic. Once at Chincoteague, the ponies receive veterinary care and dozens are sold at auction in an effort to control herd population. Funds go toward the animals care and local fire departments. The Pony Swim gained popularity after the publication of Marguerite Henrys award-winning childrens book, Misty of Chincoteague, in 1947. The film Misty, based on the book, was released in 1961. Now, the ponies have statewide recognition after legislation naming the Chincoteague pony as Virginias official state pony was signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and took effect July 1. Thousands of tourists from around the world flocked to the island town to watch the annual event. A lot of them are here in town for the whole week, so you know, eating in our restaurants, staying in our hotels, shopping in our shops, said Evelyn Shotwell, the executive director for the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce. So its certainly a huge economic impact. You know, some of the small businesses will tell you that they will have a better week this Pony Penning week than they will the whole first quarter of the year. Shotwell said the island also hosted an array of activities throughout the week, including a carnival hosted by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, performances by the Chincoteague Pony Drill Team and free showings of Misty at the Island Theatre. Many pony enthusiasts arrived to the swim before sunrise, armed with lawn chairs, shower curtains and towels to sit on. Spectators were covered with mud up to their knees from wading through the marsh to get to their spots. Sarah Case was at the marsh at 5 a.m. with her 10-year-old daughter, Gwendolyn. The two Misty fans drove up from St. Louis, Missouri, in hopes of buying a horse of their own. The flare announcing the start of the swim shot up five hours later at 10 a.m. To pass the time, Gwendolyn looked at pictures of the horses on her phone and thought about what shed name it. The trip to Chincoteague, which included stops to Williamsburg and Virginia Beach, is personal for Sarah Case. Its been on my bucket list since I was younger than her, she said. This year was Diane McKinleys fourth time seeing the Pony Swim. She comes to Chincoteague from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, often, and even convinced her camera club to come this year. Together, the group stayed at an Airbnb and shopped and ate at local businesses around the island throughout the week. McKinley plans on coming back for more Pony Swims in the future. I think everybody ought to experience it at least once, she said. A state high court in Akure on Wednesday sentenced a 37-year-old farmer, Joseph Agbomu, to life imprisonment for raping his neighbours six-year-year old daughter. Mr Agbomu committed the offence on 18 March 2019. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge. Delivering his judgement, Yemi Fasanmi held that the prosecution proved its case against the convict beyond a reasonable doubt. The court also held that the victims testimony was convincing and truthful. According to the judge, the convict inflicted physical, emotional and psychological trauma on the victim, who saw a fatherly figure in him as his fathers kinsman and friend. The judge further noted that the victims evidence corroborated the evidence of the nominal complainant, her father. The survivor, in this case, narrated before this court that the convict, who was his fathers neighbour, sent her on an errand to buy a pack of indomie, the judge said. The survivor said the convict cooked the indomie and gave her part of it. And shortly after eating, he pushed her to his bed and inserted his penis into her vaginal. The judge also stated that the convict, in his extra-judicial statement obtained on 12 December 2019, confessed to the crime. He said Mr Agbomu confessed that he had carnal knowledge of the survivor in his room, without using a condom, after taking a herbal alcoholic drink. The judge noted that the childs testimony was copiously corroborated by the convicts confessional statement. Earlier, the state counsel, T.L. Ogundare, informed the court that Mr Agbomu raped the victim on 12 September 2018, at about 7:30 p.m. at Ijebu, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State. The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 375, 378 of the Ondo State Criminal Code, 2006 Mr Ogundare stated that the survivors father reported a case of rape against the defendant. The prosecutor called three witnesses, which included the survivor, her father and a police officer. After his conviction, counsel to the defendant, A.Y Aliu, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, saying that no prior case of improper behaviour had ever been brought against the defendant. Mr Aliu had earlier urged the court to discountenance the medical report. However, the state prosecutor argued that the law under which the defendant was charged does not give the court any discretion. He, therefore, urged the court to impose the mandatory sentence stipulated in the law on the convict. The judge, in his verdict, convicted Mr Agbomu and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The convict (Agbomu) is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for the defilement of a child to serve as a deterrent to others, who might engage in such an act, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Wednesday said the federal government is working towards ending the strike of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). Mr Abbas disclosed this to State House correspondents after a meeting between the principal officers of the lower chamber and President Bola Tinubu. The NARD began an indefinite strike on Wednesday morning. Some of their demands include the implementation of one-for-one replacement policy for healthcare workers, immediate payment of all salary arrears, implementation of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, a new hazard allowance among others. The Speaker, who had met with the leadership of the association on Monday, said the president was briefed about the meeting. He said there are plans to meet some of the demands of the doctors. It is a work in progress. I am sure with some of the issues that they have raised, if we can be able to meet some of their expectations; of which we are already working on that. We have already set up an ad-hoc committee chaired by the majority leader of the House to look at the issues they raised. I am sure one or two interventions in their areas of concern will prevail on them to come back to the negotiation table, he said. Mr Abbas said Mr Tinubu asked the doctors to exercise patience because he had not been fully briefed on their demands. He said he is just coming on board and we should ask them to please give him more time as he is completely unaware of most of the things that they mentioned and he is yet to be briefed about the issues. He also advised that we should channel all the issues to his chief of staff to enable him look at them one after the other. So I believe within the next coming days some concerted actions will be taken, the Speaker said. Mr Abbas also said he used the occasion to introduce the principal officers of the House to the president. PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that Mr Abbas will be meeting the leadership of NARD on Thursday. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike beginning Wednesday, 26 July. The President of NARD, Emeka Orji, disclosed this to PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday night. This development is coming less than 48 hours after the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, pleaded with the doctors for understanding and pledged the new administrations commitment to addressing their concerns. NECs decision The ARD President said the decision to commence the indefinite strike was taken during the associations July National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos. He said further details would be communicated soon. We just finished our emergency meeting and the NEC has directed that we proceed on total indefinite strike action from 12 midnight, tomorrow Wednesday, he said Familiar terrain The doctors had on 17 May embarked on a five-day warning strike following the failure of the Nigerian government to meet its demands. The association had in January issued an ultimatum to the government to resolve issues affecting its members, including the immediate implementation and payment of the new hazard allowance and arrears. The doctors, however, commenced the strike due to the governments reported failure to meet their demands. The union suspended the strike after signing an MoU with the federal government, an agreement it also failed to meet. This led the association to issue a two-week ultimatum to the government on 5 July to commence the implementation of all pending agreements or face industrial disharmony. The association said the two-week ultimatum, which ended on 19 July, was to give the government adequate time to begin implementation of the resolutions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) previously agreed on. It stated that should the government fail to meet its demands by then; its members may embark on a nationwide strike. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Enugu State Government has sealed two commercial banks and 107 shops for allegedly observing an illegal sit-at-home order on Monday in the state. The sit-at-home is usually enforced by a faction of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Enugu and other South-east states. The Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chidiebere Onyia, sealed the premises of the affected businesses on Monday. A video clip and several photographs which showed the officials and Mr Onyia sealing the facilities have been circulating on various WhatsApp groups. In the video clip, Mr Onyia, a professor, told reporters that the governor issued the order to seal the shops and banks to stop residents compliance to the sit-at-home order and to demonstrate the seriousness of the government to the ban placed on the illegal order in the state. The SSG said many traders showed up in some markets visited by the officials. It is not a punitive but ownership culture, where all of us (should) come together to fight the menace of illegal sit-at-home, he said. We are taking it up not because Mbah is in the business of stopping economic growth but to fight those that think they can intimidate us. We have been to ShopRite, Celebrity- a shopping mall SPAR, (a supermarket) and others. We saw shops that were not open, and we sealed them, Mr Onyia stated. Also speaking, Gideon Onyia, the head of the state development agency, said 78 shops were sealed at Ogbete Main Market, while two unnamed commercial banks were also sealed. He added that five shops at the SPAR and 24 shops at the Old Artisan Market in the state were equally sealed by the agency. So, if you failed to obey our rules and directives (of opening on Mondays), we can revoke them or withdraw your approvals and give them to people eager to do business in the state. Those whose shops are sealed, we will tell them the penalty, but the governor was magnanimous by saying that the exercise was not punitive, he said. Background Governor Mbah had, in June, banned the Monday sit-at-home in the state, explaining that the civil action was killing the spirit of entrepreneurship, commerce and creativity of the Igbo people in the region. The governor had, earlier this month, ordered all public servants and political office holders in the state to begin reporting to their places of work on Monday or face sanctions. Within the same week, he threatened to shut schools and markets that observe the civil action in the state. PREMIUM TIMES, however, reports that the civil action has continued to hold in the state despite the ban by the governor. Apparently angered by the continued observance of the illegal order, the governor, in mid-July, threatened that, from Monday, 24 July, he would begin shutting shops whose owners fail to open for business on Mondays. Although IPOB, August 2021, introduced a sit-at-home order every Monday across the South-east to protest the continued detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, the separatist group would later suspend the order. The group said that the order would instead be enforced whenever Mr Kanu, who is facing terrorism trial, appears in court. A leader of Autopilot, a faction of the IPOB, Simon Ekpa, has, however, continued to declare sit-at-home orders in the region despite the exercise being suspended by the IPOB faction led by Mr Kanu. Residents of the five South-east states Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and Anambra have been attacked by gunmen enforcing the civil order for stepping out on Mondays and other days in violation of the order. IPOB is leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra, which it wants carved out from the South-east and some parts of the South-south Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the State Secret Service and the police to invite the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over claims made on the foiled terrorist attack on Atiku Abubakar. The call by the ruling party was contained in a statement issued by Felix Morka, the spokesperson of the party, on Tuesday. The APC tackled the main opposition party for implying that the attack was sponsored by the ruling party because of the ongoing election petition tribunal. We call on the Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant security services to investigate the PDPs wild and bogus allegations, invite the PDPs leadership to substantiate these claims and bring the perpetrators to justice, the statement said. Foiled attack on Atiku Some suspected Boko Haram terrorists were on Sunday arrested in Yola, the Adamawa State capital over a planned attack on Atiku, who was the PDP presidential candidate in the 25 February election. The suspects reportedly confessed to conducting reconnaissance for possible attacks. The PDP had in a statement on Monday by its spokesperson, Dele Ologunagba, alleged that the attack was sponsored by forces who are unsettled by his (Atiku) bid to retrieve his mandate at the presidential election petition tribunal. He added that Our party believes that the intent of the sponsors of this evil plot is to silence our presidential candidate, massacre innocent Nigerians and cause chaos, confusion and anarchy in the polity. Atiku, a former vice president of Nigeria, is challenging the outcome of the presidential election at the tribunal. This is a senseless allegation APC The ruling party described the statement by the main opposition party as a mindless campaign by the party. In continuation of its vacuous and mindless campaign of calumny, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that suspected members of Boko Haram terrorist group arrested by the police following their foiled plot to attack the residence of Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, in Yola, were sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC). Spewing lies and gibberish has become the PDPs obsessive preoccupation following its crushing defeat in the last Presidential Election. This bizarre and senseless allegation comes only days after the same badly ailing Party alleged, without a shred of substantiation, that APC was engaged in a plot to intimidate members of the judiciary seeking to influence the outcome of pending cases before the Election Petitions Courts. Acts of terror or involvement in a terrorist plot are heinous crimes under the law and the PDP cannot continue to bandy allegations around without justification. Atiku Abubakar is a citizen of Nigeria and deserves the fullest protection of the law. Our law enforcement authorities must protect and investigate any threat to his person, family or assets and prosecute offenders, the statement said. The APC further accused the opposition of politicising the issue of insecurity in the country. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print It was a great time to celebrate hard work and excellence on Tuesday as government officials, journalists, friends, and accomplished professionals converged on Abuja for the public presentation of Cyber Politics: Social Media, Social Demography and Voting Behaviour in Nigeria. The new book was written by Omoniyi Ibietan, the Head of Media Relations at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Published by Premium Times Books, the 460-page literary work reviews Nigerias democracy through its elections, particularly the role of social media. But Cyber Politics is not just about the last general election and filial squabbles, said Azubuike Ishiekwene, the editor-in-chief of Leadership Newspapers, who reviewed the book in Abuja. Its a deeper phase in the exploratory journey of Niyi P. Ibietan whose interest in political communication and its sociology goes back to his early student days. At the programme, several dignitaries also praised the author for writing Cyber Politics, which some described as an exemplary literary work. A former students union leader, first at the Kwara State College of Technology, Ilorin, and later, at the University of Abuja, Mr Ibietan was commended for the book which was described as a classic, offering something of interest to a significant collection of groups. In 12 chapters, the Cyber Politics examines the themes of cyberculture, social demographics and political communication. It is also a subject that evokes decades of research, but which nonetheless retains its fascination as scholars continue to explore the fraught question of why voters behave the way they do, especially during elections, Mr Ishiekwene said. The book explores, among other things, the question of whether political conversations among Nigerias estimated 33 million active social media users, especially the influencers, had any significant impact on the outcome of the 2015 elections. In light of the exponential growth in social media adoption and use in the last few years, two election cycles after 2015, COVID-19 and #Endsars, students, researchers and scholars would find Cyber Politics a valuable resource material, Mr Ishiekwene said. A former Minister of Information and Communication in Nigeria, Frank Nweke, said the book represents an uncommon body of work by an intellectual visionary, and he is of the conviction that the extrapolation of the lessons and recommendations of this book will find perfect expression in other climes beyond the 2015 Nigerian general elections scenario. Mr Nweke, a former boss of the author, who chaired the book presentation event, commended Mr Ibietan for this remarkable work, and recommends this book for practitioners and academics in the fields of strategic communications, new technologies, and social change. Similarly, Umar Danbatta, a professor and executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, noted that: the author situates the historical context of Nigerian politics and democracy and more so the nexus between social media and voting behaviour, and the influence of the social media ecosystem among others in the electoral process. In the foreword he wrote for the book, Mr Danbatta said The book (Cyber Politics) is a compelling narrative, a scholars guide and companion on the various political communication themes it interprets. It is difficult to put down this work once you are drawn by its alluring and free-flowing prose and incisive analysis. Over the past two decades, Mr Ibietan has researched deeply the emergent interface between communication studies and psephology, which explains his richly nuanced understanding and far sight into the issues involved. This point was also made by Premium Times Editor-In-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, who described Mr Ibietans book as a classic. It uses Nigerias 2015 presidential election as the sounding board for analyses that offer great insights into the future of voting behaviour in Africas largest democracy. Those who have interacted with the title have described it as both skilful in its rendition and ground-cutting in its intellectual approach, Mr Mojeed said. At Premium Times Books, we look forward to continuing to publish books that will deepen knowledge about important aspects of our lives. We are interested in getting a number of disappearing classics back to libraries and bookshelves across our country and beyond. If you have any suggestions for us, be kind to get in touch. In the introduction he wrote for the book, Dapo Olorunyomi, the publisher of Premium Times, said: The universe of this new book is intriguing in its exploration of the digital effect on elections. He also pointed out how Mr Ibietans work demonstrates clearly that social media systems do enrich electoral democracy by expanding access to registration, participation, voting and organising at a scale we have never contemplated. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged foreign investors to take advantage of the opportunities in Nigeria, declaring that the country is now ready for business. The vice president noted that the combination of Nigerias young, energetic population and the agenda of the new administration, placed the country far ahead of others in the region, a statement by the Director of Information, Office of the Vice President, Olusola Abiola, on 26 July 2023, highlighted. Mr Shettima made the call on Tuesday in his remarks at a side event of the ongoing UN Food Systems Summit, themed Scaling up of multi-stakeholder collaboration and investments in the implementation of the food systems pathways in Nigeria. According to the vice president, We have the capacity of transforming the demograhic bulge into demographic dividends or it will be the demographic disaster that will consume all of us. Nigeria will surpass the United States as the third most populous nation on earth and the population is young. The median age is 19. With determined leadership and the support of the global community, we believe, as eternal optimists do, that there is hope in the horizon, he added. He also expressed hope that the expected transformation can take place on the back of what he described as building blocks that already exists in Nigeria. They include governments recent declaration of a state of emergency on food security, moving food and water to the purview of National Security Council; the countrys renewed commitment to food and nutrition since the Nutrition Conference of 2022; the National Food and Micro-Nutrient Intake Survey and the National State Level Food Systems, the he explained. Speaking on improving collaboration between government and the private sector, Vice President Shettima said, focusing on agribusiness and the understanding that investment that will transform food system will come from the private sector with the government providing the enabling environment, will scale up investment in the country. He further explained that the Nigerian government, together with domestic and international finance institutions scaled up the Value Chain Development Programme approach for the Special Agro Processing Zones Programme with an impressive investment of $521million from the IFAD, from the IsDB, and from the AfDB. The success story of the value chain development programme speaks for itself. Continuing, he said the programme has empowered 100, 000 small scale farmers to enter into engagement with some of the food marketing companies in the world, enabling them to lift their families out of the poverty trap. The VCDP/SAPZ programme really represents unique and concrete model for mobilising funds for investment in support of our national food systems transformation programme, the transition to more yielding, healthier, more equitable and more sustainable food system. Stating that the next frontier of global development faces Africa, Mr Shettima said Nigeria remains critical to the success or failure of the transition and assured that the new leadership in Nigeria is working hard to position the country on the path of growth. He said We have a president who has a private sector background and a vice president who is also from the private sector. We have a president who has the knack for selecting the best to drive the process. Be rest assured that the next frontiers for global development is facing Africa and Nigeria will make or mar that transition. Present at the event were Nigerias Permanent Representative to FAO/IFAD/WFP in Rome, Yaya Olaniran; Nigerian Ambassador to Italy, Mfawa Abam; Deputy Chief of Staff to the President in the Office of the Vice President, Ibrahim Hadejia, among other senior government officials. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) engaged as Third-Party Monitors (TPM) for National Social Safety Net Programme (NASSP) have advised Nigerian government at both federal and state levels not to jettison the use of the National Social Register (NSR). They said the move would be counterproductive and set the country backwards, noting that the United Nations, World Bank and other development partners, have invested resources to compute the register. This reaction is coming amidst the controversies surrounding the authenticity of the existing register, which was computed during the administration of the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari. The register was used for the implementation of the administrations social safety net programme, which involved cash transfers to beneficiaries across the country. But following controversies surrounding the register, the National Economic Council (NEC) comprising the state governors and the Vice-President Kashim Shettima as charman, has reportedly repudiated the register as members kicked against its adoption for fresh cash transfers by the government. CSOs advice In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday, the head of the TPM civil society forum and Centre for Health Education Economic Rehabilitation and Social Security (CHEERS), Walter Ugwuocha, said technology was employed to verify beneficiaries on the register. Mr Ugwuocha said GPS coordinates and barcodes for data validation were used in the collation for households, adding that the TPM data collation was household-based and GPS-tagged to ensure accuracy and adherence to international standards. He said findings by the group indicated that 1,112,723 beneficiaries (98.5 per cent of sampled beneficiaries) were verified and received cash transfers. He said it also highlights the reasons for non-payment of cash to some beneficiaries, attributing it to logistics challenges faced by programme implementers. The compliance with guidelines for the identification of poor and vulnerable households was found to be 90 per cent with successful community sensitisation and engagement, he said. Mr Ugwuocha expressed concern and surprise regarding the announcement by the National Economic Council (NEC) to jettison the register. He noted that significant resources were invested by development partners, including the World Bank, in supporting the development of the register. He, however, urged the government to engage and leverage on the register to implement social assistance programmes effectively, and lift millions out of poverty. He reiterated that the NSR is a key instrument in the governments efforts to address poverty in the country. About NSR The NSR comprises names of vulnerable people and households across the country created for the purpose of cash transfer and other social investment programmes. The NEC last Thursday, dumped the NSR of the former President, Muhammadu Buhari, opting for a new social register to be developed by each state of the federation. NEC cited a lack of credibility as the reason for discarding the register. NASSP, however, said jettisoning the register would be counter-productive to Nigerias poverty reduction efforts. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Experts in journalism practice and academia have called for collaboration between journalism practitioners and teachers in tertiary institutions across West Africa for better training of the next generation of journalists. The stakeholders spoke during a panel session at the first West African Journalism Conference (WAJIC 2023) hosted by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) in Abuja, Nigerias federal capital territory. The panellists, drawn from newsrooms and journalism faculties across the West African region, agree that a weak collaboration between the practitioners and the teachers has created a disconnect between the skills needed for the job in the 21st century and the curriculum being taught in schools. The panellists included PREMIUM TIMES Managing Editor, Idris Akinbajo, and the Vice Chancellor, Federal University Kashere, Umaru Pate, a professor. The panel, moderated by Abiodun Adeniyi, a journalism lecturer at Baze University, Abuja, also has Williettee James from the Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone and Audrey Gadzekpo, a professor, from the University of Ghana. Akinbajo speaks Addressing the audience, Mr Akinbajo said the skills needed to excel in the journalism profession are mostly not taught in the classrooms. According to him, merging the journalism practice and theoretical knowledge would go a long way in preparing students for the newsrooms, particularly accountability and investigative reporting. He said: There is a lot of gap between the skills journalists need outside of classrooms and what they are taught in many classrooms in west African universities. We see that gap a lot as employers and as media managers. There is a need for better collaboration between journalism teachers in the school and practitioners in the field. Theres a need for stronger collaboration so we can marry the two together. The students can gain both theoretical knowledge from academics and real practical knowledge of 21st century journalism. Ghana example Ms Gadzekpo said academics are increasingly becoming aware of the gap between the knowledge being imparted in the classroom and the realities of the job. She said the board regulating universities in Ghana has moved to reduce the gap. According to her, faculties must engage with industry practitioners before an academic programme is revised or accredited. She said: In my country, Ghana, the accreditation board which authorises programmes has a prerequisite that before you mount a new programme or if you are revising old programmes, you have to show that you have engaged the industry. And that is forcing a lot more media educators to engage the industry on a formal level. But she said that only happens once in a while, emphasising the need for more active and sustained collaboration. She noted the importance of technology in the media, citing the transition from print to electronic news publishing. On her part, Ms James said the poor training of journalists usually leads to libellous publications. She noted that the domination of the profession by untrained practitioners has also remained a problem. The problem that we have, not many journalism graduates go into media practice. So we still have the old practice of untrained journalists with not much training causing problems in the media, she said. For Mr Pate, the care of journalism is in the hands of all citizens. According to him, one cannot claim to love journalism and not worry about the care of journalism. WAJIC 2023 In its maiden edition, the conference registered more than 300 delegates and over 400 participants on its first day. The conference had speakers worldwide, including the Vice President, News at Google, Richard Gingras. Other speakers on the first day of the conference are Joshua Olufemi, Founder of Dataphyte; Serena Stelitano, from the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ); Africa Editor, CCIJ, Ajibola Amzat, and David Adeleke; Africa Editor for Rest of World. Others are; Richard Govers, Founder, Open Cities Lab; Yusuf Akinpelu of the British Broadcasting Commission (BBC); Christopher Guess, Duke Reporters Laboratory; Muhammed Akinyemi, Editor-in-Chief, Zikoko Citizen; Seun Onigbinde, Executive Director, BudgIt; and Anita Igbine, Investigative Data Analyst, Code for Africa. Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned the attempted coup in Niger. ECOWAS condemns in the strongest terms the attempt to seize power by force and calls on the coup plotters to free the democratically- elected President of the Republic immediately and without any condition, the sub-regional bloc said in a statement on Wednesday. It said the international community will hold all those involved in the plot responsible for the security and safety of the president, his family, members of the government and the general public. ECOWAS said it received the news of the attempted coup with shock and consternation. PREMIUM TIMES reported an attempted coup in Niger where the presidential palace was blocked by soldiers. It is believed that the president is inside the palace. However, a statement from the presidency confirmed the safety of the president. Nigerias President Bola Tinubu who doubles as the chairperson of ECOWAS also condemned the coup attempt. Information filtering in from the Republic of Niger indicates some unpleasant developments around the countrys highest political leadership, Mr Tinubu said in a statement. It should be quite clear to all players in the Republic of Niger that the leadership of the ECOWAS Region and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of the country. The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa, said Mr Tinubu. I wish to say that we are closely monitoring the situation and developments in Niger and we will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region. I am in close consultation with other leaders in our region, and we shall protect our hard-earned democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism. As the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Press Release July 26, 2023 SPONSORSHIP SPEECH OF SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS ON PROPOSED SENATE RESOLUTION 659 Resolution urging the Philippine government through the Department of Foreign Affairs to sponsor a resolution before the UN General Assembly calling on China to stop its harassment of Philippine vessels within the West Philippine Sea July 26, 2023 Mr. President, as I stand before you today to sponsor Proposed Senate Resolution No. 659, I do so not only with a sense of urgency and deep concern, but also with awe at the stakes of this issue that lies before us. The reckless, unrepentant, and continuous incursion of Chinese vessels into the heart of the West Philippine Sea strikes at the very core of our nation's sovereignty, the integrity of our country's maritime zones, and the rights of our people. Alam ko po na may mga agam-agam, may mga tanong tungkol sa resolusyon na hindi pa tuluyang nasasagot. Kaya ba nating tumindig sa Tsina? Kaya ba nating kalabanin muli ang isang dambuhalang bansa? Ano ang kailangan nating paghahanda? Ano ang nakataya? These are only some questions that we can debate on interminably, and questions for which we rely on the wisdom of our international law experts, our esteemed diplomats. But, as elected representatives of the people, we carry the weight of every Filipino's hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Our citizens look to us in the Senate to defend our homeland, and their future. Mr. President, dear colleagues, there is too much at stake. If we do nothing, there is too much to lose. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources estimates that 324,312 metric tons of fisheries products were harvested from the West Philippine Sea in 2020, 7% of our total production that year. In terms of energy resources, a US Geological Survey Report estimates there are 28 billion barrels of oil and 266 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the South China Sea, much of it in the Recto Bank, well within our Exclusive Economic Zone. China knows this. The China National Offshore Oil Company thinks that the area contains even more energy, 125 billion barrels of oil and 500 trillion cubic feet of gas. Enough energy to power a bright future for our children, and our children's children. Perhaps energy enough for all the competing claimants in the region. These are only the tangible, economic stakes, Mr. President. The inherent value of asserting a rules-based order in international law is priceless, a guaranteed defense of predictability and stability for weaker states like the Philippines. Mr. President, considering these stakes, considering all that we stand to lose, I maintain that there is no other option but to stand united behind the Philippine victory in The Hague and in opposition to the illegitimate territorial claims embodied in the so-called "9-dash line." Just last month, Chinese vessels attempted to interdict a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre. Brig. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan, deputy chief of staff of the AFP, stated that the Chinese Coast Guard has also harassed similar resupply missions to the Kalayaan Island Group. If we are not careful, this could lead to a repeat of the Panatag Shoal incident, in which the Chinese government chose to use naked force to unlawfully occupy a maritime feature rich in fisheries resources a mere 119 Nautical Miles from Luzon, and well within our Exclusive Economic Zone. Hahayaan ba nating gutumin hanggang sa mamatay ang ating mga tao bago pa tayo kumilos? This is an issue that transcends politics and partisanship and indeed, several of you, my dear colleagues, have already spoken out against the Chinese government's flagrant disregard for the norms and conventions of international law. Hindi naman bago sa Senado na manindigan para sa Pilipinas. In veteran journalist Marites Vitug's book "Rock Solid," she shared how former members of this August Body contributed to our decades-long fight for these disputed waters so critical to our country's future. Kasama na dito ang yumaong si Senador Rodolfo Biazon na isa sa mga unang tumayo para sa ating soberanya. Guided by our predecessors, we have the responsibility to use all available platforms and all tools of statecraft at our disposal to assert our rightful claims. We must exhaust all diplomatic means in our arsenal. These include our options on the ground, our options in the court of international opinion, and our options among our ASEAN and regional neighbors. Without abandoning all other possible options, we must also pursue our option in the United Nations. Specifically, bringing a resolution before the United Nations General Assembly to put a stop to Chinese harassment in our waters and to demand full compliance with the arbitral award of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Mr. President, I'm not going to pretend such a course of action would be easy. China is a global titan with hegemonic ambitions. And the Chinese government has also shrewdly pursued a policy of leveraging its economic might to secure international influence. I harbor no illusions that this is an easy task. But China's track record in the UNGA is not infallible. According to a study by the Lowy Institute in Australia, China's contributions do not always successfully translate to influence. In 2015 , for example - in the face of furious opposition from China -- 117 Member-States of the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution recognizing the role of human rights defenders, calling for their protection, and urging states to release persons arbitrarily detained for exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. This demonstrates how the UN and the UNGA still remain viable platforms to uphold international law and protect weaker states. And now that our country has received a snowballing of support for our lawful claims in the West Philippine Sea, now that we are at an optimal juncture to call on more nations to rally behind our cause, now is the time to push for this course of action. Just last month, 16 member-countries of the European Union issued a statement reaffirming their support for the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration recognizing our nation's rights over the West Philippine Sea. Recently, India distanced herself from its partners in the BRICS by issuing a joint statement with the Philippines, stressing a shared interest in a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. Along with our other security partners and allies, like the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and Italy who have already reaffirmed their support for the arbitral ruling, this is a clear sign that the world is arriving at a consensus recognizing the validity of our claim to the West Philippine Sea. While we are in a better position than we were 7 years ago, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our regional allies and partners, we must continue to solidify that international consensus against the unlawful claims of the Chinese government, and the illegitimate policy it is pursuing in the West Philippine Sea of attempting to do with force and coercion what it cannot achieve under international law. Nonetheless, I recognize that this will require all the craft and ingenuity of our diplomats and I trust in the wisdom of the men and women of the DFA to craft language that can mobilize the widest consensus. I have no doubt that our institutions and the entire Filipino public will give our full and unconditional support as they represent the pride and honor of our country on the world stage. Mr. President, dear colleagues, a UNGA resolution could bolster the Arbitral Award, which makes one thing supremely, and absolutely, clear: "China's claim of historic rights to resources in the waters of the entire South China Sea was illegal and incompatible with the exclusive economic zones provided by the UNCLOS." A UNGA resolution is in the interest not only of the Philippines but also the entire community of nations; nations that have learned not just the follies but also the limits of force and war, and have sworn never to repeat that bitter lesson. Mr. President, taking this to a vote before the United Nations, knowing the stakes, knowing who we are up against, is us telling the Filipino people that we will not cower in fear, that we will fight with them. As the BRP Sierra Madre -- tattered by the weather and battered by history -- continues to stand defiantly as a symbol of a country that will not yield, not one nautical inch; so too must we stand. Let us take heart from the courage of our own people -- the fisherfolk who still venture out to sea, the Philippine Marines who stand their ground on a rusting ship - gawin po natin ito para sa kanila. Para sa ating mga anak. Para sa mundong prinoprotektahan ang mahina at nirerendahan ang malakas. At higit sa lahat, para sa minamahal nating Pilipinas. Mabuhay, Mr. President, at maraming salamat! An Idaho teen was killed in head-on crash near Halsey on Tuesday, July 25. Linn County Sheriffs Office deputies were dispatched at 3:26 p.m. to the 2600 block of Peoria Road after a 911 caller reported a two-vehicle crash, according to a news release from the agency, which states initial reports suggested it was fatal. Deputies arrived to find a green 2011 Toyota Camry collided with a green 2006 Ford F-450 truck pulling a trailer. The Camry driver was traveling north on Peoria and crossed the centerline on a right-hand curve, slamming into the oncoming Ford, according to the Sheriffs Office. An unidentified 17-year-old Idaho resident driving the Camry sustained fatal injuries in the crash, the news release states, adding a 15-year-old boy in the car was evaluated for minor injuries, as were the driver and passenger in the Ford. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help (copy) Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. Authorities said they dont know why the Camry driver crossed into oncoming traffic. They found no indication of impairment or excessive speed. The investigation is ongoing. The Multi-Agency Investigation Team was called out to assist with the investigation. The Halsey Fire Department and the Linn County Road Department assisted at the scene. Nigerias President Bola Tinubu who doubles as the chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned the coup attempt in Niger, describing it as unpleasant developments around the countrys highest political leadership. He warned that ECOWAS and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of the country. Mr Tinubu said that the leadership of ECOWAS will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa. I wish to say that we are closely monitoring the situation and developments in Niger and we will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region, Mr Tinubu said in a statement he signed and which was shared with PREMIUM TIMES. He added that he is in close consultation with other leaders in the region, and will protect democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism. As the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Powercom Smart Grid Nigeria (PSGN), a specialised utility company, said it has signed an agreement to the takeover of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO). PSGN announced the takeover in a press statement on 12 July. This takeover comes after the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) last July appointed a new management for the KEDCO. The appointment followed the Nigerian governments restructuring of five electricity distribution companies (DisCos) following Fidelity Banks takeover of three DisCos. KEDCOs board of directors was subsequently dissolved. The PSGN, a wholly indigenous utility solutions company, announced the commencement of a wide-ranging re-positioning agenda for KEDCO. The transformation exercise will set the groundwork for the complete overhaul of KEDCO and facilitate the speedy re-positioning of the power distribution company into a leader in the power distribution segment, PSGN said. The phased corporate makeover agenda will imbue KEDCO with the capacity to become the reference point for operational efficiency and service excellence in Nigeria. With the support of our global partners, who are reputed for groundbreaking innovation and technology, this strategic intervention will ensure a visible improvement in the operations, performance and efficiency of KEDCO, resulting in value creation for its various stakeholder groups, especially the customers within the KEDCO infrastructure network. Specifically, PSGNs intervention is designed to deliver 24 hours of uninterrupted power supply within a short period, optimise operational and safety performance, improve customer service and experience, reduce ATC&Cs and enhance the companys overall system reliability. With this announcement, PSGN seeks the cooperation and collaboration of all stakeholders for an improved utility service delivery and welcomes initiatives that could strengthen its vision of lifting KEDCO into a world-class energy distribution company, PSGN said. Electricity staff union disagrees In response to the takeover, the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEC), in a statement co-signed by its President General, Chika Benedict and General Secretary, Nnamdi Ajibo, said the takeover was marred by illegality, and they were not involved in the process. The electricity staff union stated this in a letter to the Director General Bureau of Public Enterprise dated 24 July. The attention of the leadership of the Association has been drawn to the purported sale of KEDCO to Powercom smart grid Nigeria via a press release by its public relations department dated 12th July 2023. As critical stakeholders, we are dismayed that such an epoch-making transaction was consummated without our input. Let it be on record that the association demand a new service-level agreement to be signed by the workers before any takeover takes place. We believe very strongly that the sale of critical infrastructure such as an electricity company should have been made public to create awareness (among) the staff and customers, but it was not the case in this regard. The association will not fold its arm and watch a few privileged individuals annexe and plunder our common patrimony without following laid-down regulations. We will resist this action by employing every legal and legitimate means available to us. In the light of this foregoing. We hereby request that a meeting of stakeholders be convened immediately for an assurance of the job security of our members and by the new owners and if otherwise. Their benefits have to be fully negotiated in line with the existing conditions of service of the company, the union leaders said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Gunmen, on Tuesday, killed two police officers in Aba, Abia State, South-east Nigeria. The police spokesperson in Abia State, Maureen Chinaka, said an inspector and a constable were killed by the gunmen. She said the incident happened when the gunmen attacked the convoy of the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Investment in Abia, Chimezie Ukaegbu, on Tuesday evening. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred at the popular SAMECK Junction around Ariaria International Market. A source told NAN that some people sustained bullet wounds during the attack, while residents were forced to hide inside their shops and houses until late hours on Tuesday night. The source said that some police operatives returned to the scene on Wednesday morning to arrest some people while shooting into the air. There were over seven police trucks, filled with operatives, stationed at a section of the Ariaria Market to forestall any breakdown of law and order. How it happened The police spokesperson, Ms Chinaka, an assistant superintendent of police, said the attack occurred around 4 p.m. on Tuesday while the commissioner was on a familiarisation tour of markets in the Aba metropolis. The convoy was en route to Ekeoha Shopping Plaza when the armed assailants opened fire. Regrettably, amidst the chaos, two Police personnel lost their lives in the line of duty. A police constable who was part of the security convoy was fatally shot. Additionally, a police inspector who was not initially part of the convoy but was on a separate assignment with a police Hilux tragically lost his life. Furthermore, the hoodlums set ablaze a vehicle belonging to the Ministry for Trade, Commerce, and Investment, she said. Ms Chinaka said the Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, had assured residents that the police would track down the gunmen and bring them to justice. READ ALSO: Abia State University appoints Ozekhome visiting professor The police condemned the cowardly act of violence and swore to the steadfast pursuit of its resolve to bring the perpetrators of the act to justice. We emphasise our unwavering commitment to pursuing justice and upholding the triumph of good over evil. Together, as a united community, we shall prevail against such senseless acts of violence, Ms Chinaka said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian government has said the federal government-owned universities remain tuition-free, describing as inaccurate the media reports suggesting the introduction of tuition by the institutions. Many Nigerian universities owned by the federal government have, in the past few months, increased fees to be paid by students, leaving parents and their wards groaning. For instance, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka; University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Borno State; University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi; Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDUS), Sokoto, among others, have had their fees increased, some of them by more than 100 per cent. Though the increment by some of these institutions predated President Bola Tinubu-led administration, many Nigerians have linked the decisions to the removal of subsidy on petroleum products. This is coming when the petrol subsidy removal has increased the price of commodities in the country. The development has also pitted many Nigerians against the government, accusing it of insensitivity. Tuition still free But the government said on Wednesday that the increments were completely at the discretion of the university management. The Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Dele Alake, in a statement, said despite the increments in fees, students are not made to pay for tuition. The fact remains, and we have confirmed that these are discretionary charges by each university for hostel accommodation, registration, laboratory and other charges. They are not tuition fees, he said in a statement. For the avoidance of doubt, federal universities in Nigeria remain tuition-free. He said President Bola Tinubu remains committed to ensuring that every Nigerian has access to quality tertiary education. He said the Students Loans Act, recently signed by Mr Tinubu, will go into effect before September. The Federal Government will also strengthen other mechanisms to support indigent students, he said. But many Nigerians have described the Students Loans Act as unworkable, describing the conditions set to access the loans as ridiculous. Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A coalition of #EndSARS protesters and supporters has asked the Lagos State government to suspend the planned mass burial of 103 people who died during the October 2020 demonstrations against police brutality in the state. The group, in a statement on Wednesday, said it was horrified about the planned mass burial of 103 protesters and civilians who tragically lost their lives in the October 2020 state-sponsored violence and murder at the Lekki Toll Gate, and the callous and insincere statement by the Lagos State. Back story For several hours on Sunday, a leaked memo from the state government indicating that the service of a funeral home had been engaged at the cost of N61,285,000 to bury 103 bodies tagged EndSars victims circulated the internet. The letter sparked outrage as many believed that the bodies prepared for mass burial were those of protesters killed by the Nigerian Army at the Lekki Tollgate on 20 October 2020 during the #ENDSARS protest. However, the state government, through its ministry of health, confirmed the letter as true but described its peddlers as mischief makers. The ministrys permanent secretary, Olusegun Ogboye, said none of the unclaimed bodies was from the Lekki area of the state, adding that they were recovered from other parts of the state in the violence that ensued during the demonstration. Demands The group, in its statement, made five demands. Suspend the planned mass burial of 103 bodies in TOS Funeral Services immediately, the statement reads. Implement the recommendations of the Judicial Panel of Inquirys White Paper. Establish a one-month notice for citizens to access the 103 bodies in the hopes of identifying their loved ones. Conduct a DNA mapping of all 103 bodies using a reputable private organisation. They also demand that the state government pay compensation and provide therapy for the trauma they have caused families over the last three years. The group said the demands are made in light of the current climate and disaffection amongst youths and Nigerians generally; the high cost of living, occasioned by the fuel price increase among others, and to ignite much needed peaceful protests. The government, in its statement, had said that some of the bodies scheduled for mass burial include the inmates that died following the jailbreak at Ikoyi correctional facility during the period, but the EndSars Frontliner said that that makes them easily identifiable. Lagos State says some of the 103 people are from a jailbreak at Ikoyi Prison even if you dont know the names of the others, how can inmates be nameless? the statement reads. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The State Security Service (SSS) has said the clash between its operatives and those of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) over the custody of the suspended CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, is being investigated. The secret police, in a statement signed by its spokesperson Peter Afunanya on Wednesday, said that the agency, despite going against the order of the court, acted within the confines of the law. For emphasis, the SSS has not broken any laws in handling the Emefiele case despite efforts by some elements to skew the narratives to the contrary. The service had since alerted the public of sinister plots to discredit its leadership, the statement reads. Backstory On Tuesday, the bank chief was arraigned in court on a two-count charge of illegal possession of a firearm and live ammunition. He was granted bail. The judge ordered that Mr Emefiele should be remanded at the correctional facility in the Ikoyi area of Lagos pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions. Immediately after the court hearing, dozens of armed, hooded SSS operatives blocked the courtroom entrance to prevent the NCoS from taking him away. After physical engagement with each other, officials of the correctional services left and the SSS operatives rearrested Mr Emefiele and whisked him away. Unfortunate incident The spokesperson described the fisticuffs between the two federal agencies as an unfortunate event that does not in any way reflect the professional disposition of the agency. He said the SSS had the utmost respect for the judiciary as an arm of government and would not go out of its way to undermine it. The SSS recognises the Judiciary as a critical component in nation-building, national development and security management, the statement reads. Also, the service has a robust working relationship with sister security and law enforcement agencies, including the NCoS. Investigation Mr Afunanya, however, said because operatives of both agencies exhibited undue overzealousness, the service has further initiated detailed investigations into the matter. This is with a view to identifying the role played by specific persons as well as undertaking disciplinary actions if necessary and drawing some lessons going forward. In pursuit of its assignments, it will strive to remain professional, maintain ethical standards and a high sense of discipline. The service will ensure that it will not be used for clout and fame chasing or delusional heroism. It will, however, remain focused on its national security mandate and, therefore, enjoin well-meaning Nigerians to support it in achieving the desired security goals for the nation. It is imperative to note that we have no other country but Nigeria. We should join hands, with love and tolerance, to build it. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, will on Thursday interface again with the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) over the associations planned industrial action. The Majority Leader of the House, Julius Ihonvbere, announced this during plenary on Wednesday. A member of the House, Idem Uyime (PDP, Akwa-Ibom), had tried to move a motion for the House to intervene to prevent the strike. However, former Deputy Speaker of the House Idris Wase (APC, Plateau) raised a point of order that the speaker is already on the matter. Mr Abbas met with the doctors on Monday and appealed for time. However, despite the appeal, the doctors announced plans to commence an indefinite strike today (Wednesday). Mr Ihonvbere informed the House that Mr Abbas had already discussed the issues raised by the resident doctors with President Bola Tinubu and set up an ad hoc committee to address the issues raised at the meeting. I want to inform (the House and the public) that Mr Speaker has since met with Mr President, and significant progress in terms of addressing the needs of the doctors that are now on strike has been made. Second, we have scheduled a meeting for tomorrow (Thursday) with all the stakeholders, including members of the NARD. So, discussions are on. (Former Chairman of the House Committee on Healthcare Services) Dr Tanko Sununu is here, and he has been in touch with the NARD President, and they are going to be at this meeting tomorrow along with other stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, the Accountant-General of the Federation; Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning; even the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The Deputy Speaker, Ben Kalu, who presided over the session, noted that the motion of urgent public importance showed that we are sensitive to the needs of Nigerians, adding that, We are not asleep where Nigerians are panicking on issues bothering on their health. Stepping down the motion, Mr Idem appealed to the doctors to have sufficient time. Let me say this to the medical officers who are striking: The fact that the highest level of the parliament has started engaging with you shows how important your demands are. It shows how seriously we have taken your issues. I want to urge you to exercise more patience, he said. The doctors had on 17 May embarked on a five-day warning strike following the failure of the Nigerian government to meet its demands. In January, the association issued an ultimatum to the government to resolve issues affecting its members, including the immediate implementation and payment of the new hazard allowance and arrears. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A group of gunmen on Tuesday night attacked Kaja, a community in Ningi Local Government in Bauchi State and killed at least seven people. Residents of the community said the gunmen invaded the village around 10 p.m. and started shooting indiscriminately. The corpses of those killed were buried Wednesday morning. A witness told PREMIUM TIMES that during the attack, the local vigilante members engaged the assailants in a gunfight. Unfortunately, one of the vigilante members was killed. Ningi is fast becoming a security concern following recent reports of attacks on the community from non-state actors. Reprisal attack? The residents believe that the attack in the Kaja community is revenge carried out on the community by the bandits after Mondays attack where two kidnappers were killed by the security operatives in the area. Ningi has the problem of banditry, this year I could not farm completely because I could not go to the area; the insecurity here has worsened in recent times, Ibrahim Ayuba, a farmer in the community, told PREMIUM TIMES. Meanwhile, the newly appointed Commissioner of Police in the state, Auwal Muhammad, on Monday said the police were determined to tackle criminality in the area. The commissioner said the police had rescued ten victims from the kidnappers den in the dreaded Lame-Burra Forest Reserve in the area. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The story that is on every lip and also trending widely is that life is hard. It is indeed true. The times are tough and Nigerians are no longer smiling due to unbearable economic hardships. Who will protect the vulnerable and long-suffering masses who are struggling daily to eke out a living? Who will cover their nakedness? President Bola Ahmed Tinubu told us that becoming the president of Nigeria was his life-time ambition. I dont see anything wrong with that statement of purpose but the challenges of the moment will test his leadership skills. I have written in previous articles that he has the capacity, courage and experience to lead the country. Now is the time to walk the talk. However, I agree with commentators who say that it is still too early to criticise the Tinubu administration that is less than 60 days old. But Mr President needs to act quickly in order not to lose his goodwill with Nigerians. What are the issues again? The rising cost of petrol and expensive foreign exchange rates have created a new economic bubble that we are not used to. Once the pump price of petrol goes up, there is always a multiplier-effect on the prices of other goods and services. School fees, transport fares, cost of foods and medicines, house rents and electricity tariffs, etc have all gone through the roof. It is public knowledge that efforts are being made to re-set the economy but it will take some time for the benefits to kick in. Critics argue that the bitter pill being forced down the throats of Nigerians ought to have been sugar-coated to minimise the impact of the dire economic situation that has enveloped the nation. Palliatives that are now being discussed, according to the critics, should have been in place before the petrol subsidy was removed. I think that is a fair point, but Nigerians are suspicious of palliatives in its form, scope and implementation in much the same way they believed fuel subsidy was a huge fraud or organised crime as Peter Obi put it that was beneficial to the rich and exploitative to the poor. Professor Farooq Kperogi, one of my favourite columnists writing from his base in the US, criticised, the removal of subsidies which he described as anti-people policy. In America where Kperogi lives, he argued that subsidies on petrol and agriculture are retained and sustained, otherwise they could become highly toxic political issues. I am sure Kperogi knows that subsidies in Nigeria are stolen and the thieves get away with their loot but it is not so in America where every cent is accounted for. That is the huge difference. However, I agree with him that subsidy is not a bad thing but it is the mismanagement that is bad. The mere fact that people have not poured out in the streets protesting the removal of subsidies in spite of the economic pains does not mean we have swallowed the religious dogma envagelised by the World Bank and IMF. To the best of my knowledge, no ideologue has been garlanded with medals since the removal of petrol subsidy and unification of the exchange rates (I&E window and parallel market rates) neither is Nigeria a lackey of the World Bank and IMF. Professor Kperogi, whether we call it neo-liberal economics or the reign of market forces, Nigeria is broke (from many years of non-stop egregious looting of the treasury) and there are no easy answers to the deep-rooted economic problems that have festered over several seasons. The situation today is dire and different from what led to the SAP riots of the 1980s. Nigeria is poorer today than 30 years ago because our commonwealth has been stolen by the elites during that period at the expense of the poor and there are usually no consequences. Every now and then, we receive Abacha loot from the US. The money that the late General Sani Abaca saved for us must have been in billions of dollars! You will agree with me that he was not the only one who looted our treasury, but we are yet to receive similar repatriation of stolen funds by others from Europe and America because they are still alive. I agree with you that our poor people have been pauperised severely by the thieving mob, parasites, bootlickers and rent seekers of Nigeria. It explains why you support the need for subsidies but when there is no money in the treasury to pay for subsidies, what do we do? Ask NNPC Limited CEO, Mele Kyari, and he would tell you that the federal government is owing the corporation over N2.8 trillion. Gong by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), petrol subsidy had become illegal after February18, 2022. All the appropriations made by the Buhari administration in the 2022 and 2023 budgets were not backed by funds which explains why NNPC is being owed. Nigeria is not a poor country but the poor are getting poorer because they have been subsidising the rich. What does it even mean nowadays when we say Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa when people are dying of hunger? Different cycles of leaders have failed us since the days Nigeria borrowed money to IMF. You described these leaders as unashamed sadists because they derive contentment from seeing others writhe in pain. I am equally as concerned as you in this matter because Nigerias revenues since 1960 does not match our growth and development. Ideally, our per capita income should have been higher that of China and Singapore by now, just to cite two examples. Each time we take two steps forward, we take 10 steps backward. Even Dubai with eye-popping skyscrapers which our looters who hide under the demonising shadow of elite conspiracy travel to is a city that grew out of a desert in less than 30 years! Public officers and civil servants who own prime properties in UAE, especially Dubai, know themselves. Can you really blame the followers whom you described as unthinking, self-immolating masochists because they obtain joy from the suffering inflicted on them by their leaders who come and go through revolving doors of shame that recycle them? Is it possible to obtain joy from suffering that is the result of years of neglect caused by lack of visionary and purposeful leadership? In a country with over 130 million multi-dimensionally poor people, these followers have always resorted to self-help to survive because they believe that they are on their own help does not come from those who preside over their affairs at the local council level or subnational government or the Federal Government. They are easily recruited by politicians and thereafter sing their praises and pay obeisance to them. The poverty cycle continues and the net is expanded to admit more poor people yearly. How much did Nigeria spend on petroleum subsidy payments until it was removed or is it a no-go area? If that probe is ever commissioned, the findings will perhaps be the biggest revelation yet on how the organised crime was perpetrated. In order to break the poverty cycle, President Bola Tinubu has promised Nigerians that he would renew their hopes to achieve a new and better life. In the process, good and bad decisions would be made. For example, the N8,000 cash subsidy targeted at 12 million poor and vulnerable Nigerians was withdrawn because it was a rushed quick-fix that would have been counter-productive. The long-term gains that would come after the short-term pains is the hope that Nigerians really need, but the optics from Abuja must be right. What do I mean? (1.) the Tinubu administration must be sincere in all its policy choices and implementation; (2.) this sincerity will breed trust that is badly needed at this time; (3.) display of transparency and accountability in government spending and block all the financial leakages; (4.) the poor can no longer subsidise the rich, and (5.) fairness, equity and social justice must be the abiding principle of the administration. President Tinubu needs these five pillars to succeed and finish well. However, in my own reckoning, the president did not need more than 30 days to announce his list of ministers with their respective portfolios attached. But I have come to know that things are not usually what they seem, and Nigeria is always a hard nut to crack. I do not envy any president who sits in Aso Villa; it is always the case of the more you look, the less you see. I suspect that the vested interests and middlemen who are professional lobbyists have been at work tinkering with the ministerial list and it would appear they successfully boxed President Tinubu into a tight corner. Even if that is what happened, I am still willing to give Mr. President the benefit of the doubt, and I am confident his presidency will thrive. What is important is that we cannot give up on Nigeria, no matter the challenges that we face. In order to keep hope alive, we must work together to solve our problems. The signs are there that the economy will bounce back. Ehi Braimah is a global public relations and marketing strategist. He is also the publisher/editor-in-chief of Naija Times and Lagos Post, and can be reached via hello@neomedia.com.ng. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Its wonderful to hear that Nigerians are expressing satisfaction and commendations towards the management of TETFUND (Tertiary Education Trust Fund) ably led by the Executive Secretary Mr Sonny Echono, an architect for his efforts in promoting infrastructural growth, improving academic standards, and enhancing human capacity development in Nigerias tertiary education system. Receiving positive feedback and a vote of confidence from the public reflects the recognition and appreciation of the TETFUND s impact on the countrys higher education sector. TETFUND plays a vital role in supporting higher education institutions in Nigeria by providing funding for critical projects and initiatives that contribute to the overall improvement of education quality. By investing in infrastructure, academic programs, and human capacity development, TETFUND helps to create a conducive learning environment and equips students and educators with the necessary resources to excel in their fields. Maintaining transparency, accountability, and good governance practices will be essential for the TETFUND to continue enjoying the trust and confidence of the Nigerian people. By doing so, the TETFUND can continue to play a crucial role in facilitating research and Digital technology advancement in education, attracting investments, and fostering academic excellence in the country. Citizens reaffirm a vote of confidence on Mr. Sonny Echono and the management of the TETFUND, such a vote of confidence from the public demonstrates that the TETFUNDs Management has been effective in steering the organization towards success. Such support from the public signifies a recognition of the efforts made to enhance the efficiency of educational boost and contribute positively to the Nigerian economy. This bold performance demonstrated by the Executive secretary is undoubtedly a positive sign for the Nigerian educational reform, as it signifies efficient management utilization and built confidence of tax payers in revenue generation. It also indicates accountability and transparency in handling public funds, which are essential aspects of good governance. Improving academic research and human capacity development are essential components for the growth and progress of any nation. By investing in research, training, and professional development, TETFUND contributes to the advancement of knowledge and the development of skilled and knowledgeable professionals in various fields, which ultimately benefits the society as a whole. While maintaining the confidence and support of the Nigerian people, it will be crucial for TETFUND to continue demonstrating transparency, accountability, and effectiveness in managing funds and implementing projects. Ensuring that funds are used judiciously and that the impact of the investments is well-documented will help build trust and further strengthen TETFUNDs reputation as a significant contributor to the development of Nigerias tertiary education system. Its important to note that the successful performance of public institutions like TETFUND is vital for national development, and sustained efforts towards improvement will benefit both the organization and the Nigerian educational sector. Overall, a well-functioning TETFUND, coupled with the dedication of educators and students, can significantly contribute to the growth and advancement of Nigerias higher education landscape. Deborah Olajide wrote from Abuja Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print There are 67 weeks until the November 2024 election, but this week showed some campaigns have set their alarm clocks extra early. Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, says he will run for another term, if he can legally do it. So will Sen. Dennis Linthicum, R-Klamath Falls. Treasurer Tobias Read wants to switch jobs and run for Oregon Secretary of State. An unexpected opening The 2024 ballot still remains mostly a fill-in-the-blanks list. Candidates can't file for office with the Oregon Secretary of State until Sept. 14, and the deadline isn't until early next year. Candidate finance committees can be created at any time. It was a small change by Treasurer Tobias Read that signaled his 2024 plans. Read filed an amendment to his committee's statement with the Elections Division of the Secretary of State changing his fundraising purpose from his unsuccessful 2022 bid for governor to a 2024 bid for secretary of state. Willamette Week was the first to notice the switch. Read is at the end of his second term as treasurer and is barred by the Oregon Constitution from seeking a third. The May resignation by Secretary of State Shemia Fagan amid a scandal over moonlighting for a cannabis dispensary company has created an unexpected opening on the Democratic primary ballot next May. Read says he will make a full announcement soon, but in a statement Tuesday, July 25 he indicated he was aware of the turbulence in the race caused by Fagan's departure. As secretary of state, I will rebuild trust and give voters confidence that their public officials work for the people and no one else," he said. Walkout senators' quest An early question mark will be the fate of a group of Republican senators who took part in a boycott of Senate floor sessions this year in order to deny a quorum required to meet and do any business. The 42-day walkout ended when Democrats agreed to watered-down versions of House-passed legislation on abortion, transgender medical care and gun control. After Republican walkouts had led to the stall or collapse of previous sessions, voters in November 2022 approved Measure 113 as a way to increase penalties for taking part in stall tactics in the Legislature. Backers said the measure would bar the reelection of any lawmaker who had 10 unexcused absences. Nine Republicans and one independent member of the Senate surpassed the mark during the 2023 walkout. The GOP lawmakers and their supporters say the bill was poorly written and likely unconstitutional. On Monday, Knopp and Linthicum said they would run for reelection and had sent a letter to new Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade, asking for "a declaratory ruling on Measure 113 on whether Senator Knopp and Senator Linthicum will be allowed ballot access for the 2024 election." The seats held by Knopp and Linthicum are both up for election in 2024. The Monday letter officially only asks Griffin-Valade to make a decision. That decision a yes or no answer could then be appealed in court. Oregon voters desperately want balance," Knopp said. "Senate Republicans are looking forward to vigorous debates over the course of the campaign season. A press release by the Senate Republican Caucus said three other Republican senators who did not miss 10 or more floor sessions planned to file for reelection: David Brock Smith of Port Orford, Dick Anderson of Lincoln City and Fred Girod of Lyons. Four other senators who had 10 or more absences and have seats on the 2024 ballot are either retiring or haven't announced their plans. Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, had previously announced he would not seek another term in 2024. Sen. Lynn Findley, R- Vale, has said he has not decided on his plans for next year. Sen. Art Robinson, R-Cave Junction, is not a member of the Senate Republican Caucus and his plans were not addressed in the statement. Neither was Sen. Brian Boquist of Dallas, who was elected as a Republican, but is now affiliated only with the Independent Party. Griffin-Valade was sworn in as secretary of state on June 30, following her appointment by Gov. Tina Kotek. Acting Secretary of State Cheryl Myers, who temporarily held the office after Fagan resigned in May, had not made any statement on Measure 113. "The new secretary of state is reviewing the matter," Ben Morris, communications officer for the Secretary of State's office, said Tuesday. "We don't have any additional details or comments to share at this time." SYDNEY and DUBLIN, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SEAtS Software, an Irish Education Success Software company, has officially marked their expansion into the Australasian market at Enterprise Ireland AN/Z's Annual Business Lunch in Sydney earlier this year. The lunch was attended by Irish Government Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Simon Coveney, along with Dr Orlaigh Quinn, Secretary General of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; H.E. Tim Mawe, Ambassador of Ireland to Australia; and Consulate General of Ireland to New South Wales, Rosie Keane. L-R: H.E. Tim Mawe, Ambassador of Ireland to Australia; Dr. Orlaigh Quinn, Secretary General at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Carol Gibbons, Enterprise Ireland Head of Regions and Local Enterprise; Andrew Behan, SEAtS Software Australia Business Development Lead; Ciara Reilly, SEAtS Software Australia Marketing Lead; Simon Coveney T.D, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Rosie Keane, Consul General of Ireland to New South Wales; David Eccles, Enterprise Ireland Director Australia/New Zealand. SEAtS Software is known for being the first to develop and use intelligent AI tools to rapidly surface potential underlying issues affecting student wellbeing, retention and outcomes at the scale and speed large institutions need. The SEAtS platform has expanded to include surfacing actionable scheduling and space utilisation insights to drive sustainability and energy cost reductions across campus. They currently support a number of leading institutions across Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. With the expansion, SEAtS hopes to partner with more institutions in the region to improve student success outcomes and campus management processes. In collaboration with their strategic partners, SoftwareOne, SEAtS' modern education technology enables institutions to reach their goals. Benefits include improving access and inclusion, student engagement and student retention, as well as enhancing campus systems and sustainability. Commenting on the expansion, SEAtS CEO Noel Dooley said "SEAtS success and expansion is further evidence of the global application and benefits of our software for universities, colleges, schools, and their students. We would like to thank Enterprise Ireland and our local partners for their invaluable support and assistance." "The response to the value that SEAtS Software can provide to third level institutions and their students in the local market has been really positive and we expect great success for them here. The higher education market in Australia and New Zealand is highly competitive, especially for international students, so being able to offer a superior support experience for students is a great advantage" said Enterprise Ireland's Judith Harrington, Market Advisor in Digital Technologies. SEAtS are now supporting multiple employees working within the region, with a goal to recruit more as their operations grow. About SEAtS Software SEAtS build education success software to manage learning, wherever it happens. Whether in the classroom, lecture hall, or online; our mission is to empower our customers to help their students and learners to achieve to their true potential and best possible student experience on a safe and sustainable campus environment that embraces and supports diversity. SEAtS is a Microsoft Education Alliance and Gold Preferred Solution Partner. Find out more: www.seatssoftware.com About Enterprise Ireland Enterprise Ireland is Ireland's national export agency. With over 30 offices worldwide, our local sectoral specialists work with customers to understand their unique challenges and match them with Irish suppliers that can deliver leading edge products and services. Our goal is to simplify and enhance the purchase process for customers and build successful, long-term business relationships between international companies and Irish suppliers. Find out more: www.irishadvantage.com Contacts: Australia - Ciara Reilly, +61493495207, creilly@seatssoftware.com UK & IRE Rodrigo Osorno, +353 834 235 917, rosorno@seatssoftware.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2161036/SEAtS_Software.jpg SOURCE SEAtS Software PHOENIX, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Arizona Council on Economic Education (ACEE) will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the 10th annual Champions in Education event on November 17th. ACEE has been committed to fostering financial and economic literacy skills among Arizona K-12 students, and this milestone highlights its impactful journey. The event honors the dedicated Arizona educators who initiated the economic education movement from the grassroots level. Supported by the community, ACEE has driven systemic change for all children to achieve economic mobility. The contributions of Arizona universities, the Arizona Bankers Association, businesses, the Arizona Department of Education, teachers, and the community have played a vital role in this mission. At the event, two Economic Education Teachers of the Year will be announced from the five outstanding finalists: Gretchen Donnell, Acorn Montessori School Chris Haak, Chaparral High School Diane Krueger, Leading Edge Academy - Gilbert Elementary Mitch Pinda, Valley Vista High School Greg Thorson, BASIS Mesa Keynote remarks will be delivered by Lyndel Manson, Chairman of the Arizona Board of Regents, and the event will be hosted by Nick Ciletti, a five-time Emmy award-winning journalist. "The 10th annual Champions in Education is a remarkable celebration of the resiliency of Arizona educators and the support from the business community," said Elena Zee, ACEE President and CEO. "We are immensely grateful for our dedicated board, advisors, donors, and volunteers who have sustained this mission for 50 years, empowering children with financial, economic, and entrepreneurial skills." Early lead sponsors include Valley Schools, University of Arizona Center for the Philosophy of Freedom, Arizona Bank & Trust, J2Media, US Bank, Valley Spinal Care, Comerica, SRP, BOK Financial, and Veregy. Natalie Beck, the event chair, emphasized the importance of envisioning the next 50 years, stating, "This is a significant moment in ACEE's history. Let's collectively envision the next 50 years, ensuring our future generations receive the education they need for success." For more information about the event, please visit https://azecon.org/champions-in-education/ About Arizona Council on Economic Education: The Arizona Council on Economic Education (ACEE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to equipping students with essential life and workforce skills. For 50 years, ACEE has worked tirelessly to empower K-12 students in Arizona, fostering their understanding of economics and personal finance through innovative programs, teacher training, and community partnerships. SOURCE Arizona Council on Economic Education The firm's latest research explains that a successful website redesign bolsters marketing-driven victories, enhances the brand image, and boosts competitive edge. TORONTO, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - According to SoftwareReviews' latest research findings, an astonishing 80% of website redesigns fail to achieve their maximum potential. Digital marketers continuously grapple with the complex task of ensuring a successful website redesign that will boost engagement and conversion rates. SaaS companies that fail to modernize and align their corporate website are likely to spend an extra $113,000 yearly on sales salaries to compensate for the lack of marketing-influenced wins from this critical digital channel. To help marketers overcome these challenges, SoftwareReviews has released Redesign Your Website to Increase Marketing-Influenced Wins, a valuable resource offering practical insights to ensure that a website redesign delivers value to the business. SoftwareReviews' blueprint, "Redesign Your Website to Increase Marketing-Influenced Wins," outlines an effective methodology to discover, align, and prioritize stakeholder needs, highlight key buyer journey messaging, and promote marketing-influenced wins through competitive differentiation and brand image optimization. (CNW Group/SoftwareReviews) "Clunky API integrations and a legacy tech stack often mean that a modern-day redesign will be highly technical," says Terra Higginson, principal marketing research director at SoftwareReviews. "To make matters even worse, hiring quality technical staff has become increasingly difficult. Even if the marketing team can hurdle the technical obstacles, they still must face a leadership team that doesn't adequately understand and prioritize the buyer." According to SoftwareReviews' research, the foundation of a successful website redesign lies in focusing on the buyer's needs, addressing their challenges, and delivering their desired outcomes. "Not prioritizing and aligning the buyers' needs is the number one reason that website redesigns fail to deliver the number of marketing-influenced wins that sales demands," Higginson notes. To achieve an effective website redesign, the firm recommends marketers adopt the following strategy: Align objectives, identify risks, and prioritize needs. objectives, identify risks, and prioritize needs. Build the personalized journey the buyers need. the personalized journey the buyers need. Create content that focuses on benefit wins. content that focuses on benefit wins. Resolve risks and develop a realistic timeline and budget. risks and develop a realistic timeline and budget. Collaborate with design to create sitemaps, wireframes, and prototypes. with design to create sitemaps, wireframes, and prototypes. Gain steering committee approval for website redesign execution. "Marketers have a lot to manage to ensure that a modern website redesign will be successful. Planning is the most critical part of a redesign, yet it is often skipped due to a lack of a good and proven methodology," explains Higginson. SoftwareReviews recommends that digital marketing leaders concentrate on discovering the sweet spot where the businesses and buyers' needs intersect during the initial phase of a website redesign. The firm's research shows that this strategy enables the detection of disjointed needs, allows for the provision of required resources, and prioritizes high-impact needs. Achieving alignment in this way ensures that the website overhaul will elevate the brand image and strengthen competitive differentiation. Blueprints are the firm's proprietary methodology for technology and marketing research and initiatives. The new resource will enable marketers and their organizations to develop a comprehensive plan to successfully execute a website redesign. The Redesign Your Website to Increase Marketing-Influenced Wins blueprint is available to download. For media inquiries on the topic or to get exclusive, timely commentary from Terra Higginson, a subject matter expert on marketing strategies, please contact [email protected]. About SoftwareReviews SoftwareReviews, a division of Info-Tech Research Group, empowers organizations with the best data, insights, and advice to improve the software buying and selling experience. For buyers, SoftwareReviews' proven software selection methodologies, customer insights, and technology advisors help maximize success with technology decisions. For providers, the firm helps build more effective marketing, product, and sales processes with expert analysts, how-to research, customer-centric marketing content, and comprehensive analysis of the buyer landscape. Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across software, IT, and HR and over 200 industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected]. For more information about SoftwareReviews or to access resources to support the software selection process, visit softwarereviews.com. SOURCE SoftwareReviews A South Korean photovoltaic cell manufacturer wants to site solar panels and batteries on 2.5 square miles of farmland in southern Linn County, potentially the largest solar park in Oregon. Folks decrying loss of farmland that they say is big in nutrients and slim in availability crammed into a Brownsville meeting hall on Tuesday night, July 25 to tell state energy officials theyd rather see the land produce grass seed. Colton Neuschwander stroked a long, waxed mustache and peered at the solar park applicants. He said he dislikes seeing farmland ceded to big corporations especially from out of state. My family has been farming the Willamette Valley outside of Harrisburg for 100 years, Neuschwander said. The Oregon Department of Energy restarted a meeting after a crowd of around 100 showed up. Some spoke into the public record about their concerns that Muddy Creek Energy Park would be compatible with farming, endangered wildlife in the area or the birds and wildlife favored by hunters as game. They complained the solar park, if approved, would cover protected wetlands. They complained the transmission lines and poles holding electrical wiring would interfere with birds in the Pacific Flyway. Muddy Creek potentially would be the largest solar park in the state by output, according to Department of Energy data. The department is reviewing one other application, a 400-megawatt, 6.1-square-mile design in Lake County named Obsidian Solar Center. Solar parks approved or under construction generate or output between 50 and 162 megawatts. Just two parks licensed with the Department of Energy are open and providing electricity. Oregons first, Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility III, commenced operation March 2022 in Morrow County. Pachwaywit Fields started producing producing commercial electricity April 25 and operates on 1.9 square miles of farmland in Gilliam County. Applicants proposed buildouts generating 400, 500 and 1,250 megawatts in Lake and Morrow counties, but havent entered into the states formal siting process. The largest of those would cover 17 square miles of farmland. Applicants want to install enough 4-by-8-foot solar panels to power a small town around 23,000 customers, company representative Brian Tran said at the meeting. Tran said he couldnt provide examples of sister facilities or solar parks owned by his company. A land use expert with the state agriculture department told applicants large-scale solar projects arent found in the Willamette Valley because Oregon has dissuaded development on farmland by requiring large solar projects to go through a process excepting their construction from land use policy. The exceptions process, its not called the exceptions process for nothing. Its supposed to be difficult, Oregon Department of Agriculture land use coordinator Jim Johnson said. Company representatives said a subsidiary of Seoul-based Hanwha Q Cells will lease the land under the cells, all private and mostly agricultural fields, for 40 years. Thats four decades those fields wouldnt produce crops, said Yvonne Scott, a farmer whose family moved from California to the Willamette Valley. Forty years? Thats a long time, Scott said. How old are you? Tran answered: 29. Muddy Creek Solar Park LLC notified the Oregon department on May 19 that the company intended to apply for certification of the 199 megawatt buildout east of Interstate 5, about 8 miles south of Brownsville. An unspecified number of solar panels would generate electricity, stored in massive 36-foot-long banks of batteries, each 12 feet wide and 10 feet high. Tran said the solar park intends to use an existing substation. City Councilor Lynda Chambers told energy department officials she was speaking on her own behalf before a meeting of the citys elected leadership. She questioned why Brownsville officials hadnt been included earlier in conversations between Hanwha and those who eventually will greenlight or stop the park from moving forward. Id like to see you build closer to Portland or Eugene theyd love you all, Chambers said. Tran said the company had attempted to reach out to governments at surrounding cities prior to entering formal siting with the energy department. Its been two years in the making to get where we are, and even then we are smack dab in the middle, Tran said. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help (copy) Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. Hanwha organized an Oregon limited liability company in 2021 with the intent of building out a solar park, according to state business filings. Next, a seven-member board of officials appointed by the governor will decide whether they can issue an order to move ahead with siting the solar park. SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Players who missed the first two satellites of ACR Poker's Cage Live promo don't have to be kicking themselves. There are still two satellites left for the famous cash game in a tournament format that returns to San Jose, Costa Rica, from August 16th to 19th. Get ready for the return of The Cage Live this summer in San Jose, Costa Rica! 36 packages worth $8,700 each are GTD through the Sunday Beast over four weeks "We've already awarded 18 incredible packages worth $8,700 each, and we can't wait to see those players in our home base of Costa Rica," stated Chris Moneymaker, ACR Pro. "The only thing that might be hotter than the action on the felt is the nightlife off, which includes a player party with free drinks on opening night." There are 18 guaranteed Cage Live packages remaining, split evenly between the Beast satellite on Sunday, July 30th and Sunday, August 6th. Each buy-in is $95, but many players will secure a seat for free by ranking on The Beast weekly leaderboard. Each $8,700 package includes the $5,250 buy-in, and 5-night stay at the luxurious Sheraton Hotel where the Cage Live battle will take place. Additional payments of $1,000 in spending money, $800 for airfare and $400 for cash games will also be doled out. Moneymaker went on to explain that the Cage Live gets more exciting as the days progress. Players begin with $5,000 in chips and blinds increase throughout the event, just like in a tourney. Players can choose to play in all three Day 1 options (Wednesday through Friday) and combine those chips for their starting stack for Saturday's Day 2. Chips are not allowed to be cashed out until Day 2 is over (that's why it's called The Cage) and at that point, all players' chips are converted to cash at a 1-to-1 ratio. For more information on the Cage Live, visit ACRPoker.eu. For further information, please contact: Melanie Mosier, 1-887-314-4195, [email protected] About ACR Poker Formerly known as Americas Cardroom, ACR Poker joined the Winning Poker Network in 2011. The Winning Poker Network has been dealing cards since 2001 and continues to be one of the most trusted names in the industry. Rated first place for payment processing and cashout reliability repeatedly over the last few years, ACR Poker offers outstanding customer service and a friendly environment for all poker players around the world. SOURCE ACR Poker SINGAPORE, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aethir , a pioneer in Decentralized Cloud Infrastructure (DCI), today announced the completion of its Pre-A funding round, bringing the total value raised to date to over USD$9 million and the company valuation to USD$150 million. The round was led by leading global investors, including Sanctor Capital, Hashkey, Merit Circle, and CitizenX with further support from Mirana Ventures, Animoca Brands, Momentum6, Big Brain Holdings, Builder Capital, Tess Ventures, Maelstrom (Arthur Hayes) and many more. Aethir was established in Singapore in 2021 by cloud industry veterans to build what they've coined Scalable Decentralized Cloud Infrastructure. Already serving a growing customer base, including high-profile enterprises, AI companies and gaming studios, the investment enables Aethir to expedite its global expansion in key markets like South East Asia, Latin America, and North America, as well as to bolster its innovative Decentralized Cloud Infrastructure. "The cloud sector has traditionally been a challenging industry to scale, plagued by high costs, particularly for customers requiring complex real-time rendering or streaming infrastructure - and that's not taking into account the additional stress on the ecosystem as a result of the AI boom," said Mark Rydon, Aethir Co-Founder and CEO. "At Aethir, we're laser-focused on solving the cloud scalability challenge. We've built a global DCI network specifically to scale complex cloud infrastructure services globally; a significant milestone for the future of the gaming and AI industry. The cost and performance advantages of our DCI are significant, and when coupled with our ability to operate in developed and developing markets alike, we're unlocking a huge amount of potential value for our customers." Aethir has shown consistent growth under Rydon's stewardship, creating a scalable and secure Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) service that caters to the rigorous demands of enterprise-grade gaming and AI applications. The completion of this successful funding round follows a previous Seed round led by Framework Ventures and Infinity Ventures Crypto, underscoring the demand for Aethir's solutions and demonstrating investors' conviction in its potential to revolutionize the gaming and AI industry through its Decentralized Cloud Infrastructure. Arthur Hayes, CIO of Maelstrom "We're backing projects that are using the blockchain to solve real-world issues. Aethir is meaningfully expanding the addressable market for gaming and other streaming content in the world's highest-growth (but hardware-constrained) markets. Everybody wins as Aethir expands - gamers, publishers and globally distributed rendering node operators alike." Han Kao, CEO of Sanctor Capital "For the metaverse to become a populated, engaging, virtual universe, the underlying infrastructure needs to support efficient, low-cost computation. Aethir is part of this next-generation infrastructure stack that unlocks the gaming and social communication possibilities we have been waiting for." About Aethir Aethir builds scalable, decentralized cloud infrastructure (DCI). Their network helps gaming and AI companies - big or small - put their product directly in the hands of consumers, regardless of where they live or the hardware they own. Aethir solves market fragmentation in a way only the decentralized cloud can. The Singapore-based company boasts a team of 68 dedicated employees. For more information, please visit www.aethir.com . SOURCE Aethir DUBLIN, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Africa Data Center Market Landscape 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Africa data center market is experiencing remarkable growth and is poised to achieve a value of $4.92 billion by 2028, compared to $2.74 billion in 2022, representing a robust CAGR of 10.25%. The market's focus on IT infrastructure is evident, with a significant rise in demand for switches with up to 40GbE ports, and the anticipated growth in cloud data centers is expected to further drive demand for switches with ports of over 40GbE. With the rising need for advanced infrastructure, the adoption of flash storage devices and blade servers is predicted to surge in the coming years. South Africa emerges as a dominant force in the region's data center investments, closely followed by promising markets like Nigeria and Kenya. Notably, Egypt is rapidly emerging as a hotspot for regional investments, attracting significant attention from major African investors keen on developing data centers. Furthermore, other markets, including Ethiopia and Ghana, are also poised for growth, responding to the escalating demand for data centers in the region. This thriving industry includes key IT infrastructure providers such as Arista Networks, Atos, Broadcom, Cisco System, NetApp, IBM, and others, who are instrumental in driving the availability of advanced IT infrastructure in the market. Additionally, sustainability is becoming a pivotal factor, with increasing demand for generators fueled by sustainable sources like hydrotreated vegetable oil and a rise in the adoption of UPS systems with lithium-ion batteries and other eco-friendly alternatives. As the industry gains momentum, greenfield buildings are sprouting across multiple countries, taking advantage of the ample availability of land. This progress has also attracted new global contractors, eager to make their mark in the region following the entry of prominent global operators. The Africa data center market promises an exciting trajectory with a focus on cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices, attracting significant investments and driving digital transformation across the continent. KEY TRENDS Governmental Support for Special Economic Zones (SEZs): Local governments in various African countries are actively focusing on developing special economic zones, including free trade zones, industrial parks, high-tech parks, and business service parks. These SEZs are designed to stimulate economic growth, attract foreign investments, and create employment opportunities. As a result, the development of these zones is likely to drive the demand for data centers as businesses seek to establish their operations in these strategic locations. Public-Private Partnerships in Digital Infrastructure: Governments in South Africa and Kenya have forged partnerships with private entities to develop digital infrastructure, leading to increased demand for data centers in the region. Such collaborations are instrumental in fostering technological advancements and the adoption of innovative technologies that drive the growth of data center investments. Governmental Support for Digitalization and Tax Incentives: African governments are actively supporting digitalization efforts and providing tax incentives to encourage investments in data center facilities. These initiatives are expected to accelerate the development of data centers in the region and attract more stakeholders to participate in the industry. Smart City Initiatives and Urbanization: Local governments in Africa are funding smart city initiatives to promote the adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as IoT, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence. Rapid urbanization, especially among the low-income population, is driving the need for technology-driven solutions to address the challenges posed by urban growth. This development is expected to generate significant data generation, leading to higher demand for data storage and computation capabilities, thereby increasing the demand for edge data centers for high-performance computing (HPC). Commercial Attractiveness and Increased Market Participants: The development of smart cities and the growing adoption of advanced technologies are making the region commercially attractive to various organizations. As the demand for data centers rises, more businesses and stakeholders are expected to enter the data center industry in Africa, fostering further growth and competition in the market. VENDOR LANDSCAPE IT INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDERS Arista Networks Atos Broadcom Cisco Systems Dell Technologies Fujitsu Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Hitachi Vantara Huawei Technologies IBM Inspur Juniper Networks Lenovo NetApp Oracle Prominent Support Infrastructure Providers 4energy ABB Caterpillar Cummins Delta Electronics EATON EVAPCO Enlogic Legrand Master Power Technologies Rittal Rolls-Royce Schneider Electric Siemens STULZ Vertiv Prominent Data Center Construction Contractors Abbeydale Advanced Vision Morocco ARSMAGNA Arup Atkins b2 Architects CAP DC Chess Enterprises Copy Cat Group Eastra Solutions Edarat Group EDS Engineers Egypro H&MV Engineering Ingenium Interkel JLB Architects MWK Engineering Orascom Construction Royal HaskoningDHV Shaker Group Sterling & Wilson Summit Technology Solutions Tri-Star Construction United Egypt Westwood Management Data Center Investors 21st Century Technology Africa Data Centres Digital Parks Africa Galaxy Backbone icolo.io (Digital Realty) IXAfrica MainOne Medallion Communications NTT Global Data Centers Paratus Namibia Rack Centre Raxio Data Centres Telecom Egypt Wingu New Entrants Open Access Data Centres (OADC) Nxtra by Airtel Cloudoon Kasi Cloud Google Vantage Data Center SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS Segmentation by Infrastructure IT Infrastructure Electrical Infrastructure Mechanical Infrastructure General Construction Segmentation by IT Infrastructure Server Infrastructure Storage Infrastructure Network Infrastructure Segmentation by Electrical Infrastructure UPS Systems Generators Transfer Switches & Switchgear Power Distribution Units Other Electrical Infrastructure Segmentation by Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems Racks Other Mechanical Infrastructure Segmentation by Cooling Systems CRAC & CRAH Units Chiller Units Cooling Towers, Condensers, and Dry Coolers Other Cooling Units Segmentation by Cooling Techniques Air-based Cooling Technique Liquid-based Cooling Technique Segmentation by General Construction Core & Shell Development Installation & Commissioning Services Engineering & Building Design Physical Security Fire Detection & Suppression DCIM/BMS Solutions Segmentation by Tier Standard Tier I & II Tier III Tier IV GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS Africa South Africa Kenya Nigeria Egypt Ethiopia Other African Countries For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/l71dr0 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 Leading scholars and advocates will convene in five-day hybrid event series to discuss the state of racism in America and strategies to promote racial justice in a time of growing censorship and suppression NEW YORK, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 30, the African American Policy Forum will kick off its fourth annual Critical Race Theory (CRT) Summer School, convening some of the nation's leading scholars on race and racism to discuss the growing threats of book bans, censorship of Black history and attacks on critical tools for racial justice, like Affirmative Action, by an illiberal Supreme Court. As part of the Freedom to Learn campaign, this year's CRT Summer School comes at an essential time in the public discourse on racial justice and democracy. Just last week, Florida announced new educational standards that would reshape the way K-12 students are able to learn about slavery in an attempt to whitewash America's racial past and obstruct a multiracial democratic future. Now more than ever, allies of democracy and racial justice require an immersion in the ideas, arguments and strategies of experts on the frontlines of these existential battles for public education, the freedom of knowledge and the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. AAPF convening leading scholars to discuss threats of book bans, censorship of Black history and illiberal Supreme Court Tweet this "CRT Summer School is a critical experience for anyone who wants to elevate their understanding of the contours of the contemporary fight for multiracial democracy, to learn the key frameworks being banned across the country by racist demagogues, and to embrace the best practices for building a diverse, inclusive and intersectional movement for racial justice," said AAPF co-founder, Professor Kimberle Williams Crenshaw. "When the instruction of Black history itself is at stake, we need to be activated and energized in order to preserve our truth and advocate for our future." Participants may register for more than a dozen virtual sessions across five days to help inspire, energize and activate themselves and others. Featured speakers include: President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund Janai Nelson, American Civil Liberties Union President Deborah Archer, new Rainbow/PUSH president Rev. Dr. Frederick Haynes, Host of United Shades of America W. Kamau Bell, President of the National Women's Studies Association Kaye Wise Whitehead, and many of America's preeminent academics, including Cathy Cohen (UChicago), Khalil Muhammad (Harvard), Cheryl Harris (UCLA), Sandy Darity (Duke), Jason Stanley (Yale), Robin D.G. Kelley (UCLA) and more. This year, CRT Summer School will open with an in-person panel event on Sunday, July 30 at 4 PM ET at Union Chapel on Martha's Vineyard, moderated by Professor Crenshaw and exploring how so-called "anti-woke" laws being pursued across the country are an assault on civil rights and democracy. Find out more about the schedule of events and full roster of speakers at https://www.aapf.org/crtsummerschool About the African American Policy Forum: Founded in 1996 by Professors Kimberle Williams Crenshaw and Luke Charles Harris, the African American Policy Forum (AAPF) is a think tank that connects academics, activists and policymakers to promote efforts to identify and confront the structural inequalities hindering multiracial democracy. Utilizing new ideas and innovative perspectives to transform the public discourse on racial justice, AAPF promotes frameworks and strategies that center the intersectional barriers that disempower those who are marginalized in society. AAPF is dedicated to advancing and expanding racial justice, gender equality, and the indivisibility of all human rights. SOURCE African American Policy Forum SAN PEDRO GARZA GARCIA, N.L. Mexico, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ALFA, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: ALFAA) ("ALFA") announced today its unaudited results for the second quarter of 2023 ("2Q23"). All figures have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). 2Q23 HIGHLIGHTS ALFA 2Q23 Comparable EBITDA of US $425 million as better-than-expected results at Sigma partially offset a significant decline in Alpek Successfully executed the Axtel spin-off; corporate portfolio streamlined down to Sigma and Alpek Full-year EBITDA Guidance adjusted down 5% to reflect a downward revision by Alpek and an upward revision by Sigma Sigma Record-high quarterly Revenue and EBITDA in 2Q23 Better-than-expected results in the Americas driven by solid demand, favorable raw material cost trends, Foodservice, and the appreciation of the Mexican peso Guidance revised up supported by year-to-date results and positive outlook: Revenue US $8.6 billion and EBITDA US $880 million Alpek 2Q23 Revenue and Comparable EBITDA down 27% and 46% year-on-year, respectively A challenging feedstock price environment, the normalization of ocean freight rates, and lower industry reference margins impacted performance 2023 Comparable EBITDA Guidance revised down to US $770 million Axtel (Discontinued Operations) Accounting for Axtel as a Discontinued Operation in ALFA's financial statements ended on May 29, 2023 as a result of the spin-off Please refer to Axtel's 2Q23 Earnings Report for the analysis of full quarterly and accumulated operating figures (see Appendix) Message from ALFA's President "We achieved another important milestone of our transformation process with the listing of Controladora Axtel on the Mexican Stock Exchange during the second quarter. Regarding our operations, ALFA's 2Q23 consolidated results benefitted from a better-than-expected performance at Sigma which partially offsets a decline in Alpek. By completing the Axtel spin-off, ALFA has streamlined its portfolio of core businesses down to Sigma and Alpek. In addition, shareholders have gained autonomy through independent ownership positions in Nemak and Axtel. We remain focused on moving ahead in the most efficient manner while ensuring a strong financial position for ALFA, Sigma and Alpek. Higher EBITDA generation from Sigma is key to continue building upon our orderly transformation process. In addition, ALFA's valuable assets and solid cashflow generation present various opportunities to reduce debt over time, which is also crucial. ALFA's consolidated 2Q23 Revenue was down 10% and Comparable EBITDA decreased 20% year over year due to weak results at Alpek. Besides the anticipated normalization in ocean freight rates and decrease in global reference margins, Alpek faced a challenging feedstock price environment; marked by a significant paraxylene price disconnection (North America vs Asia) that has weighed on Polyester volume. Sigma posted solid performance and announced important developments. 2Q23 Revenue increased 15% year over year and Comparable EBITDA was up 33%, boosted by better-than-expected results in Mexico and the United States. Our food business successfully capitalized on solid demand in the Americas, easing raw material cost pressures and a much stronger Mexican peso. In Europe, Sigma undertook a major restructure of its administrative functions amid higher raw material cost pressures and soft volume trends. The expected benefits from this initiative include cost savings, higher accountability and greater organizational alignment to accelerate the recovery in this region. During the second quarter, Sigma also executed its second acquisition year to date in the United States; a majority stake in Los Altos Foods ("Los Altos"). Los Altos' portfolio of authentic Hispanic cheese products and production capacity in the West Coast offer a unique opportunity to reinforce Sigma's presence in the rapidly growing multicultural U.S. consumer market. In addition, Sigma advanced on the ESG front by obtaining approval for its near-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). ALFA now contributes towards a more sustainable future through SBTi-approved decarbonization targets at its two remaining core businesses: Alpek and Sigma. Looking to the remainder of the year, ALFA's 2023 guidance was revised to reflect adjustments at Alpek and Sigma. Annual consolidated Revenues and EBITDA estimations were lowered to US $16.431 billion and US $1.530 billion, respectively. Our petrochemical business reduced its full-year Comparable EBITDA guidance to US $770 million amid a more challenging feedstock price environment that has weighed on volume and margins. In addition, Alpek estimates an annual impact of US $110 million from extraordinary items. On the upside, demand, raw material costs and the appreciation of the Mexican peso are trending more favorably for Sigma. Therefore, 2023 EBITDA guidance in our food business increased to US $880 million. Sigma and Alpek maintain solid financial positions as ALFA remains disciplined in its methodic approach to complete the final stage of the transformation process. I want to extend a special thanks to all our team members for their continued hard work throughout the quarter towards achieving our goals." All the best, Alvaro Fernandez Important note on changes to ALFA's Consolidated Financial Statements ALFA's shareholders approved to spin-off ALFA's share ownership of Axtel into a new, listed entity called "Controladora Axtel" on July 12, 2022. The shares of "Controladora Axtel" were distributed to ALFA shareholders and began trading on the Mexican Stock Exchange on May 29, 2023. In accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Axtel meets the definition of a "Discontinued Operation" for purposes of ALFA's Consolidated Financial Statements. "Discontinued Operations" are the net results of an entity that is either being held for disposal or which has already been disposed of. The changes in ALFA's Consolidated Financial Statements are as follows: The Consolidated Statement of Financial Position presents Axtel's assets as "Current assets from discontinued operations" and its liabilities as "Current liabilities from discontinued operations" at the close of 1Q23 and 2Q22. At the close of 2Q23, all items are eliminated. Prior periods are not restated. The Consolidated Statement of Income presents Axtel's net revenues and expenses as a single line item "Profit (loss) from discontinued operations" as follows: 2Q22: accumulated figures for the three months ended June 30, 2022 1Q23: accumulated figures for the three months ended March 31, 2023 2Q23: accumulated figures for the one month and 29 days ended May 29, 2023 2022: accumulated figures for the six months ended June 30, 2022 2023: accumulated figures for the four months and 29 days ended May 29, 2023 The Change in Net Debt presents Axtel's net inflows and outflows as a single line item "Decrease (Increase) in Net Debt from discontinued operations" as follows: 2Q22: accumulated figures for the six months ended June 30, 2022 1Q23: no figures presented related to Axtel 2Q23: no figures presented related to Axtel The Change in Net Debt also presents Axtel's Net Debt balance as "Net Debt from discontinued operations" at the close of 3Q22. Prior periods are not restated and subsequent periods (2Q23, 1Q23 and 4Q22) do not present figures related to Axtel. SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (US $ MILLION) 2Q23 1Q23 2Q22 Ch.% vs. 1Q23 Ch.% vs. 2Q22 2023 2022 Ch. % ALFA & Subs with Axtel as Discontinued Operations ALFA Revenues 4,221 4,085 4,709 3 (10) 8,306 8,778 (5) Alpek 2,050 2,062 2,815 (1) (27) 4,112 5,147 (20) Sigma 2,143 1,991 1,870 8 15 4,134 3,582 15 ALFA EBITDA1 360 376 672 (4) (46) 736 1,282 (43) Alpek 148 187 507 (21) (71) 335 964 (65) Sigma 217 192 172 13 26 409 333 23 ALFA Comparable EBITDA2 425 396 534 7 (20) 821 1,020 (20) Alpek 201 207 369 (3) (46) 408 702 (42) Sigma 229 192 172 19 33 421 333 26 Majority Net Income3 9 (14) 243 161 (96) (6) 453 (101) CAPEX & Acquisitions4 196 86 572 129 (66) 282 648 (57) ALFA Net Debt5 4,994 5,049 5,406 (1) (8) 4,994 5,406 (8) Alpek 1,879 2,082 1,776 (10) 6 1,879 1,776 6 Sigma 2,012 1,840 1,772 9 14 2,012 1,772 14 ALFA Net Debt/EBITDA6 3.3 2.7 2.2 ALFA Interest Coverage7 4.1 5.3 7.6 Axtel (as Discontinued Operations)8 Revenues 95 145 125 (34) (24) 240 248 (3) EBITDA 25 28 34 (11) (26) 53 68 (22) CAPEX & Acquisitions 0 0 0 - - 0 0 - Net Debt 0 0 0 - - 0 0 - 1 EBITDA= Operating Income + depreciation and amortization + impairment of assets 2 Comparable EBITDA = Operating Income + depreciation and amortization + impairment of assets + extraordinary items 3 Majority Net Income includes Majority Net Income from Discontinued Operations (Axtel) 4 Figure includes divestments 5 Net Debt adjusted for Discontinued Operations (Axtel) at the close of 3Q22; previous periods unchanged 6 Times. LTM= Last 12 months. Ratio calculated with Discontinued Operations for all periods 7 Times. LTM= Last 12 months. Interest Coverage= EBITDA/Net Financial Expenses with Discontinued Operations for all periods 8 Please refer to Axtel's 2Q23 Earnings Report for the analysis of full quarterly and accumulated operating figures. See "Appendix - 2Q23 Reports of Listed Businesses" (pg. 40) 2Q23 EARNINGS CALL INFORMATION Date: Thursday, July 27, 2023 Time: 2:00 p.m. EDT (NY) / 12:00 p.m. CST (CDMX) Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_59gRylRJRp-Jg_OM90B55w Replay: https://www.alfa.com.mx/en/events/ About ALFA ALFA is comprised mainly of two leading businesses with global operations: Sigma, a leading multinational food company, focused on the production, marketing and distribution of quality foods through recognized brands in Mexico, Europe, United States and Latin America. Alpek, one of the world's leading producers of polyester (PTA, PET, rPET and fibers), and the leader in the Mexican market for polypropylene (PP) and expandable polystyrene (EPS). In 2022, ALFA reported revenues of Ps. 363,864 million (US $18.1 billion), and EBITDA of Ps. 42,020 million (US $2.1 billion). ALFA's shares are quoted on the Mexican Stock Exchange and on Latibex, the market for Latin American shares of the Madrid Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.alfa.com.mx Disclaimer This release may contain forward-looking information based on numerous variables and assumptions that are inherently uncertain. They involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic, competitive and financial market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately. Accordingly, future results could vary from those set forth in this release. The report presents unaudited financial information. Figures are presented in Mexican Pesos or US dollars, as indicated. Where applicable, Peso amounts were translated into US dollars using the average exchange rate of the months during which the operations were recorded. Financial ratios are calculated in US dollars. Due to the rounding up of figures, small differences may occur when calculating percent changes from one period to the other. SOURCE ALFA, S.A.B. de C.V. WASHINGTON, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the nation's leading suicide prevention organization commends the Biden-Harris administration and the U.S. Department of Labor for proposing new rules to strengthen mental health parity enforcement. Health plans are required by law to cover mental health and substance use at parity with coverage for physical health to ensure that services are available to all who need them. However, many health plans remain in violation of the law a problem the proposed rules seek to address. "Mental health parity laws have been shown to reduce suicide rates by as much as five percent," said AFSP CEO Robert Gebbia. "These proposed rules will help advance the nationwide effort to prevent suicide, and we urge their swift dissemination and adoption." By strengthening enforcement powers, these proposed rules will help realize the vision of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention shares the bold vision laid out by this law, to advance health equity, prevent suicide, and expand healthcare accessibility. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss . AFSP creates a culture that's smart about mental health through public education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, with a public policy office in Washington, DC, AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states including Puerto Rico, with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report , and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube . SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention The Dutch Omega-3 Supplement Manufacturer Goes North of the "Plastic Soup" Seas to Source Top-Shelf Fish Oil For Its Products FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2015, Ludo van de Wiel found himself looking for ways to keep his family healthy and strong. The father of three was a fish oil expert by trade and knew that one area he wanted to address was a steady supply of Omega-3 fatty acids something that has been scientifically proven to be essential at any age and stage of life. The issue was finding a supplement that didn't come with that fishy, off-putting smell (something that indicates low quality as well as unpalatability). On a work trip to Norway, the Dutch entrepreneur unexpectedly found the solution to his troubles swimming all the way up in the icy depths of the Barents Sea: Norwegian cod. Van de Wiel found that fish oil processed right on fishing boats out in the waters of Northern Norway were high quality, sustainable, and high in nutritional value. Even better, they tasted amazing. "Fish oil freshly processed from arctic waters is different," explains the founder, "This is some of the cleanest water in the world, far away from the plastic soup in the Pacific Ocean between Asia and South America. The oil from its fish is clean, pure, and has a softer taste that doesn't come across as fishy." Van de Wiel looked into what it would take to source this exceptional form of omega-3 fatty acids. Before long, Arctic Blue was born. Before long, Van de Wiel's new health and wellness company began sourcing fish oil from the Arctic waters of Alaska, as well. Regardless of whether the oil came from Europe or the Americas, Van de Wiel and his team took great care to ensure that each supplier was MSC-certified. This is a prestigious certification that implies a high degree of quality and sustainable business practices that safeguard global seafood supplies. Van de Wiel is careful to clarify that there are several other eco-labels in the industry that claim sustainability. Friends of the Sea (FOS) is one of these. However, MSC's rigorous standards make it a superior label. Along with this higher bar, Van de Wiel adds that the company's fish oil is sustainably processed by using byproducts. "Our fish oil is made from the fillet trim of fresh Arctic wild cod," he explains, "This means we're helping to use up the leftovers of fish that were already caught and processed for fillets." From clean water and a soft taste to sustainable processing and impeccable standards, Arctic Blue is rewriting the playbook when it comes to high-quality omega-3 fatty acid supplements. The company even has an alternative range of algae-based vegan oil and vitamin D and fish collagen products (also with MSC-certification). Arctic Blue is an effective, eco-friendly source of nutrients in a world that is coming to have a greater appreciation for and commitment to sustainability and health every day. About Arctic Blue Arctic Blue is a Dutch brand that was created in 2015 by Ludo van de Wiel and operates out of Utrecht in the Netherlands. The founder and CEO is a fish oil expert with a master's degree in biotechnology from the renowned Dutch Wageningen University (an elite institution that focuses on health, nutrition, and agricultural studies). As a father of three, Van de Wiel wished to find a clean fish oil that could nourish his family without everyone struggling to swallow it in the first place. Arctic Blue is the realization of that wish. The brand's fish oils have an agreeable flavor profile and are sourced from the Arctic (Norway and Alaska) along with algae-based vegan alternatives, marine collagen, and other related products. Learn more at arctic-blue.com . TruLife Distribution (954) 414-0380 [email protected] SOURCE Arctic Blue The Dutch Health and Wellness Brand's Wide Selection of Omega-3 Fish Oils Has a "Soft Taste" and Is Exceptionally Palatable FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the most widely recognized health supplements on the market. Cleveland Clinic reports that these "healthy fats" may lower heart-health risks, such as cardiovascular disease and blood clots. Harvard Health adds that Omega-3 fats also lower blood pressure and heart rate and improve blood vessel function. Mayo Clinic connects the potential benefits of Omega-3 fats to reducing high triglyceride and cholesterol levels and even helping manage rheumatoid arthritis. While the benefits are obvious, there's one common challenge with taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements on a daily basis: the taste. "Many people are aware of the importance of oily fish and therefore take an Omega-3 supplement," explains Ludo van de Wiel, founder and CEO of the Dutch fish oil brand Arctic Blue. "The issue is the taste. Omega-3s come from fish in most cases, and people take for granted the common aftertaste or fishy smell that arises after ingestion. The burps are the worst part." Van de Wiel goes on to explain that while this is assumed to be part of the Omega-3 supplement experience, it actually isn't natural. "The unpleasant taste and fishy burps that follow aren't normal. They indicate that the sensitive unsaturated Omega-3 fats have become damaged and have oxidized, resulting in a taste deviation." Van de Wiel adds that when this happens, the supplements are less effective, which makes it a quality concern, too. In response to this issue, Van de Wiel's team at Arctic Blue has created a line of fish oil supplements that deliver top-quality nutrients while skipping the unpleasant taste and indigestion. All of the brand's products are MSC ( Marine Stewardship Council ) certified, and much of the oil comes from Norway, where it is harvested from cod trimmings and processed right at sea. "There is no other place in the world where they do this offshore, on the boat," Van de Wiel declares. "This creates a fresh oil with what we call a 'soft taste.' It doesn't need a lot of artificial flavoring or fake ingredients to make it palatable. All we add is a very slight orange flavor. A lot of people say it's the best-tasting oil that they've ever had." Omega-3 may be a popular supplement. But the flavor profile of most brands makes it a challenging one to take every day. Arctic Blue is changing that by creating top-shelf fish oil supplements that are as kind on the palette as they are good for the body. About Arctic Blue Arctic Blue is a Dutch brand that was created in 2015 by Ludo van de Wiel and operates out of Utrecht in the Netherlands. The founder and CEO is a fish oil expert with a master's degree in biotechnology from the renowned Dutch Wageningen University (an elite institution that focuses on health, nutrition, and agricultural studies). As a father of three, Van de Wiel wished to find a clean fish oil that could nourish his family without everyone struggling to swallow it in the first place. Arctic Blue is the realization of that wish. The brand's fish oils have an agreeable flavor profile and are sourced from the Arctic (Norway and Alaska) along with algae-based vegan alternatives, marine collagen, and other related products. Learn more at arctic-blue.com . Media Contact: TruLife Distribution [email protected] (954) 414-0380 SOURCE Arctic Blue All Respondents Negatively Impacted by Voice Threats, but Most Tech and Security Professionals Unsure How to Protect Voice Network Against Cybercriminals CHICAGO, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mutare Inc. , the Chicago-based market leader in voice threat defense, today released the 2023 Voice Network Threat Survey, which found that much uncertainty remains across industries over how to protect against voice network attacks. With responses from cybersecurity and information technology professionals 40% of whom are in leadership roles at RSAC, Cisco Live and Customer Contact Week (CCW), Mutare found that 24% of respondents no longer answer their business phone as the amount of unwanted calls has skyrocketed in recent years. What's worse, 100% of respondents said they have been negatively impacted by voice threats, an eye-opening statistic emphasizing the severity of this problem, which comes in the form of robocalls, spoof calls, scam calls, spam calls, spam storms, vishing (voice phishing), smishing (SMS, or text, phishing) and social engineering. The second annual Voice Network Threat Survey sought to gain greater insight into how nuisance and nefarious calls are impacting businesses across industries, as well as what steps businesses are taking to safeguard themselves against outside threats. It found people are actively changing how they interact with the voice channel. In addition to the 24% of people who don't answer their business phone, another 46% said they were cautious with unknown callers. About half of the respondents have turned to training to solve the problem, but training alone is inadequate to address this growing and evolving threat. Mutare's Index of Unwanted Traffic shows year-over-year growth in the share of unwanted calls received by businesses, with this year's survey finding that an average of 10% of calls across industries are unwanted. Tellingly, 28% of respondents have no idea what percentage of their voice traffic is unwanted, and 31% believe it is greater than 1 in 10 showing that even though people recognize the problem, they don't know how to measure it. Nearly 1 in 5 respondents (19%) confirmed their organization experienced a voice-based attack in the last 12 months, while 49% said theirs had not. However, a whopping 37% did not know if their organization faced an attack which could indicate that companies are reluctant to disclose security incidents, even to their own employees. Respondents came from a variety of industries, with most (39%) in the technology and innovation industry, followed by government, financial services, healthcare, education, utilities and energy, manufacturing, retail, and legal. An overwhelming majority of the respondents 85% agree it is time to elevate voice as a threat vector, but the survey found limited use of proactive, technical solutions (which are readily available) to keep the problem at bay. For more information, visit: https://www.mutare.com/executive-report-voice-network-threat-survey-2023/ About Mutare For three decades, Mutare has been empowering organizations to re-imagine a better way to connect. Today, through our transformative voice security, digital voice and text messaging solutions, we make communications with colleagues, customers and prospects simple, secure and effective. And that means more time and less stress for your employees, a more positive experience for your customers, and improved bottom line results for your organization. Our forward-looking leadership team is made up of dedicated, focused and experienced people who care about transforming business communications and improving the lives of others. Ultimately, we are dedicated to make a difference for all our stakeholders team members, customers, partners and communities. We are changemakers who are committed to becoming the recognized leader in voice threat defense for the enterprise. Media Contact: Jaymie Scotto & Associates (JSA) [email protected] 1-866-695-3629 SOURCE Mutare, Inc. Award recognizes attorneys whose case had a major social impact HOUSTON, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys Kyle Farrar, Wesley Ball, Mark Bankston and Bill Ogden from Farrar & Ball, LLP, have been named Public Justice 2023 Trial Lawyer of the Year for their $49.3 million verdict against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. The firm represented the parents of second-graders Jesse Lewis and Noah Pozner, who were murdered during the 2012 mass shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The case Neil Heslin & Scarlet Lewis v. Alex Jones, et al. was the first of its kind against Mr. Jones and his company InfoWars. Though the families brought the case in 2018, Mr. Jones repeatedly delayed the proceedings and refused to comply with the rules of the court, which later awarded more than $1 million in sanctions against him. The verdict marked the first time Mr. Jones was held financially liable for his false statements about the shooting. "Truth matters Alex Jones' lies gave rise to violence against parents who had already lost so much," Mr. Farrar said. "To be able to bring justice to these parents while holding Mr. Jones' lies to the light is why I do this." Public Justice is a non-profit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and environmental cases. Each year, it awards its Trial Lawyer of the Year honor to an attorney or a group of attorneys who have made the greatest contribution to the public interest within the past year by setting precedent in a socially significant case. Read more about the group's honor for Farrar & Ball here. "The award is an honor, but even more fulfilling was the chance to help these families," Mr. Ball said. "When the jury came back with the punitive damages, it was not only an affirmation of the work we did, but a recognition of the cruelty of Mr. Jones' lies." Attorneys at Farrar & Ball, LLP, are trial lawyers who reject antiquated methods by forging novel and winning strategies from the beginning of each case. To learn more about the firm, please visit https: fbtrial.com/ Media Contact: BeLynn Hollers 800.559.4534 [email protected] SOURCE Farrar & Ball Club members attending the event on August 3 will be introduced to a wide variety of career opportunities with leading home service franchisors COLUMBIA, Md., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Authority Brands, a leading home services company, announced today it has partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington to host an entrepreneurship day for Club members on Thursday, August 3. During this action-packed day, Club members will visit Woofie's of Ashburn-Lansdowne and DoodyCalls of Northern Virginia to learn the ins and outs of the two home service brands, as well as the rewarding career paths available to young people across the franchise industry. Bringing awareness to the Workforce Readiness Program available to Club members nationwide, Authority Brands is rolling out the red carpet with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington to provide teens in the community the opportunity to explore different interests and passions. During the event, Club members will meet with local franchise owners of Woofie's, a professional pet care company, and DoodyCalls, a pet waste removal company, during a lunch and learn to hear about their own experiences as business owners and best career advice. "We're excited to welcome the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and its members to our Woofie's and DoodyCalls facilities. Through this partnership, our goal is to interact with teens in ways that are meaningful and will help them prepare for life and work experiences," said Heather McLeod, Chief Growth Officer of Authority Brands. "As we take Club members through these two franchises, they'll see firsthand what it's like to run the day-to-day operations of a business and how we can help young people like them develop the skills needed to succeed in their careers. It's a rewarding opportunity we're looking forward to and hope this is the first of many more events we host with the Club." "On an ongoing basis we are looking to connect with businesses in our communities that can support our efforts in ensuring boys and girls of all backgrounds have the same opportunities to succeed. Authority Brands, Woofie's and DoodyCalls are the perfect partners to help us achieve this and so much more. We have no doubt this partnership will make a big difference in the lives of these teens," said LeVar A. Jones, director of TEEN Programming & Advocacy at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. Earlier this year, Authority Brands announced its national partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to address the uncertain future and competitive job market many young people face across the country. This, in addition to other initiatives like one scheduled in early August with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan and America's Swimming Pool Company, is a part of Authority Brands greater efforts to give back to the communities they serve nationwide. To learn more about the event or Authority Brands' partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, visit www.authoritybrands.com or www.bgcgw.org. About Authority Brands Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Authority Brands' companies include 15 leading home service franchise brands: America's Swimming Pool Company, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, The Cleaning Authority, Color World Painting, DoodyCalls, DRYmedic Restoration Services, Homewatch CareGivers, The Junkluggers, Mister Sparky, Monster Tree Service, Mosquito Squad, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Screenmobile, STOP Restoration, and Woofie's. Together, these brands provide home services through more than 2,000 territories operated by more than 1,000 franchise owners. Authority Brands is dedicated to supporting individual franchise owner growth by providing strong marketing, technology, and operational support. See www.authoritybrands.com for more information. About DoodyCalls DoodyCalls was founded in 2000 by Jacob and Susan D'Aniello in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. In 2004, the company began franchising its pet waste removal business nationwide and established corporate headquarters in Charlottesville, VA. DoodyCalls provides service to 23 states and the District of Columbia with dog waste pickup with consumer and industrial services. For more information about DoodyCalls, visit www.doodycalls.com. About Woofie's Founded in 2004 and franchising since 2018, Woofie's is the first and only franchise in the professional pet care services industry to offer the combined services of pet sitting, dog walking and mobile pet spa services. They are further set apart by their completely customizable services and their focus on customer service. Today, there are sixteen locations open and operating across the U.S. For more information, visit www.woofies.com. About Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW) was founded in 1886 and is one of the largest affiliates of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. BGCGW is a leader in youth development, serving children and teens annually across Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia. Today's BGCGW evolved through sponsorships from the Rotary Club of Washington before the organization merged with the Metropolitan Police Boys & Girls Clubs in 2003. BGCGW provides low to no-cost afterschool and summer camp programs. These programs fill vital gaps in academic and arts enrichment, character development and healthy living. BGCGW helps boys and girls of all backgrounds and creates a positive environment where children are encouraged to set their ambitions and develop the steps for turning them into reality. With 98% of high school senior Club Kids graduating and 95% of seniors pursuing four-year college or community college degrees, BGCGW is frequently the catalyst between other community organizations, schools, parents and local government. BGCGW is committed to continuous improvement of the "Optimum Club Experience;" consistently analyzing areas for growth and improvement to ensure high-yielding impacts in the lives of our country's youth. For more information visit our website at BGCGW.org. CONTACT: Nadia Caron Fish Consulting (954) 8939150 ncaron@fish-consulting.com SOURCE Authority Brands, LLC BEIJING, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) ("Autohome" or the "Company"), the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China, today announced that each of Mr. Zheng Liu and Mr. Jun Lu has resigned from their positions as the Company's directors due to other personal commitments, effective immediately. The Company further announces that Ms. Keke Ding has been appointed as a director and a member of the Compensation Committee of the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") and that Dr. Fan Lu has been appointed as a director of the Board, effective immediately. Ms. Keke Ding has over 26 years of experience in property insurance industry and business management. Ms. Ding currently serves as the assistant general manager at Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance"), a subsidiary of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An Group"). Ms. Ding has held multiple management roles relating to insurance and business management within Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance and its several provincial-level branches since May 1997, including managing distribution channels, retail customer marketing, and digital customer platforms. Ms. Ding received her bachelor's degree in insurance from Dongbei University of Finance and Economics in July 1997. Dr. Fan Lu has over 17 years of institutional investment management experience, spanning the areas of global macro hedge fund, quantitative investment, A-share market fundamental research, asset allocation and insurance asset-liability management. Dr. Lu currently serves as the general manager of asset management department at Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance, fully responsible for the company's asset-liability management and investment-related activities. Dr. Lu has held a series of management roles relating to investment management within Ping An Group and its affiliates since September 2011. Prior to that, Dr. Lu held various positions of investment management at companies including AlphaSimplex, a hedge fund company in Boston, United States, and Haitong Securities Co., Ltd. (SHA: 600837; HKEX: 6837), a top securities firm in China. Dr. Lu received his PhD degree in statistics and a master's degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in June 2006 and June 2005, respectively, and received his bachelor's degree in biophysics from Nanjing University in June 1999. Mr. Quan Long, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Autohome, stated, "We are delighted to welcome Ms. Keke Ding and Dr. Fan Lu to our Board, both of their wealth of knowledge and expertise will be a great asset to our future growth, helping the Company in its ongoing commitment to enhancing ESG governance through Board oversight. Ms. Ding's joining as a female director represents an important step forward for Autohome's greater Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, gender diversity and workplace inclusiveness. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to both Mr. Zheng Liu and Mr. Jun Lu for their valuable contributions to the Company during the tenure." About Autohome Inc. Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) is the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China. Its mission is to relentlessly reduce auto industry decision-making and transaction costs driven by advanced technology. Autohome provides occupationally generated content, professionally generated content, user-generated content, and AI-generated content, a comprehensive automobile library, and extensive automobile listing information to automobile consumers, covering the entire car purchase and ownership cycle. The ability to reach a large and engaged user base of automobile consumers has made Autohome a preferred platform for automakers and dealers to conduct their advertising campaigns. Further, the Company's dealer subscription and advertising services allow dealers to market their inventory and services through Autohome's platform, extending the reach of their physical showrooms to potentially millions of internet users in China and generating sales leads for them. The Company offers sales leads, data analysis, and marketing services to assist automakers and dealers with improving their efficiency and facilitating transactions. Autohome operates its "Autohome Mall," a full-service online transaction platform, to facilitate transactions for automakers and dealers. Further, through its websites and mobile applications, it also provides other value-added services, including auto financing, auto insurance, used car transactions, and aftermarket services. For further information, please visit https://www.autohome.com.cn. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Autohome's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Autohome's filings with the SEC and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Autohome does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: In China: Autohome Inc. Investor Relations Sterling Song Investor Relations Director Tel: +86-10-5985-7483 E-mail: [email protected] The Piacente Group, Inc. Jenny Cai Tel: +86-10-6508-0677 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE Autohome Inc. AveriSource Scan Represents the Company's Strategic Shift to Automating Application Modernization DALLAS, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AveriSource, the leading global software provider of data-driven, AI-powered application modernization, announced today that it has completed a major rebranding and launch of its new digital presence. The refreshed identity is part of the company's growth strategy coinciding with the release of AveriSource Scan, its free risk assessment product available for download both on the website and the AWS Marketplace. The rebranding reflects a shift in market positioning and company vision from tech-enabled services to a pure-play software offering in the mainframe and legacy application modernization space. The updated website includes a refreshed visual brand identity, including the AveriSource logo, as well as the launch of five updated software packages: Scan, Inventory, Discover, Analyze and Transform. "The AveriSource Platform accomplishes in hours and weeks what used to take months or even years to modernize manually." Tweet this "Our mission is to offer a game-changing solution that empowers organizations to modernize applications with ease, confidence and efficiency," said David Gutzman, CEO and Managing Partner of AveriSource. "This new brand and direction represent the first step in the recharting of our overall product roadmap to focus on offering a highly automated platform and approach to application modernization. These product investments will be critical to our continued growth, as well as the expansion of our partner ecosystem," said Gutzman. In addition to leading the rebranding and website launch, Raleigh, N.C.-based product design agency Dreamten is also spearheading AveriSource's strategic UI/UX buildout set for release in Q4 of 2023. "Not only can users download AveriSource Scan directly from our new website, but we are also enhancing the AveriSource Platform user experience to streamline analysis and reporting, accelerate application modernization roadmapping and utilize the power of AI to modernize legacy code," said Gutzman. "Drawing on more than 25 years of success and over 1.6 billion lines of code analyzed, the AveriSource Platform accomplishes in hours and weeks what used to take months or even years to modernize manually." Visit www.averisource.com to explore the new website and download AveriSource Scan to receive a complimentary risk assessment. About AveriSource Originally built as a technology-enabled services firm for the Y2K changeover, AveriSource is the leading global software provider of data-driven, AI-powered application modernization. Our mission is to eliminate the time, risk and cost constraints of modernizationall within a single platform. The AveriSource Platform is comprised of five powerful, modular packages, including Scan (available for free), Inventory, Discover, Analyze and Transform. Utilized by Fortune 500 companies around the globe, the AveriSource Platform has analyzed billions of lines of code over 25 years and is recognized as an AWS Migration and Modernization Services ISV Partner. To learn more, visit www.averisource.com. SOURCE AveriSource A Powerful Acknowledgment in Analyst's Financial Crime Compliance Technology: AML Transaction Monitoring Edition 2023 SINGAPORE, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Azentio Software ("Azentio"), a Singapore-headquartered technology firm owned by funds advised by Apax Partners , has been featured in Celent's recently published Technical Capabilities Matrix, a part of the report, Financial Crime Compliance Technology: AML Transaction Monitoring Edition 2023. Azentio's AML Transaction Monitoring has been identified under the 'Noteworthy Solution' category in the report published by Celent, the leading research and advisory firm focused on technology for financial institutions. The report analyzes the capabilities of AML transaction monitoring systems of software providers worldwide, to support the evolving technology requirements of financial institutions. It aims at helping them and other regulated companies better understand the vendor landscape and compare providers' solutions, and is based on Celent's ABC methodology to position systems across three dimensions, namely, Advanced Technology, Breadth of Functionality, and Customer Base & Support. The 'Noteworthy Solution' recognition by Celent came on account of the capabilities and effectiveness of the Azentio ONEBanking Risk & Analytics platform, which is used by over 100 financial institutions across the globe. Based on a microservices architecture, the domain-agnostic platform uses advanced analytical and investigative tools that transform routine data into actionable intelligence to detect and counter potential fraudulent activities. It leverages machine learning-based predictive analytics to help easily identify suspicious activities at both the transaction and customer levels. It enhances the transaction monitoring processes with its profile deviations and pre-defined rules to identify suspicious transactions; graphical link analysis module to identify both static and transactional links between entities; and a remittance module to monitor online payment transactions. Complimenting Azentio on the recognition, Neil Katkov, PhD, Director Risk at Celent, and also one of the authors of the report, said, "Azentio's AML Transaction Monitoring solution offers price performance, machine learning-enabled detection, a large rules library, network analysis, and regulatory reporting capabilities across many jurisdictions. Azentio's implementation and support capabilities in particular are rated highly by Azentio's clients." L Guru Raghavendran, Senior Vice President, Banking & Capital Markets at Azentio Software, stated, "Today's complex transaction monitoring requirements call for robust and exceptionally agile technology platforms that are critical in helping financial institutions analyse large volumes of data to identify fraudulent activity patterns well in advance. Azentio has been investing significantly into its financial crime management solution to ensure features such as business intelligence and machine learning benefit our clients, while also driving customer satisfaction and business growth for them. In this context, it is an honour to recognise the strength of our AML solution in Celent's comprehensively researched and acclaimed transaction monitoring technology report." The report, authored by Neil Katkov and Ian Watson, features profiles of 17 incumbent and new entrant providers of behavior detection solutions, and includes Celent's analysis of the software products, key features and analytics, selling and servicing details. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1978771/Azentio_Logo.jpg SOURCE Azentio Software Pvt Ltd NEWPORT NEWS, Va., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The BayPort Foundation has donated $25,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula (BGCVP) in support of their ongoing Summer Enrichment Campaign. The campaign, which runs through August 25, aims to provide a summer full of opportunities to at least 300 local youth. Funds raised will go toward more enriching summer programs through field trips, career exploration, arts, STEM, sports, and more. Most importantly, the funds will ensure that no child misses out on the chance to attend a Club for the summer. BayPort President/CEO Jim Mears presents a check of $25,000 to BGCVP President/CEO Hal Smith and Club members for Summer Programming. "BayPort has been a great partner to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula for years. Through anything from backpack donations for the school year, to monetary support, to Jim [Mears] serving as a dedicated member on our Board- they never hesitate to do whatever it takes to provide opportunity to our kids. This gift of $25,000 toward our Summer Enrichment Campaign is another example of their tremendous generosity and belief in our mission and community. This gift will provide opportunities for at least 50 local children," said BGCVP President & CEO Hal Smith. As the philanthropic arm of BayPort Credit Union, the Foundation is an extension of the credit union's charitable giving. BayPort Credit Union commits more than half a million dollars in annual corporate donations. In addition, it pays all of the Foundation's overhead to ensure 100 percent of the Foundation's donations support its mission. To learn more about the BayPort Foundation, visit bayportfoundation.org. In addition to the BayPort Foundation donation, BayPort Credit Union supports the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula annually. BayPort has partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs for over a decade, supporting their annual fundraising through corporate giving and staff volunteerism. More recently, in 2022, BayPort donated 500 backpacks to students enrolled in their after-school programs. To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula's Summer Enrichment Campaign, visit bagclub.com. About BayPort In 1928, 12 shipyard workers from Newport News Shipbuilding formed an organization with a specific purpose as a low-interest source of loans and a trusted place to deposit money. Today, BayPort Credit Union is rated a Superior 5-Star credit union by Bauer Financial, managing $2.2 billion in assets and servicing nearly 148,000 individuals and businesses with 27 branch locations across the Virginia Peninsula and Southside communities. Visit us at www.bayportcu.org. About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula serves more than 5,000 youth on the Virginia Peninsula and surrounding communities. We provide boys and girls with an inclusive and safe place to learn and grow, foster ongoing relationships with caring adult professionals, and offer life-enhancing programs and character development experiences. We prepare them for their futures with career goals, and we give them hope and opportunity in their present lives. Our locations across the Peninsula in Newport News, Hampton, York, Gloucester, James City, and Mathews give youth in multiple communities access to a Club. To learn more, please visit bagclub.com. SOURCE BayPort Credit Union LONDON, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BE OPEN Art, an online art gallery set up by BE OPEN think tank, a humanitarian initiative founded by international businessperson and philanthropist Elena Baturina, is running a new competition for emerging artists, aimed to support those whose art best represents their regional, cultural and ethnic identities BE OPEN Regional Art. With the beginning of year 2023, BE OPEN expert community team started selecting those of the artists who best represent the artistic tradition of a certain region to feature in the BE OPEN Art gallery and offer them greater visibility. The third stage of the programme covers the countries of Southeast Asia over July September 2023: Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Each regional stage lasts three months, therefore four stages are run a year, with a winner named for each of them. Works by 20 emerging artists are posted at the online gallery every month, and a public vote selects the Regional Artist of the Month. At the end of each stage, one of the monthly winners becomes the Artist of the Region, based on the amount of votes by the public and the BE OPEN art community members. The regional winners get the money prize of EUR500, while a selection of artwork best representing the region form an exhibition, in order to share the art with the wide public and celebrate the artists involved. The first stage of BE OPEN Regional Art was dedicated to the art of the Eastern Mediterranean. A selection of works formed an exhibition that was held in June 2023 in Nicosia, Cyprus. The second stage just ended for the artists of the Caribbean, and the winners will be announced shortly. The focus of the competition will move to Central Africa at the end of the year. The regional competition runs alongside the regular ongoing work of BE OPEN Art, whose experts every month select 20 new artists for the gallery, using online voting to name the Artist of the Month and the Artist of the Year. SOURCE BE OPEN Foundation The Brand's Pure, Delectable Manuka Honey Is Harvested with Hope and Crafted with Care FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bees are an integral part of life on Earth. That makes harvesting their honey a task that must be executed with the greatest care and concern. It requires a company with a big-picture mindset that looks past a jar, batch, or single harvest and considers the larger, ongoing annual cycle of honey production. These are essential ethical standards embodied by one top-shelf honey producer, in particular: BeeNZ. The New Zealand honey farm is a family-owned and operated business based out of the small rural town of Katikati. The hamlet of 7,000 souls lies ensconced in the aptly-named Bay of Plenty in the Land of the Long White Cloud. There, BeeNZ spends two precious weeks a year harvesting (and many more months processing, packaging, and distributing) a unique form of exceptional bee product called Manuka honey. "Manuka honey is precious," declares BeeNZ co-founder Julie Hayes, "It comes from bees who collect nectar from the Manuka plant flower." The Manuka plant is also referred to as New Zealand's teatree a botanical wonder renowned for its natural medicinal benefits. "Manuka flowers are only open for two weeks each year," Hayes explains, "This means the window for harvesting Manuka honey is very limited and weather dependent." Despite the challenges, Hayes and her team at BeeNZ have spent years learning the nuances of the Manuka honey harvest. During that time, they've gone above and beyond to ensure that their activity leads to the cleanest Manuka honey on the global market while also leaving the bee's natural habitat as undisturbed as possible. Once harvested, the Manuka honey is processed using complete integrity and extreme care before being packaged in recycled rPET packaging. To top it off, BeeNZ is UMF certified (an elite certification reserved for pure Manuka honey production). It is also B Corp-certified and Toitu Enviromark Gold Certified . These represent global and local nods, respectively, to the company's proven commitment to environmental wellness. "It is an honor to shepherd this extraordinary natural substance on its journey from the hive to your home," says Hayes, "Every ounce of honey that we produce is crafted with care and harvested with hope for the future. Our respect for high standards and values has fostered a sense of trust in our community, and we look forward to continuing to build that community as we bring our honey to more American households in the future." About BeeNZ BeeNZ was founded in 2016 by David and Julie Hayes and remains a family-owned and operated company much like a hive. The honey brand is headquartered in Katikati, New Zealand, where they harvest their country's unique Manuka and Kanuka honey. The company is UMF (unique Manuka Factor) certified as well as B Corp-certified. It also maintains several core standards, including community, sustainability, ethics, and trust. BeeNZ is respectful of the earth, the bees, its staff, and its customers. It follows nature's lead, creating each of its products with care, by one family, for another. Learn more at https://www.beenz.co.nz/us Jenny Steward International Sales Manager Mob: +64 27 510 8005 Phone: +64 7 549 4178| www.beenz.co.nz SOURCE BeeNZ New scalable digital infrastructure to make health information actionable OAKLAND, Calif., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Shield of California and Microsoft are collaborating to enhance members' ability to engage in their health care by building an ecosystem in the cloud that securely integrates relevant, authorized information from disparate sources of data. Blue Shield is leveraging Microsoft's scalable technology and processing power to derive insights faster to improve members' access to affordable care in partnership with providers. "Our goal is to create high-tech, high-touch experiences for our members that are holistic and personalized by removing longstanding silos and bringing together data in the cloud," said Lisa Davis, executive vice president and chief information officer at Blue Shield of California. "Microsoft's cloud technology can help Blue Shield better coordinate with providers to open up greater access to care and services for our members. When data is available in near real-time, it enables shared decision-making among members and providers to improve health outcomes and reduce the cost of care." The Experience Cube a new integrated data hub Blue Shield and Microsoft are building a new integrated data hub, Blue Shield's Experience Cube, which runs on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. Using Azure's analytics and storage capabilities, the Experience Cube brings together authorized member, provider and payer data in a consolidated, near real-time view. This will provide the nonprofit health plan with greater insights into health data to be able to create more personalized services to improve members' access to quality care. Connected workflows and near real-time clinical data exchange will also help Blue Shield close care gaps for its members in partnership with providers. The first use case for the Experience Cube will bring together disparate, authorized sources of information to create an integrated digital health record, which encompasses a member's health conditions, lab results, medications, emergency room visits, utilization, plan coverage, and other critical elements of their health journey. The information brought together by the Experience Cube will facilitate more data-driven care coordination to recommend actions that help members through transitions of care or prompt Blue Shield care managers to create programs that connect members to resources that address social determinants of health. Speed and scale in the cloud Blue Shield and Microsoft are also addressing large computational challenges to process and analyze massive amounts of data to respond faster to new business and industry needs. Blue Shield has moved a large, automated software solution into Azure, allowing the health plan to process billions of transactions in a few short weeks compared to the months it would have otherwise taken using legacy computing capabilities. Leveraging expertise from Blue Shield and Microsoft, the nonprofit health plan has experienced significant improvements in delivering value to members. The deployment of a new instance of a core health care system into the cloud was accelerated by nine months. In another example, complex transaction processing was improved to 90 minutes from what previously took more than 70 hours. This work has been a key part of Blue Shield's overall cloud transformation journey ensuring seamless access to critical services, facilitating faster data analysis and decision-making, and fostering trust among members, providers and Blue Shield. These advancements will also enable Blue Shield to make affordable and timely care more accessible. "We were excited to collaborate with Blue Shield of California because of their innovative Health Reimagined vision and commitment to the health of their communities," said Tyler Bryson, corporate vice president, US Health & Public Sector Industries at Microsoft. "We are proud to serve as Blue Shield of California's digital backbone and empower them to deliver exceptional member experiences, modernize operations, and foster more collaboration with providers to help members achieve their best possible health outcomes." Blue Shield's multi-year cloud development plans with Microsoft include expanding the scope of the Experience Cube to incorporate additional clinical, care and case management, and cost of health care data, which will build a more complete picture of a member and their care needs. The two companies are also exploring new applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to derive insights for action, strengthen operations and break down data silos in health care by continuing to securely bring together health information. About Blue Shield of California Blue Shield of California strives to create a healthcare system worthy of its family and friends that is sustainably affordable. Blue Shield of California is a tax paying, nonprofit, independent member of the Blue Shield Association with 4.8 million members, over 7,500 employees and $24 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare healthcare service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $97 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation in the last three years to have an impact on California communities. For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. CONTACT: Joann Wardrip Blue Shield of California 415-867-6018 [email protected] SOURCE Blue Shield of California WASHINGTON, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Star Families (BSF) in partnership with Howard University and The Chamberlain Project, hosted a panel symposium titled "Freedom to Serve: Integrating the Armed Services," on July 26. The event wove together the expertise, data, and action of Blue Star Families' Campaign for Inclusion with Howard University 's deep history of military service and civil rights activism and the modern efforts of The Chamberlain Project to bridge the military-civilian gap within higher education. BSF, the nation's largest nonprofit dedicated to supporting military families and strengthening communities across the United States, brought together these perspectives in order to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Executive Order 9981, a pivotal moment in American History that integrated the Armed Forces in 1948. The symposium witnessed a gathering of distinguished guests and historymakers, including Academy Award Winner and Air Force Veteran Morgan Freeman, Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy, who served as keynote speakers. Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense, also gave virtual remarks. Blue Star Families, Howard University and The Chamberlain Project commemorate 75th Anniversary of Military Integration. Tweet this "Civic responsibility and civic rights go hand in hand," said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. "By telling the story of how military service interrelates with civil rights and strengthens our country and home and abroad, we are telling a positive story of the people who serve and military service itself which is particularly meaningful now, when recruiting is stumbling. We are excited to highlight many diverse heroes, and the way ahead." The symposium consisted of keynote speeches and two panels discussing the historical impact of E.O. 9981 and future implications of diversity on military service. Each panel reflected on the history of this important milestone and highlighted how the civil rights movement and military integration created a "talk-back" between each other over the past 75 years. Panelists included The Honorable, Former NASA Administrator, Astronaut and Retired Major General Charles Bolden, Admiral Michelle Howard (Ret.), Lieutenant General Arthur Gregg (Ret.), Lieutenant General Tom Bostick (Ret.), Major General Mark Simerly, Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA, President of Howard University, Cadet Colonel Franklin, Howard University ROTC, and Willetta Brown, the daughter of LCDR Wesley A. Brown, CEC, USNA '49 (Ret.), the first African American graduate of the United States Naval Academy in June 1949. "Since the U.S. was founded, Black people have fought in uniform for our country, while also fighting for their own freedom and civil rights," said Carlandra "CT" Moss, Director of Blue Star Families' Campaign for Inclusion . "In a lot of ways, Executive Order 9981 helped lay the foundation for the civil rights movement in the 1960s by recognizing the sacrifices Black servicemen made to secure our nation. This symposium not only allows us to reflect on our history and the important strides the Black community has made in building our military, but also to talk through what needs to happen to make military service more diverse and inclusive for future generations." Notably, Cadet Colonel Kendall Franklin, the Cadet Wing Commander of Howard University's Air Force ROTC, also participated in the panel discussion, making it an intergenerational conversation that looks to the future. Cadet Colonel Franklin is the top student in the ROTC program and a mentor to her peers. "The integration of the Armed Forces in 1948 was a pivotal moment in America's long and continuing journey toward the full realization of civil rights for all Americans," said Jonathan Soros, Founder of The Chamberlain Project. "The Chamberlain Project was founded to help bridge the civil-military divide, and we are proud to be a partner with Howard University and Blue Star Families in commemorating this important anniversary and recognizing the essential connection between our civil and military institutions." This event was hosted on Howard University's historic campus and in partnership with The Chamberlain Project, a program dedicated to connecting retiring service members to teaching positions at higher education to bring diverse perspectives to students. "Howard University has a long history of supporting the diversity of the armed forces. Howard students, faculty and alumni play an important role in the military by bringing a broad range of perspectives, experiences, and expertise that contributes to the overall success of our nation's defense," said Howard University President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick. "For over 100 years, Howard University has had its own ROTC battalion, thousands of Howard alumni serve throughout the armed forces today, and Howard is the first HBCU to serve as a U.S. Department of Defense, Air Force University Affiliated Research Center. We are proud of our ongoing efforts and happy to serve as a host of this important event, commemorating a milestone in our nation's history." At the commemoration, The Chamberlain Project announced Howard University's incoming Chamberlain Fellow, Colonel (Ret.) Fernando Lujan, U.S. Army. He is a former U.S. Army Special Forces Officer and Assistant Professor at the National War College. Chamberlain Fellows assist in building relationships and understanding between the United States Armed Services and civilian institutions, to contribute to the richness and diversity of students' educational experiences, and to facilitate transitions of retiring officers to civilian life. About Blue Star Families Blue Star Families is the nation's largest community-based organization supporting military-connected families. Its research-driven approach builds strong communities through innovative solutions. For more information, click here . About Howard University Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 14 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced two Schwarzman Scholars, four Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African American PhD. recipients than any other university in the United States. About The Chamberlain Project The Chamberlain Project collaborates with several leading colleges and universities on the Retiring Officer Teaching Fellowships, aiming to assist in building relationships and understanding between the United States Armed Services and civilian institutions, to contribute to the richness and diversity of students' educational experiences, and to facilitate transitions of retiring officers to civilian life. SOURCE Blue Star Families New studies at AACC 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting could change lives, improve drug safety. ANAHEIM, Calif., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Two studies featured today at the 2023 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo highlight advances that could boost the accuracy of marijuana tests and provide vital information for addressing the opioid epidemic. The first describes a promising method for determining when urine samples have been tampered with to evade a positive result for marijuana. The second found that more than half of fentanyl samples contained novel psychoactive substances that could heighten the drug's danger. The legalization of marijuana in many states and the emergence of the fentanyl crisis have underscored the need for accurate and reliable drug tests. As marijuana use becomes more prevalent, researchers are focused on improving the detection methods used for legal, medical, and workforce drug tests. For example, many labs want help identifying when urine samples have been manipulated to avoid a positive result for marijuana. Deaths from opioid overdoses have been steadily climbing in the U.S. since 2020, in part due to the spread of the powerful narcotic fentanyl. At the same time, there has been a rise in the prevalence of novel psychoactive substances, which are often added to drugs sold as fentanyl to enhance potency. These substances can raise the risk of overdose and death. "Dilute-and-Shoot" Method Detects Manipulated THC Samples A scientific team led by Yubo Chai, MD/PhD, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, devised a method to counteract the drug-masking effects of common adulterants in marijuana tests. The researchers gathered 5 urine samples positive for both delta 8- and 9-THC-COOH, which are active ingredients of cannabis. They treated them with the adulterant nitrite or strong acid adulterants and found that the compounds quickly degraded both of the ingredients and the internal standard. The team then implemented a "dilute-and-shoot" workflow that combines a tandem- mass spectrometry method and liquid chromatography separation system. The system can determine whether a urine sample is truly negative or only appears so because it has been degraded by nitrite. The method was further validated with an additional crop of 12 specimens that contained delta 8-THC-COOH, delta 9-THC-COOH, or both. "Our unique dilute-and-shoot method can separate and quantify delta 8- and 9-THC-COOH," Chai said. "As a result, labs will be able to distinguish between true negative delta 8- and 9-THC-COOH results from specimens adulterated with nitrite, as the latter lack peaks for both the analytes and the internal standard." Chai noted that their study only tested samples adulterated with sodium nitrite. He calls for further work with samples tainted with other compounds such as peroxide and potassium nitrite. Study Sheds Light on "Designer" Substances in Fentanyl In another study, a group led by Gemma Campbell at Aegis Sciences Corp. in Nashville set out to evaluate how common novel psychoactive substances are in fentanyl tests. Studying 200 urine and oral fluid samples gathered from individuals in 30 U.S. states who tested positive for fentanyl, the scientists performed additional testing for designer opioids, benzodiazepines, synthetic marijuana, and other substances. Strikingly, 117 of the samples (58.5%) tested positive for at least one novel psychoactive substance. Almost 38% of the samples tested positive for xylazine, which possesses opioid-like effects but can't be reversed by naloxone, a life-saving medication that blocks the effects of opioid overdose. Nearly half (47%) of the samples contained other designer opioids, and 8% tested positive for designer benzodiazepines, which can prove deadly when combined with opioids outside of medical settings. "The timeliest finding as it relates to the danger of today's illicit drug supply was finding xylazine in 38% of the fentanyl samples," said study scientist Andrew Holt, Pharm.D, at Aegis Sciences Corp. "Depending on where drug testing occurs, an understanding of the other substances present in the illicit drug supply can change the approaches to harm reduction with communities and individuals," he added. About the 2023 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo The 2023 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting offers 5 days packed with opportunities to learn about exciting science from July 23-27 in Anaheim, California. Plenary sessions will explore microbiome-directed therapies for undernutrition, big data for practicing precision medicine, healthcare equity, cardiovascular disease in women, and promising sickle cell disease treatments. At the Clinical Lab Expo, more than 900 exhibitors will fill the show floor of the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, with displays of the latest diagnostic technology, including but not limited to COVID-19 testing, artificial intelligence, point-of-care, and automation. About the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM) Dedicated to achieving better health through laboratory medicine, ADLM (formerly AACC) brings together more than 70,000 clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists, and business leaders from around the world focused on clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, translational medicine, lab management, and other areas of progressing laboratory science. Since 1948, ADLM has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing programs that advance scientific collaboration, knowledge, expertise, and innovation. For more information, visit www.myadlm.org. Bill Malone AACC Director, Communications & News Publications (p) 202.835.8756 [email protected] Molly Polen AACC Senior Director, Communications & PR (p) 202.420.7612 (c) 703.598.0472 [email protected] SOURCE ADLM Organization poised to accelerate growth and realize synergies from six merged companies FARMINGTON, Conn., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BroadcastMed, the leading healthcare marketplace that provides trusted clinical content, powerful engagement and industry insights to healthcare professionals, medical institutions and manufacturers, service providers, and pharmaceutical companies, announces today its expanded leadership team, including appointing Charlie Lee as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the company's Board of Directors. These strategic additions aim to accelerate BroadcastMed's growth trajectory and strengthen its leadership position in the market. Lee joined BroadcastMed in January 2023 as Chief Operating Officer and brings over twenty years of executive experience in high-growth, publicly traded and PE-backed digital, technology, and marketplace companies. He was previously Chief Marketing Officer at MeridianLink, a leading provider of modern software platforms for financial institutions and consumer reporting agencies, which went public on the New York Stock Exchange in July 2021. Lee has also held executive roles at Auction.com, Ten-X and spent significant time at Experian in general management, strategy and marketing leadership positions throughout the US and UK. Charlie has assembled a world-class leadership team that is creating significant internal and external market momentum. Tweet this BroadcastMed has successfully acquired and merged with five companies, Digitell, Inc, PentaVision LLC, Aegis Dental Network, Harborside Publishing and most recently, Texere Publishing. Through these strategic moves, BroadcastMed has solidified its position as the organization that supports the world's premier hospitals, associations, and life science companies to create and distribute trusted educational content for physicians, advanced practitioners, and allied healthcare professionals. "I am humbled and honored to take on the opportunity as CEO and build upon the many combined companies of BroadcastMed and their past heritages and successes. Since joining earlier this year, I have had the pleasure of working side-by-side with the BroadcastMed team and have seen first-hand their passion, dedication, and expertise and the profound impact they have on our clients and the healthcare community," said Lee. "These are exciting times at BroadcastMed, and I am privileged to work with this amazing team as we accelerate our growth and the success of our clients." In addition to the appointment of Lee as CEO, BroadcastMed has integrated several members to the company's executive leadership team that will assist in the execution and continued commitment to its mission of engaging, educating and inspiring a more intelligent healthcare community. "Since joining BroadcastMed, Charlie has had an immediate and measurable impact on BroadcastMed's business and culture," said Brennan Mulcahey, BroadcastMed's chair of the board and partner at 424 Capital. In addition, he has assembled a world-class leadership team that is creating significant internal and external market momentum. BroadcastMed has a compelling blend of industry-leading talent, track record of innovation and access to capital that will drive significant growth and success." To support Lee, several individuals have joined BroadcastMed's executive team, many from previous acquisitions: Karen Auiler has been promoted to the position of BroadcastMed's Chief Operating Officer. She joined BroadcastMed in August 2022, through the acquisition of Aegis Dental Network, where Auiler served as CEO when the companies merged. Auiler started with Aegis in 2005 and was integral in the growth and development of the company from a core print publisher to the largest multi-media portfolio and continuing education platform servicing the North American dental industry. She has 25+ years of experience in healthcare media and publishing, including leadership roles at PennWell and Medical World Communications. Her focus on strategy, operations, revenue and growth has reaped significant benefits for the organization and our marketplace clients and will only accelerate in this new role. Lee Schweizer has been elevated to the role of Chief Digital Officer. He joined BroadcastMed in October 2022, through the Harborside Press acquisition and has 15+ years of leadership experience in healthcare publishing and digital transformation. Schweizer previously was Chief Digital Officer for both Harborside Press and Frontline Medical Communications, now a division of WebMD. Since joining, Schweizer has played a major role in the creation and evolution of BroadcastMed's digital solutions, engineering and product management organization. His continued focus and expertise in digital will continue to assist healthcare professionals, medical industry supporters and society partners adopt and optimize online and mobile marketing and education channels. Michael Sadowski joined BroadcastMed as the Chief Financial Officer in June 2023. He brings 25 years of financial leadership experience, including Chief Financial Officer or other executive finance roles in public and PE-backed organizations including GE, Cox Automotive, NextGen Healthcare, AutoWeb and MeridianLink. Sadowski brings strong finance and accounting discipline to the organization, with a growth and expansion track record. His analytic insights and change management expertise will help BroadcastMed to continue to transform and invest intelligently as we deliver on our promise as the leading medical marketplace company. John DuPont has been promoted to the position of Senior Vice President, Sales. He also joined BroadcastMed in October 2022, through the Harborside Press acquisition and has 30+ years of sales and sales leadership experience in the healthcare space, including executive roles at Cardinal Health, P4 Healthcare and Sanofi-Aventis Oncology. DuPont has a proven track record of establishing and developing high-performing teams that have delivered and sustained revenue growth in highly competitive markets and will provide leadership and expertise to the sales function as BroadcastMed continues to identify opportunities to help partners and clients achieve their goals and objectives. Karine Malzahn joined BroadcastMed as Vice President of Marketing in July 2023. With over 20 years of technology marketing and business development experience, she brings extensive experience working with market leaders such as Verizon, Ford and AAA. She is known for driving transformational growth encompassing product innovation, optimizing marketing infrastructure, and executing data-driven brand programs to penetrate new markets and channels in the tech, fintech, app and wireless industries. Malzahn's extensive experience with content market leaders will amplify BroadcastMed's and its clients' reach and frequency in the healthcare sector. "We are all very excited to see Charlie's ascension to the CEO role and the amazing leadership talent we have brought together to lead BroadcastMed's next chapter," said Peter Gailey, President and co-founder. The excellence that this team drives into our operations and the deep grasp of what BroadcastMed does to serve our clients and partners, ensures that we will continue to innovate and elevate our solutions to bring the healthcare community together to improve outcomes for all." About BroadcastMed BroadcastMed is the leading healthcare marketplace that provides trusted clinical content, powerful engagement and industry insights to healthcare professionals, medical institutions and manufacturers, service providers and pharmaceutical companies. The company's integrated platform of digital, event, and publication solutions helps drive better dialogue, connectivity, and outcomes for the healthcare community. For more information, please visit BroadcastMed.com. About 424 Capital 424 Capital is a growth capital partner that invests in lower middle-market companies with technology and tech-enabled services. Focusing primarily on investments in healthcare and renewable energy, we invest in, empower, and enable companies to step up, stand out, and make a difference in the world. For more information about 424 Capital, visit 424capital.com. SOURCE BroadcastMed SAN FRANCISCO, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Burke Williams, a recognized leader in the luxury day spa industry since 1984, has announced a series of new initiatives focused on customer experiences, including a data-driven approach that harnesses technology to understand and deliver the best guest experiences possible. An innovative service being rolled out at the San Francisco Centre location (formerly Westfield), is the Burke Williams Ambassador. Upon entering the San Francisco Centre mall, guests will be greeted by a dedicated Ambassador who will guide them to the spa to begin their journey of rest and relaxation. Burke Williams consistently looks for ways to further elevate the guest experience and this new personalized service is one more step toward the future. In a world driven by data, technology and user experiences as a whole, Burke Williams' commitment to staying ahead of the curve is underscored by listening and learning from guest feedback and closely monitoring industry trends. This approach ultimately translates into the unparalleled experiences the spa delivers to guests daily. To extend rejuvenation beyond the traditional spa setting, Burke Williams will expand their signature line of skin care and exclusive spa products that will be announced soon and continue to be sold worldwide. Burke Williams will continue to deliver innovative spa treatments in San Francisco and beyond for many years to come and looks forward to the future. For more information on the ways Burke Williams is transforming guest experiences in the spa industry or to learn more about the company's growth, please visit burkewilliams.com About Burke Williams: For almost 40 years Burke Williams has been recognized as an innovator and leader in the spa industry and the company has built not only a loyal following but also a team that works together to provide the best guest experiences possible. Today, with 11 locations across California, Burke Williams is a sanctuary, a place for wellness and beauty, inspiration and optimism. Contact: Hanya Bruner, The ACE Agency [email protected].com (707) 499-2608 SOURCE Burke Williams CHiQ, its premium brand, unveils the exciting brand proposition "Smart with Style" MIANYANG, China, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Changhong secured a place on the 2023 list of China's 500 Most Valuable Brands with a brand value of 203.968 billion yuan, marking a significant leap in its valuation. The list was unveiled during the 2023 World Brand Conference recently held by World Brand Lab in Beijing. World Brand Lab, a wholly-owned subsidiary of World Executive Group, is a world-leading consultancy in digital marketing and brand valuation. Changhong enhances technology R&D, expands in emerging sectors image1 Changhong has consistently improved its research and development (R&D) in new technologies over the past few years. In December 2022, the company developed the MCU intelligent control chip, enhancing energy efficiency of household appliances. Additionally, Changhong has also advanced its smart home appliance range, allowing seamless integration of various appliances. Changhong has also been diversifying into emerging areas like renewable energy, semiconductors, and computing storage. The group includes seven publicly-traded companies and three companies listed on China's New Third Board. Changhong has also incubated 15 high-tech firms, caters to some 100 renowned brands and serves over 200 million users worldwide. A crucial aspect of Changhong's business strategy revolves around the interconnectedness of all its operations. This systematic development of business operations and capability systems has significantly driven the company's growth momentum. CHiQ unveils a new brand proposition that embodies both intelligence and style Besides its commitment to cutting-edge intelligent technologies, Changhong also emphasizes the design and aesthetics of its products. The premium CHiQ brand recently unveiled a new brand proposition - "Smart with Style", aiming to blend intelligent technologies with stylish designs for an integrated home environment. CHiQ products provide users with effortless control and management of their home appliances. Adopting a user-centric approach, the brand enables interconnection among all devices, allowing users to control them through voice commands. Meanwhile, CHiQ aspires to transform intelligent home appliances into unique, attractive pieces of art that not only serve their functional purpose but also become a reflection of the user's personal style. Changhong boosts market expansion amid rising global performance In recent years, Changhong has been consistently expanding its presence in multiple markets. Building on its existing five manufacturing plants in Europe and Southeast Asia, the firm plans to add facilities in Mexico and Poland. Changhong is broadening its portfolio in markets outside of China by ramping up its efforts in developing new product displays, washing machines, and advanced Internet of Things (IoT) terminals. Changhong's customer-focused global expansion led to increased export revenue in 2022. In the first half of 2023, the company's total output and overall revenue in ex-China markets grew by over 30% and 25% respectively. Sales revenue in Australia, Europe, Indonesia, and the Middle East also grew significantly. The remarkable growth in Changhong's brand value is not only a testament to its strategic positioning and competence in intelligent manufacturing technologies, but also a reflection of how its brand philosophy resonates with customer needs. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2160961/image1.jpg SOURCE Changhong Collaborative clinical areas under one roof created to improve care for kids AURORA, Colo., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Children's Hospital Colorado (Children's Colorado) today announced the launch of the Precision Medicine Institute, which will allow experts to more efficiently integrate precision medicine into care provided to patients throughout the hospital. The Precision Medicine Institute uses innovative technology to integrate big data, including genomic data, into each individual patient's care plan to determine the best treatment for each patient. Leaders of the Children's Hospital Colorado Precision Medicine Institute (left to right): Gregor Stoddard; Dr. Alisa Gaskell; Dr. Scott Demarest Precision medicine, also known as personalized medicine or genomic medicine, uses the most up-to-date technology and information to address the root causes of a patient's disease, allowing experts to provide more precise diagnoses resulting in more targeted treatment plans, better outcomes and potential pathways to cures. Children's Colorado specialists are pioneering novel precision medicine treatments for numerous childhood diseases such as pediatric cancer, rare neurodegenerative diseases, cystic fibrosis, cardiomyopathy, neuromuscular conditions, genetic and metabolic disease and many others. "Our investment in precision medicine is critical in that it drives the future of medicine and patient care. The work will focus on diagnostics, therapeutics and education to ensure the most comprehensive and holistic care now while enabling integrated research that will result in future discovery," said David Brumbaugh, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Children's Colorado. "I'm proud of our team who are committed to evolving the state of medicine and advancing access to the best care for patients and their families." A recent $5 million gift from Elizabeth "Betsy" Searle, Chair of the Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation Board of Trustees, will help advance precision medicine to treat and cure childhood diseases such as cancer. Ms. Searle's vision is that it will allow the Children's Colorado team of experts to diagnose children faster, treat them more effectively and develop individually tailored cures that could one day eliminate the effects of devastating diseases. "Accurate genetic diagnoses form the foundation of precision medicine, and we see genomics and next-generation diagnostics driving more precise treatment and care plans," said Alisa Gaskell, PhD, Scientific Director of the Precision Medicine Institute. "While today we can only diagnose some patients, new technologies and analytical approaches will allow us to understand how genetic makeup affects the course of illness, and that knowledge will help us transform healthcare centered around the unique features of each patient." Approximately 50% of all rare diseases occur in kids, but diagnosing a disease can take years. State-of-the-art genomic treatments are creating opportunities to treat more diseases and diagnose them faster than ever before. "It is an exciting time in medicine where previously untreatable conditions now have therapies being developed," said Scott Demarest, MD, Clinical Director of the Precision Medicine Institute. "Children's Colorado is uniquely positioned to advance genomic therapies in partnership with our vibrant research community on the Anschutz Medical Campus and generous donors. Together, we are using technology to integrate advancements into everyday patient care." "Philosophically, we believe that precision medicine is just medicine," said Gregor Stoddard, Administrative Director of the Precision Medicine Institute. "This is why we have to strategically pursue our ambitions with an eye toward equity and sustainability. In the era of big data, we have an obligation to drive the best care and rapid advancements, while being responsible stewards of our patient's most intimate data." Health equity is a crucial commitment of precision medicine efforts at Children's Colorado. By increasing access to genetic testing, the genetic information of individuals from various underrepresented groups is regularly collected. Historically, underrepresented groups have been missing from large-scale genomic data sets, and increased genomic testing at Children's Colorado will allow for improved health equity across patient populations. "We hope that over time our ability to capture more data will allow us to acquire better answers for our patients, and to ensure that other institutions and labs will benefit from a larger, more diverse pool of pediatric data that helps us understand what's natural variation and what's something that is actually medically impactful," said Dr. Demarest. ABOUT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL COLORADO Children's Hospital Colorado is one of the nation's leading and most expansive nonprofit pediatric healthcare systems with a mission to improve the health of children through patient care, education, research and advocacy. Founded in 1908 and ranked among the best children's hospitals in the nation as recognized by U.S. News & World Report, Children's Colorado has established itself as a pioneer in the discovery of innovative and groundbreaking treatments that are shaping the future of pediatric healthcare worldwide. Children's Colorado offers a full spectrum of family-centered care at its urgent, emergency and specialty care locations throughout Colorado, including an academic medical center on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, hospitals in Colorado Springs, Highlands Ranch and Broomfield, and outreach clinics across the region. For more information, visit www.childrenscolorado.org or connect with us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and YouTube . Children's Hospital Colorado complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATENCION: si habla espanol, tiene a su disposicion servicios gratuitos de asistencia linguistica. Llame al 1-720-777-9800. CHU Y: Neu ban noi Tieng Viet, co cac dich vu ho tro ngon ngu mien phi danh cho ban. Goi so 1-720-777-9800. Media Contacts: Rachael Fowler, Children's Hospital Colorado Pager: 303-890-8314 SOURCE Children's Hospital Colorado In Time for Peak Summer Travel Demand, Hundreds of New Upscale Booking Options Including Radisson Blu and Radisson Now Available on ChoiceHotels.com ROCKVILLE, Md., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's leading hotel franchisors, announced today that all nine Radisson Hotels Americas brands including Radisson Blu, Radisson, and Country Inn & Suites are now available to be booked on ChoiceHotels.com. This adds nearly 600 hotels onto its world-class central reservation system ahead of schedule and less than a year since its acquisition of Radisson Americas closed. Choice also announced the successful integration of the Radisson Rewards Americas loyalty program into the award-winning Choice Privileges program. This enables the nearly 60 million Choice Privileges members to earn and redeem points at over 7,400 hotels across 22 brands in 45 countries and territories. "We are excited to offer travelers hundreds of additional hotels to choose from on ChoiceHotels.com, including numerous upscale and full-service properties, as we welcome our Radisson franchisees to Choice's powerful reservation engine," said Pat Pacious, CEO, Choice Hotels International. "Integrating nearly 600 hotels and the Radisson Rewards Americas program in such a short period of time is a testament to Choice's advanced technology and integration expertise and shows our commitment to providing franchisees with opportunities for optimal success and offering travelers ways to easily find the right hotel to meet their travel needs on one website." Integration Milestone Marks More Bookable Options on ChoiceHotels.com Integrated Loyalty Programs Bring New Choice Privileges Member Benefits, Co-Brand Credit Cards & More Diamond Elite members of Choice Privileges, the highest Elite level, starting today, are entitled to free breakfast for two at Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, and Park Plaza hotels in North and South America and LATAM. Click here for a full list of benefits. Members of Choice Privileges now have more accommodation options to choose from where they earn and redeem points, as well as two new co-branded credit card options which launched earlier this year, that accelerate the number of points earned to get to a redemption night faster. Cardholders can now earn points on everyday purchases, including at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement and phone plans, making this the fastest way to earn points during stays at participating Choice Hotels properties. To book your next Choice stay and earn travel rewards, visit ChoiceHotels.com and enroll in Choice Privileges for free. About Choice Hotels Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. A challenger in the upscale segment and a leader in midscale and extended stay, Choice has more than 7,400 hotels, representing over 625,000 rooms, in 45 countries and territories. A diverse portfolio of 22 brands that run the gamut from full-service upper upscale properties to midscale, extended stay and economy enables Choice to meet travelers' needs in more places and for more occasions while driving more value for franchise owners and shareholders. The award-winning Choice Privileges loyalty program and co-brand credit card options provide members with a fast and easy way to earn reward nights and personalized perks. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com. 2023 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All Rights Reserved SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc. The new dental insurance leverages Chubb's service and underwriting capabilities and HealthAtom's dental health and clinic management services ecosystem MIAMI and SANTIAGO, Chile, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb and HealthAtom today announced an alliance to offer comprehensive dental healthcare protection for patients across Latin America. Through the alliance, individual clients and corporate groups will have access to completely digital, comprehensive and easy-to-contract dental protection products. The innovative digital insurance is built to optimize coverage and deliver lasting value to customers through their preferred channels. Marcos Gunn, SVP, Chubb Group and Regional President, Chubb Latin America, and Jose Maria Iruretagoyena, HealthAtom's Chief Fintech Officer Announce Alliance to Expand Dental Protection in Latin America. Chubb and HealthAtom today announced an alliance to offer comprehensive dental healthcare protection for patients across Latin America. Through the alliance, individual clients and corporate groups will have access to completely digital, comprehensive and easy-to-contract dental protection products, build to optimize coverage and deliver lasting value to customers. Chubb, a leading global property and casualty insurer with operations in nine Latin American countries, will be the preferred insurance partner for HealthAtom's ecosystem in the region. HealthAtom, a Chilean healthtech focused on improving the efficiency of healthcare providers in Latin America through software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology, will be Chubb's preferred partner for dental-related services in the region, which will be available to the insurer's customers and business partners. "Chubb's alliance with HealthAtom represents an important step to provide greater access and protection to consumers across Latin America. Working in partnership with HealthAtom, we are committed to driving a cultural shift towards preventive healthcare in our countries," said Marcos Gunn, Senior Vice President, Chubb Group and Regional President, Chubb Latin America. "Our clients and strategic partners can benefit from the great infrastructure and ecosystem of services and management that HealthAtom has built for healthcare providers and clinics throughout the region. Our shared vision is to deliver a cost-effective, tailored product that meets the dynamic and evolving needs of our clients." "This unique alliance provides people across Latin America with access to dental insurance that protects and restores their smile, through the region's most extensive network of professionals and powered by our cutting-edge Dentalink software. We will equip dental healthcare offices with the necessary technological tools that enable them to focus on delivering high-quality dental services," said Jose Maria Iruretagoyena, Chief Fintech Officer of HealthAtom. "The partnership with Chubb exemplifies our commitment to innovation, service excellence, and continuous improvement. This agreement will allow us to integrate Chubb's expertise in risk management, data analysis, technology, claims service, and digital know-how, thus enriching our platform and ecosystem. We are honored to collaborate with Chubb to provide innovative and highly customized solutions to the dental insurance marketplace and are proud to be transforming the industry through innovation and strategic collaboration," he added. Founded in 2012, HealthAtom is present in more than 20 countries, with more than 13,000 healthcare centers and more than 60,000 healthcare professionals using the Dentalink platform. In 2022, the company managed more than 45 million unique appointments, during which dental treatments worth USD$1.5 billion were performed. Thanks to this performance, the company positioned itself as a leader in the Latin American SaaS healthtech industry, and now seeks to consolidate its Dentalink platform as the preferred cloud-based operations system for dental centers of all sizes. The alliance will start in Chile, and during 2024 it is expected to expand to Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, and Peru. Chubb's global integration technology platform, Chubb Studio, is the engine behind alliances with companies like HealthAtom, and enables its partners to quickly and easily develop new insurance product offerings within their own digital ecosystems. About Chubb Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume, and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength, and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris, and other locations, and employs approximately 40,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com. About HealthAtom HealthAtom is the leading company in the Latin American SaaS Healthtech industry. Its purpose is to improve the quality and access to healthcare through the creation of a digital ecosystem that connects healthcare providers and other stakeholders, allowing efficiency, traceability, control, and regulatory compliance. With their solutions, Dentalink y Medilink as SaaS verticals, they are an agent of change with more than 13,000 healthcare providers and 60,000 users who use their software daily in 23 countries, generating more than 45 million effective appointments on their platforms. In addition, with their fintech Gerty, HealthAtom provides financial benefits to patients, being the connection point that facilitates safe, fast, and 100% reliable access for all. Currently, they have more than 200 employees and are leading the digital development of the healthcare industry in Latin America. To know more about HealthAtom's purpose, visit https://www.healthatom.com/ or follow us at www.linkedin.com/company/healthatom. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Forward-looking statements made in this press release, such as statements regarding the alliance, product and service offerings, geographic expansion, and other expectations, intentions and statements that are not historical facts, reflect Chubb's and HealthAtom's current views with respect to future events and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements. Additional information regarding factors that could cause differences from these forward-looking statements appears in Chubb's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Media Contact: Chubb Latin America [email protected], +(593-9) 82623333 HealthAtom - Juan Miguel Florido, [email protected], (+56) 949108842 SOURCE Chubb Latin America NEW ORLEANS, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The City of New Orleans announced today that it has hired SAFEbuilt, a leading provider of professional services, to assist with staff augmentation within the City's Office of Business and External Services (OBES). This partnership is aimed at providing high-quality services to the residents of New Orleans in an efficient and effective manner. The City of New Orleans announced that it has hired SAFEbuilt to assist with staff augmentation within the City's OBES. Tweet this SAFEbuilt - a community development services firm SAFEbuilt - a community development services firm SAFEbuilt has extensive experience providing professional services to cities and communities across the United States. The company is known for its commitment to excellence, focus on customer satisfaction, and building strong partnerships with its clients. "We are very excited to partner with SAFEbuilt and to have their expertise and support," said Deputy CAO for OBES Thomas Mulligan. "This partnership will allow us to further increase our staffing efforts and initiatives and attract top talent for employment while continuing to provide prompt, professional and critical services to our residents and businesses for an overall improvement of quality of life throughout the city." Adding to these sentiments, Steve Nero, SAFEbuilt's Vice President of Sales, underscores the significance of robust collaborations. "Working hand in hand with cities like New Orleans is a testament to the importance we place on forming strong partnerships," he states. "At SAFEbuilt, we understand that when we help communities elevate their departmental capabilities, we're ensuring prompt, professional services but also the overall growth and vibrancy of the community. Our aim goes beyond simply providing services it's about fostering a future where both the city and its residents thrive." Under this agreement, executed in June 2023, SAFEbuilt will provide support to OBES in areas such as plan review, inspection services, permitting and code enforcement. This will allow the City to better serve its residents and provide a more efficient and streamlined process for doing business with the City of New Orleans. "We are honored to have been selected by the City of New Orleans to assist with staff augmentation in various departments with the Office of Business and External Services," said Joe DeRosa, President and Chief Revenue Officer for SAFEbuilt. "We look forward to contributing to its continued growth and prosperity. We're excited to be a valued partner to such a historic and celebrated city. About SAFEbuilt SAFEbuilt is a community development services company offering multi-disciplinary building and professional expertise in 36 states. The company employs approximately 1,700 employees serving more than 1,900 customers nationwide. SAFEbuilt offers the broadest array of community development services anchored by a sophisticated technology stack that is built to fit each customer's needs including stabilizing budgets, maximizing building department efficiencies, improving the customer experience, and accelerating both the speed to revenue for both municipalities and developers. To learn more, visit SAFEbuilt.com. SOURCE SAFEbuilt Declassified government data shows a one-year ~1566.66% increase in fentanyl doses seized by Federal agents in Dallas-Fort Worth and surrounding counties. Clearfork Academy's two new outpatient facilities will prevent rising overdose deaths by addressing the root causes of substance abuse. FORT WORTH, Texas, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Clearfork Academy , a leading adolescent substance abuse and mental health treatment center, today announces the launch of its Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in response to skyrocketing drug seizures by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) as overdose deaths continue to rise nationwide . Clearfork Academy's PHP program will provide comprehensive daytime treatment to patients, while the IOP program will allow patients to continue their recovery work off-site as they transition back into everyday life. The new program begins August 1. "As deadly synthetic drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, become more widely available than ever before, our two newest two outpatient facilities in the DallasFort Worth Metroplex will extend the impact of our care, broaden our message of hope, and strengthen our commitment to changing the trajectory of the region's adolescent population," Austin Davis, LPC-S, Founder and CEO of Clearfork Academy, said. "Kids are dying," Davis added. The Texoma High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) is one of 33 regions classified by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) as a regional distribution center for illegal drugs, alongside cities like Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City. This year, the HIDTA directors named fentanyl the most significant drug threat in the 17 counties that form the Texoma HIDTA, beating heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Recently declassified government information related to doses of drug seized indicates the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area and surrounding counties saw an approximate fifteen-fold increase in fentanyl doses seized between 2020 and 2021 alone, from ~12,000,0000 doses to ~200,000,000 doses. The latter and most recent figure represents enough synthetic opioids to overdose or kill every man, woman, and child in the Lone Star State six times. Clearfork Academy offers cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, academic support, and recreational therapy to encourage personal growth and long-term recovery in adolescents struggling with substance abuse. In addition to substance abuse recovery and drug detox, Clearfork Academy offers mental health services for teens suffering from depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and other diagnoses. Clearfork Academy will celebrate the newest facility located at 3880 Hulen St Fort Worth Texas 76107 Suite 410 by hosting a series of open houses throughout the months August and September 2023, featuring guided tours and a staff meet and greet. The second location is set to open in mid to late September and will be located at 4100 Fairway Ct #200, Carrollton, TX 75010. About Clearfork Academy: Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Clearfork Academy provides state-of-the-art residential (in-house) and outpatient treatment for adolescents grappling with substance abuse and mental health issues. With an approach rooted in faith, family, and community, Clearfork Academy provides a nurturing environment where teens can discover their potential and embark on a journey toward lasting recovery. Contact Austin Davis, LPC-S CEO & Founder, Clearfork Academy austin@clearforkacademy.com +1 (817) 382-9966 Admissions (877) 505-0773 SOURCE Clearfork Academy MARLTON, N.J., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Approximately 2,630,717 consumers are being notified that their Social Security numbers were compromised when a vulnerability in software used by one of TIAA's vendors allowed hackers to access their confidential data. The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are investigating claims on behalf of anyone affected by the TIAA incident, hoping to fully inform them of the risks they face in the wake of the breach as well as their legal rights. The sensitive personal data of 2,630,717 individuals has been compromised. Now, consumers' full names and Social Security numbers may be in the hands of criminals, putting victims at a greater risk of identity theft and other frauds. On July 14, 2023, the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America ("TIAA") filed notice with the Attorney General of Maine describing a third-party data breach at Pension Benefit Information, LLC ("PBI") affecting consumers nationwide. Evidently, the incident stemmed from a vulnerability in the MOVEit file transfer program, which was used by PBI to transmit information provided to PBI by TIAA. According to the notice, the data breach affected an estimated 2,630,717. The list of sensitive information that was exposed includes: Names, and Social Security numbers. TIAA provides financial services in the academic, research, medical, cultural, and governmental fields, so many victims of the breach are employees of organizations in these industries. For example, dozens of colleges and universities have been notified of the PBI data breach by TIAA. While these colleges and universities may provide notice of the incident because the breach involved information that consumers provided to TIAA, TIAA is providing notice of the incident as well. PBI may also send out data breach letters. If you receive a data breach notice from TIAA or PBI, you could now be at risk of identity theftand the devastating financial and legal consequences that go along with it. What Should You Do if You Receive a Data Breach Letter from PBI or TIAA? Individuals who receive a data breach letter from TIAA or PBI should take steps to protect themselves. (See our Guide for Victims of Data Breach for more details at https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/consumer-privacy-data-breach-lawyers/if-your-information-has-been-compromised-in-a-data-breach/ .) Additionally, victims should consider contacting a data breach attorney immediately, as anyone who receives a data breach letter from PBI or TIAA may be entitled to financial compensation. If you wish to discuss this data security incident, or if you have any questions regarding your rights following the TIAA data breach, please contact Console & Associates, P.C. at (866) 778-5500. Interested parties and potential plaintiffs can also learn more about this data breach and potential lawsuit at https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/teachers-insurance-and-annuity-association-of-america-tiaa-data-breach-investigation/ . This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Console & Associates, P.C. 866-778-5500 [email protected] SOURCE Console & Associates, P.C. New offering uses deep learning to enrich B2C and B2B product catalog data saving ecommerce teams time and increasing conversions, engagement and revenue SAN FRANCISCO, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Constructor , the leading AI-powered product discovery and search platform for enterprise ecommerce companies, today announced Attribute Enrichment , a solution that improves online product catalog quality using deep learning and machine vision, both forms of AI. Attribute Enrichment combines raw product catalog data with buyers' behavioral clickstream data across touchpoints correcting and auto-enriching product attributes to help buyers discover the items they'll find most attractive, while improving personalization across their customer journey. Attribute Enrichment addresses one of the most common pain points today among both ecommerce companies and their consumers. For ecommerce companies, needing to work around bad or missing product data is a problem as old as ecommerce itself, with site merchants either forgoing that data altogether or needing to rely on poorly tagged data from third parties. For B2C shoppers and B2B buyers, this leads to time-consuming and frustrating product discovery and search experiences. For instance, less than 3 in 10 buyers say their product-finding experiences are "quick," and 62% will leave an ecommerce site if they can't find what they're looking for. Ecommerce companies seek to remove this friction and provide visitors with highly contextual, hyper-relevant experiences that increase engagement and conversions. Consistent, comprehensive, well-categorized product data helps power these experiences but getting it is often easier said than done. Relying on vendor attributes the product information and categorization from third-party suppliers is a gamble that often leaves "holes" hindering product discovery and personalization. And do-it-yourself efforts among ecommerce teams including manual enrichment, categorization, retagging and harmonizing third-party data into a consistent catalog is time-intensive and can be error-prone. Enter: AI-powered Attribute Enrichment from Constructor. The solution automatically identifies and enriches key product attributes to optimize product discoverability, unburden ecommerce teams and deliver business outcomes that matter. The enrichment functionality is available to optimize site visitors' search results , browse experiences , product recommendations , product finders and more. How it works Constructor's Attribute Enrichment uses deep learning techniques: that is, training AI models to identify products, categorize them and generate new product attributes to enrich product data and increase discoverability. The newly enriched data is delivered straight to ecommerce companies' websites, without any effort on their behalf giving visitors immediate access to better and more complete product information that drives purchases. Attribute Enrichment provides ecommerce companies including B2C retailers, D2C brands, distributors, manufacturers, wholesalers and other B2B organizations with: Out-of-the-box enrichment capabilities to address common retail use cases, including category enrichment, color enrichment, style enrichment, flavor enrichment and many more . For example, if a shopper is searching for "Spanish red wine" on a grocery or beverage site, Attribute Enrichment can augment existing product catalog data to populate flavor profiles and regions to help the shopper better find what they're looking for. And as an example of category enrichment, an impact driver on a construction supply site might be classified in the "tools" category. Using everything it knows about the item and others like it, Attribute Enrichment can automatically associate additional categories (e.g., "power tools," "drills and drivers," "cordless drills and drivers") with the product, making it easier for buyers to find it as they search, browse and filter. to address common retail use cases, including . For example, if a shopper is searching for "Spanish red wine" on a grocery or beverage site, Attribute Enrichment can augment existing product catalog data to populate flavor profiles and regions to help the shopper better find what they're looking for. And as an example of category enrichment, an impact driver on a construction supply site might be classified in the "tools" category. Using everything it knows about the item and others like it, Attribute Enrichment can automatically associate additional categories (e.g., "power tools," "drills and drivers," "cordless drills and drivers") with the product, making it easier for buyers to find it as they search, browse and filter. Custom attribute enrichmen t capabilities tailored to ecommerce companies' needs and catalogs. t capabilities tailored to ecommerce companies' needs and catalogs. Personalized enrichment experiences , predicting attributes that are best aligned to buyers' affinities, such as the style of dress they like, whether they prefer organic products, whether they prefer scented or unscented cleaning products, whether they typically buy cat food or dog food, and many more. , predicting attributes that are best aligned to buyers' affinities, such as the style of dress they like, whether they prefer organic products, whether they prefer scented or unscented cleaning products, whether they typically buy cat food or dog food, and many more. The ability to automatically generate and associate new attributes with products , based on trends in customer behavior (e.g., if searches for "keto" or "vegan" become prevalent, tying those attributes to various items). , based on trends in customer behavior (e.g., if searches for "keto" or "vegan" become prevalent, tying those attributes to various items). Reporting capabilities, including reports that display the most important attributes for buyers and calculate Attribute Enrichment ROI. Benefits of Attribute Enrichment By incorporating Attribute Enrichment into their product discovery strategies, ecommerce companies can: Increase revenue per visitor and average order value by displaying more attractive and strategic products to buyers. by displaying more attractive and strategic products to buyers. Improve the customer experience and increase customer satisfaction , delivering experiences that enable buyers to find the right products faster and easier. , delivering experiences that enable buyers to find the right products faster and easier. Increase consistency in item classification and categorization across complex and extensive product catalogs. in item classification and categorization across complex and extensive product catalogs. Optimize product discoverability and relevance . . Increase operational efficiency by automating previously manual tasks and harmonizing supplier product data to enable field sales teams, customer support teams and distributors. by automating previously manual tasks and harmonizing supplier product data to enable field sales teams, customer support teams and distributors. Improve search engine optimization (SEO) through accurate and more complete product descriptions, contributing to higher search engine rankings and lower bounce rates. (SEO) through accurate and more complete product descriptions, contributing to higher search engine rankings and lower bounce rates. Extend the value of their product data by sharing the newly enriched data with their upstream systems and their other partners for use in improving discoverability of products in third-party marketplaces, improving ad placement and more. "Constructor helps ecommerce companies turn their websites and apps into personal shopping assistants, and our new Attribute Enrichment solution is an important part of this," said Eli Finkelshteyn, CEO, Constructor. "For too long, an excuse among search and discovery vendors for bad results was that the data they were given was bad. Attribute Enrichment aims to take away that excuse. We want to guarantee we'll give the most compelling results to our customers and their shoppers, even in cases where their product catalogs aren't perfect. Our goal is to not give excuses for poor results, but to give solutions. And Attribute Enrichment is just that. "Using modern data science methods like machine vision, mixed with customer feedback via clickstream and behavioral data, we're able to generate and auto-enrich product attributes, categories and metadata, all at the speed of AI. It's a win-win for both buyers and ecommerce companies alike: fueling the best product discovery experiences for buyers, while driving sales and giving ecommerce teams time back in their days to focus on strategic initiatives." For more information on Attribute Enrichment, please see https://constructor.io/products/product-data-enrichment . About Constructor Constructor is the only product discovery and search platform tailor-made for enterprise ecommerce where conversions matter. Constructor's cloud-based solutions use natural language processing, machine learning-enhanced results ranking and collaborative personalization to deliver powerful user experiences across all facets of product discovery. Optimizing specifically for ecommerce metrics like revenue, conversion rate and profit, Constructor generates consistent $10M+ lifts for some of the biggest brands in ecommerce, such as Sephora, home24, Very Group, Birkenstock, Bonobos and Fisheries Supply. Constructor is a U.S.-based company that was founded in 2015 by Eli Finkelshteyn and Dan McCormick. For more, visit: constructor.io. SOURCE Constructor NEW YORK, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The containerized and modular data center market size is estimated to grow by USD 36.41 billion from 2022 to 2027, growing at a CAGR of 15.06%. North America is estimated to contribute 35% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Technavio's analysts have elaborately explained the regional trends and drivers that shape the market during the forecast period. The growing adoption of cloud services by enterprises across various industries in the US and Canada is a major driver for market growth in the region. These enterprises are embracing cloud solutions to reduce operating costs and capital expenditures associated with on-premises data centers. To meet their computing capacity requirements while minimizing expenses, enterprises are increasingly turning to hyperscale providers like AWS, Microsoft, and Oracle. In terms of data centers, the US leads globally with 2,670 centers as of 2021. Furthermore, the region is home to numerous data centers established by various enterprises, including Apple Inc., which operates a total of 11 data centers, six of which are located in this region. For Comprehensive details on the market size of historic period(2017 to 2021) and forecast period (2023-2027) - View Sample report Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Containerized and Modular Data Center Market 2023-2027 Key Developments: Rapid advances in technology, intense competition, and changing dynamics in the market are the key factors for the intense competition among vendors. With the rising competition, the market will see consolidation. However, manufacturing complexities and high production costs pose significant risk factors for vendors in the market. Market Dynamics Major Drivers & Challenges- The rapid deployment of data centers is the major factor driving market growth. With evolving business requirements, organizations are facing a growing demand to deploy new data centers or expand existing ones in a significantly shorter timeframe. Traditional data center deployment methods involve lengthy design and construction processes, typically taking eighteen to twenty-four months to become fully operational. In contrast, modular data centers feature preassembled components, including standardized racks and IT infrastructure, enabling deployment within six months. Additionally, traditional data centers often struggle to accommodate additional IT infrastructure due to space and cooling limitations. In such cases, organizations are turning to modular structures that can be rapidly deployed at lower capital expenditure, eliminating the need for constructing new data center facilities. Consequently, the adoption of modular data centers enables organizations to meet their need for faster deployment, driving market growth in the forecast period. Lack of awareness and expertise will be a major challenge hindering market growth. Data center operators must possess the necessary skills and understanding to effectively configure and operate modular and containerized data center solutions. A comprehensive knowledge of facility specifics is essential to ensure productivity and operational efficiency. Whether from the vendor side or the data center operator, expertise in building and managing critical infrastructures, such as modular data centers, is vital for successful design, deployment, and robust operations. Adequate education and training on machinery principles, as well as familiarity with service and maintenance procedures, are crucial for the smooth and secure operation of the modular facility. Safety is of utmost importance, as any compromise can lead to increased operational expenditure (OPEX). Therefore, the lack of expertise and adherence to safety measures may impede the market growth during the forecast period. Key Trends- The implementation of a software-defined modular data center is an emerging trend shaping market growth. A software-defined modular data center utilizes virtualization of the physical infrastructure to deliver infrastructure as a service. It employs intelligent software systems to manage the hardware infrastructure. The adoption of a software-defined data center (SDDC) enables enterprises to support legacy applications and cloud computing services, leading to improved efficiency, cost reduction, rapid application deployment, enhanced availability, increased security, and the ability to leverage cloud-based workloads. The key components of an SDDC are software-defined networking (SDN), software-defined compute (SDC), and software-defined storage (SDS). Enterprises that opt for cloud-based infrastructure often consider implementing an SDDC to gain better control over critical operations and improve data center management. Leading vendors in the modular data center market, such as IO (Baselayer), along with established SDDC providers like HPE, Huawei, and IBM, actively participate in implementing SDDC solutions to facilitate centralized management of modular data center infrastructures encompassing servers, networks, and storage. Technavio has identified key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market, which will help clients improve their strategies to stay ahead of their competitors. - View Sample Report Vendor Landscape The containerized and modular data center market is fragmented; the vendors are competing with competitors and are trying to get a greater market share. The market is growing, and the chances of new entrants cannot be overlooked. The major vendors have well-established economies of scale and market presence and generally rely on positioning technological advances, and the price of the products -The report provides a full list of key vendors, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now Company Profiles The containerized and modular data center market report includes information on the product launches, sustainability, and prospects of leading vendors including ABB Ltd., Alphabet Inc., Bladeroom Group Ltd., Cannon Technologies Ltd., Cisco Systems Inc., Datapod, Dell Technologies Inc., Delta Electronics Inc., Eaton Corp. Plc, Etix Everywhere France SAS, FURUKAWA Co. Ltd., GREEN4T SOLUCOES TI LTDA, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., IE Corp., International Business Machines Corp., Langley Holdings Plc, Rittal GmbH and Co. KG, Schneider Electric SE, and Vertiv Holdings Co. Competitive Analysis The report includes competitive analysis, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their industry position score and market performance score. The competitive scenario categorizes companies based on various performance indicators. Some of the factors considered include the financial performance of companies over the past few years, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, and growth in market share, among others. Market Segmentation This containerized and modular data center market report extensively covers market segmentation by application (IT and telecommunication, BFSI, healthcare, retail and e-commerce, and others), type (modular data center and containerized data center), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The market share growth by the IT and Telecommunication segment will be significant during the forecast period. The global containerized and modular data center market is expected to witness continuous growth in the IT industry, driven by the evolving technology landscape and the emergence of new applications and services that demand powerful computing resources. Data centers play a crucial role in providing the necessary computing power and storage for various IT and telecom applications. With the widespread adoption of cloud computing, businesses can access computing resources without heavy investments in hardware and infrastructure. As the adoption of cloud computing expands, the demand for data centers to support these services increases. Furthermore, the exponential growth of data generated by businesses and individuals necessitates containerized and modular data centers capable of efficiently processing and storing large volumes of data. These factors contribute to the growth of the containerized and modular data center market during the forecast period. Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The data center colocation market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 14.27% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 55,943.92 million. This report extensively covers market segmentation by type (retail colocation and wholesale colocation), end-user (small enterprises, medium-sized enterprises, and large enterprises), and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America). Rising demand for data center colocation facilities is notably driving the data center colocation market growth. The green data center market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 24.63% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 146.95 billion. This report extensively covers market segmentation by component (IT infrastructure, power solutions, general construction, cooling solutions, and monitoring and management), end-user (BFSI, energy, IT and telecom, and healthcare and others), and geography (Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The increasing electricity consumption and cost are notably driving green data center market growth. Containerized And Modular Data Center Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 15.06% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 36.41 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 14.49 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 35% Key countries US, China, Japan, UK, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled ABB Ltd., Alphabet Inc., Bladeroom Group Ltd., Cannon Technologies Ltd., Cisco Systems Inc., Datapod, Dell Technologies Inc., Delta Electronics Inc., Eaton Corp. Plc, Etix Everywhere France SAS, FURUKAWA Co. Ltd., GREEN4T SOLUCOES TI LTDA, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., IE Corp., International Business Machines Corp., Langley Holdings Plc, Rittal GmbH and Co. KG, Schneider Electric SE, and Vertiv Holdings 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 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 Application 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 ($ 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 containerized and modular data center market 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size Data Table on global containerized and modular data center market 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.2 Application Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size Application Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.3 Type Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size Type 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 Application 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 30: Chart on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Application Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Application Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Application 6.3 IT and telecommunication - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 34: Chart on IT and telecommunication - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 35: Data Table on IT and telecommunication - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 36: Chart on IT and telecommunication - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on IT and telecommunication - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 BFSI - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 38: Chart on BFSI - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 39: Data Table on BFSI - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 40: Chart on BFSI - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 41: Data Table on BFSI - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.5 Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 42: Chart on Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 44: Chart on Healthcare - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 45: Data Table on Healthcare - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.6 Retail and e-commerce - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 46: Chart on Retail and e-commerce - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Retail and e-commerce - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 48: Chart on Retail and e-commerce - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on Retail and e-commerce - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.7 Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 50: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 51: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 52: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.8 Market opportunity by Application Exhibit 54: Market opportunity by Application ($ billion) Exhibit 55: Data Table on Market opportunity by Application ($ billion) 7 Market Segmentation by Type 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 56: Chart on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 57: Data Table on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 7.2 Comparison by Type Exhibit 58: Chart on Comparison by Type Exhibit 59: Data Table on Comparison by Type 7.3 Modular data center - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 60: Chart on Modular data center - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 61: Data Table on Modular data center - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 62: Chart on Modular data center - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 63: Data Table on Modular data center - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.4 Containerized data center - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 64: Chart on Containerized data center - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 65: Data Table on Containerized data center - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 66: Chart on Containerized data center - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 67: Data Table on Containerized data center - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Market opportunity by Type Exhibit 68: Market opportunity by Type ($ billion) Exhibit 69: Data Table on Market opportunity by Type ($ 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 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 75: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 76: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 77: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 78: 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 79: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 80: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 81: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 82: Data Table on Europe - 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 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 99: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 100: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 101: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 102: Data Table on UK - 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 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 107: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 108: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) 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 (%) 9.12 Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 111: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 112: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) 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 (%) 9.13 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 ABB Ltd. Exhibit 123: ABB Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 124: ABB Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 125: ABB Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 126: ABB Ltd. - Segment focus 12.4 Alphabet Inc. Exhibit 127: Alphabet Inc. - Overview Exhibit 128: Alphabet Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 129: Alphabet Inc. - Key news Exhibit 130: Alphabet Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 131: Alphabet Inc. - Segment focus 12.5 Bladeroom Group Ltd. Exhibit 132: Bladeroom Group Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 133: Bladeroom Group Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 134: Bladeroom Group Ltd. - Key offerings 12.6 Cannon Technologies Ltd. Exhibit 135: Cannon Technologies Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 136: Cannon Technologies Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 137: Cannon Technologies Ltd. - Key offerings 12.7 Cisco Systems Inc. Exhibit 138: Cisco Systems Inc. - Overview Exhibit 139: Cisco Systems Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 140: Cisco Systems Inc. - Key news Exhibit 141: Cisco Systems Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 142: Cisco Systems Inc. - Segment focus 12.8 Dell Technologies Inc. Exhibit 143: Dell Technologies Inc. - Overview Exhibit 144: Dell Technologies Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 145: Dell Technologies Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 146: Dell Technologies Inc. - Segment focus 12.9 Delta Electronics Inc. Exhibit 147: Delta Electronics Inc. - Overview Exhibit 148: Delta Electronics Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 149: Delta Electronics Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 150: Delta Electronics Inc. - Segment focus 12.10 Eaton Corp. Plc Exhibit 151: Eaton Corp. Plc - Overview Exhibit 152: Eaton Corp. Plc - Business segments Exhibit 153: Eaton Corp. Plc - Key news Exhibit 154: Eaton Corp. Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 155: Eaton Corp. Plc - Segment focus 12.11 FURUKAWA Co. Ltd. Exhibit 156: FURUKAWA Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 157: FURUKAWA Co. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 158: FURUKAWA Co. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 159: FURUKAWA Co. Ltd. - Segment focus 12.12 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. Exhibit 160: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. - Overview Exhibit 161: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. - Business segments Exhibit 162: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. - Key news Exhibit 163: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 164: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. - Segment focus 12.13 Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. Exhibit 165: Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 166: Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 167: Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 168: Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 169: Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. - Segment focus 12.14 International Business Machines Corp. Exhibit 170: International Business Machines Corp. - Overview Exhibit 171: International Business Machines Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 172: International Business Machines Corp. - Key news Exhibit 173: International Business Machines Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 174: International Business Machines Corp. - Segment focus 12.15 Rittal GmbH and Co. KG Exhibit 175: Rittal GmbH and Co. KG - Overview Exhibit 176: Rittal GmbH and Co. KG - Product / Service Exhibit 177: Rittal GmbH and Co. KG - Key offerings 12.16 Schneider Electric SE Exhibit 178: Schneider Electric SE - Overview Exhibit 179: Schneider Electric SE - Business segments Exhibit 180: Schneider Electric SE - Key news Exhibit 181: Schneider Electric SE - Key offerings Exhibit 182: Schneider Electric SE - Segment focus 12.17 Vertiv Holdings Co. Exhibit 183: Vertiv Holdings Co. - Overview Exhibit 184: Vertiv Holdings Co. - Business segments Exhibit 185: Vertiv Holdings Co. - Key news Exhibit 186: Vertiv Holdings Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 187: Vertiv Holdings Co. - Segment focus 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 188: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 189: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 190: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 191: Research methodology Exhibit 192: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 193: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 194: 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 BASEL, Switzerland, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CordenPharma, a leading pharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), has created a new Technology & Science Advisory Board (TSAB) with eight world-class experts from academia and industry, who will provide strategic guidance and scientific expertise to drive forward the company's continued growth and innovation. The formation of the Technology & Science Advisory Board was born out of CordenPharma's commitment to stay at the forefront of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. By harnessing the knowledge and insights of renowned scientists and industry leaders coming from both academia and commercial sectors, the company aims to enhance its capabilities in the efficient development and manufacturing of APIs, Lipid Excipients, Drug Products, and Integrated Supply to support the complex modalities of its broad pharmaceutical customer base. CDMO CordenPharma establishes world-class Technology & Science Advisory Board of experts across 6 technology platforms. Tweet this CordenPharma's TSAB brings together eight scientific experts from various disciplines, including chemistry, pharmacology, biotechnology, and regulatory affairs. Their collective expertise will provide valuable insights into emerging trends, cutting-edge technologies, and regulatory advancements across all six CordenPharma technology platforms. This collaboration will further enable the CDMO to anticipate industry developments and ensure its readiness to meet the evolving needs of customers and their life-saving medicines. The eight new board members include internationally renowned experts in the fields of drug development, peptides, oligonucleotides, lipids, injectable Lipid NanoParticles (LNPs), RNA drug delivery, highly potent Oral Solid Dose (OSD), flow chemistry, and small molecules. While the board will initially look at science-focused areas, they will also explore bioinformatics, including AI and machine learning, in the future. CordenPharma 2023 Technology & Science Advisory Board Members Dr. Jose de Chastonay, Independent Consultant for Strategic M&A and Business Development ( Portugal / Switzerland ) - Decades of peptide industry leadership experience with emphasis on corporate development, business integration as well as operational and commercial activities. Decades of peptide industry leadership experience with emphasis on corporate development, business integration as well as operational and commercial activities. Prof. Dr. Christian Oliver Kappe , Professor of Chemistry, University of Graz ( Austria ) - Recognized as one of the most experienced experts in the field of flow chemistry. Recognized as one of the most experienced experts in the field of flow chemistry. Prof. Dr. Hiroshi Kikuchi , President of DDS Strategy Firm ( Japan ) - The leading lipid expert in Japan , connected to all important lipid experts in the world. The leading lipid expert in , connected to all important lipid experts in the world. Prof. Dr. Olivia Merkel , Professor and Chair of Drug Delivery, LMU Munich ( Germany ) - Highly recognized expert in drug delivery for RNA and treatment of lung diseases. Highly recognized expert in drug delivery for RNA and treatment of lung diseases. Prof. Dr. Jean-Christophe M . Monbaliu, Professor of Organic Chemistry, Center for Integrated Technology and Organic Synthesis, University of Liege ( Belgium ) - Highly recognized flow chemistry expert with a strong background in multistep flow processes (lab and pilot scales). Highly recognized flow chemistry expert with a strong background in multistep flow processes (lab and pilot scales). Dr. Christoph Rosenbohm , MBA, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Aloop Therapeutics ( Denmark ) Long-standing experience in the field of oligonucleotides. Long-standing experience in the field of oligonucleotides. Prof. Dr. Roderich Sussmuth, Rudolf-Wiechert-Professor and Chair of Biological Chemistry, Technical University Berlin ( Germany ) - Highly recognized expert of peptides and synthesis of natural products. Highly recognized expert of peptides and synthesis of natural products. Prof. Dr. Karl Wagner , Professor of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Bonn ( Germany ) - Expert in solubility enhancement, OSD in general and predictive biopharmaceutical tools. Dr. Michael Quirmbach, CEO & President at CordenPharma, said: "CordenPharma is honored to have the opportunity to work with these distinguished scientific experts. We look forward to leveraging their renowned experience to continue driving innovation across our six technology platforms and delivering exceptional value to support the complex modalities of our pharmaceutical and biotech customers." About CordenPharma CordenPharma is a CDMO partner supporting biotech and pharma innovators of complex modalities in the advancement of their drug development lifecycle. Harnessing the collective expertise of the teams across its globally integrated facility network, CordenPharma provides bespoke outsourcing services spanning the complete supply chain, from early clinical-phase development to commercialization. With scientific expertise and partnership at its core, CordenPharma provides customers high-value, end-to-end services with a strategic focus on Peptides, Oligonucleotides, customized Lipid Excipients, Lipid NanoParticles (LNPs), sterile Injectables, and the extensive supply of Small Molecules (both Highly Potent and Regular Potency). The CordenPharma Group is comprised of 12 facilities across Europe and North America. In the 2022 financial year, the organization generated sales of 870 million Euros and had over 3,000 employees. Please visit cordenpharma.com for more information. SOURCE CordenPharma Welcomes Levi Williamson as Director of Business Development and O'Neil Graham as Director of Facilities Management COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CREC Real Estate, LLC ("CREC"), a private equity real estate investment firm, today announced that Levi Williamson has joined as Director of Business Development. Williamson will focus on fundraising and growing the firm's relationships with institutional investors and financial intermediaries, in North America and globally. Williamson joins CREC with a 17-year track record of raising capital across numerous private and public investment vehicles. Most recently, as Director of Business Development at Optima Asset Management LLC, a $1.8 billion hedge fund, he was responsible for fundraising in the U.S. and Canada. Previously, he was a Director of Intermediary Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management's U.S. arm. Over the course of his career, Williamson has raised over $4.5 billion and managed relationships with institutional investors including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, foundations, and family offices at additional firms including JPMorgan Asset Management, Pzena Investment Management, Miller/Howard Investments and Nuveen Investments. Williamson earned his Master of Accounting and Financial Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics Management from Ohio Wesleyan University. O'Neil Graham has joined the firm in the position of Director of Facilities Management and is responsible for the oversight and management of CREC's multifamily portfolio facility operations. He was previously Capital Project Manager and Regional Facilities Manager at GoldOller Real Estate Investments, a multifamily real estate investment company with properties across the US. "CREC has a dedicated and cohesive team with a wealth of knowledge across all aspects of the real estate investment cycle and, with the addition of Levi and O'Neil, we continue to strengthen our collective skills from the investor-level to the property-level," said Aaron Dixon, President at CREC. "Levi and O'Neil are valuable additions to our Capital Markets and Asset Management teams, and we welcome them to the firm." ABOUT CREC CREC Real Estate, LLC (CREC) is a private equity real estate investment firm. Based in Columbus, Ohio, the firm sponsors real estate investments through its private fund and private placement offerings and has more than $1 billion of real estate assets under management. Employing a value-add strategy, the firm specializes in multifamily investment in secondary cities throughout the United States. Since CREC's inception in 2001, it has closed on 60 investments across 19 states. For additional information please visit www.crecrealestate.com. Contact Lisa Baker Lambert 603.868.1967 [email protected] Megan Bowman Lambert 616.258.5763 [email protected] SOURCE CREC Real Estate, LLC Industry's Biggest Customer Contact Event to Feature Keynotes from Fortune 500 Executives, Tailored Learning Opportunities, and Unparalleled Networking Sessions NEW YORK and DENVER, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Customer Contact Week (CCW), the largest and most influential customer contact event series hosted by Customer Management Practice (CMP), a leading market intelligence firm for the customer management industry, announced today the CCW Executive Exchange, taking place at The Grand Hyatt in Denver, Colorado, from August 9-11, 2023. Founded by the creators of CCW, CCW Executive Exchange is an exclusive, invitation-only event built for today's senior customer experience (CX) and customer contact leaders as they aim to benchmark, connect, and identify solutions within the industry. "The CCW Executive Exchange is a testament to our team's efforts in continuously building opportunities that focus on customer centricity and help businesses deliver remarkable experiences that surpass customer expectations," said Mario Matulich, President and Managing Director at Customer Management Practice. "As we all continue to navigate the dawn of a new era in customer service, through events like these, business leaders can challenge their perspectives on the industry and bring fresh concepts and innovative strategies to the table as consumer confidence continues to teeter." Founded by the creators of CCW, CCW Executive Exchange is an exclusive, invitation-only event Tweet this C-Suite CX and customer contact leaders will benefit from the event's intimate format, igniting meaningful conversations to shape the future of customer service through exclusive networking, strategic event sessions, and one-on-one business meetings. Thought-provoking keynote speakers include C-Suite executives from Fortune 500 companies, including Hilton, LinkedIn, Visa, and Citizen's Bank, to name a few. The CCW Executive Exchange will also welcome a range of prominent sponsors, including Five9, NICE, and Sprinklr, among others. The upcoming CCW Executive Exchange follows the success of the company's flagship CCW event, which was held recently this past June in Las Vegas, Nevada. CCW's next event will occur at The Grand Hyatt in Nashville, Tennessee, from October 11-13, 2023. To request an invitation to the CCW Executive Exchange in Denver, Colorado, contact [email protected] with your name, job title, and company. About Customer Contact Week Customer Contact Week (CCW) is the premier event series in the customer care industry, attracting thousands of attendees worldwide. Founded in 1999 as Call Center Week, CCW has become a hub for customer experience (CX) and contact center leaders. With a well-rounded program of conferences and expos, attendees participate in four days of learning, networking, and innovation. CCW brings together over 3,000 attendees, over 200 expert speakers, and over 150 solution providers. The event provides a unique opportunity for attendees to learn from the best in the industry, network with peers, and gain insights into the latest trends and technologies. CCW is presented by the Customer Management Practice (CMP), a leading market intelligence firm for the customer management industry, providing comprehensive research, marketing, and business development for organizations dedicated to serving the customer management sector. For more information, visit, www.customercontactweek.com. About Customer Management Practice The Customer Management Practice (CMP) is a leading market intelligence firm for the customer management industry, offering a comprehensive suite of events, research, marketing, and business development services. As a trusted partner to customer contact executives, CMP addresses the pressing challenges through various channels, including live events such as its industry-leading series, Customer Contact Week, online event communities, and cutting-edge industry research. With research-backed insights and data-driven advisory services, CMP provides its clients with a holistic view of their customer management issues. It delivers new perspectives for executives craving a clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses relative to their peers and the industry. CMP's solutions empower executives to develop customer management skills, transforming customers into raving fans. CMP is dedicated to making its client's customer management rockstars. CMP's team of experts draws upon years of experience in the industry to provide tailored solutions that meet each client's unique needs to improve their customer experience, streamline operations, and boost their bottom line. For more information, visit, www.customermanagementpractice.com . SOURCE CCW: Customer Contact Week Security teams can now address more emerging, potentially critical incidents earlier, with more confidence. HEAL completes Darktrace's Cyber AI Loop, delivering resilience throughout the cyber lifecycle from prevention, to detection, to response, and now to recovery. CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Darktrace today announces the launch of Darktrace HEAL, its AI-enabled product to help businesses more effectively prepare for, rapidly remediate, and recover from cyber-attacks. HEAL provides security teams with unique abilities to simulate real attacks within their own environments, create bespoke incident response plans as cyber incidents unfold, and automate actions to rapidly respond to and recover from those incidents. Managing emerging cyber-attacks presents an enormous challenge for security teams who must make decisions quickly in the heat of the attack based on potentially hundreds of changing and uncertain data points and factors. In a recent ransomware incident1, analysts would have needed around 60 total hours of investigative work to build a complete understanding of the full scope and varied details, yet the malicious activity unfolded across just 10 hours. The pressure and complexity facing these teams is only poised to grow as generative AI tools enable attackers to increase the speed, scale, and sophistication of novel attacks. With the global average cost of a data breach reaching $4.35 million in 20222, the financial, operational and reputational stakes for businesses to remediate and recover quickly are high. HEAL leverages Darktrace's Self-Learning AI to give security teams new abilities designed to build cyber resilience and help them more easily and confidently address live incidents. With HEAL, security teams can: Simulate real-world cyber incidents, allowing teams to prepare for and practice their response to complex attacks on their own environments. Create bespoke, AI-generated playbooks as an attack unfolds based on the details of their environment, the attack, and lessons learned from their previous simulations. This reduces information overload, prioritizes actions, and enables faster decision-making at critical moments. Automate actions from the response plan to rapidly stop and recover from the attack within the HEAL interface. Create a full incident report, including an audit trail of the incident response with details of the attack, actions HEAL suggested, and actions taken by the security team for future learning and to support compliance efforts. Transforming Readiness with Incident Simulations HEAL's simulated incidents are a first-of-its-kind capability for security teams to safely run live simulations of real-world cyber-attacks ranging from data theft and ransomware encryption, to rapid worm propagation, all in their own environments and involving their own assets. Security teams are expected to flawlessly manage incident response in the face of a live, rapidly unfolding, often novel attack, usually without any realistic practice. HEAL enables teams to get real-world experience managing attacks as they would happen to the business and regularly practice these procedures to help fine tune their responses. That means teams aren't running their incident response for the first time in the face of a real, live attack. Transforming Incident Response with Bespoke, AI-Generated Playbooks When a live incident does occur, HEAL will use insights from Darktrace DETECT to create a picture of the attack and a bespoke, AI-generated, response playbook, built from Darktrace's knowledge of the incident, the business's environment, and lessons learned from the security team's previous simulations. HEAL recommends the priority order for remediation actions based on factors like further damage the compromised asset can cause, how much the attack is relying on that asset as a pivot or entry point, and its importance to the business. Consequently, security teams can adapt their defenses as an incident evolves, enabling them to end it more rapidly and with less overall disruption. "The reality is that sets of manual incident response playbooks don't last very long. These days they may be outdated 24 hours after they are created, because the cyber landscape is just changing so rapidly. We constantly have to revise them because there are so many things we may not be thinking of. Moreover, these playbooks assume you have a controlled environment, which is not the case when an attack occurs. Utilizing Darktrace's AI solutions really ends the need for these coarse static playbooks," adds Neal Mohammed, Head of Technology at real estate leader Rudin Management. Transforming Recovery with Automated Remediation & Reporting HEAL further enables security teams to quickly and efficiently manage and recover from live incidents by integrating with a variety of tools in a business's wider security stack to automate actions. Within HEAL's live playbooks, teams can activate and manage authorized tools from across their environment, from a single interface with a click of a button. At launch, HEAL will integrate with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Intune, Microsoft 365, Veeam, and Acronis. HEAL provides security teams with automated incident reports during and after an attack, giving teams valuable time back that is normally spent writing detailed updates. The reports provide analysis of the attacker and security team actions, decisions, containment, and recovery information to keep stakeholders updated as an event unfolds. After an attack, this can offer essential compliance information to third parties such as forensics teams, insurance providers, and legal teams and can be used to assist with reviews and learning lessons from the attack and the response. Closing the Cyber AI Loop HEAL works with DETECT and Darktrace PREVENT to build a live picture of the environment and attack, and integrates with Darktrace RESPOND to prioritize, isolate, and heal key assets to cut off and shorten attacks. Its introduction closes Darktrace's Cyber AI Loop, bringing together DETECT, PREVENT, RESPOND, and HEAL into a single platform in which each element draws insights from and continuously reinforces the others to create a best-in-class cyber defense. Jack Stockdale, Chief Technology Officer, Darktrace comments: "At Darktrace, we build technology by looking at where AI can be the most valuable in augmenting the people in a security team and how it can have the most positive impact on their work. With HEAL, we've turned our attention to cyber resilience. We're upskilling teams and reducing the overload analysts face during an attack, to help them recover and get back to business faster and more effectively. With the closing of Darktrace's full Cyber AI Loop, security teams can maximize the time and talent of their human teams, enabling them to focus on critical and complex tasks with the knowledge that Darktrace AI is autonomously working in the background to prevent, detect, respond, and heal from cyber-attacks in a continuous, reinforcing loop." To learn more about Darktrace HEAL and the Darktrace Cyber AI Loop, register for the launch event on August 3. About Darktrace Darktrace (DARK.L), a global leader in cyber security artificial intelligence, is on a mission to free the world of cyber disruption. Breakthrough innovations in our Cyber AI Research Centre in Cambridge, UK have resulted in over 145 patents filed and research published to contribute to the cyber security community. Rather than study attacks, Darktrace's technology continuously learns and updates its knowledge of 'you' and applies that understanding to optimise your state of optimal cyber security. Darktrace is delivering the first ever Cyber AI Loop, fuelling a continuous end-to-end security capability that can autonomously spot and respond to novel in-progress threats within seconds. Darktrace employs over 2,200 people around the world and protects approximately 8,800 customers globally from advanced cyber threats. Darktrace was named one of TIME magazine's 'Most Influential Companies' in 2021. To learn more, visit http://www.darktrace.com. 1A Black Cat attack on a customer, identified by Darktrace's Cyber AI Analyst in April 2023 2IBM and Ponemon Institute, Cost of a Data Breach 2022: https://www.ibm.com/downloads/cas/3R8N1DZJ SOURCE Darktrace NEW YORK, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SUISA Digital Licensing and Domino Publishing Company have partnered with a digital licensing deal for the Domino Publishing catalogue in Europe. On behalf of Domino Publishing, SUISA Digital will negotiate agreements with online service providers in the markets throughout the continent. This partnership will be administered by Mint Digital Services, an alliance between Swiss authors' rights society SUISA and the American music rights organization SESAC. Mint administers licenses for online services in over 200 territories with state-of-the-art technology. Domino Publishing Company was launched in 2005 and is fiercely independent. With offices in London, Paris, New York and Los Angeles, Domino is currently the worldwide publisher or administrator of 50,000 works across a diverse roster including Wet Leg, Adrianne Lenker (Big Thief), Devonte Hynes (Blood Orange), Bob Moses, Steven Severin (Siouxsie and the Banshees), Dice Raw (The Roots), The Kills, Animal Collective, Jon Hopkins, Mica Levi, The Coral, The Jesus and Mary Chain, the Arthur Russell catalogue and even the Poet Laureate to King Charles III; Simon Armitage. As well as international evergreen hits by The Human League ("Don't You Want Me"), Rascal Flatts ("My Wish"), Paul Hardcastle ("Nineteen"), and Nirvana ("Molly's Lips"). Paul Lambden, Director, Domino Publishing Company: "Mint impressed us with their detailed knowledge, technology and infrastructure. They share our obsession with and care of data that will enable our writers to earn more digital income across Europe than ever before." Vincent Salvade, Member of the Board, at SUISA Digital Licensing: "At SUISA and Mint we strive every day to provide our partners with state-of-the-art technology solutions and with a personalized customer experience and we are thrilled to welcome Domino Publishing Company, one of the most exciting independent publishers, to our family." Alexander Wolf, Member of the Board, at Mint: "We at Mint are happy to offer our services to Domino Publishing and we are looking forward to a successful collaboration." For Media enquiries: Naomi Moran T +41 44 559 10 01 E-Mail: [email protected] About SUISA Digital Licensing The music licensing organisation SUISA Digital Licensing (SUISA Digital for short) is a subsidiary of SUISA, the cooperative society for authors and publishers of music in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. SUISA Digital, having its registered office in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, represents the online rights to musical works by composers, lyricists and publishers from 15 copyright societies and several publishers worldwide. SUISA Digital licenses internet platforms worldwide and has contracts with over 80 online service providers, amongst others Youtube, Spotify, Apple Music, or Meta (formerly Facebook). www.suisa.ch About Mint Digital Services Mint Digital Services is the alliance between the only U.S. Music Rights Organization (MRO), SESAC and the Swiss collective management organization, SUISA. Mint is one of the leading administrators for licenses to use musical compositions in online music services on behalf of publishers, Collective-Management Organizations (CMOs) or Independent Management Entities (IMEs). SOURCE SESAC Music Group IPSY Veteran Alex Hoimes Joins Executive Team BOSTON, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Drivepoint, the only strategic finance SaaS platform built specifically for modern consumer brands, today announced Alex Hoimes will join the company as Vice President, Finance and Operations, responsible for supporting Drivepoint's customer portfolio with a focus on beauty and personal care brands. Hoimes will also lead the company's growing internal finance and operations functions. Hoimes joins from IPSY , the largest beauty subscription company in the world, and his hire signals Drivepoint's plan to expand its already robust roster of beauty and personal care customers, including Geologie , Mad Rabbit , and Freebird . Drivepoint is changing the way that scaling DTC brands manage strategic finance through its powerful modeling software and expertise that delivers the value of an internal team at 1/6th the cost. Hoimes was the first finance hire at IPSY, where he led FP&A, strategy, and corporate development. Over six years at the company, Hoimes was responsible for significant market share expansion and enhanced profitability. He led the acquisition of BoxyCharm to grow the company's reach to 30 million beauty enthusiasts, and helped profitably scale the business to over $1B in revenue. "I was instantly drawn to what Drivepoint is building because I'm a huge believer in the value of strategic finance," says Hoimes. "Smart forecasting is critical. You can have the best product in the world, but if you're a smaller brand and you spend too much or too little on inventory, marketing, headcount, or anything else, you can quickly fail. For the first time, companies can get world-class FP&A capabilities without a costly finance team. I've never seen a solution that delivers on this promise like Drivepoint does, and I'm thrilled to join the team." "I'm excited to welcome Alex to Drivepoint and get him partnering directly with our beauty customers to bring their forecasting and capital allocation decisioning to another level," says Drivepoint CEO Austin Gardner-Smith. "Beauty and personal care brands make key decisions around inventory planning and omnichannel expansion every day. Alex's on-the-ground experience at a DTC brand in this space will be invaluable as we build on our success in the beauty sector and continue on our path to be the go-to strategic finance platform for consumer brands." Drivepoint has a proven track record within the beauty and personal case industry, helping companies like Geologie unlock significant profit efficiencies as they grow their business. To explore how Drivepoint can help your company, visit drivepoint.io . ABOUT DRIVEPOINT Drivepoint is a leading software company offering the only strategic finance platform purpose-built for scaling consumer brands. Based in Boston and founded in 2021, Drivepoint delivers modern financial modeling, forecasting, and reporting technology for growing brands like Oats Overnight, Geologie, Immi, Branch, and Bright Cellars. To learn more, visit drivepoint.io . SOURCE Drivepoint IRVINE, Calif., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE: EW) today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. Highlights and Outlook Q2 sales grew 11 percent to $1.53 billion ; constant currency 1 sales grew 12 percent ; constant currency sales grew 12 percent All product groups achieved double digit constant currency sales growth in Q2 Q2 TAVR sales grew 9 percent; constant currency sales grew 10 percent Q2 EPS of $0.50 (includes charge from previous IP agreement); adjusted 1 EPS of $0.66 (includes charge from previous IP agreement); adjusted EPS of Encouraging data from Edwards' Benchmark Registry at the EuroPCR medical congress New 2023 constant currency sales growth guidance of 10 to 13 percent "We are pleased to report strong second quarter double-digit sales growth while also making meaningful progress on our innovations to improve patient care globally," said Bernard Zovighian, CEO. "This positive first-half performance and improved healthcare staffing gives us increased confidence in our full-year outlook. Looking beyond 2023, we remain confident that our foundation of innovative therapies along with a differentiated technology pipeline positions us well for continued longer-term success." Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) For the quarter, the company reported TAVR sales of $992 million, which grew 9 percent versus the prior year, or 10 percent on a constant currency basis. The company's U.S. and OUS sales growth rates were comparable. Globally, on a constant currency basis, the company's average selling prices were stable. In the U.S., Edwards' TAVR sales were aided by improved hospital staffing levels and the continued successful launch of SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA, which remains on track to represent the majority of the company's U.S. TAVR sales before year end. Outside the U.S., in the second quarter, Edwards had positive constant currency sales growth from all regions, although lower than expected growth in Japan. The company sees excellent opportunities for international growth as the traditionally low adoption rates improve. During the quarter, at the EuroPCR medical congress, data on the Benchmark Registry were presented on 2,400 patients treated with SAPIEN valves across 28 European centers. Patients experienced a 33 percent reduction in the median hospital length of stay while maintaining 30-day clinical outcomes. Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies (TMTT) In the second quarter, the company continued to successfully deliver on its three key value drivers to treat even more patients suffering from mitral and tricuspid disease: a portfolio of differentiated therapies, positive clinical trial results to support approvals and adoption, and favorable real-world clinical outcomes. Second quarter sales were $48 million, driven by overall transcatheter edge-to-edge repair procedure growth as well as the ongoing launch and growing adoption of the PASCAL Precision system in Europe and the U.S. The company continues to expect one-year data from the full cohort of the CLASP IID pivotal trial will be presented later this year. Edwards remains on track for European approval of the EVOQUE tricuspid valve by the end of 2023. Surgical Structural Heart and Critical Care Surgical Structural Heart sales for the quarter were $256 million, which grew 12 percent, or 13 percent on a constant currency basis. The growth was driven by adoption of Edwards' premium RESILIA based products across all regions. Critical Care sales for the quarter were $235 million, which grew 11 percent, or 13 percent on a constant currency basis. Sales growth was led by the Smart Recovery technology portfolio and strong adoption of the Acumen IQ sensor. Additional Financial Results For the quarter, the adjusted gross profit margin was 77.7 percent, compared to 80.5 percent in the same period last year. As expected, this year-over-year reduction was driven by a less favorable impact from foreign exchange. Selling, general and administrative expenses in the second quarter were $469 million, or 30.6 percent of sales, compared to $409 million in the prior year. This increase was driven by performance-based compensation and investments in transcatheter field-based personnel in support of the company's growth strategy. Research and development expenses in the second quarter were $270 million, or 17.7 percent of sales, compared to $251 million in the prior year. This increase was primarily the result of continued investments in the company's transcatheter aortic valve innovations, including increased clinical trial activity. As previously announced, in April, Edwards entered into an intellectual property agreement. In consideration for the agreement, Edwards made a $300 million payment, approximately half of which has been expensed, while the other half is being amortized over the next 15 years. Adjusted free cash flow for the second quarter was $286 million, defined as cash flow from operating activities of $34 million, less capital spending of $48 million, and excluding a $300 million payment related to the intellectual property agreement. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $1.5 billion as of June 30, 2023. Total debt was approximately $600 million. Outlook Overall, given the improving environment and strong first half performance, the company now expects full year 2023 sales to be in the $5.9 to $6.1 billion range, versus the prior guidance of the high end of $5.6 to $6.0 billion. The company now expects full-year total company and TAVR sales growth to be in the 10 to 13 percent range on a constant currency basis, versus previous guidance of 10 to 12 percent. The company now expects TAVR sales of $3.85 to $4.0 billion; TMTT, $180 to $200 million; and Surgical Structural Heart, $960 million to $1.02 billion. The company reiterated its full-year Critical Care guidance of $870 to $940 million. Additionally, the company is lifting its full year 2023 adjusted earnings per share guidance to $2.50 to $2.60, compared to its previous guidance range of $2.48 to $2.60. For the third quarter of 2023, the company projects total sales to be between $1.44 and $1.52 billion, and adjusted EPS of $0.55 to $0.61. "The exciting developments during the first half of the year reinforce our confidence in our patient-focused innovation strategy and our longer-term outlook, and we anticipate a year of value creation as we pursue important therapies that will benefit many more patients. We look forward to launching a number of differentiated technologies, as well as achieving important milestones across all of our product lines," said Zovighian. About Edwards Lifesciences Edwards Lifesciences is the global leader of patient-focused innovations for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring. We are driven by a passion for patients, dedicated to improving and enhancing lives through partnerships with clinicians and stakeholders across the global healthcare landscape. For more information, visit Edwards.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. Conference Call and Webcast Information Edwards Lifesciences will be hosting a conference call today at 2:00 p.m. PT to discuss its second quarter results. To participate in the conference call, dial (877) 704-2848 or (201) 389-0893. The call will also be available live and archived on the "Investor Relations" section of the Edwards web site at ir.edwards.com or www.edwards.com. This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements can sometimes be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "should," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "project," "estimate," "forecast," "potential," "predict," "early clinician feedback," "expect," "intend," "guidance," "outlook," "optimistic," "aspire," "confident" or other forms of these words or similar expressions and include, but are not limited to, statements made by Mr. Zovighian, third quarter and full year 2023 financial guidance, statements regarding the international adoption of TAVR, statements regarding transforming patient treatment, approvals, clinical outcomes, adoption, and the information in the Outlook section. No inferences or assumptions should be made from statements of past performance, efforts, or results which may not be indicative of future performance or results. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by management of the company and are believed to be reasonable, though they are inherently uncertain, difficult to predict, and may be outside of the company's control. The company's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement. If the company does update or correct one or more of these statements, investors and others should not conclude that the company will make additional updates or corrections. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or experience to differ materially from that expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or experience to differ materially from that expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include risk and uncertainties associated with the COVID pandemic, clinical trial or commercial results or new product approvals and therapy adoption; unpredictability of product launches; competitive dynamics; changes to reimbursement for the company's products; the company's success in developing new products and avoiding manufacturing supply and quality issues; the impact of currency exchange rates; the timing or results of R&D and clinical trials; unanticipated actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies; unexpected litigation impacts or expenses; and other risks detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and its other filings with the SEC. These filings, along with important safety information about our products, may be found at edwards.com. Edwards, Edwards Lifesciences, the stylized E logo, CLASP, EVOQUE, PASCAL, PASCAL Precision, RESILIA, SAPIEN, SAPIEN 3, SAPIEN 3 Ultra, and SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. [1] "Adjusted" amounts are non-GAAP items. "Underlying" and "constant currency" growth rates in this press release exclude foreign exchange fluctuations. Adjusted earnings per share is a non-GAAP item computed on a diluted basis and in this press release also excludes an intellectual property agreement and litigation expenses, amortization of intangible assets, and fair value adjustments to contingent consideration liabilities arising from acquisitions. See "Non-GAAP Financial Information" and reconciliation tables below. EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations (in millions, except per share data) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net sales $ 1,530.2 $ 1,373.9 $ 2,989.8 $ 2,715.1 Cost of sales 343.0 269.4 672.5 568.7 Gross profit 1,187.2 1,104.5 2,317.3 2,146.4 Selling, general, and administrative expenses 468.7 409.0 905.0 779.3 Research and development expenses 270.3 250.8 531.5 479.4 Intellectual property agreement and litigation expense 147.9 6.1 191.4 13.2 Change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities (26.9) (20.9) (26.2) (23.8) Operating income 327.2 459.5 715.6 898.3 Interest income, net (9.1) (0.9) (17.7) (1.5) Other income, net (2.2) (4.3) (3.8) (1.0) Income before provision for income taxes 338.5 464.7 737.1 900.8 Provision for income taxes 33.0 58.3 91.1 120.8 Net income 305.5 406.4 $ 646.0 $ 780.0 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (1.6) (1.6) Net income attributable to Edwards Lifesciences Corporation $ 307.1 $ 406.4 $ 647.6 $ 780.0 Earnings per share: Basic $ 0.51 $ 0.65 $ 1.07 $ 1.26 Diluted $ 0.50 $ 0.65 $ 1.06 $ 1.24 Weighted-average common shares outstanding: Basic 606.9 620.9 607.2 621.5 Diluted 610.3 626.7 610.6 628.1 Operating statistics As a percentage of net sales: Gross profit 77.6 % 80.4 % 77.5 % 79.1 % Selling, general, and administrative expenses 30.6 % 29.8 % 30.3 % 28.7 % Research and development expenses 17.7 % 18.3 % 17.8 % 17.7 % Operating income 21.4 % 33.4 % 23.9 % 33.1 % Income before provision for income taxes 22.1 % 33.8 % 24.7 % 33.2 % Net income 20.0 % 29.6 % 21.6 % 28.7 % Effective tax rate 9.7 % 12.5 % 12.4 % 13.4 % Note: Numbers may not calculate due to rounding. EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION Unaudited Balance Sheets (in millions) June 30, 2023 December 31, 2022 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,042.6 $ 769.0 Short-term investments 466.7 446.3 Accounts receivables, net 754.4 643.0 Other receivables 62.5 56.1 Inventories 980.2 875.5 Prepaid expenses 123.2 110.0 Other current assets 217.4 195.9 Total current assets 3,647.0 3,095.8 Long-term investments 856.2 1,239.0 Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,662.2 1,632.8 Operating lease right-of-use assets 84.9 92.3 Goodwill 1,299.5 1,164.3 Other intangible assets, net 431.4 285.2 Deferred income taxes 610.7 484.0 Other assets 412.1 299.1 Total assets $ 9,004.0 $ 8,292.5 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 1,132.9 $ 996.9 Operating lease liabilities 24.3 25.5 Total current liabilities 1,157.2 1,022.4 Long-term debt 596.7 596.3 Contingent consideration liabilities 26.2 Taxes payable 81.2 143.4 Operating lease liabilities 63.5 69.5 Uncertain tax positions 303.7 267.5 Litigation agreement accrual 112.5 143.0 Other liabilities 242.7 217.5 Total liabilities 2,557.5 2,485.8 Stockholders' equity Common stock 649.1 646.3 Additional paid-in capital 2,145.5 1,969.3 Retained earnings 8,237.6 7,590.0 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (255.5) (254.9) Treasury stock, at cost (4,401.0) (4,144.0) Total Edwards Lifesciences Corporation stockholders' equity 6,375.7 5,806.7 Noncontrolling interest 70.8 Total equity 6,446.5 5,806.7 Total liabilities and equity $ 9,004.0 $ 8,292.5 EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION Non-GAAP Financial Information To supplement the consolidated financial results prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), the Company uses non-GAAP historical financial measures. Management makes adjustments to the GAAP measures for items (both charges and gains) that (a) do not reflect the core operational activities of the Company, (b) are commonly adjusted within the Company's industry to enhance comparability of the Company's financial results with those of its peer group, or (c) are inconsistent in amount or frequency between periods (albeit such items are monitored and controlled with equal diligence relative to core operations). The Company uses the term "underlying" when referring to non-GAAP sales and sales growth information, which excludes currency exchange rate fluctuations. The Company uses the term "adjusted" to also exclude intellectual property litigation expenses, intellectual property agreements, amortization of intangible assets, and fair value adjustments to contingent consideration liabilities arising from acquisitions. Management uses non-GAAP financial measures internally for strategic decision making, forecasting future results, and evaluating current performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are used in addition to, and in conjunction with, results presented in accordance with GAAP and reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of the Company's operations by investors that, when viewed with its GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting the Company's business and facilitate comparability to historical periods. Non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP; therefore, the information is not necessarily comparable to other companies and should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of non-GAAP historical financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measure is provided in the tables below. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates impact the comparative results and sales growth rates of the Company's underlying business. Management believes that excluding the impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations from its sales growth provides investors a more useful comparison to historical financial results. The impact of the fluctuations has been detailed in the "Reconciliation of Sales by Product Group and Region." Guidance for sales and sales growth rates is provided on an "underlying basis," and projections for diluted earnings per share, net income and growth, gross profit margin, taxes, and free cash flow are also provided on a non-GAAP basis, as adjusted, for the items identified above due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting such items without unreasonable efforts. The Company is not able to provide a reconciliation of the non-GAAP guidance to comparable GAAP measures due to the unknown effect, timing, and potential significance of special charges or gains, and management's inability to forecast charges associated with future transactions and initiatives. Management considers free cash flow to be a liquidity measure which provides useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated by business operations, after deducting payments for capital expenditures, which can then be used for strategic opportunities or other business purposes including, among others, investing in the Company's business, making strategic acquisitions, strengthening the balance sheet, and repurchasing stock. The items described below are adjustments to the GAAP financial results in the reconciliations that follow: Intellectual Property Litigation Expenses - The Company incurred intellectual property litigation expenses of $6.5 million and $7.1 million in the first quarter of 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $8.9 million and $6.1 million in the second quarter of 2023 and 2022, respectively. Change in Fair Value of Contingent Consideration Liabilities - The Company recorded expense of $0.7 million and a gain of $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2023 and 2022, respectively, and gains of $26.9 million and $20.9 million in the second quarter of 2023 and 2022, respectively, related to changes in the fair value of its contingent consideration liabilities arising from acquisitions. Amortization of Intangible Assets - The Company recorded amortization expense related to developed technology and patents in the amount of $1.5 million and $1.7 million in the first quarter of 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $1.3 million and $1.2 million in the second quarter of 2023 and 2022, respectively. Intellectual Property Agreement - The Company recorded a $37.0 million charge and a $139.0 million charge in the first and second quarter of 2023, respectively, related to an Intellectual Property Agreement with Medtronic, Inc. for a 15-year covenant not to sue. Provision for Income Taxes - The income tax impact of the expenses and gains discussed above is based upon the items' forecasted effect upon the Company's full year effective tax rate. Adjustments to forecasted items unrelated to the expenses and gains above, as well as impacts related to interim reporting, will have an effect on the income tax impact of these items in subsequent periods. EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Information (in millions, except per share and percentage data) Three Months Ended June 30, 2023 Net Sales Gross Profit Margin Operating Income Net Income Attributable to Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Diluted EPS Effective Tax Rate GAAP $ 1,530.2 77.6 % $ 327.2 $ 307.1 $ 0.50 9.7 % Non-GAAP adjustments: (A) (B) Intellectual property agreement 139.0 111.7 0.19 2.8 Intellectual property litigation expenses 8.9 7.0 0.01 0.3 Change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities (26.9) (24.8) (0.04) 0.2 Amortization of intangible assets 0.1 1.3 1.0 0.1 Adjusted $ 1,530.2 77.7 % $ 449.5 $ 402.0 $ 0.66 13.1 % Three Months Ended June 30, 2022 Net Sales Gross Profit Margin Operating Income Net Income Attributable to Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Diluted EPS Effective Tax Rate GAAP $ 1,373.9 80.4 % $ 459.5 $ 406.4 $ 0.65 12.5 % Non-GAAP adjustments: (A) (B) Intellectual property litigation expenses 6.1 4.8 0.01 0.1 Change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities (20.9) (19.3) (0.03) 0.3 Amortization of intangible assets 0.1 1.2 1.0 Adjusted $ 1,373.9 80.5 % $ 445.9 $ 392.9 $ 0.63 12.9 % Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 Net Sales Gross Profit Margin Operating Income Net Income Attributable to Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Diluted EPS Effective Tax Rate GAAP $ 2,989.8 77.5 % $ 715.6 $ 647.6 $ 1.06 12.4 % Non-GAAP adjustments: (A) (B) Intellectual property agreement 176.0 142.2 0.24 1.4 Intellectual property litigation expenses 15.4 12.3 0.02 0.1 Change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities (26.2) (24.2) (0.04) 0.1 Amortization of intangible assets 0.1 2.8 2.3 Adjusted $ 2,989.8 77.6 % $ 883.6 $ 780.2 $ 1.28 14.0 % Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 Net Sales Gross Profit Margin Operating Income Net Income Attributable to Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Diluted EPS Effective Tax Rate GAAP $ 2,715.1 79.1 % $ 898.3 $ 780.0 $ 1.24 13.4 % Non-GAAP adjustments: (A) (B) Intellectual property litigation expenses 13.2 10.6 0.02 0.1 Change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities (23.8) (21.9) (0.03) 0.1 Amortization of intangible assets 0.1 2.9 2.5 Adjusted $ 2,715.1 79.2 % $ 890.6 $ 771.2 $ 1.23 13.6 % (A) See description of non-GAAP adjustments under "Non-GAAP Financial Information." (B) The tax effect on non-GAAP adjustments is calculated based upon the impact of the relevant tax jurisdictions' statutory tax rates on the Company's estimated annual effective tax rate, or discrete rate in the quarter, as applicable. The impact on the effective tax rate is reflected on each individual non-GAAP adjustment line item. RECONCILIATION OF SALES BY PRODUCT GROUP AND REGION 2022 Adjusted Sales by Product Group (QTD) 2Q 2023 2Q 2022 Change GAAP Growth Rate* FX Impact 2Q 2022 Adjusted Sales Underlying Growth Rate * Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement $ 991.6 $ 906.9 $ 84.7 9.3 % $ (3.3) $ 903.6 9.8 % Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies 47.6 27.9 19.7 71.4 % 0.3 28.2 69.2 % Surgical Structural Heart 256.3 228.5 27.8 12.2 % (2.1) 226.4 13.3 % Critical Care 234.7 210.6 24.1 11.4 % (2.5) 208.1 12.8 % Total $ 1,530.2 $ 1,373.9 $ 156.3 11.4 % $ (7.6) $ 1,366.3 12.1 % 2022 Adjusted Sales by Product Group (YTD) YTD 2Q 2023 YTD 2Q 2022 Change GAAP Growth Rate* FX Impact YTD 2Q 2022 Adjusted Sales Underlying Growth Rate * Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement $ 1,939.5 $ 1,788.2 $ 151.3 8.5 % $ (28.5) $ 1,759.7 10.3 % Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies 89.2 54.9 34.3 62.6 % (0.8) 54.1 65.1 % Surgical Structural Heart 504.5 449.3 55.2 12.3 % (10.5) 438.8 15.0 % Critical Care 456.6 422.7 33.9 8.0 % (11.3) 411.4 11.1 % Total $ 2,989.8 $ 2,715.1 $ 274.7 10.1 % $ (51.1) $ 2,664.0 12.3 % 2022 Adjusted Sales by Region (QTD) 2Q 2023 2Q 2022 Change GAAP Growth Rate* FX Impact 2Q 2022 Adjusted Sales Underlying Growth Rate * United States $ 895.3 $ 800.8 $ 94.5 11.8 % $ $ 800.8 11.8 % Europe 336.2 302.8 33.4 11.0 % 4.2 307.0 9.5 % Japan 117.9 122.9 (5.0) (4.1) % (4.6) 118.3 (0.3) % Rest of World 180.8 147.4 33.4 22.8 % (7.2) 140.2 28.9 % Outside of the United States 634.9 573.1 61.8 10.8 % (7.6) 565.5 12.4 % Total $ 1,530.2 $ 1,373.9 $ 156.3 11.4 % $ (7.6) $ 1,366.3 12.1 % 2022 Adjusted Sales by Region (YTD) YTD 2Q 2023 YTD 2Q 2022 Change GAAP Growth Rate* FX Impact YTD 2Q 2022 Adjusted Sales Underlying Growth Rate * United States $ 1,744.4 $ 1,550.3 $ 194.1 12.5 % $ $ 1,550.3 12.5 % Europe 667.3 613.9 53.4 8.7 % (14.1) 599.8 11.3 % Japan 232.0 258.4 (26.4) (10.2) % (23.2) 235.2 (1.4) % Rest of World 346.1 292.5 53.6 18.3 % (13.8) 278.7 24.2 % Outside of the United States 1,245.4 1,164.8 80.6 6.9 % (51.1) 1,113.7 12.0 % Total $ 2,989.8 $ 2,715.1 $ 274.7 10.1 % $ (51.1) $ 2,664.0 12.3 % * Numbers may not calculate due to rounding. SOURCE Edwards Lifesciences Corporation FORT WORTH, Texas, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Element8, a leading next-generation internet service provider (ISP), backed by a $200 million strategic investment from Digital Alpha, has announced its strategic investment into Wisper ISP, led by industry visionary Nathan Stooke. This transformative partnership marks a significant milestone for the telecommunications industry and strengthens Element8's commitment to expanding high-speed broadband access across the United States. ELEMENT8 ACCELERATES NATIONAL EXPANSION WITH TRANSFORMATIONAL INVESTMENT INTO WISPER ISP Tweet this Restart your internet experience with element8 The partnership with Wisper ISP represents a leap forward in Element8's national expansion strategy. By joining forces with Wisper ISP, Element8 will leverage its expertise, infrastructure, and operational excellence to deliver unparalleled connectivity solutions to the heartland. This strategic move enables Element8's mission of bridging the digital divide and empowering regions with next-generation broadband technology. "We are extremely excited about the future of Wisper and the opportunities it presents for both companies," said Kevin Grace, CEO and President of Element8. "Nathan Stooke and his team at Wisper ISP have established an impressive reputation for providing reliable internet services to rural communities along with thought leadership and service, industry-wide. Together, we will amplify our impact, bringing fast and reliable broadband to even more households, businesses, and educational institutions." Wisper ISP has been an effective steward of the $220 million Connect America Funds II (CAF) award by continuing to build on its network of more than 500 towers and providing next-generation connectivity to rural communities. This investment and the future work together represents an ideal way for private investment to complement public funding to reach as many unserved and underserved customers as possible. Nathan Stooke, Founder and CEO of Wisper ISP, expressed his enthusiasm for the investment, stating, "Over the last 20 years, the Wisper team and I have worked to build Wisper into the company that it is today, and this new partnership is an exciting next chapter that will be positive for customers, employees, and the wireless industry as a whole." "Partnering with a company that has a shared vision and aligned values on how to treat our employees and customers, while we solve the digital divide will be an energizing opportunity. We are combining both our federal and state funds with private investment to maximize both in pursuit of connecting the communities that so badly need it," he continued. While technology agnostic, with this strategic partnership and investment, Element8 is poised to scale within the broadband industry with Tarana's ngFWA platform. The company's advanced next-generation fixed wireless access network, powered by a Cisco core and access network, will help residents and businesses to thrive in the digital age, fostering economic growth, enabling remote work and education, and enhancing the overall quality of life. "This investment demonstrates Element8 and Digital Alpha's partnership approach in the industry as we focus on funding digital infrastructure deployments that are enabling digital transformation across local communities," said Rick Shrotri, Founder and Managing Partner at Digital Alpha Advisors. "We are excited to bring together a tested technology solution to build a national, next generation network," he continued. In addition to the $1.5 billion assets under management, Digital Alpha brings strategic partnerships with Silicon Valley industry leaders focused on next-generation networks, cloud, IoT, and smart city platforms to bring complete solutions to meet every stakeholder's needs in this new era of connectivity. "Cisco recognizes the transformative power of high-speed broadband connectivity for rural communities. We are thrilled to see private investors complement public funding, making for more efficient and impactful investment to help bridge the digital divide in the United States," said Brian Rueger, Senior Director, Service Provider Sales at Cisco. "We look forward to continuing our work with Element8 to change the economics of the internet with a converged network architecture approach to help meet our shared goals for a more inclusive future for all." Wisper was represented by Jeff Santoro and Chris Mullaly, investment bankers at Four Points Capital Partners, a FINRA member broker-dealer. For more information about Element8 and its mission to revolutionize broadband connectivity, please visit www.e8internet.com. About Element8 Element8 (E8) is a telecommunications company founded on a promise: to be a team that offers high-quality telecom services and makes a major difference in our communities. The company specializes in providing high-speed broadband network connections to tertiary and rural markets through a variety of cutting-edge technologies. The company is based in Fort Worth, Texas, and serves clients globally. Element8 is known as Oxygen (Atomic Element 8) on the periodic table. For more information, please visit www.e8internet.com. About Wisper ISP Wisper ISP is a rural internet service provider headquartered in Mascoutah, Illinois. The company provides services across underserved communities in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. www.wisperisp.com/about/. About Digital Alpha Advisors Digital Alpha Advisors, LLC is an investment firm focused on digital infrastructure required by the rapidly expanding digital economy, with total assets under management of over $1.5 billion. The firm has a strategic collaboration agreement with Cisco Systems, Inc. and has partnered with other leading Silicon Valley firms. Digital Alpha believes it is the first firm focused on making private equity investments in the significant growth opportunities required to underpin the Digital Economy, including next generation communications networks, IoT platforms for urban infrastructure, and cloud-based data management platforms. Digital Alpha was founded in 2017 by Rick Shrotri, former Head of the Global Infrastructure Funds (GIF) team at Cisco, and closed its latest Fund Digital Alpha Fund II, LP in early 2021. For more information, please visit www.digitalalpha.net. Contact: For Element8 E8 Media Relations [email protected] SOURCE Element8 Technology Investment Group JERSEY CITY, N.J., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. announces the release of the market assessment report on "Global Fermentation Enabled Alternative Protein Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Process (Precision, Biomass, and Traditional Fermentation), By Application (Food (Dairy, Meat, Egg white, others) Market Outlook And Industry Analysis 2031" According to the latest research by InsightAce Analytic, the Global Fermentation Enabled Alternative Protein Market Size is valued at US$ 370.39 Mn in 2022, and it is expected to reach US$ 1191.06 Mn in 2031, recording a promising CAGR of 14% during the forecast period of 2023-2031. The fermentation process uses microbial organisms to break down compounds and produce proteins, or specialized ingredients, such as flavourings, enzymes, proteins, and fats, for incorporation into plant-based products or cultivated meat. The fermentation-enabled alternative protein market players most commonly imply traditional biomass and precision fermentation. Plant-derived ingredients are created and processed by using microorganisms in traditional fermentation. Biomass fermentation effectively produces significant amounts of protein by utilizing microorganisms' rapid growth and high protein content. Whereas specially designed microorganisms are used in precision fermentation to produce functional ingredients. Most market players have been developing fermentation methods to produce alternative proteins in the past five years, with over 50 players in the industry (the majority concentrating in the US). Key players in this sector are partnering with companies across the globe to drive investment, accelerate innovation, improve product taste, and scale the supply chain, all faster than market forces alone would allow. The result will be better quality and price of end products, boosting further adoption. Request for Sample Pages: https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/request-sample/1928 Some of the prominent players in the Fermentation Enabled Alternative Protein Market are: Better Dairy Bolder Foods Bosque Foods GmbH GmbH Clara Food (EVERY Company) Geltor Impossible Foods MeliBio Melt&Marble Mighty Drinks Tofurky ( Aquired by Morinaga Nutritional Foods) Aquired Morinaga Mycorena Nature's Fynd Noblegen NoPalm Ingredients Nourish Ingredients Nutropy Odontella Perfect Day Planterra Prime Roots Quorn Other Prominent Players Fermentation Enabled Alternative Protein Market Report Scope Report Attribute Specifications Market Size Value In 2022 USD 370.39 Mn Revenue Forecast In 2031 USD 1191.06 Mn Growth Rate CAGR CAGR of 14 % from 2023 to 2031 Quantitative Units Representation of revenue in US$ Million and CAGR from 2023 to 2031 Historic Year 2019 to 2022 Forecast Year 2023-2031 Report Coverage The forecast of revenue, the position of the company, the competitive market structure, growth prospects, and trends Segments Covered By Process, By Application Regional Scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; Middle East & Africa Country Scope U.S.; Canada; U.K.; Germany; China; India; Japan; Brazil; Mexico; The UK; France; Italy; Spain; China; Japan; India; South Korea; South East Asia; South Korea; South East Asia Competitive Landscape Better Dairy, Bolder Foods, Bosque Foods GmbH, Clara Food, Geltor, Impossible Foods, MeliBio, Melt&Marble, Mighty Drinks, Tofurky, Mycorena, Nature's Fynd, Noblegen, Noma, NoPalm Ingredients, Nourish Ingredients, Nutropy, Odontella, Perfect Day, Planterra, Prime Roots, Quorn, and others Customization Scope Free customization report with the procurement of the report, Modifications to the regional and segment scope. Particular Geographic competitive landscape. Pricing and Available Payment Methods Explore pricing alternatives that are customized to your particular study requirements. Curious about this latest version of the report? Enquiry Before Buying: https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/enquiry-before-buying/1928 Market Dynamics: Drivers: The Fermentation Enabled Alternative Protein Market is driven by increasing consumer demand for alternative proteins that are as delicious, affordable, and accessible as conventional products. Furthermore, the high demand for sustainable & eco-friendly products, increasing demand for plant-based and alternative dairy products, advancements in fermentation technologies, and R&D efforts for alternative protein improvements are accelerating the market growth. Increasing Consumer Demand For Alternative Proteins Changing consumer behaviour and interest in alternative-protein sourcesdue to health and environmental considerations and animal welfare have made way for growth in the fermentation-enabled alternative protein market. Moreover, precision fermentation allows for producing plant-based products high in protein, such as meat substitutes, without the need for animal agriculture. Challenges: Most consumers prefer traditional production methods and are unwilling to switch to alternative products, even if they are more sustainable and eco-friendly. To overcome such challenges, companies need to focus on creating awareness about the safety and benefits of alternative proteins and developing products that meet consumer preferences & taste expectations. This could involve conducting taste tests, consumer surveys and investing more in marketing & advertising to get feedback and make improvements. The cost of production, complicated extraction processes, and region-wise changes in regulatory standards are also concerns of this market. Regional Trends: The North American fermentation-enabled alternative protein market is expected to grow at the fastest growth rate over the forecast period. The market's growth is primarily driven by increased demand for sustainable and alternative protein sources and technological advancements. In addition, the Europe market holds the second-highest revenue share of the fermentation-enabled alternative protein market. This development can be attributed to the growing investments in R&D, increasing consumer preferences for sustainable & eco-friendly products, and the increasing public awareness regarding the benefits of plant-based food products. Key Developments In The Market: In March 2023 , Impossible Foods launched its leanest, most protein-packed beef from plants. Impossible Beef Lite, made from plants, has 75% less saturated fat than lean beef made from animals, no cholesterol, & a lighter footprint on the planet. , Impossible Foods launched its leanest, most protein-packed beef from plants. Impossible Beef Lite, made from plants, has 75% less saturated fat than lean beef made from animals, no cholesterol, & a lighter footprint on the planet. In May 2022 , Melt&Marble advanced the production of fermentation-derived animal fats and secured a 5M round. Melt&Marble's precision fermentation platform enables it to create customized fats with molecular properties mirroring those of animal fats, allowing for ingredients that deliver the flavour, melt, and mouthfeel of natural animal fat. , Melt&Marble advanced the production of fermentation-derived animal fats and secured a 5M round. Melt&Marble's precision fermentation platform enables it to create customized fats with molecular properties mirroring those of animal fats, allowing for ingredients that deliver the flavour, melt, and mouthfeel In March 2021 , Nourish Ingredients raised $11M USD to create sustainable, better-tasting, animal-free fats. The company uses fermentation to develop sustainably-sourced fat compounds for use in plant-based alternative protein food products. Market Segments Market Size (Value US$ Mn) & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2023 to 2031 based on Process Precision fermentation Biomass fermentation Traditional Fermentation Market Size (Value US$ Mn) & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2023 to 2031 based on Application Dairy Meat Egg white Others (Beverages, Snacks And Cereals, Fats & Oils, Collagen, Gelatin, Animal Feed, Aquaculture ) Market Size (Value US$ Mn) & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2023 to 2031 based on Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa North America Fermentation Enabled Alternative Protein Market Revenue (US$ Million) by Country, 2023 to 2031 U.S. Canada Europe Fermentation Enabled Alternative Protein Market Revenue (US$ Million) by Country, 2023 to 2031 Germany France Italy Spain Russia Rest of Europe Asia Pacific Fermentation Enabled Alternative Protein Market Revenue (US$ Million) by Country, 2023 to 2031 India China Japan South Korea Australia & New Zealand Latin America Fermentation Enabled Alternative Protein Market Revenue (US$ Million) by Country, 2023 to 2031 Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa Fermentation Enabled Alternative Protein Market Revenue (US$ Million) by Country, 2023 to 2031 GCC Countries South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa Obtain Report Customization Details @ https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/customisation/1928 Why should buy this report: To receive a comprehensive analysis of the prospects for the global fermentation enabled alternative protein market To receive an industry overview and future trends in the global fermentation enabled alternative protein market To analyze the fermentation enabled alternative protein market drivers and challenges To get information on the fermentation enabled alternative protein market size value (US$ Mn) forecast till 2031 Major Investments, Mergers & Acquisitions in the global fermentation enabled alternative protein market Other Related Reports Published by InsightAce Analytic: https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/report/global-alternative-proteins-market/1085 https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/report/global-animal-microbiome-market/1046 About Us: InsightAce Analytic is a market research and consulting firm that enables clients to make strategic decisions. Our qualitative and quantitative market intelligence solutions inform the need for market and competitive intelligence to expand businesses. We help clients gain a competitive advantage by identifying untapped markets, exploring new and competing technologies, segmenting potential markets, and repositioning products. Our expertise is in providing syndicated and custom market intelligence reports with an in-depth analysis of key market insights in a timely and cost-effective manner. Contact Us: InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. Tel.: +1 551 226 6109 Email: [email protected] Site Visit: www.insightaceanalytic.com Follow Us on LinkedIn @ bit.ly/2tBXsgS Follow Us On Facebook @ bit.ly/2H9jnDZ Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1729637/InsightAce_Analytic_Logo.jpg SOURCE InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd The four main mobile operators in the Nigerien market Airtel, Zamani, Moov Africa, and Niger Telecoms have been fined by the Nigerien telecommunications regulatory authority, ARCEP. According to the Ecofin news agency, ARCEP has announced that a fine of 4.32 billion CFA francs (approximately US$7.3 million) is to be imposed on the operators, all of which received the fine for failing to meet their quality of service (QoS) commitments. Zamani has been fined 1.36 billion CFA francs; Airtel, 1.35 billion CFA francs; Niger Telecoms, 1.19 billion CFA francs; and Moov Africa, 402.5 million CFA francs (CFA 1 billion = about US$1.687 million). This news, announced last week but only being widely reported now, is especially interesting in the light of yesterdays story about consumer protests against operators in Burkina Faso, and, in late May, the news that Cameroons CamTel, MTN, Orange and Viettel had together been fined US$9.8 million for poor quality of service. As in Cameroon, there had been a fair amount of warning in Niger that this would happen. In August 2022, ARCEP warned the four operators about quality control in a dozen areas and gave them four months to address the issues. Follow-ups in those areas earlier this year revealed some improvement, but clearly not enough. Niger Telecoms correction rate was 20.68%, Zamanis was 22.5%, Airtels was 55.68%, and Moov Africas correction rate was 62.2%.s Mobile app helps EV drivers access almost 75,000 public charging locations available across North America, and manages at-home charging stations QUEBEC CITY, QC and AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - FLO, a leading North American electric vehicle (EV) charging network operator and smart charging solutions provider, recently launched a user-friendly and convenient new feature on its highly-rated FLO mobile app for iOS users. A unique feature now allows users to view their charging session on their phone's lock screen without having to unlock the phone or open an app. The feature works with both public and home charging stations on the FLO network and major roaming partners. FLO's new locked-screen charging status mobile app feature allows users to view their charging session on their phones lock screen without having to unlock the phone or open an app. (CNW Group/FLO) FLO's new locked-screen charging status mobile app feature allows users to view their charging session on their phones lock screen without having to unlock the phone or open an app. "EV drivers charging their vehicle at a public or home FLO station and major roaming partners now only need to glance at their phone's lock screen to know the status of their charging session," said Nathan Yang, FLO Chief Product Officer. "This unique feature is just the latest step by FLO to deliver the best charging experience for all EV drivers." Additionally, since its launch, FLO's app has consistently scored high with customers and now boasts an average 4.7-star rating on the Apple App Store in both the U.S. and Canada, making it one of the best-rated EV charging applications. "Viewing where charging stations are located at a glance and quickly identifying if they are being used are critical steps in the EV charging experience. This is why FLO offers its EV charging network in the palm of a user's hand and on the go," said Yang. FLO's app, which is available for both iOS and Android users, helps consumers locate FLO network charging stations, see real-time availability of network chargers, and manage their FLO HomeTM X5 charging stations. Thanks to FLO's roaming agreements, EV drivers can access almost 75,000 public stations with their FLO account. In-car app display is enabled via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Notable app features include: View the entire FLO network, and partner networks, to see real-time status of available EV charger location Find nearby public stations, filter stations by charging speed, fee or plug type. Track the EV charging progress with status messages, including initiated, in progress, completed, kWh added, and vehicle battery percentage level. Manage a FLO HomeTM X5 charging station and set a charging schedule and duration of charge. Users can also restrict usage, see their charging history, check charging speeds, and more. For more information on the FLO mobile app and the FLO network, visit: www.flo.com About FLO FLO is a leading North American electric vehicle (EV) charging network operator and a smart charging solutions provider. We help to overcome climate change and accelerate EV adoption through a vertically integrated business model and by delivering EV drivers the best charging experience from curbside to countryside. Every month, we enable more than 1 million charging events thanks to over 95,000 fast and level 2 EV charging stations deployed at public, private and residential locations. FLO operates its network across North America and our high-quality charging stations are assembled with care in Michigan and Quebec. To learn more about what "EV charging done right" means to us, visit flo.com . FLO and FLO HomeTM are registered or unregistered trademarks of Services FLO Inc. SOURCE FLO SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Forward Networks announced today it has successfully achieved System and Organization Controls (SOC) 2 Type 1 Compliance. The completion of the audit demonstrates Forward Network's commitment to transparency, privacy, and data security for customers. SOC 2 is an auditing standard developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) to assess the effectiveness of an organization's controls over information security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. SOC 2 Type 1 measures an organization's systems and controls and evaluates the design and implementation of these controls to ensure they are suitably designed to meet the relevant trust services criteria. With SOC 2 compliance, Forward Networks can provide customers with confidence that their data is protected. For this compliance audit process, Forward Networks enlisted a professional auditor, Laika Compliance LLC, and was also able to leverage its own Forward Enterprise Platform to ensure key trust criteria in Security, Confidentiality, and Availability were included in the audit process. "Forward Networks has long prioritized protection of customer data and offering trust and transparency," said Matt Honea, Head of Security and Compliance, Forward Networks. "From the onset, our platform was designed to collect network data while protecting our customers' privacy. Achieving SOC 2 Type I certification is an important milestone that demonstrates our commitment. While we are proud of this achievement, we'll continue to work towards further certification milestones to provide our global customers the assurance that their data and networks are safe when they work with us." About Forward Networks Forward Networks is revolutionizing the way large networks are managed. Forward's advanced software delivers a digital twin of the network, enabling network operators to ensure that the network is secure, reliable, and agile. The platform supports devices from all major networking vendors and cloud operators, including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. Forward Networks was founded in 2013 by four Stanford Ph.D. graduates and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. Investors include MSD Partners, Goldman Sachs, Andreessen Horowitz, Threshold Ventures, Section 32, Omega Venture Partners, and A. Capital. For more information, visit www.forwardnetworks.com . Forward Networks Contacts: Dustin Rausa, Guyer Group [email protected] Dawn Slusher, Forward Networks [email protected] SOURCE Forward Networks, Inc. Survey conducted by ISG Provider Lens for the Brazilian market ranks the company at the highest level of the industry SAO PAULO, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Scala Data Centers , the leading Latin American platform of sustainable data centers in the Hyperscale market, was named as the Colocation leader in Brazil by the ISG Provider Lens 2023 study Private/Hybrid Cloud Data Center Services. As a fourth-year leader in the Colocation Quadrant, Scala has further enhanced its positions in "Competitive Strength" and "Portfolio Attractiveness" when compared to the previous year. The analysis by ISG sheds light on vital aspects of Scala's commercial and operational strategy, demonstrating the company's dedication to catering to the Hyperscale market demands with utmost excellence. Notably, the report also emphasizes Scala's proficiency in constructing modular data centers within tight timelines and its strategic positioning to cater to long-term projects. Impressively, the company has reserved over 1 million square meters of properties for future data centers. Unlike other players that paved their business serving different size of companies largely SMB and Enterprise segments which demand managed services and connectivity solutions besides colocation Scala implemented a new approach uniquely focused into Hyperscale needs by means of an innovative, sustainable, and future-proof single-tenant buildings which position the company as the leader of Hyperscale colocation. The ISG Provider Lens 2023 survey presents a comparative evaluation of the technology sector service providers, organized into four groups: Colocation (including Scala Data Centers), Large Managed Services Accounts, Midsize Managed Services, and Managed Hosting. Each group comprises companies classified as Leader, Product Challenger, Contender, or Market Challenger, based on their respective strengths and competencies. Marcos Peigo , Scala's CEO and Co-Founder, stated that the findings from the ISG Provider Lens 2023 reassure the company's proactive stance in establishing scalable capacity tailored to Hyperscale customers. This approach hinges on flexibility, customization, and the integration of innovation and sustainability as Scala' core principles. "The needs of the Hyperscale customers are increasingly more specific. They demand for scalability, single-building approach, high-energy availability, and density. As such, the focus of our entire portfolio is to provide reliable, expandable, and flexible solutions. When it comes to meeting these specific needs, we're pleased to be recognized as the Colocation leader by the ISG Provider Lens 2023 study. This is a testament to our relentless commitment to sustainable scalable data centers," Peigo said. "For Hyperscalers, having access to scalable and future-ready data centers is vital for ensuring seamless operations, high performance, and the ability to handle the massive data processing needs that come with Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and High-Performance Computing (HPC) applications. By addressing these requirements, Scala has become a reliable partner for Hyperscalers by enabling them to focus on their core business and innovation without worrying about data center limitations." According to Pedro Bicudo Maschio, ISG Provider Lens Lead Author, Scala stands out for its exceptional flexibility in constructing and delivering customized data centers tailored to meet customers' specific demands. "Scala Data Centers commits to customers' expansion plans, ensuring a supply chain of clean energy, hyperconnectivity, engineering support, available properties and construction capacity that is fast, fully sustainable and highly efficient," Bicudo Maschio said. Download the study here. About Scala Data Centers Scala Data Centers is the leading Latin American platform of sustainable data centers in the Hyperscale market. Headquartered in Brazil and founded by DigitalBridge, it was developed to meet and exceed the growing demand for digital access in Latin America. Scala has a highly qualified team of over 800 professionals and applies a flexible and innovative approach to providing exceptional quality colocation services to Hyperscale clients, cloud-based software and service providers, and large enterprises. We customize state-of-the-art solutions for each client in the construction of the latest generation data centers, with high availability, the best energy efficiency rates, and superior density. All this allied to the best sustainability practices guided by our ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) program. For more information, visit www.scaladatacenters.com SOURCE Scala Data Centers Second time in a row Freedom Mortgage has been identified as a top place to work in the financial services industry BOCA RATON, Fla., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Freedom Mortgage, one of the largest full-service, independent mortgage companies and a top Veterans Administration (VA) and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) lender in the U.S., has earned the 2023 Top Workplaces Financial Services Industry Award, issued by Energage, a purpose-driven organization that develops solutions to build and brand Top Workplaces. This is the second time Freedom Mortgage has been honored with the Top Workplaces Industry Award since its inaugural launch in 2021. The employer recognition program celebrates organizations that scored at or above the Top Workplaces benchmark. This year, Top Workplaces named 1,079 winners in seven industries: Construction, Distribution, Financial Services, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Nonprofit and Technology. Freedom Mortgage, a Top VA and FHA Lender, Honored with 2023 National Top Workplaces Financial Services Industry Award Tweet this "We are honored to be recognized, again, as a Top Workplaces in the financial services industry," said Stanley C. Middleman, Freedom Mortgage president and CEO. "To have our employees endorse Freedom Mortgage as a great place for financial services professionals to work means a great deal. We will continue to do our best to support our employees and provide opportunities for them to grow within Freedom Mortgage." Eric Rubino, Energage CEO, said, "Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees. That's something to be proud of. In today's market, leaders must ensure they're allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That's paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends." Middleman credited Freedom Mortgage employees for the company's continued success. Despite challenges faced by the mortgage industry, the company services the mortgages of nearly two million homeowners, representing over $452 billion in loans. The company also donated more than $600,000 last year and saw its highest employee volunteer engagement with nearly 2,000 hours spent bettering local communities. The Top Workplaces program has a 15-year history of surveying more than 20 million employees and recognizing top organizations in regions across the country and in various categories. Top Workplaces recognizes organizations in 60+ markets nationwide in addition to its USA, culture excellence, and industry awards. Based solely on employee feedback, more than 27 million employees across 70,000 organizations have been surveyed since 2006. For more information on Top Workplaces awards visit https://topworkplaces.com/find-top-workplaces/. One of the nation's largest independent mortgage companies, Freedom Mortgage is committed to fostering homeownership and financial betterment across the country. For more information about Freedom Mortgage, please visit FreedomMortgage.com. To join the company, please visit the careers page: careers.freedommortgage.com/jobs/. To learn more about Freedom Cares philanthropic efforts, please visit https://www.teamfreedomcares.org/. About Freedom Mortgage Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, Freedom Mortgage is an independent mortgage company that provides mortgage loans through retail, wholesale, and correspondent channels. One of the nation's largest non-bank mortgage lenders/servicers, the company is licensed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Freedom Mortgage is a top VA and FHA (government-insured) lender in the U.S. (Inside Mortgage Finance, Jan-June 2022), and one of the mortgage industry's largest philanthropic supporters of the USO of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The company is also renowned for its vibrant work environment where all team members can thrive. Earlier this year, Freedom Mortgage was honored for the third year in a row as a Top Workplaces USA . Last year, the company made it back on the Inc. 5000 Honor Roll for the eighth time as one of the fastest-growing companies across the country. Freedom Mortgage's mission is to foster homeownership for all consumers across America. Lender NMLS ID: 2767. Equal Housing Opportunity. For more information, please visit FreedomMortgage.com. FREEDOM MORTGAGE CONTACT: Ellen Longo 609-678-0968 [email protected] SOURCE Freedom Mortgage Corporation SAN ANTONIO, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- National nonprofit, Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, in collaboration with University Health San Antonio, transformed the lives of four children during their inaugural Surgery Weekend last month on Saturday, June 24. Fresh Start was able to fulfill their mission of delivering reconstructive surgeries to pediatric patients and offered many children in need the opportunity to receive essential medical care and experience life-changing surgeries. Fresh Start and University Health San Antonio transformed four children's lives during Surgery Weekend on June 24. Tweet this The Fresh Start Surgical Gifts and the University Health San Antonio team. Fresh Start Surgical Gifts transforms the lives of disadvantaged infants, children and teens with physical and cosmetic deformities by providing reconstructive and plastic surgery at no cost to patients or their families. World-renowned surgeons donate their time and expertise to offer them the medical care they need, and a fresh start in life. The national nonprofit expanded to San Antonio, Texas this year, partnering with University Health, to help an ever-growing need for medical care for children who are underserved. "With hearts full of joy and excitement, we're so proud to achieve our mission of delivering reconstructive surgeries to children, granting them the precious gift of essential medical care and life-changing transformations," says Shari Brasher, Chief Executive Officer of Fresh Start Surgical Gifts. "This journey would not have been possible without the unwavering support and dedication of our amazing team, partners, and volunteers. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every person who contributed to making this event a resounding success." Dr. Ian Mitchell, Chief of pediatrics for University Health San Antonio, emphasized the significance of this initiative by stating, "Fresh Start's Surgery Weekend provides these deserving children with the care and life-changing surgeries they need." Dr. Mitchell's leadership and the commitment of the clinical staff ensured the success of this special event. The medical team, comprising talented professionals, selflessly donated their time and expertise to treat these young patients. Their unwavering dedication exemplifies the healthcare experts' readiness to offer high-quality and compassionate medical care to children in our community and beyond. During the Surgery Weekend, the medical team successfully treated several patients with diverse conditions: Camilo, 16 months old, from Costa Rica , received surgery for cleft lip and palate. , received surgery for cleft lip and palate. Emiliano, 18 months old, also from Costa Rica , underwent surgery for syndactyly (webbed toes). , underwent surgery for syndactyly (webbed toes). Delilah, 8 years old, hailing from the Houston area, had a skin tag on her ear expertly addressed. area, had a skin tag on her ear expertly addressed. Sergio, 14 years old, from San Antonio , received surgery for a hernia. Cases can include surgeries like cleft lip and palate, eye and soft tissue surgeries, laser procedures for scarring or skin conditions, such as port wine stains and birthmarks, and even interventional radiology procedures for vascular malformations. The organization is committed to each child and promises to them for as many years, surgeries and/or treatments as it takes until the best possible outcome is reached. Some children have been patients for several years with the organization and have never received a bill for any medical care or travel. Each case is unique and transforms the life of each child in a magnitude of ways. Since 1991, Fresh Start Surgical Gifts has helped 8,900 children and has expanded into multiple regions throughout the U.S., headquartered in San Diego, with locations in Chicago and San Antonio. The organization has also partnered with Sanford Health, a healthcare system that is the only children's hospital in South Dakota with one goal of making screenings, healthcare and treatments available and accessible for as many children as possible. Fresh Start Surgical Gifts remains committed to helping improve the lives of children and families across the U.S., partnering with organizations like University Health that share their mission and vision. The next Surgery Weekend at University Health is scheduled for October. Families interested in applying for this life-changing opportunity can visit the Fresh Start Surgical Gifts website at Fresh.Start.org for more information. For more information on Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, or media inquiries, contact [email protected]. ABOUT FRESH START SURGICAL GIFTS Fresh Start Surgical Gifts transforms the lives of disadvantaged infants, children and teens who have physical and cosmetic deformities through their gift of reconstructive surgery. Providing reconstructive, plastic and neurosurgeries for children across the U.S., Fresh Start's commitment to children extends far beyond medical care. The organization ensures their children will leave feeling more empowered than before. Every child receives the highest quality medical care and the families never see a bill for the services provided. 100% of contributions go directly to medical programs. To learn more, visit FreshStart.org. ABOUT UNIVERSITY HEALTH University Health is the only locally owned health system in San Antonio. For more than 100 years, University Health has been here to heal, to improve health, to train the next generation of medical professionals and to ensure the people of San Antonio, Bexar County and South Texas have access to primary and advanced specialty care close to home. Specialized services include the region's only Level I trauma center for both adults and children, and maternal and neonatal intensive care centers designated at the highest levels by the State of Texas. As the region's only academic health system, University Health is a hub of innovation and discovery, committed to delivering patient-centered, culturally competent, high quality and compassionate care, based on a strong foundation of outcomesbased research and innovative teaching. Learn more at UniversityHealthSystem.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Contact: Bianca Kasawdish Vice President of Public Relations InnoVision Marketing Group [email protected] SOURCE Fresh Start Surgical Gifts DUBLIN, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Carbon Footprint Management Market (2023-2028) by Component, Organization Size, Deployment, Vertical, and Geography, Competitive Analysis, Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Carbon Footprint Management Market is estimated to be USD 11.43 Bn in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 16.41 Bn by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 7.50%. 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 Aurecon Group, Carbon Solutions Global Ltd., Carbon Trust, ProcessMAP, Greenstone+, Verisae, Inc., Enviance, 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 Carbon Footprint 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 Carbon Footprint 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 Carbon Footprint 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. Market Dynamics Drivers: Increasing concern for reducing carbon footprints Stringent regulations aimed at lowering carbon emissions Increasing demand for energy consumption by industries Growing concerns about enterprise sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs among corporates Restraints: High initial investment Lack of clarity about the regulatory landscape Opportunities: Increasing government initiatives Initiatives by firms on green building projects Leveraging technologies to reduce carbon footprint Increasing adoption of carbon footprint management in the transportation sector Challenges: Lack of willingness to adopt carbon emission software among developing and undeveloped countries Companies Mentioned Aurecon Group Carbon Solutions Global Ltd. Carbon Trust Dakota Software Corp. Ecova, Inc. Enablon France SA ENGIE SA Enviance Greenstone+ IBM Corp. Intelex Technologies IsoMetrix Inc Natural Capital Partners ProcessMAP Salesforce.com, Inc. SAP SE Schneider Electric Thinkstep Trinity Consultants, Inc. VelocityEHS Verisae, Inc. Market Segmentation The Global Carbon Footprint Management Market is segmented based on Component, Deployment, Organization Size, Vertical, and Geography. By Component, the market is classified into Solution and Services By Deployment, the market is classified into On-Premises and Cloud-Based. By Organization Size, the market is classified into Large Enterprises and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. By Vertical, the market is classified into Manufacturing, Energy and Utilities, Residential and Commercial Buildings, Transportation and Logistics, and IT and Telecom. 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/86pmns 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 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Intelligent Lighting Control Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast. 2018-2031 Segmented By Light Source (Light Emitting Diode, Fluorescent Lamp, Discharge Lamps, High Intensity), By Application, By Type, By Connectivity, By Region" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Global Intelligent Lighting Control Market was valued at USD 12.16 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to project robust growth in the forecast period with a CAGR of 23.64% through 2031. Intelligent lighting control systems have emerged as a key component of smart lighting solutions, offering the ability to adjust and optimize lighting levels, types, and properties in various spaces. With a focus on energy efficiency and reducing electricity wastage, these smart devices play a crucial role in promoting sustainable practices. The heart of such systems lies in the intelligent module, which acts as the execution unit and control terminal, seamlessly integrating with the background intelligent central control system. As developing economies prioritize digital awareness and embrace smart city initiatives, the demand for smart lighting-linked devices is on the rise. As a crucial element in smart city projects, the market for intelligent lighting control is expected to witness significant growth in the forecast period, driven by the increasing adoption of smart devices by consumers worldwide. High Demand for Energy-Efficient Lighting Solutions Considering there is a significant need for energy-efficient lighting solutions, the Intelligent Lighting Control Market is predicted to rise at a promising rate in 2023-2031. The importance of energy management in terms of reducing carbon footprints is becoming more and more apparent to consumers. Governments are also putting more effort into coming up with new ways to reduce power consumption. For instance, the United States government officially confirmed the commencement of the Climate Smart Buildings Initiative in August 2022, with the goal of modernizing the country's public infrastructure and lowering GHG emissions by 2.8 million metric tonnes per year, by 2030. Increasing R&D Spending for Infrastructure Development R&D expenditures for infrastructure development have significantly increased as a result of the adoption of smart technology in public lighting systems. For instance, the U.K. Government for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) allocated money to U.K. Research & Innovation (UKRI) in March 2022, totaling more than USD 30.3 billion to support multiple R&D initiatives. Additionally, end-users need for cost-effective and energy-saving solutions is expanding, due to which the demand for Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED) lighting is developing significantly. Thus, the market is likely to expand with a high CAGR in the upcoming years. Rising Adoption of LED Lighting & Bulbs Across the World One of the key elements affecting the growth of the global market for intelligent lighting controls is the rising adoption of LED bulbs and lights globally. According to an Electric Lamp and Component Manufacturers (ELCOMA) report, the lighting industry was expected to introduce more energy-efficient products and work more closely with the government to implement various schemes and awareness programs in 2020, which helped in reducing lighting energy consumption from 18% of total power consumption to 13%. The market is predicted to develop with a high CAGR in 2023-2031 as a result of India's positive transition from conventional lighting to LED and energy-efficient smart lights. Adoption of ZigBee and Bluetooth in Smart Lighting Control Systems Greater connectivity and technology improvements have raised the popularity of smart lighting control systems globally. ZigBee and Bluetooth, two wireless technologies, have made it easier to implement smart lighting control systems in a variety of places. It is computed particularly for wireless personal area networks (WPANs) that adhere to the IEEE (Institute of Electric and Electronics Engineers) standard for control and sensor networks. The operating frequencies for these Zigbee WPANs are 868 MHz, 902-928 MHz, and 2.4 GHz. The ideal data rate is 250 kbps, which is used for periodic and intermediate two-way data transfer between sensors and controllers. For instance, according to a declaration made in April 2018 by the Council of Australian Government Energy Ministers, halogen lighting is expected to be replaced by LED bulbs in order to increase energy efficiency. According to estimates, this choice saves customers and businesses over USD 1 billion in electricity costs and light bulb replacement costs. Furthermore, the Smart Dubai Plan 2021's objective of making Dubai a paperless government has spurred the country to adopt smart services. It is an important aspect of the growth of the smart city. Therefore, the emergence of smart cities and smart infrastructure globally assists the penetration of intelligent lighting controls. Challenges: High Installation Cost of Intelligent Lighting Controls System The high startup and implementation costs of lighting control systems are anticipated to restrict market growth. Also, the system's expensive sensors, transmitters, and receivers will directly affect the initial selling price of the entire system. The usual payback period for implementing intelligent lighting controls may be between two and three years, depending on the kind of system. However, compared to the price of traditional retrofit switches, the initial cost of a single unit of the smart lighting and control system is significantly higher. This factor is constraining the market expansion in the upcoming years. Impact of COVID: Booming Demand for Residential & Medical Sector Due to people remaining at home and companies adopting a work-from-home culture, the need for intelligent lighting controls in the residential sector was not significantly impacted. Similarly, as demand for medical services increased during the pandemic, the medical sectors saw growth. Competitive Landscape Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Intelligent Lighting Control market. Acuity Brands Inc. Legrand SA Signify N.V Siemens AG Honeywell International Inc. Cisco Systems, Inc. Eaton Corporation plc Panasonic Corporation OSRAM Licht AG Leviton Manufacturing Company Inc. Savant Systems Inc. Report Scope: Global Intelligent Lighting Control Market, By Light Source: Light Emitting Diode Fluorescent Lamp Discharge Lamps High Intensity Global Intelligent Lighting Control Market, By Application: Industrial Residential Commercial Infrastructure Global Intelligent Lighting Control Market, By Type: LED Drivers Switch Actuators Sensors Microcontrollers Transmitters & Receivers Dimmers Others Global Intelligent Lighting Control Market, By Connectivity: Wired Wireless Global Intelligent Lighting Control Market, By Region: Asia-Pacific Europe North America Middle East & Africa & South America For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/z6davv 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 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Rugged Phones Market Forecast to 2028 - Global Analysis By Type, Screen Size and End User" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The rugged phones market witnessed a remarkable growth, with a valuation of US$ 2.98 billion in 2023, and is expected to maintain a CAGR of 8.4% during 2023-2028, reaching a market value of US$ 4.45 billion by 2028. North America: A Driving Force in Early Adoption Known for early technology adoption, North America, led by the US, showcases a broad range of industries, including transportation, oil & gas, and healthcare. The US government's support in encouraging manufacturers to expand their facilities within the country is expected to foster the growth of the manufacturing industry, directly impacting rugged phone adoption. Major companies such as Caterpillar, Juniper Systems Inc., and Sonim Technologies Inc. dominate the US rugged phone market. Canada, experiencing rapid industrialization, is witnessing a surge in rugged phone usage due to the increasing number of manufacturing facilities. Rugged phones like Ulefone Armor 7, CAT S61, Doogee S90, Blackview BV9500 Plus, and Sonim XP3 are gaining prominence in the Canadian market. In Mexico, the adoption of factory automation and industrial control systems is on the rise, creating demand for rugged phones in the manufacturing and oil & gas sectors. Asia Pacific: A Hotbed of Market Growth Asia Pacific emerges as the fastest-growing region for rugged phones, fueled by the growing trend of industry & factory automation and digitalization. Countries such as China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asian nations are expected to experience high adoption rates for semi-rugged and ultra-rugged phones. Factors like population growth, rising disposable income, urbanization, high smartphone adoption, and government policies promoting industrial growth, alongside significant investments in mobile phone and communication technologies, will boost the rugged phones market in the region. The establishment of manufacturing units by rugged mobile phone manufacturers is expected to present expansion opportunities in the region. Europe: Rising Smartphone Penetration Drives Market Growth With the highest mobile penetration in the world, Europe sees continued growth in smartphone usage, particularly in countries like Russia, Norway, Sweden, the UK, and the Netherlands. Increased smartphone penetration leads to a higher requirement for durable mobile devices, driving the demand for rugged phones. More than 30% of consumers in European countries report incidents of damaged mobile phones, further emphasizing the need for sturdy devices. Rising incidents of damaged smartphones, coupled with growing smartphone users and product launches, will contribute to market growth. Middle East & Africa and South America: Initiatives and Alliances Boost Market Expansion The Middle East's prominent oil & gas production business in countries like Libya, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Qatar is driving the region's economic growth, potentially boosting the rugged phones market. In South America, contractual alliances like Sonim Technologies' partnership with Acuraflow will increase the demand for rugged smartphones, catering to field workers in various demanding work environments. Market Segmentation: The report segments the rugged phones market based on type, screen size, end-user, and geography. In 2022, the featured phones segment led the market in terms of revenue share. The 5 inches to 6 inches screen size segment dominated the market, projected to be the fastest-growing sector. The industrial segment held the largest market share in 2022, while North America dominated the market, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. Key Players: Blackview, Caterpillar, Kyocera, OUKITEL, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, AGM Mobile, Sonim Technologies Inc., Ulefone Mobile, Unitech Electronics Co., LTD., and Zebra Technologies Corp. are among the key players operating in the rugged phones market. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o7cdky 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 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Veterinary Ventilators Market Growth, Trends and Forecasts 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Veterinary Ventilator Market Expected to Grow at a CAGR of 6.01% The veterinary ventilator market is projected to witness a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.01% during the forecast period. The market experienced a temporary setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with reduced visits to veterinary hospitals and clinics affecting disease diagnoses for pets. However, as restrictions were lifted, the market began to recover with an increased demand for veterinary ventilation, especially for treating pneumonia among animals. Factors Driving Market Growth The market's growth is primarily driven by factors such as the growing animal health expenditure worldwide, an increasing number of animal surgeries, and the rising prevalence of veterinary diseases. Diseases such as lung diseases, tick paralysis, and myasthenia gravis are commonly managed with mechanical ventilation, creating a demand for veterinary ventilation. Mechanical Ventilators Witnessing Significant Growth Mechanical ventilators, used to provide respiratory support to animals unable to maintain ventilation or oxygenation on their own, are witnessing significant growth. The advantages of mechanical ventilation, including improved prognosis for veterinary patients and positive outcomes in studies conducted using mechanical ventilation, contribute to the segment's growth. North America Leading Market Share North America, particularly the United States, is expected to retain a significant market share due to factors such as a rise in insured pets and increasing per capita animal healthcare expenditure. Pet insurance trends and high pet expenditures create a demand for better treatment options, driving the market growth in the region. Competitor Analysis The veterinary ventilator market is moderately competitive, with players focusing on new product launches, innovations, and geographical expansions. Key players include Avante Animal Health (DRE Veterinary), Miden Medical, Midmark Corporation, and others. Key Topics Covered 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition 1.2 Scope of the Study 2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 MARKET DYNAMICS 4.1 Market Overview 4.2 Market Drivers 4.2.1 Growing Expenditure on Animal Health 4.2.2 Increasing Number of Animal Surgeries and Growing Prevalence of Veterinary Diseases 4.3 Market Restraints 4.3.1 Lack of Skilled Professionals 4.3.2 Lack of Infrastructure in Developing and Under-developed Countries 4.4 Porter's Five Force Analysis 4.4.1 Threat of New Entrants 4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers 4.4.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products 4.4.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry 5 MARKET SEGMENTATION (Market Size by Value - USD million) 5.1 By Product 5.1.1 Electro-Pneumatic Ventilators 5.1.2 Mechanical Ventilators 5.1.3 Other Products 5.2 By End-User 5.2.1 Veterinary Hospitals 5.2.2 Veterinary Clinics 5.3 Geography 5.3.1 North America 5.3.2 Europe 5.3.3 Asia-Pacific 5.3.4 Middle East and Africa 5.3.5 South America 6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 6.1 Company Profiles 6.1.1 Avante Animal Health (DRE Veterinary) 6.1.2 Miden Medical 6.1.3 Midmark Corporation 6.1.4 ICU Medical, Inc. (Smiths Medical) 6.1.5 Vetronic Services Ltd. 6.1.6 Hallowell EMC 6.1.7 VetEquip Inc. 6.1.8 Metan Co. Ltd. 6.1.9 RWD Life Science Co. Ltd. 6.1.10 Eickemeyer 6.1.11 VetEquip, Incorporated 6.1.12 MINERVE Veterinary Equipment 7 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8x686w 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 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HighHello, an innovative monthly cannabis subscription club, is thrilled to announce a significant expansion into the Grand Rapids metro market through a partnership with Noxx and Cookies Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids metro residents can expect innovative and high quality cannabis products and accessories, delivered directly to their door each month. Customers can choose from - the Mini, Classic, Max, and Flower - each offering an array of different consumption levels, with products rotating every month. The Mini, a $100 value retailing for $75, while the Classic, a $150 value for just $100, offers a variety for both connoisseurs and newcomers. Boxes can be picked up in person or delivered to the consumer's home. Consumers can opt to purchase one-time, or choose the monthly subscription option to experience even more savings. HighHello co-founders, Vadim Shiglik & Felix Dubinsky, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, which signifies a significant milestone in the company's growth and commitment to pioneering new standards in cannabis accessibility. "We're excited to partner with Noxx and Cookies Grand Rapids to bring a variety of cannabis products to the people of Grand Rapids, while making it easy for brands and consumers to interact with each other," stated Shiglik. Noxx entered the Grand Rapids market one year ago and quickly gained popularity with its wide product selection, warm hospitality, and best in class e-commerce focused website. The Noxx team expanded its footprint when it partnered with Cookies to bring the brand's flagship dispensary to Grand Rapids. Both brands currently offer free cannabis delivery. "We're thrilled to partner with HighHello to bring another convenient option to cannabis consumers to try new products," said Tommy Nafso, CEO and Founder of Noxx Cannabis. About HighHello HighHello is an innovative cannabis subscription platform, providing education, guidance, and a diverse selection of ever-evolving products. Through unique national partnership models, HighHello is pioneering new standards in cannabis accessibility and personalization. To learn more about HighHello, visit www.gethighhello.com About NOXX NOXX is a Michigan-based cannabis company that offers the best brands at the best prices, through innovation, quality, and inclusivity. From an omnichannel perspective across retail, ecommerce and delivery, NOXX offers an unmatched experience meeting customers where they want to shop. Noxx owns and operates 3 dispensaries in Grand Rapids, one of which is the flagship Cookies dispensary. Learn more at noxx.com . Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE HighHello The South African government isnt interested in selling its 40% stake in number three operator Telkom in fact it may soon partner with Telkom on rolling out broadband products. Thats the big story from a number of outlets, notably Bloomberg, which points out that, even though there have been, and still are, quite a few potential buyers hoping to bid for Telkoms assets, it seems that Telkom and the South African government are now in advanced talks to partner in rolling out broadband products. Assuming it goes ahead, a partnership could involve Telkoms Openserve fibre unit, the governments Broadband Infraco and broadcast transmission services provider Sentech, according to Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Mondli Gungubele. One obvious target for the new partnership, suggested by Gungubele, would be to assist the government in its aim of connecting 80% of South Africans in the next three years. For the moment, however, the government proposal is short on detail. Its true that together these potential partners could offer an interesting connectivity proposition. Openserve operates around 170,000 kilometres of fibre and legacy landline copper cables. The governments Broadband Infraco unit manages 14,862 kilometres of fibre; it is the second-largest fibre network operator in the country. However, what all this means for Telkoms previously expressed interest in selling a stake in Openserve is unclear. Telkom also has a number of financial issues to resolve. It suggested earlier this year that a potential asset writedown of about US$740 million may be on the cards. In recent months Telkom has also seen stake acquisition bids from its former Chief Executive Officer and MTN Group while the smaller service provider Rain, with a strong presence in fixed wireless access, invited Telkom to acquire it late last year. TAIPEI, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hope Vision Co., Ltd., a professional manufacturing service company specializing in silicone hydrogel contact lenses, has achieved a significant milestone in the medical device industry. In April 2023, the company obtained the esteemed MDR CE marking certificate for its silicone hydrogel contact lenses, which was verified by a leading notified body. Hope Vision Co., Ltd. Established in June 2017, Hope Vision has consistently demonstrated its commitment to quality and compliance. The company has implemented a comprehensive and effective compliance program, ensuring adherence to globally recognized Quality Management Systems (MDR QMS/ISO 13485/GMP). Furthermore, Hope Vision has obtained certifications from reputable regulatory bodies, including the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA), the Health Sciences Authority of Singapore (HSA), the Ministry of Health of Vietnam (MOH), and the Ministry of Health of Indonesia (MOH). Silicone hydrogel contact lenses are made from advanced polymer materials, providing superior elasticity and breathability compared to traditional hydrogel lenses. The development and manufacturing process of silicone hydrogel contact lenses require meticulous mastery of materials, processes, and technologies. Since the full implementation of the Medical Device Regulation (MDR), the industry has witnessed significant changes in existing regulations, leading to improved product quality in the medical device sector. One of Hope Vision's proudest achievements is its commitment to providing PFAS-free contact lenses to customers worldwide. PFAS, commonly known as the Forever Chemicals, have been used in the manufacturing of various everyday products, including cookware, plastics, and contact lenses, since the 1950s. However, multiple studies have raised concerns about the potential adverse effects of PFAS on the human body. By eliminating PFAS from their contact lenses, Hope Vision demonstrates its unwavering dedication to prioritizing customer safety and environmental sustainability. Hope Vision Co., Ltd. cordially invites esteemed manufacturers from across Europe to forge mutually beneficial collaborations. Our recently acquired MDR/QMS certification for silicone hydrogel contact lenses demonstrates our commitment to meeting the rigorous standards of the European market. Committed to delivering excellence, we prioritize customer satisfaction and endeavor to cultivate enduring partnerships based on trust and shared success. For further discussions and inquiries, interested parties are encouraged to reach out to us. Together, let us chart a visionary path for the future of vision care in Europe. https://www.hope-vision.com/en-us [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2157213/Hope_Vision_Co_Ltd.jpg SOURCE Hope Vision PERTH, Australia, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Hot Chili Limited (ASX: HCH) (TSXV: HCH) (OTCQX: HHLKF) ("Hot Chili" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced transaction with Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd ("Osisko"), pursuant to which Hot Chili received proceeds of US$15 million in exchange for the sale of a 1.0% Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalty on copper and a 3% NSR royalty on gold (the "Investment") across the Company's Costa Fuego Copper-Gold Project ("the Project") located 600 km north of Santiago, at low elevation (<1,000 m) in the coastal range of the Atacama Region, Chile. The Investment by Osisko has strengthened the Company's current cash position to approximately A$26 million, demonstrated strong look-through value of the Project's economics (see the Company's announcement dated 28th June 2023, entitled "Hot Chili Announces PEA for Costa Fuego") and provided another significant endorsement of Hot Chili's Costa Fuego project from one of North America's leading royalty-streaming groups (see the Company's announcement dated 28th June 2023, entitled "Hot Chili Announces US$15 Million Investment Agreement with Osisko Gold Royalties"). The Company is now well funded to deliver the next steps in its growth and development plan, including: Commencement of 30,000 m drill program preparations well-advanced; drilling operations set to commence in the coming weeks. preparations well-advanced; drilling operations set to commence in the coming weeks. Completion of Costa Fuego resource upgrade by late 2023 Delivery of Costa Fuego pre-feasibility study ("PFS") in H2 2024 The Company has already considerably advanced its PFS (approximately 80% complete) with minimal expenditure required for completion Hot Chili's Managing Director Mr Christian Easterday commented, "We are very pleased to have closed the Investment with Osisko Gold Royalties enabling the Company to advance the project without the dilution of a share issuance." "Costa Fuego is globally relevant, being one of only a handful of projects with potential to deliver near-term, meaningful, new copper supply into a looming global copper supply shortage." The Company looks forward to providing updates on the Company's next steps shortly. This announcement is authorised by the Board of Directors for release to ASX and TSXV. Hot Chili's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mr Christian Easterday is responsible for this announcement and has provided sign-off for release to the ASX and TSXV. For more information please contact: Christian Easterday Managing Director Hot Chili Tel: +61 8 9315 9009 Email: [email protected] Penelope Beattie Company Secretary Hot Chili Tel: +61 8 9315 9009 Email: [email protected] Harbor Access Investor & Public Relations (Canada) Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] or visit Hot Chili's website at www.hotchili.net.au Qualifying Statements Forward Looking Statements This document contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Company. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the timing and ability, if at all, for the completion of the PFS; the timing and ability, if at all, to complete a resource upgrade at Costa Fuego; timing of the commencement of the Company's 30,000m drill programme; permitting and legal processes in relation to mining permitting and approvals; estimated production and mine life of the various mineral projects of the Company; the ability to obtain permits for operations; synergies; the realisation of mineral resource estimates; the benefits of the development potential of the properties of the Company; the future price of minerals, including gold, copper, and silver; the estimation of mineral reserves and resources; success of exploration activities; and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterised by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "should" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of the Company at the date the statements are made and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include the results of the Company's preliminary economic assessment and planned PFS, as well as future economic studies, the results of the planned 30,000m drill programme and their impact on mineral resources and the economic studies, variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in market conditions, risks relating to the availability and timeliness of permitting and governmental approvals; risks relating to international operations, fluctuating metal prices and currency exchange rates, changes in project parameters, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or the Company's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. Any comparative market information is as of a date prior to the date of this document. Disclaimer Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This document (the "Document") is to be used by the recipient for informational purposes only and does not purport to be complete or contain all the information that may be material to the current or future business, operations, financial condition, or prospects of Hot Chili Limited ("Hot Chili" or the "Company"). Each recipient should perform its own independent investigation and analysis of Hot Chili, and the information contained in this Document is not a substitute therefore. Hot Chili makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this Document or in any other written or oral communication transmitted to any recipient by any party. Except for liability which cannot be disclaimed by law, by accepting this Document, the recipient agrees that neither Hot Chili nor any of its officers, directors, employees, or representatives has any liability for any representations or warranties, express or implied, contained in, or for any omissions from, this Document or any such other written or oral communication from any person. Certain information contained herein is based on, or derived from, information provided by independent third-party sources. Hot Chili believes that such information is accurate and that the sources from which it has been obtained are reliable; however, Hot Chili has not independently verified such information and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information. This Document should not be considered as a recommendation from any person to purchase any securities. Each person for whom this Document is made available should consult its own professional advisors in making its own independent investigations and assessment and, after making such independent investigations and assessments, as it deems necessary, in determining whether to proceed with any investment in the Company. SOURCE Hot Chili Limited ATLANTA, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HUD announced today that Atlanta Housing (AH) and the City of Atlanta have been awarded a $40 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant to revitalize the former Bowen Homes. The area includes the surrounding neighborhoods of Carey Park and a portion of Almond Park, along with the neighborhood-related segments of the Donald Lee Hollowell and James Jackson parkways, collectively known as the Bowen Choice Neighborhood (BCN). "Atlanta Housing and the City of Atlanta have demonstrated that we can leverage $40 million in Choice Neighborhood funds into more than $500 million to successfully transform the Bowen Choice Neighborhood," said Eugene E. Jones, president and CEO of Atlanta Housing. "This grant will be transformational for the Bowen Choice Neighborhood, as public and private resources are combined to create new affordable housing, improve neighborhood amenities and provide new opportunities for current and former resident." The CN program is consistent with the Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens' vision for neighborhood revitalization and is part of the West Hollowell segment of the Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway transformational corridor initiative. AH has been working with the mayor's office to develop strategies and focus resources in three areas consistent with the grant requirements: Housing, Neighborhood and People. The Housing strategy supports the redevelopment of the former Bowen Homes site, with more than $300 million allocated for housing. The Neighborhood strategy focuses on residential and commercial blight removal, neighborhood housing development, acquisition and clean-up of contaminated properties, and public safety. The CN Neighborhood budget is more than $200 million. The People strategy focuses on developing programs that will improve health, education and economic outcomes for former Bowen residents and the BCN community. The program leverages partnerships and resources with the Boys and Girls Club, Communities in Schools, Families First, Ga Tech CEISM, Goodwill of North Georgia, Grady Health System, Morehouse School of Medicine, Quality Care for Children, United Way, Urban League, Westside Works (CareerRise) and YMCA. Total funding for the People strategy is $42 million. This is the second Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant awarded to AH and the City of Atlanta. ABOUT ATLANTA HOUSING Led by President and CEO Eugene Jones, Jr., the Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, Georgia (AH), is the largest housing authority in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation. AH provides and facilitates affordable housing resources for nearly 27,000 low-income households comprised of approximately 45,000 people, including AH-owned residential communities, tenant-based vouchers, supportive housing, and homeownership opportunities. Programs are funded and regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Visit AH at atlantahousing.org or follow us on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn at @housingatlanta. SOURCE Atlanta Housing; HOUSING AUTHORITY OF CITY OF ATLANTA CHICAGO, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hydrogen Market is projected to reach USD 410.6 billion in 2030 from USD 242.7 billion in 2023 at a CAGR of 7.8% according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe. Hydrogen gas has an excellent energy carrying capacity. It can be produced in large quantities and supplied to large-scale industries for various operations. It can be produced as a principal and by-product from various primary energy sources (such as wind, solar, coal, natural gas, and nuclear). Currently, hydrogen is produced in bulk for many value-added uses and chemical substances. It delivers power for various applications, including fuel cells and combined heat and power technologies. global push to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change has led to an increased focus on clean and sustainable energy sources and drive the demand for Hydrogen Market. Browse in-depth TOC on "Hydrogen Market" 120 - Tables 45 - Figures 185 Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=132975342 Hydrogen Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Size USD 410.6 billion in 2030 Growth Rate 7.8% of CAGR Largest Market North America Market Dynamics Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities & Challenges Forecast Period 2023-2030 Forecast Units Value (USD Million); Value (Thousand Metric Tons) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Hydrogen Market by sector, application, and region Geographies Covered Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East & Africa Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Increasing focus on promoting hydrogen economy development Key Market Drivers Increased greenhouse gas emissions regulations The generation type segment, by sector, is expected to have the largest market during the forecast period. Based on sector, the Hydrogen Market has been segmented into generation type, storage, and transportation. The generation type segment is expected to hold largest share during the forecast period. Governments and businesses are looking at low-carbon and zero-emission options as a result of the pressing need to slow down climate change and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Since it generates no carbon dioxide when used, green hydrogen generation offers a workable answer to the problem of decarbonization. Additionally, hydrogen is used as a feedstock or process fuel by many sectors, including chemical manufacture, refineries, and the production of steel. The demand for low-carbon and green hydrogen is rising as industry work to minimize their carbon footprint. The mobility segment, by application, is expected to be the fastest growing during the forecast period This report segments the Hydrogen Market based on application into three segments: energy, mobility, and chemical & refinery. The mobility segment is expected to be the fastest growing during the forecast period. Owing to the rising adaption of the fuel cell electric vehicles and hydrogen fueling station. Due to the hydrogen fuel cell's electrochemical reaction only producing water vapor as a byproduct, FCEVs have zero emissions. Due to this feature, FCEVs are a desirable alternative for both consumers and governments aiming to reduce air pollution and battle climate change. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=132975342 North America is expected to be the largest region in the Hydrogen Industry North America is expected to be the largest Hydrogen Market during the forecast period. The North America region, comprising of US, Canada, and Mexico. Governments are dedicated to combating climate change and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. One important clean energy carrier that can aid in achieving carbon neutrality and promoting sustainable development is hydrogen, especially green hydrogen produced from renewable sources. Key Market Players: Some of the major players in the Hydrogen Companies are Linde plc (Ireland), Air products and Chemicals, Inc. (US), Air Liquide (France), Worthington Industries (US), Cryolor (France), Hexagon Purus (Norway), and NPROXX (Netherlands). The major strategies these players adopt include merger & acquisitions, contracts, agreements, partnerships, and investments & expansions. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=132975342 Recent Developments In July 2023 , Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. announced that it has been chosen as the hydrogen and technology provider for Alberta's first hydrogen fuel cell passenger vehicle fleet by Edmonton International Airport. Air Products will deploy a mobile hydrogen refueler at the airport to deliver hydrogen for the Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle fleet. , Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. announced that it has been chosen as the hydrogen and technology provider for first hydrogen fuel cell passenger vehicle fleet by International Airport. Air Products will deploy a mobile hydrogen refueler at the airport to deliver hydrogen for the Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle fleet. In July 2023 , Air Liquide and KBR collaborated to provide fully integrated low-carbon ammonia solutions based on Autothermal Reforming (ATR) technology. Air Liquide is a global leader in ATR technology, which is one of the best options for large-scale production of low-carbon hydrogen (H2), which is then mixed with nitrogen (N2) to make low-carbon ammonia (NH3). , Air Liquide and KBR collaborated to provide fully integrated low-carbon ammonia solutions based on Autothermal Reforming (ATR) technology. Air Liquide is a global leader in ATR technology, which is one of the best options for large-scale production of low-carbon hydrogen (H2), which is then mixed with nitrogen (N2) to make low-carbon ammonia (NH3). In April 2023 , Linde plc has signed a long-term arrangement with Evonik, a well-known specialty chemicals firm, to supply green hydrogen. Linde will build, own, and operate a nine-megawatt alkaline electrolyzer facility on Jurong Island in Singapore under this arrangement. This plant's major output will be green hydrogen, which Evonik wants to employ in the synthesis of methionine, an essential element in animal feed. , Linde plc has signed a long-term arrangement with Evonik, a well-known specialty chemicals firm, to supply green hydrogen. Linde will build, own, and operate a nine-megawatt alkaline electrolyzer facility on Jurong Island in under this arrangement. This plant's major output will be green hydrogen, which Evonik wants to employ in the synthesis of methionine, an essential element in animal feed. In April 2023 , Air Liquide entered into an agreement with TotalEnergies to create an equally owned joint venture to develop a network of hydrogen stations. This initiative will help facilitate access to hydrogen, enabling the development of its use for goods transportation and further strengthening the hydrogen sector. , Air Liquide entered into an agreement with TotalEnergies to create an equally owned joint venture to develop a network of hydrogen stations. This initiative will help facilitate access to hydrogen, enabling the development of its use for goods transportation and further strengthening the hydrogen sector. In October 2022 , Hexagon Purus and Lhyfe collaborated for the production of green and renewable hydrogen for transportation and industrial applications. , Hexagon Purus and Lhyfe collaborated for the production of green and renewable hydrogen for transportation and industrial applications. In May 2022 , Air Products Inc, OQ, and ACWA Power jointly signed an agreement for the world's largest green hydrogen-based ammonia production powered by renewable energy. Browse Adjacent Markets: Energy and Power Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Green Ammonia Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Hydrogen Generation Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Fuel Cell Market Global Forecast to 2027 About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/hydrogen-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/hydrogen-market.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets CoPilot, IgniteTech's innovative new feature for Jive, is a GenAI-powered assistant for mining content AUSTIN, Texas, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IgniteTech, the company "Where Software Goes to Thrive", announces the launch of Jive CoPilot, a brand-new GenAI-powered assistant for Jive . Jive is a widely recognized Employee Experience Platform (EEP) leveraged by customers throughout the world, with an established reputation for helping millions of users share knowledge, connect people, and build culture and engagement. Jive was added to the IgniteTech portfolio in May of 2023. Jive CoPilot in action, answering a question about Thrive. In alignment with Jive's mission to transform the future of work, the new Google Chrome Extension "Jive CoPilot" leverages GenAI to empower employees and help them uncover the information they need. Jive CoPilot uses summarization and Q&A capabilities to allow users to mine nuggets of data out of the extensive knowledge base that Jive customers have amassed over the years. "Jive moved to IgniteTech just two months ago, and we've already launched an important new capability based on the emerging technology of GenAI in Jive CoPilot, illustrating our commitment to innovation," said Eric Vaughan, IgniteTech's CEO. "We believe as strongly in the future and importance of Jive as our dedicated customers do. Jive customers should expect great things to come as we work together to enrich the capabilities that global organizations rely on." Jive CoPilot employs enhanced search capabilities and ChatGPT to answer questions and provide summaries drawn from relevant documents. The combination of advanced search and AI-driven text generation streamlines the user experience, making relevant data easier to find and understand. Jive customers can download the Jive CoPilot GenAI assistant from the Chrome Web Store and start using it immediately on Thrive , IgniteTech's Jive-based community platform. IgniteTech's Jive Support team is ready to help customers enable Jive CoPilot on their Jive instances, both for instances in Jive Cloud or Hosted-On-Premise (HOP) versions. The launch of Jive CoPilot is a testament to IgniteTech's commitment to the rapid development of AI technology and its transformative potential in everyday work routines. Jive CoPilot, the debut of IgniteTech's GenAI enhancements for its software portfolio, underscores the Company's commitment to pioneering the next generation of enterprise software solutions. ABOUT JIVE Jive is a leading Employee Experience Platform uniting people, knowledge, and content in a secure hub across mobile and desktop devices. It is an indispensable tool for millions of users and many of the world's most successful organizations who depend on Jive-powered collaboration hubs to get work done. Part of the IgniteTech Software portfolio, Jive continues to transform the landscape of collaboration, making every interaction meaningful. Follow: Linkedin / Twitter ABOUT IGNITETECH Founded in 2010, IgniteTech is one of the world's leading enterprise software companies and a privately-held ESW Capital group member. Building on IgniteTech's corporate vision, "Where Software Goes to Thrive," the Company grows almost exclusively through acquisitions, continuing to deliver on its promise of revitalizing enterprise software through the three pillars of its corporate vision: 1) to save and stabilize the software and businesses it acquires; 2) to continuously innovate and transition products to the AWS cloud; and 3) to add unlimited value with its one-of-a-kind, Netflix-style software subscription, which provides customers access to all products in IgniteTech's solution suites. For Media Inquiries: [email protected] For Business Inquiries: [email protected] Follow: LinkedIn / Twitter SOURCE Ignite Enterprise Software Solutions, Inc. ASHBURN, Va. and PUNE, India, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- iMocha, a leading SkillsTech platform today launched its Skills Intelligence Cloud, an AI-powered platform to revolutionize enterprise hiring, talent management, internal mobility, and workforce planning processes. This innovative solution provides HR and business leaders with real-time access to skills data across their organization, enabling them to forecast, predict, and effectively address skills gaps to build a future-ready organization. iMocha, the leading SkillsTech Platform Launches AI-Powered Skills Intelligence Cloud to Enable Enterprises to Transition to Skills-First Talent Management (PRNewsfoto/iMocha) The launch of iMocha's Skills Intelligence Cloud comes amidst the rising global call for a skills-first approach to talent shortage. The World Economic Forum's 2023 Report on Putting Skills First has revealed that over 100 million individuals could directly benefit. The report also estimates that by 2030, a skills gap could leave 85 million jobs unfilled globally, leading to a staggering $8.5 trillion in unrealized annual revenues. Responding to this demand, iMocha's AI-powered Skills Intelligence Cloud enables CHROs to develop industry-specific skills taxonomies and ontologies for their organization. By leveraging multi-channel skills validation and AI-inferred models, iMocha empowers organizations to create a workforce for the future. "Skills are the new currency, and they are also transforming at a rapid pace. For businesses to stay ahead of the curve, they need to harness their organization's skills data on a real-time basis," said Amit Mishra, Founder & CEO of iMocha. "By capturing skills data at the most granular level and layering it with AI, our Skills Intelligence Cloud will revolutionize people analytics and skills-gap analysis, empowering enterprises to stay prepared for future and technological disruptions." According to Sujit Karpe, the CTO & Co-founder of iMocha, "The Skills Intelligence Cloud empowers CHROs and business leaders to adopt a skills-first approach and is specifically designed for organizations that prioritize continuous learning, employee development, and data-driven decision-making." Some of the key benefits that iMocha's Skills Intelligence Cloud will unleash include: Effective talent management, recruitment, and retention strategies with data-driven decisions Future proof organization with strategic workforce planning; with a clear understanding of the organization's skills landscape, HR can strategically plan for future needs. Increased employee engagement and retention: by understanding and focusing on the skills of the employees, organizations can create personalized development programmes, leading to increased employee engagement and retention. HR can plan training and reskilling programmes more effectively by having a real-time view of an organization's skills inventory. It gives a comprehensive view of the available skills, skill gaps, demand vs supply of skills, and areas for development. Improved hiring efficiency: availability of a clear skills taxonomy and ontology improves hiring efficiency by quickly identifying the skills needed in potential hires. This leads to a shorter time-to-hire and better quality of hires. For more details on Skills Intelligence Cloud, visit: https://www.imocha.io About iMocha iMocha is a AI-powered Skills Intelligence Cloud that helps enterprises to build a skills-first and data-driven ecosystem of hiring, upskilling, and managing talent - at scale, for any job role, and any industry. More than 500 organisations in 70+ countries are using iMocha's solution for taking a skills-first approach to accelerated hiring, objective learning and development programs and to manage talent from candidate to alumni. Enterprises from IT/ITeS, Telecom, Banking, Financial and Insurance and Engineering are using iMocha's Skills platform to make data driven talent decisions. The platform leverages patented technologies and includes innovative features to build employee skills profile, organisational skills inventory, skills taxonomy and skills ontology, skill benchmarking and skills analytics that helps to hire, develop and manage talent by taking a skills-first approach. For more about iMocha, visit www.imocha.io Media Contact: Krishna Kumar [email protected] Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2162483/iMocha_Skills_Intelligence.jpg SOURCE iMocha Canopy, the product of the 2022 joint venture between ADT and Ford, launched its first product, Canopy Pickup Cam, which is now available for pre-order via Canopy's e-commerce site. Canopy exists to provide peace of mind for truck owners with an aftermarket, app-driven video security device. It's multi-make and it can be used on any model truck of any age. Professional security monitoring and video storage available for retail for $14.99 a month. For the first 1,500 devices, Canopy will offer a 50% discount off the MSRP. DETROIT, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Canopy , a smart vehicle security startup, launched its first product, Canopy Pickup Cam which is now available for pre-order . Canopy was created in response to an increasing number of tradespeople and truck owners losing valuable tools, equipment, and gear to theft necessary to live their daily lives. The Canopy Pickup Cam is a connected security camera for pickup trucks, designed to provide real-time truck bed monitoring when the vehicle is parked and the owner is away. "Every day, vehicle owners load their trucks with the tools that make their work possible. These vehicles are designed to transport their livelihood, yet, they offer little protection. Traditional security measures, such as lockboxes, cables, and covers add unnecessary time and effort to the work day," said Canopy CEO Christian Moran. "The harsh reality is most people who use these products don't find out about a theft until it's too late. At Canopy, we saw these problems as an opportunity to redefine vehicle security. We combined the benefits found in smart home technology with our automotive and AI expertise to deliver a great connected experience for vehicle owners." The Pickup Cam provides customers with a complete view of the truck bed, with a 180 wide field of view, captured in HD. The camera has a dynamic LED bar that serves as an initial deterrent, signaling when the vehicle is under intelligent surveillance. Every Pickup Cam is connected to a Canopy Hub, which provides cellular connectivity and dedicated power to enable continuous monitoring. The complete system can be self-installed in about 15 minutes. The camera works with the Canopy Security app where you can view live video and past recorded events. Users will receive a push notification whenever suspicious activity is detected. Recorded footage is stored securely on the cloud. The app also includes an on-demand Emergency help feature that connects users with an ADT professional monitoring agent. Pricing and Availability Canopy's initial pre-order run is specifically designed for truck bed security and retails for $299, with a subscription of $14.99 per month. The subscription fee allows Canopy to protect you anywhere your vehicle is located at any time. The subscription also enables several connected benefits including 4G LTE connectivity, secure cloud storage for your data, real-time alerts, ADT emergency help, and access to future software updates and new feature rollouts. Pre-order ends and opens to the general public in early Fall 2023. For the first 1,500 devices, Canopy will offer a 50% discount off the MSRP of $299 and a monthly subscription of $14.99. Click here for images and other assets. ABOUT CANOPY Founded in 2022 and backed by Ford and ADT, Canopy is on a mission to end vehicle theft and revolutionize security with cutting-edge technology. With offices in both the U.S. and UK, the Pickup Cam is designed in Detroit and will be available in the U.S. for the industry's highest-volume commercial and retail pickups. It will be easily installable by customers to successfully protect expensive work and recreational equipment. In 2024, Canopy plans to launch an industry-first, AI-Power security system with available professional monitoring for vans in the US and UK. For more information, visit www.canopy.security/ and follow Canopy on Facebook @CanopySecurity, and Instagram @canopysecurity, and Twitter @canopy_security, and Tik Tok @canopysecurity. MEDIA CONTACT: Susannah Evans Susannah.Evans@hkstrategies.com SOURCE Canopy MONTREAL, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - IOU Financial Inc. ("IOU" or the "Company") (TSXV: IOU) confirms that it has received a non-binding, indicative unsolicited proposal (the "NMEF Proposal") from North Mill Equipment Finance LLC ("NMEF") to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of IOU ("Shares") at a price of C$0.28 in cash for each Share and takes note of the press release issued by NMEF on July 25, 2023 regarding the NMEF Proposal. The NMEF Proposal and subsequent announcement are merely an invitation for the Company to negotiate an arrangement agreement with NMEF. The NMEF Proposal is not a formal offer to IOU shareholders, and there is no assurance that NMEF will make a formal offer to any IOU shareholders. Shareholders currently do not need to take any action with respect to the NMEF Proposal or the announcement. The board of directors of IOU (the "Board") and its special committee are, together with their respective legal counsel and financial advisor, reviewing the NMEF Proposal to determine whether it constitutes a "Superior Proposal" as defined in the Arrangement Agreement entered into between IOU and 9494-3677 Quebec Inc. (the "Purchaser") on July 13, 2023 (the "Arrangement Agreement"), and have provided notice of such review to the Purchaser and its shareholders. The Board has not changed its unanimous approval and recommendation that IOU shareholders vote in favor of the plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement and, until such time as the Board makes its determination regarding whether the NMEF Proposal constitutes a "Superior Proposal", IOU will continue with the process set forth in the Arrangement Agreement, including holding a special meeting of IOU shareholders called for September 12, 2023 for the purpose of considering and voting on the Arrangement. A copy of the Arrangement Agreement is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. About IOU IOU Financial Inc. is a wholesale lender that provides quick and easy access to growth capital to small businesses through a network of preferred brokers across the US and Canada. Built on its proprietary IOU360 technology platform that connects underwriters, merchants and brokers in real time, IOU has become a trusted alternative to banks by originating over US$1 billion in loans to fund small business growth since 2009. IOU was named one of the 50 Best Places to Work in Fintech for 2022 by American Banker and trades on the TSX-V under the symbol "IOU", and on the US OTC markets as "IOUFF". To learn more about IOU's corporate history, financial products, or to join our broker network please visit www.IOUFinancial.com . Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, statements with respect to the completion of the Arrangement and the outcome of the NMEF Proposal, and other statements that are not material facts. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "believe", "estimate", "plan", "could", "should", "would", "outlook", "forecast", "anticipate", "foresee", "continue" or the negative of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Although the Company believes that the forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information and assumptions that are reasonable, these forward-looking statements are by their nature subject to a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's expectations and plans as set forth in such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the following factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control and the effects of which can be difficult to predict: (a) the possibility that the Arrangement will not be completed on the terms and conditions, or on the timing, currently contemplated, and that it may not be completed at all, due to a failure to obtain or satisfy, in a timely manner or otherwise, required shareholder, regulatory and court approvals and other conditions of closing necessary to complete the Arrangement or for other reasons; (b) the possibility of litigation relating to the Arrangement; and (c) the potential of a third party, including, but not limited to, NMEF, making a "Superior Proposal" to the Arrangement; and (d) other factors beyond the Company's control which could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its ability to complete the Arrangement. The Company cautions investors not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release when making an investment decision in their securities. Investors are encouraged to read the Company's filings available under its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release and IOU undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE IOU Financial Inc. ZAPOPAN and JALISCO, Mexico, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Isadora is revolutionizing the way that people enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine with its new line of Barbacoa, Mole and Pork, bringing the taste of Mexico to the table in just two minutes. Isadora is a 100% natural line of Mexican cuisine imported directly from Mexico and packaged in flexible pouches using the latest technologies. The innovative packaging ensures shelf-stability without the need for refrigeration, making them perfect for on-the-go meals or quick and easy dinners. With their new line of ready-to-eat pouches, Isadora is adding happiness to summer celebrations by making it easy to enjoy traditional Mexican cuisine without spending hours in the kitchen. As Americans eagerly look forward to the back-to-school season, a time-consuming meal prep is no longer required, making way for more quality time with family and friends. Isadora's commitment to unparalleled flavors is evident in every aspect of the products, from the ingredients used to the cooking methods employed. Their website offers a variety of quick and easy recipes for tasty tacos, flautas, tostadas and more, all made with locally sourced ingredients and flavors to ensure a delicious and genuinely Mexican culinary experience. "We are bringing the passion, creativity, and zest for life reflected by our heritage to every meal," said Maria Jose Garza, Isadora Brand Manager at Verde Valle Food, Inc. "We're excited to offer Americans a convenient and delicious way to celebrate everyday life and enjoy authentic flavors from Mexico anytime, anywhere." Whether serving an appetizer of mini-Mole sliders or pairing Barbacoa enchiladas with Isadora's 1-minute heat and serve beans, a delicious authentic meal is now easier than ever. The complete Isadora line is currently available at select retailers throughout the United States, ready to enhance any gathering with the unmistakable flavors from Mexico. For more information on Isadora and its new line of ready-to-eat Mexican food pouches, please visit https://www.isadoramexicanfood.com For Media Inquiries, Partnership Opportunities, Expert Commentary or Product Samples please contact Aneisha McMillan [email protected] / 910.849.9003 SOURCE Isadora Expanded Investment Banking and Capital Markets Team to be Co-Led by Banking Veterans Edward Tsuker, Ariel Imas NEW YORK, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kingswood U.S., part of a network of independent wealth management firms that oversees more than $13 billion in client assets globally, today announced the expansion of its enhanced, full-service in-house investment banking and capital markets capabilities with the hiring of industry veterans Edward Tsuker as CEO and Ariel Imas as President of Kingswood Investments, a division of Kingswood Capital Partners LLC. Tsuker and Imas will be responsible for adding to the already high-producing team and building out full investment banking and capital market services. Kingswood Investments, a division of Kingswood Capital Partners LLC, is primarily focused on providing access to capital to mid-market businesses that are undergoing varying degrees of operational, financial or market-driven change. The firm brings relevant industry relationships and a broad network of internal and external operating resources that can strengthen client businesses and enhance value. Kingswood's team of senior professionals come from industry leading private equity firms with long-term success. With an average of 20+ years in investment banking, the team's extensive experience with complex transactions and difficult situations allows them to provide tailored solutions that help ensure the best outcome for all constituents. Together with a team led by Brian Herman in Boca Raton, and a SPAC advisory team in Austin, the team expansion amplifies Kingswood's Investment Banking Division in New York, Florida and Texas. Michael Nessim, CEO, President and Managing Partner of Kingswood U.S., said, "We are excited to continue Kingswood's momentum with the expansion of our in-house investment banking and capital markets business. Under Edward's and Ariel's experienced and steady leadership, Kingswood Investments will take advantage of opportunities to offer a new type of investment banking service to clients, while greatly adding to the overall growth of our organization. Higher growth allows us to invest more across Kingswood to position the firm for future growth." Focus on three verticals The Kingswood Investments team will build on their considerable investment banking success specializing on raising capital for middle-market companies in three verticals: Healthcare, including bio tech and medical devices Technology, broadly defined and including defense Natural resources and energy concerns While the team will focus on these areas, they will continue to be opportunistic when an interesting story that makes sound investing sense presents itself, regardless of industry. "We are in a unique position to expand our presence in the investment banking industry and be the firm of choice for mid-market organizations looking to access capital and take their businesses to the next level," said Edward Tsuker, CEO, Kingswood Investments a division of Kingswood Capital Partners LLC. "We get deals done properly by giving companies better terms. Based on our knowledge and experience, we understand the intricacies of financial modeling and really know what the cost of capital means. We compete against larger firms for the middle market, so we must be better." Leveraging the scale and distribution of Kingswood Ariel Imas, President of Kingswood Investments a division of Kingswood Capital Partners LLC, added, "With Ed and myself at the helm, Kingswood Investments, a division of Kingswood Capital Partners LLC, is poised to offer the resources of a globally recognized investment bank while elevating wealth managers in the Kingswood network. Meanwhile, our extremely experienced team and extensive relationships make us a force to be reckoned with. Being part of Kingswood U.S. gives us the stability, security, and scale larger investment banks can claim." "Having a capital markets division in-house gives our financial advisors a unique opportunity to access high-quality transactions to create value for their clients," said Nessim. "The synergies are terrific. Banking creates products that retail advisors can offer their clients. These liquid offerings, sold by prospectus, may be more appropriate for certain clients than highly structured and often illiquid alternative investments. Aligning these solutions with our advisors and their clients is another reason we ensure our deals are well structured and positioned to perform in the long run." About Kingswood U.S. / Kingswood Group Kingswood U.S., part of the Kingswood Group, is a network of wealth management firms that includes an SEC-registered RIA and two FINRA-licensed broker-dealers, offering comprehensive wealth management and business-building services, designed specifically for the independent financial advisor. Together with our parent company, the Kingswood Group, has more than $13 billion in AUM, and 400 registered individuals, we combine the resources and capital of a very large financial services firm with the personalized touch and feel of a boutique company. Kingswood has earned a reputation as a firm built for advisors by advisors. Media Contacts: Joseph Kuo / Donald C. Cutler Haven Tower Group 424.317.4851 or 424.317.4864 [email protected] or [email protected] SOURCE Kingswood U.S. The Equiano submarine cable system is in the news again. This time its thanks to Telecom Egypt, which has announced the activation of an agreement with St Helena, the British Overseas Territory. St Helena is a remote volcanic outpost in the South Atlantic Ocean with a population of around 4,400, according to a 2021 census. Telecom Egypt has arranged with the St Helena government to connect the island to Egypts subsea system over the Equiano submarine cable system, along with the associated high-speed internet. Telecom Egypt will, in fact, provide St Helena with its first fibre optic connection to the rest of the world. The St Helena government is working on creating a new local network covering the entire area of the island and connecting it to the Equiano cable landing station, to ensure that an integrated package of services based on high-speed fibre-optic technology is provided to all homes and businesses on the island. The length of the submarine cable linking St Helena to Egypt Telecoms cable system is 1,140 kilometres. The cable extends along the western coast of the African continent, linking St Helena Island with Portugal and South Africa. Telecom Egypt has also supported the government of St Helena in the design, installation and preparation of the network equipment and the submarine cable. As we reported at the time, Telecom Egypt and the St Helena government signed the agreement to connect the island to Telecom Egypts subsea system over the Equiano submarine cable system in late 2020. The original plan was for the cable, along with the associated high speed internet, to be delivered to the island by early 2022. Platform Continues to Build Scale within the Mountain West OREM, Utah, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Any Hour Group ("Any Hour" or "the Company"), a leading provider of home services, today announced that Black Diamond Experts ("Black Diamond") and Bumble Breeze Plumbing, Heating and Air ("Bumble Breeze") have joined Any Hour's growing group of brands. These new partnerships bring together two of the leading brands in the rapidly growing Utah market, further cementing Any Hour's market leadership in the state, while also expanding its presence in Nevada. Founded in 1961, Any Hour offers homeowners peace of mind through a full suite of high-quality HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services. The Company has achieved a market-leading position through rapid organic growth, and in July 2021 partnered with Knox Lane, a San Francisco-based private equity firm, to accelerate Any Hour's trajectory. Through its partnership with Black Diamond, Any Hour has joined forces with one of Utah's leading home services brands, further expanding its reach within Salt Lake City while adding a presence in the Park City and St. George markets. Any Hour's partnership with Bumble Breeze marks the Company's expansion into the large and growing Las Vegas market, following last year's entry into Reno. Wyatt Hepworth, CEO of Any Hour, said, "We are excited about the combined strength of the Any Hour and Black Diamond brands in our home market of Utah, and the addition of Bumble Breeze, which further expands our footprint in Nevada. These are highly strategic partnerships for Any Hour, bringing together exceptional teams to achieve even greater success." Jeremy Hansen, COO of Any Hour, added, "Continuing to deepen our presence in existing markets has been a strategic focus for us as we've added new partners to our group of brands this year. We are thrilled to welcome Black Diamond and Bumble Breeze to the Any Hour Group and look forward to supporting our new partners in their next phase of growth." About Any Hour Group Founded in 1961, The Any Hour Group is the market-leading home services company in the Mountain West, providing residential customers with a full suite of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services, including repairs, replacements, and maintenance. Any Hour has a long history of organic growth and a workforce of more than 1,500 employees and technicians. Any Hour's unique culture, commitment to its employees and customers, and track record of success has positioned it for continued growth, with hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue. For more information, please visit www.anyhourservices.com. If you are interested in exploring a partnership with the Any Hour Group, please contact Dustin Van Orman ([email protected]). About Knox Lane Based in San Francisco, Knox Lane is a growth-oriented investment firm comprised of a team of accomplished investors and operators with a shared work history and a strong track record of partnering with leading companies to accelerate transformational growth. Knox Lane employs an investor-operator mindset and seeks to provide support across a number of business components, including human capital, brand management, end-to-end digital transformation, sourcing, supply chain and logistics, strategic acquisitions and business development. For more information, please visit www.knoxlane.com. About Black Diamond Experts Black Diamond is a leading home services provider in Utah, operating through the Black Diamond and Lifestyles brands. Black Diamond was founded by Dan James in 2009, and offers electric, plumbing, heating and air services in the broader Salt Lake City area and St. George. Lifestyles was founded by Kevin Barnes in 1998 and offers customized residential electrical services in Park City and beyond. Dan and Kevin will continue to lead Black Diamond and Lifestyles, respectively, and will dispatch from its locations in Salt Lake City, Park City, and St. George, Utah. About Bumble Breeze Bumble Breeze offers quality heating, cooling, indoor air quality and plumbing service to the Las Vegas market and surrounding areas. Since opening its doors in 2018, Bumble Breeze has grown rapidly through its commitment to doing quality work at an affordable price. The Company believes in winning customers over with quality customer service, exceptional products, and dedication. Bumble Breeze was founded by Brooks Carson and Ante Soda. Media Contact Woomi Yun / Erik Carlson Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher 212-355-4449 SOURCE Knox Lane; The Any Hour Group Intrusion attempts climb (+21%), with a record surge in cryptojacking volume (+399%) Cryptojacking volume in North America and Europe jumps (+345%) and (+788%) respectively and jumps (+345%) and (+788%) respectively IoT malware (+37%) and encrypted threats (+22%) also on the rise Opportunistic threat actors target education and government verticals with digital barrage SonicWall discovered 172,146 'never-before-seen' malware variants Lowest first half totals on ransomware attempts (-41%) since 2020, despite big Q2 jump suggesting a likely rebound over the next 6 months MILPITAS, Calif., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SonicWall, publisher of trusted cyberattack intelligence and leader of ransomware data, today released the 2023 SonicWall Mid-Year Cyber Threat Report. The bi-annual report uncovers evolving tactical behaviors from digital threat actors as they opt for different types of malicious attacks compared to years past. Overall intrusion attempts were up, led by the highest year on record for global cryptojacking volume recorded by SonicWall, as threat actors shifted away from traditional ransomware attacks in favor of a stealthier means of malicious activities. The data suggests increased law enforcement activity, heavy sanctions and victims' refusal to pay ransom demands have altered criminal conduct, and threat actors are targeting other means of revenue. "The seemingly endless digital assault on enterprises, governments and global citizens is intensifying, and the threat landscape continues to expand," said SonicWall President and CEO Bob VanKirk. "Threat actors are relentless, and our data indicates they are more opportunistic than ever, targeting schools, state and local governments, and retail organizations at unprecedented rates. The 2023 SonicWall Mid-Year Cyber Threat Report helps us better understand the mindset and criminal behavior that will in turn help SonicWall create the right countermeasures, and help organizations protect themselves by being better prepared and build stronger defenses against malicious activities." Rise of Cryptojacking; Evolution of Ransomware Cybercriminals are diversifying and expanding their skill sets to attack critical infrastructure, making the threat landscape even more complex and forcing organizations to reconsider their security needs. Despite the decline in global ransomware attempts (-41%), a variety of other attacks have trended up globally, including cryptojacking (+399%), IoT malware (+37%) and encrypted threats (+22%). "SonicWall intelligence suggests that bad actors are pivoting to lower-cost, less risky attack methods with potentially high returns, like cryptojacking," said SonicWall Vice President of Product Security Bobby Cornwell. "It also explains the reason we're seeing higher levels of cybercrime in regions like Latin America and Asia. Hackers search for the weakest points of entry, with the lightest possible repercussions, limiting their risk and maximizing their potential profits." Financially motivated threat actors continue to be successful despite challenges. They have pivoted to crimes with greater certainty of success but they will not abandon proven tactics like ransomware; they are simply shifting strategy by target rather than exiting altogether. Prominent attacks continued to plague enterprises, cities, airlines, and even K-12 schools, causing widespread system downtime, economic loss and reputational damage. While several industries followed the global trend of ransomware volume decline, they saw a huge growth in cryptojacking attacks: education (+320X), government (+89X) and healthcare (+69X). Threat Actors Diversify Cyberattack Strategies Cybercriminals are using increasingly advanced tools and tactics to exploit and extort victims. While ransomware continues to be a threat, SonicWall Capture Labs threat researchers expect more state-sponsored activity targeting a broader set of victims in 2023, including SMBs, government entities and enterprises. The 2023 Mid-Year SonicWall Cyber Threat Report provides insight on a range of cyber threats, including: Malware Total global malware volume dipped slightly (-2%), in the first half of 2023, with the U.S. and U.K. logging the biggest dips (-14%) and (-7%) respectively. Surprisingly, malware numbers climbed in every other tracked region. Europe saw an (+11%) increase, while Latin America malware jumped (+19%) suggesting a geo-migration of threat actor behavior as they move from targeting traditional hotspots to more opportunistic locations. Total global malware volume dipped slightly (-2%), in the first half of 2023, with the U.S. and U.K. logging the biggest dips (-14%) and (-7%) respectively. Surprisingly, malware numbers climbed in every other tracked region. saw an (+11%) increase, while malware jumped (+19%) suggesting a geo-migration of threat actor behavior as they move from targeting traditional hotspots to more opportunistic locations. Ransomware Although overall ransomware numbers saw a -41% decline globally, Q2 suggests a potential rebound, as it spiked 73.7% when compared to Q1. Some countries still felt the sting of ransomware attacks as Germany increased (+52%) and India spiked a whopping (+133%). Although overall ransomware numbers saw a -41% decline globally, Q2 suggests a potential rebound, as it spiked 73.7% when compared to Q1. Some countries still felt the sting of ransomware attacks as increased (+52%) and spiked a whopping (+133%). IoT Malware Global volume rose 37%, totaling almost 78 million hits by the end of June. As connected devices continue to rapidly multiply, bad actors are targeting weak points of entry as potential attack vectors into organizations. Global volume rose 37%, totaling almost 78 million hits by the end of June. As connected devices continue to rapidly multiply, bad actors are targeting weak points of entry as potential attack vectors into organizations. Encrypted Threats Yet another quieter approach embraced by bad actors in the last six months was encrypted threats, which climbed (+22%) globally. "Every year we see cybercrime increase at a staggering and unprecedented rate, and our customers depend on us protect their most valuable digital assets," said President and CEO of LAN Infotech Michael Goldstein. "That is why we have partnered with SonicWall for the past 15 years, knowing that they will always deliver cutting-edge products and timely research to provide us with the support we need to keep our customers safe. Reports like the 2023 SonicWall Mid-Year Cyber Threat Report arm the channel with the latest cyber trends and help us become trusted advisors to provide sound security measures to our customers." Patented RTDMI Discovered more than 172,000 'Never-Before-Seen' Malware Variants SonicWall's patented Real-Time Deep Memory Inspection (RTDMI) technology identified a total of 172,146 never-before-seen malware variants in the first half of 2023, which is down (-36%) year-over-year, suggesting bad actors are spending less time on research and development, and more time on volume-based attacks utilizing open-source tools that may be less likely to be intercepted. In addition, threat actors appear to be leverage existing tools leaning on tools they know will help them be successful. Despite the dip in never-before-seen malware variants, the threat landscape remains complex, with almost 1,000 strains of new variants discovered each day. To learn more about SonicWall and get the complete 2023 SonicWall Mid-Year Cyber Threat Report, please visit www.sonicwall.com/threatreport. About SonicWall Capture Labs SonicWall Capture Labs threat researchers gather, analyze and vet cross-vector threat information from the SonicWall Capture Threat network, consisting of global devices and resources, including more than 1 million security sensors in nearly 215 countries and territories. SonicWall Capture Labs, which pioneered the use of artificial intelligence for threat research and protection over a decade ago, performs rigorous testing and evaluation on this data, establishes reputation scores for email senders and content, and identifies new threats in real-time. About SonicWall SonicWall delivers Boundless Cybersecurity for the hyper-distributed era in a work reality where everyone is remote, mobile and unsecure. SonicWall safeguards organizations mobilizing for their new business normal with seamless protection that stops the most evasive cyberattacks across boundless exposure points and increasingly remote, mobile and cloud-enabled workforces. By knowing the unknown, providing real-time visibility and enabling breakthrough economics, SonicWall closes the cybersecurity business gap for enterprises, governments and SMBs worldwide. For more information, visit www.sonicwall.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. SOURCE SonicWall NEW YORK, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Katten announced today that Miriam K. Harwood has joined the New York office as a partner and chair of the firm's new International Arbitration practice. Miriam K. Harwood has joined Katten as a partner and chair of the International Arbitration practice. "Miriam is a formidable attorney, with decades of experience representing clients in international disputes involving complex, high-stakes claims," said Wendy E. Cohen, managing partner of the New York office. "With her globally respected reputation and proven track record of success, Miriam is an exceptional leader who will focus on this high-profile practice at Katten, complementing its industry-leading practices across jurisdictions." Harwood has extensive experience advising clients in a wide range of disputes involving cross-border commercial relationships and investments around the world. She has been recognized as a leader in international dispute resolution by Chambers Global, Chambers USA, Legal 500 USA, Who's Who Legal, Benchmark Litigation and many other industry publications. She has served as lead counsel in international arbitrations at the World Bank's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC), the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, and under the rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade and Law (UNCITRAL). Harwood also has broad experience in commercial litigation in US courts, including contract disputes, bankruptcy, intellectual property, securities fraud, and matters involving international law, sovereign immunity and enforcement of arbitral awards. Harwood is well known for her work in investor-State treaty arbitrations, as well as international commercial arbitrations, in cases involving government regulations, construction and infrastructure projects, telecommunications, oil and gas projects, renewable energy and mining. Over the course of her career, she has represented clients in dozens of international arbitrations, including 10 sovereign states. Most recently, she achieved two major victories this year, for the Republic of Croatia in May and for Turkmenistan in June, serving as lead counsel representing the states in ICSID arbitrations involving disputes in the telecommunications and real estate sectors. In both cases, the tribunals dismissed all claims against her clients, and ordered the claimants to pay the costs of the arbitrations. The Turkmenistan case involved USD $2 billion in claims by a Russian telecom company, which were dismissed on the merits after a two-week evidentiary hearing in Switzerland in 2022. "I am excited to launch the International Arbitration practice at Katten," said Harwood. "Katten's clients in the US and around the world will be well-served by strengthening the firm's capabilities to advise them in international disputes. It is an honor to lead the firm in this challenging area of the law and to continue and expand my practice at Katten." A thought leader on international law and arbitration, Harwood has been a featured speaker at dozens of professional conferences and industry events around the globe. She has advised states on investment treaties and domestic investment laws, and taught courses on international law and arbitration, including at Columbia Law School's Executive Training Program for Government Officials. She was appointed to the prestigious ICSID Panel of Arbitrators in 2020. She also serves on the board of directors of the New York International Arbitration Center and the advisory board of The American Review of International Arbitration. Katten's newly formed International Arbitration practice builds on its strength in dispute resolution for clients engaged in cross-border transactions and investments around the world. Katten attorneys have represented clients in international arbitrations relating to the licensing and marketing of pharmaceutical products, production and distribution of motion pictures, major construction and infrastructure projects, commercial real estate development, mining, oilfield operations and gas supply contracts, among others. Before joining Katten, Harwood served as partner and co-head of the Investment Arbitration practice at an AmLaw 100 firm, and she was previously a partner in the International Arbitration group at an AmLaw 200 firm. Katten is a full-service law firm with approximately 700 attorneys in locations across the United States and in London and Shanghai. Clients seeking sophisticated, high-value legal services turn to Katten for counsel locally, nationally and internationally. The firm's core areas of practice include corporate, financial markets and funds, insolvency and restructuring, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, structured finance and securitization, transactional tax planning, private credit and private wealth. Katten represents public and private companies in numerous industries, as well as a number of government and nonprofit organizations and individuals. For more information, visit katten.com . SOURCE Katten Riordan Clinic Welcomes Dr. Stacy Dunn, ND, LAc, FABNO, FABORM, to Overland Park Office OVERLAND PARK, Kan., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Riordan Clinic announces the addition of Dr. Stacy Dunn, ND, LAc, FABNO, FABORM, to its integrative oncology team. She will begin her practice at the Overland Park, Kansas, clinic location on July 31. Dr. Dunn holds board certifications in naturopathic oncology and fertility acupuncture. She brings more than 25 years of expertise in health and nutrition and a diverse background in naturopathic and traditional Chinese medicine. Dr. Dunn is a graduate of the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology. She earned her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine from National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Dunn is a Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology (FABNO) and a Fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (FABORM). She brings a comprehensive holistic approach to her practice and specializes in integrative cancer care and women's health and fertility. In addition to Dr. Dunn, the Riordan Clinic integrative oncology team also includes Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ron Hunninghake, MD, Dr. Kirsten West, ND, LAc, FABNO, and Laura Vasquez, MSN, APRN, NP-C. "Dr. Dunn brings a well-rounded blend of experience to our integrative oncology team. I look forward to working alongside her as we care for our co-learners," said Dr. Hunninghake. To make an appointment with Dr. Dunn or the Riordan Clinic's other integrative oncology providers, call 1-800-447-7276. Riordan Clinic is a world-renowned, academic medical center that has been leading the world in integrative oncology and complex chronic illness care since 1975. Integrative medicine addresses the underlying cause of disease and results in customized care plans that treat the whole person. The Riordan Clinic care model has been bringing hope, healing and health to thousands in the face of hopelessness, often when all other options have been exhausted. Visit https://riordanclinic.org/ for more information. SOURCE Riordan Clinic Lexus Commits Nearly Half a Million Dollars to Small, Minority-Owned Businesses PLANO, Texas, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lexus is hitting the road with Beyonce's RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR alongside her BeyGOOD Foundation as the exclusive automotive partner of the U.S. leg of the tour. The leading luxury car brand will support the mega superstar's nonprofit with a donation to help small, minority-owned businesses. Lexus Heats up the Summer in Partnership with Beyonces RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR and BeyGOOD Foundation Lexus will join BeyGOOD Foundation and its Black Parade Route to help small business owners impacted by economic inequities through a variety of grant opportunities and/or sustainability support services. Lexus' donation expands the BeyGOOD commitment by providing an additional $10,000 each to two grant recipients in all tour cities. "Lexus is honored to be part of Beyonce's RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR and contribute to BeyGOOD Foundation's mission focused on economic equity," said Mia Phillips, senior manager, advertising and media for Lexus. "We are confident this collaboration will make a significant impact on entrepreneurs in every city we touch." Beyonce Knowles-Carter's BeyGOOD Foundation launched the Black Parade Route in 2020 as an initiative to amplify and promote Black-owned and small businesses. Carter committed $1 million to support small businesses in 10 cities in the U.S. as well as regions in the United Kingdom. Throughout the RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR, the business impact luncheons will be held to celebrate grant recipients in Chicago, New York, Charlotte, N.C., Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston, and New Orleans. "Delighted that Lexus has committed support for small business owners nationally, through BeyGOOD's Black Parade Route," said Ivy McGregor, executive director at BeyGOOD Foundation. "This alignment supports entrepreneurs, families, and communities at large. We believe everyone has the right to economic equity." To pay homage to the tour sponsorship and extend the rich, futuristic feel of the tour elements, Lexus crafted a one-of-a-kind LC 500 that includes a premium chrome-wrapped exterior and jewel accents on the mirrors, headlamp surrounds, wheel center caps and license plate frame. The vehicle will accompany the RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR in various cities and will be showcased at an interactive in-venue Lexus display that allows concertgoers to engage with the brand via a photobooth that includes virtual iconography from the tour set and an entertaining karaoke booth. The RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR U.S. started in Philadelphia July 12, and culminates in Kansas City, Mo., Oct. 1. About Lexus Lexus' passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its customers. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 244 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With seven models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers eight F SPORT models, one F performance model and one F model. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers. www.facebook.com/lexus www.twitter.com/lexus www.youtube.com/LexusVehicles www.instagram.com/lexususa https://www.pinterest.com/lexususa Note to Editors: Lexus product information and images are available online via our news media website https://pressroom.lexus.com/MO About BeyGOOD Foundation Founded in 2013 by Beyonce, during the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, the BeyGOOD initiative has been a philanthropic initiative that is the extension of Beyonce's charitable heart. Now a 501 (c)(3) Public Charity, BeyGOOD Foundation continues the mission of economic equity and education. To date BeyGOOD has been instrumental in programs that help in the areas of education, health, housing, water scarcity, disaster relief and more. The efforts are global, including South Africa, Haiti, Burundi, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Caribbean and throughout the United States. BeyGOOD Foundation is built on the belief that we are all in this together and each and every one of us can make a difference by giving back. Media Contacts: Brooke Sinek Lexus Communications [email protected] Hillary John PRecise Communications 301-237-1824 [email protected] Damali Hill PRecise Communications 281-947-2447 [email protected] SOURCE Lexus LMS will offer more students better access to flexible curriculum ROCHESTER, Pa., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln Learning Solutions today announced it will make its debut on Canvas, one of the most popular and widely used learning management systems in the country, if not the world. With the start of the 2023-2024 school year, students learning with Lincoln Empowered curriculum will be able to access it on Canvas, according to Lincoln Learning Solutions CEO Bob Clements. "Canvas' high, best-in-class customer service ratings and the fact that it's used by school districts in all 50 states make it an ideal platform for reaching more students, Clements said. "This is another step we've taken to make it easier for schools and students to access our flexible curriculum." As longtime users of Canvas and Lincoln Learning courses, students and teachers in the Genesee Intermediate School District in Flint, Michigan, will reap the benefits from the partnership. "Teachers will be able to arrange and utilize the Lincoln Learning content in a way that will bring improved feedback of the students' learning, Kevin Kickbusch, Director of Technology Services for GISD, said. "For example, the "Show It" assessments will now be able to be more fully integrated into Canvas, which will allow even better feedback for the teachers and students to improve instruction and learning." Kickbusch said Lincoln Learning has gained popularity over the past several years within the district's online learning portal, GenNET Online. "The content is well received by many districts throughout Michigan," he said. "As Canvas has been a tool that we have used and supported for years, we see the benefits of having content within Canvas as a common cartridge." Clements said Lincoln is also sensitive to the need for reliability in a platform. "Canvas boasts an enviable 99.9% system uptime," he said. "That's exactly what we want consistency that delivers for our schools and students like those at Genesee. They can't afford learning interruptions." The announcement comes as Instructure, the maker of Canvas, kicks off its annual conference. As a sponsor of the conference, Lincoln will engage with educators, Canvas users, and ed tech enthusiasts, and showcase how its multi-modal, flexible curriculum will mesh with Canvas to improve the student learning experience. "Our partners are an integral part of the Instructure ecosystem and are equally committed to innovation, technology, and student success," Instructure says of its sponsors. Clements said the commitment on behalf of Lincoln Learning Solutions runs deep. "We're proud to be partners," he said. "Because Canvas allows teachers to customize their courses, it complements Lincoln Empowered's promise to let them design how they educate. "The partnership that we have had with Lincoln Learning Solutions over the years has been outstanding," Kickbusch said. "Since we were already familiar with Canvas as Canvas users, we are excited to see what the future holds as districts throughout Michigan can experience Lincoln Learning Solutions in a whole new way." With more than 170 courses and nearly 110,000 multi-modal learning objects, Lincoln Empowered is a standards-based curriculum that helps educators design how they teach each individual student. Clements said the Lincoln team is looking forward to offering it on Canvas in the new school year. contact: Christina Zarek [email protected] 717-805-2337 Lincoln Learning Solutions is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to collaborating with educators and maximizing their talents to facilitate student success. Based in western Pennsylvania, it is the developer of Lincoln Empowered, a digitally based curriculum that delivers engaging, standards-based, instruction in online and blended learning environments. Lincoln Empowered offers a dynamic array of courses in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, and the creative and performing arts. Lincoln Learning Solutions currently serves nearly 100 schools in 14 states, and upward of 20,000 students. SOURCE Lincoln Learning Solutions VANCOUVER, BC, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - MANTARO PRECIOUS METALS CORP. (TSXV: MNTR) (OTCQB: MSLVF) (FSE: 9TZ) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the commencement of follow-up tailings sampling at the Golden Hill property ("Golden Hill"). This program aims to quantify the gold content within the tailings, with the ultimate goal of evaluating the potential for re-processing via heap leaching and increasing the resource base at Golden Hill. Highlights: Figure 1: Map of the Golden Hill property highlighting the tailings area in blue, which measures approximately 300 x 500 meters and up to 15 meters deep. (CNW Group/Mantaro Precious Metals Corp.) Follow up sampling survey to provide base for resource estimation of approximately 600,000 tons of historical tailings. Builds on preliminary sampling which returned average grades of 1.33 g/t Au with 96% of gold recoverable via cyanide leaching. Mantaro has begun a comprehensive follow-up tailings sampling campaign to categorically determine the gold content within the estimated 600,000 tons of historical tailings at Golden Hill. This study will build upon the previous preliminary tailings sampling program completed in 2021, which consisted of 16 samples and yielded an average gold grade of 1.33 g/t Au with 96% of the gold recoverable via cyanide leaching. The new study aims to provide a more accurate representation of the quantity of gold contained within the tailings, further assess reprocessing options, and potentially expand on the company's maiden resource. The results obtained from this tailings sampling campaign will form a quantitative dataset from which NI-43-101 compliant resource estimates can be calculated which will in turn feed into a Preliminary Economic Study on Golden Hill. To ensure the accuracy and reliability of the sampling program, Mantaro has enlisted experienced geologists who will oversee the project and ensure NI-43-101 compliant best practice protocol and quality assurance and quality control (QAQC) procedures are followed. The geologists will systematically collect and analyze samples from predetermined random grid-spaced locations at various depths within the tailings. This approach guarantees a representative assessment of the gold content within the tailings. Darren Hazelwood, Chief Executive Officer of the Company states, "Building upon the promising results of our preliminary tailings sampling program completed in 2021, we are eager to obtain a more definitive understanding of the gold content within the estimated 600,000 tons of historical tailings. The results of this tailings sampling campaign will serve as a crucial foundation for future decision-making regarding re processing strategies of tailing and potential resource expansion opportunities within Golden Hill." Qualified Person Dr. Christopher Wilson, Ph. D., FAusIMM (CP), FSEG, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. About Mantaro Precious Metals Corp. Mantaro Precious Metals Corp. is a British Columbia company that holds a diversified portfolio of gold and silver focused mineral properties in Bolivia and Peru. The Company holds an option to acquire up to an 80% interest in the advanced Golden Hill orogenic gold property ("Golden Hill"), located in the underexplored Precambrian Shield, Bolivia. In Peru, the Company has a 100% interest in the high-grade Santas Gloria silver property as well as a 100% interest in each of the La Purisima, Cerro Luque and Huaranay properties. Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Company's limited operating history, ability to obtain sufficient financing to carry out its exploration programs and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Mantaro Precious Metals Corp. C$ unless otherwise stated TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945 TORONTO, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife Financial Corporation will release its second quarter 2023 financial results after markets close on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, which will be made available at manulife.com/en/investors/results-and-reports . A live webcast and conference call are scheduled for Thursday, August 10, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. (ET) where Roy Gori, President & Chief Executive Officer, Colin Simpson, Chief Financial Officer, and other members of Manulife's executive leadership team will discuss the results, followed by a question and answer period with analysts. To access the conference call, dial 1-800-806-5484 or 1-416-340-2217 (Passcode: 5591790#). International dial-in numbers are also available. Please call in 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. The archived webcast will be available at manulife.com/en/investors/results-and-reports following the call. A replay of the call will also be available until November 4, 2023, by dialing 1-800-408-3053 or 1-905-694-9451 (Passcode: 8915240#). About Manulife Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Through Manulife Investment Management, the global brand for our Global Wealth and Asset Management segment, we serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2022, we had more than 40,000 employees, over 116,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 34 million customers. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com . SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation ST. LOUIS, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Marcone, a leading North American distributor of home and commercial kitchen appliance, HVAC, plumbing and pool and spa repair parts and equipment, announced today the addition of three seasoned executives, adding even greater depth to its executive strength. Tim Shearer, Jon Kirby and Jason Scott will be instrumental in shaping the future of Marcone, which has grown to $2+ billion in sales with 200 locations and 2,000 employees since 2021. Shearer was named President of Marcone Plumbing and is laser-focused on building momentum as he contributes to Marcone's ongoing success. Previously, he has led teams in residential construction and sales, along with more than 20 years in senior roles with Ferguson and Moen. "Our ability to accelerate sales growth while adding value to our customers through an integrated sales and distribution network is critical," Shearer said. "Our growth in plumbing will be driven by three key pillars: expanded plumbing offering across the Marcone distribution network, distribution growth for Wolverine Brass and Speakman brands through regional plumbing distributors and new product development driven by customer and consumer insights." As the new Executive Vice President of Supply Chain, Kirby is creating a center of excellence and is emphasizing agility within Marcone's supply chain so that it's positioned for further expansion of its rapidly growing franchise. Streamlining supply chain operations is key for optimizing efficiency and accelerating Marcone's best-in-class user experience. Kirby brings nearly 35 years of supply chain experience from major global companies that include Barclays and AstraZeneca. "Our overriding responsibility is to ensure that we have product to sell to our customers and maximize our ability to drive profitable growth," Kirby said. "We are implementing standardized processes that will enable us to truly leverage our scale, uplift our capabilities, drive meaningful integration and create greater agility to support our business today and in the future." Scott was promoted to Executive Vice President of Operations, where he is creating a center of excellence that focuses on safety, operational productivity and delivering parts and equipment from Marcone's full catalog with speed and accuracy. He previously worked as Chief Operations Officer for Marcone Plumbing. "The process improvements and efficiencies of time, cost and quality available through synergies of our legacy businesses are seemingly endless," Scott said. "So many great things can develop from the immense talent we have across the business and I'm excited to be part of it." Marcone has been in rapid growth mode during the past two years, starting first as an appliance parts company before expanding into the HVAC, plumbing, commercial kitchen and pool and spa industries. Today, customers across all those industries can purchase products from top manufacturers through Marcone's extensive parts catalog. "We look forward to continuing to provide our customers with the parts they need, when they need them," said Chief Executive Officer Avichal Jain. "The expertise of these stalwarts will be key to helping us do that. Their knowledge and connections will further position us to dominate the market in all the industries we serve." About Marcone Marcone is the leading provider of premium solutions, parts and equipment for professionals serving customers on their appliance parts, HVAC, plumbing and commercial kitchen needs. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Marcone is a multi-billion-dollar enterprise operating out of more than 200 locations throughout North America. Offering unparalleled product breadth, know-how across our national footprint and ease of doing business via leading-edge technology, servicers prefer Marcone because we amplify what they do best: take great care of their clients with speed, reliability and accuracy. Learn more about Marcone at www.marcone.com. Media Contact: Elizabeth Davies Marcone HVAC Cell: 815.440.8768 [email protected] SOURCE Marcone The Global Lifestyle Brand Tops List of Upper Upscale Hotels ORLANDO, Fla., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts ranks first among Upper Upscale Hotel Brands*, according to the J.D. Power 2023 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index (NAGSI) Study, released today. The annual study analyzes over 33,754 guest responses to survey questions and benchmarks 102 hospitality companies across nine market segments to measure guest satisfaction, advocacy, and loyalty. Margaritaville Ranks #1 in Guest Satisfaction in J.D. Power Study "It is an honor to have Margaritaville ranked #1 in guest satisfaction" said Dan Leonard, President of Hospitality at Margaritaville. "We are proud of the team members across our properties that work to make the traveler experience unique and memorable. They are true ambassadors of the Margaritaville state of mind and aim to create an environment for our guests that is synonymous with high-quality fun and escapism. This award is a reflection of those collective efforts." With an array of offerings in its rapidly-expanding portfolio, Margaritaville reaches consumers across the U.S. and beyond who are looking to be transported to a vacation state of mind, regardless of their current latitude. The brand features over 40 lodging locations across boutique hotels, all-inclusive resorts, branded real estate, RV destinations, gaming properties and a cruise line. In addition to restaurants and consumer lifestyle products, the brand also recently introduced the License to Chill Podcast on SiriusXM, home to Radio Margaritaville, and the title sponsorship of Major League Pickleball, branding the league MLP by Margaritaville. For more information on the J.D. Power 2023 North America Guest Satisfaction Study, visit here. To learn more about Margaritaville, visit www.margaritaville.com . *Tied in 2023. For J.D. Power 2023 award information, visit jdpower.com/awards. About Margaritaville Margaritaville, a state of mind since 1977, is a global lifestyle brand inspired by Jimmy Buffett, whose songs evoke a passion for tropical escape and relaxation. Margaritaville features over 40 lodging locations and over 20 additional projects in the pipeline positioned across a variety of full-service and boutique hotel and resort brands, branded real estate, premium RV destinations, and gaming properties, all complemented by an extensive suite of food and beverage concepts, including Margaritaville Restaurant, award-winning JWB Prime Steak and Seafood, 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill, and LandShark Bar & Grill. Hotel brands include Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts, Compass by Margaritaville, Margaritaville Beach House, Margaritaville St. Somewhere, and the all-inclusive product, Margaritaville Island Reserve. Further elevating experiences, Margaritaville's branded real estate includes Latitude Margaritaville, "55 and better" active adult brand; Margaritaville Cottages, Villas and Residences; One Particular Harbour Margaritaville; and Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham. The newest brand additions to Margaritaville's properties includes the rapidly-growing Camp Margaritaville RV Resorts and Margaritaville at Sea, which debuted in 2022 with its first ship, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. Additionally, consumers can escape every day through a collection of lifestyle products including apparel, footwear, frozen concoction makers, home decor, a SiriusXM radio station, and more. More than 20 million travelers and consumers every year change their latitude and attitude with Margaritaville. For more information, visit www.margaritaville.com and follow Margaritaville on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . About J.D. Power J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies. J.D. Power has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company's business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. The J.D. Power auto shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com. CONTACT: FINN Partners [email protected] SOURCE Margaritaville VERO BEACH, Fla., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fifth consecutive year, Market Street Memory Care Residence Palm Coast celebrates their certification as a Great Place to Work under the operational management of Watercrest Senior Living. Great Place to Work certification is awarded by the Great Place to Work Institute and its senior care partner Activated Insights. Watercrest Senior Living Group opened Market Street Memory Care Palm Coast in the fall of 2018, earning the distinct achievement for every year since opening. Market Street Memory Care Residence Palm Coast in Florida celebrates five consecutive years as a certified Great Place to Work under the operational management of Watercrest Senior Living. "We are honoring our seniors and providing the best possible care thanks to the dedication and pride that our Market Street Palm Coast team demonstrates daily in being a valued member of the Watercrest family," says Danielle Potter, Executive Director of Market Street Palm Coast. "Our team members feel respected and supported which results in an excellent environment for the residents that we serve." Market Street Palm Coast is an award-winning senior living community in Palm Coast, Florida prestigiously recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a 2022-23 Best Memory Care Community. U.S. News awards the designation of Best Senior Living only to those communities that achieved the highest possible rating for Memory Care. Prior to hiring at Market Street Memory Care, candidates complete a thorough behavioral based interview process to discover how their values align with the Watercrest mission and vision. Selected candidates proudly display their core value on their name badge, honoring a call to serve seniors. Great workplaces are defined by employees' levels of trust, pride and camaraderie, but the best workplaces are characterized by factors such as executive team effectiveness, innovation experience, complexity, and financial sustainability, all which contribute to a great workplace for associates at every level within the organization. More than 60 elements of team members' experience on the job were evaluated, including the feeling of being welcomed as a new employee, the belief that their work makes a difference, and feeling their work has special meaning. Rankings are based on employees' experiences, regardless of title or position. Market Street Memory Care Residence Palm Coast offers world class care, multi-sensory programming, diverse culinary experiences, and unparalleled associate training honoring seniors with Alzheimer's and dementia. The community is conveniently located at 2 Corporate Drive in Palm Coast, Fla. For information, please contact the community at 386-388-7495. "Achieving the honor of Great Place to Work is a direct reflection of our Watercrest associate's feelings of respect and appreciation for their contributions to the organization and to the seniors that we serve," says Marc Vorkapich, principal and CEO of Watercrest Senior Living Group. "By cultivating our team members God-given talents and recognizing their unique contributions, Watercrest continues to uphold our reputation as one of the nation's premier senior living providers." The Watercrest Senior Living Group certification of Great Place to Work encompasses all of the senior living communities operating under the Watercrest Senior Living umbrella, including Market Street Memory Care Residences, Pelican Landing Assisted Living and Memory Care, and LifeBUILT Architecture. About Watercrest Senior Living Group Watercrest Senior Living Group was founded to honor our mothers and fathers, aspiring to become a beacon for quality in senior living by surpassing standards of care, service and associate training. Watercrest senior living communities are recognized for their luxury aesthetic, exceptional amenities, world-class care, and innovative memory care programming offering unparalleled service to seniors living with Alzheimer's and dementia. A six-time certified Great Place to Work, Watercrest specializes in the development and operations of assisted living and memory care communities and the growth of servant leaders. For information, visit www.watercrestseniorliving.com. About Activated Insights Activated Insights is the senior care affiliate of Great Place to Work, the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through its aging services certification program, Activated Insights helps Great Place to Work recognize outstanding workplace cultures in the aging services industry and produce the annual Fortune "Best Workplaces for Aging Services" as well as other Great Place to Work Best Workplaces lists for Millennials, Women, Diversity, Small & Medium Companies, and various regions. Through its employee engagement platform, Activated Insights helps clients create great workplaces that outpace peers on key business metrics like revenue growth, profitability, and retention. SOURCE Watercrest Senior Living Group RALEIGH, N.C., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- McAdams, a multidisciplinary design and engineering firm headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, specializing in civil / site design, planning and design, transportation, water resources, and geomatics, has expanded its reach throughout the Triad with the opening of a new office at the Bailey Power Plant in the Innovation Quarter of downtown Winston-Salem. Senior project manager, Jay Matey, PE, will be spearheading the opening of this new location. "Expanding across the state allows us to stay in front of development trends and investment in associated infrastructure while improving our accessibility for clients," said President and CEO, Mike Munn, PE. Having already served numerous clients in the Triad for years, McAdams' decision to grow its presence with this new office is a result of the significant uptick in job growth and investment in the manufacturing and industrial markets throughout the area, coupled with increased opportunities to serve municipalities across the Triad to better serve their needs. Major economic development projects from Toyota, Boom Supersonic, and others, will continue to drive the Triad's economy for years. "The Triad is making significant moves attracting new employers and new growth, and McAdams looks forward to supporting these exciting expansion opportunities for the entire region," said Munn. Having worked as a senior project manager with McAdams for more than five years in the 2010s, Jay Matey, PE, has returned to the company for the opening of the Winston-Salem location. Matey will take on the responsibility of technical leadership as the office begins operations. In 2022, the company's headquarters shifted to Bloc [83] in the Triangle, paving the way for McAdams' growing footprint across North Carolina operations began June 1st in the Triad. The Winston-Salem office, specifically, will be releasing information regarding possible employment opportunities over the coming months. About McAdams Founded in 1979, McAdams is a full-service civil engineering, land planning, landscape architecture, transportation, and geomatics firm headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina with offices in Durham and Charlotte, North Carolina, and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. McAdams is passionate about providing unique and engaging experiences for its clients and its clients' clients. McAdams understands the importance of a lasting impression and strives to bring life to the collective vision for project success. McAdams' engineering expertise and other integrated services help provide efficient and effective solutions to serve its clients' project needs. McAdams cares about the end product and shares its clients' goals. SOURCE McAdams NEW YORK, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The metal heat treatment market is to grow by USD 15.18 billion from 2022 to 2027. However, the growth momentum will progress at a CAGR of 2.74% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. The metal heat treatment market is fragmented, and the vendors are seeking strong partnerships with automotive, industrial, and commercial companies to compete in the market. Aalberts NV, Advanced Heat Treat Corp., American Metal Processing Co., Bluewater Thermal Solutions, BMT Group Ltd., Bodycote Plc, General Metal Heat Treating Inc., Houston Heat Treat, Keith Co. Inc., Metal Heat Co. Ltd., Nabertherm GmbH, NATIONAL HEAT TREAT LLC, ONEX Corp., Pacific Metallurgical Inc, Paulo Heat Treating, Metal Finishing, and Brazing, SECO/WARWICK SA, SEI Heat Treat, Summitglow Ltd., Thermex Metal Treating Ltd, and TRI-J Metal Heat Treating Inc are some of the major market participants -. To know about the vendor offerings - Request a sample report Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Metal Heat Treatment Market Metal Heat Treatment Market 2023-2027: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The metal heat treatment market report covers the following areas: Metal Heat Treatment Market 2023-2027: Market Dynamics Key Drivers The integration of metal heat treatment processes into production lines is a key factor driving market growth. The automotive sector is experiencing increased competition due to rapid globalization and growing investments. As a result, many organizations are automating their processes to improve operational efficiency. To meet the demand for cost-effective, high-quality products, automotive companies are increasingly including automation in their factory operations. Hence, these factors are expected to drive market growth during the forecast period. Major Trends The increasing demand for CNC-incorporated machine tools is a major trend shaping the market. CNC machines play an important role in adhering to design specifications and efficiently producing products with exceptional precision. As the demand for high-quality products rises, businesses are increasingly turning to automation in their manufacturing processes. In small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), manually operated machine tools are being substituted by numerical control (NC) and CNC machines, which utilize programmed commands and computers to achieve elevated levels of productivity. Hence, these CNC machines are expected to drive market growth during the forecast period. Significant Challenges The growth of the global second-hand machine market is a significant challenge restricting market growth. Numerous Asian contractors and mining companies are buying used European construction machinery at affordable rates, allowing them to manage their capital investments effectively. Similarly, various manufacturers of metal heat treatment equipment are also selling second-hand machinery in the market. The increasing prevalence of the second-hand machine market might have adverse effects on the demand for new industrial and construction equipment. Hence, these factors are expected to restrict market growth during the forecast period. Drivers, Trends, and challenges have an impact on market dynamics, which can impact businesses. Find more insights in a sample report! Metal Heat Treatment Market 2023-2027: Segment Analysis End-user Automotive Industrial Machinery Construction Aerospace Nuclear and Others Material Steel Cast Iron Others Geography APAC North America Europe South America Middle East and Africa Metal Heat Treatment Market 2023-2027: Segmentation Highlights The automotive segment will account for a significant share of market growth during the forecast period. This is due to rapid urbanization and evolving spending habits which are leading to the rising sales of luxury cars. The need for heat treatment has grown as a result of the large growth in the number of vehicles produced each year to support the mass production of automotive components. Heat treatment processes help in determining the properties of finished parts during the manufacturing of automotive components. Therefore, these factors are expected to restrict market growth during the forecast period. APAC is estimated to contribute 50% to the market's growth during the forecast period. Countries like China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Japan, South Korea, and India are experiencing a rising global demand for metal heat treatment services. The rise in demand is due to rapid industrialization and substantial production in the automotive and industrial machinery sectors. Furthermore, the oil and gas industry is growing which is leading to an increase in offshoring and nearshoring activities, particularly in China and India. Hence, these factors are expected to drive market growth in the region during the forecast period. The competitive scenario categorizes companies based on various performance indicators. Some of the factors considered include the financial performance of companies, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, and growth in market share, among others Buy the Report Metal Heat Treatment Market 2023-2027: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2023-2027 Detailed information on factors that will assist metal heat treatment market growth during the next five years Estimation of the metal heat treatment market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the metal heat treatment market across APAC, North America , Europe , South America , and the Middle East and Africa , , , and the and Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of metal heat treatment market vendors Get Instant access to 17000+ market research report Technavio Subscription Platform Related Reports: The bottling line machinery market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.55% between 2022 and 2027 and the size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 1,102.4 million. Furthermore, this report extensively covers market segmentation by application (pet, glass, and metal can), technology (automatic and semi-automatic), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and the Middle East and Africa). The increase in demand for digitally printed packaging is a key factor driving the market growth during the forecast period. The industrial printing market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8% between 2022 and 2027 and the size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 73.32 billion. Furthermore, this report extensively covers market segmentation by application (packaging, textiles, electronics, and others), service (print services and other services), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and the Middle East and Africa). The rise in demand for packaged food and beverage products is a key factor driving the market growth during the forecast period. Metal Heat Treatment Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 2.74% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 15.18 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 1.93 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 50% Key countries US, China, Japan, South Korea, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Aalberts NV, Advanced Heat Treat Corp., American Metal Processing Co., Bluewater Thermal Solutions, BMT Group Ltd., Bodycote Plc, General Metal Heat Treating Inc., Houston Heat Treat, Keith Co. Inc., Metal Heat Co. Ltd., Nabertherm GmbH, NATIONAL HEAT TREAT LLC, ONEX Corp., Pacific Metallurgical Inc, Paulo Heat Treating, Metal Finishing and Brazing, SECO/WARWICK SA, SEI Heat Treat, Summitglow Ltd., Thermex Metal Treating Ltd, and TRI-J Metal Heat Treating 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, and 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. 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 Material 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 metal heat treatment market 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size Data Table on global metal heat treatment market 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.2 End-user Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size End-user Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.3 Material Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size Material 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 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 Automotive - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 34: Chart on Automotive - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Automotive - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 36: Chart on Automotive - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Automotive - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 Industrial machinery - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 38: Chart on Industrial machinery - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Industrial machinery - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 40: Chart on Industrial machinery - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Industrial machinery - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.5 Construction - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 42: Chart on Construction - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Construction - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 44: Chart on Construction - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 45: Data Table on Construction - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.6 Aerospace - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 46: Chart on Aerospace - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Aerospace - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 48: Chart on Aerospace - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on Aerospace - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.7 Nuclear and others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 50: Chart on Nuclear and others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 51: Data Table on Nuclear and others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 52: Chart on Nuclear and others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on Nuclear and others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.8 Market opportunity by End-user Exhibit 54: Market opportunity by End-user ($ billion) Exhibit 55: Data Table on Market opportunity by End-user ($ billion) 7 Market Segmentation by Material 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 56: Chart on Material - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 57: Data Table on Material - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 7.2 Comparison by Material Exhibit 58: Chart on Comparison by Material Exhibit 59: Data Table on Comparison by Material 7.3 Steel - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 60: Chart on Steel - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 61: Data Table on Steel - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 62: Chart on Steel - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 63: Data Table on Steel - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.4 Cast iron - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 64: Chart on Cast iron - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 65: Data Table on Cast iron - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 66: Chart on Cast iron - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 67: Data Table on Cast iron - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 68: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 69: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 70: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 71: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.6 Market opportunity by Material Exhibit 72: Market opportunity by Material ($ billion) Exhibit 73: Data Table on Market opportunity by Material ($ billion) 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 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 79: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 80: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 81: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 82: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.4 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 83: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 84: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 85: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 86: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 87: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 88: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 89: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 90: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 91: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 92: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 93: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 94: 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 95: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 96: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 97: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 98: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 99: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 100: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 101: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 102: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.9 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 (%) 9.10 Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 107: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 108: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 109: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 110: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.11 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 111: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 112: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 113: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 114: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.12 South Korea - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 115: Chart on South Korea - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 116: Data Table on South Korea - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 117: Chart on South Korea - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 118: Data Table on South Korea - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 119: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion) Exhibit 120: 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 121: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027 10.4 Market trends 11 Vendor Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 122: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 11.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 123: Overview on factors of disruption 11.4 Industry risks Exhibit 124: Impact of key risks on business 12 Vendor Analysis 12.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 125: Vendors covered 12.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 126: Matrix on vendor position and classification 12.3 Aalberts NV Exhibit 127: Aalberts NV - Overview Exhibit 128: Aalberts NV - Business segments Exhibit 129: Aalberts NV - Key offerings Exhibit 130: Aalberts NV - Segment focus 12.4 Advanced Heat Treat Corp. Exhibit 131: Advanced Heat Treat Corp. - Overview Exhibit 132: Advanced Heat Treat Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 133: Advanced Heat Treat Corp. - Key offerings 12.5 American Metal Processing Co. Exhibit 134: American Metal Processing Co. - Overview Exhibit 135: American Metal Processing Co. - Product / Service Exhibit 136: American Metal Processing Co. - Key offerings 12.6 Bluewater Thermal Solutions Exhibit 137: Bluewater Thermal Solutions - Overview Exhibit 138: Bluewater Thermal Solutions - Product / Service Exhibit 139: Bluewater Thermal Solutions - Key offerings 12.7 BMT Group Ltd. Exhibit 140: BMT Group Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 141: BMT Group Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 142: BMT Group Ltd. - Key offerings 12.8 Bodycote Plc Exhibit 143: Bodycote Plc - Overview Exhibit 144: Bodycote Plc - Business segments Exhibit 145: Bodycote Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 146: Bodycote Plc - Segment focus 12.9 General Metal Heat Treating Inc. Exhibit 147: General Metal Heat Treating Inc. - Overview Exhibit 148: General Metal Heat Treating Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 149: General Metal Heat Treating Inc. - Key offerings 12.10 Houston Heat Treat Exhibit 150: Houston Heat Treat - Overview Exhibit 151: Houston Heat Treat - Product / Service Exhibit 152: Houston Heat Treat - Key offerings 12.11 Keith Co. Inc. Exhibit 153: Keith Co. Inc. - Overview Exhibit 154: Keith Co. Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 155: Keith Co. Inc. - Key offerings 12.12 Metal Heat Co. Ltd. Exhibit 156: Metal Heat Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 157: Metal Heat Co. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 158: Metal Heat Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 12.13 ONEX Corp. Exhibit 159: ONEX Corp. - Overview Exhibit 160: ONEX Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 161: ONEX Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 162: ONEX Corp. - Segment focus 12.14 Paulo Heat Treating, Metal Finishing and Brazing Exhibit 163: Paulo Heat Treating, Metal Finishing and Brazing - Overview Exhibit 164: Paulo Heat Treating, Metal Finishing and Brazing - Product / Service Exhibit 165: Paulo Heat Treating, Metal Finishing and Brazing - Key offerings 12.15 SECO/ WARWICK SA SA Exhibit 166: SECO/ WARWICK SA - Overview SA - Overview Exhibit 167: SECO/ WARWICK SA - Product / Service SA - Product / Service Exhibit 168: SECO/ WARWICK SA - Key offerings 12.16 Summitglow Ltd. Exhibit 169: Summitglow Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 170: Summitglow Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 171: Summitglow Ltd. - Key offerings 12.17 Thermex Metal Treating Ltd Exhibit 172: Thermex Metal Treating Ltd - Overview Exhibit 173: Thermex Metal Treating Ltd - Product / Service Exhibit 174: Thermex Metal Treating Ltd - Key offerings 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 175: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 176: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 177: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 178: Research methodology Exhibit 179: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 180: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 181: 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 COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lymph nodes are one of the body's first lines of defense against disease. Immune cells are dispatched from these biological police stations to fight off intruders. But somehow, lymph nodes are also the first stop for most metastatic cancers. "It's paradoxical," Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Assistant Professor Semir Beyaz says. "The cancer goes right in, but the immune cells aren't doing anything. It's important to understand what's going on because this is how cancer takes the whole body hostage." A molecule called MHC-II (seen here in green) disguises metastatic breast cancer cells (red), allowing them to invade the lymph nodes and take root without provoking an immune response. Image: Beyaz lab/Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory MHC-II (seen here in red) tricks the lymph node into releasing anti-inflammatory cells called foxp3 (cyan) that suppress the bodys immune response, allowing metastatic breast cancer to set up shop. Image: Beyaz lab/Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Beyaz joined with collaborators from Massachusetts General Hospital to investigate. They found that breast cancer cells trick the immune system with help from a molecule called MHC-II. Future therapeutics targeting this molecule may help slow the cancer's spread and improve patient outcomes. "MHC-II acts like breast cancer's passport," Beyaz says. "It convinces the lymph node to let the cancer in and protect it. From there, it's mayhem." In other places, like the intestine, MHC-II helps destroy abnormal cells before they become a problem. But breast cancer's version of MHC-II doesn't carry the red flags immune cells recognize. So, the lymph node treats it like a false alarm. Beyaz explains: "Cancer hijacks the lymph nodethe police station. The detectives just say, 'Welcome. Here's a comfy couch. Here's a coffee.' Cancer bribes the neighboring cells. Then it grows. This is what MHC-II is doing in lymph node metastasis." The team found that, in mice, higher levels of MHC-II on a subset of cancer cells led to greater immune suppression in lymph nodes. This caused worse metastasis and shorter survival. When they switched off MHC-II production in cancer cells, lymph nodes awoke to the threat. As a result, the cancer couldn't spread as fast, and the mice lived longer. "If you get rid of MHC-II in cancer cells, you curb the invasion," Beyaz explains. "The lymph nodes stop suppressing immune response and reduce cancer's colonizing abilities." Beyaz now hopes to reveal exactly how cancer adapts and spreads. Understanding these mechanisms could bring us closer to new metastasis-blocking therapeutics. But, he cautions, the effectiveness of any potential drug will depend on where cancer first develops. "For example, in the gut, we see the opposite of what's happening in breast cancer," Beyaz explains. "There are context-specific rules, and this tells us there is no one cure-all." Over 300,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone. While a long journey lies ahead, Beyaz thinks this research may someday have clinical implications that lead to better therapies and improve patients' lives. About Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Founded in 1890, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has shaped contemporary biomedical research and education with programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology and quantitative biology. Home to eight Nobel Prize winners, the private, not-for-profit Laboratory employs 1,000 people including 600 scientists, students and technicians. For more information, visit www.cshl.edu SOURCE Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory PITTSBURGH, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MSA Safety, Inc. (NYSE: MSA), today announced that it has secured a $24.5 million contract with the U.S. Navy to provide components for refrigerant monitoring systems. The firm-fixed-price contract covers components for refrigerant monitoring systems that support the Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support program. The components are used on U.S. naval ships around the world. "We are proud the U.S. Navy has put its trust and confidence in the MSA Safety brand and selected us as the sole-source provider for this equipment," said Nish Vartanian, MSA Safety Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The multi-year contract will help assure consistency in the kind of detection equipment used onboard ships," he added. "That's important because uniformity, in this case, will help minimize for Navy personnel the learning curve associated with system training, use and maintenance." All production work for the components will take place at the company's New Kensington, Pa., manufacturing plant. About MSA Safety Established in 1914, MSA Safety Incorporated is the global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products and solutions that protect people and facility infrastructures. Many MSA products integrate a combination of electronics, software, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations. The company's comprehensive product line is used by workers around the world in a broad range of markets, including fire service, the oil, gas and petrochemical industry, construction, industrial manufacturing applications, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration, utilities, mining and the military. MSA's core products include self-contained breathing apparatus, fixed gas and flame detection systems, portable gas detection instruments, industrial head protection products, firefighter helmets and protective apparel, and fall protection devices. With 2022 revenues of $1.5 billion, MSA employs approximately 5,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered north of Pittsburgh in Cranberry Township, Pa., and has manufacturing operations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. With more than 40 international locations, MSA Safety realizes approximately half of its revenue from outside North America. For more information visit MSA's web site at www.MSAsafety.com. SOURCE MSA Safety CINCINNATI, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the nation's largest, most credible, and most highly respected UFO research organization, the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), commends the House Oversight's Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs, and Chairman Grothman, for holding a hearing on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) today. Throughout the hearing, members of congress raised compelling points that strengthen MUFON's mission and current claims. Rep. Tim Burchett (TN-02) confirmed that there are members of congress, who wish to remain anonymous, that have had UAP sightings of their own, and Rep. Robert Garcia (CA-42) stated the government should "encourage more reporting, not less, on UAPs". "The more we understand, the safer we will be," concluded Rep. Garcia in his opening statement. "It is unacceptable to gaslight Americans into thinking this isn't happening." - Representative Luna on UAP Tweet this MUFON also extends their commendation to the three witnesses who courageously shared their testimonies on UAPs and their personal encounters. Whistleblower David Grusch, a former agency co-lead on the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF), shared that he was asked by the UAPTF Director to identify all Special Access Programs and Controlled Access Programs to satisfy their congressionally mandated mission. In doing so, he stated, "I was informed of a multi-decade UAP crash-retrieval and reverse engineering program to which I was denied access to additional read-ons." When asked directly by Rep. Garcia if he believes in government possession of UAP, he replied, "Absolutely, based on interviewing over 40 witnesses over 4 years," and went onto claim the exact locations were referred to the Inspector General. Upon further questioning from members of congress, it was made clear that he personally experienced retaliation for providing previous testimonies and is aware of harm done to individuals to cover up extraterrestrial technologies. He stopped short of confirming murder, mentioning claims were "directed to proper authorities." Rep. Burchett is planning to take up legislation on UAP reporting, asking Rep. Garcia to potentially co-sponsor, during the hearing. The additional witnesses included, Commander David Fravor, Former Commanding Officer of the United States Navy, and Ryan Graves, Executive Director of Americans for Safe Aerospace, who both witnessed advanced UAP firsthand. Their willingness to come forward and share their experiences contributes significantly to the further disclosure of UAPs. MUFON agrees with Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13) when she said, "It is unacceptable to gaslight Americans into thinking this isn't happening." This landmark hearing marks an important step forward in bringing the truth about UAPs closer to the public's understanding. MUFON eagerly anticipates collaborating with the Biden administration and the Department of Defense to facilitate the disclosure of all UAP documents. As the leading organization dedicated to UFO research, MUFON stands prepared to offer its full support and expertise in this endeavor. SOURCE Mutual UFO Network WASHINGTON, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitch Harle, an experienced communications and fundraising professional in Washington, D.C., has joined the National Press Club Journalism Institute as its development manager. Harle started in the role on July 20. As development manager, Harle will oversee and expand the Institute's fundraising and donor relations operation. Harle will build the Institute's strong service-oriented reputation among new funders while nurturing relationships with the supporters who have made the Institute's work possible through the years. "I'm thrilled to join the Institute and continue the important work it has done for journalists and communicators over the decades," said Harle. "I first visited the National Press Club during a trip to Washington as a teenager, and getting to be a part of its history and legacy as development manager for the Institute is a true honor. This work is more critical than ever, and I can't wait to get started." The National Press Club Journalism Institute is the nonprofit affiliate of the National Press Club. Institute Executive Director Beth Francesco created the development role in response to a growing need and responsibility to financially sustain the Institute's service to more than 9,000 journalists annually in the U.S. and around the globe. The Institute's reach has more than doubled in the last three years through its educational programming and training workshops, published resources including a daily industry newsletter, and focused efforts on press freedom support for individuals and through training. "The need has never been greater for the Institute's services, and we're invested in keeping these services free or low-cost for the hard-working journalists and newsrooms whose own resources are being depleted," Francesco said. "Mitch brings a renewed energy, grant-writing experience, and commitment to great journalism as a critical role in a healthy democracy. I'm excited about his ideas and enthusiasm for the work ahead." Prior to his work at the Institute, Harle worked as development manager for Protect Our Care, a nonprofit dedicated to making affordable and equitable healthcare a right for everyone in America. He moved into development after serving as deputy press secretary and director of operations for the organization. He's also worked in political research, with American Bridge 21st Century. Institute President Gil Klein, Treasurer Paul Merrion, and member and former treasurer Doug Harbrecht were involved with the hiring process and praised Harle's understanding of the Institute's work, the National Press Club's history, and the potential to attract financial backing from various supporters. "Mitch's skills will help us attain our fiscal goals for the Institute," Klein said. "We on the Institute board believe that he and Beth working together will find the support needed to expand our work to train journalists, defend press freedom and explain the role of fact-based journalism in our democracy." The majority of Institute programming is available at no cost to participants. The Institute is supported through grant funding, individual donations, and registration fees for select training. In addition, the Institute has relied on a small portion of investment income to support its rapid audience growth during the pandemic. "Investing in the Institute is investing in the future of journalism," Francesco said. "We are thrilled to have Mitch join us in amplifying this important message as we seek support to continue our important work." Harle is originally from Katy, Texas and holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. He currently lives in Washington, D.C., with his husband, Brian. Contact Harle at [email protected]. The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. As the non-profit affiliate of the National Press Club, the Institute powers journalism in the public interest. To donate or inquire about funding programs, please email Development Manager Mitch Harle or Executive Director Beth Francesco. Contact: Beth Francesco, [email protected] SOURCE National Press Club Journalism Institute WASHINGTON, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will speak and take questions at a National Press Club in-person Headliners Newsmaker on Thursday, July 27 at 10 a.m. General Daniel Hokanson As chief of the National Guard Bureau, Hokanson, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, oversees the training and deployment of more than 453,000 Army and Air National Guard personnel. He commanded the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Iraq and served as the chief of staff for Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix in Afghanistan. The National Guard made headlines following the arrest in April of a Massachusetts guardsman who repeatedly mishandled and exposed classified information. Hokanson recently told the Senate Appropriations Committee that he would put in place safeguards to prevent future intelligence breaches. This Headliners event is open to credentialed media and club members. To submit a question for the speaker, please email [email protected] and put GUARD in the subject line. The deadline for submitting questions in advance is 9 a.m. on the day of the event. The National Press Club is located on the 13th Floor of the National Press Building at 529 14th St., NW, Washington, D.C. Press Contact: Cecily Scott Martin, [email protected], 202-662-7525 SOURCE National Press Club New report highlights key funding patterns and insights, set to revolutionize grant acquisition strategies for a multi-trillion-dollar market ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As a worldwide authority in grants intelligence, Grants Office LLC announced the release of a unique, comprehensive report, "Grants Around the Globe: 2023-2025 World-Wide Funding Outlook." The first-of-its-kind analysis was meticulously compiled by the firm's international team of experts, offering an unprecedented understanding of global grant funding trends while paving the way for governmental, institutional, and business leaders to unlock new opportunities in the coming years. "The fifteen countries included in this analysis are expected to distribute more than $11 trillion in grant funding over the next three years," said Michael Paddock, CEO of Grants Office. "And we've provided a robust and comprehensive analysis that is absolutely crucial to putting together a better funding game plan. We are confident that our report will not only shed light on current norms, but also guide business and organizational strategists now and into the future." Not all grants and grant-writing processes are the same, especially from country to country. So the report first categorizes nations into three distinct regions the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific before introducing a refined understanding of regional funding norms and major funding themes for each country and recipient type. This specific geographical categorization allows a more nuanced understanding of the norms unique to each while also highlighting major funding themes for each region, country, and recipient: The Americas Brazil , Canada , Mexico , and the United States , , , and Europe France , Germany , Ireland , Italy , Netherlands , Spain , and the United Kingdom , , , , , , and the Asia Pacific Australia , New Zealand , Japan , and Singapore The report deciphers key aspects of each region's grants, answering crucial questions about the quantum of grant funding available worldwide, while also providing insight into the countries with the most substantial funds along with the organizations receiving and spending grant dollars and the origin of the grants in each country. The report further probes into the funds available through both short-term stimulus packages and those sources that are more long lasting and expected to continue beyond 2025. The study is paired with a series of helpful webinars, called "Grantcasts," that delves deeper into the funding outlook specific to the region of focus. Scheduled over the next few months, Grantcasts are critical for decision-makers looking to leverage grant funding as an accelerant for a wide variety of missions. Upcoming episodes include: Grants Office America: Funding Your Safety, Sustainability, and Emergency Preparedness Window Film Projects with Grants sponsored by NGS Films and Graphics ( Aug 8, 2023 @ 2 p.m. EST ) @ ) Grants Office America: Cyber Attacks Are On the Rise, Stand Above the Crowd and Strike Them Down With Fundable Cybersecurity Solutions sponsored by CrowdStrike ( Aug 24, 2023 @ 2 p.m. EST ) @ ) Grants Office Europe: Incentives to Make the UK a Technology Superpower by 2030 ( Sept. 7, 2023 @ 8 a.m. EST ) "By focusing on economies in the top 15 countries, we've captured over half of the world's GDP within the scope of a single analysis," Paddock said. "And when coupled with the Grantcasts we've organized, the full report brings into sharp focus the unique opportunities and challenges that this concentrated funding landscape presents for multiple grant seekers and providers. Audiences really can't afford to miss this information." Register online to access the complete Global Funding Analysis. And for the latest information and updates on grants and educational programming, check out the latest issue of Funded. Or follow Grants Office on social media: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook. About Grants Office, LLC Established in 2000, Grants Office is a strategic provider of grant development services, serving municipalities, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, healthcare providers, and businesses worldwide. With a distinct focus on grant funding from diverse sources including federal and state governments, international organizations, regional associations, and private sources, Grants Office is revolutionizing the global grant landscape. Learn more at: www.GrantsOffice.com. Media Contact: Kate Ashley, Multimedia Coordinator (585) 438-8406 [email protected] SOURCE Grants Office, LLC Nexgen to provide packaging infrastructure and services for ARISE IIP's textile & apparel parks manufacturing centers in Togo & Benin (West Africa). WESTMONT, Ill, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nexgen Packaging, a leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions and paper fiberboard hangers, announced today their partnership with ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP). ARISE IIP specializes in developing and operating high-value industrial ecosystems in Africa, offering a comprehensive service from concept to operation. ARISE IIP designs, develops, operates & promotes Integrated Industrial Zones throughout Africa, focused on the local transformation of locally produced raw materials (particularly cotton) into value added and fully traceable textiles & apparels. The final products are then shipped to the US and European consumer markets. ARISE IIP's industrial ecosystems are designed in partnership with local governments, following the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, aligned with local governments' development agendas. The ecosystem approach allows for competitive transformation and fulfills all the strategic requirements of businesses. The ARISE IIP textile parks in Togo and Benin offer advanced infrastructure, proximity to seaports, raw materials, a skilled and competitive workforce, sustainable processes, and a stable political environment. Nexgen Packaging and ARISE IIP join forces to drive the African textile & apparel industry forward. Tweet this Rajaguru Raja Thandal, Textile Business CEO at ARISE IIP, expressed his confidence in the partnership between ARISE IIP and Nexgen Packaging, stating, "This collaboration is going to be a considerable milestone for the textile industry in Africa. We remain certain that it will bring innovative solutions and elevate the textile industry to new heights, making Africa the next global textile hub." Nexgen Packaging is a leader in sustainable packaging production in Africa. As a part of this partnership, Nexgen will be investing in infrastructure and services to support ARISE IIP's textile facilities in the West African countries of Benin and Togo. This commitment will include immediate investment in equipment and raw materials to provide support for trims, labels and other packaging requirements in these industrial parks. Nexgen's long-term goal is to have a scaled, local presence in both locations that supports all packaging needs for local manufacturers. Since its inception over 16 years ago, Nexgen has become a leading producer of packaging solutions for the retail, apparel, and footwear industries by listening to customers and responding quickly and nimbly to their needs. Nexgen's focus on providing true sustainable offerings and investing in an optimized supply chain is a unique approach in the industry and one of the primary reasons customers are choosing Nexgen as their strategic global supplier. Jim Welch, Nexgen CEO states, "Nexgen is leading the industry with our commitment to sustainable packaging in Africa. We are honored to be contributing to the vision ARISE IIP has for retail and apparel manufacturing in Africa and look forward to immediate opportunities working with brands and retailers from Europe and the US who are beginning to explore the opportunities that exist in West Africa." About Nexgen Packaging: Nexgen Packaging, LLC is a global provider of apparel brand identification and packaging products, serving the creative, product development, and production needs of apparel and footwear manufacturers and retailers, and their global manufacturing partners. The company is focused on simplifying everything from the creative process to order execution, utilizing innovative technologies to increase supply chain efficiency and enhance customer success. Nexgen has sales and manufacturing operations globally with headquarters in Hong Kong, Chicago, and Madrid. About ARISE IIP: ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) is a pan-African developer and operator of world-class industrial parks committed to making Africa thrive. We identify opportunities in commercial and industrial value chains across Africa and conceive, finance, build, and operate the necessary infrastructure, playing a catalytic role in supporting countries to transition to an industrial economy. We are driven by the pursuit of green growth; our ambition is to unlock the continent's industrial potential while neutralizing our carbon emissions and climate impact. ARISE IIP is currently present in Benin (GDIZ), Togo (PIA), Gabon (GSEZ), Cote d'Ivoire (ZIC), and more. GSEZ won the Honorable Mention and High Recommendation of the Financial Times' fDi Global Free Zones of the Year 2022. CONTACT INFORMATION: Nexgen Packaging Media Contacts: Debbie Bougas 805.701.1105 [email protected] [email protected] CONTACT INFORMATION: ARISE IIP Vikas Budhiraja Vice President-Marketing +971544494702 [email protected] SOURCE Nexgen Packaging, LLC Press Release July 26, 2023 Tolentino seeks creation of special Senate panel on admiralty matters MANILA - Senator Francis 'TOL' N. Tolentino has proposed the creation of a Special Senate Committee on Admiralty Matters. Tolentino raised the idea during Tuesday's plenary session following the referral of the proposed Philippine Maritime Zones Act under House Bill No. 7819 to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. In his manifestation, Tolentino said that since the Senate is expected to tackle several maritime measures that will be filed this 19th Congress, the Senate leadership should consider the creation of a Special Committee on Admiralty Matters "to hear and sponsor all measures related to maritime zone bills as well as the baseline acts." "Perhaps, the Majority Leader being the chairman of the Committee on Rules can recognize this important manifestation," the senator stressed. In the same manifestation, Tolentino suggested the transfer of referral of HB 7819 from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to the Justice and Human Rights panel since the proposed legislation has something to do with immigration laws. "A bill coming from the House of Representatives was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations--it has something to do with the Maritime Zone bill and, perhaps, bills emanating from this chamber. Mr. President, may I seek a reconsideration of this, either this be referred to the Committee on Justice because immigration laws will be implicated," said Tolentino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights. According to Tolentino, the Senate Rules is very specific--Rule 10, Section 13--that the justice panel "shall have jurisdiction of all matters relating to the organization of justice as well as the implementation of human rights." "Since this (house bill) would implicate basic human rights of fisherfolks, this representation believes that this should be lodged with the Committee on Justice," Tolentino explained. FORT WORTH, Texas, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Next Bridge Hydrocarbons, Inc. ("Next Bridge", "our", "we", or the "Company"), a private oil and gas exploration and production company with interests in Texas and Oklahoma, announced today that it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") related to a distribution by Next Bridge of non-transferable subscription rights (the "subscription rights") to receive at no cost shares of common stock of a new subsidiary of NBH to be formed in the future ("NBH Newco"). The non-transferable subscription rights are only being distributed to eligible stockholders of Next Bridge. In order to be an eligible stockholder to receive the subscription rights, holders must register their Next Bridge common stock directly with the Company's transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC ("AST"), at or prior to the close of business on the 60th day after the Form S-1 filed with the SEC becomes effective (the "record date") and maintain such registration with the transfer agent for 180 days thereafter. Further, in order to be an eligible holder of shares of Next Bridge common stock to the subscription rights, holders cannot be (i) a bank, broker or other nominee that is determined by the Company in its sole discretion to be holding shares for other entities or individuals or (ii) a beneficial owner of Next Bridge common stock that is being held by a bank, broker or other nominee. As such, to the extent that a shareholder holds its common stock through a broker and fails to directly register its stock with the Company's transfer agent, then such stockholder will not receive the subscription rights described in the prospectus included as part of the Form S-1. As further described in the prospectus, Next Bridge will be entering into a Contribution Agreement with Greg McCabe, the Company's largest stockholder and Chairman of Next Bridge's Board of Directors, and McCabe Petroleum Corporation, a company solely owned by Mr. McCabe (the "Contribution Agreement"). Under the terms of the Contribution Agreement, Mr. McCabe will be contributing a portion of his 10% back-in interest in the Orogrande Prospect to Next Bridge (the "Back-In Interest"), and McCabe Petroleum Corporation ("MPC") is contributing to Next Bridge a portion of its interest in oil and gas leases that constitute a drilling prospect located on over 1,150 acres in Vermillion Parish, Louisiana (the "Bronco Prospect"). The Back-In Interest and the Bronco Prospect are both described at length in the prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the Contribution Agreement, Mr. McCabe and MPC will be contributing a proportionate amount of the Back-In Interest and the Bronco Prospect based on the number of shares of common stock of the Company that are owned by eligible stockholders for the subscription rights as of the record date versus the total number of shares of common stock of the Company that are outstanding as of the record date. In the event that all of the outstanding shares of Next Bridge are directly registered with the Company's transfer agent, Mr. McCabe and MPC will be contributing all of their interest in the Back-In and the Bronco Prospect, respectively. Mr. McCabe plans for all of his shares to be directly registered with Next Bridge's transfer agent AST. Next Bridge will hold the Back-In Interest and the Bronco Prospect for NBH Newco. At such time that Next Bridge contributes the Back-In Interest and the Bronco Prospect to NBH Newco, Next Bridge intends to spin-off NBH Newco such that NBH Newco will be an independent company. Each holder of subscription rights will be entitled to one share of NBH Newco common stock for each subscription right held by it without the payment of any consideration. As the newly-elected Chairman of the Board of Next Bridge, Mr. McCabe had this to say regarding the activities and efforts of Next Bridge to address the trading halt of the MMTLP preferred shares of Meta Materials, Inc. and the offering of the subscription rights, as well as his contribution of additional assets to the Company: "Since taking over as Chairman of the Board of Next Bridge, I have had the opportunity to review the efforts by the Next Bridge management team to pursue a short-term trading window and to request that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") require all individuals and entities holding short positions in Next Bridge's common stock to be forced to close those positions. The efforts by Next Bridge were thorough, rigorous, and quite compelling. Unfortunately, FINRA did not find it had authority to issue a corporate action requiring all shorts positions to be closed if a trading period was to occur. While this decision may be disappointing to some of our shareholders, Next Bridge accepts the authority of FINRA on this matter and is going to move forward with the business of running our Company. In an effort to give Next Bridge and its shareholders the best chance for success, I have made the decision to assign proportionately my 10% working interest back-in after payout in the Orogrande Project, and my interest in the Bronco Prospect in Vermillion Parish, Louisiana, for the benefit of all shareholders that move or have already moved their Next Bridge shares to AST from their broker dealer accounts. I strongly believe that having all shares of Next Bridge at AST will provide significant value to the corporate governance and communications with Next Bridge's shareholders. I have personally begun the process of moving all of my shares to AST." Chief Executive Officer Clifton DuBose addressed the contribution of the Back-In Interest and the Bronco Prospect to Next Bridge, as well as the offering related to the subscription rights: "The contribution of some or possibly all of the Back-In Interest will allow more of the future profits of Next Bridge's principal asset to stay with the Company, so this contribution by Mr. McCabe is an exciting development for the Company. Further, by adding the proportionate amount of the Bronco Prospect, Next Bridge will be able to consider drilling and development efforts in a different geological province in order to diversify our asset opportunities. The Bronco Prospect exposes us to a large upside drilling project and is our first step towards diversifying our activities beyond the Orogrande Basin." In the event that a stockholder wants to directly register their Next Bridge shares with AST to receive the subscription rights, Next Bridge notes that stockholders will need to contact their broker to initiate that direct registration. More information about the direct registration process is available on the Investor Relations page of Next Bridge's website at www.nextbridgehydrocarbons.com in the FAQ section. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Next Bridge Hydrocarbons Next Bridge Hydrocarbons, Inc. is an independent public reporting energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, exploitation and/or development of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. Our primary focus has been the development of interests in an oil and gas project consisting of 134,000 contiguous gross acres we hold in the Orogrande Basin in West Texas in Hudspeth County, Texas. In addition, we have minor interests in the Eastern edge of the Midland Basin in Texas, and two minor well interests in Oklahoma. Please visit www.nextbridgehydrocarbons.com for more information. These statements may contain "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described herein. Although the Company believes the expectations in such statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Information concerning the assumptions, uncertainties and risks that may affect the actual results can be found in the Company's filings with the SEC available on the Company's website or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Next Bridge Transfer Agent: American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC Shareholder Services Call Center 718-921-8124 Hours: 8 a.m. 8 p.m. ET (Monday - Friday) [email protected] Contact: Dennard Lascar Investor Relations NextBridge@dennardlascar.com SOURCE Next Bridge Hydrocarbons, Inc. PARAMUS, N.J., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Octapharma USA today announced that Balfaxar (prothrombin complex concentrate, human-lans; marketed in Europe and Canada as octaplex) has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the urgent reversal of acquired coagulation factor deficiency induced by vitamin K antagonist (VKA, e.g., warfarin) therapy in adult patients with need for urgent surgery or invasive procedures. Balfaxar helps restore blood coagulation by replenishing the levels of clotting factors that are deficient due to warfarin therapy. Balfaxar is a non-activated four factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) containing vitamin K-dependent factors: Factor II (prothrombin), Factor VII, Factor IX and Factor X, as well as antithrombotic Proteins C and S. We are confident Balfaxar will be a welcomed treatment for physicians who need to quickly restore patients' coagulation Tweet this The FDA approval is supported by the clinical trial LEX-209 (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02740335), which compared the efficacy and safety of Balfaxar head-to-head with a control 4F-PCC (Kcentra). The Phase III, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study was performed at 24 sites in the U.S. and Europe and randomized 208 patients to Balfaxar (N=105) or control 4F-PCC (N=103). "Balfaxar met the primary endpoint of hemostatic efficacy and was non-inferior to the comparator, Kcentra, in patients on a vitamin K antagonist undergoing urgent surgery with significant bleeding risk," said LEX-209 Principal Investigator Ravi Sarode, M.D. "The primary objective was met at the prespecified interim analysis and the study was stopped due to statistically significant efficacy results indicating that Balfaxar was non-inferior to Kcentra. Balfaxar demonstrated effective hemostasis in 94.6% of patients versus 93.5% of patients for Kcentra. International Normalized Ratio (INR) reductions and vitamin K dependent coagulation factor increases supported the primary endpoint and PCC dosing and duration of infusion were also similar. The safety profile was similar between treatment arms and consistent with previous studies."1 More than 2.4 million U.S. patients are prescribed warfarin to prevent blood clots from forming following a heart attack, heart valve surgery, stroke, deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism, or for certain types of irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation).2 The main side effect of warfarin is an increased risk of bleeding particularly for patients undergoing urgent surgery or invasive procedures.3 "The FDA approval of Balfaxar establishes a new therapy for medical providers when their patients need a 4F-PCC product," said Octapharma USA President Flemming Nielsen. "Octapharma is committed to providing patients with life-saving and life-enhancing therapies for critical care medicine. We are confident Balfaxar will be a welcomed treatment for physicians who need to quickly restore patients' coagulation." Balfaxar, a lyophilized powder for reconstitution, will be provided with sterile water for injection and the new transfer device, nextaro . The transfer device includes an optimized vial housing that enables precentering of the vial during mounting, and optimized contamination protection with two integrated filters. Nextaro was preferred by healthcare professionals versus a widely used, competitive transfer device in an Octapharma user preference study.4 To study Balfaxar further in other clinical scenarios, Octapharma is recruiting for two additional Phase III studies: For more information on LEX-210 and LEX-211, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov . Kcentra is a registered trademark of CSL Behring GmbH. Nextaro is a registered trademark of sfm medical devices GmbH. About Balfaxar Balfaxar (prothrombin complex concentrate, human-lans) is a blood coagulation factor replacement product indicated for the urgent reversal of acquired coagulation factor deficiency induced by Vitamin K antagonist (VKA, e.g., warfarin) therapy in adult patients with need for an urgent surgery/invasive procedure. WARNING: ARTERIAL and VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLIC COMPLICATIONS Patients being treated with Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) therapy have underlying disease states that predispose them to thromboembolic events. Potential benefits of reversing VKA should be weighed against the potential risks of thromboembolic events, especially in patients with the history of a thromboembolic event. Resumption of anticoagulation should be carefully considered as soon as the risk of thromboembolic events outweighs the risk of acute bleeding. Both fatal and non-fatal arterial and venous thromboembolic complications have been reported with Balfaxar in clinical trials and post marketing surveillance. Monitor patients receiving Balfaxar for signs and symptoms of thromboembolic events. in clinical trials and post marketing surveillance. Monitor patients receiving Balfaxar for signs and symptoms of thromboembolic events. Balfaxar may not be suitable in patients with thromboembolic events in the prior 3 months. For complete boxed warning and full prescribing information, please visit Balfaxar.com/pi. About the Octapharma Group Headquartered in Lachen, Switzerland, Octapharma is one of the largest human protein manufacturers in the world, developing and producing human proteins from human plasma and human cell lines. Octapharma employs more than 11,000 people worldwide to support the treatment of patients in 118 countries with products across three therapeutic areas: Hematology, Immunotherapy and Critical Care. Octapharma has seven R&D sites and five state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Austria, France, Germany and Sweden, and operates more than 190 plasma donation centers across Europe and the US. The company's American subsidiary, Octapharma USA, is located in Paramus, N.J. For more information, please visit octapharmausa.com . REFERENCES 1 - Ravi Sarode, Joshua N. Goldstein, Gregory Simonian, Truman J. Milling Jr; A Phase 3, Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Multicenter, Non-Inferiority Study Comparing Two Four-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrates for Reversal of Vitamin K Antagonist-Induced Anticoagulation in Patients Needing Urgent Surgery with Significant Bleeding Risk. Blood 2022; 140 (Supplement 1): 352353. doi: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2022-168890 2 - ClinCalc.com, Warfarin: Drug Usage Statistics, United States, 2013 - 2020 , accessed June 19, 2023. 3 - Mayo Clinic, Warfarin side effects: Watch for interactions , accessed June 19, 2023. 4 - Data on file, Octapharma USA, Oct. 22, 2018. BALF-0101-PPR Octapharma USA, Inc. 117 West Century Road Paramus NJ 07652 201-604-1130 www.octapharmausa.com SOURCE Octapharma USA Money-Back Guarantee Pledges Uniforms Will Last the School Year SAN FRANCISCO, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Old Navy is offering a 1-year guarantee for uniform styles purchased during the upcoming back-to-school season. The retailer will provide a full refund if products don't stand up to the wear and tear of a school year. The 'kid-proof' guarantee is backed by Old Navy's rigorous quality testing and commitment to uncompromising durability. Old Navy Introduces 1-Year Kid-Proof Guarantee on Back-to-School Uniform Styles Designed to endure the rigors of everyday use, Old Navy's uniform styles are constructed for durability with secure stitching, reinforced knees and Built-in-Flex technology to stretch with movement. Additionally, Old Navy performs comprehensive testing on uniform products to ensure they meet the highest quality standards from fabric strength to fade resistance, maintaining performance even after multiple washes and daily wear. "At Old Navy, we understand the demands of a busy school year. That's why our uniform products are made using durable fabrics that are proven to be built to last," said Sarah Holme, Old Navy Head of Design & Product Development. "We go the extra mile to ensure our uniforms can withstand the test of time, providing long-lasting value for both parents and students." In addition to fulfilling dress code requirements, Old Navy's uniform pieces such as polos, chinos and pleated skirts serve as essential building blocks in a student's wardrobe. During the prime Back-to-School season, all uniform basics will be priced at $15 and under, providing exceptional customer value.1 Guarantee Details If a customer is unsatisfied with the quality of a uniform product, Old Navy will provide a full refund within 1 year of purchase.2 The 1-year guarantee is applicable to uniform products purchased now through September 30, 2023 . These items may be returned for a full refund with original receipt for 365 days from date of purchase. . These items may be returned for a full refund with original receipt for 365 days from date of purchase. Uniform styles purchased both in stores and on Oldnavy.com are eligible for the guarantee. Returns must be made to a store. Online, uniform styles included in the guarantee will be marked with a badge in the online assortment . In stores, uniforms will be displayed in designated sections. About Old Navy Old Navy is a global apparel and accessories brand that makes current American essentials accessible to every family. Originated in 1994, the brand celebrates the democracy of style through on-trend, playfully optimistic, affordable and high-quality products. A division of San Francisco-based Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS), Old Navy brings a fun, energizing shopping environment to its customers in more than 1,200 stores around the world. For more information, please visit www.oldnavy.com. Media Contacts: 1 Promotional pricing applies to Women's, Men's, Girls and Boys individual uniform styles (excludes packs) from 7/7/23 at 12:01 am ET through 9/28/23 at 11:59 pm ET in the U.S. at Old Navy and Old Navy online. 2 Offer only applies to Women's, Men's, Girls and Boys Uniform styles purchased from 7/7/23 at 12:01 am ET through 9/30/23 at 11:59 pm ET in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or Canada, at Old Navy and Old Navy outlet stores, or online. Returns for quality issues can only be made in Old Navy or Old Navy Outlet stores (not online) and must occur within 365 days of original purchase date. Original purchase receipt required for refund of price paid back to the original form of payment. Returns without receipt are subject to Old Navy's standard return policy. SOURCE Gap Inc. Experienced female financial professional with more than $53 million practice joins Cetera from Nations Financial Group LOS ANGELES, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cetera Financial Group (Cetera), the premier financial advisor Wealth Hub where financial advisors and institutions can optimize professional control and value creation, announced today that Kansas City-based Wealth Manager Paula Porsch* has joined Cetera Advisors. Porsch, who provides wealth management and financial advisory services to clients with more than $53 million in assets** as of April 10, 2023, was previously affiliated with Nations Financial Group. "I'm thrilled to be joining Cetera Advisors, where I know the unique voice I've cultivated both as a long-time wealth management professional and as a woman in the field will be heard and respected," Porsch said. "I worked with Cetera Advisor Networks in the past and am excited to return under the Cetera umbrella, where I can find unique services and solutions to continue to offer my clients the very best boutique experience." Porsch began her 35-year career in the financial industry as a tax consultant and then tax manager at Coopers & Lybrand Consulting and Deloitte, respectively. She next spent four years managing several multi-million-dollar commercial real estate portfolios for affluent families, insurance companies and international real estate corporations before becoming a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch. Recognizing her passion for the work, she launched Paula Porsch Wealth Management in early 2009. Porsch was honored as a Kansas City Business Journal's Women Who Mean Business award winner in 2012. "Paula has achieved an exemplary career in a traditionally male-dominated field and we're excited to welcome that unique perspective back to Cetera," said Genevieve Sisco, divisional business development director at Cetera. "I have no doubt she'll make an outstanding addition to the community of dynamic, high-quality professionals that make up our Cetera Advisors community." Porsch provides unique financial plans and customized investment strategies to her clients, while also focusing on building long-term relationships with those she serves. At the same time, she works diligently to give back to her community, serving with organizations including the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Kansas City Pet Project and Reaching Out From Within. Cetera has made a significant commitment to incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) into its recruiting practices, implementing new programs and strategies that are quickly proving efficacy. Under Sisco's leadership, Cetera has already achieved 315% of its 2023 DEIB recruiting goal, amplifying the voices of under-represented financial professionals within Cetera's community ecosystem. "We are thrilled with the results that have been generated under the leadership of Genevieve, former head of recruiting at Sagepoint, with our various diverse recruiting initiatives," said John Pierce, head of business development at Cetera. "I look forward to our continued growth in understanding and executing of best DEIB practices relative to recruiting in the years to come." Visit www.Cetera.com and https://www.facebook.com/paulaporschwealthmanagement/ for more information. About Cetera Financial Group Cetera Financial Group (Cetera) is the premier financial advisor Wealth Hub where financial advisors and institutions optimize their control and value creation. Breaking away from a commoditized and homogenous IBD model, Cetera offers financial professionals and institutions the latest solutions, support, and services to grow, scale, or transition with a merger, sale, investment, or succession plan. Cetera proudly serves independent financial advisors, tax professionals, licensed administrators, large enterprises, as well as institutions, such as banks and credit unions, providing an established and repeatable blueprint for scalable growth. Home to more than 8,000 financial professionals and their teams, Cetera oversees approximately $330 billion in assets under administration and $116 billion in assets under management, as of March 31, 2023. In a recent advisor satisfaction survey of more than 21,000 reviews, Cetera's Voice of Customer (VoC) program vigorously measures advisor experience and satisfaction 24/7. Currently, it's ranked 4.8 out of 5 stars. Visit www.cetera.com, and follow Cetera on LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. "Cetera Financial Group" refers to the network of independent retail firms encompassing, among others, Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions or Cetera Investors), and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. All firms are FINRA/SIPC members. Located at: 655 W. Broadway, 11th Floor, San Diego, CA 92101. Individuals affiliated with Cetera firms are either Registered Representatives who offer only brokerage services and receive transaction-based compensation (commissions), Investment Adviser Representatives who offer only investment advisory services and receive fees based on assets, or both Registered Representatives and Investment Adviser Representatives, who can offer both types of services. *Registered Representative offering securities through Cetera Advisors LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity. **Value approximated based on asset holding details provided to Cetera up to April 10, 2023. SOURCE Cetera Financial Group NEW YORK, July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The PC peripherals market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.68% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecasted to increase by USD 55.18 billion according to Technavio. The growing competition in the market is compelling vendors to adopt various growth strategies, such as promotional activities and spending on advertisements to improve the visibility of their services. Technavio report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including Acer Inc., Brother Industries Ltd., Canon Inc., Dell Technologies Inc., FURUKAWA Co. Ltd., HP Inc., Intel Corp., International Business Machines Corp., Lexmark International Inc., Logitech International SA, Microsoft Corp., Panasonic Holdings Corp., Ricoh Co. Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Seagate Technology Holdings Plc, Seiko Epson Corp., Sony Group Corp., Toshiba Corp., Western Digital Corp., and Xerox Holdings Corp. Download a Sample Report Now! Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global PC Peripherals Market PC Peripherals Market Market Insights - Vendors : 15+, Including Acer Inc., Brother Industries Ltd., Canon Inc., Dell Technologies Inc., FURUKAWA Co. Ltd., HP Inc., Intel Corp., International Business Machines Corp., Lexmark International Inc., Logitech International SA, Microsoft Corp., Panasonic Holdings Corp., Ricoh Co. Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Seagate Technology Holdings Plc, Seiko Epson Corp., Sony Group Corp., Toshiba Corp., Western Digital Corp., Xerox Holdings Corp. among others : 15+, Including Acer Inc., Brother Industries Ltd., Canon Inc., Dell Technologies Inc., FURUKAWA Co. Ltd., HP Inc., Intel Corp., International Business Machines Corp., Lexmark International Inc., Logitech International SA, Microsoft Corp., Panasonic Holdings Corp., Ricoh Co. Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Seagate Technology Holdings Plc, Seiko Epson Corp., Sony Group Corp., Toshiba Corp., Western Digital Corp., Xerox Holdings Corp. among others Coverage: Parent market analysis; key drivers, major trends, and challenges; customer and vendor landscape; vendor product insights and recent developments; key vendors; and market positioning of vendors Parent market analysis; key drivers, major trends, and challenges; customer and vendor landscape; vendor product insights and recent developments; key vendors; and market positioning of vendors Segments: Product (Printers, Speakers, and Others), End-user (Business and Consumers), and Geography ( North America , APAC, Europe , South America , and Middle East and Africa ) To understand more about the PC peripherals market, request a sample report Key Driver - The growing preference for client SSDs is notably driving market growth. An SSD is a type of non-volatile storage device that uses an integrated circuit assembly as a memory for storing data. No rotating parts reduce the risk of failure and enable faster data transfer. There are two types of SSDs, enterprise SSDs and client SDDs. The growing prevalence of these SSDs in client systems such as desktop PCs, laptops, notebooks, and high-performance PCs is the key factor for the growth of the client SSD market. Furthermore, the laptop segment accounted for a significant share of the client SSD market. As the demand for thinner, lighter, and more advanced laptops increases, PC makers are focusing on developing laptops with integrated SSDs. They are also introducing new SSDs that are ideal for business PCs, laptops, and high-performance PCs. Hence, the increasing product launches will drive the growth of the market during the forecast period. Leading Trend - The increasing popularity of smart speakers is a key trend shaping the market. Audio content subscribers are rising across the world. Wireless speakers use radio frequency signals to stream content. Smart speakers, portable speakers, and Bluetooth speakers are more compact and take up less space than home theater speakers. Most portable devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips that allow speakers to stream content wirelessly. Moreover, the incorporation of wireless technologies such as Wireless HD and ITU-T G.hn will increase the acceptance of streaming HD video and audio content. Smart and Bluetooth speakers have many advantages and don't require wires. In addition, it takes up less space than home audio speakers. Hence, the growing popularity of wireless streaming of audio content will boost the demand for PC peripherals such as speakers during the forecast period. Significant challenge - The increasing penetration of smartphones is challenging market growth. The demand for smartphones is rising due to their portability. Growing investments in telecommunication network infrastructure are supporting the developments in high-performance network connectivity, which is growing the penetration of smartphones worldwide. Premium smartphones are integrated with advanced technologies such as AI, gesture recognition, haptics, facial recognition, and voice recognition features. Moreover, advanced processors and sensors are used for such functions. Sensors such as gyroscopes, accelerometers, proximity sensors, light sensors, barometers, and fingerprints are used to make these technologies work. Hence, the growing penetration of smartphones will decrease the demand for PC shipments, which will hamper the growth of the PC peripherals market during the forecast period. Drivers, & Challenges have an impact on market dynamics and can impact businesses. Find some insights from a sample report! The pc peripherals market report provides critical information and factual data, with a qualitative and quantitative study of the market based on market drivers and limitations as well as future prospects. 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 What are the key data covered in this PC Peripherals Market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the PC peripherals market between 2023 and 2027 Precise estimation of the PC peripherals market size and its contribution to the market in focus on the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the PC peripherals market across North America , APAC, Europe , South America , and Middle East and Africa , APAC, , , and 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 PC peripherals market vendors Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The mini PC market size is expected to increase to USD 19.83 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.04%. Furthermore, this report extensively covers mini PCs market segmentation by end-user (healthcare, retail, education and training, banking, and others) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The increasing use of mini PC in educational institutions is one of the factors driving the mini personal computer (PCs) market growth during the forecast period. The PC Market is expected to grow by USD 72.75 million during 2022-2026, accelerating at a CAGR of 8.17% during the forecast period. Furthermore, this report extensively covers PC market segmentation by distribution channel (business-to-business and business-to-consumer) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA). The increasing use of laptops in educational institutions is one of the key factors driving the PC market growth during the forecast period. PC Peripherals Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 7.68% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 55.18 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 6.72 Regional analysis North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 47% Key countries US, Canada, China, Japan, and UK Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Acer Inc., Brother Industries Ltd., Canon Inc., Dell Technologies Inc., FURUKAWA Co. Ltd., HP Inc., Intel Corp., International Business Machines Corp., Lexmark International Inc., Logitech International SA, Microsoft Corp., Panasonic Holdings Corp., Ricoh Co. Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Seagate Technology Holdings Plc, Seiko Epson Corp., Sony Group Corp., Toshiba Corp., Western Digital Corp., and Xerox Holdings Corp. 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 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 Product 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 PC peripherals market 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size Data Table on global pc peripherals market 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.2 Product Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size Product Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.3 End-user Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size 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 Product 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 30: Chart on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Product Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Product Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Product 6.3 Printers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 34: Chart on Printers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Printers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 36: Chart on Printers - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Printers - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 Speakers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 38: Chart on Speakers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Speakers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 40: Chart on Speakers - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Speakers - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.5 Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 42: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 44: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 45: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.6 Market opportunity by Product Exhibit 46: Market opportunity by Product ($ billion) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Market opportunity by Product ($ 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 Business - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 52: Chart on Business - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 53: Data Table on Business - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 54: Chart on Business - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 55: Data Table on Business - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.4 Consumers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 56: Chart on Consumers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 57: Data Table on Consumers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 58: Chart on Consumers - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 59: Data Table on Consumers - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Market opportunity by End-user Exhibit 60: Market opportunity by End-user ($ billion) Exhibit 61: Data Table on Market opportunity by End-user ($ billion) 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 62: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 9 Geographic Landscape 9.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 63: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 64: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) 9.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 65: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 66: Data Table on Geographic comparison 9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 67: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 68: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 69: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 70: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.4 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 71: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 72: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 73: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 74: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.5 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 (%) 9.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 79: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 80: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 81: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 82: 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 83: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 84: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 85: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 86: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 87: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 88: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 89: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 90: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.9 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 91: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 92: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 93: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 94: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.10 Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 95: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 96: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 97: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 98: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.11 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 99: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 100: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 101: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 102: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.12 Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 103: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 104: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 105: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 106: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 107: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion) Exhibit 108: 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 109: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027 10.4 Market trends 11 Vendor Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 110: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 11.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 111: Overview on factors of disruption 11.4 Industry risks Exhibit 112: Impact of key risks on business 12 Vendor Analysis 12.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 113: Vendors covered 12.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 114: Matrix on vendor position and classification 12.3 Acer Inc. Exhibit 115: Acer Inc. - Overview Exhibit 116: Acer Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 117: Acer Inc. - Key news Exhibit 118: Acer Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 119: Acer Inc. - Segment focus 12.4 Brother Industries Ltd. Exhibit 120: Brother Industries Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 121: Brother Industries Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 122: Brother Industries Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 123: Brother Industries Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 124: Brother Industries Ltd. - Segment focus 12.5 Canon Inc. Exhibit 125: Canon Inc. - Overview Exhibit 126: Canon Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 127: Canon Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 128: Canon Inc. - Segment focus 12.6 Dell Technologies Inc. Exhibit 129: Dell Technologies Inc. - Overview Exhibit 130: Dell Technologies Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 131: Dell Technologies Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 132: Dell Technologies Inc. - Segment focus 12.7 FURUKAWA Co. Ltd. Exhibit 133: FURUKAWA Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 134: FURUKAWA Co. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 135: FURUKAWA Co. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 136: FURUKAWA Co. Ltd. - Segment focus 12.8 HP Inc. Exhibit 137: HP Inc. - Overview Exhibit 138: HP Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 139: HP Inc. - Key news Exhibit 140: HP Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 141: HP Inc. - Segment focus 12.9 Intel Corp. Exhibit 142: Intel Corp. - Overview Exhibit 143: Intel Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 144: Intel Corp. - Key news Exhibit 145: Intel Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 146: Intel Corp. - Segment focus 12.10 International Business Machines Corp. Exhibit 147: International Business Machines Corp. - Overview Exhibit 148: International Business Machines Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 149: International Business Machines Corp. - Key news Exhibit 150: International Business Machines Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 151: International Business Machines Corp. - Segment focus 12.11 Lexmark International Inc. Exhibit 152: Lexmark International Inc. - Overview Exhibit 153: Lexmark International Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 154: Lexmark International Inc. - Key offerings 12.12 Microsoft Corp. Exhibit 155: Microsoft Corp. - Overview Exhibit 156: Microsoft Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 157: Microsoft Corp. - Key news Exhibit 158: Microsoft Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 159: Microsoft Corp. - Segment focus 12.13 Seagate Technology Holdings Plc Exhibit 160: Seagate Technology Holdings Plc - Overview Exhibit 161: Seagate Technology Holdings Plc - Product / Service Exhibit 162: Seagate Technology Holdings Plc - Key offerings 12.14 Seiko Epson Corp. Exhibit 163: Seiko Epson Corp. - Overview Exhibit 164: Seiko Epson Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 165: Seiko Epson Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 166: Seiko Epson Corp. - Segment focus 12.15 Sony Group Corp. Exhibit 167: Sony Group Corp. - Overview Exhibit 168: Sony Group Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 169: Sony Group Corp. - Key news Exhibit 170: Sony Group Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 171: Sony Group Corp. - Segment focus 12.16 Toshiba Corp. Exhibit 172: Toshiba Corp. - Overview Exhibit 173: Toshiba Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 174: Toshiba Corp. - Key news Exhibit 175: Toshiba Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 176: Toshiba Corp. - Segment focus 12.17 Western Digital Corp. Exhibit 177: Western Digital Corp. - Overview Exhibit 178: Western Digital Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 179: Western Digital Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 180: Western Digital Corp. - Segment focus 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 181: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 182: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 183: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 184: Research methodology Exhibit 185: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 186: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 187: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides 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 across 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 ALAMEDA, Calif., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE: PEN) today announced that its management team is scheduled to present at the Canaccord Genuity 43rd Annual Growth Conference on Wednesday, August 9, 2023. Event: Canaccord Genuity 43rd Annual Growth Conference Date: Wednesday, August 9, 2023 Time: 9:00am ET/ 6:00am PT A webcast of the presentation will be available by visiting the investors' section of the company's website at www.penumbrainc.com. The webcast will be available on the company's website for at least two weeks following the event. About Penumbra Penumbra, Inc., headquartered in Alameda, California, is a global healthcare company focused on innovative therapies. Penumbra designs, develops, manufactures and markets novel products and has a broad portfolio that addresses challenging medical conditions in markets with significant unmet need. Penumbra supports healthcare providers, hospitals and clinics in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.penumbrainc.com and connect on Twitter and LinkedIn. Investor Relations Penumbra, Inc. 510-995-2461 [email protected] SOURCE Penumbra, Inc. Self-reported Data will Help Accelerate Pulmonary Fibrosis Research CHICAGO, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) is commemorating the one-year anniversary of the PFF Community Registry, a groundbreaking research initiative that has successfully gathered a wealth of data on pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and interstitial lung disease (ILD). With more than 1,600 participants, the Community Registry has become a valuable resource for researchers and medical professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of PF and ILD. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) is commemorating the one-year anniversary of the PFF Community Registry, a groundbreaking research initiative that has successfully gathered a wealth of data on pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and interstitial lung disease (ILD). With more than 1,600 participants, the Community Registry has become a valuable resource for researchers and medical professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of PF and ILD. "The Community Registry is now reaching a critical mass, so that we can offer researchers more information to help further their understanding of PF," stated Dr. Joseph Lasky, Chief Medical Officer for the PFF. "Thanks to our participants, this invaluable resource has the potential to drive significant advancements in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of this complex disease." The Community Registry is a comprehensive database that relies on the collection of self-reported data through online surveys conducted every six months. It encompasses a diverse group of participants, including individuals who have been diagnosed with PF or ILD, including those who have had a lung transplant, as well as caregivers and biological family members of those with PF or ILD. "There is no limit on the number of individuals who can join the Community Registry, and we are focused on growing it exponentially to reflect the significant population impacted by the disease," said Lasky. "Our goal is to increase diversity and ongoing engagement within the Registry, so that the data collected demonstrates the intricate nature of pulmonary fibrosis and can be utilized to improve outcomes for all patients." The Registry also allows the PFF to contact patients to refine information regarding new specific questions that arise, and to keep pace with patient experiences with care delivery. "When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in 2011, there wasn't any medication available specific to my condition," said Karen Smoot, a participant in the Community Registry. "The research from the Registry will aid pulmonologists to improve how patients are diagnosed and treated, and ultimately, improve health-span and save lives." The data collected through the Community Registry serves as a valuable complement to the information gathered by the PFF Patient Registry, which began in 2016 and includes patient data provided by clinicians. Together, data from the Community Registry and Patient Registry provide a comprehensive and multifaceted perspective on PF. To learn more about the PFF Community Registry, visit pffregistry.org. About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation The mission of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is to accelerate the development of new treatments and ultimately a cure for pulmonary fibrosis. Until this goal is achieved, the PFF is committed to advancing improved care of patients with PF and providing unequaled support and education resources for patients, caregivers, family members, and health care providers. The PFF has a three-star rating from Charity Navigator and is an accredited charity by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance. The Foundation has met all of the requirements of the National Health Council Standards of Excellence Certification Program and has earned the Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency. For more information, visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 844.TalkPFF (844.825.5733). Contact: Hannah Miller L.C. Williams & Associates 312-565-4610 [email protected].com SOURCE The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Quaker Houghton (NYSE: KWR) today announced the appointment of Russell R. Shaller to Quaker Houghton's Board of Directors, effective immediately. Michael F. Barry, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Quaker Houghton, stated: "We are extremely pleased to welcome Russell to our Board. Russell is a proven leader with extensive experience across several industries which will be a valuable asset to our Board and our Company." Mr. Shaller has served as President and Chief Executive Officer and director of Brady Corporation (NYSE: BRC) since April 2022. Prior to being appointed to his current role, Mr. Shaller served as President of the Identification Solutions business at Brady Corporation from 2015 to 2022. Prior to joining Brady Corporation, Mr. Shaller served as President of Microwave Solutions for Teledyne Technologies Inc. (NYSE: TDY) from 2008 to 2015. Previously, Mr. Shaller served in several positions of increasing responsibility at W.L. Gore & Associates, including as Division Leader, Electronic Products Division from 2003 to 2008 and General Manager of Gore Photonics from 2001 to 2003. Prior to joining W.L. Gore in 1993, Mr. Shaller worked in engineering and program management positions at Westinghouse Corporation. Mr. Shaller holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan, a master's degree in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and an MBA from the University of Delaware. Andy Tometich, Chief Executive Officer and President, stated: "Russell's industry knowledge and focus on driving growth through innovation will support the execution of our profitable growth strategy, better positioning our Company to deliver long-term value for all stakeholders." About Quaker Houghton: Quaker Houghton is the global leader in industrial process fluids. With a presence around the world, including operations in over 25 countries, our customers include thousands of the world's most advanced and specialized steel, aluminum, automotive, aerospace, offshore, container, mining, and metalworking companies. Our high-performing, innovative and sustainable solutions are backed by best-in-class technology, deep process knowledge and customized services. With approximately 4,600 employees, including chemists, engineers and industry experts, we partner with our customers to improve their operations so they can run even more efficiently, even more effectively, whatever comes next. Quaker Houghton is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, located near Philadelphia in the United States. Visit quakerhoughton.com to learn more. SOURCE Quaker Houghton TORONTO, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Quarterhill Inc. ("Quarterhill") (TSX: QTRH) (OTCQX: QTRHF) will release its financial results for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2023, on Wednesday, August 9, 2023. John Gillberry, Interim CEO, and Kyle Chriest, Interim CFO, will host a conference call and audio webcast at 10:00 a.m. ET the same day. Webcast Information Live audio webcast will be available at: https://app.webinar.net/M4owZgzElGm Webcast replay will be available at: https://app.webinar.net/M4owZgzElGm Traditional Dial-in Information To access the call from Canada and U.S., dial 1.888.664.6383 (Toll Free) and U.S., dial 1.888.664.6383 (Toll Free) To access the call from other locations, dial 1.416.764.8650 (International) Rapidconnect To instantly join the conference call by phone, please use the following URL to easily register and be connected into the conference call automatically: https://emportal.ink/3PPP4pf Telephone Replay Telephone replay will be available from 1:00 p.m. ET on August 9, 2023, until 11:59 p.m. ET on August 16, 2023, at: 1.888.390.0541 (Toll Free North America) or 1.416.764.8677. Conference ID: 52294356 and Replay Passcode: 294356 # About Quarterhill Quarterhill is a leading provider of tolling and enforcement solutions in the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) industry. Our goal is global leadership in ITS, via organic growth of the Electronic Transaction Consultants, LLC (ETC) and International Road Dynamics Inc. (IRD) platforms, and by continuing an acquisition-oriented investment strategy that capitalizes on attractive growth opportunities within ITS and its adjacent markets. Quarterhill is listed on the TSX under the symbol QTRH and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol QTRHF. For more information, visit www.quarterhill.com. SOURCE Quarterhill Inc. WASHINGTON, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy is pleased to announce that Raquel A. "Rocky" Rodriguez has joined the nonprofit's Board of Directors. Raquel A. (Rocky) Rodriguez, new member of the Barbara Bush Foundation's Board of Directors Rodriguez has more than 35 years of experience in law, business and government. She currently serves as attorney and shareholder at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, as well as chair of the firm's Florida offices. In this role, she represents a wide variety of clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to nonprofit entities. Her areas of expertise include life sciences, banking, commercial, international, real estate, constitutional, administrative and election law. From 2002 to 2007, Rodriguez served as general counsel to former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. During her tenure, she worked on some of the most critical issues facing the state, including conceiving, co-drafting legislation for and negotiating the then-largest economic development project in state history: a $310 million economic incentive grant to bring world-renowned scientific research and endeavors into Florida. Rodriguez has served as a member of the Barbara Bush Foundation's Investment Committee, which provides counsel on the management of the nonprofit's investment portfolio, since 2016. She currently serves as chair of the committee. "Rocky's leadership and incredible wealth of experience make her an invaluable addition to the Board," said Lori Wachs, chair of the Barbara Bush Foundation's Board of Directors and partner at Springboard Growth Capital. "I look forward to working alongside her to support the Barbara Bush Foundation's efforts to build a stronger, more equitable America through literacy." "My parents taught me to read at an early age, launching my lifelong love of reading. Joining the Board of the Barbara Bush Foundation to support its literacy efforts is a dream come true," said Rodriguez. "I have been an admirer and supporter of the Bush family since George H. W. Bush's first presidential campaign in 1980. I am excited to up my commitment to help the Foundation's Board and staff carry out Barbara Bush's legacy." Rodriguez has received numerous recognitions over the course of her career, most recently including the International Women's Day Award from the World Trade Center Miami (2022) and the Daily Business Review Lifetime Achievement Award (2019). She has been named to the U.S. News Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" list consecutively since 2016. Rodriguez also serves as a member of the Florida Council of 100, on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for BioFlorida, Inc. and the Board of Trustees for the Foundation for Florida's Future. She is a graduate of the University of Miami, where she earned her J.D., summa cum laude, in 1985, and her bachelor of arts, summa cum laude, in 1982. The Barbara Bush Foundation's Board of Directors is a group of seasoned professionals representing a variety of key sectors including business, education, finance, health, technology and nonprofit. The full membership of the Board consists of: LaMar Bunts, Dartmouth College (Treasurer); Jeb Bush, Jr., Jeb Bush and Associates; Chris Frangione, Frangione + Associates Innovation Advisors; Doro Bush Koch, BB&R Wellness Consulting (Honorary Chair); Michael Levine, Paramount; David Risher, Lyft; Andrew Roberts, Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy (Interim President and CEO); Raquel A. "Rocky" Rodriguez, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney; Honey Skinner, Sidley Austin (Retired); Denine Torr, Dollar General (Vice Chair); Gwynn Virostek, Capital City Youth Services (Secretary); and Lori Wachs, Springboard Growth Capital (Chair). About the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy: The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy has been the nation's leading advocate for family literacy for more than three decades. Established by former First Lady Barbara Bush in 1989, the Foundation is a public charity dedicated to creating a stronger, more equitable America in which everyone can read, write and comprehend in order to navigate the world with dignity. To learn more, visit www.BarbaraBush.org. SOURCE Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy Dickson, experienced consumer product and retail industry executive, tapped to lead the global apparel retail portfolio SAN FRANCISCO, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS), the largest specialty apparel company in the U.S., with a portfolio that includes Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Richard Dickson as the company's President and Chief Executive Officer, effective August 22, 2023. Richard Dickson Appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Gap Inc. "Richard has invaluable expertise in areas critical to the work Gap Inc. is doing to strengthen the company for the long term. And we are thrilled to have his visionary leadership as the company redefines the future potential of Gap Inc. and its renowned American fashion brands," said lead independent director, Mayo A. Shattuck III. Dickson will join Gap Inc. from his most recent role as President and Chief Operating Officer of Mattel, where he was a lead architect in a global corporate transformation that has reinvigorated Mattel's iconic brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price, as well as restored the company to growth and reaffirmed Mattel as an industry thought leader. Richard was appointed to the Gap Inc. Board of Directors in November of 2022. Shattuck added, "On behalf of the Gap Inc. Board and management team, I want to thank Bobby Martin for serving as Interim CEO during this important time, and the teams who have moved quickly to simplify the company's operating model, increase the speed and quality of decision making, and restore its creative muscle work that will pay back for years to come." Dickson said, "Gap Inc. is a portfolio of iconic brands, known for having defined American style with bold thinking and making quality fashion accessible to millions. But it's the work ahead that excites me most - the chance to work hand-in-hand with the teams to evolve Gap Inc. for a new era." He continued, "Under Bobby's leadership, the team has begun to truly reset the company for long-term success, establishing a new foundation that I'm eager to build on." Martin, who will remain Chair of the Board and ensure a smooth transition, said, "Gap Inc. has a rich heritage, with brands that have great meaning in people's lives. Amidst a deliberate and thoughtful search process, it became clear that Richard is destined for this role at this moment. His experience as a proven transformational brand builder and belief in the power of inclusivity, make him a perfect fit for Gap Inc." Martin added, "I'm incredibly proud of the organization's commitment to the success of this company, as they are embracing operational rigor, regaining product and customer obsession, with an eye on modernizing the way we work, all of which becomes a strong foundation for what's ahead." About Richard Dickson Dickson comes to Gap Inc. from his role as President and Chief Operating Officer of Mattel, where he led a portfolio of global brands, overseeing innovation strategy, design and development, brand marketing and franchise management. Under his leadership, the company developed and launched the Mattel Playbook, a brand-building approach that has been instrumental in growing Mattel's power brands and accelerating Mattel's transformation. Prior to Mattel, Dickson was President and CEO of Branded Businesses for The Jones Group, where he led global design and development, including marketing and merchandising, wholesale, retail, and e-commerce, brought new relevance to dated fashion labels, and acquired and developed new brands. Dickson also co-founded Gloss.com, the first online retailer dedicated to high-end cosmetics, and served as an executive at Bloomingdale's. About Gap Inc. Gap Inc., a collection of purpose-led lifestyle brands, is the largest American specialty apparel company offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children under the Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta brands. The company uses omni-channel capabilities to bridge the digital world and physical stores to further enhance its shopping experience. Gap Inc. is guided by its purpose, Inclusive, by Design, and takes pride in creating products and experiences its customers love while doing right by its employees, communities, and planet. Gap Inc. products are available for purchase worldwide through company-operated stores, franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. Fiscal year 2022 net sales were $15.6 billion. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com. Investor Relations Contact: Emily Gacka [email protected] Media Relations Contact: Megan Foote [email protected] SOURCE Gap Inc. OKLAHOMA CITY, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. (NYSE American: REPX) ("Riley Permian" or the "Company"), plans to release financial and operating results for its second quarter on August 7, 2023 after the U.S. financial markets close. In connection with the earnings release, Riley Permian management will host a conference call for investors and analysts on August 8, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. CT to discuss the Company's results and to host a Q&A session. Interested parties are invited to participate by calling: Toll Free Dial-In, 1 (888) 330-2214 Toll Dial-In, 1 (646) 960-0161 Conference ID number 5405646 An updated company presentation, which will include certain items to be discussed on the call, will be posted prior to the call on the Company's website (www.rileypermian.com). A replay of the call will be available until August 22, 2023 by calling: Toll Free Dial-In, 1 (800) 770-2030 Toll Dial-In, 1 (647) 362-9199 Conference ID number 5405646 About Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. Riley Permian is a growth-oriented, independent oil and natural gas company focused on the acquisition, exploration, development and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. For more information please visit www.rileypermian.com . Investor Contact: Rick D' Angelo 405-438-0126 [email protected] SOURCE Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. PENANG, Malaysia, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rinchem is pleased to announce the opening of its fifth international hazardous materials (hazmat) warehouse in Penang, Malaysia. This new facility further strengthens Rinchem's commitment to supporting the growing needs of the chemical and semiconductor manufacturers in the Asia Pacific region. Rinchem's Leadership Joins Dignitaries in Celebrating the Grand Opening of State-of-the-Art Hazmat Warehouse in Penang, Malaysia Datuk Wira Arham Abdul Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), applauds Rinchem's unwavering commitment in solidifying their footprint to meet the growing demands of the semiconductor industry. "We are excited to see Rinchem expand their global footprint to Malaysia with the opening of their fifth hazmat warehouse. The warehouse will create a new opportunity within the supply chain of the electrical and electronics (E&E) industry, especially in high-end wafer fabrication manufacturing. Malaysia is seen as a key hub for E&E manufacturing, and the demand for hazardous materials in this industry is growing. For the nation to stay relevant, we will need to build a collaborative ecosystem for large companies and startups alike, to develop and adopt innovative supply chain solutions. MIDA is confident that Rinchem's presence in Malaysia will help the country become a leading hub for the storage and distribution of hazardous materials in the region." The state-of-the-art warehouse provides 3,050 pallet positions and offers comprehensive storage capabilities for a wide range of hazardous materials. Rinchem's expertise in managing complex supply chain ensures that the facility is optimized for both safety and efficiency and adheres to stringent global standards. Matt Jensen, Rinchem's VP of Global Warehousing commented on the significance of this new facility. "As the semiconductor industry continues to experience exponential growth in response to global governmental incentives, Rinchem is uniquely positioned to support the expansion of chemical and semiconductor manufacturers. With nearly 5 decades of experience in managing the most complex supply chains in the world, every warehouse we build is optimized for safety and efficiency in accordance with our global standards." The Malaysia warehouse is an authorized public bonded warehouse which offers cleanroom services and is equipped to handle various chemical types, including base, acid, flammable, oxidizer, and non-regulated. The facility provides a range of temperatures for sensitive materials: Ambient Section (non-regulated & flammable): 23 3C Cold Room: < 10C Freezer Room: < 0C Designed with meticulous attention to detail, the Penang warehouse offers segregated storage areas for different chemical types. The breakdown of the pallet positions is as follows: Ambient Section: 2,000 Flammable Room: 600 Cold Room: 100 Freezer Room: 30 pallets The Penang hazmat warehouse marks Rinchem's first foray into Malaysia, adding to their existing international warehouse locations in Taiwan, South Korea, Ireland, and Israel. The strategic expansion allows Rinchem to further strengthen its presence in the Asia Pacific region, providing localized and efficient supply chain solutions to meet the evolving needs of its customers. About Rinchem: Rinchem is the largest network of chemical and gas distribution centers globally with over 4 billion pounds of chemicals and gases safely handled annually. They set the standard in creating and managing safe and efficient supply chains for high purity, pre-packaged chemicals, and gases. Rinchem applies four decades of expertise, industry thought leadership, and logistics transparency to provide the most reliable, efficient, and cost-effective solutions for its customers. The primary industries Rinchem serves include pharmaceutical, biotech, semiconductor, and aerospace. For more information, visit Rinchem.com and follow Rinchem on Facebook or LinkedIn . MEDIA CONTACT: Drew Peterson Rinchem Director of Marketing & Customer Experience (505) 345-3655 SOURCE Rinchem DUBLIN, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "US and Europe Smart Hospital Beds Market Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The comprehensive report projects substantial growth in the smart hospital beds market, with an estimated value of $859.45 million by 2028, at a CAGR of 13.4% from 2022 to 2028. The US and Europe smart hospital beds market are set to experience robust expansion, driven by several factors, including the growing geriatric population, advancements in healthcare infrastructures, and strategic growth initiatives by smart hospital bed providers. With the rising prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disorders, along with an increasing number of lifestyle-related health conditions, the demand for smart hospital beds has surged. Additionally, longer hospital stays after surgical procedures and the need for continuous monitoring and treatment for patients with chronic diseases have further fueled the market growth. One of the most promising opportunities in the smart hospital beds market is the development of robotic hospital beds. Researchers are currently working on incorporating robotics into hospital beds, offering revolutionary possibilities. The AdaMeKoR project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), aims to ease the workload for nursing staff and improve patient care. The project involves the development of a robotic arm for patient transfers and sensors for analyzing the posture of nursing staff. Government support for such projects will likely drive the growth of the smart hospital beds market in the coming years. The report provides detailed segmentation based on patient weight, offering, application, and end user. The patient weight segment includes categories ranging from less than 70 lb to greater than 500 lb. Offering segments encompass products and accessories, software and solutions, and services. Applications cover fall prevention, pressure injury prevention, and patient deterioration and monitoring. The end user segment includes hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, ambulatory surgical centers, medical laboratories, and long-term care centers. The report also includes profiles of major companies in the smart hospital beds market, including Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., Stryker, Arjo, Invacare Corporation, Paramount Bed Co. Ltd., GF Health Products, Inc., Malvestio Spa, Span America, Savion Industries, and Stiegelmeyer GmbH & Co. KG. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/yvrjj2 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 PHILADELPHIA, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rx-360 Collaborates with Michigan State University to Offer Course on Pharmaceutical Brand Protection and Supply Chain Integrity Rx-360 is pleased to announce that the consortium is collaborating with Michigan State University's Eli Broad College of Business to develop and offer a new educational course on pharmaceutical brand protection and supply chain integrity. This course will be beneficial to anyone working within the pharmaceutical industry. The course will be led by Jeremy Wilson, professor in MSU's School of Criminal Justice, where he founded and directed the Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection and the Program on Police Consolidation and Shared Services. Dr. Wilson commented, "Falsified medical products present a significant threat to global public health. Participants in this course will learn how a total business solution approach can help to mitigate risk and optimize resources by developing holistic, proactive programs that are strategic and evidence based." Jim Fries, CEO of Rx-360 added, "This collaboration is the result of the dedication of the Rx-360 membership, specifically those involved with the Supply Chain Security Steering Committee. I am grateful for the willingness of Dr. Wilson and Michigan State to be partners and helping drive the Rx-360 non-profit mission." Information on how to register for this virtual course can be found at: https://rx-360.org/brand-protection-education/. About Rx-360: Rx-360, an international nonprofit pharmaceutical supply chain consortium, was formed in 2009 to support an industry-wide commitment to ensuring patient safety by enhancing quality and authenticity throughout the supply chain. The organization's mission is to protect patient safety by sharing information and developing processes related to the integrity of the healthcare supply chain and the quality of materials within the supply chain. To learn more about Rx-360, please visit http://www.Rx-360.org or email [email protected]. SOURCE Rx-360 BEIJING, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo was held in Changsha from June 29th to July 2nd, where 53 African countries, 12 international organizations, and over 1500 exhibitors gathered, driving Sino-Africa economic and trade cooperation development. SANY Group ("SANY") exhibited 14 flagship products, including those from concrete, road, and port machinery categories at the Expo. The third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo 1 The third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo 2 At the Expo, Xiang Wenbo, the rotating Chairman of SANY, delivered a speech as the sole Chinese business representative. He highlighted the long-standing history of Sino-Africa friendship and the highly complementary economic patterns of the two regions, bringing enormous cooperation potential. Sino-Africa relations are currently at their strongest in history as the all-around and multilevel cooperation framework has gradually taken shape. According to China's Ministry of Commerce, China has remained Africa's largest trading partner for 14 consecutive years. In 2021, Sino-Africa trade reached a record high of USD 254.289 billion, up 35.3% year on year. The infrastructure collaboration between the two sides continues to be strong, with Chinese enterprises having invested in the construction of thousands of bridges and hundreds of ports across the continent. In cooperation with China, Africa has extended its backbone network to 150,000 kilometers and its network service to nearly 700 million users, accelerating its industrialization and modernization. In terms of social development, China has trained more than 160,000 African professionals in various fields by inviting African students to study in China. Besides, China has also shared its agricultural solutions with Africa, promoting the overall sustainable rural transformation of African countries. At the same time, Africa's huge economic potential offers a vast market for China. In 2002, SANY exported its graders to Morocco as the first group of construction machinery manufacturers entering the African market. Since then, SANY's products have covered over 50 countries and regions across Africa, and participated in many major construction projects, including Adama's Wind Power Project. In recent times, 102 of SANY's wind turbines have become part of the Ethiopian landscape, continuously transmitting clean energy to Addis Ababa, the country's capital. The wind power industry plays a crucial role in promoting energy transformation and ensuring energy security under China's "dual carbon" goal. SANY is dedicated to becoming a global leader in providing clean energy equipment and services, and is committed to developing wider and deeper cooperation with African countries to create a green and sustainable society. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2162006/FAN5865.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2162007/FAN6637.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1518641/logo_Logo.jpg SOURCE SANY Group S.E.A. Crab House celebrated their grand opening in downtown Boise, Idaho, on July 24th, 2023, and is poised to serve the Boise community. BOISE, Idaho, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- S.E.A. Crab House, the renowned restaurant chain celebrated for its mouthwatering seafood boils infused with Southeast Asian flavors, is thrilled to announce that it is officially open for business in downtown Boise, Idaho. Located at 800 W Main St, Ste 230, they celebrated their grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony with the local business chamber on Monday, July 24th. "I want to thank the Boise Metro Chamber for their warm welcome and support," says SEA Crab House president Christophe Adrien. "The local business community has been exceptionally supportive of our investment in downtown Boise, and we look forward to becoming an integral part of it." The S.E.A. Crab House in Boise is the fifth location for the seafood chain, and tenth restaurant opening for owner Patta Lorwatcharasophon. The Boise location is the third to open this year, with one more planned in Bellevue, Washington in the fall. The new seafood chain has experienced a meteoric rise in popularity in the last year and plans to open 25 locations by 2025, as stated by the owner at the EDCO Pub Talk event last month in Bend, Oregon. About the S.E.A. Crab House The S.E.A. Crab House dining experience brings life to every meal. Our live crab and lobster may not sing and dance, but they certainly bring the wow factor to diners of all ages. Our seafood boils feature Southeast Asian (S.E.A.) influences and tastes, creating a unique experience to a beloved dining style. We currently have locations in Astoria, Seattle, Bend, and Beaverton, and soon Bellevue and Boise. Join us at one of our seafood restaurants today! SOURCE SEA Crab House The mission-driven company continues to focus on innovative safety technology for its customers BOSTON, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SimpliSafe , maker of award-winning smart home security systems, today announced it has joined Unified Patents , an international organization of more than 200 members that seeks to improve patent quality and deter unsubstantiated patent assertions. This move, which comes on the heels of joining the LOT Network late last year, exemplifies SimpliSafe's commitment to mitigating Intellectual Property (IP) risks and patent assertion entities (PAEs) distractions so that it may remain focused on redefining the home security industry with new and innovative technology. Improperly granted patents deter innovation by taking technology out of the public domain and making it no longer freely available for public use. Many PAEs, commonly known as "patent trolls," take advantage of improperly granted patents to make money off of unsuspecting businesses. While SimpliSafe is a strong supporter of IP as a way to foster innovation and protect the rights of inventors, the company believes that the assertion of improperly granted patents is a costly distraction and takes time and energy away from producing technology that benefits its customers. To ensure the patent system is working properly, Unified Patents acts as an independent, third-party check on invalid or otherwise unenforceable patents. Through varying efforts, such as proceedings at the United States Patent & Trademark Office available to all citizens, Unified Patents investigates granted patents of questionable validity and challenges them where warranted to ensure any government-granted rights are proper. "At SimpliSafe, innovation is critical in helping us deliver on our mission to make every home secure," explains Brian Bloch, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at SimpliSafe. "By joining Unified Patents, we hope to avoid baseless threats to our business so that we can remain focused on innovating in ways that provide our customers with the best security and protection. I also hope that we continue to inspire others to support similar industry-wide efforts to mitigate patent abuse and litigation distractions that keep us from moving the future of technology forward." "We are pleased to have an industry leader like SimpliSafe become a United Patents member," continues Kevin Jakel, Chief Executive Officer of United Patents. "For years, the world of patent law has been riddled with cyclical abuse both in the form of unfair patent processing and abusive litigation. SimpliSafe is joining a growing group of technology leaders who are committed to ensuring new ideas are fairly properly protected." To learn more about SimpliSafe, please visit SimpliSafe.com . About SimpliSafe SimpliSafe fundamentally changed the alarm industry, pioneering a new way to make home the safest place on earth for everyone. Founded in 2006, SimpliSafe now protects millions of people and is committed to its founding goal: to make every home secure. SimpliSafe has been coined the number one home security pick by several highly-esteemed publications and was recently awarded " Best Home Security System of 2023 " by U.S. News & World Report. SimpliCam, SimpliSafe, and the SimpliSafe logo are the registered trademarks of SimpliSafe, Inc. in the US and other countries. About Unified Patents Unified is a 250+ international membership organization that seeks to improve patent quality and deter unsubstantiated or invalid patent assertions in defined technology sectors (Zones) through its activities. Its actions are focused broadly in Zones with substantial assertions by Standards Essential Patents (SEP) holders and/or Non-Practicing Entities (NPEs). These actions may include analytics, prior art, invalidity contests, patentability analysis, administrative patent review (PTAB), amicus briefs, economic surveys, and essentiality studies. Unified works independently of its members to achieve its deterrence goals. Small members join for free, while larger ones pay modest annual fees. SOURCE SimpliSafe LOS ALAMOS, N.M., July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States Forest Service finally admitted that its own prescribed burn started the 2022 wildfire that consumed more than 60 square miles. The Cerro Pelado Fire came within just a few miles of Los Alamos, as well as a U.S. national security lab before burning out. It threatened schools and caused entire communities to be evacuated. "The people of New Mexico are extremely disappointed, but not at all shocked at this acknowledgement," said Brian S. Colon, Managing Partner of Singleton Schreiber's New Mexico offices and former State Auditor. "This has been an open secret essentially since these fires began. What is more shocking is that it took this federal agency almost 18 months to admit the truth. What needs to happen now is a complete change in behavior, an openness with local fire officials on future attempts to start prescribed burns, and greater transparency overall." This was not the first prescribed burn to go out of control in New Mexico's history. In 2000, the Cerro Grande Fire swept through the Los Alamos area, destroying more than 230 homes and 45 structures at the local laboratory. In 2011, a similar event occurred, damaging the same area. "Residents, government officials and homeowners are fearful that these prescribed burns are nothing more than a recipe for disaster," Mr. Colon added. "Climate change has altered the nature of these burns and the landscape in general. The U.S. Forest Service must acknowledge this as well and act accordingly." Currently, Singleton Schreiber represents thousands of individuals impacted by the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire that burned out of control at a similar time. Homeowners and those impacted by the Hermit's Peak, Cerro Pelado and other fires continue to contact the firm for help in dealing with the fallout. "Our firm is here to help those who have been impacted, we are often their last line of defense after they've lost homes, lost loved one or been injured," said Mr. Colon. About Singleton Schreiber With over 200 employees and offices throughout the western United States (including 7 in New Mexico), Singleton Schreiber has represented more than 12,000 victims of utility fires and has recovered approximately $2 billion in settlements and verdicts for its clients. The firm currently represents thousands of victims of the numerous fires in California, New Mexico, and Oregon. The firm's dedication to obtaining justice for those impacted by toxic conditions and environmental hazards sets it apart from the competition. The firm is also a premier personal injury firm, obtaining top results for clients, including more than $100 million in verdicts in 2022. SOURCE Singleton Schreiber A multi-jurisdictional fraud and drug investigation has led to the arrests of three individuals, including one suspect who is connected to a large-scale nationwide fraud scheme. Alexandria Danielle Mock, of Dothan, is charged with one count of first-degree theft of property, two counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument, three counts of third-degree possession of a forged instrument, and identity theft. Colby Mock, of Blakely, Georgia, is charged with one count of first-degree theft of property. Shikeem Williams, of Atlanta, Georgia, is charged with one count of second-degree burglary, one count of first-degree theft of property, one count of second-degree possession of marijuana, one count of second-degree possession of a forged instrument, one count of identity theft, 11 counts of third-degree possession of a forged instrument, one count of certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm, and one count of trafficking marijuana. Alexandria Mocks bond was set at $90,000. Colby Mock and Williams are in the Houston County Jail on no bond. On July 1, the Houston County Sheriffs Office responded to Summer Tree Apartments in Dothan after investigating a burglary in Columbia. After a search was conducted at an apartment, which turned out to be Alexandria Mocks, law enforcement officials recovered marijuana, U.S. Treasury checks, a fake Georgia drivers license, and cash. From there, investigators were led to Colby Mocks residence in Early County, Georgia, where a search warrant was executed, and a large amount of money was found. According to Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza, on July 14, a third suspect, later identified as Williams, was seen driving a Dodge Durango on Montgomery Highway in Dothan. Williams attempted to flee law enforcement on foot but was later taken into custody. Multiple search warrants were conducted on Williams, and as a result, $2,200 in cash, a fraudulent ID, 5.5 pounds of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a Glock 10mm handgun, nine fraudulent checks, and two fraudulent money orders were recovered. Valenza believes the evidence gathered so far shows Williams has been committing bank and check fraud across America. This has been going on from California to New York, Valenza said. It is bigger than Columbia. Its currently unknown how many fraudulent checks Williams has cashed. Were just working with what we got in Columbia, Valenza said. Right now, I dont know how much money were dealing with. But its a lot because we have photographs that show bundles of currency. Although Valenza has dealt with fraud cases in the past, hes never seen fraud of this magnitude. Ive seen trafficking identity theft, fraudulent checks, and fraudulent social security checks, Valenza said. But nothing of this size. Valenza said this fraud scheme was brought to his attention after discovering the money in Columbia. The investigation is ongoing, and Valenza encourages anyone with information to contact the Houston County Sheriffs Office. The case is still open, and were reaching out to the public, Valenza said. If anyone has any information about Mr. Williams or these scams, please notify us. TAIPEI, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The biennial Tang Prize Award Ceremony will be held for the 5th time at 14:30 (GMT+8) on August 1 (Tue.) in Taipei, with livestreaming also available to allow global audiences to participate in real time. Six 2022 laureates, Jeffrey Sachs for Sustainable Development, Katalin Kariko, Drew Weissman, and Pieter Cullis for Biopharmaceutical Science, Jessica Rawson for Sinology, and Cheryl Saunders for Rule of Law, will travel to Taiwan to attend the ceremony and other Tang Prize Week events in person. CEO of the Tang Prize Foundation Dr. Jenn-Chuan Chern pointed out that all six laureates are renowned scholars who have made notable contributions to the world. Professor Sachs served as Special Advisor to three UN Secretaries-General and played a key role in setting the Sustainable Development Goals and in negotiating the Paris Agreement. Drs. Kariko, Weissman and Cullis successfully developed mRNA COVID-19 vaccines that have helped save millions of lives. Professor Rawson's career at the Department of Oriental Antiquities of the British Museum spanned nearly thirty years. With an intimate knowledge of Chinese artifacts, she gave voice to muted objects and provided evidence of the mutual influence between the material culture of the East and the West. A pioneer in comparative constitutional studies, Professor Saunders has made a substantive contribution to constitution-building especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Another important event, the Tang Prize Laureate's Lecture series, is scheduled for August 2 (Wed.), from 9:30 (GMT+8) to 17:20 (GMT+8). Anyone interested in this 8-hour academic festival can watch online at https://youtube.com/live/Yi_iKuotozk Tang Prize Laureate's Lecture Series Time (GMT+8) Laureate Topic 09:30-10:30 Sustainable Development: Jeffrey Sachs Dialogue and Sustainable Development 11:00-12:00 Sinology: Jessica Rawson Bronze Banqueting Vessels and Golden Belts in the Landscape of Ancient China and of today 13:30-14:30 Rule of Law: Cheryl Saunders The Grand Puzzle of Comparative Constitutional Law 15:00-17:20 Biopharmaceutical Science: 1. Katalin Kariko 2. Drew Weissman 3. Pieter Cullis 1. Developing mRNA for Therapy 2. Nucleoside-modified mRNA-LNP Therapeutics 3. Design of Lipid Nanoparticles That Enable Gene Therapies SOURCE The Tang Prize Foundation SHENZHEN, China, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Uprising vaping brand SKE, is making new inroads into the North American and Middle Eastern markets with the introduction of S5000, the latest addition to the CRYSTAL series. The product will be first rolled out in Canada and the United Arab Emirates. This follows the brand's successful launch of its CRYSTAL series in the UK in 2021. SKE, with extraordinary sales in the UK, rose to become one of the top three vaping brands in the country in 2022. With the roll-out of S5000 in the two markets, SKE is poised to achieve a new milestone in performance. SKE's CRYSTAL series, known for its high-quality crystal-like design, introduces the enhanced S5000. Its casing features a gradient camouflage pattern under pearl paint, making it sparkle like a star and guaranteeing attention. The increased width adds to its sophistication. The crystal-like exterior is made from PCTG, a food-grade material offering the clarity and density of glass. With an exceptional glossy shine, this material resists chemical corrosion and is completely harmless to users, making it an ideal choice for the external packaging of the product. S5000 currently offers an array of ten classic flavors, including an ice-cold flavor that delivers a unique and refreshing "chilly" taste. In particular, the lemon ice, watermelon ice and cherry ice flavors are the most eye-catching and a must-try for those who appreciate an invigorating, cool vaping experience. S5000 provides three mild levels of nicotine content: 2%, 3.5% and 5%, allowing users to choose a suitable level based on their preferences, ensuring they can enjoy a perfect vaping experience without compromising their well-being. S5000 is a high-capacity e-cigarette that boasts a one-time e-liquid fill of 13ml. This substantial capacity allows for up to five thousand puffs while its rechargeable battery ensures longevity. With no need for cartridge replacements, refills or frequent use of disposable products, S5000 truly caters to users' desire for a convenient e-cigarette that can deliver an outstanding vaping experience anytime, anywhere. SKE was founded by SKE team from Shenzhen SKE Technology Co., Ltd, a dynamic group of young enthusiasts with a shared passion for the latest in technology and for adventurous pursuits. Their exploration of cutting-edge technology is reflected in the brand's philosophy, with the aim of positioning the brand as a trendsetter in the e-cigarette industry. For media inquiry, please contact [email protected] SOURCE Shenzhen SKE Technology Co., Ltd SMITHFIELD, Va., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Smithfield Foods has built a new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system to replace a majority of the existing system at its pork-processing complex in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The new $45 million wastewater system adds additional treatment processes and capabilities to meet new and more stringent permit limits on nitrates and ammonia. The upgraded system biologically converts ammonia-nitrogen in wastewater to nitrate-nitrogen and further removes nitrate-nitrogen from wastewater, a treatment process known as denitrification that is strongly preferred by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency due to its reduced impact on aquatic life. The new denitrification process will reduce Smithfield's overall nitrogen load to the Big Sioux River by two-thirds or more. "This new state-of-the-art wastewater project reinforces Smithfield's proactive approach to implementing sustainable systems that improve environmental quality and benefit the community," said Stewart Leeth, chief sustainability officer for Smithfield. "The investment we have made in Sioux Falls will significantly reduce nutrient discharges and improve water quality in the Big Sioux River basin." Smithfield had previously made significant improvements to its wastewater system at Sioux Falls over the past several years at a cost of $10 million. Smithfield has been a leader in sustainability programs for more than two decades and has made industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in its U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30% across its entire U.S. value chain by 2030. More information about Smithfield's sustainability programs is available in its 2022 Sustainability Impact Report, available here. About Smithfield Foods, Inc. Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is a U.S. food company that employs nearly 60,000 people in seven countries and partners with thousands of American farmers. As one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies, we are dedicated to producing "Good food. Responsibly." to feed a growing world population. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including our industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in our U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30% across our entire U.S. value chain by 2030. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to food banks, disaster relief efforts and community outreach programs in all 50 U.S. states. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield, Eckrich, Gwaltney and Nathan's Famous, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. SOURCE Smithfield Foods, Inc. HOUSTON, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Stewart Information Services Corporation (NYSE:STC) today announced that Helen Vaid has been appointed to its Board of Directors, effective August 1, 2023. "We are extremely pleased to welcome Ms. Vaid to our Board of Directors," said Chief Executive Officer Fred Eppinger. "Ms. Vaid is a seasoned strategic and operational leader. She brings decades of experience with consumer and retail businesses and has a track record of driving growth and digital transformation. We're confident she will be a valuable addition to our Board." Ms. Vaid was the Chief Executive Officer of Foundry Brands, a brand platform that grows omni-digital brands, from July 2021 to February 2023. She currently serves on the boards of directors of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (since February 2023) and Foundry (since August 2021), and was previously a director of Groupon, Inc. (from April 2020 to June 2023). Previously, she was the Global Chief Customer Officer at Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (September 2016 to July 2021). She has held roles at Walmart.com, a division of Walmart Inc., including Vice President of Digital Store Operations and Experience, Web & Mobile (September 2015 to August 2016) and Vice President of Customer Experience, Web & Mobile (June 2013 to September 2015). Ms. Vaid also held several technology-focused roles at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Indraprastha College, University of Delhi and a Master of Business Administration from Manchester Business School. About Stewart Stewart Information Services Corporation (NYSE:STC) is a global real estate services company, offering products and services through our direct operations, network of Stewart Trusted Providers and family of companies. From residential and commercial title insurance and closing and settlement services to specialized offerings for the mortgage and real estate industries, we offer the comprehensive service, deep expertise and solutions our customers need for any real estate transaction. At Stewart, we are dedicated to becoming the premier title services company and we are committed to doing so by partnering with our customers to create mutual success. Learn more at stewart.com. ST-IR SOURCE Stewart Information Services Corporation WELLESLEY, Mass., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun Life U.S., the largest independent medical stop-loss provider in the country, has named OptiMed Health Partners as a preferred partner to further the company's goal of improving healthcare access, while also managing rising healthcare costs. The new program through OptiMed will identify opportunities to administer specialty drugs to members who need them - in a convenient setting, such as the member's home or an infusion center - working in concert with the member's physician and care team. This type of highly coordinated and personalized delivery system reduces the risk of infections and complications for patients while decreasing the treatment costs for high-cost specialty drugs. Optimed The new solution, Medical RX Management powered by OptiMed, is an extension of Sun Life's Clinical 360 program, which combines innovative data analytics with superior clinical expertise to identify cost savings and ways to optimize patient care and outcomes. At no additional cost to the client, OptiMed's vast experience in effectively managing specialty medication trends will help those who self-fund their health plans better manage their healthcare costs. According to KFF, an independent non-profit organization focused on national health issues, 65% of covered workers in the U.S. are in a self-funded plan, where employers pay their own medical claims. "Expensive specialty drugs are major contributors to escalating healthcare costs which can significantly impact self-funded plans," said Jennifer Collier, president of Health and Risk Solutions, Sun Life U.S. "Through this collaboration with OptiMed, we will tackle two pressing issues in the healthcare ecosystem access and cost. Medical Rx Management powered by OptiMed will provide more ways for members to receive vital healthcare while reducing unnecessary costs for our clients." "As therapeutic advancements continue, it is essential for plans to lean on industry experts and partnerships such as this, to promote sustainability and high levels of clinical support to members when they need it most" said Rusti Greis, Vice President, Business Development for OptiMed Health Partners. "Our passion to reimagine healthcare solutions that deliver unsurpassed value, leverages technology and concierge services; creating an exceptional patient experience and driving positive industry change." OptiMed provides specialty infusion medications and therapy management for many conditions including a large number of medications listed in Sun Life's annual High-cost claims and injectable drug trends analysis of medical stop-loss claims. OptiMed's program has been reviewed and accredited by two nationally recognized accreditation bodies focused on patient care and safety. Sun Life manages high-dollar medical claims for more than 2,800 self-funded employers covering more than 9 million people. Utilizing its extensive medical claims database, Sun Life provides expert insights each year on clinical conditions and medical trends that drive high-cost claims as well as how people utilize their healthcare. Sun Life is the largest independent stop-loss provider in the U.S. according to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. An independent stop-loss provider does not sell medical claim administration services. About Sun Life Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2023, Sun Life had total assets under management of C$1.36 trillion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. Sun Life U.S. is one of the largest providers of employee and government benefits, helping more than 50 million Americans access the healthcare and coverage they need. Through employers, industry partners and government programs, Sun Life offers a portfolio of benefits and services, including dental, vision, disability, absence management, life, supplemental health, medical stop-loss insurance, and healthcare navigation. Sun Life U.S. and affiliated companies in asset management employ approximately 8,000 people in the U.S. Group insurance policies are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Wellesley Hills, Mass.), except in New York, where policies are issued by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.) (Lansing, Mich.). For more information visit our website and newsroom. About OptiMed OptiMed Health Partners, headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is an independently owned and operated national healthcare organization, leading the charge in the infusion and specialty space. For more than 30 years, OptiMed has leveraged personalized attention to detail to deliver customized solutions that optimize patient outcomes while partnering with other healthcare organizations to usher in a new standard of excellence. To learn more about OptiMed's innovative and personalized care, visit www.optimedhp.com or email [email protected]. Media contacts: Anjie Coplin Sun Life U.S. 469-938-1050 [email protected] Jackie O'Dell OptiMed Health Partners 269-250-8010 [email protected] Connect with Sun Life U.S. https://www.facebook.com/SLFUnitedStates https://www.linkedin.com/company/sun-life-financial https://twitter.com/SunLifeUS SOURCE Sun Life U.S. Initial Recipients Include Adform, DoubleVerify, Frameplay, Horizon Media, Integral Ad Science, Octillion, Omnicom Media Group, OpenX, Oracle Advertising, Xandr; ANA Report Identified $20 Billion in Savings from Increased Transparency Via Log-Level Data WASHINGTON, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TAG (Trustworthy Accountability Group), the world's leading program to fight criminal activity and promote brand safety in digital advertising, today announced the first ten companies to earn the TAG "Certified for Transparency" Seal for setting industry best practices around supply chain transparency, including the adoption of a log-level data transparency framework, TAG TrustNet. The initial group of industry leaders achieving the TAG Certified for Transparency Seal include: Adform DoubleVerify Frameplay Horizon Media Integral Ad Science Octillion Omnicom Media Group OpenX Oracle Advertising Xandr "These companies stand at the vanguard of our industry's efforts to create a more transparent digital advertising supply chain," said TAG CEO Mike Zaneis. "They have established the baseline transparency practices that will give ad buyers and their partners the visibility they need into their campaigns, including log-level data. By working together as an industry to adopt a shared transparency framework, we can improve accountability, reduce misplaced advertising, and save billions in misallocated spending." A landmark ANA study released last month found advertisers could drive up to $20 billion dollars in improved efficiencies by increasing transparency in their supply chains. The ANA's recommendations urged advertisers to create supply chain contracts that "provide complete access to data and full transparency of websites purchased" including access to "log-level data (LLD) from every AdTech vendor across an advertiser's supply chain," such as the framework established by TAG TrustNet. Participation in TAG TrustNet's common transparency framework is a central requirement of the program, as it creates a "shared truth" on campaign data for participants across the supply chain. Each trusted record for transactions is based on real-time reconciling and sharing advertising log files with counterparties through TAG TrustNet. In addition to participation in TAG TrustNet, other requirements to obtain the Seal include annual compliance training for the certification, employing and honoring Ads.txt and App-Ads.txt (direct sellers and intermediaries), and employing and maintaining Sellers.json (intermediaries). More information about the TAG Certified for Transparency Program can be found at www.tagtoday.net/transparency . About TAG TAG (Trustworthy Accountability Group) is the leading global certification program fighting criminal activity and strengthening brand safety in the digital advertising industry. TAG advances its mission of eliminating fraudulent traffic, facilitating the sharing of threat intelligence, and promoting brand safety by connecting industry leaders, analyzing threats, and sharing best practices worldwide. The 700+ member TAG community includes the world's largest and most influential brands, agencies, publishers, and ad tech providers. TAG is the first and only Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (ISAO) for the digital advertising industry. For more information on TAG, please visit tagtoday.net . Contact: Andrew Weinstein 202-667-4967 [email protected] SOURCE Trustworthy Accountability Group First strategic movement within the European market Taylor Farms is North America's leading grower and producer of salads, vegetables and healthy fresh foods. Foodiverse is a leading European operator with expertise in growing and preparing fresh-cut salads, fresh vegetables and healthy foods. The closing of the investment transaction will take place in the form of a capital increase in the upcoming weeks. Taylor Farms' entry as Foodiverse's shareholder will enable the collaboration and exchange of best practices with the commitment to quality, innovation, sustainability, and food safety. SALINAS, Calif, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Foodiverse and Taylor Farms, leading growers and producers of fresh-cut salads, vegetables and healthy fresh foods in Europe and North America respectively, are pleased to announce the agreement to welcome the US company as a new shareholder in the Spanish group. Both companies will become partners through a capital increase that will provide Taylor Farms a significant share in Foodiverse's capital. This transaction, which is expected to close in the upcoming weeks, is currently awaiting ratification by the Spanish National Markets and Competition Commission and is subject to necessary bank regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Taylor Farms' entry as Foodiverse's shareholder will enable the collaboration and creation of synergies as well as the exchange of best practices with both market leaders' commitment to sustainability, quality, innovation, and food safety. Moreover, it will promote their continuous growth and the development of new, innovative, fresh, and healthy products, tailored to meet the demands of consumers. "We are enthused to have Taylor Farms as a strategic partner and proud that they have chosen our company for this purpose," stated Jesus Gomez, CEO of Foodiverse. "This operation will strengthen our position for sustainable growth, keeping our focus on shared values such as the highest quality and freshness of our products, innovation, and sustainability." "We are excited to collaborate with Foodiverse and convinced we found the right partner," said Bruce Taylor, Founder and CEO of Taylor Farms. "Our collective mission continues to be increasing consumption of healthy fresh foods across the globe." Foodiverse's multinational operations in Spain, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy will continue to be managed by the Foodiverse team and its President Joaquin Ballester and CEO Jesus Gomez. About Taylor Farms Taylor Farms is the leading North American producer of salads and healthy fresh foods with production facilities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Taylor Farms is grounded in a commitment to quality, assured supply, innovation, sustainability, and food safety. Taylor Farms is family owned and based in "The Salad Bowl of the World", Salinas, California. For more information, delicious recipes, and more, visit www.taylorfarms.com and follow Taylor Farms on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. About Foodiverse Foodiverse is much more than a food company. It is a multinational group, with expertise in preparing fresh and healthy foods, created to revolutionize the market through a wide range of innovative, balanced, and trendy products, all designed and prepared to be enjoyed any time of the day, anywhere you go. Its activity in the food sector covers the entire production chain, from the seed itself all the way to consumers' tables. In its vision to lead the healthy revolution, over the last few years the group has incorporated leading companies in their respective markets such as the Spanish companies Agromediterranea (2014) and Comfresh (2021), Thurlander Salate (2018) in Germany, Josef Muller Gemuse (2019) in Switzerland, and Novanatura (2019) and Ortoverde (2021) in Italy. Foodiverse currently boasts 9 production plants in Europe, a distributor and marketer in Spain, and 17 farms throughout Spain and Italy where the company manages over 2,800 hectares every year and provides employment for more than 2,500 people. Sales revenue in 2021 amounted to 327 million euros. The group's product range consists of vegetables straight from the fields and fresh-cut produce, including salads and ready-to-eat fresh fruit, ready-to-cook or heat vegetables and dishes, as well as vegetable drinks and snacks, which are distributed to more than 400 clients in 22 countries. It has its own brands: Freshkia and Freshkia BIO, Sun&Vegs and BIO Sun&Vegs. Find out more: www.foodiverse.com/en SOURCE Taylor Farms Infinite Uptime revolutionizes industrial applications with its state-of-the-art digital intelligence platform that provides real-time fault diagnostics and reliability monitoring for key mechanical equipment in an integrated, smart software platform The platform employs frequency analysis of vibrations, monitored by sensors integrated into essential machinery to predict failures TDK Ventures partners with Infinite Uptime to expedite the adoption of cutting-edge technologies that promote automation, downtime reduction, and heightened sustainability in manufacturing and other industrial sectors SAN JOSE, Calif., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TDK Corporation (TSE: 6762) announced today that its subsidiary, TDK Ventures Inc., has invested in the Industry 5.0 - focused startup Infinite Uptime, who's digital intelligence platform leverages state-of-the-art sensor technology, advanced analytics, and machine-learning algorithms to monitor vital mechanical equipment within industrial applications to anticipate and promptly address failures, ensuring optimal uptime and superior performance. Infinite Uptime's Predictive Maintenance (PdM) platform offers two key capabilities within a single platform: Diagnostics as a Service (DaaS), which monitors critical equipment 24/7 and notifies the presence of any faults, and Digital Reliability Service (DRS), which provides prescriptive actions/interventions and downtime savings. Utilizing frequency analysis of vibrations, monitored by sensors integrated into key machinery, the platform detects degradation and impending failures. This physics-based data foundation drives AI-based decision making, allowing industries to proactively tackle potential issues and optimize their operations. These capabilities play a critical role in advancing Industry 5.0 transformation to enhance manufacturing, production, and industry efficiency while promoting cleaner and more sustainable practices through resource optimization, risk identification/mitigation, and waste reduction. The need for efficient monitoring and maintenance solutions is increasingly vital as markets continue to shift toward Industry 5.0. Infinite Uptime's platform addresses this demand by delivering a scalable, real-time monitoring system that empowers companies to automate and optimize operations, which in turn reduces downtime and improves overall sustainability. Infinite Uptime's Predictive Maintenance (PdM) platform seamlessly integrates with existing industrial infrastructure, offering a comprehensive, data-driven approach to predicting and preventing equipment failures. By harnessing the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and advanced analytics, the platform provides actionable insights to decision-makers, driving operational excellence and supporting business growth. Dr. Raunak Bhinge, CEO of Infinite Uptime, commented, "Our mission is to enable industries to fully embrace the potential of Industry 5.0, equipping them with the necessary tools and insights to accelerate business growth and enhance sustainability. We are thrilled to partner with TDK Ventures, whose expertise and support will accelerate the adoption of our digital-intelligence platform across various industrial sectors." Nicolas Sauvage, President of TDK Ventures, added, "Infinite Uptime stands at the forefront of the Industry 5.0 revolution, tackling critical challenges in industrial automation and efficiency. Their digital intelligence platform holds the potential to transform how industries operate, paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient future. We are excited to collaborate with Infinite Uptime and support their journey in shaping the future of more sustainable industrial applications." TDK Ventures invests globally in early-stage startups that leverage fundamental materials science to unlock an attractive and sustainable future for the world. TDK Ventures' goal is to help every startup they invest in achieve their full potential for positive world impact. To learn more about TDK Ventures, interested startups or investment partners should visit www.tdk-ventures.com or reach out at [email protected] . About TDK Corporation TDK Corporation is a world leader in electronic solutions for the smart society based in Tokyo, Japan. Built on a foundation of material sciences mastery, TDK welcomes societal transformation by resolutely remaining at the forefront of technological evolution and deliberately "Attracting Tomorrow." It was established in 1935 to commercialize ferrite, a key material in electronic and magnetic products. TDK's comprehensive, innovation-driven portfolio features passive components such as ceramic, aluminum electrolytic and film capacitors, as well as magnetics, high-frequency, and piezo and protection devices. The product spectrum also includes sensors and sensor systems such as temperature and pressure, magnetic, and MEMS sensors. In addition, TDK provides power supplies and energy devices, magnetic heads and more. These products are marketed under the product brands TDK, EPCOS, InvenSense, Micronas, Tronics and TDK-Lambda. TDK focuses on demanding markets in automotive, industrial and consumer electronics, and information and communication technology. The company has a network of design and manufacturing locations and sales offices in Asia, Europe, and in North and South America. In fiscal 2023, TDK posted total sales of USD 16.1 billion and employed about 103,000 people worldwide. About TDK Ventures TDK Ventures Inc. invests in startups to bolster innovation in materials science, energy/power and related areas typically underrepresented in venture capital portfolios. Established in 2019 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of TDK Corporation, the corporate venture company's vision is to propel the digital and energy transformations of segments such as health and wellness, next-generation transportation, robotics and industrial, mixed reality and the wider IoT/IIoT markets. TDK Ventures will co-invest and support promising portfolio companies by providing technical expertise and access to global markets where TDK operates. Interested startups or investment partners may contact TDK Ventures: www.tdk-ventures.com or [email protected] . About Infinite Uptime Infinite Uptime is a global Predictive Maintenance Services and Plant Reliability solutions company. We help maintenance and manufacturing teams to attain the highest level of plant reliability by reducing unplanned downtime, mitigating operational risks, and improving overall efficiency. We leverage Industry 5.0 technologies and a digital-first approach to create responsive maintenance strategies for diverse global manufacturing industries including Cement, Steel, Metals & Mining, FMCG, Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Power, Pharma, Tire, Automotive, Construction, Pipes and more. Our advanced analytics and real-time industrial diagnostics help plant-maintenance leaders and condition-based monitoring teams to accurately predict and avoid machine failure every single time. You can download this text and associated images from www.tdk-ventures.com/TDK-ventures-invests-in-infinite-uptimes-industry-50-digital-intelligence-platform/ Contacts for regional media Brand Contact Phone Mail TDK Ms. S MACKENZIE Publitek Portland, OR, USA +1 503 720 3743 [email protected] TDK Ventures Mr. R. FINELLI TDK Ventures San Jose, CA, USA +1 408 667 5970 [email protected] SOURCE TDK Ventures Teamsters and Community Support ATL6 Amazon Workers as They Rally Over Warehouse Conditions EAST POINT, Ga., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Striking Amazon delivery drivers and dispatchers from Palmdale, Calif., extended their picket line to an Atlanta area warehouse (ATL6) today, to demand the e-commerce giant stop its unfair labor practices. The growing strike will continue until Amazon reinstates the unlawfully terminated Palmdale employees, recognizes the Teamsters, respects the contract negotiated by the workers, and bargains with the Teamsters Union to address low pay and dangerous working conditions. "We do the same job as other package delivery drivers, but Amazon pays us half as much," said Tom Culver, a striking driver from Palmdale who traveled to Georgia for the picket. "We are taking our strike across the country to stop Amazon's unfair labor practices and to force the company to negotiate a contract that treats its drivers fairly." Amazon drivers and dispatchers began their unfair labor practice strike at an Amazon delivery station in Palmdale, Calif., on June 24. They have picketed 10 Amazon warehouses around the country during their month-long strike, including facilities in California, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, and now Georgia. Before picketing the Georgia warehouse, the Palmdale strikers rallied with local Amazon warehouse workers demanding that Amazon address poor working conditions at the ATL6 warehouse. They were also supported by Georgia Teamster members and community allies. "Since this strike started on June 24, these Amazon workers have remained united in pursuit of fair pay and safe jobs," said Victor Mineros, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 396 in Los Angeles. "Despite Amazon's illegal refusal to recognize their union or engage in bargaining, the community and fellow workers in this industry have consistently shown unwavering support. Millions of Teamster members stand shoulder to shoulder, with firm resolve, supporting their brothers and sisters at Amazon. Together, we are resolute in holding this corporate criminal accountable for its treatment of their workers." The 84 workers in Palmdale joined Teamsters Local 396 and bargained a contract with Amazon's Delivery Service Partner (DSP), Battle-Tested Strategies (BTS), in April. Despite the absolute control it wields over BTS and workers' terms and conditions of employment, Amazon has refused to recognize and honor the union contract. Instead, Amazon has engaged in dozens of unfair labor practices in violation of federal labor law, including terminating the entire unit of newly-organized workers. "I've been chased by dogs. I've been sent to deliver in the desert with two bottles of water. All for the packages that Amazon puts ahead of our safety," said Jessie Moreno, another striking driver who traveled to Georgia to extend the Palmdale picket line. "We organized a union because we deserve to be treated like human beings. We are going to win the good jobs that our families need." Amazon drivers in Palmdale organized with the Teamsters to protect their safety in extreme temperatures, which regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit during Palmdale summers. Their Teamster contract guarantees the rights of workers to drive safe equipment and refuse unsafe deliveries. Making the contract's protections a reality will require an overhaul of Amazon's exploitative labor practices. Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.2 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org to learn more and follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters. Contact: On site: Jessie Moreno, (347) 762-0778 Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610 [email protected] SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters Partnership in the state of Indiana strengthens as company continues to drive rehabilitation and lower recidivism rates PHOENIX, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Televerde, a global revenue creation partner supporting marketing, sales, and customer success for B2B businesses worldwide, today announced the opening of a new contact center at the Indiana Women's Prison. This latest addition joins the company's existing operations in Indiana at the Rockville Correctional Facility (opened in 2015) and the Madison Correctional Facility (opened in 2019), further expanding its nationwide network to eight prison-operated centers. With this expansion, Televerde now provides life-changing career opportunities to 127 women across its Indiana operations. "Our partnership with Indiana Correctional Industries (ICI) and the Indiana Department of Corrections (DOC) continues to strengthen because of their commitment to ensuring the successful rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals," said Chris McGugan, CEO of Televerde. "The launch of our new Televerde contact center at the Indiana Women's Prison signifies more than just the growth of our operations. It's a powerful demonstration of how strategic collaboration can fuel social transformation and business performance. We're eager to assemble another high-performing Televerde team in Indiana, poised to drive exceptional business outcomes for our clients." Televerde initially hired nine women to staff the new Indiana facility, with plans to expand its workforce rapidly. This move aligns with Televerde's commitment to providing opportunities for incarcerated women, equipping them with the skills and experience necessary to thrive in today's digital economy. "The partnership between Televerde, ICI, and the Indiana DOC has been instrumental in driving rehabilitation and lowering recidivism rates in Indiana," said Lloyd Arnold, chief operations officer of Indiana Correctional Industries. "Televerde is a shining example of how businesses can play a significant role in rehabilitation and reentry. Together, we're providing these women with a real chance at a new life while also contributing to the safety and well-being of our communities." For more than 25 years, Televerde has employed more than 3,500 incarcerated women in Arizona, Indiana, and Florida, with 94 percent advancing into professional career positions in sales, marketing, and technology fields. The women employed as part of Televerde's prison workforce development program are compensated fairly and receive on-the-job training in the art of sales and marketing, business acumen, in-demand marketing technologies (Salesforce, Eloqua, Marketo, et al.), IT, and all other areas in business. These women partner with and directly support some of the most recognizable Fortune 500 companies in business today, building experience and a professional network that will increase their marketability and provide a clear advantage over others in the hiring process when released from corrections. Televerde's unique business model has been recognized globally for its positive social impact. By providing incarcerated women with professional training and employment, the company is helping to break the cycle of recidivism while delivering top-tier service to its clients. For more information, visit www.televerde.com . About Televerde Phoenix-based Televerde is the first and only fully integrated sales, marketing, and customer care solutions organization that delivers revenue as a service and customer experience expertise with a human touch, best-in-class technology, and an operating model resilient to shifting market conditions. Since 1995, Televerde has generated more than $12B in revenue for the world's leading B2B companies, including SAP, GE, Adobe-Marketo, and Securus Technologies. A purpose-built company, Televerde believes in second-chance employment and strives to help disempowered people find their voice and reach their human potential. Seven of Televerde's ten engagement centers are staffed by incarcerated women, representing 70 percent of the company's 600+ global workforce. The Arizona State University Seidman Research Institute recently documented the model's success in a study. The results reveal that Televerde's program participants attain employment, earnings, and education at higher rates and re-offend at significantly lower rates than other formerly incarcerated females in the United States. The complete study can be accessed here. Kellie Walenciak [email protected] 908-377-9968 SOURCE Televerde The Hawk-Houston Youth Enrichment Center held its 2023 recognition awards banquet on July 23, recognizing donors, volunteers, community partners, grantors, and sponsors for their work in support of the non-profit during 2022. James L. Shack Thompson Jr. received the organizations lifetime achievement award. Thompson grew up in Dothans Baptist Bottom neighborhood and was graduated from Dothan High School in 1972 before embarking on a long career as a federal agent, an author of several books, an actor, and film producer. Other honorees include: Tiyana Bell, Youth of the Year; Latonja Dawsey, Staff of the Year; Taylor Bradley, Volunteer of the Year; Douglas Sinquefield, Friend of Youth; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Legacy of Service; Pamela Holton, Board Volunteer of the Year; DeWitt Hogan, Family of the Year; and Arthur Bell II, A&L Men on Demand, Legacy Donor. The Hawk-Houston Youth Enrichment Center was established in June 1964 by its founder, the late Alveta Houston Hawk, as the Hawk-Houston Boys Club, and has served youth ages 5 to 18 for 59 years. CHARLES TOWN, W.Va., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- (OTC:PTBS) Representatives of BCT-Bank of Charles Town joined with representatives of the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival today for a special announcement that will continue to provide a major boost to the annual Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival in their 44th year. Alice Frazier, BCT President & CEO and Susan Snowden, MSAHF President, announce BCT's continued partnership as Presenting Sponsor "Today marks an unprecedented occasion in the history of the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival," according to festival board president Susan Snowden. "In 2019, BCT-Bank of Charles Town stepped up to provide a major financial boost to our festival with their commitment to join our organization in promoting our rich agricultural history by becoming our presenting sponsor. This was the first time the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival partnered with a presenting sponsor. BCT's roots are tied to orchardists in the Eastern Panhandle, being founded by orchardists, farmers, and local business owners in 1871. The Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival celebrates the role that apple orchards play in our past, present, and future. We believed that combining these two powerful groups whose genesis is similar would equate to success - it has and will continue to do so!" Snowden continued by explaining the renewed partnership, "Because of BCT's unwavering commitment over the past 4 years of both financial and people resources providing hundreds of BCT volunteers each year at festival events, the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival will offer them the recognition as the "Presenting Sponsor" of our entire festival." BCT President & CEO Alice Frazier shared that she and their Board of Directors have been pleased with this partnership and the opportunity to increase the bank's involvement in an event that has such a rich heritage. Frazier stated, "We shared this at our initial press conference four years ago but it bears repeating. 38 far-sighted local orchardists, farmers, and business leaders saw the need for a bank to serve as a stabilizing influence on the Eastern Panhandle. Bank of Charles Town was formed by neighbors helping neighbors. Today, 152 years later, BCT has grown to nearly $800 million in assets and employs over 130 associates in the tri-state region. After serving as Presenting Sponsor the past four festivals, we are thrilled with the opportunity the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival gave us to renew our partnership to provide continued financial and people support." Snowden said that the festival is blessed to not only have BCT continue as the Presenting Sponsor but many other businesses and individuals in the community who have been Major Event Sponsors for the festival weekend. "Without all of these faithful businesses' and individuals' continued support, the festival would not have been able to provide this long-standing tradition in our community. The board looks forward to celebrating the 44th anniversary of the festival this fall." Brittany Lynn Cenate, daughter of Michael and Tracey Cenate of Charles Town, who will be crowned Queen Pomona XLIV at the opening of the 44th festival in October, was at the event today, as well as our reigning Queen Pomona Olivia Travis of Martinsburg. Cenate will reign over the annual Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival October 19-22, 2023. Board members of both BCT and the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival were also in attendance for the announcement. The announcement was held at BCT's main office in Charles Town. About BCT Founded in 1871, BCT-Bank of Charles Town, also known as The Community's Bank, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Potomac Bancshares, Inc. (OTC:PTBS). With approximately $792 million in assets as of March 31, 2023, the Company conducts operations through its main office, an additional eight branch offices, and two loan production offices. BCT's offices are located in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties (WV), Washington County (MD), and Loudoun and Stafford Counties (VA). The Bank provides various banking products and services including free access to over 55,000 ATMs through the Allpoint network plus online and mobile banking for individuals, businesses, and local governments. The Bank also offers commercial lines and term loans, residential and commercial construction, commercial real estate loans and agricultural loans. The Residential Lending division offers secondary market and portfolio mortgage loans, one-time close construction to perm loans, as well as home equity loans and lines of credit. For over 65 years, BCT Wealth Advisors has provided financial management, investment, trust, and estate services to its clients. In 2023, American Banker selected BCT as a "Top 200 Community Bank," an annual listing of the best performing banks in the United States with assets under $2 billion. BCT was voted "Best of the Best" winner in the 2022 Journal-News Readers' Choice Awards in three categories: Bank, Loan Services, and Financial Planning. In 2019, 2020, and 2021 the Bank was named a "Best Bank To Work For" by American Banker. The Company's shares are quoted on the OTC Pink Sheet marketplace under the symbol "PTBS." For more information about Potomac Bancshares, Inc., and the Bank, please visit our website at www.mybct.bank. About MSAHF It was 1979 in Martinsburg, West Virginia, Mr. Charles Thornton, Jr. who at the time, was manager of WEPM Radio Station, was trying to think of a community activity for everyone. Gas prices were high and the economy was falling. He did some research and found there were Apple Carnivals that dated back to 1896, 1909, and 1935 held in Downtown Martinsburg, West Virginia celebrating the harvesting of the apples. They were interrupted by WWI, WWII, and the depression. Mr. Thornton contacted local businesses and social organizations asking for volunteers to help revive the Apple Harvest Festival. Volunteers met with Mr. Thornton and The Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival Committee was formed. By-Laws of the MSAHF, Inc. are dated October 25, 1979. In the By-Laws, Article I, Section 3 it states: "The fundamental purpose of said corporation shall be to promote the apple industry in the state of West Virginia, and specifically in Berkeley County, West Virginia, and associated and related industries, and the celebration of the harvest of the apples throughout the Mountain State and through efforts to generally promote the welfare in community betterment by various acts as deemed appropriate by said corporation in and for the community, in the city of Martinsburg, the county of Berkeley, and the state of West Virginia. And further, to engage in any acts for which a corporation may be organized, including the possession of real estate and all acts connected therewith, as may be organized under the laws for such a non-profit corporation, in the state of West Virginia, and under the Code of the State of West Virginia; and to do any lawful acts that will be deemed in the best interests of the purposes of this corporation." In Article I, Section 4, it states: "The objectives of this organization shall include by not be limited to the followings: The sponsoring and promotion of an annual festival to celebrate the apple harvest in West Virginia, and particularly in the Eastern Panhandle of the State of West Virginia." The festival is always held the third weekend in October. The name Queen Pomona was chosen for the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival Queen because Pomona was the uniquely Roman goddess of fruit trees and orchards. Pomona watches over and protects fruit trees and cares for the cultivation, and Pomona comes from the Latin word pomum, "fruit" specifically orchard fruit. SOURCE BCT - Bank of Charles Town Opening: November 9, 2023 Chief Curator: Anton Vidokle Curators: Zairong Xiang, Hallie Ayres, Lukas Brasiskis, Ben Eastham Cosmos Cinema: The 14th Shanghai Biennale SHANGHAI, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Titled Cosmos Cinema, the 14th Shanghai Biennale will offer visitors a space and time in which to reflect on the operations of the universe and to reimagine our place within it. The cosmos shapes every aspect of our existence, whether wittinglythe interpretation of stars and planets gave rise to our origin stories, religions, calendars, economies, agricultures, sciences, and social ordersor unwittingly, as in the effects of tides or solar flares. Cosmos Cinema considers how our material and psychological relationship to the cosmos conditions all life on earth. To look to the sky is to watch a screen onto which the cosmos is projected in points of light, and so Cosmos Cinema adopts the techniques of filmmakingprincipally light, shadow, and the arrangement of images in timefor its organizing principles. Proposing that cinema is not only a storytelling medium but a cosmic phenomenon, the exhibition will be structured along the lines of an experimental film. The works included in the story are as various in their forms and approaches as readings of the constellations. They reflect on diverse cosmologies and microcosmic realities, but all begin from a point of wonder: how do we fit into the systems that govern time and space? Do the same principles operate at every scale, and how might our interpretation of them change our behavior on Earth and in society? How do we live together, as a species and with nonhuman others, on earth and beyond? Cosmos Cinema proposes that thinking about the cosmos might work against the alienationsfrom each other, from nature, and even from time itselfof our historical moment. As our world cannot be separated from the influence of the sun, the moon, and the heavenly bodies, so the 14th Shanghai Biennale argues that reflecting on our connections to the cosmos might encourage more complex ways of thinking about the deeply entangled challenges that face us today. Established in 1996, the Shanghai Biennale is the oldest and most influential international exhibition of contemporary art in China. Since 2012 it has taken place at the Power Station of Art and has featured more than 1,000 artists from China and around the world. More info: https://www.e-flux.com/announcements/547126/theme-and-artistic-team-of-14th-edition/ SOURCE E-flux Total Revenues of $1.2 billion up 1% year-over-year Net Income per Diluted Share of $1.38 and Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share of $1.74 TriNet Stock Repurchase Program Increased by $1 billion up to $1.4 billion DUBLIN, Calif., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TriNet Group, Inc. (NYSE: TNET), a leading provider of comprehensive and flexible human capital management (HCM) solutions for small and medium-size businesses (SMBs), today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023. The second quarter highlights below include non-GAAP financial measures which are reconciled later in this release. Second quarter highlights include: Total revenues increased 1% to $1.2 billion compared to the same period last year. compared to the same period last year. Professional service revenues decreased 3% to $177 million compared to the same period last year. compared to the same period last year. Net income was $83 million , or $1.38 per diluted share, compared to net income of $85 million , or $1.35 per diluted share, in the same period last year. , or per diluted share, compared to net income of , or per diluted share, in the same period last year. Adjusted Net Income was $105 million , or $1.74 per diluted share, compared to Adjusted Net Income of $108 million , or $1.72 per diluted share, in the same period last year. , or per diluted share, compared to Adjusted Net Income of , or per diluted share, in the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA was $161 million , representing an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 13.3%, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $162 million , representing an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 13.5% in the same period last year. , representing an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 13.3%, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of , representing an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 13.5% in the same period last year. Average Worksite Employees (WSEs) decreased 7% as compared to the same period last year, to approximately 327,000. Average HRIS Users decreased 13% as compared to the same period last year, to approximately 219,000. Stock repurchase program: TriNet stock repurchase program increased by $1 billion to bring the total available for repurchase to $1.4 billion as of July 26, 2023 to be deployed subject to market conditions. "TriNet's second quarter financial and operational performance saw acceleration of several positive trends that began in the first quarter," said Burton M. Goldfield, TriNet's President and CEO. "Our service and value proposition resonated with prospects and customers alike. This resulted in a significant increase in new sales and further improvements in retention." Mr. Goldfield continued, "We believe our performance and outlook highlights the unique value of TriNet. Our Board of Directors concur with that sentiment and authorized an incremental $1 billion towards share repurchases. As we look to the second half, we expect to continue to deliver industry leading service to our customers and value to our shareholders." Third Quarter and Full-Year 2023 Guidance In addition to announcing our second quarter 2023 results, we provide our third quarter and full-year 2023 guidance. Non-GAAP financial measures are reconciled later in this release. Percentages reflect the increase or (decrease) from the prior year quarter and prior year end. Q3 2023 Full Year 2023 Low High Low High Total Revenues (1) % % 1 % 2 % Professional Service Revenues (2) % 1 % % 2 % Insurance Cost Ratio 89.0 % 87.5 % 87.0 % 85.5 % Diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock $ 0.93 $ 1.16 $ 4.93 $ 5.71 Adjusted Net Income per share - diluted $ 1.25 $ 1.50 $ 6.25 $ 7.05 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q We anticipate filing our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q ("Form 10-Q") for the first half of 2023 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and making it available at http://www.trinet.com today, July 26, 2023. This press release should be read in conjunction with the Form 10-Q and the related Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in the Form 10-Q. Earnings Conference Call and Audio Webcast TriNet will host a conference call at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET) today to discuss its second quarter results for 2023 and provide third quarter and full-year financial guidance for 2023. TriNet encourages participants to pre-register for the conference call. Callers who pre-register will be given a unique PIN to gain immediate access to the call and bypass the live operator. To pre-register, go to: https://dpregister.com/sreg/10180383/f9d0e1588e . For those who would like to join the call but have not pre-registered, they can do so by dialing +1 (412) 317-5426 and requesting the "TriNet Conference Call." The live webcast of the conference call can be accessed on the Investor Relations section of TriNet's website at https://investor.trinet.com . Participants can pre-register for the webcast by going to: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/860240994 . A replay of the webcast will be available on this website for approximately one year. A telephonic replay will be available for one week following the conference call at +1 (412) 317-0088 conference ID: 4433449. About TriNet TriNet provides small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) with full-service industry-specific HR solutions, providing both professional employer organization (PEO) and human resources information system (HRIS) services. TriNet offers access to human capital expertise, benefits, risk mitigation, compliance, payroll, and R&D tax credit services, all enabled by industry-leading technology. TriNet's suite of products also includes services and software-based solutions to help streamline workflows by connecting HR, benefits, employee engagement, payroll and time & attendance. Rooted in more than 30 years of supporting entrepreneurs and adapting to the ever-changing modern workplace, TriNet empowers SMBs to focus on what matters mostgrowing their business and enabling their people For more information, please visit TriNet.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to TriNet's financial results as determined in accordance with GAAP are included at the end of this press release following the accompanying financial data. For a description of these non-GAAP financial measures, including the reasons management uses each measure, please see the section titled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures." Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains, and statements made during the above referenced conference call will contain, statements that are not historical in nature, are predictive in nature, or that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or otherwise contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among other things, TriNet's expectations and assumptions regarding: TriNet's financial guidance for the third quarter and full-year 2023 and the underlying assumptions; TriNet's future financial performance and long-term growth; the continued value to customers and stockholders of TriNet's product offerings; the extent, length and growth impact of current economic uncertainty; our ability to continue to grow new client sales, client tenure and improve retention; continued hiring of new employees by our customers; and the ability of our solutions to meet all client needs throughout their business cycle. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as, but not limited to, "ability," "anticipate," "believe," "can," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "guidance," "impact," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "seek," "should," "strategy," "target," "value," "will," "would" and similar expressions or variations intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance but are based on management's expectations as of the date hereof and assumptions that are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from our current expectations and any past or future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements include: our ability to manage unexpected changes in workers' compensation and health insurance claims and costs by worksite employees; our ability to mitigate the unique business risks we face as a co-employer; the effects of volatility in the financial and economic environment on the businesses that make up our client base; loss of clients for reasons beyond our control and the short-term contracts we typically use with our clients; the impact of regional or industry-specific economic and health factors on our operations; the impact of failures or limitations in the business systems and service centers we rely upon; the impact of recovery credits on our business and client loyalty and retention; changes in our insurance coverage or our relationships with key insurance carriers; our ability to improve our services and technology to satisfy client and regulatory expectations; our ability to effectively integrate businesses we have acquired or may acquire in the future; our ability to effectively manage and improve our operational effectiveness and resiliency; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; the effects of increased competition and our ability to compete effectively; the impact on our business of cyber-attacks, breaches, disclosures and other data-related incidents; our ability to protect against and remediate cyber-attacks, breaches, disclosures and other data-related incidents, whether intentional or inadvertent and whether attributable to us or our service providers; our ability to comply with constantly evolving data privacy and security laws; our ability to manage changes in, uncertainty regarding, or adverse application of the complex laws and regulations that govern our business; changing laws and regulations governing health insurance and employee benefits; our ability to be recognized as an employer of worksite employees and for our benefits plans to satisfy all requirements under federal and state regulations; changes in the laws and regulations that govern what it means to be an employer, employee or independent contractor; the impact of new and changing laws regarding remote work; our ability to comply with the licensing requirements that govern our HCM solutions; the outcome of existing and future legal and tax proceedings; fluctuation in our results of operations and stock price due to factors outside of our control; our ability to comply with the restrictions of our credit facility and meet our debt obligations; and the impact of concentrated ownership in our stock by Atairos and other large stockholders. Any of these factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from our anticipated results. Further information on risks that could affect TriNet's results is included in our filings with the SEC, including under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and elsewhere in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are available on our investor relations website at http://investor.trinet.com and on the SEC website at www.sec.gov . Copies of these filings are also available by contacting TriNet Corporation's Investor Relations Department at (510) 875-7201. Except as required by law, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements in this press release, and any forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. In addition, we do not assume any obligation, and do not intend, to update any of our forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Key Financial and Operating Metrics We regularly review certain key financial and operating metrics to evaluate growth trends, measure our performance and make strategic decisions. These key financial and operating metrics may change over time. Our key financial and operating metrics for the periods presented were as follows: Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, (in millions, except per share and Operating Metrics data) 2023 2022 % Change 2023 2022 % Change Income Statement Data: Total revenues $ 1,209 $ 1,200 1 % $ 2,455 $ 2,418 2 % Operating income 97 119 (18) 267 323 (17) Net income 83 85 (2) 214 230 (7) Diluted net income per share of common stock 1.38 1.35 2 3.56 3.58 (1) Non-GAAP measures (1): Adjusted EBITDA 161 162 (1) 385 404 (5) Adjusted Net income 105 108 (3) 256 276 (7) Operating Metrics: Insurance Cost Ratio 84 % 84 % % 83 % 82 % 1 % Average WSEs 327,376 351,366 (7) 327,242 347,306 (6) Total WSEs at period end 334,046 357,855 (7) 334,046 357,855 (7) Average HRIS Users (2) 219,026 252,565 (13) 223,155 252,969 (12) (1) Refer to Non-GAAP measures definitions and reconciliations from GAAP measures under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures". (2) For the six months ended June 30, 2022, reflects HRIS Users from February 15, 2022, the date on which we acquired Zenefits, to the end of the period. (in millions) June 30, 2023 December 31, 2022 % Change Balance Sheet Data: Working capital 470 338 39 % Total assets 3,290 3,443 (4) Debt 496 496 Total stockholders' equity 915 775 18 Six Months Ended June 30, (in millions) 2023 2022 % Change Cash Flow Data: Net cash provided by operating activities $ 67 $ 125 (46) % Net cash used in investing activities (31) (191) (84) Net cash used in financing activities (100) (385) (74) Non-GAAP measure (1): Corporate Operating Cash Flows $ 255 $ 293 (13) (1) Refer to Non-GAAP measures definitions and reconciliations from GAAP measures under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures". TRINET GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, (in millions except per share data) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Professional service revenues $ 177 $ 182 $ 382 $ 376 Insurance service revenues 1,032 1,018 2,073 2,042 Total revenues 1,209 1,200 2,455 2,418 Insurance costs 868 852 1,720 1,675 Cost of providing services 79 76 156 146 Sales and marketing 70 62 139 107 General and administrative 60 55 103 102 Systems development and programming 17 20 34 36 Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets 18 16 36 29 Total costs and operating expenses 1,112 1,081 2,188 2,095 Operating income 97 119 267 323 Other income (expense): Interest expense, bank fees and other (6) (5) (13) (11) Interest income 20 2 38 3 Income before provision for income taxes 111 116 292 315 Income taxes 28 31 78 85 Net income $ 83 $ 85 $ 214 $ 230 Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes (4) (3) (1) (11) Comprehensive income $ 79 $ 82 $ 213 $ 219 Net income per share: Basic $ 1.40 $ 1.36 $ 3.58 $ 3.62 Diluted $ 1.38 $ 1.35 $ 3.56 $ 3.58 Weighted average shares: Basic 60 62 60 64 Diluted 60 63 60 64 TRINET GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) June 30, December 31, (in millions, except share and per share data) 2023 2022 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 482 $ 354 Investments 69 76 Restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments 1,074 1,263 Accounts receivable, net 18 19 Unbilled revenue, net 363 375 Prepaid expenses, net 72 71 Other payroll assets 54 122 Other current assets 45 46 Total current assets 2,177 2,326 Restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments, noncurrent 157 153 Investments, noncurrent 146 151 Property and equipment, net 29 24 Operating lease right-of-use asset 27 31 Goodwill 462 462 Software and other intangible assets, net 156 163 Other assets 136 133 Total assets $ 3,290 $ 3,443 Liabilities and stockholders' equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable and other current liabilities $ 100 $ 98 Client deposits and other client liabilities 78 106 Accrued wages 437 437 Accrued health insurance costs, net 170 174 Accrued workers' compensation costs, net 51 54 Payroll tax liabilities and other payroll withholdings 846 1,087 Operating lease liabilities 15 15 Insurance premiums and other payables 10 17 Total current liabilities 1,707 1,988 Long-term debt, noncurrent 496 496 Accrued workers' compensation costs, noncurrent, net 122 128 Deferred taxes 7 8 Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent 33 41 Other non-current liabilities 10 7 Total liabilities 2,375 2,668 Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock Common stock and additional paid-in capital 934 899 Accumulated deficit (13) (119) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (6) (5) Total stockholders' equity 915 775 Total liabilities & stockholders' equity $ 3,290 $ 3,443 TRINET GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) Six Months Ended June 30, (in millions) 2023 2022 Operating activities Net income $ 214 $ 230 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets 36 29 Amortization of deferred costs 20 18 Amortization of ROU asset, lease modification, impairment, and abandonment 2 6 Stock based compensation 28 30 Other 2 2 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable, net (1) 8 Unbilled revenue, net 12 16 Other assets and prepaid expenses, net (24) (17) Other payroll assets 68 (4) Accounts payable and other liabilities 2 Client deposits and other client liabilities (27) (23) Accrued wages 196 Accrued health insurance costs, net (5) (23) Accrued workers' compensation costs, net (9) (9) Payroll taxes payable and other payroll withholdings (241) (328) Operating lease liabilities (8) (8) Net cash provided by operating activities 67 125 Investing activities Purchases of marketable securities (170) (157) Proceeds from sale and maturity of marketable securities 173 175 Acquisitions of property and equipment (34) (26) Acquisition of subsidiary, net of cash acquired (183) Net cash used in investing activities (31) (191) Financing activities Repurchase of common stock (98) (382) Proceeds from issuance of common stock 7 5 Revolver drawdown 495 Revolver repayment (495) Awards effectively repurchased for required employee withholding taxes (9) (8) Net cash used in financing activities (100) (385) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, unrestricted and restricted (64) (451) Cash and cash equivalents, unrestricted and restricted: Beginning of period 1,537 1,738 End of period $ 1,473 $ 1,287 Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information Interest paid $ 12 $ 9 Income taxes paid, net $ 58 $ 37 Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities Payable for purchase of property and equipment $ 5 $ 3 Non-GAAP Financial Measures In addition to the selected financial measures presented in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), we monitor other non-GAAP financial measures that we use to manage our business, to make planning decisions, to allocate resources and to use as performance measures in our executive compensation plan. These key financial measures provide an additional view of our operational performance over the long term and provide information that we use to maintain and grow our business. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is used to enhance the understanding of certain aspects of our financial performance. It is not meant to be considered in isolation from, superior to, or as a substitute for the directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP Measure Definition How We Use The Measure Adjusted EBITDA Net income, excluding the effects of: - income tax provision, - interest expense, bank fees and other, - depreciation, - amortization of intangible assets, - stock based compensation expense, - amortization of cloud computing arrangements, and - transaction and integration costs. Provides period-to-period comparisons on a consistent basis and an understanding as to how our management evaluates the effectiveness of our business strategies by excluding certain non-recurring costs, which include transaction and integration costs, as well as certain non-cash charges such as depreciation and amortization, and stock-based compensation and certain impairment charges recognized based on the estimated fair values. We believe these charges are either not directly resulting from our core operations or not indicative of our ongoing operations. Enhances comparisons to prior periods and, accordingly, facilitates the development of future projections and earnings growth prospects. Provides a measure, among others, used in the determination of incentive compensation for management. We also sometimes refer to Adjusted EBITDA margin, which is the ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to total revenues. Adjusted Net Income Net income, excluding the effects of: - effective income tax rate (1), - stock based compensation, - amortization of intangible assets, net, - non-cash interest expense, - transaction and integration costs, and - the income tax effect (at our effective tax rate (1) of these pre-tax adjustments. Provides information to our stockholders and board of directors to understand how our management evaluates our business, to monitor and evaluate our operating results, and analyze profitability of our ongoing operations and trends on a consistent basis by excluding certain non-cash charges. Corporate Operating Cash Flows Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, excluding the effects of: - Assets associated with WSEs (accounts receivable, unbilled revenue, prepaid expenses and other current assets) and - Liabilities associated with WSEs (client deposits and other client liabilities, accrued wages, payroll tax liabilities and other payroll withholdings, accrued health benefit costs, accrued workers' compensation costs, insurance premiums and other payables, and other current liabilities). Provides information that our stockholders and management can use to evaluate our cash flows from operations independent of the current assets and liabilities associated with our WSEs. Enhances comparisons to prior periods and, accordingly, used as a liquidity measure to manage liquidity between corporate and WSE related activities, and to help determine and plan our cash flow and capital strategies. (1) Non-GAAP effective tax rate is 25.6% for the second quarter and full year of 2023 and 25.5% for the second quarter and full year of 2022, which excludes the income tax impact from stock-based compensation, changes in uncertain tax positions, and nonrecurring benefits or expenses from federal legislative changes. Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures The table below presents a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA: Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, (in millions) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net income $ 83 $ 85 $ 214 $ 230 Provision for income taxes 28 31 78 85 Stock based compensation 17 18 28 30 Interest expense, bank fees and other (1) 6 5 13 11 Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets 18 16 36 29 Amortization of cloud computing arrangements 2 4 2 Transaction and integration costs 7 7 12 17 Adjusted EBITDA $ 161 $ 162 $ 385 $ 404 Adjusted EBITDA Margin 13.3 % 13.5 % 15.7 % 16.7 % The table below presents a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per share - diluted: Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, (in millions, except per share data) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net income $ 83 $ 85 $ 214 $ 230 Effective income tax rate adjustment 3 5 Stock based compensation 17 18 28 30 Amortization of intangible assets (1) 5 5 11 8 Non-cash interest expense 1 1 1 1 Transaction and integration costs 7 7 12 17 Income tax impact of pre-tax adjustments (8) (8) (13) (15) Adjusted Net Income $ 105 $ 108 $ 256 $ 276 GAAP weighted average shares of common stock - diluted 60 63 60 64 Adjusted Net Income per share - diluted $ 1.74 $ 1.72 $ 4.24 $ 4.30 The table below presents a reconciliation of net cash provided by (used in) operating activities to Corporate Operating Cash flows: Six Months Ended June 30, (in millions) 2023 2022 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 67 $ 125 Less: Change in WSE related other current assets 89 9 Less: Change in WSE related liabilities (277) (177) Net cash used in operating activities - WSE $ (188) $ (168) Net cash provided by operating activities - Corporate $ 255 $ 293 Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures for the third quarter and full-year 2023 guidance. Low and high percentages represent increases (decreases) from the same periods in the previous year. The table below presents a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per share - diluted: Q3 2022 Q3 2023 Guidance FY 2022 Year 2023 Guidance (in millions, except per share data) Actual Low High Actual Low High Net income $ 77 (27) % (8) % $ 355 (18) % (5) % Effective income tax rate adjustment (962) 246 5 (169) (277) Stock based compensation 16 12 12 62 4 4 Amortization of intangible assets 5 (6) (6) 18 14 14 Non-cash interest expense 1 (100) (100) 1 (49) (49) Transaction and integration costs 14 (71) (71) 37 (49) (49) Income tax impact of pre-tax adjustments (9) (7) (7) (30) (12) (12) Adjusted Net Income $ 104 (27) % (12) % $ 448 (16) % (5) % GAAP weighted average shares of common stock - diluted 63 64 Adjusted Net Income per share - diluted $ 1.64 $ 1.25 $ 1.50 $ 7.07 $ 6.25 $ 7.05 SOURCE TriNet Group, Inc. IRONDALE, Ala., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EWTN Global Catholic Network is the place to be Aug. 1-6 for live wall-to-wall coverage of World Youth Day 2023, as well as coverage of Pope Francis' side trip to Fatima. Join the world's youth on EWTN as they come together to worship Christ at WYD 2023 in Lisbon: www.ewtn.com/everywhere. Tweet this Watch EWTN Aug. 1-6 for live, wall-to-wall coverage of World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, as well as Pope Francis' side trip to Fatima. For more info, go to www.ewtn.com/wyd. "Nobody covers World Youth Day like EWTN," said EWTN Chairman and CEO Michael P. Warsaw. "From the official events to behind-the-scenes interviews with speakers and youth from around the world, we cover it all in multiple languages and from multiple venues throughout Lisbon. The theme of this year's World Youth Day "Mary arose and went with haste" speaks to all of us, especially the young, about the importance of bringing Christ to the world, which has been EWTN's mission for over 40 years." EWTN will cover events in English, Spanish, German, Polish and more via TV, radio, online, social media, and the EWTN app. Please go to www.ewtn.com/wyd and scroll to the bottom to find links to the live streams of our affiliates, who will be broadcasting the event in their respective languages. There, you will also find a schedule of events, interesting and fun news stories, behind-the-scenes videos, and much more. For all the ways to view EWTN's coverage, please go to www.ewtn.com/everywhere. EWTN is also pleased to provide WYD participants with an opportunity to screen "To The Top Pier Giorgio Frassati," an EWTN original docudrama that premiered on EWTN television earlier this year. (If you missed "To the Top" or aren't at WYD, you can view it for free at EWTN's On Demand site: https://bit.ly/46oq91V.) "World Youth Day organizers approached us about this popular program and asked if they could screen it at one of the World Youth Day venues since Blessed Frassati is a one of the patrons of World Youth Day," said EWTN Vice President of Programming and Production Peter Gagnon. "This docudrama was filmed on location in Italy and chronicles the young man's life and spirituality. He has already become revered by the young as someone who was unafraid to live his faith and to reach out to the poor and downtrodden in his hometown of Turin." Get into the spirit of the event by tuning in at 3 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Aug. 1 for EWTN's one-hour Preview Show, which will air just before the Opening Mass at 4 p.m. ET. Also of note is the Welcome Ceremony at 11:30 a.m. ET, Thursday, Aug. 3; the Way of the Cross devotion at 12:30 p.m. ET, Friday, August 4; live coverage of Pope Francis' visit to Fatima at 4 a.m. ET, Saturday, August 5; the Vigil Mass back in Lisbon at 2 p.m. ET, Saturday; Aug. 5; and the Closing Mass at 3 a.m. ET, Sunday, August 6, with an encore at 5 p.m. ET. ABOUT EWTN and EWTN NEWS In its 42nd year, EWTN is the largest Catholic media organization in the world. EWTN's 11 global TV channels and numerous regional channels are broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week to over 400 million television households in more than 160 countries and territories. EWTN platforms also include radio services transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and over 600 domestic and international AM & FM radio affiliates; a worldwide shortwave radio service; one of the most visited Catholic websites in the U.S.; as well as EWTN Publishing, its book publishing division. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., EWTN News operates multiple global news services, including Catholic News Agency, "The National Catholic Register" newspaper and digital platform, ACI Prensa in Spanish, ACI Digital in Portuguese, ACI Stampa in Italian, ACI Africa in English, French and Portuguese, ACI MENA in Arabic, CNA Deutsch in German and ChurchPop, a digital platform that creates content in several languages. It also produces numerous television news programs including EWTN News Nightly, EWTN News In Depth, EWTN Pro-Life Weekly, The World Over, and others. SOURCE EWTN Global Catholic Network ISTANBUL, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Turkiye boosts fintech collaboration with Gulf countries through signed agreements during visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations and establish itself as a fintech hub. Payfix management Board Members with Minister of Finance of Turkiye Mehmet Simsek In these visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, Turkiye signed 18 agreements and a joint declaration covering various areas, including investment, industry, healthcare, renewable energy, and the space industry. Private sector representatives assessed Gulf countries' investment and cooperation opportunities. Contacts were also established in the fintech sector. Erkan Kork, Chairman of PayFix, stated, "Turkiye has a goal of becoming a fintech hub. Just like in many other sectors, Turkiye can also become a hub for Gulf countries in the fintech field." Erdogan's Gulf tour enhances trade and investment cooperation. Over 200 Turkish business delegates attended meetings in Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, and Doha, coinciding with Turkiye's currency attraction efforts and Gulf countries investment diversification goals. 50.7 billion dollars agreement between Turkiye and UAE During Erdogan's visit, which encompassed Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, agreements and a joint declaration were signed in various fields, including investment, industry, defense, healthcare, renewable energy, and the space industry, totaling 18 agreements. The most remarkable one was the $50.7 billion agreement signed between Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates during President Erdogan's meeting with UAE's President, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Turkiye Could Become Fintech Hub in Gulf Important representatives of the business community also welcomed Erdogan's Gulf visit with satisfaction. Erkan Kork, Chairman of PayFix, stated that with the visit of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a prime period has been experienced in relations with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. He said, "We had significant discussions in the fintech sector. There is a strong desire to invest in Turkiye. During this process, our Investment Office President, Burak Dagloglu, is making tremendous efforts to attract investments to Turkiye, and we are grateful to them. We had crucial discussions in the financial technology sector. Turkiye is truly a land of opportunities. As our President mentioned, Turkiye aims to become a fintech hub. Turkiye can potentially be a hub for Gulf countries in the fintech field, just like it's in many other sectors." https://www.payfix.com.tr Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2161062/Payfix.jpg SOURCE Payfix Researchers and data scientists from nine countries, on four continents, now collaborating on research partnership led by Seattle Children's Hospital and Microsoft's AI for Good program, coordinated by The Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Foundation REDMOND, Wash., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Foundation announced that an initiative to solve a several thousand-year-old medical mystery what causes sudden or unexplained infant deaths has grown by a factor of more than ten in just six short years. The collaboration, which quickly led to an inaugural research summit in 2017, brings together the world's leading researchers on SIDS and infant deaths with private-sector data scientists, who together mix data science, AI, and world-class medical research techniques. Their goal is to share insights, inspire new hypotheses, and find the elusive causes of Sudden or Unexplained Infant Deaths (SUID), which includes Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the leading cause of death of infants one month to one year old in the US and other developed countries. "When we initially convened a summit six years ago, hosting a group of ten data scientists and medical researchers, I never imagined that more than 140 experts from around the world would ultimately come together to collaborate on an issue that every new parent worries about, and far too many have had to deal with personally," said John Kahan, the former Microsoft Vice President and Chief Data Analytics Officer who co-founded The Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Foundation together with his wife Heather Kahan. "It has spurred new breakthroughs in the fight against SIDS and other unexplained infant deaths, with more on the horizon." Kahan, Jan-Marino Ramirez, PhD, Director of the Center for Integrative Brain Research at Seattle Children's, and Juan Lavista, Chief Scientist and Lab director at Microsoft's AI for Good Research Lab, hosted the Sixth Annual SIDS Summit in Redmond this spring. Attendees came from Amsterdam, Australia, Italy, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, New Zealand, Norway, the UK, and from throughout the US. They presented findings across five pillars: epidemiology, pathology, physiology, genetics, and education. Among the unique aspects of the summit were presentations given by data scientists from Microsoft, on machine learning-aided studies of genetic samples from infants, alongside talks from research physicians from some of the best universities in the world. The Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Foundation funds the first-ever SIDS genomic database, maintained at Seattle Children's Hospital, which was also discussed at the Summit. With the help of data scientists at Microsoft, who leverage AI and machine learning for the effort, the research hospital has completed data analysis on 145 samples of children lost to sudden or unexplained deaths. A study of 200 more samples is ongoing. Samples may be studied by medical researchers anywhere in the world. "The machine learning capabilities used by some of the most successful companies in the world now allow researchers to analyze health data across disciplines, and what we've been able to learn about the potential causes of infant deaths is nothing short of incredible," said Ramirez, from Seattle Children's. "It has led to several breakthrough discoveries and spurred new theories, not just on the causes of SIDS, but on the potential to screen infants for other fatal diseases that pose threats later in life." Among the breakthroughs from the research collaboration: Researchers now estimate that 22% of Sudden or Unexplained Infant Deaths in the United States can be directly attributed to maternal smoking during pregnancy, and that SIDS rates can be reduced through education programs about the risks of smoking during pregnancy. can be directly attributed to maternal smoking during pregnancy, and that SIDS rates can be reduced through education programs about the risks of smoking during pregnancy. SUID is not a single risk factor. Infants who succumb within a few days of birth have a different genetic profile and different risk factors than those who pass away later. This finding opens doors to potential treatment and diagnostic options in the future, depending on specific genetic and environmental risk factors. Among the new theories shared at the SIDS Summit, Dr. Ramirez proposed that based on his team's findings, in which signs of cardiac problems were found in the cohort of infants who passed away from SIDS, early genetic testing might not only reduce SIDS, but the risk of sudden Cardiac Deaths later in life. Such deaths claim between 180,000 to 300,000 lives annually in the US. "There is some serendipity about these incredible minds converging on the Puget Sound region to share hypotheses about SIDS and related issues," Ramirez adds. "The term SIDS was first coined in Seattle, in 1969, at the Second International Conference on the Causes of Sudden Death in Infancy. Let's hope that Seattle will also be deeply connected to the ultimate discovery of the causes of sudden and unexplained infant deaths, and what can be done to prevent them." Ramirez believes Seattle is an ideal location for SIDS research. He and his team continue to collaborate with data scientists from Microsoft, headquartered in the region. They also work with Seattle's Allen Institute for Brain Science, the world leader in single cell identification. The Ramirez lab is particularly interested in identifying the neurons implicated in arousal that might be affected in SIDS. They work with the Pathology Department at the University of Washington, which has a unique infrastructure and expertise in postmortem characterization, which will allow the Ramirez lab to obtain brain samples more effectively from children who died of SIDS to further characterize the pathological changes associated it. And they interact with the Genome center at the University of Washington to implement advanced genetic and single cell characterization. "None of us had any idea about where this would take us," Kahan said. "The power of diverse resources across Data Science and AI, Epidemiology, Physiology, Pathology and Genetics is opening new avenues of research. We are confident that this work will continue to translate into prevention, better diagnostics, and potential therapies to prevent infants from succumbing to SIDS." About the Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Guild at Seattle Children's Hospital The Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Foudation was named in honor of Aaron Matthew Kahan, son of Heather Kahan and John B. Kahan. Aaron died of SIDS days after his birth in 2003. The Guild board includes leaders from Seattle Children's Hospital's Integrative Brain Research Institute, Microsoft, Accenture, Marriott Hotels, Adobe, Tata Consulting Services, and VMLY&R. Press contact: [email protected] SOURCE Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Guild JERSEY CITY, N.J., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Veris Residential, Inc. (NYSE: VRE) (the "Company") today reported results for the second quarter 2023. OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS FOR SECOND QUARTER 2023 Net loss available to common shareholders was $(0.30) per share. per share. Core Funds from Operations ("Core FFO") per share of $0.16 . . 7,681-unit multifamily portfolio and Same Store 6,691-unit multifamily portfolio were 95.6% and 95.7% occupied, respectively, as of June 30, 2023 . . Same Store multifamily Blended Net Rental Growth Rate of 11.7% for the quarter. Same Store Net Operating Income ("NOI") increased by 21.8%, compared to the same quarter last year. Raising annual Same Store NOI growth guidance to a range of 10% to 12%. LATEST ADVANCEMENTS CEMENT POSITION AS A PURE-PLAY MULTIFAMILY REIT Negotiated early redemption of Rockpoint interest in Veris Residential Trust for $520 million . . Concurrently, entered into a $115 million term loan and $60 million revolving credit facility, of which, $115 million of the term loan and $25 million of the revolving credit facility were drawn as of July 26, 2023 . term loan and revolving credit facility, of which, of the term loan and of the revolving credit facility were drawn as of . Signed binding agreements for four non-strategic land plots, and Harborside 6 for $188 million . . Reinstated a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per common share effective for the third quarter of 2023. ESG Exceeded 50% Scope 1&2 reduction target for 2022 and the first company globally to achieve the WELL Equity Rating at the enterprise level. Mahbod Nia, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "The negotiated early redemption of Rockpoint's interest substantially simplifies the Company`s overall structure while maximizing our strategic and operational flexibility. This latest advancement, alongside our continued progress with a further $188 million of assets under contract despite an extremely challenging transaction market, reflects a pivotal moment for the Company that cements our transformation to a multifamily REIT. With our transformation achieved, we will focus on building upon the outperformance of our Class A portfolio, which realized a 12% blended net rental growth rate during the quarter, optimizing our best-in-class operational platform, and working closely with the Board of Directors to maximize value for our shareholders." FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Net (loss)/income available to common shareholders for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, was $(0.30) per share, compared to $0.25 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. For the second quarter 2023, Core FFO was $15.8 million, or $0.16 per share, compared to $15.3 million, or $0.15 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. Similarly, Core FFO was $14.9 million, or $0.15 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. For more information and a reconciliation of FFO, Core FFO, Core AFFO, Adjusted EBITDA and NOI to net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders, please refer to the following pages and the Company's Supplemental Operating and Financial Data package for the second quarter of 2023. Please note that all presented per share amounts are on a diluted basis. For the six months ended June 30, Same Store NOI was up 18.9% compared to last year due to increased in-place rents across the portfolio as well as the successful resolution of two tax appeals in our Jersey City multifamily portfolio. Sequential Same Store NOI was up 13.1% driven by higher rents and lower real estate taxes. The following table presents percentage changes in Same Store Residential rental revenue, operating expenses and NOI for the three months ended June 30, 2023, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2022, and the prior quarter. Three Months Ended June 30, Sequential 2023 2022 % Q2 2023 Q1 2023 % Total Property Revenue $60,336 $53,250 13.3 % $60,336 $57,747 4.5 % Controllable Expenses 10,764 10,225 5.3 % 10,764 10,475 2.8 % Non-Controllable Expenses 8,299 9,126 (9.1) % 8,299 10,794 (23.1) % Total Property Expenses 19,063 19,351 (1.5) % 19,063 21,269 (10.4) % Same Store NOI $41,273 $33,899 21.8 % $41,273 $36,478 13.1 % MULTIFAMILY PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHTS As of June 30, the Company's operating multifamily portfolio is comprised of 7,681-units and the Same Store portfolio comprised 6,691-units. June 30, 2023 March 31, 2023 Operating Units 7,681 7,681 % Physical Occupancy 95.6 % 95.9 % Same Store Units 6,691 6,691 Same Store Occupancy 95.7 % 96.0 % Same Store Blended Rental Growth Rate 11.7 % 10.7 % Same Store Blended Rental Growth Rate (YTD) 11.2 % 11.2 % Average Rent per Home $3,734 $3,621 TRANSACTION ACTIVITY The Company closed on $525 million of non-strategic sales in 2023 so far: In February, the Company closed on the sale of its Port Imperial Hotels for $97 million , fully exiting the hotel segment. , fully exiting the hotel segment. In March, the Company closed on a land parcel located at 101 Columbia Road for approximately $8 million . . In April, the Company closed the sale of Harborside 1, 2, & 3 for an aggregate price of $420 million , releasing approximately $360 million of net proceeds. Currently, the Company has $205 million of non-strategic assets under binding contract: Asset Land/Commercial Gross Price (000s) Harborside 6 Commercial $46,000 107 Morgan Street Land $61,000 2/3 Campus Land $23,000 Harborside 4 Land $58,000 23 Main Street Commercial $17,000 BALANCE SHEET/CAPITAL MARKETS On July 25, the Company purchased and redeemed the preferred units and certain other ownership interests ("Put/Call Interests") from Rockpoint and its affiliates in Veris Residential Trust for $520 million. Concurrently, the Company entered into a transitional $60 million revolving credit facility (the "Revolver"), of which $25 million was drawn as of July 26, 2023, and $115 million term loan agreement (the "Term Loan" and collectively, the "Facility") to fund the buyout of Rockpoint`s interest and provide corporate liquidity. The Facility has a 1-year term and carries a initial borrowing rate of SOFR+ 360 bps with a 25 bps increase every 90 days. The Facility requires that all excess cash proceeds from dispositions and financings be used to repay the term loan. The Facility can be extended by 6 months at the maturity date if the term loan has been repaid by 50%. As of June 30, 2023, the Company had a Debt-to-Undepreciated Assets ratio of 43.2% and Net-Debt-to-EBITDA of 8.6x. As of June 30, 2023, 99% of the Company`s total debt portfolio (consolidated and unconsolidated) is hedged or fixed. The Company`s total debt portfolio has a weighted average rate of 4.4% and weighted average maturity of 3.6 years. As of July 26, 2023, the Company had a Net-Debt-to-EBITDA of 13.3x and total liquidity of approximately $55 million comprised of availability under its new revolving line of credit and unrestricted cash. OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE The Company is raising its growth projection ranges for 2023 shown below (compared to the full year 2022 Same Store NOI). The Company`s initial Same Store NOI growth projection range was 4-6% for 2023. Rental revenue growth has continued to exceed management`s expectations in the New Jersey Waterfront market. Operational Guidance Low High Same Store Revenue Growth 8 % - 10 % Same Store Expense Growth 4 % - 6 % Same Store NOI Growth 10 % - 12 % DIVIDEND POLICY Given the recent advancements in our strategic transformation, the Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per common share to be paid on October 10, 2023, to shareholders of record as of September 30, 2023. ESG During the quarter, the Company released its 2022 ESG report detailing the progress it has made in becoming a more responsible, sustainable, and inclusive owner, operator, and developer, while continuing its pursuit of long-term value creation for shareholders. The Company has exceeded its previously announced target to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 (compared to 2019), a goal which was validated by the SBTi. The Company has been recognized as the first company globally to receive the WELL Equity Rating across its managed portfolio, as well as for its corporate headquarters. CONFERENCE CALL/SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION An earnings conference call with management is scheduled for July 27, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and will be broadcast live via the Internet at: http://investors.verisresidential.com/corporate-overview. The live conference call is also accessible by dialing (877) 451-6152 (domestic) or (201) 389-0879 (international) and requesting the Veris Residential second quarter 2023 earnings conference call. The conference call will be rebroadcast on Veris Residential, Inc.'s website at: http://investors.verisresidential.com/corporate-overview beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on July 27, 2023. A replay of the call will also be accessible July 27, 2023 through August 27, 2023 by calling (844) 512-2921 (domestic) or (412) 317-6671 (international) and using the passcode, 13739320. Copies of Veris Residential, Inc.'s second quarter 2023 Form 10-Q and second quarter 2023 Supplemental Operating and Financial Data are available on Veris Residential, Inc.'s website, as follows: Second Quarter 2023 Form 10-Q: http://investors.verisresidential.com/sec-filings Second Quarter 2023 Supplemental Operating and Financial Data: https://investors.verisresidential.com/financial-information In addition, once filed, these items will be available upon request from: Veris Residential, Inc. Investor Relations Department Harborside 3, 210 Hudson St., Ste. 400, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311 NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES Included in this press release are Funds from Operations, or FFO, Core Funds from Operations, or Core FFO, net operating income, or NOI and Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization, or Adjusted EBITDA, each a "non-GAAP financial measure," measuring Veris Residential, Inc.'s historical or future financial performance that is different from measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP"), within the meaning of the applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Veris Residential, Inc. believes these metrics can be a useful measure of its performance which is further defined below. For reconciliation of FFO and Core FFO to Net Income (Loss), please refer to the following pages. For reconciliation of NOI, and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (Loss), please refer to the Company's disclosure in the Quarterly Financial and Operating Data package for the second quarter 2023. FFO FFO is defined as net income (loss) before noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnership, computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP, excluding gains or losses from depreciable rental property transactions (including both acquisitions and dispositions), and impairments related to depreciable rental property, plus real estate-related depreciation and amortization. The Company believes that FFO per share is helpful to investors as one of several measures of the performance of an equity REIT. The Company further believes that as FFO per share excludes the effect of depreciation, gains (or losses) from property transactions and impairments related to depreciable rental property (all of which are based on historical costs which may be of limited relevance in evaluating current performance), FFO per share can facilitate comparison of operating performance between equity REITs. FFO per share should not be considered as an alternative to net income available to common shareholders per share as an indication of the Company's performance or to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. FFO per share presented herein is not necessarily comparable to FFO per share presented by other real estate companies due to the fact that not all real estate companies use the same definition. However, the Company's FFO per share is comparable to the FFO per share of real estate companies that use the current definition of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("Nareit"). A reconciliation of net income per share to FFO per share is included in the financial tables accompanying this press release. Core FFO and Adjusted FFO ("AFFO") Core FFO is defined as FFO, as adjusted for certain items to facilitate comparative measurement of the Company's performance over time. Adjusted FFO ("AFFO") is defined as Core FFO less (i) recurring tenant improvements, leasing commissions, and capital expenditures, (ii) straight-line rents and amortization of acquired above/below market leases, net, and (iii) other non-cash income, plus (iv) other non-cash charges. Core FFO and Adjusted AFFO are presented solely as supplemental disclosure that the Company's management believes provides useful information to investors and analysts of its results, after adjusting for certain items to facilitate comparability of its performance from period to period. Core FFO and Adjusted FFO are non-GAAP financial measures that are not intended to represent cash flow and are not indicative of cash flows provided by operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP. As there is not a generally accepted definition established for Core FFO and Adjusted FFO, the Company's measures of Core FFO may not be comparable to the Core FFO and Adjusted FFO reported by other REITs. A reconciliation of net income per share to Core FFO and Adjusted FFO in dollars and per share are included in the financial tables accompanying this press release. NOI and Same Store NOI NOI represents total revenues less total operating expenses, as reconciled to net income above. The Company considers NOI to be a meaningful non-GAAP financial measure for making decisions and assessing unlevered performance of its property types and markets, as it relates to total return on assets, as opposed to levered return on equity. As properties are considered for sale and acquisition based on NOI estimates and projections, the Company utilizes this measure to make investment decisions, as well as compare the performance of its assets to those of its peers. NOI should not be considered a substitute for net income, and the Company's use of NOI may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. The Company calculates NOI before any allocations to noncontrolling interests, as those interests do not affect the overall performance of the individual assets being measured and assessed. Same Store NOI is presented for the same store portfolio, which comprises all properties that were owned by the Company throughout both of the reporting periods. Blended Net Rental Growth Rate Weighted average of the net effective change in rent (inclusive of concessions) for a lease with a new resident or for a renewed lease compared to the rent for the prior lease of the identical apartment unit. ABOUT THE COMPANY Veris Residential, Inc. is a forward-thinking, environmentally- and socially-conscious real estate investment trust (REIT) that primarily owns, operates, acquires, and develops holistically-inspired, Class A multifamily properties that meet the sustainability-conscious lifestyle needs of today's residents while seeking to positively impact the communities it serves and the planet at large. The company is guided by an experienced management team and Board of Directors and is underpinned by leading corporate governance principles, a best-in-class and sustainable approach to operations, and an inclusive culture based on equality and meritocratic empowerment. For additional information on Veris Residential, Inc. and our properties available for lease, please visit http://www.verisresidential.com/. The information in this press release must be read in conjunction with, and is modified in its entirety by, the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the "10-Q") filed by the Company for the same period with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and all of the Company's other public filings with the SEC (the "Public Filings"). In particular, the financial information contained herein is subject to and qualified by reference to the financial statements contained in the 10-Q, the footnotes thereto and the limitations set forth therein. Investors may not rely on the press release without reference to the 10-Q and the Public Filings. We consider portions of this information, including the documents incorporated by reference, to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 21E of such act. Such forward-looking statements relate to, without limitation, our future economic performance, plans and objectives for future operations and projections of revenue and other financial items. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "plan," "potential," "projected," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "target," "continue" or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, many of which we cannot predict with accuracy and some of which we might not even anticipate. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions at the time made, we can give no assurance that such expectations will be achieved. Future events and actual results, financial and otherwise, may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are advised to consider the factors listed above together with the additional factors under the heading "Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as may be supplemented or amended by the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated herein by reference. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise, except as required under applicable law. Investors Anna Malhari Chief Operating Officer [email protected] Media Amanda Shpiner/Grace Cartwright Gasthalter & Co. 212-257-4170 [email protected] Veris Residential, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations (In thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30 Six Months Ended June 30 REVENUES 2023 2022 2023 2022 Revenue from leases $ 61,909 $ 47,313 $ 121,747 $ 91,256 Real estate services 643 896 1,554 1,807 Parking income 4,796 4,173 9,129 7,760 Other income 1,381 1,431 3,258 2,491 Total revenues 68,729 53,813 135,688 103,314 EXPENSES Real estate taxes 7,860 7,911 18,980 16,201 Utilities 2,379 1,895 4,882 4,247 Operating services 14,044 13,100 26,307 25,964 Real estate services expenses 4,389 2,920 6,332 5,283 General and administrative 9,582 11,527 19,865 30,976 Transaction related costs 3,319 1,345 4,347 1,345 Depreciation and amortization 23,684 21,015 47,331 39,456 Land and other impairments, net 3,900 3,396 6,832 Total expenses 65,257 63,613 131,440 130,304 OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME Interest expense (21,692) (14,741) (43,706) (26,348) Interest cost of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests (13,390) (13,390) Interest and other investment income 3,927 189 4,043 347 Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint venture 2,700 2,638 2,633 2,151 Gain (loss) on disposition of developable land 55,125 (22) 57,748 Loss from extinguishment of debt, net (2,657) (129) (2,657) (129) Other income, net 853 2,851 Total other (expense) income, net (30,259) 43,082 (50,248) 33,769 (Loss) Income from continuing operations (26,787) 33,282 (46,000) 6,779 Discontinued operations: Income from discontinued operations 140 5,808 2,344 25,948 Realized gains (losses) and unrealized gains (losses) on disposition of rental property and impairments, net (3,488) (4,440) (2,709) (2,604) Total discontinued operations, net (3,348) 1,368 (365) 23,344 Net (loss) Income (30,135) 34,650 (46,365) 30,123 Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures 636 784 1,223 1,758 Noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnership from continuing operations 2,384 (2,568) 4,696 305 Noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnership in discontinued operations 298 (127) 22 (2,102) Redeemable noncontrolling interests (617) (6,366) (6,983) (12,803) Net (loss) Income available to common shareholders $ (27,434) $ 26,373 $ (47,407) $ 17,281 Basic earnings per common share: Loss from continuing operations $ (0.27) $ 0.24 $ (0.56) $ (0.11) Discontinued operations $ (0.03) $ 0.01 $ 0.00 $ 0.23 Net loss available to common shareholders $ (0.30) $ 0.25 $ (0.56) $ 0.12 Diluted earnings per common share: (Loss) Income from continuing operations $ (0.27) $ 0.24 $ (0.56) $ (0.11) Discontinued operations $ (0.03) 0.01 0.00 0.23 Net (loss) income available to common shareholders $ (0.30) $ 0.25 $ (0.56) $ 0.12 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 91,873 91,027 91,551 90,989 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 100,854 100,352 100,691 100,171 Veris Residential, Inc. Statements of Funds from Operations and Core FFO (in thousands, except per share/unit amounts) (unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30 Six Months Ended June 30 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net (loss)/gain available to common shareholders $ (27,434) $ 26,373 $ (47,407) $ 17,281 Add (deduct): Noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnership (2,384) 2,568 (4,696) (305) Noncontrolling interests in discontinued operations (298) 127 (22) 2,102 Real estate-related depreciation and amortization on continuing operations (a) 26,064 23,413 52,053 44,352 Real estate-related depreciation and amortization on discontinued operations 275 6,863 5,231 14,784 Discontinued operations: Realized losses and unrealized losses on disposition of rental property, net 3,488 4,440 2,709 2,604 Funds from operations (b) $ (289) $ 63,784 $ 7,868 $ 80,818 Add (Deduct): Loss from early extinguishment of debt, net 2,657 129 2,669 6,418 Land and other impairments 3,900 3,396 6,832 (Gain)/loss on disposition of developable land (55,125) 22 (57,748) Rebranding and Severance/Compensation related costs 817 1,225 1,781 8,867 Redemption value adjustment to mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests 7,641 7,641 Lease breakage fee, net (22,664) Interest derivative 1,619 (2) 2,752 (2) Dead deal and transaction-related costs 3,319 1,345 4,347 1,345 Core FFO $ 15,764 $ 15,256 $ 30,476 $ 23,866 Diluted weighted average shares/units outstanding (c) 100,854 100,352 100,691 100,171 Funds from operations per share/unit-diluted $ 0.00 $ 0.64 $ 0.08 $ 0.81 Core funds from operations per share/unit-diluted $ 0.16 $ 0.15 $ 0.30 $ 0.24 Dividends declared per common share $ $ $ $ Supplemental Information: Non-incremental revenue generating capital expenditures: Building improvements $ (2,339) $ (2,243) $ (4,431) $ (5,492) Tenant improvements & leasing commissions (d) (195) (1,611) (547) (6,261) Tenant improvements & leasing commissions on space vacant for more than a year 302 (9,606) (434) (15,898) Straight-line rent adjustments (e) 893 1,981 (360) 6,627 Amortization of (above)/below market lease intangibles, net (49) 4 (79) (106) Amortization of stock compensation 3,614 3,019 5,761 5,638 Amortization of lease inducements 37 15 75 Non real estate depreciation and amortization 199 325 584 650 Amortization of deferred financing costs 621 1,181 1,832 2,358 (a) Includes the Company's share from unconsolidated joint ventures, and adjustments for noncontrolling interest of $2,579 and $2,572 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively and $5,155 and $5,243 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Excludes non-real estate-related depreciation and amortization of $199 and $325 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $584 and $650 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. (b) Funds from operations is calculated in accordance with the definition of FFO of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit). See "Information About FFO" in this release. (c) Calculated based on weighted average common shares outstanding, assuming redemption of Operating Partnership common units into common shares 8,651 and 8,620 shares for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and 8,897 and 8,642 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, plus dilutive Common Stock Equivalents (i.e. stock options). (d) Excludes expenditures for tenant spaces that have not been owned for at least a year. (e) Includes free rent of $642 and $1,917 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively and $3,867 and $4,118 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Also includes the Company's share from unconsolidated joint ventures of $(13) and $(319) for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively and $13 and $(624) for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Veris Residential, Inc. Statements of Funds from Operations (FFO) and Core FFO per Diluted Share (in thousands, except per share/unit amounts) (unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30 Six Months Ended June 30 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net (loss)/gain available to common shareholders $ (0.27) $ 0.26 $ (0.47) $ 0.17 Add (deduct):Real estate-related depreciation and amortization on continuing operations (a) (0.02) 0.03 (0.05) 0.00 Noncontrolling interests in discontinued operations 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 Real estate-related depreciation and amortization on discontinued operations 0.26 0.23 0.52 0.44 Real estate-related depreciation and amortization on continuing operations 0.00 0.07 0.05 0.15 Real estate-related depreciation and amortization on discontinued operations 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.03 Funds from operations (b) $ 0.00 $ 0.64 $ 0.08 $ 0.81 Add (Deduct): Loss from early extinguishment of debt, net 0.03 0.00 0.03 0.06 Land and other impairments 0.00 0.04 0.03 0.07 (Gain) on disposition of developable land 0.00 (0.55) 0.00 (0.58) Rebranding and Severance/Compensation related costs 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.09 Redemption value adjustment to mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests 0.08 0.00 0.08 0.00 Lease breakage fee, net 0.00 0.00 0.00 (0.23) Amortization of derivative premium 0.02 0.00 0.03 0.00 Dead Deal and Transaction related costs 0.03 0.01 0.04 0.01 Core FFO $ 0.16 $ 0.15 $ 0.30 $ 0.24 Diluted weighted average shares/units outstanding (c) 100,854 100,352 100,691 100,171 (a) Includes the Company's share from unconsolidated joint ventures, and adjustments for noncontrolling interest of $(0.03) and $(0.03) for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $(0.05) and $(0.05) for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. (b) Funds from operations is calculated in accordance with the definition of FFO of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit). See "Information About FFO" in this release. (c) Calculated based on weighted average common shares outstanding, assuming redemption of Operating Partnership common units into common shares 8,651 and 8,620 shares for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and 8,897 and 8,642 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, plus dilutive Common Stock Equivalents (i.e. stock options). Veris Residential, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited) ASSETS June 30, 2023 December 31, 2022 Rental property Land and leasehold interests $ 483,195 $ 492,204 Buildings and improvements 2,845,193 3,332,315 Tenant improvements 40,809 122,509 Furniture, fixtures and equipment 100,803 99,094 3,470,000 4,046,122 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (438,113) (631,910) 3,031,887 3,414,212 Real estate held for sale, net 122,690 193,933 Net investment in rental property 3,154,577 3,608,145 Cash and cash equivalents 396,940 26,782 Restricted cash 27,614 20,867 Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures 122,435 126,158 Unbilled rents receivable, net 7,808 39,734 Deferred charges and other assets, net 58,961 96,162 Accounts receivable 4,498 2,920 Total Assets $ 3,772,833 $ 3,920,768 LIABILITIES & EQUITY Mortgages, loans payable and other obligations, net $ 1,820,981 $ 1,903,977 Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests 487,619 Dividends and distributions payable 72 110 Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities 53,239 72,041 Rents received in advance and security deposits 15,710 22,941 Accrued interest payable 6,963 7,131 Total Liabilities $ 2,384,584 $ 2,006,200 Redeemable noncontrolling interests 40,231 515,231 Equity: Veris Residential, Inc. stockholders' equity: Common stock, par value, shares authorized, and shares outstanding 918 911 Additional paid-in capital 2,540,309 2,532,182 Dividends in excess of net earnings (1,348,792) (1,301,385) Accumulated other comprehensive income 4,518 3,977 Total Veris Residential, Inc. Stockholders' Equity $ 1,196,953 $ 1,235,685 Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries: Operating Partnership 115,307 126,109 Consolidated joint ventures 35,758 37,543 Total Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries 151,065 163,652 Total Equity 1,348,018 1,399,337 Total Liabilities and Equity $ 3,772,833 $ 3,920,768 SOURCE Veris Residential, Inc. With both the "Sponsor" and "Direct Send" options, teachers are guaranteed a space at the Ron Clark Academy Experience PD event RALEIGH, N.C., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As National Support Public Education Day approaches on July 30, 203 Victra the largest Verizon authorized retailer in the U.S. is encouraging individuals to sponsor or directly send a teacher to experience the highly acclaimed training at Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, GA. The Ron Clark Academy is this year's selected non-profit partner for Victra Cares a program created to support charitable initiatives and organizations, giving back to the communities where Victra employees live and work. Victra has already committed to sending at least 100 teachers to the educator professional development facility on January 25, 2024. Although the formal nomination process for this year's program is closed, individuals now have the opportunity to sponsor or directly send a teacher of their choice to the Ron Clark Academy, where educators will be provided with the tools they need to transform learning environments into ones filled with passion, creativity and authenticity. With hundreds of nominations received so far, this ensures your deserving teacher can participate in the program that will demonstrate transformative methods and techniques to bring back and implement in the classroom. Both options will be considered separately from the nomination process and sponsored educators will automatically be able to attend. For $1500, individuals can sponsor a teacher, while $2500 directly sends a teacher. Both donation options cover the full cost of the RCA Experience Event fees, lodging, and meals. However, travel is only included for the teacher in the "Direct Send". "At Victra, we firmly believe in the power of education and the crucial role that teachers play in shaping the future," said Victra Founder and CEO Rich Balot. "Through the sponsorship and direct send donation options, individuals can directly contribute to the professional growth of dedicated educators, enabling them to provide exceptional learning experiences for their students." You can sponsor or directly send a teacher, as well as contribute toward the $300,000 fundraising goal, by donating at the checkout in-store, or by visiting Victra's website at https://ronclarkacademy.com/Victra/ . About Victra, Inc. Victra, headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., operates as the largest exclusive authorized agent for Verizon Wireless, the nation's best performing wireless network. Victra has approximately 1,700 Verizon-branded retail stores across 50 states, offering a comprehensive mix of wireless devices including smartphones, feature phones, tablets, mobile broadband, and wearables; as well as a broad range of accessories and device insurance coverage. For more information, visit www.victra.com. Media Contact Matt Kovacs [email protected] 310-395-5050 SOURCE Victra Independent Commodity Intelligence Services 2023 Innovation Award winners represent companies paving the way in product, process, and digital innovations that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability in the chemical industry. HOUSTON, July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Viridis Chemical , a manufacturer of renewable, biobased, low-carbon chemicals, announced that its commercial scale biobased ethyl acetate is the winner of the Independent Commodity Intelligence Services (ICIS) 2023 Product Innovation Award in the SME category. This award is another validation of the technology Viridis Chemical is bringing to the chemical industry. Its winning product, 100% biobased ethyl acetate, demonstrated environmental benefits that enhance sustainability by delivering a high-quality, high-performance commercial product with lower GHG emissions. "We are humbled to receive this prestigious award, which is the result of the hard work and dedication of our employees and partners," said Carl V Rush, Jr., CEO and co-founder of Viridis Chemical. "Viridis is a leader in decarbonizing the chemical industry. Our proprietary technology offers a revolutionary approach to circularity for chemical manufacturing, which is greatly needed today. With renewable feedstocks, reduced emissions, and a measurable impact on the Scope 3 emissions for our customers, our ethyl acetate, and future products, deliver on our sustainability promise, without compromise economically or otherwise." We are humbled to receive the ICIS 2023 Best Product Innovation Award. Carl V Rush, Jr., CEO, co-founder Viridis. Tweet this ICIS awards are open to companies in the chemical industry who have successfully launched innovative projects that provide solutions that drive progress toward sustainability for companies, their customers, and society. Viridis uses proprietary manufacturing technologies and renewable biobased feedstocks to produce low-carbon, sustainable products. The company's first product, 100% biobased ethyl acetate, uses bio-ethanol feedstock and Viridis' proprietary technology to deliver sustainable product on an industrial scale. Viridis' 100% biobased ethyl acetate is marketed worldwide by HELM AG , one of the world's foremost independent chemicals marketing enterprises. "Viridis and HELM have created their long-term partnership with the aim to offer a compelling choice towards a more sustainable business to chemical markets. We are delighted to see Viridis winning the ICIS Innovation Award as it confirms the positive feedback received from our customers ever since the production started up. The reliability of our service to markets, the quality of the product and the severely reduced carbon footprint are all helping customers to deliver a game-changing impact in their markets," said Bjorn Steckel, President Chemicals Americas of HELM. Viridis Chemical's ethyl acetate is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-certified, biobased product meeting all requirements under the USDA BioPreferred Program . Traditionally, ethyl acetate has been manufactured from fossil fuel-based resources. Earlier this year, Viridis received International Sustainability & Carbon Certification PLUS (ISCC PLUS) for its manufacturing facility in Columbus, Nebraska. Products certified to the ISCC PLUS standard assure companies, brand owners, and consumers that high sustainability requirements have been met. Viridis serves a number of industries, from paints and coatings, adhesives, and personal care products to food and beverage, and pharmaceuticals. Viridis is designing and engineering new projects to bring additional renewable, low-carbon chemicals to market and drive a more sustainable future. To learn more visit www.viridischemical.com. About Viridis Chemical Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Viridis Chemical, LLC, is a world-class manufacturer of renewable, biobased, low-carbon chemicals and the only industrial-scale manufacturer of 100 percent biobased ethyl acetate in North America. Viridis is committed to the safe, environmentally sound, and economically viable conversion of bio-ethanol into circular, sustainable products previously derived from fossil fuel-based resources. Viridis is a member of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), holds International Sustainability & Carbon PLUS Certification (ISCC PLUS) for its manufacturing facility in Columbus, Nebraska, and has a USDA-certified, biobased product meeting all requirements under the USDA BioPreferred program. For more information, please visit www.viridischemical.com. About Helm AG HELM is a Hamburg, Germany, based family-owned company established in 1900. HELM is one of the world's largest chemicals marketing companies and committed to providing solutions to its partners that support a successful transformation to a sustainable economy and society. The company secures access to the world's key markets through its specific regional knowledge and its multinational presence in more than 30 countries. As a multifunctional marketing organization HELM is active in the chemicals industry, in the agricultural industry, in energy materials and in pharmaceuticals, generating global revenues of EUR 8 billion per year. Learn more at www.helmag.com. MEDIA CONTACTS Viridis Chemical: Kathleen Van Gorden | [email protected] | 401-480-1840 SOURCE Viridis Chemical MONTPELIER STATION, Va., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Montpelier Foundation (TMF) and Montpelier Descendants Committee (MDC) announced We the People: a Summer Celebration. Taking place on Saturday, August 5, 2023, from 9:30 am-3:30 pm. This free, family-friendly community event kicks off a multi-year memorialization project honoring American history and the formerly enslaved communityauthor at James Madison's Montpelier. Renowned community leaders, historians, and artists will host activities, including panel discussions, a libation ceremony, and experiential arts, archeological, and cultural exhibits. Montpelier is a place where everyone can come and see their history on display. Tweet this The Montpelier Foundation (TMF) & Montpelier Descendants Committee (MDC) "Montpelier is a place where everyone can come and see their history on display," said Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries, Board Chair of TMF, and Rev. Larry Walker Sr., President of MDC, respectively. "At a time when America is divided, our historic partnership will recognize President James Madison, 'Father of the US Constitution,' and our other Founding Fathers known and invisibleto create a more perfect union grounded in legacy and equity. Our celebration will educate and engage people of all ages and backgrounds." WHAT We the People: a Summer Celebration WHO Dr. Michael Blakey , National Endowment for the Humanities Professor, Anthropology & American Studies at William & Mary , National Endowment for the Humanities Professor, Anthropology & American Studies at William & Mary Dr. Michael Higginbotham , Dean of the University of Baltimore Law School , Dean of the Law School Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries Associate Professor of History at The Ohio State University and Board Chair of TMF Associate Professor of History at The and Board Chair of TMF Rev. Larry Walker Sr. , Deputy Pastor of Celebration Church; Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives for Governor Wes Moore and President of MDC Deputy Pastor of Celebration Church; Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives for Governor and President of MDC Elon Cook Lee , Director of Interpretation & Education, National Trust for Historic Preservation , Director of Interpretation & Education, National Trust for Historic Preservation Dr. Bettye Kearse , Author of The Other Madisons , Author of Mayor Sharon Pratt , former Mayor of the District of Columbia , former Mayor of the Dr. Gregory Dolin , Associate Professor of Law, University of Baltimore , Associate Professor of Law, Darrell Rose , Percussionist, painter, and Artist in Residence for the Virginia Commission for the Arts , Percussionist, painter, and Artist in Residence for the Commission for the Arts Dr. Iris Ford , Associate Professor Emerita of Anthropology, St. Mary's College of Maryland , Associate Professor Emerita of Anthropology, St. Mary's College of Maryland Omar Eaton-Martinez , Senior Vice President for Historic Sites at the National Trust for Historic Preservation , Senior Vice President for Historic Sites at the National Trust for Historic Preservation L. Renee, Poet and Assistant Director, Furious Flower Poetry Center at James Madison University WHEN Saturday, August 5, 2023, from 9:30 am - 3:30 pm ET WHERE James Madison's Montpelier: 11350 Constitution Highway, Montpelier Station, VA 22957 More details can be found here. About The Montpelier Foundation Montpelier is the lifelong home of James Madison, Father of the Constitution, Architect of the Bill of Rights, and fourth President of the United States. As a monument to James Madison and the Enslaved Community, a museum of American history, and a center for constitutional education, Montpelier engages the public with the enduring legacy of Madison's most powerful idea: government by the people. The historic home and 2,700-acre grounds are open to visitors and student groups throughout the year, and the Robert H. Smith Center for the Constitution at Montpelier offers world-class residential and online educational programs. Montpelier is administered by The Montpelier Foundation and is a National Trust for Historic Preservation site. To learn more, visit www.montpelier.org. About Montpelier Descendants Committee The Montpelier Descendants Committee (MDC) is the first independent, descendant-led organization to establish itself as an equal co-steward of a major historic site in America. The MDC is devoted to restoring the narratives of enslaved Americans at plantation sites in Central Virginia, including but not limited to James Madison's Montpelier, from the margins to the center of historical discourse. www.Montpelierdescendants.org. About The Memorialization Project The Montpelier Foundation (TMF) and Montpelier Descendants Committee (MDC) have embarked on a historic partnership to be co-equal stewards of former President James Madison's estate. On March 13, 2023, they were awarded nearly $5.8 million by the Mellon Foundation to fund the construction of a memorial to enslaved people at Montpelier, the lifelong home of James Madison, fourth president of the United States. Mellon is the nation's largest supporter of the arts and humanities. The grant is part of Mellon's " Monuments Project " initiative, an unprecedented $250 million commitment to transform the nation's commemorative landscape by supporting public projects that more completely and accurately represent American history, including the stories of those who have often been denied historical recognition. SOURCE The Montpelier Foundation (TMF); Montpelier Descendants Committee (MDC) The 2024 Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest will begin accepting entries on Tuesday, Aug.1. This years contest is a joint project between the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) and the Alabama Tourism Department. The deadline to enter is Oct. 31. The 2024 photo contest will focus on traditional photography techniques and the use of handheld cameras. No cellphone, smartphone, game camera, or drone photography will be chosen as winning photos for nine of the 10 categories. Smartphone and tablet photos will be accepted in the Young Photographers category. The photo contest is open to state residents and visitors alike, but qualifying photos must have been taken in Alabama in the past two years. Any amateur photographer not employed by ADCNR is encouraged to enter. A total of 10 photos per person may be entered in the following categories. You may enter all 10 in one category or among several categories. 2023 Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest Categories: Alabama State Parks; Birds; Bugs and Butterflies; Cold-blooded Critters; Nature-Based Recreation Scenic; Shoots and Roots; Sweet Home Alabama; Wildlife; and Young Photographers (ages 17 and under). First, second, third, and one honorable mention will be awarded in each category. Winning images will be featured online and in a traveling exhibit at various venues across the state during 2024. If your organization or venue is interested in hosting the 2024 Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest Exhibit, please contact Kenny Johnson with ADCNRs Communications and Marketing Section at kenny.johnson@dcnr.alabama.gov. An exhibit of the 2023 winning photos is currently on display at the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center in Spanish Fort, Alabama, until September 1, 2023. To view the complete exhibit schedule, visit www.outdooralabama.com/photo-exhibit. Art teachers are encouraged to incorporate participation in the Young Photographers category into their art instruction this fall. For complete 2024 category descriptions and contest rules, visit www.outdooralabama.com/photocontest. ADCNR promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabamas natural resources through four divisions: Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. Learn more at www.outdooralabama.com. Users can now book IHG hotels globally through Wego's platform DUBAI, UAE, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), inked a global partnership with IHG Hotel & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies to provide its users with a wider array of hotel offerings across the globe. Wego and IHG resorts and hotels Through this collaboration, Wego users will be able to search and book 15 of IHG's 18 brands - worldwide - Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, voco hotels, HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, EVEN Hotels, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, avid hotels, Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. Travellers will get access to over 4,000 open hotels across global destinations and ultimately find the perfect hotel stay that matches their requirements anywhere in the world. IHG's latest offering will be promoted across all Wego's channels, providing travellers with information on the latest properties and trendy destinations. Commenting on this strategic partnership, Craig Hewett, Chief Hotels Officer and Co-Founder, Wego, said: "Partnering with one of the world's leading hotel companies, IHG Hotels & Resorts, reflects our commitment to provide our users with global hotel offerings and deals. Through this partnership, we will promote IHG Hotels & Resorts to our large user base in the MENA region and aim to convert more bookings to IHG's global network of hotels." James Britchford, Vice President Commercial, India, Middle East and Africa at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: "We are delighted to partner with Wego, the number one travel app in MENA for flight search and booking. Through this partnership, travellers will enjoy more convenience and access to 15 of our brands across our luxury and lifestyle, premium, essentials and suites portfolio in global destinations when booking their trip on Wego." Wego compares a range of accommodation options available in the marketplace, to offer competitive rates from local and global travel agencies, hotel direct websites and other accommodation merchants. With new partners on board, Wego strives to provide its customers with a comprehensive selection of hotel options, enabling users to search and book directly through its website and app. Notes to editors About IHG Hotels & Resorts (ADRs) is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good. With a family of 18 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in over 100 countries, and more than 1,900 in the development pipeline. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 345,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally. Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG One Rewards. To download the new IHG One Rewards app, visit the Apple App or Google Play stores. For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. About Wego Wego provides award-winning travel search websites and top-ranked mobile apps for travelers living in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East regions. Wego harnesses powerful yet simple to use technology that automates the process of searching and comparing results from hundreds of airlines, hotels, and online travel agency websites. Wego presents an unbiased comparison of all travel products and prices offered in the marketplace by merchants, both local and global, and enables shoppers to quickly find the best deal and place to book whether it is from an airline or hotel directly or with a third-party aggregator website. Wego was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Dubai and Singapore with regional operations in Bangalore, Jakarta and Cairo. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2160990/Wego_and_IHG.jpg SOURCE Wego BRECKSVILLE, Ohio, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Illuminating Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), is enhancing its underground power system in eastern Cuyahoga County with a cable upgrade that will help boost service reliability for area customers. This work complements more than $15 million in upgrades to the company's underground system over the past five years to benefit nearly 536,000 customers in Cuyahoga County. The Illuminating Company maintains 11,000 miles of underground wire across the region. This year, nearly 1.5 miles of older, uncoated underground lines in Pepper Pike will be replaced with new power lines coated in a thick shell to make them more durable against elements like dirt, rocks, lightning and water. Since work began in 2015 to harden the system, the company has replaced more than 100 miles of underground lines that served customers well for many years but were ready for an upgrade. "This work demonstrates our commitment to hardening our system against power outages so we can keep power flowing to our customers," said Pat Mullin, acting president of FirstEnergy's Ohio operations. "We operate one of the nation's largest underground electric systems, and these upgrades allow us to continue providing safe, dependable and affordable power to our customers." To determine the best locations for the underground upgrades, utility personnel reviewed outage patterns across The Illuminating Company's service territory and identified areas that would most benefit. The work in Pepper Pike is expected to be completed by the end of this year and will benefit about 3,000 customers. The Illuminating Company serves more than 750,000 customers across Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Lorain counties. Follow The Illuminating Company on Twitter @IlluminatingCo and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/IlluminatingCo. FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp or online at www.firstenergycorp.com. SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp. BEIJING, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cute face, chunky body, dark eye circles that never fade: pandas' appeal to young and old from across the globe to visit their hometown city Chengdu in southwestern China. The adorable-to-all animal is also a token of the country's neighborliness and friendliness. Rongbao, the mascot of the Chengdu FISU Games, is designed after a giant panda named Zhima (Sesame) in the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Why is it chosen as the prototype of the mascot, and what does pandas' home of the Pandas look like? Going to the Panda Base and learning about Chengdu FISU Games! Xingyue from Y China heads to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding for close observation of the lovely creature. She experiences serving as a security guard at the research base while marshalling the crowds to visit the place; she talks to keepers of giant pandas, learning from them how to make steamed panda bread in the Giant Panda Kitchen. Xingyue also interviews the mascot Rongbao's chief designer, Zang Xiaoke, who shares the inspiration and details for creating the mascot. "We have endowed the mascot with the spirits and cultural symbols of Chengdu," said Zang. Nowadays, giant pandas, a calling card of Chengdu, serve as the best representation of the city's vibes. As Chengdu FISU Games is around the corner, the host city is ready to offer visitors an insight into its spirit of passion and hospitality. Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOwkq4Qc3tI Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2158414/4181199/Y_China_Logo.jpg Media contact: Y China +86-15201656085 [email protected] SOURCE Y China WEG opens motors plant in Turkey and expands in Brazil The Brazilian motor and drives manufacturer WEG has opened a plant in Turkey to assemble electric motors and provide technical support for customers in the region. The 7,000m2 facility in Dilovasi will offer shorter times-to-market not only for Turkish buyers, but also for those in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, North Africa and central Asia. WEG has also announced plans to invest R$48m ($10m) over the next three years to expand production at its motors plant in Manaus, Brazil, and to adapt the site to produce a new line of permanent magnet electric motors for split-type air conditioners. The 5,250m factory already produces around 3.5 million motors a year. Following the investments, its workforce will increase by 25%. Turkey is a key market for WEGs motors and drives business and the new expansion will tap into the expanding Turkish industrial sector, which represents more than 30% of the countrys GDP. The facility, which began operating last year, will also enable WEG to expand its low- and medium-voltage motors activities. The local assembly line and warehouse expansion will help us better understand the market demand and needs of our customers, explains WEG Turkeys executive managing director, Marco Antonio Campos. Weve been present in the Turkish market for years thanks to our partners and we know the region offers great potential for our motion drive solutions. The expansion will create opportunities for the local community, creating jobs, development, and opportunities for the local suppliers, he adds. In the future, WEG will likely expand even further to meet our business growth and local verticalisation plans. WEGs new plant in Turkey will also serve the wider region The expanded Brazilian factory will produce high-efficiency, low-noise variable-speed motors. This investment marks an important advance for the air-conditioning segment in Brazil, bringing an evolution to the air-conditioning devices used in homes, offices and commercial spaces, says Julio Cesar Ramires, managing director of WEGs Commercial and Appliance Business. The motors will offer more economical, silent and reliable operation, he adds, which will bring more thermal comfort to users, as well as a more sustainable operation as a whole. WEG: Twitter LinkedIn Silicon Quantum Computing (SQC), an Australian quantum computing hardware manufacturer, has successfully concluded a Series A capital raising, securing $50.4 million. The funds will fuel their ambitious mission to develop the worlds first scalable, error-corrected quantum computer. Noteworthy investors in this round include the Commonwealth Government and prominent Australian institutions such as the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), Telstra, and the University of New South Wales (UNSW). The Series A round was priced at $1.75 per share, propelling SQCs valuation to $195.3 million, a significant increase from the previous valuation of $82.8 million. This surge reflects the growing confidence in SQCs technical prowess and commercial roadmap. SQCs CEO, Michelle Simmons, emphasised the uniqueness of their technology, which enables the production of processors with atomic precision. She expressed that this approach gives them an edge over their multinational competitors in the quantum computing industry. History has shown that emerging technology ecosystems cluster around organisations that manufacture, he said. Simmons also highlighted the importance of manufacturing hubs in fostering emerging technology ecosystems. Backed by this funding and our team of incredibly talented physicists and engineers from around the world, SQC is well placed to become a central hardware manufacturing hub for the quantum computing industry, both in Australia and globally. The Australian Government has recognised the potential of quantum technologies and incorporated them as a priority field in the National Quantum Strategy and the updated List of Critical Technologies in the National Interest, released in May 2023. According to CSIRO, quantum computing could present a $6 billion opportunity for Australia, generating 19,400 jobs over the next two decades. Stephen Menzies, the Chair of SQC, expressed optimism about the fundings impact on their progress, emphasizing the goal of creating the worlds first logical qubit in silicon. Key supporters of SQCs endeavours include Kim Krogh Andersen, Group Executive Product & Technology at Telstra, who believes in quantum computings transformative potential. Brendan Hopper, CBA Chief Information Officer for technology, expressed pride in supporting SQCs growth as a leading Australian entity in quantum computing. Professor Attila Brungs, Vice-Chancellor and President of UNSW, hailed SQC as a cornerstone of the quantum ecosystem at UNSW and a significant asset for Australia. With this recent funding boost, SQC is well-positioned to drive quantum computing innovations and cement its position as a pioneering force in the quantum technology landscape. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 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 Lucknow, July 26 : To address the shortage of doctors in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government is considering a proposal to increase the retirement age of government doctors from 62 years to 65 years. Currently, there are 14,000 doctors working across 19,000 sanctioned posts in the state. "We need more doctors for which the proposal to increase the retirement age from the present 62 years to 65 years has been made. But those doctors opting to work till 65 years of age will not be given administrative charge after age 62 years," said a senior health official. In January, a panel was set up to evaluate the proposal for increasing the retirement age from 62 to 65 years of age. The government doctors had initially opposed the proposal. According to the report submitted by the panel, those doctors who opt to work till 65 years of age will not hold any administrative post. The state Health Department has also proposed giving the option to leave for those doctors who do not wish to work after the age of 62 years. If the decision not to give administrative posts is approved, several doctors currently working in the Health Directorate and other offices will have to join government hospitals and give consultancy to patients. "Extending retirement age will retain experienced doctors in service. Doctorsa clinical knowledge at the age of 62 is tremendous and if they are fit to work, they should be given a chance," said Dr Abhishek Shukla, Secretary-General, Association of International Doctors. "The option to leave, if given, will be significant as this will allow unwilling doctors to leave service. Those willing will work with dedication for patient care," Dr Amit Singh, General Secretary, Provincial Medical Services Association. More than a dozen doctors retire every month, reducing the strength by at least 200 a year. The government has rejected a proposal by the Ministry of Finance to slap a special consumption tax on online games and sought more scientific data to tax sugary drinks. But in a recent decision, it instructed its agencies to use other legal means to limit playing time. Earlier this year the ministry had suggested imposing the tax on online games as a means to dissuade people from playing them, saying they have negative impacts on players health and society. But industry insiders and experts criticized the proposal, saying gaming has the potential to become a new industry. The tax would decrease the competitiveness of Vietnamese game producers and cause them to move overseas, they said. The ministry had also proposed taxing sugary drinks since they cause obesity, but the government has asked for more scientific data to back that claim. It also tasked the ministry with studying the possibility of taxing e-cigarettes to ensure Vietnams international commitments would not be breached. Kiev, July 26 : Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba condemned the intention of certain countries to continue blocking Ukraine's grain exports to the European Union (EU). "It is unacceptable. The demand by some countries to extend the EU restriction after September 15 also goes against their own interests," Kuleba was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. Ukraine works closely with partners and neighbours to resolve the issue, the minister added. In May, the European Commission imposed a ban on grain exports from Ukraine to five European countries. According to media reports, last week, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania voiced their intent to extend the ban, which expires on September 15, to protect the interests of their farmers. Bangkok, July 26 : Thailand's Parliament has announced the postponement of the next vote to select a new Prime Minister due to a legal petition over the rejected renomination of Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat. The postponement, announced by the Parliament on Tuesday, came after the state ombudsman's office on Monday asked the Constitutional Court to review the vote by a joint parliamentary sitting on July 19 to reject Pita's renomination as the new Prime Minister, Xinhua news agency reported. In its petition, the ombudsman's office also asked the court to suspend the Prime Minister's selection until the court makes a ruling on the case. The Move Forward Party emerged as the largest party in the lower house of the National Assembly in Thailand's general election in May. It has since formed a coalition with the Pheu Thai Party and other smaller parties to support Pita to be the new Prime Minister. Pita has failed to secure the necessary support in the previous two bicameral sittings of the Thai Parliament to be elected. The Move Forward Party announced last week its decision to step aside to allow the coalition partner Pheu Thai Party to lead in forming a new government. Jerusalem, July 26 : Israel has rejected a report published by Moody's Investors Service, which warned that the passage of a key bill of the government's judicial overhaul plan is likely to affect the country's economy and security. Moody's, a credit rating agency, said in the report on Tuesday that the Israeli Parliament's approval on Monday of a controversial bill that diminishes the powers of the Supreme Court "points to continued political and social tensions", Xinhua news agency reported. "We believe the wide-ranging nature of the government's proposals could materially weaken the judiciary's independence and disrupt effective checks and balances between the various branches of government, which are important aspects of strong institutions," the report read. In April, Moody's downgraded its outlook on Israel from "positive" to "stable", and did not change Israel's credit rating in its latest report. In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is also a settler leader, dismissed Moody's report, saying the Israeli economy is "based on strong fundamentals" and will continue to grow. "When the dust clears, it will be clear that the Israeli economy is very strong," they noted. Also on Tuesday, the investment bank Morgan Stanley lowered Israel's sovereign credit to a "dislike stance", citing "increased uncertainty about the economic outlook in the coming months and risks". Israeli lawmakers approved on Monday a controversial bill that cancels the Supreme Court's power to overrule government decisions it deems "unreasonable", despite warnings by senior economists and legal officials in Israel. Mass demonstrations broke out across the country after the bill passed through the Parliament controlled by the hard-right coalition government. Netanyahu says the reform is needed to curb what he calls the "overly activist" Supreme Court, but opponents believe it undermines the rule of law. Rome, July 26 : The southern Italian island of Sicily was ravaged by fires while storms and hail have battered the northern part of Italy. The airport in the Sicilian capital of Palermo was closed to air traffic on Monday and early Tuesday, as smoke from a nearby blaze had limited visibility in the area. Officials said the airport reopened later on Tuesday, although the number of flights was severely reduced, Xinhua news agency reported. Catania Airport, Sicily's other main air hub, was closed last week due to a fire in one of the terminals. As of Tuesday, it is also operating at a fraction of full capacity. In total, there were over 50 major wildfires across Sicily, with Italian news sites showing images of grasslands and hillsides on fire. The 2,500-year-old Greek-built Segesta Temple in northwest Sicily, one of the world's best-preserved Doric temples, has also been threatened by fires. On Tuesday, Palermo's Cervello hospital was evacuated, and at least 1,500 residents of the city were forced to leave their homes. The widespread nature of the fires is making it difficult for authorities to know where to evacuate people, according to media reports. The partial closure of the island's two main airports has limited access to the Italian mainland for tourists, as well as the island's population of 5 million residents. Most of south and central Italy was suffering from persistent scorching temperatures on Tuesday. The long heatwave has dried out the land in Sicily, leading to fires. High temperatures are also having a significant impact in other parts of the country. At least three people have died from heat-related issues in and around Rome since Sunday. In Calabria, another southern region, a 98-year-old man died when his house was engulfed by flames. Antonello Fiore, president of the Italian Society of Environmental Geology, said the fires in the southern part of the country were causing "irreparable damage" to ecosystems. While the southern two-thirds of Italy struggled under the oppressive heat, most of the northern area was pelted by thunderstorms and over-sized hail. Media reports said the emergency services in Milan had responded to more than 200 requests for help related to flooding, fallen trees, and damage to cars and homes, since a severe storm hit the city late Monday. Elsewhere in Lombardy, a 16-year-old girl was killed when storms toppled a tree which fell on the tent where she was sleeping during a camping trip. On Monday, an aircraft that took off from Milan for New York was seriously damaged by hail, and had to be rerouted to Rome for an emergency landing. Lombardy Regional President Attilio Fontana formally requested a state of emergency should be declared in the region on Tuesday, which will provide access to emergency funds and expedited powers to deal with the situation. Other parts of the north, including the regions of Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piedmont, and Veneto were also hit hard by storms. London, July 26 : A UK court has asked an Indian-origin solicitor to pay over 28 million pounds for helping a former Governor of Delta State in Nigeria by hiding his criminal proceeds to defraud citizens of millions of pounds. Bhadresh Gohil, 58, was convicted in 2010 of money laundering, prejudicing a money laundering investigation and conspiracy to defraud and was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. His client James Ibori used his position as Governor to steal millions from the people of Delta State to fund a lavish and luxurious lifestyle, buying properties in London, Washington D.C., and Texas, as well as a Mercedes and a Bentley. Following lengthy confiscation proceedings at the Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday, it was found that Gohil benefited from his offending in the sum of 42.4 million pounds. The judge determined that he has available assets of 28.2 million pounds to pay a Confiscation Order or serve six additional years in prison. "The amount that both defendants have benefited from their criminality has been highly contested, but thanks to the hard work of our dedicated team and that of the National Crime Agency, we have been able to uncover the full extent of their corruption," Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Proceeds of Crime Division, said "This has led to the making of Confiscation Orders of over GBP128 million, which will ultimately result in the return of funds back to the people of Nigeria," Foster added. Ibori laundered the proceeds of his crime through a complex scheme that involved his associates, including his wife, his sister, and his lover, a CPS statement read. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to make false instruments on February 27, 2012, and was sentenced to 13 years in prison. The court on July 21 ordered Ibori to pay over a hundred million pounds or face an additional eight years in prison. According to the UK's National Crime Agency, Ibori's funds will be returned to the Nigerian government where they will be reinvested into public services. Varanasi, July 26 : The three-day International Temples Convention and Expo 2023 (ITCX) rounded up on Tuesday evening at the Rudraksh Convention Centre in Varanasi. One thousand and ninety-eight delegates from 32 countries converged to participate and present on the knowledge-sharing platform that featured talks, sessions, and case studies on the organization, management, and administration of temple ecosystems. The event aimed to project best practices for temple management with a new-age and modernized approach to benefit the end consumer aka the pilgrim. Giresh Kulkarni, founder of Temple Connect and ITCX 2023, and his team spent the last six months visiting temples, collating management pain points, and creating research The convention was inaugurated by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat along with founders of the convention, Giresh Kulkarni and Prasad Lad (Chairman, International Temples Convention & Expo 2023 and Member Of Maharashtra Legislative Council). The audience witnessed launches, best practices of temple security, and insights into diverse temple operations, including a case study on Ayodhya Ram Mandir by Vishal Singh, IAS Municipal Commissioner, talk on Jain Temples conducted by Naimish Shah, Seth Anandji Kalyanji Pedh, and another one on Pandharpur was given by Gahininath Maharaj Ausekar, Co-Chairman, Vitthal-Rukmini Mandir Samiti. Gaurang Das Prabhuji of ISKCON gave a special address on 'Empowering the Temple Ecosystem'. Meenakshi Sunderam (Retd IAS) also shared her takeaways during a talk on the traditional management of Tamil Nadu Temples. The highlight launch was the introduction of the Smart Temples Mission, which takes inspiration from the Smart City missions led by governments to improve a city. It offers to conduct audits and initiatives to empower even the temple-dependent ecosystem. Taking a cue from langars at gurudwaras, the ITCX also launched a food distribution initiative called Annadan initiative by Temple Connect. The last dayas sessions began with a keynote address by Milind Parande, Secretary General, Vishwa Hindu Parishad who spoke about the power of temple ecosystems and an overview of the Ayodhya Ram Mandiras transformation. Sayali Lad, Founder & CEO, Volksara spearheaded a featured aSession on Cyber Surveillance and Technology in the Temple Ecosystema followed by a talk on aTemple Infrastructurea by Shri Vishram Deo. Later in the day, Pragya Kewalramani. gave the keynote address on Temple Administration & Management, Temples of Rajasthan. --IANS sukant/sha Brussels, July 26 : A court in Brussels found six out of 10 suspects guilty of "terrorist murder" in the March 2016 suicide bomb attacks that killed more than 30 people at the Belgian capital's airport and a metro station. Mohamed Abrini, Oussama Atar, Osama Krayem, Salah Abdeslam, Ali El Haddad Asufi and Bilal El Makhoukhi were all found guilty of terrorist murder, CNN quoted Belgian public broadcaster RTBF as saying in a report. The Brussels court on Tuesday established a terrorist motive behind the attacks, ruling that the groupas intention was to intimidate the Belgian population and kill as many people as possible, the RTBF report added.The six men, alongside Herve Bayingana Muhirwa and Sofien Ayari, were also found guilty of participating in the activities of a terrorist organisation, according to the public broadcaster. The trial began last year to determine whether 10 men played a part in the suicide bombings on March 22, 2016 that also injured over 300 people. The court found that four further people should be added to the list of people killed in the attacks, bringing the death toll up to 36 people, according to RTBF. The Islamic State (IS) had claimed responsibility for the attacks. In 2022, Abdeslam was also found guilty of carrying out a series of deadly gun and bomb attacks in Paris in 2015, CNN reported. Abdeslam, who is believed to be only surviving member of the group that carried out the French attacks, was given a life prison sentence without the possibility of parole by a French court. Meanwhile, Oussama Atar who was absent from the Brussels trial, is presumed to have been killed in Syria, according to RTBF. Brothers Smail and Ibrahim Farisi were both acquitted of the charge of participation in activities of a terrorist group, according to RTBF. The two brothers were consequently not guilty of all charges filed against them. Tuesdayas ruling marks the end of Belgiumas largest ever trial which included evidence from over 370 witnesses and experts. Prayagraj, July 26 : The Allahabad High Court has said that the youth, under the influence of the social media, movies, web series were not able to decide about the correct course of their life and in search of the right soulmates, they often landed in the company of wrong people. While granting bail to a person accused of abetment to suicide on Tuesday, Justice Siddharth allowed bail application of the applicant Jai Govind a.k.a Ramji Yadav who was accused of abetment to suicide of a girl, with whom he purportedly had a love affair. The court said: "This is one of the many cases in the court where the youth in this country are spoiling their lives due to lure of free relationship with the member of the opposite sex, aping western culture and not finding any real soulmate in the end. "The social media, movies show that multiple affairs and infidelity to the spouse are normal and this inflames the imagination of impressionable minds and they start experimenting with the same, but they do not fit in the prevailing societal norm." The court further said that the young generation, unaware of the consequences of following the western culture, was entering into relationships after being influenced by content being shown on social media, movies and later, after denial of social recognition to their choice of partner, they become "disillusioned". "They behave sometimes against the society, sometimes against their parents and sometimes also against the partner of their choice when they do not find any way out from the predicament in which they land after entering into such relationships," added the court. The prosecution case was that the applicant and the victim were having a love affair. On May 8, 2022 she was allegedly kidnapped and raped by the applicant and other co-accused people for four days as a result of which she suffered depression. She was again abducted on June 9, 2022 and thereafter, left in the market. She met her sister and told her that she had been given a sedative and thereafter raped by the accused persons who made her video. After that, she consumed a mosquito repellent and was taken to hospital where she died on June 10, 2022. Lucknow, July 26 : The Uttar Pradesh Police believes that over 9,000 suspected Rohingya have been living illegally in various districts across the state after sneaking in through northeastern states. The process of their identification is underway and many other illegal immigrants are likely to be detained, said a senior police official. These immigrants reside in camps on the cityas outskirts, on roadsides, near railway stations and bus stands as well as slums that have recently come up on deserted stretches in cities. On Monday, 74 Rohingya, including 55 men, 14 women and five minors, were taken into custody during a comprehensive drive carried out by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) to identify illegal immigrants staying in the state. The police registered cases against the detained Rohingya in six districts of western Uttar Pradesh, said Prashant Kumar, special DG. Former DGP O.P. Singh said the process of identification and verification of the Rohingya was carried out aggressively after a circular issued by him to all district police chiefs on September 30, 2019. At least 259 Rohingya have been identified living in Lucknow and Mathura slums before September 2019. It was found that all of them had crossed the border illegally from Bangladesh into India. An ATS official said that the authorities also received information that a Muslim cleric was providing various kinds of training, including Urdu lessons, to children of the Rohingya. Police officials have been asked to send the verification report to the state government for deportation of illegal immigrants. Construction agencies in various districts, especially National Capital Region, where such illegal immigrants often work as labourers, should also be asked to collect the workersa identity proofs before hiring them, said the official. Lucknow, July 26 : Security at the office of the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) in Lucknow's Park Road has been increased after a security breach two days ago when some people equipped with firearms, entered the premises. Arun Rajbhar, son of SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar, said on Wednesday: "Two men carrying firearms entered the office on Sunday. We have complained to the UP police headquarters, seeking necessary action in the matter." A senior police official said security at the office had been increased and investigation into the matter was on. Earlier, Om Prakash Rajbhar was accorded 'Y' level security by the Uttar Pradesh government around a week ago. The order regarding the same was passed by the joint secretary of Uttar Pradesh government Vinay Kumar Singh on July 15. Following this, the SBSP chief was provided armed guards to cover his residence round the clock, along with additional security at sunset and sunrise, apart from the basic provision of two-armed personal security officers (PSOs). Om Prakash Rajbhar had said earlier that the request to provide him with security was placed long ago after some incidents took place in May. He had claimed a group of 10-12 people armed with sticks had attempted to attack him in his constituency Ghazipur. The Christian community has been in Iraq for over two thousand years. In recent decades, war, persecution, violence, and forced displacement have drastically diminished its numbers. Estimates are that in 2003 1.5 million Christians lived in Iraq; now, after the fall of Saddam Hussein, the rise of al-Qaida and ISIS, and the formation and tactics of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces, the number has dwindled to 150,000. Recently a new blow has fallen on the Christian community, in particular, on Chaldean Catholics who make up approximately 67% of Christians in Iraq. On July 3, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid suddenly revoked a 2013 decree that recognized Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako as patriarch of the Chaldean Church. On July 15, Cardinal Sako announced he would retire from the patriarchal See in Baghdad and move...to one of the monasteries of Iraqi Kurdistan. Cardinal Sako, an outspoken advocate who expressed fear that Christians are disappearing from Iraq because of persecution, apparently no longer feels safe in Baghdad. In a letter to Iraqi President Rashid, the Cardinal said the deliberate and humiliating campaign against him was led by Rayan al-Kildani, head of the purportedly Christian 50th Babylon Brigade militia, part of the pro-Iran Popular Mobilization Forces, that has occupied many Christian towns. In its most recent international religious freedom report, the U.S. State Department noted the 50th Babylon Brigade has been involved in extortion, unlawful arrests, kidnapping and detention of individuals without warrants. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned its leader al-Kildani for serious human rights abuses, including persecution of religious minorities, illegally seizing and selling agricultural land, and for intimidation, extortion, and harassment of women. Cardinal Sako, along with other observers, believe the campaign against him is a tactic to usurp the his authority and to seize the remainder of what Christians have left in the country. The United States is disturbed by the treatment of Cardinal Sako. Noting that the Iraqi Christian community is a vital part of Iraqs identity and a central part of Iraqs history of diversity and tolerance, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller called the Cardinal a respected leader of the Church...under attack from a militia leader who remains under sanctions. Spokesperson Miller said the Cardinals plight is a blow to religious freedom. And thats why, he declared, we have engaged directly with the Iraqi Government to make our concerns clear. Washington, July 26 : Two prominent Indian-American Congressmen have come out in support of Vivek Ramaswamy, who is seeking the Republican Party's presidential nomination, after a televangelist targeted his Hindu faith in a recent sermon asking citizens not to vote for him. Hank Kunneman, the senior pastor of the non-denominational Lord of Hosts Church in Nebraska, said Ramaswamy is Hindu and therefore anyone who supports him "will have a fight with God". Reacting to Kunneman's disparaging comments, Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi and Ro Khanna said they don't agree much with Ramaswamy but condemned the "bigoted remarks" against the 37-year-old. "I don't agree with @VivekGRamaswamy on much, but one thing is certain: all political parties in America should welcome individuals of all faiths, including Hindus. I condemn the bigoted remarks directed toward Ramaswamy, and I hope that Republican electeds and others do the same," Krishnamoorthi tweeted on Tuesday. "I have had spirited disagreements with @VivekGRamaswamy. But this is a disgusting and anti-American attack on his faith. We are a nation of many faiths, & the fact that so many Christian American Republicans are willing to support Vivek speaks to that ideal," Khanna said in his tweet. According to a video posted on Twitter by Right Wing Watch, Kunneman said that as a country, America is in danger. "Listen to me Generation Z, listen to me millennials, those of you who are watching that like this new young guy (Ramaswamy). If he does not serve the Lord Jesus Christ and stand primarily for Judeo-Christian principles, you will have a fight with God. "You're gonna have some dude put his hand on something other than the Bible? You're gonna let him put all of his strange gods up in the White House and we're just supposed to blink because he understands policies?" Kunneman was heard saying in the video. Seen as former President Donald Trump's supporter, Kunneman calls himself a "prophet" and had said earlier that Trump's 2020 election loss was God's way of refuting prophets on Earth. According to The New York Times, Ramaswamy was raised by Indian immigrants and is a practicing Hindu, which poses a dilemma for some conservative Christian voters who make up a significant share of the Republican primary electorate and are accustomed to evaluating candidates not just on their policy proposals but also on their biographies and personal beliefs, including religious faith. "I'm not Christian. I was not raised in a Christian household. But we do share the same Christian values that this nation was founded on," the Republican presidential hopeful had said in one of his campaign events. Ramaswamy is the second prominent Hindu to announce his presidential bid after Tulsi Gabbard in 2020. In his address to prospective voters, Ramaswamy often rues that faith, patriotism, hard work and family "have disappeared, only to be replaced by new secular religions in this country". --IANS mi/ksk Chennai, July 26 : Tamil Nadu BJP state president K. Annamalai will meet state Governor R.N. Ravi on Wednesday. Sources in the BJP told IANS that the state president is likely to hand over certain files regarding details of corruption by DMK ministers. Annamalai, IPS officer-turned-politician had released a 'corruption file' of DMK leaders, including Chief Minister Stalin in April in the name of DMK Files 1 and had said that more such files would be released in the days to come. The BJP state president after assuming office has been treading an aggressive path and has single-handedly attacked the DMK government in the state. Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi is also in the news for coming out against the DMK government in the state in a regular manner. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had in a recent visit to Tamil Nadu exhorted the party cadres to work hard at the grassroots level to win at least 25 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Tamil Nadu. The BJP is in a political alliance with AIADMK, the principal opposition party in Tamil Nadu. United Nations, July 26 : The UN humanitarian coordinator in Sudan has reported that 18 aid workers were killed in the ongoing violent conflict in the country since it erupted on April 15 Citing the figures provided by the coordinator Clementine Nkweta-Salami, Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said that more than two dozen humanitarian personnel were detained, and some remain unaccounted for, reports Xinhua news agency. At least 50 humanitarian warehouses were looted, 82 offices were ransacked and over 200 vehicles were stolen. "The humanitarian coordinator strongly condemned these attacks, which strike at the heart of our ongoing efforts to deliver essential aid to those in need," he said. "She reminded all of the parties to the conflict in Sudan of their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law." In a statement, Nkweta-Salami said the conflict is "a crisis that turned a dire humanitarian situation into a full-blown catastrophe" "The humanitarian community remains steadfast in its commitment to support the people of Sudan, making tremendous and brave efforts to provide assistance amid very difficult circumstances. "Yet relief workers are not spared from the horrendous acts of violence and abuse," she was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has warned of increasing reports of attacks on healthcare in Sudan, with more than 80 per cent of the country's hospitals out of service because of the conflict. Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum and other areas, resulting in over 3,000 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries, according to figures released by the Sudanese Health Ministry. In the latest attack on Tuesday, 16 civilians were killed in air and artillery strikes at a neighbourhood in the city of Omdurman, west of the capital Khartoum. Kolkata, July 26 : Calcutta High Court's Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam has returned the case, involving Trinamool Congress' national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee's plea, to the court of the same judge who earlier had recused from hearing in the matter following objections from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) counsel. Banerjee's plea is against an earlier order of the court that allowed the central agencies to summon him in connection with the school recruitment case in West Bengal. Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, who had recused from hearing in the matter on Monday, is now scheduled to hear the case again on Wednesday. He recused from hearing following objections from the ED counsels that all school job related cases should be heard in the single- judge bench of Justice Amrita Sinha, where the principal cases in the matter were pending. Thereafter, Justice Ghosh recused from hearing and maintained that he will be hearing the matter again provided the same direction comes from the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court. On Wednesday morning an order from the Chief Justice made it clear that the matter will be heard at Justice Ghosh's bench only. Recently, Banerjee had moved the Supreme Court against an order of Justice Sinha allowing the central agencies to summon him in connection with the school jobs case.However, the bench of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice P.S. Narasimha had refused to interfere in the matter and said that Banerjee could move the high court again with a petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). On July 20, Banerjee had approached the single-judge bench of Justice Ghosh in this matter. Justice Ghosh, while allowing an interim stay on any coercive action, including arrest, by the central agencies against Banerjee till Monday, had said that he would hear the matter again on that day. Finally on July 24, Justice Ghosh recused from hearing following objections from ED. IANS src/. New Delhi, July 26 : AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Tuesday launched another scathing attack on the BJP regarding the Manipur violence, stating that the Opposition would move a no-confidence motion. Chadha accused the BJP of obstructing the functioning of Parliament and expressed the need to hold the government accountable and address the concerns of the people. Taking to Twitter, the AAP leader announced that INDIA plans to introduce a no-confidence motion against the ruling BJP-led central government in the Lok Sabha, citing the escalating situation in Manipur and the growing concerns about potential instability in the Northeast region. "The state of Manipur is in turmoil, and there are fears that this instability might spread to other states in the Northeast. In response to this grave situation, we are bringing a no-confidence motion against the ruling government," Chadha tweeted. He further explained that while the BJP is reluctant to let the Parliament function, INDIA seeks to uphold democratic values by ensuring the government's accountability through the no-confidence motion. Chadha clarified that the primary objective of the motion is to initiate an extensive and meaningful discussion on the prevailing situation in Manipur and the Northeast region. "A no-confidence motion traditionally serves as an instrument to compel the Prime Minister to address the issues raised. It is a legitimate parliamentary mechanism to hold the government accountable and prompt it to address critical matters affecting the nation. By utilizing this instrument, INDIA seeks to emphasize the urgency of the situation and demand accountability from the ruling government," he stated. Chadha emphasised that regardless of the outcome of the motion, such legitimate parliamentary instruments strengthen India's democracy. Atk/ Seoul, July 26 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited cemeteries to pay respects to the country's soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War and to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the armistice, state media said on Wednesday. The Korean War ended with an armistice agreement on July 27, 1953, reports Yonhap News Agency. The North calls the war the Great Fatherland Liberation War and designated the armistice signing date as Victory Day. Kim visited the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery in Pyongyang on Tuesday on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, and was accompanied by Defence Minister Kang Sun-nam and other military leaders, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The visit marked Kim's first public appearance in nearly two weeks. He was last seen in public guiding the launch of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile on July 12. Kim also visited the cemetery of martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) in Hoechang county, South Pyongan province, to pay "high tribute" to the fallen Chinese soldiers on the occasion of the armistice anniversary, the KCNA said in another report. China fought alongside the North against South Korean, US and UN troops during the Korean War. New Delhi, July 26 : A patient allegedly tried to attack a doctor with a knife at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here, sources said on Wednesday. According to hospital sources, the incident occurred at around 3.50 p.m. on Tuesday, when the patient under the treatment of Dr Satnam Singh Chabbra , Chairman Neuro Surgery allegedly tried to attack him with a knife concealed in his pocket. However, timely intervention by hospital security prevented any serious injury to the doctor, the sources added. The patient was overpowered and handed over to local police. New Delhi: AAP MP Raghav Chadha speaks in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon session. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, July 26 : Opposition MPs from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday gave notices in the Rajya Sabha to discuss the Manipur violence. In his suspension of business notice, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said: "It is demanded that the Prime Minister makes a statement on the floor of the house regarding this issue (Manipur) which should be followed by a detailed and comprehensive discussion." AAP MP Raghav Chadha also gave suspension of business notice in the Upper House to discuss the "breakdown of law and order in Manipur due to the failure of Central and state governments". In his notice, Chadha wrote: "That this House do suspend Zero Hour and relevant rules relating to Question Hour and other business of the day to discuss the violence in Manipur which has resulted loss of precious lives in Manipur due to failure and incompetence of Central and state governments." Ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3 and since then hundreds of people have lost their lives while thousands have been forced to take refuge in the relief camps. The Congress and other Opposition parties have been blaming Chief Minister N. Biren Singh for the current crisis in the northeastern state and demanded his dismissal. On Monday, the Chief Minister told IANS that his government is taking measures to restore peace at the earliest in the state. Srinagar, July 26 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh joined the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations on Wednesday at Drass town of Ladakh where he paid tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives in the defence of the country. Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on this day since 1999 when regulars of Pakistan Army were dislodged from Tiger Hill and other strategic heights they had occupied on the sly after crossing the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan had kept denying that its regulars were involved in the aggression and as a result of this, they refused to accept the bodies of its soldiers killed in action with the Indian Army. The Defence Minister arrived in Drass earlier in the day to mark the solemn occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas. As a gesture of honor and respect, he laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial, paying tribute to the courageous soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the 1999 Kargil War. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, also joined in commemorating the war heroes by laying a wreath at the memorial. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, and Indian Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar also paid respects by laying wreaths at the Kargil War Memorial on this significant day. Army Chief General Manoj Pande had also offered his heartfelt tribute at the memorial, acknowledging the indomitable spirit and sacrifice of the soldiers who fought in the Kargil War. Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed on July 26 each year, is a time to honor the bravery and valor of the Kargil War heroes, who led 'Operation Vijay' to a triumphant conclusion for the Indian Armed Forces. The day serves as a poignant reminder of the unwavering dedication and courage displayed by the soldiers who safeguarded the nation's integrity and sovereignty during the conflictThe defence minister met the families of the martyrs and as a mark of respect presented each family a memento and a shawl. Saluting the resolve and the high morale of the country's defence forces, Rajnath Singh said on his Twitter page, "We know that as long as you are protecting us on the borders, no one can even have the courage to raise their eyes towards India. "Not only Kargil, but many times since independence till today, your bravery has made the country proud from time to time". J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said on his Twitter page, "On Kargil Vijay Diwas,I pay tribute to valiant soldiers & officers who displayed magnificent valor & made supreme sacrifice for the motherland. I humbly bow down to the families of our Kargil War heroes. We're forever indebted to them for their sacrifices & service to the nation." Shaura Sandhya was also organised at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass town where 559 lamps each symbolising a Braveheart were lit at the Veer Bhoomi. "Kargil Vijay Diwas is a reminiscence of the undaunted bravery & courage of the #Bravehearts who inscribed a golden chapter in history, with their blood & sacrifice. They gave a befitting reply to the enemy's misadventure and a resounding victory to this #Nation," the Army said on its Twitter page. To commemorate the sacrifices of India's bravehearts, a motorcycle rally reached Drasson Tuesday. Highlighting the message carried by the rally, the Army's northern command said, "On the eve of 24th #KargilVijayDiwas, the 25 steely riders of #Nari Sashaktikaran Women's Motorcycle Rally, braved all odds across treacherous terrain & weather and completed their 1000 km journey at #Kargil, truly epitomising & re-living the bravery, determination and extraordinary sacrifices, displayed by our gallant soldiers in the #KargilWar 24 years ago. The Rally was flagged in by #LtGenUpendraDwivedi, #ArmyCdrNC, who saluted their bravery, sense of purpose and contribution to #NationBuilding." Jaipur, July 26 : Jaipur rural police have named sacked state minister Rajendra Singh Gudha as an accused in hospital land encroachment case, sources have said. The hospital land in Govindgarh is owned by an NRI and Gudha's personal assistant and brother-in-law were arrested a year ago in this case. After the appearance of Gudha's name in the matter, the police had decided to forward his file to CID. As per officials, the land being encroached belongs to one Dr Banwari Lal Meel, who owns BL Meel hospital. He stays in an African country, but has given his power of attorney to one Nirmal. On August 20, 2022, a few goons armed with rods came to encroach the land, but the villagers got them arrested. During investigation, the goons took the name of Gudha and said they were sent by him. Thereafter it was decided to send his file to the CID, said police sources, adding that the file has now reached the CID office. Congress MLA Rajendra Singh Gudha was sacked as a minister on last Friday and marshalled out of the Rajasthan Assembly on July 24. He has made startling claims that he possessed photos from a 'red diary' containing potentially damning evidence of corruption against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The humanitarian needs in Syria remain great. Thats why working out a cross-border agreement to resume aid shipments is critical. The Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assads announcement to allow UN aid deliveries through Bab al-Hawa acknowledges the need for cross-border assistance, noted U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield. But it includes unacceptable restrictions that would hinder relief and put aid workers at risk. Additionally, the regimes permission is only for six months, half the minimally necessary period recommended by the Secretary-General. The Assad regime has a record of impeding UN humanitarian activities in Syria. The regimes unacceptable conditions and demands are consistent with that troubling record. For this reason, the United States has joined other major donors in making clear that any cross-border access arrangement must include five key elements, declared Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield: The UN should be allowed to engage with all parties on the ground, consistent with how it delivers assistance around the world. . . .The UN should be able to continue to operate response hubs outside regime-held areas. And the regime should not interfere with access arrangements between the UN and local authorities in non-regime-held areas. Access should be granted for as long as possible, and must not lapse in the middle of winter, continued Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. Guaranteed access is essential to providing the predictability and the efficiency needed by donors, UN partners, and the Syrian people. Given the overwhelming and persistent humanitarian needs in northwest Syria, there is no justification for short-term, ad hoc access guarantees. The UN should maintain its ability to determine assistance allocation based solely on needs and consistent with the principles of neutrality and impartiality. And finally, any arrangement must maintain the cross-border monitoring operation originally established under Resolution 2165 and avoid new reporting requirements for local partners or beneficiaries. More than 62,000 trucks full of lifesaving aid have crossed into Syria since the Council unanimously supported Resolution 2165 in 2014. And yet, the humanitarian crisis has never been more dire. Twelve years of war and this years earthquakes have pushed the Syrian people to the brink. Given Assads shameful record, the Security Council must remain deeply engaged on humanitarian matters in Syria, urged Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. The United States will never waver in its support for the needs of the Syrian people. Kolkata, July 26 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday informed the Calcutta High Court that it will not adopt any coercive action, including arrest, against Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee till July 31 in relation to the central agency's ongoing probe in the West Bengal school recruitment case. The matter was listed for hearing on Wednesday at the single- judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh. The hearing was now been postponed to July 31. The matter was referred back to the bench of Justice Ghosh after he recused from hearing on Monday following certain technical objections raised by ED relating to the matter being heard at his court. The matter related to whether the central agencies will summon and interrogate Banerjee in the case case, the original order for which was given by Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay. Later the matter was transferred to the court of Justice Amrita Sinha, who also upheld the earlier order by Justice Gangopadhyay. Banerjeeas counsel then approached the Supreme Court against the order by Justice Sinha. However, the division bench of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice P.S. Narasimha refused to interfere in the matter and instead advised that it was open for Banerjee to move the high court with a petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Accordingly, Banerjee's counsel moved the single-judge bench of Justice Ghosh. Recently, the Central Bureau of Investigation had qAbhishek Banerjee in connection to the case. Later, he was also summoned by the ED for questioning in the matter which he avoided. Bengaluru, July 26 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday that he was confident of farmers carrying out 100 per cent sowing activity in a few days in view of good rainfall. The delay in Monsoon rains has threatened the farming community and it was predicted that it would affect the sowing activity to a great extent. Speaking to reporters after garlanding statues of martyred soldiers on Kargil Diwas, Siddaramaiah said the situation was not out of control due to rain in Karnataka. The good inflow of water to the KRS dam, Kabini, Harangi, Hemavathy, Alamatti water reservoirs has brought joy for all of us, he added. "I will take up tours in Mangaluru, Udupi, Uttara Kannada and Chikkamagalur districts from Monday onwards and interact with the people who are affected by the heavy rain," he said. CM Siddaramaiah said that following the good rain, the drinking water crisis in the state has ended. "Due to shortage of drinking water, it was supplied in tankers. Now, the water problem, especially the drinking water problem, has ended," he said. When asked about withdrawal of cases against the accused in DJ Halli and KG Halli violence case, Siddaramaiah in turn questioned why the cases against the innocent were not taken back during the previous government. Talking about the letter by Congress MLA B.R. Patil on corruption practiced by ministers of the ruling government, CM Siddaramaiah stated, "MLA D.R. Patil himself has stated that a fake letter is being circulated in his name. Despite that, the media is making it news. He had only asked to call the legislature party meeting," he stated. Mumbai, July 26 : Actor Yogesh Tripathi, who is known for his role of 'Daroga Happu Singh' in the television show 'Happu Ki Ultan Paltan', has spoken about his character's best friend in the show ahead of Friendship Day. The actor said that Beni is Happu's best friend, who often comes to his rescue. However, how much Beni's inputs save Happu is for everyone to see in the show. Talking about the same, Yogesh said, "Beni is the 'Jigri yaar' of Happu. Happu often lands himself in troublesome situations with his actions, and Beni comes to his rescue. He always gives Happu unsolicited advice, which usually turns into a big blunder, yet he is Happu's go-to person". The actor also shared that though their families can't stand the sight of each other, Happu and Beni remain inseparable as they often bond over a few drinks or their misery. The actor further mentioned, "Happu and Beni are the thickest of friends and are inseparable. No matter how much their families fight with each other, they both always find a reason to sit together for a drink and cheer for their misery. Beni is a true friend and adds spice to Happu's life". 'Happu Ki Ultan Paltan' is a show about Happu Singh, a police officer in the city of Kanpur. The story revolves around the misadventures of Happu Singh and his large family- his wife; Rajesh Singh, mother Katori and his nine children. He is constantly troubled by the rivalry between his wife and mother and the antics of his best friend; Beni and his nine children who are Katori 'Kat', Mallai 'Mallaika', Ranbir, Hritik, Chamchi, Ayushman and three other kids who are infants. 'Happu Ki Ultan Paltan' airs Monday to Friday on &TV. Thiruvananthapuram, July 26 : Eyebrows are being raised over an FIR against the owner of the mike set which developed a snag soon after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan started to speak at the condolence meet of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. The police registered a case suo motu as there was neither an accused nor a complainant and the charges stated if the howling sound of the mike was a purposeful act raising a security concern. The the mike system has been confiscated and will be subjected to a scientific examination. Renjith, the owner of the SV Sound System told the media said he was surprised to get a call from the police asking him to appear before them. "I have handed over the cable, amplifier and cables to the police. For the past one decade I have been supplying the sound system for public meetings including the visit of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This case is a first of its kind and really don't know what's happening," he said. The function was held on Monday evening in the state capital city at a hall and Vijayan was the second speaker after State Congress president K.Sudhakaran. As Vijayan started to speak, a few minutes later there was a howling sound briefly which was fixed. While the social media is agog with messages on the incident , the police dismissed it as a routine examination of things. Chief organizer of the condolence meeting and convener of the Congress-led UDF M.M.Hassan said for a moment he felt unsure whether he was in Kerala or North Korea. Veteran trade unionist, leading lawyer and former Lok Sabha member Thampan Thomas said have no words to describe the act of the police. " What's happening in Kerala is all what I can ask. Is howling of a mike not a natural thing ?," he asked. Incidentally, just before Vijayan started to speak, there was a huge sloganeering highlighting Chandy in the hall and this incident is understood not to have gone down well with the CPI(M). When asked, a peeved CPI(M) state secretary M.V.Govindan said maybe the police is probing whether the was act was carried out deliberately. Are you guys joking, @keralapolice? You got to be proud that Kerala Police is the first force in the world to file a case against a "Mike" suomoto. Ofcourse it's a gravest violation of public order if a 10 sec technical glitch happens in the mike when @pinarayivijayan is speaking, quipped Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan on his Twitter handle. New Delhi, July 26 : The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended the licenses of an IndiGo captain for three months and a co-pilot for one month following an incident involving a tail strike during landing at the Ahmedabad airport, a senior official told IANS. The suspension comes as a stern response to the aviation mishap that occurred on June 15, where flight 6E6595 en route from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad experienced a tail strike upon landing. "IndiGo flight 6E6595, operating from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad experienced a tail strike while landing in Ahmedabad. The aircraft was declared grounded at Ahmedabad airport for necessary assessment and repairs. The incident is under investigation by relevant authorities," Indigo had said in a statement. In June, another IndiGo flight faced challenging weather conditions while attempting to land in Mumbai. The adverse effects of the cyclonic storm Biparjoy led to the Lucknow-Mumbai flight 6E-2441 to abort its landing. As a result, the aircraft was redirected to Udaipur, where it encountered further difficulties during landing. Despite encountering unfavourable conditions, the flight made a hard landing in Udaipur after two unsuccessful attempts to touch down at the Mumbai airport. --IANS ssh/ New Delhi, July 26 : Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday informed the House that he has received the no-confidence motion from Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi under rule 193. The motion says that it has no trust in the central council of ministers. Once the Speaker announced the receipt of the no-confidence motion, he sought to know the number of MPs who supported the move. All the Congress, Left, TMC, JD(U), National Conference, NCP, AAP, Samajwadi Party, and Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs stood up to show their support to the proposed no-confidence motion. As soon as the Speaker allowed laying of papers and introduction of bills, the Congress-led opposition members jumped into the well of the House, protesting over the Manipur situation. Amid protests, Congress MP Manish Tewari expressed his objection to the introduction of the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha. He said that the bill was a transgression to the right to privacy. RSP MP N.K. Premachandran objected to the introduction of theMines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 in the Lower House. He alleged that the proposed legislation will only benefit multinationals. He sought withdrawal of the bill. The Union cabinet on July 12 had cleared the bill, which will allow private sector to bid for mining critical minerals like Lithium. Both the bills, however, were introduced in the Lok Sabha along with various other legislations. However, as the opposition members continued with their protests, seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence in the Lok Sabha and his response to the situation prevailing in Manipur, the Speaker adjourned the House till 2 p.m. Before adjourning the proceedings, he admonished the opposition, especially the Congress, for not maintaining the dignity of the House. "Despite ruling for so many years, you haven't learnt how to maintain dignity of the House?," Birla said while addressing the opposition benches. --IANSans/dpb New Delhi, July 26 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday said they recently conducted searches at different places on the premises of the accused in an ongoing investigation of a case related to Crypto fraud and recovered Rs one crore. During searches, a cash of Rs one crore was recovered from the premises of the accused, Sahil Pal. The CBI said that a case was registered on May 11 against Delhi-based accused involved in Crypto fraud. "It was alleged that the accused have been impersonating as Government Officials of Canada, utilizing this facade to execute their fraudulent activities. "Their modus operandi involved providing fake technical support consultation to unsuspecting victims and then coercing them into transferring cryptocurrency funds. These ill-gotten cryptocurrency assets were subsequently routed through multiple crypto wallets, ultimately ending up in the perpetrators' own crypto accounts," said the official. Further investigation in the case was on, the official added. --IANSatk/dpb Los Angeles, July 26 : 'The Exorcist' from 1973 is a horror icon and one of the greatest horror movies ever made. While the movie had a bunch of sequels and spin-offs, none of them really managed to up the original. That may just change with the new trailer for 'The Exorcist: Believer' looking deliciously spooky, and a delightfully tempting nightmare fuel. 'Believer' is set in the same continuity as the original and the trailer tells the story of how a widower Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.) struggles to save the life of his young daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett) after she and her friend Katherine (Olivia Marcum) vanish suddenly one day only to reappear days later seemingly possessed by demonic entities in a bit of 'Evil Dead' style, though not packing its morbid and dark humour. Directed by David Gordon Green, the movie is the first in line for two planned movies, the other being 'The Exorcist: Deceiver' which is planned for a 2025 release. The official synopsis for the film reads: "Since the death of his pregnant wife in a Haitian earthquake 12 years ago, Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom, Jr.) has raised their daughter, Angela (Lidya Jewett) on his own. But when Angela and her friend Katherine (Olivia Marcum), disappear in the woods, only to return three days later with no memory of what happened to them." "It unleashes a chain of events that will force Victor to confront the nadir of evil and, in his terror and desperation, seek out the only person alive who has witnessed anything like it before: Chris MacNeil", the statement further read. With 'The Exorcist: Believer' and later with 'Deceiver', Green aims to continue the original story and expand on the existing mythology rather than rebooting it, which makes the Devil all the more evil and chaotic. Much like it was in the original, here too parents get desperate for help, and track down Burstyn's character, whose young daughter (Linda Blair) was once possessed by an evil entity known as Pazuzu, a demonic entity whose evil and vile sense of humour knew no bounds. The story for 'Believer' marks in an interesting turn in 'The Exorcist' universe, as the story will revolve around not one, but two possessions, both equally evil and malicious while at the same time being bound by a sort of common connecting thread with the spiritual practices outside of the Roman Catholic domain that deal with demonic expulsion. Essentially it's as if Catholicism's exorcist practices in itself have some influence from black magic and Satanic rituals making the two have some sort of bizarre connection in this universe. But given how much of an influence the original 1973 classic has had on the horror genre and its possession-focused subset, and with 'The Exorcist: Believer' embarking on the same continuity aiming to expand on the existing universe, the viewers are going to see a different subset of demonic possessions and its accompanying turmoil, which unsettle and disturb audiences in a way similar to the original. 'The Exorcist: Believer' is slated to hit theaters on October 13, 2023 though because of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, much like 'Beetlejuice 2', may possibly get delayed. Islamabad, July 26 : Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has come under severe criticism on his sexist comments against female opposition parliamentarians. Asif's comments have sparked anger among women's rights activists and groups, who are demanding a public apology from the Minister. During a session of the National Assembly on Tuesday, Asif referred to his opposition benches, specifically the women members of the opposition PTI present at the session as "ruins of PTI". "They (female PTI members) are leftover ruins. They are leftover waste. PTI's garbage is left over which needs to be cleaned," he said while addressing the flood of the house. Asif's comments were met with condemnation, anger and uproar by PTI top leadership, women rights activists and organisations. Senior PTI leader and former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi termed Asif's sexist comments as shameful. "What Khawaja Asif said is absolutely shameful. This is not the first time Khawaja Asif and PMLN have used such demeaning, derogatory and sexist language against women," he said. Senator Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur said: "One's moral character and conduct differentiated people. I was worried at the language being used by such senior political figures. I've never heard such words in my house. "We don't respect someone else when we don't consider our own self to be respectable." Asif's comments have also not been taken lightly by women rights activists and female celebrities, who have expressed their disappointment and anger over the issue. Journalist and rights campaigner Mehr Tarar expressed her shock at the Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman on Asif's sexist remarks. "What's baffling is Sherry Rehman's silence," said Mehr Tarar. Mishi Khan, a known television actress and host, also expressed her disappointment over Asif's remarks. "So disappointing to hear such words for women there. Why so much enmity towards each other? When will this animosity stop so we can progress as a nation?" Pakistani American writer and former politician Farahnaz Ispahani hoped that Asif's political party PML-N would advise him to issue a public apology. "Revolting, Hope his party makes him issue a public apology." Senior lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan called Asif as a "misogynist", stating that while the speaker has expunged his words, his comments are being played and heard all over the media. This is not the first time that Asif has been criticized for using derogatory language against his opposition female political members. In the past, he had referred to former PTI member Shirin Mazari as "tractor trolly", which was also widely condemned by all. Now, with his latest sexist remarks, Asif is being reminded by concerned quarters who say:"Khawaja Asif Your sexism is showing -- Again." Bengaluru: A tomato vendor sells tomatoes at Kalasipalya Vegetable Market, where the prices of the tomatoes are sky rocketing in the retail market due to the crop loss; in Bengaluru on June 18, 2016. . Image Source: IANS News Chennai, July 26 : With a reduction in the quantity of tomatoes arriving in Chennai's Koyambedu market, South India's largest vegetable market, the price of tomatoes has touched Rs 170 per kilogram here and outskirts in the retail market and the rain in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are being held responsible for this. In the wholesale market, the price ranges from Rs 120 to Rs 130 per kilogram. R.K. Kuppusamy, a wholesale trader of tomatoes and potatoes in Koyambedu market told IANS that generally 800 tonnes of tomato load reaches the market on alternate days and now this has sharply come down to 250 tonnes. The reduced arrival of tomatoes, according to the merchants, is due to the destruction of crops in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh due to heavy rain for the past few weeks in the two states. The consumption of tomato has also reduced as people prefer to shy away from the vegetable due to the high prices. Sheeba, a housewife in Ashok Nagar while speaking to IANS said, "We have cut short tomatoes from our vegetable pack. If we feel like buying, we buy for Rs 50 and the purchase of 1 kg of tomatoes is from the good old days." Several traders also shared their predicament due to the rising prices of the vegetable and the corresponding reduction in purchase of the vegetable. Seethanath, a vegetable trader from Teynampet while speaking to IANS said, "It is very difficult for the retail businessmen to survive in this market. Tomato prices are oscillating and we have difficulties in selling the product. I don't know how to move ahead as most families have stopped buying it." Across Tamil Nadu, tomato has turned costlier and with the advent of rain in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, where the vegetable is cultivated in large quantities. The Tamil Nadu government had started selling tomatoes at Rs 60 per kg through Public Distribution System (PDS) shops. However, consumers said that the quality of the tomatoes was poor and that most who wanted to buy tomatoes depended upon the public market. G. Manonamani, a housewife at Adayar in Chennai while speaking to IANS said, "The price of tomatoes has touched high and the government intervened by selling tomatoes through PDS shops. I am very sorry to say that it was better for the government not to sell tomatoes as the quality of the product is too bad and we still prefer to buy from retail markets even though price is on the higher side." The traders are also worried that the soaring price of tomatoes would take away the consumers from the vegetable. The continuing rain in Andhra and Karnataka is a major problem that haunts the traders as the volume of tomato that was coming to Kerala has dipped and this would continue in the coming few weeks if product is not available at cultivating areas. R .Najimuddeen, a wholesale trader in Koyambedu market while speaking to IANS said, "We feel that with continuing crop loss in Karnataka and Andhra where tomato farming is extensively done, the market prices of tomatoes is likely to increase creating immense difficulties for both the traders and the consumers." Press Release July 26, 2023 Villar cites gains of coco levy funds; contributions of Dolores, Quezon, to agri industry APART from recognizing the contribution of Dolores, Quezon, to spur growth in the country's agricultural industry, Senator Cynthia A. Villar also extolled the gains of the coconut levy fund. Speaking during the inauguration and blessing of the new City Hall in Dolores, Last July 22, Villar noted that 80% of the town's residents are engaged in agriculture. She expressed her gratitude to the people of this 'agricultural municipality' for being 'contributors' in the production of various fruit-bearing trees like rambutan, citrus and lanzones, and vegetables like chilies, cabbage, tomato, and eggplant, among others. According to the senator, she has also been authoring and sponsoring legislation to develop the industry and uplift the lives of Filipino farmers and shareholders. She happily noted the former President Rodrigo Duterte's signing Republic Act No. 11524, or the "Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act" The law that created the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CFITF) which ensures the funding of P80 billion for the next five years. This will benefit 2.5 million coconut farmers and the coconut industry in general. "The law also mandated for the preparation of the CFIDP, which shall set the directions and policies for the development and rehabilitation of the coconut industry within 50 years," she added. The utilization of the Trust Fund, she said, shall be in accordance with the formulated plan. It shall also take into account the annual allocation of the Trust Fund provided for by the law, which is: (a) 20% for the development of hybrid coconut seed farms, and nursery for planting and replanting: 15% to be implemented by the PCA; and the 5% by the DOST-PCAARRD for research; (b) 8% for the training of farmers and their families, to be implemented by ATI and TESDA; (c) 5% for research, marketing, and promotion, to be implemented by DTI; (d) 4% for Crop Insurance to be implemented by Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.; (e) 10% for the Farm improvements through diversification and intercropping with livestock, dairy, poultry, coffee, and cacao production, to be implemented by BAI-DA; NDA and DA High Value Crop program. (f) 10% for Shared facilities for processing, to be implemented by Philmech.; (g) 5% for the Organizing and empowerment of coconut farmer organizations and cooperatives, to be implemented by CDA; (h)10% for the Credit programs through DBP and LBP; (i) 10% for the Infrastructure Development, to be implemented by DPWH; (j) 8% for the College Scholarship program for farmers and their families, to be implemented by CHED; (k) 10% for Health and medical program for farmers and their families, to be implemented by PCA. "This marked the fulfillment of ex-President Duterte's promise to return the coco levy funds to their true and rightful owners - the coconut farmers," pointdd out Villar. The senator, also chairperson of the Senate committee and environment, took notice of the beautiful town of Dolores which lies on the foot of Mount Banahaw. "You have beautiful rivers, lakes and waterfalls," she said. According to Villar, she is confident that Dolores Mayor Orlan Calayag, who has a strong background in agriculture, will spur the development of the coconut industry. "For Mayor Orlan, the slogan an "UNLAD Dolores" is not just a mere slogan but a commitment he intends to fufill," also said Villar. Villar, tinukoy ang 'gains' ng coco levy fund, ambag ng Quezon sa PH'coco industry Bukod sa pagkilala sa ambag ng Quezon province at ang munisipalidad nito na Dolores sa paglago ng coconut industry ng bansa, ipinagmalaki rin ni Senator Cynthia A. Villar ang 'gains' ng coconut levy fund na kanyang inakda. Sa inauguration at blessing ng bagong Dolores City Hall, iginiit ni Villar na 80% ng mga residente rito ang nasa agriculture. Meron din silang livestock industry. Pinasalamatan niya ang mga residente ng 'agricultural municipality' na ito at ng lalawigan sa pagiging 'contributors' sa production ng coconut. Ang Quezon ang pinakamalaking coconut-producing province sa Pilipinas. Ipinahayag ng chairperson ng Senate committee on agriculture and food, na inaakda at ini-isponsor niya ang mga panukalang batas para mapaunlad ang coconut industry at maiangat ang kabuhayan ng mga Pilipinong magsasaka at shareholders. Masaya niyang ipinahayag ang paglagda ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa Republic Act No. 11524 o "Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act." Tinitiyak ng batas sa Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CFITF) ang P80 bilyong pondo sa susunod na limang taon. Mabibiyayaan nito ang 2.5 milyong coconut farmers at ang coconut industry. "The law also mandated for the preparation of the CFIDP, which shall set the directions and policies for the development and rehabilitation of the coconut industry within 50 years," dagdag pa ng senador. Aniya, naaayon sa formulated plan ang paggamit ng Trust Fund. Alinsunod din ito sa taunang alokasyon ng Trust Fund na itinatakda ng batas gaya ng mga sumusunod: (a) 20% sa development ng hybrid coconut seed farms at nursery planting at replanting kung saan 15% ang ipatutupad ng PCA at 5% ng DOST-PCAARRD para sa research; (b) 8% sa training ng mga magsasaka at kanilang farmers na ipatutupad ng ATI at TESDA; (c) 5% sa research, marketing, at promotion na ipatutupad ng DTI; (d) 4% sa Crop Insurance na ipatutupad ng Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.; (e) 10% sa Farm improvements sa pamamagitan ng diversification at intercropping na may livestock, dairy, poultry, coffee, at cacao production na ipatutupad ng BAI-DA; NDA at DA High Value Crop program. (f) 10% sa Shared facilities para sa processing na ipstutupad ng Philmech.; (g) 5% sa Organizing at empowerment ng coconut farmer organizations at cooperatives na ipatutupad ng CDA; (h)10% sa Credit programs sa psmamagitan ng DBP at LBP; (i) 10% sa Infrastructure Development na ipatutupad ng DPWH; (j) 8% sa College Scholarship program para sa mga magsasaka at kanilang pamilya na ipatutupad ng CHED; (k) 10% s Health and medical program para sa mga magsasaka at kanilang pamilya na ipatutupad ng PCA. "This marked the fulfillment of ex-President Duterte's promise to return the coco levy funds to their true and rightful owners - the coconut farmers," ayon Villar. Kinilala rin ng senador, The senator, chairperson ng Senate committee on environment, ang magandang bayan ng Dolores na nasa paanan ng Mount Banahaw. "You have beautiful rivers, lakes and waterfalls," sabi ni Villar. Kumpiyansa si Villar, na maisusulong ni Dolores Mayor Orlan Calayag, na may malakas na background sa agriculture, ang pag-unlad ng coconut industry sa kanyang lugar. "For Mayor Orlan, the slogan an "UNLAD Dolores" is not just a mere slogan but a commitment he intends to fufill," ani Villar. The July 23 Cambodian national elections were neither free nor fair, declared State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in a statement. The party of long-time Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen declared a landslide victory in parliamentary elections. The Cambodian Peoples Party faced no viable opponent after the disqualification of the sole credible opposition party, the Candlelight Party, shortly before the election. As a consequence, the Cambodian Peoples Party faced off against 17 mostly obscure parties, none of which won seats in the last election in 2018. Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is now 70, has announced that he plans to hand over the position at some point to his eldest son, General Hun Manet. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Hun Sen has made clear he will keep his hand on the levers of power. Earlier in June, he stated, Even if I am no longer a prime minister, I will still control politics as the head of the ruling party. Ahead of the elections, Cambodian authorities engaged in a pattern of threats and harassment against the political opposition, media, and civil society that undermined the spirit of the countrys constitution and Cambodias international obligations, said spokesperson Miller. These actions denied the Cambodian people a voice and a choice in determining the future of their country. Indeed, at least 39 opposition politicians are held in Cambodian prisons, according to Amnesty International. In response, the United States has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on individuals who undermined democracy and implemented a pause of certain foreign assistance programs. As the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party forms a new government, authorities have an opportunity to improve the countrys international standing, including by restoring genuine multi-party democracy, ending politically motivated trials, reversing convictions of government critics, and allowing independent media outlets to reopen and function without interference. The United States, said spokesperson Miller, looks forward to a continued partnership with the Cambodian people to support their aspirations for a more prosperous, democratic, and independent country where all voices are heard. Kolkata, July 26 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday approached Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta accusing the West Bengal police administration of non-cooperation in the on-going probe into the violence during Ram Navami processions this year. The central investigating agency has accused the state administration of delaying the process of handover of case- related documents to them. This is not the first time that NIA has accused the state administration of non-cooperation in the matter. Earlier on June 19, it approached the Calcutta High Courtas single-judge bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha with the same complaint. Recently, Justice Mantha was elevated as division-bench judge. So the central agency has now approached the bench of Justice Sengupta in the matter. The petition by NIA on this count has been admitted and the matter will come up for hearing on Thursday. The order for NIA probe in the matter was given by the division bench of Calcutta High Courtas Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya. However, the state government challenged that order at the Supreme Court on grounds that the NIA probe was ordered based on public interest litigation, which according to the state government, was unjustified. The state government petition on this count was dismissed by the apex court three- judge bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra. On April 27 this year, while ordering a NIA probe into the matter, Calcutta High Courtas division bench observed that it is beyond the ability of the state police to find those who were responsible for the clashes or who instigated it and hence a probe by a central agency was necessary. Earlier, the same division bench also questioned the efficiency of the intelligence wing of the state police regarding pelting of stones from the roofs of residences in the troubled belts. The bench questioned the failure of the intelligence in getting information about stones being accumulated on the rooftops. New Delhi, July 26 : One of the many pleasures of vacationing in India is the rich culinary tradition with differences in cooking styles from state to state. These go beyond the old-fashioned family recipes. No matter where you go, you can sample local cuisine. India is a diverse nation, both in terms of its people and its culinary offerings. KULLU TROUT- HIMACHAL PRADESH A significant component of Himachali food is non-vegetarian. Your taste buds will be delighted by this Himachali meal, which is made from trout, a fish that can be found in Kullu. It is pan-fried with a variety of Indian spices and served over hot, steaming rice. CHAAT- DELHI Delhi is known for its street food and talk, whether it be the Gol-Gappes or the crispy Tikkis, the Dahi-loaded bhallas or the Papdi chat! Give your taste senses a treat with these enticing, spicy foods. DAL, BAATI, CHURMA- RAJASTHAN Without mentioning Dal-Baati-Churma, the cuisine of Rajasthan is insufficient. On your next trip to Rajasthan, try it with the delectable churma, panchmel or panch kutti dal, deep-fried baatis, and lavish amounts of desi ghee. KEBABS- LUCKNOW These mouthwatering kebabs, straight from the Nawabs city, are deserving of a try. Galouti Kebabs and Tangdi Kebabs, to name a couple, are spice-marinated kebabs that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They are served with spicy dipping sauces or mint chutney. On your subsequent journey to Lucknow, don't forget to sample them. LITTI CHOKHA- BIHAR Litti, or the tandoor-baked Sattu balls, is a traditional Bihari dish that is typically served with curd and Aloo & Baigan bharta. Although it resembles Rajasthani dal-batti, it is utterly distinct in flavour and preparation. If you're on the Bihar streets, it's worth a shot. GHUGNI CHAAT- BENGAL The ideal evening snack is this Bengali street cuisine, which is made of cooked yellow dried peas or white peas, packed with tomatoes, peas, onions, and green chillies and seasoned with lemon juice. You're powerless to reject it! KUTCHI DABELI- GUJARAT The Gujarati equivalent of vada pav is called Kutchi Dabeli or Dabeli. This Gujarati delicacy is a full-flavored savoury treat. The buns are fried to a perfect crunch in melted butter and filled with potato cutlets. They are also decorated with fried peanuts, pomegranate seeds, sev, and hot, tangy sauces. POHA JALEBI- INDORE Indore is proudest of its morning breakfast and is known for its range of conversations and blend of flavour. Poha, or flattened rice, is a delicious snack that is typically enjoyed with hot, crispy jalebis and tea. Poha is just flattened rice that has been sauted with onions, chillies, salt, turmeric, and a dash of lime juice. On your subsequent trip to Indore, be sure to give it a try! BEBINCA- GOA Bebinca is Goa's favourite sweet food, and once you try it, you'll love it too. The multiple, thin layers of cake that make up the delectable-looking dessert. These layers are composed with flour, coconut milk, sugar, and egg yolk. When visiting Goa, you must sample this Indo-Portuguese dessert. Additionally, it's one among the best snacks in India that anyone with a sweet craving must try when there. POORAN POLI- MAHARASHTRA A popular Marathi dish called Pooran Poli is cooked with jaggery and Bengal gramme flour. In essence, it is a sweet flatbread. Therefore, if you enjoy sweet things, you'll appreciate these sweet Indian munchies. It is very nutrient-dense. You need not be concerned about the abundance of calories. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) --IANS -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Tokyo, July 26 : Ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu's poor run of form continued as she suffered a first round exit from the Japan Open 2023 badminton tournament at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium, here on Wednesday. Two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu, 17th in the women's singles badminton rankings, lost 12-21, 13-21 to China's Zhang Yi Man to make her seventh opening round exit in 13 BWF World Tour 2023 tournaments this year. This was also Sindhuas second straight opening round ouster after going down to Chinese Taipei's Pai Yu Po in the Korea Open opener last week. Zhang Yi Man, who is ranked one place lower than Sindhu, looked in control throughout the contest and eventually ended the match in 32 minutes to pick up her third victory over the Indian shuttler in five meetings. Before the Japan Open opener, the two badminton players had faced each other twice this year. While Zhang got the better of Sindhu at the All England Open in March, it was the Indian who emerged the winner at the Malaysia Masters back in May. Meanwhile, the star Indian men's double pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, fresh off their Korea Open triumph last week, had to dig deep to advance to the second round in Japan. Satwik-Chirag, who rose to a career-best world No. 2 recently, were stretched to three games by Indonesia's Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin but eventually won the match 21-16, 11-21, 21-13. On the other hand, Commonwealth Games 2022 menas singles champion Lakshya Sen registered a thrilling 21-15, 12-21, 24-22 win against compatriot Priyanshu Rajawat. He will face Japan's Kanta Tsuneyama Lakshya Senas pre-quarterfinal. The Japanese shuttler upset Indonesian world No. 2 Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the opening round. Another Indian shuttler Mithun Manjunath conceded a lead to lose 21-13, 22-24, 18-21 to China's Weng Hong Yang in the opening round of menas singles. Beijing, July 26 : China's National Meteorological Centre (NMC) on Wednesday issued a red alert for typhoon Doksuri, the most severe warning in its four-tier warning system, as the fifth typhoon of this year is expected to bring gales and heavy rain to the eastern and southern parts of the country. The typhoon, observed over the ocean about 350 km south of Taiwan at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, is expected to move northwest at a speed of 10 to 15 km per hour, the Centre said in a statement. It will enter the northeastern part of the South China Sea between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning and then move to the coastal areas of Fujian and Guangdong, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying. The severe typhoon will most likely make landfall in the coastal areas of Jinjiang city in Fujian province and the bordering areas of Fujian and Guangdong, the NMC said. Some coastal areas around the Bashi Channel, the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, as well as coastal regions of Taiwan and Fujian, will experience gales from 2 p.m. Wednesday to 2 p.m. Thursday. The maximum wind force in some of the aforementioned regions will reach 20.8 to 36.9 meters per second, according to the Center. During this period, parts of the east Zhejiang province will experience downpours of 100 to 150 mm and parts of Taiwan will experience heavy downpours of 250 to 400 mm, it added. The meteorological centre has issued an advisory suspending both indoor and outdoor gatherings, as well as dangerous outdoor operations, and recommended the timely transfer of people living in vulnerable housing. It has also called for emergency typhoon preparations and precautions against possible geological disasters. China has a four-tier, colour-coded weather warning system for typhoons, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. New Delhi, July 26 : Veteran actor Kamal Haasan, who is well known for his acting in several Tamil, Telugu as well as Bollywood films ranging from 'Apoorva', 'Vikram'(1986), 'Vikram'(2022), 'Saagar', 'Nayakan', 'Chachi 420' and several others, recently met his friend and make-up artist Mike Westmore in Los Angeles. Mike is an Academy Award winning make-up artiste. The actor went to the American city for the launch of his most recent feature 'Kalki 2898 AD', meeting up with his very old friend and colleague Mike Westmore. Two legends on different sides of the globe, the two great figures reminisced about their remarkable 40 year old friendship and professional journey. The duo went on to speak about their collaborations in various projects such as 'Indian', 'Avvai shanmughi' and 'Dasavatharam'. Taking to Instagram, the veteran actor shared a picture of himself with Westmore and captioned: "From (The arrow in the sun ) Soldier blue where I saw Mike Westmore's work to this day, I have admired Mike's work from inside out. Had the joy of working with him on the make up and also wearing it to fame and applause. 40 years have flown with the speed of an arrow." Westmore, on the other hand is well known for his contributions to films such as 'Mask', 'Star Trek: Next Generation' and 'Raging Bull' earning him critical acclaim for his work. In addition, the artiste was also given the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for his makeup in the 2008 Tamil-language film 'Dasavathaaram' where he worked with Haasan. Time hits everyone though, and both Kamal Haasan and Mike Westmore have gotten old, leading to many fans on social media saying that the two legends have now become old but their spirit is still very much active. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, July 26 : The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued warnings of extremely heavy rainfall in areas such as Konkan, Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Coastal Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana over the next two days. Meanwhile, regions like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, north Haryana, Chandigarh, and West Uttar Pradesh are likely to witness isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next three days. The IMD predicted that in Northwest India light to moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall is expected. "Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, and West Uttar Pradesh are likely to see this rainfall from Wednesday to Saturday. East Uttar Pradesh will likely experience this rainfall from Friday to Sunday, while Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir will see it from Wednesday to Friday," said the IMD. Additionally, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand may experience isolated very heavy rainfall from Wednesday to Friday, and Haryana, Chandigarh, and West Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday and Thursday. Central India is expected to receive light to moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall during the period from Wednesday to Saturday. Vidarbha may experience isolated extremely heavy rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday, and Chhattisgarh may see isolated very heavy rainfall from Wednesday to Friday. The weather man further said that West India is likely to have light to moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall, with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall in some areas. "Konkan, Goa and ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra may experience this rainfall from Wednesday to Saturday. Gujarat Region and Marathwada may see isolated heavy rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday. Moreover, Konkan, Goa and ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra may face isolated extremely heavy rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday," it said. Besides, South India is expected to receive light to moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall. "Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Telangana, and Coastal Karnataka are likely to see this rainfall from Wednesday to Friday. Isolated very heavy rainfall may occur in Rayalaseema and Interior Karnataka on Wednesday, while isolated extremely heavy rainfall is likely in Telangana and Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam on Wednesday and Thursday, and in Coastal Karnataka on Wednesday," it said. In East India, light to moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall is expected over Odisha till July 30. "Sub-Himalaya West Bengal and Sikkim will likely experience this rainfall from July 26-28, and Jharkhand & Bihar on Saturday and Sunday.Additionally, isolated very heavy rainfall is possible in Odisha on Wednesday," said the IMD. Northeast India is forecasted to experience light to moderate fairly widespread rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall till July 30. "Isolated very heavy rainfall is likely in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya on Friday," it added. IANS ssh/ New Delhi, July 26 : Actress Kalki Koechlin is 'excited' to mark her return to the theatres with 'Goldfish', after four years, saying it is an international movie with raw humour and heart warming emotions. Set in London, 'Goldfish' deals with memory, music, mental health and identity. Directed by Pushan Kripalani, this Indian-British-American production brings together powerhouse talents Deepti Naval, Kalki Koechlin and Rajit Kapur, with some actors from the UK Bharti Patel, Gordon Warnecke, Ravin Ganatra and Shanaya Rafaat to tell a delicate, timeless story of a mother and a daughter, and of community. Kalki was last seen in 2019 Hindi movie 'Gully Boy', starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. She also starred in the 2020 Tamil anthology drama 'Paava Kadhaigal', in the segment 'Love Panna Uttranum' as Penelope. On September 30, 2019, Kalki confirmed her pregnancy with her boyfriend, Guy Hershberg, an Israeli musician. Their daughter was born on February 7, 2020 through water birth. Talking about her experience of working on 'Goldfish', and her return to theatres after four years, Kalki said: "It is exciting to be back on screen, with such a beautiful film 'Goldfish', after a long hiatus from acting due to motherhood and Covid." "Interestingly, in the tradition of art imitating life, the film also explores a mother daughter relationship during Covid lockdown, played by Deepti Naval and myself respectively. It is an international movie with raw humour and heart warming emotions that will reach out to all of us who've struggled with our parents, our children or our identity," added Kalki. The film had its world premiere at the 27th Busan International Film Festival, held in October 2022. It also had a gala premiere at 53rd International Film Festival of India, Goa; East Coast Premiere in New York Indian Film Festival 2023; and Texas premiere in Indie Meme Film Festival 2023. Speaking about presenting the film to the Indian audience, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, Kalki's ex-husband, shared, "I saw 'Goldfish' at the Busan International Film Festival and I was so moved by the film. The relationship between Kalki and Deepti, with some brilliant writing and performances, directed with so much nuance ,all the incredible supporting performances." "It's a beautiful film and I am thrilled to present it. I am so happy that after travelling across the world to so many festivals, it's finally coming to the audiences in India," added Kashyap. Anamika (Kalki Koechlin), the child of a mixed marriage, returns home to her estranged mother Sadhana (Deepti Naval) because she is suffering from the onset of dementia. Anamika returns to a neighbourhood she barely remembers, to a woman who sometimes doesn't remember her. Speaking about her journey on the film, Deepti said: "'Goldfish' is a perfect cinema that any artist would want to be a part of. It tells the story of a mother-daughter relationship and delves into the complexities of human nature and how circumstances mould individual relationships." "The importance of a community and the love people offer is highlighted in the film through the stellar performances of Bharti Patel, Gordon Warnecke, Ravin Ganatra and Shanaya Rafaat. It was a treat to work with Kalki and to see the script come to life through the lens of Pushan. I cannot wait for audiences to experience this work of art," added the senior actress. A Splendid Films production, produced by Amit Saxena, the film will be released in theatres in multiple cities across India, and the US on August 25. Meanwhile, on the work front, Kalki also has 'Made In Heaven 2', which will be streaming from August 10, on Prime Video. Phnom Penh, July 26 : Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday announced that he would step down on August 22 after serving in the post for more than 38 years in the Southeast Asian nation, and would pass the reins of power to his eldest son Hun Manet. "Hun Manet will become the prime minister in just more than three weeks," the world's longest serving living Prime Minister said in a televised address on the state-run National Television of Cambodia (TVK). Hun Sen said the National Assembly would convene for the first time on August 21 under the auspices of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, and the new five-year-term government led by Hun Manet would be sworn in on August 22, reports Xinhua news agency. The upcoming power transition was to continue ensuring the country's peace and political stability, he said, adding that the new cabinet would consist of young and dynamic leaders. Hun Sen said the political power would remain in his hand because he was still the president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP); however, he would not interfere in the new government's leadership. Hun Sen, 70, said he would take the post of President of the Senate after the Senate Election on February 25 next year. His announcement came after the CPP won a landslide victory in the seventh general election on Sunday, which was held to elect the members of parliament for the 125-seat National Assembly for the 2023-2028 new term. The National Election Committee (NEC) released the preliminary results on Wednesday, showing the CPP received almost 6.4 million votes, or 82.3 per cent of the total valid votes of 7.77 million, and the Funcinpec Party led by Prince Norodom Chakravuth gained 716,443 votes, or 9.22 per cent of the total valid votes. Based on the results, the CPP won 120 parliamentary seats and Funcinpec gained the remaining five seats. New Delhi, July 26 : Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday replied to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's letter saying that INDIA has been demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Manipur situation but it seems that making a statement will hurt his prestige. In response to a letter written by Shah to him on Tuesday, Kharge said, "I got your letter which is opposite from the facts. You must be knowing that after the May 3 incident in Manipur, the INDIA has been repeatedly demanding a detailed discussion on Manipur situation and a statement by the Prime Minister in both the Houses of Parliament." The Congress leader said that the kind of grave situation that has been prevailing in Manipur for the last 84 days and the way in which gory details of the incidents there are coming out everyday, it is expected from all the political parties that it will take up the issue in Parliament to work for peace and normalcy there and also give a message to the people. "And we have been demanding the same jointly," he pointed out. He added that from your letter your emotions and acts look completely different. "Contrary to the spirit of your letter, the attitude of the government has been insensitive and arbitrary in the House. This attitude is not new, the opposition has seen in the last several sessions as well. The opposition is being driven with a whip by keeping the rules and conventions on the shelf," he highlighted. Small incidents are blown up and then the members are suspended for the whole session despite the rule that the suspension of a member shall not continue for more than one session for the same incident. He pointed out that the opposition members have been giving notices under Rule 267 for a detailed discussion but the people sitting in the ruling party block the proceedings of the House. "When the Leader of the Opposition rises to speak after the Chairman's permission, the Leader of the House himself, without request and permission from the Chair, interrupts, disrespects the chair and the tradition of the House. This is happening continuously in front of the entire House," Kharge charged. He said that members of the opposition parties gather in the House after every adjournment with the hope that the proceedings will probably run smoothly again but till now there is only disappointment. He stated that it is easy to express feelings through letters but it is easier to win the confidence of the opposition members present in the House by the conduct. Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge said "In a single day, the Prime Minister connects the country's opposition parties with the British rulers and terrorist groups and on the same day, the Home Minister writes an emotional letter and expects a positive attitude from the opposition." "The lack of coordination between the ruling party and the opposition was visible for years, now this gulf has started appearing even within the ruling party. It is not only absurd but also unfortunate for the Prime Minister to call the opposition parties directionless on this," he said. The Congress leader added that they are requesting the Prime Minister to come to the House and give a statement. "But it seems that doing so hurts his prestige. We have commitment towards the people of this country and we will pay any cost for it," Kharge said. He pointed out that despite being in government for a long time, we (Congress) know that every conduct of both the parties and the opposition is recorded in the pages of history. "Our accountability is to the present generation as well as to the coming generations to tell them that we fought for their rights," he said. He stated that if the ruling party really wants to run the proceedings of the House smoothly, it can easily be done by giving a chance to the opposition to speak. The Chair can use his authority for this. "Similarly, the behavior of the Leader of the House can be normal and positive rather than pre-determined-reaction driven. This will be helpful in the smooth running of the House," he added. During the session, the conduct of the government and the opposition is in front of the House. The whole country including the opposition will see how much similarity there will be between the words and actions of the Home Minister, he noted. His remarks came a day after Shah wrote to Kharge and Congress Leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for their cooperation for a discussion on the Manipur issue in both Houses of Parliament. New Delhi, July 26 : A Delhi court on Wednesday awarded four-year jail term to former Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda, his son Devender Darda and JLD Yavatmal Energy Pvt Ltd's Director Manoj Kumar Jayaswal for their involvement in irregularities in the allocation of a coal block in Chhattisgarh. The court pronounced the quantum of punishment on Wednesday after having it reserved on July 19.While the former coal secretary H.C. Gupta and two other officials, K.S. Kropha and K.C. Samaria, were handed a three-year jail sentence, the court imposed a fine of Rs 50 lakh on M/s JLD Yavatmal. On July 13, Special Judge Sanjay Bansal delivered the verdict convicting them. The accused have been held guilty under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, and sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The court had earlier acknowledged the arguments presented by senior public prosecutor A.P. Singh, stating that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully proven its case beyond any reasonable doubt. During the hearing on quantum of punishment, the probe agency had sought maximum punishment, claiming that Darda and his son had met then CBI Director Ranjit Sinha at his residence to scuttle the investigation. It was further claimed that a witness in the case stated that he was threatened by Jayaswal, who tried to influence him to not depose against him. On November 20, 2014, the court had rejected the closure report submitted by the CBI in this case. The court had directed the probe agency to initiate a fresh investigation, citing that the former MP Darda had "misrepresented" facts in letters addressed to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who also held the Coal portfolio. According to the court, Vijay Darda, who is the Chairperson of the Lokmat Group, resorted to such misrepresentations in order to obtain the Fatehpur (East) coal block in Chhattisgarh for JLD Yavatmal Energy. The court had ruled that the act of cheating was carried out by private entities as part of a conspiracy involving both private parties and public servants. JLD Yavatmal Energy was granted the Fatehpur (East) coal block by the 35th Screening Committee. Initially, the CBI alleged in its FIR that JLD Yavatmal had unlawfully concealed the previous allocation of four coal blocks to its group companies between 1999 and 2005. However, the agency later filed a closure report, stating that no undue benefit had been granted to JLD Yavatmal by the Coal Ministry during the coal block allocation. --IANSspr/dpb ELKO Nevada Gold Mines has committed to funding $100,000 in scholarships for students pursuing a bachelors degree through the Great Basin College Social Work Program. NGM Behavioral Health Scholarships will be awarded to junior and senior students who reside in Elko, Lander, Humboldt, and Eureka counties. Students must be committed to working in northern Nevada for three years following graduation. NGM is proud to provide this new scholarship at Great Basin College to support students pursuing careers in behavioral health. It is our hope that this will help to address the shortage of professionals in rural Nevada, as the health of our local communities is a top priority for NGM, said Peter Richardson, Executive Managing Director for Nevada Gold Mines. The Great Basin College and University of Nevada, Reno 3+1 Collaborative Program helps students receive an Associate of Arts while pursuing a bachelors degree in social work. In the program, students first complete three years of coursework (approximately 90 credits) through Great Basin College then finish the remaining 30 credits through the University of Nevada, Reno. Courses are delivered both online and through a hybrid format, although some travel to Reno is required. It is fantastic that NGM recognizes the need for mental health professionals, and we are thrilled to accept this generous donation to help train social workers in rural Nevada, said Laura Debenham, Social Work Program Director. The scholarships will have a direct impact on rural Nevadans. It will help fill the need for mental health professionals, as well as provide opportunities for those who are interested in making a difference while they make a living through social work. The Bachelor of Social Work prepares students for entry-level professional social work within child welfare, community development, corrections, employee assistance, health care settings, and mental health amongst many others. Upon completion of the degree, students may also choose to apply to graduate programs. Social workers play a key role in communities identifying people in need of help, said Dr. Amber Donnelli, Associate Vice President for Faculty Success. The scholarship funding provided by NGM will allow more opportunities for future social workers to provide counseling, therapy and other support services that are needed in our community. For more information about this scholarship or the GBC Social Work Program, contact the GBC Health Sciences and Human Services Department at 775-327-2317 or Laura Debenham at laura.debenham@gbcnv.edu. Kolkata, July 26 : West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee on Wednesday justified his decision to turn down BJP's adjournment motion for discussion on atrocities against women in the state on the floor of the House and said the Speaker's table cannot be treated as a post office. On Wednesday, the fashion designer-turned-politician Agnimitra Paul wanted to read out the adjournment motion which was turned down by the the Speaker. This infuriated the the BJP legislators who protested and staged a walk-out. Later, the Speaker said that there is proper procedure for seeking discussion on any matter. According to him, the decision on discussion in the matter can be decided after evaluating the subject for discussion. "The table of the Speaker cannot be treated like a post office where someone can seek a discussion on any subject by presenting a letter when the house session is already on. Discussions on the floor of the house do not happen in such a manner," he said. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, after returning to Kolkata from New Delhi on Wednesday afternoon, said that BJP's legislative party will move another adjournment motion seeking discussion on the overall law & order situation in the state. BJP's legislative party has also alleged that not a single adjournment motion moved by their members was admitted during the last two-and-a-half years. New Delhi, July 26 : Online food-delivery platform Swiggy and private sector HDFC Bank on Wednesday announced the launch of the Swiggy HDFC Bank co-branded credit card. The co-branded credit card, the first ever from Swiggy, will be hosted on Mastercard's payment network. The credit card will provide cardholders rewards and benefits across various online platforms, including Swiggy, according to the company. "We recognise that modern-day consumers actively seek rewards, offers, and cashback programs that add value to their spending. Keeping this in mind, we have launched this all-encompassing card in partnership with HDFC Bank and Mastercard that makes everyday shopping moments across a range of categories more rewarding and convenient," Rahul Bothra, Chief Financial Officer, Swiggy, said in a statement. The credit card users will be able to unlock a wide range of benefits including a 10 per cent cashback on Swiggy spends across food delivery, quick commerce grocery delivery, dining out, and more. The cardholders will also receive a rewarding 5 per cent cashback on shopping across a multitude of platforms, including leading e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Nykaa, Ola, Uber, PharmEasy, NetMeds, BookmyShow, and many more, the company said. "Dining and Grocery are at the core of customer's daily needs, and with this strategic collaboration we are offering convenience of both categories bundled with great value. The cardholders will be able to enjoy exclusive deals and unparalleled convenience on an array of products and services," Parag Rao, Country Head Payment Business, Consumer Finance, Technology and Digital Banking, HDFC Bank, said in a statement. Moreover, the company said that as a welcome benefit, the cardholders will enjoy a complimentary 3-month Swiggy One membership, the country's only membership programme offering benefits across food, grocery, dining out, and pick-up and drop services. The credit card will be rolled-out in a phased manner on the Swiggy app over the next 7-10 days, after which all eligible customers will be able to apply for it. Prayagraj, July 26 : The management committee of the Gyanvapi mosque has apprehended that the historic structure may fall during the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey. Seeking a stay on the ASI survey, the committee today on Wednesday Allahabad High Court that Gyanvapi mosque has stood at the place, next to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple, for 1,000 years now. This prompted a sharp response from the court, which asked the petitioners how they will trust the court's ruling that if they cannot trust the ASI's assurances that there will no damage to the structure. On the Hindu side submitted that it trusts a survey similar to one that happened in the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi case in Ayodhya but the mosque committee said the circumstances in the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute case were different and there cannot be a comparison with it. "The talk of a temple under Gyanvapi mosque is fictional," the petitioners' counsel said, adding that imagination cannot be the basis for allowing a survey by the ASI. The Hindu side has claimed that a temple constructed at the site in 1585 on the orders of Raja Todarmal but was demolished in 1669. A group of Hindu women have now sought permission to worship the deities there, they said. The mosque committee said that the women petitioners had told a lower court that they do not have proof of the presence of Hindu deities inside the mosque complex and that the ASI must gather them. "This cannot be allowed. You cannot ask someone else to gather proof. This is illegal," they said while challenging the lower court's direction for the survey. The Hindu side said that an ASI survey can be seen as an expert opinion. When the court asked the Hindu side if excavation was necessary, its counsel said: "Yes, but this won't be inside the mosque. ASI will do radar mapping. Excavation will also be conducted if circumstances demand, that too in the last stage." Following the Hindu side's submissions on how this excavation will be conducted, the court said: "Either you videograph the survey or submit that there will be no damage to the mosque." The Hindu side's counsel agreed to this. The court also responded sharply to the mosque committee's submission that the Hindu side's lawyer would be responsible if the structure falls. To the Hindu side's assurances that no survey will be held in the area sealed under orders from Supreme Court, the mosque committee said that area will also suffer damage if the survey is conducted. On their submission that the structure won't be damaged, he asked: "Are you going to drill or is it like a vacuum cleaner? Have you ever done this work earlier?" When the ASI said they have, the Chief Justice asked if there are photos of those projects. "The court is putting strong doubts to the work to be carried out by you," he said. The court will resume the hearing at 4.30 p.m. Cuttack, July 26 : President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday urged legal professionals to work towards expeditious trial and speedy dispensation of justice. Addressing the valedictory function of 75th year celebrations of the Orissa High Court at Cuttack, the President said that the legal profession in India has earned the trust and respect of the citizens. It stands strong as one of the important pillars of the world's largest democracy. The legal professionals should work towards expeditious trial and quick justice. It can set free those innocents who are languishing in jail on trivial charges, she said. There are instances of people imprisoned for periods longer than the punishment stipulated for the crimes of which they were accused. Due to this, innocent persons lose their important period of life, President Murmu said. On the other side, she said, victims also lose the hope for not seeing the guilty facing the legal consequences. Such delays are a major concern. So, she urged all associated with the High Court of Orissa to work towards speedy dispensation of justice and set an example for the entire country. The President further said that Indian Constitution-makers have given priority to the delivery of justice to the socially and economically underprivileged sections of society. "People from the deprived sections of the society neither have much knowledge nor have resources to access justice. Therefore, it is a question before us 'how would they get justice?' There is a need for deep churning on this question," the President said. Speaking about the 75th year celebrations of the High Court of Orissa, the President said that the High Court of Orissa has set many high standards in its glorious journey of 75 years. The luminaries of this High Court include a long list of Justices like Babu Jagannath Das, Ranganath Misra, Radha Charan Patnaik, Deba Priya Mohapatra, Gopala Ballav Patnaik, Arijit Pasayat, Ananga Kumar Patnaik and Dipak Misra who became Judges of the Supreme Court and some of them also served as the Chief Justice of India, pointed out Murmu. Behind the reputation of this court is the contribution, loyalty, dedication towards work and vast amount of knowledge of the past and present Chief Justices, Judges, advocates and staff of this High Court, she stated. The President said that any institution which doesn't change with the change of time, lags behind. She noted that the Orissa HC has endeavoured to incorporate technological advancements in the justice delivery system. She appreciated the High Court for streamlining and accelerating the justice delivery system through several modern, innovative and technology-driven changes. The President said that natural calamities pose a challenge to humanity. Adaptation to nature is the need of the hour. Along with the executive and legislature, the judiciary should also give top priority to environment and wildlife protection, she suggested. The first citizen of India initiated her address by paying tributes to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the Kargil War. She noted that many soldiers from Odisha are among those who sacrificed their lives in the service of Mother India. Major Padmapani Acharya was honoured with Maha Vir Chakra for his contribution. The bravery of these soldiers will always remain a source of inspiration for our citizens, she added. Thiruvananthapuram, July 26 : Kerala's popular toddy, often known as the poor man's scotch, has got the nod from the state government when the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet on Wednesday decided to brand all toddy produced in the state as Kerala Toddy. Another boost to toddy came when sanction was accorded for all hotels which are three star and above besides resorts located in tourist spots to tap fresh toddy and serve it to guests. There was a time when the toddy shops in the state were known more for their unclean environment, than the toddy. Around 3,500 such shops will now get a classification depending on the facilities that they will be offering. A decision has also been made to promote planting of trees to increase toddy production in the state. Toddy tapped in Kerala is available in two varieties, one from the coconut trees and the other from the palm trees. Toddy tapped from the coconut bunches is collected in a mud pot. Due to the sediment in the pot, the juice which is similar to the colour of milk that gets collected in four hours time gets fermented, has an alcohol content of 5 to 8 per cent. About 1.5 litres toddy is collected both in the morning and evening from one bunch. This is available in toddy shops at a price ranging around Rs 70 for a 750 ml bottle. For the farmer , for each bunch of toddy tapped on a coconut tree, he gets an income of around Rs 500 for a 45 day period, when the bunch gets fully tapped. But in the case of toddy tapped from palm trees, which too is collected in mud pots, the total production is around 40 litres from one bunch in one day. Delhi HC directs Railways not to take action on notices issued to mosques for demolition. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, July 26 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Railways administration not to take any action based on the notices attached to two mosques here which demanded the removal of alleged unauthorised structures and encroachment on railway land. Justice Prateek Jalan was hearing a plea filed by the Delhi Waqf Board, challenging the two notices affixed to the walls of Masjid Takia Babbar Shah and Bengali Market Mosque, situated near the Railway Bridge and Babar Road railway line, respectively. The Board has argued that both mosques are waqf properties, and neither the land underneath them belongs to the Railways, nor are the mosques unauthorised structures. The court has now directed the Centre to seek necessary instructions in respect to the plea and said that the notices were unsigned, undated, and did not specify the issuing authority. The judge then ordered that no action should be taken based on these notices for the time being. The Board's plea states that other than the impugned notices being generic, unsigned and undated, they were not sent to them directly. From the content of the notices, it appears that the respondents (Railways) are planning to demolish the mosques making the action malicious, arbitrary, and without any valid reason. The plea further argues that since the notices lack a specific date and signature and were affixed to the mosques instead of being delivered to the Board's office, there is an apprehension that the Railways might proceed with the demolition without any restraint unless directed by this court. New Delhi, July 26 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday restored the special leave petition filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, which was inadvertently disposed of on July 24, when order staying survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid till 5 p.m. July 26 was passed by it. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud was informed by senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the mosque management committee that the court while disposing of the application for interim relief had inadvertently ordered for disposal of the main plea as well. The Supreme Court directed for revival of the pending appeal after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also acknowledged the inadvertent error. In an interim relief passed on July 24, the Supreme Court ordered that Varanasi court's direction allowing an extensive survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid by Archaeological Survey of India will not be enforced till 5 p.m. on Wednesday. The top court asked the Masjid Committee to move the Allahabad High Court to challenge the order passed by the Varanasi District Court. The main plea filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee under Article 136 of the Constitution challenges the order of the Allahabad High Court upholding maintainability of Hindu worshipper's suit filed before the Varanasi court. In its order passed on May 31, the High Court had dismissed the revision application filed against rejection of application under Order VII Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) by the District Judge. The district court had held that the suit seeking relief of the right to worship the deities located in the disputed property can be tried and is not barred under the Places of Worship Act, 1991, Waqf Act, 1995, or Uttar Pradesh Sri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Act. New Delhi, July 26 : The fact-finding team of BJP MPs, which probed the incidents of violence in the Panchayat elections in West Bengal, submitted its report to party's national president Jagat Prakash Nadda on Wednesday, recommending investigation of all the cases registered, by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and National Investigation Agency (NIA). "Today, we have submitted our report to party president. We noticed a sickening symbol of shameful democracy in West Bengal during the Panchayat elections. Entire machinery was engaged to make Mamata (Banerjee) win," said senior BJP leader and convenor of the fact-finding committee, Ravi Shankar Prasad at a presser here, referring to the report submitted to Nadda in the wake of their visit to several parts of the state. He said, "Despite of several orders by the High Court , the way the violence took place during the polls is very much shameful and unfortunate." Referring to the incidents of violence, atrocities against women and killing of people, Prasad said, "What is this ? This is condemnable. Mamata ji, we are constraint to observe that you have not only ruined, but also suppressed the creative soul of Bengal." If the elections were conducted in a "fair" way, then BJP would swept the polls, he claimed. "The fact-finding team in its recommendations has demanded that because of the complicit, biased nature of the Bengal police and administration, it is only appropriate that all the cases should be investigated by the CBI. All the cases of bomb explosion should be investigated by the NIA," Prasad said. The senior BJP also took a swipe at Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and questioned her silence on atrocities against women in West Bengal. "Why is she silent? This is hypocrisy," Prasad asked Vadra. Earlier in the day, Prasad along with members of the fact-finding committee, met Nadda and handed over the report to him. Meanwhile, the BJP chief in a tweet wrote, "Received the report by the BJP fact-finding team, constituted to inquire about the incidents of violence during the Panchayat Election in West Bengal." "The state government's arrogance and utter disrespect for democratic processes are dismaying. The BJP will continue to fight for the people's voice in West Bengal in a democratic way," Nadda added. Mumbai, July 26 : Actor Karanvir Bohra, who is famous as the bad man of television as he has played many dark characters in television shows, has said that he hates playing positive characters on television. Karanvir, who is currently seen in the show 'Hum Rahein Na Rahein Hum', in an exclusive interview spoke about the show and much more. The actor who has played many negative characters on television screen is again seen playing a negative role in this show as well. He said: "I like playing negative roles. I hesitate performing positive roles on television because I feel there is not much to perform.You get stuck in that role. I hate playing positive characters on television." Talking about the love the show 'Hum Rahein Na Rahein Hum' is getting, he said: "People are loving and watching the show. We all are very happy that our hard work is getting paid off. Now Anita Hassandani has entered the show and in the following weeks, many new twists and dramas will be unveiled." Karanvir is seen performing action scenes in the show. "I love doing action and stunts. It's my dream to be a part of any historical show and ride horses and do stunts. I enjoy doing fight sequences and action," he said. About his future projects, he said: "I cannot disclose anything about my upcoming project right now. But it is a crazy show and I am sure the audience will love it. Just wait till August and details will be revealed about the same." Chennai, July 26 : The Kuruvai farmers of the delta belts of Tamil Nadu are worried for want of Cauvery waters. Several farmers have abandoned Kuruvai farming and according to local farmers and farmers organisations, paddy farming in thousands of acres have been abandoned. P.M. Krishnamoorthy, a farmer who regularly does Kuruvai farming, told IANS that the lack of Cauvery water has taken its toll on the agriculturists of Tamil Nadu. He said that the low realization of Cauvery water by Karnataka was the prime reason for the failure of the crops. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, O. Panneerselvam (OPS) who stands ousted from the AIADMK said that the Kuruvai farmers of Delta regions of Tamil Nadu were suffering. In a statement, the expelled leader of the AIADMK said that the Chief Minister M.K. Stalin should speak with his compatriot in Karnataka and ensure that a regular supply of Cauvery water reaches Tamil Nadu. He said that the farmers were in panic and that the Chief Minister must immediately bring out a solution to the woes of the Kuruvai paddy farmers of Tamil Nadu. The former Chief Minister demanded a compensation of Rs 35 thousand per acre as compensation to the farmers. China supports South Africa in hosting the BRICS Summit and stands ready to work with South Africa and other BRICS partners to make the BRICS mechanism bigger and stronger, senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi said here Tuesday. Wang, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, minister in the Presidency of South Africa and the country's coordinator of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security. The BRICS mechanism is the most important cooperation platform for emerging markets and developing countries, and it is in line with the trend of the times and the aspirations of most countries, Wang said, adding that the BRICS mechanism also represents the correct way forward. He said that China firmly advocates multilateralism, actively promotes democracy in international relations, upholds the basic norms governing international relations, safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, and promotes regional and world peace and stability. China will, as always, support South Africa in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and national dignity, and is ready to strengthen high-level exchanges with South Africa, deepen inter-party exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust, and expand cooperation in fields including trade and poverty reduction, Wang said. Noting that China supports South Africa in accelerating its industrial process and enhancing its capacity for independent development, Wang said that China encourages competent and reputable Chinese enterprises to invest in South Africa and hopes that the country will provide a sound and stable business environment for them. China is ready to deepen cooperation with South Africa and other African countries, help African countries accelerate the realization of Agenda 2063, promote African integration, and inject new vitality into the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future, he added. For her part, Ntshavheni said that South Africa highly appreciates China's commitment to deepening BRICS cooperation, and is willing to coordinate closely with China and other BRICS countries to ensure the success of the BRICS summit, so as to open up new prospects for BRICS cooperation. South Africa firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is willing to keep close high-level exchanges with China, strengthen cooperation in economy, trade, investment, mineral processing and other fields, and push South Africa-China and Africa-China relations to a new level, said Ntshavheni. New Delhi : Lok Sabha MPs during the Monsoon session of Parliament. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, July 26 : Amid protests by the Congress-led opposition, which has been seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response and presence in the Lok Sabha on the Manipur situation, the Lower House on Wednesday passed the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023. The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day, soon after the Bill was passed. The Bill seeks to amend the Forest Conservation Act (1980), which was brought in to prevent exploitation of India's forest reserves and gave powers to the Central government to compensate adequately for any land used for non-forest purposes. The proposed legislation also exempts certain types of land from the purview of the Act. These include land within 100 km of India's border needed for national security projects, small roadside amenities, and public roads leading to a habitation. The state government requires prior approval of the central government to assign any forest land to a private entity. The Bill extends this to all entities, and allows the assignment to be made on terms and conditions specified by the central government. The bill was passed within 40 minutes through voice vote after only four MPs participated in the discussion on it. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, while replying to a discussion on the Bill, said it has been brought in to encourage agro-forestry, biodiversity and increased tree cover. He further said that the proposed legislationaims to boost road connectivity in Left Wing extremism affected areas as well as border and tribal areas. The Bill was first introduced in Lok Sabha on March 29 this year during the budget session of Parliament. It was, however, referred to the joint committee of Parliament, led by BJP MP Rajendra Agrawal for scrutiny amid objections raised by several opposition members. The committee,s report, accepting all provisions of the Bill, was laid in Parliament on July 20. Though several opposition members from Congress, Trinamool Congress and DMK had sent dissent notes to the joint panel, they were overruled and the report was laid in both Houses of Parliament. --IANSans/dpb Koppal : , July 26 (IANS) Congress lawmaker and former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Wednesday that he will follow the order of the party high command on contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha polls against Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. Speaking to reporters in Koppal, Shettar, a former BJP man, made the statement while answering a question on rumors that he would be pitted against Joshi in the Lingayat-dominated Hubballi-Dharwad parliamentary constituency. "I will follow the orders of the high command and carry out the instructions and responsibilities given by the party. However, no discussion has been held regarding Lok Sabha elections until now," he said. "We are going to win at least 15 seats in Karnataka in the parliamentary elections. We can also win up to 20 seats. The Congress has made me a MLC and is taking care of me respectfully. The party has also promised me of additional responsibilities and posts. I have come out of BJP for self-respect and there is no question of returning to the BJP. I will strive for the victory of the Congress party in Dharwad and other regions," he said. "What is the position of BJP in the state currently? They had come down to 66 seats. They are not able to appoint a Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. Even as the tenure of state President is over, they are not able to replace him. The BJP is not able to find leaders," Shettar said. "No party today has ideology and morality. BJP will make rowdy sheeters its candidates. What morality has been left in the party?" he asked. The Vatican creates own guidelines against misuse of AI in ChatGPT era. Image Source: IANS News New York, July 26 : In a significant experiment, a US medical school used Open AI's Chat-GPT 4 to see if it can make accurate diagnoses in challenging medical cases. Physician-researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston found that Chat-GPT 4 selected the correct diagnosis nearly 40 per cent of the time. Chat-GPT 4 also provided the correct diagnosis in its list of potential diagnoses in two-thirds of challenging cases, revealed the findings, published in JAMA. "Recent advances in artificial intelligence have led to generative AI models that are capable of detailed text-based responses that score highly in standardised medical examinations," said Adam Rodman, co-director of the Innovations in Media and Education Delivery (iMED) Initiative at BIDMC. "We wanted to know if such a generative model could athinka like a doctor, so we asked one to solve standardised complex diagnostic cases used for educational purposes. It did really, really well," said Rodman, also an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. To assess the chatbotas diagnostic skills, Rodman and colleagues used clinicopathological case conferences (CPCs), a series of complex and challenging patient cases including relevant clinical and laboratory data, imaging studies, and histopathological findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine for educational purposes. Evaluating 70 CPC cases, the artificial intelligence exactly matched the final CPC diagnosis in 27 (39 per cent) of cases. In 64 per cent of the cases, the final CPC diagnosis was included in the AIas differential -- a list of possible conditions that could account for a patientas symptoms, medical history, clinical findings and laboratory or imaging results. "While chatbots cannot replace the expertise and knowledge of a trained medical professional, generative AI is a promising potential adjunct to human cognition in diagnosis," said first author Zahir Kanjee, a hospitalist at BIDMC and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "It has the potential to help physicians make sense of complex medical data and broaden or refine our diagnostic thinking," he said. While the study adds to a growing body of literature demonstrating the promising capabilities of AI technology, more research is needed on its optimal uses, benefits and limits, importantly on privacy issues to understand how these new AI models might transform health care delivery. --IANS rvt/vd Bhopal, July 26 : The father of Anju, who left her family in Rajasthan to go over to Pakistan and married her Facebook friend there, expressed his anger at her action, saying she has "died" for the family. The eldest of six sibling, Anju was married off to Arvind Kumar, a resident of Bhiwadi (Rajasthan) more than 15 years back and the couple have two children. Her father Gayaprasad Thomas, a resident of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, said Anju had visited them in 2020 along with her husband and kids. He said that her husband, who works with a private company in Bhiwadi, was also clueless as to what led to her going to Pakistan. "She was my eldest child and her marriage was solemnised with Arvind around 15-16 years back... but, what she did, she has defamed family and the country. She has also ruined the future of her two children," Thomas, who works as a tailor, said while talking to reporters at his residence on Wednesday. Asked if she had converted to Islam, he said he had no information in this regard. "What will happen to her children, her husband? Who will take care of her children a 13-year-old girl and a five-year-old boy," he added. Asked whether he will appeal to the Indian government to bring her back, Thomas said: "No. Instead, I would pray to let her die there." Thomas claimed he has no idea how she got the passport or visa for Pakistan. On Monday, Thomas had described his daughter as "mentally disturbed and eccentric". Earlier in the day, a report said that Anju married her Facebook friend in Pakistan after converting to Islam and is now known as Fatima. As per the reports, the 34-year-old woman was staying at her 29-year-old Pakistani friend Nasrullah's home in Pakistan. Chandigarh, July 26 : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal on Wednesday said the minority Sikh community of Jammu and Kashmir should not be discriminated against and that two seats should be reserved for community members in the assembly along with two seats proposed for Kashmiri Pandits. In a statement here, the SAD president said he had received representations from the Sikh community as well as the Movement for Justice for Refugees of 1947 from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "The SAD is of the firm opinion that one seat should be reserved for Sikhs residing in Jammu and Kashmir regions respectively, while additional seats should be reserved for those who were forced to relocate to J&K in 1947, including Sikhs." Stating that ignoring the Sikh minority community of Jammu and Kashmir while reserving seats for other communities would be a great injustice to the community, Badal said: "The population of Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir is same as that of Kashmiri Pandits and they have also suffered great hardships since 1947. Moreover the Sikh community has fought for preserving the unity and integrity of the country by rising up against the proxy Pakistan invasion of 1947 besides suffering the loss of 200 lives, including 36 lost in the one single massacre at Chittisingh Pura." Asserting that the Sikh community had stayed put in Jammu and Kashmir while others migrated, Badal said "a community which fought atrocities and kept the nationalist spirit alive in the trouble-torn state should not be given step-motherly treatment". He also noted that nearly all three lakh Sikhs settled in Jammu alone were 'displaced persons' of 1947 from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and they should be given appropriate representation in the assembly as per their population. He said these displaced persons who had fought the Pakistan-sponsored tribal raiders besides facing massacres and sacrificed thousands of lives in the last seven decades should not be ignored. Withdrawal of DJ Halli-KG Halli violence case considered, says Ktaka Min; BJP dubs it 'betrayal'. Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru, July 26 : The ruling Congress and BJP have come to confrontational mode yet again over the withdrawal of cases against the accused in the sensational DJ Halli-KG Halli violence case in the city. Karnataka Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwara on Wednesday stated that if legally permissible, the cases would be withdrawn against the accused persons. Reacting to this, former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has stated that the withdrawal cases would be a betrayal to the people of the state. He also stated that the matter would be taken to the people and legal battle would be waged against the move. Speaking to reporters, Minister Parameshwara said that many legislators are giving him letters to withdraw the cases against organisations. The cases can't be withdrawn immediately as they demand. There is a procedure for it. The matter has to be discussed in the cabinet sub-committee. The panel would take a decision after considering the pros and cons. Later, it will come to the state cabinet. After considering the report of the committee, if there is truth and if it is legally permissible, the cases will be withdrawn, the minister stated. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, reacting to the issue, stated that the issue would be discussed at the government levels. Meanwhile, Basavaraj Bommai addressing a press conference charged the Congress government that the act of protecting the accused of DJ Halli and KG Halli who rebelled against the government is a betrayal to the people of the state. Moreover, protecting those who burnt the house of a Dalit Congress party MLA reflects the anti-Dalit policy of the government. Congress MLA Tanveer Sait had written a letter to the Home Minister Parameshwara requesting withdrawal of cases against the accused. The DJ Halli and KG Halli violence incident is a matter of utmost seriousness. In this case the police station, police vehicles and MLA's house were burnt, Bommai said. This was a case of rebellion against the government. The decision has been taken to protect the accused even as they waged a war against the state. The criminal elements and forces would get a feeling of courage that they can do away with anything. The move is clear that the Congress government wants to protect those who rebelled against the state, Basavaraj Bommai maintained. Bommai stated, NIA has taken up the probe of the DJ Halli and KG Halli incident. There is clear evidence to show the involvement of the PFI and SDPI parties. The investigation has been done and a charge sheet has been submitted. How can they take back the cases investigated by the NIA? "When we were in power, there was pressure to withdraw the cases. But, the accused were caught with sufficient evidence and arrested. I give a warning to this ruling Congress government, by withdrawing the cases of the accused who burnt the police station by rebelling against the state is a betrayal to the people. The state government should not yield to pressure," he urged. The situation could be reined in as strict action was taken. There is information that the CM Siddaramaiah is under pressure by few organizations to take back the cases. The CM should take a clear stand on whether to punish these anti-nationals or take back cases. These forces have helped Congress to come to power to a great extent and the ruling Congress government is under their mercy, Basavaraj Bommai charged. He further attacked that the Congress government is showing anti-Dalit stand as the accused had then burnt a sitting Dalit MLA's house. The attempts were made to protect the former mayor and corporator then. Now, the charge sheet is ready against them. The government is trying to protect them in this backdrop. "We will not sit quiet and leave the matter here. The matter will be taken to the people and legal battle would be waged, Bommai warned. DJ Halli and KG Halli violence incident had taken place in Aug, 2020 in Bengaluru. The violence erupted following the objectionable post on Prophet Mohammad. The violent mob had torched the police station and burnt down then sitting MLA Akhanda Srinivasmurthy's residence. The police had opened fire killing three persons to rein in the situation. mka IANS New Delhi, July 26 : Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday hailed the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government's scheme for the gig workers in the state saying it will provide financial security to the workers of the gig economy and will also become basis for reliable employment. "To give more than 3 lakh gig workers of Rajasthan their rights and self-respect, the Congress government of the state has implemented a new law, which is the first such law in India. This law will provide financial security to the workers of gig economy, will become the basis of reliable employment for crore of youth," the Gandhi scion said in a tweet. He pointed out that he had promised the youth during Bharat Jodo Yatra to bring a scheme for them. "During my Bhatrat Jodo Yatra, I had met many gig workers, some taxi drivers, some delivery men uncertain futures in work, and also risky due to always being on the streets. All of them said one thing, they work hard day and night but they do not have any financial security, neither the government listens to them, nor brings any concrete plan for them," he said. "This is also being discussed in Karnataka, and in the recent budget, accident insurance of up to Rs 4 lakh was announced for them. We are making policies that help them as well as those who employ them. We always stand with the poor and hard working people of India, so that they get the fruits of their penance. Whatever we promise to them, we show it by fulfilling it. When every hardworking countryman gets economic strength and full rights, then only India will unite," the Congress leader added. His remarks came after the Rajasthan government on Monday passed a bill to register platform-based gig workers and their aggregators and to provide a social net to an army of mostly youngsters who have become an integral part of everyday life but are paid poorly and enjoy little job security. The Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill seeks to set up a welfare fund, making the state helmed by Chief Minister and Congress veteran Ashok Gehlot the first to get such a piece of legislation passed. Activists described the bill as 'historic'. With no party likely to get a majority, who will align with whom is the big question. Image Source: IANS News Srinagar, July 26 : Jammu and Kashmir mainstream political parties on Wednesday opposed the Centre's likely plan to table a bill in the current session of the Parliament reserving seats by nomination for Kashmir Pandits and Pakistan occupied Kashmir migrants in legislative assembly. The bill likely to be introduced by the government proposes two seats in the legislative assembly for migrant Kashmiri Pandits and one for Pakistan occupied Kashmir migrants living here. The seats would be nominated by the LG as per the proposed bill and the nominated members would have the power to vote for electing the leader with majority in the house to become the chief minister. National Conference (NC) Spokesman Tanvir Sadiq has opposed the bill saying that this would be subversion of the democratic process as the LG would have the power to nominate these members and not the elected government. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former minister Naeem Akhtar said that the proposed power to LG members indicates a brazen bid by New Delhi to have veto power in an elected house. Peopleas Conference Spokesman Adnan Mir also opposed the move saying that the proposed bill intends to equip LG with authority that would bypass all constitutional requirement of seeking advice from the council of minister. New Delhi, July 26 : A woman was killed by her 29-year-old son after she did not allow him to sell the property in north Delhi, police said on Wednesday, adding that they have nabbed the accused. The accused was identified as Deepak. The incident came to light on Tuesday morning when the police control room (PCR) received a distress call at 9:48 a.m., reporting a murder at Shora Kothi, Ghantaghar Subzi Mandi. The caller was none other than the deceased's daughter, Charu. Upon arriving at the scene, a police team discovered the lifeless body of the victim, Indu, lying in one of the bedrooms. Charu informed the police that her brother, Deepak, had killed their mother and had already fled the scene when she made the PCR call. Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), Sagar Singh Kalsi, revealed that to prevent Deepak's escape, the teams quickly cordoned off the surrounding streets. "Investigations revealed that the deceased had been living with her son, Deepak, who had a history of physically abusing her on a daily basis. The accused was known to be a habitual drunkard and unemployed, making matters worse," said the DCP. The crime scene examination indicated that Indu had sustained multiple injuries to her face, neck, and hand. "It was evident that her body had been dragged from one room to another. The police called in the Crime Team and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to gather evidence, and they managed to seize blood-stained clothes from the premises," said the DCP. In her statement to the police, Charu explained that Deepak had been married a few years ago but his wife had left him after enduring months of merciless beatings. She further revealed that Deepak had a history of violent behaviour, having also assaulted their elder brother, Mohit, who had tragically passed away a few years back. Deepak, without any legitimate source of income, led an extravagant lifestyle. Earlier this year, he had sold a house that belonged to their mother, using the money to buy luxury items such as a large-screen television and a car, which he barely drove. According to Charu's statement, Deepak had now set his sights on selling the property at Shora Kothi, Ghantaghar, to fund his drinking habits and move to a different residence. However, Indu firmly opposed the idea of selling their family home, leading to a confrontation that turned deadly. During the investigation, the police conducted a thorough search of the Shora Kothi area, eventually apprehending Deepak from a hiding spot under an unused cot in one of the buildings in the locality. In his confession, Deepak revealed that on Monday night at approximately 8:30 p.m., he and his mother were in the same bedroom when she asked him to turn off the air conditioner. Enraged by a phone call with his sister Charu, during which his mother complained about his abusive behaviour, Deepak attacked her with a sharp-edged danda (stick), causing severe injuries to her head, face, neck, and hand, rendering her unconscious. He then moved her to another room, leaving her on the floor, and informed Charu through a video call that their mother was unconscious. "Deepak admitted that he knew she was already dead, but Charu did not suspect it since their mother had lost consciousness in the past after his beatings," said the DCP. Deepak, intoxicated from alcohol, planned to flee after a few hours of rest, assuming that Charu would not visit during the night. However, he overslept and was only awakened when both of his sisters arrived at his door, ultimately leading to his arrest. 'Yet to decide on pulling out from NDA despite pressure': Mizoram CM. Image Source: IANS News Aizawl, July 26 : Mizoram Chief Minister and president of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) Zoramthanga on Wednesday said that his party is yet to decide on pulling out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Many MNF leaders and the party's two parliamentarians from Mizoram -- C. Lalrosanga of Lok Sabha and K. Vanlalvena of Rajya Sabha -- have expressed their desire to withdraw the party's support from the NDA on the Manipur unrest and Uniform Civil Code (UCC) issues. Zoramthanga, who along with his ministers and MNF MLAs, took part in the Tuesday's 'Solidarity March', organised by the NGOs Coordination Committee in the Mizoram to express solidarity with the violence Kuki-Zo tribals in Manipur, said that so far the party has not decided withdrawal of support from NDA and it depends upon political necessity. "We are an ally of NDA but we totally oppose UCC. We also want immediate restoration of peace and normalcy in Manipur," the MNF supremo told the media in Aizawl. Zoramthanga on Monday, while addressing the party workers said that the state government and the MNF party are not afraid of the NDA government at the Centre. "Political parties in India are allied with the BJP-led NDA or recently Congress-led INDIA. MNF is an ally of the NDA. Though we are supporting the NDA, we do not support the policies and objectives of the NDA," he had told the workers. No other party has firmly opposed the proposed UCC in the recent NDA meeting than the MNF as most parties are keen to maintain good terms with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added. The MNF is also the partner of the BJP-led anti-Congress alliance, North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of which is convener. Lok Sabha Member C. Lalrosanga and Rajya Sabha member K. Vanlalvena separately said that they are waiting for a signal from the MNF leadership about the withdrawal of support from the NDA over the issues of Manipur violence, attacks on the tribals and the proposed UCC. Lalrosanga said that the sentiments of the people of Mizoram are with the Manipur tribal community as they are the kindred brothers of the Mizos. Either Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh must quit his post or President's Rule be imposed in the violence hit state to protect the tribals and to restore peace, Lalrosanga said. Supporting Lalrosanga, Rajya Sabha member K. Vanlalvena said that it has become more and more embarrassing to be a constituent of the NDA. The elections to the 40-member Mizoram assembly would be held by the end of this year. Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang (Photo: VNA) Replying to a reporters question about Vietnams viewpoint on the results of the 7th NA election of Cambodia, she said as a neighbour of Cambodia and also a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnam always wishes Cambodia peace, stability and prosperous development, and the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries constant growth for the sake of the two peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. In that spirit, Vietnam congratulates Cambodian on the successful organisation of the 7th NA election on July 23, 2023, the spokeswoman noted./. Bengaluru, July 26 : Karnataka's ruling Congress and opposition BJP have come to a confrontational mode yet again over the proposed withdrawal of cases against the accused in the sensational DJ Halli-KG Halli violence case in the city. Karnataka Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwara on Wednesday stated that if legally permissible, the cases would be withdrawn against the accused persons. Reacting to this, former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has stated that the withdrawal cases would be a betrayal to the people of the state. He also stated that the matter would be taken to the people and a legal battle would be waged against the move. Talking to reporters, Parameshwara said that many legislators are giving him letters to withdraw the cases against the organisations. The cases can't be withdrawn immediately as they demand and there is a procedure for it, he said. "The matter has to be discussed in the cabinet sub-committee. The panel would take a decision after considering the pros and cons. Later, it will come to the state cabinet. After considering the report of the committee, if there is truth and if it is legally permissible, the cases will be withdrawn," he added. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, reacting to the issue, stated that the issue would be discussed. Meanwhile, Bommai, addressing a press conference, said that the act of protecting the accused of DJ Halli and KG Halli who rebelled against the government is a betrayal to the people of the state. Moreover, protecting those who burnt the house of a Dalit Congress party MLA reflects the anti-Dalit policy of the government, he alleged. The DJ Halli and KG Halli violence incident is a matter of utmost seriousness. In this case the police station, police vehicles and MLA's house were burnt, Bommai said. "This was a case of rebellion against the government. The decision has been taken to protect the accused even as they waged a war against the state. The criminal elements and forces would get a feeling of courage that they can do away with anything. The move is clear that the Congress government wants to protect those who rebelled against the state," he said. Bommai noted that the NIA has taken up the probe of the DJ Halli and KG Halli incident and alleged that there is clear evidence to show the involvement of the PFI and SDPI parties. "The investigation has been done and a charge sheet has been submitted. How can they take back the cases investigated by the NIA?" he asked. "When we were in power, there was pressure to withdraw the cases. But, the accused were caught with sufficient evidence and arrested. I give a warning to this ruling Congress government, by withdrawing the cases of the accused who burnt the police station by rebelling against the state is a betrayal to the people. The state government should not yield to pressure," he urged. He further accused the Congress government of showing an "anti-Dalit stand" as the accused had then burnt a sitting Dalit MLA's house. The attempts were made to protect the former mayor and corporator then. Now, the charge sheet is ready against them, he said. "We will not sit quiet and leave the matter here. The matter will be taken to the people and legal battle would be waged," Bommai warned. DJ Halli and KG Halli violence incident had taken place in August 2020 in Bengaluru. The violence erupted following the objectionable post on Prophet Mohammad. The violent mob had torched the police station and burnt down then sitting MLA Akhanda Srinivasmurthy's residence. The police had opened fire, killing three persons. New Delhi, 26 July : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that free hand has been given to the armed forces to deal sternly with the enemies of the nation. "No compromise will be made in protecting the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country. We have given a free hand to the armed forces to eliminate the nation's enemies," the Defence Minister said on the occasion of 'Kargil Vijay Diwas'. He said that India is a peace-loving nation which believes in its centuries-old values and is committed towards international laws, but to safeguard India's interests, 'we will not hesitate in crossing the LoC'. He said that earlier, the nation and the armed forces lacked political will, which has now been provided by our government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "We stand firm with our forces. The people and Parliament have full faith in our soldiers," the Defence Minister said. To mark the Kargil Vijay Diwas, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Kargil War Memorial at Dras in Ladakh, laid a wreath and paid homage to the valiant soldiers who displayed unparalleled bravery during 'Operation Vijay'. The ceremony at Dras also witnessed a gathering of war heroes, Veer Naris and the families of the fallen heroes. The Defence Minister commended the valour and commitment of the armed forces, which have, time and again, helped the country stand tall in times of crisis. "India of today rests on the foundation of the sacrifices made by the soldiers," the Defence Minister said. He described 'Operation Vijay' as an episode that displayed India's grit and determination as it stood its ground in the face of adverse circumstances. He termed the victory as a launch pad that propelled the nation to achieve heights of success. "Our greatness is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we fall. Despite the adversary having tactical military advantage during the war, our forces displayed unmatched bravery and skill to push them back and reclaim our land. With the victory, India sent a message to Pakistan and the world that our military will not back down at any cost if the nation's interests are harmed," he said Defence Minister recalled the heroic deeds of a number of bravehearts of the Kargil war, including Param Vir Chakra (PVC) Awardees Captain Vikram Batra and Captain Manoj Pandey and Vir Chakra (VrC) Awardees Lieutenant Colonel R Vishwanathan, Captain Jintu Gogoi, Captain Vijayant Thapar and Naib Subedar Mangej Singh, who are a source of inspiration for the future generations and will be remembered forever. He also made special mention of Flight Lieutenants Gunjan Saxena and Srividya Rajan who showcased exceptional courage during the war and spread the message that Indian women are no less than their male counterparts when it comes to securing the country's borders. He said that all these soldiers belonged to different regions of India, but fought as one to protect the interests of the nation and its people. Citing the example of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Defence Minister said that the war, which has been continuing for more than one year, reflects the unpredictable nature of conflicts in today's times. He said that the war has been prolonged as the people are training and joining their military in fighting for their cause. The Defence Minister also called upon the people to be ready to participate in wars not only indirectly but directly as well, if ever the need arises. "People should be mentally prepared, so that whenever the nation needs them, they should be ready to help the Armed Forces. Just as every soldier is an Indian, in the same way, every Indian should be ready to play the role of a soldier," he said. Sydney, July 26 : An Australian court on Wednesday ordered Meta (formerly Facebook) platforms to pay fines of nearly $14 million (AUS$20 million) for misleading consumers about the use of their data. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) sued Meta over its use of Onavo back in December 2020. The federal court has ordered the two subsidiaries of Meta, Facebook Israel and Onavo Inc, to each pay AUS$10 million for engaging in conduct liable to mislead in breach of the Australian Consumer Law. The subsidiaries, which were the Onavo Protect VPN app's developers and suppliers, were found to be responsible for misleading app descriptions displayed in Google and Apple App Store listings. "In Google and Apple App Store listings, Onavo Protect was promoted as a product that would keep users' data protected and safe, for example with language such as 'Use a free, fast and secure VPN to protect personal information' and 'Helps Keep You and Your Data Safe'," the commission said. "In fact, Onavo and Facebook Israel shared the personal activity data from users collected by the app in anonymised and aggregated form with parent company Meta (then known as Facebook Inc) for commercial benefit," it added. The watchdog also discovered that between February 2016 and October 2017, Australian users installed the "Onavo Protect" VPN app over 270,000 times. Facebook discontinued the service in May 2019. "We took this case knowing that many consumers are concerned about how their data is captured, stored and used by digital platforms. We believe Australian consumers should be able to make an informed choice about what happens to their data based on clear information that is not misleading," ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb, said in a statement. As stated in joint submissions to the Court, Onavo and Facebook Israel agreed that the App Store listings conveyed that the Onavo Protect VPN would only use users' data. In the listings, Onavo Protect did not mention that it collected data about its Australian users' online activities for other purposes, including as a 'business intelligence tool'. "In the case of the Onavo Protect app, we were concerned that consumers seeking to protect their privacy through a virtual private network were not clearly told that in downloading and using this app they were actually facilitating the use of their data for Meta's commercial benefit," Cass-Gottlieb said. Chennai, July 26 : Tamil Nadu BJP State President K. Annamalai on Wednesday met Governor R.N. Ravi and submitted a memorandum about the alleged corruption by DMK leaders worth Rs 5600 crores. The BJP leader submitted a memorandum seeking aintervention and suitable actiona in Part 2 of DMK files with documents of Benami deals connected with DMK leaders including ministers, MLAs, MPs and members of the first family and scams connected to these leaders. The BJP State President was accompanied by Karu Nagarajan and Paul Kanagaraj and other senior leaders of the Tamil Nadu BJP. First installment of DMK files or DMK files 1 was released on April 14 at the BJP state committee office, Kamalalayam. Annamalai had, in the first DMK files alleged that Chief Minister M.K Stalin who was then Deputy Chief Minister had accepted money worth Rs 200 crore from an Indo a"European company. This was to favour the phase 1 of the Chennai Metro Rail project at the end of DMKas previous regime. Rohtak : , July 26 (IANS) Veteran Congress leader and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda on Wednesday said the BJP-JJP government has not woken up yet despite the huge loss of life and property in the state owing to floods. "It seems the government has left the flood-affected people to fend for themselves," he said. Hooda, who toured flood-affected villages in Rohtak district, listened to problems of local villagers and said the people are facing problems owing to government callousness. "The government did not get sewerage and drains cleaned in cities and villages and this is why the problem of water logging has got aggravated. After every rain, there is water logging on the streets and roads of the cities. Lakhs of acres of crops of farmers were destroyed in entire Haryana," he said in a statement. "In such a situation, the government should take all possible steps to help the farmers. The Congress demands that the government should give compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre to the farmers. Due to water logging, the motor and pump sets installed in the fields have been damaged." Hoods said the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna has become the scheme to benefit insurance companies, rather than the farmers. "There is a huge shortage of fodder for the livestock. The government should make arrangements for fodder. Along with this, compensation for the loss caused to houses, shops and businesses should also be done with immediate effect," he demanded. The Leader of Opposition said the poor sections have suffered the most due to the floods. "The agricultural laborers of the village could not even get work this time. The government should pay at least 30 days additional daily wages to MNREGA workers. Along with giving relief to the public, the government will have to work on a war footing for draining out rainwater," he said. Hooda also spoke to officials over phone and directed them to take all possible steps. He said despite the India Meteorological Departmentas alert, the state government did not take timely steps. "People in every village said the government has not got the drains cleaned for the last many years. The embankments of rivers and canals were also not strengthened, because of this almost entire Haryana had to face floods. Besides, the mining mafia changed the flow of the rivers. Illegal mining is being carried out under the protection of the government," he added. New Delhi, July 26 : In today's generation, tattoos are seen as a way people can creatively express themselves. But in India, it is also seen as a Western ideology of freedom and identity. Tattooing has existed since prehistoric times in every geographic region around the world, including India. Tattoos in India have a long history spanning several centuries. However, the specific period when they gained prominence continues to be an enigma even today. Prior to the advent of technology, tattoos were created using traditional methods, involving painstakingly hand-poking each individual dot. These tattoos held significant meaning as indicators of one's social standing, affiliation with a particular community, a symbolic transition in life, or even as a form of permanent jewellery. Different tribes in India possess a rich tapestry of tattoo traditions, exhibiting distinct techniques and variations in the use of dyes. These practices vary from state to state and region to region, resulting in a diverse array of unique tattooing customs. Many of these tattoos were created in rudimentary ways, like using a thorn or bones that were sharpened to imitate needles. The ink was also far from skin-friendly, it was created by collecting soot and mixed with supposed anti-inflammatory liquids like milk, cow urine, or breast milk. Rabaris in Gujarat In Gujarat, The Rabaris are an ethnic nomadic tribe that has a long-standing tradition of women getting tattoos that are called "Trajva." It is so normalised to the point that bare skin is considered shameful. They are usually done on the forearms, face, throat, etc. The men have symbols of camels on the back of their right palms. But, they are a sign of strength since getting them is extremely painful and are super prone to infections. Scorpions and snakes are common Trajva tattoos that Rabari women get but they also consist of other motifs that are more ornamental. The village of Karavad, also in Gujarat, would make use of the green sap from a nearby plant mixed with soot for their tattoos. In the case of most Rabari girls and women back then, getting tattooed was a rite of passage. It was one of the most painful things theyad have to endure but they considered it permanent jewellery that could never be taken away from them. Many of their tattoo symbols have a range of meanings, including representations of fertility or acquired skills that make them distinct from everyone else. Among the elderly Rabari women, they are able to distinguish the meanings of these diverse symbols and can identify their significance, however, the young girls seldom understand them. Unmarried girls can get tattoos everywhere except their legs, which are exclusively reserved only for married women. Baiga tribe in Madhya Pradesh On the other hand, the Baiga tribes residing in Madhya Pradesh would enhance their tattoo designs by applying a mixture of cow dung, turmeric, and vegetable oil. Applying these kinds of mixtures is not only unhygienic but also life-threatening! Konyak tribe in Nagaland The Konyaks, a tribe from Nagaland, practice exclusive tattooing on men. Upon reaching adulthood, boys undergo tattooing as a symbol of their transition into manhood. However, prior to this ritual, young men must prove their eligibility by capturing at least one head from an enemy village. The tattooing process is carried out exclusively by the chief's wife, who comes from a prestigious aristocratic lineage. The tattoos are typically applied on the face, and if the pain can be endured, they may also extend to the neck and chest. All of these traditions began to gradually fade away over time. Historians claim it was either due to colonisation or urbanisation of the country. However, some traditional tattoo art is still being kept alive by some individuals but in safer and more hygienic ways. Many incorporate traditional tattoo designs and get them customised, giving them a modern spin that blends traditional and contemporary styles of tattooing. Mandala tattoos A mandala is a geometric and symbolic design that holds spiritual significance in various cultures, particularly in Hinduism and Buddhism. These tattoos typically feature a circular pattern with intricate geometric shapes, symbols, and details. The design may be symmetrical or asymmetrical, and it can be customized to include various colours, sizes, and styles. Mandala tattoos are popular for their aesthetic appeal and spiritual symbolism, representing balance, harmony, and unity. People choose mandala tattoos as a way to express their personal journey, and inner peace, or to commemorate significant life events. The good news is that traditional tattoos have not fully lost their appeal. The designs that were used in the past have been preserved and passed on to future generations. Tattoo design options are much more innovative than they were in the past, giving people the liberty to create designs that align with their inner selves. Nowadays, any and all designs can be created on a whim; be it a traditional pattern or a big, intricate piece. State-of-the-art tattoo machines are used so the lines are crisper and more refined, as compared to traditional tattooing methods. Tattoo technology has also progressed tenfold, which aids artists to create tattoos that arenat prone to blowout, increasing their longevity. The ink used in modern tattooing practices is hypoallergenic and does not cause any sort of long-term illnesses. One reason for getting tattoos that stood the test of time is that they have and always will be ornamental and beauty-enhancing since people proudly ink what they find appealing for aesthetic purposes. (Sunny Bhanushali is the Founder and CEO of Aliens Tattoo) ( IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) --IANS Kolkata, July 26 : For the residents of West Bengal's Sundarbans region, climate change and poverty are two sides of the same coin. While Taposi Haldar (30), a resident of Damkal Kuimai village in South 24 Parganas district, has had her share of problems with these two, corruption has also had an impact on her. Taposi earns Rs 100 to 400 when she goes fishing once in four to five days. Her husband Sanat Haldar works in a potato godown in Jalpaiguri. Though her income is meagre, she was forced to cough up Rs 600 as a bribe to digitalise her ration card. "Our panchayat member does not hear us. We expect good housing and construction of river embankments to prevent breaches during cyclones," says Taposi, a mother of four. The work on embankments were part of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, which became defunct in the state one-and-a-half years ago due to the Centre-state tussle. This has not only affected works, but also the livelihood of lakhs of MGNREGA workers. Hailing from Taposi's village, Sanatan Haldar (26) and his wife Joba Haldar (25) still await payment of dues for the work done under the scheme. Joba says they sustain by catching fish and crabs these days, while she also gets Rs 500 every month under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. The government provides five kg ration rice for each family member. "Everything happens as per the state government's wish now. Two months ago, the Duare Sarkar programme was held in Nagendrapur, our panchayat. Earlier, gram sansad used to meet and make decisions on local issues," says Sanatan. Under the Duare Sarkar (government at doorstep) outreach programme, camps are organised to deliver services and enlist beneficiaries under at least 11 welfare schemes run by the Mamata Banerjee government. Duare Sarkar outreach initiative gradually replaces gram sansad and gram unnayan samiti, the fulcrum of village development with local participation. The government staff would reach the gram panchayat/municipal ward to provide information on welfare schemes. Paray Samadhan, a community component of the programme, deals with the citizens' petitions seeking redressal of neighbourhood issues/needs. In a way, the programme limits the powers of panchayats and gives more control over affairs to the workers of the ruling Trinamool Congress. "The government officials and Trinamool Congress workers visit villages under the programme. But people are still disappointed because their problems are not resolved. If only the government's attitude is positive will the lowest tier of Panchayati Raj Institutions work effectively," CPI-M's state committee member Meenakshi Mukherjee tells 101Reporters. Powers and duties "As the gram panchayats in the state (West Bengal) are quite large in size having a population of twenty to thirty thousand, they have been subdivided on ward basis amending the Gram Panchayat Act, and for each ward, constitution of gram sansad has been made mandatory. Gram sansad is a body constituted with all the voters in a constituency of the gram panchayat," says an explanatory write-up published in Odisha Review. The gram sansad meetings are instruments of direct participation of the people in the planning process as well as monitoring of elected representatives, it continues. "Under the laws, the gram sansad is supposed to (i) guide and advise the gram panchayats with regard to schemes for economic development and social justice undertaken or proposed to be undertaken in its area; (ii) identify or lay down principles for identification of the beneficiaries for various poverty alleviation programmes; (iii) constitute beneficiary committees for ensuring active participation of the people in implementation, maintenance and equitable distribution of benefits of schemes in the area; (iv) mobilise mass participation for community welfare, and programmes for adult education, family planning and child welfare; and (v) record its objections to any action of the village council chief or any member of the village council for failure to implement development schemes properly or without active participation of the people of the area." The powers and duties of the gram panchayat include sanitation, drinking water supply, maintenance and repair of public streets, removal of encroachments, and organising voluntary labour for community works and works for uplifting its area. Gram unnayan samiti, on the other hand, assists gram sansad to prepare its five-year and annual plans, which will form the basis of the gram panchayat plan. Gram unnayan samiti is constituted in a special meeting of the gram sansad and will have the elected panchayat member, the candidate who finished second in polls, and representatives from other social spheres. As part of its work, the unnayan samiti identifies the needs of the sansad area through participatory methods and prepares budget. It helps the gram panchayat to make both assessment and realisation of tax, and prioritise the projects and schemes for implementation using the available resources and in consultation with the villagers. Promoting livelihood opportunities for all adult members of the sansad through proper and planned utilisation of available resources, including greater access to credit from financial institutions or gram sansad fund is another area of priority. Spreading awareness on livelihood, health, nutrition, education, gender and environment is another function. It also tries to mobilise people around the gram sansad for expansion of social opportunities and in the process link up the activities of the sansad with those of the gram panchayat concerned. Meetings, discussions on the back burner The gram sansad holds a meeting of the entire electorate of a constituency once in six months (first in November and second in May) to discuss local needs, new programmes, choose beneficiaries of existing programmes, review the past and proposed programmes, and inspect the accounts of expenditure and budgets of the panchayat. Each village within a gram panchayat will have its own gram sabha, which meets annually (in December, after the completion of gram sansad's half-yearly meeting) to review the proposed budget for the next year and performance of the previous year. The decisions of the gram sansad are discussed in the gram sabha. "Both gram sansad and gram unnayan samiti have been rendered inactive after the Trinamool Congress government came into power. Their strength has been lost. In the Duare Sarkar programme, the Trinamool Congress leaders and bureaucrats aligned to the ruling party assume the duties of the panchayat," Anuradha Talwar, state committee member, Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity, tells 101Reporters. Sariful Malik from the Indian Secular Front is the newly elected panchayat member from Chalta Beria in Bhangar-2 block of South 24 Parganas. "The Trinamool Congress workers stop opposition parties from contesting elections and do not give them a chance in matters related to the panchayat," he claims. Kankandighi panchayat chief Purnima Kar from the Trinamool Congress, however, claims that all the panchayat committees hold meetings in her place. Her husband Govindchandra Kar says gram sansad meets twice a year and decides on development schemes, including road construction and identification of beneficiaries for tubewells. Both claim the Opposition's views are heard and considered important while taking decisions. Nagendrapur and Kankandighi panchayats are adjacent to each other. One-tenth of the total members shall form a quorum for a gram sansad meeting, failing which an adjournment meeting can be held. The Mamata Banerjee-led government is accused of using this provision of the West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1973, to run the show using government staff and thus override the powers of the local bodies. Conversations with people in rural parts of South and North Bengal make it clear that they still remember the gram sansad meetings. "Democracy is dead, and the government is responsible for it. Neither gram sansad nor gram unnayan samiti meets," says Navo Kumar Laskar, an MGNREGA worker from Damkal-3 in South 24 Parganas district. Kolkata-based senior journalist Chandan Das explains further. "If these forums function, issues will have to be discussed there. But this is not the Trinamool Congress culture. For the sake of showing off, they hold gram sansad meetings at some places. But even there, the Trinamool Congress workers rule the roost." "West Bengal does not need Duare Sarkar programmes. By attending them, you can only fill up forms for government schemes. You cannot register a complaint there. What we really need is elected panchayat representatives, to whom the public can complain or speak their minds," Das emphasises. Even the July 8 panchayat elections were announced hastily, a day after Rajiv Sinha -- he served as chief secretary for a year from September 2019 -- assumed the office of State Election Commissioner on June 7. "The usual practice of holding an all-party meet before announcing election dates was given a miss. Unlike the four-phase polls of 2018, elections were scheduled in a single phase this time," says Mohammad Abdul Malik Mollah, the Indian Secular Front's district president for South 24 Parganas. Though panchayat elections have been regularly held in West Bengal since 1978, its fairness has always been under question. The Duare Sarkar initiative makes matters worse. (Rahul Singh is a West Bengal-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters) New Delhi, July 26 : The US special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry, who arrived in India on Wednesday on a five-day visit, met finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Both the leaders discussed climate agenda and other related issues. "Very good meeting, very constructive. Talking about the very significant capacity for India and the United States to work together in order to advance the climate agenda. "There are many things that we can do where we can work together, science, technology, and our ability to be able to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy," Kerry told reporters outside Parliament after the meeting. Earlier on his arrival in New Delhi, Kerry had met Minister of Heavy Industries Mahendra Nath Pandey. Both the leaders discussed India's growth as a manufacturing hub for heavy electric vehicles. "I am proud to be in India this week to advance our shared goals on climate and clean energy. "Just met with @DrMNPandeyMP to discuss our common interest in diversifying supply chains and empowering India as a manufacturing hub for electric trucks, buses, and heavy-duty vehicles," Kerry tweeted after the meeting. As per the US state department, the visit of the US climate envoy is intended to advance common goals on climate change and clean energy, including joint initiatives to create a platform for investments in renewable energy and storage options, support the deployment of zero-emission buses, and diversify clean energy supply chains. New Delhi, July 26 : Doctors on Wednesday said that they are seeing a record surge in cases of conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, as well as dengue in the national capital. The sudden rise in conjunctivitis cases can be attributed to the heavy rainfall and floods that have affected various regions in the country. The increased moisture, moderate adequate temperature and unhygienic conditions due to the floods, contaminated water supply, and importantly, aerosoling (microdrops) of dirty water from roads by fast moving vehicles create a conducive environment for the spread of the infection, they say. "We are closely monitoring the sudden surge of conjunctivitis cases across the country, with Delhi NCR alone reporting a staggering 1,032 cases in July. The rise in numbers compared to the same period last year (July 2022), when Delhi NCR had 646 cases and nationwide had 1,202 cases, is a cause of concern," Dr Kamal B Kapur, Medical Director, Sharp Sight Eye Hospitals, told IANS. Conjunctivitis, commonly known as 'pink eye,' can be highly contagious, spreading through contact with contaminated surfaces and eye secretions. The symptoms include itching, watery discharge, purulent discharge, swelling of lids, mild redness, and sometimes, individuals may experience blurred vision or glare when seeing lights. According to Dr Soveeta Rath, Paediatric Ophthalmology, Strabismus and Neuro Ophthalmology at Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, the surge is more significant in children. "We have seen an increase of 60 per cent patients with eye flu, which is mostly in children. Every third child is presented with red eyes or conjunctivitis. In fact, last week, we saw more than 30 children in the OPD with conjunctivitis," Dr. Rath told IANS. She said that the rise is due to seasonal change. "It is also because this year there has been more rain, surprisingly an acute water shortage and an absence of hygienic habits. Children will often touch the surface contaminated with the virus/bacteria and rub their eyes with the same hands causing the spread of infection," she added. The doctors recommended proper precautions and heightened awareness to control the spread effectively, while also cautioning the use of over the counter medications. "It is crucial to maintain proper hygiene, frequent hand washing by the affected person and people who are in close vicinity, avoid touching the face, use protective eyewear when needed, and seek professional medical advice if any eye-related symptoms are experienced," Dr. Kapur said. In addition to conjunctivitis, the national capital is also seeing a surge in dengue cases. Dengue is a viral fever which is vector-borne and usually the cases increase after the monsoon season every year. The common symptoms include fever, retro orbital pain, severe headache, pain abdomen, vomiting and sometimes, diarrhoea. "In our OPDs, nearly 20 per cent of patients having fever are suffering from dengue. While the patients currently are not sick to be hospitalised and many of them are being taken care of in the OPD itself, but some are needing admissions and also platelet transfusions," Dr Ajay Kumar Gupta, Director, Internal Medicine, Max Hospital Vaishali, told IANS. "There has been an approximately 10-12 per cent rise in the number of dengue patients coming to us," added Dr Santosh Kumar Aggarwal, Sr Consultant - Internal Medicine, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Sector 16, Faridabad. Dr Shuchin Bajaj, Internal Medicine, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, also said that the hospital is "getting more than average dengue cases per week this time, as compared to last year's numbers". To prevent the risk of dengue, the doctors suggested wearing protective clothes, using mosquito repellents, keeping the environment and surroundings clean, not letting water stagnate as mosquitos can multiply there, and keeping children protected. --IANS rvt/vd Nitish-Tejashwi cannot rule Bihar with bullets and baton, says BJP. Image Source: IANS News Patna, July 26 : BJP Bihar unit on Wednesday attacked the Nitish-led government saying that the Chief Minister and his Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav cannot rule the state with 'bullets and batons'. The BJP was responding to the firing incidents on farmers in Katihar in which two farmers were killed while another sustained injuries. Leader of Opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha demanded a high level judicial inquiry in the firing incident. "Anyone who is raising a voice against the government and administrative anarchism, their voices are mowed down. People were miffed with erratic power cuts and hence were protesting but the administration opened fire on them," Sinha said. He said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has failed to enact law and order through batons and has now restored to the use of bullets. "Nitish Kumat has lost the moral ground to stay in the government. He should step down from the post of chief minister," Sinha said. BJP State President Samrat Chaudhary said that firing on innocent people and killing them is an unfortunate incident. "Nitish Kumar first killed those who demanded jobs and now killed innocent people who were demanding electricity," Chaudhary said. Earlier, at the Barsoi sub-divisional office in Katihar district, the people were protesting and demanding to restore power supply in the region. They are facing electricity scarcity for the last few weeks which in turn is badly affecting their farming and irrigation. They went to the block development office and sat on a Dharna and claimed insufficient rains led to drought-like situation in the region. A large number of farmers assembled at the block development office in Barsoi demanding power supply in the region which led to a verbal argument. The situation turned ugly when farmers attacked the officers and dismantled the office properties. The district police present at the spot first fired several rounds in the air to disperse them but failed and then they opened fire on the farmers. Three persons sustained gunshot injuries in which two died on the spot while the third one was injured. The deceased were identified as Khurshid Alam (34) and Naushad Alam (32). National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (right) and Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Denny Abdi (Photo: VNA) At the meeting with Abdi, Hue spoke highly of Indonesia's role not only in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) but also in the region and the world, as a member of the G20. Vietnam is Indonesia's only strategic partner in Southeast Asia, he said. During a State visit by the President of Vietnam to Indonesia last year, the two countries completed negotiations on the delimitation of the two countries' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) boundary. The NA leader expressed his hope that the two sides will soon hasten respective legislatures to ratify an agreement on the EEZ delimitation for early enforcement. For his part, Abdi said that Indonesia wishes to cooperate closely with Vietnam not only for the benefits of each country but also for the common interests of the region and the world. Welcoming the positive collaboration results between the two countries in the field of trade, the ambassador underlined the need to promote growth in the region, especially in the current period. The ambassador said the completion of EEZ delimination negotiations will help the two countries expand cooperation in the fields of aquatic farming and processing and fisheries, contributing to ensuring food security for the region. According to Abdi, by implementing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), both Indonesia and Vietnam want to receive support to make the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy and attract more foreign investment in this field. On this occasion, the NA Chairman affirmed that Vietnam will do its best to support Indonesia to successfully organise the upcoming ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly, and hoped that Indonesia will assist the Vietnamese National Assembly in hosting the ninth Inter-Parliarmentary Union (IPU) Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians. National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue receives Iranian Ambassador to Vietnam Ali Akbar Nazari. (Photo: VNA) Receiving the Iranian ambassador, Hue said Vietnam the friendship and cooperation between the two countries have developed fruitfully over the past time. Vietnam always attaches importance and wishes to maintain and promote the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Iran, he said. Nazari said that Vietnam and Iran share many similarities, therefore, the two countries can jointly tap this potential for the benefits of their people. Stressing the important role of parliamentary diplomacy, the ambassador welcomed the two countries' parliaments to discuss strengthening coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums such as the IPU. On the ground of the 50-year relationship, Vietnam wants to promote comprehensive relations with Iran across all channels of Party, National Assembly, Government, and people-to-people exchange, Hue said, suggesting the two countries share experience in national construction and development./. New Delhi, July 26 : The US special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry, who arrived in India on Wednesday on a five-day visit, met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Both the leaders discussed climate agenda and other related issues. "Very good meeting, very constructive. Talking about the very significant capacity for India and the United States to work together in order to advance the climate agenda. "There are many things that we can do where we can work together, science, technology, and our ability to be able to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy," Kerry told reporters outside Parliament after the meeting. Earlier on his arrival in Delhi, Kerry had met Minister of Heavy Industries Mahendra Nath Pandey. Both the leaders discussed India's growth as a manufacturing hub for heavy electric vehicles. "I am proud to be in India this week to advance our shared goals on climate and clean energy. "Just met with @DrMNPandeyMP to discuss our common interest in diversifying supply chains and empowering India as a manufacturing hub for electric trucks, buses, and heavy-duty vehicles," Kerry tweeted after the meeting. As per the US State Department, the visit of the US climate envoy is intended to advance common goals on climate change and clean energy, including joint initiatives to create a platform for investments in renewable energy and storage options, support the deployment of zero-emission buses, and diversify clean energy supply chains. Udupi : , July 26 (IANS) The police in Karnataka have lodged an FIR against three Muslim girls of a college here for allegedly filming Hindu female students while they were using the restrooms. Minister for Women and Child Welfare Laxmi Hebbalkar, who is also in-charge minister of Udupi district, said on Wednesday that the police have registered an FIR in connection with the case. "I have instructed the district Superintendent of Police to initiate action as per the provisions of law,"she said. Hebbalkar further stated that strict action would be initiated against the accused individuals. "No one is above the law," she said. The Minister, meanwhile, said that as far she knows, no video in connection with the case has gone viral on social media. The police said that two cases have been filed in connection with the incident on a suo moto basis. A case for attempting to bring communal hatred has also been lodged. The FIR has been lodged at Malpe police station in Udupi district against Alimatul Shaifa, Shabanaz and Aliya. The college administration was also named in the FIR. The police have filed cases under the provisions of IPC sections 509 (use of words, gestures or acts intended to insult the modesty of woman), 204 (destroying electronic evidence), 175 (omission to produce document to public servant), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) and 66 (E) of the IT Act. Meanwhile, Rashmi Samant, a woman activist, who had raised the issue and later was allegedly harassed by the police, said: "I got to know that an FIR had been lodged. My first thought was that the police had filed an FIR against me and not the culprits due to their behaviour so far. Unfortunately that's how I feel in Karnataka. Like a fugitive for speaking the truth. FYI: An FIR has been filed against the culprits and not me." Pune, July 26 : In a shocking case, a Pune man allegedly raped a 34-year-old woman at knife-point in front of her husband who had defaulted on a small personal loan, filmed the incident, and posted the video on social media where it went vital, police said here on Wednesday. The incident happened in February this year in Hadapsar when the accused, Imtiaz H. Shaikh, 47, had reportedly given a friendly (interest-free) loan of Rs 40,000 to the victim's husband. However, the couple was unable to return the loan amount after which Shaikh started abusing and threatening them. In February, he summoned them to an isolated spot in the Hadapsar government colony and again demanded the outstanding money from them, but they had no money to repay them. Thereafter, Shaikh allegedly whipped out a knife, threatened to kill the husband, then raped the woman right there, and also made a MMS of the incident on his phone. The accused again later repeatedly demanded sexual favours from the woman and when she refused, he posted the video clip on social media sites. Finally mustering courage, the victim approached the Hadapsar Police Station and registered a complaint on Tuesday, said Police Inspector Ravindra Shelake. "We tracked down the accused and arrested him yesterday He was produced before the court which has given him a two-day remand till tomorrow (Thursday) and further investigations are on," Shelake told IANS. Police are also trying to ascertain if the accused had trapped any other victims and exploited them in a similar manner, even as the incident sent shockwaves in the city. Bhubaneswar, July 26 : Former Prime Minister of United Kingdom Tony Blair met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Naveen Niwas on Wednesday. Both the leaders discussed economic development and growth of Odisha and the future perspectives. Government of Odisha has inked an MoU with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) on July 21, 2023. As per this understanding, TBI will provide free policy support and assistance in developing a comprehensive economic strategy for Odisha. The Chief Minister appreciated the preliminary suggestions of the institute, and expected this cooperation will help in securing a balanced industrial growth and resultant inclusive benefit to citizens. Patnaik thanked Blair for the support. The UK ex-Prime Minister also praised Patnaik for the stateas success in different sectors. He appreciated the 5T initiative for bringing transformative changes in governance. According to officials, the TBI will deploy 4 resources for a period of 24 months. This project team will work under the direct guidance of TBIas leadership and its network of global experts. The team will work in close collaboration with the Odisha team. Headquartered in London and founded in 2016, TBI is helmed by Tony Blair. TBI works in over 45 countries. TBIas domains of expertise include governance, foreign policy, investments, infrastructure and cities, climate and energy, and human capital. In Odisha, the project team will undertake a range of activities such as current-state analysis, external benchmarking, roadmap design, capacity development, effective communication of core reforms to enhance adoption. Prioritisation of emerging industries, development of a multimodal transport logistics will be the main agenda to supercharge growth. Chennai, July 26 : Police in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore police seized two exotic birds from a circus company as it did not have a permit from the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). The birds, two yellow-crested cockatoos, were seized on Tuesday night and sent to the WVS International Training Centre in the Nilgiris for rehabilitation. This is following a case registered last week following a complaint by an animal rights activist that the circus company was illegally exhibiting exotic birds and dogs and that they were subjected to cruelty. The proprietor and manager of the company were booked on the basis of the complaint lodged by the founder of an animal rights organisation, People for Cattle in India (PFCI), Arun Prasanna said that a certificate from the Animal Welfare Board of India is essential under the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules 2001, for animals and birds used in circuses. According to the police, the company had not maintained a performing animals registration certificate (PARC) for the two cockatoos as per the report of a veterinarian of the Animal Husbandry Department. The circus was using 12 dogs, five African grey parrots, two yellow-crested cockatoos, and one golden macaw. The company had appointed a registered veterinarian for the treatment and well-being of the dogs and birds. Bengaluru, July 26 : The state government will act to protect the rights of minorities, and there is no need to worry about this, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday assured a delegation of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), who expressed concern over implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Siddaramaiah held talks with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board representatives, who met him at his Home Office Krishna. On this occasion, the leaders of the delegation expressed concern about the threat to the rights of Muslims and the Muslim Personal Law due to the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code. The delegation said the previous Law Commission had rejected the central government's proposal saying that implementation of Uniform Civil Code was not feasible in this diverse country. Now the Central Government has asked the present Law Commission to review this matter again. Accordingly, the Law Commission is collecting opinions from the public. Maulana Syed Mustafa Rafai Nadvi of the board said that more than one crore have signed the petition against the implementation of Uniform Civil Code and sent it to the Law Commission. "We will respond after the publication of the draft Uniform Civil Code. Our government will never allow suppression of minority rights," the Chief Minister said. He said that the central government is creating unnecessary controversy in the wake of the election. On the occasion, the members of the delegation also requested the government to protect the Waqf properties and clear encroachment. Former Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha K. Rahman Khan, Housing and Minority Welfare Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, Legislative Council Chief Whip Saleem Ahmed, MLA Rizwan Arshad, Political Secretary to Chief Minister Nazir Ahmed, Maulana Syed Mustafa Rafai Nadvi, Maulana Syed Muhammad Tanveer Hashmi, Maulana Shabir Ahmad Hussaini Nadvi, Mufti Iftikhar Ahmed Qasmi and others were present. Chennai, July 26 : Integrated payment solutions provider Hitachi Payment Services Pvt Ltd will be acquiring the cash management business of Writer Corporation. The Writer Corporation, under its cash management business, provides cash services, including ATM cash replenishment, and retail cash pick-up services to corporates since 2001. The acquisition will enable Hitachi Payments to provide comprehensive ATM services to financial institutions, while on the merchant side, it would complement Hitachi Paymentsa digital offerings, a company statement said. Both the companies signing the agreement did not disclose the financial details of the transaction. Sumil Vikamsey, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Cash Business, Hitachi Payment Services, said that the deal creates opportunities for the company to broaden the service offerings and provides a unique position to drive growth and innovation in the Indian payments landscape. Dayle de Souza, Managing Director, Writer Business Services, said: "We will continue to retain and grow the ATM Managed Services business as a part of the overall service portfolio to our corporate clients." Writer Safeguard has a network of close to 40,000 touchpoints including ATMs and Retail spanning 25 states across 1,500 locations serviced by a workforce of over 10,000 people. Hitachi Payments is a 100 per cent subsidiary of Japanas Hitachi Ltd. The Mumbai-based Writer Corporation is a multi-business enterprise operating in global relocations, information management, ATM & cash management, hospitality, lifestyle, and premium real estate. --IANS vj/vd New Delhi, July 26 : As many as three of the total of six bills introduced by the government in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, received objections from the Opposition members. When the Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai introduced the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in Lok Sabha, Congress MP Manish Tewari opposed it. Tewari said that he was opposing the bill for want of legislative competence on three counts. First, it transgresses on the right to privacy, second, it transgresses on the right to the separation of powers, and third, it suffers from the malady of excessive delegation. "These are my three fundamental objections (to the bill)," the Congress MP said. The bill was, however, introduced in the lower house. National Conference MP Hasnain Masoodi opposed the introduction of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2023. Masoodi said that he opposed the bill on the grounds that the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act is a constitutionally suspect law, which is currently under judicial scrutiny. "Judicial scrutiny is being done by the apex court... even hearing has commenced. So, this is against the Constitutional propriety and Constitutional morality. You cannot amend an Act that is under judicial scrutiny and is a Constitutionally suspect law. The Constitutionality of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act is being examined by the Supreme Court and day-to-day hearing is scheduled to begin from August 2. It is better to stop the introduction of this Bill. "I oppose the introduction on the ground that it is a Constitutionally suspect law and the Constitution does not permit the introduction of the Bill. That is my objection to the introduction," he said. The bill, however, was introduced in Lok Sabha by Nityanand Rai. Revolutionary Socialist Party MP N.K. Premachandran objected to the introduction of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2023, on the ground that it is against the principle of federalism and favours privatising atomic minerals. "I strongly oppose the introduction of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023. It is against the principle of federalism and it is for privatising the atomic minerals, mining and minerals separation, privatisation for big corporates. It will adversely affect the PSUs in the sector as it is for privatisation and for multinational corporations. It affects the security and safety of the nation. It is against the principle of federalism. "It is in violation of the state government's authority to give mining leases for the minerals separation and mining license. Do not give permission because it is unconstitutional and encroaches upon the states' rights. I strongly oppose the introduction of this bill," Premachandran urged upon the Speaker Om Birla. Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, however, rejected Premachandran's objections, saying that no objection can be raised on the legislative competence of the Parliament in this subject matter as through the bill, the government only intends to make certain amendments in the parent Act of 1957. Joshi later introduced the bill. Apart from these three bills, the government also introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order, 1956. Cuttack, July 26 : President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday urged law students to dedicate some part of their professional time to serving the unserved or underprivileged. Addressing the convocation of the National Law University at Cuttack, Murmu said a very large number of our under-privileged and vulnerable fellow citizens donat even know about their rights and entitlements, nor do they have the means to move the courts to seek relief or justice. She told the students that it is their duty to dedicate some part of their professional time to serve them. It is rightly said that law is not just a career, it is a calling, she added. The President said that Indiaas freedom struggle was led by qualified lawyers. It shows that a large number of lawyers from those generations were filled with the spirit of sacrifice for the nation. Remembering Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan Das, popularly referred to as Madhu Barrister, she said that his birth anniversary is celebrated as aLawyers Daya in Odisha. For the people of Odisha, Mahatma Gandhi and Madhu Barrister are the two most respected icons of India's freedom struggle. Great freedom fighters and lawyers like them also upheld the ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity in order to build a progressive and cohesive society, she stated. The President urged students to remain steadfast in observing the Constitutional ideals. She advised them to be sensitive to the priorities of the nation. Referring to the motto aSatye Sthito Dharmaha of the National Law University Odisha, which means aDharma is firmly rooted in Satya or trutha, the President said that in ancient India the two words frequently used to describe courts were aDharmasabhaa and aDharmadhikaranaa. For todayas modern India, our Dharma is contained in the Constitution of India, which is the supreme law of the land. She said that the entire legal fraternity, including the young students passing out today, must abide by the Constitution as their sacred text. Earlier, Murmu, who is on a three-day visit to Odisha, graced the annual function of SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack. The President said that one cannot become a good doctor until one has sincerity towards service and commitment to the society. She urged medical students to focus on research, which would give a new identity to Indian medical scientists in the world. New Delhi, July 26 : The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that the transgender persons can avail the already earmarked reservations in jobs and educational admissions and there is no separate reservation being provided to them. In 2014, the top court directed the Centre and the state governments to treat transgenders as "socially and educationally backward classes" and extend all kinds of reservation to them in cases of admission in educational institutions and for public appointments. The historical verdict recognised the "third gender" and granted legal recognition to their gender identity. In March this year, the Supreme Court had issued a contempt notice on a petition alleging non-compliance of its order rendered in the landmark case of National Legal Services Authority versus Union of India. "The benefits of reservation in matters of direct recruitment in Central Government Services and in admission to Central Government Higher Educational Institutions are as follows- Scheduled Castes (SC)- 15%; Scheduled Tribes (ST) - 7.5%; Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) - 27%; Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)- 10%. In this regard, it is respectfully submitted that the benefits of any of the reservations including the above four reservations can be availed by the marginalised and eligible population of the country including transgender persons," said the Centre in its reply. The affidavit filed by the Secretary in the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said that the "transgender belonging to SC/ST/SEBC communities are already entitled to reservations earmarked for these communities." Further, it added that any transgender outside the SC/ST/SEBC communities with family income Rs 8 lakh is automatically covered in the EWS category. The affidavit highlighted the several other steps taken by the Union Government to ameliorate the problems of the transgender community. It said that a national portal for transgender persons has been launched by the ministry for obtaining transgender certificate of Identity. Also, a National Council for Transgender Persons has been constituted on August 21, 2020 to advise the government on policies, programmes, legislation and projects with respect to transgender persons. It stated that recommendations made by an Expert Committee constituted by the ministry were duly incorporated in the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020. Participants at the conference (Photo: VNA) Speaking at the conference to announce the planning and investment promotion programmes of Long An, PM Chinh urged local authorities to manage and turn its potential into resources, overcome existing challenges, utilise its strengths and advantages effectively, and focus on promoting administrative reform, improving investment and business environment, and building a strong and transparent political system. The leader also requested Long An to urgently and resolutely implement its planning, especially in sectors and fields with great potential and advantages, in association with the overall development of the Mekong Delta region. The locality should also strongly promote economic restructuring aligned with innovative growth models, and improve productivity and competitiveness, PM Chinh said, adding Long An need to strengthen public-private partnerships with a focus on investing in socio-economic infrastructure and to play the role of a transshipment hub for the Mekong Delta region. Attention must be paid to strengthening dialogue and promptly resolving difficulties and obstacles facing investors to facilitate their operations in the locality; finetuning the quality of human resources; and investing more in education and training. It is necessary to enhance the application of science - technology, promote innovative startup ecosystems, and strengthen foreign affairs work and international integration, especially trade cooperation with localities of neighbouring Cambodia, the PM said. He expressed his belief that Long An will attract more and more businesses and investors in the coming time, contributing to promoting rapid and sustainable development and materialising the provinces development plan with a vision towards 2050, becoming a leading industrial locality in the country and one of key growth drivers in the Mekong Delta region. Chinh thanked development partners, international organisations, governments, and peoples of other countries, as well as the business community and foreign investors in across fields, for their assistance to the province. The Vietnamese Government commits to continue fostering a healthy, equitable, and transparent business environment, and to ensure political stability and peace, thus providing favourable conditions for businesses to stably develop, he affirmed. On the same day morning, the PM made a field trip to the construction site of Ho Chi Minh City's Ring Road No.3 project the section passing through Long An province. On the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947- 2023), PM Chinh offered incense in tribute to martyrs at the Martyrs' Cemetery in Long An province; and visited and presented gifts to wounded soldier Pham Thi Xinh living in Ben Luc town, Ben Luc district. Under the plan, by 2030, Long An province will become a dynamic, efficient, and sustainable economic development centre in the southern region. It aims to be a gateway along the urban-industrial economic corridor of the Mekong Delta region closely connected with the southern economic locomotive Ho Chi Minh City and the southeastern region. Additionally, it will also become a crucial hub for cooperation and trade with Cambodia./. Samantha Ruth Prabhu gives us chills as she takes 4 degrees ice bath in Bali. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, July 26 : Known for her stunning beauty and stellar performances in the film industry, actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu is currently savouring a blissful vacation in the picturesque island of Bali, and has been delighting her fans with breathtaking photos and exciting updates from her tropical escapade. Amidst her exotic Bali adventure, Samantha on Wednesday shared a captivating picture that has left her fans in awe. Taking to the Stories section of her Instagram, the actress shared a video in which she can be seen fearlessly plunging into an ice bath, defying the sweltering summer temperatures, as she immerses herself in icy waters with a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius. She captioned it as, "#icebaths 4 degrees 6 minutes". Earlier, in the day she shared a picture of herself working out with her friend. Samantha also dropped some beautiful glimpses from Uluwatu, where she is seen admiring the beauty of the place, while looking towards the vast sea. She is donning a green sleeveless dress with a big hat. Samantha is currently on an acting break as she wants to focus on her health, and undergo treatment for autoimmune condition myositis. According to Webmd, Myositis refers to any condition causing inflammation in muscles. Weakness, swelling, and pain are the most common myositis symptoms. On the work front, her next is 'Kushi' with Vijay Deverakonda. The romantic Telugu film will release on September 1. The actress will also be seen in the Indian counterpart of 'Citadel' alongside Varun Dhawan. New Delhi, July 26 : It seems that the hackers have now even opened several anonymous accounts on Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, enabling them to convert the stolen funds and obscure the money trail. Recently, the Delhi Police registered an FIR after a man was duped by cyber thugs sitting abroad to the tune of Rs 83 lakh through 'Binance Wallet'. The cyber thugs had lured the victim on pretext of investment in crypto trading. According to the FIR accessed by IANS, Samir Gupta (56), a resident of Munirka Vihar, recently fell victim to online cybercrime/fraud. The perpetrators lured him into investing money in crypto trading by offering expert analyst advice through online chats on popular social media platforms WhatsApp and Telegram. They further asked him to transfer their commission through his Binance wallet. Gupta stated in the FIR: "In February 2023, I was added to a WhatsApp group named 'CAE BTC Short Term Trade 213' by someone. The group claimed to support trade crypto with the help of analysts. They urged me to register on the exchange called CAE based in Malaysia, and I received an invitation to register on their website 5cae.com. I followed their instructions, registered on 5cae.com, and started trading with small amounts, making payments through the UPI provided by them." "I made some profits and successfully withdrew funds online, confirming that the exchange was legitimate. They then introduced me to their program called 1V1 and asked me to invest USD 10,000 in a trading account, promising profits of USD 200,000, with any losses to be compensated by the analyst," Gupta said in the FIR. "In March, due to my work commitments, I asked the analyst assistant Jenny to add my wife, Sajla Gupta, to the WhatsApp group. Sajla Gupta created her account on 5cae.com and started trading, making small profits and withdrawing money from the trade account online. We deposited USD 10,000 into the exchange account using UPI, with the help of some friends," he further stated. "When we were ready with the funds, they presented us with a contract which we signed and uploaded to the exchange site. After that, they removed us from the WhatsApp group and added us to a Telegram group with the analyst Rosen. While trading and making profits, they asked us to separately deposit/transfer 20% of the profit amount as commission. They instructed us to use the Binance App to buy dollars and withdraw to their digital wallet. Therefore, we created Binance accounts for both myself and my wife and transferred the commission for the first day through Binance App. The second day's profit and 20% commission were also paid through Binance." "On the third day of trading, there was a huge loss, and our account almost emptied. Rosen, the analyst, stopped the trade and assured us they would replenish the account to cover the losses. Indeed, within four hours, they replenished our trading account with the complete loss made in the morning trade," said the FIR. "The analyst resumed trading, and this time, huge profits were made. We were asked to pay a 20 per cent commission on these profits, which amounted to a significant sum. Nevertheless, we paid the commission and continued trading as the program was for seven days. On the last day, we made substantial profits, and the 20 per cent commission worked out to almost USD 30,250. They instructed us to pay this amount, stating that the contract would be completed, and we could withdraw our profits, which we did through Binance," it read. "However, on the next day, when we tried to withdraw from our account, the withdrawal failed. Assistant Jenny told us to contact the exchange's customer support. When we reached out to the agent over Telegram, they asked me to pay a transaction advance tax of five per cent of the total asset value, approximately Rs 18 lakh, which I did not pay. I also requested a refund of our invested money, but they denied it. It was then I realised that I had been tricked and had become a victim of cybercrime," the FIR concluded. A senior police official said that they are investigating the matter. Bengaluru, July 26 : A Special NIA Court in Bengaluru on Wednesday extended the police custody of the five arrested suspected terrorists by 10 days. The five suspects were presented in court on Wednesday after their custody had ended. The counsel appearing for the Central City Crime Branch (CCB) police wing had requested the court to hand them over for police custody for 15 days. "The accused had planned to carry out subversive activity in the city. Including grenades, many explosives, and weapons are seized from the accused persons. The investigation has revealed that the suspects had planned to carry out a terror act. The suspects need to be investigated further. There is a role of many persons behind them and the accused should be given police custody for 15 days." The court after hearing the arguments from both sides, ordered handing over the accused to the police. The suspects would be questioned in the premises of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Madiwala locality of Bengaluru. The CCB wing had arrested Syed Suhail Khan, Mohammad Faizal Rabbani, Mohammad Umar, Muddassir Pasha and Zahid Tabrez on July 19 and seized a large cache of explosives, weapons and equipment. They also seized four hand grenades. The Karnataka police investigating the case of the arrest of five suspected terrorists having links with the Lashkar-E-Taiba (LeT) are making final preparations to take T. Nazir, a terror suspect in the Bengaluru serial blasts of 2008 lodged in the Central Prison into police custody. Nazir is suspected to have brainwashed the arrested youths and operated as the gang leader. He delivered orders to the accused persons and controlled the gang of terrorists through Mohammad Junaid, the prime kingpin who is suspected to be operating from the border areas of Afghanistan. Nazir, who hailed from Kerala, allegedly gave instructions from the prison. The arrested suspected terrorists came in contact with Nazir while they were in prison, through Junaid. Nazir had brainwashed them and linked Mohammad Junaid with the terror outfit LeT. All the arrested accused have confessed that they were "trained" to carry out terror strikes by Nazir, a source said. Mumbai, July 26 : Toughening stance, the Maharashtra Congress here on Wednesday warned the state government to provide equal funds to all its MLAs within two days failing which they would move the court. Maharashtra unit Congress president Nana Patole and other party legislators called on Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and raised the issue of 'unfair' and 'discriminatory' treatment in the matter of allocating development funds to the MLAs, announced last week by Deputy CM and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar. "The ruling alliance MLAs have been allocated funds in excess while the Congress legislators have been given very less amounts, some have not been allotted any funds," Patole later told mediapersons. The Congress delegation discussed the issue of 'unequal' funds distribution with Shinde and demanded that the development money should be made suitably available for the Congress legislators' constituencies, besides lifting the moratorium on approved developmental works. On his part, Shinde has assured the delegation that he would discuss the matter with both the Deputy CMs a" Devendra Fadnavis and Pawar a" and take a decision. Ajit Pawar's distribution of development project funds for the legislators has resulted in a lot heart-burn among the Opposition MLAs who have been raising the issue in the legislature and outside. They have accused Ajit Pawar of 'discrimination' by awarding huge chunks of funds for the Bharatiya Janata Party, ruling Shiv Sena and breakaway Nationalist Congress Party, while short-changing the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi legislators of the Congress, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT), and other smaller parties. However, the government has denied any inequity on this count while BJP MLAs had made a counter-allegation that during the MVA rule, the then Opposition legislators were starved of requisite funds. Incidentally, earlier this month, many ruling Shiv Sena legislators had expressed apprehensions that Ajit Pawar's elevation as Deputy CM and FM would again deprive them of constituency funds. Ajit Pawar's allocation of funds last week saw some ruling alliance MLAs getting huge amounts for their constituencies and the Opposition legislators reportedly getting very low amounts, leading to an uproar, particularly since the elections are due in the second-half of 2024. New Delhi, July 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-day tour of Rajasthan and Gujarat from Thursday (July 27). On July 27, Modi will lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation various development projects in a public programme in Sikar, Rajasthan. Rajasthan is scheduled to go for assembly elections in December this year. While in Sikar, he will dedicate 1.25 lakh PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSKs) to the nation. PMKSKs are being developed to provide a one-stop solution for all farmersa needs. The Prime Minister will also launch Urea Gold - a new variety of Urea that is coated with Sulphur. The introduction of Sulphur coated urea will address sulphur deficiencies in the soil. This innovative fertiliser is more economical and efficient than neem-coated urea, improves nitrogen use efficiency in plants, reduces consumption of fertiliser, and enhances crop quality. During the programme, Modi will launch the onboarding of 1,500 farmer producer organisations (FPOs) on open network for digital commerce (ONDC). ONDC empowers FPOs with direct access to digital marketing, online payment, business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer transactions, and encourages local value addition, catalysing growth of logistics in rural areas. The Prime Minister will also release the 14th installment amount of about Rs 17,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), through direct benefit transfer to more than 8.5 crore beneficiaries. He will, on the same day, inaugurate five new medical colleges at Chittorgarh, Dholpur, Sirohi, Sikar and Sri Ganganagar and also lay the foundation stone for seven medical colleges at Baran, Bundi, Karauli, Jhunjhunu, Sawai Madhopur, Jaisalmer and Tonk. On July 27 itself, Modi will reach Rajkot, Gujarat where he will inaugurate the new international airport, which has been built at a cost of Rs 1,400 crore. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate development projects worth over Rs 860 crore in Rajkot. On July 28, Modi will inaugurate SemiconIndia 2023 in Gandhinagar, where he will also address the gathering on the occasion. The theme of the conference is aCatalysing Indiaas Semiconductor Ecosystema. It aims to bring together global leaders from industry, academia and research institutions. It will showcase Indiaas semiconductor strategy and policy, which envisions making India a global hub for semiconductor design, manufacturing and technology development. SemiconIndia 2023 will witness the participation of representatives of major companies such as Micron Technology, Applied Materials, Foxconn, SEMI, Cadence, and AMD among others. New Delhi, July 26 : Chip maker Qualcomm on Wednesday announced that its flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy is powering Samsung's new cutting-edge foldable smartphones -- Galaxy Z Fold5 and Galaxy Z Flip5 -- and latest Galaxy Tab S9 Series globally. Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy defines a new standard for connected computing, including groundbreaking AI experiences, desktop-level gaming features, professional-grade photography, and more, for consumers around the world, according to the company. "Samsung is important to our mission to deliver the worldas best mobile experiences to consumers. They continue to set the pace for innovation and we couldnat be more thrilled to have Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy power the newest flagship Galaxy device lineupa"the Galaxy Z Flip5, Galaxy Z Fold5, and Galaxy Tab S9 series," Alex Katouzian, senior vice president and general manager, mobile, compute, & XR businesses, Qualcomm Technologies, said in a statement. Moreover, the company said that Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy will help define a new era of professional quality camera experiences. Snapdragonas Cognitive ISP will enable real-time Semantic Segmentation to enhance images, ultra low-light video capture, and multi-frame noise reduction. "Samsung is proud to feature the latest flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy inside the Galaxy Z Flip5, Galaxy Z Fold5, and Galaxy Tab S9 Series. Weare excited to see how these devices will enable new possibilities for our users," Inkang Song, vice president and head of technology strategy team, Samsung Electronics, said in a statement. --IANS shs/vd Bengaluru, July 26 : Former Union Minister and BJP MP from Karnataka's Davanagere constituency, G.M. Siddeshwara, has filed a complaint after receiving multiple calls including an obscene video call from an unknown woman, the police said on Wednesday. Police said that the calls were received from an unknown number. The 71-year-old MP initially got repeated calls from the unknown woman which he did not answer. She sent a message on WhatsApp on July 20 at 10.16 p.m. which read: "Hi, how are you?" Later, at around 10.22 p.m., he got a video call. The MP had then answered the call and asked her "what does she want?" She spoke in Hindi, and after a while, Siddeshwara disconnected the call. The woman, however, made repeated phone calls even as the calls were rejected. At around 10.27 p.m., the woman again made a video call on WhatsApp and as soon as Siddeshwara answered it, she appeared nude. Later, another call was made to the MP. The caller tried to blackmail the BJP leader, saying "a video call screenshot" was obtained, and the picture would be uploaded. A police officer said that they are looking into the matter. New Delhi, July 26 : Jio Financial Services Limited (JFS) and BlackRock on Wednesday announced an agreement to form Jio BlackRock, a 50:50 joint venture that combines the respective strengths and trusted brands of BlackRock and JFS to deliver tech-enabled access to affordable, innovative investment solutions for millions of investors in India. Jio BlackRock brings BlackRock's deep expertise and talent in investment management, risk management, product excellence, access to technology, operations, scale, and intellectual capital around markets, while JFS contributes local market knowledge, digital infrastructure capabilities and robust execution capabilities. Together, the partnership will introduce a new player to the India market with a unique combination of scope, scale, and resources. JFS and BlackRock are targeting initial investment of $150 million each in the joint venture. Rachel Lord, Chair & Head of APAC, BlackRock, said: "India represents an enormously important opportunity. The convergence of rising affluence, favourable demographics, and digital transformation across industries is reshaping the market in incredible ways. "We are very excited to be partnering with JFS to revolutionise Indiaas asset management industry and transform financial futures. Jio BlackRock will place the combined strength and scale of both of our companies in the hands of millions of investors in India." Speaking on this transaction, Hitesh Sethia, President and CEO, JFS, said: "This is an exciting partnership between JFS and BlackRock, one of the largest and most respected asset management companies globally. The partnership will leverage BlackRock's deep expertise in investment and risk management along with the technology capability and deep market expertise of JFS to drive digital delivery of products. "Jio BlackRock will be a truly transformational, customer centric and digital-first enterprise with the vision to democratise access to financial investment solutions and deliver financial well-being to the doorstep of every Indian." The joint venture will launch operations post receipt of regulatory and statutory approvals. The company will have its own management team. Patna, July 26 : BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi on Wednesday said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given sufficient funds to the state of Bihar. "Narendra Modi government has opened-up its treasures for Bihar. In the last 9-years, we have received Rs 5,22, 768 crore. The money is much higher than the UPA government of 10 years," Modi said. He said that the Bihar government has lost over 50 thousand crore in the last seven years due to liquor ban. "As far as taxes are concerned, the centre has given Rs 2, 50, 552 crore again more than the previous UPA government. The Modi government has also given us a grant in aid of Rs 1, 81, 216 crore," Modi said. He said that after independence, the Narendra Modi government has increased the equity of states in central taxes by 10%. "The equity of states in central taxes was 32% but the Modi government has increased it to 42%. Bihar, as a backward state, was hugely benefited with a 10% increase in one lot. The NDA government has given the equity to states with higher percentages and still ministers of Bihar are leveling false allegations on centre," he said. Earlier on Tuesday, leaders Vijay Chaudhary and Vijendra Yadav claimed that all the programmes underway in Bihar are only due to the visionary approach of Chief Minister NItish Kumar. "Roads, bridges, water supply through Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal, and power are due to the efforts of Nitish Kumar. Center has no contribution in Bihar. The Narendra Modi government has not given the grants Bihar is entitled to," the leaders had said. Bengaluru, July 26 : The issue of recording a video of Hindu girl students by three Muslim female students in the restroom of a college in Karnataka's Udupi has created a flutter in the state's political arena with the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP coming to loggerheads. Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara termed the matter "a small incident", stirring a controversy. Hindu activists and BJP have criticised him for his remarks. "Why is the incident being given political colours? The college principal and administration are there to look into the matter. The BJP should stop carrying out politics over the matter. Have these kinds of similar incidents not taken place earlier in colleges?" Parameshwara said. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, however, refused to comment on the filming issue. Meanwhile, reacting to the Home Minister's remarks, former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has stated that filming the girl students was a despicable act. "The Home Minister is claiming that it is a small incident. There is an attempt to hush up the case. Have the students tendered apologies just like that? Without any development, the college management suspended the students?" Bommai questioned. "The woman activist (Rashmi Samant) has spoken the truth and we are with her. What's wrong in telling the truth? There is no law and order and administration in the state," he said. This aerial photo taken on July 19, 2023 shows wild Asian elephants in Jiangcheng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Thanks to uncompromising environmental and wildlife protection efforts, the population of wild Asian elephants in Yunnan has been growing in recent years. Feeling much safer than before, some of these elephants have become increasingly "rampant," and a daring "group tour" of an elephant family in the province even made a great scene in the global cyberspace back in 2021. Jiangcheng County, which boasts a noticeable number of wild elephants, has inaugurated a special squad to monitor their movements. Once an elephant is found near a village, members of the squad would rush in, and deter it in a non-voilent manner. But if they fail to do so, cordon signs would be placed on site and warning messages would be sent to the villagers. While staying indoor to avoid confrontation with these naughty giants, villagers do not have to worry about their crops in the field. An insurance plan is in place to cover possible damages, and generous compensations would be made in accordance to the amount of crops consumed or affected by the unaware invaders. The Asian elephant, the continent's largest land animal, is under top-level protection in China. The species is mainly scattered in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna, Pu'er and Lincang. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) Diao Faxing, member of an elephant monitoring squad, launches a drone to track the movement of wild Asian elephants in Jiangcheng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province on July 20, 2023 Thanks to uncompromising environmental and wildlife protection efforts, the population of wild Asian elephants in Yunnan has been growing in recent years. Feeling much safer than before, some of these elephants have become increasingly "rampant," and a daring "group tour" of an elephant family in the province even made a great scene in the global cyberspace back in 2021. Jiangcheng County, which boasts a noticeable number of wild elephants, has inaugurated a special squad to monitor their movements. Once an elephant is found near a village, members of the squad would rush in, and deter it in a non-voilent manner. But if they fail to do so, cordon signs would be placed on site and warning messages would be sent to the villagers. While staying indoor to avoid confrontation with these naughty giants, villagers do not have to worry about their crops in the field. An insurance plan is in place to cover possible damages, and generous compensations would be made in accordance to the amount of crops consumed or affected by the unaware invaders. The Asian elephant, the continent's largest land animal, is under top-level protection in China. The species is mainly scattered in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna, Pu'er and Lincang. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) This aerial photo taken on July 19, 2023 shows a wild Asian elephant in Jiangcheng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Thanks to uncompromising environmental and wildlife protection efforts, the population of wild Asian elephants in Yunnan has been growing in recent years. Feeling much safer than before, some of these elephants have become increasingly "rampant," and a daring "group tour" of an elephant family in the province even made a great scene in the global cyberspace back in 2021. Jiangcheng County, which boasts a noticeable number of wild elephants, has inaugurated a special squad to monitor their movements. Once an elephant is found near a village, members of the squad would rush in, and deter it in a non-voilent manner. But if they fail to do so, cordon signs would be placed on site and warning messages would be sent to the villagers. While staying indoor to avoid confrontation with these naughty giants, villagers do not have to worry about their crops in the field. An insurance plan is in place to cover possible damages, and generous compensations would be made in accordance to the amount of crops consumed or affected by the unaware invaders. The Asian elephant, the continent's largest land animal, is under top-level protection in China. The species is mainly scattered in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna, Pu'er and Lincang. (Xinhua/Cui Wen) This aerial photo taken on July 19, 2023 shows a wild Asian elephant at a tea yard in Jiangcheng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Thanks to uncompromising environmental and wildlife protection efforts, the population of wild Asian elephants in Yunnan has been growing in recent years. Feeling much safer than before, some of these elephants have become increasingly "rampant," and a daring "group tour" of an elephant family in the province even made a great scene in the global cyberspace back in 2021. Jiangcheng County, which boasts a noticeable number of wild elephants, has inaugurated a special squad to monitor their movements. Once an elephant is found near a village, members of the squad would rush in, and deter it in a non-voilent manner. But if they fail to do so, cordon signs would be placed on site and warning messages would be sent to the villagers. While staying indoor to avoid confrontation with these naughty giants, villagers do not have to worry about their crops in the field. An insurance plan is in place to cover possible damages, and generous compensations would be made in accordance to the amount of crops consumed or affected by the unaware invaders. The Asian elephant, the continent's largest land animal, is under top-level protection in China. The species is mainly scattered in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna, Pu'er and Lincang. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) This aerial photo taken on July 20, 2023 shows two members of an elephant monitoring squad in operation in Jiangcheng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Thanks to uncompromising environmental and wildlife protection efforts, the population of wild Asian elephants in Yunnan has been growing in recent years. Feeling much safer than before, some of these elephants have become increasingly "rampant," and a daring "group tour" of an elephant family in the province even made a great scene in the global cyberspace back in 2021. Jiangcheng County, which boasts a noticeable number of wild elephants, has inaugurated a special squad to monitor their movements. Once an elephant is found near a village, members of the squad would rush in, and deter it in a non-voilent manner. But if they fail to do so, cordon signs would be placed on site and warning messages would be sent to the villagers. While staying indoor to avoid confrontation with these naughty giants, villagers do not have to worry about their crops in the field. An insurance plan is in place to cover possible damages, and generous compensations would be made in accordance to the amount of crops consumed or affected by the unaware invaders. The Asian elephant, the continent's largest land animal, is under top-level protection in China. The species is mainly scattered in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna, Pu'er and Lincang. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) A wild Asian elephant feeds itself on a mango tree in Jiangcheng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, on July 20, 2023. Thanks to uncompromising environmental and wildlife protection efforts, the population of wild Asian elephants in Yunnan has been growing in recent years. Feeling much safer than before, some of these elephants have become increasingly "rampant," and a daring "group tour" of an elephant family in the province even made a great scene in the global cyberspace back in 2021. Jiangcheng County, which boasts a noticeable number of wild elephants, has inaugurated a special squad to monitor their movements. Once an elephant is found near a village, members of the squad would rush in, and deter it in a non-voilent manner. But if they fail to do so, cordon signs would be placed on site and warning messages would be sent to the villagers. While staying indoor to avoid confrontation with these naughty giants, villagers do not have to worry about their crops in the field. An insurance plan is in place to cover possible damages, and generous compensations would be made in accordance to the amount of crops consumed or affected by the unaware invaders. The Asian elephant, the continent's largest land animal, is under top-level protection in China. The species is mainly scattered in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna, Pu'er and Lincang. (Xinhua/Lyv Shuai) This aerial photo taken on July 19, 2023 shows wild Asian elephants in Jiangcheng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Thanks to uncompromising environmental and wildlife protection efforts, the population of wild Asian elephants in Yunnan has been growing in recent years. Feeling much safer than before, some of these elephants have become increasingly "rampant," and a daring "group tour" of an elephant family in the province even made a great scene in the global cyberspace back in 2021. Jiangcheng County, which boasts a noticeable number of wild elephants, has inaugurated a special squad to monitor their movements. Once an elephant is found near a village, members of the squad would rush in, and deter it in a non-voilent manner. But if they fail to do so, cordon signs would be placed on site and warning messages would be sent to the villagers. While staying indoor to avoid confrontation with these naughty giants, villagers do not have to worry about their crops in the field. An insurance plan is in place to cover possible damages, and generous compensations would be made in accordance to the amount of crops consumed or affected by the unaware invaders. The Asian elephant, the continent's largest land animal, is under top-level protection in China. The species is mainly scattered in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna, Pu'er and Lincang. (Xinhua/Lyv Shuai) This aerial photo taken on July 19, 2023 shows wild Asian elephants in Jiangcheng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Thanks to uncompromising environmental and wildlife protection efforts, the population of wild Asian elephants in Yunnan has been growing in recent years. Feeling much safer than before, some of these elephants have become increasingly "rampant," and a daring "group tour" of an elephant family in the province even made a great scene in the global cyberspace back in 2021. Jiangcheng County, which boasts a noticeable number of wild elephants, has inaugurated a special squad to monitor their movements. Once an elephant is found near a village, members of the squad would rush in, and deter it in a non-voilent manner. But if they fail to do so, cordon signs would be placed on site and warning messages would be sent to the villagers. While staying indoor to avoid confrontation with these naughty giants, villagers do not have to worry about their crops in the field. An insurance plan is in place to cover possible damages, and generous compensations would be made in accordance to the amount of crops consumed or affected by the unaware invaders. The Asian elephant, the continent's largest land animal, is under top-level protection in China. The species is mainly scattered in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna, Pu'er and Lincang. (Xinhua/Cui Wen) This aerial photo taken on July 19, 2023 shows wild Asian elephants foraging at a paddy rice field in Jiangcheng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Thanks to uncompromising environmental and wildlife protection efforts, the population of wild Asian elephants in Yunnan has been growing in recent years. Feeling much safer than before, some of these elephants have become increasingly "rampant," and a daring "group tour" of an elephant family in the province even made a great scene in the global cyberspace back in 2021. Jiangcheng County, which boasts a noticeable number of wild elephants, has inaugurated a special squad to monitor their movements. Once an elephant is found near a village, members of the squad would rush in, and deter it in a non-voilent manner. But if they fail to do so, cordon signs would be placed on site and warning messages would be sent to the villagers. While staying indoor to avoid confrontation with these naughty giants, villagers do not have to worry about their crops in the field. An insurance plan is in place to cover possible damages, and generous compensations would be made in accordance to the amount of crops consumed or affected by the unaware invaders. The Asian elephant, the continent's largest land animal, is under top-level protection in China. The species is mainly scattered in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna, Pu'er and Lincang. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) A staff member places a cordon sign on a road where wild Asian elephants are found in Jiangcheng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, on July 19, 2023. Thanks to uncompromising environmental and wildlife protection efforts, the population of wild Asian elephants in Yunnan has been growing in recent years. Feeling much safer than before, some of these elephants have become increasingly "rampant," and a daring "group tour" of an elephant family in the province even made a great scene in the global cyberspace back in 2021. Jiangcheng County, which boasts a noticeable number of wild elephants, has inaugurated a special squad to monitor their movements. Once an elephant is found near a village, members of the squad would rush in, and deter it in a non-voilent manner. But if they fail to do so, cordon signs would be placed on site and warning messages would be sent to the villagers. While staying indoor to avoid confrontation with these naughty giants, villagers do not have to worry about their crops in the field. An insurance plan is in place to cover possible damages, and generous compensations would be made in accordance to the amount of crops consumed or affected by the unaware invaders. The Asian elephant, the continent's largest land animal, is under top-level protection in China. The species is mainly scattered in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna, Pu'er and Lincang. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) Li Jiangwei, member of an elephant monitoring squad, checks the infrared image of wild Asian elephants in Jiangcheng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, on July 19, 2023. Thanks to uncompromising environmental and wildlife protection efforts, the population of wild Asian elephants in Yunnan has been growing in recent years. Feeling much safer than before, some of these elephants have become increasingly "rampant," and a daring "group tour" of an elephant family in the province even made a great scene in the global cyberspace back in 2021. Jiangcheng County, which boasts a noticeable number of wild elephants, has inaugurated a special squad to monitor their movements. Once an elephant is found near a village, members of the squad would rush in, and deter it in a non-voilent manner. But if they fail to do so, cordon signs would be placed on site and warning messages would be sent to the villagers. While staying indoor to avoid confrontation with these naughty giants, villagers do not have to worry about their crops in the field. An insurance plan is in place to cover possible damages, and generous compensations would be made in accordance to the amount of crops consumed or affected by the unaware invaders. The Asian elephant, the continent's largest land animal, is under top-level protection in China. The species is mainly scattered in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna, Pu'er and Lincang. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Editor: WJH Sringar, July 26 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta on Wednesday asked the officers of the Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) to come up with a comprehensive policy for meeting the housing needs of the urban population, especially that of the twin cities of Srinagar and Jammu. Chief Secretary said that since population of the urban areas is increasing fast, there is significant rise in demand for housing in cities. He said that it is imperative on the part of the Department to be alive to this aspect of urban management and called for saturating the housing demands under PMAY (U) for the benefit of urban poor. He said that the unplanned construction of houses in cities is putting lot of pressure on the already shrinking land resources. In view of it, the Department has the added responsibility of providing affordable and planned housing provisions to people in urban areas. He asked for identifying suitable land for vertical development in the twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu. He also stressed on further improving the ranks of these cities in terms of cleanliness. Patna, July 26 : BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi on Wednesday said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given sufficient funds to the state of Bihar which the previous central governments failed to provide to the state. "Narendra Modi government has opened-up its treasury for Bihar. In last 9-years, we have received Rs 5,22, 768 crore. The money is much higher than what the UPA government gave the state in their 10-year tenure," Modi said. He said that the Bihar government has lost over 50 thousand crore revenue in the last seven years due to liquor ban. "As far as taxes are concerned, the centre has given Rs 2, 50, 552 crore again more than the previous UPA government. The Modi government has also given us a grant in aid of Rs 1, 81, 216 crore," Modi said. He said that after independence, the Narendra Modi government has increased the equity of states in central taxes by 10 per cent. "The equity of states in central taxes was 32 per cent but the Modi government has increased it to 42 per cent. Bihar, as a backward state, was hugely benefited with a 10 per cent increase in one lot. The NDA government has given the equity to states with higher percentages and still ministers of Bihar are leveling false allegations on Centre," he said. Earlier on Tuesday, leaders Vijay Chaudhary and Vijendra Yadav claimed that all the programmes underway in Bihar are only due to the visionary approach of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. "Roads, bridges, water supply through Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal, and power are due to the efforts of Nitish Kumar. Centre has no contribution in Bihar. The Narendra Modi government has not given the grants Bihar is entitled to," the leaders had said. Panaji, July 26 : Goa BJP MLA Michael Lobo on Wednesday suggested that the government should bring 'Matka Gambling' under state lotteries which in turn will help the state exchequer through GST and tender. Michael Lobo said that lotteries have low response now, but 'Matka' is being played widely. "Matka is profitable. It is operated in all constituencies. If it is brought under lotteries then the state government will gain profit through GST. In a big way, the treasury will get money. Also people will get money officially," he said. "Let it (Matka) come under the lottery. Government will benefit from it. Let anyone get the tender Illegal gambling should be stopped and brought under lotteries," Lobo, former minister in BJP's last term, said. "It will bring big changes. State will benefit. Presently, the government is not getting anything when it is running illegally," he said. Matka gambling, which is a popular gambling activity in Goa, operates from small kiosks and digitally as well. It is based on number selection and betting, from 00 to 99. The first opening digit is known as 'Open' and the second digit is known as 'Close' in this gambling bet. Those who bet correctly for a two digit number get around Rs 90 for every rupee and for 'open' or 'close' gets Rs 9 for every rupee. There are various 'bazars' of Matka in Goa, which includes mainly Kalyan, Mumbai, Star Day-Star Night, Rajdhani, Pune Day and Pune Night etc. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on July 8 had said that the state government will crack down on Matka gambling activities after a citizen had complained to him over phone in programme 'Hello Goenkar' on Doordarshan-Panaji. Some Matka bookies have shifted their 'Matka gambling' operations from kiosks to the digital modes, where they manage the transaction on mobile phones. Bengaluru, July 26 : A letter claimed to have been written by Congress MLA B.R. Patil and 11 MLAs of the ruling party in Karnataka to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah "exposing the corruption by the cabinet ministers in the state" has left the government red-faced. Even as Patil told the state Congress leadership that the letter was fake and photoshopped, and he lodged a police complaint in this regard, the matter has embarrassed the party. The development has come against the backdrop of the Congress-led government, which has been facing criticism from the BJP over the matter related to filming of Hindu girls in a college restroom by Muslim female students in Udupi district, and the government's move to withdraw the cases against the accused in the 2020 DJ Halli and KG Halli violence case in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said that MLA B.R. Patil has clarified that a fake letter was being circulated in his name. "Despite that, the media is making it news. He had only asked to call the legislature party meeting," he stated. CM Siddaramaiah has called the Congress Legislature Party Meeting on Thursday (July 27) to discuss various issues and all eyes are on the outcome of the meeting. A source, meanwhile, said the MLAs were unhappy over the functioning of cabinet ministers. "The MLAs are also not happy with the government not releasing funds for developmental activities for their constituencies against the backdrop of a dearth of funds for implementing guarantee schemes," the source said. Patna, July 26 : BJP MLA and former Land Reform and Revenue Minister Ram Surat Rai on Wednesday said that Triple Talaq can take place any time between JD-U and RJD. "The alliance between RJD and JD-U is a mismatched partnership. Triple Talaq between the two can take place anytime. The Nikah between them will break down. Nitish Kumar can launch his Paltimar programme anytime," Rai said. He said that Nitish Kumar is only waiting for Tejashwi Yadav to go to jail and then the Chief Minister will leave Mahagathbandhan. "I want to suggest the Chief Minister leave the lust for the chief minister post. He should go to a 'math' and take the name of Lord Shiva," Rai said. Rai's remarks came a day after Bihar government cancelled the transfer-posting order of 480 circle officers of land reforms and revenue department. The Chief Minister has said that the transfer-posting was done unnecessarily on June 30. New Delhi, July 26 : Drama unfolded at a meeting of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) here on Wednesday as BJP leader Kuljeet Singh Chahal and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal engaged in a heated verbal argument, resulting in the latter leaving midway. Chahal later accused Kejriwal of neglecting the Flood Control Committee's apex committee meetings and leaving the meeting without addressing questions about women's safety and flood control. In response, the AAP accused the BJP-affiliated members turned the NDMC meeting into a political battleground. "It is very unfortunate that the BJP shows no interest in the welfare of people living in the NDMC area. Today's meeting had many important agenda items, but the BJP members raised issues unrelated to the welfare of NDMC residents, such as women's atrocities in Rajasthan, surgical strikes, and tukde gang. This is nothing but cheap and dirty politics," the AAP stated. It said that all BJP members, led by Chahal, continuously shouted during the meeting and prevented any agenda from being discussed. "The CM had no choice but to adjourn the meeting. The sole objective of BJP members seemed to be to insult the CM, and in doing so, they wasted precious time of the Council and stalled numerous important projects of NDMC. Despite the CM's pleas to conduct the meeting, they were determined to disrupt it. It is very unfortunate," it said. On the other hand, Chahal accused Kejriwal of neglecting Delhi. "When the floods reached Delhi, he was busy attending alliance meetings with other political parties in Patna and Bengaluru, despite constantly accusing them of being corrupt and thieves," he added. Chahal claimed that NDMC organised more than 70 SUVIDHA camps in its area, but Kejriwal did not participate in any of them. He also claimed that Kejriwal, as the chairman of the Apex Committee, did not hold a single meeting in two years to prepare for the monsoon, which resulted in the recent floods in areas like Civil Lines, Yamuna Bazar, and Jaitpur. He also accused Kejriwal of having no attachment to the employees working in various government departments of Delhi and the NDMC. --IANS atk/vd Imphal, July 26 : Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Wednesday criticised the European Parliament for taking up the issue of ongoing ethnic violence in the state and urged the neighbouring northeastern states "not to poke their nose" in the state's internal issue. Singh, speaking on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, said that the violence in Manipur is a plan of foreign forces, trying to grab the state's territory. "The root cause is that the destruction of elements such as drugs smuggling, illegal poppy cultivation, trying to grab the power that were used disintegrate the unity of the state.The government has no grudge against the Kuki brothers and sisters," the Chief Minister said. Referring to Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, Singh said that Mizoram after a long struggle, became a state separated from Assam. "But Manipur has been a nation for 2,000 years... an Independent Nation. We have faced many enemies from Burma, China and have stood strong. We must not forget and Zoramthanga must also not forget this. He might be expressing solidarity and went to the rally." Zoramthanga along with his ministers and Mizo National Front MLAs, on Tuesday took part in a 'Solidarity March', organised by the NGOs Coordination Committee in Mizoram to express solidarity with the violence hit Kuki-Zo tribals in Manipur. The Manipur Chief Minister said that in the current situation, this is not a clash between Hindu and Christian, and there are plenty of churches untouched in Manipur. Without naming any one, the Manipur Chief Minister said that they have been crying and creating fabricated stories, acting up to be portrayed as a victim and brought up the issue in the European Parliament. "The consequences won't be good. Even the European countries, what do they know about the ground realities? What did they know about Manipur? They destroyed India, they destroyed our state, they killed and looted our properties. The mentality that those who can speak English are intelligent is strongly condemnable. "What I want to say to the people of Manipur is that the war that we are facing is a well planned war against the state government. "They have written books and have demarcated even the Imphal valley. We were not aware of this. They even wrote books and charted out strategies which include the Imphal Valley. "They even have the backing of terrorists from outside the country. The war that the people and the government are facing is not an ethnic war, the ethnic comes after the people of the communities where affected," Singh said. He further said: "I don't listen to these dramas. I, Biren, fear none. Let them do whatever they like. But we will protect our nation and our people. "We will stand for the integrity of the state until our blood runs dry," the Chief Minister said in Manipuri language and added that this is a message to those who want to disintegrate the state. "We won't succumb to their threats. Separate administration ! Not when the blood still ran in my veins. The state government won't rest until we identify the illegal immigrants and take the necessary step against them," the Chief Minister stated. In the wake of violence over 12,000 displaced people of Kuki-Zo community have taken shelter in Mizoram from violence hit Manipur. The hill area of Manipur, adjoining Mizoram, is inhabited by the 'Zo' community who share the same culture, religion, tradition and ancestry. Ten tribal MLAs (seven of them belonging to the ruling BJP), have been demanding a separate administration (equivalent to separate state) in Manipur. New Delhi, July 26 : Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday took a swipe at the government reminding it of former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj words that trade and terror can't go together but Modi is essentially saying cash and clash can coexist. Slamming the Prime Minister over the increase in trade with China, the Congress leader said: "Following the change in the status quo on the LAC in April 2020, we were told that the Modi government will be very tough on Chinese investments in India. Three years later, there appears to be a significant U-turn without any breakthrough whatsoever on the border talks; in which there has been if anything, only capitulation by the Modi government." "Sushma Swaraj once said Trade and Terror can't go together. Now Modi is essentially saying cash and clash can coexist," Ramesh, who is a Rajya Sabha MP and party's general secretary said. He also attached a newsreport along with the tweet. The newsreport quoted Minister of State for Information and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar's interview saying that India is open to investments from Chinese companies. Srinagar, July 26 : Acting on specific information generated by Jammu and Kashmir Police, a search was started for a person code-named Dr Sabeel who was motivating, funding and providing logistic support to the gullible youth of Kulgam district and adjoining areas to recruit them into terrorist ranks, officials said on Wednesday. Police said special teams were constituted by Kulgam police to track and search for this person. After systemic efforts, one vehicle bearing number JK18B-4852 was zeroed on. When the credentials of the vehicle were sought, it came to fore that this vehicle was being used by Dr Rubani Bashir, resident of Ashmuji, Kulgam. "Accordingly, a special checkpoint was established at Ashmuji and Dr Rubani was apprehended. During questioning, he disclosed his code name as Dr Sabeel, a PHD scholar from Central University of Kashmir and has also applied for job as assistant professor there. "During further questioning, Dr Rubani Bashir alias Dr Sabeel disclosed that he has been associated with Jamat-e-Islami from his student days and he has been its member in student wing Islamic Jamat-ul-Tulba for 14 years and later on has been a full-fledged member of JEI." Police said the basic modus operandi of Dr Sabeel was to work for proscribed terrorist organisations HM/JeM behind the curtain. He used to identify the youngsters, motivated them, funded them and then made them ready to join terrorist organisations. "During investigation it also came to fore that Dr Rubani Bashir alias Dr Sabeel motivated two youngsters and had made them to join the terrorist ranks. On the disclosure of Dr Rubani Bashir, two terrorist associates linked with proscribed terror outfit HM /JeM were arrested," police said. They have been identified as Fazil Ahmed Parrey, resident of Ashmuji Bhan, and Tariq Ahmed Naikoo alias Chawla, son of Abdul Ahmed Naikoo, resident of Check Wattoo Aharabal. On their disclosure, a Chinese pistol, one pistol Magazine, nine 9mm rounds were recovered from Bashir, an AK-47 magazine and 19 AK 47 rounds were recovered from Parrey and a Chinese grenade, 10 AK-47 rounds and an Alto car used for ferrying the terrorists have also been seized. Kolkata, July 26 : Calcutta High Court single judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta on Wednesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit its progress report on investigation in the alleged recruitment of two Pakistani nationals in the armed forces by July 31. The order for a parallel CBI probe in the matter was originally given by the single judge bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha on June 27. However, later Justice Mantha was elevated to a division- bench of Calcutta High Court; the matter came to the court of Justice Sengupta for hearing. On June 13, a petition was filed at the bench of Justice Mantha by one Bishnu Chowdhury alleging that two purported Pakistan nationals namely Jaikant Kumar and Pradyumna Kumar are currently posted at the defence cantonment at Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. In his petition, Chowdhury had alleged that the duo got selected through the Staff Selection Commission examination and they secured the jobs through forgery of documents. He had also alleged that a major racket involving influential political leaders, bureaucrats and police officials is involved behind such appointments through forged documents. On that day, Justice Mantha directed the CID of state police to conduct the initial investigation and also directed the Union government, Central Bureau of Investigation and the general officer General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Eastern Command of the Indian Army to be parties in the matter. Meanwhile, the petitioner has informed the court he had been facing life threats since he had filed the petition in the matter. Based on his apprehension, the court has directed the petitioner to make a formal appeal on this count to the district police superintendent of Hooghly in the matter. The court has also directed the police superintendent to review the application and take a decision within two days. CAIRO, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The Forces of Freedom and Change Alliance (FFC), a civilian political coalition in Sudan, concluded a two-day meeting late Tuesday in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, calling for an immediate end to the bloody conflict in Sudan. In a statement, the coalition called for launching a political process that leads to an immediate end to the war, an effective response to resolve the war-caused humanitarian catastrophe, protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law, and disclosure, accountability and reparations for all grave violations committed by the warring parties. It is the coalition's first direct gathering since the outbreak of the conflict in mid-April. The FFC demanded that the political process include broad participation of the Sudanese civil forces supporting an end to the conflict and a democratic civil transition in a comprehensive manner. It stressed the need for the Saudi-U.S. initiative to be integrated with the roadmap of the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority for Development in East Africa (IGAD), the decisions of the Conference of Sudan's Neighboring Countries, and the peace efforts of the regional and international communities. The coalition called for an immediate cessation of all types of violations and an independent investigation to identify the violators and hold them accountable. On April 15, an armed conflict erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, leading to a humanitarian crisis in the country. The FFC, which is leading an internationally-backed plan to transfer the country to civilian rule, has been calling on the warring sides to reach a permanent cease-fire. The ongoing conflict in Sudan has left more than 3,000 people killed and at least 6,000 others injured, according to the Sudanese Health Ministry. Editor: ZAD Jaipur, July 26 : : Next hearing in the Kanhaiyalal murder case will be held on August 1, officials said. They said that the hearing on charges being framed against the accused were to be held on Wednesday however the hearing was postponed due to the judge being on leave. Officials said the next hearing will take place on August 1 next month. A debate on charges framed was to be held on Wednesday in NIA special court where the accused were supposed to be presented via video conference. After the recent Kuldeep Jaghina murder case who was shot dead while being taken from court to jail, the administration has taken steps to produce the jailed accused through video conference. The nine accused in the Kanhaiyalal murder case were to be produced in the court through video conference from Ajmer High Security Jail on Wednesday in which both the parties were to present their respective arguments on the charges imposed by the NIA. On June 28, 2022, Kanhaiyalal was murdered by Mohammad Riaz Attari and Gaus Mohammad by slitting his throat. NIA presented the challan on 22 December 2022 and named Salman and Abu Ibrahim, residents of Karachi, Pakistan as absconders and filed a case against 11 accused under different sections. Imphal, July 26 : Opposition Congress in Manipur on Wednesday urged Governor Anusuiya Uikey to convene a special session of the state assembly to discuss the prevailing ethnic violence issue. Five Congress MLA led by their legislature party leader and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh met the Governor on Wednesday and demanded to convene a special session of the state assembly under Article 174 (1) of the Constitution of India. "An emergency session should be convened in the best interests of the people of Manipur to discuss the ongoing crisis. The Manipur Assembly is the most appropriate forum to discuss and debate the ongoing turmoil for which suggestions of measures to restore normalcy can be tabled and discussed," said the letter, signed by the five legislators to the governor. It said that despite many different sections of society and people of the state have been demanding for an emergency session of the house on the crisis, the state government has not respond yet. The incumbent state cabinet, headed by the Chief Minister (N. Biren Singh), had not accepted any request or demand to call for the emergency session to discuss the matter, the Congress MLAs' letter said. "We the five members of the opposition (Congress Legislature Party) in Manipur Legislative Assembly seek your constitutional intervention to our urgent demand to convene an emergency session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly," the Congress MLAs said. The Congress has been demanding resignation of the Chief Minister and imposition of President's rule in Manipur to restore peace and normalcy in the state. New Delhi, July 27 : The Delhi High Court has said that educational institutions should establish a robust system for record preservation, and specifically asked the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) to adopt modern practices like digitisation to achieve this objective. A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula set aside the imposition of a Rs 2 lakh fine on the KVS by a single-judge bench. The case in question involved the dismissal of a teacher from a Kendriya Vidyalaya. The single-judge bench had criticised the organisation for lacking proper governance and not maintaining important employee-related documents. As a consequence of the negligence in preserving and producing the annual confidential report, the teacher was awarded Rs 2 lakh as costs. The court pointed out the importance of instilling efficiency and accountability in institutions like KVS. While it agreed with the single-judge bench's comments on the need for robust record-keeping systems in educational institutions, it deemed the imposed cost to be disproportionate to the circumstances in this particular case. "Instead, it would be more equitable to address the need for better record-keeping by directing KVS to adopt better practices such as digitization etc., to ensure the proper preservation of records so that such incidents do not occur in future," the bench said. --IANS spr/sha Jaipur, July 27 : Rajasthan Minister Mahesh Joshi on Wednesday said that he will soon file a defamation case against sacked minister Rajendra Singh Gudha over his allegations. This was Joshi's first reaction followed the allegations made by Gudha who termed several ministers of the Ashok Gehlot government, including him, "rapists". "I am getting an FIR lodged against Rajendra Gudha for defamation. I am taking opinion from the lawyers, after that I will go to the police station and file a case, they will have to answer in the court the kind of allegations they have leveled against me," Joshi told media persons at the party hadquarters here. "Rajendra Gudha, along with the BJP, has tried to defame Congress. One thing is being described as a diary which does not seem to be a diary at all. If he has a red diary, then he should tell what is there in that red diary? BJP is also involved in this conspiracy," he said. "When Gudha was waving diaries in the Vidhan Sabha, shortly after that BJP MLAs also came with small red diaries. At the time when Gudha was raising the matter, at the same time BJP MLAs were also waving red diaries. This is clearly indicating towards the conspiracy. This cannot happen without collusion," he added. Udupi : , July 27 (IANS) National Commission for Women (NCW) member and BJP leader Khushbu Sundar arrived here on Wednesday to probe the incident of filming of Hindu girls by Muslim female students in the restroom of a college. She will be here for two days to investigate the matter. Speaking to reporters, Sundar said that she would meet the students involved, police personnel and college authorities in connection with the case, and understand it. "I am here to investigate the problems faced by the students and get to the bottom of this shocking incident," she said. The police in Karnataka have lodged an FIR against three Muslim girls of a college here for allegedly filming Hindu female students while they were using the restrooms. Minister for Women and Child Welfare Laxmi Hebbalkar, who is also in-charge minister of Udupi district, said on Wednesday that the police have registered an FIR in connection with the case. "I have instructed the district Superintendent of Police to initiate action as per the provisions of law,"she said. Hebbalkar further stated that strict action would be initiated against the accused individuals. "No one is above the law," she said. Bengaluru, July 27 : The students of Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidya Mandir, Bangalore South School paid rich tribute to the heroes of the Kargil war and armed forces on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas. The event featured a poignant interaction with the parents of martyr Major Akshay Girish, Kargil war hero from the state. Karnataka braveheart Late Major Akshay Girish was also honored on the occasion. "Kargil Vijay Diwas is a day to celebrate courage, valor and sacrifices of our soldiers. We must take inspiration from the lives of our brave hearts. We have to stand for ourselves that is the moral we get from the Kargil War," said Meghna Girish, mother of Major Akshay. "War changes a person," Lt Col PS Chandrashekar (Retd) of the Indian Army's Signals Corps, renowned for his missions at world's toughest battlefields, said. "It makes you realise what a valuable gift you have called life and we learn to appreciate it more." Wing Commander Girish Kumar (Retd) said that: "When you see a war, it brings reality to your life. War is never a solution to any problem but unfortunately as humans we get involved in war. You have to believe that what you are doing is right, and then you go ahead and do it without worrying about the consequences." Lt Col Sanjay Mishra (Retd) Specialist in counter-insurgency operations in Nagaland and Jammu and Kashmir said: "You should not have any doubt about joining the defense." On being asked what qualities a candidate should have to qualify for the armed forces, Mishra said: "Just be yourself! Do not try to be someone else. Do not fear failure and just be natural. Only if you carry yourself as you are then only you can give your best." "Everybody is a leader in his own life. There are three qualities we should have - wisdom, compassion and dedication for your people, your group, and for your job," Gp Capt Ashwini Mandokhot (Retd) Fighter Pilot said at the gathering. Wing Commander Girish Kumar (Retd), also the father of brave heart Major Akshay Girish, Group Captain Ashwini Mandokhot (Retd) Fighter Pilot, Indian Air Force; Lt Col PS Chandrashekar (Retd) Indian Army's Signals Corps; Lt Col Sanjay Mishra (Retd) Specialist in counter-insurgency operations in Nagaland and Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Army Air Defence Corps; Ranjini Kaushik, first lady of two large airbases; Meghna Girish, founder trustee - Major Akshay Girish Memorial Trust; Commodore H G Harsha, Chairman of SSRVM TRUST and Jaina Desai, Trustee, SSRVM TRUST were also present on the occasion. Patna, July 27 : The Bihar Vigilance unit conducted raids on the house and office of a Road Construction Department engineer in Bhagalpur district on Wednesday and seized cash amounting to Rs 80 lakh and some jewellery. A 10-members team, headed by a DSP rank officer, raided Executive Engineer Srikant Sharma's residence in Hanumannagar in Bhagalpur and office and made the seizure. DSP, Vigilance, Sanjay Jaiswal said: "We have recovered cash and jewellery and a property paper of Dehradun. The matter is under investigation." An FIR for owning disproportionate assets was lodged in Patna vigilance police station against Sharma. New Delhi, July 27 : A man accused of kidnapping a minor girl has been acquitted by a Delhi court on the grounds that the prosecution was unable to prove that he had lured her away from her parents' lawful guardianship. The case, registered at Govindpuri police station, had charged the man under IPC's Sections 363 (kidnapping) and 342 (wrongful confinement) for allegedly forcing the 15-year-old girl to run away with him to Jaipur on April 13, 2018. The Metropolitan Magistrate said that the burden of proof lies upon the prosecution to establish the case against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. After carefully examining the evidence and arguments, the court found that the prosecution had failed to meet this standard. It found that the girl had willingly left with the accused, and there was no evidence of any enticement by him. The court pointed out that the prosecution relied solely on the alleged victim's statement, without providing any additional evidence such as Call Detail Records (CDRs), CCTV footage, or statements from witnesses to support their claim that the accused had taken the girl to Jaipur. This lack of evidence weakened the prosecution's case significantly, it noted. Moreover, the court observed that the prosecution had not proven that the accused had enticed or allured the victim to leave her parents' guardianship by making any promises or inducements. The circumstances indicated that the girl had left with the accused without any such enticement. The court said the prosecution also failed to prove that the girl was wrongfully restrained, as she made no such statement. Furthermore, the girl's statement to the police, where she mentioned leaving with the accused willingly due to mutual affection, contradicted what she later stated in court, raising doubts about the consistency of her statements. Based on these considerations, the magistrate ruled in favour of the accused and acquitted him of all charges. --IANS spr/vd New Delhi, July 27 : InterGlobe Aviation, the operator of IndiGo airlines, on Wednesday said that it is in contact with engine manufacturer Pratt and Whitney to thoroughly evaluate any potential implications on its fleet. This decision comes in response to a recent cautionary statement issued by the US engine manufacturer, which has also created apprehension among airlines worldwide. "We are in receipt of the information from OEM Pratt and Whitney (P&W) regarding the outcome of the latest inspection of their engine. We are working closely with P&W to assess and minimise any potential impact to our fleet," said the spokesperson in a statement released on Wednesday. Pratt & Whitney, a renowned American aerospace manufacturer with a global presence, operates as a subsidiary of RTX Corporation. Recently, RTX Corp revealed the existence of a "rare condition" in powdered metal, impacting a significant portion of the more than 3,000 engines produced for the twin-engined Airbus A320neo between 2015 and 2021. "Specifically, approximately 1,200 engines necessitate removal and inspection due to the possibility of micro cracks indicating fatigue. The issue stems from microscopic contaminants found in a specific metal used within the engine's high-pressure turbine discs, a critical part of the engine core," it had said on Tuesday. "Out of the 1,200 engines requiring scrutiny, 200 must undergo inspections by mid-September due to their duration of service. The remaining engines will also undergo inspection within the coming year. This measure has been taken to ensure the safety and reliability of the engines and the aircraft they power," it added. IndiGo stands as the primary purchaser of A320 aircraft equipped with P&W engines, solidifying its position as the largest customer. As per sources, the airline currently operates 141 A320neo aircraft and 76 A321neo planes equipped with P&W engines. Last month, the airlines made a groundbreaking announcement regarding the placing of an order for a staggering 500 Airbus A320 Family aircraft, scheduled to be delivered between 2030 and 2035. The purchase agreement was finalised at the Paris Air Show 2023, with representatives from IndiGo and Airbus present. IndiGo had earlier confirmed that the engine selection and the precise mix of A320 and A321 aircraft will be determined in due course. IndiGo's order comprises a combination of A320neo, A321neo, and A321XLR aircraft. Kiev, July 27 : Ukraine has allocated 40 billion hryvnias (about $1.1 billion) this year to develop its drone production, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Wednesday. Currently, more than 40 Ukrainian companies that produce unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have signed contracts with the government, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Shmyhal's post on social media platform Facebook. The number of drone manufacturing companies in Ukraine increased by more than four-fold in the past year, driven by government investment and incentives, he said. In particular, the government has eliminated customs barriers for importing spare parts for drones and increased the profit share of the UAV manufacturers to 25 per cent, Shmyhal said. According to Shmyhal, in 2022, Ukrainian drone producers attracted about $110 million in investment. Taabeta Teakai, a Kiribati parliamentarian and Minister of Employment and Human Resources, has expressed deep gratitude for the significant assistance provided by China to the island nation, highlighting various development projects and partnerships aimed at elevating the living conditions of the people. During the interview, the parliamentarian emphasized the invaluable contributions that China has made to Kiribati's sustainable development. Development Projects and Donations China's assistance to Kiribati has encompassed a wide range of projects and donations. Notable among these is a diesel generator that has helped in bolstering Kiribati's energy infrastructure, ensuring a more reliable power supply for its citizens. Additionally, China has supported the country's agricultural sector and has provided essential educational resources such as books for schools, empowering local communities with knowledge and skills for sustainable development. Economic Opportunities and Employment The Kiribati parliamentarian expressed a desire to create more opportunities for the grassroot people to enhance their livelihoods. The vision includes enabling Kiribati's citizens to work in China by exploring possibilities of employment in factories and on ships. Such opportunities would not only provide valuable work experience but also foster cross-cultural exchange, strengthening the bilateral ties between the two nations. Cultural Heritage and Preservation During a seminar visit to an ethnic group village, Taabeta was moved by witnessing the locals' efforts to protect their cultural heritage. Recognizing the importance of preserving traditional dancing and singing, especially among the youth, the parliamentarian encouraged the continuation of these cultural practices to prevent their disappearance. Environmental Initiatives and Green Energy China's commitment to environmental protection and green energy initiatives left a lasting impression on the Kiribati parliamentarian. Inspired by President Xi Jinping's vision, the parliamentarian pledged to bring these ideas back to Kiribati, striving to adopt green energy solutions and promote sustainable practices on the island. Kiribati, with its pristine ocean and tropical paradise characteristics, aims to share its majestic beauty with the world while also prioritizing environmental conservation. A Blessing to China and the NPC Taabeta concluded the interview by bestowing upon all the Chinese people and the National People's Congress (NPC) a heartfelt Kiribati blessing. The blessings of mauri (health), raoi (peace), and tabomoa (prosperity) served as a gesture of appreciation for the friendship and support extended by China to Kiribati. China's contributions to Kiribati have been instrumental in fostering sustainable development, cultural preservation, and environmental consciousness. The parliamentarian's words serve as a testament to the enduring partnership between the two nations and a shared commitment to creating a better future for Kiribati's people and the global community. Editor: WRX Riyadh, July 27 : An F-15SA fighter jet of the Royal Saudi Air Force crashed during a training session, killing the crew on board, state media reported. Turki Al-Malki, the spokesman of the Saudi Defence Ministry, said that the crash happened on Wednesday near the King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait, around 800 km southwest of the capital Riyadh, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Saudi Press Agency. Al-Malki said that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the crash. The F-15SA is a two-seat fighter jet. Saudi Arabia has not revealed the exact number of those killed in the crash. Aprio, LLP signs CSH&G in strategic transaction. "Together, as like-minded firms, we are reinforcing our people-first, purpose-driven culture and navigating whats next. We plan to aggressively buildout our client roster in Alabama and beyond, said Richard Kopelman, CEO and Managing Partner at Aprio. Aprio, LLP, the No. 1 Fastest-Growing Accounting Firm in the U.S., announced that Birmingham, AL based Culotta, Scroggins, Hendricks & Gillespie, PC will merge with the firm. Partners Jake Culotta, Chris Gillespie, Joel Scroggins, and Steve Hendricks, along with 25+ Birmingham based team members, will join Aprio effective August 1, 2023. The strategic combination alongside Aprios existing Birmingham presence, will propel Aprio even higher in the Alabama accounting firm ranks, while also enhancing Aprios ability to add client logos across the Southeast. With more than 100 years of combined experience, CSH&G excels in delivering personal services with a clear focus on client goals through relationships of the highest quality. CSH&G broadens Aprios geographic presence in the Southeast and supports our national go-to-market strategy, said Richard Kopelman, CEO and Managing Partner at Aprio. CSH&G will drive continued growth in the region serving clients with accounting services, tax planning, business consulting, and more. Together, as like-minded firms, we are reinforcing our people-first, purpose-driven culture and navigating whats next. We plan to aggressively buildout our client roster in Alabama and beyond. With a strong focus on providing superior client service, relationship expansion and community involvement, the CSH&G transaction will enhance Aprios ability to connect and create meaningful relationships with clients across the Southeast. As trusted advisors, CSH&G is known for being an innovative firm built on an authentic, relationship-based growth model. We are extremely excited about this partnership. Joining Aprio will provide access to a wide offering of expertise in new services and enable us to better serve our clients in meeting their business needs and objectives. The combination of our firms represents a great opportunity for us to bring next level services and to facilitate our continued growth in Birmingham and Alabama. This also represents a tremendous opportunity for our team to advance their professional growth and build even stronger client relationships, said Jake Culotta and Chris Gillespie, CSH&G Partners, in a joint statement. Terry Putney, Partner with Whitman Transition Advisors, consulted with Aprio and CSH&G in the transaction. "I knew that CSH&G joining Aprio would provide a unique expansion opportunity in a fast-growing market, while providing the CSH&G team an impressive platform to provide amazing new opportunities and servicing abilities for their people and clients, Putney said. Since 2017, Aprio has grown to be the fastest growing accounting firm through expanded services and capabilities and has completed more than 20 strategic mergers and acquisitions in the last five years, including Aronson, Salver & Cook, Gomerdinger & Associates, Tobin & Collins, Squire + Lemkin, LBA Haynes Strand, Leaf Saltzman, RINA and Tarlow and Company. The firm is regularly awarded top workplace awards nationally and regionally across the U.S. and earned a 2023 Top Workplaces USA Award and received recognition on Vaults Top Accounting 25 list, which ranks the best accounting firms to work for in 2023. About Aprio: Aprio is a premier, full-service business advisory and certified public accounting firm that advises clients and associates on how to achieve whats next. Aprios associates work as integrated teams across advisory, audit, tax, outsourcing, talent solutions and private client services, bringing the best thinking and personal commitment to each client. Across practices, Aprio brings together proven expertise, deep understanding and strategic foresight for industries including Manufacturing and Distribution; Non-Profit and Education; Professional Services; Real Estate; Construction; Retail, Franchise and Hospitality; Government Contracting, and Technology and Blockchain. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Aprio has grown to over 1,800 team members. To serve clients wherever life or business may take them, Aprios teams speak more than 35 languages and work with clients in over 50 countries. For more, visit https://www.aprio.com/. Follow Aprio: Aprio Website: https://www.aprio.com/ Aprio Careers: https://www.careers.aprio.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aprio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aprioadvisors Twitter: https://twitter.com/AprioAdvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprioadvisors/ Media Contact: Cheri Husney - Cheri.Husney@aprio.com Jeff Kurz, SVP, Alterative Risk Strategies Jeffs extensive experience and knowledge in the field of risk solution strategies will be instrumental in driving growth and expanding our offerings in this area, stated Randy Larsen, President and incoming CEO of AssuredPartners. AssuredPartners (AP) is pleased to announce that Jeffrey Kurz has joined the firm as Senior Vice President of Alterative Risk Strategies, effective July 5, 2023. In his new role, Kurz will focus on the design, build, and deployment of unique risk products and solutions. In addition, he will provide consultation on single parent captive insurance and complex risk strategies for AP clients. He will report to Chief Revenue Officer, Ty Beba. We are excited to have Jeff join the AssuredPartners team and have the confidence that with his expertise, we will supercharge our ability to provide our clients with innovative solutions and guidance in alternative risk transfer and financing strategies, commented Beba. Jeffs extensive experience and knowledge in the field of risk solution strategies will be instrumental in driving growth and expanding our offerings in this area, stated Randy Larsen, President and incoming CEO of AssuredPartners. Kurz most recently served as Managing Director of Captive Insurance Sales and Consulting at Artex Risk Solutions, a role he held since 2013. He has over 25 years of experience in alternative risk financing including work with captive insurance companies, segregated cell captive insurers, risk retention groups and self-insured trusts, with specific concentrations in higher education, construction, healthcare, real estate, and large multinational company related risk. He has formed numerous captives in the major domiciles of Vermont, Hawaii, Bermuda, Barbados, and The Cayman Islands, as well as multiple other US states and foreign jurisdictions. A widely recognized industry expert, Kurz has provided consultation to a wide range of clients on alternative risk issues including US federal, state, and international taxation, accounting, and investment management as well as strategic planning and restructuring of captive insurance companies and legacy liability transactions. Prior to joining Artex, Kurz was the founder and CEO of Red Hook Risk Services, a captive insurance consulting firm in joint venture with Medical Protective, a Berkshire Hathaway Company. In addition, he has served as a national captive insurance resource for large regional and international brokerages. His career includes eight years as a CPA in public accounting where he served as an insurance tax consultant, including service as part of the national insurance tax practice. He is a frequent speaker at events of the Vermont Captive Insurance Association, the Captive Insurance Companies Association, the World Offshore Conference, the Captive Insurance Council of The District of Columbia, The National Restaurant Association, and the Insurance Accounting and Systems Association and has been published in National Underwriter, ART and Insurance Review and Captive Review. Im excited to bring my nearly 30 years of experience in alternative risk to a dynamic and fast-growing organization like AssuredPartners, said Kurz. In todays challenging insurance environment, its more important than ever to provide our clients with strategies that give them an alternative to the traditional commercial marketplace. We expect alternative risk programs and strategies to be a major driver of growth for AssuredPartners and a key differentiator for the firm. About AssuredPartners Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, AssuredPartners is a full-service insurance broker providing commercial insurance, risk management, employee benefits through consulting and services. With over 9,200 employees located in offices throughout North America, England, Ireland, Belgium and Scotland, AssuredPartners is in the business of building relationships. While cementing powerful, lasting relationships built on trust earned from working openly and honestly with our partners. Thats what we call Power through Partnership. For more information, visit http://www.assuredpartners.com. Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against GSG Protective Services CA Inc. call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The Los Angeles employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that GSG Protective Services CA Inc. violated the California Labor Code. The GSG Protective Services CA Inc. class action lawsuit, Case No. 23STCV13116, is currently pending in the Los Angeles County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here. According to the lawsuit filed, GSG Protective Services CA Inc. allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to reimburse for required expenses, and (f) failed to pay sick wages, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in California Labor Code Sections 201-204, 226, 226.7, 233, 246, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 2802, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct. Additionally, GSG Protective Services CA Inc. allegedly failed to reimburse employees for required business expenses. California Labor Code 2802 expressly states that "an employer shall indemnify his or her employee for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee in direct consequence of the discharge of his or her duties..." During employment, Plaintiff and other California Class Members were allegedly required to use their personal cellular phones as a result of and in furtherance of their job duties. For more information about the class action lawsuit against GSG Protective Services CA Inc. call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today. ***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT*** Christian author Oscar Destruge releases the Greek, pictured here, and Spanish translations of his faith-inspired work The Blood of My Blood, A Journal of Bible Meditations. While this book is written to existing friends and family, it is also intended for my future generations so that they learn who we were, our joys and struggles and how our faith in God helped us get through them." Oscar Destruge, a retired senior pastor at El Camino United Methodist Church in Norwalk, Connecticut, is hoping to reach more readers throughout the world with the Spanish and recent Greek translations of his faith-inspired work The Blood of My Blood, A Journal of Bible Meditations. To help people rediscover the joy and purpose of living and sharing Gods abundant love, Destruge shares with readers daily Bible meditations that include daily assigned Bible readings, his explanations and applications of those texts, and insights into his personal and family life. Destruge, who is originally from Ecuador and emigrated to the United States at age 10, explained that he had the book translated into Spanish and Greek to share with loved ones but also to reach new readers. While this book is written to existing friends and family, it is also intended for my future generations so that they learn who we were, our joys and struggles, and how our faith in God helped us get through them, he said. As a retired minister of Christ, my desired objective is to plant seeds of love, hope, and faith in as many souls as may be interested to learn more about God, our faith, and family history. Throughout the book, I sprinkled bits of family history, anecdotes, challenges, and encouragement for friends, family, and future generations. It makes a huge difference when we can read about Gods loving intervention in our own language. With the books English version, Destruge received positive feedback from readers who found the meditations to help bring the scripture to life for them on a daily basis, to touch their hearts and minds with Gods word, and to provide a sense of solace and encouragement. Ive heard all positive feedback from friends and family who have started using the book as part of their daily devotions, he said. The question I hear more often is: Are you planning to publish more books? I intend to do more writing in the future. The English version of The Blood of My Blood, A Journal of Bible Meditations is available on Amazon as well as the Spanish and Greek translations. For more information about Oscar Destruge, visit his website. About the book The Blood of My Blood, A Journal of Bible Meditations by Oscar Destruge is a collection of Daily Bible Meditations derived from the common lectionary, which includes the assigned Bible reading for that day and Pastor Oscars explanation and application of that text. Destruge is a retired senior pastor at El Camino United Methodist Church in Norwalk, Connecticut. The book invites the reader to learn about Pastor Oscars life and family and contains beautiful travel pictures. Each daily meditation takes about four minutes to read and ends with a prayer. There are indexes by Scripture and keywords. Pastor Oscars goal for readers is for them to strengthen their faith and walk with God and to encourage them into a routine of spending four minutes daily with Gods Word to help them discover God, who they are, and what is their God-given purpose in life. Lastly, he wants them to develop the courage to face challenges knowing that God is with them and that no matter the obstacles, they will have victory. For more information, visit https://www.pastoroscardestruge.com/. ### Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against Northgate Gonzalez Markets, Inc. call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The Los Angeles employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Northgate Gonzalez Markets, Inc. violated the California Labor Code. The Northgate Gonzalez Markets, Inc. class action lawsuit, Case No. 23STCV13075, is currently pending in the Los Angeles County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here. According to the lawsuit filed, Northgate Gonzalez Markets, Inc. allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to provide wages when due, and (f) failed to pay sick wages, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in California Labor Code Sections 201-204, 226, 226.7, 233, 246, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct. The Complaint further claims Northgate Gonzalez Markets, Inc. failed to pay employees their accurate sick pay wages, which violates California Labor Code Section 246. Employees routinely earned non-discretionary incentive wages which increased their regular rate of pay. However, when paid sick pay wages, it was allegedly paid at the base rate of pay rather than the higher regular rate of pay. For more information about the class action lawsuit against Northgate Gonzalez Markets, Inc. call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today. ***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT*** Harris Teeter and Titan Farms are thrilled to launch the 10th year of the Peaches with a Purpose campaign throughout all North Carolina stores to help feed the local community. From now until August 8, Titan Farms will donate a percentage of all peaches purchased at a North Carolina Harris Teeter location to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina in Charlotte, N.C. The donation will be in the form of fresh peaches directly from Titan Farms, based out of South Carolina. This campaign has donated more than 350,000 pounds of peaches over last ten years. Titan Farms, the largest peach grower on the east coast, created Peaches with a Purpose to help feed the under-served while bringing attention to the problem of food-insecurity. Through the partnership between Titan Farms and Harris Teeter, the two companies donated more than 350,000 pounds of peaches over the last ten years. We want to thank Titan Farms for supporting local hunger relief efforts and for allowing us to consistently be a part of this program, said Danna Robinson, director of corporate affairs for Harris Teeter. Fresh produce is scarce in food banks across the country, and we are happy to be able to contribute nutritious items to those in need. The peach donation will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, which serves a total of 24 counties in North Carolina and South Carolina. In the SHFBM service area, more than 489,000 people live in poverty including 159,000 children and 52,000 seniors. I am eternally grateful for 10 years of continuous support through Peaches with a Purpose from Harris Teeter and its loyal customers, said Lori Anne Carr, vice president of Titan Farms. Fresh produce is often in short supply in food banks, through this partnership, we have been able to provide fresh, nutritious peaches to local N.C. communities for an entire decade. In collaboration with Harris Teeter, Titan Farms serves as a valuable means to address the scarcity of fresh produce in food banks. This partnership demonstrates a commitment to helping families and individuals access essential resources. ### About Harris Teeter For more than 60 years, Harris Teeter, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), has enriched lives one meal, one family, one associate, and one community at a time. Headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina, Harris Teeter employs 36,000 valued associates across more than 250 stores and 60 fuel centers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida, and the District of Columbia. About Titan Farms Founded in 1999 by Chalmers and Lori Anne Carr, Titan Farms is a premier grower, packer and shipper of fresh peaches and vegetables. With core values focused on producing the highest quality produce in the market, you are sure to take home the freshest produce they have available. Today, Titan Farms is the largest peach grower on the east coast, with over 6,200 acres of peaches, 600 acres of bell peppers, 1,000 acres of broccoli and 36 acres of eggplant. Titan Farms is a family-run operation, including long-time employees who have become part of their Titan family. About Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina As part of Feeding America, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina - serves 24 counties in North and South Carolina. In FY 2021-2022, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina distributed over 75 million pounds of food and household items to over 950 hunger feeding agencies including emergency pantries, soup kitchens, senior programs, shelters and low-income daycares. Uses of AI in Business From rapidly processing vast quantities of data to optimizing manufacturing processes and even composing content, the possibilities of AI continue to expand. A NYC area business technology expert explains innovative business uses of artificial intelligence (AI) in a new article. The informative article first asserts that AI has begun to transform the way the world works in radical ways, following recent AI technology advancements. The author then explains four ways that AI takes workers to the next level, including organizing knowledge to support decision making, simplifying content creation, and building more effective training. She then relates how AI transforms healthcare to improve patient outcomes and streamlines the hiring process for recruiters and enhances the candidate experience. She concludes by briefly discussing how AI improves supply chain and inventory management. From rapidly processing vast quantities of data to optimizing manufacturing processes and even composing content, the possibilities of AI continue to expand, stated Jennifer Mazzanti, CEO, eMazzanti Technologies. Below are a few excerpts from the article, Innovative Uses of AI in Business Drive Efficiency and Productivity. Take Workers to the Next Level Improve writing and simplify content creation Tools like AI-enabled Microsoft Copilot offer suggestions to improve writing, create a more professional tone and strengthen arguments. AI can even draft content based on natural language prompts. Transform Healthcare to Improve Patient Outcomes In the healthcare environment, AI improves diagnosis and treatment, enhances patient outcomes, and reduces costs. For example, using computer vision and deep learning algorithms, AI can analyze and interpret images from various sources. This helps radiologists and clinicians detect abnormalities, classify diseases and monitor changes over time. Recruit and Hire Top Candidates Recruiters use AI to streamline the hiring process, allowing companies to quickly source and screen candidates, also enhancing the candidate experience. To begin with, AI can automate much of the process of matching job descriptions with resumes and profiles. It can also rank and prioritize candidates and engage them with personalized messages. Streamline Supply Chain and Inventory Management Supply chain problems and poorly managed inventories lead to costly delays and overstocking, as well as decreased customer satisfaction. Using algorithms, AI solutions forecast specific needs and suggest the optimal time to move supplies. AI can also help reduce waste, spoilage and theft by monitoring inventory quality, quantity, and location. Explore Creative Uses of AI in Business Companies like Microsoft aim to support the advancement of responsible AI by making high-performance technology available at production scale. Contact eMazzanti Technologies consultants to learn how to take advantage of Microsoft Azure AI and other services to improve business processes. Have you read? Microsoft Commitment to AI Empowers Users and Programmers for Good Proactive Companies Strengthen Cyber Security with AI About eMazzanti Technologies eMazzantis team of trained, certified IT experts rapidly deliver increased revenue growth, data security and productivity for clients ranging from law firms to high-end global retailers, expertly providing advanced business cyber security, retail and payment technology, digital marketing services, cloud and mobile solutions, multi-site implementations, 247 outsourced network management, remote monitoring, and support. eMazzantis consistent growth landed them on the Inc. 5000 list 9X. Recognized as a 4X Microsoft Partner of the Year, the #1 ranked NYC area MSP, NJ Business of the Year, and 5X WatchGuard Partner of the Year, the company excels as a trusted outsourced IT partner! Contact: 1-866-362-9926, info@emazzanti.net or http://www.emazzanti.net Twitter: @emazzanti Facebook: Facebook.com/emazzantitechnologies. MCI USA's marketing work has been recognized by the International Live Events Association as a finalist for the Esprit Awards. MCI USA is proud to announce its marketing work has been selected by the International Live Events Association (ILEA) as a finalist for the Esprit Awards, which celebrate excellence in global live events. MCI, a global marketing and engagement agency, was recognized for introducing new branding to promote the OCEANS Conference. We turned the OCEANS brand around by focusing on these key words: Clean, Organic, and Minimalist, said Juliana Pearce, Marketing Manager - Corporate, Strategic Events, Meetings & Incentives, MCI USA. This rebranding creates an organic, yet modern feel through imagery, text, and color theory. By evolving these elements, we developed a clean and visually pleasing aesthetic for OCEANS. The Esprit Awards are presented and owned by the International Live Events Association (ILEA) to recognize and award the most outstanding live events in the industry each year. The 2023 Esprit Awards recognize all aspects of live events, from planning to production, from design to event. The Esprit Awards program is the most inclusive and prestigious international awards program for professionals engaged in the industry of live events. With the rebranding we were able to hit the refresh button on our website, giving it a complete modern makeover. The OCEANS captivating website now receives more traffic and translates across OCEANS emails and social platforms, creating a sound brand, added Brydric Wright, Marketing Coordinator, Strategic Events, Meetings & Incentives, MCI USA. Winners of the 2023 Esprit Awards will be announced live and in person on August 10 in connection with the ILEA Leadership & Education Conference at The St. Anthony Hotel in San Antonio. # # # ABOUT MCI MCI is a global engagement and marketing agency. We design human-centric solutions that unleash the power of people to deliver innovation and growth for our clients. Our offering includes live & virtual events, strategic & digital communications, consulting & community solutions. We help brands, companies, associations, and not-for-profits solve their challenges, bringing their people together to shape their tomorrow. MCI is an independently owned company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with a global presence in 60 offices across 31 countries. http://www.wearemci.com MCIs US headquarters is in the Washington, DC area with offices in New York, Baltimore, Dallas, and Chicago. http://www.wearemci.com/en-us This breakthrough opens up new avenues for developing targeted interventions to improve breast health and combat related metabolic disorders," - Dr. Prashant Rajbhandari An Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai study sheds light on the intricate interplay between mammary adipose (fat) tissue and breast health, and offers exciting possibilities for understanding breast development, lactation, cancer, and obesity and related metabolic disorders. The study was published today in Nature. The research team was led by Prashant Rajbhandari, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease), and a member of the Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism Institute at Icahn Mount Sinai. The researchers discovered a new family of locally secreted and locally acting molecules in the breast called mammokines that contribute not only to normal mammary biology, but to overall fat cell physiology and energy balance control. Mammary adipose tissue has long been recognized for its essential role in breast biology. It consists of many different cell types, including fat cells (adipocytes), immune cells, sympathetic nerve fibers, and mammary epithelial cells forming a milk-producing ductal system. Mammary adipocytes play important roles in organizing mammary ducts, and the reverse is true as well. The new studies reveal an unexpected role for nerve-activated ductal cells in mammary adipocyte metabolism and heat generation. These mammary duct-secreted mammokines play an important role in controlling mammary gland fat abundance and could potentially orchestrate critical processes involved in breast development, lactation, and overall whole-body metabolic regulation. The findings thus have important implications for breast cancer, lactation-related disorders, newborn health, and metabolic syndromes linked to mammary adipose dysfunction. The discovery of mammokines is a significant milestone in our quest to comprehend the complex interplay between mammary adipose tissue and breast biology, says Dr. Rajbhandari This breakthrough opens up new avenues for developing targeted interventions to improve breast health and combat related metabolic disorders. The research team is currently focused on working to further identify new mammokines and characterize each of them. Their primary aim is to decipher the precise roles of these mammokines and determine whether they regulate systemic glucose and insulin homeostasis through communication with the brain, liver, and pancreas. Additionally, the team is exploring potential therapeutic applications for diseases related to the breast and metabolism. This work holds enormous promise for future advancements in women's health and metabolic research and the development of personalized treatment strategies based on mammokine profiling, said Andrew Stewart, MD, Director of the Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism Institute at Icahn Mount Sinai. This discovery is the result of the collaborative efforts of a large team of researchers with diverse areas of expertise in the United States and Europe. Research contributors include Sanil Patel, MS; Njeri Z.R. Sparman, BS; Alexandra Alvarsson, PhD; Luis C. Santos, PhD; Samuel J. Duesman, PhD; Chung Hwan Cho, PhD; Ephraim Hathaway, BS; Abha K. Rajbhandari, PhD; Peng Wang, PhD; Leigh Goedeke, PhD; Sarah A. Stanley, PhD, and Prashant Rajbhandari, PhD, Icahn Mount Sinai, along with Douglas Arneson, PhD; In Sook Ahn, PhD; Graciel Diamante, PhD; Ingrid Cely, BS; Xia Yang, PhD, and Aldons J. Lusis, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles; Alessia Centonze, PhD, and Cedric Blanpain, PhD, Universite Libre de Bruxelles; Noble Kumar Talari, PhD, and Karthickeyan Chella Krishnan, PhD, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, plus Atul J. Butte, PhD, University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Rajbhandari is supported by The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Seed Fund, DK114571, NIDDK-supported Einstein-Sinai Diabetes Research Center (DRC) Pilot & Feasibility Award, and Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation (DREF) Grant #501. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication. About the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is internationally renowned for its outstanding research, educational, and clinical care programs. It is the sole academic partner for the eight- member hospitals* of the Mount Sinai Health System, one of the largest academic health systems in the United States, providing care to a large and diverse patient population. Ranked 14th nationwide in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and among the 99th percentile in research dollars per investigator according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, Icahn Mount Sinai has a talented, productive, and successful faculty. More than 3,000 full-time scientists, educators, and clinicians work within and across 44 academic departments and 36 multidisciplinary institutes, a structure that facilitates tremendous collaboration and synergy. Our emphasis on translational research and therapeutics is evident in such diverse areas as genomics/big data, virology, neuroscience, cardiology, geriatrics, as well as gastrointestinal and liver diseases. Icahn Mount Sinai offers highly competitive MD, PhD, and Masters degree programs, with current enrollment of approximately 1,300 students. It has the largest graduate medical education program in the country, with more than 2,000 clinical residents and fellows training throughout the Health System. In addition, more than 550 postdoctoral research fellows are in training within the Health System. A culture of innovation and discovery permeates every Icahn Mount Sinai program. Mount Sinais technology transfer office, one of the largest in the country, partners with faculty and trainees to pursue optimal commercialization of intellectual property to ensure that Mount Sinai discoveries and innovations translate into healthcare products and services that benefit the public. Icahn Mount Sinais commitment to breakthrough science and clinical care is enhanced by academic affiliations that supplement and complement the Schools programs. Through the Mount Sinai Innovation Partners (MSIP), the Health System facilitates the real-world application and commercialization of medical breakthroughs made at Mount Sinai. Additionally, MSIP develops research partnerships with industry leaders such as Merck & Co., AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, and others. The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is located in New York City on the border between the Upper East Side and East Harlem, and classroom teaching takes place on a campus facing Central Park. Icahn Mount Sinais location offers many opportunities to interact with and care for diverse communities. Learning extends well beyond the borders of our physical campus, to the eight hospitals of the Mount Sinai Health System, our academic affiliates, and globally. ------------------------------------------------------- Mount Sinai Health System member hospitals: The Mount Sinai Hospital; Mount Sinai Beth Israel; Mount Sinai Brooklyn; Mount Sinai Morningside; Mount Sinai Queens; Mount Sinai South Nassau; Mount Sinai West; and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. China launches a Long March 2D carrier rocket, sending 4 satellites into preset orbit, from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern province of Shanxi, July 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] TAIYUAN - China on Sunday launched a Long March 2D carrier rocket, sending 4 satellites into preset orbit. The rocket lifted off at 10:50 am (Beijing Time) from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern province of Shanxi. Three of the satellites will be used to obtain remote sensing observation data and provide commercial remote sensing services, while the other satellite will be used for satellite communications technology verification. This was the 479th flight mission of the Long March rocket series. 4 1 Editor: JYZ NPG Logo Negative Population Growth, Inc. has released a new Forum paper titled Numbers, Noise, and Nonsense: We Must Stop Forcing Wildlife Off the Planet, written by Dr. Karen Shragg. This paper explores how human population growth is having a dramatic impact on wildlife as well as the environment as a whole. It highlights the need for urgent action to achieve a more sustainable future for all species. A prominent theme running throughout the paper is the idea of reframing our relationship with wildlife and understanding that animals are not resources, commodities, or nuisances, but rather life forms with an intrinsic value deserving of protection and conservation. Shragg carefully examines how we can create a context where humans and other species can coexist in harmony. She concludes that only by reframing our approach to wildlife can we ensure their survival in an ever more human-oriented world. Shragg quickly reveals the central arch of her piece, sharing: We are forcing wildlife off our planet in three basic ways: with our growing numbers, with our noise, and with our nonsense, defined as a refusal to create policies which follow the logic and the need to scale down the human enterpriseIt is a necessary requirement to do so for our own future. Nature, i.e., the very physics of our biosphere, must be respected, for it means preserving our life-supporting soil, water, and air quality. It is also key to our psychological well-being. Wildlife cannot survive the constant onslaught of population growth. Our most viable option to protect wildlife lies in our ability to implement and enforce policies that would prevent further eradication of the many species under its broad umbrella. Wildlife cannot communicate efficiently in regions vibrating with man-made noise. Diving into specifics, Shragg notes: Noise pollution is becoming a real problem for wildlife, and its effects extend beyond the actual footprint of cityscapes. Airplane noise is one example. Noise from ships is another. As human numbers expand, so does the noise from modern life. Sadly, even protected areas do not escape the detrimental effects of noise pollution. Pivoting to discuss growth from a different angle, Shragg points to a sprawl study focused on a southwestern state which determined that immigration inspired growth is hurting the very reason people like Arizona. People love its wide-open spaces and beautiful deserts, as well as the mild winter weather for those escaping harsher weather regions. Wildlife lives in those deserts, which are now being tilled for new development. The nonsense of that is that we are not requiring developers to prove that there is enough water now or in the future to support newcomers. This paper calls attention to how humans are rapidly displacing and destroying animal habitats while also causing species extinction in alarming numbers. The paper stresses the urgent need for humanity to recognize its role in this problem and take immediate action if we wish to have any hope for a future in which humans and animals can co-exist in harmony. In conclusion, Shragg states: We need nature, and nature needs us. We arent just destroying the natural world, we are destroying ourselves, what could be more nonsensical than self-destructive behavior? There is ultimately one big, limited planet for all species, and humans have the power to make a difference for wildlife. Founded in 1972, NPG is a national nonprofit membership organization dedicated to educating the American public and political leaders regarding the damaging effects of population growth. We believe that our nation is already vastly overpopulated in terms of the long-range carrying capacity of its resources and environment. NPG advocates the adoption of its Proposed National Population Policy, with the goal of eventually stabilizing U.S. population at a sustainable level far lower than todays. We do not simply identify the problems we propose solutions. For more information, visit our website at NPG.org, follow us on Facebook @NegativePopulationGrowth or follow us on Twitter @npg_org. SkillsUSA Logo Each of these students has a true passion for SkillsUSA and for CTE. Through the election process, they demonstrated a deep knowledge of the SkillsUSA Framework and a work ethic that will make them great leaders to serve our members SkillsUSA students have been elected as national officers to serve nearly 400,000 members for the 2023-24 school year. The 10 high school and college/postsecondary students will serve as advocates for SkillsUSA and career and technical education (CTE) and will lead two national conferences, facilitate sessions for students and instructors and advocate on behalf of SkillsUSA to elected officials and representatives of business and industry as they represent the national organization at various events. Each of these students has a true passion for SkillsUSA and for CTE. Through the election process, they demonstrated a deep knowledge of the SkillsUSA Framework and a work ethic that will make them great leaders to serve our members, said Chelle Travis, executive director of SkillsUSA. I look forward to working closely with this national officer team throughout the school year. Elections were run by the SkillsUSA House of Delegates during the annual SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) held June 19-23 in Atlanta. The student officers were elected through a formal process that concluded June 23 at the closing Awards Session of the NLSC when they were announced. Newly elected SkillsUSA national officers for the High School division include: President Oviya Senthil, a Computer Science student at Folsom (Calif.) High School. SkillsUSA advisors: Pamela Goldman and Andrew Bias. Vice President Tyler Miles, a Graphic Communications student at Burrillville High School in Harrisville, R.I. SkillsUSA advisor: Christopher Pilling. Secretary Lilia Burkes, an IT Networking student at Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center in Leonardtown, Md. SkillsUSA advisor: Mary Thompson Treasurer Kayla Mathieu, a Culinary Arts student at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in South Easton, Mass. SkillsUSA advisor: Leah Doolin. Region 2 Vice President Luke Yoakum, a Culinary Arts, Hospitality, Baking and Gastronomy student at Leesburg (Fla.) High School. SkillsUSA advisor: John Bell. Region 3 Vice President Naomi Domer, a Technology and Engineering student at Watertown (Wis.) High School. SkillsUSA advisor: Jesse Domer. Region 4 Vice President Preet Damani, a Pre-Engineering student at Canadian Valley Tech Center El Reno, Okla. SkillsUSA advisor: Jeff Herndon. Region 5 Vice President Troy Barrera, a Biomedical student at Edward C. Reed High School in Sparks, Nev. SkillsUSA advisor: Terin Arnold. Newly elected SkillsUSA national officers for the College/Postsecondary division include: President Audrey Norris, a Games, Interactive Media and Mobile Technologies student at Boise State University, Idaho. SkillsUSA advisor: Barbara Beagles Vice President Emily Pinto, a Design and Media Production student at Augusta (Ga.) Technical College. SkillsUSA advisor: Sherrie Rowe. To run for a national office, SkillsUSA members must follow their school and state candidate process. Once qualified to run for national office, candidates begin the campaign process during the national conference to student delegates representing all 50 states and three territories. The NLSC is the largest and most diverse annual showcase of skill training in the nation with over 16,000 attendees and 110 leadership and skilled trades competitions planned and managed by industry to their standards for entry-level employees in each field. Meet the new SkillsUSA National Officer team: http://www.skillsusa.org/about/national-officers/. About SkillsUSA SkillsUSA is Americas proud champion of the skilled trades. Its a student-led partnership of education and industry thats building the skilled workforce our nation depends on with graduates who are career ready, day one. Representing nearly 380,000 career and technical education students and teachers, SkillsUSA chapters thrive in middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions nationwide. SkillsUSAs mission empowers students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. That mission is accomplished through the SkillsUSA Framework of Personal Skills, Workplace Skills and Technical Skills Grounded in Academics, which is integrated into the classroom curriculum. Through Framework instruction, students develop the character-shaping leadership skills teamwork, communication, professionalism and more that successful careers and lives demand. At the same time, students hone their high-level technical skills against current industry standards in more than 130 skilled trade areas, from 3-D Animation to Welding. The result? Focused, confident and highly skilled graduates who are ready to work, ready to lead and ready to make a difference in our schools, workplaces and communities. A vital solution to the skills gap, where more in-demand skilled trades positions are available than qualified professionals to fill them, SkillsUSA has served over 14 million difference-making members since 1965. To learn more, visit http://www.skillsusa.org. How U.S. Companies are Conducting Job Interviews Technology was such a wonderful asset to keep the workforce connected during the COVID-19 pandemic but returning to in-person interviews allows employers to assess soft skills that are hard to capture without meeting without meeting face-to-face. - Express CEO Bill Stoller Job seekers should prepare to meet with potential employers at least once during the hiring process, as 51% of U.S. hiring managers say they prefer to interview candidates face-to-face instead of through a screen or phone. However, the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still evident as 8% of hiring managers only conduct interviews virtually, while another 40% use a combination of in-person and virtual. This is according to a recent survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals. If an applicant shows up at a business unannounced to secure employment, a majority of employers describe the tactic positively, saying it shows motivation (57%), initiative (46%) and that the candidate is driven (40%). Only 35% view this behavior as negative with descriptions such as obsessive (19%), creepy (16%) or out-of-date (14%). The Return of In-Person Interviews While the methods for conducting job interviews depend on multiple factors, including industry and skill level of the candidate, the value of in-person interaction can also set candidates up for success. We continue to use virtual interviews mostly for professional and administrative roles, said Jorge Costas, Express franchise owner in Florida. For our light industrial candidates, in-person interactions are more successful. In Washington, Express General Manager Stacey Snodgrasss office also requires in-person interviews for certain positions. "While we were engaging in phone and virtual interviews for most positions, we noticed an uptick in our number of no-shows when it came to the second, in-person part of the interview to complete onboarding forms," she said. "Wasting valuable time on no-shows hurts both the company and potential applicants who may be a strong fit." Virtual interviews do have advantages, such as time efficiency, but both Snodgrass and Costas say these types of interactions dont provide a full picture of the candidate. In-person interviews are the best, in my opinion, to get to know the applicant; to see and connect with them to determine the best professional fit for them and a potential employer, Snodgrass said. If a job seeker followed up on an application in person, Costas said he would try to interview them immediately if his schedule allows or encourage them to schedule an appointment at a later date. I do find that a person who has the confidence to show up and ask to be interviewed has an interest in working, and that initiative should not be discounted, he added. Outside of showing up at the company to increase hiring chances, Snodgrass suggests job seekers follow up after an interview with references, send a thank-you note to the hiring manager and check back in a week if you havent heard any updates. Technology was such a wonderful asset to keep the workforce connected during the COVID-19 pandemic but returning to in-person interviews or a virtual component at the start of the hiring process allows employers to assess soft skills that are hard to capture without meeting face-to-face, said Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller. Looking at these survey results, it seems companies agree. Survey Methodology The Job Insights survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between June 13 and June 26, 2023, among 1,010 U.S. hiring decision-makers (defined as adults ages 18+ in the U.S. who are employed full-time or self-employed, work at companies with more than one employee, and have full/significant involvement in hiring decisions at their company). Data were weighted where necessary by company size to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 3.2 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest. *** If you would like to arrange for an interview with Bill Stoller to discuss this topic, please contact Sheena Hollander, Director of Corporate Communications and PR, at (405) 717-5966. About Bill Stoller William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment International. Founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing franchisor supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. About Express Employment Professionals At Express Employment Professionals, were in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 579,000 people globally in 2022 and more than 10 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com. TheWell, By LANG "Switzerland is known for its pure drinking water, so we knew our machine could deliver no less," said Lundberg. "Our hope is that it will become a replacement for both those who drink bottled water for the taste and those who drink it out of necessity." LANG, the Switzerland-based, beverage brand headed by technology innovator Jan-Erik Lundberg, is excited to announce it's helping cut plastic consumption at home while providing spring fresh mineral water with the tabletop filter TheWell. "I was watching a documentary on the bottled water industry when I felt the need to do something," explained Lundberg. "Our plastic consumption and reliance are taking a toll on our oceans and rivers and health. TheWell is my chance to make a positive change." TheWell has just launched in the US market and is a 3 step reverse osmosis filtration system that is capable of filtering out sediment, odors, flavors, harmful particulates, and micro plastics. After filtration, it then replenishes the water with micro-doses of essential salts and minerals that one's body needs to function optimally as well as a pure mountain spring flavor that sets it apart from the competition. "Switzerland is known for its pure drinking water, so we knew our machine could deliver no less," said Lundberg. "Our hope is that it will become a replacement for both those who drink bottled water for the taste and those who drink it out of necessity." In addition to providing quality drinking water, LANG has unveiled a line of naturally flavored waters and teas that are compatible with the machine. To date, users can enjoy the Lemon LANGWATER+ featuring zero sugar, no artificial ingredients, and zero calories. A black tea option is expected to launch this July with more flavors under development. About LANG is on a mission to change how bottled water and beverages are sold and distributed by bringing the bottling plant to the consumer. The result of a decade of development, its breakthrough filter TheWell is the ultimate all-in-one drinks system that's reducing waste and lowering the long term cost for the individual consumer. Red Comet Logo Students can access a broad range of courses in multiple subjects and disciplines and develop enhanced digital skills, increased self-discipline, and time-management skills in a self-paced, asynchronous environment. Red Comet will be the Approved Online Course Provider from OSPI (Office of Superintendent for Public Instruction) for Touchet School District s new Multi-District Online School Program, Touchet Academy (Red Comet). Beginning 2023-24 school year, Touchet School District will accept into the program students residing in Washington State who are both non-resident and resident within district boundary. With this program, there is no restriction on the number of non-resident students that Touchet School District can admit. Eligible students in the State of Washington may register in this Online School Program and enroll in one or more digital courses from kindergarten through Grade 12. Red Comet brings years of experience working with other school districts in offering Online School Programs in the State of Washington. We are excited to open up our 300+ courses to students who will be enrolling in Touchet Academy (Red Comet) said Dr. Jay Srinivasan, the Managing Director for Red Comet. Mr. Robert Elizondo, the Superintendent of Touchet School District, said, Some individuals thrive in a traditional classroom setting, while others prefer the flexibility and independence of online education. This Online School Program will cater to those students seeking flexibility and the convenience of personalized learning. Students can access a broad range of courses in multiple subjects and disciplines and develop enhanced digital skills, increased self-discipline, and time-management skills in a self-paced, asynchronous environment. CONTACT: Dr. Jay Srinivasan, Managing Director Red Comet, 972-365-0561, jay@redcomet.org Touchet School District, 509-394-2352 About Red Comet: Red Comet is an education technology company using cutting-edge technology to offer customized digital solutions for K-12 online learning. Red Comet is globally accredited by CogniaTM and offers over 300 credit-bearing K-12 core and elective courses aligned with state standards. The company provides a broad digital curriculum, varied assessments, and virtual learning models for the K-12 market by maximizing technologys potential for creating immersive and meaningful learning experiences. For more information on Red Comet, visit Red Comet (http://redcomet.org/) For more information on Touchet School District, visit https://www.touchet.k12.wa.us/ Remy Nicolas, Caring Transitions of Fort Lauderdale East "I want to alleviate stress and ensure every transition is a positive and memorable experience. Caring Transitions, the leader in senior relocation and transition services, continues expanding its compassionate reach nationwide with its latest location. Caring Transitions of Fort Lauderdale East opened in late June and is owned and operated by Remy Nicolas. The 23-year-old entrepreneur looks forward to providing the in-demand services of relocation, estate sales, and home cleanouts. Caring Transitions is a franchise designed to minimize stress by utilizing specially trained professionals to oversee every detail of a seniors transition with compassion, including decluttering, organizing, packing, move management, unpacking, resettling, and cleanouts. The company also manages both in-home and online estate sales. The online estate sales are hosted on CTBIDS, the brands widely popular auction platform, which can support its clients in liquidating unique and everyday treasures that many cherish. Nicolas recognizes the challenges seniors and their loved ones can face during a big move. Inspired by his own grandparents difficult experiences moving from their apartment to a retirement community and subsequently into a nursing home, Nicolas was determined to create a positive and memorable transition experience for others. It was a nightmare, and they didnt even have that much stuff, says Nicolas. The people they worked with had a bad attitude and showed no personal care for them. This fueled my passion for bringing about change in this industry. I want to alleviate stress and ensure every transition is a positive and memorable experience. Despite his age, Nicolass ambition to help others guided his career path. While studying finance at High Point University, his ultimate goal was not Wall Street or an investment firm but rather owning a business that could truly make a difference. I want the Fort Lauderdale community to know that were here to help them, regardless of their circumstances, Nicolas said. If they are unable to afford our services, I am committed to assisting them in finding the resources they need. Caring Transitions of Fort Lauderdale East proudly serves the areas of Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Wilton Manors, Dania Beach, Victoria Park, Tarpon River, Las Olas, Coral Ridge, Sunset, Central Beach, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Bay Colony, Lauderdale Beach, Nurmi Isles, Rio Vista, and Lauderdale Manors. With over 280 franchise locations across the country, Caring Transitions has established itself as a trusted resource for families in need. Were thrilled to welcome Remy Nicolas to our franchise family and expand our network in Florida, says Ray Fabik, President of Caring Transitions. His entrepreneurial spirit and genuine passion for helping others make him an ideal Caring Transitions franchisee. The people of Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding areas are in great hands with Remy. To learn more about Caring Transitions, visit http://www.CaringTransitions.com. For more about franchising opportunities with Caring Transitions, visit https://www.caringtransitionsfranchise.com/. About Caring Transitions Caring Transitions, founded in 2006, is the most trusted and experienced national franchise specializing in senior relocation and transition services. With more than 280 locations throughout the United States, all owned and operated by Certified Relocation and Transition Specialists, Caring Transitions provides clients with supportive moves, auctions, rightsizing, and transitions. This includes expert advice plus a well-executed transition plan beginning with the initial sorting of personal belongings through packing, unpacking, resettling, and selling of items to the final clearing and cleaning of the property. For more information, visit http://www.caringtransitions.com or visit us on Facebook. After the start of the war in Ukraine, Russian citizens have founded 21,326 companies in Georgia, which is three times more than the total number founded in the previous 27 years, according to a report by Transparency International - Georgia.Specifically, the data reveals that from January 1995 to February 2022, a total of 7,788 companies were established by Russian citizens in Georgia. However, in the period from March 2022 to June 2023, this number tripled.As a result, the average monthly registration of companies by Russian citizens in Georgia reached 1,300 after the onset of the war in Ukraine, based on the information provided by the organization.The Maritime Transport Agency has announced that on July 27, the cruise ship ASTORIA GRANDE, sailing under the flag of Palau, is scheduled to enter the Batumi seaport. The ship commences its cruise from the city of Sochi, Russia, and is operated by the Turkish company Miray Cruises International.The agency clarifies that the entry of the ASTORIA GRANDE is of a commercial nature and that it is registered in Seychelles under the name of the company "Goodwin Shipping Limited." Furthermore, the ship is not subject to international sanctions."The Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia, in coordination with the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance, continuously inspects both ships and shipowners in relation to international sanctions. Therefore, if the ship or the owner of the ship is on the list of sanctions, it is not allowed to enter the ports of Georgia and carry out the relevant procedures," the agency says.At the beginning of the year, the information about the sea shipments between Sochi and Batumi was spread by the Russian media, but Georgian authorities did not confirm this information. Ukrainian grain could be exported via solidarity lanes in the absence of the Black Sea grain deal, but EU's support will be needed to balance transit costs, European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski said. "The continuation of the Black Sea corridor, the continuation of this deal, probably we can say there will be no further problem with the imports to the frontline member states... Now we have a different situation and we have to consider all consequences of the situation," Wojciechowski said at a press conference in Brussels following a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on Tuesday. The EU could thus help export almost all the grain that Ukraine would export, he said. Wojciechowski said he talked on the sidelines of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting to the ministers of Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, the five frontline member states facing problems over Ukrainian agricultural products, about their attitudes towards Ukrainian grain transit via their territories. "I was ensured that there is no problem with transit, the transit in all these five member states is continued without barriers," he said. "There is necessary support for transportation. What is the political risk? Because of the costs of the transit, the cost of transportation, this is not attractive enough, trade using solidarity lanes... I will present this position in the commission that we should find a solution of how to support transport costs using also EU money. This is only my position now, but I will propose to discuss this question because there is the risk that Russia will be beneficial of the situation," he said. "Because it will be cheaper to buy grain from Russia than to pay for the grain from Ukraine transported through Poland to the Baltic ports. The cost of this operation will be always higher than Russia can offer on the global market," he said. When asked whether the temporary ban on imports of wheat, corn, rapeseed, or sunflower seeds from Ukraine to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia will be extended after September 15, Wojciechowski said, "I am sure that we must assess the situation as a particular moment by September 15. We also have to look into this year's harvest, we will have more information by that time... Everything will become clearer only after the harvest... One needs to keep track of how the situation will develop. And I believe that we should decide before the temporary measures expire in September." The market situation was expected to be analyzed every two months when the autonomous trade measures were introduced for the five EU member states, he said, adding that the next analysis is due to take place in August. A possible expansion, in particular at Poland's request, of the list of products subject to these measures was not discussed, Wojciechowski said, adding that the issue should be studied. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed officials and deputies with a demand "to work in Ukraine and for the sake of the Ukrainian people." "I want all MPs and officials to hear me now. You must work. In Ukraine and for the sake of the Ukrainian people. I am grateful to those MPs who are truly working for the interests of the state. And those who think about spending more time abroad and look for 'profitable' trips so that they can combine them with business, friends or 'beaches' - there will not be any of you.," he said in a video address on Tuesday. "Some people think that the war is somewhere far away from them. As if the dome of the Verkhovna Rada, or the walls of some offices, or a list of some powers can shield from reality," the president said. According to him, "for some, it's about islands and resorts during the war, for others it's about lining one's pockets in the military enlistment office, for others it's about bribes in the courts. For any public official, this is a betrayal of state principles, a betrayal of the interests of society. "I want to warn all MPs, officials, and everyone else in public office. When everyday you search for weapons for the state, when all the attention is on providing artillery, missiles, drones, when you constantly see and feel the moral strength gained for Ukraine by our warriors, our people, who are doing everything possible and impossible for the victory and preservation of freedom, any internal betrayal, any 'beach' or any personal enrichment instead of Ukraine's interests triggers fury at the very least," he said. Earlier, information appeared in the media that Yuriy Aristov, a MP from the Servant of the People, was seen in the middle of July at the five-star Waldorf Astoria Maldives hotel, located on the private island of Ithaafushi (Maldives). Like tour guides or unflappable third-grade teachers, podcasters Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark love finding things out and sharing their discoveries. Their forthcoming book Stuff Kids Should Know (Holt, Aug. 1), a young readers adaptation of their 2020 Stuff You Should Know book for general audiences, collects some of their favorite topics from the Stuff You Should Know podcast, now in its 16th year. For longtime listeners and new readers alike, Bryant and Clark have a knack for unpacking idiosyncratic topics, zigging and zagging from fads and foods to biographies and inventions. We look at the world around us, Bryant said. We try to notice things. Ill see a palm tree on vacation or a mangrove marsh and wonder, I dont know much about mangroves or palm trees or this lizard or this concept or this toy. It starts with our own curiosity. Bryant and Clark met as co-writers for the website How Stuff Works. We wrote educational reference articles that were highly researched and vetted, Bryant said. When their boss approached them about hosting a podcast, a new medium at the time, they found that they had a good rapport, and it stuck that way. They debuted their own Stuff You Should Know podcast in 2008 and have recorded more than 1,500 episodes, averaging three a week and gathering ample material for their books along the way. When podcasting, We usually work from a source document, and we go off and do additional research, Clark said. Then we come back and have a conversation after a couple of days. The first take is what you hear. They revisit occasional blunders in a listener mail segment at the end of every program, sometimes playfully arguing over subjective matters like which heavy-metal band reigns supreme. That seat-of-the-pants approach works in podcasting, but print demands a different attention to details. Clark and Bryant collaborated with Mark Podesta, associate editor at Henry Holt, and co-writer Nils Parker on fact-checking and honing their written voices. I dont want to say it was an extra-heavy-duty version of the podcast, but we wanted to make sure that we got to the bottom of every topic, Clark said. Both of us always wanted to write books, and writing by way of creating a podcast is amusing but gratifying too. The process gave them another shot at crafting punch lines as well. My humor is very dry, so the chance to make it even drier was very desirable, Clark said. I think thats an example of not dumbing things down for kids, because kids can get dry humor. Weve always avoided puns and the wackiness adults might associate with younger readers. History Lessons in Unexpected Places To create Stuff Kids Should Know, Bryant and Clark adapted their 2020 book for older readers. Bryant explained that he and Clark removed pieces that werent a good fit. Out went the chapters on mezcal, cyanide pills, and the history of income tax. Otherwise, he said, you'd be surprised how little had to change. Kids are smart and they can handle what were doing, [so we added] stuff to make it a little more fun here and there. A chapter on How to Get Lost reveals search-and-rescue techniques, and one on Trillionaires poses heady ideas about AI and the amount of money in the world. Chapters derive from multiple podcasts, referenced in brief endnotes. Do(ugh)nuts, examining the reasons we refer to doughnuts as donuts and vice versa, is an unexpected lesson in American history from the 19th century to the present. Dog Smells investigates canine topics including why dogs feet smell like Fritos corn chips, why humans love newborn-puppy breath, and how dogs use their olfactory sense. And Backmaskingbackward-recording hidden messages on vinyl LPsfuses research on music history, conspiracy theories, and a 2018 podcast titled Was the PMRC Censorship in Disguise? (The 1980s-era Parents Music Resource Center, which crusaded against explicit song lyrics and put parental-advisory ratings on music, has much in common with todays efforts to rate controversial books.) In short, Stuff Kids Should Know represents the duos omnivorous tastes. I dont even think it occurred to us to do a book on just one topic, Clark said. Bryant agreed that single topics are sort of the opposite of what we do. We try to provide a good overview with the aim of stoking curiosity about unrelated subjects like the Scotland Yard Crime Museum and the Jersey Devil. Every once in a while, we'll do a classic toy, whether its a Slinky or Barbie or the Easy-Bake Oven, said Bryant of Mr. Potato Head, which has its own chapter. Were knocking [popculture memories] one at a time off our childhood nostalgia list, so youre going to find things in the book that kids may not have heard of, like Demolition Derby and Pet Rocks. He paused to think about anachronistic content like 1975s Pet Rock, a stone with a cardboard house, instruction manual, and $3.95 price tag. I dont think there was a real effort to introduce kids to things that were before their time, but a few of them ended up working out that way, he said. Everybody should know about Pet Rocks no matter what their age, you know? Clark added. Stuff Kids Should Know: The Mind-Blowing Histories of (Almost) Everything by Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark, with Nils Parker. Holt, $19.99 Aug. 1 ISBN 978-1-250622-44-0 The absence of film and television celebrities due to the SAG-AFTRA strike didnt seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the children who attended Comic-Con International in San Diego, held July 19-23. The event is becoming more and more of a family affair, and kids were everywhere on the con floor, from sleeping babies in strollers to reduced-size princesses and superheroes cosplaying with their parents. At the Scholastic booth, Graphix imprint bestseller Raina Telgemeier greeted a bashful young fan with a warm smile. At the Blockbuster-themed Lego booth, children who likely had never seen a VHS tape in their life rooted through bins of Lego bricks to make videos to place on the shelves. Magic Wheelchair, a nonprofit that creates costumes for children with disabilities, offered kids activities alongside a homey wooden cart hitched to a realistic model dinosaur. For kids, just as for adults, Comic-Con has something for everyone. That includes capes and tights, of course. At its young readers panel, DC announced a new middle grade graphic novel, Lightning: Changes by Sherri L. Smith, a coming-of-age story about Jennifer Pierce, the daughter of Jefferson Pierce, who is not yet aware that her father is the superhero Black Lightning. Her parents are divorced, and shes having a rough summer, spending her birthday at a family reunion in Memphis with a bunch of relatives she barely knows. Adding to all this is the fact that Jennifer has started manifesting lightning powers whenever she is anxious or unhappy. DC also announced a sequel to bestselling cartoonist Jeffrey Browns Batman and Robin and Howard. The new story, Batman and Robin and Howard: Summer Breakdown, will be published as a three-issue comic series. While DC caters to young readers with its middle grade and YA graphic novels, Marvel takes a different approach, licensing its characters to other publishers to meet the needs of the junior market. Abrams publishes Marvel graphic novels for children and adults, and they offered a limited-edition boxed set of Marvel board books as a Comic-Con exclusive, as well as a stack of the newly-released Spider-Man: Animals Assemble by Mike Maihack, the first volume of a new series. Scholastic was giving away advance review copies of Shang-Chi and the Quest for Immortality by Victoria Ying, another Marvel graphic novel that will be released in October. Theres more to Comic-Con than superheroes, though. Ying was also on hand to promote Hungry Ghost, a new middle grade graphic novel from First Second about an Asian American girls struggle with an eating disorder, which the PW review called a formidable work. Meanwhile, just a few hundred feet away, John Gallagher chatted about his character Max Meow (RH Graphic) with a young readerGallagher sold out of the books he had brought before the show was over. The perennially popular Mouse Guard creator Dave Petersen set up a lavish solo booth, showcasing not only the books in the series but the merchandise as well, including intricate wooden puzzles and pricey original art. A wall of IDWs new booth celebrated the 40th anniversary of My Little Pony, a franchise that is still hugely popular as it reaches its fourth decade. The big news at the Scholastic booth was the announcement of the ninth and final volume of Kazu Kibuishis middle grade Amulet series. The first volume came out in 2008, and the final volume, Waverider, is due out in February 2024. Scholastic will release a boxed set of the entire series at the same time, and at Kibuishis spotlight panelmoderated by PW's comics reviews editor Meg Lemkethe congenial cartoonist revealed that a live-action film adaptation is back in the works. While Kibuishi says hes officially attached to the project and writing the screenplay, details on the production company and release date are still under embargo. The Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers went to The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster! (Union Square Kids) by Mo Willems, a creator whose work has long straddled the line between picture books and comics. Ive always disliked being called an author-illustrator, he said as he accepted the award. My dream has always been to say Im a cartoonist. In case there was any doubt, the award clinched it. The award for Best Publication for Kids (ages 912) went to Claribel A. Ortega and Rose Bousamras Frizzy; the book's editor, First Seconds Kiara Valdez, read a message thanking their readers and supporters: If the success of Frizzy is any indication, now more than ever, the world needs more stories where kids of color can see themselves honestly and lovingly portrayed with their own special journey of self-love and healing. Sales at Lagardere Publishing increased 2.5% in the first six months of 2023 over the comparable period last year, rising to 1.25 billion. Higher costs as well as one-time charges, however, pushed profits down in the period; recurring EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) fell 16%, dropping to 65 million, from 81 million in the first six months of 2022. Revenue was up in all of Lagarderes major markets, with the exception of the U.S., where sales fell 8.6%. Hachette Book Group CEO Michael Pietsch attributed the sales decline to a number of factors, observing that the ebbing of the pandemic lift that began in the second half of 2022 continued into HBGs first half of 2023. He said that sales of backlist titles, childrens and Christian books, and certain adult nonfiction segments faced particular challenges in a down market. On the positive side, Pietsch said, sales from bookstore chains and independent bookstores were up, and sales of downloadable audio continued to be strong. Travel book sales grew significantly, he added. The impact on HBG's bottom line was mitigated, Pietsch said, by cost reduction measures HBG began in 2022. Lagardere also said that higher prices and the impact of operational efficiency plans, particularly in the United States, helped to offset the impact of one-time charges, which included a one-time charge of 10 million, mainly in connection with the integration of Workman Publishing. That integration process including moving Workman employees into HBGs New York headquarters during the first half of the year. Across the pond, first half sales rose 7% in France, due in part to a stronger publishing schedule, Lagardere said. In the U.K., revenue increased 7.3%, chiefly due to a good performance by the adult trade segment. Revenue jumped 26.1% in Spain/Latin America, spurred by strong growth in the education segment. Lagardere said that even with costs pressures, it expects its publishing business to maintain relatively similar performances to 2022 in 2023. In the U.S., Pietsch said, backlist sales began to improve toward the end of the first half of 2023. He added that the publisher anticipates a considerably stronger second half. He said that he expects HBGs adult fiction segment to continue to do well, and sees more good results from the Moon Travel and Rick Steves travel books, and is counting on a boost from "TikTok-promoted nonfiction and fiction." In early June, Lagardere reported that its acquisition by French rival Vivendi was heading toward completion, with two conditions still needing to be metthe sale of Vivendis Editis book publishing subsidiary and the sale of Gala magazine. The sale of both, including the sale of Editis to the International Media Investments group, are still pending. When both deals are approved, the Vivendi purchase of Lagardere will be finalized. In what is likely a record price for an audiobook publisher, KKR, the private equity firm that owns RBmedia, is selling the company to the investment firm H.I.G. Capital for what the Wall Street Journal said is more than $1 billion. KKR bought RBmedia in 2018 for what the WSJ said was $500 million. The deal is expected to be finalized before the end of the year. Since its acquisition by KKR, RBmedia has made a series of acquisitions as well as selected divestitures. Its acquisitions have focused on expanding its global footprint. In 2022 alone, it bought the German audiobook publishers ABOD and John Verlag and the French audiobook publisher Editions Theleme. In 2021, it made its most significant divestiture, selling Audiobooks.com to the Swedish streaming service Storytel. RBmedia itself has been bought and sold repeatedly over the last 10 years as investment firms sought to take advantage of the growth in audiobook sales, which was spurred by the move from CDs to downloadable audio. In January 2014, Wasserstein & Co. was the first private equity firm to buy the company, acquiring the audiobook publisherthen known by its original name, Record Books, before its 2017 rebrandfrom Haights Cross Communications. At the time, the company had a catalog of about 13,500 audiobook titles. With Wassersteins support, it began a series of acquisitions, acquiring HighBridge Audio and Tantor Media. In May 2015, Wasserstein flipped the company, selling it to Shamrock Capital Advisors, which, after making more acquisitions, then sold it to KKR in 2018. According to the press release announcing the sale, RBmedia has had five years of double-digit revenue growth, and its catalog now has more than 66,000 titles. The company has more than 300 employees. After the sale to H.I.G. is completed, all RBmedia employees will receive a cash payout based on their tenure with the company. Long-term employees will earn up to two times their annual salary. KKR is considered one of the leading contenders to acquire Simon & Schuster. KKR, which manages more than $500 billion in assets, already has sufficient funding it place to bid for S&S, but the proceeds from the RB sale wont hurt its chances. A coalition of booksellers and book industry advocacy groups filed a federal lawsuit this week seeking to strike down a controversial new book banning law in Texas. Among the law's provisions is one mandating library material vendors, including booksellers and publishers, to create and implement a rating system for books sold into Texas schools and school libraries based on the book's sexual content. The 28-page complaint claims that the lawwhich is set to take effect on September 1would impose sweeping, vague, and unconstitutional content-based restrictions on readers and unduly burden booksellers. By giving the state unbridled and arbitrary discretion to declare books sexually explicit and sexually relevant and prohibit the sale of constitutionally protected materials by a bookseller, with no recourse and no provision for judicial review, the [law] constitutes a prior restraint that violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the complaint alleges. If the law is allowed to take effect, the complaint claims, it would cause a recall of many books in K-12 public schools, bans of even more, and the establishment of an unconstitutionaland unprecedentedstate-wide book licensing regime that compels private companies and individuals to adopt the States messages or face government punishment. The plaintiffs in the case include two Texas bookstores, Austins BookPeople and Houstons Blue Willow Bookshop, together with the American Booksellers Association, the Association of American Publishers, the Authors Guild, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Dubbed the Reader Act (formerly known as HB 900), the law was passed on April 20 and signed by Texas governor Greg Abbott on June 12although the complaint refers to the law under an apt new shorthand, referring to it throughout as the Book Ban. Among its provisions, the new law requires book vendors to review booksincluding both new books and books it has previously soldand to rate them, under a vaguely articulated standard, to be either sexually explicit (if the book includes material that would be patently offensive by community standards) or sexually relevant (if the books portrays any kind of sexual conduct). Booksellers are banned from selling books rated sexually explicit to schools, and students would be able to access books rated as sexually relevant only with written parental consent. Furthermore, the suit notes, the state has the power to review and overrule the ratings for any book, effectively imposing a state standard. There is no transparency requirement for the state, and no appeals process. And if a bookseller or publisher refuses to adopt the states rating, it can be barred from selling to Texas schools unless and until the bookseller acquiesces to the governments demands. In a statement, plaintiff Valerie Koehler, owner of Blue Willow, called the law unfair to local communities across the state who have the right to set their own standards and argued that it is simply not viable for book vendors: We would be forced to seek legal opinions about every book we will sell and have sold. We do not have the human or capital resources as a small independent bookshop to comply with the law as it is written. Plaintiff Charley Rejsek, the CEO of BookPeople, agreed. Setting aside for the moment the fact that this law is clearly unconstitutional, booksellers do not see a clear path forward to rating the content of the thousands of titles sold to schools in the past, nor the thousands of titles that are published each year that could be requested by a school for purchase, neither do we have the training nor funding needed to do so, Rejsek said. In addition, booksellers should not be put in the position of broadly determining what best serves all Texan communities. Each community is individual and has different needs. Setting local guidelines is not the governments job either. It is the local librarians and teachers job, in conjunction with the community they serve. Setting aside for the moment the fact that this law is clearly unconstitutional, booksellers do not see a clear path forward to rating the content of the thousands of titles sold to schools in the past, nor the thousands of titles that are published each year... A joint statement from the ABA, AAP, Authors Guild, and Comic Book Legal Defense Fund said that the suit seeks to "protect the basic constitutional rights of the plaintiffs" and to "restore the right of Texas parents to determine what is age appropriate and important for their children" without government interference or control. "It is central to the First Amendment that the government can neither restrain nor compel speech, but this law will force booksellers to label constitutionally protected works of literature and nonfiction with highly subjective and stigmatizing ratings, effectively forcing private actors to convey and act upon the governments views even when they disagree," the statement reads. In a statement, Rep. Jared Patterson, one of the bill's authors, said he had anticipated the suit and took political aim at the plaintiffs. "Having fought against sexually explicit content in schools for the past 18 months, I fully recognize the far left will do anything to maintain their ability to sexualize our children," Patterson said. "I simply say, bring it with everything you have, because I dont want to hear any excuses when we put the final nail in the coffin of your woke agenda." It's Not Just PoliticalIt's Bad Business For the small local Texas businesses involved in the lawsuit, it's not only about the freedom to read. It's about their livelihoods too. "The hours, the payroll that it would require for us to check and rate every book we sell, and then do it retroactively as the law implies we must do, is just absurd," Koehler of Blue Willow explained to PW. "Our job is to sell, not rate, books. Koehlers store is a popular destination for parents and children to buy books in the wealthy western suburbs of Houston. It runs hundreds of events a year, including numerous author visits to schools and three book festivals for children and teens, including Bookworm Festival, Tweens Read, and Teen BookCon. We estimate that school sales account for 20% of our annual revenue, Koehler said, but the amount of marketing and awareness tied to our relationships with local schools cannot be measured. Our work with children, teens, parents, teachers, and schools is what got us known in our community. Already, several school districts have begun reportedly begun pulling books from teachers' classroom libraries in anticipation of the new law. In the city of Katy, west of Houston, for example, the school board (persuaded by members supported by right wing group Moms for Liberty) has said that it will not put any new books in circulation until the books are reviewed for content. In all, as many as 20 school board candidates supported by Moms for Liberty have been elected to school boards in Texas, including in Bexar, Denton, Fort Bend, Harris, and Tarrant counties. Rejsek of BookPeople, who has led the fight against the law among the states booksellers, said the law is a form of intimidation by lawmakers. The goal is to stop us from selling books to schools. It is as simple as that, she told PW. When they debated this in the legislature, one of the representatives said it would affect only a handful of suppliers, fifty at most. But the actual figure is hundredsboth big book jobbers like Follett, large independent bookstores like ourselves, and any number of smaller stores across the state. Some booksellers in the state feel specifically targeted by the law. Lauren Pronger opened Chapterhouse Bookstore, a popup in Amarillo, a little more than a year ago. The store focuses on selling GSRM (gender, sexual, and romantic minorities), racialized, and migrant literature in a community in which it has not previously been widely available. Most of our customers ask for banned books...and we often carry the type of stuff they won't see elsewhere, Pronger told PW. Many will see Heartstopper, for example, or a book with a hijab on the cover like Ayesha at Last, get very excited and start asking for all the gay or Muslim books we have." Pronger acknowledged that the law wont change the store's relationship with its customers: Most of our institutions and classrooms were already in compliance with these book banning bills before they ever existed, so it hasn't changed the local landscape much. But the law will take away an opportunity to potentially build the business. I was hoping to become an official school vendor in the near future and now that's not going to happen, as I cannot afford being blacklisted," Pronger said. "So HB 900 has significantly limited my growth and reach within my community as a small business, but has also solidified my bookstore's identity as the place to get banned books. The lawsuit in Texas is the latestand perhaps most high-profilesuit in an escalating legal counteroffensive being waged by freedom to read advocates in response to an ongoing, politically-motivated surge in book bans and state-level legislative attacks on the freedom to read. According to a recent PEN America report, Texas continues to lead the nation in book bans. In June, a library-led coalition of 18 plaintiffs, including the same industry associations suing in Texas, filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Arkansas law, Act 372, that would, among its provisions, expose librarians and booksellers to criminal liability for making allegedly inappropriate books accessible to minors. Signed into law by governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders on March 30, that law is set to take effect on August 1. In February, the ACLU joined with librarians in Missouri to file a federal suit over Senate Bill 775, a school library obscenity law that opponents say forces librarians to censor their collections under the "threat of arbitrary enforcement of imprisonment or fines." In March, library advocates in Llano County, Texas, won a preliminary injunction and order to reinstate more than a dozen banned titles at their local public library and to stop future bans while the lawsuit proceeds. In his order, federal judge Robert Pitman held that the library leaders infringed the constitutional rights of their users by unilaterally removing books they deemed inappropriate or disagreed with. Among the books ordered restored: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson; They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group by Susan Campbell Bartoletti; Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen by Jazz Jennings; In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak; and My Butt is So Noisy! by Dawn McMillan. Pitman's order is now on appeal before the Firth Circuit. And in May, PEN America and Penguin Random House joined forces with a group of authors and parents to sue school administrators in Escambia County, Florida, over the removal of allegedly inappropriate books from school libraries. To be honest, I never thought this law would pass," Koehler told PW of the new Texas law. "No one in their right mind did. Clearly no one thought this through. In one of the most business-friendly states in America, this is one of the most business-unfriendly laws ever passed. The strenuous efforts of Richard Dawkins, renowned scientist, author of The God Delusion, and crusader for atheism, may be backfiring sending inquiring minds to Christ instead. So write two fellow British scientists, both retired professors and authors, both Christians. They have collected essays from 12 believers from around the world describing how Dawkins, the most famous of New Atheists, actually prompted them to explore and ultimately accept religion's claims to truth, love and the promise of salvation. Denis Alexander is a molecular immunologist and a cofounder of The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion in Cambridge. Oxford biophysicist Alister McGrath, who retired as professor of science and religion, is a former atheist who became a theologian. Both have written books skewering Dawkins's arguments against God. PW talked with them about the book they've have edited together, Coming to Faith Through Dawkins: 12 Essays on the Pathway from New Atheism to Christianity (Kregel, Aug.), The book reads like crowd-sourced apologetics with all the contributors being highly educated, thoughtful professionals-scientists, psychologists, historians, and even pastors. How did it come about? Alexander: Giving lectures around the world on science and religion, often during Courses and Conferences, one encounters a very broad range of people. In casual conversations over meals and coffee-breaks, some like to tell you about their faith journey. In many cultures it is more common to talk about religion than in the secular UK, where generally religious beliefs are deemed to be personal and private. It was a surprise to start hearing from people that it was really the New Atheism that had turned them away from their atheism as part of their journey to faith. Why now? McGrath: It happened because it was ready to happen. It takes time to find 12 wonderful people who are willing to share their stories publicly. We wanted to have a diverse group of people from many backgrounds who would speak to many different people. We wanted a reader to say, "This person's experience speaks to me and my life." The piece by Sarah really struck me in particular because she took us through how she changed her mind. Why do you specifically thank Dawkins in the editor's chapter at the start of the book? McGrath: Our writers asked us to. They felt he catalyzed their thinking and they would not have begun the journey of discovery that led them to Christianity and landed where they are now without him. We have sent him a copy and we hope he enjoys reading it. In your essayists' views, the New Atheists fail to account for morality, for love, and for finding meaning in suffering and purpose in living. Do you see common threads in their rejection of Dawkins and their to turn to Christianity? Alexander: Two common threads are particularly striking: the first is the lack of beauty, in fact sheer ugliness, that they felt was dominant in some of the writings of the New Atheists. The second thread was the rhetorical style of writing that they found in Dawkins 2006 book The God Delusion. Gone was the engaging appeal to evidence and vivid metaphors that together made his earlier writings on evolutionary biology so appealing, and in their place was passionate rhetoric with coherent evidence left on the sidelines. Their choice to turn to the Christian God in several cases was influenced by the coherence and grounds for an intelligible universe that the Christian God of creation provides, both in terms of the historical evidence for the emergence of modern science, as well as in the present justification for the rationality of science. In other cases, they found that it was the Christian God who provided rational grounds not merely for a certain moral code, but for believing that moral values can be rationally justified in the first place. One of your essayists, Johan Erasmus, writes that the biggest threat to the church today isn't atheism, it's apathy. Are you seeing this as well? McGrath: We are seeing a rise in apathy in Pew Research and Gallup surveys (in the U.S.) but not seeing any rise now in the atheist component. The British numbers of atheists are still growing but slightly. We are finding, in talking with young people now, we have to explain who Richard Dawkins actually is. What is your goal for the book? Alexander: We want the book to stimulate people to think and, in particular, to think about the bigger questions of life: What is the best ultimate explanation for the intelligibility of the universe? How come we live in a universe that is so finely tuned for the emergence of life? How can you rationalize moral values in a purely materialistic universe? Does life have any ultimate meaning? And on we could go. Once people start thinking, then thats dangerous for atheism, as this book well illustrates. McGrath: We want people to find it interesting, to get people to talk about how their faith becomes real to them, to say, "Here is how it made a difference in my life." Brussels to host NATO-Ukraine Council's meeting initiated by Zelenskyy due to situation in Black Sea Brussels will host a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council, convened by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy due to the situation in the Black Sea. As Interfax-Ukraine was informed at the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the meeting will start at 15.00 (Brussels time) and will be held at the level of ambassadors-permanent representatives of NATO member countries. As it is known, Ukraine is represented in the alliance by Ambassador Natalia Halibarenko. There are no press events. As previously reported, on July 22, Zelenskyy said in a video address that due to the situation in the Black Sea, Ukraine had proposed to urgently convene a Ukraine-NATO council. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. On Thursday, the House Oversight Committee will hold a public hearing about national security implications of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs). It comes on the heels of public inquiries in 2022 by Congress, the Department of Defense, NASA, and the intelligence community ( PDF ) into what were once called UFOs. If extraterrestrials are visiting our planet, the U.S. government absolutely wants to detect their arrival. But even if they aren't, there are still a host of worrisome objects potentially lurking in our skies that we need to keep an eye out for, such as the Chinese surveillance balloon that flew across the continent back in February. The United States has 5.3 million square miles of domestic airspaceand much more over the oceans. How can it best monitor it all for UAPs, or anything else? Historically, the advanced technologies that enabled what we refer to as air power were in the hands of only a few military powers. Today, these technologies have been democratized. They're available not only to more countries and private companies, but also to the general public. You could, today, swing by Costco and buy a drone. Ukrainian soldiers have been converting such consumer drones into deadly weapons. In 2021, a Connecticut man was arrested after adding a gun and flamethrower to his homemade drone. UAPs are an area of rising concern. This democratization of airpower, however, is a pressing national security threat. Like all countries, however, the United States has finite resources to monitor everything flying in its vast airspace every second of the day. Public reporting could help officials identify potential threatsbut it'd help if the sightings being reported were actually unknown aerial phenomena. Share on Twitter So can we democratize reporting of suspicious activities in the skies too? Public reporting could help officials identify potential threatsbut it'd help if the sightings being reported were actually unknown aerial phenomena. Right now, there's evidence that some of what's being reported as UAPs are actually U.S. military aircraft. We analyzed 101,151 reports of aerial phenomena made between 1998 and 2022 from 12,783 U.S. Census Bureau designated places. The data came from the National UFO Reporting Center, a nongovernment entity that the FAA references in official documents for where to report unexplained phenomena. (We make no endorsement of this dataset, nor any individual reports logged within it.) Using these data, we looked for predictorssuch as distance to military installations, military operations areas, or weather stationsfor what had been reported. Being within about 20 miles of a military operations area was consistently associated with higher rates of public UAP reports. These areas are where various military flight activities occur, like training for air combat maneuvers, intercepts, and low-altitude tactics. But they are not necessarily located near military installations. For example, there are military operations areas above Jamaica, Vermont; Storm Lake, Iowa; and off the coast of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. We suspect that many people don't realize that they are living, working, or traveling around these vast and often remote operations areasnor are they aware when various military exercises are taking place. UAPs were significantly less likely to be reported in areas near weather stations, or near midsize or large civilian airports. Our hypothesis is that people in these places were more aware of the aerial activity nearby, so they were less likely to conclude that what they'd seen overhead was a UAP/UFO. The United States needs a robust system to collect public reports of unidentified aerial phenomena. Share on Twitter If the United States wants its citizens to keep their eyes on the skies, but also reduce such false alarms, outreach to civilians who live and work near military operations areas might work in the short term. In the longer term, however, the United States needs a robust system to collect public reports of unidentified aerial phenomena. Such a system could leverage mobile devices, GPS, and artificial intelligence to collect a rich set of data that would include images, audio recordings, and descriptions. Taken together, these steps may reduce the likelihood of hoaxes and misidentifications and help ensure that the government is focused on immediate threatslike surveillance aircraft from China or terrorist attacks via dronesas well as the prospect of visitors from beyond Earth ( PDF ). Marek N. Posard is a military sociologist at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation and an affiliate faculty member at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Ashley Gromis is an associate behavioral and social scientist at RAND. Mary Lee is a mathematician at RAND. This commentary originally appeared on The Hill on July 25, 2023. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. "I'm tired of being quiet!" Biden said in Atlanta in January 2022, pounding the podium impatiently pushing "voting rights." But his administration is largely silent on how his executive order on voting is being implemented. And critics think it's illegal. July 26, 2023 By Ben Weingarten , RealClearInvestigationsJuly 26, 2023 GOP lawmakers and other conservative critics are working to expose and fight a secretive executive order by President Biden to expand voter participation in elections, which they suspect has become a powerful government-wide complement to private left-wing election financing that could tip the 2024 campaign illegally and unfairly in Democrats favor. Cast as a civil rights measure, the executive order is one whose implementation the Biden administration is reluctant to disclose. Cast as a civil rights measure issued as the nation marked the 1965 Bloody Sunday police beatings of voting-rights marchers outside Selma, Ala., the president's 2021 directive orders every federal agency, more than 600 in all, to register and mobilize voters particularly people of color and others the White House says face challenges to exercise their fundamental right to vote. It further orders the agencies to collaborate with ostensibly nonpartisan nonprofits. Since issuing the order, critics claim, the Biden administration has stonewalled efforts to scrutinize its implementation by often ignoring document requests and litigating to shield relevant records. The critics, including members of Congress, state officials, and government watchdog groups, say the executive branch is attempting to federalize elections with an end-run around constitutionally prescribed state control over voting in many cases using the resources of agencies with missions unrelated to registering voters. Some have labeled the presidents order Bidenbucks, evoking Zuckbucks Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chans funneling of some $400 million through two nonprofits into election offices across the country during the 2020 election. That money often flowed to left-leaning nonprofits managing critical aspects of election administration that were considered crucial to Biden's winning the White House. Bloody Sunday, 1965 : The episode Biden invoked to order every federal agency to register and mobilize voters. In a notable recent defeat for conservatives, Judge Beryl Howell of the D.C. District Court, an Obama appointee to the generally liberal jurisdiction, on July 18 dismissed Freedom of Information Act requests from the America First Legal Foundation, siding with administration arguments that the records in question were exempt as privileged presidential communications. Trying to pry strategy documents loose, America First had sued nearly a dozen non-responsive agencies, ranging from the Departments of Agriculture, Education, and Health and Human Services to the Environmental Protection Agency. The leftist think tank whose blueprint Biden appears to have followed. Left-leaning think tank Demos, which in late 2020 drafted a blueprint for the order, estimates that if fully implemented, it could generate 3.5 million new or updated voter registrations annually. Even a far more modest increase could dramatically impact the 2024 presidential election, considering that recent contests have been decided by just thousands of votes in several states. Critics say the order could violate laws including the Administrative Procedure Act, barring agency actions in excess of statutory jurisdiction and the Hatch Act, curbing political activities by federal employees. Their concerns are driven in part by the fact that the directive appeared to be cribbed from the Demos white paper. Two ex-Demos executives one of whom helped write the paper departed for the Biden administration for roles positioning them to push for the order. Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan: Could private election largesse like theirs be working in tandem with the federal government? Some fear it is. Republican House members raised the alarm about this issue in a January 2022 letter requesting documents from administration officials, calling the order nearly identical to a federal election takeover plan crafted by the radical left-leaning group known as Demos. Months later, on the first anniversary of the order, Demos revealed it had worked extensively with federal agencies as well as state partners to implement the order, noting that it did so in close partnership with the ACLU and other allies. Conservatives say their fears of federal government collusion with supportive progressive groups appear to have already been substantiated. In ongoing FOIA litigation against the Justice Department, the Foundation for Government Accountability obtained an email between the White House Counsels Office and numerous agency officials regarding a July 2021 Agency Listening Session apparently led by Civil and Voting Rights Organizations. The email includes a roster of advocates. These include representatives from progressive groups such as the ACLU, the George Soros-affiliated Open Society Policy Center, and the Southern Poverty Law Center; labor unions including the AFL-CIO and AFSCME; and a coterie of identity-focused organizations such as the Arab American Association, Black Voters Matter, and UnidosUS. RealClearInvestigations contacted over a dozen prominent private groups supporting the order, some of which were represented at that meeting, but only one responded to its queries. The Project on Government Oversight, a self-described nonpartisan independent watchdog, indicated it had not met with federal agencies regarding the executive order, undertaken any activities to advance it, nor planned to do so during this election cycle. It publicly supported the executive order, according to a spokesperson, because access to voting is a critical way to hold public officials accountable. The organizations that did not respond ranged from the Center for American Progress to politically powerful public-sector unions, including the American Federation for Teachers, the National Education Association, and AFSCME. Also not responding were Fair Fight Action, founded by unsuccessful Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. RCI also posed a series of questions to Demos centering on concerns expressed by lawmakers and others about its involvement in the order including a report that it helped the Indian Health Service register and mobilize voters. It did not respond. Tarren Bragdon: The Biden order "can be directed at groups expected to vote for the presidents party and may take the form of pressure to support the party or its policies. Promoting voter registration and participation i.e., mobilizing voters is an inherently political act for a partisan president, Tarren Bragdon and Stewart Whitson of the Foundation for Government Accountability wrote in a recent Wall Street Journal Op-Ed. The resulting efforts can be directed at groups expected to vote for the presidents party and may take the form of pressure to support the party or its policies. Likewise, Hans von Spakovsky, manager of the Heritage Foundations Election Law Reform Initiative and a former member of the Federal Election Commission, recently submitted congressional testimony indicating that the kinds of activities contemplated under the Biden administrations executive order risk confusing and intimidating vulnerable members of the public who are applying for federal benefits into thinking they have to register and vote for the political party in control of the White House to ensure their applications for benefits are not declined. In addition to its largely successful efforts in court to date to stave off greater disclosure, the Biden administration has rebuffed Republican lawmakers numerous oversight inquiries into the order. The administration has refused to produce agency-specific strategic plans that would comprehensively capture the orders scope and has remained largely silent about which third-party groups agencies are coordinating with to execute the order, and on what grounds a key area of concern among the directives critics. RCI asked a White House spokesperson why the administration was withholding the strategic plans. RCI also asked if the Biden administration would share details about agencies coordination with third-party groups, and how the administration would respond to concerns raised by critics that the order codifies a de facto Democrat get-out-the-vote effort. The White House did not respond. What is clear, based on the details that have emerged about the order, is that the Biden administration is proceeding with its implementation, undeterred by critics. Rep. Claudia Tenney: New York Republican's measure would nullify the Biden executive order. But the Senate is Democrat-controlled. In March, near the two-year anniversary of the order, the administration released a characteristic summary statement noting that agencies as diverse as the Department of Education, Defense, and the Indian Health Service have carried out efforts ranging from making voter registration information and materials more readily available on agency websites, in documents, and across their offices, to successfully designating themselves as voter registration agencies. Previously, agencies from the Departments of Labor, Housing and Urban Development, and Agriculture disclosed generally some of the ways they were working to comply with the order, including seeking to drive voter registration via job training centers, public housing authorities, and child nutrition programs. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Education, and the Department of Agriculture are exceptions in having provided cursory responses to the many questions posed by lawmakers regarding the order. Much of what little is known publicly about the directive has been captured in progress reports released by its left-leaning champions aimed at persuading the administration to accelerate and broaden its efforts to implement it. Rep. Bryan Steil: Wisconsin Republican vows to continue oversight pressure. Myriad left-leaning organizations are urging the administration to more fully implement it in the run-up to the 2024 election. They propose, for example, that the U.S. Marshals Service provide eligible individuals in federal pre-trial detention access to high-quality voter registration services and assistance voting; that the Department of Education incorporate voter registration opportunities into the federal student aid process; and that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offer voter registration services at or immediately after all naturalization ceremonies. Republicans have recently advanced legislation to combat the executive order. The Republican-led House is seeking to neuter the executive order via appropriations. As currently drafted, the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill would defund the order. Perhaps more significantly, the House Administration Committee recently introduced the American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act, which it touts as the most conservative election bill to be seriously considered in the House in a generation. Among the almost 50 bills contained in the legislation is the Promoting Free and Fair Elections Act. That bill, sponsored by New York GOP Rep. Claudia Tenney, co-chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, would nullify the Biden executive order. Stewart Whitson: The best hope may be congresional oversight producing evidence that states could use to win an injuction blocking the order. Progressive supporters of the directive panned the provision. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights wrote that it strongly object[s] to the ACE Acts attempt to thwart implementation of the Biden executive order. Voter registration remains a hurdle for many eligible voters, particularly people of color, the group said. Real confidence in elections comes from ensuring that all Americans have the freedom to vote unimpeded by discriminatory rules. Notwithstanding such opposition, the ACE Act would seem poised to pass the House given the support shown by leadership, including its sponsorship by Speaker Kevin McCarthy and its more than one hundred other co-sponsors. But, as Roll Call noted, its outlook is bleak in the Democrat-controlled Senate. There, Republican Sen. Ted Budd or North Carolina has introduced companion legislation to Rep. Tenneys. Any such efforts are likely to prove fraught in a divided government. Republicans majority in the House, however, does arm them with subpoena powers. RCI asked several relevant committees whether they might use such authority to compel the executive branch to respond to their requests. Wisconsin GOP Rep. Bryan Steil, Chairman of the Committee on House Administration, which has jurisdiction over federal elections, told RCI that he will continue to demand answers from the agencies on how they are implementing the [executive order] while touting the ACE Act. A spokesperson for the committee told RCI its members were not satisfied with the responses [to oversight requests] weve received so far noting that in some instances it had not received responses from agencies at all and that the committee was planning to send a battery of follow-up requests in the near-term. Property details: About the property:Parcel#: 70301859000 Address: xxx Aaron St, West Helena AR 72390 Parcel Size: 0.17 acres County: Phillips Dont miss out on this affordable opportunity to own your own piece of land in West Helena. Contact us today to schedule a viewing and start planning your dream home. Visit the link provided for more information about the property.... Price: $ 399 Seller State of Residence: Oregon Property Address: Aaron St, West Helena AR Zip/Postal Code: 72390 City: West Helena AR State/Province: portland Location: 723**, West Helena, Arkansas You will be redirected to eBay Nearby portland ABC / Reality TV World By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 07/25/2023 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. villain Brayden Bowers has thrown shade at Charity Lawson 's remaining bachelors for suddenly reneging their eagerness and willingness to get engaged at the end of the process.On 's twentieth season, Brayden took a lot of heat for saying his goal was to form a connection with Charity and leave the show feeling "content" about their relationship.When Brayden voiced how he didn't think he'd be ready to propose marriage to Charity by the Final Rose Ceremony, the other Season 20 bachelors appeared shocked and disturbed -- especially Aaron Bryant and Adrian Hassan , who both warned Charity that Brayden wasn't taking the show seriously.Brayden ultimately self-eliminated from , with Charity's men thinking he had gone on the show for the wrong reasons and with bad intentions, but now he's having the last laugh."I don't want to shade anyone, but at the same time, I wasn't the only one who turned out to be having a little bit of doubt about the engagement," Brayden told Ashley Iaconetti on a recent episode of her "The Ben and Ashley I: Almost Famous Podcast" that she co-hosts with Ben Higgins "These guys came at me and wanted to, like, I don't even know, [villainize me]. But they had the same reservations I did! They lied and they didn't step up to the plate and say they did."The 24-year-old travel nurse from San Diego added, "They were like, 'Oh, I have no doubts about you, Charity!'... What the hell? I don't know, it's hypocritical a little bit, maybe?"Charity has narrowed down her suitors to Aaron B., Dotun Olubeko Joey Graziadei , and Xavier Bonner On Monday night's episode of , Xavier suddenly admitted to Charity that the idea of committing himself to one person forever scared him."That scares me because it's something I've never done before, and I want to do it once and I want to do it right. There has to be no doubt there," Xavier explained to star."I know I want to get engaged and I know I want to get married; it's a question of is that you?... I'm trying to gain any sense of clarity. I don't know what that thing is that's going to make me fall in love. It's just going to happen. [But] if you're The One, I don't want to pass that up."And during a July 17 preview for what's still to come on season, Dotun admits, "This is a very trying experience for me. It's making me question, 'Am I really ready for this?'"Aaron B. also confesses to Charity, "I know you want an engagement. I don't know if I can do that."As a result of all the doubt and hesitation, Charity cries in the trailer, "Are you kidding?! We are a week away from you being on one knee and you don't even know what you want!"Brayden called all of the talk about getting engaged so early into process "bizarre" during his appearance on Ashley and Ben's podcast."They were coming in there, Day 1, like, 'I'm ready to get married to Charity.' Dude, you haven't even met her yet! You know what I mean? I didn't even understand how they could be in that place," Brayden explained."I've heard the attrition rate of relationships after , and it's like, for me, if I was to get engaged, I wanted it to last. I don't want to just get engaged for a show or anything like that."Brayden elaborated of Charity's suitors, "And I feel the guys were in a place where they'd get engaged just to get engaged. So I just couldn't relate to them."Brayden said while he self-eliminated from , his departure was ultimately "a mutual decision" with Charity."I kept trying to be okay with the process... but every week, I kept getting caught up in this drama. I was doing it to myself because I just talked too much, I guess, and I was too open with everyone there," Brayden acknowledged."But because I kept having all this drama, I couldn't get out of my head and there was no way I'd be able to get to the point of getting [down] on a knee at the end of this experience."Brayden said that since an engagement is what Charity wanted, he "couldn't give it to her" and so he "didn't want to waste her time."He added, "I think she realized that I came to that conclusion and there was no [changing it]. So it was a mutual decision."And when Brayden returned to talk to Charity at a cocktail party and apologize for his somewhat hot-tempered and brazen departure, he confirmed that he wasn't trying to get another chance."I wasn't really trying to come back," Brayden insisted.Brayden was essentially chased off the show for interrupting Charity's time with the other guys. Aaron B., for example, yelled about how Brayden was disrespectful and hadn't acted like a man.While Brayden didn't name Aaron B., he said he thought "the true villain" of Charity's season "has shown himself already" and will show viewers more later this season.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group Western partners continue to agree on a plan to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighters to determine the most practical way to implement this plan, Politico said. "One training proposal that has been discussed involves bringing Ukrainian pilots to the United States to receive instruction from the 162nd Air Wing, an Air National Guard unit based in Tucson, Ariz., that already trains foreign partners on the F-16. But that idea has had little traction, according to two of the U.S. officials and a European official," the publication said. Another plan involves sending U.S. military pilots to Europe to train the Ukrainians somewhere outside of that country. According to two U.S. officials, Politicos said "nothing is off the table, and no final decisions have been made." "There's collaboration ongoing," one of the officials said. "We are working with our partners and allies to determine the most practical way to implement this plan." According to the publication, European partners hope that training can begin this summer, most likely in one of the European centers. However, Politico said: "According to three U.S. officials familiar with the discussions. Denmark and the Netherlands are leading a coalition of 11 nations to support the training, but so far no country has publicly committed aircraft to the program." Despite the various ambitious timelines, training cannot start on the F-16s until the U.S. State Department formally approves the transfer of associated training materials, such as instruction manuals and flight simulators. That signoff, which is required under export restrictions, still has not taken place. Realistically, U.S. officials say the jets won't arrive until the spring at the earliest," the publication said. Porterville, CA (93257) Today Mostly sunny skies. High 94F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A mostly clear sky. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Is Ireland Failing to Help Those at Risk of Drug Abuse? 'There is not one discussion with a client without a discussion around AI. They all have it on their mind.' Kindly note the image has only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Alex Knigh/Pexels Wipro recently said it would invest $1 billion in artificial intelligence over the next 3 years as clients are increasingly betting on this technology. The IT major is also strengthening its consulting practice. Thierry Delaporte, MD and CEO, Wipro, talks about the demand environment, focus on consulting, and AI-led deals, in an online interview with Ayushman Baruah. Going forward into Q2 and beyond, are you seeing any progress in clients' decision-making cycle? In terms of trend, it is quite stable. I am not seeing a change in the pattern for Q2 versus Q1. I think we are in a similar market of uncertainty but there is no further deterioration as such. Our revenue growth guidance of -2 per cent to +1 per cent means that the environment is improving from the previous quarter but I cannot say if the change is sustainable. Can you briefly explain the need to change the organisational structure to four global business lines (GBLs) from two? After about 30 years, we changed the organisation to a matrix with market needs on one side and our global business lines on the other. We have gone with this model for about two-and-a-half years. It was the first time in Wipro's history that we were building such a model. I felt that I needed to keep this model extremely simple with only two global businesses. Since this model was launched in January 2021 with two global business lines, they have seen unprecedented growth and become very big. Also, our market has become a lot more mature. So, it was the right moment for us to split those two GBLs into four that are of the right size. Wipro FullStride Cloud, Wipro Enterprise Futuring, Wipro Engineering Edge, and Wipro Consulting reflect the four key priorities for us. Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/Reuters Does the new model mean a greater focus on consulting? Yes, consulting is key if you want to really have a strategic discussion with your clients. If you want to be able to build complex end-to-end transformation deals, consulting capabilities are required. We have had very strong growth in our consulting business over the past few years. We have also made acquisitions like Capco, Rizing, and Edgile in the security space, Convergence Acceleration Solutions in the communication space, and others. We will continue to do so. How does your large deals pipeline look and do you see an uptick in AI-led deals? Yes, we look at our pipeline: The volume of AI-led deals is just massively growing. There is not one discussion with a client without a discussion around AI. They all have it on their mind. Clients may either need help to define their own AI strategy or understand their progress in that area or develop some POC (proof-of-concept) or actually implement certain solutions. Coming to large deals, Wipro was barely in this space about three years ago. But in the past three years, we have developed a team for big deals with people who can shape such deals. We are working with account executives to be more proactive and go to clients with some transformational ideas. That has led to the building of a strong pipeline of large deals. Photograph: Kind courtesy Wipro What will be your acquisition strategy this financial year? Our strategy remains the same as what we defined back in October 2020. Acquisitions are one part of our strategy. It comes as a result of strategic intent. So, when we go for an acquisition, it will not be a volume play, it will not be just to gain scale, it will have a strategic play, which may be from a market standpoint or from an industry standpoint, or from a technology standpoint. That is how we have gone after the 12 acquisitions we have made in the past three years. We will continue to do so as and when we identify a company that represents a great addition to our business. It may be large or small, but there is no limitation in terms of scale. But I have no commitment either to the board or to the market to have a certain percentage of revenue coming from acquisition every year. It is based on what makes sense and what opportunity we can identify. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com Insolvency tribunal NCLT on Wednesday rejected Go First lessors' petitions to take back the planes leased to the grounded airline, and said the aircraft are available for resumption of operations since aviation regulator DGCA has not deregistered them. Photograph: ANI Photo A two-member bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) held that physical possession of the aircraft/engines would be "indisputably" with Go First and lessors cannot claim possession during the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) of the carrier. According to the tribunal, aircraft and its engines are the sole essence of Go First's business and if taken away, it would result in its "corporate death" leaving no scope for its resolution. The tribunal also declined the lessors' pleas for inspection of their leased aeroplanes and engines, and strongly reiterated that it was the responsibility of the Resolution Professional to maintain them at the highest levels of efficiency/safety. "The physical possession of the aircrafts/engines is indisputably with the corporate debtor (Go First). "Therefore, in terms of Section 14(1)(d), the applicants would not be within their rights to claim possession of these aircrafts/engines," the NCLT bench said in its 29-page long order passed on the petitions filed by several lessors of Go First. "The moratorium prohibits the recovery of the aircraft/engines by the lessors (applicants) from the corporate debtor," it added. Section 14(1)(d) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) pertains to the mandatory provision about the imposition of the moratorium which is triggered after the commencement of the CIRP. Aircraft lessors -- Bluesky 31 Leasing Company, Bluesky 19 Leasing Company, Jackson Square Aviation Ireland, SMBC Aero Engine Lease BV and Engine Lease Finance BV -- had moved NCLT and also requested to restrain Go First from operating or flying their aircraft for commercial use. Rejecting their pleas, NCLT observed that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has not deregistered the aircraft, which means that they are available to Go First for use to resume operations. "Therefore, as long as the aircraft/engines are registered, they can be used for operating or flying to keep the corporate debtor as a going concern, however, within the safeguards/safety norms prescribed by the regulators," it said. NCLT also said that while allowing the CIRP of Go First on May 10, it had ordered to keep Go First as a going concern. "In order to keep the corporate debtor as a going concern, the aircraft have to be flown and hence, the aircraft shall be with the corporate debtor and shall be operated by the corporate debtor. "Therefore, we see no reason to allow this interim relief claimed by the applicants (lessors)," NCLT bench, comprising members Rahul Bhatnagar and Mahendra Khandelwal, said. Besides, the tribunal noted that it is a settled position of law that no party ought to be allowed to act in a manner that defeats the provisions of a statute. "In the aviation industry, the prevailing practice is that most airlines lease the aircraft for their operation rather than own them. In other words, the aircraft are not as such the property of the airlines. "Therefore, the application of the provision of the IBC and the process of insolvency would have no meaning in respect of airlines as corporate debtors, if the sole essence of the corporate debtor's business is taken away. It would result in corporate death of the corporate debtor, leaving no scope for resolution of the corporate debtor," it said. Aircraft lessors had claimed that they had send termination notices with respect to the leased planes before Go First moved NCLT and order was passed. The tribunal observed that "there can be little doubt" that lessors were aware of the filing of the insolvency plea by the then Go First management as it was widely reported in the media. "It is strongly indicative of the fact that the objective behind issuance of the termination notice, termination of the lease agreements and filing of the present application was to evade the rigors of moratorium as envisaged under Section 14 of the IBC," it said. Section 14 of the IBC pertains to moratorium. On May 10, NCLT had admitted the plea of Go First to initiate voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings. Go First stopped flying from May 3. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is in the process of issuing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for designated depository participants (DDPs) regarding disclosures and onboarding of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), according to a regulatory document seen by Business Standard. Photograph: Kham/Reuters DDPs act as a link between the markets regulator and overseas investors. The SOP, framed in consultation with the industry, aims to bring consistency across all players and avoid any form of regulatory arbitrage. This assumes significance as the new disclosure norms aimed at certain FPIs will become operational soon. Experts are of the opinion that the move will also discourage the practice of DDP shopping akin to rating shopping, where an issuer of debt selects a credit rating agency that would give it the most favourable rating. Some commentators have suggested that in order to have consistent practices across the industry and to avoid regulatory arbitrage amongst DDPs, an SOP may be prepared and followed by all DDPs, Sebi stated in a recent document on the process of formulating the new FPI disclosure norms. In this regard, it may be stated that Sebi has already engaged with DDPs for developing such an SOP, it said. Recently, the Sebi board approved stricter disclosure norms for FPIs with high exposure to a single corporate group or those with above Rs. 25,000 crore equity holdings in India. The idea of formulating an SOP emerged during consultation and finalisation of the new disclosure framework. The SOP will be based on the principle of trust-but-verify and will aim to reduce instances of FPIs breaching investment thresholds or trying to circumvent disclosure requirements. An SOP will bring such breaches to light and will address legitimate challenges of onerous regulatory requirements. There is no SOP right now for DDPs to be followed. "We are also awaiting guidelines and fine-prints from Sebi on how to operationalise the new disclosure norms. "At this stage, there are a few grey areas like that in exemptions and public retail funds. "We havent yet reached out to our FPIs for additional disclosures, said an official at a large bank-backed DDP. At present, FPIs may choose custodians based on procedural easiness, multi-jurisdiction presence, size of clients managed, or even based on the reach of the DDP within Sebi for seeking time-bound responses on queries. Some FPIs prefer banks based out of their home jurisdictions as their DDPs, given their existing relationships. On the procedural aspect, some custodians may take a lenient approach with respect to timelines for issuing new FPI licences. "On a fund level, smaller DDPs may also have a faster turnaround and are more proactive than the ones who offer services in multiple jurisdictions. "A standard procedure for bigger and smaller players alike may incline in favour of the bigger players, said Anand Singh, founder, Elios Financial Services, and a member of Capital Market Task Force, FSC Mauritius. Some custodians said the rule change could impact FPIs who have registered in India with the sole objective of investing in a single company, particularly in the new-age sector. Industry players believe despite an SOP, practices might continue to differ at different DDPs. Currently, the processes between SWIFT-enabled FPIs and those without it tend to be different, they highlighted. The SOP framework is an excellent initiative of Sebi and this has very few parallels globally. "A standard practice will not only ease the access for FPIs but also derisk the market, said Viraj Kulkarni, founder, Pivot Management Consulting. Sebi has provided certain exemptions to FPIs from additional disclosures for public retail funds. The SOP may also clarify the identification of such funds for DDPs in certain jurisdictions. An analysis of FPI shareholding data shared by Prime Infobase shows that there are close to 100 FPIs who have single group exposure of 50 per cent or more. The total holdings of these FPIs stood at Rs. 1.2 trillion at the end of March 2023 quarter. Furthermore, 51 FPIs had all their investments towards a single corporate group. Levelling the field 'We have to change the Dravidian influence on the people.' IMAGE: Home Minister Amit Shah being welcomed by Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party chief K Annamalai on his arrival, in Chennai. Photograph: ANI Photo In a clear indication that the election season is upon us, Tamil Nadu's Bharatiya Janata Party president Kuppusami Annamalai will set out on a padayatra across Tamil Nadu covering all the 234 assembly constituencies. The yatra will start from Rameshwaram on Friday, July 28, and reach Chennai on January 11, 2024, just before Pongal. There will be two breaks in between. The yatra has been labelled, En Mannu, En Makkal, meaning my land, my people. The BJP has set up 18 committees to look after different aspects of the yatra. The yatra will cover two assembly constituencies every day and the participants will walk in the morning and evening, with a break in the afternoon. Tamil Nadu's director general of police has been notified of the route and also been asked asked for protection to carry out the padayatra peacefully. TN BJP vice president Karu Nagarajan tells Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar, "We will be meeting all sections of the people on the way and ask them about their problems. We will compile a report which will be available here and we will also send it to Delhi." "The problems and solutions will be included in our election manifesto next year." You are in charge of the padayatra across Tamil Nadu, what do you think you will achieve with this yatra? We hope to achieve a connect with the people. We will tell them about the achievements of our central government and our goals in Tamil Nadu. We have to change the Dravidian influence on the people. We have to tell people that they must have a national outlook and not a state one. We will encourage Tamil. The DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) only talks about Tamil, but they only concentrate on their Dravidian culture. The people have to understand that they make the same promises in every election, there is no progress. Will any of your allies be joining the yatra? There is no such idea. They might come at the beginning to wish us well and at the end. Our state president will be accompanied by members of 18 committees who are there to oversee the yatra. Your ally the AIADMK has said it will oppose the Uniform Civil Code, which is one of your core agendas. How will you bring them around? We are just talking and discussing about the UCC now. We cancelled Article 370 as we promised, we are building a Ram temple as we promised. The UCC will also happen at the appropriate time. Your TN unit president has said that the governor appointed by your party-led government should not talk about politics. How do you explain that? You think the governor's actions were reflecting badly on your party? What our president said was that he should not talk politics every day. Criticising the government is his duty, but talking politics every day is not necessary for his office. You have four MLAs, but none of them is ever in the news. It is only Annamalai who regularly makes statements. Have you told your MLAs to lie low? Nothing like that, it is your speculation. The MLAs are working in their constituencies and talking every day to the journalists in their area. Is it true that Annamalai is entering the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan? If so, will you be the next TN unit president? I too saw that in the news. We have not received any such message from our Delhi office yet. When it comes you can ask me. IMAGE: BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit A Shah being preented with a mace at a rally in Vellore, June 11, 2023, organised to celebrate the completion of nine years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. Photograph: ANI Photo Though you are an ally of the All India Anna DMK there is constant bickering between you two parties. Because you don't seem to understand that in Tamil Nadu they lead the alliance? All India we are heading the National Democratic Alliance, in Tamil Nadu the AIADMK heads the alliance. It is not important who heads the alliance; it is important that we defeat the DMK. The BJP is accused of using central agencies to intimidate political rivals and here it has already arrested one minister and is questioning another. Do you realise that this can lose you votes? We are improving the country by going after corrupt leaders. How will it lose us votes? Some of these cases were filed during the UPA rule. IMAGE: Annamalai announces the launch of the En Mannu, En Makkal padayatra and an app for people to connect with the campaign, at the state BJP headquarters in Chennai, April 14, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Your loss in neighbouring Karnataka was a big blow to your party. How does it affect your prospects in Tamil Nadu, particularly in the Lok Sabha elections due next year? Karnataka is different from Tamil Nadu. We had our government there in the past and this time we lost. It has nothing to do with our prospects in Tamil Nadu. What explains Annamalai's aggressive tactics? He also seems to have rubbed the AIADMK the wrong way? He is young, he is enthusiastic and he talks from his heart. So sometimes he does sound aggressive, but that is because of his age. What next after this yatra, what other campaign strategy have you planned? After the padayatra, which includes 10 public meetings on the way, in which central leaders will attend, we will plunge straight into election mode. We will start our Lok Sabha election work immediately. What is the budget for this padayatra? There is no budget, we will spend what we need. It won't be much. Delhi has not given us any money for this yatra. Our cadres will spend from their pocket. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com 'There was not a moment when the guns were out of action.' IMAGE: Indian soldiers shout patriotic slogans in the Drass sector, July 13, 1999, during the Kargil War. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/Reuters "There were times when we fired at least 2,000 rounds in a 24 hour cycle without getting tired. The crew was awake for 24 to 72 hours," Major General Ajay Pal Singh, VSM, (retd), recalls in a conversation with Rediff.com's Archana Masih on Vijay Diwas. The general, who was a young major during the Kargil War, recounts how India's artillery guns proved to be a game-changer. The first of a two-part interview: Every year on July 26 when the nation celebrates victory in the Kargil war, what are the thoughts that go through your mind? I look back to those days 24 years ago when I was posted in the Gurez sector next to Kargil and I think of all of us who took part in the operations. We were raring to go. We wanted every inch of our land. Our brave soldiers captured bunker by bunker, peak by peak in the Kargil sector and other sites in that area. Those thoughts are a reminder of the role of the Indian Army in safeguarding the country's valour and honour. I retired two years back, but if I'm called in the service of the country, I will go and defend my land. A soldier is always a soldier. You were a young major at that time, can you tell us how the war unfolded before your eyes? I was posted in the Kupwara sector from 1998 to 2000. There was a system in the Indian Army that during the winter both India and Pakistan would vacate the peaks because of the snow. The posts would be reoccupied in the summer. But the Pakistanis did not go back -- along with their regular soldiers and terrorists -- they occupied those posts without the knowledge of the Indian Armed Forces or the security agencies. When we came to know, we moved fast. As I was posted in Kupwara, I could see infantry and artillery units moving into that direction every day. A lot of artillery and infantry was accumulated in the Kupwara-Gurez sector and we started the operation around May 15-16, 1999. Initially, it was difficult because many soldiers had come from the plains. It was very difficult for the soldiers to survive and advance in the mountainous terrain and altitude because the enemy was well fortified. The Pakistanis were on a height; they had full view of our soldiers and could fire at them. But after we got our full equipment, clothing etc, in 4-5 days, we attacked the enemy with full josh. Then there was no holding back, we kept moving forward, captured all the posts from the Pakistanis and restored our soldiers on those posts. IMAGE: The Bofors gun. Photograph: Fayaz Kabli FK/Reuters Where were your guns and men positioned? What was the sentiment of the men under your command? There is a thin boundary between Gurez-Kargil, we moved closer to the Kargil sector on the extreme north. The range of our guns could target enemy posts. I was commanding a battery of six guns. We kept firing our guns throughout the war and kept demolishing enemy posts with our artillery shells -- pounding them day and night. A battery of six guns covers an area of 250x250 metres of the enemy. It has a devastating effect and can destroy men and material that are in that range. We had 130 mm medium Russian-made guns that had proved their mettle in the 1971 War. They are the most robust and reliable guns of the Indian Army. They have a range of approximately 27 kilometres and can fire high explosive content onto the enemy post. The guns were fired day and night and were always functional. There was not a moment when the guns were out of action. IMAGE: Indian soldiers stand guard in a bunker during a wreath laying ceremony at a war memorial during Vijay Diwas. Photograph: Fayaz Kabli/Reuters How many rounds were you firing? There must have been days when you were firing non-stop? During the war between May to July, they were patches where we fired at least 2,000 rounds in a 24 hour cycle without getting tired. The crew was awake for 24-72 hours. Artillery fire demolishes enemy posts, paving way for the infantry to capture the post. In two-and-a-half months of the Kargil war, there were at least 15-20 days during which we were continuously firing 24/7. It required nine people to man, fire, move and maintain the gun: Commander A person to lay the gun into a particular direction and elevation Two people to prepare ammunition shells Two people to load the shell into the gun Two persons for replenishment One driver IMAGE: An Indian Air Force MiG-21 aircraft deployed in the Kargil War. Photograph: Kind courtesy Wikemedia Commons Tell us about the men under your command and what was it leading them during war? I was a major and had approximately 120 men under my command. I used to be with them throughout the night and day. We used to make tea together, drink and eat together. It was my duty to keep them motivated. They were also charged because the nation's pride was at stake for the soldiers and even the citizens of India. We all wanted to get our posts back. As we started gaining success the morale went sky high. IMAGE: Major General Ajay Pal Singh, VSM (retd). Photograph: Kind courtesy Major General Ajay Pal Singh You must have seen the casualties arriving which must have been such a sad thing to confront during the war? That is the reality of a war. We have never imposed a war on ourselves. It is imposed by situations and circumstances. When a soldier is killed in action it impact the minds of soldiers and officers, but we get back to our work and draw motivation to do better. There were 526 casualties, including 26-27 officers. We paid a heavy price for victory. Part 2 of the Interview: 'We demolished enemy posts' Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com 'We cannot accept that this incident was not in the knowledge of the home ministry.' 'If they had no knowledge about this incident, then it is a big intelligence failure as the Union home ministry has no idea what is going on in Manipur and what the state police is doing.' IMAGE: In Imphal, members of the Manipur Students Union protest the ongoing ethnic violence in the state, July 24, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Advocate Vishal Tiwari has filed a criminal writ petition in the Supreme Court seeking a probe by a court appointed expert committee into the horrific Manipur video. The shocking video of naked Kuki women being paraded by a mob has shocked the nation's conscience. Chief Minister Biren Singh's statement that he had no idea about the incident which occurred on May 4 only served to aggravate sentiments. Later, it was found that the FIR in the case was registered after 13-14 days and the culprits seen in the video were not arrested till the video went viral. Advocate Tiwari now wants the top court to set up an independent expert committee under the leadership of a former Supreme Court judge to inquire into the incidents of sexual assault and ongoing violence in Manipur. Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com spoke to advocate Tiwari about why he filed the criminal writ petition in the Supreme Court. Why have you filed this writ petition in the Manipur video case? My writ petition is a criminal writ petition. There was a judgment of the Supreme Court in Lalita Kumari vs State of Uttar Pradesh in which the court gave a clear direction that in cognisable offences there will be no delay in filing a first information report (FIR) by the police. This means it is mandatory for the police to register FIR in such cases. Now, in this Manipur case, it is revealed that the FIR was under process for 13-14 days and no prompt action was taken. After two months, when the video went viral, this incident was revealed (to the general public). This means there was dereliction of duty by the police agency. I feel this is only one incident that has come to the limelight and there might be similar incidents, but due to the prevailing situation in Manipur other incidents have not been recorded or the state agencies do not know about it. Therefore, there should be a proper inquiry under the chairmanship of a retired Supreme Court judge which can inquire into the ongoing violence or sexual harassment cases which have taken place against humanity in Manipur. This report must be submitted within four weeks to the Supreme Court. Do you feel there was a deliberate attempt to downplay and hide the facts about this video, because Chief Minister Biren Singh said that he had no idea about this incident till the video went viral? 'I had no idea' is not a responsible statement on the part of the chief minister of Manipur. In news reports it is stated clearly that the police force in Manipur is divided in two groups: Kuki and Meitei. In such circumstances we cannot expect that there will be a fair investigation and prompt action on the ground. And if this is the ground situation, then sexual violence, murder and loot are bound to happen. So to control that the state government has to take firm action and if that is not happening, a committee should be constituted to inquire into these acts of violence, to find the actual reason behind these violent acts. Now, in Mizoram too the dispute has started. If this is not controlled soon by some effective measure, this fire will spread more. There has to be some action taken to have effective law and order on the ground. Do you fear this violence can spread to other states of the North East? IMAGE: Advocate Vishal Tiwari. In the North East the way the prevailing situation is it (violence) can pass from one state to another, but this can be stopped immediately if some prompt action is taken from the state or central government's side. And if there is some political problem which is leading to no intervention, then the judiciary must take a direct step in the interest of the public. The Supreme Court did tell the central government that if it does not take steps to curb violence in Manipur, then the court will step in. In furtherance to that order I have filed this petition in court and now it is up to the court as to how much action they will take. My focus is only to see how much violation of law is done on the ground by agencies or any other organisations. The people of Manipur must not suffer, this is my ultimate goal. Where did we fail as a State? After two months this case has come out. They (victims) complained about this incident the very next day, but the FIR was not filed by the police for 13-14 days. Seeing the gravity of the situation the complaint should have been registered much faster, but that did not happen. I read in a newspaper report that these two women were in police custody and it was the police that handed them over to the mob. In a such situation a very strong intervention is required. What is your personal suggestion? In our country every issue runs with some political motives. But the judiciary keeps itself away from political motives. So, whether Presidential rule has to be imposed or not, it is up to the government to decide but we have to focus on public security and safety. Political motives are a different issue because some people can always say such and such things happen in other states too. We cannot mix all the things together. This incident is different because the women were disrobed publicly, paraded naked and later on raped. And there was no action taken against the perpetrators for two months. The home minister (Amit A Shah) too went to the state. We cannot accept that this incident was not in the knowledge of the home ministry. And if they had no knowledge about this incident, then it is a big intelligence failure as the Union home ministry has no idea what is going on in Manipur and what the state police is doing. So these things need to be independently and impartially investigated. There was no Internet in Manipur, so how could the central home ministry or for that matter even the state government have known that such an incident had happened? When this incident happened it was in the knowledge of the local police and they should have brought this to the notice of the higher authorities in their department. The court took cognisance only after the video went viral. If the Manipur video had not gone viral, the case would have been buried in the ground. Supporters of the government say the situation in Manipur was returning to normalcy, but this video was leaked so the situation could worsen. Did it not make sense for the government, in order to maintain law and order, that the video incident be buried and let the investigation go on? Do you mean to say if the situation is becoming normal, then the bad things done in the past should not be revealed? When the question of law and order comes, then it is the material that decides what will be the outcome of the cases. For example, if a communal riot takes place, you cannot say there will be no action taken against the person who provoked the riots. We cannot say that the situation is normalising so do not raise your voice. When a crime takes place, it is the duty of the State to detect the crime and punish the actual offender. Hunt the offenders and find out why they committed the crime. And if there is some agency which has done dereliction of duty, then they too shall be questioned. Supporters of the government are questioning the timing of the video. Parliament was about to conveve and a day before that this video got leaked. In our country any crime related to such issue gets related to politics. When any political party is in power, they will say the law and order situation is fine and when they are out of power they will make opposite statements and curse the same police administration. But in the eye of the law Article 32 (enforcement of rights) and Article 21 (protection of personal life and liberty) (both external links) of the Indian Constitution has to be defended. And if Article 21 is violated, then it is immaterial what a particular government thinks and what it does not think as the judiciary always focusses on the safety and security of citizens. Do you feel Chief Minister Biren Singh should own up moral responsibility and resign? These are political statements. His Constitutional responsibility is to give protection and safety to the citizens of Manipur. If any person is sitting on the chief minister's chair, s/he must protect the citizens and follow the Indian Constitution. After Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the Russian Black Sea Fleet has altered its posture, preparing for a blockade of Ukraine, the British Ministry of Defense said, citing intelligence data. "The modern corvette Sergey Kotov, has deployed to the southern Black Sea, patrolling the shipping lane between the Bosphorus and Odesa. There is a realistic possibility that it will form part of a task group to intercept commercial vessels Russia believes are heading to Ukraine," the intelligence said on Twitter. It is noted that the Black Sea Grain Initiative moderated the involvement of the Black Sea in the war. Now, there is the potential for the intensity and scope of violence in the area to increase. 'They could have told the media that there is nothing in it and let me read it out.' IMAGE: Rajendra Gudha with the red diary as he speaks to the media in Jaipur, July 24, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Rajendra Singh Gudha, the Congress MLA from Udaipurwati in Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, startled citizens of the desert state when he told the assembly that women in Rajasthan are not safe. The statement came at a time when the Manipur video showing women being disrobed and paraded naked by a mob had gone viral and the Congress had mounted a full-scale offensive on the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre over the issue. Soon after his statement, Gudha was sacked as a minister by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and removed from the party for anti-party activities. When he entered the Rajasthan assembly on Monday he was heckled by Congress MLAs who snatched away a red diary, which he held in his hand, threatening to make its contents -- which he said could implicate Gehlot and others -- public. Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com spoke to Gudha about what the red diary contains. Gudha was elected as a Bahujan Samaj Party MLA in the 2018 assembly election. He shifted allegiance to the Congress at a time the Gehlot government fell short of a simple majority. Your statement of 14 seconds in the assembly, where you said women in Rajasthan are not safe just like in Manipur, shook Chief Minister Gehlot enough to sack you. What was going on in your mind when you made that statement, because it was tantamount to criticising your party's government in which you were a minister? I am an MLA from Shekhawati in Rajasthan where we have three districts. The late BJP chief minister, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, and I share the same surname though I use Gudha as surname which is the name of my village. My ancestors went to war over the issue of women's honour and dignity. Thousands died and three generations of my family members died in that war in the ancient days. Therefore, when they were speaking about women's safety in Manipur, I felt that it was time for me to speak on women's safety in Rajasthan as they are not safe in my state too. I just mentioned this fact and I was dismissed from the party and sacked from my minister's post. Did you not feel it was wrong for you to criticise your party in the assembly and if you had issues you could have raised it within the party fora? I was not criticising the Rajasthan Congress government. I have won three assembly elections and I don't need any party to win the election. Last time I won my assembly seat on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket before joining the Congress. And when my sisters have voted for me in my constituency ,how could I keep quiet when there are rapes and murders of women every day in Rajasthan? I stated a fact. But Rajasthan does not top the list for crimes against women in India, if I am not mistaken. After I was dismissed from my post the next day a girl was murdered in my constituency. Law and order is very bad in Rajasthan. These kinds of cases are occurring every day in Rajasthan. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot holds the home portfolio. He has no time for the home minister's post and it is bureaucrats who are running the show. Did you ever speak about the law and order situation to Gehlot before making that statement in the assembly? I told him that all the good work done by him is going down the drain because the women of Rajasthan are not safe. In my own constituency women are very literate and they do not vote as their husbands tell them. They have their own mind and if we do not improve the law and order situation women will not vote for us. I informed this to Ashok Gehlot personally. Why did you go to the speaker's well and shout, which led to your suspension from the assembly for this session? I was a minister in the Rajasthan government and I had a separate seating arrangement in the House. Now, when they sacked me from my post, I had no place to sit in the assembly. I wanted a chair as an MLA to sit in the assembly. I therefore went to the speaker and asked him, where is my chair? I told him I wanted to speak, but he did not give me time to speak. I had no mic or seat to sit. You have been mentioning a red diary since your sacking. You even brought it to the assembly which Congress MLAs snatched away from you. I wanted to read the contents of the red diary in the assembly. But before I could do that the Congress ministers and MLAs snatched away my red diary. What is written in the red diary? If there was nothing in it, why did these ministers snatch my diary? They could have told the media that there is nothing in it and let me read it out. But they did not let me do so. Two persons were killed and several others injured as police opened fire on Friday in Bihar's Katihar district following stone-pelting by protesters who were demanding better power supply, officials said. IMAGE: People protest against errant power supply at Katihar, Bihar, July 26, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo According to the police headquarters in Patna, "more than a dozen police personnel and power department employees" sustained injuries in the incident that took place barely "100 meters away from Barsoi police station". "Nearly 1,000 local residents were staging a demonstration in front of the power department office. Some anti-social elements had found their way into the crowd and they started hurling stones. When a police party tried to quell the disruptors, they too were attacked with bricks, stones and sticks," said the PHQ, which also shared photos of injured policemen. Katihar district Magistrate Ravi Prakash told PTI-Bhasha over the phone, "Two of the protesters have died while another is undergoing treatment for injuries at the sub-division hospital." One of the deceased, who died on the spot, was identified as Khurshid Alam (34), a resident of Baasal village. The identity of the second deceased was not known though he and the other injured protester were said to be residents of nearby villages. Katihar superintendent of police Jitendra Kumar, who was camping at the site of the incident, told reporters, "You can gauge the situation from the fact that there is hardly any portion of the power office left without tell-tale signs of the vandalism and stone-pelting." "The protesters suddenly grew violent and stormed the premises. Officials, including the sub-divisional police officer concerned, who has also sustained injuries, were held hostage by the mob. So, in self-defence, gunfire was used. Investigations are on and stern action will be taken against those involved in the attack on policemen," said the SP. Meanwhile, the incident drew sharp criticism from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party as also the Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist-Liberation, which supports the Nitish Kumar government from outside. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, a former president of the state BJP, issued a statement alleging that the incident reflected the "barbarism" of the government helmed by the chief minister's Janata Dal-United and the Rashtriya Janta Dal, the largest constituent of the state's ruling Mahagathbandhan. He also demanded the resignation of the chief minister and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, who belongs to the RJD, blaming them for recent incidents of lathi-charge on similar protests in the state capital by teachers' job aspirants and ASHA workers. The CPI-ML-L, which is a part of the Mahagathbandhan though not a part of the government, accused the BJP of "instigating the crowd" in Katihar. The CPI-ML-L's legislature party leader Mehboob Alam, who is the MLA of Balrampur where Barsoi is located, also demanded "Rs 20 lakh compensation" to the next of kin of each deceased and ex-gratia to the injured protester. "The crowd suddenly got violent and we are sure that the BJP had provoked them. Its workers thrive in lawlessness as was evident from their throwing chilli powder at police personnel during a recent demonstration," said Alam. The reference was to the 'Vidhan Sabha march', in protest against the teacher recruitment policy of the state, staged on July 13 when one of the protesters, Vijay Kumar Singh, died. The post-mortem report has suggested that the death was caused by a heart attack and there were no injury marks on the body of the deceased. Alam also added, "The police should have exercised restraint and should not have opened fire. Accountability must be fixed in the matter and action should be taken against police personnel who might be found guilty." Another FIR was registered against Tathya Patel, who allegedly crashed his Jaguar car into a crowd killing nine persons in Ahmedabad last week, after his questioning revealed he had rammed the same SUV into a temple on the Ahmedabad-Sanand road on January 1, the Gujarat police said. IMAGE: The Jaguar car moving at a very high speed ploughed into a crowd gathered at the accident site at ISKCON bridge on the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar highway in Satellite area of Ahmedabad. Photograph: ANI on Twitter The latest First Information Report was registered with Santej police station in Gandhinagar district. As per the FIR, Patel crashed his SUV into a temple near Vansajada village on Ahmedabad-Sanand Road in the early hours of January 1 which damaged its pillar and led to the collapse of a portion of the temple terrace, Santej police sub-inspector Vijaysinh Gohil said on Wednesday. Patel (20) has been booked under relevant sections of the Motor Vehicle Act and sections 279 (rash driving) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the Indian Penal Code. Though the temple crash incident occurred around seven months ago, villagers or the temple priest did not approach police initially because they didn't know the identity of the person responsible for the damage, said Gohil. "During his remand in the ISKCON flyover case, Patel confessed to having crashed the same SUV into a temple's pillar on January 1 and driving away. Some of his friends were also travelling in that car. After his confession, we took the complaint from a villager and registered an FIR against Patel on Tuesday," said investigating officer Gohil. As per the FIR, a concrete pillar of the temple suffered damage due to the impact of the Jaguar car, which resulted in the collapse of a portion of the temple terrace. The complaint was lodged by former sarpanch Manaji Thakor. Nine persons, including a police constable, were killed when the speeding Jaguar car driven by Patel ploughed into a crowd gathered at an accident site on the ISKCON bridge in Ahmedabad on July 20, the police had said. Patel, who was also injured, was arrested the same day on various charges including 'culpable homicide not amounting to murder' under section 304 of the IPC. He was remanded in judicial custody on Tuesday. Patel's father Pragnesh Patel was also arrested for allegedly threatening people on the flyover. On July 22, Ahmedabad traffic police registered a separate FIR against an unidentified driver for crashing his SUV into the front wall of a restaurant on July 3. The FIR was registered based on a complaint submitted by restaurant owner Mihir Shah, the police had said. Though Tathya Patel was not named in that FIR, police claimed that during questioning, Tathya Patel "confessed" that he had rammed his Thar SUV into the compound wall of a restaurant on July 3. Nearly 39 years after three people were killed and a gurudwara was set afire in Pul Bangash area during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, a Delhi court Wednesday summoned former Union minister and Congress leader Jagdish Tytler on August 5, saying "sufficient material" was available on record to proceed against him in the case. IMAGE: Senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler. Photograph: Mohd Zakir/ANI Photo Additional chief metropolitan magistrate Vidhi Gupta Anand, who took cognisance of the charge sheet against Tytler, noted that the public prosecutor for the Central Bureau of Investigation placed reliance on the statements of eyewitnesses who specifically stated during further investigation that they had seen the accused at the spot where the incident occurred. The CMM noted the prosecutor, citing eyewitnesses, said Tytler was leading and inciting the mob carrying deadly weapons which committed the alleged offences. The prosecutor said the accused in the case blatantly violated the restrictions that were in force under Section 144 CrPC. Upon perusal of the statements of eye-witnesses... as well as statements of other witnesses, site plans prepared by the IO (investigating officer) and other material brought on record by the investigating agency, this court finds that sufficient material is available on record to proceed further with the matter, the judge said while taking cognisance of the of the third supplementary charge sheet filed in the case. The first charge sheet was filed in the case on September 28, 2007 but the investigating agency did not recommend any action against Tytler. The two supplementary charge sheets filed on March 27, 2009 and December 24, 2014 also did not suggest action against the Congress leader. It was only when the third supplementary charge sheet was filed that the prosecution sought action against him. The judge took cognisance of the offences punishable under various Sections, including 302 (murder), 148 (rioting), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups), 188 (disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant) and 295 (Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) of IPC. In view of the above, let accused Jagdish Tytler be summoned through IO concerned for the next date of hearing, the judge said and posted the matter for further hearing on August 5. Tytler, who was not arrested in the case during the investigation, will likely appear before the court on August 5 and seek bail. Three people were killed and a gurdwara was set ablaze in the Pul Bangash area of the national capital on November 1, 1984, a day after the then prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards. In its charge sheet filed before the court, the CBI said Tytler "incited, instigated and provoked" the mob that had assembled at Pul Bangash Gurdwara in Azad Market on November 1, 1984 that resulted in the burning down of the gurdwara and killing of three Sikhs Sardar Thakur Singh, Badal Singh and Gurbachan Singh. A Delhi court had on December 4, 2015 directed further investigation in the case which led to the filing of the present supplementary charge sheet on June 2, 2023 which said there was sufficient evidence to prosecute him. After the court order, senior advocate HS Phoolka, who has been representing the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in courts for the last four decades, told journalists that Tytler had threatened the witnesses, whose statements became the basis of the supplementary chargesheet, in the past and they were forced to change their testimonies. This is a person who deserves to be in jail. If he is outside, he will continue pressurising and threatening the witnesses. The witnesses were available right from the beginning, but the CBI had not earlier recorded their statements which let to clean chit to him. He was very powerful. Now the CBI has recorded those statements, he said. He said he will now seek the prosecution of senior Congress leader Kamal Nath for his alleged involvement in the riots. Similarly, Kamal Nath, by using his brutal political and money power has been escaping the law, he said, claiming Nath was present at Gurudwara Rakab Gunj where two Sikhs were burnt alive. It is very shameful that he is not only roaming free but also sitting on several high posts. It is a matter of shame for the country that the one who burnt Guru Teg Bahadur's Gurudwara (Gurudwara Rakab Gunj) held so many important posts, he said. Days after the Supreme Court held as "illegal" the repeated extensions granted to ED Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra, the Centre on Wednesday moved the apex court seeking his continuance till October 15, saying his absence during the ongoing FATF review will adversely impact India's national interests. IMAGE: ED chief S K Mishra. Photograph: ANI Photo The Centre also emphasised that Mishra, 63, has been engaged in preparation of documents and fulfilling other requirements for mutual evaluation since the beginning of the year 2020 and, accordingly, his continuation in this arduous and delicate process at this "critical stage" is essential. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is a global body that leads action to tackle money laundering and terror financing. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench of Justices BR Gavai, Hima Kohli and Prashant Kumar Mishra that the government has moved an application seeking modification of the apex court's July 11 verdict. "There is some urgency with regard to that matter. We request urgent listing of the miscellaneous application," Mehta told the bench. Justice Gavai said the July 11 verdict was pronounced by a three-judge bench, also comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol, and currently they are sitting in different combinations. "Let the registry request the Chief Justice of India for constituting a bench," Justice Gavai told Mehta. The solicitor general requested the bench to list the matter urgently, saying this application needs to be heard by July 28 (Friday). The bench then agreed to hear the matter on Thursday at 3.30 pm. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who has appeared for NGO 'Common Cause' challenging extensions granted to Mishra tweeted, Wow! Just Wow! After all his 3 extensions have been held to be illegal, & he was still given almost another month to wind up, the govt files another application seeking extension of ED Director! Absurd! The top court had on July 11 held as "illegal" two successive extensions of one year each granted to Mishra and said the Centre's orders were in "breach" of its mandamus in the 2021 verdict that the IRS officer should not be given further term. It had also curtailed Mishra's extended tenure to July 31 from November. A bench of Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol had said in view of the peer review being conducted by the FATF this year and to enable smooth transition, Mishra's tenure will be till July 31. The 1984-batch IRS officer was otherwise to remain in office till November 18, 2023, according to the notification issued by the government. "By way of the present application, the applicant-Union is seeking for an extension of the date upto which the Respondent No. 2 (Sanjay Kumar Mishra) has been permitted to continue to be in office, from July 31, 2023 to October 15, 2023," the government said in its prayer. It said the Union of India is compelled to approach the apex court seeking extension, "in view of the ongoing FATF review which is at a critical stage where submissions on effectiveness have been made on July 21, 2023 and on-site visit is scheduled to be conducted in November, 2023." Explaining the need for Mishra's continuance, the government said, "At such a critical juncture, it is essential to have an individual who is well-acquainted with the overall status of money laundering investigations and proceedings across the country and also the intricacies of the procedures, operations and activities of the investigating agency, at the helm of affairs at the Directorate of Enforcement." It said this is necessary to ensure that the assessment team can be promptly and ably assisted with necessary reports, information, statistics etc. "Any transition in leadership at the Directorate of Enforcement at this stage would significantly impair the ability of the agency to provide necessary assistance to and co-operation with the assessment team and thereby adversely impact India's national interests," it said. The Centre said it is expected that after the submissions on effectiveness have been made, the assessment team will have a large number of questions about the existing system in the country, on technical compliance and further queries on effectiveness. "Indian authorities are expected to promptly reply to these questions to ensure that the assessment team gets a proper picture of the risk and context of India and of the implementation of FATF recommendations in letter and spirit." The Centre further said the onus of establishing technical compliance and effectiveness of the system lies with the assessed country and any lapse in doing so can adversely impact the outcome of the mutual evaluation. For the above reasons, continuation of the incumbent director during this period would be necessary," it added. "It is under the aforesaid peculiar circumstances that the Union of India has approached this court by way of the present application seeking for an extension of the date upto October 15, 2023 for which the Respondent No. 2 (Sanjay Kumar Mishra) may be permitted to continue to be in office," the application said. The bench had given the verdict on a batch of petitions, including those filed by Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and Jaya Thakur, and TMC leaders Mahua Moitra and Saket Gokhale challenging the extensions granted to Mishra. Mishra was first appointed the ED director for two years on November 19, 2018. Later, by an order dated November 13, 2020, the central government modified the appointment letter retrospectively and his two-year term was changed to three years. The government also promulgated an ordinance last year under which the tenure of the ED and CBI chiefs could be extended by up to three years after the mandated term of two years A parliamentary panel has asked the government to consider resumption of economic ties with Pakistan and work towards broader people-to-people contacts given the "cultural commonalities and civilisational linkages" between the two countries. IMAGE: Sikh pilgrims from Pakistan arrive at the Attari-Wagha joint check post, 30 km away from Amritsar, to visit various Sikh shrines across the country, September 14, 2022. Photograph: ANI Photo The parliamentary standing committee on external affairs chaired by Bharatiya Janata Party leader PP Chaudhary, in its report on 'India's Neighbourhood First Policy' presented to the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, observed that the policy was dynamic and that it adjusts to the country's renewed interests in the region while evolving according to regional circumstances. The Committee urges the Government to consider the establishment of economic ties with Pakistan if they come forward and work towards broader people-to-people contacts in view of the cultural commonalities and civilisational linkages between our two countries and no feeling of enmity amongst citizens of both the countries, said the committee in its report. Being aware of China's Belt and Road vision and America's Indo-Pacific vision, the Committee are of the considered view that it is in India's strategic interests and foreign policy requirements to focus on wider engagements and deepening of ties with smaller neighbours, the report said. It said that the opportunities presented by an open and competitive South Asian market may also be grasped and consolidated from both security and economic perspectives. The parliamentary committee noted that relations with Pakistan and China have been plagued by contentious issues. One of the core concerns with Pakistan is terrorism emanating from territories under its control, it said, adding that the Ministry of External Affairs has stated that the onus was on Islamabad to ensure a conducive atmosphere for any meaningful dialogue. The Committee have also been informed that as a result of proactive outreach with the international community, India has successfully thwarted Pakistan's attempt to present an alarmist situation of the region; interfere in its internal affairs and internationalize bilateral issues, the report said. In view of the belligerent attitude of Pakistan, the Committee desires that the Government should continue to proactively engage with the regional and multilateral bodies/organizations extensively so as to sensitize them of the role played by Pakistan in fostering terrorism and win their support in the fight against terrorism on its soil, the report said. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday told Home Minister Amit Shah that there is a world of difference between the words and actions of the sentiments expressed in his letter and also lamented over Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'equating' the Opposition to terrorist groups. IMAGE: Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge speaks in the house during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, July 26, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Responding to Shah's letter, Kharge also urged Modi to come to the House and give a statement on Manipur. Kharge said he is writing to Shah on the same day the prime minister equated the opposition parties with British rulers and terrorist groups and how he expected a positive response from them. "In a single day, the respected Prime Minister links the opposition parties of the country with British rulers and terrorist groups and on the same day the home minister writes an emotional letter and expects a positive response from the Opposition. The lack of coordination between the ruling party and the Opposition was visible for years, now this gulf has started appearing even within the ruling party," he said. "It is not only absurd but also unfortunate for the Prime Minister to call opposition parties directionless on this," Kharge said in his letter to Shah. Going by the serious situation prevailing in Manipur since the last 84 days and the kind of incidents unfolding one after another, the Congress president said it is expected from all political parties that we should work towards restoration of peace and give a message to the people at least from this highest house of the country. "This is what we are collectively demanding," he said. "There is a world of difference between the words and actions of the sentiments expressed in your letter. The government's attitude as shown in your letter is contrary to the spirit of the House, and has been insensitive and arbitrary. This attitude is not new, but it has been seen in the last several sessions," the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha said. "We have been urging the prime minister to come to the House and give a statement on Manipur, but it seems that doing so is hurting his honour. We have a commitment to the people of this country and will pay any cost for it," he said in his reply in Hindi. Kharge said constituents of INDIA grouping have been continuously demanding that the prime minister should first give his statement on the floor of the House, after which a detailed debate on the subject in both the Houses be taken up and discussed. He said small and minor incidents are being blown up and made into a molehill and members were suspended for the entire session and all this is happening, when suspension of a member shall not be for more than one session for the same incident. Noting that it is easy to express feelings through a letter, he said, "But, it is easier to win the confidence of members of the opposition parties present in the House through your conduct". "The behaviour of the Leader of the House should be positive rather than pre-determined reaction driven. This will be helpful in smooth running of the House. If the government wants the house to function normally, it could give an opportunity tot he opposition to raise their point," he said. Kharge said everyday notices are given under the rule 267 by the opposition MPs, but those sitting in the ruling party block them and when the Leader of the Opposition rises to speak after the permission of the Chairman, the Leader of the House himself interrupts without permission and against the convention of the house. This is happening continuously in front of the entire house. Members of the opposition parties assemble in the House after every adjournment with the hope that the proceedings of the House may run smoothly again. But till now, they have only got disappointment, he said. Seeking to break the current logjam, Shah on Tuesday sought "invaluable cooperation" of the opposition to discuss the Manipur issue in Parliament and asked them to rise above party lines to find a "permanent" solution to the embroglio in a "harmonious" way. In identical letters in Hindi to opposition Kharge and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Shah said the people of Manipur want that MPs of all political parties give them confidence that the lawmakers are united and committed to the peace of Manipur. Shah said the government is ready to discuss the Manipur issue and urged all to cooperate, rising above party lines. Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill that seeks to exempt land within 100 km of the country's borders from the purview of conservation laws and permit setting up of zoos, safaris and eco-tourism facilities in forest areas. IMAGE: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, July 24, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill-2023 was passed after a brief debate which was responded to by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. After the passage of the bill, which amends the Forest (Conservation) Act, Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day amid continued protests by opposition members over the ethnic violence in Manipur. The Lok Sabha took up the bill for consideration and passing even as the opposition raised slogans and waved placards in the Well of the House demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament on the Manipur issue. "We have encouraged social forestry, but still people have not taken it up fearing that they will not be able to cut trees grown on private land. India's agro-forestry imports are very large, particularly teak and other woods. We have provisions in the Bill to promote agro-forestry," Yadav said replying to the debate on the bill. He said the bill exempts certain types of land from the provisions of the Act such as forest land along a rail line or a public road maintained by the government providing access to a habitation, or to a rail, and roadside amenity up to a maximum size of 0.10 hectare. Forest land that will also be exempted includes land situated within 100 km along the international borders, Line of Control, or Line of Actual Control, proposed to be used for construction of strategic linear projects for national importance or security. It also exempts land up to 10 hectares, proposed to be used for constructing security related infrastructure, or land proposed to be used for constructing defence related projects, camp for paramilitary forces, or public utility projects as specified by central government not exceeding five hectares in a left wing extremism affected area. Yadav made it clear that there was no contradiction between the Forest (Conservation) Act and the Forest Rights Act as the two legislations supplement each other. The bill also seeks to empower the central government to specify, by order, the terms and conditions subject to which any survey, such as, reconnaissance, prospecting, investigation or exploration including seismic survey, shall not be treated as non-forest purpose. Yadav said the bill, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha in March, was referred to a Joint Committee of Parliament, which accepted the legislation without any significant changes. Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday claimed he was 'insulted' as his mic was turned off while he was speaking in the House the previous day. IMAGE: Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge speaks during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. Photograph: SansadTV/ANI Photo In the morning session, the House also witnessed acrimonious exchanges between opposition and treasury benches and sloganeering by the two sides, leading to a brief adjournment. Referring to Tuesday's proceedings, Kharge said he was not allowed to speak in the House and 'my mic was turned off'. "It was a breach of my privilege. This is my insult. My self-respect has been challenged. "If the House is run on the instructions of the government, then I will understand that it is not a democracy," the Congress president said. Other opposition members supported Kharge with many of them raising slogans. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asked them to take their seats. When he informed Kharge that several MPs were standing in the rows behind him, the Congress leader said, "Mere peechhe khade agar nahi honge toh kya Modi ke peechhe khade honge? (If they will not stand behind me, will they stand behind Modi?)" Dhankhar and several members were seen smiling on Kharge's remarks. Soon, treasury benches started shouting 'Modi, Modi'. Opposition MPs too started raising their own slogans that could not be heard amid the din. The Chair tried to restore order in the House but in vain. Around 11.40 am, the proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon. When the Upper House of Parliament reassembled for the post lunch period, Deputy Chairman Harivansh called Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda to move the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill, 2022 amid demand from the opposition members for discussion on the Manipur issue. He then gave the floor to Kharge, who asked the deputy chairman not to shut his mic in jest. Harivansh, in turn, asked Kharge to listen to him as well after he spoke. Kharge said the opposition wanted a discussion on the Manipur issue as well as a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said that they are still waiting for it. He said even after five days, the prime minister has not come to the House and even he is watching the proceedings from his office. The Leader of Opposition wondered why the prime minister was not giving a statement. As a consequence, he said, the opposition parties have not been able to put forward their views even as the whole country is willing to listen to them. The government is not giving the opportunity to the opposition put forth their views and is also not listening to their demand, he alleged. In protest against the stand of the government, Kharge said, "We are staging a walkout." Harivansh asked the opposition members to listen to him before walking out but in vain. Earlier, Dravida Muenntra Kazhagam member Tiruchi N Siva had also raised the issue of Kharge's mic being turned off. The Chairman, however, clarified that the mic was not turned off. He said he has checked with the deputy chairperson. The floor was given to Kharge when the House was discussing a legislative matter, Dhankhar said. "Any transgression that takes place... everyone in the House is aware that cannot be allowed. At that stage, the deputy chairperson intervened. So, it not that mics were turned off," he said. After the listed papers were laid on the table of the House, Dhankhar said he has received 42 notices for suspension of scheduled business to take up a discussion on the Manipur issue. He did not approve any of the notices under Rule 267 of the House. He further said he has received representation of MPs from northeastern states for a short-duration discussion on the Manipur issue at the earliest. He read out the representation which stated that the government of India and the state government have taken many steps to restore normalcy in Manipur. These MPs, the chairman said, have demanded that a discussion be held at the earliest so that members across party lines can take part in it and give constructive suggestions. Dhankhar said a notice in this regard has already been admitted under Rule 176, and the date and time of the discussion will be fixed after consulting Leader of the House Piyush Goyal. This led to a protest by opposition members who have been demanding that the discussion be held under Rule 267 and Modi make a statement on the Manipur issue in the House. Amidst the protest, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stood up and expressed shock that "a member of this House called other members of this House 'dhokebaaz' (cheater)". "I condemn this. It should be removed and the Honourable member should apologise," she said without naming the member. Dhankhar also referred to certain media reports which quoted an MP as saying that AAP member Sanjay Singh was suspended from the House for raising an issue. Dhankhar said the member was suspended not for raising an issue, but because of his misconduct and indecorous behaviour. He stressed that no one is suspended from the House for raising issues. "We cannot allow these kinds of things. It is a plain and simple breach of privilege. Putting it in the public domain that this House suspended a member because the member was trying to raise an issue is unpardonable. This is an aggravated form of breach of privilege," Dhankhar said. Sanjay Singh was on Monday suspended from Rajya Sabha for the rest of the Monsoon session for repeatedly 'violating' the directives of the Chair while protesting on the Manipur issue. On the occasion of the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas on Wednesday, Rajya Sabha also paid tributes to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the 1999 Kargil war. A mob set afire at least 30 houses and shops and engaged in a shootout with security forces in Manipur's Moreh district on Wednesday, officials said. IMAGE: Members of Manipur Students' Union stage a demonstration against the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, in Imphal on Monday. Photograph: ANI Photo The abandoned houses were in the Moreh Bazar area close to the Myanmar border. Following the arson, a gun battle also broke out between the miscreants and security forces, officials said adding that it is not yet clear whether there was any casualty. The incident came a day after two buses used by security forces to transport personnel were set on fire by a mob in Kangpokpi district, the officials said. The incident occurred at Sapormeina when the buses were coming from Dimapur on Tuesday evening. No casualty was reported. Locals stopped the buses bearing Manipur registration numbers at Sapormeina and insisted that they would check if any member of another community were on board, the officials said. Some of them set the buses on fire. Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said construction of temporary houses at Sajiwa in Imphal and Yaithibi Loukol in Thoubal district is nearing completion. Very soon, families from relief camps will be able to move into these homes. The state government is taking up all possible measures to rehabilitate the people affected by the recent violence, both in the hills and the valley, Singh said in a Twitter post. The chief minister had last month said that his government will build 3,000-4,000 pre-fabricated houses to accommodate people who had to flee from their houses because of ethnic strife in the northeastern state. Ethnic violence broke out in the northeastern state nearly three months ago, killing over 160 people since then, and injuring hundreds. The violence erupted on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe 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 mainly in the hill districts. The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy did not support the resignation of Oleksandr Tkachenko from the post of Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine. The corresponding decision was supported by four members of the relevant committee and seven voted "against" at a meeting on Wednesday, according to Interfax-Ukraine correspondent. Volodymyr Viatrovych, Mykola Kniazhytsky, Sofia Fedyna (all three from the European Solidarity faction) and non-factional MP Geo Leros voted for the resignation of the minister. "The committee is against... and shifts this decision onto the shoulders of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine," head of the committee Mykyta Poturayev (Servant of the People faction) said. The minister took part in the meeting of the committee via video link. "In our country, no one has yet cancelled human rights: you can always write statements," Tkachenko said at the beginning of the discussion of the issue of his resignation. After that, he presented a report on the work of the ministry over three years, in particular, on the activities of the department during the COVID-19 pandemic, on issues related to the Ukrainian language, the Book Institute, the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, film production, heritage preservation, national memory , electronic registers, interaction with UNESCO. As reported, on the evening of July 21, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal with a proposal to replace Tkachenko as Minister of Culture and Information Policy. A court in Mumbai while issuing summons to lyricist Javed Akhtar in a case filed by actor Kangana Ranaut has held that there was sufficient ground to proceed against him for the offence of criminal intimidation. IMAGE: Bollywood actress Kangan Ranaut. Photograph: Sunil Khandare/ANI Photo However, no case is made out against him on charges of extortion, the court said. Metropolitan magistrate (Andheri court) R M Shaikh on July 24 issued the summons against Akhtar, asking him to appear before the court on August 5. Ranaut had filed a complaint against Akhtar for alleged "extortion and criminal intimidation". The court, while issuing summons, said no case of extortion was made out against the lyricist. Asking a person to give a written apology will not come under the definition of "valuable security" as defined under section 30 of the Indian Penal Code because no legal right is created, extended, transferred, restricted, extinguished or released," it said. "As far as other offences levelled against the accused are concerned, on the basis of averments in the complaint, verification of the complainant and statement of her (Ranaut's) sister Rangoli Chandel," the court said. "I have come to the conclusion that there are sufficient grounds to proceed against the accused for offence under IPC section 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (gestures or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman)," the court said. In 2020, Akhtar had filed a complaint against Ranaut, claiming that she had made defamatory statements against him in a television interview, which allegedly damaged his reputation. In his complaint, Akhtar claimed that Ranaut dragged his name during an interview while referring to a 'coterie' existing in Bollywood, following the alleged suicide by actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Later, Ranaut filed a counter-complaint in the same court against Akhtar for alleged "extortion and criminal intimidation". The actress in her complaint against Akhtar said that following her public dispute with her co-star, the lyricist had called her and her sister Rangoli Chandel to his house with "malafide intentions and ulterior motives and then criminally intimidated and threatened" her. With the arrest of a PhD scholar of Central University of Kashmir, the police on Wednesday said to have busted a terrorist recruitment module in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. IMAGE: PhD scholar of Central University of Kashmir, two terrorist associates in custody of police in Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir, July 26, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Two terrorist associates linked with Hizbul Mujahideen/Jaish-e-Mohammed were also arrested in the case, police said. "Acting on specific information generated by the Kulgam police, a search was launched for a code-named person @Dr Sabeel who was motivating, funding and providing logistic support to the gullible youth of district Kulgam and adjoining areas to recruit them into terrorist ranks," a police spokesman said. He said special teams were constituted to track and search for the suspected person. "After systemic efforts, one suspected vehicle was zeroed in. When the credentials of the vehicle were sought, it came to fore that the vehicle was being used by Dr Rubani Bashir, a resident of Ashmuji, Kulgam," the spokesman said. He said a checkpoint was established at Ashmuji and Bashir was apprehended. "During questioning, he disclosed his code name as Dr Sabeel, a PhD scholar from Central University of Kashmir, and has also applied for job as assistant professor there," the spokesman said. "Dr Rubani Bashir @ Dr Sabeel also disclosed that he has been associated with Jamat-e-Islami from his student days and he has been its member in student wing Islamic Jamat-ul-Tulbha for 14 years and later on has been a full-fledged member of JeI. His basic modus operandi was to work for proscribed terrorist organizations HM/JeM behind the curtain. He used to identify the youngsters, motivate them, fund them and then make them ready to join terrorist organisations," the spokesman said. It was also revealed that Bashir motivated two youngsters and made them to join the terrorist ranks. "On the disclosure of Dr Rubani Bashir, two terrorist associates linked with HM/JeM were arrested. They have been identified as Fazil Ahmed Parrey and Tariq Ahmed Naikoo alias Chawla," he added. On their disclosure, one Chinese pistol, one pistol magazine and nine 9mm rounds were recovered from Bashir while one AK-47 magazine and 19 AK-47 rounds were recovered from Fazil Ahmed Parrey. One Chinese grenade, 10 AK-47 rounds and a car used for ferrying the terrorists have been seized, the police said. Meanwhile, in Bandipora district, security forces arrested one terrorist associate of Lashkar-e-Tayiba at Turkpora junction. He was identified as Javed Ahmad Malla and two hand grenades were recovered from his possession. The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Patty on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to Governor R N Ravi seeking action over what it claimed "benami" links to ruling DMK Ministers, legislators and MPs and "three scams" to the tune of about Rs 5,600 crore. IMAGE: Tamil Nadu BJP leaders with Governor R N Ravi at Raj Bhavan, Chennai, July 26, 2023. Photograph: Courtesy, K Annamalai on Twitter Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai, on his Twitter handle, said his party sought the governor's intervention and suitable action over 'Part 2 of DMK files' with 'documents on benami' connected to the DMK Ministers, MLAs and MPs and the 'first family' and 'three scams for a value of Rs 5,600 crore.' Annamalai said that he and senior leaders of the state unit of the party had the opportunity to meet Ravi at the Raj Bhavan. The BJP leader alleged scams in a government-run medical corporation (Rs 600 crore), in the state transport department (Rs 2,000 crore) and in respect of a firm (Rs 3,000 crore) allegedly linked to the DMK regimes, which together, constituted "three scams for a value of Rs 5,600 crore." The BJP leader posted a 16-minute video clip that showed "documents" to allege the scams, which the saffron party described as 'DMK Files-II', a follow-up to 'DMK Files-I'. A picture of Annamalai and other leaders submitting the memorandum to Ravi while a huge box with a 'DMK Files-II' sticker on it was placed prominently in front of them. "We will elaborate more on this during our padayatra to our friends in press and media. We demand answers from the corrupt DMK government," Annamalai said. The Tamil Nadu BJP leader is all set to embark on a state-wide padayatra from July 28 to take on the DMK regime and strengthen the party's electoral prospects for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. On April 14, Annamalai released 'DMK Files' alleging that "kickbacks of Rs 200 crore" had been channelled by a multinational company through two shell firms to "Chief Minister M K Stalin for DMK's 2011 election fund". Annamalai also then released a nearly 15-minute video clip "DMK Files (Part-I)" showcasing what he claimed were assets of ruling party personalities and its valuation. All such allegations had been dismissed by the DMK leaders as false and unfounded and they filed defamation cases against Annamalai. Embattled Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji and his wife Megala Wednesday assailed the Enforcement Directorate's decision to arrest him in a money laundering case, saying in accordance with an apex court judgement, the officials of the probe agency are not police officers and so they cannot make arrests. IMAGE: Tamil Nadu minister Senthil V Balaji. Photograph: Courtesy V_Senthilbalaji on Twitter Appearing for the minister and his wife before a bench of Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh, senior advocate Kapil Sibal referred to various provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Code of Criminal Procedure and the apex court judgement while trying to drive home the point that ED not being a police agency lacked the power to arrest. "There is no provision under the PMLA for the Enforcement Directorate to seek remand of an accused into its own custody in the same manner as an officer in charge of a police station can do in exercise of power under section 167 of the CrPC," the senior lawyer said. "If an officer of the ED is not a police officer when a person accused of predicate offence under the PMLA has to compulsorily answer questions or face prosecution, making their statement admissible in trial, then at what stage do they become a police officer," Sibal asked. He referred to the top court's 2022 judgement in the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary case and said it had held that ED officers are not "police officers". In the verdict, the apex court had upheld the ED's powers relating to arrest, attachment of property involved in money laundering, search and seizure under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. It had, however, said authorities under the 2002 Act are "not police officers as such" and the Enforcement Case Information Report cannot be equated with an FIR under the Code of Criminal Procedure. The senior lawyer said though the 2022 judgement has several anomalies and has been challenged on several grounds, it did hold that ED officials are not police officers and hence, the powers available to police with regard to arrest and custodial interrogation were unavailable to the anti-money laundering agency. "Personally, I feel Vijay Madanlal's judgement is wrong but that is for another court to decide. But here I am relying on that judgement to say that ED officials are not police officers," he said. "Your contention is unless you are a police officer there is no question of (seeking) remand," the bench said. Sibal said the normal notions of criminal law cannot be applied in this case. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, said the plea be decided expeditiously as the probe agency only has time till August 13 to quiz the minister in custody. He said the 60 days time, prescribed under section 167 of the CrPC, to complete the probe and for filing the charge sheet is ending on August 13. The bench took note of his submissions and said it will continue with the hearing on Thursday at 2 pm. The top court had on July 21 sought the ED's response on the petitions filed by Balaji and his wife Megala challenging the July 14 order of the Madras High Court upholding his arrest by the probe agency in a money laundering case. The minister and his wife have filed two separate petitions in the top court challenging the high court order. Besides upholding the arrest of the minister, the high court had held as valid his subsequent remand in judicial custody by a sessions court in the money laundering case arising out of the alleged cash-for-jobs scam in the state's transport department when he was the transport minister. Balaji continues to be a minister without portfolio in the Tamil Nadu cabinet. The solicitor general had told the bench that the agency officers are entitled to make arrests. "There can't be a situation where I (ED) arrest someone only to be sent to judicial custody because the very purpose of arrest is for the purpose of investigation," he said. Justice CV Karthikeyan, who was named as a third judge by the high court to hear the habeas corpus petition of Senthil Balaji's wife, following a split verdict delivered by a division bench, had concurred with the conclusions arrived at by Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy, who had upheld Balaji's arrest. The third judge held that the accused had no right to frustrate the investigation. Justice Karthikeyan had directed the registry to place the matter before Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala to refer it to the same division bench to determine the date on which the ED could take the custody of Senthil Balaji, who has undergone a coronary bypass surgery, and to shift him from the hospital. Balaji was shifted to the Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai from a private hospital recently. In his order, Justice Karthikeyan had said, according to the complainant, he had given Rs 2.40 lakh (for securing a job in a state-run transport corporation). This was the specific offence of bribery for which an FIR was filed, after which the ED had registered the Enforcement Case Information Report (the ED's version of FIR). The ED had subsequently arrested Balaji. Either this affidavit was prepared a long time back, or, Ambedkar has not been following the Commission's hearings. Jyoti Punwani reports. Photograph: PTI Photo from Rediff.com Archives IMAGE: A protest in Mumbai, March 26, 2018, to demand action against those who instigated the violence following the Elgar Parishad in Pune on January 1, 2018. He was the main political leader to be associated with the Elgar Parishad, held in Pune's historic Shaniwarwada on December 31, 2017, on the eve of the 200th anniversary of the historic battle of Bhima Koregaon. The next day, after violence broke out near Bhima Koregaon on January 1, 2018, it was he who led the call for a state-wide protest bandh on January 3, which was heeded by all Dalit groups. Yet, it took Prakash Ambedkar five years to file his affidavit before the commission of inquiry set up to investigate the violent incidents of January 1 and January 3, 2018. Ambedkar, who filed his affidavit on Monday, July 24, had made a brief appearance before the Commission right at the start in September 2018. He had then suggested that all police officers and government officials involved in handling the incidents -- including then chief minister Devendra Fadnavis -- be summoned first, and only then, other witnesses be called. He had also submitted an application asking that Sumit Mullick, one of the two members of the Commission, be cross-examined, as he was chief secretary of the state when the incidents took place. Last year, the Commission summoned him to file his say as head of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, along with the chiefs of other political parties. However, he finally filed his affidavit only on Monday. *** Ambedkar's affidavit starts off with a brief background of the Elgar Parishad. He describes it as an attempt initiated by the late retired Justice P B Sawant, to revive the history of the Bhima Koregaon battle, and also to bring about reconciliation between the Maratha and OBC communities in Maharashtra. The two communities had become polarised after the rallies held in 2016-2017 by Marathas in support of their demand for reservation, says the affidavit. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, says his affidavit, had made soldiers of common peasants and given them self-respect. But the Peshwas brought them back under the caste hierarchy. January 1, 2018, the day when the British defeated the Peshwas in the battle of Bhima Koregaon, was the day that the 'communal and casteist' rule of the Peshwas (Peshwai), came to an end, says Ambedkar's affidavit. The organisers of the Elgar Parishad decided to celebrate it as the day when 'social justice' triumphed. It was decided to felicitate the descendants of those who fought in the Bhima Koregaon battle. This was seen as one way of bringing back social harmony. The affidavit also mentions the role of hardline Hindutvawadi groups in the events leading up to the Elgar Parishad. For one, these groups were always opposed to the battle of Bhima Koregaon, says the affidavit. Secondly, it continues, these groups have always found it easy to create a rift between Marathas and OBCs on another ground too. Marathas worship Shivaji Maharaj, his mother Jijamata and his son Sambhaji Raje as Maratha icons, without accommodating any other sections in their reverence. It thus becomes easy, says the affidavit, for Hindutvawadi organisations to create a rift between Marathas and OBCs over these historical figures. On both these aspects, the Elgar Parishad would have acted like a foil to these divisive efforts, says the affidavit. So, enraged by this, Hindutvawadi leaders Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote created another controversy -- over the history of Sambhaji Maharaj's burial. Sambhaji Raje was slaughtered on the orders of Aurangzeb, who ordered that nobody should touch his dead body and give him a burial. The Dalits believe that it was one of their own, Gobind Gopal Mahar, who dared to bury him. However, Bhide and Ekbote rejected this theory and propounded one that said that he had been buried by the Maratha Shivale family. This led to a dispute in the village of Vadhu Budruk on December 29, 2017. These are the events that formed the background of the Bhima Koregaon violence, says the affidavit. Photograph: PTI Photo from Rediff.com Archives IMAGE: Dalit groups stage a protest in Mumbai against the violence at Bhima Koregaon. *** The rest of the affidavit is spent on advice to the Commission on exactly what it should investigate. Reiterating that chief minister Fadnavis and then chief secretary Sumit Mullick be summoned, Ambedkar also asks that then Pune Rural superintendent of police Suvez Haque and then Pune commissioner of police Rashmi Shukla be summoned. While Shukla has already finished deposing before the Commission, Haque's testimony is ongoing. Ambedkar then lists the issues which the Commission should investigate. These include: Finding out which village sarpanches passed a resolution to boycott the Bhima Koregaon events and observe a bandh on January 1, 2018; who proposed such a boycott, and the role of the talati and gramsewaks there. Did the police patil and talatis of these villages inform their nearest police stations about the possibility of tension on January 1, 2018? Did the police send these reports to their seniors? Did the director general of police (intelligence) and the Pune Rural SP get information about the likelihood of any untoward incident tension on January 1, 2018? Did they act on it? Did Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote conduct a meeting in village Vadhu Budruk before January 1, 2018? What transpired there? Did the Pune Rural SP come to know? CCTV footage from the Sangli bus stand, specially of people going to Pune and Mumbai, should be studied and shown to villagers affected by the violence to check if these people were locals or outsiders, because of Ambedkar's strong suspicion that those who initiated the violence were outsiders. The affidavit points out that Sambhaji Bhide operates from Sangli. Call records of Bhide and Ekbote, against whom the first FIR of the Bhima Koregaon violence was filed, should be studied to know which villagers staying in the vicinity of Bhima Koregaon they had called in the three days before January 1. Snapshots of mobile/Internet chats of January 1 and 2 were submitted to then CM Fadnavis, who had ordered that they would be investigated. Were they investigated? The violence took place in Pune's rural areas, and no violence took place within Pune, where the Elgar Parishad was held. How then did Pune police allege that the violence was the handiwork of 'urban Naxals'? The affidavit filed by the Pune rural police in the Supreme Court which described Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide as the instigators of the violence, be presented before the Commission. Bhide was never arrested for this offence. Was there any correspondence/telephonic instructions directing that he not be arrested? Did police find anything objectionable in the funding of the Elgar Parishad? IMAGE: Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi President Prakash Ambedkar. Photograph: ANI Photo *** These points make it obvious that either this affidavit was prepared a long time back, or, Ambedkar has not been following the Commission's hearings. Apart from Rashmi Shukla having finished her deposition and Suvez Haque having been summoned, some of his other demands have already been dealt with by the Commission. The affidavit filed by Pune police in the Supreme Court which blamed Bhide and Ekbote for the violence is already part of the record of the Commission. Questions about the funding of the Elgar Parishad have also been asked of then additional commissioner of police Pune South, Ravindra Sengaonkar who was present at the Parishad. Several policemen, including the investigating officer of the Bhima Koregaon case, Shivaji Pawar, have been cross-examined at length about the official version of the Bhima Koregaon violence, that blames Maoists for having organised the Elgar Parishad and also for the violence that followed on January 1. It would be interesting to listen to Ambedkar's testimony when he takes the witness stand. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Considerable clouds this morning. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. High 82F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear. Low 58F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. You are the owner of this article. Officers of the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI), together with the SBU, are investigating the legality of MP Yuriy Aristov (Servant of the People faction) going on vacation during Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. "On July 25, 2023, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, based on the materials of the State Bureau of Investigations and information disseminated in the media, initiated criminal proceedings regarding the introduction of false information into documents for traveling abroad by the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence," the SBI said in the Telegram channel on Wednesday. According to the bureau, as part of the investigation, the SBI officers are investigating how the MP of Ukraine could be on vacation in Maldives, despite the ban on officials from traveling abroad. "In particular, the possible introduction of knowingly false information into official documents about his departure, namely, the date, purpose and countries of the trip, will be studied," the sBI said. The SBI also said: "It was established that in the middle of July 2023 the MP was in one of the hotels on the private island of Ithaafushi, Maldives." The investigation has already confirmed that in the period from June 5 to July 22, 2023, he was outside Ukraine. The MP left for Poland for three days on a business trip in order to deepen bilateral cooperation with the government of the Republic of Lithuania. "On July 10, 2023, while abroad, the deputy remotely opened a sick leave in one of the private health institutions in Kyiv until July 19, 2023 inclusive. However, false information was probably entered into the electronic health care system, since the medical examination was not actually carried out," the SBI said in the statement. According to the statement, it was established that the MP, along with his family a woman and children until July 22 was on the territory of the Republic of Maldives, in the Waldorf Astoria Maldives hotel complex. "Law enforcement officers conducted urgent searches in the house of the deputy. Among other things, passports for traveling abroad with appropriate marks and other documents were seized," the bureau said. Criminal proceedings are being investigated on the fact of forgery (Part 1 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The sanction of the article provides for restriction of freedom up to three years. Procedural guidance is exercised by the PGO. According to the SBU statement on the Telegram channel: "The security service checks the contacts of the deputy during his stay abroad. Information about the possible departure of other MPs and officials for foreign holidays during the war is also being checked. The Ukrainian intelligence service said within the criminal proceedings initiated by the Prosecutor General under Part 1 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (official forgery), an investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice. Zelenskyy: Strengthened air defense systems to be sent to areas where it is most needed On Wednesday, July 26, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conference call on defense issues. "I listened to the current reports on the supply of weapons and ammunition. There is a reinforcement for our air defense system. It will be sent to where it is most needed now," Zelenskyy said on his Telegram channel. During the meeting, the Main Intelligence Agency and the Foreign Intelligence Service reported on the activity of the enemy and his immediate plans, the SBU on the progress of the latest implementations against the enemy within the state. "Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhny briefed about offensive and defensive operations along the entire line of contact. We believe in our guys. We continue to work," the president said. The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS), in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with funding from the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) of the U.S. State Department, is implementing a project to support the population in eight regions. "The Ukrainian Red Cross Society provides walk-behind tractors, greenhouses, pumps, generators for 1,400 war-affected households and those rebuilding their farms. In total, 31 villages in eight regions of Ukraine participate in the project: Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Poltava, Kyiv, Kherson and Zaporizhia," the society said on Facebook. The program selected households that were temporarily occupied, experienced significant damage from constant shelling, or hosted large numbers of internally displaced persons. Support includes direct cash assistance and agricultural equipment: a walk-behind tractor, a greenhouse, a pump or a generator. According to the terms of the project, families could choose one of the proposed list. "We hope that the assistance provided to Ukrainian families will reduce their vulnerability and make them more self-sufficient," the society said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday visited the Kargil War Memorial here and paid tributes to soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the 1999 war. Singh laid a wreath at the memorial. He also visited the tombstones near the memorial placed in memory of the fallen soldiers. The minister will interact with Army officers and jawans before returning to New Delhi. The Indian Army had launched a fierce counterassault to push back Pakistani forces that had stealthily occupied important heights in Ladakh in 1999. Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed to mark India's victory over Pakistan. The two-day event to mark Vijay Diwas and commemorate the martyrdom of the 559 soldiers in the 1999 Kargil war kickstarted in Ladakh on Tuesday. The celebrations began at Lamochen's viewpoint where families of the fallen soldiers remembered the brave souls, who exemplified unwavering valour during the Kargil war with Pakistan. The Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi was the chief guest. It was followed by a cultural programme which was attended by Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande. Later in the day, tributes were showered on the brave soldiers at the Kargil War Memorial. During the occasion, Army Chief along with several current and former army officers were present. At Veer Bhoomi, 559 lamps, each symbolising a braveheart were lit to pay homage to the supreme sacrifice made by the soldiers in Operation Vijay. During the time, the Army chief also felicitated the families of the fallen soldiers. A special event, known as Shaurya Sandhya, was organised by the members of the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre Fusion Band in which they played an emotional rendition of patriotic songs The solemn ceremony was also attended by a number of general public and military dignitaries, Veer Naris, Veer Matas and War Heroes of Kargil. The memorable event was a tribute to the great sacrifices made by our brave soldiers in service of the Nation. Defence Min to lay wreath at War Memorial Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with the Tri-Service Chiefs will lay a wreath at Kargil War Memorial in Drass on July 26, to join the nation in commemorating the 24th anniversary of India's splendours victory over Pakistan. As per the official schedule, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who landed in Srinagar on July 25, will reach Kargil early in the morning today. After paying tributes to the brave soldier, he will address the soldiers and interact with the commanders. The UK government's sanctions aimed at Wagner have been severely inadequate, and there is a call for quicker action to capitalise on the mercenary group's present vulnerabilities, a recent report has said. United Kingdom MPs on the foreign affairs committee suggest that over the past decade, ministers have been negligent as Wagner extended its influence across Syria, Ukraine, and Africa. The committee's report, titled 'Guns for Gold: Revealing the Wagner Network,' exposes the malevolent and destabilising nature of Wagner, particularly in Africa, where it generates most of its revenue. It highlights the government's perceived complacency in failing to acknowledge and respond in a coordinated manner to the risks posed by Wagner, acting as a cunning Russian proxy. According to the report, the UK's attempts to impose sanctions on individuals and entities connected to Wagner's extensive network have been subpar compared to the efforts of the EU and US. Moreover, the UK lacks the capability to effectively monitor Wagner's activities as it undergoes transformation after Evgeny Prigozhin's coup. The report claims that the ambiguous nature of the Wagner network means that entities linked to Wagner may still have access to UK financial markets. Additionally, the government's tendency to view Wagner solely through the lens of its actions in Ukraine has hindered its ability to safeguard the international order and protect UK interests as the network continues to expand. Russia uses Wagner to 'stabilise' Africa: Report Wagner has rapidly expanded its influence across the African continent, engaging in a wide range of activities, including counter-insurgency operations, security assistance, military training, and political influence campaigns. In return for these services, Wagner primarily secures highly lucrative mineral concessions, providing a significant boost to Russia's heavily sanctioned state finances. The Kremlin seems to have realised that, despite Prigozhin's controversial reputation, it cannot afford, from a foreign policy perspective, to dismantle Wagner's network in countries such as the Central African Republic, Mali, Sudan, and Libya. As a result, Evgeny Prigozhin appears to be enjoying a relatively undisturbed presence in Belarus, and Wagner forces have shifted their focus from Ukraine to concentrate on operations in Africa. African nations, on the other hand, continue to heavily rely on the Wagner model to support and stabilize weak and vulnerable regimes within their territories. The Central African Republic (CAR) has recently made an announcement that Wagner will be responsible for providing security during the upcoming referendum on Sunday. The referendum aims to introduce constitutional changes that would allow President Touadera to pursue a third term, drawing comparisons to similar situations seen with Vladimir Putin's extended rule in Russia. This report highlights the CAR's dependence on Wagner as a clear example of 'state capture,' where a private entity holds significant control over a nation's affairs, potentially at the expense of its sovereignty and the will of its people. According to the report, the UK must adopt a clear stance when it comes to countries considering involvement with malicious Private Military Companies (PMCs) like Wagner. It should emphasize that the negative consequences of dealing with such PMCs, including instability, corruption, and a propensity for extreme violence, far outweigh any perceived advantages. The UK should communicate that cooperation with these entities may result in significant financial and diplomatic repercussions for the countries involved. Cambodia's long-serving prime minister has announced he is stepping down. What comes next? Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen is seen at the opening ceremony for the Southeast Asia Games in Phnom Penh, May 5, 2023. Three days after Cambodias highly controlled national election, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced Wednesday he will step down and hand power to his eldest son, army chief Hun Manet. Hun Sen, 70, has ruled Cambodia since 1985, making him one of the longest serving leaders in the world. During those decades, Cambodia saw an end to civil war, rapid economic growth and a steep decrease in poverty. But Hun Sens strongman rule has also been marked by extreme corruption, resource depletion, violence and political repression. The July 23 election had no viable opposition and many saw it as smoothing the way for a power transfer. Immediately before the election Hun Sen told a Chinese television station that Hun Manet could become premier within a month. Will Hun Sen retain any power after the transfer? Hun Sen will take on several powerful positions. He will become president of the Senate, president of the Supreme Council of the King, and president of the CPP. As a result, Hun Sen may well be expected to control much behind the scenes. He will also continue on as honorary president of the recently formed Cambodia Oknha Association. By heading the group of wealthy tycoons, Hun Sen is expected to also wield a potent economic tool. Why is this happening now? Hun Sen has variously promised to rule until 74, 90 and indefinitely. But in recent years he has spoken more about an eventual resignation. In 2021, he said Hun Manet would take over between 2028 and 2030. The announcement was officially endorsed by the party. Even though Hun Sen announced a weeks-long transfer timeline just before the election, many were surprised by the speed at which hes moving to implement the transition. According to Hun Sen, Hun Manet will be appointed Aug. 10 and sworn in Aug. 22. There has been speculation that the shift is related to Hun Sens health or internal party conflicts, though there has been no definitive sign that either issue is the cause. It is also understood that Hun Sen wants the transfer to happen in time for his son to attend the UN General Assembly in early September. What is clear is that Hun Sen and the CPP are attempting to prevent as little turmoil as possible when Hun Manet takes over. CPP spokesman Sok Ey San told RFA that only a few ministers will stay on when the new government is formed later this month. Who is Hun Manet? Hun Manet, 45, has been groomed for decades to take over the premiership. He was the first Cambodian to be admitted to the U.S.s elite military academy West Point and later went on to get a doctorate in economics at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. A four-star general, Hun Manet has served in Cambodias military since 1995. He was the commander of the army until stepping down recently to run as a lawmaker for Phnom Penh. What are the expectations for Hun Manets rule? Hun Sen built his public persona as an everyman partly through famously lengthy, bombastic but often funny and rough speeches. In contrast, the western-educated and mild-mannered Hun Manet carefully curates his every statement, rarely betraying his true thoughts or feelings. The effect has been to make him a sort of inkblot test for Cambodia watchers. Optimists see in Hun Manet a closeted reformist itching to step out of his fathers shadow and rescue a country teetering on the edge of pariah status. They note his academic credentials, including his 2001 masters thesis exploring the idea of land reforms in Cambodia. They also point to his seeming reluctance to be dragged into his fathers dirtier political frays. Pessimists counter that Hun Manet has never veered from his fathers stability narrative, which is a thinly veiled threat that any attempt to unseat the Hun family would be met with violence. Moreover, any attempt at meaningful reform would run up against the vested interests of the nations tycoons and military leaders. Their support has been vital in sustaining Hun Sens 38-year reign and would presumably be equally essential to his son. The truth, however, is that nobody but Hun Manet really knows for sure what he has planned. Another unknown is how much latitude Hun Sen will allow his oldest child. While he has vowed to step down, he will hardly be stepping out of politics entirely. (Additional reporting by RFA Khmer and Jack Adamovic Davies.) Edited by Jim Snyder. The longtime prime minister will step down once Sundays one-sided election is certified. This combination photo shows Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen and his son Hun Manet during election campaign rallies in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 1, 2023 and July 21, 2023 respectively. UPDATED AT 4:39 PM EST ON 7-26-2023 For years, people have talked about Prime Minister Hun Sens desire to eventually hand over power to his eldest son, the foreign-educated military general, Hun Manet. Until recently, the 70-year-old Hun Sen said he would continue as prime minister until after the next parliamentary election in 2028. But in the weeks leading up to last Sundays election, speculation grew that the change would happen much sooner. On Wednesday, Hun Sen called a news conference to say he would step down as prime minister, a position hes held since 1985. In a special broadcast on state television, he said a new Hun Manet-led government would be formed on Aug. 22, after the National Election Committee officially reports the results from Sundays election. I would like to ask for understanding from the people as I announce that I will not continue as prime minister, he said. Preliminary results show Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party winning 120 of 125 seats in the National Assembly in the July 23 vote, which included Hun Manet as a first-time candidate for parliament from Phnom Penh. The only viable opposition, the Candlelight Party, was disqualified in May on a technicality. Exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy told Radio Free Asia that announcing the handover before the NEC had even certified the election results was indecent. The Cambodian people object to nepotism, as well as the prospect of living under the grip of the Hun family forever, he said. Gripping power As recently as March, Hun Sen vowed to rule Cambodia until his death. Some people said Hun Sen is gripping power. I am accepting that, he said at a graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh. I am only defending the power that I am having there is nothing wrong with that. But last week, he drastically moved up that timetable when he told Chinas Phoenix TV that he could hand power over to the 45-year-old Hun Manet within three or four weeks of Sundays elections. That followed various promotions and appointments to government ministries in March and April that seemed to indicate that the sons and daughters of longtime officials would be assuming new leadership roles after the election. Last week, CPP spokesman Sok Ey San confirmed to Radio Free Asia that a post-election government cabinet would be 90 percent new blood, with only a few ministers staying on. Hun Sens youngest son, Hun Many, thanked his father for his years of service in a message posted on Facebook. The Kingdom of Cambodia will move forward with optimism, enthusiasm, confidence, agility and high commitment to the national cause and people, he said. Brother Net! We put our trust in you! New adviser positions for the old guard Hun Sen confirmed on Wednesday that he would remain as head of the CPP a post he previously said he would keep to remain politically involved. He also said he would serve as president of the Senate and as a member of the Supreme Council of the King. 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 Sen added on Wednesday that other aging top officials will be expected to step down from their ministry positions soon. They could possibly serve as high-level advisers or as senators, he said. He said this transition would include Interior Minister Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An and Defense Minister Tea Banh all of whom were recently promoted to vice president positions of the CPP. They will also serve as members of the Supreme Council of the King, he said. Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Edited by Mike Firn and Matt Reed. This story has been updated with background information and quotes from Sam Rainsy and Hun Many. Battered private-sector entrepreneurs say privately new 31-point guidelines are nothing but words. Construction workers work amid sections of rebar at a construction site in the central business district in Beijing, Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Chinas economic planning agency announced an initiative this week, following up on last Wednesdays 31-point Party plan, to incentivize the private sector and kickstart the economy in the second half of the year, state media reported. At a press briefing Monday, the National Development and Reform Commission claimed to have a list of more than 2,900 projects that would require a total investment of RMB 3.2 trillion (U.S.$447 billion) the commission hopes the private sector is interested. Those still wishing for a government stimulus package of the kind China has embarked upon in the past will be disappointed. Among the raft of incentivizing tidbits on offer from the NDCR was the promise that private sector investors could keep 100% of their returns, in a move the commission said would take some of the pressure off cash-strapped local governments. Last week Beijing pledged to improve conditions for businesses, which have suffered from years of strict pandemic controls and regulatory crackdowns on key sectors like technology and property. China consultancy Trivium commented in its newsletter, We doubt there are that many profitable projects for private companies to invest in. With confidence in the economic outlook weak, and investors bruised from a three-year crackdown on industries dominated by the private sector, it will take much more than this to awaken those animal spirits. According to Bloomberg, private investment in China contracted this year now comprising just 53% of overall fixed assets investment, down from a peak of 65% in May 2015. The NDRC said its aim is to maintain private investment at a reasonable level. It is the first time in decades apart from 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic that private investment has contracted in China. Commuters walk across an intersection during the evening rush hour in the central business district in Beijing, on June 13, 2023. China's economy grew 6.3% in the second quarter, missing expectations even after near-stagnant growth from a year ago. Credit: AP Photo Meanwhile, the 31-point joint statement by the Communist Party and the government last week, may have included pledges to treat private companies the same as state-owned enterprises and to consult more with entrepreneurs on policy initiatives, but they were widely received with skepticism by entrepreneurs. Writing in the New York Times, Li Yuan said, 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. The countrys economic problems are rooted in politics, the columnist wrote. 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. Open for business Chinas leadership has been repeat-button reassuring businesses that China is committed to opening up, while simultaneously sending the opposite message with its actions. China will unswervingly stick to opening up regardless of changes to the global environment, Premier Li Qiang said in March. Beijing has devoted more attention to supporting private businesses this year than at any time we can remember since the founding of the Peoples Republic, noted Trivium last week. But Bloomberg Opinion commented, Theres no escaping that China under Xi decisively abandoned the reform and opening up credo of the late Deng Xiaoping. The party has given itself an ever-bigger role in the economy, and the space for private discourse and decision-making has shrunk. Thats become crystal clear to the business world, making a return to the good old days hardly realistic no matter what Xi says now. A man rides an electric bike past residential buildings under construction in Beijing on June 5, 2023. Credit: AP Photo Foreign investors are particularly rattled by a revised anti-espionage law, which took effect on July 1, and redefines spying as the collection of information, which any business operating in China needs to do if it wants to understand the local market. It expands the definition of espionage to constitute accessing documents, data, materials or items related to national security and interests, leading Cedric Alviani of Reporters Without Borders to comment at the time that it covered, basically any type of information. Meanwhile, with private and foreign investment contracting, more than one in five young Chinese workers from 16 to 24 unemployed and local consumers holding back on spending, apparently sticking with the belt-tightening of the COVID-19 lockdown period, Chinas economy appears to be lacking confidence and running out of steam. Even the property market cant find its feet again. Home sales were down 28% in June year on year, according to the Wall Street Journal. Enter foreign investment Foreign investment built China into the economic Goliath it is today, but now its starting to quest elsewhere, in a move that is clearly frustrating for Xi Jinpings stolidly top-down leadership. China wants a return of foreign investment, reports Reuters, but foreign firms today tend to see risk where once they saw more than a billion consumers and bounteous returns. Financially battered local governments, which had to bear the vast costs of COVID-19 testing regimes while already suffering from a debt overhang after years of profligate spending on ambitious and sometimes unnecessary infrastructure projects, particularly covet foreign investment, but its increasingly difficult to sugar-coat projects sufficiently to attract to attract capital. Provinces and cities from Sichuan to Chaozhou have sent delegations across the globe to pitch and invite investors to rare symposiums, Reuters reported. Chinese policemen stand near a foreign cosmetics advertisement in Pingyao, Shanxi province, September 17, 2003. Credit: Reuters For foreign investors eyeing a more challenging regulatory environment and far less attractive terms than a decade ago, its a hard sell. The AmCham China White Paper survey released in May this year found that 32% of the groups member companies cite inconsistent regulatory interpretation and unclear laws and enforcement as a major risk. For the first time, AmCham member companies said they were less willing to invest in China, with nearly 45% of respondents saying the domestic investment environment is deteriorating. In June a European Chamber of Commerce in China report found that 64% of European companies say doing business in China has grown more difficult in the past year and 75% have reviewed their supply chain strategies over the past two years, with 24% reporting plans to at least partially onshore their supply chains into Mainland China and 12% having already shifted parts of them out of the country. Edited by Mike Firn. While regular folk have the option of government heat shelters, the city's prisoners have nowhere to get respite. Prison officers are seen in a block of cells at Stanley Prison in Hong Kong, March 2, 2017. Credit: Anthony Wallace/AFP As Hong Kong continues to swelter through a July heatwave, the authorities have opened up heat shelters across the city for people needing to cool down to avoid heatstroke. But for thousands of inmates in the city's prisons many of whom are there for taking part in the 2019 protest movement for fully democratic elections there is scant respite from the heat. As the city's Centre for Health Protection recommends that the general public "use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation," and find cooler places to seek respite from heat. "Many prisons [in Hong Kong] are located in the suburbs, where the temperature is 2C higher than in urban areas," social worker and former pro-democracy lawmaker Shiu Ka-chun told a YouTube channel run by the city's Democratic Party. "The temperatures in the cell-blocks get even higher, and the inmates get extremely hot." "They will sweat all over just from the slightest movement, and they don't feel like reading or writing letters," he said. Hot concrete boxes The hottest time for prisoners is between 6.30 and 8.30 p.m., Shiu told former Democratic Party lawmaker Emily Lau in an interview aired July 21. "The sun may have set, but the concrete buildings have absorbed all of the heat [from the day]." "Inmates often have to pour water on their bunk or on the ground before they can go to bed." According to the Hong Kong Observatory website, Very Hot Weather warnings are issued to warn people to "take all necessary protective measures against the heat." Shek Pik Prison is seen in Hong Kong, Jan. 19, 2022. Credit: Kin Cheung/AP But inmates can't just head down to the nearest air-conditioned restaurant, convenience store or one of the 19 government-run heat shelters for respite. "The heat doesn't disperse until 9.00 or 10.00 p.m.," an inmate who gave only the nickname Jess told the Democratic Party. "Some inmates just strip naked we try whatever we can to try to get cooler." "There is only a very small basin in each cell, the kind where you have to press the faucet down to get the water," he said. "We spend the whole evening standing by the toilet naked using the cup they give you for rinsing your mouth to pour water on ourselves," Jess said. "The cell looks like a public toilet, drenched in water." "We often hear other inmates yelling out and cursing about the heat ... because it really is unbearable," he said. Shiu's former prison charity Wall-fare, which disbanded after Beijing imposed a draconian national security law on Hong Kong banning public criticism of the authorities, once tried to highlight the issue of extreme temperatures in Hong Kong jails with a petition. The May 2021 petition garnered some 100,000 signatures within just 33 hours, according to reports from the news site HK01.com and the Ming Pao newspaper. According to Shiu, prison staff also suffer from extreme heat in their place of work. Thousands of protesters While the Correctional Services Department has made some attempts to improve temperatures by installing large fans and reflective paint in some facilities, it's not enough, he said. "Is this one of the ways they are punishing us for committing a crime?" Jess said. "Under that logic, they won't install air-conditioning, although the correctional system denies this." In a 2022 report on global human rights practices, the U.S. State Department mentioned "extremes of temperature" as part of "abusive" treatment of prisoners in Hong Kong. "Human rights activists raised credible concerns that some prisoners and individuals in pretrial detention were allegedly kept in solitary confinement for extended periods of time and, in some cases, were subjected to 24-hour lighting, excessively hot or cold temperatures, or other degrading conditions as punishment for sharing information with other detainees or for requesting improved conditions while in detention," the report said. The government responded that "the Correctional Services Department is committed to providing a secure, safe, humane, decent and healthy custodial environment for persons in custody," and that inmates have the right to lodge complaints through several channels. "All complaints by persons in custody will be handled in an open, fair and just manner," it said. A vehicle exits the control point for Stanley Prison in Hong Kong, March 18, 2017. Credit: Tengku Bahar/AFP Thousands of people have been jailed in Hong Kong since the 2019 protest movement, which fought against the erosion of the city's promised freedoms and demanded fully democratic elections, in a movement that the ruling Chinese Communist Party has blamed on "hostile foreign forces" seeking to foment a "color revolution" in the city. The London-based rights group Hong Kong Watch, which maintains a database of political prisoners in Hong Kong, said that "lawfare, the abuse of the law to crackdown on political opponents and democrats, has been a central part of Beijings strategy to strangle opposition in Hong Kong." "Since the protest movement started, more than 10,000 people have been arrested in protest-related cases, and over 2,300 charged," it said. "Many of them have been detained and are facing prosecution under the National Security Law and illegal-assembly rules," it said. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Deputy Commander of the Eastern Group of Troops for Strategic Communications Serhiy Cherevaty denied the information disseminated by the Russian side about the alleged loss of three settlements near Kupyansk. "We do not confirm this. The tactical line there has practically not changed," he stated in a comment to CNN on Wednesday. Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported on allegedly "successful counterattacks,"as a result of which they captured Serhiyivka (Luhansk region). Fear abounds that they were brought to breed for the export of big-cat bones. A logistics company, Air Planners Laos, posted on its Facebook page on July 21 that it had safely transported 10 adult live lions from South Africa to Laos. Wildlife conservationists have raised a concern that Laos' recent importation of ten live lions from South Africa may be used to produce and export big-cat bones, a lucrative industry in the region in recent years. More information is needed to determine what the intention is behind the shipment of these live lions. The fear is that they may face a life of suffering for cruel exploitation, said London-based World Animal Protection (WAP). WAP urged Laos and South African authorities to promptly investigate the shipment, adding that if it is discovered to be illegal, the perpetrators should be brought to justice. The groups comment came after a Vientiane-based cargo company posted on its Facebook page on July 21 that it had safely transported 10 adult live lions from South Africa into Laos. The post, accompanied by several photos, including one with a lion in a crate, was promptly deleted. The logistics company, Air Planners Laos, said it had brought five female and five male lions to a local zoo for tourist attraction. They did not respond to RFA queries for more details. On July 24, Lao officials told RFAs Lao service that the animals were brought for the newly built Tham Pha Waterfall Zoo in Pak Ngeum district, in the capital Vientiane municipality. The Lao government has issued permits to the zoo owners to import big wild animals including tigers and lions from overseas, while smaller animals would have to be acquired locally, they said. The officials added that the lions are to be used as tourist attractions and for breeding, declining to confirm whether their cubs would be exported to other countries. Conservation community shocked The conservation community was shocked, suggesting that the zoo would be used as a breeding facility to produce and export big-cat bones, according to several wildlife activists and conservation experts in Laos, who all spoke to RFA on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisal. You would not import five adult males if [you were] establishing a proper zoo. Youd most likely import two brothers and a few females. The importers want to speed breed, one conservation expert said. The cost of import, construction and upkeep of the facility is not financially feasible if it is just a zoo, especially considering that the location is away from any major tourist attractions, the expert added. The experts view was echoed by other wildlife activists who said they had seen the premises or videos of it, and that the zoo facility setup is more conducive to breeding than to seeing animals. The 2.5-square-meter (27-square-foot) dens are roughly constructed and interconnected with each other with an outside enclosure, they said, adding that the design of the cages and demographics of the imported lions indicate factory breeding purposes. Thai Navy officers and forestry officials display Laos-bound dead tigers, leopards and pangolins seized after a raid on an illegal wildlife trade on the bank of Mekong river in That Phanom district of Nakhon Phanom province, northeastern Thailand, Jan. 29, 2008. Credit: AP Another activist told RFA that it was surprising how blatantly it was shared on social media, almost like they were bragging about what theyve done. It leads me to believe that all the legal covers have been met, the activist said. Separately, an unnamed official from one of the foreign embassies in Vientiane told RFA that the diplomatic community is concerned about potential illegal wildlife trade and animal cruelty. The official said several embassies are looking into the import for additional details. Lions replace tigers for bones Laos is a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES, a global multilateral treaty protecting endangered plants and animals. However, unlike tigers, lions are not on its protected species list and their parts are easier to legally trade with proper paperwork. The commercial trade of tiger parts and derivatives is illegal, though experts say tiger breeding farms are still in business in Laos. Many are designated zoos but have never opened to the public. Southeast Asias tiger bone industry, catering to Vietnam and China markets, has flourished since it first appeared in Laos in early 2000. Tiger bones are used as ingredients in traditional Asian medicine, believed to possess healing properties. The demand led to poaching and drastic decline in tiger populations, from about 100,000 in the early 1900s to an estimated 4,500 individuals today. China has implemented stricter regulations on the trade of tiger bones since 2007, though demand is still high. Lion bones emerged as an alternative among traders in recent years. More than 8,000 captive lions in South Africa are part of a deadly supply chain, WAP said. Laos PDR plays a major role in receiving lion bone and skeleton shipments illegally exported from South Africa, and substantial evidence indicates that Laos PDR is a clearing house for lion bone products, the organization said. In Laos, tiger farms have been banned since 2016 and there are no more wild tigers in the country's forests. According to a 2018 report by the Johannesburg-based non-profit EMS Foundation, Laos is South Africas largest big cat bone importer, but mostly for Chinese and Vietnamese buyers. South African exports WAP said between 2017 and 2020, 74 live lions were legally exported from South Africa to zoos in seven countries for commercial and captive breeding purposes, with more than two-thirds going to China for commercial purposes. In June, a man about to board a flight to Vietnam was arrested at the Johannesburg Airport with five lion carcasses in his luggage. South Africa is currently reviewing its captive lion farming industry. A photo taken on July 25, 2012 shows a lion carcass at the Dinokeng Game Reserve, 50 kms north of Pretoria. Credit: AFP Activists also said Laos has ramped up the commercial breeding of wildlife legally in recent years, with a deal to provide long-tail macaques to Chinese pharmaceutical companies. The Lao parliament also recently passed a new wildlife and aquatic law that not only allows, but encourages management of farming and utilization of wildlife. Wildlife farms are nothing new in Lao PDR, but the expansion and lack of oversight is a significant issue, one expert said. Authorities lack capacity, protocol, mechanisms, or the will to inspect and monitor these farms to ensure that they adhere to the law and CITES. Translated by Sidney Khotpanya for RFA Lao service. Edited by Taejun Kang and Joshua Lipes. PM Anwars comments come after Thailands meeting with the junta and others that some in bloc viewed positively. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) walks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Perdana Putra Building complex with the Putrajaya Mosque in the background, in Putrajaya, Malaysia, July 26, 2023. Credit: Prime Ministers Office Malaysia and the Philippines on Wednesday discussed giving fellow ASEAN states more latitude in pursuing individual and informal approaches for dealing with the post-coup crisis in Myanmar. The question of how to handle the repressive and recalcitrant Burmese junta has divided the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) after member-state Thailand engaged with Myanmars military at least four times lately. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told reporters that he and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. discussed ASEAN and Myanmar at a bilateral meeting in Kuala Lumpur. We did touch on Myanmar to strengthen the five-point consensus of ASEAN, but also give some flexibility, room and space for neighboring countries to engage on an informal basis, Anwar said during a joint press conference with Marcos afterwards. Anwar added that if this were to take place it must be done without sacrificing the issues of human rights and the treatment of minorities, particularly Rohingya and other Burmese minorities in Myanmar. The Philippine president, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday afternoon for a two-day visit, did not mention Myanmar but, according to the Associated Press news agency, he said that in general ASEAN countries should be able to use bilateral means to solve problems. I think that this will be an important aspect to all the issues that ASEAN is presently facing and to all the issues that the member states are presently worrying about, AP quoted him as saying. ASEANs five-point consensus, a roadmap to restoring peace in Myanmar, has been ignored by the junta, which agreed to the plan two months after it toppled an elected government in February 2021. All along, the junta has cracked down on mass protests, killed nearly 4,000 people and arrested thousands more, according to human rights groups. Aside from barring junta representatives from its meetings, ASEAN has been widely criticized for failing to make much headway in moving Myanmar towards peace. Malaysias former foreign minister, too, panned the consensus last year, saying it needed to be thrown out and that a new, time-bound plan with enforcement mechanisms should be formulated. The Thai government, meanwhile, broke ranks with ASEAN and has engaged in talks with Myanmars military. Earlier this month, in a shock announcement, Thailands foreign minister said he met secretly in prison with Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who was jailed after the Feb. 1, 2021, military coup. The meeting, Thailand said, was approved by the Myanmar junta and the imprisoned leader. Last month, Thailand also held another meeting with Myanmars junta-appointed foreign minister, representatives of India and China, as well as from ASEAN members Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The Burmese and Thai militaries are said to be close, and the outgoing Thai PM is a former army chief. Malaysia, Singapore and ASEAN 2023 chair Indonesia skipped that meeting. The Malaysian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that its ministers prior commitments were the reason he couldnt attend. But it added that ASEANs five-point consensus remained the gold standard and bloc unity along with support for the ASEAN chair must be demonstrated. Legitimacy for junta? Anwars comments Wednesday about exploring individual member-states approaches to the Myanmar crisis, therefore, mark a change in Malaysias position. His comments also followed a joint statement from ASEAN foreign ministers this month that reflected the divide within the bloc by noting that a number of ASEAN member states viewed the Thai meeting in June as a positive development. Anwars rethink probably resulted from a realization that the situation seems to have become deadlocked, said Lee Pei May, a political expert at the International Islamic University Malaysia. When the agreed-upon solution doesnt yield the expected results, its essential to be open to exploring alternative approaches to find a resolution that benefits everyone involved, she told BenarNews. This is one of the reasons why I believe Anwar has suggested that informal engagement with the Myanmar regime could be the way forward. An informal approach gives neighboring countries and the junta more flexibility to discuss and find common ground, May said. Thus, it is up to the wisdom of each countrys leader how they want to engage with Myanmars junta, she added. But another analyst, Chong Ja Ian, of the National University of Singapore, warned of the perils of informal approaches. [T]he issue is how much legitimacy do ASEAN or its members wish to extend to the junta. Will the junta use any contact or assistance to boost their legitimacy and the legitimacy of their actions, including on human rights abuses? he told BenarNews. If there is engagement, what tangible outcomes do such engagement bring for the people of Myanmar or ASEAN? Or are they really photo opportunities for politicians? BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization. Shadow government officials say the military regime is trying to improve its dire financial situation. The introduction of a new banknote by Myanmars ruling junta has pushed up the price of gold and affected the value of the countrys currency, with shadow government officials saying the move is meant to alleviate some of the regimes financial difficulties. The State Administration Council, the official name of the junta regime that has ruled Myanmar since seizing power in a February 2021 coup, said on Sunday that it will issue a limited number of 20,000-kyat banknotes, roughly equivalent to a US$10 bill, on the last day of this month. The junta said the new banknote was designed to commemorate the completion of a Buddha statue. The bills, which feature the image of a white elephant, will be limited to a maximum of three per person when they are exchanged with old unusable banknotes of the same value. After the military-owned Myawaddy news agency announced that the junta-controlled central bank would issue the new banknotes, the shadow National Unity Government, or NUG, said the regime came up with the high-denomination notes because of the financial crisis plaguing the country. Myanmars economy went into a tailspin following the coup, as professionals walked off their jobs to join a civil disobedience movement opposed to the regime. The juntas financial mismanagement and economic sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom have curtailed some revenue streams. NUG officials also said the junta had no right to issue new banknotes because it is not an official government. Min Zayar Oo, the shadow governments deputy minister of planning, finance and investment, said the junta is issuing the banknotes because international sanctions have blocked its foreign income. When the junta faced financial difficulties due to sanctions, it started printing money, he said. Although they initially said that they would circulate only a limited number of the denomination, it is just the introductory step for their larger purpose which is to solve their financial difficulties. NUG spokesman Nay Phone Latt agreed that the junta is printing new currency because of its dire financial circumstances and said the value of the kyat would likely depreciate. We consider this currency to be printed by a terrorist organization, he said. RFA could not reach junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment. Forex havoc The move comes just after the NUG began a trial run of an online bank that uses cryptocurrency in an effort to disrupt the flow of foreign currency to banks run by the junta, including the countrys central bank. The new crypto bank was developed to prevent the junta from violating bank regulations by blocking user accounts, seizing deposits, and providing personal account data to the authorities. In the meantime, the juntas latest move has led to unstable foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in the price of gold. Following the announcement about the new banknote, the exchange rate for one U.S. dollar rose to 3,400 kyats from 3,100, landing on Tuesday at 3,300 kyats. The exchange rate for Thai baht rose to 96 kyats from about 90 kyats, while the exchange rate for Chinese yuan increased to 460 kyats from 430 kyats. Forex instability has prompted Burmese businesses that import goods from abroad to temporarily suspend transactions. A Burmese national who recently bought gold jewelry told Radio Free Asia that one tical, a unit of weight that is approximately 16.3 grams, of 23-karat gold was worth about 3.1 million kyats on July 23, but rose on Tuesday to more than 3.5 million kyats. Another Burmese citizen who visited gold shops said establishments in Yangon, the commercial capital, closed on Monday due to the instability of the price of gold, though some reopened on Tuesday. Now, 24-karat bars of gold cannot be purchased at all as a safe investment, he said. The Yangon Region Gold Entrepreneurs Association has set the price of one tical of 24-karat gold at over 2.3 million kyats more than 1 million kyats less than the actual market price. The trade group issued a statement on Monday asking merchants to refrain from business transactions that would destabilize the price of gold because of news about the new banknote. Translated by Myo Min Aung for RFA Burmese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Matt Reed. The attack follows a battle between junta troops and a local ethnic army. Myanmars military shelled a village in Shan state, killing a man and forcing most residents to flee, locals told RFA Wednesday. The local killed in Tuesdays attack on Muse townships Hseng Hkawng village was identified as 40-year-old Aik Lau by a villager who goes by the name Cherry. He was sitting outside the house and his face and back were hit when the heavy artillery shell landed and exploded, Cherry told RFA. Another house was hit and one person was injured in the thigh. The village has around 200 residents, most of whom fled after the explosion. Locals said most of the villagers are from the Taang (Palaung) ethnic group. A resident of a nearby village said there was a battle between junta troops and the Taang National Liberation Army in the township on Tuesday morning. They said troops fired a 60-millimeter heavy weapon from a bridge next to Nam Aum village, damaging some houses in Hseng Hkawng. The troops then raided Kawng Wein village, 0.8 kilometers (half a mile) from Hseng Hkawng and interrogated locals. Ta'ang National Liberation Army troops in a photograph taken on July 12, 2022. Credit: RFA The ethnic army has been active near those villages, fighting with about 200 soldiers in the last few days, and the military junta has been shelling villages since Monday, according to locals. Some shops and houses in Nam Aum village were destroyed by shelling and troops sent an attack helicopter to fire on the village on Tuesday, residents told RFA on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. RFAs calls to junta council spokesperson for Shan state, Khun Thein Maung, went unanswered Wednesday. A Taang National Liberation Army information officer, who declined to be named for security reasons, told RFA he did not know the exact situation on the ground. Fighting across Myanmar since the junta extended the state of emergency on Feb. 1, 2023 has left 383 civilians dead, according to data from the BNI-Myanmar Peace Monitor, a group that compiles data on the military conflict. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) announced on July 15 that nearly two million people have fled their homes due to armed fighting and insecurity across the country since the Feb. 1, 2021 coup. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang. Fijis prime minister has canceled an official visit to China after he tripped while looking at his mobile phone and injured his head. Addressing Fijians from his official residence while still wearing a blood-stained shirt, Sitiveni Rabuka said in a video posted online that he fell on the steps of a government building on Tuesday and hit his head against a door. Ive just come back from the hospital where I had a dressing put on my head for a small accident I had this morning, he said. I do not know whether my head hurts more than the door or the door hurts more than my head. Rabuka was due to leave on an official visit to China on Wednesday that coincides with a period of heightened rivalry between Washington and Beijing in the Pacific. Fijis relations with China have burgeoned over several decades, but have been less cordial since Rabuka was elected prime minister in December, ending 16 years of rule under Frank Bainimarama. The Pacific island countrys ties with China had particularly blossomed after Australia, New Zealand and other countries sought to punish it for Bainimaramas 2006 coup that ousted an elected government. It was Fijis fourth coup in three decades. Rabuka orchestrated two coups in the late 1980s. Rabuka has said a police cooperation agreement with China, signed in 2011 by Bainimaramas government, may not be consistent with Fijis democracy, and has put it under review. His government also elevated the status of Taiwans representation in Fiji, but reversed that step after strong protests from China, which views the democratic island as a renegade province. An update on the deferment of my trip to China due to an injury that I sustained earlier today due to a misstep at the entrance to the New Wing of Government Buildings. pic.twitter.com/SYKrRUQPHF Sitiveni Rabuka (@slrabuka) July 25, 2023 I have had to inform China that I will not be able to undertake that trip that was coming up tomorrow night, Rabuka said in the video. Im sure there will be other invitations later on. Rabuka said there would likely be speculation about the canceled trip but emphasized nothing was wrong. China, over several decades, has become a substantial source of trade, infrastructure and aid for developing Pacific island countries as it seeks to isolate Taiwan diplomatically and build its own set of global institutions. Last year, China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands, alarming the United States and its allies such as Australia. The Solomons and Kiribati switched their diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taiwan in 2019. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare visited China earlier this month and was feted by its leaders. Sogavare, in turn, heaped praise on his hosts including the visionary leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping in a public relations win for Beijing. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Tonga, Australia and New Zealand this week as Washington continues efforts to strengthen its relationships in the region. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization. Beauty salons across Afghanistan were silent as of July 26, a day after a deadline from Taliban rulers passed in another sign of the curbing of rights and freedoms of women in the impoverished country. According to a decree issued by the Taliban's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, makeup artists and hairdressers had until July 25 to close their salons. The move has sparked rare public opposition from many Afghan women, and it was not clear if any salons were not complying. The ministry has not said if it will use force to close those not following the edict. The closure of salons leaves a major hole in the economic and social lives of many Afghan women, who have seen their freedoms eroded since the Taliban militants took power in August 2021 in the wake of the withdrawal of international troops from the country. "I am not only upset because of the money I will lose, but my dreams are crushed," said Nada, a makeup artist in the capital, Kabul who opened her salon five years ago. "To me, my salon held a spiritual value. The fact that I was a helping hand for an orphaned girl when I earned money meant everything to me. Where does the Shari'a (the legal code of Islam) state that women should not work or study?" The Taliban said the salons needed to be closed because they charge exorbitant amounts of money for makeup and that some of the procedures performed, such as plucking eyebrows and adding hair extensions, are illegal. The regime also cited the high cost for the families of grooms during wedding festivities as being a reason for ordering the closure. Dozens of women took to the streets in various protests ahead of the deadline, only to see the demonstrations met by security forces use water cannons and warning shots in the air to disperse the gatherings. Roya and her mother are the owners of a beauty salon -- one of the few places where women can earn money -- they opened when they were struggling to make ends meet. Roya says the Talibans decision to close salons is part of a series of harsh restrictions their government has put in place for Afghan women and girls, which has given rise to a feeling of isolation. "No matter how much we protest, no one listens to us. Everyone is in pain and God knows it. We emptied this cupboard, I shed tears with every item I removed. she said as she cleaned out her salon. One salon owner in Kabul, who did not want to be named due to security concerns, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi that the Taliban should find an alternative income source for those who have been forced out of work and can no longer provide for their family. "The government should provide us with work. Twenty people work with me to provide for the family. Does the government have anything in mind for us? What should we do at home when we are unemployed?" The Tradespersons Union of Afghanistan has told Radio Azadi that about 12,000 beauty salons, where around 60,000 women work, will be closed as a result of the order of the Taliban government. In an interview with Tolo News private television station, Akif Mohajer, the spokesperson of the Taliban's Ministry of Good and Prohibition, said that the salons did not follow the recommendations of the ministry. Media reports say these recommendations include that beauticians should offer prayers, that women should perform ablution before putting on makeup, that every beauty salon should have a place for doing ablutions and that women should wear a hijab, or head scarf, when inside the business. Women makeup artists and beauty salon owners told Radio Azadi that most were observing those rules even though many did not receive official notice of them. Nor, they said, did the Taliban follow up or evaluate their recommendations, instead opting to head straight to the order of closing all salons. The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice of the Taliban rulers has already closed kindergartens where mostly women worked, while girls and women have been deprived of higher education. Women are no longer allowed to work in all nongovernmental and many government institutions. The measures against women have prompted the United Nations to try and intervene, with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) calling on the de facto authorities to halt the edict closing beauty salons. "UNAMA has said that this restriction on womens rights will impact negatively on the economy and contradicts support for womens entrepreneurship, and were seeking a reversal of the bans, UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said on July 24. Heather Barr, associate womens rights director at Human Rights Watch, said the situation in Afghanistan right now is "the most-serious womens rights crisis in the world. The crisis in Afghanistan is overwhelming, and Taliban abuses are deepening what was already a devastating humanitarian crisis, Barr added. YEREVAN -- The ethnic Armenian leader of the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, Arayik Harutiunian, has issued an urgent appeal to the international community, asking for immediate action to lift a de facto blockade imposed by Azerbaijan and prevent what he called "the genocide of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh." Both Armenia and separatist authorities in the enclave have said that Azerbaijan has blockaded Nagorno-Karabakh since December, resulting in shortages of food, medicine, and energy. Yerevan and international aid groups have warned that a dire humanitarian situation has been unfolding in the breakaway Azerbaijani region with convoys of food and medicine blocked. "With this urgent address I am signaling that right now the people of the Republic of Artsakh" -- ethnic Armenians' name for Nagorno-Karabakh -- "are being subjected to genocide and face a real threat of destruction and deprivation of their homeland," Harutiunian said in a video address published late on August 8. WATCH: Armenian police detained more than a dozen protesters outside a government building in Yerevan on August 8 after they demanded authorities take steps to unblock the Lachin Corridor. He said a humanitarian crisis had been created by what he described as a 240-day blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh, charging that "in a situation like this manifestation of inaction or indifference is nothing but acquiescence in the crime of genocide." Tensions escalated after Azerbaijan last month completely 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. Access was previously blocked amid a series of protests and accusations emerging from Baku. 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 that 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 on August 8 visited the site in Armenia's southern Syunik Province where a 19-truck convoy of humanitarian aid has been stranded for two weeks. "The international community must take effective personal and collective steps in order not to allow Azerbaijan to fill the history of mankind with another page of mass famine and genocide," said Harutiunian, the heavily ethnic Armenian region's de facto president. He said Stepanakert called on Armenia to "immediately submit to the UN Security Council for discussion the humanitarian disaster that has emerged as a result of Azerbaijan's blockade of the Lachin Corridor and the illegal blockade" of Nagorno-Karabakh, and he urged Yerevan to be careful in its public statements and assessments of the situation. He urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "to show moral and political responsibility and leadership, involving the entire UN system" on the issue. Baku routinely brushes aside accusations of ethnic cleansing against Karabakh Armenians. In 2020, Azerbaijan regained control of territories held by ethnic Armenian forces outside the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as a chunk of the former autonomous oblast itself. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly warned the local population to integrate into Azerbaijan or leave. The United States and the European Union have urged Azerbaijan to allow humanitarian supplies to reach Nagorno-Karabakh via the Lachin Corridor. A group of UN experts issued a statement on August 7, expressing alarm over the ongoing blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, which they said had led to a dire humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. "By lifting the blockade, the [Azerbaijani] authorities can alleviate the suffering of thousands of people in Nagorno-Karabakh and allow for the unimpeded flow of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population," the experts said. "It is essential to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of all individuals during this critical time." They also called on Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in the region to protect the corridor under the terms of the cease-fire agreement. Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry criticized the UN experts for what it described as their biased statement that it claimed had been influenced by "Armenia's manipulations." Welcome back to the China In Eurasia briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter tracking Chinas resurgent influence from Eastern Europe to Central Asia. Ive returned from a short summer hiatus in my native Canada and heres what Im following now that Ive returned to RFE/RLs newsroom in Prague. China's Missing Foreign Minister Gets Replaced Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang was suddenly replaced on July 25 by his predecessor Wang Yi in a surprise shake-up to Chinas foreign policy leadership. Finding Perspective: Qin has not been seen in public since late June and the announcement of his removal at a special session of the National Peoples Congress Standing Committee came after weeks of speculation about his fate. Qin has only been on the job for seven months and assumed the role as Chinese leader Xi Jinpings handpicked successor after serving as Chinas ambassador to Washington. No reason was provided for Qins removal, but his mysterious absence has fueled a wide array of rumors about what happened to him. Chinas Foreign Ministry cited unspecified health reasons for Qins absence from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Indonesia earlier this month, but has not commented since. Other rumors have linked his disappearance to an alleged affair with a Chinese state-run TV anchor, a severe case of COVID-19, or that he is under government investigation. Why It Matters: Like most high-level moves in Beijing, this one exists within Chinas black-box political system and his removal raises more questions than answers. What did Qin do? Is Wangs appointment long-term? Did Qin lose an internal Party battle? Did his time spent in the United States leave him vulnerable to accusations of being politically compromised by foreign intelligence? It may be some time -- if ever -- before we get some answers to those questions. But heres what we do know. Wang became Chinas top diplomat when he joined the Politburo in October and state media reports didnt mention any change to Wangs party roles, suggesting he would occupy his Politburo and Foreign Ministry positions at the same time. Some analysts have speculated that this signals that he will be a placeholder until a younger replacement can be found. Qin appears to maintain his role as state councilor, a senior government rank in the State Council, Chinas cabinet, with the State Councils website continuing to list him as a state councilor. Mentions and images of him on the Foreign Ministry's website, meanwhile, have been removed. Some have speculated this indicates that Qin is under investigation and that he has been sucked into Chinas extrajudicial interrogation system for Communist Party members who are viewed as politically suspect. Qin has been regarded as a fast-rising protege to Xi, and is said to have been pulled up through the ranks by the Chinese leader. His appointment last year as foreign minister over more experienced candidates caused some surprise among observers of elite Chinese politics. That close association with Xi makes the episode particularly intriguing, but with few details known about Qins disappearance, its difficult to figure out how exactly his removal will change things behind the scenes. Expert Corner: The Ripple Effects From Qins Disappearance Readers asked: What message does Qin Gangs absence and removal as foreign minister send to the world and does it hurt Chinese foreign policy? To find out more, I asked Sari Arho Havren, an associate fellow at Londons Royal United Services Institute: Qin Gang is not the first, and not the last, high-ranking official to go missing in China. The loud silence follows the Chinese Communist Partys pattern of secretive behavior. While he has been removed and now replaced, the longer the absence takes without a sensible explanation, the higher the chances that Qins career is finished. From Beijings perspective, however, the way Qins disappearance radiates to the outside world is a minor, if any, concern at all. Qins absence is, however, not entirely without consequences abroad. While China is facing a myriad of challenges and is trying to woo foreign investors back, a missing foreign minister does not increase confidence in Chinas conditions and stability. Instead, it further underlines the dissonance between the countrys political and business environments. Additionally, foreign ministerial level meetings have been postponed or downgraded to the vice-minister level. While Qins disappearance caused delays in diplomacy and fueled speculation, the long-term consequences are likely minimal. Once Beijing closes the case, the whole episode will quickly be forgotten as the majority of other countries have gotten used to dealing with the Communist Partys abnormal behavior. Do you have a question about Chinas growing footprint in Eurasia? Send it to me at StandishR@rferl.org or reply directly to this e-mail and Ill get it answered by leading experts and policymakers. Three More Stories From Eurasia 1. A Chinese 'Super' Observation Station A new Chinese super observation station for climate and environmental monitoring opened in Tajikistan in June, but whats behind the appearance of the station in Central Asia? I looked into it here. What You Need To Know: The station -- located in Shahritus, a town in southwestern Tajikistan near the meeting point of the country's borders with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan -- is part of a growing constellation of stations in countries along Beijings Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that are run by or partnered with Lanzhou University. Scientists from Lanzhou University say the station provides comprehensive data for dust, pollutants, and weather in key areas of Central Asia and that it can help warn about extreme weather conditions, as well as provide data about climate change. The station uses LiDAR (light, detection, and ranging) systems, which help scientists to accurately map and examine natural and manmade environments. But as Bradley Jardine, managing director of the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, told me, LiDAR systems are also a key component of smart, autonomous, and electric vehicles -- a sector where China is an emerging global leader -- and the broader network that the new station is part of is designed to allow China to refine its domestic technology. As China positions itself to become dominant in the future global automotive industry, there are a large number of state grants available for refining the technology, and research institutes like Lanzhou are on the cutting edge, Jardine said. The stations location and the Tajik governments close cooperation with Beijing have also raised questions about whether it could be used for surveillance and security purposes, especially given that China has financed, built, and in some cases helped operate surveillance and security outposts and facilities in Tajikistan. While the stations full scope is unclear, Jardine noted that stations like those in Shahritus rely on weather satellites -- possibly similar in nature to the object that had recently run errant across the United States, in reference to the high-altitude Chinese balloon that traversed Canada and the United States in February and was said by U.S. and Canadian officials to be used for espionage and surveillance. 2. What We Learned From A Virtual SCO This years annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit was held virtually and wrapped up on July 4 in comparatively muted fashion to last years meeting in Uzbekistan. But what are the key takeaways from one of Eurasias main political gatherings? The Details: Last years summit in Uzbekistan was a multiday event that garnered outsized attention around the world because it was the first time that Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in person since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Xis trip to Kazakhstan en route to the summit also marked his first foreign trip since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 summits high-profile billing led to increased momentum about the SCO becoming the premier bloc for the region and something that could eventually rival Western-led organizations, given that it is spearheaded by China and Russia and its members comprise around 40 percent of the global population. In comparison, the 2023 gathering hosted by India was virtual, a format believed to be adopted due to concerns in New Delhi over hosting Putin in person and strained relations between India and China. This tale of the two summits illustrates the contradictions inherent within the SCO. The grouping continues to extend its reach -- something seen this year with Iran becoming a new member and Belarus slated to join next year -- but the SCO is still hamstrung by a tangled web of interests and allegiances among its members, which includes includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan has assumed chairmanship of the bloc and the 2024 summit will be held in Astana, where it is likely to receive higher billing from its host government. Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has already called for closer cooperation within the SCO on energy and Astana is likely to use its chairmanship to focus on the issue. 3. The Transit Ground Trade data shows Central Asias imports from China are up sharply, with heavy truck shipments from China to Central Asia tripling this year, in another sign of how the region is becoming a growing hub for Chinese dual-use goods reaching the Russian military. What It Means: A new report by Joseph Webster for the Lowy Research Institute said that most imported goods are then re-exported to Russia. As Webster notes, such flows have helped Russia stave supply shortages, but also to avoid making tough calls on which manufactured products to prioritize in production. Importing certain industrial products could allow the Kremlin to repurpose production lines for military goods, such as tanks or armored vehicles, he wrote. According to Chinese customs data, Beijing has exported $16.6 billion worth of goods to Central Asia, up 140 percent from the same period in 2021. The report feeds into a growing body of evidence that Beijing is delivering enough militarily useful -- although non-lethal -- equipment to Russia to have a material impact on the Kremlins war on Ukraine. A new investigation from Politico found that Russian buyers have declared orders for hundreds of thousands of bulletproof vests and helmets made by Shanghai H Win, a private Chinese manufacturer. The shipments, along with those of Chinese-made drones and other products, show the loopholes being used to keep Russias war machine afloat amid sanctions. Across The Supercontinent Bye-Bye BRICS: South Africa has announced that Putin, who has an outstanding arrest warrant issued in his name by the UNs International Criminal Court (ICC), will not travel to the BRICS summit in Johannesburg next month. Partners At Sea: China and Russia wrapped up air and naval exercises in the Sea of Japan on July 23 that the Chinese Defense Ministry said were aimed at safeguarding the security of waterways. Gassed Up: According to Chinese Customs data, Uzbekistan sold nearly $204 million worth of gas to China in this years second quarter. This ranks the country as Chinas fifth largest source of gas. Content Control: Sohu, the prolific Chinese website, sparked backlash in Tajikistan after it published an article saying that the Central Asian country of nearly 9.7 million has over 800,000 widows. A claim that was not tied to any source of information or survey. After Tajik media -- including RFE/RLs Tajik Service -- reported on the claims and some user comments on Sohu, the article was then removed. No explanation has been provided, but articles regularly vanish from Chinas heavily censored Internet and there is precedent for controversial articles about Central Asia being removed after they sparked backlash in the region. One Thing To Watch Chinese stocks soared on July 25 as Beijing pledged to ramp up measures to bolster Chinas sputtering economy. The stock rebound comes after Chinas top leaders pledged to ramp up policy support to boost domestic consumption as the post-COVID rebound has been slower than expected for the Chinese economy. Xis hold on power rests on the belief that he drives prosperity for his people. Yet economic growth has been -- in relative terms for China -- muted, and local government debt remains problematic. Last week, official data showed that economic recovery in China continued to lose momentum in the April to June months, prompting urgent calls for more help from the central government. Thats all from me for now. Dont forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have. Until next time, Reid Standish If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every other Wednesday. What should have been a time of celebration of a young couple's life journey has become a time of remembrance of the death of the "Groom of Mahabad." It was one year ago that Zaniar Abubakri and his fiancee announced their engagement in a ceremony before friends and family. Videos on social media show the lovestruck 20-year-old nervously holding hands with his fiancee as they went public with their union, her face blurred by a large red heart to protect her identity. But the marriage never came to be. Abubakri was killed in the line of fire after he joined nationwide demonstrations against the country's clerical establishment last autumn. Writing on Instagram last week, Abubakri's mother, Nishtiman Ghaderpur, lamented the loss. "My dear son, dear Zaniar," Ghaderpur wrote. "Today is the day of your engagement. The anniversary of your soul becoming one with your love." Abubakri's October 27 death, like that of many of the more than 500 protesters who were killed in the state crackdown on the demonstrations that broke out last year, is shrouded in mystery. Details of the events that led to him suffering fatal wounds right before his mother's eyes are scant, and efforts to honor his legacy on his simple gravestone have been censored. But he is far from forgotten, and despite the authorities' lockdown on information relating to the deaths of protesters, the circumstances of his last day alive are being revealed. Speaking to RFE/RL's Radio Farda, a source close to the family provided a timeline of the events that led to Abubakri attending the street protest in his hometown of Mahabad, a predominantly Kurdish city in Iran's West Azerbaijan Province. Fresh out of the army, Abubakri had spent months preparing to embark on married life. But the September death of 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini just days after her arrest by Iran's morality police captured his attention. Like many in his northwestern region, Abubakri was motivated to join the protests against Amini's death, which followed her arrest in Tehran for allegedly violating the Islamic republic's requirement that women wear the hair-covering hijab. Abubakri was consumed by the protests that erupted in Amini's hometown of Saghez, some 100 kilometers to the south in the neighboring Kurdistan Province, and spread across the country. His family refused his request to join the thousands of people who gathered at a cemetery in Saghez on October 26 to commemorate 40 days since Amini's death. But news of clashes between demonstrators and security forces near the cemetery steeled his desire to join the anti-hijab protests that snowballed into one of the most sustained demonstrations against Iran's theocracy. "Isn't it a shame that one's funeral would be like this?" the family source recalled Abubakri saying as he pored over images of the gathering. "I wish I were in Mahsa's place." The killing of a young demonstrator by security forces in Mahabad that evening heightened Abubakri's insistence on joining the protests. The next afternoon, Ghaderpur finally relented, agreeing to accompany Abubakri and his 15-year-old brother, Ramyar, with the aim of protecting them from any harm, according to the source. Upon arriving in the city center, the trio encountered security forces facing off against "angry youths chanting slogans or throwing stones," the source said. Abubakri positioned himself at the front line of the demonstrations, with Ghaderpur just behind. As security forces began lobbing tear gas and firing weapons, Ghaderpur was anxiously trying to locate Ramyar when Abubakri suddenly fell to the ground with a wound to his abdomen. "That bullet hit my son's waist right from the back and came out on the other side through his stomach," Ghaderpur wrote on Instagram on July 19. "I saw with my own eyes that my dear son fell to the ground and could not move due to the pain. I was with him at that very moment." Abubakri and his mother were pulled to safety by two other demonstrators, according to the source, and Abubakri was immediately taken to the hospital. He received emergency surgery, but the attempt to save his life was unsuccessful, and hospital workers quickly advised the family to leave before security forces arrived, the source said. At least five people were killed, including Abubakri, and dozens injured in Mahabad on October 27 as the protests took a brutally violent turn when security forces opened fire and demonstrators attacked government buildings. At least two other protesters were killed in Kurdistan Province on the same day. Irans northwestern Kurdish region was the epicenter of the monthslong antiestablishment protests and the scene of some of the bloodiest state crackdowns. The Islamic republic has long been accused of suppressing and discriminating against the countrys ethnic minorities, including Kurds, which make up about 10 percent of Iran's 88 million population. While Abubakri has been listed among the victims of the antiestablishment protests, including among the more than 300 identified by Radio Farda , the circumstances of his death have not been well-documented. According to a copy of his death certificate obtained and reviewed by Radio Farda, Abubakri's death was initially attributed to a "collision with hard or sharp objects." But later in the document the cause of death was specifically identified as a "rupture of an artery due to a bullet." The source close to Abubakri's family said that the security authorities in Mahabad, as in other parts of Iran, have yet to accept responsibility for firing on protesters and "still say that they are trying to find out from where the bullets were fired." Within an hour of his death, the source said, Abubakri's body and those of others killed in the violence of October 27 were taken to Mahabad's Bagh-e Ferdous cemetery. Since the tragedy, the families of those slain in Mahabad frequently visit the cemetery to pay their respects and grieve. But Instagram posts by Ghaderpur show that even in death, attempts have been made to erase parts of her sons legacy. Passages of a poem honoring Abubakri's Kurdish ancestry mark his grave: "Dear mother, I am the martyred Kurdish fighter of my land. I am the bloodied dove of my land." At the demand of security forces, according to the source, the word "martyred" was removed from the gravestone, but the description remains in the odes left by Ghaderpur to her son on social media. "Now you have the happiness of martyrdom and I left you with a souvenir, the heirs of your martyrdom. We come and sprinkle roses on your gravestone, plant flowers, sometimes we change the red cloth of your grave and put some red roses on your stone," she wrote on Instagram last week. "When we talk about you and your memories, we empty all our oppression on the flowers," she added. "And we come to ourselves when we see that all the flowers that were scattered about each corner of your tombstone have bloomed." Written by Michael Scollon based on reporting by RFE/RL Radio Farda correspondent Hannah Kaviani Authorities in Iran are expanding their reach in their efforts to enforce compliance with the country's strict hijab law by pushing popular start-up companies to police their younger, tech-savvy employees. In recent weeks, the operations of at least three web-based companies -- the DigiKala online retailer, the Azki.com insurance company, and the Taaghche book app -- have been shut down. In each case, the closures came after the emergence of photographs showing female employees without the mandatory head scarf. The images had reportedly been posted on employees' personal social-media accounts, not by the companies themselves. But that did not prevent the authorities from going after the start-ups that until recently had been touted for their successful, cutting-edge business models. The pressure on such firms comes after Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad Mehdi Esmaili said on July 27 that action would be taken against start-up companies if their employees failed to comply with the Chastity and Hijab Law. But observers say Tehran is playing a dangerous game that threatens to further alienate the younger generation and potentially make entrepreneurs and foreign investors think twice about bringing modern businesses to the Islamic republic. The start-ups that have come under scrutiny vary in their organization, with some being private, some semi-private, and some having strong ties to the government either directly or indirectly, Amir Rashidi, the New-York-based director of Internet security and digital rights at the Miaan Group, told RFE/RL. But they all share common traits and differ from the old way of doing business in Iran, in that they employ young, educated people to deliver services to younger customers using modern technology. "The kind of culture that exists [at the companies] is usually not the kind of culture that could represent the culture of the Iranian government," Rashidi said. "Because this is the new generation. These are the techie people. These are the most connected population of Iranians, who are connected to the outside world because of the Internet, because of the job that they do, who have more opportunity to be in touch with [people] outside the country." In the wake of months of street protests that broke out last year against the Islamic dress code and the clerical establishment, hard-liners have sought to strengthen the Chastity and Hijab Law. According to new draft legislation presented by parliament late last month, fines of up to $720 can be levied against women who defy the law, along with prison sentences of up to three years. The revision of the law was prompted by the protests that began following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was arrested for an alleged hijab violation, and has been described by prominent members of the clerical establishment as necessary to preserve the Islamic republic's fundamental values. Amid a crackdown on the antiestablishment protests that resulted in at least 500 deaths since September, the authorities have disrupted Internet access multiple times and have gone after individuals who used social media to show support for the demonstrations by posting pictures of themselves without head scarves. Prominent female celebrities and athletes have been among those targeted, including three film and television actresses who were sentenced last month and diagnosed as having personality disorders after they were photographed without their hijabs. On July 23, the pressure on start-ups began with the suspension of DigiKala's business. And just a day before parliament published the text of the new Chastity and Hijab bill, and hours after Esmailis warning to start-ups, a legal case was filed on July 27 against the book retailer Taaghche, along with similar actions against Azki.com. The shutdown of the companies had an immediate effect, with customers expressing dismay at being cut off from purchasing books, products, and services online, and business associations warning that the action would harm efforts to develop the business sector. Since then, Azki.com and Taaghche have been allowed to resume operations after releasing public commitments that they and their employees would adhere to the Chastity and Hijab Law. The situation at DigiKala, often described as Iran's Amazon online retailer, remains unclear. On August 2, a post on the company's website said that the "violation" depicted in a photograph posted on the personal site of one of its employees "was not approved by the company's management." DigiKala, the statement continued, "always considers itself obligated to comply with all national laws" and the company hoped that by being allowed to resume operations it "can play a more substantial role in better serving the people and economy of the Islamic republic." Then, within hours, the statement was inexplicably removed, and the company's offices remain sealed and its business suspended. In its effort to exert control over the start-ups, which have been lauded as examples of Iran's ability to successfully launch modern companies on its own despite the hurdle of international sanctions, Tehran is essentially forcing them to police their own employees. But the approach has been met with warnings by the Association of Emerging Businesses of Iran, which following Azki.com's closure said that such suspensions presented a "big and crisis-causing obstacle" to the development of the private sector. Rashidi expressed skepticism that "using people against people" would work, both at the societal and business level. He says that in the absence of digital rights and the recent emphasis on compliance with the Chastity and Hijab Law, the government will be able to catch offenders more easily and to fine and even arrest them. But in the end, he said, "it's going to create more tension and challenges." And outside investors and partners of Iranian companies are likely to take note as well, Rashidi said. "Some of these companies have investors from outside Iran," he said. "And this definitely will affect those companies, because they don't want to be seen internationally as a supporter of censorship." CCTV: Global South has been an international buzzword lately. We saw that Director Wang Yi put forward Chinas proposal on greater Global South cooperation at a BRICS meeting. Do you have more to share on this? Mao Ning: The Global South is the family of emerging markets and developing countries. While attending the Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in South Africa, Director Wang Yi put forward a four-point proposal on strengthening Global South cooperation. The proposal calls for joint efforts to end conflicts and rebuild peace, to promote development through revitalization, to seek progress with openness and inclusiveness, and to pursue cooperation in solidarity. Wang Yi stressed that independence is the political hallmark of the Global South, development and revitalization its historical mission, and justice its unyielding pursuit. Global South countries need to join hands and contribute their share to world peace and common development. China is a natural member of the Global South and will always be part of the developing world. We stand ready to work with emerging markets and fellow developing countries to act on the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and forge a human community with a shared future. Global Times: Today, the Wuhan Municipal Emergency Management Bureau issued a public statement and the Wuhan Public Security Bureau put up a bulletin. According to them, the Wuhan Earthquake Monitoring Center suffered a cyberattack, which was detected by Chinas National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center and Chinese company 360. Global Times reported that preliminary evidence indicates that the cyberattack had come from the US. What is your comment? Mao Ning: According to the statements from relevant Chinese agencies, a hacker group with overseas government background launched a cyberattack on the Wuhan Earthquake Monitoring Center, which is a serious threat to Chinas national security. We condemn the irresponsible attack. China will do what is necessary to safeguard our cybersecurity. China Daily: Lately, US officials, including National Security Advisor, Secretary of State, Secretary of Commerce and spokesperson for the White House National Security Council have commented on the so-called Chinese cyberattacks against the US. Officials from the US National Security Agency even said that espionage is what nation-states do. Are the statements released today by relevant Chinese agencies a response to US remarks? Mao Ning: The statements from China are objective and professional. They simply stated a fact. This is inherently different from the accusation and smear against China from the US. The US government is engaged in malicious cyber operations against not just China but countries around the world, while blaming China for so-called hacking attacks. This is textbook double standards and political manipulation. Cybersecurity is a common challenge. By politicizing and weaponizing cybersecurity issues, the US is disrupting the global effort of jointly addressing the challenge through dialogue and cooperation and hampering the mutual trust among countries. The US needs to immediately stop its wrongdoing and work with the rest of the world to make common rules through dialogue and cooperation and abide by these rules, and safeguard peace, security and stability in cyberspace with a constructive and pragmatic attitude. CRI: It is reported that Kim Jong-un, general secretary of the Workers Party of Korea (WPK) and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, visited the cemetery of martyrs of the Chinese Peoples Volunteers (CPV) in Hoechang County and presented a wreath before the grave of Mao Anying. Do you have any comment? Mao Ning: This year marks the 70th anniversary of the armistice of the Korean War. On the upcoming occasion of the 70th anniversary, the DPRKs top leader Kim Jong-un visited the cemetery of martyrs of the CPV in Hoechang and paid high tribute to the CPV martyrs, which shows that the party, government and people of the DPRK deeply cherish the formidable feats of the CPV and that China and the DPRK are carrying forward the traditional friendship in the new historical period. China and the DPRK are friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. Consolidating and growing bilateral relations serves the common interests of both sides and is conducive to peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the region. Guided by the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries and in accordance with the requirements of the new era and the aspiration of the two peoples, China stands ready to work with the DPRK to strive for new and greater progress of China-DPRK relations. The Paper: Renowned Japanese writer Seiichi Morimura passed away aged 90 years old on July 24. He was the author of many bestsellers, including the reportage The Devils Gluttony that exposed the crimes of the Japanese army Unit 731 which was part of the forces that invaded China. Whats your comment? Mao Ning: We mourn for the passing of Mr. Seiichi Morimura and extend our sympathies to his family. Mr. Morimura was a renowned Japanese writer with a sense of justice. Many of his works are about upholding justice and human conscience. His reportage The Devils Gluttony, in particular, gave an in-depth account of Japans crimes of germ warfare against China. We commend the courage of those with insights in Japan who faced up to and exposed historical truth. Japan needs to draw serious lessons from the history of its militarist aggression and take effective steps to get rid of its toxic legacy. Shenzhen TV: A high-level international forum on mangrove protection opened this morning in Shenzhen. Do you have information on that? What outcomes can be expected from the forum? Mao Ning: A high-level international forum on mangrove protection opened today in Shenzhen. The forum aims to galvanize global consensus and efforts for mangrove protection. A joint statement was adopted this morning. It encourages governments to incorporate the protection and sustainable use of mangroves into national plans to achieve strong ecological, economic and social benefits. A special fund was launched to improve mangrove protection worldwide. The forum is an important step implementing the outcomes of the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP14) held last November and Chinas recent national conference on ecological and environmental protection. It fully demonstrates Chinas commitment to advancing international cooperation on mangrove protection and building a clean and beautiful world. Beijing Youth Daily: It was reported that Fijis Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has canceled his plan to visit China due to an injury. What is your comment? Mao Ning: The Fijian side has informed China that Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has to postpone his visit to China due to an injury. We understand and respect the decision. We extend our sympathy and wish him a speedy recovery. We will stay in touch with Fiji on matters regarding his visit. Up to 24 school bomb shelters to be repaired in 25 communities of Ukraine under DECIDE project Education and Science Ministry Within the framework of the Swiss-Ukrainian project DECIDE, up to 25 communities will be selected for the equipment of up to 24 bomb shelters with an area of up to 100 square meters and 500 square meters at local schools, the press service of the Education and Science Ministry of Ukraine has said. "Yesterday, a press conference was held at which the communities were announced that will take part in the selection of the DECIDE project initiative to restore schools damaged during the hostilities. Based on the results of the selection, DECIDE will select up to 25 territorial communities to equip up to 15 bomb shelters with a total area of up to 100 square meters and nine bomb shelters with an area of up to 500 square meters at local schools," the ministry said on the website on Wednesday. In particular, school bomb shelters will be repaired in up to 15 communities in Chernihiv region, up to five territorial communities in Odesa region and up to five territorial communities in Poltava region. The press service of the ministry recalled that CHF 4.3 million, which is approximately UAH 170 million, were allocated for this initiative. Also, these funds will be spent on the equipment of bomb shelters in 25 schools and repairs of another school in Chernihiv and a local inclusive resource center in Borodianka, Kyiv region. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, more than 3,500 educational institutions were damaged, of which 337 were completely destroyed. "Because of air raid alerts, children have to stay in bomb shelters, and given that the available shelters can accommodate only approximately 56% of the participants in the educational process, many Ukrainian children are deprived of access to quality education," the ministry said. "All Ukrainian children must receive education. Therefore, today the Education and Science Ministry is consolidating the efforts of international partners, all those who are ready to participate in this difficult but rewarding work restoring damaged and destroyed educational institutions, building and equipping safe shelters in schools so that every child has access to quality and safe education. We are grateful to Switzerland and all other partners who are ready to join in getting Ukrainian children back to school," Education and Science Minister of Ukraine Oksen Lisovyi said. ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- The high-profile trial of a suspect allegedly involved in the killing of a 4-year-old child during unrest in Kazakhstan last year that claimed at least 238 lives has started in the Central Asian nation's largest city, Almaty. Aikorkem Meldekhan was shot dead in Almaty -- most likely by military personnel according to official investigations -- when she and other members of her family were in a car on their way to a grocery store on January 7, 2022. The vehicle was sprayed with at least 20 bullets, also wounding Aikorkem's 15-year-old sister. A forensic investigation concluded that the bullets were shot from firearms used by the military. The defendant in the case, a military serviceman, Aidos Zhuman, pleaded not guilty to the charge of abuse of power with the use of firearms that led to the death of a child, as the trial started on July 26 at a military court. If found guilty, Zhuman may face up to seven years in prison. Lawyers of Meldekhan's family have insisted that the case should be sent back for additional investigation and that the charge be changed from abuse of power to murder of a minor and attempted murder. They also want other military personnel involved in the deadly shooting brought to justice. The girl's family also requested that probes be launched against investigators and prosecutors who initially closed the case. Hundreds of people are believed to have been killed by Kazakh security forces during a brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters in January 2022. WATCH: RFE/RL reports on the unrest in Kazakhstan in January 2022 With the country in the throes of unrest, President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev gave police and military troops the controversial order to "shoot to kill without warning." He justified the order by saying "20,000 extremists trained in foreign terrorist camps" had seized Almaty airport and other objects. No evidence of foreign-trained demonstrators was ever presented. The order sparked an outcry and Aikorkem's picture turned into an image symbolizing the victims of the crackdown, many of whom were killed -- some by torture -- by police, security forces, and military personnel, including troops of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization, whom Toqaev invited into the country "to restore law and order." In May 2022, a mural with Aikorkem's face and the question: "Sirs, which of you shot me?"appeared on a building in central Almaty, but officials quickly painted over it. Meanwhile, the Committee of National Security has pressured Aikorkem's father, Aidos Meldekhan, to refrain from talking to journalists or from making public statements about his family's ordeal. Fearing for the safety of his family, Meldekhan says he sent them to an unspecified country. Kazakh authorities have not identified all victims of the deadly developments from last year's protests, which many in Kazakhstan now call Qandy Qantar (Bloody January). Kazakh authorities have said that 238 people were killed across the country during the unrest, including six people tortured to death while in police custody. Human rights groups have demanded a thorough international investigation of the violence, providing evidence proving that peaceful demonstrators and others who had nothing to do with the protests were among those killed by law enforcement and military personnel. Kazakh officials have rejected calls for international investigation. Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu has announced that Moldova is drastically reducing the number of accredited Russian diplomats allowed into the country. Popescu, who made the announcement at the start of a government meeting on July 26, said the move will result in fewer "individuals to destabilize the country." He added that for decades Moldova has been "the target of quite hostile types of activities and policies on the part of the Russian Federation," with some of those activities carried out through the embassy. "It's very important that diplomatic missions focus on developing good relations between countries," Popescu said. "Or, since a sizeable number of diplomats of a country are focused on efforts to destabilize our state...we decided together with the political leadership to limit the number of accredited Russian Federation diplomats so that a smaller number of destabilizing individuals remain here." Government spokesman Daniel Voda said the number of Russian diplomats will be reduced by some 75 percent -- to 10 from 37 -- and the number of technical personnel to 15 from 34. Russia must comply with the decision by August 15, the Foreign Ministry said. Since Moldova gained independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991, Moscow has been continuously holding considerable sway in the country. Russia still keeps more than 1,000 troops in Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniester, ostensibly as peacekeepers after Chisinau and Russia-backed separatists fought a short but bloody war in 1992 that was curbed by Moscow's intervention on the side of the insurgents. The small country of 2.6 million has received thousands of Ukrainian refugees and initially voiced fears of a potential Russian invasion aided by the troops stationed in Transdniester. Russia's Ambassador to Moldova Oleg Vasnetsov was summoned on July 25 to the Moldovan Foreign Ministry following a media investigation that found that there were an "excessive" number of antennas on the roof of the embassy building. The investigation by The Insider and Jurnal TV found that there are many antennas capable of receiving various electronic signals mounted on the embassy roof and identified individuals who operate the antennas and who are reported to have links with Russian intelligence. Vasnetsov argued that the antennas were installed during the construction of the embassy in the late 1990s when phone networks and the Internet were of poor quality in Moldova. "This so-called espionage scandal is just an excuse to implement a decision already made some time ago to reduce the number of diplomatic staff," Vasnetsov said after the meeting. "In our opinion, this move seriously undermines the dialogue between our countries and is not in the spirit of friendly relations." Since beating Moscow-backed incumbent Igor Dodon in November 2020, U.S.-educated President Maia Sandu has firmly steered Moldova toward the West and last year gained an invitation for her country to open negotiations for European Union membership. With reporting by nordnews.md NATO allies and Ukraine on July 26 condemned Russia's decision to withdraw from the Black Sea grain deal and what they said were Russia's deliberate attempts to stop Ukraine's agricultural exports. In a statement issued after a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council in Brussels, NATO said the allies also condemned Russia's recent missile attacks on Odesa, Mykolayiv, and other port cities, including Moscow's "cynical" drone attack on the Ukrainian grain-storage facility in the Danube port city of Reni, which is very close to the border with NATO-member Romania. "Russia continues to show utter disrespect for international law and for the people worldwide who depend on Ukrainian grain," NATO Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Geoana said in the statement. "We stand in solidarity with our Black Sea Allies, we will continue to protect one another, and we will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes." 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. In addition, NATO allies said they would step up surveillance in the Black Sea region, including with maritime patrol aircraft and drones. The British Defense Ministry said earlier that Russia may be preparing a blockade of Ukraine in the Black Sea. "Russia's Black Sea Fleet has altered its posture since Russia pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, in preparedness to enforce a blockade on Ukraine," it said in its daily intelligence update. "The modern corvette Sergei Kotov has deployed to the southern Black Sea, patrolling the shipping lane between the Bosphorus and Odesa. There is a realistic possibility that it will form part of a task group to intercept commercial vessels Russia believes are heading to Ukraine," it said. The NATO-Ukraine Council serves as a platform for exchanges during crisis situations and aims to foster closer cooperation until Ukraine can fulfil conditions for NATO membership. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy requested the meeting in response to Russia's decision last week to suspend its participation in the agreement on the safe export of Ukrainian grain through Black Sea ports. The deal expired on July 17 after Russia quit in a move the United Nations said would "strike a blow to people in need everywhere." Moscow said its reason for quitting the deal was that its demands to improve the exports of its grain and fertilizer were not met. Russia also said that ships travelling to Ukraine's Black Sea ports would be seen as possibly carrying military cargoes. The NATO statement said the allies noted that the warning "has created new risks for miscalculation and escalation, as well as serious impediments to freedom of navigation." Zelenskiy welcomed the council's "lear and unequivocal condemnation" of Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal. "Established only two weeks ago in Vilnius, the Council has already proved to be an effective mechanism for crisis consultations," Zelenskiy said on Twitter, referring to the NATO summit in Lithuania earlier this month. Ukraine will "continue to fulfil its obligations in providing global food security.... We stay united with the Alliance as we are moving along the path towards our NATO membership," Zelenskiy said. Ukraine's mission to NATO also issued a statement after the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting. It said the allies emphasized that Russia alone was responsible for the food-security crisis in the world, and the use of food as a weapon is unacceptable. The NATO allies "also expressed their readiness, both individually and within the alliance, to contribute to the establishment of alternative ways of ensuring the export of Ukrainian grain, in particular, using the possibilities of railway transportation and the capacities of the ports of individual NATO member states." Zelenskiy spoke earlier with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak about how to ensure the flow of Ukrainian grain to international markets amid fresh air strikes by Russia on the port city of Odesa and the capital, Kyiv. "First and foremost, we talked about protecting our southern regions, in particular Odesa, the normal life of people and the work of our ports," he said in the video. "Rishi and I discussed possible steps and the possible number of air-defense batteries. The United Kingdom can become the leader whose assistance with air defense systems will guarantee real security." Sunak said he made it clear during the call with Zelenskiy that any efforts by Russia to prevent grain from leaving Ukraine would be "completely unacceptable." Meanwhile, Russia said on July 26 it will not speak at a UN Security Council meeting on the grain deal, citing Britian's decision to block Moscow-aligned Orthodox Bishop Gedeon (aka Yuriy Kharon) from testifying at a different Security Council meeting on Kyiv's efforts to get rid of pro-Moscow Orthodox clerics. In 2019, Kyiv stripped Gedeon of Ukrainian citizenship and deported him to Moscow. Russia fired a barrage of missiles at Ukraine as the council met. Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said that Russian missiles in the Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions were shot down late on July 26. An air-raid alert was announced for the entire country around 6 p.m. Kyiv time after the air force reported the launch of cruise missiles from 12 Russian bombers in the Caspian Sea region. Ihnat said Russian troops fired missiles, probably Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic missiles, as well as ballistic missiles. "Regarding the work of air defense, both antiaircraft units and fighters worked," Ihnat said on Ukrainian television, adding that there was information on the downing of cruise missiles in the Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions. The Ukrainian Air Force said it had intercepted and destroyed 36 cruise missiles fired by Russia during the wave of attacks. It said Ukrainian forces intercepted three Kalibr missiles in the afternoon, and 33 X-101 and X-555 missiles in the early evening. Another Russian strike in the evening targeted the Khmelnytskiy region in western Ukraine. Information about that strike by MiG-31s that launched four hypersonic Kinzhal missiles was being "clarified," it said. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, the governor said on Telegram that the debris of a downed Russian missile caused a fire that was brought under control without causing any casualties. On the battlefield, Ukrainian defenders over the past 24 hours fought off numerous Russian attacks in Kharkiv while continuing their incremental push in the southern region of Zaporizhzhya, the General Staff of the Ukrainian military said in its daily report on July 26. "In the Kupyansk direction [of the Kharkiv region], our soldiers are firmly holding the defense," the military said. "At the same time, Ukrainian forces continue to conduct an offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdyansk directions [in Zaporizhzhya]," it said, adding that in total, Ukrainian forces fought 26 close combat battles in the past day. Russian forces shelled and launched air strikes on more than 30 settlements in Zaporizhzhya and the Kherson region in the south, the military said. Meanwhile, Pavlo Kyrykenko, the governor of the Donetsk region, said a 12-year-old girl died after being wounded in a Russian attack on a river bank in Kostyantynivka, raising the number of those killed to three. Another child, a 10-year-old boy, was among those killed in the Russian attack on July 24 that Kyrylenko said used cluster munitions. Several other children who were on the river bank were wounded. With reporting by Reuters and AFP Officials in Tajikistan have taken over several major properties, including a hotel, a lycee, and a city park that are linked to the influential spiritual leader Aga Khan in the country's restive Gorno-Badakhshan region. Prosecutors this month sought to appropriate a land plot in the provincial capital, Khorugh, where a Central Asia University campus funded by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is located. The land was purchased by the AKDN in the late 1990s, but officials now say the sales were illegal. The AKDN is a private development agency funded by the Aga Khan, the imam of the Ismaili Shi'ite community. The majority of Gorno-Badakhshan's some 250,000 people identify as Ismailis. The nationalization of the AKDN properties in Gorno-Badakhshan comes amid a crackdown in the remote, autonomous region that intensified in the wake of anti-government protests there in May 2022. According to Tajik authorities, at least 10 people were killed, and 27 others were injured on both sides during clashes between protesters and security forces. Local activists, however, say security forces killed more than 50 people, ranging from unofficial local leaders to ordinary protesters. Dozens of people in Gorno-Badakhshan -- including activists, journalists, and community leaders -- have since been arrested in connection with the protests, with many receiving lengthy prison sentences. Soon after the protests were dispersed by security forces, authorities nationalized a hotel -- the Khorug Serena Inn -- that was built by the AKDN in Khorugh's picturesque Tem area. The government went on to nationalize a recreational park in Khorugh in August. The AKDN had reportedly invested about $4 million in the remaking of the park between 2004 and 2005. Speaking on condition of anonymity, sources close to the matter in Khorugh said the Aga Khan Medical Center was to be targeted next. The $25 million facility opened in 2018. Last month, the government suspended the license of the Aga Khan Lycee that was established in Khorugh in September 1998. It will be renamed the State Lycee for Gifted Students and operate under the auspices of the Education Ministry. Tajik authorities haven't publicly commented on the closure of the AKDN entities. There have been no official statements by the AKDN. RFE/RL's Tajik Service contacted government officials but didn't receive a response to its queries. AKDN representatives in Khorugh declined to comment. Dushanbe has struggled to assert control in Gorno-Badakhshan, where so-called informal local leaders enjoy more influence than government officials appointed by the central government. Recurrent Protests The region has been the scene of many anti-government protests that are met harshly by security forces over the years. Protest rallies are rare in the rest of the strictly controlled Central Asian nation where dissent is not tolerated. Dozens of people were killed and wounded in Gorno-Badakhshan in 2012 in a clash between government forces and local militants sparked by the killing of a security official. In 2014, at least three people were killed and several buildings set on fire in Khorugh in fighting between locals and security forces. A new wave of protests erupted in Khorugh in November 2021 with up to 5,000 people attending daily rallies, according to local residents. At least one person was killed and several wounded in the protests that were sparked by the fatal shooting of a local man by police. The four-day demonstration ended after negotiations between government officials and representatives of the protesters. The government agreed to protesters' demands that included dismantling police checkpoints and not opening criminal probes against the protest organizers. But it launched a campaign against the informal leaders and other influential figures in the region -- including those who had left the country. 'Uneasy Relationship' A longstanding mutual distrust between the government in Dushanbe and the people of Gorno-Badakhshan "is more palpable now than ever," a local political observer told RFE/RL's Tajik Service. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the Khorugh native reiterated a relatively widespread sentiment that Dushanbe remains cautious of possible separatist ideas as well as the local population's loyalty to the Aga Khan. The majority of people in the rest of Tajikistan adhere to Sunni Islam. Most of the people living in Gorno-Badakhshan, who are also called Pamiris, have their own local languages. "Suspicions among government officials toward the Aga Khan organizations have particularly deepened since the 2022 protests. Some officials even seem to believe these agencies provide financial backing to those who nurture separatist ideas, but this is a baseless suspicion," the expert said. "The Aga Khan and his agencies don't need or seek instability here." Edward Lemon, a Central Asia expert at Texas A&M University, says that "while the Aga Khan is their spiritual leader and Pamiris do have their own languages and religion, there is no viable pathway to independence or desire to be formally independent." "What Pamiris are seeking is their right to live a dignified life autonomously from government interference and repression," he told RFE/RL. "But the government will not allow this." Lemon described the relationship between the Aga Khan and the Tajik government as "uneasy." Authorities in Tajikistan have never publicly alluded to any mistrust toward the AKDN presence in the country. In the early 2000s, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon maintained what seemed to be a cordial relationship with the current Aga Khan -- Shah Karim al-Husseini -- who visited Tajikistan several times. The Aga Khan, 86, last traveled to Tajikistan in 2012. The AKDN first launched its projects in Tajikistan in the 1990s, providing humanitarian assistance to the country amid civil war. The AKDN expanded its operation to other spheres, including education, finance, and health care, employing some 3,500 people across the country at its peak. It's not known how many jobs were affected by the recent appropriation of the agency's properties. Written and reported by Farangis Najibullah with additional reporting by RFE/RL Tajik Service correspondent Mirzonabi Kholiqzod Ukrainian military officials on August 9 cited more than 30 frontline clashes amid counteroffensive operations in the past 24 hours, while Russia blamed Kyiv for what it said was a twin drone attack targeting Moscow that it "thwarted" with no casualties or damage to the capital. The Ukrainian military's General Staff said enemy air strikes had struck more than 15 settlements in the southern area around Zaporizhzhya, a focus of the two-month-old Ukrainian counteroffensive, and Russian shelling battered 10 settlements and the city of Kherson. 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. It claimed its defenses in the eastern Donetsk region were "firmly holding" in the area of Bakhmut and had repelled attacks but that Russian shelling had "affected" more than 15 settlements there. The Ukrainian military also claimed "successful combat operations" had "increased significantly" the losses among Russian units, particularly around the Svativskiy and Kreminskiy areas of Luhansk. The chairman of the Dnipropetrovsk regional council, in central Ukraine, Serhiy Lysak, said that an 18-year-old man was killed and three others injured by Russian shelling of the city of Nikopol overnight. RFE/RL cannot confirm accounts by either side in areas of the heaviest fighting. Russian officials meanwhile claimed to have safely defeated an overnight attack by unmanned drones in the Moscow region that they blamed on Kyiv. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin and Russia's Defense Ministry said early on August 9 that air-defense forces had shot down two drones. "There was an attempt to fly over the city by two combat drones," Sobyanin said via Telegram early on August 9. "Both shot down by air defense. One in the Domodedovo area, the second in the Minsk highway area." He said emergency responders were at the scenes. Later, the Russian Defense Ministry said forces had "thwarted" what it called "an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack by unmanned vehicles," adding "there were no casualties or damage." Kyiv, which has avoided confirming possible attacks on Russian territory since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began 17 months ago, did not initially respond to the accusation. Late on August 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy raised the death toll to nine, with 82 more injured, from a twin missile attack by Russia on the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk a day earlier. He said the second missile struck after the rescue operation was under way following the first strike signaled "a conscious decision of terrorists to cause the most pain, the most damage" and vowed that "Russia will bear the maximum responsibility for this." Regional officials said the Pokrovsk attack damaged residential and administrative buildings, a hotel, catering establishments, and shops. The U.S.-based Institute of War (ISW) said in one of its regular assessments of the fighting on August 8 that Ukrainian forces "appear to have conducted a limited raid across the [Dnieper] River and landed on the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast." It cited information from Russian military bloggers. The ISW said, "it remains unclear whether Ukrainian troops have established an enduring presence on the east bank." Such a move could signal a probing effort or a possible advance against stiff Russian defenses in a key strategic area that is part of the focus of the Ukrainian counteroffensive to oust Russian forces from areas occupied since the start of the full-scale invasion in February or the smaller-scale invasion in 2014. Serhiy Kuzmin, a representative of Ukraine's operational and strategic troops in the southern town of Tavria, told Ukrainian television on August 8 that Ukrainian forces there had entered the first line of defense of the Russian Army. The air defense forces shot down two Kalibr cruise missiles in Vinnytsia region on Wednesday, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. "At around 13:00 on July 26, 2023, the enemy mounted an attack from the Black Sea waters using Kalibr cruise missiles. Reportedly, the missiles were fired from a Russian submarine," it said on the Telegram channel. The enemy missiles entered the Ukrainian airspace from the south-eastern direction and changed their direction along the route. Both missiles were downed in Vinnytsia region. Elizabeth Sherman was born on Park Avenue West just a couple blocks off Central Park, so her playground growing up was the public square, in front of her fathers office. At that point in Mansfields history1857the park was only newly established as a green space, so she got to watch the young grass become established even as she was sprouting too. She had a famous uncle down the street who was a United States Senator, and another uncle in the army who was a famous war hero. She was the youngest of seven kids in the family, and was used to being lost in the shuffle, and, in a world among all those giant relatives, she was generally overlooked. Her life, however, was not destined to remain obscure. Her life, in fact, became so fabulous that the evidence of her today, more than a century later, is valuable enough to be kept in locked safes. Her countenance is minted in gold and admired around the world. The political name Lizzie Shermans father was an attorney in town and then, once her famous uncle the Senator got power in the nations Capitol, her father was appointed as a Federal judge of Northern Ohio. And then, once it seemed that the common Mansfield Shermans were about to sit at the table with the famous Washington Shermans, Lizzies mother started brokering a suitably famous marriage for her youngest daughter. Lizzie was, literally, the bartered bride. The famous uncles struck a deal with their political enemy to marry her to a widowed Senator from Pennsylvania, who happened to be one of the richest men in America. The rich Senator was not her first choice, or her choice at all. He came with his own spoiled, mean children who resented Lizzie; and biographers always refer to their union as a loveless marriage. Her disappointing love life was not without its compensating benefits though, and in her new position at the pinnacle of the social pyramid, Lizzies life blossomed in the company of the most brilliant, talented, and interesting people of her era. A gallery of artists One of her best friends was the American author Edith Wharton, whose novels of high society characters in frustrating love triangles sounds very much like the life of Elizabeth Sherman Cameron and her lifelong paramour, Henry Adams. Adams, the American novelist and historian, was descended of two Presidents and wealthy even before he launched his writing career. He roamed the world pining for Lizzie, and wrote of her as a character in two of his novels. From her salons in Washington and Paris, Lizzie served as hostess to politicians and leaders of the world, and because of her role as wealthy socialite, literally all doors were open to her. She was presented to royalty in Europe, including Queen Victoria; and, on occasion, shared carriages with the likes of Andrew Carnegie, Teddy Roosevelt and King Leopold of Belgium. John Hay, the US Secretary of State, called her the most beautiful woman in Washington, and artists agreed. She knew and regularly conversed with all the greatest portrait artists of her generation, yet most of them declined to paint her because they said what made her so remarkably stunning was the motion of her faceher moods, her conversant attentions, her glances and storytelling eyesand these mercurial qualities could never adequately be captured in an image that remained immobile on the canvas. There was one sculptor however, who had a crush on Lizzie, and as he became world famous, he put her face into the public imagination for all timeor as long as bronze and gold last. Carved into time Augustus Saint-Guadens was an American sculptor living in Paris, whose studio was not far from Lizzies Rue du Bois de Bologne house; and in his infatuation with her, he studied her face whenever he could. When he was commissioned to create a public monument to honor Lizzies famous war hero uncle, St. Gaudens chose to depict the man riding a horse led by the allegorical figure of Victory. The statue was many years in the making, with several version and variations along the way, but when it was completed there was no question in the minds of Lizzies friends as to whose face the huge Victory wore. St. Gaudens always said he believed the face of Victory could not be one particular, individual person, but those in Paris, and those in DC, and those in New York who knew Elizabeth Sherman Cameron, all agreed that hers was the immortal face on the statue. A few years later, when President Theodore Roosevelt asked St. Gaudens to design coins for the United States mint, the celebrated Victory image was adapted into what is often called, the most beautiful US coin. So, on the $20 gold piece, there is a tiny revised rendition of Elizabeth Sherman Cameron from Mansfield, Ohio. Golden memories Elizabeth Sherman Cameron lived through The Gilded Age, and, appropriately enough, that is exactly how she survives in our time: in gold. The statue of her in New York City, at the corner of Central Park, was recently restored by re-gilding it with 23.75 karat gold leaf; so if you see her today, she is as gilded as it gets. Lizzie came back to Mansfield only once, as far as can be documented, in 1903. Her mother always told reporters that Lizzie was born in Cleveland, because it sounded more metropolitan for her daughters social career; but Lizzie was proud to claim Mansfield as her first home. In a letter she wrote in 1900 to an old grade school friend, Lizzie referred to Mansfield, appropriately enough, as the place where she spent golden years as a child. MANSFIELD Mark Sebastian Jordans second book with The History Press will be released on Sept. 18. The Witch of Mansfield: The Tetched Life of Phebe Wise delves into the folklore of north central Ohio to find the truth behind the legend of Mansfields witch. The infamously eccentric Phebe Wise cut a memorable figure in Mansfield history, making impacts that in time became known worldwide. Jordans previous book, The Ceely Rose Murders at Malabar Farm, was a featured selection of the Ohioana Library, was presented on WKYC Channel 3 in Cleveland in an extended Halloween segment with Leon Bibb, featured on the podcasts Most Notorious and The Squeaky Door, as well as in several media features throughout the region. Jordan, the history columnist for Knox Pages, has spoken throughout Ohio as a storyteller, historian, and poet. He has won awards from the Ohio Arts Council and numerous writing prizes. He has written program notes and presented music appreciation programs for the Mansfield Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, Mid Ohio Civic Opera, and the Knox County Symphony. The new book is now available for pre-order through major retailers and at ArcadiaPublishing.com. The back cover blurb: Meet one of Richland Countys most colorful citizens. There are those who thought Phebe Wise was a witch. More thought that the cranky old lady was tetched, meaning crazy. And she was crazy like a fox. An eccentric who outwitted violent robbers, a mad stalker, and a society that expected her to marry and raise children, Phebe alternated between dressing up in mens clothes and strutting to town in an antique ball gown, the trail dragging behind her in the dirt. If anyone had the gall to stare, shed cuss them out. She was in touch with a different world, and she used it to help launch the career of a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, Louis Bromfield. Local author and historian Mark Sebastian Jordan unravels the myth and history of Phebe Wise. Mark Jordan will be selling and autographing copies at Malabar Farm State Parks Ohio Heritage Days fall festival on Sept. 23 & 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. He will also be debuting The Buckeye Bookery, his curated collection of Ohio-related used books, priced to sell as a project to promote Ohio history and culture. MANSFIELD John Spon wants to make sure everyone is on the same page. Thats why, as Mansfields law director, he recommended the citys planning commission set a final hearing on the status of the West Park Shopping Center on Aug. 8. Members of the planning commission voted 7-0 to set the hearing during a meeting Tuesday afternoon. The West Park shopping center, owned West Mansfield Realty LLC, was ordered demolished by the citys codes and permits department in November. The New York-based company appealed the decision and was granted a six-month extension to complete the work. The deadline was July 14 yet the dilapidated strip of shops remains. Spon said the primary purpose of the hearing is to ensure both the city and the property owner have proper notice of when decisions regarding the companys appeals will be made. Its a type of evidentiary hearing date to be heard on this matter, Spon said. (The planning commission) will decide whether or not (owner West Mansfield Realty LLC) can proceed with the demolition, or theyll deny or reject the appeal. I want to make sure that this process is perfect and does not make any mistakes at all. Because if any mistakes were made, we could be involved in appellate litigation for years. Spon said the hearing will also give West Mansfield Realty LLC an opportunity to demonstrate they can carry out the demolition immediately. City officials said the company never filed its $50,000 appeal bond, which serves as a kind of insurance in case the new deadline isnt met. West Mansfield Realtys attorney, Craig Bizar, said the company would be willing to post the appeal bond in cash this week if granted another extension. Bizar told the commission that, if provided with an extension, the company would be willing to proceed with the demolition, as outlined in its contract with Adams Construction. Adrian Ackerman, the citys director of permitting and development, said the contract West Mansfield Realty presented is insufficient for the job. According to Ackerman, the contract identifies the buildings to be demolished as 1157 through 1243 Park Avenue West, which doesnt include the former bank branch at the end of the L-shaped property. She also expressed concern that the contract amount $250,000 wont be enough to complete the work and said shes received estimates from other contracts nearly double that amount. The contract also doesnt include the removal of the parking lot or the dirt, grass seed and straw needed to fill in and grade the site after the structures are torn down. Both are required by city code as part of demolitions. Bizar responded that he wasnt aware of any issues with the contract. Weve been diligently working since the last (meeting), he said. The only issue that was raised was that it didnt include the scope, which was the parking. Ackerman said the city did not receive a copy of the contract until July 20. Theres been a lot of work and commitment by the owner since even the last (meeting) to try to get an agreement done that satisfies the parties, Bizar said. Its just that these issues arise during the meeting and then its not arising outside of the meeting when we can negotiate and say What is the issue? Lets fix the issue. Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker said hed been hoping to finalize the matter Tuesday. I was hoping that today we would be able to come up with a final decision, but its been advised by legal that in order to do this legally and properly, we have to abide by the way Director Spon has outlined, he said. At large councilwoman Stephanie Zader speaks to the citys planning commission. At-large councilwoman Stephanie Zader, who is not on the planning commission, said she opposed giving West Mansfield Realty any more time. The citizens are tired of waiting on this. The business owners are tired of waiting on this, she said. This company has been getting opportunity after opportunity. This conversation should not even be happening. They were given a deadline. They did not meet it. NATO and Ukraine strongly condemn Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal and its destructive actions aimed at stopping Ukraine's grain export, bombing of Odesa and other port cities. "Allies and Ukraine strongly condemned Russia's decision to withdraw from the Black Sea grain deal and its deliberate attempts to stop Ukraine's agricultural exports on which hundreds of millions of people worldwide depend. They also condemned Russia's recent missile attacks on Odesa, Mykolaiv, and other port cities, including Moscow's cynical drone attack on the Ukrainian grain storage facility in the Danube port city of Reni, very close to the Romanian border," the parties said in a press release issued following a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council on Wednesday. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg convened the meeting following a request for crisis consultation from President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana chaired the Council. The Council met to address the serious security situation in the Black Sea region following Russia's unilateral termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative brokered by the United Nations and Turkey. Today marked the second meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, following its inaugural meeting at the Vilnius Summit earlier in July. NATO ambassadors and invitee Sweden were joined by videoconference by Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure; and Brigadier General Oleksiy Hromov, Deputy Chief of Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. Allies noted that Russia's "new warning area in the Black Sea, within Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, has created new risks for miscalculation and escalation, as well as serious impediments to freedom of navigation." Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana said that "Russia continues to show utter disrespect for international law and for the people worldwide who depend on Ukrainian grain. Russia is threatening civilian ships, terrorising peaceful cities, and destroying parts of the world's cultural heritage with its brutal strikes. NATO is united. We stand in solidarity with our Black Sea Allies, we will continue to protect one another, and we will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes." Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Russia bears full responsibility for its dangerous and escalatory actions in the Black Sea region. "Russia must stop weaponising hunger, and threatening the world's most vulnerable people with food instability. Russia's actions also pose substantial risks to the stability of the Black Sea region, which is of strategic importance to NATO. Allies are stepping up support to Ukraine and increasing our vigilance. We remain ready to defend every inch of Allied territory from any aggression," he said. Allies welcomed the continued efforts of Turkey to revitalize the grain deal, and the efforts of other Allies including Bulgaria and Romania as well as the European Union and the United Nations to enable the continued export of Ukrainian grain by land and sea. "Allies also made clear that they would continue to provide Ukraine with major military, economic, and humanitarian assistance," the press release says. NATO and Allies are stepping up surveillance and reconnaissance in the Black Sea region, including with maritime patrol aircraft and drones. "Since last year, in response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, NATO has significantly increased its presence in the region, including with two new multinational battlegroups in Bulgaria and Romania," it said. The U.S. Department of Education has canceled $130 million in debt for thousands of student borrowers who attended CollegeAmerica in Colorado. As per a directive issued by the department, 7,400 students who enrolled at the Denver, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs campuses of CollegeAmerica during 2006-2020 will no longer have to pay the remainder of their federal student loans. The amount of money that they have already paid back will be refunded. "This announcement means a clean slate for thousands of students hurt by CollegeAmerica's widespread misconduct," said the U.S. Department of Education's federal student aid chief Richard Cordray. An investigation conducted by the Colorado attorney general's office found that CollegeAmerica's parent company, the Center for Excellence in Higher Education (CEHE), made widespread misrepresentations about the salaries and employment rates of its graduates, the programs it offered, and the terms of a private loan that it offered. The college was shutdown after the fraud practice was detected. "These borrowers were lied to, ripped off, and saddled with mountains of debt," President Joe Biden said in a statement on the Student Debt Relief action in Colorado. "While my predecessor looked the other way when colleges defrauded students and borrowers - I promised to take this on directly, and provide borrowers with the relief they need and deserve," he said in apparent reference to former President Donald Trump. "As long as I am president, we will never stop fighting to deliver relief to borrowers, hold bad actors accountable, and bring the promise of college to more Americans," Biden added. The Biden Administration has so far approved $14.7 billion in relief for 1.1 million borrowers whose colleges took advantage of them or closed abruptly. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) said Wednesday that it has agreed to indirectly acquire all the outstanding common shares of Dialogue Health Technologies Inc. for $5.15 per share. The equity value of Dialogue is $365 million on a diluted basis. The transaction will be financed with cash and is expected to close in 2023. Dialogue healthcare team caters to nearly 2.8 million members across 50,000 organizations. RBC Capital Markets served as the financial advisor and Torys LLP acted as the legal counsel to Sun Life. Currently, shares of Sun Life are trading at $ 52.67 down 0.25% or $0.13 on the New York Stock Exchange. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News [L-R] Professor Siphokazi Magadla (Head of Political and International Studies); Lihle Manene (Political and International Studies Honours student); Nkiru Nzegwu (Distinguished Professor of Africana Studies Binghamton University in New York); Omphulusa Nengwekhulu (Political and International Studies Masters student). [PIC CREDIT: Joshua Estimaje] By Mathews Nthinya Former South African president Nelson Mandela was celebrated through knowledge-sharing at the Barratt lecture theatre at Rhodes University on 18 July 2023. Special guests were Distinguished Professor of Africana Studies Nkiru Nzegwu from Binghamton University in New York and two discussants, Political and International Studies Honours student Lihle Manene and Masters student Omphulusa Nengwekhulu. Prof Nzegwu has been a Visiting Professor at Rhodes University since the end of June. After welcoming guests, the Dean of Humanities, Professor Enocent Msindo, was followed by the Head of Political and International Studies, Professor Siphokazi Magadla, who was the Programme Director for the event. It is such a privilege for us to have the professor with us, said Prof Msindo. Prof Magadla introduced the Visiting Professor by summarising her research interests, which include African studies, feminism, the African diaspora and African intellectuality. Prof Nzegwu is also an author and editor of seven books, including Family Matters: Feminist Concepts in African Philosophy of Culture (2006) and Onitsha at the Millennium: Legacy, History and Transformation (2013), among others. Prof Nzegwu is currently teaching a postgraduate course called Sankofa Epistemology, which was the subject of the evening. She delivered a 45-minute lecture to a room of primarily Politics 1, 2 and 3 students, who were invited to the lecture to learn more about African Studies in politics. She mentioned that Sankofa Epistemology is a book project on the knowledge system that draws extensively on African philosophy. It began from the awareness of the contemporary global knowledge system and how its production pivots on the racialised Western-European axis. However, a new pathway exists that requires centring ourselves, discovering who we are, and projecting that being outward, she said. Professor Nzegwu believes that capitalism must work for people, not vice versa. Instead, capitalism was created to produce a lot of money off people. She reiterated that trading also doesnt necessarily mean capitalism. She has been able to come to this material information through the vast data she has been working on for the past two years. At the end of the presentation, her discussants were welcomed on stage to comment on the lecture. [L-R] Professor Sizwe Mabizela (Vice-Chancellor); Dr Jessica Cockburn (Environmental Science); Dr Kwezi Mzilikazi (Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships). [PIC CREDIT: Joshua Estimaje] By Carmen Visser On 20 July 2023, Dr Jessica Cockburn gave her 2021 Special Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award Lecture titled: "Becoming a teacher in turbulent times: cultivating connection and care in context". The event was well-attended by Dr Cockburn's friends, family, fellow lecturers and students. This recently-introduced special award focuses specifically on academic staff who, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, responded by creating innovative online and remote teaching courses which succeeded in catering for their students' learning needs. Dr Cockburn from the Department of Environmental Science was introduced by Rhodes University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, as the winner of the 2021 award. The Senior Lecturer has a long and loyal history with the Department of Environmental Science, being a graduate assistant in 2015, a PhD student from 2015-2017, a guest lecturer in 2016, a lecturer from 2020 and now, a senior lecturer. Professor Mabizela explained how Dr Jessica Cockburn is seen as a "mother away from home" by many of her students. She is an irreplaceable part of the department and has helped six Honours students, two Masters students and two PhD students navigate their postgraduate studies. Starting her lecture, Dr Cockburn shared a sentiment that the Environmental Science Department valued during the COVID-19 pandemic: "Getting your content online is not your priority - maintaining a connection with your students is". She used this as her 'golden rule' during remote teaching to stay connected with her students and help them continue their studies. During the remote teaching period, Dr Cockburn followed a teaching philosophy inspired partly by Associate Professor Karen Ellery - the 'Three Cs' which focuses on connection, context and care. Specifically, Dr Cockburn explained connection to consist of relationality in the form of building and maintaining connections with students and designing a coherent and connective curriculum. She emphasised that the need for compassion and empathy was more significant than ever during the isolating pandemic. Dr Cockburn described the context of her teaching philosophy to include "rapid global environmental change: the climate crisis" and "COVID-19: a world in crisis and a digital divide". Dr Cockburn also explained how South African Higher Education and its focus on diversity, social justice and decoloniality shape her teaching context. She described the pandemic as "a difficult time and maybe one we don't want to revisit." Lecturers had to adjust their teaching practices and rely heavily on the technology available to them when the lockdown was announced in South Africa. Dr Cockburn approached remote teaching with four main steps. Firstly, she and her colleagues carefully analysed her students' needs to determine how best to help them. Secondly, she focused on maintaining connection and showing empathy towards her students, supporting them individually and in group settings. Thirdly, she moved all her teaching content online using RUConnected. This step also included learning to narrate slides and relying more on multimodal teaching resources, such as videos, websites and interactive exercises. Finally, Dr Cockburn researched and identified online platforms and tools to help her teach. Through an interactive exercise, Dr Cockburn illustrated her remote teaching approach by requesting attendees visit a website she had discovered which allows users to input a code (provided by a teacher) and answer specific questions. Dr Cockburn then accessed the website to show the audience the results. It is important to note that Dr Cockburn's success as a teacher, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, was determined by her willingness to admit mistakes and her continuous commitment to improve. She displayed positive comments from students during course evaluations and shared the criticism and constructive feedback she received over the years. In the next part of her lecture, Dr Cockburn explained how her post-pandemic experiences of teaching, now as a new mother of her one-year-old son Jonah, included "teaching, learning and living in the moment". Emerging from the pandemic, and then heading into the new challenge of being a working academic mother has not been easy, yet Dr Cockburn is adapting as she learnt to do during the pandemic. She said, "Environmental scientists take great inspiration from nature", highlighting the aloes blooming in Makhanda this year. "They are connective plants; growing flowers for their bird pollinators, typically found in degraded areas." She described them as seasonal, symbiotic and self-caring three words she will be adopting as her own teaching philosophy going forward. [L-R] Professor 'Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela (Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic and Student Affairs); Professor James Gambiza (Environmental Science); Professor Sizwe Mabizela (Vice-Chancellor); Dr Kwezi Mzilikazi (Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships). [PIC CREDIT: Siviwe Mxuma] By Bukamuso Sebata Rhodes University's Eden Grove Blue Lecture Theatre was abuzz with excitement as scholars from various fields gathered to witness the inaugural address of Professor James Gambiza. The event, a prestigious milestone in an academic's career, marks the conferral of full professor status on a scholar who has showcased exceptional scholarly contributions to their discipline. In his welcoming speech, Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela hailed Prof Gambiza's remarkable achievements and contributions throughout his academic journey. With an impressive academic background, Prof. James Gambiza holds various qualifications, including a PhD and MSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Zimbabwe and an MEd and a PGDipHE from Rhodes University. His expertise lies in innovative teaching and adult education, particularly in conservation and rangeland management, where he promotes sustainable practices. Prof Gambiza's strengths in systems thinking, research, and managing the human-nature interface have positively impacted Rhodes University and other institutions throughout his distinguished career. His commitment to knowledge transfer is evident through extensive training initiatives, and he has received notable recognition, awards, and accolades for his teaching, research, and publications, showcasing his dedication to the academic community. For Prof Gambiza, the inaugural lecture titled "Land degradation in a changing world: Looking back and into the future" reflected profoundly on his life's work. The lecture delved into the pressing environmental issue of land degradation in the 21st century, negatively impacting over 3.2 billion people worldwide. Despite existing efforts to combat it, the global area of degraded land continues to expand, leaving behind remnants of failed development projects. Using the analogy of a "systems journey," Prof Gambiza's lecture evaluated past approaches to addressing land degradation and presented historical timelines of global and national efforts. He emphasised the need to rethink the implementation of development programmes, teaching methods, and research approaches to tackle complex issues like land degradation effectively. During the lecture, Prof Gambiza highlighted the interconnectedness of various challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and soil mismanagement, underscoring the urgency of adopting a systems approach to address these complex problems collaboratively. He drew attention to the devastating effects of extreme weather events and stressed the importance of adopting a holistic perspective to create a sustainable future for humanity. The lecture also announced that Rhodes University would offer a short course on systems thinking, taught by Dr Jai-Clifford Holmes, to further enhance the institution's focus on addressing environmental challenges. Prof Gambiza emphasised the importance of exploring, visioning, and analysing leverage points to engage effectively with complex problems. He discussed the concept of planetary boundaries, urging the need to stay within these limits to avoid overshooting. To raise awareness and motivate action, he suggested creating a song on planetary boundaries and the doughnut economics model we can sing together with both local and global communities. The concept of doughnut economics, which advocates balancing the social foundation and ecological ceiling for sustainable development, was also discussed during the lecture. Prof Gambiza stressed the importance of positive trajectories and triggering positive tipping points with the help of keystone actors or agents of change. He mentioned nature-based solutions and the initiative of nature-positive universities as essential components of addressing land degradation and other environmental problems. Another framework introduced during the lecture was the coupled infrastructure system (CIS), which offers a way to study social-ecological systems and find innovative solutions to environmental challenges. Throughout the presentation, Prof Gambiza shared personal experiences and concerns about the planet's current state, underscoring the importance of taking action during the decisive decade between 2020 and 2030. He stressed the need for collective efforts in tackling complex, interrelated problems like land degradation, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Drawing on various international and African case studies and initiatives, Prof Gambiza highlighted the significance of engaging multiple stakeholders and employing diverse strategies to combat land degradation and promote ecological restoration. Specific projects in the Eastern Cape, where sustainable land management practices were implemented in collaboration with local communities to improve livelihoods, were also mentioned. Another important forth-coming programme is the Great Green Wall National Action Plan for South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The inaugural address concluded with a passionate call to action. Prof Gambiza urged the audience to proactively seek solutions and engage in projects promoting ecological restoration and combating land degradation. He emphasised the power of collaboration and utilising local resources to impact the environment and people's lives positively. The event celebrating Prof James Gambiza's promotion to the rank of full professor was not only a recognition of his scholarly achievements but also an inspirational moment for Rhodes University's academic community. With his wealth of knowledge and commitment to addressing environmental challenges, Prof Gambiza's inaugural lecture left a lasting impression on all who attended, sparking a sense of responsibility and motivation to work collectively for a sustainable and prosperous future. To watch this inaugural lecture, go to: https://youtu.be/bYYuihWr-Lc A session of one of the trials against Georgian ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili did not take place at the Tbilisi City Court on Wednesday due to the deterioration of his health, Saakashvili's lawyer Shota Tutberidze told reporters. Saakashvili refused to participate in the legal proceedings held on Wednesday remotely from his hospital ward, and the court granted the motion, Tutberidze said. The legal proceedings concern the dispersal of an opposition rally by law enforcement agencies on November 7, 2007, and the attack on the Imedi independent TV company in which more than 300 citizens were injured, he said. The case has been ongoing since 2014. Saakashvili is charged with illegal actions taken with his knowledge. The case is being retried in court due to the replacement of the judge. "Despite the fact that we don't trust this court, we will participate in the proceedings to establish justice," Tutberidze said. Browser Compatibility Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks. We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: The descendents of early Rancho Santa Fe settler Juan Maria Osuna recently returned to the Osuna Ranch to relive a 181-year-old chapter in their familys heritage. Nate Larson, whose fourth great-grandfather was Osuna, brought his grandmother Marie Lawson to the ranch for her 95th birthday on Aug. 12 Lawsons mother, Frances Osuna, was born in the Osuna Adobe in 1903. Larson grew up hearing stories about the Osuna Ranch and thought a visit to the adobe home would be a special experience for his grandmother Marie, as well as for his own family, wife Sue and seven-month-old son Russell. He contacted the Rancho Santa Fe Association to set up the small, multi-generational tour of his familys roots for Maries birthday. Marie Lawson visits the Osuna Ranch where her mother was born. (Jon Clark) (Jon Clark /) It was really special for her, said Larson, who now lives in Burbank but was born and raised in Carlsbad. Juan Maria Osuna, the first alcalde or mayor of San Diego, acquired the property known as Rancho San Dieguito in 1836, raising cattle and building his family in the adobe home. In the 1860s, the family expanded the adobe by adding a sleeping porch and living room to the original two-bedroom structure. The family lived there until they sold the property to the Santa Fe Land Improvement Company in 1906. The adobe would eventually be remodeled by Rancho Santa Fe architect Lilian Rice. Larson said hes invested a lot of time in finding out as much as he can about his family history. Id heard all the stories but I wanted to do more research and find the connections; take all the hearsay and try to put the pieces together, Larson said. For me, it was definitely a very cool experience to step back in time. Osuna Ranch Manager Troy Keenan showed the visitors around the property and shared about the Osuna Committees efforts to preserve and enhance the adobe and the ranch since the Association purchased the property in 2006. Larson said during the tour they all kept remarking, If only these walls could talk. Our relatives built these walls and lived their lives here, Larson said. A lot has happened in this hub and home over the last centuries. In Bakhmut direction, offensive operations are successfully continuing on the southern flank around Bakhmut, fierce battles are taking place in the area of Klischiyivka, Kurdiumivka, Andriyivka, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Maliar said. "In the Bakhmut direction, our troops continue to successfully conduct offensive operations on the southern flank around Bakhmut. Fierce fighting continues in the area of the settlements of Klischiyivka, Kurdiumivka, Andriyivka. The enemy clings to every meter of occupied land, provides powerful resistance, uses reserves, at the same time bears significant losses," she wrote on the Telegram channel. In addition, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to restrain the offensive of Russian troops in Kupyansk and Lymany directions. "There, the enemy is looking for soft spots in our defense, carries out shelling, attacks with infantry groups and uses special forces units, tries with all his might to squeeze through our defense, but unsuccessfully," the deputy defense minister noted. The Deputy Minister stressed that Ukrainian defenders in these areas are taking all measures to stop the enemy. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a law providing for the creation of a State register of sanctions. According to the map of Bill No. 8392 on amendments to some laws on the application of sanctions, the document signed by Zelenskyy was returned to parliament on Wednesday, July 26. The law is aimed at improving the procedure for collecting assets of individuals and legal entities to the state's income and ensuring proper consideration by the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court of cases on the application of sanctions. The State Register of Sanctions is introduced for public access to up-to-date and reliable information about all subjects against whom personal sanctions have been applied. The National Security and Defense Council is responsible for maintaining the Register of Sanctions. According to the law, the entry into the Register of Sanctions of information on the application, cancellation or changes in sanctions is carried out immediately, but no later than the day following the day of publication of the decree of the President of Ukraine on the entry into force of the relevant decision of the National Security and Defense Council. As reported, the Verkhovna Rada adopted bill No. 8392 on July 13. Since de-icing with road salt began in the 1930s, the salinity of lakes across much of the US has been steadily increasing, posing a potential threat to aquatic life and drinking water supplies. However, a cautiously optimistic new study in Limnology and Oceanography Letters concludes that if we can hold steady or decrease road salt use, levels in many lakes could stabilize below thresholds set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). "For the majority of US lakes, road salt pollution could be a solvable problem, if we put our minds to it," said lead author Chris Solomon, who studies lake ecology at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. However, he cautions that more research is needed to better understand what actually is a safe level of salt in a freshwater ecosystem. The US applies an estimated 24.5 million tons of road salt on its roads every winter -- mostly in the form of sodium chloride. Rain and melting snow carry this salt into local waterways and aquifers, where it can cause freshwater salinization syndrome. Not only is this salt harmful to many organisms, but it can leach toxic metals and radioactive materials from soil and water pipes. Solomon saw the upward-trending lines of salt concentrations in US lakes and wanted to find out where they were headed. Would road salt levels continue to rise, or would they stabilize? With colleagues, he developed a model to explore controls on road salt concentration in lakes to reveal the concentration at which they might level off. The model looked at road density in lake watersheds, the amount of road salt applied per road mile, and precipitation. Hydrologic fluxes were taken into account to predict how salt pollution flows into and out of lakes. The model calculated the levels at which road salt would be expected to stabilize if salt application was held at amounts reported in 2010-2015, for all of the 461,000 lakes and reservoirs larger than 2.5 acres in the contiguous US. For lakes in areas with light to moderate road density, the authors found that holding road salt application rates steady could help lakes stabilize below 230 mg/l of chloride per liter of water, the threshold designated by the EPA to protect aquatic life. Reducing application could yield additional environmental and economic benefits without threatening road safety. The authors note that more research is needed to determine if the EPA's 230 mg/l chloride threshold is too high. Solomon explains, "The EPA's chronic toxicity thresholds for chloride were developed with limited data, and there is growing evidence that negative impacts can occur at concentrations well below 230 mg/l." Even less is known about how salt mixtures from multiple sources affect aquatic life. advertisement Some places have set much lower chloride guidelines, including 150 mg/L in Michigan and 120 mg/L in Canada. The model predicts that chloride concentrations will eventually exceed the 120 mg/L threshold in more than 9,000 US lakes, even if road density and salt application rates stay at current levels. Unsurprisingly, lakes with predicted salt concentrations in excess of EPA's 230 mg/l thresholds were most common in the Northeast and Midwest. Most vulnerable were lakes with high road density and high road salt application in their watersheds. They included some 9-10% of lakes in Illinois and Ohio, as well as a smaller percentage of lakes (<0.1 to 1%) in Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Achieving safe salt levels in these lakes will require reductions in salt use. This can be done safely by adopting best management practices and new technologies. As a test of the model's accuracy, predictions were compared to measurements taken at Mirror Lake in New Hampshire, a site that has been monitored since 1967 by Cary Institute founder Gene E. Likens. After plugging in the local data, the model predicted maximum and minimum salt levels, and the real-world measurements fell within the predicted range. "This gives us confidence that we're in the right ballpark," said Solomon. "We don't think the model is perfect. It's a simple model that's meant as a tool for thinking through the problem," Solomon says. Among other things, the model ignores salt inputs from natural rock weathering and from human activities like agriculture and industry, and does not consider temporary seasonal spikes in chloride. "We hope others will elaborate on the approach and make better predictions. But in the meantime our results suggest that efforts to control salt application can make a big difference, and may help to prioritize those efforts," Solomon concludes. Next steps include comparing the model's predictions to observed data in other places where salt application and lake chloride levels have been documented for many years, and using the model to explore how other forms of global change -- such as land use or climate change -- alter both precipitation and the need for road salt application. Anyone who has taken a long road trip or bike ride has used a product of the spurge plant family -- rubber. The spurge family, or Euphorbiaceae, includes economically valuable plants like the rubber tree, castor oil plant, poinsettia and cassava. Newly identified fossils found in Argentina suggest that a group of spurges took a trip of their own tens of millions of years ago. Driven by climatic changes and land movements over millennia, a group of spurges relocated thousands of miles from ancient South America to Australia, Asia and parts of Africa, according to research led by Penn State. Reported in the American Journal of Botany, the findings suggest that the spurge family's Macaranga-Mallotus clade (MMC), encompassing a common ancestor and all its descendants and long considered to have Asian origins, may have first appeared in South America when it was still part of Gondwana -- the supercontinent that encompassed South America, Antarctica and Australia -- before spreading around the globe. "Our study provides the first direct fossil evidence of spurges in Gondwanan South America," said Peter Wilf, professor of geosciences at Penn State and lead author of the current study, noting that the finding contrasts with the prevailing idea that the MMC evolved in Asia. "But if they evolved in Asia, how in the world would they have gotten to where we found them, in Argentine rocks 50 million years old? Instead, we think these spurges tracked the moving continents from South America to Asia, to the other side of the world. You can't go much farther than that without leaving the planet. We've seen this pattern in many other plant groups we've found as fossils in South America like kauris, Asian chinkapin and yellowwood trees. Altogether it is the most dramatic evolutionary biogeography story I've ever seen." According to Wilf, Euphorbiaceae have adapted well to evolutionary challenges in different environments. "They're common in tropical rainforests in Africa, South America and most notably in Asia, where if you count the number of trees in a plot, they're usually the second most common type," he said. "They make up much of the understory habitat that is structurally important to the rainforest and its animal life. The MMC is well known in the Asian tropics and is highly visible along roadsides and in burned areas. Its plants often have large, umbrella-like leaves that provide abundant shade, and they provide nutritious seeds for animal forage." The spurge family comprises more than 6,000 species, found mostly in the tropics but also in deserts and cold temperate zones, and there are about 400 species in the MMC alone. Given their prevalence in southeast Asia and 23-million-year-old fossils previously found in New Zealand, scientists have considered the MMC an "Old World" plant group likely with Asian origins. The current study, based on fossils more than twice as old as the New Zealand specimens, provides the first evidence of "New World" origins for MMC spurges and adds two new species to the plant family, according to the scientists. Wilf and his colleagues at Argentina's Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnologicas (CONICET) in Bariloche and the Museo Paleontologico Egidio Feruglio (MEF), and Cornell University examined 11 leaf fossils and two compound infructescence fossils, or fossils that show preserved fruits and seeds attached to branches. The fossils came from a site in Chubut, Argentina called Laguna del Hunco, where the researchers have collected fossils for decades. Dating of volcanic rocks at this site places the fossils at 52 million years old, a globally warm time immediately preceding the final separation of Gondwana. advertisement The scientists studied the detailed characteristics of the leaves and fruits and compared them with living specimens. They also took CT scans of the infructescences at the Penn State Center for Quantitative Imaging. The scans picked up density changes in the rock and rendered them into three-dimensional images that the researchers used to study the fruits' features, including tiny paired seeds inside the fruits that were barely visible at the surface. The researchers found that the characteristics of the fossil fruits and leaves are only found today in MMC spurges, identifying them as two new species. They named the infructescences after the late Rodolfo Magin Casamiquela, an Argentine vertebrate paleontologist and anthropologist who collected one of the specimens, perhaps as early as the 1950s, and the leaf species after Kirk Johnson, paleobotanist and Sant Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History who had discovered the first of the leaf fossils in the 1990s. "The MMC is widely distributed, but prior to this research they've never been found growing naturally in the Americas," Wilf said. "This is the first time that the MMC has been reliably documented anywhere in the Western Hemisphere past or present." The fossils tell a story about environmental changes, plate tectonics and biogeography, or the distribution of plants and animals around the world, Wilf said. The plants likely originated and evolved in Gondwana and began retreating as the climate grew drier and colder over millions of years, suffering extinction in Antarctica and South America but apparently surviving in Australia, he said. At the same time, plate tectonics were pulling apart the Gondwanan supercontinent. Australia broke away from Antarctica more than 40 million years ago and collided with southeast Asia 25 million years ago, bringing the water-demanding plants to New Guinea and the southeast Asian rainforest, the researchers said. "We've seen over and over again that we can trace a significant number of Australian and Asian rainforest plants all the way to Argentina and Western Gondwana," Wilf said. "These fossils tell us how plants respond to environmental changes. If you give them time and an escape route, like Australia as it moved from the Antarctic latitudes to Asia, they can move around the world following their preferred environment and thrive. Deforestation and environmental changes today, including in southeast Asia where our Gondwanan survivor trees live, are occurring 100 to 1000 times faster than they did millions of years ago, and escape routes have been converted into cities and agriculture. These fossils serve as a warning from the deep past, that the natural world that we rely on is extremely resilient but cannot keep up with us. It is not too late to act and avoid the worst outcomes." Also contributing to the study were Ari Iglesias, CONICET, and Maria Gandolfo, Cornell University and the MEF. The National Science Foundation and National Geographic Society supported this work. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposes to the Verkhovna Rada to approve his decrees on the extension of martial law and general mobilization. Relevant bills No.9532, 9533 were registered in the Verkhovna Rada on Wednesday, the parliament's website reports. There are no texts of draft laws on the parliament's website. Russia's best response for actions in Black Sea region to provide Ukraine with modern air defense systems Ukraine's mission to NATO following Council outcomes During the meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council, the Alliance Allies stated that the best response to Russia's actions in the Black Sea and withdrawal from the grain initiative would be to provide Ukraine with modern air defense equipment. A press release published on the website of the Ukrainian Mission to NATO following the meeting states. All allies agreed that providing Ukraine with the most advanced air defense systems is the best response to Russia's actions, the message says. In addition, according to the Mission of Ukraine to NATO, the allies also expressed their readiness, both individually and within the Alliance, to help establish alternative ways to ensure the export of Ukrainian grain, including by using rail transportation and the port capacities of individual NATO Member States. NATO Member States condemned Russia's decision to unilaterally withdraw from the grain deal, as well as Russia's actions to stop the export of Ukrainian agricultural products. They also condemned Russia's massive missile attacks aimed at destroying Ukrainian infrastructure. The Allies emphasized that Russia alone is responsible for the global food security crisis and that the use of food as a weapon is unacceptable, the message reads. Ukraine's position was presented at the meeting by Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure; and Oleksiy Hromov, Brigadier General and Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. Ukrainian representatives briefed the Allies on the current situation in the Black Sea region and suggested possible ways to unblock the export of Ukrainian grain. In 2023, the Ukrainian government has allocated UAH 40 billion to invest in domestic drone manufacturers, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said, speaking at a forum on the anniversary of the Army of Drones project. "A year ago, at the initiative of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, UNITED24 raised over UAH 4 billion, which we invested in Ukrainian drone manufacturers. At that time there were less than a dozen of them. Today, there are over 40 companies that have contracts with the state, and UAV production has grown tenfold," the government's press service said, citing Shmyhal. The prime minister also said the government has allocated UAH 40 billion for investment in Ukrainian UAV manufacturers in 2023, and also got rid of customs barriers for the import of spare parts and kits, in addition, the profit share of drone manufacturers has increased to 25%. Shmyhal said the government had made a decision to facilitate the mass production of ammunition for UAVs. "The video of the work of Ukrainian drones to destroy Russian equipment is the best result and evidence of our joint actions with Ukrainian manufacturers. Thanks to everyone who brings our victory closer," he said. The forum dedicated to the anniversary of the Army of Drones project was held in Kyiv on July 25. It was attended by First Deputy Prime Minister, Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Development of Education, Science and Technology Mykhailo Fedorov, Minister for Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin and Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko. Kraytex-Service LLC of the co-owners of Eva and Varus networks has invested UAH 400 million in launching production at the facilities of Vinnytsiabytkhim, transferred to it by the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA). "We really want to increase the share of national production in the household chemicals market in Ukraine. Today, 70% of consumer demand in this segment falls on laundry detergents. Before the war, the absolute leaders of the Ukrainian household chemicals market were international companies, whose imports amounted to more than 50%. The national manufacturer before the war was PrJSC Vinnytsiabytkhim with a share of 6.5%, but it did not operate at full capacity. Today, the plant has a great potential," said Serhiy Zaikov, the director of Kraytex-Service, during the opening of the plant on Wednesday. According to him, the company sets a goal in 2023 to bring its market share to 8% and to 15% in 2024. The plant is equipped with 12 industrial lines and its own laboratory. The production capacity is 6,000-7,000 tonnes of washing powders per month. Kraytex-Service plans to release 100 items of goods by the end of 2023, as well as a further increase to eight times in four years. The company also intends to launch new products, including in cooperation with large retail chains. Currently, the plant employs more than 100 people, but the management company plans to triple the number of jobs by the end of the year. Asked by Interfax Ukraine, Zaikov recalled that Vinnytsiabytkhim exported products to Moldova, Romania and other countries. "We are already signing contracts for the supply of products under renewed brands with Moldova and Georgia," he said. Before the full-scale war, 80% of the raw materials used at the plant were of Russian and Kazakh origin. Now, according to Zaikov, the share of Ukrainian raw materials has reached 50%, the largest foreign suppliers are Spain and Slovenia. Kraytex-Service is a large FMCG distributor that has been operating on the Ukrainian market for over 15 years. The company cooperates with transnational suppliers: Loreal, Henkel, Unilever, Beiersdorf, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, BIC, Schwarzkopf, Biokon, Elfa, etc. The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged investor Joseph C. Lewis for illegally tipping material nonpublic information to his then-girlfriend, Carolyn W. Carter, as well as his two private pilots, Patrick J. O'Connor and Bryan L. Waugh, so that each would use this information to execute trades. The SEC also charged Carter, O'Connor, and Waugh with using that information to trade and reap combined profits of more than $545,000. According to the SEC's complaint, Lewis, a British national who resides principally in The Bahamas, controls and is majority owner of a biotechnology investment fund, from which he often received material nonpublic information concerning the fund's portfolio companies. The SEC's complaint alleges that, between approximately July and October 2019, Lewis breached a duty of confidentiality by illegally tipping material nonpublic information to Carter on at least two occasions and to O'Connor and Waugh on at least one occasion. Specifically, the SEC alleges that, in July 2019, Lewis learned that a company in which the fund had a substantial investment would be raising capital through a type of transaction that often resulted in an increase in share price. Lewis met with Carter in a luxury hotel room the same day he learned this information, and, within three hours of this meeting, Carter bought more than $700,000 worth of the company's common stock. After the transaction's announcement the next day, the company's share price increased by approximately 34.4 percent, and Carter profited more than $172,000. In September 2019, according to the SEC's complaint, Lewis learned material nonpublic information regarding another portfolio company, which had received positive results in a clinical trial that it would present at a conference the following month. Within days, the SEC alleges, Carter and then later O'Connor and Waugh purchased the company's common stock. In O'Connor and Waugh's case, Lewis allegedly gifted this information to them as a substitute for a formal retirement plan and loaned each $500,000 to execute the trades. As alleged, upon the company's public announcement of the positive clinical trial data in October 2019, its share price increased by 16.7 percent, and Carter, O'Connor, and Waugh together profited more than $373,000. The SEC's complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, charges Lewis, Carter, O'Connor, and Waugh with violating Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and seeks permanent injunctive relief and civil penalties from all defendants, as well as disgorgement of ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest from Carter, O'Connor, and Waugh. The SEC's complaint also names Mr. O'Connor's spouse, Jean J. O'Connor, as a relief defendant. In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York today announced criminal charges against Lewis. The SEC's ongoing investigation is being conducted by Tim Work, with assistance from Emily Shea, Howard Kaplan, Yongping Zheng, and Kevin Gershfeld, under the supervision of Kevin Guerrero and Stacy Bogert. The litigation will be handled by Carina Cuellar, Kristen Warden, and Mr. Work, under the supervision of James Connor. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Crime spotlight California amendment aims to end forced labor in state prisons Craig Lee/The Examiner Lawrence Cox, policy fellow at Legal Services for Prisoners with Children: Ive never dealt with anxiety until I began to experience such extreme misconduct from staff and then watched how reprisal is heaped upon you after you decide to speak up. Craig Lee/The Examiner Alissa Moore, policy fellow at Legal Services for Prisoners with Children: What [the Board of Parole Hearings] expects you to do is unrealistic. Craig Lee/The Examiner Alissa Moore and Lawrence Cox, Policy Fellows at their office, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children in Oakland on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. A constitutional amendment making its way through the California State Legislature proposes to end the practice of forced labor in the state prison system, and a Bay Area nonprofit is helping to lead the charge. The proposed revision would change the state constitution, which prohibits involuntary servitude except to punish crime. The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery across the country in 1865, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted. Two-thirds of both the California Assembly and Senate would need to vote in favor of the proposed amendment before its presented to voters in the next general election. It would be enacted if a simple majority of voters approve. The amendment, which Suisun City Assemblymember Lori Wilson introduced in February, hits close to home for Paul Briley. Hes the deputy director of Legal Services for Prisoners With Children, an Oakland-based nonprofit dedicated to criminal justice and one of the many co-sponsors of the amendment. Briley told The Examiner that his currently incarcerated cousin works every day in the kitchen. He owes restitution I believe he said at the end of the month, he makes $3.43 from working every day, he said. People incarcerated in California can make as little as 8 cents per hour in prisons, where they are required to work under state law. Jobs can include cooking, doing laundry, manufacturing products such as license plates for outside entities, and even wildland firefighting. Doing well on these work assignments can be beneficial, going on their record or making them a little money. But refusing to do so, Briley said, can lead to demerits that could even extend a prison sentence. Its not like people do not want to work. They want to work, Briley said. But being forced to work is completely different than having the choice. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation told The Examiner in a statement it does not comment on pending legislation. Wilson, the Suisun City assemblymember who introduced the amendment earlier this year, told The Examiner the proposal is extremely important to her. Californias legacy of slavery and forced labor runs deep, she said, pointing to the exploitation of indigenous Californians in Spanish missions and the Black slaves forced to mine during the Gold Rush. Formerly incarcerated people who spoke with The Examiner said the amendment is especially important for several reasons, including the dangerous work conditions they experienced in prison. Alissa Moore, an LSPC policy fellow, served 25 years after she was sentenced at the age of 17, shuffling from job to job inside Valley State Prison in Chowchilla and the California Institution for Women in Chino. Once she was released, Moore said she started working 70-hour weeks because that was what her work schedule inside looked like. What [the Board of Parole Hearings] expects you to do is unrealistic, she said. They want you to attend college, attend vocationals, several self-help groups, and they want you to work a full week. And that work week could consist of anything. One of Moores first assignments was to cut hair, a job for which she had zero training. That was an easier gig than some of the other assignments, but the physical toll these jobs can take can be incredibly serious. Ive seen limbs cut off, Ive seen fingers cut off, she said. Sometimes, these situations can even be fatal: Moore said her friend died fighting a fire after she was crushed by a falling rock that she requested to be moved from. A friend of mine was on the fire line on the front line, said Moore. She asked the sergeant to be moved back off the line. The sergeant said, No, push the line in because all the California firefighters are on the front line. Moore sustained injuries to her hands while performing a cleaning assignment in her early years of incarceration. She was given a corrosive substance used to strip floors of wax. The cleaning agent turned Moores hands blue and cut off circulation, leaving her with persistent problems. I cant really pick things up or open anything, she said. Its kind of scary, like if youre driving or something, your hands go numb. And its not just physical. These work assignments can leave mental scars, too. Lawrence Cox, another LSPC policy fellow, served nearly 17 years in facilities in California, and as well as time out of state in Arizona, Oklahoma and Mississippi. Cox said he struggled to deal with the prison staffs treatment during work assignments. Ive never dealt with anxiety until I began to experience such extreme misconduct from staff and then watched how reprisal is heaped upon you after you decide to speak up and say something about it, he said. Cox said he still hears about mistreatment from his friends who are currently incarcerated. They call him nearly every day to share the latest experiences theyve had while being forced to work in the penal system. Moore and Briley said they get similar calls, too. These experiences make the amendments passage especially pressing for the trio, as well as other advocates. Convincing lawmakers is another matter. A similar amendment died on the Senate floor last year, which LSPC policy analyst Jeronimo Aguilar said stemmed from confusion over another piece of legislation that would provide incarcerated people with an actual wage. This led to concern about how much it would cost the state of California, and the amendment didnt move forward. Our amendment doesnt mention wages, said Aguilar. Its about folks having the autonomy to not be forced into labor against their will, or coerced or manipulated. Aguilar said he is confident that two-thirds of the California Assembly will support the amendment. If that doesnt happen by the end of this years legislative session, he said, there will still be time for it to end up on the ballot in 2024. This time around weve learned a lot, Aguilar said. This is really unprecedented territory that were embarking upon theres never been this kind of campaign before. KYIV. July 26 (Interfax-Ukraine) More than a third of Ukrainians (35%) support the legalization of drugs based on plants of the hemp genus (Cannabis), according to a poll by the Razumkov Center sociological service, presented at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine. As the results of the opinion poll show, the parts of supporters and opponents of such an initiative do not differ statistically significantly some 35% of citizens support it, and 37% do not support it. However, the higher the educational level of the respondents, the more often they support the legalization of medical cannabis (from 26% among those with secondary or incomplete secondary education to 42% among those with higher education). In addition, the younger the respondents, the more likely they are to support the legalization of medical cannabis. Thus, from 23% among those who are 60 years old and over, to 48% among those who are under 30 years old. This initiative is supported by the relative majority of representatives of the younger groups (under 40 years old), which is opposed by the relative majority of those who are 50 and over. On July 5 to July 11, 2023, the Razumkov Center social service has conducted a face-to-face poll titled "Citizens' assessment of situation in country, trust in social institutions, politicians, officials and public figures" in all regions of Ukraine (with the exception of the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson regions, Crimea and territories where hostilities continue). A total of 2017 respondents were interviewed, the theoretical sampling error does not exceed 2.3%. The poll has been conducted within the MATRA Program project funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. The import of aviation fuel to Georgia increased by 0.5 percent and reached 54,600 tons from January through June 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, Trend reports. The main supplier was Turkmenistan with 25,700 tons in 1Q2023, which is 47.1 percent of the total import volume. Turkmenistan is followed by Azerbaijan (12,500 tons), which is 22.9 percent of total imports. A total of 9,900 tons of aviation fuel were also imported from Greece (18.1 percent of total imports). Turkiye accounted for 11.2 percent (6,100 tons were imported). According to the Union of importers of petroleum products, the import of lubricants to Georgia from January through June increased by 13.9 percent and amounted to 11,260 tons. The largest volume of lubricants was imported from Turkiye, which amounted to 2,400 tons or 21.3 percent of total imports. Turkiye is followed by Iran with supplies of 2,270 tons (20.2 percent of total imports), Germany - with 1,290 tons (11.5 percent), Azerbaijan - with 0,690 tons (6.1 percent), as well as other countries. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. Azerbaijan's current payment transactions are expected to reach $9.2 billion by the end of 2023, Chairman of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan Taleh Kazimov told Trend. During the press conference on changes in the discount rate parameters, he noted that by 2025, this indicator is expected to reach $7.5-7.8 billion. "The reserves of Azerbaijan's strategic currency have increased by 12.7 percent and amount to $65.9 billion," he said. The current account surplus for the oil and gas sector doubled and amounted to $28.7 billion in 2022 compared to 2021, while the current account deficit for the non-oil and gas sector decreased by 9.4 percent and amounted to $5.2 billion. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. Open Banking is a priority and strategic activity of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan Taleh Kazimov told Trend. During the press conference on changes in the parameters of the discount rate, he said that according to the law "On Payment Services and Payment Systems" adopted on July 14, it is expected to introduce expanded capabilities of Open Banking this year. "Work is underway to prepare a legal framework that will regulate the activities of Open Banking today. I would like to note that some of the opportunities of Open Banking are already present in our market," he added. Moreover, Open Banking enables third-party developers to create services and applications for financial institutions, expands the possibilities of financial transparency for account holders of banking institutions, and allows them to exchange data about the client with his consent and form personal offers for him. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 26. Kyrgyzstan is interested in attracting investments from Azerbaijan and is ready to create all necessary conditions for successful investment activities, Bakyt Torobayev, the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, said Trend reports. The statement was made during a Kyrgyz-Azerbaijani business forum, which was held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. In his speech, Torobayev emphasized that the strong political will and trustful dialogue between the presidents of the two countries are opening new horizons for Kyrgyz-Azerbaijani cooperation in trade, economy, investments, culture, humanitarian affairs, and other important areas. He further mentioned that several promising business contracts regarding cooperation in agriculture, meat and meat products supply, logistics, and the development of collaboration in women's entrepreneurship and stock exchanges will be signed during the forum. "I am confident that this forum marked the promising beginning of fruitful cooperation between the business communities of our countries. Kyrgyzstan is interested in attracting investments from Azerbaijan and is ready to create all necessary conditions for successful investment activities in our country," Torobayev said. He also highlighted that the launch of direct air communication between the capitals Bishkek and Baku will positively influence the trade turnover between the two countries. "We are determined to achieve all set goals and tasks together with our Azerbaijani counterparts. The most crucial aspect is to attain tangible results," concluded Torobayev. According to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, trade turnover between the countries totaled $17.038 million from January through June 2023, which is 4 times more than in the same period of 2022 ($4.228 million). BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. An evaluation meeting of the "Business World Summit of the Century" business forum-exhibition (from July 13 through July 14) was held in Istanbul, Trend reports. According to the MUSIAD, the Azerbaijan branch of the Association of Independent Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkiye (MUSIAD) hosted an evaluation meeting of the event organized in partnership with MUSIAD, the Azerbaijan Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (KOBIA), the Association of Clubs and Small and Medium-sized Businesses (KOBSKA). The meeting was attended by Chairman of the Board of MUSIAD Azerbaijan Rashad Jabirli, members of the Management Board, members of MUSIAD, Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijan SME Development Agency Hikmet Mammadov and entrepreneurs participating in the business forum-exhibition from Azerbaijan. During the meeting, entrepreneurs shared their opinions about the event. Moreover, Rashad Jabirli, Chairman of the Management Board of MUSIAD Azerbaijan, stressed that the forum was held successfully, and said that events are planned to hold other similar forums. He also noted that MUSIAD, which serves a total of 164 localities (83 localities in Turkiye, 81 in different countries), always supports its members and entrepreneurs, and is ready to provide the necessary support for cooperation. In addition, Istanbul hosted the business forum "Business World Summit of the Century", organized by the Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Businesses of the Republic of Azerbaijan (KOBIA), the Association of Independent Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkiye (MUSIAD), the Association of Clubs and Small and Medium-sized Businesses (KOBSKA) and "MUSIAD Azerbaijan". The event was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the great leader Heydar Aliyev and the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkiye. MUSIAD has more than 13,500 members in 82 countries and 164 localities, and also has 83 branches in Turkiye. Youth-focussed digital publisher LBG Media announced the resignation of its chief operating officer and director Arian Kalantari on Wednesday, effective immediately. The AIM-traded firm said Kalantari had been on a sabbatical since the start of the year, and had now decided not to return to his position. As a result, his operational responsibilities, which had been redistributed among colleagues during his absence, would now be permanently retained by members of the group's leadership team. On behalf of the board and everyone at the company, I would like to thank Arian for his support over the years, both in the terms of the vital contribution to the founding of the business and the years of success that have been achieved since, said chief executive officer Solly Solomou. It has been a great pleasure to work side by side with my good friend and I wish him all the best and look forward to his continued support as a shareholder. At 1023 BST, shares in LBG Media were down 2.91% at 80p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. European shares ended on a mixed note as investors eyed a US Federal Reserve decision on rates the next day. They were also digesting the announcement of fresh economic stimulus in China, albeit alongside downbeat readings for German business confidence and euro area bank lending. The pan-regional Stoxx 600 index was up 0.48% at 467.92 with the main regional bourses putting in a mixed showing. To the downside, France's Cac-40 drifted lower by 0.16% to 7,415.45 and Spain's Ibex 35 dipped 0.25% to 9,519.20. At the sector level on the other hand, the Stoxx 600 sector index for Basic Resources shot 4.24% higher on the back of the news out of Beijing. The Federal Reserve began its two-day policy-setting meeting on Tuesday. Investors were looking for any clues on the future direction of monetary policy. Rate decisions are also due from the European Central Bank and Bank of Japan. Traders were also looking to US corporate earnings, with tech giants Microsoft and Google parent Alphabet due to release results. In economic news, the IFO Institute's business climate index for Germany fell to 87.3 in July from a revised 88.6 in June (consensus: 88.0). Adding to the gloom, the results of the European Central Bank's second quarter Bank Lending Survey showed that companies' demand for credit was "crashing", said Melanie Debono at Pantheon Macroeconomics. However, Pantheon's chief Eurozone chief economist, Claus Vistesen, believed the results were compatible with two more rate hikes out of the central bank. In equity news, shares in Idorsia slumped as the Swiss pharma company released results and announced a cost-cutting pan to stem cash burn. Airbus was also under the cost after the manufacturer of the engines for its A320neo, Raytheon, warned that some of the turbines needed to be removed and inspected. Consumer goods giant Unilever gained as it reported a rise in first-half profits. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. Armenia was forced to take some steps towards peace after the 2020 second Karabakh war, but this isn't enough, a veteran of the Azerbaijani security agencies, Colonel Azer Garayev, told Trend. Speaking about the results of the Shusha Global Media Forum, at the opening of which the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization issue was also discussed, he noted that President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev once again demonstrated the firm position of Azerbaijan at the forum. Garayev reminded the audience that during the forum, President Ilham Aliyev answered questions from representatives of local and foreign media for almost three hours and conveyed many important messages. "The holding of the Global Media Forum in the Turkic world's cultural capital, Shusha, has become a very significant event in terms of promoting the history and culture of Azerbaijan. This event was an indicator of special attention and care for the press in Azerbaijan," the veteran said. "The forum was attended by 150 foreign guests from 49 countries, including state information agencies from 34 countries, 12 international organizations, and media structures. In addition, 60 local media managers and representatives took part in the event." "During the forum, journalists could easily ask President Ilham Aliyev any question they wanted answered. Along with answering questions, President Ilham Aliyev also demonstrated the concrete position of our country on many important issues. In particular, the head of state mentioned important points on the process of normalizing Azerbaijan-Armenia relations," he pointed out. "In addition, Armenia continues to interfere with the peace process through provocations and attempts to show itself to the whole world as an unfortunate, oppressed state. Many have already had enough of these Armenian lies. If the peace agreement is not signed, the consequences will undoubtedly be difficult for Armenia. Armenia needs the economic income brought by peace, while Azerbaijan dictates the conditions for development and progress in the South Caucasus," he said. Garayev stressed that during the forum, President Ilham Aliyev made important statements about Azerbaijan's economic indicators, especially in the energy sector, about successes and plans. "Azerbaijan is accepted and recognized worldwide as an initiator and successful executor of international energy projects. In particular, the whole world recognizes Azerbaijan's role in Europe's energy security," he added. Coca-Cola India announced the appointment of Ajay Vijay Bathija, as Vice President of Franchise Operations for Southwest Asia (SWA). Ajay's vast career journey with The Coca-Cola Company extends nearly 24 years and encompasses a distinct combination of marketing and franchise specialization. In 1999, Ajay embarked on his professional journey with the Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd. (HCCBPL) Front Line Sales team and demonstrated consistent growth steadily advancing across different roles and positions within the organisation. He was the Region Manager for the Mekong Delta Region at SabCo Vietnam, in 2005. In this pivotal role, he led sales operations and route-to-market strategies to drive volumes. He returned to India as Director Marketing for Colas and spearheaded the ground-breaking "Share a Coke" campaign. He successfully, introduced Coca-Cola Zero sugar for the first time in the INSWA (India and Southwest Asia) markets. He was also instrumental in rejuvenating ThumsUp through integrated marketing campaigns, resulting in enhanced brand love. As the Country Manager for Bangladesh from 2018-2020, Ajay worked closely with the Bottling Partners to bring Bangladesh amongst the top 3 markets in Coca-Cola TM, within The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) globally. In 2020, he transitioned to Senior Director - Front Line Marketing, where he aligned portfolio strategies, facilitated seamless commercial and marketing execution, and successfully launched the most celebrated musical franchise of the Company, 'Coke Studio' in Bangladesh. His pioneering "Is Cooking" Coke with meals experience platform, particularly "Kolkata is Cooking," boosted Coca-Cola TM's brand love and consumer engagement. Commenting on the appointment, Sanket Ray President, India, and Southwest Asia, said "With his understanding of business, and growth mindset, Ajay has a proven track record of taking business to newer heights. We are hopeful that with his astute business acumen and collaborative approach he will further the organization's purpose in the Southwest Asia region". Ajay has successfully completed his Masters in Marketing Management from NMIMS, Mumbai. He is a Commerce graduate from HR College of Commerce and Economics. Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy's Malayalam movie, 'Max, Min & Meowzaki,' starring Nafisa Ali, Nassar, Adil Hussain and Mandira Bedi, has won the best feature film awards at the 20th Indian Film Festival Stuttgart 2023. If a cat plays a key part in 'Max, Min & Meowzaki,' a dog is at the center of the drama in Victor Mukherjee's vigilante action thriller 'Lakadbaggha' starring Anshuman Jha and Ridhi Dogra, which took home the Director's Vision award. Other awards included Best Documentary, which went to Nisha Pahuja for 'To Kill A Tiger'; Best Short Film for 'Nocturnal Burger' by Reema Maya; Best TVC bagged by 'Mental Health' by Bauddhayan Mukherji; and the Audience Award, which was picked up by the Busan Film Festival favorite 'The Storyteller', with Paresh Rawal and Naseeruddin Shah in prominent roles, by Ananth Narayan Mahadevan. As the news about the awards came in, IANS spoke with 'Lakadbaggha' lead actor Anshuman Jha. Expressing his excitement, actor and producer Anshuman said: "Portraying the character of Arjun in 'Lakadbaggha' has been an immensely gratifying journey for me as an actor and producer. This film holds a special place in my heart as it not only entertains but also leaves a lasting impact on the audience, championing the cause of animal welfare." "Winning the prestigious German Star Of India 'Vision' Award is a true honor and a validation of our team's collective effort to create impactful cinema. 'Lakadbaggha' aims to stir emotions, spark conversations, and inspire positive change, and I couldn't be prouder of the resounding recognition it has garnered on the global stage," he added. The film also stars Milind Soman and Paresh Pahuja in pivotal roles. Produced by First Ray Films, it is streaming on ZEE5. India is open for Chinese investment despite border clashes between the two countries, Minister of State for Information Technology and Electronics of India, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, stated to the Financial Times. "We are open to doing business with any firm anywhere as long as they are investing and setting up their business lawfully and are in compliance with the Indian laws," Chandrasekhar told the FT, adding that India was "open to all investment, including Chinese". New Delhi ramped up scrutiny of Chinese businesses after a 2020 border clash between the two countries, banning more than 300 Chinese apps, including TikTok. India has also intensified scrutiny of investments by Chinese firms. The Indian government recently rejected a USD 1 billion investment proposal of Chinese electric car maker BYD and its Hyderabad-based partner Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) to set up an electric vehicle manufacturing plant. India reportedly dismissed the plan from BYD and Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd. reportedly due to national security concerns. The use of Chinese homegrown technology is a concern, per reports. The Indian government is not considering easing restrictions put in place a few years ago on foreign investments from countries that share land border with India, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in March 2023. "54 FDI proposals received during the past year and current year with investor/ beneficial owner from China/Hong Kong are pending for decision with government as on March 21, 2023," she said. In 2020, India sought to limit investments from China as political tensions heightened between the two countries with its soldiers clashing at the disputed Himalayan region. The restrictions called for beneficial owners of a country sharing a land border with India to seek its government's approval for investments. The step was taken to prevent hostile takeovers of Indian companies when the country was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) has joined forces with World Cloud Show, the leading global event focused on cloud technologies and digital transformation. The partnership aims to drive cloud adoption and foster digital innovation in the Philippines. The 21st edition of World Cloud Show, organised by Trescon, is scheduled to take place on 17th August 2023 at Edsa Shangri-La in Manila, Philippines. World Cloud Show is a thought-leadership-driven event that brings together industry experts, decision-makers, and technology enthusiasts to explore the latest trends and advancements in cloud computing. With a focus on cloud adoption and digital transformation, the event provides a platform for enterprises and governments to exchange ideas, share best practices, and leverage the power of cloud technologies. The Manila edition of World Cloud Show offers a unique opportunity to witness the latest trends and innovations in the Philippine cloud market. Pre-qualified CIOs, CEOs, CTOs, Heads of Research, Industry Practitioners, IT Decision Makers, and Cloud Computing Experts from various industries across the region will gather to discuss key topics such as Cloud Native, Intelligent Cloud, Collaborative Leadership, Data Visualisation & Management, Smart Data Centres, Sustainable Cloud, and Cloud Transformation. Confirmed speakers at the event include industry leaders and visionaries shaping the future of cloud adoption and digital transformation in the region. Among the notable speakers are Tr Mon Gutierrez, Chief of Staff for the Office of E-Government, DICT Mary Joy Abueg, President, National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) Gemma Rose Dublan, Chief Information Officer, Cybersecurity Philippines Hector Melencio, Assistant Vice President of the Information Technology Department and Deputy Data Protection Officer, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Mark Rivera, Country Chief Information Officer, Sodexo Charlie Valerio, Chief Information Officer, Aboitiz Power Corporation Alex Ustaris, Chief Technology Officer, PHINMA Education Holdings Inc. Marlon Sorongon, Chief Information Security Officer, Maybank Carlos Tengkiat, Chief Information Security Officer, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation The event is officially supported by the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines, the Asia Cloud Computing Association and Data Centre Association of the Philippines. Additionally, the event is excited to have Cybersecurity Philippines CERT join as its community partner. Mohammed Saleem, Founding Chairman of Trescon, expressed his enthusiasm about the event and the partnership with NICP, saying, "We are delighted to have the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines join us for the Manila edition of World Cloud Show. Together, we aim to create a platform that enables enterprises and governments to harnessthe potential of cloud technologies and drive digital transformation." NICP's involvement in World Cloud Show signifies a shared commitment to promoting foreign and local investments, balanced development, and the transformation of the Philippines into a competitive provider for global services. By aligning with NICP's vision, World Cloud Show aims to contribute significantly to inclusive countryside development through the use of cloud technologies. "NICP's partnership with World Cloud Show marks a significant step towards accelerating cloud migration and digital transformation in Manila," said Naveen Bharadwaj, CEO of Trescon. "We are privileged to collaborate with NICP and bring together key stakeholders to drive innovation and foster sustainable growth in the cloud computing landscape." Registration for World Cloud Show Manila is now open. To secure your place and learn more about the event, please visit: https://worldcloudshow.com/manila A mere spark or a mutual interest that two people share may sometimes lead to the launch and success of a brand and Rayna Tours success story is no exception. Its founders passion for travel, fueled by the spirit of entrepreneurship, motivated them to start their own businesses. The teams unremitting perseverance has made it now one of the ultimate travel brands in the industry. RAYNA TOURS AND TRAVELS: HOW DOES THE JOURNEY BEGIN? Two friends and former colleagues at Safeer Group of Companies, ManojTulsani and KamleshRamchandani, set the stage for the start of Rayna Tours and Travels eventful journey in the 2000s. Despite coming from a different industry (trading), they identified a gap in the travel industry when they decided to open Rayna Tours in 2006. They were at the peak of their careers, but their love for travel and entrepreneurship led them to quit their well-paid jobs and fully concentrate on the launch of Rayna Tours and Travels. DEVELOPMENT & GROWTH The beginning was modest; it was a small travel boutique in a Dubai hotel (Flora Grand Hotel). They started off by providing tours and excursions to the hotel guests. Being absolute newcomers with limited industry knowledge and surrounded by intense competition, it wasnt easy for them to take the business forward. But they unraveled solutions for every challenge thrown at them. The company began to gain a foothold as they expanded their presence by opening over 10 similar outlets in less than two years. Rayna Tours and Travels exponential growth further saw it become one of the top destination management companies in 2009. PRESENT DAY RAYNA TOURS AND TRAVELS Like any other business in the industry, Rayna Tours had to slow down during the pandemic. But it was one of the few companies that survived this unprecedented time with zero layoffs. There were restrictions, challenges, and uncertainties, but they remained steadfast in engaging their patrons by relying on the power of organic marketing and digital avenues to inspire wanderlust through their fantastic content and compelling virtual experiences. Apart from these, they kept the lines of communication more open and transparent in the second round with flexible booking options. All these allowed them to bounce back by reinforcing their brand reputation and reinstating themselves as a trusted service provider whose top priority is customers safety and satisfaction. RAYNA TOURS SUCCESS ASPECTS There are many reasons why Rayna Tours and Travels became so successful in such a short period. The main reason is that they dont have a middleman for the execution of the majority of their tours, holidays, and other travel services. They focus on a direct-to-client strategy as the company boasts its own desert safari Dubai camp, cruise inventories, and an extensive fleet of vehicles, including compact cars, extravagant limos, spacious buses, etc. Another reason behind its success is its massive online presence; it was one of the first companies to harness the power of the internet and technology. It has a robust eCommerce platform in the B2B (www.raynab2b.com) and B2C (www.raynatours.com) verticals, which makes its products and services accessible to all types of users, including individuals, families, travel agents, tour guides, and small- and mid-sized travel businesses. Rayna Tours and Travels has always been a customer-centric service provider. And it is probably one of the major aspects that contribute to its continuous success. They have always specialized in ensuring top-notch travel experiences for their customers, from an all-inclusive, user-friendly web platform that offers flexible customization options to value-packed pricing and opportunities to earn and redeem R Points. NAVIGATING THE DIFFICULT TIMES Like any other businesses in the industry, Rayna Tours too had to slow down during the pandemic. But it was one of the few companies that survived this unprecedented time with zero layoffs. There were restrictions, challenges, and uncertainties, but they remained steadfast in engaging their patrons by relying on the power of organic marketing and digital avenues to inspire wanderlust through their fantastic content and compelling virtual experiences. Apart from these, they kept the lines of communication more open and transparent in the second round with flexible booking options. All these allowed them to bounce back by reinforcing their brand reputation and reinstating themselves as a trusted service provider whose top priority is customers safety and satisfaction. BEHIND THE COMPANYS ONGOING SUCCESS: RAYNA TOURS KEY PEOPLE ManojTulsani : At the helm of Rayna Tours growth and success is its passionate founder, ManojTulsani. He laid a strong foundation for the companys success through his exceptional industry knowledge and experience. : At the helm of Rayna Tours growth and success is its passionate founder, ManojTulsani. He laid a strong foundation for the companys success through his exceptional industry knowledge and experience. SenthilVelan: He took charge as the CEO of Rayna Tours and Travels in May 2023. With over 20 years of experience in the travel domain, Senthil is an industry veteran known for his incredible business acumen, critical thinking, in-depth market knowledge, and exceptional leadership qualities. He took charge as the CEO of Rayna Tours and Travels in May 2023. With over 20 years of experience in the travel domain, Senthil is an industry veteran known for his incredible business acumen, critical thinking, in-depth market knowledge, and exceptional leadership qualities. HimanshuLaul: He became a part of Rayna Tours as the Director of Business Development in one of the most challenging times in 2020. However, he has dramatically taken the company to new heights, especially during the pandemic. Himanshu is now the companys managing director and a significant force behind its operational excellence. He became a part of Rayna Tours as the Director of Business Development in one of the most challenging times in 2020. However, he has dramatically taken the company to new heights, especially during the pandemic. Himanshu is now the companys managing director and a significant force behind its operational excellence. Yasser Noman: He joined the company in 2018, following the merger of his company, Arabian Explorers, with Rayna Tours and Travels. As Rayna Tours executive chairman, his strategic vision, profound experience, and wealth of industry expertise have been inevitable in the companys growth and success. RAYNA TOURS AWARDS Given the companys commitment to unwavering customer satisfaction and value-packed services, it is not surprising that Rayna Tours and Travels is an award-winning destination management company. It has won numerous prestigious awards and accolades. It bagged one of TripAdvisors greatest accolades, Travelers Choices, for two years in a row in 2020 and 2021. The company also received the 2018 Arabian Travel Awards in two categories: Best B2B Portal and Best Destination Management Company. Besides being recognized by the regions top attractions, including the Dubai Dolphinarium and Yas Island, Rayna Tours also became the Best Partner for Dubai Parks and Resorts in 2017. FINAL THOUGHTS Rayna Tours and Travels wasnt an overnight success.It had its share of obstacles, challenges, and intense competitions. But they proved that it is possible to surmount all of them with sheer passion and determination. Philippines, the third-largest contact center outsourcing destination, is gearing up to host the 11th edition of the World CX Summit, organized by Trescon. The premier customer experience event brings together leading CX professionals and experts to help businesses and brands provide a seamless customer experience journey using the latest trends and technologies that dominate the market. After successfully hosting over 15,000 CX thought leaders, innovators, specialists and key stakeholders in over 10 editions, the World CX Summit has established itself as a premier knowledge sharing platform to share actionable insights about the latest trends and technologies in delivering a memorable customer experience. At the event, attendees will engage in insightful sessions, listen to captivating keynotes, and draw inspiration from successful use-cases to transform their CX strategies. At the 11th global edition of the World CX Summit, the attendees will witness the fusion of cutting-edge techno- logies and customer insights while helping them focus on how to amplify customer experience, pioneering personalization at scale, cracking the code of CX ROI along with other key topics. Fostering a spirit of knowledge-sharing and innovation, the event facilitates networking opportunities and forge impactful relationship to accelerate the adoption of the latest technologies to optimize customer experience strategies. The notable speakers attending the event include: Venn Jude Francisco, Chief Experience Officer, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, Philippines Sam Tolentino, Assistant Vice President - Client Engagement & Solutions Group, Union Bank, Philippines Melody Lim, Head of Customer Experience, Aboitiz Power Philippines Hazel Montano-Zamora, CX Design Head, AIA Philippines, Philippines Godfrey Santos, Assistant Vice President- Customer Experience, PETNET Inc. Tara Cabullo, Head of Customer and Investments Digital Experience, GCash, Philippines Samuel Powell, CEO, HMR Philippines, Philippines Warren Ilustre, Head of Customer Experience, East West Bank, Philippines Dan Ramirez, SVP and Head of Transformation, ING, Philippines Jonas R. De Los Reyes, First Vice President, Head of Digital Marketing and Omnichannel, Metrobank and Trust Company (Metrobank), Philippines Naveen Bharadwaj, Group CEO, Trescon shared his excitement about the upcoming event stating, The Philippines expanding CX market and economic growth made it an ideal choice to host the latest edition of the World CX Summit. We are committed to supporting the continued digital transformation of the market by undertaking the mandates and requirements of local government and enterprise stakeholders and facilitating their introductions to the world's leading solution and service providers. On being a part of the Summit, one of the key speakers, Venn Jude Francisco said, The World CX Summit provides a venue that will foster much needed collaborations which can hopefully spark meaningful innovation in customer experience across regions. Sam Tolentino, AVP? Client Engagement & Solutions Group, Union Bank expressed his excitement about the Summit saying, The World CX Summit will play a pivotal role in elevating local CX to exceed global standards. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The NYPD is seeking the publics assistance in locating a 56-year-old man from Mariners Harbor who was reported missing. Raymond Hayes was last seen on Thursday, June 29, leaving his residence on Richmond Terrace at around 7 p.m. He is described as being 59 in height, approximately 150 pounds in weight, bald with brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black shirt with white lettering on it, red pants with a black stripe, and black slippers. Anyone with information in regard to the whereabouts of this missing person is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on Twitter @NYPDTips. NEW YORK A tall construction crane caught fire in Manhattan on Wednesday morning, and its arm hit a building as it crashed to the street below. FDNY officials have declared this a four alarm fire, according to ABCNY7. The mayor of New York City says four people suffered minor injuries but no one died when a fire on a construction crane caused its arm to strike a building as it crashed to the street. Pedestrians ran for their lives early Wednesday as the cranes arm fell. The cause of the fire and partial collapse on Manhattans West Side is being investigated. A fire official says the person operating the crane tried to put out the fire as it spread but had to flee to safety. Mayor Eric Adams says this could have been much worse. Photos and videos posted on social media show flames bursting from the car of a crane hundreds of feet above 10th Avenue at 41st Street. The cranes arm scraped the top floors of a skyscraper across the street as it fell. Firefighters stationed on a roof deck of another building used hoses to battle the blaze. Surrounding streets were closed to traffic. Former Staten Island Borough President and City Buildings Commissioner James Oddo said an investigation into what went wrong was already underway. The building under construction was intended to rise 54 floors above the street. The location on Manhattans West Side is near the Port Authority Bus Terminal and an entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel, which carries auto traffic to and from New Jersey under the Hudson River. FDNY radio transmissions are reporting all the buildings are being evacuated on 40th and 41th streets for at least a block around the fire. This is a developing story check back for updates. Steve Zaffarano contributed to this report. Emergency responders are on the scene after a large construction crane caught fire in Manhattan on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 in New York. The crane caught fire and its arm hit a building as it crashed to the street below. (WABC via AP) APAP First responders spray water on tall construction crane that caught fire in Manhattan on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 in New York. The crane caught first and its arm hit a building as it crashed to the street below. (WABC via AP) Emergency responders battle flames as a large construction crane caught fire in Manhattan on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 in New York. (WABC via AP) AP Smoke rises from a construction crane that caught fire in Manhattan, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in New York. The crane lost its long arm, which smashed against a nearby building, dangled and then plummeted to the street as people ran for their lives on the sidewalk below. Some people suffered minor injuries, but no one died, according to Mayor Eric Adams .(AP Photo/Seth Wenig) AP STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. If you are a United States citizen planning to travel to Europe next year, be prepared for new entry requirements. A new entry requirement ETIAS travel authorization has been introduced by the European Union (EU) for visa-free travelers from several countries, including the United States. It means that, starting in 2024, some 1.4 billion people from more than 60 visa-exempt countries will be required to have this travel authorization to enter most European countries. It is linked to a travelers passport and valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. With this valid authorization, you can enter European countries as often as you want for short-term stays typically for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. But it doesnt guarantee entry as a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents upon arrival and verify you meet the entry conditions. Heres what you need to know. What is the new travel requirement? If you come from one of the countries listed by the EU which includes the United States you will need to get an ETIAS travel authorization to any of the 30 European countries, starting in 2024. What do you need to apply? You will need a passport valid for more than three months and an email address to fill out the online form. Youll be asked details about your occupation and about your intended travel and stay in any of the countries requiring ETIAS. Youll also need to pay a 7 Euro entry fee. Applicants under 18 or above 70 are exempt from the payment, as well as family members of EU citizens or of non-EU nationals. How long can I stay? With a valid travel authorization, you can stay in any of the 30 European countries for 90 days in any 180-day period. How long is it valid? Your travel authorization will be valid for three years or until the passport you used in the application expires, whichever comes first. You can use it for multiple entries, according to the new travel rules. When does it officially begin? The new travel requirements arent yet operational and no applications are collected at this time. While it is set to begin in 2024, an exact timeline for the launch hasnt been shared. It will soon be announced by the European Commission. Visit europa.eu/etias for more information. FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. New Jersey authorities have charged 19 reputed members of a Perth Amboy street gang accused of selling drugs and guns while engaging in an ongoing violent feud with rival gangs in the city. Eighteen of the 19 accused Hot Boys Mafia gang, a local subset of the Dominicans Dont Play gang, were arrested at three locations in Perth Amboy on June 20, the state Office of the Attorney General said Wednesday. One man remains at large and the arrests include three juveniles following a 10-month investigation. Investigators seized $9,000 in cash, 13 pounds of marijuana, a 9 mm handgun, several pounds of imitation drugs, hundreds of marijuana vape cartridges, boxes of pills and ammunition and drug distribution packaging materials. The drugs, including cocaine, were sold using Instagram and the Telegram messenger app and out of a multi-family house on Steadman Place in Perth Amboy, authorities said. Authorities in Georgia helped break the case open when three of the gang members, including a juvenile, traveled there in August 2022 to obtain guns and transport them back to New Jersey officials said. Police in Georgia noticed blood splatter on the outside of the gang members vehicle and then obtained a search warrant. Investigators found a bullet hole in the rear of the drivers seat and later seized six firearms, 227 bullets and several handgun magazines. One of the firearms was reports stolen. The Hot Boys Mafia members attacked rival gang members on at least three occasions, authorities said. The first took place on April 26, 2022 when five members carjacked a member of a rival gang, officials said. Several of their members attacked a reputed member of the Trinitarios street gang with a machete on Oct. 11, 2022, Then on April 12, Hot Boys Mafia members on dirt bikes swarmed a vehicle in the Hopelawn section of Woodbridge and beat the driver unconscious with a helmet and their fists, authorities said. The leader of the gang, authorities allege, is Domingo Paulino, 29. His second-in-command is Adonis Pantera Estevez, 21, of Perth Amboy with Henderson Gomez, 29, also a high-ranking member of Hot Boy Mafia, the state Office of the Attorney General said. All are charged with racketeering, drug offenses and multiple other crimes. One reputed gang member Adonis Estevez, 21, is still being sought. All 19 live in Perth Amboy. The oldest is 57. An attorney representing Paulino couldnt immediately be reached. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. Special attention is paid to the training of young soldiers in a Separate combined army, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan told Trend. In accordance with the decree "On conscription from July 1 to July 30, 2023, of citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan for urgent active military service and on the discharge of military personnel of urgent active military service" of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev on May 20, 2023, the recruitment of young soldiers called up to the army continues. The result of the exemplary conditions of service created in a Separate combined army that provides reliable defense of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is that soldiers just starting service do not face any difficulties. Young people who will serve in fully equipped military units are trained as professional soldiers who will perform the most difficult combat tasks. Young people called up for military service are transferred to a military unit by a representative of the State Service for Mobilization and Conscription. Recruits are examined in a military hospital, which has modern equipment. Then the young soldiers are sent to the clothing warehouse. After they are supplied with military uniforms and other personal belongings here, they are transferred to the units in which they will serve. Before taking the military oath, young people at the initial stage of training participate in exercises in accordance with the Charter of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan. One of the main parts of the daily routine is the hours of physical training. The staff increases their physical endurance with the help of various sports facilities. As in other military units of a Separate combined army, serious attention is paid here to the observance by soldiers of the rules of personal hygiene and the preservation of health. The necessary conditions have been created in the bath and laundry of the military unit. Modern washing machines, dryers and ironing facilities in the laundry room provide staff with clean clothes and bed linen during the week. Proper nutrition is also one of the main conditions for maintaining the health of personnel. In the dining room of the military unit, professional female chefs prepare many environmentally friendly dishes. The necessary reserves and conditions have been created in food warehouses for the daily provision of personnel with fresh and high-calorie food. There are refrigerators and freezers that meet modern requirements. Meat, fish, fruit and vegetable and other food stocks are stored in these chambers. The effective conduct of leisure activities by soldiers in accordance with the daily routine is also one of the main issues that should be paid attention to. For this purpose, ideological, educational, household and recreation rooms were provided for the use of soldiers. Books, stands, newspapers and magazines reflecting the historical path of development of the Azerbaijani army are displayed here. Soldiers also get the opportunity to play various board games and watch TV. Young soldiers who are just beginning their service, after taking the military oath, will participate in exercises and classes in their specialty, practical shooting, and master other combined arms knowledge. After 3 months of training, young soldiers who have fully mastered military knowledge and skills corresponding to their specialty will be sent to other military units to continue their service. Sign up for Reckons latest weekly newsletter covering the three topics never to be discussed at the dinner table. Enter your email to subscribe to Matter of Faith. In the world of faith, sex and politics, things have always been spicy but the heat is really about to turn up (literally and figuratively) as the 2024 election approaches. Im all about observing what we have and where we are so we know who we want to be and where we want to go. Thats the whole reason I got into journalism (especially journalism about these three topics). Knowledge is power, so dont let the wolves pull the wool over your eyes, as my grandmother once told me. Over the last year, Ive written about some of the latest analysis and data on the state of religion in America and the numbers tell an interesting story about our culture. Im not applying any good or bad meaning to these numbers, and I dont think you should either. Theres much more to be said about Christian Nationalism, but so many folks have already said a lot. Ive had the privilege of talking to many of those people. Here are four Reckon stories you need to read about Christian Nationalism before you get swept into the election news cycle: If youre new to this whole conversation about racism, purity culture and how all that is also involved in politics, start here. Its important to understand what were talking about when we say White Christian Nationalism. Whether or not you watched the Shiny, Happy People documentary on Prime Video, youve probably heard of Hobby Lobby. If you havent shopped at Hobby Lobby, theres a good chance you have been exposed to Bill Gothards teachings. Young latinos are leaving the Catholic Church and religion altogether and theres a host of reasons why. Latinos who leave Catholicism for another religion are most likely to identify with evangelical or protestant Christianity. One of the most noted trends in religious affiliation in America has been the shift from Christianity to no religion or nothing in particular, as some studies have described this group thats changing the religious landscape. Further reading: If you want more of the latest on the state of religion in America, subscribe to Matter of Faith for a weekly look at the world of faith, sex and politics. In the meantime, read these articles about the future of religion and the 2024 election: STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A storm with downpours, wind and lightning hit the New York City area Tuesday afternoon, flooding borough roads and leaving more than 1,000 residents without power. AccuWeather forecasters issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Staten Island along with others parts of the city and Long Island just after 3 p.m., expiring at 4:15 p.m. Conditions included wind gusts upwards of 60 mph and penny sized hail. The service warned damage to trees and power lines could occur. The threat for rain in the area is expected to last through the evening. - The Zimmer Club at the corner of Androvette Street and Arthur Kill Road was completely flooded during the teeming downpour on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 (Owen Reiter for the Staten Island Advance) FLOODING Staten Island drivers caught in the heavy downpours found themselves on flooded roads as the rain quickly pooled. On the West Shore Expressway, drivers pulled over as visibility was severely limited by the rain. One driver reported flooding on side streets off Arthur Kill Road, while another encountered ponding on Jewett Avenue and Victory Boulevard. On the East Shore, relentless rain flooded the sections of Guyon Avenue just above and below Hylan Boulevard. The waters reached about half the height of the wheels of one car parked below the boulevard. Motorists either proceeded with extreme caution or turned around to avoid the risk. Further down Hylan, near Chesterton Avenue, flooding briefly reduced South Shore-bound traffic to a single lane at around 3:50 p.m., but 10 minutes later, it was flowing normally. At about 3 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for the entire NYC area, with 1-2 inches of rain expected. The alert said heavy rainfall could cause flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage areas and low lying spots. Residents are advised not to drive your vehicle or walk into areas where water covers the roadway as the water depth may be too great to allow you to cross safely. Flooding on Grimsby Street and Mapleton Avenue., Midland Beach, Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Staten island Advance/Luke Peteley) A monitor placed on Grimsby Street as part of the citys Floodnet program showed that the flood-prone street had 10 inches of water by 4:15 p.m. RUSH HOUR WOES At 4:12 p.m. the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey issued an alert that the Goethals Bridge headed into Staten Island had a delay due to flooding in the area of Victory Blvd on the Staten Island Expressway. Meanwhile, by 4:30 p.m., the New Jersey-bound Expressway was backed up nearly its entire length, from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to South Avenue, where a crash was reported. - Ellis Road in Charleston during a torrential downpour, Tuesday, July 25, 2023 (Owen Reiter for the Staten Island Advance) Owen Reiter POWER OUTAGES More than 1,000 Con Edison customers, mostly on the North Shore, lost power during the storm, according to the utilitys outage map. More than 900 of those were located in Tompkinsville. Other outages were reported in Castleton Corners and Clifton. A second set of outages on the South Shore, in Great Kills, were reported by 4 p.m. FORECAST FOR REST OF THE DAY According to the NWS, showers and thunderstorms will again occur sometime before 8pm. Weather could be severe, with high gusty winds. Mostly cloudy, with a low temperature around 67. is expected Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. 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! Under Xi, the role of state-owned enterprises has been elevated and that of the private sector diminished, Chinas once-vibrant tech sector has shrunk and, with the introduction of the three red lines restrictions on leverage, the property sector has imploded. Loading Late last week, in advance of the Politburo meeting, the authorities released a list of 31 measures/guiding statements in which they vowed to make the private sector bigger, better and stronger. They promised to level the playing field between private and state-owned companies, remove market barriers, increase access to funding, involve the private sector in future policy developments and ensure that funds owed to the companies by local governments and other state-owned entities would be paid. They would concretely optimise private firms development environment, they said. There was a rush, which appeared choreographed, by Chinas billionaire class (who have kept an increasingly low profile in the past two years amid the crackdowns on the private sector) to share their excitement and appreciation for the partys plans. The broad shift in stance towards the private sector wasnt the only significant shift away from policies regarded as Xi-driven. For the first time since 2019 a phrase attributed to Xi property is for living in, not for speculation disappeared from the Politburos statements. Chinas battered economy is struggling to sustain its recovery after emerging from zero-COVID lockdowns at the end of last year. Credit: Getty In the midst of a property crisis, with major developers defaulting almost on a weekly basis, the Politburo now wants to timely adjust and optimise real estate policies. It says it will act to increase the construction and supply of low-income housing, renovate urban villages and revitalise idling properties. There are, because of the distressed developers, a lot of uncompleted property developments in China. Chinas private sector has contributed about 60 per cent of its GDP, with the tech sector generating the highest growth rate, and about 80 per cent of urban jobs. Its property sector, pre-crash, contributed about 30 per cent of GDP. With the economy spluttering, urban unemployment at record levels of more than 20 per cent and the property sector depressed it seems to have finally dawned on the authorities that cracking down on the key drivers of growth and employment and elevating the less productive and innovative state-owned enterprises may not, coming out of the pandemic, have been the wisest of policy choices. Loading The Politburo also pledged to resolve the debt-laden plight of its local governments, which are struggling because of the loss of the property sales-related income they previously relied on, and to use monetary and fiscal policies to try to boost consumption. Whether the switch from the vow of making state-owned enterprises bigger, stronger and better to the same pledge for the private sector will suddenly turn around the risk-averse sentiment within Chinas private sector is doubtful. It will take action, and time, for Chinas entrepreneurial private firms to regain trust in Beijing after the traumas associated with the response to the pandemic and the volatility of policymaking of the past few years. There is no instant or even near-term fix for the property sector, which will drag on Chinas growth rate for the foreseeable future, and it may take large-scale fiscal largesse for Chinas battered consumers to regain the confidence to spend. Youth unemployment is soaring across the country. Credit: Reuters Beijing, despite a concerted effort in recent weeks to woo foreign investors, including a meeting last Friday with some of the worlds biggest investment companies, is also unlikely to get much help from external sources. For the first time since 2019 a phrase attributed to Xi property is for living in, not for speculation disappeared from the Politburos statements. Foreign investment has been scared off by the crackdown on foreign consultancies and the removal of access to economic and business data, on national security grounds, that they rely on to undertake their due diligence, and by the nature of policymaking in recent years. The increased tensions between China and the West and the decoupling of their economies thats occurring wont help. With the global economy slowing, the restructuring of global supply chains and the banning of access to key technologies by the US and some of its allies, Chinas exports are unlikely to come to its rescue. Loading It has to generate domestic activity and demand growth, hence Xis willingness to countenance the about-face in policies that he developed, implemented and was committed to. While there was a long list of measures outlined in the Politburo statement, the lack of detailed actions means it will take some time to see whether the authorities are doing what they have indicated they will do and even longer to assess the effectiveness of the policy changes. The willingness to, at least rhetorically, walk back from an ideological prejudice against the private sector is, however, an important and necessary shift in the policy framework if China is to regain the kind of growth rates that would start to shrink its youth unemployment rate and, longer term, help offset the drag of a shrinking population. London: A London jury acquitted Kevin Spacey on sexual assault charges on Wednesday after a four-week trial in which the actor said he was a big flirt who had consensual flings with men and whose only misstep was touching a mans groin while making a clumsy pass. Three men accused the Oscar winner of aggressively grabbing their crotches. A fourth, an aspiring actor seeking mentorship, said he awoke to the actor performing oral sex on him after going to Spaceys London apartment for a beer and either falling asleep or passing out. Kevin Spacey speaks to press after leaving court at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday. Credit: Getty Images All the men said the contact was unwanted but Spacey testified that the young actor and another man had willingly participated in consensual acts. He said a third mans allegation that he grabbed his privates like a striking cobra backstage at a theatre was pure fantasy. He said he didnt remember a fourth incident at a small party at a home he rented in the country but accepted that he touched the groin of a man he had met at a pub during a night of heavy drinking. He said he had misread the mans interest in him and said he had probably made an awkward pass. Collection 10 hot, new (and renewed) Melbourne bars and pubs to try right now From a four-storey mega-venue to some popular old North Melbourne pubs given new life, here are the watering holes weve been loving lately. I have two children aged 26 and 24 who both work full-time and have HELP debt of approximately $50,000 each. I would like to gift each of my children $20,000 but am not sure of the most prudent way to do this. Shall I give them $20,000 each to pay down some of their HELP debt or is it better to put it in their superannuation fund? The HELP debt is indexed to inflation which is currently around 7 per cent and shows no sign of abating. Given it may be more than 35 years before your children can access their superannuation, and there may be many changes to the laws in those years, I think putting the money towards the HELP debt is the best option. Its giving them a good foundation for life and you are getting a guaranteed 7 per cent per annum on the money. If youre thinking of giving your kids a financial gift, consider helping pay down their HECS debt. Credit: Steven Siewert I have a question about the transfer balance cap. Suppose a person retired last year and transferred $1.8 million to pension mode. The drawdown for their age is 5 per cent per annum but if the market performs well it could be over $2 million by 30 June next year. This is way above the present cap of $1.9 million. What is the fund member required to do, and when are they required to do it? I have good news for you the transfer balance cap (TBC) only regulates the amount you can transfer to pension mode within your superannuation fund. Once youve maxed out the TBC, as has happened in this case, the money is free to grow to any level provided you keep taking out the minimum pension. The number of young women enrolling in science and maths in year 12 has nearly reached parity with young men, but while the battle for the minds is being won at school, jobs in these industries continue to be dominated by men. Girls now make up 52 per cent of science enrolments and 48 per cent of mathematics enrolments in the final year of school, new government figures show. They have also passed boys in agriculture and environment sciences, earth sciences and chemistry with female participation in the latter subject growing from 49 per cent in 2013 to 51 per cent. Alix Ratcliffe and her team teach Future You a module that encourages young women to consider studying STEM subjects Credit: James Brickwood This follows decades of work to equalise a stubborn gender gap, based on stereotypes about boys jobs and girls jobs. Im personally very encouraged and very excited that were seeing genuine progress, said women in STEM ambassador Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith. The NSW government has already forked out almost $8 billion to build the Metro West underground rail line, and any move to cancel the mega project risks exposing taxpayers to billions of dollars more to compensate contractors. The latest budget papers show almost $4.5 billion was spent on Metro West between the projects inception late last decade and June 2022, while a further $3.2 billion was to go to the rail project over the past 12 months. A digger excavates a giant hole for a station in Rozelle for Metro West early this year. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Despite construction of the line between the Sydney CBD and Parramatta being well under way, the future of the countrys largest public transport project was thrown into doubt early this week when the premier confirmed he was considering cancelling it. Minns sought on Wednesday to calm fears about Metro Wests future, saying if we make a decision to axe the project, then you could take my head off then. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the inauguration of a new pipe rack, water pumping stations of Shimal Power Plant and Shimal Small Hydropower Plant owned by AzerEnerji Open Joint Stock Company in Baku. First, a video highlighting the works carried out in connection with hydropower plants in Azerbaijan was screened. President of AzerEnerji Open Joint Stock Company Baba Rzayev informed the head of state of the works carried out. President Ilham Aliyev was also informed of Shimal Small Hydropower Plant. The small hydropower plant of 300 kW was built in the area of Shimal Power Plant with a total capacity of 800 MW located in the Shuvalan settlement of Baku. The construction of the small hydropower plant was carried out by local experts. About 2.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity will be produced by this plant. The execution of a cocaine kingpin in the basement of a Bondi apartment block was the trigger for a month-long round of shootings and killings, with two men losing their lives on Thursday as warring gangs vied to control Sydneys drug market. Now NSW Police, under pressure to prove they have control of the streets, have wrapped eight separate strike force investigations together into a single taskforce in an urgent attempt to staunch the bloodletting. Taskforce Magnus, announced on Thursday, will comprise 70 detectives, to pool resources and information about the violence that followed the death of cocaine kingpin Alen Moradian last month. NSW Police said the taskforce is being led by State Crime Command and will examine the links between the shootings dating back to that of Moradian. Elena Swegen knows all too well the bloody mess that wild dogs can leave behind after a hunting session. We call it the night of the massacre, Swegen said of what she and her husband found when they walked out of their farmhouse in Myall Lakes 10 years ago, soon after moving on to the property. A wild dog caught on camera at a farm in northern NSW last year. It was a night of collecting dead and half-dead sheep. Yet despite the gruesome scene, Swegen remains committed to co-existing with the dingoes she believes killed her sheep, saying they took advantage of a rare night when the familys guardian Central Asian shepherd dogs were not with her livestock. Doctors are working to save criminal defence lawyer Mahmoud Abbas after a gunman shot him twice outside his family home in an unfathomable attack that police fear is a major escalation of Sydneys bloody gang war. The lawyer, described by those who know him as a measured family man, was shot on the same Greenacre street where a notorious gangland figure was executed in an unrelated incident one year ago. Abbas was leaving his home at 10am on Wednesday when one or more attackers, who had been waiting in a car parked around the corner, emerged and walked a short distance up his street, police said. They found Abbas next to his grey BMW sports car and opened fire, hitting the lawyer in the leg and torso. The lawyer dropped a folder, his legal files scattering across the driveway. You are requested to return to your normal workplace to start the consultation and engagement process focused on specific activities on your site, Large had emailed. ... The engagement and consultation process will allow the safe return to work to normal operations. The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority which oversees each contractor at each worksite on Thursday afternoon said it did not expect work to begin on site until safety audits were complete. It said it was aware the Boggo Road worksite at Dutton Park was briefly blockaded on Thursday morning. This comes after the on-site contractor requested via email that staff return to sites on Thursday morning to participate in consultation and engagement with management, a spokesman said. The Delivery Authority understands this request relates to reviewing work processes and safety methodology in site offices with staff input to commence the safety review process. The major contractors have a responsibility to ensure sites meet the highest safety standards, and we expect them to engage constructively with their workforce and their representatives to work through any issues and concerns. Pretty ordinary report card CFMEU Queensland assistant state secretary Jade Ingham said senior executives from Cross River Rail contractor CPB had disclosed details of the audit during a meeting about a month ago. It was a pretty ordinary report card that was recommending a whole bunch of changes in relation to particularly scaffolding and formwork, he said. Bailey said he had not seen that audit, but he had been briefed on WHSQs recent visit. My understanding is the scaffolding had an audit actually at the Boggo Road site about a week or two ago certainly this month and it was given the tick, he said. CFMEU workers march through Brisbane streets to protest safety concerns at Cross River Rail worksites. Credit: CFMEU Without going into this particular incident in any detail, there was scaffolding being worked on at that point. So the scaffolding that was examined a week-and-a-half ago, or thereabouts, would not have been probably the same scaffolding that this gentleman was working on. There are safety audits we do a lot of safety compliance across this site regularly and well continue to do that. Queensland safety regulator, Workplace, Health and Safety Queensland on Thursday said their inspectors last inspected the Boggo Road site on 17 July 2023. Four minor issues were identified, none related to scaffolding. All matters were able to be resolved while the Inspectors were on-site, the regulator said. CMFEU state secretary Michael Ravbar said the unions concerns were with Kouka. Hes not in great shape, he said. Were all very concerned for his welfare. Thousands of issues across 15 sites Ingham said literally thousands of issues had been raised by workers across Cross River Rails 15 worksites. There are over 300 enforcement notices written by the safety regulator, which wouldnt even touch the sides, Ingham said. Bailey said while he did not have an exact number, that union estimate sounded about right as he ordered a safety reset across all Cross River Rail worksites. Weve made a very strong commitment that all scaffolding across the whole site and theres a lot of it will all be checked before workers go back to work, he said. We want to make sure that whatever has happened here doesnt happen again. Of course, the investigation will bring up issues. If theres any recommendations, well be acting on them immediately. A Cross River Rail Delivery Authority spokesperson said, as at June 30, WHSQ had issued 266 improvement notices, 29 infringement notices, 35 prohibition notices and one electrical safety notice issued at its sites. 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 Victorian property developer who once had lunch with Premier Daniel Andrews bought access to decision-makers by paying former local mayors and Liberal Party members about $1.2 million, showing how limits on laws regulating lobbyists leave politicians vulnerable to corruption, the state anti-corruption watchdog has found. Victorias Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) tabled its Operation Sandon report on Thursday, finding property developer John Woodman made payments totalling about $1.2 million to former Casey mayors and Liberal Party members Sam Aziz and Geoff Ablett including cash payments in suitcases and shopping bags in return for support for lucrative planning decisions. Sam Aziz (left), John Woodman and Geoff Ablett all received adverse findings in the IBAC report. Credit: Marija Ercegovac Operation Sandon is the most lengthy, costly and sweeping investigation of raw corruption in Victoria since IBAC was established more than a decade ago. The investigation showed the extent to which a property developer and consultant such as Mr Woodman can invest across the political spectrum to buy access to decision-makers at the local and state government levels, the report said. Developer John Woodman on St Kilda Road on Thursday morning. Credit: Eddie Jim If the reports 34 recommendations are accepted, the IBAC inquiry will trigger the biggest shake-up in Victorias local government and planning laws in decades, including the possibility of stripping of planning powers from local councils and the expanded taxing of windfalls from land use changes, and the major tightening of donation and lobbying laws. Advertisement Responding to the Operation Sandon report, Premier Daniel Andrews said in a statement: What went on at the City of Casey was completely unacceptable and the government sacked the council in 2020. However, it is clear from the report that more work must be done. He said the government had already implemented what he branded the toughest political donation laws in Australia. Our reforms have drastically reduced the size of donations, and make sure Victorians know who makes and receives them in real time. These reforms are currently the subject of a legislated periodic review and the government looks forward to receiving that report, Andrews said. He flagged the government would limit councils powers in planning decisions. It is the clear position of the government that the role of local councils in significant planning decisions should be reduced and we will have more to say on this matter, Andrews said. The Sandon investigation centred on issues first publicly raised by The Age in 2011 and again in 2018 around land deals at the City of Casey and the outsized influence of flamboyant developer and planner Woodman. Advertisement In the 304-page report, IBAC gives adverse comments against a long list of political and business figures, including sitting Labor MP for Cranbourne Pauline Richards. It is unclear why Richards is listed as having adverse comments made against her, which do not amount to wrongdoing. Deputy commissioner David Wolf said it related to Richards dealings with Woodman. Its more the nature and involvement in the donations scheme, the receipt of donations, the meetings with the donor, and allocation of donations across the party. She received a $20,000 donation during the 2018 election campaign and a further $10,000 was donated to other Labor candidates at her suggestion. IBACs investigation focused on four planning matters involving Woodman and his associates, all of which were highlighted by a Sunday Age story in October 2018. The key case study in the report was his bid to rezone industrial land in Cranbourne West to residential, a move that would have netted construction giant Leighton Properties now owned by CIMIC, Woodman and others a combined tens of millions of dollars. Advertisement After The Ages revelations in October 2018, then-planning minister Richard Wynne rejected the rezoning in 2020. Sandon found that Woodman and his associates directly paid councillors Aziz and Ablett in exchange for their support, donated to state candidates and MPs who they believed could help, and funded a residents action group which actively backed the rezoning. Andrews was privately examined as part of the five-year inquiry, and was cleared of any wrongdoing. He was questioned over a lunch he had with Woodman and Labor-linked lobbyist Phil Staindl at the Flower Drum in Chinatown in 2017 and separate lobbying from Staindl at a fundraising event in early 2019 over the Cranbourne West rezoning. Andrews said he could not remember having the 2019 conversation with Staindl or the contents of it. But Andrews said some of Staindls recollections which the lobbyist later conceded may have included some exaggerations did not ring true. Andrews said he would not have suggested to Staindl he had any role in the rezoning decision. Woodman and his entities made a total $530,700 worth of donations to the Liberals between 2010 and 2019 over 97 transactions, according to the Operation Sandon report. Advertisement That was more than what was donated to Labor, which received $439,268. Woodman paid $70,000 for membership of Enterprise Victoria, a Liberal fundraising arm, splitting payments into $10,000 lots paid by separate entities. The link between the level of financial contribution and the influence expected in return is evident in a lawfully intercepted telephone conversation between Enterprise Victorias executive director and Mr Woodman in February 2019, the IBAC report states. In the conversation, the executive director was seeking to finalise a large financial commitment from Mr Woodman. They offered him personal meetings with the [then] Liberal Party leader [Michael OBrien] and state president as an incentive. In response, Mr Woodman noted his interest. The meetings did not take place, IBAC heard. But Opposition Leader John Pessuto and shadow attorney-general Michael OBrien said in a statement the IBAC report showed the government was led by an evasive premier who refuses to take any responsibility. Advertisement Australia and New Zealand have raised concerns about a new policing deal China has struck with the Solomon Islands and about its behaviour in the Taiwan Strait in their strongest joint statement to date on Beijings growing regional power. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Chris Hipkins in Wellington on Wednesday, a month after the New Zealand Prime Minister travelled to Beijing to strengthen relations with the superpower. Anthony Albanese and Chris Hipkins expressed serious concern over developments in the South China Sea. Credit: Getty Images [The] Prime Ministers expressed concern about growing challenges to regional stability in a more contested and difficult world, the pair said in a statement. They expressed serious concern over developments in the South China Sea and an intensification of destabilising activities, and concern about tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Chinas Foreign Ministry has removed all mention of Qin Gang from its online records, purging the former foreign ministers name and his meetings with world leaders. It follows President Xi Jinpings decision to sack Qin from his role on Tuesday night after rumours ranging from illness to an extramarital affair with a high-profile TV presenter, to a power struggle at the top of the Chinese Communist Party, dogged the rising former ambassador to the United States. Until his demise, Qin Gang was one of the Chinese presidents proteges. Credit: AP An emergency session of the standing committee on Tuesday voted on the decision on official appointment and removal but no reasons were given for Qins disappearance. Qin, who has not been seen for a month, has not commented publicly on the dismissal. Phnom Penh: Long-running Cambodian leader Hun Sen said on Wednesday he will step down as prime minister in three weeks and hand the position to his oldest son, who won his first seat in parliament in Sundays election. The announcement came after their Cambodian Peoples Party won a landslide victory in weekend elections that Western countries and rights organisations criticised as neither free nor fair, and in which the countrys main opposition was suppressed. Hun Manet, son of Hun Sen, delivers a speech to mark the end of the election campaign. Credit: AP Hun Sen has been Cambodias autocratic leader for 38 years but said before the elections he would hand the position to his oldest son, Hun Manet, some time during the next five-year term. Hun Manet, 45, is currently the chief of the countrys army. Kyiv: Hundreds of drones are on their way to the battlefronts in Ukraine, hoping to outsmart what Ukrainian officials call Moscows lingering advantage in artillery, tanks and manpower. Mykhailo Fedorov, a deputy prime minister, said 1700 drones were heading to the front lines to help the offensive. All of them are now going to the front to protect the lives of our soldiers, to make our artillery even more accurate, to destroy the enemy, Fedorov said in a video that showed hundreds of drones laid out in rows on a field. Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukrainian minister of digital transformation, right, and Yuriy Shchygol, head of State Special Communications Service, with some of the 1700 drones that are being sent to the frontline. Credit: AP Kyiv has tried different tactics to take out Russian artillery, air defences, munition warehouses and logistic routes. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. All villages of Azerbaijans Karabakh district are filled with products despite the spreading lies, famous Armenian blogger Roman Bagdasaryan recently said on social media, Trend reports. The remnants of the separatist regime in Karabakh, led by the Armenian authorities, have been trying to convince the world community and international organizations for a long time that allegedly Azerbaijan took the Armenian residents living in Karabakh into blockade and created a humanitarian crisis for them by establishing the Lachin border checkpoint. "I hear that supposedly, there are no cigarettes in Karabakh. Pure lies. Vardanyan, Nersisyan and Arutyunyan lie, when they say there are no cigarettes in Karabakh. A week ago Vitaly Balasanyan was arrested, and then released a day after. I know for sure that about 50,000 humanitarian packs of cigarettes was found on Balasanyan. So, what's with the lies about lack of cigarettes, if Balasanyan alone had 50,000 packs?," the blogger wrote. He urged to give the mentioned packs of cigarettes to the people. "All the villages of Karabakh are full of food products. There's no hunger. All the 'hunger' is spread artificially," said Bagdasaryan. He went on to curse Araik Aratyunyan and Ruben Vardanyan, who after taking money from Armenia, should've bought fuel, to bring all the goods from the villages to Khankendi. "Araik [Aratyunyan], you claim there's no potato in Karabakh, you say there's no rice or wheat. Who are you kidding when you say there is no doshab [a molasses-like syrup obtained after condensing juices of fruit must] in Karabakh?," the blogger wrote. According to the countless video footage distributed from Khankendi, it is clear that all these statements do not reflect the truth. This is just another campaign by the so-called regime and the Armenian authorities. Bagdasaryan's post once again showed what the real situation in Karabakh is. Washington: Concerns about senior Republican Mitch McConnells health have been reignited after the Senate Minority Leader froze for more than 20 seconds during a press conference and had to be escorted away by colleagues. The 81-year-old, one of the most powerful men in the US Congress, was making opening remarks about an annual defence bill when his voice trailed off and he suddenly stopped talking. Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Credit: AP McConnell stared into the distance for about 23 seconds until colleagues, realising something was wrong, came to his aid. Are you good? Mitch? Senator Joni Ernst asked as she put her hand on McConnells arm. Sydney: Fijis Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said he was forced to cancel an official visit to China after enduring a minor head injury that required him to stay at home. The visit was announced earlier on Tuesday by the Chinese embassy in Fiji, which said Rabuka would attend the opening of the World University Games in Chengdu, alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping. Prime Minister of Fiji Sitiveni Rabuka. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Rabuka, elected in December, said on Tuesday he had been forced to cancel the visit after tripping on the stairs while looking at this phone, resulting in an injury to his head. Ive just come back from the hospital where I had a dressing put on my head for a small accident I had this morning, Rabuka said in a video message uploaded to Facebook, pointing to small blood splatters on his business shirt. PHILIPSBURG:(DCOMM):--- 236,000 people die from drowning every year; 2.5 million deaths over the past decade. Tuesday, July 25 marks World Drowning Prevention Day under the theme, Anyone can drown, no one should. The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) Section Youth Health Care from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) is calling on parents, guardians, and all others who take advantage of our beaches, and those making use of swimming pools, to remain vigilant for the summer holiday season as drowning is entirely preventable. Globally, the highest drowning rates occur among children aged 1-4 years, followed by children aged 5-9 years. Always ensure children are constantly supervised by a responsible adult when around water: whether near a beach, swimming pool or bathtub, adult supervision is necessary to ensure that children can enjoy water safely. It is critical for supervising adults to remain vigilant and avoid distractions so that they can respond quickly if a child needs help. In 2023, the 76th World Health Assembly adopted its first ever resolution on drowning prevention. The resolution accepts the invitation of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly for the World Health Organization (WHO) to coordinate actions within the UN system on drowning prevention and facilitate the observance of World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July each year. To mark this years World Drowning Prevention Day, WHO will continue to focus on raising awareness on drowning as a public health issue, reminding people that anyone can drown, but no one should. The WHO is also raising awareness on the six evidence-based, low-cost drowning prevention interventions that countries and organizations can use to drastically reduce the risk of drowning. The six interventions are: train bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation; set and enforce safe boating, shipping, and ferry regulations; improve flood risk management; install barriers controlling access to water; provide safe places away from water for pre-school children, with capable childcare; and teach school-age children basic swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills. Learning basic swimming and water safety skills greatly reduces the risk of drowning. This is particularly important for children aged six (6) years and above. Not only is swimming a skill for life, but it is also a great way to stay fit and active. PHILIPSBURG:--- In light of the upcoming elections, the Integrity Chamber provided integrity sessions to political parties as part of its public awareness campaign. Invitations were sent to all active political parties that are known to be contesting the upcoming elections. The sessions took place in June and July of 2023 with candidates and board members of the Democratic Party (DP), Party for Progress (PFP), National Alliance (NA), and United St Maarten Party (USP). A similar session took place in January 2023 with the Unified Resilient Sint Maarten Movement (URSM). The sessions provided information on the Integrity Chamber and its tasks, the importance of integrity for the party and the individual, tips on how integrity can be promoted and maintained within the party, and the benefits of integrity within the electoral process. As potential leaders, political candidates will be faced with decisions that affect the quality of the lives of the people of Sint Maarten. The integrity sessions, therefore, stimulated discussions on how decisions can be taken in a manner that safeguards the integrity of the individual, the government, and the country. The participants were challenged with various scenarios in which integrity risks could occur, such as with gifts and donations, the use of government resources, and relationships that may constitute a conflict of interest. A lively discussion took place whereby participants were able to express their views and the measures that have already been taken to mitigate various integrity issues, while also gaining new insights into possible risks and ideas on how they could be prevented. Member of the Integrity Chamber Rafael Boasman was elated to see the enthusiasm with which the political parties welcomed the invitation for an integrity session. The level of engagement from these potential leaders gave me hope for a brighter future., stated Boasman. The Integrity Chamber expressed its thanks to the political parties that participated for accepting the invitation and making the effort to foster integrity within their parties and looks forward to continually supporting the community with similar endeavors. Stanton Healthcare Sees Increase of Clients and Services for Women Facing Unexpected Pregnancies in a Post-Roe America NEWS PROVIDED BY Stanton Public Policy Center/Purple Sash Revolution July 26, 2023 BOISE, Idaho, July 26, 2023 /Standard Newswire/ -- Since Roe v. Wade has been overturned, Stanton Healthcare has seen their office visits increase by 67%, website traffic increase by 124%, phone calls by 119%, and supply requests by 37%. Stanton Healthcare is a women's healthcare clinic which specializes in serving women with unexpected pregnancies by providing professional medical care, practical and emotional support, women's wellness care and a special outreach to refugee and marginalized communities. Stanton Healthcare is based in Idaho with affiliates in the U.S. and internationally. During the same time period, Planned Parenthood has downsized their national staff by 15% while life-affirming centers across America are expanding their services for women and children. In the past year, the Planned Parenthood facility next to Stanton Healthcare in Boise, Idaho, permanently closed their doors; in addition, the Planned Parenthood center directly across from Stanton Healthcare in Meridian, Idaho, is experiencing a nearly empty parking lot while Stanton's parking lot is full (see photo below). Idaho is a virtually an abortion-free state. Brandi Swindell, Founder and CEO of Stanton Healthcare, comments: "Stanton is part of a women's movement with over 3,000 life-affirming resource centers across the nation that outnumber abortion clinics by four to one. "After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, so many attacked the pro-life community saying we would not be ready to support women in a post-Roe America. I can say with certainty, thousands of life-affirming centers and women's medical clinics have been waiting and preparing for this moment for decades. "We were ready to meet the challenge and we are making sure that every woman facing an unexpected pregnancy in a post-Roe America has access to life-affirming, quality care, compassionate resources and tangible support. "In my home state of Idaho, which is virtually abortion free, Stanton Healthcare has organized a coalition of political, faith and community leaders, and organizations to come together in a non-partisan way to find creative and life-affirming solutions as we unite to support women with unexpected pregnancies. We are excited other states are joining with us. "One year after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the pro-life community is reminding the nation of our commitment to serve and empower women as we make abortion unthinkable." Linda Thomas, Director of Community Outreach for Stanton Healthcare, shares: "The pro-life community continues to prove its commitment to women and their children. Since the overturn of Roe, our clinics are busier than ever and our services have expanded. By contrast, Planned Parenthood is reducing their staff and limiting their services. "According to CNN, at least 43 abortion centers permanently closed within 30 days of the Dobbs decision, including in Boise, Idaho. While women continue to fill our parking lot at Stanton Healthcare in Meridian, Idaho, and receive compassionate, quality medical care, Planned Parenthood's parking lot is regularly empty." Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Chief Strategy Officer for Stanton Public Policy Center, adds: "For months after Roe v. Wade was overturned, the pro-choice community was shouting that thousands of women with unexpected pregnancies would face hardship, pain and even death without access to abortion. They criticized the pro-life movement saying we would not be ready to meet their needs. "One year after the Dobbs decision, that heated rhetoric has amounted to nothing more than fear mongering. Pro-life centers and medical clinics across America are providing real tangible support, quality medical care and hope to thousands of women facing unexpected pregnancies while Planned Parenthood is cutting their staff and services. This is a reminder to everyone who is truly pro-woman." For more information or interviews contact: Rev. Patrick Mahoney at 540.538.4741 BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Azerbaijan Sridharan Madhusudhanan, Trend reports. Hajiyev noted that the Azerbaijan is concerned about the expanding of military cooperation between Armenia and India and the spread of photos and videos in the media about the transportation of Indian-made weapons systems to Armenia through Iran in recent days. He pointed out that the supply of weapons from India to Armenia is happening when Azerbaijan is negotiating with this country on a peace treaty. This opens the way to the militarization of Armenia and aggravation of the situation, as well as hinders the establishment of lasting peace and security in the South Caucasus region. It is also incompatible with India's foreign policy based on the norms and principles of international law, as well as with the historical "Bandung principles" of the Non-Aligned Movement, in which India is also represented, Hajiyev said. Azerbaijan's top official called on the Indian ambassador to bring to the attention of Delhi the serious concern of the Azerbaijani side and once again consider India's decision to supply weapons to Armenia. Madhusudhan said that the issue raised by the Azerbaijani side will be conveyed accordingly, and noted the importance of holding a dialogue between the two countries to discuss problematic issues in bilateral relations. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a letter of congratulations to President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio on his re-election as President, Trend reports. "Esteemed Mr. President, I cordially congratulate you on your re-election as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. I believe that we will make joint efforts to develop relations between Azerbaijan and Sierra Leone on the basis of friendship in line with the interests of our peoples and continue our fruitful cooperation within multilateral institutions, including the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. I wish you the best of health, happiness, and success in your future responsible activities for the sake of welfare of your friendly people," reads the letter. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. A footage of a convoy moving from the Norduz border checkpoint (Iran) to Armenia has been recently released, Trend reports. The transported cargo was tented to guise its designation. However, it's clear that the cargo transported from Iran to Armenia is for military purposes and has already been delivered to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. The cargo was sent from India, with which Armenia has recently been rapidly increasing military-technical cooperation. According to open sources alone, a military contract worth over $400 million has been signed between Armenia and India. There are enough other facts confirming that this cargo comes from India. So, since February of this year, many meetings have been held between Armenia and India with the aim of military cooperation and the supply of weapons. Now, apparently, India has stepped up its activities. The footage has also clearly shown that Armenia actually began to quickly arm itself with weapons and military equipment. Apparently Delhi didn't take very seriously Baku's warnings to refrain from steps that could lead to the rearmament of the Armenian armed forces and the revival of the Armenian leadership's illusion about possible revenge. The footage reflecting the rapid arming of Armenia through various channels also shows that the installation of a border checkpoint by Azerbaijan at the beginning of the Lachin-Khankendi road was a very thoughtful and strategically important decision. This means that the checkpoint will prevent delivery of part of munitions and military equipment, possibly transported from India through the territory of Iran to Armenia, to the remnants of the so-called "regime" in Azerbaijan's Karabakh, or further provision of the so-called "regime" with this military equipment by Armenia's leadership (as it was before the establishment of "Lachin" border checkpoint when this territory was controlled by Russian peacekeepers temporarily deployed in Azerbaijan in accordance with trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war). However the fact is that today Armenia, even if it wants to, won't be able to transfer these weapons to Karabakh. This is due to the fact that on the basis of the timely decision of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, this border checkpoint was established at the beginning of the Lachin-Khankendi road, which didn't allow Armenian separatists in Karabakh to strengthen for new military provocations with a view to revenge, and this means that "cargo" of this type won't be delivered to any separatists. The processes give reason to assert that Armenia isn't at all sincere in its peaceful rhetoric towards Azerbaijan. Armenia's leadership should keep in mind the ending of the second Karabakh war, since history may repeat itself once again. It's not at surprising that the supplies go through Iran. Despite that the clerical regime has long remained out of international relations, New Delhi is not worried over this at all. Nothing personal - just geopolitical interests. The regime of mullahs, which has been claiming for 45 years that it protects the interests of the world's Muslims and advocates fraternal ties with Azerbaijan, has long fraternized with Armenia. Therefore, in any issue regarding Azerbaijan, it supports Armenia. No matter how hard Iran tries to behave like a saint, it still cannot hide its true face. In order to prevent the transportation of manpower, ammunition, mines, as well as other military equipment from Armenia for illegal Armenian armed groups on the territory of Azerbaijan (which weren't withdrawn contrary to the trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war), and as an adequate response to the unilateral establishment of a checkpoint by Armenia on the border with Azerbaijan on April 22 at the entrance to the Lachin-Khankendi road contrary to the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020, on April 23 at 12:00 (GMT+4), the units of the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan set up a border checkpoint in its sovereign territories, on the border with Armenia, at the beginning of the Lachin-Khankendi road. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has congratulated Julius Maada Bio on his re-election as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. I believe that we will make joint efforts to develop relations between Azerbaijan and Sierra Leone on the basis of friendship in line with the interests of our peoples and continue our fruitful cooperation within multilateral institutions, including the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the head of state said in his message. The President of Azerbaijan wished Julius Maada Bio the best of health, happiness and success in his future responsible activities for the sake of welfare of the friendly people of Sierra Leone. M inisters have urged banks to learn from the mistakes of NatWest in the wake of chief executive Dame Alison Roses resignation in a row over the closure of Nigel Farages Coutts account. The former Ukip leader went on to demand the resignation of the entire NatWest board and for a cultural change within the industry at large after his campaign resulted in the departure of NatWests top banker. NatWest Group chairman Sir Howard Davies said early on Wednesday that Dame Alison would be stepping down, after both Downing Street and the Treasury expressed their serious concerns about her conduct. Dame Alison had admitted a serious error of judgment by discussing with a BBC journalist Mr Farages relationship with Coutts, owned by NatWest Group. Mr Farage had been crusading against the private bank for shutting down his account a decision taken in part over his political beliefs. Sir Howard had initially said the board members had decided the chief executive retained their full confidence, but that position rapidly changed following the Government intervention. Ministers were quick to welcome the departure of Dame Alison, with calls for the financial sector to take heed of the lessons of the Farage row. A No 10 source said she had done the right thing in resigning and that Rishi Sunak had been concerned about the unfolding situation. Shares in the lending giant fell by 3% in the wake of the resignation, with other banks also seeing their shares hit. Dame Alison was also out of four Government roles, including losing out on her membership of the Prime Ministers Business Council. City minister Andrew Griffith gave the bosses of Barclays, HSBC, Nationwide, Santander and NatWest a dressing down at a virtual meeting on Wednesday morning, with David Lindberg, chief executive of NatWests retail banking wing, filling in for Dame Alison. Mr Griffith made clear to the bankers it is not their job to tell us what to think or what political party we should support as he hit out at the termination of accounts over political views. The bankers accepted the row had impacted upon public trust for the whole sector and committed to not discriminating based on lawful freedom of expression, the Treasury said. In contrast to Mr Farage, the City minister said Sir Howard should not immediately resign as NatWests chairman, as he was already planning to leave, but was not clear about the positions of other members of the board and Coutts boss Peter Flavel. Energy Secretary Grant Shapps welcomed the decision and urged banks against using the politically exposed person (PEP) risk tests, which Mr Farage blamed for his account closure. However, its equally important banks stop applying political (PEP) tests to people (and families) opening new bank accounts too, he added. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that NatWest was in the wrong over the revelation of Mr Farages personal details and that it was right for Dame Alison to resign. He told BBC Radio 5 Live: I certainly dont think anybody should be refused banking services because of their political views, whoever they are. Policing minister Chris Philp said a lot of MPs or their families have been turned down by banking services because of politically exposed persons rules, which cover anyone considered to be higher risk because of their political connection. The rules are set up for the right reasons but MPs quite often get caught by these PEP rules because theyre applied kind of overzealously, he told Sky News. I think there is a massive anti-Brexit prejudice and I think the whole thing needs to change It is not spoken about much but if you look at almost any MP they will have had an experience like this, I think the Nigel Farage case is an extreme one, but Im afraid its not unique. Dame Alisons resignation as chief executive came after an emergency board meeting was called late on Tuesday night to determine her future. It followed days of criticism and questions for the NatWest Group, after Mr Farage presented evidence that his account at Coutts had been closed partly due to his political views conflicting with the banks values. The evidence obtained from the bank through a data request contradicted a BBC News story, which initially claimed the account closure was motivated by commercial reasons only, citing Mr Farages failure to meet a 1 million borrowing requirement. Dame Alison admitted discussing Mr Farages relationship with Coutts in a conversation with the BBCs reporter behind the story, business editor Simon Jack. She conceded that she confirmed the former Ukip leader was a Coutts customer, thinking it was public knowledge, and that he had been offered a NatWest account. The boss insisted she did not reveal any personal financial information about Mr Farage, but admitted having left Mr Jack with the impression that the decision to close Mr Farages accounts was solely a commercial one. Mr Farage responded by saying that the exit of Dame Alison was only a start and that changes need to go further. He told the PA news agency on Wednesday: Anybody on that board that backed that statement that was put out at 17.42 yesterday a totally unsustainable and untrue statement anybody that backed that behaviour should be gone. I think this culture runs deep through the entire banking industry. I think there is a massive anti-Brexit prejudice and I think the whole thing needs to change. The entire industry needs to wake up to the absolutely appalling way it has been treating people all over the country. We bailed these people out and in return they close our branches, they close our personal and business accounts on a huge scale. We need real change here and I am going to go on pushing for it. Dame Alison resigned from Government roles as co-chair of the energy efficiency taskforce and as a member of the net-zero council after being told to step down by Mr Shapps, his department said. T he City was rocked by the dead-of-night resignation of NatWest boss Dame Alison Rose on Wednesday after ministers piled pressure on her to go in a growing storm over Nigel Farages Coutts account. Her departure was announced about 1.45am following an emergency meeting of the banks board. She was forced out after admitting a serious error of judgment when she discussed Mr Farages relationship with private bank Coutts, owned by the NatWest Group, with BBC business editor Simon Jack, at a charity dinner. Sources close to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and No10 voiced significant concerns over the furore as she sought to stay in post yesterday. Her resignation sent further tremors through the Square Mile as the row threatened to escalate into a war on woke bust-up. Shares in NatWest, which is 39 per cent owned by the tax payer, dropped almost three per cent in early trading, wiping more than 600 million off the value of the high street banking group. By mid morning they were trading at 243.9p, down 7.3p. Other banks were also hit, with Lloyds down 2.7 per cent and Barclays just over one per cent. Bank chiefs were summoned this morning for talks with City minister Andrew Griffith over their treatment of politically exposed persons, amid complaints from MPs that some of them and their families face difficulties opening accounts. Before the meeting, he said: It is right that the NatWest CEO has resigned. This would never have happened if NatWest had not taken it upon itself to withdraw a bank account due to someones lawful political views. That was, and is, always unacceptable. I hope the whole financial sector learns from this incident. Its role is to serve customers well and fairly not to tell them how or what to think. Mr Farage, a key architect of Brexit which many experts say has dealt a multi-billion-pound blow to Britain, was this morning calling for a wider shake-up of the NatWest board, including for its chairman Sir Howard Davies to quit, after it had voiced full confidence in Dame Alison yesterday evening. He said: Anybody on that board that backed that statement that was put out at 17.42 yesterday a totally unsustainable statement should be gone. Since Dame Alison left her post by mutual consent it is expected that she will get a pay-off, which was not expected to be disclosed until the annual report next year. City experts, though, say a years money is typical, which in her case could be somewhere between 3 million and 5 million. Before her resignation, Sir Howard stated that the events will be taken into account in decisions on remuneration at the appropriate time. Home Office minister Chris Philp signalled that the Government was not pushing for more heads to roll. But he took a swipe at woke companies, saying: Theyre undermining free speech, theyre undermining political freedom. The boss of Lloyds Banking Group insisted that the UK industry did not need to significantly change de-banking policies. Charlie Nunn said Lloyds primarily considers financial crime risks when closing a customers bank account, and does not consider their political beliefs. He added: At this stage, I have no concerns that the Government, or what were being asked to do, conflicts with our ability to protect the UK economy and customers from economic crime. Last week, Mr Farage presented evidence, in the form of a 40-page dossier, that his account at Coutts had been closed partly due to his political views conflicting with the banks values. The evidence obtained from the bank through a data request contradicted a BBC News story, which initially claimed the account closure was motivated by commercial reasons only, citing Mr Farages failure to meet a 1 million borrowing requirement. The BBC and its business editor, Mr Jack, apologised, saying the reporting had been based on information from a trusted and senior source but turned out to be incomplete and inaccurate. Dame Alison, who in 2019 became the first woman to take the top job at one of the UKs big four banks, accepted she had made a serious error of judgment in discussing Mr Farages relationship with the bank. She stressed that she had not revealed any personal financial information about Mr Farage. But she recognised that she had left Mr Jack with the impression that the decision to close Mr Farages accounts was solely a commercial one. Sir Howard has promised an independent review into account closure arrangement at Coutts. Sheldon Mills, executive director for consumers and competition at the Financial Conduct Authority, said it had raised concerns about possible breaches of confidentiality by Coutts and its parent company NatWest. On the basis of the review and any steps taken by other authorities, such as the Financial Ombudsman Service or Information Commissioner, on relevant complaints, we will decide if any further action is necessary, he said. E commerce business THG, best known for its protein and beauty brands, has bought London freesheet City AM, in a shock swoop that saves the newspaper from administration. All of City AMs 40 staff will join THG, while co-founder and longtime CEO Jens Torpe will retire. THGs existing business of protein and makeup is far from the world of newspapers, though it does run a series of newletters and founder Matthew Moulding has hit out at how the press covers his company in the past. Weve long been reviewing opportunities in the disruptive media space but have waited for the right time and the right opportunity to make a digital step-change in adtech capabilities for Ingenuity, Moulding said, referring to the firms digital brand building and e-commerce platform. City A.M. is one of Londons leading media platforms and we will ensure this remains the case with full editorial independence. This deal helps us reach a huge new audience, complements our successful content creation studios and digital media expertise, Moulding said. Earlier today, City AM managing director and co-founder Lawson Muncaster told the Standard that a deal was in the works to a buyer that was young, British, rich and very bright. He also confirmed the business had been close to administration before finding a last-minute buyer, preparing to bring in insolvency experts BDO. The free newspaper was founded in 2005 and its daily circulation was 67,714 copies as of January 2023. That makes it the ninth-most-circulated newspaper in the country. When the sale was announced, Douglas McCabe, CEO and director of publishing and tech at Enders Analysis, told the Standard that the economics for City AM as a free print publication were challenging, and so a buyer would need a plan to elevate its online offering. Commuters particularly commuters into the City have remained stubbornly low post-pandemic, and the impressive corporate advertising that City AM carved out for itself in the late 2000s and early 2010s has also declined, he said. The unit costs of printing and distribution exploded in 2021 and 2022, and have not returned to pre-Ukraine levels. Any buyer would need a belief and vision for the brand as an online use-case. A few months back at a fancy dinner in a grand old bank office overlooking Trafalgar Square, NatWest Chairman Howard Davies was holding court. But he was going on a bit (he does). From the other side of the table his chief executive cut through the verbiage. You were doing really well for the first minute there, she said, gently. Davies, former chairman of the Financial Services Authority, all around City big-wig and a man not used to being interrupted, shut up. To close observers this was typical Alison Rose smart, likable, funny even. And incapable of listening to male grandstanding for very long. Over 30 years at NatWest she must have endured rivers of it. Until just a few weeks ago Dame Alison Rose didnt do bad PR. That is not the only reason she had risen through the ranks, but her sure touch helped. She was at ease, including with journalists. Staff spoke of her warmly. When she landed the top job at what was then Royal Bank of Scotland, she became the most powerful woman in UK banking. No one was surprised; no one thought it anything other than the obviously right call. Until this latest muck-up with Nigel Farage, she had barely put a foot wrong. The 54 year old banker was born into a military family in 1969 and spent much of her early life travelling around the world until settling in England at the age of 15. After her student years at Durham University she joined the NatWest graduate scheme in 1992. She has been at the bank ever since, rising rapidly through the ranks until she became Britains first female high street banking boss in November 2019. Rose was well regarded for steering a bank that had been on the brink of collapse when Fred the Shred Goodwin ran it in 2008 - and still has a 38 per cent Government shareholding - back to the calmer waters of commercial normality and profitability. For that Rose was well rewarded, receiving a package worth 5.25 million last year. The mother of two who is married to UBS banker David Slade and the family enjoy the trappings of their well rewarded jobs at the top of British finance. Their home is a large Italianate style Victorian villa in the exclusive north London village of Highgate, where she once had a 12,000 splinter proof tree house with a thatched roof built for her daughter in the woodland grounds of the home. She also had a huge impact on the culture of the bank, giving her personal backing to causes such as boosting diversity and reducing NatWests carbon footprint. Shortly after she was appointed she declared tackling climate change would be a central pillar of her leadership. New loans for oil and gas extraction were quickly ended. In September 2018 she was appointed to lead the Treasurys review of barriers to women in business, leading to an influential policy paper published in April 2019. Internally the bank changed enormously, with, for example, non-binary staff allowed to identify as men or women on different days in one of a series of LGBT friendly woke measures that had already marked her card among supporters of Nigel Farage long before the crisis that ended her career at the bank. The peak of her career came in the New Years Honours when she was made a Dame. Now it lies in ruins, as a result of one disastrous error of judgment. Susannah Streeter, who has had two decades in the City and is now head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, says: I do wonder whether the spotlight is being trained on her more brightly because she is a female leader. She has already apologised on behalf of the bank for comments made by the wealth committee and highlighted a need to put processes under scrutiny. That should have been enough to draw a line under the episode and enable the CEO to move on and make improvements, but instead the criticism just became louder. One former colleague told the Standard: Alison has worked tirelessly and done a wonderful job over the years and not least in supporting communities on the ground. She always brings commercial nous with heart and kindness. Rose concedes she made a serious error of judgment in discussing Mr Farages relationship with the bank, but maybe she was just chatting over a glass of wine. Male bankers have leaked far worse stuff than this without punishment. Journalistic careers have been made on such chats; no banker CEOs ruined by them. One non-executive director of another bank said simply: Alison Rose is brilliant. NatWest is one of the most important financial institutions in Britain, a vital cog of the economy that under Roses watch has firmly moved away from the disaster left by her predecessor but one, Fred Goodwin and become what a bank is supposed to be a custodian of our money and, even, good values. Rose has thorns in her side. Women in the City think there is rather more at stake here than just whether Nigel Farage has a posh bank account or not. I t is a cold, hard, and yes unfair fact of life that Alison Rose will be remembered for the chaotic manner of her departure from NatWest rather than the many achievements over her long, trail-blazing career at the bank. She will never have to worry about paying the gas bill, but it is a tough and bruising reality nonetheless. Her exit means that only one of the last four chief executives at NatWest, or its predecessor Royal Bank of Scotland, have left on their own terms. Fred the Shred Goodwin stood down as part of the terms of the Government rescue of RBS and was later stripped of his knighthood. His successor Stephen Hester quit in 2013 after then Chancellor George Osborne grew tired of endless rows over bonus payments. Only the lower-profile New Zealander Ross McEwan stayed the course and went at a time of his own choosing. It is always going to be a tough gig running a household name consumer brand with the Government sitting on your shareholder register as your biggest single investor. You have to play the politics well. And unfortunately Alison Rose played the politics badly. In a normal fully private business she might just have survived. But once Downing Street made its extreme displeasure known last night her fate was sealed. It is 15 years now since Gordon Brown was forced to step into to stop RBS collapsing and taking the entire British financial system down with it. Perhaps, if something good emerges from this messy episode, it will be a fresh realisation that the NatWest soap opera cannot go on It is time for the great brains at the Treasury to put their heads together and speed up the plan to return the bank to full private ownership. When it comes to banking, politics and business simply do not sit comfortably together. I t is a single story sparking a binary reaction Nigel Farage and his bank account. The former Ukip leader has landed a major scalp, as NatWest boss Dame Alison Rose quit late last night after acknowledging she made a serious error of judgment when she discussed Mr Farages relationship with private bank Coutts, owned by NatWest Group, with a BBC journalist. Highly regarded across the industry, Dame Alison made history in 2019 when she became the first woman to take the top job at one of Britains big four banks. But the reality is, her position had become untenable. It is right that UK banks undertake appropriate checks on clients, not least to meet anti-money laundering requirements. But an individuals political beliefs are not an acceptable reason to effectively debank them, particularly in a world where a current account is akin to a utility. At the same time, questions will inevitably be asked whether the level of ministerial pressure surrounding Dame Alisons resignation was appropriate, and if this is evidence of a Conservative Party still terrified of Mr Farage and his very real influence over voters as well as sections of the media. New holiday essential Passport? Check. Boarding pass? Check. Travel insurance? Hmm, let me check. The Foreign Office has updated its guidance for prospective travellers to Greece, which has been subject to raging wildfires across the mainland and on a number of islands. The Government website urges holidaymakers to make sure you have appropriate insurance, as hotels shut down and the death toll across the Mediterranean hits 40. Such extreme weather is a consequence of human- induced climate change, and as we continue to emit carbon dioxide, it will only get worse. This will impact our lives in countless ways and travel insurance, often an afterthought, will become a much more pressing (and expensive) consideration for any holiday. Just one of the consequences of a changed climate. As years go by As a young man, Sir Mick Jagger quipped: Id rather die than be 45 and still singing Satisfaction. As the star of rock and roll turns 80 today, Stones fans who got to see him live can be grateful for the change of heart. Its an auspicious date, with the rapper Stormzy somehow only turning 30 today, despite being a fixture on our screens and in our ears for what feels nearly as long as Sir Mick. For different generations, the two stars have been ever-present companions. Heres to many happy returns to both. W hy did the 2017 and 2019 general elections produce two starkly different results? Both took place in the shadow of the EU referendum, both times Labour put up Jeremy Corbyn as its candidate for prime minister, and even when the Tories switched from Theresa May to Boris Johnson, they in fact turned to a *less* popular leader. There are two perfectly cogent explanations. First, by 2019 Corbyns ratings had fallen so far that Johnson still enjoyed a considerable lead on most capable PM. Second is the idiosyncrasies of first-past-the-post: May made impressive strides in Red Wall seats in 2017, she just couldnt quite win enough of them. Johnson did. Yet these explanations pale into insignificance compared with the one factor we all take for granted at this point: 2019 was a Brexit election, whereas 2017 was not. And that is because first time around, both Labour and the Tories were pro-Brexit parties. Yet two years later, the shadow Brexit secretary (whatever happened to him?) had dragged Labour to a second referendum position. The result was that one-third of voters who backed Leave in 2016 and then Labour in 2017 voted Conservative in 2019. Having appeared to lance the Brexit boil, Labour proceeded to reinfect itself. Believe it or not, this is a newsletter about Nigel Farage and NatWest, whose chief executive resigned late last night after acknowledging she made a serious error of judgment in discussing Farages relationship with Coutts, owned by NatWest Group, with a BBC journalist. In the last few days weve heard plenty from ministers, commentators and of course Farage himself. One person largely conspicuous by his absence is Keir Starmer because he has nothing to say except I told you so. 2024 is not going to be a Brexit election. But that is not solely due to the passage of time and certainly isnt a reflection on how well the thing has gone. Its not even because of Covid, Russia or the cost of living crisis, though clearly these have impacted British life in a major way. It is because of a calculation by the opposition leader and his team. Labour has returned to its 2017 position of essentially mirroring the Tories on Brexit. And while there may be bigger smiles and firmer handshakes were a prime minister Starmer to meet with Ursula von der Leyen or Olaf Scholz, a Labour government would not take Britain back into the EU or the single market. The Farage/NatWest affair with the population again sorting into its Leave/Remain tendencies serves as a helpful reminder that the Brexit divisions, while far less present than a few years ago, are still with us, only a little below the surface. And so despite Brexits waning popularity, the issue still has the power to 2019 up the 2024 election. To that extent, Farage has done Starmer a favour. In the comment pages, Financial Editor Simon English says many male bankers have leaked worse than NatWests Alison Rose. Ayesha Hazarika, whos swapped Sicily for Orkney, wonders whether the summer holiday in the Med can survive. While Teo van den Broeke explains why Sir Mick Jagger is a trailblazing queer icon. And finally, whats so good about a Coutts account anyway? Isolde Walters lays out the benefits of the exclusive credit card. This article appears in our newsletter, West End Final delivered 4pm daily bringing you the very best of the paper, from culture and comment to features and sport. Sign up here. Review at a glance T he terrorist Imad Mughniyeh eluded American and Israeli intelligence forces for over 25 years. He spent his career as the number two of Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah, and as the founder of Lebanons Islamic Jihad Organization (IJO), pulling strings from the shadows and organising suicide attacks and high-profile kidnappings. Although he was placed on the FBIs Most Wanted Terrorists list, and had a $5 million bounty on his head, he was seemingly impossible to catch. His elusiveness meant that he became know among his trackers as the ghost. That was until 2008, when he was not only discovered, but killed, in a car bomb blast in Damascus that is widely assumed to have been orchestrated by Israels Mossad in collaboration with the CIA. The fascinating tale of this 30-year cat and mouse chase has now been turned into a four-part Showtime drama (which is being released in the UK on Paramount+), spun together by Avi Issacharoff and Lior Raz, the creators of the popular Israeli action-drama Fauda. The winding story spans decades, countries and governmental agencies, and deals with intertwining relationships, political and personal motivations, and global shifts in society and politics. Sounds complicated? Youve assumed correctly, and unfortunately Issacharoff and Raz dont quite manage to pull it off: instead, Ghosts of Beirut becomes a victim of its own ambition as it tries to tell this labyrinthine tale in just four hours. The primary issue here is that, in order to make the show remotely comprehensible, theres a huge amount of scene-setting to do: although the drama begins in 2007, a year before Mughniyehs assassination, the show soon jumps back to the Eighties to paint a picture of a turbulent Lebanon and his origin story. The show touches on the Lebanese Civil War, the countrys 1982 war with Israel, and Americas role in both conflicts, as well as the involvement and influence of Iran in the region. Zineb Triki as Wafa and Hisham Suleiman as Imad Mughniyeh in Ghosts of Beirut / Sifeddine Elamine/SHOWTIME Then, it also has the task of quickly developing its many characters from Mughniyeh, his friends and family (in both decades), to members of the CIA team working in Lebanon in the Eighties, to the Israeli and American teams tracking Mughniyeh in 2007 while also getting into the actual nitty-gritty of the show: the IJOs various suicide attacks and kidnappings around the world and, crucially, the hunt of Mughniyeh. The storyline starts to take shape about half an hour into the second episode, which is far too late for a series of just four parts. To further complicate matters, in what is presumably an attempt to make the narrative hang together more smoothly, the show weaves interviews with real-life Western and Israeli officials and agents into the episodes. But rather than adding structure to the miniseries, or adding gravitas to the plot, it just makes the series lose its rhythm. At points the show almost tips into documentary territory, which in turn makes it harder to get stuck into the drama as youre reminded by the commentary that the acted scenes are just that. This isnt to say that Ghosts of Beirut isnt worth watching. After its extended introduction, and as the teams start to close in on Mughniyeh, things start to get seriously tense. The series was reportedly filmed in Morocco for the most part, in landscapes and next to buildings that are similar to those found in Lebanon. And so, despite some occasionally clunky formatting, the series does transport you to the region, and the drama eventually draws you in. Iddo Goldberg as Teddy and Boussalem Mohammed as Daqduq in Ghosts of Beirut / Sifeddine Elamine/SHOWTIME The actors, on the whole, are a talented bunch. Cast members include Saudi Arabian actor Dina Shihabi who plays Lena, the agent heading up the CIAs 2007 team, Iddo Goldberg who plays her opposite in Tel Aviv, and Zineb Triki who plays Wafa, Mughniyehs love interest all of whom play their roles persuasively. Issacharoff and Raz have also used quite a few of Faudas star actors in Ghosts of Beirut, including Arab-Israeli actor Hisham Suliman, who played the lead nemesis Taufiq Hammed in the Israeli dramas first season and now plays the older Mughniyeh. It makes sense: Suliman is compelling as he plays these complex characters. But the downside of the overlapping cast is that the series can sometimes feel too obviously linked to Fauda. This is most obvious with the Ghost of Beirut scenes set in the Mossads offices in Tel Aviv: the brusk, tense back and forth between the characters feels more like a Fauda sequel, rather than being part of a completely new series. Theres a lot of good stuff in Ghosts of Beirut, but the series four-hour time limit means that it never manages to capitalise on its potential. Characters and relationships are not properly fleshed out, and the twisting and truly engrossing plot never fully has time to develop. The show is a reasonable thriller set in the Middle East. But given that this is the story of one of the most significant manhunts in recent history, Ghosts of Beirut has seriously missed a trick. Ghosts of Beirut is released on Paramount+ on July 27 BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. Deputy Minister of Defense Industry of Azerbaijan Vugar Mustafayev has met with Defense Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Ibrahim Abubakar Kana on the second day of the International IDEF-2023 Defense Industry Exhibition in Istanbul (Turkiye), Trend reports via the Ministry of Defense Industry of Azerbaijan. The current state of relations between the two countries in the military-technical area and prospects for further cooperation were discussed at this meeting. Then Technical Director of Baykar Selcuk Bayraktar and Chairman of the Defense Industry Department of the Republic of Turkiye Haluk Gergin visited the stand of the Ministry of Defense Industry of Azerbaijan. Vugar Mustafayev and Deputy Minister of Defense, Head of the Main Department of Military, Technical Supply Agil Gurbanov met with the guests during their visit to the stand. The sides exchanged views on the development of existing cooperation and other issues of interest. The exhibition is one of the world's largest sites for the demonstration of new weapons and is held at the TUYAP Exhibition Center in Istanbul. IDEF is one of the four largest world exhibitions of the defense industry by the number of participating companies. In addition, IDEF stands out as the world's largest platform for negotiations between defense enterprises. As in previous years, the IDEF presents new items of the domestic defense industry. The exhibition will also feature upgraded versions of previously developed products of the Turkish defense industry. Combat and tactical armored personnel carriers, ground-based unmanned vehicles, guided missiles, military simulators, equipment for the destruction of explosive materials and other latest developments in the military-industrial complex will be demonstrated. IDEF exhibition profiles are military equipment for the Ground forces, Navy, Air Force, protection and space technologies, onboard systems, helicopters, ships, electronic equipment, security systems, transportation and logistics systems. I ts been a year of quiet luxury. Unsurprisingly, our nails have taken a more muted turn, too. Instead of dopamine-drenched manicures, the collective consciousness is craving understated and wearable nails that will still have strangers stopping you in the street to ask for a better look at your fingertips. Dont believe us? We checked in with the capitals hottest nail experts to find out what their clients have been asking for day in, day out. Butterscotch American manicure Hailey Bieber is perhaps the ultimate nail influencer. First it was the inescapable glazed donut trend, then it was the lip gloss trend (more on the later). In fact, pretty much any nail look that she posts to social media is a headline-worthy affair. As for her next talon-setting trend? Introducing the Butterscotch American manicure. Butterscotch nails seem to have come off the back of the vanilla French tip trend and and of course, Hailey Bieber, agrees Ella Vivii Nails, who has buffed Raye, Flo and Mia Khalifas nails. It gives clients a softer alternative to a classic French without what now seems like a harsh white. Before you ask, no were not getting our countries mixed up the American manicure differs in the tip, which softly bleeds into the base colour, as opposed to the defined line typical to a French mani. As for the butterscotch part, that all comes down to the utterly delectable glazed, brown-hued finish. For anyone wanting to try it at home, I would recommend Essie Ballet Slippers, 7.19, for a base with keep branching out for the butterscotch toned tip, she continues. Or,as always, take Biebers Instagram as a reference to your local salon. Aura nails Emma Chamberlain / Emma Chamberlain / Instagram For the uninitiated, aura nails are designed to reflect your, well, aura. Usually described through colours, for example, pink means your energy is gentle and loving, while yellows are optimistic and free spirited, this radiating energy field is now being translated into nail art via stunning multicolour gradients created with an airbrush or with blooming gel polish. Dua Lipa is a fan, so is Emma Chamberlain, Megan Thee Stallion and Megan Fox. Aura nails have been a very popular trend since last year, in fact, its what I get asked to do the most by my clients. Its a design that works well on any nail shape and length, says Michela Brandimarte, who is beloved by Londons fashion insiders. Its a very versatile style and people love the idea that an Aura nail set can depict exactly where your head and heart are by choosing the right colour combo. I personally like to airbrush the colours so that it is very smooth and blended. They work just as well using an eyeshadow or pigment pressed into a nearly-dry polish and lightly blended around the edges, if youre feeling brave enough to DIY it. Lip oil Beauty trends arent just recycled, but reinterpreted in new and exciting ways. For example, lip oils have been dominating the make up scene for the last few years thanks to Dior Addicts Lip Glow Oil going monstrously viral on TikTok and now nail fanatics are stealing the texture for their nails. Since the Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil has broken the internet it only makes sense that this trend would eventually transform into the most timeless nail trend of all times, agrees Brandimarte. The look itself is a next level sheer tinted shine but with a touch of milk to give it that super jelly/ yoghurt look. To achieve that I personally use a clear base, two coats of Gloss from TGB and the top coat (the most important part) that has to be extremely shining. First made popular by new TikTok It-girl Sofia Richie Grainge, its no surprise Ella is calling it the perfect clean girl nail. Slightly elevated from the everyday neutral. The quickest and easiest way to achieve this look is by using Essies hard to resist nail strengthener in pink tint, 9.99, which will help strengthen and protect your natural nail whilst still looking cute. But for all the gel manicure lovers, ask your nail artist for The Gel Bottle Gloss. Metallic mania While some trends come and go at whiplash speed fizzling out by the time youve even left your two-hour nail appointment some become a mainstay. Chrome nails will always be one of the most popular and wanted nail trends, says Brandimarte. And with metallics its just next level especially the 3D nail trend. People are in love with the idea of being able to wear jewellery on their nails because it can just give that touch of extravaganza to the whole outfit. It doesnt necessarily have to be silver or gold it can also be bronze, lavender, hot pink chromed, she continues, referencing the multi-coloured chrome tips of Kourtney Kardashian, Lily Allen and Hailey Bieber. The way to achieve the look is to sculpt 3D clay gel in any spontaneous shape and then coat it with the chosen chrome powder, double top coat and done, she says, which is probably left best to the professionals. Blueberry milk Taking inspiration from a traditional milky manicure (a creamy, white-meets-pink), the blueberry milk manicure version is as pretty as it sounds. After blueberry milk nails were seen on Dua Lipa, the full cover creme colours have been seen everywhere. It keeps a manicure look soft and sophisticated whilst still playing with colour, says Ella, who also adds that it is a colour flattering on most skin colours. With Zendaya and Sofia Richie also seen sporting the colour, our bets are that its only going to get more popular. To achieve the perfect blueberry milk colour look for Chanels Muse, 29, or Essies Saltwater happy, 8.99, recommends Ella, adding: I think we will be seeing this trend in loads more colours especially to make brights have a more wearable everyday nail element. For example soft Barbie pinks, creamy neon green and muted cobalt blue. Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr. Wicked Skengman. The Problem. Stiff Chocolate. Big Mike. Stormzy. Talk about me you better hashtag Merky warns the polyonymous rapper at the start of his defiant early track, Know Me From. The word, popularised by Stormzy himself, has become more than slang, more than a hashtag. Merky is an idea, a movement, a philosophy. Merky is a talisman, a prayer for those of us who dare to envisage a brighter future; a bigger, better, blacker Britain. After the release of Wicked Skengman 4 in 2014, the London born rapper rose to stratospheric success in a matter of months. Within four years, he was one of the most successful grime artists in the UK with Prayer the first of his three number one albums still on the rise, multiple award wins and a BRIT under his Dior belt. At this point, many artists might pause, take stock and dive back into the studio to recreate the elusive magic of that album. Stormzy performs at the The BRIT Awards 2018 / Getty Images Not Stormzy. In 2018, he launched the #Merky Foundation, promising 10 million over 10 years to organisations, movements, and charities to empower black people and fight for racial equality in the UK. In 2020, the Foundation donated 500,000 to the Black Heart Foundations Each Day. Every Day campaign, launched in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, which supports young scholars from underrepresented and under resourced communities. Five years on and halfway through the Foundations initial mission, the impact is undeniable. Its important for you to take that and say Okay, how can I create a culture around this whole thing, because culture moves the world, Jay Z told Stormzy in the intro to the latters paradigm shifting headline set at Glastonbury in 2019. The world is ready for it thats culture. And that is exactly what Stormzy has done. He has turned his own success into a culture. I was at the Pyramid stage that night in 2019. I watched as, before a predominantly white audience, headlining a festival with an overwhelmingly white line up, Stormzy made history as the first Black British solo artist to headline the festival. Clad in a Banksy-designed Union Jack stab-proof vest he sweated, spat, and swore fealty to his antecedents. Wiley, Skepta, Giggs and Chip are but a few of the Black British rap giants upon whose shoulders Stormzy stands. But Big Mike is himself a giant and he has used his triumph to lift up those around him so that we can see further. Ceding the stage at various points to other rappers, a BMX crew, a black pas de deux and ten-year-old Princess K. I remember watching this tiny dancer in a red Adidas tracksuit centre herself on the stage. I hadnt realised how powerful words can be, Stormzy spoke as the girl moved. When joined by the rapper and a crew of adult dancers, she stared blazingly up at them, her face joyful and defiant. Stormzys legacy will be manifold, but in essence can be boiled down to what happened on that stage in 2019. Converting his own spectacular ascendency not into a story of Black exceptionalism, but into a belief and platform that allows Black British talent to rise. Faced with his majesty, people cannot help but believe in their own. This is The Stormzy Effect. Stormzy made history as the first Black British solo artist to headline Glastonbury / AFP via Getty Images This effect was initially coined to explain the massive boom in Black British admissions to Cambridge following the creation of The Stormzy Scholarships. In 2017, the year before the launch of the #Merky Foundation, Cambridge admitted just 58 Black British students to undergraduate degree courses. By 2020 this had risen to 137 and has stayed at this level, representing roughly 6% of admissions. There were clearly multiple factors at play, but the Stormzy effect is undeniable. The scholarship programme has now been expanded and continues to break down barriers that keep Black kids out of elite institutions. My own story, too, is inextricably linked to that of Big Mike. In 2018, Stormzy launched the #Merky Books imprint at Penguin Random House with a clear ambition to publish books that will own and change the mainstream. The imprint has flourished into a powerhouse, publishing the writing of people of colour in the UK and boasting huge names such as Malorie Blackman, Wretch 32, and Caster Semenya. But #Merky Books true magic lies in its eye for new and emerging work. Last year they published Jade LBs internet-breaking Black British cult classic Keisha The Sket and are actively seeking out stories from marginalised voices. I first heard about the #Merky Books New Writers Prize when a friend recommended me a book that turned out to be one of the inaugural winners, Hafsa Zayyan. The prize aims to discover work from underrepresented young talent. In Autumn of 2022, I was invited along with nineteen other shortlisted writers to the #Merky Books Writers Camp. The atmosphere at the camp typifies the mood Stormzy has created; a group of hungry young writers gathered together, daring to believe that their dreams could become manifest. Earlier this year, my submission was awarded the 2022 Prize. My novel, hitherto hidden away in a secret folder on my laptop, will be published next year. Stormzy dares us to dream. And in dreaming we create a new future. This is his legacy. This is The Stormzy Effect. A dangerous mugger jailed for dragging a frail 92-year-old widow along the pavement has absconded from a mental health facility in east London. Paranoid schizophrenic Sanchez Edwards, 33, was on escorted leave when reported missing. Scotland Yard launched an urgent hunt for Edwards and warned members of the public not to approach him, but to dial 999. He was last seen at the junction of Wick Road and Barnabas Road, Homerton at approximately midday on Sunday. Edwards was wearing a navy puffer jacket, grey tracksuit trousers and white trainers. The robber, who requires medical support, has links to Hackney, Camden and Newham and is known to travel using public transport, particularly buses. In March 2018, Edwards was sentenced to five years and eight months for robbery after a court heard the recently-widowed woman was followed and grabbed by Edwards who tried to wrestle a bag off her on Hoxton Street, Hackney. She bravely refused to give up her bag contained a mobile phone, 100 in cash and a travel pass and was dragged down the paved streets. Widow dragged down the street in June 2017 / Metropolitan Police It happened 60 minutes after Edwards was let out of Homertons John Howard Centre medium secure unit in June 2017, Wood Green Crown Court heard. At the time, the Metropolitan Police released CCTV of the attack and images showing the grandmothers horrific bruising. Detective Inspector Paul Ridley described her injuries as alarming and harrowing. In a statement, the victim who had recently lost her husband of 68 years told how she was too afraid to leave her house and is a shadow of her former self. She suffered recurring nightmares and could not sleep due to the pain. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: Officers are appealing for information about the whereabouts of a man who absconded from a mental health facility in Hackney. If seen, Sanchez Edwards should not be approached. Instead, call 999 immediately quoting reference CAD 2919/23Jul. T he Mayor of London has been told that any signs and cameras for his planned expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) are not permited in the county of Hertfordshire, in the latest council backlash over the scheme. Tory leader of Hertfordshire County Council, Richard Roberts, sent a letter to Sadiq Khan stating that automatic number plate recognition cameras and signs notifying drivers cannot be erected within the boundary of the county. He personally asked that Mr Khan extend the scrappage scheme to include counties surrounding Greater London if the Ulez expansion goes ahead. Mr Khan plans to expand the Ulez from August 29 so drivers in outer London will also have to pay a 12.50 daily fee if their car does not meet emissions standards, in a bid to tackle Londons air pollution. Almost two thirds of the 2,750 Ulez enforcement cameras have been installed in outer London, the Standard revealed on Tuesday, despite widespread vandalism and the opposition of seven boroughs to having cameras erected on local roads. But Mr Roberts said in the letter, sent on Friday, that his residents in the area are dealing with the tightest squeeze on their finances in over a decade, reiterating the councils concerns for the expansion of the Ulez. He said many people with non-compliant cars cannot afford to upgrade their cars, are not eligible for the scrappage scheme and have no viable public transport alternatives. The move comes after several councils surrounding the capital refused to sign an agreement in February allowing Transport for London (TfL) to install street signs and cameras warning drivers they are approaching the clean air zone. Surrey and Kent councils raised similar objections. All of the local authorities are run by Conservative administrations. Mr Khan is awaiting the decision of the High Court on whether the Ulez expansion is legal. A judgement is likely this week. A spokesperson for the Mayor said: TfL and City Hall are working closely and collaboratively with the local authorities concerned to install the infrastructure needed. The Mayor has been clear that while the decision to expand ULEZ was an incredibly difficult one, he could not stand by and do nothing while around 4,000 Londoners die prematurely each year due to air pollution, children are growing up with stunted lungs and thousands of people in our city are developing life-changing illnesses, such as cancer, lung disease, dementia and asthma. Nine out of 10 cars seen driving in outer London are compliant and wont need to pay a penny. For anyone who is affected, help is available including thousands of pounds for people on low incomes, charities, small businesses, disabled Londoners and anyone in receipt of child benefit. Sadiq is committed to the expansion but is always listening and is happy to look at any new ideas for ways to mitigate the impact of expanding the ULEZ on Londoners while still tackling air quality and the climate crisis. It comes after a bruising fall-out from the Uxbridge by-election, in which defeated Labour candidate Danny Beales said the proposed Ulez expansion had cut us off at the knees. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that Labour was doing something very wrong if its policies were able to be used by the Tories to lose it votes. P roducers at Selling Sunset might need to consider swapping Los Angeles for a series in London as the capital is one of the best places in the world to watch the sun go down. Apparently. You might not see the sun disappear behind mountains or from a beach around these parts but there is something beautiful about how it lingers in the sky if it ever comes out at all. It is all according to a poll, which we are just going to claim is very accurate and well researched, which ranks London above even Paris, Venice and the Maldives as one of the best places in the world to watch the sunset. Agency Titan Travel looked through posts on social media platforms Instagram and TikTok to find the most picturesque spots worldwide. Judges decided the order based on the quality of the picture and also the number of posts and their reach. The top 20 spots based on their TikTok reach / Titan Agency And while London did not top the poll, that honour went to Bali, it did finish sixth and Titan clocked 11.4 million views of the capital on TikTok, which was the fourth most watched of any location. The agency said: The UK capital boasts plenty of locations to watch the sunset so it comes as no surprise its one of the most popular locations on TikTok. Titan said that popular sunset spots include Primrose Hill and Greenwich Park, one of Londons Unesco world heritage sites. It didnt mention the view from Walthamstow village or how the sun can make Harlesden glow, but it must have surely been implied. Santorini, Ibiza, Maui and San Diego completed the top five. Titan said the methodology began with a list of the best locations to watch sunsets worldwide taken from list articles and ranked from the total number of Instagram posts tagged #[location]sunset and TikTok posts tagged #[location]sunset. Data was collected in May. While the findings are unlikely to be backed up by any other poll, ever, Londoners should nonetheless take pride in their sunset views. After all, it could be worse, we could have to settle for views like those of Borneo or Zanzibar, which barely squeezed into Titans top 20. A London Tory MP has warned against rolling back on green policies after a campaign against the Ulez expansion led to a surprise by-election victory for the Conservatives in Uxbridge. David Simmonds, MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, said his party should refrain from drawing wider conclusions about environmental action after the Tories retained Boris Johnsons former seat by fewer than 500 votes last week. But Mr Simmonds said tackling pollution and climate change remains overwhelmingly popular nationwide. If we vacate this space, well hand an electorally potent issue to the Labour Party before the next election, Mr Simmonds wrote in ConservativeHome. Instead, we must continue to be an environmentally ambitious political party focusing on action that lowers peoples bills, creates jobs, and unlocks investment. Labour had been the overwhelming favourites to win the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election after Mr Johnson quit the seat. But Tory Steve Tuckwell won the vote after campaigning ferociously against the expansion of Mayor Sadiq Khans clean air zone. Following the count, the Hillingdon councillor admitted that he had run an incredibly single minded campaign that had been in complete opposition to Ulez from the outset. Sir Keir Starmer and Labour candidate Danny Beales blamed the policy for Labours narrow defeat. It also dragged the Conservatives into an internal row over environment policy. Michael Gove warned his colleagues against treating the cause of the environment as a religious crusade. Former minister Zac Goldsmith, who quit the government over Rishi Sunaks climate policies, said it would be cynical and idiotic to scrap environment measures on the back of a single by-election result. But Jacob Rees-Mogg said the Tories had a real chance at winning the next election if they rowed back on green policies. The Ulez is due to expand to the outer London boundary on August 29. The result of a High Court fight against the scheme expansion, launched by five Tory councils, is expected this week. TfL contractors have installed 1,775 cameras despite having to contend with widespread vandalism and the opposition of seven boroughs to having cameras erected on local roads. The latest TfL data shows that the proportion of vehicles complying with the Ulez emission rules in the existing zone has risen to 95.3 per cent and 96.6 per cent for cars. A self-identification system to allow transgender people to legally identify as their chosen gender without a medical diagnosis is not the right way forward, Sir Keir Starmer has said. It comes after Labour rowed back on plans to introduce a self-ID system for transgender people, with shadow women and equalities secretary Anneliese Dodds arguing instead that a medical diagnosis upholds legitimacy of applications and confidence in the system. The Labour leader, speaking to listeners on Nicky Campbells BBC Radio 5 Live show, also said that in his view a woman is an adult female, so lets clear that one up. Sir Keir said his approach, which is at odds with Scottish Labour, emerged after the partys national policy forum at the weekend. He denied Labour is trying to sneak out the policy shift, after Ms Dodds confirmed the move in an article in The Guardian. Writing in the paper, she said Labour is committed to modernising the Gender Recognition Act. She added: Changing gender is not a decision anyone makes lightly. The process is intrusive, outdated and humiliating. So we will modernise, simplify and reform the gender recognition law to a new process. We will remove invasive bureaucracy and simplify the process. But she added the law should protect legitimate applications and criticised the SNP Scottish Governments cavalier approach to gender recognition reform, after the move sparked a clash with the Government in London. Pressed by listeners and host Campbell on Labours stance, Sir Keir said: We dont think that self-identification is the right way forward. Weve reflected on what happened in Scotland. Weve set out that we want to modernise the process, get rid of some of the indignities in the process, keep it a medical process. Weve always said, Ive continued to say, and Sunday, when we completed our policy forum, allowed us to be clear that there should be safe places, safe spaces, for women, particularly in relation to violence against women and girls. Sir Keir was pressed to name his specific concerns about why safe spaces are needed: I think its more that biological women who have been subjected to violence against women and girls want a safe space where they can feel safe. Pushed to be more specific, he said they want a safe space where they can feel that they are properly supported and protected. Scottish Labour said earlier this week that it remains committed to the de-medicalisation of the process for trans people to obtain legal recognition in their preferred gender. Paul OKane, the partys social justice spokesman at Holyrood, said Labour is committed to modernising and reforming the outdated and intrusive Gender Recognition Act, as well as ensuring exemptions in the Equality Act are upheld. Scottish Labour continues to support the de-medicalisation of the process in Scotland. L ondon business chiefs on Wednesday ramped up their campaign to persuade Jeremy Hunt to axe the tourist tax warning that the only winners from it were cities such as Paris, Madrid and Milan. The BusinessLDN group published a new analysis, based on a report by Oxford Economics, which showed the capital could be given a 1 billion boost, and 13,400 jobs, if the Chancellor restored tax-free shopping for international visitors. In a submission to the Treasury, it also urged him to ask the Office for Budget Responsibility to do a comprehensive review of the tourist tax, considering the wider economic benefits including to restaurants, theatres and hotels, as well as retailers. BusinessLDN chief executive John Dickie said: The tourist tax is an economic own goal. Re-introducing the VAT reclaim scheme would boost UKs flatlining economy through increased spending from international visitors in our shops, restaurants, hotels and more. He argued that axing the levy would deliver an annual 350 million economic fillip to the UKs public finances. The Treasury disputes this figure, putting the cost at up to 2 billion, with the differences significantly down to varying estimates over how many extra international visitors would come to the UK if tax-free shopping was restored. Hoewever Amelia Bright, director of London Estate, Grosvenor, also criticised the levy, stressing: The only winners are Paris, Madrid and Milan. Ros Morgan, head of the Heart of London Business Alliance, added: Theatres, galleries and museums are heavily reliant on overseas tourists, but they are now choosing to visit our international competitors. Inderneel Singh, chief executive of Edwardian Hotels London, emphasised: We have noticed a growing trend where leisure travellers are choosing other European destinations over London because they offer tax-free shopping. Pressing for an official Treasury review of the policy, New West End Company chief Dee Corsi said: This tourist tax is an undeniable drag on the UK economy. Ruth Duston, managing director for Primera Corporation, which runs 14 London business improvement districts, explained: If we are serious about kick-starting growth in London, and therefore in the whole of the UK, we must reinstate VAT-free shopping. Toby Courtauld, chief executive of Great Portland Estates, said: The UK is now the only European country not to offer tax-free shopping. Senior Tory Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has secured a Commons debate on September 7 on tax-free shopping for international visitors. Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan stressed that restoring it would be a quick way for the Government to grow the economy. But a Treasury spokesperson said: VAT-free shopping does not directly benefit Brits it lets foreign tourists who buy items in the UK to claim back VAT as they return home. The scheme could cost British taxpayers around 2 billion a year at a time when weve already had to take difficult decisions to get debt falling and fewer than one in ten non-EU visitors used the previous scheme, showing its not a significant attraction for tourists. Airport and rail chiefs also criticised retaining the levy. Heathrows chief commercial officer Ross Baker said: The decision is disastrous for UK competitiveness as tourist spend in the UK is now eclipsed by our European neighbours where goods are up to 20 per cent cheaper. Gatwicks retail director Rachel Bulford called on the Chancellor to bring back the tax-free shopping in the Autumn Budget as big-spending travel markets like China grow back. Stansted managing director Gareth Powell said the move would give the UK economy a massive boost. Wendy Spinks, Commercial Director at HS1 Ltd, the high speed rail link to the Channel used by Eurostar, stressed it would provide another incentive for people to visit the UK. N atWest boss Dame Alison Rose has resigned from her position after admitting to being the source of an inaccurate story about Nigel Farages finances. In a statement released early on Wednesday, NatWest Group chairman Sir Howard Davies said: The Board and Alison Rose have agreed, by mutual consent, that she will step down as CEO of the NatWest Group. It is a sad moment. She has dedicated all her working life so far to NatWest and will leave many colleagues who respect and admire her. In a statement of her own, Dame Alison thanked her colleagues for all that they have done, adding: I remain immensely proud of the progress the bank has made in supporting people, families and business across the UK, and building the foundations for sustainable growth. Earlier, Dame Alison said she made a serious error of judgment when she discussed Mr Farages relationship with private bank Coutts, owned by NatWest Group, with a BBC journalist. Sir Howard initially said the board members had decided the chief executive retained their full confidence but her position became ever more uncertain after the Chancellor and Downing Street were said to have serious concerns over her conduct. An emergency board meeting was called late on Tuesday night to determine her future, with the announcement of her resignation coming a few hours later. Last week, Mr Farage presented evidence, in the form of a 40-page dossier, that his account at Coutts had been closed partly due to his political views conflicting with the banks values. The evidence obtained from the bank through a data request contradicted a BBC News story, which initially claimed that the account closure was motivated by commercial reasons only, citing Mr Farages failure to meet a 1 million borrowing requirement. The BBC and its business editor Simon Jack apologised, saying the reporting had been based on information from a trusted and senior source but turned out to be incomplete and inaccurate. In a statement, released alongside Sir Howard on Tuesday evening, Dame Alison said: I recognise that in my conversations with Simon Jack of the BBC, I made a serious error of judgment in discussing Mr Farages relationship with the bank. Believing it was public knowledge, I confirmed that Mr Farage was a Coutts customer and that he had been offered a NatWest bank account. Alongside this, I repeated what Mr Farage had already stated, that the bank saw this as a commercial decision. I would like to emphasise that in responding to Mr Jacks questions I did not reveal any personal financial information about Mr Farage. In response to a general question about eligibility criteria required to bank with Coutts and NatWest I said that guidance on both was publicly available on their websites. In doing so, I recognise that I left Mr Jack with the impression that the decision to close Mr Farages accounts was solely a commercial one. Sir Howard said the overall handling of the circumstances surrounding Mr Farages accounts has been unsatisfactory, with serious consequences for the bank, before promising an independent review, which will be made public. On Wednesday morning, Mr Farage said the resignation of Dame Alison was "a start" but the "whole Board needs to go". Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: "Anybody on that Board that backed that statement that was put out at 17.42 yesterday, a totally unsustainable and untrue statement, anybody that backed that behaviour, should be gone." Sheldon Mills, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) executive director for consumers and competition, said it had raised concerns about breaches of confidentiality by Coutts and its parent company NatWest. He also emphasised the importance of a well-resourced independent review to investigate the matter swiftly and fully, adding: On the basis of the review and any steps taken by other authorities, such as the Financial Ombudsman Service or Information Commissioner, on relevant complaints, we will decide if any further action is necessary. City minister Andrew Griffith said on Wednesday it was right that the NatWest CEO has resigned.This would never have happened if NatWest had not taken it upon itself to withdraw a bank account due to someones lawful political views. That was and is always unacceptable.I hope the whole financial sector learns from this incident. Its role is to serve customers well and fairly - not to tell them how or what to think. Speaking on his GB News show, Mr Farage accused Dame Alison of breaching the FCAs conduct rules, adding: I think there has been complete failure in this regard. The ex-MEP turned broadcaster went on: It is perfectly clear to me that Peter Flavel, the CEO of Coutts, has not done his job at all. It is perfectly clear to me that Alison Rose is unfit to be the CEO of a big group and that Howard Davies, who is supposed to be in charge of governance, has failed as well. Given that we have a 39% stake in this we, the great British public I think at that investor statement on Friday morning, the Government ought to say we have no confidence in this management. Frankly, I think they should all go and that is my conclusion from what weve learned this afternoon. The taxpayers stake in the company has gradually reduced over time due to several share sales by the Government, with the latest bringing its ownership down to 38.6%. A string of Tory MPs, including former cabinet minister David Davis and Saqib Bhatti, the Conservative Partys vice-chairman for business, had also called for Dame Alisons resignation. NatWests board of directors announced that Paul Thwaite, the current chief executive of the companys Commercial and Institutional business, will take over Dame Alisons responsibilities for an initial period of 12 months, pending regulatory approval. The board said in a statement that a further process to appoint a permanent successor will take place in due course. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. Armenia should stop territorial claims against Azerbaijan, and not defiantly send trucks to the Lachin border checkpoint, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev tweeted after the meeting with the participation of the ambassadors of Turkiye, the US and Switzerland, Trend reports. The "leaders" of the separatists in Khankendi are holding the local population hostage for the sake of their own political ambitions, he said. Armenia should put an end to territorial claims against Azerbaijan, withdraw elements of its forces from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and stop financing the illegal regime," Hajiyev said. He noted that it is necessary to ensure the disarmament of all illegal forces in Karabakh. "The international community should give clear instructions in connection with the use of the Aghdam-Khankendi road and the reintegration of the Armenian residents of Karabakh into Azerbaijani society," he said. B ritains banking sector is likely to face political and regulatory fallout which will ripple out for months to come after the furore surrounding the closure of Nigel Farages Coutts account, according to experts. NatWest has been thrown into a crisis mode in recent days, culminating with the resignation of boss Dame Alison Rose in the early hours of Wednesday after she admitted discussing Mr Farages relationship with private bank Coutts, owned by NatWest Group, with a BBC journalist. Shares in NatWest slumped by 3% on Wednesday, wiping more than 600 million off the banks stock market value, which is still 38% owed by the taxpayer, as the crisis showed little sign of dying down, with Mr Farage saying more of the lenders board should quit. NatWest is no ordinary bank; it is still almost 40% owned by the UK taxpayer, and the political and regulatory ramifications of this episode are likely to ripple out for months to come But shares across the sector were also hit as the former Ukip leader called for cultural change across the wider banking industry and promised to continue to campaign on account closures. Lloyds Banking Group shares dropped by 3% on the FTSE 100 Index despite posting surging half-year profits on Wednesday, while Barclays stock was also nearly 2% lower. Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, said: Banks play a crucial role in making the country tick. They are trusted with our hard-earned cash and relied upon to fund a myriad of purchases from buying a house to business expansion which delivers jobs and prosperity. With that in mind it now seems absurd that the board of NatWest had considered that Alison Rose could ride out this storm. She said despite being highly respected and having an impressive track record at the helm, her decision was the only viable path, but said the knock-on effects of the saga will be felt sector-wide. NatWest is no ordinary bank; it is still almost 40% owned by the UK taxpayer, and the political and regulatory ramifications of this episode are likely to ripple out for months to come, she said. These are independent businesses and they have got to look at their customers from a perspective of whether they going to add economic value. There's no point dealing with customers who will lose you money The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) said it was concerned over NatWests sharing of personal information on Nigel Farage and has written to banks reminding them of their responsibilities on customer data. Mr Farage lodged a complaint with the ICO, but the regulator said its procedures mean NatWest must be given a chance to respond before the ICO gets involved. Information Commissioner John Edwards said: We trust banks with our money and with our personal information. Any suggestion that this trust has been betrayed will be concerning for a banks customers and for regulators like myself. Gary Greenwood, a banking analyst at Shore Capital, told the PA news agency NatWest may face a financial penalty for its actions and possible compensation claims from other customers who feel their accounts have been wrongly closed. Mr Greenwood said the entire sector may also have to change the way it approaches account closures, in particular with new consumer duty rules coming into effect at the end of this month and ministers pressing for speedy reforms. He said lenders will need to demonstrate that they have gone through the proper processes on account closures and when customer criteria has not been met. But he said banks will still need to consider legal and regulatory requirements such as financial crime, as well as whether their reputations will be tarnished by having some customers on their books. Mr Greenwood added: These are independent businesses and they have got to look at their customers from a perspective of whether they going to add economic value. Theres no point dealing with customers who will lose you money. You wouldn't expect any other independent business to be forced to take on any customer under the sun regardless Equally theres a risk-management assessment thats got to be done as well whether there are links to criminal organisations or politically exposed persons who could potentially abuse their position. Thats a legal requirement. Theyve got their brands and reputations to consider as well. You wouldnt expect any other independent business to be forced to take on any customer under the sun regardless. A new consumer duty coming into force from July 31 will set higher and clearer standards for financial firms to follow in general. Firms will be required to communicate in a way which is timely, clear and understandable, putting customers at the heart of what they do. T he deadline of a public consultation on plans to close nearly all railway station ticket offices in England has been extended until September, the Rail Delivery Group has confirmed. Train operators unveiled proposals earlier this month for mass closures of station ticket offices after Transport Secretary Mark Harper urged them to cut costs. A three-week consultation on the plans was announced on July 5 by the Rail Delivery Group, which said staff would move out of ticket offices, adopting new customer help roles already in place on many parts of the rail network. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Jacqueline Starr, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, said: Train companies have listened to feedback and are extending the time available to respond to the consultation on changes to how tickets are sold at stations to 1st of September. Operators are keen to give more people a chance to give their views on the proposals, so they can bring the railway up to date with dramatic shifts in customer buying habits while supporting all its customers as the railway evolves and adapts. While local plans vary, the aim of the proposals is to bring staff out from behind ticket office windows to offer more help for customers buying tickets and navigating stations. At the same time, ticket vending machines are being upgraded to offer a wider range of fares and we have committed that no customer will have to go out of their way to buy a ticket. The RDG has said the proposals would mean more face-to-face support was available across the network to choose the cheapest tickets and advise on journey planning, as well as support those with accessibility needs. The plans have drawn fierce criticism from groups representing passengers and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT). Responding to the announcement, Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) joint interim general secretary Peter Pendle said: Three weeks was never long enough for a meaningful consultation and Im glad to see the Government backing down on that. TSSA has been clear from the start that ticket office staff are essential for safe and secure travel for vulnerable passengers, especially women, and for an inclusive and welcoming railway for passengers with disabilities. The unreasonably short three-week consultation period looked like a cynical attempt to silence the voices of the most vulnerable rail users in order to rush through savage cuts to our members jobs. Whilst the extension to the consultation is welcome, what rail users really need is for this cynical and unnecessary plan to cut ticket office staff to be shelved completely. In a statement, the RMT described the five-week extension as wholly inadequate and called for the whole disastrous closure programme to be abandoned. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: Although our pressure has forced their hand, it is still a deeply flawed and a wholly inadequate consultation process which we are considering challenging legally in the courts. Our campaign to save ticket offices, protect our members jobs and look out for the best interests of all rail passengers will only intensify in the coming weeks. 20,000 rail workers will walk out on July 29 in pursuit of a negotiated settlement on job security pay, conditions and saving ticket offices. In a tweet, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham one of five Labour metro mayors preparing to take legal action in a bid to halt the rushed mass closure plan said of the extended deadline: This shows we were right to challenge this flawed process. But its not good enough. The law requires a 12-week consultation. We will continue to pursue our legal action. Watchdogs Transport Focus and London TravelWatch have received more than 170,000 comments since the consultation was launched three weeks ago. Tom Marsland, policy manager at disability equality charity Scope, said: These botched plans will make rail travel impossible or much harder for many disabled people. Extending the consultation doesnt solve that. The Government and rail industry need to go back to the drawing board. The Government must listen to disabled people and halt these plans in their tracks. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: While this is a matter for the industry, it is right that train operators have listened to feedback and extended their consultations, following continued engagement with stakeholders, including accessibility groups. Following the consultations, independent passenger bodies will continue to play a vital role in assessing and shaping proposals. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) welcomed the extended deadline, and said it had raised concerns with the Department for Transport earlier this week about the potential adverse effects the closures could have on disabled and older individuals. The watchdog said it had reminded the department of its obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act, which requires public sector organisations to carefully consider equality when when designing or changing services. EHRC chairwoman, Kishwer Falkner, said: The needs of older and disabled passengers must be properly considered and addressed in any proposed rail ticket office closures. We welcome the decision to extend this consultation to ensure all those who need to can respond properly and express any concerns. G atwick airport employees strikes have been put on hold while union members vote on new salary offers. Union members have either accepted or are being balloted on new pay offers, it has been announced. Planned strikes at Londons Gatwick Airport will be significantly less disruptive now staff have either accepted new pay deals, or postponed action while they consider. Nearly 1,000 workers from four companies were set to walk out for eight days this summer in an argument over pay. Have the strikes been cancelled? ASLEF members were due to walk out today (Wednesday) and Friday (July 28), but the union now says strike action has been suspended. Unite said that DHL employees planned strikes had been cancelled completely as a result of their decision to accept a 15 per cent pay increase. Meanwhile, the RMT has also suspended all strike action planned for next week on the London Underground after making progress in the pensions and jobs dispute. And ASC employees will still strike from July 28 to August 1 and August 4 through August 8 if they reject the salary offer. Menzies workers' strikes that were scheduled to take place from July 28 to August 1 have been put on hold but, if the offer is refused, they will also resume from August 4 to 8. Will there be delays because of industrial action? If ASC and Menzies workers reject the new revised pay offer, the strike taking place on Friday, July 28 will impact those travelling. Only one of the four ASC is yet to vote on a pay offer. If it is rejected, they will walk out from Friday, July 28 to Tuesday, August 1, and then from Friday, August 4 to Tuesday, August 8. The impact on passengers isnt yet clear but disruption and delays are still possible. What to do if youre affected? British Airways, EasyJet, Ryanair, TUI, Westjet, and Wizz Air are among the affected airlines. Since Gatwick employees are not paid by the airlines, they are not required to provide compensation. However, if your flight is cancelled or delayed for more than two hours, airlines must provide you with a different flight or help. Travellers should check their flight information and status before leaving for the airport on strike days in case there has been a last-minute change. Two hours for short-haul and three hours prior to long-haul flights is usually recommended for passenger arrival, so you should arrive earlier during the strike days. Expect a busy airport and longer than usual security queue wait times. The inquiry will examine why up to 30,000 men, women, and children were given the products in the 1970s and 80s, which led to around 3,000 deaths in the greatest treatment disaster in the NHSs history. A public inquiry has been taking evidence since 2019 into what caused the scandal, as well as into the people who were affected. Sir Brian Langstaff, chairman of the inquiry, recommended in April that full compensation should be paid to the victims. Mr Sunaks appearance follows 1990-97 prime minister John Major being criticised for saying that victims of the scandal had incredibly bad luck. You can follow the live stream here. Mr Sunak will appear from around 2pm on Wednesday. But what happened, when did it happen, and what is the inquiry for? What happened with the infected blood? Former prime minister Sir John Major has given evidence to the Infected Blood Inquiry / Dominic Lipinski / PA Wire In the 1970s and 1980s, people with haemophilia and other blood and bleeding disorders were given blood infected with HIV and hepatitis viruses. It was the result of a new treatment intended to make their lives better, with the use of a clotting agent Factor VIII introduced to help their blood form clots. Before this, patients faced lengthy stays in hospital to have transfusions, even for minor injuries. People who needed transfusions after an operation, childbirth, or blood transfusions are also thought to have been exposed. About 5,000 people are thought to have been infected, but some estimates put this at 30,000. Nearly 3,000 people have died as a result. How did the infected blood come into circulation? The Infected Blood Inquiry has its own memorial at Fleetbank House in London / PA Media At the time, the UK was struggling to keep up with demand for the Factor III blood-clotting treatment, so supplies began to be imported from the United States. However, much of the human blood plasma was taken from prison inmates as well as drug users and sex workers, who sold their blood. These groups were at higher risk of blood-borne diseases, however, at the time HIV had not been diagnosed and hepatitis was still being studied. Factor III bloods infection rate was also made worse as the blood was made from pooling 40,000 donors blood and concentrating it. What is the Infected Blood Inquiry? Chairman of the inquiry Sir Brian Langstaff / Infected Blood Inquiry / PA The Infected Blood Inquiry is led by Sir Brian Langstaff, and it was set up to examine the circumstances of how infected blood could have been distributed. It started taking evidence in April 2019 with hearings in Belfast, Leeds, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and London. It is expected to publish its final report in the autumn. He is also looking at the impact it has had on families, how the authorities, including the Government, responded; the nature of any support provided following the infection; questions of consent; and crucially, who knew what about the blood, and when they had the information. What is the Infected Blood Inquiry examining? The Infected Blood Inquiry is a UK-wide inquiry that was launched after years of campaigning by victims, who claim that the risks were never made public and that the scandal was covered up. One of the first to take the stand was Derek Martindale, who contracted haemophilia. He was 23 when he was diagnosed with HIV, then was given a year to live, but survived. However, his brother who was also infected with HIV died. Politicians giving evidence include Matt Hancock, who did so as health secretary. Lord Clarke told the inquiry that he had not been responsible for blood products during his time as health minister, and later as health secretary, in the 1980s. In March 2021, Cabinet Minister Penny Mordant announced compensation for victims families across the UK would be increased, to bring them in line with other areas in the UK. For more information, visit InfectedBloodInquiry.org A project working to save the endangered Scottish wildcat species has seen 11 kittens born this year with hopes more could follow. It is the second year in a row that baby wildcats have been born at the Saving Wildcats conservation breeding for release centre, which is based at the Highland Wildlife Park outside of Aviemore. So far 11 kittens have been born in four separate litters, with wildcats Droma and Fruin both giving birth to four, as well as two kittens for wildcat Fian and one for Torr. While the new kittens are still vulnerable, it is hoped they could be released into the wild next year. And with the species on the brink of extinction, David Barclay, conservation manager at the Saving Wildcats team, said they could play an important role in securing a future for the species. The project, which is led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), has brought together national and international experts in a bid to restore Scotlands critically endangered wildcat population, by breeding the animals and releasing them into part of the Cairngorms National Park. In addition to this, work is also being done to try to mitigate the threats the animals face in the wild. The first releases of kittens born in 2022 began in June this year, with hopes that about 20 cats will be released in both 2024 and 2025 from the conservation breeding for release centre. Mr Barclay said: Wildcats in Scotland are on the brink of extinction and these kittens will play an important role in securing a future for the species. We know there are 11 kittens from four litters so far and we hope there will be more born in coming weeks. It is still early days for our new wildcat kittens who are vulnerable in their first weeks and months. Over the next year, the wildcats will be prepared for the challenges of life in the wild. Once they are independent and no longer reliant on their mums, they will move into large pre-release enclosures designed to support natural development and reduce exposure to humans and disturbance. He added: Everything we learn from the wildcat releases which have begun this year will help to inform the future releases and ensure they are as successful as possible. A gynaecologist who sexually abused more than 200 trusting patients for over two decades - including vulnerable pregnant women - at prestigious New York hospitals has been jailed for 20 years. Robert Hadden, 64, cried before he was handed the sentence on Tuesday, by a federal judge who called his crimes unprecedented. It came as a measure of vindication for former patients who accused the doctor of molesting them during medical examinations, after an earlier state prosecution ended with a plea bargain that spared Hadden from jail. Given a chance to address the courtroom on Tuesday, he stood with his hands folded before him, and sobbed Im very sorry for all the pain that I have caused, before sitting back down and wiping tears from his eyes. Judge Richard M Berman told the court the case was like none hed seen before and involved outrageous, horrific, beyond extraordinary, depraved sexual abuse. He noted that at least 245 women Hadden treated said they were abused. But the federal trial involved a smaller number of victims. Hadden was convicted of four counts of enticing women to cross state lines so he could sexually abuse them. Nine victims testified at the trial, describing how Hadden molested them during gynaecology treatments, starting in the late 1980s, at prominent hospitals including Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Allegations of misconduct during examinations first surfaced in 2012. Hadden was indicted on state charges in 2014 as women - 19 and counting - kept coming forward. Sexual assault survivor Liz Hall speaks to members of the media after Haddens sentencing / AP But in 2016, the office of the Manhattan district attorney at the time, Cyrus Vance Jr, allowed Hadden to plead guilty to two low-level felonies and a misdemeanor in a deal that required him to give up his medical license but didnt require jail time and kept him out of the states sex offender registry. Some of the women who had gone to state prosecutors were outraged, but their stories didnt start receiving public attention until the MeToo movement began gaining steam in 2017. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan got a grand jury indictment against Hadden in 2020 - charges based on the fact that some patients at his New York offices had come into the city from other states. He was convicted in January. On Tuesday, several dozen of Haddens accusers were in the courtroom for his sentencing and some of them spoke outside the courthouse afterwards, sharing their emotions with reporters and one another. Among them was Liz Hall, who said she found Haddens expression of regret hollow. That was not an apology, she said. He has shown zero remorse or empathy. I think hes incapable. AP Ms Hall said she hoped the sentence would give other victims of sexual abuse courage to speak out. Some of the women abused by Hadden later pushed for a change to New York law that made it easier for survivors of sexual abuse to sue over allegations normally barred by the statute of limitations. Hospitals where Hadden worked have agreed to pay more than $236 million to settle civil claims by more than 200 former patients. According to trial testimony, Hadden benefitted from the prestige of the hospitals where he worked as he groomed his patients in a private office decorated with pictures of his children as he conversed with them about their personal lives. But once he had isolated them after a chaperone or nurse left the treatment room, he fondled and probed them with gloveless fingers and sometimes orally. The judge noted that many patients were particularly vulnerable because they were pregnant, had physical problems, or had never been to another gynaecologist and trusted that Hadden was behaving properly. Assistant US Attorney Jane Kim said on Tuesday that Hadden still had not accepted responsibility for his crimes. P resident Joe Biden's son Hunter has pleaded not guilty to two tax crimes after a plea deal with federal prosecutors unravelled during a court hearing following the judge's concerns over the agreement. Hunter Biden was charged last month with two misdemeanour tax crimes of failure to pay more than 100,000 dollars (70,000) in taxes from over 1.5 million dollars (1.16m) in income in both 2017 and 2018, and he made an agreement with prosecutors, who were planning to recommend two years of probation. That deal is now on hold. During the hearing on Wednesday, there was a dispute in court over whether the initial agreement gave him protection against any future charges. US District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, raised concerns about the language of the deal. The judge gave defence lawyers and prosecutors 30 days to explain why she should accept the initial deal. This collapsed the proceedings, a surprising development because the plea had been carefully negotiated over weeks and included a lengthy back-and-forth between Justice Department prosecutors and Hunter's attorneys. The plea deal was meant to clear the air for Hunter and avert a trial that would have generated weeks or months of distracting headlines. But the politics remain as messy as ever, with Republicans insisting he got a sweetheart deal and the Justice Department pressing ahead on investigations into Mr Trump, the Republican 2024 presidential primary front-runner. Prosecutors said in court on Wednesday that Hunter remained under federal investigation. Judge Noreika raised multiple concerns about the specifics of the deal and her role in the proceedings. The plan also included an agreement on a separate gun charge - Hunter has been accused of possessing a firearm in 2018 as a drug user. As long as he adhered to the terms of his agreement, the gun case was to be be wiped from his record. Otherwise, the felony charges carries 10 years in prison. The overlapping agreements created confusion for the judge, who said the lawyers needed to untangle technical issues - including over her role in enforcing the plea deal - before moving forward. "It seems to me like you are saying 'just rubber stamp the agreement, Your Honour'. This seems to me to be form over substance," she said. Meanwhile, Trump is already facing a state criminal case in New York and a federal indictment in Florida. Last week, a target letter was sent to him from special counsel Jack Smith that suggests the former president may soon be indicted on new federal charges, this time involving his struggle to cling to power after his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. Republicans claim a double standard, in which the Democratic president's son got off easy while the president's rival has been unfairly castigated. Congressional Republicans are pursuing their own investigations into nearly every facet of Hunter Biden's dealings, including foreign payments. On Wednesday, the judge asked Biden to be more specific about his business relationships and to discuss his substance use issues as she combed through the plea agreement. She asked him to name the Ukrainian and Chinese entities referred to without name in the agreement. She also asked him the last time he used alcohol or drugs and whether he was currently receiving treatment. Biden answered June 1 2019 and said he was not currently in treatment, though he did say he was in an anonymous support programme for his substance issues. President Joe Biden, meanwhile, has said very little publicly, except to note, "I'm very proud of my son." W ildfires have been burning in at least eight countries across Europe and North Africa with firefighters across the region battling on Wednesday to put out blazes. At least 40 people have died, the majority in Algeria, where at least 34 people have been killed. In Croatia, flames came within less than eight miles of the countrys historic town of Dubrovnik on Tuesday. In Greece, around 20,000 people have by now had to leave homes and resorts in Rhodes, while over 3,000 holidaymakers including Brits returned home by plane amid a blistering heatwave. Greece A man reacts as a fire burns into the village of Gennadi on Rhodes on July 25 / AFP via Getty Images Greece has been particularly hard hit by the wildfires. The Civil Protection Ministry warned of an extreme danger of fire in six of the countrys 13 regions on Wednesday. Crete, the largest of the Greek Islands, has been put on high alert because of the risk of fire, while the Foreign Office has advised Brits to ensure they have appropriate insurance before visiting Greece. Two Greek air force pilots died on Tuesday afternoon after a plane crashed while they were battling a forest fire near Platanistos on the island of Evia, east of Athens. Algeria A forest ranger works to douse hotspots in an area hit by a wildfire, in Adekar / REUTERS A bush fire that has been raging in Algerias forests was beginning to be contained, the countrys state TV reported on Wednesday. Wildfires across regions of the country have claimed the lives of at least 34 people and forced about 1,500 people to evacuate their homes, amid a major heatwave. The worst affected region was coastal area Bejaia where 23 of the fatalities occurred, including ten soldiers who were encircled by flames during an evacuation. Italy Wildfires in the region of Palermo in Sicily on July 25 / AP Italy has been hit by contrasting weather events, with wildfires in Sicily and other regions in the south, but storms in the north. On the island of Sicily, two people were found dead Tuesday in a home burned by a wildfire, while regional officials said that 55 fires were active in Sicily. In Puglia, further north, some 2,000 tourists were evacuated from three hotels in Vieste as flames got perilously close. But in Italys northern Lombardy region, a powerful storm was blamed for the death of a 16-year-old girl at a scouts camp. Portugal Local residents use buckets with water to try to slow down flames approaching their houses in Alcabideche on July 25 / AP Hundreds of Portuguese firefighters were on Tuesday night putting out the flames that swept across a natural park near the popular holiday destination of Cascais. The wildfire started at 4pm GMT at a mountainous area that is part of the Sintra-Cascais natural park, which covers around 56 square miles of land west of the capital, Lisbon. In one of the villages affected by the fires, desperate local residents took matters into their own hands by attempting to protect their homes with buckets of water and hosepipes. Spain Police officer pointing as smoke billows in Pico de las Nieves, Gran Canaria / REUTERS A rapidly-spreading wildfire broke out at the centre of the Spanish island of Gran Canaria on Tuesday, forcing authorities to remove several hundred villagers from their homes. Reuters reported that the flames were affecting the hilly central part of the island near the Tejeda peak, away from the beaches popular with tourists. Antonio Morales, head of the Island Council of Gran Canaria, told reporters that about 100 firefighters and nine aircraft were working to put out the blaze that has so far burned through 200 hectares of forest, but no buildings have been affected. Croatia Firefighters battled wildfires that were spreading in the area south of Dubrovnik late on Tuesday, with strong southerly winds preventing deployment of aircraft, local media reported. A hurricane southern wind blowing in the Dubrovnik-Neretva canton has fuelled a widespread open space fire in the area of the Dubrovnik Plat community," the Croatian Firefighters Community (HVZ) said on its website. About 130 firefighters from across the country were battling the fires, the HVZ said, but buildings had not yet been threatened. Tunisia Firefighters attempt to extinguish a raging forest fire near the town of Melloula in northwestern Tunisia / AFP via Getty Images In Tunisia, fires in neighbouring Algeria forced the closure of two border crossings. The official TAP news agency reported one death from wildfires: a school principal who died of asphyxiation from a fire in Nafza, in the northwest. Nafza was among one of the northwestern regions where firefighters were battling flames devouring forests and citrus and hazelnut groves. France In southeastern France, fire crews fought scattered wildfires on Tuesday, including one near Arles in Provence involving 300 firefighters and a water-dropping helicopter. Authorities banned access to several forested areas along the French Riviera and in Corsica. The Bouches-du-Rhone department was also placed under a red alert, with authorities warning of a very high risk of wildfires. T he man who sold fatal fentanyl-laced heroin to The Wire actor Michael K. Williams was sentenced on Tuesday to 30 months in prison. Carlos Macci, 72, was part of a four-man gang selling drugs from Brooklyn, and he sold the lethal dose to Williams, US prosecutors said. Williams, 54, who played gangster Omar Little in the popular HBO crime drama, died of an overdose in his Brooklyn apartment on September 6, 2021. Drug paraphernalia was discovered at the scene, police said. Prosecutors had asked for a longer sentence of 48 months, writing in court papers: For decades the defendant has been selling deadly narcotics: heroin and now heroin laced with fentanyl. US District Judge Ronnie Abrams, sentencing Macci, told him that selling drugs not only cost Mr. Williams his life, but its costing your freedom," in part because he did not stop selling drugs after Williams died. However, Williamss nephew, Dominic Dupont, and a co-creator of The Wire, David Simon, had urged leniency for Macci. Mr Dupont told the judge that he believed Macci can turn his life around. It weighs heavy on me to see someone be in a situation hes in, he said. I understand what it is to be system impacted." In his letter, Simon said he met Williams in 2002 when he cast him on The Wire, and noted the actors opposition to mass incarceration. In a plea agreement, Macci pleaded guilty in April to narcotics conspiracy. Defence lawyer Benjamin Zeman said he was a huge fan" of The Wire, and considered Williams "a tragic victim in this case." But he said his client was a victim, too, of the drug crisis, causing him to do things to sustain his own drug habit. The Wire, which aired from 2002 to 2008, was set in Baltimore and told the story of the narcotics trade from the perspective of criminals, police and the people caught between them. Williams won praise for his role as Little, as well as his performance in Boardwalk Empire, an HBO series set in Atlantic City, New Jersey during the Prohibition era of the 1920s. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 27. As agreed in Brussels, the Agdam-Khankandi road is fully operational for delivering all kinds of goods, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration, Hikmet Hajiyev wrote on Twitter, Trend reports. "But not allowing to use this road, exploiting local inhabitants as hostage, organizing imitative delivery of goods is nothing but political speculation, manipulation and blackmailing," he wrote. During the meeting in Brussels on July 15, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, and President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel, discussed the transportation of humanitarian goods to the Armenian residents of Karabakh in the direction of Barda-Agdam. A huge search is underway for a dangerous prisoner who remains on the run after he and three others staged a Shawshank Redemption-style jailbreak in the US. The four inmates are understood to have escaped Bent County Jail in Colorado on Sunday, though the exact time of their getaway is unclear. They reportedly broke their way through the sheet rock ceiling of their cell, before escaping through the roof of a bathroom, according to US news agency KOAA. The inmates reportedly placed blankets on their beds to make it appear they were sleeping in their cell, when prison staff carried out their routine head count using CCTV cameras. Their escape mirrors that in the Shawshank Redemption, in which a prisoner knocks through a wall, covers his escape hole with a poster of film star Rita Hayworth and then breaks out via a sewage pipe. The prisoner leaves clothes on his bed to make it appear as if he is still there. Bent County Sheriffs Office confirmed on Facebook on Tuesday that two of the men had been apprehended earlier that day, while two remained at large. One of the men, 34-year-old Benjamin Jeremy Valdez, has since been found dead in Pueblo, Colorado, having suffered a suspected drug overdose, according to authorities. Escaped inmate Benjamin Jeremy Valdez has been found dead / Bent County Sheriffs Office/Facebook The other, 46-year-old Mark Fox, remained on the run on Wednesday afternoon in the UK. Fox is described as white, bald, six feet three inches tall, and is considered dangerous, said Bent County Sheriffs Office. It is searching for Fox with help from Colorado State Patrol and the Otero County Sheriffs Office. Bent County Office of Emergency Management posted an alert on Facebook on Tuesday, urging local residents: Please keep your doors locked and vehicles locked and call 911, If you see anything suspicious or these individuals in your area, please do not make contact. Call your local law-enforcement right away. It added that the men had changed clothing since leaving the prison. R ussia has raised the maximum age at which men can be conscripted from 27 to 30 years, dramatically increasing the number of young men who will be liable for compulsory military service. Last year, the nation announced a plan to boost its professional and conscripted combat personnel by more than 30 per cent to 1.5 million - an ambitious task made harder by its heavy but undisclosed casualties in Ukraine. On Tuesday, Russias lower house of parliament voted through new legislation, which comes into effect on January 1. It will mean men will be required to carry out a year of military service, or equivalent training during higher education, between the ages of 18 and 30, rather than 18 and 27. The law also bans men from leaving Russia from the day they are summoned to a conscription office. In April, legislation was passed allowing conscription summonses to be served online instead of in person. Compulsory military service has long been a sensitive issue in Russia, where many men go to great lengths to avoid being handed conscription papers during the twice-yearly call-up periods. Conscripts cannot legally be deployed to fight outside Russia and were in theory exempted from a limited mobilisation last autumn that gathered at least 300,000 men with previous military training to fight in Ukraine - although some conscripts were sent to the front in error. However, Russia unilaterally claimed four Ukrainian regions as its own last September, in a move not recognised internationally, fuelling fears that raw conscripts could now legally be sent into battle. Separately, the legislation passed on Tuesday gives Russian governors the power to set up regional paramilitary units during periods of mobilisation or martial law. These units would be funded and armed by the state and given the right to shoot down drones, fight enemy sabotage groups and conduct counter-terrorist operations. Andrei Kartapolov, a former general who chairs the defence committee of the lower house, the State Duma, said the changes would formalise the creation of militias. The topic has gained importance since an abortive armed mutiny last month by Yevgeny Prigozhins Wagner mercenary force, which is largely funded by the state but fought in Ukraine as a unit with broad autonomy. The peoples militia - how it will operate, who it will consist of...it is absolutely clear and understandable, Mr Kartapolov told lawmakers. S ingapore hung a woman on allegations of drug trafficking on Friday, the first such execution in the country for 19 years. Saridewi Djamani, 45, was executed for trafficking nearly 31 grams (1.09 ounces) of diamorphine, or pure heroin, the countrys Central Narcotics Bureau said. She is the first woman to be executed in the southeast Asian country since 2004. It comes after Mohd Aziz bin Hussain, a 56-year-old Singaporean man, was executed on Wednesday for trafficking 50g of heroin. Singapore is one of four countries, alongside China, Iran and Saudi Arabia, to carry out executions over drug charges. Anyone convicted of trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis and 15 grams of heroin faces the mandatory death penalty. Djanamis execution brings the total number of executions for drugs offences to 15 since March 22 last year. The narcotics bureau said both prisoners hung this week were accorded due process, including appeals of their conviction and sentence and petition for presidential clemency. Ms Djamani said she had been unable to give accurate statements to the police as she was suffering from symptoms of drug withdrawals, but this was dismissed by a judge. According to activists Transformative Justice Collective (TJC) , Mr Hussain had argued that his statements were not admissible as the investigating officer had coerced him into making certain admissions, and had promised him a reduced non-capital charge. These claims were disputed by the investigating officer. More than two-thirds of countries all over the world have abolished the death penalty in law or practice, according to Amnesty International. Singapores close neighbour Malaysia has observed an official moratorium on executions since 2018 and recently repealed the mandatory death penalty, including for drug-related offences. Amnesty Internationals death penalty expert Chiara Sangiorgio said: It is unconscionable that authorities in Singapore continue to cruelly pursue more executions in the name of drug control. There is no evidence that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect or that it has any impact on the use and availability of drugs. As countries around the world do away with the death penalty and embrace drug policy reform, Singapores authorities are doing neither. The only message that these executions send is that the government of Singapore is willing to once again defy international safeguards on the use of the death penalty. The Singaporean Government claims that the policy helps to deter drug use and organised crime. The TJC has said a new execution notice has been issued to another prisoner for August 3. It said the prisoner was a delivery driver who was convicted in 2019 for trafficking around 50 grams (1.75 ounces) of heroin. The group said the man had maintained in his trial that he believed he was delivering contraband cigarettes for a friend he owed money and he didnt verify the contents of the bag as he trusted his friend. The previous last woman to be executed over drugs trafficking charges in Singapore was Yen May Woen, a 36-year-old hairdresser from China. J uly 30 marks 10 years since the conviction of Chelsea Manning. The American activist and whistleblower was detained in 2010 and charged with leaking classified information. She was convicted in 2013 and released in 2017 when her sentence was commuted by president Barack Obama. But who is Manning and why was she imprisoned? Who is Chelsea Manning? Chelsea Manning made the largest disclosure of private information into the public realm in US history. Assigned in 2009 to an army unit in Iraq as an intelligence analyst, Manning had access to classified databases, and leaked videos of American soldiers opening fire and killing a number of people, including two Reuters journalists. Collateral Murder, a video that was released at the time, was only the beginning. Between April 2010 and April 2011, Manning went on to disclose more than 251,000 diplomatic cables and more than 482,000 army reports, commonly known as the Iraq War Logs and Afghan War Diary through WikiLeaks and its media partners. A trans woman, Manning said in 2013 that she had a female gender identity since childhood and wanted to be known as Chelsea Manning. Why was Chelsea Manning imprisoned? Manning was detained in May 2010 and charged with 22 offences, including theft, espionage and helping the enemy, all potential capital crimes in the US. She pleaded guilty to 10 charges in February 2013. The trial on remaining charges started on June 3, 2013, which was 10 years ago. Except for helping the enemy, Manning was found guilty on July 30 of 17 of the original charges. At the maximum-security military facility known as the US Disciplinary Barracks, she was given a 35-year sentence. Why was Chelsea Manning freed? On January 17, 2017, President Barack Obama shortened her sentence, allowing her to serve almost seven years in prison beginning with the day of her arrest. The day of Mannings release was May 17, 2017. Obama at the time said Manning served a tough but adequate prison sentence. I feel very comfortable that justice has been served. Lets be clear: Chelsea Manning has served a tough prison sentence, Obama said, while rejecting critics who argued his action would encourage espionage and future leaks of classified information. The notion that the average person who is thinking about disclosing vital classified information would think that it goes unpunished I dont think would get that impression from the sentence that Chelsea Manning has served. T here was a party in Brixton on Friday night. Scores of residents, drinks in hand and with a DJ booming, congregated outside Max Snack Bar to celebrate the withdrawal of the plan for Taylor Tower, Hondo Enterprises controversial luxury office block named after owner Taylor McWilliams once destined to climb 20 storeys in Popes Road. Locals in one of Londons famous neighbourhoods had been challenging the development since 2020. Fight The Tower, a collective of around 50 residents, including traders and restaurateurs, began campaigning to protect Brixtons historic market, as well as its many independent bars and restaurants. It was, to some degree, a protest against bricks and mortar but more importantly, the group explained, it was about preserving Brixtons character. Were not against development and progress [in Brixton], says Danai Nardi, who co-founded the movement, but we want to see proper support of local restaurants, bars and businesses. Our issue is that Hondo demonstrated it has no clue about local people, their talent, skills, spaces. We dont need a Texan millionaire [McWilliams] to build such a huge office building. Fight The Tower members received notice of the news just before 9pm on Monday last week. We were all so happy, excited, shocked. We won after all this work it was a David versus Goliath battle, says Nardi. We won with no money, no lawyers and no spin doctors. Instead, their battle had been one of signs, pamphlets, pickets and social media. It was a collective effort group members handing out flyers on the streets, lobbying local authorities, and calling on others for help. The likes of the Victorian Society, the Brixton Society, and Dulwich and West Norwood MP Helen Hayes all backed the position. Hayes called the withdrawal very welcome and added: This proposal was never good enough for Brixton. It was twice as tall as any other building in the surrounding area and would have overshadowed local independent businesses. Brixton deserves better than a scheme which results in such clear harm to its special character Many in Brixton and beyond felt such a tower would damage its heritage. It is a pocket of London known for being low and mid-rise at most, where small but buzzing restaurants are tucked away under railway arches; they line its winding streets and bustle inside the historic Brixton Market, a festoon-lit eating emporium that, if frequented on the right Friday night, exudes a festival-like atmosphere. Brixton has avoided the sterility imposed on so much of London. Historic England had made this point with fervour. Responding to the news, a spokeswoman told the Standard: Were pleased to see the withdrawal of this misguided application. We believe the original proposal for the 20-storey Hondo tower would have had a profoundly negative impact on Brixtons low-rise townscape.We hope that the developer considers their next steps carefully and listens to the strong messages of the local campaign group, who have consistently opposed the development. Brixton deserves better than a scheme which results in such clear harm to its special character. The posters for the Fight The Tower campaign / Courtesy of Fight The Tower The Standard attempted to contact Hondo on multiple occasions but received no reply. A spokeswoman for the property consultancy firm DP9, based in St Jamess and which worked with Hondo on the planning of the tower, said this papers request for comment had been sent on to the relevant director. No response followed. Without the tower, Brixton lives on. But nobody is naive to think it isnt entirely immune to change. Jamaican-born Etta Burrell, part of the Windrush Generation and who has run Ettas Seafood in the market for 14 years, said: The tower, its not necessary. Sometimes it feels like [the locals] have been forgotten. People come to the market now asking if Im new. I say, No hun, youre new. Burrell adds that outside interest is not always negative and Brixton has not been without its challenges. But the restaurateur says she doesnt want SW9 to become like so many other parts of London which, perhaps, have lost their charm. Everyone and everywhere changes. But why are people putting up big towers? Brixton mustnt forget what it is and what its about. Its fish and music. So this is the story of how Brixton locals saw off the designs of a Texan millionaire. Others, no doubt, are coming London is too dynamic a city to believe otherwise. But make no mistake, with communities like this, the spirit that makes places like Brixton so attractive to the world will not be left behind. T he food delivery service Uber Eats has announced the finalists for its annual restaurant of the year awards, with three vegan spots making the top nine. In the running in the London round are Roti King, the Malaysian restaurant in Euston, and Gunpowder, the Indian group with sites in Soho, Tower Bridge, and Spitalfields. Three vegan concepts are also on the shortlist, with What the Pita, Halo Burger, and Tofu Vegan on the list. Uber Eats is asking diners to vote for their favourite local restaurant, with the winner in line for a 100,000 prize to invest in their business. On Wednesday, Uber Eats unveiled the regional shortlist for its UK and Ireland Restaurant of the Year awards, using public nominations to build a shortlist. The contest spans the UK, and those who make it through to the final will be invited to a judging day in London, with Prue Leith, Monica Galett, and Uber Eats general manager Matthew Price on hand to decide who makes the cut. Joining Roti King, Gunpowder and the three plant-based outposts are are Brotittos, Eat Lebo, Shrewd Kitchen, Its All Greek To Me. And also on the judging panel is content creator Seema Pankhania, who spent time at Gordon Ramsays restaurants before moving into media, and Be Inclusive Hospitality founder Lorraine Copes. Galetti said:Ive witnessed first-hand the levels of hard work, dedication and passion that go into running a restaurant business. Im excited to be part of the Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year Awards 2023 and to see what these independent restaurants bring to the table, and to meet some of the great minds behind the UKs favourite meals. Leith added:Im delighted to work with Uber Eats to crown their Restaurant of the Year again this year. Last year, we got to see all the hard work and effort these businesses go to for their customers and spotlight some extraordinary people, stories and restaurants. This year, Im once again looking forward to discovering the next big thing in the restaurant industry, and of course to eating some amazing food. T he idea of using a candle to infuse aroma into a space dates back as far as 500 BC to ancient early civilizations across the world, from Egypt and Rome, to China, India and Japan. While generally associated with religious ceremonies and practices, these illuminations were designed to do far more than just provide light or heat - and their popularity has never wavered. Scent is a powerful tool, it can be healing but also posseses associative properties that can trigger emotions, memories and ignite feelings of calm. Our mood and olfactories are inextricably linked. Depending on the elements that are called upon, the right combinations can create a relaxed atmosphere, set a sensual vibe or create a positive ambiance that can truly transform our day. Highly regarded fragrance houses like Jo Malone, Le Labo and Diptyque infuse exquisite scents into luxury candles with fruity, floral or woody notes that send our senses into overdrive and set the scene for hosting duties. As well as the scent that these olfactory delights provide, these are designer decorative details in their own right where nothing completes a room quite like a luxury candle sitting atop a mantlepiece, nestled into a bookshelf or sitting pride of place on your bedside table. The embellished exteriors are as mesmerising as the aromas themselves, paricularly when lit with the comforting flicker of fire. See below for our favourite luxury candles that are perfect for gifting. Shop now D owning Street and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt are understood to have significant concerns about the position of NatWest boss Dame Alison Rose after she admitted being the source of an inaccurate story about Nigel Farages finances. Dame Alison admitted to a serious error of judgment when she discussed Mr Farages relationship with private bank Coutts, owned by NatWest Group, with a BBC journalist. NatWest Group chairman Sir Howard Davies said that after careful reflection the board members had decided the chief executive retained their full confidence. However, according to Sky News, the bank is now expected to dispense with her services after an emergency meeting was called late on Tuesday night to determine her future. I made a serious error of judgment in discussing Mr Farages relationship with the bank Despite the boards initial backing, it is understood the Chancellor and Downing Street have significant concerns, and Dame Alison has faced calls to resign from Mr Farage and a string of Tory MPs. Former cabinet minister David Davis said Dame Alison had little choice but to resign. Last week, Mr Farage presented evidence, in the form of a 40-page dossier, that his account at Coutts had been closed partly due to his political views conflicting with the banks values. The evidence obtained from the bank through a data request contradicted a BBC News story, which initially claimed that the account closure was motivated by commercial reasons only, citing Mr Farages failure to meet a 1 million borrowing requirement. The BBC and its business editor Simon Jack apologised, saying the reporting had been based on information from a trusted and senior source but turned out to be incomplete and inaccurate. This was a regrettable error of judgment on her part. The events will be taken into account in decisions on remuneration at the appropriate time In a statement, released alongside Sir Howard, Dame Alison said: I recognise that in my conversations with Simon Jack of the BBC, I made a serious error of judgment in discussing Mr Farages relationship with the bank. Believing it was public knowledge, I confirmed that Mr Farage was a Coutts customer and that he had been offered a NatWest bank account. Alongside this, I repeated what Mr Farage had already stated, that the bank saw this as a commercial decision. I would like to emphasise that in responding to Mr Jacks questions I did not reveal any personal financial information about Mr Farage. In response to a general question about eligibility criteria required to bank with Coutts and NatWest I said that guidance on both was publicly available on their websites. In doing so, I recognise that I left Mr Jack with the impression that the decision to close Mr Farages accounts was solely a commercial one. Sir Howard said: As she (Dame Alison) recognises, she should not have spoken in the way she did. This was a regrettable error of judgment on her part. The events will be taken into account in decisions on remuneration at the appropriate time. However, after careful reflection the board has concluded that it retains full confidence in Ms Rose as CEO of the bank. The chairman added that the overall handling of the circumstances surrounding Mr Farages accounts has been unsatisfactory, with serious consequences for the bank, before promising an independent review, which will be made public. Sheldon Mills, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) executive director for consumers and competition, said it had raised concerns about breaches of confidentiality by Coutts and its parent company NatWest. He also emphasised the importance of a well-resourced independent review to investigate the matter swiftly and fully, adding: On the basis of the review and any steps taken by other authorities, such as the Financial Ombudsman Service or Information Commissioner, on relevant complaints, we will decide if any further action is necessary. Speaking on his GB News show, Mr Farage accused Dame Alison of breaching the FCAs conduct rules, adding: I think there has been complete failure in this regard. It is perfectly clear to me that Alison Rose is unfit to be the CEO of a big group and that Howard Davies... has failed as well The ex-MEP turned broadcaster went on: It is perfectly clear to me that Peter Flavel, the CEO of Coutts, has not done his job at all. It is perfectly clear to me that Alison Rose is unfit to be the CEO of a big group and that Howard Davies, who is supposed to be in charge of governance, has failed as well. Given that we have a 39% stake in this we, the great British public I think at that investor statement on Friday morning, the Government ought to say we have no confidence in this management. Frankly, I think they should all go and that is my conclusion from what weve learned this afternoon. The taxpayers stake in the company has gradually reduced over time due to several share sales by the Government, with the latest bringing its ownership down to 38.6%. Also appearing on the show, former Brexit secretary Mr Davis said: Im afraid I think that Dame Alison Rose has little choice but to resign. And frankly, Im astonished that the board of directors indicated full confidence in her. Alexander Stafford, Tory MP for Rother Valley, tweeted: Absolutely disgraceful that she was briefing and leaking financial details. This breaks all moral, ethical and banking codes. If she has a shred of decency she would do the honourable thing and resign. Saqib Bhatti, the Conservative Partys vice-chairman for business, said: Its shocking to hear that Dame Alison Rose has admitted being the source of the leak of Mr Farages bank details. While its not for politicians to determine what the company should do, her position would appear to now be untenable. City minister Andrew Griffith will meet Britains largest banks on Wednesday morning to address concerns related to customers lawful freedom of expression and Dame Alison is expected to attend. On Monday, Mr Griffith wrote to the chief executives of 19 banks, building societies and digital challengers, asking for a roundtable discussion at the earliest opportunity and warning that regulations around politically exposed persons were being applied in a disproportionate manner by some financial institutions. Loading.... Its that time again, Samsung Galaxy Unpacked. Our tech journalist, David Phelan, is in Seoul for the final Unpacked event of the year - and explains all the exciting announcements. Lets just say it looks like Samsungs foldable phone models are here to stay. A study suggests an Atlantic Ocean current could collapse as soon as 2025 and plunge Europe into a deep freeze. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation brings warmth north from the tropics, and it could collapse much sooner than scientists have previously thought - due to climate change. Nasa temporarily lost contact with the International Space Station on Tuesday and was forced to use backup systems for the first time ever. A power issue at mission control in Houston led to the incident, and during a 90-minute period, Nasa could not send commands or any voice from the ground to the astronauts on the ISS. And the rest A completely new cancer drug offers hope to millions, the discovery of a key inflammation trigger behind ageing could help humans live longer and wall squats can help lower blood pressure. Plus, the UK and Europe join forces on a ground-breaking European Solar Telescope project and the rare Apple computer trainers on sale for $50,000. Listen above, and find us on your Spotify Daily Drive or wherever you stream your podcasts. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. The Master Plan for the Development of Azerbaijan's Jabrayil city until 2040 has been approved, Trend reports. The relevant decree was signed by Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov. The development of Jabrayil, following the ending of the second Karabakh war continues in a number of directions. For example, three automobile tunnels with a total length of 12,032 meters on the Horadiz-Jabrayil-Zangilan-Aghbend highway are being built. Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) continues to clean up the liberated lands of Azerbaijan from mines. Jabrayil is among the territories that are being cleaned up. The cleaning of Jabrayil from mines is directly related to its further development. In particular, a BP solar power plant project in the Jabrayil district is in talks, as Vice President for Communications and External Relations of BP in the Caspian region Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli recently said. "According to the BP solar power plant project, the process of clearing the territory of mines is almost completed. The first stage has ended. At the moment, work is underway on deeper cleaning in certain areas of the area. Our negotiations with the Ministry of Energy, including the coordination of technical and commercial parameters, are at the final stage," he said back in May 2023. Moreover, about 25 percent of Azerbaijan's internal water resources fall to the share of the liberated territories, which is approximately 2.56 bcm annually. In particular, there is a favorable potential for the implementation of solar energy projects in the liberated territories. Thus, Zangilan, Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Fuzuli districts are the second most favorable districts in the country followed by Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic according to the solar radiation observed. Speaking of Jabrayil, it is also among the places visited by international travelers, the inflow of which to Azerbaijan has significantly increased, following the ending of the war. Thus, a new Master Plan for the city will allow to speed up the above mentioned development. S potify is increasing the price of its premium subscriptions in the UK, raising the price from 9.99 a month to 10.99 a month. A duo subscription for two people now costs 14.99, while a family plan for six people costs 17.99. With the increasing subscription costs, music fans may be considering which streaming platform is right for them. So which music streaming service should you pick? Here are the main players, along with their key strengths and weaknesses. How to choose a music streaming service Throughout this roundup, were especially concerned with four main areas: unique features, value community and sound quality. With all the major players listing upwards of 70 million tracks each, catalogue sizes arent as big a dividing line as they used to be (though do spot-check for blackspots before signing up for any service via a free trial) Instead, weve tried to identify each ones unique selling points. In terms of pricing, all of the options below represent good value, but there are ways of making them even better. For instance, all of them offer both 50 per cent off for students and provide family memberships for up to six people to share, boosting their value considerably. Community doesnt sound like it should be that important, but it is. Being on the same service as friends, colleagues and family is a great way to discover new music and makes it far easier to share playlists. Not to mention social features like Spotifys annual Wrapped event. Is sound quality important? Yes and no. Higher bitrates are extremely welcome, but while audiophiles will be concerned about lossless audio where theres little or no compression for higher fidelity for casual listeners, its less of a priority. This is especially true if you do most of your listening over Bluetooth, as lossless requires a wired connection to headphones (though FLAC can be played on hifi via a Wi-Fi connection). Some offer high-bitrate and lossless audio at the price of a regular subscription. Just be aware of the listeners priorities and remember that the quality of your headphones or speakers ultimately plays a bigger role in how good music sounds. Best music streaming services Spotify Spotify / Spotify Price: From 10.99 per month (student, couples and family plans also available.) Secret Weapon: Its enormous community. Holding it back: It really wants to force podcasts on you. Just as the iPod became established shorthand for MP3 player, Spotify is close to that kind of dominance in the music streaming market. That comes with huge advantages both in terms of connectivity (you can play it on anything from smart speakers to TVs) and social features. Not only will you likely have a critical mass of Spotify-using friends to follow, but things like the Spotify Wrapped event have become an annual social media tradition. The music catalogue is huge with the company claiming over 80 million tracks (even if it lost a few due to protests about star podcaster Joe Rogan ) and pricing is fair too. Not only can you get a 5.99-per-month membership if youre a student, but the family plan lets six people at the same address share an account for 16.99 per month. Drawbacks? There are a couple. Firstly, Spotify Hi-Fi the companys brand name for the lossless format loved by audiophiles still isnt here, despite being promised as imminent since last year. On top of that, Spotify really wants to get you into podcasts, and its making the whole thing a lot less user-friendly for people who are all about music. Apple Music Apple Music / Apple Price: From 10.99 per month (student, family plans and Apple One subcriptions also available.) Secret Weapon: Superb value with Apple One Holding it back: Some odd quirks. Apple Music has over 100 million songs, according to the company, making it a similar size to Spotify, but it has two key advantages: sound quality and pricing. In terms of sound quality it offers lossless audio in all of its tracks, but also Spatial Audio, where the music surrounds you with dynamic head tracking (on compatible Apple headphones, of course). It does this at no extra cost, which Tidal does not. And on the note of pricing, Apple Music may be the biggest bargain around. Along with a 5.99-per-month student option, a 16.99-per-month sub lets up to six people share the same account, but it gets even better if you want Apples other services. Apple One bundles Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade and 50GB of cloud storage for 16.95 per month per person. Or if you want to share it with five other people. Its 22.95 per month, with the storage upped to 200GB. Thats simply unbeatable value. Truthfully, there arent many drawbacks, and Apple is currently running a three-month free trial for new users on iPhone, iPad and Mac. There are some unusual quirks like its habit of adding one-off playlist songs to your music library but its generally an excellent option, especially if youre embedded in the Apple ecosystem. YouTube Music YouTube Music / YouTube Music Price: From 9.99 per month (student and family plans also available.) Secret Weapon: Plenty of unexpected rarities. Holding it back: Lots of confusing, low-quality filler. YouTube Music is a bit of a strange one in the world of music streaming, because its essentially just YouTube. Yes, the company has deals with the major record labels to ensure that the albums you want are there, but the main advantage of paying for YouTube Music is the lack of ads and the introduction of background play which lets you play audio with the screen off or while using other apps. It being built on YouTube means it has tracks that you simply wont find elsewhere, thanks to the user-generated nature of the platform: think live recordings, covers, rarities and obscure tracks from labels that no longer exist. The flip side of this, of course, is theres plenty of low-quality content to sift through as you search for gems. Like Spotify and Apple Music, it has both student (4.99) and family (14.99) options to save money. But if you watch a lot of regular YouTube, youd be wise to subscribe to YouTube Premium for an additional 2 per month instead. It bundles YouTube Music, while killing ads on regular YouTube too. Amazon Music Unlimited Amazon Music Unllimited / Amazon Music Unllimited Price: From 8.99 per month (single Echo, student and family plans also available.) Secret Weapon: Bargain-basement pricing. Holding it back: A weak user interface. Without a doubt, Amazon Music Unlimiteds biggest advantage is its pricing, which is just 8.99 per month for Prime Subscribers. Said Prime subscribers already have access to around two million ad-free tracks, but Music Unlimited bumps this up to 100 million, as well as adding better quality sound and Spatial Audio. Thats right: Amazon doesnt make you pay extra for higher quality. Like its rivals, it has both student and family options for up to six people, and it also lets you pay for a single Echo smart speaker for 4.99 per month. Its weakness comes in actually accessing the music youve not paid very much for. Neither the web interface or apps are particularly intuitive and offer a more barebones experience than their rivals. But for frugal types who dont mind a little fiddly exploration, it remains a solid option. Tidal Tidal / Tidal Price: From 9.99 per month (student and family plans also available.) Secret Weapon: Superior sound quality. Holding it back: You pay a premium for that quality. Tidals USP has always been sound quality. It offered lossless audio long before it was a buzzword elsewhere, and has also committed to high-resolution audio throughout, via an audio format called MQA used on plenty of its 70 million tracks. Thats good, but there are two drawbacks. Firstly, to fully benefit youll need a dongle for your phone or laptop to get the most out of the high-res MQAs. And secondly, you wont benefit at all unless you stump up 19.99 per month of the premium HiFi Plus tier. Given the basic 9.99 package does nothing better than the alternatives and others catching up in the sound quality stakes, Tidal is a tough sell for most people in 2022. But it does commit to paying up to 10 per cent of your subscription fees directly to the artists you listen to the most which is a welcome perk given how little musicians have benefitted from the move away from records and CDs. Deezer Deezer / Deezer Price: From 11.99 per month (student and family plans also available.) Secret Weapon: Live radio included. Holding it back: Its comparitively small userbase likely makes social features redundant. Deezer is undoubtedly the underdog in the current world of streaming, despite being one of the oldest platforms around (it opened in 2006 the same year as Spotify). In truth, it doesnt really deserve that status, with its access to 90 million tracks and solid user experience throughout. Unlike its rivals (Apple Music aside), it also has access to live radio stations, meaning you can tune in to LBC, Heart, TalkSport, Virgin Radio or others all within the app (though BBC stations were all removed earlier this year .) Pricing is fair with 5.99 student options and 17.99 six-person family accounts available, but the biggest thing holding Deezer back is its relatively small size. The odds are that your friends arent using it, meaning the social functions are limited. If thats not an issue for you, then theres no harm giving it a spin especially as you can currently pay just 12 for your first three months of membership. S cientists believe they have solved the puzzle of why diamonds erupt in the Earths surface paving the way for future discoveries of the prized jewel. The team of researchers, led by the University of Southampton, have discovered that the breakup of tectonic plates is the main driving force for the generation and eruption of diamond-rich magmas from deep inside the Earth. Diamonds are hundreds of millions or even billions years old and are formed under great pressure. They are typically found in a type of volcanic rock known as kimberlite which is found in the oldest, thickest, strongest parts of continents such as in South Africa, which was the site of the diamond rush of the late 19th century. But scientists have been baffled as to how they reached the Earths surface until this latest study which is published in the journal Nature. Dr Tom Gernon, associate professor of Earth science at the University of Southampton and lead author of the study, said: The pattern of diamond eruptions is cyclical, mimicking the rhythm of the supercontinents, which assemble and break up in a repeated pattern over time. But previously we didnt know what process causes diamonds to suddenly erupt, having spent millions or billions of years stashed away 150 kilometres (93 miles) beneath the Earths surface. The new research examined the effects of global tectonic forces on these volcanic eruptions spanning the last billion years. The team, which included researchers from the universities of Birmingham, Leeds, Potsdam, Portland State, Macquarie, Florence, and Queens in Ontario, used statistical analysis, including machine learning, to examine the link between continental break-up and kimberlite formations. The results showed that eruptions of most kimberlite volcanoes occurred 20 to 30 million years after the tectonic breakup of Earths continents. Dr Thea Hincks, senior research fellow at Southampton, said: Using geospatial analysis, we found that kimberlite eruptions tend to gradually migrate from the continental edges to the interiors over time at rates that are consistent across the continents. They then found that the Earths mantle: the convecting layer between the crust and core was disrupted by rifting (or stretching) of the crust, even thousands of kilometres away. Dr Stephen Jones, associate professor in Earth systems at Birmingham, and study co-author said: We found that a domino effect can explain how continental break-up leads to formation of kimberlite magma. During rifting, a small patch of the continental root is disrupted and sinks into the mantle below, triggering a chain of similar flow patterns beneath the nearby continent. Dr Sascha Brune, head of the geodynamic modelling section at GFZ Potsdam, and a co-author on the study, ran simulations to investigate how this process unfolds. He said: While sweeping along the continental root, these disruptive flows remove a substantial amount of rock, tens of kilometres thick, from the base of the continental plate. Dr Gernon explained that this process led to the conditions needed for the creation of diamond-producing kimberlites. He said: Remarkably, this process brings together the necessary ingredients in the right amounts to trigger just enough melting to generate kimberlites. The scientists say that this understanding of this kimberlite migration helps them understand the locations and timings of past volcanic eruptions and therefore the insight into locating potential diamond deposits. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. Officials of Baku Transport Agency have been prosecuted, the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan told Trend. As a result of the operational search measures carried out on the illegal actions of officials of the Baku Transport Agency public legal entity, a criminal case was initiated in the Main Anti-Corruption Department under the Prosecutor General. The investigation established solid suspicions that Deputy Director of the Traffic Management Department of the agency Vugar Huseynov colluded with Adviser of the specified structure Hikmet Velizade in exchange for the implementation of appropriate procedures for the organization of parking lots in the territory of Baku, received from various persons a total of 16,500 manat ($9,705) as a bribe in June-July 2023. On the basis of preliminary evidence, Vugar Huseynov and Hikmet Velizade were charged under articles 308.2 (abuse of official authority, which entailed grave consequences), 311.3.1, 311.3.2 and 311.3.3 (repeated receipt of a bribe by a group of persons in collusion, on a particularly large scale) according to the Criminal Code, a preventive measure in the form of arrest was chosen in their regard by a court decision. Operational and investigative measures are continuing to prosecute other persons who participated in the commission of illegal actions. 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The financing will support the operation of a modern logistics base, but also the expansion of the acquisition base and the export of cereals. The credit also includes an accordion-type clause, which will allow the company to access a financing increase of 50 million euros. BCR and Erste Group Bank AG acted as Mandated Principal Arrangers, and BCR also acted as Documentation Agent and Guarantee and Payment Agent. In the Cerealcom loan, BCR participates with 70 million euros, and Erste Group Bank AG with 30 million euros. The loan has a final maturity in 2025 and is intended to finance the current activity and the development of specific projects. "BCR is a long-term partner, and this syndicated financing that we access comes to support their expertise in agribusiness. Our collaboration of over 20 years has been strengthened by BCR's willingness to understand the essence of economic processes in the agricultural industry, but also of permanent suitability to the market by developing flexible and efficient banking products. For Cerealcom, every interaction with BCR meant trust that we can do more and better together. It is an example of the support that the bank shows not only to its customers, but and essential industries," said Anghel Mihai, CEO of Cerealcom. For her part, Ana-Maria Samuila, Head of Agribusiness & Food BCR, mentioned that the bank supports the development of Romania's agricultural potential. "We are honored to be able to support a business of the magnitude of the Cerealcom Group in its strategy of consolidating its position at the local level, as well as for the diversification of grain marketing channels. This transaction is the result of a long collaboration based on trust, consistency and seriousness. We believe in and support the development of Romania's agricultural potential and we are happy to be partners for one of the most successful Romanian businesses in the agribusiness sector. BCR is with local entrepreneurs, invests and supports them in their desire to support a competitive economy," said Ana-Maria Samuila. BCR offers a complete range of financial products and services, through a network of 20 business centers and 16 mobile offices dedicated to companies and 319 retail units located in most cities in the country with over 10,000 inhabitants, 40% of which are units where cash operations are carried out only at equipment (cashless). FinMin Bolos discusses with US ambassador about investments, combating tax evasion The Minister of Finance, Marcel Bolos, had a meeting with the Ambassador of the United States of America to Romania, Kathleen Kavalec, on Wednesday, with one of the key points addressed having been the drawing of foreign investments to Romania, informs the Ministry of Finance in a Facebook post, told Agerpres. Bolos emphasized the firm commitment to create a favorable climate for investors and to ensure transparency and stability in the business milieu, while Kathleen Kavalec appreciated the efforts made by Romania to attract investments and expressed confidence that there is unexploited potential for the consolidation the economic partnership between the two countries. "I thank Ms. Kavalec for the opportunity to discuss the strengthening of the economic partnership between Romania and the United States. I emphasized the commitment to create a framework favorable to investments and to ensure transparency and stability in the business milieu, having the conviction that these are aspects that will bring significant benefits for economic development and job creation in our country. Also, the implementation of transparent and fair fiscal measures and policies is a strategic priority to ensure a solid basis for economic development and to protect the interests of Romanians. We focus on promoting a culture of tax compliance. We also talked about the modernization and use of advanced technology within customs, to contribute to simplifying procedures and increasing efficiency, a fact that will facilitate international trade and increase the competitiveness of the Romanian economy," Minister Marcel Bolos said. According to the cited source, another aspect addressed during the meeting was cooperation in the fiscal field and combating tax evasion. The Minister of Finance, Marcel Bolos, reiterated Romania's commitment to combat illegal tax practices and to improve transparency in this field. Both sides highlighted the importance of strengthening the economic relations between the two countries and the need to intensify the dialogue in order to find common solutions to the current economic challenges. Forty Romanian firefighters redeployed from Attica area to Rhodes to help put out wildfires Forty Romanian firefighters, who are currently in the Attica area of Greece, will be redeployed to the island of Rhodes, heavily affected by uncontrolled wildfires, told Agerpres. "Considering the dynamics of wildfires in Greece, another 40 Romanian firefighters who are part of module I positioned in the Attica area will be redeployed to support their colleagues on the island of Rhodes, a territory strongly affected by uncontrolled wildfires. Thus, the 40 Romanian rescuers, with three forest fire extinguishing machines, a special fire extinguishing vehicle with a large capacity - 10 tonnes of water - a car for personal transport, will begin the relocation to the island of Rhodes by sea," the General Emergency Management Inspectorate (IGSU) reported on Wednesday. From Thursday, 92 Romanian firefighters will be prepared to intervene in support of their Greek counterparts to manage situations that may endanger the lives and property of the communities on the island of Rhodes. The missions carried out by the Romanian firefighters are directly coordinated by a Greek liaison officer and will consist in containing the spread of the fire towards inhabited areas, maintaining a line of protection between the front of the fire and the unaffected area, as well as supplying water to other special vehicles that will act in the affected areas. The signing of the one billion euro funding contracts from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) for equipping Romania's schools is an unprecedented moment, Senate President Nicolae Ciuca said on Wednesday, adding that it is clear that education and healthcare are Romania's top priorities, and investments in education are the key to a better future for Romania. "The "Educated Romania" country project (...) initiated by President Klaus Iohannis in 2016 (...) started from the premise that all children should have access to quality education. Education is a fundamental human right and is essential for a democratic and prosperous society, education is the cornerstone on which all other aspects of our lives are built," said Ciuca, at the ceremony at the Victoria Palace for the signing of contracts financed under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the call for projects on "Equipping pre-university education units and related units with furniture, teaching materials and digital equipment." "By signing these funding contracts today, more than 5,600 units will be equipped with computer and science laboratories, new school cabinets, practice workshops and IT equipment. In other words: pupils in these schools will benefit from the best conditions to carry out their educational activity. It is important to point out that the schools to be modernised are located both in rural and urban areas, funds are available for vocational and technical education and the equipment will be used for extracurricular activities," added Nicolae Ciuca. The President of the Senate mentioned that these funds will be given on a priority basis to schools in disadvantaged areas, as "it is extremely important to ensure that all children in our country benefit from optimal conditions and that we reduce the disparities between rural and urban areas." According to him, during his mandate as prime minister, he discussed all the issues related to the fulfillment of the milestones and targets of the PNRR for attracting these funds. AGERPRES Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. The 20th edition of the Summer University in Izvoru Muresului, central Harghita County, taking place between August 15-20, is a special one, as it will be attended by young people with good educational results in the counties of Harghita, Covasna and Mures, informs a press release sent to AGERPRES. The organizers are the Civic Forum of Romanians from Covasna, Harghita and Mures (FCRCHM), in partnership with the National Foundation for Romanians Abroad in Bucharest, the European Studies Centre Covasna-Harghita in Sfantu Gheorghe, with the blessing of the Orthodox Diocese of Covasna and Harghita. "This year's edition will be very special, as we are celebrating a round-number anniversary since the first edition, and has as its theme the efforts focused on the values that define us: 'Excellence. Dialogue. (...) This year's edition will be attended by about one hundred young people from Covasna, Harghita and Mures counties with outstanding academic result, their participation being offered free of charge by the organizers as a reward for the effort and academic achievements of students from the heart of Romania. They will be joined by young Romanians from historical regions such as Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina, Timoc, Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania, North Macedonia and Greece," the press release says. "Among the topics that will be addressed at this year's Summer University in Izvoru Muresului are: 'Priorities for preserving and affirming the national identity of Romanians from Covasna, Harghita and Mures counties'; 'The need for the Republic of Moldova to join the European Union by reuniting with Romania'; 'Challenges for preserving the identity of Romanians from Ukraine, Serbia and Bulgaria in the current context' and many others," the press release also states. For the first time, a demonstration oina match will be organized on the second day of the Summer University, August 16, through a partnership with the Romanian Oina Federation, to promote "Romania's national sport among the young generation", the organizers say. Labour minister: Salary law is being worked on The salary law is being worked on, consultations are taking place with occupational families, there is a body of the law with four principles, while there are three work options on the appendixes, the Minister of Labour and Social Solidarity Simona Bucura-Oprescu stated on Wednesday, told Agerpres. "In the salary law, we have a body of law with four principles. The first of them is to create a hierarchy both within occupational families and between them, and no salary in payment should exceed the coefficient of 12, which is the president's ; the grid for local public administration, the capping of increases and a bonus that is linked to performance.(...) There will be no increase higher than 20% per employee. It is also important to say that at this moment we have the part of philosophy of the law. There are three options for working on the annexes. We are in the midst of consultations with all the occupational families. We have at least two meetings every week. We are trying to finish the consultations," the Labour Minister explained to Antena 3. She added that, after the completion of the consultations, the World Bank will draw up the three impact options, which will be analyzed in the Coalition, then they will go to the Parliament. "In this whole process, whether we are discussing pensions or salaries, we have four actors involved: the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity, the Ministry of Finance, the World Bank and the European Commission. It is a tight game that we must do very carefully, but I assure you that we are doing it in the interest of the Romanians," pointed out Simona Bucura-Oprescu. The Inspectorate General of the Border Police informs that 133,285 people, including 14,573 Ukrainian citizens, entered Romania through the border crossing points on Tuesday. According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday, 254,300 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, and over 64,500 means of transport, passed through the border crossing points throughout the country, on both directions. On the way into Romania, there were 133,285 persons, of whom 14,573 were Ukrainian citizens. Thus, as of February 10, 2022 (pre-conflict period), 5,220,000 Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania. In the areas of jurisdiction, crossing points and "green border," border police officers have found 74 illegal acts (49 offences and 25 contraventions) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens, and the value of fines imposed amounts to RON 18,200. Goods worth approximately RON 2.4 million were seized for confiscation. On Tuesday, seven foreign citizens were not allowed to enter the country, as they did not meet the legal requirements, and 20 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave for various legal reasons. Children and their relatives transferred on Tuesday evening to the Marie Curie Children's Emergency Hospital from the Nicolae Robanescu Hospital will be moved back to the latter hospital - where the equipment will be temporarily powered by a generator - to continue their recovery and treatment programme, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said. PM Marcel Ciolacu and Health Minister Alexandru Rafila paid a visit to the Marie Curie Hospital on Wednesday, and then they will go to the Nicolae Robanescu Hospital. "It is obvious that today another transformer cannot be brought in, a generator will can be put into operation and then the children will be able to come in for normal recovery and treatment (...) All the children will be moved back. (...) We will transfer them once there is power. I am firmly convinced that we will find, together with the Ministry of Health, a company, a team to fix the windows. Only one ward was affected, just barely. The rest - let's leave it to the investigation. Obviously the transformer was paid for by the hospital, but it is dealer operated, it was under warranty, it was new... I'm firmly convinced that those who are empowered to carry this investigation will come up with the answers. I would very much like it to be within a more than reasonable period of time," said Ciolacu. In this context, the PM thanked the medical staff who acted for the safe transfer of people affected by the fire. Referring to the fact that this is not the first time a fire has occurred in a hospital, he said: "It is very difficult to predict that a transformer under warranty will explode." Marcel Ciolacu gave guarantees that in the coming period there will be massive investment in the health system for which, he said, "we have almost 5 billion euros for investment." 110 child patients and 21 caregiving relatives were safely transferred on Tuesday night from Bucharest's Nicolae Robanescu children's neuromotor rehabilitation hospital to the nearby Marie Curie Children's Hospital after a fire set off at the former medical facility by an electrical transformer, spokesperson of the Marie Curie Hospital Denis Stanescu announced, adding that the fire was extinguished and there were no victims. The Health Ministry explained that the Nicolae Robanescu Children's Rehab Hospital relied for more than an hour on its own generator for power supply, following a power outage in the evening of July 25. When grid service was restored, the transformer exploded, causing two nearby cars to catch fire.AGERPRES President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday signed decoration decrees. According to the Presidential Administration, as a token of "appreciation of important services brought to the military and a high professionalism proven in the execution of assigned missions, for the promotion of the image of the Romanian Army within international military bodies," President Klaus Iohannis bestowed a Knight medal of the For Merit National Order with peace signs for the military on three-star Lieutenant General Ion Dorin Ionita. An Officer medal of the Military Virtue Order with peace signs for the military was awarded to the Battle Flag of the 1st General Nicolae Dascalescu Surface-to-Air Missile Brigade on the 50th anniversary brigade, as a token of "appreciation of high professionalism and special results obtained by the unit's personnel in the performance of specific missions, and for its contribution to promoting the image of the Romanian Army." At the same time, on the 100th anniversary of its establishment, as a token of "appreciation of high professionalism and special results obtained by the unit's personnel in the performance of specific missions, for the contribution made to promoting the image of the Romanian Army," Iohannis awarded an Officer medal of the Military Virtue Order with peace signs for the military to the Battle Flag of the 26th Avram Iancu Mountain Reconnaissance and Surveillance Battalion. AGERPRES A semi-trailer truck carrying 23 tons of waste from Germany was turned away by border authorities at the western Nadlac II Border Crossing Point because the driver - a Polish national - could not provide the documents proving the legality of the shipment. According to the accompanying documents, the truck was transporting non-ferrous scrap metal from a trading company in Germany to a company in Romania. Due to suspicions regarding the legality of the shipment, the border police sought authorized assistance from the representatives of the Arad County Commissariat within the National Environmental Guard. The checks carried out determined that the load consisted of 23.98 tons of waste, for which the driver failed to present the legally required transport documentation, the Arad Border Police reported on Wednesday. The authorities ordered the waste shipment to be returned to the sender company in Germany. AGERPRES USR's Ghinea: Postponement of CCR decision on special pensions - we won't see a penny from PNRR in 2023 Cristian Ghinea, coordinator of the Save Romania Union (USR)'s Public Policy Department and former Minister of Investments and European Projects, criticized the postponement of the Constitutional Court (CCR)'s decision regarding referrals to the special pension laws and the possibility to combine a salary and a pension in the public system, arguing that Romania will no longer see a penny from Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) in 2023, told Agerpres. "Payment request number 3 had to be submitted, according to the calendar agreed with the European Commission, at the end of May. They couldn't do it because they were late with payment request number 2, they didn't meet all the milestones, the payment was anyway only approved partially. The government announced that it wants to submit it this summer, which is not possible as long as the special pensions law is at the CCR. The postponement for September means that this year we will not see any money from the PNRR, even if the government, by a miracle , succeeds in making all the other milestones plus finishing the negotiations on the PNRR amendment," Ghinea said, according to a press release from the USR sent on Wednesday. According to Ghinea, even in the case of rejection of the notifications submitted by the High Court of Cassation and Justice, it is impossible to access the money from PNRR because the evaluation period lasts from two months upwards. "Based on the experience with the previous requests, it is clear that we will enter the 2024 election year with a huge deficit in investments from the PNRR. Investments of 13.3 billion euros were launched - highways, hospitals, education, etc. at the end of Ciuca's mandate and it is still accumulating. Instead, we only collected around 9, if we include the money from Payment Request number 2, partially approved, but not yet transferred. At the same time, the Government actually spent only around 800 million of this money. At year, all their mayors who are now bragging about the investments started in the PNRR will start squealing for money. of money," Ghinea wrote on Facebook. He mentioned that the Special Pensions Law was supposed to be ready last year. "They messed it up in the Parliament. It was clear that the cutting of special pensions will not be done without the opposition of the system. And now they are firmly in the hands of some super special ones, the judges from the CCR. Appointed by PSD, PNL and Iohannis. The perfect blockage that will explode in front of us in 2024. There are billions of euros that we are not collecting in the conditions in which the deficit is exploding. These are Social Democratic Party (PSD) and National Liberal Party (PNL) specialists," Cristian Ghinea also wrote. The CCR postponed until August 2 the discussion of referral to the High Court of Cassation and Justice regarding special pensions. Also, the discussion of the notification in connection with the law on cumulating the pension with the salary was postponed for September 21. The Missouri Supreme Court has ruled the only way it was ever going to the only way it could have on Attorney General Andrew Baileys audacious attempt to prevent the states voters from having their say on abortion rights. In a unanimous opinion last week, the court confirmed that Bailey didnt merely overstep his authority by refusing to validate a state audit regarding a proposed abortion-rights referendum, but that he failed to perform a clear and unequivocal duty as required under state law. Though Bailey lost in court, he scored a dark victory by improperly stalling the referendum effort. As the court noted in its blunt opinion, his baseless legal maneuvering cost proponents about three months in their time-sensitive effort to get abortion rights on the ballot. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is still engaged in a similarly cynical stunt, abusing his authority by presenting ballot language for the referendum that is deliberately biased and misleading. Pro-choice activists will likely win again in court, but again only after another round of improper postponement of their efforts. Minutes after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, Missouri enacted an abortion ban as strict as any in America, criminalizing the procedure from the moment of conception, even for rape and incest victims. Based on experiences in Kansas and other red states, along with recent polling here, its likely that even Missouris generally conservative voters would, if given a chance, restore some level of abortion rights. Activists seeking such a referendum must gather the prerequisite signatures. But they cant begin doing that until both Bailey and Ashcroft complete their respective official tasks in the process. Baileys job as attorney general is to certify the state audit calculating what the proposed ballot referendum will cost Missouri in the future. Thats it. He has no authority to question those numbers, let alone substitute his own ideologically inspired math for the state auditors calculations. Yet Bailey took it upon himself to reject the conclusion of state Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick (a fellow anti-abortion Republican) that the cost to the state of restoring abortion rights would be in the tens of thousands of dollars. Bailey insisted again, with zero legal authority to do so that it would instead be in the tens of billions of dollars, based in part on the lost future tax revenues of unborn Missourians. As Bailey presumably knows, thats not a valid auditing standard, even if he had the authority to demand it. No matter. His goal was to muck up the works and stall the petition-gathering in hopes of keeping abortion rights off next years ballot. And he may yet have succeeded. As the state Supreme Court noted last week: If the Attorney General had complied with his duty to approve the auditors fiscal note summaries in the time prescribed, then organizers would have been able to move ahead with the petition process nearly 100 days ago. Bailey, who was appointed attorney general this year to fill a vacancy, is seeking the GOP nomination to win a full term next year, which helps explain his willingness to so brazenly abuse his office in service to the anti-choice movement. Missouris internal Republican politics today is something of a Hunger Games dynamic in which primary candidates battle to get to one anothers political right. That imperative of out-extreming the other guy also helps explain Ashcrofts abuse of his own authority regarding the pending abortion-rights petitions. As secretary of state, Ashcroft is legally required to create a summary statement outlining the proposed referendum. By law, that statement must be neither intentionally argumentative nor likely to create prejudice either for or against the proposed measure. Does anyone think Ashcrofts proposed ballot language telling voters the referendum would allow for dangerous, unregulated, and unrestricted abortions remotely adheres to that standard? Of course not. Like Bailey, Ashcroft will likely lose the suit pending against him over that language. But the point isnt winning in court its winning next years GOP gubernatorial primary, where Ashcroft faces a fight from his right. Not until the vast majority of more moderate Missourians make that kind of extremist pandering politically costly will the Baileys and Ashcrofts of this state start working for the general public instead of the political fringe. Have Schuncks alcohol prices ever made you do a double take at your receipt? Wine drinkers and spirit sippers may be entitled to compensation from Schnucks following a class action settlement that accuses the Missouri-based grocery chain of making false and misleading claims about its alcohol prices. Schnucks will pay customers up to $4 million, according to the proposed settlement. Customers who bought alcohol from Schnucks in Missouri between Dec. 3, 2015, and Feb. 15, 2023, can receive up to $72 after a lawsuit alleged Schnucks was incorrectly advertising its prices via print ads, in-store signs, mailers, receipts and website posts. Schnucks disagrees with the claims and denies any wrongdoing, according to a notice emailed to customers on July 10. Settlement class members are broken down into three groups and all must submit a valid claim before Sept. 8. Group 1: Customers who bought at least one unit of alcohol will be entitled to a one-time payment of $11. No proof of purchase is necessary. Group 2: Customers who bought between 25 and 55 units will be entitled to a one-time payment of $25 with proof of purchase. Group 3: Customers who bought more than 56 units will be entitled to a one-time payment of $72 with proof of purchase. A hearing on the settlement will take place on Oct. 10 at 10 a.m. at St. Louis Circuit Court before the court decides whether to approve the settlement. Rewards members can access past receipts online or on the Schnucks Rewards app. Non-rewards customers can upload photos or PDFs of appropriate receipts during the claims process or by mailing physical receipts to: Perry v. Schnuck Markets Inc., Claims Administrator, P.O. Box 5627, Portland, OR 97228-5627. Customers who bought alcohol from Schnucks between Dec. 3, 2015, and Feb. 15, 2023, can choose to exclude themselves from the settlement or object to the settlement. During his visit to Bucharest, the Minister of Energy, Parviz Shahbazov, and the Minister of Energy of Romania, Sebastian Ioan Burduja, held a meeting, Azernews reports, citing the ministry. The meeting emphasized the importance of the mutual visits of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Romania for cooperation between the two countries and the multifaceted and intensive development of relations in the field of energy, the strategic importance of the development plans related to the Caspian Sea - European Union Green Energy Corridor for the Azerbaijan-Romania energy partnership, and the importance of the rapid implementation of the work envisaged by the Memorandum signed within the establishment of the green energy corridor. At the same time, the ministers discussed the contracts on natural gas supply and the importance of regular relations between Romgaz and SOCAR. SOCAR's activities in Romania are highly appreciated, and the importance of the development of this activity from the point of view of market competitiveness and energy security was underlined. Several other issues arising from bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the energy sector were also reviewed at the meeting. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. Foreign investors are interested in conducting their activities in Azerbaijans Alat Free Economic Zone (AFEZ), the Board Chairman of AFEZ Valeh Alasgarov told Trend. According to him, four foreign investors have already received resident status there. "In addition, they have already started the construction of their enterprises. It is also expected that one of the residents will complete the design work in the next two-three months. At the same time, negotiations are underway to attract other companies to our economic zone," he said. Alasgarov highlighted that construction work has already been completed on the territory of 60 hectares at the first stage on the basis of the AFEZs general plan. "Here we are talking about creating the necessary communication infrastructure, as well as water, road, sewage, energy and other necessary activities for doing business. Office buildings have been built for both AFEZ employees and State Customs Committee bodies," he said. According to Alasgarov, work continues on optimizing the regulatory framework, which will be the most attractive for both local and international investors and businessmen. The total area of the AFEZ is 850 hectares. Construction has already begun and a number of works have been carried out on the territory of 60 hectares, where work is being carried out within the first stage. The land plots that will be leased to investors are already ready for construction work. In addition, inside the land plots with a total area of 297,000 sqm, there are connection points to water, sewage, electric, gas and communication networks. There is also a ready-to-use internal and external engineering and communication infrastructure. Customs checkpoints and buildings for customs inspection have been built at the main entrance to the territory. ST. LOUIS The news director at St. Louis Public Radio will step down this week, after five months in the position. News Director Ashley Lisenby resigned for personal reasons, said Steve Walentik, a spokesperson for the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The radio station is licensed to the University of Missouri and operates as part of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Lisenby was selected for the position in February. Friday will be her last day. In an email Wednesday, Lisenby declined to comment on the decision. In a statement, the university said Lisenby brought training resources to the stations newsroom. She started a monthly editors column, and contributed to strategic planning work. The station hopes to make an announcement about interim leadership plans by the end of the week. Before she was selected for the news director position at St. Louis Public Radio, Lisenby was a news producer and editor for NPRs Weekend Edition. Before that, she was a senior news producer and editor for WAMU in Washington, D.C. She reported for St. Louis Public Radio, covering race, identity and culture. She also held reporting roles at the Post-Dispatch and The Associated Press. ST. LOUIS A federal appeals judges order on Tuesday has paused the execution date for Johnny Johnson, based on his claims of mental incompetency. Johnson was scheduled to die by lethal injection on Aug. 1 for the murder of 6-year-old Casey Williamson. Johnson, who has been incarcerated since the 2002 killing, has never denied bludgeoning her to death in Valley Park. But he has maintained that not managing his mental illnesses led him to commit the crime. His attorneys noted Johnsons suicide attempts and diagnosed schizophrenia and other mental illnesses in their appeal. His attorneys say he should serve life in prison. They argued in a motion to stay the execution on Saturday that it would be a cruel and unusual action, and not constitutional, to execute Johnson in his current mental state. Johnsons lawyers questioned the qualifications of one of the states experts, whose assessment of Johnson contradicted theirs, and highlighted the serious conflict of interest of that same expert being assigned to both treat and assess Johnsons mental illnesses. The Missouri Supreme Court denied Johnsons petition earlier this month, and Johnson has been denied on a plethora of petitions and appeals. In the most recent motion, he accuses government agencies of making him face myriad roadblocks in obtaining records on his medical and mental health, which delayed his legal submissions. The Missouri Attorney Generals Office responded to the stay of execution motion, calling Johnsons defenses claims meritless. Federal prosecutors say Johnson could have filed his appeals and petitions in a more timely manner. At bottom, Johnsons claims of error amount to little more than his hope that a federal court will disagree with the decision of the Supreme Court of Missouri, stated Assistant Attorney General Gregory Godwin. In the order granting the stay of execution, the federal judge stated Johnsons teams opening briefs are due Sept. 5; the Missouri Attorney Generals Office must reply within 30 days. Johnsons defense also has a pending clemency application with Gov. Mike Parsons office, which has yet to be acted upon. The 56 people Missouri has executed since 2000 COLUMBIA, Mo. Families of transgender children on Tuesday sued to block a new Missouri law banning gender-affirming health care for minors from taking effect as scheduled on Aug. 28. The law will prohibit Missouri health care providers from providing puberty blockers, hormones and gender-affirming surgeries to minors. Minors prescribed puberty blockers or hormones before Aug. 28 would be able to continue to receive those treatments. Missouris Planned Parenthood clinics had been ramping up available appointments and holding pop-up clinics to start patients on treatments ahead of the law taking effect. Lawyers sued on behalf of three families of transgender minors, doctors and two LGBTQ+ organizations. They asked a Cole County judge to temporarily block the law as the court challenge against it plays out. Lambda Legal attorney Nora Huppert in a statement said letting the law take effect would deny adolescent transgender Missourians access to evidence-based treatment supported by the overwhelming medical consensus. This law is not just harmful and cruel; it is life-threatening, Huppert said. Most adults will still have access to transgender health care under the law, but Medicaid wont cover it and prisoners access to surgeries will be limited. Missouris Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who tried to ban minors access to gender-affirming health care through rule change but dropped the effort when the law passed, is responsible for defending the legislation in court. There are zero FDA approvals of puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones to treat gender dysphoria in children," Bailey said in a statement. "Were not going to let left-wing ideologues experiment on children here in the state of Missouri. The FDA approved puberty blockers 30 years ago to treat children with precocious puberty a condition that causes sexual development to begin much earlier than usual. Sex hormones synthetic forms of estrogen and testosterone were approved decades ago to treat hormone disorders or as birth control pills. The FDA has not approved the medications specifically to treat gender-questioning youth, but they have been used for many years for that purpose off label, a common and accepted practice for many medical conditions. Doctors who treat trans patients say those decades of use are proof the treatments are not experimental. Every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association, has opposed the bans on gender-affirming care for minors and supported the medical care for youth when administered appropriately. Lawsuits have been filed in several states where bans have been enacted this year. BERKELEY Authorities on Tuesday arrested and charged a man with murder in the shooting death of a 30-year-old man in a Berkeley parking lot. Robert E. Ericks Jr., 41, is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. He was in custody Tuesday on a $1 million bail. He's accused of shooting Patrick Durley on Tuesday shortly after 1 a.m. in the 8600 block of Frost Avenue. Durley was found shot dead in a parking lot. Police say in charging documents that Ericks is connected to the shooting by surveillance cameras and an eyewitness account. Police also found a gun matching the type used in the killing during a search warrant at Ericks' home, the documents say. The Major Case Squad, a team of regional investigators, is investigating the case. ST. LOUIS Police are looking for a man they say grabbed a child who was riding his bike and sexually assaulted him in the St. Louis Hills neighborhood. The man snatched the 6-year-old boy on Sunday and assaulted him inside a vacant home, police said. The department released photos of a man wearing an orange shirt, khaki pants and black shoes. Police would not specify what time or where in the St. Louis Hills neighborhood the assault happened. Police ask anyone with information to call them 314-760-7360 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477. JEFFERSON CITY Efforts to restore abortion rights in Missouri through a vote of the people in 2024 hit another legal logjam Wednesday, this time as part of a disagreement with Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. In a Cole County courtroom, attorneys for the Republican candidate for governor faced off against the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, which is suing Ashcroft as it attempts to get the abortion rights measure on the ballot. The ACLU is accusing Ashcroft of writing a misleading summary of their proposed ballot question. But Assistant Attorney General Jason Lewis, who is representing Ashcroft, said the ACLUs legal action was premature by one day based on the process in place to challenge ballot language. Lewis said the ACLU jumped the gun and should wait until Thursday to file a challenge to Ashcrofts summary. The argument was backed by Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem, who set an Aug. 3 hearing to lay out when the refiled case may go to trial. We applaud the court for dismissing these frivolous lawsuits that were filed prior to the initiative petition language being certified by my office, Ashcroft said in a statement. The exchange marked the latest litigation in the battle to get a question before voters designed to restore abortion rights after the procedure was banned last year following the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The ACLU won a lawsuit last week against Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who contested the state auditors cost projection of the measure. In both cases, the roadblocks erected by the Republican statewide officeholders have gobbled up valuable time for supporters of the ballot question to collect the required number of signatures from voters to put the initiative on the ballot. The process should have been completed in May, attorneys for the ACLU said. Democrats are decrying the stall tactics. If they think theyre on the winning side of this issue, why are they so afraid of letting Missourians vote? said Rep. Ashley Aune, D-Kansas City. Under state law, ballot questions go through a step-by-step process before they can be certified. Along with sign-offs from the state auditor and the attorney general, the secretary of state must write a summary of the proposal. In his contested summary, Ashcroft has submitted language that asks voters whether to allow for dangerous, unregulated, and unrestricted abortions, from conception to live birth, without requiring a medical license or potentially being subject to medical malpractice. His wording also says the proposal would nullify longstanding Missouri law protecting the right to life, including but not limited to partial-birth abortion. And he said the question would allow for laws to be enacted regulating abortion procedures after 24 weeks, while guaranteeing the right of any woman, including a minor, to end the life of their unborn child at any time. The ACLU says the wording is inflammatory. The anti-abortion lobbying group Missouri Right to Life, which is backing Ashcroft in the Republican gubernatorial primary, sent representatives to observe Wednesdays hearing. In the case involving Baileys flawed cost estimate, the Supreme Court noted that the Republican stall tactics were depriving voters of their right to change the Constitution via a vote. The high court wrote that for more than 40 years the process has been liberally construed to favor voters rights rather than technical roadblocks erected by public officials. ST. CHARLES COUNTY The Francis Howell School Board will discuss changes to an anti-racism resolution before allowing it to expire in the next few months. Board president Adam Bertrand said Tuesday that there may be support of a rewrite or modification to the three-year-old Resolution in Response to Racism and Discrimination, in a message he posted to Facebook. Bertrands statement followed a vote last week by the board to rescind all prior resolutions within 75 days, a decision that was met with community outcry and appeals for unity from school leaders. A previous school board passed the anti-racism resolution in the summer of 2020 soon after thousands of protesters marched 3 miles down Mid Rivers Mall Drive in support of Black students following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The protesters called for changes to Francis Howells curriculum, hiring practices and discipline policies they said discriminated against people of color. While it is unlikely that the resolution will stand as written, board members will work together and take community input to move towards a draft (that) the majority of the current board could support, Bertrand wrote. Bertrand did not respond Tuesday to a request for comment. The all-white school board has flipped to a conservative majority since passing the nonbinding resolution, which states in part, We will promote racial healing, especially for our Black and brown students and families. We will no longer be silent. We are committed to creating an equitable and anti-racist system that honors and elevates all, but one that also specifically acknowledges the challenges faced by our Black and brown students and families. At its July meeting, the board voted 5-2 to automatically rescind resolutions 75 days after a majority of current Board of Education members were not signatories to the resolution or did not otherwise vote to adopt the resolution, and remove them from school buildings and publications. Amy Chance, whose daughter is a senior at Francis Howell North High School, said the vote felt like an attack on students who are already marginalized. Board members who voted in favor said the resolution was unnecessary and has not improved racial relations in the district. I do not feel the school district needs a resolution against every evil in society that we are against, such as racism, said Randy Cook, who sponsored the policy to rescind the resolutions, in a statement before the vote. Cook said the lack of definitions for terms including systemic racism and equity in the resolution leaves it open to interpretation and controversy. I believe the Board had the very best of intentions when they adopted this resolution, but carrying out the commitments made by prior Board members has many challenges, he said. Nearly 80% of Francis Howells 16,500 students are white. The district has a history of racial tension, most notably in 2013 when thousands protested the arrival of Black transfer students from unaccredited Normandy schools. Recently, an internal investigation of a civil rights complaint involving a Black student found violations of the districts policy against discrimination, harassment and retaliation, Francis Howell compliance officer Will Vanderpool wrote in a letter to the family in July. The St. Charles County branch of the NAACP released a statement calling the school boards decision a significant setback in our collective work to create an educational environment where every student is learning, seen, heard, and valued. After the board meeting, Francis Howell Superintendent Kenneth Roumpos acknowledged in a letter to families that some are frustrated and hurting but that moments like this can be opportunities for us to rally together, problem-solve, and learn from each other, ultimately making us a stronger community. Roumpos wrote that he is committed to making all students and staff from a variety of races, cultures, and diverse backgrounds feel welcome and valued. The school boards next meeting is Aug. 17. CLAYTON St. Louis County Council members said Tuesday they want more details before approving a tax incentive plan to help Boeing pay for new aerospace programs promised to bring $2 billion in investment and 500 new jobs. The council officially considered the incentives for the first time at its Tuesday meeting. The deal, if approved, would give Boeing half off on the projects real and personal property taxes over 10 years in exchange for the new jobs and investment. But council members said after the meeting that they have questions about the proposal. The council last week rejected a property tax break for senior homeowners, said Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway, a Democrat from Chesterfield. So why should Boeing be treated differently? Im trying to keep an open mind, but on the heels of not giving seniors a tax cut, it sure doesnt seem fair to give millions in corporate welfare to Boeing, Dunaway said. News broke Friday that Boeing was looking to build another million square feet of space next to the St. Louis Lambert International Airport, and wanted tax incentives to do so. The company wouldnt further describe the project publicly, saying only that it involved advanced manufacturing production facilities for future franchise programs. But the aerospace industry has been ramping up for a national competition to build the next generation of U.S. fighter jets. And Boeing said in May that it was expanding its secretive research and prototype unit, Phantom Works, with a new, 47,500-square-foot facility in north St. Louis County to focus on next-generation military aircraft. The new proposal, if built, would be one of the biggest defense projects in the regions history, more expensive even that the $1.7 billion National Geospatial-Intelligence Agencys new headquarters in north St. Louis. It would support the roughly 16,000 current Boeing employees in the region. But the Pentagon has been working to phase out purchases of Boeings legacy fighters from its defense budgets in order to focus on next-generation fighters. So the new program would provide a much-needed boost to Boeing production here. On Tuesday, county council members said they were generally supportive, but wanted to know more. Republican Councilman Dennis Hancock of Fenton said hes looking for details about what Boeing will buy that would be eligible for the personal property tax. These days its exciting anytime somebody wants to expand in the region, Hancock said, and I look forward to learning more about the proposal. Democratic Councilwoman Lisa Clancy of Maplewood said she is open to the idea and will give it close scrutiny. Councilman Mark Harder, a Republican from Ballwin, asked Council Chair Shalonda Webb to schedule a special council meeting to discuss the plan in detail. One skeptic from the community said its not fair for a corporation like Boeing to get tax breaks. Its hard to understand why these big, wealthy corporations should get taxpayer subsidies, said Tom Sullivan, a University City resident who speaks frequently during public forum at council meetings. Sullivan wanted to know how much tax revenue the county would miss out on because of the incentives. The countys economic development arm helped negotiate the deal, but did not respond to requests for information about the incentives total value. Webb, who works as an engineer at Boeing, said she planned to recuse herself from any vote on the incentives to avoid a conflict of interest. The council could approve the plan as soon as mid-August. JEFFERSON CITY An Arkansas-based company that collects waste from meat processing facilities in Missouri and other states wants to open a holding basin for the smelly stew in a rural area north of Columbia. Denali Water Solutions, which collects waste throughout the U.S. for companies like Tyson Foods, Conagra Brands and Perdue Farms, wants to open a 4-acre lagoon near Jacksonville in Randolph County. The facility will be able to hold up to 18 million gallons of dead animal material and similar waste associated with the meat-packing industry. Local concerns about the possible odor and the potential for the discharge of the slurry into nearby creeks and lakes have already spurred one hearing in the county where residents raised their concerns. At a June meeting organized by officials in Randolph County, Steve Gieseking, who lives near the proposed dump site, told television station KOMU that people are worried. Theyre scared for their property value and their health, Gieseking said. They are scared theyll get respiratory diseases and illnesses, this just doesnt benefit anyone in our community. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has scheduled another hearing for Aug. 21 in Macon to receive additional public comment on the companys plans. The showdown over the discarded remains of chickens, turkeys and cattle comes as Denali has faced fines, litigation and public anger in Missouri and other states over its practices of releasing the liquefied slaughterhouse waste on private farmland and calling it free fertilizer. In April, landowners in Newton, McDonald and Barry counties in southwest Missouri outlined their concerns about Denalis application of sludge on farmland at a hearing in Neosho. The company also has faced criticism for a large wastewater pond near Fairview in Newton County in southwest Missouri that was drawing complaints about its smell. Regulations affecting such operations are handled by multiple jurisdictions, a situation that has muddled the states response to the expansion of out-of-state companies dumping waste in Missouri. The Randolph County project also has generated a petition seeking to block construction of the basin. In addition to the horrible odor produced, citizens are concerned about potential health risks. They are concerned about respiratory illness, skin irritation, nausea, and possibly cancer after extended exposure to animal waste product. They are concerned the waste product may make it into drinking water or nearby creeks, the petition notes. Denali spokesman Samuel Liebl said the company works with food processors and farmers across Missouri to recycle nutrients in ways that are responsible and beneficial for the environment, for agriculture, and for communities. The material provides lasting benefits to soil because it contains organic matter and gradually releases both macro- and micro-nutrients to crops, Liebl said. Denalis problems arent limited to Missouri. The company was fined $34,500 in 2021 by Alabama regulators over odor concerns and possible water quality impacts at a site where it was spraying waste slurry from a chicken processing plant. The Denali dilemma is unfolding while Gov. Mike Parsons administration is trying to expand business for ranchers. A beef packer in Pleasant Hope, for example, has drawn attention for its plan to potentially pump 350,000 gallons of treated wastewater per day into Pomme de Terre River, which flows into a lake of the same name. The slaughterhouse currently has 109 acres of available land to apply waste and operates three lagoons at a facility that had previously processed pigs. The company wants permission to discharge at all times, but especially during wet and frozen ground conditions that currently pose a challenge at the site, according to a 41-page Water Quality and Degradation Review issued by the DNR. The review states: The proposed new facility discharge location will result in significant degradation of Pomme de Terre River. In this years state budget, officials earmarked at least $70 million in direct spending potentially benefiting the ranching industry. The budget includes $43 million to build a new veterinary medical diagnostic laboratory at the University of Missouri designed to benefit livestock producers and companion animal owners. Mizzou also is receiving $25 million for a so-called meat laboratory, which will process all types of livestock, not just beef. In addition, lawmakers approved $1 million to create a national cattle registry and database for multiple breed associations. Denali, meantime, has told the state it has taken steps to avoid problems as it continues to haul waste away from places like a Butterball turkey factory in Carthage and a Kraft Foods plant in Kirksville. According to the companys permit application, the proposed lagoon is located 2.3 miles southeast of Jacksonville. Mud Creek is the closest named stream and is approximately 2 miles away. The sludge will be transported to the lagoon via sealed tanker trucks from food processing facilities, with some possibly coming from out of state. The trucks will pull along the side of the lagoon and the truck driver will attach a flexible hose to the truck valve and to an unloading pipe that discharges into the lagoon, the application notes. The companys application says that the sludge is expected to form a grease cap that minimizes the exchange of odorous gases. They also claim the grease cap wont attract flies. This cap will act to reduce the attraction and harborage of rodents and flies as it naturally traps odors and most organic decomposition takes place under the cap, the company said. The facility will be periodically emptied by pumping it on to nearby farm fields for use as fertilizer, the application said. Using basins to stage this material gives us greater flexibility with our logistics, Liebl added. In staging these food processing residuals in basins and in applying the material on farmland, Denali carefully abides by the regulations administered by DNR. CHARLESTON, W.Va. A half-century ago, the nations top health experts urged the federal agency in charge of mine safety to adopt strict rules protecting miners from poisonous rock dust. The inaction since fueled by denials and lobbying from coal and other industries has contributed to the premature deaths of thousands of miners from pneumoconiosis, more commonly known as black lung. The problem has only grown in recent years as miners dig through more layers of rock to get to less accessible coal, generating deadly silica dust in the process. One former regulator called the lack of protection from silica-related illnesses stunning and one of the most catastrophic occupational health failures in U.S. history. Now the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration has proposed a rule that would cut the current limit for silica exposure by half a major victory for safety advocates. But there is skepticism and concern about the government following through after years of broken promises and delays. James Bounds, a retired coal miner from Oak Hill, West Virginia, said nothing can be done to reverse the debilitating illness he was diagnosed with at 37 in 1984. But he doesnt want others to suffer the same fate. Its not going to help me Im through mining, said Bounds, 75, who now uses supplemental oxygen to breathe. But we dont want these young kids breathing like we do. The rule, published in the Federal Register this month, cuts the permissible exposure limit for silica dust from 100 to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air for an 8-hour shift in coal, metal and nonmetal mines such as sand and gravel. The proposal is in line with exposure levels imposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on construction and other non-mining industries. And its the standard the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was recommending as far back as 1974. Silicosis is an occupational pneumoconiosis caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica dust present in minerals like sandstone. The U.S. Department of Labor began studying silica and its impact on workers health in the 1930s, but the focus on stopping exposure in the workplace largely bypassed coal miners. Instead, regulations centered on coal dust, a separate hazard created by crushing or pulverizing coal rock that also contributes to black lung. In the decades since, silica dust has become a major problem as Appalachian miners cut through layers of sandstone to reach less accessible coal seams in mountaintop mines where coal closer to the surface has long been tapped. Silica dust is 20 times more toxic than coal dust and causes severe forms of black lung disease even after a few years of exposure. An estimated 1 in 5 tenured miners in Central Appalachia has black lung disease; 1 in 20 has the most disabling form of black lung. Nobody should be dying because of a job they have. United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts Miners are also being diagnosed at younger ages some in their 30s and others with the advanced kind in their 40s. Thats just nuts, said Dr. Carl Werntz, a West Virginia physician who conducts black lung examinations and described cases as skyrocketing. United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts said theres no reason a 35-year-old miner should be diagnosed with a disease thats going to cost him his life. Nobody should be dying because of a job they have, Roberts said. The federal mine safety agencys existing silica standards were developed in the 1970s, around the time of the U.S. Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. Chris Williamson, assistant labor secretary for mine safety and health, said the proposed rule would protect miners health. Miners should never be forced to choose between preserving their health and providing for themselves and their families, he said. West Virginia University law professor Pat McGinley, who was part of a state team investigating the 2010 Upper Big Branch mining disaster that killed 29 miners, called the resurgence of black lung unparalleled when it comes to occupational health failures. In the Upper Big Branch mine, 71% of the 24 miners who received autopsies were found to have black lung. I cant think of any occupation where there has been such devastation thats been ignored by corporations and the government, he said. Its stunning. The new rule is supported by Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Bob Casey and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, and Mark Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia, who pushed for the change and released a joint statement saying protecting miners from dangerous levels of silica cannot wait. The Mine Safety and Health Administration will be collecting comments on the proposal through Aug. 28, with a final rule expected next year. Three hearings scheduled in Arlington, Virginia, Beckley, West Virginia, and Denver. One issue expected to come up: the use of respiratory protection equipment. The National Mining Association, which represents mine operators, wants workers to be permitted to use respirators as a method of compliance with the rule. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. The President of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), Rovshan Najaf, has met with Hungarian MOL Group Strategic Operations and Corporate Development Executive Vice President, Board Member Gyorgy Bacsa, Trend reports. Commendable relations between two countries were emphasized by the parties, which promote successful bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Hungary, where the lion's share falls to the energy sector. The successful participation of MOL Group in the projects of the main export pipelines Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashli, as well as a significant contribution to the development of the oil and gas industry of Azerbaijan, were specifically cited as reasons for satisfaction. The meeting also included a discussion of other topics of shared interest and looked at both current and future possibilities for cooperation between the parties. It is noteworthy that 9.57 percent of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli block is owned by MOL Group. Total ACG production for the full year of 2022 was on average about 415,400 barrels per day (b/d) (about 152 million barrels or 20 million tons in total) from the Chirag (25,200 b/d), Central Azeri (104,100 b/d), West Azeri (106,400 b/d), East Azeri (64,000 b/d), Deepwater Gunashli (76,300 b/d), and West Chirag (39,400 b/d) platforms. CARSON CITY, Nev. While Nevada Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo still faces a $20,000 fine and a censure for wearing his sheriffs uniform and badge in campaign materials which a state board said violates a law prohibiting candidates from using government resources for their personal campaigns he avoided nearly $1.67 million in fines initially recommended. Ross Armstrong, executive director of the Nevada Commission on Ethics, originally asserted Lombardo wracked up 68 ethics law violations stemming from 34 social media posts. Each contained at least one of four images of Lombardo wearing his sheriff's badge or uniform. Armstrong argued each post violated two state statutes. But the commission ruled there was just one violation per image, not one for each time an image was used in campaign materials. Attorney Elizabeth Bassett argued in the 3-hour hearing Tuesday that Lombardo's sheriff's badge was an example of government-owned property that gave him an unwarranted advantage on the campaign trail. Wearing the uniform and badge insinuated Lombardo had the endorsement of his public office in what she called a willful and repeated violation of state law. The civil penalties of this amount, or even near this amount, would in fact be unprecedented," Bassett said. "However, the subjects conduct in these matters were unprecedented and therefore requires and equivalent penalty. The commission ruled Lombardo violated a statute that bars the use of government resources to secure a private interest without warrant for each image or video. But he did not violate a statute that bars public officers from using their position to their advantage without warrant, the commission said. In legal responses to the Ethics Commission complaint, Lombardo's attorneys called the proposed penalty eye-watering and unprecedented. Attorney Colby Williams, who represented Lombardo, said in the hearing that county sheriff is a 24/7 job, that it was already common knowledge that Lombardo was sheriff and that he had a right to advise the public of his elected position under the First Amendment. Lombardo was not willful in breaking the two state statutes, Williams said, which he called vague. There is no evidence in the record that Gov. Lombardos limited use of these same four images secured him any advantage, let alone an unwarranted advantage, Williams said. Theres no stipulated facts that said by posting these four images, so-and-so voted for him. In a statement, Nevada Democratic Party executive director Hilary Barrett said Lombardo has never acted as if the law applied to him. Lombardo served two elected terms as nonpartisan sheriff in Clark County the administrative head of the largest police agency in the state, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. He resigned in January 2023 when he became governor, defeating Democratic incumbent Steve Sisolak. Lombardo had appointed two members of the commission in the past week: Stanley Olsen, a former LVMPD employee and Republican state Senator, and Democrat John Moran III, the grandson of former Clark County Sheriff John Moran. At the beginning of the meeting, Olsen acknowledged his ties to the Police Department and that he knew of Lombardo during his employment, but did not directly work with him. The two described Lombardo as a professional acquaintance and said their relationship to Lombardo did not require disclosure and would not interfere with their actions on the board. The board includes four governor-appointed members and four members appointed by a commission of state lawmakers. Emergency call center workers say their centers are understaffed, struggling to fill vacancies and plagued by worker burnout, according to a national survey released Tuesday. The survey conducted by the National Emergency Number Association in conjunction with Carbyne, a cloud technology company focused on emergency services, polled about 850 workers from 911 call centers across the country. It found that many were experiencing burnout, handling more frequent call surges and felt undertrained. The findings show the widespread nature of staffing problems that have been laid bare in some communities in recent years. In St Louis this month, callers tried desperately to report that a woman was trapped in her car under a fallen tree but said they couldn't get through for nearly half an hour. During the same storm in the suburbs, it took a woman 45 minutes to report that her 5-year-old son had been badly hurt by a tree falling on their home. He died, but he was alive when his mother started calling 911, according to a family spokeswoman. Meanwhile, in New York City, panicked callers this month tried to report a Department of Transportation truck that had caught fire and exploded, but said they received busy signals or were sent to voicemail. Nationwide staffing shortages that in many cases mirror the shortages in police departments and law enforcement agencies have led to longer wait times or trouble reaching operators at centers around the country, according to experts. The numbers were seeing right now are really alarming. It was a major impetus of why we did this study. I knew it was going to be high, but 82% of respondents said their centers were understaffed, said Karima Holmes, vice president and head of public safety at Carbyne and former director of the Office of Unified Communications in Washington, D.C. Holmes said staffing issues in many centers worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, and like many jobs in public safety, it suffered from image problems after the 2020 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. People are not coming to the job because of people turning away from wanting to have public safety careers, Holmes said. But you add to that issues with lower pay, dealing with increased call volumes and people feeling burned out, and it becomes difficult to get people into the profession. The survey was released at an online national conference of 911 leaders to discuss possible solutions to the staffing crisis and other issues faced by emergency response centers. Brian Fontes, CEO of NENA, said the group has been advocating for national legislation to change the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' classification of 911 workers from office or clerical workers to protected service workers like other emergency responders. The change would boost morale by more accurately describing the role of 911 workers and open doors locally to include those workers in benefits programs offered to police and others, he said. Iowa has been trying to incorporate them into their state retirement system for public safety personnel, but the legal review came back and said they couldn't do that because of how these employees are classified, Fontes said. The group has also been advocating for a bill that would spend $15 billion equipping centers across the country with newer technology that Fontes and others said would address some of the other issues 911 workers noted in the survey. The technology, called Next Generation 911, would convert the hard-wired centers to digital internet protocol-based technology. Advocates say the technology would mean more precise location tracking, better access to immediate language translation, the ability to text with callers or take video calls to help see what's going on in the case of a medical emergency. It could also mean fewer outages to phone or computer systems, which 60% of survey respondents said happen regularly. Earlier this month, the 911 center in Oakland, California, experienced two outages that forced operators to manually handle 911 calls and delayed response times. Holmes said she also thinks the technology upgrade could draw more young people to the industry. Some other findings in the survey include: 1. About 38% of those surveyed said they were not well prepared to handle active shooter calls. About 25% said the needed more training around mental health calls. 2. About 75% of respondents said the high-stress nature of the job was the major factor in staffing shortages, while about 65% said low pay was a significant deterrent. Fontes said that although pay varies widely, he had heard from workers at a center where new hires had left to work at a fast food restaurant for higher pay. 3. About 53% of workers said they experience high volumes of misdials at their center. NENA officials said many of those misdials come from programs or features on phones, tablets and other smart devices that are meant to do things like detect crashes or falls, or allow easy connection to emergency services. For example, some 911 call centers experienced a 30% increase in misdials between May and June after a new feature was added to Android phones that connected users to emergency services if a button on the side of phones was pushed five times in rapid succession. Phones and devices rattling around in bags or dropped to the ground were calling 911 many times without users even knowing, which can take up a line and valuable time from operators who have to figure out whether the calls are legitimate. WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) The plea deal in Hunter Bidens criminal case unraveled during a court hearing Wednesday after a federal judge raised concerns about the terms of the agreement that has infuriated Republicans who believe the presidents son is getting preferential treatment. Hunter Biden was charged last month with two misdemeanor crimes of failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes from over $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018 and had been expected to plead guilty Wednesday after he made an agreement with prosecutors, who were planning to recommend two years of probation. Prosecutors said Wednesday Hunter Biden remains under active investigation, but would not reveal details. U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, raised multiple concerns about the specifics of the deal and her role in the proceedings. The plan also included an agreement on a separate gun charge Biden has been accused of possessing a firearm in 2018 as a drug user. As long as he adhered to the terms of his agreement, the gun case was to be wiped from his record. Otherwise, the felony charge carries 10 years in prison. The overlapping agreements created confusion for the judge, who said the lawyers needed to untangle technical issues including over her role in enforcing the gun agreement before moving forward. It seems to me like you are saying just rubber stamp the agreement, Your Honor.' This seems to me to be form over substance," she said. She asked defense lawyers and prosecutors to explain why she should accept the deal. In the meantime, Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to the tax charges. The collapsed proceedings were a surprising development in the yearslong investigation, and a resolution that had been carefully negotiated over several weeks and included a lengthy back-and-forth between Justice Department prosecutors and Biden's attorneys. The plea deal was meant to clear the air for Hunter Biden and avert a trial that would have generated weeks or months of distracting headlines. But the politics remain as messy as ever, with Republicans insisting he got a sweetheart deal and the Justice Department pressing ahead on investigations into Trump, the GOPs 2024 presidential primary front-runner. Trump is already facing a state criminal case in New York and a federal indictment in Florida. Last week, a target letter was sent to Trump from special counsel Jack Smith that suggests the former president may soon be indicted on new federal charges, this time involving his struggle to cling to power after his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. Republicans claim a double standard, in which the Democratic president's son got off easy while the president's rival has been unfairly castigated. Congressional Republicans are pursuing their own investigations into nearly every facet of Hunter Biden's dealings, including foreign payments. District Judge Noreika did the right thing by refusing to rubberstamp Hunter Bidens sweetheart plea deal, said House Oversight Committee chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky. But lets be clear: Hunters sweetheart plea deal belongs in the trash. Wednesday's hearing quickly veered into confusion, with Hunter Biden at one point answering yes when asked if he was pleading guilty of his own free will, before later pulling back in moving forward with the plea. The judge said she was concerned about a provision in the agreement on the gun charge that she said would have created a role for her where she would determine if he violated the terms. She argued such a role doesn't exist for judges; the lawyers said they were only asking for the court to play a factfinding role as a neutral party in determining if a violation happened. We wanted the protection of the court, Biden's attorney Chris Clark said. She also raised concerns that the agreement included a non-prosecution clause for crimes outside of the gun charge. The attorneys appeared to squabble over the deal's terms, too, retreating to their corners to discuss the issues, before they met at the prosecutors' table and, at one point, could be heard yelling at each other. Well, well just rip it up! Clark was heard shouting. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The judge also asked Biden to be more specific about his business relationships and to discuss his substance use issues as she combed through the plea agreement. She asked him to name the Ukrainian and Chinese entities referred to without name in the agreement. She also asked him the last time he used alcohol or drugs and whether he was currently receiving treatment. Biden answered June 1, 2019, and said he was not currently in treatment, though he did say he was in an anonymous support program for his substance abuse issues. Hunter Biden is a private citizen, and this was a personal matter for him," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. As we have said, the president, the first lady, they love their son, and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life. This case was handled independently, as all of you know, by the Justice Department under the leadership of a prosecutor appointed by the former president, President Trump. President Biden, meanwhile, has said very little publicly, except to note, "I'm very proud of my son." NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Whirlpool Corporation Another deserving family has earned not only a home but a new perspective as part of Habitat for Humanity's BuildBetter with Whirlpool initiative. The program is an expansion of Habitat's existing BuildBetter program that will build more than 250 climate-resilient and energy-efficient homes that will help hundreds of families in need of affordable housing over three years. Jessica's road to home ownership was not easy, but she feels it will change her and her son's lives for the better. Jessica lived with her grandmother for the past few years in her hometown of Berthoud, Colorado. This allowed her to help her grandmother, pay cheaper rent and save money, but she also had to share a room with her nine-year-old son, Eliot, and didn't have enough space for them and their belongings. "I have been craving my independence for a long time, but the state of the housing market has left me feeling like that was out of my reach," says Jessica. "I felt lost and stuck and didn't even know where to start, or even where to turn." A friend who was approved for a Habitat home urged Jessica to apply to Habitat for Humanity Berthoud's home ownership program. "I was very skeptical because I doubted that I would be accepted. I was so unsure of myself, but she insisted that I apply and encouraged me to go for it," said Jessica. "I am so glad that she did. I felt like so many people are deserving of this opportunity, but I doubted that I was worthy of it myself." Jessica applied and was approved in the fall of 2021. She completed financial and homeowner education classes and completed many of her sweat equity hours at the Habitat ReStore. "I really enjoyed helping the team at the store, as well as helping the customers. I was also able to put in plenty of hours at the building site." Jessica not only helped construct her own home, but she also worked on her new neighbor's home as well, and helped her get ready to move in. Jessica's new two-bedroom, two-bathroom home has an on-demand gas hot water heater and a high efficiency gas furnace. In addition, there is above code insulation in the walls and ceiling, and the home is Energy Star rated. The family also received an energy-efficient refrigerator and range, which Whirlpool Corporation donates to every Habitat built home in North America. It was so rewarding to see the house come together from the bones up. Not many people get to help build their house, and it is one of the best feelings I have ever experienced," she said. "I put my blood, sweat and tears into this house and would do it again in a heartbeat." Jessica feels that the experience of gaining her own home was worth the hard work. "It was so rewarding to see the house come together from the bones up. Not many people get to help build their house, and it is one of the best feelings I have ever experienced," she said. "I put my blood, sweat and tears into this house and would do it again in a heartbeat." Jessica has gained a new sense of confidence in herself as a result of purchasing her own home. "I now see that I am worthy of this blessing. I have worked so hard to make this dream a reality. It's such a great feeling to know that I set out to achieve this goal and I am actually making it happen. I have also gained so much confidence in myself." "My world has changed in more ways than one," she said. "Aside from being able to actually have a house of my own and achieving my dream to raise my son in Berthoud, I now have so much hope for the future." View original content here. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Whirlpool Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Whirlpool Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/whirlpool-corporation Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Whirlpool Corporation View source version on accesswire.com: PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / The Stock Day Podcast welcomed CLS Holdings USA, Inc. (CLSH) ("the Company"), a diversified cannabis company that acts as an integrated cannabis producer and retailer through its Oasis Cannabis subsidiaries in Nevada and plans to expand to other states. CEO of the Company, Andrew Glashow, joined Stock Day host Kevin Davis "What AI solutions has your business engaged to help grow?", asked Davis to begin the interview. "On the retail side, we have introduced an artificial intelligence budtender," shared Glashow, adding that the AI budtender provides recommendations to customers, while also answering questions for a more personalized experience. "We've seen our average ticket grow anywhere from 40%-60%." Glashow then expanded on the Company's use of AI technology with regards to cultivation and the challenges many companies face within this sector. "We have identified technology which scans the plants and is able to see stress issues related to water and light seven days before it is detectable by the trained human eye," said Glashow, adding that growers are immediately notified if any of these traits are identified. "We believe introducing new technology to cultivation related assets has the potential to be incredibly meaningful for this industry." "How is CLS Holdings managing to stand out compared to other companies in the cannabis industry?", asked Davis. "We have stayed true to the local folks," said Glashow. "That has helped us through the pandemic as tourism came to a halt during that time period," he said. "We catered to locals and we have continued to cater to locals, and as a result our business has consistently continued to grow." "Could you share what your current customer retention is?", asked Davis. "95%," shared Glashow. "We have a robust loyalty program in conjunction with a third-party vendor," he explained. "This has been the most effective outreach marketing campaign and we have been with them for well over five years," said Glashow. "We consistently give those people, our customers who we love, the best products at the best possible prices," he said. "And we are always trying to provide variety." "You have also reduced your debt dramatically. What is your plan moving forward to continue that?", asked Davis. "We have taken debt, however it was a big initiative of mine to reduce that debt," said Glashow, adding that the company has reduced their debt from $23.5 million to $10 million over the last twelve months. "Mostly we have achieved this through existing cash flow," he said. "We are on track to pay down the debt by $200,000 per month," shared Glashow. "It is my goal by the end of the year to see our debt at around $7 million and my goal for the next calendar year to have it reduced to $4 million." To close the interview, Glashow encouraged listeners and shareholders to keep up-to-date on the Company's current and upcoming projects as they continue to expand in the growing cannabis industry. To hear Andrew Glashow's entire interview, the link to the podcast is available by clicking: Stock Day Media Podcast with Andrew Glashow, CEO of CLS Holdings USA, Inc. Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/ About CLS Holdings USA, Inc. CLS Holdings USA, Inc. (CLSH) is a diversified cannabis company that acts as an integrated cannabis producer and retailer through its Oasis Cannabis subsidiaries in Nevada and plans to expand to other states. CLS stands for "Cannabis Life Sciences." The Company's business model includes licensing operations, processing operations, processing facilities, sale of products, brand creation and consulting services. https://www.clsholdingsinc.com Oasis Cannabis has operated a cannabis dispensary in the Las Vegas market since dispensaries first opened in Nevada in 2015 and has been recognized as one of the top marijuana retailers in the state. Its location, within walking distance to the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas, in combination with its delivery service to residents, allows it to efficiently serve both locals and tourists in the Las Vegas area. In February 2019, it was named "Best Dispensary for Pot Pros" by Desert Companion Magazine. In August 2017, Oasis commenced wholesale offerings of cannabis in Nevada with the launch of its City Trees brand of cannabis concentrates and cannabis-infused products. http://oasiscannabis.com Founded in 2017, City Trees is a Nevada-based cannabis cultivation, production and distribution company that offers a wide variety of products with consistent results. City Trees products are available in numerous dispensaries throughout the state of Nevada. https://citytrees.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and 'forward-looking statements'' as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, the "forward-looking statements''). These statements relate to, among other things, the expected development of our business and joint ventures, results of operations and financial performance, future liquidity, working capital and capital requirements. The continued spread of COVID-19 could have, and in some cases already has had, an adverse impact on our business, operations and financial results, including through disruptions in our cultivation and processing activities, supply chains and sales channels, and retail dispensary operations as well as a deterioration of general economic conditions including a possible national or global recession. In some cases, you can identify forward looking statements by terminology such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "intends," "expects," "plans," "goals," "projects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions, are uncertain and involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, levels of activity or performance to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity or performance. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date that they were made. These cautionary statements should be considered together with any written or oral forward-looking statements that we may issue in the future. Except as required by applicable law, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to reflect actual results, later events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. See CLS Holdings USA filings with the SEC and on its SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com for additional details. Contact Information CLS Holdings USA, Inc. Andrew Glashow - Chairman/CEO [email protected] 888-260-7775 Instagram @clsholdingsusa Facebook: @CLSHoldingsUSA Twitter: @CLSHoldingsUSA LinkedIn: CLS Holdings USA Inc About The "Stock Day" Podcast Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. Stock Day Media StockDayMedia.Com (602) 821-1102 SOURCE: CLS Holdings USA, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: Decommerce: Where brands directly engage with their customers to build sustainable communities ZURICH, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / The world of social media is changing with the emergence of Web3 technology. This new era is allowing brands to explore new ways to build their communities, leading to less reliance on centralized platforms and more opportunities to create decentralized environments. Technologies are giving brands the tools to develop these communities, paving the way for a decentralized future. Decommerce is a whitelabel community solution Decommerce enables brands to collaboratively create the future of commerce with their communities. The protocol allows brands to host, engage, and reward their communities within brand-immersive experiences on their brand's web shop. Co-founder of Decommerce, Allan Perrottet, argues that owned communities represent a paradigm shift in the relationship between brands and their customers. The days of brands thriving solely on transactions are gone. The future belongs to brands that empower and engage their audience in co-creation. These brands acknowledge and reward the value they create together. Traditional social media marketing is losing its effectiveness, as organic reach continues to decline. Brands investing significant amounts of money into social platforms often face disappointing engagement and retention. Moreover, data breaches and unethical practices have eroded trust, leaving brands searching for a more reliable alternative. Decommerce's whitelabel community software allows brands to connect with their audience on a genuine and mutual level at the same time. Decommerce addresses the issue of diminishing organic reach, which renders 98% of social media followers unreachable. They enable brands to reward their community through stablecoins and NFTs while co-creating digital and physical products with their members. Decommerce's success with renowned brands like TB demonstrates the power of decentralized communities in fostering authentic connections and driving meaningful engagement. Decommerce, along with brands like Nike, Starbucks, and Gucci, is redefining the concept of brand communities. Next-Gen communities are built on shared interests, values, and ownership, enabling individuals all over the globe to connect and collaborate. This newfound inclusivity and innovation foster a sense of belonging and engagement, allowing brands to co-create directly with their customer audience and build sustainable profits. As the social media landscape evolves, brands embracing the potential of owned communities will enjoy a bright future. Decommerce leads the way by providing brands with the tools to navigate this new digital age. Additionally, the company recently acquired UK investors, Farfetch and Outlier Ventures, as significant partners. About Decommerce: Decommerce is a whitelabel community solution that enables brands to collaboratively create the future of commerce with their communities. The protocol allows brands to host, engage, and reward their communities within brand-immersive experiences on their brand's webshop, campaign microsites, and apps. Co-founded by Roy Bernheim and Allan Perrottet, the venture is backed by Outlier Ventures, FARFETCH and renowned individual investors. Contact Information Roy Bernheim Co-founder [email protected] Hilary Sullivan Strategic Executive Support [email protected] Related Files 1.png 3.png SOURCE: Decommerce View source version on accesswire.com: LITTLE ROCK, AR / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Entergy Arkansas is launching "Kids to College," a my529 child savings account program to help families plan and save for their children's higher education, with a pledge to match up to $100,000 for qualified customers. Research shows that opening a college savings account statistically improves college-going rates for students, regardless of the contribution amount and the level of household income. Even with savings of less than $500, a child is 25% more likely to enroll in college and 64% more likely to graduate than a child with no savings, according to a study from the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL). "Kids to College is an investment in the future of our young people and the future of Arkansas," said Laura Landreaux, Entergy Arkansas president and CEO. "We've been a leader in helping advance education and workforce development in the state for decades and are excited to be extending that legacy by launching this program for all of Entergy here in Arkansas. It will help ensure our children have an equal chance at achieving their dreams." Powered by Entergy and in partnership with the Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association, the company will help up to 2,000 low- and moderate-income Arkansas families establish a child savings account and will provide $50 towards the account. "ACAAA has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Entergy Arkansas," said Tomekia Moore, interim executive director for the Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association. "We are thrilled to partner with them for the Kids to College Program. We look forward to promoting youth financial literacy and education as a result of this most recent endeavor." A college savings account is designed specifically for postsecondary education costs, including tuition but also for books, computer technology, room and board, and other related fees. These accounts allow families - parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and more - to put money away to start saving for their children to attend a two- or four-year college, trade school or technical school. Families can enroll each child under 16 in the household in a Kids to College my529 account. Kids to College match participants must meet the following eligibility criteria: Family is an Entergy customer. Family has an annual income at or below $60,000 for single-earner households and $80,000 for dual-earner households. Entergy is powering Kids to College by dedicating matching funds for 8,000 child savings accounts across their four-state service area. The program is made possible thanks to an endowment fund created in honor of Entergy's late Chairman and CEO J. Wayne Leonard. More information is available at www.entergy.com/csr/kids and at each of the community action agencies, which can be found online at www.ACAAA.org or by emailing [email protected]. Eligible individuals can also sign up for an account through the Kids to College portal here. About Entergy Arkansas Entergy Arkansas, LLC provides electricity to approximately 730,000 customers in 63 counties. Entergy Arkansas is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We're investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the Newsroom. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Entergy Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Entergy Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/entergy-corporation Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Entergy Corporation View source version on accesswire.com: Data from leading Certificate Authority shows more than 22 million documents have been digitally signed since January BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / In the first half of 2023, document signing technology is exhibiting strong signs of growth according to GMO GlobalSign Inc.,(https://www.globalsign.com/en), a global Certificate Authority (CA) and leading provider of identity security, digital signing and IoT solutions. Since January 1, customers worldwide have digitally signed more than 22 million documents on GMO GlobalSign's Digital Signing Service (DSS), which is available via the company's high-speed cloud certificate management engine, Atlas. In addition, more than 100 million timestamps have been applied via GMO GlobalSign's Time Stamp Authority since January, including close to 70 million Qualified timestamps. A breakdown of those figures shows that GlobalSign continues to grow its document signing activity on the Atlas platform [SH1] through to the end of June 2023. Digital Signing Services signatures - 22,822,948 Digital Signing Service timestamps - 21,811,697 Non-DSS timestamps - 101,847,309 These latest numbers are in contrast to figures from 2021, when GMO GlobalSign issued nearly 14 million certificates, 28 million digital signing service signatures and 117 million timestamps throughout the whole year. "The tremendous increase in GMO GlobalSign document signing and timestamping usage indicates there is continuous demand for trusted documents as people and organizations are increasingly transforming and adopting them all the time," said Mohit Kumar, Manager, Product Management, GMO GlobalSign. "Worldwide, people are realizing there is a more secure way to tie up their identities to ensure trust in a document. As a provider of trusted identity solutions, we are very pleased to be playing a crucial role as companies are increasingly looking for ways to guarantee security and identity." Document signing via electronic and digital signatures are increasingly relied upon as digital transformation continues to sweep businesses worldwide. Solutions such as digital signatures or seals are ideal for modern hybrid, mobile workforces to sign important documents such as contracts and invoices easily and securely. In addition, the cost and time savings can be significant. GMO GlobalSign's document solution users range from leading global enterprises to SME's in all major industry vertical marketplaces. In addition, there is growing interest in GMO GlobalSign's newest document signing solution for qualified signatures. The company recently launched a Qualified Signing Service (QSS) which enables both enterprises and service providers to deploy qualified electronic signatures and seals into their signing application with a simple REST API integration for internal employee signing. The GlobalSign QSS offering conforms to eIDAS, a critical regulation in the European Union. About GMO GlobalSign As one of the world's most deeply-rooted certificate authorities, GMO GlobalSign is the leading provider of trusted identity and security solutions enabling businesses, large enterprises, cloud-based service providers, and IoT innovators worldwide to conduct secure online communications, manage millions of verified digital identities and automate authentication and encryption. Its high-scale Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and identity solutions support the billions of services, devices, people, and things comprising the IoT. GMO GlobalSign is a subsidiary of GMO GlobalSign Holdings K.K., a member of the Japan-based GMO Internet Group, has offices in the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit https://www.globalsign.com. Media Relations Contact Amy Krigman Director of Public Relations - West Region Phone: 603-570-7060 Email: [email protected] SOURCE: GlobalSign View source version on accesswire.com: NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Synergies Work was started by Aarti Sahgal six years ago when she noticed no other incubators or accelerators were supporting entrepreneurs with disabilities. Since its launch, Synergies Work has supported more than 200 entrepreneurs with disabilities in launching more than 50 startups. To further propel our world to be a place where people living with disabilities can thrive, Synergies Work submitted its ideas to the Inspire Awards Challenge , sharing how its framework provides financial capital, social capital, education and mentorship to bridge the gaps between the business and disability communities. On this episode of Inspiring Conversations, Truist Foundation's audio series with nonprofit leaders doing the work, Truist Foundation President Lynette Bell and Aarti discuss the impact recent grant funding will have on the disability community. Today is National Disability Independence Day-a day commemorating the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. law prohibiting discrimination against those with disabilities-and the perfect time to listen to Lynette's conversation with Aarti. To learn more or apply to this year's Truist Foundation Inspire Awards Challenge, click here. About Truist Foundation Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation's (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. Established in 2020, Truist Foundation makes strategic investments in nonprofit organizations to help ensure the communities it serves have more opportunities for a better quality of life. Truist Foundation's grants and activities focus on building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses. Learn more at truist.com/foundation. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Truist on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Truist Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/truist Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Truist View source version on accesswire.com: Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / (TSX:NEXT) ("NextSource" or the "Company") announces that, in connection with its previously announced public offering of common shares of the Company (the "Offering") and the review by the Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC") of the amended and restated preliminary short form prospectus of the Company dated July 13, 2023, and including the documents incorporated by reference therein (collectively, the "Prospectus"), the Company is issuing this news release at the request of OSC Staff and in accordance with OSC Staff Notice 51-711 (Revised) Refilings and Corrections of Errors ("SN 51-711"), regarding retraction of certain technical disclosures from the Company's continuous disclosure record. Specifically, the technical report entitled "Molo Phase 2 Preliminary Economic Assessment, National Instrument 43- 101 Technical Report on the Molo Graphite Project located near the village of Fotadrevo, in the Province of Toliara, Madagascar" with an effective date of April 27, 2022 (the "PEA"), as incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, incorrectly included the previously delineated mineral reserve estimate for Phase 1 of the Molo Graphite Mine into the preliminary economic assessment for Phase 2 expansion of the Molo Graphite Mine, in contravention of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. To correct such error, the Company is hereby retracting the mineral reserve estimate from the PEA and from any other continuous disclosure documents filed by the Company and accordingly such mineral reserve statements will not form part of the final prospectus related to the previously announced Offering. Further, the Company advises that it will be refiling the annual management's discussion and analysis for the years ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 as well as the interim management's discussion and analysis for the period ended March 31, 2023, to remove the references to the mineral reserve statements noted above, and additionally to adjust certain disclosures and remove certain non-IFRS measures previously included relating to the Mauritius BAF. The Company does not consider the mineral reserve retraction to be material to the Company. The mineral resource estimate for the Molo Graphite Mine is not affected. The Company is in the process of preparing a feasibility study for a Phase 2 expansion of the Molo Graphite Mine, the results of which are anticipated to be disclosed within the next 6 to 8 weeks from the date hereof. As a result of the filing of this corrective disclosure, the Company will be placed on the public list of Refiling and Errors in accordance with SN 51-711. The Offering remains scheduled to close on or about August 1, 2023 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of all regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the applicable securities regulatory authorities. About NextSource Materials Inc. NextSource Materials Inc. is a battery materials development company based in Toronto, Canada that is intent on becoming a vertically integrated global supplier of battery materials through the mining and value-added processing of graphite and other minerals. The Molo Graphite Mine has begun production and is expected to ramp up to its Phase 1 nameplate capacity of 17,000 tpa of graphite concentrate over a period of up to three months. The Company has announced plans to build the first of several Battery Anode Facilities ("BAF") in Mauritius, which will be capable of producing coated, spheronized and purified graphite ("CSPG"). For further information about NextSource visit our website at www.nextsourcematerials.com or contact us at +1.416.364.4911 or email Brent Nykoliation, Executive Vice President at [email protected] or Craig Scherba, President & CEO at [email protected]. Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Forward looking statements and information are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will", "could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements include any statements regarding, among others, the closing of the Offering, the construction and potential expansion of the BAFs, expansion plans, as well as the Company's intent on becoming a fully integrated global supplier of critical battery and technology materials. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks, which could cause actual results to vary and, in some instances, to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur or, if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive there from. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with them. SOURCE: NextSource Materials Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 26. A meeting was held between Energy Minister of Azerbaijan Parviz Shahbazov and Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja within the framework of the Azerbaijani ministers visit to Bucharest, the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan told Trend. The importance of the mutual visits of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Romania for cooperation between the two countries and the multifaceted and intensive development of ties in the energy sector were emphasized at the meeting. The strategic value of the plans for the development of the Caspian Sea-European Union Green Energy Corridor for the Azerbaijani-Romanian energy partnership was also noted. Discussions were held on contracts related to natural gas. The regular contacts between Romgaz and SOCAR state-owned companies are of great importance for the two countries. Burduja expressed a high assessment of SOCAR's activities in Romania and pointed out the importance of this activitys development from the point of view of market competitiveness and energy security. A number of other issues arising from bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the energy sector were also discussed at the meeting. The Strategic Partnership Agreement, which provides for the construction of an energy bridge from the Caucasus region to Europe, was signed by Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary on December 17, 2022. It is expected to build a Black Sea Energy underwater electric cable with a capacity of 1000 MW and a length of 1,195 kilometers. The cable will be intended for the supply of green electricity produced in Azerbaijan through Georgia and the Black Sea to Romania for subsequent transportation to Hungary and the rest of Europe. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSX:NDM)(NYSE American:NAK) ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company" or "NDM") announces that the State of Alaska filed today a motion in the United States Supreme Court. The Motion for Leave to File a Bill of Complaint forcefully argues that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") veto of the Pebble Project breaches a contract (the Cook Inlet Land Exchange) involving Alaska and the United States and violates the federal statutory recognition and implementation of that land exchange. It also argues that the veto violates the Administrative Procedure Act because the veto is arbitrary and capricious. Finally, it argues that the veto-which withdraws 309 square miles in the Bristol Bay region from use for mining purposes-is an unconstitutional taking without just compensation. The Bill of Complaint seeks injunctive relief requiring EPA to withdraw its veto and seeks monetary damages for breach of contract and the unconstitutional taking without just compensation. "The Bill of Complaint filed by Alaska is a welcome development in the long Pebble saga," said Ron Thiessen, President and CEO of Northern Dynasty. "Northern Dynasty strongly, and I mean very strongly, supports all of the arguments set forth by the State and we congratulate the State for bringing these claims directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. Northern Dynasty intends to prepare and file with the Supreme Court appropriate briefs to support the State's case." Mr. Thiessen continued, "In the mid 1970's, a three-way land exchange was negotiated between the U.S. Government, the CIRI Native Alaskan Corporation ("CIRI") and the State of Alaska. The U.S. Government received land to create Lake Clark National Park. CIRI received land with valuable natural resources allowing it to become a profitable entity for its Alaska Native shareholders. The State of Alaska received land in the Bristol Bay region-where the Pebble Project is located-for the specific purpose of developing the mineral potential of that land. The EPA veto is the U.S. Government reneging on that deal. Both the U.S. Government and CIRI got the value they bargained for; if the EPA veto is not withdrawn, the U.S. Government has taken back the value the State of Alaska bargained for." The U.S. Constitution gives states the right to seek direct jurisdiction in the U.S. Supreme Court for complaints against the federal government. The Court has interpreted this clause in the Constitution as giving it discretionary jurisdiction and set out several tests that must be met before the Court will accept such a case. The papers filed by the State of Alaska clearly show that those tests are met and that the Court should grant jurisdiction to hear the case. The State of Alaska also contends that such jurisdiction is not discretionary and the Court must accept jurisdiction of this case. It is anticipated that the Court could decide as early as October whether to hear this case. "The litigation filed by Pebble in 2014 made many of the arguments the State makes in this Supreme Court filing," added Mr. Thiessen. "Unfortunately, the court never reached a ruling on the merits of that case; it was dismissed because the proposed EPA veto was not yet deemed final. We believed then, as we do now, that the facts and law relied upon by the State of Alaska make a powerfully persuasive case for forcing EPA to withdraw the Pebble veto now that it is deemed final. It is Northern Dynasty's intention to support the State in its claims before the Supreme Court and, if necessary, to file actions in the lower courts to raise these and other reasons why the EPA veto must be withdrawn." About Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Northern Dynasty is a mineral exploration and development company based in Vancouver, Canada. Northern Dynasty's principal asset, owned through its wholly owned Alaska-based U.S. subsidiary, Pebble Limited Partnership, is a 100% interest in a contiguous block of 1,840 mineral claims in Southwest Alaska, including the Pebble deposit, located 200 miles from Anchorage and 125 miles from Bristol Bay. The Pebble Partnership is the proponent of the Pebble Project, an initiative to develop one of the world's most important mineral resources. For further details on Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Project, please visit the Company's website at www.northerndynastyminerals.com or contact Investor services at (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114. Review Canadian public filings at www.sedar.com and U.S. public filings at www.sec.gov. Ronald W. Thiessen President & CEO U.S. Media Contact: Dan Gagnier, Gagnier Communications (646) 569-5897 Forward-Looking Information and Other Cautionary Factors This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under applicable provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. All statements in this presentation, other than statements of historical facts, which address permitting, development and production for the Pebble Project are forward-looking statements. These include statements regarding (i) the mine plan for the Pebble Project, (ii) the political and public support for the permitting process, (iii) the ability to successfully appeal the negative Record of Decision and secure the issuance of a positive Record of Decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the ability of the Pebble Project to secure all required federal and state permits, (iv) the status/merit of the EPA Final Determination and the actions of the EPA with respect to its Final Determination with respect to the Pebble Project; (v) exploration potential of the Pebble Project, (vi) future demand for copper, gold and other metals, and (vii) the potential addition of partners in the Pebble Project. Although NDM believes the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way be construed as guarantees that the Pebble Project will secure all required government permits, establish the commercial feasibility of the Pebble Project, achieve the required financing or develop the Pebble Project. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by NDM as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Assumptions used by NDM to develop forward-looking statements include the assumptions that (i) the Pebble Project will obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use and other licenses without undue delay, (ii) any feasibility studies prepared for the development of the Pebble Project will be positive, (iii) NDM's estimates of mineral resources will not change, and NDM will be successful in converting mineral resources to mineral reserves, (iv) NDM will be able to establish the commercial feasibility of the Pebble Project, (v) NDM will be able to secure the financing required to develop the Pebble Project, and (vi) the EPA's Final Determination will ultimately not be successful in restricting or prohibiting development of the Pebble Project. The likelihood of future mining at the Pebble Project is subject to a large number of risks and will require achievement of a number of technical, economic and legal objectives, including (i) obtaining necessary mining and construction permits, licenses and approvals without undue delay, including without delay due to third party opposition or changes in government policies, (ii) finalization of the mine plan for the Pebble Project, (iii) the completion of feasibility studies demonstrating that any Pebble Project mineral resources that can be economically mined, (iv) completion of all necessary engineering for mining and processing facilities, (v) the ability of NDM to secure a partner for the development of the Pebble Project, and (vi) receipt by NDM of significant additional financing, to fund these objectives as well as funding mine construction. NDM is also subject to the specific risks inherent in the mining business as well as general economic and business conditions. Investors should also consider the risk factors identified in its Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and included in the Company's annual report on Form 40-F filed by the Company with the SEC on EDGAR (www.sec.gov), as well as the risk factors set out in the Company's subsequent public continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR and EDGAR. The National Environment Policy Act Environmental Impact Statement process requires a comprehensive "alternatives assessment" be undertaken to consider a broad range of development alternatives, the final project design and operating parameters for the Pebble Project and associated infrastructure may vary significantly from that currently contemplated. As a result, the Company will continue to consider various development options and no final project design has been selected at this time. For more information on the Company, Investors should review the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and its home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com. SOURCE: Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com: NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Arrow Electronics A New Arm for Sasha When 9-year old Sasha awoke in the hospital, she asked the surgical nurse, "'Please be honest: Do I have a left hand or not?" Sasha's family was escaping Ukraine when Russian forces attacked their refugee convoy. Her stepfather was killed and she was severely wounded. Doctors on the front lines amputated Sasha's left arm. Nearly 5,000 miles away in upstate New York, Easton LaChappelle and his medical device startup Unlimited Tomorrow (UT) learned of Sasha's ordeal and went to work on a smart prosthetic arm to give her a more normal life with the help of technology. UT is a customer of Arrow Digital, North American Components and Design Engineering. UT's product, called TrueLimb costs less than $10,000. Fitted on the patient's residual arm, it works by reading muscle data through dozens of sensors embedded within the socket. This data then controls several different grips and movements. TrueLimb helps patients lift as much as 15 pounds while and perform fine motor skills like holding a bottle or a mobile phone. It also provides some touch sensations. The bionic limbs are custom crafted for the patient using 3D scanning, 3D modeling, 3D printing and smart algorithms. This process shortens the time it takes to deliver prosthetic arms, solves accessibility issues, and reduces the price of a high functioning prosthetic arm significantly. An Ambitious Technology Solution that Makes Life Better Due to her injuries and age, Sasha's prosthetic is the most ambitious device UT has developed and its first above-elbow solution. The entire prosthesis weighs under three pounds - a record for a pediatric device of its kind, but necessary for a child Sasha's age and size. Once fitted, Sasha immediately had control of the device through nerve signals in her residual arm. She was able to interact with her mother and pick up objects in her first training session. A year after her ordeal, Sasha lives in Canada with her mother and sister. She is attending school. About Arrow Electronics: Arrow Electronics guides innovation forward for over 220,000 leading technology manufacturers and service providers. With 2022 sales of $37.1 billion, Arrow develops technology solutions that improve business and daily life. Learn more at fiveyearsout.com. Sasha Filipchuk and Unlimited Tomorrow Founder, Easton LaChapelle View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Arrow Electronics on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Arrow Electronics Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/arrow-electronics Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Arrow Electronics View source version on accesswire.com: VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Silver X Mining Corp. (TSX-V:AGX)(OTCQB: AGXPF)(F:AGX) ("Silver X" or the "Company") reports production results for the three months ended June 30, 2023, for the Company's wholly-owned Nueva Recuperada project (the "Project") in central Peru, announces the implementation of an operational performance enhancing plan at the Project and provides an update on the negotiations of the community agreement. Second Quarter 2023 Production Highlights Steady production continued during the quarter with total throughput of 35,392 tonnes (20,877 in the second quarter ("Q2") of 2022). Total processed 296,493 silver equivalent ("AgEq") (2) ounces in Q2 2023, 35% more than 219,488 AgEq ounces in Q2 2022. ounces in Q2 2023, 35% more than 219,488 AgEq ounces in Q2 2022. Metal production of 248,42 AgEqounces with an average head grade of 269 g/t AgEq (156,501 AgEq ounces with an average head grade of 310 g/t AgEq in Q2 2022). "Silver X keeps on making progress with our Nueva Recuperada Project. We experienced unexpected drop in grades in some mineralized areas, which drove the metal production down, staying at the previous quarter's level (see Silver X's press release dated May 11, 2023). At the same time, project development remained on track with 2,133 meters of underground development during the quarter", stated Jose M. Garcia, CEO of Silver X. Second Quarter 2023 Production Results Unit Q2 2023 Q2 2022 Change YTD 2023 YTD 2022 Change Ore processed tonnes 35,392 20,877 70% 75,663 32,280 134.4% Average head grades Silver g/t 63.1 77.0 -18% 58.0 75.5 -23.2% Gold g/t 1.11 1.28 -13% 1.05 1.04 0.6% Zinc % 1.61 1.38 17% 1.70 1.41 20.4% Lead % 1.64 1.60 3% 1.58 1.52 4.0% AgEq(2) g/t 269 310 -13% 273 283 -3.6% AgEq(2) oz/t 8.64 9.95 -13% 8.78 9.11 -3.7% Average recoveries Silver % 88.5% 86.7% 2% 88% 87% 1.6% Gold % 70.5% 67.0% 5% 67% 63% 6.6% Zinc % 81.7% 75.2% 9% 82% 78% 4.9% Lead % 88.3% 87.2% 1% 88% 88% -0.2% Metal processed Silver oz 69,937 53,003 32% 139,156 83,413 66.8% Gold oz 1,247 861 45% 2,533 1,099 130.5% Zinc lbs 1,184,379 636,050 86% 2,762,353 1,015,537 172.0% Lead lbs 1,222,422 737,491 66% 2,573,982 1,088,862 136.4% AgEq(2) processed oz 296,493 219,488 35% 655,220 317,816 106.2% AgEq(2) produced oz 248,412 156,501 59% 531,099 220,000 141.4% Notes: (1) In December 20222 Nueva Recuperada Project completed the ramp up period of its operations and declared the start of the Commercial production in January 2023. (2) AgEq ounces produced were calculated based on all metals produced using the average sales prices of each metal for each month during the period. Revenues from concentrate sales does not consider metallurgical recoveries in the calculations as the metal recoveries are built into the sales amounts. In Q2 2023, AgEq was calculated using metal prices of US$24.09 per oz Ag, U$1,977 per oz Au, US$0.96 per lb of Pb and US$1.14 per lb of Zn. In Q2 2022, AgEq was calculated using metal prices of US$20.70 per oz Ag, U$1,803 per oz Au, US$0.93 per lb of Pb and US$1.57 per lb of Zn. For the YTD 2023, AgEq was calculated using metal prices of US$23.40 per oz Ag, U$1,934 per oz Au, US$0.96 per lb of Pb and US$1.28 per lb of Zn. For the YTD 2022, AgEq was calculated using metal prices of US$21.87 per oz Ag, U$1,823 per oz Au, US$0.98 per lb of Pb and US$1.68 per lb of Zn. Operational Performance enhancing plan and update on negotiations of the community agreement. "We have been working with our technical team, consultants, and contractors on several alternatives to enhance metal throughput at the Project while reducing operating costs. Within this context, the Company has decided to place the operations on hold for an estimated period between 30 and 45 days to implement a strategic operational reset ("Operational Reset"). Additionally, we have commenced an accelerated in-fill drilling program the goal of which is to increase the category of our resource and to provide a more solid mine schedule for the next few years" stated Jose M. Garcia, CEO of Silver X. Jose M. Garcia continued: "In recent weeks, our operations have been disrupted by certain local suppliers pursuing individual benefits. These disruptions have included road blockades and other unlawful actions, causing distress for our workforce and key partners. We are currently in negotiations to extend our social agreement for a minimum of ten years, which would represent a significant endorsement to the project. In the meantime, we are safely slowing down our operations to ensure the safety of all involved. Silver X remains fully committed to the Huachocolpa community and our vision of making a positive impact in its history. This pause in operations presents an opportunity for us to finalize a mutually beneficial agreement in a spirit of collaboration and harmony." As part of the Operational Reset the Company aims to reduce operational costs by 20% and bring production back to the 165koz AgEq per month (50% throughput increase). The Company has been working to define a more solid mine plan, including a detailed mine development schedule and improvements in the mining method. As a result of this Operational Reset, the Company expect to accelerate underground development ahead of production, allow the preparation of multiple headings and the leveling of production tonnage and grades. Furthermore, the Company will reduce its headcount, will rationalize operations in close collaboration with its main mine contractor, and will implement a specific mill maintenance program. A summary of the Operational Reset's objectives is: 50% metal throughput increase, 20% cost reduction. Accelerated in-fill drilling program. Reduction of headcount, rationalization of mine operations, reinforcing its strategic alliance with the main mine contractor Wide implementation of sublevel stoping mining method and mill maintenance program Negotiation with local communities for the extension of social agreement for a minimum of 10 additional years Corporate Update Silver X also announces the resignation of Fiona Grant Leydier as Vice President, Investor Relations, and Corporate Marketing effective immediately. Ms. Grant Leydier is leaving the Company to pursue other opportunities. The Company wishes Ms. Grant Leydier every success in her future endeavors. Qualified Person Mr. A. David Heyl, B.Sc., C.P.G who is a qualified person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release for Silver X. Mr. A. David Heyl is a consultant for Silver X. Cautionary Note regarding Production without Mineral Reserves The decision to commence production at the Nueva Recuperada Project and the Company's ongoing mining operations as referenced herein (the "Production Decision and Operations") are based on economic models prepared by the Company in conjunction with management's knowledge of the property and the existing estimate of inferred mineral resources on the property. The Production Decision and Operations are not based on a preliminary economic assessment, a pre-feasibility study or a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. Accordingly, there is increased uncertainty and economic and technical risks of failure associated with the Production Decision and Operations, in particular: the risk that mineral grades will be lower than expected; the risk that additional construction or ongoing mining operations are more difficult or more expensive than expected; and production and economic variables may vary considerably, due to the absence of a detailed economic and technical analysis in accordance with NI 43-101. About Silver X Mining Corp. Silver X is a rapidly expanding silver developer and producer. The Company owns the +20,000-hectare Nueva Recuperada Silver District in Central Peru and produces silver, gold, lead, and zinc from the district's Tangana Mining Unit. Our mission is to be a premier silver company delivering outstanding value to all stakeholders and we aim to achieve this by consolidating and developing undervalued assets, creating value by adding resources and increasing production while aspiring to social and environmental excellence. For more information visit our website at www.silverxmining.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Jos M. Garcia President, CEO and Director For further information, please contact: Sebastian Wahl Vice President, Corporate Development T: +1 647 259 6901 x 101 E: [email protected] Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation ("forward-looking information"). Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain acts, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". All information contained in this press release, other than statements of current and historical fact, is forward looking information. Forward-looking information contained in this press release may include, without limitation, exploration plans, results of operations, expected performance at the Nueva Recuperada Project, the ability of the new zones at the Nueva Recuperada Project to feed production at the Company's Nueva Recuperada Plant in the near term, positive results of continued drilling in Tangana; the expected improvement in the head grades in the next quarters; the Company's belief that the Tangana system will provide considerable resource expansion potential, that the Company will be able to mine the Tangana Mining Unit in an economic manner, and the expected financial performance of the Company. The following are some of the assumptions upon which forward-looking information is based: that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; demand for, and stable or improving price for the commodities we produce; receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals, permits and renewals in a timely manner; that the Company will not experience any material accident, labor dispute or failure of plant or equipment or other material disruption in the Company's operations at the Nueva Recuperada Project and Nueva Recuperada Plant; the availability of financing for operations and development; the Company's ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; that the estimates of the resources at the Nueva Recuperada Project and the geological, operational and price assumptions on which these and the Company's operations are based are within reasonable bounds of accuracy (including with respect to size, grade and recovery); the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled personnel and directors; and the ability of management to execute strategic goals. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to those risks described in the Company's annual and interim MD&As and in its public documents filed on www.sedarplus.ca from time to time. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SOURCE: Silver X Mining Corp. View source version on accesswire.com: VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / Ximen Mining Corp. (TSX.v:XIM)(FRA:1XMA)(OTCQB: XXMMF) (the "Company" or "Ximen") announces that it is initiated a drill program at its Wild Horse Gold project near Cranbrook in southeastern BC. The Wild Horse project covers source areas for the famous historic Wild Horse River placer gold deposit near Fort Steele and Cranbrook, in southeastern B.C. Bedrock gold was first discovered in this area as early as 1895 but an economic deposit has yet to be defined. Gold-bearing quartz veins and breccias were drilled in 2016 and 2021, on Ximen's Lone 4 claim, where there is potential for a bulk-minable gold deposit. Gold (ppb) in soil samples from 2009 Boulder Grid (Report 30952) This year, Ximen will drill test an area to the northeast on its Boulder Claim, where a 700 x 300 meter gold in soil anomaly was previously identified (BC Assessment report 30952). The drill will also test beneath an area of abundant boulders of syenite observed on the soil grid. In 2009 it was reported that four boulders of this syenite float were sampled, of which "three were anomalous in gold and one ran 4.1 grams of gold per ton" (Assessment report 34920). The syenite is believed to be part of the mid-Cretaceous felsic intrusive Bayonne plutonic suite that is spatially and possibly genetically related to gold mineralization in the Kimberley Gold Trend. Cross section of 3D model of Boulder Creek drill target (azimuth 056 degrees). The area is transected by the Boulder Creek fault, a regional high-angle reverse fault that dips 60 to 65 to the northwest and is interpreted as an eastward continuation of the St. Mary fault (BC Geology Survey Bulletin 84). These faults are dominant structures associated with gold deposits in the Kimberley Gold Trend (Geoscience BC Map: 2015-13-01). The St. Mary-Boulder Creek structure is a major transverse fault system that is interpreted as a surface expression the Vulcan Low, a fundamental Precambrian basement transverse structure (McMechan, 2012; Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 2012 Vol. 49, p693). This provides a most favourable lithospheric architecture for controlling the location of gold deposits in terms of mineral systems modeling. Readers are cautioned that historical records referred to in this News Release have been examined but not verified by a Qualified Person. Further work is required to verify that historical records referred to in this News Release are accurate. Dr. Mathew Ball, P.Geo., VP Exploration for Ximen Mining Corp. and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, approved the technical information contained in this News Release. On behalf of the Board of Directors, "Christopher R. Anderson" Christopher R. Anderson, President, CEO and Director 604 488-3900 Investor Relations: 604-488-3900, [email protected] About Ximen Mining Corp. Ximen Mining Corp. owns 100% interest in three of its precious metal projects located in southern BC. Ximen`s two Gold projects, The Amelia Gold Mine and The Brett Epithermal Gold Project. Ximen also owns the Treasure Mountain Silver Project adjacent to the past producing Huldra Silver Mine. Currently, the Treasure Mountain Silver Project is under an option agreement. The option partner is making annual staged cash and stocks payments as well as funding the development of the project. The company has also acquired control of the Kenville Gold mine near Nelson British Columbia which comes with surface and underground rights, buildings and equipment and is now permitted for development. Ximen is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XIM, in the USA under the symbol XXMMF, and in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin Stock Exchanges in Germany under the symbol 1XMA and WKN with the number as A2JBKL. This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval and the exercise of the Option by Ximen. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the possibility that the TSX Venture Exchange may not accept the proposed transaction in a timely manner, if at all. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. 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. Ximen Mining Corp 888 Dunsmuir Street - Suite 888, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3K4 Tel: 604-488-3900 SOURCE: Ximen Mining Corp View source version on accesswire.com: After the close of trading Tuesday, activist hedge fund Elliott Investment Management announced a cooperation agreement with target company The ... I'm a New Customer I'm a Returning Customer E-mail Address (or username, if registered via mobile device) Password Quaker Houghton (NYSE: KWR) today announced the appointment of Russell R. Shaller to Quaker Houghton's Board of Directors, effective immediately. Michael F. Barry , Chairman of the Board of Directors of Quaker Houghton, stated: "We are extremely pleased to welcome Russell to our Board. Russell is a proven leader with extensive experience across several industries which will be a valuable asset to our Board and our Company." Mr. Shaller has served as President and Chief Executive Officer and director of Brady Corporation (NYSE: BRC) since April 2022 . Prior to being appointed to his current role, Mr. Shaller served as President of the Identification Solutions business at Brady Corporation from 2015 to 2022. Prior to joining Brady Corporation, Mr. Shaller served as President of Microwave Solutions for Teledyne Technologies Inc. (NYSE: TDY) from 2008 to 2015. Previously, Mr. Shaller served in several positions of increasing responsibility at W.L. Gore & Associates, including as Division Leader, Electronic Products Division from 2003 to 2008 and General Manager of Gore Photonics from 2001 to 2003. Prior to joining W.L. Gore in 1993, Mr. Shaller worked in engineering and program management positions at Westinghouse Corporation. Mr. Shaller holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan, a master's degree in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and an MBA from the University of Delaware. Andy Tometich , Chief Executive Officer and President, stated: "Russell's industry knowledge and focus on driving growth through innovation will support the execution of our profitable growth strategy, better positioning our Company to deliver long-term value for all stakeholders." About Quaker Houghton: Quaker Houghton is the global leader in industrial process fluids. With a presence around the world, including operations in over 25 countries, our customers include thousands of the world's most advanced and specialized steel, aluminum, automotive, aerospace, offshore, container, mining, and metalworking companies. Our high-performing, innovative and sustainable solutions are backed by best-in-class technology, deep process knowledge and customized services. With approximately 4,600 employees, including chemists, engineers and industry experts, we partner with our customers to improve their operations so they can run even more efficiently, even more effectively, whatever comes next. Quaker Houghton is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania , located near Philadelphia in the United States . Visit quakerhoughton.com to learn more. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quaker-houghton-appoints-russell-r-shaller-to-its-board-of-directors-301886523.html SOURCE Quaker Houghton Demonstrated success for the industrial biomanufacturing of CER-001, one of the most advanced biomedicines Confirmation of improved yield and simplification of the biomanufacturing process Positioning on the biomanufacturing trajectory requiring 3 consecutive batches for Marketing Authorization TOULOUSE, France & LAKELAND, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: ABIONYX Pharma, (FR0012616852 - ABNX - PEA PME eligible), a new generation biotech company dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative therapies based on the world's only natural recombinant ApoA-I, announces the successful completion of a second batch for the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) industrial biomanufacturing of CER-001 using an innovative and robust method. Demonstrated success for the industrial biomanufacturing of CER-001, one of the most advanced biomedicines ABIONYX has successfully manufactured a second batch of CER-001 under GMP conditions, using a novel and robust industrial process. This confirms that ABIONYX's new production line, based on an innovative and efficient approach, is ready to enter the Apotherapy market, based on the only natural recombinant ApoA-I protein. All stages of the biomanufacturing process are designed to increase production yields, enabling ABIONYX Pharma to serve its target markets in kidney disease, sepsis and ophthalmology. Confirmation of improved yield and simplification of the biomanufacturing process This second batch confirms the improved yield and simplification of the biomanufacturing process defined and followed for industrialization. This batch confirms that all industrial barriers have been crossed to ensure the generation of production volumes consistent with future needs. Positioning on the biomanufacturing trajectory requiring 3 consecutive batches for marketing approval Before applying for marketing approval, based on the success of clinical trials conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of the biomedicine, at least 3 consecutive batches using the intended commercial process must be manufactured in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in order to obtain regulatory approval. Biomedicines manufactured in compliance with GMP guarantee the quality, safety and reliability of the bioproduct in order to meet regulatory requirements. Finally, to obtain regulatory approval, the biotech must also provide data on the long-term stability of the biomedicine. This involves carrying out stability tests on 3 consecutive batches to determine the product's shelf life. In fact, thanks to the successful production of this second batch, the new manufacturing process has been reconfirmed, positioning us on a biomanufacturing trajectory that will require the completion of 3 consecutive GMP pilot batches at the yield level of CER-001's future commercial operation. Next press release: Cash and business update, Q2 2022, 17 August 2023 About ABIONYX Pharma ABIONYX Pharma is a new generation biotech company that aims to contribute to health through innovative therapies in indications where there is no effective or existing treatment, even the rarest ones. Thanks to its partners in research, medicine, biopharmaceuticals and shareholding, the company innovates on a daily basis to propose drugs for the treatment of renal and ophthalmological diseases, or new HDL vectors used for targeted drug delivery. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726121045/en/ NewCap Investor relations Louis-Victor Delouvrier Nicolas Fossiez [email protected] +33 (0)1 44 71 98 53 NewCap Media relations Arthur Rouille [email protected] +33 (0)1 44 71 94 98 Source: ABIONYX Pharma Application submitted in coordination with Migros to commercialize Aleph Cuts in Switzerland REHOVOT, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Aleph Farms, a cellular agriculture company that enhances sustainability, food security and animal welfare in our food systems, today announced that it has submitted an application for regulatory approval to the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) with the goal of selling the worlds first cultivated beef steaks under the Aleph Cuts brand in Switzerland. The submission is part of Alephs collaboration with Migros, Switzerlands largest food enterprise, which has been instrumental in assessing the countrys specific regulatory approval process. Aleph Farms is leveraging the expertise and infrastructure of leaders in food production, including Migros, which first invested in the company in 2019, to help accelerate scale-up, go-to-market activities and commercialization of Aleph Cuts worldwide. Together, Aleph and Migros have since conducted extensive consumer research in Switzerland and navigated the intricacies of the countrys regulatory landscape for novel foods. As part of their agreement, the two companies will continue to develop a go-to-market strategy that involves distribution and commercialization of Aleph Cuts through fine dining food service channels in Switzerland. Food systems affect everyone, and it will take a coordinated effort between regulators, innovators and incumbents to ensure food security in a way that helps humanity live within its planetary boundaries, said Didier Toubia, Co-Founder and CEO of Aleph Farms. At Aleph Farms, we carefully consider partnerships that reflect our core values and sustainability commitments. Together with Migros, we are establishing the cow cell as the third category of food products from cattle, alongside beef and milk. We look forward to working closely with Switzerland's Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office to enable access to both high-quality nutrition and world-changing innovation. Switzerland is a country with a high affinity for innovation. According to research conducted jointly by Aleph Farms and Migros, 74% of Swiss consumers are open to trying cultivated meat and are motivated to try it chiefly by curiosity and a desire to align with principles like sustainability and animal welfare. Alongside sustainable animal agriculture, cellular agriculture can help increase resilience and stability in the supply of animal proteins and fats to diners in Switzerland. In addition, acceptance by Swiss consumers known for a quality-conscious attitude towards food can contribute further to cultivated meats growing momentum worldwide. Later this year, Aleph Farms plans to launch Aleph Cuts in Singapore and Israel in limited quantities and offer exclusive tasting experiences curated with select partners, pending regulatory approvals. Alephs regulatory team is working in similar fashion with regulatory authorities in numerous markets around the world, including Switzerland, in order to ensure compliance with respective safety requirements. About Aleph Farms Aleph Farms, an Israel-based cellular agriculture company, enhances sustainability, food security and animal welfare in our food systems by diversifying the supply and decentralizing the production of quality animal proteins and fats as a complement to sustainable animal agriculture. Founded in 2017, the company unveiled the worlds first cultivated thin-cut beef steak in 2018, the worlds first cultivated ribeye steak in 2021, and cultivated collagen in 2022. Under its product brand, Aleph Cuts, the company is launching its first product, the cultivated Petit Steak, grown from non-modified cells of a premium Black Angus cow. For its contributions to climate leadership including a net zero commitment made in 2020, the company has received top accolades from the World Economic Forum and the United Nations. For more information, follow Aleph Cuts on Instagram and Facebook, Aleph Farms on Twitter and Linkedin, or visit www.aleph-farms.com. Access our press kit here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726122722/en/ Natalee Gibson [email protected] Source: Aleph Farms OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of aa- (Superior) of WestGUARD Insurance Company, AmGUARD Insurance Company, EastGUARD Insurance Company, NorGUARD Insurance Company and AZGUARD Insurance Company (Omaha, NE), which operate under an intercompany pooling agreement. These companies are members of Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies (GUARD) and are domiciled in Wilkes-Barre, PA, unless otherwise specified. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect GUARDs balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management, with lift from parental support. GUARD continued to benefit from rate increases in most of its lines of business, while moderating gross and net premium growth and reducing loss ratios in most of its key lines. During this period, GUARD has consistently maintained a solid risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by the Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), at the 99.6% VaR. While GUARDs operating earnings had declined in the past few years, the company has intensified its efforts to map losses and improve profitability, showing positive results through improved underwriting in the past year. On the investment side, GUARD recorded significant unrealized capital losses as the stock market performance was negative last year, which impacted the companys common stock portfolio. These losses were recovered partially in the first quarter of 2023. AM Best continues to see GUARDs operating performance as well-placed in the adequate assessment on an absolute basis and relative to the commercial casualty segment. Additionally, the ratings further recognize the implicit and explicit financial support provided by GUARDs immediate parent, National Indemnity Company (NICO), including significant capital support via reinsurance transactions. NICO is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Berkshire) [NYSE: BRK A and BRK B]. While GUARDs workers compensation business continues to produce long-term favorable return ratios, the groups fast-growing business lines have shown less favorable performance. However, GUARD has been deliberate and measured in its approach to the market, as the company continues to improve its exposure-mapping processes and controls to prevent losses. Despite these concerns, the stable outlooks reflect GUARDs enhanced financial flexibility provided by Berkshire, solid balance sheet and long-term underwriting profitability. GUARDs investment portfolio, which is managed by Berkshire, has contributed significantly to surplus growth through unrealized capital gains and accounted for more than half of surplus growth in the past five years. The ratings could come under pressure if underwriting results and overall operating performance decreases to a level incompatible with an adequate assessment. The ratings also could experience negative pressure should Berkshire cease to provide sufficient financial and operational support. In addition, a significant reduction in surplus resulting from losses in GUARDs investment portfolio, which has a significant allocation to equity holdings, or from a material prior year unfavorable reserve development, which also could lead to negative rating pressure. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726682803/en/ Guilherme Monteiro Simoes, CFA Senior Financial Analyst +1 908 882 2317 [email protected] Christopher Sharkey Associate Director, Public Relations +1 908 882 2310 [email protected] Gregory Dickerson Director +1 908 882 1737 [email protected] Al Slavin Senior Public Relations Specialist +1 908 882 2318 [email protected] Source: AM Best SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ant Group and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have begun a research collaboration to explore privacy-preserving computing technology innovations. The one-year-long collaboration will focus on Private Set Intersection (PSI), a cryptographic protocol that allows parties to compute the intersection of their private datasets without revealing anything beyond the intersection, to ensure the privacy of all parties. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230725059163/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) The collaboration aims to increase the practical capability and security of PSI, optimize its efficiency, and develop applications for real-world use cases. NTU Singapore's Strategic Centre for Research in Privacy-Preserving Technologies & Systems (SCRIPTS) and its world-leading expertise in privacy-preserving computing, combined with Ant Group's research and development capabilities, and deep industry insights, are expected to push the frontiers of this emerging field. "We are excited to join hands with NTU Singapore to promote research into privacy-preserving computing technologies, including PSI, and support technical innovations in Singapore," said Jerry Yin, Chief Technology Officer of International Business at Ant Group. "We believe that this university-industry collaborated research will accelerate the development of privacy-preserving computing, and pave the way for new applications to unlock greater value in the digitalization of industry collaboration. Ant Group has been active in exploring technological innovation in privacy-preserving computing in recent years. According to IPR Daily and incoPat, Ant Group topped the list of patent applications for privacy-preserving computing technologies in 2022, with 1,152 filed patent applications. In July 2022, Ant Group announced the open source of its privacy-preserving computation framework, aiming to make the technologies more accessible to global developers and accelerate its application in various scenarios. Since its launch in 2016, the framework has integrated comprehensive privacy-preserving technologies such as multi-party secure computation, federated learning, homomorphic encryption, differential privacy, zero-knowledge proof, and trusted execution environment, and has been implemented in multiple use cases including healthcare, insurance, and risk management. About Ant Group Ant Group aims to build the infrastructure and platforms to support the digital transformation of the service industry. Through continuous innovation, we strive to provide all consumers and small and micro businesses equal access to digital financial and other daily life services that are convenient, sustainable and inclusive. For more information, please visit our website at www.antgroup.com or follow us on Twitter @AntGroup. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230725059163/en/ Media Inquiries Ant Group Vick Li Wei [email protected] Source: Ant Group First-half revenue growth up 11.0% organically and 6.6% overall Q2 revenue up 11.7% organically and 5.9% overall Annual Recurrent Revenue (ARR) of 203.1m, up 11.2% organically on end-June 2022 First-half profit on operating activities of 12.2% on track for full-year targets Improved free cash flow totaling 16.5m compared to 8.2m in H1 2022 PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: Axway Software's Board of Directors, chaired by Pierre Pasquier, today approved the financial statements for the first half of 2023, which were subject to a limited review by the statutory auditors1. As a consequence, Axways management announces: Axway Software: 2023 Half-year results Key income statement items* Half-year 2023 Half-year 2022 (m) (% Rev) (m) (% Rev) Revenue 145.5 136.4 Organic growth + 11.0% Growth at constant exchange rates + 6.3% Total growth + 6.6% Profit on Operating Activities 17.8 12.2% 6.7 4.9% Profit from Recurring Operations 14.7 10.1% 2.5 1.8% Operating Profit 11.2 7.7% 1.1 0.8% Net Profit attributable to the Group 3.7 2.5% 2.4 1.8% Basic earnings per share (in ) 0.17 0.11 * Alternative performance measures are defined in the glossary at the end of this document Patrick Donovan, Chief Executive Officer, declared: "Im delighted that Axway has maintained strong organic growth over the last 3 quarters. Our activities, particularly in Europe, are benefiting from the solid, long-term relationships we have built up with our customers, as well as from the relevance of our core offerings, which have met with considerable commercial success over the semester. As I mentioned in Q1, Axway's teams continue to exceed expectations, not only in terms of bookings and sales, but also in a number of key initiatives . Our efforts to adopt a completely customer-centric model, including the changes we have made to our organization over the past 2 years, are producing good results and clearly improving our clients experience. In the field, this is reflected in our continuously improving NPS, but above all in smoother interactions and stronger partnerships with the companies we accompany daily. While the macroeconomic situation remains uncertain, we see that the need for and commitment to our offerings are stronger than ever. In the first half of 2023, we benefited from a favorable comparison basis to get the year off to a good start, and we're on track, but given the record performance set in Q4 2022, we know the bar is much higher towards the end of the year. At this stage, we are not changing our annual guidance as we still have a lot of work to do, but considering our first-half results, we are well on the way to reach the upper end of our forecasts in terms of both revenue growth and profitability." Comments on business activity in the first half of 2023 Axway (Euronext: AXW.PA) recorded a great performance in Q2 2023 contributing to strong overall first-half revenue growth. Following the record performance over the previous 2 quarters, Axway once again set a high mark in terms of revenue in Q2 2023. Over the quarter, as in the first 3 months of the year, the reinvestments made by several major customers in their long-term partnerships with Axway confirmed the full adoption of the subscription-based business model. Beyond the contractual aspects, the strategy of rationalizing the product portfolio to maximize customer engagement and satisfaction has proved to be effective. To be as close as possible to its customers, Axway concentrates on its core products and targets state-of-the-art technologies and offerings. This ongoing effort, at all levels of the organization, has already resulted in an acceleration in bookings, a lengthening of collaborations and a rise in the NPS, attesting to customers' reinforced confidence. In fact, over H1 2023, bookings were up 130% on the previous year. In terms of recent M&A operations, the integration of AdValvas, a European expert in e-invoicing processes acquired by Axway in Q2 2023, is nearing completion. The capabilities acquired in the fields of e-invoicing and compliance significantly strengthen several of Axway's core offerings, as evidenced by the growing pipeline. The DXchange cloud integration platform, acquired in mid-2022, has pursued its roadmap evolution and will continue to be integrated into the overall portfolio. The new Amplify Integration Platform offering, based on DXchange technology, has already convinced several early adopters, and will be officially launched on the market in the second half of 2023. Finally, during Q2 2023, Axway brought its customers and partners together with members of its teams at 3 major regional events in Brussels, Scottsdale and Sao Paulo to present the latest developments in its markets and technologies to the world's most advanced companies and experts in the field. These 3 in-person events were a great success and have since contributed to the creation of several new opportunities. Comments on operational performance in the first half of 2023 In the first half of 2023, Axway generated revenue of 145.5m, up 11.0% organically and 6.6% in total. The scope effect for the semester was negative by 5.8m following the different product portfolio rationalization operations finalized in H2 2022 and the acquisition of AdValvas finalized at the beginning of Q2 2023. Currency fluctuations had a positive impact on revenue of 0.4m. Profit on operating activities amounted to 17.8m for the period, or 12.2% of revenue, up sharply compared with the first half of 2022 (6.7m or 4.9% of revenue). Axway Software: Revenue by business line Half-year 2023 (m) H1 2023 H1 2022 Restated* H1 2022 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth License 3.0 5.5 6.3 -52.5% -44.9% Subscription 78.7 52.3 55.9 40.8% 50.5% Maintenance 44.6 55.1 56.0 -20.4% -19.1% Services 19.2 18.2 18.2 5.3% 5.7% Axway Software 145.5 131.0 136.4 6.6% 11.0% * Revenue at 2023 scope and exchange rates Primarily limited to one of Axway's specialized products, License activity revenue was 3.0m for the half-year, down organically by 44.9% on H1 2022 and now representing only 2% of Axways total revenue. The Subscription activity delivered, as expected, a very good performance in the first half of 2023, and is on track for strong full-year growth for the fourth year in a row. With revenue of 78.7m, up organically by 50.5% over the first 6 months of the year, the activity continues to drive the company's growth, and represented 54% of its total revenue. Axway Managed contracts pursued their sustained and steady growth, with a revenue increase close to 11% compared to H1 2022, while Customer Managed contracts once again reached record levels, with sales growth over 75% generating the recognition of 34.2m in upfront revenue over the period. During the half-year, the annual value of new subscription contracts signed (ACV) reached 18.7m, an increase of 13.2%. Maintenance revenue amounted to 44.6m in the first half of 2023 (31% of total revenue), down 19.1% organically, in line with forecasts. Customers are continuing to migrate to the new subscription offers, which they now systematically favor. At the end of June 2023, Axway's ARR (Annual Recurrent Revenue) which combines recurring revenues from all active Maintenance and Subscription contracts, including, where applicable, upfront subscription revenue recalculated monthly, was 203.1m, up 11.2% at constant scope and exchange rates. In addition, revenue from renewable contracts reached a high of 85% of total revenue in H1 2023. Services generated revenue of 19.2m in H1 2023, up organically by 5.7%, staying in a strategic range of 10 to 13% of Axways total revenue. The activity continued on the good trend established in 2022 with strong traction in EMEA and North America thanks to recurrent business with several key customers. Axway Software: Revenue by geographic area Half-year 2023 (m) H1 2023 H1 2022 Restated* H1 2022 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth France 45.5 37.2 37.7 20.5% 22.1% Rest of Europe 35.6 26.6 27.2 31.0% 34.2% Americas 57.2 56.7 60.8 -5.9% 0.9% Asia/Pacific 7.1 10.5 10.7 -33.6% -32.6% Axway Software 145.5 131.0 136.4 6.6% 11.0% * Revenue at 2023 scope and exchange rates France had a particularly dynamic first half, with sales of 45.5m over the period. The 22.1% organic growth in revenue was due in particular to the continued conversion of the License and Maintenance customer base to Subscription, allowing greater consumption and maximizing long-term commitment. This resulted in the signature of several Axway Managed contracts, primarily with the Amplify Marketplace offering. With revenue of 35.6m, the Rest of Europe zone enjoyed strong growth over the half-year (+34.2% organically), mainly thanks to Customer Managed subscription offers. Several clients in the region increased their use of Axway's MFT and B2B offerings and the company was able to conclude a major deal through a multi-year MFT contract with one of its long-standing German B2B customers. The Americas (USA & Latin America) generated revenue of 57.2m over H1 2023, with an organic growth of 0.9%. Demand for Axway Managed subscription contracts from new and existing customers was strong in the US, explaining the modest growth over the period as generated revenue is recognized evenly over the duration of the contract. The trend towards Axway Managed subscription offers was even more marked in Asia/Pacific, where more than 50% of first-half bookings were made on this type of contract. Half-year revenue thus totaled 7.1m, representing an organic decrease of 32.6% compared with the first half of 2022, which represented a high basis of comparison with more than 3.0m of upfront revenue recognized at that time. Comments on net profit for the first half of 2023 Profit from recurring operations was 14.7m in H1 2023, or 10.1% of revenue, up significantly compared to 1.8% (2.5m) in H1 2022. It includes amortization of allocated intangible assets of 1.7m and a share-based payment expense of 1.4m. Operating profit for the half-year was 11.2m, or 7.7% of revenue, also up strongly from the 1.1m, or 0.8% of revenue in H1 2022. Net profit for the period was 3.7m, representing 2.5% of revenue compared to 1.8% in H1 2022. Basic earnings per share were 0.17 for the period, up from 0.11 in H1 2022. Financial position at June 30, 2023 At June 30, 2023, Axway's financial position was solid, with cash of 14.2m and bank debt of 87.5m. As expected, following the transition to a subscription-based business model, Axways free cash flow started to improve in H1 2023 reaching 16.5m, compared to 8.2m a year earlier. Shareholders' equity stood at 314.6m at June 30, 2022, compared to 381.1m at the end of June 2022. Axways bank lines, in place through 2027, provide financing of up to 125.0m. Axway highlights that, if necessary, it has access to available financing capacity under its existing revolving credit facility. Change in the workforce At June 30, 2023, Axway had 1,457 employees compared to 1,525 at December 31, 2022. 2023 Targets & Outlook For 2023, Axway confirms its annual objectives of organic revenue growth of between 0 and 3% and further improvement of profit on operating activities to reach 15 to 18% of revenue. Axway's medium-term ambitions remain: to achieve revenue of 500m through organic growth and acquisitions; to deliver a profit on operating activities approaching 20% of revenue. Today, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 6.30 p.m. (UTC+2) 2023 Half-Year Results Virtual Analyst Conference Conference registration: Click here Or join by phone by dialing one of the numbers below and announcing "Axway" at the operator's request: International: +44 (0) 33 0551 0200 France: +33 (0) 1 70 37 71 66 USA: +1 786 697 3501 Please note that the meeting will be held in English. Financial Calendar Friday, August 4, 2023: Filing of the 2023 Half-Year Financial Report Thursday, October 26, 2023, before market opening: Publication of Q3 2023 Revenue Glossary and Alternative Performance Measures ACV: Annual Contract Value Annual contract value of a subscription agreement. ARR: Annual Recurring Revenue Expected annual billing amounts from all active maintenance and subscription agreements. Employee Engagement Score: Measurement of employee engagement through an independent annual survey. Growth at constant exchange rates: Growth in revenue between the period under review and the prior period restated for exchange rate impacts. NPS: Net Promoter Score Customer satisfaction and recommendation indicator for a company. Organic growth: Growth in revenue between the period under review and the prior period, restated for consolidation scope and exchange rate impacts. Profit on operating activities: Profit from recurring operations adjusted for the non-cash share-based payment expense, as well as the amortization of allocated intangible assets. Restated revenue: Revenue for the prior year, adjusted for the consolidation scope and exchange rates of the current year. TCV: Total Contract Value Full contracted value of a subscription agreement over the contract term. Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements that may be subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning Axways growth and profitability, notably in the event of future acquisitions. Axway highlights that signature of contracts, which represent investments for customers, are more significant in the second half of the year and may therefore have a more or less favorable impact on full-year performance. In addition, Axway notes that potential acquisition(s) could also impact this financial data. Furthermore, activity during the year and/or actual results may differ from those described in this document as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties set out in the 2021 Universal Registration Document filed with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des Marches Financiers, AMF) on March 24, 2022, under number D.22-0145. The distribution of this document in certain countries may be subject to prevailing laws and regulations. Natural persons present in these countries and in which this document is disseminated, published, or distributed, should obtain information about such restrictions, and comply with them. About Axway Axway enables enterprises to securely open everything by integrating and moving data across a complex world of new and old technologies. Axways API-driven B2B integration and MFT software, refined over 20 years, complements Axway Amplify, an open API management platform that makes APIs easier to discover and reuse across multiple teams, vendors, and cloud environments. Axway has helped over 11,000 businesses unlock the full value of their existing digital ecosystems to create brilliant experiences, innovate new services, and reach new markets. Learn more at axway.com Appendices (1/4) Axway Software: Revenue by business line 1st Quarter 2023 (m) Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Restated* Q1 2022 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth License 2.1 3.5 3.7 -42.6% -39.5% Subscription 37.8 24.7 26.4 43.1% 53.1% Maintenance 22.5 27.9 27.9 -19.5% -19.6% Services 9.5 9.0 9.0 6.1% 5.4% Axway Software 71.8 65.1 66.9 7.3% 10.3% 2nd Quarter 2023 (m) Q2 2023 Q2 2022 Restated* Q2 2022 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth License 0.9 1.9 2.6 -66.6% -54.8% Subscription 40.9 27.6 29.5 38.7% 48.2% Maintenance 22.1 27.2 28.1 -21.3% -18.6% Services 9.7 9.1 9.3 4.5% 6.0% Axway Software 73.6 65.9 69.5 5.9% 11.7% * Revenue at 2023 scope and exchange rates Axway Software: Revenue by geographic area 1st Quarter 2023 (m) Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Restated* Q1 2022 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth France 24.7 17.9 18.1 36.2% 38.3% Rest of Europe 13.5 12.6 13.2 1.7% 6.9% Americas 30.9 29.3 30.3 1.9% 5.2% Asia/Pacific 2.8 5.3 5.3 -46.8% -47.4% Axway Software 71.8 65.1 66.9 7.3% 10.3% 2nd Quarter 2023 (m) Q2 2023 Q2 2022 Restated* Q2 2022 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth France 20.8 19.4 19.6 6.0% 7.2% Rest of Europe 22.2 14.0 14.0 58.7% 58.8% Americas 26.4 27.4 30.5 -13.6% -3.6% Asia/Pacific 4.3 5.2 5.4 -20.7% -17.3% Axway Software 73.6 65.9 69.5 5.9% 11.7% * Revenue at 2023 scope and exchange rates Appendices (2/4) Axway Software : Consolidated Income Statement Half-year 2023 H1 2023 H1 2022 Full-year 2022 m % Rev. m % Rev. m % Rev. Revenue 145.5 136.4 314.0 of which License 3.0 6.3 11.6 of which Subscription 78.7 55.9 154.0 of which Maintenance 44.6 56.0 111.2 Sub-total License, Subscription & Maintenance 126.3 118.2 276.7 Services 19.2 18.2 37.3 Cost of sales 42.9 45.8 91.4 of which License and Maintenance 10.8 13.4 26.4 of which Subscription 14.2 14.5 29.4 of which Services 17.9 17.9 35.6 Gross profit 102.6 70.5% 90.6 66.4% 222.6 70.8% Operating expenses 84.8 83.9 176.4 of which Sales and marketing 42.1 42.8 93.2 of which Research and development 29.4 28.2 57.3 of which General and administrative 13.3 12.9 25.9 Profit on operating activities 17.8 12.2% 6.7 4.9% 46.3 11.5% Share-based payment expense -1.4 -1.3 -3.4 Amortization of intangible assets -1.7 -2.9 -5.5 Profit from recurring operations 14.7 10.1% 2.5 1.8% 37.4 7.0% Other income and expenses -3.5 -1.4 -83.8 Operating profit 11.2 7.7% 1.1 0.8% -46.4 6.1% Cost of net financial debt -2.1 -0.7 -2.1 Other financial revenues and expenses 0.4 1.0 1.0 Income taxes -5.9 1.1 7.4 Net profit 3.7 2.5% 2.4 1.8% -40.0 3.4% Basic earnings per share (in ) 0.17 0.11 -1.85 Appendices (3/4) Axway Software: Simplified Balance Sheet Half-year 2023 6/30/2023 6/30/2022 12/31/2022 (m) (m) (m) Assets Goodwill 299.3 383.7 297.8 Intangible assets 6.9 13.0 8.7 Property, plant and equipment 10.4 13.2 12.5 Lease right-of-use assets 12.9 21.7 20.1 Other non-current assets 32.6 26.5 34.9 Non-current assets 362.1 458.2 374.0 Trade receivables 135.2 106.8 148.1 Other current assets 34.0 36.0 30.6 Cash and cash equivalents 14.2 19.5 18.3 Current assets 183.4 162.3 197.1 Total Assets 545.4 620.5 571.1 Equity and Liabilities Share capital 43.3 43.3 43.3 Reserves and net profit 271.4 337.8 284.5 Total Equity 314.6 381.1 327.8 Financial debt - long-term portion 83.8 76.1 84.6 Lease liabilities - long-term portion 13.2 25.7 23.5 Other non-current liabilities 14.1 11.7 11.7 Non-current liabilities 111.2 113.4 119.8 Financial debt - short-term portion 3.7 2.3 3.2 Lease liabilities - short-term portion 6.1 5.6 5.8 Deferred Revenues 66.5 78.8 55.6 Other current liabilities 43.3 39.3 58.9 Current liabilities 119.7 126.0 123.5 Total Liabilities 230.8 239.4 243.3 Total Equity and Liabilities 545.4 620.5 571.1 Appendices (4/4) Axway Software: Cash Flow Statement Half-year 2023 H1 2023 H1 2022 Full-year 2022 (m) (m) (m) Net profit for the period 3.7 2.4 -40.0 Net charges to amortization, depreciation and provisions 9.4 8.8 16.5 Other income and expense items -1.0 1.6 85.3 Cash from operations after cost of net debt and tax 12.2 12.8 61.8 Change in operating working capital requirements (incl. employee benefits liability) 4.5 2.3 -41.0 Cost of net financial debt 2.1 0.7 2.1 Income tax paid net of accrual 4.4 -2.7 -10.0 Net cash from operating activities 23.1 13.1 13.0 Net cash used in investing activities -8.6 -9.7 -11.1 Purchases and proceeds from disposal of treasury shares -4.4 -8.6 -13.7 Dividends paid -8.4 -8.5 -8.5 Change in loans -0.4 10.5 20.7 Change in lease liabilities -3.5 -3.7 -7.2 Net interest paid -1.6 -0.4 -1.2 Other flows -0.3 0.2 0.6 Net cash from (used in) financing activities -18.6 -10.5 -9.4 Effect of foreign exchange rate changes -0.1 1.0 0.7 Net change in cash and cash equivalents -4.2 -6.1 -6.9 Opening cash position 18.3 25.2 25.2 Closing cash position 14.2 19.1 18.3 Axway Software: Impact on revenue of changes in scope and exchange rates Half-year 2023 (m) H1 2023 H1 2022 Growth Revenue 145.5 136.4 6.6% Changes in exchange rates +0.4 Revenue at constant exchange rates 145.5 136.8 6.3% Changes in scope -5.8 Revenue at constant scope and exchange rates 145.5 131.0 11.0% Axway Software: Changes in exchange rates Half-year 2023 For 1 Average rate H1 2023 Average rate H1 2022 Change US Dollar 1.081 1.093 + 1.2% 1 The interim consolidated financial statements were subject to limited review procedures. The limited review report is in the process of being issued by the auditors. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726763162/en/ Investor Relations: Arthur Carli +33 (0)1 47 17 24 65 [email protected] Source: Axway Software TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- dynaCERT Inc. ("dynaCERT" or the "Company") (TSX: DYA) (OTCQX: DYFSF) (FRA: DMJ) and its AEM Green Electrolyser partner, Cipher Neutron Inc. ("Cipher Neutron" or CN) and the University of Alberta (University of Alberta) in Canada are pleased to jointly announce that they have entered into discussions to collaborate on advanced research in AEM Electrolyser Membrane Catalysts (the Collaboration). Collaboration on AEM Membrane Catalysts The Collaboration provides for the development of specialized Membrane Catalysts which can be used in the AEM Green Hydrogen Electrolysers of Cipher Neutron to further increase the superior efficiencies of Green Hydrogen production achieved by Cipher Neutron. The Research by the University of Alberta is expected to be endorsed in part by MITACS and Cipher Neutron, and the University of Alberta intends to continue with this prestigious MITACS sponsorship. MITACS is a non-profit Canadian national research organization that, in partnerships with Canadian academia, private industry, and government, operates research and training programs in fields related to industrial and social innovation. The University of Alberta is an ideal University in Canada to carry out this important research because it has renowned expertise in the advancement of the science of new membrane catalysts. The research will be led by Dr. Shiva Mohajernia, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta. Dr. Shiva Mohajernia Dr. Shiva Mohajernia is leading the Energy Materials (NRGMATs) research group at the University of Alberta. The primary focus of her group's research is centered around the design of nanomaterials and the precise modification of their surfaces with catalysts at an atomic-scale level for energy conversion applications such as those used by the AEM Green Hydrogen Electrolyser of Cipher Neutron. The investigations by NRGMATs aim to unlock the exceptional catalytic performance that results from utilizing catalysts at the atomic level. Prior to joining the University of Alberta, Dr. Mohajernia was the catalysis group leader at the University of Siegen, Germany. Her educational background is in material science and engineering, having earned her Ph.D. from the Department of Material Science and Engineering at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany. Dr. Mohajernia's contributions to the field have earned her several accolades, including the 2022 Catalysts Award and the 2020 International Society of Electrochemistry Award. Dr. Shiva Mohajernia, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta, stated, Cipher Neutrons AEM technology fits perfectly with our ongoing research at the University of Alberta for catalyst development for AEM electrolysers. We are delighted to foster PFAS-free and PGM-free disruptive AEM electrolyser technology in the province of Alberta, which will contribute to the greener and more sustainable future of Canada and the rest of the world. The University of Alberta has a long history in supporting green and sustainable technology, and now we welcome the opportunity to be a part of this transition to the Green Hydrogen Economy. Gurjant Randhawa, President and CEO of Cipher Neutron, stated, Cipher Neutron welcomes the collaboration with Dr. Shiva Mohajernia and the University of Alberta on its ongoing Membrane Catalyst projects. We commend the University of Alberta for its leadership in Green Hydrogen development. Our collaboration with University of Alberta is a very important step towards the evolution of new catalysts to further reduce the capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operating expenditures (OPEX) of AEM electrolysers to achieve the universal goal of low-cost Green Hydrogen. Jean-Pierre Colin, Executive Vice President and Director of dynaCERT Inc., a partner of Cipher Neutron, stated, After months of due diligence and negotiations with Dr. Shiva Mohajernia and the University of Alberta, dynaCERT is very pleased to congratulate its partner, Cipher Neutron, and the University of Alberta, for the conclusion of their collaboration to further advance Cipher Neutrons efficient Electrolysers. The University of Alberta is a particularly well-suited university to assist with Cipher Neutrons green hydrogen technology since there is an abundance of intellectual know-how and commitment to better the future of mankind. About Cipher Neutron Inc. Cipher Neutron is a rapidly growing disruptive technology company focused on AEM Electrolysers for Green Hydrogen production and Reversible Fuel Cells for power generation and Energy Storage Solutions. Cipher Neutron is a global group of scientists, engineers, technology developers, experts in hydrogen technology, investment bankers and people that have worked in hydrogen for decades. Cipher Neutrons innovative products, such as AEM Electrolysers and Reversible Fuel Cells have unique advantages over other Green Hydrogen production, power generation and energy storage solutions currently available in the global market. Please see: https://cipherneutron.com About dynaCERT Inc. dynaCERT Inc. manufactures and distributes Carbon Emission Reduction Technology along with its proprietary HydraLytica Telematics, a means of monitoring fuel consumption and calculating GHG emissions savings designed for the tracking of possible future Carbon Credits for use with internal combustion engines. As part of the growing global hydrogen economy, our patented technology creates hydrogen and oxygen on-demand through a unique electrolysis system and supplies these gases through the air intake to enhance combustion, which has shown to lower carbon emissions and improve fuel efficiency. Our technology is designed for use with many types and sizes of diesel engines used in on-road vehicles, reefer trailers, off-road construction, power generation, mining and forestry equipment. Website: www.dynaCERT.com. READER ADVISORY Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. In particular, information relating to the University of Alberta cannot be independently verified and information relating to Cipher Neutron Inc. and its AEM electrolyzer technologies cannot be independently verified. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance of achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success for new products and technologies; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of products and services; changes in technology and changes in laws and regulations; the uncertainty of the emerging hydrogen economy; including the hydrogen economy moving at a pace not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements; and the other risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the release. On Behalf of the Board of dynaCERT Inc. Murray James Payne, CEO View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726762009/en/ For more information, please contact: dynaCERT Inc. Jim Payne, CEO & President #101 501 Alliance Avenue Toronto, Ontario M6N 2J1 +1 (416) 766-9691 x 2 jpayne@dynaCERT.com dynaCERT Inc. Nancy Massicotte Investor Relations +1 (416) 766-9691 x 1 nmassicotte@dynaCERT.com Gurjant Randhawa, CEO & President Cipher Neutron Inc. 101 - 501 Alliance Avenue Toronto, Ontario M6N 2J1 +1 (647) 803-0002 [email protected] Source: dynaCERT Inc. GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- First paragraph, first sentence of release dated July 25, 2023 should read: Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time (7:00 p.m. Brasilia Time) (instead of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time). The updated release reads: NU HOLDINGS ANNOUNCES Q2'23 FINANCIAL RESULTS CONFERENCE CALL DATE Nu Holdings Ltd. ("Nu" or the "Company") (NYSE: NU | B3: NUBR33), one of the worlds largest digital financial services platforms, today announced that it will host a conference call to discuss its Q2'23 financial results on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time (7:00 p.m. Brasilia Time). The earnings release will be issued after the market closes that same day. Quiet Period Starts on August 1st, 2023 Earnings Release Tuesday, August 15, 2023 Time: After market close Conference Call Tuesday, August 15, 2023 Time: 6:00 p.m. EST 7:00 p.m. BRT Register for the Conference Call Please click here to pre-register for this conference call. Replay: click here | Add to your calendar: click here About Nu Holdings Nu is one of the worlds largest digital financial services platforms, serving 80 million customers across Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. Nu uses proprietary technologies and innovative business practices to create new financial solutions and experiences for individuals and SMEs that are simple, intuitive, convenient, low-cost, empowering and human. Guided by a mission to fight complexity and empower people, Nu is focused on connecting profit and purpose to create value for all stakeholders and have a positive impact on the communities it serves. Nus shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: NU) and its BDRs trade on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (B3: NUBR33). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230725829006/en/ Investor Relations Jorg Friedemann [email protected] Media Relations Leila Suwwan [email protected] Source: Nu Holdings Ltd. Credit union to modernize banking services and adopt member-centric features TROY, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fremont, Mi.-based Gerber Federal Credit Union (Gerber FCU $225M in assets) has partnered with Mahalo Banking, a CUSO that provides premier online and mobile banking solutions for credit unions, to offer member-centric features and streamline banking service processes for its members. Gerber FCU is leveraging Mahalos banking platform to simplify the banking experience for members. Users of the credit union platform will be able to access a clean, user-friendly design with mirrored features across the online and mobile banking experiences. Members will be able to more easily join the credit union, onboard and fund their account to quickly begin using the credit unions services. The credit union will also be able to use Mahalos platform to offer a more member-centric design through the neurodiversity features including colorblindness view options and left-handed toggle mode to improve usability. Tina Spoelman, Senior IT Manager of Gerber FCU, explained, Our goal was to partner with a mobile and online provider to ensure our members would have the modern services necessary for 21st-century banking. In Mahalo, we found a forward-looking partner who will help us unify the features found within our online and mobile offerings to create a more seamless omnichannel experience. We're also excited to implement Mahalos Thoughtful Banking neurodiversity tools. Ensuring successful platform navigation for those who have visual impairments is an important design aspect that many vendors don't take into consideration, and we are delighted to have a partner that values all member experiences. Led by credit union industry natives, the Mahalo Banking platform is designed to intuitively meet the needs of todays credit unions and their members. The platform is also the industry's first online banking solution that has fully integrated comprehensive neurodiverse functionality to better serve the unique needs of all members. Mahalos technology offers modern features, deep core integrations and efficient third-party integrations that allow credit unions to better retain and grow their membership base. Spoelman added, We are proud to be working with a forward-looking company like Mahalo that is always imagining how they can transform the future of credit union technology. Not only is their team deeply ingrained in the credit union culture, but they also innately understand our local roots and values. We trust they will be a fantastic partner to help modernize our capabilities and streamline our member services. Many credit unions today are searching for the right partner to advance their banking experience and maintain the competitive edge they need, said Denny Howell, co-founder and COO of Mahalo. We are delighted to be chosen to serve as Gerber FCUs trusted digital banking provider. Our team is looking forward to driving the credit unions technology innovation and empowering them to surpass their member expectations. About Gerber Federal Credit Union Gerber Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit, cooperative financial institution headquartered in Fremont, Michigan. Gerber FCU provides financial services to residents and employees of Newaygo County and surrounding townships with two branches located in Fremont, Mich. and one in Newaygo, Mich. Visit www.GerberFCU.com for more information. About Mahalo Mahalo Banking provides online and mobile banking solutions for credit unions. Based in Troy, Mich., the Mahalo platform is designed and built on superior architecture with deep integration to core processing, providing security and a robust feature set across all delivery channels for a true omni experience. Mahalo offers the industrys first and only online banking solution to fully integrate comprehensive neurodiverse functionality directly into its platform. This inclusive approach allows credit unions to support and embrace all members and accommodate their unique needs. For more information about Mahalo Banking, please visit us at mahalobanking.com, follow us on Twitter or connect via LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726370776/en/ Gabriela Lumpkin // Angelo D. Jones II [email protected] // [email protected] 678.781.7211 // 678.781.7230 Source: Mahalo Banking BENGALURU, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Guidewire (NYSE: GWRE) celebrated the one-year anniversary of its office in Bengaluru, India. The staff in the Bengaluru office exemplify Guidewires commitment to global innovative research and development and strive to redefine excellence in the insurance industry. Guidewire is providing its 128 employees with a state-of-the-art work environment, while also offering remote and flexible working practices and wellness benefits. The office expects to grow, is actively hiring across multiple product development teams, and is ideally situated to take advantage of access to top new engineering and IT graduates from the top Indian universities. Open positions can be found on the Guidewire Careers website. "In a very short time, 'Team Bengaluru' had an impressive impact, with many new capabilities designed, built and delivered to production," said Guidewire Chief Product Development Officer Diego Devalle. "I look forward to seeing what the team will continue to accomplish working with the most advanced cloud stack." Guidewire Vice President of Engineering for Cloud Infrastructure Anoop Gopalakrishnan commented, Marking the remarkable first anniversary of our Bengaluru office, we take immense pride in showcasing the exceptional achievements of our Cloud Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) teams. With an unwavering dedication to secure supply chain, enhanced developer experience, and cutting-edge platform engineering, these teams have been instrumental in pushing the boundaries of innovation. By harnessing the power of the latest technologies from the open-source world and actively contributing to the community, they are forging a path towards revolutionizing the PaaS landscape and driving remarkable growth for Guidewire. The Bengaluru team, led by Director of Engineering for Cloud Data Platform Raman Venkateswaran, is actively building a cloud-native, enterprise-grade data and analytics platform, added Guidewire Vice President of Engineering for Cloud Data Platform Premjith Rayaroth. The big data platform is built on the latest tech stack, processes petabyte-scale data, and provides a rich set of artificial intelligence and machine learning software-as-a-service applications. I am amazed and thrilled to see how this team built and delivered many platform capabilities to production in such a short period of time! About Guidewire Guidewire is the platform P&C insurers trust to engage, innovate, and grow efficiently. We combine digital, core, analytics, and machine learning to deliver our platform as a cloud service. More than 500 insurers in 38 countries, from new ventures to the largest and most complex in the world, run on Guidewire. As a partner to our customers, we continually evolve to enable their success. We are proud of our unparalleled implementation track record, with 1,000+ successful projects, supported by the largest R&D team and partner ecosystem in the industry. Our marketplace provides hundreds of applications that accelerate integration, localization, and innovation. For more information, please visit http://www.guidewire.com/ and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. NOTE: For information about Guidewires trademarks, visit https://www.guidewire.com/legal-notices. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230725666005/en/ Diana Stott Director, Communications Guidewire +1.650.781.9955 [email protected] Source: Guidewire Differentiated, Best-in-Class PSA Solution in Rapidly Expanding Market Poised for Accelerated, Profitable Growth AUSTIN, Texas & SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Haveli Investments, L.P. (Haveli or Haveli Investments), a technology-focused private equity firm, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Certinia (Certinia or the Company), formerly FinancialForce, from Advent International and Technology Crossover Ventures. Certinia's Services-as-a-Business platform includes Professional Services Automation (PSA), Customer Success, Services CPQ, ERP and FP&A solutions. Haveli will fund the transaction from Haveli Investments Software Fund I L.P., with participation from partners including General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm. Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) will continue as a shareholder in Certinia. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726637541/en/ Certinias industry-leading PSA software powers and connects all aspects of professional services operations, from services estimation and delivery to customer success management and financial planning and accounting. Certinias suite of offerings, including ERP and Customer Success solutions, offers a system of record for people-centric services engagements. The Company delivers a complete services-as-a-business platform and has transformed services delivery for 1,400 customers in more than 30 countries. Ian Loring, Senior Managing Director and Executive Chair of the Haveli Software Fund, commented: Certinia is the gold standard system of record for end-to-end software for professional services organizations, and its demonstrated continued ability to deliver market-leading capabilities underscores the Companys impact and future potential. We are thrilled to partner with Certinia for Havelis first enterprise software investment, and we look forward to collaborating with the talented team there to continue its strong growth trajectory. Mike Stewart, Principal at Haveli Investments, said: Certinia has an incredibly strong offering with a loyal and growing customer base. Given our teams collective experience working with high potential companies in the enterprise software space, we believe Haveli is very well positioned to support Certinia through its next stage of growth and drive value creation for all of its stakeholders. Scott Brown, President and CEO of Certinia, stated: Haveli has assembled a world-class team of investment professionals, and we are thrilled to partner with them as we enter this exciting next chapter for Certinia. We are very well positioned in a rapidly expanding market, and with Haveli as our new PE partner, we are confident we can take full advantage of growth opportunities and further enhance our ability to meet our customers ever evolving needs and help them achieve their full potential. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in August 2023. Ropes & Gray LLP and Morgan Stanley served as legal and financial advisers to Haveli on the transaction. About Haveli Investments Haveli Investments is an Austin-based private equity firm that seeks to invest in the highest quality companies in the technology sector through control, minority or structured equity and debt investments with a focus on software, data, gaming and adjacent industries. The firm partners with innovative companies, entrepreneurs and management teams throughout a companys life cycle. Havelis experienced team of investors and diverse industry experts will provide operational and strategic support, enabling portfolio companies to focus on driving innovation and increasing growth, scale and operating margins. Underscoring Havelis investments is an unwavering focus on DEI and sustainability. For more information, please visit www.haveliinvestments.com, or follow Haveli on LinkedIn, @Haveli Investments. Haveli, Haveli Investments, the Haveli logos and related names are registered trademarks or service marks of Whanau Interests LLC. All rights reserved. About Certinia Certinia (formerly FinancialForce) delivers a Services-as-a-Business platform that powers and connects all aspects of services operations, from services estimation and delivery to customer success management and financial planning and accounting. The companys Professional Services Automation (PSA), Customer Success, and ERP solutionsdelivered on Salesforces leading cloud platformprovide services businesses with the ability to run a connected services business, deliver with intelligence, and achieve business agility. Headquartered in San Jose, California with offices around the world, Certinia is backed by Haveli Investments and Salesforce Ventures. For more information, visit www.certinia.com. Certinia, the Certinia logo, FinancialForce, FinancialForce.com, and the FinancialForce logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Certinia Inc. or its licensors. Any third-party brands or names referenced herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726637541/en/ For Haveli: Investors Caroline Bal Doherty Haveli Investments (512) 831-2523 [email protected] Media Hugh Burns/Paul Caminiti/Pamela Greene Reevemark (212) 433-4603 [email protected] For Certinia: Media Sue Sutton/Mike Tomlinson Certinia [email protected] Source: Haveli Investments, L.P. Staff Service, Effective Problem Resolution Keep Guests Coming Back for More Amid Ongoing Travel Boom TROY, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- With average U.S. hotel occupancy on track to reach 63.8% in 2023,1 just shy of the pre-pandemic level of 65.9%, business and leisure travelers are packing into hotels throughout North America for a second consecutive year. Hotels have risen to the challenge by ratcheting up staffing and doubling down on customer service. According to the J.D. Power 2023 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index (NAGSI) Study,SM released today, staff service garners the highest level of satisfaction among all guest experience factors measured. Driven in large part by a hiring surge in the leisure and hospitality sector during the past 12 months, new and returning hospitality workers are providing a generally positive hotel stay experience. Hotel hiring continues to increase, and leisure and hospitality is the rock star among industries reported in monthly U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment figures, said Andrea Stokes, hospitality practice lead at J.D. Power. This boost in hotel staffing is showing up in the form of high customer satisfaction scores. Staff service is now the highest-scoring factor in this study across all hotel segments from economy to luxury, underscoring the critical role that frontline staff play in defining the guest experience. Following are additional key findings of the 2023 study: High scores for hotel staff linked to low problem incidence: Overall satisfaction with hotel staff is 701 (on a 1,000-point scale), making it the single highest-scoring factor in this years study. Hotel staff play a key role in avoiding and resolving problems, with 86% of hotel guests saying they experienced no problems during their stay. Overall satisfaction with hotel staff is 701 (on a 1,000-point scale), making it the single highest-scoring factor in this years study. Hotel staff play a key role in avoiding and resolving problems, with 86% of hotel guests saying they experienced no problems during their stay. Creating a perfect lobby: Guests experience with hotel lobbies/common areas can positively affect overall satisfaction, but it plays out differently in various hotel segments. Among luxury hotel guests, for example, it is important to have a lobby that is modern and unique. In upscale hotels, particularly upscale extended stay hotels, guests are looking for a lobby that is welcoming and inviting. Guests experience with hotel lobbies/common areas can positively affect overall satisfaction, but it plays out differently in various hotel segments. Among luxury hotel guests, for example, it is important to have a lobby that is modern and unique. In upscale hotels, particularly upscale extended stay hotels, guests are looking for a lobby that is welcoming and inviting. Value remains crucial to satisfaction: Value for price paid given quality and service received is still top of mind for hotel guests. Overall satisfaction among guests who rate the value for price paid of their guest room as excellent or perfect (on a scale of poor to perfect) is 302 points higher than among guests who do not. Study Rankings The following hotel brands rank highest in guest satisfaction in their respective segments: Luxury: Waldorf Astoria (788) Upper Upscale: Hard Rock Hotels (723) for a third consecutive year and Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts (723), in a tie Upscale: Cambria Hotels & Suites (738) Upscale Extended Stay: Hyatt House (729) (for a second consecutive year) Upper Midscale: Trademark Collection by Wyndham (762) Upper Midscale/Midscale Extended Stay: Home2 Suites by Hilton (681) Midscale: Tru by Hilton (708) Economy: Americas Best Value Inn (637) and Microtel by Wyndham (637) in a tie Economy Extended Stay: WoodSpring Suites (609) See the rank charts for each segment at http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2023077. The North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index (NAGSI) Study was redesigned for 2023. Now in its 27th year, the study measures overall customer satisfaction based on performance in six factors (in alphabetical order): communications and connectivity; food and beverage; guest room; hotel facility; staff service; and value for price. The study benchmarks the performance of 102 brands across nine market segments and is based on responses from 33,754 hotel guests for stays between May 2022 and May 2023. For more information about the North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index (NAGSI) Study, visit https://www.jdpower.com/resource/jd-power-north-america-hotel-guest-satisfaction-index-study. About J.D. Power J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies. J.D. Power has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the companys business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. The J.D. Power auto shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com. About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules: www.jdpower.com/business/about-us/press-release-info ______________________ 1 American Hotel & Lodging Association Hotel Occupancy https://www.ahla.com/sites/default/files/SOTI_report_Oxford_Data_Occupancy.pdf View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726342108/en/ Geno Effler, J.D. Power; West Coast; 714-621-6224; [email protected] John Roderick; East Coast; 631-584-2200; [email protected] Source: J.D. Power DARTMOUTH, Nova Scotia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- IMV Inc. (the Company or IMV), recently announced an update on the Sales and Investment Solicitation Process (the SISP) implemented as part of its ongoing proceedings under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (the CCAA). As previously disclosed, IMV initiated the CCAA proceedings on May 1, 2023, to facilitate the restructuring of the Company with the goal of implementing a transaction. Since then, the Company has been diligently working with its advisors and stakeholders to explore strategic alternatives that maximize value for its stakeholders and secure the continued development of its promising DPX platform technology and immunotherapy pipeline. The Company has made substantial progress in the SISP and multiple parties have expressed interest in the Companys assets. However, to advance ongoing discussions with interested parties in the context of the SISP and to allow additional time to interested parties to conduct due diligence, the Court has granted IMV an extension of the stay period until and including August 18, 2023. This extension will provide the necessary runway to complete negotiations with interested parties and ultimately secure the optimal outcome for all stakeholders involved. Even if these negotiations are successful, the current interest from qualified bidders in IMV is focused on its novel delivery technology, DPX, and related intellectual property and expertise. As a result, the Company has decided to initiate an orderly wind-down of its clinical trials. IMV is committed to taking all necessary measures to minimize any impact on the patients currently enrolled in its clinical trials. IMV remains committed to a transparent and efficient restructuring process. The Company will continue to work closely with its advisors, stakeholders, and the Court to ensure that all potential options are explored thoroughly and that any transaction pursued is in the best interest of the Company and its stakeholders. Shareholders and creditors are reminded that in accordance with the Companys CCAA proceedings, there is an ongoing claims process and they are encouraged to carefully review the information provided by the Court-appointed Monitor, FTI Consulting Canada. It is important to note that claims bar dates have been established to ensure an efficient and orderly claims resolution process. Detailed instructions, relevant deadlines, and the necessary forms can be accessed through the Monitors website: http://cfcanada.fticonsulting.com/imv/default.htm Further updates on the SISP and any material developments regarding the CCAA proceedings will be provided in accordance with applicable securities laws and as they become available. The Company appreciates the ongoing support of its employees, shareholders, patients, and other stakeholders as it navigates the CCAA proceedings. All enquiries regarding the CCAA proceedings should be directed to the Monitor via email at: [email protected] or telephone: 1-416-649-8129 or 1-833-981-8009. Information about the CCAA proceedings, including copies of all court orders, Monitors Report and the SISP, are available on the Monitors website: http://cfcanada.fticonsulting.com/imv/default.htm About IMV IMV Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel class of cancer vaccines based on DPX, our immune-educating technology platform. DPX is designed to inform a specific, coordinated and persistent anti-tumor immune response, improving the lives of patients with solid or hematological cancers. DPX can package a wide range of bioactive molecules in a single formulation to incite the tumor-killing function of multiple, distinct immune cell subtypes. IMVs lead therapeutic candidate, maveropepimut-S (MVP-S), is a DPX-based cancer vaccine that delivers antigenic peptides from survivin, a well-recognized cancer antigen commonly overexpressed in advanced cancers. MVP-S also delivers an innate immune activator and a universal CD4 T cell helper peptide. Together, these elements are designed to foster maturation of antigen presenting cells as well as robust activation of CD8 T cell effector and memory function that drive a targeted, sustained immune response. In our clinical trials, MVP-S treatment has been well tolerated and has demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes in multiple cancer indications as well as the activation of a targeted and sustained, survivin-specific anti-tumor immune response. MVP-S is administered in very low doses approximately once every two months, which drives a persistent immune attack on tumor cells. For more information, visit https://www.imv-inc.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn. IMV Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking information under applicable securities law. All information that addresses activities or developments that we expect to occur in the future is forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements use such word as will, may, potential, believe, expect, continue, anticipate and other similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the date the statements are made. In the press release, such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: (i) the outcome of the CCAA proceedings and formal sale and investment solicitation process to secure additional financing, sell assets, or a combination thereof, (ii) the ability of the Company to secure additional financing or otherwise enter into a transaction. However, they should not be regarded as a representation that any of the plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this press release due to risks affecting the Company, including the outcome of the CCAA proceedings and the capacity of the Company to enter into a transaction that would allow the Company to pursue its activities as a going concern. IMV assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements in this press release except as required by law. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability to access capital, the successful and, generally, the timely completion of clinical trials and studies and the receipt of all regulatory approvals as well as other risks detailed from time to time in our ongoing quarterly filings and annual information form. Investors are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements and are encouraged to read IMVs continuous disclosure documents, including its current annual information form, as well as its audited annual consolidated financial statements which are available on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at http://www.sec.gov/edgar. Released July 26, 2023 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726971716/en/ Investor Relations & Media Brittany Davison Chief Accounting Officer IMV Inc. O: +1 902.492.1819 ext. 1012 [email protected] Source: IMV Inc. John De Santis, past chairman and CEO of HyTrust, will serve as board chair SCHAUMBURG, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Global digital trust association ISACA introduced its 2023-2024 Board of Directors today. Bringing deep tech, finance and business expertise and a strong global perspective, the boardincluding three new directors and ISACA CEO Erik Pruschwill be helmed by new board chair John De Santis, past ISACA vice chair and a technology executive with more than three decades of experience in software, networking and information security. De Santis is a technology executive and past chairman and CEO of HyTrust, an IT infrastructure security software company that was acquired by Entrust in January 2021. A company-builder based in New Hampshire, USA, he has more than 30 years of international and US-based experience at venture-backed technology start-ups as well as at large global public companies in the telecom and IT fields. He currently serves on the fiduciary boards of Cequence Security and ValiMail, leading innovators in the cybersecurity space. Prior to HyTrust, he was vice president, Cloud Services for VMware, chairman & CEO of TriCipher, and entrepreneur-in-residence at Trident Capital, and CEO at Sygate Technologies, where they developed the technical foundation of Symantecs Enterprise Endpoint Protection suite. In his earlier experience, he led European operations for various software, hardware and telecom networking companies, as well as co-founded and led to exit a start-up that built the first optical fiber networking capability for IBM mainframes. Our community faces challenges each day, including keeping pace with rapidly iterating emerging technologies. I am committed to furthering ISACAs mission to equip digital trust professionals to navigate these challenges and recalibrate for success in this new era, says De Santis. My term as board chair comes at an especially promising time for the organization with the recent announcement of ISACAs new CEO, Erik Prusch. I look forward to supporting him and our dedicated staff team in advancing our professional community. Stepping into the vice chair role on ISACAs board is Brennan P. Baybeck, SVP & CISO for Customer Success Services at Oracle Corporation. Baybeck has more than 30 years of experience in IT security, governance, risk, audit and consulting, and has worked in various industries designing, implementing and operating enterprise-wide programs to address global security risks. He has held other leadership positions at Sun Microsystems, StorageTek and Qwest Communications, and served as a security risk consulting director at a global consulting company for several years. Baybeck is also a long-time ISACA volunteer, having served as a chapter board leader for over 13 years and as ISACA board chair from 2019-2020. Three new directors joined the ISACA board for the 2023-24 termStephen Gilfus, Jason Lau and Massimo Migliuolo. Gilfus, based in the US, is general partner of Oversight Ventures, an education and workforce investment firm (cybersecurity, AI, IT, safety, and risk), chairman of the Gilfus Education Group, a boutique management consulting firm, and one of the founders and business architects of Blackboard Inc., a global eLearning software, technology, and infrastructure company; he has more than 25 years of experience supporting mission-based organizations in governance, leadership, management, operations, and scalable growth mechanisms. Lau, who splits his time between Singapore and Hong Kong, is chief information security officer at Crypto.com and contributor to the World Economic Forum expert network. He has over 23 years of consulting experience for Fortune 500 companies in the fields of management consulting, cybersecurity, IT governance, privacy and risk management, and previously held senior cybersecurity leadership roles at Microsoft. Migliuolo, who splits his time between Malaysia and Switzerland, is executive chairman at Intuin, a digital transformation advisory firm, and previously served in leadership roles at Telekom Malaysia and Cisco Systems; in addition to being an experienced technology sector CEO, he is an investor and founder in three new companies with his sons as well. In total, the following 13 leaders were installed on the 2023-2024 ISACA Board of Directors during ISACAs Annual General Meeting held in Prague and virtually: John De Santis , Chair, technology executive and past chairman and CEO, HyTrust, Inc. , Chair, technology executive and past chairman and CEO, HyTrust, Inc. Brennan P. Baybeck , CISA, CISM, CRISC, CISSP, Vice Chair, and 2019-2020 board chair; SVP & CISO for Customer Success Services, Oracle Corporation , CISA, CISM, CRISC, CISSP, Vice Chair, and 2019-2020 board chair; SVP & CISO for Customer Success Services, Oracle Corporation Stephen Gilfus , Director; general partner at Oversight Ventures , Director; general partner at Oversight Ventures Niel Harper , CISA, CRISC, CDPSE, CISSP, Director; technology and cybersecurity executive and past CISO at UNOPS , CISA, CRISC, CDPSE, CISSP, Director; technology and cybersecurity executive and past CISO at UNOPS Gabriela Hernandez-Cardoso , Director; social entrepreneur and past president and CEO of GE Mexico , Director; social entrepreneur and past president and CEO of GE Mexico Jason Lau , CDPSE, CISA, CISM, CGEIT, CRISC, CISSP, HCISPP, CEH, FIP, CIPP/E, CIPM, CIPT; Director; chief information security officer at Crypto.com , CDPSE, CISA, CISM, CGEIT, CRISC, CISSP, HCISPP, CEH, FIP, CIPP/E, CIPM, CIPT; Director; chief information security officer at Crypto.com Massimo Migliuolo , Director; executive chairman, Intuin , Director; executive chairman, Intuin Maureen OConnell , NACD.DC, Director; finance and education executive , NACD.DC, Director; finance and education executive Asaf Weisberg , CSX-P, CISM, CRISC, CISA, CDPSE, CGEIT, Director; founder and CEO of introSight , CSX-P, CISM, CRISC, CISA, CDPSE, CGEIT, Director; founder and CEO of introSight Pamela Nigro , CISA, CRISC, CGEIT, CRMA, Director and 2022-2023 board chair; vice president of security and security officer, Medecision , CISA, CRISC, CGEIT, CRMA, Director and 2022-2023 board chair; vice president of security and security officer, Medecision Greg Touhill , CISM, CISSP, Brigadier General, USAF (ret), Director and 2021-2022 board chair; director of the CERT Division at Carnegie Mellon Universitys Software Engineering Institute , CISM, CISSP, Brigadier General, USAF (ret), Director and 2021-2022 board chair; director of the CERT Division at Carnegie Mellon Universitys Software Engineering Institute Tracey Dedrick , Director and 2020-2021 board chair; former chief risk officer, experienced in risk, compliance, treasury, and investor relations , Director and 2020-2021 board chair; former chief risk officer, experienced in risk, compliance, treasury, and investor relations Erik Prusch, Director and ISACA CEO It is an exciting time as we welcome ISACAs new board of directorstalented leaders from across the world with unparalleled experience and dedication to advancing digital trust professions and serving our global community, said Prusch. I am honored to work closely with John and the rest of the board to advance our strategic priorities and drive further innovation in equipping professionals and enterprises with the knowledge, tools, and connections for each stage of their journeys. To read a blog post by De Santis, click here, and access board member bios at www.isaca.org/board. About ISACA ISACA (www.isaca.org) is a global community advancing individuals and organizations in their pursuit of digital trust. For more than 50 years, ISACA has equipped individuals and enterprises with the knowledge, credentials, education, training and community to progress their careers, transform their organizations, and build a more trusted and ethical digital world. ISACA is a global professional association and learning organization that leverages the expertise of its 170,000 members who work in digital trust fields such as information security, governance, assurance, risk, privacy and quality. It has a presence in 188 countries, including 225 chapters worldwide. Through its foundation One In Tech, ISACA supports IT education and career pathways for underresourced and underrepresented populations. Twitter: www.twitter.com/ISACANews LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/isaca Facebook: www.facebook.com/ISACAGlobal Instagram: www.instagram.com/isacanews/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726861315/en/ [email protected] Emily Ayala, +1.847.660.5512 Bridget Drufke, +1.847.660.5554 Source: ISACA SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Macalester College, a private liberal arts institution in Saint Paul, Minnesota, is expanding on its commitment to accessibility by selecting the YuJa Panorama Digital Accessibility Platform to provide accessible course content to all students. The institution has a history of disability activism and promotes Universal Design for Learning, or a research-based framework for creating accessible learning environments. The institution was seeking a platform with the ability to remediate documents, including scanned and PDF versions of content. YuJa Panorama has an image accessibility engine that converts these types of documents into a digital format that can be processed by screen readers and searched electronically. In addition, it automatically generates accessible versions of documents, auto-captions video content, and provides users with customized website accessibility options they can apply to any webpage. The Platform provides an accessibility gauge, pinpoints accessibility issues, and provides video guidance on how to fix inaccessible content. YuJa Panorama integrates directly with Moodle, the colleges learning management system. Macalester College has a strong history of creating inclusive learning environments for its students, said Nathan Arora, Chief Business Officer at YuJa, Inc. YuJa Panorama will help in that endeavor with user-friendly tools that make it simple to create documents everyone can use. ABOUT MACALESTER COLLEGE Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Macalester College is a private liberal arts college with a close-knit, welcoming community. Macalester students come from every state and 94 countries for an academic program ranked among the top in the nation where ideas and intellectual curiosity matter. Our philosophy of global citizenship and collaborative learning prepares students to have an outsized impact on the world. ABOUT YUJA, INC. YuJa is a leader in ed-tech solutions. Our platforms provide organizations of all sizes with the tools to educate, engage, inspire and collaborate. We serve learning enterprises within all sectors, including higher-ed, K-12, government, healthcare, non-profit and corporate. We have legal headquarters in Delaware with primary U.S. offices in Silicon Valley, California, and Canadian offices in Toronto. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726795644/en/ Hannah Johnson 1-888-257-2278 Source: YuJa, Inc. FHLB Dallas and Renaissance Community Loan Fund Help Launch Boutique NATCHEZ, Miss.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A $5,000 Small Business Boost (SBB) loan from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) through its member, Renaissance Community Loan Fund (RCLF), helped fund the launch of Kudzu Cotton Boutique in Natchez, Mississippi. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726182486/en/ Angela Perrin, owner of Kudzu Cotton Boutique in Natchez, Mississippi, happily holds her Small Business Boost paperwork. (Photo: Business Wire) The boutique is the only infant, child and maternity store in Natchez and offers infant and childrens apparel, as well as clothes for moms and moms-to-be. Owner Angela Perrin got the idea for the business from her pregnant daughter. The name comes from the combination of kudzu a ubiquitous vine that grows throughout Natchez, and the cotton fields in the area. Additionally, the boutique offers a sneak peek ultrasound for a gender reveal. FHLB Dallas offers SBB loans through member financial institutions to provide financing for qualified small business transactions by filling the gap between the loan amount that an FHLB Dallas member institution can fund and the loan request made by an eligible small business. When Ms. Perrin wanted to start her business and looked to obtain a loan, it was difficult due to her lack of experience in retail. An advantage of the SBB is that the borrower does not begin to repay the loan until after the first year. This feature helps newly formed small businesses build cash flow during their first year in operation. I knew it didnt have to be paid back immediately and that allowed us to get our feet in the door, she said. I cant say enough good things about RCLF and how they connected us with FHLB Dallas and the SBB. Kimberly LaRosa, president & CEO at RCLF, said helping small businesses is vital to the regions economy. Too many aspiring entrepreneurs dont ever see their dreams of owning a business become reality. At RCLF, we recognize small businesses sometimes need that extra boost to get started, Ms. LaRosa said. Its a pleasure to be part of the process and see their success. Greg Hettrick, senior vice president and director of Community Investment for FHLB Dallas, agreed. Its critical that small businesses get funding when they need it most, he said. The structure of the loan with no payments the first year is ideal for startup businesses and expansions. Visit fhlb.com/sbb to learn more. About Renaissance Community Loan Fund Renaissance Community Loan Fund is on a mission to empower people with the skills and information they need to improve their finances. Renaissance can help you go from needing your credit repaired to being ready for a home or business loan. Renaissance Community Loan Fund is a different kind of lender focused on helping residents in Mississippi and Alabama. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $181.2 billion as of March 31, 2023, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 800 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit our website at fhlb.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726182486/en/ Corporate Communications Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas fhlb.com (214) 441-8445 Source: Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas Modern Health Launches A New, Enhanced Employer Hub for Workplace Well-Being SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Modern Health, a leading global workplace mental health platform, today announces the launch of Modern Health Central, a new enhanced employer hub for workplace well-being. HR leaders are facing a growing expectation to become mental health first responders despite having a hard time supporting their own mental health as they face everything from a global pandemic to macroeconomic pressures. Modern Health has evolved its employer Insights Hub to create an industry-defining platform for employers to scale employee well-being and meet evolving expectations. Managing employees in 2023 is no easy feat, and HR leaders are adapting to changing expectations around well-being in the workplace, comments Maureen Calabrese, Chief People Officer at Modern Health. These groups are expected to be culture-transformers, first responders to critical incidents, and more even if they lack expertise, insights, and resources in these areas. HR leaders today need a partner that can provide timely and appropriate support for employees in need while also easing the burden on HR leaders themselves. In October 2022, the U.S. Surgeon General released a Workplace Mental Health Framework intended to be a national call to action for employers to prioritize employee well-being. The focus on workplace mental health has never been clearer, but not all employers are equipped to navigate this emerging landscape. Working as a leader responsible for producing all of our cultural heritage month events, I cannot emphasize enough how phenomenal it has been to have Modern Health as a dedicated ally, comments Solomon Wilkins, VP of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging at Amyris. They have gone above and beyond to support us, offering a comprehensive range of communication and content support that has helped increase employee awareness and engagement. If you havent had a chance to partner with Modern Health, I highly recommend them, especially for inclusion and diversity and ERG initiatives. Introducing Modern Health Central A Unified Platform To Scale Workplace Well-Being At Modern Health, part of our mission is to help employers boldly and positively integrate mental health into workplace culture. Modern Health Central is a single, unified platform available to all Modern Health customers, designed to empower and enable people teams, HR business partners, Employee Resource Group (ERG) leads, managers, and other key leaders with resources to support their teams and scale employee well-being. It includes all the capabilities of our Insights Hub plus new enhancements. Modern Health Central includes capabilities such as: On-demand insights reporting: Real-time access to metrics on organizational well-being, areas of need, and utilization of care options, which can be segmented by department or office location. All data is aggregated and anonymized to optimize member privacy protection. Real-time access to metrics on organizational well-being, areas of need, and utilization of care options, which can be segmented by department or office location. All data is aggregated and anonymized to optimize member privacy protection. Resource library templates & guides: Intelligent search, categorization, and navigation across clinician-developed guides, communication templates, and resources for admins, managers, and employees. Client resources cover key areas for support like Crisis and Stressful Events, Professional Health, and DEIB. Intelligent search, categorization, and navigation across clinician-developed guides, communication templates, and resources for admins, managers, and employees. Client resources cover key areas for support like Crisis and Stressful Events, Professional Health, and DEIB. Stressful event response: Modern Health Central includes a suite of outreach templates and frameworks to help HR teams and managers extend swift, decisive, and empathetic support in response to difficult internal or external events (ranging from RIFs to natural disasters). Modern Health Central includes a suite of outreach templates and frameworks to help HR teams and managers extend swift, decisive, and empathetic support in response to difficult internal or external events (ranging from RIFs to natural disasters). Tools to promote inclusive culture: Modern Health Central now enables admins to grant DEIB and ERG leads direct access to tools needed to foster inclusive spaces that support employee belonging, including resources for employees across identities and communities. Modern Health Central now enables admins to grant DEIB and ERG leads direct access to tools needed to foster inclusive spaces that support employee belonging, including resources for employees across identities and communities. Admin permissioning and tools: Granular permissioning allows admins to grant leaders, managers, and people teams appropriate access to communication templates, guides, and resources, as well as advanced admin capabilities like benefits linking. This launch comes on the back of Modern Health being named a 2023 Well-Being Trailblazer, recognizing companies that are transforming the well-being landscape and revolutionizing the way employers and employees view workplace wellness. Additionally, Modern Health continues to strengthen its team with the appointment of Robyn Harmon as VP of Partnerships and Nani McDonnell as SVP of Customer Success. Harmon brings almost 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry with expertise in health management, well-being strategies, and best practices and previously held roles at WTW Human Capital and Benefits Practice, UnitedHealthcare, Lockton Companies, and Kaiser Permanente. McDonnell brings over 25 years of Customer Success, healthcare, and healthcare technology experience. Prior to joining Modern Health, she held leadership roles at PointClickCare and Point Right, United Healthcare, Pacificare of California, Tufts Health Plan, and Cigna. Visit Modern Health to learn more. About Modern Health Modern Health is the comprehensive global mental health solution offering employees access to one-on-one, group, and self-serve digital resources for their emotional, professional, social, financial, and physical well-being needs - all within a single platform. Whether someone wants to proactively manage stress or treat depression, Modern Health guides people to the right care at the right time. Modern Health empowers companies to help all their employees be the best version of themselves and believes in meeting people wherever they are in their mental health journey. Modern Health is backed by investors like Kleiner Perkins, Founders Fund, John Doerr, Y Combinator, and Battery Ventures and has raised more than $170 million in less than two years with a valuation of $1.17 billion, making Modern Health the fastest entirely female-founded company in the U.S. to reach Unicorn status. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726890105/en/ [email protected] Source: Modern Health PUTEAUX, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: ORPEA (Paris: ORP) announces that it has signed two agreements for the sale and lease-back of property portfolios for a total of 83 million. These transactions are in line with ORPEA's real estate asset ownership strategy set out in the Refoundation Plan announced on 15 November, which aims to hold a 20% to 25% ownership rate of operated sites medium-term. On 30 June 2023, ORPEA sold a portfolio of four recently built retirement homes with a total of 475 beds and a serviced residence with 21 apartments to a local investor in Austria. The transaction is worth around 55 million and was carried out at an average capitalization rate of 4.5%1. Those properties, located in Dobl, Fohnsdorf, Kalwang, and Kammern, will continue to be operated by Senecura, a subsidiary of the ORPEA Group. The sale is final and is currently being registered with the Austrian authorities. In the Netherlands, ORPEA closed on 21 July 2023 the sale to a Dutch private equity fund of the premises of four retirement homes recently built or under construction, operated by its Dutch subsidiaries September and Compartijn. The four properties, located in Gouda, Doorn, Hardinxveld, and Rozenburg, will operate 103 beds. The sale was closed for nearly 28 million, in line with the appraisals set as of 31 December 2022. About ORPEA ORPEA is a leading global player, expert in the care of all types of frailty. The Group operates in 21 countries and covers three core businesses: care for the elderly (nursing homes, assisted living facilities, homecare and services), post-acute and rehabilitation care and mental health care (specialized clinics). It has more than 76,000 employees and welcomes more than 267,000 patients and residents each year. https://www.orpea-group.com/en ORPEA is listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN: FR0000184798) and is a member of the SBF 120 and CAC Mid 60 indices. 1 Rate including duties View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726828998/en/ Investor Relations ORPEA Benoit Lesieur Investors Relations Manager [email protected] Toll-free number for shareholders: +33 (0) 805 480 480 Investor Relations NewCap Dusan Oresansky Tel. +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 [email protected] Press Relations ORPEA Isabelle Herrier-Naufle - Press Relations Director - +33 (0) 7 70 29 53 74 [email protected] Image7 Charlotte Le Barbier // Laurence Heilbronn +33 (0)6 78 37 27 60 // +33 (0)6 89 87 61 37 [email protected] [email protected] Source: ORPEA CLAREMONT, N.H. & CHANTILLY, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Red River Charitable Foundation (RRCF), a 501(c)3 supporting veterans and students, today announced the recipients of the 2023 Jeff Sessions Memorial Scholarship. RRCF has awarded a total of $200,000 to 40 recipients since its inception in 2019. The Jeff Sessions Memorial Scholarship supports veterans and military members as they transition to a career in technology. The scholarship was created to honor Red Rivers late CEO and his unwavering commitment to supporting active-duty military and veterans with the funding needed to pursue technology careers. Sessions believed technology could be transformational both in its use and as a career. This scholarship honors Jeffs legacy of supporting both the active duty and veteran communities in the pursuit of continuing education and growth across the field of technology, said Kush Kumar, Red River CRO. Investing in these scholarship recipients is one way we can continue to actively support the evolution of the tech industry as well as our military community. This years scholarship winners received a $2500 scholarship to support their educational goals in the technology field. This years winners represent the U.S. Army and Air Force, and many states throughout the country including New Mexico, Georgia, Virginia and Arizona. The Jeff Sessions Memorial Scholarship is a national program open to active duty and retired military transitioning to a career in IT. Supporting a wide variety of educational opportunities, the Sessions Memorial Scholarship can be tailored to the unique needs of the applicant. This includes certification courses, seminars, books or supplies. As many post-military careers follow non-traditional paths, this scholarship is flexible to support that transition. About Red River Red River brings together the ideal combination of talent, partners and products to disrupt the status quo in technology and drive success for business and government in ways previously unattainable. Red River serves organizations well beyond traditional technology integration, bringing more than 25 years of experience and mission-critical expertise in managed services, cloud, collaboration, cybersecurity and modern infrastructure solutions. Learn more at www.redriver.com For more information on the Red River Charitable Foundation, please visit https://redriver.com/philanthropy. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726990602/en/ Ed Levens Vice President of Marketing Red River [email protected] Source: Red River Charitable Foundation Building on its international expertise in climate adaptation, Ricardo is delivering adaptation planning and resilience support to Europes regions and local authorities LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ricardo, a global strategic environmental and engineering consulting company, is leading the EU Mission Implementation Platform for Adaptation to Climate Change (MIP4Adapt), providing support to the European Commission and everyone delivering the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. The Mission is focused on supporting European regions and local authorities to accelerate their adaptation to climate change and building climate resilience. This is of vital importance given the fact that the impacts of climate change are already happening, and more regularly as evidenced by extreme weather events already increasing in magnitude and frequency which are having direct and indirect impacts on our environment, society, and economy. In turn, these impacts may increasingly lead to transnational spill-over effects on international trade, resource competition, regional conflict, migration, and the spread of pests and diseases. Ricardos experts across Europe are working closely with the European Commission in delivering MIP4Adapt which is the result of a public procurement process - with the work commitment starting in 2023 and running until 2025. MIP4Adapts core team also includes experts from: Fresh Thoughts Consulting, Icatalist, the European Federation of Agencies and Regions for Energy and Environment FEDARENE, and Joanneum Research, as well as experts from across Europe able to deliver technical assistance to the regional and local authorities in all 27 EU Member States. In leading MIP4Adapt, Ricardo is facilitating the development of a community of practice to promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences and enable regional and local authorities across Europe to strengthen coordination and collaboration around climate adaptation. The community includes the 308 regional and local authorities that are signatories to the Mission Charter, covers approximately 40% of Europes land area and population, and is committed to striving towards climate resilience by 2030. In addition, it comprises relevant EU-funded research and innovation projects, the European Commission and other relevant European institutions, national authorities, and Friends of the Mission, including research institutions and businesses. Through MIP4Adapt, Ricardo is also delivering technical assistance to the regional and local authorities that are Charter signatories. This includes helping them to: develop their climate adaptation plans; identify appropriate climate adaptation demonstration projects; identify and access suitable finance and funding for implementation of their plans and demonstration projects; and stimulate engagement and mobilisation of citizens and stakeholders in climate adaptation. Richard Smithers, Director of MIP4Adapt and Ricardos international lead on climate adaptation said: Ricardos delivery of MIP4Adapt builds upon our support for the European Commission over the last decade regarding development and implementation of the EU Adaptation Strategy. It also draws on Ricardos wide-ranging experience of supporting all aspects of climate adaptation planning at all scales in over 40 countries beyond Europe, and on the expertise of our wider team. Through our leadership of MIP4Adapt, our desire is to help to amplify the Missions overall impact across mainland Europe, so it is greater than the sum of individual actions. Ends Notes to editors: About the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change Further information about the Mission and MIP4Adapt can be found at the Mission Portal, Visit https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/en/mission About the core team for MIP4Adapt Ricardos core team for MIP4Adapt also includes experts from Fresh Thoughts Consulting (leading access to the best available knowledge, tools and methods in association with the European Environment Agency), Icatalist (leading on stakeholder and citizen engagement), the European Federation of Agencies and Regions for Energy and Environment FEDARENE (supporting networking between regional and local authorities) and Joanneum Research (fostering links between the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change and the four other EU Missions). About Ricardo Ricardo plc is a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company, listed on the London Stock Exchange. With over 100 years of engineering excellence and employing close to 3,000 employees in more than 20 countries, we provide exceptional levels of expertise in delivering leading-edge and innovative cross-sector sustainable products and solutions. Every day, we enable our customers to solve the most complex and dynamic challenges to help achieve a safe and sustainable world. Visit www.ricardo.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726541878/en/ Kathryn Bellamy Group Senior Communications Manager Ricardo plc Email: [email protected] Telephone: +44(0)7921 941824 Source: Ricardo The launch follows on the heels of Haymarkets acquisition of AJEM in March 2023; the acquisition expands the medical communitys access to high-quality, trusted, peer-reviewed content on cannabinoid-based therapy. NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Haymarket Media, Inc. is pleased to announce the all-new American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine (AJEM), a peer-reviewed journal focused on cannabinoid-based medicine. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726556585/en/ Todays launch marks a new chapter in the field of endocannabinoid medicine: By joining the Haymarket Medical Network (HMN), AJEM will expand its reach and influence, providing even more valuable content to healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the evolving field of endocannabinoid medicine. AJEM will continue to offer HCPs the latest in endocannabinoid medicine, including peer-reviewed original research, noteworthy news, feature articles, and editorials, as well as the all-new AJEM Live (podcasts and video shorts) and conference coverage from medical meetings worldwide. Its an exciting day in the medical industry as we explore this incredible biological system and ways to safely engage with it. AJEM/Haymarket will bridge the knowledge gap between medical and cannabis, says Ken Watkins, founder and Brand Director of AJEM. Medical cannabis science and peer-reviewed research will now reach the doctors who need it the most, says Watkins. A trusted source of information on endocannabinoid research since 2019, AJEM provides the endocannabinoid education that doctors never received in medical school, delivered in the form of peer-reviewed research articles, video, podcasts and other engaging mediums. As a Haymarket Medical Network (HMN) brand, AJEM will continue to thrive as a reliable resource for the latest advancements, best practices, and evidence-based knowledge in the field of endocannabinoid medicine, says Mike Graziani, President of Haymarkets Medical Communications Group. For more information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Ken Watkins, Brand Director. For manuscript submissions, contact Meg Block Roloff, MPH, Senior Managing Editor. About the American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine The American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicines (AJEM) mission is to educate healthcare professionals on medicines that engage with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). By presenting clinical research on the role of the ECS in achieving homeostasis and as a therapeutic target, AJEM seeks to improve the practice of evidence-based cannabinoid medicine. AJEM publishes peer-reviewed original research manuscripts and research interpretation, news, and opinion pieces from thought leaders in the field. AJEMs renowned Editorial Board members assist in the peer-review process and are a diverse group of experts with experience in various cannabinoid medicine disciplines. To learn more, visit www.ajendomed.com. About Haymarket Medical Network Haymarket Medical Network reaches healthcare practitioners through a multichannel environment with more than 20 unique brands offered across multiple formatsweb, app, print, and live events. Its interconnectivity allows users to move from brand to brand to discover the relevant content they need to make practice-related decisions. The network includes renowned drug database MPR and an expanding portfolio of websites that deliver valuable content covering specific therapeutic areas such as Cardiology Advisor, Neurology Advisor, Infectious Disease Advisor and Cancer Therapy Advisor. To learn more, visit www.haymarketmedicalnetwork.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726556585/en/ Ken Watkins, Brand Director [email protected] Meg Block Roloff, MPH, Senior Managing Editor [email protected] Source: Haymarket Media, Inc. Long Island hospitals star: Huntington, Mather in Port Jefferson and North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset get top marks from government agency NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Seven Northwell Health hospitals have received four-star or better ratings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) led by three five-star hospitals on Long Island as part of its 2023 Five-Star Quality Rating System, which were announced today. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726168472/en/ Northwell Health cardiologist Bani Mekisha-Eskanda Azari, MD, PhD, examines a patient at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset. North Shore University Hospital has earned a five-star rating by CMS. Credit Northwell Health. North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, Huntington Hospital and Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson each scored five stars from CMS, the highest rating possible using data that evaluates outcomes, patient experience and process. Just 15 percent of the 4,654 star-rated hospitals nationwide earned five-star status, which used Care Compare data between 2018-2022. Northwell also earned four-star ratings at Glen Cove Hospital, Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco and Staten Island University Hospital. Northwell, New York States largest health system and private employer, saw 11 of the 12 hospitals evaluated either maintain or improve their CMS standing since 2022. CMS, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, created the five-star rating to help consumers identify health care facilities by quality metrics, which include patient outcomes such as mortality, safety of care, readmissions, patient experience and timely and effective care. Northwell Health analyzes the results of each hospitals CMS report each year, internalizes them, course corrects where needed and strives to reach higher, said Michael Dowling, Northwells president and CEO. Im proud to say this was our best showing yet as a health system. Three CMS five-star hospitals on Long Island alone proves our commitment to quality care and excellent outcomes, from the environmental service workers and cooks to our nurses and clinicians. North Shore University Hospital, celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2023, is a Level I trauma center and teaching hospital that treats more than 90,000 patients each year. It is home to the Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital, the Katz Womens Hospital, neurosurgery, multi-organ transplant services and one of the busiest emergency departments in the New York Metropolitan area. It is a Magnet-recognized hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which spotlights excellence in nursing. CMS gave North Shore high ratings for mortality and safety of care. Huntington Hospital, generally considered one of New York States best community hospitals, is top-rated by CMS for the third straight year. It is a Level III trauma center, Magnet designated and known for nationally-recognized orthopedic excellence. The hospital got high marks for safety of care and patient experience. Mather, a Magnet hospital, is nationally recognized for patient safety and highly rated for patient experience. It was recently recognized by Healthgrades as one of the nations Top 250 hospitals. It earned a top CMS rating in 2023, in part, because it scored well in 30-day readmissions, one of the most scrutinized government measures. Overall, four Northwell hospitals improved their CMS rating: Mather and North Shore moved up while Staten Island University Hospital jumped from three to four stars and Plainview improved to three stars. Quality remains job No. 1 for all Northwell Health team members, so its gratifying to see seven hospitals perform so strongly across the board, said Peter Silver, MD, senior vice president and chief quality officer at Northwell Health. We take patient care outcomes and safety, efficient processes and patient experience seriously. The latest CMS star ratings bear that out, but its a never-ending journey toward excellence. The health systems initiatives to improve quality at its hospitals include a focus on infection prevention, efforts to improve recognition and treatment of sepsis, growing the flu vaccination rate among employees as well as transforming dining services and environmental enhancements. About Northwell Health Northwell Health is New York States largest health care provider and private employer, with 21 hospitals, about 900 outpatient facilities and more than 12,000 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 85,000 employees 18,900 nurses and 4,900 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners are working to change health care for the better. Were making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726168472/en/ Jason Molinet 516-321-6705 [email protected] Source: Northwell Health Not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia or any other jurisdiction in violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction. PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: Transition S.A. (Euronext Paris: TRAN) (the "Company" or "Transition") announces that the special meeting of the holders of class B preferred shares issued by the Company (the Class B Shares) held on the date hereof approved the proposed business combination with Arverne Group S.A.S. (the "Business Combination") by a two-thirds majority (more than 98% of the holders of Class B Shares present or represented having voted in favor of the Business Combination). The approval of the Business Combination by the holders of Class B Shares was a condition precedent to the completion of the Business Combination and is therefore an important step in the implementation of the transaction. It is specified that the Business Combination process is described in greater detail in the press release issued at the joint initiative of the Company and Arverne Group S.A.S. on 16 June 2023. Important notice The distribution of this document may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Persons into whose possession this document comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions. This press release is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute and should not be deemed to constitute an offer to the public of securities, nor a solicitation of the public relating to an offer of any kind whatsoever in any country, including France. European Economic Area - France This press release is not a prospectus, but an advertisement provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute and should not be deemed to constitute an offer to the public of securities by Transition, nor a solicitation of the public relating to an offer of any kind whatsoever in any country, including France. A prospectus (the Merger Prospectus) will be submitted to the approval of the Autorite des marches financiers solely for the purpose of the merger between Transition and Arverne Group and a separate prospectus (the Listing Prospectus) will be submitted to the approval of the Autorite des marches financiers solely for the purpose of the admission for trading on the professional segment (compartiment professionnel) of the regulated market of Euronext Paris of the securities to be issued by Transition through a placement to the benefit of certain investors and a categories of investors, as the case may be. A copy of the Merger Prospectus and the Listing Prospectus will be available on the AMFs website (www.amf-france.org) and on Transitions website (spactransition.com) and will be obtainable free of charge from Transition. The Merger Prospectus and the Listing Prospectus will include a detailed description of Transition, including a section describing certain risk factors relating to Transition and the Merger and the PIPE. Investors should not subscribe for or purchase any securities referred to in this press release except on the basis of the information contained in the Merger Prospectus and the Listing Prospectus, as applicable. The distribution of this press release may be subject to legal or regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Any person who comes into possession of this press release must inform him or herself of and comply with any such restrictions. The securities of Transition admitting for trading on the professional segment (compartiment professionnel) of the regulated market of Euronext Paris are addressed solely to Qualified Investors, as defined in the regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of 14 June 2017 and in accordance with the provisions of Article L. 411-2, 1 of the French Code monetaire et financier. United Kingdom This press release does not constitute an offer of securities to the public in the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom, this press release is for distribution only to and is directed only at (a) qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of U.K. domestic law by virtue of the EUWA which are (b) (i) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within the provisions of Article 19(5) of The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the Order) or (ii) high net worth entities, unincorporated associations and other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as Relevant Persons). This press release must not be acted on or relied on, in the United Kingdom, by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is only available to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. Persons distributing this press release must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so. United States of America This press release and the information it contains does not, and will not, constitute an offer to the public to subscribe for or sell, nor the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy, Transition securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction where restrictions may apply. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), it being specified that the Transition securities have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and Transition does not intend to register securities or conduct an offer to the public in the United States. Canada This press release and the information it contains do not, and will not, constitute an offer to the public to subscribe for or sell, nor the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy, Transition securities in any province or territory of Canada. Securities may not be offered or sold in Canada except in a transaction exempt from the prospectus requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws or pursuant to a prospectus that qualifies those securities in the relevant provinces and territories of Canada, it being specified that the Transition securities have not been and will not be qualified by way of prospectus under the securities laws of any province or territory of Canada and Transition does not intend to qualify any such securities or conduct an offering to the public in Canada. This announcement is not being made in and copies of it may not be distributed or sent, directly or indirectly, into the United States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan. Public information Potential investors should review the risk factors described in Transitions prospectus that has been approved by the AMF on June 16, 2021 solely for the purpose of listing of Transition securities on the professional segment (compartiment professionnel) of the regulated market of Euronext Paris. A copy of the prospectus is available on the AMFs website at www.amf-france.org and on Transitions website at spactransition.com and may be obtained free of charge from Transition. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726407719/en/ Transition S.A. Source: TRANSITION New Claims Filed Against State Laws in Wake of SCOTUS Prop 12 Decision ST. JOSEPH, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Triumph Foods filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts federal district court challenging the constitutionality of the state law known as Question 3 (Q3) and, in turn, similar laws like it, including Californias Proposition 12 (Prop 12). Christensen Farms Midwest, LLC, The Hanor Company of Wisconsin, LLC, New Fashion Pork, LLP, and Eichelberger Farms, Inc., also joined the suit as plaintiffs, along with the Allied Producers Cooperative, a group of smaller Midwest farmers. The lawsuit also seeks preliminary injunctive relief to stay the enforcement of Q3 until the litigation is complete, which means Triumph Foods and the farmers are seeking immediate relief when the current stay of enforcement lifts on Aug. 24. The lawsuit challenges Q3 and the overall constitutionality of similar laws like Prop 12. In a May 2023 opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court did not affirm the constitutionality of laws like Prop 12; it ruled only on the narrow, limited claims filed by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the Court raised concerns about other possible constitutional violations that may exist. This left the door open to address the constitutionality of laws like Q3 and Prop 12 through other claims, which Triumph Foods intends to pursue. Discriminatory trade restrictions like Q3 and Prop 12 affect the ability to build resilient, reliable food supply chains across the United States, said Triumph Foods President and CEO Matt England. They also hurt many small businesses, employees, consumers and government-funded agencies. Free and fair interstate commerce is vital for the economic prosperity of our country. The Biden Administrations Solicitor General also questions the constitutionality of laws like Q3 and Prop 12. The Solicitor General raised concerns about the discriminatory impact on other states, due process violations, the threat to the nations food supply and interference with the federal governments obligations to ensure food safety. In the recent litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Solicitor General noted that the U.S. Congress delegated food safety responsibilities to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which regulates the nations pork supply and is charged with ensuring all meat offered for sale throughout the country is safe to eat. The attempt by individual states to reach into the farms and processing plants to regulate our complex supply chain is unprecedented and dangerous. Laws like Q3 and Prop 12 put not just farmers at risk but threaten food security, said the farmer plaintiffs. "The USDA already regulates foodborne illnesses. We cannot have each individual state try to usurp that role. The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) previously filed a lawsuit against Prop 12 prior to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the NPPC case. The IPPA litigation has some similar claims to those now also pursued against Q3. Triumph Foods supports this lawsuit. On July 5, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to allow this case to proceed and on an expedited basis, denying requests from the California Attorney Generals Office and intervenors. Triumph Foods hopes to obtain immediate and permanent relief from Q3, Prop 12 and any attempt by individual states to disrupt interstate commerce and our nations food supply in the future. About Triumph Foods Triumph Foods is a leading processor of premium pork products worldwide. The farmer-owned company began operations in St. Joseph, Mo., in January 2006. With its state-of-the-art facility, Triumph employs over 2,400 workers and produces over 1.5 billion pounds of pork annually. For more information, visit triumphfoods.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726707645/en/ Ryan Curell, Communication Director Wixted & Company [email protected] Source: Triumph Foods Deal to Provide WIZE with Additional Experienced Southern California Warehouse Installation Teams SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Wize Solutions announced the close of its acquisition of the Warehouse Equipment Contractors, Inc. installation business. This strategic acquisition will provide WIZE with additional experienced teams of warehouse installation employees in the Southern California market that has strong and connected leadership. Hear the details directly from Wize leadership on the announcement video here: WIZE Acquisition Announcement Video This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726602186/en/ Left to Right: Monte Landy, founder and principal of Warehouse Equipment Contractors, Inc. and Tyson Bigelow, president of Wize Solutions (Photo: Business Wire) With projects completed in all 50 states, more than 100 dedicated employees, thousands of satisfied customers and completed projects, this strategic acquisition is another step WIZE has taken to strengthen its offering to its customers. I am glad to welcome Monte and his staff to WIZE, said Tyson Bigelow, president of Wize Solutions. Monte has more than 27 years of experience in material handling and brings a wealth of knowledge in warehousing, automated systems, design and installation. He has strong relationships with dealers and distributors, and we look forward to him maintaining these connections in his new role at WIZE. "I have known Tyson, Ryan Boucher and Josh Trayner for many years and respect their high-quality standards, integrity and the business they have built, said Monte Landy, founder and principal of Warehouse Equipment Contractors, Inc. Now that Warehouse Equipment Contractors, Inc.s installation business is now officially part of WIZE Solutions, Inc., I am looking forward to providing our expanded customer base with the same warehouse services with the added resources of WIZE. WIZE has scaled the business with other components including: Strengthening install teams across the country: Through hiring on-staff project managers, additional installation employees, a new installation team and a national sales manager to service the growing customer base in the United States. Through hiring on-staff project managers, additional installation employees, a new installation team and a national sales manager to service the growing customer base in the United States. General Contractor Capabilities: WIZE Solutions holds contractor licenses in most states and provides permitting services while maintaining the highest level of insurance coverage. WIZE Solutions holds contractor licenses in most states and provides permitting services while maintaining the highest level of insurance coverage. High Safety Standards: WIZE Solutions maintains a great safety record, the WIZE foremen are OSHA 30 trained and general laborers are OSHA 10 trained. For more information, please visit wizesolutions.com and stay connected with the company on LinkedIn. About Wize Solutions, Inc. Wize Solutions is a national leader in material handling integration solutions. With successful projects across all 50 states as well as Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico and more, Wize has the experience, industry relationships and high standards to get the job done safely and on time. The Wize Solutions Way provides its installation crews annual training programs to remain up to date on all industry innovations. Offering specialty installation services for shelving, wire guidance, mezzanine, lockers, industrial fans, rack repair, curtain walls and just about anything a warehouse needs to stay efficient, Wize is the only partner you need when building or retrofitting and upgrading a warehouse. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726602186/en/ Kirsten Woodard [email protected] (714) 366-6003 Source: Wize Solutions XPENG and the Volkswagen Group entered into long-term strategic partnership XPENG and the Volkswagen Group will jointly develop two B-class BEVs under Volkswagen brand leveraging the strength of each other XPENG will issue Class A ordinary shares about 4.99% of its outstanding share capital to the Volkswagen Group at US$15 per ADS for approximately US$700 million The strategic partnership also empowers both parties to explore long-term collaboration opportunities in future EV platforms, supply chain, next-generation Smart EV technologies, among others GUANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- XPENG Inc. (XPENG, NYSE: XPEV and HKEX: 9868.HK), a leading Chinese smart EV company and the Volkswagen Group, one of the worlds leading automobile manufacturers, are pleased to announce today that XPENG and the Volkswagen Group have entered into a framework agreement on strategic technical collaboration and a share purchase agreement for strategic minority investment by the Volkswagen Group in XPENG. The objective of the strategic technical collaboration is to leverage each others complementary strengths and forge a long term win-win strategic partnership. Underpinned by the vision of the strategic partnership and significant synergies, the parties simultaneously entered into a share purchase agreement for the issuance of Class A ordinary shares about 4.99% of XPENGs outstanding share capital as of immediately after the closing to Volkswagen Group at US$15 per American depositary share, for a total consideration of approximately US$700 million. The share issuance will be subject to customary closing conditions including applicable regulatory approvals. In connection with the strategic technical collaboration, XPENG and the Volkswagen Group will jointly develop two B-class battery electric vehicles (BEV) models for sale in the Chinese market under Volkswagen brand, leveraging respective core competencies and XPENGs G9 platform and Connectivity and ADAS software. The models are expected to start production (such start of production, SOP) in 2026. Furthermore, the parties will explore additional potential strategic cooperation in a number of areas, including collaboration on future EV platforms, software technologies and supply chain. The discussion on the Strategic Technical Collaboration is ongoing and is subject to the positive outcome of a project feasibility study. The Volkswagen Group and XPENG each brings in highly complementary strengths into this long-term strategic partnership. We will share Smart EV technologies and world-class design and engineering capability with each other and learn from each other, said Mr. Xiaopeng He, Chairman and CEO of XPENG. Since the founding of XPENG, we have been developing full-stack technologies from EV platform to Connectivity and ADAS software in house. We are excited about the opportunity to contribute our expertise to the strategic partnership and create value for XPENG and our shareholders. Mr. Ralf Brandstatter, Volkswagen AG Board Member for China, commented, Local partnerships are a key building block in the Volkswagen Groups in China for China strategy. Together with XPENG, we are now forming a strong cooperation and speeding up the expansion of our local electric portfolio and at the same time preparing ourselves for the next step change in innovation. In an intensely competitive and dynamic market environment we are leveraging the partners core competences, thus creating synergies to bring additional products to market faster aligned with the special wishes of Chinese customers. At the same time, we can significantly optimize development and procurement costs. About XPENG XPENG is a leading Chinese Smart EV company that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets Smart EVs that appeal to the large and growing base of technology-savvy middle-class consumers. Its mission is to drive Smart EV transformation with technology, shaping the mobility experience of the future. In order to optimize its customers mobility experience, XPENG develops in-house its full-stack advanced driver-assistance system technology and in-car intelligent operating system, as well as core vehicle systems including the powertrain and the electrical/electronic architecture. XPENG is headquartered in Guangzhou, China, with main offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, San Diego and Amsterdam. XPENGs Smart EVs are mainly manufactured at its plants in Zhaoqing and Guangzhou, Guangdong province. For more information, please visit https://www.xiaopeng.com. About Volkswagen Group China The Volkswagen Group is one of the first and most successful international partners in Chinas automobile industry, growing with it for about four decades. The success story began in 1978 when the Volkswagen Group first began to communicate with its Chinese counterparts. In 1984, SAIC Volkswagen Corporation Ltd., Volkswagen Groups first joint venture in China, was founded in Shanghai, followed by FAW-Volkswagen Corporation Ltd. in 1991. Then, in 2017, the Group launched Volkswagen (Anhui) Automotive Company Limited with a mission to manufacture NEVs in China for China. Shortly, thereafter, in 2021, the Audi FAW NEV Company was incorporated, focusing on the manufacture of luxury NEVs in China. Volkswagen Group Chinas business scope includes the production, sales and services of vehicles and parts, such as engines and transmissions. The Group is represented by many auto brands in all segments, including Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Audi, SKODA, JETTA, Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Ducati, etc. Since entering the Chinese market, the Volkswagen Group has taken the leading market position, and with its joint venture partners, it delivered 3.18 million vehicles in Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong in 2022. As of the end of 2022, Volkswagen Group China has over 90,000 employees in China. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as will, expects, anticipates, future, intends, plans, believes, estimates and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about XPENGs beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside XPENGs control. There can be no assurance that the relevant parties will continue to explore any strategic collaboration or equity investment transaction on any particular terms and conditions, that any definitive agreement will be executed relating to the proposed strategic collaboration or equity investment transaction, that the strategic collaboration or equity investment transaction will be consummated, or that the strategic collaboration or equity investment transaction, if consummated, will lead to any particular result. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and XPENG does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726344729/en/ For Investor Enquiries: IR Department XPeng Inc. Email: [email protected] Jenny Cai Piacente Financial Communications Tel: +1 212 481 2050 / +86 10 6508 0677 Email: [email protected] For Media Enquiries: PR Department XPeng Inc. Email: [email protected] Source: XPeng Inc. CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI) today announced that it was awarded a five-year, single-award $209 million mission expertise prime contract by the U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) to provide global logistics and technical training support to Naval Forces Logistics (NFL). Our history with the Navy dates back to CACIs first contract award in 1963 with the Navys Ships Parts Control Center, which has evolved into this work today, said CACI President and Chief Executive Officer John Mengucci. This latest award represents another vote of confidence in CACIs performance and innovation. Our long-standing dedication to the Navys mission will ensure that its global logistics and training programs evolve and modernize, while supporting Sailors to stay ahead of rapidly advancing adversaries and threats. Under the expanded contract, CACI will continue to provide advanced mission software and modern capabilities needed to ensure readiness and decision advantage across all domains. CACIs rapid capability upgrades and technology offer the Navy expert global logistics support and technical proficiency, including analysis and problem-solving, installation and setup of various computer systems and software, database and system administration, financial management, on-site assistance, training, implementation, and program management. The USFFC supports the Chief of Naval Operations and Department of Defense combatant commanders worldwide by providing responsive, relevant, sustainable naval operating forces that are ready for continual combat operations. The command organizes, mans, trains, equips, and maintains naval forces to generate sustainable readiness for current and future operations. ABOUT CACI CACIs approximately 22,000 talented employees are vigilant in providing the unique expertise and distinctive technology that address our customers greatest enterprise and mission challenges. Our culture of good character, innovation, and excellence drives our success and earns us recognition as a Fortune World's Most Admired Company. As a member of the Fortune 1000 Largest Companies, the Russell 1000 Index, and the S&P MidCap 400 Index, we consistently deliver strong shareholder value. Visit us at www.caci.com. There are statements made herein which do not address historical facts, and therefore could be interpreted to be forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in CACIs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, and other such filings that CACI makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Any forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon and only speak as of the date hereof. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726836877/en/ Corporate Communications and Media: Lorraine Corcoran Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications (703) 434-4165, [email protected] Investor Relations: Daniel Leckburg Senior Vice President, Investor Relations (703) 841-7666, [email protected] Source: CACI International Inc Gold Resource Corporation (NYSE American: GORO) (the Company) is pleased to announce its mid-year and quarterly operational results from its Don David Gold Mine (DDGM) near Oaxaca, Mexico, and a corporate update on its other activities. Year to Date Highlights Include: Produced and sold 10,795 ounces of gold and 569,072 ounces of silver Produced and sold 6,201 tonnes of zinc, 659 tonnes of copper, and 2,734 tonnes of lead Total cash cost after co-product credits for the quarter was $1,333 per gold equivalent ounce Cash balance of $18 million with no debt and working capital of $20.8 million at June 30, 2023 While our quarterly results are lower when compared to last years environment of higher base metal prices, our operational results to date remain in line with our 2023 mine plan and guidance, stated Allen Palmiere, President and CEO for the Company. Factors that are out of our control and affect our bottom line include a strengthening Mexican Peso to the US dollar, increased local power costs and lower metal prices for our co-product metals of copper, lead and zinc. To offset these factors, we continue to identify and implement opportunities for other cost reductions and operational efficiencies. We are pleased to report that we continue to have encouraging drill results from our underground exploration program at DDGM with the goal to increase the average grade of our life of mine resources and that of our 2024 mine plan. Second Quarter Operational Results Don David Gold Mine No lost time incidents during the quarter. Our year-to-date LTIFR safety record is 0.22 as compared to the Mexican average of 0.88 (in US equivalent). Safety at Gold Resource Corporation is paramount. Even with a good track record at the Don David Gold Mine (DDGM), the Company continues to strive each quarter for improved measures, awareness, and training. The DDGM diamond drilling program has progressed as planned during the second quarter with encouraging results. Drilling continues to advance at DDGM on two fronts: (1) Infill drilling with the objective of upgrading defined Inferred resources to the Indicated category; and (2) Exploration drilling with the objective of identifying additional Inferred resources via step-out drilling along the South Soledad, Sagrario, Marena and Three Sisters vein systems, as well as on the recently identified Gloria vein system. Back Forty Project Optimization work related to the metallurgy and the economic model for the Back Forty Project in Michigan, USA is near completion. The Company plans to release these updated results in a report during the third quarter. Updated site layout designs have focused on little to no impact on wetlands and being fully protective of the environment. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency limits the federal governments authority with regards to wetlands and will likely result in not needing a dredge and fill wetland permit. The drawdown of wetlands will be regulated by Michigan State authorities. Financial Total cash cost after co-product credits for the quarter was $1,333 per gold equivalent (AuEq) ounce and total all-in sustaining cost (AISC) after co-product credits for the quarter was $1,990 per AuEq ounce. Although the year-to-date total cash cost after co-product credits of $979 and total AISC after co-product credits of $1,551 are within guidance, the strengthening of the peso and lower zinc prices may result in needing to revise the full year guidance later in the year. (See Item 2Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Non-GAAP Measures below for a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to applicable GAAP measures). below for a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to applicable GAAP measures). The Companys At The Market Offering Agreement with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (the Agent), which was entered into in November 2019 (the ATM Agreement), pursuant to which the Agent agreed to act as the Companys sales agent with respect to the offer and sale from time to time of the Companys common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $75.0 million was renewed in June 2023. 2023 Capital and Exploration Investment Summary For the six months ended June 30, 2023 2023 full year guidance (in thousands) Sustaining Investments: Underground Development Capital $ 2,362 Infill Drilling Capitalized Exploration 1,785 Other Sustaining Capital Capital 628 Surface and Underground Exploration Development & Other Capitalized Exploration 1,079 Subtotal of Sustaining Investments: 5,854 $ 9 - 11 million Growth Investments: DDGM growth: Surface Exploration / Other Exploration 1,139 Underground Exploration Drilling Exploration 1,295 Underground Exploration Development Capitalized Exploration 147 Back Forty growth: Back Forty Project Optimization & Permitting Exploration 845 Subtotal of Growth Investments: 3,426 $ 6 - 7 million Total Capital and Exploration: $ 9,280 $ 15 - 18 million Trending Highlights 2022 2023 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Operating Data Total tonnes milled 136,844 129,099 110,682 116,616 117,781 113,510 Average Grade - Gold (g/t) 3.00 2.63 1.98 2.51 2.33 1.59 Silver (g/t) 81 64 80 109 94 86 Copper (%) 0.41 0.32 0.37 0.45 0.37 0.37 Lead (%) 1.97 1.99 1.59 1.58 1.73 1.64 Zinc (%) 4.89 4.00 4.21 4.27 3.88 3.72 Metal production (before payable metal deductions) Gold (ozs.) 11,187 9,317 5,851 7,767 7,171 4,637 Silver (ozs.) 332,292 249,088 261,256 370,768 322,676 289,816 Copper (tonnes) 431 303 296 406 336 334 Lead (tonnes) 2,073 2,020 1,249 1,323 1,559 1,389 Zinc (tonnes) 5,562 4,282 3,901 4,198 3,837 3,569 Metal produced and sold Gold (ozs.) 8,381 8,746 5,478 7,514 6,508 4,287 Silver (ozs.) 265,407 231,622 225,012 335,168 294,815 274,257 Copper (tonnes) 408 286 282 372 332 327 Lead (tonnes) 1,639 1,755 1,056 941 1,417 1,317 Zinc (tonnes) 4,359 3,590 2,943 3,265 3,060 3,141 Average metal prices realized Gold ($ per oz.) $ 1,898 $ 1,874 $ 1,627 $ 1,734 $ 1,915 $ 2,010 Silver ($ per oz.) $ 23.94 $ 22.05 $ 18.54 $ 21.25 $ 23.04 $ 24.93 Copper ($ per tonne) $ 10,144 $ 9,275 $ 7,115 $ 8,221 $ 9,172 $ 8,397 Lead ($ per tonne) $ 2,347 $ 2,168 $ 1,882 $ 1,954 $ 2,158 $ 2,153 Zinc ($ per tonne) $ 3,842 $ 4,338 $ 3,186 $ 2,577 $ 3,195 $ 2,485 Gold equivalent ounces sold - Gold Ounces 8,381 8,746 5,478 7,514 6,508 4,287 Gold Equivalent Ounces from Silver 3,348 2,729 2,564 4,107 3,547 3,402 Total AuEq oz 11,729 11,475 8,042 11,621 10,055 7,689 Financial Data ($'s in thousands except for per ounce) Total sales, net $ 45,417 $ 37,064 $ 23,869 $ 32,374 $ 31,228 $ 24,807 Total cash cost after co-product credits per AuEq oz sold $ (163) $ 247 $ 1,103 $ 842 $ 711 $ 1,333 Total consolidated all-in sustaining cost after co-product credits per AuEq oz sold $ 462 $ 799 $ 1,831 $ 1,226 $ 1,221 $ 1,990 Production Costs $ 20,074 $ 21,722 $ 19,380 $ 19,773 $ 19,850 $ 20,302 Production Costs/Tonnes Milled $ 147 $ 168 $ 175 $ 170 $ 169 $ 179 Operating Cash Flows $ 4,230 $ 7,976 $ (4,292) $ 6,243 $ 1,024 $ (551) Net income (loss) $ 4,019 $ 2,673 $ (9,730) $ (3,283) $ (1,035) $ (4,584) Earnings (loss) per share - basic $ 0.05 $ 0.03 $ (0.11) $ (0.04) $ (0.01) $ (0.05) About GRC: Gold Resource Corporation is a gold and silver producer, developer and explorer with its operations centered on the Don David Gold Mine in Oaxaca, Mexico. Under the direction of an experienced board and senior leadership team, the companys focus is to unlock the significant upside potential of its existing infrastructure and large land position surrounding the mine in Oaxaca, Mexico and to develop the Back Forty Project in Michigan, USA. For more information, please visit GRCs website, located at www.goldresourcecorp.com and read the companys Form 10-K for an understanding of the risk factors associated with its business. Q2 2023 Conference Call The Company will host a conference call Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time. The conference call will be recorded and posted to the Companys website later in the day following the conclusion of the call. Following prepared remarks, Allen Palmiere, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alberto Reyes, Chief Operating Officer and Kim Perry, Chief Financial Officer will host a live question and answer (Q&A) session. There are two ways to join the conference call. To join the conference via webcast, please click on the following link: https://viavid.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1624501&tp_key=3623edd13a To join the call via telephone, please use the following dial-in details: Participant Toll Free: +1 (888) 886-7786 International: +1 (416) 764-8658 Conference ID: 11731488 Please connect to the conference call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time using one of the connection options listed above. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726190363/en/ Kim Perry Chief Financial Officer [email protected] www.GoldResourcecorp.com Source: Gold Resource Corporation Mass Megawatts Wind Power,Inc. (OTC: MMMW) www.massmegawatts.com has started the process of developing a 350 kW solar power project using our patent pending Concentrated Solar Power Tracking System (CST) that will set a new standard for low-cost and reliable energy production. The new technology can deliver a significant reduction in the cost of solar energy production. The proposed project is planned to be developed on two warehouses having a total of 500,000 square feet near Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts. The electricity will primarily sold to local businesses. The CST utilizes a low-cost, yet robust platform for concentrating the suns rays directly onto a central area of solar panels that will convert the reflected sunlight into energy. The CST has reflectors that are mounted on the perimeter of a rotating, circular platform that continually adjusts its position to directly face the suns rays throughout the day with an innovation to avoid elevated heat levels using a low cost patent pending method. The new technology is an important addition to its previously disclosed patent pending solar tracker which can produce 35 percent more solar power for less than ten percent additional cost. A video on the home page of www.massmegawatts.com summarizes the previously disclosed patent pending solar tracker that can pay for itself in less than five years at many locations. Unlike other solar tracking technologies, the Mass Megawatts Solar Tracker utilizes a low-cost framework that adds stability to the overall system, while improving energy production levels. The new technology is also designed to be able to reduce the cost of solar power by employing a furling technology borrowed from wind technology for protection in the case of high wind events. This press release contains forward-looking statements that could be affected by risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated herein are: the failure of Mass Megawatts Wind Power (MMMW), also known as Mass Megawatts Windpower, to achieve or maintain necessary zoning approvals with respect to the location of its power developments; the ability to remain competitive; to finance the marketing; general economic conditions; and other risk factors detailed in periodic reports filed by Mass Megawatts Wind Power (MMMW). Contact:[email protected]www.massmegawatts.com Source: Mass Megawatts Wind Power, Inc Nissan announced Wednesday that the Japanese automaker will invest up to $663 million in Renaults new electric vehicle unit, Ampere. The decision marks the finalization of months of contentious negotiations. The investment in Ampere is consistent with Nissan being a strategic investor and securing a board seat on the new company, Nissan said. The deal is likely to be seen as a positive. Talks between the two automakers lasted months longer than expected, due in part to Nissan's concern keeping its intellectual property safe in any future collaborations. Reports say that Ampere's valuation may reach as high as 10 billion euros. Back in February, Nissan hinted at investing no more than 15% in Ampere, but how much of the company it will actually end up owning is still unclear. U.S. chipmaker, Qualcomm has already announced plans to invest in Ampere. Meanwhile, Nissan and Renaults junior partner, Mitsubishi Motors, has stated that they would like to decide about any potential investment ahead of Ampere's initial public offering, which could take place in the first half of 2024. By Michael Elkins | [email protected] Chinas Summer World University Games are set to begin on August 8th. However, as important Chinese figures such as President Xi Jinping are set to attend, Tesla vehicles are being turned away. According to several reports, Tesla vehicles are barred from the event as a security measure. Officials are being told by authorities in Chengdu to block Tesla vehicles in some areas that are related to the event. Starting in 2021, China raised concerns about the exterior cameras attached to Tesla vehicles. Expressing worries about potential capture of sensitive information. The concerns emerged during a period of tense relations between the United States and China, leading the Chinese government to be particularly cautious about data gathering through the all-electric vehicles. As a response to these concerns, Chinese officials conducted a thorough security review of Tesla vehicles. The primary focus of the analysis revolved around the cameras and the synchronization of smartphones with the car. Following the analysis, the country decided to ban military members and government officials from driving a Tesla in March 2021. When allegations of spying and data collection were first brought forth, CEO Elon Musk responded that the company would be shut down if they used their vehicles to capture sensitive political information. Theres a very strong incentive for us to be very confidential with any information. If Tesla used cars to spy in China or anywhere, we will get shut down. Shares of TSLA are down 0.27% in afternoon trading on Wednesday. By Michael Elkins | [email protected] Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) today announced Jim Vena has been appointed as chief executive officer and a member of the Board, effective August 14, 2023 . The company also announced that Beth Whited , Union Pacific's executive vice president, sustainability and strategy and chief human resources officer, has been appointed as president, reporting to Vena. Mike McCarthy , Union Pacific's lead independent director, has been elected as chairman of the Board. These leadership changes are effective August 14, 2023 , and reflect a strong focus on driving growth, improving service, and enhancing safety across the company's rail system. Vena succeeds Lance Fritz , who is stepping down as chairman, president and chief executive officer. Going forward, the operations, finance, marketing and sales, supply chain, and technology functions will report directly to Vena. Whited's responsibilities will include the strategy, workforce resources, sustainability, law, corporate relations and government affairs functions. Vena has more than 40 years of industry experience and is returning to Union Pacific after serving as its chief operating officer from 2019-2020 and as a senior advisor to the chairman in 2021. "One of the most vital characteristics we considered as we conducted the search to identify the next CEO was extensive railroad operating experience," said McCarthy. "Jim has that and more. After a comprehensive search process, the Board unanimously determined that his track record of operating excellence was unparalleled, and he is the right candidate for the job." McCarthy continued, "In addition to his 40-plus year career with Canadian National, Jim knows Union Pacific's operations firsthand, demonstrates the ability to deliver strong results, and is passionate about returning to the Union Pacific team. Under Jim's leadership, the Board looks forward to continued success driving safety and service improvements, generating greater shareholder returns, and creating value for all stakeholders." "I am excited about returning to Union Pacific and look forward to the journey to be the safest, most reliable and most efficient railroad in the industry," said Vena. "Working closely with the entire team, my focus from day one will be to ensure the Company delivers industry-leading customer and operating excellence, cultivates and empowers our employees, and cares for the communities in which we operate. These efforts will generate strong shareholder returns." Whited has been with Union Pacific for more than 35 years and has held leadership roles across multiple departments. "Beth has been key to Union Pacific's transformation over many years across numerous functions. Her award-winning work driving sustainability and workforce development helped the company advance its culture and distinguish itself from peers," McCarthy added. Whited commented, "I care deeply about the Union Pacific team and the many stakeholders who rely upon us. I am very proud of what we stand for and am looking forward to continuing my career at a company that has been transformational to our world and my life. I look forward to working with Jim and the rest of our team as we strive to make Union Pacific one of the strongest franchises in America." "I'd like to express my deep appreciation to the stakeholders of Union Pacific for giving me the privilege of leading this historic company for the past eight years," said Fritz. "I am pleased by the progress we've made together to enhance value for our stakeholders and chart a strong path forward. I welcome Jim back to Union Pacific, and am confident that we have the right leaders to advance the hard work underway." "The Board is grateful to Lance for his leadership over the last eight years. Lance successfully positioned Union Pacific for long-term success, and we wish him the very best in his next chapter," McCarthy continued. (Updated - July 26, 2023 9:11 AM EDT) The Volkswagen Group is strengthening its position on the Chinese automotive market with cooperations between the VW brand and XPENG (NYSE: XPEV) and between Audi and SAIC. The Group is thus forging ahead with its local electrification strategy. The aim is to swiftly tap into new customer and market segments, thereby systematically leveraging the potential of Chinas dynamically growing e-mobility market. The VW brand concludes technological framework agreement for long-term cooperation with XPENG In addition, the Volkswagen Group is investing approximately US$700 million in XPENG via way of capital increase and will ultimately hold about 4.99 percent of the shares for a price of US$15 per ADS (*) Audi and SAIC sign memorandum expanding existing cooperation Both partnerships provide for the joint development of intelligent, fully connected electric vehicles (ICV) for the Chinese market Additional models will supplement the existing product portfolio and tap into further market and customer segments in Chinas fast-growing emobility market New strategic cooperations increase local development capacities as part of the Volkswagen Groups in China for China strategy and strengthen alignment with the wishes of Chinese customers The VW brand has concluded a technological framework agreement with XPENG. The initial stage of the cooperation shall provide for the joint development of two VW brand electric models for the midsize segment in the Chinese market. The China-specific vehicles will supplement the MEB product portfolio and are to be rolled out in 2026 in China. This is subject to the conclusion of final agreements. As part of the close and long-term strategic cooperation, the Volkswagen Group is to invest approximately US$700 million in the Chinese manufacturer of intelligent electric cars. Volkswagen is thus acquiring 4.99 percent stake in XPENG at US$15 per ADS (*) by way of a capital increase, and will hold a seat as an observer on the XPENG board of directors. The share issuance will be subject to customary closing conditions including applicable regulatory approvals. Audi has signed a strategic memorandum with its Chinese joint venture partner SAIC to further expand existing cooperation. Joint development activities are to extend the portfolio of fully connected electric vehicles on offer in the premium segment swiftly and efficiently. It is planned to start with electric models in a segment where Audi does not as yet have a presence in China. The jointly developed e-models are to be equipped with state-of-the-art software and hardware, in order to offer Chinese customers an intuitive, connected digital experience. All parties are contributing their respective core competences to the development effort. Both agreements also envisage a planned, future joint development of new local platforms for the next generation of intelligent, fully connected vehicles (ICV). The partnerships aim to swiftly expand the Groups product range with further models from China for China in particularly promising customer and market segments. The details of cooperation on future e-platforms are the subject of further negotiations between the partners. Ralf Brandstatter, Volkswagen AG Board Member for China, commented: "Local partnerships are an important building block in the Volkswagen Group's 'in China for China' strategy. We are now accelerating the expansion of our local electric portfolio and at the same time preparing for the next innovation step. With XPENG, we now have another strong partner that is one of the leading manufacturers in China in key technology areas. In a competitive and dynamic market environment, we are leveraging the strengths of Volkswagen and our partners to create synergies to bring additional products to market faster. In doing so, we focus on the specific needs of our customers in China. At the same time, we want to significantly optimize development and procurement costs. Volkswagen Group (China) Technology Company assumes development responsibility for new Volkswagen models The recently founded Volkswagen Group China Technology Company (VCTC) is the development partner for XPENG. The new development, innovation and procurement center is the Groups largest development location outside Wolfsburg. Going forward, this is where over 2,000 development and procurement experts will work on new intelligent, fully connected electric vehicles. Optimizing development and procurement volumes generates significant synergy potential with cost advantages compared with current vehicle projects. Partnerships are next important step in the Groups in China for China strategy The cooperations tie in with the Groups in China for China strategy to address market-defining trends in China at an early stage and leverage the growth dynamics and innovative strength of the Chinese market more effectively. In order to speed up decision-making and development processes in the region, Volkswagen is strengthening its local capacities for e-mobility as well as digitalization and autonomous driving. To this end, Volkswagen is expanding its Hefei plant in east Chinas Anhui Province into a state-of-theart production, development and innovation hub. Production at Volkswagen Anhuis new vehicle plant will commence this year. VW Anhui Component Company is building a manufacturing facility for highvoltage battery systems in Hefei. Furthermore, Volkswagen Group China Technology Company is setting up a development and procurement center for fully connected, intelligent electric vehicles in Hefei. At the same time, the Volkswagen Group is also focusing on partnerships with local high-tech companies. For Volkswagen Group China, high technology localization and systematic customer orientation are the key to playing a leading role in the new era of intelligent connected vehicles (ICV). (*) ADS = American Depositary Share, 1 ADS represents 2 Class A Shares AT&T (NYSE: T) reported a mixed set of second-quarter results. Still, shares traded about 1.5% higher in pre-open Wednesday as Q2 results will likely be seen as better than what some investors feared. The company posted a profit per share of $0.63, $0.03 better than the analyst estimate of $0.60. Revenue for the quarter came in at $29.92 billion, missing the consensus estimate of $30.01 billion. The company said its mobility revenue rose 2% year-over-year to $20.3B, although still missing the $20.45B expectations. AT&T generated $4.2B in Q2 free cash flow. "The direction we set three years ago is sound, and we're on the right trajectory. Compared to last year, Mobility service and broadband revenues are up, Adjusted EBITDA is up, free cash flow is up, Mobility and Consumer Wireline margins are up and customer lifetime values are up," said John Stankey, AT&T CEO. "We're focused on growing the right way, adding profitable 5G and fiber customers. We are also committing to an incremental $2 billion-plus in cost savings beyond the $6 billion we have accomplished over this period, reflecting our continued march to operating the company in a more focused and streamlined fashion. Our results give us full confidence in delivering our full-year financial guidance." AT&T saw 464,000 wireless postpaid net additions, including 326,000 phone net additions. Both missed analyst targets. The Texas-based business reiterated its guidance for FY FCF of at least $16B. By Senad Karaahmetovic FILE PHOTO: A General Dynamics NASSCO ship yard entrance is shown in San Diego, California, U.S., June 17, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo/File Photo (Reuters) -General Dynamics on Wednesday lifted its annual revenue forecast as demand for business jets and military equipment stays resilient, sending its shares up 3% at midday. Demand for business jets from U.S. corporations remains buoyant despite a recovery in commercial flights and pressure from environmentalists over emissions. "It's the Fortune 500 that are really driving the demand (for business jets). These are long-established customers as well as new customers," Chief Executive Officer Phebe Novakovic said on a post-earnings call. The Gulfstream G650 maker now expects 2023 revenue of about $42.45 billion, compared to its previous expectations of $41.2 billion to $41.3 billion. The company expects to deliver five to six aircraft less than its earlier forecast of 145 jets in 2023, as supply chain issues and labor shortages hobble production but the CEO said there was "relief" in sight. The aerospace segment booked $2.5 billion in new orders during the quarter, driven by strong demand for the company's Gulfstream business aircraft. The company's book-to-bill ratio, which is the ratio of orders received to units shipped and billed, was 1.2-to-1. General Dynamics also benefited from robust demand for weapons, driven by simmering geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, conflict in Ukraine and military modernization efforts of ally countries. Sales at the marine systems segment, which makes ships in addition to submarines, rose 15.4%. The company forecasts revenue in the segment to rise between $900 million and $1 billion to $11 billion in the year. Total revenue at the Reston, Virginia-based company for the second quarter rose 10.5% to $10.15 billion, compared to a Wall Street consensus of $9.45 billion. Net earnings came in at $744 million, or $2.70 per share, ahead of analysts' average estimates of $2.54, according to Refinitiv data. (Reporting by Pratyush Thakur in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar and Maju Samuel) ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, July 26. Turkmenistan and Germany discussed the current agenda of economic cooperation, Trend reports. According to the official source, these issues were discussed between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, and the Director General of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy, Michael Harms, who arrived in Turkmenistan on a visit. During the meeting, Rashid Meredov and Michael Harms noted the positive dynamics of the development of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. Furthermore, the Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan outlined the priorities for the further development of bilateral relations, noting the importance of cooperation in the fields of "green" technologies, the manufacturing sector, energy, agriculture, and water management, as well as education. Economic cooperation between Germany and Turkmenistan is an important aspect of their relationship. Both countries are actively working on the development of trade and investment ties, which contribute to the strengthening of economic ties and mutual benefit. Investing.com -- Sam Bankman-Fried is set to appear in a federal court on Wednesday as a judge considers whether to bar the founder of the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX from making public statements ahead of his upcoming fraud trial. Bankman-Fried is currently set to go on trial in early October over fraud charges related to the collapse of FTX. He has pleaded not guilty to claims that he stole billions from FTX customers to plug losses at his hedge fund Alameda Research. Today's hearing, which is set to begin at 14:00 ET (18:00 GMT), comes as the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan is requesting that a gag order be placed on Bankman-Fried and his allies before the start of that trial. Prosecutors requested the ban last week after Bankman-Fried shared personal Google documents from Caroline Ellison, the former head of his crypto hedge fund Alameda Research and his ex-romantic partner, with reporters from The New York Times. Writing to U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, prosecutors accused Bankman-Fried of witness tampering, noting that Ellison is due to be key witness in the trial. Bankman-Fried rejected those claims but agreed to accept a gag order. The defense also asked that the ban apply to prosecutors and possible witnesses like current FTX chief executive John Ray. Meanwhile, Kaplan is keen to reassess "the adequacy and continuation" of Bankman-Fried's current bail conditions. Following his extradition late last year from the Bahamas, where FTX was based and where he was arrested, Bankman-Fried has been mostly confined to his parents' home in Palo Alto, California. Prosecutors have called out his behavior while on bail, saying in January that he tried to contact Ray and FTX's in-house lawyer. Bankman-Fried's lawyers have said he was trying to help his case, not interfere. Kaplan placed limits on Bankman-Fried's communications at a hearing in February but chose not to jail him. Airshare commits to ordering up to 20 additional 1 Challenger 3500 super-midsize jets Order builds on previous commitment for up to 20 Challenger aircraft initially announced in May 2021 The best-selling Challenger 3500 aircraft continues to impress with its ultimate combination of refined cabin experience, proven reliability and top performance One of the fastest-growing private aviation companies in the United States, Airshare has experienced heavy demand for the Challenger platform among fractional customers, fulfilling their need to travel coast-to-coast while enjoying best-in-class comfort MONTREAL, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bombardier today announced that Kansas City-based private aviation company Airshare has committed to ordering up to 20 additional Challenger 3500 aircraft. Through this new agreement, Airshare plans to double the size of their Challenger fleet, supporting the considerable demand they have experienced from the outset of launching the aircraft within their fractional program. In May 2021, Airshare entered the super-midsize segment with an order for up to 20 Challenger aircraft. As the fast-growing private aviation company moves to exercise all options as part of that original order, this new incremental commitment to Challenger 3500 jets underscores that the smooth, efficient and reliable customer experience that private aviation provides continues to garner significant market interest among the travelling public. The response we have received to the Challenger entering our fractional program has been tremendous, from both new and existing customers, said John Owen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Airshare. We are thrilled to extend our commitment with Bombardier and look forward to adding several more Challenger 3500s to our fleet. The strength of our partnership made it easy for us to accelerate our plans to order more of these aircraft to meet customer demand. The entire team is immensely proud that Airshare continues to trust Bombardier to grow its fleet, said Eric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier. Airshare and Bombardier share several values in common: we strive for excellence and work tirelessly to offer an exceptional experience to our clients. With this new order, our valued relationship continues to grow stronger, as the award-winning Challenger 3500 aircraft keeps elevating Airshares flight experience with its ultimate combination of performance and comfort. Airshares fractional program provides each owner of a 1/16th share with 20 days and unlimited flight time (based on a customers allocation of days with a maximum 14-hour crew duty day). When Airshare shareowners begin and end in the same location, while keeping the aircraft and crew with them when they need it, they save up to 25 per cent off their hourly rate. Having the pilots and aircraft stay with shareowners as they travel provides the ultimate in flexibility as they are able to visit multiple locations and adjust their schedules at a moments notice. Airshare also offers its own jet card program, EMBARK, as well as aircraft management, on-demand charter and maintenance services. Built on the iconic Challenger super mid-size platform, the Challenger 3500 aircraft offers unrivalled comfort and reliability, while boasting top performance and delivering Bombardiers signature smooth ride. The latest addition to Bombardiers portfolio elevates the passengers experience by integrating many of the features from Bombardiers Global family of aircraft, including Bombardiers exclusive and revolutionary Nuage seat. Passengers can also benefit from the ultimate cabin experience, where technology and design come together to maximize productivity while offering a refined and relaxing environment. The Challenger 3500 aircraft is also the most sustainably designed business jet in its class. It is the first business jet in the super mid-size segment to have an Environmental Product Declaration published, documenting the aircrafts environmental footprint over its lifecycle. The Challenger aircraft family is known for its industry-leading reliability and safety. With over 900 business jets of the Challenger 300 series in service worldwide, the Challenger 3500 aircraft builds on the excellent track record of the Challenger family and boasts an impressive 99.8% dispatch reliability. About Airshare Airshare fits the way you fly. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Lenexa, Kan., the company offers a holistic suite of private aviation solutions including fractional ownership, jet cards, whole aircraft management charter services and third-party maintenance. Airshare operates a fleet of super-midsize and light jets within their fractional and EMBARK jet card programs to customers across the central United States and Florida. The company provides whole aircraft management and charter services nationwide, while also performing comprehensive maintenance services for third-party aircraft. Airshare has received IS-BAO Stage 3 and ARGUS Platinum designations, meeting the highest international standards for safe flight operations. For more information visit www.flyairshare.com . About Bombardier Bombardier (BBD-B.TO) is a global leader in aviation, focused on designing, manufacturing, and servicing the world's most exceptional business jets. Bombardiers Challenger and Global aircraft families are renowned for their cutting-edge innovation, cabin design, performance, and reliability. Bombardier has a worldwide fleet of approximately 5,000 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments, and private individuals. Bombardier aircraft are also trusted around the world in government and military special-mission roles leveraging Bombardier Defenses proven expertise. Headquartered in Greater Montreal, Quebec, Bombardier operates aerostructure, assembly and completion facilities in Canada, the United States and Mexico. The companys robust customer support network services the Learjet, Challenger and Global families of aircraft, and includes facilities in strategic locations in the United States and Canada, as well as in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, the UAE, Singapore, China and Australia. For corporate news and information, including Bombardiers Environmental, Social and Governance report, as well as the companys plans to cover all its flight operations with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) utilizing the Book and Claim system visit bombardier.com . Learn more about Bombardiers industry-leading products and customer service network at businessaircraft.bombardier.com . Follow us on Twitter @Bombardier . Bombardier, Challenger, Challenger 3500, Global and Nuage, are registered or unregistered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. For information Bombardier Christina Lemyre McCraw Manager, Public Relations and Communications +1 514 497-4928 [email protected] Airshare Andy Tretiak Chief Marketing Officer 816-410-8135 [email protected] 1 The agreement includes a firm order for 4 Challenger 3500 aircraft and an option for 16 additional Challenger 3500 business jets. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dbdeecf6-fa80-49c2-bcee-aa1e622c9e0a First shipment of D*gg lbs (pronounced dog pounds) from the Companys EU GMP facility in Chatham, Ontario has arrived in Israel Two new SKUs of D*gg lbs are now available for retailers to purchase through Ontario Cannabis Stores ( OCS ) ) Up to six additional SKUs are expected to follow in August for retailers to purchase D*gg lbs through the OCS CHATHAM, ONTARIO and TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atlas Global Brands Inc. (Atlas Global or the Company) (CSE: ATL), a cannabis company with expertise across the value chain, announced today its first shipment of the Companys latest brand, D*gg lbs a collaboration with world-renowned entertainer, Calvin Broadus Jr. a.k.a Snoop Dogg (Snoop Dogg) has arrived in Israel. Furthermore, the Company is pleased to announce that two D*gg lbs SKUs are now available for retailers to purchase through the OCS, with up to six additional SKUs scheduled to be available next month. First Shipment of D*gg lbs Has Arrived in Israel In February 2023, the Company entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Snoop Dogg, granting Atlas use of the artist's name, image, logos, trademarks, and other authorized intellectual property to create, package, manufacture, distribute, sell, advertise, promote, and market a diverse range of cannabis products (Products). On July 21, 2023, the Companys first shipment of D*gg lbs from its Chatham, Ontario arrived in Israel and is expected to be packaged and available to pharmacies and patients in Israel in late August. Three new SKUs for this product are scheduled to be available for patients in Israel next month. The D*gg lbs brand has sparked considerable interest in Israel and is anticipated to be eagerly embraced by patients upon its arrival. All flower is indoor-grown, hang-dried, and hand trimmed. The collaboration between Snoop Dogg and Atlas Global extends beyond mere product offerings. The shared vision is cultivating a vibrant community and fostering meaningful connections with cannabis enthusiasts through education, advocacy, and interactive experiences. This includes organizing events, promoting responsible consumption, and supporting initiatives that contribute to the overall well-being and positive growth of the cannabis industry. Figure 1: Introducing D*gg lbs - A New Partnership Between Atlas Global and Snoop Dogg Please click here to view image D*gg lbs Now Available at the OCS D*gg lbs hit the shelves in Ontario Cannabis Stores earlier this month with two SKUs and up to six additional SKUs scheduled for August 2023. Some of the new D*gg lbs SKUs include: Cryptic Chronic 3.5g flower (available now) Juicy OooWee 2 x 0.5g Distillate Infused Pre-rolls (available now) Lodi Dodi OG 3.5g flower (available in August) Cryptic Blueberry 1g Distillate Infused Blunt (available in August) Lodi Dodi OG 1g Blunt (available in August) Cryptic Chronic 2 x 0.5g Blunts (available in August) Cryptic Blueberry AIO 1g Vape (available in August) Juicy OooWee AIO 1g Vape (available in August) The flower, hardware and overall experience have been shaped by consumer insights, said Bernie Yeung, CEO of Atlas Global. Were really proud to drop these products in the market and to continue expanding Snoop Doggs lineup of cannabis products. Figure 2: D*gg lbs Available Now in Participating OCS Locations Please click here to view image About Atlas Global Brands Atlas Global is a global cannabis company operating in Canada and Israel with expertise across the cannabis value chain, including cultivation, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution. Atlas currently distributes to seven countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Norway, and the United Kingdom. In addition to a differentiated product mix, Atlas Global operates two licensed cannabis facilities: (1) an EU-GMP facility in Chatham, ON, and; (2) a GACP and IMC-GAP facility in Stratford, ON. Atlas Global also has a majority interest in three medical pharmacies in Israel and entered into binding agreements to acquire a majority interest in a trading house and six additional medical cannabis pharmacies in Israel. Learn more by visiting: www.atlasglobalbrands.com. About D*gg lbs D*gg lbs is Snoop Doggs new line of cannabis products and hemp products, available in the major market in Canada and Israel, and soon to be available in the United States in the hemp market. Contacts Bernie YeungChief Executive Officer 1-844-415-6961[email protected]Alyssa BarryMedia and Investor Relations 1-833-947-5227[email protected] Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking and based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions concerning predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information in this news release is based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including assumptions that or regarding, without limitation: the timing to complete the Annual and Interim Required Filings; the dates by which the Company intends to make the Required Annual and Interim Filings; the expected absence of an impact on the ability of other security holders to trade in the Companys securities. The forward-looking information reflects managements current expectations based on information currently available and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information, including unforeseen delays or events that could delay the filing of the Required Annual and Interim Filings within the anticipated timeline; the capacity of management may not be sufficient to complete the Required Annual and Interim Filings within the anticipated timeline. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. New risk factors emerge from time to time. It is impossible for the Companys management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on the Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forwardlooking statements set forth herein concerning the Company reflect managements expectations as of the date of this news release and are subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as defined in the CSE policies) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Source: Atlas Global Brands Inc. Do you hold Bank of America common stock? If so, please visit Bank of America Corporation Shareholder Investigation or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or [email protected] to discuss your rights. NEW YORK, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, is investigating whether members of the Board of Directors of Bank of America Corporation (Bank of America) (NYSE: BAC) breached their fiduciary duties to Bank of America. If you hold Bank of America stock and would like to discuss your legal rights and options, please visit Bank of America Corporation Shareholder Investigation or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or [email protected]. Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the firm has been named to The National Law Journals Plaintiffs Hot List thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for sixteen consecutive years. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. 2023 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. Contact Information: Peter Allocco Bernstein Liebhard LLP https://www.bernlieb.com (212) 951-2030 [email protected] PRESS RELEASE Neuilly-sur-Seine, France July 26, 2023 Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux co-opted to Bureau Veritas Board of Directors Bureau Veritas, a world leader in testing, inspection and certification, today announced the cooptation of Mr. Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux as an Independent Director of the Company. Upon the recommendation of the Nomination & Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors of Bureau Veritas, held on July 25, 2023, co-opted Mr. Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux as an Independent Director of the Company, to replace Mr. Aldo Cardoso, who resigned from his position as Director after the Shareholders Meeting of the Company held on June 22, 2023, for the remainder of his predecessors term of office, i.e. until the close of the Shareholders Meeting to be called to approve the financial statements of the year ending on December 31, 2025. This appointment is effective immediately. In accordance with the provisions of Article L. 225-24 of the French Commercial Code, the cooptation of Mr. Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux as a Director will be submitted to shareholders for ratification during the next Shareholders Meeting of the Company. He will also replace Ana Giros Calpe on the Nomination & Compensation Committee, further to the appointment of Ana Giros Calpe as a member of the Strategy Committee and Chair of the CSR Committee. Laurent Mignon, Chairman of Bureau Veritas Board of Directors, stated: "I am delighted that Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux has agreed to join the Bureau Veritas Board of Directors. Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux has broad experience in governance, which he acquired at large French companies. His strong entrepreneurial track record in the world of technology and innovation will bring new expertise to the Bureau Veritas Board of Directors. Biography Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux was successively Chairman and founder of Phone House and OMEA Telecom (Virgin Mobile) before launching Notus Technologies group, active in food and outdoor industry, in January 2015. From 2013 to 2018, he was delegate Vice-President of MEDEF before becoming its President in July 2018, until July 2023. Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux was President of the Croissance Plus Association from 2005 to 2008, and President of UNEDIC from 2008 to 2010. He is also a member of the Organising Committee for the Olympic Games of Paris 2024. Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux, born in 1962, graduated from ESSEC and holds of a masters degree from the Paris Dauphine University. About Bureau Veritas Bureau Veritas is a world leader in laboratory testing, inspection and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has circa 84,000 employees located in nearly 1,600 offices and laboratories around the globe. Bureau Veritas helps its 400,000 clients improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility. Bureau Veritas is listed on Euronext Paris and belongs to the CAC 40 ESG, CAC Next 20 and SBF 120 indices. Compartment A, ISIN code FR 0006174348, stock symbol: BVI. For more information, visit www.bureauveritas.com, and follow us on Twitter (@bureauveritas) and LinkedIn. Our information is certified with blockchain technology. Check that this press release is genuine at www.wiztrust.com. ANALYST/INVESTOR CONTACTS MEDIA CONTACTS Attachment Detroit, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CCA Health Michigan, a mission-driven healthcare services organization that offers high-quality health plans designed for older adults and individuals with significant needs, today announced $12,500 in philanthropic donations to both the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan (FBEM) and Gleaners Community Food Bank. Both organizations are recognized as pillars in their communities, helping to fight hunger among older adults and families with a range of innovative programs that increase access to healthy foods and nutrition education. At CCA Health Michigan, we understand that food security and nutrition are foundational to overall health and well-being, and its our mission to help facilitate access for each and every one of our members, said Brian Keane, CCA Health Michigan General Manager. We are proud to support these two organizations that have made such an incredible impact on the lives of Michiganders. With hundreds of local partners, including pantries, soup kitchens, churches, and schools, both organizations reach a wide range of communities in need, and I cant wait to see what we can accomplish together. The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan is grateful to CCA Health Michigan for its generous donation, which will help fund critical hunger relief initiatives, including our mobile food distributions, which provide fresh, healthy options for children, families and seniors, said Kara Ross, President and CEO for FBEM. The demand for food and nutrition information remains high in the state, and were excited to partner with the CCA Health Michigan team to help minimize the impact of food insecurity on the health of our communities. FBEM works with more than 700 hunger relief partners to distribute food throughout 22 counties in the state. In 2022, FBEM distributed more than 30 million pounds of food, with nearly half comprising fresh produce, dairy, meat, and other proteins. At Gleaners Community Food Bank, weve made health an integral part of our mission and strategic plan because of the significant relationship between hunger, nutrition literacy, and health outcomes, said Jessica Ramsay, Director of Wellness & Nutrition Education for Gleaners. Older adults are especially at risk for chronic conditions and may face challenges with mobility, transportation, and other social factors that can reduce their access to healthy, nutritious meals. CCA Health Michigans support will help fund critical programs that help remove barriers to food security for both older adults and other individuals across Southeast Michigan. Gleaners serves five southeast Michigan counties including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, and Monroe counties. Gleaners provides food to more than 400 partner soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, schools, and other agencies across the region. Additionally, Gleaners offers direct-service distributions across the region five days a week, providing groceries to community members, with no appointments needed. About CCA Health Michigan CCA Health Michigan is a mission-driven healthcare services organization that offers high-quality health plans designed for older adults and individuals with significant needs. By working closely with members, caregivers, providers, and community organizations, CCA Health Michigan aims to coordinate high-quality, patient-centric care that addresses the social factors that impact health, and empower individuals to make choices that align with their preferences and values. To learn more, visit ccahealthmi.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. About the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan Serving local families in need since 1981, the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan has grown to provide more than 30 million pounds of food each year through a network of nearly 700 hunger relief partners in 22 counties. Our partners consist of local food pantries, soup kitchens, churches, schools, and shelters who strive to feed more than 210,000 people who struggle with hunger throughout eastern Michigan. For more information, visit fbem.org About Gleaners Community Food Bank Headquartered in Detroit, Gleaners serves five Southeast Michigan counties: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, and Monroe. Gleaners provides food to more than 400 partner agencies, including soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and others across the region, and supplements the efforts of those partners by offering direct-service, drive-up grocery distributions. In its fiscal year 2022, Gleaners distributed more than 47 million pounds of food to neighbors in need. Every dollar donated provides three meals, and 92 cents of every donated dollar goes to food and food programs. For more information, visit gcfb.org. ### Attachments Jacqueline WayneGuite CCA Health Michigan 3134072188 [email protected] Source: CCA Health Michigan Program improves the fuel efficiency and performance of CNs existing fleet MONTREAL and PITTSBURGH, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) and Wabtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB) announced an order to enhance an additional 60 locomotives in CNs existing fleet through Wabtecs modernization program. The investment supports CNs commitment to drive growth in a sustainable manner and build success for customers, employees and communities. Modernizing these locomotives cost-effectively improves the reliability of our existing fleet and contributes to reducing our rail carbon footprint, said Mark Grubbs, Vice-President Mechanical at CN. In addition to reducing the environmental impact of our own operations, it helps us to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of our customers. The modernizations will help to improve locomotive fuel efficiency, where CN remains a leader in the North American rail industry, consuming approximately 15% less locomotive fuel per gross ton mile than the industry average. The program supports CNs science-based target to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 43% per gross ton mile by 2030 from a 2019 base year, and with CNs commitment to setting a net-zero 2050 carbon emission target aligned to a 1.5-degree scenario. Wabtecs Services team will modernize CNs 60 certified pre-owned Dash-9 locomotives to bring the total modernized fleet to 110 locomotives. The company will transform the locomotives from DC to AC powered traction and will feature enhancements such as the FDL Advantage engine upgrade and a suite of digital solutions including Trip Optimizer, and LOCOTROL Distributed Power. These upgrades are expected to extend the life of the locomotives and provide benefits, including targeted fuel efficiency improvements of up to 18% through a combination of engine and digital technology enhancements, a more than 40% increase in reliability, and up to a 55% increase in pulling power. The total program is expected to enable CN to realize up to approximately 50,000 metric tons in annual greenhouse gas emission reductions, the equivalent of removing nearly 10,700 non-electric passenger cars. Additionally, the modernization order will reuse or recycle approximately 11,000 metric tons of steel. Our modernization solutions allow CN to enhance its existing fleet by upgrading to Wabtecs state-of-the-art technology to enhance the locomotives performance to current standards, said Alicia Hammersmith, President of Wabtec Freight Services. Our modernization program supports the circular economy and is a key component of Wabtecs sustainability approach through processes that reduce waste, extend life, and improve fuel efficiency, thereby driving emissions reductions and helping customers save money. About Wabtec Wabtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB) is focused on creating transportation solutions that move and improve the world. The company is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions and value-added services for the freight and transit rail industries, as well as the mining, marine and industrial markets. Wabtec has been a leader in the rail industry for over 150 years and has a vision to achieve a zero-emission rail system in the U.S. and worldwide. Visit Wabtecs website at: https://www.wabteccorp.com/ About CN CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. CN's network connects Canadas Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through a 18,600-mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship. CN Forward-looking Statements Certain statements by CN included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian securities laws, including relating to CNs environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies and targets, including CNs climate goals and sustainability commitments. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. CN cautions that its assumptions may not materialize and that current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made, subject to greater uncertainty. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terminology such as believes, expects, anticipates, assumes, outlook, plans, targets, or other similar words. Forward-looking statements reflect information as of the date on which they are made. CN assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable securities laws. In the event CN does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that CN will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statement. Contacts: Media Investment Community Jonathan Abecassis Stacy Alderson Senior Manager Interim Assistant Vice-President Media Relations Investor Relations (438) 455-3692 (514) 399-0052 [email protected] [email protected] Tim Bader Director Media Relations (682) 319-7925 [email protected] Kristine Kubacki, CFA Vice President Investor Relations 412-450-2033 [email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a78bb5c-596c-47e0-815d-7ed9bdd22586 NORCROSS, Ga., July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CoreCard Corporation [NYSE: CCRD], the leading provider of innovative credit technology solutions and processing services to the financial technology and services market, today announced that Leland Strange, President & CEO, and Matt White, CFO, will be participating in the following investor conferences: KeyBanc Technology Leadership Forum on Monday, August 7, 2023, in Vail, CO. The presentation is scheduled to begin at 4:00PM MDT. A webcast will be available on the Events page of the CoreCard investor relations website at https://investors.corecard.com. Susquehanna Get Carded: A FinTech & B2B Conference on Monday, August, 7, 2023 (Virtual). Canaccord Growth Conference on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, in Boston, MA. The presentation is scheduled to begin at 1:00PM EDT. A webcast will be available on the Events page of the CoreCard investor relations website at https://investors.corecard.com. If you would like to schedule time to meet with the Company at any of the conferences, please reach out to the respective bank. About CoreCard Corporation CoreCard Corporation (NYSE: CCRD) provides the gold standard card issuing platform built for the future of global transactions in an embedded digital world. Dedicated to continual technological innovation in the ever-evolving payments industry backed by decades of deep expertise in credit card offerings, CoreCard helps customers conceptualize, implement, and manage all aspects of their issuing card programs. Keenly focused on steady, sustainable growth, CoreCard has earned the trust of some of the largest companies and financial institutions in the world, providing truly real-time transactions via their proven, reliable platform operating on private on-premise and leading cloud technology infrastructure. For further information, visit www.corecard.com. Investor Contact: [email protected] KITCHENER, Ontario, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DOZR is thrilled to have been recognized as a Great Place to Work for the third year in a row. This remarkable achievement showcases DOZR's ongoing efforts to maintain a vibrant culture and trust among employees. An independent survey was shared with all employees through the Great Place to Work Institute Canada and the certification is based on confidential and direct feedback from employees. At DOZR, our company culture defines our identity and guides our actions. We are dedicated to imbuing our culture into every aspect of our work, firmly rooted in problem-solving and teamwork. We fearlessly address challenging issues and tackle unspoken problems head-on. Embracing new challenges and fostering mutual learning among team members is at the heart of what we do. We truly appreciate each member of our team and receiving this certification, for the third year in a row, further establishes DOZR as a great employer, said Kevin Forestell, DOZR CEO. As a scaling tech business, we are proud of how we have adapted and grown over the last eight years. Our identity is shaped by our employees, and it is their collective contributions that drive our success. DOZR has always worked to foster an environment where employees are encouraged to bring their genuine and authentic selves to work. Our unwavering commitment to inclusivity and diversity creates a workplace that celebrates individual differences. Beyond the basics like health and dental packages and continuous learning opportunities, we extend our support with in-office policies such as company socials and flexible hours. Our goal is to ensure that each team member feels truly valued and appreciated. -30- About DOZR: DOZR is the leader in marketplace and ecommerce solutions for heavy equipment rentals. DOZR.com offers the worlds largest fleet of heavy equipment and has quickly become the contractors first choice for online equipment rentals. DOZR-powered solutions including WebStores enable equipment suppliers and rental houses the opportunity to digitize their businesses through ecommerce. Founded by experienced construction and technology veterans, DOZR connects contractors and rental companies, ensuring a seamless, touchless equipment rental experience. Darcy Greaves DOZR 5195046049 [email protected] Source: DOZR Duluth, GA, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Duravit AG is taking a quantum leap towards a sustainable future: the world's first climate-neutral ceramic production facility is being built at the Matane site in the Canadian province of Quebec. The new Canadian site will create 240 new jobs, with production scheduled to start in early 2025. Ceramic sanitary ware products such as WCs and washbasins will be manufactured here in the future exclusively using renewable energies. For the firing process, Duravit will use the world's first electric roller kiln powered by electricity from hydropower. The use of this innovative technology will save around 11,000 tons of CO2 per year compared to a conventional ceramic factory. Duravit thus becomes a pioneer in the industry. Broad political support spurs implementation The plant, which will enter into service in 2025, will be the first production site for Duravit AG in North America. The business aims to supply the North American market, while eliminating its greenhouse gas emissions. Thanks to hydroelectricity and the proximity of inputs, the Matane plant will become the first carbon-neutral sanitary ceramic products plant in the world. To implement this project, the Government of Canada is providing the business with a repayable contribution of $19 million (EUR 13 million) under CEDs Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program. For its part, the Government of Quebec is granting a loan of $11 million (EUR 7.5 million) through the ESSOR program, managed by Investissement Quebec as its representative. Innovative response to climate change In designing and preparing the new production site, Duravit worked closely with the Italian manufacturer of machinery and plants for ceramics SACMI as a strategic partner. Important substantial synergies have been achieved through the joint development work. Previously, the technology of an electric kiln was unusable for the sanitary ceramics sector. Thanks to close cooperation with the long-standing partner SACMI, a new type of kiln for these requirements has been developed. Project proves feasibility of CO2-neutral production The use of renewable energies such as hydropower will reduce CO2 emissions in production to zero: Duravit is thus the first ceramics manufacturer to rely on an electric firing process together with market leader SACMI, enabling it to produce in a completely climate-neutral manner. The manufacturer of design bathrooms shows that under the right conditions, it is already possible today to produce in a CO2-neutral way, even for energy-intensive industries.In addition to climate-neutral production at the plant, logistics are also designed to be sustainable. All raw materials are sourced directly on site in Canada as well as from the USA, which means short transport distances. This additionally reduces emissions and ensures an environmentally friendly supply chain. The ceramic parts produced in Canada are mainly planned for the North American market and thus play a decisive role in the company's growth strategy. Quotes "The Government of Canada's investment in this project will not only bring a world-renowned business to Quebec, but also a business that has distinguished itself by its ability to innovate for over 200 years. By focusing on Quebec and its hydroelectricity as a source of clean, renewable energy, Duravit Canada is demonstrating that it is possible for growth and the fight against climate change to go hand in hand. By supporting Duravit Canada, our government is helping a business make the jump into the technologies of the future and make winning choices for our planet.Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions "Canada will be the first country in the world to produce carbon-neutral ceramics! Thanks to our homegrown talent, our renewable energy, and our proximity to the market, German business Duravit has chosen Matane for its very first plant in North America. This investment not only aligns with our economic vision for a greener future but will also enable the creation of good jobs in the region, while also strengthening Canadas position and reputation as a green supplier of choice."Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry"Regional development is very important for our government, and the arrival of a business such as Duravit in Quebec is a wonderful example of this. The major assistance announced today will not only create quality jobs, but also stimulate economic development in the peninsula. Economic success in Matane means economic success throughout the Gaspesie region, and our government is proud to be able to contribute to this. Diane Lebouthillier, Member of Parliament for GaspesieLes Iles-de-la-Madeleine and Minister of National Revenue Duravit is a global leader in its field. It is therefore excellent news that the business is choosing Quebec as the location of its first carbon-neutral plant in the world and its first production site in North America. This is major project that meets our objectives to substitute imports and to enhance productivity through process automation. Christopher Skeete, Minister for the Economy, Minister Responsible for the Fight Against Racism and Minister Responsible for the Laval Region The Bas-Saint-Laurent region is a natural entry point into the market of the Americas. With its deep water port, the city of Matane holds a strategic position, which gave it a competitive advantage in implementing this promising project for the future of the region, and all of Quebec. Maite Blanchette Vezina, Minister of Natural Resources and Forests and Minister Responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent Region and the GaspesieIles-de-la-Madeleine Region Our team is very happy to see this important project happen, establishing a key international player in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. We have been working with Duravit for several years now to showcase Quebec and the beautiful Matane region. This is the start of a business relationship that we are confident will generate major economic spin-offs for all of Quebec. Hubert Bolduc, President of Investissement Quebec International I am very proud and pleased that we are welcoming Duravit to our city. Today, Matane stands out as a strong city, an economic pillar, and a hub to attract businesses from around the world. I salute the exceptional work done by all our partners in this project and, of course, the Duravit team, with whom we have been collaborating so well since the start. Businesses are major allies in developing our city, and the arrival of a multinational such as Duravit can only be a source of delight, confirming Matanes economic vitality now and in the future. Eddy Metivier, Mayor of Matane We are very proud to act as forerunners in designing a sustainable sanitary industry and to actively face the challenges posed by climate change. At Duravit, we are thereby establishing new standards to implement innovative solutions in a sector characterized by high energy consumption.Stephan Tahy, CEO of Duravit This world-class facility sets a new global standard for sustainable manufacturing and underscores Duravits commitment to innovation at all scales. Once operating, the new facility will have a significant impact on the North American Market supporting strategic sales and brand initiatives as well as optimizing distribution and service for customers across the US and Canada. Bob Downie, President & CEO of Duravit USA, Inc. Captions 01_Duravit_CanadaGroundbreaking ceremony in Matane (from left to right: Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Economic Development Canada for the Quebec Regions (DEC); Stephan Tahy, CEO Duravit AG; Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry; Thomas Stammel, COO Duravit AG (photo source: Duravit AG) 02_Duravit_CanadaGroundbreaking ceremony in Matane (from left to right: Christian Gilles, Kristina Michaud, Pascale St-Onge, Francois-Philippe Champagne, Hubert Bolduc, Pascal Berube, Eddy Metivier, Stephan Tahy, Thomas Stammel) (Image source: Duravit AG) 03_Duravit_CanadaGroundbreaking ceremony in Matane (photo source: Duravit AG) 04_Duravit_CanadaGroundbreaking ceremony in Matane; Thomas Stammel, COO Duravit AG (Image source: Duravit AG) 05_Duravit_CanadaGroundbreaking ceremony in Matane; Stephan Tahy, CEO Duravit AG (photo source: Duravit AG)About Duravit AGFounded in 1817 in Hornberg in the Black Forest, Duravit AG is today a leading international manufacturer of design bathrooms and is operating in more than 130 countries worldwide. The complete bathroom suppliers product portfolio comprises top quality sanitary ceramics, bathroom furniture, bathtubs and shower trays, wellness systems, shower-toilets, faucets and accessories as well as installation systems. Alongside its in-house design expertise, Duravit also works closely on product development with an international network of designers such as Cecilie Manz, Philippe Starck, Christian Werner, Sebastian Herkner and Bertrand Lejoly as well as talented newcomers. Duravits ambition is to make its stakeholders lives a little better each day through a combination of forward-looking designs, uncompromising product excellence, a keen sense of human requirements and responsible corporate management. A key measure in achieving these aims is the overriding mission to become a climate-neutral business by 2045, without exceptions.Images and texts are available and can be downloaded from:https://dura-cloud.duravit.de/index.php/s/vuxuTIlzG66BFN2 International press contactsThe Duravit Group is active in over 130 countries. For regional press inquiries, you will find the right contact persons here: www.duravit.com/presscontacts Duravit USA, Inc. press contacts Duravit USA, Inc.Kara Roth[email protected] Novita CommunicationsAngela Staten / Katherine Smythe[email protected] / [email protected] Attachments Katherine Smythe Duravit [email protected] Source: Duravit Manufacturer of design bathrooms becomes pioneer for sustainable sanitary industry Duluth, GA, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Duravit AG is taking a quantum leap towards a sustainable future: the world's first climate-neutral ceramic production facility is being built at the Matane site in the Canadian province of Quebec. The new Canadian site will create 240 new jobs, with production scheduled to start in early 2025. Ceramic sanitary ware products such as WCs and washbasins will be manufactured here in the future exclusively using renewable energies. For the firing process, Duravit will use the world's first electric roller kiln powered by electricity from hydropower. The use of this innovative technology will save around 11,000 tons of CO 2 per year compared to a conventional ceramic factory. Duravit thus becomes a pioneer in the industry. Broad political support spurs implementation The plant, which will enter into service in 2025, will be the first production site for Duravit AG in North America. The business aims to supply the North American market, while eliminating its greenhouse gas emissions. Thanks to hydroelectricity and the proximity of inputs, the Matane plant will become the first carbon-neutral sanitary ceramic products plant in the world. To implement this project, the Government of Canada is providing the business with a repayable contribution of $19 million (EUR 13 million) under CEDs Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program. For its part, the Government of Quebec is granting a loan of $11 million (EUR 7.5 million) through the ESSOR program, managed by Investissement Quebec as its representative. Innovative response to climate change In designing and preparing the new production site, Duravit worked closely with the Italian manufacturer of machinery and plants for ceramics SACMI as a strategic partner. Important substantial synergies have been achieved through the joint development work. Previously, the technology of an electric kiln was unusable for the sanitary ceramics sector. Thanks to close cooperation with the long-standing partner SACMI, a new type of kiln for these requirements has been developed. Project proves feasibility of CO 2 -neutral production The use of renewable energies such as hydropower will reduce CO 2 emissions in production to zero: Duravit is thus the first ceramics manufacturer to rely on an electric firing process together with market leader SACMI, enabling it to produce in a completely climate-neutral manner. The manufacturer of design bathrooms shows that under the right conditions, it is already possible today to produce in a CO 2 -neutral way, even for energy-intensive industries. In addition to climate-neutral production at the plant, logistics are also designed to be sustainable. All raw materials are sourced directly on site in Canada as well as from the USA, which means short transport distances. This additionally reduces emissions and ensures an environmentally friendly supply chain. The ceramic parts produced in Canada are mainly planned for the North American market and thus play a decisive role in the company's growth strategy. Quotes "The Government of Canada's investment in this project will not only bring a world-renowned business to Quebec, but also a business that has distinguished itself by its ability to innovate for over 200 years. By focusing on Quebec and its hydroelectricity as a source of clean, renewable energy, Duravit Canada is demonstrating that it is possible for growth and the fight against climate change to go hand in hand. By supporting Duravit Canada, our government is helping a business make the jump into the technologies of the future and make winning choices for our planet. Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions "Canada will be the first country in the world to produce carbon-neutral ceramics! Thanks to our homegrown talent, our renewable energy, and our proximity to the market, German business Duravit has chosen Matane for its very first plant in North America. This investment not only aligns with our economic vision for a greener future but will also enable the creation of good jobs in the region, while also strengthening Canadas position and reputation as a green supplier of choice." Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry "Regional development is very important for our government, and the arrival of a business such as Duravit in Quebec is a wonderful example of this. The major assistance announced today will not only create quality jobs, but also stimulate economic development in the peninsula. Economic success in Matane means economic success throughout the Gaspesie region, and our government is proud to be able to contribute to this. Diane Lebouthillier, Member of Parliament for GaspesieLes Iles-de-la-Madeleine and Minister of National Revenue Duravit is a global leader in its field. It is therefore excellent news that the business is choosing Quebec as the location of its first carbon-neutral plant in the world and its first production site in North America. This is major project that meets our objectives to substitute imports and to enhance productivity through process automation. Christopher Skeete, Minister for the Economy, Minister Responsible for the Fight Against Racism and Minister Responsible for the Laval Region The Bas-Saint-Laurent region is a natural entry point into the market of the Americas. With its deep water port, the city of Matane holds a strategic position, which gave it a competitive advantage in implementing this promising project for the future of the region, and all of Quebec. Maite Blanchette Vezina, Minister of Natural Resources and Forests and Minister Responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent Region and the GaspesieIles-de-la-Madeleine Region Our team is very happy to see this important project happen, establishing a key international player in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. We have been working with Duravit for several years now to showcase Quebec and the beautiful Matane region. This is the start of a business relationship that we are confident will generate major economic spin-offs for all of Quebec. Hubert Bolduc, President of Investissement Quebec International I am very proud and pleased that we are welcoming Duravit to our city. Today, Matane stands out as a strong city, an economic pillar, and a hub to attract businesses from around the world. I salute the exceptional work done by all our partners in this project and, of course, the Duravit team, with whom we have been collaborating so well since the start. Businesses are major allies in developing our city, and the arrival of a multinational such as Duravit can only be a source of delight, confirming Matanes economic vitality now and in the future. Eddy Metivier, Mayor of Matane We are very proud to act as forerunners in designing a sustainable sanitary industry and to actively face the challenges posed by climate change. At Duravit, we are thereby establishing new standards to implement innovative solutions in a sector characterized by high energy consumption. Stephan Tahy, CEO of Duravit This world-class facility sets a new global standard for sustainable manufacturing and underscores Duravits commitment to innovation at all scales. Once operating, the new facility will have a significant impact on the North American Market supporting strategic sales and brand initiatives as well as optimizing distribution and service for customers across the US and Canada. Bob Downie, President & CEO of Duravit USA, Inc. Captions 01_Duravit_Canada Groundbreaking ceremony in Matane (from left to right: Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Economic Development Canada for the Quebec Regions (DEC); Stephan Tahy, CEO Duravit AG; Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry; Thomas Stammel, COO Duravit AG (photo source: Duravit AG) 02_Duravit_Canada Groundbreaking ceremony in Matane (from left to right: Christian Gilles, Kristina Michaud, Pascale St-Onge, Francois-Philippe Champagne, Hubert Bolduc, Pascal Berube, Eddy Metivier, Stephan Tahy, Thomas Stammel) (Image source: Duravit AG) 03_Duravit_Canada Groundbreaking ceremony in Matane (photo source: Duravit AG) 04_Duravit_Canada Groundbreaking ceremony in Matane; Thomas Stammel, COO Duravit AG (Image source: Duravit AG) 05_Duravit_Canada Groundbreaking ceremony in Matane; Stephan Tahy, CEO Duravit AG (photo source: Duravit AG) About Duravit AG Founded in 1817 in Hornberg in the Black Forest, Duravit AG is today a leading international manufacturer of design bathrooms and is operating in more than 130 countries worldwide. The complete bathroom suppliers product portfolio comprises top quality sanitary ceramics, bathroom furniture, bathtubs and shower trays, wellness systems, shower-toilets, faucets and accessories as well as installation systems. Alongside its in-house design expertise, Duravit also works closely on product development with an international network of designers such as Cecilie Manz, Philippe Starck, Christian Werner, Sebastian Herkner and Bertrand Lejoly as well as talented newcomers. Duravits ambition is to make its stakeholders lives a little better each day through a combination of forward-looking designs, uncompromising product excellence, a keen sense of human requirements and responsible corporate management. A key measure in achieving these aims is the overriding mission to become a climate-neutral business by 2045, without exceptions. Images and texts are available and can be downloaded from: https://dura-cloud.duravit.de/index.php/s/vuxuTIlzG66BFN2 International press contacts The Duravit Group is active in over 130 countries. For regional press inquiries, you will find the right contact persons here: www.duravit.com/presscontacts Duravit USA, Inc. press contacts Duravit USA, Inc. Kara Roth [email protected] Novita Communications Angela Staten / Katherine Smythe [email protected] / [email protected] Attachments MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL, Minn., July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Forge North announced the launch of the MSP Startup Guide, a community-created database that helps entrepreneurs find the right support and services to grow their startups. The MSP Startup Guide provides curated connections to the regions leading investors, support organizations, mentors, accelerators, capital opportunities, spaces, regulatory agencies, community connections and more. The intent is to speed founders startup journeys from ideation to growth and maturation. The breadth of resources highlighted by the MSP Startup Guide validates Minneapoliss ranking in the top-10 emerging ecosystems in the world, according to Startup Genomes 2023 Global Startup Ecosystem report. Built in partnership with EcoMap, this tool helps founders search among 450 resources, programs and services provided by 340 entrepreneur-support organizations. EcoMap was chosen after a competitive process based on its softwares strengths at connecting users. This website is intended to enhance racial equity in the startup ecosystem and increase early-stage venture investments in MinneapolisSaint Paul startupstwo goals of the Forge North coalition. Entrepreneurs shouldnt need to know 100 words of jargon and attend 20 happy hours to know the right place to start growing their business, said Morris Goodwin, Jr., Forge North managing director. What if everyone had equitable access to the same information about all the resources in the startup ecosystem? The MSP Startup Guide puts all the information in one place so they can find what they need, when they need it. From healthcare to enterprise SaaS to food/ag to fintech and beyond, the MSP Startup Guide is designed for startup founders who need to find the right accelerator, investor, consultant, space or community for their identity, sector and stage of growth. Entrepreneur support organizations: Organizations can create and manage their profiles so entrepreneurs have accurate information about their work. They can also create lists of resources and organizations in their sectors that founders should know about. Naturally Minnesota, for example, has added more than 100 resources and organizations related to the food and agriculture sector. Organizations can create and manage their profiles so entrepreneurs have accurate information about their work. They can also create lists of resources and organizations in their sectors that founders should know about. Naturally Minnesota, for example, has added more than 100 resources and organizations related to the food and agriculture sector. Entrepreneurs: Founders can pay it forward by adding resources that have helped their startups grow. They can also create a shared list to help other founders access the right tool. To learn more about the MSP Startup Guide, those interested can try out a live demo at these upcoming virtual and in-person events: MSP Startup Guide virtual office hours, August 9, noon1 pm Twin Cities Startup Week, Sept. 1821 About the GREATER MSP Partnership Forge North is part of the GREATER MSP Partnership. It is a coalition of 100+ partners advancing the Minneapolis-Saint Paul startup ecosystem. GREATER MSP is a partnership of more than 4,500 individuals from more than 300 leading businesses, universities, cities, counties and philanthropic organizations working together to accelerate the competitiveness and inclusive growth of the 15-county MinneapolisSaint Paul regional economy. Media ContactDon BallGREATER MSP Communications Director612-810-3153[email protected] Source: GREATER MSP MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- goeasy Ltd. (TSX: GSY), (goeasy or the Company), one of Canadas leading non-prime consumer lenders, will hold a conference call with shareholders, analysts, and portfolio managers on Thursday, August 10, 2023. A media release including goeasy Q2 2023 results will be issued after the market closes on Wednesday, August 9, 2023. Date: Thursday, August 10, 2023 Time: 11:00 am ET Dial-in: Use the link https://register.vevent.com/register/BI5eef84df3b08497f87a286692c52d004 to pre-register for the conference call and obtain your dial-in number and unique PIN. A recorded version will be available under the same link immediately following the conclusion of the conference call. Webcast: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/3b34j2av Media are invited to listen to the call by telephone or through the webcast. For questions, media may contact Jason Mullins, President & CEO at 905-272-2788. About goeasy goeasy Ltd. is a Canadian company, headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, that provides non-prime leasing and lending services through its easyhome, easyfinancial and LendCare brands. Supported by more than 2,400 employees, the Company offers a wide variety of financial products and services including unsecured and secured instalment loans, merchant financing through a variety of verticals and lease-to-own merchandise. Customers can transact seamlessly through an omnichannel model that includes online and mobile platforms, over 400 locations across Canada, and point-of-sale financing offered in the retail, powersports, automotive, home improvement and healthcare verticals, through over 7,500 merchant partners across Canada. Throughout the Companys history, it has acquired and organically served over 1.3 million Canadians and originated over $10.7 billion in loans. Accredited by the Better Business Bureau, goeasy is the proud recipient of several awards in recognition of its exceptional culture and continued business growth including Waterstone Canadas Most Admired Corporate Cultures, ranking on the 2022 Report on Business Women Lead Here executive gender diversity benchmark, placing on the Report on Business ranking of Canadas Top Growing Companies, ranking on the TSX30, Greater Toronto Top Employers Award and has been certified as a Great Place to Work. The Company is represented by a diverse group of team members from 78 nationalities who believe strongly in giving back to communities in which it operates. To date, goeasy has raised and donated over $4.8 million to support its long-standing partnerships with BGC Canada, Habitat for Humanity and many other local charities. goeasy Ltd.s. common shares are listed on the TSX under the trading symbol GSY. goeasy is rated BB- with a stable trend from S&P and Ba3 with a stable trend from Moodys. Visit www.goeasy.com. For further information contact: Jason Mullins President & Chief Executive Officer (905) 272-2788 Farhan Ali Khan Senior Vice President, Chief Corporate Development Officer (905) 272-2788 Source: goeasy Ltd. Blair, Nebraska, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Great Plains Communications (GPC), the Midwestern digital infrastructure provider with a growing, privately owned 18,000+ mile fiber network reaching 13 states, today announced the company has been selected to bring state-of-the-art fiber services to the Gretna Logistics Park, the new 170-acre industrial business development that will be the largest in the Omaha and surrounding metro areas. Spearheaded by Omahas NewStreet Properties, the new site is located in Gretna, Nebraska which is between Omaha, Nebraskas largest city and Lincoln, the States Capital. The project answers a growing demand for warehouse space near Omaha with easy access to the I-80 corridor; the second longest east-west transcontinental freeway in the U.S. With the growing importance of Cloud-based operating systems, real-time warehouse management software and other services, fast and reliable fiber internet is vital to supply chain and other organizations. GPC is engineering and constructing fully scalable fiber with state-of-the-art services to meet the connectivity needs of prospective and current tenants in the new business park. Construction of the nearly two million square feet of industrial and warehouse space is now underway. Todd Foje, CEO of Great Plains Communications, commented: Industrial space and a digital landscape served by fiber-driven technology are in high demand in this growing area. We are excited to continue to work with NewStreet Properties, extend our Gretna, Nebraska fiber presence and work to serve more business customers leveraging our high-performing network. Successful industrial commercial real estate operations and supply chain enterprises demand reliable fiber connectivity and services. Great Plains Communications has the top network in the Midwest, and we have experienced their customer-first approach that aligns with our view of service excellence, said Brian Diedrichsen, Managing Principal, NewStreet Properties. We have successfully partnered with GPC on past ventures and look forward to having them on board for this iconic industrial park project. Great Plains Communications business fiber services will include symmetrical internet speeds up to 100 Gbps x 100 Gbps, managed Ethernet, GPC SD-WAN, GPC Cloud Connect, LTE Wireless backup, GPC managed business WIFI and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Protection service. About Great Plains CommunicationsGreat Plains Communications is one of the largest privately-owned digital infrastructure providers in the Midwest and is headquartered in Blair, Nebraska. It has over a century of experience providing business and residential customers in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska and Southeastern Indiana communities with forward-thinking, fiber-based technology services including high-speed internet, Ethernet, GPC Cloud Connect, SD WAN, video and hosted and traditional voice solutions. The company also takes pride in its progressive approach to accommodating the unique needs of all regional and national telecommunications carriers, LECs, ISPs, wireless carriers and other service providers utilizing superior engineering and custom-build strategies. At the core of its service offering is an extensive, MEF-certified 18,000+ mile regional fiber network that reaches 13 states: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The network offers community access rings, last-mile and middle-mile solutions, all fully supported by the companys 24x7x365 Network Operations Center. For more information, visit www.gpcom.com. Laura Kocher Great Plains Communications 4024566429 [email protected] Source: Great Plains Communications Denver, CO, July 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intrepid Potash, Inc. (NYSE: IPI) plans to release its second quarter 2023 financial results on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, after the market closes. Intrepid will host a conference call on Thursday, August 3, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results and other operating and financial matters and answer investor questions. Management invites you to listen to the conference call by using the toll-free dial-in number 1 (888) 210-4149 or toll dial-in number 1 (646) 960-0145; please use conference ID 9158079. The call will also be streamed live via webcast. A recording of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call by dialing 1 (800) 770-2030 for toll-free, 1 (647) 362-9199 for international, or via webcast. The replay of the call will require the input of the conference identification number 9158079. The recording will be available through August 10, 2023. About Intrepid Intrepid is a diversified mineral company that delivers potassium, magnesium, sulfur, salt, and water products essential for customer success in agriculture, animal feed and the oil and gas industry. Intrepid is the only U.S. producer of muriate of potash, which is applied as an essential nutrient for healthy crop development, utilized in several industrial applications and used as an ingredient in animal feed. In addition, Intrepid produces a specialty fertilizer, Trio, which delivers three key nutrients, potassium, magnesium, and sulfate, in a single particle. Intrepid also provides water, magnesium chloride, brine, and various oilfield services.Intrepid serves diverse customers in markets where a logistical advantage exists and is a leader in the use of solar evaporation for potash production, resulting in lower cost and more environmentally friendly production. Intrepids mineral production comes from three solar solution potash facilities and one conventional underground Trio mine. Intrepid routinely posts important information, including information about upcoming investor presentations and press releases, on its website under the Investor Relations tab. Investors and other interested parties are encouraged to enroll at intrepidpotash.com, to receive automatic email alerts or RSS feeds for new postings. Contact: Evan Mapes, CFA, Investor Relations ManagerPhone: 303-996-3042Email: [email protected] Source: Intrepid Potash, Inc Stockport, United Kingdom, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IVA4Me published a new guide about how people can manage unaffordable debt by using debt management solutions like IVA. Many people may ask what is an IVA, and this guide goes into great detail about what an IVA is and how it can help debtors get rid of 85% of unaffordable debt. An individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) is a debt solution that enables you to agree with your creditors to pay part of your debts. The contract is managed by an insolvency practitioner who receives a monthly payment that is divided amongst all the creditors. When people apply for an IVA, they are able to write off debt by 85% because of government legislation, and this is excellent because it helps them get more control than bankruptcy can offer them. The IVA protects you from the legal action that creditors can take against you and creditors wont be able to contact you or affect your credit score for six years. While your IVA remains active, the fees and interest relating to your debt are frozen so that once payments are complete, the remaining debt is written off, which enables you to start again completely debt-free. This IVA is incredibly helpful for people who want to avoid bankruptcy and come up with the next best solution. The IVA can protect you from bankruptcy, and lawsuits from your creditors, and also protect your credit rating so that you can pay off part of the debt. Not many people are aware of this option, which is why IVA4Me is dedicated to educating people and giving them more information about debt solutions that can help them overcome unaffordable debt and live debt-free lives in the future. People qualify for an IVA when they have more than 5,000 pounds or more of unsecured debt and they owe money to more than two creditors. People who live in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, have a regular income, and are able to meet a monthly payment of at least 85 per month will be able to qualify for the IVA. There are different types of unsecured debt that people can get an IVA four. These types of unsecured debt include personal loans, credit cards, store cards, and even payday loans. Couples who have a combination of joint debts or even individual debts can sign up for a joint IVA so that they pay one affordable monthly payment. Another type of IVA is the full and final IVA which is best for people who want to make a one-off payment to creditors as a final settlement instead of monthly payments for a long period of time. IVA4Me has several detailed guides about what an IVA can do for debt management. People who are struggling to manage their unaffordable debt can learn more about how they can qualify for this option and how it works by visiting the website. Those who want to write off can do so because there are options available according to government regulations. The important thing is to find the correct information and make important decisions about your debt management. People who would like to create a debt management plan can do so with IVA4Me. Customers can get free consultations and learn about the best solutions that fit their needs. A debt management plan or debt consolidation can give you peace of mind because its an agreement between you and your creditors and ultimately reduces your monthly payments. Since a third party negotiates this on your behalf, it is an excellent solution for people who want to manage their debt responsibly and pay off their creditors quickly. IVA4Me is dedicated to providing helpful solutions for people who are struggling with insurmountable debt burdens. Take advantage of the incredible resources available on the website to learn more about how you can manage your debt. To read more about managing an affordable debt and the options available, please visit their website here. Source: https://thenewsfront.com/iva4me-publishes-new-guide-about-managing-unaffordable-debt-with-an-iva/ IVA4Me 1 Ashmore Ave Stockport SK3 0QY United Kingdom 0800 698 0174 https://iva4me.co.uk/ Source: IVA4Me Kriya's therapeutic pipeline addresses a broad range of diseases that collectively affect millions of patients worldwidewith a goal of delivering transformational clinical benefits with one-time gene therapies This financing brings the Companys committed capital to over $600 million since its founding in 2019 PALO ALTO, Calif. and RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kriya Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing gene therapies for conditions affecting millions of people around the world, today announced the addition of over $150 million in capital committed as part of its Series C Financing, bringing the total Series C round to over $430 million. Proceeds from the financing will support the clinical translation of Kriyas broad pipeline of gene therapies and continued scaling of its engineering, computational and manufacturing platforms. Since its founding in October 2019, Kriya has raised over $600 million in committed capital and with this financing, Kriyas cash runway is anticipated to run into late 2026. Kriya is developing a portfolio of transformational gene therapies focused on three main therapeutic areas: ophthalmology, neurology and metabolic disease. Within each therapeutic area, the Company has strategically focused on addressing prevalent diseases with significant unmet medical needs, validated biological targets, and well-defined clinical endpoints so that it may rapidly achieve proof-of-concept through accelerated translational development. We have an ambitious goal to advance gene therapies to highly prevalent diseases that affect millions of people around the world, said Shankar Ramaswamy, M.D., Co-Founder and CEO of Kriya. In order to make gene therapies a cornerstone of mainstream medicine, we have built a fully integrated engine to overcome industry-wide challenges that have constrained research, development and manufacturing in the field of gene therapy. Our investments in world class infrastructure and talent have supported our ability to move with unprecedented efficiency in the engineering and production of gene therapiesand we look forward to the next chapter of our companys evolution as we translate our programs into the clinic where they can hopefully help patients in desperate need of better treatment options." Jim Momtazee, Managing Partner of Patient Square Capital, who led the Series C financing, added, "We are excited about the promise that gene therapy holds for the field, including its potential to usher in a new era of medicinea future where gene therapy is not confined to a limited range of rare diseases but instead harnessed to address a wide array of medical conditions. Importantly, we believe in the approach that Kriya is taking to lead the way into this exciting future." About Kriya Therapeutics Our mission is to revolutionize medicine, with the ultimate goal of eliminating human suffering and enabling people to live without the burden of disease. Kriya is a biopharmaceutical company developing gene therapies to address diseases affecting millions of people around the world. With operations in Palo Alto, California and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, Kriya has raised over $600 million in committed capital, which will be used to advance a broad pipeline of gene therapies for ophthalmology, neurology and metabolic disease. For more information, please visit www.kriyatx.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Media Contact: Kelli Perkins [email protected] 310.625.3248 Source: Kriya Therapeutics, Inc. AUSTIN, Texas, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LaunchPad Home Group (LaunchPad), the nations premier provider of home inspection and residential services, announced today that its subsidiary Residential Inspector of America (RIA) has acquired Nashville Home Inspection (NHI) of Nashville, TN. NHI has served residents and prospective homeowners in the greater Nashville community since 1999, becoming a leader in residential and ancillary inspection services in middle Tennessee. We are excited to join the fastest growing residential inspection company in the United States, said NHI founders and owners John and Joan Watkins. The partnership adds scale to our existing operations and will allow us to better serve the broader Nashville community. NHI has been a staple in the Nashville community for over 23 years and we are thrilled to welcome them to the team, said Rob Lemoine of RIA. The NHI team is a fantastic culture fit with RIA and our existing operations in the Nashville region. Scott Swayze, CEO for LaunchPad, said: John and Joan Watkins have built a fundamentally sound business and we are delighted to welcome the full NHI team as partners in the LaunchPad ecosystem. Residential Inspector of America (RIA)RIA is the largest and most prominent home inspection provider in the Atlanta area providing the full breadth of inspection services. Founded in 1989, RIA has developed a culture built on a growth mindset focused on technical excellence and exceptional client service. Over the past several years, RIA has partnered with five inspection companies in Nashville (API and NHI), Charleston (SBS), Jacksonville (HPI), and Atlanta (Discovery) to expand its services in these markets and broaden its geographic reach. About LaunchPad Home GroupLaunchPad Home Group is a family of regional home inspection and services brands sharing relationships, support systems, best practices, and capital base for the mutual growth of our brands. LaunchPads mission is to create lifelong relationships by simplifying home ownership at every stage of the journey, from inspections to remodeling to day-to-day safekeeping and maintenance. For more information, visit www.launchpadhomegroup.com. Today, with the help of private equity investor RFE Investment Partners, LaunchPad is the fastest growing residential inspection company in the US and provides a full suite of services to assist customers in their home ownership journey. About RFE Investment PartnersRFE Investment Partners is a private equity firm focused on making control investments in established small market companies located in the U.S. RFE is a long-standing firm founded in 1980 with over 40 years of experience investing in the lower middle market. The firms investment strategy is to transform its portfolio companies from the lower end of the market to fully professionalized and market-leading middle-market companies. RFE is currently investing out of Fund IX. For more information, visit www.rfeip.com. Contact: John Mooney, Over the Moon PR, (908) 720-6057, [email protected]. Source: LaunchPad Home Group LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MetAlert, Inc. (OTC: MLRT), a pioneer in location sensitive health monitoring devices and wearable technology products announced it has received a notice of allowance for a new patent by the European Patent Office (EPO). This will be the companys first European utility patent in the GPS SmartSole family and will cover various ways to design, protect and manufacture a GPS, Cellular, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi monitoring electronic device embedded inside an insole including the inductive charging unit. This is the fifth patent granted to Metalert around tracking and monitoring devices within footwear with particular protection on the insole format. We have been working on this European patent for several years and we were very pleased to hear the news about the patent allowance. The timing could not have been better as we continue to roll out new generation GPS SmartSole products across Europe and North America. This new patent will provide us additional intellectual property protection in the major Western markets as well as key markets in Japan, S Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. said Andrew Duncan Metalert Director. The patent has a large number of claims, with the opportunity to file additional divisional patents in the future and offers us protection against competition as well as possibly opening up new, oftentimes lucrative, licensing and partnership opportunities. While our ongoing investment in IP demonstrates MetAlerts commitment to enhance our competitive barriers in the market, it also helps strengthen our overall value in the wearable tech industry, stated Patrick Bertagna MetAlert CEO. To find out more how you can buy or become an authorized reseller contact [email protected] business development. Social Media:FB: https://www.facebook.com/metalertincIG: https://www.instagram.com/metalert/?hl=enTwitter: https://twitter.com/metalertincLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metalertinc/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUlYP1WQoLdKkDzwhGkx40Q General information, investor relations, wholesale licensing, consumer purchase: Tel: 213.489.3019 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] website www.metalert.com MetAlert United Kingdom, LondonNelson Skip RiddleTel: +44 7785 364100 Email: [email protected] About MetAlert, Inc.:MetAlert (OTC: MLRT) and its subsidiaries are engaged in designing, developing, manufacturing, distributing, selling, and licensing products, services, and intellectual property in the GPS/BLE wearable technology, personal location, wandering assistive technology, and health data collection and monitoring. With over 20 years of experience and an extensive patent portfolio, MetAlert is a leading solution provider for consumers/patients afflicted with Alzheimer, dementia, and autism. This market represents approximately 2.9% of the worlds population. The company offers global end-to-end hardware, software, and connectivity solutions, in addition to developing two-way tracking technologies, which seamlessly integrate with consumer products, enterprise and government agency applications. Utilizing the latest in miniaturized, low power consumption GPS, Cellular, RF, NFC, and BLE technologies, enabling caregivers to track and monitor patients in real time. Known for its game-changing and award-winning patented GPS SmartSole -- think Dr. Scholls meets LoJack, the worlds first invisible wearable technology tracking device created for those at risk of wandering due to Alzheimers, dementia, autism, and traumatic brain injury. MetAlerts subscription-based business model is built around technology innovation with intellectual property protection. The company has international distributors servicing customers across the globe with subscribers in over 40 countries and is a U.S. Military Government contractor. Other customers include public health authorities, municipalities, emergency and law enforcement, private schools, assisted living facilities, NGOs, small business enterprises, senior care homes, and consumers. www.MetAlert.com Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. The terms and phrases expects, would, will, believes, and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by MetAlert considering its experience and perception of current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that MetAlert believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause MetAlerts actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Certain risk factors that may cause actual results to differ are outlined in MetAlerts Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (which may be obtained on the SEC Website). These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not rely on MetAlerts forward-looking statements. MetAlert has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required. Disclaimer: MetAlert does not warrant or represent that the unauthorized use of materials drawn from this document's content will not infringe the rights of third parties who are not owned or affiliated by MetAlert. Further, MetAlert cannot be held responsible or liable for the unauthorized use of this documents content by third parties unknown to the company. Source: MetAlert Inc. Achieves 85% CO2 emission reductions in nine years for DTE Electric with a goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050(1). Detroit, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Directs an additional $110 million to support the Companys most vulnerable customers through the clean energy transition. DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) today received approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) on the Companys landmark CleanVision Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). This approval comes just 14 days after a historic settlement agreement was reached between DTE and nearly two dozen organizations on the Companys 20-year plan that dramatically transforms how DTE generates electricity as part of its mission to invest in the future of Michigan. Developed over the past two years with the input of DTEs customers and other key stakeholders from across Michigan, this proposal accelerates DTEs clean energy transition increasing investments in Michigan-made solar and wind energy, speeding up the retirement of coal plants, and developing new energy storage all reinforcing DTEs commitment to cleaner energy generated reliably and affordably. We want to thank the Michigan Public Service Commission for approving our CleanVision Plan. This has been a collaborative process, with input from key stakeholders, to ensure we have the best plan possible for our 2.3 million customers and the state of Michigan, said Jerry Norcia, chairman and chief executive officer, DTE Energy. We are transforming how we generate electricity with the goal of getting as clean as we can as fast as we can while ensuring we continue to produce energy that is reliable and affordable. DTE Electric will surpass its previously announced carbon emission reduction goals targeting 65% in five years (2028), 85% in nine years (2032), 90% by 2040 and net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Key details of the CleanVision Integrated Resource Plan include: Investing in clean and reliable energy by: Developing more than 15,000 megawatts of Michigan-made renewable energy by 2042. This carbon-free generation is the equivalent to powering approximately 4 million homes. Accelerating the development of energy storage, targeting 780 megawatts through 2030 with a goal of more than 1,800 megawatts of storage by 2042 reinforcing DTEs commitment to clean and reliable energy and more than doubling current storage capacity. Ending DTEs use of coal in 2032 with a responsible, phased retirement schedule of the Belle River and Monroe coal power plants dramatically reducing the Companys use of coal from 77% in 2005 to 0% in less than three decades. The Company has further accelerated the retirement of the Monroe Power Plant with half of the plant retiring in 2028 and full retirement in 2032. The Company will provide re-training for employees impacted by the coal plant retirements and will continue to partner with the local communities, who for years have hosted these coal-fired plants, on new economic development opportunities. Targeting 2% energy savings level from energy efficiency through 2027. Supporting increased distributed generation on the Companys distribution system. Delivering long-term customer value by: Investing over $11 billion into the clean energy transition over the next 10 years, supporting more than 32,000 jobs in Michigan, while reducing the future cost of the plan for the Companys customers by a projected $2.5 billion(2). Directing an additional $110 million to support income-qualified home energy efficiency programs, customer affordability programs and access to clean energy resources for the Companys most vulnerable customers. Repurposing the Belle River coal-fired power plant to run on natural gas at a fraction of the cost of building a new power plant, while accelerating reductions in carbon emissions. Natural gas, and other 24/7 resources like the Companys existing Fermi II carbon-free nuclear plant, play an important role in a diverse energy mix and will significantly reduce emissions while providing reliable and affordable energy to meet periods of high customer demand. A broad range of stakeholders from across Michigan signed onto a settlement agreement that was submitted to the MPSC for approval earlier this month. Signatories to the settlement agreement include DTE Electric, MPSC staff, Attorney General Dana Nessel, representatives of Michigans environmental community, key business and labor organizations and energy industry associations. The Company anticipates the approved order will be made available on the MPSC docket later today. About DTE Energy DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy Company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric Company serving 2.3 million customers in Southeast Michigan and a natural gas Company serving 1.3 million customers in Michigan. The DTE portfolio includes energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects, renewable natural gas, and energy marketing and trading. Through our commitment to cleaner energy, DTE Electric plans to reduce CO2 emissions by 90% and DTE Gas will plan to reduce methane emissions 80% by 2040, while keeping our energy safe, reliable and affordable. DTE Electric and Gas aspire to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. DTE is committed to serving with its energy through volunteerism, education and employment initiatives, philanthropy and economic progress. Information about DTE is available at dteenergy.com, empoweringmichigan.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com. Certain information presented herein includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, and businesses of DTE Energy (the Company). Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions, but rather are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future results to be materially different from those contemplated, projected, estimated or budgeted. In particular, among other statements, statements relating to the Companys climate-related policies, procedures, initiatives or goals (including, for the avoidance of doubt, net zero goals) and the Companys targets, aims and objectives in connection with those ambitions, and to the Companys expectations, targets and aims for capital expenditure, are subject to change, and are aspirational and not guarantees or promises that all targets, aims and objectives will be met. Statistics and metrics relating to ESG and climate-related matters are estimates and may be based on assumptions or developing standards. Actual results may differ materially from any forward-looking statements. 1. Baseline set in 2005 2. $1.1 billion from 2019 plan and nearly $1.4 billion from the proposed 2022 plan related to regulatory asset treatment related to the net book value of Monroe and Belle River Power Plant For further information, members of the media may contact: Attachments Jill Wilmot DTE Energy 313.235.5555 Ryan Lowry DTE Energy 313.235.5555 Source: DTE Energy TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, July 27. Sanoat Energetika Guruhi (Saneg), largest private oil and gas company of Uzbekistan, has increased gas production at three fields in Kashkadarya region, Trend reports. The company managed to boost gas production at the Chuvama, Kizilrabat, and Shurtepa fields through the implementation of distributed compression technology. As Saneg explained, gas compression is carried out using a modular compressor unit located at the Chuvama gas metering station. Currently, the unit has allowed for a twofold increase in total gas production, from 104,000 to 200,000 cubic meters per day, with subsequent gas transportation to the Mubarek Gas Processing Plant. The working principle of the modular compressor unit involves creating a pressure drop at the wellheads of the gas wells connected to the compressor. This enables increased production from individual clusters of low-pressure gas wells. The modular compressor unit consists of a gas cleaning system, compression line, and oil supply system. The advantage of the unit lies in its mobility, compactness, and autonomous equipment control. "Since the reservoir energy of the main fields in the Kashkadarya region has been depleted due to the depletion of natural gas reserves, Saneg actively implements gas recovery enhancement methods. The modular compressor unit is one of them. With their help, we will be able to increase the volume of economically recoverable reserves and enhance the productivity of wells that have been in operation for over 30 years," said Saneg's Executive Director, Tulkun Yusupov. The implementation of the modular compressor unit project is being carried out in collaboration with the GRDC scientific and technological center and is being realized with the contracting company Enter Engineering. As part of the project implementation, preparatory work is currently underway for the installation of the North Maymanak modular compressor unit, which will allow for the compression of over 450,000 cubic meters of natural gas per day from wells at the North Maymanak and Rasulkuduk fields of Saneg's Mubarek subdivision. Alexandria, VA, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) expresses their profound disappointment with the cuts and program eliminations proposed in the House FY2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. The bill disregards health equity, womens health care, and gender-affirming health care, revealing an indifference to the needs of millions of Americans. As a bipartisan organization committed to the health and welfare of all individuals, the NAFC recognizes the importance of fiscal responsibility. However, this bill is shockingly short-sighted and will have devastating consequences that will reverberate throughout Americas healthcare system for years. Americas 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics serve approximately 2 million uninsured individuals daily. These clinics are staffed by a dedicated workforce of nearly 200,000 volunteers and staff members. NAFC member organizations do not receive taxpayer dollars to provide access to health care to their communities. Instead, with the support of donations, grants and volunteers, they are on the front lines serving the healthcare needs of individuals whose current healthcare system is the communitys response to healthcare. NAFC clinics know firsthand the catastrophic impact that these proposed cuts and program eliminations would have on their patients, many of whom are poor, uninsured, black, indigenous people of color, immigrants, people with low health literacy and English proficiency, women, and part of the LGBTQIA+ communities, shared Nicole Lamoureux, NAFC President and CEO. Our nations most vulnerable would be forced to seek emergency care, leading to an increase in costs to our healthcare system and potentially tragic outcomes. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, individuals without health coverage experience higher hospitalization rates for preventable health problems, receive fewer diagnostic and therapeutic services, and face higher mortality rates than those with insurance. The House Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill sends the message that women, especially uninsured women, and women of color, are not a priority. By eliminating the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program under Title X, this bill further endangers the lives of countless women. A National Institutes of Health report reveals uninsured women and those with public insurance face higher risks of advanced breast cancer, treatment delays, and death. The drastic cuts to the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, Healthy Start, the Ending HIV Epidemic initiative, and various diversity initiatives within the healthcare workforce undermine our societys commitment to equitable access to care. The NAFC is dedicated to building healthy communities and ensuring quality, equitable, and accessible healthcare, standing for volunteerism, generosity, collaboration, and the intrinsic value of human dignity. The NAFC vision encompasses a just society that upholds the rights of all individuals to a healthy life and well-being, regardless of age, sex, income, education, immigration status, ethnicity, skin color, religion, or sexual orientation. As Congress continues negotiations on a final Labor HHS bill, the NAFC urges all members of the Senate and the House to prioritize people over politics because a healthy population is essential for the success and growth of our nation. The House Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill falls short of what our citizens deserve, and we as a country must do better. XX About the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the uninsured and underinsured throughout the nation and the more than 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics and Pharmacies that serve them. The NAFC has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is working towards healthy communities for all through quality, equitable, accessible healthcare. For more information about the NAFC, please visit www.nafcclinics.org. Kerry Thompson National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics 7036477427 [email protected] Molly McCabe National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics [email protected] Source: National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) is proud to announce that Teterboros School of Aeronautics has moved to its new campus location, which will continue to serve students in the metro area. Previously Teterboro School of Aeronautics, the school was founded in 1947 and acquired by AIM in 2019. We are grateful for the Port Authoritys continued support in hosting the Teterboro School of Aeronautics for so many decades at the Teterboro Airport. Because of the communitys support of the aviation campus for over nine decades, we outgrew the space. The new expanded location will allow our relationship with the community to continue to thrive. said Greg Daniel, Regional Director for AIM. In partnership with ARCO/Murray, AIM has overhauled a vacant space in Hasbrouck Heights to create an improved learning facility for students. The population of the school continues to grow, and the new space, located at 459 NJ-17, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey 07604, will allow for more students to train in aircraft maintenance. At 62,798 square feet, the facility includes nineteen classrooms, offices, student lounges, a test center, and a 20,000 square foot airplane hangar. The new facility will accommodate up to 1,300 students, who attend school either during day classes or night classes. With the larger capacity, AIM will be able to train more graduates to fill needed aviation jobs in the New Jersey and New York Metro areas. AIM has equipped the new facility with updated technologies, Wi-Fi, communication capabilities, training aids, supplies, and equipment standard in todays educational world. The new facility will also allow for students and staff to enjoy a growing community with ample access to public transportation, shopping and leisure, and housing. The Teterboro campus is excited to move into a larger facility that will better meet the needs of our students and the aviation employers who hire them. In addition to more room, the campus looks forward to repurposing a vacant facility to heighten workforce efforts in a community that has embraced us for over 50 years, said DeKylen Jordan, Campus Executive Director. The campus opened its doors to welcome students into the new facility on February 21. AIM is thrilled to host its official ribbon cutting ceremony on August 2, 2023, at noon. For more information, contact [email protected]. About Aviation Institute of Maintenance Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) is a network of aviation maintenance schools with campuses coast-to-coast in the United States and headquarters in Virginia Beach, Va. AIM students are trained to meet the demand of commercial, cargo, corporate and private aviation employers. AIM graduates have the opportunity to obtain certifications with the Federal Aviation Administration, American Welding Society, Environmental Protection Agency, and OSHA. AIMs campuses are near the following major metro areas: Atlanta, Chicago, Charlotte, Newark/New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., Kansas City, San Francisco Bay, Orlando, and Norfolk. AIM is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). To learn more, visit https://aviationmaintenance.edu/ or like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AIM.edu. ### Nicole Gleaton Aviation Institute of Maintenance 7574565065 [email protected] Source: Aviation Institute of Maintenance Sanlitun, Beijing, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On July 24, 2023, Robinson Jean-Louis, Ambassador of the Republic of Madagascar to China, appointed Professor Lingyun Xiang, an economist in the United States, as a Special Financial Economic Advisor of the Embassy of Madagascar in China on behalf of the Republic of Madagascar. The Republic of Madagascar, also known as Madagascar, is an African island located in the western Indian Ocean, across the Mozambique Strait from the African continent. Madagascar is composed of volcanic rock, as the largest island in Africa and the fourth largest in the world, it has a land area of 592,000 square kilometers (including surrounding islands), a population of about 28.92 million (2023), more than 98% of the total population is Malagasy. Composed of 18 ethnic groups, a total of 6 provinces and 23 regions. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Madagascar on November 6, 1972, the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have developed smoothly. On behalf of the Republic of Madagascar and President Andriy Nirina Rajoelina, the Ambassador of the Republic of Madagascar to China, Robinson Jean-Louis, expressed his heartfelt thanks to Professor Lingyun Xiang for his outstanding contributions to the Republic of Madagascar. Implementing the "Madagascar Revitalization Initiative", providing intellectual, financial and economic assistance, and promoting the construction of energy, agriculture, housing, health, infrastructure and other key areas. Professor Lingyun Xiang introduces that the China-Madagascar trading tie and economic and technical cooperation are progressing smoothly. The two countries have signed agreements on the reciprocal promotion and protection of investments, trade agreements and agreements on the establishment of mixed economic and trade commissions. Since 1972, China has assisted to Madagascar, building projects such as the Mulundawa sugar factory, a pharmaceutical factory, the Aung Wa Highway, the Antananarivo Stadium, an international conference center, and schools. Mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Madagascar began in 1985. In 2022, bilateral trade volume was 2.08 billion US dollars, an increase of 29.2% year-on-year. Among them, exports from China were 1.455 billion US dollars, a year-on-year growth of 13.9%, and imports were 625 million US dollars, a year-on-year growth of 87.8%. China mainly exports textile yarns, electronic products, mechanical and electrical products, etc., and imports mineral sands and agricultural products. In 1980, the two countries signed a cultural cooperation agreement. There are 2 Confucius Institutes and 1 Confucius Classroom in Madagascar: the Confucius Institute at the University of Antananarivo, the Confucius Institute at Tamatave and the Confucius Classroom at Little Bird's Nest School. China has been offering scholarships to students from Madagascar since 1973. From 2020 to 2021, the total number of students from Madagascar was 621, 129 of them had scholarships from the Chinese Government. At present, the total number of registered Madagascar students in China is 649. Since 1975, China has sent medical teams to Madagascar, and there are now four medical centers in Madagascar, and so far 23 batches of 687 people have been dispatched. After the outbreak of COVID-19, the two sides actively carried out anti-epidemic cooperation, and China provided anti-epidemic materials to Madagascar. Robinson Jean-Louis introduces Professor Lingyun Xiang, a well-known economist and distinguished investor in the United States, a full member of the Association of International Accountants (AIA). a member of the International Association Of Accounting Professionals (IAAP), a Certified Forensic Public Accountant (FCPA), a senior public accountant of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA), an International Certified Internet Finance Manager (ICIFM), the Marquis of San Prospero, the worlds outstanding Chinese, International Ambassador for Public Welfare and Charity, an image ambassador for global diplomats, an overseas image ambassador of Chinese enterprises, the best leader in the financial industry, a senior financial risk management consultant. Meanwhile, professor Lingyun Xiang is also an invited Economic Advisor of the Embassy of the Central African Republic in China, invited Chief Economic Advisor of the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in China, the invited Economic Advisor of the Republic of Liberia, the invited Economic Advisor to the Republic of Zimbabwe, the Special Financial Economic Advisor of the Embassy of Madagascar in China and the International Charity Ambassador of the Republic of Mali. Professor Lingyun Xiang is familiar with the legal situation and policy environment of many countries. Proficient in international law, civil law, economic law, partnership law, tax law and securities law. He is also the author of The Way of the Metaverse, The Logic of Blockchain, Guide to Equity Incentive Practice, Private Equity Investment Solutions, Blockchain: A Technological Revolution Empowering the Real Economy, SME Financing and Growth, Global Visual Economics, Industrial Economics, International Trade and Economic Management, Logistics Warehousing Management and E-commerce, Investment Risk and Operation Management, etc. Embassy of the Republic of Madagascar ChanceryNo. 3, San Li Tun Dong JieTel65321353Fax65322102E-mail[email protected] Disclaimer: Threads-coin is in no way affiliated or associated with Threads by Meta. The information provided in this release is not investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is recommended that you practice due diligence (including consultation with a professional financial advisor) before investing or trading securities and cryptocurrency. Source: Embassy of the Republic of Madagascar Q2 2023 turnover at 100 million supported by strong growth of the capacity in operation Stable second quarter amid strong growth in energy sales and internal services Energy sales : +41%. Sharp increase of solar and wind production (+40% at 0.9 TWh) thanks to the new plants commissioned in 2022 and 2023 Services : +85% (before eliminations). Internal services quadrupled, with a very high level of own-account projects (961 MW), but a -50% fall in services to third-party customers, which was a one-off event, as few significant milestones were reached over the period Capacity in operation and construction 2.7 GW in operation and under construction (+24% vs H1 2022): 1.7 GW in operation and almost 1 GW under construction Confirmation of 2023 objectives 2023 target of 2.6 GW in operation and under construction achieved in 2022, one year in advance Confirmation of normalised EBITDA1 target of 275-300 million 2027 ambitions reaffirmed Owned capacity in operation and under construction : over 5 GW Capacity operated on behalf of third parties : over 8 GW Normalised EBITDA 2 : around 475 million : around 475 million CO 2 -equivalent avoided : over 4 million tonnes Voltalia (Euronext Paris, ISIN code : FR0011995588), an international player in renewable energies, publishes its second quarter and first half 2023 turnovers. Power production increased sharply over both the quarter (+40%) and the first half of the year (+41%). Ongoing projects, with a capacity of almost 1 GW, most of which will be completed before the end of the year, will enable this trend to continue. In Services, growth is being driven by internal services, with teams often working on projects for their own account , commented Sebastien Clerc, Voltalias CEO. Turnover for the second quarter and first half of 2023 In millions3 Q2 2023 Q2 2022 Change At current exchange rates Change At constant exchange rates 4 H1 2023 H1 2022 Change At current exchange rates Change At constant exchange rates 2 Energy Sales 75.2 53.1 +41% +44% 138.0 96.2 +44% +43% Services 156.2 84.5 +85% +88% 258.1 149.2 +73% +74% Eliminations -131.3 -34.8 x4 x4 -197.2 -47.2 x4 x4 Turnover 100.0 102.8 -3% stable 198.9 198.1 stable stable BUSINESS REVIEW Turnover for the first half of 2023 came to 198.9 million, stable compared with the first half of 2022. It benefits from growth in Energy Sales (+44%). Services (+73%) are focused on internal activity (eliminated on consolidation), which increased multiplied by x4, to the detriment of external activity, which suffered a temporary decline (-40%). In this context, Energy Sales represented 69% of sales for the first six months of 2023, compared with 49% a year earlier. Q2 2023 turnover came to 100.0 million, down -3% compared with Q2 2022 (stable at constant exchange rates). Energy Sales (+41%) contributed 75% to the quarter's turnover, compared with 52% a year earlier. ENERGY SALES Operational indicators Q2 2023 Q2 2022 Variation H1 2023 H1 2022 Variation Production (en GWh) 882 630 +40% 1,842 1,308 +41% Installed capacity (in MW) 1,699 1,226 +39% Installed and under construction capacity (in MW) 2,661 2,143 +24% Wind load factor in Brazil 31% 27% +4pts 36% 30% +6pts Solar load factor in Brazil 20% 20% Wind load factor in France 21% 17% +4pts 27% 22% +5pts Solar load factor in France 22% 24% -2pts 17% 19% -2pts Solar load factor in Egypt 27% 28% -1pt 25% 25% stable Solar load factor in Jordania 31% 32% -1pt 26% 27% -1pt Turnover for the first half of 2023 from Energy Sales amounted to 138.0 million euros, up +44% at current exchange rates compared with the first half of 2022 (+43% at constant exchange rates). The average EUR/BRL rate was 5.48 in the first half of 2023, compared with 5.55 in the first half of 2022. In the first half of 2023, production reached 1.8 TWh, compared with 1.3 TWh in the first half of 2022, up +41%, reflecting the improvement in wind resources in Brazil and France (+4 points increase in the wind load factor in both countries) and, mainly, the increase in installed capacity in operation to 1,699 MW (+39%) at the end of June 2023. Energy sales benefited notably from Helexia's growth over the half-year. Q2 2023 turnover from Energy Sales reached 75.2 million, up +41% (+44% at constant exchange rates) compared with Q2 2022. Quarterly production was 0.9 TWh, up 40% from 0.6 TWh in 2022. By country : In Brazil, production is up by +40% due to better wind conditions than a year earlier and the full production of SSM1 and 2 (320 MW), the company's largest solar power plant, commissioned in 2022; In France, production is up by +38% due to better wind conditions and production from plants commissioned in 2022 and 2023 (Helexia, Sable blanc, Sud Vannier) ; In other countries, Voltalia's production grew overall, multiplied by x8 in the United Kingdom with the new South Farm solar power plant, multiplied by x2 in Portugal with the start of production at the Garrido complex, and by +68% in Spain, marked by the strong growth in Helexia's production over the period. In Egypt and Jordania, production was down -4% year-on-year, due to a load factor that was slightly lower. SERVICES Turnover for the first half of 2023 from Services (internal and external) totalled 258.1 million, up +73% (+74% at constant exchange rates) compared with the first half of 2022. The Development, Construction and Equipment Procurement segment grew by +79% to 239.6 million, and the Operation & Maintenance segment by +23% to 18.5 million. Activity was temporarily concentrated on the internal services, with internal turnover (eliminated on consolidation) increasing multiplied by x4 to 197.2 million euros, and turnover with third-party customers falling by -40% to 60.9 million euros. Q2 2023 turnover from Services (internal and external) totalled 156.2 million, up +85% (+88% at constant exchange rates) compared with Q2 2022. Activity was temporarily focused on the internal market, with internal turnover (eliminated on consolidation) multiplied by x4, and turnover with third-party customers falling by -50% (-47 % at constant exchange rates). Analysis by segment shows strong growth in the Development, Construction and Equipment Procurement segment : The Development, Construction and Equipment Procurement segment posted turnover of 146.6 million, up +91%, thanks to a fourfold increase in internal activity, reflecting the record capacity under construction for its own account, which stands at 961 MW at the end of June 2023. External turnover for this segment on behalf of third-party customers fell by -58% to 19.4 million. Although more than 550 MW are currently under construction for third-party customers, few milestones have yet been reached during the period, with Voltalia recognising construction turnover based on the progress of projects. The Operation & Maintenance segment recorded turnover of 9.6 million, up by +17% (+19% at constant exchange rates), driven in particular by third-party customers. Turnover eliminations for H1 2023 and Q2 2023 came to respectively 197.2 million (x4 at current and constant exchange rates) and 131.3 million (x4 at current and constant exchange rates), reflecting the sharp increase in internal services for power plants under construction, the vast majority of which are due to be commissioned before the end of 2023, and during the operating period. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS (SELECTED) Update on Canudos project (99.4 MW): confirmation of the validity of the construction permits by Brazilian federal court Voltalia announces today that the Brazilian federal court of appeals overturned the preliminary decision that had suspended the Canudos projects permits last april5 . Voltalia has the authorization to finalize the works, carry out the commissioning and start the operation of the wind farms. In parallel with the resumption of operations, Voltalia will present a complementary environmental study and arrange a public hearing with local communities within 6 months. The Public Prosecutor will have the possibility to make an appeal to this second instance decision within a limited time period (30 business day after being intimated of this decision). First megawatt-hours for the SSM3-6 solar power plant in Brazil6 SSM3-6 is part of the Serra Branca cluster, the largest wind and solar cluster in the world, developed entirely by Voltalia. The cluster generates some of the most competitive energy in the country, with exceptional levels of wind and sunshine as complementary energy sources. Out of a total of 260 MW, 17 MW came on stream in June and a further 83 MW since the beginning of July. The rest will gradually be brought on stream over the coming months. The plant is backed by a 14-year electricity sales contract with Copel, a Brazilian utility and long-standing partner of Voltalia. In French Guiana, commissioning of a combined solar and storage power plant7 Voltalia has commissioned its Sable Blanc power plant, combining photovoltaic generation, with a capacity of 5 MW, and battery storage, with a capacity of 10.6 MWh. Developed entirely by Voltalia, the mixed power plant will benefit from a guaranteed sales tariff for 20 years. The lithium-ion batteries will enable the electricity produced during the day to be injected after night fall, while improving the stability of electricity production in a region with high demand. SNCF Energie signs a new wind energy supply contract with Voltalia8 The contract covers production at a wind farm in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. The contract is for a period of 25 years. The wind farm, called Rives Charentaises, has a total installed capacity of 37.4 MW, and will produce around 78 GWh a year, or 1.4% of SNCF Voyageurs' traction electricity consumption. The plant is scheduled to be commissioned in the first half of 2024. Helexia wins a new 90 MW contract in Brazil9 The 20-year agreement between Helexia and Comerc Energia, a leading provider of energy management solutions in Brazil, covers the supply of up to 90 MW of photovoltaic solar power spread across a series of distributed generation projects. They will be built progressively in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Ceara and Pernambuco. Construction work on the first projects will begin in the coming months, with commissioning scheduled for the first quarter of 2024. Voltalia selected to build a 108 MW solar farm in Ireland10 ESB, a semi-state-owned utility company, and Bord na Mona, a semi-state-owned climate solutions company, have awarded Voltalia a contract to build their Timahoe North solar farm and maintain it for at least two years. The plant is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2024. 2023 OBJECTIVES CONFIRMED Voltalia recalls that its target of 2.6 GW of capacity in operation and under construction, which the Company had planned to reach by the end of 2023, was reached by the end of 202211, one year ahead of schedule. Voltalia reiterates its normalised EBITDA12 target for 2023, which is expected to be in the range of 275 to 300 million. 2027 AMBITIONS REAFFIRMED Last October, Voltalia defined a new growth plan for 2027, including the following ambitions: Owned operating and construction capacity: over 5 GW; Capacity operated on behalf of third parties: over 8 GW; Normalised EBITDA 13 : around 475 million; : around 475 million; CO 2 -equivalent avoided: over 4 million tonnes. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements about Voltalia and its subsidiaries. These statements include financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations, services, product development and potential, or future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "forecasts," "projects," "seeks," "strives," "aims," "hopes," "plans," "may," "goal," "objective," "projection," "outlook," and other similar expressions. Although Voltalia's management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors and shareholders of the Group are cautioned that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond Voltalia's control, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified in the public filings made by Voltalia with the Autorite des marches financiers, including those listed in Chapter 2 "Risk Factors and Risk Management" of Voltalia's 2022 Universal Registration Document filed with the Autorite des marches financiers on April 14, 2023 under number D.23-0267 and in Chapter 5 "Principal Risks and Trends" of the 2022 interim financial report. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and Voltalia undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or statements included in this press release to reflect any change in expectations or events, conditions or circumstances on which any such forward-looking statement is based. Any information regarding past performance contained in this press release should not be construed as a guarantee of future performance. Nothing in this press release should be construed as an investment recommendation or legal, tax, investment or accounting advice. Installed capacity as of June 30, 2023 In MW Wind Solar Biomass Hydro Hybrid14 June 30, 2023 June 30, 2022 Belgium 16.5 16.5 15.0 Brazil 732.3 367.5 12.0 1,111.8 821.0 Egypt 32.0 32.0 32.0 France 88.9 151.3 4.5 244.7 174.6 French Guiana 32.015 6.8 5.4 44.2 29.3 Greece 16.7 16.7 16.7 Italy 15.3 15.3 13.7 Jordania 57.0 57.0 57.0 Portugal 47.6 47.6 19.7 Spain 19.9 19.9 7.8 Hongrie 4.3 4.3 - United Kingdom 89.316 89.3 39.3 Total 821.2 849.4 6.8 9.9 12.0 1,699.3 1,226.1 Capacity under construction as of June 30, 2023 Name of the project Capacity Technology Country Canudos 1 99.4 Wind Brazil Rives Charentaises 37.4 Wind France Cafesoca 7.5 Hydro Brazil Bolebedu 148.0 Solar South Africa Karavasta 140.0 Solar Albania SSM 3-6 243.0 Solar Brazil Logelbach 12.1 Solar France Montclar 3.7 Solar France Garrido 25.0 Solar Portugal Clifton 45.0 Solar United Kingdom Higher Stockbridge 45.0 Solar United Kingdom Sinnamary 11.0 Biomasse /storage French Guiana Lercara Friddi 3.4 Solar Italia Helexia 0.6 Solar Belgique Helexia 96.8 Solar Brazil Helexia 0.9 Solar Spain Helexia 15.8 Solar France Helexia 19.4 Solar Hungaria Helexia 2.0 Solar Italia Helexia 5.4 Solar Portugal Total (in MW) 961.4 Power production as of June 30, 2023 In GWh Wind Solar Biomass Hydro Hybrid17 H1 2023 H1 2022 Brazil 1,120.2 290.7 21.4 1,432.4 1,000.9 Egypt 38.3 38.3 39.0 Jordania 63.6 63.6 65.6 France 90.9 91.0 2.3 184.2 134.4 French Guiana 4.7 18.1 - 22.8 21.6 Greece 13.9 13.9 9.0 United Kingdom 32.9 32.9 4.7 Portugal 26.4 26.4 13.1 Italia 12.2 12.2 7.7 Hungaria 0.9 0.9 - Belgium 6.2 6.2 7.4 Spain 8.4 8.4 5.2 Total 1,211.1 589.2 18.1 2.3 21.4 1,842.2 1,308.5 Next on the agenda : H1 2023 results, on September 27, 2023 (before market opening) About Voltalia (www.voltalia.com) Voltalia is an international player in the renewable energy sector. The Group produces and sells electricity from its wind, solar, hydraulic, biomass and storage facilities. It has 2.7 GW of capacity in operation and under construction and a portfolio of projects under development with a total capacity of 14.2 GW. Voltalia is also a service provider and supports its renewable energy custommers at every stage of their projects, from design to operation and maintenance. As a pioneer in the corporate market, Voltalia offers a comprehensive range of services to businesses, from the supply of green electricity and energy efficiency services to the local production of its own electricity. With more than 1,550 employees in 20 countries on 3 continents, Voltalia has the capacity to act globally for its customers. Voltalia is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris, (FR0011995588 VLTSA), and is part of the SBF 120, Enternext Tech 40 and CAC Mid & Small indices. The Group is also included in the Gaia-Index, the index for socially responsible midcaps. Voltalia Investor relations : [email protected] T. +33 (0)1 81 70 37 00 Actifin Press relations : Jennifer Jullia [email protected] . T. +33 (0)1 56 88 11 11 1 Estimated "normalised EBITDA" at December 31 2023, calculated with an average annual EUR/BRL exchange rate of 6.3 and a wind, solar and hydraulic resource corresponding to the long-term average. 2 Estimated "normalised EBITDA" at December 31 2027, calculated with an average annual EUR/BRL exchange rate of 5.5 and a wind, solar and hydraulic resource corresponding to the long-term average. 3 The above amounts are the sum of the consolidated data, rounded to the first decimal place.. 4 Calculated on the basis of an average EUR/BRL exchange rate of 5.48 in the first half of 2023 compared with 5.55 in the first half of 2022. 5 Press release of April 19, 2023 6 Press release of July 3, 2023 7 Press release of May 10, 2023 8 Press release of July 11, 2023 9 Press release of June 14, 2023 10 Press release of July 20, 2023 11 Press release of January 4, 2023 12 Estimated "normalised EBITDA" at December 31 2023, calculated with an average annual EUR/BRL exchange rate of 6.3 and a wind, solar and hydraulic resource corresponding to the long-term average. 13 Estimated "normalised EBITDA" at December 31 2027, calculated with an average annual EUR/BRL exchange rate of 5.5 and a wind, solar and hydraulic resource corresponding to the long-term average. 14 4 MW of solar and 12 MW of thermic 15 Including the Toco and Sable blanc storage complexes 16 Including the Hallen storage complex 17 Including the solar production of Oiapoque Attachment VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Refined Metals Corp. (CSE: RMC) (OTC: RFMCF) (FRA: CWA0) (the Company or Refined) is pleased to provide an update on the 2023 Exploration Program (Program) on its 100% Lac Simard NE Lithium Property (the Property). The 2023 work program is planned to be completed in two stages, with stage one work having been completed during the first half of 2023. The intention of the stage one work was to access the areas of pegmatites located in islands within the western and northern part of the Property. As part of the stage one work, several pegmatites were identified in the field and were sampled. The stage one work program consisted of mapping, ground sampling of pegmatites and prospecting. In addition, a part of the work program was conducted to verify previously reported areas of mineralization (discussed below) and to explore pegmatites and other areas of interest. Several field traverses were conducted by using snowmobiles, ATV or walking on foot. The Company intends to use the data collected from this program to plan additional exploration work later in 2023 during the stage two work program. The results of the prior prospecting and sampling work undertaken on the Property in 2022 identified a few pegmatites with assays highlighted below (please see the NI 43-101 technical report for the Property entitled Technical Report on the Simard NE Lithium Property, Temiscamingue Area, NTS 31M10 Quebec, Canada, with an effective date of January 3, 2023, filed on SEDAR for additional details regarding these samples, including details regarding sampling methodology and quality assurance and quality control details), which the Company attempted to verify through the phase one work program by Geomap Exploration Inc.. Please see Figure 1 for a map displaying the sampling locations. Lithium values in the range of less than 15 ppm to 247 ppm, with five samples over 100 ppm lithium. Rubidium in the range of 29.3 ppm to 4,220 ppm, with 20 samples over 1,000 ppm, 14 samples over 2,000 ppm, and four samples over 3,000 ppm. Niobium from 2.5 ppm to 228 ppm, with 9 samples over 100 ppm Nb. Rubidium and niobium are considered as rare metals which can be present in anomalous values in lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) type pegmatites which are favourable for lithium exploration. Aman Parmar, Chief Executive Officer of Refined, comments, I am very pleased to announce our exciting progress in the early stages of prospecting, mapping, and sampling at the Property. Our efforts have identified multiple pegmatites that show potential for lithium exploration. The presence of these promising pegmatites reinforces our confidence in the property's lithium prospects. The samples from the pegmatites are currently being analyzed, and we are eagerly awaiting assays. We believe that these assays will provide invaluable insights into the mineral composition and grade of the samples, bringing us closer to understanding the true potential of the Property. We are incredibly excited about the prospects that the Property holds for our company and our shareholders. The progress we have made in this stage of our exploration journey underscores our commitment to unlocking the full potential of this Property. A total of ten rock chip samples from stage one of the 2023 work program were bagged and tagged using best practices and have been delivered to Activation Laboratories (ACTLABS), Ancaster, Ontario for sample preparation and analysis using laboratories code Ultratrace 7 and sodium peroxide fusion (Na2O2). ACTLABS is an independent commercial, accredited ISO Certified Laboratory. Afzaal Pirzada, P.Geo., Geological Consultant of the Company, and a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. About Refined Metals Corp. Refined Metals Corp. is a junior mining company dedicated to identifying, evaluating and acquiring interests in mineral properties in North America. The Companys business is currently focused on the exploration and development of the Rose Property, a prospective, exploration stage silver-gold-copper-zinc property located near Kamloops, British Columbia. The Company also holds an option to acquire a prospective, exploration stage lithium property located in the Lac Simard region of Quebec pursuant to the Option Agreement. The Company continues to review other mineral properties in North America for possible acquisition in the future. About Lac Simard NE Property The Lac Simard Property covers 5,571 hectares land in western Quebec and is 85 kms from the city of Val dOr. The property is located adjacent to the south of the Tansim Property of Sayona Mining. It and is accessible by a gravel road that joins route 117 at the municipality of Cadillac. The claims located in the northern part are accessible by boat or all-terrain vehicle. Geologically, the Property is a part of the Pontiac Subprovince, a granite and sedimentary rock domain situated at the southern margin of the Superior Province. It is composed of metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks of late Archean age. These rocks are mainly schists, paragneisses and migmatites, derived from sedimentary rocks, and a significant part is also made up of granitoid rocks. The Lac Simard region exhibits a suite of granodiorites, biotite, and muscovite monzogranites, aplites and pegmatites. Aplites and pegmatites are found hosted in volcano sedimentary and plutonic rocks on the margins of the Decelles Reservoir batholith. The 2021-22 exploration work included three rounds of surface channel sampling, prospecting and mapping on the Property. Focus of the third round being undertaken during the months of August and September of 2022 is a continuation of the 2021 work with carrying out more sampling and some ground geophysical surveys to map the pegmatite dykes and structures. For further information, please contact: Phone: (604) 398-3378Email: [email protected] Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Companys current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the potential mineralization of the Property, the Companys planned exploration programs on the Property, including the Companys plans to complete additional exploration work on the Property based on the data collected during the phase one exploration program, the exploration potential of the Property, the Companys expectations regarding the utility of the phase one exploration work that has been conducted on the Property and the lithium prospectivity of the Property. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, including, in respect of the forward-looking information included in this press release, the assumption that the results of the prior scientific and technical work completed at the Property are accurate and are representative of the actual geology and mineralization present at the Property and that the Company will complete its planned exploration programs successfully and that such programs will yield the results anticipated by the Company. Such assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. Although forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions of the Companys management, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, that mineral exploration is inherently uncertain and that the results of mineral exploration may not be indicative of the actual geology or mineralization of a property and that mineral exploration may be unsuccessful or fail to achieve the results anticipated by the Company. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein. Figure 1: 2022 Samples assays Lithium A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1ba19738-9013-44b9-bb86-ac3b4fcf324f Figure 1 2022 Samples assays Lithium Source: Refined Metals Corp. LONDON, Ontario, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sernova Corp. (TSX: SVA) (OTCQB: SEOVF) (FSE/XETRA: PSH), a clinical-stage company and leader in cell therapeutics, today announced the appointment of Modestus Obochi, Ph.D., MBA, a veteran dealmaker and strategic leader with 25+ years of biotech and pharmaceutical industry experience, as Chief Business Officer effective September 8, 2023. Dr. Obochi brings additional invaluable industry acumen to our expanding leadership team, said Dr. Philip Toleikis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sernova. His proven expertise in strategy, business development, product lifecycle management, and operational excellence will be vital to our team as we continue to strategically advance our proprietary therapeutic cell therapy technologies including our Cell Pouch System, both independently and with industry partners, as a potential functional cure for multiple chronic diseases. Dr. Obochi added, I am very excited by the significant commercial and the immense clinical potential that Sernovas proprietary cell therapy platform has shown with the ongoing Phase 1/2 study in people living with type 1 diabetes. As an immunologist and someone whose family has been impacted by the devastating effects of T1D, the Sernova opportunity is very personal to me. I look forward to working with Sernovas management and Board of Directors, its partners, and research collaborators as we aim to develop Sernovas proprietary cell therapy platform into a commercially viable functional cure modality for multiple chronic diseases, including insulin-dependent diabetes, hemophilia A, and hypothyroidism. Based in the Chicago, Illinois area, where he has resided for the last 16 years, Dr. Obochi joins Sernova from Phlow Corp., where he served as Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Development. In that role, he led the design, development, and execution of corporate strategy and business development plans. He also managed the due diligence, structuring, and negotiations of all transactions, including licensing deals, product acquisitions, partnerships, M&A, and strategic investments. Prior to his role at Phlow Corp., Dr. Obochi held several executive-level commercial and business development roles at leading pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Hospira, and Baxter International, and has previously consulted for several biotechnology companies. Most notably, in these roles, Dr. Obochi has helped corporations raise significant capital and has successfully structured and closed multiple strategic transactions worth over $5 billion. Dr. Obochi holds a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and an MBA from the Beedie School of Business of Simon Fraser University, Vancouver. He has published over 30 manuscripts, including journal articles and symposia abstracts, and is an inventor on several patents, including one on cell transplantation. ABOUT SERNOVA CORP. AND THE CELL POUCH SYSTEM PLATFORM FOR CELL THERAPY Sernova Corp. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that is developing therapeutic cell technologies for chronic diseases, including insulin-dependent diabetes, thyroid disease, and blood disorders that include hemophilia A. Sernova is currently focused on developing a functional cure for insulin-dependent diabetes with its therapeutic cell technology lead asset, the Cell Pouch System, a novel implantable and scalable medical device with immune protected therapeutic cells. On implantation, The Cell Pouch forms a natural vascularized tissue environment in the body for long-term survival and function of therapeutic cells that release essential factors that are absent or deficient in the bodies of patients with certain chronic diseases. Sernovas Cell Pouch System has demonstrated its potential to be a functional cure for people with T1D in an ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical study at the University of Chicago. Sernova is also advancing a proprietary technology in collaboration with the University of Miami to shield therapeutic cells from immune system attack with the goal to eliminate the need for chronic, systemic immunosuppression. In May 2022, Sernova and Evotec entered into a global strategic partnership to develop an implantable off-the-shelf iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cells) based islet replacement therapy. This partnership provides Sernova a potentially unlimited supply of insulin-producing cells to treat millions of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1 and type 2). Sernova continues to progress two additional development programs that utilize its Cell Pouch System: a cell therapy for hypothyroid disease resulting from thyroid gland removal and an ex vivo lentiviral factor VIII gene therapy for hemophilia A. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This release contains statements that, to the extent they are not recitations of historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements that involve various risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including, without limitation, statements regarding the prospects, plans, and objectives of the company. Wherever possible, but not always, words such as "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential for" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur are used to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect managements beliefs with respect to future events and are based on information currently available to management on the date such statements were made. Many factors could cause Sernovas actual results, performances, or achievements to not be as anticipated, estimated or intended or to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Such factors could include, but are not limited to, the companys ability to secure additional financing and licensing arrangements on reasonable terms, or at all; ability to conduct all required preclinical and clinical studies for the companys Cell Pouch System and or related technologies, including the timing and results of those trials; ability to obtain all necessary regulatory approvals, or on a timely basis; ability to in-license additional complementary technologies; ability to execute its business strategy and successfully compete in the market; and the inherent risks associated with the development of biotechnology combination products generally. Many of the factors are beyond our control, including those caused by, related to, or impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Investors should consult the companys quarterly and annual filings available on www.sedar.com for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Sernova expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Source: Sernova Corp. Empowers businesses and their customers to make informed decisions that align with their sustainability goals CHICAGO and STOCKHOLM, Sweden, July 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tacton , the leading Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) partner for manufacturers, is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest innovation focusing on sustainable product sales: Environmental Footprint Configuration. This groundbreaking addition to Tacton CPQ is set to revolutionize the manufacturing industry by empowering businesses and their customers to make informed decisions that align with their sustainability goals. Carbon footprint goals and regulations continue to be a critical focus for companies worldwide. Based on interviews with customers, Tacton sees manufacturers at risk of losing revenue if they cannot provide ESG data as part of their quotes. The risk is up to 5% reduction in revenue without ESG data and a potential for approximately 25% increase in revenue with the inclusion of ESG data. Tactons Environmental Footprint Configuration comes at a pivotal time. This much-needed capability will enable manufacturers to understand the environmental impact of configured products. Now, manufacturers can not only report environmental impact of products to regulatory organizations but also inform their prospects on choosing optimal products with readily available carbon emissions data for configured products. With Environmental Footprint Configuration, product specific environmental impact data is generated via an interface with life cycle assessment (LCA) software for each individual configuration. Leveraging LCA information usually requires manual work from experts, taking several days for just one configuration. With the new integration to LCA software this calculation is automated and can result in significant cost savings. Tacton is purpose-built to integrate seamlessly with any LCA data sources and is starting the first integration with PRe Sustainability using their software SimaPro for LCA data. SimaPro is a robust source of data built over 30 years of use by research institutions and companies across 80 countries. With LCA data and Environmental Footprint Configuration, Tacton CPQ equips manufacturers with comprehensive emissions data spanning Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, enabling them to quantify and optimize the environmental impact of their products throughout the entire product lifecycle. From material selection and energy consumption during use to transportation and end of life disposal, businesses can now make environmentally conscious decisions enabled by configuration. Tactons Environmental Footprint Configuration will deliver unmatched business value. Manufacturers will now be able to: Have instant availability of emissions data per product for reporting. Generate new revenue and higher margin opportunities with lower environmental impact offerings. Avoid manual LCA calculations for reporting or selection of products. Configure products fast and visualize the CO2 emissions for that configuration. Integrate with any LCA database. With the introduction of Environmental Footprint Configuration, Tacton is revolutionizing what it means to offer sustainable products in the industrial space, said Bo Gyldenvang, Chief Executive Officer at Tacton. We believe emission data transparency will drive innovation and drive manufacturers to develop more sustainable products. We are proud to offer manufacturers a powerful tool that can easily optimize environmentally sound product configuration online, giving manufacturers the ability to provide differentiated and sustainable solutions to their customers. Environmental Footprint Configuration will be available for purchase as an option in Tacton CPQ as of August 2023. Watch this video to learn more about this innovative CPQ capability . Additionally, to help educate manufacturers on environmental regulations and the potential business benefits of offering sustainable products, Tacton will be offering readiness workshops starting Q3 2023. About Tacton Tacton is a leading SaaS company trusted by global manufacturers. Tacton Trusted Configuration simplifies sales for manufacturers of complex products. Tactons Configure, Price, Quote software is named a Leader by Gartner in the Magic Quadrant for CPQ Application Suites and is recognized for its advanced product configuration and visualization capabilities. Tactons founders pioneered computer-based product configuration which today powers Tacton CPQ and CAD Design Automation. Since 1998, Tacton is trusted by global customers such as ABB, Daimler, MAN, Scania, Siemens, Xylem, and Yaskawa. It is co-headquartered in Chicago and Stockholm, with regional offices in Karlsruhe, Warsaw, and Tokyo. Follow Tacton on LinkedIn and Twitter . About PRe PRe Sustainability helps companies turn sustainability strategy into action, through fact-based consulting services, training and software solutions based on life cycle thinking. Organizations reach out to PRe to measure, improve and communicate their sustainability performance. PRes flagship product is SimaPro : life cycle assessment (LCA) software. SimaPro gives sustainability experts, product designers and decision-makers the power to gain insight into the environmental performance of products and services, to define hotspots and to drive positive change. For over 30 years, SimaPro has been among the leading professional LCA software packages used by industries, consultancies, and research institutes in more than 80 countries. Follow PRe on LinkedIn . Tacton Media Contact: [email protected] London, United Kingdom , July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Adam Bradford Agency celebrates ten years of experience in developing innovative methods to work with entrepreneurs and communities throughout the U.K. and Rwanda. The agency gets its name after its Founder and CEO Adam Bradford who began his career as an entrepreneur at a young age. When Bradford was only 14-years-old he entered a school business competition with his brothers where they won and were awarded 10,000. In 2014, Bradford began his journey helping people overcome issues with excessive gambling following his father being sent to prison for stealing money to support his gambling habits. Bradford went on to develop a mobile therapy app to support individuals who need help with gambling problems to receive professional help to stop. The app was later bought out by Crucial Compliance which gave Bradford more incentive to utilize his experience as an entrepreneur, to continue helping people suffering from an unhealthy addiction to gambling. Since attending the commonwealth heads of government meeting (CHOGM) last year, he now resides in Rwanda where his story resonates just as well as it did in the UK. Adam Bradford now heads up the Crucial Compliance team within Africa, in addition to helping people in Rwanda overcome gambling addictions. With his team, they are dedicated to working with entrepreneurs and start-ups in the country to provide them expert consultancy. Bradford says Rwanda has seen an exponential amount of growth in investment over recent years, which makes it a premier destination for entrepreneurs in Africa. The inspiration to provide opportunity and resources in Rwanda also came after Bradford was a recipient of the Queens Young Leader award, which brought together all the Commonwealth Countries to meet remotely in London. During the meeting, members of the countries decided to pursue efforts in helping people in different parts of the world. Over the next three years, Adam Bradford and his team plan to invest over $5 million to create over 300 new jobs across Africa that will continue the agencys efforts in helping to develop stronger markets and workforces in the region. We are constantly investing into people and their communities, and its been very humbling to see the work we have been able to accomplish, says Bradford. I want to continue growing our services to expand across many countries in Africa and give people there better opportunities and the chance to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. Media Contact: Name: Adam Bradford Email: [email protected] Source: The Adam Bradford Agency Katy, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - July 25, 2023) - Designer Indian dress shop Chiro's By Jigyasa launched a new collection of Chikankari embroidered clothing for women. With the launch, Chiro's By Jigyasa aims to make traditional textiles and the latest trends in Indian fashion accessible to US customers via its online store. Spanning ethnic to contemporary clothing styles and casual to party wear, the designer's new Chikan embroidery collection caters to all tastes and needs. More details can be found at https://chirosbyjigyasa.com Chikankari Hand Embroidered Indian Clothing in US launched. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/174493_a4486b54d4865932_001full.jpg The store carries a wide variety of garments including lehengas, sarees, kurtis, and bridal gowns, providing maximum choice for customers. The new fashion range also includes a vast array of colors, fabrics, and embellishment styles. Chikankari is a traditional style of intricate embroidery that originates from Lucknow. The stitching includes shadow work designs that are artfully applied from the back of the fabric and viewed from the front. The delicate needlework is largely applied to fine fabrics such as chiffon, muslin, silk, cotton, and georgette to highlight the embroidery. The store's garments are designed in-house and produced by a team that is skilled in fabric arts. "Our latest collection of Indian dresses is designed exclusively for you, to bring out the true Indian experience that you had back home. Our team understands the intricate threadwork, beadwork, and rich ethnic textile designs that make traditional dresses so graceful - and we've brought all of that to our store", said Chiro's By Jigyasa. Highlights from the boutique's collection include a Pure Crepe Embroidered Saree. With delicate gold embroidery against a mauve background, this garment provides a luxurious option for parties and special events. The collection's Pure Satin Hand Embroidered Saree in pink is also an elegant choice for weddings or festivals. Semi-formal wear includes Embroidered Ladies' Tunics. Combining classic Indian and American styles, these tops can be paired with jeans or pants and come in sizes up to XXL. In addition to women's fashion, the store carries a broad selection of men's and kids' clothing. Founded in 2014, Chiro's By Jigyasa is a designer, retailer, and wholesaler, specializing in traditional and modern Indian clothing and accessories. The company ships internationally and its commitment to customer service is exemplified by numerous positive customer reviews. Interested parties can find more information at https://chirosbyjigyasa.com Contact Info: Name: Jigyasa Anand Email: [email protected] Phone: 281-975-7595 Organization: Chiro's By Jigyasa Address: 19822 Almond Park Drive, Katy, TX 77450, United States Website: https://chirosbyjigyasa.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174493 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Couloir Capital is pleased to announce it has initiated research coverage for Puma Exploration Inc. (TSXV: PUMA) (OTCQB: PUMXF) ("PUMA", or "Company"). The new report is titled, "MAJOR GOLD DISCOVERY IN NEW BRUNSWICK, ATLANTIC CANADA." Report excerpt: "A well-known investor in the junior mining sector identified the potential for discoveries to grow in size as a major factor of interest in value generation. The investor was highlighting the ongoing discoveries in Newfoundland that occurred along a structure showing over 100 kilometers of strike potential. This NL work is being directed along essentially the same major Structural Break, the Iapetus Suture, as described above. This new gold play in New Brunswick where Puma is the most active now shows high-grade gold discoveries over 50 kilometers of strike length. However, there are at least three fault trends, sub-parallel along this length, that are shown to contain gold prospects, high grades and room for extension. This new potential camp is at an early stage with lots of room to grow and ounces to be found. We believe this area is just a season or two behind the Newfoundland gold play, but could soon show it deserves the same level of interest and exploration work. There is still over 20 kilometers of structure along the three fault zones where no recent work is reported in the public markets, between Puma/Gold Terra and the Canadian Metals claim blocks, see figure 7. This ground is held by prospector's and could provide entry points for additional explorers should the ongoing results attract additional players and capital. The question if this is a new gold camp will be determined as the exploration continues." The report can be accessed through Couloir Capital's portal: https://www.couloircapital.com/research-portal. About Couloir Capital Ltd. Couloir Capital Ltd. is an investment research firm comprised of a team of experienced investment professionals dedicated to providing opportunities in the natural resource exploration and development sectors. Our research reports are disseminated through Bloomberg, FactSet, Capital IQ, Reuters, and many more, as well as through our social media and large email distribution list. To subscribe please visit: https://www.couloircapital.com/research-portal. Our affiliated firm, Couloir Securities, is approved by the Ontario Securities Commission to serve clients as a private placement dealer (Exempt Market Dealer) in the province. Investment opportunities include non-brokered private placements primarily in the resource sector. Tax-advantaged flow-through share offerings are frequently available. Resource companies are invited to contact us to discuss your financing and equity research plans. Investors in the sector can also contact us for current opportunities available through our offerings. We look forward to working with you to advance your company's goals. For further information, please contact: Rob Stitt, Managing Director, Couloir Capital Ltd. Email: [email protected] www.couloircapital.com Analyst Disclosure: Couloir Capital DOES hold shares or options in the Company. The analyst DOES NOT hold shares or options in the Company. Couloir Capital HAS been retained under a service agreement by the Company. This service agreement includes analyst research coverage. Investors are encouraged to read the complete list of disclosures contained in the report. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174960 Germany has again urged the authorities to provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus cruise missiles with a range of up to 500 km. They believe that these missiles will help Ukrainian forces to interrupt the logistical chains of the Russian army. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by a politician of the Free Democratic Party of Germany, Markus Faber, reported NTV. He emphasized that these weapons are needed for the counter-offensive of the AFU. Faber noted that the Bundeswehr has 600 Taurus cruise missiles in storage and many of them are ready for use. The politician said these long-range missiles could revitalize Ukraine's counteroffensive, which he said is progressing slower than expected. "That's why now would be the right time to at least give the Taurus so that the integration process can take place," Faber said. He added that the long-range missiles would help the AFU interrupt the Russian army's logistical chains, which would disrupt the supply of the occupation forces. We will remind, in May, the German opposition has already advocated the transfer of Taurus missiles to Ukraine. The Christian Democratic Union's (CDU) defense representative Roderich Kiesewetter made such an appeal to the government at the time. He noted that there should be no "red lines" on the transfer of Taurus missiles to Kyiv. In his words, the partners should go for broke and provide Ukraine with everything it needs to defend and liberate the temporarily occupied territories. ADVERTISIMENT It should be noted that the long-range air-to-surface subsonic cruise missile is designed for high-precision engagement of protected targets without the carrier aircraft entering the range of enemy air defense facilities. According to the developer's information, the missile's ultimate range has been increased to 500 kilometers. The Taurus missile has a load-bearing body, a small elongated wing and a cross-shaped tail with controls. The fuel tanks are located between the homing head and the engine on both sides of the warhead. ADVERTISIMENT The basic model of the TAURUS missile is equipped with a tandem concrete-piercing MEPHISTO-type warhead. The leading charge of the warhead is a shaped charge, while the main charge is a high-explosive charge located in a high-strength casing whose shape is optimized for penetrating concrete and heavy soil. The weight of the high-explosive charge together with the casing is 400 kg, while the total weight of the warhead is 480 kg. As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, in May, Ukraine officially asked Germany to provide Taurus cruise missiles. German experts, discussing the possible approval by the German government of the transfer of Taurus to Ukraine, noted that there are opportunities to increase their production. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information we have in our Telegram channel Obozrevatel, Threads and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Lead, South Dakota--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Dakota Gold Corp. (NYSE American: DC) ("Dakota Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to report it has completed its metallurgical testing/validation drill program at the Richmond Hill Gold Project ("Richmond Hill") ahead of schedule and under budget. All holes have been logged, sampled, and shipped off for initial assays. A total of twenty-nine drill holes were completed for the program, and of those, results from sixteen of the holes have been returned to date: five of these holes were reported previously by the Company (see June 8 and June 15, 2023, press releases) and eleven additional drill holes are reported here. Assay results for the remaining thirteen holes of this program are pending. Drill Hole Highlights (See Table 1): The latest drill results generally confirmed the grade and intercept thickness expectations compared to historical drilling completed by LAC Minerals USA LLC. However, several holes exceeded the thickness and grades of the model, indicating there are untested parts of the system that are open along strike and at greater depth than previously understood. These drill holes include: RH23C-036 intersecting 0.060 oz/ton over 65 feet (2.06 grams/tonne over 19.8 meters) RH23C-039 intersecting 0.069 oz/ton over 36 feet (2.37 grams/tonne over 11.0 meters) RH23C-045 intersecting 0.024 oz/ton over 112.3 feet (0.82 grams/tonne over 34.2 meters) RH23C-046 intersecting 0.042 oz/ton over 96.7 feet (1.44 grams/tonne over 29.5 meters) Program results have provided new insights into the major structures controlling brecciation and gold mineralization. This knowledge has provided new direction for step-out drilling in known breccia bodies to the north of the current drilling, and for new exploration drilling under the younger sedimentary cover in the Carbonate Camp area. The Richmond Hill metallurgical testing/validation drill program remains on schedule to produce a compliant S-K 1300 Resource in the first Quarter of 2024. This will incorporate 880 historical drill holes with the current drill results. This phase of drilling at Richmond Hill has produced results consistent with expectations with approximately 80,000 feet of drilling completed to this date. James Berry, Vice President Exploration of Dakota Gold, said, "We are pleased how quickly and smoothly this validation drilling program was completed and thank our employees and contractors who contributed to its safe, successful, and rapid completion. The latest drill results continue to validate and extend the mineralization characterized by historical drill programs. In addition, the new geologic information from the core drilling is being used to update the geologic deposit model, which was based on reverse circulation rotary drilling and limited largely to near surface mineralization in the Cambrian sedimentary section. This new information will be essential for use in future mineral resource estimations. We continue to be impressed by the size and strength of the Richmond Hill breccia pipe mineralization. Several excellent targets remain outside of our current drilling area which we think will further expand this unique gold mineral system." Exploration Update: All twenty-nine of the recent drill holes completed at Richmond Hill were drilled as part of a Dakota Gold's metallurgical testing/validation drilling program, and the results continue to both confirm and extend mineralization within the central breccia pipe areas (target footage 34,924 ft / 10,583 m). Bulk samples for ten of the holes with assay results have already been selected by the Company's metallurgical contractor and shipped to a test facility in Canada where metallurgical characterization and recovery testing is being conducted. Additional material from the remaining drill holes with pending assays will also be shipped once results are returned and results are evaluated. Drilling at Richmond Hill will now shift to exploration in other areas of the property including testing beneath the historical Richmond Hill breccia pipe, other breccias and structural intersections along the north-south structural corridor and targets in the Carbonate Camp area. Table 1. RH23C-030, RH23C-035, RH23C-036, RH23C-039, RH23C-040, RH23C-041, RH23C-042 RH23C-043, RH23C-044, RH23C-045 and RH23C-046 Drill Results (Imperial / Metric Units) Hole # From To Depth Interval* Gold From To Depth Interval* Gold Mineral Type ft ft ft ft oz/ton m m m m g/t RH23C-030 311.2 329.9 193.7 18.7 0.070 94.9 100.6 59 5.7 2.40 Tert 370.0 390.0 221.7 20.0 0.018 112.8 118.9 67.6 6.1 0.62 Tert 415.0 424.8 240.8 9.8 0.075 126.5 129.5 73.4 3.0 2.57 Tert RH23C-035 105.3 124.6 69 19.3 0.020 32.1 38.0 21 5.9 0.69 Tert 133.4 176.7 86.4 43.3 0.022 40.7 53.9 26.3 13.2 0.75 Tert 189.0 199.5 116.2 10.5 0.023 57.6 60.8 35.4 3.2 0.79 BX 308.2 364.8 190 56.6 0.023 93.9 111.2 57.9 17.3 0.79 BX RH23C-036 130.0 171.5 67.1 41.5 0.028 39.6 52.3 20.5 12.6 0.96 Tert 185.0 250.0 91.4 65.0 0.060 56.4 76.2 27.9 19.8 2.06 Tert 305.0 409.0 136.8 104.0 0.036 93.0 124.7 41.7 31.7 1.23 Tert 450.4 495.0 205.9 44.6 0.025 137.3 150.9 62.8 13.6 0.86 BX 530.0 539.0 248.4 9.0 0.037 161.5 164.3 75.7 2.7 1.27 Tert 555.0 570.0 261.8 15.0 0.023 169.2 173.7 79.8 4.6 0.79 Tert 590.0 737.3 278.6 147.3 0.038 179.8 224.7 84.9 44.9 1.30 Tert 765.0 781.0 334.4 16.0 0.029 233.2 238.0 101.9 4.9 0.99 Tert 825.0 860.0 356.1 35.0 0.022 251.5 262.1 108.5 10.7 0.75 Tert 975.0 1015.0 428.6 40.0 0.026 297.2 309.4 130.6 12.2 0.89 Tert 1070.0 1100.0 485.4 30.0 0.029 326.1 335.3 147.9 9.1 0.99 Bx 1275.0 1285.6 701.2 10.6 0.037 388.6 391.9 213.7 3.2 1.27 BX 1395.4 1425.2 829.8 29.8 0.031 425.3 434.4 252.9 9.1 1.06 Tert RH23C-039 0 42.5 0 42.5 0.020 0 13.0 0 13.0 0.69 BX 133.5 145.3 60.1 11.8 0.027 40.7 44.3 18.3 3.6 0.93 BX 196.4 232.4 88.3 36.0 0.069 59.9 70.8 26.9 11.0 2.37 Tert 250.3 273.7 106.7 23.4 0.023 76.3 83.4 32.5 7.1 0.79 Tert 292.8 305.5 120.6 12.7 0.035 89.2 93.1 36.8 3.9 1.20 Tert 358.6 455.0 142.7 96.4 0.037 109.3 138.7 43.5 29.4 1.27 BX 480.1 544.4 183.2 64.3 0.025 146.3 165.9 55.8 19.6 0.86 BX 562.6 790.4 207.1 227.8 0.020 171.5 240.9 63.1 69.4 0.69 BX 837.0 845.8 297.9 8.8 0.023 255.1 257.8 90.8 2.7 0.79 BX 920.0 971.8 324.3 51.8 0.016 280.4 296.2 98.8 15.8 0.55 BX 1054.5 1063.1 426 8.6 0.030 321.4 324.0 129.8 2.6 1.03 BX 1086.0 1163.0 454.4 77.0 0.020 331.0 354.5 138.5 23.5 0.69 BX 1780.8 1800.4 1006.5 19.6 0.039 542.8 548.8 306.8 6.0 1.34 BX RH23C-040 171.5 234.7 108.8 63.2 0.023 52.3 71.5 33.2 19.3 0.79 Tert 675.3 689.7 455.6 14.4 0.017 205.8 210.2 138.9 4.4 0.58 Tert 884.0 901.4 624.6 174 0.022 269.4 274.7 190.4 5.3 0.75 Tert 954.0 1000.0 686.1 46.0 0.044 290.8 304.8 209.1 14.0 1.51 Tert RH23C-041 0 62.1 0 62.1 0.020 0 18.9 0 18.9 0.69 Tert 168.3 227.0 168.3 58.7 0.025 51.3 69.2 51.3 17.9 0.86 Tert 236.4 281.6 236.4 45.2 0.026 72.1 85.8 72.1 13.8 0.89 Tert 689.6 703.5 689.6 13.9 0.018 210.2 214.4 210.2 4.2 0.62 BX 1049.5 1076.8 1049.5 27.3 0.018 319.9 328.2 319.9 8.3 0.62 BX 1099.2 1129.3 1099.2 30.1 0.019 335.0 344.2 335 9.2 0.65 BX/Tert 1163.3 1181.6 1163.3 18.3 0.021 354.6 360.2 3354.6 5.6 0.72 BX RH23C-042 164.0 183.9 110.8 19.9 0.017 50.0 56.1 33.8 6.1 0.58 Tert 232.6 250.5 158.6 17.9 0.027 70.9 76.3 48.3 5.4 0.93 Tert 259.4 341.7 176.3 82.3 0.026 79.1 104.2 53.7 25.1 0.89 Tert 377.8 398.4 276.5 20.6 0.033 115.2 121.4 84.3 6.3 1.13 Tert 484.9 500.0 368.2 15.1 0.016 147.8 152.4 112.2 4.6 0.55 Tert RH23C-043 167.6 176.9 113.7 9.3 0.019 50.8 53.6 34.7 2.8 0.65 Tert 236.5 249.7 157.2 13.2 0.018 71.7 75.7 47.9 4.0 0.62 Tert 263.3 274.0 172.8 10.7 0.041 79.8 83.0 52.7 3.2 1.41 Tert 404.5 458.3 250.8 53.8 0.025 122.6 138.9 76.4 16.3 0.86 Tert/BX 541.2 556.0 336.2 14.8 0.023 164.0 168.5 102.5 4.5 0.79 Tert 588.0 600.5 359.2 12.5 0.024 178.2 182.0 109.5 3.8 0.02 Tert RH23C-044 38.0 134.8 31.2 96.8 0.031 11.6 41.1 9.5 29.5 1.06 Tert 144.4 157.0 133.7 12.6 0.029 44.0 47.9 40.8 3.8 0.99 Tert 1170.0 1180.4 1005 10.4 0.051 356.6 359.8 306.3 3.2 1.75 Tert RH23C-045 48.3 65.5 47.8 17.2 0.021 14.7 20.0 14.6 5.2 0.72 BX 88.2 101.3 78.1 13.1 0.017 26.9 30.9 23.8 4.0 0.58 Tert 112.2 123.8 95.6 11.6 0.017 34.2 37.7 29.1 3.5 0.58 BX 324.0 359.1 240.4 35.1 0.022 98.8 109.5 73.3 10.7 0.75 Tert 369.0 424.0 272.3 55.0 0.033 112.5 129.2 83.0 16.8 1.13 Tert 457.8 570.1 340.6 112.3 0.024 139.5 173.8 103.8 34.2 0.82 Tert 595.0 615.0 485.2 20.0 0.018 181.4 187.5 147.9 6.1 0.62 Tert 952.3 978.0 836.9 25.7 0.022 290.3 298.1 255.1 7.8 0.75 BX 997.0 1007.0 888.4 10.0 0.018 303.9 306.9 270.8 3.0 0.62 Tert 1501.1 1511.1 1290.6 10.0 0.018 457.5 460.6 393.4 3.0 0.62 BX RH23C-046 29.1 49.0 21 19.9 0.017 8.9 14.9 6.4 6.1 0.58 Tert 364.4 417.8 240.5 53.2 0.023 111.1 127.3 73.3 16.3 0.79 BX 445.9 458.0 326.1 12.1 0.033 135.9 139.6 99.4 3.7 1.13 Tert 473.9 517.6 355.4 43.7 0.029 144.4 157.8 108.3 13.3 0.99 Tert 1060.2 1129.5 774 69.3 0.021 323.1 344.3 235.9 21.1 0.72 Bx 1150.1 1246.8 843.6 96.7 0.042 350.6 380.0 257.1 29.5 1.44 BX 1285.0 1337.3 941.1 52.3 0.024 391.7 407.6 286.8 15.9 0.82 BX 1353.5 1385.0 986.7 31.5 0.034 412.5 422.1 300.7 9.6 1.17 BX 1396.6 1449.7 1012.8 53.1 0.023 425.7 441.9 308.7 16.2 0.79 BX 1465.4 1476.3 1057.1 10.9 0.022 446.7 450.0 322.2 3.3 0.75 BX *True thickness is unknown. Abbreviations in the table include ounces per ton ("oz/ton"); grams per tonne ("g/t"); feet ("ft"); meter ("m"); Tertiary ("Tert"); and Breccia (Bx). Figure 1. Plan View of Dakota Gold Corp. Richmond Hill Drill Holes with Highlighted Gold Intercepts. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/174907_ec97598dc434b8c2_002full.jpg Figure 2. Cross Section View of Richmond Hill Drill Holes RH23C-036, RH23C-041 and RH23C-046. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/174907_ec97598dc434b8c2_003full.jpg Figure 3. Cross Section View of Richmond Hill Drill Hole RH23C-040. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/174907_ec97598dc434b8c2_004full.jpg The Company currently has four drills operating on its properties in the Homestake District of South Dakota, with two drills operating at the Maitland Gold Project ("Maitland") and two drills operating at Richmond Hill. The Maitland drills are targeting Homestake-hosted and Tertiary gold mineralization and the Richmond Hill drills are targeting Tertiary breccias and replacement mineralization. Richmond Hill is located 2.3 miles west of Maitland and 1.5 miles north of Coeur Mining, Inc.'s Wharf Mine. The Wharf Mine produced 79,768 ounces at 0.021 oz/ton gold in 2022. About Dakota Gold Corp. Dakota Gold (NYSE American: DC) is a South Dakota-based responsible gold exploration and development company with a specific focus on revitalizing the Homestake District in Lead, South Dakota. Dakota Gold has high-caliber gold mineral properties covering over 46 thousand acres surrounding the historic Homestake Mine. The Dakota Gold team is focused on new gold discoveries and opportunities that build on the legacy of the Homestake District and its 145 years of gold mining history. Subscribe to Dakota Gold's e-mail list at www.dakotagoldcorp.com to receive the latest news and other Company updates. Shareholder and Investor Inquiries For more information, please contact: Jonathan Awde, President and Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1 604-761-5251 Email: [email protected] Qualified Person and S-K 1300 Disclosure James M. Berry, a Registered Member of SME and Vice President of Exploration of Dakota Gold Corp., is the Company's designated qualified person for this news release as defined in Subpart 1300 - Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations of Regulation S-K and has reviewed and approved its scientific and technical content. The ranges of potential tonnage and grade (or quality) disclosed above in respect of the Richmond Hill Gold Project are conceptual in nature and could change as the proposed exploration activities are completed. There has been insufficient exploration of the Richmond Hill Gold Project to allow for an estimate of a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a mineral resource. The disclosure above in respect of the Richmond Hill Gold Project therefore does not represent, and should not be construed to be, an estimate of a mineral resource or mineral reserve. Quality Assurance/Quality Control consists of regular insertion of certified reference materials, duplicate samples, and blanks into the sample stream. Check samples will be submitted to an umpire laboratory as the drill program progresses. Assay results are reviewed, and discrepancies are investigated prior to incorporation into the Company database. Samples are submitted to the ALS Geochemistry sample preparation facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Gold and multi-element analyses are performed at the ALS Geochemistry laboratory in Vancouver, British Columbia. ALS Minerals is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited lab. Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the execution and timing of our planned exploration activities, our use and evaluation of historic data, our ability to achieve our strategic goals, the state of the economy and financial markets generally and the effect on our industry, and the market for our common stock. The foregoing list is not exhaustive. For additional information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements, we refer you to the risk factors included in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KT for the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 2022, as amended, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents that we file with the SEC. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. These statements speak only as of the date of this communication, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. We do not give any assurance that we will achieve our expectations. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174907 Vaughan, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Delota Corp. (CSE: LOTA) ("Delota" or the "Company") spearheads the smoke-free revolution in Canada, catering to adult consumers seeking alternatives to traditional combustible tobacco. The Company is pleased to announce a new corporate social responsibility ("CSR") initiative with Parkdale Community Food Bank ("PCFB"), a registered Canadian charity that has been serving Toronto's Parkdale community with the mission of ensuring access to barrier-free food, with choice, dignity and respect for all since 2007. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3742/174979_32c17df6043c2b92_001full.jpg Delota kicked off the partnership with PCFB for Canada Day (and to celebrate 180 Smoke's - the Company's flagship vape brand - 10th anniversary), with a donation campaign that ran from June 30, 2023 to July 2, 2023 whereby 180 Smoke contributed $1 per transaction, ultimately donating $5,000 to PCFB during the three-day period. The Company would like to thank 180 Smoke's customers who made this first initiative such a success and is excited to announce an expanded collaboration with PCFB. Starting July 14, 2023, 180 Smoke customers can participate in a food donation drive at the following store locations: 171 East Liberty Street, Unit 118; 886 Bloor Street West; 657 Yonge Street; 429 Spadina Avenue, 2 nd Floor; Floor; 393 Queen Street West; and 228 Queens Quay West, Unit 9. "We would like to extend a warm invitation to all of our 180 Smoke customers to contribute to our ongoing efforts to combat hunger with PCFB by donating essential and non-perishable items at any of the participating stores," said Christina Pan, COO of Delota. "Your generosity can make a significant difference in the lives of those in need." To ensure that donations are effective and beneficial, Delota asks that contributors limit donations to non-perishable food items, hygiene, baby, and pet products. "As a proud Toronto-grown organization, we have a deep-rooted commitment to giving back to our vibrant city. We believe access to healthy food is a human right and we want to do our part to make sure the most vulnerable are being helped," said Pan. "By forging a partnership with the Parkdale Community Food Bank, we aim to harness the collective power of our stores, employees, networks, and customers to make meaningful differences. Together, we can build a brighter future for all." About Parkdale Community Food Bank The Parkdale Community Food Bank's mission is to ensure access to barrier-free food, with choice, dignity and respect for all. No questions asked, we provide food to anyone who seeks assistance from our program. We believe that access to high-quality, healthy food is a human right. Beyond the provision of food, the Parkdale Community Food Bank must be a place of dignity, safety, respite and repose, where participants are made to feel that they are respected members of a community of mutual support. They share their gifts, and the resources available to them, based on their need, and according to their abilities. We accept all of our community members in a non-judgmental manner. By the contribution of each member to the other, we seek to lift each other up. Find out more about PCFB here. About Delota Corp. Delota Corp. (CSE: LOTA) spearheads the smoke-free revolution in Canada, catering to adult consumers seeking alternatives to traditional combustible tobacco. With a strong emphasis on delivering exceptional retail experiences and carefully curated product offerings, the Company is dedicated to redefining the way people transition away from smoking. Delota's flagship brand, 180 Smoke Vape Store, stands as Ontario's largest specialty omnichannel vape retailer, fueling innovation, growth, and leadership in the retail vape space. Cautionary Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance of the Company. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "may", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the Company's goal to build the most popular retail cannabis and nicotine brands in Canada by aggressively growing its retail footprint and developing retail banners that resonate with a loyal and growing cannabis and nicotine customer base. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the parties. The material factors and assumptions include continuing customer demand for the Company's products, the Company's ability to develop popular cannabis and nicotine brands, the Company's ability to expand its retail footprint in Canada, and other risks. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the parties are not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information, please contact: Delota Corp. Cameron Wickham Executive Vice Chair and CEO T: (905) 330-1602 E: [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174979 Delivering extensive training and professional guidance on business exit strategies, Exit Strategy Mastery introduces their innovative advanced workshops. Rancho Santa Fe, California--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Exit Strategy Mastery, a distinguished consulting firm specializing in business exit strategies, proudly announces the launch of their advanced workshops. Tailored to assist business owners preparing for a future sale, these workshops offer an in-depth training program devised to equip attendees with essential strategies for ensuring successful business exits. Exit Strategy Mastery Unveils Advanced Workshops for Future-Selling Business Owners To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8843/174966_7dc55da28406a9e1_001full.jpg Leveraging their wealth of industry experience, Managing Partners Richard Harmon and Mordy Levine at Exit Strategy Mastery recognize the significant challenges business owners face when navigating the intricate process of selling their businesses. They understand the profound impact a well-planned exit strategy can have on a business owner's financial future. Surveys indicate that 70% of business owners fail to realize the full potential of their businesses upon sale, a pitfall largely attributed to lack of preparation and strategic planning. Exit Strategy Mastery's advanced workshops seek to tackle this issue head-on by providing comprehensive training that explores the finer details of successful exit planning. These workshops guide business owners in evaluating their business's structure, performance, and unique selling points, forming a clear path towards a high-valuation sale. While the workshops are of immediate value to business owners looking to sell, they're also beneficial for those who anticipate a future sale. Understanding that exit strategies aren't devised overnight, Exit Strategy Mastery encourages business owners to lay the groundwork early. This proactive approach provides business owners with more options when they decide to sell, ensuring they're well-positioned for success. "Our new advanced workshops are designed to demystify the exit process and equip business owners with practical strategies to enhance their business's value," said Mordy Levine, Managing Partner of Exit Strategy Mastery. "We're committed to helping business owners navigate their exit journey with confidence, whether they plan to sell now or in the future." Exit Strategy Mastery's advanced workshops cater to a diverse range of business types and sectors. They provide strategic advice that is customized to each unique scenario, offering participants a deep understanding of the various strategies, their benefits, and potential challenges. This enables business owners to make well-informed decisions about their exit strategy. To learn more about Exit Strategy Mastery and to register for the advanced workshops, visit their website at https://www.exitstrategymastery.com. Media Contact: Contact: Jeremy McGilvrey Address: 1 Riverway Ste. 1724, Houston, TX 77056 Phone: (800) 746-1522 Email: [email protected] Website/URL: https://www.jeremymcgilvrey.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174966 Oakville, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - FendX Technologies Inc. (CSE: FNDX) (OTCQB: FDXTF) (FSE: E8D)(the "Company" or "FendX") a nanotechnology company developing surface protection coatings, announces has entered into an investor relations services agreement with Spotlight Media Corp. ("SMC"). Pursuant to the agreement with SMC dated July 25, 2023, SMC has agreed to provide investor communications services to the Company for a period of one month in exchange for a fee of USD$3,500 upon receipt of an invoice. The services include analytics, content creation and publishing, digital and social media marketing and other related investor communication services. The term of the SMC agreement will end August 23, 2023. SMC and its principals are arm's length to the Company. SMC contact information is as follows: 10650 SW 71st Ave, Miami, Florida 33156, attention: Michael Berger, email [email protected], telephone: 305-458-9982. About FendX Technologies Inc. FendX is a Canada-based nanotechnology company focused on developing products to make people's lives safer by reducing the spread of pathogens. The Company is developing both film and spray products to protect surfaces from contamination. The lead product under development, REPELWRAP" film, is a protective surface coating film that, due to its repelling properties, prevents the adhesion of pathogens and reduces their transmission on surfaces prone to contamination. The spray nanotechnology is a bifunctional spray coating being developed to reduce contamination on surfaces by repelling and killing pathogens. The Company is conducting research and development activities using its nanotechnology in collaboration with industry-leading partners, including McMaster University. The Company has exclusive worldwide licenses to its technology and IP portfolio from McMaster, which encompass both film and spray coating nanotechnology formulations. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Carolyn Myers" Carolyn Myers Chief Executive Officer and Director Contacts: Dr. Carolyn Myers, CEO and Director 1-800-344-9868 Alyssa Barry, Investor Relations 1-833-947-5227 [email protected] For more information please visit https://fendxtech.com/ and the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including with respect to: the plans of the Company; products under development; and any pathogen reduction benefits related thereto. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include: product candidates only being in formulation/reformulation stages; limited operating history; research and development activities; dependence on collaborative partners, licensors and others; effect of general economic and political conditions; and other risk factors set forth in the Company's public filings which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The reader is urged to refer to such public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174885 Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - International City Holdings, a financial services company based in Singapore, is thrilled to share news of the significant expansion within its International Equities Division. With the addition of 9 new members to the trading team, the company is now poised to handle a larger client base, further solidifying its position as a market leader in the financial services sector. The increased staff count not only enhances the company's capacity to handle complex financial investments but also opens exciting opportunities to bring on board new clients. International City Holdings Under the astute leadership of Mr. Alex Thatcher, Head of Capital Markets, International City Holdings has consistently demonstrated a forward-thinking approach to financial investments. Mr. Thatcher also shared his personal appreciation and offered personal congratulations when announcing the well-deserved promotion of Mr. Jon Campbell, acknowledging his invaluable contributions to the firm. Mr. Campbell has been promoted to his new and challenging position of Compliance Manager, while maintaining his existing role as Trading Floor Manager. In his new capacity, Mr. Campbell will continue to oversee his usual responsibilities as Trading Floor Manager, skillfully navigating the complexities of the financial markets and providing guidance to his team. However, the company has now entrusted him with additional responsibilities as Compliance Manager, a role critical in ensuring adherence to regulatory guidelines and ever-changing industry practices. Mr. Thatcher expressed his utmost confidence in Mr. Campbell's abilities, stating, "Jon Campbell has consistently exhibited exceptional leadership skills and an unparalleled understanding of the financial industry. We believe that his dedication and expertise will prove instrumental in maintaining our company's commitment to compliance while sustaining the highest standards of service for our valued clients." About International City Holdings: International City Holdings operates as a financial management and investment advisory company. Its primary goal is to ensure financial stability for its clients and offer them a wide range of investment options. For further details please visit their official website: https://internationalcityholdings.com/. Contact Media: Company Name: International City Holdings Contact Person Name: Jeffrey Moore, Head of Media Email Address: [email protected] Location: Singapore Phone No: +65 800-492-2562 Website: https://internationalcityholdings.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174827 Boston, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - On June 4, Road Scholar, the world leader in educational travel for older adults, kicked off their 38thGrandparent Adventure season. And this year, Road Scholar's grandparents and grandkids have had their sights set on learning farther from home. Road Scholar reports that they're almost back up to pre-pandemic numbers for their international Grandparent Programs despite the fact that they have far less capacity available as they rebuild their offerings. (For comparison, their domestic grandparent enrollments overall for 2023 are just over half of what they saw pre-pandemic.) "The appetite for global exploration is stronger than ever," says Road Scholar's Chief Program Officer, Maeve Hartney. "Our participants have shown us that they're really ready to get out there and explore the world again this year, and their grandkids are just as eager to travel abroad with them." Road Scholar is responding to this trend by offering more international programs for 2024 two-thirds of the new Grandparent and Family programs Road Scholar will debut in 2024 are international, and those programs are filling up fast. NEW GRANDPARENT & FAMILY ADVENTURES FOR 2023: Japan, Australia, Greece, Idaho Whitewater Rafting, Hawaii, Chincoteague Bay, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Sailing the Maine Coast, Puerto Rico, San Juan Islands, San Diego, and STEM Kansas. NEW GRANDPARENT & FAMILY ADVENTURES FOR 2024: Germany, Copenhagen, Amalfi Coast, Alaska Family, Barrier Islands Family, and, coming soon: Grandparent & Family Programs in Panama. Cindy and Jim Horner from Sterling, Colorado took their two grandsons on an African safari with Road Scholar in 2022, and this summer they traveled to Iceland with their two granddaughters. They said they are intentional about wanting to travel internationally with their grandchildren. "We have chosen to take our grandchildren on international trips to expose them to different geographical settings, cultures, and standards of living," Cindy said. "It is our hope that they return with a broadened understanding of the world." Jean McMillan from Wayland, New York has taken three of her grandchildren on Road Scholar adventures. She says her grandkids were the ones to choose international trips, but with her encouragement. "I would have taken them on any of the trips," says Jean," but I encouraged them to dream big so that there would be big adventures to be remembered that only we would share." Road Scholar has been offering program for grandparents and grandkids (often referred to in the travel industry as "skip-gen") since 1985. They also offer Family Programs, which cater to grandparents travelling with their children and grandchildren together. A Road Scholar grandmother and her grandson in front of Victoria Falls, Zambia To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9315/174415_dfd2ca1ef4dc79f6_005full.jpg Road Scholar grandparents and their grandson in Washington, D.C. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9315/174415_dfd2ca1ef4dc79f6_004full.jpg A grandparent and grandchild meeting the locals in Johannesburg, South Africa To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9315/174415_dfd2ca1ef4dc79f6_003full.jpg ROAD SCHOLAR GRANDPARENT* PROGRAM ENROLLMENTS Program Line 2019 2022 2023 Afloat (cruise) 270 0 0 Domestic 6,514 3,620 3,461 International 995 875 940 TOTAL 7,779 4,495 4,401 *Does not include Family Programs Learn more about Road Scholar's Grandparent Adventures athttps://www.roadscholar.org/grandparent. Find photoshere. About Road Scholar :Road Scholar is the nation's largest not-for-profit educational travel organization for adults a true university of the world offering thousands of programs in nearly 100 countries and 50 states. Road Scholar educational adventures are created by Elderhostel, the world leader in educational travel since 1975. Road Scholar has been offering programs for grandparents and their grandkids since 1985. Learn more atwww.roadscholar.org/about. Contact: Kelsey Knoedler Perri | (617) 521-5301,[email protected] ### To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174415 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) will release its second quarter 2023 financial results before market open on Thursday, August 3, 2023. The company will hold an investor conference call to discuss the Q2 2023 financial results at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time / 7:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time / 4:30 p.m. Central European Time on the same day. The conference call will conclude with a question-and-answer (Q&A) session. Media are invited to attend on a listen-only basis. To view the webcast, use the following: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/3envh996. Analysts are invited to join by phone for the Q&A using the following link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI41a67c7e4bc743e7975234c0ae560d1a. An audio webcast recording of the conference call, together with supporting presentation slides, will be available on Ivanhoe Mines' website at www.ivanhoemines.com. After issuance, the Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis will be available at www.ivanhoemines.com and www.sedar.com. About Ivanhoe Mines Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal projects in Southern Africa; the expansion of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC, the construction of the tier-one Platreef palladium-rhodium-platinum-nickel-copper-gold project in South Africa; and the restart of the historic ultra-high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC. Ivanhoe Mines is also exploring for new copper discoveries across its circa 2,400km2 of 90-100% owned exploration licences in the Western Foreland, which are located adjacent to, or in close proximity to, the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC. Information contact Investors Vancouver: Matthew Keevil +1.604.558.1034 London: Tommy Horton +44 7866 913 207 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174977 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Li3 Lithium Corp. (TSXV: LILI) (FSE: WD9) ("Li3 Lithium" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has filed a technical report, in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") for the Company's 50% owned Mutare Lithium Project located in Manicaland Province of northeastern Zimbabwe. The Mutare Lithium Project consists of 66 claims of various sizes covering a surface area of 26.955 km2 along a 57 km northeast-trending strike of the highly mineralized Mutare Greenstone Belt. The large-scale operating Sabi Star Lithium Mine is directly adjacent to the Mutare Lithium Project claims located in the central region of the Mutare Greenstone Belt. The Mutare Lithium Technical Report documents and confirms the results of historical prospecting and exploration activities completed by previous owners of the property and recent data compilation, review and surface sampling work completed by the Company. It also provides additional information on the project's history, regional geology and history of artisanal and commercial lithium and tantalum mining, mineralization styles and exploration targets, and provides recommendations for exploration work. In May 2023, Li3 Lithium Corp. and Premier African Minerals Limited entered into a joint venture shareholders agreement whereby each of Li3 Lithium and Premier African Minerals respectively hold an effective 50% partnership interest, with the two companies to jointly fund exploration work on the Mutare Lithium Project. Li3 Lithium has been named as operator of the project which is to be co-explored and co-developed with in-country expertise to be provided by Premier African Minerals, owner and operator of the Zulu Lithium Tantalum Mine located in Zimbabwe. The technical report, titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report, Mutare Lithium Project, Zimbabwe", dated June 30, 2023 (with an effective date of June 30, 2023), was prepared for the Company in accordance with NI 43-101, by independent geological consultant, Andr Ciesielski, PGeo, D.Sc. and Francois Auclair, P.Geo. M.Sc., CEO and President of Li3 Lithium, co-authored the report as a non-independent Professional Geologist. The Mutare Lithium Technical Report is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under the Company's issuer profile and on the Company's website (www.lithium3.com). Qualified Person Francois Auclair, QP, M.Sc, Quebec Order of Geologists, CEO and President of Li3 Lithium, is the non-independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for the technical disclosure contained in this news release. Mr. Auclair has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release. About Li3 Lithium Corp. Li3 Lithium is focused on acquiring and developing hard rock spodumene lithium assets in Zimbabwe and Argentina, where the founders have significant experience and relationships. As evidenced by recent market growth, hard rock lithium deposits are forecast to continue to dominate the global supply of lithium given the scarcity, complexity and capex-intensive nature of alternative brine sources. Contact Information: Li3 Lithium Corp. Francois Auclair, P.Geo, M.Sc., CEO and President Tel: 514-889-5089 Email: [email protected] www.lithium3.com CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward- looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174876 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - M3 Metals Corp. (TSXV: MT) (FSE: X0V) ("M3 Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into a mineral property option and joint venture agreement (the "Agreement") with Surge Battery Metals Inc. ("Surge"), a TSX Venture Exchange listed company. The Agreement grants Surge the option (the "Option") to earn up to an eighty (80%) percent interest in and to the M3M Lands (as shown in the map below and identified as the M3 Metals Claim Block) by Surge making the following payments to the Company: to earn a fifty (50%) percent interest upon Closing in the M3M Lands, Surge must make a cash payment to the Company of $500,000 and must issue to the Company a total of 2,000,000 of Surge's common shares; to earn an additional twenty (20%) percent interest in the M3M Lands, Surge must make a cash payment to the Company of $250,000, issue to the Company a total of 2,000,000 of Surge's common shares and make $250,000 in exploration expenditures; and to earn an additional ten (10%) percent interest in the M3M Lands, Surge must make a cash payment to M3M of $500,000 and issue to the Company a total of 1,000,000 of Surge's common shares. Upon earning a fifty (50%) percent interest in the M3M Lands, the Company may either continue to earn the additional twenty (20%) percent interest and ten (10%) percent interest in the M3M Lands or may require M3M to enter into a joint venture agreement with Surge for further exploration and development of the M3M Lands. Upon payment of the Full Option Exercise Price, M3M and Surge must enter into a joint venture agreement with industry customary terms including that the party with the greater interest in the M3M Lands will act as the Operator of the M3M Lands unless otherwise agreed between them. Closing of the M3M Agreement is expected to occur within ten (10) days of TSX Venture Exchange approval of the M3M Agreement. The M3M Agreement and the Option have a term of five (5) years and require, upon their termination, that the parties enter into a joint venture provided that Surge has earned at least a fifty (50%) percent interest in the M3M Lands. No finder's fees are payable in connection with the M3M Agreement and M3M and Surge are not related parties for the purposes of MI 61-101 or otherwise subject to it. The M3M Agreement, and the performance of the Company's obligations thereunder, are conditional upon the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The properties comprising the M3M Lands were staked by the Company in April of 2023 prior to the Company entering into the Lakshmi Property Agreement (as described below). The M3M Lands that were staked by the Company are comprised of 253 claims in Elko County Nevada and are located approximately 40km southeast of Jackpot, Nevada and 73km north-northeast of Wells, Nevada. M3M Lands (Identified in Map as "M3 Metals Claim Block") To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5509/175039_a3ec9171346a09ff_001full.jpg LAKSHMI PROPERTY UPDATE On May 9, 2023 the Company announced that it had entered into a mineral property option agreement (the "Lakshmi Property Agreement") to acquire an interest in the Lakshmi Property, a mineral property prospective for lithium. The Lakshmi Property is expected to be the focus of the Company's exploration and development efforts on a going forward basis. The Lakshmi Property Agreement is subject to its approval by the Exchange. Approval requires the Company to submit a technical report on the Laskshmi Property which the Company anticipates will be completed, and submitted to the Exchange, shortly. More complete information on the Lakshmi Property can be found in the Company's news release of May 9, 2023 under the Company's Issuer Profile on sedar.com. ABOUT M3 METALS CORP. M3 Metals Corp. is a Canadian listed Company, focused on creating shareholder value through discoveries and strategic development of mineral properties in North America. For additional information please visit M3 Metals website at www.m3metalscorp.com. You may also email [email protected] or call investor relations at (604) 669-2279. M3 METALS CORP. "Kosta Tsoutsis" Kosta Tsoutsis, CEO NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, currency risks including the exchange rate of US$ for CDN$, changes in exploration costs and government royalties or taxes in Canada, the United States or other jurisdictions and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/175039 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - MAX RESOURCE CORP. (TSXV: MAX) (OTC Pink: MXROF) (FSE: M1D2) ("Max" or the "Company") is pleased to report the appointment of Mr. Bruce Counts as Vice President of Exploration. Mr. Counts stated, "I am honoured to join Max's exploration team and contribute to advancing the Company's CESAR Copper-Silver project in northeastern Colombia. I had the privilege of visiting the project twice and observed the high-priority targets in the field. I am confident that the CEASAR project has the potential to host several tier-one copper-silver deposits, and Max has the team and resources necessary to make CESAR a success." Mr. Counts continued, "The sheer magnitude of the mineralized system at CESAR is impressive. Max has identified 21 compelling targets within three distinct districts that cover a 90-km stretch of the CESAR basin. Our exploration team will soon commence a regional airborne magnetic and radiometric survey over the length of the project. This data will assist the work the Company is doing to prepare the highest-priority targets for drilling, and aid with prospecting for additional copper occurrences in this underexplored part of Colombia." CEO of Max Resource Brett Matich stated, "We are delighted to have attracted a VP of Exploration of Bruce's experience and calibre. Bruce will lead our exploration efforts in derisking the 188 square km of mining concessions and 1,000 square km of applications acquired by MAX over the last three years. Mr. Counts has over thirty-years of experience in international mineral exploration, project development and deposit evaluation. Over the past twenty-years he has been a founder and director of several publicly listed companies as well as holding executive positions at the corporate and operational level. Mr. Counts has been responsible for the exploration and development of numerous projects across a range of commodities that include copper, gold and diamonds. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Geological Engineering from the University of British Columbia and is a registered Professional Geoscientist. Figure 1. CESAR Project. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/174939_maxfig1.jpg Figure 2. AM Discovery To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/174939_93c0b60a947069f0_004full.jpg Background Max's CESAR Project lies along the copper-silver rich CESAR Basin in NE Colombia. This region provides access to major infrastructure resulting from oil & gas and mining operations, including Cerrejn, the largest coal mine in South America, held by global miner Glencore. Max's twenty-one mining concessions collectively span over 188-km (refer to Figure 1). In 2022, Max executed a 2-year co-operation agreement with Endeavour Silver Corp. (TSX: EDR, NYSE: EXK), which assists to expand its 100% owned landholdings, Endeavour will hold an underlying 0.5% NSR. AM District Starting in the far north of the Jurassic basin, classic stacked red bed outcrops with extensive lateral continuity have been rock sampled over many kilometres within the AM District. Highlight values of 34.4% copper and 305 g/t silver have been documented in the sedimentary red bed sequences. The Company confirmed that stratiform mineralization continues at depth with two scout drill holes completed earlier this year (see Max News Release dated April 4, 2023). In addition, Colombian field crews continue to discover and sample new mineralized outcrops including at the recently identified AM-7 target (Max News Release dated May 25, 2023 and Max - News Release dated June 22, 2023). Conejo District Midway south, the Conejo District is the most recent to be recognized and is characterized by structurally controlled mineralization hosted in intermediate and felsic volcanic rocks. Numerous mineralized outcrops have been discovered over a distance of 3.7km at the primary target in the district with surface samples averaging 4.9% copper. No drilling has been conducted at Conejo but it has emerged as an area of focus for the Company. URU District Mineralization within the URU District is hosted in intermediate volcanic rocks and is structurally controlled, similar to deposits in the Central African Copper Belt. At URU-C, a 9.0m of 7.0% copper and 115 g/t silver surface discovery was confirmed at depth by drill hole URU-12, which intersected 10.6m of 3.4% copper and 48 g/t silver. At the URU-CE target, 750m to the east, 19.0m of 1.3% copper discovered in outcrop was confirmed by drill hole URU-9, which intersected a broad zone of copper oxide returning 33.0m of 0.3% copper from 4.0m, including 16.5m of 0.5% copper (see Max News Release date January 24, 2023) CESAR Target Evaluation Max has identified and is evaluating 21 targets along the CESAR 90-km belt for potential drill testing. The Company is focused on expanding, refining, and prioritizing these targets in preparation for a drill program. Initial efforts have been concentrated on those targets with the greatest size potential with work that includes the following field activities: Systematic chip and channel sampling of the mineralized outcrops. Detailed geological and structural mapping of each showing. Trenching where possible to expose additional mineralization. Target scale prospecting and soil sampling. Ground geophysical surveys. Regional Exploration Max has demonstrated that the Cesar basin is fertile for copper-silver mineralization over a large area; however, only a fraction of the basin has been explored. As a result, Max has dedicated on of its geological teams to regional exploration with the goal of discovering additional copper-silver prospects over 1,000 sq-km. Qualified Person The Company's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release was reviewed and approved by Tim Henneberry, PGeo (British Columbia), a member of the Max Resource advisory board, who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101. About Max Resource Corp. Max Resource Corp. (TSXV: MAX) is a mineral exploration company advancing the newly discovered district-scale CESAR copper-silver project. The wholly owned CESAR project sits along the Colombian portion of the world's largest producing copper belt (Andean belt), with world class infrastructure and the presence of global majors (Glencore and Chevron). In addition, Max controls the RT Gold project (100% earn-in) in Peru, encompassing a bulk tonnage primary gold porphyry zone, and 3-km to the NW, a gold bearing massive sulphide zone. Historic drilling in 2001, returned values ranging 3.1 to 118.1 g/t gold over core lengths ranging from 2.2 to 36.0-metres. Max is proactive, with the corporate goal of transitioning the CESAR basin towards the mining of copper, the key metal for Colombia's transition to clean energy. The safety of our people and the communities where we operate is most important. We conduct exploration in a manner which supports protection of ecosystems through responsible environmental stewardship. Source: NI 43:101 Geological Report RT Gold Project for Max Resource Corp. by Luis Rodrigo Peralta, Mar. 8, 2023. NI 43:101 Geological Report Rio Tabaconas Gold Project for Golden Alliance Resources Corp. by George Sivertz, Oct.3, 2011. For more information visit: https://www.maxresource.com/ For additional information contact: Tim McNulty E: [email protected] T: (604) 290-8100 Rahim Lakha E. [email protected] Brett Matich T: (604) 484 1230 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 Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for Max Resources Corp. described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174939 President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has expressed condolences to the family of Marianna Vardinogiannis on her death, Azernews reports. The letter reads: We were deeply saddened by the news of the death of a prominent public figure, an outstanding personality Marianna Vardinoyannis. Marianna Vardinoyannis lived a deeply meaningful and honorable life, earned great reputation and respect in the world for her noble deeds for the sake of humanity and humankind, for the promotion of universal values, as well as for her multifaceted humanitarian and charitable activities. Marianna Vardinoyannis, with high humane qualities, was also a true friend of Azerbaijan. She was awarded with a Dostlug (Friendship) order of the Republic of Azerbaijan for her significant contributions to the development of friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Greek peoples. Bright memory of Marianna Vardinoyannis, a sincere and kind person who dedicated her entire life and activity to noble deeds, will always live in the hearts of those who knew her. I share your grief over this heavy loss and extend my deepest condolences to all your family members. Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 25 July 2023 Ukrainian Defense Forces continued counter-offensive actions in at least three areas of the front: Bakhmut, Melitopol and Berdyansk over the past 24 hours on July 25. The troops managed to advance 750 meters in the direction of Staromaiorske in Donetsk region and some distance west of Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by analysts at the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), citing data from Ukrainian and Russian sources. It noted that the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Anna Maliar reported that the rate of death of Russian troops is eight times higher than Ukrainian troops in the area of Bakhmut, and 5.3 times bigger in Berdyansk and Melitopol directions. It is also noted that the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Russian units of the Eastern Group of Forces repelled four Ukrainian attacks near Staromaiorske. At the same time, a Russian military blogger claimed that a small Ukrainian infantry group had stormed the northern outskirts of the locality. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, according to Russian sources, the occupants repelled attacks by Ukrainian troops near the villages of Pryutne (16 km southwest of Velyka Novosilka) and Urozhayne (9 km south of Velyka Novosilka). According to ISW, Ukrainian forces also continued counteroffensive operations in the western part of Zaporizhzhia region and made a minor advance west of Orikhiv on July 25. Russian military bloggers claimed that Russian forces retreated to unspecified prearranged defense lines in the area. ADVERTISIMENT "ISW has previously assessed that Ukrainian counteroffensive operations are designed to create an asymmetric attrition gradient, preserving Ukrainian personnel at the expense of a slower pace of territorial conquest, while gradually depleting Russian manpower and equipment," the analysts emphasized. To remind, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov explained that although the counter-offensive of the Ukrainian Defense Forces on the front to liberate the territories seized by Russia is moving slowly, but is going according to plan. The advance of the Ukrainian military is influenced by many factors, in particular the amount of ammunition, artillery shells and systems, as well as air defense systems. ADVERTISIMENT He noted that commanders see the situation on the battlefield and react quickly to new developments, adding that the most important thing for Ukraine is to preserve the lives of the military. As reported by OBOZREVATEL: - Telegram channel "Dosye Shpiona" reported that the occupiers in the Zaporizhzhia direction faced a number of problems. A real "shell famine" looms as the AFU is gradually achieving parity in artillery, while Russian attack drones are losing effectiveness; - Serhiy Cherevaty, spokesman for the Eastern Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are using the entire range of ammunitionon the battlefield provided to the Ukrainian army by Western partners. In particular, cluster munitions were used to strike enemy troops in the Bakhmut direction. ADVERTISIMENT Summary: MomPush, the leading innovative company in the childcare industry, is proud to announce the upcoming launch of its latest creation, groundbreaking compact strollers, this September. The innovative launch redefines convenience and mobility for modern parents. Los Angeles, California--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - MomPush is set to launch a new compact stroller this September. This unique addition to the MomPush product line is poised to redefine convenience and ease of use for parents everywhere. MomPush The forthcoming compact stroller is designed meticulously and engineered to meet the evolving needs of modern parents seeking a reliable, practical, and efficient means of transportation for their little ones. With a focus on simplicity, portability, and functionality, MomPush's latest offering aims to be the go-to choice for families on the move. Furthermore, its sleek design and lightweight construction make it an ideal choice for navigating urban landscapes and crowded spaces, ensuring the utmost ease of use for parents and comfort for their precious passengers. Its sturdy frame provides a secure and stable foundation, while the ergonomic handlebars offer a comfortable grip for effortless maneuvering. The advanced braking system ensures swift and responsive control, instilling confidence in parents as they navigate varying terrains. The launch of the new compact stroller comes when families are increasingly seeking versatile and efficient solutions for their on-the-go lifestyle. MomPush's innovative approach to baby gear has consistently set them apart as an industry leader, and the forthcoming release is expected to solidify its position as a go-to brand for parents seeking unparalleled convenience. Consequently, MomPush has built a legacy of creating products that simplify parenthood, and the upcoming compact stroller launch is poised to reinforce its dedication to enhancing the lives of families everywhere. Industry insiders and parents alike eagerly await the unveiling of this incredible addition to the MomPush lineup. About the Company - MomPush: MomPush is an innovative American company with one mission: to make high-quality baby products that fit the needs of new parents while appealing to their sense of style. With a focus on safety, style, and functionality, MomPush strives to improve the quality of life for parents and their children. By reimagining and redefining what a baby stroller can be, MomPush continues to lead the market with innovative designs that cater to the evolving demands. Instagram, Facebook Media Details: Jay Xu [email protected] https://www.mompush.com/ California, Los Angeles, US To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174416 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 25, 2023) - NuGen Medical Devices Inc. (TSXV: NGMD) (the "Company" or "NuGen") is pleased to announce it has entered into a distribution agreement for its needle-free InsuJet" medical device and consumables with Sol-Millennium Medical Inc. ("Sol-M") of Chicago, Illinois USA, for a term of five years which NuGen estimates the value at approximately $204 million dollars with estimated gross margins of 72%. Sol-M is now the preferred distributor of InsuJet" in Canada, Brazil, France and Spain where Sol-M has an extensive existing business footprint in the safety syringe and the diabetic supply business and where InsuJet" is approved for sale as a medical device. Sol-M will be required to fulfill minimum yearly purchases to maintain its five-year distribution rights which NuGen estimates to be approximately $132 million dollars. Todays announcement of our $204 million, 5-year distribution agreement with Sol-M at 72% gross margins represents the beginning of the global rollout of our B2B business. InsuJet" is approved for sale as a medical device in 42 countries and our agreement with Sol-M represents only 4 countries where we are approved for sale as a medical device, commented Richard Buzbuzian, CEO. This agreement offers investors great leverage to the diabetic healthcare space. With anticipation, we look forward to reporting to shareholders additional wins in Q3. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA, Sol-M are global leaders in the diabetic industry with five offices around the world. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, we sold over 2 billion safety syringes annually, so it is fair to say we know our market well. At Sol-M, we believe InsuJet" is a game changer for how insulin soon will be administered by diabetics around the world," commented Liang Lin CEO at Sol-M. "Needle or no needle? How would you prefer to take your insulin? It's a simple question and we believe almost any diabetic would reply 'needle free please'. We are delighted to be working with Richard and the NuGen team in what is truly a global disruptive opportunity for diabetics to become needle free in their treatment of their diabetes. InsuJet" is the needle-free solution for millions of diabetics who suffer daily with their injections." National country-wide rollout of InsuJet" in each of Canada, Spain, France and Brazil will occur in Q1 of 2024. In Canada, Spain, France and Brazil, InsuJet" will be available for purchase in all major pharmacies, grocery stores, hospitals, diabetic clinics and offices of endocrinologists and diabetic nurse practitioners. The combined diabetic population of these four counties is estimated at 8,803,807 people.1 The total addressable market of these four countries is estimated to be $7.923 Billion based upon a $900 lifetime value2 of InsuJet" and an aggregate diabetic population as described below. Market Statistics3: Canadian Market: Population: 38,781,291 Diabetes prevalence: 7.7% Estimated insulin users: 865,986 Spanish Market: Population: 47,519,628 Diabetes prevalence: 10.3% Estimated insulin users: 1,419,411 French Market: Population: 64,756,584 Diabetes prevalence: 5.3% Estimated insulin users 995,309 Brazilian Market: Population: 216,422,446 Diabetes prevalence: 8.8% Estimated insulin users: 5,523,101 Share consolidation Until the Company makes an application to uplist to a senior stock exchange, a share consolidation is not expected to occur before this time, if at all. About Sol-M Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA, Sol-M are global leaders in the healthcare industry with five offices around the world. Sol-M is a high-growth global medical device company committed to improving the safety and well-being of healthcare workers and their patients with the design and development of innovative safety-engineered medical devices. Sol-M is one of the world's largest designers and distributors of needles, syringes and diabetic supplies, offering a broad portfolio of patented products with global brand recognition such as Sol-Care for safety sharps, Sol-M for conventional medical devices and Sol-Guard for immunization products. Website: www.solm.com About NuGen NuGen is a specialty medical device Company that is marketing and selling its next-generation InsuJet" needle-free injection system designed to improve the lives of millions of diabetics. InsuJet" is approved for sale in 42 countries around the world. For further information, please visit: Websites: www.insujet.com and www.nugenmd.com Instagram: @NuGenMD Twitter: @NuGenMD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nugenmd/ For further information, please contact: Tony Di Benedetto Executive Chairman (416) 791-9399 [email protected] Richard Buzbuzian President & CEO (647) 501-3290 [email protected] To arrange a media interview with Nugen Medical Devices, please contact: Morna Gorman (416) 553-1732 [email protected] Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Notice Regarding Future Oriented Financial Information and Financial Outlooks To the extent any forward-looking information in this presentation constitutes "future-oriented financial information" or "financial outlooks" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, such information is being provided to demonstrate the impact to the Company with potential market penetration and the reader is cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose and the reader should not place undue reliance on such future-oriented financial information and financial outlooks. Future-oriented financial information and financial outlooks, as with forward-looking information generally, are, without limitation, based on the assumptions and subject to the risks set out above. The Company's actual financial position and results of operations may differ materially from management's current expectations. Such information is presented for illustrative purposes only and may not be an indication of the Company's actual financial position or results of operations. The forward-looking information contained herein was prepared by the management of the Company based on information available at the time this press release was prepared. Unless otherwise stated, information in this press release is current as of July 25, 2023. This press release may contain certain financial performance measures that are not recognized or defined under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), which measures are "Non-GAAP Measures". As a result, this data may not be comparable to data presented by other companies. The Company believes that any Non-GAAP Measures included in this presentation are useful indicators of performance and are specifically used by management to assess the current and future performance of the Company. Non-GAAP Measures should be considered together with other financial information prepared in accordance with IFRS to enable readers to evaluate the Company's performance and prospects in a manner similar to the Company's management. Accordingly, any Non-GAAP Measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Any third-party information contained herein has not been independently verified. No warranties or representations can be made as to the origin, validity, accuracy, completeness, currency or reliability of the information. The Company disclaims and excludes all liability (to the extent permitted by law), for losses, claims, damages, demands, costs and expenses of whatever nature arising in any way out of or in connection with the information in this press release, its accuracy, completeness or by reason of reliance by any person on any of it. 1 Source: Population by Country (2023) - Worldometer (worldometers.info), Countries ranked by Diabetes prevalence (% of population ages 20 to 79) (indexmundi.com) and Estimate-of-Insulin-Use-in-Type-2-Diabetes.pdf (haiweb.org). 2 For each InsuJet " device sold, the lifetime value per unit including consumables to be purchased over the span of approximately 3.5 years is approximately $900. 3 Source:See footnote No. 1. /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES./ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174903 Bengaluru, India--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Onmeta, India's leading fiat on-ramp & off-ramp solution provider, has become the first such solution in India to register with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Finance Ministry of the Government of India. In March this year, the Government of India brought digital assets under PMLA which included crypto businesses to register with the FIU and was widely perceived as a major step towards regulating the sector. Onmeta Now FIU-Registered To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8203/174945_e9565d09c4532ac1_001full.jpg As mandated by the amendments to the PMLA, Onmeta already has a robust yet breezy one-time KYC process. It has also established a comprehensive AML policy including Sanctions screening that identifies and reports suspicious transactions promptly and proactively to the FIU. It also does comprehensive client due diligence and maintains all the relevant information up-to-date and accurate. Commenting on the development Bharath T, CoFounder at Onmeta, said, "We're thrilled to announce Onmeta's registration under FIU, highlighting our commitment to compliance and trust in the VDA sector. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Indian government for their invaluable support in fostering a regulated environment that promotes innovation and industry growth." As a pioneer in the fiat-to-crypto On-Ramp & Off-Ramp space, Onmeta has relentlessly focused on simplifying the crypto buying/selling experience for the masses and making the best of the global web3 products accessible to Indian users. As India's crypto industry evolves with the introduction of such pragmatic regulations, Onmeta aims to lead the way in adhering to these new norms and fostering a secure crypto landscape. This latest development should go a long way in instilling confidence in the potential of the Indian crypto ecosystem and encourage more companies to build for India. Onmeta.in To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8203/174945_e9565d09c4532ac1_002full.jpg About Onmeta: Founded in April 2022, Onmeta provides enterprise on-ramp and off-ramp solutions (API/widget integration) for India & SEA to web3 companies to help them improve their user experience and accelerate their adoption by mainstream users. It supports local payment methods like UPI and bank transfers in India. It supports 7000+ tokens across 16 blockchains like Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, BSC, Tron, Arbitrum, Immutable, zkSync etc and processes payments instantly in 60 seconds. Onmeta has raised USD 1.5M in equity funding from Skycatcher Fund, GSF Fund, and Luno Expeditions and includes Ledger Wallet, Chingari, Blade Wallet, Sequence Wallet & Crazy Defense Heroes among the 100+ clients it serves. For more info, visithttps://onmeta.in/. Media Contact: Name: Bharath T Company: Onmeta Website: onmeta.in Email: [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174945 Tortola, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Sailfish Royalty Corp. (TSXV: FISH) (OTCQX: SROYF) (the "Company" or "Sailfish") is pleased to announce that on April 6, 2023, the United States Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") acknowledged receipt of a Plan of Operations and Nevada Reclamation Permit Application ("PO") for the Spring Valley Mine Project ("Spring Valley") and confirmed that it is technically complete under the terms of the relevant permitting statutes. The PO was filed with the BLM by Solidus Resources, LLC ("Operator") on March 7, 2023 and proposes the development of an open pit mine, heap leach facilities and related operations and facilities at Spring Valley. Paolo Lostritto, CEO, stated, "Spring Valley is more advanced than originally contemplated. The scope of the PO is based on a 13-year open pit mine plan for 323 million tons of mineralized material that is expected to be heap-leached. This makes Spring Valley one of the largest gold development projects in the Americas and is a core value driver for Sailfish shareholders. We are excited to see the permitting process advance at Spring Valley as our royalty portfolio covers 100% of the proposed open pit as outlined in the PO with the majority of the royalty coverage resulting in a 3% net smelter return royalty ("NSR") payable to Sailfish." As outlined in the BLM letter dated April 6, 2023 ("BLM Letter"), which like the PO is a public record, the BLM has reviewed the PO and found it adequate and technically complete in terms of the requirements outlined in 43 CFR 3809.401(b) and 43 CFR 3809.401(c). The BLM Letter also indicates that the BLM cannot approve the PO until certain additional steps are completed in accordance with Federal and State regulations. Plan of Operations: The PO covers 698 unpatented claims and 895 mill site claims as well as private fee lands, either owned or controlled by the Operator and proposes, among other things, the following activities and facilities: Development of the Spring Valley open pit; Construction of pit dewatering facilities, including rapid infiltration basins; Development of three waste rock storage facilities; Development of a heap leach facility; Construction of a crushing circuit; Construction of carbon processing and refining facilities; Development of light duty and haul roads; Development of stormwater control structures; Development of other facilities including the mine fleet shop, explosives storage, truck shop, refueling area, and mine offices; Development of site infrastructure including parking areas, yards, storage areas, and an aggregate plant; and Development of site utilities including: power distribution, a used materials pad, freshwater distribution, potable water system, fire water system, sewage system, communications facilities, and fuel storage and distribution facilities. The PO states that the proposed operation will use conventional open pit mining methods. The PO outlines the excavation of the open pit to occur over 13 years, which includes 18-24 months of pre-stripping during construction. Over the life of mine ("LOM"), approximately 323 million tons of mineralized material is expected to be mined, along with 598 million tons of waste rock and 328 million tons of alluvium. The average mining rate for Spring Valley is expected to be approximately 100 million tons of material per year. The Company's current royalty portfolio on Spring Valley covers 100% of the open pit as outlined in the PO, with the majority of the acres included in the proposed open pit covered by a 3% NSR at prevailing gold prices. See Figure 1 below. Sailfish holds the following Spring Valley royalty assets: up to a 3% NSR1 on a majority of the acres included in the proposed open pit at Spring Valley (royalty boundary in blue); a 1.5% NSR on a portion of the proposed open pit at Spring Valley (royalty boundary in pink); and a 0.5% NSR on a portion of the proposed open pit at Spring Valley (royalty boundary in yellow2). Figure 1 - Sailfish Royalty Corp.'s various Spring Valley royalty holdings (boundaries are approximate). To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5699/174920_c2724d4ef4da9ba3_001full.jpg 1For clarity, the up to 3% NSR owned by Sailfish is part of a total 7% NSR above $700/oz. Au. The sliding scale NSR royalty is not payable on the first 500,000 ounces of gold recovered from any commercial production. 2 Excluding the areas included in the blue and pink boundaries. Spring Valley hosts a 2014 published National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") compliant report. The technical report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources, Spring Valley Project", effective August 1, 2014, was prepared by William J. Crowl, R.G., MMSA QP, Zachary J. Black, SME-RM and Deepak Malhotra, PhD, SME-RM and filed by Midway Gold Corp. on September 9, 2014 and is based on work completed in a joint venture between Midway Gold Corp. and Barrick Gold Corporation (the "Technical Report"). The technical report is available at www.sedar.com under Midway Gold Corp.'s profile. About Sailfish Sailfish is a precious metals royalty and streaming company. Within Sailfish's portfolio are three main assets in the Americas: a gold stream equivalent to a 3% NSR on the San Albino gold mine (~3.5 sq. km) and a 2% NSR on the rest of the area (~134.5 sq. km) surrounding San Albino in northern Nicaragua; an up to 3% NSR on the multi-million ounce Spring Valley gold project in Pershing County, Nevada; and a 100% interest in the Gavilanes Silver Project located in Durango State, Mexico. Sailfish is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "FISH" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "SROYF". Please visit the Company's website at www.sailfishroyalty.com for additional information. Qualified Person Dr. Matthew D. Gray, President, Resource Geosciences Incorporated, Qualified Person under NI 43- 101 on standards of disclosure for mineral projects, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release. To verify the technical content of this disclosure Dr. Gray reviewed the: Spring Valley Mine Plan of Operations and Nevada Reclamation Permit Application prepared by Solidus Resources Spring Valley, Nevada, USA; and the BLM acknowledgement letter, obtained from the NDEP and the Humboldt River field office of the BLM. For further information: Paolo Lostritto, CEO, tel. 416-602-2645 or Akiba Leisman, Executive Chairman of the Board, tel. 917-558-5289. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information Certain disclosures in this release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by words such as the following: expects, plans, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, projects, assumes, potential and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements also include reference to events or conditions that will, would, may, could or should occur, including, without limitation, statements regarding: advancement of the permitting process for Spring Valley; plans relating to the development and construction of Spring Valley as contemplated in the PO; expected mining results over the LOM; and discussion of future plans, projects, objectives, estimates and forecasts and the timing related thereto. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, including, without limitation: that BLM will approve the PO and the Operator will receive necessary permits to complete its proposed development and construction of Spring Valley as contemplated in the PO; the development and construction of Spring Valley will be completed as contemplated in the PO; and that future mining operations at Spring Valley will produce the anticipated results. However, the forward-looking statements in this news release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including without limitation: that BLM does not approve the PO and the Operator is unable to obtain the necessary permits to complete its proposed development and construction of Spring Valley as contemplated in the PO; the proposed development and construction of Spring Valley is not completed as contemplated in the PO; the results of future mining operations at Spring Valley may be less favorable than anticipated; and those applicable risks, uncertainties and factors set forth in the Company's disclosure record under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174920 Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today adopted rules requiring registrants to disclose material cybersecurity incidents they experience and to disclose on an annual basis material information regarding their cybersecurity risk management, strategy, and governance. The Commission also adopted rules requiring foreign private issuers to make comparable disclosures. Whether a company loses a factory in a fire or millions of files in a cybersecurity incident it may be material to investors, said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. Currently, many public companies provide cybersecurity disclosure to investors. I think companies and investors alike, however, would benefit if this disclosure were made in a more consistent, comparable, and decision-useful way. Through helping to ensure that companies disclose material cybersecurity information, todays rules will benefit investors, companies, and the markets connecting them. The new rules will require registrants to disclose on the new Item 1.05 of Form 8-K any cybersecurity incident they determine to be material and to describe the material aspects of the incident's nature, scope, and timing, as well as its material impact or reasonably likely material impact on the registrant. An Item 1.05 Form 8-K will generally be due four business days after a registrant determines that a cybersecurity incident is material. The disclosure may be delayed if the United States Attorney General determines that immediate disclosure would pose a substantial risk to national security or public safety and notifies the Commission of such determination in writing. The new rules also add Regulation S-K Item 106, which will require registrants to describe their processes, if any, for assessing, identifying, and managing material risks from cybersecurity threats, as well as the material effects or reasonably likely material effects of risks from cybersecurity threats and previous cybersecurity incidents. Item 106 will also require registrants to describe the board of directors oversight of risks from cybersecurity threats and managements role and expertise in assessing and managing material risks from cybersecurity threats. These disclosures will be required in a registrant's annual report on Form 10-K. The rules require comparable disclosures by foreign private issuers on Form 6-K for material cybersecurity incidents and on Form 20-F for cybersecurity risk management, strategy, and governance. The final rules will become effective 30 days following publication of the adopting release in the Federal Register. The Form 10-K and Form 20-F disclosures will be due beginning with annual reports for fiscal years ending on or after December 15, 2023. The Form 8-K and Form 6-K disclosures will be due beginning the later of 90 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register or December 18, 2023. Smaller reporting companies will have an additional 180 days before they must begin providing the Form 8-K disclosure. With respect to compliance with the structured data requirements, all registrants must tag disclosures required under the final rules in Inline XBRL beginning one year after initial compliance with the related disclosure requirement. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - SOL Global Investments Corp. (CSE: SOL) (OTC Pink: SOLCF) (FSE: 9SB) ("SOL Global" or the "Company") today reported unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended May 31, 2023. The Company is also pleased to present a general operational update regarding its assets and investments. All figures in this press release are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated. Unaudited Six-Month Period Ended Results For the six-months period ended May 31, 2023, the Company recorded a net loss of ($12.2) million vs. six-months period ended May 31, 2022, net loss of ($161.1) million. This represents a favourable change of $148.9 million. For the three-months period ended May 31, 2023, the Company recorded a net loss of ($1.2) million vs the three-months period ended May 31, 2022, net loss of ($86.7) million. This represents a favourable change of $85.5 million. Total loss from investments totalled ($9.4) million for the six-month period ended May 31, 2023, compared to loss of ($177.3) million for the six-month period ended May 31, 2022. This represents a favourable change of $167.9 million between periods. Total income from investments totalled $2.8 million for the three-month period ended May 31, 2023, compared to a loss of ($96.2) million for the three-month period ended May 31, 2022. This represents a favourable change of $99.0 million between periods. The unaudited Net Asset Value ("NAV") per share is equal to $0.89 at May 31, 2023, vs. $3.43 at May 31, 2022. "SOL's focus on operating efficiency has helped navigate this period of uncertainty," said Paul Kania, CFO and Interim CEO. "We continue to see our portfolio companies operate well in this environment, and coupled with our cost cutting efforts, we feel SOL has built a great foundation." Portfolio Highlights for Q2 2023 Damon Motors Inc. (" Damon "), a global technology company in urban mobility, continued to build its order book throughout the quarter, approaching a total order book of $100M to date globally, with the potential of exceeding $250M through international partnerships, including its partnership with Latin America's Auteco Mobility. Additionally, it entered a partnership with Indika Energy, Indonesia's leading diversified energy company, as a means of penetrating the largest two-wheeled vehicle market in the world. To fulfil its large order book, Damon has leased a 108,000 square foot plant in Surrey, British Columbia as it prepares to scale manufacturing to produce its flagship HyperSport electric motorcycle. Visit www.damon.com . Kiwi Campus Inc. (" Kiwibot "), a robotic last-mile delivery service, announced a deal worth $10 million on February 22, 2023, with Swiss-based Kineo finance to invest in their fleet of autonomous robots. Prior to the deal, Kiwibot signed a $20 million contract with food services giant, Sodexo, to deploy more than 1,200 delivery "Kiwibots" across 50 college campuses in the US. Sodexo is a global food services and facilities company in more than 80 countries that operates in college campuses across the United States. It is operating more than 550 robots in 29 locations across the United States as well as in Dubai. Kiwibot also signed an agreement for an additional 1,200 robots with Careem in Dubai for last-mile food delivery services. Careem is Uber's food delivery service in the Middle East. Visit www.kiwibot.com . Tevva Motors Ltd. (" Tevva "), a UK-based designer and manufacturer of zero-emission medium-duty trucks with an innovative combination of battery electric and hydrogen fuel-cell range extender technology, is currently launching large-scale commercial production of its fully electric 7.5-ton truck. On March 9, 2023, Tevva secured government plug-in truck grant (PITrG) eligibility for its 7.5-ton battery-electric truck, making it the only battery-electric truck from a British manufacturer to qualify for the award. The grant pays for 20% of the purchase price, representing a 16,000 reduction in the total cost of ownership. On April 19, 2023, Tevva, in partnership with ZF, integrated a regenerative braking system into its 7.5-ton battery-electric truck, which recuperates up to four times more energy than conventional systems, enhancing the truck's range. This advancement, achieved by adapting ZF's Electronic Brake System to Tevva's vehicle control unit, reduces brake wear and tear, leading to efficient brake management and lower overall cost of ownership. Visit www.tevva.com . Onet Global Inc. (" Navier "), a long-range, high-speed electric hydrofoiling boat manufacturer is beginning production on its 30-foot, all-electric Navier 30 model for direct consumer sales. In 2023, Navier announced the start of its pilot program with San Francisco Water Taxi. It will be deploying boats to ferry people around the Bay Area as a demonstration of how smaller hydrofoil craft can help reduce traffic congestion in coastal cities at a fraction of the cost and with much lower emissions than large ferries. Navier also received investments from Global Founders Capital and Google co-founder, Sergey Brin. Visit www.navierboat.com . Core Scientific, Inc. ( "Core Scientific" ), a large bitcoin miner and hosting platform has presented a plan to emerge from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy after entering in November 2022. Following operational improvements and a sustained increase in the price of bitcoin, Core Scientific has returned to profitability. The Company, through an external investment vehicle, has exposure to secured convertible notes in Core Scientific and currently expects a full recovery in the value of its holdings. Visit www.corescientific.com . Simply Better Brands Corp. ("SBBC") announced on May 30, 2023, record first quarter sales of $24.6 million, with 203% growth capturing channel, category, and innovation in clean-ingredient food, next generation skincare, and plant-based wellness. On February 22, 2023, SBBC announced the successful closing of a $2 million second tranche to fully complete its $7 million non-brokered private placement offering of units at a price of $0.25 per unit. It is anticipated that the net proceeds of the offering will be used for new product development, channel expansion, debt reduction, and general working capital purposes. Visit www.simplybetterbrands.com SBBC 2023 Outlook: Expected consolidated net sales to exceed $80 million. Expected gross margin as a percentage of net sales to be between 58% and 60% Jones Soda Co.("Jones Soda") announced on May 4, 2023, its Q1 2023 results. Gross margin expanded by 200 basis points as Jones Soda continued to gain market share in its core soda business with the addition of new partners across its distribution channels. Visit www.jonessoda.com. First Quarter 2023 Financial Summary vs. Year-Ago Quarter Revenue was $3.9 million compared to $4.5 million. Net loss improved to $1.4 million, or $(0.01) per share, compared to a net loss of $1.7 million, or $(0.02) per share. Adjusted EBITDA was approximately $(1.1) in both quarters. House of Lithium Update House of Lithium Ltd. ("House of Lithium") is the Company's electric mobility platform and climate tech focused subsidiary. It continues to advance towards its previously announced planned public listing while closely monitoring market conditions. The Company is confident that House of Lithium is poised for significant growth given the long-term tailwinds for the electric mobility and climate technology industries as the world continues to electrify to support the transition to lower-emission transportation and energy. Its portfolio companies have performed well and are growing rapidly. Real Estate Update Progress continues to be made towards the proposed development at 2400-2500 North Miami Avenue in the Wynwood neighbourhood of Miami. A third-party appraisal of the property conducted by Colliers International estimated the market value as-is at US$65 million. The fair market value of the Company's position as of May 31, 2023, is $20.8 million. The project includes total floor area of 936,573 square feet and a total residential unit count of 542 apartments, including a mix of unit types ranging from Studios to 2+ Bedrooms with 196 units under 650 square feet and 346 units that exceed 650 square feet. The project is designed to incorporate a wide array of indoor and outdoor amenities, reflecting the unique scale and culture of the Wynwood area. The prime location of the site provides residents with immediate access to beautifully landscaped parks, a variety of indoor and outdoor dining options including food halls, and top-tier shopping destinations. Visit www.livwrk.com. About SOL Global Investments Corp. SOL Global is a diversified international investment and private equity holding company engaged in the small and mid-cap sectors. The Company's investment partnerships range from minority positions to large strategic holdings with active advisory mandates. The Company's primary business segments include Retail (QSR & Hospitality), Technology (with a focus on Clean-Tech and Electric Vehicles), Esports and Gaming, and New Age Wellness. CONTACT INFORMATION SOL Global Investments Corp. Paul Kania, Interim CEO, CFO Phone: (212) 729-9208 Email: [email protected] For media inquiries, please contact: Angela Trostle Gorman AMW PR P: 212.542.3146 E: [email protected] Non-IFRS Financial Measures This press release includes references to net asset value, which is a financial measure that does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. Net asset value is calculated as the value of total assets less the value of total liabilities at a specific date. The Company believes this non-IFRS measure does not only provide management with comparable financial data for internal financial analysis but also provides meaningful supplemental information to investors. In particular, management believes this financial measure can provide information useful to its shareholders in understanding the performance of the Company and may assist in the evaluation of its business relative to that of its peers. Investors are cautioned that this non-IFRS measure should not be construed as an alternative to the measurements calculated in accordance with IFRS as, given the non- standardized meaning, it may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. NAV Breakdown Summary Q2 2023 Q2 2022 Investments includes Conv Debt & Prom Note 134,455,718 214,681,968 Cash 354,365 575,243 Other Assets 2,219,586 6,241,421 Net Deferred Tax Asset - 27,820,380 Severance Payable (28,324,998) (24,000,000) Taxes Payable (18,561,300) - Debenture (11,159,926) (25,533,146) New debt (9,577,726) - Other Liabilities (20,370,767) (26,746,396) Total 49,034,951 173,039,470 Diluted Shares 55,273,981 50,440,129 NAV 0.89 3.43 Cautionary Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "likely", "should", "would", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "proposed", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. The forward-looking information contained in this press release includes, without limitation, the estimated NAV of the Company in the Company's financial statements, future operational plans of House of Lithium, strategic plans for House of Lithium to go public, and the Company's expectations regarding its ability to operate and emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Forward-looking information is based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including management's perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. While we consider these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to management, there is no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. By their nature, forward-looking information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. A variety of factors, including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this press release including the inability or failure of the Company's portfolio companies to execute their business and strategic plans as contemplated or at all, inability or failure of House of Lithium to complete a going public transaction as planned or at all, the receipt of all applicable stock exchange and regulatory approvals for House of Lithium's go-public transaction, the inability or failure of the Company's or House of Lithium's portfolio companies to execute their business and strategic plans as contemplated or at all, changes in national or regional economic, legal, regulatory and competitive conditions and a resurgence in the COVID-19 pandemic. Other risk factors include: the risks resulting from investing in the US marijuana industry, which may be legal under certain state and local laws but is currently illegal under U.S. federal law; the risks of investing in securities of private companies which may limit the Company's ability to sell or otherwise liquidate those securities and realize value; reliance on management; the ability of the Company to service its debt; the Company's ability to obtain additional financing from time to time to pursue its business objectives; competition; litigation; inconsistent public opinion and perception regarding the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry; and regulatory or political change. Additional risk factors can also be found in the Company's current MD&A, which has been filed on SEDAR and can be accessed at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this press release and is based on the beliefs, estimates, expectations and opinions of management on the date such forward-looking information is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. Financial Outlook The Company and its management believe that the estimated NAV contained in this press release is reasonable as of the date hereof and is based on management's current views, strategies, expectations, assumptions and forecasts, and have been calculated using accounting policies that are generally consistent with the Company's current accounting policies. This estimate is considered future-oriented financial outlook and financial information (collectively, "FOFI") under applicable securities laws. This estimate has been approved by management of the Company as of the date hereof. Such FOFI is provided for the purposes of presenting information about management's current expectations and goals in determining the intrinsic value of the Company's aggregate investments. However, because this information is highly subjective and subject to numerous risks, including the risks discussed above under "Cautionary Statements". The FOFI should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the FOFI prove incorrect, then the actual results could vary materially from the estimate. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important risks factors, other uncertainties and factors not known to the Company could cause actual results to differ materially from the estimate. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any FOFI, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174883 Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Volt Carbon Technologies Inc. (TSXV: VCT) (OTCQB: TORVF) ("Volt Carbon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the amicable settlement of a lawsuit with a former director and officer of the Company. As most recently disclosed in the Company's Management Discussion & Analysis dated June 19, 2023, the lawsuit involved a claim against the Company by Mineral Development/1957457 Ontario Inc. and its principal, Paul Ogilvie, a former director and officer of Volt Carbon (together, the "Plaintiffs"), that was filed on January 5, 2021, in the Province of Ontario (the "Action") seeking $814,820 for unpaid compensation and $1,000,000 in damages for alleged wrongful termination. The Company had defended and counterclaimed against the Plaintiffs seeking damages of up to $3 million against the Plaintiffs and other additional parties for breach of fiduciary duty, breach of duty of loyalty and good faith, and negligence, among other claims (the "Counterclaim"). Recently, the parties agreed to terms whereby both the Action and Counterclaim would be dismissed without costs. As part of the settlement, the parties entered into a full and final mutual release with respect to the Action and Counterclaim. V-Bond Lee, President, and CEO of Volt Carbon, expressed his satisfaction with the resolution, stating, "I'm glad to see this matter resolved, as it allows both parties to move forward. This settlement marks the end of the legal dispute, removing a distraction and enabling Volt Carbon to focus on its continued growth and innovation in the industry." About Volt Carbon Technologies Volt Carbon is a publicly traded carbon science company, with specific interests in energy storage and green energy creation, with holdings in mining claims in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia in Canada. For the latest information on Volt Carbon's properties and news please refer to the website www.voltcarbontech.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Volt Carbon Technologies Inc. V-Bond Lee, P. Eng. CEO, President, Chairman of the Board Information Contact : Email: [email protected] Tel: (647-546-7049) 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174900 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Xybion Digital Inc. (TSXV: XYBN) ("Xybion" or the "Company") would like to remind the holders of warrants issued on November 15, 2021 (the "Warrants") of the approaching expiry of their warrants. The Warrants were issued pursuant to the automatic exchange of subscription receipts in connection with the Company's qualifying transaction, under a warrant indenture between Xybion BC Finco Ltd., Xybion Corporation, Gravitas One Capital Corp. and TSX Trust Company (the "Warrant Agent") dated August 6, 2021 (the "Warrant Indenture"). Under the terms of the Warrant Indenture, the Warrants are set to expire at 5:00pm (Toronto time) on November 15, 2023 (the "Expiry Time"). Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $3.85 and detailed instructions on how to exercise can be found on the Warrant Indenture, available on SEDAR. Any Warrants remaining unexercised after the Expiry Time will be cancelled and will thereafter be of no force or effect. For holders wishing to exercise their Warrants, please contact your investment advisor or the Warrant Agent. About Xybion Digital Inc. Xybion is a global SaaS company that helps enterprise life sciences organizations accelerate new drug development into approved medicines that may save lives and keep employees safe. We digitize drug research and development, laboratory testing, regulatory approvals, and pharmaceutical manufacturing on a single, unified cloud platform that is cost-effective, ready to deploy, and easy to use. Xybion has over 160 clients in 29 countries using its low-code software to accelerate timelines, improve compliance, expand capacity, minimize operating risks, and reduce expenses while keeping employees safe. Learn more about Xybion at https://www.xybion.com/. For further information: For more information regarding Xybion Digital Inc., please contact Pradip Banerjee, Chief Executive Officer, [email protected], 609-512-5790 x122. The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174988 Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - Zephyr Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: ZFR) ("Zephyr" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it intends to conduct ground magnetic and induced polarization (IP) geophysical surveys over three gold properties, MC, MC-2 and Nyanga North; to be followed by a diamond drill program. The MC and MC-2 properties are currently being mined for gold on a small scale by pits ten to twenty meters deep in the easily mined weathered zones. Although there is no mining currently at Nyanga North, there has been small scale gold mining directly to the west, which is on strike with a postulated wide shear zone that trends onto Nyanga North and extends approximately 1.5 km across the property. To the best of the Company's knowledge, the three properties have never been exposed to modern exploration methods and have never been drill tested. Loren Komperdo, President and CEO stated, "The MC and MC-2 properties have many of the same geological characteristics as the Red Lake camp in Northern Ontario, making these two properties excellent targets for high grade shear hosted gold deposits. The Nyanga North prospect is on a shear zone where eluvial gold was discovered and mined but little or no follow up exploration has ever been done. All three of these properties have high discovery potential for significant gold deposits." Further details of the exploration activity will be provided as the program develops. For additional information on MC, MC-2 and Nyanga, see Company news releases of January 12, 2023, April 20, 2023, and December 21, 2021, respectively. The planned exploration program described above is contingent upon completion of the private placement described below. The Company announces it intends to issue, by way of a non-brokered private placement financing, up to 4,000,000 units at a price of $0.09 per unit for gross proceeds of up to $360,000 (the "Financing"). Each Unit consists of one common share and one whole common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant") of the Company (the "Units"). Each Warrant will be exercisable to purchase one common share of the Company for $0.13 for a period of twelve months from the closing date. The expiry date of the Warrants may be accelerated by Zephyr at any time if the volume-weighted average trading price of the common shares is greater than or equal to $0.26 for any 20 consecutive trading days. If this occurs, the Company may accelerate the expiry date of the warrants by issuing a press release announcing the reduced Warrant term whereupon the Warrants will expire on the 30th calendar day after the date of such press release. Net proceeds from the funds raised will be used for mineral exploration programs in Zimbabwe, and for general working capital purposes. In connection with the offering, a finder's fee may be paid consisting of a cash commission equal to 7% of the gross proceeds raised under the offering and that number of nontransferable finder's fee warrants as is equal to 7% of the number of shares. Each finder's fee warrant will be exercisable into one common share of the Company at $0.13 per share, for a period of twelve months from the closing date. The expiry date of the finder's warrants are also subject to the same acceleration clause as the Unit warrants. The Financing is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval and acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities to be issued pursuant to the Financing will be subject to a four month hold period. Qualified Person Mr. Arimon Ngilazi, an independent consultant to the Company, and a qualified person as the term is defined under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release. Mr. Ngilazi has not visited the properties. About Zephyr Minerals Ltd. Zephyr Minerals Ltd. is conducting ongoing evaluations of gold properties for potential acquisition and/or joint venture throughout Zimbabwe. The Company is concentrating on projects with obvious gold potential as demonstrated through active, shallow, small scale mining operations or previous exploration work and favorable geology. In addition, the property should be of sufficient areal extent to host a target potential of at least one million ounces of gold. To this extent, the Company has signed multiple property joint venture agreements and has applied for two Exclusive Prospecting Orders covering 124,000 hectares. The Company is also actively reviewing lithium opportunities generated through in house research and property submittals by third parties. Zimbabwe boasts favorable foreign ownership rules for mineral properties as well as prospective, underexplored Archean greenstone belts. In Colorado Zephyr has been focused on mine permitting activities at its 100% owned Dawson gold property, which is presently in hiatus pending the collection and submission of additional water well data and satisfying certain other environmental related questions. The additional required water wells are still in the planning stage and will be drilled once available funds are in hand. Upon collection of the additional data the Company plans to reapply for a mining permit at Dawson. For further information please contact: Loren Komperdo, President & CEO or Will Felderhof, Executive Chairman T: 902 706-0222 [email protected] To be included in the Zephyr email database for Company updates please contact [email protected]. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174950 Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. Alliance American University (AAU) Recognized as an Official Certifying Organization for the Prestigious President's Volunteer Service Award Alliance American University (AAU) has always been at the forefront of identifying exceptional individuals who contribute significantly to society. By empowering these brighter professionals through transformative education, AAU has carved a remarkable path of excellence in the academic world. Today, AAU is filled with pride as it achieves long-due recognition for its commendable work. The United States federal government has officially approved AAU as a Certifying Organization for the prestigious President's Volunteer Service Award. This remarkable milestone cements AAU's commitment to fostering a culture of service and creating positive change in the world. The President's Volunteer Service Award is one of the most esteemed honours bestowed upon individuals who dedicate their time and efforts to making a difference in their communities. This esteemed award, established in 2003 by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, recognizes and celebrates the selfless contributions of volunteers across the United States of America. AAU's endorsement as an official Certifying Organization for this prestigious award reaffirms the university's dedication to shaping not only brilliant minds but also compassionate and socially responsible citizens. "We are immensely proud and honoured to be designated as an official Certifying Organization for the President's Volunteer Service Award," said Dr. Jane Martin, President of Alliance American University. "This recognition reinforces our belief that education is not solely about acquiring knowledge but also about instilling a sense of responsibility to give back to the community. Through this award, we aim to inspire our students and all those associated with AAU to actively engage in volunteerism and community service." With this new approval, AAU is poised to not only recognize students for their academic achievements but also shine a spotlight on those who dedicate their time, talent, and effort in making significant voluntary contributions. This partnership amplifies AAU's mission of developing well-rounded citizens committed to service, innovation, and improving their communities. AAU's journey towards this significant milestone has been marked by its unyielding commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals who prioritize service and philanthropy. With a comprehensive curriculum that emphasizes academic excellence, leadership development, and community involvement, AAU has consistently produced professionals who excel not only in their professional endeavours but also in making meaningful contributions to society. Being an official Certifying Organization means AAU will play a pivotal role in evaluating and verifying the service hours contributed by its students, faculty, and staff, making them eligible for the President's Volunteer Service Award. This recognition brings a profound sense of responsibility and further strengthens AAU's resolve to cultivate a generation of change-makers who actively contribute to their communities' welfare. The federal government's approval of AAU as a Certifying Organization is a testament to the university's unwavering dedication to excellence in education and community engagement. As AAU continues to identify and nurture brighter minds, this recognition amplifies the impact of the university's efforts in creating a positive ripple effect across society. As we celebrate this momentous achievement, AAU invites all its students, alumni, faculty, and partners to join hands in taking this opportunity to embrace community service and volunteerism. Together, let us lead by example and inspire others to contribute their time and skills for the greater good. Join us in celebrating this proud moment for Alliance American University and the incredible individuals who are making a difference in the world. Together, we can shape a brighter future for our communities and leave a lasting legacy of positive change. To learn more about Alliance American University and its initiatives, please visit: www.allianceau.us . Alliance American University (AAU) is a pioneering institution in the field of education, dedicated to identifying and nurturing brighter minds that contribute significantly to society. By offering a transformative education experience, AAU aims to empower students to become exemplary professionals and compassionate citizens. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence, leadership development, and community involvement, AAU continues to shape a brighter future for individuals and communities alike. Contact Info: Name: John Smith, Director of Communications Email: Send Email Organization: Alliance American University Website: https://www.allianceau.us/ Release ID: 89103214 In the event of encountering any errors, concerns, or inconsistencies within the content shared in this press release, we kindly request that you immediately contact us at [email protected]. Our dedicated team will be readily accessible to address your feedback within 8 hours and take appropriate measures to rectify any identified issues or facilitate press release takedowns. Ensuring accuracy and reliability are central to our commitment. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said that the explosion in the colony in Olenivka, Donetsk region, was not caused by a missile launched from a HIMARS system. Thus, he refuted the lies of the Russian Federation, which claimed that it was Ukraine that allegedly attacked the barracks where its prisoners of war were held. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported on the UN website on Tuesday, 25 July. It took them almost a year to come to this conclusion - the attack in Olenivka took place on the night of 29 July 2022, killing at least 50 Ukrainian soldiers who were taken prisoner by Russia. At the same time, the UN says that "the exact circumstances of the incident on the night of 28-29 July 2022 remain unclear". "According to available information, at this stage it is impossible to establish either the specific source of the explosion or the exact direction from which the weapon could have been fired. The Office will continue to monitor the incident in accordance with its experience and authority," they said. ADVERTISIMENT UN representatives say that the aggressor country, Russia, has not provided them with satisfactory guarantees of safe access to the site of the tragedy. To find out what happened that day, the Office's staff talked to the survivors of the attack in Olenivka and conducted a detailed analysis of the additional information received "in accordance with the established methodology". "Prisoners of war are protected by international humanitarian law. The death or serious injury of prisoners of war must be accompanied by an official and thorough investigation by the state that holds them captive. Any suspicion of criminal behaviour must be investigated promptly, thoroughly, independently, impartially and transparently, and those responsible brought to justice," Turk said. As a reminder, it was the occupiers who arranged an explosion in one of the barracks in Olenivka where Ukrainian soldiers were held. The colony held, among others, the defenders of Mariupol, including members of the Azov regiment. ADVERTISIMENT The explosion killed at least 50 Ukrainian defenders, who were provided with security by the Kremlin and international organisations. The Office of the Prosecutor General reported that the deaths of about 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war in the colony of occupied Olenivka, Donetsk region, were allegedly caused by the explosion of a thermobaric munition. Namely, capsules with a combustible mixture for flamethrowers such as "Dzhmil", "Dzhmil-M", " Rys". As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, Ukraine managed to return the bodies of prisoners of war who died as a result of a terrorist attack organised by Russia in a colony in the occupied village of Olenivka. Most of the bodies have been identified. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available in our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! HONG KONG, Jul 26, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - - Edvantage Group Holdings Limited ("Edvantage Group" or the "Group", stock code: 0382.HK), the largest private business higher and vocational education group in the Greater Bay Area, has announced its unaudited financial data and business update for the nine months ended 31 May 2023 (the "Period under Review"). Business Update Highlights (Unaudited relevant data for the nine months ended 31 May 2023) -- Revenue increased by 16.1% YoY to approximately RMB1,460.3 million; -- Gross profit rose by 16.3% YoY to approximately RMB735.7 million; -- Number of student enrolments increased by 11.6% against the same period last year to 87,068. During the Period under Review, the Group achieved steady growth in both revenue and gross profit, with the former increasing by 16.1% year-on-year to approximately RMB1,460.3 million and the latter up by 16.3% year-on-year to approximately RMB735.7 million. The Group's gross profit margin was 50.4%. The increase in the Group's revenue was mainly attributable to the increase in the number of student enrolments and average tuition fees in all the PRC operating schools of the Group. The number of full-time student enrolments of the Group was 87,068 for the nine months ended May 31, 2023. National Policies Continue to Support the Development of Industry-Education Integration to Promote High-Quality Development of Vocational Education On 13 June 2023, including the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, jointly issued the "Action Plan for Empowering and Improving Vocational Education through the Integration of Production and Education (2023-2025)". Four key areas highlighted in the plan include promoting the integration of industry and education, strengthening the foundation for the development of vocational colleges, establishing practical training bases for industry-education integration, and deepening cooperation between industry-education integration and enterprises. The Group actively responds to the relevant national policies, focuses on internal construction, further promote the integration of industry and education, cultivate and build industry-education integration-oriented enterprises, and comprehensively promote the high-quality development of vocational education. Adhered to High-Quality and Highly Compliant Education, Teaching Brands Widely Recognised During the Period under Review, the Group closely followed the national policy guidelines, insisted on high-quality and highly compliant education, and focused on bringing out the full potential of high-quality education. The teaching brands of the Group's schools have received recognition by the society. Guangzhou Huashang College ranked 10th in the national private finance and economics colleges in the 2023 Best Chinese University Ranking of Shanghai Ranking; The employment rate of the 2022 graduates of Guangzhou Huashang Vocational College is as high as 97.8%. In 2022, the number of students admitted to the undergraduate programmes of Huashang Vocational College and the admission rate reached a record high, and the admission rate has reached 61.5%. Urban Vocational College of Sichuan has ranked first in the Competitiveness Ranking of Chinese Higher Vocational Colleges in the recent three consecutive years in the province. Urban Technician College of Sichuan is a "Three Stars Famous School - Sichuan Provincial Secondary Formal Vocational Education Famous School, Famous Major, Famous Training Base Construction Project. Guangdong Huashang Technical School was recognised by the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province as a "Provincial Demonstration Technical School Founding Unit". Established Three New Undergraduate Majors and Six New Higher Vocational Majors to Promote the Development of Industry-Education Integration The Group actively improve the structural setting of vocational education by offering more majors that were in shortage and met market demand, forming a professional system closely connected with the industrial and innovation chain. Among others, Huashang College has been approved to offer three new undergraduate application-oriented majors in digital economy, financial mathematics, and jewellery design and technology. Huashang Vocational College has also added a total six new application-oriented majors, including big data application on finance and taxation, online marketing and live broadcast e-commerce, business data analysis and application, architectural interior design, cloud computing technology application, and dental technology, with a view to injecting new vitality to talent training of the schools. Outstanding Contributions in ESG, Active Assumption of Corporate Social Responsibilities The Group has always been steadfast in assuming its corporate social responsibility and actively contributing to social development, focusing mainly on the learning, exchanges, internships, employment, and entrepreneurship of young people in Hong Kong and Macao. The Group donated two " Edvantage x VTC" coffee trucks to the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education under the Hong Kong Vocational Training Council to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship among young people in Hong Kong. The long-term cooperation between the Group's schools and the Vocational Training Council has effectively promoted the coordinated development of vocational education in the Greater Bay Area, helping to develop the Greater Bay Area into an "international centre for vocational education development" and jointly creating a new highland for the integration of industry and education in the Greater Bay Area. Future Development Looking ahead, the Group will promote the high-quality development of vocational education, guided by national policies and the market. In terms of education, the Group will adhere to high-quality and highly compliant education, utilise the advantages of educational resources in international education market and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and rely on the integration of industry and education to cultivate application-oriented talent with a sense of social responsibility and an international vision, in order to continue to contribute to the empowerment of enterprises, service to society, and the development of the country. About Edvantage Group Holdings Limited Edvantage Group Holdings Limited ('Edvantage Group' or the 'Group', stock code: 0382.HK) is the largest private business higher education and vocational education group in the Greater Bay Area, and an early mover in education sector in pursuing international expansion, listed in Hong Kong Main Board on 16 July 2019. The total number of full-time student enrolments of the Group was approximately 87,100 as of 31 May 2023. Operated 9 private education institutions, namely, Guangzhou Huashang College (Applied Undergraduate), Guangzhou Huashang Vocational College (Higher Vocational Education) and Guangdong Huashang Technical School (Secondary Vocational Education) located in Guangdong, China; Urban Vocational College of Sichuan (Higher Vocational Education) and Urban Technician College of Sichuan (Secondary Vocational Education) in Sichuan, China; GBA Business School (GBABS) in Hong Kong, China; Global Business College of Australia (GBCA) and Edvantage Institute Australia (EIA) in Australia; Edvantage Institute (Singapore) (EIS) in the downtown of Singapore. While focusing on school operations, the Group also actively fulfil corporate social responsibility, extensively contributing to social welfare programmes including charity, poverty alleviation, education and revitalisation, in order to take the initiative in repaying society through action. Since its listing, the Group has made outstanding contribution in the field of ESG and has won the "InnoESG Care Prize" in 2021, Gelonghui's "Mid-to-Small Market Value Corporate Social Responsibility Award of the Year", and Zhitong Caijing's "Best CSR Listed Company" award in 2022. Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. New Jersey-based contractor Grip-Tech Floor Coatings reveals a detailed case study of their successful renovation at Asbury Circle Car Wash, Neptune City. It highlights the effective use of Elite Crete epoxy floor coatings to overcome high-demand car wash environment challenges. Grip-Tech Floor Coatings, a leading New Jersey-based flooring contractor, unveils an insightful case study today that brings to light the successful renovation of Asbury Circle Car Wash's flooring in Neptune City, NJ. This case study explores the unique challenges associated with car wash environments, demonstrating how effectively Grip-Tech used Elite Crete epoxy floor coatings to conquer these challenges. Joe Delandro, owner of Grip-Tech Floor Coatings, states, "In high-demand environments like a car wash, the resilience of flooring is critical. Elite Crete epoxy floor coatings, with their proven durability and appealing aesthetics, emerged as our top choice for this demanding project." The case study details the journey from initial assessment to final reveal, illustrating Grip-Tech's meticulous planning, exceptional technical skills, and unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction. Delandro adds, "The Asbury Circle Car Wash project wasn't just about replacing the old, worn-out floor. It was about enhancing the customer experience and ensuring the floor could stand up to the rigorous demands of a bustling car wash. We designed our project execution to be efficient and minimally disruptive to the business." The case study also underscores the pivotal role of Elite Crete epoxy floor coatings. Known for their durability, chemical resistance, and aesthetic appeal, these coatings provide a superior solution for high-traffic spaces such as car washes. Further, the case study emphasizes the need for experienced professionals to achieve an ideal balance of aesthetics, function, and customer satisfaction in specialized flooring projects. "Were proud to demonstrate our commitment to excellence in every project," Delandro says. This project further attests to Grip-Techs dedication to implementing high-quality flooring solutions across diverse industries, irrespective of a project's unique challenges or the environment's demands. Grip-Tech invites those interested in the Asbury Circle Car Wash project to read the full case study here: https://griptechflooring.com/asbury-car-wash-epoxy-floors-neptune-city-nj/. The company continues to make impressive strides in the flooring industry, consistently exceeding client expectations. For more information about the Asbury Circle Car Wash project, other case studies, or the range of services offered by Grip-Tech Floor Coatings, visit their website. About Us: Grip-Tech Floor Coatings is a premier flooring contractor based in Matawan, New Jersey. The company specializes in delivering advanced, high-quality floor coating solutions for a diverse range of industries and environments. With a strong focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction, Grip-Tech employs top-notch materials and innovative techniques to transform spaces with durable and visually appealing floors. From commercial and industrial spaces to residential projects, Grip-Tech Floor Coatings continues to set the standard in flooring solutions. Contact Info: Name: Joe Delandro Email: Send Email Organization: Grip-Tech Floor Coatings Address: 101 Church St, Matawan, NJ 07747 Phone: (732) 614-6929 Website: http://www.griptechflooring.com/ Release ID: 89103206 If you come across any problems, discrepancies, or concerns related to the content contained within this press release that necessitate action or if a press release requires takedown, we strongly encourage you to reach out without delay by contacting [email protected]. Our committed team will be readily accessible round-the-clock to address your concerns within 8 hours and take appropriate actions to rectify identified issues or support with press release removals. Ensuring accurate and reliable information remains our unwavering commitment. Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. AirdropHunter launches the tools for Airdrop hunting Analysts have meticulously evaluated the earnings potential of airdrop hunters. On average, a standard airdrop hunter can accumulate $6497 per address. Now, envision having multiple addresses at your disposal, say 5, 10, or even 20. The quantity of wallets directly influences your potential earnings, acting as a multiplier. With the niche of airdrop hunting expected to experience exponential growth in the near future, it is anticipated to evolve into a multi-billion dollar industry, presenting opportunities for everyone keen on discovering new gems. AirdropHunter - the ultimate tool for airdrop hunting, offering invaluable insights and guidance. - To maximize your gains, you must undertake essential actions like swaps, bridges, and minting NFTs. - Generating substantial volumes and maintaining a favorable per-transaction rate. - Persistence is key; engaging in activities consistently for a period exceeding two months is highly recommended. - Furthermore, staying informed about your on-chain data to ensure your standing remains within the top 30% among all wallets is essential. - Additionally, safeguarding your wallets and avoiding Sybil attacks. While this may seem daunting for beginners, worry not. AirdropHunter caters to all your requirements, providing comprehensive support and assistance to navigate the realm of airdrop hunting successfully. Save your funds, and reliability to get into the market as prepared as possible and not miss the open window of opportunities! For the past quarter: - more than 6000 active addresses - generated more than 200 000 successful transactions - more than 3000 people followed Looking ahead, AirdropHunter is planning a private round of investment to further fuel its growth and expansion. This round will provide an exclusive opportunity for investors to be part of this rapidly growing industry. The funds raised will be used to enhance the platform's capabilities, improve user experience, and expand our reach to more potential airdrop hunters globally. We aim to make airdrop hunting more accessible, efficient, and profitable for everyone. By participating in this private round of investment, you will not only be investing in a promising venture but also contributing to the democratization of wealth generation in the crypto space. Stay tuned for more details about this exciting opportunity. Together, let's shape the future of airdrop hunting and take AirdropHunter to new heights. https://twitter.com/airhunter_drop https://www.youtube.com/@AirDropHunterOfficial/videos https://t.me/airdrop_hunter_bot Contact Info: Name: Yaroslav Prokhorovych Email: Send Email Organization: AirdropHunter Website: https://airdrop-hunter.site/ Release ID: 89103180 Should you detect any errors, issues, or discrepancies with the content contained within this press release, or if you need assistance with a press release takedown, we kindly request that you inform us immediately by contacting [email protected]. Our expert team will be available to promptly respond and take necessary steps within the next 8 hours to resolve any identified issues or guide you through the removal process. We value the trust placed in us by our readers and remain dedicated to providing accurate and reliable information. Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. Rockhurst University is proud to announce the launch of its online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Education and Leadership program, Organizational Leadership concentration. This program has been designed to help working professionals enhance their knowledge and skills to become inclusive leaders in today's ever-changing workplace. In the evolving workplace of 2023 and beyond, organizational leaders must deepen their knowledge of historical and modern organizational frameworks and understand the key issues shaping today's landscape. Rockhurst University's Ed.D. in Education and Leadership program, with an Organizational Leadership concentration, prepares students to become strategic and ethical leaders who drive positive change in diverse organizations. This two-year online degree equips students with research skills, systems thinking, and the ability to contribute to the body of knowledge on critical issues. By completing this program, graduates gain the confidence to become influential voices in their industries and inspire others to create meaningful change. The Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership Online is designed to prepare students with the necessary skills and knowledge to lead teams successfully in the contemporary world. The program offers a wide range of courses designed to develop effective leadership in corporate and educational settings. Some of the key courses offered in this program include: Managerial Communications: Students learn strategies for clear and persuasive communication, including written, oral, and digital communication methods, with an emphasis on effective communication within organizational contexts. Organizational Behavior: Students examine theories and concepts related to motivation, teamwork, leadership styles, and organizational culture. Innovation: Students learn the essential role of business innovation, encompassing both entrepreneurial and corporate aspects, and are equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to foster creativity and improve enterprise results, whether through individual creativity or collective strategic efforts. Organizational Change: Students learn strategies for leading and managing change within educational contexts, including change models, resistance to change, stakeholder engagement, and creating a culture of change. These courses, along with others offered in the program, provide students with a holistic understanding of leadership, communication, organizational behavior, innovation, and change management within corporate, public, non-profit, or educational organizations. By completing these courses, students develop the necessary skills to drive change across various organizations. Rockhurst's Ed.D. program stands out by providing students with the opportunity to earn an optional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Certificate through a selection of elective courses. The graduate DEI Certificate courses equip students with a distinctive and applicable skill set to effectively tackle prevalent organizational challenges and align with DEI objectives. By obtaining this certificate, students develop into DEI-educated leaders, possessing a profound comprehension of DEI principles and their practical implementation within diverse organizations. As a result, these professionals become indispensable assets to their respective organizations, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable work environment. This certificate enhances the value of virtually any degree program at the University, said Nilufer Guler, Ph.D., associate professor of education and director of the Ed.D. program. The skills that students acquire as part of this DEI coursework, in particular a deeper sense of appreciation for others experiences and the ability to holistically address the challenges facing the world today, are invaluable. In addition to the Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership Online, the Ed.D. program offers three other concentrations: The Health Care Education Concentration: With this program, students will gain the credentials and specialized knowledge to address the health educator shortage and equip the next generation of health care practitioners. The K-12 Leadership Concentration: This program prepares graduates to lead with confidence, make informed decisions, and effectively address the unique challenges faced by K-12 educational institutions in a rapidly changing environment. The Higher Education Concentration: This program equips educators to tackle the unique challenges faced by colleges and universities, drive institutional improvement, and make a meaningful impact on the lives of students and the broader higher education community. Rockhurst University's Ed.D in Organizational Leadership program is entirely online, designed specifically for working professionals. Online courses allow students to study on their own schedule, stay in their desired state, and continue working while earning their doctorate part-time, while the cohort-based structure gives students access to a community of organizational leaders across the nation. In addition to dedicated faculty and staff, the program provides support services, a robust online library, and career services. As a result, students can earn their doctorate on their terms without sacrificing their daily responsibilities and lifestyle. For more information about the Ed.D. in Education and Leadership program at Rockhurst University and its Ed.D in Organizational Leadership and other concentrations offered, visit the program's website or contact the University's admissions office. Contact Info: Name: Katherine Frohoff, Associate VP of University Marketing & Communications Email: Send Email Organization: Rockhurst University Phone: 816-501-4151 Website: https://www.rockhurst.edu/ Release ID: 89103266 If you encounter any issues, discrepancies, or concerns regarding the content provided in this press release, or if there is a need for a press release takedown, we urge you to notify us without delay at [email protected]. Our expert team will be available to promptly respond within 8 hours ensuring swift resolution of identified issues or offering guidance on removal procedures. Delivering accurate and reliable information is fundamental to our mission. The beauty of San Diego County offers many options for camping. The RV rental agency provides clean and comfortable trailers with amenities that make camping fun at an economical rate. Go Outdoors RV Rentals and Nestor Ramirez are pleased to announce that the San Diego RV rentals company offers campers alternatives to inconvenient tent camping or costly hotel stays. San Diego County has several parks that welcome RV'ers to stay a night or longer. In addition, travel trailers significantly benefit those needing a break from the pressures of day-to-day work and responsibilities. Since 2021, the family-owned agency has offered its inventory of clean and well-maintained travel trailers and recreational vehicles for rent. A family vacation in a travel trailer opens up some options that would otherwise be impossible. A travel trailer from Go Outdoors can help campers create lasting memories that last a lifetime. The rental outlet can help customers find a travel trailer rental that will suit their needs, preferences, and budget constraints. The firm is focused on ensuring that each customer enjoys a rental experience that is fun and free of hassle. The fleet of trailers is serviced regularly and maintained in pristine condition. The trailers are thoroughly cleaned after each booking to ensure the renters will have a clean and hygienic unit to enjoy. Nestor takes time to assist customers, whether they are first-time renters or have utilized the services previously. Additional details are available at https://www.gooutdoorsrvrentals.com/ Nestor states, "Rental from our San Diego RV Rental firm provides our customers with affordable comfort during their camping experience. The RVs have amenities that include fully equipped kitchens, comfortable sleeping quarters, and more. If you want the travel unit for a weekend getaway or a longer trek, the professional staff will allow you to explore the great outdoors with all the fun and enjoyment nature offers." There are many points of interest in San Diego County. Customers can enjoy the convenience of camping in the great outdoors without losing any comfort. Renters can enjoy events and activities in the county from the operating base of a late-model recreational vehicle. The website provides details and information about some of these events. Perhaps the customer just wants to spend time outdoors, enjoy the county's scenic portions, or beyond. The company provides customers with recreational vehicles that meet their needs and budget constraints. A personalized travel trailer rental experience means that the size, components, floor plan, and budget constraints are precisely customized. The trailers and RVs in the fleet include spacious travel trailers and something a bit more compact. Best of all, the prices are unbeatable. The fleet of vehicles consists of some of the top brands and models in the market. Scheduled maintenance and condition checks keep the trailers in tip-top shape and ready for the customer's next adventure. The 2021 Wildwood by Forest River is the perfect solution for a large family ready for their next vacation. This particular trailer is excellent, with five beds and room to store all supplies. With this much space, customers can bring along most of the comforts of home on their next camping trip. The customer won't have to sacrifice leaving much behind with this trailer, which is perfect for a large family. The full-size fridge operates with electricity and LP. There is also an electric mini-fridge, 3-burner stove and oven, overhead fan, outdoor LP grill, U-shaped dinette, flip sofa, 40-inch smart TV, 15,000 BTU air conditioning unit, 30,000 BTUs Heater, Bluetooth Radio with Interior and exterior speakers, and a dual electric and propane water heater. Other units may have similar extras or can be smaller in scale. About the Company: Go Outdoors RV Rentals is a family-owned business in San Diego. The company was launched in 2021. The expanding customer base includes those who have had an enjoyable experience as campers using the units. Contact Info: Name: Nestor Ramirez Email: Send Email Organization: Go Outdoors RV Rentals Address: 9267 Adlai Rd, Lakeside, CA 92040 Phone: (619) 971-6946 Website: https://www.gooutdoorsrvrentals.com/ Release ID: 89103267 If you encounter any issues, discrepancies, or concerns regarding the content provided in this press release that require attention or if there is a need for a press release takedown, we kindly request that you notify us without delay at [email protected]. Our responsive team will be available round-the-clock to address your concerns within 8 hours and take necessary actions to rectify any identified issues or guide you through the removal process. Ensuring accurate and reliable information is fundamental to our mission. SAN PEDRO GARZA GARCIA, N.L. Mexico , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ALFA, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: ALFAA) ("ALFA") announced today its unaudited results for the second quarter of 2023 ("2Q23"). All figures have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). 2Q23 HIGHLIGHTS ALFA 2Q23 Comparable EBITDA of US $425 million as better-than-expected results at Sigma partially offset a significant decline in Alpek Successfully executed the Axtel spin-off; corporate portfolio streamlined down to Sigma and Alpek Full-year EBITDA Guidance adjusted down 5% to reflect a downward revision by Alpek and an upward revision by Sigma Sigma Record-high quarterly Revenue and EBITDA in 2Q23 Better-than-expected results in the Americas driven by solid demand, favorable raw material cost trends, Foodservice, and the appreciation of the Mexican peso Guidance revised up supported by year-to-date results and positive outlook: Revenue US $8.6 billion and EBITDA US $880 million Alpek 2Q23 Revenue and Comparable EBITDA down 27% and 46% year-on-year, respectively A challenging feedstock price environment, the normalization of ocean freight rates, and lower industry reference margins impacted performance 2023 Comparable EBITDA Guidance revised down to US $770 million Axtel (Discontinued Operations) Accounting for Axtel as a Discontinued Operation in ALFA's financial statements ended on May 29, 2023 as a result of the spin-off Please refer to Axtel's 2Q23 Earnings Report for the analysis of full quarterly and accumulated operating figures (see Appendix) Message from ALFA's President "We achieved another important milestone of our transformation process with the listing of Controladora Axtel on the Mexican Stock Exchange during the second quarter. Regarding our operations, ALFA's 2Q23 consolidated results benefitted from a better-than-expected performance at Sigma which partially offsets a decline in Alpek. By completing the Axtel spin-off, ALFA has streamlined its portfolio of core businesses down to Sigma and Alpek. In addition, shareholders have gained autonomy through independent ownership positions in Nemak and Axtel. We remain focused on moving ahead in the most efficient manner while ensuring a strong financial position for ALFA, Sigma and Alpek. Higher EBITDA generation from Sigma is key to continue building upon our orderly transformation process. In addition, ALFA's valuable assets and solid cashflow generation present various opportunities to reduce debt over time, which is also crucial. ALFA's consolidated 2Q23 Revenue was down 10% and Comparable EBITDA decreased 20% year over year due to weak results at Alpek. Besides the anticipated normalization in ocean freight rates and decrease in global reference margins, Alpek faced a challenging feedstock price environment; marked by a significant paraxylene price disconnection ( North America vs Asia ) that has weighed on Polyester volume. Sigma posted solid performance and announced important developments. 2Q23 Revenue increased 15% year over year and Comparable EBITDA was up 33%, boosted by better-than-expected results in Mexico and the United States . Our food business successfully capitalized on solid demand in the Americas , easing raw material cost pressures and a much stronger Mexican peso. In Europe , Sigma undertook a major restructure of its administrative functions amid higher raw material cost pressures and soft volume trends. The expected benefits from this initiative include cost savings, higher accountability and greater organizational alignment to accelerate the recovery in this region. During the second quarter, Sigma also executed its second acquisition year to date in the United States ; a majority stake in Los Altos Foods ("Los Altos"). Los Altos' portfolio of authentic Hispanic cheese products and production capacity in the West Coast offer a unique opportunity to reinforce Sigma's presence in the rapidly growing multicultural U.S. consumer market. In addition, Sigma advanced on the ESG front by obtaining approval for its near-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). ALFA now contributes towards a more sustainable future through SBTi-approved decarbonization targets at its two remaining core businesses: Alpek and Sigma. Looking to the remainder of the year, ALFA's 2023 guidance was revised to reflect adjustments at Alpek and Sigma. Annual consolidated Revenues and EBITDA estimations were lowered to US $16.431 billion and US $1.530 billion , respectively. Our petrochemical business reduced its full-year Comparable EBITDA guidance to US $770 million amid a more challenging feedstock price environment that has weighed on volume and margins. In addition, Alpek estimates an annual impact of US $110 million from extraordinary items. On the upside, demand, raw material costs and the appreciation of the Mexican peso are trending more favorably for Sigma. Therefore, 2023 EBITDA guidance in our food business increased to US $880 million . Sigma and Alpek maintain solid financial positions as ALFA remains disciplined in its methodic approach to complete the final stage of the transformation process. I want to extend a special thanks to all our team members for their continued hard work throughout the quarter towards achieving our goals." All the best, Alvaro Fernandez Important note on changes to ALFA's Consolidated Financial Statements ALFA's shareholders approved to spin-off ALFA's share ownership of Axtel into a new, listed entity called "Controladora Axtel" on July 12, 2022 . The shares of "Controladora Axtel" were distributed to ALFA shareholders and began trading on the Mexican Stock Exchange on May 29, 2023 . In accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Axtel meets the definition of a "Discontinued Operation" for purposes of ALFA's Consolidated Financial Statements. "Discontinued Operations" are the net results of an entity that is either being held for disposal or which has already been disposed of. The changes in ALFA's Consolidated Financial Statements are as follows: The Consolidated Statement of Financial Position presents Axtel's assets as "Current assets from discontinued operations" and its liabilities as "Current liabilities from discontinued operations" at the close of 1Q23 and 2Q22. At the close of 2Q23, all items are eliminated. Prior periods are not restated. The Consolidated Statement of Income presents Axtel's net revenues and expenses as a single line item "Profit (loss) from discontinued operations" as follows: 2Q22: accumulated figures for the three months ended June 30, 2022 1Q23: accumulated figures for the three months ended March 31, 2023 2Q23: accumulated figures for the one month and 29 days ended May 29, 2023 2022: accumulated figures for the six months ended June 30, 2022 2023: accumulated figures for the four months and 29 days ended May 29, 2023 The Change in Net Debt presents Axtel's net inflows and outflows as a single line item "Decrease (Increase) in Net Debt from discontinued operations" as follows: 2Q22: accumulated figures for the six months ended June 30, 2022 1Q23: no figures presented related to Axtel 2Q23: no figures presented related to Axtel The Change in Net Debt also presents Axtel's Net Debt balance as "Net Debt from discontinued operations" at the close of 3Q22. Prior periods are not restated and subsequent periods (2Q23, 1Q23 and 4Q22) do not present figures related to Axtel. SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (US $ MILLION) 2Q23 1Q23 2Q22 Ch.% vs. 1Q23 Ch.% vs. 2Q22 2023 2022 Ch. % ALFA & Subs with Axtel as Discontinued Operations ALFA Revenues 4,221 4,085 4,709 3 (10) 8,306 8,778 (5) Alpek 2,050 2,062 2,815 (1) (27) 4,112 5,147 (20) Sigma 2,143 1,991 1,870 8 15 4,134 3,582 15 ALFA EBITDA1 360 376 672 (4) (46) 736 1,282 (43) Alpek 148 187 507 (21) (71) 335 964 (65) Sigma 217 192 172 13 26 409 333 23 ALFA Comparable EBITDA2 425 396 534 7 (20) 821 1,020 (20) Alpek 201 207 369 (3) (46) 408 702 (42) Sigma 229 192 172 19 33 421 333 26 Majority Net Income3 9 (14) 243 161 (96) (6) 453 (101) CAPEX & Acquisitions4 196 86 572 129 (66) 282 648 (57) ALFA Net Debt5 4,994 5,049 5,406 (1) (8) 4,994 5,406 (8) Alpek 1,879 2,082 1,776 (10) 6 1,879 1,776 6 Sigma 2,012 1,840 1,772 9 14 2,012 1,772 14 ALFA Net Debt/EBITDA6 3.3 2.7 2.2 ALFA Interest Coverage7 4.1 5.3 7.6 Axtel (as Discontinued Operations)8 Revenues 95 145 125 (34) (24) 240 248 (3) EBITDA 25 28 34 (11) (26) 53 68 (22) CAPEX & Acquisitions 0 0 0 - - 0 0 - Net Debt 0 0 0 - - 0 0 - 1 EBITDA= Operating Income + depreciation and amortization + impairment of assets 2 Comparable EBITDA = Operating Income + depreciation and amortization + impairment of assets + extraordinary items 3 Majority Net Income includes Majority Net Income from Discontinued Operations (Axtel) 4 Figure includes divestments 5 Net Debt adjusted for Discontinued Operations (Axtel) at the close of 3Q22; previous periods unchanged 6 Times. LTM= Last 12 months. Ratio calculated with Discontinued Operations for all periods 7 Times. LTM= Last 12 months. Interest Coverage= EBITDA/Net Financial Expenses with Discontinued Operations for all periods 8 Please refer to Axtel's 2Q23 Earnings Report for the analysis of full quarterly and accumulated operating figures. See "Appendix - 2Q23 Reports of Listed Businesses" (pg. 40) 2Q23 EARNINGS CALL INFORMATION Date: Thursday, July 27, 2023 Time: 2:00 p.m. EDT (NY) / 12:00 p.m. CST (CDMX) Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_59gRylRJRp-Jg_OM90B55w Replay: https://www.alfa.com.mx/en/events/ About ALFA ALFA is comprised mainly of two leading businesses with global operations: Sigma, a leading multinational food company, focused on the production, marketing and distribution of quality foods through recognized brands in Mexico , Europe , United States and Latin America . Alpek, one of the world's leading producers of polyester (PTA, PET, rPET and fibers), and the leader in the Mexican market for polypropylene (PP) and expandable polystyrene (EPS). In 2022, ALFA reported revenues of Ps. 363,864 million (US $18.1 billion ), and EBITDA of Ps. 42,020 million (US $2.1 billion ). ALFA's shares are quoted on the Mexican Stock Exchange and on Latibex, the market for Latin American shares of the Madrid Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.alfa.com.mx Disclaimer This release may contain forward-looking information based on numerous variables and assumptions that are inherently uncertain. They involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic, competitive and financial market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately. Accordingly, future results could vary from those set forth in this release. The report presents unaudited financial information. Figures are presented in Mexican Pesos or US dollars, as indicated. Where applicable, Peso amounts were translated into US dollars using the average exchange rate of the months during which the operations were recorded. Financial ratios are calculated in US dollars. Due to the rounding up of figures, small differences may occur when calculating percent changes from one period to the other. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alfa-reports-2q23-ebitda-of-us-360-million-with-axtel-as-discontinued-operations-301886793.html SOURCE ALFA, S.A.B. de C.V. BAYPORT, Minn. , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Andersen Corporation, manufacturer of America's most loved brand of windows and doors*, has been named a Forbes America's Best Employer for Women 2023 for the second year in a row. "Our workforce is driven by the efforts of women, who represent 30 percent of both our total workforce and management roles and above," said Tracey Gibson , vice president and chief diversity officer at Andersen. "In an industry where women are vastly underrepresented, we are committed to gender parity and the advancement of women in manufacturing and take great pride in our long history of female representation at all levels of our organization." Honorees were chosen based on an independent survey by Statista Inc. Respondents were asked questions regarding the topics of age, gender equality, ethnicity, disability, LGBTQA+ and general diversity concerning their employer. The survey collected responses from a vast sample of more than 60,000 U.S. employees working for companies employing at least 1,000 people within the United States . The sample included more than 40,000 women. Participants provided feedback on their organization's status on working conditions, diversity and if they would recommend the employer to others. Female respondents were also asked to rate factors such as parental leave, discrimination and pay equity. "Receiving this honor for the second consecutive year reflects our continuous efforts to make meaningful and sustainable progress by building diverse talent pipelines and refining internal programs with a focus on inclusion, retention and advancement," said Gibson. In addition to being recognized as America's Best Employers for Women 2023, recent recognitions include: Newsweek America's Greatest Workplaces 2023 Newsweek America's Most Trustworthy Companies 2023 Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2022 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) 2022 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) Forbes World's Best Employer 2022 Best Employer 2022 Forbes America's Best Employer for Women 2022 Best Employer for Women 2022 Forbes Best Employer for Diversity 2022 Forbes Best Large Employer for 2022 For more information and to see the entire list of 2023 America's Best Employers for Women, please visit Forbes.com. *2022 Andersen brand survey of U.S. homeowners ABOUT ANDERSEN CORPORATION Andersen was founded in 1903 on the philosophy of working "all together" to deliver on its promise to its customers. Every day, the company's more than 13,000 employees are empowered to imagine what's possible and do what's right. Andersen delivers products for the way people live, unmatched performance for the comfort and security homeowners desire, and endless design options to achieve any style. Headquartered in Bayport, Minn., Andersen Corporation and its subsidiaries manufacture and market window and door products under the Andersen, Renewal by Andersen, EMCO and MQ brands. Andersen, a privately held company, operates manufacturing sites across North America and Europe. Andersen has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2023 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award. Visit us at andersenwindows.com. Follow us on Facebook @AndersenWindows, Twitter @AndersenWindows, and Instagram @andersen_windows. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/andersen-named-one-of-americas-best-employers-for-women-for-second-consecutive-year-by-forbes-301886744.html SOURCE Andersen Corporation BEIJING , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) ("Autohome" or the "Company"), the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China , today announced that each of Mr. Zheng Liu and Mr. Jun Lu has resigned from their positions as the Company's directors due to other personal commitments, effective immediately. The Company further announces that Ms. Keke Ding has been appointed as a director and a member of the Compensation Committee of the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") and that Dr. Fan Lu has been appointed as a director of the Board, effective immediately. Ms. Keke Ding has over 26 years of experience in property insurance industry and business management. Ms. Ding currently serves as the assistant general manager at Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance"), a subsidiary of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An Group"). Ms. Ding has held multiple management roles relating to insurance and business management within Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance and its several provincial-level branches since May 1997 , including managing distribution channels, retail customer marketing, and digital customer platforms. Ms. Ding received her bachelor's degree in insurance from Dongbei University of Finance and Economics in July 1997 . Dr. Fan Lu has over 17 years of institutional investment management experience, spanning the areas of global macro hedge fund, quantitative investment, A-share market fundamental research, asset allocation and insurance asset-liability management. Dr. Lu currently serves as the general manager of asset management department at Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance, fully responsible for the company's asset-liability management and investment-related activities. Dr. Lu has held a series of management roles relating to investment management within Ping An Group and its affiliates since September 2011 . Prior to that, Dr. Lu held various positions of investment management at companies including AlphaSimplex, a hedge fund company in Boston , United States , and Haitong Securities Co., Ltd. (SHA: 600837; HKEX: 6837), a top securities firm in China . Dr. Lu received his PhD degree in statistics and a master's degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in June 2006 and June 2005 , respectively, and received his bachelor's degree in biophysics from Nanjing University in June 1999 . Mr. Quan Long , Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Autohome, stated, "We are delighted to welcome Ms. Keke Ding and Dr. Fan Lu to our Board, both of their wealth of knowledge and expertise will be a great asset to our future growth, helping the Company in its ongoing commitment to enhancing ESG governance through Board oversight. Ms. Ding's joining as a female director represents an important step forward for Autohome's greater Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, gender diversity and workplace inclusiveness. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to both Mr. Zheng Liu and Mr. Jun Lu for their valuable contributions to the Company during the tenure." About Autohome Inc. Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) is the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China. Its mission is to relentlessly reduce auto industry decision-making and transaction costs driven by advanced technology. Autohome provides occupationally generated content, professionally generated content, user-generated content, and AI-generated content, a comprehensive automobile library, and extensive automobile listing information to automobile consumers, covering the entire car purchase and ownership cycle. The ability to reach a large and engaged user base of automobile consumers has made Autohome a preferred platform for automakers and dealers to conduct their advertising campaigns. Further, the Company's dealer subscription and advertising services allow dealers to market their inventory and services through Autohome's platform, extending the reach of their physical showrooms to potentially millions of internet users in China and generating sales leads for them. The Company offers sales leads, data analysis, and marketing services to assist automakers and dealers with improving their efficiency and facilitating transactions. Autohome operates its " Autohome Mall ," a full-service online transaction platform, to facilitate transactions for automakers and dealers. Further, through its websites and mobile applications, it also provides other value-added services, including auto financing, auto insurance, used car transactions, and aftermarket services. For further information, please visit https://www.autohome.com.cn. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Autohome's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Autohome's filings with the SEC and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Autohome does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: In China : Autohome Inc. Investor Relations Sterling Song Investor Relations Director Tel: +86-10-5985-7483 E-mail: [email protected] The Piacente Group, Inc. Jenny Cai Tel: +86-10-6508-0677 E-mail: [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/autohome-inc-announces-board-changes-and-newly-appointed-female-board-member-301886129.html SOURCE Autohome Inc. WASHINGTON , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Star Families (BSF) in partnership with Howard University and The Chamberlain Project, hosted a panel symposium titled "Freedom to Serve: Integrating the Armed Services," on July 26 . The event wove together the expertise, data, and action of Blue Star Families' Campaign for Inclusion with Howard University 's deep history of military service and civil rights activism and the modern efforts of The Chamberlain Project to bridge the military-civilian gap within higher education. BSF, the nation's largest nonprofit dedicated to supporting military families and strengthening communities across the United States , brought together these perspectives in order to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Executive Order 9981, a pivotal moment in American History that integrated the Armed Forces in 1948. Blue Star Families, Howard University and The Chamberlain Project commemorate 75th Anniversary of Military Integration. The symposium witnessed a gathering of distinguished guests and historymakers, including Academy Award Winner and Air Force Veteran Morgan Freeman , Denis McDonough , Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Carlos Del Toro , Secretary of the Navy, who served as keynote speakers. Lloyd Austin , Secretary of Defense, also gave virtual remarks. "Civic responsibility and civic rights go hand in hand," said Kathy Roth-Douquet , CEO of Blue Star Families. "By telling the story of how military service interrelates with civil rights and strengthens our country and home and abroad, we are telling a positive story of the people who serve and military service itself which is particularly meaningful now, when recruiting is stumbling. We are excited to highlight many diverse heroes, and the way ahead." The symposium consisted of keynote speeches and two panels discussing the historical impact of E.O. 9981 and future implications of diversity on military service. Each panel reflected on the history of this important milestone and highlighted how the civil rights movement and military integration created a "talk-back" between each other over the past 75 years. Panelists included The Honorable, Former NASA Administrator, Astronaut and Retired Major General Charles Bolden , Admiral Michelle Howard (Ret.), Lieutenant General Arthur Gregg (Ret.), Lieutenant General Tom Bostick (Ret.), Major General Mark Simerly , Wayne A. I. Frederick , M.D., MBA, President of Howard University, Cadet Colonel Franklin , Howard University ROTC, and Willetta Brown , the daughter of LCDR Wesley A. Brown, CEC, USNA '49 (Ret.), the first African American graduate of the United States Naval Academy in June 1949 . "Since the U.S. was founded, Black people have fought in uniform for our country, while also fighting for their own freedom and civil rights," said Carlandra "CT" Moss, Director of Blue Star Families' Campaign for Inclusion . "In a lot of ways, Executive Order 9981 helped lay the foundation for the civil rights movement in the 1960s by recognizing the sacrifices Black servicemen made to secure our nation. This symposium not only allows us to reflect on our history and the important strides the Black community has made in building our military, but also to talk through what needs to happen to make military service more diverse and inclusive for future generations." Notably, Cadet Colonel Kendall Franklin , the Cadet Wing Commander of Howard University's Air Force ROTC, also participated in the panel discussion, making it an intergenerational conversation that looks to the future. Cadet Colonel Franklin is the top student in the ROTC program and a mentor to her peers. "The integration of the Armed Forces in 1948 was a pivotal moment in America's long and continuing journey toward the full realization of civil rights for all Americans," said Jonathan Soros , Founder of The Chamberlain Project. "The Chamberlain Project was founded to help bridge the civil-military divide, and we are proud to be a partner with Howard University and Blue Star Families in commemorating this important anniversary and recognizing the essential connection between our civil and military institutions." This event was hosted on Howard University's historic campus and in partnership with The Chamberlain Project, a program dedicated to connecting retiring service members to teaching positions at higher education to bring diverse perspectives to students. "Howard University has a long history of supporting the diversity of the armed forces. Howard students, faculty and alumni play an important role in the military by bringing a broad range of perspectives, experiences, and expertise that contributes to the overall success of our nation's defense," said Howard University President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick . "For over 100 years, Howard University has had its own ROTC battalion, thousands of Howard alumni serve throughout the armed forces today, and Howard is the first HBCU to serve as a U.S. Department of Defense, Air Force University Affiliated Research Center. We are proud of our ongoing efforts and happy to serve as a host of this important event, commemorating a milestone in our nation's history." At the commemoration, The Chamberlain Project announced Howard University's incoming Chamberlain Fellow, Colonel (Ret.) Fernando Lujan , U.S. Army. He is a former U.S. Army Special Forces Officer and Assistant Professor at the National War College. Chamberlain Fellows assist in building relationships and understanding between the United States Armed Services and civilian institutions, to contribute to the richness and diversity of students' educational experiences, and to facilitate transitions of retiring officers to civilian life. About Blue Star Families Blue Star Families is the nation's largest community-based organization supporting military-connected families. Its research-driven approach builds strong communities through innovative solutions. For more information, click here . About Howard University Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 14 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced two Schwarzman Scholars, four Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African American PhD. recipients than any other university in the United States . About The Chamberlain Project The Chamberlain Project collaborates with several leading colleges and universities on the Retiring Officer Teaching Fellowships, aiming to assist in building relationships and understanding between the United States Armed Services and civilian institutions, to contribute to the richness and diversity of students' educational experiences, and to facilitate transitions of retiring officers to civilian life. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blue-star-families-howard-university-and-the-chamberlain-project-recognize-75th-anniversary-of-military-desegregation-301886218.html SOURCE Blue Star Families New studies at AACC 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting could change lives, improve drug safety. ANAHEIM, Calif. , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Two studies featured today at the 2023 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo highlight advances that could boost the accuracy of marijuana tests and provide vital information for addressing the opioid epidemic. The first describes a promising method for determining when urine samples have been tampered with to evade a positive result for marijuana. The second found that more than half of fentanyl samples contained novel psychoactive substances that could heighten the drug's danger. The legalization of marijuana in many states and the emergence of the fentanyl crisis have underscored the need for accurate and reliable drug tests. As marijuana use becomes more prevalent, researchers are focused on improving the detection methods used for legal, medical, and workforce drug tests. For example, many labs want help identifying when urine samples have been manipulated to avoid a positive result for marijuana. Deaths from opioid overdoses have been steadily climbing in the U.S. since 2020, in part due to the spread of the powerful narcotic fentanyl. At the same time, there has been a rise in the prevalence of novel psychoactive substances, which are often added to drugs sold as fentanyl to enhance potency. These substances can raise the risk of overdose and death. "Dilute-and-Shoot" Method Detects Manipulated THC Samples A scientific team led by Yubo Chai , MD/PhD, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota , devised a method to counteract the drug-masking effects of common adulterants in marijuana tests. The researchers gathered 5 urine samples positive for both delta 8- and 9-THC-COOH, which are active ingredients of cannabis. They treated them with the adulterant nitrite or strong acid adulterants and found that the compounds quickly degraded both of the ingredients and the internal standard. The team then implemented a "dilute-and-shoot" workflow that combines a tandem- mass spectrometry method and liquid chromatography separation system. The system can determine whether a urine sample is truly negative or only appears so because it has been degraded by nitrite. The method was further validated with an additional crop of 12 specimens that contained delta 8-THC-COOH, delta 9-THC-COOH, or both. "Our unique dilute-and-shoot method can separate and quantify delta 8- and 9-THC-COOH," Chai said. "As a result, labs will be able to distinguish between true negative delta 8- and 9-THC-COOH results from specimens adulterated with nitrite, as the latter lack peaks for both the analytes and the internal standard." Chai noted that their study only tested samples adulterated with sodium nitrite. He calls for further work with samples tainted with other compounds such as peroxide and potassium nitrite. Study Sheds Light on "Designer" Substances in Fentanyl In another study, a group led by Gemma Campbell at Aegis Sciences Corp. in Nashville set out to evaluate how common novel psychoactive substances are in fentanyl tests. Studying 200 urine and oral fluid samples gathered from individuals in 30 U.S. states who tested positive for fentanyl, the scientists performed additional testing for designer opioids, benzodiazepines, synthetic marijuana, and other substances. Strikingly, 117 of the samples (58.5%) tested positive for at least one novel psychoactive substance. Almost 38% of the samples tested positive for xylazine, which possesses opioid-like effects but can't be reversed by naloxone, a life-saving medication that blocks the effects of opioid overdose. Nearly half (47%) of the samples contained other designer opioids, and 8% tested positive for designer benzodiazepines, which can prove deadly when combined with opioids outside of medical settings. "The timeliest finding as it relates to the danger of today's illicit drug supply was finding xylazine in 38% of the fentanyl samples," said study scientist Andrew Holt , Pharm.D, at Aegis Sciences Corp. "Depending on where drug testing occurs, an understanding of the other substances present in the illicit drug supply can change the approaches to harm reduction with communities and individuals," he added. About the 2023 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo The 2023 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting offers 5 days packed with opportunities to learn about exciting science from July 23-27 in Anaheim, California . Plenary sessions will explore microbiome-directed therapies for undernutrition, big data for practicing precision medicine, healthcare equity, cardiovascular disease in women, and promising sickle cell disease treatments. At the Clinical Lab Expo, more than 900 exhibitors will fill the show floor of the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California , with displays of the latest diagnostic technology, including but not limited to COVID-19 testing, artificial intelligence, point-of-care, and automation. About the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM) Dedicated to achieving better health through laboratory medicine, ADLM (formerly AACC) brings together more than 70,000 clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists, and business leaders from around the world focused on clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, translational medicine, lab management, and other areas of progressing laboratory science. Since 1948, ADLM has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing programs that advance scientific collaboration, knowledge, expertise, and innovation. For more information, visit www.myadlm.org. Bill Malone AACC Director, Communications & News Publications (p) 202.835.8756 [email protected] Molly Polen AACC Senior Director, Communications & PR (p) 202.420.7612 (c) 703.598.0472 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/breaking-research-on-advances-in-drug-testing-for-marijuana-and-fentanyl-301883540.html SOURCE ADLM During the unofficial visit of the self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko to St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his concerns about the threats that may arise from the Wagner Group and its financier Yevgeny Prigozhin. Thus, Putin and Lukashenko discussed issues related to the Wagner group, the Union State and external threats on the borders of Russia and Belarus. ADVERTISIMENT The fact that the meeting was continued may indicate Putin's fears about the activities of Wagner, which Lukashenko failed to dispel. This is reported by analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Lukashenko may intend to use his control over the Wagner group as a means of extracting concessions from Putin. According to a Russian insider source, the Wagner group was the main topic of discussion during the meeting between Putin and Lukashenko. Lukashenko was likely seeking more economic aid to Belarus through cooperation in allied programs. According to ISW's insider sources, Putin wanted Belarus to become more involved in the war in Ukraine but rejected Lukashenko's suggestion of a show of force by the Belarusian army on the border with Ukraine. Throughout his visit to Russia, Lukashenko likely tried to take advantage of Putin's concerns about the Wagner group to gain favorable terms between Belarus and Russia, rejecting Putin's demands for closer integration into the Union State and support for Russia's war in Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT We remind that the 11th convoy of PMC "Wagner" arrived in Belarus on Tuesday, July 25. The column includes at least 29 units of automotive equipment. The U.S. also reported that they were closely monitoring the situation with the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus. Washington monitors reports and statements on the matter and makes sure that Russia adheres to its commitments on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Only verified information we have on Obozrevatel's Telegram channel, Threads and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! SANDY, Utah , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ComplyAuto has created a solution to the pervasive issue of salespeople requesting customers to send non-public information (NPI) over text messages, emails, and other insecure methods back to salespeople at the dealership. Not only that, this information is not in the dealership's control if the salesperson loses his/her phone, backs up their text messages and photos on a personal cloud-based server, or moves to a different dealership. ComplyAuto Introduces Encryption Tool for Automobile Dealers, Redefining Industry Standards For Data Protection Dealers no longer have to worry about salespeople storing sensitive customer information on their personal devices. ComplyAuto's free encryption messaging tool for dealers in endorsing states, ComplyCrypt, will revolutionize the information-gathering process at the dealership. The antiquated process of collecting NPI like driver's licenses, bank statements, and proof of income/residence, and its inherited shortcomings, is over. ComplyCrypt creates a unique, secure, and encrypted online portal for the dealership where customers deposit their information. Specified dealership employees will then access this repository to download the documents and process them as required. The portal will then automatically delete the information when there is no longer a need, therefore respecting data minimization processes to keep the dealer safe. "Addressing the age-old issue of unsecured data transmission in dealerships, we've developed an easy-to-use encrypted messaging tool. It's designed to overcome the cost, usability, and adoption challenges that exist with other tools, and is currently free for dealers in over 30 states," said Chris Cleveland , CEO of ComplyAuto. ComplyCrypt is for more than just salespeople. Whether the dealer is managing service loaners and rentals, or handling internal communications requesting NPI, ComplyCrypt will secure all of this NPI to easily satisfy the FTC Safeguards Rule (encryption in-transit requirement) and provide a better experience for the customer. The tool also uniquely safeguards dealerships with a real-time detection feature. If staff send sensitive information through insecure channels, such as regular email, the tool immediately alerts an administrator, ensuring compliance with federal and state laws. "ComplyCrypt stands alone as the only encrypted messaging tool that ensures its usage by staff. Too many dealers waste resources on solutions that can't guarantee actual use. With ComplyCrypt, you invest in certainty," said Chris Cleveland , CEO of ComplyAuto. The process is simple and efficient and can be used without having to install additional apps, create phone shortcuts or jump through unnecessary hoops. Salespeople simply scan a QR code that takes them to the dealership's custom URL, generate a unique file request link to the encrypted online portal, and send the URL to the customer. Salespeople will automatically be notified when the customer uploads their documents and after downloading them, the NPI deletes itself. In an effort to prioritize affordability and accessibility, ComplyCrypt is free for our existing clients in endorsing states! If you would like to learn more about ComplyCrypt or ComplyAuto's full suite of dealer tools, please visit www.complyauto.com , send an email to [email protected] , or call (661) 214-9760. About ComplyAuto ComplyAuto is an innovative, cloud-based technology company that provides auto dealerships with cutting-edge compliance software solutions. Serving over 9,000 dealerships across the United States and endorsed by more than 35 state dealer associations, ComplyAuto simplifies and automates the compliance processes, allowing dealerships to focus on their core business of selling and servicing vehicles. As an NADA Affinity Provider , the company offers a suite of tools, including Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Management , Privacy & Cybersecurity , and Human Resources (HR) software solutions, all tailored to the specific needs of motor vehicle, RV, marine, and motorcycle dealerships. Media Contact: Andy Graff [email protected].com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/complyauto-introduces-cutting-edge-encryption-tool-for-automotive-rv-and-motorcycle-dealers-redefining-industry-standards-for-data-protection-301886574.html SOURCE ComplyAuto Security teams can now address more emerging, potentially critical incidents earlier, with more confidence. HEAL completes Darktrace's Cyber AI Loop , delivering resilience throughout the cyber lifecycle from prevention, to detection, to response, and now to recovery. CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Darktrace today announces the launch of Darktrace HEAL, its AI-enabled product to help businesses more effectively prepare for, rapidly remediate, and recover from cyber-attacks. HEAL provides security teams with unique abilities to simulate real attacks within their own environments, create bespoke incident response plans as cyber incidents unfold, and automate actions to rapidly respond to and recover from those incidents. Managing emerging cyber-attacks presents an enormous challenge for security teams who must make decisions quickly in the heat of the attack based on potentially hundreds of changing and uncertain data points and factors. In a recent ransomware incident1, analysts would have needed around 60 total hours of investigative work to build a complete understanding of the full scope and varied details, yet the malicious activity unfolded across just 10 hours. The pressure and complexity facing these teams is only poised to grow as generative AI tools enable attackers to increase the speed, scale, and sophistication of novel attacks. With the global average cost of a data breach reaching $4.35 million in 20222, the financial, operational and reputational stakes for businesses to remediate and recover quickly are high. HEAL leverages Darktrace's Self-Learning AI to give security teams new abilities designed to build cyber resilience and help them more easily and confidently address live incidents. With HEAL, security teams can: Simulate real-world cyber incidents, allowing teams to prepare for and practice their response to complex attacks on their own environments. Create bespoke, AI-generated playbooks as an attack unfolds based on the details of their environment, the attack, and lessons learned from their previous simulations. This reduces information overload, prioritizes actions, and enables faster decision-making at critical moments. Automate actions from the response plan to rapidly stop and recover from the attack within the HEAL interface. Create a full incident report, including an audit trail of the incident response with details of the attack, actions HEAL suggested, and actions taken by the security team for future learning and to support compliance efforts. Transforming Readiness with Incident Simulations HEAL's simulated incidents are a first-of-its-kind capability for security teams to safely run live simulations of real-world cyber-attacks ranging from data theft and ransomware encryption, to rapid worm propagation, all in their own environments and involving their own assets. Security teams are expected to flawlessly manage incident response in the face of a live, rapidly unfolding, often novel attack, usually without any realistic practice. HEAL enables teams to get real-world experience managing attacks as they would happen to the business and regularly practice these procedures to help fine tune their responses. That means teams aren't running their incident response for the first time in the face of a real, live attack. Transforming Incident Response with Bespoke, AI-Generated Playbooks When a live incident does occur, HEAL will use insights from Darktrace DETECT to create a picture of the attack and a bespoke, AI-generated, response playbook, built from Darktrace's knowledge of the incident, the business's environment, and lessons learned from the security team's previous simulations. HEAL recommends the priority order for remediation actions based on factors like further damage the compromised asset can cause, how much the attack is relying on that asset as a pivot or entry point, and its importance to the business. Consequently, security teams can adapt their defenses as an incident evolves, enabling them to end it more rapidly and with less overall disruption. "The reality is that sets of manual incident response playbooks don't last very long. These days they may be outdated 24 hours after they are created, because the cyber landscape is just changing so rapidly. We constantly have to revise them because there are so many things we may not be thinking of. Moreover, these playbooks assume you have a controlled environment, which is not the case when an attack occurs. Utilizing Darktrace's AI solutions really ends the need for these coarse static playbooks," adds Neal Mohammed, Head of Technology at real estate leader Rudin Management. Transforming Recovery with Automated Remediation & Reporting HEAL further enables security teams to quickly and efficiently manage and recover from live incidents by integrating with a variety of tools in a business's wider security stack to automate actions. Within HEAL's live playbooks, teams can activate and manage authorized tools from across their environment, from a single interface with a click of a button. At launch, HEAL will integrate with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Intune, Microsoft 365, Veeam, and Acronis. HEAL provides security teams with automated incident reports during and after an attack, giving teams valuable time back that is normally spent writing detailed updates. The reports provide analysis of the attacker and security team actions, decisions, containment, and recovery information to keep stakeholders updated as an event unfolds. After an attack, this can offer essential compliance information to third parties such as forensics teams, insurance providers, and legal teams and can be used to assist with reviews and learning lessons from the attack and the response. Closing the Cyber AI Loop HEAL works with DETECT and Darktrace PREVENT to build a live picture of the environment and attack, and integrates with Darktrace RESPOND to prioritize, isolate, and heal key assets to cut off and shorten attacks. Its introduction closes Darktrace's Cyber AI Loop , bringing together DETECT, PREVENT, RESPOND, and HEAL into a single platform in which each element draws insights from and continuously reinforces the others to create a best-in-class cyber defense. Jack Stockdale , Chief Technology Officer, Darktrace comments: "At Darktrace, we build technology by looking at where AI can be the most valuable in augmenting the people in a security team and how it can have the most positive impact on their work. With HEAL, we've turned our attention to cyber resilience. We're upskilling teams and reducing the overload analysts face during an attack, to help them recover and get back to business faster and more effectively. With the closing of Darktrace's full Cyber AI Loop , security teams can maximize the time and talent of their human teams, enabling them to focus on critical and complex tasks with the knowledge that Darktrace AI is autonomously working in the background to prevent, detect, respond, and heal from cyber-attacks in a continuous, reinforcing loop." To learn more about Darktrace HEAL and the Darktrace Cyber AI Loop , register for the launch event on August 3 . About Darktrace Darktrace (DARK.L), a global leader in cyber security artificial intelligence, is on a mission to free the world of cyber disruption. Breakthrough innovations in our Cyber AI Research Centre in Cambridge, UK have resulted in over 145 patents filed and research published to contribute to the cyber security community. Rather than study attacks, Darktrace's technology continuously learns and updates its knowledge of 'you' and applies that understanding to optimise your state of optimal cyber security. Darktrace is delivering the first ever Cyber AI Loop , fuelling a continuous end-to-end security capability that can autonomously spot and respond to novel in-progress threats within seconds. Darktrace employs over 2,200 people around the world and protects approximately 8,800 customers globally from advanced cyber threats. Darktrace was named one of TIME magazine's 'Most Influential Companies' in 2021. To learn more, visit http://www.darktrace.com. 1A Black Cat attack on a customer, identified by Darktrace's Cyber AI Analyst in April 2023 2IBM and Ponemon Institute, Cost of a Data Breach 2022: https://www.ibm.com/downloads/cas/3R8N1DZJ View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/darktrace-heal-brings-industry-first-ai-enabled-capabilities-to-transform-incident-response-readiness-and-recovery-301885815.html SOURCE Darktrace NEW ORLEANS , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Entergy will report its second-quarter 2023 financial results before the market opens Wednesday, Aug. 2 . Drew Marsh , chairman and chief executive officer, Kimberly Fontan , executive vice president and chief financial officer, and company leaders invite you to listen to a live webcast discussion of Entergy's financial results at 10 a.m. Central time the same day. The webcast may be accessed by visiting Entergy's website at entergy.com/investors or by dialing 888-440-4149, conference ID 9024832. The presentation materials will be available on Entergy's website before the market opens on the day of the call. An archived replay of the webcast will be available on Entergy's Investor Relations website at entergy.com/investors. From time to time, Entergy posts new and/or revised materials on its website and on social media and anticipates doing so in connection with this event. About Entergy Entergy (NYSE: ETR) is a Fortune 500 company that powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas , Louisiana , Mississippi and Texas . We're investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana , and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at entergy.com and follow @Entergy on social media. #WePowerLife View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/entergy-to-report-second-quarter-2023-financial-results-on-aug-2-301886304.html SOURCE Entergy Corporation WASHINGTON , July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's ruling by Federal District Court Judge Jon Tigar effectively negates any impediments to foreign nationals seeking to abuse our nation's asylum laws, and will trigger an even more massive surge of people crossing our borders illegally, charges the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). The Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule implemented by the Biden administration in May bars some migrants who enter the U.S. between ports of entry from seeking asylum. Today's ruling essentially says that no matter how many people cross the border illegally, regardless of how many countries they may have transited along the way, it has no effect on the availability of asylum which must be available without restriction. "If Judge Tigar's injunction of the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule goes into effect two weeks it will serve as an invitation for people to further abuse our asylum process," commented Dan Stein , president of FAIR. "With Title 42 gone and no mechanism in place to promptly expel even some of the people who enter between ports of entry, a new surge of people crossing illegally could well exceed the records set earlier this year. " Judge Tigar's ruling threatens even greater chaos, ignoring the real harm that is being done to the nation, based on a specious assertion that the 30-day public comment period was insufficient and 'unreasonable,' for opponents of even minimal immigration enforcement to weigh-in. In fact, what is unreasonable is that communities all across the country are reaching the 'breaking point' trying to cope with the 2.3 million new illegal aliens the Biden administration has already allowed to enter the country," Stein concluded. Contact: Ira Mehlman , 202-328-7004 or [email protected] ABOUT FAIR Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 3 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fair-federal-judge-invites-a-new-surge-of-asylum-abuse-301885745.html SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) Survey conducted by ISG Provider Lens for the Brazilian market ranks the company at the highest level of the industry SAO PAULO, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Scala Data Centers , the leading Latin American platform of sustainable data centers in the Hyperscale market, was named as the Colocation leader in Brazil by the ISG Provider Lens 2023 study Private/Hybrid Cloud Data Center Services. As a fourth-year leader in the Colocation Quadrant, Scala has further enhanced its positions in "Competitive Strength" and "Portfolio Attractiveness" when compared to the previous year. The analysis by ISG sheds light on vital aspects of Scala's commercial and operational strategy, demonstrating the company's dedication to catering to the Hyperscale market demands with utmost excellence. Notably, the report also emphasizes Scala's proficiency in constructing modular data centers within tight timelines and its strategic positioning to cater to long-term projects. Impressively, the company has reserved over 1 million square meters of properties for future data centers. Unlike other players that paved their business serving different size of companies largely SMB and Enterprise segments which demand managed services and connectivity solutions besides colocation Scala implemented a new approach uniquely focused into Hyperscale needs by means of an innovative, sustainable, and future-proof single-tenant buildings which position the company as the leader of Hyperscale colocation. The ISG Provider Lens 2023 survey presents a comparative evaluation of the technology sector service providers, organized into four groups: Colocation (including Scala Data Centers), Large Managed Services Accounts, Midsize Managed Services, and Managed Hosting. Each group comprises companies classified as Leader, Product Challenger, Contender, or Market Challenger, based on their respective strengths and competencies. Marcos Peigo , Scala's CEO and Co-Founder, stated that the findings from the ISG Provider Lens 2023 reassure the company's proactive stance in establishing scalable capacity tailored to Hyperscale customers. This approach hinges on flexibility, customization, and the integration of innovation and sustainability as Scala' core principles. "The needs of the Hyperscale customers are increasingly more specific. They demand for scalability, single-building approach, high-energy availability, and density. As such, the focus of our entire portfolio is to provide reliable, expandable, and flexible solutions. When it comes to meeting these specific needs, we're pleased to be recognized as the Colocation leader by the ISG Provider Lens 2023 study. This is a testament to our relentless commitment to sustainable scalable data centers," Peigo said. "For Hyperscalers, having access to scalable and future-ready data centers is vital for ensuring seamless operations, high performance, and the ability to handle the massive data processing needs that come with Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and High-Performance Computing (HPC) applications. By addressing these requirements, Scala has become a reliable partner for Hyperscalers by enabling them to focus on their core business and innovation without worrying about data center limitations." According to Pedro Bicudo Maschio , ISG Provider Lens Lead Author, Scala stands out for its exceptional flexibility in constructing and delivering customized data centers tailored to meet customers' specific demands. "Scala Data Centers commits to customers' expansion plans, ensuring a supply chain of clean energy, hyperconnectivity, engineering support, available properties and construction capacity that is fast, fully sustainable and highly efficient," Bicudo Maschio said. Download the study here. About Scala Data Centers Scala Data Centers is the leading Latin American platform of sustainable data centers in the Hyperscale market. Headquartered in Brazil and founded by DigitalBridge, it was developed to meet and exceed the growing demand for digital access in Latin America . Scala has a highly qualified team of over 800 professionals and applies a flexible and innovative approach to providing exceptional quality colocation services to Hyperscale clients, cloud-based software and service providers, and large enterprises. We customize state-of-the-art solutions for each client in the construction of the latest generation data centers, with high availability, the best energy efficiency rates, and superior density. All this allied to the best sustainability practices guided by our ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) program. For more information, visit www.scaladatacenters.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/four-years-in-a-row-scala-data-centers-leads-the-colocation-quadrant-in-the-isg-study-301886531.html SOURCE Scala Data Centers ST. LOUIS, Mo. , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - GardaWorld ("GardaWorld" or "the Company"), a global champion in security services, integrated risk management and cash solutions, is proud to announce that its U.S. Security Services business has earned the Great Place To Work Certification. This certification recognizes employers who create an outstanding employee experience and an amazing workplace culture. GardaWorld is proud to be the only Certified guarding security company to receive this recognition over the last year. This certification is awarded based on direct reporting from employees about their workplace. Overall, 81% of employees say GardaWorld's U.S. Security Services is a great place to work 24 points higher than the average U.S. company and 86% of employees say they were made to feel welcome when joining the company. "Our highly dedicated security professionals are our most valuable asset. We have exceptional teams across the nation, who share a commitment to our values of trust, integrity, respect and vigilance," said Prentice Robertson , President and Chief Operating Officer, GardaWorld Security Services United States . "As we continue to elevate our employee experience, our culture and entrepreneurial mindset continue to set us apart as an employer of choice where our people can build fulfilling and meaningful careers." GardaWorld Security Services offers a wealth of options to individuals looking to gain experience and develop professionally in a growing industry. With flexible schedules, diverse work assignments spanning multiple industries, training and career advancement opportunities, GardaWorld is focused on ensuring everyone has access to a stimulating career path where they feel empowered to make the world a safer place. "A Great Place To Work Certification is the sole official recognition earned by the real-time feedback of employees regarding their company culture," says Sarah Lewis-Kulin , the Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. "By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that GardaWorld Security Services stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees." According to Great Place To Work, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at Certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, earn a fair share of the company's profits and have a fair chance at promotion. We're Hiring! Looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first? Visit our careers page at jobs.garda.com. About GardaWorld GardaWorld is a global champion in security services, integrated risk management and cash solutions, employing more than 132,000 highly skilled and dedicated professionals. Driven by a relentless entrepreneurial culture and core values of integrity, vigilance, trust and respect, GardaWorld offers sophisticated and tailored security and technology solutions through high-touch partnerships and consistently superior service delivery. With a deep understanding that security is critical to conducting business and keeping communities safe, GardaWorld is committed to impeccable governance, professional care and the well-being of everyone. Thanks to a well-earned reputation, GardaWorld is proud to be the long-standing security partner of choice to some of the most prominent brands, Fortune 500 corporations and governments. For more information, visit garda.com. About Great Place to Work Certification Great Place To Work Certification is the most definitive "employer-of-choice" recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place to Work Certification is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place To Work-Certified. About Great Place To Work As the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work brings 30 years of groundbreaking research and data to help every place become a great place to work for all. Their proprietary platform and For All Model helps companies evaluate the experience of every employee, with exemplary workplaces becoming Great Place To Work Certified or receiving recognition on a coveted Best Workplaces List. Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and follow Great Place To Work on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gardaworld-us-security-services-earns-2023-great-place-to-work-certification-301886416.html SOURCE GardaWorld Security Corporation Changing Supervision Requirements for Therapy Services Will Reduce Administrative Burden and Increase Access to Care in Rural and Underserved Communities , States The American Physical Therapy Association ALEXANDRIA, Va. , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Physical Therapy Association applauds new legislation that addresses the workforce crisis of health care providers while improving patient access to care in rural and underserved communities. Introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Carper, D- Del. , and Barrasso, R- Wyo. , and in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Lesko, R- Ariz. , and Kuster, D- N.H. , as the Enabling More of the Physical and Occupational Workforce to Engage in Rehabilitation Act, or the EMPOWER Act (S. 2459) and (H.R. 4878), this bipartisan legislation would bring supervision requirements of physical therapist assistants and occupational therapy assistants under Medicare Part B in private therapist practices in line with state licensure laws, as well as with all other settings where Medicare beneficiaries receive therapy services. "The American Physical Therapy Association is grateful to Senators Carper and Barrasso, and Representatives Lesko and Kuster for their leadership on this critical piece of legislation to improve patient access to care," said APTA President Roger Herr , PT, MPA. "The EMPOWER Act will help our health care system lower costs, reduce administrative burdens, and provide helpful flexibilities for physical therapists in small businesses. Changing the supervision requirement allows physical therapist assistants to practice at the top of their license, recognizing the valuable role they play in the health care system and providing critical support to therapy clinics." Standardizing general supervision requirements for private outpatient practices under Medicare Part B would align with 49 states' physical therapy licensure laws that allow for general supervision. The change is cost-effective and would reduce administrative burden while implementing common-sense consistency with state laws and across all other Medicare settings. According to an independent, nonpartisan study commissioned by a coalition of health care provider groups, the cost savings this legislation will bring are projected to be as much as $271 million . "As we emerge from a years-long pandemic, our health care workforce is in crisis as it responds to a resurgent opioid crisis, increasing administrative burden, and the need for increased patient access to care," said Justin Elliott , vice president of government affairs for APTA. "It's now more apparent than ever that physical therapist assistants working under PT supervision in private practice play a crucial role in meeting these challenges, and that unnecessary and inconsistent administrative burdens shouldn't stand in the way." The American Physical Therapy Association represents 100,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and physical therapy students nationwide. Visit apta.org to learn more. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/health-care-workforce-challenges-and-patient-access-to-care-addressed-in-bipartisan-legislation-301886613.html SOURCE American Physical Therapy Association GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HighHello, an innovative monthly cannabis subscription club, is thrilled to announce a significant expansion into the Grand Rapids metro market through a partnership with Noxx and Cookies Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids metro residents can expect innovative and high quality cannabis products and accessories, delivered directly to their door each month. Customers can choose from - the Mini, Classic, Max, and Flower - each offering an array of different consumption levels, with products rotating every month. The Mini, a $100 value retailing for $75 , while the Classic, a $150 value for just $100 , offers a variety for both connoisseurs and newcomers. Boxes can be picked up in person or delivered to the consumer's home. Consumers can opt to purchase one-time, or choose the monthly subscription option to experience even more savings. HighHello co-founders, Vadim Shiglik & Felix Dubinsky , expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, which signifies a significant milestone in the company's growth and commitment to pioneering new standards in cannabis accessibility. "We're excited to partner with Noxx and Cookies Grand Rapids to bring a variety of cannabis products to the people of Grand Rapids , while making it easy for brands and consumers to interact with each other," stated Shiglik. Noxx entered the Grand Rapids market one year ago and quickly gained popularity with its wide product selection, warm hospitality, and best in class e-commerce focused website. The Noxx team expanded its footprint when it partnered with Cookies to bring the brand's flagship dispensary to Grand Rapids . Both brands currently offer free cannabis delivery. "We're thrilled to partner with HighHello to bring another convenient option to cannabis consumers to try new products," said Tommy Nafso , CEO and Founder of Noxx Cannabis. About HighHello HighHello is an innovative cannabis subscription platform, providing education, guidance, and a diverse selection of ever-evolving products. Through unique national partnership models, HighHello is pioneering new standards in cannabis accessibility and personalization. To learn more about HighHello, visit www.gethighhello.com About NOXX NOXX is a Michigan -based cannabis company that offers the best brands at the best prices, through innovation, quality, and inclusivity. From an omnichannel perspective across retail, ecommerce and delivery, NOXX offers an unmatched experience meeting customers where they want to shop. Noxx owns and operates 3 dispensaries in Grand Rapids , one of which is the flagship Cookies dispensary. Learn more at noxx.com . Media Contact: [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/highhello-partners-with-noxx-and-cookies-to-bring-its-monthly-cannabis-subscription-box-to-grand-rapids-301886556.html SOURCE HighHello ATLANTA , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HUD announced today that Atlanta Housing (AH) and the City of Atlanta have been awarded a $40 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant to revitalize the former Bowen Homes . The area includes the surrounding neighborhoods of Carey Park and a portion of Almond Park , along with the neighborhood-related segments of the Donald Lee Hollowell and James Jackson parkways, collectively known as the Bowen Choice Neighborhood (BCN). "Atlanta Housing and the City of Atlanta have demonstrated that we can leverage $40 million in Choice Neighborhood funds into more than $500 million to successfully transform the Bowen Choice Neighborhood," said Eugene E. Jones , president and CEO of Atlanta Housing. "This grant will be transformational for the Bowen Choice Neighborhood, as public and private resources are combined to create new affordable housing, improve neighborhood amenities and provide new opportunities for current and former resident." The CN program is consistent with the Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens' vision for neighborhood revitalization and is part of the West Hollowell segment of the Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway transformational corridor initiative. AH has been working with the mayor's office to develop strategies and focus resources in three areas consistent with the grant requirements: Housing, Neighborhood and People. The Housing strategy supports the redevelopment of the former Bowen Homes site, with more than $300 million allocated for housing. The Neighborhood strategy focuses on residential and commercial blight removal, neighborhood housing development, acquisition and clean-up of contaminated properties, and public safety. The CN Neighborhood budget is more than $200 million . The People strategy focuses on developing programs that will improve health, education and economic outcomes for former Bowen residents and the BCN community. The program leverages partnerships and resources with the Boys and Girls Club, Communities in Schools, Families First, Ga Tech CEISM, Goodwill of North Georgia, Grady Health System, Morehouse School of Medicine, Quality Care for Children, United Way, Urban League, Westside Works (CareerRise) and YMCA. Total funding for the People strategy is $42 million . This is the second Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant awarded to AH and the City of Atlanta . ABOUT ATLANTA HOUSING Led by President and CEO Eugene Jones , Jr., the Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, Georgia (AH), is the largest housing authority in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation. AH provides and facilitates affordable housing resources for nearly 27,000 low-income households comprised of approximately 45,000 people, including AH-owned residential communities, tenant-based vouchers, supportive housing, and homeownership opportunities. Programs are funded and regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Visit AH at atlantahousing.org or follow us on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn at @housingatlanta. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hud-awards-atlanta-housing-city-of-atlanta-40-million-for-bowen-homes-transformation-301886842.html TORONTO , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX: XLY) (OTCQB: CBWTF) ("Auxly" or the "Company"), a leading consumer packaged goods company in the cannabis products market, is pleased to announce an agreement with its strategic partner, Imperial Brands PLC ("Imperial Brands") to amend certain provisions of its previously issued $123 million debenture (the "Debenture) dated September 25, 2019 as amended on July 6, 2021 (the "Amendment"). Pursuant to the Amendment, Imperial Brands and Auxly have agreed to extend the maturity date of the Debenture by 24 months from September 25, 2024 to September 25, 2026 . The parties anticipate the Amendment to come into effect on August 16, 2023 . The Debentures are convertible into Common Shares at a price of $0.81 per share at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding maturity. Auxly remains Imperial Brands' exclusive global partner for any future development, manufacture, commercialization, sale and distribution of cannabis products. In connection with the initial investment by Imperial Brands, the parties entered into an investor rights agreement (the "Investor Rights Agreement") which provides, among other things, that for so long as Imperial Brands holds a partially diluted percentage of outstanding common shares in the capital of Auxly of not less than 15%, it is eligible to nominate one individual designated by Imperial Brands for election as a director to Auxly's Board. As Imperial Brands no longer holds the required percentage under the Investor Rights Agreement, its nominee, Murray McGowan , has resigned from Auxly's Board effective immediately. "On behalf of myself, and the rest of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Mr. McGowan for his valuable guidance and support over the past two years." said Hugo Alves , CEO of Auxly. "The extension of the Debenture will further our goal of prudently managing and strengthening our balance sheet and I would like to thank our partners at Imperial Brands for their ongoing commitment to our Company and I look forward to our continued relationship." Related Party Transaction Imperial Brands is considered a "related party" of the Company, and the Amendment constitutes a "related party transaction", as such terms are defined by Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on an exemption from the shareholder approval and formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 available on the basis of financial hardship which provides an exemption where the financial hardship criteria set out in Subsection 5.5(g) of MI 61-101 are met and where there is no other requirement, corporate or otherwise, to hold a meeting to obtain any approval of the holders of any class of affected securities. Further details have been provided in the corresponding material change report related to the Amendment. Resignation of CFO and Appointment of Interim CFO Auxly announces the resignation of Mr. Brian Schmitt from his position as Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") of Auxly, effective July 26, 2023. Mr. Schmitt is leaving for an opportunity outside of the cannabis industry at a non-reporting issuer. Travis Wong, Auxly's Senior Vice President of Finance, has been appointed interim CFO of Auxly effective immediately. Mr. Wong joined Auxly in 2017 and currently holds the position of Senior Vice President of Finance where he has been responsible for managing Auxly's day-to-day finance activities. Mr. Wong has more than 15 years of corporate finance, accounting and capital markets experience. Prior to joining Auxly, he worked as a natural resources investment banker at Nomura Securities based in London, England . He has advised on over $5bn of public and private M&A transactions and has been involved in capital raising transactions for a broad range of European corporations. Earlier in his career, he held positions at KPMG LLP in their audit and deal advisory teams. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA Canada), and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University and an MBA from the University of Oxford. "On behalf of myself, the Board of Directors and the entire Auxly team, I would like to thank Mr. Schmitt for his contributions and dedication to Auxly since joining in early 2019, and we wish him the best of luck with all of his future endeavors," said Hugo Alves , CEO of Auxly. "Travis has been with Auxly since it was founded in 2017 he is a talented finance professional and has a deep understanding of Auxly's business and the cannabis industry in general. We are delighted to welcome Travis to our senior executive team and have every confidence that is going to do an exceptional job for Auxly." Warrant Amendments The Company has received all necessary approvals required to implement the warrant amendments that were previously announced on February 10, 2023 , and such warrant amendments are now effective. The Company amended the terms of 27,381,500 common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants") which were issued pursuant to a bought deal financing completed on June 14,2021 to (i) reduce the exercise price to $0.045 per common share, and (ii) extend the expiry date to June 14, 2026 . None of the Warrants are held, directly or indirectly, by insiders. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Hugo Alves" CEO About Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX: XLY) Auxly is a leading Canadian consumer packaged goods company in the cannabis products market, headquartered in Toronto, Canada . Our focus is on developing, manufacturing and distributing branded cannabis products that delight our consumers. Our vision is to be a leader in branded cannabis products that deliver on our consumer promise of quality, safety and efficacy. Learn more at www.auxly.com and stay up to date at Twitter: @AuxlyGroup; Instagram: @auxlygroup; Facebook: @auxlygroup; LinkedIn: company/auxlygroup/. Notice Regarding Forward Looking Information: This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or information that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. This information is only a prediction. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking information throughout this news release. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to: obtaining the necessary regulatory approval for the Amendment and the timing of such approvals; the anticipated benefits of the Amendment; the Company's execution of its product development and commercialization strategy; consumer preferences, political change, future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis and cannabis products; and competition and other risks affecting the Company in particular and the cannabis industry generally. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from a conclusion, forecast or projection contained in the forward-looking information in this release including, but not limited to, whether: the Company is able to obtain regulatory approval for the Amendment on the proposed terms and timeline; the expected benefits of the Amendment materialize in the manner expected, or at all; there is acceptance and demand for current and future Company products by consumers and provincial purchasers; and general economic, financial market, legislative, regulatory and political conditions in which the Company operates will remain the same. Additional risk factors are disclosed in the annual information form of the Company for the financial year ended December 31, 2022 dated March 31, 2023 . New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all of those factors or to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Company's business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forward-looking information in this release is based on information currently available and what management believes are reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking information speaks only to such assumptions as of the date of this release. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information contained in this release. The forward-looking information contained in this release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements and is made as of the date of this release. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise. Neither Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/imperial-brands-plc-extends-123-million-convertible-debenture-and-auxly-implements-board-and-management-changes-301886740.html SOURCE Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. Ukrainian defense forces have liquidated the nephew of Russian State Duma deputy Nikolay Kharitonov. He fought against the Armed forces of Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT The liquidation of the occupant with the uncle-deputy confirmed the head of the CPRF Gennady Zyuganov. This is written about it by Russian propagandists. According to reports in the Kremlin media, the main Communist of the Russian Federation Zyuganov confirmed the death in the special operation zone of the nephew of party member Nikolai Kharitonov. "Yes, it's true. Unfortunately, it is true," the CPRF chief said in response to questions from propagandists. He did not give details of the occupant's liquidation. Kharitonov has been a permanent occupant of the Duma since 1993. Since October 2021, he has been appointed head of the lower house committee on the development of the Far East and the Arctic. Propagandists also claim that in 2004 Kharitonov even participated in the Russian presidential election - and came second with 13.69% of the vote. ADVERTISIMENT We will remind, earlier it became known that the AFU liquidated near Liman Russian lieutenant colonel . Oleg Smorkalov, a 54-year-old Russian from the village of Myaglovo, Vsevolozhsk district, Leningrad region, was a cadre military officer and had already managed to retire - but with the beginning of Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine, he went to the military enlistment office. The Russian, who had a special hatred for Ukrainians, was "calmed down" as early as June 1 near Liman, Donetsk Region. SEATTLE , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Just one week after returning from Inspired Spine's training lab in Germany , the internationally renowned neurosurgeon, Dr. Hamid Abbasi, showcased the pioneering Trans-Kambin OLLIF Procedure in multiple states by presenting to the Seattle Science Foundation and leading a cadaver lab at Swedish Hospital last Saturday, July 22 nd. Dr. Hamid Abbasi , Inspired Spine's Chief Medical Officer, embarked on a remarkable journey last week, performing the groundbreaking Trans-Kambin Oblique Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (OLLIF) procedure in three states and sharing his expertise at the prestigious Seattle Science Foundation. Dr. Abbasi's dedication to advancing spinal care through innovative techniques has solidified his position as a leading figure in the field of minimally invasive spinal surgery. During an eventful week of medical achievements, Dr. Abbasi performed the OLLIF procedure in Kansas , Texas , and Minnesota . This revolutionary technique, which has gained widespread acclaim for its efficiency and patient benefits, has propelled Inspired Spine to the forefront of cutting-edge spinal surgical practices. Dr. Abbasi's exceptional commitment to patient welfare has made him a sought-after specialist in the realm of spinal surgery. The OLLIF procedure, meticulously performed by Dr. Abbasi , has proven to be a game-changer for patients suffering from various spinal conditions. By approaching the spine from a lateral angle, OLLIF minimizes tissue disruption, reduces surgical risks, and allows for a faster recovery compared to traditional open surgeries. Patients who have undergone OLLIF have experienced less postoperative discomfort and significantly improved mobility, ultimately leading to an enhanced quality of life. The following data was presented in the 9th Annual Spine Conference with Seattle Science Foundation and is accessible to Public: Seattle Science Foundation - Swedish Hospital Abbasi OLLIF presentation https://youtu.be/xOUYSvyk11c Seattle Science Foundation - OLLIF Cadaver lab demonstration https://youtu.be/_yOYJBIHxjk Dr Abbasi was invited to present the OLLIF procedure at the esteemed Seattle Science Foundation, a renowned institution known for fostering collaboration and innovation in the medical community. "I am honored to have had the opportunity to perform the OLLIF procedure in multiple states last week, witnessing first-hand its positive impact on patients," said Dr. Abbasi . "Sharing our experiences and knowledge at the Seattle Science Foundation through a cadaver lab allows us to further advance spinal care and share the knowledge, benefiting patients far and wide." Inspired Spine continues to lead the way in groundbreaking spinal surgical techniques, with Dr. Hamid Abbasi at the forefront of their revolutionary advancements. His commitment to compassionate care and unparalleled expertise is transforming the lives of patients and inspiring the medical community to push the boundaries of what is possible in spinal surgery. About Inspired Spine: Inspired Spine is a world-renowned medical center dedicated to pioneering innovative spinal surgical techniques. Inspired Spine is committed to delivering compassionate care and exceptional patient outcomes through cutting-edge procedures like the OLLIF technique. With a vision to revolutionize spinal care, Inspired Spine continues to push the boundaries of medical innovation in the field of minimally invasive spinal surgeries. For media inquiries or more information please contact: Mike Hanson [email protected]> View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inspired-spines-dr-abbasi-presents-ollif-to-seattle-science-foundation-301886192.html SOURCE Inspired Spine MONTREAL , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - IOU Financial Inc. ("IOU" or the "Company") (TSXV: IOU) confirms that it has received a non-binding, indicative unsolicited proposal (the "NMEF Proposal") from North Mill Equipment Finance LLC ("NMEF") to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of IOU ("Shares") at a price of C$0.28 in cash for each Share and takes note of the press release issued by NMEF on July 25, 2023 regarding the NMEF Proposal. The NMEF Proposal and subsequent announcement are merely an invitation for the Company to negotiate an arrangement agreement with NMEF. The NMEF Proposal is not a formal offer to IOU shareholders, and there is no assurance that NMEF will make a formal offer to any IOU shareholders. Shareholders currently do not need to take any action with respect to the NMEF Proposal or the announcement. The board of directors of IOU (the "Board") and its special committee are, together with their respective legal counsel and financial advisor, reviewing the NMEF Proposal to determine whether it constitutes a "Superior Proposal" as defined in the Arrangement Agreement entered into between IOU and 9494-3677 Quebec Inc. (the "Purchaser") on July 13, 2023 (the "Arrangement Agreement"), and have provided notice of such review to the Purchaser and its shareholders. The Board has not changed its unanimous approval and recommendation that IOU shareholders vote in favor of the plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement and, until such time as the Board makes its determination regarding whether the NMEF Proposal constitutes a "Superior Proposal", IOU will continue with the process set forth in the Arrangement Agreement, including holding a special meeting of IOU shareholders called for September 12, 2023 for the purpose of considering and voting on the Arrangement. A copy of the Arrangement Agreement is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. About IOU IOU Financial Inc. is a wholesale lender that provides quick and easy access to growth capital to small businesses through a network of preferred brokers across the US and Canada . Built on its proprietary IOU360 technology platform that connects underwriters, merchants and brokers in real time, IOU has become a trusted alternative to banks by originating over US$1 billion in loans to fund small business growth since 2009. IOU was named one of the 50 Best Places to Work in Fintech for 2022 by American Banker and trades on the TSX-V under the symbol "IOU", and on the US OTC markets as "IOUFF". To learn more about IOU's corporate history, financial products, or to join our broker network please visit www.IOUFinancial.com . Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, statements with respect to the completion of the Arrangement and the outcome of the NMEF Proposal, and other statements that are not material facts. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "believe", "estimate", "plan", "could", "should", "would", "outlook", "forecast", "anticipate", "foresee", "continue" or the negative of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Although the Company believes that the forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information and assumptions that are reasonable, these forward-looking statements are by their nature subject to a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's expectations and plans as set forth in such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the following factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control and the effects of which can be difficult to predict: (a) the possibility that the Arrangement will not be completed on the terms and conditions, or on the timing, currently contemplated, and that it may not be completed at all, due to a failure to obtain or satisfy, in a timely manner or otherwise, required shareholder, regulatory and court approvals and other conditions of closing necessary to complete the Arrangement or for other reasons; (b) the possibility of litigation relating to the Arrangement; and (c) the potential of a third party, including, but not limited to, NMEF, making a "Superior Proposal" to the Arrangement; and (d) other factors beyond the Company's control which could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its ability to complete the Arrangement. The Company cautions investors not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release when making an investment decision in their securities. Investors are encouraged to read the Company's filings available under its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release and IOU undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iou-receives-unsolicited-proposal-301886851.html SOURCE IOU Financial Inc. ZAPOPAN and JALISCO, Mexico , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Isadora is revolutionizing the way that people enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine with its new line of Barbacoa , Mole and Pork, bringing the taste of Mexico to the table in just two minutes. Isadora is a 100% natural line of Mexican cuisine imported directly from Mexico and packaged in flexible pouches using the latest technologies. The innovative packaging ensures shelf-stability without the need for refrigeration, making them perfect for on-the-go meals or quick and easy dinners. With their new line of ready-to-eat pouches, Isadora is adding happiness to summer celebrations by making it easy to enjoy traditional Mexican cuisine without spending hours in the kitchen. As Americans eagerly look forward to the back-to-school season, a time-consuming meal prep is no longer required, making way for more quality time with family and friends. Isadora's commitment to unparalleled flavors is evident in every aspect of the products, from the ingredients used to the cooking methods employed. Their website offers a variety of quick and easy recipes for tasty tacos, flautas, tostadas and more, all made with locally sourced ingredients and flavors to ensure a delicious and genuinely Mexican culinary experience. "We are bringing the passion, creativity, and zest for life reflected by our heritage to every meal," said Maria Jose Garza, Isadora Brand Manager at Verde Valle Food, Inc. "We're excited to offer Americans a convenient and delicious way to celebrate everyday life and enjoy authentic flavors from Mexico anytime, anywhere." Whether serving an appetizer of mini-Mole sliders or pairing Barbacoa enchiladas with Isadora's 1-minute heat and serve beans, a delicious authentic meal is now easier than ever. The complete Isadora line is currently available at select retailers throughout the United States , ready to enhance any gathering with the unmistakable flavors from Mexico. For more information on Isadora and its new line of ready-to-eat Mexican food pouches, please visit https://www.isadoramexicanfood.com For Media Inquiries, Partnership Opportunities, Expert Commentary or Product Samples please contact Aneisha McMillan [email protected] / 910.849.9003 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/isadora-brings-joy-to-cinco-de-mayo-and-beyond-with-authentic-mexican-cuisine-in-just-2-minutes-301886554.html SOURCE Isadora Lexus Commits Nearly Half a Million Dollars to Small, Minority-Owned Businesses PLANO, Texas , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lexus is hitting the road with Beyonce 's RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR alongside her BeyGOOD Foundation as the exclusive automotive partner of the U.S. leg of the tour. The leading luxury car brand will support the mega superstar's nonprofit with a donation to help small, minority-owned businesses. Lexus will join BeyGOOD Foundation and its Black Parade Route to help small business owners impacted by economic inequities through a variety of grant opportunities and/or sustainability support services. Lexus' donation expands the BeyGOOD commitment by providing an additional $10,000 each to two grant recipients in all tour cities. "Lexus is honored to be part of Beyonce 's RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR and contribute to BeyGOOD Foundation's mission focused on economic equity," said Mia Phillips , senior manager, advertising and media for Lexus. "We are confident this collaboration will make a significant impact on entrepreneurs in every city we touch." Beyonce Knowles-Carter's BeyGOOD Foundation launched the Black Parade Route in 2020 as an initiative to amplify and promote Black-owned and small businesses. Carter committed $1 million to support small businesses in 10 cities in the U.S. as well as regions in the United Kingdom . Throughout the RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR, the business impact luncheons will be held to celebrate grant recipients in Chicago , New York , Charlotte, N.C. , Atlanta , Los Angeles , Houston , and New Orleans . "Delighted that Lexus has committed support for small business owners nationally, through BeyGOOD's Black Parade Route," said Ivy McGregor , executive director at BeyGOOD Foundation. "This alignment supports entrepreneurs, families, and communities at large. We believe everyone has the right to economic equity." To pay homage to the tour sponsorship and extend the rich, futuristic feel of the tour elements, Lexus crafted a one-of-a-kind LC 500 that includes a premium chrome-wrapped exterior and jewel accents on the mirrors, headlamp surrounds, wheel center caps and license plate frame. The vehicle will accompany the RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR in various cities and will be showcased at an interactive in-venue Lexus display that allows concertgoers to engage with the brand via a photobooth that includes virtual iconography from the tour set and an entertaining karaoke booth. The RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR U.S. started in Philadelphia July 12 , and culminates in Kansas City, Mo. , Oct. 1 . About Lexus Lexus' passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its customers. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries. In the United States , Lexus vehicles are sold through 244 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With seven models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive , Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers eight F SPORT models, one F performance model and one F model. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers. www.facebook.com/lexus www.twitter.com/lexus www.youtube.com/LexusVehicles www.instagram.com/lexususa https://www.pinterest.com/lexususa Note to Editors: Lexus product information and images are available online via our news media website https://pressroom.lexus.com/MO About BeyGOOD Foundation Founded in 2013 by Beyonce , during the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, the BeyGOOD initiative has been a philanthropic initiative that is the extension of Beyonce 's charitable heart. Now a 501 (c)(3) Public Charity, BeyGOOD Foundation continues the mission of economic equity and education. To date BeyGOOD has been instrumental in programs that help in the areas of education, health, housing, water scarcity, disaster relief and more. The efforts are global, including South Africa , Haiti , Burundi , Australia , the United Kingdom , the Caribbean and throughout the United States . BeyGOOD Foundation is built on the belief that we are all in this together and each and every one of us can make a difference by giving back. Media Contacts: Brooke Sinek Lexus Communications [email protected] Hillary John PRecise Communications 301-237-1824 [email protected] Damali Hill PRecise Communications 281-947-2447 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lexus-heats-up-the-summer-in-partnership-with-beyonces-renaissance-world-tour-and-beygood-foundation-301886356.html SOURCE Lexus VERO BEACH, Fla. , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fifth consecutive year, Market Street Memory Care Residence Palm Coast celebrates their certification as a Great Place to Work under the operational management of Watercrest Senior Living. Great Place to Work certification is awarded by the Great Place to Work Institute and its senior care partner Activated Insights. Watercrest Senior Living Group opened Market Street Memory Care Palm Coast in the fall of 2018, earning the distinct achievement for every year since opening. "We are honoring our seniors and providing the best possible care thanks to the dedication and pride that our Market Street Palm Coast team demonstrates daily in being a valued member of the Watercrest family," says Danielle Potter , Executive Director of Market Street Palm Coast . "Our team members feel respected and supported which results in an excellent environment for the residents that we serve." Market Street Palm Coast is an award-winning senior living community in Palm Coast, Florida prestigiously recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a 2022-23 Best Memory Care Community. U.S. News awards the designation of Best Senior Living only to those communities that achieved the highest possible rating for Memory Care . Prior to hiring at Market Street Memory Care , candidates complete a thorough behavioral based interview process to discover how their values align with the Watercrest mission and vision. Selected candidates proudly display their core value on their name badge, honoring a call to serve seniors. Great workplaces are defined by employees' levels of trust, pride and camaraderie, but the best workplaces are characterized by factors such as executive team effectiveness, innovation experience, complexity, and financial sustainability, all which contribute to a great workplace for associates at every level within the organization. More than 60 elements of team members' experience on the job were evaluated, including the feeling of being welcomed as a new employee, the belief that their work makes a difference, and feeling their work has special meaning. Rankings are based on employees' experiences, regardless of title or position. Market Street Memory Care Residence Palm Coast offers world class care, multi-sensory programming, diverse culinary experiences, and unparalleled associate training honoring seniors with Alzheimer's and dementia. The community is conveniently located at 2 Corporate Drive in Palm Coast, Fla. For information, please contact the community at 386-388-7495. "Achieving the honor of Great Place to Work is a direct reflection of our Watercrest associate's feelings of respect and appreciation for their contributions to the organization and to the seniors that we serve," says Marc Vorkapich , principal and CEO of Watercrest Senior Living Group. "By cultivating our team members God-given talents and recognizing their unique contributions, Watercrest continues to uphold our reputation as one of the nation's premier senior living providers." The Watercrest Senior Living Group certification of Great Place to Work encompasses all of the senior living communities operating under the Watercrest Senior Living umbrella, including Market Street Memory Care Residences, Pelican Landing Assisted Living and Memory Care , and LifeBUILT Architecture. About Watercrest Senior Living Group Watercrest Senior Living Group was founded to honor our mothers and fathers, aspiring to become a beacon for quality in senior living by surpassing standards of care, service and associate training. Watercrest senior living communities are recognized for their luxury aesthetic, exceptional amenities, world-class care, and innovative memory care programming offering unparalleled service to seniors living with Alzheimer's and dementia. A six-time certified Great Place to Work, Watercrest specializes in the development and operations of assisted living and memory care communities and the growth of servant leaders. For information, visit www.watercrestseniorliving.com. About Activated Insights Activated Insights is the senior care affiliate of Great Place to Work, the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through its aging services certification program, Activated Insights helps Great Place to Work recognize outstanding workplace cultures in the aging services industry and produce the annual Fortune "Best Workplaces for Aging Services" as well as other Great Place to Work Best Workplaces lists for Millennials, Women, Diversity, Small & Medium Companies, and various regions. Through its employee engagement platform, Activated Insights helps clients create great workplaces that outpace peers on key business metrics like revenue growth, profitability, and retention. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/market-street-memory-care-residence-palm-coast-celebrates-five-years-as-a-certified-great-place-to-work-301886452.html SOURCE Watercrest Senior Living Group The experienced industry executive will lead development strategy for fast-growing Five Star brands Bio-One, 1-800-Packouts and 1-800-Textiles SPRINGVILLE, Utah , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Five Star Franchising , an innovative, growing platform of home service brands, named Mike Miller vice president of franchise development. Miller will help lead franchise development efforts for the Five Star brands Bio-One, 1-800-Packouts and 1-800-Textiles. "Mike has a proven track record of helping great franchise systems drive growth," said J. Andrew Mengason , chief growth officer for Five Star Franchising. "His passion and experience will help our brands expand in high-demand areas and empower success." Miller brings 15 years of franchise development management and leadership experience to his new role. During his career, he has specialized in new franchise placements, resales and conversions in the printing, marketing and graphics industry, with a focus on long, complex sales cycles. "The franchise industry is based on opportunity," Miller said. "I'm excited to join Five Star and its mission to empower and inspire franchise owners to succeed. It's a privilege to lead the teams at Bio-One, 1-800-Packouts and 1-800-Textiles. These fast-growing brands provide accessible, recession-resistant pathways to success for a wide range of potential owners and drive growth for the entire Five Star platform." As vice president of franchise development, Miller is responsible for developing and executing successful growth strategies for these three Five Star Franchising brands: Bio-One , the premier decontamination and biohazard cleanup service, delivers safe and comprehensive remediation services for a range of complex or sensitive situations with discretion, care, and compassion. Bio-One has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing and most successful franchises in the country by Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list and the Inc. 5000. , the premier decontamination and biohazard cleanup service, delivers safe and comprehensive remediation services for a range of complex or sensitive situations with discretion, care, and compassion. Bio-One has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing and most successful franchises in the country by Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list and the Inc. 5000. 1-800-Packouts , the leader in property contents restoration, delivers expert inventory management, packing, cleaning, and climate-controlled storage services for homes and businesses during stressful times. Trusted by property owners and the largest insurance carriers to secure and protect valuable possessions when disasters happen, 1-800-Packouts is expanding rapidly to meet the growing demand for contents restoration services across North America . , the leader in property contents restoration, delivers expert inventory management, packing, cleaning, and climate-controlled storage services for homes and businesses during stressful times. Trusted by property owners and the largest insurance carriers to secure and protect valuable possessions when disasters happen, 1-800-Packouts is expanding rapidly to meet the growing demand for contents restoration services across . 1-800-Textiles is a fast-emerging provider of rapid and reliable textile and soft goods restoration services for homes and businesses affected by fire, water damage, mold or other catastrophic events. With 24/7 rapid response, cutting-edge cleaning technologies, and private storage and delivery, 1-800-Textiles expedites the restoration process and reduces replacement costs while providing peace of mind for policyholders. 1-800-Textiles was named to Entrepreneur's 2023 list of the fastest-growing franchises in the United States and Canada . For more information about Five Star Franchising, visit http://fivestarfranchising.com/ . About Five Star Franchising Five Star Franchising is an innovative, growing platform of seven home service brands with more than 800 franchises collectively, across North America . The company empowers franchise partners' success with industry-leading tools and support while maximizing profitable growth for their franchise owners. Five Star Franchising's brands include Five Star Bath Solutions, Gotcha Covered, Bio-One, 1-800-Packouts, 1-800-Textiles, and Mosquito Shield as well as ProNexis, a leader in growth and customer experience solutions for home services franchises. Five Star's commitment to its core values Driven, Real, Innovative, Vital, and Enthusiastic (DRIVE) ensures its brands are top performers in technology, marketing, operations, local market success, and people. For more information, visit fivestarfranchising.com . MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Ripley Ripley PR (865) 977-1973 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mike-miller-joins-five-star-franchising-as-vice-president-of-franchise-development-301885556.html SOURCE Five Star Franchising WASHINGTON , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded a sole-source contract to Columbia University, New York , to operate the agency's Socioeconomic Data and Application Center's (SEDAC) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC). The cost-no-fee contract supports the integration of socioeconomic and Earth science data used for Earth science research as well as the production of data products and applications used by the broader science community and educational institutions. The basic period of performance is scheduled to begin Aug. 1, 2023 , with four option periods. The total potential contract value is nearly $30 million if all options are exercised. SEDAC synthesizes Earth science and socioeconomic data and information in ways useful to a wide range of decision-makers and other applied users, providing an "information gateway" between the socioeconomic and Earth science data and information domains. SEDAC has extensive holdings related to population, sustainability, and geospatial data and provides access to many multilateral environmental agreements. For information about NASA and agency programs, visit: https://www.nasa.gov View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-awards-contract-for-earth-science-data-collection-and-distribution-301886745.html SOURCE NASA An innovative service that enables Carriers to maximize market exposure to Shippers and expand their business opportunities. HOUSTON , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PCS Software, an AI-Powered, Transportation Management Platform for Shippers and Carriers, announced the launch of FreightNet, a ground-breaking network designed to foster direct connections between big-brand Shippers and Carriers. FreightNet promotes sustainable logistics practices by improving transparency between the Carrier and the Shipper. FreightNet, a dynamic and free-to-use network, allows high-quality carriers to register and share their preferred lanes and assets. Carriers that meet PCS quality standards will be visible to PCS Software's Shipper clientele. This enables Carriers to maximize exposure with Shippers, connect with leading brands, and build more profitable relationships. PCS Shipper customers can leverage the ability to connect with quality Carriers within their TMS or register their private fleet to gain visibility into backhaul opportunities and reduce empty miles. Direct access to quality Carriers eliminates confusion and enables more effective partnerships. FreightNet promotes sustainable logistics practices by improving transparency between the Carrier and the Shipper. "I am excited to introduce FreightNet to the market, as it represents a significant step forward in our commitment to enhancing the freight industry. With FreightNet, we are providing quality carriers and shippers with a valuable, free tool that will improve their capabilities, streamline operations, and foster stronger relationships. We aim to facilitate faster and more efficient communications and connections within the industry. FreightNet will bring positive changes, enabling carriers and shippers to unlock new opportunities and drive business growth. This is just another example of our innovative journey, and we look forward to delivering more advanced solutions to shape the future of freight." - Chris Poelma , CEO of PCS Software. FreightNet registration is now open to all carriers and private fleets that meet our PCS Quality Standards. Join us today by signing up at www.freightnet.ai. About PCS Software PCS Software is an AI transportation management platform leader driving disruptive innovation for mid to large-sized enterprise shippers, carriers, and brokers in the United States and Canada . Cloud-based, API-integrated, PCS Software automates the entire transportation logistics operation via a single, comprehensive solution. Accessible via the web or the companion mobile app, the PCS platform delivers powerful functionality to manage rate and route optimization, mode selection, dispatch/tendering, carrier and fleet management, safety & compliance, freight yard management, settlement/accounting, and more. For more information, please visit PCS Software at www.pcssoftware.com. Media Contact Bess Lauer Sr. Director, Marketing [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pcs-software-launches-freightnet-a-free-network-designed-to-connect-carriers-and-shippers-301886493.html SOURCE PCS Software KYIV, Ukraine , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 25 th, the President of Ukraine officially responded to a petition signed by over 25 thousand Ukrainians, calling for a review of the decision to impose sanctions on Parimatch. In a notable move, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not only addressed the petition itself but also set out a practical approach to the next steps. He instructed the Prime Minister of Ukraine , Denys Shmyhal, along with the Interdepartmental Working Group on Implementation of the State Sanctions Policy, to conduct an independent assessment re-evaluating the reasons behind the imposition of Ukrainian sanctions regime on Parimatch companies. Once again, the President demonstrated his genuine concern for Ukrainian businesses amidst the ongoing war, highlighting the vital role of the business community in contributing taxes, generating employment, and fostering an orderly market often in a challenging environment. This decision also publicly reaffirms the President's stated commitment to listen to the voice of the people, and recognising the petition as a democratic means of actively engaging with the government's decisions. The public response to the petition and the initiated additional review is an unprecedented step that clearly shows strength and courage behind the President's commitment to transparent and fair decisions. These qualities are inherent in a democratic country where the rule of law, responsibility and objectivity prevail. At the same time, this is a powerful signal to the market and the European community that sanctions are a working tool for combating Russian aggression. Once again, we emphasize our commitment to fully cooperate with the authorities and provide all the information required by the resulting investigation. Parimatch trusts that the review will result in an eventual cancellation of the decision on sanctions. We have no doubt that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine will react and take all necessary measures to establish justice. We thank all concerned Ukrainians who joined this petition for their trust and continue to defend the truth. We stand with Ukraine . For more information about the petition, please visit https://justice4business.com/en/home-page/ View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/president-of-ukraine-instructs-the-government-to-review-the-reasons-behind-the-sanctions-against-parimatch-in-response-to-the-public-petition-301886389.html SOURCE Parimatch California , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Revolution Medical, a trailblazer in aesthetic solutions, proudly introduces Pure Plasma, a transformative approach to eye rejuvenation that defies convention. Offering a revolutionary approach to rejuvenating both upper and lower eyelids, Pure Plasma presents a game-changing solution for individuals seeking remarkable results. Eyes are the captivating focal point of our expression, yet they can also reveal signs of aging like sagging, fine lines, wrinkles, and puffiness. Pure Plasma taps into the power of advanced plasma technology, activating the skin's natural rejuvenation process with finesse around the eyes. Say goodbye to discomfortPure Plasma ensures a non-invasive experience, empowering individuals to restore the natural beauty of their eyes effortlessly. The unique advantage of Pure Plasma lies in its non-invasive nature, eliminating the need for eye shields during the treatment. This ensures a comfortable and hassle-free experience for individuals seeking to restore a more youthful and refreshed appearance to their eyelids. "At Revolution Medical, we shatter boundaries and challenge conventions, which is why we proudly recommend Pure Plasma," says President of Revolution Medical, Jeff Nourse. "Our mission is to provide individuals with innovative and effective solutions that enhance their natural beauty. Pure Plasma's ability to target and revitalize the upper and lower eyelids opens new possibilities for non-invasive eyelid rejuvenation." Pure Plasma stands at the forefront of eye rejuvenation, offering a safe and convenient alternative for individuals seeking to improve the appearance of the eyes. Discover the limitless possibilities of Pure Plasma and experience its extraordinary eye rejuvenation potential. Join the revolution by visiting Revolution Medical's website at www.pureplasma.com About Revolution Medical: Revolution Medical is a California -based company at the forefront of innovative aesthetic solutions. Driven by a relentless pursuit of progress, Revolution Medical pioneers' cutting-edge technologies that enhance natural beauty and elevate overall well-being. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pure-plasma-a-bold-breakthrough-in-eye-rejuvenation-without-injections-or-lasers-301871353.html SOURCE Pure Plasma The death toll from the shelling of Kostyantynivka in Donetsk Oblast by Russian troops has risen to three. A girl born in 2011, who was injured during an enemy attack, died in hospital. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration Pavlo Kyrylenko (to watch the video, scroll to the bottom of the page). Thus, two children and one adult have already died as a result of the shelling. "Today at 19:25 we received a terrible news: a girl born in 2011 unfortunately died after the surgeries and all resuscitation measures. So three people died, two of them children: a 10-year-old boy died on the spot yesterday and a girl born in 2011 died an hour ago. A 28-year-old man also died on the spot yesterday," Kyrylenko said. The rest of the victims, including three children, are being treated and their lives are not in danger. "The adults have also been provided with assistance and are undergoing inpatient treatment. The mother of the deceased boy's condition has deteriorated, she has been evacuated to a neighbouring region, and all necessary assistance is being provided to ensure that her life and health are not threatened," the head of the Regional Military Administration added. ADVERTISIMENT Kyrylenko said that the cluster munition launched by the invaders from the Smerch MLRS exploded right over a pond where local residents were resting at the time. As OBOZREVATEL previously reported: - On the evening of Monday, 24 July, Russian occupation forces shelled the town of Kostyantynivka, Donetsk region. A 10-year-old boy was killed in the attack, and later it became known that the number of victims had increased to 2 people. - The enemy struck with Smerch multiple rocket launchers using cluster munitions. Such weapons are used to destroy enemy manpower. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available in our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! PENANG, Malaysia , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rinchem is pleased to announce the opening of its fifth international hazardous materials (hazmat) warehouse in Penang, Malaysia . This new facility further strengthens Rinchem's commitment to supporting the growing needs of the chemical and semiconductor manufacturers in the Asia Pacific region. Datuk Wira Arham Abdul Rahman , Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), applauds Rinchem's unwavering commitment in solidifying their footprint to meet the growing demands of the semiconductor industry. "We are excited to see Rinchem expand their global footprint to Malaysia with the opening of their fifth hazmat warehouse. The warehouse will create a new opportunity within the supply chain of the electrical and electronics (E&E) industry, especially in high-end wafer fabrication manufacturing. Malaysia is seen as a key hub for E&E manufacturing, and the demand for hazardous materials in this industry is growing. For the nation to stay relevant, we will need to build a collaborative ecosystem for large companies and startups alike, to develop and adopt innovative supply chain solutions. MIDA is confident that Rinchem's presence in Malaysia will help the country become a leading hub for the storage and distribution of hazardous materials in the region." The state-of-the-art warehouse provides 3,050 pallet positions and offers comprehensive storage capabilities for a wide range of hazardous materials. Rinchem's expertise in managing complex supply chain ensures that the facility is optimized for both safety and efficiency and adheres to stringent global standards. Matt Jensen , Rinchem's VP of Global Warehousing commented on the significance of this new facility. "As the semiconductor industry continues to experience exponential growth in response to global governmental incentives, Rinchem is uniquely positioned to support the expansion of chemical and semiconductor manufacturers. With nearly 5 decades of experience in managing the most complex supply chains in the world, every warehouse we build is optimized for safety and efficiency in accordance with our global standards." The Malaysia warehouse is an authorized public bonded warehouse which offers cleanroom services and is equipped to handle various chemical types, including base, acid, flammable, oxidizer, and non-regulated. The facility provides a range of temperatures for sensitive materials: Ambient Section (non-regulated & flammable): 23 3C Cold Room : : Freezer Room : Designed with meticulous attention to detail, the Penang warehouse offers segregated storage areas for different chemical types. The breakdown of the pallet positions is as follows: Ambient Section: 2,000 Flammable Room : 600 : 600 Cold Room : 100 : 100 Freezer Room : 30 pallets The Penang hazmat warehouse marks Rinchem's first foray into Malaysia , adding to their existing international warehouse locations in Taiwan , South Korea , Ireland , and Israel . The strategic expansion allows Rinchem to further strengthen its presence in the Asia Pacific region, providing localized and efficient supply chain solutions to meet the evolving needs of its customers. About Rinchem: Rinchem is the largest network of chemical and gas distribution centers globally with over 4 billion pounds of chemicals and gases safely handled annually. They set the standard in creating and managing safe and efficient supply chains for high purity, pre-packaged chemicals, and gases. Rinchem applies four decades of expertise, industry thought leadership, and logistics transparency to provide the most reliable, efficient, and cost-effective solutions for its customers. The primary industries Rinchem serves include pharmaceutical, biotech, semiconductor, and aerospace. For more information, visit Rinchem.com and follow Rinchem on Facebook or LinkedIn . MEDIA CONTACT: Drew Peterson Rinchem Director of Marketing & Customer Experience (505) 345-3655 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rinchem-announces-opening-of-their-fifth-international-hazmat-warehouse-in-penang-malaysia-301884444.html SOURCE Rinchem DENVER , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Medicine Man Technologies, Inc., operating as Schwazze, (OTCQX: SHWZ) (NEO: SHWZ) ("Schwazze" or the "Company"), will host a conference call on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial and operational results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023 . The Company's results will be reported in a press release prior to the call. The Schwazze management team will host the conference call, followed by a question-and-answer period. Interested parties may submit questions to the Company prior to the call by emailing [email protected]. Date: Wednesday, August 9, 2023 Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time Toll-free dial-in: (888) 664-6383 International dial-in: (416) 764-8650 Conference ID: 70252888 Webcast: SHWZ Q2 2023 Earnings Call The conference call will also be broadcast live and available for replay on the investor relations section of the Company's website at https://ir.schwazze.com. Toll-free replay number: (888) 390-0541 International replay number: (416) 764-8677 Replay ID: 252888 If you have any difficulty registering or connecting with the conference call, please contact Elevate IR at (720) 330-2829. About Schwazze Schwazze (OTCQX: SHWZ) (NEO: SHWZ) is building a premier vertically integrated regional cannabis company with assets in Colorado and New Mexico and will continue to take its operating system to other states where it can develop a differentiated regional leadership position. Schwazze is the parent company of a portfolio of leading cannabis businesses and brands spanning seed to sale. The Company is committed to unlocking the full potential of the cannabis plant to improve the human condition. Schwazze is anchored by a high-performance culture that combines customer-centric thinking and data science to test, measure, and drive decisions and outcomes. The Company's leadership team has deep expertise in retailing, wholesaling, and building consumer brands at Fortune 500 companies as well as in the cannabis sector. Schwazze is passionate about making a difference in our communities, promoting diversity and inclusion, and doing our part to incorporate climate-conscious best practices. Medicine Man Technologies, Inc. was Schwazze's former operating trade name. The corporate entity continues to be named Medicine Man Technologies, Inc. Schwazze derives its name from the pruning technique of a cannabis plant to enhance plant structure and promote healthy growth. To learn more about Schwazze, visit www.schwazze.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/schwazze-sets-second-quarter-2023-conference-call-for-august-9-2023-at-500-pm-et-301885319.html SOURCE Medicine Man Technologies, Inc. ROCHESTER, N.Y. , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seagram's Escapes recently added five new tropical flavors within the Spiked portfolio. Flavor is the #1 driver of purchase and Seagram's Escapes is the brand best known for its flavor varieties as well as delicious-tasting flavors. Seagram's Escapes Spiked, with a higher 8% ALC./VOL., introduced Pineapple Cherry Lime , Blood Orange Peach, and Passionfruit Margarita along with two flavors that will be part of its rotating Tiki Series . The Tiki Series includes Tiki Punch available now through August, then switches to a new Mango Mai Tai flavor available from September to February 2024 . These newest innovations will leverage the fruit combination flavor trend that contributed to 15% of high ALC./VOL. TFMB dollars in 2022. Research indicates that Seagram's is the brand best known for flavor and variety, and flavor is the #1 driver of traditional FMB purchases. "Boasting rich, tropical flavors, the refreshed Spiked line is perfect for consumers looking to turn up any occasion with higher alcohol content," according to Erin Dings, Seagram's Escapes Brand Manager. "We are confident that this delicious lineup will appeal to even more consumers during summer drinking occasions." Also, new for 2023, the Spiked line can be found in bold, new packaging refreshed to a more premium design with universal appeal. Seagram's Escapes Spiked can be found in 23.5 oz and 16 oz cans at retailers and convenience stores throughout the U.S. Jamaican Me Happy and the new Pineapple Cherry Lime are also available now in the new, trial 7.5 oz can for around a dollar. About Seagram's Escapes : Seagram's Escapes is a premium malt beverage with natural flavors and certified colors. Introduced in 1985 and based out of Rochester, New York , Seagram's Escapes is currently the #5 traditional flavored malt beverage brand in the United States . Seagram's Escapes Spiked is a higher ALC./VOL. line of Seagram's Escapes premium malt beverages. Offering the same delicious flavor expected by the brand, Seagram's Escapes Spiked is available nationally in a variety of flavors including Jamaican Me Happy, Pineapple Cherry Lime , Tiki Punch , Blood Orange Peach, and Passionfruit Margarita. Stay connected with Seagram's Escapes on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook & Pinterest. Always Drink Responsibly. 2023 The Seagram Beverage Company, Rochester, NY www.seagramsescapes.com. Flavored Malt Beverage. The Seagram Beverage Company is owned by FIFCO USA. For more information, please go to: https://www.fifcousa.com. Media Contact Carla M. Mancuso 585-317-9268 carla.mancuso@fifco.com Nielsen Turf Analysis, Nov '17, P3M Alcohol Buyers n=1800; Ipsos FMB Brand Health Tracker, W3 2022, n=989 P6M FMB Consumers IRI, Unify, TTL US MULO, Traditional FMB, High ABV (7.0-9.9%), Dollars, Dollar % CYA, CY2022 WE 01.01.23 Ipsos FMB Brand Health Tracker, W3 2022, P6M FMB Consumers, Total US, n = 1001; Nielsen BASES Quick Predict, April 2022 , Total US, Alcohol Buyers, n=304, Reasons for Trying, Attitude Statements. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seagrams-escapes-spiked-introduces-rotating-tiki-series-and-new-tropical-flavors-301886639.html SOURCE Seagrams Escapes LOS ALAMOS, N.M. , July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States Forest Service finally admitted that its own prescribed burn started the 2022 wildfire that consumed more than 60 square miles. The Cerro Pelado Fire came within just a few miles of Los Alamos , as well as a U.S. national security lab before burning out. It threatened schools and caused entire communities to be evacuated. "The people of New Mexico are extremely disappointed, but not at all shocked at this acknowledgement," said Brian S. Colon, Managing Partner of Singleton Schreiber's New Mexico offices and former State Auditor. "This has been an open secret essentially since these fires began. What is more shocking is that it took this federal agency almost 18 months to admit the truth. What needs to happen now is a complete change in behavior, an openness with local fire officials on future attempts to start prescribed burns, and greater transparency overall." This was not the first prescribed burn to go out of control in New Mexico's history. In 2000, the Cerro Grande Fire swept through the Los Alamos area, destroying more than 230 homes and 45 structures at the local laboratory. In 2011, a similar event occurred, damaging the same area. "Residents, government officials and homeowners are fearful that these prescribed burns are nothing more than a recipe for disaster," Mr. Colon added. "Climate change has altered the nature of these burns and the landscape in general. The U.S. Forest Service must acknowledge this as well and act accordingly." Currently, Singleton Schreiber represents thousands of individuals impacted by the Calf Canyon /Hermits Peak Fire that burned out of control at a similar time. Homeowners and those impacted by the Hermit's Peak, Cerro Pelado and other fires continue to contact the firm for help in dealing with the fallout. "Our firm is here to help those who have been impacted, we are often their last line of defense after they've lost homes, lost loved one or been injured," said Mr. Colon. About Singleton Schreiber With over 200 employees and offices throughout the western United States (including 7 in New Mexico ), Singleton Schreiber has represented more than 12,000 victims of utility fires and has recovered approximately $2 billion in settlements and verdicts for its clients. The firm currently represents thousands of victims of the numerous fires in California , New Mexico , and Oregon . The firm's dedication to obtaining justice for those impacted by toxic conditions and environmental hazards sets it apart from the competition. The firm is also a premier personal injury firm, obtaining top results for clients, including more than $100 million in verdicts in 2022. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/singleton-schreiber-us-forest-service-admits-responsibility-for-cerro-pelado-fire-301885763.html SMITHFIELD, Va. , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Smithfield Foods has built a new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system to replace a majority of the existing system at its pork-processing complex in Sioux Falls, South Dakota . The new $45 million wastewater system adds additional treatment processes and capabilities to meet new and more stringent permit limits on nitrates and ammonia. The upgraded system biologically converts ammonia-nitrogen in wastewater to nitrate-nitrogen and further removes nitrate-nitrogen from wastewater, a treatment process known as denitrification that is strongly preferred by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency due to its reduced impact on aquatic life. The new denitrification process will reduce Smithfield's overall nitrogen load to the Big Sioux River by two-thirds or more. "This new state-of-the-art wastewater project reinforces Smithfield's proactive approach to implementing sustainable systems that improve environmental quality and benefit the community," said Stewart Leeth , chief sustainability officer for Smithfield . "The investment we have made in Sioux Falls will significantly reduce nutrient discharges and improve water quality in the Big Sioux River basin." Smithfield had previously made significant improvements to its wastewater system at Sioux Falls over the past several years at a cost of $10 million . Smithfield has been a leader in sustainability programs for more than two decades and has made industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in its U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30% across its entire U.S. value chain by 2030. More information about Smithfield's sustainability programs is available in its 2022 Sustainability Impact Report, available here. About Smithfield Foods, Inc. Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is a U.S. food company that employs nearly 60,000 people in seven countries and partners with thousands of American farmers. As one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies, we are dedicated to producing "Good food. Responsibly." to feed a growing world population. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including our industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in our U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30% across our entire U.S. value chain by 2030. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to food banks, disaster relief efforts and community outreach programs in all 50 U.S. states. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield, Eckrich, Gwaltney and Nathan's Famous, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/smithfield-foods-new-45-million-wastewater-system-improving-water-quality-in-big-sioux-river-301886333.html SOURCE Smithfield Foods, Inc. WELLESLEY, Mass. , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun Life U.S. , the largest independent medical stop-loss provider in the country, has named OptiMed Health Partners as a preferred partner to further the company's goal of improving healthcare access, while also managing rising healthcare costs. The new program through OptiMed will identify opportunities to administer specialty drugs to members who need them - in a convenient setting, such as the member's home or an infusion center - working in concert with the member's physician and care team. This type of highly coordinated and personalized delivery system reduces the risk of infections and complications for patients while decreasing the treatment costs for high-cost specialty drugs. The new solution, Medical RX Management powered by OptiMed, is an extension of Sun Life's Clinical 360 program, which combines innovative data analytics with superior clinical expertise to identify cost savings and ways to optimize patient care and outcomes. At no additional cost to the client, OptiMed's vast experience in effectively managing specialty medication trends will help those who self-fund their health plans better manage their healthcare costs. According to KFF, an independent non-profit organization focused on national health issues, 65% of covered workers in the U.S. are in a self-funded plan, where employers pay their own medical claims. "Expensive specialty drugs are major contributors to escalating healthcare costs which can significantly impact self-funded plans," said Jennifer Collier , president of Health and Risk Solutions, Sun Life U.S. "Through this collaboration with OptiMed, we will tackle two pressing issues in the healthcare ecosystem access and cost. Medical Rx Management powered by OptiMed will provide more ways for members to receive vital healthcare while reducing unnecessary costs for our clients." "As therapeutic advancements continue, it is essential for plans to lean on industry experts and partnerships such as this, to promote sustainability and high levels of clinical support to members when they need it most" said Rusti Greis , Vice President, Business Development for OptiMed Health Partners. "Our passion to reimagine healthcare solutions that deliver unsurpassed value, leverages technology and concierge services; creating an exceptional patient experience and driving positive industry change." OptiMed provides specialty infusion medications and therapy management for many conditions including a large number of medications listed in Sun Life's annual High-cost claims and injectable drug trends analysis of medical stop-loss claims. OptiMed's program has been reviewed and accredited by two nationally recognized accreditation bodies focused on patient care and safety. Sun Life manages high-dollar medical claims for more than 2,800 self-funded employers covering more than 9 million people. Utilizing its extensive medical claims database, Sun Life provides expert insights each year on clinical conditions and medical trends that drive high-cost claims as well as how people utilize their healthcare. Sun Life is the largest independent stop-loss provider in the U.S. according to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. An independent stop-loss provider does not sell medical claim administration services. About Sun Life Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada , the United States , the United Kingdom , Ireland , Hong Kong , the Philippines , Japan , Indonesia , India , China , Australia , Singapore , Vietnam , Malaysia and Bermuda . As of March 31, 2023 , Sun Life had total assets under management of C$1.36 trillion . For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. Sun Life U.S. is one of the largest providers of employee and government benefits, helping more than 50 million Americans access the healthcare and coverage they need. Through employers, industry partners and government programs, Sun Life offers a portfolio of benefits and services, including dental, vision, disability, absence management, life, supplemental health, medical stop-loss insurance, and healthcare navigation. Sun Life U.S. and affiliated companies in asset management employ approximately 8,000 people in the U.S. Group insurance policies are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada ( Wellesley Hills, Mass. ), except in New York, where policies are issued by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company ( U.S. ) ( Lansing, Mich. ). For more information visit our website and newsroom. About OptiMed OptiMed Health Partners, headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan , is an independently owned and operated national healthcare organization, leading the charge in the infusion and specialty space. For more than 30 years, OptiMed has leveraged personalized attention to detail to deliver customized solutions that optimize patient outcomes while partnering with other healthcare organizations to usher in a new standard of excellence. To learn more about OptiMed's innovative and personalized care, visit www.optimedhp.com or email [email protected]. Media contacts: Anjie Coplin Sun Life U.S. 469-938-1050 [email protected] Jackie O'Dell OptiMed Health Partners 269-250-8010 [email protected] Connect with Sun Life U.S. https://www.facebook.com/SLFUnitedStates https://www.linkedin.com/company/sun-life-financial https://twitter.com/SunLifeUS View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sun-life-launches-program-with-optimed-health-partners-to-make-specialty-drugs-more-accessible-and-affordable-301886468.html First strategic movement within the European market Taylor Farms is North America's leading grower and producer of salads, vegetables and healthy fresh foods. Foodiverse is a leading European operator with expertise in growing and preparing fresh-cut salads, fresh vegetables and healthy foods. The closing of the investment transaction will take place in the form of a capital increase in the upcoming weeks. Taylor Farms' entry as Foodiverse's shareholder will enable the collaboration and exchange of best practices with the commitment to quality, innovation, sustainability, and food safety. SALINAS, Calif , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Foodiverse and Taylor Farms, leading growers and producers of fresh-cut salads, vegetables and healthy fresh foods in Europe and North America respectively, are pleased to announce the agreement to welcome the US company as a new shareholder in the Spanish group. Both companies will become partners through a capital increase that will provide Taylor Farms a significant share in Foodiverse's capital. This transaction, which is expected to close in the upcoming weeks, is currently awaiting ratification by the Spanish National Markets and Competition Commission and is subject to necessary bank regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Taylor Farms' entry as Foodiverse's shareholder will enable the collaboration and creation of synergies as well as the exchange of best practices with both market leaders' commitment to sustainability, quality, innovation, and food safety. Moreover, it will promote their continuous growth and the development of new, innovative, fresh, and healthy products, tailored to meet the demands of consumers. "We are enthused to have Taylor Farms as a strategic partner and proud that they have chosen our company for this purpose," stated Jesus Gomez, CEO of Foodiverse. "This operation will strengthen our position for sustainable growth, keeping our focus on shared values such as the highest quality and freshness of our products, innovation, and sustainability." "We are excited to collaborate with Foodiverse and convinced we found the right partner," said Bruce Taylor , Founder and CEO of Taylor Farms. "Our collective mission continues to be increasing consumption of healthy fresh foods across the globe." Foodiverse's multinational operations in Spain , Germany , Switzerland , and Italy will continue to be managed by the Foodiverse team and its President Joaquin Ballester and CEO Jesus Gomez . About Taylor Farms Taylor Farms is the leading North American producer of salads and healthy fresh foods with production facilities across the U.S. , Canada , and Mexico . Taylor Farms is grounded in a commitment to quality, assured supply, innovation, sustainability, and food safety. Taylor Farms is family owned and based in "The Salad Bowl of the World", Salinas, California . For more information, delicious recipes, and more, visit www.taylorfarms.com and follow Taylor Farms on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. About Foodiverse Foodiverse is much more than a food company. It is a multinational group, with expertise in preparing fresh and healthy foods, created to revolutionize the market through a wide range of innovative, balanced, and trendy products, all designed and prepared to be enjoyed any time of the day, anywhere you go. Its activity in the food sector covers the entire production chain, from the seed itself all the way to consumers' tables. In its vision to lead the healthy revolution, over the last few years the group has incorporated leading companies in their respective markets such as the Spanish companies Agromediterranea (2014) and Comfresh (2021), Thurlander Salate (2018) in Germany , Josef Muller Gemuse (2019) in Switzerland , and Novanatura (2019) and Ortoverde (2021) in Italy . Foodiverse currently boasts 9 production plants in Europe , a distributor and marketer in Spain , and 17 farms throughout Spain and Italy where the company manages over 2,800 hectares every year and provides employment for more than 2,500 people. Sales revenue in 2021 amounted to 327 million euros . The group's product range consists of vegetables straight from the fields and fresh-cut produce, including salads and ready-to-eat fresh fruit, ready-to-cook or heat vegetables and dishes, as well as vegetable drinks and snacks, which are distributed to more than 400 clients in 22 countries. It has its own brands: Freshkia and Freshkia BIO, Sun&Vegs and BIO Sun&Vegs. Find out more: www.foodiverse.com/en View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/taylor-farms-invests-in-spain-based-company-foodiverse-301883512.html SOURCE Taylor Farms CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- (OTC: PTBS) Representatives of BCT-Bank of Charles Town joined with representatives of the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival today for a special announcement that will continue to provide a major boost to the annual Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival in their 44th year. "Today marks an unprecedented occasion in the history of the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival," according to festival board president Susan Snowden . "In 2019, BCT-Bank of Charles Town stepped up to provide a major financial boost to our festival with their commitment to join our organization in promoting our rich agricultural history by becoming our presenting sponsor. This was the first time the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival partnered with a presenting sponsor. BCT's roots are tied to orchardists in the Eastern Panhandle , being founded by orchardists, farmers, and local business owners in 1871. The Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival celebrates the role that apple orchards play in our past, present, and future. We believed that combining these two powerful groups whose genesis is similar would equate to success - it has and will continue to do so!" Snowden continued by explaining the renewed partnership, "Because of BCT's unwavering commitment over the past 4 years of both financial and people resources providing hundreds of BCT volunteers each year at festival events, the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival will offer them the recognition as the "Presenting Sponsor" of our entire festival." BCT President & CEO Alice Frazier shared that she and their Board of Directors have been pleased with this partnership and the opportunity to increase the bank's involvement in an event that has such a rich heritage. Frazier stated, "We shared this at our initial press conference four years ago but it bears repeating. 38 far-sighted local orchardists, farmers, and business leaders saw the need for a bank to serve as a stabilizing influence on the Eastern Panhandle . Bank of Charles Town was formed by neighbors helping neighbors. Today, 152 years later, BCT has grown to nearly $800 million in assets and employs over 130 associates in the tri-state region. After serving as Presenting Sponsor the past four festivals, we are thrilled with the opportunity the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival gave us to renew our partnership to provide continued financial and people support." Snowden said that the festival is blessed to not only have BCT continue as the Presenting Sponsor but many other businesses and individuals in the community who have been Major Event Sponsors for the festival weekend. "Without all of these faithful businesses' and individuals' continued support, the festival would not have been able to provide this long-standing tradition in our community. The board looks forward to celebrating the 44th anniversary of the festival this fall." Brittany Lynn Cenate , daughter of Michael and Tracey Cenate of Charles Town , who will be crowned Queen Pomona XLIV at the opening of the 44th festival in October, was at the event today, as well as our reigning Queen Pomona Olivia Travis of Martinsburg . Cenate will reign over the annual Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival October 19-22, 2023 . Board members of both BCT and the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival were also in attendance for the announcement. The announcement was held at BCT's main office in Charles Town . About BCT Founded in 1871, BCT-Bank of Charles Town , also known as The Community's Bank, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Potomac Bancshares, Inc. (OTC: PTBS). With approximately $792 million in assets as of March 31, 2023 , the Company conducts operations through its main office, an additional eight branch offices, and two loan production offices. BCT's offices are located in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties (WV), Washington County (MD), and Loudoun and Stafford Counties (VA). The Bank provides various banking products and services including free access to over 55,000 ATMs through the Allpoint network plus online and mobile banking for individuals, businesses, and local governments. The Bank also offers commercial lines and term loans, residential and commercial construction, commercial real estate loans and agricultural loans. The Residential Lending division offers secondary market and portfolio mortgage loans, one-time close construction to perm loans, as well as home equity loans and lines of credit. For over 65 years, BCT Wealth Advisors has provided financial management, investment, trust, and estate services to its clients. In 2023, American Banker selected BCT as a "Top 200 Community Bank," an annual listing of the best performing banks in the United States with assets under $2 billion . BCT was voted "Best of the Best" winner in the 2022 Journal-News Readers' Choice Awards in three categories: Bank, Loan Services, and Financial Planning. In 2019, 2020, and 2021 the Bank was named a "Best Bank To Work For" by American Banker. The Company's shares are quoted on the OTC Pink Sheet marketplace under the symbol "PTBS." For more information about Potomac Bancshares, Inc., and the Bank, please visit our website at www.mybct.bank. About MSAHF It was 1979 in Martinsburg, West Virginia , Mr. Charles Thornton , Jr. who at the time, was manager of WEPM Radio Station , was trying to think of a community activity for everyone. Gas prices were high and the economy was falling. He did some research and found there were Apple Carnivals that dated back to 1896, 1909, and 1935 held in Downtown Martinsburg, West Virginia celebrating the harvesting of the apples. They were interrupted by WWI, WWII, and the depression. Mr. Thornton contacted local businesses and social organizations asking for volunteers to help revive the Apple Harvest Festival. Volunteers met with Mr. Thornton and The Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival Committee was formed. By-Laws of the MSAHF, Inc. are dated October 25, 1979 . In the By-Laws, Article I, Section 3 it states: "The fundamental purpose of said corporation shall be to promote the apple industry in the state of West Virginia , and specifically in Berkeley County, West Virginia , and associated and related industries, and the celebration of the harvest of the apples throughout the Mountain State and through efforts to generally promote the welfare in community betterment by various acts as deemed appropriate by said corporation in and for the community, in the city of Martinsburg , the county of Berkeley , and the state of West Virginia. And further, to engage in any acts for which a corporation may be organized, including the possession of real estate and all acts connected therewith, as may be organized under the laws for such a non-profit corporation, in the state of West Virginia , and under the Code of the State of West Virginia ; and to do any lawful acts that will be deemed in the best interests of the purposes of this corporation." In Article I, Section 4, it states: "The objectives of this organization shall include by not be limited to the followings: The sponsoring and promotion of an annual festival to celebrate the apple harvest in West Virginia , and particularly in the Eastern Panhandle of the State of West Virginia ." The festival is always held the third weekend in October. The name Queen Pomona was chosen for the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival Queen because Pomona was the uniquely Roman goddess of fruit trees and orchards. Pomona watches over and protects fruit trees and cares for the cultivation, and Pomona comes from the Latin word pomum, "fruit" specifically orchard fruit. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-mountain-state-apple-harvest-festival-msahf-announces-continued-partnership-with-bct-bank-of-charles-town-301886644.html SOURCE BCT - Bank of Charles Town Researchers and data scientists from nine countries, on four continents, now collaborating on research partnership led by Seattle Children's Hospital and Microsoft's AI for Good program, coordinated by The Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Foundation REDMOND, Wash. , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Foundation announced that an initiative to solve a several thousand-year-old medical mystery what causes sudden or unexplained infant deaths has grown by a factor of more than ten in just six short years. The collaboration, which quickly led to an inaugural research summit in 2017, brings together the world's leading researchers on SIDS and infant deaths with private-sector data scientists, who together mix data science, AI, and world-class medical research techniques. Their goal is to share insights, inspire new hypotheses, and find the elusive causes of Sudden or Unexplained Infant Deaths (SUID), which includes Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the leading cause of death of infants one month to one year old in the US and other developed countries. "When we initially convened a summit six years ago, hosting a group of ten data scientists and medical researchers, I never imagined that more than 140 experts from around the world would ultimately come together to collaborate on an issue that every new parent worries about, and far too many have had to deal with personally," said John Kahan , the former Microsoft Vice President and Chief Data Analytics Officer who co-founded The Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Foundation together with his wife Heather Kahan . "It has spurred new breakthroughs in the fight against SIDS and other unexplained infant deaths, with more on the horizon." Kahan, Jan-Marino Ramirez , PhD, Director of the Center for Integrative Brain Research at Seattle Children's, and Juan Lavista , Chief Scientist and Lab director at Microsoft's AI for Good Research Lab, hosted the Sixth Annual SIDS Summit in Redmond this spring. Attendees came from Amsterdam , Australia , Italy , Sri Lanka, Switzerland, New Zealand , Norway , the UK , and from throughout the US. They presented findings across five pillars: epidemiology, pathology, physiology, genetics, and education. Among the unique aspects of the summit were presentations given by data scientists from Microsoft, on machine learning-aided studies of genetic samples from infants, alongside talks from research physicians from some of the best universities in the world. The Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Foundation funds the first-ever SIDS genomic database, maintained at Seattle Children's Hospital, which was also discussed at the Summit. With the help of data scientists at Microsoft, who leverage AI and machine learning for the effort, the research hospital has completed data analysis on 145 samples of children lost to sudden or unexplained deaths. A study of 200 more samples is ongoing. Samples may be studied by medical researchers anywhere in the world. "The machine learning capabilities used by some of the most successful companies in the world now allow researchers to analyze health data across disciplines, and what we've been able to learn about the potential causes of infant deaths is nothing short of incredible," said Ramirez, from Seattle Children's. "It has led to several breakthrough discoveries and spurred new theories, not just on the causes of SIDS, but on the potential to screen infants for other fatal diseases that pose threats later in life." Among the breakthroughs from the research collaboration: Researchers now estimate that 22% of Sudden or Unexplained Infant Deaths in the United States can be directly attributed to maternal smoking during pregnancy, and that SIDS rates can be reduced through education programs about the risks of smoking during pregnancy. can be directly attributed to maternal smoking during pregnancy, and that SIDS rates can be reduced through education programs about the risks of smoking during pregnancy. SUID is not a single risk factor. Infants who succumb within a few days of birth have a different genetic profile and different risk factors than those who pass away later. This finding opens doors to potential treatment and diagnostic options in the future, depending on specific genetic and environmental risk factors. Among the new theories shared at the SIDS Summit, Dr. Ramirez proposed that based on his team's findings, in which signs of cardiac problems were found in the cohort of infants who passed away from SIDS, early genetic testing might not only reduce SIDS, but the risk of sudden Cardiac Deaths later in life. Such deaths claim between 180,000 to 300,000 lives annually in the US. "There is some serendipity about these incredible minds converging on the Puget Sound region to share hypotheses about SIDS and related issues," Ramirez adds. "The term SIDS was first coined in Seattle , in 1969, at the Second International Conference on the Causes of Sudden Death in Infancy. Let's hope that Seattle will also be deeply connected to the ultimate discovery of the causes of sudden and unexplained infant deaths, and what can be done to prevent them." Ramirez believes Seattle is an ideal location for SIDS research. He and his team continue to collaborate with data scientists from Microsoft, headquartered in the region. They also work with Seattle's Allen Institute for Brain Science, the world leader in single cell identification. The Ramirez lab is particularly interested in identifying the neurons implicated in arousal that might be affected in SIDS. They work with the Pathology Department at the University of Washington, which has a unique infrastructure and expertise in postmortem characterization, which will allow the Ramirez lab to obtain brain samples more effectively from children who died of SIDS to further characterize the pathological changes associated it. And they interact with the Genome center at the University of Washington to implement advanced genetic and single cell characterization. "None of us had any idea about where this would take us," Kahan said. "The power of diverse resources across Data Science and AI, Epidemiology, Physiology, Pathology and Genetics is opening new avenues of research. We are confident that this work will continue to translate into prevention, better diagnostics, and potential therapies to prevent infants from succumbing to SIDS." About the Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Guild at Seattle Children's Hospital The Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Foudation was named in honor of Aaron Matthew Kahan, son of Heather Kahan and John B. Kahan . Aaron died of SIDS days after his birth in 2003. The Guild board includes leaders from Seattle Children's Hospital's Integrative Brain Research Institute, Microsoft, Accenture, Marriott Hotels , Adobe, Tata Consulting Services, and VMLY&R. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unique-partnership-between-medical-researchers-and-ai-experts-grows-uncovers-new-clues-to-sids-and-other-unexpected-infant-deaths-301886515.html SOURCE Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Guild JERSEY CITY, N.J. , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Veris Residential, Inc. (NYSE: VRE) (the "Company") today reported results for the second quarter 2023. OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS FOR SECOND QUARTER 2023 Net loss available to common shareholders was $(0.30) per share. per share. Core Funds from Operations ("Core FFO") per share of $0.16 . . 7,681-unit multifamily portfolio and Same Store 6,691-unit multifamily portfolio were 95.6% and 95.7% occupied, respectively, as of June 30, 2023 . . Same Store multifamily Blended Net Rental Growth Rate of 11.7% for the quarter. Same Store Net Operating Income ("NOI") increased by 21.8%, compared to the same quarter last year. Raising annual Same Store NOI growth guidance to a range of 10% to 12%. LATEST ADVANCEMENTS CEMENT POSITION AS A PURE-PLAY MULTIFAMILY REIT Negotiated early redemption of Rockpoint interest in Veris Residential Trust for $520 million . for . Concurrently, entered into a $115 million term loan and $60 million revolving credit facility, of which, $115 million of the term loan and $25 million of the revolving credit facility were drawn as of July 26, 2023 . term loan and revolving credit facility, of which, of the term loan and of the revolving credit facility were drawn as of . Signed binding agreements for four non-strategic land plots, and Harborside 6 for $188 million . . Reinstated a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per common share effective for the third quarter of 2023. ESG Exceeded 50% Scope 1&2 reduction target for 2022 and the first company globally to achieve the WELL Equity Rating at the enterprise level. Mahbod Nia , Chief Executive Officer, commented: "The negotiated early redemption of Rockpoint's interest substantially simplifies the Company`s overall structure while maximizing our strategic and operational flexibility. This latest advancement, alongside our continued progress with a further $188 million of assets under contract despite an extremely challenging transaction market, reflects a pivotal moment for the Company that cements our transformation to a multifamily REIT. With our transformation achieved, we will focus on building upon the outperformance of our Class A portfolio, which realized a 12% blended net rental growth rate during the quarter, optimizing our best-in-class operational platform, and working closely with the Board of Directors to maximize value for our shareholders." FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Net (loss)/income available to common shareholders for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 , was $(0.30) per share, compared to $0.25 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 . For the second quarter 2023, Core FFO was $15.8 million , or $0.16 per share, compared to $15.3 million , or $0.15 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 . Similarly, Core FFO was $14.9 million , or $0.15 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 . For more information and a reconciliation of FFO, Core FFO, Core AFFO, Adjusted EBITDA and NOI to net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders, please refer to the following pages and the Company's Supplemental Operating and Financial Data package for the second quarter of 2023. Please note that all presented per share amounts are on a diluted basis. For the six months ended June 30 , Same Store NOI was up 18.9% compared to last year due to increased in-place rents across the portfolio as well as the successful resolution of two tax appeals in our Jersey City multifamily portfolio. Sequential Same Store NOI was up 13.1% driven by higher rents and lower real estate taxes. The following table presents percentage changes in Same Store Residential rental revenue, operating expenses and NOI for the three months ended June 30, 2023 , compared to the three months ended June 30, 2022 , and the prior quarter. Three Months Ended June 30 , Sequential 2023 2022 % Q2 2023 Q1 2023 % Total Property Revenue $60,336 $53,250 13.3 % $60,336 $57,747 4.5 % Controllable Expenses 10,764 10,225 5.3 % 10,764 10,475 2.8 % Non-Controllable Expenses 8,299 9,126 (9.1) % 8,299 10,794 (23.1) % Total Property Expenses 19,063 19,351 (1.5) % 19,063 21,269 (10.4) % Same Store NOI $41,273 $33,899 21.8 % $41,273 $36,478 13.1 % MULTIFAMILY PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHTS As of June 30 , the Company's operating multifamily portfolio is comprised of 7,681-units and the Same Store portfolio comprised 6,691-units. June 30, 2023 March 31, 2023 Operating Units 7,681 7,681 % Physical Occupancy 95.6 % 95.9 % Same Store Units 6,691 6,691 Same Store Occupancy 95.7 % 96.0 % Same Store Blended Rental Growth Rate 11.7 % 10.7 % Same Store Blended Rental Growth Rate (YTD) 11.2 % 11.2 % Average Rent per Home $3,734 $3,621 TRANSACTION ACTIVITY The Company closed on $525 million of non-strategic sales in 2023 so far: In February, the Company closed on the sale of its Port Imperial Hotels for $97 million , fully exiting the hotel segment. for , fully exiting the hotel segment. In March, the Company closed on a land parcel located at 101 Columbia Road for approximately $8 million . for approximately . In April, the Company closed the sale of Harborside 1, 2, & 3 for an aggregate price of $420 million , releasing approximately $360 million of net proceeds. Currently, the Company has $205 million of non-strategic assets under binding contract: Asset Land/Commercial Gross Price (000s) Harborside 6 Commercial $46,000 107 Morgan Street Land $61,000 2/3 Campus Land $23,000 Harborside 4 Land $58,000 23 Main Street Commercial $17,000 BALANCE SHEET/CAPITAL MARKETS On July 25 , the Company purchased and redeemed the preferred units and certain other ownership interests ("Put/Call Interests") from Rockpoint and its affiliates in Veris Residential Trust for $520 million . Concurrently, the Company entered into a transitional $60 million revolving credit facility (the "Revolver"), of which $25 million was drawn as of July 26, 2023 , and $115 million term loan agreement (the "Term Loan" and collectively, the "Facility") to fund the buyout of Rockpoint`s interest and provide corporate liquidity. The Facility has a 1-year term and carries a initial borrowing rate of SOFR+ 360 bps with a 25 bps increase every 90 days. The Facility requires that all excess cash proceeds from dispositions and financings be used to repay the term loan. The Facility can be extended by 6 months at the maturity date if the term loan has been repaid by 50%. As of June 30, 2023 , the Company had a Debt-to-Undepreciated Assets ratio of 43.2% and Net-Debt-to-EBITDA of 8.6x. As of June 30, 2023 , 99% of the Company`s total debt portfolio (consolidated and unconsolidated) is hedged or fixed. The Company`s total debt portfolio has a weighted average rate of 4.4% and weighted average maturity of 3.6 years. As of July 26, 2023 , the Company had a Net-Debt-to-EBITDA of 13.3x and total liquidity of approximately $55 million comprised of availability under its new revolving line of credit and unrestricted cash. OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE The Company is raising its growth projection ranges for 2023 shown below (compared to the full year 2022 Same Store NOI). The Company`s initial Same Store NOI growth projection range was 4-6% for 2023. Rental revenue growth has continued to exceed management`s expectations in the New Jersey Waterfront market. Operational Guidance Low High Same Store Revenue Growth 8 % - 10 % Same Store Expense Growth 4 % - 6 % Same Store NOI Growth 10 % - 12 % DIVIDEND POLICY Given the recent advancements in our strategic transformation, the Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per common share to be paid on October 10, 2023 , to shareholders of record as of September 30, 2023 . ESG During the quarter, the Company released its 2022 ESG report detailing the progress it has made in becoming a more responsible, sustainable, and inclusive owner, operator, and developer, while continuing its pursuit of long-term value creation for shareholders. The Company has exceeded its previously announced target to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 (compared to 2019), a goal which was validated by the SBTi. The Company has been recognized as the first company globally to receive the WELL Equity Rating across its managed portfolio, as well as for its corporate headquarters. CONFERENCE CALL/SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION An earnings conference call with management is scheduled for July 27, 2023 , at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time , and will be broadcast live via the Internet at: http://investors.verisresidential.com/corporate-overview. The live conference call is also accessible by dialing (877) 451-6152 (domestic) or (201) 389-0879 (international) and requesting the Veris Residential second quarter 2023 earnings conference call. The conference call will be rebroadcast on Veris Residential, Inc.'s website at: http://investors.verisresidential.com/corporate-overview beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on July 27, 2023 . A replay of the call will also be accessible July 27, 2023 through August 27, 2023 by calling (844) 512-2921 (domestic) or (412) 317-6671 (international) and using the passcode, 13739320. Copies of Veris Residential, Inc.'s second quarter 2023 Form 10-Q and second quarter 2023 Supplemental Operating and Financial Data are available on Veris Residential, Inc.'s website, as follows: Second Quarter 2023 Form 10-Q: http://investors.verisresidential.com/sec-filings Second Quarter 2023 Supplemental Operating and Financial Data: https://investors.verisresidential.com/financial-information In addition, once filed, these items will be available upon request from: Veris Residential, Inc. Investor Relations Department Harborside 3, 210 Hudson St. , Ste. 400, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311 NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES Included in this press release are Funds from Operations, or FFO, Core Funds from Operations, or Core FFO, net operating income, or NOI and Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization, or Adjusted EBITDA, each a "non-GAAP financial measure," measuring Veris Residential, Inc.'s historical or future financial performance that is different from measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (" U.S. GAAP"), within the meaning of the applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Veris Residential, Inc. believes these metrics can be a useful measure of its performance which is further defined below. For reconciliation of FFO and Core FFO to Net Income (Loss), please refer to the following pages. For reconciliation of NOI, and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (Loss), please refer to the Company's disclosure in the Quarterly Financial and Operating Data package for the second quarter 2023. FFO FFO is defined as net income (loss) before noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnership, computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP, excluding gains or losses from depreciable rental property transactions (including both acquisitions and dispositions), and impairments related to depreciable rental property, plus real estate-related depreciation and amortization. The Company believes that FFO per share is helpful to investors as one of several measures of the performance of an equity REIT. The Company further believes that as FFO per share excludes the effect of depreciation, gains (or losses) from property transactions and impairments related to depreciable rental property (all of which are based on historical costs which may be of limited relevance in evaluating current performance), FFO per share can facilitate comparison of operating performance between equity REITs. FFO per share should not be considered as an alternative to net income available to common shareholders per share as an indication of the Company's performance or to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. FFO per share presented herein is not necessarily comparable to FFO per share presented by other real estate companies due to the fact that not all real estate companies use the same definition. However, the Company's FFO per share is comparable to the FFO per share of real estate companies that use the current definition of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("Nareit"). A reconciliation of net income per share to FFO per share is included in the financial tables accompanying this press release. Core FFO and Adjusted FFO ("AFFO") Core FFO is defined as FFO, as adjusted for certain items to facilitate comparative measurement of the Company's performance over time. Adjusted FFO ("AFFO") is defined as Core FFO less (i) recurring tenant improvements, leasing commissions, and capital expenditures, (ii) straight-line rents and amortization of acquired above/below market leases, net, and (iii) other non-cash income, plus (iv) other non-cash charges. Core FFO and Adjusted AFFO are presented solely as supplemental disclosure that the Company's management believes provides useful information to investors and analysts of its results, after adjusting for certain items to facilitate comparability of its performance from period to period. Core FFO and Adjusted FFO are non-GAAP financial measures that are not intended to represent cash flow and are not indicative of cash flows provided by operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP. As there is not a generally accepted definition established for Core FFO and Adjusted FFO, the Company's measures of Core FFO may not be comparable to the Core FFO and Adjusted FFO reported by other REITs. A reconciliation of net income per share to Core FFO and Adjusted FFO in dollars and per share are included in the financial tables accompanying this press release. NOI and Same Store NOI NOI represents total revenues less total operating expenses, as reconciled to net income above. The Company considers NOI to be a meaningful non-GAAP financial measure for making decisions and assessing unlevered performance of its property types and markets, as it relates to total return on assets, as opposed to levered return on equity. As properties are considered for sale and acquisition based on NOI estimates and projections, the Company utilizes this measure to make investment decisions, as well as compare the performance of its assets to those of its peers. NOI should not be considered a substitute for net income, and the Company's use of NOI may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. The Company calculates NOI before any allocations to noncontrolling interests, as those interests do not affect the overall performance of the individual assets being measured and assessed. Same Store NOI is presented for the same store portfolio, which comprises all properties that were owned by the Company throughout both of the reporting periods. Blended Net Rental Growth Rate Weighted average of the net effective change in rent (inclusive of concessions) for a lease with a new resident or for a renewed lease compared to the rent for the prior lease of the identical apartment unit. ABOUT THE COMPANY Veris Residential, Inc. is a forward-thinking, environmentally- and socially-conscious real estate investment trust (REIT) that primarily owns, operates, acquires, and develops holistically-inspired, Class A multifamily properties that meet the sustainability-conscious lifestyle needs of today's residents while seeking to positively impact the communities it serves and the planet at large. The company is guided by an experienced management team and Board of Directors and is underpinned by leading corporate governance principles, a best-in-class and sustainable approach to operations, and an inclusive culture based on equality and meritocratic empowerment. For additional information on Veris Residential, Inc. and our properties available for lease, please visit http://www.verisresidential.com/. The information in this press release must be read in conjunction with, and is modified in its entirety by, the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the "10-Q") filed by the Company for the same period with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and all of the Company's other public filings with the SEC (the "Public Filings"). In particular, the financial information contained herein is subject to and qualified by reference to the financial statements contained in the 10-Q, the footnotes thereto and the limitations set forth therein. Investors may not rely on the press release without reference to the 10-Q and the Public Filings. We consider portions of this information, including the documents incorporated by reference, to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 21E of such act. Such forward-looking statements relate to, without limitation, our future economic performance, plans and objectives for future operations and projections of revenue and other financial items. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "plan," "potential," "projected," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "target," "continue" or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, many of which we cannot predict with accuracy and some of which we might not even anticipate. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions at the time made, we can give no assurance that such expectations will be achieved. Future events and actual results, financial and otherwise, may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are advised to consider the factors listed above together with the additional factors under the heading "Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as may be supplemented or amended by the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated herein by reference. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise, except as required under applicable law. Investors Anna Malhari Chief Operating Officer [email protected] Media Amanda Shpiner / Grace Cartwright Gasthalter & Co. 212-257-4170 [email protected] Veris Residential, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations (In thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30 Six Months Ended June 30 REVENUES 2023 2022 2023 2022 Revenue from leases $ 61,909 $ 47,313 $ 121,747 $ 91,256 Real estate services 643 896 1,554 1,807 Parking income 4,796 4,173 9,129 7,760 Other income 1,381 1,431 3,258 2,491 Total revenues 68,729 53,813 135,688 103,314 EXPENSES Real estate taxes 7,860 7,911 18,980 16,201 Utilities 2,379 1,895 4,882 4,247 Operating services 14,044 13,100 26,307 25,964 Real estate services expenses 4,389 2,920 6,332 5,283 General and administrative 9,582 11,527 19,865 30,976 Transaction related costs 3,319 1,345 4,347 1,345 Depreciation and amortization 23,684 21,015 47,331 39,456 Land and other impairments, net 3,900 3,396 6,832 Total expenses 65,257 63,613 131,440 130,304 OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME Interest expense (21,692) (14,741) (43,706) (26,348) Interest cost of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests (13,390) (13,390) Interest and other investment income 3,927 189 4,043 347 Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint venture 2,700 2,638 2,633 2,151 Gain (loss) on disposition of developable land 55,125 (22) 57,748 Loss from extinguishment of debt, net (2,657) (129) (2,657) (129) Other income, net 853 2,851 Total other (expense) income, net (30,259) 43,082 (50,248) 33,769 (Loss) Income from continuing operations (26,787) 33,282 (46,000) 6,779 Discontinued operations: Income from discontinued operations 140 5,808 2,344 25,948 Realized gains (losses) and unrealized gains (losses) on disposition of rental property and impairments, net (3,488) (4,440) (2,709) (2,604) Total discontinued operations, net (3,348) 1,368 (365) 23,344 Net (loss) Income (30,135) 34,650 (46,365) 30,123 Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures 636 784 1,223 1,758 Noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnership from continuing operations 2,384 (2,568) 4,696 305 Noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnership in discontinued operations 298 (127) 22 (2,102) Redeemable noncontrolling interests (617) (6,366) (6,983) (12,803) Net (loss) Income available to common shareholders $ (27,434) $ 26,373 $ (47,407) $ 17,281 Basic earnings per common share: Loss from continuing operations $ (0.27) $ 0.24 $ (0.56) $ (0.11) Discontinued operations $ (0.03) $ 0.01 $ 0.00 $ 0.23 Net loss available to common shareholders $ (0.30) $ 0.25 $ (0.56) $ 0.12 Diluted earnings per common share: (Loss) Income from continuing operations $ (0.27) $ 0.24 $ (0.56) $ (0.11) Discontinued operations $ (0.03) 0.01 0.00 0.23 Net (loss) income available to common shareholders $ (0.30) $ 0.25 $ (0.56) $ 0.12 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 91,873 91,027 91,551 90,989 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 100,854 100,352 100,691 100,171 Veris Residential, Inc. Statements of Funds from Operations and Core FFO (in thousands, except per share/unit amounts) (unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30 Six Months Ended June 30 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net (loss)/gain available to common shareholders $ (27,434) $ 26,373 $ (47,407) $ 17,281 Add (deduct): Noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnership (2,384) 2,568 (4,696) (305) Noncontrolling interests in discontinued operations (298) 127 (22) 2,102 Real estate-related depreciation and amortization on continuing operations (a) 26,064 23,413 52,053 44,352 Real estate-related depreciation and amortization on discontinued operations 275 6,863 5,231 14,784 Discontinued operations: Realized losses and unrealized losses on disposition of rental property, net 3,488 4,440 2,709 2,604 Funds from operations (b) $ (289) $ 63,784 $ 7,868 $ 80,818 Add (Deduct): Loss from early extinguishment of debt, net 2,657 129 2,669 6,418 Land and other impairments 3,900 3,396 6,832 (Gain)/loss on disposition of developable land (55,125) 22 (57,748) Rebranding and Severance/Compensation related costs 817 1,225 1,781 8,867 Redemption value adjustment to mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests 7,641 7,641 Lease breakage fee, net (22,664) Interest derivative 1,619 (2) 2,752 (2) Dead deal and transaction-related costs 3,319 1,345 4,347 1,345 Core FFO $ 15,764 $ 15,256 $ 30,476 $ 23,866 Diluted weighted average shares/units outstanding (c) 100,854 100,352 100,691 100,171 Funds from operations per share/unit-diluted $ 0.00 $ 0.64 $ 0.08 $ 0.81 Core funds from operations per share/unit-diluted $ 0.16 $ 0.15 $ 0.30 $ 0.24 Dividends declared per common share $ $ $ $ Supplemental Information: Non-incremental revenue generating capital expenditures: Building improvements $ (2,339) $ (2,243) $ (4,431) $ (5,492) Tenant improvements & leasing commissions (d) (195) (1,611) (547) (6,261) Tenant improvements & leasing commissions on space vacant for more than a year 302 (9,606) (434) (15,898) Straight-line rent adjustments (e) 893 1,981 (360) 6,627 Amortization of (above)/below market lease intangibles, net (49) 4 (79) (106) Amortization of stock compensation 3,614 3,019 5,761 5,638 Amortization of lease inducements 37 15 75 Non real estate depreciation and amortization 199 325 584 650 Amortization of deferred financing costs 621 1,181 1,832 2,358 (a) Includes the Company's share from unconsolidated joint ventures, and adjustments for noncontrolling interest of $2,579 and $2,572 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively and $5,155 and $5,243 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Excludes non-real estate-related depreciation and amortization of $199 and $325 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $584 and $650 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. (b) Funds from operations is calculated in accordance with the definition of FFO of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit). See "Information About FFO" in this release. (c) Calculated based on weighted average common shares outstanding, assuming redemption of Operating Partnership common units into common shares 8,651 and 8,620 shares for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and 8,897 and 8,642 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, plus dilutive Common Stock Equivalents (i.e. stock options). (d) Excludes expenditures for tenant spaces that have not been owned for at least a year. (e) Includes free rent of $642 and $1,917 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively and $3,867 and $4,118 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Also includes the Company's share from unconsolidated joint ventures of $(13) and $(319) for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively and $13 and $(624) for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Veris Residential, Inc. Statements of Funds from Operations (FFO) and Core FFO per Diluted Share (in thousands, except per share/unit amounts) (unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30 Six Months Ended June 30 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net (loss)/gain available to common shareholders $ (0.27) $ 0.26 $ (0.47) $ 0.17 Add (deduct):Real estate-related depreciation and amortization on continuing operations (a) (0.02) 0.03 (0.05) 0.00 Noncontrolling interests in discontinued operations 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 Real estate-related depreciation and amortization on discontinued operations 0.26 0.23 0.52 0.44 Real estate-related depreciation and amortization on continuing operations 0.00 0.07 0.05 0.15 Real estate-related depreciation and amortization on discontinued operations 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.03 Funds from operations (b) $ 0.00 $ 0.64 $ 0.08 $ 0.81 Add (Deduct): Loss from early extinguishment of debt, net 0.03 0.00 0.03 0.06 Land and other impairments 0.00 0.04 0.03 0.07 (Gain) on disposition of developable land 0.00 (0.55) 0.00 (0.58) Rebranding and Severance/Compensation related costs 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.09 Redemption value adjustment to mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests 0.08 0.00 0.08 0.00 Lease breakage fee, net 0.00 0.00 0.00 (0.23) Amortization of derivative premium 0.02 0.00 0.03 0.00 Dead Deal and Transaction related costs 0.03 0.01 0.04 0.01 Core FFO $ 0.16 $ 0.15 $ 0.30 $ 0.24 Diluted weighted average shares/units outstanding (c) 100,854 100,352 100,691 100,171 (a) Includes the Company's share from unconsolidated joint ventures, and adjustments for noncontrolling interest of $(0.03) and $(0.03) for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $(0.05) and $(0.05) for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. (b) Funds from operations is calculated in accordance with the definition of FFO of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit). See "Information About FFO" in this release. (c) Calculated based on weighted average common shares outstanding, assuming redemption of Operating Partnership common units into common shares 8,651 and 8,620 shares for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and 8,897 and 8,642 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, plus dilutive Common Stock Equivalents (i.e. stock options). Veris Residential, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited) ASSETS June 30 , 2023 December 31 , 2022 Rental property Land and leasehold interests $ 483,195 $ 492,204 Buildings and improvements 2,845,193 3,332,315 Tenant improvements 40,809 122,509 Furniture, fixtures and equipment 100,803 99,094 3,470,000 4,046,122 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (438,113) (631,910) 3,031,887 3,414,212 Real estate held for sale, net 122,690 193,933 Net investment in rental property 3,154,577 3,608,145 Cash and cash equivalents 396,940 26,782 Restricted cash 27,614 20,867 Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures 122,435 126,158 Unbilled rents receivable, net 7,808 39,734 Deferred charges and other assets, net 58,961 96,162 Accounts receivable 4,498 2,920 Total Assets $ 3,772,833 $ 3,920,768 LIABILITIES & EQUITY Mortgages, loans payable and other obligations, net $ 1,820,981 $ 1,903,977 Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests 487,619 Dividends and distributions payable 72 110 Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities 53,239 72,041 Rents received in advance and security deposits 15,710 22,941 Accrued interest payable 6,963 7,131 Total Liabilities $ 2,384,584 $ 2,006,200 Redeemable noncontrolling interests 40,231 515,231 Equity: Veris Residential, Inc. stockholders' equity: Common stock, par value, shares authorized, and shares outstanding 918 911 Additional paid-in capital 2,540,309 2,532,182 Dividends in excess of net earnings (1,348,792) (1,301,385) Accumulated other comprehensive income 4,518 3,977 Total Veris Residential, Inc. Stockholders' Equity $ 1,196,953 $ 1,235,685 Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries: Operating Partnership 115,307 126,109 Consolidated joint ventures 35,758 37,543 Total Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries 151,065 163,652 Total Equity 1,348,018 1,399,337 Total Liabilities and Equity $ 3,772,833 $ 3,920,768 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/veris-residential-inc-reports-second-quarter-2023-results-301886814.html SOURCE Veris Residential, Inc. Missile strikes on Odesa by the occupying country Russia are an attempt to disrupt a grain deal in which the Russian Federation is no longer taking part. This is how the enemy is trying to deprive Ukraine of the necessary "tools". ADVERTISIMENT This opinion was expressed by a military expert Vladyslav Seleznov in an exclusive interview with OBOZREVATEL. "After Russia withdrew from the grain deal, there was a collision: the Ukrainian side is ready to get the support from Turkey and the UN and continue the grain deal without the participation of the Russian Federation," he noted. According to him, Ukraine can cope with this task, especially since the northwest of the Black Sea is free from the occupying Russian Black Sea Fleet. "They are afraid to stick their heads out from behind Tarkhankut Cape, because they can get into the kill zone of our Harpoons and Neptunes," the expert said. ADVERTISIMENT "If the naval forces of the Turkish Republic joined the grain initiative to escort ships at other sites in the Black Sea, the question of the role of the Russian Federation in the deal would arise. They can only perform as some Somali pirates to sink everything and everyone," Seleznov said. This situation does not suit the Kremlin's expectations and it protests by attacking the south of mainland Ukraine with drones and missiles. The purpose of these attacks is "to destroy the port infrastructure of Odesa, which is involved in the implementation of the grain initiative," the expert explained. He also stated that Ukraine should not count on "a quick reaction of the world institutions that are responsible, among other things, for the safe movement of goods by sea transport." "First, it's vacation time in Europe and the world. Secondly, their often impotent position shows that they are not ready to actively and adequately respond to the challenges that the Russian Federation creates every time," Selezov convinced. ADVERTISIMENT According to him, the only truly effective method of ensuring the safety of cargo transportation is the Ukrainian Defense Forces. In particular, their combat work on the places of concentration of the enemy's means of defeat. As OBOZREVATEL wrote, the terrorist country Russia attacked the city of Odesa on July 23. The aggressor used X-22, "Kalibr", "Onyx" and "Iskander" missiles. The historical center of the city, Transfiguration Cathedral in particular, was damaged. Kicking off October 2023 , G-P's reimagined annual conference will bring together HR, technology and business leaders at exclusive events around the world to connect, learn and discuss global growth trends and technology BOSTON , July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- REMOTE FIRST COMPANY G-P (Globalization Partners) , the pioneer and recognized leader in the global employment industry, known for setting the standard in global employment compliance, today announced its flagship annual conference will return as Pangeo Summit, a global series of exclusive, in-person events designed to be the preeminent forums on global growth. The invitation-only events will take place October 16 in Paris , early November in San Francisco and H1 2024 in Asia Pacific . The Pangeo Summit series brings together senior HR, technology and business leaders to connect and discuss shaping the future of work and business through a global lens. Attendees will build meaningful connections with their peers, discuss the latest global growth trends with experts and industry leaders and learn how new technology can support their business goals. "Leaders around the world are looking for new ways to drive innovation and growth," said Nicole Sahin , founder and CEO, G-P. "Success knows no borders and a future-fit business model requires a global mindset. We're bringing together the best and the brightest minds around the world to provide unique insights and foster much-needed conversation around global growth to tap into the power of global business transformation." The Pangeo Summit series will feature sessions on: Global Growth Technology: Unlock the Power of the Everywhere Workforce The Pangeo Summit opening keynote explores the promise of a new category - global growth technology - designed to disrupt traditional global hiring models and provide everything a business needs to build and manage global teams. The Pangeo Summit opening keynote explores the promise of a new category - global growth technology - designed to disrupt traditional global hiring models and provide everything a business needs to build and manage global teams. How a Global Mindset Can Shape Business Success Top HR leaders discuss how the latest in SaaS and AI technology come together with a global mindset to break down barriers, solve challenges and unlock greater market opportunity and competitive advantage. Top HR leaders discuss how the latest in SaaS and AI technology come together with a global mindset to break down barriers, solve challenges and unlock greater market opportunity and competitive advantage. Global Growth Idea Exchange An interactive discussion session with peers to explore key global growth areas top of mind for business leaders. Topics include finding and attracting global talent, building a global culture and global compliance. Get on the VIP list to attend Pangeo Summit in Paris or Pangeo Summit in San Francisco . Learn more and request an invitation here https://www.g-p.com/pangeo/ For more information on all the latest innovations in G-P's global growth platform, visit https://www.g-p.com/g-p-meridian-suite/ About G-P G-P is the pioneer and recognized leader of the global employment industry and has delivered world-class global compliance and workforce products designed to meet the needs of growing companies since 2012. G-P's global growth platform is driven by the G-P Meridian Suite of SaaS-based global employment products. G-P helps thousands of customers build and manage teams quickly and compliantly in 180+ countries without navigating legal, tax or HR issues. G-P: Global Made Possible To learn more, please visit: g-p.com or connect with us via Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , or check out our Blog . CONTACT: Katie Johnson [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/where-global-minds-meet-g-p-introduces-pangeo-summit-global-event-series-301885812.html SOURCE G-P Actor Kevin Spacey walks outside Southwark Crown Court, as the jury consider their verdict over charges related to allegations of sex offences, in London, Britain, July 26, 2023. REUTERS/Susannah Ireland By Sam Tobin and Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - A tearful Kevin Spacey said he was "humbled" after a jury in a London court found him not guilty on Wednesday of carrying out multiple sex assaults on four men. After 12 hours and 26 minutes of deliberation, the jury acquitted the Oscar-winning U.S. actor by a majority on nine charges which he was accused of committing between 2004 and 2013 at a time when he was working at London's Old Vic theatre. Spacey, who was also celebrating his 64th birthday on Wednesday, began to cry and mouthed "thank you" to the nine men and three women jurors, before wiping away tears with a tissue. The Hollywood star spoke with five of the jurors in the lobby of Southwark Crown Court, before emerging from the building to address a phalanx of journalists and photographers. "I imagine that many of you can understand that there's a lot for me to process after what has just happened today," he said. "I am humbled by the outcome today." He also said he was "enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before they reached their decision". Spacey was swarmed by cameras as he then walked to a waiting taxi, as some members of the public clapped and wished him happy birthday and one woman shouted: "We love you, Kevin." During the four-week trial, prosecutors described the actor as a "sexual bully" who had aggressively groped three of the men and performed oral sex on the fourth while he had passed out in Spacey's London apartment. Spacey, tried under his full name Kevin Spacey Fowler, said in evidence that the case against him was weak, and that the incidents, if they had occurred at all, were consensual. He said he was promiscuous, a "big flirt" who had "casual, indiscriminate sexual encounters". One of complainants alleged Spacey painfully grabbed his crotch like "a cobra" in the mid-2000s, an allegation Spacey described as "absolute bollocks", using a British slang term for testicles and for something which is nonsense. While he said he might have made a clumsy pass at one of the men, he said he had never assaulted anyone and suggested that the accusers had come forward to make money. Spacey told the court three of the four complainants had brought civil lawsuits against him and he had tasked private investigators to look into at least three of the four men. 'WORLD EXPLODED' Spacey, who won Oscars for best actor in "American Beauty" (1999) and best supporting actor in "The Usual Suspects" (1995), said his "world exploded" when he was first accused of sexual assault in 2017 by actor Anthony Rapp. After Buzzfeed published an article on Rapp's allegations, Spacey said "there was a rush to judgment", adding: "Before the first question was asked or answered, I lost my job, I lost my reputation, I lost everything, in a matter of days." He was dropped from the TV drama "House of Cards" and removed from the movie "All the Money in the World" after the accusations came to light. Rapp, who accused Spacey of making an unwanted sexual advance in 1986 when he was 14, brought a civil lawsuit against the actor in the U.S. but lost the case last year. Spacey became one of several prominent names in entertainment to face allegations of sexual misconduct during the #MeToo movement. The Old Vic launched an investigation and said in 2017 it had received 20 separate allegations of inappropriate behaviour. Unsurprisingly for the trial of a Hollywood star, the London jurors heard several references to Spacey's fellow actors and celebrities, including Val Kilmer and Judi Dench, who the court heard had enjoyed playing table tennis with Spacey. The court also heard evidence from singer Elton John and his husband David Furnish, who gave evidence by videolink from Monaco as part of Spacey's defence. Spacey's lawyer Patrick Gibbs said it was not a crime to like sex or have casual sex even if you were a famous person and that it was "not a crime to have sex with someone of the same sex, because it's 2023 not 1823". (Reporting by Michael Holden and Sam Tobin; editing by Kate Holton, Christina Fincher and Nick Macfie) (Reuters) -Payroll processor Automatic Data Processing forecast annual revenue above market estimates on Wednesday, helped by strong demand for company services and new contract wins. While mounting economic uncertainties have raised concerns over the outlook for the human resources industry, analysts say demand remains strong for companies such as ADP thanks to a stable labor market. The company expects its revenue to grow between 6% and 7% in fiscal 2024, compared with analysts' expectations of a 5.8% increase, according to Refinitiv data. "New business bookings were incredibly strong and employer services retention returned to a record level, underscoring our strong market position," said Chief Executive Maria Black. The company's full-year adjusted earnings per share growth forecast of 10% to 12% was also above analysts' estimate of a 9% rise. Shares of ADP were up 5.6%. The stock is down nearly 5% this year, underperforming the S&P 500's 19% gain. The company's revenue rose 8% to $4.48 billion for the three months ended June 30, compared with estimates of $4.39 billion, driven by its employer services business, which provides human resource outsourcing and makes up 67% of total revenue this quarter. On an adjusted basis, the company earned $1.89 per share, compared with estimates of a profit of $1.83 per share. (Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar and Shailesh Kuber) By Henriette Chacar JERUSALEM (Reuters) - As thousands of Israelis blocked roads and scuffled with police over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul, Arab citizens shared online memes of themselves watching the crisis unfold as unfazed spectators. They make up a fifth of Israel's 9.7 million people and could be among those most impacted by the religious-nationalist government's controversial push to curb the Supreme Court, but they point to deeper concerns than the debate over balance of powers. "We are in a constant battle for our existence," mused retired teacher Adnan Haj Yahia, 67, in a coffee shop in Taybeh, a central Arab city abuting the occupied West Bank. Looking at a protest ad covering the front pages of leading Israeli newspapers with the words "a black day for democracy", he said that described daily reality for his community. Most Arab citizens in Israel are descendants of Palestinians who stayed in the new Israeli state after a 1948 war. Largely self-identifying as Palestinian, they have long pondered their place in politics, balancing their heritage with Israeli nationality. While others hotly debate the state's identity as Jewish and democratic, Palestinian citizens "have no place in this formula," said attorney Hassan Jabareen, founder of the Haifa-based Adalah rights group. Jabareen, who has more than two decades of experience petitioning the Supreme Court on minority rights cases, said the court had traditionally been the last line of defence in cases of "extreme, unreasonable discrimination." He cited protecting Arab participation in elections, fair allocation of budgets and rights to live in towns denying Arabs residence. Still, he said Palestinians, whether they hold Israeli citizenship or live under military occupation, have little hope in an increasingly conservative court that has backed bills such as the 2018 Nation-State Law, which declares only Jews have a right to self-determination. "Discrimination in Israel is official," said Jabareen. "This is the only state in the world that rejects the idea that the state should be a state of all its citizens." 'TOP PRIORITY IS TO LIVE' While Israel says it grants them equal rights, many Arabs say they face structural discrimination and hostile policies. A 2021 report by the Israel Democracy Institute found significant social and economic gaps between Jewish and Arab citizens, with poverty among Arabs more than three times higher. Arabs are mainly employed in low-income industrial jobs, the report said. They tend to live in overcrowded towns and villages with infrastructure deficiencies and poorer-funded schools. The danger of weaker oversight on the executive is clear to Palestinian citizens, particularly under a government that has expanded settlements in the occupied West Bank and is made up of senior ministers who whip up sentiment against them, lawmaker Aida Touma-Sliman of the Arab-Jewish Hadash party told Reuters. Earlier this year the U.S. condemned as incitement to violence comments by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that a Palestinian village in the West Bank must be "erased" by Israel. But many are remaining on the sidelines, Touma-Sliman said, as they do not see themselves reflected in a protest movement infused with nationalist and militaristic symbols. Instead, Palestinian citizens have for months been mobilizing to address a different crisis: record levels of criminal violence rocking their communities. At least 130 Arab citizens have been killed in crime-related shootings since January, twice the fatalities over the same period last year, according to data gathered by an advocacy group campaigning against the violence. It is not only the climbing death toll but the paralysing effect organised crime groups have on local communities, who no longer feel safe, said Touma-Sliman. Community leaders and members have urged the prime minister to take action, accusing the government and police of systemic neglect. Netanyahu, in a rare statement following the killing of five people on a single day in June, said the government "was determined to fight organised crime and restore quiet." "The Palestinian community is trying to fight for survival," said Touma-Sliman. "The top priority for Palestinians at this point is to live. The top priority for the protesters, the Jewish protesters, is to live in democracy." (Additional reporting by Ismael Khader; Editing by Michele Kambas and Andrew Cawthorne) WELLINGTON (Reuters) -Australia and New Zealand on Wednesday expressed concern about a new policing agreement between China and the Solomon Islands that they said would undermine the Pacifics agreed regional security norms. Earlier this month the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Solomon Islands' opposition party called for Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to "immediately" publish details of the policing deal with Beijing, amid concern it will invite further regional contest. Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flew into the New Zealand capital Wellington on Wednesday for talks on topics including climate, defence and the economy with his New Zealand counterpart Chris Hipkins. A joint statement issued after the talks called for transparency over the Solomon Islands-China policing deal. "Leaders agreed it would be important for the Pacific Islands Forum to discuss these issues and encourage transparency, enabling the region to collectively consider the implications for our shared security," it said. Both leaders also expressed concern about "growing challenges to regional stability" in the Indo-Pacific including the militarisation of disputed areas of the South China Sea and tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Continued dialogue with China, each country's biggest trading partner, was important to manage differences although the leaders expressed concerns about human rights violations in Xinjiang and the "systematic erosion" of freedom and rights in Hong Kong. Australia and New Zealand also committed to updating a defence cooperation agreement first signed in 1991. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in New Zealand on Wednesday as part of a regional tour that began in Tonga and includes a stop in Australia. Blinken criticized China's "problematic behaviour" in the region during a news conference earlier in the day in Tonga. (Reporting by Lewis Jackson in SydneyEditing by Alasdair Pal and Michael Perry) FILE PHOTO: The 3M logo is seen at its global headquarters in Maplewood, Minnesota, U.S. on March 4, 2020. REUTERS/Nicholas Pfosi/File Photo By Clark Mindock (Reuters) -A group of 22 states and U.S. territories on Wednesday moved to block a proposed $10.3 billion settlement that would resolve claims against 3M Co over water pollution tied to forever chemicals, claiming the deal fails to adequately hold the company accountable. The group, led by California and including Texas, New York and the District of Columbia, filed a motion opposing approval of the settlement in a South Carolina federal court, where thousands of lawsuits against 3M and other companies over per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are being fought. The proposed deal would provide funds over a 13-year period to cities, towns and other public water systems to test and treat contamination of PFAS. But the states said it isn't enough to account for the damage caused by the chemicals, which are used in a wide range of products from firefighting foam to non-stick cookware to cosmetics and have been linked to cancers, hormonal dysfunction and environmental damage. A 3M spokesperson said in a statement that the deal provides funding for remediation and testing without the need for future litigation on the matter, and it isn't unusual for there to be objections to significant settlements. The spokesperson said the company would continue to "work cooperatively" to address questions about the deal. Scott Summy, a lead attorney who helped negotiate the settlement on behalf of U.S. water systems, said initial oppositions to large settlements are common and they will work to address issues raised by the states. The states said the deal, announced June 22, would require public water systems across the United States to decide whether to opt in to the settlement before knowing how much they would receive, and in some cases before they are aware of their contamination levels and the costs associated with remediation. They also said the deal could shift liability for future health concerns caused by PFAS from 3M onto the water systems themselves. That means the chemical maker could potentially seek compensation from the water systems in future litigation over things like PFAS-related cancer clusters, the states said. While I appreciate the effort that went into it, the proposed settlement in its current form does not adequately account for the pernicious damage that 3M has done in so many of our communities, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement. The settlement must be approved by U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel, who is overseeing the cases in South Carolina. 3M, which is facing thousands of lawsuits over PFAS contamination, did not admit liability in the proposed settlement. It said in June that the money will help support remediation at public water systems that detect PFAS "at any level." The deal did not cover claims related to personal injury or property damage from PFAS contamination. Three New York State cities with claims related to cleaning up PFAS at superfund sites in their jurisdiction also moved to block the settlement earlier this month. They claimed the water system settlement would reduce the amount of 3M money available to clean up those types of sites across the country, which the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates could cost more than $17 billion. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has called PFAS an urgent public health and environmental issue. The substances are dubbed "forever chemicals" because they do not easily break down in the human body or environment. The EPA has taken several steps in recent years to tighten regulations for the chemicals, and in March announced the first-ever national drinking water standards for six of the chemicals. 3M in December set a 2025 deadline to stop producing PFAS. (Reporting by Clark Mindock; editing by Amy Stevens, Aurora Ellis and Diane Craft) FILE PHOTO: Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen arrives at the National Assembly of Cambodia during a plenary session in Phnom Penh February 14, 2018. REUTERS/Samrang Pring/File Photo PHNOM PENH (Reuters) -Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Wednesday he will step down and hand over power to his son next month, ending a near four-decade reign during which he established stability after years of war but stifled democracy in the process. One of the world's longest ruling leaders, Hun Sen made the announcement days after his Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won 120 of 125 parliamentary seats in a general election from which all serious opponents were banished. "I met the king, and declared I won't continue the position as prime minister anymore," Hun Sen said in a nationally televised address. "I must sacrifice and relinquish power." Hun Sen, 70, said his son, Hun Manet, would get royal approval as prime minister on Aug. 10 and be sworn in on Aug. 22. "Hun Manet ... will become the prime minister in the coming weeks," he said. Hun Sen said it was time to make way for a younger generation of leaders. "It is very necessary to have a new cabinet which comprises mostly young people ... they are responsible for the future," he said. "Long-term peace and development will be continued under my son." But Hun Sen will not disappear into retirement. He said he would be staying on as head of the ruling party and a member of the National Assembly. He recently said he would step back in to the prime minister's job if his son did not perform well. CLOSER TO CHINA Opposition politicians, most of them in self-exile, and rights groups say Hun Sen has for years suppressed democratic institutions while party colleagues and relatives have benefited from a range of business concessions. The government has rejected accusations of corruption within its ranks levelled over the years by opposition politicians, rights groups and environmental activists. In 1993, Hun Sen rejected the result of a landmark election organised by the United Nations aimed at ending a conflict that had endured since Cambodia was dragged into the Vietnam war in the late 1960s. He entered an uneasy coalition with his royalist rivals only to oust them in a bloody takeover in 1997. A former mid-level commander of the communist Khmer Rouge, Hun Sen responded to attempts by the United States and other Western powers to press him to support democracy by moving closer to China. "It is concerning that Cambodia has witnessed a constant shrinkage of democratic space in recent years, undermining fundamental freedoms and the right to participate in public affairs, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement on Wednesday. But Hun Sen is also credited with establishing peace and lifting Cambodia to middle-income status, improving health, education and infrastructure during his 38 years in power. Western-educated Hun Manet, who is deputy commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has said little of his vision for the country. He won a seat in the capital, Phnom Penh, in Sunday's election. The new parliament will convene on Aug. 21 and the new prime minister and cabinet would be sworn in on Aug. 22, Hun Sen said. Critics denounced Sunday's election as a sham after the government disqualified the sole opposition party on a technicality and threatened to penalise anyone calling for a boycott. The CPP won the last election, in 2018, after an earlier incarnation of the same opposition party was disbanded by the Supreme Court. (Reporting by Reuters staff, Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor, Robert Birsel) FILE PHOTO: Representations of cryptocurrencies are seen in this illustration, August 10, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo (Reuters) - Canada's financial regulator on Wednesday proposed changes to its capital and liquidity approach to crypto-assets, citing a risky environment and in response to international banking standards. The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI)said guidelines were for federally regulated deposit-taking institutions, that includes banks and credit unions, and another for insurers, on the regulatory capital treatment of crypto-asset exposures. OSFI's Superintendent Peter Routledge said banks and insurers need clarity on how to treat crypto-asset exposures when it comes to capital and liquidity and the regulator looks to provide clarity through the new guidelines. The two draft guidelines will be open for public consultation until Sept. 20 and is expected to come into effect in early 2025. The new guidelines will replace the interim advisory on the regulatory treatment of crypto-asset exposures, published in August 2022, OSFI said. The regulator in June raised the amount of capital the country's biggest lenders must hold as a stability buffer by 50 basis points to 3.5%, citing rising borrowing costs, high debt levels and stress on the financial system. (Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Toronto; Editing by Marguerita Choy) FILE PHOTO: Durex, a brand of Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC, is seen on display in a store in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., March 24, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo By Richa Naidu LONDON (Reuters) - Consumer companies and economists have said sentiment in China is slower than expected, but that's not stopping them from buying more condoms, Durex maker Reckitt said on Wednesday. Economic data from China this month showed its post-pandemic surge was quickly fading, raising expectations that the government needs to bring out more stimulus measures to drive activity and bolster shaky consumer confidence. British consumer goods giant Unilever said on Tuesday that China's declining property market and exports had sent its consumer sentiment to a historic low, having earlier this year forecast a Chinese "consumption boom". Nonetheless, on Wednesday when Reckitt reported earnings results, it said like-for-like net revenue growth in its health business was 8.8%. The growth was led in part by its "Intimate Wellness" brands, which include K-Y lubricant, with improving performance in China. Globally, the portfolio grew by high-single digits, and in China Reckitt saw "the benefit of re-opening post COVID-related lockdowns." Despite a "little slower" recovery in China overall, sales of intimate wellness products are higher. CEO Nicandro Durante said that firstly, Reckitt is launching innovations such as new materials for condoms, and second, people "are enjoying the nightlife". Reckitt has a new Taicang, China-based production facility, according to its website, set to "produce our thinnest Durex polyurethane condoms ever" for that market. "The phase 2 Durex project construction is about to get underway, with the facility set to go into operation in January 2026," Reckitt's website says. "The site will produce the thinnest Durex PU condoms in history and will be committed to the continuous improvement of new technologies for PU condoms." (Reporting by Richa Naidu; editing by David Evans) FILE PHOTO: The Commonwealth Bank (CBA) corporate logo is pictured outside the bank's headquarters in Sydney, Australia, August 9, 2017. REUTERS/Jason Reed/File Photo By Rishav Chatterjee (Reuters) - Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the country's biggest lender, could cut up to 200 jobs, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday, but did not divulge further information the layoffs. The layoffs could end up being a "couple of hundred" and the CBA's ongoing consultations could mean some employees would be redeployed into some other roles, the source said, requesting to be unnamed as they were discussing confidential information. In mid-June, CBA's smaller peer Westpac Banking Corp laid off 300 jobs in its consumer and business banking segments. The Australian Financial Review, which first reported of CBA's job cuts, said the bank was cutting about 251 jobs across its information technology, business bank and retail banking units to reduce costs. A spokesperson for CBA, which employs around 50,000 people globally, declined to confirm the news but said there were no reductions to customer-facing employees. "As part of our focus on business improvement, we regularly review the skills we need and how we are organised. That means from time to time, some roles and work can change or may no longer be required," the spokesperson said. CBA's net profit after tax was about A$2.60 billion in the March quarter, up from A$2.40 billion a year ago. (Reporting by Poonam Behura and Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Varun H K and Savio D'Souza) During a missile attack by Russian forces on July 26, air defense forces shot down two Kalibr cruise missiles. Both the enemy launched from the Black Sea, they managed to destroy them in the sky over the Vinnytsia region. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported in the Air Force of the Armed forces of Ukraine. There also recalled that the missile threat persists: Russia raised in the air strategic bombers, they went to the launching lines at about 17 hours and launched missiles. The Air Force told about the destruction of two Russian "Kalibr" over the Vinnytsia region. "At about 13 hours on July 26, 2023, the enemy launched a strike with Kalibr cruise missiles from the waters of the Black Sea. Probably the missiles were launched from a Russian submarine. The missiles entered airspace from a southeastern direction, changing course along their route. Both missiles were shot down in the Vinnytsia region," the report said. ADVERTISIMENT Defenders of Ukrainian skies also recalled that Russia has raised strategic aviation in the sky. "At present, strategic bombers Tu-95MS, which we reported earlier, remain in the air. Enemy aircraft are moving to the area of launches - the Caspian Sea. Approximate time of exit to the launch lines 17.00! About possible launches and threats will be reported additionally on the official telegram channel of the Air Force. In case of danger - go to shelter!" - noted in the Air Force. At 16:57 the AFU reported missile launches from 12 Tu-95ms from the Caspian Sea area and stated a probable ballistic threat to the southeast. ADVERTISIMENT News supplemented by. PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech Foreign Ministry said it filed a lawsuit against Russia for compensation of 53 million crowns ($2.44 million) over lease payments on land in Prague and other cities used by the country's embassy. In May, the Czech centre-right government rescinded orders from the 1970s and 1980s, made by the country's then Communist rulers, that granted Russia the use of dozens of plots of lands free of charge. Russia would henceforth have to pay leases on the plots, the foreign ministry said after the orders were cancelled in May. That decision move marked a further deterioration of bilateral diplomatic relations that have been frosty since before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said on Wednesday the lawsuit, filed in a Prague court, was for "unjust enrichment" by Russia over the past three years. "We took this step because we did not receive any response (from Russian authorities) during pre-court calls," he said in a statement, adding the ministry would not give further details. Czech European Affairs Minister Martin Dvorak said in May that unauthorised profits from the land could not be allowed to support the "occupation of Ukraine". Russia's Foreign Ministry said that retroactive demands for rent looked "like a ransom demand at the state level." The Russian embassy did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on Wednesday. Czech and Russian relations have deteriorated in the past two years since Prague, in 2021, accused Russian intelligence agents of being behind explosions at an arms depot in the Czech Republic in 2014. The Czech parliament designated the Russian government as terrorist last November for its aggression in Ukraine. ($1 = 21.7310 Czech crowns) (Reporting by Jason Hovet; editing by John Stonestreet) MILAN (Reuters) - Energy storage and e-mobility firm Nhoa is considering teaming up with a partner to develop Atlante, its fast-charging network for electric vehicles (EV) in southern Europe, the Milan-based group said on Wednesday. Launched in 2021, Atlante plans to further develop its current network of 1,200 charging points, with plans to install about 2,000 new stations across Italy, France, Portugal and Spain. The entrance of a strategic partner is one of the options Nhoa is considering to expand its network to over 20,000 charging points by 2030, according to a presentation during the group's capital market day. Paris-listed Nhoa posted a core profit loss of 16.8 million euros in the first half of 2023, compared to a 5.8-million-euros loss in the same period of last year, due to investments in its capital-intensive EV charging unit. The group expects to break even in 2025, CEO Carlalberto Guglielminotti told investors during the presentation in Milan. The company improved its 2023 full-year sales outlook to 250-280 million euros from a previous target of 220-280 million, euros after a 48% revenue increase in the six months ending June. (Reporting by Elvira Pollina, editing by Alvise Armellini and David Evans) FILE PHOTO: An undated handout photo provided by the Hellenic Coast Guard shows migrants onboard a boat during a rescue operation, before their boat capsized on the open sea, off Greece, June 14, 2023. Hellenic Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo By Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The EU rights watchdog on Wednesday announced a probe into Europe's deadliest shipwreck in years and whether the bloc's Frontex border agency fulfilled its rescue duties when the boat sank off Greece last month killing hundreds of migrants. European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly said her office would review Frontex's internal rules, cooperation with Greek authorities and reports drawn up after the disaster, saying the deaths required close scrutiny. "My office will focus on the role of Frontex as we try to piece together the events that led to the capsizing of the boat and the deaths of at least 500 people," she said in announcing the inquiry into the sinking of the Adriana boat on June 14. "Migration to Europe will continue and it is up to the EU to ensure that it acts in a way that maintains fundamental rights and does not lose sight of the human suffering." Survivors recounted the Greek coastguard's doomed attempt to tow the overloaded trawler. Islamabad said the boat was carrying over 700 people, including at least 350 Pakistanis. The Greek coastguard rescued 104 people but hundreds drowned in one of Europe's deadliest shipwrecks in recent years. Frontex said it would cooperate with the probe. "Frontex sees the rescue of lives at sea as one of its essential roles and provides all the necessary support to national authorities when needed," it said in a statement. The 27-nation EU has turned increasingly restrictive on irregular immigration from the Middle East and Africa since more than a million people - mostly fleeing the war in Syria - arrived across the Mediterranean in 2015. Frontex received more money and powers as the bloc pushed to cut the sudden increase in sea arrivals of people fleeing wars and poverty in less well-off parts of the world. Climate change is also seen as increasingly driving global migration. Irregular immigration all but stopped amid the COVID pandemic. Fewer than 160,000 people made it across the sea last year, according to U.N. data. More than 2,400 died along the way. The issue remains highly sensitive across the bloc, especially ahead of a pan-EU election next June, with governments in countries including Italy, the Netherlands and Poland loudly calling for policies to keep people away. O'Reilly also said she would look into a recent EU deal with Tunisia to stem migration to Europe. (Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Nick Macfie) FILE PHOTO-Chinese President Xi Jinping meets the media following the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China October 23, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's leadership pledged at a key Communist Party meeting this week to support the economy through a "tortuous" post-pandemic recovery, but offered very little detail on specific measures, causing mixed feelings among investors and economists. ADDITIONAL STIMULUS ALMOST GUARANTEES CHINA WILL REACH ITS 2023 GROWTH TARGET. SO WHY ARE MANY ECONOMISTS STILL UNDERWHELMED? The goal of growing at about 5% this year was always seen as easy to reach due to favourable base effects from one of China's worst years in half a century. Also, that level looks less impressive given China invests about 40% of its GDP per year - twice what the United States invests. After a strong start of the year since COVID-19 restrictions were removed, the world's second largest economy barely grew in April-June, sparking worries it may be entering a new era of much slower growth and even Japan-like "lost decades" of stagnation. WHAT ARE THE KEY CONCERNS ABOUT CHINA'S ECONOMY? The main worry is the slowdown is more structural than cyclical and requires significant political will to change course on policies that have proven spectacularly successful for decades but now generate more debt than growth. Accounting for about a quarter of economic activity, the overextended property sector can no longer act as a key driver of growth, but allowing the bubble to deflate rapidly could destabilise the financial sector and the real economy. Another long-standing structural imbalance is China's household consumption, which remains among the smallest contributors to GDP in the world. Fixing it, economists say, requires transfers to the household sector. Options include government-funded consumer vouchers, significant tax cuts, encouraging faster wage growth, building a social safety net with higher pensions, unemployment benefits and better, and more widely available public services. No such steps were flagged in the politburo readout. They would require indebted local governments to renounce revenue and increase expenditure, forcing the national government in Beijing, which has spent decades centralising power, to transfer resources to cities and provinces and take on some of their debts. Encouraging higher wages requires unleashing the private sector from tight Communist Party controls, as well as boosting workers' bargaining power. It would also erode the export competitiveness of a sprawling manufacturing sector. Another headache for the Communist Party is youth unemployment surpassing 20%. The promise of prosperity has encouraged younger generations to study for advanced economy jobs, rather than the lower-end work available in the industrial and services sectors. The onus is on the private sector to provide those jobs, but many businesses lack confidence after years of crackdowns on the tech, financial and other industries. Levelling the playing field between the private and state sectors ultimately requires rule of law, analysts say. Chinese courts answer to the Communist Party. WHAT WOULD HAVE ECONOMISTS LIKED TO SEE IN THE POLITBURO READOUT? Economists weren't expecting discussion of any radical shifts but looked for signs Chinese leaders were acknowledging the enormity of the task ahead and clues on their longer-term thinking, as well as more concrete details about what is in the pipeline for the near term. While they took the politburo's remarks about the importance of the private sector as encouraging, economists were underwhelmed that the general proposals on how to boost consumption seemed nothing more than further plans to subsidise the autos and electronic appliances industries. The basket of measures to deal with local government debt flagged in the politburo readout was also welcomed by economists, but the urgency of the situation left analysts wanting for much more concrete details. Additionally, any investor expecting big-bang spending in response to underwhelming growth this year will have been disappointed. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Various government agencies need to turn the politburo's policy direction into reality, and announce specific measures in the coming weeks and months. That is what markets will look for to determine how well China is managing the risks it faces. In particular, investors are keen to see the package of measures on the property sector and on local government debt. More profound structural reforms will have to wait until a key Party conference in December. (Reporting by Marius Zaharia; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shuffled his cabinet on Wednesday, appointing new heads at 30 of the 38 ministries, adding seven new faces. Here are details of the main announcements: WHO HAS A BIG NEW JOB? The most unexpected move saw Anita Anand switch from defense to the more low-profile job of heading the Treasury Board, which has overall control of government spending. This is at best a lateral move for Anand, 56, a former university law professor, who first joined the cabinet in November 2019 as procurement minister and oversaw Canada's effort to obtain vaccines and personal protective gear during the COVID-19 pandemic. She had been at defense since October 2021. Bill Blair took over as defense minister, his fourth cabinet post under Trudeau since 2018, where he will oversee military efforts to help Ukraine and reinforce NATO. The former Toronto police chief, 69, had previously been in charge of border security, public safety and then emergency preparedness. Close Trudeau ally Dominic LeBlanc, 55, takes on the challenging public safety ministry while keeping his previous position as minister of intergovernmental affairs. His predecessor Marco Mendicino was dropped from cabinet amid complaints about how he had handled key security files. Marc Miller, 50, was promoted to immigration minister from crown indigenous relations. Immigration is a priority for the Liberal government, which is aiming to welcome 500,000 people a year - representing well over 1% of the population - by 2025. Sean Fraser becomes minister of the newly combined housing and infrastructure portfolios, both key priorities for the government amid widespread complaints about the shortage of affordable accommodation. Fraser, 39, had been immigration minister since October 2021. Mark Holland was promoted to health minister from leader of the government in the House of Commons lower chamber. It is the first cabinet job for the 48-year-old Ontario legislator. Another former professor, Jean-Yves Duclos, moved to public services and procurement from the health portfolio. Pablo Rodriguez, 56, moved to transport from Canadian Heritage, where he pushed through a controversial law obliging online giants to pay for Canadian news. WHO ARE THE NEWCOMERS TO WATCH? The most prominent newcomer to the cabinet is Arif Virani, a 51-year old lawyer who is justice minister. He will have to deal with unhappiness over plans to expand the ability of people to seek medically-assisted death. WHO IS LEAVING? Seven members of the old team have gone - Justice Minister David Lametti, Treasury Board head Mona Fortier and Mendicino were dropped and another four ministers had already announced they would be leaving politics. (Reporting by David Ljunggren, editing by Steve Scherer and Deepa Babington) FILE PHOTO: Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum speaks as he attends a presidential panel with Senegal's President Macky Sall and Ivory Coast's Vice President Tiemoko Meyliet Kone during the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast June 14, 2022. REUTERS/Lu By Bate Felix DAKAR (Reuters) -Niger's presidential guards were holding President Mohamed Bazoum inside his palace in the capital Niamey on Wednesday, in what the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union are calling an attempted coup. It marks the ninth coup or attempted power grab in just over three years in West and Central Africa, a region that over the last decade had made strides to shed its reputation as a "coup belt", only for persistent insecurity and corruption to open the door to military leaders. Here is a list of recent successful coups. BURKINA FASO Burkina Faso's army ousted President Roch Kabore in January 2022, blaming him for failing to contain violence by Islamist militants. Coup leader Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba pledged to restore security, but attacks worsened, eroding morale in the armed forces leading to a second coup eight months later when current junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traore, seized power in September following a mutiny. MALI A group of Malian colonels led by Assimi Goita ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August 2020. The coup followed anti-government protests over deteriorating security, contested legislative elections and allegations of corruption. Under pressure from Mali's West African neighbours, the junta agreed to cede power to a civilian-led interim government tasked with overseeing an 18-month transition to democratic elections in February 2022. But the coup leaders clashed with the interim president, retired colonel Bah Ndaw, and engineered a second coup in May 2021. Goita, who had served as interim vice president, was elevated to the presidency. ECOWAS lifted some of the sanctions on Mali after the military rulers proposed a two-year transition to democracy and published a new electoral law. The country is scheduled to hold a presidential election in February 2024 to return to constitutional rule. CHAD Chad's army took power in April 2021 after President Idriss Deby was killed on the battlefield while visiting troops fighting rebels in the north. Under Chadian law, the speaker of parliament should have become president. But a military council stepped in and dissolved parliament in the name of ensuring stability. Deby's son, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, was named interim president and tasked with overseeing an 18-month transition to elections. The unconstitutional transfer of power led to riots in the capital N'Djamena that were but down by the military. GUINEA Special forces commander Colonel Mamady Doumbouya ousted President Alpha Conde in September 2021. A year earlier, Conde had changed the constitution to circumvent limits that would have prevented him from standing for a third term, triggering widespread rioting. Doumbouya became interim president and promised a transition to democratic elections within three years. ECOWAS rejected the timeline and imposed sanctions on junta members and their relatives, including freezing their bank accounts. The military regime has since proposed to start the 24-month transition in January 2023, but opposition parties say it has done little to put in place institutions and a roadmap to return to constitutional rule. (Reporting by Bate Felix; Editing by Nick Macfie) TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan hopes to communicate closely with China, including with its newly named foreign minister and veteran diplomat Wang Yi, the top government spokesperson said on Wednesday. "It is important to build a constructive and stable relationship with China through mutual efforts," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters. China on Tuesday named Wang to replace Qin Gang, who had not been seen in public since June 25. Wang, who was Qin's predecessor, and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi agreed to resume high-level trilateral talks with South Korea on the sidelines of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Indonesia earlier this month. (Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim) Supporters of Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga of the Azimio La Umoja (Declaration of Unity) One Kenya Alliance, place flowers at a vigil to commemorate protestors who died during anti-government protests against the imposition of tax hikes by the g NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya's opposition on Wednesday held candle-lit vigils in major cities for the more than two dozen people killed and scores injured during protests this month against the high cost of living and tax hikes passed in June. Opposition leader Raila Odinga has repeatedly called for acts of civil disobedience against a government he accuses of raising the cost of living and consolidating power. The Azimio la Umoja (Declaration of Unity) coalition he leads held five protests earlier this month, causing widespread disruption which in some cases ended in violent confrontations with police. "Kenyans have gone through horror and terror these past days. People whose crime was to protest against policies that they feel worked against them have been shot dead, clobbered to a pulp or maimed," said Kalonzo Musyoka, a veteran politician in the Azimio coalition. Police killed 37 people during the protests, Kenyan rights group Independent Medico-Legal Unit said earlier this week, while Azimio claims at least 50 people were slain. The interior ministry said on Wednesday claims that security forces committed extrajudicial killings or used excessive force were false and malicious. On Wednesday Odinga, Musyoka and other opposition figures visited injured protesters at two hospitals in the capital Nairobi. "Kenyans are still hurting and we shall not relent until this regime acknowledges this grim reality of suffering and agrees to repeal the finance act," Musyoka said, referring to legislation that Kenya's High Court suspended pending a legal challenge. Odinga has in the past secured senior positions in government by making deals with those in power, following periods of unrest, but says he is not interested in any position in President William Ruto's government. Ruto has said he also would not allow Odinga into his government, but was open to meeting him. "As you have always known, am available to meet one on one with you anytime at your convenience," Ruto wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. (This story has been refiled to change Musyoka's designation in paragraph 4) (Reporting by Jefferson Kahinju, Humphrey Malalo; Writing by George Obulutsa and Hereward Holland, editing by Emelia Sithole and Bernadette Baum) The logo of L3Harris is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., July 1, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (Reuters) - Aerospace and defense company L3Harris Technologies on Wednesday said it was informed that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission would not block its $4.7 billion deal for Aerojet Rocketdyne. The company also raised its full-year forecasts for revenue and profit as the Ukraine war drives up demand for defense equipment. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and some other lawmakers had urged the Defense Department to thoroughly review the proposed deal, saying it could impact the operations of Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Boeing - all of which depend on products that only Aerojet is able to produce. Aerojet makes liquid and solid rocket propulsion and hypersonic engines for space, defense, civil and commercial applications. L3Harris, which announced it would buy Aerojet in December, said it expects to close the deal on or about July 28. The FTC did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. With the Ukraine war driving up demand for missiles and defense systems, Aerojet became an attractive takeover target. In 2022, Lockheed Martin walked away from its deal with Aerojet after antitrust regulators sued to block it on competition concerns. On Wednesday, L3Harris raised its annual revenue forecast to between $18 billion and $18.3 billion, from $17.4 billion to $17.8 billion estimated earlier. L3Harris now expects profit to be between $12.15 and $12.55 per share, from $12 to $12.50 estimated earlier. Formed by the merger of L3 Technologies and Harris Corp in 2019, the defense contractor's customers include the Pentagon, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and RTX Corp. (Reporting by Pratyush Thakur in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath) BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese officials were in a last-minute scramble on Wednesday to avoid leaving the crisis-hit country's central bank without a leader when governor Riad Salameh's 30-year tenure ends next week. The prospect of a vacuum at the top of the central bank has added to concerns about the further fragmentation of the state as it barrels towards a fifth year of financial turmoil. Even as the clock winds down, politicians remain split over whether to appoint a successor or allow the bank's first vice governor to take over as laid out in law, reflecting wider divisions that have also left the presidency vacant and the country without a fully empowered cabinet for over a year. Powerful Iran-backed group Hezbollah and its Christian ally the Free Patriotic Movement are against appointing a new governor, while Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and caretaker premier Najib Mikati are spearheading efforts to name one. Mikati, his deputy Saade Chami and finance minister Youssef Khalil met on Wednesday with the bank's four vice governors, according to the state's National News Agency. The four had earlier this month threatened to resign if no successor to Salameh was named, risking a total vacuum in the top rungs of the central bank as the economy sinks further. The central bank leadership is selected via the sectarian power-sharing system that governs other top posts in Lebanon. The governor is a Maronite Catholic and deputies are a Shi'ite Muslim, a Sunni Muslim, a Druze and an Armenian Catholic, all approved by the political chiefs representing their respective sects, granting those leaders significant sway. First vice governor Wassim Mansouri was nominated by Berri, who leads the Shi'ite Amal Movement. "Berri already backs the finance minister and a financial prosecutor. So he wants to avoid having Mansouri in the hot seat as he does not want to be seen as responsible for any further economic deterioration," a source close to Mansouri said. Mikati has called for the cabinet to meet on Thursday to discuss nominating a new governor. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah has said the caretaker cabinet did not have the right to appoint one. The FPM agrees and says it wants to appoint a Christian legal overseer to administer the central bank. Ali Hamdan, a senior adviser to the speaker, denied that Berri's position was based on worries about a backlash. "Mr. Berri is backing the appointment of a new governor to avoid the worst and because this is how it's supposed to be. The government has the capacity to do it even as a caretaker because this is something the cabinet should take care of - not because the situation could get worse with Mansouri in charge," Hamdan told Reuters. Salameh's 30 years as governor have been stained by recent charges at home and abroad of embezzlement of Lebanese public funds, which he denies. Many Lebanese blame him and the country's ruling elite for the financial collapse, which began in 2019 following decades of corruption and profligate spending by politicians. Salameh says he has been made a scapegoat for the meltdown. (Reporting by Maya Gebeily and Laila Bassam; Editing by Nick Macfie) Along the front line around the towns of Kupyansk, Svatove and Kreminna, the Russians are conducting constant assaults. At the same time, if the AFU can hold their positions and advance towards Kreminna, they will be able to interrupt an important Russian logistical line and bypass the rear of Bakhmut. ADVERTISIMENT Ukrainian commanders tell in the interview for The New York Times. Along the entire front line, Russian troops are mostly in a defensive position, but the occupiers are conducting constant offensive operations in the aforementioned directions. Recently, there has been an increase in the intensity of hostilities in the direction of Kupyansk (Kharkiv Region) and Liman (Donetsk Region). According to the Ukrainian military, the Russians have managed to intensify their assaults in these regions in recent weeks. The occupiers claim successes in these territories, but analysts note that the advance of the Russian army is insignificant. The Ukrainian military tells us that the occupiers can fire two to three times more shells per day than the Defense Forces. The Ukrainians are facing a well-known fighting scenario, already repeatedly used by Russia. This scenario consists of Russia trying to make small gains while relying on large amounts of personnel and weapons. ADVERTISIMENT Also, AFU commanders claim that the occupiers are forming special "Z" units for the assault, which are partly composed of prisoners. Chechen troops are sitting on the second lines of trenches, acting as barrier units and shooting at those who try to retreat. According to the publication, if Ukrainian forces manage to maintain their positions in the direction of Kreminna and advance, this will open up the possibility of a further offensive along the route all the way to Bakhmut. "On the contrary, if the Ukrainians are able to hold their positions and advance towards Kreminna, they can break Russia's important logistical line and try to bypass the rear of Bakhmut, Ukrainian commanders say," the piece says. At the same time, the Kremlin does not want to give up its ambitions to conquer the entire eastern Donbass, and in case the Ukrainian lines in the north break through and advance to Liman, the Kremlin will be able to present this as its victory. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier it was reported that the AFU soldiers stormed the "green field" in the Bakhmut direction and drove out the occupants. The defenders also won trophies, among them a DShK machine gun. The assault was carried out by soldiers of the 3rd company of the 1st assault battalion of the brigade. Also earlier the AFU soldiers near Bakhmut captured two occupants-drug addicts. They, being on the front line, smoked weed and said that they were allowed to do it "by the deputy commander". BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's longtime central bank governor Riad Salameh defended his record on Wednesday in a televised interview just days before he is set to leave office, denying he embezzled public funds and saying his policies benefited the economy. Salameh, whose 30-year tenure as governor has been stained by a deepening financial crisis and charges at home and abroad of embezzlement of public funds, said he would leave his post when his latest term ends on July 31. "I am going to turn a page of my life," Salameh, 72, told local broadcaster LBCI in an interview that appeared to take place in a showcase room at the bank. "I believe that during these 30 years, there were 27 of them when the Central Bank contributed with its monetary policies to establishing economic stability and development," he said, apparently referring to the years preceding the meltdown. His comments came amid a tug-of-war among top politicians over what to do once he leaves office, with a cabinet session set for tomorrow to discuss a possible successor. Since the economy began to unravel in 2019, the Lebanese pound has lost 98% of its value in the parallel market and most of the population has been locked out of their bank savings. The collapse followed decades of corruption and profligate spending by ruling politicians, which many Lebanese say Salameh helped facilitate. Some analysts have described his policy to lend to the government as a "Ponzi scheme." Salameh said on Wednesday he was being pinned as a "scapegoat" and that his more recent interventions in the money market had helped keep the pound from deteriorating further. "A lot of people were upset that this bank stayed steadfast, and that this bank on its own, because there was no government during this whole crisis, ran the economy," he said. "We wouldn't have been able to survive for three or four years... so how is this a Ponzi scheme?" Salameh stands formally accused in Lebanon, France and Germany of embezzling hundreds of millions in public funds from the central bank by collecting commissions as a fee from bond buyers and then transferring the funds to Forry Associates, owned by the governor's brother. He denied those charges again on Wednesday. "Neither directly nor indirectly did any money from the Central Bank go to Forry," Salameh said. Salameh also faces Interpol Red Notices stemming from arrest warrants in Germany and France. He is still under investigation in at least three other countries over corruption charges. (Reporting by Laila Bassam and Maya Gebeily; Editing by Bill Berkrot) FILE PHOTO: A worker at the Lithuanian mint holds a silver coin, produced to be exchanged for sets of digital currency released by Lithuanian central bank in Vilnius, Lithuania June 1, 2020. REUTERS/Andrius Sytas/File Photo By Marc Jones LONDON (Reuters) - The most comprehensive survey of the global investment industry on central bank digital currencies to date has shown both limited support and a lack of understanding of how a digital dollar, euro, yen or pound would work. The survey carried out by the CFA Institute, a worldwide association for bankers, investors and finance chiefs, found that only 42% of the more than 4,150 respondents who took part believed that central bank digital currencies, or CBDCs, should be launched. A number of countries including the Bahamas and Nigeria have already launched CBDCs, and around 130 more representing 98% of the global economy are exploring whether to do the same. "Even for a sophisticated and financially literate cohort like our members there is very little understanding of what CBDCs are," the CFA Institute's Olivier Fines told Reuters. There was also "a general feeling of scepticism" about their possible benefits, especially in developed economies where people can already pay for things instantly online or using mobile phones, he said. Only 37% of respondents from developed markets said they favoured a CBDC versus 61% from emerging markets. Just 31% of those in the United States supported the creation of a digital dollar, followed by 38% in Canada, 45% in the European Union and 46% in the United Kingdom. In China, in contrast, where the People's Bank of China is currently running the world's biggest CBDC pilot project, the support rate was 70% while in India, which hopes to launch an e-rupee next year, it was 66%. "There is a clear and very significant divide," Fines said, putting it down to a likely "perception in developing economies that a CBDC could fill a gap that may not exist in the developed world". Central bankers themselves have raised questions about CBDCs, including Bank of England head Andrew Bailey who said: "We have to be very clear what problem we are trying to solve here before we get carried away by the technology". Among UK respondents who opposed launching a CBDC, the top reason cited by almost half was a belief that their introduction would not address a compelling need. By far the biggest outright concern about CBDCs globally was the risk of cyberhacking, at 69%. Data privacy was also a major concern for 64% of respondents in developed markets and 57% in developing economies. Age is also correlated with the level of support for or opposition to CBDCs. Less than a quarter of respondents under 30 opposed them, the survey found, compared with 37% among those over 55. "Clearly the younger you are the more receptive you are to a CBDC, like with crypto assets more generally," Fines said. "The question is will this stabilise over time or as people get older will their mindset shift?" Overall, though, the main questions were what benefits CBDCs will bring compared with existing payment systems. "I don't think the argument has been settled on whether this is absolutely necessary," Fines said. (This story has been corrected to fix Andrew Bailey's quote in paragraph 10) (Reporting by Marc Jones; Editing by Leslie Adler) FILE PHOTO: Lockheed Martin's logo is seen during Japan Aerospace 2016 air show in Tokyo, Japan, October 12, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo (Reuters) - Weapons maker Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract by a U.S. Department of Defense agency to develop a nuclear-powered spacecraft for the purposes of exploration and national defense, the company said on Wednesday. This comes at a time when U.S.-based space companies, along with Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Elon Musk's SpaceX, are competing to cater to the burgeoning demand for commercial space operations and space travel. Lockheed Martin said the project is an advancement in propulsion technology from chemical propulsion engines to nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) engines. "These more powerful and efficient nuclear thermal propulsion systems can provide faster transit times between destinations. Reducing transit time is vital for human missions to Mars to limit a crew's exposure to radiation," said Kirk Shireman, vice president of Lunar Exploration Campaigns at Lockheed Martin Space. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded the contract to Lockheed under a project called Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO). The in-space flight demonstration of a nuclear thermal rocket engine vehicle will take place no later than 2027, Lockheed said. (Reporting by Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) The logo of Mercedes-Benz is seen outside a Mercedes-Benz car dealer in Brussels, Belgium June 1, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman (Reuters) -Mercedes-Benz on Wednesday raised its full-year forecast for operating profit, on the back of higher prices that helped the luxury carmaker shrug off higher material costs and negative currency effects. The German automaker said it now expects earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) in 2023 to be on par with the 20.5 billion euros ($22.7 billion) made in 2022, having previously expected a slight decline. Frankfurt-listed shares in the company, which is scheduled to report full second-quarter results on Thursday, narrowed losses following the news to trade 0.4% lower. EBIT for the April-June quarter profit rose to 5 billion euros compared with a consensus of 4.7 billion euros, Mercedes-Benz said, also citing higher earnings from its Vans division. That segment is now expected to deliver an adjusted return on sales of 13% to 15% in 2023, up from 11% to 13% previously forecast, marking the second outlook upgrade in less than three months. The Vans division posted a preliminary adjusted return on sales of 15.5% in the quarter, driven by improved net pricing and increased unit sales, Mercedes-Benz said, adding its Cars division achieved an adjusted return on sales of 13.5%. Earlier this month, the company reported a 6% growth in its second-quarter vehicle sales as a result of high demand for all-electric and top-end vehicles. ($1 = 0.9021 euro) (Reporting by Shivani Tanna in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Christoph Steitz; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Jonathan Oatis) FILE PHOTO: Mexico's Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez speaks during the opening of the U.S.-Mexico High-Level Security Dialogue at the State Department in Washington, U.S., October 13, 2022. REUTERS/Michael A. McCoy/File Photo MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico and the United States have agreed to step up oversight of arms trafficking with a system to electronically track firearms seized from criminal organizations, Mexican Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez said on Wednesday. "The United States and Mexico have agreed to the electronic monitoring of all the firearms seized in our country from criminal organizations," Rodriguez told a press conference. Officials from both countries this week discussed the flow of firearms from the United States to Mexican cartels that traffic drugs such as fentanyl into the U.S. "We want the United States to help us so we can stop this flow because this is what strengthens the cartels," incoming foreign minister Alicia Barcena said at the press conference. Barcena said the plan aimed to keep track of where guns are found in Mexico to help inform seizure strategies. Neither official provided further details on the plan's scope. Some 200,000 weapons enter Mexico annually, Barcena noted, citing data from the defense ministry. One of Mexico's main proposals to the U.S. was that it revoke licenses of gun stores that sell firearms to cartels, she said. Others included more oversight of license providers, more seizures and more arrests that focus not just on the middle men. Barcena said the proposals had been "very well received." They come after Mexico urged a U.S. appeals court to revive a $10 billion lawsuit, backed by many Caribbean countries, that aims to hold U.S. gun makers responsible for facilitating arms trafficking to drug cartels across the U.S.-Mexico border. According to U.S. gun-tracing bureau ATF, some 70% of traced firearms used to commit crimes and seized in Mexico come from the U.S. This rises to around 80% across the Caribbean. (Reporting by Raul Cortes, Adriana Barrera and Sarah Morland; Editing by Alistair Bell) FILE PHOTO: Mexico's new Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena Ibarra holds a meeting with the media at the Secretary of Foreign Affairs headquarters, in Mexico City, Mexico. July 14, 2023. REUTERS/Raquel Cunha/File Photo MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico and the United States are working on a plan to process migrants in southern Mexico, encompassing Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans, Mexico's incoming foreign minister Alicia Barcena said on Wednesday. Barcena did not detail the plan, but said it would complement existing options for migrants to enter the U.S. - a humanitarian visa program for those groups and a mobile app for asylum seekers called CBP One. She said Mexico was looking to set up an "international space" offering "multiple services" for migrants from the four countries who remained in Mexico after COVID-era curbs at the U.S. southern border ended in May. "President Lopez Obrador has told us to do it in the south of Mexico to avoid this sad transit to the United States," Barcena told reporters after meetings this week between U.S. and Mexican officials on migration and security. The plan aimed to encompass both asylum and employment, she said, adding Mexico wants to explore safe and orderly pathways for people who are not eligible under current rules. Asked about Barcena's comments, a Mexican official told Reuters that talks were still ongoing with the U.S. The plan did not foresee using U.S. facilities, the official added. Reuters reported this month that U.S. and Mexican officials were discussing a new U.S. refugee program for some non-Mexican asylum seekers waiting in Mexico, part of U.S. President Joe Biden's attempts to create more legal avenues for migration. It would allow qualifying migrants approved for refugee status to enter via the U.S. refugee resettlement program, which is only available to applicants abroad, sources told Reuters. Unlike most migrants who claim asylum after entering the U.S., refugees receive immediate work authorization and government benefits such as housing and employment assistance. Barcena said the number of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border dropped more than 50% in May and June after the COVID-era border restrictions, known as Title 42, expired. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon, Dave Graham and Adriana Barrera; Editing by Alison Williams) FILE PHOTO: A child is seen at the new temporary camp for migrants and refugees, on the island of Lesbos, Greece, September 23, 2020. REUTERS/Yara Nardi BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Fewer than a third of unaccompanied children succeeded in winning asylum in Greece last year, with the rest of the applications rejected or in limbo, aid agency Save the Children said in calling for better protection of those most vulnerable. Greece is one of the main routes into the European Union for refugees and migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Hundreds of migrants died off the Greek shores last month when an overcrowded smugglers' boat capsized and sank. In a report on Thursday, Save the Children said that 981 out of 3,175 asylum requests logged in Greece last year by unaccompanied children - up to 18 years old - were accepted. "These figures suggest many lone children on the move were denied the right to protection and left without the legal documentation needed to enable them to remain in the country," said the non-governmental organisation (NGO). It blamed bureaucracy for leaving such minors to live in Greece unofficially and without any documentation, a situation making their already fraught fate even more precarious by increasing the risk of violence, abuse and exploitation. "Undocumented children live in a state of insecurity and fear of deportation. This fear is particularly sharp for children who are mistakenly registered as adults," Save the Children said. It called for "a special residence permit for unaccompanied children" who lose their asylum bid, better access to mental health and other medical services, as well as education for what is one of the most vulnerable group of refugees and migrants. (Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; editing by Mark Heinrich) FILE PHOTO: Banners displaying the NATO logo are placed at the entrance of new NATO headquarters during the move to the new building, in Brussels, Belgium April 19, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/file photo BRUSSELS (Reuters) -NATO said on Wednesday it was stepping up surveillance of the Black Sea region as it condemned Russia's exit from a deal assuring the safe passage of ships carrying Ukrainian grain. The announcement came after a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, a body established earlier this month to coordinate cooperation between the Western military alliance and Kyiv. "Allies and Ukraine strongly condemned Russias decision to withdraw from the Black Sea grain deal and its deliberate attempts to stop Ukraines agricultural exports on which hundreds of millions of people worldwide depend," NATO said in a statement. "NATO and Allies are stepping up surveillance and reconnaissance in the Black Sea region, including with maritime patrol aircraft and drones," the statement said. The deal that has allowed the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine's grain for the past year expired on July 17 after Russia quit in a move the United Nations said would "strike a blow to people in need everywhere." Moscow suggested it would consider reviving the deal if demands to improve exports of its own grain and fertilizer were met. COUNCIL CRITICISES POSSIBLE NAVIGATION THREATS The NATO statement criticized a Russian warning that parts of the Black Sea's international waters were temporarily unsafe for navigation. Russia also said that ships travelling to Ukraine's Black Sea ports would be seen as possibly carrying military cargoes. "Allies noted that Russias new warning area in the Black Sea, within Bulgarias exclusive economic zone, has created new risks for miscalculation and escalation, as well as serious impediments to freedom of navigation," the NATO statement said. Bulgaria is a member of NATO. NATO also said it condemned recent Russian attacks on Odesa, Mykolaiv and other port cities, including a drone strike on a Ukrainian grain storage facility in the Danube port city of Reni, near the border with NATO-member Romania. "We remain ready to defend every inch of Allied territory from any aggression, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed the Council's "lear and unequivocal condemnation" of Russia's pullout from the grain deal. "Established only two weeks ago in Vilnius, the Council has already proved to be an effective mechanism for crisis consultations," Zelenskiy posted, in English, on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Ukraine, he wrote, would "continue to fulfil its obligations in providing global food security... We stay united with the Alliance as we are moving along the path towards our NATO membership." The Council was set up at the Alliance's summit this month in Lithuania, where members offered Kyiv ammunition and weapons but could not consider membership while Ukraine is at war. (Reporting by Andrew Gray, Editing by Ron Popeski, William Maclean) By Camillus Eboh ABUJA (Reuters) - Frontline doctors in Nigerian public hospitals began an indefinite strike on Wednesday over grievances including demands for a pay rise after the removal of a subsidy on petrol, the doctors' union said. The doctors are the first public sector workers to strike after fuel prices more than tripled and increased transport fares following President Bola Tinubu's decision to scrap the popular subsidy at the end of May, worsening a cost of living crisis in Africa's biggest economy. The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), said the strike started early on Wednesday "having considered all the numerous ultimatums, appeals, and engagements with government". Resident doctors are medical school graduates training as specialists. They are pivotal to frontline healthcare in Nigeria as they dominate the emergency wards in its hospitals. The union represents around 15,000 resident doctors out of a total of more than 40,000 doctors in the west African nation. NARD said that the failure of government to review members' salaries before and after the subsidy was removed, and shortages of manpower as doctors leave for better paying jobs abroad, were among the reasons for the strike. Nigeria's main labour unions and the government set an eight-week timeline in June to finalise an agreement to raise the minimum wage to help cushion the impact of high fuel prices in Africa's most populous nation. Tinubu, who has embarked on Nigeria's boldest reforms in decades, has been under pressure from unions to offer relief to households and small businesses after he scrapped the subsidy that kept petrol prices cheap but cost the government $10 billion last year. The president does not yet have a team of ministers after he was sworn in at the end of May following disputed elections in February. The speaker of the lower house has been negotiating with the doctor and urged them not to strike. Nigerian doctors frequently strike over what they say are poor conditions of service. They walked out from their jobs three times in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reporting by Camillus Eboh; Writing by Chijioke Ohuocha; Editing by Alison Williams) FILE PHOTO: Secretary-General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro speaks during the Leaders' Second Plenary Session during the Ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 10, 2022. REUTERS/Lauren Justice/File Photo By Sofia Menchu GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) -The Organization of American States (OAS) chief Luis Almagro will meet with authorities and politicians in Guatemala next week, he said on Wednesday, as concerns escalate over alleged government interference in the upcoming presidential runoff vote. After candidate Bernardo Arevalo won a surprise second place in the initial round in June, Guatemalan authorities halted processing of the results and temporarily ordered the suspension of his anti-corruption party, Semilla, spurring international criticism. Arevalo's close finish behind former first lady Sandra Torres shocked Guatemala's political establishment and catapulted the unlikely contender into a strong position to win in the Aug. 20 runoff, analysts say. OAS head Almagro is set to arrive in Guatemala on Monday at President Alejandro Giammattei's invitation, and seek meetings with Arevalo and Torres, as well as other politicians and government representatives. The OAS, which monitored the first round, had backed the results as legitimate. "We have expressed ourselves emphatically on multiple occasions against the repeated attempts to alter the will of the people and the attacks on the electoral authorities," Almagro said in a special OAS session to discuss the election. "This is an electoral process that has suffered clear interference of internal actors that hindered its normal development," he said. Irma Palencia, the head of Guatemala's electoral court, said she has asked the OAS to continue monitoring the election. (Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Daina Beth Solomon, Jonathan Oatis and Bill Berkrot) Armenia is ready to recognise Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sign a peace agreement. According to the Armenian government, they are ready to leave Nagorno-Karabakh. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the Russian media. The tasks of the Armenian armed forces include only ensuring the territorial integrity of the republic, while the army should ensure the security of Nagorno-Karabakh. "Armenia cannot decide the fate of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, their representatives should be the party to the negotiations," Pashinyan said. On the basis of the agreements reached on mutual recognition of territorial integrity, Armenia expressed its readiness to sign a peace agreement with Azerbaijan. "Armenia is ready to sign a peace agreement with Azerbaijan on the basis of the agreements reached at the meetings in Brussels and Prague. These are agreements on mutual recognition of territorial integrity," Pashinyan said. According to him, this is an agreement reached between Yerevan and Baku. ADVERTISIMENT "And within the framework of this agreement, we are ready to sign the agreement," Pashinyan said. As a reminder, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Brussels for talks aimed at resolving their long-standing conflict over control of Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh. The meeting was mediated by the European Union. As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to mutually recognise each other's territorial integrity. Yerevan is ready to unblock all transport and economic corridors. Armenia has recognised Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said. At the same time, there is no agreement on the status of the Lachin corridor yet - Aliyev and Pashinyan started a dispute over its name right during the meeting. ADVERTISIMENT The day before, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Russian peacekeepers would continue to be deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh until 2025. They will remain in the previously designated locations. Only verified information is available in our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Abortion rights protesters gather for a rally in Columbus, Ohio, after the United States Supreme Court ruled in the Dobbs v Women's Health Organization abortion case, overturning the landmark Roe v Wade abortion decision, June 24, 2022. REUTERS/Megan Jel By Joseph Ax (Reuters) - Voters in Ohio will decide in November whether to enshrine the right to abortion in their state constitution, after state officials on Tuesday confirmed abortion rights supporters had gathered enough signatures to place the question on the ballot. The measure will be closely watched by groups on both sides of the abortion debate, as activists consider pursuing referendums in other states after the U.S. Supreme Court last year stripped away national abortion rights. Ohio is likely to be the only state to vote on abortion rights this fall. The outcome may not rely on a simple majority. The state's Republican-controlled legislature, aiming to make it more difficult for the referendum to succeed, approved a separate ballot question asking voters to raise the threshold of voters required to amend the state constitution to 60%, instead of 50%. That measure will be decided at a special election on August 8. A USA TODAY Network/Suffolk University of Ohio poll taken in early July found 58% of Ohio voters favor protecting abortion rights, with 32% opposed. The Ohio secretary of state's office said Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights, the coalition backing the proposed abortion measure, submitted 495,938 valid signatures from 55 counties, above the minimum qualifying levels of 413,487 signatures and 44 counties. "Now that the petition drive is complete, we're eager to continue the campaign to enshrine those rights in Ohio's Constitution and ensure that Ohioans will never again be subject to draconian reproductive health care policies imposed by extremists," two of the group's leaders, Lauren Blauvelt and Lauren Beene, said in a statement. Protect Women Ohio, the group leading the opposition campaign, called the November measure "anti-parent" in a statement, warning it would allow minors to have abortions without their parents' consent. Abortion rights proponents have used ballot measures successfully in other Republican-leaning states. Kansas voters chose to preserve constitutional protection of abortion rights in 2022, while voters in Kentucky rejected a referendum that sought to establish the state constitution does not protect a right to an abortion. Abortion is legal in Ohio up to 22 weeks. A six-week ban signed into law by Republican Governor Mike DeWine has been on hold pending the outcome of legal challenges, which the state Supreme Court has agreed to hear. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Sonali Paul) By Niket Nishant and Manya Saini (Reuters) -PacWest Bancorp's shares jumped nearly 29% on Wednesday, as investors cheered Banc of California's $1.1 billion deal for the lender that has been under pressure since the banking crisis earlier this year. Shares of Banc of California, smaller and younger compared to 24-year old PacWest, also rose about 3.4% to $15.11. The lender has agreed to pay 0.6569 share for each PacWest share, the companies said on Tuesday. PacWest stock was trading at $9.90, above the offer price of $9.60 per share, according to calculations based on Banc of California's closing price on Tuesday. "We believe the sale of PacWest makes sense for shareholders given the numerous struggles the bank has faced since the March banking panic," Raymond James analyst David Long said. Optimism around the deal helped the KBW Regional Banking Index surge 2.9%, hitting its highest since March 14. Shares of Western Alliance also jumped 9%, touching levels not seen in over four and a half months. The acquisition also has "strategic merits" for Banc of California, Long added. "The deal marks a structural transformation for BANC and accelerates its evolution, with a much improved profitability profile exiting 2024." But Wedbush analyst David Chiaverini warned of a potentially tepid response from some PacWest shareholders. "We question whether or not longer-term PACW shareholders will view this as a strong enough deal price for shareholder approval... We wouldn't be surprised if there were some dissent among a minority of shareholders and possibly open the door to the potential emergence of a rival third-party bid." Earlier this year, after three lenders collapsed, the regional banking industry was engulfed in the worst turmoil since the 2008 financial crisis, which also put PacWest under pressure. It signed a few asset sale agreements to pacify jittery investors and reassure depositors, including the sale of a $3.54 billion lender finance portfolio to asset manager Ares Management, which analysts had said would allay all concerns about the health of its balance sheet. But global research firm Third Bridge's analyst Omar Fahmy said "PacWest just could not recover from its wounds quickly enough." "Despite the sale announcement, our experts largely believe that the 'banking panic' we saw around U.S. regional banks earlier this year has subsided now we have seen reasonably positive earnings from PNC and Western Alliance," Fahmy added. Private equity firms Warburg Pincus and Centerbridge Partners have agreed to invest $400 million in Banc of California's buyout deal. (Reporting by Niket Nishant and Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli) RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) -Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian teenager when clashes erupted during an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said it was checking the report. The ministry, which identified the person killed as a 14-year-old, said clashes broke out overnight after Israeli troops entered the Palestinian city of Qalqiliya. Residents said a group of Palestinian youth threw stones at the soldiers operating in the area. Violence in the West Bank, among territories where the Palestinians seek to establish a state, has worsened over the past 15 months amid stepped-up Israeli raids, Palestinian street attacks and assaults by Jewish settlers on Palestinian villages. (Reporting by Ali Sawafta, Hatem Maher and Muhammad Al Gebaly; Editing by Leslie Adler and Matthew Lewis) FILE PHOTO: A Little Free Library, the local variation of which has been dubbed "Little Banned Library" and which was designed to look like a prison, invites residents to take books that the library says have been challenged by schools across the state of By Joseph Ax (Reuters) - A coalition of booksellers, authors and publishers has sued Texas seeking to block a new state law that bans "sexually explicit" books from public schools. The law, which was passed by the Republican-controlled legislature in May and is set to take effect in September, requires sellers to rate books based on their references to sex and empowers the Texas Education Agency to review those ratings. Vendors that do not participate will be barred from selling any books to Texas schools. Any books rated explicit cannot be sold to public schools and must be recalled from libraries. The law is one of several passed in Republican-controlled states seeking to restrict books that conservatives say contain age-inappropriate content on topics such as sex, LGBTQ issues and race. Critics argue the bans are too subjective and amount to politically driven censorship. The new lawsuit, filed in Austin federal court on Tuesday, asserts that the legislation "compels plaintiffs to express the government's views, even if they do not agree," in violation of the First Amendment's free speech protections. The standards for what constitutes "explicit" material are also unconstitutionally vague, according to the complaint. "As guided by history and U.S. Supreme Court precedent, the government should not dictate what is allowed in the marketplace of ideas," the lawsuit said. Republican Governor Greg Abbott has said the Texas law protects children, declaring that it "gets that trash out of our schools" when he signed it in June. The Texas Education Agency and Abbott's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday. In May, the writers' group PEN America and others sued a Florida school district for banning books dealing with LGBTQ and race issues. Another lawsuit in Arkansas takes aim at a law that requires libraries and bookstores to segregate any material that could be "harmful" to minors in a separate area. The American Library Association reported 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest figure since the organization began tracking such data more than 20 years ago. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Bill Berkrot) FILE PHOTO: A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone sits in a hanger at Amari Air Base, Estonia, July 1, 2020. U.S. unmanned aircraft are deployed in Estonia to support NATO's intelligence gathering missions in the Baltics. REUTERS/Janis Laizans/File Photo By Trevor Hunnicutt and Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A second Russian aircraft flew "dangerously close" to a U.S. drone over Syria this week, just days after another Russian jet damaged another U.S. drone above the war-torn country, the White House said on Wednesday. "We have seen the early reports of a second Russian fighter aircraft this week, flying dangerously close to our drone on a defeat ISIS mission," White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters in a press briefing. "We remain focused on the mission to defeat ISIS as is evident by our recent strike against an ISIS leader in Syria this month," she added. The U.S. military said on Tuesday a Russian fighter jet hit a U.S. drone with a flare on Sunday and "severely" damaged its propeller over Syria, in violation of established protocols and international norms. U.S. officials say that Russian jets have increased the pace of dangerous encounters with U.S. military aircraft in recent months over Syria, where forces from both countries operate. Russia intervened in the Syrian civil war in 2015, tipping the balance in President Bashar Al-Assad's favor. Moscow has since expanded its military facilities in the country with a permanent air base and also has a naval base. The U.S. is leading a coalition against the Islamic State militant group and has carried out air strikes in Syria this year. Washington has in the last year stepped up raids and operations against suspected ISIS operatives in Syria. A U.S.-led campaign killed former ISIS head Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, who had declared himself the "caliph of all Muslims", in 2019 and has since targeted its surviving leaders, many of whom are thought to have planned attacks abroad. Islamic State controlled one-third of Iraq and Syria at its peak in 2014. Though it was beaten back in both countries, its militants continue to wage insurgent attacks. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; additional reporting by Kanishka Singh and Phil Stewart; writing by Kanishka Singh; editing by Rami Ayyub and Sandra Maler) People, including supporters of founder of Group-IB cybersecurity firm Ilya Sachkov charged with treason, gather in a court building during a hearing in Moscow, Russia July 26, 2023. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina By Andrew Osborn MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian court on Wednesday convicted a top cyber security executive of treason and jailed him for 14 years in a case that state news agency TASS said centred on allegations he had passed classified information to foreign spies. Ilya Sachkov, who denied wrongdoing and calmly listened to the verdict in a glass courtroom cage, helped found Group-IB, once one of Russia's most prominent cybersecurity firms which this year announced it had cut ties with its original market. Sachkov, 37, who is no longer associated with Group-IB but owns a share in its former Russian business, was arrested in September 2021 by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on treason charges in a case that is classified. Sachkov's lawyer told reporters he had been hoping his client would be acquitted because he thought sufficient evidence of his innocence had been presented. "We're not giving up. We believe ...in Ilya's innocence, and we'll appeal further and work further," the lawyer, Sergei Afanasiev, said. Former colleagues who bought Group-IB's Russian business and renamed it F.A.C.C.T said in a statement that his legal team would also ask President Vladimir Putin to intervene. Sachkov had been ordered to serve out his sentence in a high-security penal colony, they said. "Employees have taken what has happened calmly, they continue to support Ilya and hope he will be released and rehabilitated," the statement said. "This is a hard moment for all of us and a black day for the (Russian) cybersecurity market." Some of his supporters, wearing black T-shirts bearing his portrait, were at the court to hear the verdict. At the time of his arrest, Group-IB focused on investigating high-tech crimes and online fraud in Russia and elsewhere. Sachkov had ruffled official feathers a year before his arrest at an event attended by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. In a speech at the event shown on state TV, Sachkov accused authorities of allowing a prominent Russian criminal hacker to go about his business unimpeded, criticised the appointment of someone he said was a former spy to a body overseeing the export of advanced technologies, and accused Putin's cybersecurity envoy of making toxic statements. Lauded as one of Russia's most promising businessmen before his detention, Sachkov had met Putin in the Kremlin in 2019 after winning a prize for young entrepreneurs. Sachkov is the latest in a long line of people, including scientists, soldiers, officials and a former journalist, to face treason charges in Russia in recent years. (Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by William Maclean and John Stonestreet) (Reuters) - Seagate Technology forecast first-quarter revenue below market estimates on Wednesday on weakness in major market China and lower tech spending by businesses worried about an uncertain economy. The company, one of the biggest makers of computer hard drives, said it expected current-quarter revenue to be $1.55 billion, plus or minus $150 million. The midpoint of that was below the analysts' estimate of $1.74 billion, according to Refinitiv data. Seagate also missed expectations for fourth-quarter revenue. The "performance reflected the uneven pace of economic recovery in China, cloud inventory digestion, and cautious enterprise spending amid the uncertain macroeconomic environment," CEO Dave Mosley said. Like others in the memory industry, Seagate has seen demand dry up for its data storage products from cloud customers as they work to clear a build-up of inventory after the pandemic. A slow economic recovery in China from strict COVID-19 curbs has also weighed on demand in a market that analysts said accounts for nearly a third of Seagate's revenue. In the quarter to June 30, Seagate's revenue sank by nearly 40% to $1.60 billion, missing estimates of $1.68 billion. The company's gross margin shrank to 19% from 28.9% a year ago as an oversupply of data storage equipment weighed on prices. Net loss came in at $92 million, or 44 cents per share, compared with a profit of $276 million, or $1.27 per share, a year ago. The company said it expected a first-quarter adjusted loss of 16 cents per share, plus or minus 20 cents, compared with analysts' average estimate for a profit of 7 cents. (Reporting by Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur) DAKAR (Reuters) - Twenty-three people were killed in a road accident in northern Senegal on Wednesday, said the country's president Macky Sall. The crash happened on one of Senegal's main highways, the N2, in the village of Ngeune Sarr, Sall said in a post on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The deputy mayor of the nearby town of Louga, Madjiguene Gueye Sankare, told Reuters that a passenger bus had flipped over. The wounded were taken to Louga's hospital and the dead to several different morgues, she said. "The whole city is in mourning," said Sankare. Senegal has already had two major crashes involving passenger buses early this year, the first killing about 40 people and the second 20. (This story has been corrected to change 'he' to 'she' in paragraph 3) (Reporting by Ngouda Dione; Writing by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Christina Fincher) A screen grab taken from a video shows people waiting outside the Catania Fontanarossa International Airport in Catania, Italy July 26, 2023. REUTERS/Giselda Vagnoni By Giselda Vagnoni and Angelo Amante CATANIA, Italy (Reuters) - A fire early last week at Sicily's main airport is still causing massive disruption for visitors to the island, laying bare the disorganisation and poor infrastructure that challenge Italy's tourism ambitions. The fire broke out on July 17 at Catania airport, below Mount Etna, which acts as a hub for the east of Sicily and attracts more arrivals than the capital Palermo. The blaze, the cause of which is still being investigated, was swiftly extinguished and nobody was hurt, but in the following nine days thousands of disoriented tourists have complained of huge delays, a lack of information, and flights suddenly re-routed hundreds of miles away. Some disruption was inevitable, but visitors describe scenes of utter chaos that jar with the government's jaunty "Welcome to Wonder" advertising campaign, which aims to attract tourists using a computerised "influencer" version of Venus. Italy is trying to boost its appeal as a tourist destination, and a boom in arrivals this year has supported the economy as the manufacturing sector has struggled. "We are now told our flight won't leave before 6 p.m. (1600 GMT). We have been here since 5 a.m. and our flight got cancelled at 11:55 this morning," Julie, a stranded tourist from California told Reuters at the airport. She said she enjoyed her holiday between the island's hot spots of Taormina and Syracuse, but feels she won't come back to Italy very soon. "I understand the fire (at the airport) ... but it feels very disorganised," she said. Confused and infuriated tourists have complained of the airport's public address system breaking down and instructions being given by staff using megaphones, and only in Italian. The regional government says the situation is gradually improving, and it is confident the airport can return to full capacity by early August. Palermo, the island's second-largest airport, was also temporarily shut down on Tuesday due to nearby forest fires. HEATWAVE Temporary tent-like structures have been built outside a small terminal in Catania to help cope with the flows of passengers, as clean-up operations go on in the main building. "I could still smell burned plastic when I got to the airport," said Maria Grazia Salamone, who took a flight to Rome from Catania on July 24. "Airport people were shouting the names of the flights to be boarded, but what happens if you don't hear them?," she said. The situation in Catania - where some 300,000 people live - has been compounded by a heatwave with temperatures above 45 Celsius (113F), power cuts and disruptions to the water supply in the city and nearby towns. Ugo Zinna, who travelled to Genoa from Catania on Tuesday, said his flight was delayed for two hours and he had to wait in a makeshift building with a tensile roof that gave little protection from the blazing sun. Catania's city council has set up a hotline and places offering daytime shelter with air conditioning for citizens needing assistance due to black-outs and lack of water. "We had candle-lit dinners on Monday and Tuesday as we had no power for five hours from five until 10 in the evening," said Alfio Guglielmino from the small town of Belpasso in the province of Catania. (Additional reporting by Alberto Chiumento, editing by Gavin Jones and Sharon Singleton) NATO condemned Russia's withdrawal from the grain agreements and the terrorist state's attempts to turn hunger into a weapon. Russia's dangerous actions in the Black Sea pose a threat to the stability of the entire Black Sea region, and consequently to the Alliance. ADVERTISIMENT Therefore, NATO has decided to strengthen intelligence in the Black Sea region. This was stated by the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance Jens Stoltenberg after the meeting of the Council Ukraine-NATO, convened at the initiative of Kiev. "An important meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council. We condemn Russia's withdrawal from the grain agreement, its cynical use of hunger as a weapon and its dangerous actions in the Black Sea. NATO remains united - the Alliance continues to step up in support of Ukraine and is increasing vigilance in the region," Stoltenberg said. The statement following the Council meeting noted that NATO will strengthen intelligence in the Black Sea region. In particular, maritime patrol aircraft and drones will be used more actively. ADVERTISIMENT "Russia's actions also pose significant risks to the stability of the Black Sea region, which is of strategic importance to NATO," Stoltenberg emphasized. We shall remind you that on 23 July, it became known that Stoltenberg agreed to convene a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council on 26 July. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the leadership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization with such a request a day earlier. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry stated that Russia was preparing ships and aircraft to block the Black Sea areas and predicted that the aggressor could attack civilian ships going to or leaving Ukrainian ports. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, British intelligence noted that Russia could intercept merchant ships going to Ukraine. They do not rule out that Russian forces may resort to attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea. And the U.S. State Department and then the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that the Russian Federation may be preparing an attack under a foreign flag to accuse our state of strikes on civilian ships. Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong delivers the Singapore Energy Lecture during the 15th Singapore International Energy Week, in Singapore October 25, 2022. REUTERS/Isabel Kua/File Photo SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A spate of political scandals in Singapore, including a corruption case and the resignations of senior lawmakers, has been a "setback" to the ruling party, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong told the BBC on Wednesday. Wong, who is expected to be the city-state's next prime minister, said in an interview the government would work "doubly hard" to earn back the trust of Singaporeans. "If I do have a chance to take over [as prime minister], I know that it's not just about me taking over because I also have to earn that trust from Singaporeans themselves. I have to win their confidence and mandate to lead the country," he said. Singapore has to call a general election by 2025. In recent weeks, the otherwise politically stable country has seen a graft investigation involving transport minister S. Iswaran, and the resignation of two ruling party lawmakers, including the house speaker, who quit because of an inappropriate relationship. Voters have raised questions about why it took three days for authorities to reveal that Iswaran was arrested, and why the lawmakers were allowed to continue in their posts when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong knew about their relationship since 2020. Wong said the anti-graft bureau chose to reveal Iswaran's arrest three days after they had taken place due to "operational considerations". With regard to the lawmakers, he said the People's Action Party, which has ruled Singapore uninterrupted since 1959, was "cognisant of the impact that our actions have on innocent parties, including families, especially the spouses and their children". (Reporting by Xinghui Kok; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor) By Ahmed Kingimi MAIDUGURI (Reuters) - Islamist militants killed at least 25 people and wounded others in attacks on two villages in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, a hotbed for insurgency, a police source and two residents said on Wednesday. The militants killed 18 herders grazing their livestock in one village and seven other people in another village, both in Kukawa district of the state that borders neighbouring Chad on Tuesday, the police source said. Habibu Ardo, a herder in the area, said "ISWAP fighters (riding) on more than 15 motorcycles attacked our people while grazing in Kukawa and beheaded 18 of them without firing a single bullet on them in order to avoid the attention of security forces. Bakura Mustapha, a local vigilante who helped bury the dead, said about 18 of the corpses were recovered in the bush and they have been buried today according to Islamic rites. A police spokesperson did not immediately respond to calls to confirm the incident. Borno state is at the heart of a 14-year Islamist insurgency in Nigeria, which has spilled into neighbouring Chad and Cameroon. The conflict was launched by Boko Haram and later joined by its offshoot ISWAP, a regional affiliate of the Islamic state. The United Nations estimates that the conflict had killed some 350,000 people by the end of 2020 and has left millions dependent on aid. (Reporting by Ahmed Kingimi; Editing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo and Bill Berkrot) A view shows boats that were used by migrants and seized by Tunisian coast guards, in Sfax, Tunisia April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Jihed Abidellaoui/File Photo By Tarek Amara TUNIS (Reuters) -The Tunisian coast guard recovered 901 bodies of drowned migrants off its coast from Jan. 1 to July 20 this year, the country's interior minister, Kamel Feki, said on Wednesday, marking an unprecedented number of victims off the country's coasts. The North Africa country is facing a record wave of migration this year and frequent catastrophes of the sinking of boats of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa heading to Italian coasts. Tunisia replaced Libya as the region's main departure point for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East in the hope of a better life in Europe. Feki told parliament that among 901 bodies found were 36 Tunisians and 267 foreigner migrants, while identities of the rest were unknown. Most of the boats carrying migrants depart from the coast of the southern city of Sfax. Thousands of undocumented migrants have flocked to the coastal city of Sfax in recent months with the goal of setting off for Europe in boats run by human traffickers, leading to an unprecedented migration crisis for Tunisia. Some 75,065 boat migrants had reached Italy by July 14 against 31,920 in the same period last year, official data showed. More than half left from Tunisia. The European Union and Tunisia signed in July a "strategic partnership" deal that includes combating human traffickers and tightening sea borders during a sharp increase in boats leaving the North African nation for Europe. (Reporting by Tarek Amara; Editing by Leslie Adler and Diane Craft) FILE PHOTO: An American Airlines plane sits at a gate at Logan Airport ahead of the July 4th holiday in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., June 28, 2023. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo By Nate Raymond and David Shepardson BOSTON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A federal judge on Wednesday rejected the Justice Department's bid to restrict JetBlue Airways and American Airlines from entering into any partnerships with other carriers akin to their now-scrapped Northeast Alliance. JetBlue and American Airlines are winding down their arrangement announced in 2020, in which they joined forces for flights in and out of New York City and Boston. U.S. Judge Leo Sorokin of the District Court of Massachusetts in May sided with the Justice Department and six states in a lawsuit challenging the partnership, finding that it violated federal antitrust law. JetBlue subsequently decided to terminate the alliance, while preparing to defend a planned $3.8 billion purchase of Spirit Airlines in court in a separate Justice Department antitrust case seeking to block that deal. While the Northeast Alliance is set to be fully wound down by January, the Justice Department has been pushing for further restrictions on the two airlines. At a Wednesday hearing, Justice Department attorney William Jones had urged Sorokin to restrict JetBlue and American Airlines from not just reentering into a similar alliance together for the next two years but also with any other domestic air carrier. Sorokin ruled on Wednesday "a prohibition is not necessary to achieve the appropriate aims of antitrust relief, which depend considerably on the particular circumstances of the case." American Airlines said it was pleased with the judge's decision and said once Sorokin issues his final order it plans to "proceed with appealing a decision that we continue to believe misapplied the law and led to the dissolution of an alliance that delivered significant, quantifiable and durable consumer benefits." Jones also had urged Sorokin to order the appointment of an external antitrust compliance monitor who for the next five years would have full access to their employees, books and records to ensure compliance with the judge's order. Sorokin said "appointment of a monitor is unnecessary." Daniel Wall, a lawyer for American Airlines, called the appointment of monitor highly unusual and said restrictions on deals with other airlines was a step too far. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Richard Chang and Diane Craft) The American and Ukrainian flags wave next to each during an Independence Day parade in Washington D.C., U.S., July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Wurm/File Photo By Trevor Hunnicutt and Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ukraine's counteroffensive is "not a stalemate" even if it is not progressing fast enough, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Wednesday. Kirby made the remarks when asked about the pace of Ukraine's counteroffensive in a press briefing. "President Zelenskiy himself has said that he that it's not progressing as fast as he would like and they're not moving as far every day as they would like. The United States is not going to take a position on that," Kirby said. He added: "That said they are moving, it's not a stalemate. They're not just frozen. The Ukrainians are moving." The White House national security spokesman said Washington would "make sure that they (Ukrainians) have the kinds of tools and capabilities they need to stay on the move." More than $43 billion in U.S. military aid has been provided since Russia's invasion began in February 2022. The U.S. Department of Defense announced $400 million in additional security assistance for Ukraine earlier this week, including air defense missiles, armored vehicles and small drones. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that while Ukraine has recaptured half the territory that Russia initially seized in its invasion, the counteroffensive was in its early days and would take shape over "several months." (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington; Editing by Heather Timmons and Grant McCool) FILE PHOTO: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) speaks during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 31, 2023. REUTERS/Julia Nikhinson/File Photo By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez said on Wednesday he still had concerns about the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, and had not changed his hold on the sale of the aircraft. There is "nothing new," Menendez, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Reuters at the Capitol. "We continue to raise our concerns." During the informal review process for major weapons sales, the leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs committees can put "holds" on the deals, stopping them over issues including human rights concerns. Menendez has long opposed the potential sale of the F-16s to Turkey over issues including Turkey's resistance to the ratification of Sweden's NATO membership, concerns about human rights abuses and Turkish overflights of Greek airspace. NATO member Turkey requested in October 2021 to buy $20 billion of Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 fighters and nearly 80 modernization kits for its existing warplanes. President Joe Biden's administration supports the sale. Ankara had held out on the ratification of Sweden's NATO membership for months, accusing Stockholm of doing too little against people Turkey sees as terrorists, mainly Kurdish members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). But President Tayyip Erdogan said on July 10 he would forward the ratification to parliament when it reopens in the autumn. Menendez spoke more about Turkey later on Wednesday during a confirmation hearing for Biden's nominee to be assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs. "Sweden still hasn't received a vote from Turkey even though Erdogan said, 'Yes, OK, Sweden should be in.' He could have called the parliament. He could have had the vote. He hasn't had it," Menendez said. Menendez also cited concern about Turkey's relations with Greece, asking, "How does it work for us to have one NATO ally be belligerent to another and someone sell them F-16s?" A State Department spokesperson said the department would continue consultation. The spokesperson said Biden has long been clear that he supports the sale. "This is about facilitating NATO interoperability and is in the U.S. national interest," the spokesperson said. (This July 26 story has been refiled to remove stray letters in paragraph 1) (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; editing by Jonathan Oatis) FILE PHOTO: Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum speaks during the commissioning of Dangote Petroleum refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria May 22, 2023. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja/File Photo By Trevor Hunnicutt and Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States condemns efforts to detain or subvert the functioning of Niger's democratically elected government, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Wednesday, and urged the release of President Mohamed Bazoum after he was detained inside his palace. "We specifically urge elements of the presidential guard to release President Bazoum from detention and refrain from violence," Sullivan said in a statement. The White House was monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of U.S. citizens, he added. Presidential guards were holding the Niger president inside his palace in Niamey, the capital, on Wednesday in what neighboring countries called an attempted coup, but which the presidency described as an "anti-republican" movement "in vain." White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters that for now there were no discussions on evacuations of Americans from Niger and said the U.S. was still gathering details about the evolving situation. "It's not entirely clear what's going on," Kirby said. The U.S. would not make any conclusions yet if it considered it a coup attempt, he said in response to a question, adding, "We'll just have to watch and see where it goes." The U.S. State Department said it was in communication with the U.S. Embassy in Niamey. West Africa's main regional and economic bloc, ECOWAS, said it was concerned about an attempted coup d'etat and called on the plotters to free Bazoum. The African Union also condemned what it called a coup attempt and urged the "felon" soldiers involved to return to barracks immediately. The national army was ready to attack the guards if they did not come to their senses, the presidency said in a statement. The United States says it has spent around $500 million since 2012 to help Niger boost its security. "We welcome the strong statements and steps taken by the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union to defend Nigers democracy," Sullivan said on Wednesday. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh, Trevor Hunnicutt and Rami AyyubEditing by Bill Berkrot and Leslie Adler) As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on July 26, 2023 Securities Act File No. 333-191151 Investment Company Act File No. 811-22887 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM N-1A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 Pre-Effective Amendment No. Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 x and/or REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 Amendment No. 14 x (Check appropriate box or boxes) Calamos ETF Trust (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) 2020 Calamos Court Naperville, Illinois (Address of Principal Executive Offices) 60563 (Zip Code) Registrants Telephone Number, including Area Code: (630) 245-7200 J. Christopher Jackson 2020 Calamos Court Naperville, Illinois 60563 (Name and Address of Agent for Service) With Copies to: Paulita A. Pike and Rita Rubin Ropes & Gray LLP 191 North Wacker Drive, 32nd Floor Chicago, Illinois 60606 Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. It is proposed that this filing will become effective: immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) x on August 28, 2023 pursuant to paragraph (b) 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) on [ ] pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) on pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485. If appropriate, check the following box: x This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment. CALAMOS ETF TRUST CONTENTS OF POST EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 12 This Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement comprises the following papers and documents: The Facing Sheet The sole purpose of this filing is to delay the effectiveness of the Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 11, as it relates to Calamos Convertible High Delta ETF (the Fund), a series of the Registrant, until August 28, 2023. Parts A, B and C of the Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 under the Securities Act of 1933 as it relates to the Fund, filed on May 15, 2023 , are incorporated by reference herein. Signatures Signatures Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement under rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in this City of Naperville and State of Illinois, on the 26th day of July 2023. Calamos ETF Trust By: /s/ John P. Calamos, Sr. John P. Calamos, Sr. Trustee and President Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated: Name Title Date /s/ John P. Calamos, Sr. Trustee and President (principal executive officer) July 26, 2023 John P. Calamos, Sr. /s/ John E. Neal* Trustee July 26, 2023 John E. Neal /s/ William Rybak* Trustee July 26, 2023 William Rybak /s/ Virginia G. Breen* Trustee July 26, 2023 Virginia G. Breen /s/ Lloyd A. Wennlund* Trustee July 26, 2023 Lloyd A. Wennlund /s/ Karen L. Stuckey* Trustee July 26, 2023 Karen L. Stuckey /s/ Christopher M. Toub* Trustee July 26, 2023 Christopher M. Toub /s/ Thomas E. Herman Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal accounting officer) July 26, 2023 Thomas E. Herman * John P. Calamos, Sr. signs this document pursuant to powers of attorney filed in Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on November 4, 2022. UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below): Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Indicate by check mark whether the registration is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Emerging growth company If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. On July 21, 2023, SANUWAVE Health, Inc. (the Company) issued Asset-Backed Secured Promissory Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $4.6 million (the Notes) to certain accredited investors (the Purchasers) at an original issue discount of 33.33% (the Private Placement). The Notes bear interest at a rate of zero percent (0%) per annum and mature on January 21, 2023 (the Maturity Date). The closing of the Private Placement occurred on July 21, 2023, when the Company received total proceeds of approximately $3.0 million. The Notes were offered and sold in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) thereof. Each Purchaser represented that it was an accredited investor. In connection with the Private Placement, on July 21, 2023, the Company entered into a security agreement in favor of each Purchaser to secure the Companys obligations under the Notes (the Security Agreement). The rights of each Purchaser to receive payments under its Notes are subordinate to the rights of NH Expansion Credit Fund Holdings LP (North Haven Expansion) pursuant to a subordination agreement, which the Company and the Purchasers entered into with North Haven Expansion on July 21, 2023 in connection with the Private Placement (the Subordination Agreement). On July 21, 2023, the Company and the Purchasers also entered into a side letter (the Side Letter), pursuant to which the parties agreed that upon the Maturity Date, the Company will issue each Purchaser (i) a Future Advance Convertible Promissory Note (the Future Advance Convertible Promissory Note) with the same principal amount as the principal amount of such Purchasers Note, plus any accrued and unpaid interest, substantially in the form of Exhibit 4.29 to the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the Form 10-K) and (ii) two Common Stock Purchase Warrants (the Warrants), one with an exercise price of $0.04 per share and one with an exercise price of $0.067 per share, substantially in the form of Exhibit 4.30 to the Form 10-K, each of which shall be exercisable for such number of shares of the Companys common stock calculated by dividing the principal amount of the Purchasers Future Advance Convertible Promissory Note by $0.04. In addition, the parties agreed to enter into a securities purchase agreement, a subordination agreement, a security agreement and a registration rights agreement, which shall be substantially in the forms of Exhibits 10.67, 10.68, 10.69 and 10.70, respectively, to the Form 10-K. The foregoing descriptions of the Notes, the Security Agreement, the Subordination Agreement and the Side Letter do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Note, the Security Agreement, the Subordination Agreement and the Side Letter, which are filed as Exhibit 4.1, Exhibit 10.1, Exhibit 10.2 and Exhibit 10.3, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 14A Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Filed by the Registrant x Filed by a Party other than the Registrant Check the appropriate box: Preliminary Proxy Statement Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) Definitive Proxy Statement x Definitive Additional Materials Soliciting Material under 240.14a-12 CREDIT SUISSE COMMODITY STRATEGY FUNDS CREDIT SUISSE OPPORTUNITY FUNDS CREDIT SUISSE TRUST CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT INCOME FUND, INC. CREDIT SUISSE HIGH YIELD BOND FUND (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): x No fee required. Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. Mutual Fund Proxy Fact Sheet For: CREDIT SUISSE FUNDS Joint Special Meeting Important Dates Joint Special Meeting Location Record Date JUNE 23, 2023 OFFICES OF THE FUNDS ELEVEN MADISON AVENUE FLOOR 2B NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10010 Mail Date JULY 20, 2023 Meeting Date AUGUST 24, 2023 @ 4:00 PM (ET) Additional Information Contact Information Tickers SEE PAGE 5 Inbound Line 1-877-674-6273 CUSIPs SEE PAGE 5 Website https://am.credit-suisse.com/ What are Shareholders being asked to vote on? ALL FUNDS 1. To approve a new investment advisory agreement between your Fund and Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC; CREDIT SUISSE STRATEGIC INCOME FUND ONLY 2. To approve a new sub-advisory agreement between Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC and Credit Suisse Asset Management Limited; CREDIT SUISSE FUNDS Credit Suisse Commodity Return Strategy Fund, a series of Credit Suisse Commodity Strategy Funds Credit Suisse Multialternative Strategy Fund, a series of Credit Suisse Opportunity Funds Credit Suisse Floating Rate High Income Fund, a series of Credit Suisse Opportunity Funds Commodity Return Strategy Portfolio, a series of Credit Suisse Trust Credit Suisse Strategic Income Fund, a series of Credit Suisse Opportunity Funds Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund, Inc. Credit Suisse Managed Futures Strategy Fund, a series of Credit Suisse Opportunity Funds Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund each, a fund and collectively, the funds Page 1 ALL FUNDS PROPOSAL 1: To approve a new investment advisory agreement between your Fund and Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC; What are shareholders being asked to approve? Shareholders are being asked to approve a new investment advisory agreement between their Fund and Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC (Credit Suisse) (each such agreement, a New Investment Advisory Agreement). What is happening? On the Closing Date of June 12, 2023, Credit Suisse Group AG (CS Group) merged with and into UBS Group AG, a global financial services company (UBS Group), with UBS Group remaining as the surviving company (the Merger). Immediately prior to the Closing Date, CS Group was the ultimate parent company of Credit Suisse. Why are shareholders being asked to vote to approve the New Advisory Agreements? Each Fund was party to an investment advisory agreement with Credit Suisse prior to the Closing Date (collectively, the Prior Advisory Agreements). As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), each Prior Advisory Agreement provided that the agreement would automatically terminate upon its assignment. The closing of the Merger was deemed to result in an assignment of each Prior Advisory Agreement, resulting in its automatic termination as of the Closing Date. Each Fund requires shareholder approval of its New Investment Advisory Agreement for the Funds to continue to receive investment advisory services from Credit Suisse. Will the Merger result in any changes in the investment objective(s), principal investment strategies or policies of the Funds? No changes to the investment objective(s), principal investment strategies and policies, principal risks, fundamental and non-fundamental investment policies, of the Funds are currently contemplated as a result of the Merger. see also information about the ubs transition on pages 4-5 of fact sheet How does each Funds New Advisory Agreement differ from each Funds Prior Advisory Agreement? Each New Advisory Agreement will be identical to the corresponding Prior Advisory Agreement, except for the dates of execution, effectiveness and termination and certain non-material changes. Will the Funds contractual advisory fee rates increase? The Funds contractual advisory fee rates will not change as a result of its New Advisory Agreement(s). Will the portfolio personnel change in connection with the Merger? No changes to the portfolio managers (other than potential personnel changes outside of Credit Suisses control) are currently contemplated as a result of the Merger. see also information about the ubs transition on pages 4-5 of fact sheet Page 2 Given that the Prior Advisory Agreements terminated on the Closing Date, is there any investment advisory agreement currently in place for my Fund? Prior to the Closing Date, the Board of each Fund approved an interim investment advisory agreement with Credit Suisse (collectively, the Interim Advisory Agreements). The Interim Advisory Agreements did not require shareholder approval. The Interim Advisory Agreements took effect upon the Closing Date when the Prior Advisory Agreements were deemed to have terminated, so that Credit Suisse could continue to manage the Funds following the Closing Date. Each Interim Advisory Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of shareholder approval of the corresponding New Advisory Agreement or 150 days following the Closing Date (i.e., November 9, 2023). Each Interim Advisory Agreement contains the same terms and conditions as the corresponding Prior Advisory Agreement except for the effective and termination dates, the termination and escrow provisions required by Rule 15a-4 under the 1940 Act and certain nonmaterial changes. During the period that each Interim Advisory Agreement is in effect, Credit Suisses advisory fees will be held in an interest-bearing escrow account, pursuant to Rule 15a-4. What happens if the New Advisory Agreements are not approved by shareholders? Shareholder approval of a Funds New Investment Advisory Agreement is not contingent upon shareholder approval of any other Funds New Investment Advisory Agreement. If shareholders of a Fund do not approve the New Advisory Agreement(s), Credit Suisse will not be able to provide investment advisory services to that Fund after the expiration of the 150-day period following the Closing Date (which will occur on November 9, 2023), and that Fund may be forced to liquidate. CREDIT SUISSE STRATEGIC INCOME FUND ONLY (STRATEGIC INCOME FUND) PROPOSAL 2: To approve a new sub-advisory agreement between Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC and Credit Suisse Asset Management Limited; What are shareholders being asked to approve? Solely with respect to the Strategic Income Fund, shareholders are being asked to approve a new sub-advisory agreement between Credit Suisse and Credit Suisse Asset Management Limited (Credit Suisse UK) with respect to the Fund (the New Sub-Advisory Agreement). Why are shareholders being asked to vote to approve the New Sub-Advisory Agreement? Each Fund was party to an investment advisory agreement with Credit Suisse and Credit Suisse was party to a sub-advisory agreement with Credit Suisse UK with respect to the Strategic Income Fund prior to the Closing Date (collectively, the Prior Advisory Agreements). As required by the 1940 Act, each Prior Advisory Agreement provided that the agreement would automatically terminate upon its assignment. The closing of the Merger was deemed to result in an assignment of each Prior Advisory Agreement, resulting in its automatic termination as of the Closing Date. The Strategic Income Fund requires shareholder approval of the New Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Funds to continue to receive investment advisory services from Credit Suisse and Credit Suisse UK. Page 3 Given that the Prior Advisory Agreements terminated on the Closing Date, is there any investment sub-advisory agreement currently in place for the Strategic Income Fund? Prior to the Closing Date, the Board approved an interim investment advisory agreement with Credit Suisse and, in the case of the Strategic Income Fund, an interim sub-advisory agreement between Credit Suisse and Credit Suisse UK (collectively, the Interim Advisory Agreements). The Interim Advisory Agreements did not require shareholder approval. The Interim Advisory Agreements took effect upon the Closing Date when the Prior Advisory Agreements were deemed to have terminated, so that Credit Suisse and Credit Suisse UK could continue to manage the Funds following the Closing Date. Each Interim Advisory Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of shareholder approval of the corresponding New Advisory Agreement or 150 days following the Closing Date (i.e., November 9, 2023). Each Interim Advisory Agreement contains the same terms and conditions as the corresponding Prior Advisory Agreement except for the effective and termination dates, the termination and escrow provisions required by Rule 15a-4 under the 1940 Act and certain nonmaterial changes. During the period that each Interim Advisory Agreement is in effect, Credit Suisses advisory fees and Credit Suisse UKs sub-advisory fees will be held in an interest-bearing escrow account, pursuant to Rule 15a-4. What happens if the New Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Strategic Income Fund is not approved by shareholders? Shareholder approval of the New Sub-Advisory Agreement between Credit Suisse and Credit Suisse UK with respect to the Strategic Income Fund is contingent upon shareholder approval of the New Investment Advisory Agreement between the Strategic Income Fund and Credit Suisse. Therefore, if the shareholders of the Strategic Income Fund do not approve such Funds New Investment Advisory Agreement, then approval of the New Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Strategic Income Fund will be deemed null and the Board of the Strategic Income Fund will then consider whether other actions, if any, are warranted. Who is paying for the costs related to the Joint Special Meeting? All costs of the proxy and the shareholder meetings, including proxy solicitation costs, legal fees and the costs of printing and mailing the proxy statement, will be borne by Credit Suisse. INFORMATION ABOUT THE UBS TRANSITION What is the UBS Transition about? It is anticipated that Credit Suisse will transition the investment advisory services that they currently provide to the Funds to one or more registered investment advisers affiliated with UBS Group on or prior to June 12, 2024 (the UBS Transition). In connection with, or following the completion of, the UBS Transition, it is possible that there could be Fund-specific changes. However, the exact structure and timing of the UBS Transition and Fund-specific changes (if any) related to the UBS Transition have not yet been finalized. Any Fund-specific changes would be implemented without shareholder approval to the extent permitted under the federal securities laws (except for any changes to a Funds fundamental investment policies, which would require shareholder approval). Shareholders of a Fund will be promptly notified of any material Fund-specific changes. Page 4 VOTING METHODS PHONE: To cast your vote by telephone with a proxy specialist, call the toll-free number found on your proxy card. Representatives are available to take your voting instructions Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time. MAIL: To vote your proxy by mail, check the appropriate voting box on the proxy card, sign and date the card and return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. TOUCH-TONE: To cast your vote via a touch-tone voting line, call the toll-free number and enter the control number found on your proxy card. INTERNET: To vote via the Internet, go to the website on your proxy card and enter the control number found on the proxy card. The Proxy Statement is available online at: vote.proxyonline/CSAM/Proxy2023.pdf AST Fund Solutions, LLC is identified in the Proxy Statement as the proxy solicitor for the Funds. FUND NAME CLASS TICKER CUSIP Credit Suisse Commodity Return Strategy Fund A CRSAX 22544R107 Credit Suisse Commodity Return Strategy Fund C CRSCX 22544R206 Credit Suisse Commodity Return Strategy Fund I CRSOX 22544R305 Credit Suisse Floating Rate High Income Fund A CHIAX 22540S877 Credit Suisse Floating Rate High Income Fund C CHICX 22540S851 Credit Suisse Floating Rate High Income Fund I CSHIX 22540S836 Credit Suisse Strategic Income Fund A CSOAX 22540S760 Credit Suisse Strategic Income Fund C CSOCX 22540S752 Credit Suisse Strategic Income Fund I CSOIX 22540S745 Credit Suisse Managed Futures Strategy Fund A CSAAX 22540S737 Credit Suisse Managed Futures Strategy Fund C CSACX 22540S729 Credit Suisse Managed Futures Strategy Fund I CSAIX 22540S711 Credit Suisse Multialternative Strategy Fund A CSQAX 22540S794 Credit Suisse Multialternative Strategy Fund I CSQIX 22540S778 Commodity Return Strategy Portfolio 1 CCRSX 22544K888 Commodity Return Strategy Portfolio 2 CCRRX 22542L847 Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund, Inc. NOT APPLICABLE CIK 224916106 Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund NOT APPLICABLE DHY 22544F103 Page 5 Credit Suisse Funds Level I Call Guide (CONFIRM RECEIPT OF PROXY MATERIAL) Good (morning, afternoon, evening), my name is (AGENTS FULL NAME ). May I please speak with (SHAREHOLDERS FULL NAME) ? (Re-Greet If Necessary) I am calling on a recorded line regarding your current investment with Credit Suisse Funds. I wanted to confirm that you have received the proxy material for the Joint Special Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to take place on August 24, 2023. Have you received the information? (Pause for response) If Yes or positive response: If youre not able to attend the meeting, I can record your voting instructions by phone. If No or negative response: I would be happy to review the meeting agenda and record your vote by phone. You are being asked to vote in favor of a proposal to approve the New Investment Advisory Agreement for your Fund. In addition, if you are a shareholder of the Strategic Income Fund, you are being asked to approve the New Sub-Advisory Agreement. Each Fund's Board approved the Fund's New Investment Advisory Agreement. Would you like vote In Favor at this time? (Pause For Response) (Review Voting Options with Shareholder If Necessary) If we identify any additional accounts you own with Credit Suisse Funds before the meeting takes place, would you like to vote those accounts in the same manner as well? (Pause For Response) *Confirmation I am recording your (Recap Voting Instructions). Today (Todays Date & Time). For confirmation purposes: Please state your full name. (Pause) According to our records, you reside in (city, state, zip code). (Pause) To ensure that we have the correct address for the written confirmation, please state your street address. (Pause) Thank you. You will receive written confirmation of this vote within 3 to 5 business days. Upon receipt, please review and retain for your records. If you should have any questions, please call the toll-free number listed on the confirmation. Mr. /Ms. ___________, your vote is important and your time is greatly appreciated. Thank you and have a good (morning, afternoon, evening.) Updated 07-21-2023 Credit Suisse Funds Answering Machine Script Hello. I am calling regarding your investment with Credit Suisse Funds. The Joint Special Meeting of Shareholders is scheduled to take place on August 24, 2023. All shareholders are being asked to consider and vote on an important matter. As of today, your vote has not been registered. Please contact us as soon as possible at 1-877-674-6273 toll-free Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00am and 10:00pm Eastern Time. Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) said one of its key district cooling plants, Zaabeel, has been awarded the Gold certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards by the United States Green Building Council. A leading player in the district cooling services sector, Empower said this recognition is a result of Zaabeel's successful adherence to the rigorous Leed standards set by the USGBC. The Zaabeel cooling plant, part of the new generation of advanced facilities, utilizes smart and innovative technologies developed by Empower. This plant has garnered worldwide acclaim, particularly in the field of Thermal Energy Storage (TES), which significantly contributes to conserving a substantial amount of electrical energy. Moreover, the Za'abeel cooling plant integrates Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) technology into its operations, making a significant contribution to reducing freshwater consumption and conserving precious natural resources. By achieving this certification, Zaabeel reaffirms its commitment to environmental protection, reducing carbon footprint, and demonstrates its dedication to innovation and sustainability, it stated. This accomplishment further enhances Zaabeel's impressive portfolio of assets that have previously received similar accolades, it added. CEO Ahmad bin Shafar said the company boasts a rich track record of accomplishments in swiftly transforming its extensive asset portfolio to align with the most stringent green building standards. In 2020, Empower initiated the construction of the Zaabeel plant, and the project was successfully completed last year, boasting a total capacity of 50,000 tonne of refrigeration. "Empower has remained steadfast in establishing a sustainable model to conserve energy and preserve the environment and its resources. Through close collaboration with various government entities, the company is diligently working towards achieving the ambitious objective of carbon reduction outlined in the strategy," he added.-TradeArabia News Service 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. This amendment ( Amendment No. 4 ) amends the Schedule 13D originally filed with the SEC on June 25, 2021, as subsequently amended by Amendment No. 1 filed on December 20, 2021, Amendment No. 2 filed on July 25, 2022, and Amendment No. 3 filed on September 30, 2022 (collectively, the Schedule ), to report and reflect a reduction in the beneficial ownership of the Issuers common stock in connection with sales. All capitalized terms contained herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Schedule. Item 2. Identity and Background Item 2 is amended and replaced in its entirety as follows: (a) Novo Holdings A/S, a Danish corporation, is an investment firm focused on life sciences and finance that is wholly owned by Novo Nordisk Foundation (the Foundation ), a Danish commercial foundation. Novo Holdings A/S is the holding company in the group of Novo companies (currently comprised of Novo Nordisk A/S and Novozymes A/S) and is responsible for managing the Foundations assets, including its financial assets. Based on the governance structure of Novo Holdings A/S and the Foundation, the Foundation is not deemed to have any beneficial ownership of the securities of the Issuer held by Novo Holdings A/S. The name of each director and executive officer of both Novo Holdings A/S and the Foundation is set forth on the updated Schedule I to this Amendment No. 4. (b) The business address of both Novo Holdings A/S and the Foundation is Tuborg Havnevej 19, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark. The residence or business address of each director and executive officer of both Novo Holdings A/S and the Foundation is set forth on the updated Schedule I to this Schedule 13D. (c) Novo Holdings A/S, a holding company that is responsible for managing the Foundations assets, provides seed and venture capital to development stage companies and invests in well-established companies within the life science and biotechnology sector. The Foundation is a Danish self-governing and profit-making foundation, whose objectives are to provide a stable basis for commercial and research activities undertaken by the group of Novo companies and to support scientific, humanitarian and social purposes through grants. (d) Within the last five years, neither Novo Holdings A/S, the Foundation, nor any person named in the updated Schedule I has been convicted in any criminal proceedings. (e) Within the last five years, neither Novo Holdings A/S, the Foundation, nor any person named in the updated Schedule I was a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws. Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration Item 3 amends and supplements Item 3 in the Schedule to reflect sales of the Issuers stock in the open market during the past 60 days, as follows: Date Shares Sold Weighted Average Price June 12, 2023 900 $ 2.06 June 13, 2023 2,626 $ 2.10 June 14, 2023 2,872 $ 2.11 June 15, 2023 10,002 $ 2.03 3 WASHINGTON President Joe Biden on Wednesday nominated Gen. David Allvin to be the next chief of staff for the Air Force. If confirmed by the Senate, Allvin would succeed Gen. Charles CQ Brown as the services top officer. Brown was nominated by Biden in May to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Allvin now serves as vice chief of staff, and he has helped with creating joint-operating concepts and leading recruiting and retention efforts. Prior to being vice chief, Allvin served with the Joint Chiefs as its director for strategy, plans and policy. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1986. Allvin is also a command pilot with more than 4,600 hours, including 800 flight test hours in more than 30 aircraft and 100 combat hours in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to his service biography. Allvin would be tasked as chief of staff for an Air Force that plans to replace aging aircraft, deals with a pilot shortage and brings the service branch into the digital era by linking sensors and weapons on the battlefield to speed up decision making. Allvin joins a growing list of top generals and admirals whose nominations remain unconfirmed by the Senate. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who is a member of the Armed Services committee, continues to block the upper chamber from making standard voice votes to approve military promotions over his objection to a Pentagon policy that provides travel money to troops for reproductive health care, including abortions. The nominees can be confirmed by the Senate one by one in a process that would consume months of the upper chambers floor time. As of July 7, the nominations of 265 senior military officers have been held up by Tuberville and could grow to 650 by the end of the year if the issue isnt resolved, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh has said. Politico reported Biden notified the Senate on Tuesday that he would nominate Lt. Gen. Christopher Mahoney to be the Marine Corps assistant commandant, though a formal announcement has not been made. If confirmed, Mahoney would replace Gen. Eric Smith, who has been nominated to be the next Marines commandant, a job in which he now serves in an acting role. Along with Brown and Smith, Gen. Randy George was tapped to lead the Army and Adm. Lisa Franchetti to lead the Navy. If confirmed by the Senate, Franchetti would become the first woman to become a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Last Friday, Biden also nominated three other Navy leaders along with Franchetti. He nominated Vice Adm. James Kilby to be vice chief of naval operations, Adm. Samuel Paparo as commander of Indo-Pacific Command, and Vice Adm. Stephen Koehler as commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. OVER EASTERN INTERIOR ALASKA (Tribune News Service) On a July morning, Airman 1st Class Tylar Hoffert stared down at the glaciated mountains near Paxson, Alaska, from a narrow window at the back of a military fuel plane. Lying prone on his stomach, he manipulated a pair of joysticks that looked stolen off a '90s arcade game. Each twitch and jab of his wrists guided a long, stiff hose called a boom dangling off the tail of a KC-135 Stratotanker toward an approaching F-35 fighter jet, one of the most expensive, sophisticated machines in the world. Hoffert's job was to guide the boom into a small slot at the top of the fighter so a little more than 10,000 pounds of fuel could be pumped in like a pit crew topping off a stock car, but at more than 300 mph some 20,000 feet in the air. Aerial refueling, the process of passing fuel from one airplane to another in the air, is a crucial part of American military strategy, a low-profile task that makes many of the flashier components possible. Everything from the high-tech fifth-generation jet fighters such as the F-35 to bulky troop-transporting cargo planes depends on being able to stay aloft during refueling, particularly in the expansive Pacific theater, where the U.S. increasingly treats China as its peer adversary and the distances between runways are daunting. The Stratotanker carrying Hoffert was built in 1963, about average vintage for the nearly 400 KC-135s still in operation, but a new tanker the military has spent years trying to bring online as a replacement, the KC-46 Pegasus, is saddled with problems and delays, so much so that it was barred from flying combat missions until last fall. According to a 2022 report from the Government Accountability Office, the Pegasus program will not hit full-rate production until September 2024 and is projected to be around $1 billion over budget. "The air refueling fleet is the backbone of rapid global mobility," said Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, commander of the U.S. Transportation Command, at a House Armed Services Committee meeting in March. "And is our most stressed capability." Hoffert, 19, a recent West Valley High School graduate from Fairbanks, Alaska, and crewman in the Alaska National Guard, is an essential part of that capability. "Pretty close," Hoffert said into the mic on his headset as the boom found its receiver slot. For around seven minutes, the two planes moved in tandem just 30 or so feet from each other, nothing but subtle flexes and shudders disrupting their syncopation, close enough for Hoffert to see the pilot's goggles and almost read his name tag. 'The demand for air refueling is insatiable' Because of Alaska's position at the intersection of several important air routes and relative proximity to most of the industrialized world, the Defense Department bases more than 100 fifth-generation jet fighters in the state, split between Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. Almost any time fighters roar off into the sky, whether it is for routine training, a large-scale military exercise or intercepting Russian military aircraft as they approach U.S. airspace off Alaska's coast, a fuel tanker is accompanying them. That is partially out of necessity, because the state is so big. "Literally we cannot defend Alaska without aerial refueling," said Col. Mike Griesbaum, who commands the Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Wing. "The demand for air refueling is insatiable." The Alaska National Guard, not the active-duty military, is in charge of aerial refueling, an arrangement not unique to the 49th state. The refueling crew's mission on this Thursday morning was to fly 155,000 pounds of fuel from JBER to an aerial training area north of Gakona, where several F-35s and F-22s were airborne. "We are just their orbiting gas station," joked Maj. Mike Strickler of the 168th Wing, the pilot for that day's operation. Fighter jets need to have enough fuel on board to make it back home safely, which limits how far pilots can fly without refueling. Dependability is paramount, because if a refueling craft is grounded or can not pass off fuel, the fighter mission generally has to be called off. "The only thing I care about is whether or not it's there," Maj. Steel Boyer, an F-22 pilot with the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Fighter Squadron, said of the refueling tankers. "I need reliability; it's probably the most important thing to me." Especially, Boyer said, in "INDOPACOM," military-speak for the Indo-Pacific region where U.S. military doctrine is built around what is frequently referred to as the "tyranny of distance." Oftentimes they are our lifeline, Boyer said. We cant operate without gas thats just a simple fact of life in the fighter business. However, the KC-135s are, in several ways, relics of a bygone era of analog aviation. The plane is flown via metal cables running the length of the fuselage and wings, rather than through electrical systems, as is the case in contemporary craft. Upgrades around the turn of the century added more powerful engines to the wings, but the dials, buttons and levers inside the cockpit look like they would have been cutting-edge in the Kennedy administration. Sixty-year-old machines such as these make it possible for jet fighters to transit oceans, escort airborne dignitaries or drop ordnance on enemy positions in war zones. The crew leans into its role as glorified gas jockeys. The unit wears a patch bearing a cartoon skunk pumping fuel, and a banner just behind the cockpit reads, "Welcome Aboard 63-8015, 'Passin Gas' with Alaska's Finest." Plagued with problems While the KC-46 Pegasus is far newer than the Cold War-era KC-135 Stratotankers, and on paper has more capabilities meeting the needs of modern fighter jets, its track record of problems, delays and design flaws is well-known among pilots. "This works, for the most part, extremely well," Strickler said of the Stratotanker. "The sad thing is ... we're still more functional than the KC-46 there's so many issues with it." According to a Government Accountability Office report last year, around 2017, the same year the KC-46 Pegasus was supposed to start coming online, the Air Force discovered critical deficiencies. There were problems with the plane's boom and its "remote vision system," the cameras and display screens a boom operator uses from inside the cockpit to connect for fuel exchange, rather than a line of sight in the back of the fuselage. "The program has been plagued with huge problems," Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, said of the KC-46, which he has spent years pushing the Air Force to base in his state. "Maybe one of the most challenged programs in a long time." According to the Government Accountability Office, U.S. taxpayers will spend $44 billion buying the 179 KC-46s that the military and Congress ordered from Boeing. Defense officials did not clear the Pegasus to be flown in combat operations or on combat deployments until last September. Instead, they are based primarily at military installations around the contiguous U.S. and used for training aerial refueling crews. Despite those issues, many in military leadership and elected office in Alaska still want to see KC-46s sent here as a way of expanding aerial refueling capacity overall. The state currently has 10 KC-135s to handle its refueling needs. That will be bumped up to 13 next year once a contingent of active-duty Air Force personnel is added to the 354th Fighter Wing and integrated into the National Guard unit at Eielson plans that have been in the works for several years. "We appreciate the Air Force's recognition of the significant aerial-refueling gap in Alaska and the desire to address it expeditiously," the state's congressional delegation said in a letter to the acting heads of the Air Force in March 2021, after the additional Stratotankers were announced. The KC-46 can do things that older generations of tankers cannot, such as refueling itself in the air, drastically expanding its range. It also brings additional communications abilities and is designed to more easily service a wider range of Air Force and Navy aircraft. However, there is an added imperative to bring the Pegasus online: The KC-135 Stratotanker is reaching the limits of how much new technology and functionality a 60-year-old plane flown via metal cables can absorb. "We are strapping on digital architecture to an analog airplane," Griesbaum said. The last KC-135 built for the military entered the service in 1965, and it has become challenging to source spare parts. Griesbaum, the 168th Wing commander, pointed out that many military airplane programs have had inglorious starts. "Every major weapon system has teething issues initially," Griesbaum said. "We have asked the KC-46 to do a lot of new things. There's a lot of growth that's built into that airplane." The Air Force recently announced plans to acquire 75 more Pegasus tankers in the years ahead, on top of the 179 it initially agreed to buy from Boeing. 'You need a lot of tanking capacity' As Stratotankers are retired but the KC-46s are not yet ready for prime time, the U.S. military will lose some of its aerial refueling capacity. The Government Accountability Office predicted a 15% decrease in the number of aerial tankers in operation by 2024. That contraction is happening as the military continues pivoting toward the Pacific theater amid the threat of conflict with China, but officials are not panicking, in part because the U.S. is in a league of its own when it comes to aerial refueling. "It is one of the things that we do better and at larger scale than any other air force in the world," Griesbaum said. Near-peer adversaries including China and Russia have nowhere near the refueling capacity that the U.S. has. Nor do any U.S. allies, which led to American KC-135 refueling aircraft flown by the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen and the NATO-led intervention in Libya in 2011. "Relative to any other country, we still have way, way, way more tankers," Sullivan said. For years, Sullivan has pushed for KC-46s to come to Alaska to add refueling capacity for planes transiting from the Lower 48 to the Indo-Pacific, particularly if conflict breaks out. Until then, Sullivan and others expect the Air Force will try to postpone retiring KC-135 Stratotankers whenever possible. Sullivan pushed for money in this year's National Defense Authorization Act for a dual-bay hangar at Eielson capable of housing either old tankers or new ones, but he anticipates more refueling assets will arrive either way. For the National Guard pilots and crew members in Alaska, there is no rush to abandon an aircraft that has functioned reliably for decades. "I'm not worried about it because I know they'll just keep the (KC-)135 going," Lt. Col. Rick Huth said not long after returning to JBER after the July refueling flight above Paxson. "They'll continue to slowly modernize the thing until they find an answer that fits the role." (c)2023 the Alaska Dispatch News (Anchorage, Alaska) Visit adn.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Female soldiers may wear ponytails for at least another year, according to a recent message on grooming and appearance standards from the Armys personnel office. The service loosened its hairstyle regulations in an April 2021 memo that permitted women to wear ponytails in all uniforms, within limits, rather than the previously mandated hair buns. The same memo allowed female soldiers to wear stud earrings and lipstick and nail polish in non-extreme colors, while donning the Army Combat Uniform. Troops may also wear highlights in their hair, provided the colors blend together and present a professional and natural appearance. The April 2021 memo by then-acting Secretary of the Army John Whitley set no expiration date for the grooming and appearance changes. An Army Activities message, or alaract, issued Sunday by Army deputy chief of staff for personnel Lt. Gen. Douglas Stitt says the regulations will expire June 28. Sundays message also states that soldiers may now have hyphens and diacritical accents on their nametapes. That change is made to accurately represent the proper annunciation of legal names, the message states. The message also states that potentially offensive wording in the grooming regulations that describes hairstyles like Mohawk, Fu Manchu, dreadlock, eccentric, and faddish, will be removed when the next update is published. The Army typically publishes updates to the grooming and appearance regulation every few years. All Defense Department service branches permit ponytails in uniform. The Navy was first to amend its regulations in 2018. Doctor: Recruit could have died any time, 'Just happened to happen during the Crucible' (Tribune News Service) A doctor testified Thursday that Dalton Beals' death during basic training at U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in 2021 resulted from a fatal and preexisting heart condition. The doctor further testified that neither the heat or the negligence of his drill instructor were the cause. Under cross examination, the prosecution strongly questioned the doctor's testimony with the exchanges becoming testy at times. Gerald Feigin, a New Jersey forensic pathologist, was called to testify in the defense of Staff Sgt. Steven Smiley, who is on trial for negligent homicide, dereliction of duty resulting in death, violation of the recruit training order, maltreatment of recruits and obstruction of justice in the June 4, 2021, death of Beals. Smiley has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution rested its case Tuesday, and the defense counsel began with Feigin as the first witness. Feigin testified that Beals' manner of death was natural, and the cause was cardiac arrhythmia brought on by heart disease. Beals' alleged heart condition contradicted the conclusion of Dr. Ellen Riemer of the Medical University of South Carolina, a cardio and pulmonary specialist who performed the first autopsy for Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Earlier in the trial, she testified on behalf of the prosecution that Beals died of hyperthermia, which is a dangerously overheated body. "You don't want to bad-mouth another doctor, but I think in this case it's justified," Feigin said. One by one, Feigin went through 134 slides of Beals' heart that were shown on a big screen and pointed out areas to the six-man, two-woman jury of what he described as scar tissue. Scar tissue, Feigin said, prevents electricity from moving through the heart, causing it, in effect, to short out. "You shouldn't have any scars in the heart," Feigin said. "Period." The scarring of Beals' heart was unusual for a 19-year-old and one of the worst Feigin had seen in his career, he said, with the scarring showing he had heart disease. How Beals lived as long has he did "with a heart that bad," Feigin said, is a mystery. With a heart like that, the only outward sign or symptom is death, he said. "It could have happened any time," Feigin said of Beals' death. "It just happened to happen during the Crucible." Beals died during the Crucible, the final challenge recruits must meet before earning the title of U.S. Marine. It is a 54-hour event that tests physical stamina, mental toughness and the ability to think critically while under stress including hunger, sleep deprivation and exhaustion. Lt. Col. Ian Germain of the prosecution sharply questioned Feigin. "You don't want to know if someone saw Dalton Beals die?" Germain asked. It would not have mattered, Feigin said. Beals' death from severe cardiac issues was sudden and "one step below" a gunshot to the head, Germain testified. "The presenting sign is death," Feigin said. Germain rattled off questions. Did Feigin ask for any information about Beals' core body temperature? Did he ask for information about the conditions under which Beals died? Did he know Beals had fallen down and refused water? Did he know that Beals had attempted to hand canteens that were full of water to another recruit to fill up? Did he know he had left an area where Marines were staged in buddy pairs on his own? Feigin replied "no" or that he had learned about details later from the defense. Germain continued his questioning, asking about the progression of signs that Beals showed before he died and whether that was important to take into account in determining the cause of death. "Some of the time," Feigin said. "Is it important that you not be wrong here?" Germain said to Feigin at one point. Feigin conducted the second autopsy at the request of Beals family, but it was the defense that called him to testify. Germain also questioned whether there could be changes to the body, including scarring of the heart, after death. Feigin said he was confident the scarring did not occur after Beals died. During the second day of the Crucible, about 90 minutes after Beals had completed one of the training events, which included a long hike, he was found unconscious on Page Field, a former airfield on the southeast corner of the depot. Efforts to revive him failed. He had been missing for an hour. The government charged Smiley, alleging he overworked the recruits in extreme heat and neglected to see the signs of Beals heat-related illness and rebuffed recruits who tried to bring it to his attention. On Tuesday, Smiley's defense asked Col. Adam J. Workman, the judge, to dismiss the charges, arguing the government had failed to prove the charges. Workman withheld judgment on that request. The defense was expected to resume its case on Wednesday. (c)2023 The Island Packet (Hilton Head, S.C.) Visit islandpacket.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Tribune News Service) Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in partnership with NASA to build out an experimental nuclear-powered spacecraft that aims to make trips to the moon and Mars more efficient. The contract announced Wednesday gives the aerospace giant the go-ahead under the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations, under which it will build out an experimental nuclear thermal rocket vehicle, or X-NTRV, to be launched no later than 2027. The value of the contract has yet to be published by DARPA, the Department of Defense arm that looks to build out new technologies for the U.S. military. It partnered with NASA in January as both seek a cheaper, and in some ways safer, way to move long distances in space. The space domain is critical to modern commerce, scientific discovery and national security, DARPA Director Stefanie Tompkins said in January. The ability to accomplish leap-ahead advances in space technology through the DRACO nuclear thermal rocket program will be essential for more efficiently and quickly transporting material to the moon and, eventually, people to Mars. NASAs investment of up to $300 million over the project is in step with the needs of its Artemis program, which looks to return humans for a permanent presence on the moon, but then expand to Mars and other deep-space destinations. NASAs funds will target costs for the design and development of the nuclear-powered engine and technical oversight. Working with DARPA and companies across the commercial space industry will enable us to accelerate the technology development we need to send humans to Mars, NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy said. This demonstration will be a crucial step in meeting our moon-to-Mars objectives for crew transportation into deep space. The nuclear thermal rocket plans aim to provide about the same energy as current chemical rocket propulsion but can be two to five times more efficient, DARPA program manager Tabitha Dodson said. That means the potential to trade off fuel space for more cargo, while also allowing for more power for on-board instruments. With a successful demonstration, we could significantly advance humanitys means for going faster and farther in space and pave the way for the future deployment for all fission-based nuclear space technologies, Dodson said. Dodson said that could also mean shorter duration missions as the fuel would allow for more aggressive trajectories or creative burn profiles, especially for cargo missions. It also allows for abort mission options for long-distance travel that would not have been possible before, which is an added layer of safety for humans. Lockheed Martin based in Littleton, Colo., has a history of working with nuclear power controls for earthbound projects such as power plants and submarines as well as building some of NASAs radioisotope thermoelectric generators for planetary missions. It is partnering with BWXT Advanced Technologies of Lynchburg, Va., which will develop the nuclear reactor for the spacecraft. The contract calls for Lockheed Martin to head up spacecraft design, integration and testing. This is a prime technology that can be used to transport humans and materials to the moon, said Lockheed Martin Spaces Kirk Shireman with the companys Lunar Exploration Campaigns program. A safe, reusable nuclear tug spacecraft would revolutionize cislunar operations. With more speed, agility and maneuverability, nuclear thermal propulsion also has many national security applications for cislunar space. Lockheed is involved in NASAs other Mars endeavors as well including being chosen to be what could be the first spacecraft to ever launch from the Red Planet, an ascent vehicle to be part of the Mars Sample Return mission. Its main connection with NASAs Artemis, though, comes through the Orion spacecraft. To what end it will be used on future Mars missions has yet to be mapped out, but Shireman said the speed tradeoff that comes with nuclear-powered fuel could be key to protecting its passengers. Reducing transit time is vital for human missions to Mars to limit a crews exposure to (space) radiation, Shireman said. BWXT will fabricate the fuel called HALEU, which stands for high-assay low-enriched uranium. The Department of Energy will provide the raw materials. The end goal of the shift to nuclear powered spacecraft is to make space travel faster. Right now with chemical propulsion, a one-way trip to Mars, for instance, would take around nine months with optimum planetary positions. These more powerful and efficient nuclear thermal propulsion systems can provide faster transit times between destinations, Shireman said. Reducing transit time is vital for human missions to Mars to limit a crews exposure to radiation. A big issue with any nuclear-powered item is the threat to the human population, especially on launch. To mitigate the danger, the fission reactor will not be turned on until the spacecraft is a safe distance from Earth. The nuclear reaction will still be heating cryogenic fuel to provide propulsion, and will reach temperatures of around 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, one of the factors with which NASA has a lot of experience. NASA is uniquely positioned to provide guidance on the challenging rocket engine and cryogenic fluid management specifications with liquid hydrogen to meet specific mission needs, Dodson said. Dodson said the mission will run through several experiments with the reactor at various power levels before opening it up to a full-power test. Its launch will be managed by the Space Force aiming for liftoff in 2027, which puts it in the hands of either SpaceX or United Launch Alliance, flying from either Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida or Vandenburg Space Force Base in California. 2023 Orlando Sentinel. Visit orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. NIAMEY, Niger Mutinous soldiers claimed to have overthrown Niger's democratically elected president, announcing on state television late Wednesday that they have put an end to the government over the African country's deteriorating security. The soldiers said all institutions had been suspended and security forces were managing the situation. They urged external partners not to interfere. The announcement came after a day of uncertainty as members of Niger's presidential guard surrounded the presidential palace and detained President Mohamed Bazoum. It was unclear where the president was at the time of the announcement or if he had resigned. "This is as a result of the continuing degradation of the security situation, the bad economic and social governance," air force Col. Major Amadou Abdramane said on the video. Seated at a table in front of nine other officers, he said aerial and land borders were closed and a curfew was imposed until the situation stabilized. The group, which is calling itself National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country, said it remained committed to its engagements with the international and national community. Earlier Wednesday, a tweet from the account of Niger's presidency reported that members of the elite guard unit engaged in an "anti-Republican demonstration" and unsuccessfully tried to obtain support from other security forces. It said Bazoum and his family were doing well but that Niger's army and national guard "are ready to attack" if those involved in the action did not back down. The commissions of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States described the events as an effort to unseat Bazoum, who was elected president two years ago in the nation's first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since its independence from France in 1960. Threats to Bazoum's leadership would undermine the West's efforts to stabilize Africa's Sahel region, which has been overrun with coups in recent years. Mali and Burkina Faso have had four coups since 2020, and both are being overrun by extremists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Niger in March, seeking to strengthen ties with a country where extremists have carried out attacks on civilians and military personnel but the overall security situation was not as dire as in neighboring nations. During a stop in New Zealand on Thursday, Blinken repeated the U.S. condemnation of the mutiny against Niger's president and said his team was in close contact with officials in France and Africa. Blinken added that he had spoken with Bazoum on Wednesday, saying that he "made clear that we strongly support him as the democratically elected president of the country." Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, said the mutiny was a "nightmare scenario for Western powers who had betted on Bazoum and Niger as new security anchor for the Sahel." "It remains to be seen whether this is the last word. Parts of the army are probably still loyal to Bazoum. They benefited much from equipment and training as part of foreign military assistance," Laessing said. Before the announcement, hundreds of people took to the streets of the capital, Niamey, and chanted "No coup d'etat" while marching in support of the president. Multiple rounds of gunfire that appeared to come from the presidential palace dispersed the demonstrators and sent people scrambling for cover, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene. "We are here to show the people that we are not happy about this movement going on, just to show these military people that they can't just take the power like this," protester Mohammed Sidi said. "We are a democratic country, we support democracy and we don't need this kind of movement." The international community strongly condemned the attempted seizure of power. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke to Bazoum on Wednesday afternoon and "expressed his full support and solidarity," the U.N. spokesperson tweeted. Earlier, Guterres condemned any effort to seize power by force "in the strongest terms" and called on "all actors involved to exercise restraint and to ensure the protection of constitutional order," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The governments of France and the United States also voiced concern and urged the participating guardsmen to change course. Bazoum's administration has made Niger a key Western partner in the fight against Islamist extremism in Africa's Sahel region. "We strongly condemn any effort to detain or subvert the functioning of Niger's democratically elected government, led by President Bazoum," White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said. "We specifically urge elements of the presidential guard to release President Bazoum from detention and refrain from violence." Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who was selected this month as the ECOWAS Commission's chairman, said the regional bloc's leadership would resist any attempt to unseat Niger's government. "It should be quite clear to all players in the Republic of Niger that the leadership of the ECOWAS region and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically elected government of the country," Tinubu said in a statement he issued in Abuja. "We will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region." Associated Press writers Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria, and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report. The Guam governors support of U.S. military aspirations on the island territory has earned her the top award from the National Guard Association of the United States, according to a news release from her office. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, a Democrat, shares the Harry S. Truman Award with U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly, a Mississippi Republican and a major general in the Mississippi Army National Guard. The association, founded in 1878, lobbies Congress on behalf of the Guard. Guerreros record of military support on Guam includes construction of the Marine Corps Camp Blaz and her assistance to the USS Theodore Roosevelt during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Tuesday release. The aircraft carrier was sidelined on Guam for several months following an outbreak in March 2020. The Truman Award is the highest recognition conferred upon an individual by the association and recognizes sustained contributions of exceptional and far-reaching magnitude to the defense and security of the United States and its territories in a manner worthy of recognition at the national level, according to Guerreros office. Top-tier military officers endorsed her nomination for the award by Dr. Michael Cruz, an Army colonel and adjutant general of the Guam National Guard. Governor Guerrero has secured community support for a plethora of United States security initiatives, Adm. John Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, wrote in his endorsement, according to her office. She has been instrumental in the ongoing coordination of the Defense Policy Review Initiative and the establishment of Camp Blaz, as well as the Pacific Deterrence Initiative activities at Anderson Air Force Base and Naval Base Guam. Under the Pacific Defense Initiative, the Defense Department seeks to bolster its ability to counter Chinas rising military power in the Western Pacific. The DOD budget for fiscal 2024 seeks $9.1 billion, a 40% increase over current funding, for projects in Guam, the Mariana Islands, the Philippines, Japan and Australia as part of the initiative, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said a DOD news release March 13. Guam, site of Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard bases, figures prominently in the initiative, and the DOD is asking $1.5 billion to build a missile-defense system there as a shield against the missile threat from China, the release states. Environmental surveys and public hearings for the Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense System are underway. Gen. David Berger, former commandant of the Marine Corps, also endorsed the governors nomination, according to the release. Guerrero, he said, is an insightful leader who recognizes Guams unique place in the defense of our Nation and has proven to be one of the strongest advocates for enhanced defense capabilities and facilities. She continually ensures that Guam is a gracious host to members of our Armed Forces, and she has shown an unparalleled dedication to building relationships. (Tribune News Service) Reports of new types of sugar in the local markets. Satellite imagery of trains crossing borders. Cargo ships with their transponders off. When assessing North Koreas opaque economy, rather than hard statistics, its these sorts of indicators experts pore over. And all are pointing to one conclusion: Kim Jong Un has found fresh ways to fill his depleted coffers. This money is enabling him to ignore financial incentives designed to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table, and press ahead with building his nuclear arsenal. His grandfather, state founder Kim Il Sung, took the reins of the country with Soviet support. Now, as North Korea prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War on July 27, 1953, its once again Russia the regime must thank. Russia has resumed sending oil to North Korea for the first time since 2020, the United Nations said last month. That follows an earlier restart of grain shipments. While its impossible to know what is going in the other direction, both the U.S. government and independent analysts have one main thesis: munitions from North Koreas vast stockpiles. These interventions, of course, arent sufficient to restore a tattered, isolated economy to full health. Yet together with the reopening of trade links with China and other sources of income such as cybercrime, the assistance from Russia is ensuring the economy remains stable enough to function, enabling Kim to continue defying the international community. North Korea always manages to find a way to survive, said Rachel Minyoung Lee, a regional issues manager at the Vienna-based Open Nuclear Network who worked as an analyst for the CIAs Open Source Enterprise for almost two decades. There is no indication that it would return to nuclear talks anytime soon. Russia and China are showing their support for Kim by sending high-profile delegations to North Korea to mark the anniversary the first such visits by foreign envoys since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Russian group arrived Tuesday night and received a welcome from top cadres. Munitions Math Pyongyang, which has been banned from arms sales for about 15 years, rejects accusations it is supplying Russia. Yet the White House in December said it had evidence North Korea completed an initial arms shipment to the Wagner Group for use in Ukraine that included infantry rockets and missiles. One item that North Korea has and Russia likely wants is 152 mm artillery shells. These are interoperable with the Soviet-era weaponry thats been pushed back into service in Ukraine. The Kremlins war machine has been burning through thousands daily, according to the Jamestown Foundation research group, and has been scrambling for supplies as the conflict continues. North Korea possesses untold stores of munitions that could run into millions of rounds for an arsenal that has for decades held Seoul under the threat of devastation. North Korea would likely jump at the chance to offload some of its stockpile at a hefty price, said weapons expert Joost Oliemans, who co-authored the book The Armed Forces of North Korea. Exactly how much theyd get would be down to their ability to negotiate. For example, if North Korea sold shells at $1,000 each, selling 250,000 would be equal to about 1% of its GDP, according to Bloomberg News calculations. Thats a conservative estimate because high demand has driven up prices, with the 155 mm shells used by NATO forces priced at about $3,000 each. Trade Signals Given that both North Korea and Russia are subject to U.N. sanctions, both seek to conceal exactly how much trade is going on. But there are numerous signs that activity is picking up. In late 2022, the two countries restored a rail link that had been suspended for nearly three years, according to satellite images including those from November that show a train crossing from Russia into North Korea and stopping at a freight handling station. Kang Mi-jin, a North Korean defector who now runs a company in South Korea that watches the economy of her former home, says that her contacts report that Russian sugar has made its way into markets in recent months. Its been warily received since its coarser and a darker color than what North Koreans are used to, Kang said. There are also indications of increased activity with China after the two countries reopened their main rail link last year that had been closed since COVID-19. Traffic between the Chinese border city of Dandong and North Koreas nearby city of Sinuiju can be watched on the streets in China. The Daily NK website, part of a group of not-for-profit agencies affiliated with the South Korean Unification Ministry, said its sources on the ground have seen the length of freight trains increasing. It reports that foodstuffs and building materials are among the items making their way into North Korea. What is nearly impossible to see is activity in a pipeline between the two cities that was exempt from sanctions and could be supplying as much as 750,000 tons (5.5 million barrels) of oil annually, according to a report from specialists David von Hippel and Peter Hayes. Other Signs Among the few items North Korea tries to sell abroad are commodities it can mine at home and then trade in ways that evade interception. At its main international seaport of Nampo, the amount of shipping detectable by the outside world reached 100 vessels in the first half of this year and was on pace to triple the traffic the port had seen during the pandemic years, data from IHS Markit showed. In a further sign that North Korea has money to spend, a United Nations Security Panel of Experts report said in March that deliveries of refined petroleum products in 2022 again exceeded the 500,000 barrel yearly amount of imports allowed under sanctions. This year, the panel said, North Korea has also acquired six more cargo vessels in a violation of sanctions. Four of these ships were among a dozen that sailed to destinations for iron and coal in China over the past month in a bid to sell commodities mined in North Korea for hard currency, NK News reported. Data from Bloomberg shows that five of the vessels identified by the U.N. have docked at least once in China since March. Vessel data showed multiple trips to a grain elevator berth near Dalian. North Korea has also continued to dodge sanctions through the ship-to-ship transfer of commodities on the high seas often done in darkness with transponders turned off to avoid detection, the U.N. panel said. Another likely source of income is cybercrime. Both the U.S. and South Korea have accused Kims regime of deploying hackers to various corners of the world to fund its weapons programs. They say these in-demand workers can make as much as $300,000 a year abroad often remotely through freelance platforms with falsified or stolen identification and can assist in enabling cyberattacks and cryptocurrency thefts that helped North Korea earn an estimated $1.7 billion in 2022. Putting It Together North Korea releases no official statistics on the size of its overall economy. With so much off the books and deliberately obscured, it is difficult to make overall assessments about the amount of economic activity. Whats more, the country is still suffering from the pandemic, and is one of the few countries in the world not to have started a vaccination program, said Anwita Basu, an expert on North Korea and head of Europe country risk at BMI, a Fitch Solutions company. Still, signs of a resumption of trade with China, historically North Koreas biggest trading partner, means Fitch estimate the economy returned to growth after two full years of contraction, though significant uncertainties remain. The outlook for the North Korean economy is murky, Basu said. Still, we anticipate that the economy will remain sufficiently stable to enable Kim Jong Un to remain in power. However, conditions on the ground in North Korea remain bleak for the majority of the population. The World Food Programme, which had been on the ground in North Korea for years until the pandemic, estimates that 40% of the population is undernourished. Flooding over the past few years has devastated farm land and wiped out crops, while Kims decision to shut the borders cut off a flow of foodstuffs that made their way to markets. The WFP is no longer distributing food, raising worries about a possible return to the famine of the late 1990s that some estimates said killed as many as 3.5 million people over a number of years. Self-Reliance Doctrine Kims state propaganda machine still leans heavily on a self-reliance doctrine forged by his grandfather calling on its citizens to help one another in the face of what it sees as the hostile intents of the U.S. to cripple its economy and topple its rulers. Even as investment in big-ticket items such as power plant construction have faltered after sanctions were tightened in 2017 to halt the import of machinery, Kims government has stepped up other symbolic projects. The state-run Korean Central News Agency has mentioned housing construction about 200 times in about the past two years, according to a database search. Kim has become the great pioneer and creator for realizing the socialist ideal to devote himself to building the peoples paradise as soon as possible, KCNA said when Kim attended a ground-breaking ceremony in February punctuated by fireworks and cheers from the masses for a project to build 10,000 new apartments in Pyongyang. These costs, though, pale compared to the money spent on armaments. Kims regime spent an estimated $400 million to $650 million to build and test the 33 missiles it fired off in the first half of 2022, data compiled by the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, a government-affiliated military research center, show. It ended up shooting off more than 70 that year, meaning it could have spent more than $1 billion for missiles tested. That is equal to about 4% of its $25 billion economy. The U.S., South Korea and Japan have said Kim would be better off using the money spent on missiles to feed his people. But Kims defiance of the international community has gained him some measure of security against the risk of any U.S. action. His weapons program has evolved to a point that he could have enough in his arsenal to deliver a credible nuclear strike on South Korea and Japan the two Asian nations that host tens of thousands of U.S. military personnel. And he is showing no signs of slowing down. Following 2022s record-breaking series of tests, Kim has again ramped up his military program this year. Just this month, he tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile designed to strike the U.S. mainland. Russias war in Ukraine is likely emboldening Kim Jong Un to behave more aggressively, said Duyeon Kim, an adjunct senior fellow in Seoul at the Center for a New American Security. China and Russia have both failed to fulfill their sanctions obligations under U.N. Security Council resolutions, which is why sanctions have not been working properly and theyre enabling Pyongyang to continue with its nuclear weapons development and provocative behavior. Bloomberg staff writer Kevin Varley contributed to this story. ___ 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Egypt has launched three new diving sites off the coast of the Red Sea in the city of Hurghada to protect coral reefs and boost diving tourism, the Ministry of Environment announced on Thursday. SEOUL, South Korea The remains of seven South Korean soldiers from the Korean War were returned by the United States during a dignified transfer ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii on Tuesday. South Korean Vice Minister of National Defense Shin Beomchul, who jointly presided over the ceremony with Adm. John Aquilino, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said the repatriation of the seven great heroes was a testament to the enduring alliance between Washington and Seoul, according to a news release from the ministry. South Korea remembers its great heroes who protected its freedom in the name of the state forever and will take charge of them to the end, Shin said. South Korea will do its best to conduct projects to recover the remains of soldiers killed in the Korean War until the very last man. The remains were found to be of South Korean origin during a joint forensic investigation in the United States by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and its South Korean counterpart, the Ministry of National Defense Agency for Killed in Action Recovery and Identification. Only one of the seven Pfc. Choi Im-rak has been identified, so far. Chois nephew, South Korean navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Choi Hojong, attended the ceremony to receive his uncles remains. Following the ceremony, a South Korean army honor guard carried the remains into a South Korean air force KC-330 Cygnus, which was scheduled to fly over Chois hometown of Ulsan before landing at Seoul Airbase in Seongnam city late Wednesday. Upon entering South Korean airspace, four of the countrys F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters were to escort the KC-330 to Seoul, according to the ministry. Choi will be buried at Seoul National Cemetery while the six other remains will undergo further analysis by the agency for recovery and identification, the ministry said. Since 2012, South Korea has received the remains of 313 Korean War troops from the U.S. Of those, only 19 have been identified. The remains of 450 Americans killed in the war have been returned to the U.S. from South Korea since 1982, according to DPAAs website. Roughly 7,600 others are still unaccounted for. Of the 1.8 million U.S. troops who deployed to the Korean Peninsula during the 1950-53 Korean War, roughly 23,600 died in combat, according to the Defense Casualty Analysis System. RIGA, Latvia - Russia's Federal Security Service on Tuesday arrested a renowned left-wing sociologist and former Soviet dissident, Boris Kagarlitsky, on a charge of "justifying terrorism" over comments he posted in October on social media - the latest move in a widening wartime crackdown on dissent by President Vladimir Putin's government. Kagarlitsky, a well-known Marxist thinker and prolific author and activist, was transferred by the authorities to the northern city of Syktyvkar, more than 800 miles from his Moscow home. Despite thousands of recent arrests of rights activists, politicians and journalists, Kagarlitsky's arrest shocked Russia's intelligentsia and was condemned by prominent pro-Kremlin analyst Sergei Markov, who called it a "gross political mistake" in a post on Telegram - a rare criticism from the pro-war camp about the arrest of an antiwar figure. "Stay away from Kagarlitsky!" Markov said, saying that imprisoning him would cause "huge harm to Russia in the world." The arrest highlighted the deepening fractures across Russian society as Putin persists with his vicious war in Ukraine despite signs that his military is largely stalled and slowly losing ground amid a grinding Ukrainian counteroffensive. On Wednesday, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have defeated a major Ukrainian attack near Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia, in eastern Ukraine, declaring it had destroyed 20 Ukrainian tanks and 10 armed personnel carriers and killed 100 Ukrainian soldiers. But a pro-war military blog, Zapisky Veterana, which means "Notes of a Veteran," reported more modest Ukrainian losses of "several destroyed enemy vehicles and more than a dozen prisoners." The Ukrainian Defense Ministry, meanwhile, claimed to have blunted Russian attacks on Wednesday at numerous locations along the 600-mile-long front and to have made some gains in retaking occupied territory in the Zaporizhzhia region, as part of "an offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdyansk directions." Kyiv said its advancing forces were "entrenched at the reached boundaries" and inflicting "fire damage." Heavy fighting and artillery and airstrikes were reported throughout the day, including in the east near Bakhmut and Avdiivka. On Wednesday evening, Moscow unleashed another barrage of missile strikes on targets across Ukraine, including an airfield in the Khmelnytskyi region. In a statement posted on social media, Ukraine's Air Force said that Russian forces fired 39 cruise missiles over the course of the day, of which 36 were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses. "The missiles entered the airspace of Ukraine from the south-eastern direction, went to the West, constantly changing the direction of flight," the statement said. However, four Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic were also launched, about which the Air Force said it was "clarifying" details. Publicly, Putin has been bristling with confidence that Ukraine's counteroffensive has "failed" and that the West's cautiously calibrated weapons supplies will not help Ukraine win the war, weeks after a NATO leaders' summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, cheered Moscow by failing to spell out a clear path for Ukraine to join the alliance. But there were also new signs Wednesday that Russia's military continues to face personnel challenges, as Russian lawmakers passed a law to expand the compulsory conscription pool. The conscription parameters, almost certain to be signed into law, alarmed many, because they ditch an earlier plan to raise the lowest age that men can be conscripted from 18 to 21, and the upper limit from 27 to 30. Instead, the Russian parliament, a rubber stamp for the Putin regime, moved only the upper limit, widening the range by three years, to 18 to 30. "The State Duma smells 'a big war,'" ran the headline in the Nezavisimaya Gazeta. Influential lawmaker Andrei Kartapolov, head of the defense committee of the State Duma, or lower house of parliament, said the law to widen the conscription age was drafted "for a big war, for a general mobilization." "And now it already smells like the biggest war," Kartapolov continued, according to the newspaper, a sign that Putin's regime is preparing to fight an extended, ruthless, bloody war for as long as necessary, in the conviction that Western military support will dissipate because of electoral pressures on Western politicians. Kartapolov warned that it was inappropriate for society to debate the conscription bill because it was too sensitive, underscoring official wariness of about public opposition to mobilization and conscription. In an unusual show of dissent among Russia's usually tame lawmakers, several expressed opposition to the plan to depart from the earlier planned law. Influential senator Viktor Bondarev, head of the defense committee in the Federation Council, the upper chamber of parliament, said he was bewildered by the abrupt change, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported, and added that the revision had never been discussed with the upper house. Another prominent senator, Andrei Klishas, head of the Federation Council legal committee, strongly backed Bondarev, in a sign of the disquiet over the secrecy and haste surrounding the bill. The arrest of Kagarlitsky, the left-wing sociologist, occurred just days after Russian authorities arrested Igor Girkin, a prominent nationalist war blogger, on charges of promoting extremism. Girkin was the first pro-war figure who had expressed harsh criticism of Putin and Russian military leaders to be arrested under draconian new laws barring criticism of the military. Kagarlitsky, a prominent critic of the war in Ukraine, was a dissident in the Soviet era and jailed for "anti-Soviet propaganda" for more than a year in Lefortovo prison during the leadership of Leonid Brezhnev. He founded a left-wing Moscow think tank, the Institute for Globalization Studies and Social Movements, in 2007. His institute was declared a "foreign agent" by Russia's Justice Ministry in 2018, and Kagarlitsky was personally branded with the label in May 2022. "Boris Kagarlitsky today is probably the most influential Russian politician and expert of the left camp in the world," Markov said, calling on the Kremlin to "actively work with him," not jail him. Kagarlitsky was arrested after the head of the Federal Security Service (FSB) in the northern Komi Republic determined that an item posted on social media constituted justification of terrorism. The FSB initiated charges, leading to Kagarlitsky's removal to the remote city of Syktyvkar. Kagarlitsky's lawyer, Sergei Yerokhov, told Russian media outlet Agentstvo that he was charged over a post he made following the October attack on the Crimean Bridge. The comment, which appeared to have been carefully worded to avoid breaching Russia's strict laws banning criticism of the war, said that the attack on the bridge would create military supply issues. "From the moment of its grand opening, the Crimean Bridge has been not only a strategic, but also a symbolic object, the main achievement of the Putin era and material proof that in our country, even against the backdrop of total theft and inefficiency, it is still possible to achieve practical results if you invest some 400 to 500 percent of technologically necessary funds," Kagarlitsky's post said. Kagarlitsky appeared in court Wednesday and was ordered to be held in a pretrial detention center for two months, pending trial, although in Russia such detentions are usually extended. Kagarlitsky said the decision to charge him was political. "Why, by whom and how - I can't say," he said, adding: "I categorically disagree with the charges I am facing and believe that this is a political decision. The statement I am accused of dates back to October last year. That is, it took 10 months to incriminate me, although it was all over the internet." Kagarlitsky has often argued that Russians, alienated by the war, disillusioned with corruption and barred from expressing their viewpoints, instead have retreated into their own personal worlds, avoiding politics, protests and talk about the invasion. The process of his arrest was unusual, because prosecutions normally occur in the city where defendants reside, and it raised the specter that any prominent figure could face arrest if an FSB regional boss in a far-flung outpost decides to act over comments on social media. The proposed changes to the conscription law suggest Russia is continuing to seek reinforcements to send to Ukraine even after an aggressive recruiting campaign in prisons, which allowed convicts to earn a pardon in exchange for enlisting to fight. In recent months, Russia has quietly been running an intensive military recruitment program to boost its forces fighting in Ukraine, and has taken other measures to expand the pool of men who can be conscripted. On Monday, Putin signed a law increasing the upper age limit that military reservists can be mobilized from 50 to 55. For officers, it increased from 55 to 60. Average life expectancy for Russian men is 67. In yet another planned measure to free up Russian forces to fight in Ukraine, a separate law would allow the formation of people's militias, which would enable Russian governors to form and arm their own forces, "to strengthen the protection of public order and ensure public safety during the period of mobilization, during martial law, in wartime." The Washington Post's Natalia Abbakumova in Riga contributed to this report. LONDON Britain has "underplayed and underestimated" the threat posed by the Russian Wagner mercenary group and should ban it as a terrorist organization, a powerful committee of U.K. lawmakers said Wednesday. The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said the sanctions imposed by Britain on Wagner are "underwhelming" and U.K. authorities have done little to track the private army's activities beyond Ukraine, where it has fought as part of Russia's invading forces. "There are serious national security threats to the U.K. and its allies of allowing the network to continue to thrive," said the committee, whose members come from both governing and opposition parties. It said Britain should "urgently proscribe the Wagner Network as a terrorist organization," something the Conservative government has so far been unwilling to do. In a 78-page report, the committee said Wagner, which has close ties to the Russian state, operates like an "international criminal mafia, fueling corruption and plundering natural resources," especially in Africa, where it provides stability and protection for several authoritarian leaders. "It is a significant failing to see the Wagner Network primarily through the prism of Europe, not least given its geographic spread, the impact of its activities on U.K. interests further abroad, and the fact that its wealth creation sits largely in Africa," the report said. It called it "deeply regrettable" that the U.K. paid little attention to Wagner before 2022, and "continues to give so little focus to countries beyond Ukraine." The committee said with "high confidence" that Wagner had conducted military operations in at least seven countries since 2014: Ukraine, Syria, the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, Mozambique and Mali. The lawmakers said Wagner also has business interests in those countries, such as lucrative gold mining operations in the Central African Republic and Sudan, where Wagner's gold-smuggling activities "enabled huge quantities of gold to bypass the state" and flow to Russia. Wagner also has carried out non-military actions such as election interference in Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and South Africa, and there is evidence of the group's involvement in other countries, the committee said. The lawmakers urged the government to move "faster and harder" to sanction individuals and entities linked to Wagner, calling British sanctions "underwhelming in the extreme" compared to those imposed by the United States and the European Union. The lawmakers urged Britain to boost aid funding to fragile and conflict-wracked countries to stop them from turning to Russia and Wagner for help. A decision to slash the U.K.'s international aid budget from 0.7% to 0.5% of gross national income should be reversed as soon as possible, they said. The report, which drew on research by journalists, government and non-government organizations, testimony from Russia experts and evidence from a former Wagner fighter, said Wagner's future was uncertain after leader Yevgeny Prigozhin's armed mutiny against Russia's top military leaders last month. The rebellion ended within hours when a deal was brokered for Wagner troops to go to Belarus. The lawmakers said Britain should take advantage the confused situation to "disrupt" Wagner. "In the wake of the attempted coup last month, the future manifestations of the Wagner Network are uncertain," said the committee's chairwoman, Conservative lawmaker Alicia Kearns. "With the network at its most vulnerable and the clock ticking the time for action is now." The Foreign Office said in a statement that Britain had "heavily sanctioned the Wagner Group, including its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and several key commanders, limiting their travel and freezing their assets." "The U.K. has been one of the leading suppliers of military aid to Ukraine, who have been fighting Wagner forces on the battlefield," it said. "We continue to work with our allies to expose and counter their destabilising activities around the world." LVIV, Ukraine In an open test field in rural Ukraine, a drone equipped with a bomb lost connection with its human operator after coming under attack by electronic jamming equipment but instead of crashing to the ground, the drone accelerated toward its target and destroyed it. The drone avoided the fate of thousands of other uncrewed aircraft in this war by relying on new artificial intelligence software that accounts for the electronic interference now commonly deployed by Russia, stabilizing the drone and keeping it locked on a preselected target. AI capabilities help the drone complete its mission even if its target moves, representing a significant upgrade from existing drones that track specific coordinates. Such AI technology, under development by a growing number of Ukrainian drone companies, is one of several innovative leaps underway in Kyiv's domestic drone market that are accelerating and democratizing the lethality of unmanned warfare especially crucial for Ukraine's outgunned military, which is fighting a larger and better-equipped Russian enemy. The improvements in speed, flight range, payload capacity and other capabilities are having an immediate impact on the battlefield, enabling Ukraine to destroy Russian vehicles, blow up surveillance posts and even wreck parts of Russian President Vladimir Putin's prized Crimean Bridge in an operation last week involving explosive-laden naval drones. The design and software innovations, as well as mass dissemination of piloting know-how, are also likely to influence the way drones are used far beyond the war in Ukraine, with serious implications for governments confronting separatist militias, drug cartels and extremist groups seeking to gain a technological edge. "With tens of thousands of people going through drone training on both sides of this war, it is very likely that this experience is spreading far and wide, including to nefarious actors," said Samuel Bendett, a Russia-focused drone expert at CNA, a Washington-based think tank. Ukraine, which is known for agriculture and other heavy industry, is not an obvious setting for drone innovation. The exigencies of war, however, have turned the country into a kind of super lab of invention, attracting investment from vaunted business luminaries including former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt. More than 200 Ukrainian companies involved in drone production are now working hand-in-glove with military units on the front lines to tweak and augment drones to improve their ability to kill and spy on the enemy. "This is a 24/7 technology race," Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said in an interview at his office in Kyiv, the capital. "The challenge is that every product in every category must be changed daily to gain an advantage." Fedorov, 32, is in charge of Ukraine's "Army of Drones" program, an effort to maximize Kyiv's use of reconnaissance and attack drones to offset Russia's big advantage in air and artillery power. The program has assisted private companies in training more than 10,000 drone operators in the past year, with the goal of training an additional 10,000 over the next six months. Russia's air force is estimated to be 10 times larger than Ukraine's, but Kyiv has kept much of it grounded after shooting down several fighter jets in the opening days of the conflict. Drones have allowed Ukraine to surveil and hit sensitive targets far behind enemy lines while improving the accuracy of its conventional artillery. Drones have far less firepower than fighter jets, however, which is why Kyiv has requested F-16s and other big-ticket items such as ATACMS (shorthand for Army Tactical Missile System) long-range missile systems. In the meantime, cultivating a domestic drone industry is a top priority. Fedorov's team fast-tracks drone procurement contracts between the companies and the Defense Ministry, shortening a process "from two years to two months," said Dmytro Kovalchuk, a co-founder of the Kyiv-based drone maker Warbirds of Ukraine who has benefited from the streamlined process. Ukraine's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, has shared Russian jamming technology with the drone companies, allowing them to test their products against some of the world's most sophisticated electronic warfare weapons a privilege the vast majority of international drone companies do not have. "In the West, you cannot just fire up a jammer and interfere with big parts of the spectrum just to test your product," said Andrey Liscovich, a former Uber executive who left Silicon Valley to aid Ukraine's war effort. "You need a special license, and even when you have it, it only applies to a narrow cordoned-off area." "That's why this is one of the areas that Ukraine has a very real opportunity to develop a world-class solution," Liscovich said. Drone makers are also receiving constant feedback from the front lines, allowing them to make immediate adjustments to reduce vulnerabilities and improve lethality. "Solving for the end user is one of the most challenging and important problems," Liscovich said. Russia, which was slow to realize the importance of offensive drones in the conflict, has recently responded by building a volunteer drone army of its own and introducing new electronic jamming weapons into the field. Its use of self-detonating drones, including the ZALA Lancet and the Iranian-made Shahed, have menaced Ukraine's cities and blunted Ukraine's slow-churning counteroffensive. Ukraine estimates that Russia is destroying about 1,000 Ukrainian drones per month, Fedorov said. Other estimates put the loss rate at 10,000 per month, pushing Kyiv to find ways to increase production of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), in what has quickly become the largest drone war in history. In an idyllic field of tall sunflowers outside Kyiv, employees of drone maker UA Dynamics ran a test of the Punisher, a whisper-quiet attack drone with a thin frame that is difficult to spot in the sky. During the exercise, the drone dropped a 51/2-pound dummy payload a few feet away from a group of unsuspecting test observers who were caught off guard because of the machine's almost silent motor. The company is building a new attack drone it says can carry four such payloads, totaling about 22 pounds, said Max Subbotin, a company spokesman. In the western city of Lviv, engineers with Twist Robotics presented test videos of their AI-powered software, which could provide a major upgrade for Ukraine's arsenal of First Person View, or FPV, drones. The inexpensive UAVs, which Ukraine produces thousands of every month, can carry bombs but are vulnerable to Russian jamming. The new AI-powered targeting, however, allows the FPV to stay locked on its target even if the craft loses contact with the human operator because of jamming or the presence of a large physical object such as a hill, said Rostyslav Olenchyn, a co-founder of Twist Robotics. "After the target is locked, the drone is guided by this system," Olenchyn said. The drone's sensors recognize the target's physical features and adjusts the craft's trajectory accordingly. "It's a poor man's Javelin," said an engineer for Twist Robotics, referring to the American-made, shoulder-fired missile to illustrate how FPV drones can substitute for conventional weapons that are often a scarce resource for Ukraine's military. Schmidt, the former Google executive, is bullish on Ukraine's domestic drone market and has committed $10 million alongside other investors into D3, a Ukrainian startup accelerator that invests in drones and other defense technology. "Ukraine has continually out-innovated the enemy," Schmidt wrote in a column for the Wall Street Journal earlier this month after returning from a recent trip to the country. Schmidt, who has advised the Pentagon on AI technology, hailed Ukrainian advances in drone technology, including AI software and UAVs that operate without GPS guidance. He shared his belief that drones would play a decisive future role by land, air and sea in demining fields and forming "ruthless swarms of AI-empowered kamikaze drones." "The future of war will be dictated and waged by drones," Schmidt concluded. Schmidt, who met with Ukraine's defense minister during another visit to the country last fall, is believed to be interested in contributing millions of dollars in Ukraine to scale up the manufacturing of drones, people familiar with the matter said. A spokeswoman for Schmidt declined to comment. The acceleration of drone technology has worried security experts given the growing number of non-state actors that have used UAVs for lethal purposes, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and Mexico-based drug cartels. But while the cost of building an airplane-size drone like an MQ-9 Reaper is beyond the capabilities of such groups, obtaining and utilizing AI-assisted drone software is not. "Once that software has been developed, it's effectively costless for that software to proliferate and be reused elsewhere," said Paul Scharre, a drone expert at the Center for a New American Security and the author of the book "Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence." "It's really easy for non-state actors to go online, obtain the software and repurpose it." Major military powers have long grappled with the ethics of allowing machines to use lethal force in combat. President Biden's top military adviser, Gen. Mark A. Milley, has said the United States requires that "humans" remain in the "decision-making loop," and recently called on other major militaries to adopt the same standards. The new targeting technology still requires the human operator to select the target, said Kovalchuk, whose drone company also uses the AI software. But once the selection happens, the drone pursues the target and releases the munition resulting in a gap between the human decision and the lethal act. Ukrainians who have tested the new software insist that the machine's role is limited and "acceptable," Kovalchuk said. "We're not targeting civilians," he said. "And we consider a mistake of five to 10 meters acceptable." Fedorov conceded that the spread of AI technology represents a "threat to the future," but underscored that Kyiv must prioritize its immediate fight for survival. The Ukraine conflict is also giving rise to much less sophisticated methods for weaponizing drones. Each Ukrainian brigade, for instance, is equipped with a 3D printer that troops use to build the mechanism that holds and releases bombs from commercially available drones. The process is easily replicable, experts say. "Manuals are being published in both Russian and Ukrainian on how to fly a drone, operate a quadcopter and avoid detection," Bendett said. "Can nefarious actors worldwide use this experience and technology? Absolutely." But while technologists have marveled at the innovation happening in Ukraine's drone space, some caution that it is not a panacea for Kyiv's daunting military challenges. Liscovich, the former Uber executive, said Ukraine's attack drones are unlikely to provide a decisive advantage in the counteroffensive because of their limited range and payload size, and the uneven terrain across many miles of dense Russian minefields and trenches. Instead, he said, Ukraine's spy drones hold the most promise for giving Kyiv an edge. "Reconnaissance drones act as a direct multiplier on the efficacy of nearly all weapons in Ukraine's arsenal, especially artillery, providing the greatest immediate leverage on the battlefield," he said. David L. Stern and Isabelle Khurshudyan in Kyiv and Alex Horton in Washington contributed to this report. JERUSALEM Israel's highest court said Wednesday it will hear legal challenges to a divisive new law that weakens its power, putting the country's top justices in the position of defending their own independence and escalating a political crisis that has unleashed the country's biggest protests in history. Israeli civil society groups and others filed petitions asking the Supreme Court to strike down the law enacted Monday the first major piece of legislation in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's broader plan to overhaul Israel's judiciary. The opposition's legal challenges are pushing Israel toward a showdown over the foundations of its system of government. The court faces massive public pressure to strike down the law and has an inherent interest in preserving its powers and independence. But if it does so, Netanyahu's government could ignore the ruling, setting the stage for a crisis over who has ultimate authority. "If there is no judicial review, it means the Knesset has total power," said Amir Fuchs, senior researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank. Critics of the overhaul describe it as a blow to democracy, arguing that Israel's judiciary represents the primary check on the powers of the prime minister and his majority coalition in parliament. The supporters of Netanyahu's far-right, ultra-Orthodox government say the law will prevent liberal, unelected judges from interfering with the decisions of elected lawmakers. They also say the court should not be able to rule on a law limiting its own authority. "To have the court decide its own powers by itself, that's not separation of powers," Simcha Rothman, a right-wing lawmaker spearheading the overhaul, told The Associated Press. "That's not democracy." Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have poured into the streets to protest against the plan for the past seven months. The overhaul also has drawn concern from Israel's closest allies. The Biden administration called the outcome "unfortunate," and the European Union said Wednesday it was "following the developments in Israel closely and with concern." The United States and EU have expressed fears that pushing through the judicial overhaul in defiance of mass popular resistance could undermine what the countries routinely describe as their shared values. "It is important that the core values on which our partnership are based are preserved," the EU said. Israel has no constitution, relying instead on a set of "basic laws" that enshrine rights and freedoms. The prime minister governs through a majority coalition in parliament in effect, giving him control over the executive and legislative branches of government. As a result, the Supreme Court plays a critical oversight role, a safeguard against corruption and overtly political appointments of unqualified candidates to important jobs. The law passed Monday strips the Supreme Court of its power to block government actions and appointments on the basis that they are "unreasonable." The Supreme Court did not issue an injunction on Wednesday, as petitioners had asked, but said it would hear challenges to the new law after the Knesset returns from recess in September. It asked the law's defendants to submit a response at least 10 days before the preliminary hearing. The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a good governance group, said in its petition that the law undermines Israel's core values as a democracy, and that it was passed through a flawed legislative process. "We will appear in the Supreme Court to defend Israeli democracy and we will do everything we can to stop the coup," Eliad Shraga, the group's chairman, said on Wednesday. Netanyahu's allies have vowed to press forward with more judicial changes after the parliamentary recess. Another planned bill would give the parliament control over how judges are appointed. The opposition party, Yesh Atid, along with pro-democracy groups, have filed a separate petition asking Justice Minister Yariv Levin to convene the powerful committee that picks the nation's judges. Both the governing coalition and the opposition traditionally are represented on the nine-member committee. But proponents of the overhaul have sought control of the committee, drawing accusations that Netanyahu and his allies were trying to stack the judiciary with cronies. The opposition sees Netanyahu's attempts to delay the committee's formation as a backhanded way to enact part of the judicial overhaul without political consensus. With Israel in turmoil, its credit rating was downgraded this week, with agencies warning that the fallout from the judicial overhaul could make the country less attractive to foreign investors. "What's happening now is just a fraction of the economic damage we are set to experience in the long run," said Yannay Spitzer, economist at Israel's Hebrew University. Associated Press writer Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed to this report. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates A Houston woman known online as the "Sassy Trucker" has been stuck in Dubai for months after an altercation at a car rental agency, the latest case showing the limits of speech in this skyscraper-studded city-state. The case against Tierra Young Allen, 29, comes as the seven sheikhdoms of the United Arab Emirates have rules that strictly govern speech far beyond what's common in Western nations. A middle finger raised in a traffic dispute, a text message calling someone a name or swearing in public easily can spark criminal cases something that foreign tourists who flock here may not realize until it is too late. Allen traveled to Dubai in April, with her social media accounts with tens of thousands of followers showing videos of her test-driving a Mercedes semitruck, going to the beach, seeing tourist attractions and partying in nightclubs. But toward the end of Allen's trip, a rental car driven by a friend she was with was involved in a crash April 28, said Radha Stirling, who runs a for-hire advocacy group long critical of the UAE called Detained in Dubai. After the crash, Allen tried to retrieve personal items still inside of the car from the rental agency, sparking an altercation, Stirling said. The circumstances of the altercation at the unidentified car rental agency remain unclear. Stirling has described Allen as facing possible charges for "shouting" at an employee of the rental car agency, without elaborating on what Allen specifically said at the time. Stirling accused the car rental agency employee of "raising his voice at her and following her out of the shop" during the incident. Allen "was 'scared' and intimidated by his aggression," Stirling said. Allen did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press, which Stirling attributed to "the risk of additional charges from the UAE government" if she spoke publicly. In a statement, Dubai police disputed Stirling's description of the altercation. The "Dubai police received a complaint from a car rental office, accusing her of slandering and defaming an employee amidst a dispute over car rental fees," police said in their statement. "The individual was questioned as per legal procedures and subsequently released pending the resolution of ongoing legal proceedings between her and the car rental office." Typically, police place travel bans on those involved in such cases until a resolution is reached. Police take statements from both parties, then determine whether they should be forwarded onto prosecutors. Cases are resolved by the complainant dropping the case, the two parties agreeing to a settlement or going to court. The police hold Allen's passport, Stirling said. Responding to a query by the AP, the U.S. State Department acknowledged it was "aware that a U.S. citizen, Tierra Young Allen, is unable to depart Dubai." However, it did not elaborate on the circumstances of Allen's case. "We take seriously our commitment to assist U.S. citizens abroad and are providing all appropriate assistance," the State Department said. "The Department remains in regular communication with her and her family. We will continue to monitor her case closely." The State Department separately warns travelers coming to the UAE that "individuals may be arrested, fined, and/or deported for ... making rude gestures, swearing ... and making derogatory statements about the UAE, the royal families, the local governments or other people." Under Emirati law, publicly insulting another person can carry a sentence of up to one year in prison and a fine of $5,450. Disputes over rental car agency fees have seen other foreign tourists stuck in the city-state in the past as well. Iran says it gave new details to the U.N. about two sites near Tehran that inspectors say bore traces of manmade uranium. The comments Wednesday by Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran's civilian nuclear program, come as Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers remains in tatters. Meanwhile, Tehran still enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. Eslami did not name the sites, though the International Atomic Energy Agency has identified them as Turquzabad and Varamin just outside of Tehran. The IAEA has said it has no outstanding questions about a third site also investigated by inspectors. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Iran said Wednesday it gave new details to the United Nations about two sites near Tehran that inspectors say bore traces of manmade uranium, part of a wider probe as tensions remain high over the Islamic Republic's advancing program. The comments by Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran's civilian nuclear program, come as Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers remains in tatters and as Tehran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. Resolving questions from the International Atomic Energy Agency could see Iran avoid further censure as an October deadline approaches that would lift international restrictions on its ballistic missile program as well. Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Eslami said Iran had sent "detailed answers" to the International Atomic Energy Agency. "If those answers are not accepted and there are any ambiguities or doubts, as we have always said, we will clarify and revise the documents," Eslami said in comments carried by state television. "We are now in that phase now, and we have given the IAEA more evidence and documents and will give more so that it can move past this issue." The Vienna-based IAEA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. However, Eslami's comments mark a change in tone as Iran has limited inspections, held surveillance footage and taken years to respond to the IAEA after then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the nuclear deal in 2018. Eslami did not name the sites, though the IAEA has identified them as Turquzabad and Varamin just outside of Tehran. At Varamin, the IAEA in a March report said that inspectors believe Iran used the site from 1999 until 2003 as a pilot project to process uranium ore and convert it into a gas form, which then can be enriched through spinning in a centrifuge. The IAEA said buildings at the site had been demolished in 2004. Tehran insists its program is peaceful, though the West and the IAEA say Iran had an organized military nuclear program until 2003. Turquzabad is where the IAEA believes Iran took some of the material at Varamin amid the demolition, though it said that alone cannot "explain the presence of the multiple types of isotopically altered particles" found there. In 2018, the site became known publicly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed it at the United Nations and called it a clandestine nuclear warehouse hidden at a rug-cleaning plant. Iran denied that, though IAEA inspectors later found the manmade uranium particles there. The IAEA said in May it no longer had questions about a third questioned site called Marivan near Abadeh in southern Iran. In recent months, Iran has pledged to restore cameras and other monitoring equipment at its nuclear sites. That's as Iran's economy has cratered under international sanctions over its program. Meanwhile, Iran likely wants to avoid any dispute at the IAEA as U.N. restrictions on Iran's ballistic missile program are scheduled to lift on Oct. 18. Those restrictions call on Iran "not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons." More than 3,000 US military personnel have arrived in the Red Sea aboard two warships, as part of increased deployments after tanker seizures by Iran, the US Navy said Monday. NABLUS, West Bank A Palestinian man was killed by Israeli troops during an arrest raid in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the latest bloodshed in one of the most violent stretches of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in years. Israeli forces entered the al-Ein refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus and arrested a suspected militant after surrounding his house, the army said. Palestinian officials said a 23-year-old man was killed when fighting erupted between Palestinian militants and Israeli security forces. The Israeli army said Palestinians opened fire and threw stones and paint at soldiers, who responded with live fire. Another two Palestinians were wounded by bullet shrapnel, including a female motorist caught in the crossfire, medics from the Palestinian Red Crescent said. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the man killed as Mohammed Nada and said he was shot in the chest. Wednesday's incident came a day after Israeli troops killed three Palestinian gunmen who opened fire on soldiers near Nablus. Israeli-Palestinian fighting has surged in the occupied West Bank, which Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war. Palestinians seek the territory, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, for a hoped-for future state. In recent months, the West Bank has witnessed a volatile mix of the rise of local armed Palestinian groups carrying out frequent shooting attacks against Israelis and near-daily Israeli military raids that have increasingly turned deadly. So far this year, over 161 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank the highest death toll in over a decade. Around half of them were affiliated with militant groups and killed in fighting during Israeli military raids, but stone-throwing youths protesting the incursions as well as innocent bystanders have also been killed. Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis have killed at least 25 people this year. WASHINGTON A trio of influential artificial intelligence leaders testified at a congressional hearing Tuesday, warning that the frantic pace of AI development could lead to serious harms within the next few years, such as rogue states or terrorists using the tech to create bioweapons. Yoshua Bengio, an AI professor at the University of Montreal who is known as one of the fathers of modern AI science, said the United States should push for international cooperation to control the development of AI, outlining a regime similar to international rules on nuclear technology. Dario Amodei, the chief executive of AI start-up Anthropic, said he fears cutting edge AI could be used to create dangerous virus and other bioweapons in as little as two years. And Stuart Russell, a computer science professor at the University of California at Berkeley, said the way AI works means it is harder to fully understand and control than other powerful technologies. "Recently I and many others have been surprised by the giant leap realized by systems like ChatGPT," Bengio said during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. "The shorter timeline is more worrisome." The hearing demonstrated how concerns about AI surpassing human intelligence and getting out of control have quickly gone from the realm of science fiction to the mainstream. For years, futurists have theorized that one day AI could become smarter than humans and develop its own goals, potentially leading it to harm humanity. But in the past six months, a handful of prominent AI researchers, including Bengio, have moved up their timelines for when they think "supersmart" AI might be possible from decades to potentially just a few years. Those concerns are now reverberating around Silicon Valley, in the media and in Washington, and politicians are referencing those threats as one of the reasons governments need to pass legislation. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), the chair of the subcommittee holding the hearing, said humanity has shown itself capable of inventing incredible new technologies that people never thought would be possible at the time. He compared AI to the Manhattan Project to build a nuclear weapon, or NASA's efforts to put a man on the moon. "We've managed to do things that people thought unthinkable," he said. "We know how to do big things." Not all researchers agree with the aggressive timelines for supersmart AI outlined at the hearing Tuesday, and skeptics have pointed out that hyping up the potential of AI tech could help companies sell it. Other prominent AI leaders have said those who talk about existential fears like an AI takeover are exaggerating the capabilities of the technology and needlessly spreading fear. At the hearing, senators also raised the specter of potential antitrust concerns. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said one of the risks is Big Tech companies like Microsoft and Google developing a monopoly over AI tech. Hawley has been a firebrand critic of the Big Tech companies for several years and used the hearing to argue that the companies behind the tech are themselves a risk. "I'm confident it will be good for the companies, I have no doubt about that," Hawley said. "What I'm less confident about is whether the people are going to be all right." Bengio made large contributions throughout the 1990s and 2000s to the science that forms the foundation for the techniques that make chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard possible. Earlier this year, he joined his fellow AI pioneer, Geoffrey Hinton, in saying that he had grown more concerned about the potential impact of the tech they helped to create. In March, he was the most prominent AI researcher to sign a letter asking tech companies to pause the development of new AI models for six months so that the industry could agree on a set of standards to stop the technology getting out of human control. Russell, who has also been outspoken about the impact of AI on society and co-authored a popular textbook on AI for university classes, also signed the letter. Blumenthal framed the hearing as a session to come up with ideas on how to regulate AI, and all three of the leaders gave their suggestions. Bengio called for international cooperation and labs around the world that would research ways to guide AI toward helping humans rather than getting out of our control. Russell said a new regulatory agency specifically focused on AI will be necessary. He predicts the tech will eventually overhaul the economy and contribute a massive amount of growth to GDP, and therefore will need robust and focused oversight, he said. Amodei, for his part, said he is "agnostic" on whether a new agency is created or if existing regulators like the FTC are used to oversee AI, but said standard tests must be created for AI companies to run their tech through to try to identify potential harms. "Before we have identified and have a process for this, we are, from a regulatory perspective, shooting in the dark," he said. "If we don't have things in place that are restraining AI systems, we're going to have a bad time." Unlike Bengio and Russell, Amodei actually runs a working AI company that is pushing the technology forward. His start-up is staffed with former Google and OpenAI researchers, and the company has tried to position itself as a more thoughtful and careful alternative to Big Tech. At the same time, it has taken around $300 million in investment from Google and relies on the company's data centers to run its AI models. He also called for more federal funding for AI research to learn how to mitigate the range of risks from AI. Amodei predicted that malicious actors could use AI to help develop bioweapons within the next two or three years, bypassing tight industry controls meant to stop people from developing such weapons. "I'm worried about our ability to do this in time but we have to try," he said. (Tribune News Service) Five Korea peace advocates from Hawaii will attend a national gathering this week in Washington to call for an official end to the Korean War. The two-day gathering will begin Thursday and Friday and fall on the 70th anniversary of the Korean armistice, which ended the fighting but was not a permanent peace treaty between the North and South. It will include a news conference with Korea Peace Congressional Champions, a peace rally and guest speakers who will cover topics such as the cost of the Korean War and the growing nuclear threat it causes. "We must have peace come first, and it's not just good for the 80 million Korean people on the peninsula, but it's good for us at home," said Christine Ahn, Women Cross DMZ founder and 2022 Peace Summit Medal awardee. "And so we're coming together as a united front to tell President Biden and Congress that if we want to advance the U.S. goals of denuclearization or improved human rights, we must end the war." Ahn is among many organizers of the event and has been advocating for peace on the Korean Peninsula for 20 years. Ahn is one of five Hawaii advocates taking part, along with retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Leaf, author Joseph Han, retired U.S. Army Col. Ann Wright and Jun Shin, a recent University of Hawaii graduate, one of 30 youth whose trip to the event will be funded through donations made to Korea Peace Now! and Women Cross DMZ. The gathering's primary goal is to mobilize support for the Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act, which calls for a peace agreement with North Korea. The act has the support of nearly 30 members of Congress so far, according to Korea Peace Now! Leaf is a scheduled speaker at the event, and he plans to discuss the urgency for peace amid the danger of nuclear conflict. He served as a certified nuclear strike pilot and a first wing commander, and he said he has seen the potential for a nuclear war firsthand. "I've thought about the unthinkable for the last 40 years," Leaf said. "And now in 2023, more than ever, we need to make progress because of the danger of nuclear conflict. ... This dangerous stalemate is no longer a viable alternative." (c)2023 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit staradvertiser.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. An Army veteran admitted to stealing more than $100,000 in disability benefits after he was caught posting Instagram videos of his 800-pound leg presses, the Justice Department said. Charles Adams, who bills himself on his website as a certified personal trainer, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to theft of $106,245 in government funds, court records show. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He also was ordered to pay back the money he stole. As part of the deal, prosecutors dropped a charge of making false statements while applying for Social Security disability benefits. Adams, 50, of Berkeley, Mo., told medical examiners that a condition prevented him from bending, squatting or lifting more than 25 pounds above his shoulders. Meanwhile, he was doing strenuous workouts, including one the same day of his disability hearing, court documents said. Adams scheme started in 2017, when he applied for an increase in disability benefits, citing degenerative disc disease and arthritis connected to his military service, court filings stated. He told medical workers he had difficulty getting out of bed and could not stand for extended periods of time. Meanwhile, he posted videos to his Instagram account showing himself lifting heavy weights in late 2017 and 2018, investigators said. His workouts included deep squats and leg presses. Federal agents began watching Adams, and in 2021, they saw him walk without difficulty while hefting trash bags prior to a medical exam, where he used a cane to walk at a much slower pace. A grand jury indicted Adams in 2022, and the Department of Veterans Affairs discontinued his benefits after determining his medical conditions were not as disabling as previously assessed, court documents said. Sentencing for Adams is scheduled for Oct. 25. (Tribune News Service) Army Sgt. 1st Class James L. Wilkinson, of Bowden, was accounted for on Dec. 5, 2022, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced Wednesday in a news release. Wilkinson, 19, was initially reported missing in action when fighting broke out near the Naktong River in South Korea in September 1950, according to the news release. Due to the fighting, his body could not be recovered at that time, and there was never any evidence that he was a prisoner of war, the release stated. The missing soldier was presumed dead in December 1953. Years later, the Army started recovering remains from the area including a set designated Unknown X-1588, according to the agency. It was sent to the Central Identification Unit-Kokura in Japan for analysis but could not be identified at the time. The remains later arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, to be buried alongside other Korean War Unknowns in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, according to the release. In 2019, Unknown X-1588 was among 652 others missing from the Korean War exhumed at the cemetery with hopes of learning who they were, according to the release. Wilkinsons remains were finally accounted for using dental and anthropological analysis, as well as chest radiograph comparison, officials said. Wilkinsons name was recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu cemetery, alongside a rosette to designate that he is now accounted for. Wilkinsons body will make the long trip back to the Peach State, according to the agency. He is set to be buried Sept. 16 in Barrow County, about 60 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. 2023 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The federal cabinet has approved draft of the amendment bill of the Investment Board Ordinance 2001 for promotion of foreign investment in Pakistan. The decision to this effect was taken in the federal cabinet meeting held in Islamabad today with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair. The amendment will empower the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and evolve mechanisms for working relationship with various ministries and provincial governments, besides raising its basic structure and formulating nature of work. Once it will become law, the Special Investment Facilitation Council will ensure speedy implementation of foreign investment projects in the country. The Cabinet, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Narcotics Control, constituted a ministerial committee under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif to finalize the National Cannabis Policy. The cabinet also approved the restructuring of Accountability Courts on the recommendation of the Ministry of Law and Justice, under which eleven Accountability Courts will be converted into seven Banking Courts, Two Intellectual Tribunals, a Special Court Central and a Special Court in Balochistan. This reorganizing will not incur any additional costs. On the recommendation of the Ministry of Information Technology, the federal cabinet approved in principle the E-Safety Bill 2023 to protect user data and prevent illegal and illegal use of information systems. Under the E-Safety Bill, a framework will be evolved under a certain law to ensure protection and unauthorized use of user data on all types of online services, online shopping, data provided to various companies and social networking websites in Pakistan. After approval of the bill, heinous crimes like online harassment, cyber bullying and blackmailing will be effectively prevented. On the recommendation of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the Cabinet also accorded approval in principle to the Personal Data Protection Bill 2023. Under this bill, the government will ensure the security of the user's personal information or data by the various organizations and companies and prohibit the giving of the user's information or data to any company, individual or government organization without their permission. Moreover, a National Commission for Personal Data Protection (NCPDP) will be established under a certain law, which will work like Civil Court, to protect private information or data of consumers and redressal of grievances. The cabinet approved the National Adaptation Plan 2023 on the recommendation of the Ministry of Climate Change. Under the plan, the government along with other partners, will take measures to protect climate-prone communities from the adverse effects of climate change, including not only issuing early warning, but also taking effective emergency response measures. On the recommendation of the Ministry of Climate Change, the federal cabinet approved to refer the Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act, 2023 to the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases for the protection of wildlife and natural assets in Islamabad. The cabinet accorded approval to the policy of inclusion and removal of names in the Exit Control List (ECL) on the recommendation of the Ministry of Interior. It also approved that if the reason for inclusion of the names in the Passport Control List and the Exit Control List is the same, the name will be removed from both the lists. The federal cabinet accorded approved to the reorganization of Board of Directors of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines. It also approved the appointment of members of Selection Committee of Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority. Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government is implementing 'Whole of the Government' policy to increase Foreign Direct Investment in the country. He said the policy is aimed at speedy implementing the projects with foreign investment. The Prime Minister appreciated Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Musadik Malik, for his successful efforts to finalize the LNG Agreement with Azerbaijan. He said the agreement will not only be an important step in the development of trade relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, but also prove to be an important milestone for Pakistan's energy security. Saudi state-run oil giant Aramco on Monday reported $30 billion in second quarter profit, a nearly 40% decline from the same period the previous year that it attributed to lower oil prices. Sam Mooney (28) from Dublin, was jailed for three years and three months A Dublin man who was caught smuggling close to 100g of cocaine hidden internally in Kinder Surprise tubs into Australia has been jailed for more than three years today in Melbourne. Sam Mooney (28) from Dublin, was jailed for three years and three months in Victoria County Court after pleading guilty to smuggling almost 100g of cocaine into Melbourne on a flight from the Middle East. Mr Mooney told the court that he smuggled the drugs in an attempt to pay off a 13,000 drug debt back in Ireland, according to reports in the Herald Sun today. Mooney arrived at border control in Melbourne on December 28, 2022, and told officers he was on a 10-day holiday to visit friends, but when his luggage tested positive on a swab for cocaine, he was handed over to the Australian Border Force. The court heard that Mooney then told officers: Ive got something up my a**e. Police transported Mooney to Royal Melbourne Hospital for a CT scan. He later excreted six yellow plastic capsules that contained roughly 100 grams of cocaine. Officers charged the man with one count of importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug, namely cocaine. He has been remanded in custody since. Detective Acting Superintendent Chris Salmon said the arrest highlighted the extreme lengths some people went to in order to allegedly evade detection at the border. Smuggling drugs internally is idiotic there is the real risk that something could go wrong, resulting in a potentially fatal drug overdose or permanent damage to internal organs," Mr Salmon said at the time of Mooneys arrest. Mr Mooneys solicitor Emily Allan told the court on Wednesday: It has been a monumental stuff-up, she said. (Prison) has been a blunt wake-up call, the Herald Sun reported. Judge John Carmody accepted Mooneys early guilty plea: Hes made frank admissions, perhaps thats the Irish way, he said. You are an example of a young man with a good family upbringing whos been undone by drug addiction, he said. "Everything is in place for you to live a good, productive, law-abiding life. Mr Mooney agreed with the judge. With good behaviour, he will be eligible for early release in August 2024. Pumps were turned off when 51-year-old from Dublin made the threats A Dublin man threatened to burn down a filling station as he tried to pour petrol on the ground in front of terrified staff, a court heard. The pumps were turned off when Anthony McCormack (51) made the threats but the incident caused anxiety for workers. Judge Treasa Kelly adjourned the case at Dublin District Court and said she would leave the accused without a criminal record if he made a 200 charity donation. McCormack, of Dublin Street, Balbriggan pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour and threatening to cause criminal damage to property by setting fire to it. Dublin District Court heard the incident happened at Circle K, Beaumont Road, Dublin on February 3 this year. Garda Sergeant Niall Murphy said the accused was at the garage when he threatened to burn it down, then tried to pour petrol on the ground, but the pump had been turned off. McCormack had no previous convictions. The accused suffered from bipolar disorder and was on a high on the day in question, his solicitor Murrough ORourke said. I dont think he meant to do anything, but obviously this caused anxiety for the people in the garage, Mr ORourke told the judge. A doctors note stated that the accused was off work with depression. McCormack worked in security and criminal convictions would jeopardise that, Mr ORourke said. McCormack told the judge he had gone back to the garage to apologise to staff. That wasnt a nice incident, Im sure they were quite terrified at the Circle K, Judge Kelly said. You cant act in that manner, you have to have respect for people doing their jobs. The judge noted the accused had taken responsibility for his actions. She adjourned the case and said she would dismiss the charges under the Probation of Offenders Act if he made a 200 donation to the Capuchin Centre. In default, she said she would fine and convict him. Michael Collins defended himself during the trial A driver who was high on cannabis when he led gardai on a 35-minute chase and caused the death of his 20-year-old passenger, has failed to convince the Court of Appeal of the "very radical proposition" that he should not have been allowed to represent himself at trial. Lawyers for Michael Collins (49) had told the appeal hearing that a family member called it "delusional" that the defendant could represent himself. Collins was jailed for 14 years at Trim Circuit Court in July 2019 for causing the crash that claimed the life of Jillian Thornton seven years ago. Following a 13-day trial, Collins, of St Finians Park, Drogheda, Co Louth, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Ms Thornton on May 27, 2016, at Waterside Great, Duleek, Co Meath. Collins defended himself after sacking his legal team at the start of the trial, and was also convicted on two charges of endangerment, 12 charges of dangerous driving and of driving under the influence of an intoxicant, cannabis, on the same date. Judge Martina Baxter heard that Collins was on his way to a music festival in Mullingar on the night with the victim and a friend, Alannah Byrne, who survived the crash. Jillian Thornton Ms Thornton was killed when she was thrown from the back seat of the defendants car, which was split in two when it collided with another car near Ballymagarvey on the N2 after a 35-minute garda pursuit. In dismissing the appeal today , Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said representing oneself at trial was a constitutional right in Irish law which had to be upheld. Mr Justice McCarthy said that an inquiry into whether or not Collins was capable of defending himself had been carried out and that the trial judge had encouraged Collins to retain legal representation for the purpose of trial. Mr Justice McCarthy pointed out that Collins had also been medically assessed with regard to his fitness to plead and that he had been found to be capable of doing so. Mr Justice McCarthy said the appellant's legal team had quoted Portuguese law where persons who applied to represent themselves had their applications rejected at the final appeals stage of the Portuguese system. The judge said that this position did not represent Irish law, and that there was no question of a breach of EU law by Ireland in allowing Collins to represent himself. Mr Justice McCarthy said the court had rejected the submission that Collins "was not in a position to properly defend himself" and dismissed the appeal. At a hearing of the Court of Appeal, Michael Lynn SC, for Collins, said his client should not have been permitted to conduct his own defence, submitting that Collins previously had episodes of paranoia and had attended a facility in Drogheda to address this. Mr Lynn said Collins' trial was "not one in accordance with the law" because of the lack of legal representation for Collins, which raised "a difficult issue". The barrister submitted that the trial was "not one functioning properly because that person is incapable of running a coherent defence". Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy asked if Mr Lynn was submitting that a legal team should be forced on such defendants and was told "yes, in the interest of a fair trial". Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy had said that the proposition of forcing a legal team upon an individual would infringe on their right not to have lawyers and represent themselves. Mr Lynn said the "adversarial nature" of the criminal trial meant that it must be a fair procedure to involve legal representation when this applied in the case of a person who "is incapable of making a rational decision". The barrister said the trial judge also was faced with a scenario where it was considered whether the trial could proceed with Collins absent from the courtroom due to his behaviour. Mr Lynn said this course of action could have been possible if a legal team had been imposed on Collins. "A person's right to represent themselves can be over-ridden in the public interest. The waiver of legal representation has to be voluntary and an informed choice. They have to intelligently elect to do so," said Mr Lynn. "In this case, the judge was very, very concerned and a family member called it "delusional" that he [Collins] could represent himself. Of course, it wasn't an intelligent choice," said Mr Lynn. The trial court had heard that Collins failed to stop for gardai after driving the wrong way on a roundabout at Waterunder, Drogheda, and then continued through east Meath towards Slane and turning back towards Ashbourne. The trial had heard recordings of 999 calls from the passengers in the car claiming the driver was going to crash unless gardai called off the pursuit. One of the calls made just before the crash ended in a scream. The court heard Garda evidence of Collins speeding on the wrong side of the road, being involved in near-misses, driving head on at Garda vehicles, travelling without lights and weaving from side to side. A Garda witness said the defendant appeared to have been playing chicken with other motorists. Collins, who was found to have cannabis in his system on the night, later told gardai his head had been melted and claimed in court he had been in fear for his life at the time, as someone had put a hit on him and he did not believe it was gardai who were following him. He said he was scared of being shot and believed he was being chased by would-be assassins. He claimed that at one stage he was being followed by 10 Garda cars, some of which had tried to ram him, and that just before the crash his car was rammed into the other vehicle involved in the collision. The court heard that later technical and other investigations found no evidence to support this claim. At the appeal hearing, Mr Justice Birmingham said that Collins was found fit to be tried and had "fired his team and a very experienced senior counsel provided by the State". Mr Justice Birmingham described Mr Lynn's submission as a "very radical proposition - I think without precedent in the Irish courts". Carl Hanahoe BL, for the State, had said that people had a right to represent themselves and that the adversarial system was so that all participants have that right. "Mr Collins has the right to defend himself and has his right to conduct the defence as he sees fit," said Mr Hanahoe. "If it offends our sense of what ought to have occurred that can't be used as a vehicle to deprive him of the right to do it and do it as he [Collins] saw fit. We can't deprive him of that fundamental right," said the barrister. "Does it offend our sense of how we feel a trial should be conducted? It might have been an utterly unreasonable decision but other than that there's not a shred of evidence he wasn't competent," said Mr Hanahoe, who added that a medical report found Collins to not be suffering any mental illness. The two inmates are the only prisoners on the landing where Dowdall has been held since his conviction for aiding the hit team which carried out the Regency Hotel attack Transgender prisoner Barbie Kardashian and convicted torturer turned State witness Jonathan Dowdall, are now sharing the same isolation wing in Limerick prison. The two inmates are the only prisoners on the landing where Dowdall has been held since his conviction for aiding the hit team which carried out the Regency Hotel attack in 2016. Kardashian, who is serving time for making threats to torture, rape and murder her mother, has been deemed too dangerous to mix with other female prisoners in the new womens section in the prison, according to Sunday World sources. The brand-new facility opened today with the closure of the 200-year-old womens section in the complex, where Kardashian had been held isolated from other female prisoners. In April, the Sunday World revealed Kardashian threatened to rape female prison officers after the 21-year-old was asked to clean up where she had taken a shower. Jonathan Dowdall and his father Patrick leaving court previously Male officers then had to intervene at the prisons E Wing to return Kardashian to her cell where she was being kept isolated from other female prisoners, according to sources. At the time, the then acting Minister for Justice Simon Harris said decisions on where a dangerous inmate should be detained was up to the Prison Service. Minister Harris said that no-one in their workplace, a prisoner officer or otherwise should have to tolerate a scenario where they encounter threats or violence. Dowdall and Kardashian will be kept separate and therell be no interaction between the two, sources added. Barbie Kardashian During her trial a garda gave evidence that Kardashian would continue to pose a significant threat to the people she threatened as well as to the general public. Dowdalls father Patrick, who has since been released, had been able to spend time with his son while serving his sentence for his part in booking the hotel room used by a gunman at the Regency. Earlier this month Jonathan Dowdall today lost his appeal against his prison sentence for helping the gang described by the Court of Appeal as a Tier 1 criminal organisation. The three-judge panel described his four-year sentence as lenient taking into his account his previous offence in which he tortured a man. At his appeal hearing in June it argued he was "duped" into assisting the criminal organisation behind the 2016 gangland attack. It was also argued not enough weight was given to mitigating factors, including his guilty plea and the effect his decision to turn State witness will have on his life. Other grounds of appeal included that Dowdall wasn't a time waster and spent ten days being cross- examined during Gerry The Monk Hutchs trial for the murder of David Byrne at the hotel. Sources say Dowdall had been expecting the decision to go against him. In the meantime he has also had to contend with his deteriorating health behind bars with one recent hospital visit for treatment. The former Sinn Fein city councillor is known to have a number of health issues, telling the Special Criminal Court he had been on medication at certain times. It previously emerged how Dowdall fears his health has been deteriorating and is worried spinal issues could leave him needing to use a wheelchair. The court heard that 17 lines of intelligence in total were sent, which related to Webb and people associated with him. A Wicklow man who received information taken from the garda Pulse system from a former civilian employee of An Garda Siochana will be sentenced later this year. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Daniel Webb (33) of Charlesland, Greystones, Co Wicklow, pleaded guilty to two counts of active and passive corruption on September 6 and 9, 2019, at unknown locations. He has no previous convictions. Detective Sergeant James King told Diana Stuart, BL, prosecuting, that in January 2020, gardai received confidential information that a civilian employee of An Garda Siochana, Holly Hayden (27), who was working at the Dun Laoghaire District Office, was relaying confidential information from the Garda Pulse system to third parties outside of the station. An investigation took place, and her work area and home were searched. During the search, a mobile phone was seized, and a forensic download took place. Messages from Hayden to Webb were found on both the WhatsApp and Telegram apps. The court heard that Webb was then identified, and messages showed Hayden sent a document containing information from the Pulse system about another individual on September 6, 2019, to Webb. On September 9, 2019, she provided a synopsis of information from the Pulse system, which she had been instructed to download via the messaging app Telegram. She received cocaine in exchange for providing information on both of these occasions. The court heard that 17 lines of intelligence in total were sent, which related to Webb and people associated with him. Holly Hayden (27) (File pic Collins Courts) Screenshots of the Pulse system were also sent to Webb. The court heard that Hayden also sent information to another party and gave information about the location of garda checkpoints. Judge Orla Crowe asked if copies of the information taken from the Pulse system were available and were handed into the court. Det Sgt King said a search warrant was issued for Webb's home and car. Webb arrived home during the search and cooperated fully with the gardai. His mobile phone was seized. The court heard that the maximum sentence available to the court is ten years in prison. James Dwyer, SC, defending, said his client met Hayden in his local pub after she approached him. They first began to communicate on WhatsApp in May 2019. He said that Hayden sent information to his client that related to him and his associates, but she also sent information to a third party relating to garda movement and checkpoints. Det Sgt King agreed with counsel that messages from his client's phone show that, at one point, he encouraged Hayden not to look up more information. Mr Dwyer handed in character references for his client from his GP, a member of the Bar Council of Ireland, neighbours of his family, a woman his mother worked for, and family members. His parents were also in court to support him. The letter from his parents described Webb as warm, generous and loving and that he is adored by his siblings. Counsel said there was seven clean urine analysis before the court from his client. He said there was also a probation report available, which indicated that when this offending was taking place, Webb was at the peak of his drug use, spending up to 200 a night on cocaine and Xanax. The reports put him at a low risk of reoffending, and he is in stable employment. He said this is a crime of the utmost seriousness where the Pulse system has been compromised. He asked the court to take into account the clean urine reports, the lack of previous convictions, and his early guilty plea when sentencing. Judge Orla Crowe said she would have to consider this matter as it is quite unusual. She adjourned this case for finalisation until October 6. Earlier this month, Judge Crowe adjourned the case facing Webb's co-accused until November 6 for finalisation. Hayden (27) of Bayview Terrace, Bray, Co. Wicklow, pleaded guilty to one count of disclosing confidential information from the Pulse system obtained in the course of her employment on October 29, 2019. She further pleaded to two counts of accessing confidential information from the Pulse system for the purpose of corruptly obtaining a gift, consideration or advantage for herself at Dun Laoghaire Garda Station on September 9, 2019 and on dates between April 28, 2020 and May 11, 2020. Dube used false documents to secure employment as a child psychologist in the public and private healthcare sectors when he didn't have the required academic qualifications, the court heard. A man who used false documents to secure employment as a child psychologist and live a fake life has been jailed for four years. Nikiwe Dube (41) with an address at Colpe Drive, Deepforde, Drogheda, Co Louth, pleaded guilty to four charges of using a false instrument on dates between November 2019 and February 2022 including a psychological transcript with a false garda stamp, a false identification badge purportedly from the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) and a fake medical certificate. He further pleaded guilty to two counts of deception in that he dishonestly induced TTM Healthcare to put him on their books of employment, causing a loss, on a date between August 15, 2021 and September 9, 2021 and that he did dishonestly induce the HSE to give him an interview towards employment on August 18, 2022. Dube used false documents to secure employment as a child psychologist in the public and private healthcare sectors when he didn't have the required academic qualifications, the court heard. Imposing sentence today at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Elva Duffy said Dube had put himself out there as a medically-trained professional and was working with children and adolescents who were clearly in a very vulnerable position because they had come looking for help. She said Dube knew what he was doing and described it as a complex fraud. She said he had chosen to live a fake life where he abused trust and received significant money for his work. She said Dube carried out this fraud without an apparent purpose and set himself out to be someone he was not. She also noted that the State confirmed that the gardai have not been able to confirm Dubes true identity and said that is of some concern to the court. Judge Duffy acknowledged that Dube made immediate admissions, has expressed remorse and that his plea of guilty was valuable as it would have been a difficult case to prove. She further acknowledged a positive probation report and governors report and the fact that Dube is a diabetic. She said the case warranted a headline sentence of five and a half years before she imposed a sentence of four years, having taken the mitigation into account. The sentence was backdated to when Dube first went into custody on August 5, 2022. The court heard that in February 2022, Dube was put forward for a senior post as a child psychologist with an annual salary of 80,000 by recruitment agency TTM Healthcare. This application was reviewed by the head of psychology at Avista Medical, who had some concerns that the submitted documents, including a letter of validation, did not conform with the standard content and format. This person brought his concerns to the attention of the human resources department. Separately on March 15, 2022, an assistant principal officer in the Department of Health's professional regulation unit, which is responsible for the validation of foreign psychology qualifications, told gardai they had been contacted by Avista in relation to the letter of validation included in Dube's application. The Department of Health staff member said the unit had checked their archives and had no record of Dube. As such, the letter of validation was not issued by the Department of Health. Further enquiries determined the letter of validation to be false. Gardai then contacted the recruitment agency TTM Healthcare, which provided them with documents including a letter of validation, a GNIB card, transcripts from the University of Zimbabwe and a Zimbabwean police clearance certificate. The court also heard Dube was employed by Gateway Residential Care in Sligo between November 2019 and November 2021 as a child psychologist. He received 172,000 in wages and expenses during this period. Gateway Residential Care provided gardai in March 2022 with documents including a letter of good standing from the PSI and documentation from the University of Zimbabwe including a qualification in psychology. Gardai also spoke with a recruitment consultant working for TTM Healthcare who said Dube contacted them in August 2021 about a vacancy for a HSE clinical post. Dube was screened and it was confirmed that he met the requirements of the post. Dube provided documents to TTM Healthcare including a Master of Science in clinical psychology transcript, a diploma in cognitive behavioural therapy, his GNIB card and a letter of validation. Garda vetting forms for TTM Healthcare and the HSE were also completed. Dube was approved for a locum post in November 2021, however TTM paid his wages of 11,628 during this period due to outstanding garda vetting. The investigating garda confirmed that much of Dube's work was carried out remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic and he had limited interaction with patients, both supervised and unsupervised. Dube also had an identification badge purportedly from the PSI, however the society does not issue badges. The PSI contacted the University of Zimbabwe, whose staff confirmed that Dube had not studied there. In May 2022, a garda at the Navan Garda Immigration Office confirmed that a stamp on a transcript did not originate from that office. Gardai arrested Dube in August 2022 in Drogheda. After caution, he told gardai that he had been expecting this, but not at that moment. He told them that he had paid over 4,300 online for a pack of documents and that he knew he should not have done it. Dube made no comment when interviewed. He has no previous convictions and has been in custody since August 5, 2022. The investigating garda agreed with Gerardine Small SC, defending, that her client made admissions when first approached by gardai. He also confirmed that Dube had been in custody since his arrest and that his guilty plea avoided what would have been a complex trial. No victim impact statements were provided to the court. Ms Small asked the court to take into consideration her client's early guilty plea, immediate admissions and expressions of remorse. She said her client had educational attainment in this area. Dube was born in Zimbabwe and worked as a LGBT counsellor for six years, the court heard. He had to flee the country due to concerns for his safety and applied for international protection in 2018. A governors report and an education report were handed to the court. Dube is an enhanced prisoner and works in the prison laundry. He also volunteers as a listener with the Samaritans. A letter of apology was also handed to the court. Dube is diabetic and has issues with cholesterol for which he takes medication. Ms Small said Dube is aware of the serious breach of trust and the seriousness of the offence. She noted that he accepts that he sought refuge in a country and his behaviour towards that country is wholly unacceptable. Ms Burke said she had fallen on her bottom and side, injuring her left hip, knee and elbow and her lower back. A mother-of-two, who did the splits on spilled liquid at one of Dublins top restaurants, has been awarded 33,000 damages. Judge James McCourt heard in the Circuit Civil Court today that Teresa Burke slipped and fell as she was leaving the restaurant for a smoke with her partner in July 2020. Burke (52) of Mourne Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, told her barrister Grainne Larkin that when her partner lifted her she noticed her dress was wet and afterwards saw several small areas of clear liquid on the floor. My right leg went forward and I did the splits, she told Ms Larkin, who appeared with Deborah Crowley of Ferrys Solicitors. Ms Larkin said liability had been accepted by MHL Event Management Limited, owners of The Mansion House Fire Restaurant and Steakhouse, and the court was being asked to assess damages arising from a number of injuries she had suffered. Ms Burke said she had fallen on her bottom and side, injuring her left hip, knee and elbow and her lower back. She told Judge McCourt she still suffered pain in her hip and knee after sitting and then having to get up. When I get going, things are all right but getting up and walking from a sitting position is still uncomfortable in my lower back, she said. X-rays revealed there had been no bone injuries and an MRA scan showed she had a bulging disc as well as degenerative change associated with her age. Judge McCourt, who heard Ms Burke had been very fit and attended a gym five days a week prior to her accident, said he had no difficulty accepting her evidence that she still had ongoing pain in her hip and knee. She is an honest historian and for all of her injuries and continued pain three years post-accident I award her 33,000 damages, Judge McCourt said. The one-time senior figure in the South East Brigade of the terror group is on the march Colin Simms is looking to re-establish himself in South East Antrim The gang linked to UDA outcast Colin Simms have taken delivery of a cache of guns, a source has claimed. The one-time senior figure in the South East Brigade of the terror group is on the march. The Sunday World revealed he was on a mission to re-establish himself as a major player in the drug scene in Carrickfergus. He has since relocated to Larne where he is under the protection of super-rich David Murray, owner of a 150,000 McLaren supercar. WEALTHY PROTECTOR: David Murray The Sunday World understands Simms crew has taken delivery of a number of weapons as he prepares to establish himself as a rival gang to the long-established SEA. Simms mob from the Glenfield estate had been dealing crack cocaine and fentanyl from a boarded-up caravan anchored close to the bonfire in the estate. The caravan was removed in the wake of the Sunday World revelation that he was muscling on his old Carrick stomping ground. It is understood Simmss gang have continued his drug trade and has vowed to step his operation. While one of SEA Brigadier Gary Fishers most trusted enforcers at a time when SEA had an iron grip on the drugs trade, he is now a complete outcast. Simms is taking advantage of the weakness of SEA chief Gary Fisher, who was this week being treated in hospital after collapsing at home. Fisher was already reeling after property was seized by assets cops and his power is in the control of a three-man committee. Sources in the town claim Simms is aiming to take advantage of Fishers inactivity. It is understood his gang have acquired weapons handguns, and explosives in a direct statement of intent. The Sunday World understands Simms is intent on reclaiming the territory he once controlled as the SEA enforcer. The arrival of arms in Carrick will alarm Fisher and it will be seen as a serious challenge to SEAs supremacy. Simms is riding into town on the back of alleged Larne UDA boss David Murray, which will bring them both into conflict with Fisher. Insiders say a power struggle is inevitable. The arrival of guns courtesy of drug gangs in Manchester and Dublin will raise alarms in the SEA power seat. Simms is one of the most notorious figures in the district. BEATEN TO DEATH: Glenn Quinn He is the prime suspect in the murder of terminally ill Glenn Quinn who was beaten to death in his home at Ashleigh Drive in Carrick. He was one of a number of people arrested and questioned about the killing but never charged. Fisher kicked him out of the gang after he as was found to have his fingers in the till. He became an outcast but retained considerable support in Carrick and is now pitching for the top job. Simmsy has support but its a big shout to become top dog in Carrick, said our source. Insiders are saying a feud is unlikely but Fisher may see an opportunity to get out and pass the buck to Simms. Gary wants out, everybody knows that, why not put Simms ambition to his own use? Habib Shamel (32) is currently in custody charged with the murder of Geila Ibram on April 4 this year Everything possible is being done to fast-track an investigation into the fatal stabbing of a woman during a "sexual exchange" in Limerick, a Belfast court heard yesterday. Habib Shamel (32) is currently in custody charged with the murder of Geila Ibram on April 4 this year. The 27-year-old victims mutilated body was discovered at an apartment block in the Dock Road area of Limerick. Ms Ibram, who was originally from Romania, died from multiple stab wounds inflicted to the neck, face and abdomen in a vicious and frenzied attack, according to police. Geila Ibram Mr Shamel, an Afghani national with an address at Cecil Street in Limerick, was later arrested in the Malone area of south Belfast. He has been charged with Ms Ibrams murder under the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975, which allows the PSNI to prosecute in Northern Ireland if a suspect has travelled from another jurisdiction. A previous court heard claims that he had arranged a sexual exchange with the victim on the day she died. CCTV footage allegedly showed him arriving at her property and then leaving again less than two minutes later. Detectives claim he injured his hand during the suspected encounter and attended hospital in Limerick before travelling north by bus. Prosecutors have disclosed that a formal International Letter of Request (ILOR) has been sought from the authorities in the Republic of Ireland. Further investigative steps in the probe into Ms Ibrams killing involve detectives continuing to compile CCTV footage and obtain witness statements. At Belfast Magistrates Court yesterday a Crown lawyer confirmed that the process is ongoing. But he stressed: Everything has been done that can be done to expedite this matter. District Judge Ted Magill agreed to adjourn proceedings for another four weeks. He directed: Have Mr Shamel produced (at that hearing). The potential security breach could be one of the most serious ever discovered in Ireland A Revenue officer with full access to confidential information held within its systems is under investigation as a suspected member of a major criminal gang. Cash and powder, suspected to be cocaine, was discovered at her house during intelligence led searches carried out recently while a close relative has been charged on major organised crime offences. However, despite being informed of her links to one of the most powerful drug mobs in the country, Revenue have yet to suspend her or remove her access to its systems. Sources say that officers from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) are stunned at the revelations and the lack of response from Revenue, headed up by Chairman Niall Cody, and are now refusing to share information with the department. The womans home was one of a number of residential properties searched by officers from the DOCB when more than 1 million worth of cocaine and a six-figure sum of cash was seized during the operation. One man was arrested but Operation Tara was the result of a lengthy probe into a multi-national mob running drugs into the country under the cover of the equestrian industry. It has identified a grouping made up of Irish and Spanish-Moldovan criminals who came together to form one gang. Officers believe that they have been using ferry routes and the transportation of horses as cover for shipping vast quantities of cocaine into Ireland and cash back out. Over the course of a number of raids it was discovered that a suspected gang member held a senior position at Revenue with full access to its files both on-site and remotely. During a raid on the womans house her work laptop and phone were seized and are currently under forensic examination for any evidence of information harvesting. Revenue were immediately informed of the concerns of the countrys most respected officers at the DOCB that someone with such close familial links to the gang could access highly sensitive information. However, the woman has remained in her job in the weeks since the alarm bells were sounded. The potential security breach could be one of the most serious ever discovered in Ireland and senior sources say the lack of action taken by Revenue since it was uncovered is even more shocking. Revenue works with both the CAB and the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, along with other agencies, in investigations centred on high-level crime. It also holds highly-sensitive personal details on people on its files including what is required for tax returns, like earnings, PPS numbers, home addresses and other classified information. The criminal gang at the centre of the security breach scandal are one of the most dangerous in the country and are suspected as having made millions over the past few years. They include a well known Irish mob known for its trade in drugs and lethal weapons, as well as a Spanish outfit who are one of the top targets of Europol. The woman in question is a close relative of the top target of the grouping and a relative of a suspected gang boss. A large quantity of cash was found at her registered address as well as a substance suspected to be cocaine which is under analysis at the moment. She has been identified as the full owner of another property which was bought outright with no mortgage while she was still a teenager. The woman is understood to have been employed in Revenue over the past five years with access to its full system. In a statement to the Sunday World, a Revenue spokesman said they enjoy an excellent working relationship with gardai. "Revenue is not in a position to comment on any operations or ongoing investigations being carried out by An Garda Siochana. Revenue staff are subject to security clearance and Garda Vetting processes prior to commencing their employment with Revenue. Revenue and An Garda Siochana enjoy an excellent working relationship. American rapper and record producer Travis Scott is scheduled to unveil his new album titled Utopia in a livestream from his upcoming concert at Egypts great historical sight of Giza Pyramids on Friday, 28 July. However, the concert stirred woos and boos in the 105-million-strong country. Some commentators celebrated the hosting of the hugely famous stars performance whose tickets were reportedly sold out just a few minutes from being available with prices varying between EGP 4,000 and 6,500. "After successful artistic, cultural, and touristic activity held recently like the Pharaohs Golden Parade and the Luxors Avenue of Sphinxes, interest has increased internationally for the private sector to hold big performances [like Scotts] in Egypt, Egyptian Tourism Authority CEO Amr El-Kadi stated last week during his phone call with prime time talk show Kelma Akhera on ON TV channel. Boycott campaigns Some commentators joined in a boycott campaign against the controversial artist, linking him with involvements in anti-Egyptian Afrocentrism agendas, satanic rituals, or at least violating societys values. This concert must be cancelled, said lawyer Amr Abdel-Samie on several local TV channels and newspapers after officially requesting different authorities to stand against hosting an artist he described as a masonic, satanic, and devil worshipper who has a dark history. The boycott campaign convinced many commentators on social media who attacked the artist with some real incidents, but sometimes mixed with other illusive allegations. Welcome, superstar Scott has over 50 million followers on Spotify, arguably the favourite music streaming platform among teens and rap fans. He is dubbed as a superstar by international news and music magazine with some of his songs surpassing a billion views on YouTube. When you arrive, call me, Egyptian rapper Marwan Moussa told Scott in a video he posted as an Instagram story last week. Dont worry about anything, the AFRIMAs Best African Rapper reassured sarcastically. Moussa reflects a wide fan base of Scott in Egypt who expressed excitement over the gig, requesting some specific tracks and spreading rumours about his featuring other big stars in the album like The Weeknd of the currently trending explicit drama series The Idol. Texas ghosts The antagonization of Scott seems mainly based on the tragedy of a concert he performed at Astroworld festival in his home city Houston, Texas in 2021, in which 10 young attendees were killed and dozens injured due to what officially was unveiled as compression asphyxia, which an expert likened to being crushed by a car. The deaths of youngest concertgoers' ages were nine and 14. Two weeks ago, a Texas grand jury declined to indict Scott in a criminal investigation of the deadly crowd surge, eliminating potential counts such as murder, manslaughter, and criminally negligent homicide. We are aware of this, El-Kadi referred to the Texas tragedy, reassuring that all safety measures are taken strictly into consideration, especially with the attendance only permitted to a maximum of 5,000 to 6,000 spectators at the Giza Pyramids concert. UTOPIA LIVE AT THE PYRAMIDS CANT WAITTTT TO SEE YA TICKETS https://t.co/1X8uAoaRh6 pic.twitter.com/jstKuL3pFr TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) July 9, 2023 Search Keywords: Short link: Ridouan Taghi has described the court as a puppet show and said he would no longer return to court. Super-cartel Ridouan Taghi has announced that he will no longer participate in the long-running Marengo trial in the Netherlands. The international drug lord has issued a statement describing his trial as a puppet show and said he would no longer return to court. Taghi is regarded as the head of a Dutch-Moroccan drug gang, known as the Mocro Maffia, who control a large section of Europes cocaine trade. He is a close associate of Daniel Kinahan and they are believed to have worked together to source cocaine shipments from South America. Dutch prosecutors have called for Taghi to be jailed for life and he is accused of masterminding six fatal shootings in the space of 18 months. The so-called Marengo trial was due to come to a close later this year. But now, Taghi has said he will no longer engage in with the courts in a statement issued by his lawyers. It reads: He concludes that the verdict is apparently already ready and that, as far as he is concerned, the court should simply send the verdict, as he said earlier in the trial. "The fact that almost all his research wishes and those of the co-defendants have been rejected confirms his conclusion that this court is biased. The client indicates that he no longer participates in this puppet show and sham trial." Crime boss Taghi Earlier this month, the Dutch court decided that the three new lawyers will not be given extra time to study Taghis file. Taghi had been left without a legal representation after the his high-profile lawyer Inez Weski was arrested on suspicion of membership of a criminal organization. He had hired three new lawyers, Arthur van der Biezen, Michael Ruperti and Sjoerd van Berge Henegouwen, who claimed they would need nine months to study the file. This was rejected by the Dutch judges who ruled interests of suspect Taghi in such a long delay outweigh the interests of completing the case. Dutch-Moroccan Taghi was one of a number of high-profile criminals who were guests at Daniel Kinahans wedding in Dubai in 2017. However, Taghi was ultimately arrested in the Gulf State at the end of 2019 and extradited to the Netherlands. Since his extradition to the Netherlands, Taghi has been kept in isolation, which forbids him from communicating with anyone other than his legal team. Along with a number of his associates, Taghi is currently facing multiple charges ranging from assassinations, attempted killings and murder plots. WATCH | Emergency services tackle a bus fire on Dublins M50 motorway Emergency services in Dublin tackled a bus on fire on the M50 at Sandyford on Tuesday night Emergency services at the scene of a bus on fire on the M50 motorway at Sandyford in Dublin. Owen Breslin Wed 26 Jul 2023 at 09:10 Emergency services in Dublin tackled a bus on fire on the M50 at Sandyford on Tuesday night. He was working hard to try piece things back together Many criticised apparent shortcomings in the system as the body of a young father, partner, son and brother was unceremoniously removed from a patch of waste ground in the heart of Wexford town last week. Having battled addiction and various other demons in his relatively short life, Matthew Keogh, who called Rockview Court in The Faythe home, is reported to have succumbed to an overdose before his body was discovered on a patch of waste ground known locally as The Knock which links St Aidans Crescent and Distillery Road. The grim discovery was made last Wednesday with emergency services attending the scene shortly before noon. Despite the emergency response, it quickly became clear that Mr Keogh had been dead for some time. Following his death gardai carried out a full forensic examination of the scene. The remains of the young father-of-one were taken to hospital for a full post-mortem examination and his heartbroken family were informed. A file will now be prepared for the coroner. The patch of waste ground known locally as 'The Knock' in Wexford town. Gardai were quick to confirm that no foul play was suspected and that the incident was being treated as a sudden death. Its understood that the deceased had been engaging with local homeless service Wexford People Helping People (WPHP), who confirmed that one of our cases sadly passed prematurely and sent condolences to his friends and family. WPHP founder Claire Malone further commented: This young lad was working hard to try and piece things back together. He was refused supports which is something that needs to be looked at. He may not have been found in this manner had he been provided adequate access to accommodation and additional support. On Saturday, family and friends of Matthew Keogh gathered at Bride Street Church, a short walk from where his body was discovered days earlier, to bid him a fond and final farewell. It was a ceremony wrought with sadness at a young life lost and longing for what might have been. Afterwards his remains were taken to Mount Jerome in Dublin for cremation. Matthew was the beloved son of Marianne and the late Jimmy. He was the partner of Kayleigh, father to Leighton and brother of Jessica and Katie. Hes sadly missed by his family, his grandparents Dermot and Esther Rogan, nieces Esmae and Nova, nephew Cole, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family and friends. Jackie Costelloe, Neville Curley and Elizabeth Ann Curley-Poppe have sued over alleged psychiatric injuries suffered due to the mix-up Three siblings allege a French mans remains were mistakenly delivered to a Tipperary undertaker instead of the body of their father who had died while holidaying in Lanzarote. Jackie Costelloe, Neville Curley and Elizabeth Ann Curley-Poppe have sued an international undertaker, an English repatriation service and a funeral home in Templemore over alleged psychiatric injuries suffered due to the mix-up. Their father, Michael Curley, a widower, died unexpectedly, aged 83, of a heart attack while on holiday in Lanzarote in February 2016, the High Court heard. The siblings senior counsel, David Kennedy, with Dermot Cahill SC, said the difficult and delicate circumstances his clients experienced arose out of the defendants negligence and breach of contract. The defendants have each filed a full defence denying all liability, added Mr Kennedy. Opening the case on Tuesday, he said Ms Costello was with her father around the time of his death in Lanzarote and saw his body over there. Mr Curley flew out to visit the Lanzarote funeral home and saw his fathers body. They made arrangements for repatriating his body to Ireland. When Mr Curely went to visit the body at Greys Funeral Home in their hometown of Templemore, the undertaker told him to prepare himself as his father did not look well and foreign embalming services were not as good as Irish ones, said Mr Kennedy. Mr Curley was utterly shocked by the appearance of the body, as were his siblings when they later attended at the funeral home, the court heard. Later that day he was asked to return to the funeral home, and a tag on the body identified that this was a French citizen, Mr Kennedy said. In the witness box, Ms Costelloe described the experience of seeing the body in Templemore as like a horror movie. The deceased bore no resemblance whatsoever to my father, she said. This man had very sallow skin and jet black hair, with cuts on his face from shards of glass, she said. This corpse had undergone an autopsy, while she believed her father had not. Ms Costelloe said her sister, Ms Curley-Poppe, who had flown to Ireland from her home of Michigan, US, said: That is not my dad. The family asked the undertaker three times if he was sure this was their father, to which he responded that it was and the paperwork he was provided with proved this, she claimed. I said do not even bother putting that man into his suit. That body has gone through enough traumaI just wanted to get out of there, Ms Costelloe said. They decided then that the coffin should be closed. Outlining the defence of his clients Spanish-based Memora Servicios Funerarios Internacionales SL and repatriation service Rowland Brothers International Limited, located in Surrey Micheal O Scanaill SC, with Bonnie Hickey BL, said the error was recognised and quickly rectified, enabling the late Mr Curleys funeral to go ahead as scheduled. The plaintiffs received an apology prior to commencing their proceedings, and his clients acknowledge there was additional inconvenience and upset caused by the situation. However, his clients deny they are liable for the alleged injuries caused to the plaintiffs. He raised objections to their having issued three separate sets of proceedings in the High Court, which hears personal injuries cases seeking awards of 60,000 and above. Jeremy Maher SC, with Eamon Marray BL, rejected suggestions that his client, Greys Funeral Home, was obliged to check the tag on the body. Mr Maher said a label on the coffin identified this as the late Mr Curley and all accompanying paperwork said the same. In these circumstances, it was entirely reasonable for him to believe the body that arrived in Ireland was that of the plaintiffs father. The case before Mr Justice Tony OConnor continues on Wednesday. In a video shot in the Black Forge, McGregor says he will treat Joe Joyce to a night out in the popular pub. The bromance between Conor McGregor and bareknuckle fighter Big Joe Joyce continues after the MMA star invited the legendary hardman to his Dublin pub. Last week, Joyce also known as The Hulk recorded a video of himself drinking a pint of McGregors new stout in a couple of seconds before wishing the UFC star a happy birthday. And now, McGregor has returned the favour by inviting the bare-knuckle brawler to The Black Forge for a night out. In a video shot in the pub, McGregor says he will treat Joe Joyce to a night out in the popular pub. "Big Joe Joyce, love ya mate. I appreciate the shout out, appreciate the support. I look forward to having a nice pint with you soon, brother. After being told Joe Joyce is renewing his wedding vows, McGregor congratulates him and his wife. "Congratulations on the wedding anniversary and the re-marriage. Top man. Ill set it up for him and his wife to come here and, whatever he wants, on a night out. Joe Joyce was involved in a number of high-profile bare-knuckle fights across Ireland during his younger years. He has previously spoken about dipping his hands in petrol before fights to toughen them up. Last week, he became one of the first men in Ireland to drink Conor McGregor's new stout in a can. Big Joe Joyce Introduced as the King of the Travellers in a video posted on social media, Joe is given the opportunity to try out McGregors home-grown Irish forged stout. Well, theres a good head on it anyways, Joe can be heard declare as he takes in the pint of beer placed in front of him. Thats gold dust, he declares as he lowers the pint in one go. Did ya like that Joe? he is asked, to which he replies: The best I ever drank. Its not yet out, he is told, youre one of the first men to drink it out of a can in Ireland. "Up ya boy, ya, Joe salutes. Good man, Conor McGregor. I wish Conor a happy birthday, he adds. And thanks for your Irish stout. "Many more to come to ya, boy. I never seen a fighter like ya. Feeling incredibly loved by the most amazing people who I've come to love so dearly. Irish influencer and pharmacist Jess Redden received a surprise baby shower at work, a few days after celebrating with friends and family. Jess and her rugby star husband Rob Kearney are expecting this first child together soon. Okay as long as no one looks at me or talks to me today, I should about make it through. "Have spent the morning balling (sic) so I dont have high hopes for my composure today, Jess posted on her Instagram story today with the hashtag #lastdayatwork. They have a playlist on today with everything with baby in it, she said about the baby shower her work colleagues surprised her with. Feeling incredibly loved by the most amazing people who I've come to love so dearly. Three days ago, the Dublin native attended her first baby shower with family and friends, posting a video on Instagram with the caption: Feeling so loved, supported and ready to take on parenthood. Friends and followers alike showed their support to the happy mum-to-be. Love it Jess, you look fab - A lovely way to mark the next milestone to me, a supporter said. You got this gal! Still so impressed you lasted all day in the heels. 10/10 days, another added. You got this Jess, but rest now to be ready for the big adventure! a third added. The parents to be tied the knot in Christmas 2021 in ceremony in St. Senans Church, Kilrush, before celebrating at the five star Trump International Hotel in Doonbeg, Co Clare. I remember once, after a particularly bad experience, I remember feeling desperate and at rock bottom that I thought Id never get out of this... and I have to plan to get out of it. Mrs Browns Boys star Eilish O'Carroll has opened up about the abuse she experienced in her first marriage, and then finding happiness with a woman. The 70-year-old actress left her first marriage after a physically and psychologically abusive relationship - a marriage which took her eight years to leave. She married her first husband in 1971 with whom she had two sons, Stuart and Lee. The BBC actress said she knew she was in a bad situation six months into the marriage, she shared on The Ciara Phelan Podcast. It really was a situation that any woman would have wanted to get out of, and it took eight years, she said. "After six months of marriage, I knew this was bad, but I didnt know how to get out of it. I remember once, after a particularly bad experience, I remember feeling desperate and at rock bottom that I thought Id never get out of this... and I have to plan to get out of it. Eilish later remarried to a man who she said supported her coming out. I was married to a lovely man and I had just celebrated my 40th birthday and I met a woman and fell in love with her. Eilish shared she recalled the moment she knew she was gay when she thought the feelings she had for another woman was not normal. I thought my feelings for this woman are definitely not normal. And that's how I thought that's how most straight people thought at the time. And I wasn't. I wasn't particularly religious but all my Catholic upbringing came flooding back at me like this is a sin, the Irish born actress said When I look back now, it took me years to come to terms with it, until I was 50, to actually accept I am gay, but the journey from that day to this day was quite painful. I didnt handle it right in any way, shape, or form ... I didnt tell my sons, although they were teenagers at the time. I felt they would reject me ... the only person I spoke to at the time was my husband, and he was extremely supportive, because he was a very non judgmental kind of guy. Eilish with her partner Marion Although her first love story with a woman did not have a happy ending, Eilish said the experience helped her come in terms of who she was and finally coming out to her sons 10 years later. We didn't walk out hand in hand into the sunset and there was no happy ending. But I asked the question why that happened. I just know that my life totally changed and I went on a completely different road. In 1998, Eilish moved back to Ireland permanently and in 2003, she began a relationship with her now partner, Marion OSullivan. The couple resides in Cork and will be celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. The 64-year-old Oscar-winner was acquitted of nine charges, including sexual assault, causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity. US actor Kevin Spacey was found not guilty on Wednesday by a jury at a London court of committing historical sex offences against four men. The 64-year-old Oscar-winner was acquitted of nine charges, including sexual assault, causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity. Spacey began to cry in the dock when the not guilty verdicts were returned by the jury. During the four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court, jurors were told by prosecutors that the actor had aggressively groped three of the men in incidents between 2004 and 2013 in Britain, when he was working at London's Old Vic theatre. The fourth said Spacey performed oral sex on him while he was passed out in the Hollywood star's London apartment. Scientists will test cool roofs in countries that are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of global warming. As the world warms up, scientists are rigorously testing cool roofs, as a passive cooling system that could reduce the harms associated with heat stress. Led by Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland, the trial involves painting an affordable, non-toxic solution on roofs that reflects some of the suns hottest rays, reducing the temperature inside. The trial will take place in Niue, Mexico, India and Burkina Faso, countries that are particularly vulnerable to heat-related health impacts. We've selected four sites that are representative of climate hotspots around the world and put together a really great team of scientists, industry and institutional collaborators to conduct this research, says co-lead researcher Dr Aditi Bunker from the University of Aucklands Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa, Centre for Pacific and Global Health, and Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Heidelberg University. Heat exposure is associated with adverse health outcomes from dehydration and heat stroke to cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, as well as mental health. Theres plenty of evidence showing excess heat exposure affects health adversely, but we dont know how we can adapt, says Dr Bunker. So, we want to show, using the most rigorous scientific methods possible, how energy-saving interventions such as cool roofs play out and how they affect health. Cool roof use could not only improve wellbeing, but boost productivity and lower carbon emissions. By conducting this study, we can provide governments, donors and policymakers with information on exactly what benefits they can expect to see with cool roof use." The University of Auckland team will work most closely with Niue. The climate crisis will lead to increased air temperatures in Niue, plus sea level rise, with major impacts on peoples lives and livelihoods, including their health and wellbeing, sleep patterns and productivity, says Associate Professor Sir Collin Tukuitonga, co-director of Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa. This study will help us understand the impact of reducing heat in peoples homes on their health and wellbeing." Researchers plan to start by talking to community leaders about the acceptability of cool roof technology and how best to roll it out. We want to employ local staff to implement cool roofs and empower the local population to take ownership and drive this project,says Dr Bunker. The aim is for equal numbers of houses to be randomised to receive either cool or conventional roof coatings. Smart devices will be issued to residents to measure their sleep, heart rate and activity. Surveys will capture objective and subjective outcomes. We'll be able to see how cool roof use affects health parameters and also look at environmental outcomes how do cool roofs reduce energy use and carbon emissions? Then, we'll be looking at economic outcomes and cost-effectiveness too, says Dr Bunker. The trial has just received a critical boost with the announcement of a share of 17.5 million (NZ$36.6m) from the charity, Wellcome. The funding will be distributed among nine projects globally, all testing adaptations with the potential to prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths. Wellcome selected projects with immediate benefits for the communities, which are already being impacted by global warming. Wellcomes climate and health programme aims to ensure that researchers are producing evidence that can be directly used by governments, policy-makers and funders. The project will establish public-private partnerships with leading industry manufactures of cool roof including Sika AG, Soprema and Holcim. Results from the cool roofs trial will be published in scientific journals and presented in workshops and reports. The 19-member Board of Trustees overseeing the National Dialogue has announced that a second round of sessions will begin next week National Dialogue Board of Trustees member Kamal Zayed has said that when public dialogue sessions resume on 25 July, following an extended holiday for Islamic New Year and marking the 23 July Revolution, a new agenda of political, economic and social issues will be discussed, reports Gamal Essam El-Din. Diaa Rashwan, the dialogues general coordinator, used a TV interview to say that, since the opening session on 3 May, the dialogues committee meetings had gone a long way in creating common ground on a wide range of political, economic and social issues and that participants have agreed on a raft of laws that need to be either amended or passed. Now that the three political committees on Local Councils, Parliamentary Representation and Political Rights, and Political Parties have finished their debates, the next round of public sessions will focus mainly on economic and social issues, said Rashwan. He added that each committee had listened to a wide range of speakers and arguments and the task now is to crystallise what had been said into legislative recommendations that can be presented to President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi. Rashwan reported that the Local Council Committee had held four sessions to review relevant legislation and that all participants, from regime loyalists to the opposition, had expressed regret that despite parliament having discussed a new law in 2019 it has yet to be passed, resulting in the absence of any civil supervisory authority at the local level. The consensus among participants is that legislation is urgently needed to allow local councils to be elected and take charge of supervising the performance of provincial governors and executive local councils, said Rashwan. Ahmed Al-Sigini, head of parliaments Local Administration Committee, said that among the recommendations to be presented to President Al-Sisi will be the suggestion that a new local council law be prioritised in the agenda in the upcoming 2023-2024 parliamentary session. Parliament faces a challenge in passing a law that is both constitutional and effective, warned Al-Sigini. While some participants favoured a closed party list system for elections, others argued for an open list that would allow parties to win seats in proportion to the number of votes they secure. We need strong political will to draft the necessary legislation and elect local councils as soon as possible, said Al-Ahram political analyst Amr Hashem Rabie. He argues that a mixed system of open party lists and individual candidacy will ensure the elections are constitutional and competitive. Rashwan also said dialogue participants had agreed that current stipulations that new parties have at least 5,000 members drawn from a minimum of 10 governorates be revoked. A majority of participants want to see the minimum membership quota changed to between 1,000 to 3,000. Participants also want the provision that new parties open a bank account with LE2 million to secure a license be cancelled and a committee be set up to take charge of licensing parties. The Civil Democratic Movement an alliance of liberal and leftist forces argued for a provision guaranteeing parties with seats in parliament or on local councils financial support from the state. Rashwan characterised the debates over the last four rounds of sessions as exposing major rifts among participants over the election system to be adopted for the 2025 parliamentary elections and expressed the hope that we will recommend a system that ensures the fair representation of all forces. According to Rashwan, a majority of participants want to see the number of seats in the House of Representatives and Senate increased. The dialogue will also recommend that a draft law establishing a Supreme National Council for Education and Training be prioritised in the next parliamentary session. Consensus also emerged over the importance of new laws on freedom of information, combating discrimination, amending legislation regulating the guardianship of children, and changing the 2019 law regulating non-governmental organisations to reduce the tax burdens they face and enable them to become more involved in the provision of productive services. * A version of this article appears in print in the 20 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Police are appealing to the public for information on a robbery at a commercial premises on Tamamutu Street, Taupo this morning. At around 9.35am, police were called after two people entered the premises and made demands, says Senior Sergeant Andy Livingstone. "The pair then fled the scene a short time later. "Thankfully, no one was injured during the incident. "As part of our enquiries, we are asking for anyone with information to come forward." Anyone who was in the area at the time, or anyone with information that can assist Police, is asked to contact 105 referencing event number P055454365. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Savour the summer with cool cocktails Seven recipes from some of the best bartenders on the Costa del Sol Carmen Alcaraz Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram Summer brings with it those long evenings relaxing in the open air that always go well with a good cocktail. Its nothing new; menus of restaurants and specialised bars on the Costa del Sol have been offering them for years. Although the dictionary defines a cocktail as a mixture of other drinks with various ingredients, for bartenders they are the harmonious union of spirits (with or without alcohol) and creativity, chilled with ice and mixed in a cocktail shaker, where the magic happens. The idea of mixing drinks to make new ones is as old as the hills, although according to various sources the word cock-tail was first recorded in 1806 as a stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind - sugar, water, and bitters. This, in particular, is what later became popular as Old Fashioned, but the variety of combinations is as diverse as the inventiveness of those who make them. Nowadays, cocktails have become almost a way of life and mixology, a true art. In the province of Malaga, too, cocktail has become synonymous with leisure and drinking culture, but also with foodie experiences. Their popularity is growing, so its not surprising that cocktail routes are being organised in cities and towns around the region. These events allow bars to show off their signature or new, more ambitious, cocktails and customers get the chance to sample them on a fun tour of participating establishments. The recent cocktail tour in Malaga, organised in June by the 259 Cocktail Concept school, invited customers to sample 60 special cocktails in 20 bars and restaurants. Some of these bartenders have revealed a few of their secrets, given tips and shared recipes that can also brighten the summer at home. But beware: not all of the star shakers wanted to reveal the exact quantities... So if you dont get quite the result you were hoping for at home, you can pay the experts a visit in their bars and have a taste of their cocktail world. The experts taking part in this feature are: Angel Vita of Cobalto 15 (Malaga); Carlos Cervera of Nusa (Malaga); Alex Florido of Siroko Plaza (Malaga); Stefano Sale of Trocadero (Benalmadena); Ainhoa Hidalgo of La Tribu Jazba (Palapa Beach, Torremolinos and Bahia Beach, Torre del Mar); Leandro Gomez of Tercer Acto (Malaga); and Adrien Martinez of OnlyYou (Malaga). Jaguar de Oaxaca Ampliar Alex Florido Venue: Siroko Plaza - Malaga Ingredients: Tequila Espadin, pineapple puree, lime juice, hazelnut syrup, red chilli pepper. Use the pineapple puree as a base in a long drink glass, then add a little red chilli pepper to a shaker, with the lime. Then pour in the tequila and hazelnut syrup and shake. Once well mixed, using a double strainer, pour the entire contents of the shaker into the glass, which has been previously filled with crushed ice, and garnish with pineapple leaves, red chilli pepper and dried pineapple. Cobalto Sour Ampliar Angel Vita Venue: Cobalto 15 - Malaga Ingredients: Monkey Shoulder whisky, ginger falernum, hazelnut orgeat, lemon, Palo Cortado (float). Mix 5cl Monkey Shoulder whisky, 1.5cl Ginger Falernum, 1.5cl hazelnut orgeat and 3cl lemon in the shaker with a little egg white and shake without ice to emulsify the ingredients. Then add the ice and shake again. Finally, very carefully and with a barspoon, add 2cl of Palo Cortado to suspend it in the liquid. Finish with a dash of angostura and a twist of orange. The Wild Ampliar Ainhoa Hidalgo Venue: La Tribu Jazba - Palapa Beach, Torremolinos, and Bahia Beach, Torre del Mar Ingredients: J.J. Whitley vodka, falernum, lime juice, wild grape syrup, ginger beer. Pour 40ml J.J. Whitley, 20ml falernum, 20ml lime juice and 40ml wild grape syrup into a cocktail shaker. Shake well and pour the cocktail with crushed ice into an original clear glass. Finish with a splash of ginger beer. Black Widow Ampliar Carlos Cervera Venue: Nusa - Malaga Ingredients: J. J. Whitley vodka, Blue Curacao, strawberry puree, ginger falernum, pineapple juice, lemon juice, liquid sugar. Add 50ml J. J. Whitley vodka, 15ml Blue Curacao, 15ml strawberry puree, 10ml Falernum ginger, 30ml pineapple juice, 30ml lemon juice and 5ml liquid sugar together with 5 ice cubes into the shaker. Shake vigorously to create some froth from the added pineapple juice. Then pour into the glass making a doublestrain, top with pile ice and garnish with bamboo leaf, pineapple chunk, strawberry with bamboo stick and long straw. A Napoli glass is recommended. Sweet Monkey Ampliar Leandro Gomez Venue: Tercer Acto - Malaga Ingredients: Licorice infused Monkey Shoulder whisky, Amaro Montenegro, fig puree, homemade honey syrup, lemon, ginger ale Put all the ingredients in the shaker, shake well, serve in a glass with ice. Finally top up with the ginger ale to give it some fizz. Melody Ampliar Stefano Sale Venue: Trocadero - Benalmadena Ingredients: Monkey Shoulder Whisky, Grappa Poli di Moscato, acidic melon, HoneyGingerMix, smoky whisky aroma, candied ginger. Chill a lowball glass with ice. Add the ingredients and ice in a shaker. Shake well. Then double strain into the glass. Garnish with a piece of candied ginger on a cocktail stick and perfume with the smoky whisky. Only Deadly Tiki Ampliar Adrien Martinez Venue: Only You - Malaga Ingredients: Dead Man Spiced, ginger falernum, pineapple juice, passion fruit puree, orgeat syrup, lime juice, ginger beer. Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Serve in a skull glass with plenty of crushed ice. Decorate with pineapple leaves, dried pineapple, flowers and a cinnamon stick. Police manhunt after driver runs over partner with stolen car in Antequera Gender violence is being considered as the motive for the attack in the Malaga province area Irene Quirante Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram Spain's National Police force is searching for a man in connection with the alleged hit-and-run of his partner, a 36-year-old woman, on Monday 24 July in the Antequera area of Malaga province. Police sources said the alleged perpetrator used a stolen vehicle to run over the victim, before fleeing the scene. The incident is being investigated as a possible case of gender violence. SER Antequera said officers are looking for a 26-year-old man in connection with the incident. The woman was taken by the health services to a local hospital. Her condition is not described as serious. The incident occurred at around 11.50am on the A-7203 in the area of Cerro Limon, in Villanueva del Rosario. Witnesses alerted the 112 Andalucia emergency service coordination centre who mobilised National Police, Guardia Civil, Local Police and the health services to go to the scene. Gender violence attacks in Malaga province Already this month there have been three serious assaults, including one that was fatal, involving gender violence in Malaga province. The last one happened in the early hours of Thursday 20, when a 54-year-old woman from Humilladero died. The victim died at the Regional University Hospital of Malaga, where she was rushed by helicopter with severe head trauma. According to sources close to the investigation, the woman had claimed before her death that her husband had caused her injuries. The man was arrested by Guardia Civil officers in Alameda. After a court appearance in Antequera on Saturday 22 July he was released but remains under investigation. The Public Prosecutor's Office has told SUR that they are preparing an appeal to request that the man be sent to prison, as requested by the Public Prosecutor's Office during the hearing. At the end of June, a 66-year-old woman was shot in Torrox by her ex-husband, a retired military man who killed himself after the attack. The woman suffered serious injuries. And, just two weeks ago, a young woman was attacked by her boyfriend in Mijas. As SUR reported, the man, who is on the run, stabbed the woman in the thigh who then either jumped out of the moving vehicle or was ejected. Their main targets were drunk foreign tourists, mainly men, who were elderly or with reduced mobility Juan Cano Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram Using a technique known as "love hug" thefts a gang of luxury watch thieves has been disbanded by Spain's National Police. The perpetrators used a modus operandi where female gang members would approach the victim to seduce him, even going as far as touching his genitals and proposing sexual relations. This diversionary manoeuvre was deployed while the victims luxury watch was snatched. Police investigators attributed eight thefts of luxury watches in Malaga, Granada, Murcia and Alicante worth 60,000 euros to the group which was made up of family members. The gang acted in pairs and travelled to the scene in groups of between six and ten people. They rented houses or flats in the targeted cities for a few days and drove to tourist areas of these locations looking for potential victims, who were selected by the watch they were wearing. The profile of their victims were drunk foreign tourists, mainly men, who were elderly or with reduced mobility. Fleet of vehicles The first investigations began last March, when officers became aware of the violent robberies using the "love hug" theft tactic that were being committed by an itinerant criminal group. The investigation found that the group sometimes travelled to cities in cars registered in the name of third parties who acted as front men to make police tracking more difficult. They had a fleet of vehicles that they were constantly renewing. The female gang members approached the victim while male members remained waiting inside the vehicles to facilitate a quick getaway, or to collaborate and use violence, in case the victim resisted. Officers swooped on a rural house in Granada province where eight people were arrested. Three house searches were carried out in Madrid, in which various electronic devices and documentation were seized. Blistering heat that has baked swathes of North America and Europe this month would have been "virtually impossible" without human-caused climate change, researchers said Tuesday, as intense temperatures spark health alerts and stoke ferocious wildfires. With tens of million people affected in the northern hemisphere and July on track to be the hottest month globally since records began, experts warn that worse is to come unless we reduce planet-heating emissions. Severe heatwaves have gripped southern Europe, parts of the United States, Mexico and China this month, with temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius. In the new rapid analysis of the scorching temperatures, scientists from the World Weather Attribution group found that the heatwaves in parts of Europe and North America would have been almost impossible without climate change. Temperatures in China were made 50 times more likely by global warming, they found. "The role of climate change is absolutely overwhelming," said climate scientist Friederike Otto, of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London. Intense temperatures have swept much of the southwest and southern United States -- including in Phoenix, Arizona, which suffered a record-breaking three straight weeks of highs above 43C. Blazes on the Greek mainland and islands have caused tens of thousands to flee, sent tourists scrambling for evacuation flights and prompted the prime minister to say the country is "at war". In Beijing, the government urged the elderly to stay indoors and children to shorten outdoor playtime to reduce exposure to heat and ground-level ozone pollution. More extreme Scientists have already established that climate change -- with about 1.2C of global warming since the late 1800s -- has made heatwaves in general hotter, longer and more frequent. To trace how far the July heatwaves in the northern hemisphere had departed from what would have been expected without that warming, Otto and her WWA colleagues used weather data and computer model simulations to compare the climate as it is today with that of the past. Researchers said they focused on periods when "the heat was most dangerous in each region". Otto said in the past it would have been "basically impossible" that such severe heat waves would happen at the same time and that people should no longer be surprised to see temperature records tumbling. The future could be even worse. "As long as we keep burning fossil fuels we will see more and more of these extremes." The researchers found that these severe heatwaves can now be expected roughly once every 15 years in North America, every 10 years in southern Europe and every five years in China. And they will become even more frequent -- happening every two to five years -- if temperature rise reaches 2C, expected in around 30 years unless countries fulfil their Paris Agreement pledges and rapidly cut emissions. The study also found that these heatwaves were hotter than they would have been without climate change. Last week leading NASA climatologist Gavin Schmidt told reporters that July 2023 is not just on track to be the hottest absolute month since records began, but also the hottest in "hundreds, if not thousands, of years". Experts have said that the surging heat cannot be attributed solely to the warming El Nino weather pattern, which is not expected to strengthen until later on in the year. As with other impacts of climate change, it is those most vulnerable who are most at risk. Last week, the World Health Organization said the extreme heat was straining healthcare systems, hitting older people, infants and children. The WHO said it was particularly concerned about people with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and asthma. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Phish has announced two new concerts in Upstate New York to benefit flood relief efforts in the region, as well as Vermont. The jam rock band will perform at SPAC (Saratoga Performing Arts Center) in Saratoga Springs on Aug. 25 and 26. Both shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. A ticket request period is currently underway at phishfloodrecoverybenefit.shop.ticketstoday.com, ending today (Wednesday, July 26) at noon. Tickets, including 2-day passes, go on sale to the general public Saturday, July 29, at 10 a.m. through Live Nation. A limited number of Foundation Tickets will also be available at phishfloodrecoverybenefit.100xhospitality.com. Foundation Tickets include a concert ticket, a private pre-show performance with Phishs Trey Anastasio and Page McConnell, access to the Foundation Lounge before and throughout the show, and special Foundation poster and merch, in addition to other amenities. 100% of the net proceeds from the concert and all merchandise sales will go to The WaterWheel Foundations 2023 Flood Recovery Fund, which will support the many victims and their families, area businesses and non-profits affected by recent rain and flooding in Upstate New York and Vermont, where the band formed in 1983. The Recovery Fund will support both shorter term needs and long-term recovery and resiliency projects. Created by Phish in 1997 to oversee the bands various charitable activities, The Waterwheel Foundation has been working to create positive change for more than 25 years. The band gave out more than $100,000 to non-profit groups in Upstate New York after their 2018 Curveball festival was canceled at Watkins Glen due to flooding and health concerns. Phish, led by Trey Anastasio, is named after drummer and Syracuse native Jon Fishman. The group drew a sellout crowd at St. Josephs Health Amphitheater at Lakeview on Sunday, for Phishs first Syracuse concert in 7 years. Sign up for the CNY Arts, Culture & Entertainment Newsletter Enter your email address to get weekly updates on CNY music, theater, arts and more delivered to your inbox: MORE: Summer Jam: How CNY is celebrating one of the biggest concerts of all time Barbie movie could push Syracuse concert to become a hot ticket this week Join NY Cannabis Insider at our next industry networking event on Aug. 15 at Madame Mikettes in NYC. Tickets will sell out. Sarah Stretchberry is the COO of ApptitudePlus, a cannabis consulting and advisory firm. In the newest entry of NYs women in cannabis, Stretchberry spoke about her start in the industry and her favorite tools and resources in the industry. Women are vastly underrepresented in cannabis, and not just in New York. From 2019 to 2022, executive-level females have seen their industry wide status drop from 37% to 23%. Yet the MRTA makes things very clear: women-owned businesses are a key component of the states social and economic equity plan. NY Cannabis Insider is seeking to elevate women in cannabis through a hyper-focus on female story sourcing and balanced representation in articles. This series will last for as long as submissions come in. Sign up for the NY Cannabis Insider Newsletter Enter your email address to get exclusive reporting on NY's cannabis market delivered to your inbox: Why did you launch your career in the cannabis industry? Were there any women who inspired you to do so? How did you do it? After spending close to 15 years working for Whole Foods Market, operating and opening stores, I was ready for a change. I found my way to cannabis as a result of my youth spent in California, and my early introduction to the medical benefits of cannabis. When the opportunity to get in at the ground floor of a newly minted multistate vertical operator presented itself, I jumped at the chance. I was introduced to so many amazing women in the space: Megan Shank, Jamie Ware, Kim Nappoli, and Amanda Rositano, and Jillian Perillo just to name a few. What do you think is the most significant barrier to women leadership? Are the barriers different in cannabis than any other industry? I think that the barriers to women in the cannabis leadership space exist across all industries equally. The idea that cannabis is more exclusionary than any other industry is a myth we need to dispel. The more we say that cannabis is a male-dominated space, the less welcoming we will be to women who may want to enter the space. In my opinion, its not an industry problem, its a culture problem specific to individual organizations, and the solution is changing the culture from within. Why do you think women are so underrepresented in leadership roles in cannabis? I believe this to be a societal problem that exists across all industries. In my world, women are not underrepresented in leadership roles. I have many friends who are female and are in powerhouse leadership roles within the space. Shout out your other favorite women-owned or women-led businesses in the industry. Amanda Rositano of Soulstar cannabis. Kristina Adduci at House of Puff. Arana Hankin-Biggers of Union Square Travel Agency. Who/what are your favorite tools and resources in the industry? My team at ApptitudePlus is a crew of the best of the best in cannabis regulatory compliance, licensing, application writing, and operations across all areas of cannabis, I lean heavily on every member of our incredible team. J2H Partners are the best of the best in the owners representation, design and construction project management they are well versed in the cannabis space, and I would hesitate to complete a cultivation, processing, or dispensary buildout without them. Lastly, all the regulators across all markets who make it their objective to be a resource, and to work with the operators, as opposed to against them. What advice would you give your 25-year-old self? What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders? To a 25-year-old me, I would say, just keep living your best life, make the choices that feel right to you, trust your gut, and keep working hard, it will all pay off. To the next generation of women leaders, the message is simple work hard, and never apologize for being the clearest most thoughtful voice in the room. If youd like people to connect with you, please share your favorite methods of contact. Sarah@apptitudeplus.com President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisis visit to St Petersburg this week will further cement economic and political relations between Cairo and Moscow. The Russian Embassy in Cairo congratulated Egyptians on the anniversary of the 23 July revolution this week. In a tweet on Sunday, the embassy wrote: Under the regime of late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel-Nasser, relations between Cairo and Moscow greatly prospered, and now under the regime of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi we see relations between our two countries growing every day they are expected to reach new heights in the coming few years. Diplomatic sources told Russias Tass news agency this week that President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi will participate in the second Russia-Africa Summit held in St Petersburg from 27-28 July. President Al-Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin co-chaired the first Russia-Africa Summit, held in Sochi in October 2019 under the motto For Peace, Security, and Development. President Al-Sisis visit to St Petersburg this week reflects the extent of bilateral relations between the two countries across the political, economic and military fields, said Tass. Since coming to office in 2014 President Al-Sisi has been keen to cement relations with Russia, even after Western countries turned their back on Moscow over its war with Ukraine. Al-Sisi praised Egypt-Russia relations during a speech at last years St Petersburg International Economic Forum, noting that the two countries are implementing ambitious projects that will serve both their interests. They include the Dabaa nuclear power plant, the setting up of a Russian Industrial Zone in East Port Said and cooperation to develop the Egyptian railway network. Georgy Borisenko, Russias ambassador to Egypt, says bilateral trade has grown by 60 per cent over the last three years, reaching $6.2 billion in 2022. Russias $5.7 billion worth of exports to Egypt makes it Moscows largest trading partner in the Middle East and Africa, while Russia is Egypts third most important trading partner after the European Union and China. Borisenko said Russian companies are currently operating in the Egyptian market with investments exceeding $7.4 billion, a figure expected to rise once the Russian Industrial Zone is up and running. Russia plans to invest over $7 billion to establish the zone, creating around 35,000 local jobs. Abdel-Salam Al-Gabali, head of the Senates Agricultural Committee, believes that Russian grain exports will be on top of the agenda of the second Russia-Africa Summit. Russia is the largest grain exporter to Egypt, providing for a majority 4.9 million tonnes of Egyptian imports in 2022. Many African countries, including Egypt, are concerned about Russias decision last week to withdraw from the UN-brokered grain deal, said Al-Gabali. He added that though Cairo has diversified its sources of wheat and grain imports in recent years it still depends on Russia to meet most of its wheat needs. The Russian embassy also published photos of the arrival of the first shipment of equipment needed for the construction of the Dabaa nuclear power plant on its Twitter account. Alexei Likhachev, head of the Russian nuclear engineering company Rosatom, visited the Dabaa construction site last week and met with Minister of Energy Mohamed Shaker and head of the Egyptian Nuclear Power Plant Administration Amgad Al-Wakil. The $30 billion project is being financed largely through a $25 billion Russian loan. Likhachev explained that Rosatom will supply nuclear fuel throughout the lifecycle of the plant, arrange for the training of Egyptian personnel, and assist in the operation and maintenance of the plant for the first 10 years. Egyptian analysts say Western sanctions against Russia might have helped Egypt which this year saw a 181 per cent increase in the number of Russian tourists. Sahar Talaat Mustafa, deputy chairman of parliaments Tourism Committee, said before the war in Ukraine, Russian and Ukrainian tourists constituted more than 80 per cent of visitors to the Red Sea resorts of Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada. In the year following the imposition of Western sanctions, the number of Russian tourists visiting Egypt reached nearly one million. Military cooperation is a key element in the growing relations. Since President Al-Sisi came to office in 2014, Egypt has signed several military deals to buy Russian weapons. According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institutes 2021 report, of the $15 billion Egypt spent on arms purchases between 2014 and 2017, 60 per cent went to Russia. Gamal Zahran, professor of politics at Suez Canal University and a former MP, believes Moscows welcoming of the 2013 revolution against the Muslim Brotherhood and its 2014 decision to designate the group a terrorist organisation were key factors in bringing Cairo and Moscow closer. When Al-Sisi was elected president in 2014, Vladimir Putin was the first international leader to congratulate him. Zahran does not think Egypts growing closeness to Russia places will place it at odds with the West. President Al-Sisis visit to St Petersburg comes within the framework of a Russian-African summit, and the president has always been careful to announce that he is keen to maintain good relations with all world states, said Zahran. * A version of this article appears in print in the 27 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: About 150 non-union city of Syracuse employees are learning this week that their paychecks are about to get bigger. The city is implementing salary increases that have been calculated through the first comprehensive review of non-union compensation in recent memory, according to a summary of the plan written by Mayor Ben Walshs office. The pay study and resulting raises were part of $4 million included in the city budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year, which began July 1. The Syracuse Common Councils approval for the initiative via the budget means that the plan does not need further approvals. The first bigger paychecks will be issued Aug. 3, and affected employees will also get retroactive pay dating back to the start of the fiscal year. The salary increases total $1.67 million, well below the amount set aside in the budget. This piece is a key part of how do we attract folks to public service, and compensation is a big part of that, said Frank Caliva, the citys chief administrative officer. The study was done in consultation with HR Works, a Rochester-area consulting human resources consulting firm that has a Central New York office. The city contracted with the firm for a cost not to exceed $50,000. The consultants work is ongoing, but city officials said they expect the final cost to come in below that figure. The analysis was done for Syracuses roughly 200 non-union, salaried employees, which on average were found to be paid 20% below market rates. Based on the findings, 148 staffers will be getting raises, while 38 will remain at current pay levels because the study found their compensation exceeds or matches market rates. The city will not be reducing any existing employees pay, but it will be benchmarking 24 vacant posts to align the expected pay with the studys finding. A second batch of salary adjustments could be coming later in the fiscal year because the city is conducting a similar assessment of its 50 to 60 non-union hourly staffers. That work should be completed in two to three months. Pay for the majority of Syracuses workforce of roughly 2,000 full-time equivalent jobs is governed by union contracts. The pay study for non-union salaried employees looked at pay levels using a database of thousands of verified external positions nationwide in public and private sectors to establish benchmark salary ranges, which were adjusted for the Syracuse market. From that, the city targeted the 50th percentile within the pay ranges for the new recommended salary. We know that were never going to be able to pay at the top of the market thats not responsible, Caliva said. At the 50th percentile we can say its a competitive wage. The citys human resources department has used the studys finding to establish 13 pay grades depending on the position, with new annual base salaries ranging from $36,200 for an information aide up to $160,000 for the citys corporation counsel. The mayors office said the adjusted figures are essentially a replacement cost, or the pay needed to hire a new employee for the same job in a reasonable amount of time. One area of overall compensation that the study did not adjust for is fringe benefits, such as health insurance coverage and pensions, which can be more generous in the government sector. Traditionally when were competing in the marketplace, that was the only place that we could rest our hat, Caliva said. Now we have the ability to say youre going to have a very nice health care coverage. We pay more for that as an employer than most employers do, and you get a competitive wage. The salary study also aimed to clean up some internal pay equity issues. It analyzed pay of similar jobs across all departments, and according to the mayors office. Weve found that base salaries are inconsistent across the City, adherence to compensation ranges and hiring practices vary widely, wage increases have little pattern or predictability, and we are mis-aligned with the external market, the mayors office said. The new salaries are in effect for this fiscal year, and the citys human resources department is working to address how raises will be handled in the future so a major catch-up is not needed again. It is a living document, said Rick Alsever, the citys human resources director, referring to the salary study. Were working with the mayor to establish some sort of cost-of-living adjustments and performance-based discretionary increases. For the Walsh administration, the salary adjustments aimed at recruiting and retaining a quality workforce is a key part of overall delivery of services to city residents. We think this investment in city employees is every bit as important as investments weve made that people see when they drive on the streets, said Greg Loh, chief policy officer. To us, this is on the scale as being able to finally introduce a municipal sidewalk program. City reporter Jeremy Boyer can be reached at jboyer@syracuse.com or (315) 657-5673. Blasdell, N.Y. A teenager drowned Monday while swimming at a popular Lake Erie beach in the Buffalo area. Aiden R. Walden, of Lackawanna, went swimming around 5:30 p.m. at Woodlawn Beach State Park in Blasdell with another teenager, the New York State Police said. Walden could not keep his head above water, troopers said, and went under. Beachgoers pulled Walden out of the water and tried to revive the teenager, troopers said. The Woodlawn Fire Company responded to the beach and took over, working to save Walden. Walden was rushed to Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, where he was pronounced dead. He was 16 years old. Woodlawn Beach, at 3580 Lake Shore Road, is a short drive south of Buffalo. The popular beach has a mile-long sandy beach and a boardwalk through wooded wetlands. READ MORE Daughter kills mom with SUV in Upstate NY campground, troopers say Upstate NY music teacher accused of sending 600 texts to student Person drowns in Ithaca Falls, police say Upstate NY mom puts up billboard blaming drug dealer for daughters death The second Russia-Africa Summit takes place in St Petersburg on 27-28 July. This comes at a time of a major geopolitical shift, which African leaders may see as offering beneficial opportunities. The previous summit, in 2019, led to the signing of 92 agreements, contracts and memoranda of understanding worth over $11 billion. Several African countries (Nigeria, for one) have benefited from these agreements, especially in areas of energy generation and education. This time, many countries on the continent are facing a cost of living crisis. But how likely are they to get help from Russia? Its invasion of Ukraine has led to sharp increases in fertiliser and grain prices, pushing up food prices and raising food insecurity on the continent. The second complication in the engagement is the controversial role of the Wagner group in several African countries. The third is that the state of Russias economy limits President Vladimir Putins ability to offer Africa any meaningful economic assistance. And African countries are not likely to reap benefits if they fail to negotiate as a block. A critical look at the previous summits between African countries and China, the US and Japan reveals the fragmentation in African countries negotiations. National interests tend to overshadow collective interests, and this reduces their negotiating power. The continent has not been able to assert its agency. The 2023 summit is attracting attention because of the posture of several African countries in relation to the war in Ukraine. About half of African countries have either been neutral or supported Russias action. Russias weakened position in world politics offers a rare chance for African countries to express their agency. Despite security and economic challenges, the continents potential remains unchanged and this explains the renewed clamour for Africa. The renewed interest in establishing or redefining relationships with African countries, as seen in other summits, shows how important Africa is in world politics. African leaders must take advantage of that. What Africa Must Achieve I believe there are five things Africa must achieve at the second Russia-Africa summit. First, African countries must speak with one voice. African countries are at different stages of development and therefore have diverse needs. Taking a clear position on issues that affect the entire continent will be more productive. Second, security is an issue that is of paramount interest to Africa. African countries must agree on an alternative security arrangement with Russia which does not include private military contractors. Several African countries have been apprehensive about the Wagner group. Ghana has been the most vocal. The group has been accused of gross human right violations. While some African countries rely on Russia to provide weapons to fight insurgencies in their countries, it is important to cut out private military contractors and deal directly with Russia. Third, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has had a disproportionate impact on African countries through food prices. Several African countries depend on Russia and Ukraine for grains and fertilisers. Although Turkey was able to secure a deal with Russia in 2022 to supply grains to Africa, Russia has refused to renew the deal. This poses serious threats to African countries. The leaders of African countries understand the impact of food security on political stability. This issue must take priority at the summit. African countries need grains and fertiliser, and Russia is desperate not to lose its African allies. Securing a new deal should be on the table in St Petersburg. Fourth, although it has been reported that the volume of trade between Russia and Africa has increased in the last few years, it remains lopsided. Many African countries have remained importers of Russian products rather than exporters. They should negotiate for a programme that will allow them to increase their volume of exports to Russia, something like the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act which allowed countries in sub-Saharan Africa to export products to the US tariff free. Finally, African countries at the summit must seek specific measures to reduce the impact of the war on their nations. A delegation of African countries earlier in the year failed to convince Russia and Ukraine to end the conflict. But they must secure a commitment to reduce the impact of the war on the continent. They might find it difficult to secure much aid from Russia, but should push for the transfer of technology that will help them to be self-sufficient. In summary, the most important thing is for the leaders to speak with one voice. * Olayinka Ajala, Senior lecturer in Politics and International Relations, Leeds Beckett University ** This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here Search Keywords: Short link: Sweden's Prime Minister warned Wednesday that his country was being targeted by disinformation campaigns that seek to capitalise on the anger sparked by protests involving desecrations of the Koran. "Sweden is right now the target of influence campaigns, supported by states and state-like actors, whose purpose is to harm Sweden and Swedish interests," Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a social media post. The head of government said in a message on Instagram that recent "burnings of copies of religious texts" coincide with a difficult "security policy situation." "These events are then retold in an inaccurate way, sometimes with direct calls to hurt our country," he continued. In a separate statement, Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin also warned of an increased spread of disinformation against Sweden. "There is a risk that the current disinformation campaigns against Sweden could jeopardise the situation of Swedish citizens and companies abroad, and pose a threat to national security," Bohlin said. Tensions have flared between Sweden and several Middle Eastern nations after an Iraqi refugee staged two protests in which he desecrated the Koran. In late June, Salwan Momika, 37, set pages of the Muslim holy text alight outside Stockholm's main mosque. Last week he staged a similar protest outside Iraq's embassy, stomping on the Koran but leaving before burning it. Sweden's government has condemned the desecrations, while stressing the country's constitutionally protected freedoms of speech and assembly. Sweden and other European countries have previously seen protests where far-right and other activists, citing free speech protections, damage or destroy religious symbols or books, often sparking protests. Advance news of the planned Stockholm protest had prompted hundreds of Iraqis to mass at Sweden's Baghdad embassy the night before -- as they did in response to June's Koran burning -- before scaling the walls and torching buildings. The events have raised diplomatic tensions throughout the Middle East, with Swedish envoys summoned in Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. Sweden's ambassador has been expelled from Iraq, while Iran said it would not allow a new Swedish ambassador into the country, after repeated protests at embassies in both Baghdad and Tehran. Abandoning centuries of military non-alignment, Sweden decided to apply for NATO membership in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but its membership is still awaiting ratification by Hungary and Turkey. Search Keywords: Short link: The big picture: Google has been trying to implement plans to move beyond cookies for years without denying its partners the means to sell targeted ads, which form the backbone of the company's revenue. However, one recent proposal to guarantee user privacy and security could come at the cost of freedom of functionality. Some Google employees recently authored a GitHub page describing a new API that could redefine the relationship between websites and clients. It could replace the need for controversial cookies. However, it could also restrict browsers, plugins, or extensions. The company has been working to phase out cookies since 2020, proposing to replace them with Trust Tokens and a Privacy Sandbox system. The former would provide advertisers with limited user information while encrypting personal data so no one can see it. Google initially planned to implement the change for its general user base by now. However, it recently proposed to switch off third-party cookies by the end of next year. The Privacy Sandbox, which utilizes various technologies to balance advertiser needs and user privacy, is currently in testing for beta users. Click to enlarge The new proposal details "Web Environment Integrity," which would use what sounds like Trust Tokens to ensure that the client viewing a website is a human without revealing too much about them. Google suggests the system could be an alternative to captchas and other solutions that websites utilize to block bots, online game cheaters, and other malicious actors. However, the GitHub page admits that servers could use the tokens to block visitors based on what they're using to access a site. The result could theoretically be DRM prohibiting ad blockers, extensions, or modified operating systems. Aside from its goal to replace cookies, Google has also harbored ambitions to stop ad blocking but has been forced to delay them repeatedly. The Web Environment Integrity proposal stresses that the company doesn't want to let websites block extensions or other plugins. However, it's too early to tell whether users should trust those assurances. So far, the proposal hasn't appeared anywhere but GitHub, so there's no evidence that Google has or will officially implement it. Although, it could be an indicator of the general direction Google is heading with its Chrome browser. Companies like Mozilla and Apple want to block advertisers more aggressively, prioritizing user privacy. Google has defended its stance by suggesting that attempts at total blockage would encourage advertisers to obtain personal data using sneakier tactics like fingerprinting and that it's better to meet them above board. The big picture: At Computex in May, Asus showcased a custom graphics card that receives power directly from the motherboard instead of through cables. The company displayed the unique setup again at a recent event in Shanghai while further establishing its plans to bring the new design to the market. Asus has confirmed its intentions to start manufacturing a cableless GeForce RTX 4070 later this year, suggesting it will be available globally either around the end of 2023 or early 2024. The GPU will be available in black and white variants. Cable management can become a real annoyance when building a custom PC, and recent incidents with the RTX 4090 have proven that power cables can be dangerous. After dozens of cases of the flagship card's power adapters burning and melting, Nvidia had to update the connector design. One possible culprit is how the cables bend at the point of connection, so a GPU without cables would likely give builders one less thing to worry about. Asus unveiled such a solution at Computex a graphics card that receives power directly through a new port on a custom motherboard. Video channel EIXA Studio got another look at the GPU and motherboard at the Bilibili World 2023 exhibition in Shanghai, China, noting the motherboard's power supply indicator LEDs and the fact that it delivers up to 600W. The hardware vendor hasn't mentioned intentions to bring the new power connection method to other cards or motherboards, suggesting that the upcoming release aims to probe consumer interest in ditching power cables. If successful, it could be the beginning of a new standard, which would make cable management at least slightly easier. However, it's unclear why Asus chose the RTX 4070 to debut the new design. The cableless GPU's obvious downside is that using it requires a new motherboard, so it currently only makes sense for customers intending to build a new PC. Furthermore, users who purchase the combo could face an uncertain upgrade path afterward. If Asus eventually makes cable-free variants of more power-hungry cards like the RTX 4090, Radeon RX 7900 XTX, or future flagships, upgrading to that tier would mean upgrading to a motherboard with a higher cableless delivery wattage limit. It's also unclear whether the custom motherboards support GPUs with conventional power connectors. Masthead: Wccftech Rumor mill: If you're considering buying an Intel CPU, it might be a good idea to splash out sooner rather than later as they could get a price hike. The claim comes from a new report that states Team Blue is increasing the price of all its Core lineup to help fund new fabs and restructure the company. Update: Our advice to approach this with a healthy dose of salt turned out to be sound: Intel has confirmed that the rumors are untrue. A company spokesperson said, "Generally, Intel does not comment on speculation regarding price changes to its portfolio. However, we can confirm that Intel has not sent the letter described to customers or partners and has not initiated a price change to its CPU portfolio at this time. We have no further comment to share on the matter." Rumors that Intel's Core line is set for a price raise come from German outlet PCGamesHardware. A reader contacted two German wholesalers who reportedly confirmed a letter revealing the hike. According to the letter, all Core processors that are currently on sale or in production will become more expensive. That covers the Alder Lake (12xxx), Raptor Lake (13xxx), and Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs. It also includes the upcoming Meteor Lake processors that will be the first to drop the "i" and use the Core Ultra branding. According to the letter, the price increases are related to current and future Intel factories that have to be refinanced. It also states that the company is restructuring. None of this has been confirmed by Intel, so take it all with a healthy dose of salt. However, Intel is building a leading-edge fab mega-site in Magdeburg, Germany at a cost of no less than 17 billion ($18.6 billion). The company is reportedly receiving around 40% of that amount ($7.5 billion) in government subsidies, but increased development costs have seen Intel ask for $11 billion. So, it's possible that the Core price increases could be limited to just Germany, at least for now. As for the part about restructuring, Intel recently stopped production of its branded NUCs, passing the baton onto Asus, as it looks to focus more on its chip-making business. In April, the same month it sold its server-building business to Taiwanese company Mitac, Chipzilla posted its biggest quarterly loss in the organization's history, with its PC-focused Client Computing Group's revenue down 28% YoY. It was only in January when Intel implemented the last CPU price hike, an estimated 10% rise on the Alder Lake chips' MSRP. It seems quite soon for another rise, but it sounds like Intel could use the money. TL;DR: Despite the recently unveiled plans to gain a foothold in the United States and elsewhere in the world, TSMC is still investing a lot of money to keep developing its homeland production capacity. The Taiwanese company has just announced a new investment to increase its packaging capabilities, which are seemingly in high demand because of the recent AI boom. TSMC is planning to invest $90 billion Taiwanese dollars, or $2.87 billion, to build a new manufacturing plant in Tongluo Science Park, a location in northern Taiwan. The plant is expected to create 1,500 new "local" jobs, and it's already been officially approved by the Tongluo Science Park administration. TSMC's new manufacturing plant will seemingly be employed to satisfy the growing demand for chips for AI training, which according to CEO C.C. Wei is one of the strongest businesses for the company at the moment. TSMC makes chips for almost every technology company in the world, but two of its largest clients are the US-based corporations Nvidia and AMD. Nvidia GPUs are the most popular platform when it comes to large-language-model (LLM) training, even though AMD could very much become a fundamental player in that market as well. For the "front-end part" of the GPU manufacturing business, Wei said, TSMC has no issues satisfying its clients' request. Problems arise with the company's advanced packaging capacity, though, which is driven by the aforementioned AI boom. TSMC is currently unable to fulfill all customer demands, and the Tongluo plant is expected to roughly double manufacturing capabilities in a "very tight" production throughput. Advanced packaging is the final phase in the chip manufacturing process, as it involves placing multiple chip components into a single "package" to lower costs and increase performance. Last week, during his second-quarter earnings report, C.C. Wei said that TSMC is trying to increase its capacity "as quickly as possible." The company now expects to improve its advanced packaging production by 2024. A Chinese-written report by Taiwan's Central News Agency remarks how the local market is "optimistic" about TSMC's expansion plan, with companies specialized in manufacturing chip-related machinery and equipment (Wanrun, Hongsu, Xinyun) ready to benefit from the operation as well. What just happened? In a stunning u-turn, General Motors has reversed its decision to discontinue the Chevrolet Bolt EV and is instead planning to launch a new model of the popular vehicle in the future. The Bolt is a subcompact hatchback electric vehicle that was developed in partnership with South Korean conglomerate LG and is the most popular battery electric car in GM's portfolio. In April 2023, GM CEO Mary Barra announced plans to discontinue the Bolt and Bolt EUV by the end of this year to make room for the company's next-generation electric vehicles. The current model has been plagued by a multitude of problems since its launch, including a massive recall of more than 68,000 units in late 2020 over battery fire concerns. In 2021, the company expanded the recall to include more vehicles after discovering that the problem was more widespread than it previously thought. The recall was initiated after several units of the Bolt with fully or partially changed batteries caught fire, injuring at least two people. Notwithstanding the trials and tribulations with the first-gen model, the company has now seemingly made a U-turn within just three months of the earlier announcement. In its press release, GM did not offer a direct reason for its change of heart, but Barra pointed out that the current Bolt has been delivering "record sales and some of the highest customer satisfaction and loyalty scores in the industry." Barra also confirmed that the new Bolt will use GM's Ultium technology that the company claims reduces battery costs by 40 percent compared to the batteries used in the current Bolt EV and EUV. In terms of when customers can expect the new model, Barra said that it will be introduced to the market on an "accelerated timeline," but did not offer any ETA. Barra also did not discuss a possible price tag for the new Bolt, but the lower costs of the Ultium platform could help GM price the car attractively. With the current base model costing customers just around $27,000, its successor could also potentially have an MSRP below $30,000, helping cement the Bolt's stature as one of the most affordable EVs in the U.S. market. Alongside the Chevy Bolt, GM has a number of other electric vehicles in its portfolio, but all of them are significantly more expensive. That includes the GMC Hummer EV, the Cadillac Lyriq SUV, and the Silverado Electric pick-up truck. In addition to the aforementioned vehicles, the company has also announced plans to launch an electric version of its popular Equinox SUV later this year, with prices expected to start at around $30,000. To fold or not to fold. That is the question. At least, that's what Samsung and now several other companies are hoping people will start to ask as they consider their next smartphone purchase. The foldable phone category that Samsung first started just over 5 years ago with the debut of the original Galaxy Fold has slowly but surely grown from a tiny, specialty niche to an option that's on the verge of becoming mainstream. Samsung helped the process along at their most recent Galaxy Unpacked launch event held for the first time in the company's native South Korea with the unveiling of the latest iterations in their line of foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Galaxy Z Flip 5. At first glance, it's tempting to dismiss these new devices as little more than annual maintenance updates that only bring a few refinements to their existing designs. Ironically, though, it's some of the subtle changes that make the most profound impact on how it feels to use the devices. Both the Fold 5 and the Flip 5 have an improved hinge design called Flex Hinge for the folding screen that makes the phones a bit thinner and allows them to close more completely. Until I had a chance to actually hold them and try them out as I did here in Korea I couldn't appreciate the change. But once I physically tested them out, there was an immediate sense of improved usability and cleanliness of design even versus the 4th generation models. It just feels and works better. Internally, both phones are now powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy SoC, offering approximately 15% improvements in performance versus last year's phones and up to 171% compared to the first-gen Fold's Snapdragon 855. One very noticeable change on the Flip 5 is the nearly 4x increase in the size of the external display, which Samsung calls the Flex Window. At 3.4" and 720 x 748 resolution, it now nearly completely fills the back panel and offers significantly more usability and capabilities. For example, you can now view multiple widgets simultaneously, get access to a full QWERTY keyboard for responding to texts without opening the phone, and more. While the larger screen is an important evolutionary upgrade, it's also clearly a competitive one as Motorola's second generation Razr Plus foldable and other designs from Chinese companies like Oppo have started to include larger external panels on their foldables as well. That's a great example of how additional competition in a category can drive further innovation. Though Samsung was making solid improvements on its own, there's no doubt that we're going to see more and faster innovations from this newly competitive environment. (I hope, for example, that Samsung considers doing a future Fold with the shorter, wider aspect ratio of Google's new Pixel Fold but that's a story for another day.) What's also interesting about the developments that Samsung is bringing to the foldable category is they're taking important steps towards making these devices mainstream. While many people myself included thought foldables would be adopted at a quick pace simply because of the unique benefits the form factor enabled, five years later it's clear that was not the case. The high prices of the devices have been a limiting factor, but many potential buyers were also concerned about the reliability of the different form factor that foldables represented. Overcoming these issues has taken a combination of time and ongoing developments that address the concerns (or perceived concerns) that people have had about foldables, particularly long-term durability. In that light, improvements like the new hinge design take on new importance because they help make the device feel more stable. Plus, the fact that Samsung is now on its fifth generation of foldables helps give potential buyers more confidence that the category is now mature enough for regular users and not just early adopters. (It's also given the company five years to get the message out about the category a timeframe that's significantly longer than many thought it would need.) The increased competition in foldables has also helped bring more legitimacy to the category. Some consumers aren't comfortable buying a product that only comes from one company, particularly in the rapidly evolving world of mobile technology. In a weird way, having strong competitive products actually makes Samsung's latest offerings feel more compelling. The end result of all these developments is that it feels like foldables are finally ready to break out of their niche market and move into the mainstream. In fact, in a conversation with T.M. Roh, Samsung's global president of the mobile experience business, we were discussing the potential market opportunity for foldables and he brought up research forecasts that suggest the market could hit 100 million annual shipments over the next few years a huge jump from the current roughly 14-15 million unit per year market. While that may sound like a lofty target, it's important to remember that even in a declining smartphone market, foldables have beaten the odds and are now the fastest growing segment of the industry. Although it's certainly taken longer than expected, it appears foldables are finally starting to reach their potential. Bob O'Donnell is the founder and chief analyst of TECHnalysis Research, LLC a technology consulting firm that provides strategic consulting and market research services to the technology industry and professional financial community. You can follow him on Twitter @bobodtech Almost seven years after its Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, it seems Samsung is stuck in the same predicament as news of some of its smartphones' batteries started swelling a few months ago. A popular Youtuber, MRWHOSETHEBOSS, first reported the issue in one of his videos, where he mentioned that only his Samsung phones were affected on all the smartphones he has in storage. Then, he did his own investigation and contacted some fellow Youtube phone reviewers. Several of them reported the same issue. Since the popular Youtuber stored all of his phones on the same shelf and under the same conditions, he concluded that the problem must lie with the batteries of the South Korean company. However, not everyone experienced the same "expanding battery" issue. Samsung spokesperson Chris Langlois previously said that this issue was known to Samsung, and he described it as a "safety mechanism" on all Samsung phones to contain the volatile gases caused by normal charging. Read Also: Samsung Investigation Blames Irregular Battery Size, Manufacturing Issues For Exploding Galaxy Note 7 Samsung Galaxy Note 7 All Over Again Some 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 units were recalled in 2016, just weeks after its launch, due to reports of the phones' batteries exploding. A fter several months of testing, Samsung released a statement saying there was insufficient space between the protective pouch of the battery and the phone's internals, causing the separator between electrodes to malfunction and cause a short circuit. Several years after this disaster, no Samsung phones were reported to explode or bulge until several months ago. The Explanation Behind the Battery Expansion Battery swelling happens when the liquid electrolyte material starts breaking down. The liquid turns to gas during this process and starts expanding, which causes the battery to bulge. If the user continues charging the phone with the bulging battery, that's when the explosion happens. If what Samsung claims is true and this problem is a safety mechanism, why don't all Samsung phones have bulging batteries? Does that mean they don't put this safety feature on all its phones, or is there a different explanation? Samsung's leading battery supplier is a subsidiary company called Samsung CDI. One of its other battery suppliers was a Chinese company called Amperex Technology Limited (ATL). It seems Samsung held this company responsible for the Note 7 incident because, after 2016, the South Korean company cut off ATL from its battery supply chain. Just a few years ago, Samsung once again announced that ATL was supplying batteries for its Galaxy A/M phones and the flagships, Galaxy S21 and S22 smartphones. Moreover, they used the same battery supplier for the Galaxy Fold 4 and Flip 4 in the second half of 2022. Because of this information, one can conclude that the current battery issues are because of the same company: China's ATL. And the reason why this only happens to some Samsung phones after 2016 is the fact that there are multiple battery suppliers. As a subsidiary of the main company, Samsung CDI would be under strict quality control and unlikely to be the supplier of these defective batteries. Based on some reports, the most probable reason for the recent battery problems for Samsung smartphones is its other supplier. Of the 260 million phones sold in 2022, the unaffected Samsung phones' batteries are most likely produced by Samsung CDI and the defective ones by ATL. Whatever happens, Samsung should address this issue directly. It's now in a duel against Apple for the best smartphone brand, and they would not want to be the company that blinks first. Related Article: Samsung Employees Use ChatGPT at Work, Unknowingly Leak Critical Source Codes 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google might have found difficulty in competing with OpenAI's ChatGPT as the launch of its Bard AI didn't quite go as planned. However, the company hasn't given up on the artificial intelligence field and is venturing into different fields like sound generation based on brain activity. Google Can Use AI to Create Music from Brain Activity With Its New Tool MusicML According to the story by ZDNet, it's important to clarify that Google won't be using AI in order to create music but instead does the music from text approach. This comes with the launch of its new tool, MusicML. Google is increasing its efforts when it comes to using AI in order to read the user's brain as well as produce sound based on the brain activity of the user. In a new research paper with the title Brain2Music, Google reportedly used AI to reconstruct music coming from the activity of the brain. The AI Tool Looks at a User's Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Come Up With New Music The company was able to do this by going through data from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). It was noted that the fMRI data of five test subjects were studied as all of them listened to the same thing. The participants listened to 15-second music clips from different genres like hip-hop, blues, country, classical, metal, country, jazz, pop, rock, and reggae. The data was then used to train Google's deep neural network. Deep Neural Network Learns More About the Relationship Between Music and Brain Activity The deep neural network then tried to learn more about the relationship between the music elements and patterns in brain activity. The researchers wanted to learn the relationship between rhythm and emotion. After the training was finished, it was reported that the model would be capable of reconstructing music coming from an fMRI. This would be done by using MusicLM, which is known to generate music from the text. MusicLM is Used to Generate Music Similar to the Original Input Music Stimuli Since the main purpose of MusicLM is to use text to generate music, it was then conditioned to come up with similar music to the original input music stimuli but on a specific semantic level. Upon testing, the music generated comes close to the musical stimuli that the participant listened to initially. The music resembled genre, mood, instrumentation, and more. The Google research page also revealed more about the project, allowing users to listen to other clips of the original music stimuli for comparison. Read Also: Microsoft's Bing Chat Is Now Available in Safari, Chrome - Here's What You Need to Know MusicLM Generated Restructures Similar to the Original Sound Clip Used They would be compared to the MusicLM generated restructures, showing interesting results. An example of this was how a 15-second sound clip of Britney Spears' "Hit Me Baby One More Time" and the three reconstructions generated by the AI showed a pop-like and upbeat result, close to the original. The audio reportedly didn't resemble the original music because the study was more focused on the different music elements instead of its lyrical component. Related Article: AI Found to Be Biased Against Parents in the Workforce, New Research Shows 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Two Meta-owned companies, Facebook Israel and Onavo Inc., have been fined a total of AUS$20 million (~$13.5M) by Australia's Federal Court. The penalty comes after an action brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over allegations that the companies engaged in conduct liable to mislead users in breach of the Australian Consumer Law. The Onavo Protect VPN App The controversy stems from the Onavo Protect VPN app, which was developed and supplied by the subsidiaries. The app claimed to offer data protection and safety to users, positioning itself as a free and secure VPN service. However, the ACCC found that the app's promotion in Google and Apple App Store listings was misleading as it failed to adequately disclose that users' data would be used for purposes beyond providing the VPN service. According to the ACCC, the personal activity data collected by Onavo Protect was shared with Meta (formerly known as Facebook Inc.) for commercial benefit. The anonymized and aggregated data included records of users' internet and app activity, revealing every app they accessed and the time spent using those apps. Meta reportedly used this data for market research activities, enabling the tech giant to gain insights into popular rival apps and inform its acquisition strategy. Between February 2016 and October 2017, the Onavo Protect app was installed over 270,000 times by Australian users. The commission noted that the misleading descriptions in the App Store listings conveyed the impression that users' data would solely be used for the VPN service, leading to potential misuse of their data for Meta's own commercial interests. Read Also: Meta's Threads Following Feed is Not Broken-It Is Just Set on 'For You' as Default Misleading Descriptions ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb emphasized the importance of consumers making informed choices about their data usage without being misled. The penalty reflects the watchdog's concern over data privacy and transparency in the digital ecosystem. "We took this case knowing that many consumers are concerned about how their data is captured, stored, and used by digital platforms. We believe Australian consumers should be able to make an informed choice about what happens to their data based on clear information that is not misleading," Cass-Gottlieb said in a statement. Facebook Israel and Onavo, in a joint submission to the Court, acknowledged that the App Store listings gave the impression that Onavo Protect users' data would solely serve the purpose of providing the Onavo Protect VPN service, according to the commission. However, the listings did not disclose that data collected from Australian users' online activities through Onavo Protect was also utilized for other objectives, including acting as a 'business intelligence tool'. "In the case of the Onavo Protect app, we were concerned that consumers seeking to protect their privacy through a virtual private network were not clearly told that in downloading and using this app they were actually facilitating the use of their data for Meta's commercial benefit," Cass-Gottlieb added. Related Article: Meta Avatars Can Now Answer Your Video Calls on Messenger, Instagram - Here's How 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi Kezad Group, the largest operator of integrated and purpose-built economic zones in the UAE, has commenced the upgrade and revamp of the road network and facilities across 40,000 sq m in Kezad Musaffah (ICAD 1). The AED55 million ($14.97 million) project includes repairs and recarpeting of 23 km of roads within Kezad Musaffah (ICAD 1), as well as widening of junctions, enhanced road markings and lighting, in additon to hard lanscaping and provison of bus stops, a statement said. The enhancements are aimed at significantly improving the flow of traffic and facilitating the movement of goods to and from the area. The project is being executed in coordination with relevant government agencies such as the Abu Dhabi City Municipality and Integrated Transport Centre, among others, as well as the businesses operating in the area to ensure smoothest possible workflow at an accelerated pace. The project is planned to be completed in phases without causing organisational or movement challenges to businesses operating in the area. Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed, CEO Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi Kezad Group, said: Kezad Group is continually looking for ways to improve the business experience of our clients. By improving our road network systems and facilities in Mussafah, we are providing our existing clients faster and more efficient world-class connectivity, in addition to sustainable and high quality infrastructure with global standards, that meets their requirements, in line with the vision of the wise leadership. The upgradation of the vital industrial area in Kezad Musaffah (ICAD 1) will go a long way in reinforcing Abu Dhabis position as an advanced economic and industrial hub, which plays a key role in the development of the emirates economy. The Kezad Group management is taking a keen interest in the project to ensure not only the convinience of the businesses in the area, but also that it follows the best global environmental practices and sustainable development to preserve the natural environment and reduce energy consumption, the statement said. - TradeArabia News Service The solution of the Sudan crisis lies in the hands of the Sudanese people, concluded the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) on Tuesday at the end of the bloc's two-day meeting in Cairo. The coalition -- comprising various Sudanese political and rebel factions -- said all international and regional efforts meant to resolve the crisis have failed due to their lack of impartiality. This was the FFC's first meeting since the outbreak of the war in mid-April, meant to draft an initiative to end the conflict. The FFC was established in 2019 following the 2018 civil protests and subsequent uprising. At the press conference concluding the meeting in Cairo, the FFC stressed their solidarity with the army, which is the representative of the sovereignty of Sudan and the only party capable of restoring the country to safety. Head of Sudans Democratic Bloc and Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Unionist Party Jaafar Al-Sadiq Mohamed Al-Mirghani said Sudan has reached a critical juncture at the political, economic, social, and environmental levels. Al-Mirghani called for unifying the domestic front by engaging in serious discussions to achieve stability and security. He demanded an immediate and complete ceasefire and the formation of a caretaker government. Al-Mirghani stressed that all international and regional efforts should recognize the full sovereignty of his country, consider the conflict an internal matter, and help prevent the disintegration of Sudan. The head of Sudans National Movement Forces Al-Tijani Al-Sisi said the FFC held a workshop in Cairo a few months ago to agree on a blueprint to save the country. The Sudanese official thanked Egypt for hosting the Sudanese who fled war in their home country. He also thanked Chad for receiving displaced Darfur people. The main objective of the initiative is to create a national framework for the Sudanese political powers to hold a transparent national dialogue, he added. The official noted that all political powers in Sudan wish to end the current war. Meanwhile, FFC member Mohamed Abdul-Karim said "there is no neutrality in this war. Everyone should stand with the Armed Forces." He urged Sudan parties to condemn the "grave violations" committed by the Rapid Support Forces. Abdul-Kareem called for forming a competent government and unifying all political powers in the country. The FFC thanked Egypt for hosting the conference and affirmed Egypts pivotal role in helping to end the war in Sudan. The FFC meeting in Cairo is part of Egypts efforts to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict. Earlier in June Egypt hosted the Sudan's Neighbouring Countries' Summit to address the crisis, where the countries have agreed during the summit to form a ministerial mechanism comprising the foreign ministers of Sudans neighbours to address the conflict which has had severe implications on the participating nations. The June summit brought together Egypt, Libya, Chad, Central Africa, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, along with the secretary-general of the Arab League and the African Union Commission chairperson. The warring parties welcomed the results of the meeting where it was agreed that Sudans neighbouring countries will form a ministerial mechanism comprising foreign ministers to address the conflict. Search Keywords: Short link: NASA's Picture of the Day has gifted us with a breathtaking cosmic delicacy: The Prawn Nebula, officially known as IC 4628. Nestled in the tail of the nebula-rich constellation Scorpius, this celestial wonder offers a visual feast for the eyes, captivating astronomers and stargazers alike. Surrounded by Massive Youthful Stars IC 4628 owes its radiant glow to a celestial dance between massive, youthful stars and the nebulous gas surrounding them. These hot and brilliant stars, just millions of years old, emit invisible ultraviolet light that interacts with the nebula, causing a spectacular display of colors. As the ultraviolet light strips electrons from atoms within the nebula, these charged particles eventually recombine, producing the mesmerizing visible glow that dominates the cosmic landscape. The brilliance of this nebula is most notably marked by the rich red hues of glowing hydrogen gas. The sheer size of this cosmic masterpiece is awe-inspiring, spanning an estimated distance of 6,000 light-years and measuring approximately 250 light-years across. To put this into perspective, it extends over an area equivalent to more than three full moons on the night sky, leaving observers marveling at the sheer magnitude of the Prawn Nebula. While scientists have cataloged this celestial wonder as Gum 56, in honor of the renowned Australian astronomer Colin Stanley Gum, it has also earned a more delectable moniker among enthusiasts-the Prawn Nebula. For those with a fondness for seafood, the comparison might be irresistible, as the nebula's delicate tendrils and ethereal beauty resemble the elegant shape of a prawn, a celestial delicacy adorning the cosmic banquet. The stunning image of the Prawn Nebula, captured and shared by astrophotographer Daniel Stern, offers a glimpse into the cosmic ballet unfolding in our universe. This exquisite composition, taken over several nights in April from Rio Hurtado, Chile, showcases the nebula's captivating allure and invites observers to immerse themselves in the cosmic wonders that grace our night sky. Read Also: NASA Telescopes Unveil Striking Eagle Nebula Brimming with X-ray Hot Stars Emission Nebula Emission nebulae like IC 4628 are composed of ionized gas that emits visible light due to interactions with nearby hot and massive stars. In the case of the Prawn Nebula, the ultraviolet radiation from these young stars ionizes the surrounding gas, causing it to emit light. Inside these nebulae, there are ionized atoms, meaning that the atoms have lost one or more electrons due to the intense radiation from nearby stars. When electrons recombine with these ionized atoms, they release energy in the form of light. The specific colors of the emitted light depend on the types of atoms involved and the energy levels of the electrons. One of the most common emission lines in nebulae is the red emission line of hydrogen gas (H-alpha). When the electrons recombine with hydrogen atoms, they emit red light. This is why many emission nebulae, like the famous Orion Nebula, appear as vibrant red or pink in astronomical images. Emission nebulae play a crucial role in the life cycle of stars. They are often associated with regions of active star formation, where new stars are being born from the gravitational collapse of gas and dust. Related Article: [LOOK] NASA Catches Shark Nebula's Starry Jaws in Stunning Image 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. To curb the worsening Amazon deforestation, NASA offers satellite imaging to Brazil in the process. According to Bill Nelson, the organization's administrator, NASA will help the South American country to help monitor the condition of the natural creation. NASA Extends Satellite Imaging to Fight Amazon Destruction In a report by First Post, Nelson paved a short visit to INPE, a space research center in Brazil to observe what NASA can do to mitigate the rapid Amazon deforestation. On Wednesday, July 26, NASA proposed a strategic partnership where the use of satellites will be prioritized. The said collaboration between Brazil and the United States will help combat the deforestation of the rainforest. Back in January, Nelson first mentioned that the satellite called NISAR can render photos of everything surrounding the forest. "It is going to be able to look through the canopy of the jungle so that we can see if someone has burned the undergrowth and that would ultimately kill the big trees," Nelson said at a news conference at Sao Jose dos Campos's INPE. To further gain more knowledge about the space program Luciana Santos, the Science Minister toured Nelson around the facility. INPE has been active in launching satellites since 1999 courtesy of China's partnership. Brazil has been benefiting from technology in monitoring crops and environmental changes. Nelson recalled 37 years ago that when he saw the Amazon rainforest from space, he expected that the destruction would further worsen in the future, per Livemint. With this, NASA will lend hands to Brazil to improve its environmental monitoring, specifically to watch over the deteriorating rainforest. By 2024, NASA will use satellites that will be sent into orbit. They are expected to add an "extreme ability to understand what is happening" to the rainforest," according to Nelson. Nelson also met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The world leader thanked NASA for its effort to save the Amazon rainforest. Related Article: Does Excessive Heat Harm Our Bodies Long Term? Here's What the Experts Say NASA Looks Forward to Helping Other South American Countries According to Amazon Conservation, 1,300 bird species, 378 reptile species, over 400 amphibian species, and 427 mammal species are living in the forest. For the past decade, more than 10,000 species of beetles have been discovered. Nelson's South American trip won't end in Brazil. The NASA chief will also tour Colombia and Argentina to venture into partnerships concerning environmental preservation. Meanwhile, a report by Tech Times shows that temperatures in the Florida Ocean are rising to the extreme. Experts believe that the surge in water temperature of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit only took place for two consecutive days. According to meteorologists, this could lead to the deterioration of organisms living in the water. It can also result in coral bleaching. So far, it's the highest seawater temperature recorded on the planet. Read Also: Advanced Imaging Technology Helps Track, Study Baby Corals on Great Barrier Reef 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Republican head of the US House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), has warned Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to be held in contempt of Congress following the latter's refusal to turn over papers demanded by a subpoena issued in February about the content moderation policies of Meta's social networking platform. During a crucial hearing on Thursday, the Judiciary Committee's members will vote on a contempt report highlighting Mark Zuckerberg's "willful refusal" to assist with the congressional investigation, according to AP News. The legislation is anticipated to succeed in the committee under GOP leadership, placing the initiative in the hands of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. If adopted, the entire House may vote on the contempt resolution after the August vacation, perhaps as early as this autumn. Meta Expresses Willingness to Cooperate The repercussions for Mark Zuckerberg might be severe since the US Justice Department would have to determine whether to charge him if the House found him in contempt. This measure highlights the seriousness of the matter and the committee's commitment to learning the truth about content moderation procedures. In response to the threat, Meta's representative, Andy Stone, said that the business has dutifully given the committee over 50,000 pages of both internal and external papers since February. Additionally, Meta has made current and former workers accessible for interviews with legislators, claiming that they complied with the committee's general information demands "in good faith." Read Also: Elon Musk Slams Barbie: 'You Will Pass Out Before The Movie Ends' Beyond Meta, the Judiciary Committee has been looking into content filtering practices; earlier this year, Rep. Jim Jordan issued subpoenas to Apple, Facebook, and Google, according to NBC News. The legislator cited internal Twitter messages that showed government pressure to suppress particular views, and he considers Facebook to have internal discussions along the same lines. Jordan Targeting Threads Jordan's committee is particularly interested in learning about Threads, Meta's new social media platform. The committee has demanded greater openness from Meta after allegations that the federal government may have influenced or worked with technology and social media firms to control internet material, per LA Times. The committee's commitment to hold digital firms responsible for their content moderation practices is shown by this most recent threat of contempt, which emphasizes the seriousness of the probe. Additionally, it follows prior cases in which the House cited former government employees for contempt for disobeying subpoenas. The House found former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in contempt in 2021, while Democrats had the majority, for avoiding questioning regarding the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. For failing to comply with a subpoena from the House January 6 committee, former White House strategist Steve Bannon was similarly found guilty of two contempt of Congress charges last year. The tech sector is preparing for possible consequences that might change content moderation procedures and the dynamic between significant internet firms and government regulation as the House Judiciary Committee's probe gathers steam. Related Article: Meta-Owned Companies Fined $13.5M by Australia for Allegedly Misleading Onavo VPN App 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In a significant step towards providing regulatory clarity for the cryptocurrency industry, a key congressional committee is gearing up to vote on several bills to develop a regulatory framework for digital assets. Reuters reports that the House Financial Services Committee is set to consider these bills on Wednesday and Thursday, with significant implications for the entire crypto space. Crypto: Security or Commodity The proposed legislation includes a bill defining whether a cryptocurrency should be classified as a security or a commodity. This determination is crucial, as it will profoundly impact the regulatory requirements and investor protections applicable to various digital assets. TechCrunch notes that the US Commodity Futures and Trading Commission (CFTC) classifies cryptocurrency as a commodity. In a complaint against Binance and its CEO, the CFTC alleged that the company violated trading and derivative regulations and identified the two largest cryptocurrencies, bitcoin, and ether, as commodities. However, it is worth noting that the CFTC's stance diverges from that of another significant US government entity, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC views most crypto assets (excluding Bitcoin) as securities. Looking Into Stablecoins Additionally, the committee will review another bill to establish a regime to oversee stablecoins. Stablecoins are digital tokens that are often backed by traditional assets such as the US dollar, and their growing popularity has raised concerns among regulators about potential risks to financial stability. Historic Crypto Regulations The upcoming markups on these crypto regulatory bills are historic, as they mark the first time such legislation will be put to a vote in Congress. This represents a significant victory for crypto lobbyists who have been advocating for clear and comprehensive regulations. Kristin Smith, the CEO of the Blockchain Association, emphasized the importance of this legislative moment, stating, "Obviously we've had some important decisions come from the courts in the past, but this is by far the most significant legislative moment that we've had." Read Also: Russian Court Convicts Top Cybersecurity Executive of Treason, Sentenced to 14 Years However, it remains to be seen whether these bills will garner sufficient support from Democrats, a crucial factor in their potential to become law. The Democratic-led Senate may pose additional obstacles, as the head of the Senate Banking Committee, Sherrod Brown, has expressed uncertainty about the necessity of further crypto regulation. Crypto Market Structure Bill Representative Patrick McHenry, the Republican chair of the committee, has his priorities set on advancing a crypto market structure bill. This bill aims to enhance the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) oversight of the crypto industry while clarifying the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) jurisdiction. McHenry emphasized the urgency for the United States to catch up with other jurisdictions, such as the UK, the European Union, Singapore, and Australia, which have already established clear regulatory frameworks for digital assets. The proposed bills have drawn substantial attention and support from the crypto industry. With bipartisan backing, there is hope that the market structure bill could succeed in the Senate. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Biden Names Former NSA, CIA Official Next National Cyber Director 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Leading artificial intelligence (AI) firms have assembled the Frontier Model Forum to regulate the development of cutting-edge AI technology. To develop best practices for AI safety, encourage research into AI hazards, and actively share information with governments and civil society, the alliance of Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic, will engage closely with policymakers and academics. according to a CNN report. The Frontier Model Forum has been announced as AI developers band together to support voluntary safety measures in advance of upcoming legislative initiatives by US and EU politicians to create legally obligatory restrictions for the AI sector. Tech Giants to Work with Government to Ensure AI Safety The founding members, including Amazon and Meta, had promised the Biden administration that their AI systems would go through third-party testing before being made available to the general public as a sign of their dedication to AI safety. The companies also pledged to provide explicit labeling for material produced by AI, recognizing the value of accountability and openness in the usage of the technology. Today we're joining @AnthropicAI, @Microsoft and @OpenAI to announce the Frontier Model Forum, a new group promoting the responsible development of advanced AI models. https://t.co/nXdg0si4vf Google Public Policy (@googlepubpolicy) July 26, 2023 Other top businesses involved in creating the most cutting-edge AI models are welcome to join the recently established forum, which promotes a culture of collaborative knowledge and cooperation. It plans to provide its technical assessments and benchmarks through a freely available library, promoting best practices and standards across the sector. The obligation of AI technology developers to maintain safety, security, and human oversight was underlined by Microsoft President Brad Smith. He stressed the forum's importance as a necessary step in developing AI responsibly and addressing the issues for the benefit of humanity. Read Also: Elon Musk Slams Barbie: 'You Will Pass Out Before The Movie Ends' AI specialists, such as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio, have warned legislators about the possible catastrophic social hazards emerging from unregulated AI research, underscoring the urgency around AI safety. Amodei notably brought up worries about the possible hazards of AI abuse in crucial fields including cybersecurity, nuclear technology, chemistry, and biology. Focusing on Frontier Models The main goal of the Frontier Model Forum is to enhance AI safety research to assist responsible frontier model development and risk reduction. Frontier models are presently the most sophisticated AI systems, outperforming current capabilities in a variety of tasks. To guarantee the appropriate development and use of frontier AI models, the forum intends to collaborate on creating safety criteria and assessments. To enable secure AI development in the next year, the forum will focus on three essential areas and will establish its advisory board soon, per The Times of India. Additionally, it will engage with governments and civil society when establishing its policies and encouraging fruitful cooperation, as government agencies wrestle with the emerging technology and the FTC opens an investigation into OpenAI. Industry-led self-regulatory systems, however, have drawn criticism from those who believe they might deflect attention from wrongdoing and obstruct comprehensive legislation to address it, according to a Washington Post article. Government-led frameworks are still in the early phases of development in both the US and Europe, despite calls for AI regulation. Related Article: New Zealand Establishes Lead Agency to Strengthen Cyber Defenses Against Growing Threats 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Analysis reveals a massive data theft operation targeting Android smartphones globally via popular stalkerware. Since 2016, the stealthy stalkerware Spyhide has been secretly gathering private information from tens of thousands of victims, according to a report from TechCrunch. The widespread stalkerware is intended to remain undetectable on victims' phones, making it challenging to find and delete. According to research by Swiss developer and hacker Maia Arson Crimew, the Spyhide app was created by an Iranian software business called "Virsys" or "Virsis." Crimew accessed the app's source code and back-end databases, revealing how this covert spyware operation operated. The text-only database of Spyhide, which held thorough records of over 60,000 infected Android devices going back to 2016, exposed the startling scope of the operation. Every continent has victims impacted by data theft, including phone records, text messages, exact location histories, and photographs. Over 3,100 infected devices have been found in the United States. Some people have access to several hacked devices, increasing the scope of the operation. Iranians are Behind the Malicious Operation Due to the highly sensitive information obtained via Spyhide, including password reset links and codes for two-factor authentication, the victims are now at risk of identity theft and other criminal activity. To get around Google's app store limitations, the Spyhide software was mostly distributed via the business' website. This tactic made it possible for the malware to evade detection by unwary users. Read Also: China Appeals to Japan: Avoid Disrupting Semiconductor Industry Amid Export Limits Two Iranian developers were found to be making money from the operation after the names of the Spyhide administrators were partly revealed via the source code. Currently, one of the developers lives in Dubai, while the other is connected to northern Iran. Protect Yourself From Stalkerware Users must nevertheless exercise caution, even if stalkerware programs like Spyhide are expressly forbidden from Google's app store owing to their unethical nature. Look for apps posing as "Google Settings" or "T.Ringtone" in the list of installed programs to see whether your device has the malicious app, per The Indian Express. Access the Settings app on your smartphone and go to the list of installed programs to see whether Spyhide has affected your device. 'Google Settings' or 'T.Ringtone' are ingenious aliases used by Spyhide to hide itself. Remove these applications from your device. Deleting software may disclose information about the installer. To boost security, it is advisable to switch on "Google Play Protect" in the Google Play app's settings. The danger of identity theft with the use of bots has increased with the development of AI, according to TechRadar. Although using the finest identity theft protection services might provide some degree of security, users must exercise caution to be secure online and avoid becoming identity theft victims. Related Article: Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic Unite for AI Regulation, Development 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. UNESCO advises against relying too much on technology in the classroom and emphasizes the need for a balance between conventional teaching techniques and technological resources. Since a digitized world necessitates striking a balance between conventional techniques and digital technologies, a strong pedagogical framework is essential for producing successful learning results. (Photo: ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images) The UN Security Council debates "Artificial intelligence: opportunities and risks for international peace and security" at UN headquarters in New York City on July 18, 2023. Undeniable Assets The UNESCO study agrees that using technology to introduce children to the digital world may be a useful tool in education. However, it cautions teachers from utilizing "fancy technological" tools excessively in the classroom. Read Also: UNESCO Releases Policy Paper on AI Foundation Models to Address Tech Concerns Main Concerns The paper draws attention to the paucity of data demonstrating the benefits of digital technology in education. Although laptops and cell phones are used in schools all around the world, this does not always mean that student learning is better. Technology should be used to improve learning, not as a replacement for conventional teaching techniques. In order to engage students and promote learning, Manos Antoninis highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to technology integration, including a sound pedagogical framework and integrating digital tools with efficient teaching tactics. Necessary Actions In order to engage students and promote learning, Manos Antoninis highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to technology integration, including a sound pedagogical framework and integrating digital tools with efficient teaching tactics. Around one in four nations have already passed rules or regulations prohibiting cell phones in schools, which is a trend that is gaining traction. This is because they may be disruptive in school environments. Even tolerant nations like The Netherlands have restricted smartphone usage in schools, demonstrating a growing understanding of the possible risks associated with excessive use of technology. Result of Overreliance Reading comprehension is a fundamental ability for children's digital navigation and defense against online frauds like phishing assaults, but an overreliance on technology in the classroom may overlook it. Students who are proficient readers are less likely to fall for these con artists. For kids to become responsible and astute digital citizens, it's imperative to strike a balance between digital and conventional abilities. Technology is complemented with a solid basis in conventional skills, which allows for critical analysis and decision-making in the complex online environment. Appeasing Paranoia The UNESCO study underlines the significance of taking into account technology's function in education and calls for a nuanced strategy rather than seeing it as a panacea. Teachers should get training on how to use technology as a complement to conventional teaching techniques. Students will be equipped to harness the promise of technology while minimizing any possible negative impacts with the help of a thorough curriculum that emphasizes reading, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Related Article: UNESCO Pushes for Global AI Framework Following Calls to Pause Development 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Daniel Clarke Dan joined techUK as a Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade in March 2023. Before techUK, Dan worked for data and consulting company GlobalData as an analyst of tech and geopolitics. He has also worked in public affairs, political polling, and has written freelance for the New Statesman and Investment Monitor. Dan has a degree in MSc International Public Policy from University College London, and a BA Geography degree from the University of Sussex. Outside of work, Dan is a big fan of football, cooking, going to see live music, and reading about international affairs. Using a web browser like Google Chrome is the easiest way of accessing YouTube on a Windows desktop PC or laptop. While using the YouTube website you get access to all the important features like creator studio, picture-in-picture video, and the amazing dark mode. Sadly, the YouTube website is not very well optimized for touch-screen on Windows 10 devices. As a result, many users lookout for ways to download the YouTube app for PC on Windows 11 and 10. In this article, we will tell you how to download the Youtube app on PC Here is how you can download and install YouTube on Your Windows 10 PC. How To Install YouTube On PC? At the time of writing this article, theres no official YouTube app for Windows 10 or Windows 11 on the Microsoft Store or macOS. (YouTube App For Windows 11 Discussed In Later Section). While you can always access youtube on a web browser. The Google Chrome web browser allows users to install the official YouTube website as a standalone app. Once installed, you can tap the YouTube icon to directly launch YouTube on PC. Follow these simple steps to install the YouTube app on your PC using Google Chrome. Firstly open the official YouTube website i.e. youtube.com. Next from the upper right corner press the Install YouTube button. You can consider the aforementioned method as a shortcut to launch the YouTube website without opening Google Chrome first. How To Download YouTube App For PC? The YouTube app available on the Microsoft Store can only be installed on Xbox One and Xbox series X/S. If you do a Google search for YouTube App Download For PC you will be shown the same Microsoft store link and it wont work on your Windows PC. Consequently, theres only one method of installing the official Android APK file of YouTube and i.e. by using an Android emulator. In our tests (conducted by team Techworm), we derived the conclusion that Bluestacks is possibly the most reliable and well-optimized Android emulator that functions similarly to an Android smartphone. So heres how you can download and install YouTube on PC using BlueStacks. Download the Bluestacks emulator and install the .exe file on your computer. emulator and install the file on your computer. Once installed sign in with your Google account on Bluestacks. Next up open Playstore and search YouTube Download YouTube and the application will automatically install on your desktop. Upon launching the YouTube app for the first time you will be either prompted to sign in using your Google account or Bluestacks will automatically complete this step. Using Bluestacks 5 you can even create a shortcut to quickly launch the YouTube application. Apart from downloading the YouTube app from the Google Play store, you can even manually install YouTube APK files on a PC. A similar process can be followed while installing YouTube on a macOS Ventura MACs or MacBook. How To Use YouTube App For PC Without Bluestacks Surely, Bluestacks 5 is a feature-rich Android emulator. That said, it is not the most optimized emulator and it consumes a considerable amount of system resources. Additionally, it offers poor performance coupled with laggy experience on low-powered laptops and aging desktops. So if you want to use YouTube on a Windows or macOS PC without Bluestacks then you can check out these alternatives to bluestacks to run Youtube PC. 1. Nox App Player The first best emulator to run YouTube apk on PC and a perfect alternative to Blustacks is Nox App Player. Similar to blue stacks, you can use the Nox App Player on both a Windows and macOS PC. This emulator offers one-click installation without any bloatware or third-party apps. 2. KO Player KO Player is another reliable emulator for using the YouTube app on PC. Well, this emulator is ideal for playing games and running resource-intensive apps. Even though, YouTube is not a resource-intensive application you will still have a lag-free experience. 3. MEmu Play MEmu Play is an Android 5.1 Lolipop-based Android emulator for Windows PC. The installation is quick and simple with no bloatware or third-party apps. One of the major highlights of MEmu Play is Key-Mapping. How To Download YouTube App On Windows 11 Windows 11 comes with many new great features and one among them is native Android apps support. This means you no longer need an emulator to download and install Android apps on a Windows 11 PC. You can easily download the official YouTube app from the Amazon Android app store on Windows 11 PCs or Laptops. Furthermore, you can even sideload and manually install the YouTube APK on your Windows 11 computer. You can visit the website APKPure to acquire the APK file. Once downloaded simply install the APK on your PC and launch it like a normal Windows program. Is there a YouTube app for Windows PC? While there is no official Youtube app for Windows PC (running on Windows 10 or later), Linux, or MAC there is an unofficial app developed by developers at ytdesktop.com that you can download and install on your Windows PC or laptop. However, we will not suggest our readers to download any unverified app, as it may contain harmful malware and you may end up losing your account after logging into the software. Additionally, there are many websites that allow users to Download YouTube Videos On PC. Once again, stay away from them. Download YouTube For Smartphones, Xbox, Playstation, And Nintendo Switch You can use these links to directly download or update the YouTube application on your devices. Download Youtube For Android Download YouTube For iOS Download YouTube For Xbox Download YouTube For Playstation Download YouTube For Nintendo Switch Download YouTube APK File Also Read- Free Youtube Proxy CONCLUSION President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is heading on Wednesday to St. Petersburg, Russia to attend the second edition of the Russia-Africa Summit, Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy said in a statement. This years edition of the summit will kick off on Thursday with the participation of Egypt and 49 countries represented by nearly 45 heads of state. Egypt's Ambassador to Russia Nazih El-Nagaris said in TV remarks on Tuesday the summit will focus on economic and development objectives, particularly in light of the current global economic crisis. The summit will be divided into two parts: an economic and humanitarian summit on 27 July, followed by a leaders' political summit on 28 July, the ambassador explained. Russia has huge capabilities in the economic and development field, and it tries to provide those capabilities to the African states so they can benefit from them, he said. El-Nagari added that African nations and Russia intend to boost their trade balance at the summit, up from $18 billion annually at present. He emphasized that African countries and Russia share mutual goals for the summit, especially economic ones. These are on top of the political understanding expressed during the first summit, he added. Bilateral relations During his visit, El-Sisi will also meet with Putin to discuss enhancing bilateral relations, according to the statement. Both nations are committed to strengthening cooperation and continuing intensive consultation on issues of mutual interest at the international and regional levels, Fahmy added. In his remarks to MENA, the Russian ambassador in Cairo highlighted the significance of the upcoming talks between the two presidents in St. Petersburg, which provide an excellent opportunity for in-depth discussions on global and regional matters. The Russian ambassador stated that El-Sisi is always an honoured guest of Russia and would receive a warm welcome from his Russian counterpart during his visit. The ambassador expressed his expectation that these high-level talks, which coincide with the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, will propel cooperation between Russia and Egypt. The summit comes on the heels of already increasing trade exchange between the two countries. In 2022, Egypts exports to Russia surged to $595.1 million, up 21.6 percent from 2021, according to data from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). Meanwhile, Egypts imports from Russia increased to $4.1 billion in 2022, up 15.5 percent from 2021. In the first six months of 2023, 750,000 Russian tourists visited Egypt, according to the Egyptian ambassador, who predicted that the number could surpass one million by the end of the year. Most of the charter flights between Russia and Egypt have been restored and currently we have between 25-30,000 tourists who visit Egypt weekly, the ambassador said. First edition The first-ever Russian-African Summit was co-chaired in 2019 by Russian President Vladimir Putin and El-Sisi, who held the rotating presidency of the 55-nation African Union (AU) at the time, Egypts presidential spokesman stated. It was held in Sochi to deepen the longstanding relations between the continent and Russia, Fahmy explained, while also enhancing consultation to address mutual challenges. During the summit, 92 agreements, contracts, and memoranda of understanding worth over $11 billion were signed. Search Keywords: Short link: From a temple of the product to a top Italian, four restaurants to devour Madrid this August Death of a man on the sidelines of the riots in Marseille: two police officers released The head of NASA said that he does not consider Russia a participant in the space race Woman found in Forbach: at the heart of the case, a couple in full "social disarray" Fire in a home for the disabled in Alsace: at least 11 people "would be missing" The Traffic Management Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security deployed the affected areas to quickly restore traffic management window services Deputy Drapeko: the main thing in the life of Vera Vasilyeva was the theater Thomas Gottschalk on Michelle Hunziker: "ZDF by no means put her at my side as a 'supervising night nurse'" 40-year-old is said to have pushed pedestrians into the track bed at S Jimmy Carter: Grandson comments on the state of health of the ex Fireworks festivals and summer festivals are canceled or curtailed one after another, against the backdrop of soaring costs and labor shortages | NHK What is swimmer's ear: mistakes you should not make and how to prevent it Shohei Ohtani contributed to the win with a timely first strike to stop the team with a seven-game losing streak Ahead of the 2023 World Cycling Championships: Here are all SVT's broadcast times during the championship "Causes amazement": journalists at the World Athletics World Cup will be forbidden to demonstrate belonging to their country Inner Mongolia 15th Games Opening Ceremony Side Note: Indescribable shock, comparable to the joy of the New Year Arsenal is the first to benefit. The FA begins to calculate the lost time applied in the World Cup in Qatar and the stars respond Nadeshiko Japan to face Sweden "We want to win and move on to the next match" Summer bonuses for major companies reach the 3,90 yen level for the first time in three years Keidanren The express delivery industry continues to maintain a good trend of recovery The volume of express delivery business has exceeded 10 billion pieces for five consecutive months Italy qualifies its new tax on banks after the stock market debacle and entities take air in the markets BioNtech: the anti-covid vaccine is no longer a recipe and plunges the laboratory into the red Dax with price gains despite deflation in China, shares of Delivery Hero and Brenntag with price rally The 25th China International Software Expo will be held in Tianjin Five highlights worth paying attention to Economy in China: Now it's getting really dangerous for the economy of the People's Republic China's economy falls into deflation for the first time in more than two years In the first half of the year, the import volume of dried fresh melons, fruits and nuts at Shanghai Port accounted for a quarter of the country's - Chinanews.com video Reservations not honored: how restaurateurs redouble their ingenuity in the face of "no-shows" Economic Watch: China's property market has undergone major changes, how will the industry develop in the future? Azcon launches his investiture in Aragon with a strong tax reduction and promises "harmony" with Vox despite their "differences" In an interview with Al Jazeera Net. The vice president of the Tunisian "Ennahda" talks about its upcoming conference and the repercussions of the arrest of its leadership Shoigu said that about 360,<> Western troops are stationed near the borders of the Union State The cry of the sister of Edwin Arrieta, victim of Daniel Sancho: "I want this nightmare to stop" France: fire in a shelter for people with disabilities, victims, the Prime Minister on the spot A woman invites her family to eat and three people die from eating poisonous mushrooms in Australia China: If Japan is sincere in addressing the concerns of its neighbors, it should immediately stop pushing its plan to remove the sea A vegan influencer who had been eating only fruits and natural juices for years dies The Thai police reached Daniel Sancho following the trail of the label of the bags where he put the mutilated remains of his victim Rodolfo Sancho's son speaks for the first time after his arrest for murder: "I am guilty, but I was his hostage" The butcher Daniel Sancho and his victim "were going to set up a business" and saw each other in Spain Bild: The Armed Forces of Ukraine are forced to drive their Su-24s to different airfields every day Daniel Sancho admits his sexual link with Edwin Arrieta: what is known about the relationship between the chef and the Colombian doctor Emergency services about the storm Hans: Work at home if you have the opportunity How to travel with a baby in the summer to avoid accidental injuries Nagasaki 78 Years After the Atomic Bombing "Passing on the Blue Earth to the Next Generation" Attu and Tarawa Soldiers' Letters from the Island of "Tama Shattering" to the Family | NHK Continuing to write the names of the victims...Thoughts for peace connected by "calligraphy" | NHK Communities 2019 - Privacy The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. From a temple of the product to a top Italian, four restaurants to devour Madrid this August Death of a man on the sidelines of the riots in Marseille: two police officers released The head of NASA said that he does not consider Russia a participant in the space race Woman found in Forbach: at the heart of the case, a couple in full "social disarray" Fire in a home for the disabled in Alsace: at least 11 people "would be missing" The Traffic Management Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security deployed the affected areas to quickly restore traffic management window services Deputy Drapeko: the main thing in the life of Vera Vasilyeva was the theater Thomas Gottschalk on Michelle Hunziker: "ZDF by no means put her at my side as a 'supervising night nurse'" 40-year-old is said to have pushed pedestrians into the track bed at S Jimmy Carter: Grandson comments on the state of health of the ex Fireworks festivals and summer festivals are canceled or curtailed one after another, against the backdrop of soaring costs and labor shortages | NHK What is swimmer's ear: mistakes you should not make and how to prevent it Shohei Ohtani contributed to the win with a timely first strike to stop the team with a seven-game losing streak Ahead of the 2023 World Cycling Championships: Here are all SVT's broadcast times during the championship "Causes amazement": journalists at the World Athletics World Cup will be forbidden to demonstrate belonging to their country Inner Mongolia 15th Games Opening Ceremony Side Note: Indescribable shock, comparable to the joy of the New Year Arsenal is the first to benefit. The FA begins to calculate the lost time applied in the World Cup in Qatar and the stars respond Nadeshiko Japan to face Sweden "We want to win and move on to the next match" Summer bonuses for major companies reach the 3,90 yen level for the first time in three years Keidanren The express delivery industry continues to maintain a good trend of recovery The volume of express delivery business has exceeded 10 billion pieces for five consecutive months Italy qualifies its new tax on banks after the stock market debacle and entities take air in the markets BioNtech: the anti-covid vaccine is no longer a recipe and plunges the laboratory into the red Dax with price gains despite deflation in China, shares of Delivery Hero and Brenntag with price rally The 25th China International Software Expo will be held in Tianjin Five highlights worth paying attention to Economy in China: Now it's getting really dangerous for the economy of the People's Republic China's economy falls into deflation for the first time in more than two years In the first half of the year, the import volume of dried fresh melons, fruits and nuts at Shanghai Port accounted for a quarter of the country's - Chinanews.com video Reservations not honored: how restaurateurs redouble their ingenuity in the face of "no-shows" Economic Watch: China's property market has undergone major changes, how will the industry develop in the future? In an interview with Al Jazeera Net. The vice president of the Tunisian "Ennahda" talks about its upcoming conference and the repercussions of the arrest of its leadership Shoigu said that about 360,<> Western troops are stationed near the borders of the Union State The cry of the sister of Edwin Arrieta, victim of Daniel Sancho: "I want this nightmare to stop" France: fire in a shelter for people with disabilities, victims, the Prime Minister on the spot A woman invites her family to eat and three people die from eating poisonous mushrooms in Australia China: If Japan is sincere in addressing the concerns of its neighbors, it should immediately stop pushing its plan to remove the sea A vegan influencer who had been eating only fruits and natural juices for years dies The Thai police reached Daniel Sancho following the trail of the label of the bags where he put the mutilated remains of his victim Rodolfo Sancho's son speaks for the first time after his arrest for murder: "I am guilty, but I was his hostage" The butcher Daniel Sancho and his victim "were going to set up a business" and saw each other in Spain Bild: The Armed Forces of Ukraine are forced to drive their Su-24s to different airfields every day Daniel Sancho admits his sexual link with Edwin Arrieta: what is known about the relationship between the chef and the Colombian doctor Emergency services about the storm Hans: Work at home if you have the opportunity How to travel with a baby in the summer to avoid accidental injuries Nagasaki 78 Years After the Atomic Bombing "Passing on the Blue Earth to the Next Generation" Continuing to write the names of the victims...Thoughts for peace connected by "calligraphy" | NHK Communities 2019 - Privacy The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. From a temple of the product to a top Italian, four restaurants to devour Madrid this August Death of a man on the sidelines of the riots in Marseille: two police officers released The head of NASA said that he does not consider Russia a participant in the space race Woman found in Forbach: at the heart of the case, a couple in full "social disarray" Fire in a home for the disabled in Alsace: at least 11 people "would be missing" The Traffic Management Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security deployed the affected areas to quickly restore traffic management window services Deputy Drapeko: the main thing in the life of Vera Vasilyeva was the theater Thomas Gottschalk on Michelle Hunziker: "ZDF by no means put her at my side as a 'supervising night nurse'" 40-year-old is said to have pushed pedestrians into the track bed at S Jimmy Carter: Grandson comments on the state of health of the ex Fireworks festivals and summer festivals are canceled or curtailed one after another, against the backdrop of soaring costs and labor shortages | NHK What is swimmer's ear: mistakes you should not make and how to prevent it Shohei Ohtani contributed to the win with a timely first strike to stop the team with a seven-game losing streak Ahead of the 2023 World Cycling Championships: Here are all SVT's broadcast times during the championship "Causes amazement": journalists at the World Athletics World Cup will be forbidden to demonstrate belonging to their country Inner Mongolia 15th Games Opening Ceremony Side Note: Indescribable shock, comparable to the joy of the New Year Arsenal is the first to benefit. The FA begins to calculate the lost time applied in the World Cup in Qatar and the stars respond Nadeshiko Japan to face Sweden "We want to win and move on to the next match" Summer bonuses for major companies reach the 3,90 yen level for the first time in three years Keidanren The express delivery industry continues to maintain a good trend of recovery The volume of express delivery business has exceeded 10 billion pieces for five consecutive months Italy qualifies its new tax on banks after the stock market debacle and entities take air in the markets BioNtech: the anti-covid vaccine is no longer a recipe and plunges the laboratory into the red Dax with price gains despite deflation in China, shares of Delivery Hero and Brenntag with price rally The 25th China International Software Expo will be held in Tianjin Five highlights worth paying attention to Economy in China: Now it's getting really dangerous for the economy of the People's Republic China's economy falls into deflation for the first time in more than two years In the first half of the year, the import volume of dried fresh melons, fruits and nuts at Shanghai Port accounted for a quarter of the country's - Chinanews.com video Reservations not honored: how restaurateurs redouble their ingenuity in the face of "no-shows" Economic Watch: China's property market has undergone major changes, how will the industry develop in the future? In an interview with Al Jazeera Net. The vice president of the Tunisian "Ennahda" talks about its upcoming conference and the repercussions of the arrest of its leadership Shoigu said that about 360,<> Western troops are stationed near the borders of the Union State The cry of the sister of Edwin Arrieta, victim of Daniel Sancho: "I want this nightmare to stop" France: fire in a shelter for people with disabilities, victims, the Prime Minister on the spot A woman invites her family to eat and three people die from eating poisonous mushrooms in Australia China: If Japan is sincere in addressing the concerns of its neighbors, it should immediately stop pushing its plan to remove the sea Prime Minister Kishida: "Arrangements to have an opportunity to meet with A-bomb survivors in August" A vegan influencer who had been eating only fruits and natural juices for years dies The Thai police reached Daniel Sancho following the trail of the label of the bags where he put the mutilated remains of his victim Rodolfo Sancho's son speaks for the first time after his arrest for murder: "I am guilty, but I was his hostage" The butcher Daniel Sancho and his victim "were going to set up a business" and saw each other in Spain Bild: The Armed Forces of Ukraine are forced to drive their Su-24s to different airfields every day Daniel Sancho admits his sexual link with Edwin Arrieta: what is known about the relationship between the chef and the Colombian doctor Emergency services about the storm Hans: Work at home if you have the opportunity How to travel with a baby in the summer to avoid accidental injuries Nagasaki 78 Years After the Atomic Bombing "Passing on the Blue Earth to the Next Generation" Continuing to write the names of the victims...Thoughts for peace connected by "calligraphy" | NHK Communities 2019 - Privacy The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. From a temple of the product to a top Italian, four restaurants to devour Madrid this August Death of a man on the sidelines of the riots in Marseille: two police officers released The head of NASA said that he does not consider Russia a participant in the space race Woman found in Forbach: at the heart of the case, a couple in full "social disarray" Fire in a home for the disabled in Alsace: at least 11 people "would be missing" The Traffic Management Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security deployed the affected areas to quickly restore traffic management window services Deputy Drapeko: the main thing in the life of Vera Vasilyeva was the theater Thomas Gottschalk on Michelle Hunziker: "ZDF by no means put her at my side as a 'supervising night nurse'" 40-year-old is said to have pushed pedestrians into the track bed at S Jimmy Carter: Grandson comments on the state of health of the ex Fireworks festivals and summer festivals are canceled or curtailed one after another, against the backdrop of soaring costs and labor shortages | NHK What is swimmer's ear: mistakes you should not make and how to prevent it Shohei Ohtani contributed to the win with a timely first strike to stop the team with a seven-game losing streak Ahead of the 2023 World Cycling Championships: Here are all SVT's broadcast times during the championship "Causes amazement": journalists at the World Athletics World Cup will be forbidden to demonstrate belonging to their country Inner Mongolia 15th Games Opening Ceremony Side Note: Indescribable shock, comparable to the joy of the New Year Arsenal is the first to benefit. The FA begins to calculate the lost time applied in the World Cup in Qatar and the stars respond Nadeshiko Japan to face Sweden "We want to win and move on to the next match" Summer bonuses for major companies reach the 3,90 yen level for the first time in three years Keidanren The express delivery industry continues to maintain a good trend of recovery The volume of express delivery business has exceeded 10 billion pieces for five consecutive months Italy qualifies its new tax on banks after the stock market debacle and entities take air in the markets BioNtech: the anti-covid vaccine is no longer a recipe and plunges the laboratory into the red Dax with price gains despite deflation in China, shares of Delivery Hero and Brenntag with price rally The 25th China International Software Expo will be held in Tianjin Five highlights worth paying attention to Economy in China: Now it's getting really dangerous for the economy of the People's Republic China's economy falls into deflation for the first time in more than two years In the first half of the year, the import volume of dried fresh melons, fruits and nuts at Shanghai Port accounted for a quarter of the country's - Chinanews.com video Reservations not honored: how restaurateurs redouble their ingenuity in the face of "no-shows" Economic Watch: China's property market has undergone major changes, how will the industry develop in the future? Shoigu said that about 360,<> Western troops are stationed near the borders of the Union State The cry of the sister of Edwin Arrieta, victim of Daniel Sancho: "I want this nightmare to stop" France: fire in a shelter for people with disabilities, victims, the Prime Minister on the spot A woman invites her family to eat and three people die from eating poisonous mushrooms in Australia China: If Japan is sincere in addressing the concerns of its neighbors, it should immediately stop pushing its plan to remove the sea Prime Minister Kishida: "Arrangements to have an opportunity to meet with A-bomb survivors in August" The question of the legality of a possible intervention in Niger is being actively discussed in the EU and ECOWAS A vegan influencer who had been eating only fruits and natural juices for years dies The Thai police reached Daniel Sancho following the trail of the label of the bags where he put the mutilated remains of his victim Rodolfo Sancho's son speaks for the first time after his arrest for murder: "I am guilty, but I was his hostage" The butcher Daniel Sancho and his victim "were going to set up a business" and saw each other in Spain Bild: The Armed Forces of Ukraine are forced to drive their Su-24s to different airfields every day Daniel Sancho admits his sexual link with Edwin Arrieta: what is known about the relationship between the chef and the Colombian doctor Emergency services about the storm Hans: Work at home if you have the opportunity How to travel with a baby in the summer to avoid accidental injuries Nagasaki 78 Years After the Atomic Bombing "Passing on the Blue Earth to the Next Generation" Continuing to write the names of the victims...Thoughts for peace connected by "calligraphy" | NHK Communities 2019 - Privacy The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. Egypt accounts for one-third of Russias trade exchange with the African continent, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi during a meeting on Wednesday in St. Petersburg ahead of the second edition Russia-Africa Summit. Putin stressed to El-Sisi that Russia is keen to increase cooperation with Egypt, especially in the promising field of energy, praising the great progress achieved over the past years in the relations between the two countries." On his side, President El-Sisi thanked Putin for his warm welcome, stressing Egypts keenness to cooperate with Russia on both the continental level as well as on the level of bilateral relations. I am certain that the Russia-Africa Summit will have great results, El-Sisi noted to Putin. The Egyptian president also expressed thanks to Putin for establishing the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant as well as the Russian Industrial Zone in Egypt. He also congratulated his Russian counterpart on the 80th anniversary of Egyptian-Russian relations. Back to Russia President El-Sisi arrived earlier Wednesday in St. Petersburg to attend the second edition of the Russia-Africa Summit, which will kick off on Thursday with the participation of 49 countries represented by 45 heads of state. The Egyptian president co-chaired the first edition of the Russia-Africa Summit with Putin in 2019. During that edition, participating countries signed 92 agreements, contracts, and memoranda of understanding worth over $11 billion. Strong ties In 2022, Egypts exports to Russia surged to $595.1 million, up 21.6 percent from 2021, according to data from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). Meanwhile, Egypts imports from Russia increased to $4.1 billion in 2022, up 15.5 percent from 2021. In the first six months of 2023, 750,000 Russian tourists visited Egypt, with estimates that the figures could surpass one million by the end of the year. According to recent statements by Egypt's ambassador to Russia Nazih El-Nagari, most of the charter flights between Russia and Egypt have been restored and 25-30,000 Russian tourists visit Egypt weekly, Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's General Authority for Healthcare (GAH) is planning to launch the first national electronic platform for medical tourists, according to GAH Chairman Ahmed El-Sobky. El-Sobky's remarks came during a statement at the second preparatory conference for the Egypt Health Tourism (EHT) International Conference on Wednesday, which was attended by top officials and investors from healthcare organizations across the country. The medical tourism market is estimated at over $115 billion annually, with an annual growth rate of more than 12.5 percent, and is expected to reach over $346 billion annually by 2030, El-Sobky said. Slated to be held in November in Sharm El-Sheikh, South Sinai, the EHT conference represents an important opportunity to sign strategic partnerships with major international medical insurance companies and medical travel agencies, El-Sobky explained. He added that the conference is a golden opportunity to promote Egypt's nationally and internationally-accredited hospitals. "We have 127 registered and accredited healthcare facilities so far," added El-Sobky, highlighting Sharm El-Sheikh International Hospital as the first Egyptian government hospital to obtain international accreditation from Joint Commission International (JCI). Egypt as a medical tourism hub The chairman also emphasized that with significant political support for the industry, Egypt has all the elements to become the hub for medical tourism in Africa and the Middle East, increasing the country's resources and maximizing economic growth. He called the conference an ideal platform for alliances between public and private hospitals, the armed forces, and other sectors. El-Sobky also stressed the pivotal role of medical insurance companies in developing medical tourism to Egypt's high-quality healthcare facilities. Last year, Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar stated that Egypt ranked fourth regionally and 26th worldwide in the Medical Tourism Index. Egypt has highly-qualified doctors, excellent hospitals, and ancient tourist attractions in addition to moderate weather, Abdel-Ghaffar said. He added that Egypt only lacks unified treatment costs for medical tourists. Egypt only ranked behind Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Oman in the Middle East in the indexs 2020-2021 edition. Globally, the top five countries for medical tourism were Canada, Singapore, Japan, Spain and the UK. Search Keywords: Short link: WASHINGTON Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday to trying to overturn the results of his 2020 presidential election loss, answering for the first time to federal charges that accuse him of orchestrating a brazen and ultimately failed attempt to block the peaceful transfer of presidential power. FBI Director Christopher Wray speaks before a meeting with state, and local law enforcement leaders to discuss efforts to fight against violent crime at the New Orleans FBI Division office in New Orleans, La. Thursday, May 5, 2022. (Photo by Max Becherer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate) West Africa recorded over 1,800 terrorist attacks in the first six months of the year resulting in nearly 4,600 deaths with dire humanitarian consequences, and a top regional official said Tuesday thats just a snippet of the horrendous impact of insecurity. Omar Touray told the U.N. Security Council that half a million people in the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States known as ECOWAS are refugees and nearly 6.2 million are internally displaced. If there isnt an adequate international response to the 30 million people ECOWAS assesses need food right now, he said, the number of people in need will increase to 42 million by the end of next month. Touray, who is president of the ECOWAS Commission, singled out the following drivers of insecurity in the region: terrorism, armed rebellion, organized crime, unconstitutional changes of government, illegal maritime activities, environmental crises and fake news. He said the region is worried about the resurgence of the military, with three countries Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea under military rule. The reversal of democratic gains runs parallel to insecurity that West Africa and the Sahel have been facing for some time now, he said, and insecurity continues to inflict pain and suffering on millions of people. For example, Touray said, the 4,593 deaths in terrorist attacks between January and June 30 include 2,725 in Burkina Faso, 844 in Mali, 77 in Niger and 70 in Nigeria. He added that terrorist attacks in Benin and Togo which have coastlines on the Atlantic Ocean are a stark indication of the expansion of terrorism to littoral states, a situation that poses additional threat to the region. Touray said there have been a multiplicity of initiatives to tackle terrorism and insecurity which have had an impact on the ground, but there is a lack of coordination and ECOWAS wants to integrate the various initiatives into a regional plan of action. ECOWAS military chiefs of staff have held consultations to strengthen a regional standby force in a manner that will enable it to support member states in the fight against terrorism and against threats to constitutional order, he said. Touray said the military chiefs proposed two options, establishing a 5,000-strong brigade at an annual cost of $2.3 billion or deployment of troops on demand at an annual cost of $360 million. He reiterated the African Unions request for African peace operations to receive funding from the U.N. regular budget, to which all 193 U.N. member states contribute. Touray said the military staff recommendations were made before Malis military junta demanded that the more than 15,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force in the country leave, which was followed by the Security Council's unanimous vote on June 30 to immediately end the mission. Mali has brought in mercenaries from Russias Wagner Group to help fight an Islamic insurgency. Touray told the council that ECOWAS leaders have reflected on the possible adverse impact of the withdrawal on the region and have decided to convene an extraordinary session on peace and security by the end of August. Ahead of that meeting, he said, Benins president will visit Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea and press for an expeditious return to constitutional order. The Security Council was also briefed by the new head of the U.N. office for West Africa, Leonardo Santos Simao, who said the security situation in the central Sahel, especially the border region of Burkina Faso. Mali and Niger, has deteriorated further, with multiple attacks against civilians and defense and security forces. He also said the southward expansion of insecurity remains a potent threat. Simao appealed for robust and decisive support for the ECOWAS action plan to eradicate terrorism in the region and for the African Union and efforts by countries to stem insecurity in the Sahel. U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood told the council the United States remains gravely concerned by democratic backsliding across the region and is deeply concerned by the spread of instability in coastal West Africa. He accused the Wagner Group of committing human rights abuses and endangering the safety and security of civilians, peacekeepers and U.N. personnel. Russias deputy ambassador Anna Evstigneeva called the security situation in West Africa and the Sahel difficult, pointing to increased activity by fighters from the Islamic State extremist group, subversive activities by Boko Haram, and the spread of terrorist activity to coastal West African countries. Search Keywords: Short link: Today, my wife, the beautiful Bernadette, and I celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, says Peter Rosier of Narrawallee. Looking forward as we were, we recently started looking for a restaurant in the CBD where we could celebrate dinner with family. After some searching, we found one, a lovely little Italian venue in Young Street, Circular Quay. This is perfect, we thought, just what we wanted. Then something clicked: where we chose to dine Grana had been a Marist chapel, indeed, the very one where we took our vows! Now we know why its called Circular Quay. While searching through a shoebox of keepsakes yesterday, I found an old letter from a penfriend in France from 1972, writes N. Andrew McPherson of Kalaru. On showing it to the family, I had to explain to our 34-year-old just what a penfriend was, but he didnt see the point. In 1972, I felt quite sophisticated having a French penfriend. This begs the question: how many Column 8-ers still have penfriends? As we are amusing ourselves with exam howlers (C8), heres one from a General Studies paper in the 70s, offers Katrina Watts of Murwillumbah. When asked to compare the popularity of Bing Crosby to that of the Sex Pistols, one student informed us that, The Sex Pistols are up in the charts, but 20 years ago Bing Crosby was up himself. I remember the mirth at HSC marking one year caused by a student who opined that Ramesses must have been a lazy pharaoh because rather than build his own monuments he simply carved his name into other peoples erections, recalls Kerry Giuffre of Daceyville. After a slow start, the Kiama (C8) chat is getting saucy. Megan Carey of Dalmeny, and Nola Tucker and Margaret Dowel both of Kiama, are patrons of the Amaki Cafe which some say is on the site of the original sauce factory. Bruce Satchwell of Carrara took to Trove, the source of all knowledge, to find Ama Ki described as: A fruit sauce, with the recipe said to come from a sea captain and was extremely popular. A 13-year-old who took part in a frenzied pack attack that left his teen victim with more than 100 injuries was too young and immature to be found guilty of murder, his lawyer has argued. The boy, who cannot be named due to his age, is facing trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria over the death of 16-year-old Declan Cutler, who was set upon by a car-load of eight strangers as he left a house party at Reservoir on March 13, 2022. Declan Cutler, 16, was killed after leaving a house party in March 2022. The court heard tensions between two groups, the 9ers and H-town, boiled over on the night and Cutler was chased through the streets and set upon after he attended the party with friends. He was not part of either group and did not know his attackers, who were aged 13 to 17 at the time. Prosecutor Kristie Churchill said the 13-year-old accused travelled to the scene from Melbournes western suburbs as part of a group intent on a confrontation. Jakarta: Indonesian police are investigating the illegal trade of human organs involving police and immigration officers who were accused of helping traffickers send 122 Indonesians to a hospital in Cambodia to sell their kidneys. Indonesian authorities arrested 12 people, including a police officer and an immigration officer, on July 19, said Jakarta police director for general crimes Hengki Haryadi. Police will continue to crack down on human smuggling syndicates conducting the illegal trade of human organs, he said. Indonesian police officers escort suspects and display the items of evidence during a press conference at Jakarta police headquarters. Credit: AP Haryadi said all 122 victims, including factory workers, teachers and executives, had returned to Indonesia, and that police were still searching for a number of other victims whose testimony would be required by investigators. Most of the victims lost their jobs during the pandemic and they agreed to sell their organs because they needed money, he said, adding that six of the victims were still under the observation of doctors. London: Federal Transport Minister Catherine King says the detention and forced examinations of Australian women at Doha airport during the pandemic was not behind the decision to deny Qatar Airways request to double its Australian flights. The tourism industry said Qatar doubling its capacity would lower the price of international airfares, which have remained high since Australia reopened its borders after the COVID-19 pandemic. Transport Minister Catherine King says its incumbent on Qantas to understand its role in the Australian market. Credit: Akex Ellinghausen But the government refused Qatar Airways bid to add 21 flights to its services from Doha into Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane last year. A group of women suing the airline over being subjected to invasive searches at Doha Airport objected to the airlines bid. Five of the women wrote to the minister asking her to consider their plight as she decided on Qatars request. Washington: Joe Bidens son has unexpectedly pleaded not guilty to tax evasion after a deal he entered last month to avoid jail time unravelled, adding pressure on the president as Republicans weigh up an impeachment inquiry over the Biden familys business dealings. In what was meant to be a swift hearing, Hunter Biden arrived at federal court on Wednesday morning (local time) expecting to plead guilty to two misdemeanours for failing to pay his 2017 and 2018 taxes on time, in exchange for probation rather than a criminal sentence. President Joe Biden and his son Hunter leave a church service last year. Credit: AP Under the same Justice Department plea deal, he was also going to admit to purchasing a handgun in 2018 during a period when he was using crack cocaine, but the matter would be treated as a diversion case. This would have allowed him to avoid prosecution provided he remains drug-free for 24 months and agrees never to own a firearm again. But in a dramatic twist, the agreement fell over at the eleventh hour after the judge raised concerns about its scope and whether it included ongoing investigations, such as potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Access to the residence and offices of Niger President Mohamed Bazoum was blocked off Wednesday by members of the elite Presidential Guard, a source close to Bazoum said, although the reason was unclear. The landlocked West African state is one of the most unstable nations in the world, experiencing four coups since independence from France in 1960 as well as numerous other attempts on power. Access was sealed off both to Bazoum's official home and offices in the presidential complex in Niamey, although there was no abnormal military deployment or sounds of gunfire in the area, and traffic was normal, an AFP journalist saw. Bazoum, who was democratically elected in 2021, is a close ally of France. The country's last coup occurred in February 2010, overthrowing then president Mamadou Tandja. However, there was an attempted putsch on March 31, 2021, just two days before Bazoum's inauguration, according to a security source at the time. Several people were arrested, including the suspected ringleader, an air force captain named Sani Gourouza. He was arrested in neighbouring Benin and handed over to the Niger authorities. Ousmane Cisse, a former interior minister under a military government of transition that ran from 2010-2011, was later detained for his suspected role in the attempted coup. A second bid to oust Bazoum occurred in March this year "while the president... was in Turkey," according to a Niger official, who said an arrest was made. The authorities have never commented publicly on the incident. In January 2018, nine soldiers and a civilian were sentenced by a military court to jail terms ranging from five to 15 years for having attempted to topple Bazoum's predecessor, Mahamadou Issoufou, in 2015. Those convicted included General Souleymane Salou, a former army chief of staff and a member of the junta that had forced out Tandja in 2010. Lying in the heart of the Sahel, Niger is two-thirds desert and persistently ranks at the bottom, or near it, in the UN's Human Development Index, a benchmark of prosperity. It has a surging population of 22.4 million, driven by a birthrate averaging seven children per woman. The country is struggling with two jihadist campaigns -- one in the southwest, which swept in from neighbouring Mali in 2015, and the other in the southeast, involving jihadists based in northeastern Nigeria. Search Keywords: Short link: Thousands of Israeli doctors walked out of work, labor leaders threatened a general strike and senior justices rushed home from a trip abroad Tuesday, a day after the government approved a law weakening the country's Supreme Court that critics say will erode the system of checks and balances. Four leading Israeli newspapers covered their front pages in black ink, an ominous image paid for by an alliance of high-tech companies. The only words on the pages were in a line at the bottom: A black day for Israeli democracy. Monday's vote, on the first of a series of measures that make up Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus divisive judicial overhaul, reverberated across the country. It came despite seven months of fierce popular resistance, Netanyahus promises of an eventual compromise and a rare warning against the overhaul from Israels closest ally, the United States. The bill was unanimously passed by the governing coalition, which includes ultra-nationalist and ultra-religious parties, after the opposition stormed out of the hall shouting Shame! But opponents say they are not done fighting: Civil rights groups submitted petitions to the Supreme Court, calling for the new law to be overturned, and protests roiled the country's streets anew. These protests are not going anywhere, especially because the government has clearly stated that this is just phase one, said Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank. This is the most widespread and significant democratic awakening in the history of the country. Clearly, it won't end. Hundreds of thousands of people fanned out in Tel Aviv overnight, burning tires, setting off fireworks and waving national flags. In Jerusalem, mounted police and water cannons spraying foul-smelling liquid cleared protesters from a main highway. At least 40 people were arrested by police in protests around the country. Videos showed police officers dragging protesters by the hair and neck, beating people until they bled and violently pushing them back with batons. At least 10 officers were assaulted and injured, police said. Israel is now hurtling into uncharted territory against the specter of further social and political unrest. Thousands of officers in the military reserves have announced theyll no longer turn up for voluntary service, a blow that could undermine the countrys operational readiness. High-tech business leaders are considering relocation. The overhaul also threatens to strain ties with the Biden administration, jeopardize the countrys new alliances with Arab states and deepen Israels conflict with the Palestinians, analysts say. I think this country is going to either split into two countries or be finished altogether, said Yossi Nissimov, a protester in a tent city set up by demonstrators outside of the Knesset, or parliament, in Jerusalem. The vote on the law came just hours after Netanyahu was released from the hospital, where he had a pacemaker implanted, adding another dizzying twist to an already dramatic series of events. The Israeli Medical Association, which represents nearly all of the country's doctors, announced they would strike en masse Tuesday across the country, with only emergencies and critical care in operation. The vast majority of physicians know they will not be able to fulfill their oath to patients under a regime that does not accept the role of reason, said Hagai Levine, chairman of the Israeli Association of Public Health. He was referring to the law passed Monday that prevents the Supreme Court from using the standard of reasonableness to strike down government decisions. This overhaul will damage the public health and the health care system in Israel, Levine said, adding that already over 1,000 physician members have asked to be transferred abroad since the law passed. Israels largest labor union, the Histadrut, which represents some 800,000 workers, said Tuesday that it would convene in the coming days to plan a nationwide general strike. The chief justice of the Supreme Court, Esther Hayut, along with five other senior justices, cut short a trip to Germany in order to deal with the crisis, the court's spokesperson said. The justices were expected to land Tuesday night, a day earlier than expected, to discuss petitions against the overhaul. But any move by the court to strike down Netanyahus new law could lead to a constitutional crisis and put the justices on an unprecedented collision course with the Israeli government. Supporters of the judicial overhaul say that the powers of unelected judges should be curbed to boost the powers of elected officials. Opponents say that it will undermine Israeli democracy and erode the countrys only check on majority rule in a system where the prime minister governs through a coalition in parliament, in effect giving him control over the executive and legislative branches of government. As a result, the Supreme Court plays a critical oversight role. On Tuesday, for instance, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara appealed to the top court to scrap a law passed earlier this year that strips her of the power to remove the prime minister from office. Netanyahu responded to the court, saying it shouldn't intervene in the matter. Protesters also fear that the overhaul is fueled by the personal grievances of Netanyahu, who is currently on trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. While protesters represent a wide cross section of society, they come largely from the countrys secular middle class. Netanyahus supporters tend to be poorer, more religious and live in West Bank settlements or outlying rural areas. The judicial overhaul has laid bare Israels social and religious divisions, said Israeli historian Tom Segev. This is the beginning of a whole plan to change the basic values of society, he said. Search Keywords: Short link: Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian man on Wednesday during confrontations near Nablus in the West Bank, according to Palestinian News Agency (WAFA). Mohammad Abdul Hakim Nada, 23, was shot in the chest during the confrontations that broke out after Israeli troops entered the refugee camp of Al-Ain in Nablus and surrounded a house, WAFA said. Hakim was taken to the hospital, where his condition was reported to be critical, and later pronounced dead. Meanwhile, the Israeli army conducted a wide-scale detention campaign, arresting 39 Palestinians across the West Bank, WAFA also reported. The army detained nine people, including a 16-year-old, in Bethlehem, and seven in Tubas. They also detained eight people from Jenin, three from Al-Bireh, and eight from Jerusalem, including two minors aged 16 and 17. Also on Wednesday, 390 Israeli settlers broke into the compound of the Al-Aqsa Mosque under heavy police protection, according to local sources. The settlers entered the compound through the Al-Maghariba gate and performed religious rituals, which are seen as provocations by Palestinians. Search Keywords: Short link: Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh met together with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at his office in Ankara, the official Anadolu news agency reported, a few days before a scheduled meeting between Palestinian factions in Cairo. The meeting was held behind closed doors, Anadolu said. Hamas revealed in a statement the details of its leaders meeting with the Palestinian president in Ankara, saying that both sides discussed the preparations for the Cairo meeting. Hussam Badran, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said that the Ankara meeting "witnessed a frank and in-depth discussion. "The attendees agreed on the need to unite national efforts to confront the dangers looming over the Palestinian cause, especially the extremist Israeli government's project to swallow the Palestinian lands, expand settlements, and control the capabilities of our people," according to Badran. "We emphasized that the outputs of the secretaries-generals' meeting must be commensurate with the aspirations and hopes of our people. Therefore, good preparation is required for the Cairo meeting, along with the need to create field conditions for its success," he added. The meeting in Ankara was the first between the Palestinian president and Hamas leadership since July 2022, when Abbas met Haniyeh in Algiers. On Monday, Hamas held talks with different Palestinian factions, according to the Palestinian news agency Al-Quds. The factions discussed mechanisms to achieve unified results at the upcoming Cairo meeting to support the Palestinian cause and resist Israeli occupation, Al-Quds reported. The meeting, called by Palestinian President Abbas, is set to be held on 30 July between Palestinian factions secretaries-general to address the recent Israeli attack in Jenin. For years, Egypt has been hosting meetings of the Palestinian factions in an attempt to end the internal division that has been ongoing since 2007, but a series of agreements and understandings have not found their way to implementation. Search Keywords: Short link: Batavia, NY (14020) Today Sunny to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 79F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. UAE-based facilities management group Farnek said one of its key subsidiaries, Hitek, has secured a major contract from Swiss five-star luxury 7132 Hotel to provide its ground-breaking hospitality solution and property management system (PMS). An innovative digital solutions company Hitek will be deploying its Flexiguest PMS, with a state-of-the-art mobility app, which was developed in-house by the group's top architects, will not only digitalise the hotels guest journey from the initial reservation through to check out, but it can also interface with the hotels property management system. This hospitality platform offers guests a whole suite of services, from uploading travel documents to ordering limousines, housekeeping, room, and concierge services. It can also send automated electronic updates and alerts to guests, as well as e-registration documents, e-invoices and e-receipts, all in one convenient space, it stated. "Being a luxury Swiss hotel, we are not only focused on offering our guests an outstanding experience, but we are also focused on sustainability," remarked Remo Stoffel, the owner of 7132 Hotel, Vals. The 7132 (which was inspired by the towns postcode) is close to the Alpine hamlet of Vals, in the Canton of Grisons and comprises three properties, the 7132 Hotel, the House of Architects by 7132 and 7132 Glenner. The property includes three spa suites and twelve spa deluxe rooms with en-suite steam rooms and deluxe double and single rooms. Each room comes with unobstructed and stunning views of the Swiss Alps. The top floor is taken up by three penthouse suites measuring 90 sq m each, designed by the celebrated Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. "One notable aspect of Flexiguest is a unique feature that can estimate the carbon emissions generated by any guest during their stay and provide them with a cost, should they wish to offset their carbon footprint," he stated. According to him, the hotel also offers two in-house restaurants, the 7132 Blue Bar, two boardrooms and two meeting rooms for incentives and events. The associated and celebrated 7132 Thermal Baths are accessible directly from the hotels spa area. The House of Architects by 7132 offers guest rooms designed by internationally renowned architects such as Peter Zumthor, Tadao Ando and Thom Mayne. The 7132 Glenner, located just one kilometre from the Vals Ski Lift, features a ski school, a restaurant and bar, a hot spring bath, and a spa centre, it stated. Javeria Aijaz, the Managing Director of Hitek, said: "The benefits of Flexiguest to the 7132 Hotel are clear. It will help improve guest satisfaction by providing a seamless pre-arrival and check-in procedure, which will appeal to their high-profile guests. "In addition, during their stay, they can make any housekeeping, concierge, F&B or spa requests via the app, and because Flexiguest manages secure online payments, guests can settle bills without needing to visit reception to check out, enhancing their comfort, convenience and privacy," remarked Aijaz. "The 7132 Hotel is also looking at other sustainability solutions in Hiteks portfolio, such as PowerTek, a comprehensive and data-driven energy performance monitoring tool that can support hotels with efficient measuring, tracking, monitoring and benchmarking of energy and water consumption and waste management," he added.-TradeArabia News Service North Korea rolled out the red carpet for the Russian defence minister, state media said Wednesday, with delegations from Moscow and Beijing set to attend Korean War anniversary events, the country's first known foreign visitors since its pandemic border closure. Pyongyang on Thursday will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the signing of the July 27, 1953 Korean War armistice, which ended open hostilities and is marked as Victory Day in the North. The Russian national anthem blared throughout Pyongyang International Airport, which was "wrapped up in a warm welcome atmosphere" to greet Moscow's Sergei Shoigu and his delegation Tuesday evening, the Korean Central News Agency said. "Flags of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation were fluttering at the flagstaffs and the guards of honor of the Korean People's Army (KPA) lined up at the station before the terminal," KCNA said. Shoigu was greeted by North Korean Defence Minister Kang Sun Nam, and photos carried by the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed hundreds of uniformed KPA soldiers lining the airport holding signs welcoming the Russians. The North Koreans expressed their "full support" for the Russian army and people, "who are struggling to defend the sovereign rights and development and interests of their country," KCNA added. Russia, a historic ally of North Korea, is one of a handful of nations with which it maintains friendly relations. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been steadfast in his support for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, including, Washington says, supplying rockets and missiles. Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said the visit was unlikely to result in any arms deals or diplomatic advances, calling it "a symbolic show of solidarity on a war anniversary". The fact that Russia's defence minister flew to Pyongyang while his country is at war was "very significant", said Park Won-gon, another professor at Ewha University. "Even though the emergency quarantine system remains in place, Kim Jong Un may have felt the need to show something to his people at the Victory Day celebrations," Park told AFP. For the Chinese and Russians, their presence could send a "strong unified message" to the United States, he added. Change in border policy? Satellite imagery indicates North Korea has been preparing for the kind of large-scale military parade with which it typically fetes such anniversaries. South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that there were "clear signs" of preparations for a midnight parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang in recent days, citing multiple unnamed government sources. The inclusion of foreign guests at this year's celebrations is a post-pandemic first and hints at new flexibility towards enforcing border controls. China also said it would send a delegation led by Politburo member Li Hongzhong that was due to arrive in Pyongyang later Wednesday, suggesting they would not be required to undergo an extensive quarantine ahead of the Thursday anniversary event. North Korea has been under a rigid self-imposed blockade since early 2020 to protect itself from Covid-19, preventing even its own nationals from entering the country. It only resumed some trade with China last year and allowed new Beijing envoy Wang Yajun to take up his position this year. He is the first known diplomat to cross into North Korea since the border closure in January 2020. Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang, Alexander Matsegora, is known to have remained in the North Korean capital throughout the pandemic, even as staff numbers at his embassy dwindled and other foreign missions closed their doors. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt has released $131 billion worth of imported goods through different customs ports and outlets over 21 months until the end of June, said the Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait on Wednesday. There are still $3.5 billion worth of commodities the delivery of which hasn't been yet approved by foreign suppliers, Maait added. The minister noted that $1.9 billion worth of goods, including oil, fodder, corn, and wheat are stored in ports pending the finalization of their procedures. The number of applications to Egypt's Advanced Cargo Information (ACI) system has reached over 1.2 million since October 2021, Maait revealed. He noted that the ACI system has facilitated the customs release of goods even before they reach Egyptian ports. In June, Egypt announced releasing $31.8 billion worth of goods from customs between January and May 2023 as the government moves forward with policies to end backlogs of imported commodities at ports. Egypt is coping with a shortage of US dollar liquidity in the local market and a financing gap estimated at $17 billion through 2026. The gap has been impeding the release of essential goods from ports. The ACI system is a World Customs Organization protocol that provides real-time information on transactions and operations before, during, and after the arrival of goods through a unified digital customs portal. Search Keywords: Short link: With 30 years at the forefront of clubbing and dance music, and an extensive history of touring in New Zealand, it has been a much awaited return to Auckland for Ministry of Sound in 2023 and Classical is set to be a sell-out event! Were currently in Leo season, but Im sure all the Leos you know have reminded you its their birthday soon! Leo is a star sign that represents creativity, self-expression and confidence. Venus is a planet that represents beauty, love and values. Venus has been in retrograde since the 22nd of July and it will stay in retrograde until September 3rd. When a planet is in retrograde it appears to be going backwards when were looking at it from Earth. Long story short, the planet of love is going to be influencing us a little differently compared to normal! 115 tigers killed in State in 5 yrs, 24 due to poaching Staff Reporter alThough the Maharashtra Forest Department is geared up to bust the North India based gangs of organised tiger poachers, who are presently active in Central India, there is no let-up in killing of tigers either by poachers for body parts, or by farmers to protect their cattle. As per the Forest Department, 115 tigers have been killed between 2018 and 2022, in which 24 deaths took place due to poaching. All these tiger deaths, including those poached, have been in the Vidarbha region. Abhay Kolarkar, an RTI activist who sought details of tiger deaths from the Maharashtra Wildlife Wing, said, Nagpur takes pride in being called the Tiger Capital of India, but the big cats do not seem to be safe in the five tiger projects of Vidarbha, and this data is authenticating it. Five out of the states six tiger projects in Maharashtra are in Vidarbha region. They are Melghat Tiger Reserve (Amravati), Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (Chandrapur), Pench Tiger Reserve (Nagpur), Bor Tiger Reserve (Wardha) and Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (Bhandara). Sahyadri is Maharashtras only tiger project that is outside Vidarbha and is spread over Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Ratnagiri districts. Out of 115 tiger deaths, 67 have been attributed to natural causes, 24 to poaching, 12 to road accidents and 10 to electrocution. In 2021-22, the highest number of tigers - 32 - were killed in Maharashtra, including 7 due to poaching, which is the highest in the past five years. In 2022-23, there were 29 tiger deaths, of which 3 happened due to poaching; 4 deaths each happened due to road accident and electrocution. Sources in the Forest Department said that as per the 2018 tiger census data, there were 312 tigers in Maharashtra , all of which were in Vidarbha. Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), with 85 tigers, was the highest. Pench had 39 tigers, Melghat had 25, Navegaon-Nagzira had 8 tigers, and Bor had 5 tigers. There was no tiger in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve then. The tiger population has increased in Maharashtra as per the latest tiger census 2023 which also attract the attention of poachers to commit crime in Maharashtra. Anju becomes Fatima, weds her Pak FB friend PESHAWAR, ANJU, the Indian mother of two children who travelled to a remote village in Pakistan, married her Facebook friend on Tuesday after converting to Islam and now has a new name Fatima. The 34-year-old Indian woman was staying at her 29-year-old Pakistani friend Nasrullahs home in the Upper Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They became friends on Facebook in 2019. They tied the knot in a local court of a district and sessions judge amid tight security. Nasrullah and Anjus marriage was solemnised today and a proper nikkah was performed after she converted to Islam, senior officer at Moharrar City Police Station in Upper Dir district Muhammad Wahab told PTI. According to police, both appeared in the court in Upper Dir in the presence of family members of Nasrullah, police personnel and lawyers. Malakand Division Deputy Inspector General Nasir Mehmood Satti confirmed the nikkah and said Indian woman Anju has been named Fatima after her conversion to Islam. Earlier on Monday, both went on a sightseeing trip amid tight security. They visited the Lawari tunnel connecting Dir Upper District with Chitral District, police officials said. Anju, who was born in Kailor village in UP and lived in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, shared a short video before her marriage in which she says she feels safe in Pakistan, Geo News reported on Tuesday. Dilapidated bridge on road near Panchasheel Square, a disaster waiting to happen! By Rutu Borkar A DILAPIDATED British era bridge located in the stretch between between Panchasheel Square and Jhansi Rani Square, which is part of the busy national highway, is in a dire state due to years of neglect on part of the local authorities. The pillars of the bridge have developed cracks and could crumble any day. If measures are not taken immediately to repair the bridge, it can result in a disaster that will cost the city dearly. Located on the busy Wardha Road, the bridge shares its boundary with Dhiran Kanya School, Panchasheel Talkies parking, Soyamee Milk Centre, and Hindustan Furniture. Acting as an important link in connecting North and West Nagpur, a visit and close look under the bridge reveals that the boundary wall has collapsed and the pillars under the bridge are in perilous condition. The bridge is over the Nag Nadi and, and the parapet wall of another bridge on the river stretch had collapsed in the nearby Ramdaspeth area. That has led to the closure of the entire stretch, putting citizens to trouble. Meanwhile, citizens residing near the bridge and those who have their businesses around this area are getting sleepless nights. Jagjeet Singh, owner of Hindustan Furniture, who also resides behind the store adjacent to the bridge, stated that the structure was being neglected for several years. The civic administration was not aware of it until we filed four written complaints with Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), he said. The situation was also brought to the notice of the Municipal Commissioner, way back in summer. The civic officials visited the place, but no concrete action was taken even after the arrival of monsoon. The administration has simply placed a board and diverted the traffic for over two months now. Jagjeet's son, Adv Sarabjeet Singh, who has an office adjacent to the bridge, has stopped going to office. He has locked the office as there is always a fear that any additional pressure might lead to caving in on the supporting area adjacent to the bridge as the boundary wall has already collapsed. In fact, everyday when it rains heavily, the citizens are gripped by fear that some tragedy may befall them. DMIHER (DU) bags highest NAAC grading of A++ with whopping 3.78 score Business Bureau Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU) has once again proven its quest towards excellence in all dimensions of its operation by being accredited with highest grade A++ by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), in its 4th cycle of Re-accreditation. The CGPA score obtained by DMIHER is 3.78 against 4 point rating scale, which happens to be highest amongst all Health Sciences Education Universities across the country. This is also the highest score in the state of Maharashtra across any category on HEI like autonomous colleges, General Universities, Health Sciences Universities etc. Dr Vedprakash Mishra, Pro Chancellor of the University informed that this achievement is in succession to universitys highest ever NIRF rankings in 2023 wherein DMIHER stood at 39th position amongst all universities in the country. The recent A++ grade and score will be valid for a period of seven years i.e till 19.07. 2030. Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (DMIHER) has consistently been bestowed with highest grade in all its cycles of NAAC accreditation and was the first Health Sciences university to apply for its 4th cycle. With its recent score of 3.78, DMIHER has surpassed many leading Universities by considerable margin. Sagar Meghe, Principal Advisor of the university, stated that the humble beginnings by Datta Meghe, Founder Chancellor, in 1990 with a humane objective to serve the underprivileged rural population of Wardha district has now metamorphosed into a multidisciplinary university. Government to release 182 prisoners on Independence Day: Narottam Mishra Staff Reporter State Home Minister Narottam Mishra said on Tuesday that on Independence Day as many as 182 prisoners serving their life imprisonment in different jails in Madhya Pradesh would be freed. He stated while talking to the media at his residence. Mishra said that earlier life imprisonment prisoners were released twice a year. We have improved it. Now prisoners are being released four times a year. It has been seen that some prisoners get their period, but they were released after 4-5 months on Independence Day and Republic Day. Now prisoners are being released 4 times a year. Gandhi Jayanti and Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkars birth anniversary have also been included from last year. Last time on October 2, January 26, April 14 and August 15, the system of releasing the prisoners has been started. Apart from this, 15 non-life imprisonment prisoners are also being exempted from this. He strictly said that rape criminals will not be released, those who have been punished with fine, release will be possible only after paying the amount. If he or she has been punished in any other case also, then he will be released after completing the sentence of that case. Those who did not get bail in the second case, they will be kept as undertrial prisoners and not as convicts. If convicted in a case of another State, shall be transferred to that State. He also informed that the State Government has decided to increase Samman Nidhi of the ex-servicemen of the Second World War from Rs 8,000 per month to Rs 15,000. At present, there are 112 ex-servicemen from Madhya Pradesh who had participated in World War II, in which two of them are ex-servicemen and two are wives of ex-servicemen. The Arab African International Bank (AAIB) has issued three-year certificates of deposit (CDs) with a 40 percent yield to be paid in advance, according to a statement on Wednesday. The minimum value of the new CDs is set at EGP 5,000 with EGP 1,000 increments without a maximum limit on value. Holders are not entitled to partial redemptions. On Tuesday, the National Bank of Egypt (NBE) and Banque Misr issued two US dollar-denominated annual-yield CDs with a maturity of three years to be available for purchase starting Wednesday. Search Keywords: Short link: Jabalpur DIG Parihar inspects police parade Staff Reporter Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police (Jabalpur), R R Singh Parihar conducted annual inspection of police parade at police lines parade ground, on Tuesday. DIG, R R Singh Parihar took guard of honour from police parade led by Reserve Inspector, Jai Prakash Arya. DIG, Parihar inspected the parade and honoured the employees for good turnout. DIG honoured the police employees with rewards for their good turnout. Thereafter, full fledged Balwa Drill of riot control was carried out by the police. Police tried to control the agitated mob through Vajra Vehicle and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. DIG conducted inspection of police stations mobile vehicles and reached at Police Line Office where Quarter Guard, Commander Subedar Ashwani Patel gave him guard of honour. The inspection was followed by Police Darbar in which DIG, R R Singh Parihar heard the problems of police officers and employees at police line premises. Hearing the problems of police employees, DIG Parihar directed the dealing clerks for solving the problems of employees on priority basis and forwarding him the report. Speaking on the occasion, DIG, R R Singh Parihar applauded the working of police in maintaining law and order arrangements amidst adverse circumstances. He encouraged the policemen for being committed for rendering best services to the society. He advised the police officers and personnel to make themselves physical fit for avoiding diseases and imparting their best services to the society. He directed the officers and employees for remaining polite while interacting with common public and perform their duties with complete honesty for developing faith of police department amongst public. On the occasion, Superintendent of Police, Tushar Kant Vidyarthi, ASP (City), Priyanka Shukla ASP (City South), Sanjay Kumar Agrawal, ASP (Crime), Summer Verma, ASP (North/Traffic), Pradeep Kumar Shende, ASP (Rural), Shivesh Singh Baghel, all the gazetted officers and total 174 police officers and employees were present. LS Speaker meets floor leaders to end logjam NEW DELHI, AMID continued logjam in Lok Sabha over a debate on Manipur violence, Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday convened an all-party meeting of floor leaders, in a bid to end the impasse but the Government and Opposition stuck to their respective stands. Opposition floor leaders insisted on a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal told reporters after the meeting. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said Opposition party leaders were told that the Government is ready for discussion on Manipur and can be held any day the Speaker decides. There are several important bills and we do not want them to be passed without discussion. We want constructive discussion. We urged them with folded hands to participate in the discussion, he told reporters. We are ready to participate in discussion on Manipur on any day the Speaker decides, even tomorrow if the Speaker decides so. Our Home Minister will give a detailed reply to the discussion, he added. Leaders of both the Opposition side and the treasury benches put across their points at the meeting. Meghwal said the Opposition leaders then said they will discuss the matter with their senior leader and convey their stand on the issue soon. We are trying to end the deadlock but Opposition parties are coming up with a new demand, Meghwal claimed. Earlier they were demanding a discussion on Manipur. When we said we are ready for discussion, they demanded that the Prime Minister start the discussion, Meghwal said. Maoists issue statements to oppose Uniform Civil Code By Kartik Lokhande : Communist Party of India (Maoist) units have issued statements opposing the Uniform Civil Code, as part of their propaganda. The banned organisation has appealed specifically to the Opposition parties and tribals to oppose the Uniform Civil Code. According to observers of the Maoist terrorism, these statements expose their hypocrisy as far as equality and justice for all are concerned. At least three units of CPI (Maoist) have issued separate statements opposing the Uniform Civil Code. These include Central Committee of Central Regional Bureau, West Sub-Zonal Bureau covering Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra and Dandakaranya landscape, and Telangana State Committee. Though there is variation in use of language, the tone of these statements is the same. They are all critical of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Central Government, and urge the Opposition parties and tribals to oppose the Uniform Civil Code. In the statement issued purportedly with signature of Pratap, Spokesperson of Central Regional Bureau of the Left Wing Extremist organisation, certain misleading claims have been made as part of the Maoist propaganda. While acknowledging that Article 44 of the Constitution of India reads, The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a Uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India, the Maoists have added a distortion that this is not justiciable. According to experts, though the Directive Principles of State Policy that include Article 44 are non-justiciable, they are fundamental in governance of the country, and it is the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws. The Maoists, however, have kept this part aside and have resorted to misleading claims. Also, the same statement of Central Regional Bureau of the Maoists, calls the effort to bring in Uniform Civil Code as conspiracy of the Government. However, in the same breath, it expresses concerns over inequalities, religious discrimination, and inferior treatment to women. While there is a large section in polity which believes that Uniform Civil Code will pave way for fair treatment to women in all religious groups, the Maoists believe that laws will not secure equality for women. Above all, the Maoist terrorists believe that way for laws aiming at equality can be achieved only through waging peoples struggles. The statement of the Western Sub-Zonal Bureau, signed purportedly by its spokesperson Shriniwas, makes similar mentions with only difference being focus on provoking tribal community. While condemning the Uniform Civil Code, this Maoist unit has made an appeal to the tribals to oppose it by intensifying peoples struggle for right on forests. In similar vein of opposition to the Uniform Civil Code is the statement issued purportedly by Jagan, Telangana State Committee Secretary of CPI (Maoist). However, according to observers, all these statements are nothing but an attempt to reach out to various groups and provoke them against the democratically elected and Constitutionally established Government in the country. Whenever the Maoists are weak, they resort to such propaganda tactics in a bid to garner some support, said a police officer who has been observing the Maoist terrorism for years. Another observer, who did not wish to be quoted, said that these statements expose the double-speak of the Maoists. For, he added, the Left Wing Extremists championed the cause of so-called equality for all, but here they were opposing the Uniform Civil Code that aimed at equal application of law to all. Their emphasis on resorting to violence, which they justify using misleading terms like peoples struggles or protracted peoples war, as the only way to creating conditions for emancipation of women and ensuring equality for all is sheer duplicity and sham, he said. NSA Ajit Doval meets top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi JOHANNESBURG, NATIONAL Security Advisor Ajit Doval held a meeting with top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi during which he emphasised the need for continuing efforts to restore peace and tranquillity in the border areas to remove the impediments to normalcy in bilateral relations. Doval and Wang met on the sidelines of the Friends of BRICS meeting here in South Africa on Monday. During their meeting, Doval conveyed that the situation along LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China boundary since 2020 had eroded strategic trust and the public and political basis of the relationship, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. He emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to fully resolve the situation and restore peace and tranquillity in the border areas, so as to remove impediments to normalcy in bilateral relations, the statement said. The two sides agreed that the India-China bilateral relationship is significant not only for the two countries but also for the region and world, it said. Doval meets Russian counterpart Patrushev: Ajit Doval also met his Russian counterpart Nikolay Patrushev here and discussed strengthening cooperation in the field of security and economy. The two leaders discussed in detail the matters of the Russia-India cooperation in the sphere of security and cooperation in the sphere of economy, a statement from the Office of the Security Council of the Russian Federation said. PM cites East India Company, PFI, IM to hit back at Oppn alliance NEW DELHI, PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday derided the Opposition alliance INDIA as the most directionless the country had ever seen, and cited reviled names such as East India Company and Indian Mujahideen to assert that people cannot be misled merely by the use of the countrys name. Multiple sources present at the BJP parliamentary party meeting said Modi was severe in his criticism of the Opposition amid the continuing logjam in Parliament and also sounded confident of the ruling dispensation retaining power at the Centre for a third term after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Opposition has sunk deep in despair and is directionless, he said, according to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. Its conduct suggests that it has reconciled to remain in Opposition for a long time, Modi said. Joshi told reporters that Modi likened the current atmosphere in and about India with a new dawn, noting the mood of optimism and hope about the country globally. The Indian economy has grown to be the fifth largest from 10 under his Government and will be the third biggest in its third term, the Prime Minister said, asking his party leaders to work with resolve and determination to help develop the country. Reservoir breach in Tendukheda block of Damoh, 2 villages inundated Our Correspondent Damoh, Panic prevailed in Tendukheda block area when a reservoir breached on Tuesday morning. Due to this, Pondi and Jetgarh villages were completely submerged in water. The water level reached to roof top of houses in both the villages. As a result of this sudden rise in water level, the crops in the fields of both the villages are completely destroyed. Fortunately, villagers of both the villages were evacuated of Monday night itself when cracks were noticed in the reservoir. Collector Mayank Agagrwal had ordered for immediate evacuation of villagers so as to save lives. Notably, the reservoir is situated 55 km away from the district headquarters. Villagers, on Monday, saw water seepage from the edge of the reservoir. They soon informed officers about it. Tehsildar Monika Waghmare asked the Irrigation Department officers to reach to the spot. The teams of Irrigation Department and police tried to seal the portion of the reservoir from where water was oozing out. But they were not successful. Irrigation Department team expressed possibility of cracks going wider and more water outflow. The situation was informed to the Collector, Damoh who immediately directed for evacuation of villagers. MLA Dharmendra Singh Lodhi confirmed that timely evacuation of villagers was done by local administration. He had talked to Damoh Collector who assured for survey and then sanctioning of compensation to villagers. THE SAME STORY THE Opposition is scripting the same old story with new detail by insisting upon discussion in Parliament under a specific rule, even though the Government is willing to have discussion on the Manipur issue. The Opposition is insisting that it wants a full day discussion on Manipur issue, while the Government is willing to have a limited-period discussion to start with. Yet, the Opposition is adamant. Hence the current logjam in Parliament -- though only for record. The actual reason, however, is that the Opposition is least interested in giving the Government an upper hand and opportunity to explain the truth of the Manipur situation. For, the Opposition is afraid that if the Manipur truth is out as it actually is, then many a political equation would get busted -- which the Opposition possibly cannot afford to allow. For, the Manipur issue is far more complex than what appears on the surface. And given the persisting violence in Manipur, there are ample reasons to suspect that some elements in the north-eastern or national politics may be even masterminding dirty designs against Indian interests. A detailed discussion on Manipur issue, thus, may bring out some unpleasant truths and may embarrass some elements in the country. That may be the reason for the Opposition to create a situation in which actual discussion does not take place. However, for record, the Opposition is asking for discussion, but in actuality, it is running away from discussion by insisting upon it only under a certain rule. The Oppositions effort, thus, is somehow to malign the Government as an entity unwilling to discuss the details of Manipur situation. This is far from truth, and the common Indian people realise this well. Yet, blinded by its anti-Modi politics, the Opposition is acting obstinately. There, of course, are many gaps in the Manipur story. Those gaps are obliterating the actual picture. Lots of distortions are being circulated in the country and also abroad about the Manipur situation. There are enough reasons to believe that the Opposition is benefitting from this condition since it gets an opportunity to tarnish the Governments -- and more particularly Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modis -- image. But then, this has been the Oppositions approach for the past 8-9 years -- asking for discussion in Parliament, but actually not letting that happen. On countless issues, this has been the story. The attempt, obviously, is to demonstrate to the common people that the Government is not interested in discussion and that it is defiling the institution of Parliament by denying the Opposition an opportunity to have detailed discussion on critical issues. If the Opposition is persistent about its strategy, the Government is insistent upon its approach. It has stressed time and again that it is open to discussion on every possible issue of national interest. The common people, thus, carry the right impression -- that the Government is willing to have discussion and the Opposition is creating hurdles in that path. In this battle of perception-management, the Government has been enjoying an upper hand for obvious reasons. The Opposition does not realise this and insists upon rescripting the same old story each time in different words -- which, in different words, is known as politics. In the process, however, the nation suffers. Realising this, the Government keeps making appeal after appeal to the Oppositions good sense, though without avail. The common people, therefore, realise that the Opposition is only pushing the Government too senselessly with a point of no-return in sight. In this tussle, the loser will be the Opposition -- and, of course, the nation. White tiger cubs to make public debut soon Staff Reporter BHILAI, The Maitri Bagh Zoo, managed by SAIL-Bhilai Steel Plant, is rejoicing as the three adorable White Tiger cubs born in April this year to the white tigress Raksha will be officially named on August 15, Indias Independence Day. After the naming ceremony, these cubs will be made available for public viewing towards the end of August. As per the information provided by the management of Maitri Bagh Zoo, these cubs will be kept separate from the general public and external environment under the care of their mother Raksha for the first four months. On April 28 this year, the six-year-old White Tigress named Raksha and her partner, white tiger Sultan, welcomed a three little cubs. This joyous occasion comes a year after white tigress Roma gave birth to a tiger cub named Singham, also fathered by Sultan. Dr N K Jain, DGM (Horticulture) expressed during conversations that witnessing the young ones up close, from their birth to adulthood, is both fortunate and enchanting. With the recent births, the total number of white tigers at Maitri Bagh has now reached nine. The cubs will be open for public viewing four months after their birth. Their official naming ceremony is scheduled for August 15. To ensure the well-being of the young cubs, they have been kept in a dimly lit enclosure, resembling a cave-like environment, to allow the mother to care for them without disturbance. With the onset of the monsoon, additional hygiene measures have been implemented to safeguard the cubs from moisture-related skin infections. In 1997, a pair of young white tigers named Tarun and Tapasi was brought to Maitri Bagh from Nandankanan Zoological Park in neighboring Odisha, which subsequently gave birth to four white tiger cubs in 1999. Maitri Bagh not only excels in taking care of its animals but also actively participates in conservation and breeding efforts for white tigers. The favorable conditions here have led to continuous growth in the white tiger population. Additionally, Maitri Bagh has been in communication with more than five other zoos in India, including Mukundpur, Lucknow, Nagpur, Rajkot, and Bokaro, for exchanging information related to the breeding of white tigers. 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: The second Russia-Africa Summit and the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum scheduled for 27-28 July will be one of the main geopolitical events for Russia in 2023. It is gratifying that Egypt will be represented by one of the largest delegations comprised of key politicians, leaders of business and mass media, and distinguished public figures. Such a wide representation is no coincidence. Egypt has always been an essential political and economic partner for Russia in Africa. It is hard to overestimate our cultural and people-to-people ties. Moreover, it is a great honour for us to welcome our Egyptian friends in Saint Petersburg because it was your country and personally His Excellency President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi who provided invaluable support in organizing the first Russia-Africa Summit which was held in 2019 in Sochi with Egypt being the events co-president. Since a long time ago our nations have been drawn to one another. The mysterious land of the pyramids has absorbed, as the famous Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz put it, the heritage of many civilizations. It has always attracted and inspired the Russian people. This year, on 26 August, we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. On 9 March, during a phone conversation, the presidents of Russia and Egypt congratulated each other on this milestone which we have already started to commemorate with a series of events. It is quite symbolic that the development of our dialogue started during the acute phase of the Second World War, when the whole world united to stand against enslavement and annihilation by Nazis. During those rough times, Egypt served as a transfer point used by the Soviet Union to return our POWs from Western Europe. Our soldiers stay in Egypt contributed to the establishment of friendship between our peoples, which remains up to this very day. The dawn of the Russia-Egyptian dialogue occurred during the third quarter of the 20th century after the 23 July Revolution in 1952, led by Gamal Abdel-Nasser. Moscow strongly supported the nationalization of the Suez Canal. The Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev even threatened Great Britain, France and Israel with nuclear weapons, warning against military intervention in Egypt and against plotting a coup detat in the country friendly to us. President Nasser on his part refused to join any Western regional alliance. In the 1960s, Soviet specialists worked shoulder to shoulder with Egyptians and created the unique Aswan High Dam, a steel factory in Helwan and other crucial facilities, which helped Egypt to industrialize and to make a quantum leap in social and economic development. Comprehensive development of our bilateral ties continued after the disintegration of the USSR. With the start of the presidency of His Excellency Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, such positive and intensive dynamic of the Russian-Egyptian cooperation strengthened even more. Its sound foundation was reinforced by the Comprehensive Partnership and Strategic Cooperation Agreement which entered into force in January 2021. The key joint mega-project today is the first Egyptian Nuclear Power Plant at Dabaa, which is being constructed together with the Russian Rosatom State Corporation. The works there are ahead of the schedule. Right now, the preparations are under way to pour concrete for the last of four units of the station, the construction of which may start by the end of this year. Director General of Rosatom Alexey Likhachev visited Egypt on 18 July and inspected the construction site with the Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Dr. Mohamed Shaker and Dr. Amged El-Wakeel, chairman of the Nuclear Power Plants Authority of Egypt. As previously agreed, the Russian Industrial Zone (RIZ) is being created in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. An additional protocol to the initial agreement on the RIZ specifying the details of its functioning was signed in March. A share of goods produced there shall be sold on the Egyptian market, but the bulk will be exported overseas with the Made in Egypt label. For Egypt, this would mean an increase in exports along with the creation of additional job opportunities and new modern technologies. After the protocol is ratified by the Egyptian parliament, the project is expected to start being implemented, meaning that this will be the starting point for the construction of necessary infrastructure factory floors, storages, roads, etc. In spite of the Western sanctions, the obligations under the contract with the Egyptian National Railways for the delivery of 1,300 railway cars of different types by the Russian Transmashholding Company have been fulfilled. In 2020-2022, Egypt received half of its order which was to be produced in the Russian city of Tver. The rest is to be provided by Hungarian partners, to the deepest regrets, with a delay due to the EU restrictions imposed against us which has severely slowed the supply of spare parts from Russia to the Hungarian factory. Moreover, Transmashholding is additionally planning to build and equip a specialized rail depot near Cairo to conduct maintenance of all previously delivered passenger cars which have been named Russian by the Egyptians. Our country is also committed to fulfilling its contractual obligations to the Arab Republic of Egypt regarding the provision of food supplies and other agricultural commodities. Egypt is a major importer of wheat and other products of the Russian agro-industrial complex. During the last agricultural year which started on 1 July, 2022 and ended on 30 June, the volume of wheat received by the Egyptians amounted to eight million tonnes, whereas earlier it usually did not exceed six million tonnes. We are also completely satisfying Egypts requests for sunflower oil and soybean oil. 470 Russian companies with investments of more than $8 billion are currently operating in Egypt. Notably the number of our businessmen who are interested in Egyptian partners and are ready to buy their products is growing steadily. Russia and Egypt share a high level of political trust and coordination. We are actively cooperating at the United Nations and other international organizations. Our countries maintain active contacts on different levels and in various fields. Historically cultural and humanitarian ties are the basis of such friendly relations between the people of the two countries. Back in the 1960s, the practice of student exchange between Russia and Egypt was born. This practice has been significantly developing during the last ten years. Today Egypt is in the list of top ten countries with the students choosing our country with regards to getting the higher or the second higher education. Nearly 16 thousand Egyptian students are currently studying in Russia, and some of our higher education institutions are about to open branches in Egypt with university majors varying from medicine to peaceful atomic studies. Religious ties are also getting stronger including the creation of the Patriarchal Exarchate for Africa by the Russian Orthodox Church. Egypt has always served as a muse for the greatest Russian poets and writers. In 1828, Alexander Pushkin, inspired by the history and culture of Ancient Egypt, wrote a poem called Cleopatra, which was included in the collection of poems Egyptian Nights. At the beginning of the 20th century, the land of pyramids attracted poets who were searching for the meaning of life. The land of the pharaohs was visited by Nikolai Gumilev, who later wrote the poems The Suez Canal, Red Sea and Egypt. Ivan Bunin, after his visit to Egypt, published a series of poems - Delta, Alexander in Egypt, Cairo, Exodus. Moreover, there is a separate movement in Russian art - called Egyptising style which is based on the use of plots and art images of Ancient Egypt. A large number of landmarks, built in such a style, can be seen in Saint Petersburg, where the Russia-Africa Forum takes place. It is the Egyptian bridge over the Fontanka River and the Egyptian hall in the Hermitage as well as the tenement house of Alisa Nezhinskaya on Zakharyevskaya street and many other architectural monuments. We hope that our Egyptian friends, who are about to visit the Russian northern capital will enjoy its rich culture and unique beauty. Welcome to Russia! *The writer is the ambassador of Russia to Egypt Search Keywords: Short link: As temperatures soared to nearly 40 oC in most areas of Egypt, reaching more than 45 oC in the south, ongoing power cuts have made life increasingly difficult for anyone seeking relief indoors. Fans and air conditioning units shudder to a halt. Washing machines and other domestic appliances are inoperable and the water supply is cut to those living on the upper storeys of buildings. Late last week, as electricity consumption reached a record level of 34,650 megawatts (MW) during peak hours, according to the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, the government announced it had started to implement temporary load reductions to reduce the pressure on the natural gas network which feeds power plants. Yet officials also said that available electrical capacity was 44,900 MW, with Ministry of Electricity Spokesperson Ayman Hamza insisting that capacity existed to generate 48,000 MW. Over the last six years Egypt has built several mega power plants that together increased electricity production by over 30,000 MW. They include the Burullus power plant, the Beni Sweif power plant and the New Administrative Capital power plant, the latter costing 2 billion euros. The government also announced on several occasions that not only had Egypt achieved self-sufficiency, it now enjoys an electricity surplus of more than 25 per cent. On Saturday, following six days of repeated power outages, starting times were announced for the sporadic reductions in electricity supply. Power would only be cut in the period 10 minutes before and after the hour. Citizens were warned not to use elevators during this 20-minute period because the power cuts may continue for up to an hour. Hamza also said that, wherever possible, power cuts would not be repeated in the same area on the same day. Mona Ramadan, who lives in Cairos Shubra district, told Al-Ahram Weekly that despite the reassurances, on Sunday electricity to her home was cut on four separate occasions, each lasting around an hour. While we are striving to implement a policy of electricity load reduction fairly, we have yet to achieve it with complete success, conceded Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker. Shaker said increased consumption caused by higher temperatures has impacted the fuel available for electricity generation. His comments were echoed by Hamza who said that the quantity of natural gas provided by the Ministry of Petroleum serves as the basis for our operations. Egypt achieved self-sufficiency in natural gas in 2018, and exported around eight million tons, worth $8.4 billion, in 2022. In August 2022, in an attempt to reduce domestic consumption of natural gas by 15 per cent and redirect it towards exports to generate foreign currency, the government announced a nationwide energy consumption rationing plan. At the time the prime minister said that replacing 15 per cent of natural gas used for electricity generation with fuel oil mazut and diesel would bring in $450 million per month. In the light of last years plan and Egypts current shortage of dollars, speculation has grown that natural gas is being exported, leaving domestic power plants short of fuel. Petroleum Minister Tarek Al-Molla rebuffed such claims in a recent interview. During summer, electricity consumption accounts for all of Egypts local natural gas production, he said, adding that 2022, when natural gas was exported during summer, had been an exception. Last year, Al-Molla continued, Egypt succeeded in substituting domestic gas with fuel oil for electricity generation because, at the time, fuel oil was cheaper than liquefied natural gas (LNG). Since then, the situation has reversed and importing fuel oil and exporting gas has become economically unfeasible. So what is going on? There has been no reduction in natural gas for power generation, according to the Petroleum Ministry, yet still the public face power cuts. Medhat Youssef, former chairperson of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), believes that there are three reasons behind the seeming paradox. The mutually determined supply rate between the two ministries has not fallen short, it is at 145 million m3 a day. Other reasons are causing the shortage of power, Youssef said in a televised interview. High temperatures have a negative impact on the efficiency of once-through electricity generation plants, the most common type in Egypt, leading to a reduction of up to 35 per cent in their effectiveness. High temperatures also have a negative impact on the turbines responsible for gas compression and its pumping to stations spread across Egypts 7,000 km gas pipeline network, making it technically impractical to increase the gas supply to pipelines or increase the processing capacity of turbines. And while all power stations in Egypt are equipped with alternative fuel systems, for a smooth supply the Electricity Ministry needs to request the required quantities of alternative fuel from the Petroleum Ministry with sufficient lead time. The power cuts we are seeing, said Youssef, suggest alternative fuel had not been requested. There is also a shortfall in the planned contribution of renewables in electricity generation. In line with Egypts Vision 2030, 20 per cent of electricity was supposed to be generated from renewable energy sources by 2022, increasing to 42 per cent by 2035. According to Youssef, the heat dome currently hovering above the region means Egypt is missing these targets. A period of calmness in the Suez Gulf has resulted in a decrease in the proportion of electricity generated from wind energy, he said. Last week officials said the load reduction plan would continue until the heat wave breaks. * A version of this article appears in print in the 27 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Exploring the form any new negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will take. While Egypt and Ethiopia have publicly stated that they will resume negotiations aimed at producing a legally binding agreement on the rules for filling and operating the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), neither side has stated when the talks will begin, where they will be held, who will take part, or what the agenda will be. The last round of negotiations took place in April 2021. Hosted by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the then chair of the African Union (AU), the talks broke down when Ethiopia rejected an Egyptian proposal to allow the US, EU and World Bank to join the AU in the mediating process. According to local and international press reports, the decision to return to the negotiating table came after months of secret mediation efforts by Russia and South Africa, and after President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi met twice with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, once on the sidelines of the global finance summit in Paris in June, and then during the summit of Sudans neighbours which Cairo hosted in mid-July. It is still unclear whether Sudan will take part in the talks given the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. When talks do resume, Egypt is expected to present a comprehensive vision for the filling and operation of the dam and a proposal for integrating the electricity produced with the Egyptian grid preparatory to its export abroad. The revenues generated would be a boon for the struggling Ethiopian economy. Egypt has extensive experience in dam construction and operation, irrigation systems and electricity, starting with the Qanater barrages (1860) and the Aswan Dam (1902) and culminating with the construction of the High Dam in 1971. Egypt has helped many Arab and African countries build dams for irrigation and electricity generating purposes and is home to one of the largest electricity grids in the developing world, with linkups to neighbouring countries. Though GERD was designed primarily to generate electricity, so far only two of its 16 planned turbines have gone into operation. Egypt hopes that at least 13 turbines can be brought online so that some of the energy produced can be exported via Egypt, with the water used for hydroelectric production released into the Nile again. The negotiations will not be easy, says Abbas Sharaki, professor of geology and water resources at Cairo University. The dispute has lasted more than 10 years and the failed rounds have generated sensitivities and mistrust. The negotiations aimed to reach agreement on the rules for operating and filling the dam. Disputes included how to manage periods of drought and the mechanisms needed to resolve disputes. Lower than average rainfall could affect Egypt and Sudans water quotas as set out in internationally recognised agreements. The filling of the dam is linked to rainfall. Most of the filling should take place in the rainiest seasons and be scaled down when rainfall is lower, says Sharaki. It is also important to sustain the levels of the reservoirs behind Sudans own dams, making it imperative the countries that rely on the Blue Nile coordinate. According to Sharaki, Ethiopia used various ruses to procrastinate, including insisting on a Nile quota of its own and suggesting all Nile Basin nations take part in the talks. Before the High Dam, Egypt and Sudan had a quota of 48.5 billion m3 and 4.5 billion m3 respectively. Once the dam was complete, it made 23 billion m3 more water available. This was divided between the two countries, bringing Egypts quota up to 55 billion and Sudans to 18.5 billion. GERD has been raised by another 25 metres to reach 125 metres above the riverbed. It is now scheduled for its fourth filling and the amount of water that can be stored in the reservoir will increase considerably as a result. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said the fourth filling will take place in August and September to ensure the continued flow of Nile water to Egypt and Sudan, as reported by Ethiopian news outlets. Sharaki notes, however, that Ethiopia does not control how the dam releases water. The height of the body of the dam does not offer options for postponing or reducing the filling. There are only two openings at the bottom of the dam to release water in the event of emergencies, and they only allow 30 million m3 to pass through a day. According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Irrigation, the reservoir has grown to 22 billion m3 over the past three years. Sharaki maintains that while the quantity is considerably lower, somewhere in the neighbourhood of 17 billion, it has already resulted in losses to Egypts and Sudans quotas. Egypt has had to compensate for these losses by tapping the High Dam reservoir and through industrial and agricultural water treatment projects that cost hundreds of billions of pounds, he says. Khaled Mahmoud, a journalist specialising in the Horn of Africa, believes it will take more than one negotiating round to reach a binding reaching agreement on the rules for filling and operating the dam. We have to build trust after years of tension and foot-dragging tactics, he notes. And while the mediating efforts of other parties will be helpful, as would more Ethiopian flexibility, none of this will yield satisfactory results in a single round, meaning well have to wait and see. * A version of this article appears in print in the 27 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi was due to arrive in St Petersburg on Thursday to head Egypts delegation to the second Russia-Africa summit. The first summit of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum convened in 2019, ending in promises for enhanced cooperation which have so far failed to materialise. Russian investments in most African countries remain low and Russia has significant trade relations with only five Egypt among them of the 54 countries in the continent. According to Egyptian government sources, in St Petersburg Al-Sisi will be looking for guarantees of continued Russian support on several strategic issues. First, the sources say, Cairo wants to ensure continued wheat supplies on terms that accommodate Egypts current shortage of foreign currency. Egypt imports around half its annual wheat needs from Russia and concern over supplies has been growing in Cairo since Moscows decision last week to end the UN-brokered grain deal which Russia claims has benefited European rather than African countries. In an open letter published ahead of the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised that his country will continue to supply Africa with grain and make it up to countries that have suffered a drop in supplies and increased prices over the last two years. We understand the importance of uninterrupted food supplies for the socio-economic development and political stability of African states, Putin wrote. He said that despite facing economic sanctions over the war in Ukraine, Russia had provided Africa with over 11 million tons of grains. Today, Putin said, I want to give assurances that our country is capable of replacing Ukrainian grain, both on a commercial and free of charge basis. Government sources say that while Egypt is hoping to benefit from this promise on both counts there is no such thing as a free lunch and Moscow will want something in return. Given its relations with the West, especially with the US, Egypt has had to slow down or else cancel planned cooperation with Russia. And while Cairo sympathises with Moscows concerns over the growth of NATO influence in Ukraine, cited by the Kremlin as the cause of the war, it has withheld full support for Moscows position, voting instead for UN General Assembly resolutions calling for an end to the war and respect of Ukrainian sovereignty. We just stick to the reasonable line of calling for a negotiated end to the war, a position shared with many African countries, said one source. Egypt, he added, will join several other African countries in sharing with their hosts some ideas to end the conflict in a way acceptable to both sides, including contributing to peacekeeping forces under the umbrella of the African Union once a ceasefire is in place. Cairo has consulted with African and other capitals on the details of what a possible reasonable offer might involve. Ultimately, if we want the Russians to show interest, we have to take their interests into account. The idea is to appeal for as prompt an end as possible to this war on the sidelines, not during the sessions, of the summit in St Petersburg, said the source. The conflict in Sudan will also be high on the agenda of President Al-Sisis sideline meetings in St Petersburg. Egypt is already heavily invested in an initiative to secure agreement among Sudans neighbours to encourage Abdel-Fattah Al-Borhan, leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces, and Mohamed Dagalo, leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), to end their conflict, and a ministerial meeting of Sudans seven neighbours is scheduled to meet in Chad within days. On Monday and Tuesday, Egypt hosted a meeting of civilian Sudanese forces and also played host to Al-Borhans second in command Malik Agar, who spoke with participants at the meeting and other Cairo-based Sudanese politicians. Government sources say Cairo is working to establish a political corps capable of supporting a sustainable ceasefire, on which the Americans and Saudis are working, and to encourage Sudans neighbours to support such a ceasefire. To this end, Egypt is in close coordination with the US and is keeping open channels of communication with Saudi Arabia, and Russia could play a vital role in supporting the initiative. The Russian mercenary group Wagner has been instrumental in supporting the RSF and despite last months aborted march on Moscow by Wagner fighters, Russia and Wagner have both said the groups operations in Africa focused on supporting African regimes against alleged rebel groups will continue. In the last five years, Wagner has expanded its activities in the continent, including in the Sahel and Sahara, allowing Russia to compete with Western countries, especially France, in terms of influence vis-a-vis countries rich in natural resources. According to European diplomatic sources, access to gold deposits in Sudan has been at the core of Wagner operations. European diplomats note that while in Moscow in June for talks with Russian officials, Agar said Al-Borhan was willing to relaunch negotiations over a possible Russian base in Port Sudan. Russia has long coveted a series of African bases, most military but some commercial, as a springboard to expand its presence on a continent that has been subject to growing international competition, a strategy that could see it at odds with its otherwise close ally China. While Cairo is unhappy about any foreign military expansion in the Horn of Africa, and especially in Sudan, it is also cautious about supporting, even implicitly, any deal that dismays China, a close development partner and one to which Cairo is looking for the economic support it needs to accommodate the growing number of Sudanese fleeing their country. In Rome this week for a summit on undocumented migration, Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli said that the world needs to address the root causes behind migration and work to consolidate sustainable partnerships that achieve mutual benefits. As one senior Egyptian official noted, President Al-Sisis attendance at the St Petersburg summit was subject to very careful consideration. * A version of this article appears in print in the 27 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Among the Igbo of West Niger, a popular saying goes: The child died, the living wept but the dead were not happy with the weeping. Watching the melodrama that played out between the officers of Nigerian Correctional Service (Prisons Service) and those of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) at the Federal High Court premises in Lagos on Tuesday July 25, 2023, it was obvious that while some people would appear sympathetic to Godwin Emefieles predicament, the spirit of dead Nigerians under the Government of Dead President Muhammadu Buhari, especially those who died from the calculated hardship orchestrated by his new naira note policy will not be happy with those sympathizing with him. Most striking was the shameless display of official idiocy on the public space by junior officers of the Department of State Security (DSS) against a senior officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service of the rank of Deputy Comptroller, the same rank with a Deputy Director in their formation, a Deputy Commissioner of Police and a Colonel in Nigerian Army. That dastard display of unprofessional stupidity clearly shows how divided and rotten the Nigerian security system has degenerated to; which further explains why Muslim Fulani herdsmen, Muslim Bandits, Boko Haram, ISWAP and Unknown Gun-men led by the likes of Asari Dokubo are reigning supreme on our land. Is it not laughable that of all the monumental financial crimes committed against humanity by Godwin Emefiele as Central Bank Governor, the DSS could only accuse him of possession of an Awka-made single barrel gun and one hundred and twenty-three rounds of cartridges in a country where thousands of people possess licensed pump-action rifle and bandits like Asari Dokubo display AK-47 rifles like walking sticks? Nigerians cannot be deceived by a band of hooded criminals protecting bands of political criminals masquerading as Nigerias political leadership. Be that as it may, the dynamics of history has proven that not only is power transient, but the wicked shall never go unpunished, as Godwin Emefiele today symbolizes. This explains why it is ridiculous to see many Nigerians, especially those from the South and mostly Christians speaking against the blatant disobedience of the High Court order by the DSS. The fundamental question is was Emefieles case the first of such imperious disobedience of lawful orders of the court by the DSS? Furthermore, has Emefiele not on different occasions refused to obey the orders of the same court which people are condemning the DSS for? Much as one might not be in agreement with the DSS in their dictatorial and unconstitutional patterns of discharging their constitutional duties, the fundamental moral question Nigerians, especially the South and Christians in general should ask is does Godwin Emefiele deserve special treatment outside what the DSS is currently meting out to him? Have those Nigerians condemning the DSS for disobeying the orders of the court and re-arresting Godwin Emefiele forgotten so soon how he arrogantly disobeyed the order of the Supreme Court of Nigeria by a seven-man panel of judges led by Justice John Okoro restraining the Federal Government, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Commercial Banks from enforcing the February 10 deadline on the new naira currency swap? The same Godwin Emefiele ignominiously disobeyed the orders of a Federal High Court in Abuja presided by Justice Inyang Eko in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1193/2017 filed by Joe Agi, SAN over a 53 million US dollar debt judgment over Pars Club refund. Is it not an irony of fate that the same Emefiele is now requesting for bail in the same Federal High Court and protesting the disobedience of the same court order by re-arresting him? How can we explain the fact that under Godwin Emefieles watch many Southerners died of hunger and their businesses closed because of the scarcity of the new naira currency notes? How can we explain the fact that under the watch of Godwin Emefiele commercial banks in Southern Nigeria and their innocent members of staff were attacked while those in the Northern part of Nigeria operated smoothly? How can we explain the fact that under the watch of Godwin Emefiele, while the people of Southern Nigeria could not have access to the new naira notes from the commercial banks in both urban and rural areas, the staff of his Central Bank of Nigeria were going into remote areas in Northern Nigeria personally swapping the new naira notes with the old ones for the Muslim Hausa and Fulani villagers? How can we explain the fact that while all the commercial banks in Southern Nigeria were closed for operation in protest of attacks by their customers, those in Northern Nigeria, including Zenith Bank owned jointly by Godwin Emefiele and his kinsman Jim Ovia, were discretely operating, serving the financial needs of PDP and their Presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running-mate Dr Ifeanyi Okowa who is Godwin Emefieles Agbor kinsman? The pertinent question is does Godwin Emefiele deserve a modicum of sympathy for his present ordeals? The name Emefiele in Ika-Igbo dialect stands variously for Offend not and Sin not. Unfortunately Godwin Emefiele turned out to be the direct opposite of what his name stands for. Proverbs Chapter 16 verse 18 explicitly states: Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. This is the position the former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele today and which shall be the position of many more of the current political leaders in Nigeria. Today Godwin Emefiele has turned into a shadow of himself; as the BBC aptly described him in its recent news report of his court appearance: Mr Emefiele looked a shadow of the man that controlled the finances of Nigeria - Africa's largest economy - when he arrived at court in Lagos. He clutched a huge red Bible in one arm and was dragged by the other arm into the courtroom by the court registrar. What baffled many Nigerians most was the red Bible he was holding. Was the Bible required to act as a talisman for him in the court or, to orchestrate a pro-Christian sentiment in the sense of being oppressed by a Muslim President and Vice President? Or was it a mere showmanship to prove to the people that he has turned a born-again Christian while in DSS custody? Or could we say that he was acting the repentant thief beside Our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary? Although the mere possession of the Holy Bible does not generally indicate spiritual impeccability, it however raises a lot of questions if a certified senior disciple of Lucifer grips the Bible on his road to judgment. As Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele clandestinely acted as an alternate President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the protection of his Agbor kinsman, the former Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor. He adorned the toga of political infallibility straddling over the clay-footed status of a demi-god who is above the laws and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in tandem with the likes of the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami and former EFCC Chairman AbdulRasheed Bawa. From being touted by the Fulani cabal as their choice successor to dead President Muhammadu Buhari so long as he played according to their rule, he soon out of frustration of that political debacle became a willing Fulani tool to destroy the Nigerian masses through his orchestrated new naira currency policy. It turned out to be the option of either play along with them to install Atiku Abubakar President and his kinsman Ifeanyi Okowa Vice President or, be disgraced out of office. Were Nigerians not aware that this same Godwin Emefiele purchased over ten thousand branded new cars and mini-buses in his name in preparation for his aborted Presidential ambition? Could this impunity by a sitting Central Bank Governor have been permitted in any civilized nation? This could only happen in Nigeriathe notorious nation of scammers and fraudsters both cyber and political? Well, it is a matter of time and the chicken will definitely come to roast. It is true President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is extracting his own pound of flesh from Godwin Emefiele as he is doing with the former EFCC Chairman AbdulRasheed Bawa, but many Nigerians might be in the dark of its genesis. Godwin Emefiele the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor and former Managing Director of Zenith Bank, who hails from Agbor-Obi, was the titular head of Agbor caucus of the Joint-Agbor-Fulani political mafia that secretly worked for Atiku Abubakars Presidential bid. Other members of this caucus included Jim Oviafounder and Chairman of Zenith Bank, who hails from Agbor-Obi. General Lucky IraborNigerias former Chief of Defence Staff, hails from Owa-Agbor. Nduka ObaigbenaChairman/CEO of Arise Television and ThisDay newspaper hails from Owa-Agbor. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa former Delta State Governor and Alhaji Atiku Abubakas Vice Presidential candidate hails from Owa-Agbor. The main objective of this political occult group was to apply all financial weapons at their disposals through the Central Bank of Nigeria to make sure that Alhaji Atitku Abubakar was declared the winner of the February 25, 2023 Presidential election by denying Bola Ahmed Tinubu access to liquid cash for the election. This was the major objective of the now unpopular change of Naira currency color. Apart from the fact that Tony Elumelu of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) who was co-opted into the caucus later withdrew and subsequently became Bola Tinubus financial lifeline during the currency swap through his bank, the plan to install Atiku Abubakar President met a brick wall when he sided the Presidency over the currency swap against the Northern Muslim Governors who were then his backbone. This prompted Nasir el-Rufais State Broadcast attacking the Federal Government policy on naira currency swap which led to the Northern Governors decision to withdraw their support for Atiku Abubakar. They consequently demanded huge sums of money from Bola Tinubu for themselves and the INEC Chairman to rig him into power under certain conditions. This was the genesis of Emefieles current ordeal. For Nasir el-Rufai and co, it does not matter to them if President Tinubu finally loses out at the Tribunal. the point is that their agreement has been fulfilled by announcing him the winner of the Presidential election. Nwankwo T. Nwaezeigwe, PhD, DD (Odogwu of Ibusa, Delta State, Nigeria) Institute of African Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria Leader, International Coalition against Christian Genocide in Nigeria (CAC-GEN) Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Website: https://icac-gen.org Which of the two wars currently being fought in Ukraine will end first, asks Hussein Haridy Wars have broken out throughout history for various geopolitical reasons and have ended with winners and losers. The latter have realised that the costs of fighting outweigh the price to be paid for negotiating an agreement to end a war that could lead to their total destruction In the end, reason has prevailed and peace and security been re-established, albeit on terms favourable to the party or parties that had the upper hand on the battlefield. But the war now raging in Ukraine could become the exception that proves the historical rule of how wars have ended. To be more precise, what we have been witnessing in the killing fields of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys Ukraine for more than a year and a half is two wars in one. There is a war between Russia and Ukraine and a proxy war between Russia and the US-led NATO. As far as Russia is concerned, its terms for ending its special military operation in Ukraine have at least for now been rejected by both the Ukrainian government and the US and its Western allies. On the face of it, the latter camp, led by the Biden administration, is unanimous in dealing with the political and military aspects of the conflict and in giving its fully-fledged support to Ukraine, even if questions linger around how long this unanimity will last. While it would be premature to predict when the united Western support for Ukraine will start to show cracks, a reasonable guess is that this will happen with the change of administrations in the US in November 2024 in the wake of the US presidential elections. This could be a significant tipping point. If this guess proves right, then 15 months from now the Wests proxy war with Russia will start to come to an end. It all depends on how this end will be marketed to public opinion in the Western world. But the main question remains of what the government in Kyiv will accept as an honourable conclusion to its war with Russia. The warring parties have not changed their respective narratives on the causes of the dual war in Ukraine or on the terms they would accept to end the fighting and negotiate either a non-aggression pact or a peace treaty or both between Russia and Ukraine. After all, these two neighbouring countries are destined by both history and geography to enjoy peaceful coexistence with neither party presenting a serious security risk to the other. Addressing the Aspen Security Forum held from 18 to 21 July in Colorado in the US, Zelensky said that the much-touted major counteroffensive of the Ukrainian military was about to gain pace. He added, ignoring the facts on the battlefield, that the front was about to shift and called on allies to ship long-range missiles and advanced fighter jets to Ukraine. We are approaching a moment when relevant actions can gain pace because we are already going through some mine locations, he said. Russian defensive fortifications and mine fields have thus far thwarted the major counteroffensive that the Ukrainians launched last June. Speaking to the same forum, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told the audience that the results of this counteroffensive would only become clear once Kyiv had fully deployed its forces, pointing out it is only at that moment when they make that commitment that we will really see what the results of the counteroffensive will be. But his doubts were brought to light when he spoke about the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. As quoted in the UK Financial Times on 21 July, Sullivan said that the view of our military commanders is that the notion that the F-16s would play a decisive role in the counteroffensive [is different] than what you have heard from some Ukrainian voices. However, the most significant comment that he made and the key to predicting the probable future direction of the war if the Ukrainian counteroffensive fails to achieve its stated military objectives came when he said that every member of NATO [should] think about the Russian reaction when we choose to do something because that matters for our security and it matters for global stability. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaking at the Aspen Security Forum Fireside Chat on 21 July about the Ukrainian counteroffensive said that we said from the start it would be hard going. In an attempt to justify the lack of results of the counteroffensive thus far, Blinken said that the Russians have laid significant and serious defenses. The Ukrainians have what they need to be very successful, and as they deploy and put into this effort all of their forces that had been trained in recent months [and] the military assistance, I think that will make a profound difference. But a profound difference to what is anybodys guess. The same day Blinken was laying out his predictions, Russian President Vladimir Putin convened the National Security Council in Russia and said that the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the east and south of Ukraine had not achieved results and that Russian armaments had proven superior to the ones that the West had supplied to Ukraine. Military experts quoted in press reports say it will be difficult, if not impossible, to push the Russians back to their positions before 24 February 2022. If this is the case, which of the two wars will end first? The proxy war or the direct military duel between Moscow and Kyiv? If I had to make an educated guess, I would say the former. After the leaders calling the shots in the current dual war in Ukraine are gone, history will likely call the Ukrainian president the Don Quixote of Ukraine. The writer is former assistant foreign minister. * A version of this article appears in print in the 27 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Leatherback turtle lays eggs at Karon Beach PHUKET: A leatherback turtle came ashore to lay eggs at Karon Beach last night (July 25) in what is believed to be the first turtle nest at Karon in 20 years. marineanimalsnatural-resourcesenvironment By Eakkapop Thongtub Wednesday 26 July 2023 05:59 PM Staff at Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket informed Suthep Jualaong, Director of the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center (Upper Andaman Sea), at 10:10pm that a large leatherback turtle had hauled itself up the beach to lay eggs in front of the hotel. Officers from the research centre were dispatched, and a second team of officers arrived at the beach at 11:07pm. Mr Suthep confirmed that the turtle was a leatherback, weighing about 300 kilogrammes. The officers found several nesting sites dug by the turtle. Officers excavated each site carefully, and found that only one large hole in the sand contained eggs. Officers sealed off the area to inspect the eggs and determine whether they should be moved, in case the nest was threatened by high tides. If need be, the eggs will be moved to be incubated at the research centre. At latest report today (July 26), officers had decided to leave the eggs where they were laid and had assigned officers to watch over the nest to ensure it remains undisturbed. The nest is believed to be the first turtle eggs laid on Karon Beach in 20 years. A leatherback turtle laid eggs at Kata Beach two years ago, which was also touted as the first turtle nest laid on that beach in two decades. PM vote postponed pending new ruling BANGKOK: Parliament president Wan Muhamad Noor Matha has postponed the vote for a new prime minister from tomorrow (July 27), pending a Constitutional Court ruling on the rejected renomination of Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat. politics By Bangkok Post Wednesday 26 July 2023 09:07 AM Wan: Consulted legal advisers. Photo: Bangkok Post Mr Wan said yesterday he made the decision after consulting with legal officials from the House of Representatives and his advisers, the Bangkok Post reports. They concluded that if the PM vote were to go ahead tomorrow, it could potentially lead to problems when the court makes its ruling afterwards, said Mr Wan, who also serves as the House speaker. With the vote postponed, todays planned meeting of whips from the coalition allies, other political parties and senators became unnecessary, he said. Another reason for delaying the joint sitting of MPs and senators was that many were worried they would not be able to attend ceremonies to celebrate His Majesty the Kings birthday in their respective provinces on Friday if the sitting was prolonged, Mr Wan said. The joint sitting for a prime ministerial vote can be put back on the parliamentary agenda after the courts ruling. Mr Wan earlier set tomorrow for MPs and senators to vote again for a new prime minister, possibly a candidate from Pheu Thai, the second-largest party in the same alliance led by the MFP. The MFP has agreed to let Pheu Thai take the lead in nominating a prime minister and forming the government. The MFP also faces a challenge because many parties outside the eight-party coalition disapprove of its plan to revise Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law. Meanwhile, the MFP insists it will continue trying to get Mr Pita elected as prime minister. He failed to win a majority in a joint vote by both houses on July 13. Mr Pita was renominated at a joint sitting on July 19, but this was turned down, citing a parliamentary regulation. Opponents argued the renomination was in violation of parliamentary regulation 41, which prohibits the resubmission of a failed motion during the same parliamentary session. Mr Pitas supporters and many academics disagreed and asked the Constitutional Court to rule on parliaments rejection. Constitutional Court president Worawit Kangsasitiam said on Tuesday the Ombudsman had electronically submitted a petition asking the court to rule on Mr Pitas rejected renomination as well as to suspend the prime ministerial vote. Mr Worawit said court officials will spend two days checking the document before forwarding the petition to a panel of judges to consider whether to accept it for deliberation - a process which will take five days. Meanwhile, yesterdays planned meeting of the eight political parties seeking to form a new government was abruptly cancelled. It had been called by Pheu Thai to discuss progress in getting support for the nomination of a preferred prime minister. Pheu Thai announced its cancellation in a message sent to reporters on the LINE app early yesterday afternoon. The message said the other seven parties had been informed. According to sources, Pheu Thai had apologised to all the other parties for the cancellation. Pheu Thai said its assigned task of seeking support from political parties outside the eight-party alliance, and from senators, in a parliamentary vote to select the new prime minister had not made satisfactory progress. The move came after the Ombudsman on Monday decided to ask the court to rule on Mr Pitas rejected renomination and order parliament to postpone the prime ministerial vote scheduled for tomorrow. MFP secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon said Pheu Thai probably now needed more time to prepare a proposal to be presented to the eight parties. Top Russian, Chinese officials to visit North Korea in post-pandemic first PYONGYANG: North Korea will welcome Russias defence minister and a high-level Chinese delegation to Pyongyang this week for Korean War armistice anniversary celebrations, state media said yesterday (July 25), marking a key shift in the nuclear-armed countrys stringent COVID-19 border restrictions. ChineseRussianpoliticsCOVID-19 By AFP Wednesday 26 July 2023 09:29 AM Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu will lead a delegation from his country for the anniversary evet in Pyongyang. Photo: AFP Pyongyang will celebrate 70 years since the signing of the Korean War armistice on July 27, 1953, which ended open hostilities in the conflict and is known as Victory Day in the North, with state media saying it would be marked in a grand manner that will go down in history. Satellite imagery indicates the North has been preparing for the kind of large-scale military parade with which it typically fetes such anniversaries. But the inclusion of Chinese and Russian guests this year is a post-pandemic first, which hints at new flexibility towards enforcing border controls. North Korea has been under a rigid self-imposed coronavirus blockade since early 2020 to protect itself from COVID-19, which has prevented even its own nationals from entering the country. A military delegation of the Russian Federation led by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu will pay a congratulatory visit to the DPRK, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said, a day after it confirmed a Chinese delegation would also attend the event tomorrow. Shoigu in fact arrived in Pyongyang later yesterday and was welcomed at the airport by his North Korean counterpart Kang Sun Nam, Shoigus ministry said in Moscow. Russia, a historic ally of Pyongyang, is one of a handful of nations that maintains friendly relations with the North. Pyongyangs leader Kim Jong Un has been steadfast in his support for Moscows invasion of Ukraine, including, Washington says, supplying rockets and missiles. This visit will contribute to strengthening Russian-North Korean military ties and will be an important step in the development of cooperation between the two countries, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement. China also confirmed yesterday it would send a delegation led by Politburo member Li Hongzhong. Seoul, Washington monitoring Seouls defence ministry said yesterday it had detected more people and equipment in the capital Pyongyang, adding that South Korean and US intelligence agencies were closely monitoring as the North prepared for the upcoming celebration. The visits by the Chinese and Russian officials are the first known by any foreign delegation since the start of the pandemic. The North only resumed some trade with China last year, and allowed Beijings new envoy to take up his position this year. Beijing said the delegation would travel to Pyongyang today, suggesting they would not be required to undergo an extensive quarantine ahead of the anniversary event tomorrow. After this event, North Korea is expected to ease its COVID restrictions while strengthening military cooperation with Moscow and Beijing, Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Center for North Korean Studies at the Sejong Institute, told AFP. Russia is expected to ask for more artillery support from North Korea to be used in the Ukraine war, and Pyongyang is also expected to ask for Russias cooperation on reconnaissance satellites or nuclear submarines. US submarines North Korea tried - but failed - to launch its first military spy satellite in May, and has fired off multiple ballistic missiles recently to make clear its displeasure at Washingtons deployment of a nuclear-capable submarine to the Korean peninsula. The visit last week of the Ohio-class submarine was the first such deployment since 1981, and it was swiftly followed by the arrival of a second US submarine, the nuclear-powered USS Annapolis, at a South Korean naval base on Monday. Relations between the two Koreas are currently at one of their lowest historical points, as diplomacy between Pyongyang and Seoul has stalled and Kim has called for ramping up weapons development, including tactical nukes. In addition, a US soldier, Travis King, is currently believed to be in North Korean custody, after he ran across the border into North Korea during a tour of the demilitarised zone last week. South Korea not only aims to be an important player in the Northeast Asia region, but also a leading and proactive player in the wider international system, writes Mohamed Ibrahim Al-Dessouki South Korea has set out its desired position in the New Asia, aiming to become a pivotal and influential player in the Northeast Asia region. Its aspiration is to transform itself into a globally pivotal state and one dedicated to freedom, peace, and prosperity. This pursuit is the object of its hopes and ambitions, which it seeks to accomplish not in the distant future but today. Seoul has both major and more minor aspirations in the New Asia that are dictated and influenced by the regional and international geopolitical terrain. It must confront a complex series of strategic challenges, three of which stand out as the most pressing. The first and most momentous challenge is North Korea. The latter is steadfastly advancing in its relentless efforts to develop nuclear missile capabilities. It has adopted a hostile discourse towards the other Korean state in the southern part of the Peninsula, accusing it of plotting with the US, South Koreas military and political ally, and Japan, the former coloniser of Korea, to overthrow the ruling Communist regime in Pyongyang. South Korea is in a constant state of anxiety due to any unexpected actions from the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. Moreover, the North Korean threats to its security are exacerbated by the fact that decision-makers in Pyongyang reject any compromise or even minimal flexibility that could alleviate the ongoing tension between the two Koreas and its repercussions on Northeast Asia, as well as on international efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation and halt missile tests. The Korean crisis has become increasingly complex as negotiations between the two Koreas and the major international players come to a halt. The nuclear talks between North Korea and the US are stalled, as is the dialogue between Seoul and Pyongyang. All avenues seem to be closed off, even as the international sanctions on North Korea have lost their effectiveness, given the significant advances that the country has made in nuclear and other capabilities despite them. North Korea is also now deeply involved in black-market dealings to acquire various materials. In the face of such challenges, South Korea finds itself with limited options to safeguard its security and deter North Korea from any military action that might threaten its territory, vital interests, or citizens. The most plausible option before South Korea is to face its Northern counterpart with the nuclear card it possesses as a deterrent. Recent surveys in South Korea reveal that 71 per cent of the population supports the development of the countrys own nuclear weapons, while 56 per cent are in favour of deploying US nuclear weapons on South Korean soil, where approximately 29,000 US troops are stationed. The administration led by current South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has chosen a pragmatic approach by strengthening its relations with the US in matters of security, the military, and diplomacy, as well as in areas like the Internet, space, and nuclear energy, alongside Japan. South Korea has also set aside its historical disputes with Japan, and both countries now recognise North Korea as a direct threat to their national security. South Korea has moved towards closer ties with Tokyo, and the two countries describe their relationship as a progressive partnership between countries that share similar values, reflecting their willingness to move beyond the past under the urgency of present circumstances. The second challenge facing South Korea lies in the crises that the Northeast Asia region faces due to escalating tensions between the US and China. These tensions arise from US support for Taiwan, which Beijing views as a rebellious province of China. There is also the ongoing struggle between Washington and Beijing for dominance in the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. As a key partner of the US, South Korea shares the US positions, especially given the regional concerns surrounding Chinas rise and its efforts to extend its influence both within Asia and beyond. But Seoul also takes a cautious approach towards China, avoiding any provocations or antagonism. The official South Korean discourse views China as the principal partner for achieving peace and prosperity in the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, seeking a more robust and mature relationship based on mutual respect and reciprocity. This discourse should not be misconstrued as weakness or fear of the Chinese dragon. Rather, it represents the pragmatism necessary when assessing the reality on the ground. China remains North Koreas closest ally, and it holds significant sway within its ruling circles. Chinese markets are crucial for South Korean trade, and the country receives thousands of Chinese tourists each year, contributing to Seouls foreign-currency reserves. On the other hand, China harbours concerns about the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, viewing South Korea as a supplier of weapons to regional countries. It fears the potential impact of South Koreas regional influence, given its competitive prices compared to the prices of Chinese weapons. The third and final challenge to South Korea lies in the turbulent international repercussions of the Russo-Ukrainian war, escalating tensions between the US and China, disruptions to global supply chains, climate change, and the spread of pandemics that have inflicted damage on the healthcare systems of all nations, regardless of wealth. In order for South Korea to navigate peacefully amidst the turbulent waves of the current international situation, it must follow the courses it has charted to achieve its goals. These include enhancing multilateral cooperation and the establishment of a global economic security system, given South Koreas ranking as the worlds tenth-largest economy, supporting security and economic cooperation with the European countries, deepening regional partnerships, and producing new defence capabilities by harnessing Artificial Intelligence technology to bolster its military capabilities. It needs to respond decisively and swiftly to threats and dangers, intensify its diplomatic efforts on the international stage, and pay special attention to the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions within the framework of western intentions toward them. All of these efforts aim to grant a pivotal status to the southern part of the Korean Peninsula in the international arena. South Korea does not seek to confine itself to being a regional power in Northeast Asia; instead, it aspires to be part of the broader New Asia and to be recognised as a leading and proactive player in the international system. The writer is a former Al-Ahram newspaper correspondent in Tokyo and an expert on East Asia foreign affairs. * A version of this article appears in print in the 27 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Where are the water tight cases Not the time for hot air | Documentation. In short the records. And it is on the basis of records that the European Parliament discussed the Manipur issue, particularly the burning and desecration of Churches. That this did not go down well with Delhi is a different matter, but this more than demonstrates that CSOs representing the Kuki people can reach far and wide. To counter this, do the Meiteis have the needed record, proofs to show as evidences that their places of worship too have been desecrated and defiled underlining the point that it is not only Churches which have been razed to the ground but sites sacred to the Meiteis too ? It took the nude parade of two girls to let the Prime Minister break his deafening silence on the violence in Manipur and cast the Meiteis in extremely poor light in front of the comity of Nations, but the question of greater importance is whether the Meiteis also have any proof to evidence that they have also been subjected to such similar treatment ? What are the steps that have been taken up to set the narrative right, or are the CSOs representing the interests of the Meiteis just satisfied with that they want to say to the Imphal based media and fail to reach out beyond Manipur ? Take a look at the stuffs that are being published and posted by the different media houses across India and the world. Take a look at any of better known international publications and India based media houses and it is more than obvious that the Kukis have sold their victim story in a convincing manner to the outside world. The opinion of the world and particularly Delhi matters and this is a point which should not blow over the heads of anyone, particularly those who have been at the forefront batting for the existence of Manipur as a distinct geo-political reality. Reach out is the call one would like to stress and this is not the time to remain smug and satisfied with just playing to the audience based at the valley. If the Kuki CSOs have been able to take Mizoram along with their stand, why cant Manipur reach out to the other North East States to at least say something in favour of the State and her people ? These are points which everyone standing by the idea of a Manipur should mull over. What materials or records were presented to the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women, Rekha Sharma when she visited the State from the side of the CSOs representing the Meiteis ? How about the CSOs representing the Kukis ? Did the importance of the visit dawn on any of the CSOs based in Imphal ? The visit of the NCW Chairperson is important especially in the backdrop of the video clip of the nude parade of the two women and this is where the earlier question of whether any of the reported excesses have been documented or not. Time to move beyond sloganeering and local road blockades and come to the realisation that what is happening in Manipur is now under global watch. And to present any credible case before the comity of Nations, it is hard evidence that the world would want. It has to move beyond the stage of the talks doing the round on the social media or the leikai clubs. It is nearly 90 days since Manipur went up in flames and the violence in the State may come up for discussion any day in the Monsoon session of Parliament. Is Lok Sabha MP Dr RK Ranjan well primed to present the case of Manipur effectively ? For that he would need to present evidences and can the CSOs based in Imphal provide the needed documentary proofs ? How about the Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba ? Or will they be caught on the wrong foot for want of any hard evidence to be presented on the floor of Parliament ? Time for everyone to pull up their socks. Not the time to play Leikai heroes but prepare documents that can find takers before everyone and not only the Imphal media. ZSUM decries | IMPHAL, Jul 26 : The Zeliangrong Students' Union Manipur (ZSUM) has claimed that three people from Khunkhu Naga Village and Leimakhong Liangmei Village were abducted at gun-point by unknown miscreants from Mantripukhri near auto-parking at around 2.30 pm yesterday while heading towards their places. In a statement, the Union claimed that they (the three persons) were forced to drive till Khabam Lamkhai, Mantripukhri and released after detaining them for nearly 20 minutes. Condemning the 'provocative' act, the ZSUM said such incidents will only escalate the tension in Manipur. The Union urged the Government to take up necessary action. Meanwhile, the ZSUM also appealed to the Government, civil society organisations (CSOs), general public and authorities concerned to take up necessary measures to ensure the safety of the students amid the unrest in Manipur. In a statement, ZSUM said that students are feeling insecure due to the ongoing crisis in Manipur. The students couldn't concentrate on their studies though schools, colleges and universities have reopened and this is a major setback to them, it added. It is difficult to establish someone's identity on meare apearance in a society like Manipur, the Union said. Naga is a patriarchal society where a woman's identity is assimilated with her husband/spouse, it said and appealed to one and all to understand the nature of Naga society. The forbidden State | Kongbrailatpam Rajeshwar SharmaAlthough Manipur was once described as the Jewel of India by Jawaharlal Nehru, the mainland India is quite oblivious of it unless there is trouble. Indias North East remains a peripheral area drawing attention only when violence erupts, when massacres, riots, curfews and agitations spiral out of control, writes Sanjoy Hazarika in his book Strangers of the Mist. The present violent flare-ups with arsons and indiscriminate killings of villagers in Manipur and how the mainstream media react only vindicate what the veteran Assamese journalist has written.Based on fake narratives and sensational morphed video clips of the social media, mainstream media with their prejudiced and partisan manner of reporting had painted a distorted picture of what happened on the 3rd and 4th May 2023 in Manipur. As arsons and attacks go on unabated in the Manipur valley, a clear picture of who the real perpetrators and the victims are has emerged.Now the focus of some of the mainland newspapers begins shifting towards the nexus between the politicians and heavily armed militants who are alleged to have been enjoying the support of the powerful drug barons in the State. However they have not even bothered to spare a few minutes or a small space on the incessant influx of immigrants from Myanmar across the porous Manipur-Myanmar border. Nor does the War on drugs in Manipur find an ample space let alone appear as a headline on the front page of any of the National dailies. Repeated demands for fencing along the border from different civil society organizations in Manipur have fallen on deaf ears. Editors of the mainland Indian newspapers do not find them sensational enough to be reported. Nor do they take these issues as National issues. The Babus and Netas of mainland India are still oblivious of the illegal immigrants crossing over to Manipur, drug trafficking across the border between Myanmar and Manipur, and what measures have been taken up to stop them.No people in India have ever suffered from violence perpetrated on them by the State and non-State forces as the people of Manipur have. Not only have they been the victims of the current cycle of violence, but they have also been the victims of both the insurgency and the counter-insurgency operations under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958. Human rights violations, custodial deaths, fake- encounters, rapes, extortions and third degree tortures have been the violent rituals in the lives of the people of Manipur since the early eighties of the last century. In addition to these various types of violence, Manipur has also witnessed State sponsored violence such as Heirangoithong and RIMS gate massacres of the 1980s and 1990s. None of these had ever appeared on the front page as headlines of the mainstream media. Nor was it taken up in the Parliament for discussion. Only when the Supreme Court and the High Court were moved did the mainstream media afford a small space for the events in Manipur like a line or two in a maze of thousands of words.Moreover, nowhere in this world is economic blockade imposed in peace time. But in Manipur economic blockades are used as a political weapon in time of peace when there is no war. It is used only during wars as a tactical warfare. To get what they want, economic blockades and bandhs are imposed at the drop of the hat by militants and civil society organizations of every hue more often than not.The State Government and the people are held hostage for days and sometimes for months by blocking the two National Highways which are the life-lines of the State. Many a time petrol pump retailers have witnessed more than one-kilometer long lines of cars waiting for their turn to get refilled during the economic blockades. Ever since the beginning of the on-going violence on the 3rd of May 2023, Imphal-Dimapur National Highway has been under siege.No mainland newspaper has ever bothered to report the sufferings of the people caused by economic blockades. No goods trucks or passenger buses can ply on the two National Highways without being escorted by the security forces. As if there is no rule of law or Government in the State or at the Centre in Delhi, no one who is involved in imposing the economic blockade or bandhs has been booked under any provision of the law let alone give him or her punishment according to the law.A beeline of Opposition MPs of several political parties is seen making their way to strife-torn Manipur to ostensibly assess the two-month old violent situation. The question is what they had been doing before the 3rd of May 2023. Were they not aware of the issues that the State had been grappling ? Did they not have enough time to read online newspapers published in Manipur, particularly The Sangai Express? Is it not their duty to keep themselves informed with issues and events happening at every corner of India ? Have they ever brought up in the Parliament for discussion issues like Manipur-Myanmar border fencing, Scheduled Tribe demand for Meiteis, drug trafficking along the Manipur-Myanmar border and illegal Myanmar immigrants pouring into Manipur after the military coup in Myanmar?A vibrant democracy requires well informed members of Parliament who are able to assess the simmering situation that is ticking like a time-bomb and foresee the consequences of the sequence of events. The violent event of the 3rd of May 2023 was an explosion of a time-bomb that had been ticking for many years. It is due to their lackadaisical attitude towards Manipur. It is not only the failure of the State Government but it is also the failure of India as a Nation.In the recent past one or the other of the Central Government Ministers paid visits to Manipur almost every week prior to the violent events that began on the 3rd of May 2023 but during the last two or three months none of them was seen coming to Manipur except the Home Minister and his Deputy. One might wonder what they were doing in the State. In spite of the Home Ministers short sojourn to Manipur, the violence in the State continued unabated. The Central para-military forces are alleged to have been acting in a partisan manner. Did the Home Ministry not notice the Scheduled Tribe demand committee agitation ? Why did the Home Ministry keep silent on illegal immigrants and drugs coming into Manipur from Myanmar ? What concrete measures have they taken to address these issues ? It is high time they realized that these issues are the root causes of the present violent flare-ups in Manipur.About twelve years ago, Mani Shankar Aiyar, former Union Minister in an interview with Mark Tully of the BBC, said, ..there is only one of the States (in the North East) where there is still a problem and that is Manipur, which I admit is in a mess. Since then nothing has been done to clear the mess and solve any of the myriad problems of Manipur. Mani Shankar Aiyar would not be surprised to hear about the current cycle of violence in the State and know that Manipur is still in a mess. Arre, who does anything about anything in this country?...Its all jugaar, said a welder while he was talking to Mark Tully near a railway crossing at Yamunanagar in Haryana.***K. Rajeshwar Sharma is a freelancer. You can reach him at [email protected] When sedition charges were clamped down on students raising anti-India slogans on the JNU campus, many wanted an end to sedition laws which they thought were an instrument used for suppressing free speech. After the British era, it was revalidated by the imposition of new grounds of curbing free speech under the Nehru Government. The Nehru government through the First Amendment to the Constitution widened the scope of restrictions on fundamental rights in the interest of security of the state. The existing restriction on the ground of undermining the state or overthrowing the state was more specific and limited in its connotation. The new grounds, in a way, therefore, legitimised punishment for actions which were also punishable under sedition law. What was the pressing need for regulating free speech in such a way? Nehru put forward 0bizarre logic for it. Speaking in Parliament, he pointed out, we live at a time of grave danger in the world at this moment when great countries think of a struggle for survival all of us have to think in terms of survival. He did not disclose what these grave dangers were. Did he really mean that imposition of further restrictions on the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression would help us survive? One wonders. Pilloried by the opposition in the Parliament, the government sought the help of Law minister B R Amedkar to defend its intentions with regard to the new restrictions on Fundamental Rights. Dr Ambedkar pointed out that the court in India always resisted introduction of the doctrine of inherent police powers. The doctrine was in force in the US. It gave the state an inherent right to regulate, in public interest especially, to protect the security of the state. Advertisement Such regulation may not be within the limits stated in the constitutional provisions. In other words, Ambedkar argued for empowering the government to impose restrictions on fundamental rights going beyond the limits enumerated in the constitution. For him, this was necessary because in India the apex court would not accept any limitation except what was specified in the Constitution. The same Ambedkar, in the Constituent Assembly, described Fundamental Rights as the very soul of the Constitution. Amedkars defence of Nehruvian policy actually helped in revival of the spirit of the sedition law. It triggered fierce controversies over curtailment of fundamental rights in India. But, before we proceed further, the meaning of sedition has to be explained. Sedition law was inserted in the Indian Penal Code under British rule to suppress independence movements. Sedition means, the use of words or actions that are intended to encourage people to be or act against a government. Section 124A of the Indian Penal code [IPC] lays down the punishment for sedition. Section 124A of IPC says, whoever, by words, either spoken or written, excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government established by law in India shall be punished with imprisonment for life However, in one of the explanations appended to this section, it is stated that comments expressing disapproval of governments policies to bring about changes by lawful means without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, cannot be treated as an offence under this section. How do we distinguish between dissent by lawful means and seditious speeches? Conflicting opinions often posed great difficulties in identifying the seditious content of utterances. It is one of the stumbling blocks in the process of taking punitive action against people inciting violent actions in their speeches. In many recent cases attempts were made to interpret violent speeches as mere criticisms of government policy. These were based on blatant lies. It would be evident from a close examination of the notorious anti-India slogans raised in the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus in 2016. Some of the JNU slogans were: Bharat ki barbadi tak jang rahegi [Battle will continue till India is ruined], Afzal ke armano ko manzil tak le jayengi [Will take Afzals wishes to their consummation] and Bharat tere tukre honge [India, you will be divided into pieces]. One must take note of the fact that Afzal Guru was a terrorist who masterminded the 2001 Parliament attack. The slogan that targeted the fulfillment of Afzals wishes [armano] purportedly aimed at destruction of the temple of democracy in India. The slogans like Bharat ki barbadi tak jang rahegi [Battle will continue till India is ruined] or Bharat tere tukre honge [India, you will be divided into pieces] are equally violent. If it is argued that Bharat ki barbadi actually meant the end of a poverty-stricken Bharat that sponsored discrimination, it would be a puerile defence of the most subversive comment. Here, the difference between sedition and treason will be found relevant. Treason and sedition are often used interchangeably. But, there are differences between the two. Treason threatens the entire country while sedition is against the government established by law. JNU slogans aimed at the destruction of our nation. So, whatever might be the objection to sedition charges against students raising these slogans, no one can deny that such utterances were treasonous. They deserved punishment. These anti-national outcries are not isolated incidents. They indicate that unlike Nehrus vague grave danger we are now confronted with a clear and present danger of a growing tendency to destabilise our nation. It helps realise a hostile neighbours long cherished dream. If we go on ignoring such developments, we will do it at our own peril. (The writer is former Head of the department of Political Science, Presidency College, Kolkata) The Anti Terrorism Squad of Gujarat suspects that the East Burdwan youths picked up on charges of conspiring to commit anti-national activities were preparing a sleeper cell named 'Bengal Module' in the western state that was funded by Islamic State of Khorsan Province (ISKP) and not Al Qaida that the agency was inclined to think initially. Delhi Education Minister Atishi on Wednesday interacted with the principals of the city government schools to determine the goals and strategies for the current academic session. The interaction was organised at the Sarvodaya Co-Ed Vidyalaya, Kalkaji, in which more than 250 school principals from Delhi government schools participated. During the conversation, Atishi said the government and Education Department works as support staff. The government formulates policies, provides resources, and sets the vision, but it is the principals who bring those changes into reality. Advertisement The principals recounted how they adopted unique methods to improve attendance, bring about personal changes in students, enhance academic results, guide teachers, and create conducive learning environment in their schools. Atishi said, Principals are not mere administrators, but are academic leaders as well. As leaders, they should take suggestions from teachers and students to create a learning environment. She directed the school principals to set a minimum benchmark for infrastructure, cleanliness, classroom aesthetics, and the level of education for their schools. She said the government, in the past eight years of AAP rule, provided a fantastic model for education. However, now it is the responsibility of school principals to set a minimum benchmark for their schools and ensure that no childs learning level falls below that line. In this context, Atishi highlighted the importance of the Deshbhakti Curriculum in schools, stating that it is crucial for developing a growth mindset and instilling positive habits among students in the face of present challenges. While schools have seen positive results with its implementation, she urged all principals to take full responsibility and work diligently to ensure the effective implementation of the curriculum in their schools. Acknowledging that being a principal is a highly-challenging task, Atishi said their efforts and hard work positively impact the lives of thousands of children. The most significant changes in any school can be brought about by the schools principals, as they set the direction and leadership that shape the school environment. Along with 250 principals, several other education officials, including Education Secretary Ashok Kumar, Education Director Himanshu Gupta, Principal Education Advisor Shailendra Sharma, and Director of SCERT Delhi Dr Rita Sharma, were present on the occasion. The Delhi education minister will interact with more than 1,000 principals of Delhi government schools in batches of about 250 over the next few days. DP World said its flagship Jebel Ali Port had received Berlin Express, the ultra-large dual-fuel container ship from German group Hapag-Lloyd, on its maiden voyage, this reinforcing its commitment to innovation and sustainability in the shipping industry. A state-of-the-art vessel with a capacity of 23,600 TEU, The Berlin Express is the first of 12 dual-fuel vessels ordered by the shipping line which will run on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), producing significantly lower emissions than traditional marine diesel. TradeArabia had last week reported that the hitech vessel, measuring 400 m in length, 61 m in width, and 16 m in draught, had made its maiden regional port call at King Abdulaziz Port in Jeddah. It was the largest container vessel in the Jeddah Port's history. Part of a new class of container ships deployed for the first time by Hapag-Lloyd, the LNG dual-fuel propelled vessel called at the Dammam port on the AG3 cargo service. The AG3 connects the Arabian Gulf hub with Port Kelang, Singapore, Shekou, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, Busan, Sohar, Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi, Hamad, and Jubail, stated the report. According to DP World, the arrival is a significant milestone for Jebel Ali Port, further solidifying its position as a global trade hub, providing unmatched connectivity to over 180 shipping lines and market access to more than 3.5 billion consumers worldwide. Vessels are now typically equipped with dual-fuel engines that can operate on both gas and conventional fuel. The Berlin Express primarily runs on LNG, an important transition fuel on Hapag-Lloyds journey to climate-neutral shipping. The dual-fuel technology enables Hapag-Lloyd to consider the use of bio- or synthetic fuels, like e-methane, in the future. In general terms, the use of LNG can reduce carbon emissions by up to 25%, and sulphur dioxide and fine particulate emissions by more than 90%. Hapag-Lloyd will operate the Berlin Express between the Far East and the Arabian Gulf. It will then be transferred to its permanent route, the Far East Loop - between China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Joost Kruijning, SVP & COO, Ports & Terminals Division, DP World UAE said: "We are proud to welcome Hapag-Lloyd's first dual-fuel LNG ultra-large containership at Jebel Ali, reinforcing our commitment to driving innovation and sustainability in the shipping industry." "As a leading port in the region, we offer world-class infrastructure and streamlined processes for seamless cargo handling. Our strategic location connects shipping lines to broader markets, and our integrated digital trade solutions ensure efficient and secure operations. With continued investments in leading-edge capabilities, we empower businesses and foster their growth in the UAE and beyond," he noted. Dr Maximilian Rothkopf, Chief Operating Officer at Hapag-Lloyd said: "We are very happy, that our new state-of-the-art flagship Berlin Express made her first successful port call at Jebel Ali, Dubai, during her maiden voyage. Jebel Ali is a key port for us in the region." "With 23,600 TEU capacity and 400 meters in length, this vessel is the biggest ship sailing under the German flag ever. At the same time, she is paving the way for a more sustainable future for Hapag-Lloyd," stated Dr Rothkopf. "We will await our flagship for her first port call in Hamburg on October 2, where she will be christened by the First Lady, Elke Budenbender, wife of the German Federal President, Frank Walter Steinmeier," he added.-TradeArabia News Service The so called Arab Spring that hit in 2011 had the effect of a collision that juggles particles around, reorders them according to their intrinsic qualities and degrees of cohesion, and ushers them across a threshold into a new era. Sometimes problems occur in Arabic when dealing with concepts that originated in other cultures, especially those coming from Europe in the past two centuries. An example is the nation state, defined as a discrete state entity consisting of a people with a shared identity who live within specific and recognised territorial boundaries. The confusion arises in Arabic with the use of the word al-qawmi (national), which in Arabic political culture has always been used to signify a gathering of Arab peoples in a single political framework. Arab nationalist parties and movements, such as the Baath, the Arab Nationalists, and the Nasserists, espoused the idea of a single Arab people with an eternal mission and a pan-Arab state that embodies their collective will. It has been over a century since the Arab states, as we know them today, began to emerge in their current form, around three quarters of a century since they began to gain independence, and half a century since they all gained full independence. Although they maintained a collective Arab bond through membership in the Arab League, they began to develop their own identities, and although they sustained a spirit of mutual support as fellow Arab states, sometimes the search for identity went down ethnic, sectarian, and regional paths depending on local demographics, cultures, and ancient and modern histories. At this point, the nation state became the vehicle for shaping a distinct national identity and strengthening the sense of affiliation and loyalty to the state within its geographic realm. The so called Arab Spring that hit in 2011 had the effect of a collision that juggles particles around, reorders them according to their intrinsic qualities and degrees of cohesion, and ushers them across a threshold into a new era. The particles intended here are of course Arab states. The least affected were the Arab monarchies. This group of countries experienced some unrest on their fringes, but they stood firm in the face of the storm. Moreover, when one of them was invaded by a power bent on exploiting the upheaval at the time, it met the threat face on with military force. It then went on to help others through their difficulties. Egypt is the epitome of the second group. Its army remained one with the people, and both remained whole and undivided. The Egyptian state and its institutions proved able to survive, emerging from two years of anarchy like a phoenix from the ashes. The third group of countries were shaken to their foundations. In Syria, Yemen and Libya, the national armies fell apart, the state descended into rival militias and the country was plunged into civil war, lasting over a decade. In Libya, the country bifurcated into two political entities, one in the east and the other in the west. Tunisia, while spared civil war, has endured over a decade of chronic political crisis. The fourth group of countries were part of the new wave of the Arab Spring which occurred at the end of the 2010s. It includes Iraq, Lebanon, Algeria, and Sudan. While all championed the principle and interests of the nation state, they went in different directions. While Iraq and Algeria managed to hold together thanks to their oil wealth, Lebanon and Sudan began to disintegrate. If the latter two have so far managed to ward off civil war, the situation in Sudan is looking precarious because of the shadow cast over one of the most important prerequisites of sovereign statehood, the monopoly over the legitimate recourse to arms. This variegated picture of the condition of the Arab nation state is reminiscent of 17th century Europe and developments in other regions in the three centuries between the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 and the end of World War II in 1945. The most important feature of that period in world history is the rise of the nation state, the political entity that forms the overarching bond between its constituent members as a product of shared historical experiences, a spiritual connection, or merely existing in that geographical space. This entity transcended tribal, sectarian, and ethnic affiliations and reaffirmed a shared identity borne of a mode of economic and political interaction that became something greater than the pursuit of mutual interests. Whereas epics and sagas once eulogised ethnic or religious groups, songs and anthems now praised peoples and nations, and international recognition of a state became de facto recognition of the existence of a people with a distinct identity that differentiated them from other peoples. The Treaty of Westphalia was essentially an affirmation of the prevalence of national identity over pre-state identities that no longer had the right to command a higher transnational loyalty. If that inherently created the problem of minorities, geographical boundaries and national sovereignty created an identity through processes of voluntary or coerced fusion into a single communal experience. The foregoing should not be understood as a call to repeat the European experience in an Arab context. History does not repeat itself and geography should not be so malleable. But as we contemplate the deterioration in Sudan and the insurmountable rift in Palestine, even before the establishment of the state, it seems that the first two groups of states mentioned above, the ones that weathered the Arab Spring and set into motion comprehensive reform processes, should pursue a kind of Arab Westphalia. Such an arrangement would serve to safeguard the progress they have achieved through nationwide reforms and protect the Arab nation states by better enabling them to respond to current crises, the latest of which is the Sudanese crisis. An Arab Westphalia would proceed from the premise that the robust nation state, as defined by sovereignty and the monopoly on the legitimate recourse to arms, is the aim, and that sustainable development pursued through a comprehensive national project is the means. Herein resides the key to the New Regionalism which has already been born in the region. * A version of this article appears in print in the 27 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: The protesters, armed with traditional weapons and festoons, demanded answers to the recent Manipur incident and the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill and in rage, they break open Dilip Ghoshs bungalow. A group of tribals belonging to the outfit Bharat Jakat Majhi Pargana Mahal gheraoed BJPs national vice-president Dilip Ghoshs bungalow at Kharagpur on Wednesday. The protesters, armed with traditional weapons and festoons, broke open the gate to enter the premises of his bungalow, demanding answers to the recent Manipur incident and the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill. Dilip Ghosh, the Member of Parliament from Midnapore, was not present at his residence as he is currently in New Delhi attending parliamentary meetings. However, he expressed his willingness to hear the allegations if the agitators engaged with his representative, Biswajit Agarwal. Advertisement The protest was sparked in response to the appalling incident in Manipur, where two tribal women were stripped and raped by assailants. The agitators voiced their outrage over the attack and questioned why such atrocities occurred under the BJP governments watch. They also raised concerns about the UCC bill being pushed by the central government. Speaking about the motive behind their protest, Sanatan Hembram, the Kharagpur Pargana Baba of the outfit, stated, We launched this agitation because tribals in Manipur were attacked while there was a BJP government. Even during the double-engine government in Manipur, why are tribals being targeted? The Prime Ministers response to this brutal incident came after a prolonged 78 days. Why were BJP parliamentarians silent? We demand answers from our BJP MP. The rally of agitating tribals, which commenced from Bogda, made its way to Ghoshs residence at around 3.30 pm. Despite heavy deployment of police forces, the protesters remained undeterred and forcefully entered the bungalow premises. However, the persons present at Ghoshs residence maintained calm and composure, inviting the agitators to put forth their allegations as Ghosh had already appointed his representative to address their concerns. Following the peaceful submission of a memorandum by an 11-member tribal representative group, the protesters sat in front of Ghoshs residence and chanted slogans against the Central government and Ghosh himself. The situation remains tense, with security personnel closely monitoring the situation at Ghoshs residence. The protesters are awaiting a response from the BJP leaders representative regarding their grievances concerning the Manipur incident and the UCC bill. Netflix is gearing up to release an exhilarating Indian Hindi-language Heist Comedy Drama series titled Choona, which has been creating a buzz ever since its poster and teaser were unveiled. As viewers eagerly await the shows arrival, weve compiled a list of some popular heist movies and shows. 1. Kaleidoscope Kaleidoscope is an anthology series by Eric Garcia, set to premiere on January 1st. This ambitious heist tale follows a crew of thieves attempting to outsmart the worlds most powerful security and unlock an airtight vault for a massive payday. What makes this series unique is that each viewer will experience a personalized version of the story, with episodes named after different colors, adding a touch of mystery to the narrative. No heist list would be complete without Money Heist (La Casa de Papel). This renowned series centers on a group of thieves, each named after international cities, as they execute a daring plan to take Spains most heavily guarded financial centers hostage while wearing iconic Salvador Dali masks. Their ultimate goal is to escape with millions of euros. Advertisement 3. Coin Heist In the 2017 thriller Coin Heist, four teenagers, determined to save their Philadelphia prep school from financial ruin, devise a daring plan. They decide to create counterfeit valuable coins and hack into the US Mint. However, tensions arise among the group as they grapple with the moral question of whether the end justifies the means. 4. Special 26 Special 26, a 2013 Indian Hindi-language period heist thriller film directed by Neeraj Pandey, is based on the 1987 Opera House heist. The plot follows a team of criminals who masquerade as CBI officers, conducting raids and robbing politicians and businessmen of their illicit wealth. As the real CBI closes in on them, they aim to pull off their most daring heist yet. 4. Aankhen Aankhen, a 2002 Indian Hindi-language heist thriller film directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, features an ensemble cast led by Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Arjun Rampal, Sushmita Sen, and Paresh Rawal. The plot revolves around a visually impaired Akshay Kumar, who uses his sixth sense in a thrilling heist orchestrated by Amitabh Bachchans character. As we anticipate the release of Choona on Netflix, these heist-themed films and shows offer a taste of the excitement and intrigue that awaits viewers in the world of daring thefts and high-stakes adventures. The BJP has filed a police complaint against Kerala Assembly Speaker A N Shamseer, charging that he had insulted the religious beliefs of Hindus by claiming that the elephant-headed Lord Ganesha was only a myth. BJP Thiruvananthapuram district vice-president R S Rajeev filed a complaint alleging that Kerala Assembly Speaker AN Shamseer had insulted Hindu beliefs under the garb of promoting rational thought Shamseers statements are a violation of the oath of office and against the Constitution of the country. It is brought to your notice that Shamseer does not enjoy any privilege or immunity of the office of the MLA or the Speaker when the Assembly is not in session, Rajeev states in his complaint Advertisement The complaint also points out that Shamseer, who is an ardent believer in the Islamic faith, has made a conscious attempt to insult Hindu beliefs, create religious hatred, and promote enmity between followers of different faiths The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has decided to file complaints against Speaker A N Shamseer in all the police stations in Kerala for his statements against Hindu beliefs.VHP state general secretary V R Rajasekaran said his organisation has decided to file complaints against the Speaker in all police stations of the state before July 30 accusing him of insulting Hindu faith and preaching in a manner that causes religious conflict The VHP has also decided to submit memorandums to the President and the Governor of Kerala demanding to remove Shamseer from the post of the Speaker. BJP and VHP leaders alleged that Shamseer has earlier claimed that the Holy Quran is progressive and that when compared to other religions, Islam provides better protection for women BJP Kerala President, K Surendran, has come out strongly against the Speakers statements. He asked if Shamseer had the courage to criticize other religions like this. He demanded that the Speaker must apologize for insulting Hindus. The BJP said that the Speakers alleged remarks are in violation of his oath of office and are unconstitutional.BJPs IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya alleged that Speaker Shamseer was exploiting his position to denigrate the Hindu faith and beliefs. Malaviya asked whether Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will dissociate his party from such views or endorse it with his silence. Will Rahul Gandhi, a former MP from Kerala, disassociate the Congress from such Hindu hating views or endorse it with this silence? Malaviya asked in a tweet. Speaker Shamseer, who is also the CPI-M MLA from Thalassery constituency, made his controversial remarks at the Vidya Jyothi programme held at a school at Kunnathunadu in Ernakulam district last week. During his speech at the event, Shamseer allegedly accused the Centre of trying to teach children Hindu myths instead of accomplishments in science and technology. He termed Hindu god Ganesha and Pushpaka vimana as myths which lack scientific facts The speaker said that the Hindutva ideologues propagate that it was through plastic surgery that Lord Ganesh got his face and dismissed it as a myth.They are promoting such myths in place of science, said the Speaker.Shamseer also said that such concepts should be rejected as myths in the age of artificial intelligence. Superstitions of the Hindutva era will hold back progress,and these are mere myths in the era of artificial intelligence, he added. The Centre on Wednesday moved an application before the Supreme Court seeking extension of tenure of the present ED Director Sanjay Mishra, when his term is set to end on July 31 in accordance with a recent SC judgement. A bench headed by Justice B.R. Gavai agreed to hear the Centres application on Thursday (July 27) after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union government, mentioned the matter for urgent listing. There is some prayer we are making which will have to persuade Your Lordships, said S.G. Mehta while requesting the court to hear Centres miscellaneous application before Friday. Advertisement The bench posted the matter for hearing on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. In a judgement rendered on July 11, the Supreme Court dubbed the extension of ED chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra as illegal for violating the mandate of the top courts judgment in 2021. However, the top court had allowed him to continue in the post till July 31 taking into consideration the concerns expressed by the Union government. The court had held that the extension granted to Mishra was contrary to an earlier 2021 judgment rendered by a division bench of the Supreme Court in this regard. Mishra was first appointed as the ED Director for a two-year term in November 2018. His term expired in November 2020. In May 2020, he had reached the retirement age of 60. However, on November 13, 2020, the Central government issued an office order stating that the President had modified the 2018 order to the effect that a time of two years was changed to a period of three years. This was challenged before the Supreme Court by the NGO Common Cause. The Supreme Court in a September 2021 verdict approved the modification, but ruled against granting more extensions to Mishra. After the courts decision in 2021, the Central government brought in an ordinance amending the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act, giving itself the power to extend the tenure of the ED Director by up to five years. A law was passed by Parliament in this regard allowing extensions to the tenure of the ED Director for one year at a time, subject to a maximum of five years. Challenge to CVC Act and Delhi Special Police Establishment Act is dismissed to that extent. Extension granted to Sanjay Kumar Mishra after Supreme Court verdict is illegal. However, he is permitted to hold office till July 31, 2023, the Court ordered on July 11. General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps Lt General Rajiv Ghai and Director General of Police, J&K, Dilbag Singh discussed various important aspects pertaining to the prevailing security scenario of the valley. Strengthening and augmenting of security measures in order to counter the new tactics of terrorists including infiltration, pushing of drugs and arms being adopted by Pakistan were discussed were discussed during their meeting on Tuesday. The DGP lauded the synergy between different forces which he said has contributed immensely in foiling the ill intentions of Pakistan and the terrorists sent by it. The officers emphasized on sharing of intelligence between the forces on a regular basis, and also stressed on conduct of joint operations to comb out the remnants of hidden terrorists. Advertisement A day after the Kerala Police suo moto registered a case over the malfunctioning of a microphone, which interrupted the speech of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for a few seconds during a programme organised to commemorate the life of late Congress stalwart Oommen Chandy on Monday, the CM told the police not to proceed with the case. The condolence meeting was organised by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) at Mahatma Ayyankali Hall in Thiruvananthapuram. Advertisement Pinarayi Vijayan directed the police not to proceed with the case which case became a huge controversy and was ridiculed by Opposition leaders and the general public. He said that the investigating officials need to carry out only essential security inspections. Although the police were directed not to proceed with the case, the incident became a huge embarrassment for the state government. In a bizarre move, the police filed an FIR against the mic failure. The Cantonment police took suo moto notice of the incident under section 118 (e) Kerala Police Act (Any person who knowingly does any act which causes danger to public or failure in public safety). The FIR, however, did not mention anyone as accused. The police seized the accused malfunctioning mic, a set of cables and the amplifier. However, no case was registered against Renjith, the microphone operator. The FIR read that the accused acted in such a way as to affect public safety by howling into the microphone while the chief minister was speaking. On knowing that a case was registered on the matter, the mike operator Renjith said, I felt like laughing when I heard about the case for the first time. I have been in this profession for years and it is my first such experience, he said. He said he had supplied sound equipment for various VVIP programmes including those of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. With reports coming out about the case, social media was flooded with comments ridiculing the police action. The case drew widespread criticism on social media and became a hot topic for trollers. Please arrest the microphone, one of the trolls on social media platforms, said. Pinarayi Vijayan came under flak from a slew of leaders including Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan and KPCC president K Sudhakaran Of course, its the gravest violation of public order if a 10-sec technical glitch happens in the mike when @pinarayi vijayan is speaking, VD Satheesan tweeted Speaking to media persons here, Satheesan said, Please dont make me die of laughter. The first accused is the mic, the second accused is the amplifier. The FIR was registered as per the direction from the CMO. The police are being ruled by the CMs political secretary. The KPCC president took a jibe at CM saying the latter is scared of even a microphone, which shows how timid the leader is. Following the Chief ministers intervention, the Police returned the microphone, amplifier and the cable which turned out to be the villain to the microphone operator and the police have closed the investigation into the case. The Kerala government on Wednesday decided to give permission to industrial parks to have a bar in their premises, similar to the one that was given to IT parks last year. The state Cabinet, which met here on Wednesday, has taken a decision to this effect. The Cabinet has also decided to increase bar license fees from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 35 lakh. License fees to serve liquor in clubs for seamen and marine officers will be enhanced from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh. Advertisement Speaking to media persons here, Excise Minister MB Rajesh said that rules are still being framed for opening pubs in IT parks. The rules will be formulated for industrial parks in consultation with the Industries Department. Restaurants in tourist destinations will be allowed to serve liquor during the tourism season, he said Rajesh further said that the restaurants and resorts with three-star classification and above will be given permission to tap toddy from coconut trees and palm trees on their premises. The government has also decided to encourage domestic production of IMFL and beer. A brand called Kerala Toddy will be introduced and all toddy shops will be given a new colour code. Opposition MPs from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday gave notices in the Rajya Sabha to discuss the Manipur violence. In his suspension of business notice, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said: It is demanded that the Prime Minister makes a statement on the floor of the house regarding this issue (Manipur) which should be followed by a detailed and comprehensive discussion. AAP MP Raghav Chadha also gave suspension of business notice in the Upper House to discuss the breakdown of law and order in Manipur due to the failure of Central and state governments. Advertisement In his notice, Chadha wrote: That this House do suspend Zero Hour and relevant rules relating to Question Hour and other business of the day to discuss the violence in Manipur which has resulted loss of precious lives in Manipur due to failure and incompetence of Central and state governments. Ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3 and since then hundreds of people have lost their lives while thousands have been forced to take refuge in the relief camps. The Congress and other Opposition parties have been blaming Chief Minister N. Biren Singh for the current crisis in the northeastern state and demanded his dismissal. On Monday, the Chief Minister told IANS that his government is taking measures to restore peace at the earliest in the state. PMKSK will cater to a wide variety of needs of farmers and provide them with agri-inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, and agri-implements, testing facilities for soil and seed. According to an official statement, the PM would also be launching Urea Gold in the interest of farmers. Ahead of the assembly polls due after four months in Rajasthan, the PM will address a state BJPs public rally at Gandhi Medical Ground in Sikar after the PM dedicates PMKSKs. The state BJP unit is targeting all 31 assembly seats and four LS seats for 2024 polls in four districts of Sikar, Nagaur, Jhunjhunu, and Churu. BJPs Sikar MP Sumedanand and state BJP President CP Joshi have been camping in Sikar for the last three days to supervise preparations for the meeting of Prime Minister Modi. In the last nine months, this would be the PMs 8th meeting in Rajasthan. Earlier he addressed the partys public meetings and functions at Abu Road, Dausa, Jaipur, Malaseri Dungri in Bhilwara, Mangarh Dham, Pushkar, and Bikaner. Like all Arab and Muslim nations, along with the leaders of Abrahamic religions worldwide, Egypt has condemned in the strongest terms the repeated desecration of the Muslim holy book, the Quran, in both Sweden and Denmark. Such acts are not only provocative for nearly 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide, but open the door to deepening the rift separating the worlds different religions and cultures, and threaten to inflame the kind of violence we have recently seen in Iraq and other Muslim countries. The fact that such incidents have taken place in Sweden and Denmark, which have generally been more balanced in their approach to issues related to the Middle East, namely the right of the Palestinian people to have their own state and end Israeli occupation, has shocked followers of the Muslim faith, including those who believe in and defend freedom of expression. Both European nations have enjoyed strong commercial and trade ties with Arab and Muslim countries, and were known for their humane treatment of the refugees who reside there. However, the repeated incidents of burning the Quran as well as the Iraqi flag, which has the words God is Great inscribed on it, go beyond freedom of expression to hate discourse, provoking millions of Muslims who were offended by the intentional violation of the book they hold sacred. The fact that the governments of both countries have condemned the burning of the Quran was a positive stand, but their insistence that they can do nothing to stop such deliberate attacks remains unconvincing. In the case of Sweden, both the government and police insisted that they never issued a permit to burn the Quran, but claimed they could not stop such acts because those who carried them out had a court order. They also pointed out that they do not have laws that can stop individuals from carrying out such acts. Yet laws can easily be drafted, especially if the freedom of expression is being abused as a cover for hate speech and Islamophobia, portending severe repercussions for security, stability and human rights. From this perspective, states must assume responsibility to confront and prevent such crimes, as well as hold the perpetrators accountable. Different countries should also respect their international responsibilities, and work to foster peaceful co-existence, social harmony, tolerance and acceptance. Instead, acts like burning the Quran in Sweden and Denmark create more tension and hatred, and open the door to extremist rhetoric to win over hearts and minds. Offending believers is less about free speech than deepening existing tensions and misunderstandings among different parts of the world, with different religions and ethnicities. Within the current, rising wave of Islamophobia and xenophobia in several European countries, as well as the United States, what is needed is a defense of the right of every person to practise their faith regardless of religion. Instead, what we have been seeing in recent years has been a rising trend in unjustified attacks against followers of the Islamic faith, attacks on women wearing hijab and on mosques, with little if any action to stop the perpetrators. The burning of the Quran is a deliberate violation of Muslim belief and identity, and an attack on all people of faith. Acts of provocation against the faith of other religions are especially irresponsible at a time when we are all called upon to be bridge-builders, and to strengthen and spread bonds of understanding and respect. Arab and Muslim countries have repeatedly been asked and pressured to show more respect for minorities, whether religious or ethnic. Several measures have been taken to ensure we are on the right track, and there is no question that more needs to be done. Yet that does not prevent us from demanding respect for Muslim minorities worldwide, not just through laws and regulations, but also through a clear stand on the part of decision makers and governments in Western countries that champion freedom of speech. Muslims are totally entitled to ask why the so-called civilised world will rush to condemn violations committed against minorities worldwide, except for followers of the Islamic faith. If Muslims were deemed equal to other minorities, like Jews or members of the LGBTQ community, there would be a stronger world reaction, if not an urgent UN Security Council meeting. But Muslims worldwide are not too helpless to stand up for their rights. Calls to boycott exports from countries that fail to show respect for the Islamic faith are an increasingly important tool. The strength of such actions is that they reflect popular feelings, regardless of official and diplomatic stands. No government can force its people to buy products, visit or trade with countries that show no respect for the symbols of their identity. * A version of this article appears in print in the 27 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: On the alleged Red Diary controversy raised by the sacked Rajasthan Minister R S Gudha against the Gehlot government in the state Legislative Assembly on July 24, the State Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) Chairman Dharmendra Rathore tonight disclosed that there was no red diary in his house when the Income Tax department raided his premises during the Congress government crisis in 2020. I used to write my daily routine affairs in the Gandhi Diary, and IT officials took away my three diaries and it is registered in their record, the Chairman said in a personal statement here. Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Sikar, the BJP hatched a conspiracy with Gudha to malign the image of the Congress party and particularly during the ongoing Manipur violence and women atrocities, the BJP wanted to divert the attention of the public in Rajasthan, Rathore alleged. Hence the BJP and Gudhas statements in the last three days are part of the conspiracy, he lamented. Gudha, who is the most unreliable person, did come to me during that incident, but there was no red diary issue, the Chairman said. I have family terms with Gudha and once he lived in my house, some ten years ago. Many of my other friends and political personalities told me about Gudhas misbehaviour and unreliability in nature. His background was not good, even then I supported him when he left BSP and joined the Congress twice in 2009, and 2019. Yesterday, Dheeraj Gurjar, a young Congress functionary of the PCC and AICC, also denied of his presence in Jaipur when there was any such incident of IT raid at some Congress leaders and a relatives of the Chief Minister. It is pertinent to mention that on July 21, the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot sacked Mr Gudha for his remark favouring women atrocities in Manipur and assailing his government and the worst law and order situation leading to rise in women rape and crime in the state. At a public meeting in his constituency Udaipurwati (Jhunjhunu), Gudha disclosed, On the Chief Minister Gehlots instruction, if i had not gone to the 9th floor by passing 150 CRPF Jawans, breaking the gate, and pulling out the red diary from Dharmendra Rathores residence when IT raided his house, he (Gehlot) was in jail. Rajasthan Assembly also suspended Gudha for the rest of the sittings of the session on Monday last. Jaipur rural police have named sacked state minister Rajendra Singh Gudha as an accused in hospital land encroachment case, sources have said. The hospital land in Govindgarh is owned by an NRI and Gudhas personal assistant and brother-in-law were arrested a year ago in this case. After the appearance of Gudhas name in the matter, the police had decided to forward his file to CID. Advertisement As per officials, the land being encroached belongs to one Dr Banwari Lal Meel, who owns BL Meel hospital. He stays in an African country, but has given his power of attorney to one Nirmal. On August 20, 2022, a few goons armed with rods came to encroach the land, but the villagers got them arrested. During investigation, the goons took the name of Gudha and said they were sent by him. Thereafter it was decided to send his file to the CID, said police sources, adding that the file has now reached the CID office. Congress MLA Rajendra Singh Gudha was sacked as a minister on last Friday and marshalled out of the Rajasthan Assembly on July 24. He has made startling claims that he possessed photos from a red diary containing potentially damning evidence of corruption against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. In a shocking incident, a senior doctor at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here was attacked by one of his patients with a knife during routine consultation, a police official said on Wednesday. The incident occurred at around 3.50 p.m. on Tuesday. The official said the accused, identified as 21-year-old Bihar resident Rajkumar, was under treatment by Dr. Satnam Chabra, a senior neuro and spine surgeon, since 2021. Advertisement During a consultation visit on Tuesday, Rajkumar suddenly became furious and tried to attack the doctor with a small knife, commonly used to peel fruits, the police official added. Hospital staff present at the scene apprehended the attacker, and the police were immediately informed. Upon receiving the information, a police team swiftly reached the hospital and took the alleged person into custody. As a result of the attack, Dr. Chhabra sustained a minor cut injury on his thumb. On the complaint of the victim, legal action under the Prevention of Violence against Doctors (The Medical Professionals and Medical Institution Bill, 2018) has been initiated against Rajkumar, the official added. Emphasising Indias military strength, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that the world recognized Indias military strength during the war. Adityanath Yogi made the statement while participating in a programme organised at the Kargil Shaheed Smriti Vatika on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas. He paid his respects to the martyrs of Kargil war by laying a wreath on their statue and also extended his greetings to all the residents of the state on the occasion. Advertisement The war, which began in May 1999, was officially declared Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26, commemorating the success in driving the intruding Pakistani soldiers away from Indian soil. Remembering the soldiers who laid down their lives for the nation, the chief minister said, I pay humble tributes to all the brave sons of Mother India who defended the borders before and after the Kargil conflict in 1999. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their dear ones and continue to stand strong and unwavering in their commitment to the motherland. He said the New India ensures the security of all its citizens. There is no place for terrorism, Naxalism, or infiltration and every individual is being given an equal opportunity to live a life of dignity in this New India. Not only the Central and state governments, but also every citizen is working at their levels to reach out to those sections of society that were neglected after independence, through welfare schemes and initiatives aimed at public welfare, he said. The chief minister said the sacrifice of Mother Indias sons is unforgettable for the entire nation. He asserted that the state government, while expressing respect for their families, has provided financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh to the families of those who laid down their lives for the countrys internal or external security. He further stated that one family member of the martyr is given an opportunity for government service in Uttar Pradesh while arrangements have been made to name an institution or road after the martyrs, as a tribute to their bravery and sacrifice, within six years. Yogi Adityanath informed that the countrys first Sainik School was named after Captain Manoj Pandey. He extended his greetings to the families of Major Aditya Mishra, Major Ritesh Sharma, Lance Naik Kevalanand Dwivedi, and Lance Naik Sunil Jung. On the occasion, the chief minister also honored the family members of the following immortal martyrs: Gopichand Pandey, father of Param Vir Chakra awardee Manoj Pandey, Satyaprakash Sharma, father of martyr Major Ritesh Sharma, Kamla Dwivedi, wife of Lance Naik Kevalanand Dwivedi and Veena Mahat, mother of martyr Rifleman Sunil Jung. Israels parliament having passed into law a controversial bill that lays down restrictions on judicial oversight of the governments decisions, and with citizens of the country having descended to the streets in protest, the country has been enveloped in fresh turmoil. The vote on Monday was itself wrapped in discord as all Opposition members chose to leave proceedings shouting Shame. While right-wing parties that support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu favour the new law, which abolishes the reasonableness clause allowing the countrys Supreme Court to overturn government decisions, most elements of Israels civil society are opposed to the change. They believe that the coalition government headed by Mr. Netanyahu lacks the mandate to effect such a change, one that they argue seeks to imbue the countrys rulers with unbridled powers and disturbs the separation of powers between the three organs of state. Worryingly for the ruling coalition, the protests are spreading rather than abating. Doctors have struck work around the country, medical interns are joining them, and more than 10,000 military reservists may not report for duty. Thousands of protestors have gathered in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem shouting that they will not give up, and have asked that Israel be saved from Mr. Netanyahu. But as much as the Israeli leader will have to deal with protests within the country, he is likely to be just as concerned by the responses to his legal measure from overseas. The American Jewish Group, one of the oldest pro-Israel groups, has expressed profound disappointment at the vote and said it has strained the vital relationship between Israel and the diaspora Jewry. Other Jewish groups in the US have warned that the measure could damage ties between the Israeli government and American Jews. The White House has said it was unfortunate that Mr Netanyahu pressed ahead with the vote, while Britain and Germany have called for a consensus on any judicial reforms that Israel proposes. As things stand, several outcomes are possible. First, Mr. Netanyahu may choose to relent, considering the scale and intensity of protests. But observers believe this is unlikely as this may lead to the fall of his government. Second, Israels top court may itself strike down the controversial provision; Opposition leader Yair Lapid has announced he will petition the court to do so, arguing that a minority is seeking to impose its will on a majority of Israeli people. Third, efforts by President Isaac Herzog to broker peace between the two groups may bear fruit, with each agreeing to concede some ground. A speedy resolution is both necessary and warranted, for as tensions escalate on the countrys streets, and police use harsher measures ~including use of skunk gas and water cannons ~ to deal with the unrest, it may not be long before the situation spirals out of control. Advertisement Influential voices in the US policy making establishment have, in the wake of the mercenary Wagner Groups march almost to Moscow, started making the case for strengthening sanctions against Russia. President Vladimir Putin, it is assessed, has been considerably weakened as a result of the aborted revolt. It is, therefore, now time to redouble pressure and hold accountable (Mr) Putin and his cronies for their aggression against Ukraine and effort to undermine global democracy; financial sanctions are a critical part of that full-court press, says a recent Brookings Institute paper. The emphasis is on plugging the loopholes in the 5,000 targeted financial sanctions listings in nine jurisdictions. The Brookings sanctions tracker holds that effective sanctions advance what it terms the global fight against corruption. It is true that the latest US sanctions announced earlier this week are meant to impact enablers of graft in the Russian governance system. But while measurable action against the legislative bodies of the Russian Federation, which includes sanctioning hundreds of members of the Federation Council and the State Duma, may be seen as a blow against kleptocracy in Russia by the USA in particular and the West in general, such moves will consolidate the support among a significant section of Russian citizens for their deeply flawed governance structure. Nationalist sentiment, history tells us, should never be underestimated by foreign powers trying to enforce regime change in a distant country. If anyone should know that, it is the Americans. Where the Brookings sanctions tracker does provide valuable insights is in laying bare the relationships among sanctioned individuals and entities, as well as discrepancies across jurisdictions. Two networks fuelling Russias war in Ukraine, the Wagner Group and the chain of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) suppliers, are cases in point. PMC Wagner is sanctioned for human rights abuses and transnational crimes around the world. Advertisement Its activities have been amplified by the conflict in Ukraine, in which Wagners mercenaries were deployed to fight on behalf of the Russian state. Nearly all the jurisdictions tracked by Brookings have sanctioned Dimitriy Valerievich Utkin, a founder of the Wagner Group, and several have sanctioned Task Force Rusich, a paramilitary organisation allegedly operating as a sub-unit of Wagner Group. A pattern of extensive third-parties linked to and allegedly operating on behalf of Wagner, replicated in another area essential to Russias war effort in Ukraine has emerged. To wit, Iranian UAV supply. While Moscow has denied receiving or using Iranian drones, there is evidence in the public domain which suggests the invasion of Ukraine has opened a window of opportunity for Tehran. The Iranian UAV production network is intricately linked through companies and individuals associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force. The UAVs deployed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine are manufactured by private companies and exported through a series of illicit networks on the directions of the Iranian government; individuals heading each organisation involved in the process are now being sanctioned. But thats a geopolitical strategy, not a fight against corruption. Qin Gang was Chinas foreign minister who was fired from his post and has been replaced by Wang Yi. He was made foreign minister in December. As it opened a session on Tuesday, Chinas top legislature voted to appoint Wang Yi as foreign minister, according to the Xinhua news agency. Qins last public appearance was about a month ago. A native of Tianjin, he has worked for the Chinese government since the late 1980s, primarily in positions involving international relations. Advertisement Qin was seen as a rising star within the CCP and as a close confidant of Chinese President Xi Jinping. His appointment over more qualified candidates, first as US ambassador and subsequently as foreign minister, was credited to Xis confidence in him. Qin, a native English speaker who frequently appeared in public and the media to support Chinas geopolitical position, was well-known in Washington. State broadcaster CCTV did not provide an explanation for 58-year-old Qins dismissal during the national evening news. The approval of Qins dismissal came at a meeting of the Standing Committee of Chinas rubber-stamp legislature, the National Peoples Congress, which typically convenes at the end of the month. Since June 25, when he conducted discussions with counterparts from Russia, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka, he hasnt been spotted in public. The meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, who arrived in Beijing less than 48 hours after the Wagner mercenary groups uprising against Moscows top military command, was Qins last public appearance in official media. Later, the Chinese foreign ministry said that Qins health reasons prevented him from traveling to Jakarta for the ASEAN conference. Speculation that Qin has lost favor with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership has grown as a result of his enigmatic disappearance. As a result of Qins mysterious disappearance, rumors have developed that he has fallen out of favor with the CCP leadership. The Supreme Court on Wednesday corrected its July 24 order by which it had inadvertently disposed of an appeal by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee questioning the maintainability of a suit by four Hindu women in a Varanasi court seeking worship rights inside the mosque, in the Gyanvapi case. Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee manages the Gyanvapi mosque located adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi. A bench comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra corrected the order, and deleted the paragraph, after senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi pointed to the error in the July 24 order. Advertisement Senior advocate Ahmadi appeared for the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee managing the Gyanvapi mosque. Huzefa Ahmadi in a mentioning before the Chief Justice bench pointed to the mistake saying that July 24 order while put on hold the Varanasi district courts order directing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to undertake the survey including excavation of the mosque premises, had disposed of the main plea questioning the maintainability of a suit by four Hindus women. The top court while halting the survey by ASI, had disposed of an application by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee seeking stay of the Varanasi district courts order directing ASI survey. Senior advocate Ahmadi told the bench, The appeal against Order 7 Rule 11 has been disposed of though not argued. We have only pressed the ASI survey point and the matter is before the Allahabad High Court and it can be argued there that our appeal has been dismissed. On July 24 while putting on hold the ASI survey till July 26, 05.00 pm, the top court had inadvertently, in its order, had disposed of the main case relating to the maintainability of a suit by four Hindus women in a Varanasi court seeking worship rights inside the mosque. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was called to appear, after a mentioning by senior advocate Ahmadi, told the bench that he has no objection to the correction of the order. Solicitor General Mehta appeared both for the Uttar Pradesh government and the ASI. In the main plea, the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee had approached the top court seeking dismissal of the lawsuit of the by the four Hindu women in the Varanasi district court under Order 7 Rule 11(c) of the Civil Procedure Code for filing it on a paper which has not been duly stamped and authorised. On July 21, Varanasi district judge A.K. Vishvesha ordered the ASI survey of Gyanvapi complex on an application moved by four Hindu women on May 16, 2023. The order of the district judge, however, excluded the ablution pond area of the complex, which has been sealed on the order of the top court. On May 12, 2023, the Allahabad High Court had allowed the scientific survey of this purported shivling but the top court stayed it on May 19. The High Court on May 12 set aside the Varanasi District judge order which had rejected the application for a scientific survey and carbon dating of the Shivling on October 14, 2022. The High Court had directed the Varanasi District judge to proceed, in accordance with law, on the application by the Hindu worshippers for conducting a scientific probe of the Shivling. Petitioners Laxmi Devi and three others had filed a plea in the High Court, challenging the lower court order. During the survey, a structure claimed to be a Shivling by the Hindu side and a fountain by the Muslim side was found in the mosque premises on May 16 , 2022, during a court-mandated survey of the mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Petitioners Laxmi Devi and three others had filed a plea in the High Court, challenging the lower court order. India and Australia have decided to identify ways to strengthen partnership in co-development and co-production of defence equipment. The 8th India-Australia Defence Policy Talks (DPT) was held at Canberra in Australia on 24-25 July. The talks were co-chaired by Special Secretary in Ministry of Defence Nivedita Shukla Verma, and Acting Deputy Secretary in Department of Defence of Australia Steven Moore. The two sides reviewed bilateral defence cooperation and explored new initiatives to further strengthen and deepen bilateral defence engagements. Advertisement Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership based on mutual trust and understanding, common interests and shared values of democracy and rule of law. The Indian side highlighted the potential of the Indian defence industry with capacity and capability to cooperate with Australian armed forces in its shipbuilding and maintenance plans, an official press note said. India and Australia share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership from June 2020 and defence is a key pillar of this partnership. The two countries have a 2+2 mechanism at the ministerial level. The DPT reviewed the outcomes of the maiden 2+2 conducted in September 2021. Both sides agreed on an early finalisation of a hydrography agreement. The two sides also exchanged views on the geo-political situation, regional and global issues of shared interest. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited cemeteries to pay respects to the countrys soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War and to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the armistice, state media said on Wednesday. The Korean War ended with an armistice agreement on July 27, 1953, reports Yonhap News Agency. The North calls the war the Great Fatherland Liberation War and designated the armistice signing date as Victory Day. Advertisement Kim visited the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery in Pyongyang on Tuesday on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, and was accompanied by Defence Minister Kang Sun-nam and other military leaders, according to the Norths official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The visit marked Kims first public appearance in nearly two weeks. He was last seen in public guiding the launch of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile on July 12. Kim also visited the cemetery of martyrs of the Chinese Peoples Volunteers (CPV) in Hoechang county, South Pyongan province, to pay high tribute to the fallen Chinese soldiers on the occasion of the armistice anniversary, the KCNA said in another report. China fought alongside the North against South Korean, US and UN troops during the Korean War. According to the Korea Customs Service on Tuesday, the country's trade deficit during the first 20 days of February has already increased 3.3 times from a year ago to US$5.99 billion, bringing the cumulative trade deficit this year to $18.63 billion. That is equivalent to a whopping 39 percent of last year's entire annual trade deficit, which reached a record $47.79 billion. Exports of computer chips, which are the country's mainstay, continued to drop for five months, while heating fuel prices surged more than 80 percent, dealing a huge blow to Korea's trade balance. Exports, which have been dropping since October, declined another 2.3 percent so far this month, and shipments of memory chips plummeted 43.9 percent. One industry insider said, "There is excess inventory of both mobile and server chips." Demand for chips used in mobile devices has shrunk due to a sharp decline in smartphone sales in China. Big tech companies like Amazon, Google and Microsoft anticipate further declines in prices and slashed orders for server chips. DRAM prices have plummeted from $3.40 a year ago to $1.80 at the end of last month. That is hurting Korea's overall earnings from its biggest export destination China. Shipments in the first 20 days of this month declined 22.7 percent, resulting in a deficit of $781 million in trade with China. Last year, global phone sales fell by around 100 million units, mainly due to waning demand in China. Semiconductor exports to Vietnam also plunged 18 percent and to Malaysia 18.5 percent. On the import side, soaring demand this winter caused imports of heating fuel to surge 81.1 percent, with a 27.2 percent increase in the cost of crude oil, coal and gas in February alone. The protracted slump is raising concerns that Korea's economic growth could fall below the 1.6 percent targeted by the government. The nation on Wednesday paid rich tributes to the brave soldiers of the 1999 Kargil War on the 24th anniversary of Indias historic victory, which is celebrated as Kargil Vijay Diwas on 26 July every year. Kargil Vijay Diwas brings to the fore the heroic saga of those wonderful bravehearts of India, who will always remain an inspiration for the countrymen, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. Today, on the glorious occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, all the countrymen remember the victory achieved by the extraordinary valor of our armed forces. On behalf of a grateful nation, I pay tribute and bow to the memory of the fighters who paved the way for victory by sacrificing their lives to protect the country. Their heroic stories will always inspire generations to come. Jai Hind! President Droupadi Murmu said in a tweet. Advertisement Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar also paid tributes to the martyrs of the Kargil War in the Upper House. Paying rich tributes to the valour of the Indian armed forces, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande said the jawans, who made the supreme sacrifice in the 1999 conflict, will forever live in the hearts and minds of the people. To mark the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Kargil War Memorial at Dras in Ladakh, laid a wreath and paid homage to the valiant soldiers who displayed unparalleled bravery during Operation Vijay. The ceremony at Dras also witnessed a gathering of war heroes, Veer Naris and the families of the fallen heroes. The minister interacted with them and extended heartfelt gratitude while recalling all those who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation. He assured them that the sacrifices of these bravehearts will never be forgotten. Addressing the gathering, Rajnath commended the valour and commitment of the armed forces, which have, time and again, helped the country stand tall in times of crisis. India of today rests on the foundation of the sacrifices made by the soldiers, he said. Rajnath described Operation Vijay as an episode that displayed Indias grit and determination as it stood its ground in the face of adverse circumstances. He also termed the victory as a launch pad that propelled the nation to achieve heights of success. Our greatness is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we fall. Despite the adversary having tactical military advantage during the war, our forces displayed unmatched bravery and skill to push them back and reclaim our land. With the victory, India sent a message to Pakistan and the world that our military will not back down at any cost if the nations interests are harmed, he said. A court in Brussels found six out of 10 suspects guilty of terrorist murder in the March 2016 suicide bomb attacks that killed more than 30 people at the Belgian capitals airport and a metro station. Mohamed Abrini, Oussama Atar, Osama Krayem, Salah Abdeslam, Ali El Haddad Asufi and Bilal El Makhoukhi were all found guilty of terrorist murder, CNN quoted Belgian public broadcaster RTBF as saying in a report. The Brussels court on Tuesday established a terrorist motive behind the attacks, ruling that the groups intention was to intimidate the Belgian population and kill as many people as possible, the RTBF report added. Advertisement The six men, alongside Herve Bayingana Muhirwa and Sofien Ayari, were also found guilty of participating in the activities of a terrorist organisation, according to the public broadcaster. The trial began last year to determine whether 10 men played a part in the suicide bombings on March 22, 2016 that also injured over 300 people. The court found that four further people should be added to the list of people killed in the attacks, bringing the death toll up to 36 people, according to RTBF. The Islamic State (IS) had claimed responsibility for the attacks. In 2022, Abdeslam was also found guilty of carrying out a series of deadly gun and bomb attacks in Paris in 2015, CNN reported. Abdeslam, who is believed to be only surviving member of the group that carried out the French attacks, was given a life prison sentence without the possibility of parole by a French court. Meanwhile, Oussama Atar who was absent from the Brussels trial, is presumed to have been killed in Syria, according to RTBF. Brothers Smail and Ibrahim Farisi were both acquitted of the charge of participation in activities of a terrorist group, according to RTBF. The two brothers were consequently not guilty of all charges filed against them. Tuesdays ruling marks the end of Belgiums largest ever trial which included evidence from over 370 witnesses and experts. Mehmet Sur, the renowned Turkish chef and a familiar face from the MasterChef cooking show, has found himself in hot water with Turkish Airlines. During a recent flight from Istanbul to Gaziantep, Mehmet, who was traveling in Business Class, secretly stashed away some food on the plane. This action caught the attention of the airline, and they have taken decisive action by blacklisting him. Who is Mehmet Sur? But who exactly is Mehmet Sur? Born in 1973 in Diyarbakr, Turkey, Mehmet is now 50 years old and spent his formative years in Istanbul. He grew up alongside his brothers and continues to reside in Istanbul. The chef has a strong presence on social media, particularly Instagram and TikTok, where he shares cooking videos and engages with his audience. With thousands of followers, he has become an Instagram star, admired for his culinary skills and a fun, humorous approach to serving food. Advertisement Mehmet Sur is not only a chef but also a successful restaurateur, running his own eatery named Sirdanci Mehmet. His culinary expertise and entertaining style have earned him popularity in Turkey and beyond, making him a beloved figure among food enthusiasts. Having grown up in an affluent family in Istanbul, Mehmet started his career as a busboy in various hotels and restaurants in the city. Early on, he discovered his passion for cooking and honed his skills, eventually becoming a master of srdan cuisine. His dedication and talent led him to participate in the MasterChef show, where he won the hearts of many with his exceptional cooking abilities. Mehmet Surs video Recently, Mehmet caused a stir when he recorded himself relishing a traditional Turkish dish called Sheridan on the flight. Sheridan is a delectable preparation made from a small ventricle of a sheep stuffed with rice and spices. While Mehmet probably intended to share his delight with his followers, the video had unintended consequences. Turkish Airlines, concerned about its reputation, decided to take action and placed Mehmet Sur on a strict six-month blacklist. This decision came as the airline believed his actions had a negative impact, tarnishing their image and leading to a loss of favor. As the news of Mehmet Surs airline incident spreads, it remains to be seen how this chef will handle the consequences of his actions and whether he can bounce back from this setback. Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 81F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some passing clouds. Low 64F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. The French president is pressing his country's interests in the South Pacific this week and trying to make France's voice heard in a region shaping up as a prime geopolitical battleground for China and the U.S. President Emmanuel Macron's trip to Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and New Caledonia starting Monday comes as French forces take part in massive U.S.-Australian-led military exercises in the region. With troops, citizens and resources spread across its Pacific territories, France wants to protect its interests and project its power alongside like-minded democracies worried about China's growing assertiveness. The most strategically important stop is Thursday in Papua New Guinea, which has seen growing Chinese influence and signed a new security cooperation pact with the U.S. in May. The most populous Pacific Island nation is also negotiating a security treaty with Australia. Macron's office insists the trip is not aimed at pressing an "anti-China policy," but at encouraging regional powers to diversify their partnerships beyond Beijing and Washington. He felt the trip was needed because of "new, more intense threats" to security, institutions and the environment in the region, according to an official in Macron's office who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly on the matter. His chief diplomatic adviser, Emmanuel Bonne, speaking at the Aspen Security Forum last week, said "China is a global challenge. It is a challenge for the U.S. as well as for the EU," adding that "there is kind of a strategic awakening in Europe today" of the need for tougher policy toward China. This photo provided by the Georgia Peanut Commission shows Cole Sercer of Sercer Machine & Fabrication, standing beside the Big Peanut that he and his employees designed and built near Interstate 75 in Ashburn, Ga., Thursday, July 20, 2023. The monument replaces a similar peanut that blew down during Hurricane Michael in October 2018. FILE Rhode Island Democratic Gov. Dan McKee addresses a gathering during his inaugural address, March 7, 2021, at the Statehouse in Providence. The Rhode Island Ethics Commission voted Tuesday, July 25, 2023 to open an investigation into whether Gov. McKee broke state law when he was treated to a free lunch at a restaurant in January. Empty plastic nip bottles sit in a pile following a cleanup at the Colman Reservation in Attleboro. A cargo of sanctioned Iranian crude oil that was confiscated by the United States has been sitting off the Texas coast for eight weeks, unable to be unloaded because commercial agents fear any vessel that takes it will be shunned by customers, people familiar with the matter said. Suez Rajan, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, has been anchored off Galveston, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) outside of Houston, since May 30, with ship agents refusing to accept it. The Suezmax requires a lightering agent to transfer the crude to smaller ships, as its size and weight restrict it from directly entering the port. Shipping companies are worried that lightering the Iranian crude onto their vessels would lead other oil buyers to shun their ships on future voyages, one of those people said. "Our legal team said, 'absolutely not,'" he added, saying the ship has yet to find any willing party to transfer the oil. The remains of seven South Korean soldiers who died in North Korea during the Korean War are returning home from the U.S. to mark the 70th anniversary of the armistice. The remains were mistakenly sent to the U.S. by North Korea in 1990, when it resumed repatriating the remains of American soldiers who died in the war. The Constitutional Court on Tuesday overruled the National Assembly's impeachment of Minister of Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min for failing to prevent the deadly Halloween stampede in Itaewon. Lee, who had been suspended since lawmakers impeached him in February, returned to work immediately after the ruling. The court ruled that Lee could not be held personally responsible for the stampede last October that left 159 people dead. "The minister cannot be held responsible for the incident because there were no clear regulations in the safety management manual concerning the [Halloween] festival, which did not have an organizer, while government agencies lacked integrated capabilities for large-scale disasters." What was the idea behind establishing this start-up? What is the USP of your business? India has the largest adolescent as well as school going population in the world. We have more children in school than the total population of some of the largest countries in the world and yet our pediatric healthcare system is fragmented, broken, and of low quality. The clinics and the hospitals mostly focus on acute care or reactionary care. Children are growing every day, physically and mentally to face the world, and this very aspect of their growth and development is ignored by the current system. We can attribute the low pediatrician-to-population ratio partly however an overhaul of the current system is required. With the help of technology and a doctor-in-the-loop; we can also assess kids with automated sensors that are medical grade and noninvasive in a secure, private and effective manner. This is how SKIDS was born. Not only are we addressing the shortage of skilled manpower through sensors and AI, but we are also intervening in the physical, mental, and social well-being sphere of children. SKIDS is the world's first full-scale comprehensive pediatric health system that can assess each and every kid for more than 70 parameters as well as intervene to bring them back to their full potential. What kind of challenges and obstacles were faced by you in the beginning? Please elaborate. One thing we often hear from our customers is Your solution is too good to be true, while this may sound very flattering but this puts a lot of responsibility on us to educate our customers about the technology we use and its accuracy. We overcome this by doing a live demo at schools and clinics; and showcasing the entire product end-to-end, which helps in building confidence in deploying the solution at our schools. How has been the journey so far? Any particular learning?SKIDS is funded by marquee angel investors based out of Singapore and the US. The company is revenue positive in a very short span of time and is growing with double-digit numbers every month. We are also looking to expand the program across school communities in Tier-1 cities in India and have a target of onboarding 5,00,000 students in the next 3 years. SKIDS is also expanding its clinical network in Bangalore, Delhi-NCR and plans to open more clinics in other Tier-1 cities. Business Success So Far Though SKIDS has been operational for more than 5 years, the full-scale commercial operations started from January 2023. Within six months of launch, SKIDS has on-boarded more than 30,000 students and treated more than 5,000 kids across its state-of-the-art clinics in Bangalore. SKIDS is set to onboard 60,000 students by the end of 2023 with expansion in Bangalore, Delhi-NCR, and Hyderabad over the next 12 months. How Skids is empowering families to protect their kids through customized healthcare services The current pediatric care model is 'event' focused particularly on the issues of sickness, illness or immunization. In simpler terms - we take our kids to doctors when they are sick or ill, and there often is a big blank space between these events. And even when we take kids to doctors, we focus on the sickness the child is going through at that particular time, with less or no focus on understanding the growth and health of other bodily functions such as eyes, ears, heart, lungs, oral health or psychological factors such as anxiety, ADHD, autism, depression among others. SKIDS is building a clinic network with a strong digital presence that offers the highest standards of care outcomes - whether kids are at home or at school. SKIDS screens kids for more than 70+ parameters across physical and behavioral health that helps to discover any early warning signals and incorporate specialist interventions to reverse or cure any underlying conditions before they become irreversible or severe that may impede the quality of life. How Skids is addressing pediatric care by deploying world-class medical-grade non-invasive and kid-friendly technology for holistic preventive and specialist care for kids. At SKIDS, we believe technology with a doctor-in-the-loop can vastly improve care outcomes, however, a lot of technology that is currently used by caregivers is either consumer-grade, inaccurate, or not kids-friendly. In India, 58.5% percent of children between the age of 6 months to 5 years were anemic during 20152016 as per a survey by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) and ICF. However, the current mechanisms for anemia screening are either subjective - such as color comparison of eyes or skin; or kid unfriendly such as needle prick-based blood tests. At SKIDS, we do a highly accurate non-invasive anemia test using FDA approved solution that is accurate, fast, and as easy as doing pulse oximetry. Another case worth highlighting is vision issues among children. In India, 23-30% of children suffer from myopia and in the majority of cases, caregivers such as parents or teachers come to know of vision issues very late, once the vision deterioration has set in. The conventional method followed for vision screening is a visual acuity test which is time-consuming, subjective, and misses on other important vision issues such as amblyopia, strabismus etc. which if left undetected can cause serious permanent vision impairment. At SKIDS, we use world-class auto refraction-based technology which is similar to almost taking a selfie and in less than 30 seconds, we are able to detect seven parameters related to vision health. Another day, another electric vehicle launch. As Lectrix, the EV division of the power-to-telcom SAR Group, introduced its new electric two-wheeler scooter at an upscale hotel in the national capital, the question that is the crux of the whole go-EV-or-remain-ICE debate popped up againwhat about the dire need for charging infra in the country? While the two models that Lectrix is launching nationwide, the LXS G2.0 and LXS G3.0, can both be plugged and charged at home (like all the electric two-wheelers in the country which work on a combo of plug-and-charge or battery swap model), company MD and CEO K. Vijaya Kumar admits its a challenge. Charging infra in the country needs to be developed. The government is working on it and discussing with the industry, he said in an interview with THE WEEK. However, he admitted that there are challenges. If compared to as many number of petrol pumps, it is a different level of penetration and requirement that you are looking at. According to a CII report earlier this week, India may require at least 13 lakh charging stations by 2030 to support aggressive EV uptake. Or to break it down, 4 lakh charges every year. It is no hyperbole. In 2023, electric two-wheeler sales hit an inflection point, tripling in numbers to nearly 8.5 lakh, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). As Vipin Sondhi, former MD & CEO of Ashok Leyland and JCB, said, The government has set the ball rolling on accelerated adoption of TVs, aging to achieve sales penetration of 30 per cent for cars and 80 per cent for two- and three-wheelers by 2030. This presents a huge opportunity for the Indian industry. But where are the charging points on this highway to electrification? While the CII report paints an optimistic picture of the sheer extent of the requirement will provide the economics of scale needed to turn India into a global manufacturing hub for charging stations, reality can be a bit dampener while firms like Freecharge, Tata Power and even EV makers like Ather have been putting up charging infrastructure across Indian cities, it has almost been like drops in the ocean. Lack of standardisation is another hurdle. There is a lack of information about which type of charger charge point operators (CPOs) should invest in, given the variety of brands available, pointed out Avinash Sharma, co-founder and CEO of ElectricPe, an EV charging platform. Customers are confused by the need to access multiple apps to find charging points, leading to fragmented demand across 20+ platforms, he added. The evolving nature of the sector is another impediment. Vijaya Kumar of Lectrix said, Its too early to get to that level of standardisation. The industry is still maturing itself, the battery technology is changing, battery algorithms are changing, based on that the controller has to change, the charger to change - so the ecosystem needs to be mature enough and stabilised. In a move aimed at revolutionising the shopping experience for Indians, the Textiles Ministry is set to launch the 'INDIAsize' initiative. Textiles Secretary, Rachna Shah, announced the upcoming rollout, which aims to introduce measurements and standards tailored to better suit the diverse body types of the Indian population. Currently, both international and domestic brands available in India use sizing metrics primarily based on US or UK standards, with generic labels such as 'small', 'medium', and 'large'. This one-size-fits-all approach has often led to fitting issues for Indian consumers, as Western body types differ significantly from those of Indians in terms of height, weight, and specific body measurements. The 'INDIAsize' initiative is expected to resolve this long-standing concern, allowing Indian shoppers to find clothes that fit them better and enhance their overall shopping experience. With a focus on addressing the unique body proportions of the Indian populace, this initiative is likely to be welcomed by consumers across the country. "We are hoping... that will happen very soon," stated Textiles Secretary Rachna Shah in response to queries about the launch date of the INDIAsize initiative. Beyond catering to consumer needs, the government has set ambitious goals for the technical textiles segment. The Textiles Secretary expressed the government's determination to boost the domestic technical textiles sector's value from the current USD 22 billion to a remarkable USD 40-50 billion within the next five years. The introduction of 'INDIAsize' is expected to not only improve the clothing shopping experience for Indians but also stimulate growth and innovation within the country's textile industry. With the government's emphasis on promoting indigenous technical textiles, the nation is poised to witness a substantial economic transformation in the coming years. As anticipation builds for the imminent launch of the 'INDIAsize' initiative, industry stakeholders and consumers alike are eager to embrace this positive change that promises a more inclusive and tailored approach to fashion in India. The Textiles Secretary said the government's goal is to take the domestic technical textiles segment to USD 40-50 billion in the next five years or so, from USD 22 billion at present. "Our exports of technical textiles is presently at USD 2.5 billion, our objective is to enhance it to USD 10 billion during this period," Shah added. The technical textile market globally is to the tune of about USD 250-260 billion and is expected to increase to about USD 320-325 billion by 2025-26, she said. The Textiles Secretary shared that the government is working in the technical textiles sector with a multi-pronged approach. "There is focus on R&D activity in the technical textile segment including fibre and in development of various applications. There is also focus on developing a skilling ecosystem and skilled manpower for this sector. "The government is promoting investment in technical textiles through its flagship schemes namely the PLI scheme for textiles as also the PM-MITRA Mega Textiles Parks," Shah said. She informed that the Textiles Ministry is working very closely with various user Ministries and Departments within the government and state governments to increase demand and increase the penetration of technical textiles. One very critical element of the approach is focusing on developing standards and regulations for technical textiles, she said while addressing a Ficci conference. The Ministry of Textiles sanctioned the INDIAsize project to develop standard body sizes for the Indian apparel sector to address the prevailing disparities and inconsistencies in provided fits. The project entails gathering anthropometric data pan-India from more than 25,000 male and female persons between the age group of 15 years and 65 years using human safe 3D whole-body scanning technology. The created body-size chart will help national and international retailers and manufacturers to produce goods which are best suited for Indian body types and create a balance between demand and supply of well fitted garments. Apart from apparel, the findings of the study will have ramifications across various sectors such as automotive, aerospace, fitness & sport, art, computer gaming, etc. where the insights from this data can produce ergonomically designed products which are well suited for the Indian population. (With inputs from PTI) It seems there may not be an immediate end to Byju's woes. Media reports state that Byju Raveendran, the founder, broke down in tears after the Enforcement Directorate raided the company's offices, linking it to possible foreign exchange violations. The company has been facing a series of crises including allegations of financial irregularities and legal battles. Byju's had recently shut its largest office space in Bengalurus Kalyani Tech Park as part of cost-cutting measures. The office space was spread across an area of 5.58 lakh square feet. Experts with whom THE WEEK spoke to feel that Byju's is going through an existential crisis and that it's a clear case of growing too big and too fast without a strong foundation in place. In B2C businesses, one needs to have the pulse of the customer and here it touches something India has always valuededucation. In education it is your value rather than valuation which matters. Unless the company raises a lot of money in the near term (which seems almost impossible) it would be very difficult for it to survive. It is very difficult for any company to survive by cost management. Unfortunately in Byju's case, the revenues don't seem to be in sight as well, Satya Pramod, Founder and CEO, Kayess Square Consulting Private Limited, told THE WEEK. He points out that with so many issues pulling the company down, it seems almost impossible for it to come out of the pit. The company needs urgent infusion of cash to change the negative image currently and they should agree to down rounds as well since it is about the company, its customers and employees now more than it is about the investors. The company has to look at all three in tandem, focus on revenues and grow, optimize costs and also raise capital. It is not easy to do all the three together, but if a company could grow so fast, it can also find the resilience in its management, board, investors and also its employees, added Pramod. The rapid growth and success has undoubtedly attracted a significant influx of investors and moreover the EdTech sector was the darling of the investor community. The turn of events at Byju's have been unfortunate. It is essential for any company and its top leaders to prioritise building and maintaining the trust of their investors. Transparent communication and upholding corporate governance are pivotal in this regard. We have seen companies who have neglected this aspect have eroded shareholder value. One has to navigate through the challenging phase when it happens. There are no shortcuts here; one has to rebuild the trust and confidence of the stakeholders, especially since the prospects for the sector continue to remain bright, remarked Aditya Narayan Mishra, MD and CEO of CIEL HR. The company has been trying to deal with the situation one at a time. As per Byju's spokesperson, the company has no pending PF dues. We would like to reconfirm that all PF dues have been cleared till June 2023 for our employees. There have been a few authentication issues which are being currently worked on with the employees and the PF department, said BYJU'S spokesperson. Prosus N.V., an investor in Byju's had said that the company's reporting and governance structure did not evolve sufficiently for a company of that scale and it "regularly disregarded advice" despite repeated efforts by the Dutch-listed technology firm's former director. Prosus had slashed the valuation of Byju's to $ 5.1 billion from $ 22 billion last year. The company had said that the decision for its director to step down from Byju's board last month was mainly because he was unable to fulfil his fiduciary duty to serve the long-term interests of the company and its stakeholders. In the recent past, many of Byju's investors have expressed trenchant criticism as to how business is taking shape. But on the other hand, Byju's management has turned recalcitrant. It is a sign that things will go downhill before things get better, remarked Alok Shende of Mumbai-based Ascentius Consulting. The present crisis at Byju's is not surprising as the EdTech companies overestimated the future prospects of their products and are now coming to terms with the reality of phygital environment. Beside the money from the PEs, the companies have leveraged debt to finance their operations. All EdTech companies have been facing challenges of revenue flow and hence are under stress to optimise their operations. Hence they have shut down projects and been pressing the pedal to the maximum limit on sales and marketing. Popular Telugu actor and politician Pawan Kalyan claimed that there is no nepotism in Tollywood, an industry that often attracts criticism for encouraging nepotism. Speaking at a pre-release event of the upcoming Telugu comedy drama Bro, starring Kalyan, his nephew and Chiranjeevi's son Sai Dharam Tej, Priya Prakash Varrier and Ketika Sharma, among others, Kalyan, popularly known as 'Power Star', observed that the doors of cinema and politics are open for all. Ram Charan, who became a household name after the hugely popular RRR, is the nephew of Kalyan. His other nephews, Sai Dharam Tej, Panja Vaisshnav Tej, and niece Niharika Konidela too, are popular actors. Kalyan said he had no plans to act in films, and when his brother, superstar Chiranjeevi, asked him if he plans to act, Kalyan told his brother that he was fearful about it. He claimed that Chiranjeevi made a name for himself in the industry although he didn't have any influential background or connections. "When someone like us with ordinary backgrounds can do it, why cant anyone else," Kalyan has been quoted as saying. He further said audience has always been his priority and added that there may be some problems within families, but this would not come in the way of the efforts to entertain moviegoers. Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey, on Wednesday, has been found not guilty in all nine sexual offense charges, by a jury at a London court. The Oscar-winning actor has been facing charges of sexual assault, causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity. The actor had denied charges, claiming that the allegations were absolute bollocks and "madness." He alleged that the men who made the claims against him had financial motivations. The actor's lawyer Patrick Gibbs told the jurors that it was "not a crime to have sex with someone of the same sex, because it's 2023 not 1823". Gibbs said the actor had been tried by social media. After a four-week trial, the jurors deliberated for 12 hours and 26 minutes to arrive at the decision that the actor was not guilty. Kevin Spacey broke down in the court after hearing the verdict and thanked the jurors. I am humbled by the outcome today, the actor told reporters outside the court. "I imagine that many of you can understand that there's a lot for me to process after what has just happened today," he said. A two-year-old boy who was suffering from a ruptured malignant renal tumour, got a new lease of life at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai. The child had complained about severe pain in the abdomen and was also suffering from rapid breathing. He looked pale and lacked vitality. Paediatric Onco-surgery Consultant Dr Kant Shah, who led the team of doctors, said a complete evaluation of the patient found that he had a ruptured renal tumour which was stabilised for the time being by blood transfusions. The tumour, called Wilms Tumour, which is the commonest cancer of kidneys in children while it is highly curable, it can turn fatal if ruptured. According to Shyam Srinivasan from the Department of Paediatric Oncology at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, the cure rates of childhood malignancies are inferior in India when compared to upper-middle-income countries. There is a paucity of quality data addressing the outcome of childhood Wilms Tumour (WT) from India, according to a review report led by Srinivasan. The review titled, 'Wilms Tumour in India: A Systematic Review', included 17 studies on 1,170 patients. Ninety-four per cent of the studies were published after 2010. Researchers found advanced stage (III and IV) disease in 46 per cent of patients and the overall survival ranged between 48 and 89 per cent. As per Srinivasan, a substantial proportion of children with Wilms Tumour from India are at the advanced stages of the disease. "Despite several limitations, the current systematic review showed a modest survival among Indian children with Wilms Tumour. Ensuring early access to expert care along with the involvement of social support teams may further improve the survival of WT in India," the report noted. At Jaslok, an immediate surgery had to be performed for the little boy where a left-sided nephrectomy with lymph node sampling was done. The patient recovered well from surgery in the PICU and was then shifted to the ward. During the admission, Paediatric Oncologist Dr Amit Jain and Radiation Oncologist Dr Sharmila Agrawal initiated chemotherapy on the fifth day of surgery and radiotherapy on the ninth day, as per protocol. The patient then underwent six months of rigorous treatment and is now thriving. It is important for parents to understand the seriousness when kids mention that they are suffering from pain and be alert. This case also proves that a multi-disciplinary care pathway is important for such cancers in children where a paediatric onco-surgeon is an anchor but joint care with other specialists is mandatory throughout the course of treatment. We are proud to have facilitated this little boys miraculous escape from a ruptured tumour, said Shah. Speaking about his ordeal, the father of the patient said, We hope our kid will survive this and go on to live a long and normal life. Unesco has called for a global ban on smartphones at schools, saying it would enhance children's learning and protect them from cyberbullying. The report by the UN educational body points out that the overuse of mobile phones is connected to poorer performance at school while excessive screen time affected childrens emotional stability. The report said one in six countries had banned smartphones in school after analysing 200 education systems across the globe. The Unesco report comes against the backdrop of some European countries deciding to restrict the use of gadgets on school premises. Unesco highlighted the importance of focusing on human-centred education, pointing out that technology, including artificial intelligence, should not replace face-to-face teaching. Addressing the shift towards online learning, Unesco advised governments not to ignore the social dimension. Not all change constitutes progress. Just because something can be done does not mean it should be done. Those urging increasing individualisation may be missing the point of what education is about, it said. Unesco director-general Audrey Azoulay said, The digital revolution holds immeasurable potential but, just as warnings have been voiced for how it should be regulated in society, similar attention must be paid to the way it is used in education. Its use must be for enhanced learning experiences and the well-being of students and teachers, not to their detriment. Keep the needs of the learner first and support teachers. Online connections are no substitute for human interaction. While acknowledging that technology stopped education melting down during the Covid-19 lockdowns, several millions of less privileged students struggled to study without internet access. The Netherlands is set to enforce a ban on smartphones, tablets and smartwatches in classrooms from 2024. BBC quoted Dutch Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf as saying, "Even though mobile phones are almost intertwined with our lives, they do not belong in the classroom. Students must be able to concentrate there and be given every opportunity to learn well. We know from scientific research that mobile phones disrupt this." Finland, too, has moved against smartphone use in schools. We will make the necessary legislative amendments to enable more efficient restrictions in cases such as the use of mobile devices during the school day so that pupils and students can better concentrate on teaching, the Finnish government stated, as per Euractiv. In the book Forever Barbie: The Unauthorized Biography of a Real Doll, author M.G. Lord refers to Barbie as the ultimate piece of popular art; one that was created to be consumed by everybody, not just a few. Today a Barbie doll is sold every three seconds and, like all works of art, they are also collected and exhibited. The collectors are Instagrammers, and their accounts are akin to a gallery one would visit on a Sunday morning after enjoying an overpriced brunch. Mattel is aware that a fundamental part of Barbies legacy is in the hands of the collectors, and the company acknowledges the value they give to the brand. Each Instagram collector offers a unique, distinctive identity, along with a personal story of how they came to feel understood and protected among their followers and their likes. @barbie_lover_spain was three years old the first time a Barbie doll fell into his hands. It was a very disheveled 1989 Dance Magic Barbie that belonged to his older cousin. For me [Barbie] became a great refuge, because sometimes I felt a little alone, he admits. @barbie_coleccionista used to watch his sister play without being able to participate, while @barbiecollectorpy did play, but secretly. All @condecollector wanted to get for the holidays, every year, was a Barbie doll. @archivobarbie said he was the sissy who played with dolls in the schoolyard, and @barbielovercolombia dreamed of being a girl specifically, her. The Covid-19 pandemic prompted many collectors to dust off their treasures and show them off online. During that time, many accounts opened the doors of their collections. It was a way to connect with people who were using the same resource to escape reality, recalls @barbie_lover_spain. Between tricks, tips and sales, the different types of collectors took shape. There is the in box collector, who only buys dolls that have never been taken out of their original packaging; the out of box collector, who doesnt mind purchasing dolls that have been outside; and the rescue collector, who enjoys restoring somewhat battered dolls. The collections can be focused on characters and accessories: Barbie, Ken, Barbies family and friends, playsets and clothing sets; on the head molds, whose faces have been changing over time; on dolls that capture the spirit of an era, such as the Superstar era of the 1970s or the Generation Girl era from the early 2000s; on Barbie Playline, the ones that can be found in any toy store, or Collector Dolls, with a more detailed, delicate design; or on international productions from the time when Mattel granted manufacturing and distribution licenses to countries like Spain, Mexico, Venezuela or Peru, and which can fetch the highest prices in the rare category. Some have professionalized their hobby by associating their personal image with the doll. Being part of the community helped me overcome my shyness when making videos for my YouTube channel or speaking publicly about Barbie, says @barbielovercolombia. The community gives me and my country that visibility [...] Now, in live streams or in events, they always invite the guy from Paraguay. Its a real honor, says @barbiecollectorpy. Then there are those who do not show their faces. Its something that I dont talk about much; the truth is that Ive done it pretty much alone. I just thought that someone might be interested in my collection, admits @archivobarbie. The common denominator that motivates the collectors, the base that sustains this new online community, is nostalgia. Emily Aguilo-Perez, who devotes part of her career to studying the Barbie phenomenon in childhood, confirms this: In the collectors who participated in my study, I recognized a sense of nostalgia [...] For instance, one of them never had a Barbie when she was little, and just displaying her collection in her living room gave her joy. Mattel agrees: There is no doubt that our products cause great nostalgia. They know it and reinvent their market by creating items that produce that feeling, identifying and feeding the trends followed by kidults with specific lines of collectibles: We are aware of the phenomenon [...] Iconic brands like Barbie, due to their weight and history, have always been a benchmark among the collector niche. This is where the first trace of an apparent controversy sneaks in: adults collecting dolls. When people find out that you are an adult who collects Barbie dolls, they look at you like youre from Mars, says @barbie_lover_spain, you realize that there are guys who make models of planes, cars, ships, and no one finds it strange, but as an adult who collects dolls, youre a freak, he concludes. Aguilo-Perez points to another aspect that goes beyond the doll as an object: Barbie is a figure of opulence: she has the car and the mansion, but tries to convey a social message [...], she wants to reach a broader population, but things continue to revolve around a white, blue-eyed Barbie, she says, noting that while this is not necessarily a contradiction, it is a complexity. In the words of Lord, for every collector for whom Barbie represents an exquisite language, there is a writer or a visual artist for whom the doll is both muse and metaphor, and whose message has to do with social injustice. You have to have a balance. In real life I surely wouldnt have a friend like Barbie; she wouldnt be interested me, nor I in her. It is a character to play with, it is the fascination for the grotesque, the baroque, the circus, the fantasy, says @archivobarbie. Among collectors, there is an appreciation for the aspirations that the doll represents, as well as the therapeutic nature of the act of collecting. Beyond the plastic, to me she is synonymous with fulfilling dreams, says @barbiecollectorpy. Barbie is closely linked to my work [] I always wanted to work in the world of fashion, and she represented it, says @condecollector. I was constantly making them dresses with napkins [...] Since I was little I wanted to do something related to clothes [...], it helped me get into the world of fashion as an adult and develop a greater sensitivity, admits @barbie_lover_spain. It is a distraction when Im overwhelmed; just seeing them all together gives me satisfaction. Its cool, says @barbie_coleccionista. Lord likens the disparate and controversial idea of Barbie to a Rorschach test: each person projects diametrically opposed illusions from an apparently universal image, but in the end, each representation is considered valid and, above all, purely personal. That is why, at least on Instagram, collectors have a platform where the focus on Barbie is shared, legitimate, collective, and yes fabulous, too. The best collections Barbie Lover Spain (Spain) Number of dolls: about 450 Collector type: in box, out of box, rescue/restoration Collection items: Barbie + Ken + friends + playsets Focus of the collection: dolls produced from the late 1970s to 2006, with a special interest in Barbie dolls produced in Spain First Barbie in the collection: Brenda Walsh Barbie from Beverly Hills, 90210, 1991 edition Barbie Coleccionista (Mexico) Number of dolls: about 200 Collector type: bought in box, but displayed out of box Collection items: Barbie + clothing sets Focus of the collection: Silkstone Barbie First Barbie in the collection: Jewel Hair Mermaid Barbie, 1995 edition Barbie Collectorpy (Paraguay) Number of dolls: about 400 Collector type: in box and out of box Items in the collection: Barbie + friends Focus of the collection: Barbie dolls produced in the 1980s and 1990s, with a special interest in long-haired Barbies First Barbie in the collection: Jewel Hair Mermaid Barbie, 1995 edition Conde Collector (Spain) Number of dolls: about 30 Collector type: bought in box, designer/clothing maker Items in the collection: Barbie + clothing sets + custom clothes made by the collector Focus of the collection: Silkstone Barbie First Barbie in the collection: Secretary Barbie from the Fashion Model collection, 2007 edition Archivo Barbie (Spain) Number of dolls: about 480 Collector type: in box, out of box Items in the collection: Barbie + Skipper (Barbies little sister) Focus of the collection: Takara Barbie (Japan) + Skipper with head mold from 1987 First Barbie in the collection: Tropical Barbie, 1986 PHOTO: INSTAGRAM Barbie Lover Colombia (Colombia) Number of dolls: about 700 Collector type: in box, out of box, rescue/restoration Items in the collection: Barbie + Ken + Barbies sisters (Skipper, Stace, Kelly and Krissy) Focus of the collection: Superstar era (late 1970s, early 1990s) First Barbie in the collection: Dance Magic Barbie, produced in Colombia by Dibon, 1990 edition Some interesting facts about Barbie In 1977, Mattel gave Spain a license to produce Barbie dolls in the factories of the Congost company. Before that, Barbie had been banned in the country due to the Franco dictatorship. The molds belonged to Mattel, but the details of the face, hair and makeup were different from those of the American prototype. Special editions such as the 10th Anniversary Barbie from 1987 and the Top Model Barbie from 1989 that can now be found on Ebay for approximately $960 were created there. Mexico is the only country that gave Barbie an international friend: Valerie, created by the Cipsa company. It was only available there during the 1970s. The Totally Hair Barbie is the best-selling Barbie doll to date. It had a 1990s style and the longest hair of all: 8.5 inches. In 2019, Barbie received the Board of Directors Tribute Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America for her influence on the fashion industry. Bob Mackie, Bill Blass, Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera and Pertegaz are some of the designers that we could find if we take a peek in her closet. -There was a controversial version of Skipper Roberts, Barbies little sister, released in 1975. When her arm was rotated, breasts would grow on the chest of Growing Up Skipper, simulating the arrival of puberty. It was withdrawn from the market and Skipper remained a teenager forever. -In the 1970s, Mattel also granted production licenses to different Latin American countries. This is how the models known as rare Barbie dolls, due to the peculiarities of each countrys adaptations, came to the collector market. One can still find Barbie dolls produced in Colombia (Dibon Barbie), Mexico (Cipsa Barbie) or Peru (Basa Barbie); currently, their prices can reach almost $5,000, as is the case of Miss Barbie Reina de Belleza from Rotoplast, in Venezuela. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition It may have been 24 years since Indian troops pushed out Pakistani soldiers and its army-supported irregulars from the icy heights of Tiger Hills and other dominating features that overlook the NH 1 in Ladakh, but this years solemn event was different in many aspects. Besides becoming the worlds most populous country early this year by overtaking China, this is the year that India is presiding over the G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) groupings, thereby marking out its rightful place on the high table in the global comity of nations. In that context, what Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in his address at the Kargil War Memorial on Wednesday is significant. After emerging victorious in the Kargil War, India held back from crossing the Line of Actual Control (LoC) keeping obligations towards international law and its commitment to these. We could have done that if we wanted to. But, in future, India will cross LoC if provoked. There will be no hesitation. With power comes responsibility and that is what the defence minister meant while underlining Indias burgeoning military might, yet sticking to international peace protocols and covenants by discharging that might responsibly and with discretion. At the same time, Singhs statement is also indicative of Indias absence of expeditionary intent, by indicating that the countrys military might is not used for expansion. This may be construed as an indirect reference at China whose ambitious and aggressive expeditionary intent without regard to agreed protocols since May 2020, has resulted in an unresolved border tangle. As a result, more than 1,20,000 troops have been deployed on both sides of the Indo-Chinese border. Wading into the implications of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the minister said what matters more than anything in todays time is national willpower backed by a whole-of-the-nation approach. I urge all Indians to be ready to support the soldiers directly in the battlefield if the need arises. Hinting at the recent June 24 mutiny by the Wagner mercenaries in Russia, Singh said mercenaries are motivated only by money, but national willpower has the last say. Besides the countrys top military brass, including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army chief General Manoj C. Pande, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, Navy chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar and other top army Northern Command officials, the event was attended by family members of the fallen soldiers at the Kargil battlefield and Kargil veterans. Speaking to reporters, Army chief General Pande said: The country will never forget the sacrifices (of Kargil War martyrs). Operation Vijay was a difficult and high-intensity military operation. It was difficult terrain that was under the possession of the enemy. It was a challenge that our soldiers accomplished. Wiping off her tears, Duluprabha Gogoi, the mother of Captain Jintu Gogoi who fell to enemy bullets in the Batalik sub-sector in 1999, told THE WEEK: I have lost my son but what I am also touched by is the reverence and respect shown by the Indian Army to my son even after all these years. Like all other family members of the fallen soldiers, Gogoi had come all the way from Assams Khumtai to take part in the event. As a top-level Army officer told THE WEEK in a choked voice: This (Kargil Vijay Diwas) for me is the truest of all pilgrimages. In 2015, North Korea's defence minister-turned-traitor', Hyon Yong-chol, faced the wrath of an anti-aircraft gun for committing the gravest of sins: falling asleep during his Supreme Leaders, oh-so-important speech. For yall bourgeoisie and class traitors, that may sound like an absurd waste of bullets. But hold on a second! You see, in the lands of Communisms (of course, there are different versions of that 'ism'), it's a whole different ballgame. When a Supreme Leader speaks, it's like every word is pure gold and must be absorbed with utmost reverence. It's not like your fancy leaders who blabber endlessly about nonsense; no, no, each word from a Communist supremo's mouth is a 'divine' decree! So naturally, if some traitor dares to disrespect the holy speech by howling or snoozing, they must face the consequences! However, the punishments from Communists are tailored to fit the terrain. In high-potent Communist realms, an anti-aircraft gun or a sudden disappearance might be the weapon of choice for such drowsy offenders. For instance, the foreign minister of Communist China is currently missing, and the Chinese Supreme Leader simply replaced him without any qualms. Until now, it is not clear whether the former foreign minister was punished for yawning, blinking, snoozing, or howling. But he had done something to trigger the Sup Leader, for sure! Meanwhile, in the realms of the watered-down version of Communism, a criminal case charged under the sections of "grave violation of public order" would do just fine. You see, even in delivering punishments, Communism has different versions! Speaking of punishment, let's talk about this stupid Thiruvananthapuram-based mic operator who recently did something similar to what Hyon Yong Chol did. His mic caused howling and interference while Keralas Communist Supreme Leader was speaking at a public event conducted by his principal opposition. But he got saved from the anti-aircraft extravaganza! However, the traitor mic operator did deserve something bigger! His reactions to bourgeoisie media proved it: he claimed it's "common" for mics to have interference. The Kerala Police serving the Supreme Leader of Kerala did take action, but later decided to go easy on the operator. They registered an FIRwithout naming anybodyunder Section 118 [E] of the Kerala Police Act for causing a grave violation of public order or danger, and seized the mic operator's machinery, but later gave "clean chit" to him. Oh, they had a whole range of sections at their disposal, including those under the UAPA Act to deal with the treason. But guess what! Kerala's Supreme Leader has his own ism for everything; he knows clearly when and where to employ brute force, and whether it needs to be delivered by an Innova or a Police Jeep. The mic operator explained that there was interference for only less than 10 seconds during the Kerala Communist Supremos speech. Blasphemy! That guy does not have an idea how much wisdom and enlightenment can be packed into just 10 seconds by a Communist Supremo, whether it is from Kerala, China or Korea. In 2018, during one of those precious speeches, it took less than 10 seconds for the Kerala Supremo to hail his North Korean comrade for the latters "tough anti-America stance". What would have happened if the mic malfunctioned in those exact moments? Yes, punishments can be delivered afterwards to the traitor, but will that bring back those great moments of wisdom? Coming back to the topic of delivering punishments, the Comrade Supremo of Kerala is more daring and creative than the Comrade Supremo of Korea or even China, imho. Because he has done something unthinkable even for the Comrade Supremo of North Korea. Comrade Supremo of Kerala recently went to the Bourgeoise America, made a public speech at Times Square and earned adulation by showing his tough anti-America stance! Now, that's a whole new level of punishment style that Kims and Xis can copy! (This is a work of satire) India is ready to cross the Line of Control (LoC) to maintain its honour and dignity, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. He was speaking at the event held to mark the 24th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas and the martyrdom of 559 soldiers at Drass in Ladakh on Wednesday. He urged Indians to be ready to support the soldiers in such a situation. Referring to the Russia-Ukraine war, Singh said it has been going on for over a year because civilians participated in the war. The defence minister said Pakistan imposed the Kargil War on India. "We were backstabbed by Pakistan... the war was imposed on India. Whenever there has been a war situation, our public has always supported the forces but that support has been indirect. I urge the public to be ready to support the soldiers directly on the battlefield if the need arises." "We can go to any extreme to maintain the honour and dignity of the country... if that includes crossing the LoC, we are ready to do that," he said. Paying tributes to gallant soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the 1999 war, Singh said, "I salute those brave sons, who sacrificed everything for the protection of the motherland. I salute those brave sons who put the nation first and did not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for it." Singh visited the tombstones of fallen soldiers and laid a wreath at the war memorial. He is expected to interact with Army officers and jawans before returning to New Delhi. Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorates India's victory over Pakistan during the 1999 Kargil War, which saw the Indian Army driving out the Pakistani forces from Ladakh despite hostile weather and terrain. On July 26, 1999, the Army successfully concluded "Operation Vijay" after a three-month-long battle at high-altitude locations, including Tololing and Tiger Hill in Kargil. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tribute to the soldiers, tweeting in Hindi, "Kargil Vijay Diwas brings to the fore the heroic saga of those wonderful bravehearts of India, who will always remain an inspiration for the countrymen. On this special day, I bow down and salute him from the bottom of my heart. Long live India!" Army Chief General Manoj Pande, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan also offered tributes to the fallen soldiers at the Dras memorial as the military band played sombre tunes to mark the day. The event was attended by war heroes including Veer Naris, Veer Matas and the relatives of the fallen soldiers. The Naga National Political Groups, an umbrella organisation of seven Naga groups, has lashed out at the government for mishandling the Manipur situation, terming the ongoing strife a premeditated attack to disturb peace and harmony in the northeast. The NNPGs, who have been in the forefront of peace talks with the government for a settlement to the decades-long Naga insurgency, alleged that the government's faulty policies have led to a divide between the Nagas, Meiteis and Kukis. In the last few years, the government had done a balancing act on the Nagas' demand for a separate greater Nagalimconsisting of Nagaland and Naga inhabited areas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradeshled by the largest insurgent outfit NSCN(IM), by holding separate talks with the NNPGsseven armed groups in ceasefire with the government. But now the NNPGs' unhappiness can lead to yet another setback to the protracted peace talks. In a statement issued by its working committee, the Naga Political Groups said that the government has set fire to its own tent in Manipur, and the fire could spread. The epicentre is Manipur, but the tensions and violence have spilled over to neighbouring states, they said. The Naga bodies condemned the act of women being paraded naked and the atrocities on them, saying the destruction and death is unprecedented which can long term implications on the peace in northeast. While condemning the ransacking of churches in Manipur, the groups also expressed concern over the communal and religious overtones of the ethnic violence. The future ramification is frightening and unimaginable in the region. The socio-economic, religious and cultural, political and historical landscape of North East is too fragile historically, said the statement. From the streets of Imphal, the concerns have spread to neighbouring states like Mizoram, Nagaland and Assam where hundreds had fled after violence broke out in Manipur in May. The neighbourly co-existence between Nagas, Meiteis and Kukis have taken a brutal beating, the statement said, adding that the time has come for the affected communities, with the help of civil societies and community leaders, to allow reason to prevail. The Nagas have appealed to the people not to allow politics to overtake the need of for peace between various communities who have to co-exist in the hills as well as the valleys. The opposition alliance has moved a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government in the Lok Sabha, knowing full well that the ruling dispensation is more than comfortably placed in the lower house with regard to numbers. The opposition's strategy is to use the no trust move as a way to corner the Modi regime and also showcase the new-found unity of the INDIA parties. The constituents of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance took a decision in their meeting on parliamentary strategy on Tuesday that they would bring a no-confidence motion against the Modi government. Congress' Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, a prominent political face from the Northeast, gave the notice for the motion. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi has also filed a notice for a no-confidence motion separately. The choice of Gogoi as the MP piloting the move is significant, considering that the main issue on which the opposition alliance is seeking a response from the government, more specifically the prime minister himself, is the continuing unrest in Manipur. The government has thus far maintained that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reply to the debate on the situation in Manipur. INDIA alliance is aware of its numbers in the Lok Sabha, but this is not just about numbers. This is about Manipur's fight for justice, said Gogoi. He said the move was meant to convey the alliance's solidarity with the people of Manipur and to force the prime minister to come to Parliament and speak on the issue. It is a given that the government has the numbers on its side. The opposition is looking to use the no-confidence motion as a way to corner the government, and claim moral victory. It will be an opportunity for the opposition parties to talk about not just Manipur but also other issues. The majority figure in the Lok Sabha stands at 272. The BJP-led NDA is more than comfortably placed with more than 320 members. The BJP alone has 303 MPs in the lower house. The INDIA parties together have 141 MPs. The no-confidence move is also a means to showcase the unity of the INDIA parties, which have in this session so far shown remarkable cohesion and pursued a common strategy. The Parliament session came close on the heels of 26 opposition parties at their meeting in Bengaluru deciding to call the alliance INDIA. At that meeting, it was felt that the parties should make maximum use of the Monsoon Session to corner the government and display unity of purpose. The Modi government had faced a no-confidence motion in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, too. In 2018, a no-confidence motion was brought against the Modi regime by former ally Telugu Desam Party, and the government won by 325 to 126 votes. People have confidence in PM Modi and the BJP. They brought a no-confidence motion in the last term as well. The people of this country taught them a lesson, said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi. Heavy showers continued to lash Delhi and NCR region on Wednesday morning, throwing life out of gear. Several parts of the national capital, including ITO Road, witnessed waterlogging thereby disrupting traffic. Parts of the NCR region, including Noida and Ghaziabad, too witnessed heavy rains on Wednesday. The rain will continue till Thursday, according to a bulletin by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). #WATCH | Delhi: Waterlogging situation on ITO road after rain lashes parts of national capital. pic.twitter.com/aGn8XecqQD ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2023 The weather agency has issued a 'yellow' alert for most of the Delhi-NCR region. "Heavy to very heavy rainfall and thunderstorm/lightning at isolated places over west Uttar Pradesh. Heavy rain/thunderstorm/lightning at isolated places over HP, Punjab, Haryana, East Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan," the IMD said. All schools up to class 12 in Noida and Greater Noida will remain closed on Wednesday due to rain and waterlogging. "Due to rains and waterlogging, District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma has ordered the closure of all schools up to Class 12 for today," District Inspector of Schools Dharmveer Singh said. Karnataka Many parts of Karnataka too witnessed heavy rains on Wednesday as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the state government is prepared to tackle any emergency. "The @Indiametdept has issued a flash flood bulletin, warning of potential flash floods in some parts of Coastal Karnataka and North Interior Karnataka. The Government has reviewed the risk-prone areas and is well prepared to tackle the issues on the ground," the Chief Minister tweeted. The authorities have declared holidays for schools and colleges in the vulnerable region. Meanwhile, all the reservoirs in the state are completely filled up with a heavy inflow of water and most of the rivers are in spate. The IMD has sounded an orange alert for the coastal and Malnad region in the state with a forecast that moderate to heavy spells of rain accompanied by gusty winds was likely in these places. Telangana Besides Karnataka, Telangana too saw heavy showers, following which the government declared holidays to all educational institutions in the state on Wednesday and Thursday. The Met Centre of IMD here in its 'Daily Weather Report of Telangana State' on Tuesday (0830 hours) said Velpur in Nizamabad district received 40 cm rainfall, followed by Jakranpalle and Bheemgal (23 cm each) in the same district. The downpour led to inundation of low-lying areas in Warangal, Nizamabad and other districts. The IMD has predicted heavy-to-very-heavy rain with extremely heavy rain at isolated places in Karimnagar, Peddapally and other districts on Wednesday. Heavy rain is very likely to occur in several other districts during the same period, it said. "From 8.30 am on July 26 to 8.30 am on July 27, heavy-to-very-heavy rain with extremely heavy rain is very likely to occur at isolated places in Khammam, Nalgonda and other districts," the bulletin read. Hyderabad is also likely to witness very heavy rain and at times very intense spells are very likely to occur in the city on Wednesday. China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who has been missing from the public eye for a few weeks, was replaced. Gang, who took over the role seven months ago, has been replaced by his predecessor Wang Yi. No reason has been given for Gang's removal. There's been speculation both in China and abroad over Gang's unexplained disappearance from public view for the past month. As to why Gang was abruptly ousted remains a mystery. Before being appointed foreign minister, he had served as China's ambassador to the US. As ambassador, he had gained a reputation as a tough-talking "wolf-warrior" diplomat, BBC reported. Before that, Gang was a spokesman for the foreign ministry. At the time he worked closely with President Xi Jinping and helped the leader organise his overseas trips. Gang's fall from grace was unexpected as his rise to become foreign minister was meteoric. He was reportedly one of the best-known faces of the Chinese government. The 57-year-old had met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing just about a month ago as the two sides sought to ease tensions at the highest level. Gang failed to attend a summit in Indonesia and had briefly disappeared from his normal duties a month ago. At the time, a brief official explanation of ill health was given. One theory surrounding Gang being replaced is that hardliners might have been opposed to US and China starting to thaw tensions between the two nations. Another reason could be Gang was rumoured to have had an affair with a prominent television anchor when he was serving as ambassador in the US. That, coupled with an inexplicable disappearance could be why he was removed from office. In the coming months, Xi Jinping would need someone with continuity and predictability, as he gears up for several international meetings. Gang is also said to have missed meetings with Finance Secretary Janet Yellen and with climate envoy John Kerry. Gang, on July 4, was scheduled to meet European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. But, EU officials announced that China cancelled the talks without explanation with only a few days warning, an Al Jazeera report reads. Gang was said to be Jinping's protege and the former's abrupt departure is sure to reflect badly on the leader. Further information regarding Gang's removal is not likely to be revealed given the Chinese political system is notoriously opaque. Kolkata, Jul 26 (PTI) The proposed demerger of the hotels division of ITC into a separate entity will not affect synergies with other business lines of the conglomerate, according to analysts. The board of ITC on Monday accorded in-principle approval to demerge its hotels business into a new entity to be listed pursuant to a scheme of arrangement. Broking firm JM Financial said in a report "synergies between hotels and other ITC businesses like foods should largely remain unaffected". The firm said that ITC will continue to hold 40 per cent shareholding in the new entity post-demerger and the balance of 60 per cent will be owned by the shareholders. This, according to JM Financial, will help the demerged business to raise and deploy its own capital to fund growth of the hotel business and ensure it remains on top amongst peers. This move of demerger will also point towards a sharper capital allocation strategy of ITC, the report said. Another firm Nuvama Research said that ITC has addressed the key investor expectation of demerging the hotels business. With ITC holding 40 per cent of the demerged entity directly and the balance 60 per cent by its shareholders, this will provide synergy and stability in the operations of the two companies, it said. Nuvama said had ITC had no stake in the proposed demerged entity, the hotels business would become a takeover target with no possibilities of synergy. Prior to 2004, the ownership of the hotels business was split between ITC Limited and ITC Hotels Limited and its subsidiaries. However, the two were merged on April one, 2004 and the hotels business was consolidated under ITC. Nuvama said the structure of the demerged entity implies a balance between decision-making capabilities and stability. The company's hotels business is operated under six brands - ITC Hotels, Mementos, WelcomHotel, Storri, Fortune and WelcomHeritage. From 2002-03 to 2022-23, the revenues from the hotels business has grown at a CAGR of 11 per cent. On Wednesday, the ITC scrip closed at Rs 472.40 per cent on NSE, registering a rise of 2.18 per cent. New Delhi (India), July 26: Yuvika is a renowned influencer in India and the queen of content creation. With a year-long association with Mrs. India Inc. as participants' esteemed social media mentor, Yuvika has transformed the way participants make use of their social media space. With her unparalleled expertise and a keen eye for creativity, she has guided and trained participants on effectively bringing out the best through their social media pages. Mrs. India Inc, the most credible beauty pageant for married women in India, captivated audiences with its highly anticipated Season 4 finale. The event, known for its celebration of beauty, grace, and cultural diversity, was held from July 13th to July 19th at the iconic Nelum Pokuna in Colombo, Sri Lanka, marking the first international stage for the prestigious pageant. The contestants, hailing from various parts of India and across the globe, experienced the comfortable stay at the luxurious Cinnamon Grand Resort, one of Sri Lanka's finest hospitality destinations. In the midst of this grand celebration, Yuvika has been an integral part of the pageant as a social media mentor, guiding and training participants on how to maintain their social media presence effectively. From the basics of content creation to mastering reels, stories, and photography, Yuvika has enlightened contestants on the benefits of monitoring, maintaining, and monetizing their social media pages. However, Yuvika's role didnt end there. She shone as a beacon of inspiration by showcasing the tireless efforts and behind-the-scenes hard work that went into creating such a magnificent event. With her keen eye for detail, Yuvika captured the essence of the participants' journey, highlighting their dedication and determination. Apart from her invaluable contribution to taking the event to its heights, Yuvika also crowned one of the esteemed beauty titles - Mrs. Beyond Classique 2023. This title not only acknowledges outer beauty but also celebrates the inner strength and charisma of a married woman who defies societal norms and embraces her individuality. As Mrs. India Inc Season 4 promises to be the most diverse and enthralling edition to date, Yuvika Abrol's presence has undoubtedly added an extra layer of grandeur to the event. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR ~ The introduction of MAYA, the AI Clone & Avatar of Dr. Manjula Pooja Shroff, highlights The Kalorex Group's dedication to AI and harnessing technology for educational advancement. ~ MUMBAI, India, July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kalorex Group (https://www.kalorex.org), a renowned name in quality education and innovation, has taken a momentous leap into the future by introducing MAYA, the AI Clone & Avatar of Dr. Manjula Pooja Shroff, the visionary founder. Through this groundbreaking innovation, the Kalorex Group is embracing AI and harnessing cutting-edge technology. It represents a momentous breakthrough in the integration of AI power in education, revolutionizing content generation and fostering a closer bond with students and educators worldwide. MAYA the AI CLONE & AVATAR of Dr. Manjula Pooja Shroff (https://manjulapoojashroff.com), founder of Kalorex Group, is a name synonymous with quality education and innovations in K-12 education. Kalorex has always strived to be at the forefront of technological advancements. Keeping with this vision, Kalorex is harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence to revolutionize content generation and reach out to students and teachers around the globe. As the driving force behind Kalorex Group, Dr. Manjula Pooja Shroff has been instrumental in managing premier schools for decades. Expressing her excitement about MAYA's launch, Dr. Shroff said, "The creation of MAYA, my AI Clone & Avatar, exemplifies our unwavering commitment to AI and harnessing technology, paving the way for the next frontier in education. With this cutting-edge technology, we can connect with students and teachers on a more personal level, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for learning. It's an incredible opportunity for us to engage with learners worldwide, stepping into a new era of personalized and immersive learning experiences." Kalorex Group has long been synonymous with professionalism and excellence in schooling. Under Dr. Shroff's leadership, the group manages over 55+ premier educational institutions, including Delhi Public Schools and Calorx Olive International School. The group also emphasizes inclusivity through projects like Visamo Kids and Prerna, a school for dyslexics, making a positive impact on the lives of countless learners. MAYA's introduction reinforces Kalorex Group's position as a leading institution in education and technological innovation. Dr. Manjula Pooja Shroff's wisdom and passion for education will now reach far beyond geographical boundaries, inspiring learners worldwide. As MAYA continues to advance education and engagement, Kalorex Group remains dedicated to fostering the brightest minds and providing top-notch education. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2161043/KalorexGroupIntroducesMAYA.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2161042/KalorexLogo.jpg (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR The story of Michael J. Foxs rise to fame could well be a script for a teen movie from the 1980s, the period that he dominated and that took him to the top. This is how Davis Guggenheim pitched a genre-breaking documentary about the actor to Apple TV+. The director had already made a name for himself with other dazzling documentaries like He Called Me Malala and An Inconvenient Truth for which he won an Oscar in 2007. I wanted to construct a youthful, adventurous story, with many ups and downs and a great soundtrack (from Guns N Roses to Beastie Boys), so that people would forget that it was a documentary, the director recalled in March during our interview. His wife, actress Elisabeth Sue, was also one of Foxs co-stars. But, Guggenheim goes on to explain, when you shoot nonfiction you cant get a predetermined idea of what the tone of your film will be, because reality always prevails. After months of sharing time with the actor, emotional and physical pain began to gain ground in The Life of Michael J. Fox. The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and is now available on the platforms catalog of on-demand content. His optimism, which may seem like one of his strengths, may end up being one of his weaknesses. The guy takes it too far, he says about the star of his film. That charisma was about to ruin the tone of his narrative. In his last interview for the documentary, the director was able to show Fox some things he was already editing. And it was then that he realized that they had never clearly addressed the pain that was so present in Foxs daily life. I felt a bit stupid for not asking him about it sooner. But Michael is a person who is programmed to always seem cheerful. At his age, he still maintains that attitude of Im a short boy who is going to conquer the world and makes you forget the less luminous aspects of his life, however obvious they may be, the experienced filmmaker says. I was about to let him get away with it, until I realized I had to take that mask off and show that side of him on camera. A moment from the documentary The Life of Michael J. Fox. Apple TV+ And, although The Life of Michael J. Fox effectively takes on how a boy without the makings of a movie star, raised on a military base in Canada, became a huge Hollywood star in the 1980s, it also explains how his life was changed by his unexpected diagnosis with Parkinsons, a disease with no cure. Fox was diagnosed before he had even turned 30. By then he was already a husband and an absent father, more concerned with achieving fame, as he himself reveals in his confessionals for the production. Without wanting to fall into tragedy, Guggenheim slightly diverted the prism towards a place where the viewer and he himself could identify with Fox. The director admits that, despite the successes he achieved as a documentary filmmaker, when this project came to his hands he was at a point in his career where he no longer enjoyed his work. Getting older is a chore. And its also something we tell in the film through Michael. There comes a time when you stop running to achieve certain goals and start running to get away from certain things, the director confesses, a few months before turning 60, only a couple less than the star of the Back to the Future saga. I also experienced that feeling of invincibility, of thinking that you were going to live forever, that your next movie was going to be better than the previous one... Sometimes it was, but there came a time when I stopped believing it, he confesses. Therefore, this is not the story of that heroic guy who battles Parkinsons, but of someone who does just the opposite... tries to run away and not face the problem. And thats where Guggenheim found a story that he found truly interesting... and intimate, he says. Before he started working with Fox, he wasnt a big fan of his work. Lets just say I knew his greatest hits. And, when you dont know someone well, sometimes you fall into that cliche of believing that if a person is funny, they cant be deep at the same time. Little by little, I discovered his intelligence and wisdom and revealed it in the film, he says. Colombo, Jul 26 (PTI) A close relationship with India is very important for Sri Lanka as it provides key support for the island nation's future growth, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya said on Wednesday. He also said that a direct ferry service between the two countries as well as the improvement of the Tamil-dominated northern provinces Jaffna International Airport are under discussion. Addressing reporters on the recent visit of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to India where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi among other dignitaries, Balasuriya said that there are possibilities of further strengthening the existing relationship between the two neighbouring nations. "A close relationship with our neighbour India is very important for Sri Lanka as a country as it provides strong support for the nation's future growth. Additionally, there are advantageous aspects between the two nations in terms of investments as well as development projects," he said. He said that 85 per cent of the containers destined for this country go to India. "Therefore, we may benefit economically if we negotiate with India and expand the ports that are already in place, he said. Balasuriya said that a direct ferry service between the two countries as well as the improvement of the northern provinces Jaffna International Airport are under discussion. India and Sri Lanka last year in December resumed direct flight services between Chennai and Jaffna, three years after the island nation discontinued the services due to the Covid pandemic, boosting travel from South India which has close cultural and religious ties with Northern Sri Lanka. "Attention has also been focused on making Sri Lanka an energy hub. It will be discussed on how to develop offshore wind energy, solar energy and green energy in the future. Modernising the Trincomalee Oil Tank Complex and enhancing trade between the two countries were also being discussed," he said. Balasuriya emphasised that under Wickremesinghes leadership, Sri Lanka would gain greatly in the future as a result of his non-aligned foreign policy and his strong cooperation with all countries. "Some earlier governments were accused of maintaining close relationships with China while some were accused of maintaining close ties with the West. Today, such accusations are not made due to the foreign policy of the current government and strong foreign relationships maintained, he said. New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) Actor Kiara Advani made a bold appearance in a Barbie-inspired outfit from designer duo Falguni and Shane Peacock on the first day of the India Couture Week (ICW). The designers on Tuesday unveiled their collection "Renaissance Reverie", featuring bridal wear for men and women, inspired by their love for art and the treasures they encounter during their travels, as per the collection note. Advani, who is no stranger to the ICW ramp, looked every bit resplendent as she walked the stage in a bold pink ensemble outfit with bead and sequin work. The dress featured a top with plunging neckline and a skirt with a high slit and long train at the back, which many dubbed an outfit perfect for 'desi Barbie', a reference to Hollywood star Margot Robbie's new movie "Barbie", currently running in theatres worldwide. "As a showstopper, it was the perfect outfit. It was such a versatile outfit. We styled it in a western way and that's the beauty of all the creations. They are all versatile and you can wear them as per your taste," the "Satyaprem Ki Katha" star told reporters after the event. Turning showstopper for Falguni and Shane Peacock was a no-brainer, Advani said. "I feel absolutely stunning in this outfit and I always feel that whenever I am dressed by them. Two days ago, my manager asked if I wanted to see the clothes and I said, 'Its Falguni and Shane, they will give me something stunning.' They always supersede my expectations," the actor said. She praised the designer duo for blending "detail with a lot of glamour" in their creations. "Every piece just stands out. Every single outfit looked like a showstopper outfit today. And that is something I believe is their USP. They really bring that magic," she added. Advani, who previously walked the ICW ramp for Amit Aggarwal in 2019, said she was glad to be back on the stage. "I hadn't been on the stage for a while due to the pandemic and my work commitments. So to come back to the ramp, and of course for Falguni and Shane, is a match made in heaven. I just hope that we've set the tone right for the others. "It's the magic of doing a show in front of a live audience with the lights and music, it all just comes together. There was a romantic energy in the atmosphere. I could just feel it," she added. Advani, wife of her "Shershaah" co-star Sidharth Malhotra, said the evening was made special by the presence of her husband's family. "My in-laws are here. I'm in the national capital where my husband's family lives. So I had them come and see me walk the ramp, which is a first. It was nice to see everyone cheering me on in this beautiful outfit,' she said. With Advani as their muse, Falguni and Shane said it was a great start to the 16th edition of the fashion gala. Asked about Advani's Barbie-inspired outfit, Falguni told PTI, "Today's Barbie is just so intelligent. It's not just beauty but it's brain and having a mind of your own. We really wanted to channel the inner Barbie in her and make everyone see how stunning she is." The fashion gala, organised by Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) and presented by Hyundai Motor India, will run till August 2. Kathmandu, Jul 26 (PTI) A 26-year-old Indian national was arrested in Nepal's Madhesh province for allegedly killing his wife, police said on Wednesday. Mohmad Amanullah, a resident of Bihar, was arrested from the Bara district on the charges of killing his 23-year-old wife Yasmin Khaatun, according to a Nepal Police news bulletin. Yasmin was murdered using a sharp weapon when she was residing at her maternal home in Simraungadh Municipality of the Bara district. The police arrested Mohmad, a resident of East Champaran of Bihar, soon after receiving the information about Yasmin's murder. Mohmad sustained injuries as the local people thrashed him after the incident and is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Islamabad, Jul 26 (PTI) In a jolt to Imran Khan, Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the ousted prime minister's plea to stay the criminal proceedings against him in the Toshakhana corruption case. The case pertains to the allegations that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party chief had deliberately concealed details of the gifts he retained from the Toshakhana a repository where presents handed to government officials from foreign officials are kept during his time as the prime minister and proceeds from their reported sales. Khan is accused of misusing his 2018 to 2022 premiership to buy and sell gifts in state possession that were received during visits abroad and worth more than Rs 140 million (USD 635,000). Khan, 70, had approached the apex court after being denied relief in the case by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the Geo News channel reported. The Election Commission of Pakistan on October 21 last year, disqualified the former prime minister in the Toshakhana case for making "false statements and incorrect declaration". In May, a trial court rejected Khan's petition challenging the maintainability of the case and indicted the PTI chief, who denied all the allegations of misdeclaration of gifts. Subsequently, Khan challenged the trial court's decision before the IHC, which sent the case back to the trial court for re-examination. On July 8, the trial court concluded that the ECP's petition is maintainable and proceeded further against the former premier who then approached the apex court for relief. During Wednesday's hearing, Justice Yahya Afridi of the two-member bench remarked that the apex court will not interfere in the trial court's matters in the Toshakhana corruption case. However, it urged the IHC to decide three of Khan's pending petitions challenging the court's decision to return the matter to the trial court after his lawyer Khawaja Haris informed the bench that there are multiple petitions related to the jurisdiction of the trial court and transfer of the Toshakhana case pending in the high court, the Express Tribune newspaper reported. Khan is facing more than 140 cases across the country and faces charges like terrorism, violence, blasphemy, corruption and murder since he was ousted from power in April last year after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China and Afghanistan. Jerusalem, Jul 26 (PTI) Angry protests following the passage of a controversial bill by Israel's Parliament this week on a controversial bill that could limit the Supreme Court's powers has given way to a quiet upheaval in the country with threats of mass emigration, resignations in critical positions, army desertions, strikes and flight of capital. Israeli Parliament approved the contentious law that prevents judicial checks on political power and forms a key part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to reshape the country's justice system, after weeks of unprecedented protests that have crippled the Jewish state. The bill passed on Monday with 64 votes in favour and zero against it, with the opposition boycotting the final vote on the bill in protest. It was the first major bill to pass in the governments much-criticised judicial overhaul plans. Multiple last-minute attempts within the Knesset (Israel's Parliament) to amend the bill or to come to a broader procedural compromise with the opposition failed. Credit rating agency Moodys Investors Service on Tuesday warned about negative consequences and significant risk for Israels economy and security situation following the passage of the first bill. Moodys had in April lowered Israels credit outlook from positive to stable, citing a deterioration of Israels governance and upheaval over the governments bid to dramatically overhaul the judiciary. More specifically, we believe the wide-ranging nature of the governments proposals could materially weaken the judiciarys independence and disrupt effective checks and balances between the various branches of government, which are important aspects of strong institutions," Moodys noted. Israel has no written constitution and its institutional set-up relies to an important extent on judicial oversight and review, it said adding, The executive and legislative institutions have become less predictable and more willing to create significant risks to economic and social stability". Moodys also pointed out that some of its earlier concerns regarding the proposed reforms impact on Israels economy are also starting to materialise. Moodys still expects the countrys economy to grow at a rate of 3 per cent both this year and in 2024, but cautioned that the projection does not incorporate a negative effect from a prolonged period of social and political tensions. Unfazed by the critical report by the global credit rating agency, the government put out a statement rebuffing it as a momentary response adding that when the dust settles it will become clear that Israels economy is very strong. The Israeli economy is based on strong fundamentals and will continue to grow under experienced leadership that is enacting a responsible economic policy, read the joint statement by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. US investment bank Morgan Stanley on Tuesday lowered Israels sovereign credit to a dislike stance citing increased uncertainty about the economic outlook in the coming months, Times of Israel reported. US bank Citi told institutional clients that the environment in Israel is much more tricky and dangerous, advising investors to hold off until the dust settles, the news portal said. The current events in Israel are challenging and making investors increasingly nervous with regards to Israeli assets, Citi VP Michael Wiesen was quoted to have written in a note. We urge caution here and to wait for better levels/calmer market, he reportedly said. Israeli shares turned to losses and the shekel weakened on Monday as angry protesters took over the streets following the passage of the bill. Almost 70 per cent of Israeli startups are taking active steps to pull money and shift parts of their businesses outside the country due to the uncertainty created around the proposed judicial overhaul, a survey by Start-Up Nation Central, which tracks the local tech ecosystem, was cited in local media as saying. The findings of the survey showed that 68 per cent of Israeli startups have started to take legal and financial steps, including the withdrawal of cash reserves, moving their headquarters outside of Israel, relocating employees and conducting layoffs. Overall, 78 per cent of the surveyed startup executives reported that the governments controversial plan to weaken the countrys judicial system is negatively impacting their operations, and 84 per cent of venture capital investors said it has a negative influence on their portfolio companies. Companies and investors are taking active steps to move activity away from Israel and this behaviour has increased significantly over the past three months, Start-Up Nation Central CEO, Avi Hasson, was quoted as saying. Concerning trends like registering a company abroad or launching new startups outside Israel will be hard to reverse, Hasson said. Another survey carried out on Tuesday found that nearly one-third of Israelis are considering leaving the country. The Channel 13 poll found that 28 per cent of the respondents were weighing a move abroad, 64 per cent were not, and 8 per cent were unsure. Over half of the surveys respondents, 54 per cent, said that they feared the judicial overhaul was harming Israels security, and 56 per cent were worried about civil war. The poll carried out by pollster Camille Fuchs queried 711 respondents and had a margin of error of 3.7 per cent. Meanwhile, security-related concerns in the country have also deepened with threats from various quarters. Several senior scientists on the Israel Atomic Energy Commission have threatened to resign to protest the governments judicial overhaul, as per local media reports on Tuesday. The scientists are among several dozen experts who are responsible for the development of Israels nuclear capability, Channel 13 reported, referring to foreign reports about the Jewish states alleged nuclear weapons arsenal. Israel maintains ambiguity regarding its nuclear capabilities. The report, which did not cite sources, said the scientists had been discussing their possible resignations in recent weeks, but there was no collective protest action, and that each of the scientists would decide on the matter individually. The military warned on Tuesday that combat readiness may soon be harmed if reservist troops do not show up for duty over a lengthy period of time, amid efforts to insulate the army from national tensions over the governments controversial judicial overhaul. Thousands of reservists have threatened to end their volunteer reserve duty in protest of the overhaul in recent weeks, forcing Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevi, to issue a rare video statement on Tuesday calling for unity within the military. The IDF has said that the "cohesion" or unity of the forces has already been harmed amid the protests against the judicial overhaul, and "it will take time to fix". The army however claimed it is still fully battle-ready even though harm to the IDFs readiness has already begun. Should the thousands of reservists in key positions continue to not show up for duty, actual damage to the IDFs competence may occur within weeks, security officials said. At the current point in time, the IDF is competent. There was an increase in requests to end reserve service, and alongside this, there is a dialogue between commanders and service members, military spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari told reporters. If reservists do not report for duty for a long time, there will be damage to the armys competence. This is a gradual process that will be affected according to the reporting for duty of the reservists, he added. There have been at least two isolated cases of reservists not showing up for duty when ordered to, according to the IDF. One was handed a NIS 1,000 (USD 270) fine and the other was given a 15-day suspended jail sentence, media reports said. Some 1,200 Israeli Air Force reservists in a letter on Tuesday reportedly announced their intention to end their volunteer service. According to a report, 60 per cent of them are said to have notified their commanders that they would no longer show up for duty. Reservists not showing up for volunteer service have not faced any disciplinary action. Israel's famed espionage agency Mossad has also reportedly seen "high tensions" internally over the issue. Mossad Director David Barnea was widely quoted in the international media as saying that if the government goes the wrong way, his agency will come out on the right side of history. On Monday, Barnea said that the government's repeal of the reasonableness standard had not crossed the line into bringing the agency into a legal dilemma, but if such a point arrived it would always remain loyal first to the rule of law, The Jerusalem Post reported. All the six living former chiefs of the spy agency have explicitly opposed the reasonableness standard repeal with five of them holding Netanyahu responsible for tearing the nation apart. Organisers of protests against the government's Judicial overhaul initiative have vowed to "fight till the finish" after having successfully organised mass rallies for 29 consecutive weeks since the beginning of the year. Singapore, Jul 26 (PTI) Singapore's former Indian-origin minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam formally launched his presidential campaign on Wednesday and pledged to evolve the country's culture to keep it a "shining spot" in the world. The official launch comes more than a month after Tharman first announced his intention that he will run for president. Tharman, 66, stepped down from active politics after 22 years last month. "I stepped into this race because I feel very strongly in the need to evolve Singapore's culture, some of our norms and the way we go about working with each other so that we remain a shining spot in the world, he said at a press conference. He said he intended to be "a President for a new era" as he officially launched his campaign for the office. The 2023 presidential election is due in September, as President Halimah Yacobs six-year term ends on September 13. Accompanied by his wife Jane Yumiko Ittogi, Tharman outlined challenges facing Singapore both globally and domestically and emphasised that the nation's real challenge was to avoid becoming a divided society. "If I'm fortunate enough to be elected as President, I pledge to bring my full experience and capabilities on the ground nationally and internationally, to serve as your President for this new and more challenging era," Channel News Asia quoted him as saying. The senior politician said his 22 years in politics had given him ample experience in unifying people, an important role for the president. "When we talk about being a unifying figure, I do not say this rhetorically or just as an aspiration but I speak from a real track record," he said. "That includes the track record of respecting different views, including different political leanings and constantly trying to find common ground," he said. Tharman said he would also fulfil other responsibilities of the presidency such as safeguarding the reserves, citing his experience in government and politics over the years. He said he would bring a "more basic orientation" of integrity and independence of mind, which he has been known for. "I don't have to change my colours like a chameleon. I'm the same person with the same integrity and same independence of mind, and that remains critical for the role of the president," he said. Tharman was an economist and a civil servant, mainly at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, before joining politics in 2001. He has served as the Minister for Education and Finance and was the Deputy Prime Minister from 2011 to 2019. He has also held prominent posts at international organisations including the International Monetary Fund, the World Economic Forum and the United Nations. There are three prospective candidates who have publicly announced their intention to contest the polls. The other two prospective candidates who have announced their intention to contest the election are businessman George Goh and investment manager Ng Kok Song. Under requirements laid out in Singapore's Constitution, public sector presidential candidates must have held office for at least three years as a minister, chief justice, attorney-general or other high-level posts. Private sector candidates must have served for at least three years as chief executives of a company with an average of Singapore dollars 500 million in shareholders' equity. Singapore will hold its first presidential election since 2011, after President Halimah announced on May 29 that she will not seek a second term. She is the country's eighth and first female president. Her six-year term ends on September 13 this year. The 2017 presidential poll was a reserved election, in which only members of the Malay community were allowed to contest. Halimah was named president then as there were no other candidates. Seoul, Jul 26 (AP) Russia and China are sending government delegations to North Korea this week for events marking the 70th anniversary of the armistice that halted fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War. The visits suggest North Korea is further opening up after years of pandemic isolation and is eager to showcase its partnerships with authoritarian neighbours in the face of deepening nuclear tensions with Washington, Seoul and Tokyo. North Korea's state media said Wednesday that a Russian delegation led by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in Pyongyang Tuesday evening, where they were greeted by senior North Korean officials including Defence Minister Kang Sun Nam. Russia's Defence Ministry said in a statement that Shoigu later held a meeting with Kang for talks that he said would help strengthen cooperation between our defence departments. Video footage from Russian media showed Shoigu and other Russian delegates laying wreaths at a Soviet war monument in Pyongyang and saluting the city's statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, respectively the grandfather and father of current North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. China's ruling Communist Party is also sending a midlevel official, Li Hongzhong, in hopes of restoring exchanges between the allies. North Korea has been preparing huge celebrations of the anniversary that are likely to be capped off by a military parade in the capital, Pyongyang, where Kim Jong Un could showcase his most powerful, nuclear-capable missiles designed to target neighboring rivals and the US. Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said that Kim and his top defence and foreign policy officials visited two cemeteries, including one for Chinese troops who died while fighting alongside North Korea during the war. Kim expressed gratitude for the Chinese soldiers who dedicated their lives to repel imperialist aggression, calling them martyrs" who would be "immortal in the hearts of the Korean people." North Korea launched the Korean War, an unsuccessful attempt to conquer its southern rival. No peace treaty ending the conflict has ever been signed, and the border between the Koreas remains one of the most tense in the world. The North still celebrates the armistice as a victory in the Grand Fatherland Liberation War. The conflict brought in forces from the newly created People's Republic of China, aided by the then Soviet air force, while South Korea, the US and troops from various countries under the direction of the United Nations battled to repulse the invasion. The visits by Russian and Chinese delegations mark only the second known time foreign government officials were invited to enter North Korea since the start of the pandemic, following the arrival of China's ambassador to Pyongyang, Wang Yajun, in March, according to South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs. North Korea had spent the first two years of the pandemic in a self-imposed lockdown to shield its poor health care system. But since last year, the country has gradually reopened trade with China to improve its dismal economy. For now, it's premature to say whether or not North Korea further opens its borders in the future, but considering their measures to ease virus controls and signs that they are preparing to send athletes to international sporting events again, it's possibly only a matter of time, the South Korean ministry said in a statement to The Associated Press. The anniversary comes during a time of heightened tensions in the region as the pace of both North Korea's weapons tests and US military exercises with South Korea have intensified in a tit-for-tat cycle. Some experts say North Korea might ramp up its weapons tests around the anniversary of the armistice on Thursday. North Korea has conducted three separate rounds of missile firings since last week, apparently in protest of the United States sending naval vessels - including a nuclear-armed submarine - to South Korea in a show of force. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-fired around 100 missiles as Kim exploits the distraction created by Russia's war on Ukraine to accelerate the expansion of the nuclear-capable weapons he sees as his strongest guarantee of survival. North Korea has also been aligning with Russia over the war in Ukraine, insisting that the hegemonic policy of the US-led West has forced Moscow to take military action to protect its security interests. The Biden administration has accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia to aid its fighting in Ukraine, although the North has denied the claim. Both Moscow and Beijing have been thwarting US efforts to strengthen UN Security Council sanctions on North Korea over its flurry of missile tests. When asked whether Washington had any concerns about China and Russia showing support for North Korea with the visits, Vedant Patel, deputy spokesperson at the US State Department, called for Beijing and Moscow to play a more constructive role in defusing tensions and bringing Pyongyang back to dialogue. They can use their influence over (North Korea) to encourage them to refrain from threatening, unlawful behaviour - behaviour that will not just incite tensions in the immediate region but also the region broadly, he said. Li is a member of the party's high-level Politburo and a deputy chairperson of the ceremonial parliament, giving him national office, but not the level of status that would convey a full-bore expression of Chinese backing for North Korea at an ambiguous time in relations. China was invited to send a high-level delegation to attend commemorative activities in North Korea, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing Tuesday. We believe the visit will be conducive to promoting the sound and stable development of (bilateral) relations, contributing to regional peace and stability, and creating conditions for a political settlement of the (Korean) peninsula issue, Mao said. China has joined UN sanctions against North Korea over its missile and nuclear programs but remains its most important economic and political ally. Little is known about discreet contacts between the two, but Beijing has been long committed to preventing the collapse of North Korea's three-generation-old Kim governments. Dangerous and uncertain factors resulting from a collapse could include large numbers of refugees crossing into China, a scramble for control of North Korea's nuclear weapons and the sudden presence of South Korean and American troops along China's border. Kim has visited China in past years, while Chinese leader Xi Jinping traveled to the North in 2019 in what was seen as partly an effort to use their ties to leverage concessions from the US and its allies on their security arrangements in the region. Such visits came to a halt as an increasingly isolated and impoverished North Korea closed its borders to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (AP) SCY SCY Washington, Jul 26 (PTI) The US is "shocked and horrified" by the video of an extreme attack on two women in Manipur and supports the Indian Governments efforts to seek justice for them, a senior Biden administration official has said. The video showing two women being paraded naked and molested by a group of men on May 4 in Kangpokpi district surfaced on July 19, attracting condemnation countrywide. We were shocked and horrified by the video of this extreme attack on two women in Manipur. We convey our profound sympathies to the survivors of this act of gender-based violence and support the Indian Governments efforts to seek justice for them, Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson of the State Department, told reporters at his daily news conference on Tuesday. Patel was responding to a question asked by a Pakistani reporter on the violence in Manipur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself noted that such violence against women is shameful in any civilised society, Patel said. "And as we have previously stated, we encourage a peaceful and inclusive resolution to the violence in Manipur and encourage authorities to respond to the humanitarian needs and protect the lives and property of all groups, Patel added. In his first public comments on the situation in Manipur, Prime Minister Modi last week expressed pain and anger over the incident, saying it has shamed 140 crore Indians and asserted that the guilty will not be spared even as the Congress Party termed his remarks "too little, too late". 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. Meanwhile, the small Manipuri diaspora in the United States has sought an immediate end to violence in the state and the imposition of the presidents rule, which it said is important to restore law and order in Manipur. I am so tired of talking about this issue. I am so exhausted talking about this issue. What can we do? Why are we as a world, as people allowing this to happen? There is a very simple solution in India itself, which is the president's rule. The government for reasons of their own have decided not to do or say anything about this, Florence Lowe, president of the North Manipur Tribal Association told PTI in an interview. Adjunct Professor of Digital Production Management at the University of Texas at Dallas, Florence is the daughter of a former Indian Police Service Official of Uttar Pradesh cadre. Born in Manipur, Lowe spent most of her childhood in Uttar Pradesh. In May she formed the North American Manipur Tribal Association to bring the hill-tribe people from her state together under the banner of one platform to protest against the violence in the state of their origin. They're letting the fires burn. At least in the US what we are trying to do is to raise awareness with our Congress people and our Senators and with world organisations like the World Bank, the UN, the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and so on, Lowe said. Lahore, Jul 26 (PTI) A deaf Indian citizen who was swept into Pakistan by floodwaters of the Sutlej River has been handed over to an intelligence agency, officials in Pakistan's Punjab province said on Wednesday. "The Indian national who is in his 50s is deaf and communicates through sign language. He said he is a Hindu and the floodwater swept him here," a Rescue 1122 spokesperson said here. The man swept into Pakistan from the floodwater of the Sutlej near Ganda Singh Wala, Kasur district of Punjab, some 70 km from Lahore, on Tuesday, the spokesperson said. After his medical examination, the man has been handed over to an intelligence agency for investigation. The man bore a script in Hindi language tattooed on his right hand, according to a report in the Dawn newspaper. A video of the man also went viral on social media, it said. Adjoining low-lying areas of Ganda Singh Wala got affected by the low-level flooding at Ganda Singh Wala in Sutlej River recently. The flood in river Chenab in the past week inundated 40 villages and localities in the district due to which over 48,000 people were affected, according to the Punjab government. Rhodes, Jul 26 (AP) Deadly fires raging in Greece and other European countries advanced on Wednesday, destroying homes and threatening nature reserves during a third successive wave of extreme temperatures. The summer wildfires have struck countries across the region, prompting the European Union to expand its support, sending two Spanish firefighting planes to Tunisia after wildfires in neighbouring Algeria left at least 34 people dead in recent days. More wildfires broke out Wednesday in the central mainland, triggering a precautionary evacuation order for some outskirts of the town of Lamia. Further north, villages were evacuated as a precaution near the city of Volos, whose residents were warned to stay indoors because of the hazard of smoke inhalation. State television ERT reported that an older woman was found dead in a caravan after another fire in the area. New evacuations were ordered overnight on the islands of Corfu, Evia and Rhodes, where thousands of tourists were moved to safety over the weekend. Authorities said the charred remains of a missing farmer were found in southern Evia a discovery made following the death of two Greek firefighting pilots, in a crash during a low-altitude water drop. The heat wave in Greece has pushed temperatures back above 40 C (104 F) while strong winds hampered firefighting efforts. The fire on Rhodes has damaged an inland nature reserve. Rhodes resident Philippos Karageorgiou lamented how the blazes destroyed "forest areas with virgin forest of several years ... from herbs to anything you can imagine, and Rhodes was famous for all of these. Following three days of destruction, most major fires in Algeria have been contained or put out, thanks to a huge mobilization of aerial and ground resources as well as falling temperatures, authorities said. The death toll stood at 34, including 10 soldiers assisting an evacuation. The coastal and densely-forested Bejaia area was hardest hit. Critics say the government's efforts to prepare for the wildfires were insufficient following two deadly fire seasons. Fires in August 2022 claimed 37 lives in the northeastern Taraf region. July 2021 saw the most significant damage in recent years, with at least 90 deaths in the northern Tizi-Ouzou region, 33 of them soldiers. The bodies of two older people were found in a home that had been consumed by flames near the Palermo airport, on the island of Sicily, which had been closed temporarily because of the encroaching flames, according to Italian news reports. Firefighters battled wildfires across southern Italy as searing temperatures continued to scorch Sicily, Sardinia and Calabria, where dozens of fires broke out and multiple evacuations were ordered. Freak storms in the north of the country also left two people dead on Tuesday from falling trees. A wildfire was burning several kilometers away from the famous walled town of Dubrovnik, in the country's south along the Adriatic Sea coast, where water-dropping planes and more than 100 firefighters held back the blaze before it reached houses overnight. The medieval stone city is a protected heritage site and Croatia's best-known tourism destination. It's been a long night, but we managed to stave off the part (of the fire) that is important because of the houses, firefighting unit commander Stjepan Simovic said. We must be careful because the wind has started to pick up and the fire can grow again. More than 500 firefighters continued to combat a blaze close to Lisbon, Portugal. The fire forced the evacuation of 90 people from their homes along with 800 farm animals. The blaze near the coastal town of Cascais, 30 kilometers (19 miles) west of Lisbon, was brought under control early Wednesday, helped by cooler temperatures. Firefighters remained in the area to watch for any further flare-ups as temperatures and winds rose again Wednesday. Fears rose that it might spread deep into the nearby Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. No injuries were reported. A hospital and a dozen homes were evacuated as a precaution in the coastal town of Kemer, where firefighters for a third day battled a blaze raging through woodland. At least 10 planes, 22 helicopters and hundreds of firefighters were deployed. Five helicopters with night-vision capabilities worked through the night, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Authorities said residential areas were not under threat in Kemer in the Mediterranean coastal province of Antalya. Water-dropping planes, helicopters and firefighters were also deployed to a forest blaze Wednesday near the district of Beykoz, in Istanbul, where temperatures reached 43 C (109.4). The cause of the wildfire on the Asian side of the city wasn't immediately known and it wasn't clear if residential areas were under threat. Teams were also battling two fires near the towns of Kinik and Odemis in the western coastal province of Izmir, Anadolu said. At least three villages near Kinik were evacuated as a precaution. Officials said that sparks from a brush cutter set off a wildfire on Gran Canaria island off the northwest coast of Africa. The fire in the la Caldera de Los Marteles volcanic area started when a worker using the cutter was clearing land with two others, island president Antonio Morales told reporters. The three workers tried in vain to extinguish the ensuing fire before calling emergency services. Some nine water-carrying helicopters were being used by firefighters and Morales said they hoped to have the blaze under control later in the day. About 300 hectares (740 acres) of the mountain area has been burnt. Tunisia's interior minister, Kamel Fekih, said Wednesday that the wildfires that broke out in the country in recent days are now under control, signaling an end to the immediate danger. He said a few fire pockets" in the northwestern areas of Malouleh and Ain Sobh are currently being addressed but "no longer pose any danger. Earlier in the week, a school principal in the northwestern town of Nefza died of asphyxiation because of heavy smoke from the flames.(AP) RUP RUP This Tuesday, opponents of Benjamin Netanyahus governments judicial reform are trying to regain the initiative by taking action on different fronts, after parliament passed the first law weakening the Supreme Court on Monday. Throughout the country (except Jerusalem), doctors initiated a 24-hour strike called by their union, even though the government tried to stop it by filling an injunction with the labor court, which by midday Tuesday annulled the strike. In addition, the high-tech sector, which has been very active in the protests that began in January, paid for frontpage ads of black space in five printed newspapers. And six lawsuits have already been filed with the Supreme Court to review the controversial new measure, which strips the Court of its ability to strike down decisions by the government, ministers and elected officials that it deems unreasonable. Hospitals are operating in Shabbat mode, that is, at a minimum. Emergency services have not been affected, but the healthcare centers that serve the vast majority of Israelis have been shut down. At Minister of Health Moshe Arbels request, Ministry staff drafted and filed an injunction with the courts to annul the strike. According to Israeli public radio, the text states that this strike is not legitimate means of protest but an end in itself; thus, it is necessary to examine the issue of good faith. The strikes organizers argue that stripping the court of its authority to determine the reasonability of government decisions as the measure passed by the Knesset on Monday does may affect them, for example, in their appointment to different positions. In addition, five major Israeli newspapers have hit the newsstands with black frontpages that have a single, small message in white letters that reads A black day for Israeli democracy and this Tuesdays date. The reverse page reads, Israels locomotive will never give up, a reference to the high-tech sector, which financed the ads in the three most widely circulated general dailies (Yediot Aharonot, Israel Hayom and Haaretz) and two financial dailies (Calcalist and The Marker). They call the tech industry the locomotive because it accounts for over 10% of the countrys employment and 15% of Israels GDP. Industry businesspeople and workers are among those spearheading the protests, both because of their social background and place of residence and because they depend on the fact that the outside world continues to see the country as a democracy with an open economy and legal security. A legal battle This battle is also being waged in the legal arena. The Supreme Court has received six petitions to review the law, including one from the head of the opposition, Yair Lapid, and another from the bar association. The courts president, Esther Hayut, and other judges have been forced to cut short their official visit to Germany, which they began on Sunday, to return to Israel and examine the cases. The Supreme Courts ability to strike down a rule that affects it is a paradox over which experts are divided. The law the Supreme Court will review was passed on Monday with 64 votes for it by the entire coalition that Netanyahus Likud party has formed with the ultra-Orthodox and ultra-nationalists. There were zero votes against it, because the other 56 deputies left the session amid cries of Shame! The law strips the Supreme Court of one of the legal functions it previously had, though the country lacks a formal constitution (it is guided by a series of basic laws that have developed over the years), and the Parliament elects the Prime Minister. The Court has been in the crosshairs of the right wing, particularly the far right, for years. Before, during and after the passage of the law, there have been protests in different Israeli cities, mainly Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, although they were not massive in scale. Thirty-two demonstrators and 12 police officers were injured in them, none seriously. Three protestors were hurt in an intentional hit-and-run incident, the perpetrator of which remains under arrest. Demonstration in Jerusalem, after the parliamentary vote, this Monday. ILAN ROSENBERG (REUTERS) In addition, dozens of artists said in a statement that they hung eight-meter-high banners with clenched fists and anti-reform messages early this morning on the side of Tel Avivs Ayalon Highway, which younger protestors have cut off every Saturday since the protests began 30 weeks ago. Late Monday, as thousands protested in the streets, Netanyahu addressed the nation to defend the new law as necessary for restoring the balance of power, so that the Prime Minister can lead [with] policies in accordance with the will of the majority of the states citizens. It is not the end of democracy; it is the essence of democracy, he emphasized. Lapid, the leader of the Yesh Atid party and Netanyahus predecessor as prime minister, accused him of having become a puppet of messianic extremists. But he also called on the thousands of reservists who have threatened to stop serving to give the Supreme Court time to examine the lawsuits. Another political leader from the opposition, Benny Gantz, who was minister of defense under Netanyahu and once served as General Chief of Staff, tried to raise morale with a military metaphor: I am a man who knows battle, and today I say to you, we may have lost the battle, but we will win the war. By Francoise Baylis: Distinguished Research Professor, Emerita, Dalhousie University & Jocelyn DownieProfessor, Faculties of Law and Medicine, Dalhousie University Toronto, Jul 26 (The Conversation) On June 14, 2023, developmental biologist Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz presented her research on creating human embryos using stem cells at the 2023 annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR). This research could increase our understanding of human development and genetic disorders, help us learn how to prevent early miscarriages, lead to improvements in fertility treatment, and perhaps eventually allow for reproduction without using sperm and eggs. Beyond the limits Synthetic human embryos also called embryoid bodies, embryo-like structures or embryo models mimic the development of natural human embryos, those created by fertilization. Synthetic human embryos include the cells that would typically go on to form the embryo, placenta and yolk sac, and develop to form the precursors of germ cells (that will form sperm and eggs). Though research involving natural human embryos is legal in many jurisdictions, it remains controversial. For some people, research involving synthetic human embryos is less controversial because these embryos cannot develop to the equivalent of postnatal stage humans. In other words, these embryos are non-viable and cannot result in live births. In addition, some maintain that the creation of synthetic human embryos would allow for research beyond the 14-day limit that typically applies to natural human embryos. But would it? Laws in the United Kingdom The research presented by Zernicka-Goetz at the ISSCR meeting took place in the United Kingdom. It was conducted in accordance with the Human Fertilization and Embryology Act, 1990, with the approval of the U.K. Stem Cell Bank Steering Committee. U.K. law limits the research use of human embryos to 14 days of development. An embryo is defined as a live human embryo where fertilisation is complete, and references to an embryo include an egg in the process of fertilisation. Synthetic embryos are not created by fertilization and therefore, by definition, the 14-day limit on human embryo research does not apply to them. This means that synthetic human embryo research beyond 14 days can proceed in the U.K. The door to the touted potential benefits and ethical controversies seems wide open in the U.K. Canadian law While the law in the U.K. does not apply to synthetic human embryos, the law in Canada clearly does. This is because the legal definition of an embryo in Canada is not limited to embryos created by fertilisation. The Assisted Human Reproduction Act (the AHR Act) defines an embryo as a human organism during the first 56 days of its development following fertilization or creation, excluding any time during which its development has been suspended. Based on this definition, the AHR Act applies to embryos created by reprogramming human embryonic stem cells in other words, synthetic human embryos provided such embryos qualify as human organisms. A synthetic human embryo is a human organism. It is of the species Homo sapiens, and is thus human. It also qualifies as an organism a life form alongside other organisms created by means of fertilization, asexual reproduction, parthenogenesis or cloning. The definition of an organism does not stipulate a specific means of creation and so can include creation by means of reprogramming embryonic stem cells. Limitations Given that the AHR Act applies to synthetic human embryos, there are legal limits on their creation and use in Canada. First, human embryos including synthetic human embryos can only be created for the purposes of creating a human being, improving or providing instruction in assisted reproduction procedures. Given the state of the science, it follows that synthetic human embryos could legally be created for the purpose of improving assisted reproduction procedures. Second, spare or excess human embryos including synthetic human embryos originally created for one of the permitted purposes, but no longer wanted for this purpose, can be used for research. This research must be done in accordance with the consent regulations which specify that consent must be for a specific research project. Finally, all research involving human embryos including synthetic human embryos is subject to the 14-day rule. The law stipulates that: No person shall knowingly maintain an embryo outside the body of a female person after the fourteenth day of its development following fertilization or creation, excluding any time during which its development has been suspended. Putting this all together, the creation of synthetic embryos for improving assisted human reproduction procedures is permitted, as is research using spare or excess synthetic embryos originally created for this purpose provided there is specific consent and the research does not exceed 14 days. This means that while synthetic human embryos may be useful for limited research on pre-implantation embryo development, they are not available in Canada for research on post-implantation embryo development beyond 14 days. Prospects for expansion Proponents of synthetic human embryo research beyond 14 days may argue for a different interpretation of the law and insist that synthetic human embryos are not human embryos as defined in the AHR Act. But this looks to be an impossible task. Alternatively, they may insist there is an important moral distinction between natural and synthetic human embryos because synthetic human embryos lack the potential to become live born humans. This means they fall into the category of non-viable human embryos. It is not the case, however, that all natural embryos are viable embryos, and that all synthetic embryos are non-viable embryos. There are non-viable natural embryos such as tri-pronuclear embryos, where more than one sperm enters the egg during fertilization. And one day, synthetic human embryos may be viable embryos. In any case, in Canada, viable and non-viable embryos are legally equivalent. They are subject to the same rules, including the 14-day limit. This leaves proponents of synthetic human embryo research beyond 14 days with the need for an alternative argument. But any argument will have to overcome the political reality that the federal government is unlikely to open up the Pandoras box of amending the AHR Act. It therefore seems likely that synthetic human embryo research will remain limited in Canada for the foreseeable future. (The Conversation) MRJ MRJ MRJ Washington, Jul 25 (AP) A federal judge on Tuesday blocked a rule that allows immigration authorities to deny asylum to migrants who arrive at the US-Mexico border without first applying online or seeking protection in a country they passed through. But the judge delayed his ruling from taking effect immediately to give President Joe Biden's administration time to appeal. The order from US District Judge Jon Tigar of the Northern District of California takes away a key enforcement tool set in place by the Biden administration as coronavirus-based restrictions on asylum expired in May. The use of a rule known as Title 42 allowed the US to expel millions of people starting in early 2020 on the grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19. The Rule which has been in effect for two months cannot remain in place, Tigar wrote in an order that will not take effect for two weeks. The new rule imposes severe limitations on migrants seeking asylum but includes room for exceptions and does not apply to children travelling alone. Immigrant rights groups that sued argued it is a violation of US law that protects the right to asylum regardless of how a person enters the country. The groups said it forces migrants to seek protection in countries that don't have the same robust asylum system and human rights protections as the United States and leaves them in a dangerous limbo. They also argued that the CBP One app the government wants migrants to use doesn't have enough appointments and isn't available in enough languages. Tigar agreed with their interpretation. The administration had argued that protection systems in other countries that migrants travel through have improved. But Tigar said it's not feasible for some migrants to seek protection in a transit country and noted the violence that many face in Mexico in particular. While they wait for an adjudication, applicants for asylum must remain in Mexico, where migrants are generally at heightened risk of violence by both state and non-state actors, Tigar wrote. He also wrote that the rule is illegal because it presumes that people are ineligible for asylum if they enter the country between legal border crossings. But, Tigar wrote, Congress expressly said that should not affect whether someone is eligible for asylum. The judge also rejected the administration's arguments that it had provided other avenues for people to come to the US and that should be taken into account. The administration has specifically pointed to a program that allows as many as 30,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela if they have a sponsor and fly into the US The judge called those avenues irrelevant" and noted that such pathways are not available to all migrants. The Biden administration said the asylum rule was a key part of its strategy to strike a balance between strict border enforcement and ensuring several avenues for migrants to pursue valid asylum claims. The rule was a response to political and economic instability fuelling an exodus of migrants from countries including Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru and Venezuela. Critics have argued that the rule is essentially a newer version of two efforts by President Donald Trump to limit asylum at the southern border. The Supreme Court eventually allowed the Trump administration to limit asylum for people who don't apply for protection in a country they travel through before coming to the US to go into effect. But another Trump effort to bar people from applying for asylum except at an official border entry point was caught up in litigation and never took effect. In announcing the new rule, the Biden administration emphasized the complex dynamics at play when it comes to immigration that at one time consisted largely of adults from Mexico seeking to come to the US. They could easily be returned home. Now migrants come from across the Western Hemisphere and beyond. (AP) GRS GRS Mumbai, Jul 26 (PTI) Mumbai Police busted a prostitution racket and rescued seven women while three persons were arrested, an official said on Wednesday. The rescued victims included a Bangladeshi woman who was allegedly sold for Rs 1.5 lakh, locked in a room in a building, and forced into the flesh trade, he said. Mumbai Police's crime branch on Tuesday raided two buildings situated on V P Road in Grant Road area, the official added. The victims told police they were forced into prostitution by pimps and others who took away the money paid by customers. The arrested trio includes a manager and two pimps, the official said. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act. Further investigation is underway. Mumbai, Jul 26 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday handed over Rs 3 crore to army for building a war museum at the Trishul war memorial in Ladakh. Deputy chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were present when Shinde handed over the cheque to Lt General H S Kahlon, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Maharashtra Gujarat & Goa Area at Mumbai, on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, an official said. The war museum along with an auditorium will come up next to the Trishul war memorial, in the shape of Trishul, symbol of the 3rd Infantry Division (Trishul Division) established in Ladakh in October 1962, the official said. In July last year, two women from Maharashtra, advocate Meenal Wagh Bhosale and Sarika Malhotra were in Srinagar and Leh areas and visited Trishul war memorial which has many war artefacts on the rich history and saga of valour of Indian Army in the inhospitable terrain. The two women then discussed a plan to improve the facilities there so that it can serve as an inspiration to future generations. They discussed the funding part with BJP MLC Shrikant Bhartiya, who later visited the memorial, the official said. After returning to Mumbai, he took up the need to improve the facilities at the memorial with Shinde and Fadnavis, who agreed to bring the project under Maharashtra Governments wings, the official said. Maharashtra thus became the first state to undertake such a project for the Army and help improve tourism in the border region. Meenal Wagh Bhosale then approached Lt Gen Rajendra Nimbhorkar (Retd), who helped at the Ministry of Defence level, while Bhartiya followed it up with Maharashtra government. This monument will make every tourist from Maharashtra who visits Leh, proud of his state's contribution for the national cause, the official said. Ahmedabad, Jul 26 (PTI) The Gujarat High Court has allowed the discharge plea of a former police official accused in the 2003 encounter of Sadiq Jamal, who the cops had claimed to be a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative. With the acquittal of retired deputy superintendent of police Irshadali Anwarali Saiyed, all seven of the eight accused in the case stand exonerated. One accused died during the pendency of his discharge plea. The court of Justice Gita Gopi on Tuesday allowed Saiyeds discharge plea in the case of the alleged fake encounter of a 19-year-old youth who the police had claimed to be an LeT operative out to kill the then chief minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders. A special CBI court had on December 20, 2022, turned down Saiyeds plea for discharge, prompting the retired cop to move the high court. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) did not challenge the discharge order of any of the six cops who were acquitted in the past. The case pertains to Sadiq Jamal, a youth from Bhavnagar, who was killed allegedly in an encounter by the Gujarat police near Galaxy Cinema in Naroda area of Ahmedabad on January 13, 2003. The genuineness of the encounter became an issue after a Mumbai-based former journalist, Ketan Tirodkar, filed an affidavit before a court in the Maharashtra capital that he had witnessed Jamals handover to the Gujarat police by Mumbai police encounter specialist Daya Nayak, a few days before the encounter. The high court had ordered a CBI probe after a petition by Sabir Jamal, Sadiqs brother. CBI investigated the case and filed a chargesheet in December 2012. The CBI chargesheet had named the then deputy superintendent of police Tarun Barot, then police inspectors Jaysinh Parmar, Irshad Ali Saiyad and Kishoresinh Vaghela, then police sub-inspectors Ramji Mavani and Ghanshyamsinh Gohil, as well as the then constables Ajaypal Singh Yadav and Chhatrasinh Chudasama. Apart from criminal conspiracy and murder, they had also been charged with wrongful confinement and giving false information regarding an offence committed. Agartala, Jul 26 (PTI) The toll due to the electrocution during the return Rath Yatra in Tripuras Unakoti district in June rose to nine as a 32-year-old woman, who was injured in the accident, died, police said on Wednesday. Droupadi Nama succumbed to her injuries in a hospital in Assams Guwahati, where she was undergoing treatment, a senior officer said. Earlier, eight people, including two children, died of electrocution and 16 others were injured as the chariot of Lord Jagannath came in contact with a high-tension wire during the return Rath Yatra festival on June 28 in Kumarghat area. The injured woman, who was in Guwahati for treatment, succumbed to her injuries on July 23. Her body has been brought here yesterday, Assistant Inspector General, Law and Order, Jyotisman Das Chowdhury told PTI. Earlier, Namas five-and-a-half-year-old son died in the accident. Chief Minister Manik Saha had visited the accident site and ordered a probe by the district magistrate. However, the enquiry report has not been made public so far. The chief minister had also met family members of those who lost their lives in the accident. The police have registered a suo motu case against the organiser but no arrest has been made thus far. New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) The Congress on Wednesday said the no-confidence motion against the government is a collective effort by all the constituents of the INDIA alliance and urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to take it up for discussion on Thursday itself. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday moved a no-confidence motion against the Modi government in the Lok Sabha on behalf of the opposition alliance, to force Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak on the contentious Manipur issue. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla admitted the motion after a headcount of over 50 MPs as required under the rules. At a press conference here, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said the opposition was compelled to bring the no-trust motion as the law-and-order situation in Manipur has broken down, communities have been divided and "there is nothing in the name of the government" there for the past 84 days. He said although rule 198-A of the Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, suggests the Speaker has the discretion to allow discussion on a no-confidence motion within 10 days, the tradition is that once it is accepted, all other business is suspended and discussion is initiated immediately. Considering the tradition and convention of the House, the Speaker should suspend all other business and allow a discussion on the motion Thursday itself, Tewari said. He also said that once 100 or more MPs in Parliament rise in support of the motion, carrying out any other business will be inappropriate. "We want the prime minister to give a detailed response to the no-confidence motion," the Congress spokesperson said. He said, "We demand that all other work in the Lok Sabha is kept in abeyance and this is taken up on priority. If any other business is taken up in the Lok Sabha during the pendency of the no-confidence motion, "it would be against the rules of propriety", Tewari said. The opposition parties have been demanding that the prime minister make an elaborate statement in both Houses of Parliament as to why the situation reached this extent in Manipur, he said. Asked whether the opposition had the numbers on its side to facilitate the passage of the motion, the Congress leader said, "It is not a matter of numbers but of morality." Tewari said when there will be division on the motion in the Lok Sabha, morality will be tested and it will be incumbent upon every MP to take a "personal position". He asserted that the violence in Manipur in the last 83 days has put peace in the northeast at risk which can have long-term security implications for the nation. The situation has raised several questions, which can be answered only by those at the apex level of the government, and it is none other than the prime minister, Tewari said. Justifying the move to bring the no-confidence motion, the Congress spokesperson said the opposition has been demanding discussion on the Manipur issue under rule 184 and 267 in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively which the government refused. He said when the prime minister has admitted outside parliament that the Manipur incidents were shameful and every person in the country was ashamed of it, "then why can he not speak in Parliament". Replying to another question, Tewari said, the prime minister, being the head of the council of ministers and the first among equals, should answer the debate on the no-trust motion. Traditionally, whenever such a motion has been brought in the Lok Sabha it is the prime minister who has replied to it, he said. The Congress leader said the Centre has failed in its responsibility to restore normalcy in Manipur and as such the INDIA alliance brought the no-confidence motion to fix accountability in the matter. New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) Ninety-eight students died by suicide in the past five years in higher education institutions, including central universities, IITs, IIMs, NITs and IISERs, according to the Union Ministry of Education. Twenty cases of student suicides have already been reported in higher education institutions (HEIs) in 2023 so far. These include nine cases from central universities and seven from IITs. The data was shared by Union Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar in response to a written question in the Rajya Sabha. The minister informed that the majority of the suicide cases being reported in the last four years were from engineering institutions. According to the data, of the 98 students who died by suicide, the maximum cases were from IITs (39), followed by NITs (25), central universities (25), IIMs (4), IISERs (3) and IIITs (2). In terms of year-wise breakup, the government data shows that 20 student suicides were reported in these institutions in 2023 so far, 24 in 2022, seven each in 2021 and 2020, 19 in 2019 and 21 in 2018. In a separate question on category-wise suicides, the data revealed that of the seven cases in IITs this year, two students were from SC and one from OBC categories. Of the nine cases in central universities, six were from SC, ST, OBC and the minority communities. No suicides were reported from IIMs, SPAs and IISERs from these categories in the past two years. The minister noted that according to the National Crime Records Bureau, there are various causes of suicides such as professional problems, sense of isolation, violence, family problems and mental disorders, among others. Sarkar said that to address the issue of mental health and wellbeing during and after COVID-19, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken various steps and issued advisories to higher education institutions. "The UGC has also issued guidelines for promotion of physical fitness, sports, students' health, welfare, psychological and emotional wellbeing at HEIs," he said. "The ministry has undertaken various steps such as peer-assisted learning, introduction of technical education in regional languages for students in order to ease the academic stress. "The Government of India initiative, named MANODARPAN, covers a wide range of activities to provide psychological support to students, teachers and families for mental and emotional well-being during the Covid outbreak and beyond. The ministry has also advised the institutions to make the system more robust that would include prevention, detection and remedial measures for addressing possible cause of suicides," the minister added. New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) Six bills, including the one to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, were introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday amid protests by opposition members over the violence in Manipur. Soon after laying of papers, Speaker Om Birla asked Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai to introduce the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023. Manish Tewari of the Congress opposed the introduction of the bill, claiming the House lacked "legislative competence" to do so. He said the measure transgresses on the right to privacy and separation of power and suffers from the malady of excessive delegation. The bill was later introduced by a voice vote. The House then took up the moving of a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government. After that, five other bills were introduced amid slogan-shouting by opposition members over the Manipur issue. Minister Rai then moved to introduce the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The bill was introduced by a voice vote with no opposition member opposing its introduction. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was also introduced by Rai following a voice vote. Hasnain Masoodi of the National Conference opposed the introduction of the measure claiming that the Reorganisation Act is a "constitutionally suspect law". He said the matter is sub judice as the Supreme Court is examining the matter. "It is against constitutional propriety to amend an Act which is under judicial scrutiny," he said. Union ministers Virendra Kumar and Arjun Munda then introduced the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023, respectively. Union minister Pralhad Joshi introduced the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023. Opposing its introduction, N K Premachandran of the Revolutionary Socialist Party said it is against the principle of federalism. He said it will adversely affect public sector undertakings as well as the safety and security of the nation. He said multi-national corporations will benefit from the amendment bill. Joshi said no objection can be raised on the legislative competence of Parliament with the regard to amending the mines and minerals law. The bill was introduced after a voice vote. New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) A bill to nominate two members, including a woman, from the Kashmiri migrant community and one member from the displaced persons from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Introducing the bill on behalf of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the bill provides for representation of Kashmiri migrants, displaced persons from PoK and Scheduled Tribes in the legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir so as to preserve their political rights as well as their overall social and economic development. "The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 provides for the following, namely: to insert new sections 15A and 15B in the Act so as to nominate not more than two members, one of whom shall be a woman, from the community of Kashmiri Migrants, and one member from Displaced Persons from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir, to the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir; and amendments to sub-sections (3) and (10) of section 14 of the Act which are of consequential in view of completion of delimitation process in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir," according to the statement of objects and reasons. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019) was enacted with for the reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, which was bifurcated into Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The statement of objects and reasons noted that at the time of the militancy in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in the late 1980s, particularly in Kashmir in 1989-90, a large number of people migrated from their ancestral places of residence in Kashmir province, particularly the Kashmiri Hindus and Pandits along with a few families belonging to Sikh and Muslim communities. Initially, all the migrants were moved to Jammu. Later on, some migrants chose to go to other parts of the country, namely Delhi, Bengaluru and Pune. As per the data available with the government of Jammu and Kashmir, there are currently 46,517 families having 1,58,976 persons registered with the Relief Organisation of the government of Jammu and Kashmir, who have got registered over a period of last three decades. In the wake of the 1947 Pakistani aggression in Jammu and Kashmir, 31,779 families migrated from Pakistan occupied areas of Jammu and Kashmir to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Of these, 26,319 families settled in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and the remaining 5,460 moved out of Jammu and Kashmir to other parts of the country. Further, during the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971, 10,065 more families were displaced from Chhamb Niabat area. Of these, 3,500 families were displaced during the 1965 war and 6,565 families during the 1971 war. As such, a total of 41,844 families were displaced during 1947-48, 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, according to the statement of objects and reasons. The delimitation commission, while undertaking the delimitation process of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, received many representations from the Kashmiri migrants as well as from the displaced persons from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir regarding reservation of seats in the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to preserve their political rights and identity, they said. The delimitation commission, after considering the matter in depth, recommended for representation of communities of Kashmiri migrants and displaced persons from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir in the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by way of nomination, noted the statement of objects and reasons. As per sub-section (4) of section 14 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, 24 seats in the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have been reserved for the people residing in the area of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir under illegal occupation of Pakistan. The said seats shall remain vacant until the area under the occupation of Pakistan ceases to be occupied and the people residing in that area elect their representatives. The representation of the Kashmiri migrants and the displaced persons from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir in the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall be given on lines of section 15 of the Act, which provides for the representation of women, according to the statement of objects and reasons. On completion of delimitation process, the delimitation commission had published orders with regard to the delimitation of the assembly and parliamentary constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir. As per these orders, the number of seats in the legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir has been increased from 107 to 114 with reservation of nine seats for Scheduled Tribes for the first time. Enoc Group, a leading integrated global energy player, recently concluded a series of workshop sessions to elevate the Groups business performance whilst addressing industry challenges and solutions to mitigate them. These sessions provided an open platform for industry stakeholders including various operating segments within the Group to discuss the business outlook, the future of the energy sector and solutions to enhance customer experience. Enoc Group brought together a total of 200 representatives including members from the Prime Ministers Office for over 50 hours of insightful sessions across six business segments to discuss the future of the sector and ways to align the Groups business with various UAE level strategies and the nations 2031 vision. The workshop concluded with 28 final solutions with ideas from across Enocs various business segments. The sessions took place at Emirates Towers and were spread over a period of eight days. Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO, Enoc said As a national oil company, we remain committed to be at the forefront of energy transformation while continuing to build our competitive strengths in line with the national mandate. Our recent business workshop focused at discussing industry challenges, how to optimise operations for improved business excellence, strategic diversification as well as digital acceleration to meet UAEs growing energy demands. We thank all our stakeholders as well as respected members of the Prime Ministers Office for their participation in discussions to revolutionise the UAEs energy sector that will help shape the future of energy globally. During the workshops, Enoc Groups various business segments presented their respective business strategy and action plans, challenges to overcome them and ways to mitigate the emerging risks.-TradeArabia News Service The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, is seen in the background of the shallow Kakhovka Reservoir after the dam collapse, in Energodar, Russian-occupied Ukraine, Tuesday, June 27, 2023. The U.N. atomic watchdog says its monitors at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant reported seeing anti-personnel mines around the site as Ukraines military pursues a counteroffensive against the Kremlins entrenched forces after 17 months of war. The International Atomic Energy Agency said its team observed the mines Sunday in a restricted area that is off-limits to the plants Ukrainian staff. The agency did not directly attribute the placement of the mines to the Russians but said its experts were told it is a military decision, and in an area controlled by military. Having such explosives on the site is inconsistent with the IAEA safety standards and nuclear security guidance and creates additional psychological pressure on plant staff, Rafael Mariano Grossi, the agencys director general, said in a statement late Monday. However, any detonation of the mines, which were facing away from the plant and located between its internal and external perimeter barriers, should not affect the sites nuclear safety and security systems, the statement said. The IAEA has repeatedly expressed concern that the war could cause a potential radiation leak from the facility, which is one of worlds 10 biggest nuclear power stations. The plants six reactors have been shut down for months, but it still needs power and qualified staff to operate crucial cooling systems and other safety features. Ukraines military intelligence said last month without providing evidence that Russia is planning a large-scale provocation at the nuclear power plant in the southeast of the country and had placed suspected explosives on the roof. Russia, in turn, has alleged without offering evidence that Ukraine was planning a false flag attack involving radioactive materials. The IAEA statement said that the Russian occupiers still havent granted it access to the roofs of the reactors and their turbine halls. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities said Tuesday that air defenses intercepted Iranian-made Shahed drones that Russia fired at Kyiv overnight, in what was the sixth drone attack on the capital this month. No casualties or damage were reported, according to Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv regional military administration head. The Russian Defense Ministry said a Russian patrol ship destroyed two Ukrainian sea drones that attacked it in the Black Sea early Tuesday. It said the crew of the Sergey Kotov patrol ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet wasnt hurt in the attack 370 kilometers (200 nautical miles) southwest of the Crimean port of Sevastopol. Ukrainian officials, in turn, said that Russians used cluster munitions in an attack on Kostiantynivka, in the eastern Donetsk region, late Monday. Rockets hit a recreational pond, killing a 10-year-old boy and wounding four other children ranging in age from 5 to 12, according to Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk regional military administration. Russia and Ukraine have both used cluster munitions throughout the war, and the U.S. has recently provided them to Ukraine. Western analysts said Tuesday that Russias recent attacks on Odesa and other parts of southern Ukraine have employed missiles that were originally developed to destroy aircraft carriers. Each missile weighs 5.5 metric tons, the U.K. Ministry of Defense said in an assessment. In only a week, Russia has fired dozens of missiles and drones at the Odesa region, on Monday hitting a cathedral. The strikes have come since Moscow broke off from a landmark grain deal a week ago. Odesa is a key Ukrainian hub for exporting grain. The attacks have damaged several grain silos at Chornomorsk Port, south of Odesa, and Russian drones have hit docks on the Danube River, approximately 200 meters (650 feet) from the Romanian border, according to the assessment. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Bengaluru, July 26 (PTI) Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has asked officials to examine the request of a Congress MLA to withdraw cases against "innocent" youths and students, who were arrested under "false cases" in connection with protests and riots in the city's D J Halli and K G Halli, Shivamogga and Hubballi among other places. The opposition BJP has sharply reacted to this and has accused the Congress government in the state of giving "clean chit to the communal criminals of one community and playing to the tune of Jihadists and PFI terrorists". Parameshwara has, in a July 19 note to Principal Secretary-Prisons, Civil Defence and Auxiliary Services (PCAS), Home Department, cited a request letter by Narasimharaja MLA and former Minister Tanveer Sait in this regard. "It has been requested that innocent youths and students have been arrested under false cases in connection with protests and riots in Bengaluru's D J Halli and K G Halli, Shivamogga, Hubballi and other places, and to withdraw cases in accordance with rules, after review. It is instructed to take necessary action in this regard after review," the Home Minister's note said. Hitting out at the government and the Home Minister, Karnataka BJP in a tweet said, "It seems that @DrParameshwara is functioning hanging a board that they (government) will give a clean chit to the communal criminals of 'one' community! Is there anything more shameful than this? This letter proves that this government is playing to the tune of Jihadists and PFI terrorists. BJP will continue to fight against all kinds of anti-Hindu policies of #JihadiSarkara ." Noting that DJ Halli and KG Halli riots were one of the worst in which the rioters set the police station on fire, Senior BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal tweeted, "Siddaramaiah 1.0 government had withdrawn cases against PFI goons, who were responsible for riots and murders of Hindu activists in the state. Now, Home Minister Parameshwara has directed the Home Secretary to take measures to withdraw cases against rioters." Three people were killed and over 50 injured in the violence that erupted in D J Halli and K G Halli, allegedly due to a derogatory social media post by a relative of the then Pulakeshinagar Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy in August 2020. The MLAs house and the KG Halli police station were torched in the riots. Some communal incidents had resulted in violent protests in Shivamogga, Hubballi and few other places in the state during the previous BJP rule. New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) Biju Janata Dal MP Sasmit Patra on Wednesday raised his party's demand in the Rajya Sabha for bringing a Bill to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state assemblies. Patra raised the issue through a Special Mention in the Upper House. "My Special Mention is on the demand for passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in the Indian Parliament. The Women's Reservation Bill has been long pending for being legislated in the Indian Parliament," Patra said. He observed that by providing 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state assemblies, India would be taking a historic step towards women's empowerment. "Successive governments have come to power at the Centre but failed to fulfill their promises. I urge the government through the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha to bring the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament for its legislation into a law in the Indian Parliament," Patra said. He also said that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has sent out 22 delegations of the BJD to various national and regional parties seeking their support for the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, STATS Perform dba Automated Insights. A public hearing is set to convene on August 3rd at Khal Toras Chaim Viznitz Shul Gibbers, located at 169 Barnes Blvd in Kiamesha Lake to address a petition seeking the incorporation of a new village within the Town of Thompson. The reason for this joint hearing lies in the fact that some of the proposed villages parcels extend into the neighboring Town of Fallsburg, necessitating the involvement of both Thompson Town Supervisor, Bill Rieber Jr., and Fallsburg Supervisor, Katherine Rappaport. Named the Village of Ateres, the proposed community is expected to house over 500 inhabitants, with the majority coming from the Chasidic community. Town Supervisor Rieber has publicly stated that hes concerned about the motivations behind the incorporation of a new village, labeling it as a possible scheme to gain control over housing regulations. The petition claims to meet the area requirements outlined in the New York Village Law, ensuring that the proposed village does not exceed five square miles. According to the petition, there are 308 qualified voters residing in the Town of Thompson and 14 in the Town of Fallsburg, totaling 322 eligible voters within the Incorporation Territory. This figure meets the 20 percent requirement mandated by law for village incorporation. New York law dictates that a public hearing must be held to address any objections to the legal sufficiency of the petition. If either Supervisor Rieber or Supervisor Rappaport deems the petition invalid, it may lead to a legal battle in the court system. In such a scenario, a judge will be responsible for determining whether the Village of Ateres can be established. However, if both supervisors find the petition to be valid, the village incorporation can proceed without hindrance. Meanwhile, in Albany, an update to the village incorporation law has been proposed by Senator James Skoufis and currently awaits Governor Kathy Hochuls approval. The proposed amendments aim to modernize the law, which has seen minimal changes since the 1800s. Key proposals in the update include raising the minimum population requirement to create a village from 500 to 2000. Additionally, the updated law would necessitate a comprehensive analysis of financial sustainability, taxation matters, and overall viability for any proposed village. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) In 2022, doctors recorded the first confirmed case of tick-borne encephalitis virus acquired in the United Kingdom. It began with a bike ride. A 50-year-old man was mountain biking in the North Yorkshire Moors, a national park in England known for its vast expanses of woodland and purple heather. At some point on his ride, at least one black-legged tick burrowed into his skin. Five days later, the mountain biker developed symptoms commonly associated with a viral infection fatigue, muscle pain, fever. At first, he seemed to be on the mend, but about a week later, he started to lose coordination. An MRI scan revealed he had developed encephalitis, or swelling of the brain. He had been infected with tick-borne encephalitis, or TBE, a potentially deadly disease that experts say is spreading into new regions due in large part to global warming. For the past 30 years, the U.K. has become roughly 1 degree Celsius warmer (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) on average compared to the historical norm. Studies have shown that several tick-borne illnesses are becoming more prevalent because of climate change. Public health officials are particularly concerned about TBE, which is deadlier than more well-known tick diseases such as Lyme, due to the way it has quickly jumped from country to country. Gabor Foldvari, an expert at the Center for Ecological Research in Hungary, said the effects of climate change on TBE are unmistakable. Its a really common problem which was absent 20 or 30 years ago, he added. Ticks cant survive more than a couple of days in temperatures below zero, but theyre able to persevere in very warm conditions as long as theres enough humidity in the environment. As Earth warms on average and winters become milder, ticks are becoming active earlier in the year. Climate change affects ticks at every stage of their life cycle egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph, and adult by extending the length of time ticks actively feed on humans and animals. Even a fraction of a degree of global warming creates more opportunity for ticks to breed and spread disease. The number of overwintering ticks is increasing and in spring there is high activity of ticks, said Gerhard Dobler, a doctor who works at the German Center for Infection Research. This may increase the contact between infected ticks and humans and cause more disease. Since the virus was first discovered in the 1930s, it has mainly been found in Europe and parts of Asia, including Siberia and the northern regions of China. The same type of tick carries the disease in these areas, but the virus subtype of which there are several varies by region. In places where the virus is endemic, tick bites are the leading cause of encephalitis, though the virus can also be acquired by consuming raw milk from tick-infected cattle. TBE has not been found in the United States, though a few Americans have contracted the virus while traveling in Europe. According to the World Health Organization, there are between 10,000 and 12,000 cases of the disease in Europe and northern Asia each year. The total number of cases worldwide is likely an undercount, as case counts are unreliable in countries where the population has low awareness of the disease and local health departments are not required to report cases to the government. But experts say there has been a clear uptick since the 1990s, especially in countries where the disease used to be uncommon. We see an increasing trend of human cases, Dobler said, citing rising cases in Austria, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, and other European countries. TBE is not always life-threatening. On average, about 10 percent of infections develop into the severe form of the illness, which often requires hospitalization. Once severe symptoms develop, however, there is no cure for the disease. The death rate among those who develop severe symptoms ranges from 1 to 35 percent, depending on the virus subtype, with the far-eastern subtype being the deadliest. In Europe, for example, 16 deaths were recorded in 2020 out of roughly 3,700 confirmed cases. Up to half of survivors of severe TBE have lingering neurological problems, such as sleeplessness and aggressiveness. Many infected people are asymptomatic or only develop mild symptoms, Dobler said, so the true caseload could be up to 10 times higher in some regions than reports estimate. While there are two TBE vaccines in circulation, vaccine uptake is low in regions where the virus is new. Neither vaccine covers all of the three most prevalent sub-types, and a 2020 study called for development of a new vaccine that offers higher protection against the virus. In Austria, for example, the TBE vaccine rate is near 85 percent, Dobler said, and yet the number of human cases continues to trend upward a sign, in his opinion, of climate changes influence on the disease. In central and northern Europe, where for the past decade average annual temperatures have been roughly 2 degrees Celsius above pre industrial times (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), documented cases of the virus have been rising in recent decades evidence, some experts say, that rising global temperatures are conducive to more active ticks. The parasitic arachnids are also noted to be moving further north and higher in altitude as formerly inhospitable terrain warms to their preferred temperature range. Northern parts of Russia are a prime example of where TBE-infected ticks have moved north. Some previously tick-free mountains in Germany, Bavaria, and Austria are reporting a 20-fold increase in cases over the past 10 years. The viruss growing shadow across Europe, Asia, and now parts of the United Kingdom throws the dangers of tick-borne disease into sharp relief. The U.K. bicyclist who was the first domestically acquired case of the disease survived his bout with TBE, but the episode serves as a warning to the region: though the virus is still rare, it may not stay that way for long. (AP) Efforts to protect the nations election systems have grown exponentially since the 2016 presidential election, but more is needed to defend the integrity and resiliency of the election process ahead of next years vote, the head of the nations cybersecurity agency said Tuesday. Jen Easterly, director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, known as CISA, announced plans to boost resources within the agency, hiring 10 additional election security specialists who will be across the country to interact directly with state and local officials. Easterly made the announcement at the summer conference of the National Association of State Election Directors in Charleston, South Carolina. Our capabilities and posture in this area is simply night and day when you compare it to 2016, Easterly told the officials gathered for her speech. Despite this progress, we know there is more we have to do and that we must remain vigilant in the face of new and evolving risk. CISA is charged with protecting critical infrastructure, including the nations dams, banks and nuclear power plants. U.S. voting systems were added after the 2016 election and Russias multipronged effort to meddle. Since then, state and local election officials have been working to shore up cybersecurity defenses around U.S. voting systems with the help of millions of dollars allocated by Congress over the years. In its efforts to secure elections, CISA works across government, partnering with federal, state and local agencies on various initiatives and providing direct support through cybersecurity reviews, assessments of physical security protocols, remote testing to look for vulnerabilities and other services. Meanwhile, the threats to elections keep increasing, with the newest concern centered on the emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools that can be used by those seeking to meddle in U.S. elections to create false and misleading content. Thats on top of financially motivated, criminal ransomware groups and the potential for sophisticated cyberattacks waged by countries hostile to the U.S. Easterly, in an interview after her speech, said she was particularly concerned about the potential for bad actors to utilize generative AI, but expressed confidence that the public, with guidance from their state and local election officials, will be able to sort through manipulation attempts. She emphasized that the vote itself will be protected and secure. All of the reasons why people should trust the integrity and security of elections remain the same: the physical security safeguards, the cybersecurity safeguards, all of the defense-in-depth mechanisms, the segmentation, the training that goes on, Easterly said. Nothing will change all these safeguards and measures that are put in place to ensure the integrity and resilience of elections. Easterly said the agencys mission hasnt changed, despite criticism from Republicans in Congress and a recent court order by a federal judge in Louisiana that limited federal agencies including CISA from contacting social media companies about content deemed false or deceptive with a few exceptions. The case arose out of allegations that government officials used the possibility of regulatory action to coerce social media platforms to squelch what the administration considered misinformation on a variety of topics, including COVID-19 vaccines, President Joe Bidens son and elections. An appeals court has since temporarily paused the order. Easterly said the agency has never and does not censor speech. When it comes to countering misinformation, Easterly said the agency will continue to weigh in when asked to by state and local election officials to explain security processes that are the subject of misinformation as part of the Rumor Control page that began under her predecessor, Chris Krebs. She added that the agency is focused on making sure that state and local election officials have the information they need about potential foreign influence campaigns, that they can identify tactics used by foreign adversaries and that the voices of state and local election officials are amplified. As somebody whos a lifelong independent, whos worked for Republican administrations and Democratic administrations, theres frankly nothing more important to ensuring that CISA is successful as an agency than making sure we are seen as a nonpartisan, non-political agency because security is not a partisan mission, Easterly said. After Easterlys speech, state election officials from Pennsylvania and Ohio said they welcomed the additional resources focused on election security and spoke about the importance of having good relationships with the federal government. The relationship needs to evolve and grow because our threat evolves and grows, said Mandi Grandjean, senior adviser and deputy assistant to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican. And the general landscape of what we do is evolving and growing. And so its great to hear what CISA is doing. (AP) On Monday, the President of the 77th United Nations General Assembly, Csaba Korosi, met with representatives of Chabad Leadership at the offices of the Jewish Learning Institute. The meeting commenced with Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Director of the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries and Vice-Chairman of Merkos Llnyonei Chinuch, setting the tone and emphasizing the shared objective of fostering global peace and ending conflicts. He spoke about the Rebbes vision, which serves as the driving force behind Chabads global ambassadors of goodness and kindness, known as the Shluchim. In attendance were Rabbi Efraim Mintz, Executive Director of the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI); Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302 and President of Chabads international CTeen; Mrs. Chani Goldberg of Chabad on Call; Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, of the Jewish Future Alliance and PR Liaison for Chabad; Rabbi Avi Winner of Merkos 302; along with Rabbis Dubi Rabinowitz and Yosef Vogel of the Jewish Learning Institute. Via Zoom, Rabbi Mendy Chitrik, Chairman of the Alliance of Rabbis in the Islamic States; Rabbi Shlomo Bentolila, Director of Chabad in Central Africa; and Shlomo Koves, Chief Rabbi of the EMIH organization, also participated in the meeting. Rabbi Shlomo Koves of Hungary conversed with President Korosi in their native language, and the President commended Rabbi Koves, calling him one of the most prominent and well-known figures in Hungary. During the meeting, President Korosi heard about good relations between Jewish communities living in Muslim countries from Rabbi Chitrik and learned about Chabads relief work in Africa from Rabbi Bentolila. The group also discussed Chabads efforts to help Ukraine refugees. President Korosi humorously remarked that Chabads work sounded remarkably similar to a speech he recently delivered at the UN about the UNs work. Following the engaging session, President Korosi visited 770 and toured the WLCC broadcast room. Accompanying him was his senior advisor, Mrs. Sarah Golder Weiss Maudi, daughter of Dr. Ira Weiss, the Rebbes cardiologist. Sarah shared heartfelt recollections of her childhood visits to the Rebbe at 770 with her father. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Police on Monday evening arrested a kibbutz security officer who made threats and shot in the air after right-wing protesters blocked the entrance to his kibbutz. A handful of right-wing protesters have been blocking entrances to left-wing kibbutzim in response to the ongoing blocking of major highways by left-wing protesters in recent weeks and months. When a small group of protesters blocked the entrance of Kibbutz Chatzeirim in southern Israel on Monday evening, a violent conflict broke out between the kibbutzs security officer and residents of the kibbutz and the right-wing protesters. The security officer took out his gun and threatened to shoot one of the protesters in the head. The officer, who is a member of the left-wing Achim BNeshek protest group, allegedly engaged in threats, assault and shooting in a residential area. Seven others involved in the clash were arrested but two were later released under restrictive conditions. The four others, who are suspected of assault, malicious damage and involvement in a clash, were brought to court along with the security officer on Tuesday morning, where the police requested an extension of their arrest. The management of the kibbutz sent a letter to its members on Tuesday, saying, As most of you already know, a complex incident occurred at the kibbutz entrance last night. The incident is being handled and managed by the kibbutz management, working closely with attorneys. We stand by and are supporting the security officer and his family and we are doing everything we can to end this event as quickly as possible and in the best way possible. If the roadblocks and the provocations at the gate continue, we request, we beg that no one should go to the area and avoid clashes. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) In this file photo taken on March 11, 2020 US ex-marine Trevor Reed, charged with attacking police, stands inside a defendants' cage during a court hearing in Moscow. A former U.S. Marine who was released from Russia in a prisoner swap last year has been injured while fighting in Ukraine, the State Department said Tuesday. Trevor Reed was wounded several weeks ago, according to a person familiar with the situation who was not authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. He has been taken to Germany for medical care, said State Department spokesman Vedant Patel. U.S. officials said little about Reeds injury or presence in Ukraine beyond noting that his activities werent on behalf of the U.S. government. But Reeds decision to take up arms during Russias war with Ukraine potentially complicates U.S. efforts to win the release of two other Americans still detained by Moscow, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and corporate security executive Paul Whelan. His fighting also risked a potentially dire scenario if hed been captured and returned to Russian custody after the U.S. had worked to get him home. As I indicated, we have been incredibly clear warning American citizens, American nationals, not to travel to Ukraine, let alone participate in fighting, Patel said. As you know, we are not in a place to provide assistance to evacuate private U.S. citizens from Ukraine, including those Americans who may decide to travel to Ukraine to participate in fighting. The severity of Reeds injury was not immediately clear, but Patel said he was transported out of Ukraine by a non-governmental organization. He was taken to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, a level II trauma care center located near Ramstein Air Base, according to two U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Its unclear how many Americans have volunteered to fight in Ukraine. But the conflict has attracted fighters from around the world, with Ukrainian authorities saying thousands of volunteers from dozens of countries have joined their cause. Ukraine established an international fighting force just days after Russias February 2022 invasion. Reed was released from Russian custody in an April 2022 prisoner swap in exchange for a Russian pilot, Konstantin Yaroshenko, whod been serving a 20-year federal sentence for conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the U.S. Reed was arrested in the summer of 2019 after Russian authorities said he assaulted an officer while being driven by police to a police station following a night of heavy drinking. He was later sentenced to nine years in prison. The U.S. government later designated him as unjustly detained and pressed for his release while his family has asserted his innocence. Relatives also were concerned about his deteriorating health. At one point he said he was coughing up blood while in custody. He also staged a hunger strike to protest the conditions under which he was held. The Messenger was first to report Reeds injury. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition An article published by the Wall Street Journals editorial board on Monday decried the panic attack over Israels passing of the reasonableness bill, calling it a modest judicial reform that probably wont make as much difference as either side claims, and slammed President Biden for sticking his nose in Israels affairs. WSJ states in the article, entitled Israels Supreme Court Panic Attack, that the new law barely begins to reverse the judicial revolution of the 1980s and 1990s, in which Israels court claimed unusual new powersReasonableness in Israel started at the local level as a common-law import but became an all-purpose tool to invalidate government appointments, military decisions and policies of national significance. This gave the court enormous discretion, with often arbitrary results. For example, the court found it was unreasonable for a caretaker government to bind future governments by appointing midlevel officials. But it found it was reasonable for a different caretaker government to offer a final-status peace deal to the Palestinians. Compromise will take time, and time may demonstrate that the new reasonableness law has changed little. The justices havent lost their substantial power over the appointment of new justices. The court can still hear almost any case, even on a strictly political question in which no petitioner has been directly harmed. The court retains the power it seized in the 1990s to strike down legislation, and it can still block administrative actions for every reason except unreasonableness, for which there are many substitutes. In other words, the judiciary hasnt really been reformed, and democracy isnt dying in Israel. President Bidens running commentary on this internal Israel debate is unseemly and looks aimed at toppling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government. The two ought to be working together to expand the Abraham Accords to Saudi Arabia and to stop Irans nuclear program. Israels judicial debate is far down the list of urgent problems in the Middle East. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) In the latest of a series of provocations on the Israeli-Lebanese border, a video published on Tuesday shows armed Hezbollah terrorists patrolling the border, near the Israeli Dovev moshav in the Upper Galil. Although Hezbollah routinely violates the ceasefire agreement reached after the Second Lebanon War, supposedly enforced by UN peacekeepers, in the past, it kept a low profile, only sending shepherds to monitor the border fence. In the newly escalated situation, Hezbollah terrorists patrol the border armed and in full uniform near an Israeli moshav. Understandably, the Israeli residents of the area are very concerned by the situation. The IDF says that they are aware of the incident but there has been no military response to the many recent provocations by Hezbollah on the border, including the placing of the tents inside Israeli territory. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Administrators of 15 chassidish Bnei Brak Talmudei Torah signed a letter stating that young bochurim will be required to wear kashkets instead of hats. The letter, entitled: Necessary And Welcome Regulation, signed by principals of Talmudei Torah of a number of chassidish groups, states: The shemirah of accepted Jewish levush from generation to generation is one of the foundations of chassidish groups. As part of it, it was customary to wear a small hat or kashket, and for some reason since World War II the custom of wearing a wide hat has spread and the number of kashket wearers has decreased. The letter continued by saying that although older bochurim learn how to take care of their hats so that they last several years, the younger bochurim who are bar-mitzvah age and still in Talmud Torah have a hard time maintaining their hats properly. Parents are then burdened with the expense of buying a new hat for their son only several months after his bar mitzvah. The cost of living has greatly increased and hats are expensive, the letter states, saying that they are heeding the plight of the parents who cannot afford the expense while kashkets are tens of thousands of shekels cheaper. The bochurim will come to Talmud Torah only with a kashket on their heads and otherwise will not be allowed entry [and can wear their hats on Shabbos and Yom Tov and at simchos, etc.]. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) In another politically tainted move that shocked Israels legal system, Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, whose ostensible role is to serve as the governments legal adviser, once again acted against the government on Tuesday by siding with a Supreme Court petition against a law passed by the democratically elected coalition members in March. Baharav-Miara claims that the law, the Incapacitation Law, which prevents the Attorney-General from declaring a prime minister as incapacitated [unfit for office] except in exceptional circumstances, was passed in order to aid Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in his battle against his court cases [for largely trumped-up charges], claiming that the Knesset misused its authority in order to protect him in contravention of court rulings. The law was passed as an amendment to a Basic Law and since Israels Basic Laws have constitutional status, the Attorney-Generals position of supporting the laws invalidation is unprecedented. Most legal scholars, including former attorney-general Avichai Mandelblit, are of the opinion that the Supreme Court does not have the power to invalidate Israels Basic Laws. The Supreme Court would be very hesitant to review Basic Laws as striking one down could create a constitutional crisis. In the unlikely event that the Supreme Court aligns itself with the Attorney-Generals position and the petition, which was filed by the left-wing Movement for Quality Government, and strikes down the law, it would be the equivalent of the US Supreme Court striking down an amendment to the Constitution. The heads of the coalition responded by stating: The Attorney-Generals response to the petition is yet another attempt to cancel the democratic choice of millions of citizens and transfer the authority to depose heads of government in Israel to unelected officials. Prime Minister Netanyahu was elected by over 2.5 million citizens and in a democracy, the citizens alone determine who will be the prime minister. The forced attempt to tie the judicial reform, which is supported by millions of citizens, to the trial of Prime Minister Netanyahu, which has been ongoing for three years, is baseless and fundamentally false. The people, the Knesset, and the democracy will not accept this. Culture Minister Miki Zohar said: There is no more anti-democratic move than trying to cancel a Basic Law that was passed by a majority of votes by members of the legislature elected in democratic elections. This is what acting against democracy looks like. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Two young men broke into a cell phone store on Monday on Rechov Bar Ilan in Jerusalem, vandalizing it and stealing valuable cell phones. They caused extensive damage to the store by spraying skunk spray on merchandise, the computer, and the customer service desk. The man who sprayed the skunk spray was wearing quasi-Chassidish garb. Unusually and unlike previous incidents, the other man, who did not appear to be Chareidi, stole valuable cell phones. They operate in a very orderly manner, the owner of a chain of cell phone stores in Jerusalem told BChadrei Chareidim. They [extremists] go from area to area and harass the store owners and try to make them submit to their demands. It started in Geula, moved to Yechezkel, and now theyre focusing on the Bar Ilan Street area, mainly against a certain chain of stores. The owner of the store on Bar Ilan said that a forensic investigator came to the store but wouldnt enter it due to the stench of the skunk spray. Theres still a stench that will probably remain for weeks even though we re-painted the entire store, he said. Were talking about damages of tens of thousands of shekels, two wasted business days, and a lot of merchandise that had to be thrown out. Im sure they were sent by the extremists, he added. Someone prepares the material for them and pays them a lot of money to carry it out. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Rav Shneur Maidanchik, a Chabad shaliach in Columbo, the capital of the southern Asian island country of Sri Lanka, wrote a moving story [in Hebrew] on his Facebook page on Tuesday. He wrote: A few months ago, two Sri Lankans arrived at our Chabad house in Colombo. To this day I dont know why they came, but they mentioned that there are twin Israeli brothers monks who live in a temple named Samanalawewa in the jungle. They gave me a phone number of a person whos familiar with the temple. I started trying to track them down and realized it would be difficult since theyre in an area that is a 5-hour trip from Colombo through rainforests and jungles with no normal access road. Today, I made a decision that I have to find them. I didnt have their phone number or address so I decided we would just embark on the trip. I searched for a long time for a driver with a suitable vehicle, and Rav Shnuer Ariel [a fellow Chabad shaliach], and I embarked on the trip at 5:20 in the morning a journey into the unknown When we got close to the area we were looking for, we asked the driver to ask the locals about the Samanalawewa temple, and one of them was able to lead us there. We stopped the car right when a monsoon had started torrential rain. We set out with all the stuff we brought, including tefillin. We went down and up the mountain, between rivers, and it turned out that we were directed to the wrong temple. We met a local monk there who didnt speak a word of English. We tried to talk to him and then he pointed forward and said sudo, which means white in the local language. White person. We realized that we had to travel forward to meet the two white people we were looking for We returned to the car sopping wet, drove three kilometers in the direction the monk indicated, and suddenly we saw a sign: Samanalawewa! We got out of the car and found an area that was completely empty of people and traffic. A boy with a motorcycle stopped next to us and agreed to take us inside. We walked and walked in rainforests with leeches sucking our blood, literally. And suddenly, suddenly we see them! Two sweet Israeli brothers, twins, sitting in a cave in the rock, with all green surroundings, with only the sounds of streams and birds. Of course, they were astounded. How did we get to them? Theyve been there for five years and an Israeli only visited them once. They asked us if goyim have a neshamah and from there a discussion developed about Tanya and Chassidus we spoke about the Geulah and the Goel. We sat with them for several hours in a warm and loving atmosphere. Their outer shell (klipah) slowly cracked open and their inner spark was revealed. At the end, they put on tefillin and we also gave them a mezuzah for shemirah. One of the brothers asked on his own how to toivel his dishes to purify them. We made up to meet again in Colombo. . . . . (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Hungry house moths are expected to cause millions of pounds worth of damage this summer. Each year, moths are estimated to cause around 20million of destruction by chomping through silk shirts, linen suits, cashmere jumpers and expensive wool carpets. Yet with expert guidance from a National Trust bug assassin, we reveal how, with knowledge of the sex life of the moth and an armoury of tools, you can save a fortune on the cost of a new wardrobe and paying for professional exterminators. Each year, moths are estimated to cause around 20million of damage Know your enemy This is the time of the year the common clothes moth can be spotted flying out of your wardrobe after escaping its cocoon. The insect larva is hard to spot, as it is smaller than a grain of rice, but once it becomes a moth, it's about 5mm long, with a 15mm straw-coloured wingspan, allowing it to be seen more easily. Although there are more than 2,500 species of moths in Britain, only five nibble through the contents of our wardrobes. The common clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella), also known as the webbing clothes moth, is the worst offender. Also keep an eye out for the case-baring clothes moth (Tinea pellionella), of similar size but with silvery-brown wings peppered with tiny spots. Another is the brown house moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) with bronze wings. The white-shouldered house moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) and the pale-backed clothes moth (Monopis crocicapitella) feed on clothes and are also partial to store cupboard food, such as flour, grains, dried fruits and potatoes. Non-profit group Butterfly Conservation has a website 'identify a moth' page to help you find out what type you have. Pop clothes in the freezer to halt damage When three examples of the common clothes moth flutter out of a rarely opened spare room wardrobe at my home near Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire, I seek advice from conservation charity the National Trust. Nigel Blades, their preventive conservation adviser, says: 'Do not panic: you may yet save the contents of your wardrobe. Close the wardrobe door so others do not escape, and slowly go through your clothes, putting anything you want to keep into a zip-up freezer bag. 'You can then put them in the deep freeze for a few days. It will do your garments no harm but will kill any moths or larvae that you cannot see.' Carefully going through my clothes, I discover that the moths have been banqueting on an old mustard cardigan. The damage is so bad that the garment is no longer wearable, but for sentimental reasons I wish to keep it. With freezer space tight, to make room I take out a packet of fish fingers and a tub of ice cream for my supper. Stop the moths: Toby Walne puts his cardigan in the freezer Microwave or dry clean the critters Another option is to pop clothes into the microwave. Moth larvae cannot survive above 49c, so zapping your garments for three minutes should also do the trick. But if you don't like that idea, your garments are too big to fit in the microwave or you don't have one, Mr Blades suggests a trip to the dry cleaners instead. This is because the dry-cleaning process typically exposes your clothing to heat levels of up to 60c. Get wise to the sex life of a moth Once they get into your home, moths quickly multiply, with a female moth laying up to 200 eggs a year. One way to tackle their reproductive cycle is to use a pheromone trap, says Mr Blades. The trap gives off the scent of a female moth to attract the attention of a male. Once any male comes into contact with the trap, it is confused into thinking it is a female and tries to mate with it. The scent is so strong that female moths are often left alone and die without laying any eggs. Some traps not only lure moths with their smell but also have a sticky strip to trap and kill them. You can buy this type of trap, which is about the size of a large matchbox, for 10 from specialist online company Total Wardrobe Care (totalwardrobecare.co.uk). If you have had trouble with moths, place these traps in problem areas to ensure that they cannot breed. One way to tackle moths' reproductive cycle is to use a pheromone trap Deter insects with cedarwood The oil from the cedar tree repels insects, including moths. Because they do not like the smell, moths are unlikely to lay eggs when the fragrance is in the air. But unfortunately just like perfume the power of the scent fades over time, so cedar balls you place in clothes drawers should be resprayed every six months. Packets of 20 cedar balls are available for 8 from Total Wardrobe Care. The company also sells spray to keep them effective for 9. but throw out old moth balls Be wary of using traditional mothballs made of naphthalene or paradichlorobenzine the sort you may recall from childhood, with their strong acrid scent. Mr Blades says: 'Mothballs do indeed put off moths, but the fumes are potentially harmful to humans. If you touch them and do not wash your hands, they can be dangerous and make you sick.' A deep clean for the wardrobe Finally, the best way to keep moths at bay is to deep clean the places where they like to lurk such as hidden corners of wardrobes and within the folds of clothes and curtains. It might not sound particularly high-tech but Mr Blades believes a dustpan-and-brush is a good starting point, along with a handheld vacuum cleaner. A damp cloth to get into hard-to-reach wardrobe corners is another vital tool in your armoury. And be warned: just because you cannot see anything does not mean it is not there. Mr Blades says: 'It's not the mature moth that eats clothes. All the damage is done by hungry caterpillar larvae that feed off proteins found in natural materials. It is these that you want to clear out to stop any future damage.' Households in the UK are being forced to fork out as much as 9billion a year on bills to pay for the mistakes and dishonesty of companies and others. Analysis by This is Money's sister title, Money Mail, reveals that leaky water pipes, a faulty National Grid that is past its sell-by date and a growing shoplifting epidemic are costing the average household up to 361 a year. Innocent workers and pensioners are footing the bill for waste and theft, after three decades of systemic under-investment in the upkeep of basic British utilities. Leaky water pipes, a faulty National Grid that is past its sell-by date and a growing shoplifting epidemic are costing the average household up to 361 a year, Money Mail analysis reveals While it's reasonable to expect some margin of loss to basic error, experts say the scale of the problem in some sectors is 'outrageous'. Consumer champion Martyn James says companies are paying out large dividends to shareholders while expecting households and customers to pay for mass errors. 'It is outrageous that businesses are paying out dividends when the fundamentals of their infrastructure aren't working,' he says. 'I don't consider a firm to be in profit while it allows billions of pounds to go down the drain because it is failing to do basic maintenance. And if it's not in profit, it shouldn't pay out dividends.' So how much are waste and theft adding to your bills every year? Water waste and leaky pipes A fifth of water is lost to leaks every year, costing the country 2.3billion in 2022, official figures from water industry regulator Ofwat show. More than a trillion litres of water were lost to leaky pipes in 2021. This is the water that suppliers can't account for because it enters their system but is not delivered to homes. Averaged out across the UK's 28.2million households, that equates to around 82 on every household water bill each year. Some leaks are inevitable, Ofwat says, as pipes can wear out or become damaged when they naturally expand and contract, especially in freezing or very dry weather. But current waste water levels exceed the target of 16 per cent that the regulator has asked companies to achieve by 2025. Thames Water, the nation's biggest water company, reported that almost a quarter (24 per cent) of the water it supplies was lost to leakage last year. James says this is largely down to a lack of competition, as there are too few companies in the sector. He says it can be traced back to the privatisation of essential utility infrastructure in the 1980s under former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He says: 'The whole point of privatisation was to reduce the Big Government model and, in theory, make different sectors better through competition and consumer choice. But that isn't what happened in practice. Some sectors such as water aren't affected by competition, as we have to physically move house to change companies.' Danni Hewson, of stockbroker AJ Bell, says: 'The private sector hasn't delivered the panacea that Thatcher's government promised. A lot of the blame for that must rest with light-touch regulation, which has allowed huge pots of money to be syphoned into investors' pockets at the expense of real investment and improvement.' According to Ofwat, more than 40 per cent of pipes have been replaced since privatisation that leaves 60 per cent that have not been updated, with some parts of the country still relying on Victorian and Edwardian infrastructure. Ofwat has been clear that all water companies should be investing more in cutting leakage. Total cost: 2.3billion Per household: 82 a year The price tag on shoplifting A rise in shoplifting is adding to the soaring cost of a food shop for innocent families. Food prices rose by 18.4 per cent in the year to May, the sharpest increase in more than 45 years, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The cost of living crisis has led to a spike in shoplifting, with recent ONS figures revealing that incidents jumped by 22 per cent in the year to September 2022. Retailers paid 1.7billion to cover the cost of shoplifted items and security measures designed to prevent theft in the 2021-22 tax year, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). That has added an average of 59 a year to every household's grocery shop. Tom Ironside, the BRC's director of business and regulation, explains that this is 'money that would be better used to reduce prices and invest in a better customer experience'. Total cost: 1.7billion Per household: 59 a year The cost of living crisis has led to a spike in shoplifting, with recent ONS figures revealing that incidents jumped by 22 per cent in the year to September The hotwire thieves Billions of pounds worth of energy is lost every year to an inefficient energy grid and theft, adding about 170 a year to the average household's energy bills. The National Grid loses 2.8billion worth of energy to the process of carrying electricity around the grid. That is the equivalent of 100 of every home's annual bill. Energy illegally syphoned from household and commercial supplies costs the country 400million a year, according to Crimestoppers. The charity calculates that this adds another 50 to each household's annual costs. Why are energy bills so high? Since coming out of the pandemic demand for gas has gone through the roof, but supply has struggled to catch up. It has sent prices soaring and pushed up the cost of gas and electricity for both households and businesses. This has been compounded by Russia's invasion of Ukraine which has led to a squeeze on gas supplies across Europe. Meter tampering is where people 'hotwire' their meter so it doesn't fully record how much electricity or gas is being used; or bypass it completely so no energy usage is recorded. This can be highly dangerous, resulting in electric shocks, fires or gas explosions. Crimestoppers estimates that around 250,000 cases of energy theft go unreported every year. Cable theft is also a growing problem, as copper or aluminium cables or wires are stolen from places such as construction sites, railway tracks, telecommunications networks and power grids. Smart Energy International, a specialist publication, estimates that between 484million and 655million is lost to this type of theft each year. That is equivalent to 20 per household, based on the average broadband bill which is 190 a year, according to consumer group Which? Total cost: 3.8billion Per household: 170 a year Insurance fraud Chancers made 89,000 dishonest insurance claims, costing 1.1billion in 2021, according to the Association of British Insurers trade body. Insurers invest at least 200million each year in spotting fraud, which adds 50 to the total cost of household insurance, according to estimates from the Fraud Intelligence Bureau. It claims that a further 2billion goes undetected. This includes cases where someone exaggerates a claim for financial gain or provides false information when applying. Cases reported to the City of London Police Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department surged by 61 per cent over the year to April. Total cost: 1.1billion Per household: 50 a year Overall cost: 8,900,000,000 Per household: 361 a year Energy firms' customer service has been blasted by regulator Ofgem, which says consumers deserve more in its call for reform of the market. The energy regulator said it has become 'increasingly difficult' for customers to even get hold of someone to speak to at their energy firm - despite many good examples. Ofgem said that 'supplier customer service on the whole is not meeting many consumers needs', and singled out call waiting times and the ease of speaking to energy firm staff as particular issues. The news comes as one of the largest energy firms, Ovo, came under fire from 200 customers for allegedly getting their bills wrong. The regulator said 33 per cent of households were unhappy with the customer service they get from energy firms, up from 26 per cent in 2018. On the up: Consumers are grappling with energy bills of 2,074 a year on average, and to make matters worse many report serious customer service issues too Ofgem is now recommending energy firms extend their contact hours - perhaps as long as 24 hours a day, seven days a week for customers left without power or gas. This would help because many energy firms are only contactable during normal office hours, when most of their customers are working. The regulator also wants suppliers to better spot and help vulnerable customers that need immediate help. Another point Ofgem is calling for is energy firms to offer struggling customers repayment plans earlier, including repayment holidays where households are really struggling. The regulator said that competition between energy firms is not improving customer service - meaning it might have to step in. An Ofgem statement said: 'Longer-term, if we do not see improvements, we will consider whether we need to regulate the sector differently to help deliver good service.' Earlier this year Ofgem criticised energy firms for long waiting times, with many customers forced to hang up in frustration. Big plans: Energy regulator Ofgem has drawn up proposals on how to improve how energy firms treat their customers Charity National Energy Action says customers waste around 10million of time every year on hold to energy firms, often while just trying to pay their bills. However, Ofgem said it already expected energy firms to pick up calls quickly, so would not take further action beyond its current powers to order firms to pay compensation for really bad wait times. Ofgem is now consulting on its changes, and anyone - even consumers - can respond to it. Neil Lawrence, director at Ofgem, said: 'Suppliers are short-changing too many of their customers, who deserve better. 'Customers need more support when they are struggling and should be able to contact their supplier without frustration or undue delay when they need help.' Myron Jobson, senior personal finance analyst at stockbroker Interactive Investor, says: 'Ofgem has made it unequivocally clear that supplier must do better in their support of customers. 'New rules requiring suppliers to offer more effective support for customers struggling with bills, including early intervention to identify and offer support such as temporary repayment holidays when consumers are unable to pay, are welcome.' A spokesperson for the energy trade body, Energy UK, said: 'This winter will be difficult for many customers, suppliers have worked hard during the energy crisis to provide support and it is important that we continue to strive to deliver high standards for customers, particularly those that are most vulnerable. 'Suppliers are working with Ofgem and the industry on proposals to improve consumer standards, however, whilst high standards are critical, the affordability crisis cannot be solved by suppliers alone, which is why Energy UK is calling on the Government for bill support for customers this winter.' How to escalate your energy complaint If you cannot get anywhere with complaining to your energy company, you can take complaints to the Energy Ombudsman. This is a free service which handles customer energy grievances around customer service, billing, switching suppliers and more. Before you can raise a complaint with the Energy Ombudsman, you must first speak to your supplier and put in a formal complaint. If you do not hear back within eight weeks, or it has been eight weeks since they gave a final decision, you can go to the Energy Ombudsman to make a further complaint. It can take months to get a decision. However, it is possible to appeal if you think the Ombudsman has been unfair. Rolls-Royce shares surged on Wednesday after the group upped its annual profit forecast by 45 per cent. Boss Tufan Erginbilgic, who previously described the business as a 'burning platform', told investors on Wednesday his transformation plan had started to pay off. The FTSE 100-listed aeroengineer benefited from operational improvements, increased military spending and a recovery in long-haul flying. Radical plans: Rolls-Royce boss Tufan Erginbilgic is shaking up Rolls-Royce Shares in the British company jumped 24 per cent to 190p, marking the highest level since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. The group said it now expected profit this year of between 1.2billion and 1.4billion, up from its previous guidance of between 800million and 1billion. The market had been forecasting 934million. Boss Tufan Erginbilgic, who joined the company in January, said his turnaround had started well, with progress already evident across the company. He said: 'Despite a challenging external environment, notably supply chain constraints, we are starting to see the early impact of our transformation in all our divisions.' Bernstein analysts said the primary driver of the better first-half and full-year performance was improved operations, a key priority for Erginbilgic. The group, whose engines power the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 long-haul jets, said underlying operating profit for the first six months would come in at just over twice the market expectation of 328million. A large slice of Rolls-Royce's revenue is tied to the hours flown by its engines, a model that plunged it into crisis when planes were grounded during the pandemic. A rebound in flying, however, is now benefiting the group, as is increased defence spending due to the war in Ukraine. On defence, the company, said: 'We expect first half underlying operating profit in the region of 260million compared to 189million in the prior period. 'This was driven by strong revenue growth and higher margins. 'Revenue growth reflected increased underlying demand and a more even delivery profile between the first half and second half of the year than in 2022. Higher margins were driven by higher revenues, pricing actions, a more favourable product mix and cost efficiencies.' Spend boost: Higher defence spending amid the war in Ukraine has helped boost Rolls-Royce The group expects to produce up to 360million of free cash flow for the six months to the end of June, beating a 50million forecast, and it could produce as much as 1billion of cash in the full year. Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK, said: 'Even before todays trading update the Rolls-Royce share price has been one of the best performers on the FTSE100 so far year to date.' He added: 'The turnaround in the shares since the start of the year has been remarkable, even more so given the comments from new CEO Tufan Erginbilgic at the end of last year when he labelled the company as a burning platform. 'Despite this description investors have ploughed back into the company after seeing a modest return to full year profit before tax of 206million, at the end of last year, after the 1.5billion losses of the previous year.' Even before todays trading update the Rolls-Royce share price has been one of the best performers on the FTSE100 so far year to date. Rolls-Royce will publish its first-half results on 3 August. The Nicaraguan regime led by Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo has suffered two recent setbacks in its search for international financing. Firstly, the United Nations Green Climate Fund (GCF) has blocked the disbursement of $116.6 million in funding for the Bio-CLIMA project to reduce deforestation and strengthen resilience in Nicaraguas Bosawas and Rio San Juan biospheres. And secondly, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) has pushed back by six months the payment of $3.5 billion in funding earmarked to expand and improve the countrys highways. In the case of the Green Fund, which was approved in November 2020, the GCF Board of Directors decided a week and a half ago to freeze the funding until all relevant policy non-compliance has been satisfactorily addressed. The decision was made following a complaint filed by indigenous people from Bosawas and Rio San Juan. The community members allege that they were not subject to free, prior and informed consultation, and that the Ortega-Murillo regime failed to comply with the requirement to identify an independent third party to supervise the projects actions, and the transparent use of resources. The indigenous people fear that financing for the BIO-CLIMA project could increase environmental degradation and the encroachment into their indigenous territories. This is already happening at the hands of so-called colonists, illegal settlers who, with high caliber weapons and under the protection of Sandinista officials, break into the communities. The indigenous people are forcibly displaced and the illegal settlers establish extractive industries such as mining, cattle ranching and agriculture in these protected forests. Nicaraguan organizations that work closely to tackle violence against indigenous communities estimate that in the last 10 years, 70 indigenous Miskito and Mayangna people have been killed by settlers. So far in 2023, there have been two massacres in Bosawas. Another hundred community members have been victims of kidnapping, rape, forced displacement, psychological trauma and injuries that have left them with amputations or in a quadriplegic state. Sandinista officials have been even involved in the illegal trafficking of ancestral lands in favor of the illegal settlers. In response to the indigenous peoples complaint, the Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM) of the Green Climate Fund conducted an investigation and found that the project failed to comply with GFC policies. The complaint also raised concern of the likely non-compliance or inability of the Accredited Entity and Executing Entity to comply with GCF Policies and Procedures and the Conditions placed by the Board of the GCF during approval of this project. The executing entities on the governments side are the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, while the accredited entity is the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI). Delay of infrastructure funding After the 2018 socio-political crisis in Nicaragua, when the Sandinista regime brutally cracked down on its critics, the CABEI became one of the main financiers of the regime, even though it has been accused of committing crimes against humanity. During his tenure, the chief of CABEI, Dante Mossi maintained close ties with the Ortega-Murillo family. His decision to grant Nicaragua loans was met with widespread criticism, so much so that he was not reelected to the post in last Mays vote. He was also accused of causing CABEIs indicators to plummet. Mossi, who is set to leave office in December, extended the deadline for the CABEI to begin disbursing the $3.5 billion loan to Nicaragua for six months. This means that it will be up to the new CABEI president to decide whether or not to authorize the funding, which is to go towards a project to improve and expand Nicaraguas roads and highways. This poses a problem for the Nicaragua government, as the works to be financed by this loan had already been awarded by the Ortega-Murillo family. During the events to celebrate of the 44th anniversary of the Nicaraguan Revolution, the government announced that work on the new Costanera highway was set to begin with CABEI funding. It is not clear why Mossi has delayed the disbursement. However, the loan has a fifteen-year term and was approved by the Sandinista Parliament on June 28, 2022. What is striking is that the contract for the loan states that disbursement must begin no later than 12 months after it has been approved by the Nicaraguan Parliament. If this is not done, the contract continues, CABEI can terminate the loan. When Mossi leaves the post, it will be up to his successor to decide whether to take this decision. In the case of the Green Fund, Nicaragua has 120 days to comply with GFC policies and to unfreeze the $116.6 million in funding. The board of the Green Fund, which granted millions of dollars to the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship, finally made the right decision and decided to suspend the granting of said fund to Nicaragua due to non-compliance with policies and procedures, Felix Maradiaga, a former presidential candidate who lives in exile in the United States, told EL PAIS. It is widely known that this fund, designed with good intentions in the framework of the Bio-CLIMA program, has been manipulated for years to finance the dictatorships political structures in several areas of the country. According to Maradiaga, the evidence is clear: Human rights violations against indigenous communities and environmental depredation have increased dramatically under the Ortega and Murillo government. The granting of the green fund was a mockery of these communities. This suspension represents another victory in the civic struggle for democracy, human rights and transparency. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition NatWest may have broken confidentiality rules when former chief executive Dame Alison Rose shared information about Nigel Farage's Coutts bank account with the BBC, the privacy regulator has said. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is examining whether the actions of the ex-boss of the lender, who dramatically quit, would 'constitute a serious data breach' or 'disregard client confidentiality'. The ICO said: 'We can confirm we have received a complaint and are currently assessing the information provided and making necessary enquiries. We are aware of Dame Alison Rose's statement and will consider it as part of our enquiries.' The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is examining whether the actions of former NatWest boss Dame Alison Rose would 'constitute a serious data breach' Information commissioner John Edwards added: 'The banking duty of confidentiality is over 100 years old and it is clear that it would not permit the discussion of a customer's personal information with the media. 'We trust banks with our money and with our personal information. Any suggestion that this trust has been betrayed will be concerning for a bank's customers and for regulators like myself.' The Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates the City, has also raised concerns with NatWest about a potential 'breach of customer confidentiality'. The comments came as bank bosses admitted trust in the industry has been hit by the Coutts debacle. At a meeting with Economic Secretary to the Treasury Andrew Griffith, industry leaders 'acknowledged that recent events had impacted upon public trust for the whole sector'. They pledged to 'act quickly to restore confidence'. NatWest chairman Howard Davies and its interim chief executive Paul Thwaite did not attend the meeting, instead sending retail chief David Lindberg. Others in attendance included HSBC UK chief Ian Stuart, Santander's UK boss Mike Regnier and Matt Hammerstein, who runs Barclays in the UK, as well as Nationwide chief executive Debbie Crosby and Lloyds managing director Philip Robinson. Experts warned the sector is likely to face political and regulatory consequences. Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, said: 'Banks are trusted with our hard-earned cash and relied upon to fund a myriad of purchases from buying a house to business expansion which delivers jobs and prosperity. 'With that in mind it now seems absurd that the board of NatWest had considered that Alison Rose could ride out this storm. 'NatWest is no ordinary bank; it is still almost 40 per cent-owned by the UK taxpayer, and the political and regulatory ramifications of this episode are likely to ripple out for months to come.' Rolls-Royce shares hit their highest level since the start of the pandemic as investors cheered more signs of a turnaround under its new boss. In an unscheduled trading update, the FTSE 100 engineering giant said it expects profits of between 1.2billion and 1.4billion this year, up from its previous forecast of 800million to 1billion. The company's shares soared 21.2 per cent, or 32.35p, to 185p, their highest level since March 2020, when Covid struck. Flying high: New chief Tufan Erginbilgic is a former BP executive The stock has almost doubled in value this year in a major boost for new chief Tufan Erginbilgic. The former BP executive, who described Rolls as a 'burning platform' after taking over in January, has been carrying out a transformation programme. His main goal has been improving operations, cashing in on the post-Covid revival in travel and taking advantage of increased defence spending following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 'Our multi-year transformation programme has started well with progress already evident in our strong initial results and increased full-year guidance for 2023,' he said. 'Despite a challenging external environment, notably supply chain constraints, we are starting to see the early impact in all our divisions.' Erginbilgic has already indicated he is willing to take a hard line. In an address to staff earlier this year, he said it has a 'last chance' with investors. Warren East, his predecessor, tried to lift profitability via a turnaround plan launched in 2018. The pandemic two years later forced another restructuring, to rescue it from the collapse in revenues when travel stopped, battering investor confidence. But the firm, which makes engines for aeroplanes, has benefited from the return to the skies since lockdown restrictions were lifted. Analysts at investment group Shorecap said Rolls has also been bolstered by 'exceptional demand' for defence equipment. It makes propulsion systems for Royal Navy warships and submarines. Rolls makes most of its money from servicing and maintaining engines, and is now the best-performing stock on the FTSE 100 over the past six months. The British firm is due to announce half-year results next week, which it said will show profits of between 660million and 680million, more than double market expectations. Some of the country's busiest airports have urged the Government to commission more research into a 'disastrous' tourist tax. Hundreds of businesses have called on the Chancellor to reverse removing VAT-free shopping for international visitors. Bosses of Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick yesterday said the UK is in danger of falling behind rivals that have tax-free schemes. Businesses have called on the Chancellor to reverse removing VAT-free shopping for tourists The UK's largest airport Heathrow was 'seeing first-hand the economic damage of the tourist tax', said Ross Baker, its chief commercial officer, adding: 'Tourist spend in the UK is eclipsed by our European neighbours where goods are up to 20 per cent cheaper.' Heathrow blamed the policy for an 8.3 per cent dip in retail sales per passenger in the first half of 2023. It is forecasting 70million to 78million passengers in 2023, down on 2019's 81million. Evidence is mounting that the tax is helping cities such as Paris and Milan lure consumers who might have favoured London. Gatwick retail director Rachel Bulford said: 'It is imperative tax-free shopping is reinstated, as key, big-spending travel markets like China grow back, and before the UK falls irretrievably behind other European nations.' Businesses have backed a campaign spearheaded by The Mail to ditch the unpopular measure. On behalf of airports and other businesses, lobby group BusinessLDN asked the Treasury for more analysis into the levy yesterday. It was always going to be the Government which had the casting vote on the future of Dame Alison Rose. As a consummate establishment operator, Howard Davies, the NatWest chairman, would surely have taken political soundings before finalising his statement about Rose's future, one which gave her the full backing of the board. That is the most basic of corporate Governance responsibilities that is the G in ESG which is now in danger of being forgotten by boards in their obsession with Environment and Social issues, as Coutts has found out. The last time Davies hit the headlines was when he resigned in 2011 as director of the London School of Economics following a scandal Checking out such an important decision as the position of Rose, after her admission she was the BBC source on Nigel Farage, with your biggest investor would be an absolute essential. But from what sources suggest, Davies may have taken his soundings from the wrong levels, compounding his miscalculation in letting Rose off the hook. This explains the rapid response from Jeremy Hunt and then from Rishi Sunak to distance themselves from the Davies statement. It was clearly their anger which forced Davies into his panicky emergency board meeting and announcement that Rose was quitting. Questions remain about exactly who Davies might have taken soundings from but friends say he will have made discreet inquiries, most probably from senior civil servants at the Treasury. He is extremely well connected, used to run the Financial Services Authority and is an assured operator at the higher echelons of Whitehall. But he has been in trouble before. The last time Davies hit the headlines was when he resigned in 2011 as director of the London School of Economics following the scandal that the university received money from Libya to train hundreds of young Libyans. Yet he seems to have been successfully rehabilitated, ending up as the chairman of one of the country's biggest banks. Which brings us to the NatWest board, which includes senior independent non-executive director and former banker Mark Seligman alongside other non-executives. The bank now faces huge reputational damage and a soggy share price just when the Government was hoping to offload more of its share stake. Whether the board has the right directors to steer the bank through this crisis is a moot point. Asking them all to step down would cause the bank even more of a confidence crisis although the board does need beefing up. However, it's hard to argue that Davies, who has undoubtedly exacerbated the scandal, can be a safe pair of hands to see the bank through the next chapter of the crisis, which is by no means over. Rolls on fire Tufan Erginbilgic, chief executive of Rolls-Royce, is full of surprises. In an unscheduled trading update, he reports that the civil aerospace and defence units are enjoying higher sales and 'cost efficiencies' have improved profits. The power systems business is also likely to see better profits over the rest of the year. It's the speed of Erginbilgic's turnaround he's only been boss since the start of the year that's such a surprise. Only a few months ago he warned that Rolls was a 'burning platform'. Now it's the shares which are on fire, soaring more than 20pc to 185p yesterday. They have now doubled in value this year. Mad dogs and Englishmen The latest M&S Family Matters Index a quarterly tracker of the priorities of families across the UK is at the highest it's been for two years and hugely up on the record low in September last year. Half of those surveyed say they are more optimistic about their family's prospects for the next three months while one in three say they are more in control of their families' finances. That's got to be good. Many are also still planning a European beach holiday despite the heat. Mad dogs and Englishmen, and all that. When Anthony Seale was medically retired from the Greater Manchester Police at the age of 36, it was with more than 15 years' service under his belt. His career was cut short during an arrest in 2021, when he pulled a car over and grabbed the steering wheel before the driver sped off, leaving Anthony badly injured. His right leg needed reconstruction with a metal plate and his recovery was hampered by mental health issues, which led him to be medically retired. No access: Anthony Seale was not told why his account was closed His recovery was going well, until one day in August when he discovered his bank account had been shut. While checking it on his phone app, Anthony found he could no longer access it. 'I was at a really low point when NatWest shut my account in August 2021,' says Anthony, who lives in Handforth, Cheshire. 'There was nothing much in the account between 1,000-3,000, coming from the Department for Work and Pensions so entirely traceable. I've been with NatWest for years. I immediately thought I'd been a victim of fraud and, of course, as a former police officer, it set alarm bells ringing. 'I rang NatWest and I was passed through to the fraud department, and they said they couldn't tell me why my account was closed. 'When I went into the bank and I had to say my account has been shut down, people assume you must have done something wrong. I felt like a criminal.' Anthony felt frustrated that the bank could not explain why it had happened or even how the process actually works. 'Is it a person who decides or an algorithm? I thought I was going to lose my disability pension money, so I wrote a letter to the chief executive, Alison Rose.' In his letter, Anthony outlined the fact that he had mental health issues, or 'hidden disabilities', which NatWest has championed in its advertising campaigns. He was shocked when he read the reply from her office, 'One thing stands out it asked if I had tried speaking to my GP or Citizens Advice. That told me nobody was listening.' Now, Anthony banks with Lloyds, and volunteers in an advisory role for a security firm. 'To this day, I have still not had a reason for why my account was closed. NatWest made me feel that my money was not good enough for them.' Money Mail has spoken to dozens of people whose bank accounts were also shut abruptly without any explanation Since Nigel Farage spoke publicly about his Coutts account being closed without consultation, Money Mail has spoken to dozens of people whose bank accounts were also shut abruptly without any explanation. In each case, the account holder has repeatedly called, emailed and tried for months on end without success to find out the reason for the bank's decision. While most banks made contact with their customers by email, one young restaurant manager was shocked to be sent a text, which ended with 'we have decided to end our banking relationship with you'. One year later, she has still not received an explanation. The true cost of an account being closed was detailed by one business owner who says it has 'absolutely ruined his life'. When NatWest closed his bank account, he had to turn to his mother-in-law to lend him thousands of pounds to pay his 25-strong bricklaying staff. Without her help, the business he had built up over several years would have collapsed. Even so, he had to let go of most of the staff, so only six remain. He says that, despite dozens of calls over a three-month period, he was not given a reason for the decision. NatWest promised to return his 14,000 balance in 60 days, but it took 78. Out of loyalty to her husband, his wife is closing her NatWest account. One medical student we spoke to had to abandon her plans to do a degree in radiography after her account was closed and she was left without any money. She had to rely on her boyfriend's savings with Santander, and says the 'heartless act has put a strain on our relationship'. Retired accountant William Kennedy, 73, banked with HSBC-owned First Direct for 20 years, but decided to leave because of the way his son, Gregor, was treated, which he describes as 'criminal'. His corporate lawyer son found himself blackballed by HSBC, he believes, after working in Moscow until Russia invaded Ukraine last year. He returned to Aberdeen and got another job in Dubai in July 2022. The 40-year-old took out an HSBC Premier account in September last year after passing the vetting process. But his account was unexpectedly closed soon after when he tried to deposit his salary, the money simply bounced back. He says: 'I've been transparent with all my dealings, and can assure the bank that I am no Russian spy but no one is listening or wants to talk about the situation. All my queries are stonewalled, and I am directed to a call centre, where no one is able to provide help. They just string me along, saying they can confirm receipt of my query but do nothing more.' Gregor is frustrated that all his demands for an explanation of HSBC's decision (previously known as 'the listening bank' when it traded as Midland Bank until 1999) are falling on deaf ears. HSBC still has more than 100,000 of Gregor's funds locked away while it continues its ten-month-long 'investigation' into his account. Money Mail gave the banks a right to reply, but HSBC did not comment, though a spokesman for the bank explained: 'There is nothing we can say about the matter, we can't comment on customers, even to confirm whether they are customers.' A NatWest spokesman says: 'Like all UK regulated banking institutions, NatWest is subject to legal and regulatory requirements, and we treat compliance with them as a priority. This may mean NatWest is required to delay or refuse to act on a customer's instructions, and/or suspend or restrict a customer's accounts and/or services. 'The bank does not make any comments on the specifics of this case. Where relevant we use a wide range of sources that provide information, which we can use to support decisions and actions taken to help protect the bank and our customers from financial crime.' Have you been cancelled by your bank? Write to moneymail@dailymail.co.uk NatWest is engulfed in a full-blown crisis today after its chief executive was forced to quit over briefing the BBC about Nigel Farage's 'debanking'. Dame Alison Rose initially tried to cling on to her 5million-a-year post despite dramatically admitting she was behind the leaking of a customer's financial details. But she finally fell on her sword in the early hours of the morning following an extraordinary intervention from the PM and Chancellor, who made clear their 'significant concerns'. The taxpayer still has a big stake in NatWest following the Credit Crunch. The furore was threatening to spread this morning, with Mr Farage hailing the departure as a 'start' - but adding 'the whole Board needs to go' after backing her abortive attempt to stay in post. 'She's gone, and that's a start, but I have to say that (Coutts chief executive) Peter Flavel (NatWest chair) Howard Davies it was the board that sanctioned this culture that talks about diversity and inclusion, and actually is very divisive,' he said. 'In my case, as you can clearly see, pretty poisonous stuff. I think any board member that endorsed that statement last night, where they said 'yes, she breached confidentiality, but she can stay in her post' frankly, I think the whole board needs to go.' Senior Tories lined up behind their long-term political foe in the battle against 'woke' banking culture. Former Cabinet minister David Jones said: 'Only yesterday they were declaring full confidence in her. How can they expect customers, shareholders and the taxpayer to retain confidence in them?' A No10 source said Dame Alison is no longer a member of Rishi Sunak's business council. She has also been asked to step down from the government's Energy Efficiency Taskforce and Net Zero Council. The No10 source said: 'Alison Rose has done the right thing in resigning. 'Everyone would expect people in public life whether that's in a business leadership role or otherwise to act responsibly and with integrity.' Shares in NatWest fell by 3 per cent in early trading this morning, while other banks were also hit - with Lloyds down 3 per cent despite a surge in half-year profits. NatWest is engulfed in a full-blown crisis today after its chief executive Dame Alison Rose (pictured) was forced to quit over briefing the BBC about Nigel Farage's 'debanking' The board of NatWest Group held emergency talks into the night on her future after she apologised for her 'serious error of judgment' in speaking to the broadcaster's business editor Simon Jack about the bank's treatment of former Ukip leader Nigel Farage (pictured) Dame Alison finally fell on her sword in the early hours of the morning following an extraordinary intervention from the PM (right) and Chancellor (left), who made clear their 'significant concerns' A spat between Mr Farage and Grant Shapps was referred to in the Coutts dossier, but the Energy Secretary said today that his long-time foe had been treated 'outrageously' City minister Andrew Griffith - who was due to hold a summit with banking chiefs including Dame Alison this morning - wrote on Twitter: 'It is right that the NatWest CEO has resigned. 'This would never have happened if NatWest had not taken it upon itself to withdraw a bank account due to someone's lawful political views. That was and is always unacceptable. 'I hope the whole financial sector learns from this incident. Its role is to serve customers well and fairly not to tell them how or what to think.' Dame Alison stepped down with immediate effect in the early hours of this morning after admitting she was the source who told the BBC Mr Farage's account had been closed because he did not have enough money in it. It is not clear whether she will receive any payoff. The board of NatWest Group held emergency talks into the night on her future after she apologised for her 'serious error of judgment' in speaking to the broadcaster's business editor Simon Jack. Bosses at the bank, which is 39 per cent owned by the government, were locked in a power struggle after NatWest chairman Sir Howard Davies criticised her 'regrettable' action but said yesterday the bank's board had 'full confidence' in her. But the position embarrassingly reversed early this morning after pressure was piled on the beleaguered banking boss by No 10 and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. Responding to the volte face, Mr Farage said: 'Anybody on that Board that backed that statement that was put out at 17.42 yesterday, a totally unsustainable and untrue statement, anybody that backed that behaviour, should be gone.' Mr Farage told MailOnline last week that he had been refused bank accounts in the UK since being cut off by Coutts. He said this morning that the fate of Dame Alison should be a message to other institutions. 'To the ten banks that have thus far refused to have me as a customer - think again,' he told GB News. 'This has happened to NatWest... this could happen to you too.' Howard Davies, chairman of the NatWest Group Board, said in a statement: 'The Board and Alison Rose have agreed, by mutual consent, that she will step down as CEO of the NatWest Group. It is a sad moment. 'She has dedicated all her working life so far to NatWest and will leave many colleagues who respect and admire her.' Dame Alison said: 'I remain immensely proud of the progress the bank has made in supporting people, families and business across the UK, and building the foundations for sustainable growth. 'My NatWest colleagues are central to that success, and so I would like to personally thank them for all that they have done.' NatWest's board of directors also announced that Paul Thwaite, the current chief executive of the company's Commercial and Institutional business, will take over Dame Alison's responsibilities for an initial period of 12 months, pending regulatory approval. The board said in a statement that a further process to appoint a permanent successor will take place 'in due course'. The resignation comes after Dame Alison apologised last night, ending a week of speculation by conceding that she had discussed Mr Farage's de-banking with Mr Jack at a charity dinner. The following day the BBC reported that Mr Farage was dropped as a Coutts customer due to a lack of wealth. However, the ex-MEP later exposed the real motivations by lodging a 'subject access request' with NatWest for his personal data. The 40-page dossier showed staff at Coutts, which is owned by NatWest Group, wanted to 'exit' Mr Farage because his political views did 'not align' with the lender's values. Mr Jack has apologised to Mr Farage for the information from a 'senior and trusted source' turning out to be 'incomplete and inaccurate'. Mr Farage was in good spirits as he was seen out and about near his home in Kent this morning Dame Alison said in a statement: 'I recognise that in my conversations with Simon Jack of the BBC, I made a serious error of judgment in discussing Mr Farage's relationship with the bank. Believing it was public knowledge, I confirmed that Mr Farage was a Coutts customer and that he had been offered a NatWest bank account. 'Alongside this, I repeated what Mr Farage had already stated, that the bank saw this as a commercial decision. 'I did not reveal any personal financial information about Mr Farage. In response to a general question about eligibility criteria required to bank with Coutts and NatWest I said that guidance on both was publicly available on their websites. 'In doing so, I recognise that I left Mr Jack with the impression that the decision to close Mr Farage's accounts was solely a commercial one.' Dame Alison said she was not part of the decision-making process to close Mr Farage's account. She said she was informed in April that it was done 'for commercial reasons', but was 'not in receipt of' the dossier compiled by Coutts staff to justify closing his account when she spoke to the BBC journalist. Admitting she was 'wrong to respond to any question raised by the BBC about this case', she extended her 'sincere apologies' to Mr Farage and her NatWest colleagues. Last week she apologised for the 'deeply inappropriate comments' made in the document, which branded Mr Farage a 'disingenuous grifter'. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) had raised the possibility of taking 'further action'. Sheldon Mills, the watchdog's executive director of consumers and competition, said: 'We made clear our expectation that these issues should be independently reviewed and note today's statement from the NatWest Group Board confirming this will happen.' Mr Mills stressed the need to 'investigate what happened swiftly and fully'. Dame Alison's public apology to Mr Farage came a day after both the BBC and business editor Simon Jack (pictured) said sorry to the politician-turned-broadcaster Axos Financial (NYSE:AX Get Free Report) is scheduled to be announcing its earnings results after the market closes on Thursday, July 27th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $1.29 per share for the quarter. Parties that are interested in participating in the companys conference call can do so using this link. Axos Financial (NYSE:AX Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.35 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.21 by $0.14. Axos Financial had a net margin of 25.02% and a return on equity of 17.46%. The business had revenue of $231.23 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $221.94 million. On average, analysts expect Axos Financial to post $5 EPS for the current fiscal year and $5 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Axos Financial alerts: Axos Financial Trading Down 1.9 % Shares of AX opened at $44.16 on Wednesday. Axos Financial has a 12 month low of $33.15 and a 12 month high of $51.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.79 and a beta of 1.44. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $40.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.07. Insider Activity at Axos Financial Institutional Investors Weigh In On Axos Financial In other Axos Financial news, EVP Andrew J. Micheletti sold 6,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.29, for a total transaction of $247,740.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 503,689 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $20,797,318.81. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . 4.81% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its position in Axos Financial by 24.8% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 41,606 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,930,000 after buying an additional 8,272 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its stake in Axos Financial by 96.2% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 6,745 shares of the companys stock worth $312,000 after buying an additional 3,308 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. raised its stake in shares of Axos Financial by 4.3% in the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 11,233 shares of the companys stock valued at $521,000 after acquiring an additional 460 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can grew its position in shares of Axos Financial by 9.7% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 15,758 shares of the companys stock worth $736,000 after acquiring an additional 1,397 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Axos Financial by 53.6% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 29,958 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,390,000 after purchasing an additional 10,451 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.42% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets AX has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their target price on shares of Axos Financial from $62.00 to $58.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 6th. StockNews.com downgraded Axos Financial from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 4th. Raymond James raised their price objective on shares of Axos Financial from $44.00 to $47.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their price objective on shares of Axos Financial from $43.00 to $48.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. One equities research analyst has 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, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $49.80. About Axos Financial (Get Free Report) Axos Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides consumer and business banking products in the United States. It operates through two segments, Banking Business and Securities Business. The company offers deposits products, including consumer and business checking, demand, savings, time deposit, money market, zero balance, and insured cash sweep accounts. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Axos Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Axos Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. New Gold Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:NGD Free Report) Stock analysts at National Bank Financial issued their Q2 2023 EPS estimates for shares of New Gold in a report released on Thursday, July 20th. National Bank Financial analyst M. Parkin anticipates that the basic materials company will post earnings of $0.01 per share for the quarter. The consensus estimate for New Golds current full-year earnings is $0.05 per share. National Bank Financial also issued estimates for New Golds FY2023 earnings at $0.08 EPS. Get New Gold alerts: New Gold (NYSEAMERICAN:NGD Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The basic materials company reported $0.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.01 by $0.02. New Gold had a negative net margin of 14.38% and a negative return on equity of 1.87%. The company had revenue of $201.60 million during the quarter. New Gold Price Performance Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of New Gold from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $1.30. Shares of NGD opened at $1.25 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 2.28 and a quick ratio of 1.48. The company has a 50-day moving average of $1.25. New Gold has a fifty-two week low of $0.61 and a fifty-two week high of $1.48. The company has a market capitalization of $851.93 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -8.86, a PEG ratio of 4.57 and a beta of 1.47. Institutional Trading of New Gold Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NGD. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its stake in New Gold by 9.0% during the first quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 72,242,626 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $79,467,000 after purchasing an additional 5,959,821 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of New Gold by 3.3% during the 1st quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 16,673,182 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $18,134,000 after acquiring an additional 528,500 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. increased its position in New Gold by 48.4% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 16,612,687 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $29,903,000 after purchasing an additional 5,421,488 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in shares of New Gold by 2.5% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 14,605,864 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $16,066,000 after buying an additional 353,200 shares during the period. Finally, TSP Capital Management Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of New Gold by 6.1% in the first quarter. TSP Capital Management Group LLC now owns 11,017,000 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $12,119,000 after buying an additional 634,000 shares in the last quarter. 30.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. New Gold Company Profile (Get Free Report) New Gold Inc, an intermediate gold mining company, engages in the exploration, development, and operation of mineral properties. It primarily explores for gold, silver, and copper deposits. The company's principal operating properties include 100% interests in the Rainy River mine located in Ontario, Canada; New Afton mine situated in British Columbia, Canada; and the Cerro San Pedro mine in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for New Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for New Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. IAMGOLD Co. (NYSE:IAG Free Report) (TSE:IMG) National Bank Financial issued their Q2 2023 EPS estimates for shares of IAMGOLD in a research report issued on Thursday, July 20th. National Bank Financial analyst M. Parkin forecasts that the mining company will post earnings per share of ($0.01) for the quarter. The consensus estimate for IAMGOLDs current full-year earnings is $0.04 per share. National Bank Financial also issued estimates for IAMGOLDs FY2024 earnings at $0.21 EPS. Get IAMGOLD alerts: IAMGOLD (NYSE:IAG Get Free Report) (TSE:IMG) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 11th. The mining company reported $0.05 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.02) by $0.07. IAMGOLD had a negative return on equity of 0.18% and a negative net margin of 7.38%. The business had revenue of $226.20 million for the quarter. IAMGOLD Stock Performance Several other analysts have also recently commented on the company. StockNews.com initiated coverage on IAMGOLD in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on IAMGOLD in a research report on Monday, May 1st. They set an outperform rating and a $3.25 price target for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $2.89. IAMGOLD stock opened at $2.83 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 2.44 and a quick ratio of 1.88. IAMGOLD has a 12-month low of $0.92 and a 12-month high of $3.34. The firms fifty day moving average price is $2.77 and its 200 day moving average price is $2.73. The company has a market capitalization of $1.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -15.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 12.54 and a beta of 1.41. Hedge Funds Weigh In On IAMGOLD Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in shares of IAMGOLD by 416.9% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 2,430,863 shares of the mining companys stock worth $8,459,000 after acquiring an additional 1,960,562 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its position in IAMGOLD by 2.3% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 488,427 shares of the mining companys stock worth $1,700,000 after buying an additional 11,047 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC acquired a new position in IAMGOLD in the first quarter worth approximately $41,000. Citigroup Inc. purchased a new position in IAMGOLD in the first quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can grew its stake in IAMGOLD by 23.0% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 36,927 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $137,000 after buying an additional 6,913 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 48.95% of the companys stock. About IAMGOLD (Get Free Report) IAMGOLD Corporation, through its subsidiaries, explores, develops, and operates gold mining properties in North America and West Africa. The company owns 100% interest in the Westwood mine, covers an area of 1,925 hectare and located in Quebec and the Cote gold project, which covers an area of 596 square kilometer located in Ontario, Canada; and 90% interests in the Essakane mine situated in Burkina Faso and Boto gold project located in Senegal, West Africa. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for IAMGOLD Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for IAMGOLD and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK Free Report) Investment analysts at Seaport Res Ptn lowered their Q2 2023 earnings per share estimates for shares of Graphic Packaging in a research report issued on Thursday, July 20th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst M. Weintraub now expects that the industrial products company will post earnings per share of $0.75 for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.78. Seaport Res Ptn currently has a Buy rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Graphic Packagings current full-year earnings is $2.99 per share. Seaport Res Ptn also issued estimates for Graphic Packagings Q3 2023 earnings at $0.77 EPS and FY2023 earnings at $2.90 EPS. Get Graphic Packaging alerts: Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The industrial products company reported $0.77 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.62 by $0.15. Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 6.46% and a return on equity of 38.99%. The company had revenue of $2.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.40 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.48 earnings per share. Graphic Packagings revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. Graphic Packaging Stock Performance Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut shares of Graphic Packaging from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $30.00 to $26.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 29th. 888 reiterated a downgrade rating on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. Citigroup dropped their target price on Graphic Packaging from $30.00 to $28.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Bank of America downgraded shares of Graphic Packaging from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their target price for the company from $35.00 to $29.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $29.56. GPK opened at $24.32 on Monday. Graphic Packaging has a fifty-two week low of $19.46 and a fifty-two week high of $27.56. The company has a fifty day moving average of $24.78 and a 200 day moving average of $24.33. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.95, a PEG ratio of 0.32 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 1.62. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Graphic Packaging Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Private Advisor Group LLC acquired a new stake in Graphic Packaging during the 1st quarter worth $519,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging during the first quarter valued at $184,000. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in Graphic Packaging by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,105,236 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $302,709,000 after buying an additional 377,055 shares during the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can raised its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 25,660 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $547,000 after buying an additional 792 shares during the period. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 9.0% in the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 11,619 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $233,000 after acquiring an additional 955 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.86% of the companys stock. Insider Activity In other Graphic Packaging news, CFO Stephen R. Scherger sold 160,492 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.81, for a total transaction of $4,142,298.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 427,548 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,035,013.88. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 1.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Graphic Packaging Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were paid a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.64%. Graphic Packagings dividend payout ratio is currently 20.00%. About Graphic Packaging (Get Free Report) Graphic Packaging Holding Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides fiber-based packaging solutions to food, beverage, foodservice, and other consumer products companies. It operates through three segments: Paperboard Mills, Americas Paperboard Packaging, and Europe Paperboard Packaging. The company offers coated unbleached kraft (CUK), coated recycled paperboard (CRB), and solid bleached sulfate paperboard (SBS) to various paperboard packaging converters and brokers; and paperboard packaging products, such as folding cartons, cups, lids, and food containers primarily to consumer packaged goods, quick-service restaurants, and foodservice companies; and barrier packaging products that protect against moisture, hot and cold temperature, grease, oil, oxygen, sunlight, insects, and other potential product-damaging factors. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Graphic Packaging Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Graphic Packaging and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The time of the patriots in Europe has come. Thats what Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told supporters of Spains far-right party Vox at a campaign rally on July 13 ahead of the Spanish election. Meloni, who is the leader of the Italian far-right party Brothers of Italy, was hoping Vox would make gains at the July 23 vote. But, the left resisted, with Vox losing 19 seats in Congress. And while some polls predicted that the conservative Popular Party (PP) would win an absolute majority, it fell far short of that mark. Even with the support of Vox, the PP does not have the 176 seats needed to form a government without additional backing. Whatever Meloni meant by patriots, it appears their time has yet to come. The results of the Spanish election, which could see the coalition between the Socialist Party (PSOE) and the leftist alliance Sumar return to power, is a heavy blow for Meloni. Spain was meant to be the first stage in her plan for far-right parties to gain greater prominence in the European Parliament. This plan was drawn up months ago and was intended to take shape this September. Meloni who is president of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group of the European Parliament was hoping that a win for the right in Spain would allow her to build a new alliance in Brussels and extend her political project on a European level. In Italy, Meloni leads a coalition made up of Brothers of Italy, which is a member of the ECR, and Forza Italia, which is a member of the conservative European Peoples Party (EPP): the far-right and the center-right working together. The plan was to promote this model across Europe, but the results of Sundays election in Spain are a major setback. The Meloni model, they believe in Rome, has run aground at the first stop on its European trip. Vox campaign poster in Madrid. Sign reads: "Decide what matters." Alberto Sibaja / Zuma Press / ContactoPhoto (Alberto Sibaja / Zuma Press / Co) The Spanish elections had raised great expectations in Italy. In Spains Socialist prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, Italy saw the last bastion of resistance to the far-right wave that has been spreading across Europe. Elly Schlein, the secretary of Italys Democratic Party (PD), called him that same night of the elections to congratulate him on the results. For Melonis party, the Spanish election was a test of whether the shift to the far right would continue. A coalition between the PP and Vox would help normalize the parties that make up the ECR, and end the cordon sanitaire against far-right parties in Europe a boundary that has already been broken in Italy. But the plan did not work. The black wave has been stopped in Spain, read the headline of the Turin newspaper La Stampa, referring to the color traditionally associated with fascism. The Meloni model is also supported by Antonio Tajani, the coordinator of Forza Italia and vice president of the EPP, and Manfred Weber, the president of EPP. Indeed, ahead of the Italian election, Weber traveled to Rome to show his support for an alliance between Forza Italia (a member of the EPP) and Melonis Brothers of Italy. And he supported a similar alliance in Spain. Sundays election, however, has hampered his plan to spread this model. Just days before the election, the leader of Spains mainstream conservative PP, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, said he was open to working with Meloni at the European level. In an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, Feijoo said Melonis party should be allowed to enter the EPP. It will depend on the attitude of Ms. Meloni, he said, then added that her ideas cause much less alarm now than when she took office in October 2022. European elections will be held in June 2024, and there is a lot of anticipation about whether the far right and right will be able to dislodge the Socialist majority. The parties that make up the EPP do not govern in any of the six countries with the greatest weight: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland and the Netherlands. In Finland, however, the moderate right negotiated with the hard right of the Finns Party, which now play a fundamental role in the Finnish government. Meloni has not made any public statement regarding the Spanish elections. But her party has conceded that the result is a major setback. Regardless of whether she achieves her goal, the results of Sundays election have slowed down her plan, and means she could lose her main ally. Among the right in Italy, the only person pleased by the outcome is Matteo Salvini, the leader of Italys far-right Lega party, which is also part of Melonis governing coalition. In the European Parliament, Lega is part of the Identity and Democracy group, which also includes Germanys far-right group Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Frances National Front, which is led by Marine Le Pen. This group has been marginalized by both the EPP and the ECR, which consider them too far-right. In Europe, we can only win together, said sources from Liga said on Tuesday. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN Get Free Report) is scheduled to be posting its quarterly earnings results before the market opens on Friday, July 28th. Analysts expect Franklin Resources to post earnings of $0.60 per share for the quarter. Individual interested in participating in the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link. Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, May 1st. The closed-end fund reported $0.61 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.04. Franklin Resources had a net margin of 10.79% and a return on equity of 11.21%. The firm had revenue of $1.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.80 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.96 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect Franklin Resources to post $2 EPS for the current fiscal year and $3 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Franklin Resources alerts: Franklin Resources Price Performance Shares of NYSE BEN opened at $29.29 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.66 and a beta of 1.28. The companys 50-day moving average is $26.40 and its 200 day moving average is $27.61. Franklin Resources has a 1 year low of $20.24 and a 1 year high of $34.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 2.09 and a quick ratio of 2.09. Franklin Resources Announces Dividend Analyst Ratings Changes The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 30th were issued a dividend of $0.30 per share. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.10%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 29th. Franklin Resourcess payout ratio is 72.29%. BEN has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of Franklin Resources from $19.00 to $20.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Evercore ISI lowered their price objective on Franklin Resources from $27.00 to $24.00 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. StockNews.com started coverage on Franklin Resources in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Franklin Resources from $25.50 to $26.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reissued an underweight rating and set a $23.00 price objective on shares of Franklin Resources in a report on Tuesday. Six analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have assigned a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $24.55. Insider Activity at Franklin Resources In other news, insider Franklin Resources Inc purchased 2,465,483 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 28th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $10.14 per share, for a total transaction of $24,999,997.62. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 4,955,483 shares in the company, valued at approximately $50,248,597.62. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 23.40% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Franklin Resources Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of BEN. American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Franklin Resources by 63.4% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 74,206 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $2,072,000 after buying an additional 28,795 shares during the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its holdings in Franklin Resources by 24.8% in the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 11,477 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $320,000 after purchasing an additional 2,277 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Franklin Resources by 23.5% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 76,665 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $2,140,000 after purchasing an additional 14,580 shares in the last quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Franklin Resources by 89.2% in the first quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 36,852 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $1,029,000 after acquiring an additional 17,376 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers lifted its holdings in shares of Franklin Resources by 4.0% in the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 489,475 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $13,666,000 after purchasing an additional 18,645 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 46.70% of the companys stock. About Franklin Resources (Get Free Report) Franklin Resources, Inc is a publicly owned asset management holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the firm provides its services to individuals, institutions, pension plans, trusts, and partnerships. It launches equity, fixed income, balanced, and multi-asset mutual funds through its subsidiaries. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Franklin Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Franklin Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Pacific Kansas City (TSE:CP Get Free Report) (NYSE:CP) will release its earnings data after the market closes on Thursday, July 27th. Analysts expect Canadian Pacific Kansas City to post earnings of C$0.93 per share for the quarter. Canadian Pacific Kansas City (TSE:CP Get Free Report) (NYSE:CP) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The company reported C$0.85 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$0.90 by C($0.05). The firm had revenue of C$2.27 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$2.39 billion. Canadian Pacific Kansas City had a net margin of 40.33% and a return on equity of 10.14%. Get Canadian Pacific Kansas City alerts: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Stock Performance TSE CP opened at C$109.09 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 49.11. The stock has a 50-day moving average of C$105.56 and a 200 day moving average of C$105.32. The stock has a market capitalization of C$101.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.08, a PEG ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 0.83. Canadian Pacific Kansas City has a twelve month low of C$90.84 and a twelve month high of C$112.27. Analysts Set New Price Targets About Canadian Pacific Kansas City Several brokerages recently commented on CP. Scotiabank dropped their target price on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$124.00 to C$123.00 in a report on Thursday, June 29th. Barclays reduced their target price on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$90.00 to C$89.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. National Bank Financial raised their target price on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$107.00 to C$110.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$122.00 to C$125.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, June 30th. Finally, CIBC decreased their price objective on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$125.00 to C$123.00 in a research note on Friday, June 16th. Three investment 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 stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$112.57. (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. Recommended 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. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG Get Free Report) is scheduled to issue its quarterly earnings data after the market closes on Thursday, July 27th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $1.87 per share for the quarter. Investors interested in registering for the companys conference call can do so using this link. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The financial services provider reported $3.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.00 by $0.03. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. had a return on equity of 18.86% and a net margin of 13.22%. The firm had revenue of $2.67 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.67 billion. On average, analysts expect Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. to post $9 EPS for the current fiscal year and $10 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. alerts: Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Trading Up 0.3 % NYSE:AJG opened at $220.32 on Wednesday. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has a twelve month low of $167.93 and a twelve month high of $220.81. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $211.61 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $201.11. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The company has a market cap of $47.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.71. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Insider Buying and Selling AJG has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com started coverage on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $231.00 to $233.00 in a research report on Friday, June 16th. UBS Group boosted their price target on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $212.00 to $220.00 in a report on Friday, June 16th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $228.00 to $232.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $238.00 to $245.00 in a research note on Friday, June 16th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $226.62. In other Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. news, VP Joel D. Cavaness sold 2,750 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $204.23, for a total value of $561,632.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 2,023 shares in the company, valued at $413,157.29. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, VP Joel D. Cavaness sold 2,750 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $204.23, for a total transaction of $561,632.50. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 2,023 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $413,157.29. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director David S. Johnson sold 1,000 shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $216.40, for a total transaction of $216,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 46,538 shares in the company, valued at $10,070,823.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 101,503 shares of company stock worth $21,433,355 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 1.40% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its position in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 14.0% in the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 129,479 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $24,771,000 after purchasing an additional 15,930 shares in the last quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 13.1% in the 1st quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 9,956 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,905,000 after acquiring an additional 1,154 shares during the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC grew its position in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 6.8% during the 1st quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 7,043 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,348,000 after buying an additional 448 shares in the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. grew its holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 5.6% during the first quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 8,627 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,649,000 after acquiring an additional 457 shares during the period. Finally, Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC grew its holdings in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 1.2% in the first quarter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC now owns 123,302 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $23,589,000 after purchasing an additional 1,414 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 85.55% of the companys stock. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Company Profile (Get Free Report) Arthur J. Gallagher & Co, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance and reinsurance brokerage, consulting, and third-party property/casualty claims settlement and administration services to businesses and organizations worldwide. It operates in Brokerage and Risk Management segments. The Brokerage segment offers retail and wholesale insurance and reinsurance brokerage services; assists retail brokers and other non-affiliated brokers in the placement of specialized and hard-to-place insurance; and acts as a brokerage wholesaler, managing general agent, and managing general underwriter for distributing specialized insurance coverages to underwriting enterprises. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Byline Bancorp (NYSE:BY Get Free Report) will be releasing its earnings data after the market closes on Thursday, July 27th. Analysts expect Byline Bancorp to post earnings of $0.60 per share for the quarter. Parties that are interested in registering for the companys conference call can do so using this link. Byline Bancorp (NYSE:BY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $90.86 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $88.43 million. Byline Bancorp had a return on equity of 12.03% and a net margin of 23.22%. On average, analysts expect Byline Bancorp to post $3 EPS for the current fiscal year and $2 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Byline Bancorp alerts: Byline Bancorp Stock Performance Byline Bancorp stock opened at $20.01 on Wednesday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $18.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $20.79. Byline Bancorp has a fifty-two week low of $16.40 and a fifty-two week high of $26.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $754.58 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.28 and a beta of 1.17. Byline Bancorp Announces Dividend Analyst Ratings Changes The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 23rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 9th were paid a $0.09 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 8th. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.80%. Byline Bancorps payout ratio is presently 14.75%. Separately, Piper Sandler decreased their price objective on shares of Byline Bancorp from $29.00 to $25.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Insider Activity In other Byline Bancorp news, major shareholder Investors I. L.P. Mbg acquired 50,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $18.29 per share, for a total transaction of $914,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 11,745,601 shares of the companys stock, valued at $214,827,042.29. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders purchased 51,950 shares of company stock worth $948,861 over the last three months. 35.04% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Byline Bancorp Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BY. Citigroup Inc. boosted its holdings in Byline Bancorp by 277.9% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 3,265 shares of the companys stock valued at $71,000 after acquiring an additional 2,401 shares in the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC bought a new position in shares of Byline Bancorp in the 1st quarter worth approximately $214,000. Citadel Advisors LLC grew its position in Byline Bancorp by 45.0% during the second quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 11,015 shares of the companys stock valued at $262,000 after buying an additional 3,421 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its stake in shares of Byline Bancorp by 12.4% during the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 13,105 shares of the companys stock worth $265,000 after acquiring an additional 1,449 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Squarepoint Ops LLC increased its stake in shares of Byline Bancorp by 18.7% in the 4th quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 13,071 shares of the companys stock worth $300,000 after purchasing an additional 2,058 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 48.26% of the companys stock. Byline Bancorp Company Profile (Get Free Report) Byline Bancorp, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Byline Bank that provides various banking products and services for small and medium sized businesses, commercial real estate and financial sponsors, and consumers in the United States. It offers various retail deposit products, including non-interest-bearing accounts, money market demand accounts, savings accounts, interest-bearing checking accounts, and time deposits; ATM and debit cards; and online, mobile, and text banking services, as well as commercial deposits. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Byline Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Byline Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pentair (NYSE:PNR Get Free Report) is set to post its quarterly earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, July 27th. Analysts expect Pentair to post earnings of $0.95 per share for the quarter. Investors that wish to register for the companys conference call can do so using this link. Pentair (NYSE:PNR Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The industrial products company reported $0.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.77 by $0.14. Pentair had a net margin of 11.88% and a return on equity of 23.09%. The firm had revenue of $1.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $996.02 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.85 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 2.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect Pentair to post $4 EPS for the current fiscal year and $4 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Pentair alerts: Pentair Trading Up 0.1 % Pentair stock opened at $66.35 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. Pentair has a 12 month low of $38.55 and a 12 month high of $67.14. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $61.38 and its 200-day simple moving average is $56.65. The stock has a market cap of $10.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.27, a P/E/G ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 1.16. Pentair Dividend Announcement Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pentair The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 20th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.33%. Pentairs payout ratio is 29.53%. A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PNR. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec bought a new position in shares of Pentair in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $49,000. Ancora Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Pentair during the first quarter worth $56,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Pentair by 248.5% during the first quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 1,882 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $104,000 after purchasing an additional 1,342 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Pentair in the first quarter valued at about $190,000. Finally, BSW Wealth Partners acquired a new position in Pentair in the first quarter valued at about $201,000. 89.95% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Analysts Set New Price Targets PNR has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Pentair in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. They issued a buy rating and a $75.00 price objective on the stock. Oppenheimer lifted their price target on shares of Pentair from $72.00 to $78.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 5th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Pentair in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. UBS Group raised shares of Pentair from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $53.00 to $72.00 in a research report on Monday, May 8th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Pentair from $66.00 to $70.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $64.93. About Pentair (Get Free Report) Pentair plc provides various water solutions worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Pool, Water Solutions, Industrial & Flow Technologies. It designs, manufactures, and sells residential and commercial pool equipment and accessories, including pumps, filters, heaters, lights, automatic controls, automatic cleaners, maintenance equipment, and pool accessories for residential and commercial pool maintenance, repair, renovation, service, and construction applications; and water treatment products and systems comprising pressure tanks, control valves, activated carbon products, conventional filtration products, and point-of-entry and point-of-use systems for use in residential whole home water filtration, drinking water filtration, water softening solutions, commercial total water management and filtration, and foodservice operations. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Pentair Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pentair and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crane (NYSE:CR Get Free Report) released its earnings results on Tuesday. The conglomerate reported $1.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.19, Briefing.com reports. Crane had a return on equity of 24.45% and a net margin of 13.10%. The business had revenue of $509.60 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $524.65 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.90 earnings per share. Cranes quarterly revenue was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. Crane updated its FY23 guidance to $3.80-$4.10 EPS. Crane Trading Down 0.4 % CR traded down $0.32 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $91.01. 102,568 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 411,338. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.16 billion, a PE ratio of 12.13, a P/E/G ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.49. The stocks 50-day moving average is $82.35 and its 200 day moving average is $95.00. Crane has a 12 month low of $67.28 and a 12 month high of $94.39. Get Crane alerts: Crane Cuts Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 8th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st were given a dividend of $0.18 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.79%. Cranes dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 9.54%. Insider Transactions at Crane Institutional Investors Weigh In On Crane In related news, CEO Max H. Mitchell sold 37,495 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.48, for a total value of $2,867,617.60. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 322,628 shares in the company, valued at approximately $24,674,589.44. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . Insiders own 2.40% of the companys stock. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Crane by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,472,630 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $391,534,000 after buying an additional 56,773 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in Crane by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,071,875 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $462,158,000 after buying an additional 46,506 shares during the period. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL boosted its holdings in Crane by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 1,491,577 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $161,508,000 after buying an additional 12,017 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in Crane by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,382,235 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $149,668,000 after purchasing an additional 51,792 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Crane by 5.2% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 661,094 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $71,586,000 after purchasing an additional 32,515 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.26% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms recently commented on CR. UBS Group reduced their price target on Crane from $120.00 to $82.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. StockNews.com started coverage on Crane in a research note on Tuesday, June 6th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Crane from $87.00 to $101.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, DA Davidson upped their price target on shares of Crane from $90.00 to $92.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Crane has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $101.00. Crane Company Profile (Get Free Report) Crane Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells engineered industrial products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. The company has four business segments: Aerospace & Electronics, Process Flow Technologies, Payment & Merchandising Technologies, and Engineered Materials. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Crane Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Crane and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lennar Co. (NYSE:LEN-B Get Free Report) Director Amy Banse acquired 790 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 21st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $126.42 per share, for a total transaction of $99,871.80. Following the purchase, the director now owns 7,293 shares of the companys stock, valued at $921,981.06. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Amy Banse also recently made the following trade(s): Get Lennar alerts: On Thursday, June 22nd, Amy Banse purchased 165 shares of Lennar stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of $121.29 per share, for a total transaction of $20,012.85. Lennar Stock Performance Shares of LEN-B traded up $0.36 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $116.13. 99,473 shares of the companys stock were exchanged. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $106.48. Lennar Company Profile 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. Featured Articles 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. Canoe EIT Income Fund (OTCMKTS:ENDTF Get Free Report) is one of 1,192 publicly-traded companies in the Asset Management industry, but how does it compare to its rivals? We will compare Canoe EIT Income Fund to related businesses based on the strength of its profitability, analyst recommendations, earnings, institutional ownership, dividends, valuation and risk. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Canoe EIT Income Fund and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get Canoe EIT Income Fund alerts: Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Canoe EIT Income Fund -$44.08 million N/A 2.79 Canoe EIT Income Fund Competitors $214.78 million $1.29 million 2.91 Canoe EIT Income Funds rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Canoe EIT Income Fund. Canoe EIT Income Fund is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Institutional & Insider Ownership Profitability 0.4% of Canoe EIT Income Fund shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.3% of shares of all Asset Management companies are held by institutional investors. 18.5% of shares of all Asset Management companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. This table compares Canoe EIT Income Fund and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Canoe EIT Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Canoe EIT Income Fund Competitors 370.21% 7.28% 4.82% Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Canoe EIT Income Fund and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Canoe EIT Income Fund 0 0 0 0 N/A Canoe EIT Income Fund Competitors 1032 4455 5817 82 2.43 As a group, Asset Management companies have a potential upside of 75.43%. Given Canoe EIT Income Funds rivals higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Canoe EIT Income Fund has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals. Dividends Canoe EIT Income Fund pays an annual dividend of C$0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.1%. Canoe EIT Income Fund pays out 17.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Asset Management companies pay a dividend yield of 7.0% and pay out 643.3% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Summary Canoe EIT Income Fund rivals beat Canoe EIT Income Fund on 9 of the 10 factors compared. About Canoe EIT Income Fund (Get Free Report) Canoe EIT Income Fund is a closed-ended balanced fund launched and managed by Canoe Financial LP. It is co-managed by Haber Trilix Advisors, LP. The fund invests in the public equity and fixed income markets of Canada and the United States. Its equity portion seeks to invest in the stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund primarily invests in growth and value stocks of mid-cap and large-cap companies. It invests in equity and debt securities of royalty and income trusts, corporations, partnerships, or other issuers. The fund was formerly known as EnerVest Diversified Income Trust. Canoe EIT Income Fund was formed on August 5, 1997 and is domiciled in Canada. Receive News & Ratings for Canoe EIT Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canoe EIT Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian National Railway (TSE:CNR Get Free Report) (NYSE:CNI) released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The company reported C$1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$1.83 by C($0.07), RTT News reports. Canadian National Railway had a net margin of 30.60% and a return on equity of 25.38%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.93 earnings per share. Canadian National Railway Stock Down 0.3 % Canadian National Railway stock traded down C$0.54 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching C$155.84. 1,266,085 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,228,926. Canadian National Railway has a 12-month low of C$144.71 and a 12-month high of C$175.39. The business has a fifty day moving average of C$156.60 and a 200 day moving average of C$159.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 81.35, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.74. The firm has a market cap of C$103.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.71, a PEG ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.68. Get Canadian National Railway alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. CIBC dropped their price objective on Canadian National Railway from C$177.00 to C$175.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on Canadian National Railway from C$174.00 to C$172.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Veritas Investment Research reiterated a buy rating on shares of Canadian National Railway in a research report on Thursday, June 8th. UBS Group lifted their price target on Canadian National Railway from C$184.00 to C$192.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 25th. Finally, Barclays cut their price objective on Canadian National Railway from C$165.00 to C$160.00 in a research note on Wednesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Canadian National Railway has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$167.21. About Canadian National Railway Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in rail and related transportation business. The company offers rail services, which include equipment, custom brokage services, transloading and distribution, business development and real estate, and private car storage services; and intermodal services including temperature controlled cargo, port partnership, transloading and distribution, logistic parks, customs brokerage, trucking, and moving grains in containers. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Canadian National Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian National Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SG Americas Securities LLC cut its holdings in iShares Latin America 40 ETF (NYSEARCA:ILF Free Report) by 14.4% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 52,424 shares of the companys stock after selling 8,790 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC owned approximately 0.13% of iShares Latin America 40 ETF worth $1,251,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of ILF. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can increased its position in shares of iShares Latin America 40 ETF by 43.7% during the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 90,044 shares of the companys stock worth $2,912,000 after acquiring an additional 27,381 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbH purchased a new stake in iShares Latin America 40 ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $16,713,000. Cetera Investment Advisers purchased a new position in iShares Latin America 40 ETF in the first quarter valued at about $512,000. Prudential Financial Inc. raised its stake in iShares Latin America 40 ETF by 25.0% during the 1st quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 56,294 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,710,000 after acquiring an additional 11,252 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV acquired a new stake in iShares Latin America 40 ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $336,000. Get iShares Latin America 40 ETF alerts: iShares Latin America 40 ETF Stock Performance Shares of ILF stock traded up $0.19 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $28.51. The company had a trading volume of 983,002 shares, compared to its average volume of 802,245. iShares Latin America 40 ETF has a 12 month low of $21.75 and a 12 month high of $28.56. The firms fifty day moving average is $26.65 and its 200 day moving average is $25.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.90 and a beta of 1.00. iShares Latin America 40 ETF Company Profile iShares S & P Latin America 40 Index Fund, formerly iShares Latin America 40 ETF (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the S&P Latin America 40 (the Index). The Index consists of selected equities trading on the exchanges of five Latin American countries. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ILF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Latin America 40 ETF (NYSEARCA:ILF Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Latin America 40 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Latin America 40 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The scenes of tourists running from the flames or water-dropping planes crashing while trying to put out a fire seem like something out of a disaster movie. However, these are real scenes that are taking place in Mediterranean countries such as Greece, Italy and Algeria. Croatia and Portugal were also battling blazes on Wednesday. Summer once again has become a nightmare in southern Europe and northern Africa due to numerous fires fed by high temperatures and tinder-dry conditions. In Algeria, at least 34 people have died as temperatures exceeded 45 degrees Celsius (113F). And in Italy, where five people are reported dead so far, fires forced the closure of Palermo airport in Sicily, which is being particularly hard hit by the flames. In Portugal, hundreds of firefighters were on Wednesday trying to extinguish flames around the popular tourist destination of Cascais, but strong winds are fanning the flames and complicating the efforts. The fire started in a mountainous area of the Sintra-Cascais park, which covers some 56 square miles (145 square kilometers) west of Lisbon. Meanwhile, another forest fire was advancing in Dubrovnik, on the Croatian coast. Meanwhile, in Greece, a CL-215 water-dropping aircraft with a crew of two crashed on the island of Evia, northeast of Athens, while it was helping put out one of several dozen wildfires. In footage released by the public broadcaster ERT, the aircraft is seen discharging the water on the flames, then turning to the right and dropping into a deep fold in the ground. An instant later, a fireball can be seen. Official sources have confirmed the death of the two pilots. In Athens, authorities resumed afternoon closing hours at the ancient Acropolis, as part of broader measures to cope with the high heat. The island of Rhodes is highly popular with Scandinavian tourists, who are expected to continue heading to the island this week despite the fires. Two full charter flights were scheduled to depart from Sweden on Wednesday, Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet said. Tour operators said holidaymakers would be heading to resorts in the so-far unaffected northern part of Rhodes. The European Union has sent 500 firefighters, 100 vehicles and seven planes from 10 member states, while Turkey, Israel, Egypt and other countries have also sent help. Flames burn the forest in the village of Vati, on the island of Rhodes (Greece). Petros Giannakouris (AP) In Greece, the most complicated situations were on the islands of Rhodes and Corfu, both popular with tourists. In Rhodes, authorities on Tuesday evacuated the town of Vati and forced its residents to move to Lindos, on the coast. The Ministry of Climate Change has decided to evacuate the town of Lachania and the tourist area of Plimiri. Flames were also heading towards the town of Gennadi. In Corfu, multiple fronts have been reactivated in the northeast of the island due to strong winds. The residents of Loutses, Himerolia and Sikia have been urged to evacuate and head for the port of Kassiopi. The mayor of North Corfu, Giorgos Mahimaris, told local media that the situation is tragic, the fire is burning down homes. Mahimaris underscored the difficulties in convincing some desperate residents who are trying to save their homes and livestock: We are trying to convince the last residents to leave. Several of them saved their horses and sheep at the last moment. Flames threateningly close to the city of Ciaculli, near Palermo (Italy). STR (EFE) Evacuees in Italy The high temperatures registered in the south of Italy and the strong storms in the north of the country made Tuesday one of the most complicated days in recent decades, according to the Italian Civil Protection Minister, Nello Musumeci. The official, who is part of an executive that questions the reality of climate change, made these statements after the devastating effects of a combination of heavy rains, hail and a heat wave. The south of the country, especially Sicily, was hit by extremely high temperatures and fires that forced the closure of Palermos international airport, where the flames reached the vicinity of the facility. The flames also reached the archaeological park of Segesta, in the northwest of the island, about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from the coast and about 31 miles (50 kilometers) west of Palermo. By early Wednesday the fires had also affected the regions of Calabria and Apulia. Souhila Belkati and her son in what remains of their house after the fire in Bejaia (Algeria). RAMZI BOUDINA (REUTERS) Deaths in Algeria Across the Mediterranean, in Algeria, thermometers reached 48 degrees Celsius (118F) in the provinces of Annaba and Yiyel, which, together with tinder-dry conditions, have helped spread close to a hundred forest fires in 16 northern departments. The most deadly one is devastating the provinces of Bouira and Bukhia, in the Berber region of Kabylia, which has claimed the lives of at least 34 people, including 10 soldiers, according to the Algerian Ministry of the Interior. Thousands of people have had to be evacuated due to the advancing flames. On Wednesday the situation could get worse for some of these Mediterranean countries. The Greek National Meteorological Service has warned of the arrival of a new heat wave Greece is experiencing the longest succession of heat waves in its entire history and the Fire Department has forecasts an extreme risk of fires in mainland Greece and very high in the rest of the country. Juan Carlos Sanz contributed reporting to this story. Taseko Mines Limited (NYSEAMERICAN:TGB Free Report) (TSE:TKO) Analysts at National Bank Financial reduced their FY2023 earnings estimates for shares of Taseko Mines in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, July 20th. National Bank Financial analyst S. Nagle now forecasts that the mining company will post earnings of $0.08 per share for the year, down from their previous estimate of $0.09. The consensus estimate for Taseko Mines current full-year earnings is $0.05 per share. Get Taseko Mines alerts: A number of other analysts have also recently commented on TGB. Scotiabank lowered their price target on Taseko Mines from C$2.50 to C$2.40 in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on Taseko Mines from C$3.80 to C$3.60 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Taseko Mines in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Taseko Mines Trading Down 2.1 % NYSEAMERICAN:TGB traded down $0.03 on Monday, hitting $1.43. 689,951 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,118,988. The stock has a market capitalization of $412.71 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -18.25 and a beta of 1.97. Taseko Mines has a 52 week low of $0.91 and a 52 week high of $1.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.75. The companys 50-day moving average price is $1.62 and its 200 day moving average price is $1.49. Taseko Mines (NYSEAMERICAN:TGB Get Free Report) (TSE:TKO) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The mining company reported $0.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.01. The business had revenue of $85.44 million for the quarter. Taseko Mines had a negative net margin of 7.01% and a negative return on equity of 0.05%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Taseko Mines A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TGB. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in Taseko Mines by 38.8% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 9,769,733 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $11,137,000 after buying an additional 2,730,110 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its stake in Taseko Mines by 18.6% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 7,913,714 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $18,139,000 after purchasing an additional 1,240,532 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can grew its stake in Taseko Mines by 663.0% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 819,644 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $1,836,000 after purchasing an additional 712,220 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its stake in Taseko Mines by 11.6% in the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 6,550,486 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $9,629,000 after purchasing an additional 681,700 shares during the period. Finally, CenterBook Partners LP grew its stake in Taseko Mines by 80.9% in the 1st quarter. CenterBook Partners LP now owns 710,562 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $1,180,000 after purchasing an additional 317,809 shares during the period. 16.55% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Taseko Mines (Get Free Report) Taseko Mines Limited, a mining company, acquires, develops, and operates mineral properties. It explores for copper, molybdenum, gold, niobium, and silver deposits. The company holds 75% interest in the Gibraltar mine located in British Columbia. It also holds 100% interest in Yellowhead copper project, the Aley niobium project, and the New Prosperity gold and copper project located in British Columbia; and the Florence copper project located in Arizona. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Taseko Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taseko Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Opinion articles written in the style of their author." These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. shall feature, along with the author's name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed Rather than exist in a society where members of all ethnic groups have an opportunity for success, millions of American whites would approve of a dictatorship. Ten million would restore Donald Trump to the presidency by force. Recent polls show that Biden and Trump are tied in the presidential race even though Trump said he would suspend parts of the Constitution and construct an all-powerful executive branch with him as the head. The white-controlled media have aided Trump. Former CNN president Jeff Zucker, who resigned from the network in 2022, admits that CNNs coverage of Trump helped in the ascendancy of the former president. He has expressed regrets. In 2016, former CBS president Les Moonves said that Trump may not be good for democracy, but hes damn good for CBS. The media are choosing ratings over democracy. CNN Chairman and CEO Chris Licht was fired from the network because he presented a Trump Rally in the guise of a Town Hall. Maybe he thought he was hired to make money for the network. The medias idea of making money is to film Trumps fantasy presidency. Cable is spending hours on Trumps imitation presidential entourage arriving and exiting from court appearances. But the support for the former president among Republican voters is unwavering, regardless of the indictments and the scandals attached to Trump. Their being out of touch with rising youthful demographics is why the Republican Party is approaching extinction. In the past, millions of voters have allowed them to coast along by scapegoating Blacks, Muslims, immigrants, Hispanics, LGBTQ+ persons, and others. They havent been challenged to create new ideas, which is how past political parties have thrived. The mainstream press is an annex to the Republican National Committee. They coddle whites and humiliate and embarrass Blacks for cash. Wajahat Ali, the fastest mind on the TV panels, was terminated by CNN because he talked about white supremacy too much. Whites and Black pundits, who are limited in what they can say, cast those who sought to overthrow the government as left behind economically. Studies show that January 6 was a middle-class insurrection. It involved those with pensions, vacation time, IRAs, and stocks. Police and firefighters participated. One of those who sponsored the riot was a food heiress, which brings up another excuse for insurrection offered by east coast columnists, especially the privileged white men who monopolize the editorial pages of The New York Times, even though the person in charge of opinion is a woman. These columnists argue that the white working class is distant from the Democratic Party because the party represents the elites when the right has all the money. Moreover, a recent poll shows that Trump is gaining among college-educated whites, men and women. Elitist billionaires are not only financing members of the Supreme Court but offering members trips on yachts and other gifts from wealthy people like Harlan Crow, who collects Nazi paraphernalia. Crow is also one of the backers of a possible third party called No Labels, meant to entice those for whom neither Trump nor Biden are attractive candidates. Biden will lose votes if the party is on the ballot. Right-wing billionaires support voting suppression, anti-abortion legislation, and anti-LGBTQ rights. Billionaires from the right financed the drive to end Affirmative Action at Harvard, pretending that Chinese American students launched this action. Polls show that most Asian Americans support Affirmative Action. During the press conference held after the Supreme Court decision ending Affirmative Action, Ed Blum, a white man, not the students, did all the talking. Hes the fifth white man to play Charlie Chan. Cable provided the usual ignorant discussion of Black issues. None of the pundits on TV mentioned that Affirmative Action benefits white women the most the hidden beneficiaries. Not even the women reporters and pundits. Judge Shira Scheindlin made this point in The New York Times. Though international audiences see footage of thousands of women marching to protest the overturn of Roe vs. Wade and fight for abortion rights, most white women voted for Trump twice. One could say that their votes created the 6-3 right-wing majority that overturned Roe v. Wade. One of the judges was Amy Coney Barret, a member of a group called People of Praise, which believes women should be submissive to men. Some white progressives are up to their usual silliness. They are pushing for the candidacy of Cornel West, a charismatic Black scholar who spends more time on television than writing scholarly papers. He was a fierce critic of former President Obama. But Blacks had nothing to do with promoting Wests candidacy, meant to siphon votes from President Biden and possibly elect Donald Trump. In his pathetic attempt to gain a spotlight, despite the damage a second Trump presidency would be for Blacks, Dr. West doesnt realize that his backers white progressives have more options than he does. They can slink into anonymity in the face of fascism or abandon Black issues as they did in the 1930s. His campaign manager is Dr. Jill Stein, a Putin dinner companion. Her Green Party bid in 2016 cost Hillary Clinton the election. Far more dangerous is Trump supporter Vivek Ramaswamy, a tech entrepreneur. By running against Blacks, he uses the campaign strategy designed by the late Lee Atwater, who taught Republicans to use issues associated with Blacks, like busing, welfare, and crime, instead of using the N-word. The new code word for Blacks is woke, though none of the demagogues who use the term know that Black author William Melvin Kelley introduced the term in 1962. Another code phrase for Blacks is Affirmative Action. When asked about his attitude toward Racism on July 25 by a CNN interviewer, Ramaswamy said, The right way to deal with what I view as the last final burning embers of racism is to let that quietly burn out rather than trying to put that fire out by accidentally throwing kerosene on it. Reports and studies indicate that rather than dying embers, Racism is still a five-alarm fire. A recent report found that Blacks are subjected to tax audits more than whites. Though there were worldwide demonstrations against police brutality after the murder of George Floyd, nothing has changed in the rate of Blacks murdered by the police. In the West, they murder Hispanics. Lending institutions make it harder for Blacks and Hispanics to secure mortgages. Black mothers have a higher infant mortality rate than white mothers because they receive inferior treatment. Black doctors Michael leNoir and Mack Roach charge that Black men with prostate cancer die more than White men for the same reason. (Hispanic immigrants have been sterilized without their permission). The Republican Party continues to suppress the Black vote. Even when a far-right Supreme Court instructed Alabama to stop discriminating against Black voters, Alabama Republicans have defied the court! Are Alabama Republicans flirting with secession? Thirty-seven percent of Southerners favor secession, according to a 2021 poll by Bright Line Watch in conjunction with YouGov. Ramaswamy, a modern-day Gunga Din whose parents were able to migrate from India because of the Civil Rights Movement, told a cheering Republican audience that he would eliminate Affirmative Action in every sphere of American life. Yet, The Daily Beast reports that he received Affirmative Action. They write, He has called race-based college admissions a cancer, but a Soros family fellowship for children of immigrants helped him accrue wealth as a grad student. His scapegoating of Blacks is selling well to white voters. Hes surging in the polls, putting him in third place behind Trump and Ron DeSantis. Hes a smooth debater, and so after the upcoming debate between Republican candidates, his poll numbers will increase. The 2024 election will be a test for white voters. Will they re-elect a man whose followers threaten physical retaliation against those who oppose him? Who has threatened to occupy Black neighborhoods with troops and shoot protestors affiliated with Black Lives Matter? White commentators dominated the discussion that followed the ending of Affirmative Action at Harvard. Even though Asian Americans were used to front a right-wing attempt to lower the presence of Latinos and Blacks in higher education, whites backed by right-wing billionaires controlled the discussion. I asked a Chinese American writer Jeff Chang his thoughts. He is the author of Who We Are and Cant Stop Wont Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation. He wrote: [Edward] Blums group Students for Fair Admissions sought Asian students to face their challenge to Affirmative Action after they failed with a white woman plaintiff named Abigail Fisher. They claimed before the courts to represent as many as 20,000 students, including many Asian Americans. But when the time came to produce evidence of discrimination, and after forcing Harvard to turn over nearly 100,000 pages of documents, they could not produce a single case. Then they disappeared their right-wing Chinese American parents and had an all-white lawyer squad mostly made up of former Clarence Thomas clerks present an argument that turned on their novel, ahistorical, thoroughly damaging reading of the 14th Amendment. The Asian American students who did testify in the case were a Chinese American woman and a Vietnamese American man who had been accepted to Harvard because of their stories of racial discrimination. Justice Jackson wrote in her dissent that in the new admissions regime, a white student could write about his desire to be the fifth generation to attend the University of North Carolina, but a Black student writing about his desire to become the first in his family to do so could be legally suspect. Justice Roberts appended a strange loophole at the end of his majority opinion: Nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicants discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise. But whats certain is that for the next 50 years, the courts will be adjudicating this line whether and what is illegal to say about race. Its almost as if Roberts and the court took a look at what race-censors like Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott are trying to do in Florida and Texas and realized that those are the folks with whom theyve made their bed. The media will continue to pamper the millions of whites who brought Donald Trump to the presidency. But history will be unforgiving. Ishmael Reed is an American author and one of the most respected voices in the Black community in the U.S. His play, The Conductor, about how right-wing billionaires financed the San Francisco recall election of two school board members, Alison Collins, and Gabriella Lopez, who are still receiving death threats, will return to New York's Theater for the New City next month. His magazine, Konch, can be found at Ishmaelreedpub.com. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition In 2018, two separate investigations came to the same conclusion: the planets circulatory system was weakening. The main set of ocean currents that carry immense amounts of water from tropical to northern seas would be slowing down due to the impact of climate change. The latest UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, published this year, reached the same conclusion. But now, a new paper goes further, arguing that the so-called Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) will collapse in the coming decades if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced now. The article even puts the date at around 2057. But other scientists argue that there is not enough data to expect a collapse. Anyone swimming at the beach these days can get an idea of how the AMOC works. As you go a few meters into the water, you will notice that the shallowest layer is warm, while the deeper layers are colder. In that context, it is because of the direct impact of solar radiation. But on a global scale, the situation is more complex. Equatorial seas are warmer, and the warmer they are, the less dense and heavy the water, which travels to higher latitudes in the form of currents, such as the Gulf Stream. On the way, it tempers the North and South Atlantic and the climate of western Europe and the east coast of the Americas. At the extreme end of this circulatory system, the opposite is true: the colder waters from Arctic zones sink to the bottom and travel to equatorial zones. Despite its name, the AMOC does not stay in the Atlantic. Because of the Pacific and Indian Oceans higher relative temperature and salinity, the Atlantic circulation also reaches these oceans. Although its most obvious impact is on the climate, the circulation also affects the distribution of waste and nutrients throughout the worlds seas. The AMOC went from a weak state to its current one with the end of the last glaciation 12,000 years ago, says Susanne Ditlevsen, a mathematician and statistician at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) and the co-author of the new work on the AMOCs possible collapse. Twelve millennia ago, climatic conditions changed so much that they also facilitated the great human revolutions that followed: expansion across the planet, agriculture, urbanization.... The increase in the amount of fresh water [due to melting ice] is slowing down the AMOC, which is slowing down to a weak state, she adds. While it is cold, arctic freshwater is less dense than saltwater, so it sinks worse, interfering with the circuit. The problem is evaluating the amount of fresh water, she says. For those who have studied the evolution of the AMOC, it is clear that the destabilizing factor is the melting of Greenland and, to a lesser extent, the accelerated loss of Arctic Sea ice, both of which are caused by global warming. However, it is difficult to determine their specific impact on ocean circulation. Direct data on the state of the currents have only been available since 2004, thanks to sensors at depth, buoys and ships. But a 20-year period is too short to differentiate between natural variability and a process caused by human emissions. So, we must look for indirect indicators of the past state of this ocean conveyor belt (thermohaline circulation). Ditlevsen and her brother Peter, a climatologist at the same Danish university, have used North Atlantic Sea surface temperature records spanning almost two centuries to provide a clue. Pictured is the complex circulatory system of currents in the North Atlantic. The orange tones show warmer waters, and the greens and blues show colder waters. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center There has been a drastic change since the end of the 19th century. Since 1880 and increasingly more each decade, in a situation that cannot be compared with the pre-industrial situation, says Susanne Ditlevsen, who is affiliated with the Niels Bohr Institute at the same Danish university. Based on these data and using complex statistical tools, the results of the Ditlevsen siblings paper published in Nature Communications show that the AMOC could collapse long before the end of the century. Their numbers reveal a very high probability that the transition from one state to another would happen around 2057. I know this is the most controversial part of the paper, and I would like to be wrong. But, if the emissions continue as they are, the results we get are what they are, Susanne Ditlevsen concludes. Other scientists doubts Alexander Robinson, an expert in ocean currents at the Institute of Geosciences (IGEO) at the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain), highlights the strengths of this study (in which he has not participated): They use [new] statistical methods developed to provide early warning signals of when a system could collapse or move to a new state. According to Robinson, the key and a possible weakness of this work is the proxy they have used to view the circulations evolution: To the extent that temperature anomalies in the North Atlantic can be considered a good indicator of the AMOC, this work convincingly shows that a significant change in its state due to global warming is likely to occur this century. An Atlantic humpback whale in the Silver Bank Whale Sanctuary, Dominican Republic. Thomas Wiewandt (Universal Images Group via Getty) Climatologist Pablo Ortega has also been studying this current flow for years. His work employs the computing power of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (Spain). Ortega is one of the researchers whose work detected the Atlantic Ocean currents weakening in 2018. For years, he has studied what impact the melting of Greenlands icy masses will have. Between 2004 and 2012, we detected that it was slowing down, he says. But in recent years the trend has not been so clear, he adds. Ortega believes that the AMOC and its connection to global climate are too complex to determine with projections based on anomalies in the surface temperature of the northern seas. He finds it hard to believe that it will collapse this century. The scientific information service SMC conducted a round of questions with experts on the Atlantic Ocean current, and there is near unanimity. The Ditlevsen brothers work is novel in that it relies on statistical tools rather than climate models. It is also unique in that it detects possible early warning signals that would indicate a change from a strong to a weak AMOC state. But they share Ortegas view that there is a lot of uncertainty, and that basing the change in ocean circulation on a single indicator is risky. As Penny Holliday, the principal investigator of OSNAP, an international program to study the AMOC, says: Its collapse would profoundly impact every person on Earth, but this study overstates the probability of it happening in the next few years. But they all agree that such a collapse would have global consequences. The AMOC controls heat transport almost on a planetary scale, says Ortega. Thus, the end of this thermal partitioning would cool most of the Northern Hemisphere, especially western Europe, and warm the already warm equatorial oceanic portions. Beyond climate, the Atlantic Ocean current is essential for delivering nutrients and sediments that support all the biodiversity that lives in the seas, especially in the Atlantic. While the following might sound like a climate apocalyptic said it, Hollyday told the British division of SMC that heat would build up in the Southern [Antarctic] Ocean and South Atlantic, but on the southern continents, temperatures would also decrease. Major rainfall areas would change, leading to much less rain in Europe, North and Central America, North and Central Africa and Asia, and more in the Amazon, Australia and southern Africa. Sea ice would extend southward from the Arctic to the subpolar North Atlantic, and Antarctic Sea ice would extend northward. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition X is the new name for Twitter, the app founded by Jack Dorsey in 2006, which has become one of the Internets most important websites and apps. Since Elon Musk acquired the company, the billionaire has made a series of changes, most of which have been criticized by its users, causing some to even leave the platform. This complex period for the company motivated Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg to create a new social platform called Threads, which emulates Twitter and aims to attract those who have been ostracized by Musks controversial comments and actions. But, X doesnt come out of the blue. Before Twitters acquisition, Musk spoke about his vision of an everything app, and Twitter seemed to be the vehicle to get to it. But what exactly is Musks vision for this app? Heres a breakdown of what we know so far. Why is Twitter now called X? The X has been an obsession of Elon Musk. One of his early companies was X.com, an online bank co-founded by him with Harris Fricker, Christopher Payne and Ed Ho in 1999, in Palo Alto, California. According to Ashlee Vances biography of the billionaire, Musk envisioned creating a full-service online bank that provided checking and savings accounts, brokerages and insurance. In March 2000, the company merged with Confinity to form PayPal. In 2017, Musk reacquired the domain, which now redirects to the Twitter website. The letter X is also in the name of the Tesla SUV, and its also in his kids name, X A-12. On July 12, 2023, Musk founded xAI Corp, an artificial intelligence startup. He hired former employees from Open AI, Google, Tesla, Twitter and other companies. According to Musk, the company will work closely with Twitter and Tesla, companies which the entrepreneur leads, and one of its goals is to create an AI capable of advanced mathematical reasoning, something that he thinks other models lack. But what exactly is X? Before buying Twitter in October 2022, Musk described the social media platform as an accelerant to creating X, the everything app. Musk said he was interested in creating a super app similar to Chinas WeChat, Indias PayTM and Indonesias GoJek, which offer users the ability to send and receive payments, watch and listen to content and access to other services like food deliveries besides the usual posting that occurs on social media. According to reports, Musks company secured money-transmitting licenses in three U.S. states earlier in July, which suggest he is preparing to transform X into a payment business. Its not clear which would be his next step. In June 2022, Musk reportedly told Twitter staff: You basically live on WeChat in China. If we can recreate that with Twitter, well be a great success. At Teslas shareholder meeting in August 2022, Musk said he had a pretty grand vision for X as something that would be very useful to the world. However, it is still not clear what his full vision is. Some experts say its probable that Twitter becomes a mini-app within a larger platform. Linda Yaccarino, Twitters chief executive, tweeted on Sunday that the rebranding of Twitter was part of the companys goal to transform the global town square beyond a social network. X is the future state of unlimited interactivity centered in audio, video, messaging, payments/banking creating a global marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities. Powered by AI, X will connect us all in ways were just beginning to imagine, she tweeted. What will change? The first change Musk made was switching to a new logo described as minimalist art deco, which will be refined later. The new logo can be seen on Twitter, replacing the classic blue bird that has been the companys image since its inception. For now, there have not been any more changes announced, but it is expected that Elon Musk will start the process of transformation. Whether the users will stick around or if this will result in a new successful strategy remains to be seen. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said travel operators should err on the side of fairness and generosity for compensating passengers whose holidays are affected by wildfires in Greece. He said the outbreak of wildfires in Greece is a really serious situation, after Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said that unprecedented heat this summer had been truly scary. When Tanaiste Micheal Martin was asked whether the evacuations of buildings in areas affected by the wildfires made changing peoples behaviours to become more sustainable easier, he said the era of denial is gone, more or less. Climate experts have warned that extreme temperatures and weather events in the Mediterranean are more likely in the coming years due to greenhouse gases emitted by human activity heating the Earths atmosphere. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mr Varadkar echoed comments by Mr Martin on offering refunds to customers who no longer wish to travel to Greek regions affected by wildfires. Mr Varadkar said: I really think it is important that travel operators put safety first, theyre going to have to make a decision based on the different circumstances in the different resorts, in the different islands, but I really think that they have to put the safety of their customers and holidaymakers first. The Taoiseach said there may be a sense that people were evacuated unduly or unnecessarily because of early intervention by authorities, but said that measure prevented deaths and injuries. I really think you have to put safety first in these scenarios, he said. Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Martin said that the vast majority of the Irish public believed that the worlds climate was changing and Ireland needed to focus more on adapting to withstand extreme weather events. Speaking to reporters ahead of a Cabinet meeting, Mr Martin said the coalition Government had put a legislative framework in place within the last two-and-a-half years that will result in progress on climate issues. He said that Irelands economy and rising population presented challenges to achieving further emission reductions. Responding to record-high temperatures in Europe and wildfires in Greece, Mr Martin said he believes there has been an appreciable shift in public opinion on climate change. I mean, the era of denial is gone, more or less, bar the fundamentalists who still dont believe in the fact and the reality of climate change. But the vast, vast majority of people accept that the climate is changing. Mr Martin said that there was a need for a greater focus on adaptation to climate change, as warnings were issued in recent weeks that Ireland would experience more storms, heavier rainfall and higher temperatures. We will have potentially increased flooding, so people need to realise that in terms of the flooding schemes that have been designed by the OPW, you know, a lot of people have been objecting to various aspects of those, but those are critical in terms of our capacity to adapt to the climate change that is occurring in Ireland. He added there was also a need to adapt transport and food production systems in the face of a changing climate. Responding to the warnings from an independent climate advisory group that Ireland will not meet carbon targets for 2025 or 2030, Mr Martin said that a 30% reduction by 2030 should not be dismissed. Mr Martin said that some progress had been made, but it needed to happen faster. The Foreign Affairs minister said that a change of US presidency has made a difference in global aims to decrease emissions, and said that policies had been put in place that will lead to reductions in the future. The (Climate Change Advisory Council) report does acknowledge progress, albeit not enough, he said. In other words, on current trajectories we get 30% reduction by 2030, which is not to be dismissed because that is progress and significant progress, more than anything weve achieved in the previous two decades. But we need to do more and we need to do much more faster. Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan told reporters we have to do more, we have to be more ambitious in delivering low-carbon solutions. We do need to think bigger and to act faster because whats happening in the world now demands real action. Its not just in Europe, its the fact that in Europe, America, China at the same time, you have three heat domes, the fact that in the Antarctic, the formation of sea ice has gone down way below anything previously seen, as well as temperatures in the North Atlantic being ahead of anything previously seen. This summer it is truly scary, because our weather systems have gone into patterns that weve never seen in recorded history. And thats why, absolutely, we need to think bigger, act faster, do more. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said Transport Minister Eamon Ryans major review of rail infrastructure makes the case for further investment in roads. The divergence between the two party leaders on infrastructure investment follows the publication of the All-Island Rail Review on Tuesday. The 25-year plan called for new lines, electric trains and faster services to connect major cities north and south of the border. After bringing the report to Cabinet, Minister for Transport and the Environment Mr Ryan told reporters it represented a new age of rail. This country, back in the 1920s, had probably the most dense rail network in the world. Were going to add to whats existing and bring back high-speed rail, frequent rail, rail freight, better balanced regional development. If all 30 recommendations were implemented in the coming years, it would cost an estimated 36.8 billion euros, with 27.6 billion euros to be provided by the Irish Government. The Green Party leader said: Its not cheap, but at the same time not doing it would be incredibly expensive. Our country would be gridlocked, our emissions would be rising this gives us a better alternative, a transport system that works for everyone. However, Fine Gael leader Mr Varadkar said he believed the report made the case for further investment in road networks as there would only be small increases in rail usage under the plan. The review says that investment could boost the total number of passengers travelling by train from 3% to 6%, and freight transported by rail would increase by 1% to 10%. The Taoiseach said this finding proved that more investment in roads would be needed to meet demand from an increasing population and expanding economy. He said: Even if we do everything that they say we could do by 2050, the amount of freight going by rail will go from 1% to 10%. So still 90% of freight will go by road and the percentage of people who get around by train commuters, passengers will go from 3% to 6%. So, this still means 94% of people travelling by road or by footpath, even if we did all of these things that are in that plan between now and 2050. The Taoiseach said: That makes the case, to me, for more road investment. He said the railway plan was really ambitious, but added: There are limitations in a country of this size. Asked about these comments on Tuesday, Mr Ryan said the 10% figure for rail freight was a starter target, and that he absolutely sees the demand being above that figure. He said: Im absolutely confident when we provide the service, the business community, which know they have to decarbonise, will roll in behind that. The same with public transport numbers, every single occasion where weve provided new public transport services, the public flock to it so dont see that as a limit on ambition. Thats actually the bare minimum of what we need to do. Mr Ryan added: I believe when we create a freight option in Dublin Port, a real one, and in Rosslare, and in Cork and Waterford and in Limerick, we will see that switch to freight way beyond 10%. That was set as an indicator of the medium-lower average is in the European Union were currently at 1%. He acknowledged that the All-Island Rail Review was ambitious, but said that we wont stop there. Mr Ryan added: I dont believe that will be the limit of our ambition, and I believe in a world that is changing the way this world is changing, because of climate change, no-one can set a restriction in terms of how were going to go. We know we have to decarbonise and I believe itll be easier in particular in the haulage sector to do that via rail freight, rather than any other method. So I expect us to blow through that sort of ambition to go far (further). He said in addition to that, Ireland had an obligation to boost its rail network in order to reduce its emissions. While Irelands greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 1.9% in 2022 overall, missing its target of 6/7%, emissions in the transport sector of the Irish economy increased by 6%. We need to lower our emissions for transport, they went up last year, they have to start coming down radically, Mr Ryan said on Tuesday. Those indicative figures, 10% of rail freight, was just set out as a starter as to what we could achieve. We have to make sure that in every area, were investing for the future. By the time this investment is rolled out by 2050, were going to be in a world that is changing. Thats going to require every country to play its part in stopping the burning of this planet. And that inspires the vision. Its one of future sustainability where were actually green in everything were doing. [July 26, 2023] LoRaWAN Continues Explosive Growth Across the Asia Pacific Region; Millions of Device Deployments Announced in 2023 Tweet FREMONT, Calif., July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The LoRa Alliance, the global association of companies backing the open LoRaWAN standard for the internet of things (IoT) low-power wide-area networks (LPWANs), today highlighted the strong growth of LoRaWAN across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region with the addition of millions of sensors deployed in the first 6 months of 2023, led by large projects in China, Japan, Korea, and India. The continued evolution of LoRaWAN networks is also increasing accessibility, further accelerating growth. To support the high level of regional activity, the LoRa Alliance will bring its next LoRaWAN Live event to Tokyo, Japan on October 11-12, 2023. The Asia Pacific region has consistently been at the leading edge of LoRaWAN deployments, and the trend has been accelerating through the first half of 2023, said Donna Moore, CEO and chairwoman of the LoRa Alliance. As digital transformation accelerates and demand increases for more effective, efficient and environmentally sustainable solutions to protect the planet and people's wellbeing, LoRa Alliance members have engaged in numerous deployments in the region to support a wide variety of applications. Some of the largest scale deployments support water metering and management, gas metering and leak detection, environmental monitoring and energy management, and street lighting/safety. Im excited for the Alliance to return to Japan in October to support the regions dynamic and accelerating LoRaWAN activity. Recent LoRaWAN projects and large-scale deployments announced in the APAC region include: Tata Communications has scaled two significant deployments, the first enables a connected worker solution covering more than 250,000 end nodes to monitor health, safety and productivity across large manufacturing organizations in segments like metals and mining, oil and gas, automotive, pharma etc.; and the second harnesses LoRaWAN for smart lighting automation solutions for more than 300,000 end nodes across India and the Middle East to manage streetlight infrastructure across large geographies. Packetworx and Actility are deploying a nationwide public LoRaWAN network in the Philippines with over 6,000 gateways. Semtech is a partner in a large water metering deployment of 250,000 sensors in Korea. Leotek Co. Ltd. supplies advanced water metering infrastructure services to major localgovernments in Korea using SJI LoRaWAN modules. Milesight has completed multiple deployment across China with approximately 50,000 LoRaWAN devices deployed. Projects included: lighting control system upgrade to improvement management efficiency of the site campus and reduce power consumption; digital transformation including lighting control, device control, energy and environment management, and space management, with the help of a smart building using LoRaWAN to enhance working efficiency and productivity; and sustainable and productive building management with LoRaWAN smart bin sensors and water leak detectors, improving operational efficiency, ensuring customer satisfaction, and integrating legacy systems. to enhance working efficiency and productivity; and sustainable and productive building management with LoRaWAN smart bin sensors and water leak detectors, improving operational efficiency, ensuring customer satisfaction, and integrating legacy systems. In a LoRaWAN milestone for Singapore, iWOW Technology Ltd.s installed network of over 400 TEKTELIC LoRaWAN gateways to service over 25,000 sensors for smart metering and emergency response services. IoT Ventures is deploying more than 8,000 sensors to support its LoRaWAN end to end solutions including the Water2Milk Water Infrastructure and Pasture Growth irrigation solution, HorseSafe horse wellness solution and GrainSure silo monitoring solution. Lacuna Space and IoT Ventures roll out a water monitoring system to track the availability of clean drinking water captured and stored in tanks within remote communities in the South Pacific. The early warning system avoids the need for infrastructure by messaging direct from sensor to satellite, allowing authorities to take action before the situation becomes critical. One of the largest subway companies in Japan introduced Yokogawa Electric Corporations Sushi Sensors to monitor hundreds of ventilators and air conditioning equipment units located in its stations and tunnels. The company plans to install Sushi Sensor on all its subway lines ventilators and air conditioning equipment. SenRa collaborated with a large Building Management System (BMS) company in India to optimize and expand its LoRaWAN deployment covering a 65-acre site and leveraging more than 250 sensors in the initial phases of the project to support water metering and management, leak detection and remote monitoring. Phases planned for later this year are slated to expand into street lighting, energy metering and parking solutions adding thousands of sensors. Kiwi Technology has launched two significant IoT FOT deployments, the first supports LNG gas metering and leverages third party Network Control Unit that uses LoRaWAN with Class B to connect and monitor gas meters in real time and potentially reduce gas leaks. The current Taiwan LPG deployment follows a similar project in Japan that went online in late 2022 and the second harnesses LoRaWAN for smart temperature management solutions across food retail and cold chain, as well as medical logistics to manage food and pharma safety to meet HACCP/GMP regulations. Semtech supported Aeon Delight in equipping 90 administrative facilities in Japan with solar panel driven LoRaWAN sensors commercialized by Ricoh to measure temperature, humidity, CO2 levels and light remotely, reducing both labor and running costs. LoRaWAN Live! Tokyo will be taking place at the Hilton Tokyo Shinjuku on October 11-12, 2023. This two-day public event features groundbreaking keynotes, panel discussions, live demonstrations, a poster session and innovations marketplace. The event is the premier opportunity to discover the latest LoRaWAN developments, find solutions, learn about device certification, how to become a LoRaWAN Accredited Professional, and generate opportunities to grow your business. LoRaWAN Live offers attendees the opportunity to network with global IoT leaders, CTOs, CIOs, CEOs, heads of innovation and technologists, developers, system integrators, OEMs, end-users, enterprises and start-ups. The event offers the opportunity to learn how LoRaWAN is transforming the buildings, retail, cities, industry, manufacturing, agriculture, and utilities markets in Asia and across the globe. About LoRa Alliance The LoRa Alliance is an open, nonprofit association that has become one of the largest and fastest-growing alliances in the technology sector since its inception in 2015. Its members closely collaborate and share expertise to develop and promote the LoRaWAN standard, the de facto global standard for secure, carrier-grade IoT LPWAN connectivity. LoRaWAN has the technical flexibility to address a broad range of fixed and mobile IoT applications and a robust LoRaWAN Certification program to guarantee that devices perform as specified. The LoRaWAN standard has been deployed by more than 170 major mobile network operators globally, with connectivity available worldwide. More information: lora-alliance.org LoRa Alliance, LoRaWAN and LoRaWAN CertifiedCM are registered marks. MEDIA CONTACT: Kiterocket Stephanie Quinn, LoRa Alliance PR +1 480 316-8370 [email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/da06bd5e-3842-4e4c-997a-4ae6d23f2a30 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 25, 2023] APEX TRADER FUNDING ANNOUNCES HIGHEST AVERAGE PAYOUTS TO TRADERS ONLINE TRADING PLATFORM HAS PAID OUT MORE TO TRADERS COMPARED TO OTHER FUTURE PROP TRADING PLATFORMS AUSTIN, Texas, July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Apex Trader Funding, an innovative online trader funding platform offering the easiest to pass, lowest cost and highest contract plans, announced today that their platform has paid out over $12 million to traders in the past 90 days the most of any prop funding platform. Since last year, Apex has paid out just over $26 million to traders Since last year, Apex has paid out just over $26 million to traders with the average monthly payout recorded as $2,941,741 since this past January. "We are proud to be the prop trading firm with the highest payouts," said Darrell Martin, CEO and Founder of Apex Trader Funding. "We're able to do that because we have dedicated, hardworking traders who are driven to find success each and every day." About Apex Trader Funding Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Apex Trader Funding is a community of traders offering the easiest to pass, lowest cost, highest contract funding plans. Founded in 2021 by Darrell Martin, Apex Trader Funding is a thriving community of traders from over 150 countries. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/apex-trader-funding-announces-highest-average-payouts-to-traders-301885707.html SOURCE Apex Trader Funding [July 25, 2023] Perfect Corp. Reports Unaudited Financial Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2023 Tweet Perfect Corp. (NYSE: PERF) ("Perfect" or the "Company"), a global leader in providing augmented reality ("AR") and artificial intelligence ("AI") Software-as-a-Service ("SaaS") solutions to beauty and fashion industries, today announced its unaudited financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2023. Highlights for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2023 Total revenues grew to $12.7 million, up 11.9% year over year, primarily due to strong growth momentum in AR/AI cloud solutions and subscription revenues. grew to $12.7 million, up 11.9% year over year, primarily due to strong growth momentum in AR/AI cloud solutions and subscription revenues. Gross profit was $10.2 million, compared to $9.7 million in the same period of 2022. was $10.2 million, compared to $9.7 million in the same period of 2022. Net Loss was $0.2 million, compared to a net income of $27.4 million in the same period of 2022. was $0.2 million, compared to a net income of $27.4 million in the same period of 2022. Adjusted net income (non-IFRS) 1 was $1.1 million, compared to adjusted net income (non-IFRS) of $0.6 million in the same period of 2022. was $1.1 million, compared to adjusted net income (non-IFRS) of $0.6 million in the same period of 2022. The Company had 163 Key Customers 2 as of June 30, 2023, compared with 158 Key Customers as of March 31, 2023. as of June 30, 2023, compared with 158 Key Customers as of March 31, 2023. As of June 30, 2023, the Company's customer base included 601 brand clients, with over 655,000 digital stock keeping units ("SKUs") for makeup, haircare, skincare, eyewear, and jewelry products, compared with 525 brand clients and over 590,000 digital SKUs as of March 31, 2023. Ms. Alice H. Chang, the Founder, Chairwoman, and Chief Executive Officer of Perfect, commented, "Throughout the previous quarter, we persistently utilized the latest AI & AR technologies, including generative AI, to consistently support our three primary areas of growth, BeautyTech, FashionTech, and SkinTech, to brands and to end users. Our objective is to enhance and expand our capabilities in these fields. As a result, we observed encouraging indications of increased product demand, indicating positive progress. Our mobile apps also continued to experience significant growth, maintaining their strong momentum in part thanks to new generative AI features. Furthermore, our AI skincare turnkey solution grew in popularity as we expanded our customer base. Our investments in generative AI, combined with our industry-leading experience and robust customer base, have positioned us for future success in the beauty and fashion tech space. We remain committed to delivering long-term, sustainable growth to our shareholders and providing our customers with the highest-quality services on the market." Mr. Pin-Jen (Louis) Chen, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Perfect, added, "In the second quarter, we saw sound momentum in our top-line growth, which was driven by continued demand for our online AR/AI cloud solutions and subscriptions, along with the rapid growth in our mobile beauty app subscribers. While we grew our revenue, we also managed to control our spending to ensure profitability. With the stable renewal rate for existing subscriptions, dedicated cost control, and healthy cash position, we affirm our unwavering confidence in generating long-term revenue growth." Financial Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2023 Revenue Total revenue was $12.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023, up by 11.9% from $$11.3 million in the same period of 2022. AR/AI cloud solutions and subscription revenue increased by 16.3% from $9.5 million in the same period of 2022 to $11.0 million, representing 86.7% of total revenue, mainly due to solid demand for the Company's online virtual product try-on solutions from brand customers and robust growth in its mobile beauty app subscriptions. The Company's mobile beauty app active subscribers grew by 63.3% year over year, reaching a historical high of over 777,000 active subscribers at the end of the second quarter of 2023. This increase demonstrates the strong demand for the Company's mobile beauty app services. Licensing revenue, which is mostly generated from traditional offline services, increased by 6.2% from $1.3 million in the same period of 2022 to $1.4 million, representing 10.9% of our total revenue, compared with 11.5% of total revenue in the second quarter of 2022. This reflects relatively low demand for in-store services compared to online services from brands. Advertisement revenue was $0.3 million, compared to $0.5 million in the same period of 2022. This change is consistent with the Company's strategic focus on delivering AR- and AI-SaaS solutions to customers while allocating fewer resources to advertisement services. Gross Profit Gross profit increased by 5.2% year-over-year from 9.7 million in the second quarter of 2022 to $10.2 million in the same period of 2023, representing a change of gross margins from 85.8% in the second quarter of 2022 to 80.6% in the same period of 2023. The change in gross margin was due to an increase in the cost of goods sold, which was driven by the growth in the Company's mobile beauty app subscriptions. This surge in subscriptions led to higher platform fees paid to third-party digital distribution platforms, namely Apple and Google. Total Operating Expenses Total operating expenses increased by 12.5% to $12.3 million for the three months ended June 30,2023, from $11.0 million in the same period of 2022. Sales and marketing ("S&M") expenses were $6.6 million, representing 51.7% of our total revenue, compared to $6.1 million and 53.6% of total revenue during the same period last year. The 7.9% year-over-year change was primarily due to increase in promotion and user acquisition expenses. Research and development ("R&D") expenses were $2.8 million, representing 21.8% of total revenue, compared to $2.6 million and 23.3% of total revenue during the same period last year. The 4.6% year-over-year change was resulted from an increase in R&D people cost. General and administrative ("G&A") expenses were $3.0 million, representing 23.8% of total revenue, compared to $2.2 million and 19.8% of total revenue during the same period last year. The 34.3% year-over-year change was primarily due to an increase in public company-related costs. Net Loss Net Loss was $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023, compared to a net income of $27.4 million during the same period of 2022, mainly due to a $28.4 million adjustment in non-cash valuation gain on financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss in the second quarter of 2022. Adjusted Net Income (Non-IFRS) Adjusted net income was $1.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023, compared to adjusted net income of $0.6 million in the same period of 2022. Liquidity As of June 30, 2023, the Company held $37.2 million in cash and cash equivalents (or $198.0 million when including 6-month and longer time deposits of $160.8 million, which are classified as current financial assets at amortized cost under IFRS), compared to $95.1 million as of March 31, 2023 (or $196.1 million when including time deposits). Recent Development Share Repurchase Plan Update On May 4, 2023, the Company's board of directors authorized a share repurchase plan under which the Company may repurchase up to US$20 million of its Class A ordinary shares over the next 12-month period. Business Outlook Based on the recent progress of the overall business status in the industry, the stable demand for the Company's enterprise SaaS solutions, strong growth in the Company's mobile beauty app subscriptions, and ongoing investment in R&D with generative AI, Perfect Corp. anticipates that for 2023 full year: The Company's total revenue year-over-year growth rate is expected to range from 11.5% to 14.5% compared to 2022. Note that this forecast is based on the Company's current assessment of the market and operational conditions, and that these factors are subject to change. Conference Call Information The Company's management will hold an earnings conference call at 7 a.m. Eastern Time on July 26, 2023 (7 p.m. Taipei Time on July 26, 2023) to discuss the financial results. For participants who wish to join the call, please complete online registration using the link provided below in advance of the conference call. Upon registering, each participant will receive a participant dial-in number and a unique access PIN, which can be used to join the conference call. Registration Link: https://registrations.events/direct/Q4E60334 A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.perfectcorp.com. About Perfect Corp. Founded in 2015, Perfect is a global leader in providing AR and AI SaaS solutions to beauty and fashion industries. Utilizing facial 3D modeling, and AI deep learning technologies, Perfect empowers beauty brands with product try-on, facial diagnostics, and digital consultation solutions to provide consumers with an enjoyable, personalized, and convenient omnichannel shopping experience. Today, Perfect has the leading market share in helping the world's top beauty brands execute digital transformation, improve customer engagement, increase purchase conversion, and drive sales growth while maintaining environmental sustainability and fulfilling social responsibilities. For more information, visit https://ir.perfectcorp.com/. Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, that are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to Perfect. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "project," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," "target," "seek" or the negative or plural of these words, or other similar expressions that are predictions or indicate future events or prospects, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including strategies or plans, are also forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on Perfect's reasonable expectations and beliefs concerning future events and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. These factors are difficult to predict accurately and may be beyond Perfect's control. Forward-looking statements in this communication or elsewhere speak only as of the date made. New uncertainties and risks arise from time to time, and it is impossible for Perfect to predict these events or how they may affect Perfect. In addition, risks and uncertainties are described in Perfect's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings may identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Perfect cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this communication will prove to be accurate. There may be additional risks that Perfect presently does not know or that Perfect currently does not believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by Perfect, its directors, officers or employees or any other person that Perfect will achieve its objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. Except as required by applicable law, Perfect does not have any duty to, and does not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements in this communication or elsewhere after the date of this communication. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of Perfect as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures This press release and accompanying tables contain certain non-IFRS financial measures, including adjusted net income, as supplemental metrics in reviewing and assessing Perfect's operating performance and formulating its business plan. Perfect defined these non-IFRS financial measures as follows: Adjusted net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss) excluding one-off transaction costs3, non-cash equity-based compensation, non-cash evaluation (gain)/loss of preferred shares, and foreign exchange (gain)/loss. For a reconciliation of adjusted net income (loss) to net income (loss), see the reconciliation table included elsewhere in this press release. Non-IFRS financial measures are not defined under IFRS and are not presented in accordance with IFRS. Non-IFRS financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, which possibly do not reflect all items of expense that affect our operations. Share-based compensation expenses have been and may continue to be incurred in our business and are not reflected in the presentation of the non-IFRS financial measures. In addition, the non-IFRS financial measures Perfect uses may differ from the non-IFRS measures used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited. The presentation of these non-IFRS financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with IFRS. The items excluded from our adjusted net income are not driven by core results of operations and render comparison of IFRS financial measures with prior periods less meaningful. We believe adjusted net income provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our results of operations, as well as providing a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of our business performance. Moreover, such non-IFRS measures are used by our management internally to make operating decisions, including those related to operating expenses, evaluate performance, and perform strategic planning and annual budgeting. PERFECT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND JUNE 30, 2023 (Expressed in thousands of United States dollars) December 31, 2022 June 30, 2023 Assets Amount Amount Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 162,616 $ 37,168 Current financial assets at amortized cost 30,000 160,800 Current contract assets 3,660 1,512 Accounts receivable 7,756 7,641 Other receivables 314 587 Current income tax assets 77 124 Inventories 45 34 Other current assets 4,705 4,655 Total current assets 209,173 212,521 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 289 345 Right-of-use assets 323 850 Intangible assets 119 115 Deferred income tax assets 244 222 Guarantee deposits paid 125 124 Total non-current assets 1,100 1,656 Total assets $ 210,273 $ 214,177 PERFECT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued) DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND JUNE 30, 2023 (Expressed in thousands of United States dollars) December 31, 2022 June 30, 2023 Liabilities and Equity Amount Amount Current liabilities Current contract liabilities $ 13,024 $ 15,976 Other payables 9,308 8,095 Other payables - related parties 63 49 Current tax liabilities 155 52 Current provisions 1,855 2,134 Current lease liabilities 251 417 Other current liabilities 261 149 Total current liabilities 24,917 26,872 Non-current liabilities Non-current financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss 3,207 3,451 Non-current lease liabilities 87 457 Net defined benefit liability, non-current 73 75 Guarantee deposits received 25 25 Total non-current liabilities 3,392 4,008 Total liabilities 28,309 30,880 Equity Capital stock Perfect Class A Ordinary Shares, $0.1 (in dollars) par value 10,147 10,147 Perfect Class B Ordinary Shares, $0.1 (in dollars) par value 1,679 1,679 Capital surplus Capital surplus 556,429 557,870 Retained earnings Accumulated deficit (385,884 ) (385,395 ) Other equity interest Other equity interest (407 ) (575 ) Treasury shares - (429 ) Total equity 181,964 183,297 Total liabilities and equity $ 210,273 $ 214,177 PERFECT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2022 AND 2023 (Expressed in thousands of United States dollars) Three months ended June 30 Six months ended June 30 2022 2023 2022 2023 Items Amount Amount Amount Amount Revenue $ 11,339 $ 12,687 $ 23,379 $ 24,832 Cost of sales and services (1,614 ) (2,455 ) (3,282 ) (5,024 ) Gross profit 9,725 10,232 20,097 19,808 Operating expenses Sales and marketing expenses (6,081 ) (6,558 ) (12,087 ) (12,585 ) General and administrative expenses (2,244 ) (3,014 ) (4,700 ) (5,427 ) Research and development expenses (2,646 ) (2,767 ) (5,358 ) (5,396 ) Total operating expenses (10,971 ) (12,339 ) (22,145 ) (23,408 ) Operating loss (1,246 ) (2,107 ) (2,048 ) (3,600 ) Non-operating income and expenses Interest income 141 2,411 178 4,609 Other income 1 5 11 7 Other gains and losses 28,550 (474 ) 28,977 (459 ) Finance costs (2 ) (3 ) (5 ) (5 ) Total non-operating income and expenses 28,690 1,939 29,161 4,152 Income (loss) before income tax 27,444 (168 ) 27,113 552 Income tax expense (31 ) (38 ) (161 ) (63 ) Net income (loss) $ 27,413 $ (206 ) $ 26,952 $ 489 Other comprehensive loss Components of other comprehensive loss that will not be reclassified to profit or loss Credit risk changes in financial instrument - Preferred shares $ (7 ) $ - $ (7 ) $ - Components of other comprehensive loss that will be reclassified to profit or loss Exchange differences arising on translation of foreign operations (591 ) (170 ) (1,001 ) (168 ) Other comprehensive loss, net $ (598 ) $ (170 ) $ (1,008 ) $ (168 ) Total comprehensive income (loss) $ 26,815 $ (376 ) $ 25,944 $ 321 Net income (loss), attributable to: Shareholders of the parent $ 27,413 $ (206 ) $ 26,952 $ 489 Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to: Shareholders of the parent $ 26,815 $ (376 ) $ 25,944 $ 321 Earnings (loss) per share (in dollars) Basic earnings (loss) per share of Class A and Class B Ordinary Shares $ 0.477 $ (0.002 ) $ 0.469 $ 0.004 Diluted earnings (loss) per share of Class A and Class B Ordinary Shares $ (0.006 ) $ (0.002 ) $ (0.014 ) $ 0.004 PERFECT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES - ADJUSTED NET INCOME (LOSS) CALCULATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2022 AND 2023 (Expressed in thousands of United States dollars) Three months ended June 30 Six months ended June 30 2022 2023 2022 2023 Items Amount Amount Amount Amount Net Income (Loss) $ 27,413 $ (206 ) $ 26,952 $ 489 One-off Transaction Costs 1,225 - 2,825 33 Non-Cash Equity-Based Compensation 552 791 1,006 1,441 Non-Cash Evaluation (Gain)/Loss of financial liabilities (28,374 ) 296 (28,374 ) 244 Foreign Exchange (Gain)/Loss (176 ) 179 (603 ) 215 Adjusted Net Income $ 640 $ 1,060 $ 1,806 $ 2,422 _________________ 1 Adjusted net income (loss) is a non-IFRS financial measure. See the "Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures" section of this communication for the definition of such non-IFRS measure. 2 Key Customers refers to the Company's brand customers who contributed revenue of more than $50,000 in the trailing 12 months ended on the measurement date. 3 The one-off transaction cost in the second quarter of 2022 included professional services expenditures that the Company incurred in connection with the de-SPAC transaction. No such cost incurred in the same period of 2023. Category: Investor Relations View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230725100937/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Should children be taken to bars? What responsibility do parents have if their children go with them? Is there really such a thing as childphobia or, as it is sometimes known, paedophobia? These are questions that arise every time an establishment decides to ban minors from setting foot on their premises. The latest case concerns Balicana, a restaurant in the Basque city of Bilbao that has been criticized by FACUA-Consumers in Action for not allowing children access. On its webpage, Balicana clearly states that its premises are reserved exclusively for adults. But according to the consumer association, barring entry to an establishment on the basis of age is discriminatory abuse of the rights of admission and at variance with the law that allows children into bars and restaurants if accompanied by a responsible adult. Consequently, FACUA is demanding that the establishment be fined and is encouraging the public to report any similar norms in other bars or restaurants. Balicana is not the only restaurant in Spain to ban children. Some of these establishments claim that the presence of children is disruptive, increases the noise level, and argue that parents often fail to supervise them properly. These restaurants prefer to avoid these issues and have opted for an adults-only scenario, despite the indignation of parents who want to be able to dine with their children; and despite the legitimate right of minors to enter. Is there such a thing as childphobia? Childphobia has existed since the beginning of time, says Berna Iskandar, a journalist specializing in motherhood, parenting and childrens rights. Kids are the most vulnerable members of society and cannot defend themselves. There is a real ignorance among adults surrounding the needs of our youngest children who are supposed to meet expectations that do not correspond to their age. Childhood is a stage of intense development during which they have to experiment. Iskandar explains that the way to eradicate the fear of children is by building more child-friendly spaces where their rights and needs are taken into account; cities and bars that adapt to them and not the other way around. Just as spaces are adapted to people with difficulties, with ramps added, for example, they must also be adapted so that children can develop and relax, both of which are vital to them. According to Iskander, when there is discrimination, as in the case of the restaurant in Bilbao, it is up to the adults to fight the injustice. If we build places and spaces that are more child-friendly, it would help both children and adults to enjoy themselves, she says. The goal is clear: we have to move from an adult-centered society, as is currently the case, to a child-centered one. It is, she says, the parents responsibility to attend to their childrens needs and go to places where the child can also enjoy themselves. If the child is upset, the parents should be attentive and spend time with them, she says. The reality is that we are in a constant rush and children are expected to meet schedules imposed by adults. We do not spend time with them; we are not with them; we abuse screens, material things and our children are alone. While Iskander does not believe that children have worse upbringings now, she does point out that things were very different in the past. There were more open spaces before, she says. And children had more opportunity to play and move around, so they would be more relaxed when they got home at mealtimes, for example. Now they live more indoor lives and have to contain all the energy that comes with childhood. Making them the focal point should be a priority. The rise of the child-free zone Cases similar to that of the restaurant in Bilbao occurred in 2018 and 2019 in Murcia, Salamanca and Vigo, with hospitality establishments making it clear that children were not welcome. In Murcia, the owner of a bar called Venus put up a sign that said: Any child who is not supervised in this bar by his mother or father will become the property of the bar and will be sold as a slave. The sign sparked a significant amount of controversy, especially over the word slave. The owner, Manuel M. Villalba, told EL PAIS at the time that it was a joke and that he in fact adored children. But, he explained: Parents are having a drink while their offspring are making life impossible for others. Restaurant sign with the message: Any child who is not supervised in this bar by his mother or father will become the property of the bar and will be sold as a slave. In Salamanca, meanwhile, a bar called Livingstone printed a series of rules whereby children had to be with their parents at all times; could not bring a toy from home or even cry. The move created so much controversy that the restaurant was forced to withdraw the norms. In Vigo, the restaurant Beach Escola Vao cut to the chase with a sign that read Child-free zone and invited patrons to enjoy the quiet. There is an adult-centric vision of society in general, says Esther Vivas, author of Mama Desobediente (or, Disobedient Mom). We live in a society that has a very hypocritical view of childhood. On the one hand, it praises and glorifies childhood, as in the cute and well-behaved children we see in advertising, but at the same time, it turns its back on the needs of children and the fact that they behave like children. When they start laughing, running and being inconvenient, we want hotels, bars and spaces that are free of them. So why do some adults find children annoying? Simply because they are children, says Vives. We live in a society that is absolutely focused on productivity, the market and economic profit, in which dependent people are a nuisance. This is the main cause of childphobia, she says, adding that the system does not allow children to be children: It denies their rights. Vives, who is also a sociologist, maintains that under the existing adult-centric vision, children are forced to behave like adults in a system that punishes them. This has been particularly evident during the coronavirus pandemic, she argues. At first, at the beginning of the crisis, children were said to be super-spreaders, she says. Scientific studies later showed the claim to be untrue. As the most penalized members of society during the crisis, they were locked up at home for weeks and forbidden to go out and socialize with their peers. And even now, at a time when it is possible to go out for a drink with friends without a mask, any child over six still has to wear a mask at school, including during recess. It is flagrant discrimination and proof that childphobia is a reality. [July 25, 2023] IT Market in Germany to Grow by USD 30.34 billion from 2022 to 2027| Broadcom Inc., Capgemini Service SAS, Cisco Systems Inc., and more to emerge as key players- Technavio Tweet NEW YORK, July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The IT market in Germany size is estimated to grow by USD 30.34 billion from 2022 to 2027 at a CAGR of 4.12% according to Technavio. The growing competition in the market is compelling vendors to adopt various growth strategies such as promotional activities and spending on advertisements to improve the visibility of their services. Technavio report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors including badenIT GmbH, Broadcom Inc., Capgemini Service SAS, Cisco Systems Inc., Dell Technologies Inc., Fortinet Inc., Fujitsu Ltd., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Hitachi Ltd., HUNARI Arik and Hunneck GbR, Infosys Ltd., International Business Machines Corp., Juniper Networks Inc., Lenovo Group Ltd., next evolution GmbH, Oracle Corp., Siemens AG, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Toshiba Corp., and VACE Systemtechnik GmbH Germany IT Market Insights - Vendors : 15+, Including badenIT GmbH, Broadcom Inc., Capgemini Service SAS, Cisco Systems Inc., Dell Technologies Inc., Fortinet Inc., Fujitsu Ltd., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Hitachi Ltd., HUNARI Arik and Hunneck GbR, Infosys Ltd., International Business Machines Corp., Juniper Networks Inc., Lenovo Group Ltd., next evolution GmbH, Oracle Corp., Siemens AG, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Toshiba Corp., and VACE Systemtechnik GmbH, among others : 15+, Including badenIT GmbH, Broadcom Inc., Capgemini Service SAS, Cisco Systems Inc., Dell Technologies Inc., Fortinet Inc., Fujitsu Ltd., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Hitachi Ltd., HUNARI Arik and Hunneck GbR, Infosys Ltd., International Business Machines Corp., Juniper Networks Inc., Lenovo Group Ltd., next evolution GmbH, Oracle Corp., Siemens AG, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Toshiba Corp., and VACE Systemtechnik GmbH, among others Coverage: Parent market analysis; key drivers, major trends, and challenges; customer and vendor landscape; vendor product insights and recent developments; key vendors; and market positioning of vendors Parent market analysis; key drivers, major trends, and challenges; customer and vendor landscape; vendor product insights and recent developments; key vendors; and market positioning of vendors Segments: End-user (Manufacturing, Government, BFSI, ICT, and Business services and others), Application (Large enterprise and SMEs). To understand more about the Germany IT Market, request a sample report IT market in Germany - Customer Landscape To help companies evaluate and develop growth strategies, the report outlines Key purchase criteria Adoption rates Adoption lifecycle Drivers of price sensitivity For highlights on customer landscape analysis, download a sample! Key IT Market Driver in Germany- The increased adoption of IT solutions among SMEs in Germany is notably driving the Germany IT market growth. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in the German economy, accounting for over 99% of all companies in the country. These businesses, ranging from sole proprietors to companies with hundreds of employees, are known for their innovation and global presence. German SMEs prioritize investing in IT to stay technologically advanced, leveraging technologies such as cloud computing, big data, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance operational efficiency and drive revenue growth. Digitization is a key focus for these companies, as they seek to replace manual processes with digital workflows and automate various aspects of their operations. Additionally, German SMEs are adopting ERP solutions and CRM software to improve customer engagement, reducing costs through communication platforms and utilizing social media to promote their products and services. These factors contribute to the growth of the IT market in Germany during the forecast period. Significant IT Market Trends in Germany- Government support for AI is identified as an emerging trend in the Germany-IT market. The German government is actively promoting the adoption of AI across various industries and encouraging companies to explore different application areas for AI-based solutions. A study commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy predicts that AI will contribute significantly to the country's manufacturing output, with an estimated increase of over USD 34.35 billion by 2023. To support the advancement of AI beyond 2020, the government has allocated USD 572.5 million in its 2020 budget and plans to invest up to USD 3.44 billion by 2025. As part of this strategy, Germany is establishing AI competence centers at the regional level and connecting them through a network. These efforts are attracting providers to establish their AI research centers in the country. The government's focus on R&D and the promotion of AI adoption in German companies will drive the growth of the IT market in Germany during the forecast period. Major IT Market Challenge in Germany- The shortage of skilled IT professionals may hinder the German IT market growth. German companies are currently experiencing a significant shortage of IT specialists, leading to a limited number of vacancies for qualified candidates. The scarcity of professionals with the necessary qualifications, work experience, and skills has resulted in high remuneration for those who meet the requirements. As a result, SMEs and public sector companies are facing challenges in recruiting suitable candidates for IT positions. To address this issue, the federal government is exploring the recruitment of staff from other European countries and working towards streamlining immigration laws to attract foreign professionals seeking employment in Germany. Despite an increase in the number of job openings in the IT sector, with over 1.3 million vacancies in 2020, a substantial portion remains unfilled. The shortage of qualified IT professionals in areas such as cloud computing, AI, big data, and IoT poses a significant hurdle to German companies' digital transformation efforts. This shortage has the potential to impact the growth of the Germany-IT market during the forecast period. Drivers, & Challenges have an impact on market dynamics and can impact businesses. Find some insights from a sample report! 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 What are the key data covered in this IT Market In Germany report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the IT market in Germany between 2023 and 2027 Precise estimation of the IT market in Germany size and its contribution to the market in focus on the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the IT market in Germany across Germany and Europe across Germany 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 the IT market vendors in Germany Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The IT Market In Oman is projected to grow by USD 2.21 billion with a CAGR of 8.27% during the forecast period 2021 to 2026. This report extensively covers the IT market in Oman segmentation by type (hardware, software, and IT services) and end-user (BFSI, telecommunication, industrial, and others). Increased adoption of mobility solutions is one of the major drivers impacting the IT market growth. The IT professional services market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.09% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 461.56 billion. This IT professional services market report extensively covers market segmentation by type (project-oriented services, information technology outsourcing, IT supporting and training services, and enterprise cloud computing services), end-user (large enterprises, small, and medium enterprises), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America) IT Market In Germany Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.12% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 30.34 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 3.76 Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market PosITioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled BadenIT GmbH, Broadcom Inc., Capgemini Service SAS, Cisco Systems Inc., Dell Technologies Inc., Fortinet Inc., Fujitsu Ltd., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Hitachi Ltd., HUNARI Arik and Hunneck GbR, Infosys Ltd., International Business Machines Corp., Juniper Networks Inc., Lenovo Group Ltd., next evolution GmbH, Oracle Corp., Siemens AG, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Toshiba Corp., and VACE Systemtechnik GmbH 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 Country Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Application Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 07: Parent market Exhibit 08: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 09: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 10: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2022 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027 Exhibit 11: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 12: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 13: Chart on Germany : Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) : Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 14: Data Table on Germany : Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 4 Historic Market Size 4.1 IT market in Germany 2017 - 2021 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 15: Historic Market Size Data Table on it market in Germany 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.2 End-user Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 16: Historic Market Size End-user Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.3 Application Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 17: Historic Market Size Application Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 5 Five Forces Analysis 5.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 18: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027 5.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 19: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027 5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 20: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 21: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 22: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 23: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.7 Market condition Exhibit 24: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027 6 Market Segmentation by End-user 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 25: Chart on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 26: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 6.2 Comparison by End-user Exhibit 27: Chart on Comparison by End-user Exhibit 28: Data Table on Comparison by End-user 6.3 Manufacturing - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 29: Chart on Manufacturing - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 30: Data Table on Manufacturing - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 31: Chart on Manufacturing - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 32: Data Table on Manufacturing - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 Government - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 33: Chart on Government - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 34: Data Table on Government - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 35: Chart on Government - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 36: Data Table on Government - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.5 BFSI - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 37: Chart on BFSI - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 38: Data Table on BFSI - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 39: Chart on BFSI - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 40: Data Table on BFSI - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.6 ICT - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 41: Chart on ICT - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 42: Data Table on ICT - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 43: Chart on ICT - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 44: Data Table on ICT - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.7 Business services and others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 45: Chart on Business services and others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 46: Data Table on Business services and others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 47: Chart on Business services and others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 48: Data Table on Business services and others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.8 Market opportunity by End-user Exhibit 49: Market opportunity by End-user ($ billion) Exhibit 50: Data Table on Market opportunity by End-user ($ billion) 7 Market Segmentation by Application 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 51: Chart on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 52: Data Table on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 7.2 Comparison by Application Exhibit 53: Chart on Comparison by Application Exhibit 54: Data Table on Comparison by Application 7.3 Large enterprise - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 55: Chart on Large enterprise - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 56: Data Table on Large enterprise - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 57: Chart on Large enterprise - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 58: Data Table on Large enterprise - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.4 SMEs - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 59: Chart on SMEs - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 60: Data Table on SMEs - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 61: Chart on SMEs - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 62: Data Table on SMEs - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Market opportunity by Application Exhibit 63: Market opportunity by Application ($ billion) Exhibit 64: Data Table on Market opportunity by Application ($ billion) 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 65: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 9.1 Market drivers 9.2 Market challenges 9.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 66: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027 9.4 Market trends 10 Vendor Landscape 10.1 Overview 10.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 67: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 10.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 68: Overview on factors of disruption 10.4 Industry risks Exhibit 69: Impact of key risks on business 11 Vendor Analysis 11.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 70: Vendors covered 11.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 71: Matrix on vendor position and classification 11.3 Broadcom Inc. Exhibit 72: Broadcom Inc. - Overview Exhibit 73: Broadcom Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 74: Broadcom Inc. - Key news Exhibit 75: Broadcom Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 76: Broadcom Inc. - Segment focus 11.4 Capgemini Service SAS Exhibit 77: Capgemini Service SAS - Overview Exhibit 78: Capgemini Service SAS - Business segments Exhibit 79: Capgemini Service SAS - Key news Exhibit 80: Capgemini Service SAS - Key offerings Exhibit 81: Capgemini Service SAS - Segment focus 11.5 Cisco Systems Inc. Exhibit 82: Cisco Systems Inc. - Overview Exhibit 83: Cisco Systems Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 84: Cisco Systems Inc. - Key news Exhibit 85: Cisco Systems Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 86: Cisco Systems Inc. - Segment focus 11.6 Dell Technologies Inc. Exhibit 87: Dell Technologies Inc. - Overview Exhibit 88: Dell Technologies Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 89: Dell Technologies Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 90: Dell Technologies Inc. - Segment focus 11.7 Fujitsu Ltd. Exhibit 91: Fujitsu Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 92: Fujitsu Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 93: Fujitsu Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 94: Fujitsu Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 95: Fujitsu Ltd. - Segment focus 11.8 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. Exhibit 96: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. - Overview Exhibit 97: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. - Business segments Exhibit 98: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. - Key news Exhibit 99: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 100: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. - Segment focus 11.9 Hitachi Ltd. Exhibit 101: Hitachi Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 102: Hitachi Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 103: Hitachi Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 104: Hitachi Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 105: Hitachi Ltd. - Segment focus 11.10 Infosys Ltd. Exhibit 106: Infosys Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 107: Infosys Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 108: Infosys Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 109: Infosys Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 110: Infosys Ltd. - Segment focus 11.11 International Business Machines Corp. Exhibit 111: International Business Machines Corp. - Overview Exhibit 112: International Business Machines Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 113: International Business Machines Corp. - Key news Exhibit 114: International Business Machines Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 115: International Business Machines Corp. - Segment focus 11.12 Juniper Networks Inc. Exhibit 116: Juniper Networks Inc. - Overview Exhibit 117: Juniper Networks Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 118: Juniper Networks Inc. - Key offerings 11.13 Lenovo Group Ltd. Exhibit 119: Lenovo Group Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 120: Lenovo Group Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 121: Lenovo Group Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 122: Lenovo Group Ltd. - Segment focus 11.14 Oracle Corp. Exhibit 123: Oracle Corp. - Overview Exhibit 124: Oracle Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 125: Oracle Corp. - Key news Exhibit 126: Oracle Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 127: Oracle Corp. - Segment focus 11.15 Siemens AG Exhibit 128: Siemens AG - Overview Exhibit 129: Siemens AG - Business segments Exhibit 130: Siemens AG - Key news Exhibit 131: Siemens AG - Key offerings Exhibit 132: Siemens AG - Segment focus 11.16 Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. Exhibit 133: Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 134: Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 135: Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 136: Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 137: Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. - Segment focus 11.17 Toshiba Corp. Exhibit 138: Toshiba Corp. - Overview Exhibit 139: Toshiba Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 140: Toshiba Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 141: Toshiba Corp. - Segment focus 12 Appendix 12.1 Scope of the report 12.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 142: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 143: Exclusions checklist 12.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 144: Currency conversion rates for US$ 12.4 Research methodology Exhibit 145: Research methodology Exhibit 146: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 147: Information sources 12.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 148: 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 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/it-market-in-germany-to-grow-by-usd-30-34-billion-from-2022-to-2027-broadcom-inc-capgemini-service-sas-cisco-systems-inc-and-more-to-emerge-as-key-players--technavio-301884174.html SOURCE Technavio [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 25, 2023] Farmers Edge Announces Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results Release Date Tweet Farmers Edge Inc. ("Farmers Edge" or the "Company") (TSX: FDGE) announced today that the Company's second quarter 2023 financial results will be released after market close on Thursday, August 10, 2023. At that time, the financial results and related materials will be posted on the Farmers Edge Investor Relations website at https://farmersedge.ca/investor-relations/reports-and-filings/. Farmers Edge will hold a live audio webcast at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, August 10, 2023, to discuss the Company's financial results and business highlights. All interested parties are invited to listen to the live audio webcast at https://www.gowebcasting.com/12659. Following the event, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Farmers Edge Investor Relations website. About Farmers Edge Farmers Edge is a global leader in digital agriculture, revolutionizing the industry with a broad portfolio of proprietary technological innovations, spanning hardware, software, and services. Powered by a unique combination of connected field sensors, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and agronomic expertise, the Company's digital platform turns data into actions and intelligent insights, delivering value to all stakeholders of the agricultural ecosystem. Farmers Edge disruptive technologies accelerate digital adoption on the farm and beyond, protecting our global resources and ensuring sustainable food production for a rapidly growing population. For more information on Farmers Edge, please visit www.farmersedge.ca. Additional information relating to the Company, including all public filings, is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230725934620/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 25, 2023] Germany Data Center Market Investment Analysis Report 2023-2028: Government Paves the Way for Digital Economy Growth - 5G Deployment Surge Spurs Demand for Edge Facilities Tweet DUBLIN, July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Germany Data Center Market - Investment Analysis & Growth Opportunities 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Germany data center market will witness investments of USD 7.58 billion by 2028 from $6.39 billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 2.9% This report analyses the Germany data center market share. It elaboratively analyses the existing and upcoming facilities and investments in IT, electrical, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standards. It discusses market sizing and investment estimation for different segments. In 2022, some key investors in the Germany data center market were Equinix, Digital Realty, Vantage Data Centers, Penta Infra, maincubes, NDC-GARBE Data Centers, CyrusOne, and Green Mountain. Equinix, Colt Data Centre Services, maincubes, Iron Mountain, CyrusOne, Penta Infra, OVHcloud, and Vantage Data Centers are also major colocation operators operating in the Germany data center market. Germany's government is continuously trying to improve the country's digital economy. The German Federal Government launched its Artificial Intelligence strategy, which has plans to invest around USD 5.07 billion until 2025. Regarding 5G deployment, telecom operators such as Vodafone, Telefonica Deutschland, and Deutsche Telekom are majorly involved in deploying 5G network services nationwide. According to a recent statement from Deutsche Telekom, in January 2023, 94% of people across the country were already connected to the country's 5G network. The 5G network connectivity deployment increase drives the demand for edge facilities in the Germany data center market. In February 2023, I Squared Capital launched the edge data center firm nLighten in Germany. The company plans to launch around 10 locations in Germany. Under EU law, Germany established free trade zones such as Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven, Deggendorf, and Duisburg, attracting data center operators to invest in these trade zones. The country aims for carbon neutrality, and even colocation providers are moving toward carbon neutrality. For instance, Global Switch will reduce carbon emissions by adopting 100% renewable energy in all its facilities by 2030. WHY SHOULD YOU BUY THIS RESEARCH? Market size available in the investment, area, power capacity, and Germany colocation market revenue. colocation market revenue. An assessment of the data center investment in Germay by colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise operators. by colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise operators. Investments in the area (square feet) and power capacity (MW) across states in the country. A detailed study of the existing Germany data center market landscape, an in-depth market analysis, and insightful predictions about industry size during the forecast period. data center market landscape, an in-depth market analysis, and insightful predictions about industry size during the forecast period. Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party data center facilities in Germany Facilities Covered (Existing): 140 Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 17 Coverage: 25+ Cities Existing vs. Upcoming (Area) Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity) Data center colocation market in Germany Market Revenue & Forecast (2022-2028) Retail Colocation Pricing The Germany market investments are classified into IT, power, cooling, and general construction services with sizing and forecast. market investments are classified into IT, power, cooling, and general construction services with sizing and forecast. A comprehensive analysis of the latest trends, growth rate, potential opportunities, growth restraints, and prospects for the market. Business overview and product offerings of prominent IT infrastructure providers, construction contractors, support infrastructure providers, and investors operating in the market. A transparent research methodology and the analysis of the demand and supply aspects of the market. VENDOR LANDSCAPE IT Infrastructure Providers Atos Broadcom Cisco Systems Dell Technologies Fujitsu Hewlett Packard Enterprise Huawei Technologies IBM Juniper Networks Lenovo NetApp Data Center Construction Contractors & Sub-Contractors AECOM Arup Collen Construction DPR Construction ICT Facilities KLEINUNDARCHITEKTEN Lupp Group Max Bogl Mercury Engineering M+W Group (Exyte) Royal HaskoningDHV STS Group SPIE Winthrop Engineering Zech Group Support Infrastructure Providers ABB Airedale International Air Conditioning Caterpillar Cummins Delta Electronics Eaton KOHLER-SDMO Legrand Mitsubishi Electric Piller Power Systems Riello UPS Rittal Rolls Royce Schneider Electric Siemens Socomec STULZ Vertiv Data Center Investors China Mobile International Colt Data Centre Services CyrusOne Datacenter One Digital Realty Equinix Global Switch Hetzner Online Iron Mountain ITENOS Lumen Technologies Maincubes noris network NDC-GARBE Data Centers NTT Global Data Centers Penta Infra Telehouse Vantage Data Centers New Entrants NewTelco Damac Data Centres Data Castle Yondr EXISTING VS. UPCOMING DATA CENTERS Existing Facilities in the Region (Area and Power Capacity) Frankfurt Munich Berlin Hamburg Nuremberg Dusseldorf Other Cities List of Upcoming Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity) REPORT COVERAGE: IT Infrastructure Servers Storage Systems Network Infrastructure Electrical Infrastructure UPS Systems Generators Switches & Switchgears PDUs Other Electrical Infrastructure Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems Racks Other Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems CRAC & CRAH Units Chiller Units Cooling Towers, Condensers & Dry Coolers Economizers & Evaporative Coolers Other Cooling Units General Construction Core & Shell Development Installation & Commissioning Services Engineering & Building Design Fire Detection & Suppression Physical Security Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Tier Standard Tier I & Tier II Tier III Tier IV For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nxrpna About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/germany-data-center-market-investment-analysis-report-2023-2028-government-paves-the-way-for-digital-economy-growth---5g-deployment-surge-spurs-demand-for-edge-facilities-301885294.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 25, 2023] International conference on network communication held in NW China's Xinjiang Tweet BEIJING, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The first "Hello, Silk Road" International Conference on Internet Communication was held on July 23 in Karamay, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Over 200 guests, including experts and scholars from more than 20 countries, Chinese and foreign journalists, and online influencers gathered together to envision future cooperation between China and countries along the Belt and Road in the field of international communication. Wang Jianxin, director of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee in Xinjiang, sincerely invited Chinese and foreign journalists and online influencers to visit Xinjiang, discover a beautiful Xinjiang and tell stories of people-to-people connectivity along the Silk Road well. Mederbek Shermetaliev, head of the Kabar News Agency of Kyrgyzstan, said Central Asian countries enjoy a bright prospect of development thanks to BRI cooperation. The media should extensively convey information bout the aims and objectives of building high-level strategic partnerships between China and Central Asian countries to the general public in a way which is easy to understand. "We need to stay focused and engage in in-depth exchanges to promote cooperation and win-win results," Argentine Ambassador to China Sabino Vaca Narvaja said in a video speech. Chen Kai, mayor of Karamay, noted that the city will contribute to the realization of the dream of integration of diverse cultures in the world, the dream of connecting the world and making progress together under the BRI, and the great dream of building a community with a shared future for mankind. During a roundtable discussion on international communication & value shaping and cultural envoys & common prosperity, the guests shared their views on international communication and other topics. Zhang Weiwei, director of the China Institute of Fudan University, pointed out that compared to traditional media, the threshold of participating in international communication has been lowered today and thanks to cultural diversity, good stories are told everywhere. The first "Hello, Silk Road" International Conference on Internet Communication was co-hosted by the information office of the government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the government of Karamay and Global Times Online, and supported by the Special Fund for Positive Online Communication of the China Internet Development Foundation. Company: Global Times Online Contact Person: Yu Jiayi Email:[email protected] Website:http://www.chinapda.org.cn/eng/ Telephone:18001026933 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/international-conference-on-network-communication-held-in-nw-chinas-xinjiang-301885807.html SOURCE Global Times Online [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 25, 2023] Tekno Point/DEPT strengthens its Adobe DX Practice with the inauguration of a new Global CX Development Centre Tweet This state-of-the-art Global CX Development Centre in Mumbai will serve as a hub of innovation, dedicated to empowering Adobe customers in expediting their digital and experience transformation initiatives. MUMBAI, India, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tekno Point/DEPT, an Adobe Global Platinum Partner specialized in Adobe Experience Manager & Adobe Analytics, is a leader in helping brands deliver personalized customer experiences that change with the speed of business at scale. The new Global CX Development Centre, located in Mumbai, was inaugurated recently, further reinforcing the position of Tekno Point/DEPT as a global leader in helping enterprises drive ROI from their Adobe investments. The new Global CX Development Centre will enable Tekno Point/DEPT to meet the growing need for a reliable global Adobe Digital Experience partner with the ability to scale rapidly without losing the agility to drive faster outcomes. Philip Cronin, Director of Adobe APAC Partner Sales Group and the esteemed guest of honor, inauurated the new Global CX Development Centre. "With the all-new Global CX Development Centre in Mumbai, Tekno Point/DEPT has evolved to 'Made in India for the world'," said Philip Cronin, Director Adobe APAC Partner Sales Group. "Our long-term partnership will continue to deliver value at scale to customers across the region." "Our new Global CX development center is a step towards expanding the Adobe partnership. We aim to expand our capabilities across the Adobe suite to meet the needs of enterprises globally, addressing initiatives like the content supply chain, hyper-personalization, and generative AI-based content automation, along with new service offerings like 24/7 Application Support," said Himanshu Mody, Founder & CEO, Tekno Point/DEPT. "Proximity to our existing development center provides the perfect collaborative environment for our teams to learn, grow, and consistently drive innovative solutions for our customers. We are delighted to add a new customer experience lab to showcase the art of the possible. We continue to stand true to our commitment to providing the reliability, agility, and scale that our customers need," said Yash Mody, CTO, Tekno Point/DEPT. About Tekno Point/DEPT Tekno Point/DEPT has consecutively been awarded the Adobe Digital Experience Emerging Partner of the Year, APAC, in 2022 and 2021. With over 70 Adobe DX Stack Go-lives in the last 36 months, Tekno Point/DEPT has been a reliable Adobe partner to enterprises across industry verticals globally, including Banking, Life Insurance, General Insurance, NBFC, Retail & Manufacturing Paints, Tyres, Cement, Automotive, deriving the best value from their Adobe investments. Tekno Point/DEPT enables business, digital, and IT leaders to deliver faster time to market and accelerate continuous innovation driven by in-depth analytics and hyper-personalization capabilities. Their in-house API accelerators help brands expand the possibilities to deliver a truly omnichannel experience to their consumers. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2161131/Tekno_Points_Global_CX_Development_Denter.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2018664/TeknopointDEPT_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/tekno-pointdept-strengthens-its-adobe-dx-practice-with-the-inauguration-of-a-new-global-cx-development-centre-301885436.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 26, 2023] OnePlus Brings Magic Power to Thailand with OnePlus APAC Smartphone Ambassador, Jackson Wang as A Treat for OnePlus Fans Tweet With the recent launch of the OnePlus Nord 3 5G, OnePlus thrills Thai fans with the OnePlus 'Meet Your Magic Power' event with OnePlus APAC Smartphone Ambassador, Jackson Wang BANGKOK, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate the successful launch of the OnePlus Nord 3 5G, OnePlus APAC thrills fans, media, KOL friends and the channel partners with a magical and powerful on-ground event with OnePlus APAC Smartphone Ambassador, Jackson Wang in Bangkok, Thailand. Jackson Wang, OnePlus APAC Smartphone Ambassador shared, "It's been an honor being part of the OnePlus family. The OnePlus Never Settle spirit is synonymous with my own values of always improving and reinvention. OnePlus APAC has taken the year by storm following the successful launches of the OnePlus 11 5G and recent OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G and the announcement of the first OnePlus APAC Smartphone Ambassador, Jackson Wang. This powerful collaboration continues to surprise fans of the brand. It has been an eventful year for OnePlus, and earlier this month, the brand launched the highly anticipated OnePlus Nord 3 5G, the latest addition to the Nordseries, an all-rounder that brings to the table an outstanding OnePlus experience with big upgrades to performance, display, and imaging. OnePlus Nord 3 5G The latest Nord presents itself as the most powerful OnePlus Nord phone to date, with flagship-level hardware with the 4 nanometre octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset offering users a powerful performance of superior speed and battery life management. Continuing the flagship-grade experience, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G comes with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, which complements OnePlus's RAM-Vita software allowing up to 44 apps to run simultaneously. With the drive to Never Settle, OnePlus upgraded the OnePlus Nord 3 5G with 80W SUPERVOOC and 5000mAh battery, more than 10 per cent bigger than its predecessor along with the Battery Health Engine to give an expected lifecycle of up to 1600 charging cycles and fast charging from one to 100 per cent in 30 minutes. Further promoting the flagship experience with the OnePlus Nord 3 5G, the smartphone comes with imaging hardware and software featured in the powerful OnePlus 11 5G flagship device launched earlier this year. With the 50-megapixel Sony IMX890, complete with optical image stabilization, and TurboRAW night, gives users perfect imaging in any situation. True to OnePlus fashion, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G is an elegant and understated work of art with a flat 6.74-inch 120Hz Super Fluid AMOLED display with 450 pixels per inch and up to 1450 nits of brightness designed for seamless and beautiful scrolling anywhere, anytime. As OnePlus continues its brand expansion in the APAC region, the goal is to push on with the Never Settle spirit and continue to give OnePlus's loyal fans and supporters greater product offerings and shape the landscape for the smartphone and technology industry across the APAC region. About OnePlus OnePlus is a global mobile technology brand challenging conventional concepts of technology. Created around the "Never Settle" mantra, OnePlus creates exquisitely designed devices with premium build quality and high-performance hardware. OnePlus thrives on cultivating strong bonds and growing together with its community of users and fans. For more information, please visit OnePlus.com or follow us on: Instagram - https://instagram.com/oneplus Facebook - https://facebook.com/oneplus Twitter - https://twitter.com/oneplus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/oneplus View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/oneplus-brings-magic-power-to-thailand-with-oneplus-apac-smartphone-ambassador-jackson-wang-as-a-treat-for-oneplus-fans-301885960.html SOURCE OnePlus APAC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 26, 2023] Turkiye Signs Cooperation Agreements in the Fintech Sector with Gulf Countries Tweet ISTANBUL, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Turkiye boosts fintech collaboration with Gulf countries through signed agreements during visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations and establish itself as a fintech hub. In these visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, Turkiye signed 18 agreements and a joint declaration covering various areas, including investment, industry, healthcare, renewable energy, and the space industry. Private sector representatives assessed Gulf countries' investment and cooperation opportunities. Contacts were also established in the fintech sector. Erkan Kork, Chairman of PayFix, stated, "Turkiye has a goal of becoming a fintech hub. Just like in many other sectors, Turkiye can also become a hub for Gulf countries in the fintech field." Erdogan's Gulf tour enhances trade and investment cooperation. Over 200 Turkish businessdelegates attended meetings in Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, and Doha, coinciding with Turkiye's currency attraction efforts and Gulf countries investment diversification goals. 50.7 billion dollars agreement between Turkiye and UAE During Erdogan's visit, which encompassed Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, agreements and a joint declaration were signed in various fields, including investment, industry, defense, healthcare, renewable energy, and the space industry, totaling 18 agreements. The most remarkable one was the $50.7 billion agreement signed between Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates during President Erdogan's meeting with UAE's President, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Turkiye Could Become Fintech Hub in Gulf Important representatives of the business community also welcomed Erdogan's Gulf visit with satisfaction. Erkan Kork, Chairman of PayFix, stated that with the visit of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a prime period has been experienced in relations with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. He said, "We had significant discussions in the fintech sector. There is a strong desire to invest in Turkiye. During this process, our Investment Office President, Burak Daglioglu, is making tremendous efforts to attract investments to Turkiye, and we are grateful to them. We had crucial discussions in the financial technology sector. Turkiye is truly a land of opportunities. As our President mentioned, Turkiye aims to become a fintech hub. Turkiye can potentially be a hub for Gulf countries in the fintech field, just like it's in many other sectors." https://www.payfix.com.tr Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2161062/Payfix.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/turkiye-signs-cooperation-agreements-in-the-fintech-sector-with-gulf-countries-301885034.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 26, 2023] Xuan Wu Cloud (2392.HK) Launches the First AIGC Product, Aiming to Create New Benchmark in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Industry Tweet GUANGZHOU, China, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With the implementation of the Interim Measures for the Management of Generative Artificial Intelligence Services, the domestic AIGC applications are set to enter a new phase of orderly development. In a recent announcement, Xuan Wu Cloud (2392.HK), the largest intelligent CRM service provider in China, unveiled its pioneering AIGC application, the "Intelligent FMCG Assistant," tailored for the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. This innovative application is designed to empower the Sales Force Automation (SFA) product module, optimizing the entire workflow intelligence for sales personnel and assisting FMCG enterprises in elevating operational efficiency while reducing cost, and refining marketing growth strategies. According to Ding Ming, Director of Xuan Wu Cloud's AI Lab, the majority of FMCG enterprises are currently grappling with issues such as uneven sales force capabilities, subpar display quality at retail terminals, wastage of terminal expenses and etc. In essence, despite significant investments in distribution costs and employee wages, these companies struggle to ensure compliance with terminal distribution and display requirements. In response to these business conundrums, Xuan Wu Cloud's "Intelligent FMCG Assistant" leverages the five core functions of AIGC to provide intelligent assistance and recommendations for FMCG sales personnel throughout the entire workflow. This advanced tool aims to enhance the efficiency of FMCG sales personnel, reduce expenditure wastage, and improve the quality of terminal distribution and displays. The ultimate goal is to elevate brand exposure and drive sales. Taking a closer look, during the training period for new sales personnel, Xuan Wu Cloud's "Intelligent FMCG Assistant" utilizes its "Conversation Practice Robot" feature to generate dialogues, assisting FMCG sales representatives in honing their sales pitches and deepening their product knowledge, while reducing training costs and unnecessary expenditures. During the store visit process, its"Route Planning Assistant" feature generates optimal visit routes and frequencies, thereby enhancing brand expansion and visit efficiency. Furthermore, in the realm of store display operations, the "Display Visit Commander" function comes into play, devising display layouts, guiding sales personnel in store management and display optimization. As a result, FMCG enterprises can achieve better shelf presence and heightened product visibility, ultimately driving sales. Simultaneously, as sales personnel collect data from the terminal stores, the "Intelligent FMCG Assistant" features a handy "Report Specialist" function, empowering FMCG executives and sales representatives to customize report data dimensions. This powerful tool generates diverse reports and automatically deciphers their content, bolstering analytical prowess and providing crucial insights to support effective decision-making at the corporate level. At the final stages of the sales personnel's workflow, the "Work Summary Assistant" feature of the aforementioned applications collects visitation records, audio recordings, and other data to automatically convert them into structured work summaries and intelligently generate action plans for the next steps, effectively addressing issues arising from low sales personnel efficiency and lack of organized planning, which may hinder work progress. Ding Ming expressed that the intelligent CRM product matrix of Xuan Wu Cloud has long been empowered by AI technology. "The integration of AIGC application into the intelligent CRM represents a strategic move. On the one hand, it leverages the existing commercial foundation of AIGC technology to bestow the product with enhanced personalization, dynamism, and scalability; on the other hand, as the application matures, it is poised to further bolster the prowess and competitiveness of the intelligent CRM, ushering customers into a new era of digitization. The amalgamation of AIGC and the intelligent CRM holds vast potential for diverse applications within FMCG industry. Xuan Wu Cloud, as the sole domestic CRM provider with comprehensive self-developed AI technology, possesses over a decade of extensive experience in the FMCG sector. Looking ahead, Xuan Wu Cloud plans to integrate AIGC into a myriad of additional application services within the intelligent CRM, while remaining open to the possibility of introducing a multi-modal, large-scale AIGC model catered specifically to the FMCG sector." Indeed, AI combined with SaaS has emerged as a prominent industry trend. A research report by Goldman Sachs highlights a promising outlook for collaborative efforts between SaaS companies and AI enterprises, rather than a competitive stance. This strategic integration of AI with B2B SaaS solutions holds the potential to fortify technological moats so as to elevate the capabilities of SaaS firms. SaaS companies can leverage their vast reservoirs of data to strengthen and train large-scale language models driven by artificial intelligence. This capability empowers SaaS firms to extract crucial insights, automate various processes, and simultaneously enhance workforce efficiency. Meanwhile, as domestic regulatory policies take root, a clear trend of new opportunities is emerging in the AIGC industry market. According to Soochow Securities' projections, the penetration rate of AIGC in content generation is set to rise rapidly, leading to a swift expansion in its application scope. The AIGC market is expected to surpass a trillion yuan by 2030. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/xuan-wu-cloud-2392hk-launches-the-first-aigc-product-aiming-to-create-new-benchmark-in-the-fast-moving-consumer-goods-industry-301886146.html SOURCE Xuan Wu Cloud Technology Holdings Limited [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 26, 2023] Approov Launches Global Partner Program for Easy Access to Mobile Security with Comprehensive Support Tweet Approov, the end-to-end mobile app security provider, today launched a comprehensive global partner program dedicated to ensuring qualified business, reseller and technology leaders have access to its proven mobile security and comprehensive support, building on the large a number of existing Approov technology partnerships. Qualified participants can sell, integrate and support cutting-edge mobile security solutions from Approov in order to safeguard mobile apps, a critical element for almost all business transactions today. Approov partners work together with Approov technology experts to deliver complete solutions to their customers. Partners can help their customers fortify their applications against threats and vulnerabilities, ensuring the highest level of security for their users. "Approov Partner Program participants can offer their customers the peace of mind that their mobile apps are protected against malicious attacks, unauthorized usage, and data breaches," asserts Ted Miracco, Approov's CEO. "Together, we can enable businesses to provide a secure and seamless mobile experience, instilling trust and confidence in their users." Participating in the Approov Partnership Program offers a variety of advantages, notably the ability to secure mobile applications. Approov's unique and effective solution addresses the specific needs of a company and its mobile applications. An Approov partner can provide tangible value to businesses and unlock substantial and recurring revenue. Partners can deliver state-of-the-art mobile app security addressing customer needs, add value to their business and open new revenue opportunities as they ensure security for mobile apps in an increasingly interconnected world. Approov offers a full range o assistance and tools to partners as well as access to a rich ecosystem of experts. Vitor Villani, CEO at Shield Security, an Approov partner, says, "As our clients depend more and more on mobile apps, they need an innovative solution to protect these apps and APIs. Working with Approov we can now deliver that end-to-end solution to our clients and this has allowed us to expand our business into mobile." He added, "It has been a pleasure to work with Approov. They were very hands-on in the first deals as we got up to speed with the solution, and they provided us with the expertise, community and tools we needed to quickly become trusted advisors in mobile security." Qualified participants can be consultants, managed security service providers (MSSPs), resellers or technologists with a focus on safeguarding mobile security. More information about the partner program, qualification criteria and registration information are available at the Approov partner portal. For a limited time only, newly registered and qualified partners will be entitled to five complimentary mobile app security assessments to offer to their customers, delivered by Approov experts in collaboration with the partner. To be considered, please register before October 1, 2023. Approov at Black Hat Approov executives will be available to meet with potential partners during Black Hat USA August 5-10, 2023, at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV. Attendees and consultants, MSPs, resellers, technologists or technology leaders can arrange to meet with Approov by registering here or sending an email to [email protected]. About Approov Approov is considered a cornerstone of mobile application security for leading global organizations whose consumer and B2B applications are used by millions annually, including eCommerce, financial services, healthcare and connected car sector organizations. Approov provides a comprehensive runtime security solution for mobile apps and their APIs, unified across iOS and Android. Mobile apps have become a critical element for every business and unfortunately can expose organizations to breaches, fraud, denial of service, and other forms of API abuse. Approov immediately stops any automated tools or compromised apps from manipulating any part of the end-to-end mobile platform, turning away unauthorized access attempts by scripts, bots and fake or tampered apps. By eliminating false positives and providing runtime application self-protection (RASP) as well as just-in-time-management of API keys, secrets and certificates, Approov delivers both exceptional operational convenience and highly robust security at scale. Engage with Approov: Website: https://www.approov.io/ Twitter: @approov_io LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/criticalblue View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726899488/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 26, 2023] Coro Acquires Network Security Startup Privatise Tweet Coro, the modern cybersecurity platform for mid-market organizations, today announced the acquisition of Privatise, an Israeli supplier of network security solutions for in-office and remote work. The acquisition adds critical SASE capabilities to Coro's all-in-one platform and is part of an aggressive growth strategy, fueled by Coro's $155M funding over the last 12 months, to expand the capabilities of Coro's cybersecurity platform both organically and through strategic acquisitions. As the network edge continues to expand, Gartner predicts that by 2025, 80% of enterprises will have adopted a strategy to unify web, cloud services and private application access using a SASE/SSE architecture.** The challenge for mid-market organizations - who have lean IT teams, limited budgets and little to no cybersecurity expertise --is managing the cost and complexity typically associated with SASE implementations. With the Privatise acquisition, Coro now offers a single source of comprehensive security and protection -- all managed through a unified, cloud-based platform -- for any organizational configuration. Coro's SASE solution includes military grade VPN, Secure RDP, ZTNA, Next Generation Firewall, DNS Filtering, and is fully integrated into Coro's holistic security architecture, eliminating security gaps caused by siloed approaches to SASE. Whether a company's assets are cloud first, on-prem, or hybrid, Coro can protect the user, the device they use, the network they connect through, their emails, and the data they acces, use and share, all while ensuring compliance with critical supply chain and industry regulations. "Since its founding, Coro has focused on delivering a comprehensive, yet affordable and easy to use cybersecurity solution for mid-market companies," said Guy Moskowitz, CEO, Coro. "By integrating Privatise's SASE capabilities into our platform, we offer the industry's first mid-market solution to deliver cloud-native, seamless and secure access to applications and resources regardless of location or device. We will continue to invest in Coro's platform, both organically and through acquisition, to help companies strengthen their security posture and improve their operational efficiency." The Privatise acquisition is the latest milestone in Coro's growth and momentum. In April, the company announced a $75M funding round from Energy Impact Partners, bringing the total funding raised in the last 12 months to $155M. Coro projects it will grow 300% year-over-year in 2023, extending its extraordinary 300% annual growth record to a 5th year in a row. The Company's modern approach to cybersecurity - delivering enterprise grade security through a single platform that unifies, simplifies and automates workloads -- has been validated by more than 5000 mid-market customers across every vertical industry. Over the past year, Coro tripled its revenue, customer and employee base, and signed more than 100 new channel partners. About Coro Coro provides modern cybersecurity that unifies comprehensive protection into a single platform. Coro empowers organizations to defend against malware, ransomware, phishing, data leakage, insider threats and email threats across devices, users, and cloud applications. More than 5,000 businesses depend on Coro for protection, unrivaled ease of use, and unmatched affordability. Coro's cybersecurity platform automatically detects and remediates the many security threats that today's distributed businesses face, without IT teams having to worry, investigate, or fix issues themselves. In addition to Energy Impact Partners, investors in Coro include Balderton Capital, JVP, and Ashton Kutcher's Sound Ventures. For more information, please visit Coro at coro.net, or via LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook. **2022 Strategic Roadmap for SASE Convergence - Neil MacDonald, Andrew Lerner, John Watts. June 24, 2022. Gartner is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the US internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726535022/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A police screen in Marbella (Spain) shields the corpse of a man shot dead in June 2020. Antonio Paz (EFE) On October 27, 2019, a hiker found the bullet-riddled body of a man in a roadside ditch between Marbella and Istan (in southern Spain). The victims partner said she hadnt heard from him in two days. During the investigation, the police found small glass fragments at the crime scene and, further down the road, a bloody bullet casing next to a CD with Cyrillic letters. These clues were crucial for the specialized group within the National Polices Organized Crime and Delinquency Unit (UDYCO). Established after a murderous 2018 that saw over 20 killings on the Costa del Sol, the group successfully solved the case in 15 days. The perpetrator was apprehended in Germany and was sentenced to almost 19 years in prison. The units success story doesnt end there all of their 18 cases have been brilliantly solved. The events in 2018 that unleashed so much violence on Spains touristy southern coast remain unclear. Experts believe a combination of factors such as increased gang activity, a distributed business network, frequent clashes and heightened police pressure contributed to a shocking 20 murders in the vicinity of Marbella, followed by a dozen more deaths the following year. In early 2019, the National Police established a specialized team with agents from different units. Their primary goal was to tackle organized crime-related vendettas on the Costa del Sol. They quickly made progress by solving their first case the fatal shooting of a Marbella entrepreneur while he was driving into his garage on January 21. Since then, they have maintained a remarkable 100% success rate in resolving all the cases brought before them, making 49 arrests in the process. The teams leader said, Its totally unprecedented and historic were really proud of the work weve done. I dont think theres any [law enforcement] group in Spain that has achieved this level of effectiveness, he adds. Their unit thrives on challenges. Were all about giving things a try. No matter how tough it may seem, or how weird the idea is that pops into our heads, we have to give it a shot. Sometimes we dont find the way immediately, but other times, that spark of inspiration hits when we least expect it. Sometimes a little detail offers a thread to follow that just appears out of nowhere! You start from scratch all you have is a body, he said, noting that their work is quietly meticulous. It involves viewing hundreds of hours of security camera footage, reviewing countless documents, and putting in long hours of surveillance. Its a 24-hour job, he said. A criminal he arrested once asked, Youre the guys cleaning up the coast, right? The spiral of violence that once plagued the Costa del Sol coastline has notably diminished. Over the past two years, murder has become the rare exception rather than the norm. Gang wars In June 2022, a Serbian was held hostage by four men in Marbellas Golden Beach residential development. They bound and tortured him, and finally executed him with two shots. Drug money is often the motive behind these crimes. However, there was one exception: a Moroccan street vendor in Torremolinos who was shot 10 times in April 2021. At first, it was believed to be drug-related, but further investigation revealed that it was the fatal outcome of a business dispute resolved with bullets. The flea market murder was very different from another one in Marbella a year earlier. Two members of a gang from Montenegro shot and killed a Serbian national in broad daylight on the street. The perpetrators fled on a motorcycle. The officers quickly located the vehicle within a few hours, but the leak of that information to the press complicated the investigation. They later discovered a cap near the vehicle and a shirt covered in blood a few meters away in an open field. The cap led investigators to the store where it was purchased, and the stores cameras helped identify the buyer and his accomplice. Coincidentally, they had already been identified at a Covid-19 checkpoint while traveling from Barcelona to Malaga. A search of their home uncovered a sketch of the victims residence and an X marking the planned location of the murder. We arrested them 10 days later, said the police officer. The accused murderers have been in preventive detention since their arrest. The murder of the Serbian was a result of a gang war between two clans from Montenegro the Kavacs and the Skaljars that has left a bloody trail of death throughout Europe. The hitmen we arrested are actually part of one of the most sophisticated criminal organizations weve come across, said the police officer. The victim, who carried fake identification just like his assassins, was on parole from a drug trafficking sentence at the time of his death. The special unit has arrested 49 individuals from various countries, reflecting the diverse criminal groups operating on the Costa del Sol. Only one Spanish citizen, who is believed to be the mastermind behind a number of revenge killings, has been arrested. In November 2019, he was linked to an incident where a Moroccan man lost his life and another was paralyzed after being shot by two Romanians during a drug deal in the Alvarito Playa area of Marbella. These days, criminals really should think twice before they act. Theres always someone who thinks they can get away with it, but trust me, we will catch them, warns the officer, who says their job is not finished until a judge hands down a guilty verdict. The issue lies in the slow judicial process. Out of their 18 cases, only one has made it to trial so far. That particular case involved a Bulgarian national who was convicted of murdering a compatriot and disposing of the body in a ravine near Istan. In March, a jury unanimously convicted the murderer and a judge gave him an 18-year prison sentence. We gather all the evidence to make the strongest case possible for conviction. That case is a shining example. None of the other criminals arrested have made it to trial yet. At that point, there is nothing more we can do, said the officer, who only asks that the justice system finish the work they started. Otherwise, all the bad guys will start thinking that murder has zero consequences. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition [July 26, 2023] Tagger Media Expands into South Africa Via Partnership with Tribeez Tweet Tagger Media, the global technology leader making influencer marketing more intelligent, today announces its expansion into South Africa through an exclusive partnership with Tribeez, an influencer marketing and social intelligence agency based in Cape Town. The market for global influencer marketing platforms is projected to expand from $10.54 billion in 2022 to $94.24 billion by 2030, representing a significant opportunity for growth. With a trusted roster of brands and agencies located across six continents and more than 20 international offices, Tagger understands the need for a global presence to support enterprise organizations and their creator and influencer marketing strategies. "The digital and social landscape continues to evolve rapidly, and it's more important than ever that brands have access to data and analytics to empower their teams to make informed decisions and drive successful campaigns," said Dave Dickman, CEO at Tagger Media. "Partnering with Tribeez is an important step for us to continue to provide the SaaS solutions that companies need to gain a competitive edge today in the South African market. We're excited to support the region and collaborate with the Tribeez team." Tagger opted to partner with Tribeez due to its impressive roster of clients and strategic leadership in the influencer marketing space. The company has worked on campaigns with Nando's, MTN, Pick n Pay, The Foschini Group and Dr. Oetker Pizza, among other leading brands in the region. "Influencer marketing has rapidly grown over the last few years in South Africa as more companies realized the value of this marketing channel to support growth goals and connect with target audiences," said raig Wight, Head of Social Intelligence at Tribeez. "We're well positioned as a leader in the region when it comes to partnering with brands to drive results and beginning this relationship with Tagger is validation of this fact. This partnership has invigorated our team, and we're thrilled to see what we can achieve." In 2023, according to data from Meltwater, 76% of B2C organizations in Africa will use influencer marketing, 5% higher than the number reported globally. It's expected that this marketing channel will continue to grow rapidly. Tagger's partnership with Tribeez will help the company further its leadership across the continent and in the South African region. Tagger's end-to-end SaaS solution was recently named the Best Influencer Marketing Platform at the 2023 Global Influencer Marketing Awards. It provides brands and influencers with a powerful tool to discover, connect and collaborate with partners worldwide. Powered by advanced analytics and machine learning tools, the company's suite of solutions provides actionable insights for teams to navigate the influencer marketing space with ease. About Tagger Media Tagger Media is a global leader in revolutionizing how top brands and agencies harness data and analytics to drive creator and influencer marketing strategies. Trusted by global enterprises, Tagger is a disruptive SaaS solution that offers unparalleled expertise. Leveraging API partnerships with major social channels, Tagger connects millions of brand and influencer profiles to billions of social data points, offering the industry's most robust social intelligence and actionable insights. Enterprise clients include Hasbro, Paramount, Ketchum, Valvoline, Dolce & Gabbana, Bose and Omnicom Public Relations Group. Tagger's platform provides powerful analytics, all-in-one capabilities, and strategic integrations for efficient campaign workflows. Spanning six continents and support for over 890+ organizations in 10 languages, Tagger Media remains at the global forefront of influencer marketing. To learn more about Tagger, visit www.taggermedia.com. About Tribeez Tribeez is a groundbreaking Social Intelligence Influencer Agency in SA, driven by the synergy of Influencers and an exceptional tech platform through our strategic partnership with Tagger Media. Our founding partners boast extensive experience in the digital media industry, leading to the establishment of Tribeez in 2020. Our core principle is to revolutionize the way brands approach influencer marketing, focusing on engaging with diverse tribes instead of relying on conventional influencer tactics. At the heart of our ethos lies the commitment to crafting captivating content rather than conventional ads, underpinned by a robust analytical and data-driven approach. Through our game-changing alliance with Tagger Media, we have transformed the landscape of influencer and creator marketing. The results from all our campaigns in 2023 have far surpassed expectations, setting new benchmarks in the SA Influencer landscape. Our vision is to continue shaping the future of influencer marketing, propelling brands towards unparalleled success through meaningful connections with their target audiences. Let Tribeez be your catalyst for success in the digital realm. Experience the power of social intelligence and creativity, combined with data-driven insights, to propel your brand to new heights. Get in touch with us today to embark on an extraordinary influencer marketing journey. www.tribeezsocial.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726522107/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 26, 2023] Gerber Federal Credit Union Partners with Mahalo Banking to Optimize Digital Banking Capabilities Tweet Fremont, Mi.-based Gerber Federal Credit Union ('Gerber FCU' - $225M in assets) has partnered with Mahalo Banking, a CUSO that provides premier online and mobile banking solutions for credit unions, to offer member-centric features and streamline banking service processes for its members. Gerber FCU is leveraging Mahalo's banking platform to simplify the banking experience for members. Users of the credit union platform will be able to access a clean, user-friendly design with mirrored features across the online and mobile banking experiences. Members will be able to more easily join the credit union, onboard and fund their account to quickly begin using the credit union's services. The credit union will also be able to use Mahalo's platform to offer a more member-centric design through the neurodiversity features including colorblindness view options and left-handed toggle mode to improve usability. Tina Spoelman, Senior IT Manager of Gerber FCU, explained, "Our goal was to partner with a mobile and online provider to ensure our members would have the modern services necessary for 21st-century banking. In Mahalo, we found a forward-looking partner who will help us unify the features found within our online and mobile offerings to create a more seamless omnichannel experience. We're also excited to implement Mahalo's Thoughtful Banking neurodiversity tools. Ensuring successful platform navigation for those who have visual impairments is an important design aspect that many vendors don't take into consideration, and we are delighted to have a partner that values all member experiences." Led by credit unin industry natives, the Mahalo Banking platform is designed to intuitively meet the needs of today's credit unions and their members. The platform is also the industry's first online banking solution that has fully integrated comprehensive neurodiverse functionality to better serve the unique needs of all members. Mahalo's technology offers modern features, deep core integrations and efficient third-party integrations that allow credit unions to better retain and grow their membership base. Spoelman added, "We are proud to be working with a forward-looking company like Mahalo that is always imagining how they can transform the future of credit union technology. Not only is their team deeply ingrained in the credit union culture, but they also innately understand our local roots and values. We trust they will be a fantastic partner to help modernize our capabilities and streamline our member services." "Many credit unions today are searching for the right partner to advance their banking experience and maintain the competitive edge they need," said Denny Howell, co-founder and COO of Mahalo. "We are delighted to be chosen to serve as Gerber FCU's trusted digital banking provider. Our team is looking forward to driving the credit union's technology innovation and empowering them to surpass their member expectations." About Gerber Federal Credit Union Gerber Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit, cooperative financial institution headquartered in Fremont, Michigan. Gerber FCU provides financial services to residents and employees of Newaygo County and surrounding townships with two branches located in Fremont, Mich. and one in Newaygo, Mich. Visit www.GerberFCU.com for more information. About Mahalo Mahalo Banking provides online and mobile banking solutions for credit unions. Based in Troy, Mich., the Mahalo platform is designed and built on superior architecture with deep integration to core processing, providing security and a robust feature set across all delivery channels for a true omni experience. Mahalo offers the industry's first and only online banking solution to fully integrate comprehensive neurodiverse functionality directly into its platform. This inclusive approach allows credit unions to support and embrace all members and accommodate their unique needs. For more information about Mahalo Banking, please visit us at mahalobanking.com, follow us on Twitter or connect via LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726370776/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 26, 2023] IONOS Celebrates 25 Years of Innovation and Growth in Web Hosting, Cloud and Internet Services, E-Commerce, Marketing Systems and Consulting Tweet IONOS, a leading digitalization partner for small and midsize businesses, today announced its 25th year in business and a series of achievements marking that milestone. The achievements include becoming a global leader in hosting; a true cloud alternative to hyperscalers; a public company with 6 million customers, 4,000 employees and an expected revenue of $1.5 billion this year; new AI products and a new ISV partner program; and recent new strategic hires including Chief Commercial Officer and Deputy Chairman Dr. Jens Reich and Chief Technical Officer Dr. Markus Noga. 25 years of growth culminates in an IPO this year In June 1998, the foundation for IONOS was laid with the merger of German internet service providers 1&1 and Schlund + Partner. The company became a global leader in web hosting, starting with a single Windows NT PC in 1998. Achim Weiss, co-founder of Schlund + Partner, has led IONOS through tremendous growth as CEO since 2018. In 2004, IONOS was the first company to offer full-service hosting packages including webspace, domains, email accounts and databases in the United States. In February this year, IONOS Group became a public company with an initial public offering (IPO) on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Services, differentiators and independence developed over decades Throughout its history, IONOS has maintained focus and nurtured its business to serve small and midsize businesses (SMBs). IONOS provides a one-stop shop for SMBs, from domains over websites to virtual and dedicated servers, e-commerce and online marketing services to a full-fledged cloud infrastructure network. Another important differentiator is that every IONOS customer can opt without additional cost for a personal consultant with a direct line and email address; the consultant not only answers customer-care questions but also provides advice to SMB customers on how to grow and digitalize their business. IONOS does not rely on hyperscalers to host its services; IONOS runs its own, self-developed cloud stack and hosts its services with a strong in-house development team across 12 self-operated data centers in the U.S. and Europe. "I am delighted to have directed and experienced the ongoing dedication to excellence and innovation that has brought IONOS, our customers and partners to this 25-year milestone, and I look forward to our continuing journey ahead," said IONOS CEO Achim Weiss. "Our recent IPO, product and partner program developments and executive hires launch an exciting new period of continuing innovation, customer service and growth." New executive hires this year for continuing vision and leadership Strategic new executive hires this year will help IONOS contiue its growth, innovation and leadership position. On July 1, Dr. Jens Reich joined the IONOS Management Board as chief commercial officer and deputy chairman. In the newly created role, he heads all global marketing and sales activities. He was most recently chief marketing officer and managing director of the delivery service HelloFresh Inc. in the United States. He also previously worked for the European omnichannel optician Mister Spex and the Boston Consulting Group, among others. He holds a doctorate in business administration from RWTH Aachen University, Germany. Chief Technology Officer Dr. Markus Noga joined IONOS in April. He leads the technical teams building, running and optimizing all IONOS platforms, including the IONOS Cloud. He is also globally responsible for data centers, networks, bare metal and internal IT. At SAP from 2011 to 2020, his teams built the HANA Enterprise Cloud and created AI and machine learning offerings. At SUSE from 2020 to 2023, he most recently was general manager of the Linux business segment. He holds a doctorate in computer science from the University of Karlsruhe, Germany. New AI products and ISV partner program this year enhance the IONOS ecosystem A series of product and partner program introductions and enhancements this year are a focal point of innovation and continuing development of the IONOS product and partner ecosystem. New products and enhancements this year include: An AI text generator, launched in April for the MyWebsite Now website builder, enables customers to have texts and headlines for their websites created by artificial intelligence (AI). The VPS (virtual private server) product portfolio was enhanced in June to include unlimited traffic with 1 Gbit/s bandwidth (previously 400 Mbit/s) for all price points, fast NVMe storage, and plan options with more virtual cores, RAM and storage. Email Marketing, launched in July, is an AI-supported solution for digital customer acquisition and contact, including rapid creation of newsletter text. To enhance its partner ecosystem, IONOS launched a new partner program for ISVs (independent software vendors) in June. Its purpose is to build a comprehensive cloud solution portfolio for SMBs based on IONOS infrastructure, and to promote the migration of SMBs to the cloud. Customers benefit from a growing and cost-efficient range of solutions from ISVs, flexibility, scalability and an attractive foundation for digital innovation in the cloud. ISVs can offer their products on the IONOS Cloud Platform and leverage new revenue potential through joint marketing. In the future, a marketplace will also be established. About IONOS IONOS is a leading digitalization partner for small and midsize businesses (SMBs). The company serves six million customers and operates across 18 markets in Europe and North America, with its services accessible worldwide. With its web presence and productivity portfolio, IONOS acts as a "one-stop shop" for all digitalization needs - from domains and web hosting to classic website builders and do-it-yourself solutions, and from e-commerce to online marketing tools. In addition, the company offers cloud solutions to enterprises that are looking to move to the cloud as their businesses evolve. For more information visit www.ionos.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726746796/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 26, 2023] NextName Collaborates with University of Illinois Volleyball Players to Share Inspiring Stories through Short-Form Videos Tweet CHICAGO, July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NextName, a company that empowers college athletes to monetize their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership with the volleyball players from the University of Illinois. This collaboration aims to bring the compelling stories of these athletes to the forefront, enabling them to connect with brands that align with their narratives and engage in promotional campaigns through captivating short-form videos. Through short-form videos, we aim to showcase the dedication, determination, and character of these outstanding athletes With the recent changes in NIL regulations, college athletes now have unprecedented opportunities to capitalize on their personal brand and talent. Recognizing this immense potential, NextName has embarked on a mission to help athletes navigate this new landsape and leverage their NIL for meaningful partnerships with like-minded brands. As part of this collaboration, NextName will be working closely with the volleyball players at the University of Illinois to craft impactful short-form videos that shed light on their unique journeys, challenges, and achievements. These personalized videos will serve as a compelling medium to communicate the athletes' stories, values, and passions to potential brands looking for authentic connections with their audiences. "We are incredibly excited to partner with the athletes from the University of Illinois volleyball team," said Tom Segal, Director of Operations at NextName. "Our mission at NextName is to encourage college athletes to take control of their personal brand and build lasting partnerships with product and service brands that resonate with their individual stories. Through these short-form videos, we aim to showcase the dedication, determination, and character of these outstanding athletes and create opportunities for them to thrive in their NIL endeavors." By creating short, engaging videos that encapsulate the essence of each athlete's journey, NextName aims to foster authentic connections between the players and brands that share their values and interests. These videos will not only serve as powerful promotional tools, but also to elevate the voices of these talented athletes, inspiring countless others through their experiences. NextName envisions an ambitious endeavor, aiming to extend this program to encompass numerous athletes, not only at the University of Illinois, but also across various other universities nationwide. By doing so, they look join forces with these athletes to unlock their complete potential when it comes to lucrative brand partnerships. For more on NextName's work with college athletes, kindly explore their website at https://nextname.io View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nextname-collaborates-with-university-of-illinois-volleyball-players-to-share-inspiring-stories-through-short-form-videos-301886449.html SOURCE NextName [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 26, 2023] Four years in a row, Scala Data Centers leads the Colocation Quadrant in the ISG study Tweet Survey conducted by ISG Provider Lens for the Brazilian market ranks the company at the highest level of the industry SAO PAULO, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Scala Data Centers , the leading Latin American platform of sustainable data centers in the Hyperscale market, was named as the Colocation leader in Brazil by the ISG Provider Lens 2023 study Private/Hybrid Cloud Data Center Services. As a fourth-year leader in the Colocation Quadrant, Scala has further enhanced its positions in "Competitive Strength" and "Portfolio Attractiveness" when compared to the previous year. The analysis by ISG sheds light on vital aspects of Scala's commercial and operational strategy, demonstrating the company's dedication to catering to the Hyperscale market demands with utmost excellence. Notably, the report also emphasizes Scala's proficiency in constructing modular data centers within tight timelines and its strategic positioning to cater to long-term projects. Impressively, the company has reserved over 1 million square meters of properties for future data centers. Unlike other players that paved their business serving different size of companies largely SMB and Enterprise segments which demand managed services and connectivity solutions besides colocation Scala implemented a new approach uniquely focused into Hyperscale needs by means of an innovative, sustainable, and future-proof single-tenant buildings which position the company as the leader of Hyperscale colocation. The ISG Provider Lens 2023 survey presents a comparative evaluation of the technology sector service providers, organized into four groups: Colocation (including Scala Data Centers), Large Managed Services Accounts, Midsize Managed Servces, and Managed Hosting. Each group comprises companies classified as Leader, Product Challenger, Contender, or Market Challenger, based on their respective strengths and competencies. Marcos Peigo , Scala's CEO and Co-Founder, stated that the findings from the ISG Provider Lens 2023 reassure the company's proactive stance in establishing scalable capacity tailored to Hyperscale customers. This approach hinges on flexibility, customization, and the integration of innovation and sustainability as Scala' core principles. "The needs of the Hyperscale customers are increasingly more specific. They demand for scalability, single-building approach, high-energy availability, and density. As such, the focus of our entire portfolio is to provide reliable, expandable, and flexible solutions. When it comes to meeting these specific needs, we're pleased to be recognized as the Colocation leader by the ISG Provider Lens 2023 study. This is a testament to our relentless commitment to sustainable scalable data centers," Peigo said. "For Hyperscalers, having access to scalable and future-ready data centers is vital for ensuring seamless operations, high performance, and the ability to handle the massive data processing needs that come with Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and High-Performance Computing (HPC) applications. By addressing these requirements, Scala has become a reliable partner for Hyperscalers by enabling them to focus on their core business and innovation without worrying about data center limitations." According to Pedro Bicudo Maschio, ISG Provider Lens Lead Author, Scala stands out for its exceptional flexibility in constructing and delivering customized data centers tailored to meet customers' specific demands. "Scala Data Centers commits to customers' expansion plans, ensuring a supply chain of clean energy, hyperconnectivity, engineering support, available properties and construction capacity that is fast, fully sustainable and highly efficient," Bicudo Maschio said. Download the study here. About Scala Data Centers Scala Data Centers is the leading Latin American platform of sustainable data centers in the Hyperscale market. Headquartered in Brazil and founded by DigitalBridge, it was developed to meet and exceed the growing demand for digital access in Latin America. Scala has a highly qualified team of over 800 professionals and applies a flexible and innovative approach to providing exceptional quality colocation services to Hyperscale clients, cloud-based software and service providers, and large enterprises. We customize state-of-the-art solutions for each client in the construction of the latest generation data centers, with high availability, the best energy efficiency rates, and superior density. All this allied to the best sustainability practices guided by our ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) program. For more information, visit www.scaladatacenters.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/four-years-in-a-row-scala-data-centers-leads-the-colocation-quadrant-in-the-isg-study-301886531.html SOURCE Scala Data Centers [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 26, 2023] SentriLock Continues to Add New Accounts Nationwide Through Alabama Expansion Tweet Leading Lockbox Provider Welcomes Six New REALTOR Associations WEST CHESTER, Ohio, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SentriLock, the leading provider of cutting-edge lockbox solutions, announced the addition of six prominent Alabama REALTOR associations to its growing list of customers. The Montgomery Area Association of REALTORS, Tuscaloosa REALTORS, and the Associations supporting the Huntsville based Valley MLS (Huntsville Area Association of REALTORS, Morgan County Association of REALTORS, Northeast Alabama Association of REALTORS, and the Marshall County Board of REALTORS) have all chosen SentriLock's state-of-the-art lockbox system, solidifying SentriLock's position as the most widely used lockbox platform across the state of Alabama. These new partnerships bring an advantage to more than 13,000 REALTORS in the region, facilitating nearly half a million secure property accesses annually across Alabama's unique real estate marketplaces. "This is a significant moment for SentriLock as we continue to expand our family of customes and strengthen our presence in Alabama," said Scott Fisher, CEO of SentriLock. "As a 100% National Association of REALTORS-owned member service, we take immense pride in delivering exceptional customer and member experiences, and we're delighted to offer these associations the ease and efficiency of swapping to SentriLock as their chosen lockbox solution for MLS and Association services." The decision to integrate SentriLock's advanced lockbox system by these associations highlights the unparalleled value and reliability offered by SentriLock. With a focus on perfecting customer and member experiences, SentriLock has become the go-to choice for a rapidly growing number of real estate professionals and associations across America and Canada, and most recently Mexico. Supporting more than 410 associations and MLS across North America, these new additions from Alabama join a group of 25 other associations and counting nationwide that have opted to make the conversion to SentriLock in 2023 alone. SentriLock is the first and only combined solution for managing property access, real estate showings, and client experiences. For more information, please visit the SentriLock website at www.sentrilock.com/why-sentrilock/. About SentriLock, LLC SentriLock is a leading provider of electronic lockbox solutions for the real estate industry. SentriLock's lockboxes use advanced technology to ensure that only authorized individuals have access to properties and provide real-time access and activity reports. SentriLock is dedicated to providing its customers with the highest level of security and convenience. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sentrilock-continues-to-add-new-accounts-nationwide-through-alabama-expansion-301886550.html SOURCE Sentrilock, LLC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 26, 2023] ISACA Introduces 2023-2024 Board of Directors Tweet Global digital trust association ISACA introduced its 2023-2024 Board of Directors today. Bringing deep tech, finance and business expertise and a strong global perspective, the board-including three new directors and ISACA CEO Erik Prusch-will be helmed by new board chair John De Santis, past ISACA vice chair and a technology executive with more than three decades of experience in software, networking and information security. De Santis is a technology executive and past chairman and CEO of HyTrust, an IT infrastructure security software company that was acquired by Entrust in January 2021. A company-builder based in New Hampshire, USA, he has more than 30 years of international and US-based experience at venture-backed technology start-ups as well as at large global public companies in the telecom and IT fields. He currently serves on the fiduciary boards of Cequence Security and ValiMail, leading innovators in the cybersecurity space. Prior to HyTrust, he was vice president, Cloud Services for VMware, chairman & CEO of TriCipher, and entrepreneur-in-residence at Trident Capital, and CEO at Sygate Technologies, where they developed the technical foundation of Symantec's Enterprise Endpoint Protection suite. In his earlier experience, he led European operations for various software, hardware and telecom networking companies, as well as co-founded and led to exit a start-up that built the first optical fiber networking capability for IBM mainframes. "Our community faces challenges each day, including keeping pace with rapidly iterating emerging technologies. I am committed to furthering ISACA's mission to equip digital trust professionals to navigate these challenges and recalibrate for success in this new era," says De Santis. "My term as board chair comes at an especially promising time for the organization with the recent announcement of ISACA's new CEO, Erik Prusch. I look forward to supporting him and our dedicated staff team in advancing our professional community." Stepping into the vice chair role on ISACA's board is Brennan P. Baybeck, SVP & CISO for Customer Success Services at Oracle Corporation. Baybeck has more than 30 years of experience in IT security, governance, risk, audit and consulting, and has worked in various industries designing, implementing and operating enterprise-wide programs to address global security risks. He has held other leadership positions at Sun Microsystems, StorageTek and Qwest Communications, and served as a security risk consulting director at a global consulting company for several years. Baybeck is also a long-time ISACA volunteer, having served as a chapter board leader for over 13 years and as ISACA board chair from 2019-2020. Three new directors joined the ISACA board for the 2023-24 term-Stephen Gilfus, Jason Lau and Massimo Migliuolo. Gilfus, based in the US, is general partner of Oversight Ventures, an education and workforce investment firm (cybersecurity, AI, IT, safety, and risk), chairman of the Gilfus Education Group, a boutique management consulting firm, and one of the founders and business architects of Blackboard Inc., a global eLearning software, technology, and infrastructure company; he has more than 25 years of experience supporting mission-based organizations in governance, leadership, management, operations, and scalable growth mechanisms. Lau, who splits his time between Singapore and Hong Kong, is chief information security officer at Crypto.com and contriutor to the World Economic Forum expert network. He has over 23 years of consulting experience for Fortune 500 companies in the fields of management consulting, cybersecurity, IT governance, privacy and risk management, and previously held senior cybersecurity leadership roles at Microsoft. Migliuolo, who splits his time between Malaysia and Switzerland, is executive chairman at Intuin, a digital transformation advisory firm, and previously served in leadership roles at Telekom Malaysia and Cisco Systems; in addition to being an experienced technology sector CEO, he is an investor and founder in three new companies with his sons as well. In total, the following 13 leaders were installed on the 2023-2024 ISACA Board of Directors during ISACA's Annual General Meeting held in Prague and virtually: John De Santis , Chair, technology executive and past chairman and CEO, HyTrust, Inc. , Chair, technology executive and past chairman and CEO, HyTrust, Inc. Brennan P. Baybeck , CISA, CISM, CRISC, CISSP, Vice Chair, and 2019-2020 board chair; SVP & CISO for Customer Success Services, Oracle Corporation , CISA, CISM, CRISC, CISSP, Vice Chair, and 2019-2020 board chair; SVP & CISO for Customer Success Services, Oracle Corporation Stephen Gilfus , Director; general partner at Oversight Ventures , Director; general partner at Oversight Ventures Niel Harper , CISA, CRISC, CDPSE, CISSP, Director; technology and cybersecurity executive and past CISO at UNOPS , CISA, CRISC, CDPSE, CISSP, Director; technology and cybersecurity executive and past CISO at UNOPS Gabriela Hernandez-Cardoso , Director; social entrepreneur and past president and CEO of GE Mexico , Director; social entrepreneur and past president and CEO of GE Mexico Jason Lau , CDPSE, CISA, CISM, CGEIT, CRISC, CISSP, HCISPP, CEH, FIP, CIPP/E, CIPM, CIPT; Director; chief information security officer at Crypto.com , CDPSE, CISA, CISM, CGEIT, CRISC, CISSP, HCISPP, CEH, FIP, CIPP/E, CIPM, CIPT; Director; chief information security officer at Crypto.com Massimo Migliuolo , Director; executive chairman, Intuin , Director; executive chairman, Intuin Maureen O'Connell , NACD.DC, Director; finance and education executive , NACD.DC, Director; finance and education executive Asaf Weisberg , CSX-P, CISM, CRISC, CISA, CDPSE, CGEIT, Director; founder and CEO of introSight , CSX-P, CISM, CRISC, CISA, CDPSE, CGEIT, Director; founder and CEO of introSight Pamela Nigro , CISA, CRISC, CGEIT, CRMA, Director and 2022-2023 board chair; vice president of security and security officer, Medecision , CISA, CRISC, CGEIT, CRMA, Director and 2022-2023 board chair; vice president of security and security officer, Medecision Greg Touhill , CISM, CISSP, Brigadier General, USAF (ret), Director and 2021-2022 board chair; director of the CERT Division at Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute , CISM, CISSP, Brigadier General, USAF (ret), Director and 2021-2022 board chair; director of the CERT Division at Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute Tracey Dedrick , Director and 2020-2021 board chair; former chief risk officer, experienced in risk, compliance, treasury, and investor relations , Director and 2020-2021 board chair; former chief risk officer, experienced in risk, compliance, treasury, and investor relations Erik Prusch, Director and ISACA CEO "It is an exciting time as we welcome ISACA's new board of directors-talented leaders from across the world with unparalleled experience and dedication to advancing digital trust professions and serving our global community," said Prusch. "I am honored to work closely with John and the rest of the board to advance our strategic priorities and drive further innovation in equipping professionals and enterprises with the knowledge, tools, and connections for each stage of their journeys." To read a blog post by De Santis, click here, and access board member bios at www.isaca.org/board. About ISACA ISACA (www.isaca.org) is a global community advancing individuals and organizations in their pursuit of digital trust. For more than 50 years, ISACA has equipped individuals and enterprises with the knowledge, credentials, education, training and community to progress their careers, transform their organizations, and build a more trusted and ethical digital world. ISACA is a global professional association and learning organization that leverages the expertise of its 170,000 members who work in digital trust fields such as information security, governance, assurance, risk, privacy and quality. It has a presence in 188 countries, including 225 chapters worldwide. Through its foundation One In Tech, ISACA supports IT education and career pathways for underresourced and underrepresented populations. Twitter: www.twitter.com/ISACANews LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/isaca Facebook: www.facebook.com/ISACAGlobal Instagram: www.instagram.com/isacanews/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726861315/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 26, 2023] Triumph Foods, Midwest Farmers Challenge Constitutionality of Massachusetts Question 3 Tweet Triumph Foods filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts federal district court challenging the constitutionality of the state law known as Question 3 (Q3) and, in turn, similar laws like it, including California's Proposition 12 (Prop 12). Christensen Farms Midwest, LLC, The Hanor Company of Wisconsin, LLC, New Fashion Pork, LLP, and Eichelberger Farms, Inc., also joined the suit as plaintiffs, along with the Allied Producers' Cooperative, a group of smaller Midwest farmers. The lawsuit also seeks preliminary injunctive relief to stay the enforcement of Q3 until the litigation is complete, which means Triumph Foods and the farmers are seeking immediate relief when the current stay of enforcement lifts on Aug. 24. The lawsuit challenges Q3 and the overall constitutionality of similar laws like Prop 12. In a May 2023 opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court did not affirm the constitutionality of laws like Prop 12; it ruled only on the narrow, limited claims filed by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the Court raised concerns about other possible constitutional violations that may exist. This left the door open to address the constitutionality of laws like Q3 and Prop 12 through other claims, which Triumph Foods intends to pursue. "Discriminatory trade restrictions like Q3 and Prop 12 affect the ability to build resilient, reliable food supply chains across the United Sates," said Triumph Foods President and CEO Matt England. "They also hurt many small businesses, employees, consumers and government-funded agencies. Free and fair interstate commerce is vital for the economic prosperity of our country." The Biden Administration's Solicitor General also questions the constitutionality of laws like Q3 and Prop 12. The Solicitor General raised concerns about the discriminatory impact on other states, due process violations, the threat to the nation's food supply and interference with the federal government's obligations to ensure food safety. In the recent litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Solicitor General noted that the U.S. Congress delegated food safety responsibilities to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which regulates the nation's pork supply and is charged with ensuring all meat offered for sale throughout the country is safe to eat. "The attempt by individual states to reach into the farms and processing plants to regulate our complex supply chain is unprecedented and dangerous. Laws like Q3 and Prop 12 put not just farmers at risk but threaten food security," said the farmer plaintiffs. "The USDA already regulates foodborne illnesses. We cannot have each individual state try to usurp that role." The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) previously filed a lawsuit against Prop 12 prior to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the NPPC case. The IPPA litigation has some similar claims to those now also pursued against Q3. Triumph Foods supports this lawsuit. On July 5, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to allow this case to proceed and on an expedited basis, denying requests from the California Attorney General's Office and intervenors. Triumph Foods hopes to obtain immediate and permanent relief from Q3, Prop 12 and any attempt by individual states to disrupt interstate commerce and our nation's food supply in the future. About Triumph Foods Triumph Foods is a leading processor of premium pork products worldwide. The farmer-owned company began operations in St. Joseph, Mo., in January 2006. With its state-of-the-art facility, Triumph employs over 2,400 workers and produces over 1.5 billion pounds of pork annually. For more information, visit triumphfoods.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726707645/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 26, 2023] Hagens Berman: Owners of Hyundai, Kia and Genesis Electric Vehicles Sue Over Defect Causing Rampant Charging Failure Tweet Owners of Hyundai Ioniq 5s, Hyundai Ioniq 6s, Genesis GV60s and Kia EV6s today filed a nationwide class-action lawsuit against the automakers following more than a year of reports of seriously defective charging ports in their vehicles, leaving owners and lessors potentially stranded, according to leading automotive law firm Hagens Berman. If you own or lease a Hyundai Ioniq 5, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Genesis GV60 or Kia EV6, you may be affected. Find out your rights. About the Hyundai, Kia and Genesis Charging Port Defect The lawsuit was filed July 26, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, and alleges Hyundai and Kia prominently advertised vehicle charging times between five to seven hours, depending on vehicle make, with use of a Level 2 home charger. In reality, vehicle charging ports frequently overheat in as little as 30 minutes, causing the charging session to unexpectedly and repeatedly fail. Owners report a protracted and burdensome charging process. According to the complaint, frustrated vehicle owners have taken to consumer forums and social media to report that the charging defect leaves them to either constantly monitor charging sessions and manually ensure they complete, or else contend with unexpectedly uncharged batteries when they return to their vehicles to find the charging session has failed due to overheating. Owners also "pay for this wasted energy via higher utility bills," the complaint states. The complaint alleges that the fix Hyundai and Kia issued further slows charging rates to ten hours or more. To add insult to injury, Hyundaiand Kia continue to sell the defective vehicles, with full knowledge of the issue, attorneys say. "Not only do Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis continue to sell vehicles that are clearly incapable of performing as advertised, they also issued a software patch which substantially worsens charging rates and widens the gap between what they promised and what they delivered," said Steve Berman, managing partner at Hagens Berman and the attorney leading the case. The filed complaint cites one plaintiff's experience in which fully charging his 2023 Ioniq 5 takes 20 hours, at a 5% charge rate per hour. "Car owners rely on them to drive to work, drop off their kids at school and get to doctor's appointments. Unexpectedly finding a car with an uncharged battery in the morning causes serious disruption to people's lives and could have dire consequences in an emergency," Berman said. "These aren't hybrids. The battery charge is essential, and we believe the state of these EVs is simply unacceptable." Hyundai and Kia "Put a Band-Aid" on Serious Defect According to the complaint, Hyundai, Kia and Genesis advertise the affected electric vehicles as capable of charging at a rate of up to 48 amps, but owners report charging session failure at a rate as slow as 28 amps. In March 2023, Hyundai issued a technical service bulletin to ostensibly address the charging port defect. The software update issued by the automakers causes affected vehicles to automatically lower the charging rate to 23 amps if overheating occurs, rather than halting the charging session. According to the complaint, the technical service bulletin did not disclose, at any point, that the supposed "fix" was to cap the charger's amp level, thereby doubling the vehicle charging time experienced by one named plaintiff in the case. "This so-called fix does nothing to address the real problem, which is that these vehicles were not manufactured to reliably charge at a rate even close to 48 amps. It's unacceptable for Hyundai to put a Band-Aid on such a serious defect impeding the vehicle's stated performance," Berman said. The lawsuit brings claims of violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, violation of the California Computer Data Access and Fraud Act, and violations of the applicable state consumer protection laws, and seeks to recover just compensation for vehicle owners and lessors. Find out more about the firm's investigation on behalf of owners of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Genesis GV60 and Kia EV6. About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm with a tenacious drive for achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. Since its founding in 1993, the firm's determination has earned it numerous national accolades, awards and titles of "Most Feared Plaintiff's Firm," MVPs and Trailblazers of class-action law. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726903876/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 26, 2023] Kingdom of KEK's $KEKE Token Secures Coveted Spot on Top 20 Centralized Exchange - BITMART Tweet London, UK, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a historic move that has sent ripples of excitement through the crypto community, the Kingdom of KEK is celebrating a momentous triumph - the highly sought-after listing on the prestigious centralized exchange platform, BITMART. This groundbreaking partnership marks an incredible milestone for the organization, propelling the Kingdom of KEK project to unprecedented heights. With great jubilation, the Kingdom of KEK team announces its strategic alliance with BITMART, a revered crypto exchange that ranks among the top 20 in the world. This monumental collaboration unlocks a plethora of thrilling opportunities for the project, setting the stage for exponential growth and innovation. Having secured a spot on the prestigious BITMART exchange, the Kingdom of KEK gains access to a vast user base comprising over 9 million traders. This exposure promises to breathe new life into the project, captivating an extensive and diverse audience that spans the globe. For eager traders and passionate crypto enthusiasts alike, the seamless availability of KEKE tokens on the BITMART exchange is cause for celebration. This integration elevates the trading experience to unparalleled heights, offering users unmatched convenience and efficiency. Behind this extraordinary achievement lies the unwavering dedication and hard work of the Kingdom of KEK team, fueled by the unwavering support of their devoted community. Together, they have propelled the project towards this momentous collaboration, solidifying its position as a leading force in the crypto space. Commenting on the partnership, a spokesperson for the Kingdom of KEK stated, "This listing on BITMART is a testament to the perseverance and resilience of our team and community. We are excited to join forces with BITMART, a platform that shares our vision of making crypto accessible to all. With this significant step, we are ready to take Kingdom of KEK to new heights, bringing our innovative solutions to a global audience." BITMART is kown for its secure and user-friendly platform, providing traders with access to a wide range of digital assets. The exchange boasts a robust infrastructure, ensuring smooth and reliable trading experiences for its users. The addition of KEKE tokens to BITMART's offerings enhances the exchange's ecosystem and diversifies its portfolio, creating new opportunities for traders and investors alike. Looking ahead, the Kingdom of KEK remains steadfast in its pursuit of forging strategic alliances that will catalyze the project's growth and prosperity. As they explore new frontiers, the Kingdom of KEK project stands as a beacon of innovation, setting the bar for excellence within the crypto sphere. The Kingdom of KEK team is committed to delivering on its promises and further developing the project's ecosystem to empower users and foster community engagement. The partnership with BITMART is just one of many milestones the project envisions on its roadmap, and the team is excited to unveil even more ambitious plans in the near future. For those eager to embark on this thrilling journey, stay tuned for updates and revelations as the Kingdom of KEK continues to make waves. To immerse yourself in the Kingdom of KEK universe, visit their official website at www.kingdomofkek.com . Brace yourselves for an exhilarating adventure that awaits. About Kingdom of KEK The Kingdom of KEK is a cutting-edge crypto project that aims to revolutionize the blockchain space through innovative solutions and community-driven initiatives. With a strong focus on transparency, accessibility, and security, the Kingdom of KEK is dedicated to creating a thriving crypto ecosystem that empowers users and encourages widespread adoption. Website | Twitter | Telegram | Medium | YouTube | DEXTools | Uniswap https://www.kingdomofkek.com 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 in or trading securities and cryptocurrency. Jacob Jack Kingdom of KEK kek-at-kingdomofkek.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] KYODO NEWS - Jul 26, 2023 - 14:30 | All, Japan, World Japan hopes it will be able to communicate closely with China even though Beijing fired Foreign Minister Qin Gang for no apparent reason, the top government spokesman said Wednesday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno refrained from commenting on China's decision to replace Qin with his predecessor Wang Yi but said Japan's diplomatic posture toward the Asian neighbor is unchanged. "We would like to communicate closely with each other at various levels, including with Mr. Wang Yi," Matsuno told a regular news conference. The removal of Qin comes as China has ramped up criticism against Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean. Asked about the water discharge plan, Matsuno said the government will keep making efforts to explain to the international community the project's safety in a transparent manner and call on China to deal with the issue from a scientific point of view. China has recently started blanket radiation testing on seafood imports from Japan. Qin was removed from his ministerial post and Wang was reinstated to the portfolio at a parliament session Tuesday, China's official Xinhua News Agency said. But it did not report on the reason for the replacement despite Qin's one-month disappearance from public view. Wang served in the post from 2013 to 2022, before becoming the head of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee Foreign Affairs Commission Office, a position regarded as the country's top diplomat. Related coverage: U.S. says talks with China vital even after foreign minister removal Qin removed from China foreign minister post, Wang reinstated: media [July 26, 2023] Honigman Wins Major Victory for Michigan Pro Bono Community Tweet Today, the Michigan Supreme Court reversed a 2021 Court of Appeals decision and ruled that courts cannot reduce attorneys' fee awards solely because lawyers work on a pro bono basis. The ruling puts Michigan in accord with every other state and federal court that had considered the issue, all of which rejected the notion that fee awards may be reduced where attorneys donate their services. The Honigman team included Robert M. Riley, Rian C. Dawson and Scott B. Kitei. Several groups filed amicus curiae briefs in support of Honigman's position, including Association of Pro Bono Counsel, the Michigan Association for Justice, the State Bar of Michigan, Michigan State Planning Body, Legal Services Association of Michigan, and Disability Rights Michigan. "For the ACLU of Michigan and other nonprofit organizations like it, as well as private sector law firms that provide pro bono legal counsel to support important public interest work, it is vital that attorneys' fees be recoverable in cases involving civil rights, civil liberties, and government transparency," said Dan Korobkin, ACLU of Michigan legal director. "This is a major victory for organizations and individuals in Michigan who provide pro bono legal services, and we're grateful to he team at Honigman for their counsel and partnership." The consolidated cases stemmed from Freedom of Information Act requests by freelance journalists Spencer Woodman and George Joseph, who sought audio and video recordings from the Michigan Department of Corrections related to the 2016 death of a prison inmate. When the Department of Corrections denied their requests, Woodman and Joseph sought legal assistance from the ACLU of Michigan, which in turn recruited Honigman as pro bono cooperating counsel. The Court of Claims ultimately ruled that Woodman and Joseph were entitled to all of their requested audio and video recordings and that, as prevailing parties, were entitled to attorneys' fees under the Freedom of Information Act. The Court of Claims awarded the ACLU of Michigan all of its fees, but reduced Honigman's fees by 90% solely because Honigman worked pro bono. The Court of Appeals affirmed that ruling. The Supreme Court's ruling now ensures that pro bono counsel are treated the same as their paid counterparts and encourages lawyers to represent those otherwise unable to afford access to justice. Following the historic ruling for the Michigan pro bono legal community, Honigman will be donating all of its fees from these cases to the ACLU of Michigan. About Honigman Honigman LLP is an Am Law 200 full-service, general business law firm with more than 350 attorneys counseling clients on complex issues across the country in Chicago, Michigan (Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Lansing), Washington, D.C. and in our newest wholly owned subsidiary office in Israel. Our lawyers counsel clients on complex issues in more than 60 areas of law. For more information, visit www.honigman.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726858121/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 26, 2023] McAdams Expands Presence in North Carolina With the Addition of Triad Office Tweet RALEIGH, N.C., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- McAdams, a multidisciplinary design and engineering firm headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, specializing in civil / site design, planning and design, transportation, water resources, and geomatics, has expanded its reach throughout the Triad with the opening of a new office at the Bailey Power Plant in the Innovation Quarter of downtown Winston-Salem. Senior project manager, Jay Matey, PE, will be spearheading the opening of this new location. "Expanding across the state allows us to stay in front of development trends and investment in associated infrastructure while improving our accessibility for clients," said President and CEO, Mike Munn, PE. Having already served numerous clients in the Triad for years, McAdams' decision to grow its presence with this new office is a result of the significant uptick in job growth and investment in the manufacturing and industrial markets throughout the area, cupled with increased opportunities to serve municipalities across the Triad to better serve their needs. Major economic development projects from Toyota, Boom Supersonic, and others, will continue to drive the Triad's economy for years. "The Triad is making significant moves attracting new employers and new growth, and McAdams looks forward to supporting these exciting expansion opportunities for the entire region," said Munn. Having worked as a senior project manager with McAdams for more than five years in the 2010s, Jay Matey, PE, has returned to the company for the opening of the Winston-Salem location. Matey will take on the responsibility of technical leadership as the office begins operations. In 2022, the company's headquarters shifted to Bloc [83] in the Triangle, paving the way for McAdams' growing footprint across North Carolina operations began June 1st in the Triad. The Winston-Salem office, specifically, will be releasing information regarding possible employment opportunities over the coming months. About McAdams Founded in 1979, McAdams is a full-service civil engineering, land planning, landscape architecture, transportation, and geomatics firm headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina with offices in Durham and Charlotte, North Carolina, and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. McAdams is passionate about providing unique and engaging experiences for its clients and its clients' clients. McAdams understands the importance of a lasting impression and strives to bring life to the collective vision for project success. McAdams' engineering expertise and other integrated services help provide efficient and effective solutions to serve its clients' project needs. McAdams cares about the end product and shares its clients' goals. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mcadams-expands-presence-in-north-carolina-with-the-addition-of-triad-office-301886697.html SOURCE McAdams [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 26, 2023] Mississippi Infant and Maternity Store Receives Small Business Boost Tweet A $5,000 Small Business Boost (SBB) loan from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) through its member, Renaissance Community Loan Fund (RCLF), helped fund the launch of Kudzu Cotton Boutique in Natchez, Mississippi. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726182486/en/ Angela Perrin, owner of Kudzu Cotton Boutique in Natchez, Mississippi, happily holds her Small Business Boost paperwork. (Photo: Business Wire) The boutique is the only infant, child and maternity store in Natchez and offers infant and children's apparel, as well as clothes for moms and moms-to-be. Owner Angela Perrin got the idea for the business from her pregnant daughter. The name comes from the combination of kudzu - a ubiquitous vine that grows throughout Natchez, and the cotton fields in the area. Additionally, the boutique offers a sneak peek ultrasound for a gender reveal. FHLB Dallas offers SBB loans through member financial institutions to provide financing for qualified small business transactions by filling the gap between the loan amount that an FHLB Dallas member institution can fund and te loan request made by an eligible small business. When Ms. Perrin wanted to start her business and looked to obtain a loan, it was difficult due to her lack of experience in retail. An advantage of the SBB is that the borrower does not begin to repay the loan until after the first year. This feature helps newly formed small businesses build cash flow during their first year in operation. "I knew it didn't have to be paid back immediately and that allowed us to get our feet in the door," she said. "I can't say enough good things about RCLF and how they connected us with FHLB Dallas and the SBB." Kimberly LaRosa, president & CEO at RCLF, said helping small businesses is vital to the region's economy. "Too many aspiring entrepreneurs don't ever see their dreams of owning a business become reality. At RCLF, we recognize small businesses sometimes need that extra boost to get started," Ms. LaRosa said. "It's a pleasure to be part of the process and see their success." Greg Hettrick, senior vice president and director of Community Investment for FHLB Dallas, agreed. "It's critical that small businesses get funding when they need it most," he said. "The structure of the loan with no payments the first year is ideal for startup businesses and expansions." Visit fhlb.com/sbb to learn more. About Renaissance Community Loan Fund Renaissance Community Loan Fund is on a mission to empower people with the skills and information they need to improve their finances. Renaissance can help you go from needing your credit repaired to being ready for a home or business loan. Renaissance Community Loan Fund is a different kind of lender- focused on helping residents in Mississippi and Alabama. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $181.2 billion as of March 31, 2023, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 800 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit our website at fhlb.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726182486/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 26, 2023] Zausmer Law Firm: Lawsuit by another PulteGroup Whistleblower accuses Top Executives of Racial Discrimination and Love Affairs at Atlanta Headquarters Tweet A specialist responsible for catering to the whims of executives and managers at PulteGroup's Atlanta headquarters is blowing the whistle on discriminatory practices he witnessed and was ultimately himself subject to. In a lawsuit filed by Zausmer Law Firm in Ingham County, Michigan today, Ryan Adams, a 52-year-old Black professional, says that his former employer uses its Human Resources department to limit promotions of Black professionals and punish those who observe or report wrongdoing. "I did my job and I did a fine job. PulteGroup saw me as a field hand, never promoting me based on merit, and discarded me as soon as I saw something I wasn't supposed to see," claims Ryan Adams. Adams' complaint is the latest in a recent string of public call outs and at least one other racial discrimination lawsuit by ex-PulteGroup employees. Adams says that the bravery of three Black ex-PulteGroup employees to tell their stories encouraged Adams to file suit and tell his. Adams says that in reading the Hartsfield v. PulteGroup complaint (story can be found at CNN), he realized that his own experiences were not unique but appear to fit a fact pattern of behavior by PulteGroup executives led by Ryan Marshall, 47, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the homebuilder. "Human Resources was not there for me," says Adams. "However, they leapt into action after I saw the CEO's buddy (and fellow executive) kissing someone they gave a promotion to while sticking me in a storage closet before ultimately letting me go after years of faithful service." The complaint alleges that Adams was treated "less than" by White managers and that there was a common understanding that Black employees had a more difficult time being promoted. Adams alleges that Black employees frequently give one another encouraging words when dealing with the unfairness and gatekeeping by CEO Marshall's leadership team. Adams went on to describe PulteGroup's work environment. "This is about the culture at PulteGroup fostered by Ryan Marshall and his leadership team. There's a culture of corruption going on over there and many are afraid to speak up fearing professional retaliation." In July 2022, approximately two or three months before he was terminated, Adams witnessed then-Executive Vice President Brandon Jones kissing Stephanie Byron, a Marketing Analyst, on the 18th floor. Adams says that Jones stared at him, knowing he saw the office romance. Soon after, Byron was apparently promoted to Director of Market Intelligence, a job title that did not previously exist. In fact, it was Adams who was directed to set up Byron's new office. Just a couple of weeks later, Shirley Hutchinson had Adams move from his cubicle on the 18th floor to a storage room on the 14th floor, where he worked for the remainder of his job until his wrongful termination on October 5, 2022. Adams was clearly punished for seeing too much and believes the promotion he was entitled to may have saved him from being improperly terminated. Brandon Jones was terminated by the PulteGroup Board of Directors on December 16, 2022 after it was determined that he violated the Code of Ethical Business Conduct. Similarly, other Black ex-PulteGroup employees have publicly shared comparable stories. In the Hartsfield v. PulteGroup case, three Black professionals attested that they had stellar work performance ratings until they ran afoul of favored White managers. Human Resources was then weaponized against these employees to cover-up misdeeds, which are now the subject of multiple lawsuits and terminations. You can read Ryan Adams' lawsuit against PulteGroup by clicking here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726602276/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Tonight's public safety warning and news at the end of Western Civilization . . . If you see this old lady, don't underestimate her and realize her record is likely more impressive than yours. Check the basics with links to more info . . . An arrest warrant was issued on Tuesday for a 78-year-old suburban Kansas City woman accused of robbing her third bank for failure to appear in Cass County Circuit Court. Bonnie B. Gooch, of Pleasant Hill, was charged by Cass County prosecutors in April with a single felony of stealing or attempting to steal from a financial institution. She was released from the county jail on a signature bond in June. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . A local activist group expands its advocacy across the bridge and looks to organize the plebs whilst shaming landlords. Here's more than a bit of promo . . . She felt that forming a union was the only option that residents had. Their efforts are supported by KC Tenants, the citywide housing advocacy organization responsible for establishing Kansas Citys first Bill of Rights for renters. KC Tenants says this is the first union its organized in the Northland. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . There are a lot of death penalty cases worth advocating for . . . This is not one of them given that the convict freely admits his evildoing and seemingly blames the meds . . . Johnson was scheduled to die by lethal injection on Aug. 1 for the murder of 6-year-old Casey Williamson. Johnson, who has been incarcerated since the 2002 killing, has never denied bludgeoning her to death in Valley Park. But he has maintained that not managing his mental illnesses led him to commit the crime. His attorneys noted Johnsons suicide attempts and diagnosed schizophrenia and other mental illnesses in their appeal. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Via John Combest . . . Execution put on hold for man claiming mental incompetency Johnny Johnson was scheduled to die by lethal injection on Aug. 1 for the murder of 6-year-old Casey Williamson. Federal appeals court halts Missouri execution, leading state to appeal A federal appeals court panel has halted next month's planned execution of a 45-year-old Missouri man convicted of killing a 6-year-old girl, though the state is appealing the ruling. Developing . . . Even as fires still burned on the island of Rhodes, forcing 19,000 people mostly tourists to flee for their lives, and there were blazes on Evia, Corfu, and the mainland, the question arose whether visitors would keep coming. The images of the evacuations were stark and gripping, and likely unsettling for the Tourism Ministry, with its leader Olga Kefalogianni, largely out of sight and blaming climate change for the fires that happens almost every summer. The United States National Public Radio (NPR) talked to Doug Lansky, a global tourism expert based in Sweden about the effect of the fires there was also a brutal record heatwave going on and how it would impact tourism revenues. https://www.npr.org/2023/07/25/1189901950/what-will-happen-to-greeces-economy-as-wildfires-impact-tourism That came as tourists on Rhodes were being taken back on home repatriation flights sent by their countries and the government earlier downplayed the risk and danger, saying only about 10 percent of the island was affected. But one of the worlds largest tour operations, TUI, canceled flights to the island for the rest of July amid worries fires could continue or break out again as the government scrambled to deal with the new crisis. NPR host Leila Fadel asked Lansky: So this mass evacuation, the wildfires, the heat, how is this going to impact tourism in Greece? He said the scenes have hurt tourism widely because they coincided with a heatwave blanketing the Mediterranean, temperatures in Greece hitting a record 115.52 degrees one day and regularly over 100 degrees for days. Its just been so incredibly hot. So even if its not on fire, its been scorching hot. And people have been fleeing some of these areas already its an enormous part of the economy, and theyre reeling. Its been this is very difficult. Its a trying time for them. But it may not be as bad as it seems everywhere, he said. Asked what he meant and what would happen if the heat and fires strike again in 2024 in Greece, which has been unable to stop them, he said that tourists, many working from home in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, could change when they come to months other than the summer. They realize they can work from just about anywhere, which means that they may not need to go, as many people need to go just during the summer months, the classic time to go traveling, he said. They might be able to take advantage of some of those times, those long weekends in the fall or a week here and there, when its a better time to visit, he said, especially in the early spring or autumn in Greece when the weather is good, prices cheaper and fewer people coming. Greece had been successful in getting people to come during off-peak periods and throughout the year, including the winter, by pitching alternative tourism ideas not dependent on the sun, beaches, and islands. But for those with families and children in school, the summer is the only option for them. There are still people with kids thats when theyre out of school. And people are going to be able to travel to those spots only in the summer, he said. He also noted how on Rhodes, because of his geographical shape, the fires swept toward an area with hotels and resorts but that elsewhere on the island there werent any worries about fires. That, he said, was a good indicator despite some airlines canceling flights to the island and with the big August month as well as September crucial for the economy there. They had clear, blue skies, there was no interruption in electricity, and everything is fine. I thought I actually might try to book there, so I checked on the prices. Theyve only dropped about 10 percent. And for most of the tourist areas on the island, everything is up and running, they said. So its important that you call the hotels, check the conditions, and most of them are still very much open for business, he advised. Read more at thenationalherald.com RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: pixabay.com A Toronto man is charged with resisting arrest after an incident in Oshawa on July 24, 2023. Ben Spurr has been the Toronto Star's transportation reporter since April 2016. He covers public transit, the politics of transportation, road safety, and other related issues By Mohammad Gharebagh, KYODO NEWS - Jul 26, 2023 - 17:42 | Others Iranian Vice President and nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said Tuesday that Tehran can slow its uranium enrichment program depending on U.S. proposals to rebuild a stalled international deal, with the nation also keen to restart its nuclear safety cooperation with Japan. Under the 2015 pact struck with six major powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States -- Iran agreed to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. But former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the deal struck by his predecessor as flawed and pulled Washington out of it in 2018. Iran countered the move by expanding the capacity and purity of its uranium enrichment beyond the limits set in the deal. Eslami, who heads the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, told Kyodo News that the country is committed to the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers but does not want to implement it unilaterally. If the United States and the other signatories abide by their commitments, Tehran will downgrade the nuclear enrichment purity, he said, without elaborating further. Eslami also said there are opportunities for mutual nuclear cooperation with Japan, stressing Tokyo can benefit from Iran's mature and reliable nuclear industry. Iran plans to construct six new power plants to produce nuclear electricity and if Japan has the willingness in this field, "we will definitely provide an opportunity for their presence in Iran's nuclear industry," he said. Japan formerly trained Iranian scientists in a program aimed at developing nuclear safety, but the program was stopped after the United States imposed sanctions on Iran for its nuclear development program. After the International Atomic Energy Organization adopted a resolution against Iran's expanded nuclear activity last November, Tehran announced the increase of uranium enrichment purity to 60 percent. The nuclear deal limited Tehran's uranium stockpile to 300 kilograms and the enrichment purity to 3.67 percent -- enough to fuel a nuclear power plant. Iran's relationship with the U.N. nuclear watchdog is based on the so-called safeguards agreement and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Iran's nuclear activity is intensely monitored by the agency, Eslami said. Iran will not implement the nuclear deal unilaterally and will not accept "illogical and extremist" demands, he said. Regarding past disputes with the IAEA over "alleged locations" where Iran conducts suspected secret activities related to nuclear development, Eslami said, "There is no undeclared or suspicious (nuclear) location in Iran. We will try to resolve all ambiguities of the IAEA." The IAEA confirmed Iran has no illegal or undeclared nuclear activities at two such sites but needs to examine further. Eslami said Iran has informed the agency that it is ready to cooperate and review the findings together. The IAEA repeatedly asked Iran to improve its transparency during probes while Iran has consistently denied any ambition to develop nuclear weapons, insisting its activities are peaceful. There are no problems in Iran's cooperation with the IAEA and it is "on the right track," he said, adding, however, political pressure has misled the agency about how to handle Iran's nuclear issues. Related coverage: Iran-Saudi deal includes agreement on nuclear program, Yemen KYODO NEWS - Jul 27, 2023 - 00:00 | World, All North Korea marked the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice Thursday with Chinese and Russian delegations, in an apparent show of unity amid their rivalries with the United States. Pyongyang could stage a military parade early Thursday morning, according to sources familiar with inter-Korean relations. The delegations sent by Beijing and Moscow are the first known foreign groups to be invited to North Korea since the country's 2020 COVID border closure. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who is leading Moscow's delegation, held talks with his North Korean counterpart Kang Sun Nam and agreed to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation, calling Pyongyang an "important partner," Russia's Defense Ministry said Wednesday. The Chinese group is headed by Li Hongzhong, a member of the ruling Communist Party's Political Bureau. There is a possibility that Shoigu and Li will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during their stay. If realized, their talks will be the first contact between Kim and senior foreign officials since the leader met with then U.S. President Donald Trump at the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas on June 30, 2019. Since January 2020, North Korea has maintained almost entirely closed borders to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. Pyongyang claims the 1950-53 Korean War ended in its victory over U.S.-led allied forces. In the conflict, which began on June 25, 1950, with a North Korean invasion aimed at unification under the Communist regime, the U.N. forces led by the United States fought alongside South Korea against the North, supported by China and the Soviet Union. Ahead of the anniversary, Kim visited a cemetery for fallen Chinese troops who "unsparingly dedicated their precious lives to the righteous war of the Korean people to repel the imperialist aggression," North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said. To pay tribute to them, the leader placed a flower before the grave of Mao Anying, the eldest son of China's founder Mao Zedong, the report said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning welcomed Kim's move Wednesday, saying it shows that North Korean people "cherish the great achievements" of the Chinese troops and reflects "the traditional friendship" between Beijing and Pyongyang. Calling the two countries "friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers," Mao pledged that China will promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. The law which governs your rights as a Consumer in the UAE is Federal Law No 15 of 2020 on Consumer Protection (Law). This Law is applicable to all the goods and services you purchase in the UAE (including Free Zones) and to all the e-commerce platforms which are registered in the UAE. Are you a Consumer and if yes, why knowing your rights is important? Mostly, terms such as Customer and Consumer are used synonymously. In fact, they both have a different meaning. For example: A Customer is someone who purchases the goods & services and makes the payment. These goods and services may be for self-use or for reselling or may be for the use of a third party. The Consumer is someone who consumes the goods and services for the self-use. To simplify, when a father purchases a toy for his child, the father is a customer, and the child is a Consumer. As per Law in the UAE, Consumer is every physical or juristic person who obtains a Good or Service - with or without charge - to satisfy his personal needs or the needs of others, or for which transactions or contracts are concluded therewith. A lot of us have pleasant experience when we purchase goods and services from the various retail destinations in the UAE. However, for some of us this may be far from the reality. Some of us may have faced issues such as bad customer service, no refunds, the supply of defective goods or counterfeits goods thought to be genuine at the time of sale. Unfortunately, given the boom in trade and thriving business, these instances of mis-selling are not uncommon in the UAE. Therefore, it is extremely crucial to know your rights as a Consumer in order to make the best, well informed choices and to get prevented from being mistreated or misled by businesses. Your rights as a Consumer in the UAE to be provided an appropriate and safe environment when purchasing a good or receiving a service. to obtain correct information about the goods we purchase, use or consume or the service which we receive. to be informed about our rights and obligations. to have the right to choose the most appropriate product and service available in the market according to our wishes as a Consumer. to obtain fair compensation for damages which we suffer as a result of purchasing or using defective goods or receiving inadequate or unprofessional services. The Suppliers Obligations which are Consumers rights: protect Consumers privacy and data security, and refrain from using them for promotional and marketing purposes. respect Consumers religious values, customs and traditions when providing them with goods or services. settle Consumers disputes promptly. provide the Consumer with a dated invoice that includes his trade name, address, type of goods or service sold or provided, its price and quantity and any other data specified by the Law. The invoice must be in Arabic and the provider may add any other language, as he deems fit. Where can Consumer seek a redressal? For consumer issues, contact Ministry of Economy on 800 1222. You can file a complaint at Department of Economic Development (DED) in each emirate which deals with consumer rights issues. Penalties that can be levied under the Law: Suppliers who fail to provide clear information and labelling or advertise misleading prices and false data on the goods and services or fail to repair or replace a defective product without a charge, will face imprisonment of up to two years and a fine not exceeding AED two million. For any general commercial and corporate advice, kindly contact us at Law & Order UAE. Disclaimer: The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available in this article is for general informational purposes only. Information outlined in this article may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. Readers of this article should contact attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter. No reader, user, or browser of this article should act or refrain from acting on the basis of information of this article without first seeking legal advice from counsel in the relevant jurisdiction. Use of, and access to, this article or any of the links or resources contained in this article do not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader, user, or browser and website authors, contributors, contributing law firms, or committee members and their respective employers. The views expressed at, or through, this article is of the individual author writing in the individual capacity only. All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the contents of this site are hereby expressly disclaimed. The content on this posting is provided "as is" no representations are made that the content is error-free. UH researchers stretching, testing and monitoring the stretchable fabric-based lithium-ion battery's performance. The gray striated section is the battery prototype. Another type of bendable/stretchable polymer battery prototype being developed in the UH lab of Haleh Ardebili, Bill D. Cook Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Houston. Professor Haleh Ardebili and Navid Khiabani, a UH graduate research assistant, discussing bendable batteries. Most people already know and appreciate the capabilities of smart phones, now imagine the possibilities offered by smart spacesuits, uniforms and exercise clothes. The future of wearable technology just got a big boost thanks to a team of University of Houston researchers who designed, developed and delivered a successful prototype of a fully stretchable fabric-based lithium-ion battery. The idea for this cutting-edge evolution of the lithium-ion battery came from the mind of Haleh Ardebili, Bill D. Cook Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UH. As a big science fiction fan, I could envision a science-fiction-esque future where our clothes are smart, interactive and powered, she said. It seemed a natural next step to create and integrate stretchable batteries with stretchable devices and clothing. Imagine folding or bending or stretching your laptop or phone in your pocket. Or using interactive sensors embedded in our clothes that monitor our health. Some of these ideas are already becoming a reality. However, like all electronics, they need power, which is where the stretchable and flexible batteries come in. A major bottleneck in the development of the next generation of electronics or wearable technology embedded in fabrics is that conventional batteries are generally rigid, which limits functionality of the items, and they use a liquid electrolyte, which raises safety concerns. The traditional organic liquid electrolytes are flammable and can lead to the possibility of the batteries catching fire or even exploding under certain conditions. The key to the UH research teams breakthrough lies in the researchers using conductive silver fabric as a platform and current collector. The weaved silver fabric was ideal for this since it mechanically deforms or stretches and still provides electrical conduction pathways necessary for the battery electrode to function well. The battery electrode must allow movement of both electrons and ions, said Ardebili, who is the corresponding author of a paper detailing this research in the Extreme Mechanics Letters. The first author of the paper is Bahar Moradi Ghadi, a former doctoral student who based her dissertation on this research. By transforming rigid lithium-ion battery electrodes into wearable, fabric-based, flexible, and stretchable electrodes, this technology opens up exciting possibilities by offering stable performance and safer properties for wearable devices and implantable biosensors. How It All Started The idea for stretchable batteries occurred to Ardebili several years ago. I was interested in understanding the fundamental science and mechanisms related to stretching an electrochemical cell and its components, she said. This was an unexplored field in science and engineering and a great area to investigate. The science of coupling effects of mechanical deformation and electrochemical performance is an important field and stretchable batteries provide a great vehicle for exploring the fundamental mechanisms. Ardebili developed her ideas into grant proposals and won several key awards to support her work, including a five-year National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2013, a New Investigator Award from the NASA Texas Space Center Grant Consortium in 2014 and an award from the US Army Research Lab (ARL) in 2017. Although we have created a prototype, we are still working on optimizing the battery design, materials and fabrication, said Ardebili. What Is Next Ardebili is optimistic that the prototype for a stretchable fabric-based battery will pave the way for many types of applications such as smart space suits, consumer electronics embedded in garments that monitor peoples health and devices that interact with humans at various levels. There are many possible designs and applications for safe, light, flexible and stretchable batteries, but there is still some work to be done before they are available on the market. Commercial viability depends on many factors such as scaling up the manufacturability of the product, cost and other factors, she said. We are working toward those considerations and goals as we optimize and enhance our stretchable battery. Whether the stretchy batteries end up powering spacesuits or workout clothes or some other innovative application, Ardebili wants them to be reliable and safe. My goal is to make sure the batteries are as safe as possible, she said. Following Russias withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the Kremlin likely feels less politically constrained, and is attempting to strike targets in Odesa because it believes Ukraine is storing military assets in these areas. The relevant statement was made by the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom on Twitter, referring to the latest Defence Intelligence update, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Between August 2022 and June 2023, when the Black Sea Grain Initiative was still in force, Russia generally refrained from striking civil infrastructure in the southern ports. Since Russia failed to renew the deal, the Kremlin likely feels less politically constrained, and is attempting to strike targets in Odesa because it believes Ukraine is storing military assets in these areas, the report states. Since July 18, 2023, Russia has conducted greater numbers of long-range strikes against Odesa and other areas of southern Ukraine. These attacks have featured an unusual number of AS-4 KITCHEN missiles, a 5.5 tonne weapon originally designed to destroy aircraft carriers, the UK Ministry of Defence noted. Russian projectiles targeted several grain silos at Chornomorsk Port, south of Odesa, as well as the historic city centre. On July 24, 2023, Russia extended one way attack drone strikes to the docks on the Danube River, approximately 200 metres from the Romanian border. According to the UK intelligence, since the start of the war, Russias strike campaign has been characterised by poor intelligence and a dysfunctional targeting process. In the Bakhmut direction, Ukrainian forces continue conducting the offensive actions to the north and south of Bakhmut. Currently, Russians have retreated from their positions near Andriivka. The relevant statement was made by Spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andrii Kovaliov during a nationwide telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. According to Kovaliov, Ukraines Defense Forces continue the offensive operation in the Bakhmut, Berdiansk and Melitopol directions. Ukrainian warriors are gaining a foothold within the re-captured frontiers, attacking the detected enemy targets with artillery and conducting counterbatterry measures. In the direction of Staromaiorske, [the Ukrainian military] have succeeded and are gaining a foothold. The enemy continues to put up strong resistance, redeploys units and troops, uses reserves. In the Bakhmut direction, our forces continue conducting offensive actions to the north and south of the town of Bakhmut. Following the offensive and assault actions of the Defense Forces, the enemy was forced to retreat from positions near Andriivka, Kovaliov told. In his words, Ukrainian defenders continue holding back Russias onslaught in the Kupiansk and Lyman directions. The enemy conducted unsuccessful offensice actions to the northwest of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, to the south of Ivanivske and to the west of Klishchiivka. The enemy is putting up strong resistance, using reserves, suffering significant losses. Fierce battles are underway, Kovaliov noted. Over the past day, thirty-five combat engagements have occurred on the front. On the night of July 25, 2023, Russia launched another attack on Ukraines territory with the Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 loitering munitions. Information about the consequences is yet to be updated. Meanwhile, Russian troops have launched one missile and 72 air strikes, and opened fire with multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) 50 times over the past day. Casualties among civilians were reported, as well as the damage caused to port infrastructure, grain storage facilities, residential houses and other civil infrastructure. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, visited combat units in two active frontline directions. The commander reported this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform. "Due to the difficult and opposite situation in the Bakhmut and Lyman directions, it was necessary to adjust our plans, listen to the commanders, learn about their vision of the situation, problems and make balanced, adequate decisions," he said. Syrskyi emphasized that it is fundamentally important for him to understand the needs of the commander and soldier directly on the battlefield and where the situation is currently most difficult. Read also: AFU destroys eight more Russian ammunition depots near Bakhmut During the trip, the commander met with Ukrainian defenders and presented them with awards and valuable gifts. "After such meetings, our mutual trust and understanding that we are moving in the right direction, towards victory, are only strengthening," the colonel general emphasized. As reported, in the Bakhmut direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces forced the Russians to withdraw from their positions near Andriivka. Russia is actively using Lancet kamikaze drones in the combat zone. However, the Armed Forces of Ukraine know how to counteract them and what to counter Recently, the Russian propaganda channel Russia 1 aired a report on the mass production of Lancet drones. "The production of the legendary Lancets has increased 50 times since the beginning of the war. The exact number is not disclosed, but, according to the developers of the drones, each NATO tank that has not yet been brought to Ukraine has several barrage munitions," the story says. In addition, it is reported that one of the main tasks of the developers is to establish uninterrupted supplies of drones to the Russian army: "When orders from the Ministry of Defense came last summer and the need to expand production arose, Zala Aero chief designer Alexander Zakharov came up with the idea to occupy shopping centers that Western companies had left and urgently deploy UAV assembly there. It's cheaper than building factories from scratch." Subsequently, hostile Telegram channels also got involved, reporting that 200,000 Lancets have already been produced in Russia, and soon there will be a million in total." Although the aforementioned report by Russian zombie TV did not contain such figures. In any case, it had its "effect". The topic of increasing the production of Lancets was immediately discussed even in Ukraine. And no wonder, because these drones are really getting on the nerves of our soldiers at the front. However, as it turned out, it's not all bad. First, Lancets can be countered. Secondly, Ukraine has something to counter them with. Third, the information about the mass production of these drones rightly raises many doubts among experts. Let's start with the latter... THE "LANCET" FAKE: WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE KREMLIN PROPAGANDISTS' VIDEO In fact, this report is complete nonsense, a sick fantasy of propagandists. If you look closely, everything there is sewn with white threads. Oleksandr Kovalenko, a military observer of the Information Resistance group, told Ukrinform. "The report was filmed in the best traditions of Iranian propaganda, namely, with an obvious attempt to present the desired scale of production as real," he says. First, the main part of the program, which featured a warehouse with Lancets, was filmed in a room where the idea of batches numbering in the thousands was not impressive. "On the stands in the main shot, you can count 39 Lancets of various types and unknown degree of readiness," the analyst says. Secondly, the report notes that the head of the company has to move around the production halls on a Segway, the production is so large. "But in general, in the report, most of the production workshops are office space," Mr. Kovalenko added. Thirdly, the report makes it clear that there are only two production halls at the company and that Lancets are assembled manually. "That is, there is no automation of processes - manual labor of some 'serfs'. And what is the real pace and scale of such production?" - Mr. Kovalenko is ironic. Fourthly, the expert noticed that the room where the finished Lancets were allegedly stored and which was constantly featured in the report, as if they had no other room, had columns with mirrors: "This is absolutely unacceptable at enterprises, because it creates a visual illusion that can lead to injuries. But for the Russian propaganda story, they obviously needed scale, and since they have only one warehouse, they put mirrors on to give them "scale" to make it seem like there was a lot of stuff." In fact, these are the Iranian methods, exaggerated scale in Russian implementation. "But thanks to this report, it becomes clear that the scale of Lancets production, on the contrary, is much more limited than it might seem at first glance," the military expert added. But Russian propaganda did not stop. "After this report, Skabeeva also had a program dedicated to Lancets. It was stated that Russia produces 40-45,000 of them per month. This is nonsense. It is unrealistic to produce even 1000-2000 Lancets by hand in a month, let alone 40,000. Especially if you have only two workshops. Why two? Because they didn't show more, because they simply don't exist," says Oleksandr Kovalenko. Finally... Each Lancet can shoot video in real time: "Hence the question: if the Russians produce 40-45,000 Lancets per month, where is the corresponding number of videos of destroyed or damaged Ukrainian equipment? Of course, the Russian propaganda publishes the relevant videos, but not thousands, but a few dozen at most. So... The occupiers do not produce any 200,000, 40,000 or even a 1000 "lancets" every month. 50-100 units is closer to reality. No more." In general, according to Mr. Kovalenko, the Russian military-industrial complex is in a depressing state. It is unable to produce a large number of new weapons and has become just a large repair base. "During the Second World War, the entire Soviet military-industrial complex worked to produce tanks, artillery, etc. And now the Russian military-industrial complex is primarily a large repair base. They are able to remove from conservation, restore, maintain, repair, and modernize - they can do that. But they cannot produce large quantities of new equipment. For example, to produce a new T-72 tank, Russia needs to restore and launch 16,000 production processes that have simply disappeared over the decades, because a quarter of a century has passed since 1998, when the last production T-72 was produced. They need to start from scratch," says the military and political observer of the Information Resistance group. At the same time, he said, the Lancet is indeed "a problem that is very difficult to solve with the available means and to provide 100% counteraction." "LANCET": WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT IS PESTERING UKRAINIAN DEFENSE FORCES AT THE FRONT The Lancet is a Russian barrage munition. It is produced by ZALA Aero, a subsidiary of the Kalashnikov concern. Two modifications are known: the more compact Lancet-1 and the more powerful Lancet-3. Their characteristics: Maximum takeoff weight - from 5 to 12 kg (depending on the modification); Weight of the warhead - from 1 to 3 kg (depending on the modification); Speed during horizontal flight - from 80 to 110 km/h; Speed during diving - up to 300 km/h; Type of warhead - high-explosive and fragmentation, as well as fragmentation (depending on the modification); Flight radius - up to 40 km; Flight time - from 30 to 40 minutes (depending on the modification). "The Lancet-1 has an insufficiently powerful warhead - a kilogram of explosive. The occupiers use it mainly against manpower, vehicles, lightly armored vehicles, and artillery, such as towed howitzers M777, D-20, and D-30. Therefore, the effective defeat of medium- and heavy-armored vehicles by Lancet-1 is out of the question," says Oleksandr Kovalenko. The modified version, Lancet-3, can even hit tanks, but its power is not enough to penetrate the frontal armor of a tank. At the same time, the Lancet-3 is maneuverable enough to fly to the less protected sides. "The Lancet-3 carries 3 kilograms of explosive and is capable of destroying almost all types of vehicles. For example, it can penetrate the American MaxxPro armored vehicle. Unlike the previous version, this one is more dangerous," emphasized the observer of the Information Resistance group. Independent analysts at Oryx, who monitor video recordings of recorded Lancet strikes, say that the occupiers most often use these drones to destroy artillery. As of March 2023, Oryx recorded 43 strikes on artillery installations, including 155-mm howitzers provided by the United States, as well as other important targets behind the front line, including 7 anti-aircraft missile systems, 11 radars, and 2 command posts. In addition, 11 tanks and 9 other armored vehicles were destroyed or damaged by the "lancets". "In total, as of March 2023, the Russians were able to hit 113 targets with Lancets," Oryx writes. "Tanks are attacked less often... Perhaps because artillery is now more important than tanks. Artillery accounts for up to 90% of fire damage. So, obviously, artillery is the most valuable target for Russian Lancets. For towed howitzers, such as the American M777 or Soviet counterparts, high-explosive ammunition is a real threat. And first of all, not even for the howitzer itself, but for the crew, that is, the people who service it," says Pavlo Narozhnyi, a volunteer who specializes in artillery support. The problem with the M777 howitzers (and similar towed howitzers) is that they cannot be assembled very quickly. "A self-propelled vehicle turns the barrel in the direction of travel and drives off. And a howitzer on a tractor mostly needs to be buried. Although in general, assembling a howitzer is easier than installing it. But it is still a process that even at best will take 5-10 minutes. And if the howitzer has already been spotted by a drone, it is likely that it will not be assembled in time. This is a general problem for all artillery, which cannot travel on its own. That is why during all communications with the allies, the Ukrainian side first of all asks for UAVs," emphasized Mr. Narozhnyi. As you can see, there is indeed a problem. But there are also ways to solve this problem, although not 100%. ARE THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE CAPABLE OF EFFECTIVELY COUNTERING LANCETS? Yes, they can. Here are a few ways. Method #1. Mesh protection The simplest defense option is to use a steel cable to stretch a netting over the gun. Even if the drone explodes, when it hits such a net, it will cause much less damage than without it. The netting increases the likelihood that the artillery system will remain intact, and that people around it will survive, even if they are concussed. "Or even better, a double-tensioned mesh protection. It is cheap and effective. Especially when we are talking about Lancet-1. Some of these UAVs have even been captured as trophies because they simply got tangled in the nets. However, the net does not always save from the modernized Lancet-3. Why? Because, firstly, it has a cumulative warhead, and secondly, it can be remotely detonated," says Oleksandr Kovalenko. Method #2. Electronic warfare means In general, it is enough to suppress the control signal or video, and this drone becomes completely helpless. Today, we have several types of electronic warfare, one of the most famous being Bukovel. It can jam Lancet at a distance of about 10 km. However, the EW may also have problems with Lancets. This is what one of the Ukrainian EW commander told "TEXTY" publication: "First, there are reconnaissance UAVs with the same signal as the Lancet. Secondly, the UAV, the same Lancet, can fly in radio silence mode, so it cannot be detected by the signal in advance. Thirdly, the electronic warfare system suppresses the signal receiver." Method #3. Short-range air defense systems and small arms "Short-range anti-aircraft missile systems and anti-aircraft self-propelled artillery systems are quite effective against Lancets," emphasizes Oleksandr Kovalenko. Advisor to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Yuriy Sak agrees with him: "The best defense against drones could be Gepard anti-aircraft guns, because they are mobile, can move quickly and have good radar. And also Tunguska and Shilka. And man-portable air defense systems such as Stinger, Starstreak, Martlet or Polish Piorun. "After all, you can hit Lancets using small arms. But the enemy uses them in areas where the Armed Forces of Ukraine do not have such a high density of air defense and electronic warfare systems, so one hundred percent protection against these drones is impossible," Mr. Kovalenko emphasized. Method #4. "Cutting off oxygen" for the Russian military-industrial complex Lancets still use foreign-made components. For example, the Lancet uses the Jetson TX2 module of the American company NVIDIA as onboard control equipment, and the Xilinx Zynq SoC module of the American company Xilinx to implement programmable logic. This does not necessarily indicate a violation of export controls. Most likely, it is smuggling. However, this situation clearly shows the path that Ukraine and its international partners should follow: increasing export restrictions and constant monitoring and identification of new shadow supply chains should eventually "cut off the oxygen" for Russian defense companies and drone manufacturers in particular. UKRAINE HAS SOMETHING TO COUNTER First, as part of military assistance, international partners constantly provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the necessary means, including attack drones. For example, we receive the Switchblade 300, Switchblade 600, Phoenix Ghost, etc. from the United States alone. The latest $1.3 billion package also includes the aforementioned "birds". It also includes means of countering UAVs and electronic warfare. We cannot ignore the news from our Baltic friend Lithuania, where the "Drone Songs" campaign has been launched to raise 300,000 euros to purchase 500 kamikaze drones for the Ukrainian military. The campaign will last until August 24. Second, we should mention the Army of Drones. As of May, almost 4,000 drones [the nomenclature is not disclosed, it is only known that a significant part of the drones are Ukrainian-made] have been contracted under the project for more than UAH 4.1 billion. Mykhailo Fedorov, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, said that the Army of Drones had destroyed millions of dollars worth of occupiers' equipment from July 10 to 17. In particular: minus 12 tanks, 15 armored combat vehicles, 2 self-propelled artillery systems, 5 guns, 1 MLRS, 20 strongholds, 8 trucks, 16 radio equipment, 8 fuel depots. Thirdly, according to Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, the Armed Forces of Ukraine already have more than 20 new models of Ukrainian drones in service. Direct quote: "We have gathered 82 purely Ukrainian manufacturers. They volunteered to make them, and we have already adopted more than 20 new drones, which are now very successfully destroying orcs and their equipment." Fourth, the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are also met through volunteer procurement [a similar movement is hardly developed in Russia] and large foundations and companies. For example, the same Serhiy Prytula Foundation purchases hundreds of commercial drones for the army, mainly Mavic 3 (China), Autel EVO (USA) and PD-1 (Ukraine). That's the general picture. And now to be more specific: what do we produce ourselves - from the drone industry? A lot of things. We have selected those projects that have already proven their effectiveness in combat, passed certification and were put into mass production. RAM II UAV These are kamikaze drones manufactured by DeViRo. It was for these drones that Ukrainians raised UAH 352 million in one day after Russia's massive missile attack on Ukraine on October 10. The RAM II UAV is a barrage munition developed on the basis of the Leleka-100 reconnaissance UAV. The flight radius is up to 30 km, flight time is up to an hour, cruising speed is 70 km/h, and the maximum altitude is 1000 m. The weight of the drone is 8 kg, including the weight of the warhead - 3 kg. It is equipped with thermobaric, armor-piercing, and high-explosive munitions. The RAM II UAV is launched from a catapult from the ground or a pickup truck, with a deployment time of 10 minutes. It is used to destroy air defense systems, armored vehicles, and enemy manpower concentrations. By the way, this drone can also perform a reconnaissance function, as it is equipped with a 10x zoom camera. Punisher This drone was developed by Ukrainian engineers, veterans of the Donbas war, who joined forces to form UA Dynamics. The Punisher is a reusable strike drone for conducting precision air strikes behind enemy lines. Priority targets for the drone include command posts, electronic warfare facilities, air defense facilities, ammunition and fuel depots, and mechanized infantry. The flight range is 45 km, the speed is 190 km/h, and the altitude is 100-400 meters. The drone has an almost silent electric motor that leaves no heat trace. It is reported that Punisher delivers precision strikes deep behind enemy lines. The drone can hit a target measuring 4 by 2 meters from an altitude of hundreds of meters and at a speed of more than 100 km/h. R-18 This copter is the brainchild of volunteers from Aerorazvedka, who developed it during the first stage of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The drone has a flight radius of up to 8 km, can lift up to 5 kg of explosives, and can stay in the air for about 40 minutes. The bombs used are Soviet RKG-3 anti-tank grenades or RKG-1600 bombs created on their basis by the Mayak plant. The R-18 drone is capable of carrying two bombs/grenades and dropping them from an altitude of 100-300 meters, hovering over the target. Using the RKG-1600 bomb, the R18 drone can hit a target within a 1-meter radius from an altitude of 300 meters. Reportedly, the main targets for these drones are headquarters vehicles, radars, self-propelled artillery systems, air defense systems and MLRS, rear warehouses, etc. However, enemy tanks have also been destroyed with their help. COBRA The drone was developed by engineers from Kryvyi Rih. This UAV is built like an airplane with three-meter wings and a powerful engine of its own production. "The Cobra is capable of carrying a payload of up to 15 kg over a distance of 300 km, reaching speeds of up to 150 km/h. The developer of the Cobra, Vitaliy Bryzgalov, notes that COBRA takes three hours to assemble and is easy to manufacture; he has not yet disclosed any other features of this kamikaze drone. Bat There is little information about this UAV. It is only known that the Kazhan is a reusable drone that can lift various types of ammunition, reach speeds of up to 72 km/h and fly at a distance of up to 10 km. It works both in manual mode and according to predefined coordinates. As of the end of 2022, more than 170 such drones were in use in various units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. ...To the list should be added a joint project of volunteers and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who opened a drone factory in Odesa. They assemble 5000 (!) UAVs of various types in a month. In particular: Kamikaze drones. These "birds" are able to "work" on enemy targets - manpower and equipment - at a distance of up to 8 kilometers, even in conditions of electronic warfare. Bomber drones. The range is 15 kilometers, it has a camera with a tenfold zoom, and is armed with cumulative and fragmentation grenades weighing up to three kilograms each. It can drop six munitions simultaneously, or it can drop them pointwise, flying along a pre-planned trajectory. Myroslav Liskovych. Kyiv As part of his third tour to Africa, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is visiting Liberia. This is reported in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, according to Ukrinform. "On July 26, during the third tour of African countries, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba will visit Liberia. This is the first visit to this country in the history of diplomatic relations," the Foreign Ministry said. The Minister will hold talks with the Liberian leadership to ensure the export of Ukrainian grain to Africa, support President Volodymyr Zelensky's Peace Formula, and develop bilateral cooperation. As reported, on July 23, Dmytro Kuleba began his third tour of African countries with a visit to Equatorial Guinea. The Russian Federation considers Ukrainian culture and heritage to be the primary targets in its attempts to destroy Ukrainian identity, says Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraines Permanent Representative to the United Nations, who spoke on Wednesday at a Security Council meeting to discuss the shelling of the historic center of Odesa and the port infrastructure. This was reported by an Ukrinform correspondent in New York. Kyslytsya explained that Moscow, using low-precision anti-ship missiles against ground targets, caused significant damage to the historic center of Odessa, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The missiles hit 29 historical and cultural monuments, including museums, religious and residential buildings. In total, as a result of the strikes, nearly 50 buildings were destroyed and damaged, including four schools, five kindergartens, and two higher educational facilities. The building of the Greek consulate was also damaged, and last week the Chinese consulate. "Ukrainian grain and other foodstuffs remain another target that Russia is trying to eliminate, not caring at all about the severe implications for global food security," the ambassador noted. According to him, the Russian Federation may resort to attacks on civilian vessels and plant additional mines in the waters close to the Ukrainian coast. "There are grounds to believe that Russia is preparing such incidents for the purposes of blaming Ukraine and discouraging vessels from other countries from entering Ukrainian waters and using Ukrainian ports," Kyslytsya explained. He emphasized that the blockade of Ukrainian ports, destruction of their infrastructure, obstruction of grain export, as well as intimidation of foreign merchant vessels should be considered as an attack on freedom of navigation. These actions are also aimed at removing a competitor from the market, deliberately increasing global food prices and profiting at the expense of millions around the world who will be affected, he added. Read also: UNESCO mission to assess damage to cultural heritage objects in Odesa Kyslytsya also drew the attention of members of the UNSC to the problem of the forced displacement of Ukrainian children from the occupied territories. They are "subject to anti-Ukrainian indoctrination and propaganda, aimed at instilling hatred towards Ukraine, its language, culture and history," said the ambassador. In addition to being deportated to Russia and displaced within the occupied territories, children are also taken to Belarus. According to available information, since the outset of the invasion, more than 3,000 Ukrainian children have been deported from the temporarily occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions to Belarus under the guise of "health rehabilitation". Kislytsya told the Security Council that earlier, the State Duma of the Russian Federation passed a law on raising the conscription age. The chairman of the Duma defense committee, General Andrey Kartapolov, a rapporteur on the bill, openly stated that this law has been written for a big war, for general mobilization. And now this big war is already being felt. "Instead of seeking peace, they continue to dream of a big war where Ukraine would not be the sole target," Kyslytsya emphasized, rcalling that Ukraine - unlike Russia, which seeks a bigger war - seeks peace in line with the formula presented by President Volodymyr Zelenskyi. As Ukrinform reported earlier, on Wednesday, the UN Security Council held two meetings on the situation in Ukraine: one at the request of Russia, about the alleged persecution of Russian Orthodoxy, and another at the request of Ukraine, on the shelling of the historic center of Odesa and the citys port infrastructure. The Ukrainian military will receive 1,700 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as part of the Army of Drones project. They will include combat, reconnaissance and AI-powered drones. The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology Development - Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. We are supporting the counteroffensive and sending 1,700 unmanned aerial vehicles to the front. Among them, there are combat and reconnaissance drones, birds with artificial intelligence that will help to effectively detect and then destroy enemy targets, Fedorov noted. In his words, all of those UAVs were purchased as part of the government-funded project, Army of Drones. A reminder that the Army of Drones project was initiated by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Digital Transformation Ministry. It is a comprehensive program, providing for the systemic purchase of drones, their maintenance, and training courses for relevant professionals. The project was launched on July 1, 2022. The National Energy and Utility Regulation Commission (NEURC) agreed on the procedure for the distribution of revenues from the management of restrictions between operators of the transmission systems of Ukraine and Romania. This was reported by the agency press service, Ukrinform saw. "At its meeting on July 26, 2023, the NEURC agreed on the procedure for the distribution of revenues from the management of restrictions between operators of the transmission systems of Ukraine and Romania, provided by NEC Ukrenergo. According to the terms of the draft agreement between the operators of the distribution systems of the two countries, it is assumed that the income (before VAT) from the management of restrictions on the border between Ukraine and Romania shall be distributed between NEC Ukrenergo and C.N.T.E.E. Transelectrica S.A. at 50% to 50%," the statement reads. Read also: Ukraine imports electricity from Poland through updated line It is noted that the adopted decision will allow for regulating export-import transactions involving electric energy through the cross-border flow between Ukraine and Romania and will help stabilize the energy system by creating conditions for the import of electricity from Romania in deficit hours of the day and export to Romania in hours where a surplus electrical energy is observed. As reported, on July 12, 2023, the Regulator agreed on the procedure for the distribution of revenues from restriction management between transmission system operators of Ukraine, NEC Ukrenergo, and Slovakia's SEPS. KYODO NEWS - Jul 26, 2023 - 15:44 | All, Japan The mother of a woman who was arrested for allegedly mutilating the corpse of a decapitated man found in a Sapporo hotel room earlier this month said her daughter was previously involved in a violent incident with him, investigative sources said Wednesday. Hiroko Tamura, 60, the mother of Runa Tamura, was arrested on a charge of collusion and told investigators her 29-year-old daughter had been victimized by the murdered man, identified as Hitoshi Ura, the sources said. On Monday, Runa and her 59-year-old psychiatrist father Osamu Tamura were arrested on suspicion of mutilating the corpse of 62-year-old Ura. Investigators suspect Runa and Osamu had planned to chop up Ura's body and take it away, as together they purchased a saw that was likely used in the crime and a suitcase, the sources said. On Wednesday, police searched the hospital in Sapporo where Osamu is employed. The admissions by Hiroko came after the head of Ura, an office worker who was found naked and headless in the bathroom of a hotel room on July 2, was discovered Monday during a search of the Tamura home in the same city. Ura is believed to have died soon after entering the hotel room with an individual believed to be Runa, as the room itself had barely been used except for the bathroom. Police plan to investigate further, with the intention of charging Runa with murder, the sources said. She is suspected to have entered the hotel on her own, while her father is believed to have dropped her off and collected her from the hotel, the sources said. An autopsy of the body revealed that the cause of death was hemorrhagic shock caused by blood loss, but Ura had no wounds to indicate he had struggled with someone wielding a blade. The incident occurred in the Susukino area of the city where many short-stay "love hotels" are located. Related coverage: Decapitated head found at Sapporo home of arrested doctor, daughter Doctor, daughter arrested for beheading, carrying head out from hotel Headless body found at Sapporo hotel, person seen with victim sought NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg convenes a meeting of the new Ukraine-NATO Council today, July 26, at Kyiv's request. "The parties will meet to hold consultations on the latest developments and discuss the transportation of Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea," NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu told dpa agency, DW reports. According to her, the meeting will take place at the level of ambassadors. As reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening video message on July 22 that the Ukraine-NATO Council meeting would be held in the next few days and would touch upon overcoming the crisis situation in the Black Sea and ensuring the sustainable operation of the "grain corridor". I spoke with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg about Russian aggressive steps in the Black Sea. Any destabilization in this region and the 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, the President stressed. The African continent is becoming a priority in Ukrainian foreign policy. Ukraine is one of the guarantors of food security in this region of dynamic development, and our diplomatic efforts are already demonstrating results in changing the paradigm of African politics. The position of African countries during the voting in the UN General Assembly eloquently confirms this. However, Africa remains a hotbed of geopolitical confrontation. Russian imperialists want to impose their will on the countries of Africa and take advantage of them in their interests. The Russia-Africa Summit, scheduled for July 2728, should be seen as a preparation for the geopolitical gripe into which the Russians want to drive the peoples of Africa. In fact, this forum aims to form the impression of a breakthrough in the international isolation of Russia, creating the illusion of support for the Kremlin by the so-called world majority, an important part of which is the African population of the planet. And while this participation in someone elses performance is still relatively voluntary, African leaders should think about the role assigned to them. In reality, it is not the solidarity with Russian follies that is in the interests of most people and countries of the world, but the preservation of the effectiveness of international law and security architecture based on UN documents and institutions. Clear principles and rules protect primarily those who cannot or do not plan to defend themselves with nuclear weapons and their murderous equivalents. Conversely, for the aggressor, which is todays Russia, international law stands in the way. Therefore, Moscow seeks not only to destroy Ukraine, but also to discredit the rules that prohibit it from doing so. The Kremlins global goal is to destroy the international order and, instead of the force of law, to impose the rule of force in relations between countries. This is something that threatens African countries no less than Ukraine. Russias struggle against the current international security architecture threatens not only the return to times of the war of all against all, but also the disruption of sustainable development programmes, climate change control, and systemic international support for vulnerable societies in the fight against hunger and poverty. Russia withdrew from the grain deal, and this threatens to increase prices for agricultural products and the emergence of an acute shortage of food available to African countries. Due to the Russian counteraction, in particular, the shelling of the port infrastructure and granaries of Ukraine, the charitable initiative of the President of Ukraine Grain from Ukraine, funded by the United Nations, is also at risk of disruption. Russia invariably covers its struggle against the West (and in fact against the principles of civilized coexistence in the world) with anti-colonial rhetoric inherited from the Soviet Union. Probably, Moscow hopes for widespread blindness in African countries, which Russia has chosen as its wards. After all, in the modern world, it is impossible to conceal the glaring facts of the Kremlins enslavement of dozens of indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation depriving them of their languages, rights, and prospects. Meanwhile, Russias colonial appetites are not at all limited to its own (the worlds largest) territory, as well as neighbouring Ukraine. The Russian tsars were late to the redistribution of the African continent by European colonizers in the 19th century. Now, Putins regime seeks to make up for what was lost and seize the natural resources of Africa. Russia uses mercenaries of Wagner PMC to interfere in the internal affairs of the continents states, implementing operations to overthrow legitimate governments (Mali, Burkina Faso). Instead of guarding, Russian helpers provoke political instability and only exacerbate old problems in African countries. The activities of Russian mercenaries fuel the flames of separatism and religious extremism. What political model can Russia export to Africa, if it is a corrupt, aggressive dictatorship that keeps its population in submission through repression and zombifying propaganda? Moscow can offer nothing but corruption, lies, terror, and wars to Africa. The Kremlin considers the countries of Black Africa underdeveloped, naturally prone to atrocities and barbarism. Unlike the West, Russia will not, as they say, impose democracy. Instead, Russia came to corrupt its elites and teach them to keep their peoples in lawlessness. By methods of blackmail and bribery, Moscow is trying to get the votes of African countries in the UN. These are votes against Ukraine and against international law. However, so far, Russian diplomacy has not won the coveted victories. On the contrary, after two tours of African countries by Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and the launch of a new strategy for Ukraines interaction with Africa, Kyivs position in the General Assembly is becoming stronger. African countries repeatedly support resolutions aimed at restoring international law. These votes meet primarily the national interests of the African countries themselves. Lavrov can participate in colourful African rituals as much as he wants, but that doesnt change the fact that he represents a country with deep-rooted racism, xenophobia, and chauvinism. The true attitude of Russia towards African leaders was evidenced when it fired missiles at Kyiv during the stay of a peacekeeping delegation from African countries on June 23 this year. Independent Ukraine is the result of a long anti-colonial struggle, whose milestones sometimes differed little from the events of African decolonization. Ukrainians understand perfectly the national feelings of the peoples of Africa, who do not tolerate arrogance and hypocrisy. We are natural allies in upholding the sovereignty and principles of international law that guarantee freedom and territorial integrity to all. Indeed, the growth of Ukrainian interest in Africa is dictated primarily by the challenges of Russian aggression. But the mutual interest of African countries in Ukraine can bring them practical benefits. Ukraine is extremely effective in finding allies and supporters to repel aggression. This experience is invaluable and worthy of following for those who find themselves in a similar situation. The common interest in ensuring food security has already been discussed. But there can be many more areas of mutually beneficial cooperation: education, technology, construction, energy, etc. Read also: Kuleba starts third tour of Africa with Equatorial Guinea Nowadays, Ukraine is discovering Africa, but this is not the first time we are here. After all, many positive examples of cooperation with the USSR (the Putin regime parasitizes on the nostalgia for it) are in fact precisely the Ukrainian contribution and merit. Its just that Ukraine itself did not get rid of Moscows colonial domination back then, and therefore its people, resources, and work for the benefit of international friendship were held under the guise of Soviet (and therefore Russian). It is time for Africa to rediscover Ukraine as well. Center for Strategic Communication facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published July 27, 2023 CAPTION:Miss ULM Leslie Hobgood competes at Miss Louisiana 2023. Photo credit: Steven Palowsky MONROE, LA Miss ULM 2023 Leslie Hobgood finished in the top 3 of the Miss Louisiana competition held in June. Hobgood won the Preliminary Alpha Talent Award, the Preliminary Alpha Evening Gown Award, and the Women in the Arts Award on her way to finishing as 2nd Runner-Up in the field of 27 contestants from across the state. This is such a testament to the caliber of students we have at ULM, said Meghan Olinger, Director of ULM Titleholders. Olinger says some of Hobgoods goals for the competition were to win a Preliminary Talent Award and to place in the Top 5. We have not had a Miss ULM place in the Top 5 for several years, and I wanted to make sure she had the tools she needed to accomplish her goals, said Olinger. Competing in Miss Louisiana is something I will never forget, said Hobgood. I dreamed of representing ULM on the Miss Louisiana stage for the longest time, and I am forever grateful that I was the one chosen to do so, she added. Hobgood will continue her reign as Miss ULM 2023 until November, when Miss ULM 2024 is crowned. She said she plans to continue promoting her community service initiative, Finding the Advantage in Learning Disadvantages, helping recruit potential delegates for Miss ULM, and serving as the universitys official hostess. As part of her community service initiative, Hobgood will visit local schools this fall, especially those specializing in learning disabilities, to share her own story of being diagnosed with dyslexia at 17 and encourage those in a similar situation. Hobgood is set to graduate from ULM in December 2023 with a degree in Vocal Performance. I consider it a privilege and honor to have watched how hard Leslie worked to prepare for Miss Louisiana and I think anyone watching knows she represented ULM so wonderfully, said Olinger. Additionally, Olinger noted that another ULM student in the Miss Louisiana competition, Lake Carpenter, was a Top 10 Semi-Finalist as well. Carpenter just completed her freshman year at ULM and was a finalist at the Miss ULM competition in November 2022. I think our entire Warhawk family can be incredibly proud of the performances of both young ladies on the Miss Louisiana stage. We were certainly well represented, added Olinger. The 2024 ULM Titleholder competitions will be held in November, with Mister ULM on Friday, November 17, Miss ULM on Saturday, November 18, and Miss ULMs Teen on Sunday, November 19. Miss ULMs Teen 2023 Genevieve Wetzel placed as a Top 10 Semi-Finalist at Miss Louisianas Teen in April 2023. If anyone is interested in competing in the Mister ULM, Miss ULM, or Miss ULMs Teen competitions, they can contact ulmtitleholders@ulm.edu for more information. Workshops and informational meetings for interested competitors will be held during the fall 2023 semester. For more information about Miss ULM, click here. KYODO NEWS - Jul 26, 2023 - 08:36 | All, World The United States believes maintaining high-level engagement with China is important even after the country removed Foreign Minister Qin Gang from his post without giving a reason, officials said Tuesday. "It does not change anything," White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said, while noting that as the removal is an internal matter for China, the United States is not in a position to say much about it. She said at a press briefing that the United States is "committed to deepening channels of communication" with China to avert any misunderstanding or miscalculation. Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesman of the State Department, indicated that the United States was not informed by China in advance of the change in its diplomatic lineup, but also stressed that Washington's basic policy will not be affected by the sudden shakeup. "We continue to think it's incredibly important that we maintain open lines of communications" with China to manage bilateral relations "responsibly, which is something that the international community expects from us," he separately told the press. The removal of Qin following a mysterious one-month absence from public duties was announced by China's state-run media Tuesday. The news came as senior U.S. and Chinese officials have resumed a series of meetings in recent months in an attempt to defuse tensions. Qin was replaced by his predecessor Wang Yi, who served in the post from 2013 to 2022, before becoming the head of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee Foreign Affairs Commission Office, a position regarded as the country's top diplomat. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Beijing in mid-June, meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior officials in a series of talks. Blinken, who became the first U.S. secretary of state to visit China since 2018, agreed with them to keep up dialogue and invited Qin to Washington to advance discussions. Since the visit, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and climate envoy John Kerry have also visited Beijing for talks with high-ranking Chinese officials, with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo planning to do the same in the near future. The increased exchanges are taking place as the two countries explore a summit between President Joe Biden and Xi later this year, possibly on the sidelines of an international conference, despite numerous disagreements over issues ranging from Taiwan's status and Russia's war against Ukraine to trade and human rights. Related coverage: Qin removed from China foreign minister post, Wang reinstated: media Extramarital affair behind Chinese minister Qin's absence: media China Foreign Minister Qin to skip ASEAN meetings for health reasons KYODO NEWS - Jul 26, 2023 - 21:27 | All, Japan, World The government is considering naming Shigeo Yamada, senior deputy minister for foreign affairs, as Japan's new ambassador to the United States, government sources said Wednesday. The appointment of Yamada, 59, to replace Koji Tomita, 65, is expected to be approved at a Cabinet meeting soon, the sources said. The replacement would come after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government hosted a Group of Seven industrialized nations summit in Hiroshima in May, and ahead of next year's U.S. presidential election. Joining the Foreign Ministry in 1986, Yamada served as minister at the Japanese Embassy in the United States and director general of the ministry's Foreign Policy Bureau before taking up the current post in June 2021. During his stint as a senior deputy foreign minister, he was involved in the G-7 summit and made efforts to improve bilateral relations with South Korea, which have been soured by wartime compensation disputes and other issues. Tomita has been serving as envoy to the United States since December 2020. Formerly, he was ambassador to South Korea. (@FahadShabbir) Members of the BRICS group do not cooperate against third parties, and this concerns financial issues as well, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday during a meeting with the head of the new BRICS Development Bank, Dilma Rousseff STRELNA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th July, 2023) Members of the BRICS group do not cooperate against third parties, and this concerns financial issues as well, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday during a meeting with the head of the new BRICS Development Bank, Dilma Rousseff. "Members of our organization - BRICS - they are not friends against someone ... this also applies to the financial sector," Putin said at the meeting. The Russian president added that settlements in national currencies among BRICS countries is on the rise, and the development bank can play a key role in this issue. "We know that there is a question about the liquidity of the bank, there are some ideas... Relations between our BRICS countries are developing, including (when it comes to) national currencies, settlements are increasing. It seems to me that the bank could also play a role in developing the direction of joint work," Putin said. (@FahadShabbir) There are no obstacles for developing countries to switch to trade in national currencies, the president of BRICS' New Development Bank (NDB), Dilma Rousseff, said on Wednesday ST.PETERSBURG (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th July, 2023) There are no obstacles for developing countries to switch to trade in national currencies, the president of BRICS' New Development Bank (NDB), Dilma Rousseff, said on Wednesday. "There are no obstacles for the countries of the developing world to carry out their foreign trade operations in national currencies," Rousseff said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St.Petersburg ahead of the second Russia-Africa Summit, opening on Thursday. The NDB is an international financial institution established in 2014 following the BRICS summit by an agreement between Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It aims to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS countries, as well as other emerging markets and developing countries through the provision of loans, guarantees and other financial instruments as part of state and private projects. BRICS unites the world's largest emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. A number of other countries intend to join the economic bloc, including Algeria, Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. South Africa, which assumed the rotating BRICS presidency in January, will host the 15th BRICS summit from August 22-24. US crude inventories fell by just a quarter of expected levels last week despite an end to supply injections from the national reserve, government data showed on Wednesday WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th July, 2023) US crude inventories fell by just a quarter of expected levels last week despite an end to supply injections from the national reserve, government data showed on Wednesday. Fuel inventories also fell less than expected for the week that ended on July 21, the Weekly Petroleum Status Report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed, raising questions about demand in a summer travel period that should logically see large draws. The US crude inventory balance fell by 0.6 million barrels during the week ended July 21, versus the 2.348 million-barrel decline forecast by industry analysts polled by local media. In the week to July 14, crude stockpiles slid by 0.708 million barrels after a build of 5.946 million the prior week - the most in a month. The weak crude draw reported by the EIA did not come with what had been the market's caveat for months - release of crude from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Prior to this, weekly drawdowns from the SPR had been a point of contention for oil bulls, who said the additional oil had often suppressed crude prices from rallying. The SPR draws stopped two weeks ago and with just days to the end of July, both US crude and Brent oil prices are carrying a 12% gain on the month, on the notion of high oil demand. The lower than expected crude draw for last week also came on the back of the million-barrel-per-day production cut announced by the Saudis for all of July. On the gasoline inventory side, the EIA reported a draw of 0.786 million barrels for last week. Analysts had expected the agency to cite a decline of 1.678 million barrels instead, after a drop of 1.066 million the prior week. Finished motor gasoline products delivered to the marketplace - an indication of demand at the pump - stood at 8.855 million barrels versus the prior week's 8.756 million. Typically, at this time of year, more than 9 million barrels of gasoline or more are supplied to the market each week. In the case of distillate stockpiles, the EIA reported a build of 0.245 million barrels. Analysts had forecast a decline of 0.301 million barrels last week, against a previous drop of 0.014 million. Distillates are refined into heating oil, diesel for trucks, buses, trains and ships, and fuel for jets. KYODO NEWS - Jul 26, 2023 - 08:11 | All Episode 5: Torrential Downpour Some parts of Japan have recently been hit by some of the worst rain on record. Three Kyodo News reporters -- Yamaguchi-san, Ed and Horiuchi-san -- discuss the numerous ways to phrase "rain" in English, their experiences of storms across Japan and Australia, and go off on a tangent about wines from Luxembourg. Article mentioned in the podcast: Heavy rainfall hits western Japan, 370,000 urged to evacuate Kyodo News presents a bilingual podcast for English learners about the ins and outs of news writing and how to translate tricky Japanese phrases into English. Have fun listening to journalists discuss recent articles as they occasionally go off on unrelated tangents. Related coverage: Podcast [English World] Episode 4 - Artificial Intelligence Podcast [English World] Episode 3 - Kyodo News Poll Podcast [English World] Episode 2 - Rainy season Niamey, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jul, 2023 ) :An attempted coup was underway Wednesday in the fragile state of Niger, where members of the Presidential Guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum, triggering a standoff with the army, sources said. The head of the West African bloc ECOWAS said Benin President Patrice Talon was heading to Niger on a mediation bid after the region was struck by a new bout of turbulence. Both ECOWAS and the African Union lashed what they called an "attempted coup d'etat," a term echoed by a source close to Bazoum. The United States, in a statement, demanded Bazoum's release. "The United States is deeply concerned about today's developments in Niger," the White House said. "We specifically urge elements of the presidential guard to release President Bazoum from detention and refrain from violence." UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned "any effort to seize power by force". One of a dwindling group of pro-western leaders in the Sahel, Bazoum was elected in 2021, taking the helm of a country burdened by poverty and a history of chronic instability. Disgruntled members of the elite Presidential Guard sealed off access to the president's residence and offices in the capital Niamey, and after talks broke down "refused to release the president," another presidential source said. "The army has given them an ultimatum," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. In a message on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X, the president's office said "Elements of the Presidential Guard (PG) had a fit of temper... (and) tried unsuccessfully to gain the support of the national armed forces and the national guard." "The army and national guard are ready to attack the elements of the PG who are involved in this fit of temper if they do not return to a better disposition," the presidency said. "The president and his family are well," it added. - Shots fired - The reason for the guards' anger was not disclosed. Hours after the president was detained, Bazoum supporters tried to approach the complex where he was being held, but were dispersed by members of the Presidential Guard who fired warning shots, an AFP reporter saw. One person was hurt, but it was not immediately clear if he was injured by a bullet or from falling as the crowd scattered. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and AU issued separate statements condemning an "attempted coup d'etat." The same term was used by the source close to Bazoum, who said that the bid was "doomed to fail". ECOWAS called for Bazoum's immediate and unconditional release and warned that all those involved would be held responsible for his safety. The European Union said it "associates itself" with the ECOWAS statement and attacked "any attempt to destabilise democracy and threaten the stability" of Niger. France, Niger's former colonial power, and neighbouring Algeria also issued condemnations. - Coup-prone - The landlocked Sahel state has experienced four coups since independence from France in 1960 as well as numerous other attempts at power. Bazoum, a former interior minister, was the right-hand man to former president Mahamadou Issoufou, who voluntarily stepped down after two terms. Their handover in April 2021, after elections won by Bazoum in a two-round contest against former president Mahamane Ousmane, marked Niger's first peaceful transition of power since independence. But reminders of the troubled past have never been far. An attempted coup took place just days before Bazoum's inauguration, according to a security source at the time. Several people were arrested, including the suspected ringleader, an air force captain named Sani Gourouza, and Ousmane Cisse, a former interior minister under a military government of transition. Five people, including Gourouza, were jailed in February for 20 years while Cisse was acquitted. A second bid to oust Bazoum occurred in March this year "while the president... was in Turkey", according to a Niger official, who said an arrest was made. The authorities have never commented publicly on the incident. - Poverty and jihadism - A landlocked state in the heart of the scorching Sahel, Niger is two-thirds desert and frequently ranks at the bottom of the UN's Human Development Index, a benchmark of prosperity. It has a surging population of 22.4 million, driven by a birth rate averaging seven children per woman. The country is struggling with two jihadist campaigns -- one in the southwest, which swept in from Mali in 2015, and the other in the southeast, involving jihadists from northeastern Nigeria. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes, stoking a humanitarian crisis and further straining the economy. The poorly equipped military is receiving training and logistical support from the United States and France, which have bases there. Niger last year became the hub of France's anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel. The mission was reconfigured after French forces quit Mali and Burkina Faso after falling out with the ruling juntas in those countries. Mali has brought in Russian paramilitaries -- Wagner mercenaries, according to Western countries, that rights monitors say have been implicated in atrocities. LONDON, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jul, 2023 ) :Junior doctors in England will stage a four-day walkout next month, the British Medical Association said on Wednesday. This will be the fifth round of strike action from junior doctors over their pay dispute with the government. The walkout will be staged on Aug. 11-15. The core demand of the association is the restoration of their salary to the level equivalent to what they earned in 2008, reflecting a 35% increase. Earlier this month, the government declared that it had presented a "final" pay offer to junior doctors, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asserted that further negotiations would not take place. However, the British Medical Association (BMA) has expressed its disagreement, stating that Sunak cannot unilaterally decide that negotiations have concluded without engaging in direct discussions with the union. As per the current offer, junior doctors are set to receive a 6% pay increase, plus 1,250 ($1,614). This raise translates to an overall pay hike ranging from 8.1% to 10.3%, depending on their previous pay packages. The UK's healthcare system has always had problems, but things have taken a turn for the worse due to the fallout of the Ukraine war, Brexit, and a spiraling cost-of-living crisis, according to multiple reports by unions, universities and think tanks. ANKARA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jul, 2023 ) :Volunteers in Australia on Wednesday continued efforts to rescue pilot whales who washed ashore a day earlier. Around 52 out of 97 members of the pod of whales have died after the mass stranding on a beach in Western Australia's south, ABC news reported. Animal experts, local rangers, and volunteers are attempting to rescue the surviving 45 pilot whales despite difficulties. Parks and Wildlife Incident Controller Peter Hartley said that experts were painstakingly examining each of the animals before an attempt to float the survivors back out to sea begins this afternoon, according to the broadcaster. Hartley praised the volunteers and others for their brave efforts despite freezing conditions, as it is now winter in Australia. Western Australia Environment Minister Reece Whitby tweeted: "About to arrive in Albany where 97 pilot whales have tragically stranded at Cheynes Beach. It's a heartbreaking event but every resource has been put into action to save as many as we can."Last September, about one-third of 270 pilot whales stranded off Tasmania's West Coast died while in October over 250 pilot whales died after a mass stranding at South Island in New Zealand. (@FahadShabbir) UNITED NATIONS, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jul, 2023 ) :A new UN report has raised concerns about the excessive use of smartphones, calling for them to be banned in schools worldwide. According to the Paris-based UN's Education, science and culture agency, UNESCO, the overuse of mobile phones impacts learning. UNESCO's report on technology in education urges countries to carefully consider how technology is used in schools. It emphasizes the need for a "human-centred vision" where digital technology serves as a tool rather than taking precedence. Speaking to UN News, a news website, UNESCO's Manos Antoninis also warned of the danger of data leaks in educational tech, as only 16 per cent of countries guarantee data privacy in the classroom, by law. "We know that vast amounts of data are being used without the appropriate regulation, so this data ends up being used for other non-educational purposes, commercial purposes and that's of course a violation of rights that needs to be regulated." The UNESCO report also highlights the disparities created by digital learning. During the COVID-19 pandemic, half a billion students worldwide were left out due to the shift to online-only tuition. Geographically, the report noted a significant imbalance in online resources favouring Europe and North America. UNESCO has urged countries to set their own standards for the way technology is designed and used in education such that it never replaces in-person, teacher-led instruction and supports the shared objective of quality education for all. "The digital revolution holds immeasurable potential but, just as warnings have been voiced for how it should be regulated in society, similar attention must be paid to the way it is used in education," warned UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. "Its use must be for enhanced learning experiences and for the well-being of students and teachers, not to their detriment." The report, Technology in education: A tool on whose terms? was launched at an event in Montevideo, Uruguay hosted by UNESCO and the Ministry of Education and Culture of Uruguay, with additional support from the Ceibal Foundation and 18 ministers of education from around the world. It proposes four questions that policymakers and educators should reflect upon as educational technology becomes increasingly accessible and utilized around the globe. The first question focuses on the appropriate use of technology in class. Disabled children who may struggle in a traditional, in-person setting may also benefit from the option of technological assistance. "The opportunities it has opened up are incredible, and we are always amazed by the new windows this opens for learners," said Manos Antoninis, the Director responsible for producing the report. "We need to learn about our past mistakes when using technology in education so that we do not repeat them in the future," said Mr. Antoninis. "We need to teach children to live both with and without technology; to take what they need from the abundance of information, but to ignore what is not necessary; to let technology support, but never supplant human interactions in teaching and learning," he added. The rapid shift to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic left out an estimated 500 million students worldwide, mostly affecting those in marginalized, rural communities. The report underlines that the right to education is increasingly synonymous with the right to meaningful connectivity, yet one in four Primary schools do not have electricity. It calls for all countries to set benchmarks for connecting schools to the internet between now and 2030, and for the primary focus to remain on these marginalized communities. There's a lack of impartial evidence concerning the added value of tech. Most evidence comes from the United States, where the What Works Clearinghouse pointed out that less than two per cent of education interventions assessed had "strong or moderate evidence of effectiveness." The evolution of technology is putting strain on education systems to adapt, UNESCO argues. Digital literacy and critical thinking are increasingly important, particularly with the growth of generative AI. Additional data in the report shows that this adaptation movement has begun: 54 per cent of countries surveyed have outlined skills they want to develop for the future, but only 11 out of 51 governments surveyed have curricula for AI. "Let's not forget that to be able to navigate the digital world, we don't necessarily need very sophisticated skills. Those who have the best reading skills are those least likely to be duped by a phishing email, for instance," Antoninis said. Moreover, teachers also need appropriate training yet only half of countries currently have standards for developing educators' information and communication technology skills. Even fewer have teacher training programmes covering cybersecurity, despite five per cent of ransomware attacks targeting education. UNITED NATIONS, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jul, 2023 ) :The UN General Assembly Tuesday adopted, by consensus, a Moroccan resolution, co-sponsored by Pakistan, calling for countering hate speech, and strongly deploring attacks against places of worship, religious symbols and holy books. The resolution, entitled: 'Promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech', won the approval in the 193-member Assembly amid growing acts of desecration of the holy Quran,. Diplomats said that Pakistan led the efforts, along with Malaysia and Egypt, to work toward the resolution of the language aimed at upholding the sanctity of religious sites, symbols and holy books. The paragraph reads: "Strongly deploring all acts of violence against persons on the basis of their religion or belief, as well as any such acts directed against their religious symbols, holy books, homes, businesses, properties, schools, cultural centres or places of worship, as well as all attacks on and in religious places, sites and shrines in violation of international law," Spain submitted an amendment asking for the last words of that paragraph "in violation of international law" be deleted. Speaking on behalf of the European Union, the Spanish delegate emphasized that although such actions are deeply offensive and disrespectful, they do not constitute a violation of international law, and thus proposed the elimination of the reference to "in violation of international law". But the amendment to change the phrasing was defeated. It secured only 44 votes in favour, with 62 voting against. There were 24 abstentions Under the terms of the resolution, the General Assembly urged member states to engage with all relevant stakeholders to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue and respect and acceptance of differences, among other things, to reject the spread of hate speech which constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence. It further called on Member States and social media companies to counter hate speech and address its increasing spread, enable research into measures to reduce it and promote users' access to effective reporting channels. The Assembly also voiced deep concern over the rise in instances of discrimination, intolerance and violence, regardless of the actors, including cases motivated by Islamophobia, on a proposal put forward by Pakistan, and backed by Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, according to the diplomats. Pakistan's delegate, Bilal Chaudhry, expressing his "profound satisfaction" over the adoption of the resolution, said the text resonated with the resolution on religious hatred, presented by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, recently adopted at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. That landmark resolution condemned "all advocacy and manifestations of religious hatred, including recent public and premeditated acts that have desecrated the Quran" and called for countries to adopt laws enabling them to bring to justice those responsible for such acts, he pointed out. "Islamophobia is on the rise, with the repeated incidents of desecration of the Holy Quran. These acts are not just a provocation to the feelings of more than two billion Muslims in the world, but a step to sabotage interfaith harmony and peace", the Pakistani delegate added. "Such incidents are also a manifestation of racial hatred and xenophobia, and absence of preventive legal deterrence, inaction, and shying away from speaking out encourages further incitement to hatred and violence," Chaudhry said. Finally, he said that the text does not seek to curtail the right to free speech," but tries to underline the "special duties and responsibilities" of the international community to safeguard interfaith peace and harmony." (@ChaudhryMAli88) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jul, 2023 ) :Pakistan on Wednesday condemned the provocative remarks made by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in Drass, Ladakh, boasting readiness to cross the Line of Control and reminded the Indian leadership that it was fully capable of defending against any aggression. "We counsel India to exercise utmost caution as its belligerent rhetoric is a threat to the regional peace and stability, and contributes to destabilizing the strategic environment in South Asia," the Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press statement. This was not the first time that India's political leaders and senior military officers had made highly irresponsible remarks about Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. "This kind of jingoistic statements must stop. The Indian leadership is reminded that Pakistan is fully capable of defending itself against any aggression," it was added. The spokesperson further said that the practice of dragging Pakistan into India's populist public discourse, with a view to stoking hyper-nationalism and reaping electoral gains, needed to end. Everything from history to law and from morality to the situation on the ground belied India's claims about Jammu and Kashmir, which was an internationally recognised disputed territory. The relevant UN Security Council resolutions stipulated that the final disposition of the territory would be made in accordance with the will of the people expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations. "India would be well-advised to faithfully implement these resolutions, rather than entertaining any notions of grandeur," the spokesperson further said. The Indian media quoted Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as saying that if the need arose, the Indian army would not hesitate to cross the Line of Control. Narendra Modi-led government was very clear and gave a free hand to its armed forces to launch operations across the border, he boasted of during his visit to Ladakh. Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Senator Sherry Rehman Wednesday unveiled the country's first-ever National Adaptation Plan unanimously approved by the federal capital to enhance nation's resilience against adverse impacts of climate change and environmental degradation ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jul, 2023 ):Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Senator Sherry Rehman Wednesday unveiled the country's first-ever National Adaptation Plan unanimously approved by the federal capital to enhance nation's resilience against adverse impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. The minister flanked by Additional Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change, Syed Mujtaba Hussain briefed the media persons over the landmark achievement that remained unaccomplished due to poor interest of the previous regime. She said the country needed adaptation and resilience as after 2022 floods the devastation and scale of the disaster underscored its significance for the future of the nation. The minister alleged said the adaptation plan had reportedly started in 2019 but she did not find any record of the document in the ministry. The team under the leadership of Additional Secretary Mujtaba Hussain worked extensively to create first ever adaptation plan which was a home grown plan and had been prepared with the input of the line ministries and provincial ministries, she added. The minister informed that detailed consultations with all the provinces including the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) in the process of preparing the National Adaptation Plan as the ownership of the plan was important. She noted that it was the job of the ministry to prepare projects, policy and planning in the ambit of climate change and environment. However, she said Sri Lanka and Bangladesh had already made their National Adaptation Plan in the region whereas some 40 countries all over the world had submitted their plans to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The minister said the plan was an important document that would be submitted to the UNFCCC. On growing impacts of global warming on the region, she said climate stress was becoming like an emergency owing to the multiplying impacts of climate change. "We flagged 'climate justice' slogan at COP-27 (in Egypt). Our greenhouse gas emissions are below one percent. We made it acknowledged across the world that Pakistan is in the frontline of global warming and it has been established world over," Senator Rehman said. The minister mentioned that currently the situation across the world showed forest fires going rampant which had been the case in Pakistan during the past year due to heatwaves. "Pakistan is having 53 degrees Celsius and it maintained this high temperature consecutively for three years," she said. Deliberating on the chapters of the Plan, she said a special chapter on risk and vulnerabilities was made as the country had been repeatedly among the top climate vulnerable countries' ranking of the German Watch. She said no one could stop heatwaves but the associated risks like drought, hydro-meteorological events, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) etc. were manageable through timely interventions. Pakistan had the world's largest glaciers outside the polar region that were melting at a fast pace whereas in delta there was drought and salinity, she added. Moreover, the plan also discussed flooding and agriculture whereas the water and food nexus was established in the plan to study that how to maintain food security for the population, she said. The minister underscored that Pakistan would go water scarce by 2025 that needed urgent focus whereas other areas like urban development, air pollution, land, water and others had also been focussed in the plan. She said that the plan had ministry and province specific strategies to achieve climate adaptation goal at the grassroots level as the local governments were the core of any adaptation plan. The ministry's job was to guide provinces and therefore had developed partnerships in the plan and identified interventions as one province or ministry alone could not implement it, she added. Senator Rehman highlighted that the planning and development of public sector development programme would be defined by the National Adaptation Plan. "We have also ensured permanent inclusion of women and marginalized communities whereas detailed guidelines have been prepared whereas it is an international standard document. The development planning would have the Adaptation Plan embedded in it," she said. The minister said the plan had a focus on nature-based solutions like Living Indus initiative, Recharge Pakistan, mangroves plantation, afforestation and others. "It is all science and evidence based with the objective of leaving no one behind. It will be the slogan of next COP meeting," she remarked. The minister informed that the people in Sindh affected by 2022 floods were being given housing and ownership of property. The climate based development models would improve the country's resilience towards natural disasters, she added. The minister said there was a lack of coordination among the ministries whereas all of them would have to work in cooperation and collaboration due to the crosscutting issues of environmental degradation. She said the first priority in the plan was agriculture water nexus as clear objectives were set in the document. It also addressed areas like urban resilience as Pakistan was the most urban region of South Asia and 50% of its population was living in urban areas, she added. The minister said land use management, natural capital, gender, youth and social inclusion, disaster risk management, financing of National Adaptation Plan implementation strategy were also part of the document. She proposed the next government to form National Adaptation Plan Secretariat at the ministry to ensure institutional arrangements for implementing the plan. The government would also support provinces to develop their adaptation plans, she said adding, "The ministry is recommending an expert group under the Pakistan Climate Change Council which is an important for a quarterly, monthly or as per the case review of the Plan's implementation including monitoring and evaluation." It was a technical document, a framework and road map for the provinces, she said. At the end, she acknowledged the entire team for its efforts and also the World Bank who supported in the design and rewriting of the document as per international language. She appreciated that the prime minister also swiftly approved the plan without any debate and noted that the it was a consensus based approved document. Additional Secretary, Climate Change Ministry Syed Mujtaba Hussain said the document had a whole of country approach with line ministries, provincial departments and others on board making it a holistic document with whole of society approach. KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jul, 2023 ) :Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that if given a mandate in next general elections, his next government would distribute around one million laptops across the country annually as part of the vision to support the talented youth. The prime minister, addressing a ceremony for the distribution of laptops and cheques for youth business loans, said with support from allies, a mechanism would be formulated to be equally funded by centre and provinces to distribute up to 1000,000 laptops across all provinces. "This is how the revolution will come This is the only way to make the nation progress," the prime minister told the ceremony also attended by Sindh governor, chief minister, Federal ministers, MQM leaders, provincial ministers, diplomats, and representatives of bankers. He said youths from across the country needed to be equipped with education and provided maximum resources for country's swift progress. Mentioning the launch of the capital venture initiative for freelancers on Tuesday, he lauded the youngsters' talent for developing the projects like converting banana peels into different products and drones for agricultural use. He said it would be sheer injustice if the talented youths were not provided with the required resources as they were the guarantee for the country's prosperity. He said the incumbent government was in the process of distributing 100,000 laptops announced for the fiscal 2022-23 while the provision for another 100,000 laptops had been made in the budget 2023-24 which would be distributed purely on merit, without any nepotism. Prime Minister Shehbaz said the caretaker government should also ensure the merit in laptops' distribution keeping the excellence and enrollment in public sector universities as the only merit. He said through hand-holding, the talented youths could bring in billions of Dollars to the country within a short span of time which other industries could not do. The prime minister also thanked the commercial banks for distributing Rs 30 billion among youth within a few months in the form of business loans. Calling the existing volume of loans insufficient, he called for formulating a policy to make it mandatory for the banks to extend loan facilities to youth, farmers, and small shopkeepers. He said the previous government gave away $3 billion in loans to business tycoons without thinking of the youngsters. Prime Minister Shehbaz also called for national unity and concerted efforts to rid the country of poverty as a robust mechanism in the form of a Special Investment Facilitation Council had already been established with a view to putting the country on the course towards economic restructuring and reforms. He said the country could never progress without curbing corruption, power, and gas theft. He said the SIFC would take the country to the destination that the forefathers had dreamt of. The prime minister appreciated the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah for carrying out youth welfare projects and Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori for arranging courses for the youngsters at the Governor House. He also thanked Minister for IT and Telecommunications Syed Aminul Haq for his hard work in the ministry to move the projects forward as well as SAPM Shaza Fatima Khawaja. In his address, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori thanked the prime minister for focusing the uplift of youth being the country's future. He said during the 15-month government, the MQM decided to support the government despite knowing the severity of challenges but with a commitment that the people of Karachi would also be among the beneficiaries of the economic development, after the improvement of situation. He said the youngsters lacked the resources to become a supporting hand for their parents who had spent their hard-earned money to educate them. He said the Governor House had made arrangements within its vicinity for youngsters where they were being taught IT-related courses to enable them to earn sufficient money. Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah said the Sindh government was also executing similar projects for youth's welfare in the province. He said 70pc of the beneficiaries of laptop and business loans were women as the provincial government strongly believed in women's empowerment. He told the gathering that through the public-private partnership, the provincial government would establish a Technology Park at NED University that would cost Rs 25 billion. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th July, 2023) The Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States to the European Union (COREPER II) has agreed on adopting new sanctions against Belarus, the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU said on Wednesday. "#COREPERII | Today, EU ambassadors agreed on adopting restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian 'agression' against Ukraine. The measures include listings of individuals and entities," the presidency said on Twitter. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Greece ordered evacuations on Wednesday for areas near two central cities after new blazes broke out during a punishing heatwave and as deadly fires hit the Mediterranean Rhodes, Greece, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jul, 2023 ) :Greece ordered evacuations on Wednesday for areas near two central cities after new blazes broke out during a punishing heatwave and as deadly fires hit the Mediterranean. Thousands of people have evacuated in the region this week as fires also flared in Croatia and Italy, and flames killed 34 in Algeria in extreme heat that has left landscapes tinder dry. New blazes threatened central Greece Wednesday, prompting orders for locals to leave near the industrial centre of Volos and outside Lamia. "It's hell here. There are four different fronts... stretching across a combined 10 kilometres (six miles)," Dorothea Kolindrini, a deputy governor from an area included in the orders, told state tv ERT. Scientists from the World Weather Attribution group said this week the heatwaves that have hit parts of Europe and North America this month would have been almost impossible without human-caused climate change. The European Union's climate observatory Copernicus on Wednesday said smoke emissions from wildfires in Greece have been the highest for this period of time in the last 21 years. Greece has battled over 600 fires in the past 12 days, the government said Wednesday. Temperatures were expected to hit between 43-46 degrees Celsius (109-115 degrees Fahrenheit) in central and southern Greece, according to the national meteorological service. "Today is the most difficult day in terms of the heat, complicating the fight against existing fires and making new fire outbreaks more likely," fire department spokesman Ioannis Artopios told Skai radio. Storms are forecast for Thursday. Greece is used to summer heatwaves, but is experiencing one of the longest ones in recent years, according to experts. The civil protection ministry has warned of an extreme danger of fire in six of the country's 13 regions on Wednesday. Wildfires, which have been burning in several parts of the country for more than 10 days, were ravaging the tourist islands of Rhodes, Corfu and Evia. The EU crisis management commissioner's office on Wednesday said over 490 firefighters and seven planes had been deployed to different areas in Greece under the bloc's civil protection mechanism. At least 100 firefighters were working to contain the flames on Evia, where on Tuesday two pilots were killed when their water bomber aircraft crashed. KYODO NEWS - Jul 26, 2023 - 09:21 | All, Japan The population of Japanese nationals fell 801,000 in 2022 from a year earlier to 122,423,038, marking the largest drop and the first time all 47 of the country's prefectures have seen a decline since the survey began in 1968, government data showed Wednesday. As of Jan. 1, 2023, Japan's population, including foreign residents, stood at 125,416,877, down around 511,000 from a year earlier, according to a demographics survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The trend indicates an urgent need for Japan to develop measures to address the declining birthrate and improve employment opportunities for youth and women in regional areas. While Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has called for implementing "unprecedented" measures to boost the birthrate in a last-ditch effort to arrest population decline by 2030, doubts persist about whether such initiatives, which are mostly extensions of existing policies, will be effective. Japanese nationals declined for the 14th consecutive year in 2022, with a record low of 772,000 births in Japan significantly exceeded by a record high 1.57 million deaths. Nationals working or studying abroad accounted for a decline of around 7,000 of the population. The number of Japanese nationals in Okinawa, which had been an outlier the previous year, shrank for first time since comparable data was made available in 1973, the data showed. The foreign population rose for the first time in three years by around 289,000 to 2,993,839 in the reporting year, as the relaxation of strict COVID-19 border controls facilitated the return of international students and technical interns. The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research estimates that foreign nationals will make up 10 percent of the population by 2070, with some local governments already engaged in efforts to attract professional talent from Asia. By prefecture, only Tokyo saw an overall population increase due to the high influx of foreigners to the capital, while Akita Prefecture in northeastern Japan saw the largest population decrease at 1.65 percent. Among municipalities, 92.4 percent saw a decrease in the population of Japanese nationals, while 7.6 percent experienced an increase. Those aged 14 and under accounted for 11.82 percent of the Japanese population, falling by 0.18 percentage point from the previous year, while people aged 65 and over increased by 0.15 point to 29.15 percent. The working population, or people between 15 and 64, rose by 0.03 point to 59.03 percent of the overall population. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th July, 2023) Moldova's decision to reduce the number of Russian diplomats in the country will not be left without a response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Igor Zaharov, an adviser to Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu, said that as many as 22 Russian diplomats and 23 members of technical staff will leave the Russian Embassy in Chisinau. "Of course, such steps, according to diplomatic rules, do not remain without reciprocity," Peskov told reporters. The spokesman added that Moldova deliberately pursues hostile policy towards Russia but this kind of decisions are not supported by the population. "This is a continuation of unfriendly behavior from the current leadership of the republic in relation to our country," Peskov said. (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th July, 2023) The Russian military has advanced in the Serhiivka area of the Krasnyi Lyman direction, the Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. According to the ministry, the Russian forces repelled four attacks in this direction, and Ukrainian troops lost over 190 soldiers in the past 24 hours. "In the Krasnyi Lyman direction, units ... continued offensive operations in the area of the settlement of Serhiivka of the Luhansk People's Republic. The advance was up to three kilometers (1.8 miles) along the front and 2700 meters in the depth of the enemy's defense," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry also said that Russian troops are conducting successful offensive in the Kupyansk direction as well, where units are now holding better positions, while Ukraine's military casualties amounted to 135 soldiers in the past 24 hours. (@FahadShabbir) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Wednesday the greatest cabinet shuffle since he rose to power in 2015, reattributing and dismissing several ministers in what is seen by many as a pre-electoral move WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th July, 2023) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Wednesday the greatest cabinet shuffle since he rose to power in 2015, reattributing and dismissing several ministers in what is seen by many as a pre-electoral move. Today's major changes did not affect "heavy weight" ministers, as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, amongst others, are to remain in their current portfolios. Anita Anand who's been heading the Ministry of National Defense since October 2021, initiating major changes in the Canadian Armed Forces notably against the culture of sexual harassment, and who's been leading Canada's military support for Ukraine, has been designated as the new President of the Treasury board. Replacing her as Minister of National Defense will be Bill Blair, who until today was in charge of the Emergency Preparedness portfolio, notably tasked with organizing the fight against the raging wildfires in what has been declared the worst wildfire season in Canadian history. Trudeau's portfolio reattributions were also accompanied by several dismissal, as many ministers were replaced without being reassigned. Omar Alghabra was replaced as Minister of Transport, Marco Mendicino as Minister of Public Safety, and Carolyn Bennett as Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. Other dismissals include David Lametti as Minister of Justice, Joyce Murray as Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Helena Jaczek as Public Services and Procurement, and Mona Fortier as the President of the Treasury Board. Alghabra, Murray, Bennet and Jaczek announced in the past two days that they would not be running as candidates for the Liberal Party during the next Federal elections. In today's changes, Trudeau's Cabinet retained a total of 38 ministers, welcomed seven new members, and has kept an equal number of men and women. UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th July, 2023) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is following the developments in Niger and condemns any attempts to take power by force in the country, United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. "The Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is closely following the situation in Niger. He condemns in the strongest terms any effort to seize power by force and to undermine democratic governance, peace and stability in Niger," Dujarric said in a statement on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, members of Niger's presidential guard began a mutiny by surrounding the presidential palace in the capital Niamey and blocking off President Mohamed Bazoum's office and residence. The alleged reason for the mutiny is Bazoum's intention to dismiss the commander of the Presidential Guard Gen. Omar Tchiani, local media reported. Negotiations are underway to avoid a confrontation between Presidential Guard troops and the rest of Niger's military, according to reports. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th July, 2023) The Foreign Affairs Committee of the UK parliament called on the government on Wednesday to designate the Wagner Group private military company (PMC) as a terrorist organization. In February, The Telegraph reported that the UK Home Office was developing plans to designate the Wagner Group as a terrorist organization. "The report calls for the urgent proscription of the Wagner Network as a terrorist organisation," the parliament said in a statement. The lawmakers also urged the government to impose sanctions "faster and harder" on organizations and individuals associated with the PMC, the statement read. The committee believes that for nearly 10 years, the government has underestimated the activities of Wagner, "as well as the security implications for Europe and its significant expansion in Africa," the statement added. The Wagner group has allegedly been involved in military operations in at least seven countries from 2014, the committee said in a report, entitled "Guns for gold: the Wagner Network exposed." "The evidence we received has given us high confidence that the Wagner Network has conducted military operations in at least seven countries since 2014: Ukraine; Syria; the Central African Republic (car); Sudan; Libya; Mozambique; and Mali," the report read. The committee also has high confidence that the group has conducted non-military operations in Zimbabwe, the DRC, Madagascar, and South Africa since 2014, according to the report. The research also pointed to the possibility of non-military network activity in six other countries, namely Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Serbia and Zambia, but did not provide evidence. Among the services allegedly provided by the Wagner network, in addition to military operations, the authors of the report cite political consulting, electoral services, media campaigns, mining and providing security. The authors of the report believe that the Wagner network "affect the UK's national security," by being involved in the Ukraine conflict, posing risk of deterioration of the UK's relations with the countries where the network operates, and allegedly increasing instability in the regions of the organization's presence. The report also presented possible responses to the group's activity, including additional sanctions, cooperation with the United States and the European Union over Wagner-linked sanctions, travel bans for Wagner-linked individuals, deterring other countries from engaging with the group, as well as proscribing the Wagner network as a terrorist organization. By: Cassidy Delamarter, University Communications and Marketing A team of researchers and six students from the University of South Florida have discovered a centuries-old house in exceptional condition during an excavation in Malta, a country located in the Mediterranean Sea. Led by Davide Tanasi, professor and director of USFs Institute for Digital Exploration (IDEx), USF students collaborated with a team of scientists from around the world on the Melite Civitas Romana Project, uncovering what life was like 2,000 years ago when Romans ruled Malta and the island was used for military staging and maritime trade. Not only do we have the chance to uncover amazing Roman structures, but Malta is critically understudied despite being a wealth of fantastic archaeology and history from antiquity, said Angela Costello, a USF doctoral student studying public history and digital humanities. So, by revisiting these old excavations and furthering the work with new digital methods, we are learning more and more about Roman Malta every day. Nestled in the heart of the ancient city of Melite, the once lavishly decorated mansion, traditionally known as Roman Domus, had been covered by centuries of soil. In use between the 1st century BCE and 2nd century CE, the Domus was elegantly decorated with mosaic floors, wall frescoes and marble decorations, Tanasi said. During the Roman Empire, it was certainly used as a residence by a representative of the emperor or some very wealthy individual very close to the imperial court. After a summer of digging, processing and cleaning artifacts of the Roman Domus, the team discovered a portion of a previously unknown house adjacent to the domus with nearly 10-foot-tall walls, a height Tanasi says is unheard of for the Roman residential units usually found in the Mediterranean area. This discovery, according to Tanasi, provides a better understanding of the urban fabric of ancient Melite and the areas spatial configuration, a process that explains the human experience and behavior based on the surrounding structural environment. On a hunt to learn more about the owner of the house and what it was like living a block away from the domus, the team is searching for clues among the findings they have so far: an exquisite interior likely decorated with terracotta floor tiles, frescoed plasters and an ancient waste disposal system full of fragmented pottery, glass vessels, animal bones and charcoal. It was literally the garbage disposed by whomever lived in the house, Tanasi said. By studying this deposit, we will learn a lot about the life of who lived in the house. It is surprising how much you can learn about people from their garbage. History Alumna Juliana Whittingslow (left) and Sarah Hassam (right) holding a piece of frescoed plaster they found. For Sarah Hassam, a USF ancient history graduate student, another persons trash has indeed proven to be a treasure. The most exciting moment for me was during our third week, while cleaning pottery, a small fragment I had been scrubbing revealed the engraved letters D-A-O-I, a possible hint for somebodys name. Everyone was pumped and shared theories on the engraving. It was a very cool find, she said. In addition to the excavation, IDExs role in the project is to preserve cultural heritage through digital approaches. Findings from previous excavations are now displayed in the museum of the Roman Domus. We perform digital photogrammetry where we capture data using a series of photographs that are then composited to create a 3D model and terrestrial laser scanning to provide more in-depth information on the site that we can process and re-visit during the year when we arent present in the trenches, Costello said. Tanasi signed an agreement for IDEx and Heritage Malta to pursue funding to advance the 3D digitization of the Maltese archaeological and cultural heritage. The permit to continue the excavations in the Roman Domus district was extended to 2025 and IDEx will continue the exploration of the newly discovered house next summer to learn more about the identity of its owner. Students interested in archaeology and history can learn more about interning and volunteering with IDEx to pursue similar projects and learn the digital aspects of these fields, such as 3D capture and modeling. KYODO NEWS - Jul 26, 2023 - 19:43 | All, World, Japan Japan and Australia reaffirmed their cooperation in energy security on Wednesday as concerns grow over a stable natural gas supply to the resource-poor Asian country following Canberra's tightening of greenhouse gas emission controls. Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and Australian Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen held talks in Tokyo as energy security has become as critical as ever following Russia's war with Ukraine, especially for countries such as Japan that rely heavily on energy imports. "We are expecting that continuous development of reliable investment environment in the Australian liquefied natural gas and coal industries will also lead to deepening of bilateral cooperation in the clean energy field in the future," Nishimura said at the outset of the meeting, which was open to the media. The Australian energy minister said earlier in the day that the country will remain a "reliable energy supplier" for Japan, after Nishimura last month expressed concern over Canberra's new rules restricting carbon emissions. "We are committed to working with Japan, one of our most important partners," Bowen said in his speech in Tokyo. His remarks came after a new Australian law came into force on July 1, requiring new LNG facilities to be carbon neutral, while facilities already in operation need to lower their carbon emissions by 4.9 percent a year until 2030 and more after that year. Japan imports more than 40 percent of its LNG from Australia. While assuring that Australia remains committed to its energy exports to Japan, Bowen also said his country will endorse renewable energy solutions as a way to reduce carbon emissions. Both countries plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It will have "an extremely significant impact on Japan's LNG business in Australia," Nishimura said in a press conference last month, referring to the ongoing Barossa gas project off Australia's Northern Territory, in which Japan has invested. WASHINGTON Critics of Cambodias ruling party are calling Prime Minister Hun Sens resounding election victory on Sunday a farce, given the lack of a viable opposition party, and urging the international community to refuse to recognize the result. As Hun Sen prepares to hand power to his eldest son, military commander and newly elected parliamentarian Gen. Hun Manet, the United States on Sunday accused the ruling party of undermining the constitution through a pattern of threats and harassment against its critics. The U.S. announced that it would restrict visas for those Cambodians responsible for undermining democracy and would withhold $18 million in foreign assistance this year. And U.S. lawmakers this month reintroduced legislation to impose asset and visa restrictions on Cambodian leaders. However, the response from the rest of the world has been comparatively muted. And opposition figures said they will press the European Union and other democracies to ramp up pressure over the deeply flawed election. About a half dozen opposition supporters in the U.S. told VOA Khmer that they have been holding protests pushing for the U.S. to reject the election and punish the ruling party. And they point to hundreds of thousands of spoiled ballots as evidence that many Cambodians inside the country agree. Sos Chandara, who lives in Seattle, Wash., said the U.S. and other democracies should impose visa restrictions on Cambodian officials and freeze their assets. We want more measures as far as possible, especially with regard to key individuals in our country, Sos Chandara said. This is a big goal, Ry Kea in Stockton, Calif. told VOA Khmer. We will continue to push for the international community [including democracies in Asia] not to remain silent in recognizing a regime that arises from such elections." While Hun Sen and his ruling party have long been accused of efforts to undermine democratic institutions, the 2023 national election was exceptional in the scale of threats and manipulation. In the months ahead of the election, the CPP-stacked National Election Committee barred the main opposition Candlelight Party from participating, the Information Ministry shut down a leading independent media outlet in Voice of Democracy, and parliament amended the election law barring people who abstained from voting from running for future office. A day after the election, authorities have reportedly arrested at least six people for spoiling ballots, while in recent months numerous opposition officials were arrested in cases they decried as politically motivated. However, some of Hun Sens critics remain skeptical that most foreign governments will go beyond strongly worded statements. Jared Genser, an international human rights lawyer who represents imprisoned Cambodian-American activist Theary Seng, said countries such as Canada and Australia have so far refused to follow Americas lead in imposing sanctions. And he doubted that any foreign government would publicly say they dont accept the new government or dare to boycott the swearing in of the new parliament in protest. Which again to me is tragic, because it just sends an unequivocal signal to Hun Sen that you can pretty much get away with anything, he told VOA Khmer ahead of the election. Genser said that many democracies likely would temper their responses out of fear of pushing Cambodia further into Chinas arms. But I think standing idly by and saying nothing is not going to make things better for the Cambodian people its only going to make things worse, Genser said. Longtime opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who is living in exile in France, ridiculed the CPPs claimed election victory, in which it won 120 out of 125 seats in parliament. It is meaningless and useless, so such an election brings an empty victory, a ridiculous victorythat makes the independent observers laugh," Sam Rainsy told VOA Khmer. The international community has criticized past elections as well, such as the 2018 results when the CPP won all 125 seats. Yet foreign governments still lined up outside parliament when the new government was sworn in. Sam Rainsy argues this year will be different, pointing to the looming transfer of power from father to son as presenting an element of unpredictability that was absent from past post-election periods. "There is a problem," he said, predicting that internal divisions within the CPP would prevent Hun Sen from following through on his plan to hand over the reins to Hun Manet within weeks of the election. "So there are a lot of crises that will happen in 2023. So, Mr. Hun Sens plan to transfer power after this fake election, I believe that plan is not possible, Sam Rainsy said. If Hun Manet harbors any of those concerns, he wasnt showing it on his Facebook page Monday (Hun Sen shut down his popular Facebook page earlier this month after its oversight board recommended his suspension for posting threats of violence). Hun Manet claimed the Cambodian people have clearly expressed their wills through votes and promised his party would continue to serve Cambodia and Cambodian people better and better. Political analyst Ly Sreysrors, who lives in Phnom Penh, said the path was clear for the long-awaited handoff, given the current lack of domestic threats to the CPPs power. Any real change would need to come from within the country, rather than from the international community, she added. But she said sustained global economic pressure on Cambodias government could be effective in driving dissatisfaction with the ruling party. The United Nations on Wednesday said Cambodia's general elections were held in a severely restricted environment surrounded by threats and intimidation that created a chilling effect. UN human rights chief Volker Turk slammed the circumstances behind Sunday's vote as the victor, Prime Minister Hun Sen, announced he would resign and hand power to his eldest son after almost four decades of hardline rule. Turk said the elections were conducted in a severely restricted space that negatively impacted on the rights of Cambodians to participate fully and equally. Restrictive laws and policies hampered the registration and participation of opposition parties and candidates, while opposition parties, trade unions, NGOs and media were targeted through criminal and other legal processes, threats, intimidation, and on occasion physical attacks, he said. "Cambodia has witnessed a constant shrinkage of democratic space in recent years, undermining fundamental freedoms and the right to participate in public affairs," Turk said in a statement. Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-serving leaders, won 82 percent of the vote against no meaningful opposition. The former Khmer Rouge cadre has run the kingdom since 1985, eliminating all opposition to his power, with opposition parties banned, challengers forced to flee and freedom of expression stifled. The social media accounts of three media organisations deemed critical of the government were blocked before Sunday's election. "I urge the government to address shortcomings, rectify deficiencies and engage in dialogue with all political parties and civil society actors to create an enabling and inclusive civic space for all Cambodians." Large areas of the Mediterranean sweltered under an intense summer heat wave on Tuesday, and firefighters battled to put out blazes across the region. In Algeria, at least 34 people have died. In Croatia, flames came within 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) of the medieval town of Dubrovnik late on Tuesday. Greece has been particularly hard hit, with authorities evacuating more than 20,000 people in recent days from homes and resorts in the south of the holiday island of Rhodes. Close to 3,000 tourists had returned home by plane as of Tuesday, according to figures from the Transport Ministry, and tour operators have canceled upcoming trips. Two firefighting pilots died when their plane, which had been dropping water, crashed on a hillside close to the town of Karystos on the island of Evia, east of Athens. Italy suffered a twin pounding from the elements when severe storms battered the north, killing a woman and a 16-year-old girl scout, while southern regions sweltered. In the south, a bedridden 98-year-old man died when fire swept through his home. Fires also swept across Portugal and Spain's Gran Canaria. In the United States, the ocean waters around South Florida soared to typical hot tub levels this week, according to government data. A weather buoy in the waters of Manatee Bay recorded a high of 38.44 degrees Celsius (101.19 degrees Fahrenheit) late Monday afternoon, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data. On land, heat warnings were issued for stretches of the desert southwest, in central Texas and north into the Midwest. Extreme weather throughout July has caused havoc across the planet, with record temperatures in China, the U.S. and southern Europe sparking forest fires, water shortages and a rise in heat-related hospital admissions. Without human-induced climate change, the events this month would have been "extremely rare," according to a study by World Weather Attribution, a global team of scientists that examines the role played by climate change in extreme weather. The heat, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), is well in excess of what usually attracts tourists who flock to southern European beaches. The high temperatures and parched ground sparked wildfires in countries on both sides of the Mediterranean. Several dozen firefighters were using aircraft to battle a wildfire that had broken out close to Nice international airport in southern France. In north Africa, Algeria was fighting to contain devastating forest fires along its Mediterranean coast in a blaze which has already killed at least 34 people. Fanned by strong winds, fires also forced the closure of two border crossings with neighboring Tunisia. Wildfires also broke out in the countryside around Syria's Mediterranean port city, Latakia, with the authorities using army helicopters to try to put them out. Saving the hotel Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said his country was one of those on the front line against climate change, with no easy solution. "I will state the obvious: In the face of what the entire planet is facing, especially the Mediterranean, which is a climate change hot spot, there is no magical defense mechanism. If there was, we would have implemented it," Mitsotakis said. The fires will deal a blow to a tourist industry that is a mainstay of the Greek economy. It accounts for 18% of gross domestic product and one in five jobs, with an even greater contribution on islands such as Rhodes. Lefteris Laoudikos, whose family owns a small hotel in the Rhodes seaside resort town of Kiotari, one of the epicenters of a fire over the weekend, said its 200 guests mainly from Germany, Britain and Poland evacuated in rental cars. He said his father, cousin and two others were trying to douse the flames using a nearby water tank. "My father saved the hotel. I called him, and he didn't want to leave. He told me, 'If I leave, there will be no hotel.'" 'Silent killer' Scientists have described extreme heat as a "silent killer" taking a heavy toll on the poor, the elderly and those with existing medical conditions. Research published this month said as many as 61,000 people may have died in Europe's sweltering heat waves last summer, suggesting preparedness efforts are falling fatally short. The heat has also caused large-scale crop damage and livestock losses, the World Weather Attribution scientists said, with U.S. corn and soybean crops, Mexican cattle, southern European olives, as well as Chinese cotton all severely affected. Residents of Milan were surveying the mess after the dramatic overnight storm and winds of over 100 kilometers per hour. KYODO NEWS - Jul 26, 2023 - 14:22 | All, Japan Bereaved families on Wednesday marked seven years since losing their loved ones in a fatal stabbing rampage at a care home for the mentally disabled near Tokyo, in an incident that became one of Japan's worst mass murders. The families joined residents of the facility to offer silent prayers at the renovated Tsukui Yamayuri En care home in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, where a former care worker killed 19 residents and injured 26 others, including two employees, on July 26, 2016. The 59-year-old mother of one of the victims called Miho, a 19-year-old woman whose family wished to reveal only her first name, has told Kyodo News that she is still in grief over her daughter's death. "It remains painful to accept the bitter truth that my beloved Miho will never return," she said. "I hope the incident is never forgotten so that the 19 people who lost their lives didn't do so in vain, and so that society progresses toward eliminating discrimination against the disabled." The memorial ceremony was held at the care home, rebuilt in 2021 by the prefecture. About 60 residents now live at the facility. Former care worker Satoshi Uematsu, 33, is on death row, his sentence now finalized. He sought a retrial in 2022, but the request was dismissed by the Yokohama District Court in April this year. On Wednesday, flowers were laid by a stand at a monument for the victims. The stand bears 10 of the victims' names, inscribed with the approval of their families, in memory of the tragedy. Junichi Miyoshi, a 48-year-old teacher overseeing special needs students at an elementary school in Hyogo Prefecture in western Japan, visited the site, pledging to continue pursuing inclusive education. "I am telling my students about the incident," Miyoshi said. "I joined my hands in prayer, hoping to foster education that embraces all people." Journalists in Afghanistan are facing a new requirement from the Taliban's Ministry of Information and Culture to register and obtain identification cards in order to verify their identities and professional affiliations. We started the process in Kabul on Wednesday and have informed provincial authorities to do the same, Abdul Wahid Rayan, MICs director for media monitoring, told VOA. The identification cards issued to journalists will feature a bar code linked to the MIC website, storing journalists photos, names, affiliation and contact information. Given free of charge, the badges will also include an emergency contact number for journalists to use when encountering security threats or difficulties while performing their jobs. The Taliban have imposed gender-based restrictions on female journalists and media personnel, but Rayan said female journalists would also be registered and given identification cards. So far, no female journalist has registered," he said, "but if they come, we will register and give them ID cards, too. Representatives of two free media support organizations told VOA they were not consulted by MIC about the registration drive and expressed concerns about the Talibans underlying motives. We do not know why [the Taliban] want to do this and what their true intentions are, said Abdul Qadeem Wyar, president of the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee. We believe that identification cards from media organizations are sufficient and there is no need to have additional ID cards from the Taliban, said Sumaya Walizada, a spokesperson for the Afghan Journalists Center. Echoing concerns voiced by Afghan media support organizations, the Committee to Protect Journalists said the Talibans move appears to impose further controls on the press. "It is extremely alarming, Beh Lih Yi, CPJs Asia program coordinator, told VOA. The Taliban's Ministry of Information and Culture is trying to portray the registration drive as a way to protect and support journalists, Beh said. But it is the latest move to tighten control and surveillance of journalists and curtail any free and independent reporting in Afghanistan. Old, unclear policy Taliban officials said the policy to register journalists was initiated by the former Afghan government before it collapsed in August 2021. Despite being in power for nearly two years, the Islamist regime has not enacted a new media law, saying the mass media law approved by the previous government was still largely valid. As written, the law prohibits government interference in media affairs and offers protection for a free press. In practice, however, the Taliban are widely accused of unlawfully detaining, torturing and harassing journalists and enforcing policies that censor and restrict journalism charges the Taliban reject. The Taliban's crackdown on independent media in Afghanistan has been so catastrophic that there is virtually no free press left in the country, Beh said. It is unclear how the Taliban will register freelance reporters, vloggers and foreign journalists who visit Afghanistan for brief assignments. Several foreign journalists have said they were declared persona non grata by Taliban authorities because of their perceived bias while reporting on events in Afghanistan. Over the past two years, thousands of Afghan journalists have left the country as scores of media outlets have gone out of operation, largely because of the lack of resources and Taliban restrictions. Relocation flights from Afghanistan carrying Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants to U.S. immigration processing centers in Qatar and other countries have been suspended for more than one month, and it's unclear when they will resume. For nearly two years since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, the U.S. Department of State's Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) has been relocating SIV-eligible Afghans by air and overland routes. The U.S. government used military planes to evacuate tens of thousands of Afghans amid a chaotic withdrawal from the country in August 2021. Subsequently, most Afghans have been relocated by chartered commercial flights from Taliban-controlled Kabul airport. A spokesperson for the Department of State confirmed that the relocation flights have been "paused since mid-June" but did not offer additional details because of operational sensitivity. "We are hopeful these flights will resume soon," the spokesperson said. Despite condemning the Taliban's repressive policies, U.S. officials had previously welcomed the ability of SIV-eligible Afghans to board relocation flights. Sources involved in support of CARE operations gave different explanations for the pause in the flights from Kabul. One source, who asked not to be named in this article because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the group's security and operational issues, said the Taliban had suspended the flights because of internal disagreements. However, Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesperson, said he was not aware of any restrictions imposed on the relocation flights on their part. A second source said the U.S. had paused the flights due to concerns that the Taliban leadership was benefiting from the chartered flights by Afghan carriers, potentially violating U.S. economic sanctions on the Taliban. Calls for resumption While the U.S. has no diplomatic presence in Afghanistan and has largely curtailed engagement with de facto Taliban authorities, activists say now is not the time to wind down the relocation program. "Any efforts that the U.S. has to meet our obligation to our allies should not be paused," said Shawn VanDiver, president of #AfghanEvac, an umbrella body of individuals and non-government organizations advocating for Afghans who worked for the U.S. in Afghanistan. "We have an obligation to those left behind," said Chris Purdy, director of Veterans for American Ideals and Outreach, a coalition of veterans that advocate for human rights. Over 152,000 Afghans who say they worked for the U.S. military in Afghanistan prior to the Taliban's return to power in August 2021 have applied for the SIV program, according to the Department of State. They are competing for about 17,000 principal SIVs remaining in the program. Some U.S. lawmakers have proposed legislation that will add 20,000 additional principal SIVs through 2029. Human rights groups have accused the Taliban of targeting former Afghan government forces and individuals who worked for the U.S. in the past, a charge the Taliban deny, saying the group has offered a general amnesty. "I don't trust the Taliban," Purdy told VOA. "Just because someone has successfully hidden for two years doesn't mean that they should have to live their lives under fear." Critics have also complained that the program is not moving quickly or efficiently enough to relocate vulnerable Afghans. "For nearly two years, the U.S. government has failed to evacuate at-risk Afghans in a speedy and efficient manner," said Adam Bates, a policy counsel with the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP). The IRAP has filed a lawsuit in a U.S. court accusing the government of leaving thousands of Afghan and Iraqi SIV applicants at serious risk in their home countries. "Instead of abandoning its allies, the U.S. must increase efforts and resources to create viable pathways to safety for at-risk Afghans, better late than never," said Bates. U.S. officials say they are committed to making every feasible effort to relocating SIV-eligible Afghans. "Many factors in the relocation process impact the pace of operations and are out of the control of the U.S. government," said the Department of State's spokesperson. This week as Beijing suddenly announced that China's foreign minister Qin Gang had been removed after just seven months in the job, his predecessor and now replacement, seasoned diplomat Wang Yi, was on a tour of some of Africa's key economies. Wang participated in BRICS summit-related meetings in South Africa, infrastructure talks in Kenya, and pledges on debt relief in Ethiopia, meetings that analysts said illustrate Chinas way of showing its commitment to the continent. "Talk about hitting the ground running: news broke when Wang Yi was on tour as the director of the foreign affairs commission of the party's central committee, Lauren Johnston, senior China-Africa researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs said of the revelation that Qin who hadnt been seen for a month had been removed. His tour, now as foreign minister, includes South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Turkey all big players in the Global South," she told VOA. Paul Nantulya, research associate for the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in Washington, told VOA that Wangs trip to the region comes as China seeks to re-engage more with Africa in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However he noted: It is rather unusual to have two high-level multicountry visits within a space of six months, because remember Qin Gang was in Africa at the beginning of the year for the inaugural Chinese foreign affairs visit. Cliff Mboya, a research fellow at the Afro-Sino Center for International Relations, suggested it might not be coincidence that Wang was in the region when Qins exit was announced, noting Wang could be coming to re-establish relations and continue from where Qin Gang left. Requests and Promises The analysts noted Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria, where Qin is also scheduled to travel, are the economic powerhouses of East, Southern and West Africa. Ethiopia, a surprise addition to Wangs itinerary, is the seat of the African Union. According to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, while in Addis Ababa Wang told Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed: China encourages powerful and reputable enterprises to invest in Ethiopia and is willing to play a positive role in easing Ethiopia's debt pressure. The country is billions of dollars in debt. Security there is also a concern as the strategic Horn of Africa nation emerges from a brutal civil war. Next, in Kenya, Wang met with President William Ruto who was elected last year and had talked tough on China during his campaign. Nantulya noted that China is Kenyas largest trading partner and a key security partner, and that Beijing has been very anxious about the change of government there and was obviously looking to cement ties. According to a readout from the Chinese side, Ruto used the meeting with Wang to push for more infrastructure investment, despite analysts noting China has pulled back a bit recently from its major Belt and Road Initiative projects. Kenya said it is willing to deepen cooperation in the fields of railways, highways, water conservancy, aviation and renewable energy, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. On his third stop, in South Africa, Wang attended security meetings related to the upcoming summit of the BRICS group of economies, which also includes Brazil, Russia and India. Wang spoke with his South African counterpart, Naledi Pandor, and President Cyril Ramaphosa. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang noted that the friendship between China and South Africa has a long history, and the two countries have forged a profound friendship of comrades and brothers. Steven Kuo, a senior lecturer at the University of Cape Town and author of the book Chinese Peace in Africa: From Peacekeeper to Peacemaker, pointed out that Chinese rhetoric around South-South cooperation and anti-imperialism does strike a chord with African countries. Increasingly African countries, including South Africa, see the West as hypocritical, so there are some ideological commonalities. Wang also promised South Africa that China would expand cooperation in key minerals, digital economy, clean energy, environmental protection industries, marine resource development, poverty reduction and other fields. Looking Ahead Wangs trip comes as global powers vie for influence in Africa which is youthful, growing and resource-rich. This week has been a busy time for Africa diplomatically, with the U.S. Treasury undersecretary in Kenya and Somalia, Ukraines Foreign Minister Dymtro Kuleba trying to get support on a trip to Equatorial Guinea, and Russian President Vladimir Putin hosting leaders at a Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg from Thursday. The next two stops on Wangs schedule are a fourth African state, the continents largest economy, Nigeria, and Turkey. Like Kenya, Nantulya noted, Nigeria has a new government, which might be one of the reasons it was chosen, as well as the fact that Beijing is increasing engagement in West Africa. Earlier this month Chinas navy visited the country amid speculation it is seeking a military base somewhere on the Atlantic coast. In August, President Xi Jinping is expected to attend the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, along with all the other leaders of the bloc, except for Russian President Putin, who is unable to attend due to an International Criminal Court warrant out for his arrest. As summer campaigning heats up ahead of Taiwans January 2024 presidential elections, a competitive three-way race is taking shape, which analysts say could make this ballot different from previous ones where relations with the islands big neighbor China typically cast a long shadow over other campaign trail issues. Youth voters could also play a more crucial role, analysts add. This election may not be a straightforward referendum on China politics as it used to be, Wen-ti Sung, a political scientist with the Australian National Universitys (ANU) Taiwan Studies Program, told VOA. Taiwan has had three peaceful transitions of power since holding its first presidential elections in 1996. In every race since then, the issue of building closer ties with China or consolidating Taiwans own identity and sovereignty has been a key focus. And in this election, the issue is still there. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has been highlighting the importance of safeguarding Taiwans democracy and reducing Chinas economic influence on Taiwan while the China-friendly opposition party Kuomintang (KMT) has long advocated for closer economic ties with Beijing. However, to distance itself from the China factor, a third party, the Taiwan Peoples Party, has focused its campaign on the agenda of ending political division in Taiwan. If the DPP wins the election, political dialogue between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will remain very difficult, but with a KMT government in power, cross-Strait economic and trade relationship will most likely improve, said Sung. However, Sung thinks that if the third-party candidate can prove himself to be a viable option, it may suggest that there is a desire at the grassroots level to see presidential elections in Taiwan be more than just a referendum on political parties China policy. Different views, young voters In recent weeks, candidates from the three parties have begun campaigning around Taiwan, home to more than 19 million registered voters. SEE ALSO: Taiwan VPs US Transit to Test Already Tense China-US Ties So far, William Lai, from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), a doctor-turned-politician and Taiwans current vice president, has been leading in most opinion polls. At a national convention for his party earlier this month, Lai stressed the importance of strengthening Taiwans defense capabilities while expressing his willingness to hold dialogue with China on an equal basis. SEE ALSO: Taiwan Ruling Party Pledges Steady Hand as Opposition Rallies Ko Wen-je from the Taiwan Peoples Party (TPP), a doctor-turned-mayor, has surged to second place in polls in recent weeks. During a campaign event on July 23, Ko, who entered politics in 2014, vowed to initiate a color revolution in which Taiwanese people set aside their political differences and build up Taiwan together. Hou Yu-ih from the China-friendly Kuomintang (KMT), a former police chief-turned-mayor, has struggled to appeal to the partys support base and has seen his approval rating drop rapidly. During KMTs national convention on July 23, Hou, who trails behind in most polls, tried to frame the upcoming election as a choice between war and peace and promised to bring Taiwan away from war. As the DPP and KMT look to consolidate support from their political bases, TPPs Ko has focused on cultivating support among young voters, with several polls showing him as the frontrunner among voters between the age of 20 and 40. Young voters are dissatisfied with the traditional political parties, and the current political and economic situation in Taiwan makes them feel powerless, said Chen Fang-yu, a political scientist at Soochow University in Taiwan. With a high level of distrust in traditional politicians, Chen believes thats why young people are willing to give third-party candidates like Ko a chance. Political division Some young voters tell VOA they believe the only way to end longstanding political division created by the two main parties, the DPP and KMT, is to support a viable third-party candidate like Ko. The DPP and KMT have long been framing Taiwans future as a choice between unification with China or safeguarding Taiwans sovereignty, said Jack Lin, a 34-year-old engineer living in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung. Lin hopes Taiwan can let a political party with a different vision lead Taiwan amid the increasing military threats and diplomatic pressure from China. I dont want Taiwan to keep being governed by the two main parties, so Ko is young peoples hope to end this cycle. He is the right man at the right time, he said. Other young voters, however, are skeptical of Kos ability to lead Taiwan at such a critical time. Some think he lacks experience in international relations and can often seem erratic when making public statements. Taiwan cant afford to let an inexperienced politician be our president at this time, Molly Hsieh, a 27-year-old secretary in the southern city of Tainan, told VOA. Apart from young peoples desperation to see political change, Chen from Soochow University says Kos active presence on popular social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram is another reason he polls so well among young voters. His team began to produce short videos on these platforms since the early stage of the campaign, which helps him to dominate the online space now, he explained. Voter turnout crucial Despite his popularity among young people, experts say Ko may not be able to win the presidential election by simply relying on this demographic, as voter turnout has traditionally been lower among young voters. Data from Taiwans central election commission shows that while more than 70% of voters under the age of 40 turned out to vote in the 2020 presidential election, which was higher than the 2016 presidential election, the turnout rate is still lower than that of voters between the age of 55 and 75, which exceeded 80%. Even if Ko won all the youth votes, its still not enough for him to win the presidential election, Yen Wei-ting, an assistant professor at Franklin and Marshall College, told VOA. However, Yen believes Kos popularity among young voters will still be crucial for his party, the TPP, to win enough seats in the parliament and potentially become the key minority. Antony Blinken on Wednesday became the first U.S. secretary of state to visit Tonga, dedicating a new U.S. Embassy and warning South Pacific nations about the perils of "predatory" Chinese investment. As part of a drive to build Washington's influence across the region and to counter Beijing's growing clout, Blinken touched down in Nuku'alofa on a diplomatic charm offensive. "We're a Pacific nation," and "we very much see the future in the Indo-Pacific region," Blinken told his hosts while pledging support on projects that are important to them. "We really understand what is a priority for the people here," he said, citing issues such as climate change, development and illegal fishing. "There are a long list of things that we're working on together, but it's all driven by focusing on what's concrete, what can really make a difference in people's lives," he said. But he also had a warning about aid from Beijing, which has increased dramatically in recent years, saying it often comes with strings attached. "As China's engagement in the region has grown, there has been some from our perspective increasingly problematic behavior," Blinken said. He said China had been behind "some predatory economic activities, and also investments that are done in a way that can actually undermine good governance and promote corruption." Earlier this year, Micronesia's then-leader David Panuelo publicly accused China of engaging in harassment and espionage, and bribing members of his Cabinet. More interest in Tonga Tonga, a Polynesian archipelago of about 100,000 people, is the latest in a string of Pacific island states receiving a renewed U.S. diplomatic push. The new U.S. embassy in the capital, Nuku'alofa, was officially opened in May. Blinken's hosts said his visit signaled Washington's renewed interest in the region. "His presence here today is a testament to the fact that our partnership is growing from strength to strength," said Tonga Prime Minister Hu'akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, welcoming a "shared respect for democracy, rule of law and the rights and freedoms of others." US expanding presence The United States also has plans to open embassies in Vanuatu and Kiribati. In February, it restored its embassy in Solomon Islands after a 30-year hiatus. Chinese state-controlled media painted Blinken's visit as evidence that the United States no longer had confidence in its ally Australia to manage relations with Pacific Island nations. The United States has been the dominant military force in the South Pacific since World War II. But the region is increasingly an arena for powers to compete for commercial, political and military influence. China, the rising military power in the region, has also asserted itself through its expanding diplomatic reach, investment, police training and security deals. While in Tonga, Blinken also commented on the abrupt removal of Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang from office. "I wish him well," Blinken said, while vowing to work with his replacement Wang Yi. "I've also known Wang Yi for more than a decade. I've met with him repeatedly," Blinken said. "I anticipate being able to work well with him as we have in the past." Cambodian officials say renovation work on a naval base in the coastal city of Sihanoukville is nearly complete, but U.S. officials have voiced suspicions the facility, being upgraded by China, will be used exclusively by China's military. Suspicions about Chinas intentions for the Ream naval base were raised after satellite imagery showed that a major pier capable of anchoring aircraft carriers had been constructed on the site. Chhum Socheat, a spokesman for the Cambodia National Defense Ministry, confirmed to VOA Khmer that the work will be completed soon but said, I dont know the inauguration day. He denied speculation that China will use the base to expand its influence in the region against its rival, the United States. I regret that there is untrue information. Cambodia is very small. They [some countries] have bad intentions on our country, he said. Some countries dont acknowledge the truth, and they still say untrue information, he said. Satellite imagery taken by BlackSky, a U.S. commercial imagery company that monitors the construction at Ream naval base, noted the rapid pace of development of a large Chinese military naval station from August 2021 until July 2023. There is a near-exact similarity between an angled deep-water pier located on the western shore of the Ream base and another military pier at the Peoples Liberation Army Support Base in Djibouti. Both main piers are 363 meters long and large enough to support any ship in Chinas naval arsenal, including the new 300-meter-long Type 003 Fujian aircraft carrier, said Craig Singleton, China Program deputy director and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, in a July 24 release on BlackSkys website. In August 2022, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised the issue with the Cambodian government about the naval base it is modernizing with Chinese funds, saying use of the site would pose a threat to Southeast Asia if used exclusively for Chinas military. He made his remarks during a visit to Phnom Penh. In discussing the naval base, Blinken told VOA Khmer that U.S. concern is first and foremost in making sure that Cambodia has a truly independent foreign policy, and is not, does not feel pressured, of course, by anyone. "And when it comes to the Ream naval base, I think countries throughout the region would be very concerned if any one country had exclusive control or use of any portion of the base or was doing anything there that undermined the security of other countries in the region. So, I think it's important to have transparency and to make sure that the base is open to all, and not the exclusive use of any one country, the top U.S. diplomat said. Political analyst Em Sovannara told VOA Khmer the Ream base is a very sensitive issue that requires the Cambodian government to be transparent to allay U.S. suspicions. ''If it is just a political statement via news outlets, it cant solve or clear doubts from the U.S. Thus, there should be other mechanisms for strengthening diplomatic ties with the U.S., which is a way to solve the issue, he said. The United States has alleged that China will maintain a military presence at Ream, Beijings second such overseas outpost and its first in the strategically significant Indo-Pacific region. It also has an outpost in Djibouti, at the mouth of the Red Sea. Tea Banh, Cambodias defense minister, said in June 2022 the Ream base would most likely not be open for full examination by any foreigners after completion. He said that Cambodia would not allow any foreign military base on its soil and has no intention to provoke any threats to any country, and Cambodia is never against other countries military building efforts. Cambodia just wants to strengthen its protection capacities to curb against pressure and impacts of the current geopolitics competition, he said, adding, Cambodia has no policy to choose one country against one country. In October 2022, the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh told VOA Khmer the Cambodian government had not been fully transparent about the intent, nature and scope of this project. Ream is on the Gulf of Thailand near the South China Sea, where China has claimed sovereignty and disregarded international law. The Wall Street Journal in 2019 also reported that China had signed an agreement to have People's Liberation Army officers stationed at the naval base. Satellite imagery has shown the demolition of buildings, some built by the United States, and the recent construction of two structures on the bases northern half. Some information for this article comes from Agence France-Presse. Top U.S. military officials and diplomats are embarking this week on another concerted push against Chinese influence across the Indo-Pacific, hoping to expand security agreements with key Pacific Island nations. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea late Wednesday for a series of meetings with the country's prime minister and top defense officials. The visit to Papua New Guinea, the first by a sitting U.S. secretary of defense, comes just months after the two countries signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement, meant to serve as a framework for enhancing the capabilities of Port Moresby's defense forces and establishing a U.S. military presence with rotational forces on the island. From there, Austin is set to travel to Brisbane, Australia, for the 33rd annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN), where he will be joined by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and their Australian counterparts. Blinken will arrive in Australia after a visit to the island nation of Tonga, where he dedicated a new U.S. embassy, and a stop in New Zealand. The visits by Austin and Blinken are being supplemented by other trips to the region by high-ranking U.S. officials, including a visit by Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff to New Zealand and Samoa, and an upcoming trip by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia. "We see ourselves as delivering results with partners," a senior U.S. defense official said Monday, ahead of Austin's visit to Papua New Guinea. "The secretary's hitting the road again to keep the momentum moving forward in the region." Focus on defense agreement For Austin, the key focus for his meetings in Port Moresby will be on the recently signed defense agreement, which still needs to be ratified by Papua New Guinea's parliament. U.S. officials said they are optimistic the deal will be ratified "quite soon," adding it is something "that both sides really wanted." "The agreement will serve as a foundational framework for us to enhance our security cooperation, improve the capacity of the PNG [Papua New Guinea] defense forces, allow us to respond to humanitarian and regional crises, and also expand the scope of our [military] exercises," said a second defense official, who like the first briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. The official also expressed confidence that officials from both countries will make progress on a second deal a so-called shiprider agreement that allows Papua New Guinea personnel to sail on U.S. Coast Guard ships. "This is really important and really valuable for enhancing maritime domain awareness and combating things like illegal unregulated and unreported fishing," the official said. Concern about China Yet for all the optimism, there is growing concern about pushback from China in response to U.S. efforts. During a visit to the U.S. last week, the president of Palau, a small Pacific Island nation, warned Beijing is actively trying to influence politicians in his country and others to prevent them from gravitating to Washington. "All the Chinese need to do is get a new president that favors what they want to do and they can change it," Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. said during an event in Washington. And Whipps said Beijing's strategy is meeting with some success, having managed to curry favor with some of his fellow politicians by offering economic incentives that Washington has yet to match. Pressed on China's outreach campaign and offers of economic cooperation, some U.S. officials downplayed the concerns. "Our approach is to demonstrate value and to demonstrate the ways in which we can contribute meaningfully to a long term, mutually beneficial security relationship," said the second senior defense official. "In every one of our alliances and partnerships throughout the region, we are working to ensure they're delivering for the partners and for the host countries," the official said. "And I think that's true in every instance." As evidence, they point to agreements like the ones signed by Papua New Guinea and also to military exercises like Talisman Sabre, getting underway in Australia. With some 30,000 troops taking part, Talisman Sabre is the largest U.S.-Australian military exercise. This year, however, U.S. officials point to participation from a host of other countries from the region, including India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. Additionally, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga, are taking part for the first time. U.S. diplomatic officials, however, have been careful not to paint U.S. efforts, including the establishment of a new U.S. embassy in Tonga, as part of a counter-China campaign. "Our embassy is not being set up to counter China," a State Department official told reporters last week, briefing on the condition of anonymity. "Strategic competition is an aspect, a reality in the region," the official added. "But we are standing up an embassy to reflect our strong ties with Tonga and, frankly, our desire to be engaged in places like Tonga." Still, despite efforts to downplay Washington's moves in the Pacific, some analysts say the U.S. and allies like Australia are keenly aware of China's efforts to lure countries into its sphere of influence, either with economic incentives or with security agreements, as it has done with the Solomon Islands. "Australia and the U.S. have never been more interested in the Pacific Islands than they are now," said Lavina Lee, a Sydney-based adjunct fellow with the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies, during a media call previewing this week's Australia-U.S. ministerial meeting in Brisbane. "Both Australia and the U.S. is keen to address the region's concerns by also showing that they are a provider of public goods without strings attached, as opposed to China." At the same time, the U.S. and Australia are working to strengthen their growing military cooperation, with U.S. officials speaking of a "profound strategic alignment" between the two allies. "There will be a strong focus on advancing defense industrial cooperation, production and information," the second U.S. defense official said of Saturday's ministerial meeting. U.S. officials said they expect the meeting to result in a "broadening [of] our force posture initiatives to new domains and locations" in Australia. Pan Gongsheng was named Chinas central bank governor Tuesday in the widely anticipated final major appointment of the ruling Communist Partys once-a-decade change of power. Pan, a deputy central bank governor and veteran of Chinas state-owned banking industry, succeeds Yi Gang, an American-trained economist who held the post for five years. The endorsement of Pan's promotion by the ceremonial legislature, the National Peoples Congress, followed other Cabinet-level appointments announced in March. The governor of the Peoples Bank of China is the most prominent Chinese figure in finance circles, but the post's powers are limited. The bank is controlled by the ruling Communist Party. Pan, who turns 60 this month, met July 8 with visiting U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, indicating he was being promoted. He was widely assumed to be in line for the job after he was named Communist Party secretary for the central bank. In 2015, Pan was appointed head of Chinas foreign exchange regulator, usually a steppingstone to the top central bank job. Earlier, he was a vice president of the Agricultural Bank of China Ltd., one of the countrys four major commercial lenders. Pan earned a doctorate in economics from Renmin University in Beijing and did research at Cambridge and Harvard universities. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is making his first official visit to New Zealand on Wednesday. Trade and security, as well as China's ambitions in the Pacific, are expected to be on the agenda. This year the two countries are celebrating 80 years of diplomatic relations. Although separated by the Tasman Sea, Australia and New Zealand have close bonds. Cultural, social and economic ties run deep. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he wants to "strengthen the special relationship." His counterpart, Chris Hipkins, believes that bilateral ties are the strongest they've "been in decades." There has, though, been friction over Canberra's deportation of New Zealanders convicted of serious crimes. The government in Wellington complained that deportees often had tenuous ties to New Zealand. That policy is, however, being softened. Since the start of July, it's also been easier for New Zealanders living in Australia to gain citizenship. Trade will be on the agenda as the two countries celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Closer Economic Relations Free Trade Agreement. In 2009, New Zealand and Australia also signed a Free Trade Agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN regional grouping of 10 countries. Analysts say that China's diplomatic, trade and military ambitions in the Pacific region will also be discussed by the two leaders during Albanese's two-day visit. Last year, Beijing struck a policing agreement with Solomon Islands, a mostly Melanesian archipelago north-east of Australia. China failed, however, to persuade other island nations to join a broad regional accord. But Professor John Blaxland from the Australian National University told VOA that China will continue to pursue its ambitions. "We are facing what I would describe as unrestricted competition. China has not given up. China is playing the long game," said Blaxland. "China has considerable interests economic and other interests, strategic interests in the Pacific that go beyond the Solomon Islands, and they are enduring. And they happen to rub up against the interests of Australia and New Zealand and other partners like the United States." Australia's left-leaning government was elected in May 2022, and has made concerted efforts to diffuse tensions with China. They have been enflamed in recent years over various political disputes, including democracy in Hong Kong, freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and threats to Taiwan. Trade sanctions imposed by China on a range of Australian commodities have also damaged the relationship, but analysts say that high-profile ministerial meetings have seen tensions ease. The past year has lifted Poland's image in the European Union from rule-of-law defier to leading Ukraine champion, welcoming more than a million refugees since Russia's invasion and providing billions of dollars in military aid to neighboring Kyiv. But Poland's newly acquired luster is fast fading, as Warsaw and four other neighboring countries balk at another Ukraine export millions of tons of grain that have now lost maritime transport routes since Russia's pullout this month from the year-old Black Sea Grain Initiative. The countries, including Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria, argue that Ukrainian cereals are flooding local markets and undercutting local harvests. Analysts say money and politics are at stake not just millions of dollars in EU compensation for farmers from those countries but also key rural votes that governments in Poland and Slovakia are courting ahead of fall legislative elections. The grain standoff that is dividing the 27-member bloc which has largely pulled together since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine may also carry longer-term implications for the EU. Looming on the horizon, although with no fixed date, is Ukraine's hoped-for membership in the bloc, which may divert millions of dollars of funds from Brussels that its eastern EU neighbors currently enjoy. "What we're seeing now is the Eastern European countries coming to terms with the economic implications of their political and military support for Ukraine," said Jacob Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund in Brussels and the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. With Kyiv now an EU candidate, "they're going to have to choose," Kirkegaard said. "Are they really interested in also supporting Ukraine in the long run? We're seeing a part of that process playing out now." EU agricultural ministers met Tuesday in Brussels to look at ways to expand European overland rail and road "solidarity routes" set up last year to export Ukrainian grain to account for the cutoff of Black Sea routes. The European Commission is also considering a separate proposal by Lithuania to have the grain exported through five Baltic sea ports. Experts have raised questions about whether Europe has the capacity to re-export the extra Ukrainian grain tonnage that previously traveled through the Black Sea. That includes potential problems harmonizing rail gauges defining the distance between the two rails of the tracks among member states. Tuesday's meeting reached no agreement on the fate of a temporary deal the EU struck with Poland and four other Eastern European countries in May. That allowed Ukrainian grain shipments to pass through their territories but banned local sale and storage. Brussels also offered roughly $110 million in compensation for farmers in those countries who were reeling from the cheaper competition. 'Not European' The five countries now want the deal which expires in mid-September expanded until year's end. "I hope that this will be extended," Polish Agricultural Minister Robert Telus told media website Euractiv. "But if it is not, Poland will still have to tackle the issue, and we have demonstrated we can do that." The commission says it will respond before the September deadline. But many other EU members oppose any extension. "What is not possible is to take the money from Brussels as compensation for the burden, but at the same time close the border to Ukraine," said German Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir. That would undermine EU solidarity for Ukraine, he said, adding, "The only one who is happy is [Russian President] Vladimir Putin." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized the push to extend the restrictions on Ukrainian grain exports, calling them "unacceptable" and "not European" during his evening address Tuesday echoing remarks made by other critics in recent weeks. For its part, France's Liberation newspaper has claimed Warsaw is using "pirate methods" that threaten the bloc's unity against Russia, "and puts into peril the rest of the economy of Ukraine that it claims to support." Poland, along with Hungary, has faced plenty of other EU criticism over the years from flouting rule-of-law principles to the bloc's asylum and migration rules. Earlier this month, the EU Commission cited underwhelming progress by both on judicial reforms that are conditioned to its release of millions of dollars in funds. But for Poland's ruling Law and Justice Party, the need to shore up its key rural base is most immediately at stake, observers say, ahead of this fall's legislative vote. "Clearly, it's an electoral strategy of the Polish government," Kirkegaard said of Warsaw's push to extend the Ukrainian grain import restrictions. "Are they going to back down? Probably not. Will the rest of the EU accept that? No." The prospect of a stable Ukraine one day joining the bloc also weighs into the calculations of Poland and the other four Eastern European countries, he said. While Kyiv's membership would offer an extra bulwark against Russia, it would likely divert millions of dollars in EU agricultural and other funds that many nations enjoy today. With discussions over the next 2027 EU budget looming, "they're putting their markers down," Kirkegaard said. "They're positioning themselves for what is going to be a huge fight." A security member examines the blast site in Khyber district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, on July 25, 2023. A policeman was killed and several others were injured in a suicide blast in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, police said. (Str/Xinhua) ISLAMABAD, July 25 (Xinhua) -- A policeman was killed and several others were injured in a suicide blast in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, police said. The incident happened in a mosque located in a remote area of the Khyber tribal district of the province, where a suicide bomber blew himself up after police stopped him at the entrance, Inspector General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police Akhtar Hayat Gandapur said. The police were deputed in the area on receiving a tip-off regarding the presence of militants in the area, the Khyber police said in a statement, adding that the bomber was trying to enter the mosque and when the police stopped him, he rushed inside and blew himself up. "The part of the mosque where the bomber exploded was empty ... However, a policeman who was chasing him was killed and several others got injured," the police statement added. Rescue teams, who rushed to the site following the explosion, said that part of the mosque also collapsed in the blast. No group has claimed the attack yet. Security personnel examine the blast site in Khyber district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, on July 25, 2023. A policeman was killed and several others were injured in a suicide blast in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, police said. (Str/Xinhua) Security personnel examine the blast site in Khyber district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, on July 25, 2023. A policeman was killed and several others were injured in a suicide blast in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, police said. (Str/Xinhua) Paramilitary soldiers stand guard at the blast site in Khyber district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, on July 25, 2023. A policeman was killed and several others were injured in a suicide blast in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, police said. (Str/Xinhua) A security member examines the blast site in Khyber district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, on July 25, 2023. A policeman was killed and several others were injured in a suicide blast in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, police said. (Str/Xinhua) During a July 24 videoconference with permanent members of the Russian Security Council, President Vladimir Putin claimed that public opinion in Europe is changing, and that Europeans tend to believe that supporting Ukraine is a waste of money and not in European interests: 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 elses interests, which are far from European... That is false. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, EU member states and European institutions have provided more than 70 billion euros (more than $77 billion) in humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine. Four million Ukrainian refugees are currently living in EU countries. Public opinion polls conducted among Europeans from April 2022 to June 2023 found strong support for financial and military support for Ukraine; for economic sanctions against the Russian government, Russian companies, and individuals; and for humanitarian assistance to people affected by the war in Ukraine, including welcoming those fleeing the war into EU countries. A Flash Eurobarometer survey (Eurobarometer is the polling instrument used by EU institutions to monitor European public opinion) was carried out during April 13-20, 2022, nearly two months after the start of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For the survey, online interviews were conducted with 26,066 EU citizens across 27 EU member states. Heres what that survey found: [M]ore than nine out of 10 respondents (93%) approve of providing humanitarian support to the people affected by the war. 88% of Europeans approve of the idea of welcoming in the EU people fleeing the war. 80% approve of the financial support provided to Ukraine. The vast majority of Europeans (80%) approve of the economic sanctions against Russia. 79% of Europeans approve of sanctions against Russian oligarchs to impose clear economic and political costs on Russia's political elite responsible for the invasion. Two-thirds of Europeans (67%) approve that the EU finances the purchase and supply of military equipment to Ukraine. Ninety percent or more of those surveyed in each of the 27 EU member states support providing humanitarian support to the people affected by the war. The survey also found that while support for providing military equipment to Ukraine was highest in Finland (90%), Estonia (87%), Poland (86%), Lithuania (84%) and Portugal (83%), only 30%-31% of the respondents in Bulgaria and Cyprus supported arming Ukraine. Three Eurobarometer surveys conducted from May 2022 to February 2023 in all 27 EU member states through 26,000+ in-person and online interviews found continued strong solidarity of Europeans with Ukraine and their support for the actions undertaken to support the country and its people. Various forms of assistance to Ukraine, from providing military equipment to allowing Ukrainian refugees into EU countries, were supported by 65%-93% of those surveyed. Spring 2023 Standard Eurobarometer, the most recent survey carried out for EU institutions, surveyed 26,425 EU citizens through face-to-face interviews from May 31 to June 21, 2023. It found that there had been no significant change in European attitudes toward support for Ukraine since April 2022: 88% of EU citizens are in favor of providing humanitarian support to the people affected by the war, and 86% are in favor of welcoming into the EU people fleeing the war. 75% approve of financial support to Ukraine and 72% back economic sanctions on Russian government, companies and individuals. In addition, 66% agree with banning state-owned media, such as Sputnik and Russia Today, from broadcasting in the EU and 64% support financing the purchase and supply of military equipment to Ukraine. Large surveys (12,000+ interviews) conducted four times a year in all 27 EU member states by eupinions, a project of Germanys Bertelsmann Stiftung foundation, have also found undiminished support for assistance to Ukraine. According to eupinions, in March 2022, 56% of EU residents approved of their countries supporting Ukraine by delivering weapons. A year later, in March 2023, 55% supported their countries providing military assistance to Ukraine When eupinions asked respondents "Should the EU support Ukraine by delivering weapons?" 62% answered yes both in March 2022 and a year later. Eupinions noted that, according to its polls, "support for the delivery of weapons to Ukraine dropped somewhat" in the EU in September 2022, but in March 2023 " bounced back to the level recorded in spring 2022." Eupinions found that in March 2022, 86% of its respondents supported their countries accepting Ukrainian refugees, while 79% gave the same answer a year later. A federal judge has blocked the Biden administration's asylum rule for migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. In his ruling on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar in Oakland, California, deemed the rules unlawful, saying they imposed conditions on asylum-seekers that Congress didn't intend. The ruling is a victory, but each day the Biden administration prolongs the fight over its illegal ban, many people fleeing persecution and seeking safe harbor for their families are instead left in grave danger, Katrina Eiland, deputy director of the ACLUs Immigrants Rights Project, who argued the case, said in a statement to the press. What happens now? Tigars ruling is on hold for 14 days to give the government time to appeal. That appeal is expected to be filed in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Nothing changes for 14 days. And we wait to see if the 9th [Circuit Court of Appeals] says, The asylum ban continues while we reach a decision, Priscilla Orta, an immigration lawyer in Brownsville, Texas, told VOA. Orta has been crossing the border into Matamoros, Mexico, almost weekly to explain to migrants the process they are about to face. What is the Biden administration asylum rule? The administrations asylum rule was released in May. According to court documents, a Department of Homeland Security official called the measure critical to the agencys plan to effectively manage irregular migration. The rule bars most migrants from applying for asylum if they cross the border without authorization or fail to first apply for safety in another country on their way to the U.S. The rule does not apply to unaccompanied children, asylum-seekers who entered at a legal port of entry, or those running from imminent harm. It is also set to expire in two years. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has previously said the asylum rule had no resemblance to a ban because we have built lawful pathways. We do have a way for asylum-seekers to seek relief at the ports of entry. We will, of course, have exceptions for humanitarian reasons when individuals cannot avail themselves of the CBP One application. So, this is quite, quite different. What are the other measures in place? Since the announcement of the asylum rule, the Biden administration has offered a humanitarian parole measure that allows entry for up to 30,000 people a month from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and Haiti. Those seeking parole must meet all requirements, which include having U.S.-based financial sponsors, undergoing security vetting and completing vaccine demands, among others, and they must pay their own travel expenses if they receive travel authorization from the U.S. government. The humanitarian parole authority allows the approved applicants to live and work legally in the U.S. temporarily, but it does not lead to permanent residence. Those under parole status can apply for asylum or adjust to another permanent immigration relief if available. What if someone is apprehended after crossing the border without authorization? Migrants can either be detained and removed or allowed entry into the U.S. to continue their asylum claim if they meet specific exceptions. If the migrant is removed, the government uses a process known as expedited removal, which is a fast-tracked measure for removal if U.S. immigration officers conclude a person does not have a valid asylum claim, a determination made without the migrant appearing before an immigration judge. Unaccompanied children who cross the border into the United States are exempted from the policy. According to U.S. immigration law, the expedited removal order blocks a person from entering the U.S. for five years, and if that person tries to enter the country illegally after receiving an expedited removal order, the person can be banned for at least 10 years or, in some cases, permanently. Is it possible for migrants to cross at a port of entry? Those waiting on the Mexican side can try to secure an appointment via the CBP One app used by the U.S. government to allow migrants to register and schedule arrivals at official U.S. points of entry. Appointments are limited. About 1,450 are available each day. Heritage Foundation analyst Victoria Coates on whether last week's U.S. military deployments to Mideast can deter Iran from destabilizing activities. Iran Human Rights Documentation Centers Shahin Milani on the UN special rapporteurs appeal for member states to pressure Tehran more on rights violations. Independent journalist Deepa Parent on how she contacted suspended female university students in Iran for her story in The Guardian. Ghanas parliament has voted to abolish the death penalty. The move comes three decades after the last death sentence was carried out in the West African nation. Rights group Amnesty International has hailed the Tuesday vote, describing it as a landmark decision, and urged President Nana Akufo-Addo to sign it into law. Under current law, the death penalty in Ghana can be imposed after convictions for genocide, piracy, smuggling, murder or high treason. Under the 1960 Criminal and Other Offences Act, the punishment can be carried out by hanging or by firing squad. However, the West African country has not executed anyone in 30 years, and this week, parliament approved a bill to eliminate capital punishment completely. Francis-Xavier Sosu, the opposition MP who sponsored the bill, tells VOA the development is a milestone for Ghanas democracy and called on President Akufo-Addo to commute the sentence of those on death row now to life imprisonment. This is a very good news for Ghana because it adds to our democratic credentials and adds to our human rights record as a nation, particularly when since 1993 we havent been able to use the death penalty as a means of punishing offending persons and people who were condemned to serve death sentences were only kept in the condemned cells. So, I think its a win for Ghana, he said. Since 1977, Amnesty International has been campaigning for the global abolition of the death penalty. Reacting to news that Ghanas parliament voted to abolish the practice, the international rights group issued a statement saying, it is a victory for all those who have tirelessly campaigned to consign this cruel punishment to history and strengthen the protection of the right to life. However, not everyone in Ghana welcomes the lawmakers decision. Harry Agbanu, a religious lecturer at the University of Ghana, said the abolition of the capital punishment will be an incentive for people to take the law into their hands. The floodgate has been opened for violent, criminal activities by some members of society, and that is unfortunate. Im praying that the opportunity is not being created for people to take the law into their own hands by engaging in mob action. There has not been any sound argument in favor of the abolishment of the death penalty, he said. For his part, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, a lawyer and a governing New Patriotic Party MP, said the decision is not meant to embolden criminals but rather to uphold more humane ways of dealing with criminals. This is not to say that those who have taken it upon themselves to take the lives of others are being encouraged to do so. God gives us life and under no circumstances should a persons life be taken nearly [merely?] because of commission of such an offense. In its place we have introduced a life imprisonment, he said. The total number of people facing the death penalty in Ghana at the moment stands at 176, including six women, according to prison authoritys records. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-serving leaders, said Wednesday he will resign in three weeks and hand power to his eldest son after almost four decades of hardline rule. The former Khmer Rouge cadre has run the kingdom since 1985, eliminating all opposition to his power, with opposition parties banned, challengers forced to flee, and freedom of expression stifled. His Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won a landslide victory in an election Sunday with no meaningful opposition, taking 82% of the vote, paving the way for a dynastic succession to his eldest son that some critics have compared to North Korea. "I would like to ask for understanding from the people as I announce that I will not continue as prime minister," the 70-year-old said in a special broadcast on state television. Election authorities disqualified the only serious challenger, the Candlelight Party, on a technicality in advance of the election, and the CPP is expected to win all but five lower house seats. The government hailed the 84.6% turnout as evidence of the country's "democratic maturity" but Western powers including the United States and European Union condemned the poll as neither free nor fair. Chinese influence Hun Sen has trailed the handover to his son for a year and a half, and the 45-year-old played a leading role in campaigning for Sunday's vote. But the outgoing leader has made it clear that he still intends to wield influence, even after he steps down, scotching the notion the country could change direction. SEE ALSO: Cambodia's Fate Mapped Out by Hun Sens Victory Under Hun Sen, Cambodia has tacked close to Beijing, benefiting from huge Chinese investment and infrastructure projects, including the redevelopment of a naval base that has alarmed Washington. China welcomed Sunday's election, with President Xi Jinping sending Hun Sen a personal message of congratulation. But the flood of Chinese money has brought problems, including a rash of casinos and online scam operations staffed by trafficked workers in appalling conditions. SEE ALSO: Experts: Cambodia Deepens Reliance on China Ahead of Election Critics say his rule has also been marked by environmental destruction and entrenched graft. Cambodia ranks 150th out of 180 in Transparency International's corruption perception index. In Asia, only Myanmar and North Korea rank lower. Rights groups accuse Hun Sen of using the legal system to crush any opposition to his rule including activists and troublesome union leaders as well as politicians. Scores of opposition politicians have been convicted and jailed during his time in power and the law was changed ahead of Sunday's election to make it illegal to call for voters to spoil ballots. Five days before polling day, authorities banned exiled opposition figurehead Sam Rainsy from running for office for 25 years for urging people to void their ballot papers. Iran said Wednesday it gave new details to the United Nations about two sites near Tehran that inspectors say bore traces of manmade uranium, part of a wider probe as tensions remain high over the Islamic Republic's advancing program. The comments by Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran's civilian nuclear program, come as Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers remains in tatters and as Tehran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. Resolving questions from the International Atomic Energy Agency could see Iran avoid further censure as an October deadline approaches that would lift international restrictions on its ballistic missile program as well. Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Eslami said Iran had sent detailed answers to the International Atomic Energy Agency. If those answers are not accepted and there are any ambiguities or doubts, as we have always said, we will clarify and revise the documents, Eslami said in comments carried by state television. We are now in that phase now, and we have given the IAEA more evidence and documents and will give more so that it can move past this issue. The Vienna-based IAEA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. However, Eslami's comments mark a change in tone as Iran has limited inspections, held surveillance footage and taken years to respond to the IAEA after then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the nuclear deal in 2018. Eslami did not name the sites, though the IAEA has identified them as Turquzabad and Varamin, just outside of Tehran. At Varamin, the IAEA in a March report said that inspectors believe Iran used the site from 1999 until 2003 as a pilot project to process uranium ore and convert it into a gas form, which then can be enriched through spinning in a centrifuge. The IAEA said buildings at the site had been demolished in 2004. Tehran insists its program is peaceful, though the West and the IAEA say Iran had an organized military nuclear program until 2003. Turquzabad is where the IAEA believes Iran took some of the material at Varamin amid the demolition, though it said that alone cannot explain the presence of the multiple types of isotopically altered particles found there. In 2018, the site became known publicly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed it at the United Nations and called it a clandestine nuclear warehouse hidden at a rug-cleaning plant. Iran denied that, though IAEA inspectors later found the manmade uranium particles there. The IAEA said in May it no longer had questions about a third questioned site called Marivan near Abadeh in southern Iran. In recent months, Iran has pledged to restore cameras and other monitoring equipment at its nuclear sites. That's as Iran's economy has cratered under international sanctions over its program. Meanwhile, Iran likely wants to avoid any dispute at the IAEA as U.N. restrictions on Irans ballistic missile program are scheduled to lift on October 18. Those restrictions call on Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons. Israels Supreme Court said Wednesday it would hear petitions in September seeking to overturn a law passed this week by parliaments right-wing governing coalition to curb the courts authority to overturn laws that the court considers to be unreasonable. The law is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus broader plan to overhaul Israels judiciary that has spawned months of street demonstrations against it and divided the Jewish state. On Tuesday, most doctors across the country staged a one-day walkout to protest the law and a group of high-tech workers paid for black ads on the front pages of major newspapers with an inscription calling the parliaments action "A Black Day for Israeli Democracy." The most secular elements of the country have protested the changes as undermining the countrys standing as the only democracy in the Middle East. More nationalist and religious sectors, including the legislative coalition led by Netanyahu, have voiced support for the changes to undercut rulings by appointed judges they view as too liberal and interfering with the actions of elected lawmakers. The case in September will give the countrys top court a chance to rule on the scope of its own authority. The court said it would consider the new law after Israel's parliament, the Knesset, returns from recess in September. The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a good governance group, said its petition contends that the law undermines Israel's democratic standing and was passed through a flawed legislative process. "We are ready. We will appear in the Supreme Court to defend Israeli democracy and we will do everything we can to stop the coup," Eliad Shraga, the group's chairman, said on Wednesday. Some material in this report came from The Associated Press. When Jordan and other Arab nations brought Syria back into the Arab League, one of the conditions was that it tackle its burgeoning unregulated drug production and stop using Jordan as a transit point for its criminal drug trade to wealthy Gulf nations. However, observers say they are seeing little action from Damascus. On Monday, Jordan's border forces shot down a drone carrying two kilograms of crystal methamphetamine from Syria. The bust came just a day after Syrian and Jordanian security officials met in Amman to discuss how to end illegal cross-border drug smuggling. Damascus has pledged to rein in its flourishing criminal drug trade in exchange for changing its pariah status with its 2011 brutal civil war. Observers blame the Syrian leadership of Bashar al-Assad, its military and Iran-backed militias in southern Syria for overseeing the smuggling of mainly the amphetamine Captagon, which is cheaply produced and very addictive, destined for Gulf Arab states. The Syrian government denies any involvement in the production of Captagon. Jordanian analyst Amer al-Sabaileh, a nonresident fellow at the Washington-based Stimson Center, tells VOA that it is unlikely in the short-term that Syria will do much to stop the multibillion-dollar a year illicit drug flow, especially as its official economy tanks. "On the ground things are too much rooted in the region, networks are very big. The parallel economy in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, groups, militias are depending totally on this income for years now, especially since the sanctions that took place over Syria and Lebanon," he said. "These networks are very strong, very deeply rooted, and the economy of these parts of the region is depending on this trade." Jordan's foreign minister, Ayman al-Safadi, told the online meeting of the U.S.-led global coalition to combat illicit drug trafficking earlier this month that in the past few years alone, Jordanian authorities had seized more than 65 million Captagon pills. The only way to combat the unregulated trade, he said, was through a collaborative effort. It's believed that Jordan used a targeted airstrike in May against a drug dealer inside Syria. Observer Baria Alamuddin, writing in the Saudi Arab News, suggested Jordan will use its military "inside Syria if narcotic smuggling is not brought under control." Alamuddin, al-Sabaileh and other observers say it's not only drugs being smuggled, but also weapons. "The Assad clan have flooded the region with tons of narcotics, while becoming notorious for smuggling weapons, people and contraband goods. States such as Jordan and Lebanon have been doubly afflicted awash with cheap, deadly drugs, and also enmeshed in the transit of these products," Alamuddin wrote. "If Damascus desires to benefit from re-established trade relations with Arab nations, it should disabuse itself of the fantasy that its future prosperity is based on the narco-state model." Al-Sabaileh warns that security services battling drugs may be "a tool for infiltration" for the Syrian regime's backer, Iran. "This is not just drugs, in my opinion. It's a tool of infiltration for the region," he said. "The aim is transforming Jordan to be a hub, not just for drugs but as well for weapons. Worrying now is also how to transform Jordan to be a transitionary point for weapons to go to the West Bank. This is a declared old goal of the Iranians. There are Iranian militias in the south of Syria working is not just to generate money. It is something that goes beyond." In a separate incident, Jordan charged a lawmaker, Imad al-Adwan, in May with transporting weapons in his car with the intention of traveling to the West Bank. Israel arrested him at a border crossing after guns were found inside his car. Meanwhile, weapons stockpiles have been found in the city of Jenin. Earlier this month, the United States set up a global coalition of 97 countries, including Jordan, to combat the threat of synthetic drugs such as Captagon and fentanyl. A former U.S. Marine who was freed by Russia last year in a prisoner swap has been injured while fighting for Ukraine against Moscows forces, the U.S. State Department said. The European Union is considering helping fund the costly transportation of grain out of Ukraine after Russia halted a deal that allowed Black Sea exports of Ukrainian grain vital to global food security. Russian bombardments are taking a heavy toll on Ukrainian cultural sites as well as grain supplies that Kyiv had been shipping to impoverished countries. The mounting damage was spelled out Wednesday at unusual back-to-back U.N. Security Council meetings on Ukraine. According to the U.N. cultural organization UNESCO, since the war began in February 2022, at least 274 Ukrainian cultural sites have been damaged, including 117 religious sites. "Religious sites should be places of worship, not places of war," Nihal Saad, director of the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations, told the council in her briefing. But Dmitry Polyansky, Russia's deputy permanent U.N. ambassador, said the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was conducting a "campaign" to destroy Orthodoxy in Ukraine. He dismissed condemnations of Russia's missile strike Sunday on the Transfiguration Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the southern city of Odesa, and suggested it was Ukraine's fault. "If the Russian missile truly struck the cathedral, as the Zelenskyy regime claims, then there would be nothing left of the cathedral at all," Polyansky told the Security Council. "But it was damaged and not completely destroyed." Calamitous turn At the second hearing, requested by Kyiv, Khaled Khiari, assistant secretary-general for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, told the council that Russian strikes on grain facilities are "a calamitous turn for Ukrainians and the world." Moscow withdrew last week from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which protected Ukrainian shipments to other countries. "Port cities that allow for the export of grain, such as Odesa, Reni and Izmail, are a lifeline for many," Khiari said. "Now, they are the latest casualties in this senseless, brutal war." Officials say that strikes on Odesa have damaged infrastructure important for future grain exports. A strike on the port of Chornomorsk last week destroyed 60,000 metric tons of grain, enough to feed 270,000 people for one year, the Word Food Program said. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Russia's attacks have global consequences for the world's food supply, especially in parts of the world struggling with hunger and malnutrition. "Russia is hell-bent on preventing Ukrainian grain from reaching global markets, which is why it unilaterally suspended its participation in Black Sea Grain Initiative," she said. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was continuing to try to find a way to restart the deal. Russia has altered its naval activity in the Black Sea, Britain's Defense Ministry said Wednesday, adding that there is a possibility Russian forces are preparing "to enforce a blockade of Ukraine" after withdrawing from the year-old grain shipment deal. The Defense Ministry said in its daily update that the Russian corvette Sergey Kotov had deployed to the Black Sea to patrol a shipping lane between the Bosporus and Odesa. "There is a realistic possibility that it will form part of a task group to intercept commercial vessels Russia believes are heading to Ukraine," the British ministry said. US aid The United States will send Ukraine an additional $400 million in military aid, including air defense missiles, small drones and armored vehicles, the Pentagon said Tuesday. The weapons are being provided through the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows for the speedy delivery of defense articles and services from U.S. stocks, sometimes arriving within days of approval. The materiel will come from U.S. excess inventory. The aid announcement comes at a time when Ukrainian troops are involved in a slow-moving counteroffensive against invading Russian forces. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the assistance is aimed at "strengthening Ukraine's brave forces on the battlefield" and "helping them retake Ukraine's sovereign territory." "The people of Ukraine continue to bravely defend their country against Russia's aggression while Russia continues its relentless and vicious attacks that are killing Ukrainian civilians and destroying civil infrastructure," Blinken said in a statement. The new aid package includes an array of ammunition, ranging from missiles for Patriot air defense systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASMS), Stinger anti-aircraft systems, more ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), Stryker armored personnel carriers and a variety of other missiles and rockets. It also will include for the first time U.S.-furnished Black Hornet surveillance drones tiny nano drones used largely for intelligence-gathering. Ukraine has previously received these drones from other Western allies. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. has provided more than $43 billion in military aid to Ukraine. Also Tuesday, Russian lawmakers approved a bill extending the upper age limit for the compulsory military draft from 27 to 30, a move that appears aimed at expanding the pool of recruits for the fighting in Ukraine. The measure was quickly approved by the lower house on Tuesday. It will need to be approved by the upper house and signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Founders of the Somali Digital Media Academy say women's involvement in the Mogadishu film industry is surging. Abdiaziz Barrow spoke to women who are contributing to the visual history of their country in this report from the Somali capital, narrated by Salem Solomon. Camera Abdulkadir Zubeyr JUBA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The UN humanitarian community in South Sudan on Wednesday appealed for 26.4 million U.S. dollars in urgent funding to ensure continued support for onward transportation for people fleeing the Sudan conflict to South Sudan until the end of the year. Acting Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan Peter Van der Auweraert said many of those arriving in South Sudan are increasingly vulnerable with no financial resources to continue their journey there. "Funds are dwindling rapidly; without new funding, humanitarian agencies will be forced to halt transportation assistance in two weeks. Funding shortfalls have already forced the national authorities to cease assistance," Auweraert said in a statement in the South Sudanese capital of Juba. The humanitarian community said since the outbreak of hostilities in Sudan on April 15, more than 193,000 people have crossed into South Sudan. In June, the number of new arrivals surged significantly, with approximately 15,000 individuals arriving from Sudan every week, the UN said. Auweraert warned of extremely severe consequences if funding is not secured in time, saying the well-being and safety of returnees and refugees from Sudan, as well as South Sudanese living in the affected border areas, will be impacted. "Unless we find a way to continue supporting onward transportation, we will soon be in a situation whereby the living conditions for people arriving become ever dire and the occurrence of tensions and conflict over scarce resources ever more likely," he said. Auweraert said South Sudan needs additional support from international donors, and the national authorities should restart their support for onward transportation. Snaking lines for fuel, empty shelves in food stores, angry street protests those were common scenes in Sri Lanka last year when the country became bankrupt. Now, the long waits outside fuel stations have gone, markets are again stacked with food and the streets of the capital Colombo are calm. A year after Sri Lankas economic collapse brought a new government, the island nation is past the worst of the crisis. But the countrys economic woes are far from over. For many the dilemma is that while food is now available, it is unaffordable. Costs of all basics food, fuel, electricity, and medicines have spiraled, taking a huge toll on millions in lower income groups. What we see now is the most vulnerable communities struggling and still facing hardships in getting three meals a day. The socio-economic indices indicate that still the crisis is far from over and its a long path to recovery, according to Bhavani Fonseka at the Center for Policy Alternatives in Colombo. Among the scores of community kitchens that sprang up across the country last year to address the hunger crisis were those run by The Voice for Voiceless Foundation in Colombo. It continues to provide about 600 meals a day. There is still a huge need, the foundations national director, Moses Akash, told VOA. What we find is that with prices of electricity and other utilities having risen hugely, people have lesser money left to buy food. SEE ALSO: World Bank Approves $700M for Crisis-Hit Sri Lanka The organization has cut back its operations due to a shortage of funds and spiraling food prices, said Akash. We now focus on giving meals to children because many were facing malnourishment as families were unable to afford items such as milk or eggs. The World Food Program says the crisis that the country faced last year has been alleviated but has not gone away. According to the WFP, about 17% now face food insecurity, compared with about one quarter of the population last year. That adds up to about four million people in the nation of 22 million. The most vulnerable cross section in terms of food insecurity are people relying on social protection assistance, unskilled workers relying on daily wages and households with lower levels of education, Abdur Rahim Siddiqui, Country Director at the World Food Program in Sri Lanka told VOA. However, there are signs of revival in some sectors. Tourists have begun returning to the countrys pristine beaches, bringing back jobs in a crucial industry that has long been the backbone of Sri Lankas economy. SEE ALSO: India and Sri Lanka to Strengthen Economic Partnership On a recent visit to India, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who took charge after protestors stormed his predecessors home and office a year ago, expressed optimism about his countrys economic revival. I have set Sri Lanka firmly on a path of economic reform and Sri Lanka is already witnessing the stabilizing outcomes of these measures and the revival of confidence both within and outside the country, Wickremesinghe said during a recent visit to New Delhi. Sri Lanka turned the corner after it secured a bailout package of about $ 3 billion from the International Monetary Fund in March. But while the IMF loan extended a lifeline and removed Sri Lankas bankrupt tag, it came with tough conditions that require imposing higher taxes and steep cuts to government spending and welfare programs. The next task for the country is to restructure both its domestic and foreign debt on which it defaulted last year. With more stringent reforms still to come, there is uncertainty over what lies ahead. How does it impact state-owned enterprises for example? Would people lose their jobs? There are a lot of conversations now as to what the restructuring will mean for peoples pensions and savings, said Fonseka. Analysts say while the reforms will lead to more pain and fuel popular resentment, Sri Lanka will have to stay the course. The worst is seemingly over but it can come back if the present trends dont continue, if the government of the day does not plan and execute the policies it has outlined in a judicious manner, according to Harsh Pant, Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi. That means that for millions, the tentative signs of economic recovery will bring little cheer in the foreseeable future. The economic crisis was blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic and economic mismanagement by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksas government. Many are also disappointed that demands for political change and accountability have failed to materialize in the country that last year witnessed its biggest street protests in decades, with anger directed at the former president and his family over allegations of corruption and mismanagement. The Rajapaksas had controlled the affairs of the country for the most part of the last two decades. SEE ALSO: Sri Lankan Ex-President Returns After Being Forced Out by Popular Protests The protests ended after Rajapaksa resigned. The new president Wickremesinghe took a tough approach to the demonstrations and there is still simmering anger in the country. Many protestors were disappointed when he came to the helm. Some question whether the practices that led to the crisis have changed. The demand was for a system change that would ensure greater transparency and political accountability. But has there really been change or is the new administration a new avatar of the old? said Fonseka. Wildlife officials and volunteers worked Wednesday to try to save dozens of whales stranded on a beach in Western Australia after more than 50 whales from the same group died. The pod of nearly 100 pilot whales was spotted Tuesday swimming near a beach close to the city of Albany. They later stranded themselves on the beach, leading to at least 51 deaths, officials said. Wednesday's rescue efforts focused on 46 remaining whales as crews tried to get them into water deep enough for the whales to swim. Bec Wellard, a marine mammal scientist at Project Orca, told Agence France-Presse that the reason for mass whale strandings is not known for sure. "But with pilot whales, they frequently strand en masse an individual might be ill or in trouble and the rest of the pod follows them that can lead them to strand," Wellard said. North Korea is receiving invited delegates from Russia and China this week for the 70th anniversary celebrations of its self-proclaimed "Victory Day," an exceptional move in light of the ongoing border closures in place since early 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. July 27, 1953, marks the day the signing of a long-negotiated armistice agreement paused the Korean War. North Korea claims the 1950-1953 war was started by the U.S. and South Korea, and that it ultimately clenched victory. North Korean state media on Wednesday published images of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arriving at Pyongyang International Airport the night before to be greeted by his North Korean counterpart Kang Sun Nam. The "goodwill mission of the Russian army and people will significantly contribute to developing [onto] a high stage the strategic and traditional DPRK-Russia friendly relations in keeping with the demand of the times," KCNA said. DPRK or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is North Korea's official name. In its statement, Russia's Defense Ministry characterized the visit as one that will "help strengthen Russian-North Korean military ties and will be an important stage in the development of cooperation between the two countries." Anniversary events are expected to culminate in a large-scale nighttime parade on Thursday, in what is typically an elaborate show of North Korea's various military hardware developed over the years. A parade in February introduced prototypes of the now twice-tested solid-fueled Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile, in a grand finale of 16 ICBMs that were rolled out on transporter erector launchers to cap the late-night celebration. This week's high-profile visit by the Russian defense minister carries symbolic significance, with the possibility of Sergei Shoigu meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un being raised. Analysts will be watching whether the trip could lead to boosted arms sales between Pyongyang and Moscow. Washington previously accused North Korea of sending weapons and workers to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine. Both Moscow and Pyongyang dismissed the charge. Meanwhile, China will be represented at the anniversary celebrations by the vice chairman of the Chinese National People's Congress' Standing Committee, Li Hongzhong, in a visit scheduled to begin Wednesday. "Having a high-level Chinese delegation visit North Korea and mark the occasion [of the 70th anniversary of the armistice of the Korean War] shows the high importance both sides attach to our bilateral ties," said China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning Tuesday. South Korea's foreign ministry said Seoul is watching how Russia and North Korea's relationship evolves, adding that it hopes the relations moves the peninsula toward peace and stability. Washington also voiced hopes that Russia and China will encourage North Korea from "threatening, unlawful behavior," underlining the potential role they can play in bringing Pyongyang back to the negotiating table. "The United States' point of view on this has been quite consistent, which is that we are open to meeting with Pyongyang without preconditions and we continue to have a commitment for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," said State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel. On U.S. Army private Travis King, who crossed into North Korea last week through the Joint Security Area at the DMZ, Vedant said he had no new updates. Pyongyang has also yet to make any public comments on the soldier believed to be in its custody. Russia and China have both sided with North Korea at several United Nations Security Council meetings convened to condemn North Korea's ballistic missile tests, outlawed under several UNSC resolutions. Members of South Africa's main opposition party took to the streets Wednesday in Cape Town to protest a new law that allows racial quotas in the workplace, saying it will discriminate against minority whites, Indians and mixed-race people. Protester Astrid-Anne Abrahams is part of the mixed-race minority group classified in South Africa as "colored." "We already have so little jobs. There are a lot of people not working, and now they still want to marginalize us colored and whites and Indians," Abrahams said. The South African government says the law is necessary because most companies are not following through on pledges to transform their workforce by hiring more qualified Black South Africans. While Black people make up an estimated four-fifths of the more than 60 million people in South Africa, the latest employment equity report from the government shows they hold only 16.9% of top management positions. Protester Topollo Mokhathi, a Democratic Alliance councillor in the city of Cape Town who is classified as Black, says the existing employment equity legislation in place since 1998 obviously hasn't worked for everyone. "Instead, we have found that there's a certain grouping that benefited. It's a small elite grouping," Mokhathi said. Earlier this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law the amendment to the Employment Equity Act of 1998, giving the minister of employment the power to set targets for certain sectors. Companies that employ more than 50 people will be affected. Such companies must ensure within five years that they meet targets, which are aimed at boosting Black representation in positions that require specialized skills, professional degrees or management responsibilities. The details of which targets will be set for which sector and province were open to public comment and are still being finalized. Labor lawyer Puke Maserumule says it's good to have laws, but government must work to ensure compliance. "And of course, on the part of employers, the will to implement perhaps willingly without legal duress. Because let's be honest, it's in the interest of everybody Black, white, yellow, green that we don't have the levels of differentiated incomes that we have, the levels of poverty. It's just a recipe for disaster," Maserumule said. The opposition Democratic Alliance says the law will inevitably cost some people their jobs based on skin color. The director of employment equity in the Department of Labor, Ntsoaki Mamashela, says no one will lose their job in order for companies to meet the targets. But she says companies that do not comply or have a valid reason for not complying will be taken to labor court and could be fined up to 2% of their annual revenue. Mamashela says a nationwide campaign is underway to explain the amendments to workers and bosses. Fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will end 15 years of self-exile by returning to Thailand next month, the billionaire's daughter said Wednesday, turning up the political heat just as his family's party scrambles to form a new government. Thailand's only civilian prime minister to win back-to-back elections, Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup and then fled overseas two years later to avoid prison for corruption convictions he says are politically motivated. But Thaksin, 74, remains hugely influential as the figurehead of the Pheu Thai party. The party placed second in elections in May but is now in a prime position to form a government after the election-winning Move Forward Party was blocked by an appointed Senate of army allies from leading an administration. Thaksin's return is likely to anger royalist conservatives, who accuse the telecoms billionaire of dividing the kingdom with money, politics and corruption. "I don't quite believe myself in what I'm about to type here," his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra wrote on Instagram on Wednesday morning in announcing the shock return. "You (dad) are coming back on August 10 at Don Muang airportwe are all dazzled, happy and also concerned but we've always respected your decision." Thaksin has made several false promises of return before, while rumors of meetings in London, Hong Kong and Dubai with political allies and rivals have sporadically provoked intrigue about a possible deal to allow him back. But Paetongtarn's post is the first time she has confirmed a date of his return. Jail, danger? Thaksin, a former policeman, is one of the most famous Southeast Asian politicians of the last two decades. He earned a reputation for smart economic management after helping pull Thailand from the depths of a 1997 financial crisis. His populist "Thaksinomics" fueled a rural revival with pro-poor polices in health, including virtually free universal health care and education, as well as large subsidies. The toppling of his government saw the birth of the "Red Shirt" protest movement which backed his family through several bloody rounds of street demonstrations as the establishment repeatedly took down Shinawatra-led or linked governments. "Thailand is his home; he deserves to return to home," Paisal Janpan, a Red Shirt supporter based in Bangkok, told VOA. "I'm sure he will come back with his head held up high." But Thaksin faces more than 10 years in prison for his convictions. Thai media reports citing police said there are plans to take him straight into custody without saying how long he will be held. "I wish good deeds will protect you, keep you safe so you can come home to send your grandchildren to school as you've always wanted to," Paetongtarn added. Thaksin still has powerful enemies inside the establishment, many of whom have staked their reputations on "uprooting" the Shinawatra brand from Thailand. "I guarantee you that he won't be held in jail, but in a hospital with air conditioning," Nipit Intarasombat, a renowned anti-Thaksin lawmaker now with the army-linked Phalang Pracharat party, said in a Facebook post in response to the news. "People like Thaksin have thought about this over and over but be warned that if you make a misstep, it could lead to death." Two months after the last election, Thailand still does not have a new prime minister or government. That has left the caretaker government of former army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha in charge of the country, nine years after he staged a coup against the administration of Thaksin's sister Yingluck. If Thaksin does return, he will enter a kingdom in the midst of a new political crisis. The unelected Senate blocked Pita Limjaroenrat of the Move Forward Party from becoming prime minister. Pita was also suspended from parliament while a court considers his alleged media shareholding dealings, which could breach constitutional rules. Speaking to CNN, Pita said his party could no longer form a government and therefore he supports "Thaksin Shinawatra's party" in its efforts to form a coalition. "It's not just about a personal goal for me to become prime minister but it's to stop Thailand from a vicious cycle of military dictatorship," he added. Pheu Thai is expected to propose that either property tycoon Srettha Thavisin or Paetongtarn becomes prime minister over the coming week. But Pheu Thai will need to convince a large section of the Senate to get behind its candidate, a requirement that experts say may lead the party to split the pro-democracy bloc and abandon Move Forward. A U.N. watchdog committee condemned Ugandas Anti-Homosexuality Act Wednesday and called on the government to repeal what it calls a harmful, discriminatory law, which criminalizes consenting sexual relations between adults of the same sex. We are as appalled as you are as to the content and the effects of this law, said Jose Santos Pais, vice chair of the U.N. Human Rights Committee. The 18-member committee, which monitors the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, issued findings of its latest four-week examination of Uganda and six other state parties to the convention. In its final observations, the committee expressed deep concern about discrimination and persecution based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including the enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act in May 2023. The committee said it has received reports of hate speech, outings and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, as well as reports of arbitrary arrests of LGBTI persons based on the Penal Code Act and the Anti-Homosexuality Act. Pais said the committee told the Ugandan delegation that it must address the discriminatory policies. And, particularly, to repeal the Anti-Homosexuality Act and section 145 of the penal code to end the criminalization of consensual sexual relations between adults of the same sex, he said, adding that this act forces, for instance, the death penalty for serial homosexuality. The last time the committee reviewed Ugandas human rights record was in 2004. After the inordinately long 19-year delay, Uganda appeared before the committee with a high-powered, 15-person delegation of government officials to present its case. Pais said the Ugandan delegation sought to justify the Anti-Homosexuality Act based on what it described as the cultural values and position of most Ugandans toward homosexuality, which it claimed was unacceptance of same-sex relationships. If I recall correctly, they particularly stressed that this was a decision of the legitimate authorities of Uganda, said Pais. And so, they have taken their stand. They will bear the responsibility for that. We are not convinced by these arguments, of course, he added. But that is how it goes. Among its recommendations, the committee called on the Ugandan government to amend the Equal Opportunities Commission Act to prohibit sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds for discrimination. The 18 human rights experts urged the government to address discriminatory attitudes and stigma toward LGBTQ persons among government officials and the public through comprehensive awareness-raising and sensitization activities and to ensure remedies for LGBTQ persons who are subjected to discrimination, hate speech, violence or arbitrary arrest. Western medical and psychiatric associations regard sexual orientation as innate and part of normal human diversity. LGBTQ rights defenders say the proportion of sexual minorities remains constant from country to country including those with punitive laws. The committees next constructive dialogue with Uganda will take place in 2031 in Geneva. Pais said that during the interim the committee would keep tabs on what the Ugandan government was doing to end its discriminatory policies. We have a follow-up procedure, he said. The fact that we highlight three main concerns for each state-party means that in four years time, we will get back to the country to ask what they have been doing regarding these particular recommendations. So, the state-party will have to provide its answers and then we prepare a report, which is made public, and in which we assess gradings for the intervention of the state parties on the recommendations that we have issued. And if by any chance in four years time the state-party has not repealed the law, most probably the grade that they receive from us will be a very nasty one, he said. A rights watchdog said Wednesday that human rights in Afghanistan, especially those of women and girls, should be at the center of a U.N. Security Council-mandated independent assessment of the global response to the country's crisis. Human Rights Watch said it had shared the recommendations with Feridun Sinirlioglu, U.N. special coordinator leading the assessment, urging him to address the rights abuses of Afghans and hold accountable those responsible for the abuses, including the Taliban. "The situation in Afghanistan right now is the most serious women's rights crisis in the world," said Heather Barr, associate director of the Womens Rights Division at Human Rights Watch. "The crisis in Afghanistan is overwhelming, and Taliban abuses are deepening what was already a devastating humanitarian crisis." Barr criticized the international response as inconsistent, ineffective and insufficiently focused on human rights, saying the independent U.N.-mandated assessment could guide a more effective answer to the "dire situation." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the appointment of Sinirlioglu as the special coordinator in April and asked the former senior Turkish government diplomat to provide recommendations for an "integrated and coherent approach among relevant political, humanitarian and development actors" to address the challenges faced by Afghanistan. The move stemmed from a Security Council resolution in March asking the United Nations to conduct and provide the assessment to its members by Nov. 17. The Taliban returned to power in Kabul in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO allies withdrew all their troops after 20 years of involvement in the Afghan war. The fundamentalist authorities have since introduced their interpretation of Islamic law, or Shariah, to govern the conflict-ridden and impoverished South Asia nation. The Taliban have banned Afghan women and girls from an education beyond about a sixth-grade level and have barred them from most employment and visiting public places such as parks, gyms and bathhouses. The Taliban have also barred Afghan women from working for international nongovernmental organizations and the United Nations, in a country where more than 28 million people need food aid. The ban forced the World Food Program to cut 8 million food-insecure Afghans from assistance. On Tuesday, the hard-line authorities permanently closed all beauty salons across Afghanistan, leaving an estimated 60,000 women without work. Parlors were among the last significant sources of employment for women. The international community has repeatedly criticized Taliban curbs on women and demanded their reversal. The Taliban dismiss criticism of their rule, insisting that it is aligned with the Afghan culture and Shariah. Sinirlioglu met with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during his June visit to Kabul. A post-meeting Taliban statement quoted Muttaqi telling the U.N. coordinator that their government replaced violence with "peace and stability. Islamic rights of women are ensured and all achievements in the areas of security have been without any foreign support." Human rights concerns and the treatment of Afghan women have prevented foreign governments from granting legitimacy to the Taliban as they mark their second anniversary in power next month. On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department renewed its call for de facto Afghan authorities to review their policies. "We have been incredibly clear, quite regularly condemning the clear backsliding that we're seeing in Afghanistan, the egregious human rights abuses, the marginalization of women and girls," Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson, told reporters in Washington. Patel emphasized that "if the Taliban intends to seek international recognition, they need to start directly with the actions and the policies they choose to undertake in Afghanistan." Human Rights Watch said Wednesday that the U.N. special coordinator should ensure that his team includes experts on human rights, including the rights of women and girls. "Afghan women and girls and others suffering under Taliban repression feel abandoned by the world," Barr said. "The independent assessment should both help restore global attention to the situation in Afghanistan and propose concrete tools for holding the Taliban and other rights violators accountable." Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department announced Wednesday that Tom West, special representative for Afghanistan, and Rina Amiri, special envoy for Afghan women, girls and human rights, will travel to Kazakhstan and Qatar July 26-31. The delegation will meet with counterparts from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan for a special session on Afghanistan. In Qatar's capital, Doha, West and Amiri will meet with Taliban representatives and technocratic professionals from key Afghan ministries to discuss "critical interests" in Afghanistan, the statement said. "Priority issues will include humanitarian support for the people of Afghanistan, economic stabilization, fair and dignified treatment of all Afghans, including women and girls, security issues, and efforts to counter narcotics production and trafficking." A former United States military pilot's Sydney extradition hearing on U.S. charges, including that he illegally trained Chinese aviators, was postponed Tuesday while authorities investigate the role of an Australian spy agency in his arrest. Boston-born Dan Duggan, 54, was arrested by Australian police in October near his home, in Orange, New South Wales, and has been fighting extradition to the United States. The former U.S. Marine Corps major and flying instructor maintains he has done nothing wrong and is an innocent victim of a worsening power struggle between Washington and Beijing. "This is a signal, signal sending. It has nothing to do with me personally," Duggan told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. in a telephone call from maximum-security prison. "It's more to do with the signal that they want to send in a geopolitical sense," he added in an interview broadcast on Monday. His lawyers successfully applied Tuesday in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court for the extradition hearing to be delayed until November 24 while they await findings about their allegation that Duggan, now an Australian citizen, was illegally lured from China back to Australia in 2022 to be arrested. Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Christopher Jessup, the regulator of Australia's six spy agencies, announced in March that he was investigating Duggan's allegation that the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, known as ASIO, was part of a U.S. ploy to extradite him. Duggan returned from China to work in Australia after he received an ASIO security clearance for an aviation license. A few days after his arrival, the ASIO clearance was removed, which his lawyers argue made the job opportunity an illegal lure to a U.S. extradition partner country. They expect Jessup's findings will provide grounds to oppose extradition and apply for his release from prison on bail before the extradition question is resolved. Duggan's grounds for resisting extradition include his claim that the prosecution is political and that the crime he is accused of does not exist under Australian law. The extradition treaty between the two countries that has existed since 1976 requires that a suspect can only be extradited for an allegation that is recognized by both countries as a crime. The Australian government is reviewing laws to ensure former military personnel cannot sell their expertise to the Chinese military. Saffrine Duggan, Duggan's wife and mother of their six children, addressed more than 20 supporters who protested outside the court for his release. "I would never have thought this could ever happen in Australia, let alone to our family," she said. "My family is brave and strong and so are our friends and so is my husband, but we are all terribly torn apart." She complained in February that Australia was holding her husband in inhumane conditions. Dan Duggan said the Chinese pilots he trained while he was contracted by flying school Test Flying Academy of South Africa in 2011 and 2012 the period covered by the charges were civilians, and nothing he taught was classified. His lawyer, Bernard Collaery, said the Australian and Chinese navies were involved in joint training exercises around the time Duggan was accused of "consorting with the enemy." First Lady Jill Biden Tuesday marked the United States' return to the United Nations' cultural organization after five years away, amid concerns that its absence has let China take a lead in key areas like artificial intelligence and technology education. "I was honored to join you today as we raise the flag of the United States, a symbol of our commitment to global collaboration and peace," Biden said in Paris, as the American flag joined 193 others under the shadow of the city's major cultural landmark, the Eiffel Tower. "The United States is proud to join as a member state of UNESCO. Madam Director-General, you've worked long and hard to help us realize this goal." The roots of the withdrawal date back to 2011, when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization gave Palestine full membership as a state. Palestine is not a U.N.-recognized state. That led the Obama administration to freeze U.S. financial contributions to UNESCO about a fifth of the agency's budget. In 2017, the U.S. State Department cited "mounting arrears at UNESCO, the need for fundamental reform in the organization, and continuing anti-Israel bias at UNESCO" as reasons to complete the withdrawal the following year. The Biden administration now faces a $619 million debt. The Biden administration has asked for $150 million in the 2024 budget. UNESCO has also designated 1,157 properties around the world as having major cultural significance, including the ancient town of Bethlehem, where Christians believe Jesus was born. The prominent American Jewish Committee told VOA they supported the U.S. decision to rejoin UNESCO despite its concerns about what it sees as lack of recognition of Jewish culture and the Jewish state. "UNESCO is an important agency," Jason Isaacson, chief policy and political affairs officer for the American Jewish Committee, told VOA. "It's not perfect. Nor is any other U.N. entity. But it does really important work. And it is a vehicle for soft power, for the exercise of soft power in the United States to not be in that agency meant that other players competitors, rivals of the United States could have a seat at the table, could have cultural programs, scientific exchanges, educational programs, in countries all over the world, especially the developing world in places and in ways that the United States could not." Recognition of iconic sites UNESCO's most famous totems are its world heritage sites, which include monuments that have weathered long stretches of human history. This month, a massive heat wave forced authorities in Athens to close the Acropolis, a massive edifice that has loomed over the Greek capital for three millennia. Simmering ethnic conflict in Ethiopia in recent years has hampered religious pilgrims' access to the massive, ancient rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, a mountain town known in the 13th century as 'New Jerusalem.' And the COVID pandemic has kept footfalls light on China's great Great Wall, the massive fortification whose construction began in the 3rd Century B.C. and UNESCO estimates once boasted a total length of 20,000 kilometers. This year, UNESCO added another entry to its vaunted list: the historic center of the bustling Ukrainian port city of Odesa, a critical port for Ukraine's agricultural exports. This month, a Russian airstrike tore through the city, dropping a missile through the roof of its soaring cathedral and shattering the altar. UNESCO issued a condemnation. "On this night alone in Odesa, nearly 50 buildings were damaged, 25 of them architectural monuments," said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "The historic center. A world heritage site that UNESCO has taken under its protection." Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, UNESCO has verified damage to 270 of its designated "cultural sites" in Ukraine. The heavy responsibility of carrying all this cultural weight is lighter now that the U.S. is back, said UNESCO's director-general, Audrey Azoulay. "In these times of division, rifts and existential threats to humanity, we reaffirm here and today our union," she said. "The star-spangled banner of the United States of America will float in a few moments over the Paris skies." An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Bethlehem is technically in Israel. It is in the West Bank. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. U.S. first lady Jill Biden heralded her nations return to the United Nations cultural and educational body, UNESCO, at its headquarters in Paris, a city long famed for its cultural contributions. VOAs Anita Powell reports from the White House. This aerial photo taken on July 23, 2023 shows a view of Shangnami Village in Zhemi Township, Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. After days of thinking, Zhang Puzhong decided to do something instructive to his grandchildren: bring them back to the forest he used to live as a child more than 60 years ago. "This is very important. I know how happy I am today because I never forget how bitter my life was in the past," Zhang said. Zhang is a 70-year-old Kucong resident in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township of Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Kucong ethnic people means "people living on the mountains," an offshoot of the Lahu ethnic group. Yunnan now boasts 30,000 Kucong people, mainly living in the Ailao Mountain area in Zhenyuan and Jinping counties. Kucong people used to live a primitive life in mountainous regions. A local poet describes traditional Kucong life as "children were left in the dense forest" and "people wearing furs and leaves, eating wild fruit and living in a shed with banana leaves which failed to shelter from the wind and rain." When a place ran out of natural food, they would migrate to another one. Since the 1950s, supportive policies targeting impoverished ethnic minorities have helped relocate Kucong people to modern communities, with 3,739 Kucong people moving out of the mountains in Jinping from the 1950s to 1963. The government allocated special funds to buy farm tools, cattle, seeds, rations, clothes and other daily necessities for Kucong people. They were also taught new production techniques, and to get accustomed to paddy rice meals and cloth made of weaved materials. With tribal life behind them, Kucong people still faced many difficulties, at top of which was deep poverty. Zhang said it was until 1990 did he manage to replace his thatched hut with an adobe house covered in asbestos tiles built with government-granted materials. Efforts and resources have also been contributed to solve Kucong people's difficulty in dining, housing, schooling, outing, medical service, and so on. The Kucong people, together with the rest of the entire Lahu ethnic group, were lifted out of poverty as scheduled in 2019. The Zhang family, like many of their neighbors, built a two-story, reinforced concrete building of their own in 2021, in which each family member has a private room. Kucong villagers today are already used to biogas and electric stoves, smart mobile phones, and brick-concrete housing, and some of their younger generations are holders of college degrees. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) Zhang Puzhong (2nd L) and his wife Wang Suying (1st L) build a shed with banana leaves as their grandchildren look on in the forest near Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township, Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 23, 2023. After days of thinking, Zhang Puzhong decided to do something instructive to his grandchildren: bring them back to the forest he used to live as a child more than 60 years ago. "This is very important. I know how happy I am today because I never forget how bitter my life was in the past," Zhang said. Zhang is a 70-year-old Kucong resident in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township of Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Kucong ethnic people means "people living on the mountains," an offshoot of the Lahu ethnic group. Yunnan now boasts 30,000 Kucong people, mainly living in the Ailao Mountain area in Zhenyuan and Jinping counties. Kucong people used to live a primitive life in mountainous regions. A local poet describes traditional Kucong life as "children were left in the dense forest" and "people wearing furs and leaves, eating wild fruit and living in a shed with banana leaves which failed to shelter from the wind and rain." When a place ran out of natural food, they would migrate to another one. Since the 1950s, supportive policies targeting impoverished ethnic minorities have helped relocate Kucong people to modern communities, with 3,739 Kucong people moving out of the mountains in Jinping from the 1950s to 1963. The government allocated special funds to buy farm tools, cattle, seeds, rations, clothes and other daily necessities for Kucong people. They were also taught new production techniques, and to get accustomed to paddy rice meals and cloth made of weaved materials. With tribal life behind them, Kucong people still faced many difficulties, at top of which was deep poverty. Zhang said it was until 1990 did he manage to replace his thatched hut with an adobe house covered in asbestos tiles built with government-granted materials. Efforts and resources have also been contributed to solve Kucong people's difficulty in dining, housing, schooling, outing, medical service, and so on. The Kucong people, together with the rest of the entire Lahu ethnic group, were lifted out of poverty as scheduled in 2019. The Zhang family, like many of their neighbors, built a two-story, reinforced concrete building of their own in 2021, in which each family member has a private room. Kucong villagers today are already used to biogas and electric stoves, smart mobile phones, and brick-concrete housing, and some of their younger generations are holders of college degrees. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) Zhang Puzhong's wife Wang Suying (L) dresses her grandson with banana leaves in the forest near Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township, Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 23, 2023. After days of thinking, Zhang Puzhong decided to do something instructive to his grandchildren: bring them back to the forest he used to live as a child more than 60 years ago. "This is very important. I know how happy I am today because I never forget how bitter my life was in the past," Zhang said. Zhang is a 70-year-old Kucong resident in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township of Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Kucong ethnic people means "people living on the mountains," an offshoot of the Lahu ethnic group. Yunnan now boasts 30,000 Kucong people, mainly living in the Ailao Mountain area in Zhenyuan and Jinping counties. Kucong people used to live a primitive life in mountainous regions. A local poet describes traditional Kucong life as "children were left in the dense forest" and "people wearing furs and leaves, eating wild fruit and living in a shed with banana leaves which failed to shelter from the wind and rain." When a place ran out of natural food, they would migrate to another one. Since the 1950s, supportive policies targeting impoverished ethnic minorities have helped relocate Kucong people to modern communities, with 3,739 Kucong people moving out of the mountains in Jinping from the 1950s to 1963. The government allocated special funds to buy farm tools, cattle, seeds, rations, clothes and other daily necessities for Kucong people. They were also taught new production techniques, and to get accustomed to paddy rice meals and cloth made of weaved materials. With tribal life behind them, Kucong people still faced many difficulties, at top of which was deep poverty. Zhang said it was until 1990 did he manage to replace his thatched hut with an adobe house covered in asbestos tiles built with government-granted materials. Efforts and resources have also been contributed to solve Kucong people's difficulty in dining, housing, schooling, outing, medical service, and so on. The Kucong people, together with the rest of the entire Lahu ethnic group, were lifted out of poverty as scheduled in 2019. The Zhang family, like many of their neighbors, built a two-story, reinforced concrete building of their own in 2021, in which each family member has a private room. Kucong villagers today are already used to biogas and electric stoves, smart mobile phones, and brick-concrete housing, and some of their younger generations are holders of college degrees. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) Zhang Puzhong (L) and his wife Wang Suying build a shed with banana leaves in the forest near Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township, Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 23, 2023. After days of thinking, Zhang Puzhong decided to do something instructive to his grandchildren: bring them back to the forest he used to live as a child more than 60 years ago. "This is very important. I know how happy I am today because I never forget how bitter my life was in the past," Zhang said. Zhang is a 70-year-old Kucong resident in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township of Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Kucong ethnic people means "people living on the mountains," an offshoot of the Lahu ethnic group. Yunnan now boasts 30,000 Kucong people, mainly living in the Ailao Mountain area in Zhenyuan and Jinping counties. Kucong people used to live a primitive life in mountainous regions. A local poet describes traditional Kucong life as "children were left in the dense forest" and "people wearing furs and leaves, eating wild fruit and living in a shed with banana leaves which failed to shelter from the wind and rain." When a place ran out of natural food, they would migrate to another one. Since the 1950s, supportive policies targeting impoverished ethnic minorities have helped relocate Kucong people to modern communities, with 3,739 Kucong people moving out of the mountains in Jinping from the 1950s to 1963. The government allocated special funds to buy farm tools, cattle, seeds, rations, clothes and other daily necessities for Kucong people. They were also taught new production techniques, and to get accustomed to paddy rice meals and cloth made of weaved materials. With tribal life behind them, Kucong people still faced many difficulties, at top of which was deep poverty. Zhang said it was until 1990 did he manage to replace his thatched hut with an adobe house covered in asbestos tiles built with government-granted materials. Efforts and resources have also been contributed to solve Kucong people's difficulty in dining, housing, schooling, outing, medical service, and so on. The Kucong people, together with the rest of the entire Lahu ethnic group, were lifted out of poverty as scheduled in 2019. The Zhang family, like many of their neighbors, built a two-story, reinforced concrete building of their own in 2021, in which each family member has a private room. Kucong villagers today are already used to biogas and electric stoves, smart mobile phones, and brick-concrete housing, and some of their younger generations are holders of college degrees. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Zhang Puzhong (1st L), his wife Wang Suying (1st R) and their grandchildren pose for a photo under a banana leaf shed in the forest near Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township, Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 23, 2023. After days of thinking, Zhang Puzhong decided to do something instructive to his grandchildren: bring them back to the forest he used to live as a child more than 60 years ago. "This is very important. I know how happy I am today because I never forget how bitter my life was in the past," Zhang said. Zhang is a 70-year-old Kucong resident in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township of Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Kucong ethnic people means "people living on the mountains," an offshoot of the Lahu ethnic group. Yunnan now boasts 30,000 Kucong people, mainly living in the Ailao Mountain area in Zhenyuan and Jinping counties. Kucong people used to live a primitive life in mountainous regions. A local poet describes traditional Kucong life as "children were left in the dense forest" and "people wearing furs and leaves, eating wild fruit and living in a shed with banana leaves which failed to shelter from the wind and rain." When a place ran out of natural food, they would migrate to another one. Since the 1950s, supportive policies targeting impoverished ethnic minorities have helped relocate Kucong people to modern communities, with 3,739 Kucong people moving out of the mountains in Jinping from the 1950s to 1963. The government allocated special funds to buy farm tools, cattle, seeds, rations, clothes and other daily necessities for Kucong people. They were also taught new production techniques, and to get accustomed to paddy rice meals and cloth made of weaved materials. With tribal life behind them, Kucong people still faced many difficulties, at top of which was deep poverty. Zhang said it was until 1990 did he manage to replace his thatched hut with an adobe house covered in asbestos tiles built with government-granted materials. Efforts and resources have also been contributed to solve Kucong people's difficulty in dining, housing, schooling, outing, medical service, and so on. The Kucong people, together with the rest of the entire Lahu ethnic group, were lifted out of poverty as scheduled in 2019. The Zhang family, like many of their neighbors, built a two-story, reinforced concrete building of their own in 2021, in which each family member has a private room. Kucong villagers today are already used to biogas and electric stoves, smart mobile phones, and brick-concrete housing, and some of their younger generations are holders of college degrees. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Zhang Puzhong's wife Wang Suying (2nd R) dresses her granddaughter with banana leaves in the forest near Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township, Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 23, 2023. After days of thinking, Zhang Puzhong decided to do something instructive to his grandchildren: bring them back to the forest he used to live as a child more than 60 years ago. "This is very important. I know how happy I am today because I never forget how bitter my life was in the past," Zhang said. Zhang is a 70-year-old Kucong resident in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township of Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Kucong ethnic people means "people living on the mountains," an offshoot of the Lahu ethnic group. Yunnan now boasts 30,000 Kucong people, mainly living in the Ailao Mountain area in Zhenyuan and Jinping counties. Kucong people used to live a primitive life in mountainous regions. A local poet describes traditional Kucong life as "children were left in the dense forest" and "people wearing furs and leaves, eating wild fruit and living in a shed with banana leaves which failed to shelter from the wind and rain." When a place ran out of natural food, they would migrate to another one. Since the 1950s, supportive policies targeting impoverished ethnic minorities have helped relocate Kucong people to modern communities, with 3,739 Kucong people moving out of the mountains in Jinping from the 1950s to 1963. The government allocated special funds to buy farm tools, cattle, seeds, rations, clothes and other daily necessities for Kucong people. They were also taught new production techniques, and to get accustomed to paddy rice meals and cloth made of weaved materials. With tribal life behind them, Kucong people still faced many difficulties, at top of which was deep poverty. Zhang said it was until 1990 did he manage to replace his thatched hut with an adobe house covered in asbestos tiles built with government-granted materials. Efforts and resources have also been contributed to solve Kucong people's difficulty in dining, housing, schooling, outing, medical service, and so on. The Kucong people, together with the rest of the entire Lahu ethnic group, were lifted out of poverty as scheduled in 2019. The Zhang family, like many of their neighbors, built a two-story, reinforced concrete building of their own in 2021, in which each family member has a private room. Kucong villagers today are already used to biogas and electric stoves, smart mobile phones, and brick-concrete housing, and some of their younger generations are holders of college degrees. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Zhang Puzhong (1st L) picks some wild berries for his grandchildren in the forest near Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township, Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 23, 2023. After days of thinking, Zhang Puzhong decided to do something instructive to his grandchildren: bring them back to the forest he used to live as a child more than 60 years ago. "This is very important. I know how happy I am today because I never forget how bitter my life was in the past," Zhang said. Zhang is a 70-year-old Kucong resident in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township of Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Kucong ethnic people means "people living on the mountains," an offshoot of the Lahu ethnic group. Yunnan now boasts 30,000 Kucong people, mainly living in the Ailao Mountain area in Zhenyuan and Jinping counties. Kucong people used to live a primitive life in mountainous regions. A local poet describes traditional Kucong life as "children were left in the dense forest" and "people wearing furs and leaves, eating wild fruit and living in a shed with banana leaves which failed to shelter from the wind and rain." When a place ran out of natural food, they would migrate to another one. Since the 1950s, supportive policies targeting impoverished ethnic minorities have helped relocate Kucong people to modern communities, with 3,739 Kucong people moving out of the mountains in Jinping from the 1950s to 1963. The government allocated special funds to buy farm tools, cattle, seeds, rations, clothes and other daily necessities for Kucong people. They were also taught new production techniques, and to get accustomed to paddy rice meals and cloth made of weaved materials. With tribal life behind them, Kucong people still faced many difficulties, at top of which was deep poverty. Zhang said it was until 1990 did he manage to replace his thatched hut with an adobe house covered in asbestos tiles built with government-granted materials. Efforts and resources have also been contributed to solve Kucong people's difficulty in dining, housing, schooling, outing, medical service, and so on. The Kucong people, together with the rest of the entire Lahu ethnic group, were lifted out of poverty as scheduled in 2019. The Zhang family, like many of their neighbors, built a two-story, reinforced concrete building of their own in 2021, in which each family member has a private room. Kucong villagers today are already used to biogas and electric stoves, smart mobile phones, and brick-concrete housing, and some of their younger generations are holders of college degrees. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Zhang Puzhong picks some wild berries for his grandchildren in the forest near Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township, Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 23, 2023. After days of thinking, Zhang Puzhong decided to do something instructive to his grandchildren: bring them back to the forest he used to live as a child more than 60 years ago. "This is very important. I know how happy I am today because I never forget how bitter my life was in the past," Zhang said. Zhang is a 70-year-old Kucong resident in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township of Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Kucong ethnic people means "people living on the mountains," an offshoot of the Lahu ethnic group. Yunnan now boasts 30,000 Kucong people, mainly living in the Ailao Mountain area in Zhenyuan and Jinping counties. Kucong people used to live a primitive life in mountainous regions. A local poet describes traditional Kucong life as "children were left in the dense forest" and "people wearing furs and leaves, eating wild fruit and living in a shed with banana leaves which failed to shelter from the wind and rain." When a place ran out of natural food, they would migrate to another one. Since the 1950s, supportive policies targeting impoverished ethnic minorities have helped relocate Kucong people to modern communities, with 3,739 Kucong people moving out of the mountains in Jinping from the 1950s to 1963. The government allocated special funds to buy farm tools, cattle, seeds, rations, clothes and other daily necessities for Kucong people. They were also taught new production techniques, and to get accustomed to paddy rice meals and cloth made of weaved materials. With tribal life behind them, Kucong people still faced many difficulties, at top of which was deep poverty. Zhang said it was until 1990 did he manage to replace his thatched hut with an adobe house covered in asbestos tiles built with government-granted materials. Efforts and resources have also been contributed to solve Kucong people's difficulty in dining, housing, schooling, outing, medical service, and so on. The Kucong people, together with the rest of the entire Lahu ethnic group, were lifted out of poverty as scheduled in 2019. The Zhang family, like many of their neighbors, built a two-story, reinforced concrete building of their own in 2021, in which each family member has a private room. Kucong villagers today are already used to biogas and electric stoves, smart mobile phones, and brick-concrete housing, and some of their younger generations are holders of college degrees. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Grandchildren of Zhang Puzhong have fun under a banana leaf shed built by Zhang in the forest near Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township, Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 23, 2023. After days of thinking, Zhang Puzhong decided to do something instructive to his grandchildren: bring them back to the forest he used to live as a child more than 60 years ago. "This is very important. I know how happy I am today because I never forget how bitter my life was in the past," Zhang said. Zhang is a 70-year-old Kucong resident in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township of Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Kucong ethnic people means "people living on the mountains," an offshoot of the Lahu ethnic group. Yunnan now boasts 30,000 Kucong people, mainly living in the Ailao Mountain area in Zhenyuan and Jinping counties. Kucong people used to live a primitive life in mountainous regions. A local poet describes traditional Kucong life as "children were left in the dense forest" and "people wearing furs and leaves, eating wild fruit and living in a shed with banana leaves which failed to shelter from the wind and rain." When a place ran out of natural food, they would migrate to another one. Since the 1950s, supportive policies targeting impoverished ethnic minorities have helped relocate Kucong people to modern communities, with 3,739 Kucong people moving out of the mountains in Jinping from the 1950s to 1963. The government allocated special funds to buy farm tools, cattle, seeds, rations, clothes and other daily necessities for Kucong people. They were also taught new production techniques, and to get accustomed to paddy rice meals and cloth made of weaved materials. With tribal life behind them, Kucong people still faced many difficulties, at top of which was deep poverty. Zhang said it was until 1990 did he manage to replace his thatched hut with an adobe house covered in asbestos tiles built with government-granted materials. Efforts and resources have also been contributed to solve Kucong people's difficulty in dining, housing, schooling, outing, medical service, and so on. The Kucong people, together with the rest of the entire Lahu ethnic group, were lifted out of poverty as scheduled in 2019. The Zhang family, like many of their neighbors, built a two-story, reinforced concrete building of their own in 2021, in which each family member has a private room. Kucong villagers today are already used to biogas and electric stoves, smart mobile phones, and brick-concrete housing, and some of their younger generations are holders of college degrees. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Zhang Puzhong (L) and his wife Wang Suying build a shed with banana leaves in the forest near Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township, Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 23, 2023. After days of thinking, Zhang Puzhong decided to do something instructive to his grandchildren: bring them back to the forest he used to live as a child more than 60 years ago. "This is very important. I know how happy I am today because I never forget how bitter my life was in the past," Zhang said. Zhang is a 70-year-old Kucong resident in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township of Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Kucong ethnic people means "people living on the mountains," an offshoot of the Lahu ethnic group. Yunnan now boasts 30,000 Kucong people, mainly living in the Ailao Mountain area in Zhenyuan and Jinping counties. Kucong people used to live a primitive life in mountainous regions. A local poet describes traditional Kucong life as "children were left in the dense forest" and "people wearing furs and leaves, eating wild fruit and living in a shed with banana leaves which failed to shelter from the wind and rain." When a place ran out of natural food, they would migrate to another one. Since the 1950s, supportive policies targeting impoverished ethnic minorities have helped relocate Kucong people to modern communities, with 3,739 Kucong people moving out of the mountains in Jinping from the 1950s to 1963. The government allocated special funds to buy farm tools, cattle, seeds, rations, clothes and other daily necessities for Kucong people. They were also taught new production techniques, and to get accustomed to paddy rice meals and cloth made of weaved materials. With tribal life behind them, Kucong people still faced many difficulties, at top of which was deep poverty. Zhang said it was until 1990 did he manage to replace his thatched hut with an adobe house covered in asbestos tiles built with government-granted materials. Efforts and resources have also been contributed to solve Kucong people's difficulty in dining, housing, schooling, outing, medical service, and so on. The Kucong people, together with the rest of the entire Lahu ethnic group, were lifted out of poverty as scheduled in 2019. The Zhang family, like many of their neighbors, built a two-story, reinforced concrete building of their own in 2021, in which each family member has a private room. Kucong villagers today are already used to biogas and electric stoves, smart mobile phones, and brick-concrete housing, and some of their younger generations are holders of college degrees. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Zhang Puzhong clears vines and bushes as he travels in the forest near Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township, Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 23, 2023. After days of thinking, Zhang Puzhong decided to do something instructive to his grandchildren: bring them back to the forest he used to live as a child more than 60 years ago. "This is very important. I know how happy I am today because I never forget how bitter my life was in the past," Zhang said. Zhang is a 70-year-old Kucong resident in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township of Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Kucong ethnic people means "people living on the mountains," an offshoot of the Lahu ethnic group. Yunnan now boasts 30,000 Kucong people, mainly living in the Ailao Mountain area in Zhenyuan and Jinping counties. Kucong people used to live a primitive life in mountainous regions. A local poet describes traditional Kucong life as "children were left in the dense forest" and "people wearing furs and leaves, eating wild fruit and living in a shed with banana leaves which failed to shelter from the wind and rain." When a place ran out of natural food, they would migrate to another one. Since the 1950s, supportive policies targeting impoverished ethnic minorities have helped relocate Kucong people to modern communities, with 3,739 Kucong people moving out of the mountains in Jinping from the 1950s to 1963. The government allocated special funds to buy farm tools, cattle, seeds, rations, clothes and other daily necessities for Kucong people. They were also taught new production techniques, and to get accustomed to paddy rice meals and cloth made of weaved materials. With tribal life behind them, Kucong people still faced many difficulties, at top of which was deep poverty. Zhang said it was until 1990 did he manage to replace his thatched hut with an adobe house covered in asbestos tiles built with government-granted materials. Efforts and resources have also been contributed to solve Kucong people's difficulty in dining, housing, schooling, outing, medical service, and so on. The Kucong people, together with the rest of the entire Lahu ethnic group, were lifted out of poverty as scheduled in 2019. The Zhang family, like many of their neighbors, built a two-story, reinforced concrete building of their own in 2021, in which each family member has a private room. Kucong villagers today are already used to biogas and electric stoves, smart mobile phones, and brick-concrete housing, and some of their younger generations are holders of college degrees. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Zhang Puzhong (1st R) briefs his grandchildren on herbal medicines in the forest near Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township, Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 23, 2023. After days of thinking, Zhang Puzhong decided to do something instructive to his grandchildren: bring them back to the forest he used to live as a child more than 60 years ago. "This is very important. I know how happy I am today because I never forget how bitter my life was in the past," Zhang said. Zhang is a 70-year-old Kucong resident in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township of Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Kucong ethnic people means "people living on the mountains," an offshoot of the Lahu ethnic group. Yunnan now boasts 30,000 Kucong people, mainly living in the Ailao Mountain area in Zhenyuan and Jinping counties. Kucong people used to live a primitive life in mountainous regions. A local poet describes traditional Kucong life as "children were left in the dense forest" and "people wearing furs and leaves, eating wild fruit and living in a shed with banana leaves which failed to shelter from the wind and rain." When a place ran out of natural food, they would migrate to another one. Since the 1950s, supportive policies targeting impoverished ethnic minorities have helped relocate Kucong people to modern communities, with 3,739 Kucong people moving out of the mountains in Jinping from the 1950s to 1963. The government allocated special funds to buy farm tools, cattle, seeds, rations, clothes and other daily necessities for Kucong people. They were also taught new production techniques, and to get accustomed to paddy rice meals and cloth made of weaved materials. With tribal life behind them, Kucong people still faced many difficulties, at top of which was deep poverty. Zhang said it was until 1990 did he manage to replace his thatched hut with an adobe house covered in asbestos tiles built with government-granted materials. Efforts and resources have also been contributed to solve Kucong people's difficulty in dining, housing, schooling, outing, medical service, and so on. The Kucong people, together with the rest of the entire Lahu ethnic group, were lifted out of poverty as scheduled in 2019. The Zhang family, like many of their neighbors, built a two-story, reinforced concrete building of their own in 2021, in which each family member has a private room. Kucong villagers today are already used to biogas and electric stoves, smart mobile phones, and brick-concrete housing, and some of their younger generations are holders of college degrees. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) This aerial photo taken on July 23, 2023 shows a view of a relocation site for Kucong people in Zhemi Township, Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. After days of thinking, Zhang Puzhong decided to do something instructive to his grandchildren: bring them back to the forest he used to live as a child more than 60 years ago. "This is very important. I know how happy I am today because I never forget how bitter my life was in the past," Zhang said. Zhang is a 70-year-old Kucong resident in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township of Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Kucong ethnic people means "people living on the mountains," an offshoot of the Lahu ethnic group. Yunnan now boasts 30,000 Kucong people, mainly living in the Ailao Mountain area in Zhenyuan and Jinping counties. Kucong people used to live a primitive life in mountainous regions. A local poet describes traditional Kucong life as "children were left in the dense forest" and "people wearing furs and leaves, eating wild fruit and living in a shed with banana leaves which failed to shelter from the wind and rain." When a place ran out of natural food, they would migrate to another one. Since the 1950s, supportive policies targeting impoverished ethnic minorities have helped relocate Kucong people to modern communities, with 3,739 Kucong people moving out of the mountains in Jinping from the 1950s to 1963. The government allocated special funds to buy farm tools, cattle, seeds, rations, clothes and other daily necessities for Kucong people. They were also taught new production techniques, and to get accustomed to paddy rice meals and cloth made of weaved materials. With tribal life behind them, Kucong people still faced many difficulties, at top of which was deep poverty. Zhang said it was until 1990 did he manage to replace his thatched hut with an adobe house covered in asbestos tiles built with government-granted materials. Efforts and resources have also been contributed to solve Kucong people's difficulty in dining, housing, schooling, outing, medical service, and so on. The Kucong people, together with the rest of the entire Lahu ethnic group, were lifted out of poverty as scheduled in 2019. The Zhang family, like many of their neighbors, built a two-story, reinforced concrete building of their own in 2021, in which each family member has a private room. Kucong villagers today are already used to biogas and electric stoves, smart mobile phones, and brick-concrete housing, and some of their younger generations are holders of college degrees. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) Zhang Puzhong (1st L), together with his wife Wang Suying and their grandchildren, is ready for a tour to the forest in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township, Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 23, 2023. After days of thinking, Zhang Puzhong decided to do something instructive to his grandchildren: bring them back to the forest he used to live as a child more than 60 years ago. "This is very important. I know how happy I am today because I never forget how bitter my life was in the past," Zhang said. Zhang is a 70-year-old Kucong resident in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township of Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Kucong ethnic people means "people living on the mountains," an offshoot of the Lahu ethnic group. Yunnan now boasts 30,000 Kucong people, mainly living in the Ailao Mountain area in Zhenyuan and Jinping counties. Kucong people used to live a primitive life in mountainous regions. A local poet describes traditional Kucong life as "children were left in the dense forest" and "people wearing furs and leaves, eating wild fruit and living in a shed with banana leaves which failed to shelter from the wind and rain." When a place ran out of natural food, they would migrate to another one. Since the 1950s, supportive policies targeting impoverished ethnic minorities have helped relocate Kucong people to modern communities, with 3,739 Kucong people moving out of the mountains in Jinping from the 1950s to 1963. The government allocated special funds to buy farm tools, cattle, seeds, rations, clothes and other daily necessities for Kucong people. They were also taught new production techniques, and to get accustomed to paddy rice meals and cloth made of weaved materials. With tribal life behind them, Kucong people still faced many difficulties, at top of which was deep poverty. Zhang said it was until 1990 did he manage to replace his thatched hut with an adobe house covered in asbestos tiles built with government-granted materials. Efforts and resources have also been contributed to solve Kucong people's difficulty in dining, housing, schooling, outing, medical service, and so on. The Kucong people, together with the rest of the entire Lahu ethnic group, were lifted out of poverty as scheduled in 2019. The Zhang family, like many of their neighbors, built a two-story, reinforced concrete building of their own in 2021, in which each family member has a private room. Kucong villagers today are already used to biogas and electric stoves, smart mobile phones, and brick-concrete housing, and some of their younger generations are holders of college degrees. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) Zhang Puzhong does housekeeping in the sitting room of his residence before a tour to the forest in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township, Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 23, 2023. After days of thinking, Zhang Puzhong decided to do something instructive to his grandchildren: bring them back to the forest he used to live as a child more than 60 years ago. "This is very important. I know how happy I am today because I never forget how bitter my life was in the past," Zhang said. Zhang is a 70-year-old Kucong resident in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township of Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Kucong ethnic people means "people living on the mountains," an offshoot of the Lahu ethnic group. Yunnan now boasts 30,000 Kucong people, mainly living in the Ailao Mountain area in Zhenyuan and Jinping counties. Kucong people used to live a primitive life in mountainous regions. A local poet describes traditional Kucong life as "children were left in the dense forest" and "people wearing furs and leaves, eating wild fruit and living in a shed with banana leaves which failed to shelter from the wind and rain." When a place ran out of natural food, they would migrate to another one. Since the 1950s, supportive policies targeting impoverished ethnic minorities have helped relocate Kucong people to modern communities, with 3,739 Kucong people moving out of the mountains in Jinping from the 1950s to 1963. The government allocated special funds to buy farm tools, cattle, seeds, rations, clothes and other daily necessities for Kucong people. They were also taught new production techniques, and to get accustomed to paddy rice meals and cloth made of weaved materials. With tribal life behind them, Kucong people still faced many difficulties, at top of which was deep poverty. Zhang said it was until 1990 did he manage to replace his thatched hut with an adobe house covered in asbestos tiles built with government-granted materials. Efforts and resources have also been contributed to solve Kucong people's difficulty in dining, housing, schooling, outing, medical service, and so on. The Kucong people, together with the rest of the entire Lahu ethnic group, were lifted out of poverty as scheduled in 2019. The Zhang family, like many of their neighbors, built a two-story, reinforced concrete building of their own in 2021, in which each family member has a private room. Kucong villagers today are already used to biogas and electric stoves, smart mobile phones, and brick-concrete housing, and some of their younger generations are holders of college degrees. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) This combo photo shows the changes in housing conditions of Kucong people: the banana leaf shed built by Zhang Puzhong based on his memory of Kucong people's primitive life in the forest taken on July 23, 2023 (top, Xinhua/Fei Maohua); the thatched huts at a Kucong village, Jinping County taken in 1984 (2nd from top, Xinhua/Min Fuquan); brand-new adobe houses covered in asbestos tiles in Xianami Village, Zhemi Township, Jinping County, taken in November 2001 (3rd from top, Xinhua/Lin Yiguang); and a view of Xingfaling Village, Zhemi Township, Jinping County taken on July 23, 2023 (bottom, Xinhua/Chen Xinbo). After days of thinking, Zhang Puzhong decided to do something instructive to his grandchildren: bring them back to the forest he used to live as a child more than 60 years ago. "This is very important. I know how happy I am today because I never forget how bitter my life was in the past," Zhang said. Zhang is a 70-year-old Kucong resident in Xiaxinzhai Village, Zhemi Township of Jinping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Kucong ethnic people means "people living on the mountains," an offshoot of the Lahu ethnic group. Yunnan now boasts 30,000 Kucong people, mainly living in the Ailao Mountain area in Zhenyuan and Jinping counties. Kucong people used to live a primitive life in mountainous regions. A local poet describes traditional Kucong life as "children were left in the dense forest" and "people wearing furs and leaves, eating wild fruit and living in a shed with banana leaves which failed to shelter from the wind and rain." When a place ran out of natural food, they would migrate to another one. Since the 1950s, supportive policies targeting impoverished ethnic minorities have helped relocate Kucong people to modern communities, with 3,739 Kucong people moving out of the mountains in Jinping from the 1950s to 1963. The government allocated special funds to buy farm tools, cattle, seeds, rations, clothes and other daily necessities for Kucong people. They were also taught new production techniques, and to get accustomed to paddy rice meals and cloth made of weaved materials. With tribal life behind them, Kucong people still faced many difficulties, at top of which was deep poverty. Zhang said it was until 1990 did he manage to replace his thatched hut with an adobe house covered in asbestos tiles built with government-granted materials. Efforts and resources have also been contributed to solve Kucong people's difficulty in dining, housing, schooling, outing, medical service, and so on. The Kucong people, together with the rest of the entire Lahu ethnic group, were lifted out of poverty as scheduled in 2019. The Zhang family, like many of their neighbors, built a two-story, reinforced concrete building of their own in 2021, in which each family member has a private room. Kucong villagers today are already used to biogas and electric stoves, smart mobile phones, and brick-concrete housing, and some of their younger generations are holders of college degrees. (Xinhua) Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell briefly left his own press conference Wednesday after stopping his remarks midsentence and staring off into space for several seconds. McConnell approached the podium for his weekly press conference and began speaking about the annual defense bill on the floor, which he said was proceeding with "good bipartisan cooperation." But he then appeared to lose his train of thought, trailing off with a drawn-out "uh." The Kentucky senator then stared vacantly for around 20 seconds before his colleagues in Republican leadership, who were standing behind him and could not see his face, took his elbows and asked if he wanted to go back to his office. He did not answer, but slowly walked back to his office with an aide and Wyoming Senator John Barrasso, a former orthopedic surgeon who is the No. 3 Republican in the Senate. After sitting down in his office for several minutes, McConnell later returned to the press conference and answered questions from the press. Asked about what happened, McConnell said he was "fine." Asked if he is still able to do his job, he said, "Yeah." A McConnell aide said he felt lightheaded and stepped away for a moment. The aide requested anonymity to speak about the senator's health. McConnell, 81, was out of the Senate for almost six weeks earlier this year after falling and hitting his head. His office later said he suffered a concussion and fractured a rib. His speech has recently sounded more halting, prompting questions among some of his colleagues about his health. After the press conference, Barrasso told reporters he "wanted to make sure everything was fine" and walked McConnell down the hall to his office. Barrasso said he has been concerned since McConnell was injured earlier this year, "and I continue to be concerned." But asked about his particular concerns, Barrasso said: "I said I was concerned when he fell and hit his head a number of months ago and was hospitalized. And I think he's made a remarkable recovery, he's doing a great job leading our conference and was able to answer every question the press asked him today." McConnell was reelected easily to another term to lead the conference last year, despite a challenge from Florida Senator Rick Scott. But several Republicans, including No. 2 Republican Senator John Thune of South Dakota and Barrasso, are seen as waiting in the wings to someday replace McConnell as leader. Texas Senator John Cornyn, who is also seen as a potential candidate to succeed McConnell, told reporters after the episode, "I support Senator McConnell as long as he wants to serve as leader." The Republican leader is one of several senators who have been absent because of health issues this year. Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, 90, was out of the Senate for more than two months after suffering from a bout of shingles. And Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, 53, took a weekslong leave to get treatment for clinical depression. Can artificial intelligence wipe out humanity? A senior U.S. official said the United States government is working with leading AI companies and at least 20 countries to set up guardrails to mitigate potential risks, while focusing on the innovative edge of AI technologies. Nathaniel Fick, the U.S. ambassador-at-large for cyberspace and digital policy, spoke Tuesday to VOA about the voluntary commitments from leading AI companies to ensure safety and transparency around AI development. One of the popular generative AI platforms is ChatGPT. If a user asked it politically sensitive questions in Mandarin Chinese such as, "What is the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre?" the user would get information that is heavily censored by the Beijing government. But ChatGPT, created by U.S.-based OpenAI, is not available in China. China has finalized rules governing its own generative AI. The new regulation will be effective August 15. Chinese chatbots reportedly have built-in censorship to avoid sensitive keywords. "I think that the development of these systems actually requires a foundation of openness, of interoperability, of reliability of data. And an authoritarian top-down approach that controls the flow of information over time will undermine a government's ability, a company's ability, to sustain an innovative edge in AI," Fick told VOA. The following excerpts from the interview have been edited for brevity and clarity. VOA: Seven leading AI companies made eight promises about what they will do with their technology. What do these commitments actually mean? Nathaniel Fick, the U.S. ambassador-at-large for cyberspace and digital policy: As we think about governance of this new tech frontier of artificial intelligence, our North Star ought to be preserving our innovative edge and ensuring that we can continue to maintain a global leadership position in the development of robust AI tools, because the upside to solve shared challenges around the world is so immense. These commitments fall into three broad categories. First, the companies have a duty to ensure that their products are safe. Second, the companies have a responsibility to ensure that their products are secure. Third, the companies have a duty to ensure that their products gain the trust of people around the world. And so, we need a way for viewers, consumers, to ascertain whether audio content or visual content is AI-generated or not, whether it is authentic or not. And that's what these commitments do. VOA: Would the United States government fund some of these types of safety tests conducted by those companies? Fick: The United States government has a huge interest in ensuring that these companies, these models, their products are safe, are secure, and are trustworthy. We look forward to partnering with these companies over time to do that. And of course, that could certainly include financial partnership. VOA: The White House has listed cancer prevention and mitigating climate change as two of the areas where it would like AI companies to focus their efforts. Can you talk about U.S. competition with China on AI? Is that an administration priority? Fick: We would expect the Chinese approach to artificial intelligence to look very much like the PRC's [People's Republic of China] approach to other areas of technology. Generally, top down. Generally, not focused on open expression, not focused on open access to information. And these AI systems, by their very definition, require that sort of openness and that sort of access to large data sets and information. VOA: Some industry experts have warned that China is spending three times as much as the U.S. to become the world's AI leader. Can you talk about China's ambition on AI? Is the U.S. keeping up with the competition? Fick: We certainly track things like R&D [research and development] and investment dollars, but I would make the point that those are inputs, not outputs. And I don't think it's any accident that the leading companies in AI research are American companies. Our innovation ecosystem, supported by foundational research and immigration policy that attracts the world's best talent, tax and regulatory policies that encourage business creation and growth. VOA: Any final thoughts about the risks? Can AI models be used to develop bioweapons? Can AI wipe out humanity? When people hear the phrase "tank man," they often think of the man who blocked advancing tanks in China's Tiananmen Square during a clampdown on protests on June 5, 1989. But Lithuania has a "tank man" of its own: Dr. Ricardas Daunoravicius, an obstetrician who stood in front of Soviet tanks amid a crackdown on Lithuanian independence. In January 1991, the Lithuanian Supreme Council voted for independence, the first Soviet republic to do so. Moscow responded with a military crackdown. Local citizens, who had gathered to hear pro-independence Supreme Council Chairman Vyautas Landsbergis speak, formed a human wall to guard parliament buildings and the TV tower from advancing tanks. By the end of the demonstration, the Soviet military had killed 14 Lithuanian civilians, sparking global condemnation. In February 1991, Lithuania held a referendum on independence. More than 90% of voters were in favor, and the Soviet Union collapsed by the end of the year. Thirty-two years later, Daunoravicius fought back tears as he told VOA about the moment he blocked the tanks during the demonstrations. The following transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity: VOA: Tell us about what happened in January 1991. How did you participate in the protest? Daunoravicius: In the evening, Landsbergis addressed people on television. He said that Lithuania was alive as long as there was at least one Lithuanian. I am starting to cry somehow. Exactly one hour later, the column of tanks appeared. When we stood in the living wall of people, the tank had already crushed the car that was blocking the road. The tank slowly pushed us like a bulldozer into a second barricade made of sand spreaders. It stopped. Then it drove on again. I took another young man with me. I was older than them. In front of my eyes was a man hanging onto that tank. The tank stopped again. I thought maybe he would back off. But then another man Algimantas Kavoliukas hung on to the tank. The tank hit the sand spreader. I just saw the young man's hands go loose and he fell into that metal chasm. Another man tried to jump but he was run over by a tank over the stomach. So, before my eyes, two of our friends, with whom we were in the living barricade, lost their lives. And after that, all that shooting, that smog of gunpowder, smoke, breaking glass, people's shouts ... I somehow lost my self-control for a moment. But then I realized it was my turn. I blocked the way. We stood facing each other me and the tank, and we looked at each other. I don't know how long it took. To me, it seemed that it was very long. But I felt that I had won, because he turned around and drove away. VOA: When the 1989 June 4 massacre happened in China, did you know about it? Daunoravicius: Then I was in Algeria, and this was widely reported in the press and shown on television. It was close to my heart to know that the revival started not only in the Baltic countries but also in China. But then I heard that the protesters were treated very, very brutally there. I saw the photo [of Tank Man] much later. He's just a very brave man. VOA: More than 30 years since the 1991 events, we now have the war in Ukraine. Did you expect to see a war break out again in one of the former Soviet Republics? Daunoravicius: I had a feeling this might happen. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is really repeating Hitler here. I came to work that very day, February 24th, and I called the headquarters of the [paramilitary nonprofit] Riflemen's Union and decided that I needed to master not only medical skills but also to master a weapon. We joined the Riflemen's Union together with the prime minister and the speaker of the parliament. VOA: What's your take on China's current relations with Russia? Are you concerned about China-Russia relationship, the closeness of it? Daunoravicius: China is not very willing to help Russia. I think that Russia now is at the bottom of the landfill of world history. I would say that independence, freedom and democracy are very difficult to win but are very easy to lose. That's why we in Lithuania are striving to cherish it all. During those 30-plus years, huge changes have taken place in Lithuania, and I think that people have never lived as well in Lithuania as they do now. I want the war [in Ukraine] to end as soon as possible. To return [to normal]. VOA: Have you been to China? What do you think of China? Daunoravicius: No, I have never been to China. I have a lot of respect for Chinese culture. It is one of the oldest cultures in the world. My wife was in China. She felt that there was that totalitarian pressure. She attended a scientific conference. It is a majestic, big country. And I wish her freedom and democracy as well. Graham Kanwit contributed to this report. JOHANNESBURG African leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, are heading to St. Petersburg this week for the second Russia-Africa Summit, as an isolated Moscow looks to shore up its influence in a key region. Analysts told VOA that high on the agenda will be President Vladimir Putins nixing of an arrangement that allowed Ukrainian grain to reach foreign markets. Putin will be under pressure to reassure them after he terminated a deal allowing safe passage of Ukrainian grain exports earlier this month a move criticized by the African Union Commission as something that could negatively affect food security, especially in Africa. The move has riled African governments, with one senior Kenyan official saying the axing of the agreement is a stab [in] the back. Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, said the decision not to renew the deal has already caused an increase in global food prices, which could hurt parts of Africa. Our very hope is that as the African leaders go to the Russia-Africa Summit, they can actually be able to have a much more sound conversation about the Black Sea grain deal amongst other things that of course will be negotiated there so that this can go back on the table and the exports can go, Sihlobo said. Earlier this week Putin himself sought to reassure African countries, relations with which have become increasingly important given Russias isolation by the West since its invasion of Ukraine last year. Many African countries have been hesitant to take sides in the conflict. In a statement, Putin promised that Russia could replace the Ukrainian grain itself both on a commercial and free-of-charge basis. Cameron Hudson, an analyst with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said Putin is likely to use the St. Petersburg meeting, which starts Thursday, to appeal to African leaders direct needs. Obviously hes trying to win back some friends from his exit from the grain deal, Hudson said, and also show that he has the power to kind of cut bilateral deals with African countries that put them frankly more in his need, which is exactly the position that he wants to be in. Analysts have noted that Russia has an outsized influence in Africa comparative to its trade and investment clout. This is sometimes because of the former Soviet Unions support for the regions 20th century liberation movements, and because of shared anti-Western sentiment. At the first Russia-Africa Summit in 2019, Putin vowed to double trade with Africa to $40 billion over five years. Instead, it has been sitting at about $18 billion a year, compared with Chinas record $282 billion worth of trade with Africa. Despite its relatively minor economic clout, Moscow is keen to use the summit to project political heft, said Denys Reva, a researcher for the Institute of Security Studies in South Africa. Despite the fact that the level of investment has been low, the level of trade has been low, Russia has very cleverly learned, or realized, some of the problems that exist between Western states, the European Union and the U.S., and Africa, and has positioned itself, in a way, to separate itself from these traditional partners, Reva said. While the summit aims to position Russia as a global player, Russian media reported that fewer than half of the African countries attending are sending their heads of state. Analysts also said the issue of the Wagner Group the mercenary group that recently attempted a mutiny in Russia and which has operations in several African nations will likely be raised on the summits sidelines. When Jean Lee walks into a room, the first place she will often look is up at the corners. Its a habit the journalist picked up in North Korea, when she was always on the lookout for listening devices. Now based in Washington, Lee hasnt reported regularly from North Korea for years. But old habits die hard. I had such an incredible opportunity to learn the mechanism of surveillance and also self-protection in North Korea, she told VOA. After I left North Korea, it took a very long time for me to sit still, because I had that sense of paranoia. Those idiosyncrasies were ingrained in Lee over three years as the Pyongyang bureau chief for The Associated Press, during which she would stay for about a month at a time. She was the first American to run a bureau inside North Korea. Lee now co-hosts the BBC podcast The Lazarus Heist, which investigates North Korean cybercrime. Although a decade has passed since she set up the APs North Korea bureau, she remains one of few journalists who had a regular Pyongyang dateline. With North Koreas borders closed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lee and others say they dont believe any foreign journalists are left inside the country. That absence means its particularly hard to know whats going on there, especially when the isolated country is high on the international agenda, including over the case of Travis King, an American soldier who crossed into the country earlier in July. North Koreas media landscape is made up exclusively of state propaganda. Pyongyang rarely permits any foreign journalists let alone Americans to report from inside the country. Thats what made Lee and the AP bureau unique. As a U.S. reporter inside the country, she played a crucial role in informing global audiences about North Korea, all while working to give a voice to a people who are often painted over with the heavy brush of party propaganda. North Korea is unlike any other country in terms of the lack of access, and the lack of reliable information or inability to build sources on the ground and even outside the country, Lee said. You need to be incredibly resourceful, clever, creative, open-minded and strategic if you want to cover North Korea well. Part of that strategy was blending in. Lee learned how to speak, dress and behave like a local from her North Korean staffers, whom she was permitted to select from a preapproved pool of state media workers. Candid exchanges That way, she said, she could have really candid conversations, and get a sense for how they really think, what they really wanted, who they were as people aside from the theatrical presentation that they were used to putting on. In the evenings Lee would dine at restaurants, in part because she quickly realized that man on the street interviews were effectively impossible. Some of the most meaningful interviews were casual conversations that Lee didnt record. Its just such a different experience to be on the ground in Pyongyang than it is to cover it from the outside. All the color, she said. Because so much of what we see from North Korea is theater. Being on the ground meant seeing through that charade to smell the city often the scent of burning coal and wood hear its people Koreans are feisty, Lee said and be awakened every morning by the nationalist song Where Are You, Dear General? blaring from the nearby Pyongyang train station. It also meant recognizing that North Koreans have been rendered voiceless by the ruling Kim family and the state media that parrot them. Lee said her living conditions were likely on par with those of the North Korean elite, but it was still a tough environment. It is a place of extreme deprivation, she said. Food and water were often contaminated. Winters were brutally cold, and the only place that Minnesota-born Lee could reliably find heat was in her hotel room. Electricity was also rationed. Lee says she knew she had been living in North Korea for a long time when the electricity went out and she didnt bat an eye. You just learned to carry a flashlight, she said. Lee sometimes worried that she would write something so critical that the government, which stands accused of widespread mass atrocity crimes, would do more than yell at her. "The more time I spent there, the more aware I was of the extent of the surveillance, and, frankly, the more terrifying it became, she said. You are at the heart of psychological warfare. Youre a target of it. Youre central to it. She misses the work But the journalist, who was last in North Korea in 2017, says she misses covering the country from the inside. Lee developed close friendships with her North Korean colleagues. She felt a responsibility to protect them, and she said they felt a responsibility to protect her, too. Lee can no longer be in contact with them for their safety. With no independent reporting, the primary source of information coming out of North Korea is from state media. Of course, this creates a little bit of a problem in terms of knowing more about whats happening in the country, said Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. There is no press freedom in North Korea. Basically, everything is under the strict control of the North Korean authorities, Scarlatoiu told VOA. North Koreas government does hold press conferences, but Lee says they are staged affairs. Still, when in Pyongyang she liked to watch the North Korean state journalists who also attended the briefings. They have a very different purpose and motivation than we do as journalists, but theyre also very keen to do the best job that they can, within the confines of their job description. They were very proud to be a mouthpiece for their party, Lee said. And as human beings, as individuals, they wanted to succeed in their system. HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe will hold presidential and parliamentary elections on August 23. A dozen candidates are vying to be the country's next president but the main contest is between incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is seeking a second term and leads the ruling ZANU-PF party, and Nelson Chamisa, of the new Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). Here are some details of the two leading candidates. EMMERSON MNANGAGWA The 80-year-old Mnangagwa came to power after a 2017 military coup which toppled long time ruler Robert Mugabe. Until their fall-out in the months leading up to the coup, Mnangagwa was one of Mugabe's closest lieutenants and served in various top government roles including as vice president and minister of state security. Nicknamed "the Crocodile", an animal famed in Zimbabwean lore for its stealth and ruthlessness, Mnangagwa has been accused by opponents of being Mugabe's political enforcer as the late ruler cracked down on dissent. Mnangagwa denies those charges. Mnangagwa, trained as a communist guerrilla in China in the 1960s, was in charge of internal security in the mid-1980s when Mugabe deployed a North Korean-trained brigade against rebels loyal to his rival Joshua Nkomo. Rights groups say 20,000 civilians, mostly from the Ndebele tribe, were killed in what has become known as the massacres of Gukurahundi. Mnangagwa denies responsibility, but as president he engaged traditional leaders of communities affected by the massacres to discuss matters including compensation, reconciliation and healing. Mnangagwa fashions himself as pro-business and, within months of coming to power, scrapped a local business ownership law championed by Mugabe. The law, which required foreign-owned businesses including mines to sell majority stakes to locals, unsettled investors who held back investment. However, critics say the economic turnaround Mnangagwa promised five years ago remains elusive. Mnangagwa has said his government has created opportunities for locals in the economy with policies supporting their involvement in sectors such as mining and agriculture. NELSON CHAMISA Chamisa transitioned from being a student leader who led anti-government protests over college fees into national politics in 1999, when the late politician Morgan Tsvangirai spearheaded the formation of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to mount the most serious challenge to ZANU-PF's stranglehold on power. A lawyer and pastor by training, the 45-year-old Chamisa became Zimbabwe's youngest ever presidential candidate in 2018 when he narrowly lost to Mnangagwa. Chamisa is credited with reviving the opposition in Zimbabwe after a major split in the camp in 2018 following Tsvangirai's death that had weakened it. After losing a bruising legal battle to a rival MDC faction, Chamisa changed the name of his camp to the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). The CCC immediately established itself as the main challenger to ZANU-PF after winning the most seats in parliamentary by-elections held in March 2022. Chamisa served as a government minister, responsible for information and communication technology between 2009 and 2013, after Mugabe agreed to share power with the opposition following a disputed election in 2008. He has pledged to grow Zimbabwe's economy, fight corruption and end Zimbabwe's isolation. A CCC government would impose fiscal discipline, restore respect for human and property rights and attract investment, Chamisa says. Critics say Chamisa has a penchant for outlandish election promises, including grand infrastructure projects, but is short on details of how he would fund them. Although he poses a threat to ZANU-PF, his campaign has faced hurdles with the police routinely stopping opposition rallies. (Reporting by Nelson Banya and Nyasha Chingono; Editing by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo and Christina Fincher) Amnesty International says Zimbabwes forthcoming general elections will be held amid a five-year systematic brutal crackdown on human rights, restrictions on political opposition gatherings, violent suppression of protests and criminalization of state critics. In a statement, Amnesty International said over the past five years, the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly have been relentlessly suppressed. Amnesty International noted that there is a sustained crackdown against those who have demanded accountability from the government or organized protests against allegations of corruption, journalists and members of the political opposition and human rights activists. President Emmerson Mnangagwas government, said Amnesty International, has criminalized dissent by passing the dreaded Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Amendment Bill, commonly known as the Patriotic Bill into law Amnesty International said what has been happening in Zimbabwe over the past five years amounts to a brutal crackdown on human rights, especially the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, adding that respect for socio-economic rights has also declined dramatically, leaving many people in abject poverty with no means to put food on the table. It said the Zimbabwean authorities have revealed their brazen contempt for basic freedoms and shown that there is no space for dissent in the so-called second republic. The police, according to Amnesty international, have also repeatedly resorted to excessive use of force to suppress human rights, including the right to peaceful assembly. It said as political campaigning intensifies in Zimbabwe ahead of the August 23 elections, the authorities must ensure that people are able to freely exercise their rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. Authorities must respect, protect, promote and fulfil the human rights of everyone before, during and after the election. Reacting to the report, Nhlanhla Moses Ncube, secretary general of Freedom Alliance, said Mnangagwas government is abusing the law to crackdown on dissent. The Patriotic Act is the punctuation of the prolonged systematic targeting of anyone opposed to, or perceived to be opposed to ZANU PF misrule since 1980 all the way to 2017 and beyond, when the so-called New Dispensation usurped power through a military coup. It boggles the mind to note that no protests or demonstrations can take place in Zimbabwe despite the economic decay and poverty. The reason is that potential protestors have been cowed to submission by ZANU PF. Laws like the Patriotic Act (passed by the ZANU PF majority in parliament) are the silent tool to replace physical violence. Dissent is heavily criminalized so that ZANU PF hangs on to power by whatever means. Efforts to get a comment from ZANU PF spokesperson, Chris Mutsvangwa, were unsuccessful as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone. Jacob Ngarivhume, leader of the opposition Transform Zimbabwe, was recently jailed for four years for calling on locals to join a protest against state corruption while Job Sikhala, a senior official of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change, has been in remand prison for more than a year for allegedly inciting violence. He has been denied bail several times. Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. YANGON, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar welcomed a total of 455,301 tourists in the first half of 2023, up 484 percent compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. Official figures suggested that tourist arrivals in Myanmar have increased significantly over the year, as 77,943 tourists arrivals were recorded during the period of January and June 2022. More tourists are expected in the Southeast Asian nation in the coming months as it has lifted COVID-19 restrictions for international travelers, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Hotels and Tourism U Hla Myint told Xinhua. Photo: JNI/Star Max/GC Images Welcome to Vultures Strike Recap, or Strike-cap, if you will, a regular rundown of all the biggest news from the WGA and SAG picket lines. One of the biggest issues both SAG-AFTRA and the WGA are working to address with this strike is the residuals plateau. Streaming residuals are the worst, according to striking writers and actors, but even network shows arent bringing the lifetime security they once did. Mandy Moore shared that she has received residual checks for a penny for her role on This Is Us. Orange Is the New Blacks Kimiko Glenn and Rutherford Falls Jana Schmieding shared residual checks early last week that had the internet abuzz. Glenn mentioned that many actors on OITNB couldnt afford transportation to set on that show. It echoes what Sean Gunn said last week about his beef with the current residuals model. Netflix doesnt pay residuals to the actors, Gunn said, so theres no sharing in the success of a show with Netflix. @williamstanforddavis There aint nothing funny about a .03 residual check! What are we supposed to do with that? I stand strong with our union as we fight for whats ours and for the success of the future generations. Its time we stand up to these greedy corporations and fight for what is fair! #sagaftra #wgawest #residuals #actor #strike #solidarity original sound - WilliamStanfordDavis Mandy Moore reveals to @THR that shes received residual checks ranging from only a penny to 81 cents for her role in This Is Us. : https://t.co/vEMhQ9B79U pic.twitter.com/2dIOyjO776 Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 19, 2023 Abbott Elementarys William Stanford Davis shared a $0.03 check from a show he wouldnt name, and American Horror Storys Raeden Greer shared that somehow her appearances on Coven occasionally rack up negative residuals. This week, the actors brought receipts, the Bridgerton creators brought sno-cones, and Teamsters brought the noise. Bethenny Frankel Has Been Radicalized Bethenny Frankel feels its high time reality TV unionizes. Frankel took to social media to discuss the labor practices of Bravos Real Housewives franchise and urged any reality shows currently taping to shut down and demand residuals. Vanderpump Rules is currently filming, and while the cast did not go on strike, production did move to avoid a struck hotel the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica. Animation Staffers Said, Hey, Wait, Us Too This summer continues to be so hot for labor. Sixty-six production staffers at Warner Bros. Animation and 22 at Cartoon Network filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board on July 19 to request a union election in a bid to join the Animation Guild. They represent workers from shows like Harley Quinn and Titan Teens Go!, and according to a statement from Warner Bros. production manager Hannah Ferenc, theyre seeking to earn livable wages and be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Imagine! Congrats to the WB and Cartoon Network production workers for filing an NLRB petition to unionize and demand voluntary recognition! Show your support to help them get the representation they deserve! #unionstrong #WeAre839 #ProductionStrong pic.twitter.com/PSXZmlr35n The Animation Guild // #WeAre839 (@animationguild) July 19, 2023 Universal Studios Goes Full Once-ler And not in a Tumblr Sexyman way. Universal Studios trimmed the trees picketers walk under, depriving strikers and pedestrians alike of shade. Its also a really bad time to trim trees for their own health. On July 17, comedian Chris Stephens brought Universals Tree Crimes to light, which resulted in an investigation by the L.A. city controller. StreetsLA wound up fining Universal for $250, as it was its first offense in Tree Court. It also had to erect some tents to provide shade. Given how much shade was thrown its way by the internet, this was probably not a huge burden. INVESTIGATION UPDATE: StreetsLA has informed us that they are issuing a citation in the amount of $250 (first-time offense) to Universal Studios. The citation alleges a violation of trimming trees without a city permit. Outdated laws limit penalties the City can issue. https://t.co/8ge7LElRao pic.twitter.com/T1jOWvXEB4 LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia (@lacontroller) July 21, 2023 Now who amongst us hasnt had to backtrack our actions before the national labor relations board gets involved https://t.co/bt2NiPVAym ellory smith (@ellorysmith) July 19, 2023 Whos Getting SAG Waivers? SAG-AFTRA gave 39 independent productions waivers to keep shooting, according to Variety. Two of these projects are from A24, and one is a show about Jesus that airs on the CW. Really covering the spread. Whos Not Even Asking for SAG Waivers? Bob Odenkirk. Did you know you have rights? The Constitution says you do, and so does Bob Odenkirk. Those rights include the right to protest (a.k.a. the double strike), but they do not include the right to promote your work during a strike. Odenkirk and fellow dual striker Ike Barinholtz were asked by the Wrap about actors who want special permission to promote their work during the strike (something that Tom Cruise was rumored to be doing). Dont, Odenkirk said. Its a strike, be on strike. Odenkirk and Barinholtz added that if people try to start or promote projects right now, it hurts solidarity. Sometimes you gotta take one for the team, or, as Odenkirk put it, Tough shit. Who Brought Food? Its hot out! So most of the free food is now in the form of cool treats. Law & Order: Criminal Intent showrunner Rene Balcer sent a juice truck to NBC Universal, and Bridgerton creator Chris Van Dusen joined Bridgerton author Julia Quinn in sending shaved ice to the Bridgerton-themed picket at Netflix. Massive thanks to @ReneBalcer for sending the incredible @MamboJuiceTruck to NBC Universal today! It made the day of many picketers, captains, and lot coordinators.#WGAStrong #WGAStrike pic.twitter.com/Ww6124racX Kristine Huntley (@kristinehuntley) July 18, 2023 Good Signs n Shirts everyone be cool pic.twitter.com/EAWYTwlztY olga - on strike (@possumlives) July 17, 2023 Yall are so quick pic.twitter.com/qNHxnolkKz greg on strike weidman (@GregTheWeidman) July 18, 2023 Themed Pickets A Bridgerton picket with full Regency costume (possibly in more period-accurate fabrics than the show)! A Shameless reunion at WB (with a free gun show from Jeremy Allen White)! And this week will see pickets from UCB alums at Netflix as well as a The Shield and Timeless reunion at Fox. If you want to join many of the writers of The Shield and Timeless during our strike as we march for a fair contract, join us tomorrow (Monday) at the Fox Lot at 10:00. To all the great guest actors who have appeared in either show, it'd be great to see you there too! #Solidarity Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) July 23, 2023 The Strike Main Character Award (Bad) The Television Academy held the Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards July 22 at the Beverly Wilshire hotel. Amazingly, this event crossed not one, not two, but three picket lines. A new record! Besides the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, workers at the Beverly Wilshire are on strike waiting for a new contract. Unite Here Local 11 managed to get Scabby the inflatable rat for a rare West Coast appearance, which was nice. Shame on @TelevisionAcad for hosting tonights #LAEmmys at the @BeverlyWilshire when their workers are still waiting for a new contract. If you attend, you are crossing a picket line! #TelevisionAcademy #ShameOnYou pic.twitter.com/qnYFmreQin UNITE HERE Local 11 (@UNITEHERE11) July 23, 2023 The Strike Main Character Award (Good) While the UPS Teamsters appear to have narrowly avoided having to strike, many union leaders have been getting picket-line practice with SAG and the WGA. Teamster general president Sean OBrien gave a stirring speech at Amazon Studios July 20 on how all these strikes are connected. Im proud to be here today. Im proud of the fact that were able to organize, strategize, and most importantly, pulverize corporate America, he said. OBrien may have created his own stan army that morning. What will the members call themselves? I got to shake Sean's hand today and I felt so starstruck https://t.co/yOTPuL9b83 Ben Mekler (@benmekler) July 20, 2023 something so galvanising about a thick Boston accent saying organise, strategise, and most importantly PULVERISE corporate America https://t.co/5I6aD6yYw5 LaurieK-A Strike Solidarity (they/them) (@LKirwanAshman) July 20, 2023 Do you have a story tip or interesting writers-strike update to share? Drop us a line at tips@vulture.com. Every once in a while I have a straggler that Ill just pluck out, cause it looks a little too crazy. But Chris said, Dont do that. Lets just let it go crazy. Photo: Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures Benny Safdie is an acclaimed director in his own right, but over the past couple of years hes been recognized for terrific supporting turns in films like Licorice Pizza, The Stars at Noon, and Are You There, God? Its Me Margaret. Now, he gives one of the most memorable performances in Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer as the controversial Hungarian American physicist Edward Teller, who joined the Manhattan Project under J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) and eventually became known as the father of the hydrogen bomb a nuclear hawk, in opposition to the more conflicted Oppenheimer. Somewhat amazingly, Safdie himself had considered becoming a physicist in high school before deciding to go into film. That fascination with the wonders and paradoxes of science appear to have informed his interpretation of Teller. We spoke last month, before the SAG-AFTRA strike, about his journey with Nolans movie, and his thoughts about this character. What did you and Christopher Nolan talk about initially with respect to the part of Edward Teller? We were talking about the movie in general and about science and physics. I said to him, This is actually a very interesting confluence of things, because I was a millisecond away from becoming a physicist. It was such an unbelievable coincidence. When I was young, I wanted to become a nuclear physicist. I had studied the standard model in high school. I was working with a physicist at Columbia University. I was doing cosmic rays. It actually is a deep passion of mine! So then, when he asked me to play the part of Edward Teller, it was a no-brainer, because I knew who he was. How did you work on Tellers accent? The accent was something I was so nervous about. I remember Chris asking me, Hows the accent coming? And Im just like, Oh my God, how am I going to accomplish this? I didnt know if he was going to want me to do it. But he sent me all of these interviews and we talked about how Teller speaks and who he is. It was a long process of working together to really nail it down. I would ride my bike listening to these interviews. Whenever Teller spoke, he was always kind of posturing, so we were trying to figure out what he sounds like when hes not performing in that way. Then Chris sent me this one interview that Teller did talking about his friend who had just passed away, Johnny von Neumann. Hes quiet and gentle, but you still get his cadence of speech. The accent sounds extreme, but this is a man who was one of the models for Dr. Strangelove, no? He really was! I remember finally I was like, You know what? I could sound crazy, but I dont care. This is what Teller sounds like and Im just going to do it. I sent a voice-memo where I just narrated what my breakfast was and how Teller really liked pineapple. Chris also said to me, We need to figure out a way for your voice to change when you get older. So before each take, I said, Okay, Im going to yell. Im going to really break up my vocal cords. It makes such a big difference. We also came up with this weird laugh-snort that Teller has when Kenneth Branagh is talking and we realize the Germans are behind and were ahead of them. Snorting and hitting the leg. We spent so long on that! Just that little snort. Youre not afraid to look stupid in a lot of ways, because when youre free like that, its a fun place to be. And I am proud to say that its all my eyebrows. Teller had the best eyebrows. Every once in a while I have a straggler that Ill just pluck out, cause it looks a little too crazy. But Chris said, Dont do that. Lets just let it go crazy. I had the most insane eyebrows for months and months, and you just had to brush them out and then they shined in all their glory. You were surely more familiar with the science than I was, but I was struck by how the film always feels like its on the verge of giving you too much science but it never does. It gives you just enough. I had seen these videos of Richard Feynman talking about the world at large, and he talks about rubber bands and how when you look at a rubber band, all the energy and all the atoms are constantly banging against one another in order to keep themselves connected. I thought to myself, Thats such a crazy way to walk around. How could you live your life that way, seeing things that arent there? One day, at the lodge at Los Alamos, there were all these real physicists there. So during the downtime, I talked to them about that specific question, and they said, Look, you may say that to me, but I look at you and say youre seeing the world the wrong way. That was so profound. But thats kind of what the movie is doing. Its showing you somebody whos really struggling with that. I know this information, and I know whats possible. Do I show the world? It feels like Teller and Oppenheimer wind up on two opposite sides of that question. There was this Teller interview that I sent to producer Emma Thomas. It was all about how a scientists job is to discover. Its not up to them how its used or not, because their point in life is to find and research. One of the examples he gives is fertilizer. Because without it, we would have no food, people would die. But that fertilizer also gave rise to explosives. So he feels its not up to the scientist to make that moral decision. But thats such a shaky ground to go on. The movie plays with this idea of what it means to be a scientist. Its a fine line. The thing that I remember when I watched the film that was so crazy was, as theyre getting ready to test the bomb, I was so excited. I was sitting there thinking, I cannot wait to see this thing go off. I cannot wait! Its like youre in the mind of a scientist. I figured this stuff out, I want to see the end result. Lets go. Then as soon as it happens, you immediately think, Oh my God, whats wrong with me? What did I just root for? What did I just want to watch? Thats what Oppenheimer went through. So for a movie to put me in exactly that position on such a large scale, its crazy. Theres a speech that Cillian gives after the bombs are dropped. Its so powerful and scary and so intense; thats where the movie took off to another level. Whats so amazing about Cillians performance is that it is Oppenheimer, but its also an interpretation of who Oppenheimer might be, from a point of view of trying to understand what his struggle was. Its an interpretation thats fully internalized. Youre watching someone exploring and living in that mind. I saw it when I was acting with him, but when you see the whole film together, you realize how it plays through. How is a man this smart able to convince himself of that? Maybe thats what he had to do to be able to live. Even toward the end, when hes speaking out against nuclear proliferation, it feels like Oppenheimer hasnt fully reconciled himself with his role in this whole thing. But the people around him are much more certain about who they are whether its Isidor Rabi, or Kitty Oppenheimer, or Leslie Groves, or Teller. Its almost like you guys have to batter him with explosives to get him to express himself. Emily Blunt did such an incredible job with that exactly what you just said. Shes frustrated that he cant do what he feels, and she really understands him. She wants him to be somebody who he refuses to be. Why are you doing this? Why are you tarring and feathering yourself in front of them? You see this look on Cillians face where its almost like he has to do that. Its his penance for seeing something through. There was a moment when we were all in the makeup trailer, getting old together in a matter of six hours. Then were in that room at the end and I had to shake their hands. Going into the scene, I felt so good. Like, Okay, we understand each other. Then the way she turned her head to me it was such a gut punch. Chris had sent me all these things about Teller. I remember finding out that after that moment, Teller actually went and cried. It was a horrific experience for him. He was hated. We did have a lot of fun with Tellers character because hes so different than Oppenheimer, and yet theres this respect that exists between them. There was one moment when I had to enter my first entrance in the movie. Chris gave me so much stuff to have to carry into that room, on purpose: jacket, bag, lunch bag, so that I was constantly fidgeting with all these things. Once I came in, Cillian was like, Oh, hello, Teller. I just said, Yes. That was how I said hello. Its very funny. What was the vibe on set like? I didnt know what to expect going into one of Chriss films because theyre so well crafted and you dont really know how theyre put together. But on set, it was so open. The blocking, the discovery of the shots it was collaborative in a very deep way where you felt really good about everything that you were doing. Literally at one point, Hoyte van Hoytema was just rolling on the floor with the dolly no track, just rolling the dolly, moving it around, just finding the right way to see it while youre there. As a filmmaker, I remember sitting in the lodge and Im like, Were going to be here for a while because this is like seven, eight scenes. Its a hundred people. Its period. They banged out everything so fast! We moved to a new location before lunch. I said, I have no idea how you did that. It was just perfect execution, while still feeling free and light on your feet. From a technical point of view, Id never even seen an Imax camera. And I had never heard an Imax camera. Im sitting in this scene, and Im about to give the testimony to the Senate, and theres all these bright, intense lights because theyre shooting black-and-white Imax. Then all of a sudden I hear [makes a loud engine sound]. Im just like, Oh my God. Something is going wrong here. I turn around, and I see everybody totally calm. I make eye contact with Chris, like, Are you going to cut? He was so gentle. His hands were like, Just go forward. Just go through. I turned around and then proceeded with the scene. Id never seen so many intimate scenes shot on Imax, because when you actually hear what that thing sounds like, how we were able to even perform is remarkable. Youre seeing real conversations and moments, not just these big vistas in that large scale. I talked to Jennifer Lame, the editor, about the way the film focuses on things like droplets and ripples, or the breaking of crystal or the blowing sparks inside an explosion. I thought that was a fascinating and poetic way to try and address some of the science. I was just at the Natural History museum yesterday. Theres the whole new wing, and it goes back to Powers of 10, the Eames film, where they zoom in and they zoom out. Its the same thing. Theres this big room where its a big projection and it goes into the brain and you see how the brain works and how information travels along the nerves and its zooming in and out and it goes through a forest. Then you see the roots of the ground and how water travels through the roots up into the tops of the trees. And the organisms in the bottom of the ocean look very similar to the stars and space. I was looking at this big giant crystal. If you cut out the edges of the crystal and you look at the center, it looks just like the universe. There is all this interconnectivity to everything. If youre religious, you can go toward there. Or if youre scientific, you could just say that everything is a mirror of itself, because once it figured out how to work, it just did that again and again with different organic matter. But what I got that to mean in the film was that was Oppenheimers brain working through the science. Youre seeing these synapses kind of fire and trigger. Its not that dissimilar to a chain reaction in an atomic bomb in that way. The movie is following that process of discovery. And to see how each scientist can provide a specific element how one person can focus just on the explosives, and one person can focus on how you actually direct that explosion into the center. It really is that process of each person doing what they do well. It mirrors itself in a lot of ways. So, the films structure actually winds up mirroring that concept of a chain reaction it just keeps going and going, until the world ends. Yeah, and the thing thats so interesting about Teller and his obsession with the hydrogen bomb the Super, as he says is that, yes, we all know that you need a fission bomb to make a fusion bomb, but we know a fusion bomb is possible, so why not just go right for that? Again, thats the scientists getting ahead of themselves and wanting to do the best of the biggest. With Teller, there were parts of him that were just blind to what he was doing because he wanted to see through his idea at all costs. He really truly believed that nuclear weapons were going to change the world. You could build canals, there were no health effects to it all of these things he gives interviews about later on in his life. How is a man this smart able to convince himself of that? Maybe thats what he had to do to be able to live. Kevin Spacey. Photo: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images Kevin Spacey has been acquitted of nine charges, including sexual assault and other crimes, after a lengthy London trial, the Associated Press reports. The verdict came after two days of jury deliberations and a four-and-a-half-week trial, which heard accusations from four separate men who said Spacey assaulted them throughout the 2000s, when he was working as artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre in the city. Spacey denied all the claims, saying some of the encounters had been consensual and others never happened. The witnesses included Elton John, after one alleged victim said Spacey touched him after an annual party of Johns in 2004 or 2005; John countered that Spacey only attended in 2001. The jury had originally been deadlocked on some of the charges, the AP previously reported. The judge then told the jury earlier today that they could return a nonunanimous verdict if 10 of the 12 jurors agreed. Per Variety, Spacey cried upon the verdict, which came on his 64th birthday. It was the Oscar-winning actors second such victory, after Spacey won a sexual-battery lawsuit from actor Anthony Rapp last fall in New York. Photo-Illustration: Vulture At about two hours into Christopher Nolans new film, Oppenheimer, the world changes. The Trinity test of July 16, 1945, marks the dawn of the nuclear age in a literal and figurative sense. Fallout from the explosion reached 46 states, as well as parts of Canada and Mexico. The 5:30 a.m. blast was also bright enough that it appeared, to those who witnessed it, as though the sun had risen twice that day. Nolans movie builds to the test, though he refuses to let Oppenheimers story end with the Trinity or the successful detonation of two nuclear bombs against Japan. The movie is as much a tale of the red scare, of tensions within the U.S. government after the war over how to develop and control the bomb. Nolans telling emphasizes the way in which J. Robert Oppenheimers advocacy was caught in the fallout from his specific friendships and affairs. Audiences attending the film can expect to get a primer on nuclear development, Sorkin-esque hearings, and an endless parade of characters playing the collection of weird little guys that filled the labs at Los Alamos. (There are so, so, so many weird little guys.) Oppenheimer is the central figure in the creation story of the single most defining technology of the 20th century, and Nolans biopic centers the physicists own convictions and doubts about the bomb and, postwar, his forced ouster from the Atomic Energy Commission in a red scare. But, as the haunting ending of the movie makes so dreadfully clear, Oppenheimers story as told in this movie is not the end of the atomic era. If you are traumatized by the ending or are looking to understand more of the atomic bomb, thermonuclear warfare, and the impacts of the weapon Nolan leaves off the silver screen, heres a collection of books, films, and pieces of pop culture that can serve as a crash course into atomic peril. American Prometheus At three hours, Nolans film is his longest yet, and it still only covers a fraction of the physicists life in any sort of depth. At 700 pages, the 2005 biography American Prometheus is a sumptuous feast of knowledge, compared to Nolans curated sampler of its contents. Written by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, Nolan has cited it as the direct inspiration and basis for his film, which is reason enough to pick it up. The text flows, aware of the scale of the life it is describing while ensuring the details tie into later events. Prometheus contains portraits of Oppenheimers family life at Princeton, his close collaboration with diplomat George Kennan, and how Frank and Jackie Oppenheimer spent the years of Franks academic exile. In one particularly compelling section, the authors detail how opposition to the hydrogen bomb led Oppenheimer to endorse battlefield nuclear weapons, what are now referred to confusingly as tactical nuclear weapons. Parts of the book are informed by information about Oppenheimer acquired from unwarranted wiretaps. It is likely the best single-volume book on Oppenheimer, worth it alone for the Rashomon-like approach to his attempted poisoning by apple of a graduate adviser. (Yes, that really happened.) The Lake of Trinitite What did the Trinity site look like after the smoke had cleared? And what happened to the people who lived around the Trinity test site? Oppenheimer doesnt show the immediate or lingering physical effects of the blast. But in this short clip, filmed by the Manhattan Project shortly after the detonation and only made public in 2019 thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, an aerial photographer films the lake of trinitite formed after the explosion. The lake is in the center of a crater roughly 1,000 feet in diameter. When Gadget was detonated in the sparsely but not uninhabited swath of New Mexico desert, it transformed the world around it. Much of that transformation is metaphorical, as the atomic bomb and fear of it changed the behavior of militaries and world leaders. Some of that transformation is literal: The sand under the tower was pulled up into the fireball, melted and combined with other debris, then fell to the ground as a mostly light-green glass. Trinitite is the most aesthetically pleasing manifestation of fallout, a gray-green rock formed in a nuclear furnace. Other fallout has been traced to 46 states, Mexico, and Canada. The 40,000 New Mexicans who lived near where the bomb was detonated became the first atomic downwinders, and while they are not depicted or even mentioned onscreen, their work for recognition and compensation continues to this day. Available on YouTube The Day After Trinity The Day After Trinity is a 1980 documentary that tells the story of the bombs development in a tight, 88-minute run time. Featuring interviews from people involved in the project, like Los Alamos physicist Robert Serber, mathematician Stanislaw Ulam, and Frank Oppenheimer, the film captures the terrible wonder and power of the weapon bomb, thanks in part to archival footage. It also captures the reaction of the people who built it, their decades-later reflection on the moment that technical success turned into terrible implications for the future of war. The Day After Trinity director Jon H. Else is unsparing in those implications, showing fields of bones in the rubble of Hiroshima and Nagasaki alongside medical clinics bandaging the radiation burns of survivors, including children. In one moment that captured the precise tension between science and horror, Serber holds up a section of burnt wall, which has lighter patterns where a window frame obstructed the flash and the blast. Serber used the angle of the window frame on the wall to calculate the height at which the bomb detonated. Available on The Criterion Channel John Herseys Hiroshima Readers of the August 31, 1946, New Yorker were treated to a singular spectacle. The entire issue was one story, reported by John Hersey, that detailed the aftermath of the first atomic bomb used in war. Hersey tells the story of six survivors of the blast and the story of the whole bomb. Its available to read through The New Yorker, and the account has also been published as a book, in print since 1946. That the story is first encountered as homework may sour first-time readers on it, but its plain language and comprehensive portrait of the weapons devastation endure as testament to the horrors of atomic weaponry and its perhaps a necessary pairing with Oppenheimer, which does not show the impact of the bombs on their Japanese victims in any sort of detail. The bombs the U.S. dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki are estimated to have killed either 110,000 or 210,000 people, numbers important to know but staggering to comprehend. Herseys reporting reveals that the numbers alone do not do the terror of atomic warfare justice, as surviving after the blast is an ordeal of its own. Later editions of the book include a chapter titled The Aftermath, which follows up with the original survivors 40 years later. Ruths Story In Oppenheimer, Nolan centers the narrative of the Manhattan Project on the research laboratory in Los Alamos. While the scientists on the mesa figured out how to build the bomb, other parts of the project were responsible for enriching uranium and refining plutonium, the actual fissile material used in the bombs, and represented onscreen as marbles filling a bucket. One of these sites was Oak Ridge in Tennessee, which was built as another secret city, devoted to the production of uranium for the atomic bomb. The Department of Energy has a podcast interview with Ruth Huddleston, who as an 18-year-old worked at a calutron uranium separation machine. She learned only after the bombing of Hiroshima that she had played any role in the bombs production, and it took years after that to learn the specific nature of her work. The book Girls of Atomic City offers a broader overview of the work at Oak Ridge, and the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History has a collection of oral histories, including one with Robert Oppenheimer. Available on YouTube Duck and Cover In the early atomic age, before the arsenals of the United States and the Soviet Union grew to thousands of thermonuclear warheads, the Federal Civil Defense Administration was tasked with figuring out how to better increase the survival of Americans in the event of a nuclear war. Dealing with numbers at a population scale, and planning around warheads with explosive force measured in kilotons of TNT, rather than megatons, Civil Defense produced maybe the most iconic instructive film of the Cold War: Duck and Cover, Starring Bert the Turtle. Would hiding under a desk or away from windows have saved people? Not everyone, and certainly not anyone in the fireball radius, but at the scale of nuclear war, it would have saved some percentage of lives. Available on YouTube Fail Safe In 1964s Fail Safe, it is not just nuclear weapons that pose tremendous risk, it is the secret and secure mechanism used to ensure the weapons, once launched, will continue to their targets. Sidney Lumets atomic thriller is split between a U.S. bomber ground-bound for Moscow after a false alarm and the efforts of the militaries and leadership in both the U.S. and USSR to try and prevent a nuclear war over an erroneous signal. Like 1964s Stanley Kubrickdirected Dr. Strangelove, Fail Safe hinges on the grim danger of launch orders that preclude the possibility of recall. Unlike the dark comedy and driven fanatics of Strangelove, Fail Safe hinges its plot largely on the system working as intended to send the bombers skyward, without any deliberate malice in the orders given. The systems shown in Fail Safe rely on secrecy and suspicion, products of a closed national-security world. Before he lost his clearance, Oppenheimers policy fights over the H-bomb largely took place behind closed doors, where only people with clearances had the knowledge to debate such choices. Fail Safe is about the terror of the bomb, and also the terror of nuclear-war plans made in secret. Available on fuboTV The Atomic Cafe Practical as the advice in Duck and Cover may have seemed when it was released in 1951, the newly invented thermonuclear H-bombs were so powerful that the notion of shelter or even evacuation was unlikely. By 1982, the absurdity of winnable nuclear war was palpable. The Atomic Cafe is a found-footage film, available in full on YouTube and on Tubi, that stitches together government-produced footage of the bomb into a narration-free waltz through the Cold War. The film shows government-produced film of Gadget and the Trinity Test early before the start of a journey into the Cold War. In many ways, it is a document about the move from fusion to fission bombs. Things grimly escalate as President Lyndon B. Johnson outlines the reality of living with the H-bomb, building toward a fiery crescendo, where comically naive instructional footage like Bert the Turtle is interspersed with the destruction of planes and houses in atomic tests. Oppenheimer rejected the development of hydrogen bombs on technical grounds during the war and he objected to them on moral grounds afterwards, and the clear futility of Berts juxtaposed advice is a dark illustration of why. Command and Control Nuclear weapons are a human enterprise, which means they are subject to human error. Command and Control is a 2013 book by Eric Schlosser that was adapted into a documentary of the same name in 2016, and it details the accidents, errors, and mishaps that come with the day-to-day existence of nuclear weapons. While no nuclear weapon has been used in war since 1945, the nine countries with nuclear weapons have kept weapons in various states of readiness in case they are needed. Schlossers narrative covers other accidents and near-misses while remaining centered on the Damascus incident, where a dropped socket wrench ultimately led to a Titan II ICBM ejecting part of its rocket, and the warhead landed outside the missile silo. The nuclear warhead itself was meticulously engineered to not detonate unless deliberately armed, but plenty can, did, and does go wrong in the routine stewardship of an arsenal of oblivion the chain reaction that Oppenheimer warns of at the end of the movie could be furthered by an accident, rather than malice, and the end result would be the same. The Day After In The Day After, a film that aired on ABC in 1983, nuclear war between the USSR and the United States happens partway through the narrative, and the rest of the film is left to depict what life is like for a handful of survivors in Kansas City. The film is unsparing in its depictions of nuclear destruction, radiation sickness, and social breakdown. It is likely as close to a documentary as possible of what a nuclear war would look like. The Day After ends with a disclaimer that the catastrophic events you have just witnessed are, in all likelihood, less severe than the destruction that would actually occur in the event of a full nuclear strike against the United States. President Ronald Reagan, upon seeing it early, recorded in his diary, Its very effective and left me greatly depressed My own reaction was one of our having to do all we can to have a deterrent & to see there is never a nuclear war. Available on YouTube Nukemap Photo: Nuke Map Want to know what a nuclear explosion would do to your home, or downtown Manhattan, or anywhere in the world? Click on over to Nukemap, put in the city of your choice, then select a yield from the handy drop-down menu. To line up with the detonation in Oppenheimer, pick Gadget (the Trinity bomb), Little Boy (the bomb dropped on Hiroshima), or Fat Man (the bomb dropped on Nagasaki), and then hit the big red detonate button. Even without toggling on the fallout and casualties options, the phrase fireball radius is evocative enough. Nukemap is the work of technology historian Alex Wellerstein, and it remains the cleanest way to picture the scale of devastation from a single warhead. The bombs Oppenheimer worked with were staggering in their power and are also an order or two smaller than many of the bombs still in service today. Try the B83, the largest bomb presently in the U.S. arsenal, to see the scale of an H-bomb totally dwarf the blast radius of an A-bomb. Available at the Nuclear Secrecy Blog Godzilla On March 1, 1954, the United States detonated Castle Bravo, the largest warhead it has ever detonated. Edward Teller, played in Oppenheimer by Benny Safdie, developed the H-bomb in collaboration with Stanislaw Ulam. By using fusion to power a thermonuclear reaction, H-bomb explosions can be massively more powerful than fission reactions, like that in Gadget. In 1949, Oppenheimer had recommended against developing such a bomb but was not in a position to stop it. What does all this have to do with a giant lizard? Fallout from Bravo hit Lucky Dragon 5, a Japanese fishing ship, and afflicted the crew with radiation sickness, ultimately killing one member. The incident inspired Godzilla producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, and the movie opens with the mysterious destruction of a Japanese fishing ship at sea. The film is about nuclear war, nuclear testing, the devastation of superweapons, the hubris of scientists, and the assurance that this would happen again if nothing changed. These heavy themes were largely omitted from a bowdlerized and recut American edit of the film that came out two years later. Whereas the original Japanese film ends with a solemn observation that another Godzilla is inevitable if humanity keeps testing nuclear weapons, the American one cheerily celebrates that the world can wake up and live again. The film, and its American recut, present the microcosm of atomic film: The nuclear age is full of waiting horrors, but to get audiences to watch, they sometimes have to be drowned in popcorn. Photo: Travis Scott via Instagram Travis Scott is bringing Utopia to the big screen with help from some top directors, too. The rapper will premiere the film Circus Maximus as a companion to his new album Utopia, and it features contributions from a film-school syllabus worth of directors: Gaspar Noe, Valdimar Johannsson, Nicolas Winding Refn, Harmony Korine, and Kahlil Joseph. We found utopia around the world, an excited Scott wrote, in all-caps, alongside the vibey, intense trailer, which he first debuted at Rolling Loud Miami. Circus Maximus will premiere on July 27 at select AMC theaters, hours ahead of Scott releasing his new album Utopia and performing the album at the Egyptian pyramids, after rumors of that events cancellation. If youre wondering whos not involved in this project, try A24. The production companys logo appears on a poster for Circus Maximus, but A24 told Variety that the company did not produce the film. Vulture has reached out to Scotts team for clarification. Scott had previously teased a film called Utopia when his Cactus Jack Films confirmed a production deal with A24, making this another confusing wrinkle in Scotts Utopia rollout. Circus Maximus isnt the same thing as Aggro Dr1ft, the new Scott-starring film from director Korine that was also announced today. That ones premiering at the Venice Film Festival later this summer, and also reportedly stars Spanish actor Jordi Molla. The Film Stage previously reported that a Korine-directed Scott project, shot entirely in infrared, recently had a private screening. The outlet also reported that Scott hadnt signed off on the project, but that line appears to have been edited out of the story without explanation on July 11, a day after the report was published. Its unclear if that film is indeed Aggro Dr1ft, never mind if A24 is involved with Aggro Dr1ft or how Aggro Dr1ft relates to Circus Maximus other than Scott and Korines team-up. A man with some things on/in his mind. Photo: Warner Bros. This story originally ran in 2010. We are republishing it in light of the release of Christopher Nolans 12th film, Oppenheimer, which has its own troubling ending worth discussing. As pretty much everyone knows by now, Inceptions titular concept is the placement of an idea into a characters subconscious a notion that the film presents as being more or less unprecedented. And the plot mostly concerns the efforts of our heroes, led by master dream extractor Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) to somehow convince Fischer (Cillian Murphy), the heir to a major energy titan, to split up his fathers empire, without realizing that the idea came from them. But since this is a Christopher Nolan movie, were not convinced its all that simple; the directors films almost always turn in on themselves. We think there might be another inception going on in Inception. Needless to say, there are spoilers here, so you should probably not read this if you havent seen the film. (Though if you havent seen the film, you probably wont know what the hell were talking about anyway.) The process of inception works, were told, by placing the simplest form of an idea deep into a characters subconscious as theyre dreaming, through a series of suggestions that effectively lead the character to give himself the idea (in the words of Tom Hardys master forger Eames). And the subconscious, were told, is motivated by emotion, not reason, and that a positive emotion trumps a negative one. The very deepest level of the subconscious is represented by a safe or a vault, inside which the mind keeps its most private thoughts and/or memories. Do you want to become an old man, filled with regret, waiting to die alone? These words (or something close to them) are uttered three times in the film. The first time, the words are those of Saito (Ken Watanabe), in his helicopter in Kyoto, when he first approaches Cobb about the possibility of inception. The second time, its in the first level of Fischers dream, after Saito has been shot, and Cobb tries to tell him that hes not going to die: Youre gonna become an old man, Cobb says, and Saito replies, Filled with regret. Cobb completes the thought: Waiting to die alone. Already, its clear that this dialogue has to do with more than this particular moment in the film. Its also significant that this happens just as Eames (Tom Hardy), pretending to be Browning (Tom Berenger) is trying to plant the idea (incept?) into Fischers head that his father may have wanted to split up his company. Fischers and Cobbs fates seem strangely intertwined through the film. (The deeper we go into Fischer, the deeper we go into you, Ariadne says to Cobb.) The final utterance happens near the end of the film, in Limbo, as Cobb finds the aging Saito. This time, Saito begins the exchange: Im an old man, he says. Filled with regret, Cobb replies. Theres something specially poignant about this scene, coming as it does on the heels of Cobb having told the shadow of his wife Mal (Marion Cotillard) that they did grow old together in their dream together on Limbo, many years ago, and that he has to let her go. This may well be the real inception. Cobbs character has been consumed by regret regret at what hes done to his wife, regret at having abandoned his children, regret at not being able to return home. In his dreams hes built an elevator (literally!) that stops at floors, each defined by a moment he regrets and that (as Cobb himself explains to Ariadne) he has to change. This elevator, and its forbidden Basement floor, which opens to the hotel room where his wife leaped to her death, could be seen as the vault in which Cobb keeps his innermost thoughts, much like the hospital/hangar where Fischer imagines his fathers deathbed, or the safe in Saitos dream-fortress from the earlier scenes of the film. Interestingly, in Nolans first film, Following, one of the characters is a thief named Cobb who breaks into peoples homes and likes to say, Everybody has their box, referring to a box into which people always place seemingly random objects that are of sentimental value to them. In Inception, too, everybody has their box be it a safe, a fortified hangar surrounded by armed guards on skis, or a stop on an elevator on which no one is allowed. In other words, the hotel room where Cobb last saw his wife, which is the forbidden floor on his Dream Elevator of Regret, is his box. Regret is the idea that defines Cobb (which makes his recurrent use of the Edith Piaf song Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien as a musical countdown to the end of a given dream rather ironic and touching), and in order for him to be free, he has to defeat it. The second part of the message that Cobb and Saito exchange in their final scene in Limbo Take a leap of faith. Come back, so we can be young men together again is in direct contrast to Mals desire to pull him further into his dream so that they can grow old together. Cobb defeats his regret by finally telling Mal that the two of them did grow old together in their shared dream. In other words, he fulfilled his wedding promise to her. This is, perhaps, the thing that Cobb once knew but had forgotten; its also a positive thought that trumps the negative feeling that he betrayed his wife. It seems like a realization on his part when he actually says it to her; but its been basically suggested to him through Saitos repetition of the old man, filled with regret, waiting to die alone meme. So, is Cobb being pulled back to reality by this thought, or is he being prodded further into his dream? That depends, perhaps, on how you view the very end of the film: At this point, Cobb seems to be finally freed of his regret and of his memory of Mal, and has been reunited with his children. The final shot seems to indicate that he may be still dreaming (because his totem keeps spinning). If so, then he has either lost himself in Limbo entirely, or Mal was right all along, and his world was always a dream. But whether hes still dreaming may ultimately be irrelevant: The important thing is that Cobb has been freed of his demons, and can now be reunited with what to him appear to be his real children be they a projection or reality. Or, as the old man in Mombassa puts it, referring to the opium den of dreamers in Yusufs basement: They come here to be woken up. Their dream has become their reality. Who are you to say otherwise? Photo: David McNew/Getty Images Actors and writers of Hollywood have begun to strike as the WGA, SAG-AFTRA, and AMPTP were unable to reach an agreement for their respective contracts. Actors officially joined the fight on July 14, just two months after WGAs contract expired. As the two unions join together on strike for the first time since 1980, their members are also finding ways to collab on the picket lines. The picketers are making sure their skills are being appreciated, as their clever signs have been flooding the streets outside of studio lots and corporate offices since early May, with more being added as the strike continues and grows. Abbott Elementary has been a consistent favorite both with audiences at home and meme inspiration for strikers. Some people opted for referencing important issues like artificial intelligence being used in place of writers rooms and residuals from streaming services. Others went with really important issues like classic I Think You Should Leave and Barbie references. Writers and actors plan on striking until their agreements are settled with pickets across the United States. Below are some of the best WGA and SAG strike picket signs from the front lines. Day 84. Not so gentle reminder to the AMPTP that we take risk all the time. Every job or assignment or role we go out for, were taking a bet on ourselves. Mostly those bets dont pay off, but were artists. We keep betting on ourselves until they do. #WGAStrong #SAGAFTRAstrong pic.twitter.com/i1hDtkUwKP Bill Wolkoff (@flying_lobster) July 24, 2023 The Writers Guild of America Strike: Actual sign spotted on the picket line... pic.twitter.com/sbUYeNKRhO Tom Ruegger (@tomruegger) May 5, 2023 The banana peel as the finishing touch really makes the photo. #WGAStrong #videogameday pic.twitter.com/8Nwo9WaHHr Erin Conley (@Erinsk8) May 31, 2023 Made these lil baby cookie strike signs that you can write your own message on today. Solidarity babe, solidarity! #wgastrong pic.twitter.com/Nq3afrG6Rw carrie weisberg (@carrieweisberg) May 8, 2023 In honor of the switch to Max heres my strike sign @hbomax pic.twitter.com/KTaBrkfewa Claire (@clairecdowns) May 23, 2023 This writers strike sign though pic.twitter.com/KTduX5d6hh Elizabeth Beauchamp (@bettymbeauchamp) May 16, 2023 my favorite wga strike sign as of late pic.twitter.com/G7KWJQYMNl james marsdens agent (@cinephilejess) May 7, 2023 my poorly made sign with a very important question #WGAStrong pic.twitter.com/0goGpVeEeI joya mccrory (@JustJoya) May 8, 2023 you aint Netflix and chillin without us #wgastrong pic.twitter.com/flyyPCwBEq niles (EAST COAST TOUR ON SALE) (@NILES100) May 5, 2023 After 2.5 hours of messing with acrylics NEW SIGN ACTIVATED #WGAstrong pic.twitter.com/lxsiTxjQ86 Bo Yeon Kim ON STRIKE (@extspace) May 11, 2023 At Sony now!!! #WGAStrong #DoTheWriteThing (got a couple of Zelda gummies on me, just ask if you see me!) https://t.co/3QesI0RLMr pic.twitter.com/Hir7NtKAXv Will Landman (@WillTheLandMan) May 15, 2023 INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT PICKETING INFORMATION If we end up striking, and you're looking for love, be sure to identify yourself on the picket lines accordingly: BLUE = interested in men PINK = interested in women BLUE/PINK COMBO = interested in whatevs Tell your single friends! pic.twitter.com/QUouF1squ7 Deanna Shumaker - WGA Captain @ WB (@deannashumaker) May 1, 2023 You wont find better signs than at a WGA picket line pic.twitter.com/L3kMIHzFP9 Dylan Park-Pettiford (@dyllyp) May 2, 2023 Some picket signs from the WGA picket in NYC pic.twitter.com/SsKaebMofT Teddy Ostrow (@TeddyOstrow) May 2, 2023 While assembling picket signs at WGA headquarters, MEGAN screenwriter Akela Cooper found this old picket stick that I signed back during the 07 strike. We marched and won then, and if we have to, well march and win again. #WGAStrong pic.twitter.com/OR4TanN5EO David Slack (@slack2thefuture) April 27, 2023 At the WGA picket line outside Amazon Studios in Culver City. Its already a very busy sidewalk pic.twitter.com/dMtgzHQluJ Mia Galuppo (@miagaluppo) May 2, 2023 The WGA picket signs have room for members to write messages, and the results here at Warner Bros. Studios range from hilarious to furious@latimesent pic.twitter.com/xCZu9XEk89 jonah valdez (@jonahmv) May 2, 2023 if the WGA didnt strike in 2007, writers wouldnt be covered for streaming today. Which means wed all miss out on great programming like CorncobTV. #wgastrong #yougottagive pic.twitter.com/WP7AkmixL3 Anne Lane (@AnnieLLane) May 3, 2023 This post has been updated. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images Update, July 26, 12:30 p.m.: This time, its for real. Travis Scotts performance at the Pyramids of Giza is officially a no-go, Live Nation confirmed with a statement. Unfortunately, despite highest efforts, complex production issues meant that the show could not be constructed in the desert, the promoter said, just days before the performance was set for July 28, the day Scott will release his new album, Utopia. Live Nations statement makes no mention of reports that the Egyptian government canceled the performance over political concerns with Scott. Vulture has reached out to Scotts team for comment. A message from Live Nation: pic.twitter.com/s05YWOVkpG Live Nation Middle East (@LiveNationME) July 26, 2023 Update, July 18, 3 p.m.: Live Nation now says Travis Scotts performance at the Pyramids of Giza is still happening despite reports that the Egyptian Musicians Syndicate was canceling it. There have been no changes to Travis Scotts show in Egypt; any reports to the contrary are false, Live Nation said in a statement provided by Scotts representative. Vulture has reached out to Egypts Ministry of Culture. Travis Scotts planned performance at the Pyramids of Giza apparently gave Egypt some goosebumps. The countrys General Syndicate for Musical Professions will reportedly no longer allow Scott to perform at the site, according to Egyptian outlets. In a translated statement from Egypt Today, Dr. Mohamed Abdullah cited concern over peculiar rituals at Scotts concerts, further saying the show goes against the cultural identity of the Egyptian people. While the statement didnt specify the rituals, some publications cited concerns over Satanism following a debunked theory about Scotts Astroworld tragedy. Vulture has reached out to Travis Scott for comment. The original story follows. Travis Scott is finally unveiling his Utopia with quite the background to match. The rapper will livestream a performance of his long-teased new album at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt on July 28. A press release touted an unforgettable show that will immerse fans in the world of Utopia. Scott has been readying the album for years, but it got heavily delayed after the crowd-crush tragedy at his Astroworld Festival in 2021, which left ten people dead. Since then, Scott has inched his way back to performing live with a series of festival sets and nightclub performances. The Egypt announcement comes just days after news that he wont face criminal charges over Astroworld, yet civil litigation against Scott remains ongoing. He does realize hell be doing his big promotional show in front of massive tombs, right? JOHANNESBURG, July 26 (Xinhua) -- China looks forward to South Africa hosting a successful BRICS summit and injecting new impetus into BRICS cooperation, Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said here on Tuesday. Wang, who attended the meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in Johannesburg, made the remarks in a phone conversation with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Conveying cordial greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Ramaphosa, Wang noted that this year is the BRICS' "South Africa Year," saying that China supports South Africa in hosting a successful BRICS Summit next month. China believes that South Africa will achieve success in four aspects under Ramaphosa's leadership, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. The four aspects include making good preparation to ensure a successful summit, actively coordinating the positions of all parties to reach consensus on the growth and development of BRICS and opening up new prospects for the BRICS mechanism, Wang said. Meanwhile, China also looks forward to South Africa planning important high-level exchanges between China and South Africa to push their comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, and carrying out a China-Africa high-level dialogue to strengthen China-Africa unity and cooperation and achieve new progress in building a China-Africa community with a shared future, he added. Noting that China and South Africa enjoy a friendship of "comrades plus brothers," Wang said that no matter how the international situation develops, China will firmly stand with South Africa. China supports South Africa in accelerating its development and revitalization, as well as in playing a bigger role on the regional and global stages, Wang said. For his part, Ramaphosa said that South Africa attaches great importance to its relations with China and hopes to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields. Ramaphosa also expressed his thanks to China for supporting South Africa's hosting of the BRICS Summit. South Africa is prepared to ensure that the upcoming BRICS summit will be a complete success, Ramaphosa said. South Africa also hopes to take the summit as an opportunity to push for greater progress in South Africa-China relations and Africa-China relations, he added. During his visit to South Africa, Wang also held talks with South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor. JERUSALEM, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Supreme Court announced on Wednesday that it will hear petitions against a new law that limits some of its powers, potentially setting up a confrontation between the court and the government. A new law that cancels the Supreme Court's power to overrule government decisions by deeming them "unreasonable" was passed by Israeli parliament on Monday, sparking stormy demonstrations across the country. After the new law was passed, the Israel Bar Association, several civil rights groups, and former senior military officials filed petitions to the Supreme Court, requesting an injunction to prevent the law from going into effect until the Supreme Court reviews it. Judge David Mintz rejected the request to freeze the law, and as a result, the law went into effect on Wednesday. However, the Supreme Court's decision to hear petitions means that it now has the chance to either reject the petitions or issue an order to cancel the law. In a written decision posted on the court's website, Mintz set the hearing for the appeals in September, ordering the government and parliament to file their responses to the petitions in advance. The law is the first stage of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to reshape the legal system -- a divisive reform that has thrown Israeli society into turmoil. Opponents argue that it undermines the rule of law in Israel. Netanyahu's far-right government maintains that the reform is necessary to curb the overly "activist and leftist" legal system. CHANGSHA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Kong vault, lache, palm spin, side flips and wall run. These spectacular moves were recently seen as over 80 parkour runners from China and abroad competed at the Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park in Zhangjiajie, central China's Hunan Province. Competitors were challenged to complete a sequence of jumps and flips down a nearly 300-meter-long slope with a 150-meter vertical drop from the top of the 999-step staircase leading up to the iconic Tianmen Cave, known as one of the most challenging parkour courses. The competition featured individual speed run, individual skills challenge and team race, with the individual speed run being the most challenging. 108 sets of props were placed along the steps as obstacles, and competitors needed to maintain their balance while performing at full speed. "I could have done better," said Chinese competitor Zhou Mianwei, who won the speed run category with a time of 1:35.505 to set a new record. Zhou has been practicing parkour since 2015. "The spirit of parkour is to dedicate yourself to it and enjoy it," Zhou said, adding that parkour has evolved from a hobby to a way of life for him. "I enjoy the sound of the wind in my ears during practice. I will finish faster in the next race." Yang Xiaoqiang, a 24-year-old participant from Guizhou Province, won the skills race and came second in the speed race. Yang revealed that he had practiced almost every move in the race "at least 1,000 times." But due to the unique terrain of the Tianmen Mountain, he had to undertake more difficult challenges and once again prevailed. The competition also attracted some renowned sporting figures, including Shang Chunsong, former captain of China's national women's gymnastics team. After Shang started practicing parkour last year, she found differences between gymnastics and parkour in some aspects, including strength and body movement. This is the second time the Tianmen Mountain has hosted a national parkour competition, and this year's competition features new events and new participants, especially children and overseas runners. As parkour has become a trending sport among Chinese teenagers in recent years, the competition included a children's category, attracting 40 children aged between eight and 12. An attendee surnamed Han, from northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, brought his 11-year-old son to Zhangjiajie to compete in the children's category. According to Han, after trying different kinds of sports, his son was particularly fond of parkour. "Although he's only been training for one year, his abdominal muscles are firm now," Han said, adding that children can benefit from the mental and physical challenges of parkour. "This is the biggest and most difficult course I've ever seen, and it's really exhausting," said Kacper Kosmider, a 20-year-old Polish parkour traceur, who added that sport is a "universal language" and that parkour has become a perfect means of communication between competitors. "When we compete with overseas players, we just need to make a gesture or movement to understand each other and overcome the language barrier," said Teng Gaozheng from Hubei Province. "Parkour was introduced to China in 2005-06. National parkour competitions were inaugurated in 2009, and a national training team for parkour was established in 2019," said Wang Yanmin, an international judge of the parkour event of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and chief director of this year's competition. Wang said the majority of Chinese parkour enthusiasts are aged between six and 13, and from 18 to 38 years old. "There are at least two professional parkour clubs or more than a dozen training institutions for children's parkour in almost all major cities in China," he said. Incident sparks animal welfare debate in Italy. A horse pulling a wedding carriage collapsed during one of the hottest days of the year in the southern Italian city of Trani, sparking outrage on social media. The animal was one of two horses transporting a carriage to pick up a bride and groom after a wedding on Tuesday, reports newspaper Corriere della Sera. After the horse collapsed onto the flagstones on the central Corso Vittorio Emanuele, a veterinarian arrived to assess the animal's wellbeing. Horse collapses in Trani. Photo Trani News24. The animal was eventually put back on its feet and is reportedly under observation, according to local media. However the incident has sparked a debate on social media in Italy about putting horses to work during a heatwave, with temperatures in the Puglia region reaching up to 47C in recent days. Cover photo Corriere della Sera Calabria governor pledges zero tolerance for arsonists. Authorities in Italy's southern Calabria region used a drone to catch an arsonist in the act, amid a spate of wildfires in the south of the country in recent days, particularly in Sicily. Calabria governor Roberto Occhiuto slammed the actions of the arsonist who, after becoming aware that he was being filmed lighting fires in the countryside, reacted by throwing stones at the drone. The man was followed by the drone as he fled the scene on a motorbike and was reported to police, said Occhiuto, who posted footage of the incident on social media. The video was subsequently shared by Italy's deputy premier and foreign minister Antonio Tajani who applauded the drone operation "to stop these criminals". Bene la denuncia del Presidente della Regione Calabria Occhiuto che grazie ad un'operazione di deterrenza con i droni e riuscito a stanare un piromane che aveva gia appiccato alcuni incendi. Solo con un accurato controllo del territorio si possono fermare questi criminali. pic.twitter.com/LFR4A8Tl4c Antonio Tajani (@Antonio_Tajani) July 26, 2023 "Calabria is a civilised region but it also has some imbeciles who go to set fires in the woods, like this arsonist we caught yesterday" - Occhiuto said in the video - "Where does he come from, the caves?" Occhiuto said that the region had 30 drones at its disposal to monitor the wildfire situation, stressing there would be a "zero tolerance" policy towards arsonists. The pledge comes as Sicily requests emergency measures from the central government to battle wildfires raging on the island. Share Comment on this story Comment Hunter Biden, the son of US president Joe Biden, has a way of staying in the headlines. His work in Ukraine was a topic of the 2019 phone call that led to the first impeachment of then-President Donald Trump. Emails and photographs taken from his abandoned laptop computer spurred a dispute over whether social media companies censor legitimate news. Most recently, a plea deal he reached with the Justice Department over unpaid taxes and a lie he told on a firearms application prompted cries of unequal justice because it would spare him any jail time. That plea was in limbo following a July 26 court hearing. 1. What are Republicans investigating? The chairman of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer of Kentucky, says the Biden family sold access for profit around the world to the detriment of American interests. He also says the Justice Department gave Hunter Biden preferential treatment while investigating his past. And Comer has raised questions about Hunter Bidens latest career turn, as a painter. Biden has offered prints and paintings for sale, some listed for hundreds of thousands of dollars, raising questions about whether buying his art could be seen as a way to curry favor with his father. Advertisement 2. Why so much attention to a presidents son? Hunter Biden, 53, has led a troubled life. Ive bought crack cocaine on the streets of Washington, DC, and cooked up my own inside a hotel bungalow in Los Angeles, he wrote in his 2021 memoir, Beautiful Things. In the last five years alone, my two-decades-long marriage has dissolved, guns have been put in my face, and at one point I dropped clean off the grid, living in $59-a-night Super 8 motels off I-95 while scaring my family even more than myself, he wrote. A lawyer by training, Biden pursued business opportunities with foreign parties after his father became vice president in 2009, often in ways that intersected with his fathers work. 3. What proof have Republicans turned up? Its clear that Hunter Biden made money from foreign companies and individuals while Joe Biden was Barack Obamas vice president. But theres no proof that Joe Biden influenced or was aware of those dealings. Congressional Republicans say the Federal Bureau of Investigation received an allegation that Joe Biden and Hunter Biden each received a $5 million bribe. The FBI report documenting the allegation, released to the public on July 20, cites recollections by a confidential source between late 2015 and June 2022. Joe Biden dismissed that allegation as a bunch of malarkey. Comers committee plans to interview a onetime Hunter Biden business partner, Devon Archer, about any knowledge Joe Biden might have had about his sons overseas business dealings. Also, citing testimony from two employees of the Internal Revenue Service, Republican lawmakers allege the Department of Justice interfered with the criminal investigation of Hunter Bidens unpaid taxes. Attorney General Merrick Garland has denied interfering in the probe, which was conducted by a Trump appointee, David Weiss, the US attorney in Delaware. Advertisement 4. What was the result of the criminal probe? Hunter Biden was accused of failing to pay more than $200,000 in income taxes in 2017 and 2018 and of lying when filling out a federal form before purchasing a handgun in 2018. (To a question about whether he was an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance, he answered no.) Under a deal disclosed on June 20, he was to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges, avoid prison and avert prosecution on the felony gun charge. (Hes already paid his back taxes.) Republicans complained that the proposed punishment is too light and is evidence of a two-tiered justice system when contrasted with the criminal charges Trump is facing. At the July 26 hearing on the proposed plea deal, a federal judge directed prosecutors and defense lawyers to clarify the scope of immunity that will be granted to Hunter Biden. 5. What sort of work did Hunter Biden do? Advertisement Much of it involved corporate deal-making and consulting. In 2013, for instance, after flying to China with his father aboard Air Force Two, Biden joined the board of an investment fund co-founded by a Chinese private equity investor trying to raise $1.5 billion. Entities controlled by Hunter Biden and his uncle, James Biden, who ran a consultancy called the Lion Hall Group, were paid $4.8 million in 2017 and 2018 by Chinese conglomerate CEFC China Energy in relation to energy projects that never came to fruition, the Washington Post reported. A September 2020 report released by Republican members of the Senate Homeland Security Committee concluded that Hunter Bidens foreign work had created a potential conflict of interest for his father especially as it related to US policy toward Ukraine but didnt allege that any laws had been broken. That was one in a series of voluminous reports by Republican senators suggesting wrongdoing by the presidents son, in some cases with thin evidence. Share this article Share 6. What did Hunter Biden do in Ukraine? Burisma Holdings, one of the largest private natural gas companies in Ukraine, named Biden to its board in 2014. He served until 2020, and records suggest he earned at least $50,000 a month. In 2016, his father, as the Obama administrations point person on Ukraine, pressed successfully for the ouster of Viktor Shokin as prosecutor general. US allies, the International Monetary Fund and many Ukrainians had called for Shokin to be replaced on the grounds that he had failed to pursue corruption cases. But Trump and his attorney, Rudy Giuliani, alleged that Biden had targeted Shokin to derail an investigation into Burisma. Burisma issued a statement in 2017 saying that the investigation had been closed and that it had paid an extra 180 million hryvnias ($7 million) in taxes. In hindsight, Hunter Biden said, serving on Burismas board may have been poor judgment. Advertisement 7. How did that connect to Trumps impeachment? In a July 2019 phone call, Trump asked Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to look into Hunter Biden and whether Joe Biden as vice president had shut down the investigation of Burisma. That call came just days after Trump announced he was withholding hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine prompting Democrats to allege that Trump was using the assistance as leverage to pressure Zelenskiy into releasing damaging information about the Bidens. Trump denied extorting the Ukrainian leader, describing the call as perfect. Democrats in the US House of Representatives approved two articles of impeachment charging Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. In the Senate, Democrats fell well short of the two-thirds super-majority needed to convict Trump and remove him from office. 8. What happened with Hunter Bidens laptop? Advertisement The owner of a computer repair shop in Wilmington, Delaware, says Biden dropped off but never reclaimed a damaged MacBook Pro that included explicit photos and videos of Biden taking drugs and engaging in sex acts. The owner says he turned the laptop over to the FBI and a copy of the hard drive to Giuliani, who shared it with the New York Post during the final weeks of the 2020 presidential election. The Posts front-page article focused on emails suggesting that Biden may have arranged for Ukrainian business associates to meet his father when he was vice president; the Post also published several unflattering photos taken from the hard drive. Citing concerns over the private nature of the material and whether it had been hacked, Twitter Inc. and Facebook (now part of Meta Platforms Inc.) restricted the ability of users to share the Post story. Subsequent reporting by other news organizations backed the authenticity of the material cited by the Post, fueling criticism that social media platforms and mainstream media had suppressed legitimate news. In one of his early moves as Twitters new owner, Elon Musk released internal emails showing there was dissension within the company over restricting access to the Post article. 9. What does President Biden say about all this? He has denied knowledge or involvement in his sons business dealings and said he is proud of his sons recovery from addiction. I love him and hes on the straight and narrow, and he has been for a couple of years now, Biden told CNN in October. After Hunter Biden struck his plea agreement with the Justice Department, the president denied ever discussing the case with Garland, the attorney general he appointed. But Biden hasnt addressed criticism that he is shunning a 4-year-old Alabama girl Hunter Biden fathered by not counting or treating her like his grandchild. --With assistance from Billy House. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2023 Bloomberg L.P. 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. BEIJING, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese prosecuting agencies have emphasized the importance of the protection of minors involved in crimes during the handling of relevant cases, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP). In the first half of 2023, over 20,000 juvenile criminal suspects, or 67.9 percent of the total, were pardoned from arrest, the SPP said on Wednesday. It added that 14,000 juvenile criminal suspects were conditionally granted a pardon from prosecution by procuratorates during this period. SPP statistics showed that prosecuting agencies in the country provided over 50 million yuan (around 7.01 million U.S. dollars) in judicial assistance to more than 6,000 minor victims with financial difficulties. According to the SPP, procuratorates nationwide have implemented the policy of combining punishment with education in handling juvenile delinquency cases, stepping up efforts to rehabilitate juvenile offenders through measures such as promoting special education and psychological counseling programs. From 10 to 14 July 2023, the World Customs Organization (WCO) organized, in close cooperation with the General Administration of China Customs, the first Pre-Accreditation Workshop for Technical and Operational Advisors in Customs Enforcement Network (CEN) applications. The event was held at the WCO Regional Training Centre (RTC) in Xiamen, China, with the financial support of the China Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF/China), in response to the needs expressed by WCO Members on CEN applications and in line with the WCOs strategic approach to expanding the WCO pool of experts. In his opening address, Mr. Deng, Deputy Director General of Xiamen Customs District of the Peoples Republic of China, warmly welcomed all the participants, underscored the importance of international cooperation and confirmed the RTCs full commitment to supporting capacity-building initiatives. The Workshop brought together 12 participants from the Customs Administrations of Cameroon, China, India, Japan, Maldives, Mauritius, Namibia, Poland, Russian Federation, Senegal and Thailand. They were selected from around the globe on the basis of their relevant technical knowledge; applications; presentations; facilitation, communications and advisory skills; overall knowledge of the WCOs main tools and instruments; and their ability to work as part of a team. Throughout this intensive five-day Workshop, the participants had to demonstrate knowledge, skills, techniques and, most importantly, enthusiasm for contributing to the WCOs future capacity-building activities. The successful participants will be invited to the next stage of the WCO expert accreditation process, namely a field mission. It is anticipated that those participants who successfully complete the accreditation process will be added to the pool of experts and work together with the Organization for the benefit of Members requesting WCO technical assistance in the area of CEN applications. A fallen tree is seen on a road after thunderstorms in Milan, Italy, on July 25, 2023. (Str/Xinhua) In total, there were over 50 major wildfires across Sicily, with Italian news sites showing images of grasslands and hillsides on fire. The emergency services in Milan had responded to more than 200 requests for help related to flooding, fallen trees, and damage to cars and homes, since a severe storm hit the city late Monday. ROME, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The southern Italian island of Sicily was ravaged by fires Tuesday. Meanwhile, storms and hail have battered the northern part of Italy. The airport in the Sicilian capital of Palermo was closed to air traffic on Monday and early Tuesday, as smoke from a nearby blaze had limited visibility in the area. Officials said the airport reopened later on Tuesday, although the number of flights was severely reduced. Catania Airport, Sicily's other main air hub, was closed last week due to a fire in one of the terminals. As of Tuesday, it is also operating at a fraction of full capacity. In total, there were over 50 major wildfires across Sicily, with Italian news sites showing images of grasslands and hillsides on fire. The 2,500-year-old Greek-built Segesta Temple in northwest Sicily, one of the world's best-preserved Doric temples, has also been threatened by fires. A boy refreshes himself with the water from the Barcaccia Fountain in the Piazza di Spagna in Rome, Italy, on July 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Jin Mamengni) On Tuesday, Palermo's Cervello hospital was evacuated, and at least 1,500 residents of the city were forced to leave their homes. The widespread nature of the fires is making it difficult for authorities to know where to evacuate people, according to media reports. The partial closure of the island's two main airports has limited access to the Italian mainland for tourists, as well as the island's population of 5 million residents. Most of south and central Italy was suffering from persistent scorching temperatures on Tuesday. The long heatwave has dried out the land in Sicily, leading to fires. High temperatures are also having a significant impact in other parts of the country. At least three people have died from heat-related issues in and around Rome since Sunday. In Calabria, another southern region, a 98-year-old man died when his house was engulfed by flames. The photo taken with a mobile phone on July 26, 2021 shows a firefighter battling against the wildfire in Sardinia, Italy. (Italian Firefighters/Handout via Xinhua) Antonello Fiore, president of the Italian Society of Environmental Geology, said the fires in the southern part of the country were causing "irreparable damage" to ecosystems. While the southern two-thirds of Italy struggled under the oppressive heat, most of the northern area was pelted by thunderstorms and over-sized hail. Media reports said the emergency services in Milan had responded to more than 200 requests for help related to flooding, fallen trees, and damage to cars and homes, since a severe storm hit the city late Monday. Elsewhere in Lombardy, a 16-year-old girl was killed when storms toppled a tree which fell on the tent where she was sleeping during a camping trip. A vehicle drives through a flooded street after thunderstorms in Milan, Italy, on July 25, 2023. (Str/Xinhua) On Monday, an aircraft that took off from Milan for New York was seriously damaged by hail, and had to be rerouted to Rome for an emergency landing. Lombardy Regional President Attilio Fontana formally requested a state of emergency should be declared in the region on Tuesday, which will provide access to emergency funds and expedited powers to deal with the situation. Other parts of the north, including the regions of Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piedmont, and Veneto were also hit hard by storms. ANKARA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Police detained nine Islamic State (IS) suspects of foreign nationalities in the Turkish capital of Ankara, state-run TRT broadcaster reported Wednesday. They were among 10 foreigner criminal suspects detained during an operation launched by the Turkish police's anti-terror and intelligence teams, the TRT quoted anonymous security officials as saying. The suspects will be handed over to the Turkish directorate of migration for deportation after giving their testimonies, according to the report. The TRT reported that some of the suspects had stayed in the "conflict zones" and were active at the ranks of the group in the past years. The IS group remains active within the Syrian territory. Turkiye's southern border with Syria has been a major crossing point for Syrians and foreign fighters since civil war broke out in Syria in 2011. The Turkish government designated the IS a terrorist organization in 2013, blaming it for a spate of deadly attacks in the country since 2015. In 2016, Turkiye launched its first cross-border operation in northern Syria, dubbed operation Euphrates Shield, to eliminate the IS militants around Syria's Jarablus and Azaz region. NIAMEY, Niger (AP) Mutinous soldiers claimed to have overthrown Niger's democratically elected president, announcing on state television late Wednesday that they have put an end to the government over the African country's deteriorating security. The soldiers said all institutions had been suspended and security forces were managing the situation. The mutineers urged external partners not to interfere. .The announcement came after a day of uncertainty as members of Nigers presidential guard surrounded the presidential palace and detained President Mohamed Bazoum. There was no immediate indication of whether the mutiny was supported by other parts of the military. It was unclear where the president was at the time of the announcement or if he had resigned. This is as a result of the continuing degradation of the security situation, the bad economic and social governance," air force Col. Major Amadou Abdramane said on the video. Seated at a table in front of nine other officers, he said aerial and land borders were closed and a curfew was imposed until the situation stabilized. The group, which is calling itself National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country, said it remained committed to its engagements with the international and national community. Earlier Wednesday, a tweet from the account of Nigers presidency reported that members of the elite guard unit engaged in an anti-Republican demonstration and unsuccessfully tried to obtain support from other security forces. It said Bazoum and his family were doing well but that Nigers army and national guard are ready to attack if those involved in the action did not back down. The commissions of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States described the events as an effort to unseat Bazoum, who was elected president two years ago in the nations first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since its independence from France in 1960. Threats to Bazoums leadership would undermine the Wests efforts to stabilize Africas Sahel region, which has been overrun with coups in recent years. Mali and Burkina Faso have had four coups since 2020, and both are being overrun by extremists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Niger in March, seeking to strengthen ties with a country where extremists have carried out attacks on civilians and military personnel but the overall security situation was not as dire as in neighboring nations. During a stop in New Zealand on Thursday, Blinken repeated the U.S. condemnation of the mutiny against Niger's president and said his team was in close contact with officials in France and Africa. Blinken added that he had spoken with Bazoum on Wednesday, saying that he "made clear that we strongly support him as the democratically elected president of the country. Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, said the mutiny was a nightmare scenario for Western powers who had betted on Bazoum and Niger as new security anchor for the Sahel. It remains to be seen whether this is the last word. Parts of the army are probably still loyal to Bazoum. They benefited much from equipment and training as part of foreign military assistance, Laessing said. Before the announcement, hundreds of people took to the streets of the capital, Niamey, and chanted No coup detat while marching in support of the president. Multiple rounds of gunfire that appeared to come from the presidential palace dispersed the demonstrators and sent people scrambling for cover, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene. We are here to show the people that we are not happy about this movement going on, just to show these military people that they cant just take the power like this, protester Mohammed Sidi said. We are a democratic country, we support democracy and we dont need this kind of movement. The international community strongly condemned the attempted seizure of power. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who spoke to Bazoum in the afternoon to express "his full support and solidarity, issued a strong condemnation of the mutineeers late Wednesday. He is deeply disturbed by the detention of President Mohamed Bazoum and is concerned for his safety and well-being, said Guterres' spokesman, Stephane Dujarric. Guterres urged the immediate release of Bazoum without any conditions and called for an immediate end to all actions undermining democratic principles in Niger," the spokesman added. The governments of France and the United States also voiced concern and urged the participating guardsmen to change course. Bazoum's administration has made Niger a key Western partner in the fight against Islamist extremism in Africa's Sahel region. We strongly condemn any effort to detain or subvert the functioning of Nigers democratically elected government, led by President Bazoum, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said. We specifically urge elements of the presidential guard to release President Bazoum from detention and refrain from violence. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who was selected this month as the ECOWAS Commission's chairman, said the regional blocs leadership would resist any attempt to unseat Niger's government. It should be quite clear to all players in the Republic of Niger that the leadership of the ECOWAS region and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically elected government of the country, Tinubu said in a statement he issued in Abuja. We will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region. Associated Press writers Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria, and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report. READING, Pa. Production crew, actors and more took over Fifth and Penn streets in downtown Reading. "We're glad today that we have another film production here in Reading, and the Reading Film Office, we promote and encourage filmmakers to shoot in our city," said David Buelow, creative director for the Reading Film Office. Seeing a film shoot in your city isn't all that common, but under the current circumstances across the country, it's even more unlikely. The Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have been on strike since July 14. "I think it's wonderful ,and I think that we're in great company, and we're the only ones," said film director Robert Morgalo. "We're one of those 39 productions, and we're the only ones on the East Coast, so we're blessed and happy about it." The film, "Dream Devil," is under the direction of Morgalo, who is no stranger to the regional film scene, having shot in Reading in the past. The film is in rarified air at the moment, as the SAG-AFTRA strike drags on. "This falls outside of that because we're stepping up as an independent filmmaker and doing what the networks and the studios are unwilling to do," Morgalo said. "We're meeting the demands and needs of SAG actors." As the production is among just a small number of those happening across the country, it presents a unique opportunity to showcase the city of Reading. "Basically, he's reached an agreement with the guild the Screen Actors Guild that will allow him to film, and retroactively when the strike is over and the agreements have been made, his company will honor whatever that agreement is going forward," Buelow said of Morgalo's production. The Reading Film Office says the strike is a complex issue, with concerns over pay, health care and artificial intelligence. As for the film, it will continue to shoot in Tamaqua and Hazelton, expecting to wrap up filming early next month. BIRDSBORO, Pa. - A western Pennsylvania man is under arrest after police say he hopped into the driver's seat of an officer's vehicle and took off. It all began in the early morning hours of July 22 in Birdsboro Borough. Birdsboro Police were called to the 500 block of Monroe Street just before 6 a.m. for a report of an intoxicated man in a resident's pool. Upon arrival, officers found 27-year-old Jordan Keener of Dilliner, Pa inside the backyard of a home on neighboring Garfield Avenue. As police approached, the suspect allegedly entered the pool and ignored officers' commands to get out. Authorities say he eventually exited the above ground pool and while walking around its edge, police say Keener removed all of his clothes except his underwear, jumped off the edge and ran toward the woods. Police brought Keener to the ground near the tree line and placed him in handcuffs. Investigators say the suspect was cuffed and secured in the back of a police vehicle, but that Keener was able to maneuver through a small window in the cage compartment that separated the front and back seats. He then allegedly put the unmarked patrol car in drive and took off heading south on Garfield Avenue. "For as long as I've been in the criminal justice system, I have never heard of an individual stealing a police vehicle," said Berks Couty District Attorney John Adams. Officers pursued Keener through Birdsboro Borough and onto 422 west through Exeter Township. The suspect crashed the vehicle in the area of E. 2nd and Chestnut Streets and briefly fled on foot before being taken into custody. Keener is charged with theft, robbery, fleeing and eluding, public drunkenness, resisting arrest and related offenses. "There's no difference in this case from it being a police vehicle to it being a private person's car," said DA Adams. "He is charged with robbery of a motor vehicle because he stole that vehicle." Keener is in Berks County Jail unable to post $75,000 bail. READING, Pa. - Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) announced details Wednesday about her upcoming childhood literacy resource fair and town hall in Reading. The back-to-back events are being held Monday, July 31 at Reading Area Community College's (RACC) Miller Center for the Arts. A host of community-based organizations and educational leaders will join the congresswoman to provide resources and answer questions about improving childhood literacy in Pennsylvania. Childhood literacy is a force multiplier for the individual and for our whole society," said Houlahan. "Literacy is directly connected to positive lifelong outcomes. Particularly over the summer months when school is not in session, we must work together to ensure all families have the resources to support their children to foster curiosity and love of reading!" The event will feature the following organizations: Sesame Workshop Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) Opportunity House Yocum Institute Literacy Council of Reading Centro Hispano Reading Public Library Olivet Boys and Girls Club The resource fair begins at 11:30 a.m. and runs until 1 p.m., with the town hall to immediately follow. The event is open to the public and seating is first come, first serve. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. plans to cut costs this year after reporting second-quarter results that fell short of analysts' expectations, citing slowing activity in China and "more cautious" spending by businesses. The proposed $450 million in additional savings will include job cuts, Chief Financial Officer Stephen Williamson said on a conference call Wednesday after the company reported earnings. "We're appropriately reducing headcount," Williamson said. Thermo Fisher, a maker of scientific and healthcare equipment that has operations in the Lehigh Valley, reported second-quarter revenue of $10.69 billion, down 3% from $10.97 billion in the corresponding 2022 quarter. The consensus of analysts' estimates for the quarter was $10.99 billion, according to Zacks Investment Research. Adjusted earnings per share were $5.15, down from $5.51 in the second-quarter of 2022 and short of the average estimate of $5.43. Adjusted earnings exclude items that the company considers to be one-time or unusual. Total adjusted net income was $2 billion, down from $2.17 billion in the year-ago quarter. The company also reduced its full-year revenue and earnings forecasts, and reported a drop in revenue from COVID-19 testing. "The macroeconomic environment became more challenging in the second quarter," Chief Executive Marc Casper said. "Economic activity in China slowed, and across the economy more broadly, businesses became more cautious." The company expects the slowdown in China to continue through the year. "As the second quarter progressed, economic activity in China significantly slowed," Williamson said. Waltham, Massachusetts-based Thermo Fisher now forecasts 2023 revenue of $43.4 billion to $44.0 billion, down from an earlier forecast of $45.3 billion, and adjusted earnings per share of $22.28 to $22.72, below its April projection of $23.70 per share. "We recognize that the change in guidance is significant," Williamson said. Second-quarter earnings on a GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) basis were $3.51, down from $4.22 in the year-ago quarter. GAAP earnings are not adjusted for one-time items. Adjusted operating margin, a measure of profitability, fell to 22.2% in the quarter, down from 23.7% in the second quarter of 2022. COVID-19 testing revenue in the quarter was about $80 million, down sequentially from $140 million in the first quarter of 2023. Shares of Thermo Fisher are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TMO. At 11:18 a.m., the shares were down 0.3% to $568.99. The closing price Tuesday was $570.91. In the last 52 weeks, the shares have traded as high as $611.06 and as low as $475.77. The company's market capitalization is about $217 billion. MOSCOW, Id. - Bryan Kohberger's defense counsel suggested Tuesday they'll present an alibi for their client during his upcoming trial. "Because either you were there, or you weren't. That's what an alibi defense is. I wasn't there. It wasn't me. It was someone else. You can't convict me, because I didn't do it, said John Waldron, Criminal Defense Attorney at Waldron & Williams. Prosecutors will receive information on an alibi for Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger, according to a court filing Tuesday. The 28-year-old Poconos native is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students. 69 News spoke with local defense attorney John Waldron to break down what the strategy by Kohberger's defense counsel could be. "There was what is called an alibi defense that has been filed, although they haven't revealed a lot of names of witnesses and other evidence from the defense to support that, said Waldron. The defense council had a deadline to pass the information along on Monday but Kohberger's attorney says they are still investigating and preparing his case. Waldron said the filing notes that the crime occurred but Kohberger's defense council will argue during the trial that he was not present at the off-campus University of Idaho house when the murders happened. The court document does not say where Kohberger was during the killings. "The defense is going to use Commonwealth state witnesses to and maybe some expert witnesses to produce evidence regarding the alibi, said Waldron. Waldron said this is a twist in the case, and an interesting point to him in this case is the DNA that was found on scene. Maybe some expert testimony that may describe why the DNA was there, but it's an uphill battle for them, said Waldron."It was DNA found. That is hard to get around, shall I say. But there's also ways to do that." According to his attorneys, Kohberger continued to stand firm on his constitutional right to silence and testifying on his own behalf. Waldron said while procedural rules could be different in Idaho an alibi defense will remain the same. DOYLESTOWN, Pa. The Central Bucks Board of School Directors voted 6-3 Tuesday night to award a new five-year contract to Superintendent Abram Lucabaugh that will immediately give him a 40% pay increase. Lucabaugh was hired two years ago with a salary of $225,000 and a five-year contract. The new five-year contract will raise Lucabaugh's salary $90,000, for a total of $315,000. The action now makes Lucabaugh one of the highest paid superintendents in the state. The contract also will give Lucabaugh a 2.5% increase to his base salary for the next four years, beginning in July 2024. Prior to the new contract, the board voted unanimously to accept Lucabaugh's resignation, releasing him from his original five-year contract. The board was split among its usual lines, with Tabitha Dell'Angelo, Dr. Mariam Mahmud and Karen Smith voting against re-hiring Lucabaugh with a new contract. All three which have been termed as the board minority claimed they had no knowledge of the agenda item and were excluded from discussions. The board did, however, meet in a closed-door executive session 45 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Smith said she could not believe her eyes when she received the copy of the board's Tuesday agenda and read about the contract for the first time. "The board majority made this decision outside of the public eye, without the involvement of the entire board," Smith said, "and regardless of whether or not there was discussion, these actions violate the intention of the Sunshine Act." "The most grievous part of this proposed contract, however, is not that it was shrouded in secrecy," she said. "It's the absolute grotesque salary increase, when our district is struggling desperately to retain and attract employees at every level, particularly our support staff." Smith noted that the amount of the raise is more than what most teachers earn in a year. "There's no rationale that makes this level of increase acceptable," she added. Both Mahmud and Dell'Angelo said that Lucabaugh has done good work for the district in his time as superintendent. "I do think that the current salary for a superintendent is too low, and if I had been asked to be part of a discussions about negotiations, I would have recommended a raise for sure," Dell'Angelo said. "When I was running on this board, we were in the midst of support staff negotiations, and I watched support staff and parents and teachers and students come here, and they were begging for relatively small raises," she said. "What we settled on was well below market, and we've suffered for the last two years with support staff shortages." "And no matter how much anyone might feel positively about Dr. Lucabaugh, I think the budget discussion that we had recently makes it so difficult to accept a $90,000 raise," Dell'Angelo added. Board member James Pepper said he fully supported giving Lucabaugh a new contract. "When people ask me why you're giving him a $90,000 raise, I say it's worth every single penny, because I know that this man has the safety of all our children at the forefront of his mind every single day," Pepper said. "That's why I will be an enthusiastic 'yes' for increasing Dr. Lucabaugh's pay and extending his contract." Vice President Leigh Vlasblom said the district has had five superintendents since 2012. "This district needs stability," Vlasblom said. "We need consistency, and we need to allow the staff and teachers to do their job and not be in this constant turmoil of who is going to be leading the district." President Dana Hunter added that the job of superintendent is a very difficult position. "I know that over the course of the last year, many have reached out to Dr. Lucabaugh to try and recruit him," Hunter said. "And I believe in his leadership, and I think it's in the best interest of the district to keep him." Prior to the vote, the board heard members of the public speak for 90-minutes, with most criticizing the raise and the contract. Doylestown Borough resident Ginger Hardwick identified herself as an employment lawyer who looks at contracts for a living. "I have never seen a change like this," Hardwick said. "I think most people in our community would be shocked to learn that this superintendent contract provides for eight weeks of paid time off. I don't know anybody who works full time who gets that kind of vacation." "And if I just may say that the contract also provides a penalty if a new school board is elected in November, and this new school board wishes to ask for the superintendent's resignation, the new school board will have to pay a one-year severance that is well over $300,000," Hardwick added. Buckingham Township resident Laurie Ann Moore called the action "shady." "What is truly going on here?" Moore asked. "The board wants to allow the superintendent to resign mid-contract and then rehire him for another contract at a higher salary. If that isn't the definition of shady, I don't know what is." "We need a fiscally responsible school board working to better the education of our students, and we need a school board that will put a stop to all the chaos and embarrassment that is surrounded our district," she added. "Our community deserves better. We demand better. We will vote in November, and it will be better." Plumstead Township resident Jenna Ott called the new contract fiscally irresponsible. "As a taxpayer, parent, supporter of this district and former graduate, it is appalling to me that this board would even consider such an increase for a superintendent," Ott said. "And I say this with no disrespect intended to Dr. Lucabaugh, but he has only been in the role of superintendent for this or any district for just over two years." "It also raises questions of the superintendent and members of this board's ability to put aside personal gains in order to do what is right for the students, families and community they serve," Ott added. Buckingham Township resident Heather Reynolds said the board appears to be engaging in backroom deals. "President Dana Hunter and her board majority seem to be engaging in backroom dealings yet again, meeting behind closed doors to secure large payouts to their friends and allies, while further demonstrating the blatant lack of transparency from our board," Reynolds said. "This move serves as yet another example of their egregious fiscal irresponsibility and misuse of our tax dollars," she continued. "Our tax dollars should be invested in our students and in our classrooms." U. MAKEFIELD TWP., Pa. - Police in Bucks County said that they are concluding their active search for a 9-month-old boy that went missing after being swept away by floodwaters on July 15, after a large search effort that involved multiple agencies. "We have exhausted all means of attempting to locate" Conrad Sheils, Upper Makefield Township Police said in a Facebook post Wednesday afternoon. Multiple agencies had engaged in a "massive search effort that involved hundreds of personnel, drones, boats, K9s, divers, sonar, and air assets," police wrote in the Facebook post. "The family has been made aware of this development and they would like to express their deepest gratitude for all those involved in the search efforts to bring Conrad home and to all of you for all your outpouring of love, support, and kind words during this extremely difficult time," police said. "Like all of you, we are truly heartbroken and saddened. Although, at this time, we were unable to reunite Conrad with his loving family, he will forever live in our hearts and he will never be forgotten." Since the weekend, police said they had marine units checking the Delaware River, including along the banks of the river on both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey sides. "Since the beginning and throughout the search, we notified agencies up and down the Delaware all the way to Marcus Hook of our efforts. We were able to get divers in the water and cleared the areas that were outstanding. We utilized K9 teams and checked the islands in the Delaware River and along the banks of the river as well," police said. Conrad's 2-year-old sister Mattie was found dead in Philadelphia on Friday. The two children were swept out of their family's car by floodwaters on Washington Crossing Road. Their mother was killed by flooding in the car, while their father, grandmother and 4-year-old brother survived. In all, seven people died as a result of the flooding, 6 of whom were returned to their families, police said. A GoFundMe was created to collect money for the Sheils family. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Russia and China are sending government delegations to North Korea this week for events marking the 70th anniversary of the armistice that halted fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War. The visits suggest North Korea is further opening up after years of pandemic isolation and is eager to showcase its partnerships with authoritarian neighbors in the face of deepening nuclear tensions with Washington, Seoul and Tokyo. North Koreas state media said Wednesday that a Russian delegation led by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in Pyongyang Tuesday evening, where they were greeted by senior North Korean officials including Defense Minister Kang Sun Nam. Russia's Defense Ministry said in a statement that Shoigu later held a meeting with Kang for talks that he said would help strengthen cooperation between our defense departments. Video footage from Russian media showed Shoigu and other Russian delegates laying wreaths at a Soviet war monument in Pyongyang and saluting the city's statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, respectively the grandfather and father of current North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Chinas ruling Communist Party is also sending a midlevel official, Li Hongzhong, in hopes of restoring exchanges between the allies. North Korea has been preparing huge celebrations of the anniversary that are likely to be capped off by a military parade in the capital, Pyongyang, where Kim Jong Un could showcase his most powerful, nuclear-capable missiles designed to target neighboring rivals and the U.S. Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency said that Kim and his top defense and foreign policy officials visited two cemeteries, including one for Chinese troops who died while fighting alongside North Korea during the war. Kim expressed gratitude for the Chinese soldiers who dedicated their lives to repel imperialist aggression, calling them martyrs" who would be "immortal in the hearts of the Korean people." North Korea launched the Korean War, an unsuccessful attempt to conquer its southern rival. No peace treaty ending the conflict has ever been signed, and the border between the Koreas remains one of the most tense in the world. The North still celebrates the armistice as a victory in the Grand Fatherland Liberation War. The conflict brought in forces from the newly created Peoples Republic of China, aided by the then Soviet air force, while South Korea, the U.S. and troops from various countries under the direction of the United Nations battled to repulse the invasion. The visits by Russian and Chinese delegations mark only the second known time foreign government officials were invited to enter North Korea since the start of the pandemic, following the arrival of China's ambassador to Pyongyang, Wang Yajun, in March, according to South Koreas Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs. North Korea had spent the first two years of the pandemic in a self-imposed lockdown to shield its poor health care system. But since last year, the country has gradually reopened trade with China to improve its dismal economy. For now, its premature to say whether or not North Korea further opens its borders in the future, but considering their measures to ease virus controls and signs that they are preparing to send athletes to international sporting events again, it's possibly only a matter of time, the South Korean ministry said in a statement to The Associated Press. The anniversary comes during a time of heightened tensions in the region as the pace of both North Koreas weapons tests and U.S. military exercises with South Korea have intensified in a tit-for-tat cycle. Some experts say North Korea might ramp up its weapons tests around the anniversary of the armistice on Thursday. North Korea has conducted three separate rounds of missile firings since last week, apparently in protest of the United States sending naval vessels including a nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea in a show of force. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-fired around 100 missiles as Kim exploits the distraction created by Russias war on Ukraine to accelerate the expansion of the nuclear-capable weapons he sees as his strongest guarantee of survival. North Korea has also been aligning with Russia over the war in Ukraine, insisting that the hegemonic policy of the U.S.-led West has forced Moscow to take military action to protect its security interests. The Biden administration has accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia to aid its fighting in Ukraine, although the North has denied the claim. Both Moscow and Beijing have been thwarting U.S. efforts to strengthen U.N. Security Council sanctions on North Korea over its flurry of missile tests. When asked whether Washington had any concerns about China and Russia showing support for North Korea with the visits, Vedant Patel, deputy spokesperson at the U.S. State Department, called for Beijing and Moscow to play a more constructive role in defusing tensions and bringing Pyongyang back to dialogue. They can use their influence over (North Korea) to encourage them to refrain from threatening, unlawful behavior behavior that will not just incite tensions in the immediate region but also the region broadly, he said. Li is a member of the partys high-level Politburo and a deputy chairperson of the ceremonial parliament, giving him national office, but not the level of status that would convey a full-bore expression of Chinese backing for North Korea at an ambiguous time in relations. China was invited to send a high-level delegation to attend commemorative activities in North Korea, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing Tuesday. We believe the visit will be conducive to promoting the sound and stable development of (bilateral) relations, contributing to regional peace and stability, and creating conditions for a political settlement of the (Korean) peninsula issue, Mao said. China has joined U.N. sanctions against North Korea over its missile and nuclear programs but remains its most important economic and political ally. Little is known about discreet contacts between the two, but Beijing has been long committed to preventing the collapse of North Koreas three-generation-old Kim governments. Dangerous and uncertain factors resulting from a collapse could include large numbers of refugees crossing into China, a scramble for control of North Koreas nuclear weapons and the sudden presence of South Korean and American troops along Chinas border. Kim has visited China in past years, while Chinese leader Xi Jinping traveled to the North in 2019 in what was seen as partly an effort to use their ties to leverage concessions from the U.S. and its allies on their security arrangements in the region. Such visits came to a halt as an increasingly isolated and impoverished North Korea closed its borders to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Jim Heintz contributed to the report from Tallinn, Estonia. This photo taken on July 25, 2023 shows the experimental tokamak device in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand. Thailand's first experimental tokamak device was officially launched on Tuesday in a joint collaboration with China. The device, a joint collaboration between the Institute of Plasma Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) and the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT), arrived in Thailand in January and commenced trial runs in May. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) NAKORNNAYOK, Thailand, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's first experimental tokamak device was officially launched on Tuesday in a joint collaboration with China. The device, a joint collaboration between the Institute of Plasma Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) and the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT), arrived in Thailand in January and commenced trial runs in May. Thawatchai Onjun, executive director of the TINT, emphasized that the operation will propel Thailand's advancements in nuclear fusion applications, impacting academic research, engineering technology, and talent development. Song Yuntao, director of ASIPP, told Xinhua that China's research in the field of nuclear fusion applications adheres to an open and friendly approach. Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn launches the experimental tokamak device at a ceremony in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand, July 25, 2023. Thailand's first experimental tokamak device was officially launched on Tuesday in a joint collaboration with China. The device, a joint collaboration between the Institute of Plasma Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) and the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT), arrived in Thailand in January and commenced trial runs in May. (Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology/Handout via Xinhua) Guests visit the experimental tokamak device in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand, July 25, 2023. Thailand's first experimental tokamak device was officially launched on Tuesday in a joint collaboration with China. The device, a joint collaboration between the Institute of Plasma Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) and the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT), arrived in Thailand in January and commenced trial runs in May. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) This photo taken on July 25, 2023 shows the experimental tokamak device in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand. Thailand's first experimental tokamak device was officially launched on Tuesday in a joint collaboration with China. The device, a joint collaboration between the Institute of Plasma Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) and the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT), arrived in Thailand in January and commenced trial runs in May. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) WILMINGTON, Del. President Joe Biden's son Hunter pleaded not guilty Wednesday to two tax crimes after a plea deal with federal prosecutors unraveled during a court hearing following the judge's concerns over the agreement. Hunter Biden was charged last month with two misdemeanor tax crimes of failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes from over $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018, and he was expected to plead guilty on Wednesday after he made an agreement with prosecutors, who were planning to recommend two years of probation. That deal is now on hold. But during the hearing Wednesday, there was a dispute in court over whether the initial agreement gave him protection against any future charges. U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, raised concerns about the language of the deal. The judge gave defense lawyers and prosecutors 30 days to explain why she should accept the initial deal. The collapsed the proceedings, a surprising development because the plea had been carefully negotiated over weeks and included a lengthy back-and-forth between Justice Department prosecutors and Biden's attorneys. The plea deal was meant to clear the air for Hunter Biden and avert a trial that would have generated weeks or months of distracting headlines. But the politics remain as messy as ever, with Republicans insisting he got a sweetheart deal and the Justice Department pressing ahead on investigations into Trump, the GOP's 2024 presidential primary front-runner. Prosecutors said in court Wednesday that Biden remained under federal investigation. WASHINGTON (AP) Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell briefly left his own press conference Wednesday after stopping his remarks midsentence and staring off into space for several seconds. McConnell approached the podium for his weekly press conference and began speaking about the annual defense bill on the floor, which he said was proceeding with good bipartisan cooperation. But he then appeared to lose his train of thought, trailing off with a drawn-out uh. The Kentucky senator then appeared to freeze up and stared vacantly for around 20 seconds before his colleagues in Republican leadership, who were standing behind him and could not see his face, grabbed his elbows and asked if he wanted to go back to his office. He did not answer, but slowly walked back to his office with an aide and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, a former orthopedic surgeon who is the No. 3 Republican in the Senate. After sitting down in his office for several minutes, McConnell later returned to the press conference and answered questions from the press. McConnell, 81, was out of the Senate for almost six weeks earlier this year after falling and hitting his head after a dinner event at a hotel. He was hospitalized for several days, and his office later said he suffered a concussion and fractured a rib. His speech has sounded more halting in recent weeks, prompting questions among some of his colleagues about his health. When he returned to answer questions, McConnell said he was fine. Asked if he is still able to do his job, he said, Yeah. McConnell's office declined to say whether he was seen by a doctor after the episode. After the press conference, Barrasso told reporters he wanted to make sure everything was fine and walked McConnell down the hall to his office. Barrasso said he has been concerned since McConnell was injured earlier this year, and I continue to be concerned. But asked about his particular concerns, Barrasso said: I said I was concerned when he fell and hit his head a number of months ago and was hospitalized. And I think he's made a remarkable recovery, he's doing a great job leading our conference and was able to answer every question the press asked him today. Walking out of his office Wednesday evening, McConnell again told reporters he was fine. He said President Joe Biden had called him. The president called to check up on me, and I told him I got sandbagged, McConnell joked, referencing a quote from Biden in June after he tripped over a sandbag and fell while onstage at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation. First elected to the Senate in 1984, McConnell became the longest-serving Senate party leader in history in January. He was easily reelected to his leadership post that same month, despite a challenge from Florida Sen. Rick Scott. Still, several Republicans, including No. 2 Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota and Barrasso, are seen as waiting in the wings to someday replace him. Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who is also seen as a potential candidate to succeed McConnell, told reporters after the episode, I support Senator McConnell as long as he wants to serve as leader. McConnell had polio in his early childhood and he has long acknowledged some difficulty as an adult in climbing stairs. In addition to his fall in March, he also tripped and fell four years ago at his home in Kentucky, causing a shoulder fracture that required surgery. The Republican leader is one of several senators who have been absent due to health issues this year. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, 90, was out of the Senate for more than two months as she recovered from a bout of shingles. And Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., 53, took leave for several weeks to get treatment for clinical depression. Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced that his administration is moving forward with new rules meant to push insurance companies to increase their coverage of mental health treatments. The new regulations, which still need to go through a public comment period, would require insurers to study whether their customers have equal access to medical and mental health benefits and to take remedial action, if necessary. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires that insurers provide the same level of coverage for both mental and physical health care though the administration and advocates argue insurers' policies restrict patient access. I dont know what the difference between breaking your arm and having a mental breakdown is its health, Biden said in an East Room event highlighting the announcement. We must fulfill the promise of true mental health parity for all Americans now. The rules, if finalized, would force insurers to study patient outcomes to ensure mental health and physical health benefits are administered equally, taking into account their provider network and reimbursement rates and whether prior authorization is required for care. The Democratic president's administration said it's aiming to address issues such as insurers enabling nutritional counseling for diabetes patients but making it more difficult for those with eating disorders or not having enough mental health providers in their provider networks, forcing subscribers to pay higher, out-of-pocket fees for needed help. Folks, it shouldnt be this way," Biden said. "It doesnt need to be this way. By measuring outcomes, the White House said, it will force insurers to make modifications to come into compliance with the law. Biden made tackling the nation's mental health crisis a part of his unity agenda issues he believed could win bipartisan support in Congress during his 2022 State of the Union address. PHNOM PENH, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Wednesday that he will retire after serving as the premier for 38 years in the Southeast Asian nation and will pass the reins of power to his eldest son Hun Manet. "Hun Manet will become the prime minister in just more than three weeks," he said in a televised speech on the state-run National Television of Cambodia (TVK). Hun Sen said the National Assembly will convene for the first time on Aug. 21, and the new five-year-term government will be sworn in on Aug. 22. Hun Sen said the political power will be still in his hand because he is still the president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), however, he will not interfere in the new government's leadership. Hun Sen, 70, said he will take the post of President of the Senate after the Senate Election on Feb. 25, 2024. Banco de Chile (NYSE:BCH Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $23.04 and last traded at $22.95, with a volume of 31571 shares. The stock had previously closed at $22.89. Analysts Set New Price Targets BCH has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Banco de Chile in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Itau BBA Securities raised shares of Banco de Chile from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $24.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Friday, June 2nd. Get Banco de Chile alerts: Banco de Chile Price Performance The company has a market cap of $11.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.09, a P/E/G ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.16, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 1.52. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $21.21 and its 200-day simple moving average is $20.91. Institutional Trading of Banco de Chile Banco de Chile ( NYSE:BCH Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Friday, April 28th. The bank reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.64 by $0.01. Banco de Chile had a return on equity of 29.47% and a net margin of 39.84%. The firm had revenue of $867.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $812.72 million. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Banco de Chile will post 2.55 EPS for the current year. Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of BCH. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. increased its holdings in shares of Banco de Chile by 89.7% in the second quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 23,049 shares of the banks stock worth $483,000 after acquiring an additional 10,897 shares in the last quarter. Intercontinental Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Banco de Chile in the 2nd quarter valued at $648,000. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. lifted its holdings in Banco de Chile by 57.0% during the 2nd quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 94,423 shares of the banks stock worth $1,979,000 after buying an additional 34,274 shares during the period. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC increased its position in Banco de Chile by 58.5% in the 1st quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC now owns 84,818 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,656,000 after buying an additional 31,314 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in Banco de Chile by 37,840.0% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 9,485 shares of the banks stock worth $185,000 after purchasing an additional 9,460 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 1.12% of the companys stock. About Banco de Chile (Get Free Report) Banco de Chile, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking and financial products and services to customers in Chile. It operates through Retail Banking, Wholesale Banking, and Treasury and Money Market segments. The company offers deposit products, such as checking accounts, current accounts, demand deposits and accounts, saving accounts, and time deposits; commercial, mortgage, consumer, working capital, syndicated, and installment loans; and credit cards. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Banco de Chile Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco de Chile and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MUSCAT, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi on Tuesday denounced the recent desecration of the Islamic holy book, the Quran, in Sweden. The Omani top diplomat made the remarks during a phone call with his Swedish counterpart Tobias Billstrom, the Omani Foreign Ministry said in a statement. He also stressed the importance of ending incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination against beliefs, it said. The two ministers agreed on the importance of promoting values of dialogue, tolerance and respect among nations and cultures, according to the statement. On Thursday, an Iraqi refugee who burned a copy of the Quran last month stomped on the holy book during a demonstration in Sweden's capital Stockholm, drawing widespread condemnation from Muslim-majority countries. Shares of DHT Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:DHT Get Free Report) were up 5% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $9.50 and last traded at $9.48. Approximately 1,155,011 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 53% from the average daily volume of 2,434,584 shares. The stock had previously closed at $9.03. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on DHT shares. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on DHT from $12.00 to $11.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of DHT from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their target price for the company from $12.00 to $10.00 in a report on Thursday, May 4th. TheStreet downgraded shares of DHT from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 17th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of DHT from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 13th. Get DHT alerts: DHT Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 3.03 and a current ratio of 3.48. The company has a market capitalization of $1.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.41 and a beta of -0.16. The firms fifty day moving average is $8.39 and its 200 day moving average is $9.34. DHT Cuts Dividend DHT ( NYSE:DHT Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The shipping company reported $0.23 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.30 by ($0.07). DHT had a return on equity of 10.65% and a net margin of 22.92%. The business had revenue of $93.90 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $97.36 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted ($0.14) EPS. DHTs revenue for the quarter was up 142.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that DHT Holdings, Inc. will post 1.13 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 25th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 18th were issued a $0.23 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 17th. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.86%. DHTs dividend payout ratio is currently 129.58%. Institutional Trading of DHT Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its position in DHT by 31.6% during the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 226,111 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $1,310,000 after buying an additional 54,349 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers raised its stake in DHT by 12.5% during the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 994,152 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $5,766,000 after purchasing an additional 110,333 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in DHT by 4.6% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 11,978,143 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $69,473,000 after purchasing an additional 522,016 shares during the period. Frontier Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in DHT by 84.0% during the first quarter. Frontier Wealth Management LLC now owns 261,927 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $1,624,000 after purchasing an additional 119,600 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of DHT by 21.0% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,070,263 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $6,208,000 after acquiring an additional 185,884 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 61.63% of the companys stock. About DHT (Get Free Report) DHT Holdings, Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates crude oil tankers primarily in Monaco, Singapore, and Norway. As of March 16, 2023, it had a fleet of 23 very large crude carriers. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for DHT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DHT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Holley Inc. (NYSE:HLLY Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 812,896 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 15% from the previous sessions volume of 709,729 shares.The stock last traded at $6.17 and had previously closed at $6.25. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have recently issued reports on HLLY shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Holley from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $7.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. Bank of America raised shares of Holley from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the company from $3.25 to $6.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 12th. Truist Financial increased their price target on Holley from $5.00 to $8.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, July 14th. Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of Holley from $3.75 to $6.25 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group began coverage on Holley in a report on Thursday, March 30th. They issued a buy rating and a $5.00 price target on the stock. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued 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 $6.33. Get Holley alerts: Holley Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 3.39 and a quick ratio of 1.00. The firms 50 day moving average is $3.94 and its 200 day moving average is $3.01. The firm has a market cap of $750.84 million, a P/E ratio of 12.08 and a beta of 1.47. Institutional Trading of Holley Holley ( NYSE:HLLY Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 11th. The company reported $0.06 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.01 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $172.21 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $160.98 million. Holley had a net margin of 9.26% and a negative return on equity of 1.82%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Holley Inc. will post 0.16 earnings per share for the current year. A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Wasatch Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Holley by 40.6% in the 1st quarter. Wasatch Advisors Inc. now owns 14,820,059 shares of the companys stock valued at $206,147,000 after buying an additional 4,280,253 shares during the period. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Holley by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 14,347,983 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,313,000 after buying an additional 202,154 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its stake in Holley by 8.2% during the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 4,699,159 shares of the companys stock worth $12,876,000 after acquiring an additional 355,688 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in shares of Holley by 7.0% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,163,354 shares of the companys stock worth $12,811,000 after purchasing an additional 206,489 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Holley by 38.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,889,896 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,704,000 after purchasing an additional 801,808 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 33.67% of the companys stock. Holley Company Profile (Get Free Report) Holley Inc designs, manufactures, and markets automotive aftermarket products for car and truck enthusiasts in the United States, Canada, Europe, and China. The company's products include carburetors, fuel pumps, fuel injection systems, nitrous oxide injection systems, superchargers, exhaust headers, mufflers, distributors, ignition components, engine tuners, automotive performance plumbing products, and exhaust products as well as shifters, converters, transmission kits, transmissions, tuners, and automotive software. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Holley Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Holley and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (TSE:AEM Free Report) (NYSE:AEM) Investment analysts at National Bank Financial issued their Q2 2023 EPS estimates for shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a research note issued on Thursday, July 20th. National Bank Financial analyst M. Parkin expects that the company will post earnings of $0.79 per share for the quarter. The consensus estimate for Agnico Eagle Mines current full-year earnings is $2.76 per share. National Bank Financial also issued estimates for Agnico Eagle Mines FY2024 earnings at $3.74 EPS. Get Agnico Eagle Mines alerts: Several other analysts have also weighed in on the stock. National Bankshares lowered their target price on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from C$98.00 to C$92.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their price target on Agnico Eagle Mines from C$99.00 to C$91.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on Agnico Eagle Mines from C$89.00 to C$91.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Raymond James boosted their price objective on Agnico Eagle Mines from C$65.00 to C$66.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of C$79.28. Agnico Eagle Mines Stock Up 1.0 % AEM stock opened at C$68.91 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 12.70, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 2.32. Agnico Eagle Mines has a one year low of C$49.58 and a one year high of C$82.90. The company has a fifty day moving average of C$68.18 and a 200-day moving average of C$70.55. The stock has a market capitalization of C$34.07 billion, a PE ratio of 10.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.64 and a beta of 0.80. Agnico Eagle Mines (TSE:AEM Get Free Report) (NYSE:AEM) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported C$0.77 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$0.68 by C$0.09. Agnico Eagle Mines had a net margin of 39.97% and a return on equity of 13.14%. The business had revenue of C$2.04 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$1.76 billion. Agnico Eagle Mines Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were issued a dividend of $0.541 per share. This represents a $2.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.14%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 31st. This is an increase from Agnico Eagle Miness previous quarterly dividend of $0.53. Agnico Eagle Miness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.85%. Agnico Eagle Mines Company Profile (Get Free Report) Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, a gold mining company, exploration, development, and production of precious metals. The company's mines are located in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico, with exploration and development activities in Canada, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Agnico Eagle Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Agnico Eagle Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American Assets Trust (NYSE:AAT Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $2.28-$2.36 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $2.28. The company issued revenue guidance of -. American Assets Trust Stock Down 0.6 % Shares of AAT stock traded down $0.13 on Tuesday, reaching $22.28. 589,503 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 478,574. American Assets Trust has a one year low of $16.04 and a one year high of $30.81. The company has a market cap of $1.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.33, a PEG ratio of 7.70 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44, a current ratio of 2.80 and a quick ratio of 2.80. The company has a 50-day moving average of $19.71 and a 200-day moving average of $21.38. Get American Assets Trust alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on AAT shares. Mizuho raised their price target on shares of American Assets Trust from $19.00 to $22.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of American Assets Trust in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Insider Buying and Selling at American Assets Trust Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Assets Trust In other American Assets Trust news, CEO Ernest S. Rady bought 120,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 1st. The shares were bought at an average price of $17.99 per share, for a total transaction of $2,158,800.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 7,197,628 shares in the company, valued at $129,485,327.72. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . In related news, CEO Ernest S. Rady purchased 120,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 1st. The stock was bought at an average cost of $17.99 per share, with a total value of $2,158,800.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 7,197,628 shares in the company, valued at $129,485,327.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, CEO Ernest S. Rady purchased 100,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 3rd. The stock was bought at an average cost of $17.66 per share, with a total value of $1,766,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 7,397,628 shares of the companys stock, valued at $130,642,110.48. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . Insiders bought a total of 562,140 shares of company stock valued at $10,376,718 in the last three months. Company insiders own 35.44% of the companys stock. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Squarepoint Ops LLC bought a new stake in shares of American Assets Trust during the 1st quarter valued at $305,000. Graham Capital Management L.P. purchased a new position in American Assets Trust in the 1st quarter worth about $304,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its position in American Assets Trust by 640.5% during the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 10,752 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $284,000 after purchasing an additional 9,300 shares during the period. Wexford Capital LP purchased a new position in American Assets Trust during the 1st quarter valued at about $208,000. Finally, Ergoteles LLC purchased a new position in American Assets Trust during the 1st quarter valued at about $207,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.74% of the companys stock. About American Assets Trust (Get Free Report) American Assets Trust, Inc is a full service, vertically integrated and self-administered real estate investment trust ("REIT"), headquartered in San Diego, California. The company has over 55 years of experience in acquiring, improving, developing and managing premier office, retail, and residential properties throughout the United States in some of the nation's most dynamic, high-barrier-to-entry markets primarily in Southern California, Northern California, Washington, Oregon, Texas and Hawaii. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for American Assets Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Assets Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Armadale Capital Plc (LON:ACP Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 0.95 ($0.01) and last traded at GBX 0.95 ($0.01), with a volume of 1073840 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 0.98 ($0.01). Armadale Capital Price Performance The company has a quick ratio of 41.47, a current ratio of 15.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.23. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 1.17 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 1.47. The stock has a market cap of 5.73 million, a P/E ratio of -17.75 and a beta of 1.06. About Armadale Capital (Get Free Report) Armadale Capital Plc, an investment company, focuses on natural resources projects in Africa. It holds 100% interest in the Mahenge Liandu Graphite project located in Tanzania. The company was formerly known as Watermark Global Plc and changed its name to Armadale Capital Plc in July 2013. Armadale Capital Plc was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Esher, the United Kingdom. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Armadale Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Armadale Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Athelney Trust plc (LON:ATY Get Free Report) declared a dividend on Tuesday, July 25th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 7th will be given a dividend of GBX 2.20 ($0.03) per share on Friday, September 22nd. This represents a yield of 1.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 7th. This is an increase from Athelney Trusts previous dividend of $2.10. The official announcement can be viewed at this link. Athelney Trust Price Performance LON ATY remained flat at GBX 195 ($2.50) during mid-day trading on Tuesday. The company had a trading volume of 500 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,739. Athelney Trust has a 1 year low of GBX 171.50 ($2.20) and a 1 year high of GBX 220 ($2.82). The company has a market capitalization of 4.21 million, a PE ratio of -240.74 and a beta of 0.26. The stocks fifty day moving average is GBX 193.78 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 199.50. Get Athelney Trust alerts: Athelney Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) Further Reading Athelney Trust plc is a close ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Chelverton Asset Management Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of United Kingdom. The fund seeks to invest in companies across diversified sectors. It invests in the stocks of the small-cap companies with a market capitalization of less than 300m with either a full listing on the London Stock Exchange or a trading facility on AIM or ISDX. Receive News & Ratings for Athelney Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Athelney Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Prelude Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:BIO Free Report) by 3.5% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 14,516 shares of the medical research companys stock after purchasing an additional 486 shares during the quarter. Prelude Capital Management LLCs holdings in Bio-Rad Laboratories were worth $6,953,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Heritage Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories by 100.0% in the 4th quarter. Heritage Wealth Management LLC now owns 66 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares during the period. WASHINGTON TRUST Co increased its holdings in Bio-Rad Laboratories by 62.5% during the 4th quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co now owns 78 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. CI Investments Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories by 50.0% during the 4th quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 84 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 28 shares during the last quarter. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Bio-Rad Laboratories in the 1st quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Raleigh Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in Bio-Rad Laboratories by 138.2% during the first quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 81 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. 64.11% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Bio-Rad Laboratories alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets BIO has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on shares of Bio-Rad Laboratories in a report on Friday, June 16th. They set an overweight rating and a $550.00 target price for the company. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, Bio-Rad Laboratories presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $603.00. Bio-Rad Laboratories Stock Up 0.9 % NYSE BIO traded up $3.60 on Tuesday, reaching $420.50. 172,499 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 191,350. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $379.49 and its 200 day moving average price is $432.39. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $344.63 and a fifty-two week high of $572.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 4.28 and a current ratio of 5.56. Bio-Rad Laboratories (NYSE:BIO Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The medical research company reported $3.34 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.24 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $676.80 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $689.28 million. Bio-Rad Laboratories had a positive return on equity of 4.10% and a negative net margin of 7.01%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 3.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $4.94 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. will post 13.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity In other Bio-Rad Laboratories news, EVP Michael Crowley sold 500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $379.39, for a total transaction of $189,695.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 6,040 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,291,515.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, CAO Ajit Ramalingam sold 198 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $368.30, for a total value of $72,923.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Michael Crowley sold 500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $379.39, for a total value of $189,695.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 6,040 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,291,515.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 17.06% of the companys stock. About Bio-Rad Laboratories (Free Report) Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc manufactures, and distributes life science research and clinical diagnostic products in the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada, and Latin America. The company operates through Life Science and Clinical Diagnostics segments. The Life Science segment develops, manufactures, and markets reagents, apparatus, and laboratory instruments that are used in research techniques, biopharmaceutical production processes, and food testing regimes. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BIO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:BIO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bio-Rad Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bio-Rad Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY Free Report) Investment analysts at DA Davidson issued their Q3 2023 earnings estimates for KeyCorp in a report issued on Friday, July 21st. DA Davidson analyst P. Winter expects that the financial services provider will earn $0.31 per share for the quarter. DA Davidson currently has a Buy rating and a $15.00 price target on the stock. The consensus estimate for KeyCorps current full-year earnings is $1.35 per share. DA Davidson also issued estimates for KeyCorps FY2023 earnings at $1.27 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $1.35 EPS. Get KeyCorp alerts: Several other analysts have also weighed in on KEY. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on KeyCorp from $16.00 to $14.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on KeyCorp in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating for the company. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on KeyCorp from $13.50 to $11.50 in a research report on Thursday, June 15th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on KeyCorp from $20.00 to $17.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price objective on KeyCorp from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, KeyCorp currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $14.40. KeyCorp Trading Up 6.9 % KEY traded up $0.80 during trading on Monday, hitting $12.42. 27,683,059 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 21,852,734. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.95. KeyCorp has a 1 year low of $8.53 and a 1 year high of $20.30. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $10.09 and a 200 day moving average price of $13.21. The firm has a market cap of $11.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 1.23. KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The financial services provider reported $0.27 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.32 by ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $1.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.62 billion. KeyCorp had a net margin of 14.93% and a return on equity of 13.78%. The firms revenue was down 11.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.54 EPS. KeyCorp Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 29th will be issued a $0.205 dividend. This represents a $0.82 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.60%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 28th. KeyCorps payout ratio is 54.67%. Insider Activity at KeyCorp In other news, insider Amy G. Brady sold 12,388 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.11, for a total transaction of $125,242.68. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 106,733 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,079,070.63. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other KeyCorp news, insider Amy G. Brady sold 12,388 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.11, for a total transaction of $125,242.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 106,733 shares in the company, valued at $1,079,070.63. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Andrew J. Paine III purchased 75,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 3rd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $9.78 per share, with a total value of $733,500.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now directly owns 335,414 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,280,348.92. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.54% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On KeyCorp Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of KEY. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in KeyCorp by 1.2% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 111,201,600 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,488,691,000 after purchasing an additional 1,278,193 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in KeyCorp by 10.3% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 89,759,881 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,123,794,000 after purchasing an additional 8,391,787 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners increased its stake in KeyCorp by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 32,534,320 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $566,984,000 after acquiring an additional 84,047 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada increased its stake in KeyCorp by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 21,965,131 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $491,578,000 after acquiring an additional 136,741 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of KeyCorp by 391.4% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 20,763,994 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $259,965,000 after acquiring an additional 16,538,866 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.69% of the companys stock. KeyCorp Company Profile (Get Free Report) KeyCorp operates as the holding company for KeyBank National Association that provides various retail and commercial banking products and services in the United States. It operates in two segments, Consumer Bank and Commercial Bank. The company offers various deposits, investment products and services; and personal finance and financial wellness, student loan refinancing, mortgage and home equity, lending, credit card, treasury, business advisory, wealth management, asset management, investment, cash management, portfolio management, and trust and related services to individuals and small and medium-sized businesses. See Also Receive News & Ratings for KeyCorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for KeyCorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 6,496,246 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $322,214,000. NextEra Energy makes up about 5.5% of EP Wealth Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 3rd biggest position. EP Wealth Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.32% of NextEra Energy as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in NEE. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in NextEra Energy by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 35,233,291 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,708,599,000 after buying an additional 749,254 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of NextEra Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $2,774,845,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in NextEra Energy by 66,613.3% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 30,263,816 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,530,055,000 after purchasing an additional 30,218,452 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its position in NextEra Energy by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 19,626,941 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,538,947,000 after acquiring an additional 315,356 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG increased its position in NextEra Energy by 7.0% in the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 13,532,957 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,131,355,000 after acquiring an additional 882,316 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.70% of the companys stock. Get NextEra Energy alerts: Insider Activity at NextEra Energy In related news, EVP Robert Coffey sold 4,000 shares of NextEra Energy stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.90, for a total transaction of $299,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 11,292 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $845,770.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other NextEra Energy news, EVP Robert Coffey sold 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.90, for a total transaction of $299,600.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 11,292 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $845,770.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO John W. Ketchum acquired 13,600 shares of NextEra Energy stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 14th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $74.26 per share, for a total transaction of $1,009,936.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 184,485 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,699,856.10. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.18% of the stock is owned by insiders. NextEra Energy Stock Performance Shares of NEE traded down $0.06 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $75.44. 8,822,672 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,142,192. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a 12 month low of $69.64 and a 12 month high of $91.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $152.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 0.46. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $73.98 and its 200-day moving average price is $75.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a current ratio of 0.53. NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The utilities provider reported $0.88 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.81 by $0.07. NextEra Energy had a net margin of 26.97% and a return on equity of 12.44%. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.81 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.11 earnings per share for the current year. NextEra Energy Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 30th were issued a dividend of $0.4675 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 26th. This represents a $1.87 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.48%. NextEra Energys payout ratio is 55.65%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In NEE has been the topic of a number of research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of NextEra Energy from $93.00 to $85.00 in a report on Thursday, June 8th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $93.00 price objective on shares of NextEra Energy in a report on Friday. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on NextEra Energy in a report on Wednesday, June 7th. They issued a buy rating and a $90.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on NextEra Energy in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Guggenheim cut their target price on NextEra Energy from $92.00 to $86.00 in a research note on Friday, July 7th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $91.36. NextEra Energy Profile (Free Report) NextEra Energy, Inc, through its subsidiaries, generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers in North America. The company generates electricity through wind, solar, nuclear, coal, and natural gas facilities. It also develops, constructs, and operates long-term contracted assets that consists of clean energy solutions, such as renewable generation facilities, battery storage projects, and electric transmission facilities; sells energy commodities; and owns, develops, constructs, manages and operates electric generation facilities in wholesale energy markets. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NEE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for NextEra Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NextEra Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eldorado Gold Co. (NYSE:EGO Free Report) (TSE:ELD) Analysts at National Bank Financial issued their Q2 2023 earnings estimates for Eldorado Gold in a report released on Thursday, July 20th. National Bank Financial analyst M. Parkin anticipates that the basic materials company will earn $0.09 per share for the quarter. National Bank Financial currently has a Outperform rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Eldorado Golds current full-year earnings is $0.40 per share. National Bank Financial also issued estimates for Eldorado Golds FY2024 earnings at $0.42 EPS. Get Eldorado Gold alerts: Other research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Eldorado Gold in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. TD Securities upped their price objective on Eldorado Gold from $11.50 to $12.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Monday, May 1st. Stifel Nicolaus cut Eldorado Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on Eldorado Gold in a research note on Friday, June 9th. They set an outperform rating and a C$17.00 price target for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $13.73. Eldorado Gold Trading Down 0.3 % Shares of EGO traded down $0.03 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $10.98. 253,353 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,662,986. Eldorado Gold has a 1-year low of $5.06 and a 1-year high of $12.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 1.91 and a current ratio of 2.92. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $10.24 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $10.06. Eldorado Gold (NYSE:EGO Get Free Report) (TSE:ELD) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The basic materials company reported $0.11 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.04 by $0.07. Eldorado Gold had a positive return on equity of 1.62% and a negative net margin of 1.10%. The company had revenue of $229.35 million for the quarter. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Eldorado Gold Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of EGO. Hollencrest Capital Management acquired a new stake in Eldorado Gold during the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Employees Retirement System of Texas acquired a new stake in shares of Eldorado Gold in the first quarter valued at $68,000. Prelude Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Eldorado Gold in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $78,000. LPL Financial LLC raised its holdings in shares of Eldorado Gold by 19.5% during the second quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 12,286 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $79,000 after acquiring an additional 2,008 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Eldorado Gold during the second quarter worth approximately $80,000. 59.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Eldorado Gold Company Profile (Get Free Report) Eldorado Gold Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mining, exploration, development, and sale of mineral products primarily in Turkey, Canada, Greece, and Romania. The company primarily produces gold, as well as silver, lead, and zinc. It holds a 100% interest in the Kisladag and Efemcukuru gold mines located in western Turkey; Lamaque gold mines located in Canada; and Olympias, Stratoni, Skouries, Perama Hill, and Sapes gold mines located in Greece, as well as the 80.5% interest in Certej development projects located in Romania. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Eldorado Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eldorado Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ANKARA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye on Tuesday strongly condemned the repeated "attacks" on the Quran, calling on Denmark to take necessary measures to prevent such "hate crimes." "We condemn in the strongest terms the attacks against our holy book, the Holy Quran," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "The persistence of the Danish authorities in condoning these attacks and providing protection to these provocations shows that they failed to see the gravity of the consequences that the incidents could create," the statement said. Such "attacks" not only offend billions of Muslims but also harm social peace and the culture of co-existence, it added. "The Danish authorities should take the necessary measures to ensure that this hate crime does not recur," the ministry said. On Tuesday, protesters from the far-right Danish group of Danish Patriots burned the Quran in front of the Egyptian and then Turkish embassies in Copenhagen. The same group held similar demonstrations in the past few days in front of the Iraqi embassy in Copenhagen. Laboratory Co. of America (NYSE:LH Get Free Report) is scheduled to issue its quarterly earnings data before the market opens on Thursday, July 27th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $4.21 per share for the quarter. Individual interested in participating in the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link. Laboratory Co. of America (NYSE:LH Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The medical research company reported $3.82 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.99 by ($0.17). Laboratory Co. of America had a net margin of 6.78% and a return on equity of 15.56%. The company had revenue of $3.78 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.70 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $6.11 earnings per share. Laboratory Co. of Americas revenue was down 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect Laboratory Co. of America to post $14 EPS for the current fiscal year and $15 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Laboratory Co. of America alerts: Laboratory Co. of America Trading Up 1.4 % NYSE LH opened at $221.84 on Wednesday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $220.52 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $230.47. Laboratory Co. of America has a 12 month low of $166.93 and a 12 month high of $222.33. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.66 billion, a PE ratio of 20.13 and a beta of 1.06. Laboratory Co. of America Dividend Announcement Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 8th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 8th will be given a $0.72 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 7th. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.30%. Laboratory Co. of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.13%. LH has been the subject of several recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their target price on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $265.00 to $240.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $260.00 to $235.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Laboratory Co. of America in a report on Saturday, July 8th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Mizuho decreased their price objective on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $277.00 to $257.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their target price on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $285.00 to $275.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $273.50. Insider Transactions at Laboratory Co. of America In other Laboratory Co. of America news, EVP Der Vaart Sandra D. Van sold 212 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $240.00, for a total transaction of $50,880.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 7,605 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,825,200. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, CEO Paul R. Kirchgraber sold 4,300 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $216.91, for a total value of $932,713.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 12,946 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,808,116.86. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Der Vaart Sandra D. Van sold 212 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $240.00, for a total value of $50,880.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 7,605 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,825,200. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 6,012 shares of company stock valued at $1,308,748. Corporate insiders own 0.65% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Laboratory Co. of America A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LH. Roundview Capital LLC increased its position in Laboratory Co. of America by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 7,793 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $2,055,000 after buying an additional 124 shares during the period. LSV Asset Management increased its position in Laboratory Co. of America by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 34,800 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $9,175,000 after buying an additional 400 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corp increased its position in Laboratory Co. of America by 105.7% during the 1st quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 1,654 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $441,000 after buying an additional 850 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc. bought a new position in Laboratory Co. of America during the 1st quarter worth $213,000. Finally, Sei Investments Co. increased its position in Laboratory Co. of America by 18.9% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 89,167 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $23,543,000 after buying an additional 14,186 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.75% of the companys stock. About Laboratory Co. of America (Get Free Report) Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings operates as a life sciences company that provides vital information to help doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and patients make clear and confident decisions. It operates in two segments, Labcorp Diagnostics and Labcorp Drug Development. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Laboratory Co. of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Laboratory Co. of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mettler-Toledo International (NYSE:MTD Get Free Report) will be posting its quarterly earnings results after the market closes on Thursday, July 27th. Analysts expect Mettler-Toledo International to post earnings of $9.99 per share for the quarter. Individual that wish to listen to the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link. Mettler-Toledo International (NYSE:MTD Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The medical instruments supplier reported $8.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $8.61 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $928.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $921.19 million. Mettler-Toledo International had a negative return on equity of 4,833.51% and a net margin of 22.45%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $7.87 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect Mettler-Toledo International to post $44 EPS for the current fiscal year and $49 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Mettler-Toledo International alerts: Mettler-Toledo International Trading Down 3.6 % MTD opened at $1,312.92 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 76.98. The firm has a market cap of $28.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.92, a P/E/G ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 1.15. Mettler-Toledo International has a 12 month low of $1,065.55 and a 12 month high of $1,615.97. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $1,322.75 and a 200 day moving average of $1,438.25. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Insider Transactions at Mettler-Toledo International Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. 51job reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Mettler-Toledo International in a report on Monday, May 8th. Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,650.00 to $1,525.00 in a report on Sunday, May 7th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Mettler-Toledo International in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,513.00 to $1,454.00 in a report on Monday, May 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,675.00 to $1,660.00 in a research report on Monday, May 8th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $1,502.71. In other news, insider Gerry Keller sold 449 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,400.00, for a total transaction of $628,600.00. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, insider Ann Ping Richard Wong sold 1,363 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,395.27, for a total transaction of $1,901,753.01. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 380 shares of the companys stock, valued at $530,202.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Gerry Keller sold 449 shares of Mettler-Toledo International stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,400.00, for a total transaction of $628,600.00. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 3,417 shares of company stock valued at $4,731,561. Corporate insiders own 2.40% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Mettler-Toledo International A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of MTD. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC lifted its position in Mettler-Toledo International by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 435 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $472,000 after buying an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. Maverick Capital Ltd. boosted its position in Mettler-Toledo International by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Maverick Capital Ltd. now owns 241 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $348,000 after acquiring an additional 9 shares during the last quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Mettler-Toledo International by 9.3% in the 4th quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 118 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $169,000 after buying an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC raised its stake in Mettler-Toledo International by 100.0% in the 1st quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 20 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 10 shares during the period. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Mettler-Toledo International by 8.0% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 176 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $242,000 after acquiring an additional 13 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 92.89% of the companys stock. About Mettler-Toledo International (Get Free Report) Mettler-Toledo International Inc manufactures and supplies precision instruments and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through five segments: U.S. Operations, Swiss Operations, Western European Operations, Chinese Operations, and Other. The company's laboratory instruments include laboratory balances, liquid pipetting solutions, automated laboratory reactors, titrators, pH meters, process analytics sensors and analyzer technologies, physical value analyzers, density and refractometry, thermal analysis systems, and other analytical instruments; and LabX, a laboratory software platform to manage and analyze data generated from its instruments. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Mettler-Toledo International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mettler-Toledo International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM Get Free Report) had its price objective upped by BTIG Research from $83.00 to $100.00 in a report released on Tuesday, FlyOnTheWall reports. BTIG Researchs price objective indicates a potential upside of 19.88% from the companys current price. A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on PHM. Raymond James upgraded PulteGroup from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $93.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 14th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on PulteGroup from $68.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Oppenheimer raised their target price on PulteGroup from $80.00 to $94.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on PulteGroup in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st. They issued a buy rating and a $95.00 target price for the company. Finally, Bank of America raised their target price on PulteGroup from $71.00 to $82.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 14th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, PulteGroup has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $76.25. Get PulteGroup alerts: PulteGroup Trading Up 6.2 % PHM stock traded up $4.89 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $83.42. 5,333,233 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,788,625. The firm has a market capitalization of $18.62 billion, a PE ratio of 7.18, a P/E/G ratio of 0.52 and a beta of 1.36. PulteGroup has a 1 year low of $35.99 and a 1 year high of $83.87. The company has a 50-day moving average of $73.85 and a 200-day moving average of $63.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 0.70. PulteGroup ( NYSE:PHM Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The construction company reported $3.21 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.52 by $0.69. The company had revenue of $4.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.01 billion. PulteGroup had a return on equity of 31.03% and a net margin of 16.22%. PulteGroups quarterly revenue was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.73 EPS. Analysts predict that PulteGroup will post 9.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. PulteGroup announced that its board has authorized a share repurchase program on Tuesday, April 25th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the construction company to reacquire up to 6.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CFO Robert Oshaughnessy sold 115,102 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.90, for a total transaction of $7,700,323.80. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 177,564 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,879,031.60. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CFO Robert Oshaughnessy sold 115,102 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.90, for a total value of $7,700,323.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 177,564 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,879,031.60. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Ryan Marshall sold 98,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.27, for a total value of $6,396,460.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 645,574 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $42,136,614.98. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 228,102 shares of company stock worth $15,101,034 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.83% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On PulteGroup Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of PulteGroup by 977.7% during the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,697,956 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $26,756,000 after acquiring an additional 4,262,030 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of PulteGroup during the 4th quarter valued at about $163,931,000. FMR LLC boosted its holdings in PulteGroup by 84.1% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,604,996 shares of the construction companys stock worth $210,099,000 after buying an additional 1,646,751 shares during the last quarter. Putnam Investments LLC boosted its holdings in PulteGroup by 14.7% in the 1st quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 11,010,203 shares of the construction companys stock worth $641,675,000 after buying an additional 1,406,893 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP lifted its stake in PulteGroup by 29.4% in the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 4,850,407 shares of the construction companys stock worth $203,232,000 after purchasing an additional 1,101,565 shares in the last quarter. 90.24% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. PulteGroup Company Profile (Get Free Report) PulteGroup, Inc, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the homebuilding business in the United States. It acquires and develops land primarily for residential purposes; and constructs housing on such land. The company also offers various home designs, including single-family detached, townhomes, condominiums, and duplexes under the Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, American West, and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods brand names. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for PulteGroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PulteGroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tsakos Energy Navigation (NYSE:TNP Get Free Report) was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a note issued to investors on Tuesday. Separately, TheStreet raised Tsakos Energy Navigation from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Get Tsakos Energy Navigation alerts: Tsakos Energy Navigation Trading Up 3.3 % Shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation stock traded up $0.59 on Tuesday, reaching $18.59. 237,324 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 332,364. The company has a market capitalization of $548.59 million, a P/E ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 0.10. Tsakos Energy Navigation has a 52 week low of $11.50 and a 52 week high of $24.78. The firms 50-day moving average is $17.70 and its two-hundred day moving average is $18.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a current ratio of 1.39. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Tsakos Energy Navigation Tsakos Energy Navigation ( NYSE:TNP Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 30th. The shipping company reported $2.94 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.79 by $0.15. Tsakos Energy Navigation had a return on equity of 30.73% and a net margin of 38.61%. The company had revenue of $261.21 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $209.20 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.12) earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Tsakos Energy Navigation will post 9.27 EPS for the current fiscal year. Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Millennium Management LLC increased its position in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation by 89.6% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,048,370 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $17,749,000 after purchasing an additional 495,349 shares during the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP grew its stake in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation by 20.6% during the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 447,857 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $7,582,000 after acquiring an additional 76,457 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP grew its stake in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation by 171.1% during the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 430,527 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $7,289,000 after acquiring an additional 271,733 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its stake in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation by 7.7% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 404,801 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $7,865,000 after acquiring an additional 28,916 shares during the period. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP grew its stake in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation by 5.2% during the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 365,800 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $5,586,000 after acquiring an additional 18,200 shares during the period. 23.19% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Tsakos Energy Navigation (Get Free Report) Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited provides seaborne crude oil and petroleum product transportation services worldwide. The company offers marine transportation services for national, major, and other independent oil companies and refiners under long, medium, and short-term charters. It also operates a fleet of double-hull vessels, comprising of conventional tankers, LNG carriers, and suezmax DP2 shuttle tankers. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Tsakos Energy Navigation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tsakos Energy Navigation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, July 25th, RTT News reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 4th will be paid a dividend of 0.35 per share by the financial services provider on Friday, September 1st. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.08%. This is a boost from Wells Fargo & Companys previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. Wells Fargo & Company has decreased its dividend by an average of 17.0% per year over the last three years and has raised its dividend every year for the last 2 years. Wells Fargo & Company has a dividend payout ratio of 24.6% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect Wells Fargo & Company to earn $4.71 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.20 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 25.5%. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Wells Fargo & Company Trading Down 2.0 % NYSE WFC traded down $0.92 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $45.50. 13,469,456 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 21,952,688. Wells Fargo & Company has a one year low of $35.25 and a one year high of $48.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.83. The stock has a market cap of $170.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.51, a P/E/G ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 1.12. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $42.19 and a 200-day simple moving average of $42.20. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Friday, July 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.16 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $20.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.11 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 16.18% and a return on equity of 11.15%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 20.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.74 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.86 EPS for the current year. Several brokerages recently issued reports on WFC. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $49.00 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $46.00 to $49.00 in a research report on Friday, April 14th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. VNET Group restated a maintains rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Monday, June 26th. Finally, Raymond James lifted their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $48.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, July 3rd. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $48.13. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Wells Fargo & Company Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in WFC. Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank lifted its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank now owns 5,625 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $232,000 after purchasing an additional 245 shares during the last quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC boosted its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 6.5% during the first quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 4,574 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $171,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. Linscomb & Williams Inc. lifted its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 8.7% in the first quarter. Linscomb & Williams Inc. now owns 5,005 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $242,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. lifted its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 0.9% during the first quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. now owns 48,295 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,805,000 after buying an additional 428 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cim Investment Management Inc. raised its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 5.2% in the first quarter. Cim Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,226 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $345,000 after purchasing an additional 455 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 72.11% of the companys stock. About Wells Fargo & Company (Get Free Report) Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Performers dance at a music and food festival in Zhaxizom Township, Tingri County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 23, 2023. [Photo by Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua] LHASA, July 25 (Xinhua) Applause resounded through an open space in Zhaxizom Township, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on Sunday night. The air was filled with excitement as performers presented enchanting songs and dances to the delighted crowd. The performance marked the beginning of a monthlong music and food festival in the township. Zhaxizom is situated approximately 4,200 meters above sea level at the foot of Mount Qomolangma, the world's highest peak. It is under the jurisdiction of Tingri County and is located about 49 kilometers from Mount Qomolangma's Base Camp, making it a frequent stop for people traveling to the mountain. "I planned to head straight to Mount Qomolangma Base Camp, but when I arrived in the small town, the amazing festival caught my attention. I decided to stay in the town for several more days to enjoy the music and cuisine here before continuing my journey," said a traveler surnamed Zhang, who is from northeast China's Liaoning Province. "The festival can help people learn more about our town. It not only enriches our lives but will also become a new attraction for tourists," said Migmar Lhamo, a college student residing in the town. Migmar Lhamo believes the festival will play a positive role in promoting the development of local culture and tourism. According to the county government, more events such as live music shows, fireworks displays, special delicacy fairs and bonfire parties will be held during the festival to provide both residents and tourists with an impressive experience of local culture. Almost three decades ago, China's central government made a major decision to rally support for Tibet's development. A pairing assistance policy was established in 1994 to link specific areas of Tibet with central state organizations, provincial-level regions and state-owned enterprises. Tingri County official Zhu Dongfeng said that in recent years, Tingri has been working with a pairing-policy group from Shanghai to boost the town's development, with the goal of achieving rural revitalization. "The music and food festival will contribute to boosting the local economy further," Zhu said. A tourist poses for photos with performers at a music and food festival in Zhaxizom Township, Tingri County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 23, 2023. [Photo by Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua] People watch a performance at a music and food festival in Zhaxizom Township, Tingri County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 23, 2023. [Photo by Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua] (Source: Xinhua) ATHENS, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Large areas of the Mediterranean have sweltered under an intense summer heatwave in recent weeks and Greece, Algeria and other affected areas are battling wildfires together. Hundreds of firefighters, helped by counterparts from Turkiye and Slovakia, have been battling blazes that have raged on the islands of Rhodes, Corfu and Evia since Wednesday amid hot, windy conditions, while emergency planes have been flying out tourists. FIRE-FIGHTING PLANE CRASH The pilot and co-pilot of a firefighting plane have died after their aircraft crashed on Tuesday while battling a forest fire on the Greek island of Evia, the country's Defense Ministry said. The victims were two Greek Air Force officers aged 27 and 34. A three-day mourning in the Armed Forces has been announced. "They sacrificed their lives to save others... In their memory, we continue the battle against nature's destructive forces," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said. The bodies of the two men were retrieved from the crash site near the coastal town of Karystos after a search and rescue operation, the Greek national news agency AMNA reported. Greek authorities have warned of an extreme risk of wildfires in several areas of the country due to the record-breaking heat. Greece has experienced its third heatwave this month. COAST FACING CRISIS Algeria was battling to contain devastating forest fires along its Mediterranean coast on Tuesday. The fire has killed at least 34 people, authorities said, adding they had managed to control about four-fifths of the blaze. The provinces of Bejaia, Jijel and Bouira known for their dense forests and agriculture fields are the most affected by the wildfires, which started on Sunday night and rapidly spread across the region because of strong winds, according to the Interior Ministry. The ministry said Tuesday that 80 percent of the fires had been put out. A ministry statement quoted by the daily newspaper of El Watan credited the uninterrupted mobilization of firefighters, the use of firefighting aircraft and a drop in wind and temperatures. The Algerian Defense Ministry said Monday night that 10 soldiers had died in the hardest-hit region of Bejaia. It added that 25 people were injured and evacuated to the closest hospitals. THE SILENT KILLER Scientists have described extreme heat as a "silent killer" taking a heavy toll on the vegetation and lives of people. Research published this month said as many as 61,000 people may have died in Europe's sweltering heatwaves last summer, suggesting preparedness efforts are falling fatally short. The extreme weather throughout July has caused havoc across the planet, with record temperatures in China, the United States and southern Europe sparking forest fires, water shortages and a rise in heat-related hospital admissions. The heat has also caused large-scale crop damage and livestock losses, said the World Weather Attribution(WWA), a global team of scientists that examines the role played by climate change in extreme weather. Agricultural production is also severely affected in some places, such as the U.S. corn and soybean crops, Mexican cattle, southern European olives as well as Chinese cotton, according to the WWA scientists. Without human-induced climate change, the events this month would have been "extremely rare," according to a study released by the WWA. Pan Yuzhen (L), an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Miao embroidery of the Miao ethnic group, teaches her daughter Zhang Yanmei to embroider in Taijiang County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 30, 2023. [Xinhua/Yang Wenbin] GUIYANG, July 25 (Xinhua) Pan Yuzhen, 77, was embroidering flying butterflies and peonies while leaning against a window. Hailing from Taijiang County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Pan is an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Miao embroidery of the Miao ethnic group. Dressed in Miao ethnic costumes featuring unique embroidery patterns, Pan has been a frequent guest on the international fashion stage. These experiences have made her well-known. "The girls in my hometown can embroider with needles from a very young age. Since I was five years old, I learned embroidery from my mother and sister. Miao embroidery techniques are complicated, but I have basically mastered all embroidery methods," Pan said, adding that she used to embroider for herself, but after she got married, she also made embroidered clothes for her family. Pan's daughter Zhang Yanmei, who was born in 1977, suffered from poliomyelitis at the age of three. "I remember when I was a child, my mother took me by boat to seek medical treatment along the Qingshui River, and we had also been to Beijing to see a doctor. Although doctors said it could not be cured, my mother never gave up," Zhang said. Women of Miao ethnic group are pictured during a parade in Taijiang County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 25, 2021. [Xinhua/Yang Wenbin] After corrective surgery, Zhang was finally able to walk with crutches, but due to the family's heavy financial burden, Pan began to sell Miao embroidery products across the country and traveled to a number of cities including Guiyang, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and other places by train. Zhang remembered that her mother was always back home in a hurry, bringing a lot of candies and new clothes to her, but she never complained about her hardship. In 1999, Zhang went to Beijing to join her mother after graduation from high school, to do business while learning embroidery. At that time, Pan had a stall in Panjiayuan Antique Market, covering about 6 or 7 square meters, where she met many foreign friends. "They advised me to go abroad and sell cultural and creative products. Over the 10 years, from 2006 to 2016, I went to the United States to do business related to Miao embroidery," Pan said. Xia Hua, chairwoman of Eve Group, a garment brand in China, has been deeply engaged in the intangible heritage embroidery industry for more than 30 years, and has been looking for embroiderers in the mountainous area of Guizhou for years. In 2016, Pan became a contracted embroiderer of Xia's handicraft workshop. Xia then took Pan and other embroiderers from Guizhou to the United Kingdom to participate in various fashion show activities. Foreigners who were interested in Miao embroidery flocked to take photos with the Chinese embroiderers. Pan Yuzhen, an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Miao embroidery of the Miao ethnic group, embroiders in Taijiang County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 30, 2023. [Xinhua/Yang Wenbin] With the help of Xia and her team, Pan's embroidery works have been integrated into international fashion designs, becoming both haute couture fashions for supermodels and exquisite handicrafts with ethnic characteristics. "Foreigners are fond of our embroidery, especially at Christmas. They even queue up just to buy an embroidery decorated notebook or embroidery pendant for their families. I never thought that the craftsmanship handed down by my ancestors would sell so well abroad," Pan said. "Miao embroidery is not only the pride of our Miao people, but also the pride of our Chinese people," Pan said, "Now, not only me, but every family in Taijiang County is engaged in the Miao costume business. I am 77 years old now, and I want to pass my embroidery skills down to the younger generation, hoping that they can continue to inherit our Miao ancestors' unique skills." Zhang has taken over her mother's business and helps her run a Miao embroidery clothing processing plant. She also serves as the chairwoman of the Taijiang County association for the physically disabled, helping 10 disabled households to grow indigo plants which are used for dyeing cloth, and leading six disabled embroiderers in completing Miao embroidery orders. Today, the Miao embroidery industry has become a major distinctive industry in Taijiang County. Zhang is not only a role model for local disabled people, but also gives them hopes. (Source: Xinhua) ISTANBUL, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye has sent two planes to neighboring Greece to help battle wildfires, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler said on Wednesday. "Our Greek friends are currently fighting forest fires. We immediately sent two of our planes for support at the instruction of our president," Guler was quoted as saying by the state-run Anadolu news agency. Guler also said he offer condolences to his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias after two Greek air force pilots died in the battle to extinguish a forest fire. The pilot and co-pilot of a firefighting plane died after their aircraft crashed on Tuesday while battling a forest fire on the Greek island of Evia, Greece's Defense Ministry said. Firefighters have been battling over 500 wildfires that broke out across the country in the past two weeks amid scorching heatwaves, Greek government officials said on Monday. Telstra, Australias largest telecommunications company, last week announced the axing of almost 500 jobs. The cuts are part of its T25 restructuring plan, aimed at slashing costs by $500 million by the end of 2025. The cuts will be mostly in the companys enterprise division, which includes data, connectivity and network services for large corporate clients. The job losses will be achieved through increased digitisation, automation and other new technology, replacing legacy products and services. Telstra store in Chadstone Shopping Centre, Victoria. [Photo by Wpcpey / CC BY-SA 4.0 The Communications Workers Union (CWU), which covers only some of the affected workers, but has substantial membership in other parts of Telstra, is working to ensure there is no organised opposition to the latest round of job cuts. In the unions July 23 news bulletin, under the heading Telstra Redundancies Again, members were told matter-of-factly that the company had announced significant job cuts earlier in the week. The CWU reported that some jobs would be moved offshore, with Telstra admitting the remuneration is below that paid in Australia. The union accepted at face value Telstras assurance that If there are no volunteers, then no one will be made redundant. The sole course of action proposed by the CWU bureaucracy was for workers who have any issues arising from these redundancies to contact the union. In other words, this is a matter for the individual workers who have been sacked, and under no circumstances should the other 29,500 workers at Telstra be involved in a struggle to defend the jobs of their colleagues. The union bureaucracy took the same position in February, when more than 100 retail jobs were eliminated at Telstra, on the basis that the bulk of its members in the Broadband/Optical Fibre area were not affected. As the latest cuts make clear, no jobs at Telstra are safe from managements axe. Telstra is proceeding with the deepening job cuts even after slugging customers with price rises of up to 20 percent earlier this month, and despite the companys strong financial position. Telstra CEO Vicky Brady presented shareholders with a half yearly report in February in which she boasted of strong and continued growth. Income was $11.6 billion, up 6.4 percent. Earnings before tax and other costs was $3.9 billion, up 11.4 percent. After-tax profit for the six months was $900 million, meaning the company was on track to beat its 20212022 full-year profit of $1.8 billion. Appreciating that stock holders would not be content with increased revenue alone, Brady assured them that she remained committed to Telstras $500 million T25 cost-cutting and job-slashing restructure. A Telstra spokesman told the Australian Financial Review in March that while the company did not have job reduction targets under T25, we have always said that we expect some workforce reductions as technology and customer needs change. With rapid advances in telecommunications and computing technologies in a highly competitive industry, Brady is under pressure from shareholders to maintain profits. Revenue from some of Telstras traditional telecommunications services has been declining under competition from companies such as Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks and Megaport that provide software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) services. These services allow businesses to manage their data through cloud-based networks rather than physical centres, and are typically cheaper to use. Analysts from financial services provider Morgan Stanley say traditional telecommunications such as those provided by Telstra were not designed to handle the demands of remote working and mobile-based applications. With greater numbers of applications moving to the cloud there is more strain on bandwidth, which has spearheaded growth of the SD-WAN market, a Morgan Stanley report said, warning the transition was a net negative for telecommunications companies with big fixed-line businesses, such as Telstra. Morgan Stanley estimates that revenues in Telstras $900 million data and connectivity business are declining by about 10 percent annually, making it more reliant on mobile and infrastructure operations to maintain profits. This means Telstra will be seeking to impose further productivity increases and cost savings through cuts to jobs, pay and conditions in all areas of its business. The ongoing T25 job cuts follow the T22 restructure launched by former CEO Andy Penn in June 2018. T22 slashed $2.7 million in annual costs and more than 8,000 permanent positions over four years, along with 1,600 indirectly employed workers. The axing of this large number of jobs would not have been possible without the complete collaboration of the CWU bureaucracy. But this is nothing newthe union has demonstrated over decades that it will impose every demand of Telstra and its financial backers. The CWU, previously known as the Communication Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU), has overseen the destruction of tens of thousands of jobs since Telstra (then Telecom Australia) carried out its Project Mercury restructuring, which was launched with the backing of the Keating Labor government in 1993. The overhaul was aimed at preparing the grounds for privatisation, which was carried out under the ensuing Howard Liberal-National Coalition government with no opposition from the unions. Underscoring the completely bipartisan character of the pro-business program, the Labor administration of Prime Minister Julia Gillard finalised the sell-off in 2011 by relinquishing the governments remaining Telstra shares. While the privatisation has been a boon to powerful corporate interests, it has been accompanied by almost endless restructuring aimed at boosting profits. In 1980, Telstra had a workforce of around 90,000. By 2015, this had been slashed to 36,000 full-time employees and 38,000 contractors. Today, the company has just 26,000 full-time workers and 19,000 contractors. Telstra workers must learn from these developments. To defeat the endless series of cuts and restructuring operations, workers will need new organisations of struggle. Rank-and-file committees must be built to unite all Telstra workers, including field technicians, IT, retail, administration, full-time and contract workers. These committees would provide an avenue for workers to democratically discuss the attacks they confront and plan a counteroffensive, independently of the union bureaucracy. This will also serve as a means for workers to link up with other workers across Australia and globally, in the telecommunications sector and more broadly, and take up a unified struggle against cuts to jobs, wages and conditions. That means a fight for a workers government and for socialism. Workers must reject the subordination of their jobs and livelihoods, and crucial social infrastructure, to the profit demands of a tiny corporate elite. Telstra, along with other telecommunications companies, major corporations and the banks, must be placed under public ownership and democratic workers control, to meet the needs of workers and society as a whole. In the traditional summer interview of Germanys top politicians, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz announced closer cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Speaking to broadcaster ZDF on Sunday in his hometown of Arnsberg, he said the taboo of AfD participation in government only applied to legislative bodiesfrom the European Parliament to the state parliaments. CDU leader Friedrich Merz [Photo by DBT / Tobias Koch] At the municipal level, the situation was different, he said. If a district administrator in Thuringia and a mayor in Saxony-Anhalt were elected by the AfD, these were democratic elections: We have to accept that. And of course, in local parliaments, we have to look for ways to jointly shape the city, the state, the district. On Monday, Merz partially retracted his comments after he met with considerable opposition within his own party. Several state leadersincluding Hendrik Wust (North Rhine Westphalia), Boris Rhein (Hesse), Tobias Hans (Saar), Kai Wegner (Berlin) and Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soder (Christian Social Union, CSU)publicly distanced themselves from Merzs comments. Merz claimed he had been misunderstood. Political cooperation with the AfD remains a taboo at all levels. But this is pure eyewash. What he said in his interview is part of a massive shift to the right that all parties in the Bundestag (federal parliament) are currently undergoing. If some CDU representatives nevertheless speak out against open cooperation with the AfD, it is because they think the time is too early. There is a broad opposition to the right-wing extremists among the population, including in parts of the CDUs electorate. Hardly anyone wants the Nazis back. But the claim that there is a taboo or a political firewall separating the democratic parties from the AfD is absurd. In truth, the AfD, launched ten years ago as a nationalist anti-Euro party, has been used and promoted by the state apparatus, the secret services, and the media to promote and enforce the return of militarism and German great power politics. Notwithstanding its openly fascist wing and its relativisation of Nazi crimesformer AfD leader Alexander Gaulands trivialisation of Nazi rule as just so much bird shit in an otherwise glorious German history is still well rememberedthe AfD has been systematically integrated into the political system. Its members sit in the Bundestag andwith the exception of Schleswig-Holsteinin all state parliaments. If one adds up the parliamentary allowances, parliamentary group subsidies, lump-sum expenses, and state party funding, the AfD is financed every year to the tune of hundreds of millions from the state coffers. AfD representatives chair important parliamentary committees, are quoted extensively by the media and are regular guests on political talk shows. The federal government and all Bundestag parties have adopted the AfDs positions on important issues of military rearmament and refugee policy. Now a new stage of cooperation is being prepared in the form of direct government participation by the AfD. Not least, Merzs advance served to probe the terrain. Part of this shift to the right is the replacement of Mario Czaja by Carsten Linnemann as CDU Secretary General. The spokesman for the arch-conservative CDU Economic Association, Linnemann advocates radical law-and-order policies and favours police state measures. Immediately after his appointment as the second man in charge of the CDU, Linnemann called for fast-track legal proceedings against youths (some with a migration background) who had fought in a Berlin swimming pool. There needs to be fast-track proceedings against perpetrators of violence, the judicial system needs to be organised accordingly, Linnemann told the Bild-Zeitung. Anyone who attacks people in an open-air swimming pool at lunchtime must sit before a judge in the evening and be sentenced. Even on weekends. The Criminal Procedure Code provided for this and the sentence must also be fully exhausted, up to and including imprisonment, he said. In the same newspaper, Linnemann also called for an overhaul of unemployment benefits, called Burgergeld. Those who can work and receive these benefits must also take a job, he said. Otherwise, they cannot expect any help from the state. That is why, when we come to government, we will take on the Burgergeld, he declared. In other words: If you do not work, you should not eat. The AfD applauded. Cooperation with fascists is also being pushed at the European level. The leader of the conservative European Peoples Party (EPP), Manfred Weber (CSU), is trying to build a party alliance in the European Parliament with the right-wing populist European Conservatives and Reformers (ECR) group and the far-right ID (Identity and Democracy) group. The ECR is an alliance of right-wing and fascist parties, including the AfD and the fascist Fratelli dItalia, whose leader Giorgia Meloni has been head of the Italian government since last autumn. The ID group includes far-right and separatist parties such as the Belgian Vlaams Belang, the Danish Peoples Party, the Italian Lega, and the French fascists of Marine Le Pen (Rassemblement National). Above all, EPP leader Weber is courting Italian Prime Minister Meloni and her fascist Fratelli dItalia. He has largely adopted the position of the fascists in repelling refugees from Europes borders and has held talks with Meloni on several occasions. In doing so, he is acting in collusion with the EU Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen (CDU), who, together with Meloni, agreed the dirty deal against refugees with Tunisian President Kais Saied. Weber told the Tagesspiegel: If Ms. Meloni continues to focus on cooperation and European solutions as she did with the Tunisia agreement, she is as much a contact for us as Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and many liberals. Melonis admiration for Mussolini and Italian fascism is well known. As a teenager, she had joined the Movimento Sociale Italiano (MSI), which stood for the continuity of Mussolinis fascists and was involved in the far-right terrorist attacks of the 1960s and 70s. After the MSI renamed itself as Alleanza Nazionale in 1994 and eventually dissolved into Silvio Berlusconis Forza Italia, Meloni and others founded the Fratelli dItalia in 2012 to continue the MSI tradition. But it is not only the CDU and CSU that seek partnership with Meloni and the Italian fascists. Earlier this year, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Social Democratic Party, SPD) rolled out the red carpet for Meloni and assured her of his firm determination to work together. The strengthening of the AfD and the preparations to bring it into government have deep objective causes. They are rooted in the terminal crisis of capitalism and serve to prepare massive social and political attacks on the working class. The extreme increase in social inequality, the escalation of the proxy war against Russia and growing international rivalries are destroying the mechanisms of bourgeois democracy and social compromise. In 1933, a conspiracy of the political, economic and military elites brought Hitler to power because they needed the Nazis to crush the workers movement and wage a war to conquer Lebensraumi.e. raw materials and exploitation opportunities for German capital. For the same reasons, fascist parties are again being built and promoted everywhere today. In the US, President Donald Trump tried to prevent the election of his successor Joe Biden with an attempted coup on January 6, 2021. Meanwhile, the Republicans, one of the two major bourgeois parties, are dominated by fascists. Nevertheless, Biden insists on working with his Republican friends. In France, the far-right Rassemblement National became the second strongest party in the last two presidential elections. In Italy, Mussolinis successors now provide the prime minister. And in numerous smaller European countriesAustria, Sweden, Denmark, Finlandfar-right parties were or are involved in government. But if CDU leader Merz or EPP leader Weber think they can bring the far-right AfD into government without there being an uproar against this, they are mistaken. The memory of Nazi crimes is deeply anchored in the consciousness of large parts of the population in this country. And the demand Never again fascism! is still alive. While the ruling class continues its reactionary great power policy with war and dictatorship, the working class worldwide is beginning to fight against wage cuts and social cuts. This movement must be linked to the struggle against war and dictatorship and tied in with the revolutionary, socialist traditions. It is not possible to fight fascism with repressive state measures or in alliance with supposedly democratic, bourgeois parties. What is necessary is the building of a party that unites the international working class in the struggle against social inequality, fascism, war and their cause, capitalism, and thus puts an end to the right-wing spectre: that party is the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) and the Fourth International. Global climate developments in the month of July, which have shattered heat records and brought devastating fires and flash floods, have made clear that capitalist-induced global warming, fueled by the unrestrained emission of carbon into the atmosphere in the pursuit of profit, has reached a tipping point, with the direct effects being felt in real time by much of the worlds population. As climate scientist Michael Mann explained Monday to CBS News, As we continue to burn fossil fuels, put carbon pollution into the atmosphere, we are warming the planet and are getting a little extra kick from an El Nino event a little extra octane added to human-caused climate change the planet is warming and will continue to warm until we stop dumping carbon into the atmosphere. He warned that dangerous climate change has arrived. For more than three weeks the average global temperature has remained above the previous hottest temperature ever recorded, 16.92 degrees Celsius (62.46 degrees Fahrenheit), seen in mid-August 2016. This measure, which averages the global temperature over 24 hours, peaked at 17.23 Celsius (63.01 F) on July 6, more than 1 degree Celsius above average, and has remained elevated, with no sign of abating. The 10 hottest years on record have all been experienced since 2010, with 2023 on trend to set another record. [Photo: Climate Reanalyzer ] Climate scientists at World Weather Attribution, who assess the degree to which climate change influences local weather patterns, reported Tuesday that the heat seen this month in the US and Europe would have been virtually impossible without the impact of human-induced climate change, and that extended heat waves are no longer rare thanks to continued carbon emissions. The record global heat has been driven by temperatures which, despite remaining frigid, are up to 40 degrees Celsius above seasonal averages in Antarctica, with sea ice forming at a rate slower than ever recorded in the Southern Hemispheres winter months. As of June, prior to the temperatures recorded this month, Antarctic sea ice was 0.9 million square miles (2.28 million square kilometers) below the average recorded between 1980 and 2010 for June, and below the previous monthly average record low recorded in 2019. To say unprecedented isnt strong enough, Dr. Edward Doddridge, a physical oceanographer, told ABC News in Australia about the current developments in Antarctica. For those of you who are interested in statistics, this is a five-sigma event. So its five standard deviations beyond the mean. Which means that if nothing had changed, we'd expect to see a winter like this about once every 7.5 million years. This month has witnessed the eruption of fires on the Greek islands of Rhodes and Corfu, forcing tens of thousands of residents and tourists to flee for their lives. Meanwhile, wildfires continue to burn across Canada, consuming a record-smashing 11.9 million hectares of land (29.4 million acres), repeatedly pushing out plumes of hazardous smoke that are choking tens of millions across North America. The waters off Floridas southern coast hit 38.38 C (101.1 F) on Monday, a new global record. At these temperatures, critical coral ecosystems are bleaching, putting them at risk for disease and mass die-offs. High water temperatures promote the growth of toxic algae blooms and also decrease oxygen concentration, which can lead to mass fish die-offs. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates that the impact of climate change has doubled in size the scope of an oceanic heat wave forecast for September, with half of global ocean waters expected to be affected. Multiple heat domes, ridges of stationary high pressure, remain in place over much of the United States, Southern Europe, Northern Africa, India and Asia, putting tens of millions at risk of death from baking temperatures. Prolonged high temperatures are the deadliest of weather events, killing thousands around the world every year. A study published this month in Nature Medicine found that 61,672 people died across Europe in the three hottest months of 2022 due to heat-related illnesses. With temperatures reaching 45 degrees C (113 F) this month in Italy and Greece, a similar, or worse, death toll is expected. While the elderly and the homeless are typically the most impacted by extreme heat, there are also hundreds of millions of workers globally who must continue to labor in sweltering factories or outdoors in the sun, regardless of the conditions, putting them at increased risk of heatstroke or death. The Arizona Republic reported Monday that 26-year-old farmworker Dario Mendoza died last week after collapsing under extreme heat in Yuma, Arizona. Farmworkers are 20 times more likely to die of heat exposure than other workers, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Electricians with IBEW Local 11 pull out an old copper cable line under excessive heat from the old Cesar Chavez Avenue Viaduct in Los Angeles, Thursday, July 13, 2023. [AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes] While the working class and poor around the world are bearing the brunt of the effects of climate change, all the limited pledges from capitalist governments and corporations to curb emissions have been dropped just as quickly as they were signed, in favor of piling up mountains of wealth and waging war. The Paris Climate Accords adopted in 2015, with the promise of limiting a global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, is but a distant memory, with the actions taken since then by various governments all too little and too late. The US federal government is expected to spend an average of $80 billion per year between 2022 and 2027 on climate technology and clean energy, while it will spend more than $876 billion on its military in 2022 alone, one of the largest polluters on the planet. In effect, the approach of capitalist governments to climate change is the same let it rip strategy adopted in relation to the pandemic. Millions, potentially billions, of deaths are the price to be paid by the working class and impoverished masses as long as the ruling elite can live in wealth and comfort thanks to the latest scientific advances. The crisis is used instead to squeeze the working class and funnel ever greater sums of money to the banks and big business. Ever loyal to profit and their national bourgeoisie, middle class environmental protest groups will continue to limit their appeals for action to the ruling class. The best example of this is the Green Party in Germany, which has become the leading party of war and an advocate for the use of nuclear weapons. The ongoing climate catastrophe and the immediate devastation being felt around the world make clear that there is no national solution to climate change. Appeals to governments and corporations are a dead end. The root of the problem is not humanity, as the most misanthropic environmentalists argue, but capitalism. The working class, united internationally, must take action to transform social relations and establish socialism in order to confront the global challenge of climate change. Members of ILWU Local 500 in Canada [Photo: ILWU Canada ] On Tuesday, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) in Canada called for a stop work meeting where 7,400 workers were told by the union leadership that it was now recommending a vote in favor of the Terms of Settlement imposed by the government of Prime Minister Trudeau. Workers are being forced to vote a second time on a sellout agreement they rejected after their union shut down their 13-day strike. On the US West Coast, the ILWU leadership continues to keep 22,000 dockworkers on the job without a contract after more than a year, giving workers no access to the terms of a Tentative Agreement produced in backroom deals between the ILWU, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), Democratic Party officials such as Bidens acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles Gene Seroka. The ILWU bureaucracy has made every effort to isolate dockworkers struggles across the border and prevent a joint strike that could effectively bring the North American and global supply chain to a halt. Despite all efforts, opposition is mounting among the rank and file, who furiously oppose the pro-corporate intervention from both the Trudeau and Biden administrations and are angry about the conspiratorial character of the so-called negotiations. This is taking place in the context of a major escalation of class struggle worldwide that is gaining momentum. Anger is rapidly escalating among rank-and-file UPS workers to a last-minute deal announced by the Teamsters union in advance of a July 31 strike deadline. At the same time, a wave of strikes, from WGA writers and SAG-AFTRA actors, to Los Angeles hotel workers, to National Steel Car Workers in Ontario, continue. All of these struggles express workers determination to fight back against years of concessions. Dockworkers have expressed calls for unity against the strikebreaking intervention by governments on both sides of the US-Canada border. Raul, a US West Coast dockworker whose name has been changed to protect his identity, spoke to the World Socialist Web Site about the issues involved in this struggle. Responding to the Canadian government sending dockworkers back to work, Raul said, How do you vote that a worker cant go on strike? That baffles me. He compared Trudeaus move to slavery. So basically, its forced slavery or forced labor and you get all the profits, keep all the profits and feed us pennies. It is not cool to force somebody to go and accept something like that, he continued. If you actually lived in reality and actually had to go to work, you wouldnt accept it. Whoever the damn person is up in Canada [ILWU Canada President Rob Ashton] thats forcing those guys to go back to work, they dont live in reality. They dont have to go to the gas station. They dont go grocery shopping for themselves. They dont drive around in society and see how messed up the roads are. Raul stated that, in his opinion, both Americans and Canadians are being cheated out of a fair contract. Were getting shorthanded, underhanded, uppercutted, body shot, thats what were getting, he said. Every working person that wants to continue to work and potentially retire with a decent pension is getting f***ed. And it is definitely going to be worse after that Canadian contract, if its four years, four years from now theyre going to get f***ed again. And after this one gets voted up for the US dockworkers, after six years its going to be the only way. Asked who bore responsibility, Raul said: Whoever is in there, [ILWU International President] Willie Adams. ILWU International President Willie Adams. [Photo: ILWU Coast Longshore Division] Raul then proposed a way forward, stating, The only way to do this is collectively as a whole. If all of the people in the world that go out here and go to work on a daily basis band together and say, Were just fed up with it. Everything that we need as a necessity rises in price, and you dont want to pay us accordingly, what are you trying to do? Make us live in poverty? And instead of somebody being worried about what Im making over here, why not we all get together and make sure that were all making a decent living? And thats the only way it can truly happen is if we all band together and say, pay us or you figure it out. He also emphasized the need to expand the struggle to other industries. You know the actors that are out on strike, we should all be on strike as well. Addressing the role of the pro-corporate union bureaucracy, Raul stated, Thats why the big companies and corporations keep profiting because they [the union bureaucrats] do this divide and conquer and smear tactics, pitting the workers against each other. And if thats what it is, be a man and say that. Dont smile in my face and stab me in the back. Im talking about the union bureaucrats, the politicians, anybody thats forcing someone to go to work and continue to make somebody else rich and they dont give a damn about the people thats making them rich. Just pay us what were worth. The crime rate will go down, the economy will go up. A dockworker from San Diego by the alias name of Daniel also spoke to the WSWS, expressing his solidarity with all dockworkers and his willingness to fight alongside them. To all my fellow dockworkers, if you pay attention globally, then your actions are being taken as one of great necessity and you all should not be afraid to stand on whats right, Daniel said. Your actions are more than right because its well past time that the corporations be reminded that they have thrived off of we the peoples backs, and actually see that there is no profit without the people. Not only is this a worthy cause for today, but more importantly, for the future workforce, our children. Just ask yourselves, why are we always in these dogfights every so many years while corporations profits continue to grow? It cant be from a lack of commitment to our jobs. It appears the corporations are in cahoots and we laborers are to accept the status quo or else. Well, I say its about time they find out we are not accepting the status quo and will not allow them to replace us with these so-called robots. You cant continue to put profit over human beings and think that its okay. Stand strong, brothers and sisters. This fight is bigger than just us. The way forward for dockworkers lies in forging a fighting unity with other sections of workers in a common struggle against the gang-up of the White House, Wall Street and the pro-corporate trade union leadership. Dockworkers in the US, Canada and internationally must join forces and take the initiative through the formation of rank-and-file committees. These committees, democratically run by workers themselves, should broaden the fight to other sections of logistics workers including workers at UPS, who have established a rank-and-file committee. If you or other dockworkers in your area wish to form a rank-and-file committee, fill out the form below today! On July 20, Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. testified before the Republican-led House Judiciary Committees Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. The hearing took place two days after former president Donald Trump announced that he had received a target letter from special counsel Jack Smith. Trump said he expected to be indicted on criminal charges related to the attempted overthrow of the 2020 presidential election, which culminated in the attack on Congress by a fascist mob summoned by Trump on January 6, 2021. In the face of an unprecedented and rapidly escalating political crisis of the entire US political system in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election, the bulk of the Republican Party and the entire leadership of the House Republican conference have lined up behind Trump, portraying the fascist would-be dictator as the victim of a Democratic-led government witch-hunt. Two days before Trump revealed the special counsels target letter, the New York Post published on its website a two-minute video showing RFK Jr. telling associates at an upscale Manhattan restaurant that Jews and Chinese people are less susceptible to the virus that is the cause of the global COVID-19 pandemic, and that this may be the result of deliberate genetic engineering. This version of the infamous blood libel against the Jews was the latest iteration of RFK Jr.s combination of anti-vaccination propaganda, anti-China anti-communism and anti-Semitism that has characterized his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination from the outset. Following the exposure of this fascistic outburst, which was roundly condemned by other members of the Kennedy family and led to a further drop in RFK Jr.s poll numbers, the House Republican leadership openly embraced him. In return, he eagerly and no less openly placed himself at their disposal in seeking to deflect attention from Trumps crimes and portray both the ex-president and himself as victims of a deep state conspiracy. The Judiciary Committee is headed by top Trump attack dog Jim Jordan of Ohio, who was one of 147 House Republicans who voted to overturn the 2020 election. Under the leadership of Jordan, the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, which he set up, has held hearings advancing the false narrative that conservatives and Trump supporters are being unfairly targeted by the various federal police and intelligence agencies. At the outset of the last weeks hearing, Jordan took time to introduce a good friend of mine, former Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich, a Democrat, who is currently serving as Kennedys campaign manager. Over the last year, Kucinich has worked with right-wing elements, including the increasingly fascistic Libertarian Party, to forge left-right unity against the corporate duopoly. Speaking to a smiling Kucinich, Jordan said, We appreciate your service to the 1st Amendment. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., testifies before a House Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, July 20, 2023. [AP Photo/Patrick Semansky] In his nearly three hours of testimony, Kennedy Jr. never refuted claims by Republican politicians that Trump or his allies were unfairly censored or targeted by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), or social media companies, including after Trumps failed coup. Instead, Kennedy claimed that he, more so than Trump, was the target of a censorship campaign, aimed at destroying his credibility and hampering his bid to become president. That Kennedy Jr. was even allowed to testify on Capitol Hill to a worldwide audience less than a week after being exposed for advancing a fascistic and anti-Semitic conspiracy theory about COVID-19 demonstrates the absurdity of the claim that he is being censored. The fact that the Republicans courted him and used the hearing to provide him with a platform expresses the degree to which anti-Semitism and anti-Asian racism are increasingly accepted and promoted within the ruling class. What the World Socialist Web Site termed Kennedys Wuhan lab libel is being put forward by the Republicans, and to a lesser degree by the Democrats, as a casus belli to prosecute imperialist war against China. Since advancing his anti-Semitic blood libel narrative, Kennedy, who was already a leader in vaccine disinformation, has been welcomed by Fox News and the rest of the right-wing media landscape. While the hearing was ostensibly called to discuss the US governments role in censoring free speech, the names Julian Assange and Edward Snowden were not mentioned once by any of the witnesses or lawmakers. Instead, a majority of the hearing was focused on the alleged censorship of Kennedys anti-Semitic and anti-vaccine politics by the various government agencies working in conjunction with social media companies and the White House during both the Trump and Biden administrations. Turning reality on its head, Kennedy and the Republicans complained that government agencies and social media companies were deliberately suppressing right-wing viewpoints, and that any exposure of Kennedys homicidal anti-vaccine positions and fascistic conspiracy theories was a form of censorship. As a matter of fact, government and social media censorship has overwhelmingly been directed against left-wing and anti-imperialist media outlets. The World Socialist Web Site, along with a number of left-wing and independent journalists and commentators, has been censored for years by the major tech companies, including Google, at the request of the US government, for exposing ruling class lies. At the hearing, Kennedy Jr., after being sworn in, perjured himself within five minutes, stating, I have never been anti-vaccine. He added, And while I am under oath, in my entire life I have never uttered a phrase that was either racist or anti-Semitic. Putting aside Kennedy Jr.s lie that COVID-19 appears to have been engineered to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese, he has repeatedly advanced racist conceptions that Black people are more susceptible to vaccine injuries and autism. Kennedy Jr. has also maintained a long-time relationship with the notorious anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan. A June 2015 tweet by Farrakhan featuring the pair promoting one of Kennedys books was captioned by Farrakhan, Robert Kennedy Jr. met with me about a vaccine that is designed to affect Black males Six years later, in June 2021, Kennedy Jr.s film Medical Racism: The New Apartheid was screened at a Nation of Islam conference. After showing the film, Farrakhan told his audience, I thank Mr. Kennedy for such a brilliant documentary. Farrakhan implored his audience, You need to follow Robert Kennedy. At last weeks hearing, Kennedy was given multiple opportunities by the Republicans on the committee to advance his anti-vaccine views and claim that he was being unfairly censored by social media companies working at the behest of the Biden White House. Democrats on the committee accused Kennedy of advancing anti-Semitic and anti-science conceptions, without actually calling him an anti-Semite or a fascist. In this way, the Democrats are treating Kennedy Jr. in the same feckless manner they treat Trump. The Democrats central concern is advancing the war against Russia, and toward that end joining with their Republican colleagues to arm neo-Nazi forces such as the Azov Battalion. At home, their central concern is the growth of the class struggle. They seek to maintain relations with the Republican Party in order to strengthen the repressive response of the capitalist state to any challenge from below to corporate wealth and profits. Following the hearing, the supposedly censored Kennedy was welcomed onto the internet news program The Hill Rising. That program is owned by the Nexstar Media Group, which, according to Wikipedia, is the largest television station owner in the United States. Last month, Nexstar-owned NewsNation hosted Kennedy at a town hall that lasted nearly 90 minutes. The town hall has been viewed on YouTube over 1.1 million times. After appearing on The Hill Rising, Kennedy Jr. was one of several fascists to appear on Maria Bartiromos Sunday morning Fox News program, Sunday Morning Futures. Prior to interviewing Kennedy, Bartiromo welcomed Jim Jordan and aired a pre-taped interview with Donald Trump. In his interview with Bartiromo, Kennedy reiterated his claim that he was being censored, saying, I have been slammed in a way that is unprecedented, more so than Trump. Backing the Republican campaign to impeach Joe Biden over his connections to the Ukrainian energy company Burisma, Kennedy agreed with Bartiromo that the Department of Justice needed to conduct a real investigation of what happened. I mean, these revelations where you have Burisma, which is this notoriously corrupt company that paid out apparently $10 million to Hunter and his dad. If thats true, then it is really troubling. So I think it needs to be investigated, he said. On Tuesday, Kennedy will be appearing on a prime time Fox News town hall with Republican operative and long-time right-wing commentator Sean Hannity. Since January of this year, the New York Times has published dozens of articles claiming that Ukraines spring offensive would be a decisive turning point in the war with Russia. But this offensive, now six weeks old, has turned into a debacle. While Ukrainian forces have nowhere breached Russias main defensive line, tens of thousands of troops have died. This is the context in which the New York Times published and quickly edited an article presenting a realistic, and therefore nightmarish, depiction of the Ukrainian troops as little more than cannon fodder, forced into action to face almost certain death. Buried on page A9 and not referenced on the front page of the print edition, the extensive and detailed report on Ukraines offensive was titled, Depleted Troops, Unreliable Munitions: Kyivs Obstacles in the East. It included a sub-headline describing the offensive as a grisly stalemate. Page A9 of Monday's New York Times With equally little notice, that article had been published online the day before under the title, Weary Soldiers, Unreliable Munitions: Ukraines Many Challenges. The article presented Ukraines offensive as a bloody debacle, in which Ukrainian forces have suffered massive casualties, who are then replaced with older recruits who are forced to fight. The article documented three new, previously undisclosed revelations: There exists a unit in Ukraine with a 200 percent casualty rate, meaning that all of its members were killed or injured, then replaced with recruits, all of whom were killed or injured. The munitions provided to Ukraine are often so old that they regularly misfire or accidentally detonate, injuring soldiers. After young troops are killed in combat, they are typically replaced with much older people, a sign that Ukraine is running out of fighting-age troops. Typically, a journalist who uncovered these facts based on firsthand reporting would proclaim each of them a scoop and take to Twitter to publicize them. But the method of the New York Times is that of the buried lede--to take these potentially explosive revelations and stick them in an article on the inside pages, which is quickly removed from the newspapers online front page. In this case, however, merely burying these revelations was insufficient. It was necessary to erase them. The first snapshot of the article was captured by archive.org at 5:32 a.m. Eastern Time. Over the ensuing 24 hours, a series of major changes was implemented, with no public notice, in which all three of the facts presented above were effaced. The initial version of the article published online contained a paragraph stating that Ukraine was achieving small territorial gains at an outsize cost. It continued with the following quote: Were trading our people for their people and they have more people and equipment, said one Ukrainian commander whose platoon has suffered around 200 percent casualties since Russia launched its full-scale invasion last year. This paragraph was revised as follows: Were trading our people for their people, and they have more people and equipment, said one Ukrainian commander whose platoon has suffered around [sic] heavy casualties since Russia launched its full-scale invasion last year. In this case, 200 percent was replaced with heavy, (albeit in such a hasty manner that the preceding word, around, remained). In the Battle of Normandy, in which 156,000 Allied soldiers landed on the beaches, approximately 10,000, or 6 percent, were killed or injured in what would typically be described as heavy casualties. An excerpt of the Times article, showing additions in green and deletions in red. The modified language currently reads "around heavy." By contrast, the original language in the Times article implied that the entire unit was killed or wounded, then replaced, and the entire replacement unit was killed or wounded again. This is a jaw-dropping figure, perhaps totally unheard of since the First World War, if even then. Rather than explaining it, the Times simply expunged it from the record, never to be seen again by readers of the Times. The modifications continued. The next (literally) explosive revelation in the article was the statement that the munitions being sent to Ukraine, often to clear out expiring stockrooms for the imperialist powers, would regularly explode as Ukrainian troops were handling them. The article originally read as follows: Ammunition, as always, is in short supply, and there is a mixture of munitions sent from different countries. That has forced Ukrainian artillery units to use more ammunition to hit their targets, since accuracy varies widely between the various shells, Ukrainian soldiers said. In addition, some of the older shells and rockets sent from abroad are damaging their equipment, and injuring soldiers. Its a huge problem, said Alex, a Ukrainian battalion commander. The last sentence was modified to read as follows: In addition, some of the older shells and rockets sent from abroad are damaging their equipment and injuring soldiers. Its a very big problem now, said Alex, a Ukrainian battalion commander. An excerpt of the Times article, showing additions in green and deletions in red. Modern artillery munitions typically have a shelf life of 10 to 15 years. After that time, it becomes hazardous to operate these munitions, which are prone to misfires and accidental detonations. The rate at which older and possibly expired munitions misfire and accidentally detonate is, apparently, a huge problem for Ukrainian troops. At least it was, until the problem was downgraded to very big by the Times editors, again without explanation. The article continued: But other Ukrainian formations elsewhere on the front have had trouble filling their ranks with the caliber of soldiers capable of carrying out successful trench attacks, given that months of fighting have exhausted their ranks. New replacements are often older recruits who were forced into action. This article replaces this line with the following: But other Ukrainian formations elsewhere on the front have had trouble filling their ranks with the caliber of soldiers capable of carrying out successful trench attacks, given that months of fighting have exhausted their ranks. New replacements are sometimes older recruits who were mobilized. An excerpt of the Times article, showing additions in green and deletions in red. Instead of replacements for the troops that were killed being often older recruits, they are now sometimes older recruits. Moreover, instead of being forced into action, the troops are now mobilized. The following paragraph gives context to what is being described: How can you expect a 40-year-old to be a good infantry soldier or machine-gunner? asked the Ukrainian commander whose platoon had taken dozens of casualties. Youth not only means better physical prowess, but younger soldiers are less likely to question orders. In other words, it is often the case that the soldiers forced into action are close to middle-age and, moreover, question orders when they are told to carry out suicidal attacks. The changes to this article are a microcosm of US media reporting on the war. The horrendous, bloody debacle of the war in Ukraine is systematically sanitized, with certain topics clearly taboo and in many cases completely expunged from the media. To cite just one example, a search for the term Ukraine conscription in the publicly accessible AP news image database returns only five results, all of them dealing with conscription in Russia. Even though Ukraine has its entire prime-age population under arms, the US media seems to have an internal code that does not allow these images of recruitment and mobilization to be transmitted to the population. Just one month ago, Times columnist Bret Stephens mused of the offensive bringing a crushing and unmistakable defeat for Russia, while Washington Post columnist Max Boot quoted General David Petraeus as stating that he expected the Ukrainians to achieve significant breakthroughs and accomplish much more than most analysts are predicting. It has produced something else: A nightmare on the scale of the First World War, in which whole units are wiped out, replaced with conscripts, then wiped out again, then told to assault well-defended trenches. In September of last year, the World Socialist Web Site characterized the growing calls in the US media and political establishment for Ukrainian forces to go on the offensive against well-defended Russian trenches as follows: Human life means nothing to the Washington warmongers or their stooges in Kiev. ... The lives of Ukraines youth, many of them conscripted, are being squandered, mere cannon fodder, or to use the phrase favored by Leo Tolstoy, cannon meat. These warnings have been horrifyingly confirmed. JAKARTA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and 21 others injured in a bus-truck collision in Indonesia's East Java province on Wednesday. "A bus coming from the east hit a truck head-on before crashing into a building," said Kadek Yasa, a police officer of the province's Situbondo regency. The drivers of the truck and the bus both died, while 20 passengers were slightly injured. The crash also caused a traffic jam until the vehicles were moved out of the road. An investigation of the collision is still underway. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union called off four days of scheduled strikes this week on the London Underground (LU) against job losses and attacks on pensions and conditions. The RMTs sellout was based on claims of significant progress at closed-door negotiations with government conciliation service Acas. After claiming that Transport for Londons (TfL) original plans for jobs cuts and pension changes will not be carried out, the union admitted this was not a withdrawal but only a delay. In the unions words, these concessions are just longer guarantees of earnings, no pension changes for at least three years, and so-called productivity proposals have been halted. At best, this is kicking the issues down the road. The unions involved in the dispute are in a war of attrition with their own members. The RMT was due to have held staggered actions across different grades and sections of the Tube between July 23-28. Little to no service was expected July 25 and 27, and none at all on 26 and 28. A concurrent strike of RMT members on national rail was also expected to affect other services on the TfL network. Members of the ASLEF drivers union and Unite the Union were also due to strike on July 26 and 28. Both have also suspended action. Around 600 jobs are to be cut from LU (more than 10 percent of station staff), undermining maintenance and leaving stations more likely to be unstaffed, while drivers agreements and jobs are also under attack. The strikes were also a response to TfLs plans to impose a 100 million pensions cut and end a final salary pension scheme. The attack on pensions was advanced by Sir Brendan Barber, former head of the Trades Union Congress and then Acas, as the trade-off for government pandemic recovery funding for TfL. The systematic defunding of public transport has intensified with the requirement for financing the war in Ukraine, with striking underground workers smeared last year as Putins stooges. Tube workers have shown a clear determination to fight, but the handling of the strike demonstrates how the unions have sought to suppress that sentiment. A 94 percent majority was returned in January 2022. Under draconian anti-union legislation, mandates must be renewed after six months. Repeated reballots have seen a consistently high vote for action: over 90 percent on a 53.1 percent turnout in June 2022, 94 percent on a 52 percent turnout in December, and 96 percent on a 56.5 percent turnout in May this year. Last December, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said it was an impressive feat for any set of workers to return a third strike ballot in favour of more action. RMT union leader Mick Lynch speaking at the rally in Whitehall, February 1, 2023 But what have RMT members got for this determination? The union held five days of strike action against job losses and pension attacks last year, with an additional strike against the 600 job cuts. There was a days strike in March. Eighteen months after that first strike vote, with the latest strikes called off, the unions pledge to take whatever action is necessary rings hollow. RMT members on the picket line at Oxford Circus, July 2022 [Photo: RMT Bakerloo Branch] When the first strike vote was taken, LUs managing director Andy Lord stated that Nobody has or will [sic] lose their jobs as a result of the proposals we have set out and there are no current plans to change the TfL pension or terms and conditions. The RMT can only present its negotiations with the company as being in good faith because they are implicated in decisions already taken. As Lord put it, TfL have been working with our staff and trade union colleagues for a number of months as proposals are developed. On July 14, the RMT cancelled a planned overtime and rest day working ban, claiming further progress on station staffing. That progress was restoration of 27 positions, updating of 27 CSA2 positions to CSA1 and making 10 part-time station roles full-time, which would have the effect of restoring the proportion of weekend rest days to the level before the 600 job cuts process was imposed. This is not about fighting job cuts, but managing them: The review of station rosters and staffing levels will continue to ensure resilience of the staffing model in light of a sharp increase in station closures. Twice this year, Lynch has written to Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan raising safety concerns about understaffing of stations. In April, he noted that stations had been closed on 2,115 occasions in 2022, compared with a pre-pandemic high of 649. Of course, he wrote, this is only a figure for closures. More often, stations will have been left open with no staff. In January, Lynch cited the Minimum Staffing Levels established after the 1987 Kings Cross fire, where 31 people died. He said waivers to safety regulations were increasingly being used to open stations with a staffing level below that considered to be consistent with passenger safety. This, he said, is the direct consequence of the destaffing of the Tube in recent years and, most critically, of LU managements decision to delete 600 station staff posts. His appeal for a moratorium on waivers is a cynical attempt to conceal the RMTs role in facilitating destaffing over many years. Stations are left unmanned because of the RMTs inactions in the past. In 2014, the union disarmed opposition to the closure of all 260 Tube ticket offices. Having known for two years that this was proposed without doing anything, the union blustered about strikes while delaying action. Opposition was dissipated into legal challenges on an individual station basis, resulting in the closure of the offices with barely a fight. The union is now replaying that process with the closure of 1,007 national rail ticket offices, agreeing to a toothless consultation programme and staging two perfunctory protest days. The announcement of these closures, facilitated by the RMTs participation in the Rail Delivery Group, came barely a fortnight after Lynch had boasted at the union congress We have achieved much no ticket office has closed. Lynch has called on Khan to align himself with the RMT and Tube workers in pushing back against the Tory government. These appeals to the Labour Party are aimed at suppressing any independent action by workers. Last year, Lynch was asking Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to decide which side you are on. Starmer at the time was threatening to expel MPs even for visiting picket lines. The progress the unions report is similarly based on some future Labour government. ASLEF suspended their action because There will be no changes to pension benefits before the next general election. Changes would be subject to legislation and therefore will not happen until 2026. This allows the unions to continue to claim to be fighting attacks, while keeping their place at the negotiating table to enable those attacks to proceed more smoothly. Khan praised them for managing to avoid industrial action despite the onerous funding deal conditions imposed by the government. To wage the struggle necessary to defend their jobs, pensions wages and conditions, LU workers need to wrest control of the dispute from the unions that are stifling them. Countering the steady erosion of the strike mandate by the RMT, and the separation of grades and groups, workers must organise their own unified, coordinated action across TfL and the national transport network. Rank-and-file committees must be elected at every workplace to formulate key demands and get workers organised, linking up with other sections of the working class across the UK, Europe and internationally. The event entitled UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment was hosted by the Government of Italy, in collaboration with UN agencies, in particular the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the World Food Programme and the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub. Addressing a session on trade for agri-food systems transformation via a virtual connection, DG Okonjo-Iweala emphasized that open and predictable trade is an indispensable mechanism for people to access affordable food because one in five calories consumed around the world is traded across an international border. Furthermore, farm trade rules and policies shape the incentives influencing production, investment and consumption decisions at the centre of the food systems transformation, she added. The Director-General said trade is a key factor in driving development and income gains for people in poor countries and in supporting better access to nutritious food, as evidenced in the decades of trade-enabled growth up until the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlighting the worsening hunger and malnutrition situation due to the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and other factors, DG Okonjo-Iweala drew attention to the latest data revealed by the new State of Food Security and Nutrition report: 793 million people faced hunger in 2022, and 2.4 billion people did not have year-round access to nutritious, safe and sufficient food. The DG outlined the substantial work done by the WTO in the past two years in response to the food security crisis and to support improvements to the functioning of food and agriculture markets. She highlighted in particular the package of outcomes at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June 2022, which included a declaration on the emergency response to food insecurity and a decision on humanitarian food aid. Hailing the positive impact of the MC12 outcome on the World Food Programme's (WFP) humanitarian work, she said: The WFP recently told the WTO Committee on Agriculture that exemption from export restrictions had helped them source food from more countries and enabled faster and more localized procurement. She also drew attention to the landmark deal on curbing harmful fisheries subsidies, which will bolster food security, and urged governments to expedite the acceptance of the agreement for early implementation. DG Okonjo-Iweala further elaborated on how trade and the WTO have helped people and countries cope with recent food security crises. Work has included the WTO's efforts to curb export restrictions and to improve access to fertilizer, a sector severely affected by the war in Ukraine. We have been pushing members to live up to their pledges and remove the export restrictions on food, feed and fertilizers that many introduced after the start of the war in Ukraine. The number of restrictions has come down from 104 to 59 as of mid-July so 45 were phased out, she said. The immediate next steps for the WTO will be enhancing existing transparency tools and easing trade obstacles for environmentally friendly innovative technologies used in the agriculture sector, the DG said. Looking ahead, DG Okonjo-Iweala stressed two areas of focus for the WTO's work on contributing to food systems transformation. The first is delivering results in the long-standing negotiations on agriculture trade. The second is ensuring the WTO plays its part in helping food systems become sustainable, with better water, land and input use. She highlighted members' shared view in seeing food security as the key to unlock progress in the agriculture negotiations. She urged trade ministers to seize the opportunity of the upcoming senior officials' meeting in October to make political breakthroughs and lay the groundwork for delivering results on agriculture at the 13th Ministerial Conference on 26-29 February 2024. Noting the linkages between WTO agriculture reform and sustainable agri-food systems transformation, the DG asked members to review the current farm subsidy rules, repurpose the trade-distortive and environmentally harmful subsidies, and incentivize the uptake of green technologies and practices, such as precision drip irrigation involving the controlled delivery of water to plants. A World Bank report last month estimated that explicit government expenditures on agriculture, fishing and fossil fuel subsidies total about USD 1.25 trillion each year. We can repurpose some of these sources to meet the world's most pressing challenges, she said. In conclusion, she put forward three requests to participants: First, remember that trade is a tool in your tool box to solve food systems problems. Second, please urge your trade colleagues to deliver results in the ongoing WTO agriculture negotiations. And third, let's make full use of the WTO as a tool to transform food systems and help meet the Sustainable Development Goals. Summit puts trade high on the agenda The UN food systems summit (UNFSS) +2 stockholding moment is the first stockholding event convened by the UN Secretary-General since the UNFSS was held in 2021, marking a critical moment in reviewing progress on global efforts towards the transformation of food systems for the achievement of the SDGs. The summit is aimed at preparing the way for the SDGs Summit in September and the Climate Change Summit in November. The WTO made important contributions to the UNFSS in 2021 by organizing a virtual dialogue, championing the discussion on the relationship between trade and food systems. Also at the UNFSS in 2021, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres identified trade as a means of implementation for the transformation of food systems, together with finance, innovation and data. This year, trade was high on the agenda of the UN summit, and the WTO was invited to participate in various activities during the event. Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam attended a panel discussion on 25 July titled Food systems for prosperity, where he highlighted current priorities as WTO members gear up for MC13. He said: There are three short-term priorities for food security on our road to MC13 controlling export restrictions, completing fisheries negotiations, and taking a meaningful step towards structural reform of agricultural trade distortions. More information on WTO action on food security is available here: WTO | Food security Wang Yi (L), director of the Office of the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, meets with Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, minister in the Presidency of South Africa and the country's coordinator of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security, in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong) JOHANNESBURG, July 26 (Xinhua) -- China supports South Africa in hosting the BRICS Summit and stands ready to work with South Africa and other BRICS partners to make the BRICS mechanism bigger and stronger, senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi said here Tuesday. Wang, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, minister in the Presidency of South Africa and the country's coordinator of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security. The BRICS mechanism is the most important cooperation platform for emerging markets and developing countries, and it is in line with the trend of the times and the aspirations of most countries, Wang said, adding that the BRICS mechanism also represents the correct way forward. He said that China firmly advocates multilateralism, actively promotes democracy in international relations, upholds the basic norms governing international relations, safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, and promotes regional and world peace and stability. China will, as always, support South Africa in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and national dignity, and is ready to strengthen high-level exchanges with South Africa, deepen inter-party exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust, and expand cooperation in fields including trade and poverty reduction, Wang said. Noting that China supports South Africa in accelerating its industrial process and enhancing its capacity for independent development, Wang said that China encourages competent and reputable Chinese enterprises to invest in South Africa and hopes that the country will provide a sound and stable business environment for them. China is ready to deepen cooperation with South Africa and other African countries, help African countries accelerate the realization of Agenda 2063, promote African integration, and inject new vitality into the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future, he added. For her part, Ntshavheni said that South Africa highly appreciates China's commitment to deepening BRICS cooperation, and is willing to coordinate closely with China and other BRICS countries to ensure the success of the BRICS summit, so as to open up new prospects for BRICS cooperation. South Africa firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is willing to keep close high-level exchanges with China, strengthen cooperation in economy, trade, investment, mineral processing and other fields, and push South Africa-China and Africa-China relations to a new level, said Ntshavheni. CANBERRA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Australian governments continue to make decisions that exacerbate the disadvantage faced by Indigenous Australians, a report has found. The federal government's principal review and advisory body, the Productivity Commission, on Wednesday published its first review of the 2020 overhaul of Closing the Gap, the national framework aiming to reduce Indigenous disadvantage. Three years after federal, state and territory governments reached a landmark agreement on new targets for the framework, the Productivity Commission found that some are still making decisions that "disregard or contradict" their commitments. "This Agreement held and continues to hold significant promise. It takes a different approach: a partnership between the government and peak Indigenous groups focused on lifting outcomes by changing the systems and structures that drive them. But so far we are seeing too much business-as-usual and too little real transformation," commission chair Michael Brennan said in a statement. The commission heard from 200 groups during its review, including 121 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organizations, and concluded that action towards the new agreement is not being felt on the ground. "It is too easy to find examples of government decisions that contradict commitments in the Agreement, that do not reflect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's priorities and perspectives and that exacerbate, rather than remedy, disadvantage and discrimination," the report said. It said that overall progress on implementing four new priority reforms has been "slow, uncoordinated and piecemeal." Australians will later in 2023 vote on whether to alter the nation's constitution to establish an independent Indigenous Voice in Parliament. If established, the body will advise the parliament on all matters relating to Indigenous Australians in a bid to address disadvantages. Wednesday's report bolstered the argument in favor of the voice, finding that a business-as-usual approach taken by governments fails to grasp the scale of change required. "Too many government agencies are implementing versions of shared decision-making that involve consulting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on a pre-determined solution, rather than collaborating on the problem and co-designing a solution," it said. SEOUL, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), paid tribute to the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the victory in the country's Fatherland Liberation War, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Wednesday. Kim, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, visited the cemetery of CPV martyrs in Hoechang County of South Phyongan Province, according to the report. A wreath in the name of Kim was laid at the monument to the CPV martyrs. Written on the ribbons of the wreath were letters reading "Martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers will Be Immortal," said the report. Kim paid a silent tribute in memory of the CPV martyrs, and then placed a flower before the grave of Mao Anying at the cemetery and paid a tribute to him, it said. During the event, Kim said that the CPV martyrs are recorded in history as a foundation and model of the DPRK-China friendship, and their noble life would be immortal in the hearts of the people of the DPRK. The history and tradition of unity between the two peoples would be carried forward through generations, he added. Kim was accompanied by Jo Yong Won, presidium member of the political bureau and secretary of the WPK Central Committee, Kang Sun Nam, minister of National Defence of the DPRK, Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs, Kim Song Nam, department director of the WPK Central Committee, and Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the WPK Central Committee. The construction of the 90,000-square-meter cemetery was completed in 1957. Zhu Daqing runs into a herder on his way to a patient in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 19, 2023. Zhu Daqing is a rural doctor in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining. Born in a family with generations of doctors, Zhu Daqing was determined to be a doctor like his father at a young age even though he is disabled in his left forearm due to congenital absence of upper limb. Majored in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhu Daqing graduated from Guiyang Medical University in 1994 and returned to his hometown Xinshui Village to be a doctor. During the past 29 years, Zhu Daqing has treated villagers from dozens of towns and villages in the hinterland of Wumeng Mountains spanning over provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. He even provided free medical treatment for villagers who are worse off. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) This photo taken on July 19, 2023 shows Zhu Daqing walking on a road on his way to a patient in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province. Zhu Daqing is a rural doctor in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining. Born in a family with generations of doctors, Zhu Daqing was determined to be a doctor like his father at a young age even though he is disabled in his left forearm due to congenital absence of upper limb. Majored in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhu Daqing graduated from Guiyang Medical University in 1994 and returned to his hometown Xinshui Village to be a doctor. During the past 29 years, Zhu Daqing has treated villagers from dozens of towns and villages in the hinterland of Wumeng Mountains spanning over provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. He even provided free medical treatment for villagers who are worse off. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Zhu Daqing answers the phone on his way to a patient in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 19, 2023. Zhu Daqing is a rural doctor in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining. Born in a family with generations of doctors, Zhu Daqing was determined to be a doctor like his father at a young age even though he is disabled in his left forearm due to congenital absence of upper limb. Majored in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhu Daqing graduated from Guiyang Medical University in 1994 and returned to his hometown Xinshui Village to be a doctor. During the past 29 years, Zhu Daqing has treated villagers from dozens of towns and villages in the hinterland of Wumeng Mountains spanning over provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. He even provided free medical treatment for villagers who are worse off. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Zhu Daqing administers an intravenous drip to a patient in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 5, 2012. Zhu Daqing is a rural doctor in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining. Born in a family with generations of doctors, Zhu Daqing was determined to be a doctor like his father at a young age even though he is disabled in his left forearm due to congenital absence of upper limb. Majored in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhu Daqing graduated from Guiyang Medical University in 1994 and returned to his hometown Xinshui Village to be a doctor. During the past 29 years, Zhu Daqing has treated villagers from dozens of towns and villages in the hinterland of Wumeng Mountains spanning over provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. He even provided free medical treatment for villagers who are worse off. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Zhu Daqing (L) and another doctor measure blood pressure of an elderly patient at the patient's house in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 19, 2023. Zhu Daqing is a rural doctor in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining. Born in a family with generations of doctors, Zhu Daqing was determined to be a doctor like his father at a young age even though he is disabled in his left forearm due to congenital absence of upper limb. Majored in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhu Daqing graduated from Guiyang Medical University in 1994 and returned to his hometown Xinshui Village to be a doctor. During the past 29 years, Zhu Daqing has treated villagers from dozens of towns and villages in the hinterland of Wumeng Mountains spanning over provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. He even provided free medical treatment for villagers who are worse off. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Zhu Daqing administers an intravenous drip for an elderly patient at the patient's house in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 19, 2023. Zhu Daqing is a rural doctor in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining. Born in a family with generations of doctors, Zhu Daqing was determined to be a doctor like his father at a young age even though he is disabled in his left forearm due to congenital absence of upper limb. Majored in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhu Daqing graduated from Guiyang Medical University in 1994 and returned to his hometown Xinshui Village to be a doctor. During the past 29 years, Zhu Daqing has treated villagers from dozens of towns and villages in the hinterland of Wumeng Mountains spanning over provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. He even provided free medical treatment for villagers who are worse off. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Zhu Daqing administers an intravenous drip to a patient at the patient's house in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 19, 2023. Zhu Daqing is a rural doctor in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining. Born in a family with generations of doctors, Zhu Daqing was determined to be a doctor like his father at a young age even though he is disabled in his left forearm due to congenital absence of upper limb. Majored in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhu Daqing graduated from Guiyang Medical University in 1994 and returned to his hometown Xinshui Village to be a doctor. During the past 29 years, Zhu Daqing has treated villagers from dozens of towns and villages in the hinterland of Wumeng Mountains spanning over provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. He even provided free medical treatment for villagers who are worse off. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Zhu Daqing checks the condition of a patient in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 19, 2023. Zhu Daqing is a rural doctor in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining. Born in a family with generations of doctors, Zhu Daqing was determined to be a doctor like his father at a young age even though he is disabled in his left forearm due to congenital absence of upper limb. Majored in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhu Daqing graduated from Guiyang Medical University in 1994 and returned to his hometown Xinshui Village to be a doctor. During the past 29 years, Zhu Daqing has treated villagers from dozens of towns and villages in the hinterland of Wumeng Mountains spanning over provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. He even provided free medical treatment for villagers who are worse off. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Zhu Daqing writes the medical archive of a patient in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 19, 2023. Zhu Daqing is a rural doctor in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining. Born in a family with generations of doctors, Zhu Daqing was determined to be a doctor like his father at a young age even though he is disabled in his left forearm due to congenital absence of upper limb. Majored in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhu Daqing graduated from Guiyang Medical University in 1994 and returned to his hometown Xinshui Village to be a doctor. During the past 29 years, Zhu Daqing has treated villagers from dozens of towns and villages in the hinterland of Wumeng Mountains spanning over provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. He even provided free medical treatment for villagers who are worse off. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Zhu Daqing (L) checks the medical report of a patient in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 19, 2023. Zhu Daqing is a rural doctor in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining. Born in a family with generations of doctors, Zhu Daqing was determined to be a doctor like his father at a young age even though he is disabled in his left forearm due to congenital absence of upper limb. Majored in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhu Daqing graduated from Guiyang Medical University in 1994 and returned to his hometown Xinshui Village to be a doctor. During the past 29 years, Zhu Daqing has treated villagers from dozens of towns and villages in the hinterland of Wumeng Mountains spanning over provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. He even provided free medical treatment for villagers who are worse off. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Zhu Daqing (R) prepares traditional Chinese medicine for a patient in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 19, 2023. Zhu Daqing is a rural doctor in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining. Born in a family with generations of doctors, Zhu Daqing was determined to be a doctor like his father at a young age even though he is disabled in his left forearm due to congenital absence of upper limb. Majored in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhu Daqing graduated from Guiyang Medical University in 1994 and returned to his hometown Xinshui Village to be a doctor. During the past 29 years, Zhu Daqing has treated villagers from dozens of towns and villages in the hinterland of Wumeng Mountains spanning over provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. He even provided free medical treatment for villagers who are worse off. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Zhu Daqing checks the chrysanthemums he planted in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 19, 2023. Zhu Daqing is a rural doctor in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining. Born in a family with generations of doctors, Zhu Daqing was determined to be a doctor like his father at a young age even though he is disabled in his left forearm due to congenital absence of upper limb. Majored in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhu Daqing graduated from Guiyang Medical University in 1994 and returned to his hometown Xinshui Village to be a doctor. During the past 29 years, Zhu Daqing has treated villagers from dozens of towns and villages in the hinterland of Wumeng Mountains spanning over provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. He even provided free medical treatment for villagers who are worse off. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) Zhu Daqing plays with his nephew in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 4, 2012. Zhu Daqing is a rural doctor in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining. Born in a family with generations of doctors, Zhu Daqing was determined to be a doctor like his father at a young age even though he is disabled in his left forearm due to congenital absence of upper limb. Majored in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhu Daqing graduated from Guiyang Medical University in 1994 and returned to his hometown Xinshui Village to be a doctor. During the past 29 years, Zhu Daqing has treated villagers from dozens of towns and villages in the hinterland of Wumeng Mountains spanning over provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. He even provided free medical treatment for villagers who are worse off. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) This photo taken on July 4, 2012 shows Zhu Daqing walking on a muddy road on his way to a patient in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province. Zhu Daqing is a rural doctor in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining. Born in a family with generations of doctors, Zhu Daqing was determined to be a doctor like his father at a young age even though he is disabled in his left forearm due to congenital absence of upper limb. Majored in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhu Daqing graduated from Guiyang Medical University in 1994 and returned to his hometown Xinshui Village to be a doctor. During the past 29 years, Zhu Daqing has treated villagers from dozens of towns and villages in the hinterland of Wumeng Mountains spanning over provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. He even provided free medical treatment for villagers who are worse off. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) This combo photo shows Zhu Daqing walking on a flat concrete road on his way to a patient in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 19, 2023 (above) and Zhu Daqing walking on a muddy road on his way to a patient in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 4, 2012 (below). Zhu Daqing is a rural doctor in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining. Born in a family with generations of doctors, Zhu Daqing was determined to be a doctor like his father at a young age even though he is disabled in his left forearm due to congenital absence of upper limb. Majored in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhu Daqing graduated from Guiyang Medical University in 1994 and returned to his hometown Xinshui Village to be a doctor. During the past 29 years, Zhu Daqing has treated villagers from dozens of towns and villages in the hinterland of Wumeng Mountains spanning over provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. He even provided free medical treatment for villagers who are worse off. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) This combo photo shows Zhu Daqing walking beside a river on his way to a patient in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 19, 2023 (above) and Zhu Daqing wading through a river on his way to a patient in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 5, 2012 (below). Zhu Daqing is a rural doctor in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining. Born in a family with generations of doctors, Zhu Daqing was determined to be a doctor like his father at a young age even though he is disabled in his left forearm due to congenital absence of upper limb. Majored in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhu Daqing graduated from Guiyang Medical University in 1994 and returned to his hometown Xinshui Village to be a doctor. During the past 29 years, Zhu Daqing has treated villagers from dozens of towns and villages in the hinterland of Wumeng Mountains spanning over provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. He even provided free medical treatment for villagers who are worse off. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) This combo photo shows Zhu Daqing walking on a flat concrete road on his way to a patient in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 19, 2023 (above) and Zhu Daqing walking on an unsurfaced road on his way to a patient in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 5, 2012 (below). Zhu Daqing is a rural doctor in Xinshui Village, Mazha Town of Yi-Hui-Miao Autonomous County of Weining. Born in a family with generations of doctors, Zhu Daqing was determined to be a doctor like his father at a young age even though he is disabled in his left forearm due to congenital absence of upper limb. Majored in traditional Chinese medicine, Zhu Daqing graduated from Guiyang Medical University in 1994 and returned to his hometown Xinshui Village to be a doctor. During the past 29 years, Zhu Daqing has treated villagers from dozens of towns and villages in the hinterland of Wumeng Mountains spanning over provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. He even provided free medical treatment for villagers who are worse off. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) In a couple of months time on September 19, to be exact the Emmys will be held barring any delays due to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Once those awards are out of the way, it will then be time to focus on the Academy Awards. However, some of us cant wait that long and have already started thinking about potential nominees and contenders across all categories. That includes below-the-line categories, however, as well as the obvious above-the-line ones. And so many of the below-the-line categories are made up of technical areas Cinematography, Editing, Sound, and Visual Effects. That is four nominations that any one film could collect all in one go as so many have done before this year, such as The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Gravity, The Revenant, and Mad Max: Fury Road. With that in mind, lets take a look at eight films that could be up for these technical awards or any combination of the four.* More from GoldDerby *A note: It is unclear who will be on the ballot for Best Sound and Best Visual Effects for all of the following films. Oppenheimer Cinematography, Editing, and Sound Christopher Nolans films famously do very well in technical categories, especially in Best Cinematography. Wally Pfister was nominated for Batman Begins in 2006, The Prestige in 2007, and The Dark Knight in 2009 while he won the award for Inception in 2011. Hoyte Van Hoytema was nominated for Dunkirk in 2018. Its Van Hoytema who shoots this one, too. That Dunkirk bid is his only Oscar nomination so far, but hes got a great chance at doubling that this Oscar season. Meanwhile, editor Jennifer Lame executes Nolans trademark narrative trickery and is looking for her first-ever Oscar nomination. Oppenheimer is a sure thing for Best Sound as Nolan films do very well here. Dunkirk won both Sound Mixing and Sound Editing in 2018 (the categories are now combined), Interstellar was nominated for both in 2015, Inception won both in 2011, and The Dark Knight was nominated for both and won Sound Editing in 2009. Expect Oppenheimer to be present here, particularly as sound is such a key part of the story like past nominees such as 2023 winner Top Gun: Maverick, 2021 winner The Sound of Metal, and 2019 Sound Editing nominee A Quiet Place. However, no Visual Effects nomination this time Nolan proudly revealed there is no CGI in this movie. Story continues Killers of the Flower Moon Cinematography, Editing, and Sound Martin Scorseses films should always be looked out for at the Oscars and this one perhaps more than others. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, there are high expectations for this film. Firstly, Rodrigo Prieto could be in for a very interesting year. He is the Director of Photography for two big contenders this film and Barbie (Instead of Barbenheimer Barbie of the Flower Moon? Killers of the Flower Barbie?). Prieto actually has a great shot at both but he is probably more likely to land a nod here for the more serious Scorsese movie, particularly as he has been nominated for two Scorsese movies before Silence in 2017 and The Irishman in 2020. He was also nominated in 2006 for Brokeback Mountain. Meanwhile, the Oscars adore Scorseses longtime collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker, who again edits this Scorsese picture. Shes been nominated for a total of eight Oscars and won three for Raging Bull in 1981, The Aviator in 2005, and The Departed in 2007. All of them Scorsese flicks. This movie could also be up for Best Sound the category often nominates historical epics like this one, such as All Quiet on the Western Front in 2023, News of the World in 2021, and 1917 in 2020 (nominated for Sound Editing, won Sound Mixing). Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One Editing, Sound, and Visual Effects Action movies often do well in these categories and this is a Tom Cruise action epic that is a sequel of an iconic film from decades ago. Sound familiar? Last year, Top Gun: Maverick was nominated for Editing and Visual Effects and won Sound. This movie could go the same way, particularly as action movies are always nominated for Sound such as The Batman (2023), No Time to Die (2022), and Greyhound (2021). Editor Eddie Hamilton is looking for his second bid after that Top Gun: Maverick nomination last year and theres a decent chance at a Visual Effects bid, too, as action movies do well there, as well. The Batman and All Quiet on the Western Front (2023) and No Time to Die and Free Guy (2022) are all recent nominees. Ferrari Cinematography, Editing, and Sound Films with cars in them always do well in sound categories, so expect Michael Manns biopic to be a contender for Best Sound. Sure, the film is a biopic about Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver), but there will be plenty of cars and engines. If they nail the sound work, they could be nominated just like Ford v Ferrari was nominated for Sound Mixing and Sound Editing in 2020 (winning Sound Editing). Meanwhile, Erik Messerschmidt is liked by the Oscars he won Best Cinematography for Mank in 2021 and could follow that up here with a nomination. Its unclear who the editor will be for this movie at this time of writing but Ford v Ferrari won this award in 2020. Ferrari could follow again. Dune: Part Two Cinematography, Editing, Sound, and Visual Effects This is the big one. Denis Villeneuves second and final installment of his Dune adaptation could be in for another massive year. The first movie won six Oscars including all four of these technical awards. Thats hugely impressive, so its only natural to think that Dune: Part Two could follow suit. Joe Walker is the editor again here he won for Dune and was also nominated for 12 Years a Slave (2014) and Arrival (2017). Meanwhile, cinematographer Greig Fraser also won for Dune and was also nominated for Lion in 2017. Both, along with their sound and visual effects colleagues, could be nominated again here, particularly as this movie has the The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King effect going for it. Its the last installment of a huge filmmaking achievement and voters will want to take the chance to recognize that. Plus, epic science-fiction movies always do well in Best Visual Effects Avatar: The Way of Water won earlier this year, Tenet won in 2021, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was nominated in 2020, and Blade Runner 2049 won in 2018. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Editing and Sound From the obvious to the note so obvious. Animated films dont often pick up too many technical awards (in fact, they are far too often confined to a Best Animated Feature nomination only they should, in general, be taken as more serious contenders across all categories). However, Across the Spider-Verse has been so well received that, like its predecessor, Into the Spider-Verse, Oscar voters may be forced to pay attention. That film won Best Animated Feature in 2019 but could this sequel do one better? Its sound work is off-the-charts good while editor Mike Andrews manages to wrestle this beastly undertaking into one thrilling ride that combines genres and animation styles. You wont find many better editing achievements than this one, so Oscar voters should take note. It has more chance in the Best Sound category, however. Previously, Toy Story 3 was nominated for Sound Editing in 2011, Up was nominated in the same category in 2010, WALL-E was nominated for both Sound Editing and Sound Mixing in 2009, Ratatouille was nominated for both in 2008, and The Incredibles was nominated for both and won Sound Editing in 2005. Across the Spider-Verse could be the next animated movie to land an Oscar bid for sound. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Sound and Visual Effects From animation to superheroes. Superhero films famously do very well in Best Visual Effects (in fact, in the same way animated flicks are confined to Best Animated Feature, comic book movies are far too often restricted to a Best Visual Effects nomination). Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and The Batman were both nominated earlier this year, Spider-Man: No Way Home and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings were both nominated in 2022, and Avengers: Endgame was nominated in 2020. Its the same story in Best Sound, too. The Batman was nominated in 2023 and Black Panther was nominated for both Sound Editing and Sound Mixing in 2019. As usual, there are plenty of superhero films out this year including Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and the upcoming The Marvels. However, James Gunns Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is the pick of the bunch and is therefore most likely the best bet out of comic book movies. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Cinematography, Editing, Sound, and Visual Effects And last but certainly not least Indy. Indy movies have done well in these categories before. Raiders of the Lost Ark won Best Editing, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects while it was also nominated for Best Cinematography in 1982. Temple of Doom won Best Visual Effects in 1985. And The Last Crusade was nominated for Best Sound and won Best Sound Effects Editing in 1990 (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was snubbed completely). That bodes well for this last entry to one of the most beloved franchises of all time. Oscar voters will surely want to give a farewell hug to Indy with a couple of nominations. Phedon Papamichael takes on lensing duties for this one and helps to deliver a smooth ride for Indy and company. Papamichael has a decent track record here he was nominated for Nebraska in 2014 and The Trial of the Chicago Seven in 2021. Meanwhile, the movie is edited by Michael McCusker, Andrew Buckland, and Dirk Westervelt hold editing responsibilities as a trio. This would be Westervelts first-ever nomination. McCusker and Buckland previously won this category in 2020 for their joint work on James Mangolds Ford v Ferrari, while McCusker was also nominated in 2006 for Walk the Line, another Mangold movie. This category usually nominates big, bold action movies, so Dial of Destiny could be in with some luck. Top Gun: Maverick was nominated last year, while Dune won in 2022, and Dunkirk won in 2018. The film has a great chance in Best Visual Effects, too, as they utilize de-aging technology something we know the Academy appreciates as 2020 nominees The Rise of Skywalker and The Irishman plus 2017 nominee Rogue One all utilized. Best Sound is this movies best bet, however, as the franchise has a rich history in this category. Raiders of the Lost Ark won Best Sound, The Last Crusade won Best Sound Effects Editing, and Raiders was given a special achievement award for its sound effects editing. Make your predictions at Gold Derby now. Download our free and easy app for Apple/iPhone devices or Android (Google Play) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. See our latest prediction champs. Can you top our esteemed leaderboards next? Always remember to keep your predictions updated because they impact our latest racetrack odds, which terrify Hollywood chiefs and stars. Dont miss the fun. Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. Everybody wants to know: What do you think? Who do you predict and why? SIGN UP for Gold Derbys free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Tropical-style tacos and a mez-tai cocktail from Solstice in East Walnut Hills. It seems Cincinnati is longing for bold new flavors these days. And a new smattering of restaurants is all too happy to provide them. Im thinking about the Cuban/South Florida-themed restaurant Amador that I wrote about recently; the new Spanish-style tapas spot, Conserva, in Ludlow, Kentucky, and another tapas bar, called Livery, in Montgomery. Thats fine with me. The flavors and textures such places provide are a welcome change to tired palates like mine. Here are three new restaurants that focus on a broad array of flavors, from African and Caribbean, to Vietnamese and Japanese. I also included an old standby Hungarian restaurant that, while it's been around forever, deserves another turn in the spotlight. Solstice (East Walnut Hills) The latest addition to the tropical-theme subcategory can be found in East Walnut Hills, where Solstice, a new tropical taco joint came out swinging this month with a menu that isn't so much trying to adhere to tradition or authenticity, as it respectfully combines ingredients and inspirations from different cultures and cuisines. The manifestation of these mashups mostly comes in the form of tacos. Hence the Spanish-style Zaragoza taco that combines grilled chicken tossed in tomato sauce and avocado; the Scarlet Ibis, named after the red bird of South America, with chickpeas; and the South Indian Tiger of Mysore (named for the Indian Muslim ruler of Mysore), with braised lamb seasoned with turmeric, ginger, garam masala and curry leaf. While that Zaragoza taco I tried was a knockout, it was the O and No shrimp taco that sold me on Solstice after my first bite, with its peppery shrimp combined with creamy avocado coleslaw and banana pepper sauce. The addition of spicy avocado, cumin, ancho lime, chile, bell pepper, jicama and cabbage gave it a spicy, citrusy and crunchy personality that was almost as refreshing and complex as the mezcal infused "Mez Tai" with which I washed it down. (I should mention that Solstice is owned by the same people who own Anjou, an imaginative cocktail bar around the corner. Thus, the drink menu here is full of surprises). Story continues The interior complements the food, a mishmash of color palates and textures; a corrugated metal bar is lined with luxuriously cushy stools. A television plays ESPN with the sound off while Peter Gabriels "Solsbury Hill" whispers through the dining room. One more thing: Don't miss out on the ceviche. While the ceviche itself is a lovely balance of citrus and spice, the paper-thin yucca chips (co-owner Chris Wolfe told me he uses a mandoline to slice them) should give them a spot in the yucca chip hall of fame. 1544 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills, 513-872-1355, solsticecinci.com. Laszlo's Iron Skillet (Union Township) The sauerbraten from Laszlo's Iron Skillet in Union Township. You pull into the rear parking lot of what appears to be an old house on Ohio Pike in Union Township as crowds of what you have to assume are regulars make their way in through a rear entrance. You sit down at a booth and gaze at a menu that contains the all-stars of Austro-Hungarian cuisine with a bit of a twist. The schnitzels, popular in Hungary, are available in a variety of styles. The Hungarian schnitzel is straightforward with mushrooms and onions in the cuisine's signature paprika sauce, but there's also an Italian version topped with Parmesan cheese and garlic. And, I kid you not, a Cincinnati-style version with goetta and peppered cream cheese. Yes, please. Laszlos is a Greater Cincinnati institution that might not get the credit it deserves outside of its Union Township confines. But its worth a trip. Originally opened in Newtown in 1973, it relocated here in 2015 after its old location was destroyed by fire. The restaurant has plenty of accolades written by my predecessor Polly Campbell hanging on the wall. But it is still worthy of such praise. While not exactly a Hungarian dish, I started out with the Saratoga chips, which sparked an argument between my wife, Amy, and I since Amy has never quite understood why southern Ohioans insist on ordering what she refers to simply as potato chips (can you believe that?) for an appetizer. I try to explain to her that Saratoga chips are different. That they are usually cooked in-house to a golden brown with a tender center, and that it is required you dip them in barbecue sauce. I dont think I changed her mind, but, boy, did the ones at Laszlos transcend any mere potato chip I've ever tasted. For an entree, I went with the sauerbraten, which was wonderfully warming, even though it was around 95 degrees outside. The potato pancake that came alongside was dense and crispy, the steamed cabbage sweet and sour. I also ordered a side of warm German potato salad with bits of bacon. It was mild compared to other, far more sour, German potato salads Ive tried but still satisfying. While the sauerbraten was excellent, I need to go back to try some of the house specialties, including the chicken paprikash, which is simmered in paprika stock and served with sour cream over spaetzle, as well the combo platter of Hungarian goulash, stuffed cabbage and wiener schnitzel. 1020 Ohio Pike, Union Township, 513-561-6776, laszlosironskillet.com Hawker's Alley (Downtown) A chicken katsu chicken platter from Hawker's Alley, located Downtown. Another cuisine that Cincinnati has embraced in recent years is Asian in all of its various forms. From the Japanese ramen and Korean katsu sandwich at Mochiko, to the tasty Korean fried chicken at Decibel, our palates are always hungry for more. Now, from the minds of Lalo comes Hawkers Alley, which specializes in Asian street food. Named after the popular Hawker markets of Singapore, the sit-down restaurant offers Korean-inspired katsu platters (you can choose from either chicken or pork), Japanese ramen and pho, as well as a selection of American-style hamburgers. There are also plenty of selections for vegetarians, including "Asian croquettes" with mashed potatoes and vegetables, crispy mushrooms and veggie and tofu skewers. The chicken katsu I tried on a recent visit was nicely cooked, its meat still juicy beneath the breading. But it was the Japanese barbecue sauce blended with sesame oil and mayonnaise the provided its kicky personality. It was served with soft, sticky rice and a citrus spiked coleslaw that was filling without me asking, "Why, why Lord did I overdo it again?" 28 E. Court St., Downtown, 513-421-2326, hawkersalley.com. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati restaurants to try ASAP: Solstice, Laszlo's, Hawker's Alley A hydronaut unhitches the rope on the crewed submersible Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior) from the scientific research ship Tan Suo Yi Hao (Discovery One) to make preparations for underwater investigation in the South China Sea, May 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu) China's sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea were established in the long course of history and duly recognized by international treaties and accords which are not to be infringed upon by any illegal awards. by Xin Ping Seven years ago in 2016, the so-called South China Sea Arbitration Tribunal issued an award in an attempt to deny China's territorial sovereignty and its legitimate maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. The Chinese government immediately stated its objection to the arbitration and refused to recognize the award. On July 12 this year, the Philippine government issued a statement, trying to revive the long-withered document which had been void from the moment it was concocted. As usual, the United States joined the act and urged China in a press statement to comply with the arbitral ruling and "international laws." But a self-directed political show cannot deceive the world forever. The so-called South China Sea arbitration and its award are illegal, null and void. Here is why: SHOWING NO RESPECT FOR HISTORICAL FACTS China's sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea were established in the long course of history and duly recognized by international treaties and accords which are not to be infringed upon by any illegal awards. China is the first to have discovered, named and exploited the South China Sea Islands and relevant waters, and the first to have continuously, peacefully and effectively exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over them. The Chinese people's activities in the South China Sea date back more than 2,000 years ago. These facts are well noted in many books on ancient Chinese history by non-Chinese authors, such as "China Sea Guide" issued by the British Admiralty in 1868, "Navigation in Asia" issued by the U.S. Naval Hydrographic Office in 1925, "Painted Colonial World" magazine published in France in 1933, and "Island of Storms" published by Japan in 1940. The crewed submersible Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior) resurfaces after completing a day's underwater investigation in the South China Sea, May 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu) After World War II, China, in accordance with the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, recovered the South China Sea islands illegally occupied by Japan. This constituted an important part of the post-World War II international order. In 1948, China published an official map on which the dotted line is marked, reaffirming China's sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and their adjacent waters, as well as relevant maritime rights and interests. In 1950s and 1960s, the United States repeatedly filed applications to China, the authority governing the South China Sea Islands, for surveying there. Official maps published by Japan and other countries also marked the South China Sea Islands as belonging to China. These facts cannot be erased from history. VIOLATING PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW The core of the disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea is a question of territory and maritime delimitation. As is widely known and accepted by the international society, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has no jurisdiction over sovereignty and territorial disputes. As for maritime delimitation, China made a declaration as early as in 2006 excluding the application of the dispute settlement mechanism of UNCLOS in accordance with the provisions of the convention. The Philippines' unilateral initiation of arbitration on the basis of UNCLOS breached its bilateral agreement with China to settle relevant disputes in the South China Sea through negotiations, ran counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed by China and ASEAN countries including the Philippines in 2002, and violated international law including UNCLOS. This aerial photo taken on June 15, 2023 shows the "Dian Ke No.1" comprehensive test ship sailing in the South China Sea. (Xinhua) The arbitral tribunal has no jurisdiction over the case. There is no legitimacy in its establishment. And its composition is far from being impartial. Grossly violating the principle of state consent, it exercised jurisdiction beyond its powers and rendered an award in disregard of law. This is a behavior that gravely undermines UNCLOS and general international law and tramples on international fairness and justice. The illegal award has been much questioned by the international community. Many world-renowned experts and scholars on international laws and treaties, including former president of the International Court of Justice and former judges of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, have pointed out the serious flaws in the award. Many people in the Philippines also understood that the award is illegal and wrong. China's position of not accepting or recognizing the award won support from more than 100 countries. The illegal award is like a contract full of loopholes signed by only one party. It will not stop China from safeguarding its legitimate and lawful rights and interests. But some countries from outside the region might use it to meddle in the South China Sea issue and damage regional peace and stability. Nations in this region shall be clear-eyed about it. Editor's note: Xin Ping is a commentator on international affairs, writing regularly for Xinhua News Agency, Global Times, China Daily, CGTN etc. He can be reached at xinping604@gmail.com. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Xinhua News Agency. The first family, White House staff, and the Secret Service are working on 'additional leashing protocols and training' for Commander Michael Reynolds/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty President Joe Biden's younger dog Commander was reportedly involved in multiple biting incidents at the White House and in Delaware. Members of the U.S. Secret Service raised concerns about the German Shepherd in email correspondence that surfaced this week. The Biden family, the Secret Service, and the Executive Residence staff are working together on "additional" training for Commander. In the emails, which the conservative group Judicial Watch obtained through Freedom of Information requests, staffers wrote that the 22-month-old Commander was involved in at least 10 incidents, reports CNN. A Secret Service officer went to a hospital to be treated for injuries after an incident in November 2022, when Commander reportedly bit the officer's arm and thighs. In an October 2022 incident, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden reportedly "couldn't regain control" of Commander when he charged a Secret Service staffer. "I believe its only a matter of time before an agent/officer is attacked or bit," the staff member wrote in the email, reports CNN. Adam Schultz/The White House via AP Related: Joe Biden Introduces New Puppy on Twitter: 'Welcome to the White House, Commander' Other biting incidents reportedly happened when Commander was walking around the White House grounds unleashed, the emails note. "The White House complex is a unique and often stressful environment for family pets, and the First Family is working through ways to make this situation better for everyone," Elizabeth Alexander, the first lady's communications director, said in a statement to PEOPLE. "They have been partnering with the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff on additional leashing protocols and training, as well as establishing designated areas for Commander to run and exercise." Story continues The Secret Service treated each incident mentioned in the emails "similarly to comparable workplace injuries, with relevant notifications and reporting procedures followed," Alexander explained. "The President and First Lady are incredibly grateful to the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff for all they do to keep them, their family, and the country safe," Alexander added. The Secret Service is "aware" of the incidents involving the Biden family pets, Anthony Guglielmi, USSS chief of communications, said in a statement to CNN. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Related: Joe and Jill Biden Mourn the Death of Their Beloved Dog Champ: We 'Will Miss Him Always' For the past several presidential administrations, the Secret Service has navigated how to best operate around family pets and these incidents are no exception. We take the safety and well-being of our employees extremely seriously, Guglielmi explained. He noted that staffers are encouraged to report job-related injuries. As such, we are aware of past incidents involving first-family pets, and these instances were treated similarly to comparable workplace injuries, to include with relevant notifications and reporting procedures followed, Gugliemi continued, adding that the Secret Service does not care or handle the first family's pets. However, they do "work with all applicable entities to minimize adverse impacts in an environment that includes pets." Biden, 80, introduced Commander to the world in December 2021. He is a gifted purebred who moved into the White House several months after the Bidens' previous German Shepard, Champ, died in June 2021. 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. The Bidens moved into the White House with Champ and Major, whom they adopted from the Delaware Humane Association in 2018. In early 2021, Major left the White House to undergo training after several "biting incidents" at the White House. Afterward, the Bidens decided Major would not be returning to the White House. "After consulting with dog trainers, animal behaviorists, and veterinarians, the First Family has decided to follow the experts' collective recommendation that it would be safest for Major to live in a quieter environment with family friends," Michael LaRosa, a spokesman for Dr. Jill Biden's at the time, told PEOPLE. "This is not in reaction to any new or specific incident, but rather a decision reached after several months of deliberation as a family and discussions with experts." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Carlee Russell Confesses "There Was No Kidnapping" and No Toddler Along Interstate, Attorney Says Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who disappeared for two days earlier this month after calling 911 to report a toddler on the side of the highway, has admitted that her kidnapping claims were fabricated and that she did not see a child along the road, according to a statement from her attorney. In a press conference Monday, Hoover Police Chief Nicholas C. Derzis read a statement from Russells attorney, Emory Anthony, which stated that the 25-year-old nursing student was not abducted on July 13, when she seemingly vanished, leaving behind her car and personal belongings on the side of Interstate 459. RELATED: "She Doesnt Deserve That": Carlee Russell's Boyfriend Begs People to "Stop Bullying Her" Amid Abduction Claim Doubts There was no kidnapping, the statement began. While authorities made widespread efforts to find Russell over the 49 hours that she was purportedly missing, she never actually left the Hoover area and acted alone, according to the statement. Did Carlee Russell apologize for faking her abduction? My client apologizes for her actions to this community, the volunteers who were searching for her, to the Hoover Police Department and other agencies as well, as to her friends and family, Anthony said in the statement. We ask for your prayers for Carlee, as she addresses her issues and attempts to move forward, understanding that she made a mistake in this matter. Carlee again asks for your forgiveness and prayers. Photo of Carlethia Carlee Nichole Russell. Photo: Hoover (AL) Police Department/ Facebook Where was Carlee Russell during the time she was missing? The statement from her lawyer did not mention where Russell was during the search for her, beyond saying she never left Hoover, Alabama. We still dont know where she was, Police Chief Derzis told reporters Monday. Only Carlee knows, and maybe now her attorney. Derzis said that Russell was scheduled to meet with investigators alongside her attorney Monday, but that Anthony provided a statement via email instead, on behalf of his client. Investigators are scheduled to meet with Anthony Tuesday. Story continues RELATED: Carlee Russell, Who Vanished After Reporting Child on Roadside, Conducted Online Searches on Amber Alerts and Abduction Film, Cops Say Will Carlee Russell face charges for faking her abduction? Police are consulting with the Jefferson County District Attorneys office about potential criminal charges against Russell, according to Derzis. We will announce those charges when and if they are filed, Derzis said. The news of the hoax comes less than a week after Hoover Police held a press conference casting doubt on Russells story. On July 13, Russell vanished after reporting to dispatchers that she saw a baby on the side of the interstate while she was driving home from work around 9:30 p.m. When she returned home on foot two days later, she told police that she was kidnapped by a man and woman, who took her to a house and forced her to undress. She said she was then able to escape and made it home on foot. RELATED: Alabama Woman is Missing After Calling 911 to Report a Child Alone Along the Interstate Authorities said Wednesday they were unable to verify Russells story. Questions emerged when investigators, with assistance from Secret Service, analyzed Russells cellphone records, which revealed suspicious searches about Amber alerts, one-way bus tickets and the abduction-focused film Taken, all conducted before she called 911. I do think its highly unusual... on the day someone gets kidnapped... that theyre searching the internet, Googling the movie Taken, about an abduction. I find that very strange," Derzis previously said. During Mondays press conference, Derzis did not provide an estimate of cost and resources spent on the search, but noted the effort was all-hands-on-deck. What has Carlee Russell's boyfriend said since she admitted she lied about being abducted? Thomar Latrell Simmons, who is now referring to himself as Russells ex-boyfriend, posted on social media that he was blindsided by the announcement that she was not actually abducted. Carlees actions created hurt, confusion, and dishonesty, Simmons wrote on Instagram. He added that he and his family reacted with genuine concern when the news broke about Russells disappearance, according to the New York Post. We are disgusted by the outcome of this entire situation, Simmons wrote. Ron DeSantis has been having a hard time out on the campaign trail lately convincing Republican voters that he should be their presidential nominee, and the Walt Disney Company isnt about to make things any easier for the Florida governor. As dictated by federal court schedules, the Bob Iger-run media conglomerate filed its response today to DeSantis June 26 motion to toss out the Mouse Houses retaliation and free speech suit against the ambitious so-called anti-woke politician. More from Deadline And Disney didnt mince words. This case presents the fundamental question whether the Governor and the State can escape accountability for their open defiance of our Nations most cherished liberties, Disney said Wednesday in its opposition to state defendants motion to dismiss (read it here). The Governor seeks to evade responsibility for his actions on a narrower ground, asserting that a governor cannot be held officially liable for implementing, administering, and enforcing state laws that punish residents for political statements violating a state-prescribed speech code, the company added with personal emphasis on the notoriously thin skinned DeSantis. The motion seeks dismissal on Article III standing, sovereign-immunity, and legislative-immunity grounds, but those principles have no application here. Line drawn, sand. Disney initially filed its suit against the governor in April, claiming that he violated the companys First Amendment rights by retaliating against its opposition to a parental rights law, also known as dont say gay. Represented by legal pit bull Daniel Petrocelli and a legion of lawyers, the Mouse House also named as defendants the new DeSantis-selected board of the Reedy Creek special district, which was renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. Story continues The company amended the suit in early May with more pugilistic quotes from DeSantis. The updated filing also included further examples of onerous Sunshine State legislation directly intended to strip Disney of its jurisdiction in and around Disney World. Disneys claim in this case is that the laws reorganizing the District violated Disneys constitutional rights, notes todays 28-page opposition filing. Having demanded public credit for abrogating Disneys Contracts, the Governor cannot escape responsibility when called to answer for that action in court, particularly before fact discovery is completed, it added. Few Florida businesses are subject, as Disney now is, to governance by a special district with a Governor-controlled Board that closely regulates the use of private property with no accountability to local property owners and taxpayers, Disneys opposition says in its footnotes, slamming DeSantis assertion of creating a level playing field as an outright falsehood. The filing continues: In any event, what matters here is that the challenged laws indisputably eliminate Disneys rights and impose new burdens, thereby creating an injury-in-fact. The current face of studio greed for many striking scribes and actors after his uncharacteristically incendiary remarks on CNBC from Sun Valley earlier this month about not realistic demands by the Hollywood unions, Iger had been previously earning kudos in progressive and business circles for taking the fight directly to DeSantis. Mocked by Donald Trump and others, DeSantis has trumpeted his battle with Disney as he wages his presidential campaign. As well as accusing the Mouse House of having a progressive agenda and abusing its special district status, DeSantis is now seeking to taint the company with claims its pushes out sexualized content to children. In that now infamous interview with CNBC, CEO Iger called such claims preposterous, while again accusing the governor of retaliating against Disney for its eventual opposition to Floridas so-called dont say gay bill last year. A favorite target of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, DeSantis championed an effort to strip Disney of control over a special taxing and operations district that covers its Florida theme parks. Instead, he installed his own appointees to the district. They have filed their own state lawsuit against the company, claiming that a set of development agreements between the company and the district are no longer valid. That case is weaving its way through the courts, with a potential to eventually be moved over to the federal bench. What is unclear and perhaps pivotal is when the federal case will go to trial. Looking at the calendar with a disruptive gleam in their eyes, Disney is calling for a start of July 15 next year, the first day of the Republican National Convention. Unsurprisingly, if they cant get the matter tossed out beforehand, DeSantis team has been urging a date after the presidential election. The impact of the political season, however, will likely end up being a moot point if DeSantis does not turn around his steadily faltering presidential campaign. Earlier this week, he reportedly laid off 1/3 of his staff amid concerns over spending compared to the amount of money being raised. Gov. DeSantis office did not respond to Deadlines request for comment on Disneys opposition filing. If or when they do, we will update this post. The defendants are expected in the next month or so to respond to Disneys response on the federal docket. If past Disney earnings calls are any indication, the case could come up when Iger and other Mouse House execs talk their quarterly bottom line next on August 9. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Paramount Shuts Down MTV News After 36 Years Its helpful to realize there is no silver bullet treatment or one-size-fits-all therapeutic approach to pain, says Dr. Jacob Hascalovici, chief medical officer for Clearing. This is one of those nuggets of advice that, for people living with chronic pain, is frustrating and healing in equal measure. There is no magical cure for chronic pain, with which 50 million people live in the United States, according to a 2022 study. Every day, scores of people are navigating the medical and holistic worlds to figure out how to live with this unwieldy monster. More from Spin: Chronic pain dominates my daily life, interfering with cognitive and physical function, sometimes making basic tasks, such as brushing my hair or cooking a meal, feel insurmountable. But, for me, harnessing the simple, yet complex, power of music made life feel accessible again. Music triggers the release of endorphins, some of which fight or muffle pain, continues Hascalovici. As a way of distracting or expressing ourselves, music offers multiple ways to drown out the pain, diminish loneliness, and feel more connected and in control. For many, music certainly does help with pain abatement on a daily basis. Before I made music a coping mechanism, my life was dictated by the moods of chronic pain. It kicked off when I was just 14 years old. Starting as a combo platter of non-stop lower back pain and intermittent sharp, stabbing pains all over my body, chronic pain completed its bodily invasion within a matter of days. Restful sleep became a distant memory, my mobility reduced significantly, and my cognitive function diminished day by day. For the first couple of years, I dealt with the pain without a diagnosis. My physicians were lost, and the epic delays of the United Kingdoms health system meant finding complete answers took nearly 15 years. Story continues As the months and then years, wore on, the exhaustion of wrestling with this great, unknowable thing crushed me. As it worsened, my world shrunk. I socialized less and less, missed countless days of school, and lost interest in exercise and hobbies. My life had been irrevocably shaken, and I did not know what to blame or how to fix it. The longer pain persists, the more likely the person starts to avoid activities that they normally enjoy, says Dr. Erson Religioso III, a physical therapy doctor. If a person has to give up the things they love, such as sports, exercise, or travel, the effects are significantoften leading to depression and isolation. This further increases kinesiophobia [fear of movement] and fear avoidance behaviors, which feed into that cycle of pain. My kinesiophobia evolved with the pain, as it grew fiercer with every passing month, requiring increasingly strong doses of painkillers to cope. It morphed from an occasional visitor to a 24/7 resident in my body. I could no longer remember what it felt like to not be in pain. Eventually, the diagnoses trickled in. My first chronic pain diagnosis was fibromyalgia, a condition that causes widespread nerve pain. From the first stab of pain, it took eight years to identify because its typically identified via the exclusion of all other possibilities. During this time, various specialists also diagnosed joint hypermobility syndrome, irritable bowel disease, and localized scleroderma, an autoimmune condition. The final piece of the puzzle finally arrived in October 2021 when, after undergoing surgery to remove growths from my pelvic region, my surgeon diagnosed me with endometriosis. Having names to assign to each type of pain offered some salvation, but I had already started using music to manage long before a diagnosis provided any comfort. It began in hospital waiting rooms, at the peak of my emo era. Already angstified by the hormones raging through my body, the addition of non-stop chronic pain cranked my emo tendencies to new heights. As I languished in a series of identical waiting rooms, always knowing that every doctors answer would be, I dont know, lets do some tests, music became a salve to soothe the anguish. Whenever I arrived in a hospital, earphones attached to my pink iPod mini would go into my ears, and the moody guitar strums of Nirvanas Kurt Cobain or Avenged Sevenfolds Synyster Gates would flood my eardrums. On particularly angsty days, the dulcet tones of Three Days Grace and Linkin Park would echo my feelings of I hate everything about you and in the end, nothing really matters. The anger and deep, raw hurt clear in the lyrics, guitar lines, and drumbeats of these iconic bands were the perfect soundtrack to my experience. They offered a tangible representation of what undiagnosable agony felt like. Their angst was my safety net, holding a safe space to escape to. When power chords were simply not enough, melancholic ballads penned by artists like Florence and the Machine, A Fine Frenzy, and the Fray became conduits for my heartbreak. Their intensity felt particularly essential when I discovered that none of my conditions were curable. I told myself to shake it out because, unfortunately, chronic pain is rarely fixable, and managing it requires a lot of trial and error. As a doctor, I counsel that successful treatment is often not going to be due to a single treatment, but to a variety of complementary treatments working together, says Hascalovici. Some of those treatments include strategic rest, targeted stretches, alternating ice or heat, regular activity or exercise, therapeutic breathing, and lifestyle modifications such as low-inflammation eating. I spent years, and hundreds of pounds, before I realized that traditional pain management techniques were not working for me. Opioids became an addiction, acupuncture just made me laugh, and lidocaine infusions had zero impact. In the face of this seemingly insurmountable obstacle, I forged a path ahead using music as a primary coping mechanism; a therapy I did not know existed, let alone how to apply. Music therapy involves the intentional use and experience of music facilitated by a credentialed board-certified music therapist to improve quality of life in some way, explains board-certified music therapist for Choosing Therapy Abby Klemm. Typically a music therapist works with the client and/or caregivers to determine goals that guide the sessionsgoals may encompass physical, emotional, psychosocial, cognitive, and musical needs. While my entry into music therapy was accidental, the benefits were immediate. When using music to navigate a pain flare-up, I coped without experiencing a drop in mood afterward. Pain levels receded as they responded to the mood of whichever song or artist I applied in my makeshift therapy sessions. Its easy to understand why when looking at how music affects all the areas of the brain, as Dr. Bethany Cook, a licensed psychologist, explains. When you listen to music, your entire brain is lit up with neural activity, she says. This allows increased blood flow to areas of the brain that may need a little boost, especially during stressful times when areas of the brain slow down/shut down in an effort to cope with stress. Before recognizing musics innate ability to ease psychological and physical pain, my approach to music selection was dependent on my mood and whims of the day. The moment of realization arrived during a break from university when I spent hours dancing around the kitchen with my family. We spun, laughed, and shimmied our way around the room, lost in the total joy of dancing without self-consciousness. I felt liberated, and, finally, pain retreated to the back of my mind. The focus, for once, was on how good it felt to move my body, a liberating feeling after kinesphobia had stifled its movements. As Religioso says, I tell patients they have two choices, keep moving, or stop moving altogether. This beautiful moment of physical freedom had finally let that lesson sink in: I had to move my body and music could be my pathway. After this lightbulb dance-a-thon, I fine-tuned a system to create a life that lived alongside pain, rather than in resistance to it. I stopped fighting and started adapting, with music as an ally. So I curated playlists to accommodate the different moods of my various disorders. Once relying on hard rock beats and emo music, I now use instrumental chill hop and classic music to manage fibromyalgia flare-ups. Nerve pain ebbs and flows on its own course, and there is little I can do to quell its moods, yet the calm of instrumental music soothes its sharp edges. It distracts from the daily impact of its presence and helps me relax into meditation and mindfulness techniques that I use to manage my mood swings. To ease the agony of hypermobile joints, I created a playlist of 90s hip hop anthems and soul music because, for some unidentifiable reason, they feel in tune with the cracks and violent subluxations of this particular condition. Similarly, to wrestle with the searing pain of irritable bowel disease, I employ a combination of rap classics and R&B tracks because the fast beats and winding lyrics feel like they have the power to unspool my twisted intestines. After struggling for years with the physical discomfort and subsequent self-esteem issues of living with scars sprawled across my body, I discovered the influence of girl power beats. Blasting anthems from artists like Miley Cyrus, EMELINE, and St Vincent soothes my self-esteem and encourages me to separate confidence from physicality. Then, once I got diagnosed with endometriosis, I curated a playlist of songs with strong guitar lines or drum beats, such as the Dandy Warhols or Metallica, because the intense rhythmic pounding feels as though it is breaking down the wall of pain built inside my abdomen. The system is not perfect or a cure for chronic pain, but it has been transformative. Chronic pain no longer feels like an immovable object obstructing my life, I have learned to flow around it instead, using music to dictate each beat of the day. And it has the power to do the same for others if applied correctly. And by correctly, I mean individualized to peoples tastes. The playlists I rely on may not suit others with the same set of conditionsthey could even antagonize symptoms. Chronic pain is a very complex, personal, and subjective experience that is both physical and psychological, agrees Cook. One way those living with chronic pain can utilize the power of music is to learn how to manage and shift mood states with songs. This will be different for everyone because we all respond to emotions in our own unique way. There are still days when the weight of chronic pain feels as though it will decimate my life. I must expend a lot of energy maintaining various coping mechanisms and reckoning with the impact on my mental well-being. However, music provides hope. It seems an innocuous thing to so many of us, just a casual but persistent presence that we forget to acknowledge. Its power should not be forgotten or neglected. I no longer feel trapped by the confines of chronic pain because music has the power to liberate me. Its existence is a comfort, even when its not playing. It is a safe space that I can always return to when an ache calls out to be soothed. PLAYLIST: Nirvana Drain You: While definitely not about chronic pain, I remember the line It is nowmy duty to completely drain you resonating so strongly when the chronic pain began to escalate. I felt as though it was literally draining the life out of me, and this song was a way to verbalize that feeling. Miley Cyrus Flowers: A new addition to my self-love playlist, this anthem reminds me that my self-esteem and confidence does not have to be reliant on how good my body looks or how often its validated by someone else. I am free to be myself when this song graces my ears. Q-Tip (feat. Norah Jones) Life Is Better: A tune I used to call the bounce song because I kept forgetting its name. This song resonates with me particularly strongly when my irritable bowel disease or hypermobile joints are acting up. Its ups and downs create a conduit to release the painful spasms. Emmy Meli I Am Woman: The perfect girl power ballad, this song is all I need when the scars that litter my body start to erode my confidence. The Dandy Warhols Godless: I love every song ever recorded by the Dandy Warhols, but Godless is one of my favorites because of the rhythm of the song, which always helps me work through harsh pain days. baskaaT Bittersweet: A relaxing flow of a song that is the peak of my chill hop playlist. It is the perfect song to relax with when fibromyalgia pain is demanding my attention. Salt-N-Pepa None Of Your Business: A classic tune. I always feel empowered when Im listening to this, and it helps ease the aches of subluxing joints, especially when I divert my attention to trying to keep up with their rap speed. Spineshank New Disease: As an accidental collector of new diseases, this song always resonated with me. It made me feel seen on the darkest days and enabled me to feel like I could face another doctor, even if they still had no answers for me. A Fine Frenzy Borrowed Time: During the beginning of my chronic illness journey, I had multiple cancer scares and I constantly felt like I could be living on borrowed time. This melancholy tune made me feel seen when I was drowning in fear. Florence and the Machine Shake It Out: A constant on my playlists since it first came out. This song is a beautiful reminder to shake out the pain of daily life and keep moving forward, always. To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here. The post Paramount Shuts Down MTV News After 36 Years appeared first on SPIN. Reps. Chip Roy, Mike Johnson, and Harriet Hageman The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Consitution and Limited Government has scheduled a hearing this week ostensibly to discuss gender-affirming medical care. No doctors will testify. Instead, during Thursday mornings hearing titled The Dangers and Due Process Violations of Gender-Affirming Care for Children, lawmakers will hear from a former college athlete who took issue with a transgender team members participation, an anti-LGBTQ+ advocate from a conservative interest group, a member of the Federalist Society, and a person who had access to gender-affirming care, decided to detransition, and now advocates against the care for youth. Republicans invited former University of Pennsylvania swimmer (and Lia Thomas critic) Paula Scanlan, detransitioner Chloe Cole, Director for Family Studies at the far-right anti-LGBTQ+ group Family Research Council Jennifer Bauwens, and Federalist Society member May Mailman, who is also a senior fellow at the conservative Independent Womens Law Center, to testify. Democrats, already frustrated with Republican efforts to strip funding from all bills benefiting the LGBTQ+ community, called the hearing a sham. "The upcoming House Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee hearing is the latest attempt by extremist Republicans to weaponize Congress and inject their culture wars into families private health care decisions, Pennsylvania Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, tells The Advocate. Gender-affirming care is safe, effective, medically necessary, and supported by every major reputable medical association. The science is not up for debate. This hearing is nothing more than a concerted effort to cultivate fear and stigmatize vulnerable communities in order to pursue an extremist agenda and political power." Rep. Cori Bush, who represents Missouri and sits on the subcommittee, also criticized the GOP move. Though despicable, it is not surprising that Republicans are holding a hearing whose sole purpose is to platform bigotry and hate, she tells The Advocate. This hearing isnt based on facts or reality; it reflects an extreme and unpopular agenda that targets vulnerable people and doesnt make anyones life better off. It is further proof Republicans dont know how to legislate unless it involves stripping the rights of historically marginalized communities. I will always stand unequivocally with the trans community as they fight for dignity and respect. Story continues Other House Democrats reiterated the continued assault by Republicans on bodily autonomy. Another week, and its another hearing in which were beating up on queer and trans kids and their families, another week in which the Republican Conference wants to bully Americans, and it is so outrageous that theyre spending our time making us essentially accomplices in their diabolical machinations to beat up on Americans who are just trying to live their lives, Vermont Democratic Rep. Becca Balint tells The Advocate. Balint also sits on the subcommittee. Its just so disgusting, adds Balint, co-chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus,. This hearing does not need to happen. All the other hearings that weve had in which these issues have come up dont need to happen, and its part of the GOP strategy, this election cycle, to put queer and trans kids and their families on every single issue that were trying to discuss here in Congress. And its just disgusting. Balint points out the shameless hypocrisy of the House majority. It flies in the face of everything Republicans say that they are around limited government and they are always talking about parental rights. Here they are inserting themselves into the lives of these families. We should be supporting Americans and their families, period. They know best what they need for their children. She says that in Vermont, her constituents are dealing with extreme flooding and other daily issues and arent concerned with the culture war issues the GOP seeks to fight over. We have farms that have been destroyed. We have businesses that have been destroyed and families in incredible need right now, she says. you can look at every single congressional district across the country, and they are feeling the effects of climate change. They are struggling with health care thats not affordable. Balint says it would be one thing if House Republicans held hearings with witnesses whose testimony was germane and could be relied upon. Instead, Republicans have invited known anti-trans activists with political agendas and no medical expertise. The witnesses theyre bringing are not credible, Balint notes. And on the other side, youve got 1.3 million US doctors saying that gender-affirming care is what is needed to support these children best. Every major medical association in the U.S. has supported gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Balint also explains the problem of finding the occasional detransitioner and holding up their experience as an example of why care should be banned for others. Detransitioning refers to stopping or reversing a gender transition, which may involve medical treatment or cosmetic changes. Republicans often seek out people who are deciding to detransition, and then they hold them up as an example of a rampant situation within the queer and trans community, Balint says. The only people who really understand their experiences are those queer and trans people going through those experiences. And we know that there are people, I believe its less than 2 percent of Americans, who decide to transition and then have a very long journey of figuring out what identity they feel most comfortable with. But again, these are decisions that are made by people in consultation with their families and their doctors. The government should not be in a situation of deciding for people writ large what is appropriate care for them. She adds, Its just outrageous, an incredible waste of time, but its also just so mean-spirited. On Tuesday afternoon, the Congressional Equality Caucus condemned GOP riders on a slate of 2024 appropriations bills that Republicans targeted with anti-LGBTQ+ measures. Republicans added more than 40 anti-equality provisions in next years budget bills. Those bills move to the House floor this week. Among the riders are those that restrict access to gender-affirming care or limit funding for organizations that provide it, riders that prohibit the use of funds to fly Pride flags in certain facilities, and riders that would restrict funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Drag show riders were also added by Republicans, which prevent performances from being held in defense and other operations. "Riders" is a term for provisions in bills that are not relevant to a bill's main purpose. Funds appropriated by the defense bill are prohibited from supporting events that violate the Department of Defense Joint Ethics Regulation or bring discredit upon the military, such as a drag queen story hour for children or the use of drag queens as military recruiters. Drag queen workshops, performances, and documentaries are prohibited by a rider to a bill dealing with state, foreign operations, and related programs. This Congress, extreme MAGA Republicans are using the appropriations process to further their radical agenda and attack the LGBTQI+ community, said Equality Caucus Chair Mark Pocan of Wisconsin in a press release. Motivated by bigotry and the desire to appeal to the GOP extremist base, more than 40 anti-equality provisions across the 12 appropriations bills were passed. Last week, they went even further and cut millions of dollars in funding for members community projects that would have tackled LGBTQI+ homelessness and housing insecurity. I condemn these discriminatory attacks and remain committed to ensuring none of these awful provisions make it into the final funding bill that becomes law. The House Appropriations Committee ranking member and an Equality Caucus member, Connecticuts Rep. Rosa DeLauro, added, Instead of responsibly working to pass Appropriations bills that fund the programs and services all Americans rely on, the majority has opted to distract from the calamitous ramifications of their dangerous spending cuts by loading up must-pass legislation with indefensible riders that subject some of the most vulnerable communities to discrimination. She explained, We are appropriators. Our job is to fund the federal government. The bills our committee produces are statements of our priorities and our values as a country. To that end, the majority has shown they have no values, and no priorities, and are solely focused on how to appease their most extreme caucus members, to greenlight discrimination and impose second-class status on LGBTQ+ Americans, and to defund American workers, seniors, families, and veterans. Pictured above: Republican Reps. Chip Roy, Mike Johnson, and Harriet Hageman Editors note: This article was updated to include comments from Missouri Rep. Cori Bush. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images) Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kenya Moore has 99 problems and Marc Daly is all of them. It sucks when you wait so long to find a man or rent a man, and he turns out to be like Marc. These two have been in court for what amounts to an eternity at this point. Despite never being around, Marc wants a piece of Moore Manor. He also wants Kenya to be held in contempt because their daughter was in close proximity to an RHOA argument. Well, Kenya had her say, and she didnt hold back. Radar has the details. Deadbeat dad? As Marc tries to get Kenya held in contempt, Kenya left no crumbs as she ate him up for lunch. Court documents show Kenny let loose and revealed Marc is a FaceTime father. She also said he has only seen their daughter, Brooklyn Daly a couple of times over the course of two years. This comes on the heels of Marc accusing Kenya of violating a court order. Kenya is supposed to let Marc know when Brooklyn appears on camera. Apparently, she forgot when Brooklyn appeared on RHOA and shot a pizza commercial. Additionally, Marc said Kenya would sabotage his FaceTime calls to Brooklyn and said he only spoke with her twice in June. But Kenya was not having any of it. She denies being in violation of any court order and said Marc was fully aware of the pizza commercial. Regarding the RHOA scene, Kenya shared Brooklyn was asleep and the whole thing was handled without haste. Then she bashed Marc for having the audacity to imply she interferes with his FaceTime calls. Her motion read, Mother and Father had an established scheduled time daily to call the child. In an attempt to create issues, Father began to erratically change the times that he wanted to call on a whelm. He did this for the purpose of attempting to create an issue. Mother has implored Father to be consistent with his calls, which he refuses to do. Nevertheless, Father has been random in his behavior and unwilling to stick to the established schedule. Kenya is just getting warmed up Then Kenya clocked Marc for visiting his kid. He lives in New York and came to Atlanta twice both times she asked him to come by and see Brooklyn and both times he neglected to do so. Kenya actually paid for and traveled with the child to New York on the two occasions where [Daly] did see the child. Story continues The motion continued to level Marc. In both instances, the mother, on her own expense, took the child to see the father, it stated. In his failed attempt to have this Court and the public believe otherwise, the evidence will show that Father is simply a FaceTime Father, who is inconsistent with even talking to his child at best. Kenya has tried to settle, but Marc appears to be the Energizer Bunny of litigation. The divorce is going to trial in the next two weeks. TELL US DO YOU THINK KENYA WILL WIN? DO YOU BELIEVE MARC IS A FACETIME FATHER? Real Housewives of Atlanta Recap A Housewife takes a tumble as the RHOA healing journey continues in Portugal. Recaps Justin Smith 2 days ago Kenya Moore Kenya Moore knows how to keep it short and sweet. Reality News Varsha Narayanan 1 week ago Kenya Moore Shes awake now. Reality News Jacquez Printup 1 week ago The post Kenya Moore Accuses Marc Daly of Only Seeing Daughter Twice in Two Years appeared first on Reality Tea. Kevin Spacey Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Kevin Spacey Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has been found not guilty on all nine charges against him in his U.K. sexual assault trial, reports The New York Times. The verdict from a London jury comes less than five weeks after the embattled Hollywood actor went on trial for multiple charges of sexual assault. Speaking on the court steps following the announcement, Spacey said, "I imagine that many of you can understand that there's a lot for me to process after what has just happened today. But I would like to say that I'm enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before they reached the decision." He added, "I am humbled by the outcome today," and went on to thank the courtroom staff and his legal team for their work. Spacey was accused of assaulting four men between 2001 and 2013 while living in London. There were originally 12 charges, including seven counts of sexual assault, three counts of indecent assault, one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The latter carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Due to a legal technicality, the indecent assault charges were later dropped. Spacey maintained his innocence from the outset, denying all of the charges. He described two of the sexual encounters as consensual and a third as a "clumsy pass," for which he claims he later apologized. The fourth encounter he denied entirely. During the trial, he labeled the allegations as "madness" and, per The Guardian, told jurors he "did not have a power wand that I waved in front of people's faces whenever I wanted someone to go to bed with me." The trial, which began on June 28, included testimony from the four men who accused Spacey of sexual or indecent assault, as well as from their friends and family. Witnesses for the defense included Spacey himself, as well as Elton John and husband David Furnish, who corroborated Spacey's testimony regarding their annual White Tie and Tiara Ball, as one accuser alleged the assault occurred on the way to the event in either 2004 or 2005. John and Furnish testified that Spacey only attended the event in 2001. Story continues A New York jury previously determined that Spacey was not liable in a separate 2022 sexual abuse lawsuit involving actor Anthony Rapp, who accused Spacey of assault and battery when he was 14 and the actor was 26. The case was formally dismissed. Rapp, who came forward with his allegations in 2017 and prompted an apology from Spacey on social media, is one of over a dozen men who have accused Spacey of sexual misconduct. Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more. Related content: Joaquin Phoenix (center) leads the charge as French emperor and military leader Napoleon Bonaparte in Ridley Scott's "Napoleon." A detailed look at Ridley Scott's upcoming "Napoleon" was unveiled last week when a trailer was released for the historical war epic about the infamous French military commander. Set to premiere this fall in theaters, the film financed and produced by Apple Studios will reunite Scott with Joaquin Phoenix, who had a starring role in the acclaimed director's Oscar-winning "Gladiator" (2000.) The script comes from David Scarpa, who wrote "All the Money in the World" (2017,) which Scott also directed. Phoenix ("Joker," "Beau Is Afraid"), of course, will star as Napoleon Bonaparte, the military leader who in the early 1800s rose to become France's emperor after waging a series of brutal, bloody wars. Scored to a haunting cover of Radiohead's "The National Anthem," the trailer showcases sweeping battle scenes, as well as Bonaparte's volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine, played by Vanessa Kirby ("The Crown"). 'Killers of the Flower Moon:' What to know about new Scorsese's latest movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio "I'm the first to admit when I make mistakes," Phoenix as Bonaparte sneers in a suspiciously American-sounding accent. "I simply never do." See the trailer for 'Napoleon' Who stars in 'Napoleon?' Other than Phoenix and Kirby, the film's supporting cast includes Tahar Rahim as a French politician; Ben Miles as a French diplomat and Bonaparte's adviser; and Ludivine Sagnier as a socialite. What will the movie be about? The trailer begins with an apparent depiction of the the beheading of Marie Antoinette, whose death signaled the end of the French monarchy. With the French revolution underway, chaos is rife in the streets of France near the turn of the 19th century amid a power vacuum left by Antoinette's execution. That's where Bonaparte comes in as he is given the responsibility of quelling the rebellions. Story continues Bonaparte oversees cannons being fired upon protesting civilians, and soon his renown begins to rise through further successful military campaigns in Egypt and elsewhere. His triumphs pave the way for him and his beloved Josephine to eventually seize control of France. Franchise rankings: 'Mission: Impossible'? We rank every movie (even 'Dead Reckoning') from worst to best But with an ego far disproportionate to Bonaparte's reportedly short stature, the bloodshed doesn't end when he's merely crowned emperor, and further conquests follow. What do I need to know about the infamous Bonaparte? Born in 1769, Bonaparte rose through the military ranks by leading successful military campaigns during the French Revolutionary Wars. Bonaparte would go on to seize political power for himself in a 1799 coup detat before crowning himself emperor in 1804, which the trailer also appears to depict. After years of expanding his empire, Bonaparte endured a brief exile to the island of Elba, before returning to power in 1815 only to experience another crushing defeat at the famous Battle of Waterloo. Bonaparte died in 1821 at the age of 51 on the remote island of Saint Helena in the Atlantic, where the British had exiled him. Why did Ridley Scott want to make this movie? In an interview with Deadline in 2021, Scott said he had long wanted to make a film about Napoleon Bonaparte a feat that another revered director, Stanley Kubrick, had decades ago wanted to do but could not. Kubrick's project, which he developed in 1969, lost financial backing after the 1970 film "Waterloo," about the military commander's defeat, was a box-office flop. Napoleon is a man Ive always been fascinated by, Scott told Deadline. He came out of nowhere to rule everything but all the while he was waging a romantic war with his adulterous wife Josephine. He conquered the world to try to win her love, and when he couldnt, he conquered it to destroy her, and destroyed himself in the process. Deadline also reported that the film's original title was to be "Kitbag." The former title referenced an obscure expression There is a generals staff hidden in every soldiers kitbag meaning that every soldier has the potential for greatness. Scott is no stranger to directing historical epics. The 85-year-old director's filmography spanning nearly five decades includes movies about the crusades ("Kingdom of Heaven" in 2005); the biblical account of the Hebrew flight from Egypt ("Exodus: Gods and Kings" in 2014); and medieval duels (2021's "The Last Duel"). Most notably, Scott's 2000 film "Gladiator" won the Academy Award for best picture. The film stars Russell Crowe, opposite a villainous Phoenix, as a fallen Roman general who must battle his way through gladiatorial arenas to regain his honor. When can I see 'Napoleon?' Sony Pictures will release the the Apple production in theaters on Nov. 22, which is Thanksgiving weekend. The film will be available to stream exclusively on Apple TV+ at a later date. 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: 'Napoleon' movie stars Joaquin Phoenix in Ridley Scott film this fall Traditionally, royal women wear their first tiara at their wedding but that's not always the case Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Princess Charlotte at the coronation on May 6, 2022 Princess Charlotte is still years away from her first tiara moment but it may come sooner for her than other women of the royal family. Royal women often wear their first tiara on their wedding day. That was the case for Princess Charlotte's mom, Kate Middleton, and her aunt Meghan Markle. Even blood members of the royal family including Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and Zara Tindall didn't sport the sparkling headpieces until their nuptials. However, the 8-year-old daughter of Prince William and Princess Kate, both 41, could get to wear a tiara from the royal vault before her walk down the aisle. It's possible that Princess Charlotte will follow in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth's daughter, Princess Anne, and the late monarch's sister, Princess Margaret, who both wore tiaras ahead of their wedding days. RELATED: Every Time Kate Middleton Has Worn a Tiara See the Photos! Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Princess Anne and Queen Elizabeth wear tiaras at the state visit to Austria in 1969 Princess Anne, 72, wore her first tiara as a teenager and continued to step out in the jewels on several white tie occasions (such as state banquets or palace receptions) ahead of her 1973 wedding to Mark Phillips. For example, she wore the Cartier Halo tiara (worn by Kate on her April 2011 wedding day) to the State Opening of Parliament in 1967 and in 1969, Princess Anne accompanied her mother in another statement head-topper Princess Andrews Meander Bandeau for a state visit to Austria. For her wedding day, Princess Anne did opt for an extra special headpiece: Queen Mary's fringe tiara, which Queen Elizabeth also wore to marry Prince Philip. The reason Princess Anne and Princess Margaret, who died in 2002, were able to wear tiaras to gala events ahead of their wedding is likely because they unlike the women marrying into the royal family or Queen Elizabeth's granddaughters were working members of the royal family. Story continues Princess Charlotte as the granddaughter of King Charles, daughter of heir Prince William and sister of future monarch Prince George will likely be a working member of the royal family someday. LISE ASERUD/NTB/AFP via Getty Princess Ingrid Alexandra with Princess Catharina-Amalia, Princess Eliabeth, Princess Estelle and Prince Charles Young royal women from countries outside the U.K. have started adding tiaras to their wardrobes. At the 18th birthday gala for Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway last summer, three future queens of Europe wore their first tiaras out and about in addition to the birthday girl, Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands and Princess Elisabeth of Belgium also had their tiaras debuts at the event. (Princess Estelle of Sweden, who is second in line to the throne, was a little too young to wear such a headpiece but fit right in wearing a statement headband!) Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Although Princess Charlotte hasn't worn a tiara yet, she wore a special headpiece at the May coronation of King Charles the Princess of Wales and her daughter coordinated in Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen headpieces featuring silver bullion, crystal and silver thread work three-dimensional leaf embroidery. Charlotte also wore a staple of royal women's wardrobes, a hat, for the first time at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in September. Karwai Tang/WireImage Princess Charlotte and Kate Middleton at the May 6 coronation In the 12 years since her wedding, Princess Kate has only worn a handful of tiaras. Along with her wedding day tiara (which she only sported once), the Princess of Wales has donned the Lotus Flower tiara and, seemingly her favorite from the number of time she's reached for it, the Queen Mary's Lover's Knot tiara, which was also worn often by Princess Diana. Even after a decade, Princess Kate is still having tiara firsts. She first experimented wearing a tiara with her hair loose (rather than swept into an updo) in December and wore her first tiara outside the U.K. in June while attending the royal wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa in Jordan. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Boyd Holbrook and Timothy Olyphant Justified: City Primeval is a cause for celebration. The show is a cosmic gumbo of Elmore Leonard creations stewed to perfection in the style of FXs brilliant Justifiedand as we previously reported, we have Quentin Tarantino to thank, in part, for the series coming to fruition. We knew he almost directed some of the show, but in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, veteran Justified director and City Primeval co-showrunner Michael Dinner shares how close he came to directing an episode. Dinner explains after Raylan Givens (Olyphant) and Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) acknowledged their coal mining past and said their goodbyes in the series finale, Elmore Leonards son pitched Dinner on City Primeval, a Leonard novel set outside of the Raylan Givens series. Read more I was in Italy shooting, and [Timothy Olyphant] called me up and said, Quentin and I were sitting around on [the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood] set, and we were talking. Do you know City Primeval? Dinner said. And I go, Uh, yeah. And he goes, Well, we were thinking itd be a great year of Justified. And I said, Well, thats a great idea, Tim. Ive actually been playing around with it. Dinner said that though their intention was never to involve [Tarantino] in it, they thought asking him to direct an episode would be fun. Dave and I actually sent him either the pilot or the first two episodes, and he loved it. He had a few thoughts, but it was just a few things, Dinner said. And then we slipped him the third and the fourth episodes, which he really loved. And so the intention was that he was gonna do an episode. While Tarantino backed out for some private reasons, his fingerprints are still in the show. He passed along a few notes for episode three, and we did pull out part of episode four and put it into [episode three]. It was kind of a deconstructive narrative in episode four, but we actually went back to that when he didnt do it. We actually shot it as he wouldve shot it, and then we moved some of the stuff back. But he certainly was there in spirit. People whove done Elmore love doing Elmore, and hes one of those people who completely understands Elmores work and Elmores world. So it wouldve been fun to do it with him, but it didnt work out. Story continues Tarantino might have a chance to direct Raylan Givens in the future because Dinner said that they were already thinking about where Givens might go next. I do think theres a third chapter, in success, if the audience comes to this, he said. Were waiting to see how that happens over the next couple weeks, and if FX wants to do another chapter, I think that Tim would want to do it. Tim is Raylan and Raylan is Tim, and theres an opportunity if someone wants us to do it again. I think that we can do it again. Maybe Tarantino can direct an episode next timeif he hasnt retired by then. More from The A.V. Club Sign up for The A.V. Club's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. PHNOM PENH, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen won a landslide victory in Sunday's general election, said the National Election Committee (NEC)'s preliminary results released on Wednesday. A total of 18 political parties contested the election, which was held once every five years to elect the members of parliament for the 125-seat National Assembly. The results indicated that the CPP received almost 6.4 million votes, or 82.3 percent of the total valid votes of 7.77 million, and the Funcinpec Party of Prince Norodom Chakravuth gained 716,443 votes, or 9.22 percent of the total valid votes. CPP spokesman Sok Eysan said according to the CPP's calculation based on the NEC's preliminary results, the CPP won 120 seats, and the Funcinpec Party gained the remaining five seats. "This is another great success for the CPP, and it truly reflected people's confidence in the party's leadership," he told Xinhua. "We will do our best to continue to serve the people." In a special voice message on Wednesday, the prime minister said his eldest son Hun Manet has "the highest possibility" of becoming the new prime minister, replacing him in the new-term government. Hun Sen, 70, who has been the prime minister of Cambodia for 38 years, did not disclose the exact time when he will pass the reins of power to his son. Hun Manet, 45, is currently a member of the CPP's Standing Committee and a deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. Sunday's general election was the seventh of its kind in the Southeast Asian country since 1993. In the previous one held in 2018, the CPP won all 125 seats in the National Assembly. The CPP has ruled Cambodia since 1979. Somehow, my life has revolved around breasts: Barbie inventor Ruth Handler in 1999, and Margot Robbie in the new Barbie movie (Getty/Warner Bros) Barbie wasnt like other dolls in the toybox. When her controversially adult form pink lips, dinky waist, big breasts hit store shelves in 1959, she revolutionised play. Until then, dolls had meant baby dolls that invited just one mode of pretend: a little girl could imagine the dutiful mother or sister the caretaker, really she was expected to be. Barbara Millicent Roberts, or Barbie, was different. A girl could daydream about the woman she would become, what job she would work or what clothes she would wear. A baby doll suggested one future; a Barbie doll suggested all of them. For all her specific and derided physical features her whiteness, her blondeness, her thinness she was also a blank sheet of paper. Which is just how Barbies mom intended it. The whole idea was that a little girl could dream dreams of growing up, and every grown-up that she saw had breasts, said Ruth Handler, Barbies female inventor. Handler, who died in 2002, had to fight the prudish male execs at Mattel Toys for every perky millimetre. By some cruel twist, breasts would become a recurring theme in Handlers turbulent professional life. They would preoccupy her throughout the Seventies, just as Barbies anatomically impossible bust/waist/hip ratio had come to be lambasted by the dolls feminist detractors. Handler was pushed out of Mattel in that decade. In 1978, she was indicted on federal conspiracy charges in the US. All the while, Handler had privately been undergoing treatment for breast cancer, including a mastectomy. And when she couldnt find a prosthetic breast to suit her, she founded her own brand, remoulding the female form for the second time. Somehow, my life has revolved around breasts, Handler said on American television matter-of-factly in 1994. Hers may not be a household name, but for Barbie diehards, Handlers autograph has long been an eBay search term. Thanks to the glitzy new Barbie film hitting cinemas this week, the legacy of both the doll and its creator are up for grabs again. Story continues Ruth Mosko was born in Denver, Colorado, in 1916 to Polish-Jewish immigrants. The youngest of ten children, she went on holiday to Los Angeles at age 19 and never flew home. In contravention of 1930s gender norms, it was Handler who sent word back to the Rockies for her high school sweetheart art student Elliot Handler to join her in Hollywood. They were married in 1938 and had two children: a daughter called Barbara, followed by a son whose name you can likely guess. When Elliot joined Handler in California, the couple went into the furniture business. Elliot would handle design and fabrication; Handler would sell. That the company eventually evolved into Mattel Toys was down to Elliot, who diversified their already successful furniture business with a picture frame company, a toy piano and ukulele company, and even a line of dollhouse furniture. But it was Handlers big idea that gave Mattel its first megahit. Many women have a problem with their own bodies as they grow older. I cannot believe that the doll causes that Ruth Handler Now, there are a few versions of the Barbie origin story floating around, but some elements always remain the same. The most ironic being that little Ruthie hated playing with baby dolls when she was a kid; her daughter didnt care for them either, preferring to play with paper dolls that came in teenage and adult likenesses and whose clothing fastened on with paper tabs could be easily interchanged. Thats element number one. The second critical step toward the invention of the worlds most recognisable doll was a family trip to Europe. Ruth and Elliot took the kids to the Alps, where Ruth and Barbara spotted a German Bild Lilli doll in stores. Like Barbie, she was an adult-looking doll sold in several varieties. Frustratingly, though, Lillis clothes were not sold separately from the doll itself. If you wanted the new ski outfit, for example, youd have to buy a whole nother Lilli. Crucially, for Barbie to get off the ground, the doll needed someone like Handler. She was a working mother at a time when most mothers stayed at home. She was a female founder willing to go toe-to-toe with the rest of the male board, not to mention the male owners of toy shops, who werent convinced an adult-figured doll should be marketed to children in the first place. Most of the buyers [for stores] were men, and some didnt think women would want their daughters to have a doll with breasts! And they themselves didnt want their daughters to have such a doll! Hander explained to the Jewish womens magazine Lilith. But when mothers saw Barbie in stores, she was vindicated. When we first shipped the doll it just walked off the shelves. Handler started driving around her neighbourhood in a pink Ford Thunderbird. I never dreamed of trying to change the world: Barbie inventor Ruth Handler in 1961 (Everett Collection Inc/Alamy) Barbies boyfriend Ken, named after the Handlers son, was introduced in 1961, followed by Barbies little sister, Skipper, in 1964. The first Barbie came dressed in a black and white chevron swimsuit, but soon more outfits followed and more storylines. In 1960, she became a pink-suited fashion designer toting a sketch portfolio. The next year she was a flight attendant in a pillbox hat, a nurse in cat-eyed glasses, and a ballerina on pointe. Though she did become an astronaut in 1965, before man had ever walked on the moon, it would be years before Barbie was a pilot or a doctor. I never dreamed of trying to change the world, Handler reflected three decades later. I wanted to show the world as it is. And at that time, there were no women doctors. Handler was similarly unfazed by the objections to Barbies idealised looks, which started appearing in American papers almost as soon as the doll became popular. An article in the Saturday Evening Post from 1964 the year after College Graduate Barbie appeared called the world of Barbie, with its emphasis on possessions and its worship of appearances, a tiny parody of our pursuit of the beautiful, the material and the trivial. But Handler would have no truck with the idea her bosomy invention could negatively affect a girls self-esteem. Many women have a problem with their own bodies as they grow older, Handler half-conceded. I cannot believe that the doll causes that. Barbie was able to withstand the criticism. In 1963, Mattel became a public company. By 1964, it was Americas biggest toy maker and Handler served as its executive vice president. To dismiss the new Barbie film starring Margot Robie and Ryan Gosling as a nostalgia play is to fundamentally misunderstand the dolls enduring appeal. Even now, its a billion-dollar-a-year business. As the film (if youve seen it) alludes to, Ruth and Elliot didnt fare as well. They were forced out at Mattel in 1975 after federal investigators launched a probe into the companys then-faltering finances. Finally, in 1978, came indictments for conspiracy, fraud, and making false statements to the US Securities and Exchange Commission false statements that enabled the company to borrow funds and acquire assets with overvalued Mattel stock. Instead of the $34m Mattel claimed to make in 1971, investigators believed the real number could be as low as $14m. Plastic fantastic: Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken in Barbie (Warner Bros) Essentially, the books were cooked, and, according to Handlers biographer Robin Gerber, the evidence is strong that Ruth knew about it. Handler pleaded no contest a plea by which a US defendant can accept punishment without admitting guilt and was fined $57,000, avoiding the 41-year maximum prison sentence the allegations carried. In interviews, though, Handler has maintained her innocence. She told CBS News in 1994 that she never did anything illegal herself: My error was not ferreting them out and firing the people immediately. But at the same time Handler was fighting for her company and later her freedom, she was also fighting for her life. Handler had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1970 and struggled to find a prosthetic breast after treatment. I had been fighting to be a respected female executive all my life, and when I lost my breast it was as if I had lost my femininity. For her, it was all connected. To get her femininity back, she founded Nearly Me, one of the first prosthetic companies not to treat the left and right breasts as simply interchangeable. Handler was suddenly in sales again. She toured America talking about the importance of early detection, long before annual clinical breast exams were the standard. She went on The Merv Griffin Show and insisted the famous talk show host feel the Nearly Me she was wearing. Betty Ford wore a Nearly Me. If a mastectomy suggested the end of femininity, Nearly Me proposed a way to get it back. It was Handlers second million-dollar business. In 1989, Handler lost her other breast to cancer and, two years after that, largely retired. She was 75. But you cant quit being Barbies mom. When Handler died in 2002 at the age of 85, from complications from colon surgery, obituaries ran in every major American newspaper remarking on how the same woman who gave dolls their breasts later helped breast cancer survivors recover their own. The fruits of Ruth Handlers career may have been rooted in traditional conceptions of femininity, but she herself had defied contemporary expectations for women at every corner. In fact, the true story of Barbies mom would probably make a pretty good movie. Barbie is in cinemas Fox News Robert F. Kennedy Jr. debated Fox News host Sean Hannity during a town hall event Tuesday about the United States role in the Russia-Ukraine war, with the 2024 presidential candidate claiming that the U.S. had been pushing Ukraine into the war. Kennedy Jr., who has made similar comments placing some fault on the U.S. for the current situation, was asked if he trusted Russian President Vladimir Putin. Do I trust Putin? No, Kennedy Jr. said. Because of our pushing the Ukraine into the war he added shortly after, before Hannity sought clarification. We pushed them into it or did Putin invade? the Fox host asked. Well, let me answer your question, replied Kennedy Jr., who then accused the U.S. of sabotaging the Minsk agreements in 2014 and 2015, which aimed to end the Donbas war yet largely failed to stop the fighting between Russian separatists and Ukraines armed forces. Putin, in good faith, began withdrawing troops from the Ukraine. What happened? We sent Boris Johnson over there to torpedo it because we dont want peace. We want the war with Russia, he argued, drawing applause from the audience. Johnson visited Kyiv at the beginning of February 2022 for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, just weeks before Putin began his invasion. Johnson noted at the time that there were more than 100,000 Russian troops stationed at Ukraines border, warning Putin that Britain was armed with sanctions the moment the first Russian toe cap crosses further into Ukrainian territory. Dont Expect Cheryl Hines to Denounce Husband RFK Jr. During the town hall, Hannity followed up by asking why Kennedy Jr. is blaming the U.S. Kennedy Jr. claimed that the expansion of NATO after the fall of the Soviet Union was an example of the U.S. deliberately bringing out the conditions that ultimately led to the war. Minutes later, Kennedy Jr., whose candidacy has been praised by a whos who of right-wing provocateurs like Tucker Carlson, Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn and Charlie Kirk, dismissed the idea that Russia would lose the war it started. Story continues It would be like us losing a war to Mexico, he said. They are not going to lose the war. 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. The 1975's Matty Healy protested Malaysia's anti-LGBTQ laws while performing in the country on Friday and shared an extended kiss with bandmate Ross MacDonald. The show was ended early and the group has been banned from performing in Malaysia in the future. (Photo: Roberto Ricciuti/Redferns) The 1975, the British pop-rock band fronted by Matty Healy, is facing a potential class-action lawsuit in the wake of its stage protest against Malaysia's anti-LGBTQ laws on Friday at the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur. The band has been banned from performing in the country and there's a police investigation into what happened. Homosexuality is a crime in Malaysia and punishable by up to 20 years in prison and caning. According to NME, Malaysian attorney Matthew Thomas Philip announced the lawsuit on behalf of Malaysian artists and festival vendors against Healy and his bandmates Ross MacDonald, George Daniel and Adam Hann over losses incurred by the remainder of the three-day festival being canceled. While international artists who had been booked were paid prior to the event, payment terms differ for local artists. They may not have been paid or received less than they were supposed to. Thomas Philip called the protest which saw Healy blasting Malaysia's "f***ing ridiculous" anti-gay laws and sharing a same-sex kiss with bassist Ross MacDonald a "deliberate reckless act done knowing well [sic] of the consequences... My view is that the 1975 must be held responsible and accountable for the losses suffered by the artists and vendors." As of Tuesday, there were five artists and five vendors who joined the suit, which seeks general damages as well as exemplary and aggravated damages. And other lawsuits could follow. A spokesperson for Future Sound Asia, which organized the festival, said it is "currently exploring legal options." Wan Alman, who runs the company, told Billboard the cancellation led to heavy financial losses this year and it could limit future concerts in the country going forward. Healy slammed Malaysia's anti-LGBTQ laws Healy went off on Malaysia's anti-gay laws on Friday as the band headlined the fest lineup. "I made a mistake," he told the crowd. "When we were booking shows, I wasn't looking into it. I don't 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." Story continues "I'm sorry if that offends you, and you're religious and it's part of your f***ing government," Healy continued. "I don't care anymore. If you push, I'm gonna push back." He called it "f***ing ridiculous to tell people what they can do with that and that," pointing to his groin and mouth. "If you want to invite me here to do a show, you can f*** off. I'll take your money, you can ban me, but I've done this before and it doesn't feel good," said Healy, who previously protest of United Arab Emirates's anti-gay laws by kissing a male fan onstage in Dubai in 2019. When he finished his remarks, which audience members cheered according to social media videos, MacDonald over to him and they shared a lengthy kiss. After, they continued to perform, but the group's set ended early. "All right, we just got banned from Kuala Lumpur," Healy said of the abrupt end to the show. "See you later." As a result of the kiss, the country's Ministry of Communications canceled the remainder of the festival, which was supposed to run all weekend with other acts including the Strokes. In a statement, it said the fest was "canceled following the controversial conduct and remarks made by U.K. artist Matty Healy from the band The 1975." Malaysia's Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil wrote on Facebook, "There will be no compromise with any party that challenges, belittles or violates Malaysian laws." Organizers said the group went against the terms of their deal by speaking, saying, "Prior to the festival, the 1975 management team reassured us that Healy and the band would adhere to local performance guidelines. Regrettably, Healy did not honor these assurances, despite our trust in their commitment. Healy's actions took us by complete surprise, and we halted the show as promptly as feasible following the incident." The fallout continued. The agency that approves performances by foreign artists in Malaysia slammed the 1975 for "disrespecting the laws of the country," noting the band would be banned from performing in Malaysia in the future. Local police announced an investigation into the protest, saying the incident "belittled Malaysia's laws." The band had departed the country before the report was lodged. As of Tuesday, there have been 18 police reports filed over the incident. The group canceled two shows in Indonesia and Taiwan in the wake of the protest. They were supposed to perform at We The Fest in Jakarta on Sunday night as well as at the Taipei Music Center on Tuesday as part of their 2023 Asia tour. The change of plans that the shows "will no longer be going ahead as planned" due to "current circumstances" leaving it "impossible to proceed" was announced on social media. The 1975 regret to announce that their forthcoming shows in Jakarta and Taipei will no longer be going ahead as planned. Please see the official statement from the band. pic.twitter.com/XpZskFnyeD We The Fest (@WeTheFest) July 23, 2023 And now, as we noted, the lawsuit and potentially more. Alman, whose Future Sound Asia organized the festival, told Billboard that Healy's manager "had acknowledged in writing that Matt Healy would adhere to all local guidelines and regulations" prior to his performance. "Artists are briefed on the guidelines before the event." No official word yet from the group, but backlash from some LGBTQ groups As this plays out, there's been no official statement from the band. However, a source defended Healy in a statement obtained by multiple outlets, saying, "Matty has a long-time record of advocating for the LGBTQ+ community and the band wanted to stand up for their LGBTQ+ fans and the community." Healy did made light of the drama on Instagram, posting the festival cancellation announcement and writing, "Ok well why don't you try and not make out with Ross for 20 years. Not as easy as it looks." Matty Healy reacts to the Good Vibes festival in Malaysia getting cancelled as a result of his remarks against the countrys anti-LGBTQ+ laws and making out with his bandmate on stage: Ok well why dont you try and not make out with Ross for 20 years. Not as easy as it looks pic.twitter.com/LyiIaWSXl7 Pop Base (@PopBase) July 23, 2023 However, his protest has drawn criticism from some members of the country's LGBTQ community, including that it could lead to further discrimination. Carmen Rose, a Malaysian drag performer, said, "What Matty Healy did, he thought he was doing something for us, but it's giving white savior complex. He thinks we need saving, he thinks we need fixing, when in reality we have queer organizations here already doing the work." Some critics have also pointed out that the timing isn't great as it's a pivotal time politically in Malaysia, with it being just weeks before highly contested state elections. "One can appreciate the meaning of Healy's protest, but I think the timing of it may not necessarily benefit folks," Thilaga Sulathireh, a founder of the LGBTQ group Justice for Sisters, told the Washington Post. "Political parties are currently campaigning, and we know LGBT issues are often scapegoated." Healy has been in the news a lot this year also due to a brief relationship with Taylor Swift. Many of her fans breathed a sigh of relief after their split as Healy is no stranger to controversy beyond these noted onstage protests. Swift's fans even wrote her an open letter asking her to address Healy's past behavior, but the relationship fizzled out before it came to that. Editor's note: This story was originally published on July 24, 2023, and has been updated to include new information. Julie Chrisley, Savannah Chrisley, Chase Chrisley, and Todd Chrisley in 2018. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for The Kevin Carter Foundation Todd and Julie Chrisley are being kept in "nightmare" conditions at their minimum-security prisons. That's according to Chase and Savannah Chrisley, who spoke in a new episode of the podcast "Unlocked." "There are some things that are going to come to light that are disgusting," Savannah said. Former reality television stars Todd and Julie Chrisley are being kept in "nightmare" conditions at the two minimum-security prisons where they are carrying out their combined 19-year sentence, according to their children. In the latest episode of her podcast, "Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley," released on Tuesday, Savannah Chrisley, and her brother Chase said the facilities where their parents are incarcerated are not fit for purpose as they have "black mold, asbestos," and in Julie's case snakes "slithering on the floor." At the beginning of the episode, Savannah told listeners that Chase recently visited their father and "got to hear about the cluster of everything going on at his facility," which they both described as a "nightmare." Savannah said that things weren't any better at Julie's facility, describing what their mother has been through as "insane." Todd, 54, and Julie, 50, were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion last year and began their prison sentences in January. Todd is incarcerated at Federal Prison Camp, Pensacola, in Florida, and Julie is incarcerated at Federal Medical Center, Lexington, in Kentucky. Referencing Savannah's claim in February that her mother's prison did not have air conditioning, Chase said: "Now they both have no air." Savannah Chrisley was joined by her brother Chase Chrisley for her latest episode of "Unlocked." Savannah Chrisley/YouTube "They are both in states where it gets to be 100-plus degrees, and there's no air conditioning," said Chase. "I mean, air conditioning is the least of it. When you've got black mold, asbestos, lead-based paint, snakes," Savannah said. Story continues Savannah then claimed that their mom has snakes "just casually slithering on the floor in front of her" and had seen snakes in her cell, "literally right there where her bed is." According to Chase, the prison guards' way of dealing with the problem was by providing prisoners with Mace, a brand of pepper spray, to spray at the reptiles. "That to me is an issue," Savannah said. "No shit. I don't care if you killed somebody, if you're in a government facility, you should have air conditioning," Chase responded. He added: "At the end of the day, it's my parents. I mean, I don't expect anyone else to feel bad for them. People don't have any sympathy until they're in the situation and it's their loved one." Savannah agreed, saying that it's a different case when "your loved one is sitting there literally having heatstroke and ending up in a hospital or not being fed properly." A court sketch shows Todd and Julie Chrisley listen in court as their accountant was sentenced on November 21, 2022. Lauren Lacy "There are some things that are going to come to light that are disgusting," she continued. "It will leave people speechless about the things that go on in the facilities. I'm ready for that time to come. It's just crazy to sit and watch Mom and Dad go through that, but luckily, they have the fight in them." Federal Bureau of Prisons representatives for the two facilities did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent outside of regular business hours. However, in February, a representative for FMC Kentucky told Insider that "for privacy, safety, and security reasons, we do not release information on the conditions of confinement for any inmate or group of inmates." Todd and Julie Chrisley were convicted in June 2022 of defrauding banks out of more than $30 million by providing fake financial statements to make them appear wealthier than they were. Their sentences were announced in November of that year. Todd, who prosecutors called the "mastermind" of the couple's years-long tax and bank fraud scheme, was sentenced to 12 years, while Julie, who prosecutors believed played a lesser role, was sentenced to seven years. They began their sentences on January 17. Read the original article on Insider Whoopi Goldberg challenges conservatives to sit down with their daughters and explain why they're not being taken to the 'Barbie' movie Whoopi Goldberg said she thought conservatives would be happy "there's no sex involved" in the "Barbie" film. Speaking on the talk show "The View," Goldberg hit back at conservatives who were criticizing the film online. "It's a doll movie, guys. I'm shocked that that's what's freaking you out these days," she said. Whoopi Goldberg said that she thought conservatives would be happy "there's no sex involved" in the "Barbie" film. Speaking on Tuesday's episode of the talk show "The View," Goldberg hit back at the conservative outrage surrounding the Greta Gerwig film, including the criticisms from Sen. Ted Cruz and Ben Shapiro. "It's a movie!" Goldberg said on the show. "It's a movie about a doll! I thought you all would be happy. She has no genitalia, so there's no sex involved." Insider previously reported that Cruz had slammed the film for being "Chinese communist propaganda" due to its depiction of a disputed region in the South China Sea, and that Shapiro had set a $69 Barbie doll on fire to protest the "woke" film. Goldberg explained that children won't see the film the same way that adults do, because all they understand is that it's a movie about the famous doll. "They haven't lived through what the adults have lived through, so when they're seeing this movie, that's not how they're looking at it," the 67-year-old actress said. "The kids are looking at it as a 'Barbie' movie." Goldberg then challenges conservative viewers to explain to their children why they can't watch the film. "You guys, I want you all to tell your daughters why you're not taking them to see the 'Barbie' movie. I want you to explain to them what's wrong with Barbie," Goldberg said. The actress then showed off her white platform boots with decapitated Barbie doll heads inside. Story continues "Now, look, I love my Barbie, okay? It's a doll movie, guys. I'm shocked that that's what's freaking you out these days," she said. Goldberg's conservative co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin added that these reactions are a testament to how right-wing social media influencers are "out of touch" with actual Republicans. "I'm so taken by some of these right-wing men who have all these thoughts on masculinity. Like, somehow, the 'Barbie' movie is going to make them feel emasculated," Griffin said. "No, caring so much about it is honestly the most emasculating thing I could think about it." "Barbie" is rated PG-13. Common Sense Media a site that recommends the best age for children to watch movies recommended that kids be at least 11 years old. The site noted that while there's no sex in the movie, the Kens are shown bare-chested and the Barbies get catcalled. "There are suggestive references to the dolls' bodies including Ken's 'nude bulge' and how a male-dominated society expects women to be ornamental and helpful," as per the review on Common Sense Meda. The site also mentions there are scenes that include alcohol consumption, a few fights, the use of some playful weapons, and chase scenes. Common Sense Media also praises the film for incorporating diversity, noting that "Barbieland is populated by a diverse group of Barbies and Kens from a range of body sizes, disability, gender, and racial and ethnic backgrounds." Read the original article on Insider A woman who shared all of her previous salaries on LinkedIn has been praised by job-seekers for her contribution to salary transparency. Charlotte Chaze, founder of Break Into Tech, posted her pay history on LinkedIn for her connections to see. She then took to TikTok to explain why she decided to openly admit how much she made in every position shes held. In her 5 July post, Chaze announced that she had added the salary for each job, from unpaid to hourly, so she could do do her part to make salary transparency happen. The business owner noted that her salaries started at $29,000 and rose yearly before jumping to $158,000 six jobs later. I know this wont catch on LinkedIn, but if it did... she added at the end. However, her caption contradicted the statement, as she then advised her followers against following her lead. I actually *dont* recommend doing this yourself. Showing a potential future employer what you currently make could cause them to lowball you, Chaze confessed. Im just doing it because I can and its helpful for others. Use it to your advantage! In the comments, viewers praised Chaze for the transparency while taking the opportunity to share their frustrations when it comes to companies refusing to disclose pay with potential employees. I just wish job listings at least list a salary range. Too many have absolutely no info, one person commented. Making a jump from $28,000 to $70,000 is impressive and this is the hope and inspiration I needed to see today, another person wrote, while someone else said: Salary transparency is so important. Story continues Wow. I love this level of transparency, another viewer said. However, not everyone agreed with Chazes method, as some argued that it may hinder prospective employees, like the TikToker had acknowledged in the caption of her video. The other side is employers using your current and past salary to lowball your new salary if its a jump in pay, one viewer said, while another pointed out: Yeah, thats great so now every company will lowball you when giving job offers. Someone else advised against the tactic, writing: Please dont do this, to which Chaze responded: Agreed, as I stated in the caption. Speaking to Buzzfeed, Chaze further explained her intentions in wanting to show people how their salary could possibly be greater than a company is leading on. I shared my salaries because I wanted to show my personal example of going from $28,000 to $70,000 in one job change, and then to $158,000 just a few years later, she said. When I was making a low salary, I never thought Id make it to six figures, so I broke down all the salaries I made along the way to show how it can be done, even if youre starting really low. Its all about showing people whats possible as motivation to go for what you deserve. Chaze also acknowledged her privilege in being able to share her earnings on the internet for anyone to see. According to haze, because she is a business owner now, she does not need to worry about being law-balled by a future employer. The recruiters and hiring managers who have weighed in seem to agree with that idea overall, although some have suggested that your current and previous salaries shouldnt matter when you apply for a new job. I think we all agree on that, which is why I dont recommend that most people post their salaries, she added. Though Chaze is doing what she can in the fight towards salary transparency, she believes employers and their recruiters should be the ones to do so to help minimise income gaps in gender and race. When employees dont know what everyone is making, the rich white cis male CEOs named John win. They can pay Ariana $20,000 less than she deserves (and $10,000 less than Chad) because no one taught her that she needs to ask for the salary range in the first interview and negotiate when she gets the offer, the tech mogul said. Even Chad is making less than he deserves because the company has spent hundreds of thousands on research to determine the lowest possible salaries they can get away with offering: salaries that are high enough to convince the new hires to accept their offers, but low enough that the CEO can get another $1m bonus this year, she continued. Salary transparency might feel like a taboo topic, but companies are already talking about our salaries behind closed doors. Lets continue that conversation with the doors open so everyone can participate. As for her biggest piece of advice to individuals in the workforce, Chaze told Buzzfeed it is to learn in-demand career skill and job hop, before noting that the biggest roadblock in your career advancement can also be yourself sometimes. The hard part isnt learning the skills, its believing you can do it. Once you get past doubting yourself, learning the skills is something anyone can do. Get started and dont stop until you get your job offer, because you only need one offer and youre in, Chaze said. Salary transparency laws have been enacted in a handful of states, including California, Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada, Rhode Island, New York, Washington, Illinois and Colorado. The legislation means that 26.6 per cent of the US labour force is now covered by pay range transparency laws, according to the National Womens Law Center, which notes that pay transparency laws have been consistently linked to narrowed gender wage gaps. The Independent has contacted Chaze for comment. COLUMBUS, Ohio After watching the video of a police dog attacking a Black truck driver, Gov. Mike DeWine said officer training in Ohio needs improvement. The driver, Jadarrius Rose, 23, of Tennessee, was surrendering with his hands raised after a lengthy pursuit when a Circleville police officer released his K-9 despite objections from an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper. The officer, identified as Ryan Speakman, was fired. "Officer (Ryan) Speakman did not meet the standards and expectations we hold for our police officers. Officer Speakman has been terminated from the department, effective immediately," police officials said in a statement. The governor proposed the construction of a scenario-based training facility as part of the upcoming capital budget. He'd also like lawmakers to set aside "guaranteed funds" so departments could use this facility at little to no cost. DeWine said while the state's large police departments are "expertly trained," smaller police departments may not have the resources to do the necessary training. "This incident in Circleville should be a lesson, a wake-up call to everyone that police training in the state of Ohio is not equal," DeWine said. A newly released video shows a Circleville police dog viciously mauling an unarmed Black man who had already surrendered to authorities following a high-speed vehicle chase. More training needed after failed police reforms Whether Ohio law enforcement officers have enough training has been an ongoing debate at the statehouse. The governor pushed for a police reform package after the 2021 death of 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant in Columbus. The legislation never materialized. Democrats also failed to introduce their own police reforms after the murder of George Floyd in police custody. "I can't do anything in this area without the cooperation and work of the state legislature," DeWine, a Republican, said. "We will be working with the speaker and the Senate president in regard to this." State Senate President Matt Huffman, a Republican, told the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau he supports the governor's idea and a similar proposal floated by Republican state Sen. Frank Hoagland. Story continues Watch: Ohio police dog mauled Black man as he surrendered to officers, video shows "I think it's a great idea," Huffman said, adding the public deserves to be approached in the same way no matter where they might be pulled over in Ohio. Thomas has supported efforts to standardize police training across the state, but he said new requirements "gotta have some teeth behind what you put out there. You cant have it be voluntary." Lawmakers allocated about $40 million for police training in the state budget passed in June. They also included a new commission to study long-term methods for funding peace officer training. DeWine called those changes a good start, but he thinks Ohio needs a more "holistic view of this." "No matter where you reside you have a right to have your police officers dealing with you to have the best training possible," DeWine said. "We have a ways to go in Ohio." What happened during the traffic stop? The July 4 incident began in Jackson County after Rose's truck failed to stop for a vehicle inspection by state troopers. When Rose pulled over and exited the vehicle, he raised his hands and appeared to comply with troopers commands to surrender. That's when Speakman, who is white, arrived with his K-9. The two different agencies appeared to give conflicting commands, and a state trooper can be heard on the body camera video saying, "Do not release the dog with his hands up. Speakman then released his dog, which attacked Rose and dragged him to the ground. The incident has garnered national attention, including condemnation from chapters of the NAACP and comment from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who said the situation "sounds horrific." "That was excessive use of force," former Cincinnati police officer and Democratic state Rep. Cecil Thomas said. "Here's an individual not resisting or giving any reason for that type of force to be used. I had to wonder whether it was because this was a Black man. Was it some kind of biased behavior? Is there something there? Some implicit bias?" Contributing: The Associated Press. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Circleville police dog attack leads governor to call for more training Wildfires that have killed at least 34 people in northern Algeria over the past several days are now almost entirely under control, officials said. As of Tuesday afternoon, 80% of the wildfires had been extinguished, according to the Algerian Ministry of the Interior, which in a statement credited the "positive results" to the uninterrupted mobilization of firefighters overnight, the use of firefighting aircraft and a drop in both wind speed and air temperature. Firefighting operations are continuing, with 13 hotspots remaining across seven provinces. The areas where blazes have been put out are being monitored, the interior ministry said. MORE: Dozens dead, hundreds evacuated as wildfires rage in Algeria PHOTO: Amar Belkati, a 57-year-old farmer, walks with his family outside their burnt house following a wildfire in Bejaia, Algeria, on July 25, 2023. (Ramzi Boudina/Reuters) Local authorities in the areas where the wildfires are contained have begun to inspect the damage and count the number of people affected, according to the interior ministry. The flames ignited Sunday and rapidly spread across forests and agricultural areas in at least 16 of Algeria's 48 provinces, driven by strong winds and scorching heat. The hardest-hit areas were in the coastal provinces of Bejaia, Bouira and Jijel, east of the capital Algiers. At least 1,500 people were evacuated, the interior ministry said. Some 8,000 firefighters and 529 trucks were deployed to battle the raging blazes alongside military firefighting aircraft. Among those killed were 10 soldiers who were fighting the flames in Bejaia, according to the interior ministry. MORE: As wildfires sweep through Greece, resident returns home to find it 'all gone, totally gone' PHOTO: A general view shows a burnt area in the aftermath of a wildfire in Bejaia, Algeria, on July 25, 2023. (Ramzi Boudina/Reuters) Two people suspected of starting the wildfires in Bejaia were arrested on Monday, according to the provincial attorney general's office. Temperatures are forecast to reach as high as 50 degrees Celsius, or 122 degrees Fahrenheit, in the southern part of the North African nation on Thursday and Friday, according to the Algerian National Office of Meteorology. Algeria is susceptible to wildfires in the summertime. Last August, at least 43 people were killed and 200 others were injured by blazes that burned through forest and urban areas in the eastern part of the country, according to the Algerian Red Crescent. Wildfires that killed at least 34 in Algeria are now 80% extinguished, officials say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Audo "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Investing in the best luxury furniture brands ensures your home decor will stand the test of time. Over the years, the furniture in your home will see a lot of wear and tear, but when you buy a luxury couch, the time and materials that went into it guarantee its durability. Kara Smith, principal of interior design firm KES Studio, tells Bazaar that luxury furniture blends sophistication and innovation. It goes beyond mere aesthetics and encompasses a commitment to exceptional design, using superior materials, she says. However, what truly elevates the concept of luxury furniture, in my opinion, is the infusion of a designers unique point of view and distinguishable style. It is this added layer of artistic expression that transforms a piece into a truly remarkable investment. When you first decide to invest in luxury furniture, Smith recommends beginning with an accent chair, like boucle seating. An accent chair is a versatile gem that tends to effortlessly blend into various floor plans while offering the flexibility to adapt to evolving decor styles, she says. Another investment Smith suggests is a smart console or dresser, which not only adds a touch of character to your space but also serves a practical function. Dont rely on the price to tell you whether a piece or brand is luxurious. Instead, read the fine print. Craftsmanship is key. How a piece is built, from the choice of materials to the method of fastening, is so important, Smith says. I truly appreciate the unique features of the wood, the authentic touch of real metal, the premium grade of leather, and other elements that contribute to its overall quality. Since the world of home design can be difficult to navigate, weve assembled a list of the best 18 favorite luxury furniture brands ahead. These companies range from true investments to budget-friendly options, all for creating interiors that last. Story continues Pierre Yovanovitch Based in New York and Paris, Pierre Yovanovitch used his background in fashion to create a contemporary yet timeless furniture brand. By working with fine European craftspeople and artisans, influenced by Swedish furniture designers and Hungarian architects, Yovanovitch's pieces are a mix between classics and avant garde. "When it comes to luxury furniture brands, two of my personal favorites are Charles Zana and Pierre Yovanovitch. These designers never fail to impress me with their innovation, attention to clever details, and commitment to pure quality," Smith tells Bazaar. Price range: $$$ Shop Now Pierre Yovanovitch pierreyovanovitch.com RH RHformerly known as Restoration Hardwareis known for their incredibly comfortable, celebrity-backed Clouch Couch collection. Their full line also encompasses bedroom and dining furniture, as well as bedding and lighting. The aesthetic is clean and minimal, with a focus on comfort. With headquarters in Northern California, the decades-old brand has remained relevant, thanks to their minimalist designs and quality products. Price range: $$$ Shop Now RH rh.com Gestalt New York Founded by Adrian Pollack and Karolina Dabo, Gestalt New York has coalesced a range of designers to create a multi-brand retailer across furniture, lighting, and objects. With a mash-up of mid-century modern pieces and Japanese-inspired furniture, Gestalt's New York furniture can bring quiet luxury to your home. Price range: $$$ Shop Now Gestalt New York gestaltnewyork.com Knoll For more than 80 years, husband and wide duo Hans and Florence Knoll's brand has remained committed to Bauhaus designs. These days, so many of the brand's designs are replicated by other labels, but the originals will always reign supreme. With a true eye for modern design, their office and dining furniture contain some of the brand's most iconic pieces, like their often-reproduced Saarinen Dining Table and Barcelona Chair. Price range: $$$ Shop Now Knoll knoll.com Eternity Modern This online furniture retailer stocks up on some of the most iconic and sought-after designs from throughout interiors history. From Mario Bellini sofas to Corbusier daybeds, they make it easy to source, purchase, and own insiders' favorite luxury furniture. Price range: $$$ Shop Now Eternity Modern eternitymodern.com Chairish Chairish makes it easy to shop and sell furniture from truly genius designers, from George Nakashima wooden chairs to the forever-loved Eames loungechair. Along with vintage items, you can also find contemporary designers sold secondhand as well, finding huge discounts and rare pieces. Price range: $$ Shop Now Chairish chairish.com Audo Audo is a Danish furniture brand that embraces the country's eye for minimalist design with a focus on quality materials. From their sheepskin lounge chairs to stunning wall decor, Audo united several designers and Danish studios to create their line of furniture and home accessories. Price range: $$ Shop Now Audo audocph.com Design Within Reach Design Within Reach is the go-to online retailer for luxury furniture. Founded with the intention of bringing online iconic designs that were previously only available in hidden showrooms, Design Within Reach often collaborates with designers and brands alongside revered interior design pieces, like the Eames chair. Price range: $$ Shop Now Design Within Reach dwr.com March This San Francisco home store has assembled a wide variety of luxurious, investment home pieces. From precious cookware to small-batch furniture, March is the place to shop for well-made, clean designs. Price range: $$$ Shop Now March marchsf.com Roche-Bobois With over 200 showrooms across the world, Roche-Bobois is a familiar name for luxury furniture lovers. They sell a wide-array of made-to-order furniture and home designs. Across living, bedroom, and office spaces, pieces are so well made, you'll own them forever. Roche-Bobois also believes in full service, offering interior design consultations to help you find the perfect pieces for your home. Price range: $$$ Modani Modani was founded by three design-lovers who wanted to create an easier way to shop for contemporary luxury furniture. Inspired by art deco style and mid-century modern designs, Modani's pieces focuses on angular shapes and minimal ornamentation. Price range: $ Shop Now Modani modani.com Kartell Milan-based Kartell creates luxury furniture while focusing on minimizing the impact to the environment. Their method? Using innovative materials, such as recycled upholstery and chairs made of coffee waste. Price range: $$$ Shop Now Kartell kartell.com 1st Dibs Shopping for vintage furniture? 1st Dibs is an online retailer that stocks some of the most well-known designs. From the beloved Egg Chair to Victorian dining tables, you can hunt to find a piece that no one else will own. While you're at it, check out their jewelry and fashion, too. Price range: $$ Shop Now 1st Dibs 1stdibs.com CB2 The luxury little sister to Crate & Barrel, CB2 offers timeless design and quality, without the enormous price tags other brands have. You can often find great deals on piece that create a calm and cool environment for your home without breaking the bank (or skimping on quality). Price range: $ Shop Now CB2 cb2.com Galerie Half Galerie Half sources and sells one-of-a-kind vintage pieces you can find nowhere else. Rather than focusing on brands or designers, they offer artistic and stylish items that often date back a hundred years or more. Price range: $$ Shop Now Galerie Half galeriehalf.com Blu Dot Blu Dot is the brand to shop for contemporary, modern furniture that specializes in color and comfort. The label focuses on classics like cozy sectionals and back-supporting desk chairs, rather than trends; all furniture is designed in-house, emphasizing usability and durability. Price range: $$ Shop Now Blu Dot bludot.com Tom Dixon Tom Dixon's furniture is all about honoring its British roots, adapting Victorian designs and even being awarded an OBE by Her Majesty the Queen. They exclusively sell angular tables and chairs, alongside lighting and home accessories. Price range: $$$ Shop Now Tom Dixon tomdixon.net Rove Concepts For Rove Concepts' furniture, no detail is too small. A focus on sustainability, innovative materials, and funky design makes it a go-to shop for anyone who wants to invest in their home's aesthetic. From mid-century modern pieces to bulbous sofas, Rove Concepts makes it easy to shop any home decor style in one place. Price range: $$$ Shop Now Rove Concepts roveconcepts.com Are luxury furniture brands worth the cost? "Luxury furniture brands are worth their cost because they prioritize quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail. These brands create lasting pieces that can adapt to evolving styles," says Smith. Still, you can find luxury furniture without breaking the bank. Smith adds, "Luxury furniture doesn't always need to come with a high price tag; there are affordable options of incredible quality. Exploring local artisans and woodworkers can lead to finding heirloom-worthy pieces without the associated costs of designer names." Hearst Owned Why trust Harpers Bazaar? For more than 150 years, Harpers Bazaar has been the preeminent fashion, beauty, and lifestyle resource for women at every age. We cover whats new and whats next in home by working with the worlds leading authorities in interior and architectural design, textiles, and more. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of editors and industry experts. Hearst Owned You Might Also Like Holland America's 42-day Ultimate Mediterranean & Atlantic Passage will make 16 stops including Greece, Tel Aviv, Morocco, and more. Tim Rue/Getty Images Holland America Line will launch a 42-day cruise across the Atlantic Ocean and around Europe and the Middle East from Florida next year, inspired by a journey the cruise line took nearly 100 years ago. The 42-day Ultimate Mediterranean & Atlantic Passage cruise will sail from Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 9, 2024, and visit 16 different ports before heading back to Florida, according to the cruise company. The sailing is part of the companys Legendary Voyages, which are longer cruises ranging from 25 to 59 days. Travelers who board the companys Volendam ship will first sail to the Azores before heading over to Tangier, Morocco, and on to Italy and Greece where they will have the opportunity to visit popular cities like Florence, Rome, and Athens. The cruise will then head down to Israel where guests can explore Tel Aviv and Jerusalem before making its way to Egypt and Tunisia. On its way back to Florida, passengers will stop in Gibraltar, Spain, and Casablanca. Holland America Line was one of the first companies to feature cruise vacations that went beyond a transatlantic crossing, and today were continuing to innovate our itineraries by offering memorable voyages like this ultimate Mediterranean and Atlantic passage sailing, Beth Bodensteiner, the chief commercial officer for Holland America Line, said in a statement. Since introducing this new Legendary category of cruises that offer an in-depth focus on one region, theyve been very popular. Were excited to add a longer voyage that makes it easy to explore the Med in depth without a long-haul flight. Holland America said the cruise is inspired by a trip the company took in 1925, which departed from New York City on the Rotterdam IV and sailed to several of the same ports next years cruise will visit. Last year, Holland America celebrated its 150th anniversary with a series of heritage cruises, including a special transatlantic cruise that recreated the companys first sailing by crossing the Atlantic Ocean before the company was even incorporated. Story continues The company is also planning an epic 133-day pole-to-pole Grand Voyage in 2025, which will sail as far south as Antarctica and as far north as the Arctic Circle off the coast of Norway. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the site of a section of an ancient road system known as "Shudao" in Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 25, 2023. Xi inspected southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday and Wednesday. He visited the site of a section of an ancient road system known as "Shudao" in Guangyuan City and the Sanxingdui Museum in Deyang City, respectively. Xi learned about efforts in historical and cultural heritage inheritance and ecological conservation, the progress in the excavation and research of historical and cultural heritage sites, as well as the protection and restoration of cultural relics. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) CHENGDU, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday and Wednesday. He visited the site of a section of an ancient road system known as "Shudao" in Guangyuan City and the Sanxingdui Museum in Deyang City, respectively. Xi learned about efforts in historical and cultural heritage inheritance and ecological conservation, the progress in the excavation and research of historical and cultural heritage sites, as well as the protection and restoration of cultural relics. General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Sanxingdui Museum in Deyang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 26, 2023. Xi inspected southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday and Wednesday. He visited the site of a section of an ancient road system known as "Shudao" in Guangyuan City and the Sanxingdui Museum in Deyang City, respectively. Xi learned about efforts in historical and cultural heritage inheritance and ecological conservation, the progress in the excavation and research of historical and cultural heritage sites, as well as the protection and restoration of cultural relics. (Xinhua/Li Tao) General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Sanxingdui Museum in Deyang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 26, 2023. Xi inspected southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday and Wednesday. He visited the site of a section of an ancient road system known as "Shudao" in Guangyuan City and the Sanxingdui Museum in Deyang City, respectively. Xi learned about efforts in historical and cultural heritage inheritance and ecological conservation, the progress in the excavation and research of historical and cultural heritage sites, as well as the protection and restoration of cultural relics. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Sanxingdui Museum in Deyang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 26, 2023. Xi inspected southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday and Wednesday. He visited the site of a section of an ancient road system known as "Shudao" in Guangyuan City and the Sanxingdui Museum in Deyang City, respectively. Xi learned about efforts in historical and cultural heritage inheritance and ecological conservation, the progress in the excavation and research of historical and cultural heritage sites, as well as the protection and restoration of cultural relics. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Sanxingdui Museum in Deyang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 26, 2023. Xi inspected southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday and Wednesday. He visited the site of a section of an ancient road system known as "Shudao" in Guangyuan City and the Sanxingdui Museum in Deyang City, respectively. Xi learned about efforts in historical and cultural heritage inheritance and ecological conservation, the progress in the excavation and research of historical and cultural heritage sites, as well as the protection and restoration of cultural relics. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the site of a section of an ancient road system known as "Shudao" in Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 25, 2023. Xi inspected southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday and Wednesday. He visited the site of a section of an ancient road system known as "Shudao" in Guangyuan City and the Sanxingdui Museum in Deyang City, respectively. Xi learned about efforts in historical and cultural heritage inheritance and ecological conservation, the progress in the excavation and research of historical and cultural heritage sites, as well as the protection and restoration of cultural relics. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the site of a section of an ancient road system known as "Shudao" in Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 25, 2023. Xi inspected southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday and Wednesday. He visited the site of a section of an ancient road system known as "Shudao" in Guangyuan City and the Sanxingdui Museum in Deyang City, respectively. Xi learned about efforts in historical and cultural heritage inheritance and ecological conservation, the progress in the excavation and research of historical and cultural heritage sites, as well as the protection and restoration of cultural relics. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the site of a section of an ancient road system known as "Shudao" in Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 25, 2023. Xi inspected southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday and Wednesday. He visited the site of a section of an ancient road system known as "Shudao" in Guangyuan City and the Sanxingdui Museum in Deyang City, respectively. Xi learned about efforts in historical and cultural heritage inheritance and ecological conservation, the progress in the excavation and research of historical and cultural heritage sites, as well as the protection and restoration of cultural relics. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the site of a section of an ancient road system known as "Shudao" in Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 25, 2023. Xi inspected southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday and Wednesday. He visited the site of a section of an ancient road system known as "Shudao" in Guangyuan City and the Sanxingdui Museum in Deyang City, respectively. Xi learned about efforts in historical and cultural heritage inheritance and ecological conservation, the progress in the excavation and research of historical and cultural heritage sites, as well as the protection and restoration of cultural relics. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Soft Surroundings is closing the distribution center it operates in Mexico, Mo., laying off 79 employees, or 11 percent of headcount, in the process. It expects to terminate workers from Sept. 1-15 , according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice the womens apparel, home and accessories retailer filed Friday with the state of Missouri. More from Sourcing Journal The WARN notice said employees were notified in writing 60 days before the date of their expected layoff. The affected warehouse workers are not represented by a union. Of the impacted workers, 31 are packers, 12 are processors and 11 are pullers, according to the notice. Layoffs at Soft Surroundings come a month after another specialty apparel retailer, The Childrens Place, cut 181 jobs, or 17 percent of staff. PVH Corp. also said in a regulatory filing last month it was laying off an undisclosed number of workers through the third quarter to reduce people costs by about 10 percent. Soft Surroundings 300,000-square-foot facility, which was built in 2016, filled customer orders to all 50 U.S. states and Canada, and distributed product to its retail stores nationwide. Over the course of the past year, Soft Surroundings has done a lot of work to assess the companys core needs and realign our priorities, a company representative told Sourcing Journal. With many months of due diligence, assessment and internal conversations, weve decided to improve our processes, streamline our logistics and ultimately better serve our customers by partnering with XB Fulfillment. This means that we will be proceeding with the closure of our fulfillment center in Mexico, Missouri. The spokesperson said Soft Surroundings wants to ensure sure that it keeps growing and investing in Missouri going into the future, noting that it has provided residents with clear communication over an extended timeline, held job fairs and have supported recruitment and relocation for staff wherever possible. Story continues The womens lifestyle brand, which sells apparel, shoes, accessories and handbags plus home goods and wellness products, is undergoing an aggressive new repositioning as it refocuses on what it calls the forgotten consumer, Gen X women. The digitally driven mission comes after executive chair Bridgit Lombard took the interim CEO reins in March. As part of the overhaul, Soft Surroundings now has about 65 percent less inventory since Lombard started calling the shots. In a May press release, the company said its focused on offering the styles that their core demographic of women over 50 are gravitating towards most. Soft Surroundings started as a catalog retailer in 1999, and operated an e-commerce business before opening its first retail store in St. Louis in 2005. The retailer expanded to more than 70 stores across the U.S., but has since shrunk to 44, according to the firms website. Despite the massive downsizing, Soft Surroundings sales fell just 15 percent in the time frame, the company told the St. Louis Business Journal. Fewer stores enabled the company to tighten its focus on assorting products that appeal to new Gen X target customers. In May, the retailer revamped its leadership, staring with a new chief financial officer, Dan Karpel, who formerly held the same position at supermarket Save-A-Lot and previously served as chief accounting officer at Caleres. Karpels appointment was one of four that Soft Surroundings described as part of the brands repositioning. The retailer appointed Kyle Madson as its vice president of global sourcing, technical design and quality, Amber Larson as its vice president of merchandising and Karen Tweedie as its new head of design. Soft Surroundings implemented Shopify POS in stores to bridge the digital and physical gap. The retailer is also in the process of moving its e-commerce site to a new platform but hasnt revealed details. The closing of the distribution center comes as warehouse vacancy rates continue to rise. According to commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield, vacancy rates have jumped to 4.1 percent in the second quarter, up from 3.5 percent in the quarter prior. This marks the first time since mid-year 2021 in which the rate exceeded 4 percent. The firm expects warehouse vacancy rates to climb further to 5.5 percent through 2024. Retailers like Stitch Fix and Big Lots are getting rid of DCs, with the former closing a Pennsylvania fulfillment center in October and another in Dallas next year. In the case of Big Lots, the home decor and furniture retailer already closed four forward distribution centers in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Washington and Indiana. Both retailers benefitted from the e-commerce boom during the Covid-19 pandemic, but needed to cut costs, with Stitch Fix saying a consolidated fulfillment network would better position inventory closer to consumer demand. Soft Surroundings is owned by Los Angeles-based private equity firm Brentwood Associates, whose portfolio also includes Boston Proper and J. McLaughlin. It employed about 700 as of May, with 150 positions based in the retailers St. Louis headquarters. Click here to read the full article. Leon Black, a trustee and the former board chair of the Museum of Modern Art, agreed to pay $62.5 million to the US Virgin Islands in January, the New York Times reported on Friday. The settlement, which comes following a three-year-long investigation, releases Black from potential claims related to a sex trafficking operation linked to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. In November, the Virgin Islands reached a $105 million deal with Epsteins estate. The territory then sued JPMorgan Chase in federal court for its 15-year relationship with Epstein in December. More from Robb Report Blacks settlement, which he agreed to pay in cash, came after a two-day private mediation to settle the claims. As revealed in the dealings, Black paid $158 million to Epstein for tax and estate planning services. Epstein died by suicide while being held in federal custody on sex trafficking charges in Manhattan in 2019. At least 200 women were allegedly sexually abused by Epstein at his private residences in the Virgin Islands, New York, and Florida. In 2021, Black stepped down from his position as chairman and chief executive of the private equity firm Apollo Global Management that he cofounded in 1990. An ARTnews Top 200 Collector, Black famously purchased a version of Edvard Munchs The Scream. He also stepped down as chairman of New Yorks Museum of Modern Art in 2021. Blacks settlement with the Virgin Islands does not cover claims by anyone else against Black, and the settlement can not be used as evidence of wrongdoing by Black, according to the document. Some of the money from the settlement will be used to fund mental health programs and to combat sex trafficking on the Virgin Islands, the Attorney Generals office told the New York Times. Story continues 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. Authentic Brands Group has scooped up Rockport, adding another heritage shoe brand to its growing portfolio. The company behind dozens of brand and retailer acquisitions announced on Wednesday that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware approved the sale transaction of Rockport, a Newton, Massachusetts-based footwear label. Rockport said in June that it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and would put itself up for sale. At the time, the brand said this move was to help it review and restructure its assets for the benefit of all stakeholders and to better position it for future growth opportunities. More from Footwear News As of late last month, Authentic had emerged as the stalking horse bidder for Rockport, according to a report in WWD. Terms of the bid were not disclosed, but WWD reported that Authentic said it would need to be reimbursed $1 million for expenses related to the deal if it did not go through, as well as a $1.6 million break-up fee. The acquisition reunites Rockport with Reebok, the brands former parent company that was acquired by Authentic in 2022. Reebok acquired Rockport in 1986 and sold it in 2015. In a statement, Authentic CEO, founder and chairman Jamie Salter said that Rockport is a perfect addition to the companys portfolio, given the brands resonance with active consumers. He noted Rockports potential for category expansion into apparel, accessories, outerwear, travel and more. There is a significant addressable market, presenting opportunities for the brand to evolve into a full lifestyle offering with a focus on innovation and comfort, Salter said. Authentic also said it has signed a long-term licensing agreement with Marc Fisher Footwear, making it Rockports U.S. footwear partner that will oversee footwear design as well as wholesale and e-commerce operations. Marc Fisher also partners with Authentic for its Nine West, Hunter and Bandolino brands. Story continues We are excited to partner with Authentic on Rockport, a brand with great consumer equity, said Marc Fisher, CEO of his eponymous company. Rockports strong connection to its core consumer presents compelling growth opportunities within the mens footwear market, and we look forward to continuing to build upon its foundation with Authentic. Authentic said it will announce more brand partners for Rockport in the coming months to help expand its reach into new regions and categories. The company added that its portfolio will generate more than $29 billion in annual retail sales worldwide when it closes its deals for Rockport and Boardriders next month. Authentic has been behind many of the fashion industrys biggest deals in recent years, including Hunter Boots, Vince, Ted Baker and Reebok. Best of Footwear News Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. In her eponymous new film, Barbie asks her friends, "Do you guys ever think about dying?" Because she surely does. (Illustration by Juanjo Gasull; photo: Getty Images) In Barbie, Margot Robbie's pretty and pink "Stereotypical Barbie" is in crisis. She has cellulite and she can't stop thinking about death. That existential concern is what drives much of the drama in the blockbuster film. And though it never quite reaches the level of full-blown pathology for Robbies Barbie or America Ferrara's Gloria, who also struggles with "irrepressible thoughts of death," it certainly raises a question: When does the fear of death actually called thanatophobia, but also known as a preoccupation with death, having intrusive thoughts of death and death anxiety constitute a mental-health crisis? There are many terms which people use to talk about this fear, and often they are used interchangeably, explains Rachel Menzies, psychologist, prominent death-anxiety researcher and director of the Sydney, Australia-based Menzies Anxiety Centre, for the psychological treatment of death-anxiety and related conditions. There is currently no formal diagnosis for death anxiety, although some people consider it a type of specific phobia, she tells Yahoo Life. However, you can think of death anxiety as a normal and universal part of being human, in that all of us have to grapple with our awareness of death and the discomfort that can come with this. When the anxiety becomes more severe, this is when it is particularly important to seek help. Menzies stresses that all of us can likely benefit from facing our mortality and normalizing death, which is partly why she so appreciated Barbie, which she recently watched. I thought it did an excellent job at depicting and normalizing death anxiety I've already had a few conversations with patients about it and it seems to have really struck a chord with people. In Barbie, both Margot Robbie's lead character and Gloria, played by America Ferrera, struggle with irrepressible thoughts of death. (Photo: Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection) Death anxiety, in general, she explains, refers to any negative feeling people may have about death or dying. This can include feelings of fear, dread or sadness. It is completely normal to think about death, and death anxiety exists on a spectrum, such that some people will experience only mild discomfort about death and dying, whereas others may experience intense distress. Story continues It can also, when harnessed correctly, be a positive force in our lives, according to psychologist David Rosmarin, founder of Center for Anxiety in New York and Boston and Harvard Medical School associate professor. "On one hand, its a good thing, because death is inevitable, and being aware of our mortality can have positive effects: It can make us more humble, it can make us think twice before we do certain things, it can make us more cautious, it can make us think about issues of greater meaning and purpose and why were here," he tells Yahoo Life. "So, its a double-edged sword." Here's what to know about death anxiety. Take note if anxiety over death disrupts your daily existence When it becomes invasive and disrupts your normal functioning, or interferes with your quality of life, then its problematic, Elaine Eshbaugh, professor of gerontology at the University of Northern Iowa who has researched death anxiety, tells Yahoo Life. Other red flags are if it impacts your relationships or work life, adds Menzies, who says, If people are finding that they are routinely troubled by thoughts of their own death or that of others, or that it is impacting their mood, or leading to unhelpful coping behaviors, this is usually a sign that they could benefit from getting professional support. Rosmarin says that having severe enough death anxiety to warrant treatment is a rarity, noting, "We see more than 1,000 patients a year, but if we see one or two with death anxiety, that would be a lot." Similarly, he says, thanatophobia is a "rare phobia its not like, snakes, heights, planes, death." Anxiety around death is typically not the only symptom at play For people with severe death anxiety, it would be unlikely that theyd only be anxious about that, notes Eshbaugh, who explains that its related to generalized anxiety disorder [GAD], so its rare to have an overwhelming fear of death and no other anxieties. Rosmarin adds that, with GAD, "people have multiple worries, and often they pertain to death, but typically its not about them but their kids or their loved ones did their flight land? Do they have a disease?" While death anxiety is not a mental health diagnosis in and of itself, it would typically present itself as part of a constellation of symptoms, says Eshbaugh not only of GAD but also possibly part depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which would bring with it a more irrational death anxiety, such as, if I dont [tap the table] 47 times Im going to die, she says. Menzies, in fact, found in one study that, Across 12 different disorders, death anxiety significantly predicted symptom severity." There are factors that can make some more susceptible than others Barbie may or may not find comfort in one of Eshbaughs findings, which is there's a higher rate of death anxiety among females." Also seen in women, and a contributing factor, is a higher rate of ruminative thought, meaning you cant let go of something, and that you tend to ruminate or perseverate on an issue, no matter what that is," she says. Another factor, says Eshbaugh, is the level of interactions and familiarity with older adults and that the lower the level, the higher the possibility of having death anxiety seems to be. Similarly, in general, the more exposure you have had to death, the less death anxiety you have. For individuals who actually are closer to death, either through age or illness, she adds, it either goes up or it goes down some of death anxiety is fear of the unknown, and when youre in hospice, for example, you have a little less fear of the unknown. So sometimes you find the death anxiety is actually going to decrease. Approaches to treatment A therapists approach will largely depend on the related diagnosis, says Eshbaugh, so if a patient is dealing with PTSD, for example, then trauma-therapy approaches such as EMDR can be effective. If the anxiety over death is a manifestation of clinical depression, then one would treat the depression, using therapy and maybe medication, because when were talking about obsessive and ruminating thoughts, sometimes medication is really helpful. But generally speaking, says Menzies, who coauthored Free Yourself from Death Anxiety: A CBT Self-Help Guide for Fear of Death and Dying, it's CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy), which is "the most evidence-based treatment for death anxiety. This involves addressing unhelpful beliefs which may underlie the anxiety, as well as managing behaviors which we know drive anxiety, such as avoidance behaviors, reassurance seeking, and so forth. The clinicians at Rosmarin's center all work with CBT, which he says is "focused on change," as well as DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), which is "a broader approach, but balances change with acceptance, because sometimes you cant make those changes and you have to learn to sit with the fact that were imperfect." It's something Barbie (spoiler alert!) decided she's ready to sit with, choosing life with all of its imperfections and promise of death over her bright pink fantasy world. "Death anxiety can make life harder, but it can also make life better, and if we use it to have a better sense of meaning, of purpose, and to avoid impulsive, dangerous things, all of that is actually very positive," Rosmarin says. "Barbie decides its better to be a human and have the uncertainty." We had to wing it on this occasion, a British Airways spokesperson told T+L. Aleksey Gulyaev/Getty Images When the food on a British Airways flight from the Caribbean to London went bad over the weekend, the crew came up with an im-peck-able plan B with a little help from KFC. The flight was traveling on a Boeing 777 aircraft from Turks and Caicos to London with a stop in Nassau, Bahamas, on Sunday when the crew realized the catering couldnt be served, the airline confirmed to Travel + Leisure. But instead of letting everyone go hungry, the crew of flight BA 252 came up with a creative solution: heading out into the Nassau airport and buying buckets of chicken from KFC. With limited options available at the airport, our teams sprung into action and made sure our customers onboard our flight had something to eat, a British Airways spokesperson told T+L. We apologize to customers that their full meal service was not available and that we had to wing it on this occasion. The spokesperson added travelers were then provided with a refreshment voucher when they landed at London Heathrow Airport. But some passengers on the flight didnt seem too happy with their substitute meals. A video of the flight posted to Instagram showed the crew walking up and down the aisles and doling out the chicken with tongs. And a photo showed a girl sitting in business class cradling a couple pieces of chicken on a napkin. @British_Airways just landed @HeathrowAirport after a 12.5 hour flight BA252 from Turks and Caicos with no catering! BA had to serve @kfc at Nassau giving some lucky passengers 1 piece of chicken, one traveler wrote on the social media website X. The container with the plane catering wasnt chilled so all thrown away!! While the meal was a last-ditch effort to feed passengers, its definitely a far cry from the high-end Michelin-starred chef-created meals the airline typically allows travelers to pre-order in its economy cabin. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Getty Images / Dr_Microbe Fact checked by Nick Blackmer New research indicates that hookworm therapy can be tolerated by individuals with ulcerative colitis. Since hookworms can reside in the body for several years, this approach provides an infect and forget treatment method. Experts note the next step to proving this kind of therapy as a viable option is a large, randomized control study. Could hookworm therapy be the next big thing for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)? While most people may originally balk at the idea of being infected with hookworm larvae, a new study indicated that hookworms could be a breakthrough treatment for individuals with ulcerative colitis and Crohns diseasethe main types of IBD. Once it is explained that hookworms have co-evolved with the human body over millennia, how we think they work, and that they have no chance of replicating in the body, most people are very open to the idea, Tom Mules, MBCHb, a physician at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research and a lecturer at the University of Otago School of Medicine in New Zealand, told Health. Mules co-led the new study, published in the journal Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, examining whether or not patients could tolerate hookworm therapy for IBD ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease, both of which are associated with chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. In the study, the scientists observe that some people with IBD already use medically unsupervised hookworm therapy, suggesting it may be of benefit. But ultimately, evidence proving it works is lacking. Critically, the point of this research wasnt to evaluate whether or not hookworm therapy works. Instead, scientists wanted to evaluate if it can be well-tolerated and safe. This research indicates that the answer is yes and suggests its reasonable to move on to the next phase of researcha full-scale randomized control trial. Getty Images / Dr_Microbe How Hookworm Therapy Could Help People With IBD Scientists have started to notice a strange trend. People are increasingly diagnosed with IBD, and incidents in places where IBD was once rare are becoming more common. Story continues Why this is occurring is not exactly clear, but researchers have proposed one curious reason: actions like improved sanitation mean people are infected with gastrointestinal parasites like hookworms less often. Historically, people who live in countries where parasites are more common tend not to develop IBD. In turn, its possible that improved living standardsand fewer parasitesmean more IBD. There have been a few previous studies looking at hookworm therapy for IBD, but these have included patients with Crohns disease and people who are still sick, and many had issues with their study design. In one study of 56 Crohns disease patients, the authors did not find any benefits. However, early research on mice suggests parasitic worms can help the gut outcompete the inflammation-producing bacteria that drive IBD. The parasites triggered mucus production, which supports a good type of bacteria called Clostridia. This resulted in a healthy balance of gut bacteria. Other mice studies also suggest parasitic worms could work as a treatment for IBD because of how they influence inflammation. Related: IBD Symptoms May Show Up Years Before Clinical Diagnosis, Study Shows Advantages of Hookworm Therapy Over Typical Treatment In some cases, doctors might recommend people with ulcerative colitis undergo surgery, which involves removing the colon and the rectum. This surgery is more commonly known as j-pouch surgery. However, is it much more common for people to treat ulcerative colitis with medication, namely anti-inflammatory drugs used orally or topically. Most people respond well to medication, but people with more severe symptoms may see fewer benefits. The study team views hookworm therapy as a potential alternative therapeutic option and sees it as something that could help people who have trouble adhering to daily medication. One of the key findings of this study was that a single dose of hookworm can reside in the body for several years, if not longer, said Mules. He described the process as infect and forgetafter infection, the patient doesnt need to adhere to any further steps. Mules was inspired to examine this therapy because of the many patients he sees that want an alternative to conventional medicine. The more I learn about hookworm, such as its amazing lifecycle to reach the intestine, its ability to live in the body for years, and its symbiotic relationship with humans, the more I want to find out if, and how, it works to treat disease, said Mules. Raymond Cross, MD, a professor of medicine and the director of the IBD program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, told Health that he has not seen a patient who has attempted hookworm therapy and thinks this might be rarer in the United States. However, as a provider that cares for patients with IBD, I have certainly observed patients experimenting with non-approved treatments to improve control of their disease, said Cross. Evaluating the Feasibility of Hookworm Therapy The New Zealand-based research team evaluated 20 patients with ulcerative colitis in disease remission, the period during which symptoms of a disease are reduced or disappear. At this point, the only treatment the participants were using was 5-aminosalicylic acid, an anti-inflammatory drug. The team focused on patients in disease remission because they think hookworm therapy is better suited to keeping a person in remission, rather than pushing them from an active disease state into remission. The idea is that once in remission, hookworm therapy could prevent them from having disease flares and reduce the need to take medications. While in remission patients experience less pain and discomfort, but if they forget to take their medication, a flare-up can happen. Study participants were randomly given a placebo or 30 hookworm larvae. The placebo was capsaicin creama pain reliever cream derived from chili peppers and described as giving a similar sensation as hookworm larvae. Larvae or the cream was applied to a gauze and then placed on the participants forearm. Mules explained that after the larvae were applied, they burrowed through the skin and entered the bloodstream, subsequently traveling to the lungs where they matured for a few weeks. Next, they migrated to the trachea, are swallowed, and entered the gastrointestinal tract. When they reach the small intestine they latch onto the mucosa, where they can live for years. The group was monitored for 52 weeks and during this time they were asked about their IBD symptoms, their reaction to the intervention, and their well-being. By the end, 40 percent of participants in the hookworm group and 50 percent of the participants in the placebo group maintained clinical remission. Because of the small sample size, the team observed that there was limited statistical precision to consider differences in clinical remission. As this is a small study, it is possible that the study was not powered to detect a smaller difference in relapse rates, although I would argue that for a therapy like this, clinicians do not care about a small difference in relapse rates, said Cross. We want a therapy that is significantly better than the standard of care. Related: How Is Ulcerative Colitis Diagnosed? The Side Effects of Hookworm Therapy As expected, almost everyone in the hookworm group had detectable eggs in their feces at the end of the experiment. All of these participants also developed mild eosinophilia, which happens when the body produces a large amount of a type of white blood cell and is often a sign of a parasitic infection. This group also experienced more nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rashes at the site of the application. Mules described these as very common adverse effects of early hookworm infection. They are caused by the bodys immune response to being infected with a parasite. All side effects resolved within ten weeks, with some much sooner, indicating that this type of therapy is safe. The intervention did not trigger a disease flaresomething the study team was initially concerned about. They [the side effects] are generally mild and quickly settle as the hookworm and human enter their symbiotic relationship, said Mules. If you prepare people that these will occur, most do not need any treatment for the side effects. Waiting to See If Hookworm Therapy Is a Viable Treatment Option Whats needed next is a large, randomized control trial that will examine the effectiveness of this intervention. Because this takes time and money, its difficult to say when this will happen. But Mules and colleagues believe hookworm therapy has enough promise and potential advantages that the investment is worth it. Another hindrance could be the possibility that people will be turned off by this type of therapy. One of the reasons potential study participants gave for not wanting to take part was being disciplined to undergo infection with hookworm. But Mules does not see this being too much of an issue. It may not be for everyone, he said, but the fact that many people do it already suggests many are open to the idea. For more Health news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Health. Michelle Budge, Illustration / Thomas Griggs on Unsplash, Photo / Deseret News Last month, Connecticut became the latest in a string of states to ratify a law giving Americas children greater independence pushing back on decades of a wide-scale shift toward helicopter parenting. On June 27, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signed SB1133, which essentially allows parents to make the call as to whether their children are sufficiently mentally and physically mature enough to engage in certain activities by themselves. The legislation, which will take effect Oct. 1, will allow children increased freedom while also protecting parents from the likelihood of being accused of negligence. For example, a child might be able to walk alone to a friends house without their parents having to worry about the police showing up at their door. Prior to this legislation, Connecticut had a very punitive criminal law, which prevented children from being engaged in any kind of independent activities in a public place, said Diane Redleaf, a legal consultant for Let Grow, a nonprofit organization that advocates for increased childhood independence and that was instrumental in getting the legislation passed in Connecticut and numerous other states. After the law takes effect, parents will be able to make the decision to allow their children to be in public without constant supervision, said Redleaf, who offered examples like walking to school or riding a bike alone activities that used to be part and parcel of childhood for previous generations. The bill got sweeping support from both sides of the political aisle, passing unanimously. In this age of increased political polarization, advocates say its success points to something a growing number of experts and American parents alike seem to agree upon: Our children are being suffocated, their growth stunted, by the culture of helicopter parenting, and parents are being burdened by policies and laws. The fact that this (law passed in) a solidly blue state just shows you that everybody is getting the message that parents dont want to be micromanaged anymore, said Lenore Skenazy, founder of Let Grow and the author of Free-Range Kids. Story continues Bipartisan support The Connecticut legislation is the latest in a string of state laws that started in Utah, allowing parents and children liberties that went unquestioned before the spread of helicopter parenting (named for the tendency of overprotective parents to hover). In 2018, Utah was the first state in the nation to pass a child independence law. The move, which was controversial at the time, was widely referred to as a free-range parenting law by the media and it made international headlines. In the wake of the debate around the law, Skenazy said her organization began to advocate for reasonable childhood independence laws. Sometimes people think free range means feral or you dont care or nobodys watching the kids, she said. But what were really talking about is parents who know and love their kids thinking that theyre ready for some independence and being allowed to give it to them without being second-guessed by the government. Related Skenazy pointed out that childhood independence laws dont let parents who are actually putting their children in harms way off the hook. However, she emphasized, Neglect is when you put your kid in obvious and serious danger, not anytime you take your eyes off of them. The years after Utahs law was enacted saw similar legislation pass in Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado. But 2023 has been a particularly active year for the passage of childhood independence laws, with four states approving such legislation: Virginia, Montana, Connecticut and Illinois. Today, the work brings together seemingly strange bedfellows, uniting people on the right who advocate for parents rights and those on the left who work on behalf of impoverished and marginalized minority communities. Nationwide, 70% of calls to governmental bodies like Child Protective Services are reports of neglect, said Valerie LHerrou, deputy director of the Center for Family Advocacy at the Virginia Poverty Law Center, which helped work for the childhood independence law in that state. The law, which was signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in March, went into effect July 1. Eighty-five percent of families that are investigated for neglect are low-income, according to Penn States Social Science Institute. But if you peek under the hood of neglect a lot of times, what youre really seeing is a lack of access to resources, said LHerrou, who said that she started walking to school alone at the age of 5. Its a double whammy to low-income families and families of color: We dont give them access to resources to properly support their families, and when they struggle to support their families, we basically come in and are punitive towards them. How did we get here? The existence of childhood independence laws begs the question: how did we get here in the first place? How did activities that were so normal for previous generations walking to school, going to a neighborhood store to buy a snack or playing in the front yard alone become cause for alarm? It was, as Skenazy put it, a cultural tsunami that turned Americans idea of childhood into a time of immense danger, rather than a normal developmental stage. As such, parents became relentless protectors who must supervise their children at all times and if they didnt, the government was there to step in. The media was partly to blame, said Skenazy, by publicizing isolated incidents of kidnappings without making clear that a majority of such incidents involve custody battles. And policy changes reinforced the idea that children cant do things alone, she said, offering the example of school districts who wont let a child get off the school bus without someone waiting to escort them home. Amtrak, she noted, used to let children 8 and older travel by themselves; now the age is 13. Policies like this undermine the ideas that kids can be competent and that most adults are good people, Skenazy said. And so you always had to either be with your child yourself, or have somebody there by proxy, watching over your kids. Where do we go from here? Changing the laws is one step but laws arent enough, childhood independence advocates say. They believe we need a cultural shift that stops people from calling the authorities every time they see a child outside alone, one that encourages concerned onlookers to talk to parents about their concern instead. These laws are just to press the reset button on the idea that kids do not need constant supervision until they go off to college, said Skenazy, who noted that parallel to the rise in helicopter parenting came a decline in childrens mental health. In recent decades, rates of depression and anxiety in children have skyrocketed; psychologists and other researchers believe that the decline in childrens independence is likely a contributing factor. Theres a lot of criticism of helicopter parents, said LHerrou. But basically the law forces parents to be helicopter parents, and then that results in kids getting out into the world on their own and having to make independent decisions for the first time and having a lot of anxiety. But embedded in the problem is the remedy research has shown that getting children to do things on their own reduces anxiety, said Skenazy, who pointed to the work of clinical psychologist Camilo Ortiz, a professor at Long Island University who takes an unconventional approach to treating childrens anxiety. He doesnt have them face a particular specific fear head-on; rather, he simply has kids do things alone. This is not a traditional anxiety treatment, Ortiz told the California radio station KQED. My approach is something like: So youre afraid of the dark? Go to the deli and buy me some salami. In a similar spirit, Let Grow has two different programs to help promote childhood independence. The Let Grow Project offers teachers a downloadable homework assignment that has children do something on their own, without adult supervision. And the organization advocates for schools to organize Let Grow play groups, which would take place after hours and bring children of a range of ages together for unstructured, screen-free play time. Not only would children benefit from more unstructured, mixed-age play, increasing our kids independence also gives adults the gift of watching their children bloom into resilient, independent beings who will be able to handle the adversities and challenges that come with life. Skenazy asks people to think back on their childhood ... to their happiest memories. Was your mother with you? she asks. So how does independence benefit kids? Well, without it, kids are going crazy. Photo: Patrick Hatt (Shutterstock) Imagine going to the trouble of trick-or-treating door to door in a cardboard Barbie box costume only to end your night with an essentially empty pumpkin pail. Come October, that nightmare could be real, thanks to a looming candy shortage. I know its a scary thought, but sometimes reality is worse than fiction. While we all bake under the summer sun, candy makers across the country are feeling the heat in a different way. The Wall Street Journal reports that a sugar shortage, import restrictions, and international competition all have confectioners questioning whether they have enough supply for Halloween 2023 and the upcoming holiday season overall. Read more How climate is affecting the sugar supply Both candy makers and sugar farmers are reportedly looking to point the finger for the rising cost of sugar. Ultimately, El Nino, a climatological phenomenon that periodically affects weather patterns, takes much of the blame for reduced crop production. El Nino is known for bringing heavy rainfall to some regions, such as Latin America and the southern U.S., while causing warmer weather and droughts in others, like Australia and south Asia, said Nidhi Jain, a specialist at business intelligence firm The Smart Cube company, in a statement emailed to The Takeout. Jain added that El Ninos effects could reduce sugarcane yield by 10-15% globally. The tighter supply couldnt come at a worse time, of course, since we are rapidly approaching the most sugar-packed holidays of the year, and confectioners need to prepare. The United States Department of Agriculture reported in June that U.S. raw cane sugar prices increased to 42.56 cents a pound in May, the highest price since January 2011. Midwestern refined beet sugar, another type of sugar crop often used in confectionery, was up to 62 cents a pound in May. How the supply chain is impacting candy On top of price increases on sugar, U.S. agriculture policies surrounding the crop are not making the situation any easier. At least 85% of U.S. sugar purchases must come from domestic processors. Plus, for the 15% that companies are allowed to import from other countries, there is a tariff of 1.66 cents per pound. The tariff increases to 16.21 cents per pound if more than 15% is imported, per the USDA. As a result of the sugar shortage here at home, though, its possible there wont be much of a choicesome companies might just have to contend with paying those higher tariffs on imported sugar. Story continues Unfortunately for U.S sugar farmers, the increased tariffs arent enough to keep candy companies from going outside the country to get their sugar. Many of these farmers argue that the real issue is that foreign governments subsidize sugar production in their countries. This keeps prices very low compared to domestic sugar pricing, making it hard for U.S. farmers to compete. Back in April, both Hershey and Mondelez, global companies that produce sweets like Reeses, Kit Kat, Toblerone, and Sour Patch Kids, acknowledged that the rising price of sugar is a challenge that has led to higher costs. On a smaller scale, Atkinson Candy, the Texas company that produces Chick-O-Stick and Slo Poke, has been struggling to fulfill its remaining orders for the year on items like hard candies, caramels, and peanut brittle because of the sugar shortage. Eric Atkinson, president of Atkinson Candy, told The Wall Street Journal that after being turned down by 11 sugar suppliers who ran out of product, the brand was able to find a supplier that imports from Colombia. We were down to the point where we were about to run out, Atkinson said to The Wall Street Journal. We wouldve been going to Costco. There are no easy answers to this burgeoning candy crisis, and ghouls and goblins should brace themselves to be a bit disappointed in their haul come October 31. Unless, of course, your neighborhood chooses to hand out some awesome stickers instead. More from The Takeout Sign up for The Takeout's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Johnny Depp Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides premiere Johnny Depps fans flooded social media with supportive messages last week, following the Daily News Hungarys report that his band, Hollywood Vampires, had to cancel their concert in Budapest on July 18th at the last minute because he passed out in his hotel room. Medics were reportedly called to the scene, but he was not deemed able to perform, resulting in a last-minute cancellation of the concert. Papp Laszlo Sport Arena was already full of fans when the announcement of the cancellation came. A source cited by Hungarian daily tabloid newspaper Blikk reportedly said: Everything was prepared, the stage was set, the background crew was also ready for the party. It didnt 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 didnt take part, a colleague also set up his microphone, but this is not unusual for such stars. Hollywood Vampires Cancel Their Budapest Show At The Last Minute "We heard so much that Depp partied too much, he couldnt even leave the hotel," the source added. "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." Photos of the 60-year-old Jeanne du Barry actor drinking an hour before the concert emerged on Twitter shortly after the news of the cancellation broke, leaving many fans unimpressed. "Heres Johnny Depp drinking an hour before canceling his concert due to 'unforeseen circumstances.' He likely passed out again," wrote one fan, alongside a picture. The tweet also read, "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 band didnt say that the Sweeney Todd actor passing out in his hotel room was the reason for the show being canceled though either because that's the real truth, or because they didn't want to worry fans. Hollywood Vampires also canceled their show in Slovakia a few days later, but told fans that it was due to technical difficulties and not related to the reports of the Minamata actor passing out. For what's it's worth, the rumors of Depp passing out in his hotel room are currently still rumors, as nothing has been officially confirmed. Story continues "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," a statement on their official website on July 20th read. "The band is very upset by this recent and unfortunate turn of events, and hope to return when schedules permit," the statement continued, adding, "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." Supportive Fan Comments On Twitter Judging by the band's Instagram account, it seems like the shows in Poland and Germany did go ahead as scheduled, and it also seems like the band's future shows in the U.S. are also set to go ahead as planned. At the time of writing, there still seem to be a few unanswered questions relating to what *really* happened over the past week or so; however, the band's website and social media team have reassured fans that Depp is okay. Let's go back in time a few days and take a look at some of the messages fans left for the Pirates of the Caribbean actor after the Budapest concert cancellation. Replying to a July 21st tweet from Twitter account @DailyLoud, which also said it was "Praying for Johnnys health during this time," one fan said, "We should all pray," while another added, "Hope he's ok." "Whatever happened, I'm sending prayers, positive vibes and anything else I can muster up," commented another fan, which another echoed, adding, "Praying for Johnny's health." "May he get well soon. Praying for him," added another fan, followed by several heart and prayer hands emojis, as another asked, "Passed out from what?" adding, "It would be sad to lose such a great talent." As someone who grew up in a conservative Indian family, Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, jokes that his mother has never cursed in her life. He says over Zoom, Im still scared of my parents. (He is also the board-certified dermatologist behind 2023s most beloved skin-care brand, Rhode, and is developing products for Martha Stewarts upcoming line, 86 Elm.) He adds, just the thought of a tattoo embellishing the skin of any member of the Bhanusali family had long been off the table. But that changed when Dr. Bhanusalis mother was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. She now has several tattoos permanently marking where she gets radiation therapy every week. Each of the tiny dots on her chest ensures she gets the most accurate, precise treatment. I always tell my mom, You're gonna be one of the last people that have to do this, Dr. Bhanusali says of being permanently tattooed for radiation purposes. Since 2016, he has been working as a medical advisor for Ephemeral Tattoo, and his latest project is revolutionizing radiation-alignment tattoos. Ephemeral is working to offer its proprietary made-to-fade ink at cancer centers across the United States for semipermanent alignment tattooing. Beginning in June 2022, Ephemeral teamed up with doctors at Henry Ford Health in Detroit to study the safety and efficacy of Ephemerals semipermanent ink on 15 cancer patients with a diverse range of skin tones. In May of this year, the medical center announced that the participants did not experience any adverse effects. Soon patients wont have to live with this permanent reminder of their cancer diagnosis and radiation-therapy treatment. Meet the Experts: Dhaval Bhanusali , MD , is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. J. Isabelle Choi , MD , is the director of research and clinical director at the New York Proton Center and a board-certified radiation oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Brennal Pierre, PhD , is a chemical and biomolecular engineer, as well as the cofounder and chief technology officer of Ephemeral Tattoo. Farzan Siddiqui, MD, PhD, is a board-certified radiation oncologist and director of Head and Neck Radiation Oncology at the Henry Ford Cancer Institute in Detroit. Story continues Why Tattoos Are Necessary for Radiation Treatment According to researchers at Henry Ford, more than 3 million cancer patients are treated with radiation therapy each year. During each treatment, says Farzan Siddiqui, MD, PhD, a board-certified radiation oncologist in Detroit and the studys principal investigator, we want to pinpoint accuracy in treating the tumor while at the same time sparing normal tissues from the deleterious effects of radiation. To ensure accuracy, tattoo ink has been used for decades to permanently mark exactly where the radiation machine needs to be aligned for consistent therapy during the treatment period, which can generally last up to seven weeks. On average, four to eight tiny dots are created in the process, depending on the disease site, says J. Isabelle Choi, MD, a board-certified radiation oncologist in New York City. During the planning phase of cancer treatment, she often finds herself downplaying the fact that permanent tattoos are a part of the process: I always say, Youre just going to feel a mosquito bite, and it looks like this freckle on my skin. Its really small. Ultimately, these quick pinpricks help minimize discomfort during the entire treatment cycle. Explains Dr. Choi, permanent marks also limit the amount of imaging and time needed to get patients in the right position for each radiation therapy session. Radiation oncologists have previously experimented with alternatives to permanent tattoos for radiation alignment, including with long-lasting markers, henna, and temporary tattoos. According to both Dr. Choi and Dr. Siddiqui, however, none of these has ever lasted long enough, typically disappearing after two weeks. If positioning markings need to be redone, were back at square one, says Dr. Choi. Treatment time becomes extended, radiation exposure increases. Plus, Dr. Siddiqui points out, placing the dots even one millimeter off from the originals could lead to erroneous treatment. How Made-to-Fade Ink Would Improve Radiation Treatment Traditional tattoo ink is typically made with materials your body cant dissolve, explains Dr. Bhanusali. But Ephemerals ink was purposefully engineered to be safely dissolved by the body with help from bio-absorbable materials already found in medical devices that spend a decent amount of time in skin, such as dissolvable sutures, says Brennal Pierre, PhD, who helped invent the ink and cofounded Ephemeral. Most of the inks components have been approved by the Food & Drug Administration, even though, he adds, tattoo ink itself is not regulated by the FDA. After the tattoo ink is inserted, says Dr. Bhanusali, it begins to get broken down by the body through a process called hydrolysis: The water that naturally exists in the body clings to the tattoo ink and breaks it into small molecules the body can then eliminate. Traditionally, radiation-marking tattoos are done with a hypodermic needle. For the purpose of the study, though, Dr. Pierre and his team taught Henry Fords radiation therapists how to administer the tattoos the way Ephemeral has always applied its ink: with a tattoo gun. The gun is like an electric toothbrush wireless, lightweight, and nearly silent rather than old-school, jackhammer-type devices. Radiation therapists prefer the tattoo gun method, says Dr. Siddiqui, because they can more easily control the depth and force of the needle. Some of the radiation therapists even tested both tattoo methods on themselves and found the gun to be less painful. This may be because the needle in the tattoo gun is a lot smaller than a hypodermic, says Dr. Pierre, so less trauma is inflicted upon the skin. The biggest concern Dr. Siddiqui had while conducting the study was the possibility of the ink causing skin irritation, allergic reactions, or excessive inflammation. Redness or darkening of the skin due to radiation itself is always a possibility, but Dr. Siddiqui wanted to ensure that patients didnt experience any additional discomfort due to the ink. Thankfully, of all the patients we treated, none of them had premature fading of the ink or any issues with excessive skin reactions, he says. Best of all, he continues, as patients get better and time passes, the radiation-alignment tattoos will fade and the cancer treatment can become a distant memory for them. Why This Matters for Radiation Patients Ephemeral has been criticized for ink that takes longer to fade than its previously promised 9 to 15 months, but eventually the ink does fade completely (though it may take up to three years to do so). Meanwhile, traditional radiation-marking tattoos do not fade, leaving patients to relive the worst moments of their lives on a daily basis, Dr. Bhanusali says. To avoid this constant reminder, patients often get permanent tattoos removed after radiation treatments are finished. But, as Dr. Bhanusali points out, laser tattoo removal is an incredibly painful process physically and emotionally. Beyond the pain, laser tattoo removal becomes yet another expense, and can take multiple sessions to complete. Furthermore, Dr. Bhanusali says, removal by laser may not be 100% effective. In fact, at the start of his career, he offered laser tattoo removal for radiation-marking tattoos pro bono, but eventually stopped because he didn't feel great about putting somebody through that without [a guaranteed] outcome. Dr. Bhanusali compares Ephemeral tattoos to scars rather than permanent body art. For some people, scars heal quickly and fade within months; for others, it may take more time. It's all about how your body functions, he says. There are always gonna be outliers either way. Currently, Dr. Siddiqui and his team are working to document fading in the tattoos of study participants. When this phase is complete, he says, they plan to publish the results in a peer-reviewed scientific journal so that, eventually, every radiation oncology department can use Ephemerals ink. In the meantime, Dr. Pierre hopes to start more pilot programs at other cancer centers and bring this to everyone who wants to use it, he says. And, he adds, Ephemeral hopes to one day get the ink approved by the FDA as a medical device. Alternative Tattoo Options for Radiation Patients There is another option on the horizon for patients being treated with radiation: invisible, UV-reactive ink. This offers the possibility of radiation-marking tattoos that can be seen only under a UV light. It's not visible to the eye," says Dr. Choi, "or in rare cases, it looks like a very faint pink mark. In 2021, Dr. Choi began using InkAlign from Qfix, a medical device manufacturer. She tested it in a clinical trial of 100 patients at the New York Proton Center. In October of this year, she plans to share the results at the American Society for Radiation Oncologys annual meeting in San Diego. Overall, 90% of the patients thought the cosmetic outcome was good to excellent, she says. The study was so successful that invisible ink is now an option for all New York Proton Center patients. Dr. Choi, a radiation oncologist who specializes in breast cancer treatment, has seen seemingly countless, miraculous advancements in treatment that enable her patients to live long, happy lives. Now shes excited to offer one of her own options to improve quality of life for patients post-treatment. In the future, they dont have to be left with constant reminders of their cancer diagnosis and treatment, she says. Now we have options that obviate that part of their lives after cancer. Read more stories about tattoos: Now, watch Skai Jackson try nine things she's never done before. Don't forget to follow Allure on Instagram and Twitter. Originally Appeared on Allure Joseph Nambuzi, a young entrepreneur, unpacks computer accessories shipped from China in Blantyre, Malawi, on July 24, 2023. In the busy Limbe Market of Blantyre, Malawi's commercial city, a sense of anticipation filled the air as 28-year-old Joseph Nambuzi opened the doors to his computer accessories shop. Nambuzi is among Malawian youth who are harnessing the power of Chinese online shops like Alibaba and Shein to embark on their entrepreneurial journey. (Photo by Joseph Mizere/Xinhua) BLANTYRE, Malawi, July 25 (Xinhua) -- In the busy Limbe Market of Blantyre, Malawi's commercial city, a sense of anticipation filled the air as 28-year-old Joseph Nambuzi opened the doors to his computer accessories shop. Nambuzi is among Malawian youth who are harnessing the power of Chinese online shops like Alibaba and Shein to embark on their entrepreneurial journey. With a background in biomedical engineering, Nambuzi, a graduate of the University of Malawi, combined his passion for business with his technical knowledge during his college years. Even as a student, he saw the potential in ordering computer batteries from China and selling them locally. After graduation, he continued this venture while working part-time as a biomedical engineer. "I expanded my inventory, buying different things, including batteries and laptop keyboards," said Nambuzi. As his business grew, he eventually secured a place at the heart of Limbe Market to establish his own computer accessories store. To keep up with the demands of his store, Nambuzi relied heavily on Chinese online platforms. "We buy directly from Chinese factories, ensuring authenticity and convenience in our business transactions," he told Xinhua in a recent interview. "Trust has been a crucial factor in making this online business model successful, as many are wary of online scams." As Malawian youth like Joseph Nambuzi embrace e-commerce and explore avenues beyond traditional retail, they are taking bold steps to make their way in the ever-changing entrepreneurial landscape. With their sights set on expanding their businesses and exploring innovative solutions, the future holds promising opportunities for these ambitious young entrepreneurs. Looking ahead, Nambuzi envisioned stocking his store with every computer part. However, one significant challenge he faced was foreign exchange restrictions, limiting the amount of money he could spend on imports each month. "The current forex limitations hinder our business growth, as we are only allowed a small quota to purchase inventories," he said, appealing to the government to consider the needs of small businesses and extend the quota. Malawi's relationship with China has been marked by long-standing trade ties. Hopkins Kawaye, a lecturer at the Catholic University of Malawi, believed that Malawians can learn from the Chinese model and develop their own manufacturing capabilities. "By investing in machines from China that can produce goods locally, we can reduce reliance on imports," he said. "Such a shift in approach could lead Malawi toward economic progress and stability." Joseph Nambuzi, a young entrepreneur, browses Alibaba.com to buy items from China at his computer accessories shop in Blantyre, Malawi, on July 24, 2023. In the busy Limbe Market of Blantyre, Malawi's commercial city, a sense of anticipation filled the air as 28-year-old Joseph Nambuzi opened the doors to his computer accessories shop. Nambuzi is among Malawian youth who are harnessing the power of Chinese online shops like Alibaba and Shein to embark on their entrepreneurial journey. (Photo by Joseph Mizere/Xinhua) Portillos, a fast-casual restaurant serving Chicago-style street food, will be bringing its Beef Bus to Allen for three weeks from July 25 through Aug. 12. The 32-foot food truck will give North Texans a chance to try the cuisine ahead of the opening of Portillos restaurant in Allen, the second location in Texas. Its first location in Texas opened earlier this year. Last summer, the food truck made a visit to AT&T Stadium to promote the national chains first North Texas restaurant. Portillos in The Colony opened earlier this year. In 1963, Portillos was opened by Dick Portillo as a hot dog stand. The Chicago-based restaurant now boasts more than 75 locations across 10 states. Its best known for Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, char-grilled burgers, salads, shakes and chocolate cake. You can stop by the Beef Bus at The Hampton Inn located at 830 West Stacy Rd. in Allen from Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can order Chicago-style hot dogs with all the fixings, a mini Italian beef sandwich, char-grilled Italian or Maxwell Street Polish sausages and crinkle-cut french fries. Starting July 25, Portillos will conduct interviews with job applicants interested in working at the Allen restaurant. Interviewees looking to work at the new restaurant will receive a voucher for a complimentary meal from the Beef Bus. Interviews will be available Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. 6 p.m. With outposts in the U.S. and abroad, representatives from the Savannah College of Art and Design touched down in New York Tuesday to offer a preview of what visitors can find in its museums. In advance of Wednesdays media event at The Marlton Hotel, Rafael Gomes, creative director of SCAD Fash, detailed whats on the calendar. On Aug. 10, The Blonds: Glamour, Fashion, Fantasy will bow at SCAD Fash Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta. Running through Jan. 28, the exhibition will highlight the New York-based designers raucous glamour and singular decadence. More from WWD The company is run by designer Philippe Blond and creative director David Blond. Gomes has been keeping an eye on The Blonds for a very long time, and said his first visit to their Midtown studio left him speechless due to the amount of elaborate work, especially the embroidery. Then and there, Gomes decided that a show of their work was needed, because it would be so inspirational to SCAD students and visitors. Its really couture. I was so surprised by the amount of work on those garments and the craftsmanship, he said. I knew the pieces from online and from fashion shows. But when I saw them close up and saw the attention to detail, I was speechless about how well-made it was. The upcoming exhibition is the first one to be devoted to the New York company. The Blonds big-name clientele was another attraction. SCAD Fash will display items that were once worn by Madonna, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna, according to Gomes. Although he has worked with many designers, Gomes said The Blonds made him realize, Wow! This is really special. Acknowledging that The Blonds are a bit of a throwback and dont seem to get a lot of attention, Gomes said, I hope that we can help to change that. Last fall the designers published a book that shares the same news of the upcoming exhibition. Story continues To draw attention to how well-constructed their designs are, some styles will be on view inside out to teach students about quality to give them a better idea of whats pret-a-porter, couture and semicouture. It will be very interesting for our interns and fashion students to see these pieces up close, Gomes said. The Blonds were expected at this mornings media preview in New York and they will fly to Atlanta next month to help with the installation and to attend the grand opening. Their guidance will be welcome, especially regarding the extravagant Cleopatra-inspired ensemble designed by The Blonds for Billy Porter for the 2019 The Met Gala inspired by Camp: Notes on Fashion, which is particularly heavy, according to Gomes. Traveling to New York allows Gomes, curators and other SCAD staffers to connect with international media and celebrate the Blonds in their base city. Attendees will also learn about the Ellen von Unwerth: This Side of Paradise show that is on view until Jan. 7 at SCAD Fash Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta. The photographer was on hand for the opening in May, as was the model Coco Rocha. Earlier this month Christian Lacroix Habille Peer Gynt pour la Comedie-Francaise debuted at SCAD Fash in Lacoste, France. Visitors there will feel as though they are meandering through Henrik Ibsens acclaimed play by the same name and features an assortment of costumes. That one had been in the works since 2018 or 2019, but plans were shelved temporarily during the pandemic. The designers experience in theater, opera and ballet includes work for the Opera Garnier, the Metropolitan Opera and American Ballet Theatre. Weve worked with costumes before, but these costumes were really Lacroix. There was so much put into them like his fashion. They are so rich in details that you could look at them for hours and hours, Gomes said. In addition, the SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah unveiled Likewise: Artists Portraying Artists, which will run through Dec. 18. The featured paintings and photographs show various creative figures individually or with others in scenes that represent how their daily lives and practices overlap. Contemporary artists Tyler Mitchell, Erwin Wurm, Nina Chanel Abney, Yu Hong, Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, Nevin Aladag and Xiwen Zhu are among those whose work will be showcased. In between his SCAD commitments, Gomes hopes to visit the Brooklyn Museums Africa Fashion exhibition. Of course, I saw the Karl Lagerfeld show three times, referring to the recently closed Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts Costume Institute. The Museum at FIT is also on his check list. Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. Getty Images You may think youre way too savvy to get scammed, but many scammers work so quickly that you might not even realize its happening until its over. Scammers now frequently target potential victims through social media, text, and emails, demanding payment in the form of gift cards or other reloadable cards. This is commonly known as a gift card scam. They want to drain the funds off the gift card as quickly as possible, explains John Breyault , Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud at the National Consumers League. He points to the swiftness of this scam as one of the reasons criminals find it so enticing. Additionally, gift cards are readily available in retailers, and once the money is gone, the payments are typically irreversible, he says. In 2022, scams involving gift cards or reloadable cards were the fifth most common type across all reported scams that involved a payment method, according to a recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Fraud Report . (Credit cards and debit cards were the first and second most common scam payment methods, respectively, with payment apps and cryptocurrency landing in third and fourth place.) Combined, scams involving gift card payments totaled more than $228 million in losses in 2022. With so much at stake, you'll want to know exactly how to avoid gift card scams so you can spot red flags and help keep others safe from them, too. How to spot a gift card scam If you're being asked to pay with a gift card, it's a scam 100% of the time, says Breyault. That alone seems simple enough to avoid gift card scams, but scammers use urgency and desperate situations to confuse their victims. These are professional criminals; theyre very good at what they do, he warns. Breyault illustrates a common scenario that scammers use on grandparents: A scammer calls in the middle of the night and says, Hey, your grandson is stuck in Mexico. He's been arrested. He doesn't want you to tell his parents, but he needs $1,000 to get out of jail. From there, he explains, the scammer keeps the victim on the phone in an agitated state, and they stay on the line while the worried grandparent drives to the closest store to get the gift card theyve been instructed to buy. Story continues [The scammer] will walk them through how to get the card, load the cash, and give them the code off the back, says Breyault. Once the scammer has the card numbers and PIN , theres no way to get your money back. Theyre going to use the loaded funds as quickly as they can. According to the FTC, scammers can also impersonate government officials, companies telling you that you won a prize, tech support, or a utility company, among others. Again, the red flag is that youre being asked to use a gift card as a payment method. The through line of these scams is that you, the victim of a scam, are asked to load your funds whether from a credit card or a debit card, or cash and then you are asked to provide a number from that gift card to the scammer, says Breyault. How to avoid gift card scams The easiest way to avoid gift card scams is to never provide payment to another person in the form of a gift card. However, Breyault does warn theres no one formula or method (e.g., social media messages, emails, phone calls, in-person requests) that gift card scammers always use. Watching out for [scams] on one particular platform, and thinking youre better protected, provides a false sense of security, he says. You need to be vigilant whenever youre in communication with others, especially with someone you dont know. To further reduce your risk of being a victim, you should closely inspect any gift cards you purchase in person. Breyault says some scammers work with an accomplice on the inside at retailers that sell physical gift cards. They keep track of the numbers on the gift cards on the rack, and they store them in a database that will alert them once one of the available gift cards is bought. Take a close look at the packaging on any gift cards you buy in person. Breyault recommends checking if the scratch-off has been messed with or if the sticker you pull off has been removed and reapplied. In addition to anything else that may look suspect, those are signs that the card may have been tampered with, he says. If a card you were going to purchase looks tampered with, Breyault says you should alert the retailer and find a different gift card to buy that looks untouched. What to do if you think someone is trying to scam you The best response to a scam is to cut off contact immediately. At that point, theres no reason to continue having a conversation, says Breyault. Even if you didnt purchase a gift card, you should report the scam to help investigators identify trends and potentially prevent the scammer from doing this to someone else. There are resources to facilitate this, including the following: Once you report the information, you can block the scammer on whatever platform you encountered them on. If you were scammed out of money, you should contact your bank immediately. If there is something that can be done, they should be able to help you do it, says Breyault. He also suggests writing to your elected U.S. representatives to voice your support for consumer protection laws. But whatever you do, dont engage with the scammers. Breyault acknowledges some consumers do this for an emotional release, but it wont pay off in the end. He warns, What you're really doing is making it more likely that you're going to get more solicitations from scammers. You Might Also Like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L), British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (C), and U.S. President Joe Biden (R), attend the NATO Summit on July 12 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Photo courtesy of NATO Two of the most unanswerable questions about the war in Ukraine are when and how it will end. Those who hoped that Ukraine would seize the offensive and force Russia to return all or some of the territories that were illegally occupied are likely to be disappointed. Others who predicted that Vladimir Putin would be so weakened by the protest march on Moscow staged by Yevgeny Prigozhin that a new leadership might emerge are still waiting. Meanwhile, critics of the Biden administration who argued that despite $80 billion set aside for Ukraine, the White House held back on the pace and quality of the military support it provided that retarded the effectiveness of Kyiv's offensive. F-16 jets and ATACMS 190-mile range missiles are among those systems that Ukraine desperately needs. And bipartisan agreement on aid for Ukraine appears to be in decline, certainly in parts of the Republican Party. Other factors are at play. President Joe Biden may promise that America will continue to help Ukraine "for as long as it takes." But this is not going to be a repeat of 20 years in Afghanistan or Iraq and even 13 years in Vietnam. And the United States is running out of weapons to send without making serious reductions in our stocks. The obvious step the administration should take is to convene an Iraq-like study group similar to the George W. Bush initiative in 2006. Of course, Bush had been re-elected and could not run again, so presidential politics were not a consideration. They would be today. The study was co-chaired by former Secretary of State James Baker and Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind. The problem was that it still took another 15 years before the United States and the coalition finally withdrew from Afghanistan. That cannot be repeated in Ukraine. The study should be focused on providing a range of outcomes that might be achieved in the Ukraine war; conducting a cost-benefit analysis on each; and specifying the consequences of each. The possible outcomes should include a ceasefire freezing the borders; defining what a Ukrainian victory would mean and how to achieve it; and what a Russian victory would mean and how that would be achieved. Story continues Part of this study group must determine how Ukraine can be rebuilt; who pays for that; how future aggression on both sides can be prevented and guaranteed, among other issues. And, in any case, beginning discussions between the United States/NATO with Ukraine and Russia on ending the war -- or using intermediaries -- should be raised. This is hugely controversial. Finding nonpartisan or bipartisan members for this panel may prove difficult. As to the sensitivity of the effort, the study group must operate under strict rules of confidentiality and remain classified until it is completed. Yet, unless or until the United States and its allies can define the possible outcomes to be achieved, the current open-ended commitment is unlikely to be sustained. Obviously, neither Russia nor Ukraine can agree on acceptable outcomes. Ukraine wants Russia ejected from all its territories and guarantees that Moscow will not re-attack. Russia minimally demands retaining the territories it holds and has declared to be part of Russia. And Moscow's appetite may be more expansive. Putin also may be betting that if he can persist through the November 2024 elections, Donald Trump could win. Or a re-elected Biden might be more conducive to negotiations. A reason for starting this commission now is that its findings could be completed in late 2024. A further reason is that the war could escalate. Putin has threatened use of nuclear weapons. Many doubt they would be used. But damaging nuclear power plants and dams is possible. Russia has ended the grain deal to export vital food stuffs from the Black Sea, as well as threatening to blockade that sea. Escalation must not be allowed to happen. In all prior wars since 1941, at least one presidential election occurred. In 1952, Dwight Eisenhower won in part by promising to end the Korean War. He reportedly threatened China with using nuclear weapons. Trump has bragged that he will end the war in 24 hours. That is poppycock. Biden, however, has not answered these questions of when and how the war will end. The nation must address those two questions, no matter how difficult. The time for that to begin is now. Waiting will extend the war. That means more death, destruction and possible escalation. It is time for that war to end. Harlan Ullman is senior adviser at Washington's Atlantic Council, the prime author of "shock and awe" and author of "The Fifth Horseman and the New MAD: How Massive Attacks of Disruption Became the Looming Existential Danger to a Divided Nation and the World at Large." Follow him @harlankullman. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. Going from high school to college launches students into a world of more independence, a more intense workload, and a new scope of options for extracurriculars and opportunities to engage with. (Getty Images) College can be overwhelming, but there are ways of surviving and thriving. Going from high school to college launches students into a world of more independence, a more intense workload, and a new scope of options for extracurriculars and opportunities to engage with. While it can be a bit surreal when you first come to college, once you know how to navigate college life, its a great place to grow not only as a student, but as a person and a professional. Make the most out of your college experience with this advice from current college students about how to grow personally, professionally, and socially in college. 1. Take Advantage of Career Development Opportunities One clear distinction between high school and college is the range of opportunities available to grow your professional skills and experience. Along with learning more about your profession through classes, resources like internships, work study programs, and extracurriculars on campus can help you get real-life experiences in the field youre interested in. Mya Sato is an incoming junior at New York University (NYU), studying East and Southeast Asian politics, war, and violence through a post-colonial lens. She is interested in working in local communities to make positive change, potentially as a lawyer or public defender. Throughout their time in college, Sato has engaged in a work study program as a research assistant, internships with organizations like PEN America and the NYC Mayors office, and various extracurriculars on and off campus. At the beginning of college, as every freshman [experiences], its harder to get a job that isnt a federal work study job. With that being said, I did get a federal work study job as part of my FAFSA package, Sato shares. To this day, Sato works as a research assistant at the NYU Center for Social Media and Politics, an opportunity she was originally connected with through a professor of their politics class. Definitely connect with your professors to see if they have any jobs they can refer you to, Sato suggests. Story continues Outside of work study opportunities, colleges have a wide range of internships and extracurriculars that you can get involved with to explore your interests- and if nothing catches your eye, you can always start a student group that you want to see on campus. Sreya Nandanampati did just that when she started the Encode Justice chapter at Barnard College, an organization that educates and advocates about issues in technology like AI bias and data privacy. Nandanampati is double majoring in computer science and archaeology at Barnard and will be a junior in the 2023-24 school year. I helped spearhead this club at Columbia during my freshman Spring [semester] and weve been able to host a lot of different discussions about data privacy and talk about AImore specifically, how AI is integrated onto our campus and within our community, Nandanampati explains. Along with learning more about AI and tech, the club has helped Nandanampati develop her leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. Thats been a really cool and fulfilling role for me, she reflects. 2. Dont Neglect Your Social Life Making the most out of college isnt just about school and professional opportunities. Its also about letting yourself thrive socially. While balance is important when it comes to social life, spending time with peers is just as important as other responsibilities in college. Besides the importance of a good social life for wellbeing, it also helps you grow as a person and expand your social skills, which can help you professionally and in relationships. Further, investing in your social life doesnt have to look like partying, if thats not for you. Spoiler alert: partying is not going to make or break your college experience. I think a lot of people get trapped in seeing how college students live out their lives on social media, Sato states. You dont need to go out to have fun.you can stay in, invite your friends to come over, and do something more relaxing. Nandanampati echoes this advice, sharing that she prioritizes her social life by studying with friends, eating out, or doing activities with peers on the weekend. Whatever quality social time looks like for you, make sure you make time to pour energy into it. A good support system and circle of friends can go a long way, both in college and in life. Your friends are going to be there through everything that you do, Nandanampati emphasizes. College can be overwhelming, but we have a Top Five to show you there are ways of surviving and thriving. 3. Allow Your Perspectives to Change and Expand One of the most exciting parts of college is shifting and expanding on your perspectives. While this can be a surreal part of college, growing and challenging your own views is a crucial part of developing your beliefs and yourself as a person. Whether it be through new people, classes, or environments, college will expose you to new experiences that may change your mindsets- and this isnt a bad thing! Nandanampati had a life-changing experience when she had the opportunity to go on an archaeology dig in New Mexico through her schools archaeological department. Nandanampati states that the goal of the dig was to collect data and artifacts to help the community learn about their history, to then use in legal and educational contexts. While she learned about practical applications of her majors and interests, Nandanampati also learned about different worldviews that influenced her perspectives. I was able to really challenge my own comfort zone by going to a place and engaging with people and communities that I havent [engaged with] before, she reflects. She also notes that the experience gave deeper meaning to school lessons and history that she had only heard about before. For the first time, I had really intimate [experiences] and conversations with indigenous communities. We got to live on a reservation and work really closely with tribal leaders there. In Nandanampatis case, the dig was a great way to grow her knowledge and expand her views. I was really able to leave with a whole new set of knowledge, experiences, and stories. While not everyone will have the opportunity to go on an archaeology dig during college, Nandanampatis experience parallels the possibilities in college. Coming into college, youre inevitably going to have experiences and interact with new people who prompt you to think differently. Its okay for perspectives to change and its a momentous part of continuing to grow as a person- be open to it and allow your thinking to shift and expand. If this makes you feel anxious or worried, Sato has some advice for approaching this part of college. Push those boundaries of what youre used to, she emphasizes. I find that its really fulfilling to actually spread out and have a lot of friends in a lot of different places. Having a variety of friends and peers allows you to learn from different perspectives and expand your mindset. You dont want to get stuck in the same way of life [and] the same way of thinking. 4. It is What You Make It One of the first things youll notice about college is that there are so many more possibilities than there were in high school. Combined with new independence, you have a lot of freedom to decide what you want your college experience to look like. Really put yourself out there and take advantage of every opportunity thats in front of you, Nandanampati suggests. Sato recommends organizing your extracurriculars and experiences based on your priorities. Be real about what you actually need, what you actually want to do, and see how you can best prepare for that while recognizing your own limits. Once you know your priorities, Sato shares that its really just a matter of balancing your energy and eliminating what you dont have time for. Being able to know, what is something that is really important to you that you cant give up, and what is something that you need to live [like a job], and what it is that you can give up that isnt as important, Sato explains. While the range of opportunities available to you in college is useful, it can be challenging to decide what you want to allocate your time to. Put time into things that continue to be interesting to you, while also taking time to explore new things that youre curious about. Its normal for your interests from high school to shift and your early years of college is a great time to experiment with new interests. 5. Be Patient with Yourself- Balance Takes Time If finding the perfect balance in college, with so many options and responsibilities feels unattainable to you, heres a reality check: balance takes time. It is a never ending process to find a balance in your life, where you feel satisfied with what youre spending time on, while also not feeling too busy. For Sato, balance didnt happen right away. I highly recommend not doing what I did this past year, which was push myself to the edge of my limits. They reflect on their mistake in taking on too much work. I attempted, at one point, to add onto the three jobs that I already had, Sato laughs. That didnt work out, I quit about two weeks in, just because I realized the workload and expectations were a little bit higher than Id initially [thought]. Even if you feel overwhelmed at first, rest assured that balance takes time. As you adjust to the college environment and find new opportunities, youll be able to better organize your priorities and decide what all you want to experience during college. Some Final Words of Advice As for what they would tell incoming college freshmen, Sato and Nandanampati have some words of advice. Make those relationships with your professorsfind [a professor] that you would like to be friends with, that you would like to have a genuine conversation about your interests [with], Sato advises. That would be the first and probably the most important step because it really allows you to exercise some of the skills you havent [used yet as a] freshman and also to have some sort of referral. As Sato shares, building relationships with your professors is a great way to get a head start in your field and have someone to get recommendations from. Nandanampati encourages a similar approach to college. Theres going to be a lot of really cool people and peers and teachers who will be able to share so much knowledge and really pull perspectives into life, she emphasizes. Ultimately, college is what you make it. Its a whole new world full of opportunities to gain experiences in your field, make connections with peers, and learn in many ways. It comes with a learning curve, so dont be discouraged if everything doesnt fall into place right away. Freshman year is the perfect time to explore potential interests and figure out what your passions are. A little uncertainty is okay at first- have an open mind and allow yourself to grow. Stepping out of your comfort zone is a really rewarding process and I think its something to gravitate towards, rather than stepping back into a safe place, Nanandampati urges. Sato adds that its all about balance: know your boundaries, but dont hold yourself back either. Dont discourage your own self before you take that first step. Protect yourself, protect your space, but also push yourself a little bit for the things that you do want. Hailey Dickinson (she/her) is a creator passionate about using writing and digital platforms to build community, make connections, and ignite positive social change. She is a Communications Major with a social media emphasis at the University of Minnesota and will graduate in December 2023. Jessica Henning's photograph is part of Vincent-Natasha Gay's "This is Trans" photo exhibition, on display at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center in July and August 2023. Now that I can live as my true self, I can present my best self and hopefully inspire others to do so also. It makes my world bigger, and brighter, and stranger, and so much more worth living in because I get to be me for it. after 47 years of simply existing, I now feel alive. These are the feelings of a few of the more than 200 transgender people whose photographs and words are featured in the photography exhibition This Is Trans. The traveling exhibition which will be at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center through Aug. 18 is the creation of Ohio photographer Vincent-Natasha Gay. Vincent-Natasha Gay poses for their photograph that is part of their "This is Trans" photo exhibition, which is on display at the Milwaukee LGBT Center in July and August of 2023. Gay said they first got the idea for the exhibition in 2021 after being criticized on social media for identifying as transgender without having fully medically transitioned from male to female." For a very long time, to be trans was thought of as a binary transition, Gay said. You would have to do everything, have the surgeries, be on the hormones, to go from one part of the binary to the other part of the binary. Gay who has "gradually transitioned into more nonbinary transgender identity" said it's "perfect and awesome" for some transgender people to transition from one end of the gender binary to the other, but "it's not what everyone needs." I want to raise awareness that to be trans simply means you identify your gender differently than you were assigned at birth, Gay said. There are so many beautiful, unique, valid ways to do that. The only correct way to be transgender is the way you are. Expressing their joy Coming out paved the road back to myself. being able to be genuine and confident in my own skin has opened so many doors for me. Im able to finally feel comfortable in my own skin A participant in Vincent-Natasha Gay's "This is Trans" photo exhibition said, "Being transgender to me is having the capability to overcome and be the truest form of yourself possible, and putting your own happiness first." Gay worked with the Stonewall Columbus community organization in Ohio to find transgender people in Columbus who wanted to take part in the exhibition. They quickly decided to open up the opportunity to people across the country and soon had people flying to Ohio to take part. Story continues Gay set up photo shoots for the participants and asked them to answer the question, What does being trans mean to you? For the exhibit, each person's chosen photo is displayed above their words, some which are as succinct as a single line saying, "It's simply me," and others that are full paragraphs expressing their feelings about being transgender. Gay said 90% of the participants have never had professional photographs taken and that its important for each person to feel comfortable, happy and that their true selves are shown in the final photos. This is different from what happens in most exhibitions because I'm not the one who chooses the final photo that is exhibited, and I work with participants to make sure we get the right photo even if it means we redo the shoot, said Gay. Im determined to make sure the photos represent the unique, beautiful people they are. I want to make sure you feel their euphoria, their joy. Jessica Henning a Milwaukee trans woman who had her photograph taken by Gay last year attended the opening of the photo exhibition at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center on July 15. Just look at the light of the peoples eyes in the photos, Henning said as she pointed to some. You can see it. When Henning did her photo shoot with Gay, she had just begun her physical transition, a process that she planned to begin in 2020 but was delayed by the pandemic. She said that Gay's photograph captured the joy she felt at having started her physical transition. Henning had always felt supported and loved by her wife, whom she's known for decades. Because she had a strong support system, Henning hadn't realized the extent to which she felt trapped before her physical transition. "There's this shift that you don't anticipate. Six weeks into hormone replacement therapy, I was just overwhelmed by this feeling of comfort that I hadn't felt before," she said. "Even before people could see the changes externally, I was waking up and smiling for no reason. I realized that it took so much for me to feel joy before; now it's effortless." Helping trans people find their voice Its being the person who I wish I wouldve had growing up and telling me it was okay to be myself authentically. Having the confidence to be the human and trans role model that I desperately needed when I was younger. I have to operate with compassion and empathy in order to make a way for others to not just exist. I need them to thrive. A participant in Vincent-Natasha Gay's "This is Trans" photo exhibition answered the question, "What does being trans mean to you?" with "It's a process of understanding myself, an exercise in risk and reward, being prepared for the unexpected, aligning the body and soul...." Many of the participants in the photo exhibit expressed not just their own joy at being able to portray their true selves, but also a sense of responsibility to the wider transgender community to advocate for those who feel silenced. "I feel like I finally have a voice. For a long time I was quiet, but now I'm on social media advocating for people who have questions," Henning said. "For transgender people, it's a big step to talk to people like counselors about how they're feeling, and it's sometimes easier to start with someone who has had that same feeling, too." When Gay sets up photo shoots which are ongoing during the exhibitions they encourage participants to bring props, wear clothing or suggest settings that reflect integral parts of their personalities. "I want to try to make it an experience about who that person is, that their gender identity is just one part of them, just like anybody else," Gay said. Gay and Henning both see that humanizing message as vital in the current political climate where hundreds of bills that limit transgender people's rights have been introduced and passed throughout the country. "The most important message is that we're just people living our lives like anyone else," Henning said. "We're not trying to infringe on anything else that anyone else has. We're just being who we are." Bringing 'This Is Trans' to Milwaukee The opportunity to show photographs of trans people who are "just being people" was a key reason Ricardo Galaviz of the Milwaukee LGBT Center jumped at the chance to bring "This Is Trans" to Milwaukee when he heard about it. In the past, the community center which hosts a variety of programs and social opportunities for LGBTQ people held one fundraising gala each year. Galaviz has been working to do several fundraising events every year, ones that are more accessible and more engaging for the larger community than a typical fundraising gala. He decided to coordinate the opening of the "This is Trans" exhibit with the center's first fundraising fashion show; the fashion show's theme "All Types Accepted" meshed well with the photo exhibition. "They both have a very specific message, that all types are accepted all genders, all abilities, all colors," Galaviz said. "At these events, people who maybe have never met a trans person before can see the photos, meet the models and have the mystery taken out of it." A participant in Vincent-Natasha Gay's "This is Trans" exhibition answered the question, "What does being transgender mean to you?" with, "It means being my authentic self, it means being happy in life. It means having a unique perspective on life." That's exactly the message Gay wants to convey with the exhibit. When they took "This Is Trans" to Virginia, a professor Gay knew brought her husband to see it. "I got a call the day after. She wanted to tell me why they had had to leave the show early," they said. "She told me her husband, a cisgender man, had broken down crying and said, 'I needed to see this. With everything going on, I needed to see who transgender people really are.' "When you take the time to look through the photos and read the quotes, you feel like you're talking to the person, like you're getting to know them," Gay said. "I want people to see that the only thing that defines a person is that person, and that to be trans is just another part of humanity." If you go The "This Is Trans" photo exhibition will be at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, 315 W. Court St., through Aug. 18. People can see the exhibition during the center's hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Vincent-Natasha Gay is still adding photos to their exhibition; if transgender people would like to take part, they can contact Gay through their website at vincent-natasha.com. There's also an exhibition photo book available for purchase on the website. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 'This Is Trans' photo exhibit at LGBT center promotes self-acceptance The bull shark rammed the fishing boat eight times. Bull sharks are known to be aggressive, but a recent video from the Florida coast shows a whole new level of hostility. In the video that was shared to Instagram on July 24, a bull shark attacks a fishing boat while the anglers onboard fish for cobia. The shark rams the boat several times, smashing its huge snout into the stern and damaging one of the twin outboards. Josh Jorgensen, the host of BlacktipH Fishing, captured the footage with a drone. At the beginning of the clip, Jorgensen explains that he was flying his drone from the beach when he spotted two big cobia swimming alongside a bull shark. This is typical cobia behavior, as theyll often swim in the wakes of bull sharks, picking up baitfish, crustaceans, and other prey items that the sharks kick up off the seafloor. Read Next: Is This the Biggest Tarpon Ever Caught? As he tracked the three fish with his drone, Jorgensen called his friend Carl Torresson, a charter captain who runs Slob City Charters in Riviera Beach. With directions from Jorgensen, Torresson raced over to the cobia in his boat. Then he and his clients started sight-casting to them. I was following his boat with my drone when all of a sudden, the shark attacked his engines, Jorgensen says in the video. The shark attacked the boat five times, swam away, and then came back for more. In total, the shark attacked Carls boat eight times. Its unclear if Torresson or his clients ever caught one of the cobia, but he eventually cranked his engines back on and returned to the dock. When Torresson got there, he finally saw the damage the bull shark had inflicted on one of his two outboard motors. Read Next: Hard-Fighting Marlin Punches Hole in Boat Engine, Strands Anglers in Open Ocean We were thinking that maybe he grabbed the propeller, but we werent expecting the damage that we had when we got back to the dock, Torresson explains as he points to the bite marks in the outboard's lower unit. The whole middle of the engine was completely ripped out, the trim tabs broken. I didnt think a shark could actually shake a boat like that. And what is an 'everything app,' anyway? Dan Kitwood / Getty Images The X logo on Elon Musk's profile (formerly, Twitter). Key Features Twitter has rebranded to X. Elon Musk wants to turn X into an 'everything app' like China's WeChat. This will be impossible outside of China. Dan Kitwood / Getty Images The X logo on Elon Musk's profile (formerly, Twitter). Twitter is now X, but Musk's plan for the micropublishing service goes way further than just slapping a new amateur-looking logo image over all the bird icons. Musk has long believed in the 'everything app,' which contains everything you want to do online, from messaging to news to accessing public services to banking. That's the plan for Xto replace all your current apps, websites, and services with a single app owned by Elon Musk. It's a model that exists in China but is utterly doomed in the US and especially in Europe. "There's absolutely no limit to this transformation. X will be the platform that can deliver, well everything," said Twitter chief executive Linda Yaccarino in a tweet. Everything, Everywhere... Musk's model for an everything app is taken from China's WeChat, which is so all-encompassing and pervasive that it might as well be the Chinese internet. WeChat is for messaging, videos, games, social stuff, payments, and way more. The advantage for the user is that everything is interconnected, meaning you're not creating countless logins or learning new ways to do things. But mostly, it's all downside, in terms of privacy and security, especially in China. But also in terms of the quality of the various services contained therein. "One big advantage of having all of your online content in one app is cross-compatibility. It makes it much easier to share, catalog, and search all of your content when it's all in the same place, especially if most of your friends and family also make use of the same platform," Ben Michael, attorney at Michael and Associates, told Lifewire via email. "The downside is that few platforms do everything equally well. Take Meta as an example. Facebook technically includes pictures, videos, gaming, a dating service, and money transfers, but almost nobody does their gaming or dating on Facebook." Story continues The advantage of an everything network to somebody like Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg is pretty obviousall that juicy user data, cross-linked and in one easy-to-see place. The trouble is, it just won't work outside of China. It's easy to believe that the internet we use is an inevitable evolutionary result, but it's not. Just like almost the entire world outside the US drives manual cars and enjoys 220+volt power, there are different ways to build an internet. The WeChat Situation "WeChat arose in a country that was digitizing for the first time, almost exclusively via the smartphone, which meant no incumbent competition from traditional websites, banking rails like credit cards, or alternative social networks," writes technology analyst Ben Thompson on his Stratechery blog. "Twitter/X exists in a particular context that makes the WeChat idea inaccessible to anyone." X (Formerly, Twitter) The new X logo. Of our current tech giants, Google and Apple might be the closest to realizing an everything app, thanks to the fact they both own platforms, which are the functional equivalent of WeChat. But even Android and iOS are mostly about the third-party apps you can install or just the web itself. You might use Apple Pay and iMessage, and Apple Music, but you will also use Instagram, WhatsApp, Gmail, YouTube, and so on. "The current system, where we have separate accounts for our bank, Amazon, PayPal, Facebook, etc., has a real advantage from the privacy perspective since, unless these companies share information (and in some cases that is prohibited by laws and terms of service restrictions) we can be somewhat confident that what we buy on Amazon won't hurt our favorability rating on Facebook, or our job prospects on LinkedIn," Professor Tom Keenan, author of best-selling book Technocreep, told Lifewire via email. An everything app seems just impossible, then, and if you're already having trouble coping with a small micropublishing app with a few hundred million users, like X nee Twitter, it seems like an absurd ambition. And that's in the US. Over in Europe, the EU's GDPR laws prevent a company from sharing users' data across its various services. This is why Meta's Threads is not available in Europe, and it could hamper a Musk X (Twitter) attempt at an everything app. These five outdoorsmen had close calls with wolves. Wolves killed a trailing dog in northern Wisconsin earlier this month, according to the state's Department of Natural Resources. While wolf attacks dont make headlines very often, close calls with aggressive wolves in the Upper Midwest seem to be happening more than usual. Just ask five experienced outdoorsmen from Michigans Upper Peninsula who have encountered aggressive wolves at one point or another. Three of them were forced to climb trees to avoid being attacked, and one commented that he was going to start carrying a handgun as a result of the experience. A variety of circumstances led to these encounters. Two men were training bear dogs at the time. (Wolf attacks aren't uncommon in such scenarios, when dogs stray far from their owners to chase a bear trail.) Two more stumbled across wolf packs crowding around fresh deer kills. The fifth story comes from a dry lakebed, where Jim Paquette was looking for Indigenous artifacts when a wolf chased a deer past him. When the wolf saw the Paquette, it turned its attention to him instead. All five outdoorsmen agreed that, since wolves are not a hunted species in the UP (even though they have surpassed recovery numbers), the predators have learned to not fear humans. These encounters happened over the course of several years, but the stories are still relevant to hunters headed for wolf country today. Jordan Farmer: When Wolves Killed Duke Jordan Farmer with his hounds. Avid hunter Jordan Farmer and his brother Justin were training their hounds for bear hunting in the Upper Peninsula. In Michigan, dog training season starts in July, long before hunting seasons start in September. Our dogs were running a bear when I noticed one of my young dogs (Duke) had stopped, Jordan, an Upper Peninsula resident, says. [He was] about six-tenths of a mile into a swamp. As I approached where my GPS showed him, I was greeted by two wolves eating the guts out of him. I yelled to scare the wolves off, but that only got their attention and then they approached me. As they came closer, I grabbed sticks and threw them at the wolves. When that did not scare them, I took a dog leash and started hitting trees and the ground with it. The wolves still came closer, getting within 10 to 15 feet from me. Story continues At that point, Farmer says that he climbed a nearby tree to avoid being attacked by the wolves. After the pack eventually left, Farmer climbed down to check on his dog. All that remained were its head and shoulders. This was the day I realized it is no longer safe to be in the woods unarmed, and that every time I release one of my dogs it may be the last time I see them alive, Farmer says. There is no safety in these woods anymore. I have been face-to-face with bear, bobcat, mountain lion, and every other animal in the woods, but I have never felt so scared of an animal until the day that I lost Duke. After incidents like these, we are told time and time again by the DNR to try and hunt where there are no wolves. Well, that is nowhere in the UP. The wolf has taken over every corner and crevice. There is no longer a piece of land you can go to escape the presence of wolves. Read Next: When Wolves Kill Man's Best Friend Darrell Jonet: Treed By Three Young Wolves Darrell Jonet was also training his bear dogs when he was treed by wolves. Jonets dogs were on a bear's trail when he heard wolves howling on the sides of a deep valley the hounds were in. Darrell immediately became concerned about the safety of his prized hunting dogs, so he ran toward where he last heard the hounds, hooting and hollering as he ran to call the dogs to him. At the same time, he was hoping the sounds he made would scare the wolves away. In this case, the noise Jonet made had the opposite effect. The wolves honed in on it. I was in some hardwoods about 400 yards from the road when I saw the wolves running toward me about 80 yards away, Jonet says. They were coming right to me as though they were my dogs responding to my calls. They had to know I was a person. When they saw me, they kept coming. Not knowing what else to do, I found a tree and climbed it. Three wolves that looked like they were adolescents came right to the tree I was in and looked up at me. They were followed by an adult wolf that I think was a female. You could see a path through the ferns that I had made when running. The female turned and followed that path. Then an adult male arrived that had the hair up on his neck like he was agitated. He stayed back away from the tree and left after a short time. Jonet had his cell phone with him. He used it to call a fellow hound hunter for advice. The trio of young wolves remained at the base of the tree Jonet was in, listening to the conversation for about five minutes. The wolves did not show any aggression by growling or snarling, but they did not show any fear either. It was strange behavior that frightened Jonet. Ive spent my whole life in the woods and Ive never been scared before, he says. Those wolves really scared me. There were some tense moments. The wolves eventually lost interest and wandered off. After they had been gone about five minutes, Jonet climbed down from the tree and slowly made his way back to his truck, keeping an eye out for trees he knew he could climb in case he had to do so again. Rory Mattson: Stumbling Into a Wolf Kill Rory Mattson stumbled into a fresh wolf kill. In early October, Delta County Conservation District forester Rory Mattson was walking along a new logging road to see if it needed any modifications. He saw wolf tracks in the roads soft sand and thought it would be nice to see the animals that made those tracks. He got more than he bargained for when he came around a corner. The first thing I saw was blood all over, Mattson said. Then I noticed a good-sized doe with a wolf standing over it and another wolf nearby. They were in full growl and snarl mode. Okay, they are going to protect this kill, I thought to myself, so I am going to get out of here. I think I only backed up a couple of steps when I heard growling behind me. I turned around and theres a big male 50 feet away. Im guessing he would have weighed 140 to 150 pounds. He was standing in the road with a smaller wolf. Now, Mattsons only option was to cut through the woods. Mattson was wearing a denim shirt that was unbuttoned with a tee shirt underneath. He extended the unbuttoned shirt to the sides to make himself look bigger and started yelling at the big wolf, but those actions had no effect. As Mattson moved toward the woods, the wolf moved with him and even approached closer. Then Mattson saw some old sticks of pulpwood in the ditch next to the road that were 10 feet long. He lunged to grab one of the pieces of wood to use as a weapon. When he did that, the wolf closed the distance between them to about 15 feet. Mattson waved the cumbersome piece of pulp between he and the wolf as best he could to try to keep the predator at bay as he backed up. When he backed into a balsam tree that was 16 inches in diameter that had limbs he knew he could climb, Mattson threw the wood toward the wolf and climbed the tree to a height of about 10 feet. When I looked down, the big wolf was at the base of the tree growling, Mattson says. He didnt stay there long though. He only stayed at the base of the tree for 30 seconds, then was gone. From the tree, I could see the wolf still standing over the deer carcass. It hadnt moved the entire time. After about 30 minutes, it started to get dark. Not wanting to get ambushed in the dark, Mattson decided to head for his truck. He jumped to the ground, grabbed the stick of pulp and angled through the woods away from the kill to the road. When nothing followed him for 200 yards, he took off running for his truck and made it with no problem. Im sure the aggressive behavior of the wolves was all about the kill, Mattson says. I noticed that they had eaten some of the deer, but I probably interrupted their meal. The doe hadnt been dead long. I didnt see any fear in the eyes of that adult male. He definitely was not afraid of me. Having that stick in my hands helped. Otherwise, he might have bit me. Im going to carry my pistol with me from now on, Mattson says. If I would have had a gun with me at the time, I would have fired a warning shot to try to scare the wolf away. If that wouldnt have worked, I would have shot him. Tim Olsen: Wolves After Dark It was October 15 when Tim Olsen bumped into wolves on a fresh kill after dark. He had planned on bowhunting for deer that day, but heavy rain canceled those plans. When the rain let up after dark, he decided to check the card in the camera by his stand to see what deer had been there. After changing the card in the camera, Olsen made a wrong turn on the way back to his ATV. Wolves had a deer down in the 4-wheeler trail, Olsen says. As soon as my light hit them, they started growling and snapping their chops at me. I never thought I would make it out of there. Olsen saw three wolves. They were all lying down, feeding on the deer they killed. He said a white wolf was on the left, facing to the right. A calico-colored canine was on the right facing left and a giant black wolf was between the other two facing Olsen. I was hollering, swinging my arms and throwing branches at them to try to keep them away from me, Olsen says. At the same time, I was backing away from them. The black one kept trying to get on the right side of me. I think he was trying to get behind me. My biggest concern was to stay on my feet. If I would have fallen down, I would have been in real trouble. That was the most scared Ive been in my life. Jim Paquette: Caught Up in a Deer Chase Jim Paquette snapped this photo of a wolf track before his encounter. Jim Paquette was searching a dry lakebed for artifacts in early June when he saw wolf tracks chasing deer tracks. At one point, Paquette put his backpack down, leaned his walking stick against it and took out a digital camera to photograph tracks of the wolves. A short time later, a big doe suddenly appeared running from the woods right toward him. The whitetail was breathing heavily, with its mouth open and saliva streaming out of its mouth. In spite of the fact that Paquette was standing in the open, the obviously stressed doe ran right by him. Based on the tracks Paquette saw, he figured the doe was being chased by wolves. Sure enough, a wolf soon appeared from the same place the deer had come from. Realizing what a unique opportunity it was to see a wolf, Paquette took advantage of the opportunity to snap a photo of the predator. He wasnt sure how long it would hang around after it saw him. The time stamp on that image after the wolf crossed the driftwood along the edge of the woods was 10:20 a.m. To Paquettes surprise, the wolf approached him. The animal was obviously in predator mode after chasing the deer. Paquette took a second photo of the wolf 16 seconds after the first. The wolf came right at me, Paquette says. He had his ears pinned back and he was looking right at me. Once I realized the wolf was coming at me, I thought about grabbing my walking stick. That was the only thing I had to protect myself from the wolf. The stick was leaning against my knapsack and I would have to move toward the wolf to get it, so thats what I did. I ran toward the wolf to get the stick. That aggressive move on my part caused the wolf to change his actions. He started running parallel to me instead of continuing toward me. Paquette took a third photo of the wolf eight seconds after the second one, when it was paralleling him. Seconds later, the wolf charged directly at Paquette. Read Next: Do Wolves Attack Humans? I started to scream at the top of my lungs and wave my arms wildly as it attacked, Paquette says. My screaming and aggressive arm motions stopped the wolfs charge just as it approached within a matter of feet, and it then turned and ran back again. Paquette snapped a fourth photo of the wolf as it trotted away from him. The time stamp on that image was 10:21. At that point, the wolf clearly knew Paquette was not a deer. The wolf ran back some distance and began to walk back and forth pacing, all the time looking right at me. I took a fifth picture then. Suddenly, the wolf turned and charged me once again, coming at me at a trot. I started screaming and swearing and wildly waving my arms again. This time it stopped its charge a greater distance away. It then turned and trotted back toward the tree line, but it stopped on the beach and paced back and forth while looking directly at me. I then took the sixth and last photo, but I kept screaming and waving my arms trying to keep it from charging. Finally, it walked back over the driftwood and disappeared into the trees. The federal courthouse stands in Fargo, N.D., June 19, 2023. In July, a federal judge has sentenced three men to decades in prison in connection with an alleged international fentanyl trafficking operation. Daniel Vivas Ceron was sentenced to 27 years, Jason Joey Berry to 24 years and Xuan Cahn Nguyen to 22 years. They are among more than 30 people charged in connection with "Operation Denial," the investigation begun after the January 2015 overdose death of Bailey Henke, of Grand Forks, N.D. (AP Photo/Jack Dura, File) A federal judge has sentenced three more men charged in connection with an alleged international fentanyl trafficking operation. U.S. Chief District Court Judge Peter Welte on Tuesday sentenced Daniel Vivas Ceron, 42, of Colombia, to 27 years in prison. He was extradited from Panama to the U.S. in 2017. In 2019, he pleaded guilty to charges including drug conspiracy and money laundering. On Monday, Welte sentenced Jason Joey Berry, 40 of Cornwall, Ontario, to 24 years in prison. Berry was extradited from Canada to the U.S. in 2021. Last year he pleaded guilty last year to a drug conspiracy charge. Last week, Welte sentenced Xuan Cahn Nguyen, 43, of Point-Aux-Tremble, Quebec to 22 years in prison. He pleaded guilty in March to drug conspiracy and money laundering charges. Authorities say Ceron and Berry used a cellphone from inside a Quebec prison to arrange shipments of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues from China to Canada and the U.S. as part of the alleged criminal enterprise. The trafficking led to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in North Dakota, Oregon, New Jersey and North Carolina, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in North Dakota. The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable those like Ceron, Berry, Nguyen, and members of their network who injected fentanyl and fentanyl analogues into American society with deadly results. Concerted efforts like Operation Denial demonstrate the Justice Departments commitment to eliminating the influx of fentanyl into our communities at their points of origin," Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Departments Criminal Division said in a statement Tuesday. The defendants are among more than 30 people charged in North Dakota and Oregon in connection with Operation Denial, the investigation begun in North Dakota in January 2015 following the overdose death of Bailey Henke, 18, of Grand Forks. The investigation has resulted in two dozen sentencings and convictions and nearly $1 million in forfeitures of cash and property. The U.S. State Department is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Jian Zhang, a fugitive in the investigation. Authorities also are seeking four other Chinese fugitives. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 3 men sentenced to prison in North Dakota and Oregon fentanyl trafficking operation Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Executive Chairman of Visa Al Kelly in Beijing, capital of China, July 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Executive Chairman of Visa Al Kelly in Beijing on Wednesday. Han said that for China and the United States, the world's two largest economies, deepening economic and trade cooperation can achieve mutual benefits and win-win results, which is crucial to the global industrial and supply chains. The world needs an overall stable China-U.S. relationship, and the key lies in adhering to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, and implementing the consensus reached between the two heads of state at the Bali Summit, Han said. "China will unswervingly advance high-level opening-up, and welcome foreign companies, including those from the United States, to invest and do business in China," he said, expressing the hope that the U.S. business community will play a more important role in promoting bilateral exchanges and cooperation on economy and trade. Al Kelly said that China's economic and social development is full of vitality, and its achievements in digital payment are impressive. He said Visa has full confidence in its investment in China and stands ready to expand long-term cooperation with China and contribute to bilateral economic and trade cooperation. A legislative proposal from a Chester County Democrat aims to depoliticize school library policies that have become the focus of a national culture war which has spilled into Pennsylvania. Rep. Paul Friel, of the 26th District, says his state House Bill 1506 could go a long way in meeting the concerns of parents rights groups while also preserving the First Amendment rights of students. I wanted to put in place a mechanism that maybe helped to depoliticize it a bit and provide an avenue for parents who were disputing whats going on in the school district in either direction, Friel said. A former president of the school board at Owen J. Roberts School District, Friel said hes seen firsthand how social media fervor can lead to heated public comments about some books, regardless of whether whats said about those books are true or even if they arent in that districts library. House Bill 1506 would set a standard review process for book challenges, set boundaries on reasons why a book cant be removed and codifies a process for parents to opt their children out of lessons or library materials that conflicts with their beliefs. School libraries have become a central point of controversy for the past two years in Pennsylvania, starting with a book freeze in the Central York School District that took hundreds of books about racism out of circulation that ended after community protests in 2021. Last July, Central Bucks School District, the fourth largest in the state, passed the controversial Policy 109.2 after months of contentious meetings where public commenters and free speech groups warned it would lead to banning books about racism and LGBTQ issues. A large crowd gathered outside the Central Bucks School District administrative building in Doylestown Township for a press conference held Tuesday, July 26, 2022, prior to a school board meeting, where speakers voiced opposition to a proposed library policy, which opponents called a pathway to book bans. The guidelines in Policy 109.2, developed with the outside help of a religious liberty law firm, the Independence Law Center, has since been adopted or considered by several districts across the state. ILC in PA Schools: Libraries to locker rooms: How a religious law firm is changing PA school policies Story continues Book challenges have skyrocketed nationwide since then, the American Library Association has tracked thousands of book ban attempts across the country with many aimed at LGBTQ-themed books framed as pornographic material. One side alleges that pornographic and obscene material is readily accessible to children of all ages and parents have a right to weed that material out. The other says bigoted fearmongering is seeking to silence voices in underserved communities and dismantle public education. John Chrastka, executive director of nonprofit EveryLibrary, said the bill would be a wonderful step toward balancing parental rights over content and a childs right to read. EveryLibrary is an organization that lobbies for support of public libraries across the country and Chrastka said HB 1506 is a unique response to censorship efforts seen in Pennsylvania and nationwide. I hope that the General Assembly pays attention to it, that the education community rallies around it and that parents understand that this is a rights-affirmative way to extend the role of the school library in educating students, Chrastka said in a recent interview. Pennsylvania schools consider book challenge policies Several school districts across the state have considered a library policy like the one in Central Bucks, which allows just about any resident to challenge a title and gives the district broad discretion to remove it for explicit or implied depictions of nudity or sex. Those guidelines, often appearing as Policy 109.2, are mainly spearheaded by the Independence Law Center, the legal arm of the PA Family Institute. PA Family lobbies for traditional family values and often opposes legislation that runs counter to Judeo-Christian beliefs, like anti-discrimination laws protecting LGBTQ individuals. The group is affiliated with the nationwide Family Research Council, designated an anti-LGBTQ hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. As previously reported, the ILC and PA Family have been working with officials in several school districts across the state for months, even years without the publics knowledge. While Central Bucks was the first to pass the ILCs library policy, officials in nearby Pennridge School District were also working with ILC on a similar draft policy as far back as May 2022. Pennridge passed its library policy in September, but a draft copy of the Central Bucks version had already made its way to the Warwick School District around the same time. Emails show that the Lancaster County chapter head for Moms For Liberty, another designated extremist group by the SPLC, had forwarded Warwick School District board members the Central Bucks policy as officials there considered changes. Warwick officials ultimately didnt follow through on that suggestion, but a board majority across the state in Penncrest School District, Crawford County, did adopt a similar policy in January of this year. Saegertown Junior-Senior High School students Claire Barickman and Camden Gjovik tell members of the Penncrest School Board that a proposed book-ban policy would violate students' rights and that current policy does not prohibit parents from restricting access to certain materials for their own children. Barickman, Gjovik and other students presented the board with petitions bearing the signatures of 180 people who oppose the ban during the board's Jan. 9 work session at Saegertown Elementary School. Emails in Warwick and Penncrest also revealed that some school board members had either met or planned to meet with ILC attorneys about district business. The Perkiomen School District, Montgomery County, was considering library policy compared to Central Bucks and led to protests at a March meeting. While its not always clear if the ILC has been involved in developing policy, the library guidelines they helped create have become popular among more conservative parents and school boards in Pennsylvania. Friels bill could upend those policies. More: 'I'm coming for you': Central Bucks superintendent comment sounds like threat to some What does PA state House Bill 1506 do? Much of the spirit of Friels bill, the Freedom to Read Act, is couched in the landmark 1982 Supreme Court ruling between the Island Trees Union Free School District in New York vs. Stephen Pico. In that case, the court ruled the objections by a group of parents over the content in some books did not supersede the free speech rights of every child in that district. Absolutely, a parent has the right to limit what their individual child has access to, they simply do not have the right to make that decision for other parents, Friel said. In its current draft, HB 1506 would require schools to provide parents with a list of materials or lessons their children could have access to and provide a process to opt their children out. The bill would also make it illegal to remove a book simply because of the authors or a characters race, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation or political or religious views. Books about sexual health or related to research, independent reading interests and educational needs of older students based on age and grade level would also be protected. Any title challenged would also have to be reviewed and considered in its entirety, not just based on a few excerpts that a parent might find objectionable. Only a student, parent or legal guardian in the school district could file a complaint. Friels bill would also make the review process a community board opposed to a collection of district employees. Under 1506, one of 29 existing Intermediate Units would be tasked with forming an educational resource review committee made up of administrators and educators from multiple school districts in a region. Some of these educational support groups established in 1971 serve entire counties while some serve larger areas crossing county lines. Whether the title is removed or not, the complainant can appeal the decision to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Any book would also have to remain accessible in the library until the review committee has made its determination. This is a condition in Friels bill that also stops another problem the lawmaker said is harder to track. Soft-censorship and shadowbanning Most of Friel's Freedom to Read Act is focused on a standardized challenge process, but it also takes steps to prevent soft censorship, or removing books outside of that process. If a parent in a district believes that books are being restricted to avoid an official challenge process, those suspicions can be reported to the state education department to investigate. Friel said the reporting system would help combat what is probably the biggest practical risk to books singled out by parental rights groups and their advocates. A librarian or administrator might be inclined to restrict access to a book based on constant complaints at public meetings in the hopes that it might deal with the problem, Friel said. I think that form of censorship is dangerous. It could have the effect that we start seeing diversity removed from our bookshelves, we start seeing LGBTQ stuff removed from our bookshelves, and then our library does not reflect the communities that we serve, Friel said. About a month before Central Bucks received its first batch of over 60 formal complaints under its library policy, the district was already conducting an internal review of five books mentioned at previous meetings. More: Central Bucks School District orders librarians to remove two LGTBQ+ themed books Maia Kobabes 2019 Gender Queer: A Memoir, an account of the authors experiences growing up as non-binary, and Juno Dawsons sex education book, This Book Is Gay, were ordered out of school libraries in May. The books Lawn Boy, Beyond Magenta, and Me, Earl and the Dying Girl were also part of the internal review but allowed to remain in schools. Superintendent Abram Lucabaugh previously said the five books were chosen because the titles came up throughout the library debate policy, and its the districts responsibility to guard against the sexualization of children. To have not taken a look at some of the titles that were raised over more than a year ago, to pretend that we dont know that graphic, illustrated, highly descriptive sexualized content is in some books, would be akin to looking the other way, Lucabaugh wrote in a statement earlier this year. These kinds of internal reviews, or any other action to remove a library book outside of a challenge process, would have been illegal under the provisions of HB 1506. Thats perfect for whats been happening with us, said Pennridge parent Darren Laustsen. Laustsen has been involved in a legal fight over library records in Pennridge which he claims show that the district was removing books from circulation as part of a review for its library policy. Through multiple records requests and eventually an appeal with the Office of Open Records, Laustsen claimed that multiple titles mentioned at prior meetings were completely checked out and not due back for up to a year. Although Laustsen tried to obtain records detailing whether the books were checked out by non-students and why, the district said it gave what records it could but ultimately Laustsens accusations were based on an erroneous assumption regarding the online card catalog. The OOR sided with the district and Laustsen is currently fighting that determination in the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas, currently awaiting an evidentiary hearing date. A reporting system like the one in Friels bill probably would have prevented months of legal battles, Laustsen said. I wish I had somebody like that to go to because I feel like I'm screaming into a void, Laustsen said. I definitely think that would be something that would have been helpful in this process. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: PA House bill aims to protect school libraries from censorship Sarah Galloway supports former President Donald Trump, but questions his approach to COVID-19 vaccines. I didnt take it, I dont want my family to take it, Galloway, who is married with three children, said of the COVID shot. Galloway wants Trump to emulate Gov. Ron DeSantis, who initially promoted the vaccines before voicing increasing skepticism toward what he calls the jab. DeSantis, he originally said everybody should go get vaccinated then he did a full circle switch and Im like Sweet, Im glad hes understanding this. Why isnt Trump understanding this?" Galloway said recently after attending a GOP meeting where she lives in Southwest Florida. Galloways vaccine views are common in the GOP. Despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommending vaccination against COVID-19 for everyone six months and older, and insisting that the benefits outweigh any risks, just 40% of Republicans believe that and a third arent vaccinated, according to a recent Pew survey. That deep COVID vaccine skepticism is permeating the presidential primary. It has become a leading topic of discussion for some candidates, making 2024 a watershed moment for the anti-vaccine movement. Increasingly prominent in that movement is DeSantis, who may be the most influential public official in the country who has so thoroughly embraced anti-vaccine views. He is highlighting the issue on the campaign trail, questioning the safety of the COVID shot at recent events in Iowa and New Hampshire. There are other public figures who are more closely associated with vaccine criticism, such as Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but none with the stature of DeSantis, the governor of the third largest state and a top contender for the GOP presidential nomination, trailing only Trump. DeSantis posture towards the COVID vaccines began to shift just as buzz started increasing about his presidential prospects, and fits into a broader pattern of the governor positioning himself to the right of Trump on a host of issues. Story continues Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis watches as nurse Christine Philips left, administers the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19 to Vera Leip, 88, a resident of John Knox Village, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, in Pompano Beach, Fla. Nursing home residents and health care workers in Florida began receiving the vaccine this week. DeSantis' vaccine position doesnt appear to be peeling away many Trump voters yet the former president dominates in the polls but he is tapping into an issue that has significant resonance on the right, and could help him make the case he is more in tune with the GOP base. Public health experts are deeply worried, though. The embrace of the anti-vaccine movement by major political figures such as DeSantis, and the movements growth, could have profound health impacts going forward if skepticism toward all vaccines increases. That can have huge problematic downstream consequences against the protection of society against various vaccine-preventable diseases, said Timothy Callaghan, a professor of health policy and politics at Boston University who studies vaccine hesitancy. The governor's campaign did not respond to a request for comment on this story. 'A really historic day' Developed during the Trump administration under the Operation Warp Speed program, a pair of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna were granted emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration in December of 2020, less than a year after the first COVID case was confirmed in the United States. DeSantis participated in a news conference at Tampa General Hospital on Dec. 14, 2020 where a nurse was one of the first people in Florida to receive a COVID vaccine. Today was a really historic day, DeSantis said at the time. Florida already had more than one million COVID cases at that point, and 20,133 deaths related to the virus. DeSantis toured the state relentlessly over the next weeks and months, often appearing at multiple vaccination sites a day to tout the shot. On Jan. 22, 2021, DeSantis held an event broadcast live on Fox News where a World War II veteran became the one millionth vaccinated Florida senior. DeSantis was vaccinated in April of that year, receiving the one dose Johnson & Johnson shot. Before taking the vaccine, DeSantis played up its effectiveness amid reports that the J&J shot didnt confer as much protection as other vaccines. In reality, it was 100% effective at preventing death and a serious illness, hospitalization, DeSantis said, adding: "Were trying to save lives, and thats what the J&J has been proven to do. It wasnt long before DeSantis approach to the COVID vaccine began to change, though. DeSantis called the Florida Legislature into special session in November of 2021 to pass a series of bills aimed at undermining a federal rule requiring employees at larger companies to get vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID tests. Nobody in Florida should be losing their jobs over these jabs, DeSantis declared. In this screenshot, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appears on Fox & Friends chaperoning 100-year-old Henry Sayler as he gets what DeSantis said may be the millionth senior COVID-19 vaccination in the state. DeSantis also hired Dr. Joseph Ladapo a COVID vaccine critic as the states new surgeon general and declined to say during a Fox News interview whether hed received the booster shot. Anti-vaccine crusader DeSantis flirtation with the anti-vaccine movement became a full-blown embrace in 2022. Last May, Florida became the first state in the nation to recommend that healthy children not be vaccinated against COVID-19, stunning many health professionals around the state. Then, in October, Ladapos office announced it conducted a study determining men ages 18 to 39 are at higher risk of developing a heart condition if they take the COVID vaccine, and recommended they not get the shot. Leading health experts said the studys methodology was flawed, and it later was revealed that Ladapo edited the study to remove data that contradicted his conclusions. That was roundly refuted by the scientific community, said Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, who served on the Food and Drug Administration advisory panel that approved the COVID vaccines. That should have been an embarrassment to (DeSantis) and his surgeon general. Yet DeSantis continues to reference the study, mentioning it a town hall event recently in New Hampshire, which Offit called "shameful." You dont get to make it up," Offit said. In December, DeSantis held a roundtable discussion with contrarian doctors and scientists who questioned the safety of COVID vaccines. DeSantis announced that he was requesting a statewide grand jury probe of vaccine manufacturers to investigate potential "crimes and wrongdoing committed against Floridians related to the COVID-19 vaccine. DeSantis launched his presidential campaign a few months later. Having a top presidential candidate championing anti-vaccine sentiment appears to be unprecedented. Its a frightening notion for those who have dedicated their careers to easing vaccine hesitancy. Its scary as hell that vaccines have become this political, said Richard Carpiano, a professor of public policy at the University of California Riverside who studies vaccine hesitancy. They never should have been political to begin with, but the fact its some sort of leveraged issue thats up there with immigration, crime thats scary. Campaign highlights COVID views DeSantis is tapping into a deep GOP skepticism toward the COVID vaccines. During a town hall event in New Hampshire on June 27, a woman in the crowd told DeSantis that she and her husband had been vaccinated and our health hasnt been the same since. The audience member asked DeSantis how he would ensure were getting accurate and truthful information so people arent forced into a decision based on fear. DeSantis took the opportunity to slam the CDC and FDA and raise concerns about the vaccines. He noted that television advertisements for prescription drugs include potential health risks. They list all the possible side effects, right? DeSantis said. I mean thats how they do the drug commercials, and yet theyre having us believe that the COVID jab had nothing at all that ever came? Thats a lie and we all know it. Public health authorities have warned of potential side effects from COVID vaccines, but say they tend to be relatively minor and point to data indicating these risks are outweighed by the benefits of being vaccinated, which significantly lowers the chances of hospitalization or death. DeSantis continues to question the safety of the shots, though, telling former Fox News host Tucker Carlson during an interview in Iowa on July 14 that: the fact that they censored dissent on COVID means that some people took some of these booster shots when they didnt need to and they ended up having an adverse reaction. So it had major, major impact. Polling data shows how vaccines views increasingly correlate with an individuals political affiliation. According to a Pew survey released in May, 70% of U.S. adults who havent received the COVID vaccine are Republican. Among Americans 65 and older, just 3% of Democrats arent vaccinated compared to 20% of Republicans. Vaccine hesitancy has been around since the invention of vaccines, experts say, but it has never been this partisan. Offit, who wrote a book about the anti-vaccine movement, noted that anti-vaccine leagues formed to oppose the Small Pox vaccine in the 1800s. More recently, anti-vaccine sentiment has been stoked by the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism. Historically, vaccine critics could be found on both the right and left. Now it has shifted wildly to the right, Offit said, noting: This is the first disease virus in humankind where you are more likely to die based on your political affiliation." Studies suggest politics of vaccine led to more deaths On Monday, the Journal JAMA Internal Medicine published a study backing up that partisan divide. It determined that the politicization of the vaccine may be the cause of a higher rate of excess deaths among registered Republicans in Florida and Ohio during the pandemic. Yale University researchers examined the deaths among Democrats and Republicans when the vaccine was released and recommended for all adults in April 2021 and cross-linked the data to party registration records. While the study did not directly attribute the excess mortality to COVID-19, researchers found partisan "factors in the severity and trajectory of the pandemic. A recent New York Times investigation also concluded that while the states death rate during the pandemic ended up better than the national average, DeSantis' approach to vaccinations "proved deeply flawed" as he went from supporting vaccines to deriding them. "While Florida was an early leader in the share of residents older than 65 who were vaccinated, it had fallen to the middle of the pack by the end of July 2021. When it came to younger residents, Florida lagged behind the national average in every age group," the story stated. "That left the state particularly vulnerable when the delta variant hit that month. Floridians died at a higher rate, adjusted for age, than residents of almost any other state during the delta wave, according to the Times analysis. With less than 7% of the nations population, Florida accounted for 14% of deaths between the start of July and the end of October." The Times found that the vast majority of the 23,000 Floridians who died were either unvaccinated or had no completed the two-dose inoculation despite DeSantis declaring that "our entire vulnerable population has basically been vaccinated. About 9,000 of those who died were younger than 65. GOP embraces anti-vax views Criticism of the vaccines is particularly strong in far-right circles, but has been moving closer to the GOP mainstream. The Republican Party in Brevard County, Florida, passed a resolution earlier this month describing the COVID vaccines as biological and technological weapons and asking DeSantis to ban them in Florida. Similar resolutions have been approved by GOP officials in at least seven other counties around Florida. Michael Flynn, Trumps first national security adviser and an influential figure on the far right who lives in Sarasota county in Southwest Florida, recently started 4thePURE, a website devoted to connecting unvaccinated people for dates, blood donations and even fertility issues. Vic Mellor, a close associate of Flynns who also lives in Sarasota County, is financing a health care clinic We The People Clinic in Venice that will cater to people who are unvaccinated. Theres very few pediatricians in the area that dont talk or require the jab, Mellor said, adding: Kids absolutely should not be getting vaccinated, its criminal if you ask me. Flynn and Mellor are Trump supporters, but Mellor wants Trump to come out forcefully against the COVID vaccine, which he has shied away from discussing. Asked by Fox News host Bret Baier in June if the COVID vaccines worked, Trump said I really dont want to talk about it because, as a Republican, its not a great thing to talk about. Pressed by Baier, Trump said people love the vaccines and people hate the vaccines. Mellor said Trumps vaccine position is a liability. The vaccines, Im not going to say its not hurting Trump right now, Mellor said. He has to come out and say something, a different stance, a stronger stance. Come out and tell the truth. Everyone would understand I was listening to my experts, the experts were wrong. Do vaccines drive votes? Flynn and Mellor have supported a surge in far-right political activity in Sarasota County that included an effort to takeover Sarasota Memorial Hospital, a public hospital. A trio of conservative candidates running on a health freedom platform won seats on the hospital board and pushed for an audit of COVID policies. Dr. Richard Rehmeyer, a long-time Republican, lost his seat on the SMH board to a health freedom candidate. Rehmeyer noted that SMH had to dramatically expanded the number of intensive care unit beds during the height of the pandemic to treat severely ill COVID patients, and most of the COVID patients were unvaccinated. Staff members were absolutely breaking their back working double and triple shifts trying to keep people alive and the people they were trying to keep alive were the ones who refused to get the vaccine, he said. How do you think psychologically that felt? That politicians such as DeSantis have stoked anti-vaccine sentiment is disgusting said Rehmeyer, a retired ear, nose and throat surgeon. Its not clear that anti-vaccine politics will end up helping DeSantis. New Hampshire GOP Chair Chris Ager said DeSantis vaccine views are in tune with many GOP primary voters. It may be one of his strongest points that resonates with a lot of people, whether theyre his supporters or not, Ager said. But polls indicate that COVID isnt a top issue for primary voters, and Ager said thats been his experience talking to voters. That could be a big problem for DeSantis, whose reputation largely was built on his COVID policies. It doesnt appear to be at the top of the list for most people, Ager said. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida Gov. DeSantis now one of nation's top COVID, vaccine skeptics Officials at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum in Poland have criticized Fox News host Greg Gutfeld for saying on air that Jewish people survived Nazi concentration camps by being useful. While it is true that some Jews may have used their skills or usefulness to increase their chances of survival during the Holocaust, it is essential to contextualize this statement properly and understand that it does not represent the complex history of the genocide perpetrated by Nazi Germany, the Auschwitz Memorial said in a six-paragraph post early Tuesday on the social media service X, formerly known as Twitter. While it is accurate to acknowledge that some Jews may have survived temporarily due to their perceived usefulness, it is crucial to remember that the Holocaust was a systematic genocide with the ultimate aim of exterminating the entire Jewish population, the memorial said in part. It would be more appropriate to say that some Jews survived the Holocaust because they were considered temporarily useful, and the circumstances of the Nazi regimes collapse prevented their murder. We should avoid such oversimplifications in talking about this complex tragic story, the memorial added. Gutfeld made the comments Monday on The Five, a popular political talk show. The panelists were discussing new educational standards in Florida that would teach public school students that slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit, according to the text of a 216-page document the Florida Education Department posted this month. Jessica Tarlov, a panelist on The Five who is Jewish, said she was uncomfortable with the implication that some Black people benefited from slavery and asked whether one could make a similar argument about Jews who were imprisoned at concentration camps during World War II, when Adolf Hitlers genocidal regime murdered about 6 million Jews and also targeted Romany people, homosexuals and political dissidents. Story continues In response, Gutfeld said: Did you ever make [read] Mans Search for Meaning? Vik Frankl talks about how you had to survive in a concentration camp by having skills. You had to be useful. Utility. Utility kept you alive. Gutfeld was referring to Viktor Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor who developed logotherapy, a school of psychotherapy premised on the idea that human beings are motivated to find meaning in their lives. Frankl wrote Mans Search for Meaning, a 1946 autobiography that chronicles his experiences in four Nazi concentration camps and how those ordeals shaped his psychological worldview. Greg Gutfeld at FOX Studios in New York City (Slaven Vlasic / Getty Images file ) Viktor Frankls observation about the specific situation in Auschwitz, which at some point became a camp that connected the functions of a concentration camp and extermination center and where deported Jews went through the selection process, highlights how some Jews became registered prisoners and might have used their skills to gain favor or prolong their lives in that particular setting. Yet, it never gave them complete protection, the Auschwitz Memorial wrote in its post on X. The memorial said, We must not overlook the larger picture of the Holocaust. Nazi Germanys ultimate goal was to exterminate all the people it considered Jews (Nazis created their racial definition of a Jewish person). Millions of Jews were brutally murdered in execution sites, mainly across the east of occupied Europe, with entire communities wiped out regardless of their usefulness or contributions to society, the memorial said. While some of the ghettos seemed to have the goal of being productive and Jews were used as slave labor there, being useful did not guarantee safety, as the Nazis eventually decided to liquidate them, leading to the murder of those considered valuable as well. Fox News did not immediately respond to an email Tuesday morning requesting comment on the Auschwitz Memorials post. In a statement, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said in part: "What Fox News allowed to be said on their air yesterday and has so far failed to condemn is an obscenity. "In defending a horrid, dangerous, extreme lie that insults the memory of the millions of Americans who suffered from the evil of enslavement, a Fox News host told another horrid, dangerous and extreme lie that insults the memory of the millions of people who suffered from the evils of the Holocaust," Bates said. "Lets get something straight that the American people understand full well and that is not complicated: there was nothing good about slavery; there was nothing good about the Holocaust. Full stop." The Auschwitz Memorial posted its statement above a clip of the Fox News segment originally uploaded by Juliet Jeske, a research associate at the Tow-Knight Center for News Integrity at the City University of New Yorks graduate school of journalism. Jeske regularly posts clips from the network under the X handle Decoding Fox News. Floridas approach to teaching public school students about slavery is part of new African American history standards that were approved last week and condemned by many education advocates. The Florida Education Association, a statewide teachers union representing roughly 150,000 teachers, said the new standards are a disservice to Floridas students and a big step backward for a state that has required teaching African American history since 1994. Gutfeld, a fixture of the Fox News lineup for more than 15 years, hosts the late-night comedy talk show Gutfeld! and appears daily on The Five. He is known for his provocative on-air rhetoric, which The New York Times, in a profile published in June, described as insult conservatism and merry trolling. He joined the conservative news network in 2007. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Margot Robbie drank a special tea to get her skin glowing for "Barbie." Warner Bros. Pictures The film's skin-health specialist, Jasmina Vico, was in charge of helping the "Barbie" cast get doll-perfect skin. She introduced them to milk-thistle tea, which she claims cleanses the liver and helps the skin. Vico also had the cast, including Margot Robbie, drink kefir and goat milk to improve gut health. It wasn't just makeup and facials that helped the "Barbie" cast achieve doll-perfect skin. Jasmina Vico, a skin-health specialist, was in charge of keeping the stars glowing on-screen, and she believed the key was more than skin-deep. "Everything in the movies is about lighting," Vico, a facialist who is based in London, told Vogue. "That's when I thought, OK, we're going to work on the liver, calm the nervous system, and make skin glow. But, crucially, we're going to work on that glow from within." Vico introduced the cast including Margot Robbie, America Ferrera, and Emma Mackey to milk-thistle tea, which is popular in Croatia, her native country. Vico told Vogue that milk thistle can help cleanse the liver and make the skin "more radiant." Research in mice suggests that milk thistle can support skin, liver, and bone health, as well as reduce cholesterol and support weight loss. But milk thistle can also interact with certain medication including for anxiety, allergies, and cancer as well as birth control, and should always be discussed first with a doctor. America Ferrera as Gloria, Ariana Greenblatt as Sasha, and Margot Robbie as Barbie in "Barbie." Warner Bros. Vico said the tea includes the spiky heart of milk thistle, which needs to be brewed for 20 minutes to achieve its bitter taste. The tea was such a hit among the "Barbie" stars that Robbie even brewed some for her cast members during their legendary sleepover. Robbie also drank goat milk and kefir to prep for the role. Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Bros. In addition to her facial treatments, Vico created a specialized skin and wellness routine for each of the stars to follow during filming and had them drink kefir and goat milk to improve their balance of gut bacteria. Story continues "I gave Margot kefir and advised her to eat lots of fermented foods, like sauerkraut, for example," Vico told Vogue. "She loved all of that." And whenever the stars had any blemishes, Vico had a special trick. "Always use salicylic acid and ice," she said. "Ice reduces the heat and inflammation, then salicylic acid helps unclog the pores." Read the original article on Insider A man is accused of killing a missing Colorado woman, then leaving her body in the woods in Clay County, Missouri authorities said. Benjamin Tyler Simmons, 36, has been charged in the killing of Sarah Tafoya, 37, of Sterling, Colorado, who was reported missing nearly three months ago, according to a news release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Highway patrol began its investigation into Tafoyas disappearance on May 4. Authorities said Tafoya was reported missing by her estranged husband three days after they last spoke. Tafoyas estranged husband told authorities that during their last conversation on May 1, she told him she was in Clay County with a man named Benjamin T. Simmons and needed help, according to highway patrol. On May 23, a witness told authorities that Simmons confessed to killing Tafoya in a Kansas City area hotel and leaving her body in the woods in Clay County, according to the release. Investigators interviewed Simmons on May 25 and he allegedly confessed to killing Tafoya, authorities said. He then told law enforcement where he abandoned her body. Authorities located human remains in the same area soon after. The Kansas City Police Department assisted in the investigation. Simmons, who is from Fort Morgan, Colorado, was charged on June 6 in Clay County with first-degree murder and abandonment of a corpse, according to the release. On Wednesday, it was publicly announced that the body was identified as that of Tafoya. Information has not yet been made public on how Tafoya was killed, said Sgt. Darrin Haslag, with highway patrol. He said authorities couldnt yet say why Simmons and Tafoya were in Missouri, but Haslag said Simmons has ties to Clay County and Springfield. Simmons is being held in the Missouri Department of Corrections Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center on an unrelated probation violation and has an active Clay County warrant for first degree murder and abandonment of a corpse, the release read. His bond is set at $5 million, cash only, court records show. (iStock/AFP/Getty) He may be suing the governor of Texas, but Jessie Fuentes isnt really a political guy. His disagreement with Greg Abbott is personal. Continental, in a sense. Spiritual even. On 7 July, Mr Fuentes, who owns a small kayaking business, sued the state for its decision to install a 1,000-foot buoy wall in the town of Eagle Pass, within a stretch of the Rio Grande river. In Texas, the river forms the legal border between the US and Mexico. More than just a legal argument that a state politician doesnt have jurisdiction over an international borderline, Mr Fuentes, who grew up along the Rio Grande, feels Mr Abbott has crossed a moral line. The governor, he says, is violating a river that nourishes ecosystems, people, and a vibrant transborder culture thats existed far longer and far more freely than the rolls of razor wire multiplying across the banks suggest. Migrants walk by a string of buoys placed on the water along the Rio Grande border with Mexico in Eagle Pass, Texas (AFP via Getty Images) Im not a politician. I just say listen, I love that river. Nobody speaks up for it. Im speaking up for the river. Man, I have the right to try to prosper from my love of the river, that allows me the opportunity to get out there, to bring people to the river, he told The Independent. They dont live here. I do, he added of Texass state leaders. Youve taken a beautiful waterway and youve converted it into a war zone. Mr Fuentes is part of a group of local residents, human rights activists, state employees, and government officials who are pushing back on the floating barrier project. They face challenging waters ahead. Governor Abbott is a shrewd operator. He has combined media savvy and audacious use of government funds and powers to secure billions of dollars and heaps of political capital for his notion of a military-style crackdown at the border. He has charged ahead with little resistance, even though governors and presidents have spent decades taking this iron-fisted approach with little empirical success to show for it. In mid-July, state contractors were nearly complete installing the floating border barrier, a $1m, 1,000-foot pearl string of giant orange buoys with strong netting in between, anchored to the river floor. Story continues Discussing the plan in June, Mr Abbott described the floating wall as a key part of his larger buildup at the border, which has featured mass deployment of as many as 10,000 state troopers and national guardsmen at a time, as well as razor wire and sections of a new border wall on private lands. "When were dealing with 100 or 1,000 people, one of the goals is to slow down and deter as many of them as possible," Mr Abbott said on 8 June. "Some may eventually get to the border where they are going to face that multilayered razor wire and a full force of National Guard and DPS [Department of Public Safety] officers." An estimated 250 people died crossing the Rio Grande last year, but Texas officials have nonetheless claimed that installing what amounts to a giant net in the river will prevent the loss of life due to drownings. Operation Lone Star has seen as many as 10,000 Texas law enforcement agents deployed on the border at one time (Getty Images) The barrier technology, like much of Mr Abbotts border agenda, is a retrofitted version of what the Trump administration was pursuing. In 2020, the Border Patrol advertised on Twitter, then quickly deleted, a post showing a demo of a floating barrier system from the same company that built Mr Abbotts wall, Cochrane USA, only the Trump version had large black spikes that wouldnt look out of place in a dungeon. The Texas buoy plan dropped the spikes but kept the same controversy that Mr Trumps attempts to seal off the border attracted. CBP actually posted about this on Twitter when they were doing a demo a few months ago, then deleted it. https://t.co/zhNzZmzwaX Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) August 14, 2020 Earlier, Mexicos top diplomat said the barrier plan may violate international treaties over the Rio Grande-based border, and said she will send an inspection team to investigate the buoy wall. The Justice Department has also threatened to sue Texas over the border wall plan, though governor insists he has the authority to carry on with the project. Texas will see you in court, Mr President, the Republican governor wrote in a letter on Monday to President Biden. Migrant advocates say the buoys, like generations of border installations before them, wont 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. This strategy, known as prevention through deterrence has more or less been the explicit policy of the US government since the Clinton administration in the 1990s, a policy choice many on the ground say is causing unnecessary deaths. 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. Its very likely that with [the floating buoy wall] they are looking for more remote and isolated places to come across so that whenever they are in danger by heat exhaustion, by drowning, they will not have anybody to help them, he added, saying he worries it could be a record year for migrant deaths in the Rio Grande. All of this is death by policy. Military buildup along the US-Mexico border hasnt substantially altered immigration flows, according to experts (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) According to leaks from the Texas Department of Public Safety, which oversees the states border scheme, this policy includes intentionally putting migrants into harms way. In a series of emails shared with news outlets including The Independent, a border medic described questioning orders from superiors to push exhausted migrants back into the river and to refrain from giving them water if captured. We were given orders to push the people back into the water to go to Mexico. We decided that this was not the correct thing to do. With the very real potential of exhausted people drowning, the trooper wrote. The DPS source also claimed in the span of one week in late June, a teen mother was trapped in razor wire at the border while having a miscarriage, a 15-year-old broke his leg as he tried to find a way around the deterrence buoys, and a man lacerated his leg while trying to rescue his child from razor wire placed on a buoy. Texas officials have defended the use of the razor wire while denying reports troopers were told to push people into the river. Texas governor Greg Abbott has used Covid funds and a state disaster declaration to increase his power over the US-Mexico border (AP) The Texas National Guard mission is to work alongside our Texas law enforcement partners to prevent, deter and interdict transnational criminal activity between ports of entry, the Texas Military Department told The Independent in response to news about the emails. There is no order or directive instructing Service Members to push illegal immigrants back into the river or deny them drinking water. Texas is deploying every tool and strategy to deter and repel illegal crossings between ports of entry as President Bidens dangerous open border policies entice migrants from over 150 countries to risk their lives entering the country illegally, a spokesperson for the governor told The Independent earlier this month. The Texas Department of Public Safety did not respond to requests for comment on this story from The Independent. Beyond just putting migrants at risk, the border barriers are cutting into the deep cross-border cultural ties in the region, residents said. Mr Fuentes, the business owner suing the state, said the locked down border is only a recent historical development. His grandfather used to be able to casually ride into Mexico on a donkey to get supplies. He says that Texas politicians fomenting fear about immigration miss the fact that many who live along the US-Mexico border dont feel the same way. The walls arent stopping some hypothetical invasion of immigrants. Theyre dividing a community thats older and bigger than boundaries on a map. Thats the beautiful thing about America, he said. Weve got our culture on the border. The way its being misinterpreted right now, them saying were a war zone, things are out of control. Were not that. Were a community on the river. We get along with our neighbours. I dont think were under siege from an inflow of immigrants, he added. Were under siege by law enforcement. Leaks from inside the Texas Department of Public Safety allege state employs were told to push migrants back into the Rio Grande (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) When Mr Fuentes encounters migrants on the river, he offers them a blessing and any spare water if it he has it. You wouldnt know about these sorts of ties by watching the governor on TV. The Fox News regular frequently describes the situation in places like Eagle Pass as an invasion of drug-pushing cartel members, though drugs like fentanyl are overwhelmingly brought across the border by US citizens at official points of entry. Its not an accidental choice of words calling the situation an invasion. In November, the governor invoked a clause in the US Constitution allowing states to take military actions if they are under invasion to defend his policies, a theory legal scholars and critics say is both nonapplicable to immigration and an echo of the white-supremacist rhetoric that fueled incidents like the 2019 El Paso shooting, where 23 mostly Latino people were killed. It may not be legally bulletproof, but its another savvy move from Mr Abbott, who has proved adept at using crises in recent years to further his border agenda. The governor declared a state disaster at the US-Mexico border in 2021, freeing him up to use additional emergency powers, and used creative accounting to funnel an estimated $1bn in federal Covid relief funds to Operation Lone Star, the umbrella plan Mr Abbott has used to send troopers to the border and bus thousands of migrants out of Texas to liberal states. Despite massive investments from the state and the federal government over decades from leaders of both parties, immigration levels at the US-Mexico border in late 2022 and 2023 are about the same as they were during their previous peak around the year 2000. A spokesperson for the governors office declined to answer specific questions from The Independent about the floating border barrier, and criticisms that its illegal and dangerous for migrants. The governors office said Operation Lone Star had led to the apprehension of more than 393,000 unauthorised immigrants and the repelling of more than 49,000 illegal immigrants, as well as over 31,000 arrests, all of which would have otherwise made their way into communities across Texas and our country thanks to President Bidens open border policies, according to spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris. The Department of Justice is investigating Operation Lone Star for alleged civil rights abuses. Immigration is a concern of federal law, but thousands of immigrants have been arrested by state personnel for trespassing on private property, allegedly being held in jail for weeks without facing charges. According to an investigation by the Texas Tribune, ProPublica, and The Marshall Project, state officials were arresting far more trespassers than cartel members, and allegedly inflated data on Operation Lone Star by citing arrests on crimes like cockfighting, sexual assault, and stalking in their success statistics, even though these offences had no clear link to immigration enforcement. Border communities like Uvalde, the site of a horrific 2022 school shooting, have suffered from decades of under-investment, leaving them without hospitals, even as billions are spent on border security (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Weve spent $12bn over the last decade, and we have nothing to show for it, Jaime Puente, director of economic opportunity programmes at the advocacy group Every Texan, which monitors the state budget, told The Independent. People are not being deterred from coming to the US to seek a better life and opportunitiesno matter how deadly we make that journey. Ironically, according to Mr Puente, the governors border crackdown has finally driven resources towards borderland communities that have historically suffered from under-investment. However, these resources are coming in the form of armed police officers and contracts to build military infrastructure, rather than investments in things like education or healthcare. Texas has historically undervalued and underserved border communities over the last century or more, and now, because its politically viable, because it makes for a great 7pm Fox News clip, these communities are being inundated with billions and billions of dollars, Mr Puente said. He points to the example of Uvalde, Texas, the site of a horrific 2022 school shooting, as a place that needs a different kind of investment from the state. That community doesnt have a hospital, he said. That community doesnt have some basic services, but they have 350 DPS troopers and Border Patrol agents just roaming around. That didnt help 19 kids and 2 teachers a year ago. In fact, according to some local residents, the influx of state personnel to border communities has made the residents there feel less safe. Operation Lone Star has driven a spike in the racial profiling of Latinx drivers in South Texas, according to the ACLU. According to an analysis from NBC News of Latinx-majority border areas, traffic citations have shot up, in one county by a factor of six, since Operation Lone Star came online in 2021. Migrants walk along concertina wire as they try to cross the Rio Grande at the Texas-U.S. border in Eagle Pass, Texas, Thursday, July 6, 2023 (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Despite the governors ever-expanding footprint on the border, Jessie Fuentes still believes in the magic of the Rio Grande. He ends our interview by inviting me to come onto the river with him sometime, though he notes its getting harder and harder for him to access the water because of all the fences, walls, and razor wire deployed around Eagle Pass. He has a bitter chuckle at the difference between the US and Mexico sides of the river. On the Mexico side, its parkland, with families out for walks or fishing on the river. On the US side, its a practically medieval tableau of walls and spikes, overseen by a group of state officials, one of whose title is literally Border Czar. I invite anyone to come if theyll let me, he said. What happens on the border often has deep roots. Border walls, once built, are rarely taken down, and connections to the land, built over generations, dont disappear from one administration to the next. Governor Abbott has vowed to fight Mr Fuentes all the way to the US Supreme Court. In the coming months, we will see whose vision of this complicated, beautiful region prevails. The U.S. Coast Guard announced Monday night they were ending the search for a man who reportedly jumped from the deck of a Carnival cruise ship. According to Carnival Cruise Line officials, the Elation crew was notified by his family members that Jaylen Hill, 30, was missing. "Sadly, after an exhaustive on-board search and a review of security camera video, it was determined that he jumped," said Matt Lupoli, Senior Manager of Public Relations. Here's what we know. Man overboard! How easy is it to fall overboard on a cruise ship, and how can you survive? Who jumped off a Carnival Cruise Line ship? Jaylen Hill The U.S. Coast Guard identified the man as Jaylen Hill. When did Jaylen Hill go missing? Carnival Elation was on a four-day Bahamas cruise and returned to Jacksonville Monday morning. Hill was reported missing around 8 p.m., according to the Coast Guard. The crew was notified by his traveling companion late (Sunday) afternoon about his missing status after he had not been seen all day, the cruise line said. Did Jaylen Hill jump overboard? The cruise line said in a release that surveillance video showed Hill jumping overboard. The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 requires passenger vessels operating in the United States to "integrate technology that can be used for capturing images of passengers or detecting passengers who have fallen overboard, to the extent that such technology is available." Carnival spokesperson Matt Lupoli told USA TODAY earlier this year that all ships have "safety barriers that are regulated by U.S. Coast Guard standards and prevent a guest from falling off." Where did Hill jump off the Carnival Cruise ship? #UPDATE & FINAL: @USCG #D7 suspended the search efforts for missing cruise ship passenger, Jaylen Hill, Monday, pending any further developments. Coast Guard cutter and aircraft crews searched more than 1,347 square miles. #SAR USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) July 25, 2023 Hill went missing 95 east of the coast of Melbourne, the Coast Guard said. Story continues Rescue crews using the 87-foot cutter Tarpon from St Petersburg, a Hercules aircraft from Clearwater, and an Ocean Sentry plane from Miami searched more than 1,347 square miles searching for Hill, the Coast Guard said, but suspended the search efforts Monday evening. "We offer our deepest condolences to the Hill family," said Petty Officer Eric Rodriguez, D7. "Our crews take our life saving mission very seriously. Any time we can't bring a loved one home to their family is a pain we all feel." What is the Carnival Cruise ship Elation? At 855 feet long, nearly 72,000 tons and staffed with 900 crewmembers, the Carnival Elation can carry nearly 2,200 guests. The Elation returned to Jacksonville's port in October 2022 after being previously deployed to Port Canaveral. That marked a return for the cruise ship, which ran out of Jacksonville in 2015. Have other people died on the Carnival Elation cruise ship? In 2018, a Kansas woman died after falling from the balcony, but it wasn't an accident. Eric Duane Newman, 55, of Topeka, pleaded guilty the next year to second-degree murder for strangling Tamara Tucker, 50, of Lawson, Missouri, and pushing her off. Kevin Wellons, 24, of Georgia, was seen going overboard in February 2017. The Coast Guard suspended its search 36 hours later. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Jaylen Hill: Coast Guard suspends search for missing cruise passenger More than 40 people have died in Algeria, Italy and Greece and thousands have been evacuated as Mediterranean wildfires threaten villages and holiday resorts. The entire island of Rhodes has been put into a state of emergency, as fires also rage on Corfu and Evia. The current long heatwave shows no let-up - temperatures are expected to rise above 44C (111F) in parts of Greece. Fires in Sicily and Puglia have forced thousands of people to flee. High winds and tinder-dry vegetation mean firefighters are struggling in many areas to douse the flames and create firebreaks. The heaviest death toll so far is in Algeria, where the 34 victims included 10 soldiers surrounded by flames during an evacuation in the coastal province of Bejaia, east of Algiers. Bejaia is the worst-hit area, accounting for 23 of the deaths, local media report. Algerian authorities said 80% of the blazes had been put out since Sunday, but a massive firefighting effort continues, involving about 8,000 personnel, hundreds of fire engines and some aircraft. Fires have also raged in neighbouring Tunisia, where 300 people had to be evacuated from the coastal village of Melloula. BBC News spoke to one man whose restaurant was razed by the fires. Adil El Selmy's eco-friendly restaurant had stood halfway between the town of Tabarka and Melloula. "We left the restaurant as the flames approached," Selmy said. Water disturbances experienced in Tabarka last week during an unprecedented heatwave made things even harder. "We couldn't douse flames hours after the wooden building was devastated," Mr Selmi said. "I was employing 22 people," he adds. "I don't know how to get off this hook." The ravaged restaurant overlooks the sea. But the Mediterranean is barely seen, as the haze is still blanketing the area. A map showing fires in Algeria and Tunisia In Greece, the Civil Protection Ministry warned of an "extreme danger" of fire in six of the country's 13 regions on Wednesday. Story continues A team of climate scientists - the World Weather Attribution group - said this month's intense heatwave in Southern Europe, North America and China would have been virtually impossible without human-induced climate change. Two pilots died on the island of Evia, just north of Athens, when their Canadair firefighting plane crashed into a ravine. Elsewhere on the island a man's charred body was found in a remote rural shack. On the island of Rhodes more than 20,000 people have been evacuated from homes and resorts in the south in recent days. An airport official told AFP news agency that more than 5,000 had flown home on more than 40 emergency flights between Sunday and Tuesday. Holiday firms Jet2 and Tui have cancelled departures for Rhodes for the coming days. Tourism accounts for one in five jobs in Greece, and the industry is vital for Rhodes and many other islands. The UK Foreign Office has not advised against travel to the affected parts of Greece, but has urged tourists to check with tour operators for updates. Thousands of people have also been evacuated on Evia and Corfu, while Crete - another major holiday destination - is on high alert. Italy has been hit by contrasting extreme weather events - with deadly storms in the north and wildfires in Sicily as well as several more southern regions. A couple in their 70s were found dead in a fire-gutted holiday home near Palermo, after fire came close to the boundary of the city's airport. An 88-year-old woman also died near the city. Parts of the city of Catania went without water and power after cables burned in temperatures that climbed to 47.6C on Monday. On the mainland, in Calabria, just east of Sicily, a man aged 98 was trapped by flames in his home and his daughter and son-in-law suffered burns while trying to save him. A wildfire in the Foggia region, on Italy's Adriatic coast, forced the evacuation of 2,000 people from hotels and campsites. The blaze approached Vieste from a nearby national park. The storms in the north, meanwhile, claimed two lives on Tuesday - victims of falling trees. Tornadoes, hailstorms and gale-force winds of up to 110km/h (70mph) struck Lombardy and other northern regions. Chiara Rossetti, 16, was on a scouts' summer camp trip when her tent was hit by a tree in the province of Brescia. "We are experiencing in Italy one of the most complicated days in recent decades - rainstorms, tornadoes and giant hail in the north, and scorching heat and devastating fires in the centre and south," said Civil Protection minister Nello Musumeci. He said he intended to appeal to the EU to boost its fleet of Canadair firefighting planes. Portugal did not escape the heatwave unscathed, with more than 600 firefighters deployed to try to put out a fire in a national park in Cascais on Tuesday, near the capital Lisbon. Local residents were evacuated - some by wheelchairs - but no injuries were reported. At least 130 firefighters worked to contain a fire near Croatia's southern city of Dubrovnik, with water-bombing planes used to stop a wildfire that burnt across the region on Monday. Local media reported that undetonated landmines exploded as a result of the fire. Fires also broke out on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica in the early hours of Wednesday. Gales of up to 130km/h (80mph) whipped up the flames and for several hours three villages came under threat. Map showing fire risk across southern Europe and north Africa Banner saying 'Get in touch' How have you been affected by the wildfires? 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 last of seven defendants, prosecuted following a federal investigation into a "deeply cruel" dogfighting network in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, was sentenced Tuesday to nearly four years in prison. Photo courtesy of World Animal Foundation July 26 (UPI) -- The last of seven defendants, prosecuted following a federal investigation into a "deeply cruel" dogfighting and drug distribution network in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina was sentenced Tuesday to nearly four years in prison. Herman Tyrone Washington, 51, of Highland Springs, Va., was ordered to serve 46 months in prison. Washington's prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release during which he will be banned from owning or possessing dogs, according to the Justice Department. Washington pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in animal fighting and for possession of a pitbull-type dog for participation in dogfighting. He was the last of seven defendants charged in the conspiracy, who together will serve more than 44 years in prison. "Dogfighting is not a sport, it's a brutal crime against animals who rarely escape death unless liberated by law enforcement," said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "The lengthy sentences faced by Washington and others who conspired in this dogfighting ring illustrated that those who seek to profit from the suffering of animals face significant prison time," Kim added. According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration began its investigation in 2019 and used electronic surveillance to analyze more than 400 conversations between the co-conspirators, as they discussed dogfighting activities over a period of two months. Investigators said the co-conspirators bred and trained dogs to fight, and transported dogs between four states to participate in matches. At least one of the conspirators killed dogs by drowning them in buckets of water, court documents show. In November and December of 2020, law enforcement issued a search warrant and seized 93 dogs that had been trained to participate in dog fights. "The inhumane treatment of animals, especially ones bred to be companions for humans is not only strictly illegal, but deeply cruel," said U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. "We have sought significant sentences in this case because the mistreatment of animals is a serious crime born of malicious intent. These dogs deserved better." Workers operate equipment at a workshop of Weichai Lovol Intelligent Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province, July 26, 2023. In recent years, Weifang City has taken multiple measures to promote high-quality development of modern agriculture. These measures include building demonstration parks for standardized vegetable production, establishing innovative laboratories, and promoting a premium and intelligent agricultural machinery industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo) Workers test corn harvesters at a workshop of Weichai Lovol Intelligent Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province, July 26, 2023. In recent years, Weifang City has taken multiple measures to promote high-quality development of modern agriculture. These measures include building demonstration parks for standardized vegetable production, establishing innovative laboratories, and promoting a premium and intelligent agricultural machinery industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo) Workers assemble corn harvesters at a workshop of Weichai Lovol Intelligent Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province, July 26, 2023. In recent years, Weifang City has taken multiple measures to promote high-quality development of modern agriculture. These measures include building demonstration parks for standardized vegetable production, establishing innovative laboratories, and promoting a premium and intelligent agricultural machinery industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo) Workers work on the production line of Weichai Lovol Intelligent Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province, July 26, 2023. In recent years, Weifang City has taken multiple measures to promote high-quality development of modern agriculture. These measures include building demonstration parks for standardized vegetable production, establishing innovative laboratories, and promoting a premium and intelligent agricultural machinery industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo) Workers drive tractors down the production line at a workshop of Weichai Lovol Intelligent Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province, July 26, 2023. In recent years, Weifang City has taken multiple measures to promote high-quality development of modern agriculture. These measures include building demonstration parks for standardized vegetable production, establishing innovative laboratories, and promoting a premium and intelligent agricultural machinery industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo) An unmanned farm machine performs baling operations in a demonstration field of Weichai Lovol Intelligent Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province, June 17, 2023. In recent years, Weifang City has taken multiple measures to promote high-quality development of modern agriculture. These measures include building demonstration parks for standardized vegetable production, establishing innovative laboratories, and promoting a premium and intelligent agricultural machinery industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo) A worker prints codes on seed packages at a packing workshop of Shouguang Vegetable Seeds Group in Shouguang City of Weifang, east China's Shandong Province, July 26, 2023. In recent years, Weifang City has taken multiple measures to promote high-quality development of modern agriculture. These measures include building demonstration parks for standardized vegetable production, establishing innovative laboratories, and promoting a premium and intelligent agricultural machinery industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo) Technicians work in a seed breeding laboratory of Shouguang Vegetable Seeds Group in Shouguang City of Weifang, east China's Shandong Province, July 26, 2023. In recent years, Weifang City has taken multiple measures to promote high-quality development of modern agriculture. These measures include building demonstration parks for standardized vegetable production, establishing innovative laboratories, and promoting a premium and intelligent agricultural machinery industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo) Workers assemble a corn harvester at a workshop of Weichai Lovol Intelligent Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province, July 26, 2023. In recent years, Weifang City has taken multiple measures to promote high-quality development of modern agriculture. These measures include building demonstration parks for standardized vegetable production, establishing innovative laboratories, and promoting a premium and intelligent agricultural machinery industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo) Workers work on the production line of Weichai Lovol Intelligent Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province, July 26, 2023. In recent years, Weifang City has taken multiple measures to promote high-quality development of modern agriculture. These measures include building demonstration parks for standardized vegetable production, establishing innovative laboratories, and promoting a premium and intelligent agricultural machinery industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo) Workers assemble tractor parts at a workshop of Weichai Lovol Intelligent Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province, July 26, 2023. In recent years, Weifang City has taken multiple measures to promote high-quality development of modern agriculture. These measures include building demonstration parks for standardized vegetable production, establishing innovative laboratories, and promoting a premium and intelligent agricultural machinery industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo) Workers assemble tractors at a workshop of Weichai Lovol Intelligent Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province, July 26, 2023. In recent years, Weifang City has taken multiple measures to promote high-quality development of modern agriculture. These measures include building demonstration parks for standardized vegetable production, establishing innovative laboratories, and promoting a premium and intelligent agricultural machinery industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo) A farmer works at a demonstration park for standardized vegetable production in Shouguang City of Weifang, east China's Shandong Province, July 26, 2023. In recent years, Weifang City has taken multiple measures to promote high-quality development of modern agriculture. These measures include building demonstration parks for standardized vegetable production, establishing innovative laboratories, and promoting a premium and intelligent agricultural machinery industry. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo) The Rev. Davette Turk The Rev. Mother Davette Turk was a former nun who left the Catholic church to marry and have a family and later became the first female Episcopal priest in Florida. Rev. Turk, who died July 19 at age 87 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease, also was a revered social activist who marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and was known as the "Mother Teresa of Jacksonville." In a bid for interfaith unity, she once walked into a Pentecostal church in her Episcopal clergy attire, saying God told her to go there. She co-founded the 1990s movement called Reconcile Jacksonville, which promoted interracial interaction and brought many white and Black churches together. "I believe in shaking things up. Jesus shook a lot of people up, and I believe in shaking people up for the sake of love," she once said. "Jesus went uphill. Jesus was always pushing the limit." Rector at St. Andrew's: The Rev. Richard Turk, known for his prison and church ministry, dies at age 72 'Coming back to my roots': Jacksonville-based Episcopal Diocese picks controversial next bishop, Charlie Holt The Rt. Rev. Samuel Johnson Howard, bishop of the Florida Diocese, said she was "an important historical figure in our diocese and local community." "We give thanks to God for the life and ministry of Mother Davette Turk," he said. "As the first female Episcopalian priest in the entire state of Florida, she was a trailblazer whose love for God and everyone around her shined through and made a significant impact on Jacksonville, our diocese and the larger church. She was a dear friend of mine and will be dearly missed." Rev. Turk's life will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Aug. 19 at All Saints Episcopal Church, 4171 Hendricks Ave. in Jacksonville. Once Sister Regina, Turk blazed the trail for women as priests Born Aug. 27, 1935, the Rev. Turk was the oldest of four children. She began her activism in the early 1960s in her hometown of Philadelphia as Sister Regina, a Catholic nun who "promoted Ecumenism, peace and the healing of racial disparity," according to her obituary. "She spoke out for interracial justice always emphasizing that Philadelphia was known as 'The City of Brotherly Love' and that peace must prevail." Story continues After 20 years as a nun, she became director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference for Social Justice in 1973 and met then-Father Richard Turk. After leaving the Catholic church, they married in 1975 and came to Jacksonville in 1980. Richard Turk, long active in prison ministries, among other things, died in 2011. To their two children, they explained their bold decision to leave the Catholic church in simple terms. The Revs. Richard and Davette Turk photographed at the Church of Our Savior in Mandarin in 2010. The couple were former Catholics who left for the Episcopal Church, where they married and became priests. He died in 2011; she passed on July 19. "They basically just said they fell in love and wanted to start a family," son Ryan Turk said. Rev. Turk was ordained in 1985. Then, she was the only one: now, 69 of the Florida Diocese's 195 ordained clergy are women, according to the diocese. "There was a lot of controversy," her late husband told the Times-Union upon her 25th anniversary of her ordination. "There was one priest who said she would be ordained over his dead body." In an interview with the Times-Union for the same event, Rev. Turk said she was not offended by those who were upset. "I live in the present moment. I love everybody," she said. "There were many times when people were angry with the [interfaith and race relations] work I was doing in the city." But she kept it up, she said, because "we ought to be loving each other and the only way to love someone is to reach out." 'Rock-solid faith' grounded her community work Rev. Turk served as an assistant pastor at All Saints Episcopal Church in Jacksonville and assistant rector and later rector of Redeemer Episcopal Church. She also worked in the community, including as director of reconciliation ministries at FreshMinistries, a local nonprofit that works to eliminate poverty by empowering communities and individuals. At FreshMinistries, she helped initiate Beaver Street Enterprise Center, a local business incubator. She also supported the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, The Sanctuary on 8th Street, Stetson Kennedy Foundation, OneJax and Operation New Hope, among other things. The Rev. Davette Turk (left) is shown shortly after her 1985 ordination as the first female priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Florida. At right is her husband, the Rev. Richard Turk, also an Episcopal priest, and center is then-Florida Bishop Frank Cerveny. "Mother Davettes work in the arena of race relations was significant and extremely positive. Her impact in the world, however, reached far beyond any one issue," said the Rev. Robert Vernon Lee III, a fellow Episcopal priest and founder and CEO of FreshMinistries. "She had a rock-solid faith born out of an extremely deep relationship with God that made her a force for good in a multitude of arenas." She had a special place in her heart for the poor, the weak and the disenfranchised, he said. "Her extraordinary gift was to break down barriers that separate people and communities," Lee said. "Being as much at home with the powerful as the forgotten, she had the ability to connect the two." Among the powerful people she counseled was Kevin Gay, who was then an insurance salesman. He often took international mission trips until Rev. Turk urged him to look closer to home because Jacksonville had plenty of people in need. He went on to found Jacksonville nonprofit Operation New Hope, a national model for easing ex-offenders back into their communities. "She was bold in her faith. Its what caught my eye," he said. "She was deeply committed to justice big on civil rights issues. She didnt just preach it she lived it." Kevin Gay: Operation New Hope founder retired after 23 years helping Jacksonville-area ex-offenders rebuild lives Rev. Davette Turk: Episcopal priest never has to worry about her wardrobe Reconcile Jacksonville came to be when the city was struggling with racial unrest. The movement partnered white and Black churches. "Our churches would break bread together, each pastor would preach at the other church and the kids from both churches would go the Cub Scouts and summer camps together," Gay said. "She was way ahead of her time. She taught me to take our own struggles and use them as a foundation to be more empathetic in helping others." The Rev. Davette Turk, an Episcopal priest, and her granddaughter Jillian, then 2, attend a 2012 service in memory of Sikh victims of a recent shooting in Wisconsin. One of the forgotten people she counseled was a homeless man named James, according to son Ryan. "When Mom worked downtown James was always there in the morning near the parking lot and he would make sure Mom got inside OK," he said. "And everyday at 4 p.m. he would walk back and be there just to make sure she safely got to her car. And she loved him and she would have lunch with him once or twice a week and bring him some food and sit and eat with him. She always said, 'Jesus was a homeless man, its so important that we take care of them.'" Michelle Hughes was her assistant at FreshMinistries. "Her motto was preach the gospel and when necessary use less words," Hughes said. "She untiredly and unselfishly worked to bring reconciliation between the 'haves' and the 'have nots'. Mother Davette never accepted no as an answer. She was very aggressive yet humble in her approach in making sure all people are treated the same and have the same opportunity in life." Early-life tragedy led to the church Nurturing apparently came naturally, despite Rev. Turk's lack of an example for motherhood. When she was a child, a fatal fire led to her family being split up. At age 7 or 8, she was sent to a convent, according to her son. "She didn't know a lot about being a mother, but she did a great job," Ryan Turk said. "... In the hardest times in my life, when I was struggling with addiction, she was always there for me and never gave up on me. If I called her and said I needed her, she would cancel all her appointments and come pick me up and take me to lunch and be there for me. She loved her family." Nonprofits, at the helm: Episcopal priest is new exec at North Florida Land Trust Her legacy, he said, is love. "What meant the most to her was just love. God is love," he said, noting that she defined the word through its letters, l for listen, o for open, v for value and e for encourage. "She was all about God is love." Among her many awards was the diocese's highest honor, the Bishops Cross Award, which she received in 2020. The annual award is given to members of the diocese who "have given most generously of their God-given time, talent or treasure toward the support, upbuilding and strengthening of the life of the Diocese," according to the diocese website. In 2011 she also received Hands-On Jacksonville's Edward R. Hayes Award for unity in action. Rev. Turk was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Coeli and Christopher, husband Richard, daughter Melissa and grandson Liam. She is survived by her brother David, son Ryan and his wife Angela and three grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to organizations she supported. bcravey@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4109 This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida's first female Episcopal priest dies in Jacksonville at 87 Prison bars Ghana's parliament has voted to abolish the death penalty, joining a long list of African countries that have done so in recent years. The country currently has 170 men and six women on death row, whose sentences will now be replaced by life imprisonment. The last execution took place in 1993. Execution has been the mandatory sentence for murder in Ghana. Opinion surveys suggest that most Ghanaians approve abolition. Last year seven people were sentenced to death in Ghana - but none were executed. Treason has also been punishable by death in Ghana. The bill to amend the Criminal Offences Act was put forward by MP Francis-Xavier Sosu and had the backing of the parliament's Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. A London-based campaign organisation, the Death Penalty Project (DPP), had worked with Mr Sosu to get the law changed. A statement from DPP says Ghana is the 29th African country to abolish the death penalty, and the 124th globally. In recent years many African states have abolished the death penalty, including Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone and Zambia. Mr Sosu said that "on death row, prisoners woke up thinking this could be their last day on earth. They were like the living dead: psychologically, they had ceased to be humans. "Abolishing the death penalty shows that we are determined as a society not to be inhumane, uncivil, closed, retrogressive and dark." He added this would pave the way to a free and progressive society reflecting "our common belief that the sanctity of life is inviolable". WASHINGTON A Jan. 6 rioter who stormed the Capitol while wearing his high school football letterman jacket was sentenced Tuesday to a year and a half in federal prison. Brian Gundersen, of Armonk, New York, had been found guilty of two felony counts of obstruction of an official proceeding and assaulting, resisting or impeding officers. Prosecutors had recommended 46 months in prison. Gundersens public defender, Eugene Ohm, indicated in court Tuesday that his client had underlying mental health issues. Brian Gundersen, of Armonk, N.Y., was identified as a Capitol rioter by his varsity jacket. (via U.S. Justice Department) Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Juman said at the sentencing hearing that Gundersens only regret about the Capitol attack was that it made Donald Trump look bad. Juman said America was not out of the woods even though Jan. 6, 2021, was more than two years ago, adding that Trump was still out there spreading lies about the 2020 election. They are not going to be persuaded by logic, Juman said, referring to those who believed Trumps false claims about election fraud. Prison sentences, on the other hand, would send a message, Juman argued. The prosecutor also seemingly referred to a potential indictment of Trump, saying he was concerned how Gundersen would react to a criminal indictment that comes down against someone he does like. Brian Gundersen, of Armonk, N.Y., was identified as a Capitol rioter by his varsity jacket. (via U.S. Justice Department) Gundersen was arrested in January 2021 after the police chief of North Castle Township, New York, called the FBI and said members of the Byram Hills High School community had seen a varsity jacket from their school in the crowd. Gundersen was identified with the help of the number on his jacket. More than 1,000 people have been arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 attack, and more than 300 have been sentenced to incarceration. On Monday, rioter Peter Stager who assaulted a police officer with a flagpole on Jan. 6 was sentenced to more than four years in federal prison. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A man was charged Monday with several counts of arson in connection to last months Scott Fire and could face more than 50 years in prison if convicted. Prosecutors from the Yuba County District Attorneys Office said James Matthew Fiske, 34, of Browns Valley set multiple fires near Scott Grant Road, three of which were connected to the wildfire that began June 15 and charred 115 acres before firefighters gained containment four days. No one was injured and no structures were damaged from the blaze, which remains under investigation by Cal Fire. Fiske was arrested July 20 by Cal Fire investigators and Yuba County sheriffs deputies at the Rio Inn and Suites in Linda, the District Attorneys Office said in a news release. Fiske, who also faces several felony domestic violence charges, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Monday in Marysville. He remains in custody at the Yuba County Jail in lieu of $1.25 million bail. If convicted, Fiske faces a max sentence of more than 50 years in prison, prosecutors said. Hell return to court Aug. 23. Any tips related to the investigation can be made to Cal Fire Nevada-Yuba-Placer unit Capt. Ryan Smith at 530-889-0111. ASHLAND A local man suffered "significant, life-threatening injuries" Tuesday after his car crashed head-on into a dump truck on Chestnut Street, police said. The man, who has not been identified, was flown by a medical rescue helicopter to a Boston hospital after the 9:30 a.m. crash, according to Police Chief Cara Rossi. The man was driving north on Chestnut Street near the Warren Inn and Conference Center when, for an unknown reason, his sedan swerved into the path of an oncoming dump truck that was heading southbound, the chief said. "He (the truck driver) was very shaken up," said Rossi. "He tried to swerve out of the way. He did his best, but with a full load of asphalt in the back it's impossible to stop on a dime." 'A ball of metal': Motorist hospitalized after car, box truck collide on Mass Pike in Ashland The driver of the car was trapped inside, so the Ashland Fire Department had to use a cutting tool to remove him and take him to the nearby landing zone. The dump truck's fuel tank was damaged, with a large amount of fuel spilling to the ground. A hazardous materials team was at the scene, and Massachusetts State Police were conducting a reconstruction of the crash. Along with the Ashland Police and Fire departments, also assisting at the scene were the Framingham and Hopkinton fire departments, as well as the Holliston Police Department. A portion of Chestnut Street between Eliot Street and Joanne Drive was closed between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The crash remains under investigation, The sedan driver's condition was not immediately known. Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMIllerCrime. This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Ashland driver flown to hospital after collision with dump truck President Bazoum is seen as a key Western ally against jihadist forces Presidential guards in Niger have seized President Mohamed Bazoum and blockaded his residence, as well as key ministries, sources say. The African Union, the UN, the EU and the United States have all condemned their actions. President Bazoum is a key western ally in the fight against Islamist militancy in West Africa. Crowds in the capital Niamey have taken to the streets of in support of the president. The city has been mostly peaceful, although soldiers behind the coup attempt fired shots in an attempt to break up the protests. Earlier on Wednesday, the president's office tweeted that the guards unsuccessfully tried to get support from the military in their "anti-republican" efforts. One unnamed source told AFP the move was a "fit of temper" by troops. Reports had said the immediate former president, Mohammed Issoufou, and other former leaders were involved in talks to stop the situation from escalating, but it is not clear if those talks are still taking place. A source cited by AFP as being close to the president said that the talks had broken down and that the guards, who have refused to release the president, have been issued an ultimatum by the army. You may also be interested in: "The Army and the National Guard are ready to attack" those involved in this incident, the president's office said in a tweet. "The President of the Republic and his family are doing well," it added. A BBC reporter in Naimey has seen heavily armed forces loyal to the president stationed around the national broadcaster. The West African economic bloc (Ecowas) has released a statement describing events in Niger as an "attempted coup" and says it "condemns in the strongest terms the attempt to seize power by force". The body also wrote that the bloc will hold those involved responsible. Story continues France and the European Union have also condemned the unrest. Nigeriens have taken to the streets to protest against the attempted coup Two neighbouring countries, Mali and Burkina Faso, have experienced coups triggered by jihadist uprisings in recent years. Niger is grappling with two Islamist insurgencies - one in the south-west, which swept in from Mali in 2015, and the other in the south-east, involving jihadists based in north-eastern Nigeria. Militant groups allied to both al-Qaeda and Islamic State are active in the country. Since seizing power, the military leaders of Mali and Burkina Faso have fallen out with France, the former colonial power in both countries, as well as Niger. In contrast, President Bazoum, who was democratically elected in 2021, is a close ally of France, and other Western nations. Niger has experienced four coups since independence from France in 1960, as well as numerous attempted coups. The country's last coup occurred in February 2010, overturning then President Mamadou Tandja. A large, exotic bird was seen running around the Ohio capital after it flew the coop. The bird, a runaway emu, escaped from a sanctuary on July 24, according to a news release from the Columbus Police Department. Officers were dispatched to the southwestern part of the city to wrangle the creature, though the bird proved elusive. Video captured by an officers body camera shows the evasive animal sprinting through green fields and into a wooded area. After several failed attempts to capture the bird, a man managed to slowly place the end of a catchpole around the animals neck. The emu was then strapped to a stretcher and transported back to its sanctuary unharmed, police said. Quite the emusing call officers received this morning, police said of the incident. Native to Australia, emus are the second-biggest living bird in the world, according to the Smithsonian Institution. The long-legged bird can weigh up to 121 pounds and can run up to 31 mph, according to the institution. Mom seriously burned trying to save teen son from fiery ATV wreck, Louisiana cops say Mom helps son hide evidence before dad found dismembered and burned, Arizona cops say Tourist falls to his death from condo tower balcony in Florida Panhandle, cops say The head of Russias space agency has extended an offer to Moscows partners in the BRICS group Brazil, India, China and South Africa to participate in the construction of a joint module for its planned orbital space station, state media reported Monday. Construction of the planned space station follows Moscows decision last year to end its decades-long partnership with NASA and withdraw from the aging International Space Station one of the last remaining channels of cooperation between Russia and the United States. The first stage of the planned space station, known as the Russian Orbital System (ROS), is expected to be launched in 2027, with another four modules dispatched to orbit between 2028 and 2030, the programs leading designer Vladimir Kozhevnikov told Russian state media in February. The offer to broaden cooperation on the project to include BRICs partner nations was made by Yuri Borisov, the director-general of Russias space agency Roscosmos, during a meeting Monday in Hermanus, South Africa. I would like to propose that our partners in BRICS consider the opportunity to take part in this project and create a full-fledged module through joint efforts, state media quoted Borisov as telling the meeting. The spacy agency chief was also reported as saying he had offered African nations an opportunity to create their own modules, and that Russia was open for cooperation with other countries. The ROS is expected to initially include two astronauts, meaning that each crew member will have more duties and wider responsibility than on the ISS, Russian state media reported earlier this year, citing Roscosmos. Russian authorities hope their new planned orbital station will help develop technologies for future space flights, including those to the moon and Mars. Yuri Borisov, director-general of Russian space agency Roscosmos, on September 7, 2020. - Omar Sanadiki/Reuters/File Russia, under the Soviet Union, operated several independent space stations, including the worlds first, Salyut 1, which ended tragically in 1971 with the death of its first three crew members on their return voyage to Earth. Story continues A series of subsequent Salyut stations were launched in the 1970s and early 1980s. They were later replaced by Mir, which remained in low Earth orbit for more than 14 years, during which time it successfully hosted dozens of astronauts from multiple countries, including the US before its eventual retirement in 2001. The International Space Station, which has been continuously occupied for more than 22 years, was originally a collaboration between the US, Russia, Japan, Canada and the European Space Agency. NASA said last year it intended to keep operating the space station until the end of 2030, after which it would be de-orbited and crashed into a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. China, whose astronauts have long been excluded from the ISS, completed its own permanently crewed space station last year, with the first three astronauts docking in November. The station is only the second operational orbital outpost alongside the ISS. And while not as large as the ISS, the Chinese space station is similar in module design and can accommodate up to six astronauts. Earlier this month Chinese officials unveiled new details about their plans for a manned lunar mission, as China attempts to become only the second nation to put citizens on the moon. Meanwhile, India is bidding to become only the fourth country after the US, Russia and China to execute a controlled landing on the moon with the successful launch earlier this month of its Chandrayaan-3 mission. The craft is expected to land on the moon on August 23. CNNs Mitchell McCluskey and Mariya Knight contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A total of 24 international students from 20 countries have visited Panjin City, northeast China's Liaoning, to experience the vitality of China's rural revitalization. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and USPS make millions of deliveries every day. Heat waves make the jobs behind those deliveries more dangerous. Chelsea Jia Feng/Insider Record temperatures across the country are increasing the physical strain of delivery work. Delivery workers outside the hottest US states aren't used to working in dangerous temperatures. Several delivery driver deaths have triggered changes. Experts are still asking if they're enough. One hundred and twenty-four degrees in Portland, Oregon; 107 degrees in Yosemite National Park; 88 degrees in Vermont in April. The climate crisis may be a creeping threat at a global level, but on the local level, it's playing out in big jumps. And when it is uncomfortably, unseasonably, intolerably hot, those jumps inspire the thought: "Wouldn't it be nice to skip the store and have that delivered?" But for the workers making those deliveries, their jobs are getting more dangerous with every degree and these temperatures are no longer confined to certain regions of the country. The true toll of heat stress isn't known, and there's no simple fix to the risk it presents. Some of the best strategies to fight dangerous heat push against profits. "This is one of the most brutal jobs out there day in and day out," a FedEx contractor in the South said. "You can't just go out there and deliver 150 to 200 boxes on a whim. The next day you can't move. It takes time to acclimate." The contractor asked to remain anonymous because they are not authorized to speak with the media. When recruiting new drivers, they have a routine intended to scare applicants away. "We're pretty brutal about it. If they stay after the brutal parts, we'll tell them about the good parts," the worker said. Traditionally, the cons of the job have been dealing with territorial dogs and prickly customers and the strain of carrying heavy packages. Now, the stress and outright danger of facing the heat are at the top of the list. "The Pacific Northwest heat wave in 2021 pretty much showed that everywhere is vulnerable," Jeff Goodell, the author of "The Heat Will Kill You First," told Insider. Story continues Extreme heat threatens some 15 million people who power the "sweat economy," Goodell said. That number includes delivery drivers and everyone else whose jobs keep them outside at least some of the time such as farm and construction workers and the millions more who work inside poorly ventilated and barely temperature-controlled buildings and warehouses. In recent years, the number of delivery drivers reporting heat-related illnesses was second only to construction workers, according to Occupational Health and Safety Administration statistics reported by E&E News. And when it comes to delivery workers, at least, companies are coming to the realization that this major threat requires concerted attention. Shawndu Stackhouse, an Amazon driver, wipes away sweat while delivering packages in Washington, DC. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Heat deaths often stay hidden An ice chest, 15 bottles of water, and two towels: That's the daily checklist for a nearly 20-year-veteran UPS driver in Northern California who spoke to Insider. His first introduction to heat exhaustion in July 2017 changed his perspective forever. "I started feeling so weak that I was slumped over on the steering wheel. I was walking to a stop with a 10-pound package and it felt like 50," he said on the condition of anonymity. He staggered and then vomited. He didn't call an ambulance, but in hindsight, he said he probably should have. The temperature that day was 106 degrees. In the years since, the town where he's based hit a record 116 degrees. But heat can be dangerous even if it doesn't break records. The 2022 death of 24-year-old Esteban Chavez, a UPS driver in Southern California, made national headlines. On the day he died, the high in Pasadena was 97 degrees, according to AccuWeather. Chavez wasn't the first UPS driver to die on the job on a hot day. He wasn't even the only delivery driver to die that month, ABC News reported. His death came less than a year before the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents UPS workers, began renegotiating its contract with UPS. The tragedy galvanized the union to make heat a top priority in ongoing contract negotiations and it became an early win in fraught negotiations that resulted in a last-minute deal on Tuesday. The manner of death was described as "natural causes" by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. Labor Department statistics show that between 32 and 56 worker deaths resulted from heat exposure each year between 2017 and 2021. Goodell said the low numbers are unsurprising since officials aren't always aware that heat has contributed to those deaths. "As our bodies heat up, our hearts are pumping faster and faster, trying to get blood to the surface of the skin to cool off. And that puts a tremendous strain on the heart," Goodell said. "In fact, most heat deaths are from some kind of cardiac failure." A UPS spokesperson told Insider via email that following the death of Chavez, the California Division of Occupational Health and Safety investigated UPS's heat training and programs and no citation was issued. A UPS driver keeps a towel on his head while driving along Broadway during warm weather in New York City. Spencer Platt/Getty Images Companies are changing, but there's no simple fix UPS has agreed to equip all newly purchased vans with air conditioning and install fans in all cabs. It will also install heat shields to keep the floors of the vans cooler and add air-intake systems to funnel cooler air from the cab into the cargo bay. While adding air conditioning is a start, it's not a catchall solution. With just minutes between stops and hot air rushing in every time the door opens, "the vehicle is really no refuge from the heat," one Amazon delivery contractor operating in New York City told Insider. Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and the US Postal Service say they have mandatory heat-safety training for drivers covering how to stay cool and how to spot the signs of heat-related stress. Most facilities have ice machines, most companies said. UPS has brought in new company-issued gear cooling sleeves and hats that when wet, stay 30 degrees cooler than body temperature for roughly 45 minutes. Amazon provides drivers with coolers, tumblers, electrolyte powder, cooling bandanas, and sunscreen, the company said. "The big problem is that outdoor workers, whether it's at FedEx or the agricultural workers that I talked about in my book, whether it's the guys who are working on the asphalt crews here in Texas, they fear that if they take breaks and retreat to the shade in the middle of the day when it's really hot, they're gonna get fired," Goodell said. James Daniels wipes sweat from his forehead after a grueling walk in the hot sun delivering mail in San Clemente, California. Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Heat protection is at odds with efficiency Water, ice, towels, and air conditioning help, but the one thing that's hard to provide is flexibility. "The driver calls and says 'I'm overheated and the manager says take 30 minutes. But the system says 'Hey whats wrong you stopped for 30 min?," an Amazon contractor said on the condition of anonymity since they are not authorized to speak to the press. The contractor now schedules extra staff on days when the temperature is forecasted to be over 89 degrees. In New York City, humidity is likely to make it feel much hotter and a predictable percentage of drivers will call out sick the following day, he said. An Amazon spokesperson told Insider that last year the company worked with its delivery contractors to adjust routes so drivers could take additional breaks adding up to two hours of break time on some routes. "How often and how long breaks are needed is an important part of the conversations our drivers are encouraged to have with their managers," a UPS spokesperson said. A FedEx spokesperson said drivers are encouraged to take breaks when needed. Shade and water breaks can be lifesaving in the summer, but labor laws largely haven't caught up with climate science. Some states mandate shade and water breaks for outdoor workers most don't. Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas recently signed a bill that effectively eliminated mandatory water breaks for construction workers. What may be required in the long run is the one thing that most logistics companies especially those delivering online orders expected in a few days could struggle to do. They may have to slow down. "The simple fact is too much exposure to high temperatures is a health risk and a mortality risk," said Goodell. "And you can certainly imagine that delivery personnel can operate in high temperatures if they're well equipped. But there's a limit, and it's simple physics." Read the original article on Business Insider Sen. Chris Coons wrote in The News Journal last year that Russias invasion of Ukraine was unprovoked. Surprisingly, the Senator either did not see or did not understand the multiple ways that actions by the U.S., NATO and the current government of Ukraine threatened Russias security and provoked the invasion. By moving NATO missile bases (which can instantaneously switched into offensive mode) right up to the Russian border in Poland and Romania, and stating repeatedly that Ukraine would join NATO, which could bring NATO missiles within 6 minutes of Moscow, the U.S. and NATO created severe threats to Russias national security. When Russia reacted to these threatening Western moves and warned the U.S. that it was crossing Russias red lines, President Joe Biden ignored the warnings. Why? American experts on Russia and foreign policy had warned U.S. politicians that pushing NATO right up to the borders of Russia would be seen as a severe threat by Russia, and stated that that perception was very reasonable. Think what the U.S. would do if Russia engaged in a military alliance with Canada and Mexico and constructed missile bases right on our borders in those countries. In fact, when Russia brought missiles into Cuba in the 1960s to prevent a U.S. invasion of the island, the U.S. threatened a blockade and an invasion, both of which were totally illegal. After secret, behind-the-scenes negotiations, the U.S. agreed to remove its missiles from Turkey and Italy. Russia then withdrew the missiles and Kennedy, in turn, removed U.S. missiles from Turkey and Italy. The Russian missiles in Cuba were close to the U.S. border, but not nearly as close as those in Poland and Romania are to Russia, nor as close as NATO missiles threatened for Ukraine would be. Our other provocations include our withdrawal from two treaties with Russia that limited missiles: the Antiballistic Missile Treaty and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Our withdrawal increased Russian vulnerability to a U.S. first strike. We have also conducted many NATO military exercises near Russias border, including live-fire exercises simulating attacks on Russian air defense systems. Story continues The flag of Ukraine and messages targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia are held by participants during a rally against the invasion of Ukraine, Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Wilmington's Rodney Square. The U.S. has conducted a long-term campaign, beginning after WW II, to pull Ukraine away from its traditional close relationship with Russia. This campaign culminated in the U.S.-directed coup in 2014, which violently overthrew the democratically elected President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych. In a secretly taped telephone call, U.S. Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland is heard planning the coup and picking the person the U.S. wanted as President after the coup. That person emerged as president, along with at least four high officials that were well-documented as far-right fascist or Ukrainian nationalists, mostly from the western region of Ukraine. In the call, which is available on YouTube, Nuland states they could get assistance from then-Vice President Joe Biden, who handled Ukrainian issues in the Obama administration. This regime-change action is one more case that shows that U.S. claims to support democracy are falsehoods. The U.S. supported, armed and trained the military of the far-right-wing, unelected fascist-influenced Ukrainian leadership, which outlawed the then-widespread speaking of Russian in Ukraine and adopted a hostile and uncompromising stance toward Russia, which had a centuries-long close relationship with Ukraine. Many Ukrainians refused to accept the unelected government, which led to a massacre of protesters in Odessa in 2014, where over 45 people were deliberately burned to death by right-wing coup supporters. Thanks to the U.S. coup-plotting, Ukraine erupted into a civil war. The Kiev military forces had bombed and shelled civilians, to the extent that by 2022, this civil war had taken the lives of over 14,000 Ukrainians, mostly civilians in eastern Ukraine, according to the United Nations. Over 2 million refugees had fled the country due to the civil war, which was largely ignored in the U.S. mainstream media. Just before the Russian invasion early last year, the Kiev forces, under Zelenskys leadership, had intensified their shelling of eastern Ukraine and built up what was apparently an invasion force, despite the fact that the Russian army had mobilized along the border region. One or more openly Nazi units was part of the Ukrainian military. It is the only country on earth to include openly Nazi units in its military. The extreme recklessness of Bidens continuous escalation of our role in this war is greatly endangering the survival of not only the people of the U.S., but also humanity as a whole. We bragged that we targeted Russias flagship in the Black Sea so Ukraine could sink it and have constantly escalated the weapons, now including advanced tanks, that we are shipping to Ukraine. Escalation can easily get out of hand. Russia could flatten the U.S. several times over with its nuclear arsenal. Nuclear weapons create firestorms that would kill millions and then blot out the sun with smoke and dust, preventing the growth of food crops and insuring the starvation of survivors of the blasts. The Peaceseekers, a new Delaware group, a member of the Peace in Ukraine Coalition, demand a cease-fire and negotiations to avoid this potential end of humanity. Since Ukraine has conducted atrocities and relentlessly assaulted the eastern part of Ukraine for eight years, it has lost its claim over these areas and should be forced to relinquish them to an independent state or to annexation by Russia. Desmond Kahn is a biologist who has been an anti-war activist since the Vietnam war. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: How the U.S. drove Russia to invade Ukraine U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, arrives at a House Rules Committee meeting on Jan. 30, 2023, in the U.S. Capitol. Credit: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via REUTERS In the U.S. House, the Rules Committee is an influential if little understood power player on Capitol Hill, providing its members with the clout to shape headline-making legislation and policy debates. The Rules Committee is so important that Republicans, who hold 51% of the seats in the U.S. House, occupy nine of the committees 13 seats, or just under 70%. Operating as a supermajority typical for the party in power gives Republicans outsized influence for a committee that sets the terms of floor debate and determines what amendments can be voted upon for major legislation. But this years version of the committee is different because of the noticeable impact of three far-right conservatives including U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas whose membership was negotiated as part of the deal to make Kevin McCarthy speaker of the House in January. Nothing displayed the new power dynamic more than when Roy helped convert the annual defense policy bill into a partisan vehicle for conservative priorities on abortion, climate change and diversity programs. Roy was initially wary of joining the committee, knowing it would mean spending more time in Washington, slogging through late nights and long meetings. The tradeoff was more power to affect legislation and achieve important policy goals, he said. Im able to provide a perspective that matters, he said. When the House took up the National Defense Authorization Act in mid-July, Roy and two other ultraconservatives on the committee used their positions to push for floor votes on a number of divisive amendments, including: An amendment by Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo, that would end a Biden administration policy allowing the Pentagon to reimburse service members for abortion-related travel and other expenses. Roys amendment barring the Department of Defense from implementing President Joe Bidens executive orders on climate change initiatives. Two amendments by Roy that would defund diversity, equity and inclusion programs and positions within the Pentagon. Story continues The House, divided largely along party lines, approved these and other controversial amendments, and the defense authorization bill passed 219-210 with four Democrats voting in favor and four Republicans opposed. Democrats criticized the final product, saying the conservatives red-meat amendments turned a typically bipartisan bill known on Capitol Hill as the NDAA into a political statement they could not support. The Rules Committee really did open up the floodgates for attacks on diversity, attacks on women, really wanted to roll back progress that we had made in prior NDAAs, said Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso. The most extreme voices shaped the NDAA, and as a result, it was a piece of legislation that the majority of us could not vote for. Escobar sits on the House Armed Services Committee and worked on the original legislation, which she described as a product of bipartisan compromise. But Roy said previous defense bills were examples of bipartisanship for bipartisanships sake, and he shrugged off the lack of Democratic support. Were putting forward products that we believe we can sell to the American people, differentiate us from Democrats and get the job done, he said. Another Texas Republican on the Rules Committee, Rep. Michael Burgess of Lewisville, said some of the controversial amendments were unlikely to have reached the floor without the advocacy from Roy and his allies. But thats a good thing, said Burgess, a Rules Committee member for nearly a decade and currently its vice chair. Commonly known as the Speakers committee, the Rules Committee has traditionally been reserved for those loyal to the speaker, such as Burgess. That dynamic changed this year with the inclusion of Roy and two other ultraconservative committee newcomers, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, and Rep. Ralph Norman, R-South Carolina. With committee Democrats likely to oppose most GOP-proposed rules and amendments, support from Roy, Massie and Norman is critical for Republicans. The new makeup of the Rules Committee allowed for a whole bunch of really controversial votes on the defense bill, said Scott Meinke, a professor at Bucknell University whose research focuses on legislative politics in Congress. Its a really nice illustration of how that change in the Rules Committee makeup, and the larger dynamics in the Republican Party in the House this year, have changed the way this operates. Theyve weakened the Rules Committees ability to let the majority leadership control the floor, Meinke said. Although Roy, Massie and Norman have repeatedly leveraged their power to strongarm leadership into supporting their priorities, Burgess mostly dismissed the notion that the three new members have significantly shaken things up, arguing that there have been significant conservatives, including himself, on the committee for at least a decade. Burgess denied being frustrated by their tactics but acknowledged that internal fights were difficult to avoid. Its going to be tough to win some nights, no question about it, he said. Roy belongs to the conservative House Freedom Caucus, which has frequently sparred with McCarthy in its attempts to force the Republican conference to the right. In one recent standoff, Freedom Caucus members delayed votes for several days over their opposition to the spending levels in the debt ceiling deal. The narrow Republican majority in the House has put a premium on party unity, but some of the far rights tactics have led to internal tensions. In a tweet shortly before the Rules Committee began working on the defense authorization bill, Roy addressed the tensions. To the @HouseGOP mad at me & my friends 1) our borders are wide open. 2) we have held no one accountable for gross violations of the public trust. 3) our military is woke & decreasingly effective. 4) the American Dream is dying for the middle class. What will we do? In an interview, Roy said his goal is to work with the Rules Committee chair, Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, but he also wants to make the committee more independent from the speaker. We try to make sure that the entirety of the conference is being represented, he said. Join us for conversations that matter with newly announced speakers at the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival, in downtown Austin from Sept. 21-23. Aerial view of a chain of atolls in the Maldives, Indian Ocean Ukrainian authorities are investigating whether a member of parliament broke the law when he took a family holiday to the Maldives. Officials are banned from travelling abroad on holiday, while men of conscription age need special permission to leave the country. The security service opened a criminal case to assess whether Yuriy Aristov gave false information to authorities. He could face up to three years in jail if convicted, investigators say. The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the Security Service of Ukraine have opened a criminal case to establish whether Mr Aristov gave false information in applying to leave the country. The SBI said initial investigations found that Mr Aristov had been on the private island of Ithaafushi in the Maldives in mid-July with his wife and children, when he was registered as being on sick leave. He was abroad from 5 June to 22 July, having first left for a three-day business trip to Poland. He was first spotted in the Maldives by Ukrainian media. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned public servants in a speech on Tuesday that any betrayal of the country's interests would trigger "fury". "When you constantly see and feel the moral strength gained for Ukraine by our warriors, our people, who are doing everything possible and impossible for the victory and preservation of freedom, any internal betrayal, any 'beach' [holiday] or any personal enrichment instead of Ukraine's interests triggers fury at the very least," he said. Mr Aristov has handed in a letter of resignation which will be discussed in the next parliamentary session, parliament speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said on Facebook. Several senior Ukrainian officials resigned earlier this year after Mr Zelensky began a shake-up of personnel across his government. Their departures came as the Ukraine launched a broad anti-corruption drive. Jasper Kenzo Sundeen's reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com. Judge Laurel Siddoway retires from court of appeals after 13 years on the job Scorched ground from a wildfire at the White Creek Wind Project northwest of Roosevelt, Klickitat County, on Saturday. Plant employees shut down the project's 89 turbines, as well as the 43 turbines at the nearby Harvest Wind project, as the Newell Road Fire raced through. (Bjorn Hedges / White Creek Wind Project via AP) MUSCAT, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Oman's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday offered condolences to Algeria over the raging forest fires that have killed dozens of people. In a statement, the ministry extended sympathy to the people and government of Algeria, while offering condolences to the families of the victims and wishing for a speedy recovery for the injured. By late Monday, 34 people had been killed by wildfires in the northern provinces of Algeria. About 8,000 firefighters were mobilized to bring the flames under control, said the Algerian Interior Ministry. TIR rasturnat in Dambovita! Soferul a pierdut controlul directiei de deplasare Un accident violent a avut loc, miercuri de dimineata, in jurul orei 07.22, pe Drumul Judetean 720, pe raza satului Habeni, comuna Bucsani, in urma caruia un TIR s-a rasturnat in afara partii carosabile. Accidentul s-a produs dupa ce [citeste mai departe] Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu congratulated the Romanian rescuers who ended their mission in Greece on Friday for their "selflessness, courage and efforts" and conveyed much success to the Romanian firefighters who, starting Friday, replace them to continue the mission of helping the population and - Romanian athlete Alina Rotaru-Kottmann, coached by Mihai Corucle, qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics after achieving the Olympic norm of qualification in the long jump event on Sunday evening in Germany at the Inneringer Weitsprung Meeting competition, according to CSA Steaua's Facebook page. - Labour minister: Salary law is being worked onThe salary law is being worked on, consultations are taking place with occupational families, there is a body of the law with four principles, while there are three work options on the appendixes, the Minister of Labour and Social Solidarity Simona Bucura-Oprescu - Bucharest stock market closed down on almost all indices on WednesdayThe Bucharest Stock Exchange closed Wednesday's session down on almost all indices, and the total value of exchanges was 66.002 million RON (13.39 million euros), told Agerpres. CITESTE SI Constanta Port, closed due to strong - Nadia Comaneci to Romanian athletes: Remember that medals are won in the training roomRetired gymnast Nadia Comaneci, a five-time Olympic champion who was awarded the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics, sent a message to the Romanian athletes who will compete in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, - President Klaus Iohannis "firmly" condemns the recent attacks by Russia against Ukraine, on the Danube, near the border with Romania."I strongly condemn Russia's recent attacks against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure on the Danube, which is very close to Romania. This escalation, which took place - Comitetul Olimpic si Sportiv Roman aniverseaza cu o postare omagiala pe Facebook, cei 47 de ani de la momentul cand fata gimnasticii mondiale s-a schimbat datorita Nadiei Comaneci, romanca ce a schimbat istoria unei discipline si a castigat inimile unei planete. - Primarul general al Capitalei, Nicusor Dan, anunta redeschiderea, in 8 iunie, a Gradinii cu Filme din Piata Alexandru Lahovari, unde vor avea loc proiectii de filme romanesti si internationale, concerte acustice, spectacole si discutii cu personalitati din domeniu, conform news.ro.Nicusor Dan a afirmat, PHNOM PENH, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Wednesday that he would step down from Aug. 22 after serving the post for more than 38 years in the Southeast Asian nation, and would pass the reins of power to his eldest son Hun Manet. "Hun Manet will become the prime minister in just more than three weeks," he said in a televised speech on the state-run National Television of Cambodia (TVK). Hun Sen said the National Assembly would convene for the first time on Aug. 21 under the auspices of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, and the new five-year-term government led by Hun Manet would be sworn in on Aug. 22. The upcoming power transition was to continue ensuring the country's peace and political stability, he said, adding that the new cabinet would consist of young and dynamic leaders. Hun Sen said the political power would remain in his hand because he was still the president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP); however, he would not interfere in the new government's leadership. Hun Sen, 70, said he would take the post of President of the Senate after the Senate Election on Feb. 25 next year. His announcement came after the CPP won a landslide victory in the seventh general election on Sunday, which was held to elect the members of parliament for the 125-seat National Assembly for the 2023-2028 new term. The National Election Committee (NEC) released the preliminary results on Wednesday, showing the CPP received almost 6.4 million votes, or 82.3 percent of the total valid votes of 7.77 million, and the Funcinpec Party led by Prince Norodom Chakravuth gained 716,443 votes, or 9.22 percent of the total valid votes. Based on the results, the CPP won 120 parliamentary seats and Funcinpec gained the remaining five seats. WELLINGTON, July 26 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese met here on Wednesday for their first annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Meeting and the celebration of several anniversaries. The meeting took place as both countries celebrate the 40th anniversary of Closer Economic Relations (CER), the 50th anniversary of the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, and the 80th anniversary of diplomatic representation, said a New Zealand government statement. "It was great to meet again with Prime Minister Albanese to celebrate our closest international relationship, mark this special year of anniversaries and work towards an even better future," Hipkins said. It was the fifth time the two prime ministers met in seven months. The Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Meeting is their annual opportunity to "assess and set priorities for the relationship for the following year," Hipkins said. Wednesday saw an agreement to put together a joint Australia-New Zealand expert group, with a clear deadline of 12 months, to "scope initiatives to move closer towards seamless travel across the Tasman," the statement said. Measures would be adopted to help trans-Tasman businesses and tourism with a simplified border, without compromising security, it said, adding the expert group will report back by the end of June 2024. The two sides also discussed issues of economic cooperation, trade, and climate change, among others. Gabor Reiszs new feature film, Explanation for Everything, will debut as part of the official programme of the Venice International Film Festival held from Aug. 30 to Sept. 9. The film was selected to screen in the Orizzonti (Horizons) section, featuring films representing the newest trends of aesthetics and expression, the distributor, Cirko Film, said. Reiszs third film is the story of a young boy navigating the world of school-leaving exams and young love in a divided society. The film written by Gabor Reisz and Eva Schulze was made in cooperation with the Slovak audiovisual fund, and the main roles are played by Gaspar Adonyi-Walsh, Istvan Znamenak, Andras Rusznak and Rebeka Hathazi. Hungarian cinemas will screen the film from Oct. 5, with two pre-viewings on Sept. 22 and 23. Opposition-leaning commentators find the Prime Ministers speech flat and meaningless, though provocative, while pro-government columnists praise it as revelatory. In his annual address to the participants at the 32nd Summer University at Baile Tusnad in Transylvania, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the United States is losing ground to China and Europe is still rich but weak. He expressed the hope that Hungary will be back on a growth trajectory by next year and in that case, he promised to outline a strategy till 2040 in his Baile Tusnad speech in 2024. On Hirklikk, Peter Nemeth describes Mr Orbans picture of the world political scene as a pure juggling act and finds his reaction to a Romanian diplomatic note rude. The Romanian foreign ministry apparently asked him not to talk about nonexisting administrative regions of Romania, whereupon the PM said we never considered Transylvania and Szeklerland Romanian regions. In Magyar Hang, Szabolcs Szereto writes that the Prime Minister avoided addressing the main concerns of the Hungarian population, namely the economic and welfare crisis the country is facing. Posturing against Romania was a show element, while sticking pins into Czechia caused some regional turbulence, he adds (The Prime Minister and the Interior Minister of the Czech Republic rejected Mr Orbans claim that their government succumbed to federalist pressure.) In Nepszava, Maria Gal finds no original ideas or messages in the Prime Ministers speech and characterizes it as a flat and meaningless address by a burned-out politician. She also accuses Mr Orban of having ignored a red line a Prime Minister should never cross, when disclosing the contents of a diplomatic message and even poking fun at it. In Magyar Nemzet, Otto Gajdics reads Mr Orbans words as a revelatory address which helped listeners make sense of the intricacies of todays world politics. In a turbulent world where opposing blocks are created, Hungary is building links instead of deepening the divide, he writes. Within the European Union, Gajdics continues, Hungary is defending national sovereignty in the face of federalist pressure. In Magyar Hirlap, Laszlo Bogar praises the Prime Minister for his courage in castigating todays world, and especially his remark that we have become hedonist pagans and are thus dooming our culture to decline. Hungary should therefore hang on to the last trench in the global identity war, defending families, the national community and Christianity, Bogar writes. This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher. Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online. Click here to Share Your Story Hungarys ambassador to Slovakia was summoned to the Slovak foreign ministry on Monday over a remark made by Prime Minister Viktor Orban concerning the Hungarian community in Slovakia and breakaway parts of the country at last weeks Baile Tusnad Summer University in central Romania, the ministry said. Czechoslovakia (and later Slovakia) and Hungary are equally successor states of Austria-Hungary. So nothing could have been separated from todays Hungary, the ministry told TASR news agency, adding that it considered the spreading of such narratives by anyone to be pointlessly going against good neighbourly relations and stability in our region. The ministry said questioning the territorial integrity or sovereignty of Slovakia in any direct or indirect way is absolutely unacceptable. We therefore reiterate that our interest lies in normal and peaceful relations with Hungary, with respect for and consideration of mutual sensitive issues, the statement said. The recent remarks by the Hungarian prime minister do not go in this direction. May 15, 1944 July 23, 2023 Sandra Lee Peck Turner, age 79 of York, died Sunday, July 23, 2023 in Queen Creek, Ariz. She was born May 15, 1944 to Jack and Beverley (Squires) in Idaho Falls, Idaho. On August 29, 1964, she was sealed to her groom, Kenneth Marven Turner (preceded in death) in Idaho Falls, Idaho at the LDS temple and they were married for 56 years. Sandy grew up in Pocatello, Idaho with her parents and sister, Patsy Riggs (preceded in death) and later in life gained a wonderful stepfather, Melvin Wayne Davis (preceded in death) and half-sister, Christine (Peck) Martinez. After marriage, her and Ken moved from Idaho to Mesa, Ariz. and raised five children, David (Becky), Rob (Tami), Kellye (Silas), James (Julie) and last but not least, Stacie Turner Barton (preceded in death). While raising her family, Sandy started out with a paper route with The Mesa Tribune. She would show up at 3 a.m. dressed to the 9s to pick up her bundles of newspapers. After a while of showing up like this, she was approached by a worker and asked if she happened to be part of the upper management. When they found out that she wasnt, she was offered a job as a district manager there, where she worked for many years and eventually retired from. Sandy loved the spring, and she loved planting flowers. Her front walk was always adorned with them. She also loved to decorate, as it was important to her that her house felt like a home to her family and any others who entered. She also enjoyed serving others and held many positions with the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, mostly helping with the youth, of which she loved. Sandy was a light wherever she went. She always wore a smile and if you knew Sandy, you just had to love her. She never made enemies and if she knew you, she would do absolutely anything for you. You mattered, and she made sure you knew it. Sandy was a devoted wife and mother. She loved her kids and always put them first. She would often say, I would go to hell and back for each and every one of you and she meant it. She loved being a grandmother (Nannie) and also being great grandmother. She affectionately knew each one and took great pride in being called their Nannie. She thrived on her family, her church work, her love for God, and had many friends. She was a true social butterfly and always made an effort to make someones day. She had an amazing and infectious laugh you couldnt miss when around her and will be dearly missed now. Sandy also had a love for family history, of which she did all throughout her life, often taking trips in order to find out who and where she came from, and where she might find them even when preceded in death. She would travel often just to see where they grew up and learn everything she could about them. Her love for family history is what brought her out to the Midwest, a place called York, loving the country and the small-town feel, it became her new home and where she lived almost up to the time of her death. She spent the last of her months living and being care for by her oldest son, David (Becky) in Queen Creek, Ariz. She was a gift and a blessing to have in our lives. Her legacy will live on in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Sandy is survived by her children, David (Becky) Turner of Queen Creek, Ariz., Robert (Tami) Turner of Stromsburg, Kellye (Silas) Dungy and James (Julie) Turner all of York; 23 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and one on the way. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister; husband and her daughter, Stacie. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, August 5, 2023 at Metz Chapel in York. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in York. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Condolences may be left for the family at www.metzmortuary.com. Metz Mortuary in York is handling the arrangements. The Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Kuwait Airways to pay Rs 6 lakh to a man who was not allowed to board a connecting flight from Kuwait City to London in 2019 despite having a valid ticket for a round trip. The commission directed the airways and its country head to pay Rs 5 lakh for deficiency in services along with Rs 50,000 each for mental harassment and litigation expenses. It observed that not allowing a person to board the plane was "nothing short of callous, tortuous and an oppressive act as it caused immense mental agony, physical discomfort, humiliation and emotional trauma". A bench of Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal, the commission president, was hearing a complaint claiming around Rs 55 lakh in compensation for deficiency in services by the airline. Complainant Shameemuddin alleged that he was not allowed to board his connecting flight to London on reaching Kuwait City from Delhi on February 1, 2019. He was "illegally" sent back from the airport to New Delhi despite having all travel documents. The bench, also comprising Judicial Member Pinki and General Member JP Agrawal, noted that, according to the airlines, Shameemuddin was offloaded from the flight and deported to India on account of "poor profile" by the Airline Liaison Officer (ALO) concerned, who represented the UK Embassy. "It appears that by offering excuses and blatantly shifting the blame on the ALO, the opposite parties (airlines and its country head) are divorced from realities of life or the acute frustration and agony of the passenger who is denied boarding," the bench said in an order dated July 21. "To deny a person the boarding of the plane is nothing short of callous, tortuous and oppressive act as it causes immense mental agony, physical discomfort, humiliation and emotional trauma which remains with the person throughout his life. It verges almost to an injustice done to a person for no fault of his," it added. The bench said the airline's duty was to take "reasonable care of the passenger" and not expose him to such "humiliation, unwarranted harassment and mental agony". "We are of the opinion that the opposite parties provided deficient service to the complainant and, therefore, are liable to compensate him," the commission said. It directed the airline to pay Rs 5 lakh for the financial loss suffered on account of deficient services along with Rs 50,000 for mental harassment and Rs 50,000 for litigation expenses. Advocate Mahmood Alam, the complainant's counsel, said Shameemuddin purchased a new ticket from another airline after being sent back and reached the UK. "It is abysmally surprising to note that the complainant reached Birmingham, UK, on February 3, ie, just one day after the alleged deportation and did not encounter any issues whatsoever on account of his poor profile," the commission said. It said the opposite parties cannot shift the burden on the Airline Liaison Officer in light of the fact that the UK Immigration Officer did not stop the complainant when he arrived in Birmingham. "It is surprising how a reputed international airline can aboard a passenger and then deny boarding a connecting flight midway through his journey without any supporting documents to explain the reasons for taking such drastic measures," the commission said. Meet Ashutosh Pratihast, a determined entrepreneur hailing from Sitamarhi, Bihar. Despite a stable family background, Ashutosh's mischievous behavior often led others to label him as a "lost cause." His father, believing in his potential, never pursued traditional employment. However, this carefree attitude didn't go well with the villagers, who predicted a bleak future for him, causing distress to his mother. But little did they know that Ashutosh was destined for greatness. Following some advice from doctors, Ashutosh's father made a bold move to Delhi in 2005. Initially, he worked there before deciding to bring the entire family to the bustling city. However, Ashutosh's mischievous ways persisted, causing financial challenges for his father. It was during this phase that Ashutosh began to understand the true value of money. He was later sent to a central school in Assam due to its affordable fees. Adapting to a new environment, where Assamese was the dominant language while he spoke Hindi, proved challenging, and he faced some mockery from his peers. Despite these hurdles, he returned to Delhi after a year. Undeterred by setbacks, Ashutosh took on various jobs, including working in call centers, while still nurturing a desire for financial success. However, it was his entrepreneurial spirit that eventually paved the way to prosperity. With unwavering determination, Ashutosh founded the "IDigitalPreneur" platform, an education technology venture aimed at providing affordable training in essential skills for personal and professional growth, along with money-making strategies. The platform quickly gained momentum, and within just 11 months, Ashutosh's once small endeavor transformed into a million-dollar empire, amassing immense wealth. Not content with just building his business, Ashutosh also utilized YouTube to share financial education videos under the moniker "Ashutosh Pratihast." Through his channel, he provides valuable insights and guidance to inspire others to achieve financial success. Ashutosh Pratihast's incredible journey from being labeled a failure to becoming a self-made millionaire serves as a powerful reminder that resilience, determination, and the right mindset can pave the way to a prosperous and fulfilling life. His story continues to inspire countless individuals to chase their dreams and overcome all obstacles that stand in their way. New Delhi: While the skyrocketing tomato prices are throwing household kitchen budget in a total disarray, tomato farmers are hitting jackpot. Tomato for these farmers is certainly the new gold! A farmer in Telangana's Medak district joined the crorepati club after selling tomatoes for a whopping Rs 2 crore during the past month, and another crop worth Rs 1 crore is also nearly ready for harvest. The soaring price of tomatoes caused Bansuvada Mahipal Reddy of Mohammed Nagar in Kaudipalli mandal of Medak district to become a billionaire over night. The 40-year-old farmer who dropped out of school has become a role model for everyone. Mahipal Reddy met the demand in the Hyderabad market when tomato prices rose to Rs 150 per kg and there was insufficient supply from Madanapalle in nearby Andhra Pradesh and other regions. In the wholesale market, he fetched Rs 100 per kg for the produce. He sold roughly 8,000 crates of tomatoes weighing more than 25 kg during the past month. In April this year, Mahipal Reddy started cultivating tomatoes. He employed cutting-edge methods to guarantee A-grade produce, which increased his market value. For the past four years, the farmer has been cultivating tomatoes on 40 acres of land. He first experienced setbacks but kept going. He talked to his pals in other states, and they advised him to adopt the sunshade approach for a successful harvest. He used the same technique to lower the temperature, which led to a better and greater yield. Farmer claimed he gave up on his education after failing his 10th grade exam some twenty years ago. He added that he had spent Rs. 2 lakhs on each acre of the crop, including labour, cultivation costs, shade nets, fertilisers, and saplings. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday congratulated Mahipal Reddy couple for growing tomato crop worth Rs 3 crore in a single season. A customized cage carrying giant panda Yuan Meng is load onto a plane at the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, near Paris, France, July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) PARIS, July 26 (Xinhua) -- First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, saw him off at the airport. Before the panda's boarding, the first lady wistfully showed her photo with the four-month "mini bear" to Xinhua. "I'm going to visit him. I'm sure he'll be very happy in his country, but he won't forget France," she said, noting that Yuan Meng represents an "absolutely unbreakable friendship" between the two countries. WARM FAREWELL Visitors at the Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan, central France, gathered Tuesday morning to bid farewell to Yuan Meng ahead of his departure back to China, 10 days before the giant panda's sixth birthday. Waving flags with Yuan Meng's photos, his fans were queuing in the cold wind hoping to catch a glimpse of the transfer truck and say goodbye to the very first panda cub born in France. Just a day before, a ceremony for Yuan Meng's last public appearance in France was held at the zoo where he was served with fresh bamboo and cut apples. While people were using their cameras and phones to record every move, the chubby panda acted more like a superstar than the shy cub he was five years ago and posed for the cameras. "Of course, we are a little heartbroken because he is leaving, but he can now continue to live a good life. What matters most to us is raising public awareness about the conservation of these extraordinary animals, which contributes to the conservation of the species and genetic diversity," Rodolphe Delord, general director of the zoo, said at the ceremony. "A veterinarian and I will accompany Yuan Meng on the flight to take care of him. We will stay in China for a few days to see how he's getting on, and then hand him over to our Chinese colleagues," said Delphine Pouvreau, manager of the koala and panda division at the Beauval Zoo. Yuan Meng was given a final farewell on the tarmac by Mrs. Macron before being loaded onto a China Airlines flight to Chengdu, in southwest China's Sichuan Province. PANDA FANS Yuan Meng has been a veritable "idol" since birth. According to the zoo, about 26 million netizens followed the live stream to watch his birth on social media. Meanwhile, he has also attracted broad attention from the French public and media. Patrice and Veronique are fans of Yuan Meng. Wearing panda-patterned clothing, they came to say goodbye to their idol. "I like him rolling in the mud ... that's why he's never that white anyway," Patrice said with emotion visible in his eyes. They designed a T-shirt with 36 images from when the cub was born to now and told Xinhua they might add more after their visit to Chengdu in the future. "The panda was endangered, but now, thanks to the efforts of both of our countries, the situation has been improved. We will miss him, but it's for his good. He will be able to meet a female and have babies," they said. "Farewell Yuan Meng," a 10-year-old girl, Marilys, brought her painting of the panda to the ceremony, adding best wishes for her furry friend. "I knew you as a baby, I've watched you grow up, and if one day I go to China, I promise I'll come to see you." People here love pandas. "Last year, Beauval Zoo welcomed over 2 million visitors, and the pandas played a significant role in attracting tourists," Delord said excitedly. CULTURAL BRIDGE Yuan Meng, meaning "the realization of a dream" in Chinese, was born in Beauval on Aug. 4, 2017. His parents Huan Huan and Yuan Zi arrived in France in 2012 on a 10-year loan. Since the couple's arrival, the number of visitors to the Beauval Zoo has doubled and reached 1.5 million that year. Yuan Meng originally had a twin, but unfortunately, his twin died shortly after birth. Caretakers called him "mini Yuan Zi" before he had an official name. The French first lady revealed his name when he was four months old at a naming ceremony at the zoo. Delord said that the giant panda, classified as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, both represents the beauty of rare animals to the French public and raises awareness of the importance for conservation and protection of these endangered species. In 2021, Yuan Meng's mother Huan Huan gave birth to twins Huan Lili and Yuan Dudu, raising the number of pandas in Beauval to five. The zoo said they had received confirmation that the panda parents can stay at least until 2027, and hoped that the partnership between Beauval and China will continue. People bid farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng (in the van) in front of the Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan, France, July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) People wait to bid farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng in front of the Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan, France, July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) A boy waits to bid farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng in front of the Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan, France, July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Staff members bid farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng (in the flight) at the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, near Paris, France, July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, bids farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng at the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, near Paris, France, July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, displays a photo of her with four-month-old giant panda Yuan Meng at the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, near Paris, France, July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) A boy waits to bid farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng in front of the Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan, France, July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Brigitte Macron(central R), wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, bids farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng at the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, near Paris, France, July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) People bid farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng (in the van) in front of the Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan, France, July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) A girl waits to bid farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng in front of the Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan, France, July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) A girl waits to bid farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng in front of the Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan, France, July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, bids farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng at the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, near Paris, France, July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) A customized cage carrying giant panda Yuan Meng is load onto a plane at the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, near Paris, France, July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) People bid farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng (in the van) in front of the Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan, France, July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) People bid farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng (in the van) in front of the Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan, France, July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) A customized cage for giant panda Yuan Meng arrives at the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, near Paris, France, on July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, bids farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng at the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, near Paris, France, on July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, bids farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng at the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, near Paris, France, on July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Brigitte Macron (C-R), wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, bids farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng at the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, near Paris, France, on July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Brigitte Macron (C), wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, bids farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng at the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, near Paris, France, on July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Brigitte Macron (2nd L, Front), wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, arrives to bid farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng at the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, near Paris, France, on July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Giant panda Yuan Meng arrives at the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, near Paris, France, on July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Brigitte Macron (2nd L, Front), wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, arrives to bid farewell to giant panda Yuan Meng at the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, near Paris, France, on July 25, 2023. First giant panda born in France Yuan Meng settled into a customized cage filled with bamboo, starting his journey to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Tuesday after a long-haul departure from Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) New Delhi: On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tributes to soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for India's victory over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil war. The day brings to the fore the bravery of India's unparalleled warriors who will always remain a source of inspiration to the people of the country, the prime minister said in a tweet in Hindi. "Jai Hind," Modi said. The Indian Army had launched a fierce counterassault to push back Pakistani forces that had stealthily occupied important heights in Ladakh in 1999. Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed to mark India's win over its neighbour In the world of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, where strict actions are often necessary to maintain law and order, IPS Abhishek Pallava stands out for his compassionate and humane approach. His remarkable work in the challenging Naxal-infested regions of Bastar and Dantewada has won the hearts of the people. Let's delve into the life and career of this outstanding officer. The Dedicated IPS Officer IPS Abhishek Pallava is a proud member of the Chhattisgarh cadre. Presently serving as the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Durg, Chhattisgarh since April 2022, he has earned accolades for his relentless efforts in anti-Naxal operations. Pallava dedicated seven years of his career to the Naxal belt, showcasing his unwavering commitment to maintaining peace and order in these sensitive regions. A Doctor's Journey to Service Before donning the police uniform, Abhishek Pallava pursued a career in medicine. As a doctor, he completed his postgraduation from the prestigious AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in Delhi. Pallava hails from Begusarai district in Bihar and earned his MBBS degree from Goa University in 2005. Later, he furthered his specialization in psychiatry with a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from AIIMS Delhi between 2006 and 2009. Cracking UPSC and Entering the IPS In 2012, Abhishek Pallava accomplished a significant milestone by cracking the Union Civil Services Examination (UPSC) and securing a coveted position in the Indian Police Service (IPS). His dedication and hard work paid off as he achieved his dream of serving the nation in a crucial capacity. Family and Personal Life IPS Abhishek Pallava comes from a family with a strong military background. His father, Rishi Kumar, served in the Indian Army, instilling in him a sense of discipline and patriotism. Abhishek is happily married to Dr. Yasha Pallav, a fellow doctor based in Dantewada. Together, they share the joys of parenthood and have a 10-year-old son named Advik. Conclusion IPS Abhishek Pallava's journey from being a doctor to becoming a compassionate and dedicated IPS officer exemplifies the true spirit of service to the nation. His humane approach in the challenging Naxal regions has left a profound impact on the lives of the people he serves. Abhishek's determination to make a positive difference in society and his commitment to upholding law and order make him an exemplary role model for aspiring civil servants. His unwavering dedication continues to inspire and instill hope in communities facing hardships, proving that empathy and kindness can be powerful tools in ensuring peace and harmony in even the most challenging circumstances. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the redeveloped International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) complex and unveiled its new name -- Bharat Mandapam. PM Modi unveiled the name of the new complex through a drone in the presence of Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and other ministers. During the inauguration, the prime minister called the redeveloped complex 'a wonderful sight' and said that it will serve as a 'gateway' to global opportunities. Prime Minister Modi also laid bare his blueprint for a third term of his government and said that India will become the third largest economy in the world with a faster growth rate than now. His government will complete 10 years in office next May and he is seeking a third term on the development plank. "We have to achieve the target of making India a developed nation in the next 25 years," he said after unveiling a world-class convention centre in the heart of the national capital. India can definitely eradicate poverty, he said citing a NITI Aayog report that talked of 13.5 crore poor being lifted out of poverty. The inaugural ceremony was attended by around 3,000 guests including Cabinet ministers, captains of industry, film personalities and others. Inaugurating the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre in Delhi. The Complex will serve as a gateway to global opportunities. https://t.co/O3TO1yRTvr Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2023 Reeling out statistics of development from the number of airports to railway line electrification to expansion of city gas during his nine-year tenure, the prime minister said India was the 10th largest economy when the BJP government took office in 2014. The country is now ranked fifth in the world behind the US, China, Germany and Japan. "We will make India a developed nation working on the principle of nation first, citizen first," he said while inaugurating the IECC complex. PM Modi said that when his government took office in 2014, the Indian economy was at the tenth position and now it is at the fifth position in the world. He said that India will be one of the top three economies in the world in his third term. The next general elections are due in May 2024. He said that Bharat Mandapam, which will host the much-awaited G20 summit in September under India's presidency, will promote conference tourism. "World will witness rising stature of India when newly built Bharat Mandapam will host G20 summit," Prime Minister Modi said. Earlier in the day, he performed a 'pooja' at the redeveloped complex and interacted with the workers who were involved in its construction and felicitated them. Honouring the Shramiks who have toiled to build the impressive International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/C7zmdG4csf Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2023 The revamped IECC complex was developed as a national project at a cost of about Rs 2,700 crore and has a campus area of approximately 123 acres. It is set to host the G20 summit, which will be attended by heads of states of 20 nations including the US, the UK and China. The IECC complex is India's largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination. In terms of the covered space available for events, the complex finds its place among the top exhibition and convention complexes in the world. Delhi gets a modern and futuristic International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre, which will boost conference tourism in India, thus bringing people from all over the world. The economic and tourism related benefits of the centre will also be multifold. pic.twitter.com/57cdCnu63T Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2023 It comprises multiple modern facilities, including convention centres, exhibition halls and amphitheatres. At level 3 of the complex, a 7,000 seating capacity convention centre has been developed. The exhibition halls provide a platform for exhibitors and companies to engage with their target audience, fostering business growth and networking opportunities. The IECC boasts a magnificent amphitheatre with a seating capacity of 3,000 individuals. Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray has praised Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar as an honest and able administrator and said he handled his departments very well when he was part of the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Thackeray, who headed the MVA government (November 2019 to June 2022), had met Pawar at his office here last week after the latter joined the Eknath Shinde-led government as a deputy chief minister on July 2 following a split in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Pawar was deputy chief minister in the Thackeray cabinet and handled the key finance department, among others. In the Shinde-led government too, the rebel NCP leader has been entrusted with the finance and planning department. "He (Ajit Pawar) works honestly. He handled administration and his department well (under MVA regime). And I thought in the existing quackery (apparently referring to the Shinde government) if something good can be done by this man," the former CM said in an interview whose first part was published in Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana' on Wednesday. During the last week's meeting, Thackeray had asked Pawar to do good work for people as he now has the keys to the treasury in his role as the state finance minister. The Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) is part of the opposition alliance MVA which also comprises the Congress and the NCP faction led by party founder Sharad Pawar. The Egyptian nomad finds no greater delight than exploring uncharted territory, venturing off the established path, and making friends in unexpected places. But given Egypt's recent economic difficulties, traveling appears to be nothing more than a distant fantasy. India, the most populous nation on earth, commands attention on a global scale, and as a result, the country's tourist sector has seen a tremendous upsurge. According to a previous PTI study, Indians are expected to spend more than $42 billion yearly on international travel by 2024. The nation has surpassed other countries in terms of growth in the tourism sector to become the outbound destination with the quickest rate of growth. The following four locations are ideal for budget-conscious travelers. AZERBAIJAN Azerbaijan is bordered by a number of nations, including Russia, Georgia, Iran, Armenia, and the Caspian Sea to the east. The Caucasus Mountains are located to its north. The nation is tucked between Europe and Asia. Azerbaijan is a land rich in culture and beautiful landscapes. There are a few cities in the nation that are especially cost-effective, despite the capital being more pricey than the other locations. After Baku, the capital, Ganja is the second-largest city in Azerbaijan. The Bottle House, a peculiar site to see, is claimed to have been constructed by a Ganja citizen in honor of his brother, who vanished during the Second World War. A dinner in Azerbaijan costs $5 at the beginning. Prices for mid-range lodging range from USD 29 to USD 78 per night. ALBANIA Albania, which has sweeping stretches of hilly terrain and picturesque views fit for your Instagram feed, experienced a spike in popularity among Egyptians last year after it announced that Egypt's citizens will no longer need a visa as of 2022. Albania is a country in the Balkan region of Europe that has access to the Adriatic and Ionian seas. Its neighbors are Greece, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Macedonia. Albanian culture has been influenced by the Romans, Greeks, Turks, and Italians, however, the Indo-Europeans known as the Illyrian tribes were the first people to live there. Depending on whether customers are seeking an elite venue or a medium-priced institution, restaurant rates might range from USD 4 to USD 20. Prices for mid-range lodging begin at USD 50 per night. UZBEKISTAN Uzbekistan, which borders Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan, is well renowned for its magnificent minarets, which are towers typical of Islamic architecture and are typically built inside mosques. The Hazrati Imam Complex, located in the ancient town of the nation's capital Tashkent, is a collection of elaborate mosques, madrasas (Islamic institutions), and mausoleums. Recent renovations have also been made to the complex. Even though a flight from Cairo to Uzbekistan costs a fair amount for a ticket, the journey itself is inexpensive. Whether a traveler decides to eat at a local eatery or a tourist attraction will affect the cost of their dinner. Typically, costs begin at USD 5. Prices for mid-range lodging begin at USD 60 per night. THAILAND Thailand is renowned for the idyllic islands that line its coast and has long been praised as the place to go for festival-goers and beach lovers. With the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, also known as the Gulf of Siam, on its coastlines, Thailand is located in the heart of Southeast Asia, bordering Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Laos. Visitors are drawn to the idyllic islands, each of which has its own personality, even though the city of Bangkok is unquestionably worthwhile. The island's markets and bazaars are great places to purchase a variety of items at reasonable costs. Koh Phangan has a variety of temples with elaborate designs and distinctive color schemes that reflect the traditions they were built in, making it a popular tourist destination. Depending on the traveler's choice of lodging, mid-range hotel prices might easily rise to USD 100 per night from USD 20. Meals range in price from $3 to $6. New Delhi: 'Singh Is Bling' actress Amy Jackson is in town nowadays and is making headlines for her stylish appearances with boyfriend and 'Gossip Girl' actor Ed Westwick. Now, she has dropped her sizzling pictures on social media and the internet is impressed. Amy dropped a photo dump from her recent vacation with her boyfriend Ed Westwick to Udaipur, Rajasthan and her pictures are to die for. In the clicks, the actress looks stunning in a white bralette and white shorts whereas Ed can be seen wearing a bathrobe. The photos have grabbed eyeballs with many fans praising Amy for her fit look. Sharing the pictures on Instagram, in the caption, Amy wrote, 'Long, lazy monsoon mornings.' Fans flooded the comment sections with fire and heart-eye emojis. One user wrote, "So stunning Amy," "Chuck Bass enjoying India," added another. Amy and Ed were in Mumbai over the weekend, they even hosted a party for their celeb pals. They were also seen heading out on lunch and dinner dates, with Amy showing Ed iconic places of South Mumbai. The couple has been continuously updating about their trip through pictures. Both recently took to their Instagram handles and shared a photo in which they were seen sharing a kiss in front of the iconic Gateway of India in Mumbai. In no time, the photos went viral and fans were seen reacting to it. Ed Westwick is in India to show his support to Amy's upcoming film 'Mission: Chapter 1 - Achcham Enbathu Illaiyae'. For the unversed, Amy and Ed have been dating for a while now. After months of speculations, the couple publicly acknowledged their relationship by attending the National Film Awards together in London in 2022. The duo often shares photos with each other on their respective social media handles. Last month, Amy marked Eds birthday with a special post. For the unversed, Amy Jackson was previously engaged to George Panayiotou, with whom she shares a child. In January 2019, Amy had shared a photo with George Panayiotou and announced her engagement. She also flaunted her engagement ring. A few months later, she revealed she is expecting their first child. The duo welcomed their child, a baby boy in September 2019. They named him Andreas Panayiotou after George's father. The two were supposed to tie the knot in January 2020. However, the couple parted their ways before they could get hitched. CHENGDU, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Yuan Meng, the first giant panda born in France, arrived in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, Wednesday morning after a long-haul flight. Yuan Meng has been sent into a quarantine field and will stay there for 30 days before starting a new life at the Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding. Yuan Meng was born in France's Beauval Zoo in August 2017. His name, which means "dreams come true," manifests the wish for an enduring friendship between China and France. Yuan Meng's parents, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, arrived in France in January 2012 on a 10-year loan from China. The pair's lease with France has been extended to 2027. The beloved panda family were stars at the Beauval Zoo, which welcomed 2 million visitors in 2022. Many people came to bid farewell to Yuan Meng ahead of his departure to China. New Delhi: Bollywood star Sonam Kapoor is set to return to the movies after her pregnancy and wants to do two projects yearly! Sonam, who has been a part of many successful films like Neerja (for which she won the prestigious National Award), Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Raanjhana, etc, wants to pick commercial, family entertainers for her comeback to the cinemas. Sonam says, I have always loved to be a part of projects that have entertained audiences. As I return to the cinemas post-pregnancy, I will endeavour to do just that because it brings me joy to see people forget about their current reality to enjoy cinema and the world that it can create for us. The actor adds, Im looking to do two projects year on year from here on and Im going to look for scripts that are hugely entertaining & engaging. Im being drawn to subjects that appeal to a wider audience segment so that we can enjoy movies as a family, as a community. Sonam says she became an actor to entertain audiences with films that can be viewed and enjoyed by all audience segments. Sonam says, I remember why I wanted to become an actor. Since I was a child, I loved films that I could see with my entire family. It was an experience that I looked forward to. I went through a range of emotions while seeing such films with my family. Those moments are still some of the most beautiful memories of my life. Thats the kind of cinema that I want to be a part of. She adds, So, for me, commercial films, family entertainers have always been my preferred choice. As I return to the cinemas, I wish to do more such films that everyone hopefully loves. Sonam already has two projects under her belt that are slated to start in 2024 as she makes her big comeback. New Delhi: One of Hindi cinema's finest actors, Shefali Shah has penned a note giving an insight about a hilarious incident that took place while she went shopping with her sons and husband. In a long post on social media, Shefali mentioned how her sons asked her to buy labels as she is an actor. She wrote: "My family of four decided to go shopping. My sons Extremely style conscious and fashion savy, my husband trusting their choice of clothes and shoes, and me a hobo they've decided to rewamp. I like shopping but my style is comfortable, easy and something I don't have to sell a kidney for." "But they have decided it's time I start wearing stuff that's recognised (read labels). I don't have anything against brands, I understand getting skin care, walking shoes, slip ons that I would use everyday (but not stuff I'd use once in a year.) And What is the point of buying a LV bag if there's no money left to keep inside it. You can't even live in it or drive it." She added that her stylish sons like all todays kids know all the brands. "Theres an onslaught of names that may be charging copyright just for being uttered. Probably that's why I haven't heard of them." She added hilariously: "Represent, Ferragamo, Supreme, (All supremely expensive,) They don't give up - 'Ok Try Off white' But White is my favourite colour' I say They are exasperated and check if I've heard of Goyyard. I'm an art enthusiast for gods sake ofcourse I know Goya. THey quip - "Yeezys" Did they just tell me to go easy?? I demand an Apology which comes in the form of 'ok 'Bape' 'Vetement' 'Dont babe me, and no I won't wait-a-mint.' I say." She said how her sons wanted her to get "slides" as she "lives in them" and the actress happily got "chappals". Shefali shared: "And then my sons add 'You are an actor, you are seen and recognised you should wear brands.' This is one of the conversations I'd replay in my head years later and wish I had given a sharp retort. And Thankgod my wit doesn't fail me this time, and I have a perfect comeback at this perfect time." Shefali shared the perfect reply. "(not because I belive it but just coz I want to shut them up. And because all of you lovely people, my audience makes me feel so.) I look up at them (not cause they're taller but cause there's a defiance when I raise my chin) and say.... I AM THE BRAND." New Delhi: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme 14th Installment update:-- PM Narendra Modi will distribute the 14th installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi to the approximately 8.5 crore beneficiaries of PM KISAN tomorrow (Thursday, July 27), according to a government website. On July 27, at 11 a.m. in Sikar, Rajasthan, PM Modi will meet with farmers while transferring the direct benefit to qualified recipients. PM Kisan Samman Nidhi 14th installment: How To Check Beneficiary Status -Visit official PM KISAN website https://pmkisan.gov.in/ Portal - You will see the map of India under Payment Success tab. - On the right hand side, there will be a yellow coloured tab called "Dashboard" - Click on Dashboard - After clicking, you will be taken to a new page - On the Village Dashboard tab, you will have to fill your complete details - Select the state, district, Sub-District and Panchayat - Then click on show button - After this you can choose your details These Farming Families Will Not Get PM Kisan Samman Nidhi 14th installment We had earlier reported that farmers awaiting payment under PM Kisan might not receive it at all because of a minor mistake on their end. Farmers who want to benefit from the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana can link their bank account with their Aadhaar card and submit their completed e-KYC on PM Kisan's official website, http://pmkisan.gov.in, according to a tweet from the program's official advertising and marketing agency. PM KISAN Scheme Details PM KISAN Scheme was launched by PM Narendra Modi in 2019, aims to provide income support to all landholder farmer families across the country with cultivable land, subject to certain exclusions. Under the Scheme, an amount of Rs 6000 per year is released in three-monthly instalments of Rs 2000 each directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. While lakhs of eager farmers are waiting for the disbursal of Rs 2,000 in their account, there are several farmers who are not eligible for the PM KISAN Scheme. Those excluded from the PM-KISAN include institutional land holders, farmer families holding constitutional posts, serving or retired officers and employees of State or Central government as well as Public Sector Undetakings and Government Autonomous bodies. Professionals like doctors, engineers and lawyers as well as retired pensioners with a monthly pension of over Rs 10,000 and those who paid income tax in the last assessment year are also not eligible for the benefits. New Delhi: Samsung is all set to launch a series of new products in Galaxy Unpacked Event 2023 on July 26, 2023. The company is expecting to unveil the successor of flip and fold phones Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in Seoul, South Korea. Fans are waiting impatiently for the much-hyped first smart ring to be unveiled during the event. Along with that, Samsung is reported to showcase the Galaxy Tab S9 series, Galaxy Watch 6 series and new Galaxy Buds. The event will be live-streamed on the companys official website and YouTube from 4:30 PM IST. How To Pre-Reserve New Galaxy Device? You can pre-reserve all the upcoming devices with a few simple steps. Step 1: Click on the Pre-reserve button to add new Galaxy Pre-reserve VIP Pass. Step 2: Pay Rs 1999/- using any prepaid payment options available. Step 3: You will receive new Galaxy Pre-reserve VIP Pass through email & message on your registered mobile number. Note that referral, welcome voucher, Loyalty points cannot be used for pre-reserve purchase. What are the Pre-reserve benefits? Those who pre-reserve one of the devices will receive Samsung.com coupon worth Rs 6999 (i.e. VIP Pass of Rs 1999 and E-Voucher of Rs 5000). The E-Voucher of 5000 to spend on samsung.com (Selected products, read TnCs) .This benefit will only be availed once main product (New Galaxy) is added in cart and E-Voucher is applied at checkout. The amount i.e. 1999 for VIP Pass paid to Pre-reserve your new Galaxy would be adjusted against the purchase value of the eligible device. If Consumer buys Products less than 5000, then the customer will not be able to re-use the E-voucher for the balance amount. New Delhi: Meta head Mark Zuckerberg has announced new updates in its microblogging app Threads. The users will now see an option of a chronological feed for only people they are following, and added translations are also available. The new update makes it easier for people to see the posts of accounts/people they follow, instead of random posts from different unfollowed accounts. Zuckerberg made the announcement in his Instagram broadcast channel and mentioned that more updates would be coming soon. "Threads started rolling out an option for a chronological feed of only people you're following and added translations too. More to come!" Zuckerberg said in the Instagram broadcast channel. Meta launched its Twitter competitor, Threads, on July 5, 2023. The platform aims to allow users to share text updates and join public conversations. Anyone can post up to 500 characters long, and include links, photos, and videos up to 5 minutes in length. Threads Sees Phenomenal Growth, Though Sharp Decline In Daily Usage Threads experienced a phenomenal growth, attracting over 100 million users within a month of its launch. This success can be attributed to the platform being linked with Instagram, making it easier for users to sign up via their Instagram IDs. However, the initial euphoria and interest in the new platform have been fading, resulting in a sharp decline in daily usage of up to 70%. TN HSE Result 2023: Directorate of Government Examinations, Tamil Nadu is all set to release the class 10th supplementary today, July 26. According to official update, the result will be declared in the afternoon. Once released, students will be able to download Tamil Nadu Class 12th supplementary result 2023 using their credentials on the official website, dge.tn.gov.in. It is expected that the result will be accessible after 12 PM. 10th supplementary exam result date 2023 was announced on the Tamil Nadu DGE official website, tnresults.nic.in. Students will have to enter their roll number and date of birth to download the TN Class 12th supplementary results 2023. TN HSE Supplementary Result 2023: Steps To Download Scores - Go to the DGE website at dge.tn.gov.in. - Now, go to HSE 2nd year supplementary results. - On the login window, provide the required information. - Submit and download the result. - Take a printout of the page for future uses. TN Class 10th Result 2023: Stats The TN SSLC Exam 2023 results were announced on May 19, 2023. A total of 9,14,320 students appeared for the TN 10th exams this year, of them, 8,35,614 students successfully cleared it and the overall pass percentage was recorded at 91.39%. In the newly created districts - Tenkasi, Kallakurichi, Tirupathur, Ranipet, Mayiladuthurai, Chengalpattu - students will have to visit the office of the Primary Education Officer to register for the scanned copy of the answer sheet. TN 10th Supplementary Result 2023: Exam Date Applicants will get their TN SSLC Supplementary result 2023 by entering their Supplementary exam roll number and date of birth. On 24 July, the board declared the results of the HSE or Plus Two Supplementary examination. TN SSLC Supply examination was conducted in June-July, 2023 People with disabilities learn tailoring skills at a training center for vocational programs in Kabul, Afghanistan, July 27, 2023. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KABUL, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The international community is expected to help the orphans and people with disabilities in war-torn Afghanistan to recover and stand on their feet, an Afghan official told Xinhua in an interview on Tuesday. "Our demand for the international community, especially the Islamic countries and aid agencies, is to help those who are with disabilities or orphans in Afghanistan until they recover and achieve self-sufficiency," Mawlawi Shah Mohammad Dost, chief of office of the Acting Minister for the Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs, said. These people in the impoverished country have no shelter and not enough food, the official said, adding that these underprivileged members of society deserve support to have access to shelter and schools. Around 600,000 people who are with disabilities, orphaned or widowed have been registered with the Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs, the official said, citing that 350,000 are orphans, 195,000 are disabled and the remaining are widows who have lost their husbands due to decades of armed conflict. "The United States bombarded Afghanistan for 20 years and placed innumerous mines on lands," Dost told Xinhua. However, he said the mine-clearing agencies have been working to clear the mines in the country. "No area has escaped from the U.S. bombardments in Afghanistan, especially the southern region like Kandahar and Helmand," he said. "There are villages that were entirely destroyed, without male members in a family survived. Thirty to 35 orphans and widows survived in the families and all male members were martyred." "We also have such cases in Nangarhar that all male members of the family were martyred and only orphans and widows survived," Dost told Xinhua. The Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs, besides paying monthly allowances to the orphaned and disabled, has also launched vocational programs to teach them such skills as tailoring, electrical work, lumbering and repairing power generators to help them find jobs, the official added. More than 30,000 civilians had reportedly been killed and countless others had been maimed in the 20 years of the so-called U.S.-led war on terror in Afghanistan. Afghanistan has been regarded as one the most mine-contaminated countries in the world as more than a dozen mostly children were killed or wounded in the accidental explosions of unexploded devices left over from past wars. People with disabilities learn tailoring skills at a training center for vocational programs in Kabul, Afghanistan, July 27, 2023. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) New Delhi: On a day when the Opposition moved a motion of no-confidence against his government in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday made a strong pitch for a third term for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Speaking after inaugurating the world-class International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) complex at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, he promised to make India the world's third-largest economy in his third term. PM Modi named the new complex -- that is set to host the much-awaited G20 Summit this September -- Bharat Mandapam and said that it is a call for India's capabilities and new energy of the nation. "It is a philosophy of India's grandeur and willpower," he said. He said that the redeveloped IECC complex is a beautiful gift by Indians to our democracy as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Independence. "The entire world will witness India's strides and growing stature from here when the G20 Summit takes place in a few weeks from now at the venue," Modi added. He underlined that Bharat Mandapam will be hugely beneficial for exhibitors from all across the globe and that it will become a medium for conference tourism in India. The complex will act as a platform for showcasing the capabilities of the country's startups, become a witness to the performance of artists and actors and provide a platform to showcase the efforts of handicraft artisans, he said. Delhi gets a modern and futuristic International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre, which will boost conference tourism in India, thus bringing people from all over the world. The economic and tourism related benefits of the centre will also be multifold. pic.twitter.com/57cdCnu63T Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2023 "Bharat Mandapam will become a reflection of the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal For Local campaign," the prime minister told the gathering. Bharat Mandapam should have been developed decades ago Without naming anyone, Prime Minister Modi slammed naysayers for trying to block development projects and said that infrastructure like Bharat Mandapam should have been developed decades ago. He also emphasized the need to carry on creating infrastructure despite Opposition from 'vested interests' and stressed that no society can progress by working in a fragmented manner. Bharat Mandapam is an example of the far-sighted holistic working style, he said and stressed that we have to 'think big' and 'achieve big' targets in order to be developed. "The entire nation is witness to the pillars of development of the present government's this term and the previous term," Modi said as he affirmed that the development journey of India is now 'unstoppable'. 'Modi's guarantee' PM Modi underlined that India was the 10th largest economy in the world when the present government came to power in 2014, but as of today, India is the 5th largest economy in the world. As per track record, he assured that India's name will be among the top three economies of the world in his third term. "This is Modi's guarantee", he said and exuded confidence that the pace of the development journey of India will increase manifold and the citizens would see their dreams come true in the third term of the NDA government. Inaugurating the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre in Delhi. The Complex will serve as a gateway to global opportunities. https://t.co/O3TO1yRTvr Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2023 Elaborating on some statistics to showcase the developmental agenda of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, the prime minister said that today India is witnessing a revolution of rebuilding as in the last nine years, Rs 34 lakh crore have been spent on infrastructure. "This year too, capital expenditure is kept at Rs 10 lakh crore," he said, adding that India is working at an 'unprecedented speed and scale'. He stated that in the last nine years, the electrification of 40 thousand km of railway lines took place as compared to just 20 thousand in the seven decades before that. "Before 2014, 600 meter per month metro line was laid, today 6 km long metro line is being laid every month. Today, the country has 7.25 km long rural roads compared to just 4 lakh km in 2014. The number of airports increased from about 70 to about 150. City Gas distribution too reached 600 cities compared to just 60 in 2014," Modi said. Infrastructure developments in Delhi PM Narendra Modi underlined the infrastructure developments in New Delhi in the last few years and spoke about the newly inaugurated Parliament building and said that it instills pride in every Indian. He also gave examples of monuments like the National War Memorial, the Police Memorial, and the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Memorial in the national capital. He also touched upon the Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalay, which provides a glimpse into the lives of every Prime Minister that India has ever witnessed. Modi also informed that the development of 'Yuge Yugeen Bharat', which will become the world's largest museum, is also coming up fast in Delhi. Google has decided to stop providing support or updates for its decade-old Android KitKat operating system. The reason behind this move is Googles current focus on newer and more secure versions of its Android OS. The company aims to offer a better user experience and enhanced security to its users. Citing the reason behind the decision to stop supporting KitKat in future releases of Google Play services, the tech giant, in an official announcement on the Android Developers Blog, said the declining active device count has dropped below 1%. As a result, Google Play services will discontinue updates for KitKat (API levels 19 & 20) starting from August 2023. The blog post reads, As of July 2023, the active device count on KK is below 1% as more and more users update to the latest Android versions. Therefore, we are no longer supporting KK in future releases of Google Play services. KK devices will not receive versions of the Play Services APK beyond 23.30.99. Android KitKat Lacked Innovative Improvements Over the last few years, the Android KitKat lost the significant popularity that it had garnered earlier. Released in 2013, the Android KitKat is no more in demand as it fails to support the security and improvements related to new technology. Additionally, the dramatic growth and advancements in technology over the years have provided better security features to users, which was missing in the KitKat OS, making it more vulnerable to potential security risks for users. "The Android KitKat (KK) platform was first released ~10 years ago and since then, we've introduced many innovative improvements and features for Android, which are unavailable on KK, noted Google in its blog post. Furthermore, the decision of Google to work on the newer versions of its Android OS is in line with improving the security and functionality offerings for the users. Upgrade Or Switch Your Phones Here, the question arises What are users supposed to do? Well, users can just upgrade their Android devices to a newer version such as Android 10 or the latest Android 11. The upgrade will introduce users to the latest features and bug fixes while allowing them to enjoy the earlier Android services. For those with phones that do not support the latest Android versions, Google recommends considering buying a new smartphone, as its important to avoid security risks. The FSO Safer, a super oil tanker that has been left unattended for years, is seen at Ras Issa Port in Hodeidah Province, Yemen, on July 15, 2023. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) ADEN, Yemen, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The UN emergency team on Tuesday started to transfer crude oil from a decaying Safer tanker moored off Yemen's western coast as part of an urgent mission to avert a potential environmental catastrophe of massive oil spill. The Safer tanker, originally constructed as a supertanker in 1976 and later converted to a floating storage and offloading facility (FSO) for oil, is currently moored approximately 4.8 nautical miles (8,890 meters) off the coast of Hodeidah Province in Yemen. Abandoned since 2015, the FSO Safer is on the brink of breaking up, raising concerns about a potential oil spill that could wreak havoc on the fragile marine ecosystem and exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in the country. The rusty hulk of the FSO Safer, a super oil tanker that has been left unattended for years, is seen at Ras Issa Port in Hodeidah Province, Yemen, on July 15, 2023. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) Earlier in the day, more than 1 million barrels of crude oil were carefully pumped into the replacement vessel Yemen, formerly known as Nautica, in a delicate ship-to-ship transfer. According to a UN statement issued on Tuesday, this intricate process is expected to last 19 days. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the United Nations "assumed the risk to conduct this very delicate operation," adding the oil transfer is critical in avoiding an environmental and humanitarian catastrophe on a colossal scale, which could be four times worse than the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska that killed thousands of seabirds and marine mammals. Earlier in July, David Gressly, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, emphasized that the ship-to-ship transfer of oil represents a significant milestone but does not signal the end of the operation. "The next critical step involves the installation of a CALM buoy to securely moor the replacement vessel," said Gressly. Despite current efforts, UN experts caution that the vessel will continue presenting environmental hazards because of remaining oil residue and the potential for structural deterioration. Engineering ships chartered by the United Nations dock with the FSO Safer vessel at Ras Issa port in Hodeidah province, Yemen, on June 12, 2023. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) The 1,181 feet-long vessel comprises 34 storage tanks. After years of neglect because of civil conflict, the tanker's structural integrity has significantly weakened, making it susceptible to breaking apart or even exploding. Seawater has infiltrated the engine compartment, causing extensive damage to the pipes and elevating the risk of sinking, according to previous UN reports. Ali bin Hadi, a political observer based in Yemen's southern port city of Aden, also expressed concerns about potential risks that could jeopardize the operation's success. "The aging pipes used in the transfer process may pose leakage threats, compounded by scorching summer temperatures that could stress the equipment. Additionally, the sea mines laid by the Houthis previously in the surrounding waters heighten safety risks," said the observer. Moreover, tensions are expected to escalate by the lingering disputes over ownership of oil and the replacement vessel between the Houthis and the Yemeni government. Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since 2014, with the Houthi rebels fighting against the internationally-recognized government and its allies. The war disrupted Yemen's food supply chain and caused widespread famine, bringing the Arab world's poorest country to the brink of collapse. TEHRAN, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi on Wednesday met with the new Turkish Ambassador to Iran Hicabi Kirlangic in Tehran to discuss expanding cross-border cooperation, the official news agency IRNA reported. During the meeting, Vahidi called for setting up a working group to develop relations between Iranian and Turkish border provinces, said the report. The Iranian minister also called for enhancing bilateral cooperation in managing foreign nationals' affairs, fighting organized crimes, and countering arms trafficking. He expressed hopes that the bilateral ties would further develop during Kirlangic's mission, adding that improved Iran-Turkiye relations will benefit regional peace and stability. The minister stressed that the regional states should resolve the region's problems through increased interactions among themselves and without foreign powers' interference. The Turkish ambassador, for his part, noted that relations between his country and Iran are "age-old and friendly," calling for increasing bilateral interactions in areas of border trade, security, tourism, and anti-terrorism. FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu speaks at the closing ceremony of the United Nations Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2) in Rome, Italy, on July 26, 2023. Three days of high-level stocktaking talks on food security have underlined the challenges that lie ahead, said the head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Wednesday. (Giulio Napolitano/FAO/Handout via Xinhua) ROME, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Three days of high-level stocktaking talks on food security have underlined the challenges that lie ahead, said the head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Wednesday. The United Nations Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2) was convened by the United Nations Secretariat and hosted by Italy at the FAO's headquarters in Rome. The talks, which wrapped up on Wednesday, were attended by more than 2,000 participants from 180 countries -- including some 20 heads of state and government and 125 ministerial-level representatives. "I hope this stocktaking moment has provided a holistic window to see where we stand, what we have done so far, and how much we need to do going forward," FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said at the closing ceremony of the event. "The path is long and we need to accelerate our step." Also participating in the three-day summit were Alvaro Lario, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Program (WFP). FAO, IFAD and WFP are the three UN food organizations based in the Italian capital. Among the key outcomes from the talks was the identification of "national pathways" to confront key drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition, which have been exacerbated by a changing climate, economic shocks, and ongoing conflicts around the world. "We have heard about the many challenges you are facing, but also that in every difficulty emerges opportunity," said Qu. The UNFSS+2 was organized in the wake of the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, which established a path for transforming global food systems in order to meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of reducing global poverty and hunger by 2030. However, reaching these goals has become more challenging since the start of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the global rise in energy prices and slowdown of worldwide economic growth that followed. "Let us take the spirit of this convening into the broader push to rescue the SDGs and into the concrete, day-to-day efforts to make food systems work for everyone," UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said. Among the main topics addressed during the talks were the need to invest in infrastructure to ensure access to global markets, developing value chains to help make food systems more resilient, and strengthening trade systems. Participants also discussed the importance of aquatic foods in helping end hunger and malnourishment, the role of accurate data in decision-making, the importance of international cooperation, the essential nature of environmental protection, and the importance of highlighting the hidden costs of food systems in order to make more efficient decisions. In his closing remarks, Qu invited participants to return to Rome in October for this year's World Food Forum, a major round of talks on transforming global food systems. FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu (1st L) speaks at the closing ceremony of the United Nations Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2) in Rome, Italy, on July 26, 2023. Three days of high-level stocktaking talks on food security have underlined the challenges that lie ahead, said the head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Wednesday. (Alessandra Benedetti/FAO/Handout via Xinhua) FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu (1st L) speaks at the closing ceremony of the United Nations Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2) in Rome, Italy, on July 26, 2023. Three days of high-level stocktaking talks on food security have underlined the challenges that lie ahead, said the head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Wednesday. (Giulio Napolitano/FAO/Handout via Xinhua) People lounge on Daytona Beach, Florida, the United States, Sept. 7, 2020. (Photo by Alan Chin/Xinhua) The high temperatures in the region are threatening the coral reef in the area, which typically thrive at temperatures between 73 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit. LOS ANGELES, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The water temperature around the tip of Florida in the United States has hit hot tub levels, and may have set new world record for the warmest seawater, according to U.S. media reports. A buoy in Manatee Bay of Florida showed an ocean temperature reading of over 101 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday evening, the latest sign of record heat in the coastal waters, according to CNBC. The temperature was recorded about five feet below the surface off South Florida's east coast. The day before that same buoy recorded a water temperature of 100.2 degrees Fahrenheit. That would unofficially break the world record of 99.68 degrees Fahrenheit set in the Persian Gulf, ClickOrlando reported. The high temperatures in the region are threatening the coral reef in the area, which typically thrive at temperatures between 73 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. SANAA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Four soldiers were killed and several others injured in explosions of two explosive devices on a main road in Yemen's southwestern province of Taiz, state-run Yemen TV reported Wednesday. The ambush occurred on Tuesday in the southern district of Al Maqatirah when the soldiers traveled in a military convoy returning from a frontline near the southern province of Lahj, said the report. The explosive devices were planted by the Houthis, who infiltrated the area, and were detonated remotely, it added. Yemen has been locked in a military conflict since 2014 as the Iran-backed Houthi militia took control of several northern cities and drove the Saudi-backed Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa. The ongoing conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed the country to the brink of starvation. Wang Yi (L), director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara, Turkiye, July 26, 2023. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua) ANKARA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to work with the Turkish government to enhance mutual strategic trust and deepen cooperation in various fields, so as to inject fresh impetus into the development of bilateral relations, senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi said here on Wednesday. Wang, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. As representatives of emerging markets and major developing countries, China and Turkiye share broad common interests and huge cooperation potential, said Wang, adding that China supports Turkiye in finding a development path suited to its national conditions and safeguarding national independence, sovereignty, and legitimate rights and interests. China also supports Turkiye in playing a more important role in the regional and international arena, and opposes any interference in Turkiye's internal affairs, Wang said. He expressed China's willingness to work with the Turkish government to enhance mutual strategic trust, strengthen strategic coordination, deepen cooperation in various fields, support each other in safeguarding their core interests and national security and stability, push for more fruitful results in the China-Turkiye strategic relationship of cooperation, and inject a new impetus into the development of bilateral ties. Wang called on the two sides to make good use of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the China-Turkiye Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, to enhance synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Turkiye's Middle Corridor initiative, and continue to advance cooperation in energy, education, culture and other fields. China is willing to import more quality Turkish products, support companies of the two countries to settle trade in local currencies, and encourage more Chinese companies to invest and do business in Turkiye, he said. Wang also affirmed China's readiness to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Turkiye under multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, jointly raise the voice of emerging markets and developing countries, uphold genuine multilateralism, safeguard the stability of global supply and industrial chains, oppose unilateralism and wrong practices such as "decoupling and the cutting of supply chains," and inject more stability into a world of turmoil and transformation. For his part, Fidan said that Turkiye attaches great importance to developing its relations with China. Turkiye rejects the claim that China's economic and technological developments are a threat, opposes discrediting and containing China's development, and does not allow activities in Turkiye that undermine China's territorial integrity, the Turkish top diplomat said. Fidan said Turkiye believes that the global initiatives, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, are of strategic significance. Turkiye is willing to work with China to give full play to the role of the intergovernmental cooperation committee between the two countries, jointly build the BRI, strengthen cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, energy, aviation and tourism, respond to global challenges, and promote the establishment of a multipolar world, he added. The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Ankara, Turkiye, on July 26, 2023. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday in Ankara, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) ANKARA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday in the Turkish capital Ankara, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported. The closed-door meeting came after Erdogan held talks with Abbas in Turkiye a day earlier. Turkiye will continue to back the Palestinian cause and support the prosperity of Palestinians, Erdogan said at the press conference, urging the Palestinian factions to unite for their cause. "The unity and reconciliation of the Palestinians are key elements in this process," Erdogan added. Erdogan stressed that the international community, especially the United Nations, should be engaged in the Palestinian issue. The Palestinians had internal divisions after Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip, home to more than two million people, in 2007. Since then, the two factions have yet to achieve reconciliation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (C) and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Ankara, Turkiye, on July 26, 2023. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday in Ankara, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) CAIRO, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Egypt on Tuesday offered its sincere condolences to Algeria over the victims of deadly wildfires, said the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. Egypt expressed solidarity with the Algerian government, people, and the families of the victims of the wildfires and wished the injured a speedy recovery, said the ministry in a statement. A total of 97 wildfires swept across 16 provinces amid high temperatures in Algeria, where at least 34 people had been killed, the Algerian Interior Ministry said on Monday. KAMPALA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan Ministry of Health on Wednesday started distributing 4.6 million free mosquito nets in 25 districts of the country's Eastern and Western regions, as the government steps up efforts to curb malaria cases. This is part of the Under the Net Malaria Campaign, under which the government will distribute up to 28.5 million mosquito nets this year and to have all citizens sleep under a mosquito net across the country, which has a population of about 47.25 million. The campaign and the distribution exercise is being carried out smoothly, Nagundi Zowenah, health inspector at Mbale Municipal Council in Eastern Uganda, told Xinhua. "We started with training and sensitizing the district, parish and village personnel who directly handle the distribution of mosquito nets in their area of operations," the inspector said. According to the World Health Organization, Uganda has one of the world's highest malaria incidence rates, accounting for about 5 percent of all cases globally. KAMPALA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Uganda has confirmed the outbreak of cholera after six people tested positive for the disease in the country's central and eastern regions. Emmanuel Ainebyoona, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, told journalists in the capital of Kampala on Wednesday that the disease had been confirmed in Uganda's central district of Kayunga and eastern district of Namayingo. "So far about three samples obtained from Kayunga confirmed positive upon testing at the public health laboratories, and also three samples in Namayingo tested positive," Ainebyoona added. "Our rapid response teams are working with the districts to ensure they contain the spread of cholera." According to the ministry, the public is being sensitized on measures such as ensuring the masses consume water from safe sources, handwashing, and ensuring that food is fully cooked. The Namayingo district health office said in a separate statement that the first suspected case was registered on July 15 when the patient presented with profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, and stomachache. In 2019, two people died in Kampala following an outbreak of cholera. A year later, at least 10 people were hospitalized following a cholera outbreak in Uganda's eastern district of Busia. Cholera is a serious acute infectious disease characterized by watery diarrhea and vomiting. DAR ES SALAAM, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The East African Business Council (EABC), a regional apex body of the private sector, has in collaboration with its partners launched the East African Business and Investment Summit 2023, aimed at charting out a common agenda to take trade to higher heights for increased prosperity, the EABC said in a statement on Wednesday. Themed "Private Sector-Driven Regional Integration for Increased Intra-African Trade, Investment & Economic Growth," the summit is slated for Aug. 31 to Sept. 1 in the Ugandan capital of Kampala, said the statement. The statement said the expo will serve as a crucial platform for key stakeholders to converge and discuss the successes, challenges, and opportunities in trade and investments within the East African Community (EAC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The summit will explore continental and global trends and discuss strategies to position the EAC as the prime investment destination in Africa, said the statement. "This summit is organized in close collaboration with all investment promotion authorities in East Africa, who will showcase investment opportunities and present viable projects ready for investment to East African, African, and international investors," said the statement. It is expected that more than 500 delegates from the continent and beyond are expected to attend, including ministers, senior government officials, industry leaders, potential investors, and financial institutions. The summit will facilitate valuable business-to-business engagements, joint ventures, partnerships and business deals, said the statement. LUSAKA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Zambia recorded an increase in gender-based violence during the second quarter of this year compared to the same quarter last year, figures released by the police Wednesday have shown. According to the data given by the Victim Support Unit of the Zambia Police, gender-based violence cases rose to 9,988 during the second quarter of the year, compared to 7,589 cases recorded during the same period last year, up 31.61 percent. According to a statement released by police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga, out of the 9,988 cases reported, 7,321 were criminal cases while 2,667 were non-criminal cases. The statement added that 29 people were killed due to gender-based violence cases during the second quarter, compared to 21 people who died during the same period last year. ALGIERS, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Algeria on Wednesday strongly condemned the ongoing attempted coup in neighboring Niger and called for an immediate end to the violence. "The Algerian government is deeply concerned about the situation in the Republic of Niger and strongly condemns the attempted coup taking place there," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The ministry reaffirmed Algeria's "categorical rejection of any unconstitutional changes" and urged "an immediate end to this unacceptable breach of the constitutional order." Niger's presidency said that the presidential guards had barricaded President Mohamed Bazoum inside his palace on Wednesday, raising fears of a potential coup in the West African nation. The fate of Bazoum remained uncertain, but his representatives told the press that he was safe. Bazoum assumed office in 2021 after winning the elections. Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Niger has witnessed four coups. HANOI, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Two Vietnamese women have been jailed for illegally trading endangered and rare turtles in large quantities in the central province of Quang Nam, Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday. The duo from Quang Nam's Thang Binh district and Phuoc Son district were sentenced to 10 years and three years in prison respectively. In October 2021, the woman from Thang Binh district was caught red-handed for illegally possessing 12 endangered turtles, including 10 Bourret's box turtles (Cuora bourreti) and two big-headed turtles (Platysternon megacephalum) at her home. Part of the reptiles were sold by the other woman. Both Bourret's box turtle and big-headed turtle are rare and endangered species which are subject to protection at the highest level under the law. Keeping, trading, and transporting them are prohibited in Vietnam, the news agency reported. In the Southeast Asian country, any act of illegally hunting, killing, raising, confining, possessing, transporting, or trading rare and endangered species or their parts and products is a serious violation of the law and may be subject to prosecution, the news agency said. KIEV, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine has allocated 40 billion hryvnias (about 1.1 billion U.S. dollars) this year to develop its drone production, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Wednesday. Currently, more than 40 Ukrainian companies that produce unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have signed contracts with the government, Shmyhal said on social media platform Facebook. The number of drone manufacturing companies in Ukraine increased by more than four-fold in the past year, driven by government investment and incentives, he said. In particular, the government has eliminated customs barriers for importing spare parts for drones and increased the profit share of the UAV manufacturers to 25 percent, Shmyhal said. According to Shmyhal, in 2022, Ukrainian drone producers attracted about 110 million dollars in investment. Blunting the Militia Campaign Against Iraq's Christian Leaders On July 12, Iraqi president Abdul Latif Rashid repealed Decree 147, Baghdad's 2013 executive order recognizing the appointment of Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako as head (Patriarch) of the Chaldean Catholic Church "in Iraq and the world" and assigning him responsibility "for the assets of the Church." A day later, the Karkh district court reportedly issued a summons to the Patriarch over media comments he made about Rayan al-Kildani, a U.S.-sanctioned human rights abuser who formed the 50th Brigade of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (aka Kataib Babiliyoun). The Patriarch then withdrew to a monastery in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), much like past Christian leaders were compelled to do during times of persecution. U.S. ambassador Alina Romanowski quickly protested the government's actions and was summonsed for censure by Rashid's office. She is taking a brave stand against such continued abuses and power grabs by Iran-backed militias and will need strong backing from the White House, State Department, and Congress. Kildani must not be allowed to continue smearing and weakening the Patriarch and asserting himself as the leader of Iraq's Christians--a role that would place billions of dollars' worth of Christian properties at his disposal. A Campaign to Erode Interfaith Tolerance Decree 147 is part of a longstanding symbolic tradition of interfaith tolerance in Iraq, with roots in the early Islamic period that continued through the Ottoman Empire into the modern era. In the past, the Caliph of Baghdad would issue an edict that gave each new Patriarch temporal power over the Christian population, permitting him to oversee matters of personal status in accordance with church law and tasking him with collecting tributes for the treasury as the caliph's representative. Similar decrees were issued to leaders of other religions and sects (e.g., the Syriac Catholic Church, Yazidis, Sabean-Mandaeans). This month's repeal of the decree spurred condemnations from across the interfaith spectrum. The office of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's top Shia religious authority, reached out to Sako on July 15 and expressed "dismay" over how the cardinal had been treated, while the Sunni-led Association of Muslim Scholars in Baghdad opposed the move against him. And on July 22, five of Iraq's Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian political parties took the unprecedented step of uniting under one list for upcoming elections, driven in part by Kildani's ongoing campaign and the manipulation of Christian quota seats (see below). Kildani has sought to dominate Iraq's Christian community for some time now, but numerous factors show he has no claim to such status: Fake Christian voter base. Although Kildani controls four of the five quota seats allocated to Christians in the national parliament, his movement did not win these seats because of support from the Christian community. According to the authors' close examination of electoral data from 2018 and 2021, his candidates received thousands of votes from heavily Shia provinces that have only tiny Christian communities due to decades of displacement. Pattern of corrupting and coopting Christian leaders. After repeated overtures, Kildani eventually succeeded in convincing former Syriac Catholic archbishop Youhanna Boutros Moshe to stop resisting Kataib Babiliyoun's plans for establishing a base of power in the Hamdaniya district. As a result, Iraq's last Christian militia regiment, the Nineveh Plains Protection Units, was recently forced under Babiliyoun's banner. Siding with Iran and its proxies. Kildani supports an Iran-backed militia narrative that is completely foreign to Iraq's Christian community. He has long been close to top U.S.-designated terrorists, from the late Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis to current militia leader Qais al-Khazali. He has also allowed militia forces to loot Christian monasteries in the Nineveh Plains, among other abuses. Unsurprisingly, Kildani and his supporters have been roundly rejected by Christian communities in Iraq and globally. At the Vatican, Pope Francis has refused to grant audiences to him and members of his circle (e.g., Minister of Migration and Displacement Evan Faeq Jabro). And as far back as 2017, Sako's Patriarchate asserted that Kildani "does not represent Christians in any way. His unfortunate statements aim to create abhorrent sectarian strife." Kildani's Mammoth Land Grab Kildani's ultimate objective is to become the sole decisionmaker regarding property that Iraqi Christians have left behind after two decades of being persecuted, killed, or forced to flee their homes. Toward this end, he is trying to intimidate the seventy-five-year-old Sako into exile and retirement so he can coopt the Patriarch's successor. With the Christian community's political and security pillars weakened, the church is the only remaining Iraqi institution that can defend their interests. The property in question is spread over Iraq but concentrated in Baghdad and Nineveh, with a total value in the billions. Of the two million Christians who lived in Iraq before the 2003 war, only 5-6 percent remain, and various reports have extensively documented the illegal--and ongoing--confiscation of their lands and other property. Kildani's circle and Kataib Babiliyoun are viewed as the main perpetrators in forging documents to facilitate the sale of such property in Baghdad. And when Christians in the diaspora attempt to legally claim what was stolen from them, militias often threaten the lawyers acting on their behalf. Implications for U.S. Policy This issue has broader implications for U.S. security interests in Iraq beyond the important goal of protecting Christian leaders. Accordingly, Washington needs to act--and urge Baghdad to act as well. The following steps are most crucial in the near term: Keep appealing to President Rashid. His repeal of Decree 147 came just one day after he met with Kildani. President Rashid is an old friend of the United States and will not be happy to hear that Washington increasingly believes he and his party--the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan--are turning alarmingly toward Iran and its host of proxy militias and human rights abusers. He is clearly concerned about reputational damage, as he showed when he tried to downplay the repeal's significance. Moreover, he has not repealed similar decrees protecting other religions and sects, underlining that this was a targeted action in which Kildani--essentially an institutional nobody in the broader scope of Iraq's national government--told the country's president what to do. Rashid cannot avoid responsibility for this action; Washington should urge him to undo the damage. Helping Sako return to Baghdad safely and visiting him at his residence there would be a good start, since this would reinforce the government's acknowledgment of the Patriarch's religious, national, and international significance. End vote-rigging of minority quota seats. The United States should quietly encourage Iraqi leaders to ensure that election laws include a closed quota, where only members of that community can vote for the quota seats allocated to them. For instance, the Christian Endowment could issue special voting cards to prevent manipulation of their seat allocations. This issue has much wider national implications because Kildani and his Kurdish partners will likely try to dominate Christian quota seats in the KRI's next parliamentary elections in late 2023-early 2024, potentially foreshadowing similar tactics in future federal elections. Leverage the U.S. religious freedom report. When the annual State Department Report on International Religious Freedom is compiled later this year for release in May 2024, it should reflect whether the Iraqi government is appropriately protecting its Christian community. If Baghdad fails in this regard, Congress should alter its provision of foreign assistance accordingly. Create a more stable base for minority religious authorities. Iraq's parliament should be encouraged to formalize the authority of Christian religious leaders in the federal constitution so that executive actions like Decree 147 can no longer be used as leverage against them. The Ministry of Justice could quickly issue endowment deeds to the heads of all Iraqi churches, thereby reassuring everyone that the state has no plans to take over lands or properties belonging to the community. Encourage Iraq's judiciary to act on legal cases against Kildani. The Patriarch is being taken to court by Kildani, and the judiciary is rapidly processing the case, yet attempts to bring Kildani to court over allegedly libelous comments he made about Sako have resulted in no action. This suggests that Supreme Judicial Council head Faeq Zaidan and the wider judiciary are serving militia interests and not the law. Washington should urge Zaidan to end this practice. Investigate Kildani's broader network. U.S. sanctions authorities should take a closer look at the role his circle has played in facilitating militia abuses. Those who merit particular scrutiny include his brother-in-law Nawfal Bahaa (who runs his operations in Qaraqosh) along with three of Kildani's blood brothers: Osama (the commander of Kataib Babiliyoun), Aswan (a member of parliament), and Sarmad (the former deputy minister of migration). Yaqoub Beth-Addai is an Iraqi specialist on security and militia issues in the Nineveh Plains region. Michael Knights is the Bernstein Fellow at The Washington Institute and cofounder of its Militia Spotlight platform. WASHINGTON, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Three U.S. Marines, who were found dead on Sunday in a car parked in North Carolina, died from carbon monoxide poisoning, the Pender County Sheriff's Office said in a press release on Wednesday. Autopsies were performed on the bodies of the three Marines on Wednesday by the North Carolina Office of Medical Examiner. All three deaths are consistent due to carbon monoxide poisoning, said the Pender County Sheriff's Office. On Sunday morning, the Pender County Sheriff's Office Communications received a call regarding a missing person. The caller indicated that her son was a U.S. Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune and that he had failed to arrive on a flight in Oklahoma the night before. The missing person was later found dead, along with two other Marines, inside a vehicle parked at a convenience store in Hampstead, North Carolina, 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Camp Lejeune. The three Marines were identified as Tanner J. Kaltenberg, 19, from Madison, Wisconsin; Merax C. Dockery, 23, from Pottawatomie, Oklahoma; Ivan R. Garcia, 23, from Naples, Florida. "I am saddened by the timeless and tragic death of these three young men, who served our country honorably. Our thoughts and prayers remain with their families and colleagues during this time," said Pender County Sheriff Alan W. Cutler in the press release. NEW YORK, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Economic sanctions kill people by weakening the economy in public and private sectors, causing job and income loss, and by reducing people's access to food, medicine, medical supplies and health care, said an article published by independent news outlet Common Dreams on Tuesday. In early 2019, the White House threatened to invade Venezuela, take down the government and replace it with their choice of president and political party. Though no missiles have been fired and no bombs dropped on the country, the U.S. government is waging a war by other means, namely criminal economic sanctions, to achieve the same end, according the opinion article. "And they are just as lethal," said the article. The sadistic logic of these sanctions is clear: Put pressure on the target government by ripping apart the social and economic fabric of the country, it said. "Make people suffer increasingly until the country plunges into chaos, until as some point you can step in and force your choice of government on that country," said the article. The United States has a history of undermining and overturning democratically elected governments (Iran in 1953, Chile in 1973, Guatemala in 1954, El Salvador in 1960, Honduras in 2009, to name a few). "Yet we hypocritically demonize other governments for endangering our national security," the article added. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has indirectly voiced concerns about China, proposing a collaboration among the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) to enlist terrorists and their proxies under the UN counter-terrorism sanctions regime. Nevertheless, NSA underscored the significance of conducting this process impartially, avoiding any political interference or biased standards. Essentially, he advocated for a fair and unbiased approach to counter-terrorism measures within the BRICS nations. Ajit Doval made these remarks during the meeting of the BRICS National Security Advisors held on Tuesday. China's representation was in the hands of Wang Yi, who had recently been reappointed as the country's foreign minister, succeeding Qin Gang's removal. Wang had previously served as China's foreign minister from 2013 to 2022 and currently holds the position of director of the foreign affairs department of the ruling Communist Party of China, making him the top diplomat for China. Ajit Doval highlighted that China, being a steadfast ally of Pakistan, has consistently hindered attempts at the United Nations Security Council to designate groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and other Pakistan-based operatives as international terrorists. He emphasized that the BRICS countries could discover common ground in addressing counter-terrorism measures and work together towards this goal. "It is vital that the decision-making of the UNSC sanctions committee remains free from politicization and double standards," he asserted. During the 13th BRICS National Security Advisors (NSAs) meeting, Ajit Doval emphasized that terrorism continues to pose a significant threat to national peace and security. The BRICS bloc, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, gathered to discuss security-related matters and foster cooperation among its member nations. Doval pointed out that this BRICS NSAs meeting occurred amid a significant transformation in the international security landscape. He highlighted that non-traditional challenges related to food, water, and energy security are experiencing strain, and South Africa's inclusion of these topics in the BRICS NSA's Meeting reflects a comprehensive understanding of broader security dimensions. According to Doval, water security is a significant global concern, and responsible usage and conservation of water should be a collective responsibility. He raised an alarm about the growing trend of weaponizing water and stressed the crucial necessity for complete transparency and unrestricted information exchange, especially concerning shared cross-border water resources. "The politicization of water needs to be countered," he stated. India expressed concerns over China's dam construction in Tibet, which affects the Brahmaputra River, raising issues related to water security and regional cooperation. Doval pointed out that the United Nations has designated 2023 as the International Year of Millets, highlighting India's support for educational and behavioral approaches to environmental conservation. He mentioned India's initiatives like Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE), aiming to promote sustainable lifestyles and individual contributions to environmental protection. He noted that India played a significant role in the global food supply system and had assisted many countries during the pandemic. He stressed that, along with food supply, ensuring unhindered availability of fertilizers is crucial. He warned that today's fertilizer shortage could lead to tomorrow's food crisis. Doval emphasized that research and development hold primacy in the cyber domain to confront common threats and risks arising from emerging technologies. He expressed satisfaction with the BRICS working group on ICTs identifying cutting-edge areas like AI, quantum computing, cloud security, Blockchain, and the Internet of Things as possible research topics. He highlighted that the opportunities presented by the digital age would also bring challenges, necessitating unity to fortify cyber defenses, foster international cooperation, and build resilient national cyberinfrastructure. He stressed that cyber-attacks transcend borders and raised concerns about the linkage between cyber criminals and terrorists. Doval stated that supply chain disruptions have disproportionately affected the food security of vulnerable populations. Addressing this issue urgently requires a shared commitment and common responsibility, he asserted. He emphasized the importance of access to a secure and affordable supply of critical materials for the development of clean energy technologies. During India's G20 Presidency, one of the priorities is voicing the concerns of developing countries. India proposes to create a global biofuel alliance under G-20, Doval said. NSA Doval Meets Chinese Diplomat Wang Yi, Discusses Bilateral Ties NSA Ajit Doval calls on SL President Ranil Wickremesinghe Nestled in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria is a country that boasts a fascinating history, diverse landscapes, and a vibrant cultural heritage. From ancient civilizations to medieval kingdoms and beyond, Bulgaria's past has left an indelible mark on the region, making it a captivating destination for travelers and history enthusiasts alike. Bulgaria's history dates back thousands of years, with evidence of human habitation as far back as the Paleolithic era. The Thracians, an ancient Indo-European civilization, were among the earliest inhabitants, leaving behind traces of their culture in stunning archaeological sites like the Thracian tombs and the Valley of the Kings. Over the centuries, Bulgaria's strategic location made it a coveted territory for various empires. During the medieval period, the Byzantine Empire and the Bulgarian Empire vied for dominance, resulting in the construction of impressive fortresses and religious monuments that still stand today. In the 7th century, the First Bulgarian Empire emerged, uniting the diverse tribes of the region under a single ruler. The empire flourished under leaders like Khan Krum and Tsar Simeon, witnessing a golden age of arts, literature, and architecture. Bulgaria's cultural legacy extends beyond its borders. In the 9th century, Saints Cyril and Methodius, two Byzantine brothers from Thessaloniki, created the Cyrillic alphabet, which would become the basis for many Slavic languages, including Bulgarian. Bulgaria fell under Ottoman rule for nearly five centuries, leaving a profound impact on its culture and society. The period of Ottoman rule was marked by resistance and revolts, leading to the eventual liberation of Bulgaria in 1878. Following liberation, Bulgaria embarked on a path of nation-building and modernization. The early 20th century witnessed political turmoil and participation in both World Wars. However, the country's resilience and spirit persevered through difficult times. Bulgaria's cultural heritage is a tapestry of diverse traditions, art, music, and cuisine. Traditional Bulgarian music, with its hauntingly beautiful polyphonic harmonies, has been recognized as an UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. The country's culinary delights, such as banitsa (a savory pastry) and rakia (a fruit brandy), are not to be missed. Bulgaria boasts an array of architectural wonders, from ancient Roman amphitheaters in Plovdiv to the majestic Rila Monastery in the Rila Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The capital city, Sofia, showcases an intriguing mix of ancient, Ottoman, and modern architecture. Nature lovers are drawn to Bulgaria's diverse landscapes, which include the snow-capped peaks of the Balkan Mountains, the serene Black Sea coast, and the picturesque Rhodope Mountains, steeped in mythology. Above all, Bulgaria is renowned for its warm hospitality and welcoming spirit. Visitors are greeted with open arms and treated to the country's rich cultural traditions and warm-hearted hospitality. In conclusion, Bulgaria is a captivating destination that weaves together a rich historical tapestry, cultural treasures, and breathtaking landscapes. As travelers venture through its ancient ruins, vibrant cities, and picturesque countryside, they are sure to be enchanted by the allure and beauty of this Balkan gem. Also read -Five Moroccan migrants drown off Western Sahara: NGO Defending Honor and Integrity: Rajnath Singh's Address on Kargil Vijay Divas Netanyahu is losing support in Israel's polls due to judicial reform Khuiratta: Mohammed Naeem Butt turned around after spending weeks in Libya attempting to travel illegally to Europe, abandoning a journey that has already claimed hundreds of Pakistani lives this summer. He claims that his perilous quest for a better life came to an end last month when an overloaded fishing trawler sank off the coast of Greece while he was shovelling sand onto a truck surrounded by Pakistan's Kashmir Valley. According to estimates, up to 350 Pakistanisincluding 24 from Butt's hometown of Khuiratta in the verdant Kashmir Valleywere among the 600 people who perished in the water. Also Read: Blinken's Bold Move: Tiny Tonga Becomes Battleground in US-China Pacific Showdown With hindsight, I see that the risk I took was not worthwhile, Butt admitted. Butt is one of several Khuiratta men who told AFP that the disaster led them to abandon their journey once they arrived in Libya. He declared, "Quality time spent with your spouse and children, not how much money you have, defines life." Agents who smuggle family fortunes to Europe, where remittances which have become even more valuable since Pakistan's economy collapsed last year can be wired home, have received tens of thousands of young men's trust. Also Read: Inferno at Sea: Tragic Ship Fire Claims Life Amidst 3,000 Car Cargo Chaos To raise the 2.2 million rupees (roughly $7,500) he needed to pay the human traffickers orchestrating the trips, Butt asked for assistance from friends and family and had his wife sell her priceless wedding jewellery. Commercial flights to Dubai and Egypt, followed by an overland trip to Libya, where his ordeal really began, made up the first legs of his journey without incident. He waited for the day they would be loaded onto a cargo ship to travel across the Mediterranean for two months in a makeshift shanty camp with 600 other migrants. Instead, Butt claimed, they were crammed onto a rickety fishing boat and forced to drift in international waters for eight days before being fired upon and then rammed by a Libyan naval vessel. He added that the only reason they were able to survive was because the navy ship abandoned them when a storm hit; however, it later came back to tow them back to port, where they were locked up. A plate of macaroni or boiled rice would be shared by five people, according to Butt, who claimed that they were only given enough food to keep them alive. "They were vicious individuals." News of the migrant boat sinking off the coast of Greece reached his hometown while he was incarcerated, bringing sadness and distress. Butt's wife Mehwish Matloob said, "I can't explain the pain and anguish I went through for a week." The 31-year-old said, clutching a shawl, "I felt as though my entire world had crumbled before me." Butt eventually managed to leave prison and make contact with his family to let them know he was still alive. The Mediterranean Sea is the world's most dangerous migration route, according to the International Organisation for Migration. There have been more missing migrants this year (1,728) than there were in 2022 (1,417 disappearances). More than 175 young people from Khuiratta alone left for Europe illegally last year, according to Zafar Iqbal Ghazi of the Kashmir Human Rights Forum group. He predicts that the recent pause following the boat incident in Greece will only be momentary. Also Read: Taliban's Surprise Visit: Indonesia Welcomes Informal Delegation The Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan reported that 69 smugglers had been detained since a crackdown began last month, but prosecutions will be challenging. The difficulty is that the majority of these young people have valid visas for Dubai, which they use as a jumping-off point to travel to Libya, an FIA official told AFP while speaking on the condition of anonymity New Delhi:- Lieutenant General Yogesh Kumar Joshi, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VrC, SM, ADC (born 5 January 1962) is a retired officer in the Indian Army. He succeeded Lt. Gen. Ranvir Singh as commander-in-chief of the Northern Forces on 1 February 2020. Until recently, he was the Chief of Staff of the Northern Army, succeeding Lieutenant General SK Sharma. He previously served as commander of the Leh-based Fire and Fury Force. As an army commander, he is credited with pioneering India's response to the PLA's attempts to change the status quo in the Line of Actual Control (LAC) through the use of force. He is the only military commander to have fought successfully against India's rivals China and Pakistan. Gen Joshi hails from Faridabad, Haryana but completed his schooling in Jhansi and Faridabad, making him well known throughout India from his childhood and teenage years and is the son of R.P. Joshi. He was a graduate of his 60th course and was assigned to Kilo his K Squadron at the National Defense College, Kadakwasra, Pune, Maharashtra. He then attended the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun. Also Read:- All India Radio set to host historic Pahari show near LoC in Keran He was used for 13 Jammu and Kashmir guns. He finished his teaching career at the Muhau Infantry School, where he was responsible for training in anti-tank weapons systems. The epitome of a "learned warrior", he attended the Defense Staff College in Wellington and was first assigned to the Directorate General of Military Operations. Since then, he has served three times in the Directorate General of Military Operations, holding various roles and developing his professional competence in operational paradigms involving both India's potential adversaries, China and Pakistan. He had the honor of commanding a brigade in eastern Ladakh and a division in the same region, gaining first-hand ground knowledge that was useful during Operation Snow Leopard. He also served as the ADG of the Military Operations Department at Army Headquarters during the critical period of the surgical attack on Pakistan in 2016 and was responsible for operational planning in the Military Operations Department. Prior to his appointment as GOC of XIV Corps, he led infantry modernization efforts with missionary zeal as Commander-in-Chief of the Infantry. Numerous weapon systems and equipment were procured under his leadership, such as the Sig Saul Rifle. He is a Colonel of Jammu and Kashmir Rifle Regiment and Ladakh Scouts and is deeply involved in the welfare and development of the people in the remote areas of Ladakh. He is the 17th Commander of the 14th Corps of the Indian Army and assumed the post on 31 August 2018. This was General Joshi's fourth term in office to deal with the Chinese military. He took over the post from Lieutenant General Santosh Kumar Upadhya. Also Read:- Worshipping todays Day as the 24th Kargil Diwas in memorial of all the Brave Soldiers The uniqueness that General Joshi brought to the post was not only his fluency in Chinese, but also that he had already served three missions in the eastern districts of Ladakh, commanding brigades and divisions, before becoming commander of the Fire Corps. It is also a fact. It took over. He also served as China's Defense Attache (2005-2008), negotiating the technical aspects of the first joint India-China exercise, "Hand in Hand", in Kunming in 2007, and assisting in military engagement with China. He chaired the negotiations. The PLA holds him in high esteem and awe of his skill as a soldier and diplomat. At various meetings after the Galwan incident, the Chinese generals showed great reverence and were always aware of his presence as commander of the mission. The military's top decision-making bodies relied on valuable insight into their capabilities in China, the PLA, and India. Also Read:- Great Captain Vijayant Thapar Roared the last Fight and Finally got caught in Hands of Mother Earth Lieutenant Colonel Yogesh Kumar Joshi (13th Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Regiment) was tasked with capturing strategic point 5140 in the Dras district during Operation Vijay. Lieutenant Colonel Joshi devised a brilliant plan involving coordinated actions to achieve complete surprise and psychological superiority against an enemy in a tactically advantageous position. He also personally supervised all pre-attack preparatory actions. During the June 20, 1999 attack, Lieutenant Colonel Joshi continued to inspire his company commander and continued his advance with complete disregard for his own safety. With extraordinary mental strength, he reacted very competently to changing combat situations. His frontline leadership and advances in battle served to boost the morale of the attacking forces. Inspired by him, the assault squadron approached over vast superiority, rugged and unforgiving terrain, and enemy fire to capture the crest of objective key point 5140. Also Read:- Captain Anuj Nayyar to sacrifice his life for India Lieutenant Colonel Yogesh Kumar Joshi displayed exemplary leadership, superior command and control, and courage above and beyond the call of duty, killing six enemy invaders and recapturing strategic point 5140 in the Drath district. During his career, he received the Param Visisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yud Seva Medal for Fire Brigade Commander (Republic Day 2020) and Athi Visisht Seva Medal (2016) in January 2022. Republic Day) and Vir Chakra (Independence). 1999) Involvement in Operation Vijay and recognition of the Senna Medal. Also Read:- Jaswant Singh Rawat - A Tale of Glory and Survival in the Kargil War Lieutenant General Yogesh Kumar Joshi who served for the Indian for Years finally got retires with all the respect that he actually deserves after contributing himself from the whole and sole for the Indian Army. The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 on March 8, 2014, remains one of the most perplexing and tragic aviation mysteries in modern history. The flight, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, vanished from radar screens with 239 passengers and crew on board. Despite extensive search efforts and investigations, the aircraft's final location and the circumstances surrounding its disappearance remain unknown. This article delves into the events leading up to the incident, the search efforts, and the theories that have emerged over the years in an attempt to shed light on the enigmatic vanishing of Flight MH370. 1. The Fateful Flight The ill-fated MH370 took off from Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 12:41 am local time. The Boeing 777-200ER was scheduled to arrive in Beijing at 6:30 am, but tragedy struck when communication with the aircraft was lost less than an hour after takeoff. 2. The Initial Search and Confusion As soon as the disappearance was noticed, an extensive search and rescue operation were initiated in the South China Sea, where the last radar contact was established. However, the search efforts soon expanded as additional data suggested the aircraft might have changed course. 3. The New Flight Path Evidence from satellite communications indicated that Flight MH370 had deviated from its planned route and continued flying for several hours after losing radar contact. The new analysis pointed to two possible corridors: a northern route stretching from Thailand to Kazakhstan and a southern route extending deep into the southern Indian Ocean. 4. The Largest Search in Aviation History The international search effort for MH370 became the most extensive and costly in aviation history. Various countries, including Australia, Malaysia, China, and the United States, coordinated search operations across vast oceanic areas. Despite deploying cutting-edge technology and sophisticated equipment, no conclusive evidence of the aircraft's whereabouts was found for years. 5. Theories and Speculations The absence of concrete evidence led to numerous theories and speculations about the fate of MH370. Some suggested it was a deliberate act of pilot suicide, while others proposed the possibility of hijacking or terrorism. Additional conjectures ranged from electrical fires to mechanical failures, but none provided a definitive explanation. 6. The Debris Discoveries In 2015, a piece of debris confirmed to be from MH370 was found on Reunion Island, off the coast of Africa. Subsequent discoveries of debris in various locations further fueled hope that the mystery might be resolved. However, most debris proved inconclusive in pinpointing the aircraft's crash site. 7. The Ocean Infinity Search In 2018, the private company Ocean Infinity conducted an extensive search in the southern Indian Ocean, using advanced technology to scan the seabed. Despite covering a significant area, the plane's wreckage remained elusive. 8. The Official Conclusion In July 2018, the Malaysian government released a final report, stating that the available evidence was insufficient to determine the cause of the disappearance. The report did, however, rule out mechanical failure and suggested that the aircraft was likely under manual control when it crashed. 9. Ongoing Investigations The investigation into the disappearance of Flight MH370 remains open, and the international aviation community continues to seek answers. Authorities and experts collaborate to analyze available data and explore new avenues to uncover the truth behind the enigmatic incident. The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 is a haunting reminder of the uncertainties that still exist in modern aviation. The vanishing of the aircraft with its passengers and crew continues to leave an indelible mark on the aviation industry and the world. Until the day when definitive answers are found, the mystery of MH370 will persist, serving as a poignant reminder of the importance of aviation safety and the human quest for understanding the unknown. PM Modi, President honor Kargil bravehearts on Vijay Diwas Secretary Blinken's Historic Visit to Tonga Signals U.S. Commitment to Pacific Allies Amidst Rising China Tensions India's Defense Minister Declares Bold Stand: Ready to Cross LoC to Safeguard Honor and Sovereignty Amman: In an effort to strengthen ties with the Middle East, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly started a three-day trip there on Tuesday, according to Jordan News Agency. The journeyto Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordanoccurs after the UK government declared that Jordanian and Gulf nationals will profit from a new electronic travel authorization visa programme. Travellers from the Gulf and Jordan will find the UK to be more accessible and affordable thanks to the programme. Also Read: Justice Prevails: Guilty Verdicts Delivered in Brussels 2016 Attack Trial According to a statement from the British Embassy in Amman, trade and investment with the Gulf region are essential to assisting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's aspirations for economic growth. All three nations are also important allies of the UK in the fields of energy, defence, and security. The statement also noted that in 2022, UK trade with Kuwait and Qatar was expected to total $23.2 billion. Also Read: Mediterranean Sizzles: Record-Breaking Heat Hits the Seas Tuesday in Amman, Cleverly will meet with his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi, and make an announcement about up to 1.5 million in funding for Jordan's projects supporting women and girls. Safadi will also meet with representatives from the UNHCR and the World Food Programme, where he will announce funding of 30 million over three years to provide cash assistance and support to Jordan's poorest refugees. An estimated 70,000 refugees in camps and host communities would receive basic food and daily necessities as a result each year. Cleverly declared that "the UK's mutually beneficial relations with the Gulf and Jordan continue to thrive." The foreign minister expressed pride in the collaboration between the UK and Jordan on shared objectives, such as boosting business ties and security, "for the benefit of us all. Also Read: Following boat tragedies, Pakistanis give up on trying to reach Europe He continued, "The UK also remains dedicated to assisting refugees and host communities, working in partnership with our partners to aid the most vulnerable in the area. Cleverly will also meet with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, the prime minister of Qatar, on Tuesday in Doha before travelling to Kuwait to meet with Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the crown prince. Enemy whistleblower nabbed in Mykolaiv 26 July, 01:42 PM The SBU detained an enemy informer in Mykolaiv (Photo:/Telegram) The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has detained a Russian informant caught helping to facilitate attacks on crucial logistic facilities in Mykolaiv Oblast, the service reported on July 26. The occupiers hoped to hinder logistics support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine involved in the ongoing counter-offensive operation. The defendant attempted to identify key railway bridges used by military units on the southern front. He also covertly recorded the movement of personnel and equipment. Video of day According to the SBU, the suspect was actively engaged in pro-Kremlin Telegram channels, where he often posted anti-Ukrainian comments, which led to his remote recruitment by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). The man was charged with violating two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. He faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted. The SBU arrested another Mykolaiv resident on May 28. He collected data on Ukrainian military units, as well as information about key facilities near the frontline in the south of Ukraine. He also faces up to 12 years in prison. 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 German military has no strategic objections to Ukraines counteroffensive Ukrainian Ambassador 26 July, 11:00 PM German flag (Photo:Noel / Pixabay) The Bundeswehr command has no objections regarding the strategic planning and execution of Ukraines ongoing counteroffensive, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, said in a comment to news agency Ukrinform on July 26. According to the diplomat, "at the strategic level, there is no dissatisfaction with the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Furthermore, Ukraine maintains ongoing communication with the German Defense Ministry, allowing for the exchange of expertise and advice." We often approach our German partners with requests to conduct so-called After-Action Reviews a standard procedure performed post-operations or after each day of training, to evaluate what was executed correctly and what wasn't, said Makeiev. Video of day We highly value their advice on what actions to take and how to proceed. This happens at both the tactical and strategic levels and contributes to the preparedness of our Armed Forces. The ambassador further emphasized that Berlin is aware of the situation regarding Ukraine's insufficient armament, specifically when it comes to armored vehicles, air defense systems, and aircraft. Therefore, when discussing Kampf der verbundenen Waffen (combined arms warfare), we must recognize that unfortunately, we are lacking in areas such as long-range artillery and air superiority, Makeiev explains. Read also: Drunk occupiers in Tiger armored vehicle collide with civilian car in Melitopol Given these conditions, our actions are fully understood and supported by the higher (German) command. On July 25, Bild reported that an internal Bundeswehr report criticized the tactics utilized by the Ukrainian military during the counteroffensive, particularly the approach of pushing forwards using isolated small infantry squads. 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 US Congressmen Urge Baghdad to Reinstate Cardinal Sako, Drop Charges Against Him Two Congressmen from the state of Michigan, one a Democrat and the other a Republican, have called on Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani to restore Iraq's official recognition of Cardinal Louis Sako as head of the Chaldean Church in Iraq. They also cited the order that Iraq's High Judicial Council issued on July 12 against the Christian leader, demanding that he appear in court on charges of defamation. The two Congressmen called for that order to be withdrawn or dismissed. That order was issued just nine days after Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid withdrew official recognition of Sako's position, prompting the senior cleric to flee to the Kurdistan Region. It is difficult to understand the action of the Iraqi president--although officials of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) did advise him against it. Moreover, rather than back off from what he had done, Rashid, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), appeared to double-down on his initial move, attacking the U.S., after it criticized his harassment of Cardinal Sako. However, the action of the Iraqi court is readily explained. Already in early 2022, Iran succeeded in suborning the Iraqi judiciary, as described by Michael Knights, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Calling it a "judicial coup," Knights explained how Esmail Qaani, head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), met with the head of Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zaydan, under the auspices of former Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, in January 2022. That meeting and the suborning of the Iraqi judiciary that followed led to a protracted stalemate in the formation of an Iraqi government after the 2021 elections. It also led to the denial of the Iraqi presidency to Hoshyar Zebari. A member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Zebari was Iraq's first foreign minister after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. Before that, he was a prominent figure in the Iraqi opposition--eminently qualified to be Iraq's president, but that was never offered to him. The Iraqi measures against Sako are being taken on behalf of another Christian figure, Rayan al-Kildani, who heads a Christian militia, the 50th Brigade, which is associated with the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF.) The U.S. sanctioned Kildani in 2019 for his brutality. The year before, a video had appeared showing Kildani cutting off the ear of a prisoner! For those who know the two Kurdish leaders, it is inconceivable that Zebari would act against Sako on behalf of Kildani, as Rashid has done. Thus, Iran seems to have done well in regard to the Iraqi presidency. The PUK has long been relatively close to Iran and even more so since 2017, with the death of its founder and long-time leader, Jalal Talabani. Talabani was succeeded as head of the PUK by his oldest son, Bafel, and Bafel is close to Kildani, as an informed source advised Kurdistan 24. On Monday, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, and Rep. John Moolenaar, a Republican from Michigan, wrote to Sudani about Iraq's mistreatment of the Chaldean patriarch. "We write to implore you," their letter says "to reinstate official recognition" of Cardinal Sako "as the head of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and the world, restore Patriarch Sako's authority to administer the Chaldean endowment, and withdraw or dismiss the unjust charges of defamation brought against him." They noted that on July 3, Rashid withdrew Iraq's official recognition of Sako's status. Nine days later, following on Rashid's move, "the Iraqi High Judicial Council issued an order for Patriarch Sako to appear in court on charges of defamation and stated that failure to appear within 48 hours of the court order's issuance would result in a warrant for the Patriarch's arrest," the two Congressmen explained. Of course, Cardinal Sako did not follow that dubious and dangerous order. Instead, he went to Erbil, where he was warmly welcomed by the most senior of Kurdish leaders. Indeed, in meeting the Cardinal in Erbil on Sunday, Masoud Barzani, head of the KDP, expressed his hope that Rashid would review and correct his decision. However, there has not been the least indication that Rashid is inclined to do so. It is, thus, difficult to escape the conclusion that this is politics, and Rashid is merely repaying some debt--whether his own or the PUK's more broadly. Italian Senate recognizes Holodomor as genocide of the Ukrainian people 26 July, 09:30 PM Holodomor (Photo:Embassy of Ukraine in the USA / Facebook) The upper chamber of the Italian parliament the Senate of the Republic has voted to recognize Holodomor of 1932-1933 as genocide of the Ukrainian people, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a Twitter post on July 26. Im grateful to the Italian Senate for recognizing the 1932-1933 Holodomor as genocide of the Ukrainian people, said Kuleba. Read also: French Senate recognizes Holodomor as genocide of the Ukrainian people This important step restores historical justice, honors millions of victims, and warns future generations against the crime of genocide. Grazie mille. Head of the Presidents Office, Andriy Yermak, also commented on the decision of the Italian Senate on Telegram. Video of day Read also: Croatia recognizes Holodomor as genocide of Ukrainian people "I welcome the recognition of the Holodomor as genocide by the Italian Senate; calling things by their names is the key that will prevent the repetition of horrific crimes," Yermak wrote. Yermak added that Ukraine is grateful to Italy for its substantial and multifaceted support in fighting against Russian aggression. Since Russias full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, a number of countries recognized the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as genocide of the Ukrainian people: the UK, Slovenia, Belgium, Ireland, Romania, Moldova, the Czech Republic, Germany, Iceland, France, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, and Croatia. The European Parliament passed a similar resolution on Dec. 15, 2022. 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 Lukashenko muses about Wagner attacking Poland to distract Ukraines NATO and EU allies 25 July, 05:07 PM Alexander Lukashenko (Photo:Press Service of the President of the Republic of Belarus/Handout via REUTERS) The Belarusian self-proclaimed president Alexander Lukashenko's claims about the desire of Wagner PMC mercenaries to attack Poland are transparent psychological operations (PSYOP), Defense Intelligence of Ukraine representative, Andriy Yusov, said on national television on July 25. "It is PSYOP to draw attention to both 'Wagnerites' and Belarus, in order to get our EU and NATO partners stressed and obsessed with the situation on the border with Belarus and to destruct them from supporting Ukraine," Yusov said, calling Lukashenkos actions a "collective PSYOP". "Lukashenko speaks loudly but threatens no one in particular. He referred to 'Wagnerites' who are now in Belarus." Video of day Yusov noted that an attack on Poland would be suicide. During the meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko said that Wagner Group mercenaries stress him out because they allegedly want to attack Poland. Wagnerites in Belarus: What is Known Wagners mercenary leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced the beginning of an armed conflict with the Russian Defense Ministry on the evening of June 23, claiming that he wanted to restore justice in Russia. The one-day munity was halted after negotiations between Lukashenko and Prigozhin. Putin presented the Wagner troops with three options, one of which involved their deployment to Belarus. Shortly after, reports emerged of camp constructions in Belarus intended to accommodate the Wagner fighters. Satellite images of a potential private military contractor field camp were subsequently released. While Lukashenko denied the existence of any camps specifically for the Wagner troops, he mentioned that they would be provided with accommodation if necessary. Belarus has the capacity to host approximately 8,000 Wagner PMC mercenaries, said the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Ukrainian intelligence cautioned against premature conclusions regarding the transfer of Wagner fighters to Belarus. Later, information surfaced suggesting that the Wagner fighters in Belarus would be involved in training Belarusian nationals for combat. This statement was supported by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and on July 12, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus confirmed negotiations regarding the training of Belarusian special forces. 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 New drone factory in Russia could significantly impact war in Ukraine report 26 July, 04:45 AM Iranian drone Shahed-131 (Photo:tvtoront/Twitter) Moscow and Tehran are building a factory in Russia that will manufacture Iranian-designed combat drones, which could have a significant impact on the war in Ukraine, CNN reported on July 25, citing U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency analysts. The analysts noted that such a factory would provide Russia with new supplies of drones, allowing the country to obtain significantly more kamikaze drones than Iran currently supplies. The analysts also reported that Iran regularly sends equipment to Russia to assist with the construction of the factory. Video of day The agency stressed that Iran has so far only transferred about 400 drones to Russia, including models such as the Shahed 131, 136, and Mohajer. However, this arsenal is nearly depleted. The report also says that the United States possesses "irrefutable evidence" that Russia is using Iranian kamikaze drones, despite Tehran's repeated denials. Furthermore, components of the drones used by Russia in Ukraine correspond to those found in Iraq, which were Iranian-made. According to U.S. intelligence, Iran may supply Russia with new Shahed-101 drones. These UAVs are smaller and lighter compared to the ones Russia has already received. "There is a possibility that Iran could begin providing the Shahed-101 to Russia, particularly because they are more compact and easier to ship," the report said. In return for helping Moscows war effort in Ukraine, Iran receives financial support and assistance for its space and missile programs from Russia. On July 6, the Financial Times reported that Moscow and Tehran are continuing their cooperation in the production of combat drones and are building a factory for manufacturing combat drones in Tatarstan. 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 Ukrainian pilots to train in Denmark and Romania White House 26 July, 10:00 PM F-16 fighters (Photo:REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw) Ukrainian pilots will be trained on U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets in Denmark and Romania, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said at a press briefing on July 26. Exact dates, locations, and duration of the training program are still being developed. Romania and Denmark will host the F-16 training program for Ukrainian pilots, Kirby said. Kirby added that besides Romania and Denmark, Ukrainian pilots may also receive training on F-16s in other locations. Video of day He noted that the UK has started English language courses for pilots so they can operate U.S. aircraft. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg earlier stated that Ukraine's allies will individually determine when to commence training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s. Photo: Infographics: NV At the recent NATO summit in Vilnius, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov signed a memorandum with 11 nations to establish a coalition for training Ukrainian fighter jet pilots. The program may include other types of fighters, not just F-16s. The coalition includes the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Sweden. On July 6, Romania announced the opening of a regional training center for F-16 pilots, which will be available to NATO allies and partners, including Ukraine. Read also: Dutch judge dismissed for attempting to influence MH17 investigation On July 12, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said that training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s could take approximately 6-8 months. On July 18, Ray Piscelli, Vice President of International Relations at Lockheed Martin (the company that manufactures F-16s), announced that Ukrainian pilots would begin training on F-16s in Denmark in August. They will not head to Romania until late 2024. 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 We don't dance to Putin's, Lukashenko's tune Lithuanian def min 25 July, 04:52 PM Wagner troops (Photo:REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko) The Minister for National Defence of Lithuania, Arvydas Anusauskas, has called on European politicians "not to dance to the [tune of] disinformation" of dictators Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko amid the latest threat to attack Poland. "Let's stop dancing to the disinformation claims of Pu (Russian dictator Vladimir Putin) and Lu (Belarusian self-proclaimed president Alexander Lukashenko). The capabilities and firepower of the Lithuanian army has changed a lot in the past year, not to mention our allies' armies," he wrote on Facebook on July 24. Video of day Anusauskas said that Lithuania is able to simultaneously eliminate several hundreds of armored and unarmored targets, including tanks. "Finally, let us not forget that we are integrated in the entire NATO defense system," he said. Anusauskas said the dictators should "be scared of their own shadow" and not underestimate the power of the Lithuanian army which will gain additional capabilities soon, including HIMARS, NASAMS, and electronic warfare tools. During a recent meeting with Putin, Lukashenko said that Wagner Group mercenaries stressed him out because they allegedly want to attack Poland. Wagnerites in Belarus: What is Known Russian mercenary company Wagners leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced the beginning of an armed conflict with the Russian Defense Ministry on the evening of June 23, claiming that he wanted to restore justice in Russia. The one-day munity was halted after negotiations between Lukashenko and Prigozhin. Putin presented the Wagner troops with three options, one of which involved their deployment to Belarus. Shortly after, reports emerged of camp constructions in Belarus intended to accommodate the Wagner fighters. Satellite images of a potential private military contractor field camp were subsequently released. While Lukashenko denied the existence of any camps specifically for the Wagner troops, he mentioned that they would be provided with accommodation if necessary. According to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Belarus has the capacity to host approximately 8,000 Wagner PMC mercenaries. However, Ukrainian intelligence cautioned against premature conclusions regarding the transfer of Wagner fighters to Belarus. Later, information surfaced suggesting that the Wagner fighters in Belarus would be involved in training Belarusian nationals for combat. This statement was supported by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and on July 12, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus confirmed negotiations regarding the training of Belarusian special forces. Meanwhile, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine announced on July 14 that Russia had withdrawn nearly all of its military personnel from Belarus. 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 Hours after a lawyer representing Carlee Russell revealed the 25-year-old Alabama woman was not kidnapped as she reported to police, her now-ex boyfriend posted a statement condemning her actions. Russell was missing for two days before reappearing in Hoover, Alabama, and telling law enforcement she had been kidnapped July 15. By last Wednesday, police said, they had been unable to verify statements Russell had made about her alleged kidnapping. Then, at a news conference Monday, Hoover Police Chief Nicholas C. Derzis said the nursing student had submitted a statement to them via her lawyer. There was no kidnapping on Thursday, July 13, 2023, her lawyer said in a statement . My client did not see a baby on the side of the road. My client did not leave the Hoover area when she was identified as a missing person. My client did not have any help in this incident, but this was a single act done by herself. In a statement shared Monday, Russells now-ex-boyfriend, Thomar Latrell Simmons, condemned her actions. Simmons had previously spoken to media and posted online about being Russells boyfriend before her lawyer said her kidnapping was a hoax. In his post Monday night, he called the nursing student his ex and said she had created hurt, confusion and dishonesty. I was made aware of the false narrative after coming to the defense of my ex Carlee Russell, he said in the statement. Myself and my familys nature was to react in love, and genuine concern. We are disgusted from the outcome of this entire situation. I strongly feel exactly like you all. blindsided with Carlees actions. He added that its still an ongoing investigation but with Russells confession now we gain closure with this situation. He concluded by thanking followers for their support and asked that people continue to keep us in your prayers. In a statement read by police on Monday, Russells lawyer said she apologized to the community and everyone who had searched for her. Continuar leyendo la historia As for her friends and family, we ask for your prayers for Carlee as she addresses her issues and attempts to move forward, understanding that she made a mistake in this matter. Carlee, again, asks for your forgiveness and prayers, the statement concluded. Russells legal team did not immediately respond to "TODAYs" request for comment Tuesday. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The Indiana fiscal new year is upon us, having begun on July 1. The big New Years celebration happened on July 13, with the closeout announcement. Thats the states accounting of revenues, spending and balances as of the end of fiscal 2023. The good news: Indiana has $2.9 billion in the bank, 13.6 percent of the general fund budget. Thats enough to cover cash flow and most shortfalls in revenue below expectations. That amount takes some explaining though, because a year ago balances were $6.1 billion. Where did that money go? Some, you may remember, went to last years income tax rebate. This year the General Assembly included Section 292 at the end of the budget bill, which added appropriations for the 2023 budget. A couple billion dollars will be spent on construction of facilities for universities, parks, prisons and even the state archives. Half a billion dollars goes to the Indiana economic development corporation for a deal closing fund, to help attract new businesses to the state. And $700 million goes to the Pension Stabilization Fund, which adds to the $2.5 billion that had already been approved for 2023.Thats $3.2 billion in total. What is the Pension Stabilization Fund? Im so glad you asked! The story goes back a hundred years. In 1921 the state created a pension program for public school teachers. With most pensions, employers make contributions during their employees working lives, the money is invested, and this creates a fund for employees to draw upon in retirement. Thats not what Indiana did. It created a pay-as-you-go pension. Teacher pensions would be paid with appropriations from each years state budget, funded by the taxpayers. That must have seemed manageable back in 1921. Then came the baby boom. School enrollment exploded in the 1950s through the 1970s, and lots more teachers were hired. Between the 1990s and the 2020s, all those teachers would retire, and the state budget would be on the hook for every dollar of their pensions. One 1989 study projected that the annual bill would balloon from $200 million in 1992 to $1.7 billion and rising in 2017. Indiana, we have a problem! So, in 1995 the General Assembly closed the old pension program to new hires. Its now called the pre-1996 account. Teachers hired since then have been enrolled in a pension system funded by ongoing contributions. The legislature also created the Pension Stabilization Fund, to try to hold down the growth of pre-96 pension payments in the annual budget. The state adds a little to the fund each year, and the investment earnings now are substantial. But the big money comes when state balances are larger than normal. During the good times in the late-1990s, the General Assembly dropped $350 million into the fund. This was formalized several years ago so that half of all excess reserve balances go to the fund. Pension payments have been stabilized. That 1989 study projected that the 2017 pension appropriation would have been $1.7 billion. The actual appropriation was half that, $841 million. Much of the saving came from closing the old pension program, so that the number of potential pay-as-you-go retirees hasnt increased. Annual growth in the payments is restricted to 3 percent per year, with any shortfall covered by the fund. In the 2024 and 2025 budgets the pre-96 pension payments are just over $1 billion per year. Total pension payments are expected to peak at $1.2 billion in the mid-2020s, then begin to decline as retirees pass away. Investment earnings on the funds balances will grow. At some point the earnings on the fund will match the annual pension payments and no annual appropriation will be needed. The Indiana Public Retirement System hinted at that possibility in last years annual report. They wrote that the pre-96 account is projected to reach 100 percent funded status on its base benefits in FY 2030. That day may be closer now that theres an extra $3.2 billion in the fund. Thats what the General Assembly bought with its $3.2 billion contribution to the Pension Stabilization Fund. Sometime in the not-too-distant future, a $1 billion annual pension appropriation will no longer be required. Ridofranz / Getty Images If you want to use your skills to start a business, whether full-time or as a side gig, you might be worried about the start-up costs. More: 11 Best ChatGPT Plugins To Use for Making Money See Here: How To Save $200 on Your Grocery Bill Every Month Depending on the type of work, however, you might not need a bank loan or an angel investor to get started. There are plenty of cheap businesses you can start that can turn into thriving enterprises. In fact, you can get a business up and running for less than $1,000, just as these entrepreneurs did. From the dog trainer to the podcast producer, these nine people launched successful businesses without a hefty investment. (Keep in mind their startup costs were accurate at the time of their business launch.) Read on to learn how they turned their business ideas into reality on shoestring budgets. filadendron / Getty Images Blog Initial Investment: $3 a month Blogging can be the best business to start with little money. Some bloggers actually launch their websites for $0. How You Can Make Up To $100,000 From 'Coin Roll Hunting': Here Are 5 Tips for Making Money From This Hobby Check Out: 8 Passive Income Streams That Aren't Worth It Kelan and Brittany Kline started their blog, The Savvy Couple, in 2016 for less than $3 a month. "That cost covered our domain name and hosting at the time," Kelan said. "From there, we grew our blog into a thriving six-figure online business." wundervisuals / Getty Images How To Start a Blog The key to launching a successful blog is figuring out the audience you want to serve, then crafting content geared toward the group you want to reach, Kelan said. "We focused our attention on creating our 'ideal reader' and serving them value with everything we do," he said. "From Facebook posts, Pinterest pins, to the articles we write, everything is focused on our avatar and serving them the best we can." It took nine months before The Savvy Couple started generating income. Through the years, the site has made money from display ads, affiliate marketing, sponsorships and digital products such as a blogging course and monthly budget tracker, Kelan said. Story continues Learn More: 10 Games That Pay Instantly To Your Cash App Account Shutterstock.com Social Media Management Initial Investment: $0 The best business to start if you don't have cash to spare is a social media management business, said McKinzie Bean, creator and owner of Moms Make Cents. Bean started working as a freelance social media manager in 2015 to supplement her family's income so she could stay at home with her baby. "To start this business, there was literally no cost," she said. "I already had a smartphone and a laptop that I used to do my client work." Sattalat phukkum / Shutterstock.com How To Start a Social Media Management Business Bean started her social media management by working for free for a family friend for a few months to gain experience. The business owner had very little knowledge of social media, so Bean set up a content calendar to publish posts to their account every day. She made simple social media graphics using tools such as Canva. "With that solid reference, I was able to network and gain more clients," she said. "Some of these clients came from recommendations in entrepreneur-related Facebook groups, and others were from word of mouth." Over the years, she has paid for courses and e-books to improve her social media skills and charge higher rates. Donyns / Getty Images/iStockphoto Lawn Care Service Initial Investment: $825 If you like to work outside, consider starting a lawn care service. Zach Hendrix started a lawn care business with $825 worth of equipment: a push mower, string trimmer, hedge clippers, leaf blower and small trailer. He grew his business to more than 125 employees before selling it to a national lawn care business in 2013. juefraphoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto How To Start a Lawn Care Service A lawn care service is an easy business to start, said Hendrix, who now is co-founder of GreenPal, an online service that connects customers with lawn care professionals. You'll need equipment, but you can keep costs down by taking advantage of low-interest-rate financing offers from stores or buying used equipment for less. To get customers, you can use social media, flyers and word of mouth. And you'll need to invest in systems -- which can be found online -- for daily scheduling, bookkeeping and tracking equipment maintenance, Hendrix said. A lawn care operator can make $30 to $50 per hour, on average. "Starting a business in the lawn-mowing industry can be lucrative, yet hard work," Hendrix said. "If you are tired of your day-to-day grind at your current job, a lawn care business might be the perfect solution for you." Make Money With Google Bard and AI: How To Earn $3,000 a Month or More andresr / Getty Images Dog Training Initial Investment: $340 Sometimes starting a business requires only a small investment if you capitalize on skills you have. Steffi Trott took advantage of her experience training her own dogs to launch SpiritDog Training, a company that offers in-person and online dog training. "My only initial investment into my company was the money used to set up my website and have a graphic designer draft me a logo," Trott said. "The expenses for this were around $340." Shutterstock.com How To Start a Dog Training Business Trott used Facebook to get the word out about her dog training business. She posted her services on local group pages and created her own Facebook page, where she shared daily dog training tips and advice. She then created an online class that featured videos on dog obedience. "It was an instant success," said Trott. She also expanded her local training services to include training at clients' homes while they are at work. "Many people with a busy schedule were thrilled to come home and know that their dog has had all the exercise and training he needed," she said. Nicola Katie / Getty Images Podcast Production Business Initial Investment: $0 The popularity of podcasts means there's a need for podcast editors, said David Hooper, owner of podcast production and marketing company Big Podcast. You can easily launch a podcast production business for less than $1,000. "In fact, if you already have a computer, you have all the equipment you need, as software to edit podcasts is freely available," Hooper said. That means podcast production can be the cheapest business to start. monkeybusinessimages / Getty Images/iStockphoto How To Start a Podcast Production Business You can learn how to edit and produce podcasts for free by watching tutorials on YouTube, Hooper said. You can create a website for your business for free using a site such as WordPress.com -- which also offers low-cost monthly plans for a more customizable site. You can even market your business without spending any money. "You'll find all the clients you need within podcaster forums on Facebook and other social media sites -- also free of charge," Hooper said. Also: 5 Ways To Use AI To Generate Passive Income Shutterstock.com Freelance Writing and Content Creation Initial Investment: $400 When Amanda Zack and her husband moved, she left behind a comfortable job with benefits. She needed a way to make money, so she spent about $400 to launch her own content writing business, By Amanda Zack. "I was fortunate to already have two of the major components needed: a computer that can endure the 50- to 60-hour week workload and my writing skill," she said. The $400 she spent was for a year of hosting for her business website, a subscription to Toggl to track her billable hours, an annual subscription to Dropbox for easy file sharing with clients and a month-to-month subscription for business development courses. Shutterstock.com How To Start a Content Creation Business As a content creator, Zack writes blog posts, email newsletters and social media content for clients. Having a website has been essential for promoting her business and attracting clients. And taking the online course helped Zack learn how to brand and develop her business. She started with just one client and was making $500 to $750 a month. Within six months, she had five clients and had quadrupled her income. Tempura / Getty Images/iStockphoto Medical Billing Advocacy Initial Investment: $750 Gail Trauco, who is a nurse, launched a business to help people negotiate their medical bills. She spent $750 on business cards, website hosting fees, a logo design and legal forms purchased online to create a business entity. kate_sept2004 / Getty Images How To Start a Medical Billing Advocacy Business Trauco's understanding of the healthcare system certainly factored into her ability to launch a medical billing advocacy business. She reviews bills and insurance statements to find billing errors and wrongly denied claims and collects a fee of 20% to 30% of the savings she gets for clients on their medical bills. Trauco's initial $750 investment has grown into a business with $1 million in revenue, she said. She now offers an online course at Medical Bill 911 to help patients learn to negotiate their medical bills. Side Gig: Earn Up To $200/Hour With This Easy-To-Start Job, No College Degree Required jacoblund / Getty Images/iStockphoto Web Design Business Initial Investment: $600 Starting a business doesn't always begin with a big idea. In fact, it can begin as a way to make money on the side, as Sharvette Mitchell's web design business did. Mitchell was working full-time when she decided to invest $600 into creating Mitchell Productions Web Design. She paid for a website domain name and hosting, a professional headshot, business cards, brochures and the fee for creating a limited liability company (LLC). PrathanChorruangsak / Getty Images/iStockphoto How To Start a Web Design Business When Mitchell started her web design business in 2007, she used social media site MySpace to promote her business. That's how she landed her first two paying customers. Mitchell continued to run her business as a side hustle until early 2018, when she left her full-time job to operate Mitchell Productions as a full-time business. That year, her web design business generated a six-figure revenue. "I am proof that you can start a sustainable business for less than $1,000," she said. filadendron / Getty Images Insurance Brokerage Initial Investment: $719 Michael Lucy recently launched an insurance brokerage -- Affordable Final Expense -- for just $719. That amount included the online insurance underwriting course he took, licensing exam, license fee, business cards and his budget for insurance sales leads. The key to keeping startup costs below $1,000 has been digital marketing rather than traditional direct mail marketing, Lucy said. kate_sept2004 / Getty Images How To Start an Insurance Brokerage Business Becoming an insurance agent requires going through the process to become licensed -- which Lucy was able to do without a big investment. The biggest expense, he said, were sales leads -- for which he paid $500. However, that investment produced a $1,500 return through policy sales within three weeks. Using online marketing has been the key to his success and keeping overhead costs low. "Can anyone jump in and become a successful agent or broker from day one for $719?" Lucy said. "Not anybody, but the person with the proper blend of sales acumen, knowledge of digital marketing, mental toughness and tenacity will succeed and succeed fast." I'm a Financial Planning Expert: Here Are 3 Ways ChatGPT Can Save You Money AleksandarNakic / Getty Images Video Production Initial Investment: $900 Jacob Landis-Eigsti started a video production business four years ago with an $800 camera. He spent another $100 registering his business, Jacob LE Video Production, with his state and paying for a year's worth of website hosting. bjones27 / Getty Images How To Start a Video Production Business Landis-Eigsti said he didn't need a lot of expensive equipment to launch his video production business. Instead, he focused on gaining customers. "I've added a few pieces of camera gear over time, but I put the majority of my profits back into advertising and marketing my business," Landis-Eigsti said. "That will make a larger impact on helping my company grow." Shutterstock.com Bounce House Rental Business Initial Investment: $920 Nick Glassett was looking for business ideas that would generate passive income. His wife ended up coming up with an idea for a cheap business to start that wasn't entirely passive but didn't require a big investment of time: a bounce house rental business. "While I worked, she went and bought two used commercial bounce houses with stakes and blowers for $800, and then I jumped on Amazon and bought an industrial wagon for $80," Glassett said. "We got up and running for $920 total." kali9 / Getty Images How To Start a Bounce House Rental Business To turn his bounce house purchases into a business, Glassett posted on social media that he had two available to rent for events. "We were getting calls and messages the next day," he said. He charges $150 for a bounce house rental, which only takes him 20 minutes to set up, 20 minutes to take down, then a little more time to clean when he gets it back to his house. Discover: Check Your $2 Bills -- They Could Be Worth Upwards of $4,500 Shutterstock.com Marketing and Public Relations Business Initial Investment: $560 After working more than a decade in the marketing and public relations industry, Sheila Estaniel decided to start her own business -- and she did it for less than $1,000. Estaniel founded Dilatation Agency, a marketing and PR firm for small businesses and entrepreneurs, for just $560. Cecilie_Arcurs / Getty Images How To Start a Marketing and PR Business Estaniel's initial investment covered the cost of establishing an LLC, creating a website for her business, ordering business cards and buying a video creation and branding app. She's kept overhead low by using coworking spaces and working remotely with team members. "Since launching, the agency has secured accounts in California and Arizona, and we are expanding our specialization to four industries: food, fashion, fitness and the wellness space," Estaniel said. More From GOBankingRates Jami Farkas contributed to the reporting for this article. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 12 Businesses You Can Start for Under $1,000 In this piece, we will take a look at the 15 states that produce the most wine. For more states within this selection, take a look at 5 States That Produce the Most Wine. Dating back as far as 6,000 BC, wine stands among the most ancient beverages enjoyed by humankind, holding cultural significance across numerous countries globally. In the contemporary world, it has blossomed into one of the largest industries, with its value estimated at $441.6 billion in 2022, as reported by the research firm Vantage Market Research. The firm states that the global wine market is expected to reach a value of $698.54 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 5.90% over the forecast period. Despite the profound impact of the coronavirus pandemic on various sectors like hospitality and manufacturing, the lockdown measures compelling people to stay indoors led to a remarkable 22% surge in wine consumption during that period. The United States was the world leader in the wine market in 2022 in terms of revenue with $52.7 billion. A significant portion of the country's wine production takes place in the sun-soaked Golden State of California, responsible for around 85% of the total U.S. wine production volume. In total, there are over 11,000 wineries spread across the nation, with many of them producing limited quantities of wine. Notably, the country's wine production in 2021 surpassed 773 million gallons, accounting for over 9% of the global wine production volume. See also: 12 Countries That Produce the Best Wine in the World. During the past decade, wine consistently held a sales share of approximately 17% in the United States among alcoholic beverages. However, in 2021, there was a notable decline, dropping to around 16%, and this trend persisted throughout 2022 without any signs of recovery. Despite this dip, wine fared comparatively better than beer, which experienced more significant sales declines, leading to spirits stepping in to bridge the gap. Notably, retail aisles remain abundant with table wine brands like Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B)'s Sonoma-Cutrer, and Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ)'s Kim Crawford and Ruffino. In 2005, E&J Gallo Winery acquired America's leading table wine brand, Barefoot, which reportedly amassed $582 million in sales within the United States in 2022. In terms of sales channels utilized by America's wineries, the majority of wine sales were made through tasting rooms, followed closely by wine clubs. Story continues 15 States That Produce the Most Wine Pixabay/Public domain Our Methodology For our list of the states that produce the most wine, we referred to data presented by This Day in Wine History and the World Population Review that ranked the top wine producing states in the United States according to their share in the American wine market. The wine produced (in Gallons) across the top 15 states as per 2022 are listed below. If youre also interested to learn about some other beverages besides wine, please refer to our article 20 Most Consumed Beer Brands in the World. 15. Indiana Wine Production by Gallons: 1,411,540 Wine has been produced in the state of Indiana since the early days of European colonization in the 18th century. In the mid-19th century, Indiana was the tenth-largest Winegrape producing state in the country. Presently, Indiana's wine industry plays a significant role in bolstering the state's economy, contributing over $2.4 billion. In addition, Indiana has experienced an annual growth rate of more than 15% in wine sales. Over the years, the number of wineries in the state has surged from a mere nine in 1989 to nearly 100 today. These wineries now cultivate grapes across more than 600 acres, marking a remarkable 300% increase since 1991. 14. Florida Wine Production by Gallons: 1,634,103 The concept of growing grapes for wine production in Florida may initially seem challenging to grasp, but it holds a historical truth. This state boasts a rich heritage of cultivating wine grapes earlier than any other region in the United States, leading it to be considered as the birthplace of American wine by some historians. One of the states that produce the most wine in the country, the wine industry serves as a powerful catalyst for economic growth in Florida, contributing approximately $15.21 billion in total economic activity. This substantial figure underscores the significant value added by the wine sector. The wine industry also serves as a direct employer for approximately 66,327 individuals in the state. Additionally, it plays a vital role in creating 22,268 jobs in supplier and ancillary industries that provide goods and services to the wine sector. 13. New Jersey Wine Production by Gallons: 1,832,325 Over the past three decades, the wine production landscape in New Jersey has witnessed remarkable growth, fueled by the establishment of new wineries. The turning point began in 1981 when the state legislature eased Prohibition-era constraints and introduced new laws, fostering an environment conducive to industry expansion and the issuance of winery licenses. Presently, New Jersey wineries have gained acclaim for the exceptional quality of their wines, receiving recognition from critics, industry experts, and national and international competitions. As of 2022, the state boasts a wine production of almost 2 million, making up 0.23% of the total U.S. production share. 12. North Carolina Wine Production by Gallons: 1,903,060 Over the course of several decades, North Carolina's wine industry has undergone a remarkable transformation. In 1950, the state had a negligible wine production, yet today it holds the rank of the 12th largest wine-producing state in the country. Thanks to the favorable combination of excellent soil conditions and a lengthy growing season, North Carolina has emerged as an ideal location for vineyards. This led to the Tar Heel State to reclaiming its status as a significant player in the industry, attracting an impressive two million visitors to its wineries annually. Additionally, the wine sector has a substantial economic impact, contributing nearly $2 billion to the state's economy and providing employment opportunities for around 10,000 individuals. 11. Texas Wine Production by Gallons: 1,907,299 The state of Texas boasts a rich and storied history in wine production. The sun-kissed and arid climate of its prominent winemaking regions has garnered comparisons to the wines of Portugal and other European regions like Spain, France, and Italy. The origins of Texas wines can be traced back to the 1650s when Spanish missionaries crafted some of the earliest recorded wines in the vicinity of El Paso. The Texas wine industry makes a substantial contribution of approximately $20.35 billion to the total economic activity of the U.S., effectively highlighting wine as the ultimate value-added beverage. This far-reaching impact extends across the state, fostering economic opportunities for businesses that may not seem directly related to the wine industry. Overall, 141,235 jobs are created and supported by the wine industry in the state. 10. Virginia Wine Production by Gallons: 2,157,395 Against a backdrop of over 400 years of viticultural history, Virginia's modern wine industry emerged half a century ago, igniting a wave of excitement that has positioned it among the most leading wine producing states in the U.S. One of the top 10 states that produce the most wine in the United States, Virginia's wine industry has evolved from a mere six pioneers in the 1970s to a thriving community of 312 wineries spread across ten regions and eight AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) today. According to a study conducted in 2019, the economic impact of Virginia wines was estimated to be approximately $1.73 billion. After thorough evaluation of all economic activities directly or indirectly associated with wine production, sales, and wine grape farming in Virginia, the study revealed an impressive 27% increase in the overall economic impact since 2015. 9. Vermont Wine Production by Gallons: 2,172,526 In 1997, Vermont welcomed its inaugural commercial winery, Snow Farm Winery, marking the beginning of the state's wine industry. Given its very cold climate, viticulture in Vermont comes with its own unique challenges. Consequently, local wineries have primarily concentrated on cultivating cold-hardy French hybrid grapes, although they have also ventured into experimenting with certain Vitis vinifera varieties. To diversify their offerings, some Vermont wineries even produce wines using grapes sourced from other states, particularly from neighboring New York. The state of Vermont makes up around 0.27% of the total U.S wine production share. 8. Kentucky Wine Production by Gallons: 2,176,059 One of the first attempts at large-scale commercial viticulture in the United States started in Kentucky in 1799, with plantings by the Kentucky Vineyard Society. The relatively mild climate of Kentucky, especially in the Ohio River Valley, made Kentucky an attractive place for early American winemaking. By the mid-19th century Kentucky was the third largest wine producing state in the country, producing 135,000 gallons of wine annually. Today Kentucky boasts over 65 wineries and 150 grape growers, spread across 600 acres of lush land, resulting in an annual production of more than 100,000 cases of wine. The heart of this vibrant winemaking scene lies in Northern Kentucky, nestled between the cities of Louisville and Lexington. 7. Michigan Wine Production by Gallons: 2,576,238 With its scenic great lakes and a rich history, Michigan has been engaged in the art of winemaking since the late 1700s. The first wine region was established in Monroe County, situated south of present-day Detroit, way back in 1780. It all started when French settlers discovered wild grapes flourishing along the banks of the Raisin River, named after the sun-dried fruit that adorned its 139-mile length. Initially, most of the wine produced served personal consumption purposes. However, it wasn't until the mid-1800s that a genuine wine industry began to take shape and flourish in the region. As of 2020, Michigan has 3,375 acres (1,366 hectares) of wine grapes grown and more than 200 commercial wineries. 6. Ohio Wine Production by Gallons: 5,938,739 With more than 486 wineries, Ohio ranks high among the states that produce the most wine in the country. Throughout history, wine in Ohio was predominantly made from native American grape species like Vitis labrusca, rather than European wine grapes. However, as winemaking techniques advanced, hybrid and Vitis vinifera grapes (the type of grape from which Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Riesling wines are made) have become increasingly prevalent in Ohio's winemaking practices. In 2022, almost 6 million gallons of wine was produced in the state. Click to continue reading and see the 5 States That Produce the Most Wine. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 15 States That Produce the Most Wine is originally published on Insider Monkey. PacWest Bancorp is merging with Banc of California. David McNew/Getty Images Banc of California and PacWest Bancorp shares surged after announcing an all-stock merger. The new bank will have $36 billion in assets and $30.5 billion in total deposits. The deal joins several mergers in the last few months following the US banking crisis in March. Shares of Banc of California and PacWest Bancorp got a major boost from news Tuesday that the two lenders will merge in an all-stock deal to create a new bank. PacWest shares surged 31.3% to $10.10 apiece in after-hours trade after news of the merger broke more than erasing a 27% slump in the stock's price on Tuesday. Banc of California shares jumped 8.4% to $15.85 apiece in after-hours trade, extending gains from an 11% rise on Tuesday. The all-stock deal will result in a new bank with $36 billion in combined assets, Banc of California and PacWest announced on Tuesday. The deal is expected to be completed latest by early 2024. The new bank will have over 70 branches in California and will be led by Jared Wolff, the current CEO of the Banc of California. It will have $25.3 billion in total loans and $30.5 billion in total deposits. Both lenders agreed to sell $400 million worth of new shares to private equity firms Warburg Pincus and Centerbridge Partner, to fund the merger. "Over the past 18 months, the competitive environment in California has changed dramatically," Wolff told analysts on a Tuesday conference call, per Reuters. "We've seen many other banks either completely exit or significantly pull back from California. As a result, there's a sizable opportunity." Timothy Coffey, an analyst at Janney Montgomery Scott, told Reuters ahead of the merger announcement that the deal is like a "marriage of convenience" as both banks operate in the same geographies and are focused on commercial assets. The merger was announced more than two months after news broke that PacWest was weighing a sale. It also followed the US banking crisis in March that started when regional banks such as Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, New York collapsed. The US banking industry has been seeing major consolidation activity this year JPMorgan bought First Republic Bank, First Citizens Bank bought Silicon Valley Bank, and New York Community Bancorp snapped up most of Signature Bank. Read the original article on Business Insider Phira Phonruewiangphing / iStock.com The laws and regulations around cryptocurrency are ever-evolving, as is common with any industry in its nascent stages. But while most of these regulations at the federal level tend to generally constrain the space, some states have adopted an opposite approach. Money Expert Jaspreet Singh: Get Rich Through These 3 Investments Know: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 Given the tough regulatory measures taken against crypto of late, I think people tend to forget that theres a lot of positive momentum happening at the state level in terms of helping to foster growth in this emerging technology, said Dan Nissanoff, CEO and founder of Game of Silks. Indeed, a few states have emerged as being very crypto-friendly. While their reasons and methods of deploying openness toward the space may vary, it all stems from one core principle: the belief in the industrys potential and future. Theres a number of other pro-crypto states, including Florida, Tennessee and Colorado, said Nihar Neelakanti, CEO and co-founder of Ecosapiens. But Wyoming and Texas seem to be the trailblazers at the moment, spearheading new and innovative legislation that other states seem to be adopting. Here is a closer look at three of the most crypto-friendly states in America so far. Wyoming Wyoming has been making crypto efforts on several fronts. As Neelakanti explained, Wyoming does not have a state income tax, so youre already relatively better off in terms of capital gains taxes, or relative lack thereof, if youre a crypto trader. Beyond this, the state has passed laws, or is in the process of passing laws, that create propitious havens not just for investors in the industry but also founders. Wyoming has led the way in creating a regulatory framework for DAOs (decentralized autonomous organizations), for example, and it also features laws when it comes to trusts and protecting privacy. Wyoming also features specific rules and regulations that make it easier to bank both crypto companies and crypto investors, he said. Story continues David Pope CPA, CGMA, and co-founder of The Wyoming Blockchain Coalition, said that Wyoming rated seventh in the world and number one in the U.S., according to CoinDesk has come a long way. We accomplished this by viewing crypto and blockchain not as something to limit and control, but as something to nurture with a combination of definitional certainty, appropriate guardrails and incentives, said Pope. Im a Self-Made Millionaire: These Are Investments Everyone Should Avoid During an Economic Downturn Along the way, we created a new type of bank the Special Purpose Depository Institution SPDI (and are helping in the fight with the Federal Reserve to get them recognized), legislatively defined consumer tokens, created the DAO LLC, provided the ability to register digital assets in Wyoming to help them be subject to Wyoming law, and passed the Wyoming Stable Token Act (which is a breathtaking piece of legislation that directs the State to create its own 100% collateralized stable token), he added. Overall, he said there have been more than 30 pieces of enabling legislation passed in just five years. This, along with our favorable tax and business atmosphere number one in the US per The Tax Foundation has led us to become the preferred state for organizing a blockchain based business, he added. Texas Texas is also high on the list of most friendly crypto states. Lee Bratcher, founder and president of the Texas Blockchain Council, explained that the state has a history of creating an environment that is conducive to innovation and economic growth. We are working to ensure that this trend continues as Texas becomes a global leader in bitcoin, blockchain and digital assets, said Bratcher. Through the efforts of the Texas Blockchain Council and our allies in the Texas Senate and House of Representatives, we have passed several pieces of legislation that put Texas at the front of the pack when it comes to an appropriate regulatory environment that allows builders to build. For example, Bratcher explained that bill HN 4474 now recognizes virtual currency and establishes an avenue to perfect ones security interests in digital assets through possession of the private keys. Meanwhile, HB 1576 created a blockchain working group; while HB 591 is a flare gas mitigation bill that allows bitcoin miners to use formerly flared gas and redirect it to a generator to power bitcoin miners. Finally, HB 1666 is a bill that requires exchanges to provide proof of reserves attestations to the Texas Department of Banking. Florida Miami has become a crypto hotspot in recent years, attracting entrepreneurs and a slew of crypto-related conferences that have generated a lot of buzz. Florida also does not have a state income tax. In addition, the state has gone out of its way to attract investment and activity from the crypto industry, according to Thomas Hogan, economist at American Institute for Economic Research. Whats more, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, aka the Bitcoin Mayor, is a strong proponent of the asset and even put Satoshi Nakamotos Bitcoin whitepaper on the citys website. Suarez also continues to take his salary in Bitcoin. The city of Miami believes in Bitcoin. and Im working day and night to turn Miami into a hub for crypto innovation. Proud to say Miami is the first municipal government to host Satoshis White Paper on government site, Suarez tweeted in January 2021. But more than this, the governor of the state has taken an explicit stand in opposition to central bank digital currencies, or CBDCs, said Nissanoff. Indeed, Governor DeSantis passed a bill in May that prohibits the use of a federally adopted central bank digital currency (CBDC) by excluding it from the definition of money within Floridas Uniform Commercial Code. The bill also prohibits foreign-issued CBDC to protect consumers against globalist efforts to adopt a worldwide digital currency, according to the text of the bill. According to Nissanoff, whatever your politics are, this stance also appears to be beneficial to holders, users and innovators of the crypto landscape. Thats not to say that CBDCs and crypto are necessarily mutually exclusive, but this stance against CBDCs falls in line with other efforts taken by the state to encourage the use of open-source, permissionless blockchains, he said. In short, it aims to ensure the freedom to transact, especially if we enter a world in which federal authorities try to prohibit the use of cash and privacy as we know it. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 3 Most Crypto-Friendly States In an over two-hour hearing, House Oversight Subcommittee on National Security members heard testimony regarding the truth of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) visiting Earth. Tennessee Representative Tim Burchett said the hearing was the first of many to come. Were done with the cover-ups, he said. Not wanting to be left out, crypto enthusiasts are talking up UFO-themed and alien-themed meme coins to try and take advantage of the renewed hype around alien visitors. But the tenor of the meeting was decidedly serious. Experts called to testify included executive director of Americans for Safe Aerospace Ryan Graves, who has spoken out about what is officially called an Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon or UAP. When asked what makes him believe these UAPs were not American-made, Graves, a former Navy fighter pilot, pointed to their ability to withstand high winds. "Some of the behaviors we saw in our working area, we would see these objects being at 0.0 Mach, that's zero airspeed," Graves said. "These objects stayed completely stationary in category four hurricane winds," he said, adding that the objects would then accelerate to supersonic speeds, noting the erratic flight path. Crypto Leaders Praise Draft GOP Bill, Dems Raise Concerns Joining Graves was retired Navy Commander David Fravor, who shot the infamous 2004 video of a UAP off the coast of California, and David Grusch, a former Pentagon task force member on Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon and self-described whistleblower who has accused the U.S. government of a UFO cover-up. When asked what astonished him the most about the flight capabilities of the unknown objects, dubbed "Tic Tacs, Fravor said it was their performance. "It's far beyond the material science that we currently possess," Fravor said, adding that he was unaware of any human-made vehicles with the same capabilities. We were initially denied access to images, radar, and conversation with all members of the flight crew, Florida Representative Matt Gaetz tweeted about one of the alleged encounters. Story continues Though Grusch said much of what knows of the event had to be held back due to being classified, he said the U.S. government's first recorded visit by "non-humans" occurred in the 1930s. "Biologics came with these recoveries," Grusch said during the hearing, adding that the recovered biologics were not human. "That was the assestment of people with direct knowledge of the program." Whistle blower former intelligence officer David Grusch says he provided the names and locations of UFO crash retrieval programs to the Intelligence Committees and to the ICIG. pic.twitter.com/JxrcMl7W0r Brian Roemmele (@BrianRoemmele) July 26, 2023 But while skeptics and degens laugh, Graves said the unidentified flying objects posed a serious national security threat. "If UAPs are foreign drones, its an urgent national security problem; if its something else, its a issue for science," he said. "In either case, unidentified objects are a concern for flight safety, and the American people deserve to know what is happening in our skies." Research outcomes have potential for dual-use applications, for leverage by both the industry & defence Singapore --News Direct-- AI Singapore SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 26 July 2023 - AI Singapore (AISG) announced today that it will award up to S$20 million, through the Robust AI Grand Challenge and the AI for Materials Discovery Grand Challenge, to support five multidisciplinary teams which will address challenges related to the increasing use of AI in emerging applications. AISG launched both Grand Challenges in December 2022 in collaboration with the Future Systems and Technology Directorate (FSTD), MINDEF Singapore, and DSO National Laboratories (DSO). Each Challenge is a first-of-its-kind and represents a major milestone in research collaboration between the academia and defence ecosystems. The research outcomes will have the potential for dual-use applications and can be leveraged by both the industry and defence to benefit Singapore. The grant awards were presented by Mr Heng Chee How, Senior Minister of State for Defence at the Joint Grant Awards Ceremony. In his speech, Mr Heng said, "The advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will open up new possibilities and MINDEF/SAF is poised to harness its power to build important capabilities for our future. MINDEF's approach is to collaborate extensively with local and global partners from research institutes, and institutes of higher learning and industry. MINDEF's Defence Technology Community, which designs and develops technological capabilities for the SAF, will play a key role in this effort. "Moving forward, we will also be expanding our partnerships with industry, to accelerate progress in developing AI technologies and applications. I encourage the various communities to come together to co-ideate and co-innovate. I would like to invite all researchers and practitioners with bold ideas to reach out to us. Together, let's collaborate, innovate and build an exciting and better future, he added." Story continues Professor Mohan Kankanhalli, Deputy Executive Chairman for AISG, said that the current development efforts and outcomes can be translated into better and safer technologies for everyday living. "The problems that are being addressed have dual-use applications and can be leveraged by both industry and defence ecosystems to benefit Singapore. We are excited to work with our valued collaborators, FSTD and DSO, as they have deep expertise in both grand challenges to advise, guide and empower our research teams to develop novel AI solutions that can effectively address important problems faced by Singapore and the world. We believe that there is potential for these technologies to be scaled globally in the future". Robust AI and AI for Materials Discovery Grand Challenges AISG's Grand Challenge programme takes an outcome-driven approach to solve important problems faced by Singapore and the world through multidisciplinary collaboration and translation of AI-based solutions from research to deployment. Researchers from local Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and Research Institutes (RIs), along with their collaborators from the public and/or private sectors, were invited to propose ground-breaking research ideas that adopt AI techniques to address both Grand Challenges' statements. Each challenge statement was jointly defined by AISG, DSO and FSTD. Robust AI Grand Challenge - "How can we design robust CV systems for AVs that can recover at least 80% of their original accuracy after physical testing-time adversarial attacks?" Computer vision (CV) systems based on AI/ML are vulnerable to adversarial attacks which could compromise their safety and security, thus limiting their performance and adoption in critical environments. In the field of autonomous vehicles (AV), these could result in delays, accidents and potentially, even death. This Grand Challenge aims to encourage the development of innovative approaches that increase the robustness of these CV systems, to accelerate the adoption of CV systems in critical environments. AI for Materials Discovery Grand Challenge - "How can AI accelerate inverse material design to discover advanced materials that are 50% lighter while retaining and/or enhancing their functional properties?" Technological breakthroughs and the development of next-generation systems such as lightweight transportation vehicles and energy-efficient buildings are often underpinned by the discovery and development of new and advanced materials. However, this discovery process can be prohibitively long and expensive. In addition, conventional methods can be limited by a scientist's personal experience, knowledge and even biases, resulting in only incremental discoveries. This Grand Challenge aims to advance the state-of-the-art applications of AI in materials discovery, to develop solutions that can help scientists accelerate material discovery process and overcome the constraints of conventional methods. This would in turn enable them to keep pace with the increasing demand for new and advanced materials for next-gen systems. AISG received 16 (7 Robust AI; 9 AI for Materials Discovery) quality research proposals from multidisciplinary teams in response to both grant calls. The teams comprise lead Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-PIs from the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). They also involve industry partners and/or collaborators from overseas universities. An Evaluation Committee comprising members from various stakeholders in the AI ecosystem selected five projects to be awarded Stage 1 funding: Robust AI Grand Challenge Holistic Moving Target Defence for Autonomous Driving Perception (by Associate Professor Rui Tan, NTU) - This project will develop a Moving Target Defence (MTD) approach that creates and deploys AI mechanisms that are diverse and rapidly changing to limit the exposure of vulnerabilities and opportunities for attacks, increase the complexity and cost for attackers. Development of Stable Robust and Secure Intelligent Systems for Autonomous Vehicles (by Professor Shuzhi Sam Ge, NUS) - This project will harness the collective strengths of machine learning, stable control and generative AI to develop a robust and intelligent system that can adjust its neural network's behaviour and characteristics in real- time to counter adversarial attacks in complex environments. Towards Building Unified Autonomous Vehicle Scene Representation for Physical AV Adversarial Attacks and Visual Robustness Enhancement (by Professor Yang Liu, NTU) - This project will develop novel multi-view and multi-modal defences based on a unified framework that comprises a novel AV scene representation that will be used to generate realistic scenes with diverse conditions and attack vectors. The projects are expected to deliver suites of multi-modal attack and defence techniques that can be deployed in the real world to increase the robustness of AI models applied in multi-sensor CV systems. AI for Materials Discovery Grand Challenge MATAI: An AI-Powered Generalist Material Discovery Platform (by Professor Bo An, NTU) - This project will develop an AI-powered generalist platform with three key components: a holistic material database, a foundational material property predictor and a generalist multi-property material designer in a large search space. Design Beyond What You Know: Material Informed Differential Generative AI (MIDGAI) for Light-Weight High-Entropy Alloys and Multi-functional Composites (by Professor Ivor Tsang, A*STAR) - This project will develop a generative AI framework for materials design that combines with discriminative models to enhance robustness and overcome data scarcity. By incorporating domain knowledge, the AI model will enable a more controllable, directed, and efficient exploration of material design spaces through advanced optimisation algorithms. The projects are expected to deliver AI solutions that can be used by AI and materials researchers to (i) discover novel materials based on performance needs, (ii) efficiently explore beyond the boundaries of conventional methods, (iii) exploit new and existing scientific knowledge and (iv) reduce resource and time cost of material discovery cycles. In Stage 1, the teams will be awarded up to S$4M each to work on their project for the next three years. Funding support for Stage 2 will be determined as part of the final evaluation near the end of Stage 1. Selected teams could be funded up to S$5M over 2 years where the teams will have the opportunity to work with agencies to adapt and scale up the developed AI techniques for dual-use applications. About AI Singapore AI Singapore (AISG) is a national programme launched by the National Research Foundation (NRF) to catalyse, synergise and boost Singapore's artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to power our future, digital economy.AISG will also bring together all Singapore-based research institutions and the vibrant ecosystem of AI start-ups and companies developing AI products, to perform use-inspired research, grow the knowledge, create the tools, and develop the talent to power Singapore's AI efforts.AISG is driven by a government-wide partnership comprising NRF, Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO), Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Economic Development Board (EDB), Enterprise Singapore (ESG), amongst others. Contact Details Communications Consultant Joseph Rajendran +65 9228 7801 joseph@wiredcomms.sg Company Website https://aisingapore.org/ View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/ai-singapore-awards-s-20m-in-research-funds-to-address-challenges-relating-to-increase-use-of-ai-in-emerging-apps-202905643 This is a locator map for Egypt with its capital, Cairo. (AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The pan-Arab news network Al Jazeera has condemned a recent decision by Egyptian authorities to brand some of its journalists as terrorists. The media outlet, which is owned by the Gulf state of Qatar, said that a number of its Egyptian journalists and presenters had been added to a list of alleged terrorists published in an official newspaper earlier this month following a ruling by the Cairo Criminal Court. Al Jazeera Media Network strongly denounces the recent move by the Egyptian authorities to reinstate a number of its journalists onto a newly crafted terrorism list, the network said in a statement Tuesday. It also called for the release of two reporters Bahaa Al-Din Ibrahim, who was arrested in February 2020, and Rabee Al-Sheikh, who was arrested in August 2021. Both had traveled back to Egypt from Qatar to visit family, the network said. Egypt launched a crackdown on Al Jazeera after the 2013 military overthrow of an elected but divisive government dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood group. Egypt considers the Brotherhood a terrorist group and accused both Qatar and Al Jazeera of supporting it. Egypt revoked Al Jazeeras media credentials, raided its offices and arrested several reporters. The arrest and trial of three Al Jazeera English journalists Australian Peter Greste, Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed sparked an international outcry. The three received 10-year prison sentences, but were later released in 2015. Egypt and Qatar recently restored ties as part of a wider rapprochement among Arab states, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi visiting the country and meeting with its ruling emir in September. In May, Egypt released an Al Jazeera journalist who had been held since 2019. It wasn't immediately clear how many Al Jazeera reporters had been added to Egypt's terrorism blacklist, which is updated every five years. The broadcaster didn't provide specifics, and the newly updated list includes dozens of names. There was no comment from Egyptian officials. Recognized as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion" Support for Non-Profit Disability Organizations Exceeds $60 Million since 2012 BOISE, Idaho, July 26, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Albertsons Companies [NYSE: ACI] today announced that it earned a 100 on the Disability Equality Index (DEI), securing the designation as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion." This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726956140/en/ Albertsons Companies announced that it earned a 100 on the Disability Equality Index (DEI), securing the designation as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion." Since 2012, Albertsons Companies Foundation has donated more than $60 million to nonprofit organizations focused on supporting people with disabilities including the Special Olympics, Easter Seals, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Best Buddies. Support ranges from volunteer time, event participation and in-kind products, along with generous donations from customers at the register. Additionally, the companys portfolio of grocery banners offers more than 500 products and nearly 200 brands from certified disability-owned business enterprises, including service-disabled veteran disability-owned business enterprises. (Photo: Business Wire) "We are incredibly proud to share that Albertsons Companies earned a score of 100 on the DEI, especially on this historic day that the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law 33 years ago," said Monique Lanaux, GVP, Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Officer. "As one of the largest retail employers in the country, we are honored by this recognition and pledge to put people first by caring for our associates well-being and investing in their personal and professional growth." The DEI is a joint initiative of Disability:IN, the global organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business, and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). The report is the worlds largest and most comprehensive benchmarking tool for the Fortune 1000 to measure disability workplace inclusion policies and practices. Each participating company receives a score on a scale of zero to 100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as "Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion". The 2023 DEI measured: Culture and Leadership; Enterprise-Wide Access; Employment Practices; Community Engagement; Supplier Diversity; and Non-U.S. Operations. Story continues Since 2012, Albertsons Companies Foundation has donated more than $60 million to nonprofit organizations focused on supporting people with disabilities including the Special Olympics, Easter Seals, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Best Buddies. Support ranges from volunteer time, event participation and in-kind products, along with generous donations from customers at the register. Additionally, the companys portfolio of grocery banners offers more than 500 products and nearly 200 brands from certified disability-owned business enterprises, including service-disabled veteran disability-owned business enterprises. "Businesses have the power to drive the global advancement of disability inclusion, and were thrilled to see more companies than ever leverage the Disability Equality Index to measure their progress. We recognize these top-scoring companies as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion for their passion and efforts to lead the way in creating greater equity for people with disabilities in the workplace, marketplace, and supply chain," said Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN. Albertsons Companies launched the diverseABILITY associate resource group last fall for associates with diverse abilities, their caretakers and allies. This internal group provides education, awareness and celebration opportunities throughout the year to build belonging and connection. The Disability:IN 2023 DEI report is available at https://disabilityin.org/2023-dei-report/. About Albertsons Companies Albertsons Companies is a leading food and drug retailer in the United States. As of June 17, 2023, the Company operated 2,272 retail food and drug stores with 1,726 pharmacies, 401 associated fuel centers, 22 dedicated distribution centers and 19 manufacturing facilities. The Company operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia with 24 banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets and Balducci's Food Lovers Market. The Company is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2022, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the Company contributed more than $200 million in food and financial support, including more than $40 million through our Nourishing Neighbors Program to ensure those living in our communities and those impacted by disasters have enough to eat. About the Disability Equality Index The Disability Equality Index (DEI) is a comprehensive benchmarking tool that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions that they can take to achieve disability inclusion and equality. Each company receives a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion". The DEI is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nations largest disability rights organization, and Disability:IN, the global business disability inclusion network, to collectively advance the inclusion of people with disabilities. The organizations are complimentary and bring unique strengths that make the project relevant and credible to corporations and the disability community. The tool was developed by the DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse group of business leaders, policy experts, and disability advocates. Learn more at: www.DisabilityEqualityIndex.org. About Disability:IN Disability:IN is a global organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business. More than 500 corporations partner with Disability:IN to create long-term business and social impact through the worlds most comprehensive disability inclusion benchmarking and reporting tool, the Disability Equality Index (DEI); best-in-class conferences and programs; expert counsel and engagement; and public policy leadership. Join us at disabilityin.org/AreYouIN #AreYouIN. About the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) AAPD is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power for people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the 60+ million Americans with disabilities. Learn more at: www.aapd.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726956140/en/ Contacts media@albertsons.com PRODROMOU, Cyprus - (NewMediaWire) - July 26, 2023 - AlphaCap.Io, a leading trading platform, is excited to announce the launch of its highly anticipated Bonus Program, designed to empower traders with even more excellent opportunities for success. The Bonus Program expresses gratitude to our valued traders, providing them with an added edge in their trading endeavors. AlphaCap.Io aims to reward dedication and loyalty with this innovative initiative, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship between the platform and its traders. The Bonus Program offers several key features that traders can take advantage of: Competitive bonuses are available, which can boost their trading capital and increase potential profits. Personalized offers are tailored to each trader's preferences and goals, providing a unique trading experience. Activating these bonuses is simple, with no complicated procedures required. All of these features are accessible through AlphaCap.Io accounts. "We are thrilled to introduce our Bonus Program to show appreciation to our esteemed traders. We're dedicated to equipping our traders with the tools needed to succeed in the constantly evolving trading industry, and we take pride in doing so." Markos Valentinou, the Chief Marketing Officer, shared with us. Visit their website to learn more about the Bonus Program and explore its exciting opportunities. About AlphaCap.Io AlphaCap.io is a leading platform in decentralized finance (DeFi), allowing users to engage with Alpha Capital (ACAP), a distinctive deflationary cryptocurrency token. At the heart of ACAP's appeal is its innovative mechanism, wherein a portion of transaction fees collected by AlphaCap.io is permanently burned, reducing the overall ACAP token supply. One of AlphaCap.Io's key objectives is democratizing DeFi, making it accessible to a broader audience. By leveraging blockchain technology, the platform operates outside the traditional financial system, providing greater financial inclusivity for individuals with limited access to conventional financial services. Story continues With a user-friendly interface and a commitment to transparency, AlphaCap.io aims to cater to both seasoned investors and newcomers looking to explore the possibilities of DeFi. This platform's deflationary strategy and commitment to promoting a more diverse financial ecosystem make it a significant player in the ever-changing world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Company Name: AlphaCap.Io Email Address: support@alphacap.io Company Address: Regus - Nicosia Hadjikyriakeion Bld, Prodromou 1 121-1st Floor, Avenue 2064, Cyprus Company Website: https://alphacap.io (Bloomberg) -- Amazon.com Inc.s cloud unit, determined to take on Microsoft and Google in the burgeoning market for generative artificial intelligence, has unveiled a range of new AI products, including a service that helps health care providers summarize doctor visits and software that let companies create their own chatbots. Most Read from Bloomberg Amazon Web Services new HealthScribe summarizing tool has already attracted the interest of 3M Health Information Systems Inc., Babylon Health and ScribeEMR, said Swami Sivasubramanian, vice president of database, analytics and machine learning, who announced the new products on Wednesday in New York. AWS is working with partners to get the technology into clinicians hands rather than selling its own product directly to hospitals or doctors, he said in an interview. Companies are rushing to integrate generative AI into their businesses and automate a range of tasks currently handled by people. Microsoft Corp. and Alphabet Inc.s Google are both using the technology to revamp web search and add AI capabilities to a host of products. AWS, seen in some quarters as lagging behind its two smaller cloud rivals in generative AI, is trying to sell clients on its services and persuade them to run their own custom-built AI apps on AWS. The health care sector is already a significant battleground for generative AI. Microsoft, which acquired health AI company Nuance last year, is already using the technology underpinning ChatGPT to sell transcribing and summarizing services to doctors and nurses. Google is working on Med-PaLM, an AI model that researchers say has the potential to revolutionize health care by letting physicians retrieve medical knowledge in real time to support their clinical decisions. HealthScribe is available as a preview in the eastern US region, Amazon said. Story continues AWS also announced it will be adding more business-intelligence tools to its QuickSight product, which competes with Microsofts PowerBI and Salesforce Inc.s Tableau. Apart from easing the preparation of data dashboards, the new features will let customers use plain language to tell the software to create a slideshow or data story from particular graphs or dashboards, Sivasubramanian said. Customers who want to create chatbots or customer service agents can select one of several large language models used to train the AI algorithms. Amazon is also adding two large language models from the AI company Cohere to its Bedrock product, as well as the latest ones from Stability AI and Anthropic. AWS said customers such as Ryanair Holdings Plc and Bridgewater Associates are using Bedrock. The chatbot tools, called Agents for Bedrock, are available as a preview. AWS also made available a service that lets customers tap into the latest Nvidia Corp. chip for training AI models, the H100, a further attempt to lure more clients to run their AI apps in AWSs data centers rather than with Microsoft or Google. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. FILE PHOTO: A booth of Ant Group is pictured at the Singapore FinTech Festival (Reuters) -Jack Ma-backed Ant Group is planning a restructuring that will break off some non-core operations of its China financial-related business, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The Alibaba Group affiliate is looking at excluding its blockchain, database management services and international businesses from a main entity that will be used to apply for a financial holding license in China, the report said. Once the restructuring is complete and Ant secures the license, it can prepare for a public listing in Hong Kong instead of reviving the dual Shanghai-Hong Kong listing plan that was suspended by Chinese authorities in 2020, Bloomberg said. Ant Group declined to comment on the report, while Alibaba did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Earlier this month, Ant Group announced a surprise share buyback that valued the fintech giant at $78.54 billion, well below the $315 billion touted in the suspended IPO. Alibaba said it would not participate in the buyback but would maintain its shareholding in Ant. However, some Chinese state-owned firms that took part in Ant's earlier funding rounds are planning to participate in the buyback and shareholders have until early August to make a decision, Bloomberg reported. (Reporting by Jyoti Narayan in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza) Some University Park trustees expressed concern Tuesday about the court order requiring Aqua Illinois to offer free, monthly water testing to residents, stating the company created the problem with the villages drinking water. Village attorney Nina Fain, updating the Village Board Tuesday legal matters involving the water supplier, said residents should know they have the option to have their water tested, as ordered by the court. Any resident or business on the public water system can request Aqua complete a free test of the tap water, as often as once a month, Fain said. The testing will continue until either the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency or the court order otherwise, she said. Trustee Jewell Thompson, elected in April, said it didnt seem right for Aqua to conduct the testing. I dont think you can ask the person who created the problem to solve the problem necessarily, Thompson said. Whos advocating for us? Fain said the attorney generals office has advocated for the village. Residents can call 877-987-2782 to schedule water testing, she said, and should email the attorney generals office at upwater@ilag.gov if testing isnt occurring or if they have questions. Residents have been able to have their water tested since 2019, according to a statement from Aqua Illinois. Aqua company representatives didnt return phone calls Wednesday, but in an email statement spokesperson Kim Morreale said residents can remain reassured that these samples will be tested and analyzed by a third-party certified lab. IEPA officials cited Aqua Illinois in July 2019 for a series of alleged violations related to ongoing lead water contamination in University Park that persisted more than a month after they were detected. IEPAs violation notice cites Aqua for deficiencies in its permitting and sampling processes; for failing to properly categorize lead and copper sampling sites; and for failing to maintain a safe public water supply. Story continues In response, company officials at the time issued a statement saying they were working with IEPA to resolve the issue. The company suspended four members of its management and professional team in response to the IEPAs findings. But company officials acknowledged in the statement that in the process of changing water sources from well water to the Kankakee River in 2018, it installed a water main and changed treatment locations without getting an IEPA permit in a timely manner. Although we continue working to gather the necessary information to gain a more comprehensive understanding of what took place, it is important to note we dont believe the issues associated with these notices of violations contributed to or worsened the lead contamination in University Park, company officials said in a 2018 statement. In August 2019, the Illinois attorney general and Will County states attorney jointly filed a lawsuit against Aqua Illinois for allegedly not providing safe drinking water to University Park. The lawsuit accuses Aqua of failing to comply with monitoring and sampling requirements, violating construction and operating permit requirements and creating a public nuisance. The lawsuit sought a preliminary injunction ordering Aqua to immediately take corrective action to abate its alleged violations and requested monetary penalties of $50,000 for every violation and another $10,000 for each day of each violation. The case is moving forward, Fain said, and village administrators, including Mayor Joseph Roudez, have been called to testify when the case goes to trial. The cases discovery period took nearly two years, which Roudez called a stalemate. For two years, there was no conversation. It was all in the courts in discovery, Roudez said. As the case continues, Roudez said hed like to see an endowment fund created to help residents financially as issues may arise as a result of the lead in water, including future illnesses. Ideally, Roudez said the village could buy the water system for the price it was sold to Aqua, but the company likely wouldnt agree to that deal. Instead of giving residents water, which comes in heavy jugs that are difficult for older residents to carry, Roudez said Aqua should have invested in the community to correct their error. Aqua is a predatory company, that would not treat a community of white residents as it has treated the Black residents of University Park, Roudez said. We just have to find a way to get away from Aqua, Roudez said. Aqua gives less than a hoot about the village of University Park ... they are looking to disenfranchise this community. As the case moves through the court process, Fain said village officials and residents can attend court hearings, contact the attorney generals office to share their experiences with the water and talk with residents and officials in other communities, like Hanover Park, who also had problems with Aqua. These are proactive steps that dont cost anything that the community and the board can do, Fain said. AtriCure (ATRC) reported $100.92 million in revenue for the quarter ended June 2023, representing a year-over-year increase of 19.4%. EPS of -$0.12 for the same period compares to -$0.32 a year ago. The reported revenue represents a surprise of +3.05% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $97.94 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being -$0.27, the EPS surprise was +55.56%. While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health. Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance. Here is how AtriCure performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: United States Revenue- Pain management : $12.59 million compared to the $12.17 million average estimate based on two analysts. International Revenue- Pain management : $0.44 million compared to the $0.19 million average estimate based on two analysts. United States Revenue- Total ablation : $50.96 million compared to the $48.22 million average estimate based on two analysts. International Revenue- Total ablation : $9.54 million versus $9.27 million estimated by two analysts on average. United States Revenue- Total : $84.90 million versus $81.83 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +19.1% change. International Revenue- Appendage management : $6.48 million compared to the $6.42 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +14.4% year over year. United States Revenue- Open ablation : $27 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $25.92 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +22.4%. International Revenue- Open ablation : $7.72 million compared to the $7.27 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +24.3% year over year. United States Revenue- Minimally invasive ablation : $11.37 million compared to the $10.18 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +12% year over year. International Revenue- Minimally invasive ablation : $1.38 million compared to the $1.81 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +8.2% year over year. United States Revenue- Appendage management : $33.94 million compared to the $36.21 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +17.7% year over year. International- Total: $16.02 million versus $15.69 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +20.7% change. Story continues View all Key Company Metrics for AtriCure here>>> Shares of AtriCure have returned +9.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +4.9% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report AtriCure, Inc. (ATRC) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Austin-based dating app company Bumble is launching a new app called Bumble for Friends, expanding platonic matchmaking features found in the Bumble app's BFF mode to its own standalone platform. Bumble is best known for its namesake dating app, which works similarly to dating apps like Tinder, where users swipe left or right on preferences, except Bumble only allows women to initiate a conversation or make contact. With its newest app, the company said it is aiming to give users a new way to make connections exclusively focused on platonic relationships. The company operates three dating apps Bumble, Badoo and Fruitz, which have more than 40 million monthly users and more than 2.9 million paying users in more than 150 countries across all apps as of 2021. All three apps have a freemium business model, where basic usage is free, but users can pay to unlock premium features and subscriptions. In recent years, company executives, including founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd have made it clear that they want to expand the brand beyond just dating. In 2021, when Bumble went public, Herd said she envisioned Bumble as a "preeminent global woman's brand and said the company was just getting started. The new Bumble for Friends app is focused on platonic friendships. In a statement on Wednesday, Herd said friendship has always been a critical part of Bumble's goal for its users to live a healthy and happy life, and the new app is designed to create a fun way for people of all life stages to connect. The new app builds on the Bumble app, which has had three modes users could switch among for dating, friendship and business networking. The friendship mode Bumble BFF launched in 2016, and networking mode, Bizz in 2017. The company said up to 15% of Bumble monthly active members use BFF mode, but it declined to disclose Bumble's total users or total monthly active users. In the announcement, Bumble said its research shows people are making friends online now more than ever, and Generation Z, which ranges in age from about teens to mid-20s is particularly open to that. Story continues How does the new app work? Bumble for Friends is designed to work similarly to the Bumble app, with profiles, swiping for matches and conversations with matches, but is focused exclusively on platonic dating. The Bumble app will allow users to migrate their BFF profiles. Once migrated, users will no longer have access to BFF within the Bumble app. The new app is free and available in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It can be downloaded on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. Bumble had already been testing the app in select markets, including the United Kingdom and Australia, prior to the announcement of its launch. Bumble will allow users to migrate their BFF profiles to the new Bumble for Friends app. The new app is set up like Bumble, where users create a profile reflecting their personality, interests and hobbies; add photos of themselves; and can say what kind of friends they are looking to meet. Once set up, members can see profiles of potential friends, based on common interests, and swipe to connect with people they are interested in meeting. Currently, BFF users are able to migrate their profile and connections to the new app by logging in as an existing member. Once a profile is migrated, BFF mode is no longer available to that user in the Bumble app, but the date and Bizz modes will remain in the Bumble app. The company said the new app will include a new group planning feature that makes it easier for users to plan in-person group meetups with people they meet on the app. In Bumble for Friends, any user can create a plan for a group meetup by selecting a planned activity from a list of suggestions or from their own idea and adding at least two of their matches. The app then creates a group chat, allowing those users to discuss potential meetups. How does this new app fit into Bumble's brand? Nicholas Cauley, an industry analyst at global research firm Third Bridge, said Bumble BFF was too constrained as part of Bumble's original app and lacked major differentiation in functionality and user experience from the Bumble dating experience. The new app also comes as users are showing "signs of exhaustion" from online dating, making it an optimal time to launch a nonromantic social app. "Our experts believe the BFF app and Bumble Dating app will be mutually beneficial acquisition funnels for each other. An added benefit will be the reduction in user churn; even if users find a significant other on the dating side, they can continue interacting with Bumble BFF the lifetime value is extended," Cauley said. Angelo Zino, a senior equity analyst at CFRA Research, said the new app fits into the broader vision that Herd had when she founded the company. Zino said Bumble's products focus on creating engagement while prioritizing safety and accountability, criteria that Bumble for Friends meets. New app builds on Bumble's pandemic-era growth: Dating app usage surged amid the early days of the pandemic, including for Bumble, which added features, and saw its customer base jump to more than 100 million users. The company also went public in early 2021, with a $2.5 billion initial offering of stock, the biggest in Austin history. More: How Austin dating app maker Bumble has thrived during the pandemic Bumble shares have dropped sharply since their peak when the company had its initial public offering. At the time the company opened its shares at $43 a share, and the shares rose as high as $79.60. The company opened at $18.06 a share Wednesday morning, with stocks rising about 2% to $18.80 a share after the announcement of Bumble for Friends. Bumble's revenue and user growth has gone up despite the lower stock prices, including in recent months. The company has seen a jump in paying users, rising to 3.5 million paying users as of April 2023, compared with 3 million the year before. In May, the company's latest earnings report said the Bumble app alone saw revenue increase 26% in the first quarter to $194 million in the period between January and May and saw revenue across its apps increase to $242.9 million in the same period. Last year, the company's full-year revenue was $903.5 million, up 18% year over year, a number it expects to grow 16% to 19% year over year in 2023, according to the company's full-year outlook. In May, Herd said the growth shows that online dating remains a "healthy, attractive and high-growth market" globally. More: As tools like Bard, OpenAI and ChatGPT take off, Austin is an early adopter in AI This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin-based dating app Bumble launches friend finding stand-alone app (Bloomberg) -- Australia hopes to complete an agreement with India that will expand market access for Australian exporters by the end of the calendar year and before next years Indian election, Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said. Most Read from Bloomberg Watt and a delegation of agribusiness representatives visited India earlier this month to discuss improving market access for Australian producers under a proposed Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, which would expand the partial free trade pact that came into effect at the end of last year. We are starting to see Australian producers take advantage of those opportunities under the existing deal, Watt said in an interview. But we are in the process of negotiating what we hope will be a broader deal. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May visited Sydney, where he held discussions with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and hailed the fast-growing Indian diaspora in Australia for the improving bilateral relations. Other points: Australia is planning to continue talks with the European Union on a free-trade deal in August. While Canberra remains open to continuing negotiations, their EU counterparts are only open to a point. Issues to be resolved include access for some Australian agricultural exports, in particular beef. Australia is very hopeful Chinas curbs on barley will be lifted in August. Canberra has agreed to suspend a World Trade Organization case for a fourth month while Beijing reviews the restrictions. China imposed trade sanctions on a range of Australian goods in 2020 following a call by then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison for an international investigation into the origins of Covid-19. Relations between the countries improved following the election of Albaneses Labor government in May 2022. Story continues Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. By Byron Kaye SYDNEY (Reuters) -An Australian court ordered Facebook owner Meta Platforms to pay fines totalling A$20 million ($14 million) for collecting user data through a smartphone application advertised as a way to protect privacy without disclosing its actions. Australia's Federal Court also ordered Meta, through its subsidiaries Facebook Israel and the now-discontinued app, Onavo, to pay A$400,000 in legal costs to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which brought the civil lawsuit. The fine wraps up one strand of Meta's legal issues in Australia related to its handling of user information since a global scandal erupted over its use of data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica in the 2016 U.S. election. Meta still faces a civil court action by Australia's Office of the Information Commissioner over its dealings with Cambridge Analytica in Australia. Wednesday's judgment was in relation to a virtual private network (VPN) service the company then called Facebook offered from early 2016 to late 2017, Onavo, which it advertised as a way to keep personal information safe. VPNs obscure an internet user's identity by giving their computer a different online address. However, Facebook used Onavo to collect users' location, time and frequency using other smartphone apps, and websites they visited for its own advertising purposes, the judge Wendy Abraham said in a written judgment. "The failure to make sufficient disclosures ... may have deprived tens of thousands of Australian consumers of the opportunity to make an informed choice about the collection and use of their data before downloading and/or using Onavo Protect," Abraham wrote. She added that the court could have fined Meta hundreds of billions of dollars since Australians downloaded the app 271,220 times and each breach of consumer law carried a A$1.1 million fine, but "the contraventions can be characterised as a single course of conduct". Story continues The fine was agreed by both sides but "carries with it a sufficient sting to ensure that the penalty amount is not such as to be regarded ... as simply an acceptable cost of doing business", she wrote. Meta, which made global revenues of $116 billion last year, said in a statement the ACCC had acknowledged it never sought to mislead customers, and "over the last several years we have built tools to give people more transparency and control over how their data is used". In a statement, ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said Australian consumers should be able to make an informed choice about what happens to their data based on clear information. ($1 = 1.4736 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Byron Kaye; Editing by Tom Hogue and Lincoln Feast) Just because a business does not make any money, does not mean that the stock will go down. For example, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. But while the successes are well known, investors should not ignore the very many unprofitable companies that simply burn through all their cash and collapse. So, the natural question for Australian Rare Earths (ASX:AR3) shareholders is whether they should be concerned by its rate of cash burn. For the purpose of this article, we'll define cash burn as the amount of cash the company is spending each year to fund its growth (also called its negative free cash flow). The first step is to compare its cash burn with its cash reserves, to give us its 'cash runway'. See our latest analysis for Australian Rare Earths When Might Australian Rare Earths Run Out Of Money? You can calculate a company's cash runway by dividing the amount of cash it has by the rate at which it is spending that cash. When Australian Rare Earths last reported its balance sheet in December 2022, it had zero debt and cash worth AU$8.9m. In the last year, its cash burn was AU$7.3m. That means it had a cash runway of around 15 months as of December 2022. That's not too bad, but it's fair to say the end of the cash runway is in sight, unless cash burn reduces drastically. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time. How Is Australian Rare Earths' Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Because Australian Rare Earths isn't currently generating revenue, we consider it an early-stage business. Nonetheless, we can still examine its cash burn trajectory as part of our assessment of its cash burn situation. In fact, it ramped its spending strongly over the last year, increasing cash burn by 109%. It's fair to say that sort of rate of increase cannot be maintained for very long, without putting pressure on the balance sheet. Clearly, however, the crucial factor is whether the company will grow its business going forward. So you might want to take a peek at how much the company is expected to grow in the next few years. Story continues Can Australian Rare Earths Raise More Cash Easily? Given its cash burn trajectory, Australian Rare Earths shareholders may wish to consider how easily it could raise more cash, despite its solid cash runway. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. By comparing a company's annual cash burn to its total market capitalisation, we can estimate roughly how many shares it would have to issue in order to run the company for another year (at the same burn rate). Since it has a market capitalisation of AU$45m, Australian Rare Earths' AU$7.3m in cash burn equates to about 16% of its market value. Given that situation, it's fair to say the company wouldn't have much trouble raising more cash for growth, but shareholders would be somewhat diluted. So, Should We Worry About Australian Rare Earths' Cash Burn? On this analysis of Australian Rare Earths' cash burn, we think its cash burn relative to its market cap was reassuring, while its increasing cash burn has us a bit worried. Even though we don't think it has a problem with its cash burn, the analysis we've done in this article does suggest that shareholders should give some careful thought to the potential cost of raising more money in the future. On another note, we conducted an in-depth investigation of the company, and identified 5 warning signs for Australian Rare Earths (2 are significant!) that you should be aware of before investing here. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies insiders are buying, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts) 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 Banc of California (BANC) reported $75.66 million in revenue for the quarter ended June 2023, representing a year-over-year decline of 11.5%. EPS of $0.32 for the same period compares to $0.45 a year ago. The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $76.23 million, representing a surprise of -0.76%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +3.23%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.31. While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance. Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance. Here is how Banc of California performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: Net charge-offs to Average Loan : 0.3% versus 0.13% estimated by three analysts on average. Efficiency Ratio : 64.94% versus 64.42% estimated by three analysts on average. Net Interest Margin : 3.11% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 3.24%. Total interest-earning assets : $8.97 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $8.82 billion. Total Non-performing loans : $67.31 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $57.82 million. Total Non-performing assets : $68.19 million versus $57.82 million estimated by two analysts on average. Total Non Interest Income : $6.02 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $5.15 million. Net Interest Income: $69.63 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $71.10 million. View all Key Company Metrics for Banc of California here>>> Shares of Banc of California have returned +11.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +4.9% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term. Story continues Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Banc of California, Inc. (BANC) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Bank of Montreal's (TSE:BMO) dividend will be increasing from last year's payment of the same period to CA$1.47 on 28th of August. This makes the dividend yield about the same as the industry average at 4.8%. View our latest analysis for Bank of Montreal Bank of Montreal's Dividend Forecasted To Be Well Covered By Earnings Solid dividend yields are great, but they only really help us if the payment is sustainable. Bank of Montreal has a long history of paying out dividends, with its current track record at a minimum of 10 years. Based on Bank of Montreal's last earnings report, the payout ratio is at a decent 57%, meaning that the company is able to pay out its dividend with a bit of room to spare. The next 3 years are set to see EPS grow by 33.6%. Analysts estimate the future payout ratio will be 52% over the same time period, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend. Bank of Montreal Has A Solid Track Record The company has an extended history of paying stable dividends. The dividend has gone from an annual total of CA$2.88 in 2013 to the most recent total annual payment of CA$5.88. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 7.4% per annum over that time. Dividends have grown at a reasonable rate over this period, and without any major cuts in the payment over time, we think this is an attractive combination as it provides a nice boost to shareholder returns. Bank of Montreal Could Grow Its Dividend Some investors will be chomping at the bit to buy some of the company's stock based on its dividend history. It's encouraging to see that Bank of Montreal has been growing its earnings per share at 6.0% a year over the past five years. Shareholders are getting plenty of the earnings returned to them, which combined with strong growth makes this quite appealing. Bank of Montreal Looks Like A Great Dividend Stock Overall, we think this could be an attractive income stock, and it is only getting better by paying a higher dividend this year. Earnings are easily covering distributions, and the company is generating plenty of cash. Taking this all into consideration, this looks like it could be a good dividend opportunity. Story continues Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. For example, we've picked out 2 warning signs for Bank of Montreal that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 By buying an index fund, you can roughly match the market return with ease. But if you buy good businesses at attractive prices, your portfolio returns could exceed the average market return. For example, Berjaya Corporation Berhad (KLSE:BJCORP) shareholders have seen the share price rise 24% over three years, well in excess of the market decline (4.6%, 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. See our latest analysis for Berjaya Corporation Berhad We don't think that Berjaya Corporation Berhad's modest trailing twelve month profit has the market's full attention at the moment. We think revenue is probably a better guide. As a general rule, we think this kind of company is more comparable to loss-making stocks, since the actual profit is so low. For shareholders to have confidence a company will grow profits significantly, it must grow revenue. Berjaya Corporation Berhad's revenue trended up 13% each year over three years. That's pretty nice growth. The share price gain of 8% per year shows that the market is paying attention to this growth. Of course, valuation is quite sensitive to the rate of growth. Of course, it's always worth considering funding risks when a company isn't profitable. The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). We're pleased to report that the CEO is remunerated more modestly than most CEOs at similarly capitalized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.. A Different Perspective It's good to see that Berjaya Corporation Berhad has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 24% in the last twelve months. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 0.3%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. In the best case scenario, this may hint at some real business momentum, implying that now could be a great time to delve deeper. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Berjaya Corporation Berhad (1 makes us a bit uncomfortable) that you should be aware of. Story continues But note: Berjaya Corporation Berhad may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here (Bloomberg) -- Billionaires David and Simon Reuben have bolstered their New York City property investments, helping to refinance debt on an ultra-luxury condo skyscraper on Manhattans Billionaires Row. Most Read from Bloomberg The British brothers joined with JPMorgan Chase & Co. to provide a roughly $500 million loan for Central Park Tower, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. The 131-story property, built by Gary Barnetts Extell Development, is home to New Yorks most expensive residential listing, a penthouse priced at $250 million. The debt replenished and supplemented a previous $500 million loan that had already been paid down through condo sales at the building, according to the person, who asked not to be identified because the details are private. A representative for the Reuben brothers didnt respond to a request for comment. Spokespeople for JPMorgan and Extell declined to comment. The Reubens control one of the worlds biggest portfolios of retail, office and residential properties. They have disclosed more than half-dozen real estate investments in New York since the start of 2020, including the purchase of the Surrey Hotel on Manhattans Upper East Side, financing for the Time Hotel near Times Square and the Apthorp, a luxury condo building on the Upper West Side. Read more: Billionaire UK Brothers Boost New York Bet for Property Empire Elsewhere in the US, the brothers are exploring ways to finish one of Los Angeless biggest real estate projects after recently taking control of major parts of the $2.5 billion development through debt-financing deals. David, 84, and Simon, 82, have a total net worth of about $14 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Story continues Sons of Iraqi Jews, the brothers were born in India and moved to London as teenagers. They built a fortune trading metals through their company Trans-World Group, which they sold in 2000 to Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska and invested the proceeds in real estate, leisure and technology firms. Read more: Worlds Rich Take Advantage as $1 Trillion Property Market Drops Central Park Tower, at 1,550 feet (472 meters), is the worlds tallest residential building, according to the propertys website. It was Extells second project along Billionaires Row, a group of condo skyscrapers around West 57th Street targeting ultra-wealthy buyers. Closings began in 2021 at the 179-unit tower near Columbus Circle, which has a Nordstrom store at its base. Sales have continued at a steady clip as Barnett has agreed to discounts of more than 20% off the list price on some recent closings. --With assistance from Jennifer Epstein and Natalie Wong. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Binance has withdrawn its application for a crypto license in Germany, following reports that the German financial regulator had denied the exchange a crypto custody license. In a statement given to Decrypt, a Binance spokesperson said, "Binance confirms that it has proactively withdrawn its BaFin application." Media reports from last month indicated that BaFin, the German financial regulatory authority, had denied Binance's application for a crypto custody license. At the time, a Binance spokesperson stated their commitment to work with regulators and continue discussions with the German authorities. However, today, they confirmed that they have decided to withdraw their application altogether. Germanys BaFin Rejects Binance Crypto Custody License: Report Binance and European regulators Binance has recently withdrawn license applications in Austria, the Netherlands and Cyprus, and last month lost its partnership with European banking partner PaySafe. The exchange also faces an investigation by French authorities, which accuse Binance of acts of aggravated money laundering. Outside Europe, the exchange has received restrictions from Australia on operating a derivatives exchange and ceased operations in Canada. Binance has previously mentioned that it plans to fully comply with European Unions Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) legislation, set to be implemented next year. However, for the time being, it has had to withdraw from major countries in Europe and even outside of it. In its statement to Decrypt, Binance claimed that the exchange still intends to apply for appropriate licensing in Germany, but noted that, The situation, both in the global market and regulation has changed significantly, and that it is essential that our submission accurately reflects these changes." Key Insights The projected fair value for Eagle Eye Solutions Group is UK5.40 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current share price of UK5.50 suggests Eagle Eye Solutions Group is potentially trading close to its fair value Peers of Eagle Eye Solutions Group are currently trading on average at a 34% discount In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Eagle Eye Solutions Group plc (LON:EYE) by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Eagle Eye Solutions Group The Model We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK3.90m UK6.70m UK7.79m UK8.71m UK9.46m UK10.1m UK10.6m UK11.0m UK11.3m UK11.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ 16.31% Est @ 11.79% Est @ 8.63% Est @ 6.41% Est @ 4.86% Est @ 3.77% Est @ 3.01% Est @ 2.48% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 7.2% UK3.6 UK5.8 UK6.3 UK6.6 UK6.7 UK6.6 UK6.5 UK6.3 UK6.0 UK5.8 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK60m After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.2%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = UK12m (1 + 1.2%) (7.2% 1.2%) = UK196m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK196m ( 1 + 7.2%)10= UK98m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is UK158m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of UK5.5, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. 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 Eagle Eye Solutions Group 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 7.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.857. 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 Eagle Eye Solutions Group Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Weakness Earnings growth over the past year underperformed the Media industry. Expensive based on P/S ratio and estimated fair value. Shareholders have been diluted in the past year. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the British market. Threat No apparent threats visible for EYE. Moving On: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. 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. For Eagle Eye Solutions Group, we've compiled three pertinent aspects you should further examine: Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Eagle Eye Solutions Group . Future Earnings: How does EYE'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 British 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 Key Insights The projected fair value for PulteGroup is US$77.11 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity PulteGroup's US$83.42 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate Analyst price target for PHM is US$83.25, which is 8.0% above our fair value estimate How far off is PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for PulteGroup The Calculation We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$1.72b US$1.54b US$1.44b US$1.38b US$1.35b US$1.34b US$1.34b US$1.35b US$1.36b US$1.38b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Est @ -10.34% Est @ -6.61% Est @ -3.99% Est @ -2.16% Est @ -0.88% Est @ 0.02% Est @ 0.65% Est @ 1.08% Est @ 1.39% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 9.3% US$1.6k US$1.3k US$1.1k US$967 US$866 US$785 US$718 US$662 US$612 US$568 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$9.1b After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.1%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 9.3%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = US$1.4b (1 + 2.1%) (9.3% 2.1%) = US$20b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$20b ( 1 + 9.3%)10= US$8.1b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$17b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$83.4, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at PulteGroup as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.3%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.208. 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 PulteGroup Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is not viewed as a risk. Weakness Earnings growth over the past year is below its 5-year average. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Consumer Durables market. Opportunity Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 3 years. Looking Ahead: Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For PulteGroup, there are three pertinent elements you should consider: Risks: To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with PulteGroup (including 1 which is concerning) . Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for PHM's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the NYSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here The new manufacturing site will bring an additional 80 permanent jobs in engineering, production, quality, supply chain, and other manufacturing support functions SINGAPORE, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The global market leader in polyisoprene rubber latex for medical-end markets, Cariflex Pte. Ltd. (Cariflex), relocates its global headquarters to 2 Venture Drive, #25-10 Vision Exchange, Singapore 608526. [Above: Cariflex New Headquarters Inauguration] Previously located in the city centre, a fit-for-purpose office had been set up in 2020 after the establishment of Cariflex in Singapore as a wholly owned subsidiary of DL Chemical Co., Ltd. Today, the move signifies the strengthening of Cariflex's presence in Asia, and increased job opportunities locally. "The construction of our largest polyisoprene latex plant in Jurong Island, Singapore is progressing well. The plant is expected to be operational by the second half of 2024, and it will create at least 80 permanent jobs in engineering, production, quality, supply chain, and other manufacturing support functions", said Prakash Kolluri, CEO of Cariflex. "The new office, three times larger, is in support of the rapidly growing Cariflex staff in Singapore that has doubled in the last two years. The new office is strategically located closer to Jurong Island to enhance interaction between headquarters and our future manufacturing site," he continued. DL Chemical Co., Ltd subsidiary companies, Kraton Polymers Singapore Pte. Ltd. and DL Chemical Co., Ltd Singapore Branch, will also be co-located in the same office, leveraging the business and site synergies. Driven by a strong commitment to better serve its global customers in medical and consumer products, Cariflex continues to invest in capabilities to strengthen its position as the number one supplier of polyisoprene latex with unmatched quality and diversity of supply sources. The move to the new headquarters strengthens our presence in Asia, which represents the most important growth region for Cariflex. Story continues ABOUT CARIFLEX Cariflex is a global leader of isoprene rubber latex ("IR Latex") and isoprene rubber ("IR") for medical end markets and other high-value markets with strong growth drivers. Cariflex produces high value-added synthetic rubbers and latexes used for medical materials such as surgical gloves and rubber stoppers and seals for drug delivery devices. Cariflex is a wholly owned subsidiary of DL Chemical Co., Ltd, and is headquartered in Singapore. For more information, visit https://www.cariflex.com/en/main.do Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/cariflex-relocates-headquarters-in-singapore-in-the-run-up-to-the-start-of-production-at-its-world-scale-polyisoprene-latex-plant-in-2024-301885228.html SOURCE CARIFLEX The new dental insurance leverages Chubb's service and underwriting capabilities and HealthAtom's dental health and clinic management services ecosystem MIAMI and SANTIAGO, Chile, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb and HealthAtom today announced an alliance to offer comprehensive dental healthcare protection for patients across Latin America. Marcos Gunn, SVP, Chubb Group and Regional President, Chubb Latin America, and Jose Maria Iruretagoyena, HealthAtom's Chief Fintech Officer Announce Alliance to Expand Dental Protection in Latin America. Through the alliance, individual clients and corporate groups will have access to completely digital, comprehensive and easy-to-contract dental protection products. The innovative digital insurance is built to optimize coverage and deliver lasting value to customers through their preferred channels. Chubb, a leading global property and casualty insurer with operations in nine Latin American countries, will be the preferred insurance partner for HealthAtom's ecosystem in the region. HealthAtom, a Chilean healthtech focused on improving the efficiency of healthcare providers in Latin America through software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology, will be Chubb's preferred partner for dental-related services in the region, which will be available to the insurer's customers and business partners. "Chubb's alliance with HealthAtom represents an important step to provide greater access and protection to consumers across Latin America. Working in partnership with HealthAtom, we are committed to driving a cultural shift towards preventive healthcare in our countries," said Marcos Gunn, Senior Vice President, Chubb Group and Regional President, Chubb Latin America. "Our clients and strategic partners can benefit from the great infrastructure and ecosystem of services and management that HealthAtom has built for healthcare providers and clinics throughout the region. Our shared vision is to deliver a cost-effective, tailored product that meets the dynamic and evolving needs of our clients." "This unique alliance provides people across Latin America with access to dental insurance that protects and restores their smile, through the region's most extensive network of professionals and powered by our cutting-edge Dentalink software. We will equip dental healthcare offices with the necessary technological tools that enable them to focus on delivering high-quality dental services," said Jose Maria Iruretagoyena, Chief Fintech Officer of HealthAtom. "The partnership with Chubb exemplifies our commitment to innovation, service excellence, and continuous improvement. This agreement will allow us to integrate Chubb's expertise in risk management, data analysis, technology, claims service, and digital know-how, thus enriching our platform and ecosystem. We are honored to collaborate with Chubb to provide innovative and highly customized solutions to the dental insurance marketplace and are proud to be transforming the industry through innovation and strategic collaboration," he added. Story continues Founded in 2012, HealthAtom is present in more than 20 countries, with more than 13,000 healthcare centers and more than 60,000 healthcare professionals using the Dentalink platform. In 2022, the company managed more than 45 million unique appointments, during which dental treatments worth USD$1.5 billion were performed. Thanks to this performance, the company positioned itself as a leader in the Latin American SaaS healthtech industry, and now seeks to consolidate its Dentalink platform as the preferred cloud-based operations system for dental centers of all sizes. The alliance will start in Chile, and during 2024 it is expected to expand to Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, and Peru. Chubb's global integration technology platform, Chubb Studio, is the engine behind alliances with companies like HealthAtom, and enables its partners to quickly and easily develop new insurance product offerings within their own digital ecosystems. About Chubb Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume, and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength, and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris, and other locations, and employs approximately 40,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com. About HealthAtom HealthAtom is the leading company in the Latin American SaaS Healthtech industry. Its purpose is to improve the quality and access to healthcare through the creation of a digital ecosystem that connects healthcare providers and other stakeholders, allowing efficiency, traceability, control, and regulatory compliance. With their solutions, Dentalink y Medilink as SaaS verticals, they are an agent of change with more than 13,000 healthcare providers and 60,000 users who use their software daily in 23 countries, generating more than 45 million effective appointments on their platforms. In addition, with their fintech Gerty, HealthAtom provides financial benefits to patients, being the connection point that facilitates safe, fast, and 100% reliable access for all. Currently, they have more than 200 employees and are leading the digital development of the healthcare industry in Latin America. To know more about HealthAtom's purpose, visit https://www.healthatom.com/ or follow us at www.linkedin.com/company/healthatom. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Forward-looking statements made in this press release, such as statements regarding the alliance, product and service offerings, geographic expansion, and other expectations, intentions and statements that are not historical facts, reflect Chubb's and HealthAtom's current views with respect to future events and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements. Additional information regarding factors that could cause differences from these forward-looking statements appears in Chubb's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Media Contact: Chubb Latin America pia.valderrama@chubb.com, +(593-9) 82623333 HealthAtom - Juan Miguel Florido, juanmiguel@healthatom.com, (+56) 949108842 Chubb and HealthAtom today announced an alliance to offer comprehensive dental healthcare protection for patients across Latin America. Through the alliance, individual clients and corporate groups will have access to completely digital, comprehensive and easy-to-contract dental protection products, build to optimize coverage and deliver lasting value to customers. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chubb-and-healthatom-announce-alliance-to-expand-dental-protection-in-latin-america-301886582.html SOURCE Chubb Latin America Cigna is using an algorithm to review and often reject hundreds of thousands of patient health insurance claims, a new lawsuit claims, with doctors rubber-stamping those denials without individually reviewing each case. The class-action suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Sacramento, alleges that Cigna's actions violate California state law, which requires that insurers conduct a "thorough, fair and objective" investigation into each patient claim. Instead, the lawsuit alleges, Cigna is relying on an algorithm, called PxDx, that saves the insurer money by denying claims. The system also reduces the company's labor costs by cutting the time needed by doctors to look at each claim, according to the complaint. One California woman with Cigna health insurance, Suzanne Kisting-Leung, underwent an ultrasound ordered by her doctor because of concerns about ovarian cancer. The ultrasound found a cyst on her left ovary, the lawsuit states. Cigna denied her claim for the ultrasound and a follow-up procedure, claiming neither were medically necessary and leaving her on the hook for $723 in costs for the two ultrasounds, the claim alleges. Another Cigna customer in California had a vitamin D test to check for a deficiency, a procedure that was ordered by her doctor. Cigna denied her claim, but didn't provide an explanation about why the test was rejected, the suit claims. The litigation highlights the growing use of algorithms and artificial intelligence to handle tasks that were once routinely handled by human workers. At issue in health care is whether a computer program can provide the kind of "thorough, fair, and objective" decision that a human medical professional would bring in evaluating a patient's claim. "Relying on the PXDX system, Cigna's doctors instantly reject claims on medical grounds without ever opening patient files, leaving thousands of patients effectively without coverage and with unexpected bills," the suit alleges. Story continues It added, "The scope of this problem is massive. For example, over a period of two months in 2022, Cigna doctors denied over 300,000 requests for payments using this method, spending an average of just 1.2 seconds 'reviewing' each request." The case was brought by Clarkson Law Firm, which has also sued Google-parent Alphabet over its use of AI, claiming that the search giant stole data from millions of users to train the program. Cigna defends PXDX In a statement to CBS News, Cigna called the lawsuit "highly questionable." "Based on our initial research, we cannot confirm that these individuals were impacted by PxDx at all," the insurer said. "To be clear, Cigna uses technology to verify that the codes on some of the most common, low-cost procedures are submitted correctly based on our publicly available coverage policies, and this is done to help expedite physician reimbursement." The insurance claims review occurs after patients have received treatment and "does not result in any denials of care," Cigna added. The lawsuit's allegations follow a recent investigation by ProPublica that flagged similar denials of payment to Cigna customers. Typically, a patient obtains treatment from a doctor or health care facility, which then submits a claim to the insurer. Cigna's statement that its process doesn't result in denials of care may be correct the patient, after all, gets the treatment but some customers are allegedly left with bills that they believed would have been covered under their health plan. One doctor who had worked at Cigna told ProPublica that they sign off on the denials from PxDx in batches, without reviewing the individual claims. "We literally click and submit," the doctor told the investigative news outlet. "It takes all of 10 seconds to do 50 at a time." Kisting-Leung has appealed her two denials, but still hasn't received payment for the ultrasounds, the suit claims. The case is asking for damages as well as an order to stop Cigna from "continuing its improper and unlawful claim handling practices," as alleged by the complaint. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Colliers International Group fair value estimate is CA$211 Colliers International Group is estimated to be 33% undervalued based on current share price of CA$142 Analyst price target for CIGI is US$151 which is 28% below our fair value estimate How far off is Colliers International Group Inc. (TSE:CIGI) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine. We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. View our latest analysis for Colliers International Group The Model We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Story continues A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$397.3m US$460.9m US$515.1m US$560.2m US$597.6m US$628.8m US$655.1m US$677.9m US$698.0m US$716.3m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Est @ 16.02% Est @ 11.75% Est @ 8.77% Est @ 6.68% Est @ 5.21% Est @ 4.19% Est @ 3.47% Est @ 2.97% Est @ 2.62% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 9.3% US$363 US$386 US$394 US$392 US$383 US$368 US$351 US$332 US$313 US$294 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$3.6b We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.8%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 9.3%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = US$716m (1 + 1.8%) (9.3% 1.8%) = US$9.7b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$9.7b ( 1 + 9.3%)10= US$4.0b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$7.6b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of CA$142, the company appears quite good value at a 33% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Colliers International Group as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.3%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.267. 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 Colliers International Group Strength Debt is well covered by earnings. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Real Estate market. Shareholders have been diluted in the past year. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Canadian market. Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Moving On: 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. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Colliers International Group, we've put together three important items you should assess: Risks: We feel that you should assess the 4 warning signs for Colliers International Group (1 is a bit unpleasant!) we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for CIGI's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every 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 NEW YORK A Colorado businessman and Steve Bannon pal convicted of siphoning donations meant to fund a wall on the U.S. southern border a signature goal of ex-President Donald Trump was sentenced Tuesday to 5 1/4 years in prison. Timothy Shea, 52, owner of a company that sells the energy drink Winning Energy, which describes itself as Liberal Tears Made in America, was one of four men federal authorities charged in the scheme in November 2020. His first trial ended in a mistrial last year after a juror alleged a government witch hunt by the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office and accused his fellow jurors of being biased New York liberals. A jury convicted Shea at a second trial in October 2022, finding he defrauded donors to the online crowdfunding campaign We Build The Wall, which promised to devote every penny raised to its effort. The face of the campaign, triple-amputee Air Force veteran Brian Kolfage, who received a term of 4 years after pleading guilty to the scheme, had promised not to take a penny in salary or compensation. Mr. Shea was familiar with his codefendants promises and representations and knew that they were false, Manhattan Federal Judge Analisa Torres said before imposing the sentence. Through the use of shell companies, Mr. Shea kicked back a quarter of a million dollars to Mr. Kolfage and kept more than $180,000 for himself, the judge added, noting he joined the others in taking steps to conceal their scheme. Shea asked Torres for leniency. I do want to tell you that I do regret what has happened here, he said, asking the judge to consider his teenage children and view him differently than how the government is portraying me. Its very different from the person that I am. Again, I regret all of the We Build The Wall stuff, but I pray, I ask that you would be lenient and consider the kids. Bannon received a federal pardon from Trump just before he left office, but has since been charged by the Manhattan district attorney. Hes expected to go on trial in Manhattan Supreme Court next May in the We Build The Wall scheme. Story continues Timothy Shea abused the trust of donors to We Build the Wall, stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to line his own pockets, and attempted to obstruct the federal investigation of his criminal conduct, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement. The defendant has now been held accountable and faces prison time for his crimes. Sheas attorney did not return a call seeking comment. _____ (Bloomberg) -- Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says that a combination of export controls and domestic incentives will be needed for the US and its allies to fight a glut of semiconductor chips she warns will come with Chinas aggressive industry subsidies. Most Read from Bloomberg The amount of money that China is pouring into subsidizing what will be an excess capacity of mature chips and legacy chips, thats a problem that we need to be thinking about and working with our allies to get ahead of, Raimondo said Wednesday at a panel hosted by the American Enterprise Institute. The United States needs to invest in its capacity to produce high-end chips, she said, while preventing the most advanced technology from reaching China. The Biden administration is working with industry leaders and coordinating with allies on a narrowly tailored set of new export controls, she said, while declining to provide an update on the time line. Those restrictions, which will build on curbs implemented in October of last year, will deny some revenue to American companies, but we think its worth it to protect national security, she said. At the same time, semiconductor companies are primed to benefit from $52.7 billion in direct subsidies to boost domestic chip manufacturing. Those programs in last years Chips and Science Act will help the US address a dual challenge in manufacturing low-end and high-end chips, said Indiana Senator Todd Young, who shepherded the legislation through Congress and also appeared at the event. On one end of the spectrum, the senator said, snags in the supply chain for less advanced chips can create lags in car manufacturing plants in places like Indiana. On the other, Young added, the US needs to shore up its ability to produce advanced chips like those that can work in nuclear-armed submarines. Story continues The money, which has yet to be disbursed, will flow out at the same time as the Biden administration offers massive incentives for the clean energy, electric vehicle and battery industries, aiming to reach global dominance in sectors the White House sees as critical for the economy and environment. The programs comprise the countrys largest foray into industrial policy since World War II, with massive implications for its depleted manufacturing sector. But Raimondo said that the chip subsidies do not mark the beginning of a new era of industrial policy for the US, given that theyre narrowly tailored to a national security goal. Will there be other pieces of legislation that are similar? I dont know, maybe, she said. In the immediate term, Young said hes focused on ensuring that some oft-overlooked aspects of the chips bill particularly in research and development are adequately funded through the upcoming appropriations process. Hes also co-sponsoring a measure to expedite environmental permitting for new chip factories and aims to attach it to an annual defense bill working its way through the chamber this week. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Countries around the world stand to lose upwards of $4.7 trillion in revenues over the next 10 years due to the use and abuse of tax havens by corporations and wealthy individuals, according to a new study released Tuesday. The Tax Justice Network, a U.K.-based group that advocates for tax fairness, based its analysis on data from 47 nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and limitations in the data mean that the revenue gap could be considerably larger. Even the basic estimate, though, points to an enormous loss of government revenues. The future losses of public money would be equivalent to losing a year of worldwide spending on public health, the group said. Pegging the annual tax revenue loss in 2023 at an estimated $472 billion, the Tax Justice Network said that $301 billion of that total is related to multinational corporations moving profits into tax havens, while $171 billion is produced by wealthy individuals hiding their money offshore. In response to the ongoing losses, the group calls for a democratic revolution in global tax rules to be led by the United Nations. For sixty years, global tax rules were decided behind closed doors at the OECD where a handful of countries and lobbyists saw tax policy as something to cater to the interests of the wealthiest corporations and billionaires," said Alex Cobham, the group's chief executive. "We now have a real shot at bringing this process into the daylight of democracy at the UN, where all countries will finally get a real say, and where governments will finally have to answer to their people on tax policy. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. The sharing economy gains steam seemingly every day. From coworking and coliving to car sharing, consumers are embracing money-saving strategies that also benefit the environment. Now, as e-commerce drives the competition for space to store inventory, cowarehousing is emerging as a solution for online retailers. Online retail sales in the U.S. reached $870 billion in 2021, a 14.2% increase from 2020 and a 50.5% jump from 2019. Meanwhile, real estate firm JLL reported a 46% increase in leasing by logistics and distribution companies from 2019 to 2021. Cowarehousing means multiple companies use the same warehouse space, which significantly reduces users operating costs by alleviating upfront construction costs and ongoing maintenance responsibilities as well as allowing them to rent what they use. Scalable workspaces and sustainability go hand in hand, said Laurent Opman, CEO of FlexHQ, which offers cowarehousing spaces in Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas and Salt Lake City. We aim to set a new standard for the cowarehousing industry by demonstrating that repurposing existing structures is not only good for the environment, but its also a viable solution for meeting the evolving needs of modern businesses. FlexHQ, which opened its first cowarehouse in Los Angeles in late 2022, transforms large warehouses into smaller, more affordable and secured individual warehouse spaces along with offices, conference rooms, content studios and other amenities. Its month-to-month leases and customizable workspaces enable businesses to expand easily. FlexHQs first cowarehousing venture in Los Angeles was fully leased within four months of opening in 2022. The location houses a variety of tenants, including import-export operations, tech startups, e-commerce businesses, event production companies and retail manufacturers. FlexHQ is opening another cowarehousing project this summer in Denver. The launch comes at a time when Denver ranks among the top markets for warehouse space with a first-quarter industrial vacancy rate of 7.8%, according to JLL. Story continues The company acquired the property in September 2022 for about $10.8 million and renovated the property, resulting in 67 additional warehouse spaces ranging from 300 to 3,000 square feet and 21 private offices. The whole experience of our warehouses is very different from traditional ones, Opman said. Its about creating a community between our tenants and really focusing on the user experience. FlexHQ joins Saltbox, another cowarehousing company operating in Denver. Founded in 2019, Atlanta-based Saltbox also operates in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami and Minneapolis. Read next: REITs with Massive Dividend Yields: A Close Look At Five Key Players Photo courtesy of FlexHQ Don't miss real-time alerts on your stocks - join Benzinga Pro for free! Try the tool that will help you invest smarter, faster, and better. This article Cowarehousing Takes Center Stage In The Sharing Economy originally appeared on Benzinga.com . 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. OLTON Riding a wave of popularity that has grown exponentially over the last five years, a West Texas barbecue trailer with a statewide fanbase is broadening its operations with a permanent, brick-and-mortar restaurant and fresh food market. After a several-week hiatus while the business moved its operations into its new building, Olton's Rejino Barbeque opened its permanent location at 609 Seventh St. Friday to much anticipation. The location includes the addition of a fresh food market, set to open Wednesday, which aims to remedy a lack of food access in northeastern Lamb County. "Everything that we've done, everything we've sacrificed has been worth it," Aaron Rejino, who founded and owns Rejino Barbeque with his wife Christina, told the Avalanche-Journal Friday in-between shuttling orders to customers. Expeditor Roxanne Ramirez checks the ticket on an order Friday at Rejino Barbeque in Olton. Aaron and Christina started selling barbecue in front of their home before opening their first trailer five years ago. Rejino said a transcendent meal in an acclaimed Houston barbecue joint a few years prior changed the trajectory of his life, inspiring the couple to launch their smoked-meat venture. "I guess it was my first real barbecue experience at a place called Killen's Barbecue," Rejino said. "It was like a religious experience and I was baptized by Central Texas barbecue. As soon as I got in the car to leave that place, I was like, 'I gotta learn how to do it like this.'" The Rejinos kept their day jobs for a year after launching the first trailer in June 2018, and when business remained slow throughout the summer and into the fall, the couple thought the barbecue business might not be sustainable. A platter of barbecue waits to be eaten, Friday, July 21, 2023 at Rejino Barbeque in Olton. "We thought, 'Well, it's just not going to be sufficient enough to make a living for us. Let's give it maybe one more month and see what happens,'" the Olton native said. "Then in November of 2018, Daniel Vaughn from Texas Monthly came down." Story continues Rejino quickly learned the power of barbecue journalism. Vaughn, Texas Monthly's barbecue editor (Yes, that's a thing!) and perhaps one of the state's foremost experts on the subject, wrote a glowing feature for the magazine that published the week after Thanksgiving that year. "It was like somebody just flipped the light switch on for us, and we were instantly like three times busier than ever before, and we've been running ever since then," Rejino said. Aaron Rejino, right, and business partner Dallas Marley stand in the dining room at Rejino Barbeque in Olton Friday. The magazine added Rejino Barbeque to its annual Top 50 Texas BBQ Joints list in 2021, further solidifying the then-trailer's spot in the Texas barbecue canon. The restaurant now employs around 35 people in the small town. More: Slaton, Olton barbecue joints praised in Texas Monthly list Even more: Evie Mae's, Rejino among Lubbock-area barbecue joints honored by Texas Monthly Belen Garcia and Roxanne Ramirez call out an order Friday at Rejino Barbeque in Olton. Rejino Barbeque's appeal now reaches far beyond Lamb County, with guests often traveling for hours to sample brisket, burnt ends, smoked turkey and more. Kirk and Ollie Sims made the trip from Amarillo nearly an hour-and-a-half drive to celebrate the restaurant's re-opening Friday. "We first experienced Rejino Barbeque when they came to the town square in Canyon," Kirk said. "We waited in line two hours before the trailer opened, and it was fantastic. Worth the wait." Rejino said he's met people who have made the pilgrimage from as far away as Dallas to try his barbecue, but his heart's solidly in Olton population 1,967 a town that's found itself in the middle of a food desert after its grocery store closed in 2018. "For five years, we've been without perishable food options: meat, vegetables, fruit and all of that sort of stuff. There's no option like that here," Rejino said. A sign advertises the barbecue business Friday, July 21, 2023 at Rejino Barbeque in Olton. He hopes the attached fresh food market will provide those options for Oltonites who need them, especially those who can't make the trip to Plainview, Littlefield or Lubbock for groceries. "A group of people that is always kind of overlooked is the elderly. Maybe they don't have a car that's reliable enough to get them out of town. Maybe they don't have a lot of family here in town that can bring them stuff. So we hope to be able to really serve a lot of people around here that are underserved and be able to provide them the things that they need," Rejino said. Rejino Barbeque and Market is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. They can be found on the web at rejinobbq.com and facebook.com/RejinoBarbecue. The restaurant's telephone number is 806-200-0810. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Olton Rejino BBQ opens brick-and-mortar storefront, fresh food market Dave Ramsey After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Joe Bidens federal student loan program last month, the White House quickly moved to implement another plan to forgive a total of $39 billion for 804,000 borrowers. Although the U.S. Department of Education hailed it as a historic step to right past wrongs, at least one critic of the plan financial guru Dave Ramsey who called it a complete falsehood. Discover: An Ancient Rule Allows Biden To Forgive Student Loan Debt No Matter What the Supreme Court Says Learn: How To Get Cash Back on Your Everyday Purchases In a recent episode of The Ramsey Show podcast, he noted that the $39 billion forgiveness plan only applies to borrowers who had income-driven repayment (IDR) plans, MoneyWise reported. These plans are already set up to erase student debt after 20 to 25 years of payments. The $39 billion in forgiveness intends to fix issues with IDR plans tied to historical failures in the administration of the program, according to a July 14 Education Department news release. Because of these failures, qualifying payments made under IDR plans should have moved borrowers closer to forgiveness than they actually did. For far too long, borrowers fell through the cracks of a broken system that failed to keep accurate track of their progress towards forgiveness, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement. By fixing past administrative failures, we are ensuring everyone gets the forgiveness they deserveThis Administration will not stop fighting to level the playing field in higher education. But according to Ramsey, the administration is touting a forgiveness program that essentially gives borrowers what they were entitled to in the first place. The government lied to you, he said. While lawmakers continue to pursue other loan forgiveness options to help ease the financial pain of tens of millions of borrowers who owe a combined $1.5 trillion in student debt, Ramsey suggests that borrowers should forget about having their debt canceled. Story continues On his podcast, he said its a disaster to lean on the prospect of loan forgiveness. He also warned that you could be saddled with debt for the rest of your life with an IDR plan. Rather than spending up to 25 years paying off student debt, Ramsey recommends determining how much you owe and putting together your own payment schedule to get out of debt as soon as possible. For example, if you owe $10,000 and want to pay it off in a year, then you need to set aside about $833 a month. If you want to pay it off in 10 months, they you should set aside $1,000 a month. Find: All of the States That Will Pay Off Your Student Loans Student Loan Forgiveness: 10 Expenses To Cut From Your Budget When Payments Resume The important thing, Ramsey said, is to come up with an aggressive plan to pay the debt off quickly and take the steps to make that possible, whether it means earning extra money or tightening your budget. Take your student loan and divide it by how long you want to be a slave, how many months, and that tells you what you gotta go make, he said. Get up off your couch, go leave the caveand get this dadgum thing out of your life. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Dave Ramsey Says Student Loan Forgiveness is a Complete Falsehood Heres What He Says to Do Instead DeepMaterial is an innovative company specializing in adhesives for semiconductor and electronic applications. Guangdong, China--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2023) - DeepMaterial, a trailblazing name in the field of innovative materials, is proud to announce the launch of its revolutionary Non Conductive Electronic Adhesive Products, setting a new standard for connectivity and performance in the technology industry. With a commitment to excellence, DeepMaterial is poised to transform electronic bonding, sealing, and encapsulation applications with its state-of-the-art adhesive solutions. DeepMaterial Unveils Cutting-edge Non Conductive Electronic Adhesive That Redefining Connectivity In The Tech Industry To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/174942_40f308c974411bb5_001full.jpg The cutting-edge Non Conductive Electronic Adhesive is designed to provide electrical insulation and act as a protective barrier in electronic applications where conductivity is not desired. With exceptional dielectric properties, this non-conductive adhesive ensures the safety and reliability of electronic components, preventing short circuits and improving the overall performance of sensitive devices. DeepMaterial's Electronic Adhesive products are designed to cater to the diverse needs of modern electronics manufacturers and engineers, offering unmatched versatility, durability, and reliability. These advanced adhesive formulations are engineered to ensure optimal performance in a wide range of applications, from consumer electronics to automotive, medical devices, aerospace, and more. "At Deepmaterial, innovative thinking and entrepreneurial spirit are in our DNA. We are curious and passionate experts with deep market and application knowledge. Our unrivaled portfolio of adhesives, sealants and functional coatings are designed to transform markets and the way you work. We're your global partner prepared to handle any challenge and develop a solution that is smart and sustainable - together with you. For the better." said James Yuan, the Founder of Deep Material Story continues With exceptional conductivity and adhesion properties, DeepMaterial's industrial electronic adhesive products ensure seamless connections between components, resulting in improved overall performance and reliability of electronic devices. Its products are specially formulated to adhere to a variety of substrates, including metals, plastics, ceramics, and glass, making them an ideal choice for diverse electronic assembly processes. DeepMaterial is committed to innovation, continuing to drive advancements in the electronic industry. Understanding that each electronic application has unique requirements, DeepMaterial offers tailored adhesive solutions to meet specific performance criteria, providing a competitive edge to manufacturers and engineers. For more information, please visit: https://www.electronicadhesive.com/ About DeepMaterial DeepMaterial is a forward-thinking company specializing in the development of innovative materials for various industries. With a focus on cutting-edge research and development, DeepMaterial offers state-of-the-art solutions that redefine the boundaries of performance and reliability. The company's commitment to sustainability and customer satisfaction sets it apart as a trusted partner for businesses seeking advanced materials to drive technological progress. Contact Info: Name: James Yuan Email: info@deepmaterialcn.com Organization: Shenzhen Deepmaterial Technologies Co., Ltd Address: Building C, Comlong Science & Technology Park, Guanlan High-tech Park, Long- hua District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China Phone: +86-13352636504 Website: https://www.electronicadhesive.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174942 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) After years of contentious negotiations, the board of Walt Disney World's governing district now made up of Gov. Ron DeSantis appointees approved a contract for its firefighters on Wednesday and also proposed reducing property taxes. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District voted unanimously to approve the three-year contract that covers 200 firefighters and paramedics in the Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters' Association. The contract, among other provisions, would increase wages by 5%, including raising the starting annual wage for firefighter and paramedics from $55,000 to $66,000. It also would provide $5,000 signing bonuses for workers with three or more years working for the department and $2,500 bonuses for everyone else. This issue has been around for some time ... and there have been some contentious negotiations, Martin Garcia, chairman of the oversight district's board, said at a meeting. We feel this is a fair, generous and fiscally responsible agreement. The old contract expired more than four years ago, and the firefighters declared themselves at an impasse last year with the districts board when it was still controlled by Disney supporters. Members of the firefighters union have warned for years that they are understaffed, adding that posed a public safety risk as the central Florida theme park resort grows bigger. The firefighters were among the few employees who publicly welcomed the takeover of the Disney World governing board by DeSantis appointees earlier this year after haggling over a contract for years with a board controlled by Disney supporters. But a delay this summer in approving the contract had threatened that support. We were able to get it wrapped up," union official Aaron Colburn told reporters after the meeting. Glenton Gilzean, the district's new administrator, said at Wednesday's meeting that the district's new budget would cut property taxes by nearly 7%. The cut was made possible by cost savings, including deciding to no longer pay overtime for deputies used exclusively to patrol Disney property, an amount that had grown to $8 million, district officials said. Story continues The DeSantis appointees took over the Disney World governing board earlier this year following a yearlong feud between the company and the Florida governor. The fight began last year after Disney, beset by significant pressure internally and externally, publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades, a policy critics call Dont Say Gay. As punishment, DeSantis took over the district through legislation passed by Florida lawmakers and appointed a new board of supervisors to oversee municipal services for the sprawling theme parks and hotels. But before the new board came in, the company made agreements with previous oversight board members made up of Disney supporters that stripped the new supervisors of their authority over design and construction. Disney sued DeSantis and the five-member board, asking a federal judge to void the governors takeover of the theme park district, as well as the oversight boards actions, on grounds that they were violations of companys free speech rights. The board sued Disney in state court in an effort to maintain its control of construction and design at Disney World. Disney asked a judge almost two weeks ago to dismiss the case, and a decision is still pending. Board members on Wednesday met behind closed doors to discuss the lawsuits. DeSantis has touted his yearlong feud with Disney in his run for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, often accusing the entertainment giant of being too woke. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at @MikeSchneiderAP Twitters rapid pace of changes may be difficult for some people to keep up with, but a few updates have ruffled more feathers than others. For users who miss the iconic bird logo, replaced on Monday with the letter X, there is hope. Software developer Cygaar has released a Google Chrome browser extension to remove the ugly X branding from Twitter. I'm not a huge fan of the new X logo so I wrote a chrome extension that reverts the X back to the bird logo. You can see in the demo that the bird is restored in both the app as well as the tab icon. Long live the bird. pic.twitter.com/dmkNygEhNO cygaar (@0xCygaar) July 25, 2023 In a tutorial video, he showed how the new branding changes back to the original with a click of the refresh button. To get it, users just need to install the Google Chrome extension on their browser from Github. Dont like the Twitter rebrand to X.com? Cygaar wrote on the extensions Github page. Neither did I, so I made this Chrome extension that lets you revert x-branding back to the beloved bird. Dogecoin Surges 9% After Cryptic Elon Musk Tweets Link DOGE and X Tech billionaire Elon Musk bought Twitter last year. Since then, the company and its flagship social network has gone through a number of changes. Most recently, the platform rebranded to X.com. The idea, according to the Tesla CEO and worlds richest man, is for Twitter to become an everything app. Musk has previously said that he has envisioned something like Chinas WeChatbut for the West. WeChat is a popular platform in China, which citizens use for literally everything: instant messaging, social media, summoning taxis, and making payments. In January, news dropped that the company was working on a product that was supportive of crypto payments. But do Twitter users want an everything app? Cygaar said he would likely take his extension down from Github if there arent enough downloads. This was made purely for fun, he explained. I probably wont maintain this long term unless there is significant demand. Key Insights Econpile Holdings Berhad's estimated fair value is RM0.46 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Econpile Holdings Berhad's RM0.25 share price signals that it might be 46% undervalued Analyst price target for ECONBHD is RM0.14 which is 69% below our fair value estimate Does the July share price for Econpile Holdings Berhad (KLSE:ECONBHD) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. 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. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. See our latest analysis for Econpile Holdings Berhad Step By Step Through The Calculation We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM27.3m RM37.3m RM47.4m RM56.8m RM65.3m RM72.9m RM79.6m RM85.5m RM90.9m RM95.9m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 51.19% Est @ 36.90% Est @ 26.90% Est @ 19.90% Est @ 15.00% Est @ 11.57% Est @ 9.17% Est @ 7.49% Est @ 6.32% Est @ 5.49% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 13% RM24.2 RM29.4 RM33.1 RM35.3 RM36.0 RM35.7 RM34.6 RM33.0 RM31.1 RM29.2 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM322m After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (3.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 13%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = RM96m (1 + 3.6%) (13% 3.6%) = RM1.1b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM1.1b ( 1 + 13%)10= RM333m The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is RM654m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM0.3, the company appears quite undervalued at a 46% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf The Assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Econpile Holdings Berhad 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 13%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.133. 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. Looking Ahead: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Econpile Holdings Berhad, we've compiled three additional items you should look at: Risks: As an example, we've found 2 warning signs for Econpile Holdings Berhad that you need to consider before investing here. Future Earnings: How does ECONBHD'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 Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here (Bloomberg) -- Egypts biggest state-owned lenders are dangling higher returns on dollar-denominated certificates of deposit to foreigners and locals, in the latest push to tackle the countrys worst foreign currency crisis in years. Most Read from Bloomberg The new three-year certificates, which pay a guaranteed rate for a fixed period, from National Bank of Egypt SAE and Banque Misr SAE offer 9% per year, with the interest to be paid upfront in Egyptian pounds, the state-run Middle East News Agency said. Both banks will also extend a 7% annual rate certificate that pays out interest quarterly in dollars. The minimum certificate value is $1,000. The lenders will begin offering the CDs on July 26. Heavily exposed to the fallout from Russias invasion of Ukraine, Egypt is seeking liquidity to clear a backlog of foreign-currency requests from importers and other companies. It also needs to ease pressure on the pound, which is available at a weaker level in the black market. While the pound currently trades at about 30.9 per dollar at banks, it now changes hands on the black market at around 38. Read More: Egypt Races to End Pound Dilemma in Hunt for Gulf, IMF Cash Authorities have devalued the Egyptian pound three times since March 2022 but have kept it stable in recent months despite saying theyre shifting to a more flexible exchange-rate regime after years of managing the currency a policy that depleted the countrys reserves. The promise of higher returns to savers can help reduce a decline in remittances and the hoarding of dollars by businesses and people worried about a potential new devaluation. The pledge to loosen the reins on the currency helped Egypt secure a $3 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund. Energy-rich allies in the Gulf have also deposited $13 billion in Egypts central bank and vowed more than $10 billion in investment to help the country get through its economic crisis. Story continues NBE is also offering Egyptian expatriates loans of up to four years guaranteed by their salaries, according to MENA. Loan installment are to be paid through the transfer of foreign currency from abroad. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. estimates Egypt faces an accumulated funding gap of about $11 billion by the end of fiscal year 2027-2028 relative to the IMFs baseline projections made last December. Egypt is on course to experience a funding shortfall in the absence of further external adjustments, Farouk Soussa, an economist at Goldman, said in a report. The weakness of FX buffers leaves the balance of payments particularly vulnerable to further external shocks. (Updates with Goldman comments in final two paragraphs.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Elon Musk the Banker Wants to Take On Dimon Where Google Failed (Bloomberg) -- Elon Musks grand vision is to turn Twitter into a one-stop shop for financial services. Its hardly the first time a tech giant has sought to muscle in on Jamie Dimons turf. Most Read from Bloomberg Facebook spent years investing in a project called Libra that was supposed to revolutionize cross-border payments, but regulatory scrutiny forced it to abandon the push. Google planned a digital financial offering and even lined up 11 banks as partners for the launch before it suddenly nixed the entire plan. Amazon.com Inc. considered offering checking accounts for consumers, yet that endeavor never became a reality. Of course, Musk isnt like other tech executives. His business decisions dont tend to follow predictable paths as evidenced by his many shocking moves at Twitter, including abandoning its iconic bird-based brand for the letter X. He also has experience in financial technology, having founded the firm now known as PayPal Holdings Inc. But history suggests an uphill battle for Musk. The landscape is filled with US technology firms that tried to take on banking behemoths, only to scale back their ambitions in the face of competition and protracted approval processes. Im not saying at all that he cant do it, Pranav Sood, executive general manager at cross-border payments platform Airwallex. But its something that takes time and its something that takes investment because you have to make sure that you do things right in order to stay compliant globally. Read More: Musk Explains Why Hes Axing Twitter Name, Iconic Bird Logo Musks envisioned X app which will connect Twitters underlying infrastructure with X.com, a web address that now functions as a routing service to Twitter is one that layers communication, multimedia and the ability to conduct your entire financial world. Story continues In messages posted in support of Musks overhaul, Twitter Chief Executive Officer Linda Yaccarino said X would include fintech features such as payments and banking. Twitter has already snagged money-transmitter licenses in four US states Arizona, Michigan, Missouri and New Hampshire. It was a vision Musk had tweeted himself in 2022 during his acquisition of the social-media site. His musings indicated he wanted Twitter to be more like Tencent Holdings Ltd.s WeChat, a messaging service turned super-app used daily by more than a billion people in China. Its also a fintech titan that allows users to send each other funds, pay for goods and services, and even borrow money. It wouldnt be Musks first foray into payments. He moved to Silicon Valley during the dot-com boom, and founded a company also once known as X.com that eventually became PayPal. He made his first fortune when PayPal was sold to eBay Inc. As for banking, Musk has said he turned down several high-paid jobs on Wall Street to focus on technology a decision thats worked out well for Musk, now the worlds richest person, with a net worth of $238.9 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Read More: Twitter Turning Into X Set to Kill Billions in Brand Value But baking in banking and payments features will require users to get comfortable with a company with a brand-new product name and its own set of financial woes after Musk saddled Twitter with high-cost debt. WeChat, Alipay Tech platforms around the world are looking for ways to better monetize their existing customer bases and product offerings, and have long sought the routine, loyal engagement consumers have with their banks and other financial-services providers. Plus, theyd love to replicate the traction that players such as WeChat and Ant Group Co.s Alipay have gained in China. In recent years, US tech companies have invested in beefing up their payments and financial-services capabilities. In some cases, though, their progress has been stunted by push-back from lawmakers and regulators. Meta Platforms Inc.s Facebook debuted the Libra Association in 2019. The idea was that the company and its partners could use stablecoins to make it cheaper and easier to offer remittances to consumers. Almost immediately, politicians and regulators around the world called on Facebook to halt the project and key partners including Mastercard Inc. and Visa Inc. abandoned the association within months. Alphabet Inc.s Google has tried and struggled to become a primary medium of commerce in the US, despite relative overseas success in countries such as India. Last year, the company shelved plans to add bank accounts to its payment app after it had tied up partners including Citigroup Inc. for months on the work. And Amazon held early talks in 2018 with banks such as Dimons JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Capital One Financial Corp. to offer checking accounts, but that never resulted in any products. Ambitions Abandoned Even Musks former company has sought to become a WeChat-style super-app. Two years ago, when PayPal was was worth more than Citigroup and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. combined, the company plotted an ambitious foray into new areas including stock trading and high-yield savings accounts as the firm sought to go beyond its roots as an iconic checkout button. But, more recently, after the companys stock was battered amid a slowdown in spending on the firms payments platforms, PayPal has had to abandon those ambitions. These days, Chief Executive Officer Dan Schulman is once again focused on improving the checkout button rather than turning PayPal into a one-stop shop for its customers financial needs. Our first and most important priority is continually to improve the branded checkout experience, Schulman told investors in May. This is at the core of what we do. The transition to offering financial services isnt a straightforward one, given tough competition in the US banking market, intense regulatory scrutiny and a high level of stickiness among finance customers, said Jeff Tijssen, global head of fintech at consulting firm Bain & Co. You will therefore need to think of a very compelling value proposition that is truly differentiating in order to stand out, he said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Elon Musk said earlier this month that Twitter has seen a 50% drop in ad revenue. The company is reportedly trying to change that by forcing brands to buy ads in order to stay verified. Chesnot / Getty Images Twitter, now known as X, is ramping up efforts to revive its ads business. The company will soon require brands to spend $1,000 monthly on ads to keep verification, per WSJ. Owner Elon Musk said earlier this month that Twitter had seen a roughly 50% drop in ad revenue. Twitter's ads business is in trouble and the company is reportedly threatening to strip brands of verification if they don't pitch in to help. Starting August 7, the platform, now called X, will strip brands of their gold checkmark verification if they haven't spent at least $1,000 on ads in the previous 30 days or $6,000 in the past 180 days, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing an email sent to advertisers that it viewed. Introduced in December's Twitter Blue relaunch, Twitter's gold checkmark designates verified business accounts. Twitter reportedly charges businesses $1,000 monthly for the checkmark, but the company waived the fee for its top 500 biggest ad clients and the 10,000 most-followed company, brand, and organization accounts. Some companies, like The New York Times, refused to pay the fee but still kept their checkmarks, while others, like Air France, lost their checks. It's unclear if the new mandated $1,000 ad spend is in addition to the $1,000 monthly fee that the social platform requires some companies to pay for their checkmark. The forthcoming rule comes as ad revenue has fallen at the social media site. Earlier this month, Musk said that the company had suffered a roughly 50% decrease in ad revenue and had negative cash flow. When Musk initially took over, half of Twitter's top 100 advertisers reportedly left the platform. In December 2022, Twitter's revenue fell 40% compared with the same month in 2021. Musk's decision in May to appoint Linda Yaccarino as CEO reflected the company's ongoing efforts to turn its ad slump around. Yaccarino was the chair of advertising sales and client partnerships at NBCUniversal before joining Twitter. Story continues In another attempt to revive ad revenue, the company has offered discounted rates to some advertisers, the Journal reported. Twitter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Danone had continued to operate its Russian business after the invasion of Ukraine while it searched for a buyer - MAXIM SHIPENKOV/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock French food giant Danone has taken a 200m (170m) hit after Vladimir Putin seized its Russian factories. The company, which owns brands including Evian and Actimel, said it will deconsolidate its operations in the country. The Kremlin this month took control of Danones essential dairy and plant-based (EDP) subsidiary, as well as Carlsbergs stake in a local brewer. The company said this process happened without its knowledge or approval, adding that it no longer had control over its Russian operations even though it remained the legal owner. Danone said it will take a 200m hit from the seizure, as well an accounting charge of about 500m linked to foreign exchange rates. The company said: Danone will continue to investigate the situation to understand the implications of the decisions of the Russian authorities on the ongoing EDP operations of Danone in Russia, as well as on the ongoing sale process. Shares fell 3pc in Paris in early trading. Danone, which was founded in 1919, said last October it was looking for a buyer for its food business in Russia, saying the deal could see it write-off as much as 1bn in value from the operations. The worlds largest yoghurt maker said it will continue to provide information on any developments related to its Russian operations, adding that it was investigating how to protect its assets and rights as a shareholder, with a first priority to ensure peoples safety. Danone is one of a handful of Western businesses still to have operations in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. Food and drink companies like Danone argue that they have a duty to continue feeding the mass of the Russian population. Earlier this week, rival Unilever said staying in Russia was the least bad option. The cost of the Russian business seizure was revealed as Danone reported a better-than-expected 6.4pc rise in like-for-like sales in the second quarter. The growth was driven by price increases, which offset higher costs and a decline in the volume of products sold. Danone said it expects full-year revenue growth at the upper end of its range of between 4pc and 6pc as sales volumes improve throughout the year. 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. We sent the following letter to Rep. Jim Jordan today (we urge you to contact his communications director, Russell Dye: russell.dye@mail.house.gov). July 26, 2023 Hon. Jim Jordan Chairman Committee on the Judiciary 2056 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515-3504 Dear Chairman Jordan: In my letter of July 24, emailed to you that day, I asked that you follow through in your pursuit of having FBI Director Christopher Wray submit documents you requested regarding the agencys probe of Catholics. You did just that: On July 25, he handed over documents pertaining to this issue. It is reported that your team will now review the documents and then decide what to do next. I commend you for your work. Finally, Catholics have someone who listens to their concerns and acts on them. In Wray's July 25 letter to you, he asks the House Judiciary Committee not to publicly disclose information in the documents without prior consultation with the FBI. I trust you will act prudently. In your review of the documents, I would like to raise some questions relevant to this inquiry that are of importance to the Catholic community. It is my hope that the FBI will release information that satisfies my concerns. We know from a January 23 internal memo that the FBI's Richmond Field Office was conducting an investigation of "Radical-Traditionalist Catholics," particularly those who prefer the "Traditional Latin Mass." At least one undercover agent was involved. Question 1: On what basis did the FBI conclude that these Catholics warranted a probe? Do they have a history of violence? If so, where is the evidence? If not, why were they singled out? In your April 10 letter to Wray, you comment on FBI documents you received on March 23. What you said about the FBI's probe of "mainline Catholics" was especially disturbing. "The FBI similarly noted two other opportunities to engage in outreach with religious institutions in the Richmond area, citing a desire 'to sensitize the congregation to the warning signs of radicalization and enlist their assistance to serve as suspicious activity tripwires.' This outreach plan even included contacting so-called 'mainline Catholic parishes,' and the local 'diocesan leadership.'" Question 2: On what basis did the FBI decide it was necessary to enlist "mainline Catholics" to spy on their fellow parishioners? Where is the evidence that ordinary practicing Catholics pose a security threat to the United States or to other law-abiding Americans? How common is it for FBI agents to infiltrate houses of worshipof any religionemploying "tripwire sources?" Thank you for your efforts. If there is anything the Catholic League can do to be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, William A. Donohue, Ph.D. President cc: Christopher Wray By Praveen Paramasivam and Munsif Vengattil CHENNAI, India (Reuters) -A Foxconn subsidiary is in talks with India's Tamil Nadu state to invest up to $200 million to build a new plant for electronic components in the southern region, two sources with direct knowledge told Reuters on Wednesday. Brand Cheng, CEO of Foxconn Industrial Internet (FII), and other company representatives last week met Tamil Nadu officials including its chief minister to discuss investments in the state, the government said in a statement after the meeting, without elaborating. FII, which makes communication, mobile network and cloud computing equipment, has shared a plan with state officials to initially invest $180 million to $200 million in the facility, said one of the sources. Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer, and a spokesperson for Tamil Nadu's industries department declined to comment. Foxconn already has a sprawling campus near Chennai city in Tamil Nadu where it assembles Apple's iPhones. The sources, who declined to be named as the talks are private, did not elaborate on the plan or say if parts made at the proposed facility would be used in iPhones or another company's products. Foxconn aims to complete the plant by 2024, with further investments expected afterward, the first source said. A final decision has not been made, both sources said. Foxconn is also in talks with western Gujarat state as it eyes entry into India's semiconductor sector. Its chairman Young Liu is expected to speak at an annual semiconductor event hosted by the government this week. Last week, Karnataka state government in south India said it held talks with FII, which had committed to invest $1.07 billion for a new plant. (Reporting by Praveen Paramasivam in Chennai and Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Sarah Wu in Taipei; Editing by Aditya Kalra and Richard Chang) The FTC is finalizing an antitrust lawsuit that could break up tech gorilla Amazon, report says with Prime, advertising and company policies at risk. What you need to know The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is readying an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon that could ultimately break up parts of the company, according to Politico, in what could be the latest move by the Biden administration to rein in Big Tech. Don't miss Jeff Bezos and Oprah Winfrey invest in this asset to keep their wealth safe you may want to do the same in 2023 Commercial real estate has outperformed the S&P 500 over 25 years. Here's how to diversify your portfolio without the headache of being a landlord Worried about the economy? Here are the best shock-proof assets for your portfolio. (Theyre all outside of the stock market.) Politico, a Washington-based political news company, cited four people with knowledge of the matter (who were granted anonymity to discuss the confidential information) and said that the lawsuit is expected to be filed as soon as August. What the focus may be While the exact details of the lawsuit remain unknown, its expected to take aim at a number of the companys business practices, reports Politico, citing its sources. Some of the sources, Politico says, revealed the complaint is likely to focus on Amazon Prime, the tech giants digital advertising business and its logistics services. The lawsuit may also address Amazon policies the FTC believes mandate third-party retailers to offer their lowest prices on its platform, preventing cheaper prices elsewhere. Read more: Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now use $100 to cash in on prime real estate without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how Why now? While the Amazon investigation began during the Trump administration, its now taken off under current FTC chair Lina Khan, whose leadership has already helped push multiple cases against the tech giant. In the past, Amazon has dealt with privacy lawsuits involving its Ring doorbell cameras and Alexa smart speakers made for kids, and is currently battling allegations that it made Prime difficult to cancel. Story continues The FTC is also probing the companys $1.7 billion acquisition of robot vacuum maker iRobot. Other states could join the case Some sources, Politico says, also revealed the FTC is likely to file its case in federal court, allowing state attorneys general on board for the case. California, Washington, D.C. and New York are also investigating Amazon, according to Politico. Politico says spokespeople for Amazon and the FTC declined to comment. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner James Rovella, right, appears with Colonel Stavros Mellekas, superintendent of the Connecticut State Police, center, and Lt. Colonel Mark Davison for a hearing on state troopers providing false traffic stop information on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 in Hartford, Conn. Connecticut's public safety commissioner on Wednesday told state lawmakers to expect a federal investigation into a recent audit's findings, which showed hundreds of state troopers provided false information from 2014 to 2021 on at least 26,000 traffic stops information ultimately reported to a racial profiling board. (Susan Haigh/Associated Press) HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Connecticut's public safety commissioner on Wednesday told state lawmakers to expect a federal investigation into a recent audit's findings that showed hundreds of state troopers submitted false information from 2014 to 2021 on at least 26,000 traffic stops information ultimately reported to a racial profiling board. State legislators from two committees called the legislative informational meeting after data analysts with the University of Connecticut said the traffic stop reports resulted in too many drivers being identified as white. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, which oversees the Connecticut State Police, is already complying with a subpoena related to the traffic stop matter issued by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Transportation, department head James Rovella confirmed. The DOT intends to determine whether the false data was used to secure federal money, he said. I dont think thats it, ladies and gentlemen, Rovella told lawmakers. I think theres more to come from our federal agencies, at least the Department of Justice on this one. On Monday, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont ordered an independent investigation to "learn how it happened, why it happened, and how to prevent it from ever happening again. Ken Barone, associate director of UConn's Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy and project manager of the Connecticut Racial Profiling Prohibition Project, said the group did not assess the intentions of the troopers in the analysis of the traffic reports. He said no member of the public actually received a ticket. Rather, it was erroneous data entered into the system. While Barone said further investigation could determine some of the false records were due to human error, he stressed how researchers used very conservative methodology that gave troopers the benefit of the doubt. We ran the analysis well over 20 times. One of the things that stood out to me: The trend never changed. And that's telling in statistical analysis, he said. The more we ran it, the more the trend stayed the same. Story continues The audit was spurred by a Hearst Connecticut Media report last year that said four state troopers in an eastern Connecticut barracks intentionally created hundreds of bogus traffic stop tickets to boost their productivity numbers. After internal affairs investigations, one trooper was suspended for 10 days, another was suspended for two days and the other two retired before the probe was completed. The audit found the number of false traffic infractions reported to the Connecticut Racial Profiling Prohibition Project advisory board didnt match those reported to the state court system, which handles all traffic citations. The false tickets also more often identified drivers as being white. The UConn analysts determined 130 troopers 62 retirees and 68 active duty had more than eight traffic stops in a single year that didnt match court records and which accounted for 20% of their reported motor vehicle infractions. That represents about 10% of the department. Rovella said one trooper decided to identify more than 90% of the people he stopped as a Native American/Alaskan Native. For all accounts, he was a model trooper, a model trooper, and did his job correctly. I just don't know what happened at that time, said Rovella, noting the trooper has been suspended. Rovella, who said he was taking the falsified reporting seriously and was angry, to say the least, said he doesn't understand why someone would intentionally submit erroneous information. After the four original troopers were disciplined, steps were taken to make sure troopers would not be motivated to submit bogus tickets in order to get a newer police cruiser, a favorable assignment or benefits. What was the purpose? That's what we're trying to figure out, said Rovella, noting an internal investigation will also be conducted. If you're not getting a better assignment, if you're not getting a better car, why falsify? Rovella pledged to dig into the numbers and said anyone found to have intentionally falsified records will be held to account. State Police union officials urged legislators not to rush to judgement and said many of the troopers identified as having submitted false reports have had stellar careers. This isn't a systemic issue, said Andrew Matthews, the union's executive director and counsel. It's an individual issue. State Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport and co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, acknowledged the point of the hearing is not to jump to conclusions about whether the erroneous reports were intentionally submitted. However, he said lawmakers need to take a closer look at the issue because it calls into question police data the General Assembly relies on to oversee law enforcement. Claudine Constant, the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut's director of public policy and advocacy, called for swift, transparent, meaningful accountability for individual troopers determined to have falsified traffic stop records as well as for the State Police as a whole. This problem was widespread, long-lasting, and it happened because of lack of systemic oversight of police, she said in a statement. The question now is how our elected officials are going to respond when police violate an anti-racist law tens of thousands of times for years. (Bloomberg) -- Gap Inc. named Mattel Inc. Chief Operating Officer Richard Dickson as its next chief executive officer, ending a lengthy search process as the apparel retailer contends with sinking sales and a more conscientious consumer. Most Read from Bloomberg Dickson, 55 years old and also a co-president at the Barbie toymaker, will leave Mattel on Aug. 3 and take over at Gap on Aug. 22, the companies said in statements Wednesday. Lauded for sparking the turnaround that boosted Mattels venerable doll back into relevance, hes been a member of Gaps board since November. Gap shares were up 7.8% in New York trading at 12:54 p.m. Mattel dipped 0.3%. Former CEO Sonia Syngal was ousted a year ago following a series of missteps, including a plan for the Old Navy brand to offer more inclusive sizing that resulted in a glut of inventory of products that didnt sell. Chairman Bobby Martin had been serving as interim CEO. Three of Gaps last four chiefs including Syngal were chosen from the inside, but analysts and former employees had said before the appointment of Dickson that the company would benefit from an external hire. Dickson will have to lead Gap in a retail environment thats becoming increasingly troubled as consumers grapple with financial uncertainties including the end of student-loan forbearance. The retailer reported in May that comparable sales fell by 3% in the first quarter, reflecting large declines at the Banana Republic and Athleta brands. The appointment comes two days after Gap named Chris Blakeslee, president of Alo Yoga, as CEO of the Athleta brand, which has been struggling with sinking sales. Former Athleta CEO Mary Beth Laughton departed in March. Story continues Dickson is often credited with turning around the Barbie brand when he rejoined Mattel in 2014. With a background in marketing, the executive shifted course and pushed to make the doll more inclusive and relevant. Read More: Mattels Risky Bet on a Feminist Barbie Movie Just Might Work That played out in multiple ways, including releasing Barbies with different skin tones and body types. Dickson also changed advertising to pitch the doll directly to parents as a way for girls to boost their confidence and aspirations through Barbies open-ended play. What Bloomberg Intelligence Says Gaps turnaround prospects just got better with the naming of Richard Dickson as its new chief executive officer, having demonstrated the revitalization of Mattels Barbie franchise.... Dickson, who already sits on Gaps board, has apparel experience from stints at Bloomingdales and Nine West. Mary Ross Gilbert, senior retail analyst Click here to read the research. Dicksons strategy worked as Barbies sales eventually rebounded and again topped $1 billion in annual revenue. The dolls success culminated this past weekend in the $356 million global opening of Barbie, Greta Gerwigs movie interpretation. In an interview in early June, Dickson said that the evolution of Barbie can be seen as a case study of how brands with legacy reinvent themselves. Dicksons challenge at Gap will be similar to the one at Mattel hell have to make Gaps legacy brands relevant to consumers again. Hes also no stranger to the fashion and apparel industry. Prior to rejoining Mattel in 2014, Dickson was a president at Jones Apparel Group, which owned brands including Nine West and Easy Spirit and has since been split up into multiple companies. His reinvention of the Barbie franchise, which is currently riding on a high, is also proof that he understands how to turn around established brands that have run out of energy and steam, Neil Saunders, an analyst at GlobalData, said in a note. Last August, Gap pulled its full-year guidance, citing macroeconomic uncertainty and the search for a new chief. A month later, the company cut 500 corporate jobs in an effort to lower costs, which was followed by an additional 1,800 cuts in April. And the companys partnership with Ye, which was expected to last 10 years, came to an abrupt end in September after a public spat between the two parties. Gap, which was founded in 1969 in San Francisco, owns its namesake brand and Old Navy in addition to the higher-end Banana Republic and athleisure brand Athleta. (Updates with shares in third paragraph, Athleta appointment in seventh paragraph, additional context throughout.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. AKRON, Ohio, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) will report second quarter 2023 financial results after market close on Wednesday, Aug. 2, followed by an investor conference call at 8:30 a.m. EDT on Thursday, Aug. 3. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, USA. (PRNewsFoto/Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company) The Company will publish its results in the form of an Investor Letter on its investor relations website: http://investor.goodyear.com on Aug. 2. The following morning, the Company will host an investor call that will focus on questions and answers. The investor call can be accessed on the website or via telephone by calling either (800) 343-5172 or (203) 518-9848 before 8:25 a.m. and providing the conference ID "Goodyear." A replay will be available by calling (800) 945-0822 or (402) 220-0668. The replay will also remain available on the website. Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 74,000 people and manufactures its products in 57 facilities in 23 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate. GT-FN Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/goodyear-to-announce-second-quarter-2023-financial-results-301886663.html SOURCE The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Hawaiian Holdings (HA) reported $706.93 million in revenue for the quarter ended June 2023, representing a year-over-year increase of 2.2%. EPS of -$0.47 for the same period compares to -$0.90 a year ago. The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $705.02 million, representing a surprise of +0.27%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +14.55%, with the consensus EPS estimate being -$0.55. While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance. Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance. Here is how Hawaiian Holdings performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: Available seat miles (ASM) - Total Operations : 5014.43 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of 5064.84 million. Revenue passenger miles (RPM) - Total Operations : 4346.95 million versus 3830.44 million estimated by two analysts on average. Passenger Load Factor (RPM/ASM) : 86.7% compared to the 81.82% average estimate based on two analysts. Operating Revenue- Other : $61.94 million compared to the $70.50 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of -16.8% year over year. Operating Revenue- Passenger: $644.99 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $631.33 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +4.5%. View all Key Company Metrics for Hawaiian Holdings here>>> Shares of Hawaiian Holdings have returned +30.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +4.9% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term. Story continues Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (HA) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research There's no doubt that money can be made by owning shares of unprofitable businesses. For example, although Amazon.com made losses for many years after listing, if you had bought and held the shares since 1999, you would have made a fortune. But while the successes are well known, investors should not ignore the very many unprofitable companies that simply burn through all their cash and collapse. So should Helios Energy (ASX:HE8) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? For the purposes of this article, cash burn is the annual rate at which an unprofitable company spends cash to fund its growth; its negative free cash flow. We'll start by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves in order to calculate its cash runway. See our latest analysis for Helios Energy How Long Is Helios Energy's Cash Runway? A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. When Helios Energy last reported its balance sheet in December 2022, it had zero debt and cash worth AU$12m. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through AU$16m. That means it had a cash runway of around 9 months as of December 2022. That's quite a short cash runway, indicating the company must either reduce its annual cash burn or replenish its cash. We should note, however, that if we extrapolate recent trends in its cash burn, then its cash runway would get a lot longer. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years. How Is Helios Energy's Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Whilst it's great to see that Helios Energy has already begun generating revenue from operations, last year it only produced AU$7.8k, so we don't think it is generating significant revenue, at this point. As a result, we think it's a bit early to focus on the revenue growth, so we'll limit ourselves to looking at how the cash burn is changing over time. Remarkably, it actually increased its cash burn by 208% in the last year. Given that sharp increase in spending, the company's cash runway will shrink rapidly as it depletes its cash reserves. Helios Energy makes us a little nervous due to its lack of substantial operating revenue. So we'd generally prefer stocks from this list of stocks that have analysts forecasting growth. Story continues How Easily Can Helios Energy Raise Cash? Given its cash burn trajectory, Helios Energy shareholders should already be thinking about how easy it might be for it to raise further cash in the future. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Many companies end up issuing new shares to fund future growth. By comparing a company's annual cash burn to its total market capitalisation, we can estimate roughly how many shares it would have to issue in order to run the company for another year (at the same burn rate). Helios Energy has a market capitalisation of AU$185m and burnt through AU$16m last year, which is 8.8% of the company's market value. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money. How Risky Is Helios Energy's Cash Burn Situation? On this analysis of Helios Energy's cash burn, we think its cash burn relative to its market cap was reassuring, while its increasing cash burn has us a bit worried. Looking at the factors mentioned in this short report, we do think that its cash burn is a bit risky, and it does make us slightly nervous about the stock. On another note, Helios Energy has 3 warning signs (and 2 which are potentially serious) we think you should know about. Of course Helios Energy may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 Hibiki Run Osaka, Japan, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "TOMO NIGHT NFT COLLECTION in OSAKA" co-hosted by Hibiki Run and the prominent Japanese NFT creators organization, NFT COLOR , marked another significant milestone in the world of music and digital art. The event saw the participation of a vibrant community of artists, NFT enthusiasts, and industry leaders, underlining the role of such initiatives in fostering a rich, collaborative ecosystem. Hibiki Run is a mobile application that combines gamification and music discovery. It offers an engaging platform and launchpad for music lovers and artists. This innovative app integrates gamification to revolutionize music discovery, creating ripples within and beyond the Japanese music scene. A key highlight of the Tomo Night event was the unveiling of a fresh phase of music distribution collaborations with renowned Japanese artists. This included the exclusive pre-release of the theme song " Full Moon Night " by the band Sanzen Sekai , soon to be available on Hibiki Run. Hibiki Run's continued growth can be attributed to extensive collaborations with local artists and agencies, including Sanzen Sekai. Formed in January 2021, Sanzen Sekai has mesmerized audiences with dynamic vocals and a spirited band, conducting vivacious activities such as monthly solo concerts and concurrent acoustic performances. They also pulled off an impressive crowdfunding feat of 3.15 million yen in just 50 days during the fall of 2022. To enrich the experience for newcomers at these events, Hibiki Run provides a unique feature where new users can enter a special gift code at the venue to claim a pair of original digital headphones designed by the musicians. These headphones promise not only access to the theme song but an elevated digital music journey. The success of this recent event builds upon the momentum from the companys earlier events such as "TomoNight in Shibuya" on May 18 and April 15, 2023. These, rich in exclusive music content and interactive music games, were extensions of the successful inaugural Tomo Night event in Tokyo on February 28, 2023, marking a new type of extravaganza in which music events can be celebrated by pairing with game elements and digital collectibles available both online and offline. Story continues With plans underway for their token launch, HUT, which promises to incentivize both listeners and artists through token rewards, Hibiki Run team turns up the volume on market expansion and product development. Their ongoing strides towards a decentralized and entertaining method of music consumption and distribution echo the potential and future of Web3 and blockchain technology. Website: https://www.hibikirun.com/ Website https://nftcolor.info/company CONTACT: Media Contacts Company Name: Hibiki Run Contact: Susie Wang Email: susie-at-hibikirun.com Website: https://www.hibikirun.com/ Company Name: NFT COLOR Contact: Shota Yagi Email takeda.nftcolor-at-gmail.com Website https://nftcolor.info/company Highest ethical standards: Hunter Bidens gallery sold his art to a Democratic donor President Biden appointed to a prominent commission, report says Whether or not you agree that Hunter Bidens artwork is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, skeptics tend to be less concerned about the amount of money involved and more concerned about its source. Now a new report from Business Insider claims that one of Hunter Bidens patrons is a Democratic donor who father President Joe Biden appointed to a prominent commission last year. Don't miss Blackrocks CEO says art is a serious asset class heres how you can own a piece of a Pablo Picasso 36% of millionaires say itll take a miracle to retire amid rising costs and a shaky market here are the best shock-proof assets to grow your nest egg Commercial real estate has outperformed the S&P 500 over 25 years. Here's how to diversify your portfolio without the headache of being a landlord Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali is a Los Angeles real estate investor and philanthropist who donated $13,400 to the Biden campaign and $29,700 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee this year, Insider reports. Naftali was appointed to the Commission for the Preservation of Americas Heritage Abroad in July 2022 eight months after Hunter Bidens first art show. It remains unclear whether she bought the artwork before or after her appointment to the commission or how much she paid for it and she did not immediately respond to Insiders requests for clarity. Potential conflict of interest When probed about a potential conflict of interest in Naftalis appointment, a White House official shrugged off any conjecture. The official told Insider that Naftali was recommended for her unpaid board post by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and that she had valuable experience to bring to the commission, which works to preserve endangered historic sites across Europe. White House spokesperson Ian Sams reiterated the absolute wall between personal and private and the government rhetoric that President Joe Biden pledged on his campaign trail in 2019 describing the first son as a private citizen who is entitled to have his own career as an artist and stating categorically that the administration is not involved in his art sales, and any buyers of his art are not disclosed to the White House. Story continues Read more: 3 big mistakes people make with cash back credit cards that cost them every time they swipe Bidders not disclosed Hunter Biden has taken steps in the past to distance himself from his buyers. In 2021 when he first started selling his paintings with asking prices as high as $500,000 the White House approved an arrangement for Hunter to meet with prospective buyers at art shows, as long as only his gallerist knew the identity of those who actually placed bids. In the case of Naftali, Biden only learned of her purchase because they are friends, his legal counsel Abbe Lowell explained in an emailed statement to Insider. Lowell did not confirm whether the artwork was purchased before or after Naftalis appointment. The gallery sets the pricing and handles all sales based on the highest ethical standards of the industry, and does not disclose the names of any purchasers to Mr. Biden, Lowell added. What to read next UBS says 61% of millionaire collectors allocate up to 30% of their overall portfolio to this exclusive asset class Are you ready for your first year of retirement? Here are 4 things you might not expect but definitely need to prepare for This janitor in Vermont built an $8M fortune without anyone around him knowing. Here are the 2 simple techniques that made Ronald Read rich and can do the same for you This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Mocapart Mocapart, a groundbreaking marketplace, is revolutionizing the world of digital art by unveiling the first-ever NFT Art Gallery of Motion. Santa Venera, Malta, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mocapart, a groundbreaking marketplace, is revolutionizing the world of digital art by unveiling the first-ever NFT Art Gallery of Motion. This innovative platform aims to explore the profound connection between the human body and spirit through the art of motion. As the first-ever NFT art gallery of motion, Mocapart is set to redefine the landscape of digital art by amplifying the visual narratives told through motion capture. By combining the mastery of graphic and motion artists, Mocapart creates an immersive and awe-inspiring experience for art enthusiasts and collectors alike. Each NFT in the marketplace is carefully curated to ensure a seamless blend of technological prowess and artistic brilliance. The curated collections available at www.mocapart.com represent a rich tapestry of stories and emotions, inviting viewers to embark on a journey that transcends the confines of traditional art forms. The Pop Art and digital performance influences result in vibrant, dynamic, and captivating pieces that resonate with audiences worldwide. From futuristic characters brought to life by the rhythmic movements of dancers to surreal heroes evoking a sense of wonder through animated brushstrokes, Mocapart's NFTs are a testament to the boundless possibilities of creative expression. Mocapart embodies the power of motion as a transformative force and aspires to bridge the gap between the digital and real world through captivating NFT collections. Motion captures the essence of human expression and serves as a bridge between the digital realm and our physical reality. By leveraging motion capture technology, Mocapart empowers artists to explore and push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of digital art. Mocapart recognizes the increasing significance of NFTs in the art world and aims to provide a platform where artists can exhibit and monetize their creations while fostering a vibrant community of collectors. Through secure and transparent blockchain technology, Mocapart ensures authenticity and provenance, enabling collectors to confidently engage with and invest in digital art. Story continues "We are thrilled to introduce Mocapart as the first NFT art gallery of motion, elevating the art world by emphasizing the profound connection between the human body and the spirit," said film director Dan Radu Mihai, the visionary catalyst of Mocapart. "Our platform provides a space for graphic and motion artists to push the boundaries of creativity and harness the power of motion as a signature element. By bridging the digital and real worlds, we aim to redefine the perception of art and invite viewers into a truly immersive and captivating experience." Mocapart's launch marks a significant milestone in the world of digital art and NFTs. The platform invites artists, collectors, and art enthusiasts to explore a new dimension of creativity, where motion becomes a transformative force that engages the senses and ignites the imagination. The first collection: Lady Troffea The first collection emerges as a testament to the platform's dedication to authenticity, originality, and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. Lady Troffea, the inaugural collection within Mocapart, sets the stage for a captivating journey into estranged movement and unsettling beauty. The artistic vision on dance transcends time and convention, offering contemporary perspectives that challenge the boundaries of artistic expression. Through diverse corporalities, magnetic allure, and an embrace of unconventional beauty, Lady Troffea embodies the essence of Mocapart's values. It beckons viewers to explore the intoxicating thought of being possessed by the force of dance, inviting them to embrace the unexpected and delight in the unsettling. Lady Troffea is a testament to the transformative power of art and motion, inviting us all to immerse ourselves in the enigmatic world of Mocapart. About Mocapart Mocapart is the first NFT art gallery of motion, pioneering the convergence of the human body and spirit within the digital art landscape. It serves as a marketplace for graphic and motion artists, showcasing story-driven collections of NFTs that seamlessly blend elements of Pop Art and digital performance. By emphasizing the unique signature of motion, Mocapart creates a bridge between the digital and real worlds, unlocking endless possibilities for creative expression and immersive experiences. To learn more about MocapArt and how it is redefining the digital art landscape, please visit their website at www.mocapart.com or join their Discord channel. CONTACT: Livia Radulescu contact(at)mocapart.com A consortium of companies is receiving support from a research hub backed by Italys central bank in a bid to develop an ecosystem for traditional financial institutions to wade deeper into DeFi. Cetif Advisory, a research consultancy supporting banks, insurance companies, and other TradFi firms with digitization solutions, announced it was receiving developmental support from the Milano Hub, a research center with backing from the Bank of Italy, for what it calls the "Institutional DeFi for Security Token" ecosystem. The project, a collaboration with other companies that includes Polygon Labs and digital asset platform Fireblocks, aims to create a "safe and open operating environment" for institutional players, said Imanuel Baharier, general manager of Cetif Advisory, in a statement. What is MiCA? The European Unions Landmark Crypto Regulation Explained Retail investors in DeFi are often operating in unregulated spaces that pose too many risks for traditional firms, and the uncertainties involved often don't justify the risk. In this ecosystem, Baharier told Decrypt that Cetif's protocol would include traditional rails around know-your-customer and anti-money laundering that these firms are familiar with. The goal, Baharier insists, is to open access to the platform by 2024, and allow real-world testing of the tokens it's developing on secondary markets. "We strongly believe this is a key moment to position ourselves as a leading ecosystemic player in this emerging security token market," Baharier told Decrypt. The Milano Hub began supporting the project on July 3, and it will go on for six months. This support does not include financial support, but it will share consultants with expertise on financial regulation on top of helping organize events to support the project. One central aspect of the project is the creation of a security token for use on the protocol. Some of the support for this will come from Italys largest financial institutions, including Banca Mediolanum and the private bank Intesa Sanpaolo. Baharier said that these companies will be involved in introducing the tokens to primary markets, and eventually onto the secondary market. The value of the tokens involved will also be backed by these firms, he added. (Bloomberg) -- Ant Group Co. is planning a restructuring that will break off some operations that arent core parts of its China financial-related business, according to people familiar with the matter, paving the way for the company to revive an initial public offering in Hong Kong. Most Read from Bloomberg The company is looking at leaving its blockchain, database management services and international business out of a main entity that will be used to apply for a financial holding license in China, the people familiar said, requesting not to be named. It has relayed the plan to some shareholders, the people said. Once the restructuring is completed and Ant secures a license for its financial holding company, it can prepare for an IPO in Hong Kong instead of a dual Shanghai-Hong Kong listing that it had pursued before a last-minute intervention by Xi Jinpings government in 2020, said the people. The plans have yet to be finalized and may be subject to change, the people said. Ant declined to comment in an emailed statement. The move comes after Chinese regulators wrapped up an almost three-year long probe into the fintech giant founded by Jack Ma by imposing a 7.12 billion yuan ($995 million) fine this month. The billionaires run-in with Beijing has cost his empire including Ant and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. about $850 billion in lost valuation, including what would have been the largest IPO in history. The proposed restructuring may offer some much-needed relief to shareholders ensnared by the crackdown. They will also be given stakes in the entities left out of the main operation at a nominal price, one of the people said, adding those businesses will take years to grow. Story continues At the same time, the firm has received approval from shareholders to buy back as much as 7.6% of shares at a valuation of about $79 billion. Thats well below its $280 billion market capitalization ahead of the scrapped IPO in 2020, and down from the $150 billion value when global funds including Temasek Holdings Pte and Carlyle Group Inc. assigned to it when they bought in five years ago. Alibaba Group, which holds a third of Ant, has decided to stay on the sidelines, saying it wants to maintain its slice of an important partner. Some Chinese state-owned firms that took part in Ants earlier funding rounds are planning to participate in the buyback, the people said. Shareholders have until early August to make a decision, according to one of the people. Chinas National Council for Social Security Fund, along with China Development Bank Capital Co., bought into Ants private fundraising round in 2015 when the company sold a 12.4% stake to outside investors at a reported valuation of about $45 billion. IPO Revival Ants current international business includes a transaction network known as Alipay+ that facilitates cross-border payments among a number of digital wallets in a wide range of countries. It also runs WorldFirst, a one-stop digital payments and financial services platform for small businesses that conduct cross-border trade; and ANEXT Bank, a digital wholesale bank in Singapore that started in June 2022. Listing in Hong Kong would be faster than in Shanghai since Ma announced that he was giving up controlling rights of Ant in January. Companies cant list domestically on Chinas so-called A-share market if they have had a change in control in the past three years or in the past two years if listing on Shanghais STAR market, which is geared toward new technology companies. For Hong Kongs stock exchange, this waiting period is one year. Even if Beijing eases up on Ant, the years of relentless scrutiny have taken a toll on the company. Ants bottom line has eroded and growth prospects for its operations from consumer lending to asset management have diminished. Ants split would mirror one of its affiliate Alibaba, which is forming into six main businesses, from cloud services to meal delivery and logistics. While investors initially cheered the potential creation of value, Alibabas shares have come off their 2023 highs and have shed about $600 billion of their value since the clampdowns on Ant began. --With assistance from Zhang Dingmin. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The logo of Osaka Organic Chemical Industry Ltd. pictured in Tokyo Japanese chemicals company sees potential niche in EUV chip making materials The logo of Osaka Organic Chemical Industry Ltd. pictured in Tokyo By Sam Nussey and Miho Uranaka TOKYO (Reuters) - Osaka Organic Chemical Industry, a Japanese manufacturer of high-end chemicals used in chip production, is betting on the materials market for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, a method for making advanced chips. Little known even in its home country, Osaka Organic has carved out a critical niche in the semiconductor industry by supplying companies that make photoresists, the light-sensitive chemicals used to etch patterns on wafers. It already has a 70% share of the market for the argon fluoride (ArF) monomers used in photoresists and now aims to grow in chemicals for EUV resists - an area becoming increasingly important as the global semiconductor industry is seen doubling in value in the decade to 2030. "I am confident that we can compete," Masayuki Ando, Osaka Organic's president, told Reuters in an interview, referring to the EUV resist market. In many ways, Osaka Organic is emblematic of Japan's chip-making industry today. The world's third-largest economy was once a global giant in making chips before ceding dominance to U.S., Taiwanese and South Korean rivals. But Japan still retains a lockhold on crucial parts of the supply chain, such as chip-making tools and materials including specialised chemicals prized for their purity. The government, however, wants to see a bigger footprint for the industry with backing for chip foundry venture Rapidus and foreign chipmakers such as TSMC locating production in Japan. Last month JSR Corp, a leading photoresist maker, announced a plan to go private with investment from a government-backed fund driving speculation about potential consolidation in the sector. Ando said that the competitiveness of Japan's material makers did not depend on size. "For materials it's not about chasing scale to reduce costs but about technical ability," he said. Companies without technical ability "will be weeded out naturally," he said. Story continues The company's shares have gained 40% year-to-date. "(Osaka Organic's) EUV business is ramping up right now so it can outperform the growth ratio of the EUV photoresist market itself," said Yuta Nishiyama, an analyst at Citigroup, who forecasts a market compound annual growth rate of 30-40%. ($1 = 141.5000 yen) (Reporting by Sam Nussey and Miho Uranaka; Editing by David Dolan and Miral Fahmy) (Bloomberg) -- Just Eat Takeaway.com NV is finding it difficult to complete the sale of its US business, Grubhub Holdings Inc., because of a combination of high price demands from some investors and a weak market for deals, Chief Executive Officer Jitse Groen said. Most Read from Bloomberg Were talking to buyers still, but its a very difficult M&A situation currently, Groen said in an interview at the food-delivery platforms headquarters in Amsterdam. Its all very easy on Excel sheets, its very hard in reality. Some activist investors are demanding high prices for the asset privately, Groen said. They would say, You need to sell Grubhub, and behind the scenes, You need to sell Grubhub for 4 billion euros ($4.4 billion), he said. Read More: Just Eat First-Half Profit Beats Estimates After Cost Cuts Just Eat announced plans to sell Grubhub in April 2022, caving to investor pressure. Just Eat had acquired the business at the height of the boom in delivery apps in 2021, in an all-stock deal that valued the company at more than $7 billion. Months later, growth in the industry plunged when shops and restaurants started reopening from Covid-19 lockdowns, and Just Eat was forced to write down the value of the US business by 3 billion. Grubhub has struggled to fend off competition from rivals, such as DoorDash Inc. and Uber Technologies Inc., and Groen said the company has lost market share in the US since the takeover. The Chicago-based firm announced in June it will lay off about 15% of its workforce in a bid to cut rising costs. Read More: Dutch Food Delivery King Aims for America After Buying Grubhub Currently, its not a profitable business, Groen said. The fee caps cost us a lot of money, he said, referring to a rule in New York City that puts an upper limit on the fees that food-delivery businesses can charge restaurants and shops. Were not able to invest enough money to protect our market and all of the US. Story continues (Updates with additional comments from the CEO in third paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Key Insights Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad's significant public companies ownership suggests that the key decisions are influenced by shareholders from the larger public 59% of the business is held by the top 2 shareholders 23% of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad is held by Institutions To get a sense of who is truly in control of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLSE:KLK), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 48% to be precise, is public companies. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Meanwhile, institutions make up 23% of the companys shareholders. Insiders often own a large chunk of younger, smaller, companies while huge companies tend to have institutions as shareholders. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad. Check out our latest analysis for Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. We can see that Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Story continues Hedge funds don't have many shares in Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Batu Kawan Berhad with 48% of shares outstanding. With 11% and 6.9% of the shares outstanding respectively, Employees Provident Fund of Malaysia and Permodalan Nasional Berhad are the second and third largest shareholders. After doing some more digging, we found that the top 2 shareholders collectively control more than half of the company's shares, implying that they have considerable power to influence the company's decisions. While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. Insider Ownership Of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad in their own names. It's a big company, so even a small proportional interest can create alignment between the board and shareholders. In this case insiders own RM138m worth of shares. It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 17% stake in Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Public Company Ownership Public companies currently own 48% of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad stock. We can't be certain but it is quite possible this is a strategic stake. The businesses may be similar, or work together. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (at least 1 which makes us a bit uncomfortable) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 PARIS (Reuters) -Shares in LVMH fell on Wednesday as an in-line increase in sales at the world's top luxury indicated the overall sector was moving towards a less impressive path of growth. Despite a "solid" growth rate, the report "will likely trigger further questions...on whether we are now at the end of the positive earnings revision cycle for luxury and on the drivers of sector growth going forward," wrote analysts at JP Morgan. LVMH shares were down 3.7% in early session trading, also dragging down the shares of its rival Kering. The French company on Tuesday reported a 17% increase in second quarter sales, a touch better than analyst expectations for 16% growth. LVMH's leather goods division, home to Vuitton and Dior, grew revenue by 21% versus an expected 20% increase. The narrow beat for a company that had routinely delivered results ahead of expectations, and is regarded as a bellwether for the luxury industry, flagged the "normalisation" of the sector after years of stellar growth driven by post-pandemic euphoria, Luca Solca at Bernstein said. "We never said that growing 20% per annum as we've been doing roughly speaking...is a new normal," LVMH chief financial officer Jean-Jacques Guiony told analysts on a conference call late Tuesday. The executive suggested the rate of the company's share price, up around 11.5% per year for the past three decades, was a better measure. "Maybe that's also an indication of the underlying business," said Guiony. LVMH reported a 1% fall in U.S. sales as appetite for high-end fashion and leather goods slowed there as well as lower-than-expected margins due to high marketing spending. After hefty investment in high profile events, notably Pharrell Williams' debut fashion show at Vuitton -- LVMH said it plans to rein in marketing spending in the second half of the year to maintain flat margins. (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Mimosa Spencer; editing by Silvia Aloisi and Jason Neely) Shutterstock.com Death is inevitable, but dying without an estate plan is not. Estate planning is a must for property owners, no matter how uncomfortable the subject might make you. The good news is that its not hard to ensure the smooth transfer of ownership to your spouse, children or other heirs as long as you know which mistakes to avoid. Im a Millionaire: Why Im Not Passing Generational Wealth to My Kids Learn: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 Heres what not to do when planning to transfer property after youre gone. Dont Make Assumptions About Your States Next-of-Kin Laws If you die without a will, your states intestate succession, or next-of-kin laws, will determine who gets your house if yours was the only name on the deed. It varies by state, but generally, the order of priority goes as follows: Spouse Biological and adopted children Parents Siblings Grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended family Its important to know the details of how your state treats intestate property distribution to avoid surprises. For example, some states prioritize full siblings over half-siblings while others treat them equally. The Great Wealth Transfer: How Baby Boomers Are Passing on Trillions to Heirs Dont Die Without a Will and an Updated Deed in Place Hoping that your states intestate laws match your wishes for who gets your house is not a real plan but its an all-too-frequent outcome. The most important and common mistake I see clients make is not leaving a clear directive for who should get their house when they pass away, said Jay Garvens, an expert in real estate law and Colorado Springs-based business development manager for Churchill Mortgage. But some states still require the property to go through probate if the surviving heir is not in co-ownership of the house, even if you have it clearly stated in your will, according to Garvens. The simplest and most direct way to protect your real estate property before you pass away is to add one of your adult children or the person you intend to be the executor of your estate to the deed of the property via a warranty deed or quit claim deed, Garvens said. This ensures your house will not go into probate and can seamlessly transfer to the individual you want to handle your estate upon passing away. Story continues Garvens recommends doing this once one spouse in a joint-owning couple dies. This ensures a smooth transition plan once you pass away, as the last thing you want to do is create headaches for family members left to settle estate issues, he said. Dont Assume All Ownership Transfers Are Treated Equally According to Trust & Will, there are four general types of property ownership and the legal system treats them all differently. Property with right of survivorship Property held in a trust Property subject to a will Property for which the spouse does not have a will If two spouses purchase and jointly own a property, then the right of survivorship dictates that the surviving spouse automatically receives the deceaseds half and becomes the sole owner. This is the simplest and easiest outcome, as it avoids probate and there is no need to change the deed, but thats not always the case. While under many circumstances property ownership transfers automatically to the surviving spouse, there may be some instances where the surviving spouse must do something to perfect their ownership, said published author and estate planning attorney Travis Christiansen of Boyack Christiansen Legal Solutions. Christiansen explained that perfect is a legal term indicating that ownership is legal and would be difficult to change even if disputed. A surviving spouse may have to change their deed after a partner dies if they had a deed that didnt have an automatic transfer of property after death, he said. If only one spouse was on the deed, they may have to go through the probate process assuming there was a will to transfer the home into the surviving spouses name. A spouse will often have to file a survivorship affidavit along with a copy of the death certificate to perfect title in only their name. Dont Transfer Property While Youre Still Alive Clients frequently ask Tim Sechler, certified elder law attorney of the Sechler Law Firm, if they should transfer ownership to their heirs while still alive. The answer is usually no. There are three reasons clients seem to want to do this, Sechler said. First, a lifetime transfer will avoid the probate courts when the parents pass away. Second, clients seem to think there is a tax benefit to the transfer. Finally, clients think that this will protect the value of the home from a nursing home. Sechler explained that while a lifetime transfer does avoid probate, it presents other challenges. By transferring the primary residence to a child, a client is likely making a capital gains tax mistake, he said. The sale of someones primary residence is largely exempt from capital gains taxation. However, if the house is transferred to the child and they sell it not as their primary residence, thats a different story. This can result in unnecessary taxation, Sechler said. If, alternatively, the child inherits the property at the time of his parents death, the child will enjoy stepped-up tax basis and avoid capital gains taxation. Dont Assume Your Heirs Share Your Wishes Or Can Share a House Before you do anything, make sure the person or people youre bequeathing the house want to inherit it and all the responsibility it brings particularly if theres more than one heir with a history of friction. One of the biggest mistakes when transferring property to heirs is not considering the practical impact of splitting a property among multiple heirs, said David Goldstein, partner at the Farrell Fritz, P.C. law firm in New York. For example, if your children do not get along or are in different financial positions, leaving a particular property for them to manage jointly could exacerbate these differences. Another mistake is not communicating with your heirs about your plans prior to death. This is especially true if leaving a particular property in unequal shares among your heirs or all to a single heir as this can lead to feelings of resentment, and, in the worst-case scenario, costly litigation. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Im a Financial Planner: Here Are 5 Mistakes You Must Avoid When Transferring Property to Heirs Construction workers started demolishing the left side of the Main Street Commons building Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 1263 Main Street, in Green Bay. GREEN BAY After inspection by structural engineers, demolition of the left side of the Main Street Commons building at 1263 Main St. started on Wednesday morning. The building suffered a partial collapse on Sunday night after a minivan crashed into building, leaving two people injured, according to the Green Bay Police report. The driver, Merissa Reed, 29, of Green Bay was charged by the Brown County District Attorney's office on Tuesday with reckless driving, bail jumping and knowingly operating a motor vehicle while suspended. James Brick, owner of the Main Street Commons building, said the car hit a "perfect spot" on one side of the building that made facade and part of the roof collapse. Brick said structural engineers inspected the building and determined that the left side could be demolished without any additional destabilization. "They (the engineers) found that there was enough support to proceed with the demolition," Brick said. James Brick, owner of the Main Street Commons observes the damage caused by the crash that left one person injured, Monday, July 24, 2023 at 1263, Main Street, In Green Bay. The building, with all its 14 business tenants remain closed along with Main Street between St. George Street and North Irwin Avenue. Several other businesses, such as Tequilas Mexican Bar and Restaurant, which is right across from the Main Street Commons, have also been affected by the closure of the streets. But as the demolition started, what does this mean for owners and employees of these businesses that have been affected by this accident? There is no exact timeframe for businesses inside the building to open others in the area are worried After part of the building is demolished and the rubble cleared, more inspections need to be done to determine that the rest of the structure is safe. "The rest of this week we'll be out for sure," Brick said. After those inspections, the water, gas and electricity has to be reconnected, and he said that could happen next week. "I'm very optimistic that the remaining structure will stay intact and we'll be able to reestablish operations soon," he said. Story continues Jeff Mirkes, executive director of business districts Downtown Green Bay and Olde Main Street, said he was happy to hear that the rest of the building remains in good condition. "There is a reason why this building was 100% occupied," he said. "Because it's a building in very good condition, we are really proud of that." A person watches as a worker throws water into the building during the demolition at Main Street Commons, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at 1263 Main Street, in Green Bay. In the meantime, businesses like The Main Salon, which is located at the center and front of the building, remains closed. Betz Castro Rodriguez, owner of the salon, said he was sad for the community, customers and employees, but "hopeful" that in two weeks three at the most they could reopen. "I'm losing a third of my business, it's going to be challenging for the next few weeks," he said. But not only businesses inside the building are suffering. Across from the salon, Tequilas Bar and Restaurant co-owner Maria Ortiz said she was sad about the accident and the temporary closure of businesses. "At first I was afraid that someone had been hurt," she said. "But now I'm worried of when I'll be able to open." She said on Tuesday her restaurant remained closed because the streets are closed and nobody told her what was happening. "We don't know anything, nobody has told us anything, we learned about what happened over the news," she said. Green Bay Police Department said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that the streets will remain closed until Friday. Drivers are encouraged to use Walnut Street or University Avenue to get around the closure. Ariel Perez is a business reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach him at APerez1@gannett.com or view his Twitter profile at @Ariel_Perez85. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Main Street Commons demolition starts in Green Bay For the quarter ended June 2023, Manhattan Associates (MANH) reported revenue of $231.02 million, up 20.4% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.88, compared to $0.69 in the year-ago quarter. The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $216.43 million, representing a surprise of +6.74%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +22.22%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.72. While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance. Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance. Here is how Manhattan Associates performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: Revenue- Cloud subscriptions : $60.94 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $59.13 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +44.4%. Revenue- Maintenance : $35.83 million versus $32.03 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -0.5% change. Revenue- Hardware : $5.89 million compared to the $5.07 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -23.1% year over year. Revenue- Services : $124.61 million versus $118.19 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +23.5% change. Revenue- Software license: $3.75 million compared to the $2.01 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -26.9% year over year. View all Key Company Metrics for Manhattan Associates here>>> Shares of Manhattan Associates have returned +3.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +4.9% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term. Story continues Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Manhattan Associates, Inc. (MANH) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Key Insights Significant control over MGI - Media and Games Invest by retail investors implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions The top 9 shareholders own 50% of the company Insiders have been buying lately A look at the shareholders of MGI - Media and Games Invest SE (ETR:M8G) can tell us which group is most powerful. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 49% to be precise, is retail investors. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). And individual insiders on the other hand have a 29% ownership in the company. Institutions will often hold stock in bigger companies, and we expect to see insiders owning a noticeable percentage of the smaller ones. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of MGI - Media and Games Invest. Check out our latest analysis for MGI - Media and Games Invest What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About MGI - Media and Games Invest? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. MGI - Media and Games Invest already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see MGI - Media and Games Invest's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Story continues Hedge funds don't have many shares in MGI - Media and Games Invest. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is the CEO Remco Westermann with 27% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 18% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 1.5% by the third-largest shareholder. On further inspection, we found that more than half the company's shares are owned by the top 9 shareholders, suggesting that the interests of the larger shareholders are balanced out to an extent by the smaller ones. While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. Insider Ownership Of MGI - Media and Games Invest The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our information suggests that insiders maintain a significant holding in MGI - Media and Games Invest SE. Insiders own 54m worth of shares in the 187m company. This may suggest that the founders still own a lot of shares. You can click here to see if they have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership With a 49% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over MGI - Media and Games Invest. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand MGI - Media and Games Invest better, we need to consider many other factors. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for MGI - Media and Games Invest (of which 1 is a bit concerning!) you should know about. If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here (Bloomberg) -- Morgan Stanley is turning cold on Kenyan assets as deadly protests rattle the nations capital, urging investors to look south for opportunities in Angola after a recent currency devaluation. Most Read from Bloomberg Strategists including Neville Mandimika are turning less bullish on Kenyas international bonds as recent social unrest forces businesses to close, threatening tax revenue and spurring fiscal risks. At the same time, theyre upgrading their view on Angolan notes due to signs of a more-stable currency, improved fiscal dynamics and attractive valuations. Its now time to turn to a like stance on Angola, given that valuations are screening cheap, the strategists wrote in a Monday note. We now prefer Angolas long end relative to the Kenyan long end given the balanced outlook for the former and the downside risks for the latter. Morgan Stanley recommends buying Angolas foreign bonds due in 2049 versus Kenyas 2048 dollar debt. Angolas dollar-denominated debt has returned about 0.7% so far this month, on average, while Kenyas bonds are down 1.3%, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Supporters of Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga have been protesting against the outcome of last years elections and rising living costs. That comes in sharp contrast to recent developments in Angola, which has seen support from oil prices and signs of exchange rate flexibility after the nations National Treasury abstained from selling foreign exchange. That saw the kwanza depreciate about 30% to over 800 per dollar in June. Allowing the depreciation, along with the removal of fuel subsidies brings Angola closer to unlocking support from the International Monetary Fund, which would be beneficial to the credit. Story continues Angola with its limited short-term financing needs and oil prices trending higher is looking like a good alternative, said Oren Barack, managing director of fixed income at New York-based Alliance Global Partners, which holds both countries dollar bonds. The government is undertaking an unpopular but necessary decision to cut local subsidies for fuel for the domestic market, which will improve their current account balance and shore up finances. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock / Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock Amazon announced it was one step closer to deploying its full satellite constellation on July 21, with construction underway on a new satellite-processing facility at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida Project Kuiper. Amazon indicated it was investing $120 million in new construction and high-value equipment for the facility and creating up to 50 new jobs on the Space Coast. Im a Financial Planning Expert: Here Are 5 Things You Should Never Spend Money on If You Want To Be Rich Find: How To Get Cash Back on Your Everyday Purchases Project Kuiper is a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network initiative to increase global broadband access through a constellation of 3,236 satellites. The project aims to provide fast, affordable broadband to unserved and underserved communities around the world, per a company statement. As Bloomberg noted, Project Kuiper is similar to Elon Musks Starlink SpaceXs satellite internet service which uses thousands of satellites in low orbit to beam broadband internet to Earth. As of July 2023, there are 4,519 Starlink satellites in orbit. An estimated 4,487 are operational, according to astronomer Jonathan McDowell, per Space.com. In terms of how the two services will compare price-wise, its not yet clear. Amazon hasnt specified what it will charge for its service. In March, Amazon said it had an ambitious goal at the start of the project: design a customer terminal that costs less than $500 to build. And in April, CEO Andy Jassy said in a letter to shareholders that the company recently unveiled the new terminals that will communicate with the satellites passing overhead, and we expect to be able to produce our standard residential version for less than $400 each. In comparison, Starlink charges $90 to $120 per month for residential service, with a $599 equipment fee. For businesses, it charges $250 to $1,500 a month with a $2,500 equipment fee. CEO Andy Jassy said in a April 2023 earnings call that the number of potential customers for its service is very large: Its hundreds of millions of households and businesses and government entities that today have limited to no connectivity to the internet, he said, according to the transcript of the call. Story continues Experts Suggest Kuiper To Be Cheaper Than Starlink Peter Cohan associate professor of management practice, Babson College said that while he doesnt know how much Amazon will charge for the service, his estimate of $1,000 per subscriber-year is significantly below Starlinks price. At $400 each, Amazons standard terminal costs 33% less than Starlinks $599. Starlink charges about $1,500 per subscriber-year 2 million subscribers generating about $3 billion in revenue in 2023, he said. So, I would not be surprised if Amazon charges $1,000 per subscriber per year. This low price would be attracting new subscribers in the $1 trillion market. Whats more, Amazon is likely to offer a range of prices for different tiers of service. Amazon also said its set to launch two prototype satellites in the coming months, and expects to begin production launches and early enterprise customer pilots in 2024. When Amazon first announced in 2019 it was working on the project, Musk tweeted back: @Jeff Bezos copycat. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much Will Amazons High-Speed Satellite Internet Cost Compared to Elon Musks Starlink? A sign outside a NatWest Group Plc bank branch in the City of London The rapid about-turn by NatWest on the future of chief executive Alison Rose has thrown the spotlight on the banks board. Directors decide who to hire as chief executive and when to let them go. In Ms Roses case, the board first believed she could survive the scandal over her disclosure of information about Nigel Farages Coutts account. However, they were forced to rapidly backtrack following public and political outcry at the decision. The misjudgement has now led some investors to question the leadership at the very top of the bank. Here are the people on NatWests non-executive board: Sir Howard Davies, chairman Howard Davies has been NatWest Groups chairman for nearly nine years - Eddie Mulholland A Manchester-born economist who has served in some of the UKs biggest regulatory roles, Howard Davies has been NatWest Groups chairman for almost nine years. He was previously the inaugural chairman of the Financial Services Authority, a deputy governor at the Bank of England and a director of the London School of Economics. He resigned in 2011 from the LSE after admitting that a decision to accept a 1.5m donation from Saif al-Islam, Colonel Gaddafis son, had damaged the universitys reputation. Other jobs have included boardroom seats at Wall Street bank Morgan Stanley and pensions giant Prudential, as well as stints chairing Phoenix and the UK Airports Commission. The 72-year-old had previously announced he will retire by July 2024. Mark Seligman, senior independent director Mr Seligman previously held senior roles in Credit Suisse First Boston A veteran investment banker and chartered accountant, Mark Seligman is NatWests senior independent director. His job is a critical one during a crisis. Senior independent directors are meant to be conduits for employees, directors, and investors who dont feel heard through the normal channels. They are also meant to provide balance in situations where the chairman and chief executive are seen as too close. Seligmans past jobs include top roles at Credit Suisse First Boston, where he was deputy chairman for Europe and chairman of its UK investment banking division. Story continues He also sits on the board of engineering giant Smiths Group and The Brooklands Museum, in Surrey, and has served as a director at oil producer BG Group, B&Q owner Kingfisher and security provider G4S. Frank Dangeard, independent non-executive director Mr Dangeard is an alum of the prestigious Parisian university Sciences Po A Canadian-born Frenchman who graduated from the prestigious Paris Institute of Political Studies, Frank Dangeard is a former media and telecoms executive who chairs NatWests investment banking arm. He was previously chairman and chief executive of French conglomerate Thomson now part of defence giant Thales Group which spanned consumer electronics, microchips, medical equipment, aircraft and military technology. He was also deputy boss of France Telecom and chairman of SG Warburg France, and has held board seats at the investment bank of Credit Agricole, Frances second-biggest lender, state energy giant EDF, mobile provider Orange and satellite firm Eutelsat. He has been on NatWests board since 2016 and served as NatWest Markets chairman since 2018. Roisin Donnelly, independent non-executive director Ms Donelly only recently joined the NatWest board of directors Roisin Donnelly joined NatWests board last autumn from the world of corporate marketing, having previously held senior positions at Procter & Gamble. She has been the banks consumer duty board champion since April, giving her responsibility to speak up for customers and their rights at meetings. In her other role as chairman of NatWests colleague advisory panel, she will also presumably be speaking to bank staff this week about Dame Alison Roses departure. She currently sits on the boards of Mr Kipling owner Premier Foods, software giant Sage and the Internet Advertising Bureau. Her previous board jobs have included roles at HomeServe, Just Eat, Holland and Barrett and Bourne Leisure, the former owner of Butlins. Separately, Donnelly and her family have campaigned on behalf of victims of the infected blood scandal and she submitted evidence about how her father received contaminated blood. Patrick Flynn, independent non-executive director Mr Flynn has held multiple senior executive roles in the banking industry A veteran banker, Patrick Flynn spent two decades at HSBC before serving as finance chief for Dutch lender ING Group. At ING, he was part of an executive team that carried out a clean-up job and saw off the threat of nationalisation after the financial crisis. He is also currently a senior independent director at Aviva. Morten Friis, independent non-executive director Mr Friiss responsibilities on the board include chairing the risk group committee Norwegian banker Morten Friis spent most of his career with Royal Bank of Canada, serving as a senior vice-president and chief risk officer. He has also been a director of RBC Bank in the US and a board member at Jackson National Life Insurance Company, which was previously part of UK giant Prudential. At NatWest, he chairs the group risk committee. Yasmin Jetha, independent non-executive director Ms Jetha has served on the NatWest board since 2017 Yasmin Jetha has been a board member of some kind for NatWest since 2017 and is the former IT chief for healthcare provider Bupa and the Financial Times newspaper. Her other boardroom appointments include a directorship at the left-leaning Guardian newspapers parent company and another at Nation Media Group, a major Kenyan news organisation. At the Financial Times, Jetha also served as operating chief. Earlier in her career, she worked for Abbey National now Santander UK for 20 years. Stuart Lewis, independent non-executive director Mr Lewis joined the Nat West board in April 2023 Stuart Lewis spent most of his career at Deutsche Bank, where he held senior roles including deputy chief risk officer, global chief credit officer and credit chief in Asia. He serves on the Global Association of Risk Professionals board of trustees, advises the International Association of Credit Portfolio Managers and has previously chaired the International Financial Risk Institute. He has also previously been a director at London Stock Exchange Group and a visiting professor at the London School of Economics. He joined the NatWest board in April. Lena Wilson CBE, independent non-executive director Ms Wilson received a CBE for her efforts in developing Scotlands economy Lena Wilson is the former boss of Scottish Enterprise, the Glasgow-based economic development quango, and led Scottish Development International before that. She was previously a senior investment advisor to the World Bank, where she helped developing countries apply for support. In 2015 she received a CBE for services to economic development in Scotland. During Alex Salmonds time as first minister, Wilson was criticised for taking a second job on top of her role at Scottish Enterprise with the board of Intertek, the FTSE 100 quality assurance company. She is also chairman of Picton Property Income and accountancy firm Chiene + Tait, and is a visiting professor at the University of Strathclyde Business School. 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. Nexgen to provide packaging infrastructure and services for ARISE IIP's textile & apparel parks manufacturing centers in Togo & Benin (West Africa). WESTMONT, Ill, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nexgen Packaging, a leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions and paper fiberboard hangers, announced today their partnership with ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP). ARISE IIP specializes in developing and operating high-value industrial ecosystems in Africa, offering a comprehensive service from concept to operation. ARISE IIP designs, develops, operates & promotes Integrated Industrial Zones throughout Africa, focused on the local transformation of locally produced raw materials (particularly cotton) into value added and fully traceable textiles & apparels. The final products are then shipped to the US and European consumer markets. ARISE IIP's industrial ecosystems are designed in partnership with local governments, following the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, aligned with local governments' development agendas. The ecosystem approach allows for competitive transformation and fulfills all the strategic requirements of businesses. The ARISE IIP textile parks in Togo and Benin offer advanced infrastructure, proximity to seaports, raw materials, a skilled and competitive workforce, sustainable processes, and a stable political environment. Rajaguru Raja Thandal, Textile Business CEO at ARISE IIP, expressed his confidence in the partnership between ARISE IIP and Nexgen Packaging, stating, "This collaboration is going to be a considerable milestone for the textile industry in Africa. We remain certain that it will bring innovative solutions and elevate the textile industry to new heights, making Africa the next global textile hub." Nexgen Packaging is a leader in sustainable packaging production in Africa. As a part of this partnership, Nexgen will be investing in infrastructure and services to support ARISE IIP's textile facilities in the West African countries of Benin and Togo. This commitment will include immediate investment in equipment and raw materials to provide support for trims, labels and other packaging requirements in these industrial parks. Nexgen's long-term goal is to have a scaled, local presence in both locations that supports all packaging needs for local manufacturers. Story continues Since its inception over 16 years ago, Nexgen has become a leading producer of packaging solutions for the retail, apparel, and footwear industries by listening to customers and responding quickly and nimbly to their needs. Nexgen's focus on providing true sustainable offerings and investing in an optimized supply chain is a unique approach in the industry and one of the primary reasons customers are choosing Nexgen as their strategic global supplier. Jim Welch, Nexgen CEO states, "Nexgen is leading the industry with our commitment to sustainable packaging in Africa. We are honored to be contributing to the vision ARISE IIP has for retail and apparel manufacturing in Africa and look forward to immediate opportunities working with brands and retailers from Europe and the US who are beginning to explore the opportunities that exist in West Africa." About Nexgen Packaging: Nexgen Packaging, LLC is a global provider of apparel brand identification and packaging products, serving the creative, product development, and production needs of apparel and footwear manufacturers and retailers, and their global manufacturing partners. The company is focused on simplifying everything from the creative process to order execution, utilizing innovative technologies to increase supply chain efficiency and enhance customer success. Nexgen has sales and manufacturing operations globally with headquarters in Hong Kong, Chicago, and Madrid. About ARISE IIP: ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) is a pan-African developer and operator of world-class industrial parks committed to making Africa thrive. We identify opportunities in commercial and industrial value chains across Africa and conceive, finance, build, and operate the necessary infrastructure, playing a catalytic role in supporting countries to transition to an industrial economy. We are driven by the pursuit of green growth; our ambition is to unlock the continent's industrial potential while neutralizing our carbon emissions and climate impact. ARISE IIP is currently present in Benin (GDIZ), Togo (PIA), Gabon (GSEZ), Cote d'Ivoire (ZIC), and more. GSEZ won the Honorable Mention and High Recommendation of the Financial Times' fDi Global Free Zones of the Year 2022. CONTACT INFORMATION: Nexgen Packaging Media Contacts: Debbie Bougas 805.701.1105 debbie.bougas@nexgenpkg.com javier.menchen@nexgenpkg.com CONTACT INFORMATION: ARISE IIP Vikas Budhiraja Vice President-Marketing +971544494702 Vikas.Budhiraja@arisenet.com Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nexgen-packaging-and-arise-iip-join-forces-to-drive-the-african-textile--apparel-industry-forward-301885949.html SOURCE Nexgen Packaging, LLC Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2023 / (TSX:NEXT) ("NextSource" or the "Company") announces that, in connection with its previously announced public offering of common shares of the Company (the "Offering") and the review by the Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC") of the amended and restated preliminary short form prospectus of the Company dated July 13, 2023, and including the documents incorporated by reference therein (collectively, the "Prospectus"), the Company is issuing this news release at the request of OSC Staff and in accordance with OSC Staff Notice 51-711 (Revised) Refilings and Corrections of Errors ("SN 51-711"), regarding retraction of certain technical disclosures from the Company's continuous disclosure record. Specifically, the technical report entitled "Molo Phase 2 Preliminary Economic Assessment, National Instrument 43- 101 Technical Report on the Molo Graphite Project located near the village of Fotadrevo, in the Province of Toliara, Madagascar" with an effective date of April 27, 2022 (the "PEA"), as incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, incorrectly included the previously delineated mineral reserve estimate for Phase 1 of the Molo Graphite Mine into the preliminary economic assessment for Phase 2 expansion of the Molo Graphite Mine, in contravention of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. To correct such error, the Company is hereby retracting the mineral reserve estimate from the PEA and from any other continuous disclosure documents filed by the Company and accordingly such mineral reserve statements will not form part of the final prospectus related to the previously announced Offering. Further, the Company advises that it will be refiling the annual management's discussion and analysis for the years ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 as well as the interim management's discussion and analysis for the period ended March 31, 2023, to remove the references to the mineral reserve statements noted above, and additionally to adjust certain disclosures and remove certain non-IFRS measures previously included relating to the Mauritius BAF. Story continues The Company does not consider the mineral reserve retraction to be material to the Company. The mineral resource estimate for the Molo Graphite Mine is not affected. The Company is in the process of preparing a feasibility study for a Phase 2 expansion of the Molo Graphite Mine, the results of which are anticipated to be disclosed within the next 6 to 8 weeks from the date hereof. As a result of the filing of this corrective disclosure, the Company will be placed on the public list of Refiling and Errors in accordance with SN 51-711. The Offering remains scheduled to close on or about August 1, 2023 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of all regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the applicable securities regulatory authorities. About NextSource Materials Inc. NextSource Materials Inc. is a battery materials development company based in Toronto, Canada that is intent on becoming a vertically integrated global supplier of battery materials through the mining and value-added processing of graphite and other minerals. The Molo Graphite Mine has begun production and is expected to ramp up to its Phase 1 nameplate capacity of 17,000 tpa of graphite concentrate over a period of up to three months. The Company has announced plans to build the first of several Battery Anode Facilities ("BAF") in Mauritius, which will be capable of producing coated, spheronized and purified graphite ("CSPG"). For further information about NextSource visit our website at www.nextsourcematerials.com or contact us at +1.416.364.4911 or email Brent Nykoliation, Executive Vice President at brent@nextsourcematerials.com or Craig Scherba, President & CEO at craig@nextsourcematerials.com. Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Forward looking statements and information are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will", "could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements include any statements regarding, among others, the closing of the Offering, the construction and potential expansion of the BAFs, expansion plans, as well as the Company's intent on becoming a fully integrated global supplier of critical battery and technology materials. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks, which could cause actual results to vary and, in some instances, to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur or, if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive there from. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with them. SOURCE: NextSource Materials Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/770555/NextSource-Announces-Corrective-Disclosure-in-Response-to-Review-by-Ontario-Securities-Commission Alison Rose Dame Alison Roses 31-year career at NatWest came crashing down in a matter of hours after a series of late night calls and a hurried board meeting. The bank announced in the early hours of Wednesday morning that Dame Alison had agreed by mutual consent to step down as chief executive with immediate effect. It marked a sharp about-turn from just hours earlier when the board expressed its full confidence in Dame Alison, who admitted to a serious error of judgement but said she would remain in the job. After days of stonewalling, the FTSE 100 lender released a statement at 5:42pm on Tuesday admitting that Dame Alison had leaked inaccurate information to the BBC about why Coutts closed Nigel Farages accounts. Rather than asking her to step aside, Sir Howard Davies, NatWests chairman, raised the prospect that the board would dock its chief executives pay but allow her to continue in her 5m role. The chairman said: She has proved, over the last 4 years, to be an outstanding leader of the institution, as demonstrated by our results. The board therefore believes it is clearly in the interest of all the banks shareholders and customers that she continues in post. That position did not hold for long. The statement caused outrage in Government, which still owns 39pc of the lender in a legacy of the financial crisis bailout of what was then called Royal Bank of Scotland. Nigel Farage has called for NatWest's entire board to resign following the scandal - MANDEL NGAN/AFP One minister says: Many in Government were amazed and not in a good way with the first tone deaf board statement. Late on Tuesday evening, senior Treasury officials contacted Sir Howard to relay the Governments concerns about her position, according to a Whitehall source. Dame Alisons admission also stunned Westminster and sparked calls for her to quit which rapidly snowballed. David Davis, a former Brexit Secretary who is a long-time campaigner on civil rights and free speech, was the first Tory MP to publicly urge the NatWest boss to stand down. Story continues His intervention opened the floodgates with more than a dozen backbenchers including former Cabinet ministers Nadine Dorries, Kit Malthouse and David Jones weighing in. But as anger on the Conservative back benches grew that position became increasingly untenable, and by 8pm Rishi Sunak had decided he had no choice but to intervene. The coup de grace came shortly afterwards in the form of a briefing that both the Prime Minister and Chancellor had significant concerns about Dame Alison staying in her post. After losing the confidence of its biggest investor, Dame Alisons position became untenable. Following discussions with the Treasury, NatWests board hastily convened an emergency meeting over video call that began around 11pm. One person briefed on the talks says: Alison has a lot of credit in the bank in terms of how she has run the institution as chief executive. That is why the board wanted to support her and they were absolutely confident that she was the right person to lead NatWest. But executives do not only need the support of the board, especially given NatWests unique shareholder structure. At 1:28am, less than eight hours after Sir Howard said the board fully supported Dame Alison, the bank released a new statement saying she was leaving. Sir Howard said: The board and Alison Rose have agreed, by mutual consent, that she will step down as CEO of the NatWest Group. It is a sad moment. She has dedicated all her working life so far to NatWest and will leave many colleagues who respect and admire her. NatWest chairman Sir Howard Davies is facing questions over the initial decision to allow Alison Rose to remain in her job - Jason Alden/Bloomberg Dame Alison has only ever worked at the bank, joining NatWest graduate scheme in 1992 and working her way up over three decades. She became chief executive in 2019, becoming the first woman to lead a major British bank. Before the Farage scandal, Dame Alison was a highly respected executive in the City who had developed strong relations with Government. In 2019 she led a review into female entrepreneurship in Britain on behalf of the Government. Last night however Dame Alison was sacked from her role of co-chair of the Rose Review into female entrepreneurship. A Whitehall source told The Telegraph that Business Minister Kemi Badenoch was concerned that people with gender critical views were also being targeted by banks. It was untenable for someone who could allow that to happen to also stay in charge of looking at female entrepreneurship. Charlie Nunn, chief executive of rival Lloyds, paid tribute to her on Wednesday morning, saying: Ive really respected Alison as a role model in financial services. Especially some of her leadership around topics like sustainability and female entrepreneurship has been great and Ill miss her in that context. However, support in Government has drained away quickly over the last two weeks as a result of her handling of the row over Mr Farages Coutts account. City minister Andrew Griffith said: It is right that the NatWest CEO has resigned. This would never have happened if NatWest had not taken it upon itself to withdraw a bank account due to someones lawful political views. That was and is always unacceptable. I hope the whole financial sector learns from this incident. Its role is to serve customers well and fairly not to tell them how or what to think. At a roundtable meeting on Wednesday, Griffith warned bank chiefs to heed the lessons of the NatWest debacle, telling executives to respect their customers freedom of expression. One City executive said Dame Alison may have been able to save her job if she had been upfront about her mistake weeks ago. That is the lesson here, he says. Paul Thwaite, the current chief executive of NatWests Commercial and Institutional business, will take over for 12 months before a permanent successor is appointed. Potential permanent successors if NatWest chooses to appoint an internal candidate include Thwaite or NatWests finance chief Katie Murray. If the bank wants to make an external appointment, names doing the rounds in the City include Joe Garner, the former boss of Nationwide Building Society; Ewen Stevenson, HSBCs ex-finance chief; David Duffy, chief executive of Virgin Money UK; and Ian Stuart, the boss of HSBC UK. However, before that process gathers pace, serious questions remain for Sir Howard and the rest of the board over why they thought she could continue in her role after admitting the breach. Shares in NatWest fell 3.7pc on Wednesday following the overnight announcement, wiping around 850m off the companys market value. One City chief executive says: Surely Davies and the boards positions are untenable and they should all step aside. They backed Rose right up until last night and now she has lost the confidence of Rishi [Sunak] and Hunt, so she had to go. They are all part of the same team so, if you take that to a logical conclusion, No10 and no11 have lost confidence in the board of NatWest. This is not a witch hunt, but we are talking about a government owned bank being economical with the truth. None of them should be allowed to stay on. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. (Bloomberg) -- Oil slipped from a three-month high as US crude stockpiles fell less than anticipated and traders assessed the Federal Reserves interest rate hike. Most Read from Bloomberg West Texas Intermediate slipped below $79 a barrel as stockpiles declined only 600,000 barrels. However, losses were limited as inventories at the nations largest storage hub continue to hover at the lowest since May. Technicals also capped crudes recent gains as oil settled in overbought territory on its nine-day relative strength index for a second day on Tuesday. Crudes rally in recent sessions has been fueled by strength in equity markets, signs that the global crude market is starting to tighten and moves by Chinas leadership to revive economic growth. Oil has pushed higher in July as supply cuts from OPEC+ heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Russia help drain global inventories. That move has offset the drag from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powells campaign of monetary tightening, which saw interest rates increase on Wednesday to the highest in 22 years. Yet even as inflation is seen cooling, the price of gasoline is starting to surge globally. Futures soared to a nine-month high in New York, sending shockwaves through to the pump as motor fuel markets have tightened worldwide. The resurgence in gasoline potentially poses a headache for central banks as policymakers grapple with the problem of how much more monetary tightening is needed to bring inflation to heel. Read more: Gasoline Is Surging All Over the World in Fresh Inflation Blow To get Bloombergs Energy Daily newsletter direct into your inbox, click here. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Peapack-Gladstone (PGC) reported $57.5 million in revenue for the quarter ended June 2023, representing a year-over-year decline of 6.4%. EPS of $0.81 for the same period compares to $1.08 a year ago. The reported revenue represents a surprise of -4.44% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $60.17 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.90, the EPS surprise was -10.00%. While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health. As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately. Here is how Peapack-Gladstone performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: Net interest margin : 2.49% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 2.68%. Efficiency ratio : 65.56% versus 59.22% estimated by two analysts on average. Net Interest Income : $38.92 million versus $41.09 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -9.3% change. Total Non Interest Income: $18.58 million compared to the $18.14 million average estimate based on two analysts. View all Key Company Metrics for Peapack-Gladstone here>>> Shares of Peapack-Gladstone have returned +11.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +4.9% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (PGC) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By Sergio Goncalves LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal will not compensate telecoms operators for any Huawei or other equipment they may have to swap as a result of a recent decision barring suppliers representing high-security risk from their 5G mobile networks, a top official told Reuters. Mario Campolargo, the secretary of state for digitalisation, said the cybersecurity council CSSC's decision in May was based on an independent, strict security assessment following European Union guidelines and was not directly aimed at banning Chinese suppliers such as Huawei. Europe and the U.S. have concerns that Chinese involvement in critical infrastructure could compromise security. Beijing and Huawei reject such suggestions. The CSSC is the prime minister's consultative body and its deliberation was seen as another blow to efforts by Huawei to enter standalone networks in the 5G market in Portugal and extend existing contracts. The official said "there may be also an indirect implication of these security criteria on 4G networks", on which 5G networks are still largely based, but the CSSC was sounding out operators about any difficulties or challenges with that. Under a law approved last August, Portugal can determine "the exclusion, restrictions on use, or the cessation of use of equipment or services" of telecom companies for security reasons, setting criteria and deadlines for operators to comply. The Security Assessment Commission created within the scope of the CSSC has over the past nine months assessed the security aspects of all existing equipment in Portugal, regardless of "technology, merit or quality", and applied the criteria of the EU 5G security toolbox. It "will take into account an acceptable balance between security and the investments that were made by the operators," said Campolargo, who reports directly to the prime minister and chairs the CSSC. "Because there is this balance between security and the operators' return on investment, Portugal does not consider compensating them for replacing equipment," he said. Story continues Portugal's telecoms market regulator ANACOM will be in charge of implementing the deliberation and deadlines would be established on a case-by-case basis, he said. Asked if the deliberation was aimed at Chinese suppliers such as Huawei, he said: "Of course not". The commission had warned of a "high risk" to security of networks involving 5G technology "from suppliers or providers that are headquartered in a country where the government exercises control, interference or pressure on its activities in third countries". It also cited risks when the country is not an EU, NATO or OECD member. Portugal's main operators, Altice, NOS and Vodafone have already said they would not use Huawei's equipment in 5G core networks. Campolargo expected no impact on Sino-Portuguese relationship or Chinese investment after Portugal clarified that the decision was part "of a broader process at European level and that it is a transparent and known process". (Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; editing by David Evans) Madagascar strengthens ties with China through the appointment of Professor Lingyun Xiang as Special Financial Economic Advisor, advancing key sectors and mutual cooperation. Sanlitun, Beijing, July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On July 24, 2023, Robinson Jean-Louis, Ambassador of the Republic of Madagascar to China, appointed Professor Lingyun Xiang, an economist in the United States, as a Special Financial Economic Advisor of the Embassy of Madagascar in China on behalf of the Republic of Madagascar. The Republic of Madagascar, also known as Madagascar, is an African island located in the western Indian Ocean, across the Mozambique Strait from the African continent. Madagascar is composed of volcanic rock, as the largest island in Africa and the fourth largest in the world, it has a land area of 592,000 square kilometers (including surrounding islands), a population of about 28.92 million (2023), more than 98% of the total population is Malagasy. Composed of 18 ethnic groups, a total of 6 provinces and 23 regions. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Madagascar on November 6, 1972, the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have developed smoothly. On behalf of the Republic of Madagascar and President Andriy Nirina Rajoelina, the Ambassador of the Republic of Madagascar to China, Robinson Jean-Louis, expressed his heartfelt thanks to Professor Lingyun Xiang for his outstanding contributions to the Republic of Madagascar. Implementing the "Madagascar Revitalization Initiative", providing intellectual, financial and economic assistance, and promoting the construction of energy, agriculture, housing, health, infrastructure and other key areas. Professor Lingyun Xiang introduces that the China-Madagascar trading tie and economic and technical cooperation are progressing smoothly. The two countries have signed agreements on the reciprocal promotion and protection of investments, trade agreements and agreements on the establishment of mixed economic and trade commissions. Since 1972, China has assisted to Madagascar, building projects such as the Mulundawa sugar factory, a pharmaceutical factory, the Aung Wa Highway, the Antananarivo Stadium, an international conference center, and schools. Mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Madagascar began in 1985. Story continues In 2022, bilateral trade volume was 2.08 billion US dollars, an increase of 29.2% year-on-year. Among them, exports from China were 1.455 billion US dollars, a year-on-year growth of 13.9%, and imports were 625 million US dollars, a year-on-year growth of 87.8%. China mainly exports textile yarns, electronic products, mechanical and electrical products, etc., and imports mineral sands and agricultural products. In 1980, the two countries signed a cultural cooperation agreement. There are 2 Confucius Institutes and 1 Confucius Classroom in Madagascar: the Confucius Institute at the University of Antananarivo, the Confucius Institute at Tamatave and the Confucius Classroom at Little Bird's Nest School. China has been offering scholarships to students from Madagascar since 1973. From 2020 to 2021, the total number of students from Madagascar was 621, 129 of them had scholarships from the Chinese Government. At present, the total number of registered Madagascar students in China is 649. Since 1975, China has sent medical teams to Madagascar, and there are now four medical centers in Madagascar, and so far 23 batches of 687 people have been dispatched. After the outbreak of COVID-19, the two sides actively carried out anti-epidemic cooperation, and China provided anti-epidemic materials to Madagascar. Robinson Jean-Louis introduces Professor Lingyun Xiang, a well-known economist and distinguished investor in the United States, a full member of the Association of International Accountants (AIA). a member of the International Association Of Accounting Professionals (IAAP), a Certified Forensic Public Accountant (FCPA), a senior public accountant of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA), an International Certified Internet Finance Manager (ICIFM), the Marquis of San Prospero, the worlds outstanding Chinese, International Ambassador for Public Welfare and Charity, an image ambassador for global diplomats, an overseas image ambassador of Chinese enterprises, the best leader in the financial industry, a senior financial risk management consultant. Meanwhile, professor Lingyun Xiang is also an invited Economic Advisor of the Embassy of the Central African Republic in China, invited Chief Economic Advisor of the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in China, the invited Economic Advisor of the Republic of Liberia, the invited Economic Advisor to the Republic of Zimbabwe, the Special Financial Economic Advisor of the Embassy of Madagascar in China and the International Charity Ambassador of the Republic of Mali. Professor Lingyun Xiang is familiar with the legal situation and policy environment of many countries. Proficient in international law, civil law, economic law, partnership law, tax law and securities law. He is also the author of The Way of the Metaverse, The Logic of Blockchain, Guide to Equity Incentive Practice, Private Equity Investment Solutions, Blockchain: A Technological Revolution Empowering the Real Economy, SME Financing and Growth, Global Visual Economics, Industrial Economics, International Trade and Economic Management, Logistics Warehousing Management and E-commerce, Investment Risk and Operation Management, etc. Embassy of the Republic of Madagascar ChanceryNo. 3, San Li Tun Dong Jie Tel65321353 Fax65322102 E-mailantananarivo@csm.mfa.gov.cn Disclaimer: Threads-coin is in no way affiliated or associated with Threads by Meta. The information provided in this release is not investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is recommended that you practice due diligence (including consultation with a professional financial advisor) before investing or trading securities and cryptocurrency. Earlier this year, Matthew Moulding alleged that the media was deliberately building up negative coverage of THG to depress its share price - THG HOLDINGS PLC/Reuters The online protein shakes and cosmetics tycoon Matt Moulding has made his latest surprising transformation with the takeover of the troubled London newspaper City AM. Despite his LinkedIn tirades against the stock market and the media, THG, Mr Mouldings retail empire, has swooped in to rescue the freesheet. THG, which owns brands including Lookfantastic and Myprotein, struck a pre-pack deal with administrators at BDO to pay a small seven-figure sum for City AMs website and brand. The swoop is likely to raise questions about its editorial stance. City AM has championed the London market for nearly two decades but Mr Moulding has taken a more critical view. This week he claimed that City hostility to mixed business models means US tech giants could not succeed in London. Mr Moulding said: Imagine the multi-faceted models of the big US tech firms like Amazon or Meta operating from the LSE. It just couldnt happen. Earlier this year, the 51-year-old entrepreneur took to LinkedIn to attack investors, analysts and the media, accusing them of deliberately building up negative coverage of THG to depress its share price. Manchester-based Mr Moulding used the hashtag #londonmafia. Journalists at City AM were concerned today that the newspaper could be used to pursue a vendetta. However, one deal insider claimed the title provided a commercial opportunity for the online retailer and its brand thanks to its affluent readership. The source insisted that City AM will remain editorially independent under THGs ownership, adding that it will maintain a pro-business, libertarian stance. THG already publishes its own digital magazine titles, including The Supplement and The Highlight. It believes its technological prowess through ecommerce platform Ingenuity can scale up the newspapers digital operations, including through the creation of a mobile app. Mr Moulding said: Weve long been reviewing opportunities in the disruptive media space but have waited for the right time and the right opportunity to make a digital step-change in adtech capabilities for Ingenuity. Story continues Mr Moulding has been lashing out after THGs stock market value has plunged from around 6.5bn in September 2020 to 1.3bn currently. He has branded his decision to list in London a mistake that just sucked from start to finish. Analysts have previously raised concerns about governance at the company, which Mr Moulding has sought to address through a series of concessions including giving up a golden share in the business. A deal would rescue City AM, which has been hammered by a decline in its core commuter readership by lockdowns and the shift to home working. It is understood that THG intends to keep publishing the print version of the newspaper, which is distributed in London and commuter hotspots in the suburbs. Earlier this year, the title stopped printing on a Friday due to the decline in readership. The retail group has also agreed to meet Julys payroll obligations for the tites roughly 40 employees. A source declined to give assurances about jobs, but said THG planned to expand its operations. Freesheet City AM has been hit by declining readership thanks to the rise of working from home - Chris Batson / Alamy Stock Photo Lawson Muncaster, City AM co-founder and managing director, described the deal as a perfect fit for the newspaper. He added: We both believe firmly in the power of business to make peoples lives better and we cannot wait to get started with our new partners. The pre-pack administration, first reported by Sky News, was thought to be the only remaining option for City AM, which put itself up for sale earlier this month after failing to attract funding. The title currently reaches around 68,000 readers per day, down by more than 10,000 from pre-pandemic numbers. Bosses have shifted the focus to digital output, with City AMs website attracting between 1.8m and 2m unique visitors per month. However, it has been left struggling with debts of 1.6m in 2021 and lacks the funds to invest. In a further blow, City AM has also been hit by a recent wave of Tube and train strikes, as well as soaring newsprint and distribution costs. City AM is 50pc owned by a consortium of Dutch investors, while Mr Muncaster and chief executive Jens Torpe each hold 25pc. Mr Torpe, who co-founded the paper in 2005, is stepping down following the takeover. 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. Traditional ransomware attacks are in decline as businesses refuse to pay upbut according to a new report by cybersecurity firm SonicWall, cryptocurrencies are still being used to extort unsuspecting victims. A staggering 332.3 million cryptojacking attacks were recorded in the first half of 2023a 399% increase when compared with the whole of last year. To put this figure into context, that's more than 2020, 2021, and 2022 combined. Cryptojacking involves exploiting servers and devices belonging to other people to mine digital assets, with privacy-centric Monero being the most popular. Those affected may not even realize that they are victims; they may just notice that their machines are running slower than usual. Malicious cryptojacking code found in 11 Ruby libraries Spencer Starkey, VP of EMEA for SonicWall, told Decrypt via email that the biggest symptoms of cryptojacking include a slower response on devices, surprisingly higher electricity bills, and excessive fan use brought on by overheated batteries. "As cryptojackers aim to go undetected for as long as possible, it can be perceived as a 'victimless' crime, compared to impactful malware such as ransomware or banking trojans," Starkey said. And while you may think that declining Bitcoin prices would prompt malicious actors to divert their criminal activities elsewhere, SonicWall's research suggests market downturns have actually had the opposite effectwith the number of attacks surging as criminals battle to make the same profits. "Threat actors are relentless, and our data indicates they are more opportunistic than ever, targeting schools, state and local governments, and retail organizations at unprecedented rates," SonicWall's president and CEO Bob VanKirk said in a news release emailed to Decrypt. The figures suggest that malicious actors are looking for less expensiveand less riskyways of making a quick buck. According to SonicWall's midyear report, the US, Denmark, Germany, France, and the United Arab Emirates were most affected by cryptojacking, with the whole of Europe witnessing a 788% rise in the number of incidents. Story continues This research paints a picture of cybercriminals continually shifting their tactics to evade capture. One common method for targeting victims in recent months has been to distribute HonkBox cryptojacking malware in cracked versions of the video editing software Final Cut Pro. As the old saying goes, there's no such thing as a free lunch. And while cryptojacking may seem kinder than encrypting a company's files and threatening to release them unless Monero is paid, those behind these attacks still lack scruples. Incidents targeting the healthcare industry were 69 times higher in the first half of 2023 than over the same period a year earlier. The education sector also saw 320 times more attacks. "Hackers search for the weakest points of entry, with the lightest possible repercussions, limiting their risk and maximizing their potential profits," SonicWall's vice president of product security Bobby Cornwell said. A massive botnet is using YouTube to mine cryptocurrency While it might be a little early to write off the threat of ransomwarewhich brought the UK's National Health Service to its knees in 2017 and slowed the Colonial Pipeline to a standstill in 2021these sobering figures indicate that crypto-hungry hackers aren't going anywhere. Starkey went on to warn that cryptojacking has been adopted by nation-state-backed threats, all the way down to employees who are deploying miners on corporate infrastructure without permission. "Because of its covert detection footprint and return on investment for actorsadoption will likely continue to grow across the threat actor ecosystem," he said. The Cookery, 2029 S. Main St. in Morton. The Cookery Inc. announced it is seeking a new owner. The Morton business specializing in interactive, hands-on cooking classes shared the news on its Facebook page. We are ready to pass it along to another interested party ..., the post stated. Why not be part of a business that has the perfect recipe for success? Amanda Pyle, the owner and executive chef, purchased the previous business From the Field in 2016 and established The Cookery. The location has operated as a cooking school for roughly 17 years and draws students from Chicago, Bloomington and Champaign. Hungry for more food news? Sign up for PJStar Dining The business offers classes like gluten free summer, global street food, meat smoking 101, and more. Visitors can also find children-oriented cooking classes like Minnies Clubhouse. Private lessons and team-building activities are also available. The Cookery also offers to-go meals and catering. Those interested in the business should to reach out to Steve Sink at (309) 696-8508. This job really has it all if you love being surrounded by good people and good food, the post said. More: Peoria restaurant owner seeks 'somebody to take over' Connect with Cassidy Waigand by emailing her at CWaigand@gannett.com or by following her on Twitter at @justxaxwriter. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Morton cooking school seeks new owner If you're looking for a multi-bagger, there's a few things to keep an eye out for. Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed. This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns. With that in mind, we've noticed some promising trends at Navios Maritime Holdings (NYSE:NM) so let's look a bit deeper. What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)? If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Navios Maritime Holdings: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.064 = US$53m (US$916m - US$90m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2023). Therefore, Navios Maritime Holdings has an ROCE of 6.4%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Shipping industry average of 15%. Check out our latest analysis for Navios Maritime Holdings roce While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you're interested in investigating Navios Maritime Holdings' past further, check out this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us You'd find it hard not to be impressed with the ROCE trend at Navios Maritime Holdings. The figures show that over the last five years, returns on capital have grown by 1,077%. That's a very favorable trend because this means that the company is earning more per dollar of capital that's being employed. In regards to capital employed, Navios Maritime Holdings appears to been achieving more with less, since the business is using 65% less capital to run its operation. A business that's shrinking its asset base like this isn't usually typical of a soon to be multi-bagger company. Story continues In Conclusion... In a nutshell, we're pleased to see that Navios Maritime Holdings has been able to generate higher returns from less capital. Although the company may be facing some issues elsewhere since the stock has plunged 79% in the last five years. Still, it's worth doing some further research to see if the trends will continue into the future. On a final note, we've found 1 warning sign for Navios Maritime Holdings that we think you should be aware of. While Navios Maritime Holdings isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets. 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 By Paul Sandle and Sarah Young LONDON (Reuters) - Aero-engineer Rolls-Royce hiked its full-year operating profit forecast by around 45% on Wednesday after operational improvements, increased military spending and a recovery in long-haul flying delivered a stronger-than-expected first half. Shares in the British company jumped 20% to 183 pence, the highest level since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. The company said it now expected profit this year of between 1.2 billion and 1.4 billion pounds ($1.6-1.8 billion), up from its previous guidance of between 800 million and 1 billion pounds. The market had been forecasting 934 million pounds. Chief Executive Tufan Erginbilgic, who joined the company in January, said his turnaround had started well, with progress already evident across the company. "Despite a challenging external environment, notably supply chain constraints, we are starting to see the early impact of our transformation in all our divisions," he said on Wednesday. Rolls-Royce, like rival General Electric Co, is benefiting from a faster-than-expected recovery in aviation from pandemic lows, boosting demand for lucrative aftermarket services. GE on Tuesday raised its own full-year profit outlook on robust demand for its jet engine spare parts and services. Bernstein analysts said the primary driver of Rolls-Royce's better first-half and full-year performance was improved operations, a key priority for Erginbilgic. The company, whose engines power the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 long-haul jets, said underlying operating profit for the first six months would come in at just over twice the market expectation of 328 million pounds. A large part of Rolls-Royce's revenue is tied to the hours flown by its engines, a model that plunged it into crisis when planes were grounded during the pandemic. A rebound in flying, however, is now benefiting the company, as is increased defence spending due to the war in Ukraine, and Wednesday's jump means the company's stock has nearly doubled this year. Story continues The group said it would produce up to 360 million pounds of free cash flow for the six months to end-June, soundly beating the 50 million pounds forecast, and it could produce as much as 1 billion pounds of cash in the full year. It will publish its first-half results on Aug. 3. ($1 = 0.7755 pounds) (Reporting by Paul Sandle and Sarah Young; Editing by Kate Holton, Mark Potter and Sharon Singleton) By Andrew Osborn MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian court on Wednesday convicted a top cyber security executive of treason and jailed him for 14 years in a case that state news agency TASS said centred on allegations he had passed classified information to foreign spies. Ilya Sachkov, who denied wrongdoing and calmly listened to the verdict in a glass courtroom cage, helped found Group-IB, once one of Russia's most prominent cybersecurity firms which this year announced it had cut ties with its original market. Sachkov, 37, who is no longer associated with Group-IB but owns a share in its former Russian business, was arrested in September 2021 by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on treason charges in a case that is classified. Sachkov's lawyer told reporters he had been hoping his client would be acquitted because he thought sufficient evidence of his innocence had been presented. "We're not giving up. We believe ...in Ilya's innocence, and we'll appeal further and work further," the lawyer, Sergei Afanasiev, said. Former colleagues who bought Group-IB's Russian business and renamed it F.A.C.C.T said in a statement that his legal team would also ask President Vladimir Putin to intervene. Sachkov had been ordered to serve out his sentence in a high-security penal colony, they said. "Employees have taken what has happened calmly, they continue to support Ilya and hope he will be released and rehabilitated," the statement said. "This is a hard moment for all of us and a black day for the (Russian) cybersecurity market." Some of his supporters, wearing black T-shirts bearing his portrait, were at the court to hear the verdict. At the time of his arrest, Group-IB focused on investigating high-tech crimes and online fraud in Russia and elsewhere. Sachkov had ruffled official feathers a year before his arrest at an event attended by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. In a speech at the event shown on state TV, Sachkov accused authorities of allowing a prominent Russian criminal hacker to go about his business unimpeded, criticised the appointment of someone he said was a former spy to a body overseeing the export of advanced technologies, and accused Putin's cybersecurity envoy of making toxic statements. Story continues Lauded as one of Russia's most promising businessmen before his detention, Sachkov had met Putin in the Kremlin in 2019 after winning a prize for young entrepreneurs. Sachkov is the latest in a long line of people, including scientists, soldiers, officials and a former journalist, to face treason charges in Russia in recent years. (Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by William Maclean and John Stonestreet) Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images; Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images Russia's economy is being sustained by the Wagner Group's gold smuggling operations, the UK government says. A report says the mercenary group has been sneaking "significant" amounts of gold out of Sudan. Smuggled gold is being used to prop up the Kremlin's finances, the report claims. Russia's economy is being propped up by the Wagner Group's gold smuggling operations, according to a new UK government report. The report, authored by the UK's foreign affairs committee, accuses the mercenary group of sneaking "significant" amounts of gold out of Sudan. That gold is then used in trade that's boosting Russia's economy, it added, despite the nation being targeted by western sanctions amid Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine. "Wagner's gold-smuggling operations from Sudan are significant, with one calling them 'critical to Russia's ability to withstand significant sanctions deployed against it for its illegal invasion in Ukraine,'" the report said. The US Treasury has already sanctioned four companies based in the United Arab Emirates, Central African Republic, and Russia for their connections to the Wagner Group in the illegal gold trade. "The Wagner Group funds its brutal operations in part by exploiting natural resources in countries like the Central African Republic and Mali," the Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement in June. "The United States will continue to target the Wagner Groups' revenue streams to degrade its expansion and violence in Africa, Ukraine, and anywhere else." Western sanctions were imposed on Russia in the year following its invasion of Ukraine. Those measures, which include a ban on most oil imports to the EU and $60 price cap on Russian crude, have severely crimped Moscow's finances according to some estimates, with Russia's energy revenue plunging 36% in May. And though Putin has downplayed the effect of sanctions, non-government statistics show that Russia's economy is spiraling and in a far worse state than it appears, two Yale researchers said. Read the original article on Business Insider Alex Hormozi became a self-made millionaire when he was just 23 years old. Now in his 30s, the entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist has an estimated net worth of $100 million and his next goal is to join the billionaires club. So whats his investment strategy? Its not what most people think. Don't miss Worried about the economy? Here are the best shock-proof assets for your portfolio. (Theyre all outside of the stock market.) Jeff Bezos and Oprah Winfrey invest in this asset to keep their wealth safe you may want to do the same in 2023 Americans are spending a ridiculous $253/month more on groceries. But this simple hack can turn your stressful daily spending into a golden nest egg Hormozis company, Acquisition.com, invests in startup businesses. But the investment with the highest return over time is in ones own knowledge, he told best-selling author and personal finance expert Dave Ramsey on a recent episode of The Ramsey Show. Youre always going to get higher returns on investing in your own education, your own skill sets, compared to any stock market, he said. Hormozis father fled to the U.S. during the Iranian Revolution of 1979. My father came here with $1,000. He didnt speak English, but he had a medical degree, said Hormozi. He said, They took everything we had, but they couldnt take my education. So its something that can never be taken from you. You cant lose it. Education appreciates over time Hormozis philosophy is about looking at education as an investment. If you learn math, for example, then you can learn accounting. And if you learn accounting, then you can learn how to invest. Education isnt about collecting degrees, but rather about gaining credentials with utilitarian value, which can be used immediately. Hormozi offered Ramsey the following example: if youre working a minimum wage job and put aside $500, you could invest that money to get a decent return over time via compound interest. Or you could spend that money on a two-day course to become a phlebotomist (a medical professional trained to perform blood draws) and dramatically increase your income in a matter of days. Story continues Thats a micro example of how skills can give you more cash flow to invest in everything else, Hormozi said. Always keep reinvesting in skills because that raises your lifetime baseline of earning potential. Read more: This janitor in Vermont built an $8M fortune without anyone around him knowing. Here are the 2 simple techniques that made Ronald Read rich and can do the same for you The microcredential approach Malcolm Gladwell popularized the 10,000-hour rule in his book, Outliers: The Story of Success, about what makes high achievers different. Gladwell offered up the idea that it takes around 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to achieve mastery of complex skills though he does point out that no one succeeds at a high level without innate talent. However, another approach is microcredentials, which emphasizes competency-based learning of specialized skill sets. These credentials take much less time to acquire (and are usually less expensive) than a diploma or degree. One of the key benefits of this approach is that learners can stack microcredentials, building additional skills over time, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF). Thanks in part to a drive toward automation and the adoption of technologies such as generative artificial intelligence, employers estimate 44% of workers skills will be disrupted over the next five years, according to the WEFs Future of Jobs Report 2023. Six-in-10 workers will also require retraining between now and 2027. Microcredentials have the potential to accelerate skills-based talent management and open new pipelines of talent, the report says. They may be able to open up new career pathways and higher earning potential to those who dont have a college degree (or cant afford one). Why sadness is ignorance Yet, many people stay broke because they subscribe to what everyone else around them who is poor tells them about how to get rich. So they take poor peoples advice on how to make money, Hormozi told Ramsey. So as a result of that, they keep doing the wrong stuff. Or they dont do anything at all, remaining in a state of paralysis analysis. Theyre always searching for that perfect money-making opportunity, but find themselves still searching and still broke years down the line. I define sadness as ignorance, as in, you dont know what options you have. So, whenever you feel hopeless, its because you dont know what to do, Hormozi said. But not knowing what to do is a problem that can be solved. Hormozi pointed out theres so much information freely available on the internet to learn a variety of employable skills. In some cases, it can take a matter of days or weeks, not months or years. So for those willing to put in the time, he says, you can get way ahead. It takes experience to become proficient, and some might find the prospect of entering new territory overwhelming. For example, anybody can get into sales, but many people will wait years to make those first series of cold calls because theyre afraid. Fear is holding them back. They dont want to fail, Hormozi said. They dont want the judgment that they think is coming from people who arent actually paying attention to them to begin with. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried leaves Federal court on Wednesday. AP Photo/Mary Altaffer Prosecutors want to send Sam Bankman-Fried to jail over alleged witness tampering. He showed a journalist diary entries by Caroline Ellison, an anticipated witness in his upcoming trial. Prosecutors want his home confinement revoked. The judge indicated he'll decide next week. Prosecutors asked a federal judge Wednesday to send Sam Bankman-Fried to jail after he leaked his ex-girlfriend's private diary entries to the New York Times. Assistant US Attorney Danielle Sassoon told US District Judge Lewis Kaplan at a court hearing that the leaks in addition to Bankman-Fried's earlier contacts with the general counsel for FTX amounted to witness tampering. "No set of release conditions can ensure the safety of the community," Sassoon said at the hearing in Manhattan federal court. Following the hearing, Kaplan issued a gag order forbidding Bankman-Fried, as well as his lawyers and representatives, from talking about the case. Immediately after the hearing, a representative for Bankman-Fried declined to comment, then smiled. Kaplan said he'll accept additional filings from the prosecutors and defense attorneys over the next week before deciding whether to revoke Bankman-Fried's bond conditions that allow him to remain under house arrest before his criminal trial, which is scheduled for October. Wednesday's hearing followed volleys of sharp letters between prosecutors and defense attorneys over a New York Times story citing diary entries by Caroline Ellison. Ellison previously dated Bankman-Fried and was the co-CEO of his hedge fund Alameda Research. She was also accused in the scheme where prosecutors say they defrauded investors into FTX, his cryptocurrency fund, and pleaded guilty to charges in the case. She's expected to testify against Bankman-Fried at his trial. Ellison's diary entries, kept on Google Docs and written last year, had depicted her weariness and angst working with Bankman-Fried amid their periodic relationship, the New York Times reported earlier this month. Story continues In those entries, Ellison revealed feeling self-conscious in Bankman-Fried's presence and described her "instinct to shrink and become smaller and quieter and defer to others," according to the New York Times. Lawyers for Ellison declined to comment. After that report, prosecutors told the judge that it was Bankman-Fried who leaked the entries in order to undermine Ellison as she prepares to testify against him. They asked the judge to issue a gag order against him. At the hearing on Wednesday, prosecutors went a step further: They said home confinement couldn't keep Bankman-Fried under control and asked the judge to put him in jail. "With this defendant, where there's a will, there's a way," Sassoon said. "And with this defendant, there is certainly a will." Bankman-Fried keeps breaking his bail conditions According to prosecutors, Bankman-Fried defrauded investors of FTX plus broke a number of other laws in part by commingling cryptocurrency funds with Alameda Research, the hedge fund he also controlled. Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. The case has produced an enormous volume of discovery material, to the point where the FBI struggled to analyze the data on Bankman-Fried's laptop even with its specialized tools. In court Wednesday, Mark Cohen, Bankman-Fried's lawyer, said the material would fill three skyscrapers if it were all printed out. When Bankman-Fried was initially arrested and extradited from the Bahamas in December, his attorneys and prosecutors agreed on a $250 million bond that allows him to live at home with his parents in California rather than remain in jail in New York ahead of his trial. Bankman-Fried can use his laptop with restrictions which allows him to help his lawyers search and sift through the massive amounts of material while preparing for his trial. But Bankman-Fried has repeatedly abused these carveouts, prosecutors said. He used messaging apps that permitted auto-deleting and encrypted texts. He installed a VPN, supposedly to watch football finals and the Super Bowl. Earlier in the year, he messaged the general counsel for FTX with the encrypted messaging app Signal which prosecutors said amounted to witness tampering. "I would really love to reconnect and see if there's a way for us to have a constructive relationship, use each other as resources when possible, or at least vet things with each other," Bankman-Fried wrote in the message. With each apparent transgression, Kaplan has allowed prosecutors to add additional incremental restrictions to Bankman-Fried's release conditions. He has also appeared at times irked that prosecutors didn't ask to impose clearer and broader restrictions in anticipation of his actions. Bankman-Fried's talks with journalists could cause problems at the trial On Wednesday, it was clear prosecutors were fed up. Sassoon said the earlier contact with FTX's lawyer and the Ellison leaks amounted to witness tampering. She said the journal leaks "were meant to embarrass Ms. Ellison" and intimidate other potential witnesses. Bankman-Fried, Sassoon said, was bent on breaking the rules "regardless of conditions that are in place." Cohen said Bankman-Fried was simply responding to a journalist's inquiry and fighting back against the deluge of bad media coverage. He said his client only showed a page or two of Ellison's diary entries to the Times reporter and didn't send full copies. Such behavior, Cohen said, was protected by the First Amendment, even if it was a questionable strategy. "That might be a good strategy, that might be a bad strategy," Cohen said. "Given the fact that the stories about him continue to be negative, I suggest it would be a bad strategy." According to prosecutors, Bankman-Fried did far more than simply respond to press inquiries. He sent over 100 emails and had over 1,000 calls with journalists. Among them, were 100 calls to the Times journalist who wrote the story about Ellison's diary and 500 with the author Michael Lewis, according to prosecutors. Lewis is a frequent visitor at Bankman-Fried's family home, Sassoon said, and his blockbuster book about Bankman-Fried is due to be released just before the scheduled trial. All this material, prosecutors say, could cause problems at the trial by tainting the jury with information that wouldn't be admissible in court. Before issuing a temporary gag order which Cohen accepted Kaplan said he was mindful of Bankman-Fried's need to access documents for his defense, the First Amendment issues at stake, and prosecutors' interest in protecting witnesses. He said he would take those issues "seriously" when deciding whether to jail the defendant. "I say to the defendant, Mr. Bankman-Fried, you better be taking it seriously, too," he said. This story has been updated. Read the original article on Business Insider Yellow may be drawing down on its cash reserves. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) A Wednesday note to investors from Stephens, a financial services company, estimates that Yellow may soon breach a key requirement on its cash reserves. Based on a July 10 liquidity disclosure, Stephens estimated that Yellow was burning $4 million in cash each week in the second quarter of 2023. In that same filing, Yellow disclosed that it had roughly $100 million in cash as of the end of June. Jack Atkins and Grant Smith, respectively a research analyst and associate both at Stephens covering the freight and logistics sectors, wrote in the note that Yellows cash flow has been severely limited as customers have diverted freight. However, Atkins and Smith wrote that its unlikely Yellow was able to adjust its expense structure that rapidly, so the trucking carrier still had some $70 million in cash expenses last week while revenue was some 35% below plan. Stephens estimated that Yellow likely burned $20 million to $25 million in cash last week. Given further freight diversions, Stephens estimates the company is now burning $9 million to $10 million per day, estimating that the companys revenue per day is down 70% from Q2 levels, with expenses per day at about the same level, excluding noncash costs and deferred health and welfare payments. This means that the company is likely nearing a key requirement set out by its lenders: Yellow cannot have less than $35 million in liquid cash reserves. Putting it all together, if Yellow had roughly $100 mil. in cash at the end of June, burned $4 mil.-$5 mil. a week during the first two weeks of July, burned an additional $20 mil.-$25 mil. last week and is now burning $9 mil.-$10 mil. per day, it is reasonable to believe that the Company could breach its $35 mil. liquidity requirement at any moment, the Stephens note read. Yellow did not immediately return a request for comment. Analysts at other banks, including Deutsche Bank, are also predicting that Yellows demise is inevitable in notes to investors this week. A Stifel note from Monday noted that the only way Yellow could survive without declaring bankruptcy is with a major equity injection. Story continues Meanwhile, employees at Yellow nationwide have told FreightWaves that their terminals and regions are halting pickups. Yellow told employees Tuesday afternoon that the company was limiting pickups, according to a memo shared with FreightWaves. One clerical worker based in Tennessee told FreightWaves that her terminal manager said she did not need to come into the office on Wednesday, as drivers were simply picking up empty equipment around the city. She and her colleagues are certain that operations are winding down. For 18 years, that was my family, she told FreightWaves Wednesday afternoon. I saw them more than I saw my family. Yesterday I saw the guys start hugging and saying goodbye. Its mad. Are you a Yellow employee with a story to share? Email rpremack@freightwaves.com. The post Stephens says Yellow is burning up to $10M a day appeared first on FreightWaves. ISTANBUL, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Turkiye boosts fintech collaboration with Gulf countries through signed agreements during visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations and establish itself as a fintech hub. Payfix management Board Members with Minister of Finance of Turkiye Mehmet Simsek In these visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, Turkiye signed 18 agreements and a joint declaration covering various areas, including investment, industry, healthcare, renewable energy, and the space industry. Private sector representatives assessed Gulf countries' investment and cooperation opportunities. Contacts were also established in the fintech sector. Erkan Kork, Chairman of PayFix, stated, "Turkiye has a goal of becoming a fintech hub. Just like in many other sectors, Turkiye can also become a hub for Gulf countries in the fintech field." Erdogan's Gulf tour enhances trade and investment cooperation. Over 200 Turkish business delegates attended meetings in Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, and Doha, coinciding with Turkiye's currency attraction efforts and Gulf countries investment diversification goals. 50.7 billion dollars agreement between Turkiye and UAE During Erdogan's visit, which encompassed Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, agreements and a joint declaration were signed in various fields, including investment, industry, defense, healthcare, renewable energy, and the space industry, totaling 18 agreements. The most remarkable one was the $50.7 billion agreement signed between Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates during President Erdogan's meeting with UAE's President, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Turkiye Could Become Fintech Hub in Gulf Important representatives of the business community also welcomed Erdogan's Gulf visit with satisfaction. Erkan Kork, Chairman of PayFix, stated that with the visit of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a prime period has been experienced in relations with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. He said, "We had significant discussions in the fintech sector. There is a strong desire to invest in Turkiye. During this process, our Investment Office President, Burak Dagloglu, is making tremendous efforts to attract investments to Turkiye, and we are grateful to them. We had crucial discussions in the financial technology sector. Turkiye is truly a land of opportunities. As our President mentioned, Turkiye aims to become a fintech hub. Turkiye can potentially be a hub for Gulf countries in the fintech field, just like it's in many other sectors." Story continues https://www.payfix.com.tr Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2161062/Payfix.jpg Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/turkiye-signs-cooperation-agreements-in-the-fintech-sector-with-gulf-countries-301885035.html SOURCE Payfix Melbourne, Victoria --News Direct-- Talon Energy Ltd Talon Energy Ltd (ASX:TPD) CEO Colby Hauser welcomes first gas from the Lucky Fox-1 pilot well at the Gurvantes XXXV CSG Project which was flowed to the surface and flared. It comes as joint venture partner and operator of the CSG project in the South Gobi Basin of Mongolia, TMK Energy Ltd (67%), advises Talon (33%) that the Pilot Well Program continues to deliver in line with expectations. We are pleased to announce the positive results from the extended production test and the promising early signs from the performance of the three pilot wells and we look forward to updating the market further, Hauser said on Tuesday. During the coming weeks, pump speeds will continue to be gradually increased and as the fluid levels decrease, the reservoir begins to depressurise, after which more substantive and continuous gas desorption from the coals is expected to begin. TMK advises that this process may take several weeks or months and as more data becomes available, the partners will continue to keep the market updated on the key metrics. Further flaring of gas from pressure buildup is likely to occur over the coming weeks as more coal seams in the reservoir reach critical desorption pressure. Contact Details Proactive Investors Jonathan Jackson +61 413 713 744 jonathan@proactiveinvestors.com View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/talon-energy-hails-promising-early-signs-at-gurvantes-383598645 While Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK) might not be the most widely known stock at the moment, it saw a decent share price growth in the teens level on the NYSE over the last few months. With many analysts covering the mid-cap stock, we may expect any price-sensitive announcements have already been factored into the stocks share price. However, what if the stock is still a bargain? Today I will analyse the most recent data on Alaska Air Groups outlook and valuation to see if the opportunity still exists. See our latest analysis for Alaska Air Group What Is Alaska Air Group Worth? Alaska Air Group is currently expensive based on my price multiple model, where I look at the company's price-to-earnings ratio in comparison to the industry average. Ive used the price-to-earnings ratio in this instance because theres not enough visibility to forecast its cash flows. The stocks ratio of 38.35x is currently well-above the industry average of 23.12x, meaning that it is trading at a more expensive price relative to its peers. If you like the stock, you may want to keep an eye out for a potential price decline in the future. Given that Alaska Air Groups share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us another chance to buy in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility. What does the future of Alaska Air Group look like? Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. With profit expected to more than double over the next couple of years, the future seems bright for Alaska Air Group. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation. Story continues What This Means For You Are you a shareholder? It seems like the market has well and truly priced in ALKs positive outlook, with shares trading above industry price multiples. However, this brings up another question is now the right time to sell? If you believe ALK should trade below its current price, selling high and buying it back up again when its price falls towards the industry PE ratio can be profitable. But before you make this decision, take a look at whether its fundamentals have changed. Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on ALK for some time, now may not be the best time to enter into the stock. The price has surpassed its industry peers, which means it is likely that there is no more upside from mispricing. However, the positive outlook is encouraging for ALK, which means its worth diving deeper into other factors in order to take advantage of the next price drop. In light of this, if you'd like to do more analysis on the company, it's vital to be informed of the risks involved. Our analysis shows 2 warning signs for Alaska Air Group (1 is a bit unpleasant!) and we strongly recommend you look at them before investing. If you are no longer interested in Alaska Air Group, 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 Tokenization, the process of digitizing and representing assets as tokens on a blockchain, is quickly ushering in the next era of the digital economy. With the potential to spur wide-ranging changes across the global market, institutions are working diligently to facilitate the growth and implementation of tokenized platforms to modernize traditional financial infrastructure. While traditional financial assets like securities, commodities and bonds are some of the most widely recognized items that are being tokenized, there are new and increasingly interesting asset classes emerging. From physical assets such as art and real estate to emerging market assets such as carbon credits and intellectual property, the range of available and acceptable collateral is rapidly expanding. These developments are creating the potential to unlock a staggering amount of value across markets and within industries. Just as computerized ledgers were transformational to the previous paper-based generation, the tokenization of digital and real-world assets will stand to be a crucial evolution that underpins global market infrastructure. While asset tokenization is making headway across the world, Asian governments and enterprises are increasingly embracing and scaling projects dedicated to asset tokenization as a cornerstone of the new digital economy. With experts projecting asset tokenization to be a US$3 trillion economic opportunity in Asia alone, the region has transformed into a hotbed of asset tokenization activity and adoption, spanning both governments and enterprises. A combination of innovation-focused regulators, collaborative forward-thinking companies, and favorable economic and demographic conditions such as a young population, high internet penetration rate, surging middle-class and a huge generational wealth transfer is helping to drive the region forward in exciting new ways. Across Asia, efforts to develop and scale real-world and digital asset tokenization platforms as well as implement legal frameworks and government initiatives around them are occurring at a rapid pace for both retail and wholesale applications. Story continues Project Bakong, a blockchain-based nationwide payment system from the Central Bank of Cambodia, is already in wide use, transforming mobile payment and banking with a digital token backed by the riel, Cambodias sovereign currency. Bakong combines e-wallets, mobile payments, online banking, and financial applications within one easy-to-use interface for any preferred bank account. Another example on the retail side is a new pilot initiative being led by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) to explore and showcase real estate asset tokenization solutions. The pilot will examine and stress-test different mechanisms for enabling a faster and more efficient release of equity relative to real estate for individuals. With real-world asset tokenization predicted to be a multi-trillion-dollar industry by 2030, the pilot represents a significant step forward in the race to maximize readiness for the retail application of such a tokenized product. On the wholesale side, the HKMA is also enabling new interoperability solutions for central bank digital currencies that aim to address pain points in the correspondent banking system such as high costs, low transaction speeds and a lack of transparency. To overcome these formidable points of friction in cross-border payments which are estimated to cost US$120 billion in transaction fees annually the HKMA, in collaboration with the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Center in Hong Kong and the central banks of Thailand, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and China, launched mBridge. (Both mBridge and Project Bakong were built using Hyperledger Foundations open-source technology.) This blockchain technology pilot supports real-time, peer-to-peer, cross-border payments, and foreign exchange transactions using CBDCs or, in simpler terms, a bridge where multiple CBDCs can move digitally across national boundaries. Launched in 2022, the project has already unlocked a significant amount of value to the tune of US$22 million worth of international transactions for real corporate customers. Using traditional infrastructure, it would take multiple days for these transactions to settle through the correspondent banking system that is the status quo of global finance today. However, utilizing this new technology, these transactions were settled in a fraction of the time. In addition to mBridge, the BIS Innovation Hub has also expanded Hong Kongs footprint into new territories like green bonds. This includes developing two prototypes for tracking, delivering, and transferring digitized carbon forwards. The project, monikered Genesis 2.0, involved collaboration among the HKMA, the United Nations Climate Change Global Innovation Hub and other public and private parties to explore the use of blockchain, smart contracts, and other related technologies. These efforts, in part, contributed to the Hong Kong government successfully issuing its first tokenized green bond the first of its kind to be issued by a government globally. As new and increasingly interesting use cases and applications tied to tokenization continue to rise to the forefront in Asia, the role of openly developed distributed ledger technologies is already leading to faster innovation and a more secure and efficient tokenization ecosystem for all. By harnessing the power of community-driven projects, developers and organizations can access cutting-edge tokenized tools and resources, while also contributing to the accelerated adoption of new, automated systems. When these systems are built transparently and collaboratively, they serve as a trusted technology infrastructure for widespread, cross-market transactions. Openly developed technologies are built on the principles of collaboration and governance. Not only are code and resources freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute, but they are developed under the guidance and standards of a community of experts. This approach drives innovation as developers from around the world can contribute their expertise and ideas to improve existing projects or create new ones. It also fosters unity and longevity as there is community buy-in to the development choices. Under this model, institutions and enterprises in Asia and beyond work together to create a trusted technology infrastructure able to serve as the backbone for the next generation of markets and financial systems. The result: a more secure and efficient financial ecosystem and hopefully a more innovative and equitable world. In this article, we are going to discuss the top 20 best selling vodka brands in the world. You can skip our detailed analysis of the new trends in vodka, the new entrant in the vodka market, the recent major acquisition in the vodka industry, the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war, and the size of the global vodka market, and go directly to Top 5 Best Selling Vodka Brands in the World. Vodkas overall popularity is largely based on its versatility, as it can be mixed with almost anything in a cocktail and is really easy to add flavorings to. Also, since vodka does not require aging, its convenient to produce a large quantity of the highly sought-after spirit. Both Poland and Russia claim to be the first places to originate vodka, however, its first documented production occurred at the end of the 9th century in Russia. The New Trends in Vodka: Vodka producers are reinvigorating the category by tapping into the health conscious demand for low-alcohol beverages, and are moving towards lighter serves and low-ABV offerings to attract consumers back from competing spirits, such as gin. Major vodka brands, including Grey Goose, Smirnoff, Svedka etc. have ramped up their innovation efforts in the low-alcohol space to attract new and mindful consumers by offering products made with less sugar and fewer calories. Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) was among the pioneers in the low-alcohol vodka category, launching its 30% ABV Ketel One Botanicals range in May 2018, said to be the first of its kind at the time. It contains no artificial flavors, added sugar or artificial sweeteners. Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) also capitalized on the trend in 2020, with the release of its sugar-free Svedka Pure Infusions range, also 30% ABV. Vodka brands have also already identified the burgeoning ready-to-drink (RTD) category as another potential revenue stream and Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) was again among the early movers, unveiling its Ketel One Botanical Spritz canned range in 2021. Story continues Some of the Most Popular Gin Brands in 2023 are also owned by Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO). New Entrant in the Vodka Market: The beer behemoth Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) has been making strides to enter the spirits category and vodka is no exception. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) pushed its Natural Light beer brand into the vodka category and debuted three lemonade-flavored 30% ABV vodka expressions in 2021. Natural Light is among the Top-Selling Beers in America. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) also announced that it was launching DYAVOL, a premium black-pearl filtered vodka brand, in India this year, for which it has partnered with Aryan Khan, the son of the uber-famous Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan. Major Acquisition in the Vodka Industry: Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) announced in June that it had reached an agreement to sell its Finlandia vodka brand to Coca-Cola HBC AG for $220 million, subject to the customary closing process. The purchase is expected to close in the second half of 2023. With 2.6 million 9L cases sold in 2022, Finlandia was among the best-selling brands in the Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) portfolio. The popular vodka brand was acquired by Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) from Altia Corp. in multiple phases, obtaining full ownership in 2004. Effects of the Russia-Ukraine War: Last year, vodka suddenly found itself in the international spotlight following Russias invasion of Ukraine. The start of the invasion led to Western consumers, retailers, and governments banning and boycotting Russian vodkas. At the same time, Western vodka brands that have Russian sounding names, including the best-selling Smirnoff, were quick to point out that they arent actually from Russia. Smirnoff is instead owned by the industry giant Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO). Sales of several Ukrainian vodka brands were also badly affected by the ongoing conflict, possibly due to the power outages and shelling, with several of them witnessing a double-digit decline in sales in 2022. However, with Russian vodkas still mostly absent from international shelves, several previously little-known Ukrainian brands are continuing to take their place. Nemiroff is a popular Ukrainian vodka that had to close its main distillery for a month following the Russian invasion and saw its sales drop by a staggering 57.4% in 2022. However, the brand has proven to be resilient and is now witnessing a resurgence this year, including a two-fold increase in sales in the U.K. The Global Vodka Market: According to Research and Markets, the global vodka market was valued at $25.98 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach $40.25 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period. Vodka-based RTD beverages are witnessing a huge increase in new product development, which is expected to drive the market. The all-natural, flavored segment is expected to witness the fastest growth rate, owing to the growing demand of premium flavored vodka, especially among the millennial population. With that said, here are the Top-Selling Vodka Brands Around the Globe. Top 20 Best Selling Vodka Brands in the World Mateusz Gzik/Shutterstock.com Methodology: To collect data for this article, we have referred to The Brand Champions 2023 magazine by The Spirits Business, looking for the Top-Selling Vodka Brands in the World. We have ranked the vodka brands according to the sales volumes of their 9-liter cases in 2022. When two brands had the same amount of sales in 2022, we ranked them by their %age change in sales from 2021. 20. Pervak Cases Sold in 2022: 2.1 million Pervak is a real craft vodka made in Ukraine. Produced from wheat, Pervak is known for its smooth and clean taste. The brand witnessed a 25.8% increase in sales in 2022, as compared to the previous year. 19. Eristoff Cases Sold in 2022: 2.1 million Eristoff vodka originated from Georgia and was first produced in 1806. Now owned by Bacardi, this 100% grain vodka is triple-distilled and finally charcoal filtered to ensure absolute purity. 18. Nemiroff Cases Sold in 2022: 2.4 million Present in 5 continents, Nemiroff is a Ukrainian vodka dating back to 1872. Sales of Nemiroff declined by 57.4% after the Russian invasion of Ukraine but it still ranks among the best-selling vodka brands in the world. 17. Finlandia Cases Sold in 2022: 2.6 million Established in 1970, Finlandia is a leading vodka brand in Central and Eastern Europe with sales volume of 2.6 million 9L cases in 2022, the same sales figures it had in 2021. 16. Kozatska Rada Cases Sold in 2022: 2.6 million Also known as Cossack Rada, this premium vodka brand is a tribute to the glorious historical past and traditions of the Cossacks. 15. Ketel One Cases Sold in 2022: 3.2 million Unflavored and odorless, Ketel One vodka is produced at the Nolet Distillery in the Netherlands. In 2008, Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) and the Nolet family reached an agreement to form a new company under which the former would pay $900 million to become the worlds exclusive distributor of Ketel One vodka. The Nolet family continues to own the brand rights for Ketel One. Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) owns some of the Best Vodka Brands Under $30, including Ciroc vodka. With several best-selling vodka brands under its belt, the spirits industry giant is among the largest vodka producers in the world. 14. Belenkaya Cases Sold in 2022: 3.4 million Represented in more than 30 countries, Belenkaya was the most consumed vodka brand in the Russian market for four years in a row. An unforgettable flavor and a noble aroma provide this great beverage with an irresistible sensibility. 13. Skyy Cases Sold in 2022: 3.4 million Skyy is one of the first vodka brands to pioneer an innovative, state-of-the-art, quadruple-distilled, triple filtration process. The Campari Group acquired the majority stake in Skyy Spirits LLC in 2002, in a deal worth $207.5 million. With a price tag of under $15, Skyy is also among the cheaper vodka brands in our list. 12. Pyat Ozer Cases Sold in 2022: 3.9 million Owned by the Alcohol Siberian Group, this Russian vodka brand witnessed a 5.7% decrease in sales from 2021, when it sold 4.1 million 9L cases. 11. Arkhangelskaya Cases Sold in 2022: 4 million Arkhangelskaya is another top-selling vodka brand owned by the Beluga Group, produced at one of the companys oldest factories, the ALVIZ plant. The Beluga Group is Russias largest alcohol company and operates five factories, including the Chugunov Sky ethanol plant. In 2020, the companys revenue rose by 23% to $871.9 million. 10. Soplica Cases Sold in 2022: 4.1 million Produced since 1891, Soplica is one of the most famous brands of vodka in Poland, thanks to their old-fashioned method of distillation. Pure water, grain and rye are all it takes to produce this pure, natural-tasting vodka. 9. Zoadkowa Gorzka Cases Sold in 2022: 4.2 million Infused with a magical blend of dried fruits, herbs and spices, Zoadkowa Gorzka vodka is a Polish favorite. Available in several countries worldwide, this traditional brand is among the 10 most popular vodkas in the world. 8. Grey Goose Cases Sold in 2022: 4.2 million One of the best vodka brands in the world, Grey Goose was acquired by Bacardi Limited in 2004, in a deal worth over $2 billion, setting a record at the time for the largest purchase price in spirits business history for a single brand. 7. Magic Moments Cases Sold in 2022: 4.8 million Owned by Radico Khaitan, this Indian vodka soared by nearly a third to reach 4.8 million 9L case sales in 2022. Radico Khaitan is the fourth-largest liquor company in India, boasting a revenue of around $383.9 million in 2022. Magic Moments ranks 7th in our list of the best-selling vodka brands. 6. Morosha Cases Sold in 2022: 6.2 million This premium Ukrainian vodka is made with mineral water coming from the very heart of the Carpathians. The water used in production of Morosha vodka is extracted from Mizunskyi spring at an altitude of 470 to 1,050 meters above sea level. Click to continue reading and see the Top 5 Best Selling Vodka Brands in the World. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. Top 20 Best Selling Vodka Brands in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey. (Bloomberg) -- Chinese battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd.s quarterly profit soared, powered by rising electric-vehicle sales globally and stabilizing prices of key materials like lithium. Most Read from Bloomberg Net income rose 63% to 10.9 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) in the three months through June, based on a Bloomberg calculation of the companys first-half results released Tuesday. Revenue increased 56% to 100 billion yuan. Both figures beat analyst estimates. Read More: CATLs 1H Results Send Positive Signal to Analysts: Street Wrap Record quarterly sales for top customer Tesla Inc., which accounts for 12% of CATLs revenue, according to supply-chain data compiled by Bloomberg, helped propel the Fujian-based companys profit growth. CATL, which also counts Ford Motor Co., Volkswagen AG, Hyundai Motor Co. and Nio Inc. among its customers, has tightened its grip on the global EV battery market as it ramps up output. Its share in the first five months of 2023 was 36.3%, up 1.7 percentage point from the same period last year, according to SNE Research. Shenzhen-based BYD Co. had a 16.1% share, producing batteries used in its expanding lineup of clean cars. The Chinese price of lithium carbonate, a refined form of the metal used in EV batteries, has halved from last year, easing CATLs cost pressures. CATLs shares fell as much as 1.2% in the opening minutes of trade in Shenzhen on Wednesday, before paring some of the losses. The stock rose 3.4% on Tuesday, the biggest gain since June 15. Prior to Tuesdays gain, the shares were little changed this year. What Bloomberg Intelligence Says: CATL is poised to sustain strong sales growth through 2H while lower lithium costs and greater scale economies give margins a bulwark against falling battery prices. Domestic demand remains robust as Chinas EV sales are speeding up on new-model rollouts and the extended zero purchase tax. The battery makers growing presence overseas where supply-demand and battery pricing dynamics are more favorable than in China can also buttress sales and profitability. Story continues Joanna Chen and Steve Man, BI auto and industrial analysts Jefferies reacted to the earnings, upgrading the stock to a buy from a hold, and raising its price target to 291 yuan from 271 yuan, pointing to managements post-earnings comments expressing confidence in a better, more premium product mix that will help improve profitability. For more detail from the earnings report, click here The company said its first-half net income was 20.7 billion yuan on revenue of 189 billion yuan. Gross margins also continued to grow, reaching 21.6% for the period, up almost three percentage points from the same period a year earlier. CATLs core power battery business, which makes cells for EVs, generated 139 billion yuan of sales to deliver 74% of first-half revenue. The contribution was 4 percentage points higher compared to a year earlier. The fast-growing energy storage business contributed 28 billion yuan to the top line. The companys broader ambitions include a $7.6 billion, 100 gigawatt hour battery factory in Hungary, and a more contentious $3.5 billion deal with Ford Motor Co. to run a production site based on its licensing and technology in the US. That deal is facing congressional scrutiny as pressure ramps up on Ford and CATL over Chinese involvement. Overseas revenue at CATL jumped to 35.5% in the first-half compared with 25% in the same period last year, indicating its international reach is bearing fruit. --With assistance from Charlotte Yang. (Updates with analyst comment, share price.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Ukraine's NATO membership would be bad for Putin, but great for the Russian economy, professor says Russian President Vladimir Putin. GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images Russia's economy could return to global markets if Ukraine joins NATO, Konstantin Sonin wrote. The Russia scholar said Kyiv's membership in the alliance would make it harder for the Kremlin to justify outsized military spending. While it wouldn't undo the damage Putin has inflicted on the economy, it would help with recovery. Allowing Ukraine to join NATO's ranks would weaken Vladimir Putin, but Russia's economy and its people would benefit, according to University of Chicago professor Konstantin Sonin. Kyiv's membership in the alliance would make it harder for the Kremlin to justify outsized military spending, the top Russia scholar wrote in Project Syndicate. It would also help end Russia's isolation from global markets. "While Ukraine's accession to NATO would be bad news for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies, it could yield significant benefits for Russia's citizens," he wrote. Earlier this month, NATO leaders voiced support for Ukraine's membership but stopped short of formally inviting Kyiv to join. Long before Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, Russian leadership had a history of consolidating power through warnings of supposed foreign threats. Such rhetoric typically prioritized high military spending over economic welfare, a factor in the Soviet Union's 1991 downfall, Konstantin said. By keeping Ukraine outside of NATO, Putin could still justify favoring military expenditures, he added, noting even before the war, decades of preparing for conflict cost the nation billions. In that period, Putin kept Russia insulated from global financial markets which resulted in economic stagnation, Konstantin said, estimating lost output from 2009 to 2022 amounts to 10%-15% of GDP. The war on Ukraine has made the situation worse, shifting Russia's economy toward regressive import substitution and spurring a mass exodus of skilled workers. That comes after Western sanction largely shut out Russia from global finance and cut off top export markets. Story continues "To be sure, bringing Ukraine into NATO would not undo the damage Putin has inflicted on the Russian economy," he said. "But it would be much harder to justify prioritizing military production over economic growth once the war ends. Ensuring Ukraine's safety would also make it easier, faster, and safer to reintegrate Russia into global markets, accelerating its economic recovery and ensuring that post-war Russia will not exploit its trade ties to fund future aggression." Still, it's in Putin's benefit to drive the war on, as he has used the expansive military spending to turn a profit for him and his allies, according to Konstantin. And the growth of military spending has been difficult to track because an increasingly larger portion of it has been determined a state secret. "The veil of secrecy surrounding Russia's military spending has allowed domestic arms manufacturers to maintain profit margins that would be unattainable under normal market conditions," he wrote, later adding: "If Ukraine joins NATO, Putin and future leaders like him will have a difficult time persuading Russians that massive military investments are necessary." Konstantin acknowledged that it would take time to see the economic benefits stemming from Ukraine's NATO membership, but the move may save Russians from future policies that favor militarism over economic prosperity. Read the original article on Business Insider In the UK, it is up to individual head teachers to decide if smartphones can be used in schools The United Nations has warned of the risks of smartphones in schools, stating "only technology that supports learning" is merited in schools. Mobile devices can cause distraction, risk pupil privacy and lead to cyber-bullying says Unesco, the UN's education, science and culture agency. But less than one-in-four countries have laws or policies banning phones in schools, the report found. In the UK, head teachers set the rules but restrictions apply in most schools. Manos Antoninis, the author of the 2023 Global Education Monitor report, told the BBC their study found "examples of smartphone use in school that is distracting students from learning and increasing risks to their privacy at the same time". "Only technology that supports learning has a place in school," he said. Students should not be shielded from technology entirely, Mr Antoninis said, but countries needed to give better guidance on what type of technology should be allowed in school. Several studies have shown that banning mobile phones from schools improves academic performance, the report notes. Lexi, 16, said her previous head teacher allowed the educational use of phones in school, but said students would often use them for social media instead, or as well. She argued that while smartphones could be used for bullying, they could also help create a sense of connection. "I can see how phones can have a damaging effect on the person being bullied and their mental health. But, speaking of mental health, phones can provide a good social connection. "If you're having a rough time with anything, then you should have the right to talk to someone," she told the BBC. Distraction and disruption In 2021, the then-education secretary, Gavin Williamson, called for a ban on mobile phones in schools in England, but current Department for Education (DfE) guidance says it is up to head teachers to decide if mobile phones can be used during the school day. Story continues However, it warns allowing access to mobiles in school introduces risks, including distraction, disruption, bullying and abuse, and can be detrimental to learning. "Head teachers should consider restricting or prohibiting mobile phones to reduce these risks," DfE guidance states. In June, a parents association for eight primary schools in Ireland introduced a voluntary ban on smartphones for children in the home or at school, the BBC's Newsround reported. Speaking to Newsround, one 14-year old - who had only recently been given their first phone - said giving phones to children as young as eight was "ridiculous". "Some parents put restrictions on phones, but some don't - and then they can be seeing really inappropriate things." But others countered that mobile phones were useful for contacting parents, saying banning home use was excessive. In 2017, Bangladesh banned both students and teachers in schools and colleges from bringing mobile phones into classrooms. France also has a ban but makes exceptions for certain groups of students, for example those with disabilities, or when smartphones are used for teaching. And next year the Netherlands will mostly ban mobile phones, tablets and smartwatches from secondary school classrooms. However, Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at school leaders' union NAHT said a ban on mobiles might work for some schools but in others could cause more problems than it solved, "leading to pupils becoming more secretive about their phone use meaning problems are hidden from staff and therefore more difficult to spot and address". "There are also practical reasons why pupils may need a mobile phone such as while travelling to and from school". Schools helped to prepare young people for the outside world, including managing screen time, she said. "Individual schools know their pupils and communities so are best placed to develop their own policies when it comes to mobile phones." Alex Bouaziz, Deel on Centre Stage during day two of Collision 2022 at Enercare Centre in Toronto, Canada. Vaughn Ridley/Sportsfile for Collision via Getty Images Democratic lawmakers are demanding a Department of Labor investigation into HR startup Deel. In March, Insider reported on internal concerns at Deel over its use of independent contractors. California rep. Adam Schiff is now leading the call for a federal investigation. A group of Democratic congresspeople led by California representative Adam Schiff are calling for a federal investigation into the $12 billion HR startup Deel for allegedly misclassifying employees as independent contractors. In a letter to Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su on July 26, citing an investigation by Insider, the group urged the United States Department of Labor to investigate whether Deel had misclassified employees as independent contractors "on purpose to increase their profitability and growth." The letter was first reported on by Bloomberg. Insider's March 2023 story found the startup, which helps large organizations hire and manage workers around the world, classified at least half of its workers as independent contractors. It also distinguished little between the responsibilities of full-time staff and independent contractors. Many workers told Insider they believed they were applying to be full-time employees, but were offered the same job as long-term contractors. The startup has hired workers as contractors in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Greece, Brazil, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, and Nigeria, among other countries. Deel workers who are hired as independent contractors do not receive certain employment rights that they would otherwise be entitled to if they were full-time employees. Depending on location this can include the right to join a union, legal protections against unfair or sudden dismissal, pension contributions, health insurance, and mandatory severance pay. Story continues Numerous current and former workers previously told Insider they had concerns the company may be misclassifying contract workers' employment status. Even Deel's CEO, Alex Bouaziz, was an independent contractor, he told Insider in March. But a Deel spokesperson confirmed Bouaziz is now a full-time employee. "If it is likely that Deel is unable to abide by employee classification laws themselves, and they are in the business of helping their clients classify their employees, how sound can their advice be, and what is the broader systemic and economic impact as a result," wrote Schiff and Bill Pascrell of New Jersey, Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Andre Carson of Indiana, John Garamendi of California, and Haley Stevens of Michigan. The letter also cited the lawmaker's concerns over Deel's promotional material advertising products like Deel Shield, which offers Deel's services to other companies to hire independent contractors. Deel is currently used by some of the world's largest companies including Nike, Dropbox, Shopify, and Red Bull. "Our concern is that this will lead the company's growing client base to embrace the independent contractor model, short-changing workers of their rights and shrinking the tax base for essential government services," the letter adds. In June, California State Senator Stephen Padilla called upon the state's Labor and Workforce Development Agency to investigate the company on similar grounds, also citing Insider's investigation. In a statement, a Deel spokesperson called the allegations "wrong" and "based on inaccurate reporting." Insider stands by its reporting, and Deel has not asked Insider for any corrections. We want the same things as the government does to help and educate companies to classify their workers properly. That is what we do, in over 120 countries," the statement said. "Today we have over 100 compliance experts in house and have invested together with universities on tools and technology to help clients with classification worldwide. "The letter alleges we advise clients improperly that would be at complete odds with our business model." Do you work at Deel, or use its services as a customer? Contact Insider reporter Rob Price via encrypted messaging app Signal at +1 650-636-6268 or email at rprice@insider.com. Confidentiality offered. Use a non-work device to reach out. Read the original article on Business Insider Antonio_Diaz / Getty Images/iStockphoto Electric bills could surge by 12% this summer, according to estimates from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA). By the end of August bills could reach a monthly average of $578, up from $517 last year. In the West and South Central U.S., including Texas, bills could be up to $706 from $642 last year. See: 8 Major Appliances That Are Wastes of Money Find: How To Get Cash Back on Your Everyday Purchases Roughly 84 million Americans are under heat advisories including areas of California, Oregon, and Idaho where it rarely gets this hot. Relief organizations that provide financial assistance for utility bill payments are struggling under the demand. Its only July and were already seeing almost 2,000 people calling every week, which is very unusual, Denise Stepto, chief communications officer at Denvers Energy Outreach Colorado, told NBC News. Energy Cost Struggles Become a Year-Round Problem Typically, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offered through the Department of Health and Human Services focuses primarily on winter fuel costs. This federal program, which is administered locally by states much like SNAP helps low-income households pay to heat or cool their homes. However, funds are limited and often run out early in the year. On average, only 20% of the households who qualify receive assistance through LIHEAP, according to the U.S. governments Office of Community Services. A mild winter helped boost natural gas supplies, resulting in costs roughly 60% lower than last year. But air conditioners and pool filters run on electricity. Wind and solar power dont work as well in heat waves. Mohammed Hamdaoui, vice president of renewables and power at research firm Rystad Energy, explained that heat waves often create stagnant atmospheres, which means turbines create less wind power. And solar can work well, but when air conditioners need to run through the night, solar panels cant keep up with the constant demand. This is a really new economic problem, said NEADAs Mark Wolfe. Story continues LIHEAP faces a dilemma of holding back funds during the winter months to accommodate for higher electric bills in the summer. How To Pay Your Energy Bills If you are struggling to pay your utility bills this summer, call your provider. Often, they will let you establish a no-interest, no-fee payment plan. It will bump your bills even higher, but you can take as long as 12 months to pay it off. During that time, you may be able to find a side gig where you can earn $1,000 or more. If you have good credit, you may also be able to open a credit card with a 0% introductory APR for 12 months, pay your bill on the card, and then pay it off over time. Also: 5 Ways To Use AI To Generate Passive Income Make Your Home More Energy Efficient for Summer You can also take steps to use less air conditioning on hot summer days. We often think of weather-proofing as a task for the winter months, but you can take steps to ensure your AC operates at maximum efficiency. Make sure your air conditioner is maintained properly. Change or clean the air filters to help your AC run more efficiently. If you have central AC, clean the evaporator coil, which also collects dirt that can reduce airflow. Inspect the seals around in-wall or in-window AC units and replace if necessary to help the cool air stay inside your home. Also, install attic fans or window fans to circulate cool air. Check with your local HHS or LIHEAP to see if you qualify for grants for energy efficient improvements, such as new windows or new air conditioning units. Optimal Indoor Temperatures for a Heat Wave Keep your AC on the highest temperature you can tolerate and still be comfortable. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends a setting of 78 degrees during the day and 82 degrees at night. This is likely too warm for many people. Keeping your thermostat at 72 degrees or higher can save as much as 3% on your electric bill. When you arent home, the EPA suggests, turn your thermostat to 85 unless you have pets in that case, you should maintain a temperature of roughly 80 degrees for their safety. The bottom line? With energy use rising year round due to climate change, households and government assistance programs will need to re-think budgets to account for increased utility costs. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Utility Costs Are Rising: How To Pay Your Bills As Heat Wave Surges and Relief Agencies Struggle To Meet Demand Wall Street was not impressed with General Motors even though the automaker posted big gains in second-quarter profits, making it one of GM's strongest quarterly earnings results, and explained that its slow ramp-up of electric vehicle production is the fault of an automation equipment supplier. Tuesday morning, GM's stock price opened at $37.73 a share, peaking at $38.78 and closing at $37.92. It barely moved despite the automaker's strong second-quarter results that beat analysts' expectations. GM also is raising its guidance on what its full-year adjusted earnings before interest and taxes would be by $1 billion, assuming there is no UAW strike. Still, on Wednesday the stock didn't do much better. It opened at $37.96 and closed at $37.92. On Thursday, it it opened at $38.73 and closed at $38.97. GM salaried employees have until noon March 24 to decide if they want to accept a buyout offer of up to 12 months pay for long-term employees. File photo: The Renaissance Center, the headquarters for General Motors, in downtown Detroit on Tuesday, June 6, 2017. In a note to investors Wednesday, Deutsche Bank Research Analyst Emmanuel Rosner wrote, "Yesterdays negative market reaction to GMs solid (second quarter) results and 2023 guidance raise, in our view, reflected some investor concerns that despite GMs robust execution there is now limited upside left to (the second half) outlook in light of GMs higher target, and potential downside risk heading into UAW negotiations." A 'hold' issued on GM stock Specific concerns centered on GM's slow EV launches, the potential for a strike amid the UAW negotiations, which officially started earlier this month, and the risk of economic turbulence bringing down the high vehicle prices that have supported GM's big profits. "We think the companys path to outperforming its revised full-year targets has become somewhat more difficult, given its EV ramp up and uncertainty around the UAW negotiation. Importantly, even if a labor strike is avoided, history suggests that U.S. autos names could underperform materially in the run up to labor contract expiration," Rosner wrote. Rosner issued a hold rating on GM stock. That means he does not recommend buying or selling GM stock and expects GM's stock price to perform with the market or at the same pace as comparable companies. Story continues "Vehicle pricing has driven much of GMs outperformance thus far and could remain a potential source of upside over the rest of the year," Rosner said. "However, we see continued risk of price moderation heading into 2024, with the impact partly offset by additional restructuring savings from GM actions." GM CFO Paul Jacobson told reporters Tuesday that the company would be able to reduce its fixed costs more than anticipated, adding an additional $1 billion in cost savings on top of the $2 billion it had targeted to cut by the end of 2024. But Seeking Alpha's Bill Maurer also issued a hold rating on GM stock in a report Wednesday. Mauer cited GM's announced 9-cent per share quarterly dividend as disappointing to some investors who had expected an increase given GM's strong earnings. There are those who remain bullish on GM stock Maurer noted that many analysts are positive on GM shares, with the average stock price target at about $50. One of those is Dan Ives, managing director and senior equity analyst at Wedbush Securities. Ives told the Detroit Free Press on Wednesday that "GM is a compelling name to own and (CEO Mary) Barra is leading the stalwart into its next phase of growth with EVs front and center." Dan Ives, managing director at Wedbush Securities Ives added there is "some near term noise and the UAW tussle that we view as temporary as this quarter was a big step in the right direction despite the Street's muted response." But Maurer wrote he is not positive at the moment because of "the potential for some U.S. economic weakness later this year and into 2024," Maurer wrote. "Student loan repayments are about to restart, which could impact consumer spending quite a bit in the coming quarters." He wrote he'd be willing to change GM stock to a buy rating if the U.S. economy holds steady, or "if GM decided to give a little bit more income to investors." GM to increase EV production as it fixes a supplier problem During GM's call with analysts Tuesday, Barra said GM is still on target to produce "roughly 100,000 EVs" in the second half and grow from there. She said demand for EVs remains strong. General Motors CEO Mary Barra talks about the automakers' progress and challenges during the annual Aspen Ideas Festival in Aspen, Colorado on June 26, 2023. But, she added: "We have experienced unexpected delays in the ramp (up) because our automation equipment supplier has been struggling with delivery issues that are constraining module assembly capacity. We are working on multiple fronts to put this behind us as quickly as possible and things are already improving." As an example, she said GM has deployed its own manufacturing engineering teams to work on-site with GM's automation supplier to improve delivery times to help GM get its battery modules assembled faster. GM produced its target of 50,000 EVs through the first half of this year. But as the Free Press has reported, production of GM's newest EVs is trickling out of factories despite GM saying its order banks are full. For the first half of this year, GM delivered 49 GMC Hummer EV pickups, which are made at Factory Zero located on the border of Detroit and Hamtramck. That's down from 371 Hummer pickups delivered in the first half of 2022. GM delivered 2,316 Cadillac Lyriq SUVs in the first half. The Lyriq is assembled in the Spring Hill Assembly plant in Tennessee. There's no year-ago comparison because GM started building the Lyriq in the third quarter last year. Barra said that will change because GM has added manual module assembly lines, and "we're installing more module capacity at our North American EV plants beginning with Factory Zero and Spring Hill this summer, Ramos Arizpe (Mexico) in the fall and CAMI (Canada) in the second quarter of next year. And to address pent-up demand among our Hummer EV customers, we are planning to increase production by thousands of units. But Rosner noted that even though GM remains "committed to the accelerated transition toward electrification, with 2023 being a pivotal year for this jump, we believe this could create risk to its near- and mid-term EV targets." Not so, said Ives: "This is a Rocky Balboa-like comeback in process for GM around the EV Revolution with the naysayers set to be proven wrong and speaks to our bullish thesis on GM." More: GM changes direction, says it plans to make a next-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV More: Congress urged to help get more self-driving vehicles on US roads Contact Jamie L. LaReau: jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Wall Street hits hold on GM stock amid market uncertainty, EVs and UAW Photos show Tesla Cybertruck with a wrap that looks like the F-150 Lightning Munro Live on YouTube Tesla appears to be driving a Cybertruck disguised as an F-150, according to unverified photos. Auto expert Sandy Munro said the photos indicate the Cybertruck was sporting a wrap. Elon Musk's biographer said Musk was inspired to build Cybertruck because Ford trucks are "boring." New images of Tesla's Cybertruck appear to show the carmaker has disguised one of its models as Ford's F-150 pickup truck. Auto-manufacturing expert Sandy Munro shared one of the unverified photos of the Cybertruck on his YouTube channel Tuesday. The original photo that was posted on X, formerly Twitter, has since been deleted. A spokesperson for Tesla did not respond to a request for comment from Insider ahead of publication. "It's kind of a cool picture. You can tell it's definitely geared toward trying to look like an F-150 Lightning," Munro said, pointing out that the bright lines where the light reflects against the doors of the vehicle in the photo indicate that the Cybertruck is wearing a wrap of some kind. Munro shared the unverified photo in his YouTube video on the Cybertruck. Munro Live on YouTube CNBC reporter Brian Sullivan shared a close up photo of the back of a similarly wrapped Cybertruck on X Tuesday night. The photo shows that the wrap appears to give the Cybertruck similar taillights as a traditional F-150. Though, the Cybertruck is still distinguishable by its angular roof. "Buddy in Palo Alto spotted a Cybertruck in the wild," Sullivan tweeted. "Tesla clearly messing with (hiding?) some final trim details with wheel wells and rear end. He said truck was huge (and he usually drives a Dodge Ram)." On Monday, Insider's Tim Levin pointed out that the unverified photo of the Cybertruck in the wrap showed the vehicle had a relatively small frunk. Munro also said that it appears the frunk or front trunk "won't have a lot of room" which could give the actual F-150 Lightning a slight advantage when it comes to frunk size (the frunk on the F-150 Lightning is large). Story continues But don't hold your breath if you're hoping Tesla might one day sell a wrap kit to transform the Cybertruck into something that looks more traditional the wrap in the photos is mostly likely meant to disguise the product during test drives ahead of its release. Tesla CEO Elon Musk also isn't a fan of the traditional look of Ford trucks. Last week, Musk's biographer, Walter Isaacson, said during an interview with CNBC's Squawk Box that the billionaire decided to create the Cybertruck in the first place because he thought the automaker's trucks were "boring." The Tesla CEO also commented on the F-150 Lightning pickup truck last week after the company lowered its prices for the vehicle. He called it a "good vehicle, just somewhat expensive" on X. And Musk isn't the only one to comment on the impending rivalry between the two vehicles. Last month, Ford CEO Jim Farley appeared to take a dig at the Cybertruck, dubbing it a vehicle "for Silicon Valley people" during an interview with CNBC's Jim Cramer. The Cybertruck will be Tesla's first electric pickup truck. Up until recently, Ford has been one of few automakers to produce an EV pickup truck. Last year, Ford said it delivered over 13,000 electric F-150 trucks as the company worked to ramp up production and fulfill about 200,000 reservations. The EV pickup truck startup Rivian also has a jump on the market. Rivian has delivered just over 29,000 electric vehicles since 2021 and last year the company said it had a waitlist of over 114,000 pre-orders. Tesla has the majority of the overall EV market in the US, but the market for pickup trucks is one of the most lucrative in the country. Musk has said the carmaker plans to start delivering the Cybertruck within the year, but the company has yet to release pricing for the vehicle. Do you own an electric car or have insight to share? Reach out to the reporter from a non-work email at gkay@insider.com Read the original article on Business Insider CALGARY, Alberta, July 26, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zenbase, offering Canadas only automated rent reporting and most popular split rent payments, is pleased to announce a partnership with unitii corp., a premier provider of residential property management services in Alberta. This collaboration aims to revolutionize the renting experience by offering residents the combined benefits of rent reporting for building credit and the option to split rent, facilitating easier budgeting. Zenbase has gained recognition for its innovative credit-building solutions, empowering individuals to enhance their financial well-being. Through its solution, Zenbase enables users to report their rental payments automatically to Equifax, allowing them to establish or strengthen their creditworthiness. Unitii is a trusted name in the real estate industry. By joining forces with Zenbase, unitii further enhances its suite of resident-focused offerings. In addition to traditional property management services, residents now have access to the option of splitting their rent payments, promoting more manageable budgeting and financial planning. The partnership between Zenbase and unitii aligns perfectly with the ever-evolving needs of modern renters. By combining the power of credit building through rent reporting and the flexibility of splitting rent, residents will enjoy newfound financial freedom and the ability to achieve their long-term financial goals. "We are excited to partner with unitii and bring our industry-leading credit-building technology to their residents," said Koray Can Oztekin of Zenbase. "We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to build a strong credit history, and this partnership will provide unitii's residents with the tools they need to take control of their financial futures." Lizaine Wheeler, COO of unitii corp, expressed her enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "unitii is committed to delivering exceptional living experiences for our residents. By teaming up with Zenbase, we are not only enhancing our services but also empowering our residents with the opportunity to improve their credit scores and create better financial prospects for themselves. We are thrilled to provide our residents with this valuable resource." Story continues About Zenbase Zenbase, a leader in rewarding and flexible rent payments, is committed to economic inclusion that fosters financial empowerment for renters. Our solutions aid the financial wellness of renters while improving operational efficiency for property managers. Rent is usually due on the first of the month, but that doesnt align with most peoples bi-monthly pay cycle. Zenbase fixed that misalignment by offering residents the option to split their rent into two monthly payments and provide other financial health solutions such as rent reporting. For more information on how to get started with Zenbase or CreditBuilder, visit myzenbase.com. About unitii corp. At unitii our focus is reimagining property ownership and enhancing residents experience. Owning properties should be seamless and stress free. Our senior leadership team has combined their decades of experience, managing over 60,000 apartments to create a platform that transforms the rental journey. We make it a priority to stay up to date on all the latest market information, technology, and talent that will provide best in class property management. We live and breathe Property Management! For more information visit unitii.ca. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726947882/en/ Contacts Zenbase Press Contact: Philipp Postrehovsky philipp@myzenbase.com 604.657.2775 Unitii Property Management Press Contacts: Lizaine Wheeler lizaine@unitii.ca 825-910-8258 Lisa Russell lisa@unitii.ca A former area teacher was ordered Thursday to serve 50 years in prison for repeatedly raping and molesting a girl in Spotsylvania County, starting when she was eight years old. Edward D. Gent, 41, of Spotsylvania, was sentenced to a total of 100 years, with half of it suspended. Judge William Glovers sentence exceeded the recommended state guidelines but fell just short of prosecutor Amanda Sweeneys request for life sentences. Gent earlier this year pleaded guilty in Spotsylvania Circuit Court to two counts of raping a child under the age of 13. The rape convictions stem from incidents in 2018 and 2019. Combined with sentences he received for illegally touching students in Stafford and Caroline counties, Gent is now serving an active sentence of 55 years. The Spotsylvania victim was not one of his students, but she suffered the most abuse. Gent was a trusted friend of the girls parents and was frequently at their home. The girl also spent nights at Gents home with him and his wife. The girl was already having significant issues by January 2021, by which time Gent had been arrested on sexual assault charges involving one of his seventh-grade students in Stafford. The mother asked a counselor to question the child about any potential incidents involving Gent. The girl went on to describe her sexual history with Gent that started when she was eight years old. Court records state that the girl told an interviewer that as she got older she realized what Gent was doing was wrong, but by that time shed become attached to him and never told her parents what was going on. The girl has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as one result of Gents actions, court records state. A man is missing after being carried down the Colorado River on Sunday evening, according to a news release from the Eagle County Sheriff's Office (ECSO). Crews were dispatched to a part of the river near mile marker 6 on Colorado River Road at about 4:00 p.m. after receiving a report that 10-15 people were in the river trying to help someone get out of the water. "Once on scene, first responders learned one male was pulled from the water, resuscitated, and transferred to the hospital. A second individual was carried further downstream," the release said. Crews are still looking for the second person, with this person last seen wearing blue shorts, shoes and no shirt. It has not been made clear how the individuals got into the river. No further information has been made available at this time. Mixed into the basic training challenges of crawling through the mud and clinging to ropes, Air Force Academy cadets are getting a taste of deployment this summer and learning what it takes to set up and defend a base in the field. Brig. Gen. Gavin Marks, commandant of cadets, highlighted the foundational expeditionary skills training added last year as an example of how basic summer training for incoming cadets has evolved to better prepare students. "The training is just as hard. It's done safer. It's done more professionally. And it's preparing them better for an uncertain future," he said, during training in Jacks Valley on the academy's grounds. The new foundational skills training was adopted from the basic training enlisted airmen go through to teach cadets what it would be like to set up a base in a hostile environment and defend its gates. Kneeling behind concrete barriers Tuesday, cadets practiced communicating with potential enemies, role-played by their fellow cadets. In one case, the "enemies" laid down their arms and surrendered face down on the ground. But rising senior Cadet Adam Cohen also instructed the cadets on how to use their weapons to subdue enemies if needed. So far it's been a popular addition to basic training, Cohen said. "This is really the first simulation they have that is actual military procedures, learning tactics, learning how to follow procedures, and the feedback I've gotten has been almost entirely positive from the basics," he said. The training includes marching out to the base to set up tents with minimal instruction, a team building exercise, and transitions to learning about levels of threat, cover and concealment, weapons safety and how to determine if someone approaching the base is friendly or not, Cohen said. It is one of the latest additions to the 5 weeks of basic training that also features the unforgettable assault course, Marks said. With mock M-16s in hand, the cadets on the assault course never stopped moving amid the overwhelming shouts, whistles and air cannons on Tuesday. Even while waiting in line to belly-crawl through a simulated stream, climb a wall, or shimmy face-up underneath barbwire, the cadets needed to be running in place even if they were just waiting in line, a point emphasized constantly. Sign Up for free: Military Brief Your weekly local update on local military news and events, sent straight to your inbox. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. "If you give me five seconds of real effort, I'll let you stand at attention," shouted one cadet charged with helping to run the course. Cadet Luke Robinson, who was overseeing assault course training, explained the overwhelming noise and physical challenge helps the future officers learn to make decisions and follow simple instructions despite distractions. Sometimes even when told to run right, cadets will run left after an obstacle because of the distractions. "I think this is a formative experience to figure out who the leaders are because they're able to push through regardless of their pain, but also think of others," he said. The training leaves cadets with a sense of pride and fulfillment, said Master Sgt. Alex Rose, who was overseeing the cadet's training. "In their mind, they can't go any farther, they can't push themselves anymore but then they do," he said. While few of the cadets will see ground combat, some could, such as those who are embedded with Army and Marine units and charged with calling in airstrikes, he said. It is also good for future officers to be prepared. "You never know what the next war could bring," he said. "If we go to battle with China or Russia or anyone else, this could be reality." UPDATE: the Pueblo Police Department announced July 27 that Elsy Ardolino has been found safe and her mother taken into custody. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has issued an Amber Alert on Wednesday for a missing 2-month-old girl. Elsy Ardolino was taken by two adults and is believed to be in danger, according to the CBI. She was taken from the 1000 block of Gallinas Drive in Pueblo West. She was last seen around 6 p.m. Tuesday. 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. The suspected abductors have been identified as the child's parents: Ashley Ardolino, 39, with brown hair and brown eyes, is 5-foot-4 and 150 pounds; and Luis Novelo-Rojas, a 25-year-old man with black hair, brown eyes and 5-foot-1. Police had initially been looking for a forest-green GMC Yukon XL but announced Wednesday afternoon that they were no longer looking for the vehicle. The Pueblo County Sheriffs Office provided more information, explaining Elsy has been living with a family member in Pueblo West for at least a month. Ashley had allegedly made disturbing statements and then asked a family member to take care of Elsy. Call 911 if seen, or 719-583-6250 with info. One of four men who escaped the Bent County jail remained at large Tuesday afternoon, according to authorities. The escapee is 46-year-old Mark Fox, 6 feet, 3 inches tall, weighs 210 pounds and is bald. He has green eyes, and a tattoo on his abdomen and chest. Authorities did not have a description of the clothes he was wearing when he escaped. Authorities say Fox is to be considered armed and dangerous. The U.S. Marshals Colorado Violent Offender Task Force is now searching for Fox. Anyone with information about his whereabouts can submit a tip anonymously by calling 1-877-926-8332. At a news conference held Tuesday afternoon, Bent County Sheriff Jake Six said that he was notified of the four escapees at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday when one of the them called for an ambulance from a Los Animas motel were he and a fellow escapee were suffering from drug overdoses. Both were later reported in stable condition. At 1:30 p.m. Tuesday the Bent County Sheriff's Office reported that the third escapee, 34-year-old Benjamin Valdez, was found dead in Pueblo; authorities suspect he died from a drug overdose. The four escapees were being held on behalf of Otero County, which shares the jail facility with Bent County. 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. The exact time of the escape is unknown. Law enforcement officials believe it occurred Sunday night or early Monday morning. "It appears that neither staff, Otero's or ours, did an accurate head count Monday morning or (Tuesday) morning," Sheriff Six said. Six added that the Prowers County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Corrections was conducting a facility-wide security audit, "to ensure this doesn't happen again." Colorado State Patrol and the Otero County Sheriff's Office were both assisting Bent County authorities; notifications about the escape were sent out the Las Animas community and surrounding law enforcement agencies. Police asked anyone who may have seen the suspect to call 911. This article will be updated once more information is received. Two men suspected of robbing a bank in Peyton earlier this month have been taken into custody, according to a release from the El Paso County Sheriffs Office. On the evening of July 7, EPCSO deputies received reports at around 5 p.m. of an armed robbery at the State Farm Bank on McLaughlin Road, according to officials. Upon arrival, deputies learned that an adult Black male had entered the lobby wielding a firearm. The suspect proceeded to point the gun at the five present bank employees and ordered them to give him money. In compliance, the bank employees placed an unknown amount of money into a black backpack brought by the suspect. In reviewing video surveillance surrounding the bank, authorities saw the suspect enter the bank at 4:58 p.m., and leaving at 4:59 p.m. When exiting the building, the suspect walked east toward a car wash where a vehicle and driver were waiting, the release read. Following initial investigation efforts, detectives with the sheriffs office identified the bank robber as 27-year-old Dakota Walker, and the getaway driver as 29-year-old Joshua Harris, according to the release. 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. Investigators discovered the vehicle used in the robbery to be registered to Harris. On July 14, officials were able to locate the vehicle near the 2000 block of North Academy Boulevard and confirmed Harris to be working in one of the businesses near the location of the vehicle, officials said. Harris was eventually apprehended through a combined effort by the Colorado Springs Police Departments Tactical Enforcement Unit and EPSCO deputies. He (Harris) briefly barricaded himself inside the business but was taken into custody shortly after without incident, the release reads. A week later, July 21, Walker was located by officials with the Lenexa Police Department in Johnson County, Kansas. According to Lenexa police, Walker was in possession of numerous items of evidence relating to the robbery, at the time of his arrest Harris has been booked into the El Paso County Jail on a $50,000 bond and faces charges of aggravated robbery, five counts of felony menacing, and one count of theft. Walker is currently being held at the Johnson County Jail in Kansas on a $100,000 bond, facing the same charges, the release said. According to the Sheriffs Office, this remains an active and ongoing investigation. A man is facing several felony charges after police say he robbed a Fountain business at gunpoint and fled in a stolen vehicle Tuesday. Officers with the Fountain Police Department responded to the Advance Auto Parts on Fountain Mesa Road around 12:30 p.m. following an armed robbery, according to a news release. A store employee told police a man, later identified as 27-year-old Levi Jolliff, had stolen several items and pointed a gun at them. The employee provided officers with a description of the license plate number of the vehicle the suspect fled in and a description of the driver and passenger. The vehicle had been reported stolen from a Colorado Springs resident more than a week ago. Officers located the vehicle as it drove aggressively through the City of Fountain and followed Jolliff as he drove erratically. They detained Jolliff and the passenger, a juvenile female, after performing a tactical intervention maneuver, according to the release. 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. Jolliff was booked into the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center on felony counts of motor vehicle theft, aggravated robbery, menacing, possession of a weapon by a previous offender, eluding and other offenses. Jolliff was previously sentenced to nine years in the Colorado Department of Corrections for aggravated robbery, one year for unlawful possession of a controlled substance, two years for first-degree criminal trespass auto and two years for attempted criminal trespass auto. Most recently, in 2021 Jolliff was sentenced to county jail for obstructing a peace officer, illegal weapon and possession of an ID document and criminal mischief. All were separate cases. WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden's proposed deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to tax charges and avoid a gun charge hit a snag on Wednesday when the judge in the case said she needed more time to review their agreement. The news means that the younger Biden's legal woes will continue to dog the president as he campaigns for re-election in 2024. His leading rival, former President Donald Trump, and Trump's Republican allies in Congress had criticized the deal as unfairly favoring the president's son. The stunning turnabout came after what was expected to be a routine plea hearing turned into a three-hour affair featuring hushed negotiations between lawyers and pointed questions from U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika. "I cannot accept the plea agreement today," she said, asking the parties to brief her on why she should accept it, meaning that Hunter Biden's lawyers and prosecutors may yet persuade her to approve the deal as it was previously negotiated, or to alter it to a form she can accept. She said she did not want to "rubber stamp" a plea deal. Hunter Biden at the hearing pleaded not guilty to charges of failing to pay taxes on more than $1.5 million in income in 2017 and 2018 despite owing more than $100,000, prosecutors allege. He did not enter a plea in a separate case where he is charged with unlawfully owning a firearm while addicted to and using a controlled substance, a felony. Hunter Biden's lawyers and prosecutors disagreed in court over whether the deal they had reached would have prevented the younger Biden from being charged with any other crimes, with defense lawyer Chris Clark at one point saying the deal was "null and void." Biden said he would not plead guilty to the tax charges without a deal in place to avoid prosecution on the gun charge, but changed course after extensive negotiations between his lawyers and prosecutors while Noreika waited in her chambers. The parties ultimately agreed that the deal would only grant Biden immunity on a limited set of tax, drug and firearm offenses. POLITICALLY CHARGED CASE 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. Republicans have for years accused Hunter Biden of leveraging his fathers political power for personal gain in his dealings in Ukraine and China, though the probe by U.S. Attorney David Weiss of Delaware, a Trump appointee, has not turned up any evidence to support those claims. News of the plea deal in June sparked accusations of favorable treatment for the presidents son from Trump and his Republican allies, who have for years accused the younger Biden of influence-peddling abroad, among other things. Those allegations spurred the criminal investigation by Weiss, who in a departure from typical practice was allowed to remain in office to continue the probe after Biden defeated Trump in the 2020 election. Weiss was present in court on Wednesday but did not speak. White House spokesperson Karine Jeane-Pierre said the president supported his son, adding, "Hunter Biden is a private citizen and this was a personal matter for him." U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has denied allegations of special treatment and said Weiss was given full autonomy to investigate Hunter Biden. Weiss has also said he faced no interference. Hunter Biden has worked as a lobbyist, lawyer, consultant, investment banker and artist. He has publicly discussed his struggles with addiction, including alcoholism and crack cocaine use. Trump, who was indicted in New York for allegedly falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star and faces federal criminal charges in Florida for his handling of classified documents upon leaving office in 2021, has criticized Hunter Bidens deal with prosecutors as a mere "traffic ticket." (Reporting by Jack Queen; Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Scott Malone, Noeleen Walder and Jonathan Oatis) By Jeffrey Dastin (Reuters) - Amazon.coms cloud division has drawn thousands of customers to try out its service vying with Microsoft and Google in a key area of artificial intelligence, an executive told Reuters. The company also announced new AI tools on Wednesday, including a program for building more conversational customer-service agents, technology access from the startup Cohere and a healthcare system for generating clinical notes after a patient visit. Organizations including Sony, Ryanair and Sun Life have tried out Amazon Bedrock, a service the company announced in April that lets businesses create applications with a range of AI models, Vice President Swami Sivasubramanian said. Such generative technology can produce new text, images and other content on command. "Our mission is to make every company an AI company," said Sivasubramanian, in an interview pegged to a summit the cloud provider hosted in New York. Amazon Bedrock is the company's answer to services announced by Google and Microsoft, cloud rivals that have developed or marketed AI garnering significant public attention. Microsoft has invested in OpenAI, the startup that created ChatGPT and the AI model known as GPT-4. Amazon's disclosure of thousands of Bedrock users, previously unreported, shows its efforts are attracting interest as well. The company wants to offer a broader range of AI models than peers to win business, including access to updated technology from startups Anthropic and Stability AI, announced Wednesday. Amazon's role as the largest cloud provider by revenue - already hosting myriad customers' data - distinguishes it, too, the company has said. Amazon Bedrock will become available generally to any customer very "soon," Sivasubramanian said. He declined to state when, adding the company aims to address issues around cost allocation and enterprise controls first. Industry has continued to grapple with the costs of AI more generally. Microsoft on Tuesday reported its highest quarterly capital expenditures since at least its fiscal 2016 as it builds data centers to support AI and battles other cloud companies for key chips from Nvidia. Asked whether Amazon has given businesses with big AI ambitions a deadline to secure chip access, Sivasubramanian said, "We are working with them to ensure we understand their ramp-up schedule." The company meanwhile widened access to technology it billed as more efficient for training AI, based on Nvidia chips. The cloud provider also previewed Agents for Amazon Bedrock, which lets businesses create chatbots that execute tasks and give more personalized answers drawing from their proprietary data. An airline could build a virtual agent that books a flight for a traveler, for instance, based on a customer's price, destination and seating requests. The business potential for such agents have recently gripped Silicon Valley. And as part of its AI push, the company made an appeal to the healthcare industry specifically. It announced a service called AWS HealthScribe to let software vendors build apps to transcribe and analyze conversations between a doctor and patient. A unit of 3M plans to use this to speed up clinical documentation, the companies said. (Reporting by Jeffrey Dastin in New York; Additional reporting by Stephen Nellis; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Daniel Wallis) By Aziz El Yaakoubi RIYADH (Reuters) -Saudi Arabian authorities have detained five relatives of a U.S. citizen, rights groups said on Wednesday, arguing that the detentions were retaliation for his family's failed lawsuit against the Saudi government in the United States. The Freedom Initiative, Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) and ALQST for Human Rights said Saudi security forces had arrested four relatives of U.S. citizen Rakan Nader Aldossari on May 11. An uncle was detained on April 9, the groups said in a statement. His grandfather's wife, an aunt and two other uncles were detained in May and some were held in cold cells with no blankets or proper beds, the statement said. The Saudi government communications office did not respond to an emailed request for comment. The Saudi prosecutor's office referred the five to the kingdom's Specialized Criminal Court, which tries terrorism cases, on July 12, the rights groups said. They added that Saudi authorities had prevented the detainees' lawyers from meeting with them or obtaining access to the charges against them. Rakan's father Nader Aldossari, a U.S. resident, said interrogators told detained family members that they would not be released unless both Rakan, who is 15-years-old, and he returned to Saudi Arabia, the statement said. The groups listed the detainees' relations to Rakan, urging Washington to intervene. The Aldossari family filed a lawsuit in Pennsylvania in 2020 against the Saudi government after a long-standing commercial dispute over an agreement in 1994 to establish an oil refinery in Saint Lucia, a Caribbean Island. Later that year, they named additional Saudi government defendants including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The lawsuit was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. Abdullah Alaoudh, Saudi Director for the Freedom Initiative, said the Aldossari case was an "egregious example of transnational repression by the Saudi government". Saudi officials say there are no political prisoners in Saudi Arabia. The three organisations called on Washington to press the Saudi government for the release of the Aldossari family members. The U.S. State Department declined to comment on the specifics of the case. "The United States has consistently underscored to the Saudi government the importance of fair and transparent judicial processes," a department spokesperson said by email. "We have also made clear that we take very seriously reports or threats of transnational repression, particularly when U.S. citizens may be involved." (Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi; additional reporting by Jonathan Landay and Simon Lewis in Washington; Editing by Philippa Fletcher and Grant McCool) By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. officials will meet Taliban representatives and "technocratic professionals" from Afghan ministries in Doha this week, the State Department said on Wednesday, adding they will discuss economic issues, security and women's rights. No country has formally recognized the Taliban administration since the group returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021 when U.S.-led foreign forces withdrew in chaos after a 20-year conflict. Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West and Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights Rina Amiri will meet a Taliban delegation in Doha to discuss humanitarian support for Afghanistan, security, women's rights, economic stabilisation, and efforts to counter narcotics production and trafficking, the State Department said. The department's deputy spokesperson, Vedant Patel, reiterated U.S. concerns about human rights abuses and the marginalization of women and girls in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and said talks in the Qatari capital did not "mean any kind of indication of recognition or any kind of indication of normalization or legitimacy of the Taliban." "This does not indicate any change in the policy of the United States. We have been very clear that we will engage with the Taliban appropriately when it is in our interest to do so," Patel said. A Taliban foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement that acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi would lead the delegation. "Afghanistan's priority during talks are ending sanctions and blacklists, unfreezing Afghanistan's bank reserves and stopping violation of Afghanistan's airspace," the ministry said, adding they would also meet Qatari officials. The chaotic evacuation of U.S. troops in 2021 saw thousands of desperate Afghans trying to enter Kabul airport and men clinging to aircraft as they taxied down runways. An Islamic State suicide bomber killed 13 U.S. servicemembers and more than 150 Afghans outside an airport gate. A State Department report last month criticized Democratic President Joe Biden and his Republican predecessor Donald Trump for the pullout, which was negotiated by Trump and executed under Biden. Before their Qatar visit, West and Amiri will travel to Kazakhstan where they will meet officials from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to discuss Afghanistan, the State Department said. They would also meet civil society members focused on women's rights. Their trip to Kazakhstan and Qatar is from July 26 to July 31, the State Department said. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Additional reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Simon Lewis, Jibran Ahmad and Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Paul Grant and Daniel Wallis, Robert Birsel) President Joe Biden announced his intent on Wednesday to nominate 2016 presidential candidate and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley to be the next commissioner of the Social Security Administration. Dr. Kilolo Kijakazi currently serves as acting Social Security commissioner and will be replaced by O'Malley if confirmed by the Senate. Biden has been pressured to fill permanent administration leads since 2022. SECRET SERVICE: BIDEN DOG WOULD BE PUT DOWN' IF NOT PRESIDENT'S PET "Gov. O'Malley is a lifelong public servant who has spent his career making government more accessible and transparent while keeping the American people at the heart of his work," Biden said. "As mayor of Baltimore and governor of Maryland, he adopted data and performance-driven technologies to tackle complex challenges facing the communities he served and I saw the results firsthand when we worked together during my time as vice president," he continued. "As governor, he made government work more effectively across his administration and enhanced the way millions of people accessed critical services." "Since day one, I have fought to strengthen and defend Social Security, which tens of millions of Americans have paid into and depend on to support their livelihoods," Biden finished. "I know that Gov. O'Malley will continue to be a strong partner who works tirelessly to protect Social Security for generations to come." O'Malley served as governor of Maryland from 2007-2015 and two terms as mayor of Baltimore prior to his time in Annapolis. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER O'Malley suspended his 2016 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in February of that year after placing third in the Iowa caucuses. He later endorsed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after withdrawing from the race. Original Location: Biden taps former presidential candidate Martin O'Malley to lead Social Security Washington Examiner Videos Actor Tim Allen posted a joke about Hunter Biden's laptop on social media on Wednesday, the same day a judge rejected Hunter Biden's plea deal. Allen said that he "got in trouble in the old Twitter" over a joke he had made regarding Hunter Biden's laptop. Allen's comment on "the old Twitter" likely refers to the social media platform's time before it was purchased by billionaire Elon Musk. HUNTER BIDEN PLEA DEAL COLLAPSES IN COURT AS JUDGE THROWS 'CURVEBALL' "Actually got in trouble in the old twitter with a joke about H Biden laptop," Allen wrote on Twitter. "Now it seems like it's no joke." Hunter Biden's laptop made headlines ahead of the 2020 presidential election when the New York Post broke a story on Oct. 14, 2020, implicating then-candidate Joe Biden in his son's business dealings based on findings on the laptop. Last week, an FBI official told the House Judiciary Committee in a transcribed interview that at least one top agent and likely others, who were warning social media companies about a "hack and dump" operation ahead of the 2020 election, knew that the laptop was real. Allen is no stranger to making fun of the Biden family, as he joked in 2022 that President Joe Biden had appeared on the show 60 minutes and had heard the president ask "how long the show was." Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Hunter Biden pleaded "not guilty" in court Wednesday after United States District Judge Maryellen Noreika said she was not ready to accept a so-called sweetheart plea deal after the prosecution revealed the investigation was ongoing. Biden, 53, through his attorneys, had argued the prearranged plea deal should be accepted in its entirety, which would have included Biden pleading guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and entering a diversion agreement for a felony gun charge. Biden ended up pleading not guilty to the tax charges in a surprise turn of events. However, Noreika delayed ruling on the agreement until she obtained additional briefings from the government and the defendant's counsel. Original Location: Tim Allen jokes that Hunter Biden's laptop 'seems like its no joke' now Washington Examiner Videos Republican presidential rivals, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former President Donald Trump are in a war of words, not over the 2024 race but about former President Barack Obama. The spat first began when Trump accused Christie of being "star-struck" over Obama, which he said hurt Republican nominee Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential election. VIVEK RAMASWAMY CLAIMED HE FIRST VOTED IN 2020 NOW, HE ADMITS THAT WAS WRONG "Christie was so star struck with Barack Hussein Obuma, that Romney, who is a terrible politician and horrible representative of the Republican Party, never had a chance of winning the Presidency," Trump posted on Truth Social Tuesday with the infamous image of Christie meeting with Obama and shaking his hand, as New Jersey recovered from Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, just before the November election. Hurricane Sandy would damage or destroy 346,000 homes and cost over $30 billion in damages, making it the costliest natural disaster in New Jersey history. "Christie sold Romney out, making one of the worst Convention Speeches in HistoryVirtually not even mentioning Romney by name. Romney sat watching, in a trance He couldn't believe it!" Trump continued. After the Obama embrace, Christie was criticized by conservatives for his "bromance" with Obama mostly due to Christie's praise of Obama in the wake of the hurricane, which some Republicans felt damaged Romney in the final days of the campaign. Obama would defeat Romney in 2012 and win reelection. Christie, a vocal Trump critic on the campaign trail, took to Twitter on Wednesday to push back against Trump's criticisms. "Yeah... I invited the sitting President to New Jersey during the worst natural disaster in our state's history," Christie tweeted, defending his meeting with Obama. "But I didn't invite him to my wedding... Donald - did you dance the night away with Hillary?" Christie taunted with a link to a photo of Trump, former first lady Melania Trump smiling with former President Bill Clinton, and former 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. 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. The photo was taken during Trump's January 2005 wedding at the former president's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. It was Trump's third wedding and an indication that he was at least friendly enough with the Clintons for them to attend the nuptials. Trump would later vanquish Hillary during the 2016 election. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Before jumping into the 2024 race Christie served as a Trump ally and helped prep him for his presidential debate with President Joe Biden in 2020. Christie would later break from Trump after the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Since then, Christie has been an ardent Trump critic, frequently slamming him on the campaign trail. "I believe if you're president, every day you wake up, and you ask yourself what's best for the country and whether that's good for you politically or personally has to come behind that," Christie said about Trump during a campaign event this week. "And that's my biggest objection to Donald Trump. It's that he's never put the country before himself, ever." Original Location: Trump and Christie trade barbs over who is closer to Democratic presidents Washington Examiner Videos White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is holding a news briefing after President Joe Biden's son appeared in federal court on Wednesday. Jean-Pierre will start the briefing at 1 p.m. from the White House. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER On Wednesday morning, Hunter Biden appeared in a Delaware court hearing, where he was expected to plead guilty to two federal tax felonies he committed in 2017 and 2018. However, the plea deal fell apart after failing to reach an agreement with the prosecutors over a separate gun charge facing him. Original Location: WATCH LIVE: Karine Jean-Pierre delivers White House press briefing Washington Examiner Videos The Gazette reported some encouraging news this week for Colorados cornerstone of the U.S. Space Force Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora. Congress could upgrade Buckleys aging but strategically critical fighter wing, assuring its continued role in U.S. national security as well as in bolstering Colorados economy well into the future. Although the Space Force is Americas newest service branch, and Buckley is on its leading edge, the Air National Guards 140th Wing long stationed at the base has some of the oldest F-16s in the Air Force. Despite the wings unquestionable importance to the nations defense its planes and pilots have been deployed in U.S. military actions around the globe modernizing the fleet is essential to continued support for the wing from Washington. As The Gazette reported Monday, lawmakers in both parties from several states, including Colorado, are backing legislation in the U.S. Senate and House that would require the replacement of Air National Guard fighter planes by 2034 and the preservation of the Guard's 25 fighter squadrons. That includes Buckleys. U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo, U.S. Rep Jason Crow, D-Aurora, and U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, are all helping advance the effort. The legislation is part of the National Defense Authorization Act, which must be passed each year to fund the military. Lamborn says the legislation not only will sustain the wing and Buckley but will also protect numerous jobs associated with the wing that, in turn, support the North American Aerospace Defense Command headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs. In other words, the bill is extremely consequential for Colorado. "I want to make sure that Buckley remains a viable National Guard air asset," Lamborn said. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Crow issued a press statement pointing out the Guard is responsible for 30% of the Air Forces air power, yet its planes are 28 years old on average. "We simply cant afford continued divestment," Crow said. The F-16s based at Buckley were built in the 1980s. One option for their replacement is state-of-the-art F-35s. Other options include newer, more advanced versions of F-16s, and F-15EXs, which are designed to carry tens of thousands of pounds of weapons. Any of those alternatives would assure the fighter wings viability well into the future. The bases fighters and their skilled and seasoned Air National Guard pilots are regularly rotated abroad and have been deployed in combat operations including in the Middle East. The wing also would be among the first to scramble into action in the event of an attack on U.S. territory. The 140ths operations represent only one way that Buckley serves our nation's defense. As its Space Force affiliation implies, Buckley is also a linchpin in our militarys network of satellites. It operates reconnaissance satellites that detect missile or spacecraft launches and nuclear explosions around the globe. That helps coordinate American military operations abroad and also defends our home turf against a strategic nuclear attack. Buckley adds mightily to the economic lifeblood of Aurora, Colorados third largest city, and the surrounding metro area. It supports 3,500 active-duty members from every military service, 4,000 National Guard personnel and reservists, four commonwealth international partners, 2,400 civilians, 2,500 contractors, and approximately 88,000 retirees, veterans and dependents combined. It all adds some $1.3 billion annually to the local and statewide economy. We welcome word of bipartisan cooperation by our states congressional delegation in securing the future of the 140th for Colorado and for our nations defense. Lets be more than courteous I would like to ask any cyclist who rides in Colorado Springs to not only heed the following message, but to help spread it among your fellow bicyclists. Today marked the umpteenth time that one of my dogs was nearly hit by a bicycle screaming southbound along Monument Creek without a hint of warning from the cyclist. This has happened (frequently) on Cottonwood, Rock Island, and Santa Fe trails and virtually every other trail (or sidewalk) in Colorado Springs. My big dog, Camille (Golden Doodle), weighs between 55 and 60 pounds. The squirt, Mitzi (Havanese/CockaPoo mix), dips the scale at 17 (and that would be wet!). Imagine the full spectrum of things that could happen if one or both were nailed by a speeding bike. We virtually always walk near the far-right edge of trails (concrete, asphalt or dirt) some of which are less than 8 feet wide. Yet many bikes fly by at perhaps 35-40 mph with nary a shout or a beep to let us know that they are approaching us on the left. I am very happy to see that about 99% of the cyclists are wearing helmets. That is progress over 30 years ago, when it was the exception. However, given my rehab and veterinary background, I feel obliged to note a few things. First, helmets protect heads (they should be called HeadMitts!), in most crash-injury accidents, but not all. Other bodily parts remain at risk: necks, spines, extremities and faces. And if you hit a 57.5-lb dog at 35 mph, the dog aint gonna be the only one hurt! A friend had his face smashed in by simply going over the handlebars onto the ground while biking, without any dogs involved. Furthermore, if you swerve to avoid a 17-lb. bundle of love, you could tilt and scrape, or hit a tree, a rock or an embankment. I am all for biking: the exercise, the camaraderie, the soothing breeze, the freedom of cruising, etc., but lets be more than courteous, lets be smart! Protect the dogs protect yourself! Gary A. Morse Colorado Springs It is all about the money Reading the article in The Gazette about property revaluations is very interesting. More than 33.700 property owners appealed the countys valuations and just over 51% of the appeals were denied. Why only 51%, because they cant go more than that because they are so greedy and need more money. The evaluations were from the period of May 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022. The funny thing about these dates is the fact that the valuation is based only on the date of June 30 as we were told by the referee. We were one of the 51% that appealed our evaluation and of course was denied. We had help from a local real estate agent who helped us with the appeal process who had the same tools as the assessors office used for the evaluations. We appealed to the county Board of Equalization. We presented a letter from the real estate agent who explained the process she went through and pinpointed five comps sold based on the latitude and longitude of our property. With all of the information and comps, we summited which was all within 10% of finished square footage, same style and are in the same subdivision. The average of these total adjusted values was $100,000 less than the assessors office. We requested a reevaluation, and it was denied! Reason: Petitioner did not present satisfactory evidence justifying the change. Yet we presented five comps and they only had three comps. Homes sold during that time frame were selling at a very inflated price. Some were sold for thousands over the appraised value. We have all heard the term Kangaroo Court. That is what you get at the county Board of Equalization which is sad. It is all about the money! Jim White Monument Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. A solution for the real problem The Gazettes Viewpoint article Gun control? Colorado needs crime control is certainly an obtuse title to state anti-gun control and soft on crime ideas. The point of the article seems to be that no matter how many gun safety laws we pass there will still be mass shootings and many other deaths by guns. No one knows how much these laws reduce killings. Perhaps New Zealand, with its new gun restrictive laws, didnt go far enough. The Constitution does not specifically state that everyone may own a gun. Criminals and mentally ill people are only a very small percentage of those who commit mass shootings. Jailing more criminals may help all around, but Colorado is assuredly not soft on crime. That is simply Republican jargon to try to sway voters. So, the only realistic summation can be is that guns should be abolished. The article presents a strong argument for this. Why not have a solution that directly attacks the real problem? Jac Roberson Colorado Springs Long history of violence The facts suck. America has a long history of violence and not just slavery. Native American women and children slaughtered and later forced into schools against their will, Chinese not allowed to bring their families to the U.S. and persecuted after the railroads were completed, land stolen from the Spanish settlers when the U.S. incorporated their land into states, unlawful coup in Hawaii to steal the state from the Hawaiians, Filipinos massacred in the Pacific, White riots everywhere throughout our history, corruption, the gilded barons suppressing union workers. Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Our history books are whitewashed. Its time we live up to all our history and not just the part we are proud of. Maybe then we will begin to make a future history we can be proud of. Lisa Butler Monument Eight very bad years Well, I just received a smart water meter yesterday. Why? I dont know its a new toy that we paid for instead of getting new paved roads. Why hasnt the new mayor stopped the crazy spending the city is known for. We dont need new meters; we dont need a new police academy. We need a mayor thats stops the spending and get some roads repaired and paved. We dont need red light cameras we need officers on the streets. This trend in spending is like we had the last eight very bad years. Come on, Mayor, put your foot down. Doug Evans Colorado Springs After a monthslong investigation, the Greater Albany Public Schools board has dismissed a harassment complaint against one of its members. The board voted this week to eighty-six the complaint against Pete Morse made by the husband of a GAPS administrator on leave following the recommendation of an investigator tasked with reviewing the allegations. They mostly centered on a phone call. And who made it. But while a former board member does know, he's not telling. In response, the school board has dropped the matter altogether. The phone call The complaint, filed by the husband of Lisa Harlan the district's assistant superintendent who's currently on paid leave for a workplace investigation focused on a phone call allegedly placed by Morse. That call reportedly occurred March 14, the day after a tense board meeting in which members faced ire over the decision not to renew Lisa Harlan's contract. In the complaint, Harlan's husband, Mike, a firefighter in Salem, alleges Morse had harassed him the following day in an email exchange and then called his employer to reprimand his behavior. According to the complaint, which was read aloud by board Chair Brad Wilson at the Monday, July 24 school board meeting, Mike Harlan accuses Morse of calling the Salem Fire Department's deputy operation chief Harlan's supervisor to report that he was "yelling and belligerent" at board meetings. The caller would not give his name but identified himself as a member of the school board, according to the complaint. Mike Harlan accused Morse of making the call and claimed that he was being personally targeted by Morse in retaliation for an ethics complaint Lisa Harlan had filed against the board member. In the complaint, Mike Harlan sought a public apology from Morse and his resignation from the board. However, according to Lisa Freiley, an attorney with the Salem-based Willamette Education Service District tasked with investigating the complaint, available evidence didn't point to Morse making the call. But someone did, she determined. Freiley told the board that neither Morse's cellphone logs nor those of his office lines matched any Salem Fire Department numbers on the date of the call. She also spoke with Frank Stephenson, the interim deputy chief of the Salem Fire Department who received the call. According to Freiley, Stephenson told her the caller had initially declined to give a name, but after Stephenson said he would need a call-back number, the caller gave the name and number of former school board member Eric Aguinaga. When Freiley called Aguinaga, he said he knew the identity of the caller and confirmed that it was not Pete Morse but declined to give the name. Freiley said Aguinaga did not respond to follow-up calls and texts. She also said Mike Harlan declined to talk with her for the investigation. "I can not tell you which phone number made the phone call, who made the phone call. I can tell you that board member Aguinaga tells me he does know. He's not willing to tell me who he is. "But he is confirming to me that it's not Pete Morse," Freiley told the board. When reached for comment by Mid-Valley Media, Aguinaga still declined to give the name but said the caller works at the Salem Fire Department and is an acquaintance of his. "I didn't prompt him or anything," Aguinaga said by phone Tuesday, July 25, adding that he only learned about the call after Mike Harlan made the complaint. Aguinaga also said he was unsure what drove his acquaintance to make the call. "I'm like dude, 'Couldn't you have used Michael Thomson's name instead of mine,'" Aguinaga said, referring to another former GAPS school board member. Freiley told the board on Monday that Stephenson said he had found it "unique" that he received the phone call directly on his work phone and not through the department's business and administration line. Because the call was forwarded from his work phone to his personal phone, Stephenson couldn't see the number, Freiley said. Freiley also told the board that Stephenson had only told Mike Harlan that a representative of the school board had called, and that his employee had not asked for the caller's name. However, Mike Harlan, told a reporter that he did ask Stephenson for the name, but his boss had declined because the caller had made him swear not to disclose it. "He's the type of person who, no matter what, isn't going to go back on his word," Mike Harlan said of Stephenson. He said he assumed the caller was Morse. He also questioned the idea that a member of the Salem Fire Department had made the call. "That would be extremely far-fetched," Mike Harlan said, saying he knew no one at the department with any interest in GAPS. Harlan said he refused to talk with Freiley because of he was not sure she would be an "unbiased objective investigator," Harlan said, adding he thought he had given her all the information she needed in the complaint. The email Harlan's complaint also included an excerpt from a March 14 email conversation with Morse. That conversation started with Harlan expressing his disappointment with the board's decision not to renew the contract of Javier Cervantes, the district's previous Equity, Diversity and Inclusion director. In it, he called for Morse, Roger Nyquist, Brad Wilson, and then-board member Aguinaga to resign. Morse responded: "Thank you for sharing your opinion. The board is deeply concerned with equity, diversity, and inclusion, and I agree the work is extremely important. With that said, we took the recommendations of our superintendent and acted upon them as required by law. Differences of opinion happen all the time. Have a nice day." Referencing a March meeting in which Morse corrected his enunciation of a minority group, Harlan wrote back: "You can't even say Arab correctly without offending an entire group of people so don't try to pretend like you care at all. Your actions continue to say that you don't care at all about EDI." Morse gave the final response in the email chain, which was included in the complaint. "Enjoy your day. No offense was intended in any way, as I am sure you are aware, but if the thought of this makes your day seem brighter, more power to you. Positive thoughts help us all get through the day. I have had some positive thoughts of my own today that helped put a smile on my face. A good workout to blow off some steam also is very helpful. Be well," Morse wrote. Wilson, who just became board chair at Monday's meeting, said Mike Harlan had taken this last email out of context when he "cherry-picked" it and included it in his complaint. A second complaint from Mike Harlan that was previously dismissed focused on a "unprompted and unwelcome" email from Morse following the announcement of school board election results earlier in May. "Sometimes events of the day just make you smile. I am having one of those days. Have a good night." Morse wrote to him at 9:56 p.m. May 16, the day of the election. The last remaining Democrat had lost his seat in the nonpartisan board that now leans heavily conservative. Dismissal After Freiley submitted her recommendation to dismiss the complaint, newly seated GAPS board member Ryan Mattingly indicated his interest in reviewing the district's current complaint policy. Wilson and board member Roger Nyquist echoed that sentiment. "I hope we learned a lesson here, that the threshold for taking a complaint, using a bunch of time on it, probably needs to be a little higher than whatever this was," Mattingly said. Before the board voted to dismiss the complaint, Wilson called it a "fraud" in a scathing statement, criticizing Mike Harlan for not speaking with the investigator. Harlan said he was surprised that the board had dismissed the compliant, given former board member Aguinaga's involvement, and called Wilson's final remarks unprofessional. "It was pretty much a direct attack at me," he said. In his statement before the board, Morse said he was pleased the investigation had wrapped up but said he was disappointed by the use of resources devoted to completing it. "I think it's very unfortunate that Mr. Harlan created unneeded work for our district and incurred costs for our district to have this accusation investigated. I think we can all agree that money would have been better spent on our district's youth than investigating a lie," he said. As to the identity of the caller, Morse told Mid-Valley Media he had no idea. "I can just tell you it's not me. And the idea that (Mike Harlan) decided it was me, out of nowhere, is B.S., " he said. Related stories: Benton County will hire an Albany, New York public servant and former communications director to a U.S. senator to carry out local government policy. The countys elected board agreed to extend an offer on Tuesday, July 25 to Rachel McEneny for the post of county administrator. I am your next county administrator, McEneny said by phone Tuesday. Benton County agreed to pay McEneny $201,705, signing a five-year contract that offers potential raises after performance reviews at 6 months and every year after that. She joins the county Oct. 2. McEneny will take up management while the county is undertaking some of its most far-reaching infrastructure and policy changes in years. Joe Kerby held the job for about 5 1/2 years, overseeing the yearslong, nearly $200 million effort to overhaul the countys criminal justice system; and a close look at government and dump managers obligations to one another after Bentons planning commission rejected a proposed expansion at Coffin Butte Landfill. The county also will examine how its profit-driven organs can make up apparent revenue shortfalls after increased costs affected the budgets at Bentons network of community health centers and vehicle maintenance shop. Kerby left March 14 for a job managing Jefferson County, Colorado a jurisdiction of 3,287 employees and 583,000 residents in the southwestern corner of the Denver metropolitan area. Benton County appointed interim health department director Suzanne Hoffman to manage the government. She retires at the end of August. To fill in the gap before McEneny starts, Chief Finance Officer Rick Crager will serve for one month in September. McEneny was among two finalists who would potentially fill the countys top employee job, carrying out policy at the behest of the Board of Commissioners and managing the outlay over the next two years of an about $168 million budget. She started at the New York capital city as a budget officer in 2016, when the city assumed its budget would fall short by $20 to $23 million. We cant tax our way out of problems anymore, McEneny said. Revenue is difficult. McEneny said she learned to look at new sources of income, like payments in lieu of taxes from typically untaxed entities like major universities and hospitals. Those are organizations that typically rely on public services like utilities or roads but dont necessarily pay for their demand on city or county budgets. We couldnt have the residents carry the burden of paying, McEneny said. Albany received $12.5 million legislative funding to compensate the city for nontaxable property where the state of New York and tax-exempt organizations own around 60% of the land. The funds eventually will come from payments in lieu of taxes on the Empire State Plaza. Oregon State University covers around 530 acres at its Corvallis campus. McEneny climbed to the rank of administrative services commissioner where she oversees Albanys budgeting and purchasing and human resources. She worked as a communications director for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat from upstate New York, and for the Albany County District Attorneys Office. Commissioner Pat Malone said McEnenys background in city, federal and state government potentially is a boon to a county that will seek funding and regulatory partnerships on jail and trash projects. She has the experience to make those new connections quickly, help move some of our ambitious projects forward, Malone said. McEneny came with positive reviews, Commissioner Nancy Wyse said. Everyone gave her high praise, Wyse said. McEneny appears to learn fast, Wyse said, and demonstrated motivation to pick up complex issues at jobs in New York. I think there will be a learning curve, Wyse said. It will be like drinking from a fire hose. Commissioner Xan Augerot said McEneny will pick up a county that saw integration under Kerby, with records and communication systems developed to cross over the silo walls of departments. Kerby, Augerot said, left Benton County with a unified culture. And I think Rachel can take us to the next level, she said. McEneny worked through a ransomware attack and the 2020 coronavirus pandemic that caught Albany by surprise. Both of those are situations that require you to work with your team, Augerot said. Related stories: Clear Lake Middle School and Clear Creek Elementary have been recognized as "distinguished schools" by Project Lead The Way. The nonprofit organization serves millions of preK-12 students and teachers in schools across the U.S. Approximately 12,200 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia offer PLTW programs. According to a press release from the district, the PLTW Distinguished School recognition honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in PLTW programs. To be eligible for the designation, Clear Lake Middle School had to meet a variety of criteria such as a certain percentage of the student body participating in PLTW programs, offering a designated number of units at each grade level, and having strategies to ensure equitable access to students. Research shows the middle grades play a pivotal role in influencing high school, college, and career success. During this transitional time, its crucial to provide students with access to relevant, engaging, and real-world learning experiences that illuminate the range of career paths and possibilities available to them. Whether designing an automated robotics system or solving a mysterious disease outbreak, PLTW Gateway students engage in critical and creative thinking, build teamwork skills, and develop a passion for and confidence in STEM subjects. We are proud to recognize (Clear Lake Community School District) for their commitment to providing students with exceptional educational experiences while ensuring equitable access to PLTW programs, said David Dimmett, PLTW president and CEO. "We congratulate them on this achievement and celebrate their important work empowering students with the knowledge and skills to succeed, not only in STEM subjects, but also more generally in life and career." To be eligible for the designation, Clear Creek Elementary had to have more than 75% of the student body participating in the program and had to offer at least one PLTW Launch module at each grade level during the 2021-22 school year. Studies show that students decide as early as elementary school whether they like and think theyre good at math and science. Whether designing a car safety belt or building digital animations based on their own short stories, PLTW Launch students engage in critical and creative thinking, build teamwork skills, and develop a passion for and confidence in STEM subjects. For more information on Clear Lake Middle Schools PLTW Gateway program, contact Emily Hill at (641) 357-6114. For more information on Project Lead The Way, visit pltw.org. Former President Donald Trump has kept a hold on his frontrunner position as candidates head back to the Iowa campaign trail, but new polling shows there could be room for others to gain footing in the field. A Fox Business poll of Iowa Republicans published Sunday found Trump had the largest base of support with 46% of likely Republican caucusgoers choosing the former president. But no candidate has a lock on the position of Trumps strongest challenger. While former Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis kept his second-place position, he was 30 points behind Trump with just 16% of caucusgoers supporting him. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott came in third at 11%, and all other candidates earned single digits or less. Among Trump supporters, 34% said they support DeSantis and 14% Scott as their second choice. For DeSantis supporters, 33% support Trump and 23% support Scott, giving the South Carolina senator an opportunity to grow his reach in the first-in-the-nation state. The poll was conducted July 15 through 19 with 806 likely Republican caucus participants, and has a sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. When DeSantis launched his campaign in late May, some Republicans and analysts said the Florida governor would have the best shot at overtaking Trump for the Republican presidential nomination. But the path forward has not been as easy as some DeSantis supporters thought. Recent campaign finance disclosures show high spending on the campaign trail, and the DeSantis team promised a campaign reboot during a Utah event with donors and fundraisers. DeSantis is looking to organize more in Iowa through the supporting super PAC Never Back Down. The organization currently employs 21 political staffers and 125 canvassers in Iowa, with plans for five offices in the state by August. The governor plans to hold three events with Never Back Down Thursday in Chariton, Osceola and Oskaloosa aiming to take advantage of Trump giving DeSantis an opening in Iowa on the campaign trail. The former president criticized Gov. Kim Reynolds for remaining neutral in the 2024 Republican presidential field on Truth Social, the social media platform he founded, earlier in July. Trump said he does not invite Reynolds to events and implied she won her 2018 election because of his endorsement and support. Reynolds told reporters that she owes her 2018 win to the Iowans who actually put their trust in me. She also said that she has invited all candidates, including Trump, to speak with her for one-on-one Fair Side Chats at the Iowa State Fair. Trump met with Fox News host Sean Hannity for an interview in Cedar Rapids earlier in July, and will meet with supporters at his campaign office opening in Urbandale Friday. He also plans to speak Friday at the Iowa Republican Partys annual Lincoln Dinner alongside 12 other candidates. Almost all the 2024 GOP candidates, with the exception of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who does not plan on campaigning in Iowa, plan to speak at the event. With the upcoming cattle call, multiple candidates are planning to hold other events in Iowa. Four candidates Larry Elder, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Perry Johnson and Miami mayor Francis Suarez will speak at a forum on entrepreneurship in Cedar Rapids earlier Friday. Scott plans to hold an event with Reynolds on Thursday in Ankeny; former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley will hold a town hall in Iowa City Saturday and former Vice President Mike Pence will attend the Clinton County GOP Annual Hog Roast in Clinton Sunday. Candidates hoping to build their presence in Iowa are also seeking to use that support to make it on the debate stage. So far, seven candidates have met the polling and fundraising criteria to appear on stage at the Republican National Committees first debate, scheduled for Aug. 23 in Milwaukee. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has not met the polling threshold to qualify, but announced reaching the fundraising requirement of 40,000 unique donors Wednesday. Burgums campaign has offered $20 gift cards to those who donate $1 to his campaign in a bid to meet the debate criteria, with some experts questioning on the legality of the practice. Burgum plans to speak at the Lincoln Dinner, but has not publicly announced any other events in the days surrounding the event. Luxinnovation, the national innovation agency, is a member of the consortium selected by the European Commission to support the Ukrainian innovation community. After a selection and evaluation process that began in the summer of 2022, the European Commission through its European Innovation Council (EIC) has chosen from a pool of 12 candidates the "Seeds of Bravery" consortium, coordinated by FundingBox Accelerator (Warsaw, Poland), to implement a support plan worth 20 million aimed at assisting the Ukrainian innovation community, whether they are young companies established or relocated to Ukraine or those outside the country. Invited by the Ukrainian startup fund to join the consortium, which consists of 20 startup organisations and associations (including 6 Ukrainian partners and 11 from other European countries), Luxinnovation will play a role in this initiative. It will be the leader of one of the seven work packages titled "Pan-European Integration and EU Portal," which will focus on integrating Ukrainian startups, especially those in deep tech, as well as innovators, entrepreneurs, and tech workers within the European space. Additionally, the work package will promote connections for deep tech communities. "We are thrilled to be part of this consortium, which recognises Luxinnovation as a trusted partner," says Sasha Baillie, CEO of Luxinnovation. "This also provides us with an excellent opportunity to support the Ukrainian startup ecosystem in Europe. This collaboration promises a win-win outcome, benefiting Ukraine and also enriching the European startup landscape through increased interconnectivity and shared prosperity." Luxinnovation will also be directly involved as co-lead in two other work packages: "Facilitating Access to Financing" and "Market Discovery and Accelerated Procedure." "We are convinced that the EIC initiative plays an essential role in empowering Ukrainian technology innovators, and we are delighted to support Ukraine's growth and seamless integration into the European innovation ecosystem," says Inna Perepelytsya, Senior Advisor for Startup Acceleration at Luxinnovation, who will be in charge of this project within the agency. The project will officially kick off in September 2023 in Poland with a launch meeting of the 20 consortium members. The initiative will continue until September 2025. "Seeds of Bravery" will provide direct financial support to at least 200 Ukrainian deep tech startups, granting each up to 60,000. Additionally, the EIC will offer non-financial support, such as business advisory services and networking opportunities. This action will strengthen the capacity of Ukrainian innovators to interact with the European innovation ecosystem, access new markets, and benefit from European funding instruments. "I congratulate Luxinnovation on this achievement and thank the agency for their efforts," concludes Minister of the Economy Franz Fayot. "In line with its strategic orientations, Luxinnovation encourages and supports companies on the path of innovation to enable them to seize the opportunities offered by new technologies and a constantly evolving environment. We are proud to note that the agency's know-how and skills are recognised on an international scale." Presse release by the Ministry of the Economy / Luxinnovation DANVILLE, Va. Pittsylvania County assessments are expected on average to come in at about 50% higher than the last figures from 2018, but county leaders are asking residents not to panic because supervisors have the power to reduce the tax rate. The latest reassessments are a do-over after the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors tossed out results by the firm Brightminds conducted in 2021. The process faced complications even before it started when a February 2021 letter the county termed as poorly edited angered residents who thought it meant they had to allow representatives to come into their homes for the reassessment. It went downhill from there. Sticker shock was the next thing to cause outage in November 2021 when residents opened notices to show skyrocketing prices. Eventually, supervisors threw out that reassessment and have had to rely on the latest figures on the books from 2018 for real estate taxes. By law, localities with more than 50,000 residents must conduct a reassessment every four years. In May 2022, the board of supervisors approved a contract with Pearsons Appraisal Services to complete the 2024 reassessment. With the contract, the county will pay Pearsons a per-parcel assessment fee of $26, which equates to about $1.38 million when spread over the 53,000 county parcels. Last week, Fred Pearson, of Pearsons Appraisal Service, updated members of the board of supervisors on the process. He said his firm has visited some 53,000 parcels for inspections and everything is on scheduled. Resident should expect to receive the notices of the new assessment in October. He bluntly warned that values are about 50% more than the 2018 rates. The county is far from alone in this situation and other localities are experiencing higher increases of values, he explained. Waterfront homes in the Smith Mountain Lake area have jumped even more. Looking at sales data alone, from 2018 through May, home values across Virginia jumped 61%, according to his presentation at the July 19 work session for the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors. The most important thing is to listen to property owners, Pearson explained, realizing many may be shocked when they open the notice. If we have something wrong, were going to change it, were going to do it right, he explained. Im just trying to reflect market value. However, with the massive jump, questions will be asked. Youre going to get more appeals than probably youve ever gotten before, he said. Pearson, who has been doing this sort of thing for 40 years, stressed that its vital to listen to the property owners. An appeals process will be available either face-to-face, over the phone or via email. Those hearings are planned in October and November. If that process isnt satisfactory, there will be a board of equalization made up of five property owners appointed by a judge who will hear appeals. In the end, Pearson should have all final values submitted to the county by Dec. 28. We are going to make sure we have plenty of staff to make sure its done in that time, he said. Bob Warren, a supervisor representing the Chatham-Blairs district, was pleased to hear this firm will listen to the residents. I also hope that all of our staff and all of our elected officials will allow this process to work, he said, instead of turning to Facebook to voice criticism, something that happened the last time around. Warren said not having the latest values for assessments have been detrimental to the countys budget. In fact, if not for federal coronavirus relief funding, they wouldnt have been able to balance the budget. I can tell you, we were not able to give the departments the amount of money we would have liked to have given them in he last two budget years because we didnt have the reassessment funds, he said. He also stressed patience over panic for residents. Because youre hearing a number of 50%, it doesnt mean youre net bill will go up by 50%. Thats because the board has the authority to lower the tax rate. Give the board time to evaluate and make adjustments, he said. Ron Scearce, who represents the Westover district, thanked Pearsons firm for their efforts and noted the last reassessment found more than 4,800 structures. GREENSBORO Police have arrested two men in connection with the July 17 robbery of Cass Jewelers. Ronald Barley, 38, and Antonio Woods, 36, were each charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon, felony conspiracy and two counts of second-degree kidnapping. Woods was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Greensboro police said in a news release Thursday. Police responded at 9:47 a.m. July 17 to the jewelry store at 4008-G Battleground Ave., which is in a shopping plaza with a large grocery store and other shops and restaurants just south of Summerfield. It was a Monday morning when two people entered the store about 15 minutes after it opened and robbed it at gunpoint of an undisclosed amount of cash, according to Geoff Cass, who was in his family-owned store when it happened. The robbers did not take any jewelry and no one was injured. No customers were in the store at the time of the robbery, Cass said. PLA garrison in Hong Kong organizes joint patrol Xinhua) 13:33, July 25, 2023 HONG KONG, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday mobilized some of its army, naval and air forces to conduct a joint patrol, focusing on training the troops' combat capability of rapid planning, emergency response, special situation handling, and joint operations. The joint patrol involved high-mobility infantry, ships, helicopters and other units of the armed forces, which was carried out under real combat conditions. The training mainly included setting up command posts, joint naval and air patrols, interception and verification, elimination of infiltrating enemies, and emergency evacuation of the wounded, which has effectively improved the troops' capability of joint operations. During the course of the joint patrol, the participating troops strictly complied with the laws and regulations of Hong Kong's waterway, port and aviation management, and notified in advance the relevant departments of the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) GREENSBORO A 23-year-old man facing a first-degree murder charge in a 2020 homicide has been arrested again after being out on bond and working at a local fast-food restaurant. Darien Akin Swain was one of two men arrested in the fatal shooting of Andrew Milan Dove, 36, in the 2300 block of Floyd Street on Sept. 1, 2020. Dove died from a free bleeding traumatic injury consistent with a gunshot wound to the head, according to court documents. Text messages obtained through a search warrant indicate a possible gun deal gone bad. Swain, who had no prior criminal history, was released from jail in October 2021 on a $500,000 secured bond while awaiting trial. The next court date in the homicide case is to be determined, Chief Assistant District Attorney Chris Parrish said Tuesday. On Monday, prosecutors voluntarily dismissed four traffic charges against Swain from summer 2022 when a state Highway Patrol Trooper said the Greensboro man was driving 89 mph in a 55 mph zone with a revoked license. Swain was also cited for reckless driving and not wearing a seatbelt. Swain also has charges of carrying a concealed gun and possession of marijuana paraphernalia pending against him in High Point. Theres a court proceeding scheduled Sept. 6 in that case, according to online records. In January 2021, prosecutors announced they would not pursue the death penalty against Swain and Roy Lee Thomas Jr., the other man charged in Doves death. As a result of a court hearing in March 2021, Swain was granted bond by Superior Court Judge Susan E. Bray. On July 6 of this year, an order was issued for Swains arrest after allegedly violating conditions of his pre-trial release. Swain, who was required to be electronically monitored by the Greensboro Police Department, had a court-ordered curfew between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., records show. But Swain accumulated 11 curfew violations between November 2022 and July 2023, according to the arrest warrant. Swain is now in the Greensboro jail with a $1 million bond. In an affidavit of indigency dated July 17, Swain wrote that he has been working at a local Wendys restaurant earning $1,900 a month. Swain was 20 when he and Thomas, then 19, allegedly met with Dove that September night about guns, according to court documents. After the shooting, Swain and Thomas were quickly stopped in their vehicle and Swain, who was in the passenger seat, was discovered to have a black RD .22-caliber revolver in his possession, according to court documents. Arresting officers also said Swain was carrying multiple hundred dollar bills that upon sight are likely counterfeit currency. In reports, detectives said they saw other guns in the vehicle: An AR-15 pistol or modified rifle with a magazine inserted and a Walther .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun were both located in front passenger floorboard. Its unknown when the case may go to trial. Generally, it now takes months longer for homicide cases to work through the legal system. After Swains arrest in 2020, multiple letters of support for him to be granted bond were placed in his court file. One dated Dec. 4, 2020 was written by Phidelia Crentsil, who shared her opinion of Swains character. As a pastors wife, I have always directed Darien to making right decisions and to stay away from friends who are not positive minded, she wrote. Hes not the kind of person who will kill. Theres been much said about the Florida Board of Education approving a new set of standards for how Black history should be taught in the states public schools. The cynic in me will not accept that this is the Sunshine States attempt to improve pedagogy. If that were the case, they would do away with Black history, removing from its current adjunct status to fully integrate it into the larger American narrative. History is not merely an examination of what happened; it also includes understanding the significance. Regardless of how one feels about the Florida boards attempt to improve the teaching of Black history, it falls short because it omits the interrelated aspect that American history requires for a more comprehensive appreciation. Can Black history be taught simply by the retelling of accomplishments by great Americans of a darker hue? Can Black history be understood by placing it on a separate but no less worn-out track that leaves the larger historical narrative wanting? Two of Americas seminal events were the Civil War and World War II. Can one understand Black history and the Civil War through the lives of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman? Wouldnt one also need to know about Kentucky Sen. John J. Crittenden? In December 1860, in an 11th-hour attempt to head off impending secession, Crittenden introduced legislation that would become known in the annals of history as the Crittenden Compromise. The Crittenden Compromise proposed six constitutional amendments and four congressional resolutions. Using lines drawn by the Missouri Compromise as the demarcation, the compromise would have made the institution of slavery permanent. Moreover, Crittendens bill specified that once it became law it could not be amended. Southern leaders supported the plan, but many Northern Republicans opposed it, as did President-elect Lincoln, which led to its defeat. Not long after the Compromise failed, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. But the challenge that the Crittenden Compromise presents, assuming it is taught accurately, effectively puts an end to the ridiculous propaganda claims that the Civil War was fought because of states rights. If one wishes to be historically accurate, the Civil War was fought because 11 states seceded from the Union. The primary reason for seven of the 11 seceding states, based on their articles of secession, was the preservation of the right to own human beings. Black history curricula that include World War II invariably discuss the valiant contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen. And well they should. But they should also include Mississippi Rep. John Rankin. Rankin, a footnote in Americas segregationist movement, probably had the biggest impact in curbing generational wealth for African Americans after the war. The GI Bill was a piece of sweeping legislation aimed at assisting returning soldiers by providing low-interest mortgages and stipends covering tuition and expenses for veterans attending college or trade schools. It also provided unemployment compensation. For millions of returning African Americans, the GI Bill became a myth, leading many to conclude the legislation was racist. But the credit should go to Southern Democrats in Congress, hence the contributions of Rankin. As chair of the House Veterans Committee, Rankin insisted that the program be administered by individual states instead of the federal government. The result of this subtle maneuver meant that many African Americans were denied loans in the South. And while more did receive loans in the North, many were systematically red-lined into areas where property values were less inclined to rise. Rankin cajoled congressmen to leave town while entrusting him as proxy for their votes on the bill. Shouldnt the aforementioned historical moments be part of at least the high school curriculum; or might it risk making white students ashamed of their history, as some claim? I dont worry about the intestinal fortitude of todays students, who are stronger, wiser and less concerned with the minutiae that constrains my generation ... which returns me to the cynicism that began this column. Are we going to continue to fall for the Banana in the tailpipe? (See the movie Beverly Hills Cop). The Florida Board of Education approving a new set of standards for how Black history is taught has less to do with improving education than reinforcing the belief that they represent the final wave of centurions protecting an inadequate status quo. SHELBYVILLE The owners of Mattoons original Burger King are taking their recipe for success to Shelbyville, but not the name. Ernie Drummond and his wife, Jodi, have announced their purchase of Shelbyvilles iconic ice cream and burger restaurant Drubys. It will be called The Original Burger. There cant be a King in that name, Ernie Drummond said. Weve got to be real careful with that. The restriction stems from a 1968 ruling by a federal judge preventing the owners of the restaurant from using the Burger King name beyond a 20-mile radius of Mattoon. Shelbyville is approximately 30 miles from Mattoon. The original Burger King in Mattoon traces its roots to 1952, predating the arrival of the burger chain with this same name in Illinois. The name withstanding, Drummond said visitors to the restaurant once it reopens under new ownership will recognize the similarities to its Mattoon counterpart. Its going to be pretty much a satellite of what we do (in Mattoon), Drummond said. Robert Bosgraaf, who has owned Drubys for 31 years, said he sold the restaurant because of health reasons. Ive been sick for about four years, he said. Its been pretty hard to have to leave. The restaurant, located at 520 W. Main St., will temporarily close beginning Aug. 5 while the new owners begin their changes. Changes will include alterations to the building. The kitchen will be expanded, removing Drubys seating. We are going to concentrate on the drive-thru, Drummond said. Shelbyville hosts a cruise night on the first Friday of each month. The event will honor Drubys during its Aug. 4 cruise. Bosgraaf said the Drummonds are a great pairing for the community. The way that they run their business is very similar to the way weve run ours, he said. I just want them to be successful. We anticipate good things from them. Drummond wants that as well. The couple studied the local options before deciding to expand their business. This just felt like a really good fit for us, he said. How Mattoon's Burger King set federal case law Dates to 1952 1959 trademark Expansion The decision Landmark law Today's menu The other Burger King DECATUR A felon who police say was busy assembling himself an illegal arsenal of guns via straw purchases by his girlfriend has been sent to prison for 19 years. Michael D. Stanley took a plea deal negotiated by defense attorney Monroe McWard and admitted two charges of the unlawful possession of weapons by a felon. Macon County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Geisler then agreed to dismiss seven further counts accusing Stanley, 44, of being an armed habitual criminal. A sworn affidavit from Decatur police said the Harristown defendant had been arrested Aug. 12 after Decaturs Rural King store became concerned about guns being purchased there were straw sales, meant to hide the true buyer. Detective Chad Ramey said when the girlfriend, Catrina Hall, showed up at the store accompanied by Stanley to pick up a new revolver and a semi-automatic handgun with a 30-round magazine, officers were waiting for them. Ramey said a subsequent search of the couples home found a safe next to the bed that held a 12-gauge shotgun, a Ruger AR rifle, three handguns and a massive amount of assorted ammunition." The detective said a cardboard box in their bedroom contained two 80% lower units for an AR-style rifle. Ramey said Stanley had reached out via Facebook to ask a local gunsmith to finish building the rifles for him, but the gunsmith had refused. Ramey said a check of Stanleys criminal record shows 10 convictions since 1997 for offenses ranging from mob action to aggravated battery and dealing in cocaine. He had been due to face a trial July 17 before changing his mind and agreeing to the plea deal. Passing sentence, Geisler also agreed to recommend Stanley for substance abuse treatment while he is incarcerated. Hall, 38, is free on $100,000 bail and is pleading not guilty to two charges of the illegal purchase of firearms with intent to deliver to another. She is due back in court for a pretrial hearing Aug. 3. 2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods Wilson Derrickson Colby J. Park TAYLORSVILLE Levi and Annie Teague are drawing lots of attention from music lovers. This hard-working duo has an extraordinary resume for such young people. Studying at Studio3 Music School in Taylorsville for years, they are now furthering their studies at the Annie Moses Conservatory in Tennessee. Levi Teague, age 15, was the principal violin in the Western Piedmont Youth Orchestra and a member of the String Quartet. He has been twice awarded concertmaster of the All Catawba Valley Middle School Honors Orchestra and the Southeast Honors String Festival. In addition to dazzling audiences with the violin at churches, weddings and concerts, Levi is an accomplished pianist and has received many awards in competitions like the North Carolina Federation of Music Clubs for performances in both violin and piano. Annie Teague, 12 years old, knows her way around a guitar, playing classical, electric, and rhythm guitar and delighting audiences. She also excels at the piano, voice and music composition and won superior ratings in many competitions and festivals. This past year, Annie was selected to perform her original composition on stage at Packard Playhouse in Tennessee. Levi and Annie, who are brother and sister, enjoy performing with the Studio3 Fiddle Club, Studio3 Musical Theater performances, and singing with the Studio3 Youth Chorus. HICKORY The exemplary leadership and dedication of Bryan Taylor, superintendent of Hickory Public Schools, were honored on July 13 with the presentation of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award, bestowed upon him by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is one of the highest civilian honors in the state of North Carolina and is reserved for individuals who have displayed exceptional service and outstanding contributions to their community, making a significant impact on the lives of others. The award was presented to Taylor on behalf of Cooper in recognition of his unwavering commitment to improving education within the Hickory Public School District. Taylors leadership has not only earned the admiration of his colleagues and the community but has also garnered statewide recognition. HICKORY Hickory Playground will have its seventh annual theater festival on Saturday, July 29, at 7:30 p.m. in the Drendel Auditorium. The festival is Hickory Playgrounds largest fundraiser of the year where all proceeds go directly back to arts departments in public education. Since their founding in 2016, the organization has donated $69,000 to 18 different public schools in Catawba County ranging from pre-school to high school. Hickory Playground 007 will feature eight new 10-minute plays, musicals, and comedy acts written, rehearsed, and performed in 48 hours by actors and writers from the community and beyond. On Thursday, actors and writers will meet for the first time. Names will be drawn from a hat as to which writer gets which actors. Once the actors and writers get acquainted, they are required to draw a random prop that must be prominently featured in their piece. We do this to ensure that all plays are original and written during the 48-hour timeframe and that the playwright writes for the actors they are randomly assigned, says Bill Morgan, artistic director of HPG. From there, the teams have 48 hours to create an original piece to be performed for the first time live to the festival attendees. This years theme is James Bond, leading to their cheeky nickname for the event, HPG007. HPG007 tickets are free with a suggested donation, and available at the door. Learn more at HickoryPlayground.org. Ralph Dagenhart, of Troutman, has written a book about his experiences in the U.S. Army 53 years ago. The book is titled: Pop Smoke: The Memoir of a 1st Cavalry Division Grunt, Vietnam/Cambodia, 1969-70 (Williamsburg, Virginia.: A15 Publishing Company, 2022.) A grunt, of course, is the basic foot soldier, infantryman, the ground-pounder, the occupant of a pair of combat boots on the ground. Dagenhart, a graduate of Troutman High School, class of 1964, is the son of the late Rowe T. Dagenhart, a World War II U.S. Army combat veteran originally from Alexander County, and the late Louise Ramsey Dagenhart, of Iredell County. Pop Smoke as Dagenhart explains was, and is, a military term for detonating a smoke grenade so airborne forces may find your location on the ground perhaps under a jungle canopy more easily, and so to be able to separate the good guys from the bad guys. Dagenharts 89-page memoir of the war is from an enlisted mans perspective. He ended up as a member of A Company, 5th Battalion, 7th Regiment. This was the famous Garryowen Regiment of the First Cavalry Division (Air Mobile). Garryowen is an Irish jig the regiment adopted as its march tune. Dagenharts writing rings true. First assigned to be a rifleman, he later was an RTO (Radio Telephone Operator), whose job it was to stick close to the company commander who needed to stay in communication with his platoons, as well as with the battalion commander. On one page he tells of taking a long-needed shower and while lathering up, to come under mortar fire for the first time. This is not a time for modesty, but a time for finding a safe place, clothed or not. Oct. 20, 1969, Dagenhart tells us, was the worst day of his life, and consequently, the hardest to write about in his book. On that date his company suffered multiple casualties at least nine killed and at least eighteen wounded from thirty rounds of 82mm mortars and small arms fire that hit Dagenharts company, which was waiting in a pick-up zone for helicopters. He tells what it was like to take the point on a combat patrol through thick jungle foliage, a dreaded dangerous duty he sometimes had to perform. Perhaps Dagenharts best memory from 50-some years ago happened when the commercial airliner carrying him homeward from his yearlong tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam cleared Vietnamese air space, an event which was announced on the aircrafts overhead speakers. Dagenhart recalls, After clearing the coastline, there was a tremendous hurrah and the talking and the laughing began. All of us had made it, and these young stewardesses treated us like royalty on our trip back to the states. I appreciated that Dagenharts book is interspersed with photos and each chapter beginning is embellished with quotes ranging from Plato to presidents Nixon and Johnson. The latter part of his book deals with his brief Army cold war service in Kansas and then in Germany after returning to the United States. Nineteen of Dagenharts brothers-in-arms in Company A made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam or Cambodia during his tour of duty. Dagenharts book is, no doubt, a form of catharsis, that is, by writing or speaking about what he went through, he cleanses himself from painful memories and suppressed emotions. By writing on what the war in Vietnam was like in his case from an enlisted infantrymans perspective is mentally helpful. Keeping things bottled up can lead to PTSD even years after returning to the world, as civilian life was called. In addition, such books as Dagenharts are historically valuable and give an idea of what the war in southeast Asia was really like. What would you give to have such a memoir written by an ancestor who served during Americas Civil War? For his service to his country, Sgt. Dagenhart was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge (the CIB), the Bronze Star, the Army Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Valorous Unit Citation, as well as some non-combat-related medals. Dagenhart explains that his book was originally intended to be written only for family, but that he was persuaded by a friend and fellow veteran to make his memoir available to a wider readership. The Iredell County Public Library is hosting a book signing for Ralph Dagenhart at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Ralph will be glad to meet you and autograph a copy of his book for you. The book will sell for $14. It should prove to be especially interesting reading for Iredell Countys many veterans of all branches of military service, not just Vietnam veterans. A Morganton man has been charged with two child sex offenses from the 1990s after investigators said they spent 17 months tracking down leads in three different states. Rodney Shawn Lane, 50, of Morganton, was charged Monday afternoon with two counts of first-degree sex offense with a child, according to a copy of a warrant filed at the Burke County Courthouse. The Morganton Department of Public Safety said in a news release it first received a report in February 2022 that Lane sexually abused a male juvenile. Since then, MDPS investigators have conducted more than a dozen interviews and traveled to three different states, and also located a second victim who said they were sexually abused by Lane, the release said. The crimes allegedly occurred between 1998 and 2001, and both victims said they were sexually assaulted multiple times during that period, the release said. Lane would've been around 25 at the time. A first-degree sex offense is a Class B1 felony in North Carolina. Lane would face at least 25 years in prison if convicted, according to North Carolina General Statute. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services lists Lane as a community accessibility specialist at the Morganton Regional Center for the division of services for the deaf and hard of hearing. The News Herald filed a public information request Tuesday morning with NCDHHS for Lane's employment records, and a subsequent request with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Information gathered from those requests will be published as soon as it becomes available. Lane is due in court Thursday. Hes being held at the Burke County Jail under a $200,000 secured bond. MDPS is asking anyone with information to call 828-437-1211 and ask to speak to someone in the criminal investigation division. With my longtime friend Andy Wells, a former state senator from Hickory, joining the Republican primary field for governor and Supreme Court Justice Mike Morgan publicly considering a run for the Democratic nomination, now seems like an opportune time to answer a frequently voiced question. Why in the world would anyone want to be governor of North Carolina? As Catawba College professor Michael Bitzer pointed out in a recent post at OldNorthStatePolitics.com, our states governors rank precisely 50th in the nation in institutional power. Most chief executives in other states possess line-item vetoes, for example. Here in North Carolina, the governor has the power to veto only bills in their entirety and cant veto local bills, redistricting plans, or proposed constitutional amendments. Moreover, most states dont split their executive branches among 10 separately elected statewide officials, as we do. Many state governors also have broad authority to staff departments, boards, and commissions with thousands of appointees. As of now, the governor of North Carolina appoints only 300. There are bills currently under consideration in the General Assembly to make that number even smaller. State government has never been precisely analogous to the federal system, which concentrates executive power in a single elected official. The president is commander-in-chief of the countrys armed forces, and requires the ability to act swiftly and decisively to national-security threats. Still, all properly constructed constitutions distinguish between legislative and executive branches. And all properly constructed constitutions, while separating those branches, makes the legislature more powerful than the executive. What makes our state distinctive is how just heavily our constitution presses down on the legislative side of the scale. The tradition dates back to the days of royal governors, who were often royal pains in the you-know-what. Given these facts, then, why are at least four prominent Republicans and possibly two prominent Democrats launching campaigns for governor? Because the offices formal duties do not represent the entirety of its power. North Carolinas chief executives influence political and policy outcomes in other ways. When governors speak, people hear them. One might argue that this mattered more in the pre-Internet days when newspapers and broadcast stations from across the state kept dozens of reporters in Raleigh covering state government and those media outlets collectively reached the vast majority of North Carolinians. But I think the governors megaphone remains wide and loud even in our current social-media age. In addition to this public-facing capability, many of our governors have also exercised tremendous influence behind the scenes among the lawmakers, Council of State members, and other public and private actors who set the agenda for policy debate in North Carolina. Whether it was Luther Hodges selling the concept of the Research Triangle in the 1950s, governors of both parties pushing education reforms in the 1960s and 1970s, Republican Jim Martin working with a Democratic legislature to restructure the state transportation system in the 1980s, or Democrat Jim Hunt hatching Smart Start and welfare reform in the 1990s, all these initiatives came to fruition before voters amended the constitution to give their governor veto power. Since the turn of the century, weve seen Mike Easley, Bev Perdue, Pat McCrory, and Roy Cooper enjoy both successes and failures. Having a veto strengthened their respective hands, to be sure, but each used appointments, public rhetoric, and private cajoling to good effect in at least one high-profile dispute with the legislative branch. At this writing, the Republican field for 2024 contains Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson, State Treasurer Dale Folwell, former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, and Andy Wells, who currently serves on the state board of transportation. Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein is definitely running for his partys nomination for governor, while Mike Morgan is reportedly thinking about it. Each of these individuals has experience in other public offices. Each understands the limits of gubernatorial power but still believes he can best serve North Carolina in the future by occupying that office. May the best leader win. In 2005, Arthur B. Shostak, a retired sociologist from Philadelphia's Drexel University, went on a Holocaust tour in Europe. An American professor led the tour, which was attended by 25 or 30 American Jews. It was both eye-opening and distressing, but probably not for the usual reasons. "We listened day after day and camp after camp we listened to the horror stories. And at the end of the two and a half weeks listening to this chap, my wife and I had an epiphany. A shared epiphany," Shostak, now 83, explained when we first interviewed him in 2019. "And the epiphany was we had just been subject to a great distortion, a great one-sided version, which drew standing applause at the end of the two and a half weeks from everybody except my wife and me." Advertisement The problem wasn't with what the tour leader had related to his group, Shostak says, but what he hadn't. In the telling of all the Holocaust's horrors in the stories of refugees being forced from their homes, in the trips through the haunting camps, in the stark black-and-white photos of the emaciated, wide-eyed survivors, in the shared, shameful history of death that envelops all who look into this scar on human history what Shostak and his wife found missing were the stories of hope. " " Andree Geulen-Herscovici, a Belgian woman who rescued some 300 Jewish children from the Nazis during the Holocaust, is awarded her honorary Israeli citizenship by Yad Vashem director Avner Shalev. In 1942, Geulen, now 97, was a schoolteacher in Brussels when she witnessed a Gestapo raid on the school to arrest Jewish children studying there. She joined the Jewish rescue organization, Committee for the Defense of the Jews, and for more than two years, collected Jewish children and moved them to Christian families and monasteries for safe-keeping during World War II. David Silverman/Getty Images Over the next several years his work continues today Shostak pored through the narratives of more than 200 Holocaust survivors, personally interviewed scores of them and studied remembrances from many other prisoners of war. In his research, he found hundreds of what he calls "help" stories from the majority of survivors tales of those who risked their own safety to aid those in need under the most horrific of circumstances. Many happened at the camps themselves. Shostak's 2017 book, "Stealth Altruism: Forbidden Care as Jewish Resistance in the Holocaust," recounts several of these stories, including that of Ruth Kluger, a starving 13-year-old who was moved to the line for the gas chambers upon her arrival at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. A young Jewish woman spoke up for Kluger, convincing German officers she could work in the camp. From the book: Now, many decades later, Ms. Kluger regards the brief incident as "an incomprehensible ace of grace, or put more modestly, a good deed. I was saved by a young woman who was in as helpless a situation as the rest of us, and who nevertheless wanted nothing more than to help me." She sees in this act of stealth altruism proof that "even in the perverse environment of Auschwitz absolute goodness was a possibility, like a leap of faith, beyond the humdrum chain of cause and effect." Ms. Kluger believes every survivor has a similar story, a "lucky accident," a "turning point" to which they owe their life. The stories are more than hopeful. They're inspiring. And these lessons don't apply only to the Holocaust, Shostak says. These stories of help can be uplifting in any place a human dilemma is found. "I wish the Black History Museum on the Mall [National Museum of African American History and Culture] highlighted examples of the Help Story during the mid-passage of slaves from Africa to the West Indies, and later during slavery in the USA," Shostak writes in an email. "Likewise, I wish media would highlight the Help Story during genocides in Darfur, Rwanda, the Sudan and elsewhere." They need to be included especially, Shostak insists, in any recounting of the Holocaust. Magda Herzberger has her stories of hope, too. Herzberger, now 94, first entered Auschwitz as an 18-year-old forced from her home in war-torn Romania. A few weeks into her time at the camp, with disease and death all around her Auschwitz was one of three camps she spent time in during the war Herzberger found herself considering suicide. A fellow prisoner, at risk of incurring the wrath of the soldiers, approached the despondent Herzberger one night the girls were classmates in elementary school and over the next few days talked her out of it. "She said, 'Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Didn't you think of your parents? You don't want to fight for your life for the sake of your parents? Don't have these crazy thoughts in your life," says Herzberger, recounting the episode over the phone from her home in Fountain Hills, Arizona. "The whole week she was giving pep. She brought hope into my life. She saved my life." " " Andree Geulen's secret notebook, in which she listed the names of all the Belgian Jewish children she hid and saved during World War II, on display in the museum of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. David Silverman/Getty Images Photo by Hunan Daily On July 23rd, "Pursuing China's Dream - Happy Hunan" 2023 Overseas Chinese Media Hunan Interview Tour was launched in Changsha. Sun Minsheng, Secretary of the Party Group and Vice Chairman of Hunan Overseas Chinese Federation, attended the launching ceremony and delivered a speech. Li Zuyuan, member of the party group and vice chairman of Hunan Overseas Chinese Federation, presided over the ceremony. "With a long history, thick humanities, magnificent scenery, and developed industries, Hunan is one of the provinces with the most regional characteristics and cultural heritage in China, and is renowned in the world for being the hometown of great men." At the launching ceremony, Sun Minsheng promoted Hunan in terms of history and culture, Hunan characters, ecological environment, industrial foundation and comprehensive strength, and introduced the highlights of Hunan Overseas Chinese Federation's work this year. He hoped that media friends would continue to support the work of Hunan Overseas Chinese Federation and tell the story of Hunan and the development of modernized Hunan to overseas Chinese and the rest of the world through the "Pursuing China's Dream - Happy Hunan" interview tour. From July 24th to 28th, 19 representatives of overseas media from 16 countries and regions, including France, Germany, Britain, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Malaysia, etc., part of the central overseas media, as well as the relevant provincial and municipal news media will go into Changsha, Loudi, and Chenzhou to conduct field visits and interviews, to feel the charm of Hunan's mountains and rivers, and the custom and cultures, and to make the beauty of Hunan visible to the world through words and lenses. An Australian Digital ID system could be live as soon as the middle of next year according to the Federal Minister for Public Service, Katy Gallagher. Speaking at the AFR Government Services Summit in Canberra on Tuesday, Minister Gallagher said Cabinet had approved the project to move into its consultation phase with a draft exposure bill to be available hopefully by September. I'd like to get it into the Federal Parliament this year if that's possible, the minister said. I think that's important because no doubt it will undergo a bit of a committee process through the Parliament, particularly in the Senate, I expect where it is contested territory. And then, you know, if all things line up and we're able to move pretty swiftly, we could have legislation in place, mid-year next year. The Ministers comments are the latest move in the government's push to introduce a national digital ID scheme and follow last months agreement between the state and federal governments to increase the use of biometric data for a federal system. Junes agreement between jurisdictions included a set of 10 principles about how ID services ought to operate across the country to encourage adoption and reduce fraud. Minister Gallagher also highlighted some of the issues facing a national digital ID system, saying I think from the everyday person's point of view, we've got the system. It's just not regulated and not in a shape I think that will allow us to drive it forward and give the interoperability and the economy wide benefits that come from having a national system, but we're very committed to it. The Digital ID scheme is not without its critics, with older privacy advocates being reminded of its similarities to the aborted Australia Card proposed, then abandoned, by Hawke government in the late 1980s. Senator Gallagher roundly rejected these criticisms, saying I think we do need to be very clear in our communication about what this is. It's not a number, it's not a card, it's a whole range of things that it's not which will be argued that it is. It's really about you having control as citizens; control of their information that allows them to access government systems in a very easy, secure, voluntary and efficient way. But you know, I'm going in with my eyes open that there's a fair bit of work to do on this and hopefully bipartisan support. The Ministers attitude reflected that of former NSW Digital Government Minister and champion of government digital services, Victor Dominello, who attended yesterdays event. At his farewell speech to the Tech Council of Australia last March, Dominello said "We can't allow some people that are misinformed to say 'this is back to the Australia Card debate'. The Australia Card debate took place in a world without the Internet. "This is the opposite of the Australia Card, this is empowering individuals for tech and privacy, not the other way around and we need to make sure that we're advocates because that's true. This will strengthen our country." While governments and ministers both serving and former are enthusiastic about a national digital ID scheme, the risks and regulatory failings of Australias cybersecurity and privacy regimes continue to be exposed with the ABC today reporting fraudsters have managed to defraud the Australian Tax Office out of over half a billion dollars through flaws in the MyGov system. Published on the ABCs website, the story went on to explain the frauds are due to a flaw in how the ATO and MyGov link to taxpayers accounts and criminals are able exploit identities that have been compromised by recent data breaches such as those experienced by Optus and Medibank customers. The revelations of MyGovs weaknesses wont be good news for advocates of a national digital ID program, and Minister Gallagher acknowledged there was a way to go to ensure security and privacy under the scheme. Being able to be very clear about what we are doing that it is citizen centred, she said. It is about securing your information and protecting your information and ensuring that you know, when that information is shared, it's done under a regulated system and that there are options so we're going with the ACCC as the regulator in the first instance, that's an in a sense an interim regulator, but they do across the Federal government, they have the most experience in dealing with you know, consumer issues across the economy. But I would imagine that as the system develops, and as there's more digital and data interaction and sharing going on across the economy and across governments that this would grow into a digital specific regulator. We dont know how the war in Ukraine will end, but some day and somehow there will be some kind of conclusion. What then? What seems most likely now is that the war will become a war of attrition with both sides digging trenches, holding on defensively and neither able to make significant gains. The war could go on for many years without a definite conclusion, with neither Russia nor Ukraine being willing to call an end to the fighting. However, writes Rand Corporation commentator Brian Michael Jenkins, The battles come closer to the kind of trench warfare seen in World War I a situation that favors the Russians who, because of larger numbers, are more able and apparently willing to accept high casualties for limited gains. However, some military observers believe the losses on both sides will be unsustainable, and that 2023 will be the decisive year. Another possibility is that Russias nightly attacks on Ukraines civilian infrastructure will finally undermine the countrys will to continue the fight. But the example of Britains holding out during Germanys nightly bombing blitz shows that such damaging tactics do not necessarily break the will of the victim nation. But if the U.S. and NATO nations, for some reason, reduce support, the Ukrainian efforts might be undermined which could lead to Russia prevailing. However, as Jenkins points out, Regardless, any of these would be, for the Russians, a pyrrhic victory. While Russia could occupy Ukraine, it may never be able to pacify the Ukrainians. A highly motivated underground resistance could continue for years. What about a negotiated settlement? Maybe someday, but the parties are so far apart, it seems unlikely. In March 2022, Putin set out conditions for ending the war: Ukraine would have to be a neutral country and not join NATO. It would recognize the independence of the Russian-backed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk and recognize Crimea as Russian. It would, according to Jenkins, have to demilitarize and surrender any weapons that constituted a threat to Russia; Ukraine would have to be de-Nazified, meaning a change of regime to one acceptable to Russia; and Russian would have to become an official second language in Ukraine. These are not acceptable by Ukraine, even as a starting point. Ukraine conditions for peace are similarly unacceptable to Russia. These include, according to Jenkins, an end to hostilities and withdrawal of Russian forces; the restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity; Russian withdrawal from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant; an end to Russian interference with Ukraines food exports; the return of all POWs and civilians, including children, who have been forcibly deported to Russia; and the creation of a special tribunal to assess reparations owed to Ukraine. Kyiv has also stated that Russian war criminals must be punished, that sanctions on Russia should continue, and that Russia must be punished for its invasion by stripping it of its seat (and thus veto power) on the United Nations Security Council. What about a coup to overthrow Vladimir Putin? The short rebellion of the Wagner forces raised the hopes of coup plotters, but Jenkins says it seems improbable. Nikita Khrushchev was the only Soviet leader to have been removed from power, and that occurred because there were other powerful actors in the Kremlin. Today, there is no similar politburo, indeed no functioning government institutions that might challenge Putins rule. Whatever the end game for this war, the Atlantic community and the Western world will miss the benefits of the great contributions Russia could make if it were a part of that community. The country has great potential in intellectual firepower, industrial strength, and artistic talents. Sadly, it appears that these potentials seem destined to be wasted. COMPANY NEWS: Leading software and services company Advanced has today announced that Andrew Henderson has been appointed as the companys new chief technology officer. Henderson replaces Narinder Sahota who was appointed CTO in 2021. Sahota has been appointed as Advanceds chief services officer to run the companys services organisation. Henderson brings to the role twenty years experience in supporting start-up technology firms and global financial services firms to deliver value and growth to their customers through the deployment of innovative technology solutions. Having worked with brands such as JP Morgan Chase in the US, Westpac in New Zealand, and ING Bank where his role of global chief technology officer took him to Australia, Ukraine and the Netherlands, Henderson has a strong understanding of the large-scale organisational need for digital transformation across a global market. In 2012, Henderson was named Australian CIO of the Year for his innovative work transforming ING Bank. Commenting on the appointment, Advanceds recently-appointed CEO Simon Walsh said: We are delighted to welcome Andrew to Advanced. His expertise in leading large engineering teams, agile ways of working and utilising technology to increase the speed and quality of delivery, will be vital in supporting how we transform, develop and deliver our software services for our customers. In his role, Andrews top priorities will be to develop a highly skilled, energised and proud engineering team, and to simplify and modernise our portfolio, introducing next generation technologies to accelerate Advanceds Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) business. Commenting on his appointment, Henderson said: Im thrilled to be joining Advanced at such a pivotal moment in the organisations growth. My passion lies in delivering integrated cloud services with continuous delivery technologies to enable customers to rapidly scale in-line with growth. At Advanced, our operational infrastructure is a key dependency for our growth and success and Im really excited to start building and delivering our new technologies to drive significant growth across our portfolio. A native of New Zealand, Andrew will relocate to New Zealand next month. GUEST OPINION: For the first part of this Q&A, iTWire spoke to i-PRO director APAC (Oceania) Marius Van Der Merwe about the role of Artificial Intelligence in edge devices. Part 1 Q: Quickly tell us a bit about what i-PRO has been up to in the past few months, since the brand change team growth, new partners etc? Van Der Merwe: Since the brand change from Panasonic, i-PRO has been focusing on expanding its team and partnerships. In terms of team growth, we have hired new professionals in product management, sales, and engineering, strengthening our expertise in the field to be close to our partners. We now have 1,300 Plus employees operating across the globe. As part of our Open Policy strategy, i-PRO has also formed key partnerships with market leading companies like Genetec, Milestone and Luxriot on the VMS side to support extended market reach. We are also working with different technology partners in to further enhance our open AI platform on the edge strategy. We position ourselves in the market as a hardware manufacturer focusing on the development of powerful Edge-AI cameras, open for customisation and integration. We opened our second factory in Japan very close to our R&D development centre last year. With the opening of this facility, we will be in a position to respond very quickly to the ever-changing demands and requirements of our customers across the globe. Q: What are you seeing in the market at present are economic conditions making things difficult, supply chains still an issue? VDM: The global surveillance camera industry, same as the whole tech industry, has been heavily affected by knock on effects of the pandemic, with supply chain disruptions being one of the biggest impacts to the market. This has driven a strong pivot for improved business efficiencies, increasing a demand for intelligent security cameras, especially in industries such as retail, transportation, city surveillance and healthcare so actually we have seen the market growing in these sectors for i-PRO. To make sure we can anticipate this growth together with our partners and meet increased market demands, i-PRO put countermeasures in place to ensure industry wide component shortages were not a factor, enabling i-PRO to maintain standard supply processes. Today, i-PRO is one of the rare hardware manufacturers who can deliver its products consistently in a timely manner. Our ability to maintain a high level of control and ownership over our production facilities and supply chain management enables us to achieve this. In parallel, we are re-evaluating our own internal processes to make sure our seamless operations can be passed on to our customers, so they are not faced with hardware shortages, and can carry out and install their projects on time. Q: Tell us a bit about i-Pros product vision at present what are you doing with cameras that sets the company apart? VDM: We want to combine our strong legacy with our vision for the future. Our company adage is "your trusted next generation partner". With more than 60 years of experience in the security industry, i-PRO is known for reliable and powerful hardware at the highest level. Our line-up is fully NDAA compliant, and because we recognise the importance of data protection and integrity, i-PRO is the leading manufacturer with the largest range of products meeting the highest level of cyber-security protection in the market (FIPS 140-2 level 3 Certified). As pioneers in the AI era as we understand the huge potential behind this new technology, but also the responsibility that comes with it. i-PRO wants to make meaningful and usable AI more accessible for everyone. This is why our product line-up as of today includes 123 models already equipped with AI and more to be launched during this year. We see AI technology as our company standard, which is why our in-house applications are provided for free, to encourage customers to test and use it. Q: AI is literally everywhere these days we have moved from it being something that everyone aspired to in their hardware and software, to a reality. What is the role of AI in a security camera? VDM: All manufacturers claim that they have AI of some sorts. We have an explosion of startup companies that are developing AI applications, as well as companies building server-based AI applications. It is all happening at the moment, and very exciting. I think the reality is that we are at an infant stage of AI Artificial intelligence. The security camera or CCTV Camera as you know it today has started to change, we are getting bigger processor power at the edge and are now analysing that data on the edge. The role of AI in a security camera is to enable advanced analytics and enhance the camera's ability to detect and identify objects, individuals, and activities accurately. AI algorithms can analyse the video feed in real-time and provide insights into potential security threats or anomalous behaviour. Some of the key applications of AI in security cameras include facial recognition, object detection, behaviour analysis, and predictive analytics. Facial recognition can be used to flag individuals and provide alerts if a known person is detected, while object detection can help identify potentially dangerous objects in restricted areas. Behaviour analysis can detect abnormal or suspicious behaviour. AI can also help reduce false alarms by filtering out irrelevant events and focusing on critical ones. This can save time and resources for security personnel and enable more efficient and effective security operations. For example, thanks to an i-PRO plug-in called Active Guard, Security Officers no longer have to spend time looking at multiple screens for persons or vehicles of interest or watch hours of recorded video to search for important events. Operators can register specific characteristics in their watch lists (for instance male wearing a red shirt and blue pants) and the VMS will send them a real-time alarm whenever a match is identified. This enhances real-time situational awareness and enables proactive security. The same process can be set up for fast data mining of events during forensic investigations. Overall, AI in security cameras can provide a higher level of security, accuracy, and intelligence, making it a valuable tool for organisations to improve their security level and reduce risk. This, however, is only the tip of the iceberg and can be classified as machine learning. This topic is so big that it will take volumes to completely discuss and get your head around it. However, i-PRO do believe that we have changed from a traditional CCTV camera to a visual IoT device with very powerful capabilities, as we process more at the edge and just send the data. As we become more hardware focused that will give many AI solution companies that ability to bring their analytics to the edge. Cloud computing company Appian has opened its new regional headquarters in Sydney, located at the landmark 25 Marin Place (formerly MLC Centre). Situated within an iconic building created in 1978 by architect Harry Seidler, the new office will serve as a hub for Appian to continue its growth in Australia and throughout the APAC region. "Were thrilled to have expanded into new regional headquarters in Sydney. This premier space will provide a strategic hub for our teams across the region, enabling them to collaborate more effectively with our customers and partners," said Appian chief partner officer and co-founder Marc Wilson. Appian customers include financial services, legal, and public sector organisations such as Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Pepper Money, MinterEllison, Queensland Government and recent Appian Innovation Award winners for APJ, Westpac and Helia. "Throughout our time in Australia, we have had the privilege of working with exceptional partners who have believed in our vision and worked with us to drive transformative change, continued Wilson. Our partners will be instrumental in shaping our future growth, expanding our reach, and solidifying our position as the leader in the process automation industry. Microsoft has made a profit of US$72.4 billion (A$106.7 billion) on revenue of US$211.9 billion for the fiscal year which ended on 30 June, the company announced on Tuesday, adding that the annual revenue figure was an increase of 7% over the previous fiscal year. Also announced were figures for the final quarter of the fiscal year, which saw the company pull in US$56,2 billion in revenue, a rise of 8% year-on-year, and profit of US$20.1 billion. The results come at a time when the company is under pressure over a breach of its Azure platform which led to several US Government sites being hit. Microsoft has come in for criticism from industry figures even as it obfuscated about the incident, said to be perpetrated by attackers from China, most recently denying a detailed technical post about the breach by cloud security firm Wiz, after having given its blessing to the post. Added to that, Microsoft is yet to release patches for security holes in both Windows and Office, despite announcing the vulnerabilities duringon 11 July. Chairman and chief executive Satya Nadella said in a statement: "Organisations are asking not only how but how fast they can apply this next generation of AI to address the biggest opportunities and challenges they face safely and responsibly. We remain focused on leading the new AI platform shift, helping customers use the Microsoft Cloud to get the most value out of their digital spend, and driving operating leverage. Executive vice-president and chief financial officer Amy Hood added: We delivered a solid close to the fiscal year driven by Microsoft Cloud quarterly revenue of US$30.3 billion, up 21% (up 23% in constant currency) year-over-year." The company has recently received a boost in its bid to acquire games giant Activision Blizzard, with the two firms agreeing to extend their deadline for an agreement to 18 October. Prior to that, Microsoft and Sony agreed to keep the popular game Call of Duty on PlayStation after the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a step which was seen as moving the deal a step closer. The deal now awaits approval from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority, which has indicated that it would be open to a change in the transaction which would address the concerns it has set out in its final report. Australian smartphone vendor Aspera Mobile has timed the release of a $99 range of smartphones at what appears to be the right time, when budgets are strained due to rising interest rates and inflation is a long way from being tamed. A statement from the company said the 4G AS5 would be the first to be released in a series being put out to mark 10 years in business. Aspera Mobile managing director Allan Robertson said: We were delighted to celebrate our 10th year as a fully Australian-owned and operated business this year. "To mark the occasion, we are launching our new range of phones starting with the AS5 4G smartphone for just $99. For the AS5, we are offering many of the features that are included in higher-priced smartphones and thus, by definition, redefining what is possible at this price point. "For example, the AS5 offers a 1.6GHz Octa-core processor, 2GB RAM plus 1GB virtual RAM and face recognition, which we believe is the first time this combination of features have been offered in Australia in an unlocked smartphone under $100. "You will pay significantly more to see all of these features in other phones. Over the years, Aspera has released a number of smartphones meant for those on low budgets. Robertson claimed the AS5 and other devices to launched in 2023 would set the company apart from its competitors. "The AS5 is a compact, well-featured, but lower-cost smartphone aimed squarely at the younger audience, the budget-conscious and indeed anyone who wants the power and versatility of a smartphone at a fraction of the cost of what you will pay from many other manufacturers," he said. "It has a quality feel, two good cameras and many other features which make it terrific value at just $99. The AS5 ic also claimed to bring more smarts to its memory use with its Octa-Core CPU and the ability to re-assign any available ROM to create an additional 1GB of virtual RAM and help the OS and apps launch and run faster and more efficiently. The AS5 is one of six new Australian designed models set to release in 2023. Our customer support centre is also based in Australia and as a result of our continued commitment to the Australian market, Im delighted to say we recently notched up over one million phones sold and we have also continued to export products to the wider Oceanic region," Robertson added. The AS5 will have the following features: Face recognition Octa-Core 1.6GHz CPU 2GB RAM + 32GB ROM plus up to 1GB additional virtual RAM allocated from unused ROM 5-inch FWVGA display 4G connectivity with VoLTE data calls improving voice quality 5MP rear and 5MP front camera 2000mAh Li-Ion removable battery Micro USB, Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity Dual 4G SIM slots Android 13 (Go edition) 4G bands - 1/3/5/7/8/28a+b, 3G bands - 850/900/2100Mhz 146.5mm*74mm*9.9mm in size The device has gone on sale and can be bought at Big W, Ritchies IGA, Seasons IGA, Freedom Fuels, Trinity Petroleum, Mobiciti and Personal Digital. include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. The Education Department is investigating whether Harvard University's use of legacy and donor preferences in admissions violates federal civil rights law following a complaint that the practice is discriminatory. Lawyers for Civil Rights alleged in their complaint that the school's use of such preferences in undergraduate admissions is unlawful because they overwhelmingly benefit applicants who are White and hurt applicants of color. Universities that use legacy preferences - which give an advantage to applicants with family who attended the school - have often defended the practice by saying it fosters closer relations with alumni. Graduates are often donors and can benefit schools in a variety of ways. But the preferences have come under intensified attack in recent weeks after the Supreme Court struck down the use of race-based affirmative action in admissions at Harvard and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Selective college admissions are typically opaque. But the federal case that ended at the high court brought forth documents that showed how substantial a benefit the legacy tip gave some applicants to Harvard. From 2009 to 2015, according to court records, about 34 percent of U.S. applicants whose parents were Harvard alumni were admitted. The admission rate for applicants who weren't "legacies" was just 6 percent. Harvard officials say the university has been reviewing its admissions policies in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling to ensure it is complying with the law "and to carry forward Harvard's long-standing commitment to welcoming students of extraordinary talent and promise who come from a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences." "Our review includes examination of a range of data and information, along with learnings from Harvard's efforts over the past decade to strengthen our ability to attract and support a diverse intellectual community that is fundamental to our pursuit of academic excellence," Nicole Rura, a Harvard spokeswoman, said in a statement. The university offers significant financial aid to help attract students from varied backgrounds. According to the school, 20 percent of students pay nothing to attend, and more than half receive need-based scholarships. Starting this school year, families with annual incomes of up to $85,000 will not be expected to contribute anything to the cost of their child's education. The Education Department's Office for Civil Rights confirmed that there is an open investigation of Harvard under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. But the office declined to say more, saying it does not comment on open investigations. The law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program that receives federal funding. In a letter to Lawyers for Civil Rights, the agency cautioned that "opening the complaint for investigation in no way implies that OCR has made a determination on the merits of the complaint." Oren Sellstrom, litigation director of Lawyers for Civil Rights, said they are pleased the department acted swiftly to open the investigation. "It's certainly a matter of urgency for our clients and the communities we work with," he said. The complaint was filed on behalf of the African Community Economic Development of New England, the Greater Boston Latino Network and the Chica Project. He noted that immediately after the Supreme Court decision on affirmative action, President Biden urged federal agencies to investigate unfair barriers to equal opportunity for students of color. Biden said legacy preferences "expand privilege instead of opportunity." Former Harvard president Lawrence H. Summers, in an op-ed for The Washington Post, said ending such preferences is one of many changes elite colleges should make. Last fall, a Washington Post-Schar School poll found that 75 percent of Americans believe it is inappropriate for universities to give preferential treatment in admissions to applicants whose family graduated from the school. Sellstrom said court records from the affirmative action case indicated that nearly 70 percent of legacy applicants and donor-related applicants are White. Court documents also suggested that if legacy preferences had been removed from the process, admissions for Black, Latino and Asian students would all have increased, he said. Sellstrom said Harvard should follow the lead of schools, such as MIT, Amherst College and Johns Hopkins University that have voluntarily abandoned legacy preferences. In recent days, Wesleyan University and the University of Minnesota announced that they would no longer use them. "But if Harvard does not," Sellstrom said, "we will move forward expeditiously in prosecuting our complaint." include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. A federal judge in California on Tuesday struck down the Biden administration's temporary restrictions on migrants seeking asylum, ruling that the government's plan to reduce illegal crossings on the U.S.-Mexico border violated federal law. U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar ruled against a system the Biden administration imposed more than two months ago that penalizes migrants who cross the border illegally and rewards those who instead scheduled appointments to seek asylum. Tigar delayed his ruling from taking effect for 14 days to give the government time to appeal. The judge, a Barack Obama nominee, sided with advocacy groups that had argued that the Biden restrictions violated federal law in part by endangering migrants fleeing harm and preventing migrants from seeking asylum if they crossed the border illegally, which Congress never intended. Tigar said in his ruling that the Biden administration's temporary asylum restrictions were "both substantively and procedurally invalid." The Biden administration immediately moved to appeal in hopes of preventing Tigar's ruling from taking effect. Officials asked Tigar to consider delaying his ruling longer than two weeks while the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit considers the government's position. Administration officials said in their request to Tigar after his ruling that lifting the restrictions could lead to a major influx of migrants that could overwhelm the immigration system and cause severe crowding in holding facilities. Justice Department spokesman Terrence Clark said in a statement that the government is confident that the recent restrictions are lawful. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a news briefing Tuesday that the asylum rule "remains in full effect." "And as we have said multiple times, our border enforcement plan works," she said. "Unlawful border crossings have come down to the lowest that we have seen in the past two years." Biden administration officials imposed the temporary restrictions in May as they ended a pandemic-related policy known as Title 42 that allowed border agents to quickly expel migrants without considering their asylum claims. Record numbers of migrants have attempted to cross the border since Biden took office, largely fleeing pandemic-damaged economies and authoritarian governments. Without the restrictions, officials said, they anticipated that more migrants would claim asylum at the border, whether they were eligible for it or not, to gain entry into the United States. The U.S. immigration courts are so backlogged that migrants can live and work in the country for years while they await a decision in their cases. The temporary restrictions said migrants would be ineligible for asylum if they crossed the border illegally or failed to seek protection in another country, such as Mexico, on their route. Migrants could seek asylum by scheduling an appointment via a government app or by having a U.S. resident sponsor them to come to the United States through a program called "parole." Migrants can also bypass the restrictions if they face a serious health condition or an imminent safety threat. After entering legally, they can apply for asylum. Border apprehensions dropped to 99,545 in June, the first full month the restrictions were in effect, a nearly 42 percent decline from the month before and the lowest monthly tally since Biden took office. Tigar acknowledged in his decision that the border numbers had dropped, easing pressure on federal border agents and U.S. cities and towns. He agreed with the advocacy groups that the restrictions violated the Administrative Procedure Act for three reasons: He said they are contrary to federal law; they are "arbitrary and capricious" in part because they rely on faulty reasoning; and the public only had 30 days to comment, which he said was inadequate. Tigar said the Biden administration cannot declare migrants ineligible for asylum if they crossed the border illegally because federal law says it does not matter how they entered the country if they say they are fleeing persecution. He said the U.S. government also cannot compel migrants to seek asylum in countries that lack robust asylum systems or are unsafe. In Mexico, for instance, he wrote that migrants are at "extraordinary risk of violence," including kidnapping for ransom and rape. Katrina Eiland, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who argued the case before Tigar at a hearing last week, and other advocates for immigrants celebrated the ruling for defending the right to seek protection in the United States. "These are our asylum laws that we've had on the books for more than 40 years," she said. To qualify for asylum, which can lead to U.S. citizenship, a migrant must have a well-founded fear that they will face persecution in their native country because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or another characteristic. Asylum requests have soared in recent years to a historic high of more than 1.5 million, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. The influx has fueled concerns that migrants are claiming fear to get into the United States, where they can live and work legally for years as they await a hearing in the backlogged immigration courts. Most asylum seekers lose their cases, officials said, but they are rarely deported because of staffing shortages and policies that discourage the deportation of migrants with deep roots in the United States. Tigar's decision Tuesday echoed his prior rulings on the issue under the Trump administration, which had instituted similar restrictions on asylum seekers. In 2018, Tigar temporarily blocked the Trump administration from denying asylum to migrants who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. The 9th Circuit and the Supreme Court declined to stay that decision. Tigar also shot down a 2019 rule that prohibited migrants from seeking asylum if they had not asked for refuge in a country they passed through on their way to the U.S.-Mexico border. The Supreme Court, without explanation, later allowed the rule to take effect throughout the border while the case made its way through the courts. That policy was soon overtaken by border expulsions during the pandemic. Blas Nunez-Neto, the top border policy official at the Department of Homeland Security, said last week that he worried the backlogged immigration courts were becoming a draw to migrants, who are paying smugglers $10,000 to $15,000 to take them on perilous trips to the border, including 50-mile treks through the Darien Gap, the jungle linking Central and South America. "We are seeing the court system essentially become a proxy legal pathway for people to come into the United States and work while they're here," he said at an event hosted by the Migration Policy Institute, a think tank. Immigration courts Director David Neal said at the event that immigration officers are filing twice as many cases as the judges are adjudicating. Judges are on track to complete nearly 500,000 cases this year, a record, but they expect 1 million new cases this year. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who is scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, cautioned that Tigar's ruling will not change the agency's authority to detain and deport immigrants who are ineligible for protection. Immigrants who cross the border illegally could be "subject to prompt removal," barred from reentering the country for at least five years, and subject to criminal prosecution, he said in a statement. The eponymous physicist and "father of the atom bomb," J. Robert Oppenheimer, is plagued by visions of the terrible destruction wrought by the weapon he helped create. It's understandable that Oppenheimer would have qualms about the unfathomable horror inflicted on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but launching these attacks was clearly the right decision. Secretary of War Henry Stimson and President Harry S. Truman talked after the war of the cost estimates of an invasion of Japan going as high as 1 million U.S. casualties. These estimates are controversial but not unreasonable. Certainly, there was every reason to expect ferocious Japanese resistance. At Iwo Jima, the Marines suffered an ungodly casualty ratio. Of 70,000 Marines committed to the battle, almost 7,000 were killed and another 20,000 wounded. Almost all of the roughly 20,000 Japanese soldiers on the island fought to the death. In his authoritative account of the war's endgame in the Pacific, "Downfall," Richard Frank writes, "Given the record Japan had created, every American could foresee an unimaginably bloody finish fight requiring not only an invasion, but a further interminable struggle against Japanese armed forces elsewhere in Asia and the Pacific." There can be no doubt that Truman's decision to drop the bomb saved American lives, whether it was 5,000, or 50,000, or 500,000. Since that was his first responsibility as the leader of the United States, this alone should create a strong presumption toward dropping the bombs being the right call. The awful truth is that the atom bombs weren't that different in kind from the incendiary raids already undertaken by Air Force Gen. Curtis LeMay. According to James M. Scott in his recent book, "Black Snow," LeMay's bombers burned down more than 178 square miles of 66 Japanese cities. Significant Japanese voices said after the war that the firebombing was an enormous and consequential blow to Japanese morale. There's really no moral case against the atom bombs that doesn't also apply to the firebombing. So if both of these tactics were to be left off the table, what would remain? A blockade? In 1945, Japan was already looking down the barrel of mass starvation, with daily caloric intake constantly dwindling. The problem, obviously, with starving a country out is that a lot of people are going to die. How about letting the Soviets do the dirty work? This would have had major geopolitical downsides, of course, and wasn't a particularly moral option, either, given that the Soviets killed roughly 350,000 Japanese nationals in their short time in the Pacific war. It's also important not to forget the cost of the ongoing conflict throughout the region. Scott writes, "March 1945, for example, saw 240,000 noncombatants killed across Asia, an average of 8,000 people a day." All the counterfactuals aside, the atomic bombs definitely ended the war -- and did it more quickly than any other option. The surrender message of the Japanese emperor spoke of a "new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is indeed incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives." There is simply no way around the fact that defeating Imperial Japan, which brought bestial cruelty wherever it went, was going to require a cataclysm one way or the other -- whether from the air or the ground, whether a form of destruction very new or very old, whether sudden or drawn out. "Oppenheimer" uses to great effect the famous, haunting line that the scientist is associated with from the Bhagavad Gita: "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." In the Pacific in the 1930s and 40s, it was Imperial Japan that was the destroyer of worlds. It had to be stopped. After years of struggle, Oppenheimer's handiwork finally did it and -- at a great cost, yes -- brought peace and amity where there had only been violence and despair. Thank you, Dr. Oppenheimer. (COMMENT, BELOW) SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. First thing to note: Christie held a town hall there in hopes of selling his aggressively anti-Trump message to Republican voters. Let's just say it's a hard sell in South Carolina. Now, there are two new polls, both from Fox Business, that shed light on the status of the Republican race in Iowa and South Carolina. The Iowa survey, of 806 caucusgoers, found former President Donald Trump with 46% of the vote and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) 30 points behind with 16%. In a development that is attracting a lot of attention, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) is in third place with 11%, just 5 points behind DeSantis. Behind the top three are Vivek Ramaswamy at 6%, Nikki Haley at 5%, former Vice President Mike Pence at 4%, Doug Burgum and Chris Christie at 3% each, and Asa Hutchinson and Francis Suarez each at 1%. In the South Carolina poll, of 808 primary voters, Trump is in the lead with 48% of the vote, while former South Carolina Gov. Haley not DeSantis is in second place with 14%. DeSantis is in third place with 13%. After that come Scott with 10%, Pence with 4%, Ramaswamy with 3%, Christie with 2%, and Hutchinson with 1%. Burgum, Suarez, and a few others have too little support to measure. Two important points about the polls. The first is that Trump's numbers in Iowa and South Carolina mirror his numbers nationwide. You've heard many analysts me included point out that national polls are interesting, but it's important to remember the GOP race is a series of state contests, beginning with Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Now, it appears that Trump's lead nationally does reflect his lead in two important early states. Trump's standing in the Real Clear Politics average of national polls is now 51.8%. His lead over the second-place Republican, DeSantis, is 33.3 points. In Iowa, Trump is at 46% with a 30-point lead over his closest competitor, and in South Carolina, Trump is at 48% with a 34-point lead. So, the Iowa and South Carolina polls are good news for Trump. They suggest that what he is doing to build a lead in the national polls is also working in the first states he will need to win the Republican nomination. (As far as New Hampshire is concerned, the Real Clear Politics average of state polls has Trump with a 22-point lead over DeSantis, 41% to 19%.) The second important point about the Fox Business polls is that they show that DeSantis is not a rock-solid second-place contender everywhere. In fact, he is not in second place at all in South Carolina, where Haley, the state's former governor, edged out DeSantis for the No. 2 position. In Iowa, DeSantis is still in second place, but it appears Tim Scott is gaining on him. In the Fox Business poll, Scott is 5 points behind DeSantis in Iowa. In previous polls from other organizations, Scott was 14 and 17 points behind. There are lots of indications DeSantis knows things aren't going well. There have been stories about multiple "reboots" of his campaign. That's never good news, in part because it can indicate that a campaign is tinkering around the edges when it in fact needs to make fundamental changes. DeSantis is also signaling that he will focus like a laser beam on Iowa. His staff recently sent out a memo pledging that DeSantis will do the "full Grassley" in Iowa, that is, visit all of Iowa's 99 counties, as longtime Sen. Chuck Grassley does in his reelection campaigns. That's a big acceleration in DeSantis's Iowa strategy and an indication that he thinks he has not pushed hard enough in the first-voting state. It's impossible to say where things will stand on Jan. 15, 2024, when the Iowa caucuses take place. Maybe Trump will be out of the picture. Maybe he'll have an even bigger lead than he does today. Who knows? On the other hand, it is not impossible to say that a poor finish by DeSantis say, third place in Iowa would be a big comedown for the man seen as Trump's strongest challenger. At the moment, DeSantis is failing to catch up with Trump even as other candidates are catching up with him. (COMMENT, BELOW) include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. You can name the Three Stooges. Can you name your three members of Congress? Vivek Ramaswamy, the successful high-tech entrepreneur running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is a long shot whom relatively few Americans can correctly identify. But one of his campaign themes that all Americans should be able to correctly identify basic facts about American government, law, and history is excellent and deserves to be embraced by candidates across the board. "Every high school student should be required to pass the same 128-question civics test required of legal immigrants to become citizens," Ramaswamy said recently on Twitter. To audiences on the campaign trail he has made the case that "young people do not value a country that they simply inherit. We value a country that we have a stake in creating, in building, in knowing something about." To that end, he suggests a straightforward reform: In addition to passing English, math, and science, kids in school should have to know the answers to the same list of questions that immigrants are tested on as part of the naturalization process. Newcomers seeking to become US citizens have to meet a minimal standard of knowledge about civics and government. They are asked 20 questions, drawn from a list of 128, and must answer at least 60 percent correctly. Some of the questions: Why is the Declaration of Independence important? What part of the federal government writes laws? The president of the United States is elected for how many years? How many seats are on the Supreme Court? Name one power that is reserved to the states. What group of people was taken and sold as slaves? What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for? Name one leader of the women's rights movement in the 1800s. Why did the United States enter the Korean War? There are no trick questions and with a reasonable amount of study, none of the questions is particularly demanding. More than 96 percent of applicants pass the test. Yet when the test is posed to native-born US citizens, nearly 2 out of 3 fail. Time and again, scholarly studies, surveys of young people, and even Jay Leno's funny but cringeworthy person-on-the-street interviews have reinforced how little Americans know about the workings of their government or its broad constitutional structure. In one national poll of US adults in 2015, nearly three-quarters of respondents could name the Three Stooges, but only 2 out of 5 could name the three branches of the federal government. A 2019 survey found that only 40 percent of those polled could identify even one of the three people who represent them in Congress. Among the most respected barometers of Americans' civic knowledge is the annual survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center. It reported last year that 1 in 4 respondents could not identify any of the five rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. Such gaping holes in Americans' grasp of basic civics isn't just embarrassing. It is also, as Ramaswamy observes, a threat to the stability of the nation's democratic self-rule. With so many Americans so uninformed about their nation's political system, is it any wonder that political campaigns are painfully shrill and policy debates so mawkishly shallow? Or that most of what candidates tell voters is aimed at besmirching their opponents' reputation? Or that presidential "debates" limit answers to 90 seconds and prevent contenders from engaging in meaningful discussion? Hence the campaign in many states to condition getting a high school diploma on passing a test of civic knowledge. About 10 states have adopted such a requirement. One of them is New Hampshire, where students beginning this year will be required to correctly answer 70 percent of the questions on the naturalization test in order to graduate. Massachusetts prides itself on high academic standards, but it doesn't require high school seniors to demonstrate a working knowledge of American civics. It should. The dumbing-down of our body politic is no minor thing. "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization," Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1816, "it expects what never was and never will be." We live amid an almost aggressive cluelessness about America's constitutional and legal norms, and the results are all around us. Insisting that kids master 128 basic facts about the American system is not a cure-all. But to the extent that civic ignorance is contributing to the toxicity of American society, it would be a big step in the right direction. Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission." A weather system baking the Southwestern U.S. is expected to edge eastward and reach North Carolina by weeks end. The expanding heat dome wont be quite as oppressive here as its been in Texas and other toasted states, but temperatures in the mid-90s and heat index readings as high as 100 degrees are forecast for the Triad and Triangle regions this week. That will make outdoor activities uncomfortable in some cases, downright dangerous and pose the biggest test of the electric grid so far this summer. As is typical for this time of year, we are seeing elevated temperatures in the 90s, which will translate into higher energy use, said Duke Energy spokesman Jeff Brooks. We did set a summer peak usage record last year ... which we have not surpassed so far this summer. We will see how things progress throughout the week, but we expect to reliably meet customer energy needs throughout the week. In June of 2022, customers of Duke Energy Carolinas which includes central and western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina set records for one-hour electricity use. The record usage came as residents cranked air conditioners after returning home from school and work. Temperatures in the Triad topped out at around 95 degrees on the day of peak demand, and are expected to reach similar levels under sunny skies Wednesday through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Highs are forecast to reach 94 Wednesday and Thursday, 95 on Friday and 96 Saturday, before cooling slightly to 92 Sunday. No relief from rain is forecast until Sunday, when there is a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Hot nights One quirk of climate change will be reflected in this weeks weather. Overnight lows of 74 are forecast in the Triad for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Thats 5 degrees above normal for July. For much of the U.S., summer nights are warming more than days. In the Triad, the average summer nighttime temperature has increased 3.7 degrees over the past 50 years, according to Climate Central, a non-profit organization that tracks national and local weather trends. While likely less noticeable than extreme daytime heat, what happens when most of us sleep still has a significant effect on electricity demand, Brooks said. When temperatures are higher at night, customers tend to use more electricity to stay comfortable in the heat, Brooks explained. High temperatures at night also affect the grids ability to cool and like any machine, the grid loses some efficiencies as it runs warmer. That said, the grid is designed to work in extreme conditions and we anticipate both daytime and nighttime temperatures in our system load forecasts. Brooks offered these tips to reduce overall energy use in summer: He offered the following tips to reduce energy use in summer: Set the thermostat to the highest comfortable setting. Every 2 degrees you adjust the thermostat closer to the outside temperature can save up to 5% on your cooling costs. Make sure air filters are clean and changed regularly. A dirty filter can increase operating costs of your HVAC unit and make it work harder when you need it most. Close the blinds on the sunny side of the house on warm days to keep the heat out and cooler air in. Use a ceiling fan, set to a counter-clockwise direction, to maintain comfort while using your air conditioning less. A fan can help you feel up to 4 degrees cooler and uses less energy than an HVAC unit. But remember, fans cool people not rooms. So turn it off when you leave the room. Consider using the microwave instead of stove or oven to reduce heat in the kitchen and save energy. Or use a grill outside. PHOTOS: Anaury Zarzuela and his son cool off from the extreme heat in their inflatable pool The historic Weeks plant in northwest Winston-Salem is a step closer to a new owner after no upset bidders emerged during a federal bankruptcy auction Tuesday. Officials with B. Riley Real Estate, a national real-estate firm that specializes in liquidation, said trustee Derek Henderson is moving forward with the $65 million bid of Phoenix Acquisition for the United Furniture Industries portfolio. Henderson confirmed the lack of additional bidders on Wednesday and that the next step remains an Aug. 1 court hearing to approve the sale. Property closings are expected to take place in late August. The portfolio includes four Triad and 10 Mississippi properties, and the accompanying 626 acres all in as-in conditions. Phoenix, based in Milwaukee, specializes in buying and renovating manufacturing plants. Phoenix has three N.C. properties, including a 100,810-square-foot building on a 33-acre site at 8425 Triad Drive in Greensboro. Henderson said in a June 20 filing he had secured a stalking horse, later identified as Phoenix. A stalking horse is the term used to describe a bidder who sets a minimum price for the assets. Companies hope that other bidders will emerge with higher offers. According to the stalking horse terms, at least $27 million of the proposed purchase price would go toward the Winston-Salem, Lexington and Trinity properties. Background When Hanes Hosiery Mills Co. opened the Weeks plant in 1960 at 401 E. Hanes Mill Road, it was the largest manufacturing plant in N.C. Hanes Hosiery spent about $30 million on the plant, which would be about $308.2 million in 2023 dollars, according to calculations from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The plant currently has 755,599 square feet of space on a 54.5-acre tract. Its the largest single piece in the United operational portfolio. United made promotional- to mid-priced upholstered furniture in the U.S. under its brand and the Lane Home Furnishings brand. The manufacturer also imported wooden bedroom and dining furniture. After more than eight years of operations at the Weeks plant, United unexpectedly shut down all of its plants in late November, ending employment and health insurance benefits for 530 Triad employees and about 2,700 companywide. At that time, United had a combined 245 employees in Archdale and Trinity, 220 in Lexington and between 50 and 70 in Winston-Salem. After facing pressure from creditors, led by Wells Fargo & Co., for an involuntary bankruptcy filing, United submitted in February its Chapter 11 federal bankruptcy filing, citing between 200 and 999 creditors, and between $1 million and $10 million in assets and liabilities. Wells Fargo filed on Dec. 30 a motion for Chapter 7 liquidation of the manufacturers assets and the appointment of a bankruptcy trustee. On Jan. 18, federal bankruptcy Judge Selene Maddox issued a ruling giving United owner David Belford and the company the opportunity to direct the sale of its assets in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection motion. Maddox said in her memorandum and order that Belford and the United board of directors did not rise to the level of bad faith in their decision to shutter operations. However, she wrote that its management made serious errors in business judgment and displayed clear financial incompetence. Wells Fargo said it is owed $99.2 million in secured debt. The bank acknowledged it estimates that any recoveries from liquidation of (Uniteds) collateral will result in a recovery equal to a fraction of this amount. United had been approved for up to $130 million in credit by Wells Fargo. Any advances on the credit were secured by all of Uniteds properties and other assets. Wells Fargo said it was given little prior notice on Nov. 21 from United officials that they needed substantial capital immediately, over and above amounts that would be in compliance with the credit facility between the parties, or it would not be able to fund continued operations. Bank officials told United they could not agree to the request ... on such short notice without additional information, including a budget for restructuring purposes and internal credit committee approval at Wells Fargo. Groovy Wednesday. Stay hydrated out there. By itself, the name David Hairston didnt immediately ring any bells. But when paired with his hometown of Walnut Cove and the things he did for it over his lifetime Hairston stands out. Technically, he grew up in Walnut Tree, an unincorporated and predominantly Black community just outside Walnut Cove, and advocated tirelessly to make sure its residents were treated equitably. And he was never intimidated or deterred by whatever opposition and obstacles he encountered. He spoke against coal ash pollution that many believe poisoned the community and refused to take no for an answer when Walnut Tree residents demanded annexation by Walnut Cove so that they, too, could enjoy the same municipal services that their neighbors did. After repeated and persistent denials, Hairston and other members of the Walnut Tree Community Association sued Walnut Cove alleging that theyd been discriminated against as white neighborhoods had been annexed with far less hassle. For too long, weve been living in a no mans land, Hairston told the Journal after the annexation vote. This is something weve been fighting for: to be included in a town we love dearly. Outside Walnut Cove, Hairston was noted for his advocacy with Residents for Coal Ash Cleanup, a group of locals concerned about the health effects caused by some 12 million tons of burnt coal residue left at the nearby Belews Creek Station. Hairston died Monday. He was 63. Fighting for whats right and speaking truth to power arent easy. It requires persistence and patience. But David Hairston managed it with dignity, and his little corner of Stokes County was the better for his courage. Its almost like losing a celebrity, a legend who will never be forgotten, Walnut Cove Mayor Nellie Brown told colleague Lisa ODonnell Tuesday. A mover and a shaker, thats what David was. Gloppy mess closes highway lane WINSTON-SALEM Even if it was short on detail and facts, a photo circulated Tuesday afternoon by the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office was eye-catching. A car-hauler and a large truck carrying cabbage were involved in a crash on southbound U.S. 52 near the Moore Road-RJ Reynolds Drive exit, causing a lane closure that continued into this morning. A picture of the scene, helpfully circulated by the sheriff on social media, shows burned cars and enough spilled cabbage to make a pile of coleslaw that could fill the infield at Truist Ballpark. It did not, however, offer much by way of information such as what (or who) caused the crash, whether anyone was injured (or worse) or when the entire highway might reopen. Pollution and delays GREENSBORO Residents of neighborhoods in eastern Greensboro who had been anticipating the arrival of a convenient grocery store will have to wait longer for something most Americans take for granted. Contamination at a so-called brownfield site at the corner of South Elm Street and West Gate Boulevard have prompted delays to the construction of a Lidl grocery store, a German chain noteworthy for low prices and no-frills shopping. City Council agreed in 2022 to sell some 3 acres to Lidl US Operations for $1.4 million. The grocer then planned to build a store with more than 25,000 square feet in an area the federal government designated a food desert. Oh, that will be wonderful. That will be within walking distance because the nearest (grocery) is at Alamance Church Road and you have to catch a bus or have a car, Geraldine Bennett told the News & Record in 2022 when the development was being discussed. A neighborhood grocery within walking distance, which should never be considered a luxury in these United States, could save residents up to two hours travel time. But because the property for years had been home to print shops and auto repair shops, chemicals had leached into the ground prompting concerns about long-term contamination. Clean-up efforts, city officials said, were successful enough to allow construction to proceed. But recent testing showed that work remains and that further delays were likely. Theres been much said about the Florida Board of Education approving a new set of standards for how Black history should be taught in the states public schools. The cynic in me will not accept that this is the Sunshine States attempt to improve pedagogy. If that were the case they would do away with Black history, removing from its current adjunct status to fully integrate it into the larger American narrative. History is not merely an examination of what happened; it also includes understanding the significance. Regardless of how one feels about the Florida Board of Educations attempt to improve the teaching of Black history, it falls short because it omits the interrelated aspect that American history requires for a more comprehensive appreciation. Can Black history be taught simply by the retelling of accomplishments by great Americans of a darker hue? Can Black history be understood by placing it on a separate but no less worn-out track that leaves the larger historical narrative wanting? Two of Americas seminal events were the Civil War and World War II. Can one understand Black History and the Civil War through the lives of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman? Wouldnt one also need to know about Kentucky Sen. John J. Crittenden? In December 1860, in an 11th hour attempt to head off impending secession, Crittenden introduced legislation that would become known in the annals of history as the Crittenden Compromise. The Crittenden Compromise proposed six constitutional amendments and four congressional resolutions. Using lines drawn by the Missouri Compromise as the demarcation, the compromise would have made the institution of slavery permanent. Moreover, Crittendens bill specified that once it became law it could not be amended. Southern leaders supported the plan, but many Northern Republicans opposed it, as did President-elect Lincoln, which led to its defeat. Not long after the Compromise failed, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. But the challenge that the Crittenden Compromise presents, assuming it is taught accurately, effectively puts an end to the ridiculous propaganda claims that the Civil War was fought because of states rights. If one wishes to be historically accurate, the Civil War was fought because 11 states seceded from the Union. The primary reason for seven of the 11 seceding states, based on their articles of secession, was the preservation of the right to own human beings. Black history curricula that include World War II invariably discuss the valiant contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen. And well they should. But they should also include Mississippi Rep. John Rankin. Rankin, a footnote in Americas segregationist movement, probably had the biggest impact in curbing generational wealth for African Americans after the war. The GI Bill was a piece of sweeping legislation aimed at assisting returning soldiers by providing low-interest mortgages and stipends covering tuition and expenses for veterans attending college or trade schools. It also provided unemployment compensation. For millions of returning African Americans, the GI Bill became a myth, leading many to conclude the legislation was racist. But the credit should go to Southern Democrats in Congress, hence the contributions of Rankin. As chair of the House Veterans Committee, Rankin insisted that the program be administered by individual states instead of the federal government. The result of this subtle maneuver meant that many African Americans were denied loans in the South. And while more received loans in the North, many were systematically red-lined into areas where property values were less inclined to rise. Rankin cajoled congressmen to leave town while entrusting him as proxy for their vote on the bill. Shouldnt the aforementioned historical moments be part of at least the high school curriculum; or might it risk making white students ashamed of their history, as some claim? I dont worry about the intestinal fortitude of todays students, who are stronger, wiser and less concerned with the minutiae that constrains my generation, which returns me to the cynicism that began this column. Are we going to continue to fall for the Banana in the tailpipe? (See the movie Beverly Hills Cop). The Florida Board of Education approving a new set of standards for how Black history is taught has less to do with improving education than reinforcing the belief that they represent the final wave of centurions protecting an inadequate status quo. You can read the full text of this article if you: Select an option Log In Buy Article Content & Permissions Access through Ovid I knew it was 7 p.m. Even in the suburbs of northern New Jersey, I could hear the applause and pots clanging. There was not a hospital within 10 miles of where I lived but there were still hundreds of thankful neighbors who would cheer in appreciation. I was walking with my newborn son and 2-year-old daughter, contemplating if I was lucky to be on maternity leave or if I was missing my opportunity to serve. I would scroll through the countless emails begging for physician associates/assistants (PAs), RNs, physicians, really anyone who would work in the ICU. With discontent, I would put my phone away. I would be left with this feeling that I was missing out on some call of service. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I had switched from full-time orthopedic surgery to full-time faculty at Seton Hall University's PA program. I had stayed on at my practice per diem to continue my clinical skills. Unfortunately, all elective surgeries were halted. I went 9 months before I finally returned to assist in a trauma case. I would go another 5 months before operating again. At my faculty position, I found that didactic students struggled to make the transition to online learning, clinical students were being let go from rotations, and graduations were inevitably delayed. Even if students graduated on time, the job market was narrowing. What once had been a thriving industry was now burdened with layoffs, limited shifts, and unemployment. As the months passed, there was a small light at the end of the tunnel; a vaccine was on its way. This was it, what we were all told to wait for. I signed up to receive the vaccine as soon as I could. As I sat waiting for my first dose, I looked around at my peers, many of whom I had not seen in months. Many had been pulled from the OR and were working in COVID units. They sat tired but hopeful. I began to feel that same sense of guilt and desire. I should have done something. I want to do something. I knew I had missed the hardest of COVID times, but I could still feed that longing to serve my community. Shortly after that night, I signed up to volunteer at two vaccination centers, Hackensack Meridian Hospital and Essex County. Both locations were operating strictly by appointment only. Both facilities ran like well-oiled machines. The process was similar: registration, vaccinations, and monitoring. Recipients were required to wait 15 minutes following their vaccine. If a patient had a history of allergies requiring an epinephrine autoinjector or disclosed a more severe reaction to an allergen, we had them wait for 30 minutes. During the first few days of volunteering, we were vaccinating healthcare workers and first responders only. I loved meeting fellow hospital employees. I felt a sense of camaraderie and friendship. Which floor do you work on? Oh, we've referred to your practice before. How's your census? Everyone was in the same boat, weathering the same storm. With each first responder, firefighter, or police officer, there was an overwhelming presence of mutual respect and admiration. I left each day with a natural high of hope and promise. Shortly after I started, the vaccine became available to the public. Each state varied on who was deemed eligible for vaccination. In New Jersey, anyone age 65 years and older, and patients younger than age 65 years with preexisting medical conditions, could be vaccinated in the second tier. Although this was an exciting time, it also was a difficult transition. We were wrapped in the comfort of healthcare workers being able to fully disclose all medical conditions and history of adverse reactions. When dealing with the general population, just as in any practice, getting a clear and concise history is not always easy. There was a profound sense of anxiety in the community: Many recipients were diaphoretic before they completed registration. Patients displayed a mix of vulnerability, unrest, and skepticism. Many had some preconceived concept of the vaccine. Will it work? Is it expired? When will I get a reaction? What if I don't get a reaction? There were stories of heartbreak and stories of hope. A woman sat shaking and clutching a picture. I knew the answer to my next question wasn't going to be easy, but I also knew she needed this moment, so I asked her about the picture. Her father died of COVID, her husband died of COVID. She had COVID herself but was the sole survivor. She held onto their picture as tears began to fall from her eyes and mine followed shortly after. I wanted to reach out and hug her, but doing the only thing I could, I gave her a shot. With the sorrow came the promise of a better tomorrow. Recipients shared their upcoming vacation plans, plans to meet grandchildren for the first time, weddings that could finally be scheduled. Arms would wave in the air in celebration, applause would burst from behind the vaccine curtains, smiles could be felt from behind the masks. I continue to reflect on the days of early quarantine. If I were not on maternity leave, would I have volunteered for the front line? Would I have worked the COVID units? Would I have actively signed up for ICU shifts? I don't know the answer. What I do know is that it's not too late to be active. There will always be a call to service. We have an obligation as medical professionals to aid our community, to better serve our patients, and to sacrifice our time to help those in need. This does not apply only to the trenches of war. There are plenty of ways to serve the public as clinicians: vaccination centers, testing centers, hotlines, viral tracing. I encourage our professional community to get involved, give back, and restore hope. I have certainly grown from this experience, and my hope is that whoever is reading this will as well. Periodically, healthcare system changes affect the supply and demand of many medical workers, and new information is needed on employment types and settings.1 Reports about healthcare professional shortages have become a topic of increasing interest to professional associations and health policy analysts.2,3 The awareness of shortages of medical personnel began around the new millennium and grew.4 As the gap widened between the supply of physicians and the demand for more healthcare services, a shift emerged in US healthcare provider types. Medical and surgical providers now fall into three main types: physicians, NPs, and physician associates/assistants (PAs).5 Knowing the types of employment industries and where growth is taking place informs policy makers and human resource managers about the available supply of medical personnel.3 Physician education in the United States includes 155 accredited medical schools and 37 accredited medical institutions granting doctorates of osteopathy.6 NP degree programs grew from 282 to 400 between 2000 and 2023.7,8 In early 2023, there were 303 accredited PA programs and 40 more in the pipeline.9 All medical providers in the United States must hold a state license to practice in patient care service delivery and to prescribe medications. However, maintaining a license in 50 states, the District of Columbia, or US territories does not mean the licensee is involved in direct patient care.10 All three clinician types (physicians, NPs, and PAs) have central roles in delivering medical and surgical care for the nation. As a result, any supply and demand modeling of traditional physician services requires an accounting of all three clinician types.11 To examine the composition of US medical workforce trends, we downloaded the 2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) survey data of physicians, PAs, and NPs.5 The BLS has been tracking employed physicians since 1997, PAs since 2000, and NPs since 2015. Within each clinician group, the characteristics are sorted into types of industries (such as hospital or clinic), wages, distribution, location, and employment outlook over the next 10 years. The value of the BLS is its relative impartiality in the analyses because the numbers come from employers, not individuals. BLS data differ from professional association information such as the Federation of State Medical Boards, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.10,12 Being licensed, registered, or certified does not convey employment or clinical activity. As such, the BLS is an essential and reliable source of healthcare professional employment data that includes age, sex, geography, and trends. The data are enhanced when supplemented with other information such as productivity, workweek, and team-based care. Because national and regional events can disrupt clinicians' employment settings and redistribute them (as during the COVID-19 pandemic), a recalibration of medical and surgical clinician numbers and their distribution is needed. This article focuses on the 2021 census of physicians, NPs, and PAs; where they are employed; and their predicted growth by 2031. The work draws on BLS data. No institutional review board approval was required for this study because of the public nature of federal databases. METHODS Data for employed physicians, NPs, and PAs were downloaded from the 2021 BLS annual employment matrix and projections.13 The BLS conducts an ongoing employer survey, the Occupational and Employment Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey.5 This is a six-step interrelated process based on different models and assumptions, depending on the industry.13 The OEWS survey samples employers and draws on statistical calculations to reach reliable numbers. The greater the number of employees in an industry, the greater the confidence that the occupation number is accurate. This confidence in numbers is the relative statistical error (RSE), expressed as a percentage in the Occupational Outlook Handbook.14 The BLS defines people as employed if they did any work for pay or profit during the survey reference week.15 This includes all part-time and temporary work and regular full-time, year-round employment. Individuals are counted as employed if they have a job, even if they did not work during the survey week. They were counted as employed whether they were paid or not while on vacation, ill, experiencing childcare problems, on parental leave, taking care of some other family or personal obligation, involved in a labor dispute, or prevented from working by bad weather.15 Full-time is defined as 35 or more hours per week. The determinant for demand consists of the underlying projections of employment by industries and occupations. The forecasted final demand involves 153 categories by 205 commodity groups.14 Predictions of the future supply of labor are calculated by applying BLS labor force participation rate projections to population projections produced by the Census Bureau.16 In turn, the Census Bureau carries out long-term US resident population projections. The forecast of the resident population is based on the size and composition of the people as the baseline reference. It includes assumptions about future fertility, mortality, and net international migration.17 The BLS data on physicians, NPs, and PAs were downloaded beginning in 2015 and included all years through 2021. In 2015, the BLS started tracking NPs separately; 2015 then became the reference date for calculating the growth trends of the three clinician types. The data were sorted by clinician type, employment industry, growth trends, and development predictions through 2030. Supplemental information on the demographics of clinicians was obtained from three professional associations. Physicians, PAs, and NPs included in the research were based on the BLS glossary of employees.15 Descriptive statistics were applied. RESULTS As of 2021, the BLS listed 698,700 physicians, 246,690 NPs, and 139,100 PAs as employed (Table 1). These 1.1 million clinicians provided medical and surgical care for a US population of 331.5 million.17 The demographics differ by clinician type. The mean age of physicians was 45.1 years, with 43.8% female. For PAs, the mean age was 39 years, with 67.7% female. For NPs, the mean age was 43.3 years, with 88.7% female. TABLE 1. - Occupational employment and demographics, 20217,10,12 Occupationaland demographics, 2021 Clinician type Census (National Employment Matrix) Employment RSE (%) Median age (years) Female (%) Median annual wage ($) Physician 698,700 1.6 45.1 43.8 208,000 NP 246,690 1.3 43.3 88.7 118,040 PA 139,100 1.6 39 67.7 121,530 Total 1,135,490 Where clinicians were employed in 2021 is described by the employing industry or clinical setting (Figure 1). For the three clinician types, the largest employment location is physician offices (for physicians, 53.4%; NPs, 47.0%; PAs, 53.9%), followed by hospitals (physicians, 24.3%; NPs, 24.1%; PAs, 24.6%), and outpatient centers (physicians, 4%; NPs, 10%; PAs, 10%). FIGURE 1.: Where clinicians were employed in 2021, per the BLS When physicians and surgeons are differentiated, their locations differ across several main specialties (for example, family medicine, general internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, surgery, and anesthesiology). Each physician specialty predominately resides in office-based settings, with pediatric surgeons more in hospitals. The BLS does not differentiate specialty roles for PAs and NPs. Office of physician is a BLS term. It is the location occupied by a physician or physician group and denotes the location of PAs and NPs. Outpatient care centers can be clinics such as federally qualified health centers or ambulatory care centers associated with a hospital or corporation. Self-employed clinicians are counted separately from wage and salary workers. Each year, the BLS predicts what a specific type of employment will look like a decade later. Figure 2 compares the three types of clinicians, spanning 1 decade of employment (observations and predictions2021 and 2031, respectively). For PAs, total employment is predicted to grow 27.6%, from 139,100 to 177,500. This growth will predominate in physician offices (68,600 to 91,600) and hospitals (33,400 to 44,000). For NPs, total employment is projected to grow 45.7%, from 246,690 to 359,400. NP employment is predicted to grow in physician offices 31.7%, from 110,490 to 169,400, and in hospitals 52%, from 55,000 to 76,300. For physicians and surgeons, total employment is projected to grow 2.9%, from 696,700 to 718,200. The physician and surgeon employment is predicted to grow 4.2% in physician offices, from 367,800 to 383,300, and 3.5% in hospitals, from 190,700 to 203,900. Self-employed NPs represent 1.69% of the 246,690 NPs, and the number of self-employed physicians is predicted to drop 32%, from 48,500 to 33,000. Self-employed PAs are 0.96% of the 139,100 PAs. The industry that employs each clinician differs significantly in types and predictions regarding where growth will likely occur. About 75% of NPs and PAs are employed in physician offices, hospitals, and outpatient care centers. The BLS offers a 10-year forecast of likely growth in any industry yearly. The 10-year BLS prediction (2021-2031) for physicians is 3%; for NPs, 46%; and for PAs, 28%. Most physician specialties will either remain the same or slightly shrink over the 10-year period of BLS prediction.18,19 Areas of physician growth are forecasted in psychiatry and family medicine. The specialty of PAs and NPs (present or forecasted) is not reported by the BLS. DISCUSSION Healthcare workers are part of the foundation of a country's well-being, and understanding their role begins with a census of medical and surgical clinicians.20 The headcount and demographics, along with age, retirement trends, and career departures, are needed variables in predicting the future clinician supply. This supply is then matched with forecasted demand. The demand for medical services in the United States is increasing because of a growing and aging population, new technology, fewer physicians per capita, chronic diseases, and a decline in annual productivity in primary care.21,22 Analysis of the medical workforce configuration is undertaken by most nations to adjust to the changing demand for healthcare services.23 In the United States, the BLS provides an impartial and increasingly reliable means of enumerating physicians, PAs, NPs, and other healthcare workers.24 The job outlook is predicted to grow for NPs and PAs more than for physicians. Various reasons are advanced as to why this is occurring. The cost of building a new medical school is exceptionally high: more than $180 million in 2017, and new medical schools occur infrequently.25 However, the 2020 enrollment was up by 3% in existing US medical schools.6 Adding a PA department to an existing university was assessed at about $5 million in 2015.26 This relatively inexpensive investment may explain why PA program development is accelerating.9 NP programs are developed in existing schools of nursing, often as a new department, with optional online education.27 As a result, PA programs are producing more than 11,000 graduates per year and NP programs more than 14,000.28 Another explanation for the limited physician growth is that Direct Graduate Medical Education (DGME) payment to hospitals for resident physician training has not expanded.29 The DGME calculation was formulated in 1985 and recalculated in 2010, but it continues to constrain the expansion of physician postgraduate training.30 With the demand for inpatient services growing and a shortage of physician house staff (that is, physicians in residency or fellowship), NPs and PAs are increasingly used as hospitalists, intensivists, laborists, and other house officer roles that in the past were filled by postgraduate physicians in training.31,32 One reason why the employment of PAs and NPs is growing, and physician employment less so, may be the entrepreneurial nature of a capitalistic economy. This is where the use of NPs and PAs has produced a good return on investment by employers.33,34 Physicians created NPs and PAs to supplement their services and continue to accept and use them in novel and growing ways.35 The wages of PAs and NPs are on parity and are less than half that of physicians in the same setting, making them financially attractive and employable.36,37 Across the nation, licensed PAs and NPs diagnose, treat, prescribe, and refer. They are used throughout the US Veterans Health Administration, the Public Health Service, and the Department of Defense.7,38,39 The federal government has been a strong advocate for PA and NP education and advancing policies that enable them to grow.40 The significance of NPs and PAs in the nation's healthcare delivery system is the diversity and capacity they bring to employers and consumers as demand increases.41 Their flexibility and usefulness were illuminated when state workforce barriers such as licensure were lifted during the pandemic.42 To better assimilate and model such information about ever-changing medical care, the national healthcare workforce commission was created but is still unfunded and not permitted to meet.3 NPs' and PAs' specific services should be delineated in role descriptions, as is now done for the specific service roles of physicians and surgeons. Changes may be underway to increase the number of board-eligible physicians. The federal fiscal year 2022 inpatient prospective payment system establishes policies to distribute 1,000 new Medicare-funded physician residency and fellowship slots to qualifying hospitals, phasing in 200 places annually over 5 years. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services estimates that funding for the additional postgraduate slots, once fully phased in, will total about $1.8 billion over the next 10 years.43 Implementing a section of the Consolidated Appropriations Act in 2021 produced the most significant increase in Medicare-funded residency slots in more than 25 years.43 Executing other sections of the CAA will further promote increased training in rural areas and increased graduate medical education payments to hospitals meeting specific criteria.43 The broad array of available clinicians is not unique to the United States. Such diversity of medical clinicians is growing globally.44-46 Concurrently, the literature on PAs and NPs in terms of deployment, economics, patient satisfaction, and use are quantifying their value to society and human resource managers.47-49 LIMITATIONS Some limitations are associated with reporting BLS data. The data are based on jobs but do not distinguish between full-time and part-time employment at the specialty level. Another is that dual employment (a clinician working for two employers) may give rise to head-counting duplication. The dual employment of PAs has been estimated at 13%, although the hours spent in each location differ.50 Another shortcoming of federal data is that the medical and surgical specialties of PAs and NPs need to be delineated as they are for physicians. Areas requiring more investigation include self-employed healthcare providers; estimated numbers from the BLS National Employment Matrix and industry code TE1100 (self-employed) are included in ambulatory care service settings.16 However, self-employment may consist of locum tenens, contract work, or on-call clinicians and usually is not specified.51 The broad nature of clinician employment strategies and trends remains challenging for labor economists, particularly when identifying annual clinical productivity.52 On the other hand, knowing the number of employed healthcare professionals improves the understanding of their availability based on the distribution of populations and not on licensure.24 CONCLUSIONS The employment of US physicians, NPs, and PAs is changing, and the forecast is that the transformation will continue well into the next decade of this century. The shortage of physicians, when matched with a growing and aging population, is worsening; at the same time, NPs and PAs are extending the healthcare provider base and making care more accessible. Based on the BLS analyses, more than 24,000 NPs and 11,000 PAs are needed to fill new positions where physicians will be unavailable by 2032. Physician employment growth of 3% from 2021 to 2031 lags behind the growth of NPs (46%) and PAs (28%) over the same time period. Clinician shortages are likely to continue across many healthcare service delivery systems well into the 2030s. Major disrupters, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, are likely to affect these predictions. Over the past several months on the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) Huddle, commenters in multiple threads about the changing healthcare workforce have posted their perception that NP positions are being advertised at a significantly higher rate than those for physician associates/assistants (PAs). This has led to further discussions about the predicted healthcare provider shortage and whether one type of clinician has an advantage over another in filling the United States' projected healthcare needs. Hooker and Christian have done an excellent job describing the healthcare provider shortage and changes in the employment of physicians, NPs, and PAs. In their article The Changing Employment of Physicians, NPs, and PAs in this issue of JAAPA, the researchers looked at the 2021 US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for the occupational settings of physicians, NPs, and PAs. The article was of great interest to me because it points out that reports about healthcare professional shortages have become a topic of increasing interest to professional associations and health policy analysts. What this commentator has not seen to date is a concerted effort by the various professional associations, the federal and state governments, nor insurance providers to address the issue in a collaborative and productive manner, although the pending shortage will affect healthcare delivery in many ways within a decade. Addressing the healthcare provider shortage will require many different approaches, including expanding scopes of practice so that clinicians can practice at the top of their training and provide medical services with greater autonomy. Expanding is the hot-button term among entrenched clinicians who do not want the added competition for dollars or decision-making authority. What roles will physicians, NPs, and PAs play in providing healthcare services in the future? What are the strengths (and perceived weaknesses) of each group of clinicians? Do they complement each other, or should they focus on delivery of different aspects of healthcare? These are all questions that must be addressed. In areas where a healthcare workforce shortage has been identified, the United States needs more than 17,000 additional primary care providers, 12,000 dental healthcare providers, and 8,200 mental health care providers, according to the latest data from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration.1 Physicians, NPs, and PAs are trending similarly in age and employment locations. However, the 10-year job outlook reveals a vast difference in projected growth of the respective professions, and a multitude of factors for why PA and NP employment is projected to grow significantly more than that of physicians. Many professional organizations, including those representing physicians, NPs, and PAs, realize that healthcare is not going to look the same in 10 years. The shortage of healthcare providers will affect care delivery. In the near future, the role each profession will play in delivering care must be determined based on projected healthcare needs. There is an obvious difference in the education programs for the various clinicians and in the number of clinicians being produced. Physician education includes 155 accredited medical schools and 37 accredited medical institutions granting doctorates of osteopathy in the United States. About 28,337 students graduated from these programs in 2021. In early 2023, the United States had 303 PA programs, with 40 more in the pipeline. These programs graduate about 11,000 PAs each year.2 The 400 NP programs graduate about 36,000 students per year.3 PA and NP education programs are graduating more than 47,000 students per year, numbers that are anticipated to grow substantially over the next decade. What has not been determined nor discussed in greater detail is what role each of the respective professions will play in the delivery of healthcare in the future. This includes the specialty focuses, employment, and geographic locations. Recently, the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) indicated that although the licensed physician population has grown in number relative to the total population, concerns about a physician shortage remain as both the general and physician populations age. Late-career physicians generally work fewer hours and retire at higher rates, although many older physicians have delayed retirement in recent years. Younger physicians place more emphasis on work-life balance, which also may limit work hours. The mean age of licensed physicians continues to rise, as noted in FSMB data comparing 2010 with 2020.4 The FSMB states, The ability to inventory a nation's healthcare workforce across all specialties and jurisdictions is essential to the delivery of quality healthcare where it is needed most.4 I believe that all medical provider professional associations, including those representing physicians, NPs, and PAs, would agree that these assessments are critical to planning for the delivery of healthcare in the future. What are we going to do to develop a plan to address the shortages of clinicians and access to healthcare? The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has indicated that PA and NP involvement in any visitalone or in combination with an attending physicianhas increased dramatically between 2011 and 2016.5 The AAMC concludes that APRNs and PAs significantly contribute to the nation's healthcare delivery capacity, and both professions are growing rapidly. The extent to which these groups offset physician demand has significant implications for physician workforce needs and projections.5 To me, the AAMC has stated that it does not have a short-term solution to this projected shortage. So, how do we address the healthcare delivery issue if we cannot immediately fix the production issue? Another area of interest to me is the percentage of self-employed NPs (1.69%) and PAs (0.96%). Those low figures most likely reflect restrictive laws and regulations governing the two professions. The number of self-employed physicians is expected to drop 32% over the next decade. This indicates a move by physicians toward corporate or employed status. The move toward a larger and more corporate approach in providing healthcare with the use of NPs and PAs has produced a good return on investment for healthcare employers. The wages of PAs and NPs are on parity and are less than half that of physicians in the same settings, making PAs and NPs financially attractive to these organizations. What I have experienced as a primary care provider is a shift of the majority of primary care to NPs and PAs, with limited or no physician involvement. This was especially prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic with the changes in many laws and regulations regarding NP or PA supervision. Will this continue with the projected shortage of healthcare providers? The lower costs of employing NPs or PAs, the increasing demand for medical services, the increasing age of the general population, the significant increase in the number of NPs and PAs, together with the flat or low projected growth of new physicians and the increasing age of the physician workforce provide the PA profession with a unique opportunity to advocate for significant changes in the healthcare delivery model to better use their services. We have a clear indication in the Hooker and Christian article that the healthcare workforce is changing. I believe that physicians, NPs, and PAs all have a role in addressing the healthcare provider shortage and determining how best to meet the increasing demand for services over the next decade. Better defining our roles and addressing the obstacles that hinder the full use of clinicians is critical. This will best be accomplished if the groups work together with other organizations with a vested interest in healthcare delivery and address the issues collaboratively, rather than trying to protect turfs or promote their perceived superiority in knowledge and skills. Red Way Airlines announced Tuesday it will pull the plug early on three of its original destinations. The leisure air carrier, which began flying out of the Lincoln Airport in June, will have its final flights to Austin, Texas, on Aug. 5 and to Atlanta and Minneapolis on Aug. 7. Those markets unfortunately dont make sense to continue, said Red Way CEO Nick Wangler, saying the carrier never gained traction in those markets. Two months into the Red Way experiment, Wangler knew some things wouldnt pan out as well as others. The soft sales in those three markets are disappointing but dont diminish his view of the overall picture, he said. Im more disappointed in myself that we picked a couple of markets that ultimately didnt work, Wangler said. Its doubtful those markets will come back in the spring, he added. So far, Red Way has tapped $928,398 from the $3 million pot formed by the city of Lincoln and Lancaster County from American Rescue Plan Act funds. While that sounds like a lot, Wangler said the airline is so far meeting its financial expectations. Dave Haring, executive director of the Lincoln Airport, said the infusion of cash so far has not been a surprise. That was expected early on, Haring said. We dont expect another draw to be that big. Its hard to figure out why the three markets didnt succeed, Haring said. The airfares to Austin seemed low enough to attract travelers, while Minneapolis and Atlanta although not traditional leisure markets are popular destinations. Thats one of the unique things about seasonal markets, Haring said. This does happen from time to time. For whatever reason, a certain destination just doesnt click. The good news is that Red Way has sold more than 36,000 tickets since late March and has exceeded expectations in Dallas and Nashville, Tennessee. In addition, the first three days of sales for flights to Tampa, Florida, and Phoenix have been solid. Theres also a chance those flights could begin early, Wangler said. We have a bunch of flights that are working incredibly well, Wangler said. Theres a lot of good stuff coming. Wangler said he is a few days from announcing a fifth winter destination, joining Las Vegas, Orlando and Tampa, Florida, and Phoenix. He just needs final approval from that airport on what time the flight can both take off and land. Once we receive that approval I think were in a position where we have everything else done, he said. And Wangler promises it will make a splash. Lets put it this way, I think its gonna be something youre going to want to (book). Photos: Scenes at US airports amid Southwest cancellations Lincoln Public Schools plans to enforce new cellphone rules for students this upcoming school year that require phones be kept off and out of sight during class and outline disciplinary action if those rules aren't followed. Superintendent Paul Gausman announced the new protocols as well as a new digital hall pass system in high schools at Tuesday's Lincoln Board of Education meeting, saying the use of phones and social media is contributing to a "mental health crisis for our teenagers." "Experts agree that children and teens need clear-cut rules and limitations when it comes to using digital devices and existing on social media platforms," Gausman said. "Providing a consistent personal electronic device plan across LPS gives our teachers and administrators the tools that they need and it gives our students a clear understanding of our expectations of them and the consequences of them not following those expectations." The new rules, which will apply to all personal electronic devices, vary across the three building levels. * In elementary schools, the expectation remains that if a student has a phone, it is turned off and kept in their backpack during the school day. * In middle schools, devices must be powered off and out of sight at all times, including during lunch and passing periods, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. * High school students must power off phones and keep them away during class, but can use them before and after school, between periods and during lunch. If a student uses their phone during class, staff will first ask the student to put it away in a designated storage area in the classroom, according to the new protocols. If the student does not comply, the device will be taken to the main office for the rest of the day. As a last step, students will be removed from the classroom if they continue to not comply. Middle and high school students are allowed to wear smartwatches, but cannot use them for communication purposes, the rules state. Teachers may still also allow phones for instructional purposes. "Students will still have the ability to communicate with families in any crisis situation," Gausman said. "We simply ask students to turn off electronic devices and put them away during instructional time. This will limit distractions and help them focus on their important task of learning." Students who need to contact parents for emergency reasons may request to use a phone in the school office. Likewise, parents trying to reach their child during school hours may contact the office. "Remember when we were in school? If our family needed to get an important message to us during the school day, they would contact the school office, and that message would be relayed to us as students," Gausman said. "That is still the case. It has become clear that cellphones have become a distraction in the learning environment, and implementing these new rules will help maximize instructional time, increase in-person communication and enhance safety for all." In addition to the phone parameters, LPS is also rolling out digital hall passes in its eight high schools as a way to track missed instructional time and limit out-of-class behavioral issues. The new system will be accessed via students' Chromebooks, and each student will be allowed three passes per day to allow them to visit the restroom, library, office, nurse, counselor or other classrooms. Teachers and the health office may grant additional passes and students are allowed to leave in case of an emergency, such as a medical episode. If a student doesn't have their Chromebook, a staff member can create a digital pass. Paper passes may also be used. Electronic hall passes were piloted during summer school based on systems already in place at other Nebraska districts, while the phone rules were tested out at two high schools last year. The protocols, which do not require board approval, were also among recommendations Gausman, who is entering his second year as superintendent, outlined in an end-of-year transition report to the board in April. The first day of school is Aug. 14. How to take a break from social media Be easy on yourself and ask for help about social media use Helpful exercise to remind you what you're missing by scrolling Use your phone's screen-time tracking feature and limit social media use Physically distance yourself from your phone and apps Benefits of taking a social media break Reevaluate what you want out of social media Two and a half hours. The earth mover is back on the northern edge of Trendwood Park in east Lincoln, trying once again to make the stinky pond a little less stinky. Thats not the real name of the detention pond built in 2014, but its descriptive enough. The city dug the pond to capture stormwater runoff and allow sediment, trash, leaves, sticks and lawn chemicals to settle before the water continues its path through Seacrest Park into the private Wedgewood Lake and ultimately into Salt Creek. Deadmans Run, a 9-mile stream that starts just south of Trendwood Park, picks up lots of grass clippings and lawn pollutants, and a lot more organic material travels down the watershed than other locations. Residents who live near the park have complained about the pond for years, and two summers ago parks and recreation officials hired contractors to dredge the pond and concluded it would have to be a more regular occurrence. Now theyre back, and J.J. Yost, parks and recreations planning and facilities manager, said theyre grading it differently in an attempt to make it drain more efficiently. The hope, he said, is that it will be dry except for when it rains and once it does rain, will empty out more quickly. Were trying to be a little more proactive, he said. And, if you happen to monitor City Council meetings, the license agreement with Black Hills Energy before the council this week has nothing to do with the stinky pond. In another part of the park at a west entrance to the park along 77th Street Black Hills plans to put a gas regulating station. Such stations are located around town, usually in public right-of-way areas, Yost said, but because this one will be on park property, the City Council has to approve a license agreement with the energy company. The small station with pipes, dials and valves, will have black fencing around it. And it will not be stinky. The impending end of Pershing The old Pershing Centers days are numbered. City officials plan to begin demolition in mid-August to make way for development of the block by Omahas White Lotus Development, said Hallie Salem of the Urban Development Department. Now minus its giant mural (which, thanks to a small group of dedicated volunteers, will be relocated to a park in Wyuka Cemetery), the old auditorium will soon be ready for the wrecking ball. Remediation including asbestos removal will be done by the end of the month and Lincoln Electric System will take about two weeks after that to remove equipment it has inside, Salem said. Then demolition will begin. The old building had been empty long before Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird chose White Lotuss redevelopment plans three years ago. And since then, theyve made changes to the plan, reducing the footprint of the building and the number of apartments. Initially, the group planned to build an L-shaped building that would run along both 16th Street and N Street and include 100 apartments. The first floor would include commercial and office space. Now, they plan to build a five-story building along 16th Street with 93 units, leaving the N Street side for future development. The project has been complicated, with the developer applying for low-income housing tax credits and federal stimulus grants from the state. City officials initially talked about locating a new city library as part of the development but have postponed a decision on whether to ask voters to approve a bond issue to pay for it. Now, the developers are going back before the Nebraska Capitol Environs Commission, which oversees designs near the state Capitol, seeking approval for some changes in the design. The developer wants to change the color of the buildings facade, modify some windows and is asking the commission to waive certain setback requirements. Disappearing pin oaks Most Lincolnites have heard about the citys removal of thousands of ash trees because of the emerald ash borer, that exotic insect eating its way through and killing Lincolns ash trees. But what about the pin oaks? An observant reader noticed the city seems to be removing a lot of them and wondered why. Turns out he was right. According to Lincolns foresters, the larger, older pin oaks have been steadily declining over the past few years, though they cant find one culprit, like the emerald ash borer. Instead, said spokeswoman Kat Scholl, the decline of both public and private pin oaks seems to be a combination of age, extreme weather events and other environmental influences. So far this year, the citys forester team has removed 63 pin oaks from city right-of-way areas. Theres still a lot left, though. The city tracking system has recorded 5,239 pin oaks located on those rights of way or streets, she said. Top Journal Star photos for July 2023 Small businesses in Lancaster County and five other Southeast Nebraska counties are now eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The loans are intended to offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought, the SBA said in a news release. The other counties where businesses are eligible are Gage, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe and Pawnee. Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. The deadline to apply for the loans is March 24. SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster, Tanya N. Garfield, director of SBAs Disaster Field Operations Center-West, said in the release. Though higher-than-average rainfall over the past month has helped to alleviate drought conditions somewhat, most areas of eastern Nebraska, including Lancaster County, are still in a severe drought. Most counties in the state have been declared either a primary or secondary disaster area because of drought. Lancaster County was declared a primary disaster area in early May. Photos: Nebraska drought threatening livestock and crops A group of Nebraska state senators asked Attorney General Mike Hilgers to clarify his position opposing an effort to block state officials from obtaining private health information about residents who seek abortions in other states. Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh and eight other lawmakers said they were alarmed by Hilgers' involvement in the effort to stop the proposed rule change from the Biden administration from taking effect. Hilgers was among 19 attorneys general all Republicans who signed a letter asking U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to withdraw the rule proposed in April. Under the proposal, states could not access private health information about women who obtained abortions in other states where the procedure is legal "for criminal, civil, or administrative investigations or proceedings." The attorneys general said the proposal could also extend to individuals, including minors, who seek gender-affirming care in other states. Nebraska enacted a ban on abortions after 12 weeks this year as well as restrictions on certain medical procedures for transgender minors. A lawsuit in Lancaster County District Court is seeking to deem it unconstitutional. In a statement last week, Hilgers said the Biden administration's proposed rule "is based on the false premise that states want to treat pregnant women as criminals and punish medical personnel who provide lifesaving care." "Nothing in the proposed rule justifies upending settled law and creating a carve-out for abortion," the attorney general and former speaker of the Legislature said. In their letter, the state senators asked Hilgers to provide clarification on his intentions opposing the rule. They also said Nebraska "has an unfortunate history of prosecuting women and health care providers for pregnancy outcomes" and pointed to a recent case in Norfolk in which a 19-year-old was sentenced to 90 days in jail for disposing of a fetus after an abortion. The woman's mother, Jessica Burgess, pleaded guilty to providing Celeste Burgess, then 17, with abortion pills, false reporting, and tampering with human skeletal remains. She will be sentenced in September. "(T)his gives rise to serious concerns regarding the appropriate role of law enforcement and prosecutors in investigating and charging women and medical providers regarding reproductive healthcare, and we are seeking clarification on the intention behind your actions," the letter states. Specifically, the letter asks Hilgers why he wants access to medical records from other states and if he plans to use those records to prosecute individuals who seek abortions where it is legal or those who aid others in seeking medical care outside of Nebraska. "If these are not your intentions, please share clearly why it would be necessary to have access to this information without due process of a court order or subpoena," the senators said in their letter. A spokeswoman for the attorney general's office confirmed receipt of the letter Wednesday evening and said Hilgers plans to respond. A document shared by the attorney general's office said Hilgers "values and will fight to protect your privacy rights," but also states the proposed rule change would make it more difficult for law enforcement to investigate certain crimes. While law enforcement can currently obtain a subpoena or court order for out-of-state medical records, the document states the Biden administration rule could protect a "sexual predator family member who assaults a minor child and tries to cover up their heinous crime by obtaining abortion services." The rule change could also stop law enforcement from obtaining records related to a doctor who commits malpractice during non-abortion procedures such as a hysterectomy or tubal ligation, or a medical professional who steals abortion pills and seeks to distribute them "outside normal channels." "Our office signed Mississippi's letter because we want to ensure that Nebraska's law enforcement can continue to protect Nebraskans, including some of our most cherished and vulnerable citizens," the document states. Along with Cavanaugh, the letter was signed by Sens. Megan Hunt, John Cavanaugh and John Fredrickson, all of Omaha; Danielle Conrad, George Dungan and Jane Raybould, all of Lincoln; Jen Day of Gretna; and Carol Blood of Bellevue. All are Democrats in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, except Hunt, who earlier this year changed her party affiliation to nonpartisan. Photos: Last day of the 108th Nebraska Legislature The Nebraska Public Service Commission announced Tuesday that it has reinstated the license of a Kansas-based grain dealer. The PSC had temporarily suspended the license of Norag LLC last month after the company failed to meet the commissions requirement that it maintain a minimum net worth and a minimum level of working capital. However, the Stillwell, Kansas-based company has agreed to a stipulated agreement requiring it to file a satisfactory operating line of credit with the PSCs grain department by Nov. 1 and share its financial statements with the commission. Our grain department and legal team have worked closely with the company to reach this resolution, said Commission Chair Dan Watermeier. The stipulated agreement brings the company into compliance while providing producers the protections they deserve. Counties with the most farmland in Nebraska Counties with the most farmland in Nebraska #25. Valley #24. South Sioux #23. Chase #22. Boone #21. Rock #20. Antelope #19. Dundy #18. Garden #17. Buffalo #16. Brown #15. Dawson #14. Perkins #13. Keith #12. Knox #11. Red Willow #10. Kimball #9. Cheyenne #8. Morrill #7. Box Butte #6. Sheridan #5. Dawes, North Sioux #4. Holt #3. Custer #2. Lincoln #1. Cherry Thousands of dollars worth of Country Thunder wristbands were stolen over the weekend and now criminal charges have been filed against three Illinois adults who allegedly received the stolen property. Wristbands serve to identify the wearer as a ticketholder for the music event and grant the wearer access to different areas based on the kind of wristband it is. Thomas C. Bernatek, Amelia M. Miulli and Morgan C. Timmons, all 18 years old and from Park Ridge, Ill., were charged Tuesday in Kenosha County Circuit Court. Each was scheduled to make their initial appearance at Intake Court Tuesday afternoon. They are each charged with receiving stolen property valued over $10,000 as party to a crime, a Class G felony. Criminal complaint On Sunday, July 23, a Kenosha County sheriffs detective was dispatched to the Country Thunder Music Festival grounds for a report of a burglary. The detective met with the festival site manager who reported that overnight someone had broken into the will call booth and took three bags of weekend and daily wristbands valued in excess of $50,000, according to the criminal complaint. The manager also reported that he had checked the internet and located a male who had posted them for sale. The manager said the front of the will call booth has a wood panel that folds down and covers the front of the building. He said that the cover was folded down when it was closed the night before but someone forgot to lock it, according to the complaint. The will call booth was located along the main entrance just south of 110th Street. When employees opened up for Sunday the manager said they noticed that someone had flipped up the front cover. He said that they had several items scattered on the floor and three bags were missing. The manager, according to the complaint, said it appeared that someone had stuck something in the window opening of the booth and pulled the bags toward the opening. The detective reportedly identified the suspect selling the stolen wristbands as Bernatek. The detective reportedly communicated with Bernatek over social media and told Bernatek he wanted to purchase six wrists bands for $50 each. The detective made arrangements for Bernatek to meet a deputy at the Uber/cab area of the festival grounds, according to the complaint. A deputy in plain clothes reportedly confirmed that Bernatek had tickets and detained him. Bernatek, according to the complaint, agreed to speak with deputies and said he was not at Country Thunder the day prior. Bernatek reportedly said his girlfriend, Miulli, was at the festival with Timmons and two other females. Bernatek reportedly said he was communicating with Miulli all night and that she had sent him a text that she found bags of wristbands in the mud. He said that no one was picking them up and so she grabbed them. A detective searched the vehicle and located five $20 bills sitting on the front passenger side seat, according to the complaint. Also located in the vehicle was a black plastic bag sitting on the front passenger side floorboard that contained several varying Country Thunder wristbands. Several more wristbands were reportedly located in the glovebox. In total, 20 reserve wristbands, four Sunday general admission wristbands, one platinum wristband, and 68 weekend general admission were located. The wristbands removed from Bernateks shorts pocket were reportedly 40 general admission wristbands, four reserve wristbands and two Sunday general admission wristbands. In one text between Bernatek and Miulli she reportedly asked him how can I sell these and I have so many and Premium (expletive) too, according to the complaint. Later in the conversation, Miulli reportedly said that she found the tickets outside of a little shack and then said that someone stuck their hand inside and pulled out bags of wristbands. Miulli reportedly advised that a couple of bags taken from inside the shack fell to the ground and she retrieved them. Miulli allegedly messaged Bernatek about how the sales were going and hoped she did not get arrested. When questioned by investigators Timmons reportedly advised that she did get a bag of wristbands from a male, but claimed she did not see where he had gotten them from. Timmons also reportedly made the spontaneous statement my hand did not go into the window when questioned. Miulli, when questioned, reportedly claimed that when they got to the will call booth they found the wristbands on the ground and she picked up wristbands. When asked about Bernatek selling wristbands, Miulli reportedly said I dont know what he did with them after that and his ideas. She reportedly denied knowing he was going to sell tickets despite being shown her previous messages to him. Country Thunder is the popular four-day country music festival that draws tens of thousands of music fans and high-profile musicians from across the nation to the Shadow Hill Ranch in Randall every summer in Kenosha County. A special two-day deer hunting season is being offered this fall to help scientists better understand deer density. The state Department of Natural Resources has announced that archery hunters can apply to take part in a deer hunt on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the Sandhill Wildlife Area in Babcock in Wood County in central Wisconsin. Applications for the hunt, the first in the wildlife area since 1968, are due Aug. 14. This hunt, designed to thin the herd, is open to all licensed archery hunters and is restricted to archery equipment, which includes crossbows and vertical bows. A limited number of applicants will be accepted with successful applicants required to review the special hunting rules and regulations. Hunters will be issued two harvest permits, one either-sex and another for an antlerless deer. The DNR is in the midst of a four-year study that started in 2021 to assess and develop methodologies for providing accurate estimates of small deer populations using trail cameras. Recently, camera-based methods have been developed to estimate wildlife population size, but these methods require accurate estimates of movement rates and assume that animals move randomly relative to camera placement, the DNR wrote in its description of the study. Since animals typically do not move randomly and cameras are usually strategically deployed (on game trails) the latter assumption is problematic and limits the applicability of such methods. We are assessing alternate methods that could allow trail cameras to better estimate deer populations. The 9,150-acre wildlife area was named for a series of gently rolling sandy ridges crisscrossing the property and lies within the bed of ancient Glacial Lake Wisconsin, an expansive region of flat, marshy land interspersed with forests in central Wisconsin southwest of Wisconsin Rapids. The property is managed by a team of DNR wildlife technicians and biologists and is surrounded by a 9-foot-high deer-proof fence, providing a contained environment ideal for wildlife research. The methods of the deer density study, according to researchers, will address drawbacks of existing camera-based approaches by testing alternative methods in a well-studied wildlife area. The project will also provide recommendations about the number and distribution of cameras, duration of sampling and the number of monitored deer required to obtain reasonable population estimates. Tom Harris, owner of Sporting Arms Company, which is based in his home in Lewisville, Texas, works with a customer during a firearm purchase. (Photo Courtesy Tom Harris.) Tom Harris has been selling guns out of his Lewisville, Texas home for 30 years. He is so respected and beloved by his customers that one gave him a kidney literally which saved his life. Dialysis wasnt working well for Harris, owner of Sporting Arms Company, which he operates from a dedicated space in his home. He had only months to live, until a 39-year-old retired Marine offered to help. I heard you might need a kidney. Ill get tested, Harris recalls the man saying in 2019. I told him that he and his wife should pray about it first. He said, We already have. He was a perfect match a 7 out of 7. Now, even if I lose my business, it has allowed me to live. In what has become standard operating procedure since Joe Biden took office, the ATF is trying to intimidate Harris and other homebased gun dealers into surrendering his Federal Firearm License. If he refuses to comply and he most likely will Harris will face what ATF calls adverse actions. ATF dug up procedural errors from as far back as 2007 to make their current case against Harris, but the ATF had already told Harris he was cleared of these 16-year-old clerical errors, as well as newer ones. He has letters attesting to this. Unfortunately, none of this mattered to the ATF inspectors who recently began persecuting the 61-year-old disabled father of five only to satisfy their supervisors newfound zeal for FFL revocations. They threw the kitchen sink at me after they cleared me because their bosses werent happy with it, ..... 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 NEW YORK Set aside the polls, the fundraising numbers or Donald Trumps name recognition as metrics of his early dominance of the Republican presidential contest. He has what could prove to be the most important advantage in the race: a leg up in winning the delegates needed to clinch the GOP nomination. While the delegate count wont begin taking shape until voting begins next January, Trumps edge in the race to win their votes is years in the making. Many state Republican parties made changes to their rules ahead of the 2020 election by adding more winner-take-all contests and requiring candidates to earn higher percentages of the vote to claim any delegates. Those changes all benefit a frontrunner, a position Trump has held despite his mounting legal peril, blame for his partys lackluster performance in the 2022 elections and the turbulent years of his presidency. As Trump makes another run for the White House, he has been focused on the looming battle for delegates, according to people with knowledge of his effort who requested anonymity to discuss strategy. Hes had regular discussion with state party chairs, many of whose leadership races he got involved in, and has hosted delegations from Republican parties in Nevada, Louisiana and Pennsylvania at his homes in Florida and New Jersey. The moves are a sign of how Trumps team is focused on the crucial, if less glamorous, aspects of winning the GOP nomination. Thats a notable change from his first bid for the White House in 2016, when his team of relatively novice operatives werent familiar with the minutia of the delegate contest and sometimes found themselves outflanked by better-prepared rivals, particularly Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. That doesnt appear to be happening this time as election experts say it appears few other campaigns have been able to match Trumps yearslong work. Theyve been asleep at the switch, election lawyer Benjamin Ginsberg said. More than 2,000 party activists, insiders and elected officials make up the pool of delegates who will cast votes at the Republican National Convention next summer to formally select a nominee. The rules governing how delegates are selected are determined by state parties, which have until October to submit their plans for next years elections. Many of the proposed changes that are starting to emerge in state parties appear to benefit the former president. In Michigan, where the state GOP has become increasingly loyal to Trump, the partys leadership this year voted to change the states longtime process of allocating all its presidential delegates based on an open primary election. Under a new plan widely expected to benefit Trump, 16 of the states 55 delegates will be awarded based on the results of a Feb. 27 primary. The other 39 will be distributed four days later in closed-door caucus meetings of party activists. Other state Republican parties are looking to shift away from primary elections toward party-run caucuses, where Trumps support among the partys grassroots activists could put his rivals at a disadvantage. In Idaho, one of the countrys most Republican states, a new law passed earlier this year eliminated the presidential primary process by moving the state elections to May as lawmakers tried to consolidate the voting calendar. The partys state central committee decided last month to instead hold caucuses on March 2. In Nevada, the state Republican Party is mounting a legal battle to try to hold a party-run caucus instead of a state-run primary election. The party chair, Michael McDonald, said he had spoken with Trumps team about the process and ongoing lawsuit but had not heard from the campaign of his strongest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Other changes in the works would reduce the potential of any last-minute maneuvering at the convention. At least two states, Louisiana and Colorado, are proposing changes this year that would bind delegates to vote for their assigned candidate during a second round of voting the national convention in the unlikely event that no candidate has a majority on the first ballot. Trump senior adviser Chris LaCivita said the campaign has had conversations with state parties all over the country about their delegate selection plans and is keeping close tabs on what its opponents are doing or not doing. We are aggressive on every level and on every front, he said. We dont let anything stand a chance. Trump is taking steps to cultivate ties with party insiders who might end up serving as delegates in 2024. One potential opening for a challenger like DeSantis could be California, which has 169 delegates to dole out, more than any other state. Thanks to changes passed by Democrats, Californias primary contest will be on March 5, requiring the state GOP to change its delegate plan in order to comply with national GOP rules for early contests. The changes, which the states Republican Party is set to consider and approve late this month, are set to award delegates proportionately to the candidates share of the vote, rather than award all delegates to the winner. That could give a candidate trailing in second place a chance to make up ground especially someone like DeSantis, who has made a point of campaigning in the state. Patriots and Veterans Affairs Minister Park Min-shik, right of center in the rear, and government representatives of the 22 countries that helped South Korea in the 1950-53 Korean War, observe a moment of silence before the Ministerial Summit on Veterans Affairs at a hotel in Busan, Tuesday. Yonhap Major ceremony marking 70th anniversary of armistice set for today By Lee Hyo-jin Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Min-shik proposed a joint declaration, Wednesday, with 22 countries that helped South Korea in the 1950-53 Korean War, pledging collective efforts toward maintaining global peace and values of freedom. "Through the joint declaration, we hope to share the value of prosperity and freedom achieved through 70 years of solidarity with our ally nations, and I hope this will serve as a new starting point of an alliance for the 70 years to come," Park said. Park's proposal was made during the Ministerial Summit on Veterans Affairs with the 22 countries in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement that halted the inter-Korean conflict. The meeting was held in the southeastern port city of Busan under the theme "Solidarity for the Value of Freedom." It was attended by government representatives of the 22 countries such as defense ministers and ambassadors. The 22 nations that participated in the Korean War are the United States, Australia, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand and Turkey. On the same day, Park also held one-on-one meetings with representatives of Australia and France. With Australia's Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel Matthew Keogh, Park discussed ways for joint efforts to provide better support for surviving Australian veterans. South Korean service members cover the casket of a South Korean soldier, killed in the 1950-53 Korean War, during a ceremony to hand over the remains of seven soldiers, held at Hickam Air Force in Hawaii, Tuesday (local time). The ceremony, attended by South Korea's Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command commander Adm. John Aquilino, took place ahead of the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice Agreement which falls on July 27. Courtesy of Kookbang Ilbo Remains of 7 South Korean troops killed during Korean War return home Remains of 7 S. Korean troops killed during Korean War handed over to Seoul Rare archival footage sheds light on post-war reconstruction efforts in Korea During a meeting with French Secretary of State for Veterans and Memory Patricia Miralles, the two sides signed a letter of intent (LOI) on veterans' affairs cooperation, with an aim to preserve and utilize the heritages related to the Korean War, including the "Path of Remembrance." The signing of the document would enable the implementation of several cooperation projects, said the ministry, including an award ceremony of the Chungmu Order of Military Merit for the late Sgt. Park Dong-ha in recognition of his wartime service in the French Battalion. Today, Park will meet with Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel. Luxembourg, one of the smallest countries in Europe, dispatched 110 combat troops to the Korean War, which was the first overseas dispatch of troops in its history. Bettel has shown great interest to relations with South Korea. During his term as the mayor of Luxembourg from 2011 to 2013, he actively engaged in events paying tribute to Korean War veterans and attended the annual South Korea-Luxembourg Friendship Concert held in Luxemburg every year. Park will then have a separate meeting with Zafer Tarikdaroglu, Turkey's deputy minister of family and social services, to discuss various cooperation projects. The two countries' relations are often described as "blood brothers" as Turkey sent 15,000 troops to help South Korea in the Korean War. The veterans ministry is planning to hold a large-scale ceremony today to mark the 70th anniversary of the armistice. The ceremony will begin at 7:40 p.m. at the Busan Cinema Center. The venue was formerly an airport where Task Force Smith, a U.S. unit under the United Nations flag, first arrived in South Korea under a mission to protect the nation against North Korea's invasion. Korean War veterans and their families wave on a KTX train bound for Busan, Wednesday, where they will attend various events honoring the veterans' wartime service. Yonhap Under the main theme of "Freedom by Dedication, Future by Alliance," the event is expected to gather some 4,000 people including 170 representatives from 25 countries, foreign and Korean veterans, as well as their families and descendants. The opening ceremony will feature a parade of 62 U.N. veterans down the "path of heroes" escorted by the South Korean military and the United Nations Command (UNC). The names of the veterans will appear on a large screen set up on the stage in a show of respect for their services. JIM FALLS Gov. Tony Evers joined Chippewa Economic Development Corp., Chippewa County and Wisconsin Department of Transportation officials Tuesday to open the new Cobban Bridge over the Chippewa River between Cornell and Jim Falls. Folks rely on safe roads and bridges to get them from point A to point B, and my administration has remained committed since Day One to building the resilient, safe infrastructure needed to support our communities, economy, and Wisconsinites quality of life, Gov. Tony Evers said in a press release. The new Cobban Bridge illustrates this commitment, and Im grateful to Chippewa County, the Chippewa Economic Development Corp., and WisDOT for working together to build a crossing that will last for generations. The bridge closed in August 2017 after a routine inspection noted some deficiencies that meant the bridge could no longer safely support vehicles. Chippewa County received state funding for the final design and construction in 2018 through the Local Bridge Improvement Program, with the remaining 20 percent of the funding provided by Chippewa County. The $4.6 million project began in August 2022 with the demolition of the former bridge. Almost a year later, the Cobban Bridge is officially open, more than three months ahead of schedule. The Cobban Bridge project involved planning and coordination at all levels of government to successfully deliver this project, said WisDOT Northwest Region Director Jerry Mentzel. We are proud to work with our county partners to build a safer and more reliable structure across the Chippewa River. We are also delighted that parts of the previous Cobban Bridge are restored in the nearby state park as a lasting reminder for residents and visitors. Built in 1908, the former two-span Pennsylvania through-truss bridge was the oldest of its kind in Wisconsin. In addition to WisDOTs efforts to preserve the bridges history through awareness and local education efforts, the steel beams from the former Cobban Bridge were recycled to build a 200-foot fence at the overlook at Lake Wissota State Park, northeast of Chippewa Falls. Educational signs are expected to be in place by next season. Im extremely pleased to have this incredible project completed, said Chippewa County Highway Committee Chairman Glen Sikorski. We had been working on funding of this project for my entire time on the board, and I felt very strongly that it was necessary to maintain a Chippewa River crossing at this location. Time will prove the benefits of a bridge at this location, particularly during future work on the County Y bridge in Jim Falls. It was clear when the previous bridge needed to be closed that another structure must be built. Years of hard work have taken place behind the scenes to obtain the necessary funding, study the possible alternate crossing locations, complete the design, and move into construction, said Chippewa County Highway Commissioner Brian Kelley. There were numerous environmental and historical challenges associated with this project, and it was only through collaboration with all of the project stakeholders that we were able to achieve our goal. Im very proud of the amazing work done by the entire project team to get a new Cobban Bridge built within budget and well ahead of schedule. People loved the Cobban Bridge. It was scenic. It carried people and goods since the horse and wagon days. And it had a great story how many bridges have ever been in two spots? But even the most scenic and storied bridge will fail with enough time, hard use, and weather, said Chippewa County Historical Society Director Frank Smoot. The Chippewa County Highway Department worked tirelessly with the Chippewa County Historical Society to preserve the story of the Cobban Bridge and salvage some important relics. A new bridge will carry new generations of travelers, and meanwhile, we all can carry the stories of the old bridge with us. Our neighborhood on the east side of the bridge has been anxiously waiting for its completion, said local resident and advocate for the new bridge, Marilyn Murphy. Although many of us loved the history and character of the old bridge, we are so pleased to be able to now use a safe and convenient crossing to Highway 178. That access has been truly missed since the old bridge had to be closed 6 years ago. UW-La Crosses award-winning community oral history project, Hear, Here is expanding to the North Side of La Crosse and offering a new public class to collect oral histories from this new section of the city. I think it is important for all voices to be heard, but especially those who are not typically heard, explains UW-L History Professor Ariel Beaujot, who launched the Hear, Here project with UW-L students in 2015 and will teach the new course. People from the La Crosse community of all ages are invited to join the class, which will take place Wednesday evenings over 15 weeks starting this September at the Black River Beach Neighborhood Center. Community members will be able to audit the class. Seniors citizens age 60 or older who are Wisconsin residents can audit for free or a minimal fee, depending on materials needed. Other auditors will pay $246 (Wisconsin resident), $324 (Minnesota resident) or $1,062 (non-resident) for the three-credit class. Learn more on how to register at www.uwlax.edu/history/hear-here. Sara Krueger, a high school social studies teacher at Logan plans to join the class. I feel that being part of Hear, Here projects expansion to the North Side is incredibly important and rewarding, and also can be an experience I bring back to my students, she said. I worked on Hear, Here as an undergraduate at UW-L, and couldnt be more excited to return to it as a community member. Carolyn Mahlum-Jenkins, a La Crosse community member, was also involved in the initial Hear, Here project. It was an exhilarating experience in many respects, she said. Mahlum-Jenkins took advantage of the multigenerational composition of the class to get help becoming reacquainted with the technology used in the classroom, and she found plenty of opportunities to share her own experiences. Some of the course content gave me time to reflect on what my life experiences were like growing up privileged in comparison to how others may have experienced the same period in time from another perspective. It opened my eyes, Mahlum-Jenkins said. When I shared my high school, college and initial career experiences in the class, students were spellbound and listened carefully. What they were hearing about the 60s, 70s and 80s was history to them only exposed by books because their parents were too young to know firsthand. The original Hear, Here project started in downtown La Crosse in 2015. Since then, the project has expanded internationally. Beaujot wanted to expand to the North Side because of its unique history in La Crosse. The North Side started as a separate community, connected to the South Side by a plank road, which is now Copeland Avenue. After the lumber industry crashed at the turn of the 19th century, it was the North Sides industrial growth that employed laborers looking for jobs, and it was this growth that makes La Crosse what it is today. The North Side was the home to factories such as the La Crosse Rubber Mills and Electric Auto Lite, and dozens of sawmills that lined the riverbank. The locals supported their own downtown that included a theater, butcher shops, spaces for social groups, a library and small grocers. One of the goals of this project is for North La Crosse to be more seen in the larger community for the North Side to be able to tell their stories in their own voices and to be heard and recognized within the neighborhood but also to be heard by those from the rest of the city as well, Beaujot said. The Hear, Here projects methodology of collecting oral histories was originally a way to get voices into the historical record there that were not there in traditional written sources held by archives, Beaujot said. The first group of people that were represented in oral histories were working-class men. This is a group that is important for the North Side given the number of factories that were previously in the area, its connection with the rivers, and the train. The North Side was also home to the Moss family, one of the only Black families in La Crosse for many years. It is a place that Ho Chunk people had a summer settlement and various new immigrants made their homes. Community member Glen Jenkins, who took the previous Hear, Here course, says it encouraged him to step outside of his comfort zone and engage in conversations that challenged perceptions and expanded his perspectives while providing him with practical tools to navigate difficult conversations and conflicts constructively in other areas of his life. I became more aware of my own biases and learned how to approach conversations with an open mind and heart, he says. I use the lessons I learned every day, and I am committed to continuing to be a compassionate listener and an advocate for meaningful conversations. 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. A Livingston man was sentenced Wednesday to 13 years in prison for shooting a Madison man outside a Grant County bar in 2021, authorities reported. Todd Holder, 54, of Livingston, also was sentenced by Grant County Circuit Court Judge Craig Day to 7 years of extended supervision on one count of attempted second-degree homicide in a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, Grant County Sheriff Nate Dreckman said in a statement. Early on June 19, 2021, Holder and his soon-to-be son-in-law Ari Williams, 36, were at the Hell Inn Bar in Livingston after being at a family event earlier in the day. The two had been drinking together when joking led to comments that were perceived as being racially biased and Williams shoved Holder to the floor, Dreckman said. Holder then left the bar, went to his house, got a pistol and returned to the bar. Holder then summoned Williams outside where he shot him four times in the abdomen and one time in the face, witnessed by a person from in the bar, Dreckman said. A Madison father shot his 25-year-old son to death Saturday night during a fight that started with an argument over 25 cents the younger man demanded, after the father had given his son what he said was his last $2, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday. John C. Shively, 65, told police he grabbed and fired the gun, which belonged to his son, Zachary S. Shively, so that the confrontation would finally end. I foolishly thought that with a gun right at him that he would just finally give me respite, Shively told police after the shooting, which happened at the Shively home at 2849 Warner St. on Madisons South Side. It was a big argument for (25 cents), is that insane or ... Shively said. But Shively said it was not only the 25 cents but the culmination of a lot of bad decisions that had built up over time that caused him to shoot his son with a gun that Zachary Shively owned and had used earlier that night to fire gunshots from a moving car. Could I have gotten help for him that I didnt? Shively asked a Madison police detective. Probably, but I didnt know what to do. The complaint charged Shively with first-degree intentional homicide for his sons death, which according to the complaint was caused by a single gunshot wound to his heart and aorta. Medical Examiner Dr. Vincent Tranchida estimated the shot was fired from a distance of between 6 inches and 3 feet. During a court appearance Tuesday, state assistant public defender Jacob Idlas said self-defense will almost certainly be a factor. He said Shively, who is widowed, has lived his entire life in the Madison area, and he and his wife raised two adopted sons, including Zachary. It is clear from both the probable cause affidavit and an even clearer picture in the criminal complaint that self-defense will be a central issue in this case. Mr. Shively made admissions that he pulled the trigger of the gun, yes, Idlas said. But there were many other statements indicating self-defense, he said. Shivelys other son, Robert Shively, appeared in court by video and asked that lesser bail be set for his father than the $1 million usually set in first-degree intentional homicide cases, and that the case be seen more as one of a reckless nature than intentional. The reason Im here speaking today even though it may not be in the best interest of my father is my father is my best friend and I want to make sure he has adequate help and protection, Robert Shively said. He added later, Im a direct reflection of my dad, and hes a good guy. If you look at his kids and you look at his family, you dont see a bad egg. Even my brother wasnt a bad egg. Court Commissioner Jason Hanson, recognizing that even though the case against Shively is strong, said its an emotional one involving members of the same family, and that a self-defense argument could be made. He set bail at $300,000, well under the $1 million sought by Assistant District Attorney Kali Zettle. More top stories: >> Exact Sciences advances new Cologuard test According to the complaint: A roommate of the father and son told police the Shivelys had gone to a family gathering late Saturday afternoon but came home after they had started arguing over money at the gathering. The roommate said he was trying to leave the house and go to another house across the street when he heard one gunshot. After the shot, he heard John Shively say, Call 911. The man said he ran from the house and went across the street where he called 911. The roommate said Zachary Shively had bought the gun recently from a gun shop in Oregon, south of Madison. John Shively also called 911 and told a dispatcher he had shot his son and put the gun down on the floor. When police arrived, John Shively came out of the house as ordered, with blood on his hands and clothing. In a squad car he told an officer, I pulled the trigger. Officers found Zachary Shively in a living room type of area at the bottom of the stairs in the basement of the home. A .40-caliber Glock handgun was on the floor in a nearby bedroom. A single fired casing was also found. Arguing about money At the police station Downtown, John Shively told Detective Lisa Fahrenbruch that he shot his son after things built up and built up. He said Zachary Shively would not drop the subject of money and kept asking him for money, even though John Shively said he had none. Shively said he had previously given his son and his sons friends post-dated checks, and that was what his son was demanding again. He had only $2, which he didnt want to give his son, but he ended up giving it to him. But his son wanted $2.50. John Shively said he only had 30 cents and a few pennies, but his son kept hammering that he needed 25 cents more. Shively said it wasnt unusual for his son to demand money. But he said he owes taxes on his house and hasnt paid the mortgage for the past two or three months and his credit cards are at their limits, so it was not just about the 25 cents but about a lot of bad decisions. Fighting escalates The argument lasted what seemed to Shively like a long time, and at one point before the shooting, Zachary Shively had gone upstairs and come back down to continue arguing. John Shively could have left then through a sliding door, he told police, but he didnt. Zachary Shively hit his father on the upper arm with a closed fist, trying to intimidate him. Then he began pushing the older man. Shively said his son pushed him into the corner, where he landed in a chair and bumped his head on a wall, but he was not seriously hurt by that. After being pushed into the chair, John Shively said, he was trying to go upstairs, but his son grabbed him from behind and pulled him backward and continued to hit him. For reasons the elder Shively said he did not know, Zachary Shively had left the gun on a ledge at the bottom of the stairs. I cant tell you how much I regret that I picked it up, thinking that he would finally back down, Shively told police, which he didnt do. He said he pointed the gun at his son who was coming at him and fired point blank. I wish I hadnt, he said. Im pretty sure I only pulled it once. Although Zachary Shively was hurling a lot of insults, John Shively said, he didnt make any threats. His son was pushing him, the elder Shively said, but not verbally threatening him. Asked by Fahrenbruch about his intent in firing the gun, Shively said there was no logical thought behind it, he just wanted the confrontation with his son to stop. Black Sea Grain Initiative Discussed at UN Food Conference in Rome July 25, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)Plenty of verbiage has been spent on restoring the Black Sea Grain Initiative but little action. In a keynote address yesterday at the opening session of the July 24-26 UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment in Rome, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Russia to return to the deal. Guterres said he was committed to unimpeded access to global markets for food products and fertilizers from both Ukraine and Russia, and urged the global community to stand behind that effort, reported Anadolu. He underlined that Russia and Ukraine are both essential to global food security. The summit convened yesterday, attended by 2,000 participants, including 22 heads of state or government and more than 100 ministerial delegations, who will review progress on commitments to action and identify successes, enduring bottlenecks, and priorities to close the implementation gap for food systems transformation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking on national TV rather than in Rome, said that Turkiye is ready to continue its efforts to settle the Ukrainian crisis and that proposals had been submitted to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He reiterated that on July 7, he had met with Zelenskyy in Istanbul. We discussed issues on our agenda. In particular, we exchanged our proposals with regard to the war which has been underway for over 500 days and again stated our readiness to do everything that depends on us on this track, Erdogan declared. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told TASS in Rome that Italy thinks it necessary to extend the grain deal. We think that an agreement must be found, because the issue is not so much the conflict itself between Russia and Ukraine, but African countries that are being left without grain. We support any initiatives, Turkiyes or any mediating initiative. We are working on a peaceful resolution [of the Ukrainian conflict] together with the UN, he replied to a question as to whether Italy can resume its mediating role, given its traditionally good relations with Russia. Also speaking on the sidelines of the Rome summit was Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin, who told reporters that the grain deal cant be restored without Russia. My opinion is that it is impossible to do this without Russia, Vershinin said. The problem is that there are no talks underway aimed at restoring it. Currently, negotiations on the grain deal resumption ... are not being held. We articulated our position clearly. No renewal of the Black Sea Initiative took place after [July] 17. We objected to that. We objected with consideration of the experience in implementation of Istanbul agreements that we accumulated over the year, he declared. Labor unions for actors and writers are striking over pay, benefits and job protections. But Artificial intelligence technology has become a big issue in Hollywoods labor fight. AI has introduced a new point of disagreement between artists and production companies. Here is a look at what both sides say they want. Why is AI such an important issue? With AI, star actors fear they will lose control of their likenesses. Unknown actors fear they will be replaced altogether. Writers fear they will have to share credit with or lose credit to machines. The proposed contracts which the two sides have been attempting to negotiate is to last only three years. Even at the speed at which AI technology is developing, it is unlikely there would be a large displacement of writers or actors within that period of time. But unions and employers know that if they compromise on an issue, it will be harder to get what they want in the next set of negotiations. New technology is important to filmmaking. AI has been used to make actors look younger, like Harrison Ford in the recent film Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. All sides in the strike know that use of new technology will continue to increase. That is why both sides are looking to establish legal and creative control. The actors view Actors in the labor discussions are represented by the Screen Actors GuildAmerican Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) represents the production companies, which are the employers. The strike started on July 13. SAG-AFTRA released an opinion of the studios position on the use of AI and their images. The group said the production companies want to scan a background performers image, pay them for a half a days labor, and then use an individuals likeness for any purpose forever without their consent." The union also said employers want to be able to make changes todialogue, and even create new scenes, without informed consent. The AMPTP said in a statement that its offers included an AI proposal which protects performers digital likenesses, including a requirement for performers' consent for the creationof a performance. SAG-AFTRA said it wants to protect human-created work including changes to the voice, likeness or performance of an actor. Observers say that "voice" comes first on that list for a reason. AI voice technology might be more developed than visual technology. For example, the voices of the late Anthony Bourdain and the late Andy Warhol have both been recreated for recent films. Writers want credit During the writers contract talks, which broke down in early May, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) said it did not oppose the use of AI. But AI should only be used as a tool to use in a writers own work. The union said writers might be willing to shape stories with help from AI software. But they did not want it to affect the credits that influence their position and pay. The WGA wants to prevent entirely AI-created stories or dialogue from being considered literary material. This means they would not be competing with computers for credit. The AMPTP said in a document explaining its position that writers want to be able to use this technology as part of their creative process, without changing how credits are determined, which is complicated given AI material cant be copyrighted. Only a person can be considered a writer, the AMPTP added. AI-generated material would not be eligible for writing credit. This position could calm writers worries about sharing credit with AI. But it could also lead to no one getting credit when they use AI. Modern movie writing contracts are very complex and hard to understand. So is the question of who receives credit for the work. Observers say adding AI makes the problem even more difficult. Im Dan Novak. Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting from Reuters and The Associated Press. _______________________________________ Words in This Story benefit n. things received in addition to pay that employers offer to employees likeness n. a picture or image of any kind of a person scan v. to digitally capture the image of something consent n. permission that is given by a person old enough and able to give it dialogue n. speech that appears in performances like movies, plays and shows scene n. a division of a movie, play or performance copyright n. the legal right to be able to reproduce, publish and sell recordings, books, movies and other performances eligible adj. able to do or receive something under an agreement New Policies Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $300 million investment to monitor agricultural emissions. The investment will help create a research group to monitor carbon levels in soil. American lawmakers also proposed a measure to support research needed to properly credit soil carbon storage. The USDA announcement and the law are both aimed at the difficult question of how to measure carbon stored in soil. The issue is important if the young soil carbon market is to avoid the opposition directed at current carbon credit markets. Carbon storage The Congressional Research Services describes a carbon market as an economic idea that supports the buying and selling of environmental commodities that signify GHG (greenhouse gas) emission reductions or storage. The general idea is that some kinds of farming methods can support carbon storage. As a result, some farmers can get money in the form of carbon offsets payments that companies can make that support carbon storage in farms. Shalamar Armstrong is an associate professor at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. The more carbon you store from the atmosphere with your crops, and the more crops grown throughout the year, you offset some of your waste, he said. The carbon that was stored would have instead been released into the atmosphere, he explained. But much about carbon storage remains unknown. The science piece (of carbon credits) has really lagged behind, particularly when it comes to things like monitoring, reporting and verification, said Cristel Zoebisch, a policy director at climate organization Carbon180. Armstrong has been trying to help fix the problem of measuring carbon storage. He runs a lab where researchers are investigating how farming method affects the amount of carbon in soil across different kinds of land. He and others at Purdue have been studying soil samples that date back more than 40 years. He hopes his findings will help farmers make decisions that could result in earnings from storing carbon and without losing any crop profit. Carbon markets But other experts worry that even if farmers do get paid for storing soil carbon, bigger issues remain. Carbon offsets in the U.S. have to meet four conditions. They have to store carbon that would otherwise be released. The offsets also have to be verifiable in data, immediate and long-lasting, said John Sterman, a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Carbon storage research might make the offsets more verifiable, but such research does not deal with other problems. For example, many American farmers do not own the land on which they grow crops. As a result, these farmers cannot guarantee that carbon stored on their land will stay in place if someone else works the same property. Barbara Haya of the Berkeley Carbon Trading Project at University of California, Berkeley, says the research she has worked on shows that the effects of carbon offset projects are commonly overestimated. Carbon trading has, in her words, failed miserably over the last 20 years. She advises moving away from the process. Jared Huffman, a lawmaker in the U.S. House of Representatives, last month proposed a bill to support farmers in making improvements to soil health. He said farmers in the area he represents would be interested in entering carbon markets with strong accounting systems. But he added that those hoping for serious climate action should not depend only on offsets. Im John Russell. Melina Walling reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. __________________________________________________ Words in The Story commodity n. something that is bought and sold signify v. to be a sign of (something) : to mean (something) lag v. to be in a position that is behind others South Koreas top court has overturned a parliamentary vote that removed the countrys public safety minister over a deadly crowd incident in October. The Constitutional Court ruled Tuesday to lift the impeachment of Lee Sang-min. Lee was serving as South Koreas Minister of the Interior and Safety when 159 people were crushed to death in a densely packed crowd during a Halloween celebration last October in Seoul. The courts decision permits Lee to return to his position, which had been filled by an acting minister. South Koreas opposition-controlled parliament voted in February to impeach Lee. Legislators sought to hold him responsible for the governments failure to put in place effective crowd control measures. In its rejection of Lees impeachment, the Constitutional Court suggested that he alone could not be held responsible for the crowd crush. The court said it had not found enough evidence to prove that Lee had failed to carry out his legal and constitutional duties to protect the publics safety. Instead, the court blamed a number of different government agencies for failing to develop a combined ability to respond to large-scale disasters. The 58-year-old Lee is considered an important ally of conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol. The presidents office welcomed the courts decision. Yoon had rejected calls from opposition politicians to remove Lee as minister. Relatives of people who died in the crowd crush criticized the court. The mother of victim Park Ga-young called the ruling truly devastating. She told Reuters news agency, "Our children, young people, are living in a place that isn't safe to even walk in. In a statement released by his ministry, Lee expressed support to accident victims and their families. But he said it was time to end wasteful political bickering over the incident. An investigation into the incident found that police and local officials in Seouls Yongsan district had failed to plan effective crowd control measures before the Halloween celebration took place. Investigators found that police had ignored calls placed by people warning of growing crowds before the incident late on October 29. The investigation also found mistakes were made during emergency response measures during the celebration. Police have brought criminal charges against 23 officials over the lack of crowd controls and safety measures. About half of those charged are law enforcement officers. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press and Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. _____________________________________________ Words in This Story respond v. to say or do something as an answer or reaction to something that has been said or done devastating adj. causing a lot of damage or destruction bicker v. to argue about something that is not very important What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here. The pedestrian-only San Ma Lo project may return with some changes as the government announced its plans yesterday to turn the famous Happiness Street into a pedestrian zone. The news was announced by president Leong Wai Man of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) at a press conference following a Cultural Development Committee plenary meeting. Officially referred to as Rua da Felicidade and colloquially called Happiness Street by English speakers due to its meaning in Portuguese, the street is popular among local residents and tourists for its number of renowned and historic eateries in the district. The street featured green doors and windows, according to the IC, which were later mistakenly painted red. The entire proposal will concern work on Happiness Street, Travessa do Mastro, Travessa do Aterro Novo, Rua do Matapau and Travessa de Ho Lo Quai. As part of a long-term project, the IC may initially trial the pedestrian-only zoning on weekends and gradually roll this out to all days. The plan is to block these streets and reserve them exclusively for pedestrians from morning to evening, and motor traffic will only be allowed partially during off-peak hours. Given the strong connections between the project and the San Ma Lo pedestrian zoning done with the participation of casino operators early this year, the IC president was asked if a similar form of cooperation will be staged again. In response, Leong, said that the first phase will rely mostly on government efforts to create conditions to revive the neighborhood. The government efforts that she referred to involve converting the streets to become pedestrian-only and the placement of art installations across the neighborhood. Communications with neighborhood associations and business associations on this have been conducted, the IC president disclosed. Many businesses have expressed their support for the project, Leong added, saying that opinions from individual residents are now being gathered. Discussions with ICs government counterparts have also been undertaken, said Leong, with support for the project. These counterparts included the Transport Bureau (DSAT), the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) and the Public Security Police Force (PSP), among other bureaus. When questioned by the Times if the project will exert additional pressure on nearby roads, Leong noted that the DSAT considered the project to be feasible from a transport perspective. Many drivers do take the alleyways beside San Ma Lo when they need to travel between the east and the west coasts of Macau Peninsula, so as to avoid the traffic on San Ma Lo. Last month, the DSAT announced the permanent closure of the opening from Avenida de Amizade to the Sewage Treatment Plant on Jun. 22, citing previous evaluations supporting the viability of such a change. However, the closure only lasted for 14 hours or so. Leong insisted that the proposal was announced only following evaluations proving its feasibility. Admitting that closure to motor traffic will have downstream impacts, she emphasized that Happiness Street does not normally have heavy traffic, hinting that the closure would not significantly impact motor traffic on the street. She was almost immediately questioned by another journalist about the necessity of barring motor traffic on these small streets when they do not normally have heavy traffic. The culture official defended that the closure will help with inaugurations of art installations and that pedestrians will not need to make way for motor traffic. In response to concerns that the area prone to traffic congestion after the commencement of the project might expand significantly, and thereby eventually discourage interested members of the public from visiting the district, Leong disagreed, saying that people who want to reach Largo do Sao Domingos cannot alight there, suggesting that people will be willing to walk to the pedestrian-only zone. Leong was asked to elaborate on the necessity of the initiative to achieve revival of the neighborhood and increase tourism, given that similar districts in Hong Kong Central and Sheung Wan, which also have small alleys and old buildings have been active even without a pedestrian-only zone. She said that each example is individual and unique. Some places can be bustling even without pedestrian zones, she said. We have been hearing neighborhood associations calling for the government to do something to energize the district. Several businesses in the district, including several Cantonese restaurants, several Chinese dessert eateries, a Macanese restaurant and an Indonesian grill bistro, have always seen packed shops and long queues. For the time being, the IC has no timeline for the establishment of the pedestrian zone. North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern sea, South Koreas military said yesterday, adding to a recent streak in weapons testing that is apparently in protest of the U.S. sending major naval assets to South Korea in a show of force. In its third round of launches since last week, North Korea fired the missiles just before midnight from an area near its capital, Pyongyang, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said. It said both missiles traveled around 400 kilometers before landing in waters off the Korean Peninsulas eastern coast. Its statement called North Koreas missile launches a grave provocation that threatens regional peace and stability. Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said his government lodged a protest to North Korea over the launches, which is usually conveyed through its embassy in Beijing. He said Tokyo was doing its utmost for surveillance while stepping up trilateral security cooperation with Washington and Seoul. No damage has been reported related to the missiles, which, according to Japans Defense Ministry, fell outside the countrys exclusive economic zone. The launches came hours after South Koreas navy said a nuclear-propelled U.S. submarine the USS Annapolis arrived at a port on Jeju Island. That underscored the allies efforts to boost the visibility of U.S. strategic assets in the region to intimidate the North. Last week, the USS Kentucky became the first U.S. nuclear-armed submarine to come to South Korea since the 1980s. North Korea reacted to its arrival by test-firing ballistic and cruise missiles last week in apparent demonstrations that it could make nuclear strikes on South Korea and deployed U.S. naval vessels. Yesterday [Macau time], the American-led U.N. Command said it has started a conversation with North Korea about a U.S. soldier who ran into the North last week across one of the worlds most heavily fortified borders. Andrew Harrison, a British lieutenant general who is deputy commander at the U.N. Command, which oversees implementation of the 1953 armistice that ended fighting in the Korean War, declined to comment about the state of the inquiry to North Korea or say what the command knows about Pvt. Travis Kings condition. I am in life an optimist, and I remain optimistic, Harrison said during a news conference in Seoul. In Washington, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said North Korea had only acknowledged receiving the U.N. message last week and had not provided any information or commented further since then. There have been no new contacts since last week, Miller said, adding that North Korea also had not responded to messages sent by U.S. civilian or military officials. North Korea has remained publicly silent about King, who crossed the border during a tour of Panmunjom while he was supposed to be heading to Fort Bliss, Texas, following his release from prison in South Korea on an assault conviction. The U.S. still has not been able to ascertain Kings condition, a senior administration official said in Washington. Asked if U.S. officials had a better understanding of whether King intended to defect, the official said they still had no indication about what was going on in his mind that day. The official was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Analysts say North Korea may wait weeks or even months to provide meaningful information about King to maximize leverage and add urgency to U.S. efforts to secure his release. Some say North Korea may try to wrest concessions from Washington, such as tying his release to the United States cutting back its military activities with South Korea. Kings crossing came at a time of high tensions in the Korean Peninsula, where the pace of both North Koreas weapons demonstrations and the United States combined military exercises have intensified in a tit-for-tat cycle. In between the ballistic and cruise missile launches last week, North Koreas defense minister also issued a veiled threat, saying the Kentuckys docking in South Korea could be grounds for the North to use a nuclear weapon against it. North Korea has used similar rhetoric before, but the statement underscored how strained relations are now. Farhan Haq, U.N.s deputy spokesperson, said the U.N. is concerned about the rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The DPRKs continued launches of missiles using ballistic missile technology are clear violations of relevant Security Council resolutions, and, of course, we reiterate the call for de-escalation and for full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, he said, invoking the Norths formal name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. The United States and South Korea have expanded their combined military exercises and increased regional deployments of U.S. aircraft and ships, including bombers, aircraft carriers and submarines to counter the nuclear threats posed by North Korea, which has test-fired around 100 missiles since the start of 2022. The Annapolis, whose main mission is destroying enemy ships and submarines, is powered by a nuclear reactor but is armed with conventional weapons. The sub mainly docked at Jeju to load supplies, but Jang Do Young, a spokesperson for South Koreas navy, said the U.S. and South Korean militaries were discussing whether to arrange training involving the vessel. The Koreas are still technically at war since a peace treaty was never signed. Their armistice becomes 70 years old Thursday, an anniversary South Korea will mark with solemn ceremonies honoring the dead that will involve invited foreign war veterans. North Korea, which celebrates the date as victory day for the great Fatherland Liberation War, plans huge festivities that will likely include a military parade in the capital, Pyongyang, where leader Kim Jong Un may showcase his nuclear-capable missiles designed to target regional rivals and the United States. North Koreas state-run Korean Central News Agency said Monday that a Chinese delegation led by Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the standing committee of the countrys National Peoples Congress, would attend the celebrations. Visits by foreign guests to North Korea have been extremely rare since the start of the pandemic, which prompted the North to seal its borders to protect its poor healthcare system. North Korea since last year has been gradually reopening trade with China in an apparent effort to salvage a crippled economy damaged further by the pandemic-related border controls. KIM TONG-HYUNG, SEOUL, MDT/AP Chinas central government has decided to remove Liu Guangyuan from the post of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Liu is now the deputy director of its liaison office in Hong Kong, according to the offices official website. The appointment comes two years after Liu took up the role as head of the Chinese foreign ministrys office in Hong Kong. Related To attract larger visitor numbers from Japan, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and Air Macau jointly organized a familiarization trip dedicated to the tourism operators of Tokyo and Osaka, the office noted in a press statement. The Japanese tourism industry operator representatives, comprising 14 people, have been in Macau from July 20 to 23 to experience new attractions and places first-hand. The itinerary included a visit to the Macau Grand Prix Museum and the Lai Chi Vun Shipyards, as well as the Historic Centre attractions. Operators learned about new and upcoming hotel facilities and had the opportunity to taste various delicacies. The purpose, according to MGTO, is to inspire the design of more Macau tourism products targeting Japanese tourists. The delegation also participated in a travel mart and exchange with the local tourism industry aiming to facilitate business matching opportunities and promote the joint exploration of business opportunities. According to MGTO, the travel mart has gathered over 60 participants including representatives from local travel agencies, hotels, airlines, vessel and leisure companies, as well as representatives of travel agencies from the Japanese delegation. In 2019, Macau received nearly 300,000 Japanese tourists, being the third-largest international tourist source market that year. With the lifting of border restrictions at the beginning of 2023, the aviation industry has progressively resumed both arriving and departing international flight services with MGTO hoping that through these promotion activities, more visitors from this traditional source can return to an expanded portfolio of attractions in Macau. According to official figures from the Statistics and Census Service, between January and May this year, only 17,123 visitors arrived from Japan. This figure pushed Japan back to the eighth ranking of the places bringing international tourists to Macau, placing below Singapore and just above India. According to recent statements last weekend from MGTOs director, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, the office expects an increase in visitor numbers this month and in August, raising the expected daily visitor number to some 80,000 per day. The Judiciary Police (PJ) has discovered that scammers created social media pages in the name of a supermarket in Macau. According to the page, those who leave comments can claim a unique gift by clicking an unknown link and supplying their personal information and credit card details. Upon verification with the supermarket, it was proven that the social media page is fake. PJ once again warns the public to confirm promotion details with the supermarket. Related Sands China Ltd. is presenting an array of exhibitions and artworks from August to October in support of the upcoming Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2023. The exhibitions include: Meet the Magic: In celebration of Disney 100 by Philip Colbert & Jason Naylor; Behind the Forms: Aesthetics of Contemporary Art Trio Exhibition by Lei Ieng Wai, Leong Chi Mou and Lai Sio Kit; The Genesis of Rationality, featuring Ung Vai Meng. The Meet the Magic: In celebration of Disney 100 by Philip Colbert & Jason Naylor will present the artists unique artistic interpretations of Mickey Mouse, in celebration of Disneys 100th anniversary. The second exhibition, demonstrates three local young artists own understanding of various topics around the development of the citys diversification spectrum, data texture, belief and value. Sands China has also commissioned local artist Ung Vai Meng to create The Genesis of Rationality, a mixed-media installation with screens and antique wood he collected specifically for the exhibit, with reference to ancient Greek mythology. The fingerprints of climate change are all over the intense heat waves gripping the globe this month, a new study finds. Researchers say the deadly hot spells in the American Southwest and Southern Europe could not have happened without the continuing buildup of warming gases in the air. These unusually strong heat waves are becoming more common, yesterdays study said. The same research found the increase in heat-trapping gases, largely from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas has made another heat wave the one in China 50 times more likely with the potential to occur every five years or so. A stagnant atmosphere, warmed by carbon dioxide and other gases, also made the European heat wave 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 degrees Celsius) hotter, the one in the United States and Mexico 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) warmer and the one in China one 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) toastier, the study found. Several climate scientists, using tree rings and other stand-ins for temperature records, say this months heat is likely the hottest Earth has been in about 120,000 years, easily the hottest of human civilization. Had there been no climate change, such an event would almost never have occurred, said study lead author Mariam Zachariah, a climate scientist at Imperial College of London. She called heat waves in Europe and North America virtually impossible without the increase in heat from the mid 1800s. Statistically, the one in China could have happened without global warming. Since the advent of industrial-scale burning, the world has warmed 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 degrees Celsius), so they are not rare in todays climate and the role of climate change is absolutely overwhelming, said Imperial College climate scientist Friederike Otto, who leads the team of volunteer international scientists at World Weather Attribution who do these studies. The particularly intense heat waves that Texas, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua and Coahuila are now roasting through are likely to happen about once every 15 years in the current climate, the study said. But the climate is not stabilized, even at this level. If it warms a few more tenths of a degree, this months heat will become even more common, Otto said. Phoenix has had a record-shattering 25 straight days of temperatures at or above 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius) and more than a week when the nighttime temperature never dropped below 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2 Celsius) The heat in Spain, Italy, Greece and some Balkan states is likely to reoccur every decade in the current climate, the study said. Because the weather attribution researchers started their analysis of three simultaneous heat waves on July 17, the results are not yet peer reviewed, which is the gold standard for science. But it used scientifically valid techniques, the teams research regularly gets published and several outside experts told The Associated Press it makes sense. The way scientists do these rapid analyses is by comparing observations of current weather in the three regions to repeated computer simulations of a world that might have been without climate change, said study co-author Izidine Pinto, a climate scientist at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute. In Europe and North America, the study doesnt claim human-caused climate change is the sole cause of the heat waves, but it is a necessary ingredient because natural causes and random chance couldnt produce this alone. Texas state climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon said the study was reasonable, but looks at a broad area of the U.S. Southwest, so it may not be applicable to every single place in the area. In the United States, its clear that the entire southern tier is going to see the worst of the ever-worsening heat and this summer should be considered a serious wake-up call, said University of Michigan environment dean Jonathan Overpeck. With heat waves, the most important thing is that they kill people and they particularly kill and hurt and destroy lives and livelihoods of those most vulnerable, Otto said. SETH BORENSTEIN, MDT/AP * Pedestrian Street Govt considers making Rua da Felicidade pedestrian-only * Gaming | Casino ops to transition into Vegas, Singapore model * Cool year | Fireman called less in the first half of 2023 * A new public tender for the acquisition of taxi operation licenses will be soon launched, the Transport Bureau announced * MGTO partners with Air Macau to attract more tourists from Japan * China to address economic difficulties head-on: Politburo DOWNLOAD PDF Wednesday, July 26, 2023 edition no. 4294 JERUSALEM Thousands of Israeli doctors walked off their jobs, labor leaders threatened a general strike and senior justices rushed home from a trip abroad on Tuesday, a day after the government's approval of a law that weakens the country's Supreme Court. Critics say the legislation will erode the country's system of checks and balances. Four leading Israeli newspapers covered their front pages in black ink an ominous image paid for by an alliance of hightech companies. The only words on the pages were in a line at the bottom: "A black day for Israeli democracy." Monday's vote on the first of a series of measures that make up Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's divisive judicial overhaul came despite seven months of fierce popular resistance, Netanyahu's promises of an eventual compromise and a rare warning against the overhaul from Israel's closest ally, the United States. Opponents say they are not done fighting and civil rights groups submitted petitions to the Supreme Court, calling for the new law to be overturned. Protests again roiled the country's streets. The city of Madison wants to hear from residents about how it can improve access for people with disabilities to city services and public accommodations. Suggestions from this weeks Disability Summit could be used to draft ordinances to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which prohibits discrimination based on disability. Those ordinances could include changes to laws governing employment, housing and public places, programs, services and facilities. I wanted to create a space where the residents of Madison could directly engage with the city and help inform and update our city ordinances for the Disability Rights and Services Program, said Rebecca Hoyt, a disability rights and services specialist in the citys Department of Civil Rights. The CDC estimates about a quarter of the nations adult population has some type of disability. One thing we know about disability is that it impacts everyone, said Nakia Wiley, a professional learning coordinator at the Madison School District and vice president of Disability Pride Madison, a local advocacy group. No matter your race, what language you speak, no matter your socioeconomic status. Another goal of the summit is to create a plan that would inform city programs and services to ensure people with disabilities have a voice in local government, Hoyt said. That plan would be similar, Hoyt said, to the citys language access plan, which instructs city of Madison staff, leaders, elected officials and vendors on how to provide access to city services for people with limited English proficiency. As a result, for example, the city now provides interpreters at committee meetings, and parking tickets include information in several languages. We are removing the barriers, but first we have to identify them, Wiley said. The summit is set to be held online on Thursday and Friday with in-person programming at the 10th annual Disability Pride Festival from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Warner Park. For Wiley, the online meetings and festival which will include music, dancers and more than 80 community organizations are also about celebrating and recognizing people with disabilities. Even for me, it took me years to come out and say, I am a proud, disabled human, Wiley said. Its nothing wrong with being disabled. So we are dismantling these systems of oppression and these stereotypes that its something wrong with you and that youre not good enough to be a CEO or to be the owner of an organization. Grocery stores, bike paths, walking trails and lakes are all places people with disabilities may be prevented from fully using, Wiley said. A longtime educator who has also worked in special education, Wiley added that Madison school buildings and curriculum can present a series of challenges for people with disabilities. Those include problems with lights, smells and noise levels for people with sensory processing disorders. Language and wheelchair accessibility and diverse representation in books are also important, she added. Metro Transit redesign Hoyt said the summit could also take up the redesign of Metro Transit, which on June 11 shifted from a system that focused on coverage in neighborhoods to one with more frequent and consistent service via major arteries but that in some cases requires riders to travel farther to catch a bus. I do think that folks are still adjusting to the Metro redesign and determining how it does or does not meet their needs, she said. And so this will be a place for people to share that feedback with the city as well. While the city said the rollout went off without any major problems, a study by the citys consultant for the redesign, Portland, Oregon-based Jarret Walker and Associates, ahead of the rollout found that people with disabilities may benefit less from the redesign than others. I think that issues that have historically been really critical for people with disabilities are housing and transportation, and I dont think Madison is any different with regards to those being a priority, Hoyt said. At its July 12 meeting, the citys Transportation Commission provided an update on how the system serves people with disabilities in the redesign, including progress on making bus stops more accessible and an outreach campaign. With the redesign, there are stops that need to be made accessible and there are other improvements that might need to be made such as improved pedestrian crossings, sidewalk installs and that kind of thing, Metro spokesperson Mick Rusch said at the meeting. Metro considers about 87% of its roughly 1,400 Metro bus stop locations accessible, said Rusch, who estimated at the time of the meeting that 100 bus stops were in need of accessibility upgrades. The city is planning to upgrade about 30 of those by winter. The city has been in the process of adding wheelchair boarding pads to stops since 2019 as part of its five-year sidewalk program, he said. But the city might need to make other improvements including new sidewalks, curb ramps and crosswalk and traffic signal improvements alongside the redesign, he added. Denise Jess, executive director of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, said at the meeting that she hoped the city would tie Metro Transit disability access into its Safe Streets program. I see a very short line between accessibility and safety, said Jess, adding that the lack of a crossing signal on a street with a bus stop could endanger someone trying to get to a bus, like being stuck on a median. Its a dignity issue for folks, too, she said, to be able to take a fixed-route bus if were capable of using it. To register for the free online summit, visit go.madison.com/disability-summit. Photos: Wheelchair basketball 05WheelBball106-03182015154224 04WheelBball078-03182015154224 08WheelBball189-03182015154224 03WheelBball054-03182015154224 Mad City Badgers Mad City Badgers Mad City Badgers Mad City Badgers Shell casings were found after multiple 911 callers reported gunshots on the North Side on Tuesday night, Madison police said. Officers were sent to the 500 block of Wheeler Road shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday and found several shell casings at the intersection of Wheeler Road and American Ash Drive, police spokesperson Stephanie Fryer said in a statement. Officers found no signs of property damage and no injuries were reported, Fryer said. Police ask that anyone with information on the incident contact Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014 or P3Tips.com. Information can be shared anonymously. Tipsters who provide information that leads to an arrest also may qualify for a monetary reward. A 19-year-old from the Madison area was one of three Marines found dead in a car Sunday morning in a North Carolina gas station parking lot. Lance Cpl. Tanner J. Kaltenberg was found unresponsive by Pender County Sheriffs deputies in a private car at a Speedway gas station in Hampstead. With him were fellow Marine Lance Cpls. Merax C. Dockery, 23, of Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, and Ivan R. Garcia, 23, of Naples, Florida. The three had been serving at Camp Lejeune, according to a release from the 2nd Marine Logistics Group. Hampstead is about 40 miles southwest of Camp Lejeune and just north of Wilmington on the Atlantic coast. The deaths are currently under investigation by the Sheriffs Office, but foul play is not suspected. No information was released about their causes of death and how long it was before they were found. Autopsy results are pending, according to the Sheriffs Office. Kaltenberg was a graduate of Verona High School, had been on active duty since May 2021 and was a motor vehicle operator, according to the 2nd Marine Logistics Group. He had also served in San Diego with the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and in Missouri at Fort Leonard Wood in the Motor Transport Instruction Company. His military awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Medal, Navy Arctic Service Ribbon and Global War on Terror Service Medal. US Marines history from the year you were born US Marines history from the year you were born 1920: Marines guard a Russian radio station 1921: An eastward turn 1922: Leaving Cubaalmost 1923: Protecting American interests in China 1924: Intervention in Honduras 1925: Birth of the Red Devils' 1926: Deployment to Nicaragua 1927: Steeling against civil war in China 1928: The Battle of Las Cruces 1929: A new hymn 1930: Hunting Sandino 1931: Austerity measures 1932: Hunkering down in Haiti 1933: Establishing the Fleet Marine Force 1934: Leaving Haiti 1935: The Tentative Landings Operations Manual 1936: A changing of the guard 1937: Flying together 1938: The US Naval Reserve Act 1939: A new flag 1940: General mobilization 1941: Landing ship tanks 1942: Desegregation of the Corps 1943: Welcoming women into the Marines 1944: Invasion of the Marshall Islands 1945: Iwo Jima 1946: Accompanying the Magna Carta 1947: The National Security Act 1948: Marines in the Middle East 1949: The end of Operation Beleaguer 1950: Harsh words from Harry Truman 1951: The Mountain Warfare Training Center 1952: The Douglas Mansfield Act 1953: The Congressional Marines Group 1954: The Marine Corps War Memorial 1955: A new emblem 1956: The Suez Crisis 1957: Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps 1958: Lebanon 1959: Surviving a fall 1960: The Cuban Revolution 1961: Marines help sever relations with Cuba 1962: A tour in Thailand 1963: Guarding the president's coffin 1964: An early foray into Vietnam 1965: Operation Power Pack 1966: Anti-Vietcong operations 1967: Con Thein 1968: The Tet Offensive 1969: An educated corps 1970: Marines on trial for Son Thang 1971: Marines leave Vietnam 1972: A Navy birthday 1973: Secret Marines activity reported 1974: Honoring a trailblazer 1975: Evacuating Saigon 1976: A scandal at Parris Island 1977: Ku Klux Klan activities at Camp Pendleton 1978: A banner year for Corps women 1979: Taken hostage in Iran 1980: Operation Eagle Claw 1981: A step toward gender equality 1982: Into Beirut 1983: A devastating year 1984: Withdrawing from Lebanon 1985: Violence in El Salvador 1986: Trouble in Moscow 1987: Marine Corps intelligence activity 1988: Into the Persian Gulf 1989: Avenging a death in Panama 1990: Protecting Saudi Arabia 1991: The liberation of Kuwait 1992: Marines storm Somalia 1993: A firefight in Mogadishu 1994: Back to Haiti 1995: A daring rescue in Bosnia 1996: Evacuating US citizens from Liberia 1997: A tragic death on the border 1998: Guarding the Albanian Embassy 1999: In East Timor 2000: A devastating crash 2001: The War on Terror 2002: Into Djibouti 2003: Operation Iraqi Freedom 2004: The Second Battle of Fallujah 2005: The Haditha Massacre 2006: The National Museum of the Marine Corps 2007: A push to leave Iraq 2008: Helmand Province 2009: A daring rescue and Medal of Honor 2010: Relief efforts in Haiti 2011: A mission down under 2012: Marines in controversy 2013: Integrating women in combat roles 2014: Fighting ISIS in Iraq 2015: Tragedy in Tennessee 2016: Deepening engagement in Iraq 2017: A new squadron deploys 2018: Fighting ISIS in Syria 2019: Integrating training battalions 2020: Force Design 2030 foresees a nimbler Marine Corps 2021: Marine Corps shrinks KENOSHA The father of a Wisconsin soldier who crossed into North Korea says his son is a proud American and a devoted service member who probably made a mistake after a long night of drinking. Thomas King of Kenosha said his son, Travis King, was never a drinker before joining the Army, but he might have been celebrating his units return to the United States after a two-year stint on the Korean Peninsula. He probably was drunk, Thomas King said in an interview Tuesday. Thats the only reason I could see. Travis King, 23, a 2020 graduate of Park High School in Racine, has been missing since July 18, one day after officials say he was supposed to fly back to the United States. Witnesses have reported that the U.S. Army private joined a tourist group in South Korea and then bolted across the border into the hostile neighboring country of North Korea. U.S. government officials have been trying to determine why Travis King crossed the border, while also engaging the North Korean government in a discussion about the soldiers whereabouts. A spokesman at the Pentagon expressed doubts about Thomas Kings theory that Travis King crossed the border because he was intoxicated. John Supple of the U.S. Department of Defense said Travis King missed his flight back to the United States on the night of July 17 and reportedly crossed the border into North Korea mid-afternoon the next day a long period of time to remain under the influence of alcohol. Supple, however, expressed sympathy for Thomas King and the uncertainty surrounding his sons well-being. I can only imagine what hes going through, Supple said. And thats why the department is working so hard to bring Private King home. Other news media outlets, some citing anonymous sources, have reported that Travis King was facing disciplinary action and possibly even a military discharge when he decided to avoid returning to the United States and then to flee into North Korea. The Wisconsin soldier was charged with assault in South Korea and had been jailed until July 10 as a result of the incident. Thomas King said he believes the assault stemmed from a common barroom brawl, and that his son was not facing any further disciplinary action. Thomas King described his son as quiet and easygoing. Hes not a trouble-maker, Thomas King said. He likes to stay to himself. Supple confirmed that Travis King had served his time in connection to the assault. But the spokesman declined to comment further about the soldiers planned return to the United States including whether Travis Kings unit was shipping out, as the father suspects. The situation and its geopolitical implications have thrust Travis Kings family into a national spotlight. His mother, Claudine Gates, who lives in Racine, has declined interview requests and issued only brief public pleas for her sons safe return. Thomas King contacted The Journal Times to request an interview. He spoke for 45 minutes Tuesday at OKeefes Automotive, 3314 52nd St., where he works. He said Travis King was the only child born from a 10-year relationship between Gates and himself. The pair never married, but he said they remain on good terms. Thomas King also said he has enjoyed a healthy relationship with his son. OKeefe Automotive owner Duane OKeefe said Thomas King was visibly upset upon learning that his son was missing in North Korea. OKeefe said he has tried to offer his friend support and comfort during a difficult time. Its mind-boggling, OKeefe said. Its scary. Thomas King said he served in the U.S. Army during the 1980s, and that he has two brothers who also served. Travis King enlisted after high school, and Thomas King said his son called and texted often during basic training. Before heading to South Korea about two years ago, Travis King returned home for a visit, and Thomas King said the two had lunch together. Travis King was enjoying the Army, and he was excited about going to the Korean Peninsula, his father said. Thomas King said he never heard his son express any anti-American sentiments or any regrets about being in the military. Travis is a good guy. Hes a good solider, Thomas King said. He always wanted to be a soldier. RACINE COUNTY No criminal charges will be filed against the Racine County law enforcement officers who fired their guns at Timothy Burgess, ultimately killing him. The Wisconsin Department of Justice and Division of Criminal Investigation conducted an independent investigation following the shooting, which involved seven Racine Police Department officers and one Mount Pleasant Police Department officer, according to the Racine Police Department. The results of the investigation were given to Racine County District Attorney Patricia Hansen who determined that there would be no criminal charges as a result of the investigations findings. According to the DOJ, Mount Pleasant police officers responded to a report of shots fired the evening of May 21. Police allege Burgess pointed and fired a gun multiple times at his wife but did not hit her. A child at the home reportedly called police. According to previous reporting, Burgess left the residence before police arrived and drove to the City of Racine. Racine officers reportedly attempted a traffic stop of a vehicle that matched the description of the one Burgess left the residence in a green Range Rover. According to police, Burgess got out of the vehicle, ran toward Clayton Park and attempted to hide in tall grass. Police said officers found him and asked him to come out from the grass, but he reportedly refused. As officers approached Burgess to arrest him, he allegedly began firing shots in the direction of the officers, who fired back and hit him. Burgess was pronounced dead at the scene. No police officers were injured in the shooting. The Racine Police Department said it is now conducting its own internal review, per protocol, to determine if its officers followed department policies and procedures. Caledonia trustee's K9 honored with bronze statue, in photos and video Holly McManus makes opening remarks at statue dedication Holly McManus makes closing remarks at K9 Bane statue dedication Former handler Holly McManus pets retired K9 Bane after ceremony Uncovering the statue Kevin Hunter plays with retired K9 Bane Holly and Bane With artist Officials Officials K9 Bane statue K9 Bane Hero Fund K9 Bane statue Eric Look Band K9 Bane cookies Eric Look Band performs "She's Not Just a Pretty Face" by Shania Twain Installing We dont know what specific charges special counsel Jack Smith will pursue if former President Donald Trump is indicted on allegations of attempting to overturn the 2020 election. We cant even be certain that there will be an indictment, although it looks imminent after Smith sent Trump a target letter. But thanks to persons briefed on the matter, presumably Trumps leaky lawyers, we know which federal statutes are likely to form the basis of Smiths case, and they suggest what some of his charges will be. According to several news organizations, the target letter mentions three laws that would enable Smith to charge Trump with directing a vast conspiracy to undo President Joe Bidens election by fraudulent means. Alternatively, they would allow Smith to charge the former president with a limited number of improper acts aimed at the same purpose. I talked with former prosecutors and defense lawyers recently, and they all had similar advice for Smith: Make the case streamlined, focused and clear. Go for the simplest charges you can, former federal prosecutor Paul Rosenzweig said. Focus on actions that are readily and directly tied to Donald Trump. Keep it simple, stupid, echoed Norman Eisen, a former defense lawyer who is a fellow at the Brookings Institution. Dont try to jam everything in. You dont want to run the risk of confusing a judge or a jury. Trumps effort to block Bidens victory included a long list of potentially illegal acts. The then-president jawboned officials in states he lost to declare him the winner anyway. He asked Georgias secretary of state to find 11,780 votes, the number he needed to win. Trump and his allies developed a scheme to submit phony electoral vote certificates to Congress to replace Bidens real electoral votes. And he encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol and fight like hell on Jan. 6, 2021, the day Congress was scheduled to certify Bidens victory. Thats a lot of potential charges too many, possibly, for a jury to focus on. Smiths target letter suggests that hell probably settle on a shorter list. Lets take the three statutes in turn, beginning with conspiracy to defraud the United States, which basically means attempting to interfere with government functions by dishonest means. Case in point: the bizarre fake elector scheme, in which GOP activists in eight states represented themselves as legitimate electors even though Biden had won the most votes. The plot failed, but it was central to Trumps larger attempt to invalidate Bidens victory. It shouldnt be too hard to convince a jury that the scheme qualified as deliberate fraud. The activists declared they were their states true electors in official-looking statements sent to then-Vice President Mike Pence in his role as presiding officer of the Senate. Those documents may now serve as damning evidence of an attempt to defraud the United States. Moreover, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, Ronna McDaniel, told the House Jan. 6 investigators that Trump had personally asked her to recruit alternative electors evidence that the president was directly involved. The second statute on Smiths list prohibits obstructing federal proceedings. That would probably produce charges focusing on Trumps efforts to block Congress from certifying Bidens election on Jan. 6, including his relentless pressure on Pence to halt or delay the process. The Justice Department has charged more than 300 of the Jan. 6 rioters with this offense. Many of the defendants said they invaded the Capitol to try to disrupt the certification; some believed they were acting at Trumps behest. It only seems fair to subject Trump to the same scrutiny. Its probably a stronger charge against Trump than it is against the rioters, said Donald B. Ayer, a former top Justice Department official in the George H.W. Bush administration. The third statute prohibits any conspiracy to deprive people of their constitutional rights, including the right to vote and have their votes counted. It has been used to prosecute officials who tried to rig elections or interfere with vote counting. In the view of some lawyers, this statute could apply to almost any illegitimate action Trump took to change the outcome of the election. The challenge for Smith will be to confine it to a few easily provable counts. Whats missing from this list? Inciting to riot or abetting an insurrection. Thats probably because those charges could be difficult to prove and become distractions in a trial. An incitement charge raises 1st Amendment problems, Ayer said. And an insurrection charge comes with a lot of complexities, beginning with the definition of insurrection. That suggests that Smith is already doing what the former prosecutors hoped: keeping the case focused on a few charges that could be relatively easy to prove. Theres also time pressure at work, Rosenzweig added. Part of the incentive to keep it simple is to get it done before the presidential election. If the case lands before a judge who wants to move quickly, he said, he could see this coming to trial next May or June. That will be the tail end of next years primary election season and about the same time Trump will be tried over hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Its going to be a busy spring. WORLD HERITAGE PARIS U.S. first lady Jill Biden attended a flag-raising ceremony at UNESCO in Paris on Tuesday, marking Washington's official reentry into the U.N. agency after a controversial five-year hiatus. The Stars and Stripes was hoisted up outside UNESCO's headquarters with the Eiffel Tower on the skyline to rousing applause and a rendition of the national anthem. Before the flag-raising, Biden made remarks about the importance of American leadership in preserving cultural heritage and empowering education and science across the globe. "I was honored to join you today as we raise the flag of the United States, the symbol of our commitment to global collaboration and peace," Biden said. She said this move was an example of President Joe Biden's pledge about "restoring our leadership on the world stage." The United States announced its intention to rejoin UNESCO in June, and the organization's 193 member states earlier this month voted to approve the U.S. reentry. Tuesday's ceremony, which also featured a speech by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, formally signified the U.S. becoming the 194th member and flag proprietor at the agency. We are putting "the Star Spangled banner back where it belongs," Azoulay said. The U.N. agency's special envoy Forest Whitaker, the American actor, also gave a speech praising the spirit of peace through education that "could not have been possible without UNESCO." The U.S. decision to return to Paris-based UNESCO was based mainly on concerns that China has filled a leadership gap since Washington withdrew during the Trump administration. The U.S. exit from UNESCO in 2017 cited an alleged anti-Israel bias within the organization. The decision followed a 2011 move by UNESCO to include Palestine as a member state, which led the U.S. and Israel to cease financing the agency. The U.S. withdrawal became official a year later in 2018. In preparation for its return, the Biden administration requested $150 million for the 2024 budget to go toward UNESCO dues and arrears, with plans for similar requests in the ensuing years until the full debt of $619 million is paid off. This represents a significant portion of UNESCO's $534 million annual operating budget. Before its withdrawal, the U.S. was the single biggest funder of UNESCO, contributing 22% of the agency's overall funding. This is the second time the U.S. returned to UNESCO after a period of withdrawal. The country also left the organization in 1984 under the Reagan administration. Idaho, Montana urge Forest Service action Decades of wildfire suppression have led to enormous buildups of fuels in our forests, which must be removed without delay, said the letter, also signed by Montana Sen. Steve Daines and Reps. Matthew Rosendale and Ryan Zinke. As the Forest Service looks to take advantage of historic levels of funding provided by Congress to reduce hazardous fuel loads, we encourage the agency to analyze how much standing sawtimber and other high value products there are within high priority firesheds and insect and disease treatment areas, as well as in wildland urban interface areas, the federal representatives wrote. Having a clearer picture of potentially available fiber supplies will assist the private sector in making investment decisions that can support needed fuels reduction work. As a land managing agency, the Forest Service has a responsibility to utilize all possible solutions to reduce fire. When Afghanistan fell to the Taliban in August 2021, Afghan aviators were ordered to fly their aircraft out of the country to keep them from falling into enemy hands. Over 300 pilots flew to surrounding countries, most of them having to leave their families behind. Many of those pilots have been resettled in the US, including 14 who now live in Idaho. They have been working multiple jobs in order to support themselves and their families back home. They would do much better if they could put their aviation skills to work. Even though the Afghans received rigorous flight training from U.S. and NATO forces and have flown thousands of hours, they must complete extensive ground and flight courses in order to qualify for aviation jobs in the United States. Thats where Russ Stromberg, a retired Marine aviator, and Global Talent, a Boise non-profit that helps refugees meet stateside licensing requirements for their occupational specialty, came together to provide a solution. The two have pioneered a project to help the Afghan pilots obtain the credentials to fly commercially in the U.S. A dramatic upgrade in pay will help the pilots get their families to America that much sooner. Bringing the pilots on line will help alleviate the nations unprecedented pilot shortage. Quote Idahos refugee program is a demonstration that even in these contentious times we can come together to do important work, like helping beleaguered folks from other countries. The first group of five pilots has been selected for the training program, which is contingent on Global Talent achieving its fundraising goal of $40,000. The pilots are enthusiastic about their prospects. One of them stated it this way: Your heart belongs to the sky. You have to go back to the sky and serve. Idahoans can help these pilots soar by supporting the program. It should be mentioned that Afghan pilots were some of our most committed allies in the Afghan conflict. In addition to the dangers they faced in the air, they became Taliban assassination targets in their homes. The United States is honor bound to provide safe haven to them and to the thousands of other Afghans who put themselves and their families at risk by partnering with and protecting U.S. troops. Idahoans can help in that regard by urging our congressional delegation to support the bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act (HR 4627 in the House and S. 2327 in the Senate). The legislation would provide a pathway to permanent residency for Afghans who only have temporary residence now and create pathways for continued relocation of those, like the pilots families, who were left behind. The legislation is strongly supported by a broad coalition of veteran, religious, business and legal organizations. Idahos entire delegation needs to add its support. Idaho has an outstanding resettlement program that has taken in an increasing number of Afghan refugees since the national refugee program was restored to health two years ago. Of the 1,270 refugees who arrived in FY 2022 (ending on Sept. 30), there were 512 Afghans. Each agency relies heavily on citizen involvement and can put community members to work welcoming and settling refugees, sponsoring events, helping find housing, providing cultural adjustment, supporting language programs and generally making newcomers feel at home in their new foreign setting. Idahos refugee program is a demonstration that even in these contentious times we can come together to do important work, like helping beleaguered folks from other countries. The time, commitment and resources that Russ Stromberg has devoted toward training our Afghan pilot allies for new employment opportunities in America is a feel-good story for the times. And a gracious welcome for our Afghan friends who yearn to get back in the sky. Jim Jones is a Vietnam combat veteran who served eight years as Idaho attorney general (1983-1991) and 12 years as justice of the Idaho Supreme Court (2005-2017). He is a regular contributor to The Hill online news. He blogs at JJCommonTater.com. Hydropower is an important source of reliable and clean energy for everyone in the Northwest, especially Idahoans. However, with the recent debate surrounding the Snake River dams concentrated on the benefits for and support in Washington state, we want to emphasize just how significant an effect these dams have on Idaho and why we must continue to protect them. Quote Congress authorized these dams, and only Congress has the power to remove them. As a U.S. senator and the leader of an independent free-market research organization, we are unified in our effort to protect the Snake River dams and maintain their economic and environmental benefits for our region. Beyond us, there is strong, widespread support for the dams, including from Idaho officials and trade groups. The Idaho Farm Bureau Federation is on record, having written that the dams produce a significant amount of affordable and environmentally friendly hydroelectric power to the region while allowing farmers to export their product to the world. Additionally, the Idaho Legislature passed a resolution in 2021, stating it supports the international competitiveness, multi-modal transportation, and economic development benefits provided by the Port of Lewiston and the Columbia-Snake River System. But Scott Corbitt, general manager of the Port of Lewiston, perhaps demonstrates the importance of the dams to Idahoans best. The culture, business, and lifestyle of Lewiston revolve around the Clearwater and Snake rivers and the slack water, or pool created by the Lower Snake River Dams (LSRD), Corbitt testified. That Pool has developed opportunities for the Lewis Clark Valley that now serve as the lifeblood and supports an economy for around 65,000 people. During a congressional field hearing last month, Todd Myers, the environmental director for the Washington Policy Center, summarized the severe damage that would result from eliminating the dams: Spending $35 billion or more to destroy the four Lower Snake River dams would be counterproductive, not just for the climate, energy reliability, and the economy, but for salmon by misallocating resources that could do so much good across the region. We could not agree more. But dont just take our word for it. Look at the result of the only comprehensive, scientific, and public process: The Columbia River System Operations Record of Decision. This multi-year process, which was undertaken by both a Democrat and Republican administration, made one thing abundantly clear: Dam breaching on the lower Snake River is completely unnecessary and unwarranted. Moreover, there is one salient point that is often overlooked in the debate about the Snake River dams: Congress authorized these dams, and only Congress has the power to remove them. Thankfully, many of the congressional members elected to the areas surrounding the Snake River dams are working to protect the economic and environmental benefits they provide. The Northwest Energy Security Act, which I, Sen. Risch, introduced with Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and U.S. Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington), and Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) is a key part of this effort. While the lower Snake River dams are congressionally protected, our bill goes one step further by explicitly securing the energy, transportation, agriculture, and irrigation benefits the dams provide. Protecting the Snake River dams and other federal water infrastructure is pivotal to both Washington and Idaho. Together, well remain dam strong for the benefit of our region.